No problem, no stress, just check back in when you are ready to move forward.

I'm on to catch up on what I still need to do. I like to post if I log in to a game, to let whoever (you in this case) know I'm not ghosting or passive. I don't know how much I'll do tonight, but I can at least view what I've done and haven't.

So I guess I just need you to look over your character and finalize your choices.

If so, I would like for you to create/roll a single resplendent destiny that you start the game with.

Ask any additional questions you have.

Let me know if you think anything else is missing before we start your first scene .

First to last; no, I don't think I'm ready for you to finalize my character yet. I need combat stats, and need to lock in my choices for backgrounds. I'm not 100% on what I want to begin with, versus what will be more fun to explore and take my chances I can earn through play.

On that note, I do have a question. Would it be alright if I changed my backgrounds slightly? I'm not sure I want to, but I do want to be sure that if you've already taken time to make the choices (so far) meaningful, that I don't dispel that.

My other question is about a second ally. I have West Chair as an ally, she is by far more powerful. She isn't Kejak, but she's in a bear market whereas Kejak is in a bull market. I also wanted a far more peer ally that isn't as stalwart, but simply more like a buddy I could ask a favor, and they could of me as well. I'd really be looking for a Serenity that could/would share colleges (that they have a higher rating in) that I could out source to Fate craft and make the performance roll. I see Vicious wanting to have that alliance, so he can focus on the operative side of fate planning. Anyway, I digress, would this make my ally rating 5, then? 4 for effectively the West Chair, and +1 (to max 5) for this Serenity? If so would this affect the power dynamic of the second ally? Or would they be the same as if they were the only ally, if I'd bought a level 1 ally? Does that make sense?

The above affects "my" roll, as I Vicious wouldn't be doing most of the rolling, but rather just the effect roll based on the fate crafting and performance of this Serenity, plus Vicious's (intentionally) meager college rating. A Joybringer ally, that made a practice of fate crafting, could have Performance auspicious, and craft auspicious, and with just Excellent Implementation of Objectives get a huge bonus to effect roll without any dice being thrown (beyond the effect roll). If the Serenity was absolutely dedicated to this pursuit, they could even have a "real" life, by outsourcing their own crafting using the final craft charm, to craft while doing whatever else, albeit with highly reduced mote pools; which would not be bad security to stay in a resplendency.

That said, I'd love to start with a destiny and pursue more ASAP while in game. Picking just one will be difficult, but nonetheless ideal for KISS and having the play with paradox.

I hope this post wasn't too long. I haven't even read the other threads yet, and hope I won't need to edit this after I have. ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Thu 15 July 2021.

Don't worry about getting things perfect to start, remember you are a starting character. This is a solo game and you are the focus of the story. There will be no game balance issues with other characters, and you will have plenty of opportunity for growth.

Anything I can do to help you finish your character?

I edited the above.

I have OCD, and not mild, so often I need that explicit direction to not overthink, or try to "perfect" my character's start. I'm happy with what I have beyond the Mast or Spear decision. I'm also fine to go forward without combat stats if you think we'll be fine to do them as they come up. I can't manipulate arithmetic after the fact, so whether I figure the pools now or later is really just a measure of down time when it comes to that. In my long time F2F group, which has been online for about a year, we've often eschewed getting the figured stats down if it's all that's getting in the way of an introduction. That said, I don't like to take liberty with another ST wanting that information completed. It's tedious, but necessary, it's up to you when that the necessity is though. :)

Assuming the Serenity ally is properly purchased, and polish and figured stats are not necessary (to begin with) I'm done. I forfeited Key and took Spear, so I have both Mast and Spear. Starting with one resplendency made it far easier to see that shrewd swap.

In reply to Vicious (msg # 8 & 11):

I have no problem with you changing anything at the moment. Please just let me know what you take away and what you add.

I see it as a level 4 ally and separate level 1 ally.

I like the idea of a buddy ally. I will let you pick 2 of your colleges that they have higher rating in and then I will pick the additional college/colleges. Crafting will not be their sole focus, but will be a major part of the character. Would you prefer your friend to be male or female?

