ah~

Okay, no worries, i know i got distracted with personal stuff and was offline for a few days (a week plus?) so i'm certainly giving leeway on attention.  If you still need some time, that's fine, i just noticed there was no activity on your personal thread so i was wondering if something wasn't working out for you with the campaign.

Sorry to hear you're feeling under the weather, but pleased that you're still interested in playing.

ttfn.

No, it's healing. Just had an abscess after the removal that required some extra attention (needles, not fun).

Still interested, I'll post in the main thread in a bit and the personal thread either tonight or tomorrow :)

Also, I think I still owe you stats for the pet. I'll get that soon as well.

Thanks for the understanding.

Answered public post this morning, mostly cause they were easier to do.

Private messages later today, cause i imagine they'll be more challenging to sift through.

Okay ... so...

without giving away too many spoilers, and to at least get the players on the same page, i want to work out some stuff out of character


Teacher general function.


Cassandra - Martial Arms education and outdoors survival education.  Roomed in the Watch Tower.

Creedrow - Divine education and general academics education.  Roomed in the Academy Temple, along with Sister Rebecca.

Ornn - Arcane and magical equipment education and safety.  Roomed in the Alchemy lab with Professor Bel.

Ethan - Social skills and pragmatic survival and education.  Currently unassigned, still figuring this out.


Teaching 'slots'

Cassandra - Undecided

Creedrow - Early mornings, after breakfast.  1 hour every day.  If someone else wants the morning slots, they will 'alternate' days and have 2 hour sessions to make up for it.

Ornn - Undecided

Ethan - Undecided

---

There are NPC teachers also, mentors that cover your subjects to have redundant mentors in case someone gets sick or has to be away for personal reasons.  These are 'peers', your equal, and not your assistant.

For Creedrow, it would be Sister Rebecca

For Ornn, it would be Professor Bel.

I'm still working out Cass and Ethan.  Originally Sionell was going to be martial also, so i didnt need an npc for that.  I'm debating if Cass and Ethan should be martial teachers together since they have overlap or not.  Fuzzy here mostly cause Ethan wont commit to what he's doing :P  *hint hint* *nudge nudge*

Anyway, this is stuff we should work out here, and presume was done in character somewhere, but this is not super great rp stuff that would take forever to roleplay through, so i'm just as good with saying we discuss it here out of play and saying it was roleplayed properly over dinner or some such.

I think after dinner will be the time for Cassandra's class period. "Anyone can fight in the bright daylight, but the students will not always be that lucky."

For the outdoor side of things, I am thinking that will adjust as needed, probably varying times through the week not to interfere with the other classes. Might end up utilizing a weekend day once a month for this purpose as survival classes are not short. Cassandra would be willing to co-teach with Ethan if he is up for that :)

umm... 'before' dinner might be better?

you dont want them getting sick over a full stomach, and it would build their appetite to eat proper after classes?

I suppose that depends on when dinner is. I am used to it being at 5-6pm, so still time in the evening for a class. I am fine with late afternoon if dinner is later as well. Basically looking for waning or lack of sun, lol.

Breakfast is served half a hour past dawn, and will vary by season.

Lunch is served around 'high noon'.

Dinner is served a hour before sunset, which will also vary by season.

During warm weather, when the days are longer and the time between lunch and dinner might feel a little long there is also afternoon 'tea' or 'coffee' time, or where the students are concerned, 'snack' time.  Where a brief light snack/meal is served to help tide one over till a proper dinner is served.

It's turning Autumn, the start of the school year, so the days are getting shorter.  (no tea time)

On deeper reflection, i suppose we can arrange it like a college schedule, where you have them for five~six hours a week, and you can expect to assign them homework and studies equal to about the same as the rule of the thumb?  (we've all had nice teachers we liked that gave less, and those that made us groan and gave more though?)

I am fine with either schedule :)

hint, hint nudge nu--- um, what?
Oh!  ok.

Ethan would be more than happy... to back up Cassandra in the teaching of all necessary fieldcraft. (especially at this introductory level of knowledge) If this means I'm acting as the 'rabbit' to her 'hound' imitation ... then I'm certain her students might like to know what a live application for the skills they are learning in her class might look like.

