There is indeed a Supreme Heifer, God-King of all cows. Whether or not Diggory survives, that's part of this weird west without a doubt.
And we have the full 15 now. I'm pretty iffy on weekends, so no promises until Monday, but I'll try to jump in and answer questions.
If everyone else has their pre-emptive actions set up before then, maybe we'll even get into the combat!
GM, did you bump something? This campaign is marked 'Inactive' for me.
That's strange! Nothing should have changed and it all comes up active on my screen. I'll tinker a bit more...
Still messed up GM, really annoying!
Alright, I think I found the bug. It should be fixed now!
And I am back. Thanks, GM! Would hate to be kicked out of this game.
I'm sorry, but I will be leaving the message boards for a while. A previously short venture these past two days has now turned into a full-time position, one that will be taking most of my free time to keep up. With so much time gone, I'm going to have to prioritize what I can keep up with, and playing the great games here is not. So I apologize, but I will not be able to continue for the forseeable future.
-Blue Drake.
See you around Blue Drake. Have a good one.
Aye, good luck to you Blue Drake. I appreciate the message and look forward to opportunities to game with you in the future when things calm down.
There's the first death. Sorry EmissaryOfTheNorth, but I'm certain that won't be the last. Funnels are brutal, but you guys are kicking butt so far.
Also, if you opt for Brick to do damage instead of knocking the man to the ground, you also gain +1 to the damage roll for strength bonus. It's your call, and I'll adjust the fiction accordingly.
--------------------
Also, I had to delete one of my posts. After I rolled, I went back to edit in the results of those rolls and it double posted (with new rolls). Don't worry, I'm not out to cheat you guys, but I know deleted posts always look fishy.
Oof, rough. With guns dealing that much damage, yeah--I imagine this funnel is going to take a few more if we aren't particularly lucky.
First RPG system I've seen that has realistic gun damage. You typically don't go on fighting after getting shot, even with old-timey pistols. :)
Unless you're Teddy Roosevelt, and then you finish your goddamn speech.
Well, Brick was my favourite but OSR is an unforgiving God.
I will post Thomas and Blueboy's action.
Ouch, indeed it is. What a pair of rolls as well, Crit immediately followed by a Fumble.
If you would like, I give you full creative license to describe how we lose Thomas.
Your trio has been hit pretty hard, but there's ways to replenish it - likely back at the armored car.
Damn. We should make sure to have a round of posts to pay respects for the fallen when we're out of this funnel.
Sorry for falling behind, I will post tonight.
Nah, you're fine. I'm actually really pleased with the clip we seem to be moving at. I just wanted others to know that most of that description in Round 3 was setting them up to make informed decisions for Round 4.
Sorry that took so long. Writing backstories for three characters is harder than I thought! I'll be placing them in First Class.
Agility 16
Stamina 10
Personality 10
Intelligence 8
Luck 11
HP 4
Luck Roll: Lucky Sign, Saving Throws
Occupation: Innkeeper - Pocket Pistol (1d6), Incriminating Ledger
Token: Ace of spades with a name written on it
Motivation: You had a vision
It started out as just another quiet night. Silas was sitting at the bar in his inn, playing cards with one of his guests. Suddenly, he found himself growing dizzy (too much drink, perhaps?) and fell unconscious. As he dozed, he saw a strange vision: A grizzled man, with an impressive pistol at his hip, staring down a gang of outlaws. The gunman uttered one word - "Walter" - before the vision ended. Silas woke with a start, and quickly scribbled "Walter" on the nearest piece of paper he could find: The ace of spades in his hand. Without another word, he bolted to his room, packed a small bag, and ran out the door. He had convinced himself that this vision was one of his future, as a heroic gunslinger like the ones in those dime novels. Furthermore, Walter, whoever he was, was vital to making that a reality. He headed straight to the train station, prepared to meet his destiny.
