Thread for discussing stuff out of character.

Stuff about the game, or out of the game is fine too if you want to be social.

Groovy news Cassandra, i've just been notified that a former player of mine is interested in joining up, so that will help us have a pace when someone else joins.

I think... for now at least, one more teacher, would be nice, and then a few students are what i will be looking for.


Let me know if either of you have an interest in playing a student, that would be fine also, since experience from the student side would feel more 'harry potter' ish, while the teachers are the mature driving force that will actually shape their lives.


For those that are curious, the eight starting students, are the first eight characters that started my Twilight Campaign from ages ago.  I had so many people come and go in that one, that i plan on drawing many of the student history/personalities from that campaign.

Even though this campaign 'officially' has a dozen or so post in it, I'm drawing on history from a campaign that ran into the tens of thousands to fill out the details.

Still officially waiting on Sionell's final decision on a character concept, and how she wants to proceed this time around.

Teacher's will be around seventh level, though at least five of those levels should be invested in a single class.  I'm actually hoping to keep bookkeeping LIGHT.

No... really this time i want to keep it super light, and avoid serious combat like the plague is the theory this time around.  I'm sure... somewhere along the way we'll get into combat, but for the most part i'm trying to focus on roleplaying... really..
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:51, Mon 16 Sept 2019.

Sounds great! As of now I am going to stick with just the teacher side of the house, but I will let you know if I get a itch to try things from the student perspective.

That's fine ...

I believe... 'tentatively', Sionell is going somewhere along the lines of a noble martial combat side of things.

So it feels like there might be a little overlap.

However, this will reflect a 'gap' in the teaching faculty, and the characters may be forced into teaching things 'out of their comfort zone'

There will be three NPC teachers, one for divine, one for arcane, one for martial.  Each broad subject was planned to have one player and one NPC teacher conduct the lessons together.  Its fine if we dont have perfect distribution in skills among the characters, like real life nothing is perfect, and i'm sure it'll resolve in roleplaying.

No worries. I figured teachers might have to substitute at a minimum, so that's why I used the favored class ones to spread out a bit.

Not too shabby.  We have our third teacher now, and again it's an old returning player.

With that i'm pretty pleased with where we are as far as player population.  I might allow a fourth, but they're going to have to really work convincing me to let them in at this point.

Also willing at this point to start entertaining students more seriously, so that'll be a slight gear shift in player recruiting.

Regardless, please welcome Ethan.

Just a notation on where everyone currently stands.  So that you can all at least get a clue on where the other players are and stands.


Cassandra, Birth and Adventure Traits resolved, i think i still need to look at Veteran Trait.  Character sheet submited, and Draft is on the table and mostly approved.  I need to give it a good looking over to get the last of the bugs out, but she's definitely close to done.


Ethan, Birth and Adventure Traits resolved.  I need to look at the history and mull over the Veteran trait more, but otherwise the character looks pretty good as is.  I'm looking forward to his character submission.  Obviously he is probably going to be a Rogue and Bard come to mind, though other things arent impossible given his background, a class to learn spells here and there might have been useful in his history.


Sionell, I have stated interest, and a general character on the table from her.  We are currently deliberating over how to treat her traits in the campaign.

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My current activities...

I will probably generate a suggested magic item list for Ethan to look at.  Both Ethan and Sionell are returning players, so i wont have to go into how magic items work, you both should be pretty familiar at this point.


Question to players

None of the Characters know each other, though i'd like to think that were all grown up enough to roleplay that status without forcing that situation.  So, are we all okay to share personal character information to one another, or would you prefer to keep your character secret?

Ah... well, "Hello!"

Nice to meet everyone.  Or... rather, I look forward to doing so in a more structured way.


I'd be happy to discuss ways we may have heard of each other prior to actual gameplay if such an option is available.  Even if its only rumors we may have heard about each other's recent past.


My character is likely to be 'tuned in' to whatever gossip exists, be it from an academic way or an entirely ludicrous townie way. And while I don't mean to step on the toes of my GM, I don't think that making up some perfectly good lies (or exaggerations) about yourself is an unreasonable way to 'fall' into character.  It would certainly give us all something to talk about ...etc.

Just a thought.

For seasoned players I have no issues knowing stuff OOC. I do like the rumor idea for IC knowledge. I'd be happy to do the 2 Half-truths & 1 Truth game for rumors if the GM approves.

I'm good with what ever you guys decide among yourselves.

You're all high level characters, so in your own special fields, you're all well known, though outside those circles you might look deceptively mundane.

At the very least, at the player level (if not the character level) you should coordinate on character classes, and what subject you'd like to teach.  If possible i'd like to have the player characters stay out of each others way regarding their lessons.

While there might be some activity overlap, a broad sharing of a class seems excessive given the small body of students, you'd rarely need more than one or two teachers to teach something.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:32, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

Just so I understand a few things. 

