Always got to have an OOC thread...

Okay, Player 1, what character type do you think you'd like...?

Helpful feedback for character generation

1. I would suggest leaving the base creation in one area and put a separate thread with only character generation in it.

2.STEP TWO seems & STEP SIX to be missing. 7 is listed as a number but not as a step. (Because there are other areas that are listed in numbers and steps perhaps giving them titles like "Character Creation Step One"

3. Remove "And in case you want a Temple, here's a list of Powers, or you and the GM can come up with one of your own:" and all of the god listings. It is in the rules thread already.

4. Picking a class and powers does not seem to be a step.

5. Spending stat points does not seem to be a step.

6. "Decide your character’s look and the type of equipment they carry with them. Choose 4 items to mark down as trappings, then choose an appropriate defense that these items provide you with. Then, mark down 2 additional items into your supply-- items that you might have, but are not vital for your character." Every example only shows Two Trappings, one that has a resistance listed and one that does not. Do we really get 4, do they all have a resistance? .
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

1. Sigh, yeah, you're probably right...

2. It's a result of re-working things over and over. I'll fix it as soon as I can...

3. Mm, yes, perhaps...

4 and 5: Same as 2 above...

6. I see what you mean. That's kind of the original game's fault, really. It seems to classify "supply" as a subset of "trappings."

Everyone gets 4 "trappings," but 2 are marked as "supply."

Really, this just makes me realize I don't like the original game's term "trappings." It's a bit misleading, in my opinion, in that some people will think it's about Traps. I think I'll just call it "gear." Another thing I plan to change when I get a chance...

...So, what character type would you // will you choose...?

Shaman

Scan:*
Tinker:
Trick:
Finesse:
Sneak:*
Smash:**
Banter:
Command:*
Invoke:**

Shamanism: You can take a point of stress to Invoke tier 2 and tier 3 spells of a single Shamanism path: druidism

Terror: You can take a point of stress to know anyone’s worst fear and take +1d when you act on this knowledge.

Nature: rude - vindictive
Revelry: violence

Gear: Blood-red Cap (defense against Banter), Silver Sickle
Supply: Wooden Shoes, Four Leaf Clover Amulet

Friend: Ash, Treant firefighter
Enemy: Pauly Pots, Leprechaun Loan Shark

1. Trappings are now called Gear.

2. I reviewed the original Wicked Ones and decided that while they didn't make it as clear as I wish they had, I believe their original intent WAS in fact to have 6 Gear-- 6 Gear, 2 of which are supply. So, 6-- 4 basic Gear (one of which gives a special defense), and 2 Supply (the kind of stuff you can use up).

So my suggestion, for your shaman, would be to get the sorts of things that could be used up...

A couple of basic potions, maybe? (examples of potions are now lower down in the rules...)

--I have straightened out the "STEP FOUR" problem, etc. Part of that was leaving PC creation right where it was, because I realize now that Base creation should really come first.

(I was just super curious what you'd choose, though.

Plus I wanted to see if you making a PC would reveal any bugs in the system (and it might have, in a way, with the whole Trapping/Gear thing).

Fortunately, a Shaman works well with any of the bases, it seems to me...)

So, anything else I should attend to...?
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:17, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

Anything to do clocks in this game?

Some world building with other groups we can interact with.

Did you like my friend and enemy, or were you going for a different tone?

1. At a big table, I can see how clocks could work maybe. But on RPol, I think they don't work. The pace is SO slow, I think that everyone (including the GM) would forget about clocks, unless there's maybe just one or two important one.

I think building new base rooms and other similar projects can work like clocks, but otherwise I lean anti-clock.

Good question, though.

2. Oh yeah, I plan there to be lots of other groups the rebels can interact with.

3. I was fine with your friend and enemy. They're your friend and enemy. If other players go darker // more serious, that's how I'll play their stuff.


Any other questions/thoughts...?

Added:

When you trade in 9 xp, you go up a level (starting with moving from level 1 to level 2). This is important only because if your PC dies, and you make a new one, the new one comes in at the same level. So if your level 3 PC dies, make a new PC at level 1, and then you may add two extra dots, or choose two new extra class abilities, or one of each. (However, xp lost by character death is NOT reimbursed. If your PC died with only 2 more xp to go before leveling up, you're just out of luck.)

(Also note: if you must make a new PC, you must make the new one in some way different from your previous one(s). Making the new one be a different class is encouraged, but if not that, then at least choose entirely different Nature descriptors.)

Added, before "Base Themes" --

BLOWBACK AND CALAMITY (AND REVELRY):

In the next section, you'll see a couple of terms come up, so I'll define them here:

--BLOWBACK just means "problematic results of the Raid phase." Like (for example) if some mercenaries (or a monster? Or something?) followed you back from the Raid you just did.

--CALAMITY just means "problematic results of the Downtime phase," like (for example) a wild party with a lot of drinking (an example of Revelry) you threw to blow off steam (and, more to the point, Stress) got a little out of hand and something got broken... or maybe it just cost more than you might have expected...

--At the start of each Consequenses phase, and at some point during each Downtime phase, the GM will roll to see if there'll be any problematic Blowback or Calamity...




Also changed the Shaman's "spiritspeaking" to "stonespeaking" like in Wicked Ones... I thought about making it more spirity/ancestory, but I decided that was more the realm of necromancy maybe...

"When you Invoke, you magically interact with dark, mystical forces.
You might roll Invoke to cast an enormous fireball at the doors of the jail, to dispel a ward spell on a door, or to make a hippogriff back down with a display of magic."

I think the dark part is lest over from the original theme of the game. 

"I think building new base rooms and other similar projects can work like clocks, but otherwise I lean anti-clock."

I haven't really played any Blades in the Dark, but I have watch some stuff one line and read some articles. I do like the idea of clocks for long term projects, and I also like them for adding tension for Consequences.

Yep. I'll fix it...





...I'll keep that in mind...

Added to the rules:


BY THE WAY:

By the way, race doesn't matter in this game. As long as you go on two legs and are no larger than a tall human and no smaller than three feet or so, you can be whatever race you want for this game. Hell, you can all be a band of rebel elves or dwarves for all I care, if you all want... just let me know if you want to be something other than human.

I had imagined my initial character being a far redcap.

Far? You mean fey, I bet? Welp, I'm fine with that...

Added to the rules:


(The Tyrant has a standing army or whatever, but for dealing with rebels, the tradition in this part of the world is to save the armed forces purely for defense, and for offensive jobs, to use mercenaries. There are lots of mercenaries and mercenary bands roaming the land looking to do dirty work for financial gain. They'll always be your number one problem if someone comes looking for your base, until maybe late in the game... But one useful thing for you about the mercenary system is that it means that if someone finds your secret rebel base, word probably won't spread very far nor fast, because if it's a mercenary, they'll want to keep the location a secret so that a rival merc band doesn't come along and hit you first, and if it's not a mercenary, they'll assuredly want to keep it a secret so that they can sell the secret to a merc band... (and, well, another one if the first one dies... and then another one, if the second one dies... and so on...) The point is, you'll seldom have more than one merc band invading at a time...)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Thu 13 Feb 2020.

Also added this clarification:

Base Logic - The base is like one big Panic Room
The sanctum serves two purposes - it keeps the leaders of the rebellion separate from the first round of defending, and it provides a clear cutting point for when the mercs have passed that first round and moved on to the “boss fight” of the base. This gives the base and the PCs chances to shine in their own unique scenes. The PCs cannot interact with the first floor’s base defenses-- doing so would make your helpers think you're weak, and cause a revolt as your helpers tried to wrestle leadership from you and re-establish the base's hierarchy.

