DM Brainiac |
Welcome to the game! I look forward to a fun campaign.
Some notes:
I will roll passive Perception checks for your characters when the situation calls for them. To speed things along in combat, I will roll initiative for everybody. Those whose initiative scores are higher than the enemies can post their actions, I'll summarize the results and the enemies' actions, then everybody can post for the following round's actions.
I am usually online weekdays between 4:00 AM and noon, and can check in sporadically the rest of the afternoon. I can usually post a few times each day during the week, but my access is limited on the weekends.
As a heads up, my wife and I are expecting the birth of our second child in July. When that happens, I'll likely not be able to post much for a month or so until I return to work, at which point I will be able to resume regular posting in the mornings, though my afternoon posts will likely drop off after that.
Bernal Iacomo |
Bernal Iacomo, reporting in. I'll have time later today to read everyone's backstories, then how about we try and find some ways to tie the characters to each other?
Maya Watersby |
Thank you for the selection, DM Brainiac! I’m looking forward to being a part of one of your games and it looks like we’ve got a great group of folks.
A few questions before we get things rolling: To confirm, did Lady Lotheed freeing Maya make the most sense? Also, with Maya’s non-campaign trait, Pomp and Pageantry, is it okay to assume she always takes the extra time needed for the appropriate checks? Assuming we’re not in combat, of course. Lastly (for now, at least), how do you want us to handle the campaign traits or lack thereof? Should we assume we have a particular one or just ignore them for now? Hope those weren’t too many questions right at the start, but ideally they’ll save us some time going forward.
Bernal: I’ll also have some time later today to read everyone’s backstories and would certainly be interested in finding connections, if any make sense.
DM Brainiac |
Yes, it makes sense for Lady Lotheed to have freed you, Maya. It's okay to assume you take the extra time needed so long as there aren't any time constraints on you.
Your initial missions are supposed to be based on your campaign traits, but I'll assign them based on which skills your character is best at. So you can ignore the campaign traits for the time being, and select one when the Player's Guide finally comes out.
Doritan, you can only make either a Diplomacy check or Knowledge (nobility) check for each topic, not both. I'll go ahead and use your Diplomacy checks since your bonus with that skill is higher.
Maya Watersby |
Alright, sounds good. Maya can be long winded on occasion, so I think she would take every opportunity she gets to use that trait.
As far as character connections go, I had a chance to read everyone's backstories. It was good to see such a variety. I also found it interesting that a couple of you took Halfling as a language. Maya will be surprised when she learns you speak her heart language.
It looks like Maya's the only one who's lived in Oppara her whole life, though Elif was born there. I'm not sure that prior connections with Elif, Bernal, or Doritan make sense given where they're from and Maya's station in life prior to the campaign. I suppose she could have a connection through the Watersby noble family, though the family is based in Oppara.
I think Katria's actually the one Maya's most likely to know beforehand. It sounds like she spent at least a year or two in Oppara prior to the campaign. Her halfling caretakers could also have known or even been related to Maya and her parents. Alternately, Katria could be familiar with the Watersby family and might have bumped into Nerosa during her studies in Oppara.
Doritan Umbreal |
So I just realized that I wrote (taking 10) in my sleight of hand check, and then rolled a d20 anyway. I suppose it's only fair that I would only get a 24 for the check, since apparently my mind was in two different places at once when writing the post. Should still be plenty for most searches, though. Hopefully
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
Hey all,
First of all thanks for the selection. I’m only sporadically checking in at the moment (I’m visiting my wife, who’s a Ned student overseas and will be home in 8 days and can post regularly then). Sorry I’ll be getting a slow start!
Happy to look for some commonalities in backgrounds if people want. Also as noted Katrina could easily be another class if needed. I’ll check what everyone else has going on asap.
Elif Aylin |
Hello, everyone.
Firstly, thanks for the selection, GM Brainiac. It's good of you to run two tables.
Secondly, to the group, I look forward to playing alongside you.
I'm open to building prior connections with people, however Elif's only been in Oppara a mere few months (since returning). I'm not sure how she would have met people at this point. I have read through the other character backstories and I can't see a place they would have met, yet.
As to time frames re posting, I live in the southern hemisphere and I may not be around to post when I'm sleeping and the northern hemisphere folk are posting in their early mornings. I do my best to work around the time issue and will post as soon as I'm up. It hasn't been a problem in my past games and I don't foresee it being so now. I'm just giving everyone a heads-up is all. My time zone is GMT+11, Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Maya Watersby |
Motteditor, in my opinion, Katria being an occultist works really well. We'll have one divine, one arcane, and one psychic caster. It also works with your backstory of her parents being disappointed in her lack of magical skills, since they probably wouldn't be familiar with occult magic (I'm guessing). Also, does this mean the rest of us get entries in Redinald Delaval's treatise? : D
I have to agree with you, Elif, I'm not sure many prior connections would make sense and any we did make might feel forced. There's definitely something to be said for getting to know brand-new people, so I don't think we should feel too bad about it if we can't find any. For Maya, she's been pretty isolated, so probably at most she might have heard of some of you by name, but wouldn't actually know you.
Elif Aylin |
I'm good with organically growing the relationships among the party. It does make it a little more interesting as they try to find their footing with one another and within the group. :)
And to motte, I'm also good with your character as is. Enjoy your quality time with your wife. It's nice to be in a game with you, again. It's been a while. To the other players, I look forward to getting to know you better.
Doritan Umbreal |
The ability says that,
This bonus applies only while he is near the community in which he has gained renown; he must be within a number of miles equal to his vigilante level.
