Let's get started!
heh. I'm getting the feeling that Berrin will be making some lawful nerves twitch.
"Huh? What!? Taxes! I earned this fair and square!" Berrin exclaims. "Besides... It's going straight back into the economy." he says as he gets up and heads for the Calistraid temples.
"The Economy"...? Is that what the kids are calling it these days? ;-)
"Don't worry Berrin as party treasurer I've already ensured we've all paid our rightful contribution, so you can enjoy Taxfest with a clear conscience and your head held high! Now, would you call your, um, investments in soiled doves adventuring expenses or luxuries?" ;)
I really like the idea of Verrik and party treasurer. Tandlara certainly doesn't have much interest in it.
That sounds good too me Verrik :)
Oh, and I'm fine with the loot distibution system. My rl group splits the loot by who wants what, then sells the rest and splits the gold. It ensures that no items go to waste if they fit for a character but the distribution is never spot on even. I'm fine with wichever system you guys choose, but I'd hate to see a good item wasted becouse someone got the boots of speed so he can't have the armor too even though noone else can use it or wants it.
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In practice the proposed system lets nothing go to waste, because you are effectively getting found items for half price so if anyone can use them they are invariably snapped up.
Actually I see Zander already volunteered and has spreadsheet ready to go. if he does not object I'll have Verik do it IC, but he can do it OOC.
Now what do we do if two or more characters want the same item? I'd suggest straight d20 rolls, highest getting them item, we can justify this by a coin flip, or drawing straws IC.
Great! Also, I'm getting humongous entertainment from Verrik's shyness with women! Especially compared to Taispar and Berrin.
Tandlara sits on one of the benches just outside the guest house, her legs folded smoothly beneath her, her rat pacing back and forth across her shoulders.
Her slight bemused smile never leaves her face as she watches the humans hustle and bustle back and forth.
When Verrik voices his mild concern she pipes up however, for the first time in a while.
'But Verrik, young dear. It's no diffferent to sharing a campsite? Surely you'd not deny me,' she smiles more widely at him, 'Or any of our companions shared warmth if we were to huddle together in a single tent in a blizzard?'
'No, Verrik! I think your a well meaning boy! Why I'm sure you'd cuddle in with the rest of us if we were so threatened by the elements! So what's three of four feet of seperation! A vast gulf! Your chastity will remain untarnished!'
She beams at him again, before returning to looking idly into space, abosrbing the energy and sounds of the gathering.
Verik - doing a passable impersonation of a tomato - stares at Tandlara for a moment, before managing to stammer, "I, uh, circumstances, dictates of practicality, ah, propriety, um, endure elements... Excuse me!" Before fleeing around the nearest corner at something just short of a run.
Safely out of sight the young cleric mops his brow, momentarily indulges in some speculation about the situation the elven woman described.
"I should have said Tandalar could huddle together with Jemini..." He says, before concluding that this is little better, or possibly too much better. And of course this brings the horrible thought of having to huddle together with Taisper, who would no doubt be far too cheerful when freezing to death.
After reciting the tenants of Abadar, and making a mental list of profoundly unstimulating things - and pointedly not thinking about his one amorous encounter with Acolyte Kerrianna and her lovely lips - he manages to compose himself and returns to the group.
...I think I've found my favorite two characters
@Verik: How wold this system handle items that exeed the partys effective gold limit. For ex. if had amassed a net woth of 20.000gp a piece and found a holy avenger or a staff of the magi? Said items would blow them way over the top of even distribution and no way would anyone let the items slide. Would they then miss out on loot for the remainder of the campaign untill their debt is paid?
Read: I'm having second thoughts on the merrits of the system...
It isn't a problem at all; whoever wishes to acquire the Staff of the Magi is required to pay off the item over time. It does not need to be bought as a lump-sum.
For example: item costs 50000 to buy from the party. Person X wishes to acquire it but only has 10000 available at the time. He pays 10000 and notes an additional debt of 40000 on his character sheet. Subsequently when more future loot is divided, the money he should get is instead subtracted from his debt and divided among the other party members.