But perhaps more importantly, the base is like a panic room. You want to stop any invaders by any means possible. If that means they come upon a door that's too well-locked for them to open and they give up and go away to rethink their invasion strategy, fine! That means everyone else can come back out and go back about their normal business. Your pixies and helpers, at the first sign of invasion, will retreat deeper into the back of the base, unless some of the helpers in question have specialized jobs that involve messing with invaders.

So it's important for the PCs to stay on the second level of the base-- you're the last line of defense.

I mmmmmight be able to place an advertisement for new players tomorrow...

Hello, prospective new players! I welcome you...

After I add enough people to the game, our first order of business will be to decide on what type of base to choose (of the 5 possible choices)...

Then (well, pretty soon afterward), we'll choose character types (Shaman might already be taken, unless the chooser has a change of mind)...

Yay, we have a new player!

That makes two (unless you count me, in which case 3)...

What base style (of the 5 options) appeals to y'all so far...?

Hello.

I'll be asking a lot of questions regarding rules, please bare with me.  In the mean time I'll be your marauder (fighter) in his stronghold.

Do we discuss the tyrant together?

Yeah, I just this morning remembered: The first topic of discussion is the Tyrant...

So, you ready?

STEP 1: WHAT KIND OF TYRANT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

--If you want, you may choose! Your choices are:

----Human nobility: an evil king, queen, duke, baron, whatever!

----Warlord: His or her (warlady) power comes not from being nobility by birth, but because they are (or were, in their youth) good at fighting or strategy (or both)!

----Mage or cleric: An evil mage or cleric of some dark power is running this region!

----Group: The tyranny is being perpetrated not by one guy nor gal, but an evil group! An evil thieves' guild? A bunch of corrupt senators? A group of evil wizards? A dark priesthood? A sinister cult?

----Undead: A vampire or lich or something is ruling this region!

----Monster: A dragon or some other monster is ruling this region!

If you can't decide, you can just have the GM choose-- or one of you (you, or the GM) can just roll randomly for it!

My top three would be Monster, Cleric, Warlord.

And your opinion(s), Bashar...?

I prefer the later two of those three options, so warlord or cleric.

Then I'm gonna say an evil cleric, unless anyone stops me...?

Objections...?

Evil cleric sounds great.... I mean horrible, lets rebel.

Damn those evil priests to hell.

Okay I got two in mind:

--Evil Priest of Calum. Calum is a major spirit of fear, death, and blood, who would like to be considered as a fully-fledged goddess of these things. Clerics and Paladins of Irina and Kabisha root out and destroy the cult of Calum whenever they find it, but it could be that a follower of Calum has taken over locally...

OR

--Evil Priest of Etana. Etana is a major spirit of frost, ice, and cold, who would like to be considered as a fully-fledged goddess of these things. Clerics and Paladins of Zashan and Melkahar root out and destroy the cult of Etana whenever they find it, but it could be that a follower of Etana has taken over locally...

Which you like (to hate) more?

Which kind of raises a relevant question...

What are we doing, here, landscape-wise?
--Typical fantasy mix of woods with occasional farmland?
Or something else?
--Desert?
--Vast sweeping plains?
--Coast?
--Arctic setting?
--Jungle?
--Seriously THICK forest, like The Black Forest in Germany used to be, real Mirkwood stuff?
--Wetlands, with lots of lakes and rivers and stuff?
--Mountain range?
--Island Archipelago?
--Weird stuff? Like underdark subterranean or underwater adventures or something else?

Let me know.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:53, Thu 20 Feb 2020.

Calum gives me a Conan the barbarian setting, arid, dry lands.

Etana gives me the more northern Vikings feel, so dense northern forests, and artic setting.

I'm good with both.

Kingjawa? Opinion?

Evil Priest of Calum would be my preference. I like the idea of arid, dry lands. But being Fey I hope there is some woodlands also worked in. They don't have to by typical forests though.

You could do an odd oasis with large succulents, strange succulent flowers with honey scents that lure thirsty and hungry men and eat them.  If you google succulents you can find a wide variety of odd looking succulents, and all you have to do is imagine them giant sized.

Just floating an idea.

Evil Priest of Calum it is. Arid, dry lands on part of the map, woods elsewhere, a couple of oases.

Okay, NOW it's time to pick the Base type.

Kingjawa, you got an opinion? Bashar told me earlier he was leanin' toward Stronghold...

(Still leanin' that way, Bashar...?)

I wouldn't mind hideout or enclave.

I can see my character as a rider using hit and run tactics.  I don't mind tweaking the character idea a bit here and there to fit the group.

Okay, we'll see what Kingjawa says...

Let go with Stronghold.

All righty, tough-fightin' rebels is is, then.


STEP THREE: BASE DETAILS:

Detailing your base will help bring it to life. Answer these questions together... Knowing this information will help the GM and players paint a more interesting picture of what the inside of the base is like.

❖ What does your base's entrance look like from the outside?
A natural cave with a stream flowing through it. A small hole in a sewer tunnel. The ruins of an abandoned church. The trunk of an old, rotten tree. Something else.

❖ What are the floors and walls of your base like?
Cold stone and slightly damp to the touch. Mostly-dry mud intertwined with roots. Black obsidian, slick but warm to the touch. Light-colored marble, forgotten by most for hundreds of years now. Musty bricks stacked together haphazardly. Something else.

❖ What’s the lighting like inside your base?
Torches line the walls. Magma flows through the floor, lighting it from below. A magical glow clings to the ceiling. Glowing mushrooms grow throughout the halls. Something else.

❖ What smell greets those who step foot into your base?
Overwhelming incense. Burning chemical reagents. Blood and sweat. Freshly-turned earth and sawdust. Something else.

❖ What is your base's name? (you can decide that later, too... or you can just call it "The Base" for all the GM cares. This is YOUR BASE. Call it what you want.)

We have a new (third) player!

Dr. Mindermast would like to be a mage, and I see no problem with that.

The two existing players have already decided that the Tyrant will be the head of an evil cult (although the populace at large probably don't know THAT part yet), and that the base will be a Stronghold in a land that's part dry and part woodsy (I'll worry about the exact layout of the land later)...

I presume that you have no objections to this, Dr. Mindermast...?

Do you need anything else from us GM?

Yes... answer these:



STEP THREE: BASE DETAILS:

Detailing your base will help bring it to life. Answer these questions together... Knowing this information will help the GM and players paint a more interesting picture of what the inside of the base is like.

❖ What does your base's entrance look like from the outside?
A natural cave with a stream flowing through it. A small hole in a sewer tunnel. The ruins of an abandoned church. The trunk of an old, rotten tree. Something else.

❖ What are the floors and walls of your base like?
Cold stone and slightly damp to the touch. Mostly-dry mud intertwined with roots. Black obsidian, slick but warm to the touch. Light-colored marble, forgotten by most for hundreds of years now. Musty bricks stacked together haphazardly. Something else.

❖ What’s the lighting like inside your base?
Torches line the walls. Magma flows through the floor, lighting it from below. A magical glow clings to the ceiling. Glowing mushrooms grow throughout the halls. Something else.

❖ What smell greets those who step foot into your base?
Overwhelming incense. Burning chemical reagents. Blood and sweat. Freshly-turned earth and sawdust. Something else.

❖ What is your base's name? (you can decide that later, too... or you can just call it "The Base" for all the GM cares. This is YOUR BASE. Call it what you want.)

Let me take a stab at this and other can add or modify what I suggest.

❖ What does your base's entrance look like from the outside?

The ruins of a very old fort from the distant past. The walls have been battered and most of the buildings turn to ash, rocks and stones lay around displaced from their former home, nature has grown in and around the ruins. Twisted Scrub trees and thorny bushes dot the area. At the base of a fallen tower, there are hidden stairs that lead down.

❖ What are the floors and walls of your base like?

Carved stone tiles cover the floor with a handful of mosaics depicting strange creatures. The damage done above above ground does not seem to have affected the underground in the same ways. However the walls have roots, and weeds and mushrooms that have reclaimed about half of the turn with the other half still having cut stones in place.

