beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2025-01-01 04:29 pm

Outlying Locations

OUTLYING LOCATIONS


    !♬! Mundane Brilliant Blue – Blue Reflection Second Light OST


    Once they've left the City, Dreamers can visit one of the many Outlying Locations that make up the Dream Sphere. These are best described as self-contained pocket dimensions that are constantly shifting, reforming and dispersing with no apparent rhyme or reason. These Outlying Locations are the ones most influenced by the dreams of people in the Waking World and as such are the most fully populated with Figments... as well as Torments and Nightmares.

    Each of these locations also has an associated Risk factor, which designates how dangerous it is. Low Risk areas can be handled by one or two Dreamers at a time, but in higher Risk areas, players are encouraged to tackle these challenges in small groups and work together to deal with them.

    While these locations are open to freely explore and play in at any time, if you would like to pursue rewards for exploring the Dream Sphere, check out the Excursions and Torment Hunts page.


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Fury Peak (High Risk)

♬ Clinging Jet Black – Wonder Egg Priority OST

A desolate landscape of scorched earth, fire blasted rock and throttling heat situated at the base of a collosal volcano constantly pouring ash and dense smoke into the air. Violent earthquakes are frequent; eruptions can occur on a moment's notice, rattling the ground and sending lava and molten rock spewing into the sky and down the sides of the mountain. During particularly violent outbursts, these seismic events can cause landslides or even open up fissures with deadly drops into the lava below. This constantly shifting landscape has formed an utterly treacherous terrain of jagged rocks and deadly crevices, made even more perilous by the near 24/7 rain of smoke and ash that makes the overall visibility low and the air miserable to breathe.

The Torments that spawn here are born of rage and boiling emotions, made all the wilder and more furious by the heat and noise. This combined with the punishing environment makes them extremely dangerous to encounter if solo or caught off guard. When navigating Fury Peak, do your best to keep your cool and use your wits - or you might not last very long.


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Zero Crater (High Risk)

♬ Nonlinear Reliance - Blue Reflection Second Light OST

A large crater punched into the earth. The borders are all tall, sharp drops, but once you get over the cliffs and down safely, the land curves in a downward spiral, not too difficult to follow. Near the top, the landscape is ordinary, green grass and trees with a large waterfall of sand falling from somewhere above. Upon closer inspection, the sand is actually small pieces of glittering, colorful crystal - sort of looks like the sand in a Sandglass!

Further in, the plants become first covered in, and then entirely composed of, iridescent crystal. Eventually you enter a cave system made of black stone; this all turns to white, rainbow-tinted crystal as well when you go a little ways in. There seems to be a limit to how deep into the caves Dreamers can go - at some point, the crystals become too sharp and thick to navigate through. Maybe someone knows how to get past them?

There's a significant amount of Torment activity here. The creatures are mostly made of sharp crystalline structures, in various bright colors that correspond to their attacks: for example, red crystal Torments might breathe fire. They tend to hunt in coordinated packs, and seem focused on keeping people out of the area; if a Dreamer exits the crater, they won't pursue. ([personal profile] tworo)


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Reverie Necropolis (Moderate Risk)

♬ Mysterious – Wonder Egg Priority OST

A sprawling, labyrinthine structure hewn from pitch black, icy cold stone, the Reverie Necropolis stands as a monument not to souls that have passed but dreams that have withered and died. The Necropolis is primarily a maze of narrow passageways and winding tunnels that occasionally open out into gigantic, cavernous rooms filled with thousands upon thousands of grave markers covered in indecipherable writing. There are no windows or natural light anywhere in the Necropolis, only the dim glow of wall torches flickering and giving off pungent, acrid smoke. Navigation is difficult, not helped by the fact that the interior of the maze will often rearrange itself, potentially separating a Dreamer from their companions - or whispers and odd noises from a turn in the path may lead to a surprise encounter with something nasty lurking in the shadows.

Torments here are born from potent feelings of fear and anxiety, making them both skittish and highly dangerous. Their primary method of attack is to stalk a Dreamer through the darkness, striking out and then fleeing to terrorise and gradually wear them down.


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Facet Lagoon (Medium Risk)

♬ Qualia - Blue Reflection OST

An atoll floating isolated in an endless ocean of clear, clean water - well, seemingly endless as any attempts to swim out from island will simply return you to its shoes. The atoll itself is a pleasant place to be stuck, at least; housing an enormous lagoon of ocean-scented sapphire water ringed by white sand beaches and glittering emerald trees that line the sand. Sky-grasping white cliffs rise high above the waves, offering pockets of shade to get out of the ever-present sunshine and provide some respite from the heat. Rather than seashells, the bone-white sand is littered with iridescent gemstones that catch the sunlight and give the entire island a shimmering rainbow effect. The waters themselves are clear enough that even the deepest parts of the lagoon seem to glow. If you're brave enough to dive deep, caves and tunnels full of glowing coral can be found that lead all around the island.

Unsurprisingly, considering its tranquill atmosphere, this area of the Dream Sphere is almost completely devoid of Torments - rather than spawning naturally, they are attracted by the presence of Dreamers and will breech it by emerging from the waters and attacking any that are present. The Tormentsdrawn here are not particularly strong and are easily dispatched but they can be sneaky... and even worse, they have a nasty habit of waiting out in the depths of the lagoon to ambush and try and restrain any Dreamers swimming through its depths.


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Abandoned Dojo (Medium Risk)

♬ Warm Rain – Wonder Egg Priority OST

Nestled high atop a majestic mountain peak, sits an abandoned dojo – dusty and a little worse for wear, but somehow welcoming and inviting all at the same time. Actually getting there is a bit of a task - you have to follow a winding path up through the mountain that would have been treacherous for a regular human but proves to be an exciting bit of mascot platforming for a Dreamer – and the views are absolutely spectacular! Once you finally reach the top of the mountain, you're greeted by a grand gate that's had intricate symbols carved into it that, once opened, leads into a courtyard mostly taken over by a large Zen garden. The inside of the dojo is spacious, with a massive training hall just waiting for a bunch of Dreamers to cut loose and train!

Keep an eye out, though – despite the Low Risk, there are still Torments here. Oddly enough, though, while they'll attack any Dreamers they see there doesn't seem to by any aggression in their fighting... almost as if they're looking for one last good fight before they wake from this dream.


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Stardust Sanctuary (Medium Risk)

♬ World End – Blue Reflection Second Light OST

A network of islands connected by a central hub, floating high amidst a glittering twilight sky with no other land in sight. The central hub appears carved from moonstone that glitters gently in the light, while countless bridges of the same luminescent stone radiate out from it's center, connecting the central platform to all the other islands. The islands themselves come in all shapes and sizes – some vast floating palaces adorned with delicate spires and intricate carvings of dizzying celestial patterns while others boast cascading waterfalls, lush gardens bursting with vibrant flora and fauna, and yet more are carrying shining stone labyrinths of mind-boggling complexity.

For the most part this is a relatively peaceful location but like anywhere else in the Dream Sphere, it's not entirely free of Torments. There are many of them here, taking the form of shooting stars that streak down in meteor showers and swarm any Dreamers caught by surprise, but they're individually weak enough that with some good teamwork, you can pull through.


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Whispering Grotto (Medium Risk)

♬ Garden - Wonder Egg Priority OST

Nestled deep within a majestic mountain range is an entrance concealed behind a waterfall shimmering in rainbow colours. It's unclear exactly where the water is coming from given that the top of the mountains seem to just vanish into the clouds but it's warm and refreshing when passed under. Once inside, the entrance opens out to a series of interconnected caverns, each one bathed in a different hue of bioluminescent light reflecting off the coral growing out of the cave walls and up from the floor. A strange, wordless song echoes through the caves, drawn out notes on some pretty, resonant instrument – it's honestly pretty zen! As the Dreamers venture deeper into the caves, they'll have to occasionally make their way through waist-deep pools of crystal-clear water, which seems to be the source of the caves' music. The caves' songs change as you move through them, shifting in tone and tempo and seem to be responding to the emotions of those present.

Torment sightings are relatively rare within the caves, probably thanks to the immensely chill vibes at play here but the deeper any explorations go, the more and more will gradually manifest. Thankfully, no particularly strong Torments gravitate towards the cave system but they do occasionally come in large numbers which can make things a bit hectic in the smaller caves.


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Vale of Sorrow (Low Risk)

♬ Clear Mind – Wonder Egg Priority OST

A vast, empty, and frankly miserable valley nestled in between two towering cliffs and housing the remains of what may have once been a beautiful and ornate temple that now lays in ruins, broken down beyond repair or identification. Rain constantly falls in a steady downpour though it has sometimes been known to intensify and become a blustering hurricane with thunder and lightning to boot. Traversal here is difficult, with the constant rainfall leaving the earth loose and muddy and the stone and cliff faces slippery and treacherous.

Despite the gloom and misery that seems to permeate everything here, the Torments that dwell within are surprisingly few in number and less aggressive than those found elsewhere making for a relatively easy trek compared to other places in the Dream Sphere. Rather than direct confrontation, these Torments prefer to hide out in blind spots created by the ruins or otherwise on ledges and in fissures up the side of the mountain, though they will become extremely violent if a Dreamer stumbles across them.




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Twinkle Keep (Low Risk)

♬ Conflict – Blue Reflection Second Light OST

A vast, ornate castle suspended atop soft pink clouds under a sparkling sky full of swirling auroras, open for any passing Dreamer to look inside and explore. The entrance of the Keep is a colossal hall with walls seemingly made of starlight, with a glass floor peering down at the clouds and stars below. The castle's layout itself is both elegant and enigmatic, with corridors that shift and change - a door might open onto a beautiful impossible garden or an ornate ballroom, only to change its mind and allow a Dreamer into a sparkling treasury or a beautiful music room when they next go back to explore.

As pretty as Twinkle Keep is, it's still a Dream, with Torments lurking about the castle – huge armored constructs armed with even huger weapons, and figures with starry eyes, able to shift gravity to immobilize and trap their targets. Best to be careful!


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Reflection Glades (Low Risk)

♬ Radial Terminal – Blue Reflection Second Light OST

A serene glade of picturesquely green grass surrounded by gently rolling hills and filled with beautiful flowers in bright, seemingly iridescent colours. The air is warm and the pleasant hum of summer can be heard all around, broken up by the sound of the babbling brooks that cut through the glade and the shifting of water in one of the many perfectly blue lakes scattered around. Unlike other areas of the Dream Sphere, the sky and weather do not shift here at all, instead remaining the perfect robin's egg blue of a perfect summer day.

Rather than negative emotions, the Glades are an oasis in the Dream Sphere created from feelings of joy and contentment and as such are one of the few places in the Dream Sphere where Torments do not naturally spawn and it is filled primarily by Figments. Torments from other parts of the Dream Sphere do occasionally make their way here and thanks to the higher concentration of Figments, it's particularly important to ensure they're taken care of.