And, while I doubt my survival skills surpasses hers. If I ran a Stealth-based class it would aid BOTH her and my efforts ... especially if they could spar off against the other. I was planning on spearheading some dex based skills classes (as those are useful for both front line and second string combatants).

---

I expected that my own classes would touch on social skills.  Effective Communication. Critical and Flexible thinking.  Teamwork and Command (at least minimally).  Skills that would be paramount in Urban Operations.  BUT, as these are introductory classes - I doubt I'd be more than skimming the longer-term skills.  Although I'd expect such exposure might inspire those people who think that non-magical classes are all about sword-swinging.  And if they happened after... or even during the meal hour that would be fine too.

My classes would likely START in a classroom but likely end up 'in the field'. Tests and quizzes would be requiring students to end up acting like true investigators or explorers. Where they'd learn, by doing, how to 'get along' for the sake of their mutual grades, having to combine and appreciate each other's natural talents.

If any of that sort of doing and planning sounds like fun to Cassandra I would more than welcome her as a co-conspirator  --um, I mean a joint term professor --... on the classes I plan on teaching.   I'd think she and I would be quite the pair.

  Given that the majority of my classwork will be on honing physical ability and teaching combat tactics.  A professorship might not be the best title for that role.  "Sergeant" is fine - though you might object and suggest this isn't a military command. In that case, Drillmaster or Training Instructor are reasonable substitutes. ['Tee Eye' Summerswift?']

That works perfectly for me. Cassandra's skills are on the finding side of the house so splitting the class and having them track/search for each other is perfect. When teaching solo Cassandra will focus on the martial side of things and when teaming up we can go through the basics and work on tracking, hiding, seeking, ect.

Yay complimentary skills!

As for titles, I didn't want to assume anything so the generic 'teacher' and 'instructor' are both neutral and applicable. Cassandra would be more worried about offending someone by using the wrong title than using a generic, but applicable one. I was intending on having them use 'Instructor' or 'Instructor Stonebrooke' but I am not married to anything specific.

Okay, i believe everyone has had enough time to orient Adhafera and Alea, and are satisfied with where things stand with these two, so I'm going to move on to the next two.

Oh, mighty DM?

Can you set up a thread to plan for future classes? I'd like a thread to work with Cassandra regarding how we can support each other in the future for classes. I would prefer this meeting to be held in a semipermanent camp house closer to the natural parts of campus. Someplace that would seem like 'roughing' it... even if THAT was far from the truth.

It might be a half-built but still defendable campsite. A shared 4 season pavilion with a canvas roof and earth walls. Something Yurt-like? If Agatha has any pull with this nation's army... this might even be a recent addition, earthworks built by actual soldiers.

I'd love to use technology that still exists to explain things like ancient ruins. Also, and Cassandra may have already gone over this, are there any natural assets to the terrain around the school we can use to train?

Large camp worthy caves, large sources of fresh-water,  groves of heavy canopy trees, things of that nature?

Thank you .

Cant believe holiday prep is killing me already.

I wisely POSTED before noting here that i'm posting.

So what's this that you two want a shared thread?

I'm not against it, but will point out that your post rates will HAVE to overlap for these things.  Are you both okay with that?  If so then i suppose I can give Ethan Access to Cassandra's private thread, and we can use that as your 'joint' class, since they're both in the same location anyway?

mm... though there are some 'private' things i suppose that should stay private so perhaps i'll set up a separate one.

What is this thread for?  Classes or something else?

ie.  What should i call it?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:06, Sun 10 Nov 2019.

Classes ... mostly?   Maybe sharing something of ourselves and how we see the world (you know ... roleplay)

I'm basically just looking for somewhere to share ideas for planning future classwork. And maybe talk about prospective students. Including the possibility of grading on a curve, or setting up allowances for extra credit. Setting up a penalty box for wayward students. Setting up tests that teach real skills with REAL threats. Ain't nothing like a sharp sword, and spilling a little blood... to teach you how to be careful.