❖ What’s the lighting like inside your base?

Oil lanterns are currently used as lighting, occasionally colorful glowing orbs appear and float around. They around curiously inspect movement and magic when present but have not yet caused anyone harm or tried to community in any way.

❖ What smell greets those who step foot into your base?

Lots of earthy smells make first assault the nose, but once those smells become normal the smell of baked goods sneak in from deeper below.

❖ What is your base's name?

I seem to be drawling a black on this one.

Thoughts?

Sorry guys, somehow I blanked on the fact that this thread was active.  But now that I've more or less come to my senses...

I like kingjawa's ideas for the fort.  I'd like to add that it's built at one of the oases, and controlled the surrounding area back when it was a fully functioning military base.

But now that raises the question of why the fort was abandoned - military loss?  Natural disaster?  Something else?

As for the name, there is of course a proper name for the fortress, and some of us might even know it, but we would never use that name out loud - too easy to trace.  Instead we just call it something like The Sandstone.

I like Kingjawa's choices for the most part, and I like the name of The Sandstone.

But I feel that there is NOTHING AT ALL left of this place that's visible from the surface. There's just a cleft in some rocks that you can't even see until you're standing right in front of it (and at the right angle), or there's just a trap door hidden most of the time by sand or whatever.

I feel that this is indeed the lower levels of a location whose role in history is well-remembered, but NOT its actual location. People probably think it's a myth, or might as well be one, because the location is so lost//there's nothing left-- but they're wrong, the below-ground part is left.

I'm fine with it being right next to one of the oases, because that means that it'll be harder to follow the rebels to it-- they can just come and go with the caravans, and then slip away when the time is right.

Don't worry about how the fortress was destroyed centuries ago right now-- I'll deal with that myself later.

Bashar? Any thoughts to add?

I like it.  I just thought we were dealing with a stronghold, rather than a hideaway, but as I said.  I like either or, and some lost legendary fortress works great for propaganda.

The secret locations, in Wicked Ones, are all underground (because monsters), so the secret rebel bases are all underground (because if the secret location was somehow visible from the surface, why wouldn't you think "well THAT is a large thing, maybe I should check for rebels THERE.")

There's just 5 different flavors of "underground secret base," ranging from
"underground freaking fortress" to
"underground secret temple" to
"underground mage lab facility" to
"underground steampunk factory" to
"underground thing that feels like a thieves' guild base."

You guys just have "underground fortress/stronghold," that's all.


OKAY SO, I am somewhat busy this morning//the first part of this morning but later today I hope/expect to have the time to start walking through the start of developing The Sandstone (we might have to do a little work as far as getting it ready for human habitation, we'll see...)

OKAY SO AGAIN, turns out a little time now, so I'll get started:

--Entrance: After the entrance, there are stairs down, and then a tunnel of about 100 feet (that might just barely slope downward). This branches off into multiple tunnels, leading to...


As GM, I rolled for Discovery.

Basically I rolled 6-siders... and one of them came up 6, which means Success (although not as amazing as if I'd rolled more than one 6).

So you get something good...

As you're exploring this ancient base, you find a room where the furniture is somehow still intact (it's been magicked or blessed not to deteriorate? It's made of some amazing metal that doesn't rust? It's all made from the bones of some huge beast?). This, you realize, was someone's War Room, for planning missions... and it will serve you in that way, too...

--War Room: Take +1d on engagement rolls for the following raid plans: set a trap, rout, smash & grab.


And here by the way is all the types of Raid Plans:

Raid Plans:

--Pull a Trick: Confuse, distract, lure, manipulate, or trick them into doing what you want.
How do you intend to pull it off? What do you want them to do?

--Rout: Bring full force to bear and defeat all those in your way.
Where do you hit first? Who leads the way?

--Talk It Out: Talk with them to get what you want, through negotiation or deception.
Where’s the meeting spot? Why will they meet you?

--Set a Trap: Hit them while they’re not expecting it.
Why is their guard down? Where are you waiting?

--Smash & Grab: Get in, get what you want, and get out as quickly as possible.
How do you make your approach? Who signals to get out?

--Sneak In & Out: Get in, get what you want, and get out as quietly as possible.
Where do you slip in? What time of day is it?



One tunnel leads to the War Room.

Some tunnels lead to empty rooms-- you can have them be for stuff later.

There is also a creature lair! With a creature!

One of you (probably the Shaman? but maybe the mage?) is certain that he can train/teach/enchant this creature to not attack you nor your (future) helpers.

What kind of creature is it?

Attracted creatures can be just about any fantasy beast or monster you’d like, though mindless or unintelligent creatures tend to work best. You should match the power level of the creature you choose to the tier you’re attracting. A creature doesn’t have to be a single entity - a swarm of bats or a bunch of oozes act as a single creature mechanically.

After you’ve chosen the type of creature, give it two descriptors from the following list or make up your own:
clever - cold - construct - corrupted - corrosive - diseased - incorporeal- fire - magical - ooze - poisonous - sneaky - strong - swarm - terrifying - undead

❖ EXAMPLE Tier 1 creatures: swarm of bats (sneaky - terrifying), hippo-sized snapping turtle (strong - sneaky), skeleton (sneaky - undead)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:06, Fri 28 Feb 2020.

Here are a few ideas for the Tier 1 creature/monster that I think fit the theme and I would like feedback on.

Pack of Hyenas: (Clever, Sneaky) Just a normal pack of hyenas that has made there home here.

Bramble Cat: (Poisonous, Sneaky) A cat made of living poisonous brambles

Spinx of Curiosity (Clever, Construct) A small animated Spinx

I like the bramble cat, followed by some hyenas. Anyone got other suggestions?

About the same for me, though I think I'd go with hyenas as my first choice.  And I'm already thinking about magical experiments to make them even more useful for us in the future, beyond the obvious function of being guard animals...

Bashar? Care to break this tie?

I like the cat most.

Bramble Cat: (Poisonous, Sneaky) A cat made of living poisonous brambles. Long ago, it might have been some mage's experiment-- or a druid's? Something made by the gods? Well, for now, you've got one, and it won't attack you or any other rebels-- though it'll try to scratch and poison anyone else.


Next, you find a room that would be very useful-- except that it needs some stuff to start being usable.

WHICH OF THESE DO YOU FIND?

--Barracks: You can pay light cost to automatically recruit the following helper types:
grunts - raiders - scouts. These fresh recruits also function as a creature equal to your
base tier.

(❖ Grunts (Smash - Command) are best when in the thick of battle. They have a defense against wounds.

❖ Raiders (Smash - Scan) are best when finding and pillaging targets. They have a defense against surprise.

❖ Scouts (Sneak - Scan) are best when patrolling areas and scouting. They have a defense against problems scouting an area.)

--Bestiary: You always have fresh mounts, which come with an edge (choose one): aquatic - armored - fast - flying - intelligent - magical - terrifying. Your mount can help out on a roll, but you risk losing it.

--Fighting Pit: You can choose two combatants (helpers, creatures, or prisoners) to fight, rolling their tier or an action in opposed fortune rolls. Which side do your helpers cheer for? If that side wins, take +1d to calamity, and helpers regain all morale. If it loses, the PCs each gain a Heart. On a tie, everyone wins!

--Smithy: Each of your helpers gains the deadly edge as you equip them with dangerous weapons. If they already had it, they take +effect when attacking.

(❖ Deadly: Take +1d when attacking something.)

--Armorer: Each of your helpers gains the armored edge as you equip them with armor. If they already had it, they gain it again, becoming heavily armored.

(❖ Armored : Gain a defense against wounds.)

--Prison: You can hold prisoners for ransom.

I think the barracks makes the most sense given that this place was once a fort, though the smithy or armorer would work well too.

