In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #24):

Don't forget the saddle bags made popular by Clint.

Well, pards, no more beatin' the devil round the stump. I was hoping that JW would be able to stay in the game, but it ain't in the cards.

Since everyone had developed strong backstories, I did some figuring and it seemed right natural that Chance would be the best character to assume the role of "Johnny." I've exchanged missives with him and we worked it out.

With Silas joining us, we still have a viable cast. We might have one more cowpoke join the round-up, but that remains to be seen. Once Cole returns from vacation, I'll press that last feller to join up right quick or we'll be moving along without him. And I'm pressing Artemus to get his character in order by hook or by crook (I reckon some shiny thing has distracted him again).

For now, I'll leave JW in the cast list, but I plan to remove him soon. Iffin' any of you were thinkin' of tying your introductory get-together with JW, I'd urge you to look at the other characters and find another way. I like the starting dialogue and suggestions posted in this here section, as a way to get things moving, but we need a little more. This is your opportunity to speak up and introduce yourselves to each other and help the Judge set the stage for "Johnny Comes Marching Home."

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #32):

Head 'em up and move 'em out.

Eagerly awaiting the start.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:26, Mon 21 July 2008.

Well, I reckon I'll need to apologize for calling one of our pards a coffee-boiler. The feller has signed up for the game and you'll see James E. Beauregard (JEB for short) on the docket.

Please say howdy and help him get up to speed in the game. Both JEB and Art will need to complete their characters, so I figure we can give them a few days--and I look forward to the return of Cole. Meanwhile, I'll be starting new thread soon to get some roleplaying started for the adventure. Seems to me we can start that now, even if all the arithmetic ain't quite square.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #35):

Huzzah!

Chance was eager to travel westward home.  He had little correspondence with his family and wanted to get back to check on them.  Travis made Chance's acquaintance and has offered to travel to the picturesque Ozarks with him.

Although Chance joined the Union Corps or Engineers, he felt the soldiers on either side were acting in the ultimate fashion of passion for their causes.  He harbored absolutely no ill will to the Confederate fighters.  Either way he looked at it, the fighting was for freedom.

This is to say, if Chance had the opportunity on his way home, he would assist and befriend any former soldier.

Is there anyone who would care to travel to the Ozarks with me?  I offer little but companionship and some fairly good fireside chatting.  I can make a nice beef and potato hash on the road.  What do you say?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Sun 27 July 2008.

Thanks, Chance, for urgin' the other cowpokes on. I'm posting a new thread to get the roleplaying moving and your message provides a nice segue . . .

Please check out the Prologue and start some roleplaying. Feel free to continue to post here or the OOC thread for any non-game discussion. We can continue to talk about backstory and character development here, while Prologue should be specifically the roleplaying itself. Please re-read the Rules and Standards for posting conventions (orange for character speak, paragraph with 'OOC' for out of character commentary, etc.). You should always feel free to write descriptions of actions and such in the roleplaying threads.

To give a little nudge, I'll post a few private messages to players to help you get involved--but feel free to do your own thing if you don't like my prompts. Chance got things started and so I wove his previous intents and backstory into my first Prologue post. Now it's up to you fellas to pick up the thread.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:09, Sun 27 July 2008.

Judge, by golly, you've been more help than any man should be.  That still doesn't keep me from askin' a true favor of ya.  When you ask us to make a check or the like, would you please note the page or table?  For example, you want me to roll a check for a gun misfire.  Tell me to look at Table FGE 1.1-1.

Am I askin' too much or is this right fine?

For you, pard, I reckon I could walk the extra mile to clue you in whenever necessary.

Don't knock yourself out but it would be helpful especially at first. In D&D we all had the tables memorized and knew how they interrelated. In Sidewinder, I for one am still coming up to speed.

