In reply to Vythisk (msg # 229):

I want to stress you don't need to use that book. It's an option for those that want it, but it's just one route. I agree it's very technical. Please feel free to use spells, like stone wall, permanency for things like wall of force (IIRC) and symbols of...(blank) for wards. You can then just assign grand houses, or a mansion or keep and we can use that as a model.

Not to burst the bubble of those that used the builder guild. I hope this is not a grievous revelation many would have wished to know day 1. I trust the maths, but I don't like reviewing it any more than I like reading the rules myself. There are optimal books and optimal spells, and there are a disparity in "balance" SBG is no different.

So feel free to broaden as I said in my first paragraph. Also, feel free to rely on Maynitra and I, her the precise, and me the overwhelming quick but dirty. I have tons of top down maps, if you can ignore incongruities I can find a type of map you can make special annotations to. I can plop a .png of a wooden (or stone, or map consistent) floor that might look patched, but "Whiteout" a feature not present. I can also ad a .png for areas. I'll post some maps I have for grabbing, or just to give you an idea of how I correct maps done by pros or devoted amateurs and what you can expect. I also post a specific custom made map that entails how I can customize a building in maptools. My maps are not passionate amateur, but I'm proud of them.

I'm glad, like Maynitra, to help your idea become a map. I won't, however, have the micro Maynitra will. I'll be more macro.

Anyway, I'll get back to this on hopefully Friday night. pings and pokes and reminders are welcome. Thanks for those that did, even if they weren't read. Local storms and home flooding pre-empted those last time. I hope, I HOPE that is gone for awhile.

I'd like to move forward with the game proper. Can I get a call of attendance. I'm aiming for the 10th. Just to be polite there will be a PM too. Just not quite yet.

We have Eldryn Duskryn getting ready to get back into the game design phase. While Maynitra is in assistance mode. So I'd like to have a dress rehearsal. Something to get our characters on page and in thread, run through some scenes.

I'll PM everyone on the 8th, and probably post something innocuous, but in character on the 10th.

I am still here and ready to proceed unless I need to fix things in my sheet or character.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:28, Mon 28 Aug 2023.

Yes to roll call and good with a low-stress start.

Present here and ecstatic with a stress-free start

In reply to Narrator V (msg # 233):

I'm definitely around -- distracted, but here.

I am here. I was just waiting on the answer to a question from V before I can build out my sheet. I might as well ask everyone here. Is everyone playing a monstrous character race? I ask because I have been part of gestalt games before where everyone except me played a monstrous race, and my character was totally overshadowed and made redundant. I have build ideas ready to go either way, but need to know what others are doing before I commit one to digital paper.

In reply to Eldryn Duskryn (msg # 238):

That makes a lot of sense to me. I would suggest that you consider your focus/area of expertise? That will also help to differentiate you and provide a niche to fill.

Maynitra is Drow -- so a monster race, but an LA+2 humanoid with no racial HD. Although she's a spellcaster, her focus is Abjuration, with a smattering of other abilities that are situationally useful. Her focus is on shutting down spellcasters and magic items.

In reply to Eldryn Duskryn (msg # 238):

;) You beat me to it. I'm glad! I will also add to Eldyrn's request for some dragon magazine material. I've of this approach. If anyone needs to react "If I would have known DrMag was available I would have taken...." Then I won't allow any except the very few I have pdfs of from when I was in DDI (4e). The ...of the Mage, and a caster class that allows some transmogrication are what I have access to.

In reply to Narrator V (msg # 240):

I am okay with allowing dragon magazine stuff.

What comes to Hathra he is a full spellcaster on both sides of gestalt and through class feature, he has lich template without needing gold nor having LA from it. But otherwise no monstrous creature nor monster HD.

Ghanek is essentially an amphibious human. But has no monster levels.

Thanks, everyone. So it looks like templates are being used or minor LA races, but not full monster levels. I will be able to get to work on finishing out a sheet over the next few days now.

