OK, another thing I am borrowing from writermonk as it just is a good way for me and you all to keep track...

In Talislanta, characters "have" to spend time training in a skill in order to improve it. Mechanically, this is done through the required time to learn a new skill (expressed in a number of weeks) AND the gaining of XP just for training. Every week spent training in a certain skill, training in this case being spending 6 to 8 hours daily working on that skill, earns the character 1 XP towards improving that skill. This training can be done while traveling, within reason. There are some skills that are hard to learn on your own (and thus need an instructor) and there are some skills that do not lend themselves well to practicing when being jostled on the back of a mount or the like.

People please choose a skill they would like to be working on in the down time of rest and travel and post it here. I will make a comprehensive list once everyone is in...

Oh yeah, I figure people will have been travelling at least a week from their respective locations, so once everyone is in Dracarta they will get 1xp for that time (yeah I know, 1xp ain't much but it's a freebee)...

I'm not entirely sure what Sathras would be training in just yet, but for lack of choice, let's just say that he's going to work on formally working on Guard. It'll take 20 weeks/XP to learn, so might as well start now.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #3):

He could actually start learning from Murron, who has Guard trained. :-)

Is there a particular reason why Guard and not Evade or Shield?

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #4):

Sathras is something of a two-fisted fighter. Well, two fists and a tail. So, Shield doesn't really fit. Too, he's big and somewhat slow, so Evade isn't really an immediate instinct. That said, he might go for those later on.
Guard fits with his recent background working for the Djaffa and as we move along he'll likely want to be watching over all these smaller, thin-skinned friends. They're all tailless anyways, so being able to parry a blow that comes for one of them or just stand nearby at night and make sure we're not attacked will be one of his priorities.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #5):

Works for me, a good in-character explanation. Like I said, maybe Murron would be willing to teach you, give him a little confidence boost. :-)

The Shadow will be working on being more shadow-like.  She's good at standing still and being quiet, so we might as well round it out.

In other words, Stealth is my current goal.

In reply to Shadow Seeking the Light (msg #7):

I'm a little confused with how to enhance Diis ability to parry with parrying bracers. Can she train them like a weapon? It seems like if she took "Sheild" it might be better than her natural DEX, but it doesn't specify that it works with bracers. Any thoughts?

If not that, then she'd probably train harder in "Bastard Sword".

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #8):

Increasing you Brawling is what helps you with your parry bracers, look under Parry in the Big Blue Book and you will see Brawling is one of the skills used. It normally gets a -5 penalty to parry weapon attacks but because it isn't bare flesh that doesn't apply. So if you want to improve your parry with bracers, train Brawling. :-)

Murron will practice his Shield skill.

Of course Murron will help out his new buddy with the Guard skill. :)

In reply to Bringer of Darkness (msg #9):

Then Dii will work on Brawling. How many tavern fights does it take to go up a notch? J/K.

Burikan will mainly concentrate on getting better with the the tarak.

Well Dii, if it is brawling you looking to training in Califax would be willing to spar and train.  He's not shy of some fisticuffs if need be and unarmed training is always helpful.

In reply to Califax (msg #13):

How long will we be traveling?

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #14):

It will be about 3 days from Danuvia to Akmir by land barge....give or take.

OK so here is what I have for training:

Aaban: nothing selected yet
Burikan: Tarak
Califax: Brawling
Dii Ahnah: Parry Bracers (I didn't notice it was a separate skill for you)
Kafa da Nir: nothing selected yet
Murron: Shield (10 weeks)
Sathras the Bold: Guard (20 weeks)
Shadow Seeking the Light: Stealth (10 weeks)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:08, Sun 12 Dec 2010.

My bad...

Aaban would be practicing with his crossbow.  If that's not feasible, being on a windship, he would likely be practicing with his mace (he's expecting a fight...).

That, and reciting his prayers and passages from the Omnival.  The latter to anyone who will listen or can be cornered.  :-)

In reply to Aaban (msg #17):

To be accurate, Parry Bracers isn't really a skill. I just wrote it down that way. The reason why now escapes me. Thought I was organized at the time, I guess. If it falls under brawling she'll just train Brawling.

In reply to Dii Ahnah (msg #18):

Actually if you look on page 418 of the Big Blue Book you will see that Parry Bracers is listed as a skill. I just noticed that myself, so my bad on that one. I guess it falls under training as a weapon or shield.

So here is the currently updated list:

Aaban: Mace
Burikan: Tarak
Califax: Brawling
Dii Ahnah: Warhammer (10 weeks)
Kafa da Nir: Locks
Murron: Mounted Combat
Novoptolomeo: Survival
Sathras the Bold: Guard (20 weeks)
Shadow Seeking the Light: Stealth (10 weeks)

I also went in and put XP on your sheets (those of you who haven't already)
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:19, Wed 25 May 2011.

Murron is no longer training up Shield skill.

Murron is currently training up his Mounted Combat skill.

For the record (though I PM'd the GM previously), I'm studying up on Survival.

Apparently desert Survival...

Novo spends his free time--when not studying the weather--working on his knots and traps. Doing the Boy Scout thing. Storm Chasers are expected to survive for months on their own.

Owing to his awkward social graces, he may also spend some time hunting in the nude. You know...preparing for all eventualities. Novo has somewhat of an apocalyptic mindset.

So here is the new and currently updated list:

Aaban: Mace
Arc: TBD
Batrac: Aerial Combat (18 weeks left)
Burikan: Tarak
Califax: Tri-bow
Dii Ahnah: Warhammer (8 weeks left)
Murron: Mounted Combat
Novoptolomeo: Survival
Padaran: Illusion
Sathras the Bold: Guard (18 weeks left)
Shadow Seeking the Light: Stealth (8 weeks left)
T'Vala: Mounted Combat
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:41, Sun 20 Sept 2015.

I think it might be wise if Califax starts work on his Tri-bow skill.