Any other opinions...?

I also agree with Barracks.

Yeah, I want raiders, so I agree with Barracks as well.  Makes the most sense for our keep.

Got it. You find a room that's ideal for a barracks, but there's nothing in it-- you'll either need to steal the stuff, or else you'll need to steal money to buy the stuff... we'll come back to that.

You do find a usable minor room, though.

(Me: ... (Goes and looks up what the original game called "major rooms" and "minor rooms")
Me: ...Oh! Okay...)

Choose one of these:

Delving Tunnel: A long excavation, usually around 10 squares. After building or finding it, the GM makes a new discovery roll and takes +1d on the roll.  

Guard Post: A single helper assigned to the room will give invaders a -1 on the next 1 or 2 rooms (1d2 will be rolled to see which) they invade (the helper will run from the room at the first sign of trouble, to spread alarm...

Helper Station: You can assign a single Helper that is stationed in this room. They take advantage while defending the room.    

Prison: A room with up to 4 cells in it for holding prisoners. Each cell door has a tier 1 lock.    

Storage room: A room filled with crates and boxes, perfect for ambushes. Helpers can roll   engagement when fighting in the room, taking +1d on the roll.    

Interrogation Room: You take +1d when interrogating prisoners here.

Storage is where I'm leaning.

Any other opinions...?

Sure, storage sounds good.

I also agree with storage.

You also find a room that's trapped! (But you don't set it off yourself!)


You get a Tier I trap, read below (and then someone tell me what it's like...)



Traps
Traps are static, well-hidden defenses rated from tier 1 to tier 3 that are meant to surprise and maim the unwary invader wandering your halls. A trap’s sole purpose is to injure invaders. Each trap has two parts - a mechanism and a trigger.

When a mercenary group comes across the trap, the player in charge of that trap rolls its tier to see how effective it is. The mechanism and trigger help the player then narrate the results of that roll.

When a trap hits, the GM chooses which mercenary it hits. Trap rolls represent how much damage and frustration it took to overcome the trap. On a critical or a success, you can roll again against another merc and can continue like this until you roll a mixed or a failure.

When you roll again for a trap, it means that the trap is hitting multiple invaders at
the same time. Wait until your roll finishes to narrate exactly what this looks like. A
failure might mean that the invaders didn’t trigger the trap or that they did, but completely avoided any damage.

When you get a new trap, choose or make up a mechanism and a trigger, then detail to the GM what you are trying to accomplish. The GM decides what tier the trap is based on its likelihood of hitting multiple targets. If you want to build higher-tier traps, you’re going to have to come up with deadlier mechanisms or cleverer triggers.

example mechanisms
alarm - blades - collapsing roof - darts - falling rocks - fire - gas - magical - moving walls - nets - pit - poison - spears - spell - spikes

example triggers:
disguised base denizen - false door - hidden sentry - item usage - item removal - magical detection - pressure plate - sound - tripwire

❖ Tier 1 traps are simple and effective, but fairly easy to avoid. They are likely
to only hit a single target.

Turning a door handle stabbing a hand with a blade, too much noise releasing scorpions from the ceiling, a false door leading to a 10-foot drop.

When invaders reach the trap, the GM will call out the

Invaders trigger traps that they stray near to. There’s no need to be precise-- movement through the base isn’t tracked square by square. As long as they’re in the same room as the trap, they’ll trigger it.

Since we're in a desert, near a source of water, what do you guys think about quicksand?

I like quicksand. I think its very thematic.

Groovy, but we need a trigger-- it's not JUST quicksand-- it LOOKS fine, and then after something is DONE, the threat becomes apparent... So I'm thinking a concealed trap door that drops them into the quicksand if they don't notice it.

Sound good?

--YES! Nice one, GM! I will tell you to officially add that to The Sandstone in my next post!

--NO! I have another idea, and I will tell you what that idea is in my next post!


Presuming for the moment that the answer is Yes, let's move on:


You find a good room for a Trick!


Tricks
Tricks are subtler than traps - their purpose is to change the situation or force the
adventurers into taking certain actions. A trick allows you to control events during
base defense. They create advantageous situations for your base.

When a trick is triggered, a fortune roll is made using the trick's tier to see how effective it was against the invaders, using the result to narrate how it was triggered and how effective it was at its intent. The GM can step in to scale the effectiveness up or down to better match the result if needed.

When building tricks, each has an intent and a trigger. The intent is what you want
the trick to accomplish and the trigger is how you go about doing it. Tricks are judged
by how likely they are to work and the tier is decided by the player.

Example Tricks:
❖ A pool of water that fools adventurers into taking off their armor to get through.
❖ Pixies clanging together pots down a tunnel leading invaders toward them.
❖ A winding maze that splits up the invading group.
❖ A beautiful statue that captivates them and gives an opening for helpers to snatch their weapons.
❖ Moving lights from around a corner make the invaders snuff torches to avoid getting seen--thereby losing their own ability to see.

If a trick leads an adventurer into a situation that they can’t escape, it instead just frustrates them after some time has passed... if enough time passes, they could just get frustrated and give up on invading the base. These types of tricks buy you time or an
advantageous situation, but they’re temporary. Remember that mercenaries are incredibly crafty, and even if they’re stuck down a pit trap or chained to a wall, given a bit of time, they’re likely to find a way out. You can never trick an mercenary away from invading your base once they've started... but you can add to their frustration, and that can do the trick eventually... (They'll be back someday, of course, but...)


(I know that since there's no actual map, it's hard to see how Tricks help, but I'll make it worth your while, trust me.)

For a trigger on the quicksand, how about a floor panel that triggers liquefaction, so a section of floor a little bit ahead that was just dirt/sand before now becomes quicksand.

I don't have any ideas for good tricks right now.  How about you guys?

Okay, time to take stock.

I'm not only back, my schedule is finally starting to stabilize.

But where are we?


1. I realize it can sometimes be hard to get back into a game experience when it's lost momentum.

2. I realize it is hard to concentrate on a game with a virulent global pandemic going on (that was most of the problem that caused #1).


SO. Do each of y'all:

A. Want to continue?

B. Want out? (This option also covers "I WOULD like to continue, actually, but I am kind of overly stressed by the life-changing effects of a virulent global pandemic going on to actually commit to doing so.")

C. Want out of this game, but want to try playing something else? (Something simpler?)


Sound off and let me know which. If it is B, there will be no hard feelings toward you on my part.

Bashar has already privately chosen B, and I reiterate that I absolutely understand that.

A. I want to continue. Life has gone a crazy, but I should actually have more time to post.

Then help Dr. Mindermast come up with a Trick for The Sandstone...

...If Dr. Mindermast wants to stay and continue...?

Sure, if we're back on then I'm totally in.

Okay then, one of you come up with a Trick. Feel free, for all I care, to just choose one from the example list.

Example Tricks:
❖ A pool of water that fools adventurers into taking off their armor to get through.
❖ Pixies clanging together pots down a tunnel leading invaders toward them.
❖ A winding maze that splits up the invading group.
❖ A beautiful statue that captivates them and gives an opening for helpers to snatch their weapons.
❖ Moving lights from around a corner make the invaders snuff torches to avoid getting seen--thereby losing their own ability to see.

How about vines that pull weapons off balance and snatch away small objects like potions and keys away.

I'll take it.

Next: one Lock... This one's easy...



Locks
 Locks are used to buy time while defending to set up proper defenses, maneuver around your base, or beat a hasty retreat. They also serve to push mercs away from sensitive areas.   It’s best to remember that locks won’t keep mercs out forever-- given enough time and   determination, mercs can push their way through any lock in front of them.

You need a descriptor for the door materials and the lock mechanism.    

door   materials:
iron   -   iron   bars   -   portcullis   -   wood    

lock   mechanisms:
bar   -   bolt   -   heavy   object   -   padlock
 

❖ Tier 1 locks are the simplest locks, with limited reliability. A wooden bar holding a   door shut, or   a   door   with   the   handle   removed   and   jammed   shut.


