{Persona: Eternal Sin} {Homebrew Discord Campaign} Recruiting the team

Introduction:

In 1999 Japan, A high school by the name of Seven Sisters found itself like any other high school. Until the start of an ominous rumor, the Joker Rumor, in which entering a number on one’s own phone could summon a figure in which he will grant a wish. Yet if they don’t have a wish for him, only terrible things are to come. It seems there’s a rumor that is floating about, that you and your childhood friends are wanted dead.

Hello, Hello! I’m Maskies or MJ and I’m hosting a Persona 2 inspired PBP Campaign for all levels. As a DM, I have very minimal experience with only hosting one campaign so far and this will be the first PBP campaign I will be hosting so please be patient with me as a DM.

General Information:

• This will be hosted on discord with the use of Avrae and Tupperbox (You don't need experience with these beforehand) 
• This is not a live session pbp so you are free to respond whenever you are available, which also applies to me
• The campaign will be done in blocks, similar to recent persona titles in going through the campaign (Morning Block, Lunch Block, Evening Block, etc.)
• Each Block I expect every player to respond so people don’t feel either left out or falling behind in the campaign (even if you don’t want your character to do anything, a simple, “ PC’s Name decides to go home and take a nap”, is enough for me to know you’ve had a chance to participate). There will only be a few situations that I’ll go ahead without all responds, namely if there hasn’t been activity from a player without any notice, I will automatically continue after three days.
• This will be a 50/50ish combat and roleplay campaign that may lean more into roleplay at times, I don’t expect you to be a roleplay or writing master to participate but please understand I want all players to have a fun experience through this campaign so be weary.
• Lastly, This will be a milestones-based experience, in which I will tell you when you level up along with other things that will be later discussed in campaign rules after joining.

General Rules:

• I’ll go over more specific rules but a few to know before jumping in
  • No and I mean it, NO A.I art will be tolerated in this campaign. I will offer to draw you a pfp if you really want a custom one for your character with no payment or anything, it will be a simple headshot and that’s that. If you want to use a preexisting anime character, cartoon character, or even an actor go right ahead but I will not tolerate people using A.I within my campaign as I’ve noticed it’s become normal in the dnd space to use A.I for character stuff and I’m saying now, I don’t allow it. If I figure out you used A.I for your character artwork or anything, I will give you a warning and expect you to change it. (Anyone who plays druid but uses A.I needs to understand the irony in it)
  • This is a friendly campaign to all! If you would like to play a queer character or a character of another race, that’s fine. Only with your expressed permission will I incorporate any sort of discrimination towards your character in the -plot due to the setting being the 90s and Japan. (Xenophobia, Racism, Sexism and Homophobia was of course present than but if you or other players are uncomfortable with it, it will never be present in the campaign. With that, no slurs will be tolerated nor used outside the term “Queer” as recent times have reclaimed it) BUT, outside of consented roleplay elements, I do NOT tolerate any things of the sort towards other players which will either be a warning with 2 strikes (3 strikes and you’re out) or a ban depending on the offense.
  • If you are aware of Persona 2’s plot, please be aware that I will be changing some plot points (especially around a certain individual added) but I ask to not spoil the plot for the other players and not to try to meta-game things
  • I expect any possible roleplay problems to be discussed in the “ooc” chat so I can see it and be aware of it as communication and honesty is prime for a functioning roleplay, since certain problems may be unintentional. Yet if a player’s actions persist and you are uncomfortable, please inform me in private and I’ll discuss those issues with the player. If the situation escalates, I will ban the player after looking into the matter further.