Agility: 8
Stamina: 15
Personality: 15
Intelligence: 9
Luck: 10
HP: 2 (1+1)
Luck roll: Lucky sign, Saving throws
Occupation: Clerk - Letter Opener (1d2), an Order Pad
Token of Past: Jewelry of Sioux origin
Motivation: To impress a love interest
From the moment he laid eyes on her, he was in love. Her name was Samantha, and she was perfect in every way. Beautiful, strong-willed, and fiercly intelligent. But a woman like that attracts so many suitors - how could she ever notice a shrimpy little clerk like him? He decided that there was only one way to win her heart: To travel west and prove his worth.
Agility 15
Stamina 11
Personality 11
Intelligence 9
Luck 11
HP 2
Luck roll: Fortunate date, Missile fire attack rolls
Occupation: Banker - Pen (1d2), 50 silver dolalrs
Token of Past: A music box
Motivation: To fulfill an obligation or debt
Leah was an adventurous woman, with a head that was always full of crazy ideas. Her dream was to see the Pacific Ocean, to feel the cool breeze of the western coastline. But Jack, her sensible and grounded husband, kept coming up with excuses to put the trip off for another year. Until all of a sudden, Leah's years were up; some strange disease ended her life. A grief-stricken Jack decided that he had to make things right. He would travel west with her cremated ashes, secured in a music box from her childhood, and scatter them to the sea.
No problem at all. And part of the posse just busted into first class, so that's great timing! (See Loup Blanc's latest post)
Also, Idiot Cube, I'll fill you in on what has happened in the First Class car as well as some of the passengers tomorrow. But for tonight, I'm gonna get some sleep.
Are we waiting on anything at the moment? I believe I've acted in the current round as much as I can, but I want to make sure I didn't miss something.
I think you've acted all you can for this round, but others still haven't taken their actions. Maybe they're waiting to see what the bandits do, but giving the bandits their next round is rough on Tekumsah and those in the armored car.
Maybe I've left things vague, people aren't sure on objectives or what's going on? I'm happy to try and describe the situation better, or clarify any questions. Or maybe people are just busy, which I get. Either way, I'll keep posting daily even if it's just flavor. Or I could bump to the next round if people prefer.
Not too vague for me, I'm waiting on other PCs to post before I post again.
I'll post as soon as I know what's been happening in First Class.
Sorry, fell a little under the weather last night.
But I am not afraid to admit I have found it a bit hard to follow along but probably because I have been playing solo games for the last few years. Tracking more then like, two people, is a strain. I should get better!
I'll post as soon as I know what's been happening in First Class.
Yes! There IS something I have been forgetting. Thanks for the reminder... allow me to rectify that now :)
I'll also come back and try to give a brief rundown of what's going on in case anyone has gotten lost in all of this ruckus. 15 characters are a lot to track, and it gets jumbled.
Here's some quick catch-up:
- Who is where?
In Steerage: Art, Casey, Father (injured) and Son, Lady in Suit, Mr. Clean, Pamela, Perre, and Spencer - 9
Moving to the Armored Car: Blueboy, Edward, and Myles (on a horse) - 3
Moving to the First Class Car: Archie, Barney, Diggory, Roy, and Tekumsah - 5
In the First Class Car: Daniel, English Gentleman, Jack, Shirtless Hero, Silas, and Young and Wealthy Couple - 6
---------------------------------
Bandits: 4 at the Engine, 3 (1 wounded) in First Class, 3 in Steerage (Dead), 5 4 at the Armored Car (2 riding behind and 2 at the door firing into the openings)
Mystery Cart?: Approaching fast from the rear now that the train is slowing to a stop.
- Doing what?
Steerage: Mr. Clean, Spencer and the child are all helping the wounded father. Who the hell knows what the other four are doing... you have bigger things to worry about.
Moving to the Armored Car: Blueboy sprinted off ahead of the rest, with incredible agility, to the flatbed car. The bandits notice him but aren't taking him very seriously... yet. Myles jumped off the train and landed on one of the fallen bandits' horses! Edward is still on the first freight car I believe (another freight car and the flatbed between him and the armored car).
First Class: Roy kicked open the door and moved aside. Tekumsah took a shot and dropped (but didn't kill) the closest bandit (but now Tekumsah is standing in clear view outside the door). Archie, Barney and Diggory are all there but currently somewhat cramped (and out of view of the bandits) on the landing between first class and dining.
