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Mouse Guard is an RPG based on a graphic novel series by David Petersen, with a simplified system based on Burning Wheel. You play an anthropomorphic mouse in a low-fantasy world of feudal survival, pitted against your own mouse nature, you fellow mouse, the baby-eating weasels, the giant forest animals, and the hazards of the season itself.
I'm looking for 3-4 players. I'm also willing to host two tables of three and run them in the same setting. I own the first edition rulebook, and generally play character-driven games (I don't have a plot in mind, and I build off of what my players contribute) I love crunch, but I try to keep as much of it as possible behind the screen and out of the way of the story. I use Google Docs to manage Sheets, Notes, and Maps, but if we're all on Roll20, I can also manage those there. You're welcome and encouraged to hunt around in my profile to get an idea of my posting habits. I will be doing so for any potential players so that I can avoid any early drop-outs. I don't expect you to have a copy of the rules. I can help anyone who doesn't.
Character building is also team/world building, all you would need coming in is a central conceit (war vet, loose cannon, arbiter, tinkerer, nimble loner, naive kid, etc.) and your desired Rank in the Guard (Tenderpaw, Guard Mouse, Patrol Guard, Patrol Leader). Questions are welcome and encouraged. When I've identified a group that's ready, I'll direct you to a discussion thread where we will continue with character creation.
Generally speaking, Mouseguard is set in a territory of loosely associated mouse settlements protected but not governed by The Guard: a collection of Knights/Rangers somewhat like King Arthur's court. The matriarch of the Guard is Gwendolyn and her view of The Guard's role in the territory is one of protection and service. To the south west is weasel territory, and there have been wars fought between the two species. The Guard maintains a scent border around the territories to ward off larger predators.
Conflict resolution is based on Success/Fail results on each of a pool of dice compared against a threshold of successes. Skills include combat, diplomacy, profession, and knowledge in equal measure. There are single-roll conflicts as well as drawn-out conflicts, which are abstract games of rock/paper/scissors that could potentially involve any skill. It's not what skill you have, but how you propose to use it.
Right now, the goal here is to complete a year in-game, and see where we want to go from there.
I'll need to think about this, but at the moment I was thinking about a Guard Mouse. Probably a war veteran, reasonably decent with a claymore, but don't have a ton past that right now.
My initial idea is of a fairly experienced mouse (not a tender paw) with a bow as his main weapon. This is how I envision the little guy Link to image. I see him as more ranger than knight with a flair for cooking. That's just the bare bones will have more later.
I'm thinking of tossing my hand in. Two real character concepts:
1 Is a kid who joined the guard so he can get the money to settle down with a girl he fancies. his thing would probably be staff & bow (mostly for thematics.) and maybe secondarily stealth
2. Is the shell shocked sole survivor of an expedition that went 6 kinds of sideways. he would use a spear, and have secondary stuff as a diplomat (relegated to "fluff" jobs since the expedition). maybe some wilderness survival stuff, but as someone else is thinking ranger-archetype, perhaps not.
Xan Nes: As a Tenderpaw, you will need a Patrol Leader to guide you. Healing is a fun specialization. You can carry a shield as your field equipment, rather than a weapon. Sprucetuck is known for science and medicine. They create the concoction used to mark the scent border. They would have raised an Inquisitive or Rational mouse. Elmoss, on the other hand, is where the moss comes from that Sprucetuck makes into medicine. An Alert Harvester might have come to Lockhaven to ply a natural talent.
Aest: Any other day, that sword becomes a choice between Fighting and Hunting, but if you mean veteran of a war, that's Fighting. Ferndale was the last settlement to fall to the weasels. If you want the gnarliest past, nothing beats it. Unless it was an internal war... Port Sumac, protected by the scent border, and far from this rumored “weasle war”, chafe the most under the control of the Guard. What kind of war was it? -and on an unrelated note, do you think that Gwendolyn would stick you with a tenderpaw? Would you consider it an honor, or punishment?
Chobo:Ivydale is home to simple, Hard-working folk, and their Bakers are renowned across the territories. A bow works well to keep aphids off a crop. Does that sound about right?