The students who are likely to show up for classes as such are at what sort of level of ability?  From what I remember from the Potterverse, classes were basically Item Crafting classes.  Maybe a few Advanced Knowledge classes.  And, nearly all after-curricular studies where like lessons on how to use magic items.

Without trying to replicate the wheel. Are we going to be teaching classes on the value of certain skills and feats? Or is this a finishing school where we try to instill in these students the applied uses of various skills?   Like teaching other people how to solve problems by continuously forcing them to apply themselves.

Or, are these classes generally taught lectures and required reading?
Or, will all that depend on the classes taught and the professors who teach them?
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I don't necessarily want to clutter up an OOC thread with player based world-building. Can I ask for a thread designed for the players to introduce each other via an OOC method by outside of the standard IC thread?  Someplace we can share gossip, half-truths, real tales, and even a general description of each other?  I mean I know I can write something up ... but I didn't want it to get lost here.

Actually...

You'll recall at the start of the Harry Potter movie, Harry was just a normal kid and told to go to the academy to learn.

As noted in the RTJ, they're level zero with no character class yet.  They're actually at the academy to learn that stuff.

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Stuff they would learn...

Physical Education - Would cover stuff you would expect in 'gym' but be more extensive, and be a milder (kid version) of 'boot camp'.  You would have to determine which have the talent and will to be whipped into shape and move on to things like 'Fighter', 'Ranger' and other martial oriented classes.  Those who dont have the natural talent and will, they still need to be physically competent.  Even a Magic User will have to exert themselves in adventures, else they'll be a drag on the party.  If they can't pass this minimal levels of this class, they're not fit to be adventuring.

Arcane Magic / Mental Education - Would covers stuff from Arcane magics, such as Magic users, Sorcerers, and so forth.  These magical talents would have to be determined early on, and cultivated.  In some cases, it's a long process that requires much book learning, in other cases natural talent and will will carry them along.  For those not magically inclined, basics like, Reading, Writing, and Math, are things that all adventures need.  Again, if they can't pass the minimal levels of this class, they're not fit to be adventuring.

Divine Magic / Spritual Education - Would cover Divine Magics, stuff like Clerics and Oracles would fall into these adventuring classes.  A devout and dedicated personality, about 'something' would lead into these classes.  For those that arent so inclined, minimal effort needs to be established to teach them a decent morale compass.  Ethics, and a bonding to a noble cause are needed to be adventures.  If they fail this class they're inclined to become bandits, and outlaws that are a menace to society.  For this reason, students need to at least pass this class to be acknowledged with a positive adventuring reputation.

I'm sure there are other things that will come up, and classes that dont fall neatly into these catagories, but that's my general view on the teaching that will go on in the academy

From what i see, there is no shortage of characters to teach weapon training.  Arcane and Divine... is another matter.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:43, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

My desires and expectations for the campaign aside, I'd like to hear what the players are interested in doing.

I'm not egotistical enough to just ignore what the players want.  The first step to meeting you half way to reaching your expectations, is to hear what your side.

Cassandra can definitely cover the martial side of the house, but I could see her filling the divine role as well if there is a void for it, without compromising my vision of her.

Just added two more players, which puts us one over on what i was hoping for, but i can live with that since they're focused on arcane and divine, which we sorta need at the moment.

I have general concepts, but please keep in mind the RTJ, that i'm requesting information regarding three stages of their life, Birth/Adventure/Veteran.

Little late at the moment, so i will give them a better look over tomorrow and work out details on traits that i do have.

Been a little time crushed recently (Husband is serving jury duty, and around the house to distract me with stuff at the moment, but i forecast some free time in the next fee days to catch up and hopefully get us all settled to actually start)

The Misty Valley is listed as a Homebrew campaign, but it's one that is user friendly to new players.

I have it listed as 'Neo Europa' in my notes, but most of the adventuring takes place in a small area called the Misty Valley.  (You'd be surprised how much adventuring can be done in a 'small' valley)

Much of the infrastucture of the campaign is recognizable in the real world.  Rather than reinvent the wheel, I use real world languages and cultures.  That makes things instantly recognizable to the players.

Human (Euro) is essentially 'English', which i presume were all familiar with.

When a character is speaking with something else, say Franco (French), you can hear the 'french' accent, and you're welcome to mix in a few french phrases here and there for flavor text.

General stuff like 'Celestial', doesnt sound as cool as 'Latin'.

etc...

Humans actually get the basis of much of their language from demi-humans.  ie.  The dwarves, sound a lot like 'German', so Human (German) will converse better with Dwarves than say Human (Euro)

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I don't like broken economies.  Coin has value and worth.  Which is why i reworked the magic system, cause the cost for most of the stuff was just astronomical.  You had a choice to either be stingy as hell, which felt mean, or break the economy, which i already said i didnt like doing.