Setting up one class to act as 'threats' for other classes... who need to learn how to defend themselves, etc.  Organizing Team sports.  Inspiring squad tactics. Establish confidence-building exercises. Define resource management games. And, determining HOW to reward nonconventional thinking ... that sort of thing.

I've got LOTS of ideas for daily subjects but I'd like to introduce at least a couple of them in character. Like how I want to have a "Rope 101" course with the use of a block and tackle as an exploration tool...  along with the standard knot tieing class. Eventually, I'd even want to build an obstacle course for the more physical of the bunch.
And,  if YOU want us to teach these classes I think some conversation about how that should happen between like-minded professors NEEDS to exist.

Presumedly, ALSO in character.
Besides, I'm enough of an experienced player to not to read threads I'm not supposed to read. Effing Hell.  I WANT to be surprised.  If you want to give me a thread on a Group of threads typically reserved for Cassandra ... that's fine for me.

As for names.  Um... how about 'Chasing Shadows.'
or
  'How to play hide and seek for fun and profit.' ?

I'll make a joint thread since you have related classes then, and allow for private ones too.

You're both going to room at the tower, though on the night after orientation, you'll both end up going there at different times.

Necessary, because i've already started Cassandra's thread and she's alone with the dean.

Added a language group for Judith, and those that might understand her.

I think... for a schedule, that I will have the students have alternate days of 'general' activity.

So on one day they will do 8 hours of physical activities, and for the next it'll be 8 hours of class work (their bodies will rest and bruises, if any, will heal).

During the day, they will be expected to do 2~4 hours or so of 'prep' work for the class of the day, or 'homework' study from the previous day.  So teachers can give assignments though, they shouldn't go overboard.

So you can assign them things like morning physical routines to do, or books to read, or assignments to complete.  You all remember what school was like and how much kids LOVE homework?

---

Following this line of thought, we will presume that you have two or three days of 'orientation', and then a 'weekend'.

btw, Except for Nyx, each day of the 'week' is dedicated to a divinity making for a seven day week.  Every two weeks (a fort night) there is an 'off' day to observe Nyx which is a sort of holiday and no one really does serious work.  Two cycles of this makes for a thirty day 'month'.   Three months make a season.  Four seasons make a year.

Really school scheduling can be whatever you guys want need it to be, ie.  If Cass wants to take them out for an overnight camping trip over a few days she can, but those kids will have extra classes to make up, when they get back and she should go 'light' on them as they try to catch up, etc...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:57, Mon 11 Nov 2019.

After we get up and 'running', i will allow players to designate a teacher's pet.  Really dont need to describe what this is.  It's pretty much a student that the teacher takes a liking to.

Players can either make up a student type they would like to have for a pet, that will show up later, or pick one from the established NPC students.  A pet students doesnt have to be someone that teacher likes, just one the teacher pays special attention too.  A harsh stern teacher might not shower any students with affection, but they may pay extra attention to a 'slacker' they don't like.


ie.  Creedrow might take an interest in making Adhafera a pet cause of his perceived potential, or he might just as easily take an interest in Alea cause her attitude gets under his skin and bothers him.

A designated 'pet' is your way of telling me you have an interest in an NPC and want to roleplay with them more.

It's okay for more than one teacher to have the same pet.  We all know at least one student that every teacher in a grade seemed to take a liking to during our time in school?  No rush on the designation, spend some time with the students, and if none of them perk your interest submit a suggestion to me.

Being this is your world view of generic Europa. And, as I've never played in your game for more than a handful of months.  I wanted to get some basic understanding of the 'lay of the land'.

There's a good probability that Creedow and I are going to butt heads ... like two rams on the side of a mountain.  Each one of us with our own precarious opinion. And the students caught in the middle.
I'm looking forward to it.

Are there any laws which expressly didn't exist in your version of European history of a specific century.
[ie. Does slavery exist? Do serfs exist?]

If the answer is "no" to both questions.  Unless you say differently, I will I presume that the social caste ...has Royalty at the very top followed by the Aristocracy (including, children which were born noble), the Gentry (including Men who were MADE noble), and the common man  (with no further distinction)

Slavery sort of exist.

