Excuse me if I babble...
I've created my own world called Aeth, and am going to start a game set in the Eastern Lands (i.e. Oriental Adventures style game)
The setting is the Zhen Empire, now cut in two from a century's old civil war where the Tengu succeeded at claiming part of the lands as their own, thus was the Wu Kingdom born.
The Capitol of Xiang was the place of the last battle, which ended the war. Located where the Jade Dragon River splits into North and South forks, the Human Emperor Tan Zhenu was forced to give up the lands East of the Jade Dragon River to his former Tengu servants. Mainly because the Kingdom of Shima to the West of the Jiejing River was getting ready to invade through the Riverlands (an area under constant tug of war between the nations).
Not wanting the Kitsune of Shima to team up with the Tengu to crush his Empire, he chose to loose half instead.
Due to the Capitol being so close to the new "neighbors" much of the government systems moved from Xiang to Kou'an, home of the world famous Mythic University, and well known for the wonders of its districts and canals. Not to mention home of some of the most powerful Alchemists, Priests, Shamans, Magi, Oracles, Sorcerers, Wizards, and Witches in the known world! The government officials felt safer being in a town so full of magic, presumably on their side. Without the perfect view across the river into the Wu Kingdom as a constant reminder of what they lost.
The Emporer refused to move from his ancestral home, claiming to do so was to admit full defeat and would not give the crows the satisfaction. Thus modern day finds the Emporer (Tan Huang, Zhenu's 2nd son) ruling from Xiang, but the government and all ambassadors from other kingdoms and empires conduct their business from Kou'an, magical city build at the mouth of the South Fork Jade Dragon River, where it's azure waters spill into Dragon Bay.
To the east is the Golden Jungle, home of magic, ruins, savages, and wonders of the natural world found no where else in the world. To the west over a couple of branches of the South Fork Jade Dragon River can be found the Dragon Temple at the neck of the Kashai peninsula, named for the Ruins of Kashai build on the peninsula itself.
Thus the setting is known... Should I try to share the maps I drew?
Next, my player characters and a few questions for the Pathfinder Gurus/know-it-all's
My players were given these two lists for character creation, which happened yesterday.
(I wanted my world to feel different than the "normal" D&D world)
Races:
Humans, Elves, Vanara, Nagaji, Tengu, Kitsune, Grippli, Catfolk, Ratfolk, Vishkanya, or Samsarans
Classes:
Alchemist, Barbarian, Bard, Priest (Cleric), Shaman (Druid), Fighter, Magus, Monk, Oracle, Ranger, Rogue/Ninja, Samurai, Sorcerer, Wizard (5 Element Schools ONLY), or Witch.
Given that spread, my four players chose...
Catfolk Oracle of Nature (Seer)
Grippli Sorcerer, Destined Bloodline
Vanara Alchemist (not sure if he's going by the book or using an archetype)
Tengu Witch (Elements)
(all 1st level)
Ummmmm.... Guess we're doing a magic school game, w/ furries! :o/
What ideas do you have to help me change gears, I've never run an all magic user game before... Help?
What kinds of plots can I use that don't fall back on mysteries and puzzles?? I'm worried that any monster I send at them would smash them flat...
The city of Kou'an is criss crossed by canals, making "islands" throughout the city. The center isle is the Wizards Tower, which non but the High Council enter. The canals are circles and lines centered on the Tower "island". Several circles cut into quarters or greater, with a final half circle between the city and the river, upper part is the city's farms and rice patters. The lower part is a mix of slums and Market Bazar, a tent city of merchandise from around the world... Zhen Empire, Wu Kindgon, Kindom of Shima, Claw Island (Grippli), Vanamarga Empire (Vanaran's), etc.
The Four quarters of the Inner Circle (the "islands" around the inner Tower) makes up the main "Campus" of the University, though the area is broken up into different Colleges based on Class (Alchemist's Acadamy, Sorcerer's Society, Druid's Den, etc)
The classes maybe one type of Caster, but the dorms/housing is different... The Dean of Students makes sure that each dorm room and senior/family housing is as mixed as possible, ensuring the students get as cross cultural an experience as possible.
I don't see the rest of the world being as tolerant about magic, infact I see the city growing because it became a haven for both Divine and Arcane casters that may have had to flee their homelands due to prosecution. By the time the more conservative nations noticed what was going on the city had too much magical firepower (knowledge from across the continent) for them to dare attack Kou'an, City of Magic.
I can see College revelries and rivalries getting out of hand, causing strife in the Dorms and Houses (not to mention "frats" and "sororities" built around styles of magic i.e. Death or Fire or Winter,etc.)
I'm starting to think this might be good as a total social game with random magical mayhem... Join a house and have to battle for first prize of the University "Mythic Faire" (kinda like the rivalry in "Real Genius"), dare to find a banned spell to "prove" your loyalty to your new "Frat" etc.
Do you have Beastiary 3? It has quite a few Asian themed monsters that you may want to take a look at.
I do! I have 1,2,&3 plus both Dragon Empires books, 3.0 Oriental Adventures, and AD&D2ed's original Oriental Adventures.
I have lots of ideas, just wanted to see if the Boards could help with random aspects and details... Rival Party of Students, Crazy Professer, local inn keeper, etc.
I've been very inspired by the threads found here! :o) and just wanted to delve into the amazing minds of the Boards! (it's like the Collective!)
On plot ideas....
Take a page from L5R and have a plot ran with court politics, or bandits raid their home town (classic blazing saddles style) that they have to defend.
Or they can maybe clean a monument for a day, which gets them a reputation with the local village. Banish a ghost seeking justice for it's ill timed death. Act as peace negotiators for society.
Just some ideas that we have been bouncing around here ourselves.
On plot ideas....