Elsine: 1. Elmoss has had some hard times recently, and an Alert Carpenters’ son might have run to Lockhaven at a young age.
2. Wolfpointe is the last stop before the wilds beyond the scent border. At least one Hunter or Survivalist from there would have been sent on such a task. They say a mouse from Wolfpointe has a Wolf's Snout. Do they have you running Tenderpaw duty now that you’re back?
(These are just suggestions to probe what you had in mind)
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I think I'll go with the Grumpy Old Man
Yeah, we did have a wolfsnout, Beagon. decent enough lad, though a bit... he didn't fight the stereotype much. lost him to an Asp on day 2, right round when things started going to heck in a handbasket.
yeah, they do, in fact, have me on youngun' duty. I'm to get the new ones up to shape, teaching "Not-Getting-Et' 101", and the remedial course, for them what grew up in the cities.
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Perfect! Finn of Ivydale, the hard working bakers son.
Here are some ideas I had (they are bare bones right now but should give you some idea of the direction I want to go). I will flesh out his personality a little more over the next few days.
Finn was born to Thom and Brynn of Ivydale in the early spring of 1130. He grew up learning his parents trade of baking and to appreciate hard work.
Inspired by tales of the Mouse Guards assigned to guard the grain Finn left home to join the guard himself.
Taryn his best friend left Ivydale the same year to work in Sprucetuck as a baker.
His senior artisan, Nathaniel taught him all he could about map making.
His mentor Tuck, taught him that while learning to fight is an important part of being a mouse guard managing not to get lost and surviving the trials of nature was more important.
At 22 years old (born in the year 1130) Finn is young for a patrol guard. He saw action in the war of 1149 and was scarred (lost part of an ear, and has claw scars across the left side of his face, like picture I linked earlier).
His enemy Fyrd (still have to flesh this out)
I actually just finished reading the first book (i.e.- Redwall), so I'll dot this and think on an idea.
Redwall is a little different, but I'll be taking some ideas from it and Rats of NIMH in this story.
If there's still room:
Barton the Tenderpaw of Sprucetuck. He wants to be a "hero" but his impulsive nature and inexperience tends to lead him into trouble more often than glory. Still, he often recovers quickly and his root desire to do good (even if he doesn't always do well) endears him to his superiors. He likes to do backflips.
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I see you're really branching out in character type, Meech
With five, possibly six mice, we would need to split into two tables for the time being.
Currently, there are:
2 Tenderpaws (Barton, Xan Nes' mouse)
1 Patrol Leader (Elsine's mouse)
1 Guard Mouse? (Aest's mouse)
1 Patrol Guard (Finn)
Patrol Guards can be sent out without Patrol Leaders, but Tenderpaws need a Patrol Leader with them. Guard Mice need either a Patrol Guard or Patrol Leader to supervise them.
We would need either another Patrol Leader, making two teams of PL/TP/+1 or a Patrol Guard for PL/TP/TP and PG/PG/GM.
I can make something else if it's too complicated to have two TPs.
I see you're really branching out in character type, Meech
Barton is a mouse I played years ago. If anything, Conwall is the elf version of Barton.
Though the big difference is that Conwall is a competent, experienced demon hunter. Barton read a lot of books.
In a patrol of PL/TP/TP, Gwendolyn is likely to send you on routine, 'safe' missions that don't stray far from Lockhaven. Prepare for them to become less safe.
PL/TP/+1 is a more standard team, relied upon for their versatility. Missions will focus on whatever primary skills the team brings to the table.
PG/PG/GM is the kind of team Gwendolyn sends on missions she would prefer she didn't have to give out: quelling uprisings, arbitrating disputes, establishing the scent border, etc. Tougher missions with higher stakes.
It's all up to you guys. Just no Guard Captains right now.
I'm cool with going full Rangers Apprentice, with my grumpy old man and two wippersnappers
Also, remind me of the hierarchy, captain is higher that PL, right?
I'm cool with going full Rangers Apprentice, with my grumpy old man and two wippersnappers
That sounds like it'd be fun. It'll make Barton crazy to be on a baby team, so he's going to act out.