STABILIZATION



    Come across a cool location in your Excursions? Use one of the forms below to submit it and make it permanently available to your fellow Dreamers!



beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2024-07-31 10:06 am

Permanent AC Page

PERMANENT AC

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Permanent AC?

Rather than submitting AC month by month, the perma-AC page lets players simply submit their activity as and whern they have it!

Players are required to provide two threads with separate characters totalling ten comments overall per two-month period to pass activity check. AC is processed on the first day of a new AC period. Once AC is processed, the results are posted with the corresponding Monthly Post and any characters who have failed to meet the activity minimum will be issued a strike.

A strike can be cleared by passing AC the next period with sufficient activity. Failing to pass AC for checks in a row without some manner of discussion with the mods will result in a character being swept from the game.

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How do I submit?

When you first app to the game, simply post individual toplevels for each of your characters with their name and canon as their permanent AC entry. For each AC period, reply to this comment with the month in the subject line and your AC proofs in the comment.

That's it!

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Got a form for me to fill out?

Who would I even be if I didn't?




beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2024-04-30 06:12 pm

World Alterations

WORLD ALTERATIONS

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What are World Alterations?

World Alterations are just that - alterations players can make to the world of dreams by spending their accumulated points. From an in-universe perspective, they are the result of characters using their powers to leave even stronger impressions on the Dream Sphere than ever before!

World Alterations currently fall under two broad categories: City Expansions and Outlying Locations.

City Expansions are additions to the Slumbering City that Dreamers can create with their magic! These can be anything you like but as they increase in size and complexity, that price tag is gonna go up...!

Outlying Locations allow you create a new location for the Dream Sphere from the ground up! While randomized Outlying Locations can and will continue to be found via Excursions, this allows a player to create an addition to the Dream Sphere that's entirely their own vision. From an IC perspective, these will still be locations characters stumble across while out on Excursions - this just allows you to do away with the randomization element and craft something entirely of your own!

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How much will they cost me?

Because World Alterations are big, permanent changes to the game setting, their pricing reflects that! The final total of a World Alteration may vary depending on the size and complexity of the request, a handy dandy chart of some ballpark prices wouldn't hurt:

    City Expansions
    Size Small Expansion
    Medium Expansion Large Expansion
    No Furnishings 2 4 8
    Sparse Furnishings 4 8 16
    Basic Furnishings 8 16 32
    Complex Full Furnishings 16 32 64


    Outlying Locations
    Size Small
    Medium Large
    Sparse 3 6 12
    Basic 12 24 48
    Complex 24 48 96

Yikes! Now that’s pricey!

Since these are big purchases, their points costs do unfortunately reflect that. However, to give as many players as possible a chance to play with this system, we do allow players to split points costs between them when purchasing World Alterations!

For every increase in size and complexity, one additional player can chip in with an equal share of the cost, if needed. For example, up to seven players would be able to contribute to the creation of a Large / Complex Alteration, but a Small / Sparse Alteration would cap out at one additional player. Be sure to include everyone's names on the request so point totals can be calculated as necessary!

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How do I submit a World Alteration?

Just fill out the form below and submit it in the comments for the mods to see. You may be contacted for extra details or general hammering out the kinks but once everyone's point contributions are confirmed, it'll be go time!

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I've got another question not covered by this page!

No worries! Drop it below and we'll get you a response as quick as we can!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-12-31 03:30 pm

Disturbances & Player Plot Signups

DISTURBANCE FAQ

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What are Disurbances?

Disturbances are surreal dreamscapes drawing directly on the struggles faced by the particular characters who create them. They're distortions in the dream world formed by strong negative emotions that take root and begin warping the foundation of the Dream Sphere around them. Unlike other Outlying Locations which are created by large clusters of similar feelings and dreams from multiple people, a Disturbance is born from the feelings of a single person and as such will very specifically reflect their thoughts, feelings, etc.

From an OOC perspective, Disturbances are the plot-critical dungeons that characters must clear to progress aspects of the metaplot. In addition, Disturbances are unique among other Outlying Locations in that they vanish once resolved and incubate extremely powerful enemies known as Night Terrors at their core who must be defeated to save the person at its heart, in a Boss Tier Combat encounter.

For a more concise explanation of the vibes, specific inspiration for this element of the setting was drawn from the equivalent dungeons in Persona 4 or the Heartscapes in Blue Reflection Second Light. Visual inspo & the overall Vibes were also drawn from similar concepts such as the dream environments in the first handful of Wonder Egg Priority episodes as well as the barriers created by witches in Madoka Magica.

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How are Disturbances formed?

Disturbances are expressions of deeply held and intense negative emotions colliding with a strong and single desire: the need to escape present circumstances and run away to somewhere safe, leaving it all behind. A little bit of mysterious interference on the other side and poof! A Disturbance is manifested. The person who created it vanishes from the real world and reappears inside the Disturbance.

Disturbances can be created by anyone, Dreamer or otherwise. Neither is necessarily more or less dangerous than the other: while a Dreamer's Disturbance might be more actively hostile and controlled, a regular person's Disturbance might be chaotic and unpredictable.

OOCly, Disturbances are large-scale player plots that you can sign up for. Submit a plot pitch with the form below in the comments and get the ball rolling! From there, players will work with the mods to build a Disturbance event that they will run in place of the usual monthly event.

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How are Disturbance logs run? How do I build one?

Never fear! A mod-run Disturbance and a player-run Disturbance here for you to peruse! In addition, mods will be present to give outlines and guidance to players who are building a Disturbance for the first time.

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What happens after a Disturbance?

In the wake of a successful Disturbance dive, the character at the heart of the Disturbance will return to the real world, feeling a little more clearheaded - it's basically a quick shot in the arm for any character development related to the issue that sent them into the Dream Sphere to begin with. They may experience some emotional volatility but the DU goes out of its way to provide support for anyone who's been caught up in a Disturbance so they're not going through it alone!

As for an unsuccessful Disturbance dive (not clearing any noted goals or failing to defeat the Night Terror inside)... without spoiling too much for potential future plot developments, a failure to clear a Disturbance in the timeframe given by the event preview will result in negative outcomes on both Yumemigaoka and the Dream Sphere as well as stranding the character in the center of the Disturbance in the Dream Sphere... at least for the time being.

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So what exactly are Night Terrors?

Night Terrors are the enemies being incubated by a Disturbance. In function, they are something like an upgraded Nightmare, drawing from and attached to one specific person. In a sense, they are the personification of these negative emotions, similar to a Shadow (Persona 4) or a Wonder Killer (Wonder Egg Priority). While their appearances will be heavily influenced by the thoughts and feelings of their creators, they differ from regular Nightmares in that they can take on any number of forms from a towering kaiju to a seemingly normal looking human. Some are intelligent enough to talk and manipulate their way out of a situation while others are nothing more than raging beasts.

Like a regular Nightmare, a rampaging Night Terror runs the risk of consuming its host and anything else it can find - Dreamer, Figment, Nightmare or Torment. Their powers also seem to have an unusual property that allows them to affect and influence the real world even from the Dream Sphere so who knows what could happen if one was allowed to fully manifest...

OOCly, Night Terrors are the final bosses at the heart of a Disturbance who must be defeated in Boss Tier Combat to successfully clear a dungeon. They may have unusal abilities that differ from those of a regular Dreamer and are powerful enough to prove challenging to even an entire Unit of Dreamers.

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How can I sign up for a Disturbance plot?

Easy peasy! Just fill out the form below and submit it in the comments for the mods to see. You'll be contacted to confirm you're still up for it and then Disturbance building will begin in earnest!

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I've got another question not covered by this page!

No worries! Drop it below and we'll get you a response as quick as we can!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-06-30 07:13 pm

Monthly Event & Player Plot Submissions

EVENT SUBMISSIONS

    Each time a new month comes around and a monthly post comes with it, there is also a round of world events that take place over the current in-game month that make the world of Yumemigaoka a bit more lively to play in. While the mods are typically the ones cooking those up, this page is a place where you can submit your very own! These can be anything from weather events to sales to minor strangenesses in the Dream Sphere; basically, anything you can think of that would be fun to play with that wouldn't qualify for a whole event on its own.

    To submit a world event, just fill out the form below and drop it into the comments!

    A little more exciting and expansive than world events are player plots – this is where you guys can submit large scale player-created plots that will take the place of the monthly mod plot and give you the opportunity to really play around in the deep end of BD's setting! The form below essentially serves as your pitch and after submitting it, the mods will workshop things with you until everything's all shiny and ready to go.

    As with world events, just fill in the form below and submit it in the comments!

    WORLD EVENTS:


    PLAYER PLOT:



beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-06-05 01:56 pm

Additional Setting Lore

ADDITIONAL LORE

    Welcome to the Additional Setting Lore page! This is where we collate player created worldbuilding for the setting of Beautiful Dreamer to better serve as reference for folks coming into the game or even those who've been around for a while! Essentially, this is a collection of mundane worldbuilding that serves to enhance the day to day world of Yumemigaoka and what goes on in it. Got a character with a specific field of knowledge who should be up to date on all the latest trends? Desperately need to know what Teki-Terra is or which of the Pure☆Candy girls you should stan? We've got you covered!

    "Media" covers any kind of BD-specific, in-universe media, "Celebrities" covers characters who are famous or well known in-universe (including player characters, if relevant!) and "Other" is for anything that doesn't quite fall into either of the above.

    To submit anything, just fill out the form below and toss it into the comments. You can also submit a notable association to connect your character with a particular aspect of the lore ("A-Ko starred in this movie" "C-ko works at this organisation") if you like – though as a courtesy, you should check in with the player who submitted it to the page before doing so.

    SUBMISSION FORM






MEDIA




    In-universe media the characters of BD might engage with! This is divided into categories to make it a little easier to peruse.


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TV & MOVIES

⧖ After Dreaming: Following the lives of several Dreamers after they retired, After Dreaming is one of the most notable American depictions of Dreamers. Former Dreamer Periwinkle went from a well-known Dreamer to a veritable celebrity because people found the fact that she retired to start a family relatable and connected with her struggles balancing raising a child with work on the show. It also popularized the idea of Dreamers as celebrities in America. ([personal profile] yourattention)
Notable Associations: Connor Murphy (former cast member)

⧖ Pauper and Princess: A live-action drama series based on a coming-of-age light novel series. Rie Horie, a gloomy high schooler struggling to make ends meet while living alone, is shocked when she begins her first year of school and realizes that she and another girl in her class share the same name and birthday - especially given that the rich, elegant other Rie seems to her her opposite in every way. The girls quickly form a close friendship and the series follows them through the ups and downs of high school life. While the series is not 'officially' yuri, it nevertheless has a dedicated RieRie shipping community and is upheld as a beloved piece of live-action gay romance.