In the form of bondsman, prisoner of war, and criminal punishment.

Sometimes it's a temporary status, like a jail term or till a depth is paid off.  Other times its permanent, like a life sentence for a crime or crushing debt that can't be paid off.

The sort where you raid a place to harvest people as a crop to be sold, is looked upon in a dim light, at least officially.

Like these days the use of chemical weapons are suppose to be illegal, but you can still see it happen here and there.

I can't cover everything, but creedrow is right, a lot of it has to do with religious tenat and the balance would be the kings law.  That said culture will have an influence as will race.

 The euro, asians, nords, and Germans have different views, as will elves, dwarves and what not.  I know how it works in my head so you can ask, but I can't type everything

As long as you don't mind a player who is likely to be filled with questions.

I generally don't play with any expectation of needing anyone to present any OBJECTIVE truths.  My opinion remains my own.  And, what I say won't land me in hot water... until it does.  So...  until such time as some Paladin or Cavalier comes looking for me, "...in the name of the Law!"

And even THEN, I'll just have to prove it's possible to be both criminal and hero.

For the 'MOST PART', i use modern common sense regarding the 'law'.

A lot of it might have to do with the prevailing religion in the area.

ie.  Most of the divine are pretty 'normal' with where common sense law is concerned.

A place where Pyro has a strong influence might accept more chaotic and lawless behavior as normal, being more forgiving regarding destruction and violence.  Favoring individual freedoms over most everything else.

on the other side of this, is a place where Creed might have a strong influence.  Where mindless violence and destruction is criminal and eradicated.  Where community well being comes first, and every individual has a respected place in the community no matter how big or small.


'Good' and 'Evil' might be found in both places, since Pathfinder considers this alignment as the general 'value' of life.

So you might find an arson with an inclination to watch things burn, but he might be adverse to actually hurting people.  Such a person might be a loner that finds a place as a Combat Engineer, and be valued for their talent in blowing things up, which he won't mind as long as lives aren't being blown up in the process.

or...

You might find a Creed Zealot, who is out to eradicate Pyro's influence with extreme prejudice and sees things in black and white, and if you're not white you're dead.  This would be sort of 'Evil'.  If you're not part of his community, you're a vile disease that he's the cure for.

---

This is more my view on alignment, but this plays out into how i interpret law.

ie.  Black Bloods are in general, evil.  They have a low regard for life and really kill if it suits thier purpose (chaotic) or accomplishes their goals (lawful).  They may not all be evil, there will be exceptions, but as a general rule most races look at them as evil for good reason.  It doesnt help that most of them worship Pyro, so their 'laws' and sense of justice is going to be pretty removed from the norm.

on the otherside of that.

ie.  Elves are in general, good.  Having long lives, they take a long view on this, and one of them dying is centuries of contribution lost from a careless moment.  For this reason they tend to value lives (at least elven ones), and are isolationist, unless their hand is forced.  For this reason, as a general view, they're reputed as 'good'.


Anyway, that's how alignments and law, and what not works in the campaign.


For those of you familiar with her, I think Caroline, will expand her financial ventures beyond her Cafe, and open a Boutique.


I've been contemplating 'clothes' for divine and arcane casters.

Really, why do they where robes, and funny hats?  Is there a reason why many seem to wear glasses?  Could it be that these clothes provide a bonus of some sort for spell casting?

Martial combat sorts have armor, which is an obvious boon for their focus, but spell casters dont have such options...

So i was contemplating, experimenting with such clothings and having Caroline peddle them in Northshire.  This isnt a great campaign to focus on this stuff, but it still counts as a campaign for me to work out the bugs on such experimental concepts and you work as a base for testing.

Unrelated, but Cassandra has been offline since November 11, longer if you discount her quick stop in saying she was busy~ish.  Not ready to write her off, but in a small campaign like, this, especially with a player trying to tie story lines together, that's a long time to be missing.


PLEASE NOTE:

If you find the campaign is not what you're looking for, and not to your liking, please tell me.  I wont be offended, different strokes for different folks.  If it's time for you to cut loose and move on, because you're just not feeling it, let me know.  I would prefer a clean parting of ways, over a lingering wait only to hear, you're not interested at the end.  You're not doing either of us favors by lingering if you're not feeling it.

