Atelier Interest Check

[Mazoku]

Sketching out the outlines of a roleplay based around the Atelier series, JRPGs with a heavy focus on crafting with each(most) series of games focused in a usually self-contained and reoccurring cast of characters and stories. Some elements like monsters, the core of the crafting system, and the ever trustworthy cauldrons which Alchemists dump their materials into to produce everything from cakes to advanced clockwork mechanisms by stirring. While the tone does shift in places, it's optimistic and lighthearted for most of it. Wonderful, grindy time wasters.

Your characters will be newly minted Alchemists who by various ways and means have opened up an Atelier inside the town that has grown up around the Crystal Tower. Inside seemingly endless pocket dimensions with staggering amount of new and interesting materials to be harvested and used in alchemy. Adventurers and Alchemists alike probe its depths and secrets in the hopes of reaching the top through the stairways (and teleportation circles once you've visited a floor) that connect the dimensions.

As Alchemists your characters will also be asked to fulfill various requests for items, often lewd in nature, by the very thankful and gracious townspeople and adventurers, requiring them to delve into the tower to search for the necessary materials. Completing requests means the opportunity to rise in the ranks of the Guild, becoming more famous as their skill is acknowledged. Players are free to engage in friendly, non-violent competition or work alongside each other, perhaps two or more even running an Atelier together.

Intending to use a skill system based on Tjf's although with an Alchemy part bolted on which means a slightly (I hope) more involved item management on player's part. A few busy weeks ahead for me, but wanted to check interest if I should continue to work on it or put it on the back burner for use later or elsewhere.

As the alchemy system works now:

• Each material has a set rating, its Elemental Value, in one or more of the four elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth), and belongs to at least one of the broader item categories like [Plant], [Gunpowder], or [Poison].
• Players need to have the requisite materials for a Recipe (a combination of specific items and/or from a broader category), possibly including a minimum value of certain elements, to synthesize the item. With optional materials to make it more powerful. Making a list of generic recipes to start everyone out, but encourage creativity here.
• Items like a Healing Salve may have a base effect, but players are free to add their own additional effects in line with the Elemental Value of their materials. Like, taking the Healing Salve, a Speed buff if it has a high Wind value, or turn the immediate healing into an Heal-Over-Time with Earth.
• The total Elemental Value of all the synthesized item's materials becomes its Quality, which is a more general indication and buff to its effectiveness. If the player has a skill, like specializing in [Medicinal] materials, then the Quality value receives a plus (+) for each such skill, two if mastered, showing that it's just that much better and unique.
• Because no player character can cover all bases, you're encouraged to work together to produce the best items possible.
• The separate skill list for Alchemy allows the player to specialize in particular elements, a group(4-5) of material categories, and various types of 'end' products like armor or explosives (which naturally also can be used as materials in synthesis once you've outgrown them).

 

[Thorn_]

I remember part of the Altier games, but only played Annie for a bit. I don't know a lot of it. I think such a complicated crafting system might add a bit too much complexity to doing things, but I'm still willing to see where it goes. I'm just not really for aphrodisiac/pheromones stuff, so I'm not sure how for me it is, but other people might. I do them because other people like them really, more than I actually like them.

Curious where this would go if we did it. I just feel like a really heavy crafting focus might be a little...but I'm sure there's stuff that can be done with it. What kind of races could characters be?

 

[Mazoku]

I'm just not really for aphrodisiac/pheromones stuff, so I'm not sure how for me it is, but other people might.

Cauldrons can create anything, including dildos and other sex toys, transformative potions, clothes and accessories, and what have yous. Definitely not limited to aphrodisiacs.

What kind of races could characters be?

More or less free. Probably won't accept an eldritch monster, but anything from the suite of normal fantasy races is more than fine, including ghosts since you've mentioned an interest in it. Pamela Ibis is frequently reoccurring ghost shop keeper for instance.

I just feel like a really heavy crafting focus might be a little...

I know. Do hope it's easier in execution once everyone has a grip on it.

 

[moonblack]

I have not played any of the Atelier games, but I have watched a person play one during a stream, so I have some idea what it is like. I am curiousto see how this would work.

 

[Thorn_]

I have not played any of the Atelier games, but I have watched a person play one during a stream, so I have some idea what it is like. I am curiousto see how this would work.

I don't think you need to know the whole Aletier lore. I'm not sure it's meant to be canon. Just similar in idea to it. I think the point is more of the characters being alchemists making things. Just creating things through alchemy. Which tempts me to use Catherine again. Though if all characters do alchemy, I don't think you'd need it as a skill specifically.