For example, the party acquires an additional lump sum of 24000 - each party member gets 4000; but player X uses it to reduce his debt by 4000 and each other player gets an additional 800
It isn't a problem at all; whoever wishes to acquire the Staff of the Magi is required to pay off the item over time. It does not need to be bought as a lump-sum.
For example: item costs 50000 to buy from the party. Person X wishes to acquire it but only has 10000 available at the time. He pays 10000 and notes an additional debt of 40000 on his character sheet. Subsequently when more future loot is divided, the money he should get is instead subtracted from his debt and divided among the other party members.
For example, the party acquires an additional lump sum of 24000 - each party member gets 4000; but player X uses it to reduce his debt by 4000 and each other player gets an additional 800
Exactly this. It's a solid system. It allows everyone to stay even and take what loot they want.
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*nods* This is the system I always use, through several very long campaigns, its never let us down. Besides I think we might be getting somewhat ahead of ourselves with Holy Avengers and Staffs of the Magi! Its an AP so I don't imagine we'll see anything wildly deviating from appropriate wealth levels, certainly not for some years of play at nay rate.
I figure Verik entered the Church early and has always been rather bookish, so he's bound to be rather shy around the fairer sex. Plus great comedic potential, lol.
Tandalar is very entertaining and an almost perfect counter point to Verik's stuffiness.
Ok. Now I'm in debt for my Holy Avenger for the next 50.000 gold coming my way and along comes a headband of aluring charisma +infinity. Noone wants the headband and noone can use it to the same effect I can. Now what?
Or holding my staff of the magi proudly in hand a lvl 9 pearl of power drops in my lap. I pick it up and admire it's blilliant glitter as I familiaryze myself with it. Suddenly the ttesurer snatches it from my hands saying; "Ah, ah, aah!" and wags a finger. "You are in debt by my ledger.
[b]"But I'm the only mage in the party!" I cry.
"No matter. The ledger must by payed." is his replie.
Ok. Now I'm in debt for my Holy Avenger for the next 50.000 gold coming my way and along comes a headband of aluring charisma +infinity. Noone wants the headband and noone can use it to the same effect I can. Now what?
Or holding my staff of the magi proudly in hand a lvl 9 pearl of power drops in my lap. I pick it up and admire it's blilliant glitter as I familiaryze myself with it. Suddenly the ttesurer snatches it from my hands saying; "Ah, ah, aah!" and wags a finger. "You are in debt by my ledger.
[b]"But I'm the only mage in the party!" I cry.
"No matter. The ledger must by payed." is his replie.
Its a weakness, but only if we find gear that mostly of use to only one character. That's unlikely to happen. So one character is unlikely to be so in debt. If they are its likely that the other characters have gotten almost no suitable treasure. It's not really gonna come up in game. It's an AP, and the DM wouldn't conciously place all treasure to suit one guy.
Furthermore, it is always possible to sink even *more* into debt. And it is always possible for a bit of inter-character deal making between characters:
1. Monk to Wizard: "I shall cover your 2000gp debt, in return you ensure that I have an extended mage armor cast on me every day."
2. Fighter to Bard: "Of course I can help you with those 10000gp - I just require a small token of your understanding. You are rather fetching and my nights can be so lonely."
meh.. I just saying.
I know it's highly unlikely but I'm just making a point. I'm fine with the system as long as it doesn't get silly stiff.
Btw, I'm loving the dynamics :)
As I mentioned in the intro post I've found the best way to handle an item that outvalues everything else is to simply set it aside from this loot equation and let the player hold onto it, but keep it effectively still in the ownership of the party until it has been included in an official split. Simple example:
Party finds 1000 gp and a belt of strength (4000 gp value). Berrin wants the belt, but can't afford it out of his party share or the money that he currently has on hand. Instead of creating a complicated debt system, we simply set the belt aside in a separate page of the spreadsheet titled Party Loot. Berrin still wears the belt which benefits the party greatly by him hitting stuff in the face real hard. A few days later the party finds 20000 gp so when splitting up this 20k, we toss Berrin's belt back in the loot equation and everyone else in the party gets 3666.66 gp while Berrin gets 1666.66 gp and gains full ownership of his belt. Simple, effective, and fully equitable.