Daniel, Jack and Silas are all seated still in the car where the bandits have been robbing with ease.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Phew, I almost didn't get in my daily post! It's late though, and I still have some prep for tomorrow. So the top of the next round should come tomorrow around 11 or so PST.
So the post that I typically get up on my lunch break, didn't happen because lunch breaks don't exist with toddlers/preschoolers. That's my excuse/explanation. And if I missed anything, please let me know, as I feel today's post was a rather hectic catch-up on my end.
I need to apologize for my absence this last week.
As Loup may know -because I share other campaigns with him- I had been kicked out of home and the result drained me of atrength and time in equal measure. I couldn't even afford to warn every game I'm in, so you understand.
Now I'm back on track again, and hopefully Blueboy didn't follow or won't follow hia two friends to the afterlife.
No worries, Emissary. Glad to have you here!
Blueboy's in a good spot for the moment, and even if he does bite it for some reason, there's built in ways to get some more characters.
Pulling an unfired bullet apart (assuming it is machine made) takes a considerable set of tools and time.
Then chalk that up to ignorance on my part! I really do appreciate the heads up. Maybe someone has the tools for it, but it doesn't sound like it's a simple task then.
Hey, we have magic and stuff so whatever you say goes GM!
I think older cartridges, like the type used in this period (well, what it's based on), were easier to break open for their components. Not necessarily a simple task in and of itself, but doable enough in theory. I know more about the guns of the time than their ammunition, though, so I could well be wrong on that count--that's just my rudimentary knowledge at work.
Cool, then let's go with this, if it seems to work for you all:
It sounds like a task that would require specialized skill.
Then it's a matter of whether for someone well versed in dealing with bullets, would it be child's play, or still a man's task?
------------------------------
Because it's specialized, someone who wants to roll for it would roll 1d10+Str, unless their past occupation justifies vocational knowledge of it. In the second case, it would be 1d20+Str.
And from what I could research over the past hour or so, we're looking at black powder, rimfire, metal cartridges for the era this is based on (loosely). So yeah, getting at the gunpowder would require some tools and a bit of luck, so I'd say a DC 10... which is nearly impossible if you don't have a background for it, but quite doable if you do.
If you choose to end this encounter now:
All characters (not players, but PCs) gain 2 xp.
I'll give a general assessment of what's going on, but any info beyond the generic will depend on what actions are undertaken by the rest of you (feel free to outline actions in fairly broad strokes).
Once I have an idea for how you all deal with the aftermath, I'll give you any requested information and move on to the next significant decision point :)
*Also, Miles (Myles?) is the only one wounded but still standing. If he can get a stiff drink somewhere, he should be able to drink enough rotgut to gain 1d3 hp back.
I believe that an important skill in GMing is knowing when to end a scene. If characters are playing, I believe that there should be a question on the table, something that we're playing to determine. The question for the current scene that I've been working with is:
"What, if anything, will the bandits get away with? What will it cost them and the players?"
At this point we know that the bandits won't get away with anything from either of the passenger cars, but they've been uncontested at the armored car. They're in now with quite a force, and by time characters get there the safe will be loaded onto the cart. The only remaining questions would be:
"How many more PCs die? What bit of leverage could they obtain from it?"
So I'm ending the scene, fast forwarding slightly to a more poignant decision point, and lumping the more intriguing of those questions into a luck roll instead. (I love how handy that luck attribute is!)
I'll roll the highest luck for each player (not character) and if you beat a ten, you can tell me what sort of leverage/information/etc. you were able to get out of these last couple rounds, within defined parameters.
Expect that wrap up post in the near future.
---------------------------------
On another note, Vacutaz has dropped due to mounting other obligations and unfamiliarity with this system. If you all are still keen on continuing, I'll advertise for another trio.
I'm still here, I just wasn't sure what to do over the last few days with the combat more or less wrapped up. Roy isn't really aware of the armored car situation at the moment, I think, so he just got his knife back and started making his way to the passenger car again. Tekumsah would have followed, and Spencer's already there.
