exactly

In reply to Iskander (msg # 863):

Going to try and catch up tomorrow

The insanity that will befall the black tower can not fit in the black tower.

In reply to Ryojin (msg # 865):

Going away with the missus. Be bvb ack Monday

Valerie's like that little green guy who hangs out with Berry, isn't she?  She was with us in Seekers, and all of a sudden she's in the tavern with Dne and Reanna.

I figured qwythaint meant 'Alice', as that's the healer we've got with us.  Of course with like eleventy hundred threads, he might be crossing the streams unintentionally...

Yep, bazillion threads, and about ten active players...

they're being woven along nicely. the plots are tying together.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 870):

Lol, most. But not all...should we provide a list of least favourite characters to the Narrator in case he is looking to thin the herd?

lol! that might not be appropriate.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 872):

Well, to be honest, most of us have multiple characters, and we like some more than others!

Speak for yourself, Christine.  Though I might be the only one with a good sized herd that are all my own builds...

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 874):

Well, seven are totally my own builds, and the eighth sort of, though there were way more restrictions on him than most, but the four hand-me-downs are all quite interesting as well. Clarence does little well, and is really just comedy sideshow. Sederic is an interesting swordsman, but really needs regular combat, which does reduce his benefit as a negotiator. Melchizadek is an odd mix, though I am thinking he might be a bit of a playboy, but lecherousness was not part of the build...hard to add colour to him.

I wrote Balir as my first character when coming in, and he's totally the stereotype arrogant dwarf.  After getting my feet wet, I took on a whole bunch of other characters.  Each of them has  some quirks, and for the most part the RP aspect has been manageable.  I'm not normally as antisocial as Aegis, and Goran doesn't have a lot of schtick to him.

I imagine many of the players here are also authors and run their own games too.  I happen to be more on the consumer side of things (make a poor GM), so the character builds have broadened my horizons at least a little bit.  The last character I took on Was my own build, McNealy, although the GM had a list of constraints for the build.  He's really quite complex, and I'm only 75% sure I did him justice.  Still, it's my first real attempt at some of the crazy stuff I see others doing in this game.

Artificers have a singular flaw no other Profession has:  Resource expenditure requirements.

No one else really has to pay out "big bucks" to do their thing.  It's something I've occasionally smacked my head against the wall over trying to get them to be viable in my home game and I just keep running up against that problem.

I've contemplated a reduced cost "Wealth" advantage for them (like 'Resources"), which exists solely so they can pay for their gadgets, inventions, brews... but then, if it's actual money, why can't it be used elsewhere... and I'm right back at trying to make the Profession work without it either being hamstrung or overpowered.

It's fine in groups that accept asymmetrical loot allocation... but man, that's a rare thing.

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 877):

My only Artificer is Benito, but he is an Ally, and has Very Wealthy perk to cover his gear. Since he spends most of his time in a workshop, he is not really an adventurer.

Christine has some Artificing skills, but that was only to create her Golem. She does not use them much otherwise...

Artificer is the profession out of DF 4 Sages and relies heavily on Quick Gadgeteer for how it deals with problems.  Alchemist, Dungeon Berwmasters, and regular Artificers end up having to spend resources (straight money if they don't have "reagents") to make things on an adventure (like instant potions, wind-up death machines, automatic trapspringers, etc) which isn't something Christine or Benito are capable of (unless the adventure lasts a week or more).

In reply to Jareth Mooncalled (msg # 879):

Neither were based on the DF artificer, but both are capable of producing items or even artifacts, but yes, it does take time, much more than adventurers generally have.

alchemy is unfeasible, because of long brew-times for batches, etc.

We're using the rules out of Pyramid 3-82 Magical Creations.  Batch times can be reduced one day and chemicals/poisons/etc can be brewed in 4 hours or less; Brewmasters can get that down to 1dx5 minutes for an Unstable brew and "instant" with a Gizmo.

Basically there are four types of brewing:  Regular, which takes weeks; Field Expedient, which takes one day; Rushed, which takes 1dx5 minutes and requires Quick Gadgeteer; and Instant which takes one action, a Gizmo use, and Quick Gadgeteer.

Anyone can make Regular potions, these sell for normal values and last forever.  Field Expedient potions also last forever, but they look off, smell weird, fizz oddly, need to be shaken as they settle out, etc, and thus only sell for at most 10% of list price.

It's the alchemist's first attempt at a brew.  Nothing like trying something he has NEVER cooked before.  Why the heck not, he's impulsive.  Thanks for the short write up, by the way, first time using the character's main schtick.

Do you have Pyramid 3-82?  If not, I'll grab the Alchemy rules out of there and send them to you.

I believe that everything necessary for the alchemist is available.  What's lacking is time to sit down and read them again, which depends in part on motivation and all the other tasks which require attention.  Nothing new for anyone here.  Let me confirm that for you in the next day or two, and thank you for the offer.

Anyone happen to recall the price modifier for sky iron for an otherwise fairly common object?

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 886):

+19cf hard to find as detect spells don't work on it