We can start without combat stats. If combat breaks out, we will pause until they are updated.

Your post was not too long.

I would like to know if you are returning to reticular posting, or just visiting?

Last to first, I think I'm just visiting for today. I haven't been able to log in for about a week site wide, and prior to that I maybe made two or three posts as GM since my own return. It's more likely I'm free today but busy/burdened tomorrow. I can give a more definite declaration after I've logged in tomorrow, the day after, and maybe another day is the next seven days. That, to me, would be reason to expect some normalacy to posting. I often have these seldom days of freedom, but more often they are islands surrounded by cavities in my presence. I will certainly be explicit if I'm here enough and think I'm back to normal.

Combat stats are tedious, time consuming, but easy. One of the perks of OCD is being ble to show my work. So we'll wait until we need them, that's ideal. :)

Colleges for the Ally, Spear would be one, I don't know the other ATM. I'll think about that tonight and let you know ASAP. I would, however, be very avid in and out of character to know their other colleges, if they don't share with me, I may still try to share with them,. and loan out my own dedication in hopes the will do the same; basically college for college, signature for signature. I'm fine with male or female. I'd prefer male slightly, but female is a 6% difference of preference. 53% male/47% female. It sounds like you want to take a hands on approach to my allies and Sifu, and I'm all for that! As a ST I'm often the same way, whereas Anne prefers I almost cameo them, and K_V (on here) as a player wants to make their own allies, which helps me as a ST (on here).

I have a single bonus point then. So I need to refigure my setup. I'll use my finalization of my character as a driving force to be on RPoL over the next week. If I can't, that will indicate I'm visiting, if I can, it'll help build the momentum to be invested and excited, and to make play more fun and productive for both of us. Not that I won't have slumps of off time, same as you, regardless of the near future being willing.

So far, all I've changed is the Key to Spear, and I reordered the colleges alphabetically, instead of by in house and out of house, and just colored house colleges in lavender. Which now that I look at it, I need to change that so I can see it better, it looks almost white on my color scheme (which is default for me).

I will do my best to get the fist in character thread launched this weekend.

I think I'm back to regular posting. If something changes drastically, I'll let you know.

Changed sheet to reflect the following things:

1. Ally 1 is 1 point, not 2
   
2. Spent bonus point on Valor
   
3. Raised Valor to 5
   
4. Color coded Endings colleges to pink instead of lavender

I need to fill in my intimacies when I have time, and of course combat stats, as we talked about.

I am glad you are back to regular posting. It is a very busy week at work, so I will post when I can.

Sounds good. My friend, Anne finally came home, yesterday evening. So I'm catching back up with her anyway. Maybe loosely look at starting next week then.

No rush. :) Just wondering how things are going. Nothing too unwelcome I hope.

I hope things are well, on the home front. We agreed on a very relaxed pace, and I hope I'm not being a pest by posting. I just like to check in. Part of gaming, for me, is getting to know the people. I share quite a bit about my RL, and I know that's something to be cautioned against for most people. I just want to show continued interest and cue that I'm here (as I post this at least) and engaged.

If you'd rather I remain silently patient, I can do that. I know each GM has their own temperament. Let me know, and I will. When I GM, it helps motivate me when my players are active with me in dialogue. Then again, with my ASD and PTSD, I often just forget about games if they're not lit up. I have to make habit when nothing is lit up, to check in with all my games. So maybe that's why I'm so chatty.

I am sorry. You deserve better. Life and work have been busy but not so busy that I could not respond to your last post. I have almost started this so many times then something comes up. I still hope to run this game, but now I see that you are launching your own game and I feel like a total jerk because I would love to join, but why would you have me?

I would have you, because you're interested, and I'd be glad to see your RTJ.

