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Also, the more confusing the system is, the harder it is for the Empire's enemies to decipher!
I like what you are doing with the female-heir reform. It would certainly be something that would bring Lady Gabrielle into Eutropia's cause, though in pure Lady Gabrielle style, she would definitely be subtle about it!
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This movement has Val's full support as well, obviously.
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Eh, it gives Lord Rook something to do. And Irori teaches his faithful to be judgmental of all people, regardless of sex or ethnicity.
I love all the detailed titles. It helps a bit in my other game as I fashioned Lastwall and Taldor very heavily off of Roman/Byzantine culture, dress, architecture and military style.
I feel like you all have encyclopedic knowledge...
So... I'm at my F2F game right now. I'm 6 posts behind on the reading I'll be updating when I get home!
Sorry to make you all wait.
Post up! Thank you for your patience!
I feel like you all have encyclopedic knowledge...
In my case, its just lots of internet usage. I've only read a few history books, mostly around general subjects. When I want an area or character to feel truly authentic, I pour a lot of time into researching how I want them to come off. For example, I fashioned Vigil's walls off of COnstantinople. So each tower has a name, the walls were double layered. The marketplaces are in appropriate places with ties to various nearby areas. There's an entire policy for how and when merchants can enter the city since Vigilants are picky about who trades within, directing most foreigners to Vellumis instead. I had to research Byzantine styles of dress to describe the merchants, byzantine architecture to describe both the towers and the guild buildings. Byzantine military rank affects the titles various NPC watchguards have as well as how many watchguard there are on patrol or in different groups.
I find its more entertaining to make strong parallels. The Sczarni in the game rely on some readings about the Bulgarian mafia and have a structure similar to the Sicilian mafia while telling myths and legends fashioned after old Cuman/Hungarian stories.
Eh, I just love the random historical knowledge. I know some things, but titles is definitely not one of them.
You tend to pick up on the stuff if you play a lot of Paradox Interactive games. Crusader Kings II deals a LOT with titles and the feudal system in the early middle ages.
I also have down a profile for House Rubicon on my page! (Er, well its been there for awhile, but it's finished now!)
^This. Also, a lot of Gilbert & Sullivan.
Good to know.
Post up... It's big. sorry it took so long.
So, I want everyone to be aware, That item that I put up tonight, with the exception of its purpose, was completely randomly generated.
Hmm... no spoilers, but I recently created (intentionally) an item with remarkably similar fluff, for a game where each character is supposed to carry a signature item (and my character, being a bard, gave his some backstory).
You RNG'd up an Intelligent +5 weapon for the party fighter? *tips glasses* That sword is worth (including the Intelligence costs) more than everything Nev currently owns combined. About the only downside to the weapon is that Nev has to succeed a will check against the Ego to kill anything (probably with some exceptions).
Also, holy mother of history checks. Like...History 35? This weapon is as obscure as the freaking Rune Lords.
Luckily for me, I'm a Bard. So I can just take 20 on this one. You guys are kind of sol though.
No complaints here!
Although cold really isn't my thing.
More seriously, I think, from my player knowledge of reading the thing, that it won't let itself be wielded outside of a duel.
As in, it's specific treasure to be used only in duels (which I assume will be relevant soon).
If that's the case, and I think it is, I'm fine with it.
Yes, it's only intention is as a dueling weapon.
Ah okay. That makes more sense.
The story behind the blade was supposed to be "lost to history" sort of thing. Like back to the original founding of Taldor old.
And it's not like it's an epic tale, so getting lost in the obscurity of history is where I figured it would be best located.
And yes, I pulled up all the tables and rolled all the bits for the generator. (Then I added the magic aura bit based on the 'secretive' property)
HaHA! But you didn't count on a Bard now did you?!
There is no knowledge DC I can't make up to two times per day!
Ohohohoh~
If you are truly interested, the story is based on a RL duel between ladies in the 1500s. The Isabella de Carazzi and Diambra de Pettinella Duel of 1552 specifically. The only time in recorded history that two women dueled over a man. The outcome of the RL duel, went unrecorded, so I embellished, and Taldorized it!
....................../´¯/)
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............./´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
........../'/.../..../......./¨¯\
........('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
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Lol!
So, to answer the floating question, Nev did not just beomce "Honorguard" but earned the title (Or Nickname) "Honor Guard"...
The difference being that I meant to type Guardian of Honor, but was too tired and fell asleep typing. lol!
So, no, Honor Guard, in this case only, does not come with additional duties or oaths.
I guess knowledge religion would be applicable too, because technically it's a "holy relic" though that's probably just an exaggeration.
