Sorry.  masterwork bonus only reffered to the masterwork pistol not to master craftsman modifications (CG, HT).

RE: Skills
Earlier, and with some players in private, I have made some notes about cross-class skills.

If you change classes during advancement (including moving to an Advanced Class), you must use the skill points for each level according to the class list for that class. Anything you take outside of the class list is cross-class requiring two points for every one rank.

The exception is that the class skills you chose at 1st level as part of your starting Occupation are always considered class skills (if I told anyone else something different earlier, my apologies).

Example
1st Level Strong
Occupation: Laborer: Demolitions, Intimidate, Ride
Demolitions 2
Handle Animal 3
Intimidate 2
Knowledge (Streetwise) 3
Ride 2

At 2nd character level, takes Tough 1
If he wants to increase Handle Animal, he must pay cross-class.
If he wants to increase Streetwise, that is a class skill for Tough, so 1 point per rank
If he wants to increase Demoltions, that is a permanent class skill for Occupation so 1/1

The Judge appreciates JEB's call for a vote on a proposed group template. He counts 5 votes for, none against (assumin' JEB votes in favor of his own proposal). That will be a majority, 'less somebody changes a vote.

The remaining 3 players may still cast a vote or add to the conversation, if desired. Heck, you could even re-vote ifn you wanted. But the Judge is taking the 5 yes, 3 abstain vote as done.

We can start the adventure once PC advancement is complete and backstories are finalized. From the Judge's perspective, here is the advancement status:

4 of the PCs are pretty much ready to play.

2 more are well underway and could be wrapped up soon if the players continue to work on it.

1 more has an early draft that needs work.

1 has had no proposed draft for advancement.

I'm good with the template.

Sounds like we have a consensus.

I'm ready to kick off.  Let me know if I can be of any assistance to anyone.

Looking forward to playing with you Little One. .. If we ever start again.

It's up to all y'all. The Judge is ready.

While discussing back story, I've asked most of you in the private threads to supply a timeline for the character's activities 1865-1871. I'm just looking for something short and sweet.

Now that a few of you have pretty good plans developed, the concise timeline will help us to match up stories and meet in Texas.

JEB has an excellent example. If he doesn't mind posting it . . .

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #210):

JEB's timeline:

July 1865: Osterfeld incident
August 1865: JEB elected sheriff of Marshfield
May 1866: JEB and Hattie Ferguson get hitched
April 1867: James E. Beauregard, JR is born
October 1868: Annabelle Beauregard is born
October 1868: joins the Vigilence Committee with Travis and Meri
April 1869: returns home to Marshfield
March 1870: appoints Meri as deputy of Marshfield, along with Owen who was made a deputy one year earlier
February 1871: receives letter from Cole regarding the cattle drive

I've developed an idea to distinguish horse quality (house rule). I want to keep it simple with a little chance to customize a horse. Here's what I'm thinking of using, after passing some ideas by a couple of players who were pestering me. If anyone sees a problematic mechanic, holler at me.

Poor
The steed has one of the following detriments:
Average Grit -3
Speed -5 feet/round

Fair
The mount has at least average grit (roll, if lower than average, becomes average)

Good
Same as Fair, plus one advantage from this list:
  Grit 4d8+6 (at least average)
  speed +5 feet/round
  1 trick (Come, Stay or Work)

Excellent
Same as Fair, plus two of the advantages from this list:
  Grit 4d8+6 (at least average)
  speed +5 feet/round
  1 trick (Come, Stay, Attack or Work)
  1 feat (Alertness, Toughness or Improved Damage Threshold)
  1 skill (Jump +2 or Sense Motive +2)

Hey there! Thanks Judge! That info is very helpful. I will do a time line for Meri later today. Another hectic Saturday for me. Be well all! Cheers Meri

Would you mind distinguishing horse sense?

