GM DSP |
Welcome!
First of all, I want to tell you all that Reign of Winter is widely considered to be "Pathfinder Hard Mode".
Tactics are an important part of my games
My games will tell an interesting Story
My games focus on Exploration & Mystery
I will Mirror back player ideas I think are interesting in the game
The GM is in charge in my games and "rule-zero" is in effect
My games rely on a lot of Improvisation rather than pre scripted content - (less so in this case)
Characters in my games are Destined for greatness, not random death
I roll Dice in the open and don't fudge the results in my games
My games include Disturbing content
My games focus on interesting Characters and Drama
Player character Death is a likely event in my games
Players in my game should be prepared to Run when the odds are against them
That said, I hope you will take the time to prepare when possible and run when appropriate.
Y'all are the heroes! Make good choices :)
We'll get started once all characters are fully finalized. Keep an eye on your mailboxes too, because I'll be sending Private Messages to you with pre-game in character knowledge.
Any questions about anything posted here, the campaign, or anything else?
Kyrianna Idereen |
Thanks so much for allowing me! I'm looking forward to getting started :)
Ellowin Jax |
Kara Soltani |
I'm looking forward to playing!
I plan on going through my character sheet one last time to make sure all is in order. I do know off-hand that I have two languages to select from... If you have any ideas for which languages to take, I'm open to them (I know Hallit and Skald can be important, but I don't feel as if my character would know those languages, unless I've had a longterm relationship of some kind with one of the party members who speaks it).
Are you planning on having us come up with a way to already know each other, or will we be introduced in-game?
GM DSP |
@ Namtarou - Given his backstory, there are no surnames in Heldren that properly fit Narsius. You choose what you like :)
@ Kara - Now is a perfect time to find out who knows who.As to languages, Skald and Hallit are very common in Varisia, especially the further north you go. Those are excellent choices. Sylvan and or Aklo are also great choices. If Kara has met any fey, she may know one or both of those.
Interesting tidbit: Most, if not all of you, are not from Heldren and have shown up fairly recently. Hence you are all in the same party :)
Therefore, it is likely you don't know each other well, if you know each other at all.
GM DSP |
Speaking of death!
If, when your character dies you will have the option to rejoin the game as a new character1 level lower than the party's current level. Gold will be determined at that time.
The surviving party members can trade one of their own items for one from the fallen comrade. All other gear is buried with the dead character. NO LOOTING FRIENDS :)
You can, obviously accept a form of resurrection if available.
Ellowin Jax |
GM DSP |
Ok. Gameplay is open!
Please use bold for speaking, italics for thinking. and Out of Character for things your character isn't doing.
If you are speaking a different language, write in the language you are speaking, and spoiler the translation. This way, those who don't speak the language you're speaking won't know what you're saying :) Like this:
"Hil egingo dut eta zure gauzak hartzen!"
"I'll kill you and take your stuff!"
Kyrianna Idereen |
Anyone else getting The Hunger Games vibes? "I volunteer as Tribute!"
GM Kim |
Did a quick read through of everyone's back stories, and trying to wind my character through them as much as possible since most of us have been here a while...
Daevin - just arrived in town - he's an unknown
Jack - been in town for a while now - Ellowin knows him, as he's one of the local leatherworkers, she probably trades with him, but secretly doesn't trust him due to his vanaran heritage. She's Taldan through and through, so a little racist against anything non-human. They probably have a good working relationship, though
Kara - been in town for a short while now - Ellowin knows of her, and has had her harrowing read. Other than that, the two don't have much in common, so she just knows of her from that one experience. She's likely heard about her, though, from gossip at the inn and trading post (native Varisian's who don't hide their heritage would attract a lot of attention in Taldor, sometimes unwanted attention)
Kyrianna - been in town for a while now - Ellowin knows of her, and has heard of her deeds in the militia. She respects her for working with Sophie as she has likely done the same herself from time to time training horses. She's half-elven, so a little leary of that, but not as bad as Jack. Half-elves aren't exactly uncommon in Taldor. She's probably run into Kyrianna a number of times while hunting
Narsius - been in town longer than anyone else - Ellowin definitely would have heard of Narsius by now, and likely run into him from time to time. The two don't really have anything in common, though, so would only be familiar with each other on a first name basis. She might have picked up some of his backstory or, more likely, outrageous rumors of said backstory
That sound about right to everyone?