Take a page from L5R and have a plot ran with court politics, or bandits raid their home town (classic blazing saddles style) that they have to defend.
Or they can maybe clean a monument for a day, which gets them a reputation with the local village. Banish a ghost seeking justice for it's ill timed death. Act as peace negotiators for society.
Just some ideas that we have been bouncing around here ourselves.
Or to take a page from Classic China... They have Entrance Exams to get into the Mythic University... do they cheat? Stop the cheaters? Or is it so focused on Magic that they have to use magic spells to pass a "Test"?
There is another magic school who hired Ninjas to steal the magic tomes from their school, and they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and they are the only ones who can save the books (bamboo scrolls) and thus the school.
One of the "Masters" has a disagreement with the Magistrate, and in disgust he takes his most promising students to "Start his Own School" (could be tied to the plot above this one)
The New Emporer outlaws Magic, and now the town is surrounded by the Imperial Army and the people of the town has to endure a siege as well as dwindling food supplies... maybe they have to sneak out of town to get word to the General that his daughter is one of the new students, etc.
Thanks for the ideas Amora!
So my fifth player has decided to join us, but he's been such a flake that I've decided he's going to have a cursed artifact that keeps him unstuck in Time... Thus whe the Player flakes on us, his character will be pulled from the time stream, and when the player shows up, the character will snap back into the time stream... With no time passing in between the disappearance and reappearance.
He'll be playing a... Kitsune Bard!
So the party is...
The Kitsune Bard,
The Tengu Witch of Elements,
The Catfolk Oracle of Nature,
The Grippli Destined Sorcerer,
And the Vanaran Alchemist (no archetype)
The Fox, Crow, Cat, Frog, and Monkey... Wow, crazy group! This'll be interesting. LOL
The main issue is the guy playing the Tengu Witch has never played any games that weren't a boardgame or computer game, and last night it was VERY obvious he's going to need a lot of hand holding...
How have you handled Newbs before?? Should I buddy him up with another player? Focusing more time on him seems wrong somehow... so I'm thinking the Buddy System might be best.
What have you done in the past for newbies who need more attention, and multiple explanations for stuff most gamers take for granted as Common Knowledge? :o/
If they don't have the book, I have printed a section that they needed and handed it to them for record. Or tell them to buy the pdf and study. (OR PRD since it's online, and with the world of wireless devices....)
I've made combat cheat sheets. Ie, wrote out simply the things you can do in combat. Like in the Corebook, they have action tables with good descriptions of what is a full/swift/standard/etc action.
Done the buddy system. This works well if you can tag them with a player that is actually willing to help them.
I've done this so not everyone and thier mother at the table tells them the same thing, or words it slightly different.
Don't forget at the end of each session, or in the beginning few, to ask them directly. Just as a side thing, not in front of the whole group, just a few people is fine, but ask "Hey, at this point, you looked confused. Did you have a question what was happening? Can I help you understand?" or "So are you understanding the system? Where can I help explain or simplify a little better?"
Sometimes I walk them to thier car, etc it's less intimidating in front of a whole group. And some people are just shy on questions.
Try not to let the other players add up thier dice. We have a player that will watch every dice roll and add them up before you get a chance to even look at what you rolled. This can be discouraging as a player.
* Just a side note, Never make the characters for them. I've always sat down and gone step by step with them. Or for those that wanted to do it themselves, had a character creation session in the beginning. That way if they need me, I'm right there.
If they don't have the book, I have printed a section that they needed and handed it to them for record. Or tell them to buy the pdf and study. (OR PRD since it's online, and with the world of wireless devices....)
I've made combat cheat sheets. Ie, wrote out simply the things you can do in combat. Like in the Corebook, they have action tables with good descriptions of what is a full/swift/standard/etc action.
Done the buddy system. This works well if you can tag them with a player that is actually willing to help them.
I've done this so not everyone and thier mother at the table tells them the same thing, or words it slightly different.Don't forget at the end of each session, or in the beginning few, to ask them directly. Just as a side thing, not in front of the whole group, just a few people is fine, but ask "Hey, at this point, you looked confused. Did you have a question what was happening? Can I help you understand?" or "So are you understanding the system? Where can I help explain or simplify a little better?"
Sometimes I walk them to thier car, etc it's less intimidating in front of a whole group. And some people are just shy on questions.Try not to let the other players add up thier dice. We have a player that will watch every dice roll and add them up before you get a chance to even look at what you rolled. This can be discouraging as a player.
* Just a side note, Never make the characters for them. I've always sat down and gone step by step with them. Or for those that wanted to do it themselves, had a character creation session in the beginning. That way if they need me, I'm right there.
Thanks for all the great tips Amora!
I think my main issue with the guy is the blank looks I get after answering his questions...
I've been good with teaching people how to Roleplay before, I'm just at a loss with this player... I'm thinking I'll need to bring him over for a one2one talk and teaching session.
We'll see if he has what it takes to be a long term player, even one of my other players (who I brought into gaming 7 years ago) commented on trying to explain something to the new guy during character creation, and getting a blank stare in response.
The other 3 players are in their 40's and have been gaming since being teens, so no worries there! I thought it would be a good group to teach the new guy, but if everyone just gets when they try to answer a question, I'm not sure how long he'll last :o/
Good to hear that there is some potential resolution to come.
I may have miss read somewhere but I had the impression that this was a new group all together.
But good, glad it’s veteran gamers, that means it’s easy to work with.
Good to hear that there is some potential resolution to come.
I may have miss read somewhere but I had the impression that this was a new group all together.
But good, glad it’s veteran gamers, that means it’s easy to work with.
Thanks for responding Amora!
Hey, quick question... I have maps I want to share with the Boards, to show off my world ;o). What's the best way to share my photos??