Granted, the wording is a little unclear as to whether all bonuses from Renown (benefits in both social and vigilante identity) extend that far, or just vigilante identity, so I'll accept your ruling, but it is fairly clear that I get a bonus on Intimidate for more than just 200 people.
Doritan Umbreal |
Looking at everyone's stats, and going solely off of the highest bonus, it would seem that this could be a good way to divide the tasks (I'm presuming they all need to be done?)
Messages: Doritan/Bernal (+1 CMB each)
Learning the vote: Elif (+6 Perception)
Discrediting: Maya (+5 Sense Motive, +8 Bluff)
Baron: Maya (+9/+10 Diplomacy) or Bernal/Doritan (+6 Intimidate each)
Wine: None of us have Disable Device.
Political Rivals: Elif (+6 Perception, +10 Stealth)
Artifacts: Doritan (+7 Sleight of Hand)
Doritan Umbreal |
Okay, then. The only problem is that Katria doesn't have the highest bonus on any of the skill checks we need (barring some class ability not factored into her stats- I've never played an occultist).
Maya Watersby |
Your list looks good, Doritan. If we only have to do five tasks, I would suggest forgoing messages and wine, based on our bonuses.
DM, are we able to Aid Another or something similar on the checks? Or is it only one mission per person?
Maya Watersby |
Alright, then. I forgot to mention this in Maya’s last gameplay post, but she’ll just take one smoke pellet, if that’s okay. She’s got a sling and some bullets along with a small dagger that she can hopefully keep on her should conflict occur.
Maya Watersby |
Elif brought up a really good point in her last post (in addition to her question about weapons). Do we want to assume we all talked about our strengths and weaknesses to determine who should lead on which tasks? Or do we want to rp that out in the gameplay thread? I imagine this would be the kind of thing a face-to-face table typically discusses out-of-character.
Elif Aylin |
DM Brainiac, is there an alcove where the weapons that don't fit the rules of the Senate can be kept and retrieved without too much trouble? Elif has an Elven Branched Spear as her main weapon and that is 2-handed and a tad noticeable in formal company... Haha. If it's necessary, then I might need to change weapon, if it's allowable at this early stage?
DM Brainiac |
The map of the senate is now at the top of the page. I've made it editable in Google Slides so you can move your icons to the different parts of the building. The grassy area south of the building will stand in for the gallery since it doesn't appear on the map. I'll also put icons for each of the NPCs to show their locations. Note that the art for Okerra and Pythareus are placeholders for now--hopefully we'll get official portraits for each one soon.
Elif Aylin |
Sorry for the holdup. It’s Saturday, here, and I’m undertaking my carer duties which I have over my weekends. I’m two hours from home, so I won’t be able to post until my afternoon (about 4 hours from now).
DM Brainiac |
After this initial check, there will be an event, then we will begin social rounds. Each round is approximately 15 minutes, during which you can take one action to either influence a room, influence one NPC, or make a check towards one of your missions. The gala is scheduled to last 4 hours before the vote, so you'll have about 16 rounds to accomplish everything you want to do.
motteditor RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 |
In the airport to head home. Hope to get caught up tonight or tomorrow if I’m too jet lagged. I haven’t read any gameplay yet but looking forward to joining in. GM, please shoot me a PM if there’s anything specific you want me to do in terms of game entry. (If it’s clear I’ve been along all along from game play, don’t worry about it). Thanks!
DM Brainiac |
I just received book 2 of the AP, and with it, official art for Baron Nicolaus Okerra.
Bernal, it's been a few days since we've seen a post from you. Just want to be sure you're still around! I'll keep moving to prevent the other players from being held up, but hopefully you can check in soon.
Maya Watersby |
Those are some excellent pictures!
As far as Lady Martella’s missions go, have we accomplished three so far? Make a strong impression on Baron Okerra, discrediting senators, and undermining Earl Vernisant? Or do we still need to discredit more opponents?
Maya Watersby |
Alright, so assuming Doritan's able to grab one more, that just leaves us with finishing up the Duke Centimus/Countess Abrielle Pace mission and dealing with High Strategos Maxillar Pythareus. I can help with the Sense Motive check, but I think some others are probably better at that. I think I'll have Maya try influencing the general senate floor again for this round. I know we have quite a few more rounds to accomplish everything, but I figure we should probably focus on the necessary first and whatever else we can accomplish can just be a bonus.
Katria Delaval |
So, the tasks (ones we're not working on are OOC; ones we've completed are struck through; ones in progress are in bold):
Messages: Doritan/Bernal (+1 CMB each)
Learning the vote: Elif (+6 Perception)
Discrediting: Maya (+5 Sense Motive, +8 Bluff)
Baron: Maya (+9/+10 Diplomacy) or Bernal/Doritan (+6 Intimidate each)
Wine: None of us have Disable Device
Political Rivals: Elif (+6 Perception, +10 Stealth)
Artifacts: Doritan (+7 Sleight of Hand)
Doritan, I suggest you head back and try to snag one more artifact to finish that task.
Maya, I suggest you go chat up Baron Okerra (and, yeah, nice art!)
Elif, I suggest finish learning the vote and then perhaps go try to catch up on Pythareus (the political rivals task).
As for me, I can try to help Elif or try to just influence entire rooms some more; any thoughts on what people would prefer?
ETA: Ninja'd; Maya, I think you forgot about the Baron task.
ETA Again: Never mind that first ETA; misread Maya's post above.