Don't use them myself, so I didn't. Think we were going with a "take what you need mentality, so you can grab em.
yeah load up
I've updated the Treasure & Sundries list. Let me know if there's anything else someone might want. Also, once Agidor finds someone through which to sell the goods, who's going to be doing the negotiating?
Catching up on the posts...heh, I'm digging it, really digging it!
I wanted to make a note for all regarding regularity of posting and the flow of the game. As you saw during the Stag Herald encounter I botted for Drogan in order to maintain the flow of combat. It's easy during combat simply because - as the GM - I'll make sure that the action taken will keep the player out of harms way, keep him contributing and hopefully set him up for success the next round.
However, it's a trickier thing when doing the meat of the game - roleplaying. So my thought on this, having been involved in a few of these Play by Post venues, is to have folks continue to do some character development in cases where either myself or one of the other players is unable to post for a day or so (or longer). This would entail running some inner monologue, processing a scene or information you've heard or perhaps a memory is triggered. These are things I've already seen in the course of the game.
Also, once we leave the Prologue and Cassomir, behind we'll be developing relationships with each other and with the NPCs that populate the world. So the chance for side conversations isnin the offing. In the City at the Center of the World, the old rule of 'who you know' will grow into an important part of the game.
Let me know your thoughts on the topic of Campaign Flow. I'm always open to suggestions!
As always,
Your Humble DM
I'm all about the business of side stuff - but Drogan's not feeling it yet. He just met most of these guys, after all.
I'm sure that once we get into the thick of it there'll be more chance for that sort of stuff.
Nosa: What shape of shield do you have? Kite or circle?
Circle.
Uh oh, busier today than expected. I'll try and get a response up tonight.
Jeff
All,
For the post Last night, feel free to explore options on the topics outlined by Marcum. If you want clarity on anything don't hesitate to ask IC or OOC. As a perspective thing, think of him as a cross-pollination of a Fixer in shadowrun, the Cigarette Smoking Man in xfiles (sans menacing demeanor), and maybe a touch of Q from the old Bond films.
At any rate a lot of info was tossed your way:
Linkah's Key
➢ It was requested by an elf who passed thru nearly a year ago.
➢ He had in his possession a tome with plate of the key along with strange writing
➢ Marcum made a copy of the page in his personal book
➢ A dwarf named Stigion Ironhand is to take delivery of the key
Marcum's Ploy
➢ He requested Link to take delivery of the key in Korvosa since he is/was crew on the Lamprey which makes a regular Cassomir-Korvosa run
➢ In payment to the halfling, Marcum arranges payment to buy Link and his family out of the bad contract
➢ But Marcum adds a layer by enlisting some toughs from the Stag Heralds to go and deliver the message to the captain of the Lamprey. He intimates that Ardo could replace Link and his family with men owing allegiance to the Stags
➢ Knowing that Ardo would want payment, Marcum offers the services of a discreet cargo vessel to make a Stag Herald delivery to Absalom. The information broker had leveraged rumor mill that the Stags were in the market.
➢ It isn't until wheels are in motion that Helios, Hal'dorel and Nosa appear at his shop with word that the Stag Heralds had kidnapped a group from Lavios' village.
the Tannery
➢ Ardo and his Stag Heralds use this as a base of operations
➢ The people taken from Southridge are being held here
➢ Between the separate times Lavios & Nosa observed the place, there were between 15 and 20 armed men in and around the tannery
➢ Oddly enough, Stigion and a pair of other dwarves were there conversing with a mixture of half-orcs and humans
➢One of the group centered on the half-elf Helios and the paladin Nosa is also being held at the tannery. Kheegan is his name
I'm sure there's other things, but I wanted to give you guys a boost since I posted last night around 12am. Brain might have been a bit mushy. Going forward, I'll depend on you guys to extract needed details pertinent to your characters. As we delve into this world, it'll behoove you to keep track of the moving parts. Just a foreshadowing... :)
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Ok - I'm not gonna lie. There's part of me that wanted to favorite that last little interchange I just put up. The wonder of play by post, apparently, is the ability to be epic on a fairly regular basis.
I approve.