⧖ Teki-Terra: A long-running series of kaiju movies starting with Teki-Terra back in the 1970s. It stars the titular Teki-Terra, a monster from the Earth's crust, who emerges from a thousand year slumber and threatens humankind. Across the three movies in the series, Teki-Terra learns to tolerate humans, bonds with a single one in particular and finally sacrifices himself to protect humankind from a leak in the Earth's crust that threatened to destroy the planet. The series was originally a trilogy of Teki-Terra, Teki-Terra Final, and Teki-Terra Final Forever but a reboot in the 1990s caused a resurgence of popularity that has yet to die down even thirty years later. The fanbase is pretty split on whether the original or post-reboot eras of the franchise are better quality.

⧖ The American Dreamers: A spin-off of popular American reality TV show After Dreaming. The first season followed the creation process of The American Dream as a unit and aired in 2021. It was quickly followed by a second season airing in 2022, which covered the going-ons in the lavish Californian mansion the unit lives in. The third season is currently filming and set to air in late 2023. ([personal profile] yourattention)
Notable Associations: Connor Murphy (cast member)

⧖ The Leisurely Case Files of the Oden Detective:A cozy-murder TV suspense serial that aired a few years ago, about a no-nonsense private detective. Many of the side characters were played by unknowns who would later either have a meteoric rise in popularity or crash hard. Popular with grandmas for its sensible, quietly sentimental main character who always finds the culprit. ([personal profile] saynotobugs)
Notable Associations: Midorikawa Maki (Played a recurring side character when she was still acting)


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ANIME & MANGA

⧖ We See Spirits!: A goofy and irreverent comedy anime following a high school mystery solving club who dedicate themselves to investigating paranormal incidents around their school and disproving any ghostly or ghoulish involvement in favor of a mundane explanation. However, each member of the club is secretly some sort of supernatural being themselves and all are under the impression that they are the sole supernatural member of the club and must keep it a secret.

⧖ Echoes of Eldoria: An epic fantasy manga set in a fantastical realm of magic and mythical creatures. It follows a young mage named Elara who is tasked with restoring the balance of magic in the world after the death of her beloved mentor. As she embarks on a quest filled with perilous adventures, ancient prophecies, and unlikely alliances, she confronts dark forces threatening to plunge Eldoria into chaos and Elara discovers the true extent of her magical abilities and the destiny that awaits her. A famous and influential work that ran for fifteen years before coming to an end.

⧖ Luminal Threads: A scifi thriller anime that follows a series of university students as they discover a mysterious device that allows them to communicate with alternate versions of themselves across different dimensions. As they unravel the secrets of the "Luminal Threads," they must navigate the consequences of their choices, both in their own worlds and others, and confront unexpected challenges that transcend the boundaries of reality. It has a particularly dedicated fanbase but is memetically infamous for people absolutely impossible to even summarize for people interested in the show without giving away some pretty major spoilers.

⧖ Moonlit Sonata: A beloved yuri anime that follows the intertwining destinies of four girls brought together by their shared love for classical music. Set in a prestigious music academy, it explores the rivalries, friendships, and self-discoveries in the group. Each protagonist has a unique musical talent and a grim personal history that the series weaves together, culminating in a music competition that changes their lives forever. It mostly flew under the radar when it first aired but has been retroactively recognized and celebrated for its beautiful soundtrack and emotional depth.

⧖ Nexus: A mind-bending psychological thriller-horror from back in the 90s that saw a renewed explosion of interest sometime in the mid-2010s. In a near-future world, groundbreaking technology known as "Nexus" allows individuals to enter shared virtual realities. The show explores the ethical dilemmas and psychological consequences of this technology as a group of high school students becomes entangled in a virtual conspiracy that blurs the lines between reality and illusion, causing them to question the nature of consciousness and the consequences of their actions both inside and outside the virtual realm. A beloved director's first major hit.

⧖ Yonezawa's Last Paycheck: A mystery/horror manga following a nightshift worker, Okita, at a convenience store who becomes worried when his coworker, Yonezawa, quits her job suddenly and vanishes without collecting her last paycheck. He attempts to find Yonezawa to hand it over but quickly finds that someone seems to be covering her tracks. The series was made famous by its premise redefining twist and perspective shift at the story's midpoint, revealing Okita to be an unreliable narrator before unmasking him as the story's true villain and putting Yonezawa in the protagonist's shoes.


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VIDEO GAMES & WEB MEDIA

⧖ Darling Dazzling: A popular YouTuber who once went by the name of Dreamer Dazzling. Now retired, she calls herself "Darling Dazzling" and has made a career mostly out of lifestyle vlogging. More recently, her channel has also included makeup tutorials and fashion vlogging and "news updates" (read: drama) floating about her corner of the Dreamer community. While many people enjoy her straightforward personality and biting sense of humor, Darling is less popular among Dreamers for the way she tends to exaggerate and spread soft misinformation about the Dream Sphere to people who don't know any better.

⧖ HIMEGIMI: A series of social sim/raising games where the player takes on the role of a disgraced ex-knight stumbling into raising a young girl destined to become a legendary figure only referred to as the "Himegimi". While the feel of the series overall is quite heartwarming, the fourth and fifth games are notable and beloved among fans for injecting tragedy and pathos into the Himegimi formula and encouraging a lot of replayabiltiy. Each game runs with its own lore and continuity aside from the reoccurring helper character Quatra the fairy who is implied to remember the events of every prior HIMEGIMI game.

⧖ Hoshihime: A series of absurdly hard bullet hell arcade shmups, consisting of six games released between 1997 and 2023. The games are: Hoshihime, 2nd Hoshihime, Hoshihime Ketsui, Hoshihime Fukkatsu, Hoshihime Zero, Hoshihime Forbidenna. All six are available on PC or modern consoles in some form by now. Ketsui is considered the high point of the series (although Forbidenna came close to dethroning it), and Zero the low point. The games tell the story of Haruka, a magical girl who's drawn away from earth to be the queen of a galaxy-spanning war machine called Paradigm, and Tetsuko, her childhood best friend who uses the power of magic to try and stop/save her. Haruka's fate is trapped in an endless cycle of tragedy, which seemed to have no possible happy ending until the climax of Forbidenna's second loop. Unfortunately, Forbidenna is also the hardest game in the already brutal series, so only a select few elite gamers will ever see the wheel of fate broken. Basically everyone in the fandom ships TetsuHaru. ([personal profile] fantasy_heaven)
Notable Associations: Ai Hoshino (voices Haruka)

⧖ Kaguya Android: A futuristic cyberpunk otome game set in a dystopian city ruled by mega-corporations. The protagonist, a skilled hacker, becomes embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens to reshape all of society. As she navigates the dangerous world of corporate espionage, she encounters five enigmatic individuals with conflicting interests and hidden agendas. The game's main hook is balancing strategic choices that will help the truth behind the conspiracy while not neglecting to develop your relationships with the love interests, each representing a different faction in the cyberpunk landscape.

⧖ Myosotis: If lowkey, relatively calm reviews of mostly queer YA books are your thing then look no further. Initially something Connor was forced to do, the channel has grown from slightly awkward and fumbling content into what fans affectionally call "book ASMR." Videos post once a week, with the lineup generally being two more longform reviews, a bookish vlog or otherwise "fun" video, and a roundup of everything Connor read that month. ([personal profile] yourattention)
Notable Associations: Connor Murphy (host)


!
MUSIC & LITERATURE

⧖ Pure☆Candy: An idol group assembled from promising singers and actresses up and down Japan with the intent of taking the entertainment world by storm with their collective skills. While they made a decent splash at the time, the group's unbalanced skillsets and the departure of their most popular member, 'Mionio' caused them to go on indefinite hiatus.

⧖ Clarity And The Business of Death: An episodic mystery novel series in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes or Miss Marple, in which a cheery and seemingly airheaded detective named Clarity Skylark goes from place to place, solving improbable murders that happen to spring up wherever she goes. The series has an upbeat, darkly comedic tone and never bothers to take itself too seriously, which has earned it a fanbase of mystery and comedy fans alike.

⧖ Saint Catherine's School for Girls: Light novel series, later adapted into a popular manga, about the young ladies attending a Catholic girls' high school. Conflict tends to be either minimal or over-the-top melodramatic (or both), and an intense focus is placed on the passionate, admiring and yearning relationships between the girls, particularly senpai-kouhai pairs. Most of the illustrations have random lilies scattered around For Some Reason. ([personal profile] darcangel)




CELEBRITIES



    ⧖ Ango Sakaguchi: A moderately famous writer who's known more for his troublemaking than for his literary work. His first novel, Under the Cherry Trees, is regularly featured in high school Contemporary Japanese Literature classes and was made into a historical fantasy-horror film that won several awards... but his second film adaptation, The Innocent, was a big-budget scifi flop that wildly diverged from the original book. His Heisei Enlightenment novel series (which has been adapted into manga and anime) follows oddball detective Yuki Shinjuro and his sexy gender-bending supernatural sidekick as they uncover government corruption in a dystopian alternate Tokyo. While his work has been praised for dealing with themes of trauma, alienation, and censorship, Ango hasn't published anything since getting into a public brawl with an influential literary critic in 2022.
    ([personal profile] darknesshotpot)
    Notable Associations: Ai Hoshino (starred in The Innocent shortly before her solo debut)

    ⧖ The American Dream: This unit of five second generation American Dreamers are the current faces of the American Dreamer Union. They all have fake Dreamer Personas reflecting their parents' and are just. Extremely Gen-Z celebrities who all have multiple millions of followers and star in a Netflix reality show called The American Dreamers. The unit is immensely popular among the general American population, particularly as queer icons as 3/5 of the members fall under that umbrella, but have a reputation within the Dreamer community as... second-rate Dreamers. As in their job is making the DU look good first and hunting Torments second. ([personal profile] yourattention)
    Notable Associations: Connor Murphy (member)

    ⧖ Royal Family of Lagaard: The mostly-ceremonial monarchy of Lagaard, a small country in northern Europe, who aren't quite as well-known globally as their counterparts from, say, the UK, but aren't exactly obscure either. The most famous among them are Queen Eunice (born 1962), who's getting on in years but still probably has a decade or two in her, and her granddaughters Arianna (born 2005) and Phaedra (born 2008), who are widely liked and are the subject of several "look, kids, these famous people are just like you!" type children's books, a few of which even have some basis in reality. Notably, Arianna used to make regular public appearances, but has stopped as of mid-June 2023 "for personal reasons." Phaedra appears to be picking up the slack. ([personal profile] daughterofthemark)
    Notable Associations: Anna Caldwell/Arianna Lagaard (is secretly that Arianna)




OTHER



    ⧖ The Bureau of Education, Government Oversight, and Operations for Dreamers: Link! ([personal profile] thezekeinator)
    Notable Associations: Zeke Genbu (Director of DAMNIT)


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-05-10 11:31 am

Mentors And Trainees

MENTORSHIP

    After graduating from the Novice Archetype, Dreamers will have the option to sign up to the Mentorship program offered by the Dreamer Union. Mentors are experienced Dreamers who already have a strong grasp on their magic and are willing to help guide Novice Dreamers through the initial stages of their power development. Mentors are often assigned a small handful of Novice Dreamers to look out for and are usually encouraged to have their trainees work together and socialize and potentially form a Unit once they've gotten a good grip on their powers.