Ellowin Jax |
Kara Soltani |
I've been assuming Kara wouldn't know anyone in town just yet, but I like that she's read your harrowing (feel free to come up with details, if you want). She'll remember you, now that you've brought it up.
I'm sure she's seen Narsius and Jack around, but wouldn't know them on a first name basis. I'm guessing Kara would at least know Kyrianna's name and face, but maybe not know her personally.
Kara has kept to herself because she isn't native to Taldor and many mistrust and don't understand her because of her divination abilities.
Jack Speed-Runner |
I'm sure Jack knows most of you, but he expects to be treated like a person, not a pet. Don't say "This is my pet Vanaran." Because Jack is not a pet.
He will also be buying disguise kits to look human the further he gets away from Heldren, so when he is in town they won't see him as a monster.
Ellowin Jax |
Jack Speed-Runner |
if anyone needs better armor but only has about half the gold as the cost, you can roleplay I need this armor but I don't have enough for it yet, then Jack can tell you that is a crafter of armor, because I don't think anyone knows this in-character yet.
Jack Speed-Runner |
crafting light armor though would take less than a week, you saw my practice roll and I crafted that in 3 days. I should specify light armor.
But I wouldn't be crafting on the move, I'd be staying up all night to craft, risking fatigue and rolling a fort save to avoid fatigue. I had bought masterwork artisans tools to craft light armor.
DC 10+ac, then take use acclerated crafting to make it dc20+ac. And I have an 8, so the worst I can do is 9Xdc(20+ac).
Though, I'd be making checks by the day so divide by 7.
Daevin Arkinfald |
Before any of you have a chance to even find a seat or order a drink, Mayor Ionnia Teppen enters in you wake and clears her throat for silence.
"The council has voted. We are asking for volunteers to enter the Border Wood and ascetain the nature of this inclement weather. Moreover, those who volunteer will attempt to discover the whereabouts and secure the release of Lady Argenta who was taken captive."
"Who will do this?"
I verified who she was before I made the post. Reconsider?
Kyrianna Idereen |
Huh, it does say Mayor.
Daevin Arkinfald |
Pardon? Statistically speaking, I have made two charisma based rolls the whole game which has been going for roughly two and a half days. Two rolls is not very strong ground to make any judgments from. Game wise, I'm a level one bard. Chances are good half of the rolls I give (which are, by definition, based on chance) are bound to be less than ideal. It's part of being level one.
GM DSP |
It is hard to quantify success and failure in social situations in this game, just as it is hard in real life.
This particular shop keeper has a backstory (like all my NPCs), and hers happens to involve being touchy about heavy handed tactics.
It was a good effort and a solid tactic. It just happened to go down on the wrong person. Even a good roll would have had little to no chance in that situation.
So let this be a lesson to you, my players:
All the people you interact with will behave realistically in accordance with their stories.
1. An old widow of a lifetime farmer will not likely have weapons in her house.
2. The town blacksmith will often be quite strong.
3. Some leaders are just and others are corrupt.
4. Retired adventurers exist and may resent others.
5. People care about other people and will respond differently based on risk to themselves and those people.
6. Attacking someone might get you beat up or tossed in jail or worse.
7. Not attacking someone might get you beat up or tossed in jail or worse.
The list goes on and on...
Let's not quibble over who is "good" at something or not.
Jack Speed-Runner |
didn't know that, it's just that when I saw the dice, not the total, 8's or lower, I saw bad luck.
I've been playing games like these for 3 years, the problem, off all the sessions I've been in how much roleplaying involved were those games, only a few involved roleplaying.
How much roleplaying have I done? Less than half the games/sessions were roleplaying.
Now how much roll playing have I done? A lot. My first introduction to roleplaying games, D&D 4th addition. Combat, Combat, Combat, Skill challenges, go to town, buy stuff, combat, was my first DM and how he ran it.
Jack Speed-Runner |
"Didn't learn much, that man's name must be Jon Snow.... he knows nothing."
I was laughing when I read this, but I did not read ahead in game of thrones, so if you know what happens in game of thrones because you read ahead of the show, please don't spoil it for me. Don't make any references beyond where the show is now.
Okay now back to the game.