Spoiler: Catherine

Name: Catherine “The Hag”
Race: Chimera(Mostly human)
Age: 42(?)

Skills: **Alchemy *Dexterity *Swordfighting *Flame Manipulation
Background: When a human is infused with salamander blood, the result is usually a dead person rather than giving them any unique traits. But for those dedicated to violating the laws of nature, it turns out, it is possible. Part flame beast, part mermaid, part human. This is the result.

Naturally gifted in plenty of things having came from a family of alchemists they were at war with one enemy. The natural order. Her crew seeing her as a brave and cunning captain, the one that’s ruthless to her enemies and good to her own men, they were saddened at the day they realized she had became old. Her children now all mostly adults, the ravages of age and having so many kids, took it’s toll on her body.

She chose to lead her crew in a new direction. What good was all the riches in the world if they wouldn’t be around to enjoy them? Focused on her ultimate goal of eternal youth, she is still a pirate and isn’t going to turn down any extra rewards or loot that comes her way.

Believing she no longer has the strength to keep up with the young crowds, she compensates by experience to make up for her frail self. While she sees herself as this, most people are aware by looking she has quite a few good years left and those who don’t, learn the hard way that time hasn’t made her an easy target.

Spoiler: Other choices I might do

Really not sure how people feel about driders though.

Yeah, I'm unsure which one I want to go with.

 

[GenericEditor168]

I'm down to play.

 

[merkros]

I'm not familiar with Aletier...like at all, but it sounds like another game that i am familiar with.

 

[Mazoku]

I don't think you need to know the whole Aletier lore. I'm not sure it's meant to be canon. Just similar in idea to it. I think the point is more of the characters being alchemists making things. Just creating things through alchemy. Which tempts me to use Catherine again. Though if all characters do alchemy, I don't think you'd need it as a skill specifically.

No prior lore knowledge required. And games series have different lore anyway, Atelier Escha & Logy (Mystery-series) takes place in a very different universe from Atelier Rorona (Arland-series) for example. Common elements are more the Alchemist profession itself and how they work to create items and explore the world as they try to achieve their own goals. Limiting the fleshed-out world to the Crystal Tower, the city, and any immediate surroundings so players will be allowed some leeway in coming up with their own stories and lore elements if they come from outside. Here the tone is brighter, the edges, where they exist, are more rounded. Pirates lean more toward the Luffy and his Strawhat Pirates variety than unwashed scurvy masses.

The Skill section will be more to flesh out their non-Alchemy aspects, which has a separate section. So in your character, you could change Alchemy to something else, and Flame Manipulation if you don't intend for her to be a fire mage. Being a fire mage would not directly translate to being good in handling the Fire element in materials, though you can do both without issue by choosing the Alchemy skill for Fire.

Your maid image gave me an idea of an Atelier also run as a cafe. Thank you for including that one.

I'm down to play.

Glad to hear it.

I'm not familiar with Aletier...like at all, but it sounds like another game that i am familiar with.

Gives the right idea. Although there are some other tools in the series, the Alchemy is largely limited to the cauldron instead of the more involved processes of Meister. But otherwise, you go out to gather material, from both the environment and monsters alike and later use them to create items, doing, in broad strokes, the same kinds of things. Less fucking, more hand-holding, though.

 

[unisol_gr44]

First time I've ever heard of that series but it could be fun. Colour me mildly intrigued.

I don't think you need to know the whole Aletier lore. I'm not sure it's meant to be canon. Just similar in idea to it. I think the point is more of the characters being alchemists making things. Just creating things through alchemy. Which tempts me to use Catherine again. Though if all characters do alchemy, I don't think you'd need it as a skill specifically.

Spoiler: Catherine

Name: Catherine “The Hag”
Race: Chimera(Mostly human)
Age: 42(?)

Skills: **Alchemy *Dexterity *Swordfighting *Flame Manipulation
Background: When a human is infused with salamander blood, the result is usually a dead person rather than giving them any unique traits. But for those dedicated to violating the laws of nature, it turns out, it is possible. Part flame beast, part mermaid, part human. This is the result.

Naturally gifted in plenty of things having came from a family of alchemists they were at war with one enemy. The natural order. Her crew seeing her as a brave and cunning captain, the one that’s ruthless to her enemies and good to her own men, they were saddened at the day they realized she had became old. Her children now all mostly adults, the ravages of age and having so many kids, took it’s toll on her body.