    Characters are paid for their work in the Mentorship program, usually as a bonus to the payment they receive for their work in the Dream Sphere but as this is a voluntary position, they can quit at any time.

    As well as looking out for their trainees, Mentors will occasionally be tasked with other responsibilities from the DU, such as responding to emergency requests or odd occurrences in the Dream Sphere and other lightweight work on an "as needed" basis. Work in the Mentorship program can also be a pipeline to formal employment at the DU if that's something a character might want to pursue.

    To apply to become a Mentor, just fill out the form below. From the Trainee side of things, just grab the appropriate form and fill it out in turn.

    Once assigned to each other, both players are encouraged to build some CR and play out this Mentorship as it develops. Certain AC Bonuses will tie back to the Mentorship system with rewards available for regularly threading with your Mentorship CR.

    The official Mentorship program is a function of the Dreamer Union, so characters who aren't associated with the DU will be unable to use it - though this obviously does and should not prevent characters forming informal partnerships and mentorships between themselves.

    MENTORSHIP APPLICATION:


    TRAINEE APPLICATION:





CURRENT MENTORS



    Character & Dreamer Name: Ai Hoshino | Dreamer Ai-Doll ([personal profile] liedol)
    Archetype: Sentry
    Teaching Style: Attentive and encouraging with a penchant for needling her trainees to push them out of their comfort zones. She might plunk you in the deep end but only when she's slapped some floaties on you and gone in to test the waters herself. Your New Mom Now.
    Current Trainees: Illya von Einzbern, Kenko Yoshida

    Character & Dreamer Name: Amane Yugi | Dreamer Hanako ([personal profile] hanamane)
    Archetype: Striker
    Teaching Style: Just throw them into danger, they'll be fine :')
    Current Trainees: Junna Hoshimi, Sousuke Mitsuba

    Character & Dreamer Name: Angelica Clement | Dreamer Ange ([personal profile] beautifuldreamermods)
    Archetype: Saver
    Teaching Style: Bubblegum pink drill sergeant.
    Current Trainees: None

    Character & Dreamer Name: Hubert Vestra | Dreamer Bishop ([personal profile] pegasinister)
    Archetype: Striker
    Teaching Style: spooky mf
    Current Trainees: Ruby Hoshino

    Character & Dreamer Name: Zeke Genbu (Taro Suzuki :( ) | Dreamer Chaosbringer ([personal profile] thezekeinator)
    Archetype: Striker
    Teaching Style: Relentlessly positive! Learn to love life and adventure! Have fun with your fighting! Actually be effective!
    Current Trainees: Mio Kasuga, Darian Conner





NEW TRAINEES



    This section specifically lists trainees who are in search of Mentors.

    Thankfully, everyone's currently matched up!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-05-07 07:26 pm

NPCs & Notable Figures

NPCs

    NPCs are important figures in the world of Beautiful Dreamer – either to the overall lore of the AU or simply characters who exist within the AU backstory of current PCs and are notable figures in their own right. This page exists to keep track of both mod-controlled NPCs and to collate information about player-created notable figures in the world of BD that characters in-universe would reasonably have familiarity and/or general knowledge of. They may pop up from time to time and still have involvement and importance to the story but aren't big movers and shakers in the plot.

    As you can see, this page is a little sparse so far... but that's where you come in! Got a notable figure in your backstory? Invent a funny, one-off character for a thread you want to immortalize? If you'd like to make sure other players have the info they need, submit that character here!

    FORM:





THE DREAMER UNION





    Angelica Clement (She/Her)
    Dreamer Ange (Saver)

    Once a member of the famous "RAY" Unit, she remained with the DU after the rest of its members retired. Now a Mentor working with the Dreamer Union, she specializes in training newbie Dreamers on the specifics of combat. She's known to be a bit of a grouch and does not take any degree of bullshit but she's got a good heart under it all. Notably, Angelica's appearance does not noticeably change between the Dream Sphere and real life - after transitioning in her teens, she styled herself after her Dreamer form. ([personal profile] beautifuldreamermods)



    Cynthia Murphy (she/her)
    Dreamer Periwinkle (Saver)

    A prominent member of the DU's American Branch and active through the early 2000s, Cynthia is now retired and a celebrity thanks to a reality TV show called After Dreaming. She uses her celebrity to be a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, having set up charities to support them and lobbied for legislation in America, and to facilitate communication between the US government and the DU. Currently, she is focused on mentoring young Dreamers and making sure the next generation is set up for success. (r/[plurk.com profile] flyingthesky)



    Odette Cygnia (she/her)
    Dreamer Swan (Striker)

    One of the original Founding Members of the Dreamer Union, Odette spearheaded many of the efforts to get the Union the funding and recognition it needed and became a bit of a celebrity as a result. Considered one of the faces of the Union for a long time, she was known best for her natural charisma, high energy and seemingly endless kindness. However after becoming pregnant with her first child her powers suddenly vanished and she withdrew from the public eye completely, determined to keep her child's upbringing out of the limelight. She was succeeded by her final mentee and her husband continues to teach at Promised Morning. Rumors sometimes go around that her child somehow stole her powers. (Lynsey/[personal profile] atratus)



    Ryuki Kudo (he/him)
    Dreamer Ura-Acca (Sentry)

    A brilliant, laid-back scientist working with Dreamer Union and a major contributor to the recent Stabilizer technology. He and his research partner Tetsurou Mori spent their late teens and early twenties splitting their time between the lab and fighting in the Dream Sphere, but they retired to focus on their scientific pursuits in their late twenties, and have since deepened Dreamer Union's understanding of the Dream Sphere and invented several practical technologies for the real world. Ryuki is regarded as eccentric, especially compared to Tetsurou, but his "chill" attitude typically makes him more approachable... although bringing up the subject of romance will inevitably make him grumpy for the whole day after. (Lily/[plurk.com profile] aerialism)



    Tetsurou Mori (he/him)
    Dreamer Acca (Saver)

    An erudite, charismatic scientist working with Dreamer Union and a major contributor to the recent Stabilizer technology. He and his research partner Ryuki Kudo spent their late teens and early twenties splitting their time between the lab and fighting in the Dream Sphere, but they retired to focus on their scientific pursuits in their late twenties, and have since deepened Dreamer Union's understanding of the Dream Sphere and invented several practical technologies for the real world. Tetsurou is put-together, magnetic, and polite, although he's easily flustered by any talk of romance. (Lily/[plurk.com profile] aerialism)




YUMEMIGAOKA




    Mio Kasuga (She/Her)
    Dreamer Forte

    A freshly ex-idol gradually returning to life as an ordinary girl. Freed from the pressures of being a pure and perfect teen idol, Mio is a driven, introverted girl whose passion for piano is only matched by her own high standards for her performing. She has a bit of a hot tempered streak and is gradually re-learning how to be herself again now she's free to pursue her own wants and goals. ([personal profile] beautifuldreamermods)




OTHER




    Eliza Waleland (She/Her)
    Dreamer Crimson (Saver)

    The former leader of RAY. She Awakened at a particularly young age and displayed an unusual aptitude for magic as well as an interest in exploring the Dream Sphere's deeper secrets. She vanished during a prolonged deep dive into the Dream Sphere and has not been seen or heard from again, causing RAY to disband in her absence. She was known to be a mature, responsible young woman though those closest to her noted that she had a stubborn, competitive streak and hated to lose. Recently, she has been sighted in the Dream Sphere but does not seem receptive to the idea of returning to the real world... ([personal profile] beautifuldreamermods)



    Yumeko Kamizaki (She/Her)
    Dreamer Reverie (???)

    The first Dreamer. Like many that came after her, she Awakened after being attacked by a Nightmare as she dreamed. She eventually vanished without a trace into the Dream Sphere after apparently sacrificing herself to seal a powerful Nightmare. As she disappeared before the formation of the Dreamer Union, little concrete information about her has been retained but she was known to have an exceptional affinity for the Dream Sphere's magic, which made her incredibly powerful. Those who knew her prior to her vanishing remember her as a clever and kind hearted girl, though one too quick to burden herself if it meant helping others. ([personal profile] beautifuldreamermods)


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-04-23 06:42 pm

Players & Characters

PLAYERS & CHARACTERS



beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-04-06 12:16 pm

Timeline

AU TIMELINE

    The world of Beautiful Dreamer has a history that stretches far back beyond the game's opening – and if you're curious about that history or just want to brush up on your dates, this is the place to do it. The AU Timeline assumes basic familiarity with the world and lore of Beautiful Dreamer so if you need to catch yourself up on any of the concepts mentioned, check the navigation to find all the appropriate info pages.

    !
    EARLY HISTORY

    1972–73 – The Dream Sphere either manifests or forms a connection with the Waking World for the first time. Without Dreamers to maintain balance, the effects of Torment and Nightmare attacks ripple out across reality, causing widespread fear and confusion.

    1973 – The first Dreamer, Dreamer Reverie, Awakens. Several more Dreamers follow shortly after and after loosely coordinating in the Dream Sphere are able to begin pushing back against the pent-up negative emotions wreaking havoc in reality.

    1973–76 – Rumors circulate about the existence of Dreamers and the Dream Sphere – while many in the Waking World find it difficult to believe, evidence is beginning to stack up.

    1978 – A cataclysmically huge Nightmare event takes place in the Dream Sphere. It is eventually contained, though not without complications – Dreamer Reverie vanishes in the chaos, never to be seen again, and the aftermath of the event causes the existence of the Dream Sphere to become an open secret in the Waking World.

    1980 – The existence of the Dream Sphere and the Dreamers are verified once and for all and the masquerade is completely torn down. The Dream Sphere becomes public knowledge.

    1988 – The Dreamer Union is established.


    !
    RECENT HISTORY

    1988-1990 – The DU opens additional branches across Japan and begins establishing support systems for younger Dreamers.

    1993-1996 – The twenty year anniversary of the first Dreamer Awakening. The first international Dreamer Union branch is opened in America. Several more follow all around the world.

    1990-2010 – The group of Dreamers that would go on to become the famous "RAY" Unit Awaken and sign on with the Dream Union.

