Greetings and well met!  Below is a basic listing of how I run games.

OOC:  Please try to keep all OOC posts in this thread.  Any game mechanics such as dice rolls and whatnot can be added to the adventure posts as outlined below.

DICE ROLLS:  Whenever you wish to make any type of skill check, simply add it in a couple blank lines below in your normal game post.  Please put what check you are making and what rolls you got from the dice roller.
When rolling attack, please also roll damage and post the roll and result same as above.
Players do not HAVE to make these rolls, they can simply request such rolls in private lines but I will award additional XP to players who take some of the work load off my shoulders. :)

TEXT COLOR:  I would like all speech done in purple text and all inner thoughts in yellow.  This just makes things easier for me to read.:)  Red is reserved for DM remarks and responses to questions.

AUTOMATIC SKILL CHECKS:  Any time something can be noticed, I will make an initial skill check for each PC with any additional information gained noted in a private line to each player.
This message was last updated by the GM at 03:24, Fri 23 Apr 2004.

A few more things to know about my games:

I allow you players to modify your sheets.  As a general rule just go ahead and make any modifications you need.  Please also be sure to keep track of numbered items that get used up, like food, ammunition.  I trust you guys. :)  I will generally add any XP gained, except for outside xp you gain for helping ROA out for example, that xp you can add yourselves. :)

Please note that any spellcaster who uses spell components...having a spell component pouch does save you from having to constantly worry about little components....but be aware I do charge you 5sp each IC week to replenish your pouch.

Those with armor/weapons: Keep an eye on your armor.:)  Armor (except magical) can only take so much normal wear and tear.  I will occasionally make a secret roll for you to see if you notice when your armor might have problems that need to be altered or repaired.  This will happen more frequently if engaged in alot of combat or when things happen that could possibly damage your armor.  Same goes for non magical weapons.  Masterworked items are a bit hardier then normal stuff, but is more expensive to alter and repair. Generally when armor or weapons break or have problems, it will effect combat rolls and for armor possibly a few skill checks. :)

Extra note on equipment:  Be sure you buy what you need. :)  If you don't buy it or get it somehow and it isn't on your sheet....you don't have it.:)  I won't remind you as a DM that you have no waterskin for example...I will only say something when I send you a private message that you are starting to get thirsty :):):)

Note on XP and leveling:  I award xp like it says in OOC, every 2 weeks.  I generally do it on fridays but I have been known to be a little late. :)  I award bonus xp in addition to the standard:

For extra posting: The ROA rule is 3 posts every week.  I like fast paced games so suggest 1/day (weekends excluded) posting rate in my games.  I award bonus xp for sticking to this rule.  For example if you post 1/day faithfully for the two week period then at XP time you will get the full 100xp bonus.  It drops down from there based on your posting frequency over 3/week.

For posting on weekends: If you post at least 1 time on Saturday or Sunday each week at XP time you will get a 25XP bonus.

For furthering the plot: If your character does something that furthers the plot.  This award varies depending on the situation.

For using a spell/ability in an unusual manner: If you use any spell/abilitiy/whatever in an unusual or creative way, you get a bonus.  If you succeed with it you get a little more.  The award varies upon the situation.  I award creative thinking. :)

Making Rolls: If you make all your own rolls and post them correctly as per the rules in my first ooc post, plus all combat rolls, you will get a 50xp bonus. This is for when you announce a skill check, I do not penalize you for when I ask you for a roll or make a roll for you you did not know about.  Generally if I need a roll from you I will wait 2 days for it before I make it myself.

Top Roleplayer: This is a special 50xp bonus I award to one character each award time.  The character chosen is based on posting frequency, roleplay, interaction and furthing the plot along.