Most transactions with common folk will be in silver and copper.  Transactions with the rich and famous will normally be in gold, but other precious metals and gems might show up there too.  Regardless, characters in general are poor.

That said, i use the concept of the lifestyle tax.  Which presumes that you make money from a profession of some sort, and this covers your normal day to day expenses.  This eliminates the need to penny pinch and cover things like meals... rent... and mundane purchases that i consider falling under 'incidental'.

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Religion, not a big deal for most of you, rather important to others (like if you're a cleric or something...)

There are eight divine entities that are recognized by those willing to worship them.  They all have masculine and feminine aspects which are slightly different viewpoints.  They are broken up into the 'Elder' and the 'New' divinities.

The four old ones are ...

Nyx / Nyte - Noted as the 'first'.  Deals in chaos, entropy, and most things dark.  Nyx is the more readily accepted aspect.  In the beginning when there was nothing all was Chaos, and Nyx was alone, and as far as he was concerned, this was good.  While not a 'popular' divinity, he is necessary, since he will balance the creation that the other divine bring forth devouring it with Enthropy to make way for the next new thing.  Nyte has a slightly softer image, in that she is regarded as a keeper of secrets, and keeping things in the dark, that should be in the dark.  Everyone has secrets, and when you want yours kept, she's the one you're usually whispering a prayer to.

Fate / Destiny - From the start, beside Nyx, without his notice Fate was always near at hand.  Luck, Chance, Random occurance.  Wait around long enough and almost anything can happen.  A slippery concept, some associate trickery to her, while those who are constantly travelling on the road, often whisper a prayer to her quiet indulgence for safe travels.  From Fate's influence even something like Law might emerge from Chaos.

Creed / Justice - Not just rolling chaos, but Law and Order.  A thing unknown to chaos.  A quick and eternal opposition to one another and a direct opposition to Nyx.

Sol / Solaria - Equal opposition to one another, but not quite equal influence.  Long standing and all consuming and encompassing Nyx is more than a fair handful for Creed, so it was destined that there would be Light, and Nyx was force to recoil back to this warm foreign thing in his dominion.  So began the long balanced struggle between day and night, summer and winter, when one held a slight dominion over the other, but never quite banishing one another.

These are the four old divinities...

The four new ones, took on the elements as their spheres of influence and are known patrons for the various races.

Gaea / Geb was the first, bringing forth form and stone.  The first and most hardy earth elementals lived deep in the earth and drew strength from her element.  She is regarded as the Patron divinity of Dwarves.

Aericel / Tempest, bought forth life giving air, and granting thought and magic into the world.  She is patron to one of the longest living races talented in magic, the elves.

Luna / Triton, with the coming of water, all things needed for life to thrive was present and plentiful.  Like ever changing water, patron to the ever adapting and evolving humans.

Pyro / Pyra, with the coming of the new divinities Nyx was unsatisfied, and aggrieved that it was not fair that nothing but opposition came from these chance things that Fate had put into motion.  So came forth Pyro.  Sol's gentle warmth incited to chaotic violence and inclined to destruction.  Here was a new divinity that Nyx could understand.  This new divinity was the Patron of the Blackbloods, inhuman races, that were incline to violence and destruction.

whew... these are the really brief summary of the divine in the campaign.  I obviously have rules for them too but this should be fine for now.

Okay, that took longer than i thought, so i'm going to bed.

Too much world building >.<

So i'm going back to bed now, will make effort to get a start up post for Ethan tomorrow, continue with Cassandra, and give a look at traits for Ornn and Creedrow tomorrow.

Just dropping in to say hello. I will be working on my pc over the weekend.

Right updated thread for Cassandra, and introduced Ethan and Creedrow.

If you feel a little out of sorts cause you dont have a character sheet, dont feel bad, no one has a full and 'complete' character sheet.

I just ... rather play than fixate on dotting the i's and dashing the t's on the character sheet.  As long as the character is solid the rest will come along.  A bit of play can actually help you get a feel for your character and inspire bits of design here and there, as inspiration for the skills that should be taken.

I've assigned characters avatars, and i've started using them to identify them in the post, if you dont like yours, best to change it to one soon so i can approve it?

They'll mostly be used to identify who is 'in' the post so at a glance you can know if the post is for you (picture in upper right corner), who's talking to you (upper left corner), and other people present (throughout the post as they appear).

I've also been known to use a dialogue table when banter passes back and forth between several characters, to make it easier to identify who said what.

Also dialogue is color coded.  I try and match colors to personalities.  You should pick a color for your 'voice'.  Also, i use Italics, to represent unspoken thoughts.

I think that about covers it for posting etiquette?  Comments and questions are welcome, but i think this is pretty cut and dry?