    2013 – The leader of RAY, Dreamer Crimson, vanishes without a trace and is never seen again after diving deep into the Dream Sphere. In her absence, RAY disbands and several of its members retire.

    2019 – The creation of technology-adjecent artefacts contained soley within the Dream Sphere is established to be possible. Intensive research is immeditely underway.

    2023 – The 50th anniversary of the first Dreamer Awakening.

    2024 – Current year.
beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-30 11:10 am

Applications

APPLICATIONS

    Applying to Beautiful Dreamer is easy as pie! Just use one of the templates below, fill it out with all the required information and Bob's your uncle. Characters originating from pre-existing works (including OCs) should use the full application, whereas setting native OCs should go with the app labelled for their use. We do not require reserves and do not accept app challenges.

    Apps are processed on a rolling basis during app week. If you submitted an app just prior to the cutoff time, you may not hear back on your application until after apps close.


    Full Application:


    Setting Native OCs:


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-27 01:23 pm

Archetypes & Combat

ARCHETYPES

    Archetype is the word used to describe roles that characters fill in Combat as Dreamers. From an in-universe perspective, this is a classification system that the DU uses to describe how a Dreamer's powerset works and what they excel at most when working with other Dreamers. Think of them as classes or jobs - but rather than the Archetype dictating their skillset, the Archetype is assigned based on a character's existing powers and abilities. OOCly, they serve a similar purpose in describing a character's intended role in battle at a glance and during some events, there will be calls for certain Archetypes to deal with certain problems.

    If you choose to app your character a newbie Dreamer, they will automatically be assigned the Novice Archetype to reflect their inexperience. Novices are not associated with any particular role in battle and are expected and encouraged to be a bit of a jack of all trades, experimenting and playing around with their magic and seeing what sort of fighting style they naturally gravitate towards.

    Once a Novice gets the hang of fighting in the Dream Sphere and learns their first Signature Move, they will graduate from the Novice Archetype to one of the three below. While Archetypes are ICly assigned to the Dreamer, you are free to OOCly pick whichever one you think suits them best or would be the most interesting to play with. It's important to note that your Archetype does not dictate or limit the type of magic your character can use, just what they are already naturally inclined towards based on what magic they already possess.

    The three Archetypes are Sentries, Strikers and Savers. A balanced group of Dreamers that contains at least one of every Archetype is referred to as a Unit.

    !
    Sentries

    Sentries are the more defensively oriented Archetype, with powers that assist them in acting as tanks or protectors. This can be through using a shield as their main weapon, being able to redirect attacks away from their allies or just otherwise being so damn sturdy that they can get up in an enemy's face and be an excellent distraction without having to worry too much about taking hits. Their damaging capacity is more limited in comparison to a Striker, but their defensive capabilities are top-notch.

    During Boss Combat Encounters, Sentries receive two extra points of Durability and have a small chance to halve any damage taken from an attack if they are protecting an ally.


    !
    Strikers

    Strikers are the Archetype whose powers are more centred on dealing raw damage, whether that be through being quick enough on their feet to rain down blows or just absolutely slamming down the Big Numbers once they see a good opening. Strikers are typically speedier than other Dreamers or at the very least, they have more varied movement capabilities. That said, while their damaging capacity is unmatched, Strikers often lack reliable and consistent defensive or support abilities, necessitating additional help from their teammates when things get hairy.

    During Boss Combat, Strikers have one extra point of Movement and an increased chance to land critical hits that deal double damage.


    !
    Savers

    Savers round out the trio of Archetypes as the support and healers, able to fight for themselves but really coming into their own when supporting and assisting their allies. This can be in the form of providing buffs to allies, debuffing enemies or slapping a heal on somebody when they've gotten their ass beaten and are in need of a pick me up. Their raw damage capabilities might be more limited than other Archetypes, but their skills are absolutely invaluable in battle.

    During Boss Combat, Savers receive a two point increase to their healing and a small chance to heal for double their intended output.


    Now, you might be wondering; where do all these additional mechanics come into play? And that's where Combat comes in.





COMBAT



    Combat (with that Significant Capitalization) is the term used for mod-controlled combat encounters within BD. While the majority of fights that take place across Torment Hunts and events will be threaded out between players at their own pace and with minimal mod or mechanical involvement, certain events or at significant points in the game story will call for bigger scale Combat that's a little more structured and has a few extra mechanics - though ultimately it's still very lightweight and is more about building satisfying and cool anime fights than crunching numbers.

    There's two tiers of Combat to keep in mind: Mid-Tier Combat and Boss-Tier Combat.




    !
    Mid-Tier Combat



    Mid-Tier Combat is not mod controlled, but counted here for clarity's sake! Think of them as mini-bosses who stand in the way of successfully clearing a mission. Usually these will be encounters with a particularly large Torment hoard but on occasion, a unique enemy will serve as the subject of a Mid-Tier Encounter.

    Either way, each Mid-Tier Combat toplevel will contain a description of the enemies (such as their size, their powerset, how they fight and what environment they can be found in) as well as the win conditions that must be met to clear the fight. Generally, these will be basic OOC participation counts of number of comments posted and/or number of characters participating in the fight. Sometimes there will be IC win condtions to encourage Thinking With Powers and occasionally there will be calls for certain Archetypes to participate.

    Some fights may also include optional bonus conditions that can be cleared for fun extras. These bonus conditions are just that – bonuses! They're not necessary to clear the encounter but they can lead to some fun little IC rewards if met.

    In short, get creative! The prompts and challenges are ultimately meant to encourage, not limit and if you have a cool idea, make sure to get out and have fun with it!


    !
    Boss Tier Combat

    Boss Tier Combat is directly controlled by the mod (so me – hi) and generally won't be as frequent as Mid-Tier Combat, instead reserved for the bigger and more pivotal fights in BD's story. When Boss Combat is on the horizon, players will be able to sign up beforehand to ensure their participation and caps will be low - probably not exceeding four characters at a time.

    During Boss-Tier Combat, battles will progress on a comment-by-comment basis, with a turn order dictating the reply order, and each reply from an individual serving as their turn for that round of Combat. Players can also choose to combine their comments if their characters are similarly combining their turns to coordinate an attack or an action that would be a little too complicated to draw out across multiple turns. Combat will cycle through each participant of the fight until either the Boss is defeated or all participating Dreamers are unable to battle. What happens in that case is a surprise. :)

    As Combat plays out, the effectiveness of each action will be rolled behind the scenes, with the dice count varying on intended fight difficulty. Players absolutely do NOT have to worry about any number crunching though - during Boss Combat, all players have to keep track of are their Durability and Movement.

    Durability is essentially just your HP. It reflects how much damage a Dreamer can take during battle before they have to withdraw. When knocked down to 0 Durability, a Dreamer is out of the fight and if not brought back up to at least 1 HP by the end of their next turn, they will be ejected from the Dream Sphere. By default, Dreamers begin with 5 Durability – however, if you're so inclined, you can sacrifice one point of your Durability to add to your Movement if you feel this better reflects your character.

    Movement dictates the number of actions you can take during a turn of Combat. For each number of movement you have, you can take that many actions during each turn. "Actions" are defined as things that progress the flow of a battle – so moving, dodging, attacking, blocking, all that good stuff all count as an individual action. Talking does not, because I know we never shut up. Dreamers start with 2 Movement by default, though like with Durability, you may sacrifice a point of Movement to add to your total Durability if you think this better reflects how your character would fight.

    It should be noted that any numbers out front or dice rolls behind the scenes will always come secondary to what makes a fun and engaging fight for players or for what makes more sense from an IC perspective. Bonuses and the like will be applied for fun or clever ideas or good use of teamwork and especially for funny and/or imaginative use of Dreamer's magic. Ultimately, the goal here is for players to win and have a big cool anime fight in the process!


    Beautiful Dreamer's Combat system is carried on from my previous game, Can Cry. However, I still consider it a bit experimental and a work in progress and things are absolutely liable to change in response to player feedback and general use. If you've got any to give us, don't be afraid to speak up!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-24 06:15 pm

Excursions & Torment Hunts

EXPLORING DREAMS

    The Dream Sphere is a place full of mysteries and for Dreamers, it's theirs to explore as they see fit. Exploring the Dream Sphere, experimenting with their powers and battling it out with Torments and Nightmares is how Dreamers grow their magic after all - and come on. Admit it. It's pretty fun. Players are, of course, free to goof around in logs at their own pace but for formalized investigation and exploration of the Dream Sphere, this is the place to do it!

    Dreamers can investigate the Dream Sphere in two main ways; Excursions and Torment Hunts. All Dreamers are encouraged to take part in Excursions and Torment Hunts and OOCly, the process can be rewarded with points that can go towards... well, rewards!




EXCURSIONS



    Excursions are when a Dreamer explores the Dream Sphere with the specific goal of finding and investigating new locations. They may find new and interesting locales or stumble across trouble in the making and take care of it.

    Currently, these new locations will disperse and become inaccessible once the Dreamer leaves it behind, but characters will unlock the option to Stablize a location in an event in the near future, so they can permanently add one to the Outlying Locations page if they so wish.

    It's important to note that, like Outlying Locations, Excursions also come with an element of Risk. You're heading out into the unknown, after all! You can indicate in your comment what Risk level you would be comfortable with, which will correlate with how far into the Dream Sphere your character is choosing to go. Some of this Risk can be mitigated by going on an Excursion with multiple characters (up to three at a time) but you still might run into some trouble and should be aware that your character could end up hurt or potentially failing out of the Excursion at higher Risk. Take care out there!

    To head out on an Excursion, fill out the form below and submit it in the comments. The mods will reply with the results of your Excursion and what cool things your character may have encountered. You're free to leave things there... but! If you use the results of the Excursion as the basis for a log or thread and submit it as a reply to the Excursion result, you'll receive points! As with AC bonus threads, these completed Excursion results must be AC length and you can submit two per month. On top of this, each character can head out on an Excursion twice per month - though this is an OOC limit and you're free to play out and handwave other IC explorations even if they aren't officially an Excursion.

    EXCURSION FORM:





TORMENT HUNTS



    Torment Hunts are the main method of keeping the Torment and Nightmare populations of the Dream Sphere under control. In contrast to Excursions, Torment Hunts consist of Dreamers going into known locations and hunting down any Torments that have spawned there. Without Dreamers to keep them in check, Torments would eventually form into Nightmares and so, Torment Hunts are the most proactive way of keeping peace in the Dream Sphere while getting to grips with your magic.

    Like Excursions, you can complete Torment Hunts by filling out the form below and submitting it in the comments. The mods will reply with a result, taking into account things such as the Outlying Location's overall Risk factor and how many characters took place in the Torment Hunt. You're free to head out on Torment Hunt solo, or with others. Having friends along makes the whole thing safer, of course, but you don't need anyone else to join you - however, higher Risk locations will be much more difficult without the proper backup and should a Dreamer be unlucky enough to be overwhelmed while on their own, they will fail out of the Torment Hunt.

