In reply to Ayasha (msg #960):

I, eh er, rather, Randy likes the idea.

In reply to Ayasha (msg #960):

That means that Travis would be involved, too, based on previous statements. He is also traveling with the group to find Ayasha's tribe.

In reply to Ayasha (msg #960):

I kept my participation in the Little Big Horn a bit nebulus.  I don't want to ride with Custer but that doesn't mean you can't save me somehow from Crazy Horse and company..

Things are progressing since my last post in this forum. I appreciate the efforts of the PCs to tell stories.

Still not sure about Art, or the man I will refer to only as the Professor, for the moment.

I have half a mind to run Art as a NPC for a time. Perhaps someone finds him in jail, again, in some famous burg.

EDIT: typo
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:44, Mon 03 Oct 2011.

Although I'm still not in a rush, it has been more than five weeks since I started the Chapter 8 thread. My thinking at the time was that we could have the Five-Year Plan sorted out in a month or two. Excellent progress recently, as I noted above; however, there is still work to finish up, including the leveling up of PCs.

It would be nice if we could start play in Fort Griffin by the beginning of November. Ifn the PCs ain't ready, I'll cope, but I'd like to shoot for that start-up, if it's amenable to all y'all. Please LMK whether you think that is realistic. If more time is needed, that's fine, but I'd like to set some sort of expectation for beginning, so please help me out.

I'm doing some research on fighters of the times.  I just picked up the library books today.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #966):

I'm still working.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #966):

Did I give you my article on John L. Sullivan, slated for FGE 1.3 but not yet published?

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #968):

Yup.  Loved it.  I used a little of it for guidance for some updating.

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #969):

I'll take that comment as a kindness, pard.

The reason I mentioned it is that the article includes a list of some famous prizefighters that might be food for thought. Of course, none compare to the Great John L.

I have three books to use for color.  Each of the three fawningly describe John L.  I can't wait to read more of his contemporaries.

Each book, in its own way, describes bare-fist fighting as a ghastly sight and horrible spectacle, but also a sport of great science and grace.

Indeed, bare-fisting fighting was brutal in the late 1800s, even with the adoption of the Marquess of Queensbury rules in 1867. Randy's five years of fighting are slightly ahead of the curve for the Old West (San Fran is a good choice. BTW); it stands to reason that a sizable number of his bouts would be brutal "back room" event, while civil public performances would have occurred less often.

A couple of PCs have indicated they are working on more of the back story, but there have been zero posts in Chapter 8 in the last 7 days . . .

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #973):

I'm typing on airplane today.

So, is Ayasha good for the extra level?

I'm willing to have her appear in any other story line if anyone likes.

I generally use a keyboard of some kind, but if it works for you, type away!

Looking forward to reading more.

Me bonnie mates! I’ve so enjoyed reading your updates! I’d like to weave some of my own adventures into the common fabric and to that end I’m trying to pin down the time line a little.

Ayasha’s post about finding the family clearly happens early on.

Randy’s fighting and addiction builds over the course of the years.

Jeb’s tale starts after Owen is killed and proceeds on from there

It’s not entirely clear to me when Travis’s Part 1 begins nor the time frame where Cole’s tale evolves.

Here is JM’s rough outline with other dates I’ve been able to gather. Where in here do you see your elements fitting?
- - - -
October 1871 - March 1877

October 1871
Travis, Yellow, Randy and Ayasha to Southern Cheyenne village
JEB begins trek home (circuitous, if he doesn't get there until June 1872)
Cole returns to his family home

Late 1871 Wickenberg massacre in Arizona Territories...

November 1871 - June 1872
Travis, Yellow, Randy and Ayasha have Undetermined Adventure
Family killed Ayasha #45

1872 Modoc Wars in Oreggon and No California

Goingsnake massacre of US marshalls (can you say ob openings?)

June 1872
James-Younger gang which robbed the Webster County Savings Association on June 14, 1872
JEB returns home to find Owen Lorman dead
JEB Sends word to Cole Trayne and Travis Sunday (Sunday doesn't get wire until after Undetermined Adventure)

June 1872
JEB begins search for Owen (Undetermined Locations along the way)

July 1872
Travis, Yellow, and Randy begin Undetermined Adventures (Randy begins prizefighting if not already underway)
Ayasha remains with tribe

October 1872
Cole joins JEB's search in Undetermined Location Later maybe. . .

1873 Buffalo Hunted to near extinction over next two years. (Tasty)

Custer first encounters Sioux

Mododc wars end

January 1873
Yellow lands in San Francisco; meets Mei-ying Jiang
(Travis might accompany)

July 1873
records show Travis and Yellow Sanders arrived in San Francisco

Late Summer 1873
JEB arrived in San Francisco during the late summer

1874 Bat Masterson and the Battle of Adobe Walls.

Deadwood grows to 5000 in population over next two years.

1874 Cole-JEB-Artemus in Broken Hills, Nevada

June 1874
Yellow and Mei-ying Jiang move to Texas

June 1874
Ayasha at Second War of Adobe Walls

1875  Tong Wars in San Francisco

Early 1876
Weary from the fight racket, Randy retired in early 1876.

June 1876
Travis and Ayasha at the Battle of Little Big Horn

January 1877
JEB and Cole arrive in Fort Griffin

March 1877
Others arrive in Fort Griffin
This message was last edited by the player at 14:06, Sat 22 Oct 2011.

I don't want to speak for the players in regard to that timeline, but I will note that some of the timeline I put together in msg 29, and embellished by Art above, has already been altered by subsequent player posts. For example, Cole revised his timeline and based on my reading wouldn't have met with JEB in October 1872. Their connection would happen later, in Nevada, the way Cole seemed to be setting it up (although as yet not solidified).

This message was deleted by the player at 14:25, Sat 15 Oct 2011.

Hey everyone! Will be out of town for about a week. Sorry for any delays. Please Npc Yellow if needed. Cheers Meri

... is the Judge amenable to feat substitution, or do we stick with the rules.

In general, the Judge sticks with the rules; however, the Judge, while stubborn, is not immutable. The general response would be: if you want a feat that belongs to a different class, figure out a way to take it as the every 3rd level feat (which is not beholden to class), or choose to multi-class a level that allows the desired feat.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #983):

Travis is leveled up waiting for approval.

See the PM, Senor Domingo.

A few things come to mind based on recent PC posts (PM and public):

1. It is nearly 11/1; seems unlikely that we will ALL be ready to play in Fort Griffin and The Flat by that targeted date. Most players still need to submit a leveling-up plan. Most characters have satisfied the Judge's criteria for the Special Sauce extra level. Art is playing catch-up; his obvious conscientious level of effort makes the Judge inclined to give a little more time.

2. The Judge requests a leveling-up plan from all characters by 11/1--at least for initial review--with three levels (everyone but Art and Cole will earn the extra level . . . don't forget to thank El Senor for that). Art and Cole's story should continue so they will also get the extra level.

3. When figuring AP, set the character's total as a dozen or so points beginning the time in Fort Griffin. If the PC's total was more than 12 at the end of the cattle drive, he or she may start with whatever it was at that time. As stated previously, the Judge assumes that AP are being spent throughout the five-years in order to survive, then thrive.

4. Anyone player who wants a bonus for participating in two different heroic or meaningful stories should ask the Judge to issue an opinion.

5. Travis may enter Fort Griffin whenever he pleases. If he is entering with another PC (it seemed that the timeline might facilitate entry by Ayasha and Travis together), then he must wait for that character to have a complete back story and complete the leveling-up.

6. Don't forget your bonus feat for every 3rd level (any feat on the full list) and your +1 to ability at every 4th level, overall.