I am hoping Lavios jumps in here! You still with us buddy? Beckett too because I know you are watching from the fence.
Wow, just wow. Nice writing guys.
And yes, I'm looking forward to how the rest jump in on this discussion.
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The rest of the guys are probably getting home from work. I was trying so hard to stay in character. Drogan said his piece, so he wouldn't say anything else but I'm chomping at the bit for more awesome. ;)
Holy cow Beckett, that was a can of writing whoop ass you just opened
DUDE! Just ... DUDE!
I concur. DUDE!!! You guys rock!
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I was busy all day yesterday and unable to get to a device to check out the goings on here. I wake up this morning and all I could do was stare at what I saw.
I was quite apprehensive to join this game. I had no idea what to expect. Since I had never played the game nor a play by post (something like it but not on this level)it was all a little nerve wracking to me.
But now... Holy cow am I glad I joined! You guys are truly amazing! The last 4 or 5 posts, brilliant.
And this is just the prologue? Words cannot express how excited I am to see what happens to this group.
Hopefully, one day, I can write something that lives up to one tenth of the brilliance that I have seen so far. Like Nosa, I have much to learn.
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Yeah, when I first heard about play by post I was skeptical to say the least. I had been fortunate to have an inner nucleus of close childhood friends that could meet in real life for gaming for over 10 years, but that had gone away with growing up, coupling and moves.
So someone suggested PbP and told me that sometimes the quality of the roleplay was better online than it was at the table. I think I know what he meant. Sometimes you think overnight on what your character would say. In the gameplay board it is pure story, no distractions and we are all here playing characters that have a faceless gamer behind them.
If you know that you might not be able to post andtrust me I know how crazy busy life can be, just try to drop a heads up here in discussion.
Keep it up guys!
Hey guys,
I'll look to post up by tomorrow afternoon. So whoever wants toadd to the current scene better hop in soon! Heh, can you tell I just want to read more great writing?
By the way for those who don't know.
This is talking out loud
"I am talking out loud for everyone to hear."
This is talking to myself
"Yeap, taliking to myself again."
This is thinking
After I put the kids to bed I need to plug in my iPad and then maybe I can work on Marshes story some more.
This is talking out of character also known as ooc
Italics can show emotional emphasis on words like,
. . . Again! Something that would have been nice to know yesterday!
Hey all,
Just another call out to the team. Are there any other reactions or additions from the current scene before I move things along?
Lavios: Any thoughts or reactions thus far? I know you're busy with a major project but I wanted to make sure you've had a proper shot to get in on the RP of this scene.
Nosa: Are you solid or do you have anything you want to have your character throw into the mix?
Drogan: I think you already mentioned that your guy said his piece but I thought I'd check.
Beckett: I'm pretty sure you're good to go having chosen to stay.
Karl: Nice memory post, but do you have a reaction to Beckett's observations? Are you staying or heading back to the Scarlet Knuckle? I'll need to know before I post up.
Jeff
I believe I am good to go at this point. It's not hard to read Nosa's stance on things :)
Drogan Said what Drogan's gonna say.
Drogan's reaction to Beckett's statement would be a nod and he'd keep sucking on his pipe, but I didn't think we needed to have an entire post that says Drogan nods and takes another drag on his pipe.
He's the sort of fellow who likes everybody but respects/trusts few. Like he alluded to in his last statement - he wouldn't be super happy with Karl's response - but he understands it.
Drogan's ready to rumble whenever we want to move on.
Let me know if the back story adds to or distracts from the story.
I want you to repeat the statement you just made to yourself and then realize how silly such a collection of words is. :)
Seriously, I eat up backstory like a champ so long as it doesn't stop the movement of a scene. This one was already mostly stopped in the aftermath of the epic Beckett Smack Down - so you're fine.
Hey gang late start. I'm cooking up a response tonight. And in totally good with the back story. Keeps the characters moving and it's great stuff to put on the campaign blog.
Okay then. You asked for it ;)
Also I wanted to state that this story is birthed by work I was involved with for the Midnight Rpg game. We had a great group of creative minds there. It was a fan supported system.