    Once again, if you use the results of the Torment Hunt as the basis for a log or thread and submit it as a reply to the Torment Hunt result, you'll receive points! The above limitations on submissions also apply to Torment Hunts though you are, again, free to thread out unofficial Torment Hunts between characters just for fun.

    TORMENT HUNT FORM:



beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-23 06:39 pm

The Dreamer Union

THE DREAMER UNION

    The Dreamer Union (often abbreviated to the DU) is the organisation dedicated to supporting and assisting the Dreamers in their day to day activities. It was established around twenty five years ago, around fifteen years after the first Dreamer emergences and has been hard at work ever since. It's a worldwide organization, with outposts in most cities that have large Dreamer populations, though Yumemigaoka's DU is notable both in that it was where the organization was born in the first place and that its HQ exists both within the real world and the Dream Sphere.

    As well as supporting Dreamers during their outings into the Dream Sphere, they also provide support in the real world. This can range from things like ensuring active Dreamers are paid for their services to providing emotional support and social service liaisons to Dreamers who might be in need of it. In particular, they have a department dedicated to providing support and services to teen and younger Dreamers. As well as supporting Dreamers in the field, they also put a great deal of work into researching and studying the Dream Sphere, carrying out many small and large scale experiments there.

    The DU is primarily staffed by active and retired Dreamers, but many unpowered people also hold positions there, typically in departments that do a lot of interaction with other organizations outside of the Dreamer community.

    Characters are encouraged to register with the DU after awakening and receiving access to its resources and support but this is absolutely not necessary and a character is free to do as they see fit in the Dream Sphere without any interaction with the DU for as long as they like, though it will of course mean not having access to the DU's resources.

    As an OOC note of transparency; while characters are free to ICly have disagreements with and suspicions of them, the DU is not in any way a malicious or antagonistic force in the story. Like any large organization, there may be individual bad actors within its system but on a day to day basis, the DU is intended to be helpful and a general force of good in assisting Dreamers.

    The Dreamer Union are responsible for managing a number of things around the city, with the most relevant to players being the management of the Promised Morning Private Academy and the Mentorship program.




THE ACADEMY



    Promised Morning Private Academy is, as the name suggests, a private academy based in Yumemigaoka that covers the junior and senior levels of high school. It is situated in Kihada with a large campus and a web of bus and train routes nearby to maximize accessibility.

    The school was built and is managed by the DU specifically to teach Dreamers and as such, applications are not open to the public - young Dreamers (between ages twelve to eighteen) who register with the DU are given the option to take an entrance exam and then transfer in to begin learning there.

    Despite the nature of the student body and its connection to the DU, the academy's curriculum is pretty standard and up to par with other highly rated private academies around the country. Its main point of difference is in its scheduling, among other things. To a school day at Promised Morning starts at 10:00AM on the dot with classes ending at 3:30PM and after school activities ending at 5:30PM. This results in a slightly shorter school day that, combined with an intentionally lighter homework load and more flexibility in overall scheduling, results in a schooling experience much easier on younger Dreamers without having to compromise the quality of their education.

    The school has a mandatory uniform but is otherwise comparatively relaxed in terms of how students present when attending school – jewellery, makeup and hair dye are permitted... within reason.

    Players do not need to OOCly apply to the academy in any way – they can simply handwave their characters' transfer if they do decide to have them attend. Similarly, players aren't obligated to have them attend, even if their character associated with the DU.




MENTORSHIP



    After graduating from the Novice Archetype, Dreamers will have the option to sign up to the Mentorship program offered by the Dreamer Union. Mentors are experienced Dreamers who help out by guiding Novice or otherwise newbie Dreamers through their initial stages of getting to grips with the Dream Sphere as well as generally look out for them until they can stand on their own two feet.

    For more information and to sign up for the Mentorship program, you can head over to the page here!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-23 06:25 pm

Locations (The Slumbering City)

SLUMBERING CITY


    !♬! Mundane Brilliant Blue – Blue Reflection Second Light OST


    The Slumbering City is the first place in the Dream Sphere many Dreamers will become familiar with - a surreal, dreamy mirror of the Yumemigaoka of the Waking World. It isn't quite a 1:1 recreation and its geography and geometry may occasionally shift in subtle ways but its most notable distinction is the pale blue ocean that surrounds the city, giving it the impression of being some sort of island in a massive sea. In addition, the city is very quiet with only a tiny fraction of Yumemigaoka's population in Dreamers and Figments. As such, though the City is quite safe, it has something of an eerie, lonely quality to it. Nevertheless, it has become a hub for Dreamers in Yumemigaoka while coordinating in the Dream Sphere.

    Setting out from the City is a little complicated. The water surrounding is only ankle deep and can be waded through, but trying to leave in this manner will lead nowhere and travelling too far from the City like this will eventually result in a Dreamer being ejected from the Dream Sphere. The only known way of leaving the city is to find one of several train platforms scattered around the city's outskirts and follow the submerged train tracks that can be found there. This will lead characters out of the City and into the Dream Sphere's Outlying Locations






LOCATIONS



    !
    CITY LOCATIONS

    The Upside-Down Cafe: A bizarro cafe where everything is topsy turvy - metaphorically and literally. The chairs and tables hang from the ceiling, and Dreamers enter through an arched doorway at the "bottom" of the cafe. The menu is filled with "backward" items - drinks that taste like their opposite (coffee flavoured tea, anyone?), desserts that change textures with every bite, and savory foods that take on sweet, unexpected flavors. The baristas always greet newcomers by asking, “What wouldn't you like to have today?”

    Eternia: A nightclub drenched in pounding neon lights with an interior that defies physics: dance floors float midair, staircases spiral into nowhere and the club's cocktails might be literally out of this world. Sip a Lunar Mirage, and you’ll go floating through the crowd. Taste a Starlit Reverie, and you might relive a cherished memory... or a forgotten one. You get the picture. Of course, any Dreamers who aren't old enough to drink might find they can put in an order... but the thing will turn into a mocktail the second they take a sip. Don't drink, kids!

    Rat's Nest: This building in the Slumbering City was almost entirely flattened during the Anniversary incident, and is still a pile of heavy, dusty debris. If you poke around a little, though, you'll find a small gap in the floor with a staircase leading down; looks like this place had a basement. If you squeeze down the damaged staircase, you'll find an area that is dusty, in disrepair, and also apparently inhabited? There's a makeshift hammock hung up here, a small pile of books, and a lot of charcoal drawings on the walls. Also...rat-sized clothing? No, it's probably for dolls? ([personal profile] predecir)





SUBMISSIONS



    Come up with a cool place during a log? Want to add a particular location from your character's AU? Drop by the World Alterations page and let your visions come to life!


beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-23 02:22 pm

Locations (Yumemigaoka)

YUMEMIGAOKA


    !♬! I (Sun) | I (Rain) | I (Cloud)


    Yumemigaoka is a large city in Northern Japan with a slightly damp climate with short but fierce summers and cold, snowy winters with a lot of rain year round. It is split into five wards: Koubai, Akabeni, Kihada, Matsuba and Asagi.

    Koubai is essentially the city's central ward and is where most of the urban hustle and bustle can be found. Akabeni is where most of the city's more traditional fixtures can be found, such as shrines and Matsuba and Asagi are more residential, with primarily housing and grocery and home supply stores.

    As the city is so large, players are given the freedom to handwave smaller details and incidental locations and some information to get you started can be found below.

    !
    HOUSING

    Housing is pretty affordable in Yumemigaoka though like any city, the closer you get to where all the action happens the pricier things get.

    Housing closest to the city center in Koubai and Kihada is usually in high rise apartment buildings with units of varying size for different types of families. As you get further away from the main hubs of the city and more into the quieter neighbourhoods of Matsuba, Akabeni and Asagi small houses become available, with larger, detached properties typically on the very outskirts of the city.

    Some universities also offer dorms on campus or small, inexpensive student housing for those who would rather try living alone.


    !
    EDUCATION

    Education in Yumemigaoka begins with optional kindergarten from ages three to six, then picks up with mandatory education from ages six to fifteen. High school and further education is not legally mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Typically, a student will start in elementary school (grades one through six), move to junior high (seven through nine) then study to get into their high school of choice (ten through twelve). Once they graduate high school, a student can enter the workforce or pursue further education.

    There are a number of schools and universities scattered about the city, though a few notable ones are Koubai Elementary, Fujiwara Junior High in Kihada and Asagao High School in Akabeni.

    Dreamers who are still in school also have the option of attending the Promised Morning Private Academy, a private school in Kihada that caters to Dreamers in junior high and high school. The school is managed by the Dreamer Union and can only be attended by Dreamers who have awakened their powers. More info on it can be found on the DU's page.


    !
    BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT

    Like any large city, there are a good number of businesses in Yumemigaoka and employment within the city (both part and full time) is not difficult to find. Jobs regarding tourism, city infrastructure and translation/interpretation are highly valued but there's no small number of regular office jobs often looking for workers too. The city also has a robust and reliable system for placing ex-pats in employment if they're looking for it.

    While not the largest, the Dreamer Union is the most notable business in Yumemigaoka and handles all matters regarding Dreamers within the city and has its own page here. They are primarily staffed by current and former active Dreamers and often have positions open regarding management and general upkeep.

    Active Dreamers also have the option of dedicating themselves to fighting in the Dream Sphere full time and making a living from that, as they are compensated by the DU for fulfilling their duties there – though typically most Dreamers who go this route will have a part time job or two as well, just to give themselves a bit of extra security.


    !
    SHOPPING & ENTERTAINMENT

    Yumemigaoka is a large and bustling city and there's plenty to do there! Koubai and Kihada are the densest in this regard with the most shops, restaurants and entertainment venues and a few tourist traps. Akabeni has primarily smaller, more local businesses and is overall quieter and a bit less chaotic, though it does house a small shopping district. Matsuba and Asagi are mostly residential, lacking any large commercial outlets and instead having more in the way of grocery stores, convenience stores and smaller cafes and fast food places.

    In terms of nightlife, the city has a good selection of bars and clubs that cater to a wide range of tastes, though what you'll see at these establishments depends largely on where you live. Those staying in Koubai and Kihada will have access to a number of lounges and nightclubs, while those in Akabeni will have a slightly smaller selection. In Matsuba and Asagi, the primary nightlife options are bowling alleys and karaoke joints... or just getting on the train and heading out to Koubai!






LOCATIONS



    !
    COMMON LOCATIONS

    Tomoe-24: A reliable chain convenience store scattered about the city, though mostly concentrated in the residential areas. They stock all the expected basics as well as a good selection of surprisingly tasty instant and ready meals to pick up when you're on the go.

