Game Mechanics
✉ THE VELVET ROOM
"Forget the years, forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home!"
--Chuang Tzu
This room is an area that will continue to develop in the game until it is officially the complete Velvet Room known in the Persona series. For now, the room that is the main link between the two time periods is the mysterious attic full of junk. How does this area link them? Simple!
As described in the Setting information, there is a row of old P.O. boxes sitting in the corner of the attic. The characters will discover that any letter or object placed in one of the boxes will be accessible to the both time periods. So, they communicate the old fashion way: through writing letters or leaving packages. This will prove crucial for reaching a solution to the problems at hand, but may also be a danger.
Letters and such are easily posted through character journals. An example can be found here: letter, " package".
Communication capabilities will increase over time along with other special abilities. Players will be notified of the updates.
☍ SOCIAL LINKS
Forming bonds is a good thing!
The social links system is simple. Players will make a post in their journals with the following list. They may add or subtract social link level based on their interactions with other characters throughout the game. While it's preferred you go by the following template in any color choices you wish, you're welcome to come up with your own formatting. No biggie.
An example of a current social link page can be found here: Emmeline's social links.
For now, think of this system as being similar to that of the game. People who have high social links with each other work together better than others, while those with low social links may not work together as well. However, the true significance of this system will be revealed later in the game. Players will be made aware when the mod deems it to be appropriate.
As these will be important later, please try to keep them at least somewhat up to date. Until then they're just a lot of fun.
♡ PERSONA DETAILS
All of the important Persona basics you'll need for the game.
A persona is a physical manifestation of a person's inner self. After gaining their persona in a ritual, a character is capable of summoning their persona at any time to aid them in times of trouble. However, as this must be kept a secret for safety reasons, it is not wise to summon a persona when there could be witnesses. Characters who are caught will suffer the consequences that follow.
Because this is an RP where everything is done in a writing-based style, the skill system has been simplified. Skills stick closely to Persona 2 for the most part, but there are plenty of other skills pulled from other previous SMT games. Some of these are even outside of the Persona line. All of them have been accommodated into ten categories. They are as follows:
Fire
Evolution: Almighty
These are, obviously, any skills that utilize the Fire element, such as Agi. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in fire skills will gain Almighty skills, such as Megido. Almighty skills null endurance. Only certain bosses are capable of being weak against skills in the almighty category.
Water
Evolution: Ice
These are skills that utilize the much needed Water element, such as Aqua. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in water skills gain Ice skills, such as Bufu. Enemies hit with the ice skills can be potentially frozen for a certain amount of time. All hits to a frozen enemy are instantly fatal. Only certain bosses are immune to freezing.
Wind
Evolution: Force
These are skills that make use of the Wind element, such as Garu. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in wind skills gain Force skills, such as Zan. Force skills cannot be dodged by any enemy on the field and have a raised chance of knocking the enemy down. Only certain bosses are capable of avoiding this.
Earth
Evolution: Conscript
These are skills that make use of the commonly forgotten Earth element, such as Magna. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in earth skills gain Conscript skills, such as Reinforcements. These vary from skill to skill depending on the demons contacted prior to their use. Only certain bosses are capable of nulling this.
Electric
Evolution: Nuclear
These are skills that make use of Electric skills, such as Zio. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in electric skills gain Nuclear skills, such as Frel. Nuclear skills cannot be dodged and lowers an enemies defense for the remainder of the battle. Only certain bosses capable of avoiding this. Cockroaches are always immune.
Status
Evolution: Curse
These skills are those that affect an enemy's status in a negative way, such as Poisma. Some of these are capable of doing immediate attack damage as well, such as Poison Scratch. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in status skills gain Curse skills, such as Mudo. Curse skills do damage regardless of resistance to status skills, and some can result in instant kills as they progress. Only certain bosses are immune to instant death.
Recovery
Evolution: Expel
Recovery skills are those that heal party members and cure them from status ailments, such as Dia. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in recovery skills gain Expel skills, such as Hama. Expel skills do damage regardless of resistances, and some can result in instant kills as they progress. Only certain bosses are immune to instant death.
Slash Physical
Evolution: Pierce
Slash Physical skills are those skills that make use of weapons. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in slash physical skills gain Pierce skills. Pierce skills to damage to any enemy regardless of barriers or other resistances. Even amongst the bosses that are exceptions to rules elsewhere, there are very few that can maintain barriers after a pierce attack.
Strike Physical
Evolution: Hunt
Strike Physical skills are those physical skills that do not make use of a weapon. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in strike physical skills gain Hunt skills. Hunt skills range in damage depending on the enemy's status and heals the user accordingly. If the enemy is frightened, hunt skills can also result in instant kills. Only certain bosses are able to avoid instant death based on status.
Scanning
Evolution: Field
This category includes scanning skills like those of Fuuka or Rise. Characters with these skills play a similar role and act as guides, but are much more active thanks to secondary skills. After persona evolution, those characters specializing in scanning sills gain Field skills, such as Lightoma. Only certain bosses are capable of nulling field skills.
The mod person will not be a stickler when it comes to listing out the exact skills your characters has and gains. However, she will make sure that you do not go out of your limits in battle. For example, if your character is just starting out, it will be assumed they only have low level skills. If you have questions about your character having or using a certain skill, please feel free to ask about it.
Useful sources for skills can be found at the following: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Just note that several skills are under different categories than those listed on the above references thanks to the simplified system. The mod can help answer any questions about this as well.
♥ DEMONS & SHADOWS
Demons and shadows: friends or foes?
Demons are strange creatures that have been around for far longer than anyone really realizes as they are few and far between. Prior to the start of the game in both time periods, they had been looked over and shrugged off as simple fairy tales or the results of overactive imaginations. Only recently have people become a little more superstitious. The number of demons has suddenly increased in Abaton City due to unknown reasons. While this is still widely ignored by most, believers and tabloids have been all over the possibilities as they pose a growing threat to the city.
However, demons are not all bad. They come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. While some immediately jump on the chance to bite a head off, others are a bit more reluctant or even benevolent. They are all very capable of thinking and feeling, so it's possible to talk with and even gain the aid of some. Battling with many demons will be inevitable, but never assume you need to immediately bash their heads in.
Along with demons are Shadows. Shadows are much fewer in numbers. They are similar to personae in that they are manifestations of the inner thoughts of others. They are also similar to demons in many way, but seem to lack the same ability to think and feel. Some demons notably control shadows while others want nothing to do with them.
More information on the origins and roles of demons and shadows will be revealed in the game.