Then again, the angelskin and Elysian bronze... That's pretty "holy" by itself.
Well, it is a "blessed" sword of Sheyln. And it's strong enough to basically be a minor artifact.
Nev has noooo idea what this sword is.
Huh! I recently created almost the exact same sword for a game where characters are supposed to have a "signature item" and mine, a bard, made up stories about the powers and history of what is currently an ordinary sword.
Lol! His signature weapon is just a plain old piece of stabby metal, but he has an epic story about it?
Do the other characters have legit magical signature weapons?
It's a "will level up with the character" sort of deal, where the item eventually grants bonus feats (I'm starting with Enforcer in a few levels).
This curved sword, originally sized for a human, has had its hilt recently rebuilt from rosewood and bone to accomodate two small hands. Its blade ripples in bands of black and gray meteoric iron, forming a pattern of abstract shadow.
Teniel won the sword years ago, gambling at stories. The hunter who last carried it told the tale of a dead tall-man deep in the forest, his blade buried deep in the chest of the jaguar that had taken his life, blood smoothly spilling from the black metal without a spot of rust. The Dalang's response told of an ancient and cursed blade, fleeing the hand of any who brandished it in pride, vanity, or without an opponent; a blade which betrayed any hero who lacked humility or sought violence for its own end. Inevitably, he told, the Kabodhoan would seek a new master, hoping once again to find one who did not understand its power and thus would not abuse it. The man in the woods, now part of this story as well, had drawn his sword to chase down a jungle beast he should have avoided and let live, and thus it had let him perish.
When the tale was done, every shadow in the tavern pointed at Teniel, and when he spun the blade on the table before him its hilt came to a stop pointing straight at him. He's carried it ever since.
Level up with character weapons are awesome!
I'm a big fan of the removal of the "big 6" magic items via Unchained's new alternate rules too.
The automatic bonus progression is nice for low-magic settings, but it does really hurt melee characters in some campaigns, by taking away a large portion of your character customization options. (And can you imagine WotR without Demonbane? Or CotCT without Human Bane?)
I always forget that the magic weapon rules for it are awful. In implementing it in my game, I chose to go a different route of granting the enhancement bonus as a bonus to all weapons picked up and used while magic weapons still exist, don't cost any extra (a +1 weapon is the same cost) with the exception that simple enhancement bonuses no longer exist/stack. So instead of buying a +1 longsword, you'd buy a Keen longsword or such. I've encouraged my players for breadth of ability in combat over sheer numeric increases. Partially by constantly throwing free abilities/proficencies/feats/etc at them and partially by having combats with substantial penalties. Pitch black rooms where cantrips don't work, anti-magic areas, duels, unarmed combats, ambushes while unarmored/unarmed and a few more. They are looking forward to jousting, having to fight via horseback, archery battles, artifacts that grant gestalt levels and yet more free feats/abilities/magic.
No, see, that's still problematic. A martial character can easily afford a +7-equivalent weapon by level 12 or so (and really, really should), but with automatic progression they can't get there until level 20. Throwing in free feats might be alright; but basically, automatic progression mostly hurts fighters and other characters who depend on their gear for character customization, without impacting casters at all.
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That's a deeper system issue, though. The only thing you can really do about that is not have primary casters in the party.
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I'm just waiting on Sir Argos', Lord Rook's, and Constantine's responses to my sent message.
Not sure what else to do.
Maybe introduce Varian?
I think Kyra, Gabrielle and I are stuck in limbo until Leviathan posts for the princess.
That's a deeper system issue, though. The only thing you can really do about that is not have primary casters in the party.
-Posted with Wayfinder
I actually banned full casters for the game I'm running. And fighters and non unchained rogues.
Ok... So here's the dealio...
Apparently I'm going to the mountains tonight/tomorrow night. I'm not sure how this happened, but I don't have enough phone juice to post a big ass follow up, and I don't have a choice in the matter... I hate the outdoors! Here we go Lobster tan!
I'm sorry guys, the next time I'll be able to post will be Saturday.
Have fun!
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Have a good time, if you can!
Meanwhile, Nev, Kyra, sounds like we can resume our chat about Nev and her new sword in the meantime?
-Posted with Wayfinder
I picture Val as being thoroughly fed up with the treatment he's getting, as he is sincerely trying to help Taldor.
I'm pretty proud of that last post. It's probably some of my best roleplaying, here or in a real game.
Nev is nice to you!
And he very much appreciates that.
I was so inspired in writing that, that there are several grammar mistakes there. It's too late for me to edit it, and Val's grammar is actually quite perfect from the academies in Egorian.
So, we can just handwave that, right?