I've dealt with player attrition before, I'll deal with it again.


At the moment, Ethan and Creedrow feel invested in the campaign, and i don't expect to see them moving off anytime soon (i think?)

Ornn i think, is feeling out his place in the campaign.  I'm still waiting to see how he works out.

Cass, was my first player, and seemed enthusiastic, but it's possible the novelty has worn off, or maybe they just got busy with the holidays.  I'm not sure.

This is where we are currently, I'm still shaking somethings out, so if i need to go looking for another teacher, i'm good.  I'll give Cass at least till thanksgiving to check in, but i suspect she might be a no show and I'll be looking for a new mentor in the near future.  Though i want to get the Ethan and Creedrow firmly completed and a good handle on Ornn before doing so.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:26, Wed 20 Nov 2019.

@Religion & Alignment

Most societies (civilized or otherwise) are spectacularly varied and are not easily defined under a 9 slot alignment system. There are far more types of illegality not specially covered by the status regarding any 'loss of life'.

 I can understand how YOU, the GM, might automatically attach what is or is not against 'the law' as being a direct correlation to alignment. And you aren't wrong. You are, after all, God. The breaking of any law may seem like a violation of 'Lawful or Good behavior' to you.

But YOU are a being OUTSIDE of the created system. You can make value judgments based on the largest scope of reality. We, players, who must act INSIDE of the created system cannot make objective value statements. We can ONLY make subjective decisions depending on our immediate circumstances.

Which is where religion comes into play, I suppose.  And all of those persons who actively proselytize for the common man to follow those dogmatic examples ...when making any decision to act (or not). And if the Gods are present enough in our society's daily existence to have laid down Dogma.  And we, their congregation, are not just relying on priests (who may or may not have their own agenda - because, y'know, alignments apply to them too) to interpret that dogma.  Then ok, sure. We all have a road map to good and lawful behavior.

And any act of free will against that road map is, by definition, a chaotic act.

The problem is ... ALL of my decisions operate on an ongoing timeline.  I may THINK I know what is a Just and Good decision today is but will that same decision be as RIGHTEOUS tomorrow, after I have NO ability to change what I did then?

 Many common activities of any society are consistently inexplicable as being Moral or Ethical when reviewed on a long enough timeline. To any creature INSIDE of closed system, the 'alignment' system is a highly subjective descriptor for any activity.

Consider the following all-too-common story.

• The ruling noble of my nation declares 'WAR' upon a neighboring nation. (Good? Evil?)
• I get a draft notice and I wilfully report to a duty station to become a soldier. (Lawful.)
• I am deployed, along with my unit, on the 'front line' where I proceed to kill as ordered.(Lawful. Evil?)
• After many battles, the neighboring nation avoids decimation by surrendering. (?)
• My nation moves to occupy that 'new' land displacing any who might have survived. (?)
• Those survivors are either absorbed into their 'new nation', without the wealth as the newest and likely lowest rung of the social ladder.  Those persons who had wealth now do not... because such a resource was confiscated, redistributed, or destroyed. So now, they must work (likely at a social disadvantage) and reclaim a position in the new social order. OR, move on to a different place.
• Later, it is revealed that the ruling noble of MY nation usurped the throne.. and has been deposed by the rightful heir.
• The new King/Queen, in the name of righteousness and goodwill, attempts to put the old nations back to a state of peace. (?) Or, if she is wise, she may instead suggest THAT they old ways cannot be returned to but she'll attempt to eradicate the social disadvantage that exists in regular business practices in the Kingdom.

[Does that make my time as a soldier, killing and pillaging for my nation ...a good or evil endeavor?
If it IS considered evil and I attempt to defend my actions as being righteous and lawful ... is it JUST for me to be treated as a social pariah, by those who disagree?
What if I was critically wounded while I expended effort and I was rewarded with wealth taken while at war. Is it a good or evil act to strip me of that reward? ]

Generally speaking, this is probably why Hogwarts didn't have history classes on Global Events.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Wed 20 Nov 2019.