Welcome one and all!
Feel free to start discussing things, and just a heads up, but I will be putting things into the campaign info tab, just so even if you aren't super familiar with the setting, you'll still have a good primer: and if you are, it doesn't hurt to have something to double check.
Ok, so after reading through the early chapters of the book it sounds like step one is determine a reason for your crew's existence, and a goal, and methodology. I say we throw several options out and see what fits. Here's the first one I had:
The crew leader is Noble X (working name). Noble X grew up skaa but his true heritage was revealed (maybe through a snapping and devlopment of elemental powers). Now as a noble, X despises the way skaa are treated by the nobility. He forms a crew, backs it financially, and leads it in actions against the other Houses, especially those that go out of their way to prey on the skaa. The problem though, is that the more he lives the noble life, the more he takes on their characteristics, which can cause tension and disagreement within the crew.
Possible crew names being "The False Nobility" or "House Espionage".
Hmm. Interesting idea.
Let's see, one idea I have is almost a Robin Hood type crew, maybe stealing from the nobles, especially those who are hardest on the skaa, and, well you can't give money to the skaa, so maybe using the resources to try to make things easier for some of the skaa.
A second one: maybe an obligator who met the Lord Ruler at one point. Something about the meeting made him feel disillusioned (maybe the Lord Ruler didn't care enough) and he organized a crew to slightly destabilize the government. Obviously not trying to actually overthrow the Lord Ruler as that would be ridiculous and impossible ;). But just enough to get some good changes to the system. Maybe even some new Noble houses?
I don't really have any names for them yet. Just ideas.
Let's see, one idea I have is almost a Robin Hood type crew, maybe stealing from the nobles, especially those who are hardest on the skaa, and, well you can't give money to the skaa, so maybe using the resources to try to make things easier for some of the skaa.
What if the first time they did this, they DID give money to the skaa. The skaa had extra money, the nobles found out, and the skaa were punished harshly for thievery. That drove the crew into a lower profile, and also made them search for better ways of helping the skaa.
Since we're starting with building your crew, I'd like everyone to pitch in with their answers/ideas for the following questions:
WHAT IS YOUR CREW’S COMMON CAUSE?
This will be the thing that brings your group together. It could be something simple like "We hate Radishes", but it would probably be better for this to have higher stakes, like "We hate Allomancers"
WHO IS YOUR CREW’S PRIMARY TARGET?
This can help be informed by your common cause (above), but knowing who you're going to specialize in dealing with will help inform some of your character creation (it's like knowing your playing in a Pathfinder game that has mostly undead in enemies; you're likely to look at anti-undead options).
WHAT IS YOUR CREW’S PREFERRED METHOD?
This, I think, will likely be the biggest place where people differ. Some people prefer "sneak in the back and poison the wine", and others prefer "Stride through the gate and cut down anything I see". Neither one is better than the other, but knowing how you all feel will help me get an idea for where you want the game to go and what you want your characters to do in it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I like the Noble X idea. Maybe he took some sort of normal merc type crew that typically worked for nobles, and after enough missions they began to sympathize with the skaa more than they wanted money, and so become more amenable to helping the skaa out for little to no profit.
As for method, I like the stealth followed by overwhelming force route. Subtle stuff is still good, but it's more ambushes and tactics rather than assassination type stuff.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Okay, so maybe more talking as the general crew stuff:
Common Cause: Improve the lives of the skaa
Primary Target: Nobles, particularly those who prey on the skaa
How does that sound to everyone? We'd still have to figure out a preferred method, but those seem to be a common denominator between everything that's been brought up so far.
As for method, I was thinking thefts and cons, ambushes and tactics when force is needed, but preferably not even needing it most times.
Sounds good to me.
Yeah i like that.
Do you guys have ideas for characters that fit within that crew style. I already mentioned a front man noble as my idea.
@GM,
Do we need to have a particular noble or house in mind for our target?
High Attributes, Average Powers, Low Standings. I'm leaning towards a skaa misting who burns either Tin, Pewter, or Copper. Background is that he's a depressed and disgruntled mercenary whose family left him because they were abducted and held hostage by a rival of the noble he was currently working for. Now he wants to do what he can to protect the skaa from the callousness of the nobles.