Anytime you want to try something but aren't sure about how to make the roll, just send me a message, public or private, and I'll be glad to help. Also, when I observe something going on, or read a PC action that I think should require a check of some kind, I will certainly tell you. Lastly, because most of the players are new at this, I might well suggest that a PC might want to try something like making a Knowledge roll to glean something of importance during a particular circumstance.

Don't be afraid to ask--an advantage of RPoL is that we have time to ask a question and do a little research before making a post.

Judge, would there have been a handcart/barrow or the like available in those days?

Examples:
http://www.chromaonline.com/va...ld_cart_lightbox.jpg
http://www.vacationadventures.us/images/OldCart.jpg
http://www.sdsoldiers.com/32_Handcart-Supplies-pr.jpg

Could Chance have gotten one as surplus?
I see that a wagon is mentioned in table 3.17 and notes it could be purchased for $5.  Could this have been the surplus?  Could Chance have made it while in the employ of the Union Corps?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Tue 05 Aug 2008.

What's the handcart for?

Travis
Curious

Chance is a weakling, of sorts.  The barrow would help tote his stuff.

I swear as soon as we get some money we're all getting horses.

Instead of the magnificent seven we're the mediocre six.  All handcart no horse. :)

Certainly, a handcart or wheelbarrow would be available (wheelbarrow was invented almost 2,000 years ago). But the table you refer to is for Scratch-build structures. The $5 for a wagon is for the raw materials used by someone with Craft (Structural) to build it from scratch. Table 5.28 has conveyances, including two varieties of wagon. A light wagon is $30. I would say you could buy a new handcart for $15 or a wheelbarrow for $8. Or you could buy a either used for $8 or $4, respectively.


I thunk Chance wanted it so he could haul around the deadweight cowpokes who don't log in and post regularly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:07, Wed 06 Aug 2008.

I guess Chance will have to move a little slowly.  With Str 10, his body is less a temple as maybe a lien-to.  No handcart, or else he'll have to beg for scraps.

I've got a ten too.  I loaded up with dex and chose "fast hero."

In the Prologue, Chance asked iffin' anyone had a coffee pot. I consider that as a mundane object covered by the rules for On Hand Objects in S:R page 127.

So Chance, your coffe pot is covered (and I'd advise yer to keep that way, or Travis might be tempted to . . . well 'nuff said).

Now, coffee itself is a different story. You'll have to pony-up a few bits for that (don't forget my earlier notes about food costin' more than usual) and it will quite probably be a mix of coffee and chicory.

Once again Judge, you're a riot!

I've got a question, stemming from a concern, rooted in odd behavior, notwithstanding an overall inquisition.

I think it is the nature of RPoL that sometimes we stack questions.  For example, when the PC's were speaking with Owen and slung a good many comments and questions to the boy.

Judge, would you prefer we ask a few stacked questions or one at a time?  For this example, I mention Chance's discourse with the Harbor Master's clerk.  Chance has tried to ask one question at a time.  This seems inefficient, but more polite when someone has the desired information.  Stacking questions is more efficient, obviously, yet may seem rude and impatient.

We ought to establish with you, Judge, that we don't want to seem rude.  Would you allow us the more efficient method?

Yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah.  Gibberish, lollywoggle, apromatic!

I hope I did not but into your conversation with the Harbor Master Chance. It certainly was not my intent to be rude. Sorry if it came off that way. I'll have Meriwether step outside. Cheers Meriwether

No, no, no.  You miss understand me.  I did not feel you were out of line.

I want to know if the Judge wants me to ask about conveyance, price, time and destination all in one go, or play out the conversation.

No, play your character as you see fit.  Please don't change or apologize one bit!

Don't fret none, Chance or M. I really don't have a preference. If you want to play out a conversation, I'm happy to do a question at a time. That's roleplaying after all. If you want to speed things up, ask all your questions at once and just indicate that you hope to speed up the process in the OOC: (like Travis just did). Either way is okay with me. I enjoy the roleplaying character exchanges and I'm happy to handle those fast or slow, depending on the circumstances and players druthers.