Silas' Timeline

Mid 1865
Osterfield Incident

Late 1865 - Mid 1866
Works for the railroads, primarily in the Colorado, Wyoming and Nevada territories keeping workers in line, serving as security against Indian aggression and would-be robbers.

Mid 1866 - Mid 1867
Settles in Erie, Colorado Territory for a spell, working as a surface coal miner and doing other odd jobs to make ends meat; smitten with a young lady, Nancy Miller.

Mid 1867 - Late 1868
Wanders the west, meets up with Travis in California; works in and around the San Francisco area at various security jobs...railroad, stage lines, protecting gold prospectors, etc.

Late 1868 - Late 1870
Returns to Erie, Colorado Territory...marries Nancy Miller and settles into a serene, hardworking life on the frontier. Nancy dies...Silas picks up stakes and relocates to Denver.

Late 1870 - Early 1871
Denver, Colorado Territory...in a whiskey haze and chasing the dragon, Silas falls in with a bad crew; spends the better part of six months on the wrong side of justice.

Early 1871
Recieves telegram from Cole about cattle drive; cleans up and heads out of Denver.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:35, Sun 13 Sept 2009.

Don't fret, I suspect Randy won't have any.

Alrighty Judge, I reckon I'm ready whenever these other hombres are.

Yep, things are falling into place for most characters now.

Truly, there is only one PC that isn't ready, or close to being ready. Iffin' that cowpoke doesn't pony up soon, all the PCS who are ready will have to decide whether to wait--and for how long--before we hit the trail.

I note in "The Cast" the growing lengths between logon and post.  I'd say it's time to move forward.  Let our Pard meet us on the trail or let him come along on the sidelines.

All I have left to do is horse stuff.  BTW: How many tricks can a normal horse learn?

I say Saddle up!
Travis

This question has come up a few times in the PMs.

Handle Animal, p78 -- any critter can learn 3 tricks per INT point.

Horse Stats, p256 -- INT 2.

Gracias.

Any other opinions?

Chance's Time Line --

1865 Summer/Fall: Chance builds bunkhouse and chemistry workshop; establishes city council; nominates James E. Beauregard for Sheriff.
1865 Winter: Builds affordable wagons for towns folk for trading goods.
1866 Spring: Re-establish farming and work with Brown to get supplies for chemistry workshop; holds reception for JEB and Hattie's wedding, coffee served.
1866 Summer: Work with Brown to establish supplies trading from Springfield of black powder supplies; carries out nitroglycerin tests.
1866 Fall: Near catastrophic explosion at workshop burns Chance's leg, heals through winter; hires cooper to work with Gus at carpentry shop.
1867 Spring: Marries school teacher - Artemisius Cooke.
1867 Winter: Isaac "Lucky" Osterfeld is born; starts apprentice program for chemistry; declines nomination for Mayor of Marshfield.
1868 Spring: Begins trade in Springfield for black powder products.
1868 Winter: Hans "Jumpy" Osterfeld is born.  Dora and family visit from Kansas City for whole winter.
1869 Spring: Twins, Amelia and Aarika "Jolly" Osterfeld, are born; dynamite production commences.
1869 Winter: Dynamite production perfected; Hans dies of an unidentified stomach ailment.
1870 Spring: Second explosion at workshop causes death of 17 yo apprentice. Rebuilding includes addition to house, master bedroom downstairs and conversion upstairs.
1870 Summer: Tab "Happy" Osterfeld is born.
1870 Fall:  Chance offered teaching position at Mizzou Department of Chemistry, Chance sells explosives production to take position.

Over the course of our first few nights together on the trail, you would learn..

The Butterfield Overland Stage Route was discontinued because of the war and in the Southwest mail was transported on horseback.  During that time Fort Bowie was built.  Travis and Meri departed the fellowship and through the fall of 1867 helped reconnect Arizona to the rest of the country while supporting the efforts of Ft Bowie.

In 1867 through early 1869 Travis met up with Silas and operated out of San Francisco.  They spent time as private law men hired by neighborhoods to mete justice.  They also spent time working with the railroad industry and the prospecting community.

