No real favorites out there. I like the blond guy with the shield (#64), but I use that icon for my cavalier and don't like to double up. So we'll go with this unsmiling sourpuss.
I hoped to get some response posts up last night, but Friday nights can be busy. Saturdays are busy as well, but hopefully I can eke out a little time. If not, the rest of the week is very slow and I will have an opportunity to post then.
I feel like I need a clarification on the setting.
We, as players, know that this is a dystopia. But for our characters it is still an amazing and almost perfect utopia, right?
I ask because of your NPC reaction to Archelaos' casual remark. Does Archelaos, as an artist and fully-convinced Hermean, fear something like the secret police? Isn't he convinced that trying to push up a decision would, at worst, result in a stern but civilized rebuke?
There's probably a little bit of fear - perhaps just that they might be ejected rather than fear of violence, but fear nonetheless. There is tremendous social pressure to conform, and the existence of coercive forces (such as the Oculus) is not a secret. (Some might be convinced that they are not a danger, or others might be convinced that they are doing a great service, or others might not give it much thought one way or another.) I suppose everyone looks at it differently. If Archelaos is convinced of that, have him be convinced of that. His eyes will be opened soon enough to the true nature of Hermea.
The scaling is a little off, but the rough placement is accurate.
Apologies for the posting delay: Six Nations weekend...
I like your explanation: if Hermea were too obviously repressive, it would be less easy to mistake for a paradise. Presumably it's a little more Brave New World (although with rather more sexual decorum!) than 1984?
There's a bit of both Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-four in Hermea. Both are part of the intellectual framework for the campaign.
Hermea is an inherently fascist place. It has a classic cult of personality in Mengkare. It has a expert-led command economy in which the means of production and the fruits of labor are all controlled by the state, which redistributes everything according to their needs - the Bismarck model taken to its completion. Symbolism and pageantry are very important. Ideological non-conformity is strongly discouraged, sometimes using violent coercion. It does lack a xenophobic aspect, though it still heavily features nationalism and the innate superiority of the race. A strict hierarchy is enforced, akin to a paramilitary organization. (In Hermea, in fact, everyone is considered an actual member of the nation's army. Lucarus leads the defense, but everyone is fair game to be called to defend the nation.) The rule of law is primarily based on dictatorial dictat rather than actual codified laws based on individual liberties.
The 13-word pledge uttered at the beginning is actually based off a quote by Mussolini.
If Archelaos is convinced of that, have him be convinced of that. His eyes will be opened soon enough to the true nature of Hermea.
Yes, I had "naive" and a bit smug as one of the foundations of Archelaos' personality - which is why he has full ranks in social abilities and no SEnse Motive. I think I'll go with him being still pretty convinced of the utopia - if not for Càlina's visions.
My humble apologies, had to terminate two employees this weekend at work so things got crazy picking up their slack in the kitchen. Working on a fleshed out post now.
Given the innate cultural, technological, and biological superiority demonstrated by the Hermean people, they make look at the rest of humanity, and other civilized races much as the European explorers and colonists viewed the native populations of North and South America (as a lesser form of being; uneducated, savage, backwards, in need of guidance) and thus treat them with a combination of pity and contempt.
Did we lose DM Barcas?
Nope, just some nights having more free time than others.
Bah. I'm usually conscientious about copying a post before I hit submit... But the one time I forget, it crashes.
Those are the worst moments.
I still need a profile (crunch and background) from Soractus. Let's make sure that we have them all finished. Any last points to go over?
I still need a profile (crunch and background) from Soractus. Let's make sure that we have them all finished. Any last points to go over?
Whoops, my bad! I never copied it over. Should all be fixed and there now. :D
I forgot to mention that Archelaos is actually from Torch. It is where his accident occurred. It is a small farmstead on the north side of the island.
I'm going to let you guys talk for a little while before I have the briefing agent arrive.
Does Dryth know anything about the Torch farm or anyone who might be there?
Last call for interactions at the table. One more day and I will move us to the briefing.
All the farmsteads are small, self-contained towns with similar levels of control as Promise, with 500-1000 Residents living in each. Torch isn't particularly special, as far as any of you know.
How are we handling the requisitions? Is this the standard "150 gp" purchasing items from the PHB (hence the 'conventional guns and blades' line), or do we have access to other equipment? Is anything at a different cost if we are limited to a total?
It wasn't an outburst form Soractus... more of a quiet warning. "There are people here we might not be able to trust implicitly, the way we do those here in Promise."
Though this newer post, could easily be described as an outburst if you like.
He might have some trust issues...
Meh, Dryth is just touchy about it more than anything. He still feels those are his people, and they deserve more. He is probably blind to any element of unworthiness or at least quick to dismiss it.
You can requisition 200 gp worth of items, plus one advanced firearm (ammo included) and a panic suit. You also have 60 shared silverdisks. Mission-specific items like a radiation detector and gas masks will also be supplied.
Drat. Artemios cancels his requisition for a PGMP-15 and Battle Dress.
