Glad to see some interest.

Ayasha's comment is pertinent--all the PCs would need to explain how and why they are in Texas (circa 1877), and construct a back story for all returning characters' time between Abilene and Fort Griffin, much as we did before the cattle drive adventure. Ideally, I would want the players to discuss ways in which their stories could jibe at points in time and ultimately result in a confluence (metaphorically) near the Clear Fork of the Brazos River. I suspect Ayasha's story would be the most difficult to shape--but it could be made easier if she had maintained a connection to other PCs. The way we left the story, there were a couple of heroes who planned to look for her on the plains; extrapolating from that makes it possible to maintain some connection. The Judge will be lenient in regard to any story the PCs want to craft to explain the five years and the ongoing connections between the characters; however, my request would be for the players to work it out here in this forum, establishing a plausible story for re-uniting the PCs in Shackleford county.

BTW, playing the same character as before isn't required, but is certainly acceptable. Anyone who wants to roll a new character and create a story connected to Fort Griffin may certainly do so. Any new players that might join would have to develop a back story that also puts them in The Flat, as well.

Y'all don't need to wait to get started . . .

(see my previous message)

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

Iffin' you plan to level-up your current character and provide a 5.3 year back story, then please strike up a conversation with other players who plan to do the same so we, as a group, can craft the timeline between Abilene in late 1871 and Fort Griffin in early 1877.

My initial ideas for advancement and to make it interesting before we start the gaming in The Flat:

Each continuing character advances two (2) levels over the course of the 5-6 years. As before, advancement should connect to the back story in regard to appropriate selection of Class, Feat, Skills, etc. over that time.

Special Sauce:
Any three players who work together to post messages that tell an interesting story, wherein the characters spent 6 months to a year together doing heroic or meaningful things, will advance one (1) additional level. A character may participate in more than one such triangle in the 5.3 year back story, but only one additional level can be gained. The Judge will instead award some special benefit befitting the character for each extra triangle story in which he or she participates. The posts can be in any form, such as: "pass-the-stick" storytelling; discussion of ideas resulting in the crafting of a brief narrative; or informal or "real time" back-and-forth posts that reveal the story organically. Of course, as a subjective Judge, I would weigh in with my own posts to help (I hope not hinder) the process. I'm creating a forum for this purpose; please use it.

Any new character (new player or returning player), will start at Level 5.

It also occurs to me that whenever a given PC is ready to play, play could begin, because not everyone would necessarily arrive in town at the same time, so anyone could arrive at The Flat and begin to explore and experience the town. Of course, if people are creating triangle stories there might be a group of people who enter town together, but that is up to the players.

It seems obvious enough, but I'll say that I'm leaving a lot of the re-start of this game to the players. The Judge could start gaming in The Flat tomorrow. He visits the fort and the town on a daily basis and knows everyone in the four-county area like they were family.

Travis, would you be my friend, Randy says with puppy dog eyes.  It'd be great if'n we could travels together and make a living off bouting and body-guarding.

And, Randy says to the other fella, Art, I be honored if'n you'd be along fer pertection.  You'ns might even be able to help me to speak good.

And, you fellers sees I gots a spare horse for'n us to use.

---

BTW -- Has anyone heard from Art lately?  I'll ask in the other game too.

I have not heard from Art since I saw him RL in St. Pete. It appears he hasn't been participating in the Dragon game. I did contact Cole and he said he was interested. I asked him to post here . . .

Please use the new forum (Ch8) for discussion of the 5 year timeline and back story.

Hey all! I might be up for this as well. Yet, I might be off a little while longer. I have a staph infection & feeling puny.

Hey Judge? If I do return could I do so as Yellow Sanders? I liked Deeds okay but I believe that I would have more fun as the cowpoke. Cheers Meri

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #932):

I'm in.

Sure. I hope you can beat that infection. Best wishes.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #942):

I'm in.  Sorry for delayed response.  Hurricane and all that.

Most everyone is in. I am honored. I will try to contact Art outside of RPoL.

Do the players wish to invite others (e.g. players we know from other games)?

Does anyone want to play with Ayasha? Some encounters during the 5 years?

Honestly, Randy intended to find Ayasha following the drive.  Unfortunately, she headed off and wasn't to be found, at least not easily.  The horse--which he calls 'Bandit'--was hers to decline.  If Ayasha chooses, she has the option of the horse, even if she bolts afterward.