    Koubu-ya: A cheap ramen shop known for their strong broth and generous toppings, particularly their signature spicy miso soup. There are a few locations scattered across the city, with one in particular sitting opposite the Dreamer Union and mainly serving workers and Dreamers there.

    All You Can Chug: A casual restaurant chain based in Yumemigaoka with branches scattered here and there around the city. They specialize in all-you-can-drink alcohol and salty food combos. Crashing at one of these after a Torment Hunt like theater kids at a 3AM Denny's is a time honoured tradition among Dreamers of drinking age, though one less beloved by the heroic Chug staff.

    Public Transport: Public transport options around Yumemigaoka are generally reliable and will get you where you need to be when you need to be there. The trains are mostly commuter railways connecting the suburbs and outer parts of the city with each other and the city center, while buses cover most of the remaining routes. There is also a single monorail route that mostly circles the city center and a small leisure boat that goes along the Asagiri River.


    !
    Koubai

    Pegasus Arcade: A large gaming arcade filled with flashy and fancy game cabinets as well as some good ol' reliable claw machines, gachapon machines and purikura booths. Some of the machines also dispense tickets for high scores that, if collected, can be traded in for prizes.

    Tsubaki Department Store: A sprawling, multi-level luxury department store filled with everything from clothes and cosmetics to furniture and electronics. It advertises itself as a place to shop for 'high end' goods and the prices reflect that status. They're a big fan of seasonal sales and when prices drop, things can get pretty brutal...!

    EIEN: Koubai's most popular nightclub that stays open 24 hours a day, six days a week. Known for their excellent signature cocktails, friendly staff and their sworn slogan: "No sun? No sleep!"

    Dreamy Creamery: This ice cream shop is a local favorite, serving a variety of ice cream flavors made fresh in-house every day. Their creative toppings and frankly ludicrous range of flavours despite the small size of the shop is a magnet for people from across the city and has resulted in lines out the door at peak hours, but it's definitely worth the trip if ice cream's your thing.

    Dark Deep: A designer clothing boutique specializing in sleek, gothic style clothing that skews a bit androgynous. Items here range in price (starting at wince inducingly expensive and only going up from there) but their more expensive pieces feature elaborate embellishments, high grade materials and craftsmanship that make them feel and look worth the cost. If you're into that sort of thing.

    Technicolor Hair Studio: A unisex hair salon offering all manner of haircuts, dyes, perms and extensions. They specifically focus on catering to clients who've come from overseas and as such have a pretty robust army of staff who all speak varying degrees of second and third languages to better assist their customers. And they give you cute sodas with umbrellas in them while you wait!

    The Dreamer Union: The five-story office building that houses the Yumemigaoka branch of the Dreamer Union - most of the day to day management of the DU happens on the upper floors of this building. The top four floors are limited to employees and registered Dreamers, but the reception area on the bottom floor is open to the public. While the majority of space taken up on these upper floors are for boring office work, the building also acts as a bit of a community space for the Dreamers of Yumemigaoka. This includes a rec room, a small lounge on the second floor free for use and a number of "nap rooms" that Dreamers can make use of to make sure they have somewhere safe to return to after a trip to the Dream Sphere.

    Glowstone Path: A permanent art installation that's meant to light up the Dreamer Union's front entrance, based off of the magic that Olruggio's most well known for in WHA. It's a series of tiles that appear normal but light up when stepped on. Here, it's a series of sensor and LED lights, done in a way that allows for easy maintenance and durability while keeping things from being too intrusive. It's designed like a regular path, but the soft pink and yellow glow that it emits is meant to resemble the Slumbering City's aesthetics. ([personal profile] olruggio)


    !
    Kihada

    Zekkyo!! Karaoke: An independently owned karaoke bar with a focus on belting out your feelings with some good loud karaoke. They serve a number of drinks and snacks, but their tooth-rattlingly loud speakers are the real attraction.

    Dice and Dash: A TTRPG and board game cafe with a large selection of games and plenty of tables to play them on. They've got an attached tabletop gaming shop as well, selling a variety of games and accessories. Drinks and snacks are on the menu but really, everyone knows the main draw here.

    Yumemigaoka Kitties: A cat cafe that's recently become popular after one of their resident cats became a social media darling and went viral. You can stop in for snacks and a drink or to pet some soft and fluffy kitties. Many of the cats are permanent residents, but there's also a handful up for adoption.

    Riverwalk Theater: The city's largest performance venue. It's a large, elegant theatre that seats roughly five hundred people. The stage is fairly standard, but they do have a decent sound system and lighting rigs. Various concerts, plays, movies and more are hosted during the year and thanks to the reasonable ticket prices, they tend to draw a good crowd.

    Irodori Electronics: A locally owned electronics store with a good relationship with its customers and employees. Despite not being a major chain they're often able to match prices or even outdo them and they've won the hearts of more than a few bargain hunters with their frequent sales.

    Dream Weavers: A well-established tailoring shop that primarily focuses on tailoring costumes for cosplay and other fantastical sorts of looks. They've also made quite a name for themselves in collaboration with the DU, as their go-to tailor for providing recreations of Dreamer costumes for PR purposes. Their quality and reasonable prices make them a popular destination for all manner of customers and the shop hosts a number of crafting classes and workshops every month.

    Syrup Sweet Cafe: A locally loved cafe that specialises in desserts, especially pancakes and cake. The owner has a bit of a sweet tooth and is known for sometimes experimenting with different recipes, often adding different syrups, jams, and sauces. Whether they always pan out is another question altogether, but at least you can rest assured that the chef's choice toppings will always be interesting.

    Meteor Bowling: A modestly sized 10 lane bowling alley mainly focused on catering to small, friendly groups. While it's not as spacious and professional looking as some of the more commercial and high tech places to bowl, what it lacks in space it makes up for in a casual, cozy atmosphere with cheap prices and some friendly staff to keep an eye on things. The alley occasionally holds league meets that anyone is free to join, and it also features an attached snack bar serving various soft drinks and snacks, but the staff's real specialty is their homemade fried chicken.

    Hybrid Colours: A small but hip indie art studio! There's a gallery as well, with the main feature being the owner's own paintings and photographs, often focused on the environment with a hint of whimsy inspired by actual locations/fauna/flora found in the Dream Sphere itself! Along with that, local artists can also submit their pieces to be put on display/sold (with a slight commission) or their own music to be played in the studio. The whole location is designed with the simple, clean modernist flare to let the art pieces stand out more, but the studio towards the back always seems to be tastefully messy. Once settled in, the owner will open up the studio for things like art lessons or life drawing sessions in the evening, for people who need a creative outlet! If enough interest is shown, she's even even host local musicians for event nights! ([personal profile] greaterspeed)


    !
    Akabeni

    Yotsuba Park: A large, scenic park built up around a natural lake, filled with trees and lush greenery. While some sections of the park are private and closed to visitors, a good majority of it is open and people are free to roam as they please.

    Hikawa Shrine: The city's largest and most popular shrine that sees the most visitors year-round. Their summer festival and fireworks displays for both summer and New Year are particularly famous and see huge amounts of turnout.

    Moon Bunny Market: Akabeni's cute and cozy shopping district, packed with local businesses. As well as groceries like fruit, veggies, meat and fish, the shopping district also has a few clothing and homeware stores as well as a "dreamy cute" style stationary store that's become trendy. The district as a whole serves as something of a community hub and they occasionally hold events here.

    Yumemigaoka Cultural Museum: A DU-sponsored museum dedicated to the history of Yumemigaoka as a city as well as the emergence of Dreamers and their culture. It's a large, stately building with two floors filled with displays, information boards and exhibits. The museum charges a small entry fee per person, but Dreamers get a discount.

    Yumemigaoka Aquarium: Yumemigaoka Aquarium is one of the largest and best aquariums in Japan. Features everything from nurse sharks to penguins to stingrays to sea turtles; if it's aquatic and can be reasonably found in an aquarium, then there's a good chance Yumemigaoka Aquarium features it. Notable for its high standards of care for its animals and livestreams of its various habitats. ([personal profile] platinumdreamer)

    Camellia: A long-standing flower shop-slash-kissaten located in one of the more secluded spots in Moon Bunny Market. Run by the Yugi family, they specialize in cute potted plants, fresh flowers, tasty Western-style food, and specialty coffee, with a dark, retro-style interior filled with books and Showa-era knick-knacks. Due to the vintage décor and out-of-the-way location, the customer base skews on the older side, but it's a good spot for a quiet meal or a break from the bustle of the main shopping district. ([personal profile] hanamane)

    Kabacha Books: A small, independently-owned bookstore that's been comfortably running longer than most people in the city can even remember. It stocks all sorts of books, including stationery, notebooks and the like. It's a cozy spot with lots of comfy places to sit and read and the owner is always happy to recommend their favourite selections.

    TOKOROEMO: A curated boutique of vintage clothes and collectables that occupies what used to be a dagashiya. Everything in the shop is designed and sourced by the owner with a fair amount of upcycling and a focus on giving older items that might not have a place in ultra-modern society a second chance to find homes. The store has a penchant for vintage and retro styles but they don't shy away from modern and trendier looks either, so long as it's not too out of place with the store's ethos.

    Ozora Curry: The number one curry restaurant in Yumemigaoka. Packed from opening to close with people waiting for tables, it has a cozy, homey feel and a menu filled with all sorts of spicy and flavourful curries. Once a simple family run business, the place has taken off to the extent that it has a handful of locations around Akabeni to better manage its clientele and rumors abound that more shops are planned to be opened elsewhere around the city.


    !
    Matsuba

    Hina Flower Gardens: A small and secluded botanical garden near the northern edge of the city, filled with a variety of flowers and plants native to the area. They host viewing events in the spring and fall when the scenery is most beautiful and it's become a bit of a trend to propose under the cherry blossoms here when they're in full bloom.

    Kokuhaku Tea: A small cafe run by an elderly couple specializing in the preparation of fine tea and traditional sweets. They have a limited menu of other food and snacks available to accompany their drinks, but their specialty is the tea itself, which has been praised by many aficionados.

    Matsuba World Market: A large indoor market dedicated to groceries, homeware and apparel from all around the world. If you want to buy something that isn't stocked in the local convenience stores, this is probably your best bet.

    Yumemigaoka Language School: A private language school primarily catering to new arrivals to Yumemigaoka who want to learn Japanese. It's a reasonably priced school that offers a wide range of courses and an easygoing atmosphere. While Japanese is the focus here, there are also a few beginner courses for English and other languages, though they're not quite as in depth.