Character Creation

• I know a few players reading this already have a character prepared that they want to play but LISTEN, there are a few things to be aware of when creating your character along with their backstory
  • Be open-minded to change your backstory
    • This is a big one but an important one to start off with. For the story and set up of Persona 2, the main cast were all previously friends, in which this element is not changed for my campaign’s plot. I will expect players to work together to work on backstories for their characters, along with reasons they drifted apart, and new dynamics mutually agreed on. So, if you’re planning to play a lone wolf type, I will be looking for why your character has decided to push the others away, if you want one of the pcs to have bullied you, you have to DISCUSS it with the player in question. If they don’t want to do it, then you either ask someone else or change that dynamic. If you try to pull “Surprise this character bullied me and that’s why I hate them” and the player didn’t agree to it and I wasn’t inform, it will be reconned. On the flip side, if you are playing a bully character, don’t presume that the shy character is your target without discussions either.
    • I might ask you to change your backstory if its too far fetch for the campaign (ex: “My family died in a house fire then I became a military spy and currently working a mission.” Fun idea but I might say you can’t be a military spy, but we’ll keep the house fire.) I’m open to all sad and angsty backstories, but don’t expect me to derail the plot for them or try to force me to, so I don’t expect myself to ask to change too much but just a warning.
  • By Default, you are human, but We’ll still use classes and other races
    • I know that sounds contradictory  but wait a second. If you are aware of persona, you are familiar with the concept of a persona, having a persona as that carries the whole combat system. If you aren’t familiar with persona, I’m sorry I’m the one trying to explain it to you but here I go. It’s an extension of a character, their “true self” if you will. It’s what allows the characters to cast spells and fight within the other world they find themselves trapped in. So, with that, in dnd I can’t technically give you another character just to fight with BUT, I can have you make a dnd character as whatever class and race you want and pretend it is your persona. So, if you plot to write in your backstory something about how your elven village hated you for being half human, I’m sorry to say that doesn’t work here due to this choice. I mean you can say the neighborhood was always unfriendly because you are a mixed kid in Japanese society but that’s the closest you got.
  • If no race mention, automatically Japanese
    • Please note down if you want me to consider your character to possibly be outside the “norms” of Japanese society, especially if you want to use that in roleplay cause if its not on the sheet, it doesn’t apply. Other than that, I’ll presume your character is Japanese and no one thinks any differently from them (since Japan isn’t the most diverse place, especially in certain areas). Yet, if you note it down, it doesn’t automatically mean you opt into discrimination filled roleplay, it just means I might make something like “There is Taiwanese writing” if you’ve stated your character is Taiwanese and their parents made sure they knew the language or “A Moroccan person approaches you, seemingly asking you for help”, since you stated your character is half Moroccan and in which would be an opportunity for items or the sort.
  • Homebrew Spells will be given
    • First time doing homebrew spells but give me lenient but let’s continue outside that.
    • Persona games have this fun thing called an “Arcana” in which I will be giving each person one and their own personal velvet room. This can be considered either a hint room, personal development room or a room of punishment by your character who am I to say but no one will be the Fool Arcana or for persona fans, The Wildcard so please don’t ask
    • Homebrew spells will be given in line with your arcana and your own build that are based off a persona spell that will be useful to combat. These spells will be given out with each level up I determine
  • Level-ups and Arcana
    • Stated before this is a milestone based game since combat-encounters will be custom and fights will be done to fit the story narrative at certain points. So if you want exp, not the game for you I guess
    • Arcanas will be given out after all players are settled in and after I consider each character carefully. Each player will get one, this is aware to their character’s subconscious so you don’t necessarily have to share them but they will be relevant for certain areas so please keep that in mind as the campaign progresses.
    • You may suggest an arcana for your character BUT that doesn't mean you will get that arcana as I'll be evaluating each person's character and choose which arcana suits each of you best. 

Now I apologize for all the points but since this is homebrew, I do want to lay a handful of stuff down off the bat so people can properly judge if they want to join. I already have one player selected for the campaign, so I’m looking for three more players to join them.

In which, to apply here is all I need to know for the time being.

Player’s name:

Experience with DND:

Experience with PBP:

How much do you know about the Persona series:

Self-Pitch on Why I should drag you in for this campaign:

If you like to pitch your backstory or character idea here, be my guest. It’s optional since some might not want to give out their character ideas for a campaign they might not be selected for.

If you have any additional questions or need clarification about certain points(as I may sound all over the place, I apologize), please feel free to leave those questions here and I’ll answer them.

Players chosen will be dm-ed about joining the campaign and once all players are chosen and settled for the campaign to start, I will close this thread.