Randy still stands behind that proposition.

So, yes.  Randy will gladly have spent adventures and travels with the warrior woman.  Mind you, Randy isn't one to fall in love, so that's not an issue.  He can't cook, hunt, navigate or fly.  One the other hand, he's big... seriously, he's big and could be a brute squad of one.

Earlier, I (the player) opened up the opportunity to ally with Art and Travis.  I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.  On further reflection, the alliance would be advantageous for a group of four, at least in light of the judge's interest in 'favorable' treatment for groups different than just three.  The way I see it, the judge told us we have an option for even more advancement based on the subsequent five years, we should take advantage of his graciousness.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #944):

Yes, others will breathe new life into the games.  Just make certain none of the invitees are:
Englishmen
Lawmen
Aboriginal-Americans
Native-Americans
Ill-educated
Masters of animal handling
Men of the cloth
Delusional
Pugilists
(or chemists)

In reply to Randy Oldman (msg #947):

Are you back to posting while imbibing again?

Lat's slurty thie.

I never type and drink... hardly ever... usually not... this time is an exception.

More appropriately, my humor is so great you cannot fathom the brilliance unless imaging a cloud of inebriation.

*Hic*

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #944):

We seem to have had good luck with bringing other folks on board, so if anyone wishes to invite newcomers, I'm fine with it.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #950):

I want my level I'll go in with anyone.  I'll wander over to Chapter 8.

Please do post in Chapter 8. That is a sandbox for discussion about character timelines and interaction. Don't worry about in-character or out-of-character considerations there, let's just use that space to work out the timelines for the heroes. Post your ideas, sketches, proposals, in-character conversation, narrative, etc., as desired, as long as the content is germane to the task of constructing a cooperative timeline and story.

This forum is running out of message space. I'll leave it open to wrap up any discussion about topics on the table. Then I'll create OOC3.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #952):

Rikki from Dragon has been a consistent participant who I think has added to the game.  I would support an invite to him if the Judge or others were considering that.

I'm fine with Rikki joining. Please feel free to extend an invite.

FYI, I have invited the player known as Rikki-Tik in the Dragon game to join us here. He is considering it.

Ooooo, I hope we're good enough.  Randy just might have an axe to grind with Rikki if he brings his shock gloves along.

No better welcome than a good trash-talk!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 05:12, Thu 22 Sept 2011.

BTW, I'm sure there's no need to ask, but did everyone make their contribution to RPoL this year?

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #957):

I contribute by using the RPoL portal to Amazon.  I don't know how much they get, but I must keep them afloat through the holidays.

So far, no one has turned in any advancement plans. I assume that is at least in part due to continuing efforts to get the extra level, which is cool by me.

So far, it looks like Travis is building toward that extra level for himself, Yellow and Randy.

There are possibilities for Ayasha, as she is traveling with the above three; however, as it stands, it looks like the timeline back to her Southern Cheyenne tribe will occur, but without travail. Now, I will say that if Ayasha wants to flesh something out like Travis is now doing in San Francisco during the return trip to her tribe and the other characters agree, there is still a chance for that multi-character historic event to achieve Ayasha's extra level (and then the other three would get a bonus as per the Special Sauce in 937 for the San Fran gig). Other than that, I don't see her story intersecting with two other players.

Cole and JEB have made clear a connection, but a third has not joined them. Art is on walkabout, again, so who knows where he might turn up. There is still a possibility there to craft a three-way story of heroism, if Art returns to the game. JEB did a nice job summarizing JEB's time and leaving openings for others to join. On the other hand, the fact that the story of tracking the James-Younger Gang takes the entire timeline meant that other PCs had to choose to intersect with JEB on that mission, and they ended up going a different direction (metaphorically and literally).

There is going to be another character, I believe, joining the game. We are having private discussions about character generation. I have offered that player the choice of joining in Fort Griffin or participating in the Five-Year Plan. At present, the answer is pending.

I'd still like to have a campaign of sorts with Yellow and Randy before reaching the Cheyenne. I suggested a land grabber who kills off settlers but makes it look like Indians did it. Ayasha would probably be able to tell the difference. I'm willing to flesh that out if Yellow and Randy are interested.

I'm a little bit disappointed that Travis didn't seem to want to be saved during Little Big Horn by Ayasha, but that's his call of course.