Go ahead and send me a RTJ! I can almost gaurentee you a spot. Unless I'm swamped with outstanding chemistry, you'll have a spot. :) Besides, you've taken the time to tell me about yourself a little, and me you. I consider you an acquaintance that become a friend soon, if only we get to share more posts. :)

Read the rest if you want. I wrote this and previous paragraph after what's below. It's not necessary to read below, but it might help clear up some of the stigma that I've once had to grapple with. It's long, and I'm not exactly at my best when writing. So it's also more than a bit rambling and meandering. I also may have made typo, or zombified a your/you're they're/their/there. Even though I KNOW better, autopilot typing; it happens. And there I go waffling. :p. It's a good day, but it's been long. :)

I want to make something clear, at least from my perspective. I am a horrible GM by RPoL standards. With the exception of two games, I've barely nicked the surface of what players have put into my games. I learned, not as long ago as I'd wish I had, that GMing is a labor of love. When it's just labor, you need accountability you can;t avoid. I would never have finished face to face campaigns if not for breaks when Anne runs and I don't. We, as a group, my long time face to face group, share Anne and me STing; unless we're playing D&D, in which case it's largely Will and Anne; though that's beside the point. My point is we don't GM parallel, we take turns.

Bottom line, is it isn't a contract. While I'm disappointed you only became interested in this game when seeing the prospect to play; it makes total sense, I've been there! Also make no mistake. I'm a flake; because I have to be, but so do you for your own reasons. Most people who work do. GMing is hard work when you have create most props or at least import them.

So don't bear any guilt. Especially since you disappointed no one. Least of all me. I hope you won't kill this game, but if you do, that's okay. No offense, I expect no less of anyone. I've never, and I mean never, seen a GM deliver as promised.  I don't know you. There are GMs I love (when I play D&D and PF, that I became friends over two decades) that can't deliver; and I expect no less. It's not my main diet for gaming. I also don't spend the time on RPoL I did a year ago and prior.

So by all means, divide this game and mine as far as effort goes. If there was any question of a tit for tat; it's not with GMing and playing. I have my rules as GM, and you yours. If I obey yours and you obey mine; the two relationships need not be equivalent or equal, as long as they're fair. That is, when, not if, I flake out; you just roll along with it; which I don't doubt you will. I've seen you in my games before. Or maybe not plural, but at least one. I don't remember. I used to keep logs, but those logs had to be weeded out, as it's just too much to organize.

I am GMing because I want to. I am playing because I want to. My desire to see you play is only affected by this game if you uncharacteristically act ina manner beyond "a bad day". That is, unless you just went on a tirade and it couldn't be resolved within a week, hopefully sooner, I'm not going to blacklist you. You're nowhere NEAR that point. :)

Sorry for writing so much, but I know it's an issue with GM and player relationships. It's also a dirty secret that GMs have to keep when they ad for games, when they're not posting in others. Trust me, it's rife on this site, and there those that I've avoiding that are petty to account for such activity.

I never heard from you in my game. I have a slot open for Battles.. I also have slots open (not sure which) for Dragonblooded. Then Moonsilver, Orichalcum, and Starmetal castes. So RTJ with this as your invitation.

If you've changed your mind, that's fine too. I just want you to know I've been looking for your RTJ and make sure you know I have no, zero, bad feelings about this game. If you kill it, too bad, but no big deal. One is not contingent on the other. You weren't rude, you weren't mean; you were busy or maybe just fell out of love for GMing this. You were honest, about being a busy family man, and that you felt conflicted. I appreciate that. That's way above the status-quo of average GMs.

Anyway, if you want to RTJ, this is your invitation. If not, no big deal either. I'm a fairly green GM anyway, and I have no small fear my game will die like most.

We can discuss my game there. In the meantime, take a break here, and maybe when you have some spare time reconsider if you want to GM this, or kill it. Leaving it hanging is a fine option, I do that with many games before I kill them.

If this is our parting ways, best of luck. I hope you have fun in your other games.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Sat 02 Oct 2021.

I was going to apply for your game, but at that moment things got real busy and I missed the public deadline.

Can you let me know what Dragonblooded are still open? Is Battles still open?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:57, Mon 04 Oct 2021.

Battles is open for you but if you don't think you want to play it, I have a back up.

Dragonblooded needs Earth and Water.

Battles is open, but not for long.

Earth is possibly open, depending on my players' response.

I wish you well.

I'm filling the slots imminently. I just wanted to give you that heads up. :)

Spaces are filled. Best of luck. I hope you'll stay in touch.