I'll have a requisition list by tonight.
Okay, we've got a day or two to get ready to get moving! I should be available for posting all of later today (Saturday) starting about about 3:00pm local time. I will be checking often on my phone, so go for it if you want to get some interactions (NPC or otherwise) in.
Firearms are martial weapons, but they're still handy for others because they attack Touch AC at close range (effectively negating a proficiency penalty).
I thought Radiation detectors, firearms, and the panic suit were outside the 200gp limit. So really Dryth is just requesting Ion tape, zip stick, (which are in the technological gear section), waterskin, rations, backpack, waterproof bag, tar bomb, alchemist fire, and smoked goggles.
He's non-proficient with a firearm, but he has his Acid Splash cantrip. Not as damaging, but also doesn't use ammo.
Yep, y'all can have a radiation detector to share, a firearm each, and a panic suit each.
Hi guys, I would like to apologize in advance. I had to terminate my chef, two cooks, and a server in the last 24 hours. As such, I am very short staffed at work and my posting with probably dip for the next week. I will try to get on as much as possible, but if I have not posted in a timely fashion, welcome the GM or another player to post on my behalf.
Given the drastically limited historical presence of "pepperbox rifles", the presence of revolvers, and Hermea's technological advancement, can we reskin the "rifle, pepperbox" as simply a rifle with a small internal magazine?
Second question: is the 200 gp worth of gear (+listed items) in addition to the 150 gp starting gold you discussed us planning on having, or in place of? Just checking for clarity.
200 gp total.
Pepperbox reskin is fine. They're pretty advanced.
Thats what I figured, thanks for the clarification.
Thanks - I'll change the pistol to a revolver.
In that case, I'll drop the Ion tape, zip stick, and tar bomb. Just the essentials, then.
I'd much rather have a melee weapon than a revoler in which I'm not proficient. With arcane strike and a good strength I can put it to good use.
If a longsword or rapier cannot be justified in this society, than a mace refluffed as a tactical baton would do.
What about armor? Can light armor be refluffed as a reinforced padded jacket, like one a motorbike rider would wear?
Panic suit aside, I guess that anything that could be needed we have - pen and paper, equipment to measure time, binoculars...
Hermeans are encouraged to learn any weapon that interests them, longswords and rapiers included.
I'm feeling a bit sick, I hope to get better and be able to reply properly tomorrow or Thursday. Sorry guys.
Strange few days for me. I will get us moving tomorrow.
Who calls driver? Shotgun?
Oh, shotgun is most definitely Artemios!
1) Valarius hasn't checked in for a while. Still with us?
2) How do you want to make the approach?
My humble apologies, still here, still dealing with anarchy at work. Will post this morning.
Does that 20% concealment apply to me, given Low-Light Vision?
Now is a good time for me to explain my in-combat policies. I try to run through combat efficiently but with clarity and solid prose.
1) I will roll the Initiatives to save time (unless you're looking to provoke a combat during a social situation or something).
2) I'm not a stickler for posting in exact order, as long as the NPCs don't get skipped.
3) I give all of you the enemy's hit points, AC, and saves. I give these to you as a matter of trust. I want you to write your own hit or miss narratives, and roll the enemy's saves against your abilities. Likewise, I expect you to roll attacks of opportunity if you provoke them; I will roll your attacks of opportunity if the NPCs provoke them. Depending on the situation, I might ask you to roll a save or I might roll them for you.
4) Don't forget about Hero Points.
5) I like a pretty specific type of combat post. Nothing irks me more than a roll and one generic line of text. I like a Round/Initiative count and the hp/AC/saves/effects current on the PC at the end of his actions. I also like it clearly spelled out what he is doing, broken down into specific move/standard/swift actions, and accompanying narrative descriptions. Below is an example of what I am looking for, using something akin to your current situation for inspiration.
Valarius rushes forward, having readied his mind for combat. His hand trembles on the blade's hilt ever-so-slightly, concerned about the possibility of having to kill his fellow Hermeans. As he closes in on the nearest of the three men, he feels his instincts take over. As he nears the man, he can see him start to draw back his bow - but he still can't mentally bring himself to kill another of humanity's greatest hope. He swings his sword at the man, but the blade misses as Valarius pulls back at the last moment. "Surrender," he barks to the man, hoping vainly to avoid any bloodshed.
Does that 20% concealment apply to me, given Low-Light Vision?
"Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day."
Apparently, it does not.
For the purposes of Intimidate checks, can I get HD/Wis Mods on request? (Writing up a post using one now; given those will saves, it's certainly successful, just trying to figure out how successful.)
Sure - in this case, it is DC 12. Don't forget that you have to be within 30' and can only Intimidate one individual at a time.
Sure - in this case, it is DC 11. Don't forget that you have to be within 30'
Yup! Post updated.
and can only Intimidate one individual at a time
For now. >:)
Artemios - your post should have the header requested. I presume that you didn't see the OOC post before the IC post.