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05:14, 16th April 2024 (GMT+0)

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers.

Posted by atminn
atminn
member, 18 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 20:09
  • msg #1

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers
"Docter, there's an ugly lycanthropic infection in C18, planar delusions fueled by an alleged sorcerous geas in G6, that noble Cyran refugee in B23 demanding a second opinion that avoids amputating his warforged-shattered leg, and the director wants to see you; something about A9's progressive petrification being beholder-borne, not medusa like you diagnosed. The victim's adventuring party is justifiably irate, it seems, and apparently under some cosmic time crunch.

Meanwhile, an insistent Korranburg journalist delivered a bottle of your favorite Zil whiskey, no doubt tempting you to bend your exclusivity deal with Morgrave University.

Oh, and you missed a sending from your spouse. Apparently, if you can't manage to, quote: 'drag your self-absorbed hide to your own offspring's Shadow Carnival try-out tonight, then you can find your precious magecraft wand collection at the bottom of the Dagger River, and don't even bother looking for your family because they're moving to Wroat to live with your in-laws,' end quote. Shall we start with the amputation?"




Interest post: I'd like to know how much interest there is in a game with a somewhat unusual premise. Is this something of interest to people here?

What: I'm interested in running _The Ward: Acute Care Edition_ (a recently released medical drama game Powered by the Apocalypse), but rather than set in modern day, I want to set it in the fantasy noir world of Eberron. We would explore the dramatic and messy everyday lives of healing professionals within a strictly hierarchical Jorasco-run healing ward, most likely in Sharn, the City of Towers. Gameplay mechanics focus less on success vs failure and more on hard choices, natural consequences, and player-to-player drama regarding reputation/rivalry/romance/etc., while characters juggle the professional, personal, and social theaters of their lives.

When/How: The game would be set shortly after the end of the Last War and the terrible Day of Mourning. Negotiable expected posting pace of 1 post per day or two. Expected game length would be the equivalent of a live 4-6 session arc.

Who: You play the specialists, interns, nurses, and resident healing experts that do the heavy lifting within the strict but relationally messy hierarchy. While the Jorasco halflings command from the top, player characters can be any race filling any of the roles, all with respected expertise in both medical and non-medical pursuits, and all serving one addiction or another (blatant or otherwise). Players should enjoy embracing the relational drama inherent in the high-stakes, high-stress environment of a fantastical, medical-magical healing station.

Why: I love Eberron as a world, especially the economic power of the Dragonmarked Houses. I'm eager to explore a fantastical and dramatic slice-of-life of the Eberron's inhabitants rather than the epic exploits of just its adventurers and world-savers. If this game works out, the system could readily adapt to explore the non-medical exploits of teams of experts serving any of the other Dragonmarked Houses.

I would love to explore a larger "Eberron Experts" series or anthology of loosely connected short-form story arcs featuring each Dragonmarked House: Orien couriers/train-hoppers, Sivis notaries, Kundarak bankers, Deneith bodyguards, Vadalis magebreeders, Medani inquisitives, Phiarlan performer-spies, Ghallanda hostellers, etc.



Additional World/Historical Context
Despite the unaccountable losses that the Last War wrung from Khorvaire, there is one thing it provided in abundance: demand. Demand for healing services, desperate adaptation, and ethically flexible innovation.

While House Cannith's profits soared through non-partisan sale of warforged and other arms, and both Houses of the Shadow-marked illicitly boomed on furious espionage under the guise of promoting cultural exchange and morale, we thrived on suffering, whether we liked it or not. Every delivery of a bloody wound or messy new member of the Five Nations' arms race dropped in our laps lucrative new frontiers of an uncontested monopoly.

After the Day of Mourning, the war has officially ended, but we all know that Khorvaire's suffering has only just begun.

House Jorasco's coffers overflow at an all time high, while the overworked, under-equipped practitioners burn out faster than an elemental airship with a cracked Khyber-shard. Hundreds of halflings with Marks of Healing only go so far—and charge exorbitantly for their famous services—so it falls to us to stand in the gap and bring some brief moments of relief before the whole continent sinks once more into War. We take it one all-nighter at a time, so wash up, prepare your spells, put on your game face, and stick a bloody hand in.
Studynot
member, 91 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 20:16
  • msg #2

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

This sounds fun... are you settled on PbtA mechanics? I've never tried that system and not sure I have time to learn it.
atminn
member, 19 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 20:20
  • msg #3

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I'm pretty interested in the system in particular because of how it explores the personal/social/professional dimensions of the premise. I'm not aware of other systems that would work that focus as well.

It is pretty wildly light, mechanics-wise, so not hard to learn, and a breeze if you've played any other PbtA (Powered by the Apocalypse) game.
Smoot
member, 101 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 20:58
  • msg #4

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I'm not super familiar with the setting or the system, but I like the approach you're describing. I'd be interested in trying it, if you go forward with it.
roguesigyn
member, 1 post
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 21:00
  • msg #5

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I have no familiarity of the system or Eberron, but the idea of ER in fantasy setting sounds hilarious. Count me in, if inexperience doesn't matter.
engine
member, 644 posts
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 22:11
  • msg #6

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I'm familiar with the setting and the system. I love the setting and I tend to enjoy the system. I'm somewhat unsure how engaging a "slice of life" type game would be, but I'm willing to give it a try if you set it up.
Isida KepTukari
member, 216 posts
Elegant! Arrogant! Smart!
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 23:28
  • msg #7