No worries. Combat is wrapped up and I've tried to outline some potential areas of further information. I could always just dump the info on you and fast forward to some decision making, but pacing-wise it might be nice to have a chance to roleplay a bit and get out of the grind of combat you were stuck in. I can tell that people have been worn down by that bandit sequence, so take a chance to relax.
I'll keep posting daily, maybe with some flavor or what NPCs are up to during this time to keep the thread alive while you guys recoup/catch up/decide what's next.
Hey guya, it really saddens me to say this but I have decided to step back from the game.
It's been days rereading the posts I misswd and trying to continue, but I seem to have lost the drive or hit a writer's block. And it's sad because the campaign idea, the GM's descriptions and the other characters are amazing.
But it simply felt wrong to keep having you all on hold while I try to put things back into track, specially when I am unsure if I'll be able.
I wish y'all a great campaign and I am really sorry for having you all waiting for me.
Good luck to ya, Emissary, and I really appreciate the note before bowing out. I hope to get more chances to game with you in the future!
We're at 3 now:
- Donovan Twist
- Idiot Cube
- Loup Blanc
To keep going, you may want some more fodder, though you really fared quite well in this first scuffle. We could either advertise for someone else willing to try out the system and the funnel concept, or you could each take on a fourth character to boost the numbers (though 3 is already probably quite the organizational feat).
Any thoughts or preferences? If not, I'll just make a call.
So this next week is spring break here, meaning that I'm not at work and home with my kids/travelling. It also means that time here will be at a minimum (as typical on weekends). I know things have slowed a bit, and this may be a good time to call it if that's what you guys are feeling. Maybe it's a new system, or just the confusion of having multiple characters rather than one persona you can really get behind. But we can make that decision definite or not in a week.
If it's better to drop this, there's no hard feelings and I hope to play with all of you in the future, as this has been a lot of fun. Thanks for indulging my desire to run a funnel!
Likewise, I'd appreciate any feedback you could give on what could improve something like this in the future. I'm always looking for ways to get better, and PbP is a tricky format. So please, even if it's just a sentence or two, any insight on what could be improved is extremely valuable!
Thanks!
I personally really enjoy your GM style and I am looking forward to seeing which of my characters will survive to the game's official start. Maybe one thing I would have done differently is gone to greater lengths to prevent the party from splitting up; it's hard enough keeping track of 3 characters at once without having to remember where each one went! Still, enjoy the game so far and I hope it continues.
I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach when I joined this game. This has nothing to do with your GMing ability - I just don't feel like I can keep up with it at a reasonable pace. So I'm going to bow out now while I have the chance.
Have fun, everyone!
I still really like the concept of this game, despite my lack of recent posting. I've been trying to formulate something, but I've been struggling to get together anything meaningful or sensible. A lot of that comes down to having some rough days of not being able to post right as combat ended, and since then the forums have been very spotty most of the time. It's all compounded to leave me without a new post, and I'm sorry about that.
At this point we're down several players, though, so I could see a need to start over or scrap the project. It was fun regardless, and I'd love to keep going, but I understand if we don't.
I greatly appreciate the feedback, and splitting up the masses really would make things incredibly hard to track. I'm describing what's in my head, so it's easy for me to follow ;) but would be quite difficult for everyone else! That makes a lot of sense.
There's something I really dig about this system and would like to give it a fair shake, but there's still a lot of funnel left. Bringing in some new people leaves a lot of the information previously established, unknown. But we might be able to work this out.
I'll think on it and see how things are feeling on Monday when my break is over. Donovan and Loup still want to continue? (Honestly, I've jumped at games that sounded fun and found my own interest waning as it just didn't pan out as I had pictured. I have no judgment there, as I'm taking a whack at feeling out the system too. So if you're not sure, now's a great time to bow out.)
Then I'll know whether I should push for some more players for the grinder, or put this thing out of its misery and find another weird western game to run (as that itch certainly hasn't been scratched yet).
Whatever you got planned at the end of the day, I want in!
I'm certainly down to continue trying. I feel like this is a neat, different sort of system, and I like the beginnings of characters that we've got going so far.