Man I hate rereading my posts and finding all the autocorrect errors and typos. I do most of my writing on my iPhone and editing can be a pain. Oh well ;)
This last Sunday I went up the Pal Springs Arial Tram at San Jacinto with my wife and kids. It was very nice. I met a friend that I had not seen in 10 years at the top and had dinner at the nice restaurant. Pricy, but for the view and the experience, well worth it.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that the professor's warm and happy expression has changed to one of wide-eyed shock? Jeff, are you trying to tell us something? ;)
Heh
Hey Gang,
I just had one of my email addresses hacked. It looks like the one linked to this campaign and the InnRoads address are secure for the time being.
I'll try and get back online later today/tonight, but I might not get back to the posting until tomorrow.
Sorry!!
Jeff
Well in Jeff's absence I will continue with my series story
What game system were you playing Beckett?
I'm extremely jealous Beckett! I had originally planned to attend a tabletop day event as well but had to cancel when I wound up having to move my brother and law and his wife into their new home. Normally, I would have found my way around that, but since they just moved home from a 2 year stint in Israel it was a little harder to pull off. :)
So did you do rpg's or tabletop board games.
I was hoping to get in some Mage Wars, Kemet, Zombicide...
Uggghh, I'm making myself sad just thinking about it.
Don't get me started. I've been hankering for some Shadowrun or perhaps some Pathfinder Society play. It's been way too long since my last meatspace game.
So spill it, Beckett. What did you get to play?
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Normally, I would have found my way around that, but since they just moved home from a 2 year stint in Israel it was a little harder to pull off. :)
That is sad. But you made the right call. Family comes first. I had to do some schedule gymnastics myself to make it happen. Fortunately it all worked out so that I could go.
So did you do rpg's or tabletop board games.
What game system were you playing Beckett?
It was all board games with some X-Wing minis tossed in. I was hoping for some Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG to be going on, but no luck. I've read all about that game, but haven't been able to drag people to the table yet.
I've been hankering for some Shadowrun or perhaps some Pathfinder Society play. It's been way too long since my last meatspace game.
Agreed. I am GMing a group through Rise of the Runelords, but the group has been on hiatus since the beginning on the year... For a very joyous reason, the birth of a baby. But, yeah, I'm really excited for it to pick up again next month.
I haven't mentioned this before, because I don't want to do anything to distract from Absalom in Shadow, but I have played a fair amount of Pathfinder Society over Skype and the Roll20 virtual tabletop. It can give a similar feel to a good meatspace game. Perhaps we could look into that a bit when we are between play by post campaigns. :)
So spill it, Beckett. What did you get to play?
Alrighty, you asked for it. Below is my session report. Thanks for taking an interest. :)
One game of Alhambra:
Was really happy to get a chance to play this one. It was on my list of classics that I had never played before. It's a great game, and I seriously thought about picking up the Big Box version. However, after watching all of the Dice Tower reviews, I don't think it would hit the table very often. If we are in the mood to build stuff, we'll probably play Caverna. And if we're in the mood to lay tiles, we'll probably play Suberbia. So I'll think I'll pass on the Big Box and just play it on the tablet from time to time.
One game of Gloom:
Interesting story telling game. Basically you start with a family and your goal is to make them as sad as possible before the die. The darkness of the theme left me a bit cold, but the production of the cards is really sweet. The cards are transparent with different text and symbols cleverly positioned on them. So when you lay the cards on top of one another, whatever symbols are still visible produces a different effect. Then you make up a story that explains why that effect happened. I really liked the game play, but would like it much more with a different theme. I think it could be a fantastic system with a license, like Lord of the Rings or Firefly.
Three games of King of Tokyo:
Awesome game of monsters duking it out in Tokyo. We own this one, so I had the opportunity to teach it to new folks. That was really fun to get to do. Everyone who learned it really liked it. It was also easily the noisiest table in the place, with lots of cheering and groans.
One game of Chez Geek:
Less said about this one, the better. Adolescent theme (not in a good way), poor production and convoluted mechanics. Pretty much sums up everything that I dislike in so many Steve Jackson games.
Two games of Takenoko:
I left the store with a shiny new copy of this one tucked under my arm. A very fun, light Euro game of cultivating bamboo. What really sold me on it was how beautiful it looks when laid out on the table... and the little panda mini that comes along and eats the bamboo. I got to teach this one for my second game, and two of the players were a mother & daughter that dropped by to game. That was really awesome to see.
