Gang:

When life reaches critical mass and fun isn't fun anymore and when I spend more time worrying about the games I play instead of enjoying them, it's time for me to hit the master reset button.

The past six months have been trying for me. Real life has intruded in an ugly way, and I'm just now getting over the hump. Doing so has brought me to the brink of exhaustion, and despite a rigorous exercise routine, I find my health slowly deterioriting.

Worse, I haven't published any stories since April '19. It is my passion, and yet I spend more time on RPol than I do following my dream. That's a problem for me.

Please understand, I'm not blaming anyone but myself. And this is a great game. By with my interest for the game waning, I find my efforts to be less than quality, and you guys deserve better than that.

With that in mind, I'm going to bid you a sad adieu and wish each of you the very best in what life has to offer. And if the fates allow, I will stop by again sometime down the road to spend a bit of time with you.

Feel free to visit my website: talesofthemerc.com if you like military fantasy. Also, take a look at my FB author page: tales of the merc if you have a moment to spare.

Thanks for the privelege of letting me tag along for a bit. Best wishes to you all.

Mike Eschbach

Mike, sorry to see you go. I do understand and hope you find a better balance.

 It's been a great run!

I too am sorry to see you go.  You have been a fantastic player and I greatly enjoyed your play.  Still, I have always maintained that RL>RP, and you must do what you think is best for you.  And I completely understand that when a game begins to feel like an obligation or a job, it isn't a game anymore.

Please do stop in whenever you like.

Mike,
Thank you for your and time and excellent posts, you really took on and brought Marissa to life!  Take care of yourself and I hope things are going to be great for you in 2020.  Drop me a line from time to time.  Robbie

Good Morning, based on the feedback I've received, it seems that for many factors, it may be time to halt this game.   Not one to completely give up so easily, as I truly believe this is such a rare and gifted group of players and characters, I believe a time of rest and reflection is called for.   I myself have several major commitments of my time running through this winter, the last of which should wrap up mid-May.  On June 1st, I will reach out to each of you to see if your batteries are recharged and want to re-start from where we left off (with a bit of a restarting reminder of where that is exactly, and probably a mild simplification of the plot).  If not, at that point I will officially take the game down. If it goes down completely, expect an invitation to a new 1st level start up game to follow that I will post to the whole, but will send personal invites to each of you (as well as some of the others who have come and gone from here).

Regardless, it has been my distinct honor and pleasure to both play and Gm with you all.  Only a few times in my long life have I encountered such an excellent group of true role players with flair, intelligence, humor, and dedication in spades.  Thank you for the great ride!  Robbie

Wow, I'm sorry to see you go Mike. I think you did a superb job with Marissa and I hope I can roll the virtual dice again with you some day. Take care of yourself my friend!

As for the game, I admit I've been distracted the last couple of months but I would hate to see this go under. We have a great group and a great DM. I understand that real life is a thing and I guess recharging batteries is a good idea. Whether we start new characters or (I hope) pick up where we left off I'm with you for the long haul. :)

I just also want to give special thanks to our great DM. Robbie, you really put terrific work into this and I'm very grateful.

I concur; I said it in response to Mike's question and I say it again publicly -- stepping in for DM Pawn was not easy, and you did a tremendous job.  I'm sorry to see the game/world grind to a close, but anything you ever run I'm interested in.

I look forward to assessing the group status in a few months and figuring out the next steps. I'm staying pretty low-profile on RPoL for awhile, with only one or two active games, but I'll respond to any activity here or on rMail.

Hope everyone is staying safe, healthy, and doing the right things to protect yourselves!   I've been under the gun at work, I'm a director at a retirement community of over 500 residents who average in age over 75, I ain't no spring chicken myself, so we are doing all we can and still who knows!

I do miss this game and have been making some notes and plans, so if everyone is still willing and able, I plan to  revive it in April.   All my best, Rob

Thanks for checking in Rob and I hope things stay okay in your neck of the woods. Weird to think how things have changed since only two months ago, even if my own Ireland is less badly hit than many places.

I'm still game to... um... game. :)

My workplace is in complete upheaval due to state issued stay-at-home orders. If I'm breathing in April, I'll let you know.

I'm alive, well, and coping.  And still in whenever.


Stay safe all.

We're past the layoffs and ramping down operations, and we've set up our holding pattern at work. I have some attention and desire now for games. Ready when you are.

Excellent summaries. Thanks!

As Rath has discovered, I have updated the "what went before, journal" with some of the highlights.  Much was left out but hopefully it is enough to fire those memory banks.  I recommend reading it from the very beginning, not just the last few new entries.


I will also update the "setting" to add in some of the interesting characters and places you've run across as a reference chart, that may take more time but I can do it as I also remember them :-).

That said, I have advertised the game to possibly add another character or two if I get some good inquiries.  I also encourage you to comb through your character sheets, remind yourselves of what magic items you have, and in general, your equipment, stats, etc.


In a couple of days I plan to open a new topic, part 2 for Peryn's Crag, it will begin several days after the party has arrived in the healing town, from there, we will go LIVE again.  I've missed you and the game, sharpen those blades, fill those component pouches, study those books, the journey begins anew!!

I have to admit I'd forgotten a lot the nitty gritty. To get me back in the mood I've been reading ancient Dragon magazines. :)

Hmm, I need to update my spells. As a 'name' level Illusionist (though as I've said before I prefer the OSRIC 10th level title 'Master of Phantasms') I can cast 5th level spells and I haven't picked one yet.

Magic items... Saliq has the Jambiya Moonblade (+1 Dagger) and his magic ring - I know I had the rules for that somewhere but I seem to have lost them somehow. GM, I know it protects the wearer against the elements and summons El Kabah the djinn but does it have any other factors?

Incidentally I must invest in something properly protective soon!

pm

In reply to GM Bard (msg # 333):

Thanks!

Guys which would you prefer I take for my 5th level spell Shadow Magic or Shadow Monsters?

In reply to Saliq Musfara (msg # 334):

Shadow Monsters is a 4th level spell, isn't it? Do you mean Demi-Shadow Monsters? I'm not a fan of Shadow Magic, but if that seems fun, then by all means go for it!


___

I think I have a firm grasp of Rath's abilities and magic items.

Sorry yes, I did mean Demi-Shadow Monsters. I have Shadow Monsters already, but Demi-Shadow Monsters would give me better pseudo-minions. Shadow Magic meanwhile would allow me to actually inflict some damage

Another possibility is Chaos. I tend to prefer the illusion end of magic but that could be very useful to the group, as could Major Creation.

OK, I have to say it . . . whenever I see El Kabah's name, I think of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eIQt9kbk7g

Hi everyone, "Doc" here ... glad to be part of the game.

Uh... huh. I have to admit that's a new one to me.



Welcome Durnin! :)

Never seen that one, Inas, that might be hard to forget :-)!!

Hey hey, gang.  Nemble checking in!  A gnomish one-handed thief who found his way to Peryn's Crag for some restorative magic.

Stoked to be coming on board.  Working with GM Bard to get a final draft ready to go.