When speaking of his time with Meri and Silas, there's an inordinate amount of laughter and story telling.  Typical banter might include "Then Meri said, Old Chap, that wasn't a horse that was the minister's wife,"  or "I knew with Ol' Hank we'd survive the gunfight, but how we got through the hangover the next morning I'll never know."

In 1869-1870 Travis headed East and found himself in the Indian Wars.  From the Battle of Summit Springs with fellow scout William "Buffalo Bill" Cody to the Marias Massacre.  Travis saw a lot.  Probably too much.  He speaks openly and honestly about his time. You can tell this was a life changing experience.  His deep cynicism further reinforced.

After that one can surmise that Travis drifted before arriving at the trail head with a fine horse and a fancy six shooter.  What little reputation precedes him indicates Travis was paid for his skills but the black hats would have paid him much better.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Tue 15 Sept 2009.

Here's Meri's background:

Mid 1865
Osterfield Incident

Late 1865 to early 1867 Travels west with Travis & works for the mail route. Travis & Meri work mainly from horseback.

1867 Meri Joins the 7th Calvary as a Civilian Scout. He works along side another Scout, James Butler Hickok. From him Meri is taught the cross draw method & starts wearing two guns, butts facing forward. Meri's guns of choice are Welby's not Colts. He stays only a time before heading Northwest into Wyoming Territory.

Late 1867 Meri is separated from a group  of settlers traveling west. With his horse dead from the elements & him soon to follow, the Englishman is taken in by a friendly tribe of Cheyenne. Rumor has it that he married an Indian woman who later died. He is nursed back to health & then continued on to Laramie Wyoming

Late 1868- Meri meets up with Jeb in Laramie. The two watched with some distaste as "Big" Steve Long, Con Moyer and Ace Moyer ran rough shod over the city. Long became the Sheriff. On October 28, 1868 the twain joined Albany County sheriff & rancher N. K. Boswell's "Vigilence Committee". They overwhelmed the three brothers, and lynched them at an unfinished cabin down the street.

In 1869 to early 1870- Meri with Travis as scouts (off & on) headed East and found themselves in the Indian Wars.  They to participated in the Battle of Summit Springs with their fellow scout William "Buffalo Bill" Cody.  However both men became angry with the killing of women and children, leading to a vow to never accept employment from the Army after their pleas for Mercy were ignored at the Marias Massacre.

Early 1870-Meri heads east back to Missouri. In March 1870 Jeb appoints Meri as deputy of Marshfield, along with Owen who was made a deputy one year earlier.

February 1871: receives letter from Cole regarding the cattle drive!

Cheers Meri
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Tue 15 Sept 2009.

In reply to Chance Osterfeld (msg #223):

"coffee sreved"  nice touch.

Okay, these back stories are all nice, but here's one of the reasons I asked for the timelines--people can't be in two places at once. It's not a big deal, but for example:

JEB and Meri list their time in Laramie in 1868 with the Vigilance Committee. They both list Travis as being there, but Travis is in California in 1868, according to his back story.

Probably, an edit to Meri's 1868 note, substituting "JEB" for "Travis" -- along with an edit to JEB's story removing Travis from the 1868 Vigilance Committee -- would rectify that, assuming that indeed Travis was never in Laramie.

------------------

Also, I've asked Cole to begin some roleplaying with his letters/telegrams home and to Marshfield about the cattle drive. JEB and Meri will easily get the word as they are in Marshfield at the time. Travis and Silas will need to get that relayed to them by JEB and Meri . . . or something like that. I would like to see that communication be part of the roleplaying--after all, this is a missive-based game, so why not roleplay the in-game missives?

Cole can do that privately, if he wants, or publicly, in this forum.

EDIT: Or if people are ready, I could create the new chapter so the initial RP could start there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:39, Tue 15 Sept 2009.