As for deciding who gets a disputed item, I think a coin toss/dice roll is a good idea, but hopefully with all of us keeping a party oriented mindset we won't have people claiming loot when another party member would benefit more. Also if it is a situation where an item would have to be paid partially out of pocket, the player who can actually afford to do so would trump the penniless one.
Speaking back to the Party Loot page that I mentioned, I'm going to go ahead and suggest that all healing or otherwise useful potions, healing wands, and things of that nature be automatically put in the Party Loot and distributed fairly throughout the party. These are items that benefit all of us so no one should have to pay a portion of their loot for one.
In other news, things seem to be going great so far. I'm really enjoying everyone's interactions and am looking forward to Zander getting around to opening up a bit so he can join in more. If anyone wants to take stabs at pulling him out of his shell, I'd be more than happy for him to have the chance to deal with his problems and get over himself. What a baby, jeez. My hope for his character development is that he eventually gets comfortable enough with the party to leave his mask behind and realize that he can actually have friends and live a normal life without having to always be afraid of people being repulsed by him for his face. I imagine it will take a lot of work and some interesting interactions with the party before he's anywhere near that point though. In the meantime I'm really hoping I can keep him from being too much a downer and a stick in the mud as that's generally no fun for anyone. It is quite a roleplaying challenge indeed to strike the balance between interesting character with inner turmoil and fun character to play and have in the party.
Also, you guys are posting maniacs while I'm asleep! Curse my late time zone! :P
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I'm in the dying throws of swine flu, and thus perhaps a little more posty than usual due to being virtually house bound - though I'm usually pretty darn posty.
I'm never entirely keen on what serves the party best thinking, generally things make sense, but if I see something that I'm drooling over I don't want to be forced to give up all claim to it because mechanically its better for someone else. So while I think it should inform decisions I would not want it to be a hard and fast rule as such.
I definitely agree of healing items, I'm not sure about expensive items simply going to someone because it benefits the whole party. Maybe I'm a selfish git, but I don't count a +2 Str item for the fighter as a party item at all. On the other hand if I cross out party items and scribble in lay away items its virtually identical to the other system effectively. :)
I'm in the dying throws of swine flu, and thus perhaps a little more posty than usual due to being virtually house bound - though I'm usually pretty darn posty.
I'm never entirely keen on what serves the party best thinking, generally things make sense, but if I see something that I'm drooling over I don't want to be forced to give up all claim to it because mechanically its better for someone else. So while I think it should inform decisions I would not want it to be a hard and fast rule as such.
I definitely agree of healing items, I'm not sure about expensive items simply going to someone because it benefits the whole party. Maybe I'm a selfish git, but I don't count a +2 Str item for the fighter as a party item at all. On the other hand if I cross out party items and scribble in lay away items its virtually identical to the other system effectively. :)
I don't propose that expensive items simply go to someone because it benefits the party. The item would just be set aside as counted as the party's property until we were able to get more loot allowing the item to be taken out of the claimant's share. If someone else wanted the item in the meantime and was able to pay the gold cost for it, it would be theirs. As for giving up a claim on an item because it would benefit someone else more, that's entirely a personal choice and definitely not a rule.
I'm never entirely keen on what serves the party best thinking, generally things make sense, but if I see something that I'm drooling over I don't want to be forced to give up all claim to it because mechanically its better for someone else. So while I think it should inform decisions I would not want it to be a hard and fast rule as such.
I feel similarly. That is why I'm particularly keen to play in "unbalanced" parties. (e.g. parties without a cleric, parties without arcane magic, parties that consist entirely of paladins, etc) Such games open up whole new avenues of challenges - while making traditional problems a cakewalk.
If anybody here plays roguelike games (Angband, Nethack, ADOM, etc) - it kinda comes down to playing a challenge game "vegetarian", "atheist", "eternium challenge", etc - i.e. good fun :)
I'm really impressed so far. I know I made the right decision with this group. I'm glad I spent the effort to thoroughly vet everyone to build a good party. I'm enjoying your interactions and chemistry as a party.