She chose to lead her crew in a new direction. What good was all the riches in the world if they wouldn’t be around to enjoy them? Focused on her ultimate goal of eternal youth, she is still a pirate and isn’t going to turn down any extra rewards or loot that comes her way.

Believing she no longer has the strength to keep up with the young crowds, she compensates by experience to make up for her frail self. While she sees herself as this, most people are aware by looking she has quite a few good years left and those who don’t, learn the hard way that time hasn’t made her an easy target.

Spoiler: Other choices I might do

Really not sure how people feel about driders though.

Yeah, I'm unsure which one I want to go with.

The red Oni has my vote, lol. She'd be making everything into alcohol, though... probably.

 

[Thorn_]

First time I've ever heard of that series but it could be fun. Colour me mildly intrigued.

The red Oni has my vote, lol. She'd be making everything into alcohol, though... probably.

Like usual, I have dozens of good characters to go with and can’t make up my mind. A tough oni girl might be fun to do. If I have to pick three, my pirate, the drider, or the oni. All good choices, but not enough things to go around to fill all their holes.

 

[moonblack]

My character will look like this:

Trivia: It's one of the main characters of Dieselmine's "Bitch Majo no Atelier" - a game I have not played, but based on the title it might be based on the Atelier series.

I have not yet decided on anything beyond looks.

 

[Thorn_]

My character will look like this:
View attachment 2524
Trivia: It's one of the main characters of Dieselmine's "Bitch Majo no Atelier" - a game I have not played, but based on the title it might be based on the Atelier series.

I have not yet decided on anything beyond looks.

I was also debating the sexy witch type. Maybe they're part of a coven then? I don't know. Just thinking outloud.

Spoiler

Between that or the oni, it's a tough call. I might make the oni a familiar npc or something so I can swap between them a little bit, if that would work.

 

[Tjf]

Another intellectual property I've never heard of... I feel like I'm perpetually out of the loop with you guys.

I have a character concept in mind, though not finalised - A wannabe dark lord witch with a love for enchanted jewelry (especially magic rings)

Spoiler: Appearance

 

[Thorn_]

Another intellectual property I've never heard of... I feel like I'm perpetually out of the loop with you guys.

I have a character concept in mind, though not finalised - A wannabe dark lord witch with a love for enchanted jewelry (especially magic rings)

Spoiler: Appearance

Image is doing that thing again where it's only visible in replies...looks like a lot of people are thinking about witches then. For obvious reasons.

I remember playing Alteier Annie. It's about a girl whose super lazy and just wants to marry someone rich so her parents send her off to her grandfather to learn alchemy...and she only really bothers studying it to win the alchemist competition so she can impress the prince to marry him. The game is cute and fun. I don't know a ton about the other ones in the series. I don't think we really need to know the exact lore for this though.

 

[Mazoku]

Between that or the oni, it's a tough call. I might make the oni a familiar npc or something so I can swap between them a little bit, if that would work.

You'll essentially be running shops of some kind. Hiring an oni to mind the shop isn't out of the question. So is creating a homunculus with alchemy. A few artificial beings are running around, probably outside the scope of novice alchemist to create but not a master. Summoning it and binding it by normal means too could work.

I remember playing Alteier Annie. It's about a girl whose super lazy and just wants to marry someone rich so her parents send her off to her grandfather to learn alchemy...and she only really bothers studying it to win the alchemist competition so she can impress the prince to marry him. The game is cute and fun. I don't know a ton about the other ones in the series.

Meruru is a princess that wants to help her country with the power of alchemy.

Firis lived in an underground city doing odd jobs and saw alchemy as a way to see the wider world. To prove she can survive, she's trying to become a licensed alchemist.

Lydie and Suelle are children of an alchemist and trying to revive their ailing shop while figuring out more about mysterious painting in their father's basement.

Escha and Logy work for the state administration as R&D and general problem solvers of the area. They dream of visiting the ruins floating in the sky.

And so on across another 20 or so games. Tldr versions, of course.

I have a character concept in mind, though not finalised - A wannabe dark lord witch with a love for enchanted jewelry (especially magic rings)

*Oujousama Laughs*

Trivia: It's one of the main characters of Dieselmine's "Bitch Majo no Atelier" - a game I have not played, but based on the title it might be based on the Atelier series

Looking up the description, it might be in parts.

 

[Thorn_]

Just getting this partially ready. I'll try to come up with a backstory when we get to the actual creation phase.