Might also make him an Electrum burner, depending on how involved we want background stories to be. Maybe we don't know he's a misting at all until he accidentally swallows some electrum jewelry or something and finds out he can burn it. Might make for a fun little plot twist.
Noble X would probably be low powers, average attributes and high standings.
I'm planning on making a Kandra character, if that works with everyone.
I like the ideas that everyone come up with so far but I think that we should be aiming to tear down the system by starting a civil war (BURN IT ALL DOWN!!!!!).
So maybe have our method be political manipulation?
That said method is the least important part of this as we're probably going to end up doing a bit of everything eventually
Kandra works, especially since as a noble i would have the resources for a contract.
Are you meaning civil war between the nobles & skaa, or between a few noble houses?
It also seems like the books repeated insistence that not everyone should be a mistborn worked.
Why not pit everyone against everyone else.
Sorry for being a bit late to the conversation. I'm still in the process of picking up the book; I'm trying to fit it into my budget. Until then, I'll just say that I'm good with just about any cause or target, and my preferred method would be espionage and tactics over straight-up offense.
I have all of the books on pdf. I can send you a link on google drive if you want them
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
... but I think that we should be aiming to tear down the system by starting a civil war (BURN IT ALL DOWN!!!!!).
I don't know that I really want to go that far. Maybe at a later point in the game, but at least for now that just seems like an absolutely crazy idea for most people. I mean even most of Kelsier's crew didn't believe that was possible.
Now that doesn't mean some of us can't have that additional goal. I think that even has good story potential with inner crew drama. But I think the lesser goal is a good common cause.
As for character idea, I'm thinking about an ignored second son of a very minor Noble house. Possibly a misting, something like copper, bronze or even gold. I think I'd eventually become a savant in whichever one I go with.
Unless your group decides to focus on a particular Noble house (chosen by the group) then we won't restrict it to a single group.
Ok, I put together the concept for the noble crew leader. Link to the character sheet is above.
Quick background:
Noble born but switched at birth with skaa. Worked as foreman in skaa fields for House Ackroyal (my own house). As a teen, my father visited and the likeness was striking. He investigated, found out what happened, and returned me to my proper station. He made me punish all of the skaa who had been "holding me prisoner", as well as the midwife who had made the mistake.
I spent several years get tutored as nobles normally would. I hated the nobility as any actual skaa would, but the skaa had turned their favor against me. They saw it as I had abandoned them for a better life. I spent years rebuilding that relationship.
I currently have regained their favor, but look to further the cause of their equality. I have a ash cleaning business for noble houses and occasionally the government. It's a front though,f or the mercenary work I lead.
Are we settled on:
Cause: Improve the lives of the skaa
Target: Nobles
Method:Theft and cons
??
Sounds good to me.Though I think that if our background is going to be that we're a mercenary group, then we need to mesh that better with our methods being theft and cons. Either make it known up front that we're not that kind of mercenary crew, or using the merc business as a front/cover for our con work, or maybe multiple groups within the organization that specialize in different things.
And maybe this isn't a problem at all, it just seems incongruous to me that we're a merc guild that primarily does cons.
Then how about we put Ambush as our main method?
We’ll have to beef up some to be effective ambushers. I have no powers, we have two likely mistings (with one being martial, the other uncertain) and a kandra.
If the kandra and other misting have martial we could certainly go Ambush. (Can a kandra be a martial build?) My guy remains the same regardless though i might up his physique one.
TheInfamousWes, any thoughts on a character idea?
On a separate note, i already like how much this game format encourages conversation.
I think changing the backstory to being a small "get it done"/spec ops crew, rather than a merc group, would mesh best with both what characters we want to play, and what group we want to make. On the other hand, it's hard to reconcile that with a bunch of first level characters, so gonna lose something either way.
The in universe term for spec ops in "Fixers" who fix problems. One way or the other.
