Recent Posts
...I have also had a chance to look a little deeper into the whole trait mechanic via the SD Player's guide and it seems a +1 blanket/+2 focused bonus seems to be the norm.
Hmm. Right now, one of Keirgan's traits gives him +2 to Sneak. Should that be scaled back to +1, seeing as it's not for a "focused" use of the skill?
...I have also had a chance to look a little deeper into the whole trait mechanic via the SD Player's guide and it seems a +1 blanket/+2 focused bonus seems to be the norm.Hmm. Right now, one of Keirgan's traits gives him +2 to Sneak. Should that be scaled back to +1, seeing as it's not for a "focused" use of the skill?
Patrick - I read the thread you referenced, and decided to scale back to giving a +1 and making it a class skill. This is actually better than it was before because of the +3 class skill bonus, but as soon as I hit second level and take rogue, it'll be obsolete. Essentially, it's like getting a 1 skill preview of what being a rogue is like. Conceptually, I like it. Of course, if you don't think it fits, I can change it (if I had to reduce it again, I'd go with just a +1 and no class skill clause).
Patrick, I'm curious... does Tharkad-Kûl have it's own dialect of Dwarven. I'm not sure how long it would take for such a language to become ancient especially among the Dwarven people. BUT as most of its speakers died in a single day... there's the chance that it is no longer commonly spoken and if so it is also unlikely that it has gone unchanged in the 800 years between.
I added absentee actions to Svetla's profile in case something major comes up and I'm unable to post and to keep things flowing mid-combat. Also, as there is no clear consensus on dice rolling, feel free to Roll for me, Patrick.
Fellow Players... don't forget your languages. I got curious as to what languages the group spoke and I checked. (Sue me.) I noticed that about half of us don't have the languages included in our PC profiles. I mention this only because it might be an issue once inside Tharkad-Kûl. Because while it can be assumed MOST (70%+) of the writing we encounter will be in Tharkad-Kûl Dwarven, what scrawlings, scrolls & tomes other adventurers left behind are surely in different languages.
Navorn, what is a yartling?
Wellard, first off, Svetla isn't doing the Harrowings. I just wanted to do one for her since it was the first time I'd been able to use the deck for a game. So if Sondergang's wants to have Svetla do a harrowing in character, you're out of luck. BUT I did do Sondergang's Harrowing and what a fun Harrowing it is. :D
SONDERGANG'S HARROWING
THE SPREAD
The Survivor (CON,NG)
The Keep (STR, NG) true
The Snake Bite (INT,CE) misaligned
The Avalanche (DEX,LE)
THE RAKSHASA (CHA,LE)
THE UPRISING (STR,CN) true
THE FORGE (STR,LN)
THE BIG SKY (STR,CG)
THE HIDDEN TRUTH (LG,INT)*
THE READING
PAST: THE SURVIVOR (CON,NG) + THE AVALANCHE (DEX,LE) + THE FORGE (STR,LN)
PRESENT: THE KEEP (STR, NG) true
FUTURE : THE SNAKEBITE (INT,CE) misaligned + THE UPRISING (STR,CN) true + THE HIDDEN TRUTH (LG,INT)*
"Master Dwarf, I have called forth the images of the Cards. I sense a disaster. It was a disaster that may have been averted, but was not. Great was this tragedy, destroying nearly all in it's path. Yet, there is hope. For what was lost was not utterly so. I see to the core of things... a quiet strength, unshaken by any force. It is maliable enough to move, but it has the strength to stand firm through the greatest of hardships. Finally, I see a force both great and powerful. Take heed, clansman, for the secret to escaping from the cluthes of such an overwhelming force may yet be brought to light."
Hey, seeker, here's the harrowing you requested. For those curious as to why the Mute Hag is also effecting the Present that's becuase it is the card "Performers loathe." Besides I worked it in pretty well, in my opinion.
NAVORN'S HARROWING
THE READING
"Oh, ho, young minstrel. I see your foolhardy misspent youth. But I see beyond that to the inner tormoil you had suffered from that was caused by a someone who had influence over your life as you were unable to speak and do what you desired to express. Looking further, I see your struggle to put into words your own desires even as songs of others flow effortlessly through you." The Seer's head droops forward and her voice becomes more ominous as she continues,"Be wary, troubador, for the Truths you seek may be the unchangeable force that dominates your Future."
THE SPREAD
The Mute Hag
The Unicorn
The Inquisitor
The Tyrant
The Lost
The Theater
The Paladin -- misaligned
The Tangle Briar
The Rakshasa
PAST: THE MUTE HAG + THE TYRANT + THE PALADIN (misaligned)
PRESENT: THE MUTE HAG + THE UNICORN
FUTURE : THE INQUISITOR + THE THEATER + THE RAKSHASA
KMD for some resion the spoiler is not working. but a yarting is a guitar basically or the precursor of one.
Patrick, I'm curious... does Tharkad-Kûl have it's own dialect of Dwarven. I'm not sure how long it would take for such a language to become ancient especially among the Dwarven people. BUT as most of its speakers died in a single day... there's the chance that it is no longer commonly spoken and if so it is also unlikely that it has gone unchanged in the 800 years between.
I am assuming that all dwarves from this area of the Dark Ridge Mountains speak a modified dialect of Tharkad Dwarvish. They are descended from the original Tharkad Dwarves who were away from Tharkad-Kûl when the Great Death occured. Of course, there will be linguistic drift, and if you want to absolutely sure of understanding, Ancient Tharkadian will be a language option.
I added absentee actions to Svetla's profile in case something major comes up and I'm unable to post and to keep things flowing mid-combat. Also, as there is no clear consensus on dice rolling, feel free to Roll for me, Patrick.
Not a problem KMD, thank you
Fellow Players... don't forget your languages. I got curious as to what languages the group spoke and I checked. (Sue me.) I noticed that about half of us don't have the languages included in our PC profiles. I mention this only because it might be an issue once inside Tharkad-Kûl. Because while it can be assumed MOST (70%+) of the writing we encounter will be in Tharkad-Kûl Dwarven, what scrawlings, scrolls & tomes other adventurers left behind are surely in different languages.
You have already discerned my love of language KMD, for I am a stickler for Linguistics. While I must swallow the bitter pill of Common for game flow, I still like to throw in the occasional curve ball. I will say this: Languages will occasionally be important, and not everything you meet will speak Common. There is the Dark Speech, which is basically Undercommon (I really don't like that term) and most goblinoids will speak Uruk, the common humanoid toungue.
Patrick - I read the thread you referenced, and decided to scale back to giving a +1 and making it a class skill. This is actually better than it was before because of the +3 class skill bonus, but as soon as I hit second level and take rogue, it'll be obsolete. Essentially, it's like getting a 1 skill preview of what being a rogue is like. Conceptually, I like it. Of course, if you don't think it fits, I can change it (if I had to reduce it again, I'd go with just a +1 and no class skill clause)....I have also had a chance to look a little deeper into the whole trait mechanic via the SD Player's guide and it seems a +1 blanket/+2 focused bonus seems to be the norm.Hmm. Right now, one of Keirgan's traits gives him +2 to Sneak. Should that be scaled back to +1, seeing as it's not for a "focused" use of the skill?
No that works Jagyr. I am happy that everyone is being an integral part of getting this playtest game together. I am mereley the facilitator, this is all y'alls story as well. :)
OK: List of available languages specific to setting:
Ancient Tharkadian Dwarvish: Original dwarf tongue of the ancient city.
Dark Ridge Dwarvish: ATD's modern child (both as intelligible to each other as Latin is to Italian)
Dark Speech: Undercommon. Used by many subterranian races to communicate. Simple direct trading tongue.
Uruk: A simplified trading/military language used by humanoid tribes to communicate with each other. A polyglot of Goblin/Orcish/Dark Speech sources.
Green Speech: Sylvan. Used by beings that live in the Great Forest to trade/communicate. Based in large part on Aldariel. (German to English in terms of intelligibility)
Aldariel: The tongue of the Silver Elves in the Great Forest.
If anyone wants to make up a language, feel free to post it and I will incorporate it into the setting.
Ok I made some language changes...though i would argue that there really wouldnt be that much language drift in three generations of dwarves since Tharkad fell.
Unless of course Ancient Thrakadian was a dying language before the fall...and was preserved mainly in church services and legal scribes texts...ie much like latin is today.
Ok I made some language changes...though i would argue that there really wouldnt be that much language drift in three generations of dwarves since Tharkad fell.
Unless of course Ancient Thrakadian was a dying language before the fall...and was preserved mainly in church services and legal scribes texts...ie much like latin is today.
Hmm. I had forgotten the pesky dwarves have some pretty long lifespans ...Hmm. Still, most of the Tharkadian civilization went poof with the Great Death, but only three gens? Yeah ... actually lets just go with Tharkadian Dwarvish, and that will be what is spoken still. I'm sure the survivors would be rabid about preserving what was left of their culture. Good catch Wellard
OK folks, time for the rubber to hit the road. I see a couple of options now:
1. Arrival at the gate: I can handwaive your journey, maybe roll a few offscreen wandering encounter rolls and then **shebam** you are at the entrance of the Silent Halls of Tharkad-Kûl.
2. The journey's the thing: You putter about Stoneroot, you get the packs set up and you travel the few days it takes to get to Tharkad-Kûl, and we play it out. More chance of encounters, more chance of finding stuff about the surrounding environment.
I had originally envisioned this game as a minimalist combat-oriented Beta playtest, but it seems to be mutating on its own accord. I want to let you guys decide how you want me to get y'all to the dungeon.
I am running off in a bit to do some honey-do chores but I will return later and see how you guys feel about it.
2. The journey's the thing: You putter about Stoneroot, you get the packs set up and you travel the few days it takes to get to Tharkad-Kûl, and we play it out. More chance of encounters, more chance of finding stuff about the surrounding environment.
Here's my vote.
PS: If things are mutating then I wanna be Iceman!
Well I think the second option with more chance of encounters affords us a chance to test a wider variety of cambat situations as well as a wider range of skills.
That being said I'd be fine with either option. May be doing a lot of stuff around the house today, turning the office into a nursery but will definitely try to post later.
ARGH. I am VERY upset right now.
I am sorry to say that I am going to have to step away from this game for a while.
Long story short: my ISP has a surprise clause in their service contract, where the connection is only rated for a certain amount of data transfer each month. If my data usage goes over that limit, they don't shut off my access; instead they charge me BY THE MEGABYTE, out the nose...
You don't even want to know my most recent internet bill.
Seeing as forum posting is somewhat data intensive (with constant downloading of threads, updating the threads, downloading the newly updated thread...you never really think about these things until you have to teetotal your KB...), and my wife has just started an online college course requiring a lot of forum participation, I am going to be giving the internet over to her for now.
We hope to have a new ISP sometime in the next few months. If so, I'll see you folks then. Until then, I'll be lightly lurking here at most.
GRRR. The one time I'm able to get in on a promising PbP...
I'll post a little character departure in the IC thread. Patrick, I'll get in touch with you should I ever get a chance to come back.