One game of Lords of Waterdeep:
Really fun worker placement game of recruiting adventurers to go out and quest for you. This was a great experience because everyone had played at least one game before, so it went really smoothly. I had eight games under my belt, so I thought I'd do well... then I realized that one of the other players was a pro. I asked him how many times he'd played, and he just smiled and said "around 30... probably 30 more on the iPad." Grand... So I went after him a bit, but it turned out he was sitting on three mandatory quest cards which he used to throw my plans into chaos. He won. :) Very happily he turned out to be a fellow Lord of the Rings LCG player who was also looking for someone to play with. So we exchanged info and are going to try to get together for some games.
And, finally, here's a couple pics of the game space.
I arrived a little early to help set up. Here's one of the awesome guys that works at the store.
Here's a photo from around midday.
Sounds like a great day of gaming.
Lords of Waterdeep has been on my radar for a while, just haven't had the opportunity to play it.
Well, it's been one crazy weekend - 12 hours of gaming that raised over $400 to help end sex slavery and human trafficking in the US. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.
Now -- to get back to the art of slaying veggie-goblins!
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Normally, I would have found my way around that, but since they just moved home from a 2 year stint in Israel it was a little harder to pull off. :)
I bet they have some interesting stories to tell. :)
Well, it's been one crazy weekend - 12 hours of gaming that raised over $400 to help end sex slavery and human trafficking in the US. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.
Was just listening to that on the podcast. That is so awesome!
I am being completely honest and sincere when I say that I can't think of a single thing you could be doing better. The plot is awesome, the characters are engaging, the setting is in one of my favorite RPG worlds, the writing is fantastic. If anything, I feel guilty about not being better able to keep up and contribute at a higher level.
I've played Pathfinder Society on both Roll20 and MapTool virtual table tops (VTT). I've never GMed with them, and I have not used them for an ongoing campaign. From a gaming perspective, I have really enjoyed playing on both.
Advantages:
- The big, obvious one, you can play with folks regardless of location.
- The GM can import the actual maps for the adventure, without having to draw on a battlemat, or adjust the adventure to fit a flipmat, etc.
- Once you learn how it works, the fog of war features of the VTTs are really sweet. Players only see what their characters can see on the map. If vision is reduced for a character, due to blindness, darkness, etc; the GM can apply that effect to that player to restrict what they see on the map. Or if a character has enhanced sight (infravision, etc) the GM can reveal things on the map only to that player.
- If everyone agrees beforehand, games can be recorded. The recordings make good podcast extras. They can also act as marketing to attract new players. Or to allow folks who have never played before a non-threatening way to check out what playing RPGs is like.
- I found that I made much better use of the in-play features of HeroLab on a VTT. In a meatspace game, I don't bring a laptop, as a player, as I don't want to appear unengaged when fiddling with it. On a VTT that isn't an issue (real or perceived) and I find the tool really useful.
Disadvantages
- There is an initial setup hurdle to cross to get everyone up and running. That hurdle is definitely higher with MapTool than with Roll20 (although MapTool has more features). There is also a period of explaining how to use the application to new folks. One GM I played with would have new folks log in early to get all that done before the session actually started. That seemed to work pretty well.
- There is an increased opportunity for distracted players. The Internet is the biggest distraction tool ever invented by man, and every player it sitting there with a connection to it.
- Players can also be distracted by whatever else is going on in their home. Spouses, kids, etc are much more likely to come up and start talking to a person in a virtual game than they would be to interrupt an in-person game. Players are also more likely to pop out of the game for short periods. Kids crying, dogs barking, etc.
- Some players can be less aware than others about when to use the mute button. Most people are pretty good about muting when something noisy starts happening in their home. But when you get someone who isn’t, it can be really distracting. The GM (or one of the players) needs to be comfortable asking folks to mute their mics if they aren't managing it well without prompting.
- There are the usual challenges with Skype. Folks dropping, sound quality issues, etc. Most of the time this isn't a huge issue, but it creeps up from time to time.