I'd prefer to play a more social focused Kandra. The mistborn system gives a lot of ways to solve problems without violence
Fixers sounds good.
So:
Cause: Improve the lives of the skaa
Target: Nobles
Method: By any means: Infiltration and Ambush
?
@GM (Sorry, Narrator) would that work?
Crew name options?
Fixer isn't a method it's a job.
Maybe have it "By any means"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Crew name:
Mist Busters
I like the mist part.
How about Mist Raiders
Some more pun options:
“Mistaken Identities”
“Won’t be Mist”
“Hit or Mist”
“Misterious 5”
“The Mistacles”
“House of Mist”
Sigh. Stupid forums eating my firk ding blast long post!
*GRRRRR*
Okay, I am going to post the character questions, but I first have a couple of questions of my own to put to the group, and then I'll have an...interesting thing at the end.
First couple of questions:
Who founded your group, and what Dominance are you based out of?
Now on to the character questions from the book:
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CREW?
HOW DID YOU LIVE BEFORE YOU JOINED THE CREW?
WHAT SPECIAL SKILL DO YOU BRING TO THE CREW?
WHAT IS YOUR MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE?
HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL POWERS (LIKE MAGIC OR SHAPESHIFTING)?
ARE YOU ESPECIALLY FIT, SMART, OR CHARISMATIC?
ARE YOU WELL-OFF OR DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET BY?
WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS YOUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE?
Now onto the interesting request: I would like each of you to select a member of the part to give an import secret to. In return, I would like the receiver to give the giver a trait based on the secret they shared. Also, for now I would like you to not reveal how you know this secret about the other person.
For purposes of this, it can be a secret that the you might not even know yourself, but please stay away from any "I am the king's lost son!" type of secrets.
As these are secrets, Please spoiler what the secret is, with the label of the spoiler being who the secret is for.
Finally, I would like each of you to pick a different person, so that we get a circle of influence going in the group.
Also, the trait from this secret will be a bonus trait, but it must be something that can be said in public and not spill all the beans.
Ashweather founded the group, and I would think we operate in the central dominance. I’m guessing that Ashweather didn’t grow up there though. He probably served out in the northeastern dominance.
I have most of those questions answered on my character sheet by I’ll copy them over here when I’m on a computer.
In the meantime, let’s start the secret keeping!
Ashweather is growing accustomed to the trappings of wealth and nobility over time, and as he does is slowly distancing himself from the plight of the skaa. He still doesn’t take action against them, but his fervor on their behalf is diminishing.
Ashweather Ackroyal, m, Noble, 38.
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CREW?
-advocate for skaa equality
HOW DID YOU LIVE BEFORE YOU JOINED THE CREW?
-businessman: to the public, I run an ash cleaning service in the Central Dominance. I also have led or worked with several fixer groups, including this current crew.
WHAT SPECIAL SKILL DO YOU BRING TO THE CREW?
-well-organized planner
WHAT IS YOUR MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE?
-always looks people in the eye
HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
-affable
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL POWERS (LIKE MAGIC OR SHAPESHIFTING)?
-No
ARE YOU ESPECIALLY FIT, SMART, OR CHARISMATIC?
-Charismatic, somewhat smart, not terribly fit
ARE YOU WELL-OFF OR DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET BY?
-I have resources and influence in abundance
WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
-upon being discovered as a noble I was forced to punish my fellow skaa workers.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS YOUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE?
-establish the true nature of the skaa as equal to nobles
Damian, a skaa mistling. Still trying to think of a good secret.
Initially money, then became morally convicted.
As a mercenary.
Military tactician.
Always looks bored/tired.
Aloof or indifferent.
Average (Mistling Allomancer) still trying to decide between Tin, Pewter, Copper, or possibly Electrum. Waiting to get feedback.
Strong (Physique 6, Wits 5, Charm 2)
Weak (Resources 3, Influence 2, Spirit 4)
Family was held hostage by a noble because he was working for an opposing noble. While they lived, they were traumatized by the experience and left him because of it.
Protect others (particularly the Skaa) from the callousness of the nobility.