Name: Vanessa Beamount "The Red/Purple Queen"

Or

Skills: **Dark Magic *Elemental Magic (To be added)
Background:

 

[Mazoku]

For those unfamiliar with the Atelier series. Here's a review of the latest game (with a sequel coming soon, at least in Asian markets), giving an overview of the game's elements and story beats. Including two lists of the type of effects and traits items and materials found inside Ryza can have, for you to use as inspiration when creating your own effects/traits for the items once I get the RP going. Since the game is fairly PG non are lewd in nature, but I trust your inventiveness to remedy that.

 

[Mazoku]

Alternative to this is heavily scaling everything back, still using items but making it more like 'Mufcoat Cloth+ (Fire, Earth, Wind)' or 'Healing Salve (Heal over time) (Water) and just give an idea of any elemental composition, the relative strength of them, and if it's of superior quality and let players figure things out from there. Maybe maintain a reference recipe book and offer introductory suggestions to get everyone started and inspired.

Synthesis How To:
1. Determine which Recipe you want to use, or make and research your own.
2a. Fill the required slots with the indicated materials (either a specific material or general category). A single material can only contribute to a single category of item, but all materials contribute to any elemental requirements.
2b. Fill any optional slots, same restriction as above and they also contribute to elemental requirements.
3. Tally individual Elemental Values and add any additional effects to the item if you feel they're justified.
4a. Add all the Elemental Values and any pluses the used materials had together to determine the Quality of the synthesized item.
4b. For every rank of an applicable Alchemy skill, add a plus (+) to the Quality value.
5. Edit your character's inventory, removing the used materials and add the new item.

6. Finished.

Example:
Our intrepid hero, Bob, with the Alchemy skill Blessing of Fire (Mastery) is making a Bandage to fulfill a request by an adventurer.

Bandage – Healing:
-Elements: 2 Earth
-Quality: N/A
-Effects: Minor heal
-Categories: [Medicinal], [Cloth]

Here's the recipe:

Bandage – Minor heal (Healing):
-Req: [Thread], [Cloth], 1 Earth
-Optional: [Cloth], [Thread], [Medicinal]

In our inventory we have a Silk Thread, a Mufcoat Cloth, and a Healing Salve that we will use. The Mufcoat fulfills both the [Cloth] and 1 Earth requirement, while the Silk Thread covers the [Thread]. Since Healing Salve has the [Medicinal] category, it can be used as one of the recipe's Optional materials.

Silk Thread – Material:
-Elements: 2 Fire
-Quality: 1
-Effects: None
-Categories: [Thread]

Mufcoat Cloth – Material:
-Elements: 1 Fire, 1 Wind, 1 Earth
-Quality: 3+
-Effects: None
-Categories: [Cloth]

Healing Salve – Healing:
-Elements: 2 Water
-Quality: 2
-Effects: Minor heal.
-Categories: [Medicinal]

Tallying the Elemental Values we have: 3 Fire, 2 Water, 1 Wind, 1 Earth.

Very spread out and low, so we're skipping adding any new effects, but with a Quality of 8++ (3+2+1+1 from the Elemental Values, and another +1 carried over from the Mufcoat's plus) it's far better than the Salve we used as a material. And since our character has the Blessing of Fire skill and Fire had the highest individual Elemental Value, we're adding ++, one for the basic rank and another for the mastery.

All that's now left is stirring the cauldron! And we end up with:

Bandage – Healing:
-Elements: 2 Earth
-Quality: 8++
-Effects: Minor heal
-Categories: [Medicinal], [Cloth]


Don't think the process is too difficult to understand and follow, but since I made it that's liable to make me a little blind to any faults. Somehow managed to avoid complex matrix calculations, but it's math and a bit fiddly either way which is not to everyone's' taste.

 

[GenericEditor168]

I'm having trouble coming up with a character. I don't want to just make another animal-person (though that's more "are people sick of me doing that" than not actually wanting to be one), but I also don't want to play a human (or a pointy-ears human, a short human, a rubber-forehead human...).

Anyone got any ideas/suggestions?

 

[Thorn_]

I'm having trouble coming up with a character. I don't want to just make another animal-person (though that's more "are people sick of me doing that" than not actually wanting to be one)

I get that. As much as I love milf characters, it does cross my mind like “Are people getting bored of me always doing them?” I still like doing them and everything, and I do try to make them all different, but also doing the same thing for too long tends to get stale. I personally, can’t get bored of milfs, but I imagine other people can.

I think you should just do what you’re going to have fun with though.