Total possible bonus xp: 250+

Leveling: My policy on leveling is that some things must be trained.  Generally to level up first of course you must have the needed xp, but you may also need to find a trainer.  Don't be too bummed about this, as I tend to do a little roleplay in the training via private message, you have a chance to earn bonus xp for good RP. :)  Some things of course do not need trainers: Sorcerers learning a new spell, some feats, some skills, etc.  As a rule of thumb if you are learning a new skill, I require a trainer for most.  If you are advancing a known skill, you MAY need a trainer or some RP sessions.  Feats like learning a new weapon (any weapon proficiency) will need a trainer, or at the very least studying someone else using said weapon.  Things like Great Fortitude and Improved Initiative and the like do not need a trainer...those are things you just pick up or learn on your own.  I also use training for plot hooks, to further the plot, to start new ones...etc so that is an added bonus besides a chance for extra XP......also I keep tract of personal contacts :)  Those can be a great benifit other then just for training purposes:):):):)  Generally these things happen in between adventures, during tavern time, and can sometimes be the start of an adventure or a reward for an adventure:)



OH - An important note I forgot to add to the first post regarding rolls:  I roll initiative for all combat.  It is just much easier for me to do this because of the way I handle combat, explained below.

Combat: Whenever combat starts I will post a Combat Summary with the round # in the post title.  Then I summarize the situation.  Below that is an encounter map.  Below that is initiative order with misc notes on each char/foe.  Below that may be any OOC notes I wanted to make.  Once the Combat Summary is posted you are free to post your character's actions regardless of initiative order.  You may also change your actions as well, but please note sometimes a changed action is penalized; this always depends on the situation and will be my call.  In cases where I add in a penalty I will always explain it in the OOC comments at the bottom of the post, even if it is a simple 'DM perogative' Please be colorful in your combat posts, it could net you extra XP and besides, I cut and paste your combat posts into the combat summary, slightly modified.
For example:

Tosh attacks g1 with his dagger.

OOC: attack roll 13, damage 2.

That is a fine combat post, but it could be so much better.

For example:

Tosh darts in and jabs his dagger at the goblin, all the time grinning visciously.

OOC: attack on g1 roll 13, damage 2.

Much, much better.:)

Ok...just one more little bitty rule...more like a pet peeve of mine:
When posting, please do not tell me what you are doing, show me.  I don't really care what person you write in (besides first), I just dislike posts like these:

Tosh will walk over to the door and examine it.
I walk over to the door and examine it.
I want Tosh to walk over to the door and inspect it.

I prefer posts like these:
Tosh walked over to the door and examined it.
Tosh walks over to the door and examines it.


Ok...I think I spammed you guys enough :)  Why don't you guys give a quick reply to this message here at OOC, say hi..say whatever....humor me:)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:46, Thu 22 Apr 2004.

Uhm.... "Whatever?"  :)

Let's Roll!

This game is looking very promising!!! Can't wait..can't wait!!

Hey, game start yaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

This is going to be great!  Based on the tavern scene we will be a great team.

Real name is Stu, and I live in Toronto.  Have mercy on me for the first little while as I am not sure when I am required to roll.  So bear with me.

See you all soon!

Hey Stu, I'm Colin and I'm in Virginia. :)  Yep, this game looks good so far!

As for rolling...I suppose the only advice I can offer is do it when you're actively using a skill to change the situation - socializing, sneaking about, combat of course.. yada yada.  For example I rolled Diplomacy to try to get the drunk away from the barmaid.  :grin:  I'm sure we'll all figure it out as we get to know each other better.

Hi everyone!

My name is Preston. I live in Rhode Island, dad of two, and husband of a wonderful and, shall we say,understanding, wife.  Great writing so far; it's really making this mystery come alive!

Cheers!

hey hey hey...can't let you all introduce yourselves without me doing so..makes me look like an ogre. :)

My name is Julie and I live in Las Vegas, am a full time mother of 4 (13, 6, 5, 2) and live to roleplay. :)  I also write as a hobby. :)

I'm Jacob from danmark, Europe....and I blame the time-difference for not posting my personal stuff earlier :)

father of 2 btw (8 & 22 month)

No kids here in Toronto, just a wife of 4 years and a tubby cat (he doesn't roleplay unless you count meowing for food as a Diplomacy roll).  Just turned 32 (yesterday for that matter) haha.