I'm really impressed so far. I know I made the right decision with this group. I'm glad I spent the effort to thoroughly vet everyone to build a good party. I'm enjoying your interactions and chemistry as a party.
Aw shucks! Well hopefully we'll have settled on a plan in 14 hours so that you can get the party started!
I am having a huge amount of fun myself! Everyone is interesting and having great interactions. And they are all quite flawed in various ways, nobody thinks their Batman! And they don't all fit totally well together, which is really interesting, yet their not going to get too disruptive and fight each other. It's a nice balance.
Just had a thought on out coming nations crest; A bear and a bull, rearing back-to-back with an eagle with his wings spread over them.
Strength, endurance and wisdom? Whatchya reckon?
I'm really impressed so far. I know I made the right decision with this group. I'm glad I spent the effort to thoroughly vet everyone to build a good party. I'm enjoying your interactions and chemistry as a party.Aw shucks! Well hopefully we'll have settled on a plan in 14 hours so that you can get the party started!
I am having a huge amount of fun myself! Everyone is interesting and having great interactions. And they are all quite flawed in various ways, nobody thinks their Batman! And they don't all fit totally well together, which is really interesting, yet their not going to get too disruptive and fight each other. It's a nice balance.
+1
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Yay us, we rock! :)
As to the crest, I think three animals is probably a little too busy for my taste. To me a good crest is simple, bold, and elegant. IC Verik would certainly push for a symbol of Abadar to be a prominent component, these being a Golden Key, Hippogriff, or more obliquely the scales of justice.
Yay us, we rock! :)
As to the crest, I think three animals is probably a little too busy for my taste. To me a good crest is simple, bold, and elegant. IC Verik would certainly push for a symbol of Abadar to be a prominent component, these being a Golden Key, Hippogriff, or more obliquely the scales of justice.
Heh... Good luck on that one ;)
At this rate we'll reach lvl 2 before in game sundown on account of DM Barcas's posting xp award ;)
Zander will most likely suggest something symbolizing the common man if possible, but I'd have to give more thought to it later. I'm probably mostly in favor with something involving input from all of us whatever we choose so maybe one of Abadar's symbols along with some other stuff.
A bent tin can spilling ale is my suggestion them if were dedicating the nation to the gods ;)
What are your email addresses? For the map.
You've got me right?
smashthedean at gmail dot com for googledocs
smashthedean at yahoo dot com if you actually need to email me anything
black.leonhart@gmail.com
Bad pun!
henrihakl
I don't really know yet what kind of crest Jemini would support. Probably will depend a bit more on her experiences in the Stolen Lands themselves.
I hope in the long-term development between Zander and Jemini proceeds as I'm predicting
I hope in the long-term development between Zander and Jemini proceeds as I'm predicting
It will be interesting however it turns out. They're pretty well-set to have some great interactions.
I'm off to bed - and most of tomorrow will be spent on one of our real life campaigns (in this case Council of Thieves). I'll try to get at least one post in before it starts.
"Drag Lord"
lol - is that intentional?
Stag autocorrects to Drag on this phone, which I did not notice. Puts a whole new spin on things.
Wow. I would have snorted milk had I been drinking milk!
I wonder if he'll try and steal Jemini and Tandlara's clothes?
I couldn't resist... The Drag Lord
Ha!
I find it pretty funny that our highest Initiative (+6) rolled a 1, while our worst (-2) rolled a 20. That's fate right there. Jemini, RP the luck of your fortune!
And yes, I did use Zander's #1 fear in the first fight. Bam!
I find it pretty funny that our highest Initiative (+6) rolled a 1, while our worst (-2) rolled a 20. That's fate right there. Jemini, RP the luck of your fortune!
And yes, I did use Zander's #1 fear in the first fight. Bam!
Eep! I'll call Zander's momentary freeze up from fear before he overcame it with that sweet 11 save the excuse for his 1 init roll. I'm just glad I wasn't in that bed!
I literally just woke up to all of this. So it rather expertly caught me by surprise!