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I have no idea about the system but I'd love to lurk!  I do love Eberron and this game sounds like a hoot!
seraphmoon
member, 48 posts
I've Been Touched By
His Noodly Appendage
Tue 17 Jul 2018
at 23:45
  • msg #8

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I know very little about Eberron, but I love PbtA games and would be willing to try this out. :)
airellian
member, 427 posts
Wed 18 Jul 2018
at 00:55
  • msg #9

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Interested! I once proposed a similar premise in Eberron, but with a law firm instead of a hospital ward. I love weird premises like that. :)
atminn
member, 20 posts
Wed 18 Jul 2018
at 05:20
  • msg #10

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

In reply to airellian (msg # 9):

If it works out as written in the medical sphere first, I’m very keen try it in other expert professions! A Sivis law firm operating in Karrnath sounds like lots of fun.

Good to see you Isida. I believe I temporarily played as a Phiarlan elf in a sophisticated mystery game you ran with 3.5 Eberron.



For everyone, I'm glad to see more interest than I expected! While my intro crawl is cheeky, this game would have definite heavy dramatic moments, because lives are in the balance and the PCs have to balance mundane, real life needs, desires, and insecurities too. Even so, depending on what the group prefers, it can run stories and tones more like Scrubs, House, or ER easily enough.

I’m always keen to unite with others who know the setting's nuances, so I’d prefer sharing that to system familiarity (especially since the game itself is only a couple weeks old).
Isida KepTukari
member, 218 posts
Elegant! Arrogant! Smart!
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 03:01
  • msg #11

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

That was a most excellent game, atminn!

I'm certainly interested in checking out this one once it gets going!  :)
GreyGriffin
member, 211 posts
Portal Expat
Game System Polyglot
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 04:28
  • msg #12

Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

I'm generally not a huge fan of PbtA, but I think this might have legs...
atminn
member, 21 posts
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 04:32
  • msg #13

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

GreyGriffin:
I'm generally not a huge fan of PbtA, but I think this might have legs...

GreyGriffin, I’m curious what makes this instance of PbtA seem different from your overall sentiment. The Ward version of PbtA, or the premise, or something else?
GreyGriffin
member, 212 posts
Portal Expat
Game System Polyglot
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 06:33
  • msg #14

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

atminn:
GreyGriffin:
I'm generally not a huge fan of PbtA, but I think this might have legs...

GreyGriffin, I’m curious what makes this instance of PbtA seem different from your overall sentiment. The Ward version of PbtA, or the premise, or something else?

I generally think that PbtA thinks it is much cleverer than it really is, but the frame of conflicts and challenges in a sort of hospital drama seems like it could make better use of the system's behavior than, say, Dungeon World.
Laditis
member, 27 posts
Thu 19 Jul 2018
at 10:09
  • msg #15

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

As someone who enjoys the healing role in a party, I have to say this is a fantastic idea :)
This message was last edited by a moderator, as it was against the forum rules, at 11:09, Thu 19 July 2018.
atminn
member, 22 posts
Sun 22 Jul 2018
at 01:13
  • msg #16

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Awesome. So I’m happy to see that both with people here and elsewhere, this idea has solid potential. I'm planning to get a game started mid August or September. I hope that's not too long to wait.

Also, I'm thinking the city of Stormreach would be a better place from which to explore healing professionals in Eberron. It allows more mixing and matching of the nationalities, races, factions, etc.
Isida KepTukari
member, 219 posts
Elegant! Arrogant! Smart!
Sun 22 Jul 2018
at 05:14
  • msg #17

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Not to mention the potential range of injuries could be a lot more broad than in a more established area.  Sharn - duels, skycarriage collisions, mobs, disease, various industrial accidents, some magic issues, etc.  Stormreach - riots, giant attacks, whatever the fudge is coming out of the jungles, gangs going at each other, adventurers being crazy, curses, more curses, whatever come out of the sewers, random dinosaur attacks, plus magical shenanigans.  :D
atminn
member, 23 posts
Mon 23 Jul 2018
at 17:52
  • msg #18

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Indeed! Lots of juicy curses to befuddle medical-magical experts. I've brainstormed a few satisfyingly long, delicious lists of ideas both medical, social/political, and personal.

Additionally, today's news of the 5e D&D Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron on the DM's Guild is portentous that now may be a perfect season to renew explorations of Eberron! If anyone is unfamiliar with the setting, I strongly recommend you check it out, at least the free preview overview pages: http://www.dmsguild.com/produc...-Guide-to-Eberron-5e
This message was last edited by the user at 17:52, Mon 23 July 2018.
atminn
member, 24 posts
Tue 31 Jul 2018
at 14:38
  • msg #19

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

As a heads up, since it's been a few weeks since I first brought this up, I plan to start this game up for recruiting around the weekend of August 10th or so. I'll keep you posted! Thanks for your interest that inspires me to make it happen!
Smoot
member, 103 posts
Wed 1 Aug 2018
at 02:39
  • msg #20

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

Looking forward to it! See you then.
atminn
member, 27 posts
Sat 25 Aug 2018
at 16:21
  • msg #21

Re: Interest Check - Eberron General Hospital: City of Towers

If you're following this Game Proposal, check out the Wanted - Players ad I just created to launch this game! link to a message in another game
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