When invaders encounter a lock while pathing their way through your base, the GM rolls the   lock’s tier and sees if the lock repels the invaders.

door   materials: iron

lock   mechanisms: padlock

Seems reasonable enough.

Any chance we could also get a decoy lock to distract invaders by making them think an empty room is actually important?

Got it.





You can have it now, if you want... Let me know.

But for now...

That's it!

Right now, the rest of The Sandstone is just
--a stairway leading to the sanctum.

And then: Level 2:

--A Sanctum-- the big room where you rebel leaders will make your stand against any invaders who get that far

--The Hoard

--And a private room leading off from the sanctum for each of you.


So it's time for what's next!

--PCs!

KingJawa already made a Shaman... KingJawa, you stickin' with your Shaman, I presume?

And Mindermast, I believe you wanted to make a Mage?

Need any help with that?

If so, let me know.

If not, make a Mage PC!

Sorry, been juggling a lot this week.  I might be able to work out character stats in the next day or so, definitely this weekend if not sooner.

And yes, I'd definitely like to take the decoy lock if that's an option.

Updated "The Sandstone" threadpost to show that the locked door leads to an empty room...

I am still here. My life his upside down, but I have more time for post and I am looking forward to this game getting started as a nice distraction.

Dr. Mindermast and I are discussing the making of his mage over PM... Should, theoretically, be with you somewhat shortly...

Okay, Dr. Mindermast will be playing Rasal, the mage. Kingjawa, your PC needs a name.

Both of you, choose portraits.

Rasal, make up a friend and an enemy.

Okay, I've added those to my character sheet

HA Rasal

(Explains to Kingjawa: Rasal's chosen portrait is my character's portrait in the game I'm in that Rasal GMs.)

Also, Kingjawa, you need to give your character an actual name and choose a portrait.


ANYWAY,

This game has four repeating phases:

1. Downtime: this phase is for three things:
--First, expanding and improving your base,

You can't do that right now, because you have hardly any money, and no helpers.

--Second, gathering information you'll need later

This, you absolutely can do. Each of you may choose to use this phase to go talk to your friend (or anyone else you want to try to get information from), and get information you'll need to do a Raid.

--and Third, trying to recruit helpers and/or allies.

You can also do this, in whatever manner you want to try to do it.

Now, Wicked Ones (the game, as you'll recall, that I disassembled to make this one) started off with a lot of NPCs and factions to work with in that way...

So do you guys wanna
1. brainstorm those now (with my help)
2. make 'em up as we go, or
3. have me make 'em up now?

I am totally okay with any of those three choices.

I would like to either create some factions or have input on some. How many factions are we talking about total? I also think you as the GM you should create some (maybe one starting one as an example), but leave room for creating more in the future.

The original game came with sample factions.

It had:
--6 factions of tier 1
--6 factions of tier 2
--3 factions of tier 3
--2 factions of tier 4

So getting a tier 1 faction to help you would be kinda helpful. Getting a tier 1 faction mad at you would be inconvenient.

Getting a tier 4 faction to help you would be REAL hard but REAL helpful.

Getting a tier 4 faction mad at you would be REAL unhelpful.

So let me make some factions, to give you the idea.

TIER 1 FACTION: Travelling Merchants. Moving goods along the road between the town and the next kingdom over. Generally on the lookout for trouble.

TIER 2 FACTION: The Farmers. Hardworking farmers who need just a little more push from the Tyrant (or encouragement from rebels) to start defending their lands and watching each others' backs. Each farm generally has several houses with extended family spread throughout them.

TIER 3 FACTION: Boris the Wizard: Boris has an interesting relationship with the city, getting supplies and other odd products for his mysterious arcane experiments in return for... things. Sometimes Boris pays for what he wants with gold, sometimes with minor magical items that he's apparently made by himself. Delivery wagons regularly travel back and forth from the city to his tower.

TIER 4 FACTION: The Wanderers: No humans can survive in the most inhospitable parts of the desert like the people called The Wanderers. They're devout worshipers of some deity they don't talk to strangers about, and they're very fierce fighters. Everyone respects them, and no one dares to cross them. They come to the edge of the city every few months to trade for supplies, but they're very independent.


I can make more, or let you make some.

All these I just made are human, but your factions don't have to be...

Since you mention it, I would love for there to be a faction of spirits, or something like that.  Maybe nature spirits affiliated with a certain environment, or a certain location.

Yes, that is entirely allowed.

You wanna write it up? Or you wanna let me do it?

You wanna write any of the rest? Or just make further suggestions for me...?

I have a lots of ideas, but I have one question first. Should the factions be mercenary groups, because that is what the the tyrant uses against us or those mercenaries are his troops and should not be factions?


Rasal- I love the idea group of faction of nature spirits!

Mm, yeah, the factions really shouldn't be traditional mercenaries.

Here are some factions I would like to add. I am really trying to go for fun and flavor. I will work on a few more as long as you both don't mind.

Tier 1

The Faithful - In utter fear for their lives after the tyrant took over and started hunting them for being heretics. The truly faithful still whisper prayers to other gods.

Marvelous Masons- A secret society with strange rituals and hidden agendas. The only thing that is truly known about them is that they all know how to build things.


Tier 2

The Cacti Court - This prickly court of characters is full of all different kinds of fey. They are recognized citizens of the kingdom even though they live outside the city limits.


Tier 3

The Dragonbone Collective - In ages past this was a group of dragon slayers, until the they killed the last known living dragon. Now they control the trade in dragonbone, dragon scales, and any other  dragon bits still survive.

These are fine with me. So here's what's left:

--3 factions of tier 1
--4 factions of tier 2
--1 factions of tier 3
--1 factions of tier 4


Shall I do them, or do one or both of you want to fill more in...?

Gnarl, those are great!  I don't have any other ideas at the moment, but I'll be right back here if I think of something.

Gnarl, shall I take your silence as suggestive that I should make the rest of the factions myself...?

I would still like to work on some more factions. However, it seems like there is enough of them to if you want to move the game forward.

Rasal-should I write up your nature spirits faction or do you want to give it a shot? What Tier do you want it to be?
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:50, Mon 20 Apr 2020.

Well... if either of you wanna make more, then make more, but I don't want to start until we've got 'em all...

So either make more, tell me to make your ideas into factions, or tell me to fill in the rest myself, but whichever of those three ways (or combinations of those three ways) we go, get back here and let's go in them!

How about this:

The Dervishes - Tier 3

Spirits of the desert, banded together to defend and spread their land.  They can take the form of a warm breeze, or a vicious whirlwind gathering up sand into a biting mass.  When they want to communicate, they will coalesce into a humanoid shape made of swirling sand, and speaking with the voice of the desert wind.

Sort of local air elementals, eh? Okay, that's fine, I'll add them...

Okay, anyone gonna write up any more, or shall I fill in the rest...?

Go ahead and fill out the rest GM.

I have finished making the appropriate Factions in the Faction thread!

I re-counted the sample factions in the original game, and it turned out it was 6, 6, 3, 3, so we ended up with 3 level 4 factions! Exciting!

SO! We return once again to where we were before!

1. Downtime: this phase is for three things:

--First, expanding and improving your base,

You can't do that right now, because you have hardly any money, and no helpers.

--Second, gathering information you'll need later

This, you absolutely can do. Each of you may choose to use this phase to go talk to your friend (or anyone else you want to try to get information from), and get information you'll need to do a Raid.

--and Third, trying to recruit helpers and/or allies.

You can also do this, in whatever manner you want to try to do it.


So! Each of you: Will you use this phase to

A: Gather information that'll be useful for a Raid, or

B: Try to recruit some helpers or allies...?