Sorry it took me a bit. Was trying to get one of my games started before finishing this.
I like the Mist Raiders for a name.
Questions:
Who founded your group, and what Dominance are you based out of?
Edit:I'm thinking that Soren (that's my character) and Ashweather are both likely candidates for this, though I'm not sure about the others characters yet. I'm fine going with just Ashweather. As for Dominance, I vote Eastern, but I'm up for any really.
Now on to the character questions from the book:
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CREW?
To be part of something great
HOW DID YOU LIVE BEFORE YOU JOINED THE CREW?
Former Obligator
WHAT SPECIAL SKILL DO YOU BRING TO THE CREW?
Skillful Manipulator
WHAT IS YOUR MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE?
Youthful Features
HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Focused
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL POWERS (LIKE MAGIC OR SHAPESHIFTING)?
Average (Bronze Misting)
ARE YOU ESPECIALLY FIT, SMART, OR CHARISMATIC?
Strong
ARE YOU WELL-OFF OR DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET BY?
Weak
WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
I was disowned, disgraced and disinherited from my house (the reason is not known).
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS YOUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE?
To free a piece of the (whichever we end up being based out of) dominance from the Lord Ruler.
@soldier-1st: Well it looks like you've gone with a more physical character, it seems like you might have a good synergy with either tin or pewter. Those would be my recommendations for synergy, but if you've got a story you want to explore, this seems like a really good system to explore it. So I'd go with whichever one gives you that if you have one.
Mist Raiders it is!
I actually like the idea of Soren, now out of an obligatory job, seeking out Ashweather to form this group, especially if Soren had a good reason to help the skaa. It would give Ashweather a more clear reason to switch from whatever crew he was with before running noble vs noble missions to a new help the skaa group. Together they have the frontman and financier, and the charmer. They tab Damian for he martial tactics, and... we’ll have to see how the rest work in based on their character submissions.
I just said central dominance because it seems the most interesting.
I don’t have a trait for you yet Soren, but I’ll think of one.
Ooh, I like it. And that may be how you've come to know my secret, through our interactions in setting this up. That could be part of what changed your mind.
Central dominance is fine, I had written out Eastern because I figured it'd be a lot harder to hide as a former obligator in the central, but that could be interesting as well.
WHY DID YOU JOIN THE CREW?
Forge my own destiny
HOW DID YOU LIVE BEFORE YOU JOINED THE CREW?
Spy
WHAT SPECIAL SKILL DO YOU BRING TO THE CREW?
Master of disguise
WHAT IS YOUR MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE?
Witty repartee
HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Indignant
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL POWERS (LIKE MAGIC OR SHAPESHIFTING)?
Average (Kandra)
ARE YOU ESPECIALLY FIT, SMART, OR CHARISMATIC?
Strong
ARE YOU WELL-OFF OR DO YOU STRUGGLE TO GET BY?
Weak
WHAT IS THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
I am hunted by my own people
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS YOUR ULTIMATE PURPOSE?
Free my people from the Contracts
Also I'll be posting as my Alias called Jehoy from now on
JeHoy, you actually have a choice for contract holder between myself and Soren. I have more resources currently but it could also work with Soren. Or are you joining without a contract? I’m not sure if that can be done but it would be pushing your towards your purpose.
Excellent, this is going to be fun; former obligator and rogue kandra!
Speaking of former obligator.
Here's languagejunkie's profile.
I'll start thinking about your Trait Jehoy
Ashweather Ackroyal here.
You could identify with the plight of the skaa.
Or, if you want to go negative, you could distaste the trappings of wealth and the false superiority they give.
Glad to see your group is coming together nicely! Please let me know if you have any questions or are ready to proceed to the next part (sorry if I'm going slowly for some of you, but I want to make sure that everyone gets a chance to flesh out each part before going to the next. I want people to really enjoy the characters they are playing!)
The discussion and creation are going well, but we do seem to have lost TheInfamousWes.
Sorry, I meant to mention this, but I've been slammed at work recently.
TheInfamousWes has decided to withdraw from the game. He sent me a PM.