*COUGH* *COUGH* Full monster on one side. Also here.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

In reply to Narrator V (msg # 240):

I'm also ok with that. There might have been one thing or two I would have used from it, but quite frankly it's usually too much effort to go chasing after it. Knowing that's an option now, however... I might go back and poke about a bit... :D

In reply to Vythisk (msg # 244):

LOL! Thank you! Brownie points for all, in Vythisk's contribution. I went by the portait for too long. Vythisk, however, is nowhere near threatening anyone from his monstrous side; Eldryn. If anything he is more legend than his monstrous stats would be alone. Vythisk also has some pretty kick ass crafting ability, which can (as levels are gained) will eventually drip over to you too.

I think the team mentality is also very present here.

I think the overall consensus and conclusion I've drawn, is that disruption to the game is most evident by nullifying player involvement, on the individual scales, especially when that's their domain.

Finally, everyone here knows that everyone else has staked into this game from the beginning. So if there's a dynamic that makes the game unfun, there are 2 dimensions of movement; only one is to match power level; the other is to contrast by domain and sphere of influence.

That said, the best way I can deal with problems; is to deal with them as they occur. I have OCD, and I know I've spent countless days, not just hours, worrying about being in front of problems.

I'm eager to put my time to GMing the "story" the game proper, and I want to give some escapism to those that need that.

I still think we run the risk of drop out. It pains me, but plans don't survive execution at 100% efficiency. I'd hope I can mitigate that to problem solving, but...history paints another picture.

If we do lose players, in that unfortunate event, I do have a team of three eagerly ready and able to join.

I'll leave it there. I may need to PM someone,l but I think all are accounted for.

I have to prep for my case manager tomorrow, but I said 8th to 10th, so I'm on schedule right now.

I'll review if anyone needs to be PMed, if not, we'll get ready to start the easy ongoing introduction, and correct errors as we start to lift off. :)

I have to build my sheet on another site and will transfer it over to this one when you reopen the sheets tab.

PMing a single player, and then opening the game thread on the 10th. We'll take it easy. Looking forward to this! Please remember I haven't memorized even 10% of the data that you all have given me. So feel free to snag PL (Private Lines) to remind me overlooked content, or facts contradictory to my posts. I'll learn in progress. :)

If you all could be so kind as to let me know when you want/need my intervention. I'm going to be reading the thread, but haven't had the time last weekend.

In reply to Narrator V (msg # 250):

I don't want the game to go stale on its first presentation. So I will be reading the in game thread, and seeing if I can add some NPC content.

If you all could be so kind as to let me know when you want/need my intervention, that would help.

On the other hand, if you all want more time to just mull over your posts, or find time, I'm keen to let you all, or some of you perhaps slower, find that time.

No need to add NPC content, but there was a long break between my post and the last post, so maybe some minor side plot that investigates or prepares to investigate could be good to keep the activity going. As powerful as we are, any lesser threats we steamroll but steamrolling in itself is not bad to happen as a small filler before big serious threats/events.

Thank you so much for helping me accurately address my post then!

To everyone, thank you all present for being even more patient than patient. (I think Rob Zombie...) I went from financial strain, to social work strain, to doctor's appointment, and then health and lifestyle changes, and then career very late in life...many of which excuse me, as they are understandable, but none bring me any closer, quite thy opposite to passing this game's infancy.

So thank you for keeping the lights on. I think we either lost some, or some have just awaited a PM, if not, that's my misapprehension.

I write this here to praise everyone for keeping the heat on, to keeping this game from being stillborn. I am very taxed, and very guilty feeling for not doing what I would hope of a GM I played under. You all are doing the best you can. I will post when I can, and I know everyone knows I know. Still, I just want to check in, to make sure you know I'm alive, but also not losing interest. I AM overwhelmed, but I think that's the kind of big game I went out hunting, epic, city building, etc... That doesn't daunt me as much. it's just temporary RL that's lingering. I really do think my first "job" is not labor, but a task; and that's to thoroughly read the posts in game. I NEED (consider "need" emphasized in all manner of text that could be <>'s) to give feedback! I will...I'm not worried you won't trust me, I'm worried that I haven't and still can't today.

So I wanted to not just check pulse but also give vitals. ;) :| :/ :) :|   *sigh*

*beep*

(yes, the pulse is ongoing on this game if bit slow)

Don' worry.  It's ALIVE!

I'm still here!