Tenderpaw - No cloak, no oath, no class
Guard Mouse - Standard, young gun guards who haven't specialized yet
Patrol Guard - Solo or specialized Guardmice, get secret missions within other patrols
Patrol Leader - Teach and care for Tenderpaws, Lead larger patrols
Guard Captain - Lead multiple Guard patrols, lead wars, move pawns on maps,
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I've added a Google Sheet with character sheets to the Campaign Description. As we move forward, I'll indicate what goes where. It's not necessary to view or edit any of the crunch I post, but if you like to, you're welcome to.
A little more work here (confirming who is on board, and what teams we will break into for our first mission) and we'll start character creation in the discussion thread.
Yes. Oldby is your unnamed Patrol Leader.
Aest: Any other day, that sword becomes a choice between Fighting and Hunting, but if you mean veteran of a war, that's Fighting. Ferndale was the last settlement to fall to the weasels. If you want the gnarliest past, nothing beats it. Unless it was an internal war... Port Sumac, protected by the scent border, and far from this rumored “weasle war”, chafe the most under the control of the Guard. What kind of war was it? -and on an unrelated note, do you think that Gwendolyn would stick you with a tenderpaw? Would you consider it an honor, or punishment?
(These are just suggestions to probe what you had in mind)
My mouse (still working on a name, that's always the hardest part) could definitely have been a veteran of Ferndale. As for his personality, he'd probably see it as punishment to be stuck with a bunch of kids without any experience. Not so much because they'd be worthless in combat as because he'd be worried they'd only talk about unimportant, trivial stuff.
Seyth:
Mice born to Lockhaven grow up surrounded by the Guard, and are raised to have a strong sense of Guard's Honor, or at least to be the Generous sort. Their parents are usually Weavers or Armorers.
Finn:
Do you wear an orange cloak and have flaxen fur?
Aest's mouse:
The mice of Ferndale, what's left of them, are often Jaded or Scarred. Most were left to build a home out of refugee camps, and many have made their bread as Laborers or Militarists. The others are also considering their cloak and fur colors, but we'll go over that again at the end.
Bry:
What color fur do you have? Seyth has grey (and always has, dangnabbit!) and Barton has sunny blonde fur. Black and brown are common fur colors, and you can be as specific as you'd like. I picture something rich, like a chocolate brown, or chestnut.
Barton:
Sprucetuck is a center for ingenuity and that produces two very different kinds of young mice: Some pursue a Rational, studied approach to conventional Lore, others remain Inquisitive, and strive to progress Science into the future.
Everyone:
While we wait, all mice are endowed with a mouse nature, central to all things. The instinct to escape, climb, hide, and forage is deep inside even the strangest mouse. In times of trouble, we tap into our base natures, and perform great feats. Answer ye these questions three:
1. Do you save for winter, even if it means going without something now, or do you use what you have when you need it?
2. When confronted, do you stand your ground and fight, or do you run and hide?
3. Do you fear owls, weasels, and wolves?
Finn:
Do you wear an orange cloak and have flaxen fur?
Yes and yes Although, I'm trying to figure out the meaning behind the orange cloak.
Everyone:
1. Do you save for winter, even if it means going without something now, or do you use what you have when you need it?
Yes, living in Ivydale would have instilled the value of harvesting and saving. Thus Finn always saves for winter.
2. When confronted, do you stand your ground and fight, or do you run and hide?
This is a hard one. Finn would run away and hide until the odds or tactics were more advantageous and then fight. If I have to chose one I'll go with "Stand and fight"
3. Do you fear owls, weasels, and wolves?
Yes Finn fears wolves and owls. He also has a healthy respect for weasels. So Yes.
Barton learned science at his mother's feet, and inherited her inquisitive nature as well.
Spend
Stand ground (even when dreadfully out matched)
Yes he's scared, but he pretends not to be
Guards honor, I think. He was born into a guard-family, born and raised by a guard armourer, and pent his whole childhood readying to be part of the guard. He really believed in the guard, back in the day. still does, kinda, but it's different now, not a fairy tale anymore.
