The closest I could find to describe the exact date in the ASOIAF books is "fifteen years after War of the usurper", setting it in the year 298. Which is the year in which the show starts. The difference in timeline is the fact that in the show Robert's rebellion happened in 281 not 282-283 (in books/game it was 15 years ago, in show it was seventeen years ago) The reasoning for this was basically "we want some character's to be older in order to be able to have more sex scenes".

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 348):

Yes, you and me couldn't submit someone 13 years old to marriage. But Illyrio Mopatis and Viserys are horrible people, even by standards of ASOIAF. That's what bugs me with how it is played in the show. In books it is done as tragic and creepy stuff, the way Dany was sold. In the show, tragedy came with disgusting level of smut.

Edit: in Westeros there is no legal lower age limit for marriage. Like I said earlier, it is a horrible world for women and girls, but that's the world in which we chose to play.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Fri 26 June 2020.

You are correct, it is year 298 in the gamebooks, your quote helped me find the explicit statement in the campaign guide. So I was misremembering that. Thank you.

The show may have had their reasons for aging the characters. Their reasons are not mine.

That places me in a position where the gamebooks and the show are in disagreement. Which I had not expected. Which I have to solve somehow.

But I haven't read the books, so those are not part of my frame of reference.

Whether there is no legal age limit for marriage in Westeros doesn't matter. This is not the game where 13 year old girls get married.

I say take whatever license you determine is best for the game. It is impossible to be canon anyway.

I share your unease with featuring this stuff in your game, I honestly do. But, on the other hand there is no firm reason not to go with books for the sake of simplicity. I read the books and seen the show and there's little possibility of you being blindsided by anything (at the very start, when we are playing situation is the same in books and show) . And looking at the players we have here, I think everyone agreed not to do horrible stuff to children anyway, so we will just consider Viserys and Illyrio awful and abusive men and never discuss it anymore in game.

We are not going with a novel based timeline!

I have not read the novels. I am not familiar with them.

I kindly ask you to stop shouting at me. Thanks.

I'm not shouting at you.

Exclamation points speak differently,and gives the impression of hostile tone, but that's open to interpretation. It's fine. I will no longer take part in OOC discussions on timeline or anything else. It is your game.

I used the exclamation point for emphasis not for shouting nor for a hostile tone.

I couldn't find saddles on the equipment list. Does anyone know where they are and how much they cost?

Probably just assumed you have it if you've purchased a horse. It doesn't list the rest of the kit you'd normally want to ride a horse either.

I noticed that and that was my thinking too. I wanted to check with those that know the rules better than I do if there was something I was missing.

Should we roll for our wealth now?

That is part of your character creation, so please roll, and include that and your gear in that PM.

You have to spend at least half of your starting wealth on starting equipment.

For those that are members of the main house, please remember that the House covers most things that don't cost more than 1 gold dragon. That's all of you except Orange and White.

As no one seems to be of a different opinion, I'm ruling that an appropriate saddle, bit and bridle, and stirrups will be included in the price of the mount.

I’m going away for a few days with the family. I will be able to check in on my phone but posting will be difficult.

Thanks for letting us know.

Question, are there any of the other houses we're particularly close to, other than our banner house?

I've been asking that question myself. Is there any house(s) your house is particularly close to? Is there any house you would like to be close to?

Some of you may have noted that the post count is increasing, but that there are no new posts here. I've started some RP threads with the players who have completed their characters so that they and I can get a feel for them.

Stuff that happened a few months before the starting date of our campaign. In a location of their choice, each character has their own thread in their own location, and focusing on what the player wants to focus on. Just to see what happens.

Gyllen's thread was the first and has gotten the furthest. And I have a feeling I'm going to owe her a secret or two by the end of it.

I can always order my pack to go annoy her!!

I'm sure that will go over well in King's Landing.

I've PMd the players who haven't completed character creation yet to let them know that I expect a complete character no later than 20 July.

A couple of players have previously informed me of Real Life stuff that may delay them.