Gnarl knows that the under the tyrant's room things have become desperate for some. He closely watches the oasis for an outcast that does not get along well with his or her traveling companions.

I am going to use my action to recruit a raider.

Maybe we should create a downtime thread.

I have made such a thread.

Gnarl has no points, as yet, in Finesse, but:

--Terror: You can take a point of stress to know anyone’s worst fear and take +1d when you act on this knowledge.

That could give you an extra die to roll on Finesse.

ALSO: you DO have a point in Scan, so I would let you roll 2d6 to first try to find an especially-willing subject...

So either:

--roll 2d6 for Scan first of all, and we'll see what the result is, OR

--roll 1d6 to try to finesse somebody, OR

--roll 2d6 to try to finesse somebody, but take a point of Stress.

I have decided that the Tyrant is a man whose public title is the Lord Governor. His name is Horace Blackgreve. His allegiance to Calum, the would-be goddess of fear, death, and blood, is not at all publicly known.

Time for a Raid, folks... I would suggest a furniture warehouse, or something, since you need stuff for your Barracks...

...But since you have no helpers, better to steal a shipment of stuff like that... something that's already packed up and on wheels, that could be redirected toward The Sandstone...

But that sounds kinda bulky... maybe it's better you just get started on your Hoard, so you can just buy what you need... So what'll it be...? Money? Jewels? Something else that you could use to turn into liquid assets...? Kidnapping one of the Tyrant's head tax collectors and holding him for ransom, maybe...?

I think we should steal some jewels. They are sparkly, worth a lot in small packages, and maybe we can find some that will help us with magic.

Makes sense to me... Rasal, any comment...?

Yeah, I like that idea.

I will try to set it up tomorrow-- it's bedtime for me now.

If I don't post in the next... 14 hours, nudge me...

Whoop, I had a bit more time before bed than I thought, so I posted...

Guys? Y'okay...?

Um, heads up... I am one of those people who gets kidneystones from time to time... and one just showed up today.

Probably going to need to sit at the computer less for a while, but I'll do my best to keep up...

GM - should we be picturing this as the standard European stagecoach that's always getting stopped by highwaymen with masks and pistols, or is it a different setup?

That's what I was picturing...

Gnarl, how's your Sneak score?

I'm thinking maybe we both sneak up to the back of the coach, one on either side, and get ready to jump anyone who pokes their head out.  Or if they just stay inside and resume driving, we cling to the back until we have another opportunity.

I have a sneak score of 1, but I am willing to go with your plan.

Are... we... waiting on me?

I think I'm waiting on y'all. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I think we were waiting to confirm what our next move is, which we maybe have done, and then figure out how to proceed game-wise?

Well, you two can discuss it in this thread, if you want, but someone who isn't the GM needs to post in the game thread for me to do anything...

Okay, so now we have Victor.

1. Rasal, should we
--pretend like Victor was present (instead of Gnarl) for the attack on the carriage all along, or
--call off the carriage attack and plan something else? or
--restart the carriage attack? (it's not very far along anyway...)

2. Victor, in answer to your question, what you do with your shield is up to you as far as I'm concerned. You could throw it (especially if it's round and weighs less than 50 pounds), you could use it as a wedge to keep a door open, you could use it to help you knock someone down, whatever?

I went and looked at the rules just now and they seem a bit vague to me about what you use gear and supply for (am I wrong)?

I say, you can use each piece of gear and/or supply once each per phase to help you add a die to a roll.

Does that make sense?

Greetings! Victor, disgruntled guard turned rebel, has joined the cause.

I'm open to whatever you guys want to do for the raid. Until otherwise told though I'm going to assume I sit out.

So as for gear and supply I did some digging and I think I figured it out. According to the rules gear are permanent items you use to justify a defense. Supply are a pool of items you can call from so many times per scene.

To elaborate. Gear are permanent things your character always have. For each gear slot, you can come up with a defense that is appropriate. A defense is a one time, until the next recovery phase, automatic success on a resistance. It gives "armor" as a justification for a defense against wounds. Weapons and Magical implements seem to be an exception to this. Weapons just effect the "circumstantial bonus towards effect" of combat. Implements allow you to cast magic.

Supply are circumstantial tools and consumable items that you might have on you. Items you collect, steal, etc are automatically add to the pool. So for example look at the Crafter's "Brew It Up". While normally a consumable the ability lets them have several potions always be available. So per scene you can basically reach into your pack and conveniently pull out any item you have in your pool. This can give you an advantage (like the +1 die you said GM), or allow you to do certain things. They give a lockpick as an example of something you couldn't do if you didn't have the item. After you pull out an item you mark out one of your "supply slots" for that scene. Normal characters I think get 2, but things can increase it like Crafter's "Brew It Up".

This is my understanding based off reading "Rebel Scum" and "THE GAME" posts. Does this sound right GM?

I think you've said it better than me, yes, I agree...

Rasal, how about we abort the attack on the carriage and start over with a blow for freedom in some different direction (no penalty?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:43, Sun 21 June 2020.

In reply to The GM (msg # 123):

Cool. Now that we're on the same page about gear I'd like to redo that section if that's okay. Proposed new gear section:

Gear
- Mace: Weapon
- Shield: Defense against wounds
- Guard Inisignia: Defense against questioning authority
- Large Canteen: Defense against extreme heat

Supply
- Crossbow
- Manacles

Sure groovy with me

Sorry, had a busy few days, just catching up now.  Sure, we can drop the carriage idea and raid somewhere else.  Victor, any chance your old guard gig would have given you some useful inside knowledge and/or access?

Yeah, we were gonna do some literal highway robbery, but let's think up a new way to get some money by breaking the Tyrant's laws...

So a couple of ideas I've thought of:

1) Victor, or his contacts, know of an abandoned outpost that might have supplies. It could be taken over by monsters, bandits, etc. Whatever the GM thought would be appropriate.

2) Depending on how "classic fantasy" we want to get maybe we just can raid some bandit camp, or monster camp. We'd probably get less supplies but we get some favor with the locals.

3) We could always pull a robin hood and try and steal from the estate of a corrupt noble. They've got hunting lodges/vacation houses/etc right?

I want Victor to be somewhat honorable but I don't think he's afraid to get his hands dirty. A lot can be done in the name of the "greater good". So if you guys have ideas that fall into the "grey morality" don't be afraid to pose them. For example I think Victor could be convinced to do a highway robbery if we agreed to not harm anyone and promised to make amends in the future.

I like your third idea there.  Hit some corrupt noble's vacation home, which is likely to be less occupied at the moment and thus risk less collateral damage.

Mm, yes, let's do #3, but I like the "hunting lodge" idea... because it reminds me of the start of Prisoner of Zenda... Still, I can see a sort of "vacation home" in the mountains...

Which shall it be...?

I always vote in favor of whichever option the DM likes. It typically makes the game run better. So if the GM likes the lodge idea I vote we run with that idea.

Works for me.

Rasal do you have an idea on how to handle the situation? I was going to try to lie our way through this but Victor is most likely going to fail so I'm open to suggestions.

I don't have anything else at the moment.  You can go ahead and take the lead, since we're more in your environment than mine.

Well, um, no.





Just pointing it out in case it changes your approach...

Whoops. Misread on my part. I'll edit my post so Victor is talking about the right object but since I already rolled I'll say Victor would have still attempted to lie.

Understood. I'm a little busy right now though... I'll post tomorrow. If I don't post in the next 18 hours, nudge me

UGH i am having a day or two where I just do not have the time to sit down and GM properly, sorry... MAYbe tomorrow...

No worries; that was my entire week.

Roll COMMAND, Victor...

Edited with a command roll

GM - I want to respond to the latest IC post by saying something about the reputation of the noble whose house we are visiting.  Can we assume that we know anything useful?  If so, will you fill in that info or can we make something up ourselves?