I think he picked up his mothers trade, armouring. was never as good as her, never could be, but he could work most basic materials into armour ("Don't ask for crab plate. it smells awful, and it's a right bugger to get into shape.")
He saves, after those weeks, he never wants to be truly lapping in the wind ever again
He'd prefer to run, but will stand and fight if it isn't just his hide on the line (which does that count as?)
Yeah, he's scared. Got this thing called a brain, see. it's the bit that tries to keep you alive when s~~@e goes south.
In order to save the Tenderpaws, will you stop and confront your end, or run to create a distraction? Can you face death anymore? Are you one bad run away from hanging up the cloak for good? A Nature of six means you Must commit some feats of unmouselike proportions within they year, or face retirement.
Kent: What version of the game are you using? I have 1st edition.
he will stop, and engage it. better him than someone else.
as for hanging up the cloak... not an option, he couldn't live with himself quitting. he fully expects to die horribly, but he's more comfortable with that, than with leaving the guard even more undermanned
Nah, you're remembering right. Dying with your cloak on is a huge part of the Mouse Guard comics. The comics are worth a re-read. They're all on Hoopla if you have a library card for a participating library.
I had meant the guard being undermanned and stretched thin. definitely remember dying with your cloak on.
Yeah, I think that's a theme too, especially on the borders.
I want to, but I also know it's probably not for the best. My time is really up in the air right now, and my stress levels are completely all over the place on a day by day basis. I just took a promotion, and some days it's awesome, other days it's awful. So while I think the DM is super awesome, and being a mouse would be super awesome, that's counterbalanced by everyone is a mouse, low fantasy, in a setting I don't know, with a system I don't know, with a character I don't know would be fun to play, or might just be annoying...
So I mostly just don't want to ruin your game by participating with so many question marks on my side of the table.
If you're sure you want me to give it a try with all that in mind:
My idea is a little mad-scientist Mouse who focuses on the parts of science that involve PHYSICS. She has an emphasis on siege weapons and doomed-before-they're-built vehicles. The former of which has never, ever, been used to try to transport herself or other mice. She likes bees a great deal, and is generally far too enthusiastic about how things work and how they could be made to work to the benefit of all mice. In particular, again, using the power of Physics as a method of delivery of objects. :)
She is an enthusiastic tinkerer of the applied physical sciences. I'd initially thought 'Tenderpaw' for that way-too-idealistic outlook. But I feel I could probably still maintain that sheltered, naive worldview in all but the highest ranks.
Gillywick's (Often shortened to Gil) a long-haired satin mouse with white and tan markings. Gil often saves for winter, but splurges on something in mid-to-late fall that they absolutely must have (that she doesn't really need). When confronted, Gil tries to find a solution from a safer (for now) location. Owls, like bees, fascinate Gillywick. She's afraid of being eaten by all of them, but owls can also move through the sky, and without really making a sound! She cleans her muzzle when she's thinking.
Kent: What version of the game are you using? I have 1st edition.
Hotaru: I love the concept of Gil, but I think the best compromise here would be to check in with you between missions until you're more comfortable making the commitment. A team of two isn't a problem, and certainly not one worth pressuring a friend.
Let's go ahead and move forward.
Seyth Bry and Barton will continue at this table, and I'll make a new one for Finn and the War Vet. I'll open Gameplay on both for dotting. We may shift tables between missions, and you're all welcome to dot both. I've been trying to find a good play on words for "A Feast for Crows" we'll see how we like what I ended up with...
Sounds awesome. That also gives me the opportunity to read up on things as they play out, letting me learn about the world in that way. :) Win-Win.
I've been trying to find a good play on words for "A Feast for Crows" we'll see how we like what I ended up with...
Uh, do you guys want to tell Kent what crows eat or should I?
Aest and Chobo, your discussion thread is here.
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I've been trying to find a good play on words for "A Feast for Crows" we'll see how we like what I ended up with...Uh, do you guys want to tell Kent what crows eat or should I?
Well, two mice is hardly a feast.