I have been roleplaying in one form or another since I was 9 (Basic d&d in a camper trailer using the famous blue dice, running Keep on the Borderlands).  Quickly becoming addicted to the high quality of writing that comes out of the RPoL games I have been lucky enough to join.

Thanks for having me and nice to meet you all.

S

Hm, 1983 here, about two years later .. yep, with the D&D basic set. :g:  I remember Keep on the Borderlands well, I think I have 2 or 3 copies.  Still one of the best modules ever made!

Dice you had to color in the faces on ... LOL

I beat you to 32 by a few month then.

I have played D&D since aount 1990, but on and off. Recently more due to a really nice group I found. As you might have noticed english isn't my first language, so I might mess up once in a while, but I hope you'll bear with me (and corrections within limits is really very much ok).

Hey, im steven and i live in Illinois. I go to high school right now (which is why my posts are always late in the afternoon.

Im a newbie to this so bear with me also about the dice rolling things to please.

Wow, sounds like I'm probably the oldest here at 37! I started with the original Basic D&D Box Set as a christmas present probably around 1979.  At some point I acutally bought the little white box set of the standard (Pre-AD&D)game from the dusty corner of a toy store.  Where is it now?...especially since I have seen those sets for $135 on Ebay!  I also had the little tan books for Greyhawk (I think), Eldritch Wizardry (I think), and Blackmoor. They were very cool! My first modules were the Pre-Temple of EE module about Hommlet, the G (giants) series, and the S series.  I did not actually play too much, but I sure made a lot of things up!

I had bought that little white box.  But it seems to have disappeared during one of my moves over the year.  Very, very annoying - especially since I end up crawling to my D&D Cyclopedia (compilation of the '83 Basic/Expert/Companion/ Masters sets)when I'm tired of arguing about 3.5 feats and prestige classes. :g:

I had Chainmail (the original, 1973ish), Greyhawk, Blackmoor and Wizardry with it. :(

As for the old modules....B2 of course, X1, one of the solo adventures (M1?) - eventually got the B series summary book, so now in storage I have a run down on B2-B8.  A series, G series, T1-2 ... :g:  I also didn't get to play much til years later, but it absolutely fascinated me.

I'm 33, so it looks like you might be the pack leader Brin.  (Gall, the good news is since we're all so old we can help you impress your teachers. :g:)

Heheh we are all a bunch of fogeys...I just turned 33 on the 21st:)

I'm a doctor in RL, let hope it wont be needed although this sounds almost líke a geriatric ward :)

I wont be posting before sunday night or monday morning, euro time due to a bithday in the family. Hang in there without me!

BTW, I love the frequency and quality of the posts (I'm finding it very hard to keep up with the quality so I try to compensate with quantity). With DM Bast's bonus XP for posting and RPing we should be able so solve this mystery with the children casting a Miracle or Wish spell before too long :)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Sat 24 Apr 2004.

Gah sorry folks...I should have been back friday night but I had a turn for the worse (too much activity likely) and I ended up in the emergency room until late saturday and spent the rest of the weekend recuperating....I should mention I am disabled and have alot of medical problems plus possibly another surgery coming up...sometimes it puts me out of action for a few days.  Usually I post very frequently, at least a couple times per day..except when I am having bad days and spend them in bed.  JJust a heads up for you guys so you know my situation.

Take a break when you need it..you hear?! and hurry up getting well :)

No worries here!  Rest is good :)  Feel better.

No worries Bast, just take your time.  SOmetimes a head on collision with a medical problem and pushing on through is the worst thing you can do.  Here's hoping you can dodge the surgery!

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well.  Please take all the time you need to get back.