I will let you do it either way-- you make it up, or I'll make it up.

I will say that the dude's politics are solidly pro-Tyrant, though.

I'm going out of town for a few days. If my reception is good enough I'll try to respond but otherwise I'll be away from civilization till Monday night.

Have fun!

So question to the GM. I was thinking of threatening to attack Abram if the woman doesn't cooperate, however Victor has no intention on beating a defenseless old man. If I make an empty threat is that a TRICK or a COMMAND?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Fri 07 Aug 2020.

Good question. My answer:



Sounds like Command to me, because Command seems to involve the threat of force, and Trick doesn't.

Nice move Victor :)

Victor, I want to clarify - are you looting the house with me, or staying to guard the old folks?

I don't have a strong preference. I was going to stick near them to make sure they don't try anything but if you think she is fine unsupervised I can assist in looking for loot. Once we actually know what we're grabbing I figured you'd let Victor know and he would help haul stuff.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Sun 16 Aug 2020.

I'm just waiting to see if Victor does a scan of the cellar, and if so, what his result is...

Good, good-- I'll be using that in the future...

Now for Rasal...

Very busy day for me today... I hope to catch up tomorrow...

If you don't hear from me in the next 20 hours or so, nudge me

So I just realized I've been rolling incorrectly this whole time.  I've been rolling a number of dice equal to my rating in a given stat, but I just noticed in the rules thread that I was supposed to have been rolling one more than that.  So that's why I had the extra roll in my IC post just now, and I'm just going to pretend that all the other dice I've forgotten would have come up as 3s anyway and I haven't actually lost anything here...

Yeah, no. 1 is minimum, and then each dot in a stat is one more than 1.

Actually, another option occurs to me-- you could also try going southwest or west, into the mountains.

Southwest would be much more treacherous, but that would surely be true for your pursuers, too.

West would mean going uphill, but maybe you could set up an ambush? There's only four guys on horses chasing you...

So I personally vote we go either west or southwest. If we go to the mountains we might be able to lose them in the difficult terrain or find something to help even the odds, like a ledge we could ambush them from or a choke point so we don't get surrounded.

• Going south gives them a clue as to where we are
• South East leads to civilization which means our pursuers could get backup
• East leads to vineyards but seems difficult to lose someone

Any objections? Suggestions?

I like your idea Victor.  Let's go west.

All right then... I'll post about y'all heading uphill into the mountains...

But first, one of you (just one!) roll:

--Finesse (for speed, to get ahead of them)
OR
--Sneak (for stealth... maybe you can get them to even pass you by...?)
OR
--Scan (to pick a good spot for an ambush)
OR
--Invoke (for Rasal to try something with magic again)

Where are they relative to us right now?  Directly below, further back, something else?

And if they are in the right position for it, is there anything nearby that we could drop on them?  Or a boulder that we could potentially roll at them?

They're right where you left the trail... but a tiny bit more forward. So it would definitely be easier to go back to the trail and DOWN than back to the trail and UP.

As for the second question, try Scan.

Or you could just try magic and try to make them THINK there's something about to fall on them.

Could I use illusion magic to create a sound coming from some distance away (or at least crafted to give the impression of distance), or at this point am I limited to visual effects?

I will say that you can attempt that, but that it will cause you a new point of (light) stress.

Got it, thanks.

Rasal which stat is better for you? I'm decent at Finesse and horrible at stealth.

Finesse 0, Sneak 1.

GM, when you say "one extra roll," do you mean one more die, or do you mean make two completely separate skill rolls and take the better result?

I mean one more die.

Very busy day yesterday, and have used up my energy trying to catch up today.

I have some hope that I may be able to finish catching up tomorrow.

GAAAAHHH it was my turn all this time

Guys, if it's ever my turn again for like 3 days, nudge me

It's okay - you taking a long time for your post means I don't have to worry that I'm taking too long to respond  :)

If we push the horses, are we rolling something for that or would we be going GM fiat on that one?

If one of you rolls a 6, I figure you get completely away.

If one of you doesn't roll higher than a 3, I figure someone's horse is gonna have a problem.

I can guarantee I will regret this later, but sure, I'm willing to try that.  Victor?

I have PMed Victor and asked him if he plans to continue.

If he does not return//reply soon, I shall advertise for new players, I suppose...

Alright.  I'll be here.

I think enough time has passed, but I'm worn out today.

If you don't hear from me in a day or two, please nudge me, and I'll advertise for more players...

Let's call this our nudge?

You are quite correct.

But...

I have been just about out of my mind with anxiety over the election, which obviously is not over.

I expect to return when this anxiety is resolved satisfactorily.

Okay, for obvious reasons, I think I'm feeling enough calmer to try to proceed.

I will go now and try to place an ad for more players...

One new player already...

Roir, let me know if you need help from me in making your character...

Think I'm done. Please look it over and see if there's anything to add?

Also, I wasn't sure if I'd join someone elses base or make my own.

I think you're good for the moment.

And no, your base will be the one already established-- The Sandstone, the basement levels of an ancient fortress in the desert long lost, but recently found by Rasal, who thought "this would make a great rebel base!"


I am currently working with a potential third player, who might be playing a cleric...

Alright, cool!

Hello all,

I will be your Rebel Priestess

Welcome!

Thank you,

Roir, what race are you?  You look to be Orcish by the Avatar

GM,

Will there be a starting place for the newbies soon and will we be together?  Might think of us having some background joined

Are the new members allowed to roll or is that for Rasal?

Half orc shaman. :)

All rolling in the new thread so far was for Rasal.

Your rolls will start soon.

For now, you three should be discussing the pixie issue.

My Vote on Pixies

❖ Tiny winged cherubs sent by a Divine Power (helpful - clever)

Being a Drow, she would think her Goddess sent them, for she is the Goddess of all Elves.

GM,

How many Pixies show up and are the all the same or are we allowed to have a mixture of Pixies types.

I'm happy with them being actual pixies. Unless we can stretch the term "pixie" to mean any fey, then leprechaun would be the way to go!

How many: a lot

All the same: yes

So:
--1 vote for cherubs
--1 vote for actual pixies, or leprechauns


Rasal, what do you say?

First thing my brain says is that if they are drawn by loot and they're not pixies then they must be Pictsies, a.k.a. the Nac Mac Feegle.  But that would probably break the tone of the game.

So on at least a slightly more serious note, I prefer the fey idea over cherubs.  Maybe not leprechauns exactly, but I do like the idea of something that brings us supernatural luck (at least a bit).  Or maybe brownies, we leave them some food or gold or whatever they like and they help with maintaining the traps, repairing anything that invaders might have damaged, etc.

I quite like the idea of Brownies. It really fits.

That's two votes for brownies... Lady Chessintra? You okay with that?

If we're doing brownies, then choose two descriptors for them from this list:

clever - cowardly - silly - helpful - manic - pranksters - stupid - surly - troublesome

(NOTE: any descriptor can sometimes be taken a little far, and the GM reserves the right to play things that way sometimes...)

That is fine with me.  I will get some tiny winged cherubs later.. LOL

I think clever and helpful fit best.  Which I know is the same thing Lady Chessintra said for her cherubs, so I apologize if I'm stealing and/or stomping on your idea, but it does fit thematically.

If there are no objections, I'll have clever and helpful brownies show up tomorrow.

(NOTE: management reserves the right for them to occasionally be too clever for their own good and too helpful for their own good)

Okay I admit it didn't happen today but tomorrow is my day when I have lots of free time

"WHY ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE TODAY, GM?"

Sinus headache

Everyone fails their Constitution roll sooner or later.

Feeling pretty good today.

However, I lost time because internet went out (due to internet provider) for a good hour and a half or so, so I've been playing catch-up all day...

(rolls eyes)

Okay, Graithar, you're up. How shall you spend your downtime?