    Hakuchou Dance School: A second-floor dance school in a small, sedate strip-mall. A humble exterior belies its growing reputation as a hidden gem of a dance school, with a multi-disciplinary approach that allows its students the freedom to find what style best fits them. Employs a handful of instructors, and has three fully-equipped classrooms, though they don't often all three see use at once. ([personal profile] kitri)

    Domremy Apartments: A humble but well-kept, reasonably-priced apaato owned and maintained by Jacques d'Arc. Named after the Church of St. Remi, a small Catholic church across the street. Dreamers are encouraged to apply for housing; the only established NPC is a NEET who's only a nuisance if your name is Jeanne. ([personal profile] darcangel)


    !
    Asagi

    Remy's: A family restaurant that was once part of a nationwide chain but has now detached from the brand and become its own thing. Nobody has been able to discern any change whatsoever in the restaurant since the switchover.

    Asagiri River: A large manmade river running through the city that cuts Asagi away from the rest of Yumemigaoka. A large bridge connects the ward to the rest of the town and the river is used by locals as a fishing spot.

    Asagi Public Library: A cozy public library with a surprisingly good selection of books in multiple languages. They also have a small computer room and free public Wi-Fi. It's a relatively old building but has been kept in good shape thanks to the dedication of the staff and the community around it.

    Fuji Bakery: A humble, family-owned bakery that serves all manner of mouth watering baked goods at reasonable prices. Since they open quite early in the day, they've become a favourite of students and workers looking to grab a quick and handy bite to eat before starting their day. Specializes in French baguettes, Japanese-style cakes, pastries and bread rolls.

    Usubeni Community Gardens: A public gardening plot within the ward that residents pay an access fee for, but can grow pretty much whatever they like as long as it doesn't violate zoning codes or cause undue harm to other gardeners and their plants. They organize contests and seasonal festivals that anyone from the ward is free to attend and often have plant giveaways and other community events. A handful of Yumemigaoka local businesses source their produce from gardeners here.

    Hidamari Daycare: A bright and cheerful daycare center that's served Asagi for years, to the extent that most of the parents who have children attending are alumni of the daycare themselves. They've got a decent number of staff to care for the kids so they're pretty busy all day but the atmosphere is light and they take excellent care of their little charges. The director, Ookane-sensei, has a particular talent for predicting the weather with amazing accuracy.

    Akagi Rentals: A small and slightly dated DVD and game rental service mostly focused on preservation of nostalgic titles from the late nineties and early 2000s. They stock primarily domestic titles though there are some international and indie movies and games thrown in here as well. Despite being located in Asagi, this shop sees a lot of foot traffic from people from the city centre and tourists who are looking to nose around and pick up something to pass some time on.





SUBMISSIONS



    Come up with a cool place during a log? Want to add a particular location from your character's AU? Just use the form below and submit it to be added!



beautifuldreamermods: (Default)
2023-03-21 08:17 pm

Powers & Upgrades

BASE ABILITIES

    Part and parcel of becoming a Dreamer is awakening to several new kinds of powers and abilities as manifestations of a Dreamer's individual magic. These abilities can be used in battle to combat opponents or they can be used to interact with the setting in various ways. At base, all Dreamers apping into the game, regardless of skill level, will share the following abilities:

      Weapon Summon: While in the Dream Sphere, a Dreamer's Sandglass will transform and become their weapon, able to be summoned out of thin air at will. This signature weapon will appear to be made of glass and be filled with the sand that can be seen inside a Dreamer's Sandglass. Note that ‘weapon’ here is being used loosely and that you’re also free to have characters summon tools or toys or things that you wouldn’t usually consider to be a weapon. A character’s signature weapon can also change in appearance depending on both power and character development, but this is largely an aesthetic change only (unless you specifically have a power that will alter your weapon).

      Enhanced Strength and Durability: In comparison to their human selves, Dreamers hit harder and are able to take blows from enemies that would be extremely dangerous for a regular human. This aspect of their powerset is largely a meta conceit to put all characters on the same level, but it can be played with as you like. Before any additional powers, a Dreamer's strength should be capped at what would be reasonable for an unaugmented human being to pull off (i.e, they could be as strong as a bodybuilder but not a robot).

      Enhanced Movement Capabilities: In order to help them get around the Dream Sphere, Dreamers will find they have become overall more agile. They can run much faster and have much greater stamina to do so and perhaps most excitingly, they can now bunnyhop around like a demented platformer mascot. They can't quite fly with this ability, but they could probably jump up to a second floor window without any problems.


    On top of the above, Dreamers will also have a number of unique abilities that make up their individual powersets. These unique abilities are ranked on a letter scale ascending from E: E, D, C, B, and A. S and EX also exist as ‘endgame’ states representing total mastery of power but will require more than just points to unlock...

    A Dreamer's magic becomes more impactful the higher its rank is: while Fire Mastery E might create a torch-sized flame, Fire Mastery A could light a bonfire the size of a house. If in doubt, go with your instinct for what is reasonable or ask a mod if you're unsure.

    Powers can be more or less anything! They can range from things that have raw combat utility or they can be more general – or even a bit silly! You can also have your character develop powers that function in a more passive sense and enhance their innate abilities over something more flashy. Your Dreamer's powers should serve as an expression of their personality and overall vibe, so feel free to have fun with it.

    For playability & lore reasons, we do have a handful of powers that are restricted or blanket banned:

      ⧖ Time travel (limited time control powers are fine)
      ⧖ Long-range teleportation (short-range blinking/flash stepping is fine)
      ⧖ Powers directly related to control over life and death (Necromancy, etc)
      ⧖ Dream walking/dream manipulation/etc
      (I THINK THIS ONE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF)

    If you have concerns that a power you're interested in falls under any of these categories, please feel free to check in with the mods and we'll be happy to work with you!




POWER PROGRESSION



    When apping into the game, characters will list a minimum of four unique powers on their app that they'd like to start with. Dreamers starting out as Novices will receive one of these powers at D-Rank while Experienced Dreamers apping into the game will receive two at D-Rank. Following this, characters can receive new unique powers via AC rewards - see the Bonus Threads page for more information on how to collect these.

    Newly purchased powers will start at E Rank and cost four points. Once a Dreamer ranks up and becomes Experienced, you may choose to spend an extra two points (totaling six) to start a new power at D Rank instead.

    You can also use points to upgrade a power, raising its ranking by one step. In turn, this will increase the effectiveness of your characters' power and their overall control of it. Upgrades can cover:

      ⧖ Improvements to a power's range, magnitude, or quantity. (Examples: extending effective range of hydrokinesis or total amount of water that can be manipulated, increasing number of manipulable objects/familiars that can be summoned at once.)
      ⧖ Improvements to a power's precision. (Examples: pyrokinesis capable of being used simply to generate heat and not actual flames.)
      ⧖ Extensions of a power's applications or execution. (Examples: modifying a basic electrical shock power into an ability to create electric force fields.)
      ⧖ Expansions on a theme. (Examples: character with rain-related powers gaining snow-related versions of those powers.)
      ⧖ Basically, anything that can be justified as an "upgrade" of an existing power.

    Upgrades will cost two points and raise the associated ability's rank by one step.

    In short, players are encouraged to establish a thematic 'base' powerset for their character and to build their abilities from there with upgrades and new powers as they see fit. For Novice Dreamers, their powers cap at B Rank, while Experienced Dreamers can go as far as A Rank. Once a character has three or more powers at A Rank, they can select one to ascend to S Rank.




SIGNATURE ABILITIES



    Signature Abilities are a character's biggest, flashiest attacks in the vein of a Limit Break or a Noble Phantasm. They are high-power, once-per-battle attacks that Dreamers can use to dish out massive amounts of damage and to permanently purify Nightmares. Essentially, these are your big once-an-episode stock footage attacks. If you were playing Sailor Moon or Mew Ichigo, this would be your Moon Tiara Action or Ribbon Strawberry Check.

    Signature Abilities can not be used by Novice Dreamers – once a Dreamer selects their Combat Archetype, they will automatically be granted a Signature Ability. Simply submit a power request as you would for any other new ability, but go into some detail about your Signature Ability's look and feel as well as its particular use and effects. A Signature Ability should also have a name that your character can dramatically call out when making use of it. There are no limitations on what you can call it, other that it should contain the word Dream in some way or form.

    Power-wise, Signature Abilities come with a few limitations. As well as the above restrictions on all powers, there are some drawbacks that come with use of a Signature Ability:

      ⧖ Like other powers, Signature Abilities are ranked. Their maximum possible rank is whatever your current highest ranked power is – if all your powers are Rank B, then your Signature Ability is capped at Rank B too.
      ⧖ Signature Abilities are one use only per battle. Once used, the Dreamer can continue to contribute to the battle but after three turns pass or the battle ends (whichever comes first) they will be returned to the real world and thus ejected from battle.

    Make sure to use your Signature Ability wisely!





TANDEM POWERS



    Tandem Powers are a branch of power upgrades available to Experienced Dreamers that allow them to combine their magic with their allies to explosive results! Tandem Powers are a synthesis of the two Dreamers' magic and imagination and as such, they are considered to be a representation of the relationship between two Dreamers as well as an extension of their magic. Powers blending to the degree that births a Tandem Power generally comes from some level of intensity between two Dreamers... good or bad.

    Mechanically speaking, Tandem Powers are combo moves that can be used in battle and regular play just the same as any other power. Tandem Powers are overall stronger than solo magic, but they come with a few caveats: they are typically more specific and situational, can only be used when both Dreamers are working together and have the potential to change or even become nonfunctional if the relationship changes.

    To purchase a Tandem Power, either player may fill out the appropriate form and submit it, with each player paying half of the total cost of purchase. Upgrading functions the same, with a note that Tandem Powers are capped in accordance with the weaker character in the duo; for example, if one character's highest power Rank is A and the other's highest is C, their Tandem Power will be capped at C until the second character gets a bit stronger.

    New Tandem Powers cost ten points overall (5 points per player). Upgrades will cost six points (three per player) and raise the associated ability's rank by one step. Due to their nature, Tandem Powers automatically start at Rank C and are hard capped at S Rank. Both characters must have at least one C Rank Power to purchase a Tandem Power.





FINAL NOTES



    As mentioned on the Dreamer FAQ, players can choose to app their characters into the game as either a Novice Dreamer or an Experienced Dreamer. This is mostly to allow OOC flexibility for people who are more interested in jumping directly into playing around in the setting or to give players who already have a character in the game a leg-up in getting their new characters caught up on things. There are also a few differences from an IC perspective, though not too many – Experienced Dreamers will have a few unique opportunities within the Dreamer Union, such as becoming Mentors to less worldweary Dreamers and going on Torment Hunts with higher Risk levels.

    For more info about the Dreamer Union and Torment Hunts, be sure to check their respective pages!


    POWER REQUEST FORMS:

    New Power:


    Upgrade:


    Tandem Power:


    Tandem Power Upgrade / Alteration:


    Signature Ability: