Alright then, this is indeed Dragon Battalion's Discussion thread. So welcome one and all to the Siege of the Society. To clarify on some points let me give you a brief rundown of how this will all work out.
Things to keep in mind
- Each of the 3 Battalions is essentially a different campaign set in the same campaign setting and at the same point in time.
- Each battalion performs separate missions, all of which contribute to taking down the Society.
- The Society is a collection of people who all believe that the world is best served up as a sacrifice to their dark masters. As such, they currently control an entire region and have barricaded themselves within it to plan out their apocalypse. Be prepared to fight through anything and everything.
- Completing missions will grant benefits to every battalion. For example, if you liberate a fortress for example, any of the groups can use it as a safe house.
- Sometimes, multiple battalions (2 to all of them) might need to come together to deal with bigger threats.
- Though there will be a lot more combat than RP, I love RP and you are very welcome and encouraged to play your characters during combat encounters. Flavor rules!
- Once again, direct questions in general to the Core Hub and mission questions here.
- We will officially begin on Saturday. In the meantime, the GMs will run through some last minute details, create Onslaught Base (your starting operations HQ) and think up a few new ideas.
So you like gaming, but don't have much time. You've heard of Play By Post (PBP) gaming, but you find the whole idea a little daunting. Wouldn't it be nice if there was someone who could teach you the ropes like your friends did back when you were fist learning tabletop gaming?
Well you're in luck. This guide aims to do just that.
This guide is written from the perspective of a PBP on this board. If you just want tips on how to become a better PBP gamer, you'll probably want to skip this section.
Also, this guide will attempt to teach players the formats for PBP games that provide the highest level of organization and aesthetic appeal. There are as many different format styles as there are games, and many of them do not use the formats I will advocate here. That doesn't mean they are "doing it wrong". This is just my suggestions to getting the most out of your Play By Post game.
How It Works
Formatting:
In the reply box you type in to post to the forum, you may have noticed a grey box next to the words "How To Format Your Text". That box is called a Spoiler. Click it, and it will reveal additional text.
Those are the instructions for how to alter your text. In a PBP game, those various formats become storytelling tools.
The most important formatting trick is Blue Text. This is your Out Of Game stuff, that's why it's coded as [ ooc ]. With Blue Text you can organize your post into a novel-like description (in standard black text) and a Out Of Game mechanical summary (in blue). This is important so that is doesn't seem like your character is actually sayingTake 36 damage! to the bad guys.
"Bold with quotes?" Said Minmaximus. Bold text draws attention to itself. Making character speech stand out with bold helps to differentiate what you are doing from what you are saying. In a novel, parenthesis do the trick, but in a PBP game there's so much information to convey that a simple change like bold speech can make a post much easier to read.
Breaking things up. The enter key is your friend. Walls of text are not. Think of them like paragraph breaks. Use liberally. Your fellow players will thank you.
And finally, dice. Because dice are *never* in game things, they are normally mixed liberally with blue text. Something like-
Acrobatics to avoid AoO1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
With those tools you can start playing. Some advanced formatting tricks and tips will come later.
Writing Style:
Avoid first person narrative. When the “person telling the story” changes every six sentences a story can get really annoying to read.
The most aesthetically appealing narrative structure seems to be Third Person Limited. When everyone writes in that style, the story flows like a novel and gives everyone reading a firm grasp of all the characters thoughts and motives.
You might think “aesthetics aren’t important”, but they are. Think of it like a novel. You’re devoting a lot of time and energy into this story. It deserves to have the best you can give it. Compare the following-
.
.
1) @ Minmaximus: “Can I see your sword?”
2)To Minmaximus “Can I see your sword?”
3) Psioney asks Minmaximus if he can borrow his sword.
4) Psioney walks over to where Minmaximus eating and asks “Can I borrow your sword?”
.
.
Which one of these would you rather read? Which would you rather be known for writing?
A PBP game is all about description. Be creative. Refine your writing skills. Use spell check.
Joining A Game
Your Character:
Play By Posts are slower than Tabletop games. Because of that, characters get more spotlight time. Through the ability to show internal monologue, describe expressions or mannerisms in detail, and generally convey more about a character than you can normally, a PBP is an opportunity to really delve deep into roleplay. That means you should be ready to do that.
More importantly, you should be ready to do that from the very beginning. Use internal monologue to show your fellow players what your character is about. Don’t worry about revealing things prematurely or before they ask. Think of it like a novel. It’s ok for the reader to know things that the characters don’t.
Note: Mysterious Strangers are annoying. That thing I said early about not worrying about revealing things before people ask? Yeah. Take that to heart. No one cares what your dark secret is. No one will ask (at least not any time soon). That’s not why they’re playing. If you’re secretly the long lost Prince Poppycock, that’s fine. Just don’t expect it to ever matter unless the GM decides to make it part of the plot. Most things about your character will only come up if you bring them up. If your character starts the game believing they’re a sandwich, and you expect other players to roleplay them out of their delusion, your character will probably be a sandwich for a long time.
Your Character Sheet:
Your character sheet is your ambassador to the game. The GM will look at it when deciding to pick you, other characters will look at it throughout the game. Think of it like a resume. It’s nice if it looks good. It’s better if it’s clearly and concisely organized.
Use spoilers to break up sections. Use bold to highlight important numbers. Site your source for everything. Use links to the SRD to cross-reference spells and abilities.
Look around at what other players do with their character sheets. Steal things you like.
Getting Picked:
PBP recruiting on the Paizo boards is a bit of a clusterf#@~ free-for-all that leaves many people with a bitter taste in their mouth. Even after the party is picked, most do not look back on the process fondly. For those that don’t get picked, it’s easy to get frusterated.
Many forum-goers have a handful of different versions of the same character concept in their Alias list, because they didn’t get picked, or because they did and the game died, and they have this one character that they just want to play.
Don’t do that.
GMs will look at your aliases when choosing. If they see 10 different versions of Lord Sothbane the Stoic-est, they will assume you are unoriginal and pick someone else. They will also look at your posting numbers. If you have been in a dozen games, but have never gotten beyond 50 posts in any of them, they will pick someone else. It doesn’t matter if it’s not your fault that the game died. All they see is the pattern.
Instead, make a mechanical framework and basic personality idea of a character that you really want to play (or a couple if you’re so inclined), and submit them to every recruitment thread you are interested in. Tailor the character to the game as best as possible, and if you aren’t picked, take them back to basics and do it again. Don’t make a new Alias for what is essentially a slightly different version of the same concept. If a game dies and you still want to play that character, submit that same character to a new game. The previous game gets worked into the character’s back story and you get to keep playing them.
Character Builds:
Not all PBP games use maps. Because of that, builds which rely heavily on tactical movement or precision placement of AoE effects can be very frustrating to play.
On the other hand, multi-attack builds won’t bore your fellow players to death as you go into your third minute of dice rolling to figure out your attacks and damage.
Basically, characters that require a lot of bookkeeping are a perfect fit for PBP games, and characters that practically require minis and a battlemat are going to be a pain in the neck.
Special Note-
“Zookeeper” builds (Necromancers, Summoners, etc.) are even more perfect for PBP games because of the ability to make Aliases. Go ahead and post 8 times in a row as Necrofester’s Zombie Minion to make the attacks of your skeletal horde. You aren’t wasting anyone’s time and it lets you really describe the shambling horde at your beck and call.
Character Interactions:
To give is to get. Don’t expect anyone to give a damn about your character until you give a damn about theirs. Strike up conversation. Ask other characters about themselves. Discuss the party goals in character. PBP games tend to have quite a bit of “down time”. That can mean that everyone sits around waiting for the GM to update, or it can mean time to chat with other party members. Sometimes the best parts of a PBP game are the dialogues people get into. In a Tabletop game it might be normal to bypass a lot of mundane things to get to the plot, but in a PBP game, you can take the two weeks that the GM is on vacation and turn it into “party talk around the fire”. It can be really fun, but it takes being a proactive gamer rather than a reactive gamer.
Posting
The Posting Commandments:
Thou Shall Avoid Walls Of Text
Thou Shall Not Hog The Spotlight
Thou Shall Not Assume The Actions Of Others
Thou Shall Not Assume Outcomes Of Actions
Thou Shall Not Derail Gameplay
Thou Shall Use The Discussion Thread
That’s it.
Basically, the trick to a good post is to be descriptive without being verbose, and to leave the outcome of any stated actions open-ended. Wait for the GM to give you the results. Then you can post again describing the results if you want.
It’s not good to say-
Minmaximus fires his bow, driving his arrow deep into the beast’s face.
-because, Minmaximus might actually miss, or the beast might have DR you didn’t know about, or deflect arrows, or any number of other things that might change the results of the action.
Instead, break it into two posts. One for intention (which also includes any necessary roles), and one for describing the results (the GM might do this for you, but you can still describe your character’s response to those results if you like)
Doing this tends to keep your posts shorter, which is nice, and gives you the chance to post more often, which is also nice.
- First let may start by saying I dislike the rogue(swashbukler) archtype. I always thought it should have gone to fighter with the loss of some armor proficiencies, armor training, and martial weapons to gain sneak attack damage. But that is me.
- Not sure but want you to look at all your options. I found Cad a nice alternative to swashbuckler. Maybe take one level of rogue(pirate) for skills and sneak attack. Just how I would play it.
ok ok checking...
- You have three languages list in one area and two in another.
- favored class bonus went to HP? If so should be listed as 1d8+2+1
- dagger not listed under ranged attacks
- Martial Training(Ex) not listed under Special abilities - weapon chosen not listed under feats
- Skills = hardest spot to check as there are differences in what you have listed above the line and in the spoiler.
- First you have Skill Ranks 6 - I think it should be 10 = 8 class + 1 INT +1 human
- You have no ranks in Perception(under spoiler) but have it listed as +3 above? That's what it would be with a rank but -1 without.
- I think the skills above the line are right and you just forgot to add the other 4 ranks in the spoiler section.
- Under combat Base Attack should be +0 (unless you were a Cad)
- CMD should be 15
- Adventurer's sash isn't on any of the approved sources but I found it (goggle helped) - not sure how it plays but will allow it.
- Have leftover money at 88gp, 6sp, 1cp
- Carrying 63lbs - medium load(when outfitted), but on board I guess no need to carry rope or bedroll so 48lb - light load
Ok not in combat (yet) so you have time for a little switching around if you like. Your character but I just don't see where swashbuckler gives you anything to work with. But let me know when you have updated your sheet either way.
Well then maybe we are about ready and don't need a forth. But I have been looking up things and at one site I found that maybe with less people we could use the gestalt rules.
These rules seem very simple and they could add to the characters, thus making them truly heroic and giving the group the extra casters for things like detect magic and healing and such.
So Spiral_Ninja could make her ninja/sorcerer right off the bat and have them level at the same time.
The NPCs would not get this benefits but that is why the PCs would be almost center stage all the time. With maybe one or two NPCs joining up with them.
Let me know what you think and after we get characters done we have to build a caravan??
Well since going with making your own PCs would give you a character you wish to play and make Azure_Zero happy as well I will try it.
So as of right now use the character gene below and make characters -
- Ability Scores: point buy using 20pts.
- Races: Core only
- Classes: Any from available sources.
- Starting Level: 1st
- Skills and Feats: Any available from sources.
- Traits: Standard (pick two)
- Hero Points: No, we will not be using these.
- Equipment: Max starting gold
- Hit Points: Standard (Max at 1st lvl and roll for every level after that)
Sources
- Pathfinder CORE
- Pathfinder Chronicles - Campaign Setting
- Advance Player's Guide
- Ultimate Magic
- Ultimate Combat
- Adventure's Armory
- Pathfinder SRD third party material only by GM approval
I will take the next two people who wish to play and make sure they wish to post at the twice a week (minimum).
I need to go buy the first pdf and get reading. Might have to give me the next couple of days for that. Maybe we could start after this weekend.
Well I am defiantly going to run the Skull and Shackles AP when it comes out as a pbp.
And before my boredom causes me to start something else I though a little recruitment/maybe a prelude encounter or game might not go amiss. Looking about I found a few PFS modules (due to goggling) with a tie to docks or boating theme that may just fit in.
So I wish to propose a recruitment for the Skull & Shackles AP - and we may play something short that leads up to it. My normal Character gene rules:
Character Gene:
- Ability Scores: point buy using 20pts.
- Races: Any race from CORE + aasimar, tiefling, tengu, fetchling, and undine(will be known as mermen)
- Classes: Any from available sources.
- Skills and Feats: Any available from sources.
- Traits: Chose one trait from sources available and one from the player's guide. (PG is not out yet so sorry only one trait to start)
- Hero Points: Yes. I will try these rules for this.
- Equipment: Maximum starting gold for class.
- Hit Points: Standard (Max at 1st lvl and will use house rule after that.)
Sources
- Pathfinder CORE
- Pathfinder Chronicles - Campaign Setting (I have the older book.)
- Advance Player's Guide
- Ultimate Magic
- Ultimate Combat
- Adventure's Armory
- Pahfinder SRD third party material only by GM approval
I wish to make a group of four players with the addition of an NPC. As before if I get enough players to make two groups of four I will do so.
I will leave recruitment open one week and bump this as necessary.
Lastly I will be using Obsidian Portal as a reference site and a place I wish for you to keep your characters up to date. I like to use the character profiles here as a status profile. It will have current items on you, magical effects, diseases, etc. And will change constantly. The OP character would be like your main character sheet and be updated for level ups and tracking of all items not just the ones you are currently carrying.
It's like the title says...I have so fallen in love with the newly released Gothic Heroes pregenerated characters that I would love nothing more than to run a Carrion Crown pbp for players who want to play as these fantastically designed PCs. I know this may be a stretch, because I suppose most players favor the use of their own creations...but what the hey, I'll give it a shot and see if anybody fancies a look. Consider, also, that we'd be able to jump right in and start playing quickly, so that's one clear advantage. I actually have experience in running several pbp/pbem games in the past, so I think I've got the chops to craft a fun game for all concerned.
I'd run the game for a minimum of four players, and probably up to as many as six. There are actually 8 pregenerated characters, though, so if we get 8 interested people, I'd think about splitting into two separate groups of four. Ideally, players should be decent writers, interested in characterization, and certainly able to post at least 5-10 times per week.
If this sounds at all like your cup of tea, please do have a look at the product page: Gothic Heroes. Note that it won't be necessary to purchase the product yourself, I'll provide everything you need.
At a glance, here are the pregenerated characters for your perusal.
Agrimar Vaskel, LG male half-orc paladin of Iomedae (undead scourge)
Dominnia Vorsaife, NG female aasimar summoner and her eidolon, Theodric
Eilinica Ziorec, CG female human cleric of Desna
Ereviss Cierdel, CG male elf bard (detective)
Jevalt Ardain, N male dhampir inquisitor
Merenso Kull, NG male half-elf ranger (skirmisher)
Xiuj Hak Leyng of the Seven-Ghost-Needles, LN male human alchemist
Ysabot Vaskel, CG female changeling witch and her cat familiar, Persimmon
If interested, please feel free to express interest in one or more particular characters. Looking forward to hearing from some eager players!
I've been kicking this around in my head occasionally, trying to decide what I think about it.
On the one hand, the Ultimate universe is one for new ideas/experimentation, and I certainly don't have an issue with a minority superhero being an A-list hero in any comic universe.
However, having just finished watching Batman Begins with my kids and putting it in context of the recent Captain America movie, I've come to the following conclusion:
I didn't become a fan of certain superheroes just because of their cool costumes or abilities. If I run through the list of hero favorites, it's the HERO that pushed them to the top of the list. It was the character beneath the costume that resonated with me as a kid.
Batman isn't Batman without Bruce Wayne wearing the cowl. As much as I love the Dick Grayson character -- he's Nightwing and although he may don the cowl on occasion, he's just "protecting the realm" until the king returns.
Steve Rogers IS Captain America. I like Bucky Barnes pretty well, even before the Winter Soldier reimaging/update. But Captain America hooked me as a kid because of Steve Rogers.
Daredevil isn't DD unless it's Matt Murdoch. A blind kid that wouldn't quit, that worked to live up to his father's dreams for him, that truly was the Man without Fear.
Clark Kent/Kal-El is Superman. Clones, other Kryptonians, etc. are posers or pale imitations.
The Smallville series is the clearest depiction of this. It was unconventional Superman at best, but it worked because the hero, Clark Kent, was the iconic kid-raised-on-old-fashioned-values-with-incredible-powers that we all cherish.
Conversely, I'd throw a b-tch-fit if someone tried to replace Black Panther, Luke Cage, or Falcon with another hero just to address an ethnic/gender/whatever criteria.
Miles Morales might be a great character and may, in time, be worthy of true superhero icon status. By that should be a function of the writing, character, and character development -- not a "he's wearing the Spiderman costume & has powers, so he's Spiderman" gimmick. Spiderman is Peter Parker - period.
If they wanted to have Spiderman be a minority, they should have made Peter Parker one in Ultimate Spiderman #1. THAT, I could have appreciated.
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