I'm unsure of how or what to do, but here's what I want to do:

1. I'd like to fill out the bestiary.

2. Ritual summon stone/sand elementals to help our cause.

3. Talk to the spirits about caverns, caves, passages close to the Sandstone to which we could connect; in case of emergency. Source of water/food(if mushrooms/criters). Expand into at a later date. Find allies to help our cause. Find creatures to serve as mounts in the bestiary.



But i'm guessing I can only do one of these things, yes?

Yep, pick one for now... (Note: depending on what you choose, it might not get done right away, but at least you'll have started it...)

Let's try out number 3. Seems like the things to check first.

what do i invoke?

To "Talk to the spirits about caverns, caves, passages close to the Sandstone to which we could connect; in case of emergency" ?

yes

This is a level 2 thing to do, so Mark 1 light stress, and roll 2d6 (not 3, because it's level 2)

20:12, Today: Graithar rolled 6 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,2.  Commune with spirits of the earth.

Average roll.

A small earth elemental of only about three feet in height appears before Graithar... but it seems to have trouble maintaining its form.

It informs him that there are indeed various tunnels around here... some are filled with water, but there's one that might be good for his purposes of making for a good emergency getaway tunnel... "...the one complication that might not make it perfect is that at the far end, there's... there's..."

The earth elemental collapses into a pile of stones and sand. End of ritual.

Still, Graithar knows more than he knew before... it can be done... although there might be some complication at the far end...?

Probably a new ritual would have to be done to get more information (like, which direction, exactly, to dig in)... but Graithar will have to rest up for that.

---

Meanwhile, spending a little money from the hoard, Rasal equips the barracks. The barracks are now ready for use...

(I have updated the SANDSTONE thread-- the Barracks are now ready for use. You can use them to recruit help on your next Downtime phase.

Everyone ready for the next Raid phase?

If so... what shall it be? Attacking the Duchess at the Ruined Castle...? Or will you hold off on that, and try diplomacy with her at the next Downtime phase...?)

oh this is OOC btw. But yes i'm ready to continue.

Tch good catch. I have now posted in the Downtime thread, too.

But, so, like, what's the plan?

1. Aggressive action toward the Ruined Castle//Duchess?

or

2. A new raid to increase the hoard (and try diplomacy with the Duchess afterward)? You'll need the hoard to be bigger, after all, if you're going to recruit more helpers and pay them steadily...

I'll follow Rasal on this one.

Do we know anything about the Duchess, other than that she is a ghost?

What I put on the FACTIONS thread was:


TIER 2 FACTIONS:

Duchess in the Ruined Castle: A powerful spirit haunts this castle (far southeast), ruined in an unremembered war. Within the halls of the castle also roams a possessed suit of armor - her son's soul bound to it. She sends the suit out in the land, in search of her husband, dead for generations.

("Thank you for choosing T.G.I.Friday's" voice): "Okay, so hey, how we doin'? Anything I can get anybody...?"

I think this is our key.  Maybe if we can solve the mystery of the husband (the Duke? the Consort?) then we can earn some favors from the Duchess.  Or we put her to rest, the ghosts vanish, and we have a spare castle.

Either way this is my official proposal for the next excursion.  Unless we need to do more research first.

So it sounds like your proposal is to show up at the castle in your next downtime, and offer to solve the Duchess's problem?

Because you're gonna need to do more research before you can just go try to solve that right away...

Sorry, took a while before I had both time and brainpower at the same time.

If the Duchess is going to be a lengthier project, and more focused on Downtime than Raid time, then I'll save that for later and just find another tyrant minion to rob now.  Or sabotage, if we know a good target for that.

Ooh, maybe military supplies?  I'm going to guess that this mostly means heavily armed forts, and that's probably beyond our capabilities at this time, but those forts need some kind of supplies from outside.  Food at least, and probably also raw materials (I'm assuming there are smiths on the inside, but metal still needs to come from somewhere else).  Given the option I would rather raid a mine than a farm.

Everyone else okay with this too?

Sabotaging the flow of metal from mining to the Tyrant's forces sounds okay, but it probably wouldn't disrupt anything unless you put a stop to it for the foreseeable future somehow...

...Or you could just try to rob the military payroll at some point in its trickling-down? THAT'd do a lot of damage, for the Tyrant's soldiers to stop getting paid on time...

What do the rest of you think?

Yes, that's definitely what I meant, thank you for clarifying ;)

Okay... any objections from anyone...?

It's a win-win. We get money and seed unrest and possible desertion. I'm all for this.

Oh wow, a new post. I was thinking about asking about retiring this game today...

But if y'all are still up for continuing after all...

Lady Chessintra, are you still with us...?

It... seems not...?

If she doesn't reply by this time tomorrow, someone nudge me, and we'll carry on just the two of us... Unless y'all want me to advertise again...?

Im here, my computer died on me and trying to get a new one.

Ah ha!

Then I shall continue...

It was the Tyrant what done it!

Question regarding the new raid - what would it take for any of us (let alone all of us) to successfully disguise ourselves as guards?

Hmm... One of your friends could help with that, but you'd owe them a favor... or else you'd have to give them money your Hoard to help them bribe someone, which means your Hoard would grow more slowly...

Um... I'm back... but are y'all?

Should we just give up on this game? Are we kidding ourselves?

Who's ready to continue-- as in, posting every few days, at least?

Welcome back.

I'm here if your going to move the game forward. Would like to see how well I am able to learn this system and achieve her goals.

...Looks like it's just you and me...?

...Want me to advertise for more players, or do you just wanna solo-game it for now...?

I'm here, just didn't get a chance to check in since when you posted.  I'm good to keep going if you are.

Ooh, that's 2 out of 3.

So... that leads to where we left off:



My answer:

Hmm... One of your friends could help with that, but you'd owe them a favor... or else you'd have to give them money your Hoard to help them bribe someone, which means your Hoard would grow more slowly...

Which shall it be? (Or neither?)

I don't mind owing someone a favor, though I don't know if I already have any contacts who could help for this purpose.  If we just need to bribe someone to slip us in I'm fine with that too; given that our target for this raid is a large amount of cash, I'm looking at it as a reasonable investment.

Sounds like we're going with the Using The Hoard Funds way.

In any event, it works-- Rasal and Lady Chessintra gets uniforms just like the real ones...

...Anything further to the plan...?

Our intel says to expect a mage among the guards, so we need a way to neutralize that one promptly.  All I can think of for that is a surprise backstab (and my dice won't be great for that) - Lady Chessintra, do you have anything better to offer?

Not with attacks. Best to try to charm them

Charming sounds nice.  I'll follow your lead?

So... shall I get us started (tomorrow)...? Or does anyone have anything more to add?

Let the games continue.

I will try to see how well I can Charm a mage in doing my biddings.  LOL

I'm waiting on Lady Chessintra...

Do I need to make any rolls for the Charming of the Mage yet?

Not just yet...


First, as I asked in the game: Lady Chessintra, you note something about the fourth man's insignia that tells you a little something about what kind of magic he specializes in-- what is it, and what does it tell you?

I was lost on that, was I suppose to give a write up on what he specialize in and what does it tell me?

...Let's break it down to two slightly smaller questions:

1. What sort of mark or symbol or accessory do you notice on//connected to his clothing?

2. What does that tell you about what sort of magic he specializes in?

I don't need complete sentences, just a few words answering each question will be fine

Okay: I admit to being guilty of the following: When y'all stopped, I didn't nudge you.

Having said that... I think this game has terminally lost momentum, yeah?

Anyone got a problem with me closing things up here...?

I would have to agree on its time to place the tombstone upon it.

Not much posting from the others and no one seemed to bump/nudge you.

No, I think it's safe to say we're done here.  Thanks for getting things going though!

Okay. Will probably delete it next week