I know. That's been annoying me too.Absolutely; if nothing else I'll get a picture and name up for the rest of the auction.
Also, apparently Discussion doesn't give a dot, but now I remembered to check and won't forget about this again at any rate.
Sorry about that, I just don't want to add a first Gameplay post until we have our situation solidified. If you check your Campaigns tab, the discussion thread totally tells you when it's got something new waiting, for whatever that's worth.
Speaking of which, while I'll allow a little extra time after this particular post since it's the first I've said of it:
In order to make sure things keep moving at a decent clip, from here on out, there will be only 24 hours given since the last bid before it is assumed that all bids are final. Due to this, I strongly encourage you to make sure you check in at least once during any 24 hour period if you are actively engaged in bidding. If you happen to squeak in after the 24 hours but before I declare bidding closed, then you get to be lucky, but I won't allow any retroactive changing of minds if I've already called it.
Also, as you guys have been doing so far (which I appreciate), please state if/when you are willing to let things stand. If you have said something of the sort as a bluff tactic or some such, I will still assume that you are willing to let the auction move along and will do so immediately when possible, so PM me if you're intending to mess with your brothers and sisters. I won't reveal who it is that's holding up the auction, I just won't move us along until the 24 hours are up if we're waiting on you.
Sorry about that, I just don't want to add a first Gameplay post until we have our situation solidified. If you check your Campaigns tab, the discussion thread totally tells you when it's got something new waiting, for whatever that's worth.I know. That's been annoying me too.Absolutely; if nothing else I'll get a picture and name up for the rest of the auction.
Also, apparently Discussion doesn't give a dot, but now I remembered to check and won't forget about this again at any rate.
True, but the Campaign itself doesn't show up on that page until you post in Gameplay. Until then, just keep checking in on your own!
To clarify, I wouldn't be allowed to buy up to second place, would I, say by increasing my bid to 58 points at the moment? (I'm not committing to this if it is possible, just wondering)
True, but the Campaign itself doesn't show up on that page until you post in Gameplay. Until then, just keep checking in on your own!
Whoops, forgot about that. It does for me since I'm GM, but that's cheating. Hrm. Maybe I'll come up with a format you all can post something in that won't bother the storyteller in my brain.
To clarify, I wouldn't be allowed to buy up to second place, would I, say by increasing my bid to 58 points at the moment? (I'm not committing to this if it is possible, just wondering)
You are correct, you wouldn't be allowed that. In the open auction, the only bidding allowed is to jump up above the current First position. Afterwards, in the secret buy, you are allowed to spent points equal to the difference between your score and any of the official Rankings, which gets you a rank equivalent to just below the rank you buy up to. This is why Dominant can't be usurped during creation.
Nikolas blinks in surprise - not that Marjana held such hidden depths, but that she had the power to hide them and chose not to. He dips his spear in respect and stifles a smirk at the two cousins who spent more effort in appearing to be great warriors than in achieving supremacy.
So when i get around to creating the Gameplay thread, here's a few guidelines (you can find them again the Campaign Info tab if you're looking). No serious penalties for forgetting or making a mistake with any of this stuff, it's just the way I prefer things get laid out.
Posting Rules
1) Keep anything OOC to the discussion thread, please. I'd like the gameplay thread to read like a story, as much as possible.
2)Post your actions in the past tense. Once again, in interest of this reading like a story, it works better with "Benedict swung his blade" than "Benedict swings his blade".
3)External dialogue should be "bolded with quotation marks."
Internal dialogue/thoughts should be:
In italics, preferably with a separate line of their own.
4) Posting rates will be casual. I'll be trying to keep things moving along at a decent clip, but if you can't post every single day, don't worry about it. The tradeoff for this is that if you haven't posted in a scene, and I need to move things along for everyone's benefit, I'll be posting for you and moving on, with my best effort at guessing your character's intention while maintaining their status quo.
If you want to get us the dot but not disrupt the flow of a story, you could open Gameplay and have us each post and immediately delete the post. That gets it on our campaign page but leaves the thread clean.
Here's a thing that I figured I should mention, just because the philosophy of it pleases me.
The Dominant ranking is the only one that truly must be achieved publicly. Theoretically, only one person has to bid in an Attribute in order to achieve mastery (although that's rare), and if they did, they would be the only one with their true power known. This is because of the effort it takes to achieve and maintain this kind of power.
In Warfare, for instance, should everyone let things stand as they currently are, Marjana will effectively be able to identify and wield any weapon throughout the multiverse on sight, and achieve mastery with it inside minutes, no matter how complex or obscure. From bladed nunchaku to Corinthian laser-powered guided plasma missiles, if it can be used to kill, it would unravel its secrets to her almost instantly. This is not the kind of skill that stays unremarked on, nor can it be kept sharp while remaining in the dark.
If you want to get us the dot but not disrupt the flow of a story, you could open Gameplay and have us each post and immediately delete the post. That gets it on our campaign page but leaves the thread clean.
So it was written, so let it be done!
Gameplay now exists, go do the thing as you deem it necessary. Seriously, though, delete it when you're done. I'll totally throw a fit. =P
Done, and done!
Wouldn't want a fit! ;)
Alric, If you are very fond of that avatar, I will change mine. But one of us will likely need to change to avoid confusion.
Here's a thing that I figured I should mention, just because the philosophy of it pleases me.
The Dominant ranking is the only one that truly must be achieved publicly. Theoretically, only one person has to bid in an Attribute in order to achieve mastery (although that's rare), and if they did, they would be the only one with their true power known. This is because of the effort it takes to achieve and maintain this kind of power.
In Warfare, for instance, should everyone let things stand as they currently are, Marjana will effectively be able to identify and wield any weapon throughout the multiverse on sight, and achieve mastery with it inside minutes, no matter how complex or obscure. From bladed nunchaku to Corinthian laser-powered guided plasma missiles, if it can be used to kill, it would unravel its secrets to her almost instantly. This is not the kind of skill that stays unremarked on, nor can it be kept sharp while remaining in the dark.
How does that work with older generation rankings? Benedict's going to be better no matter what, but is that a qualitative difference where he's actually got different kinds of abilities or just "bigger, better, faster"?
IIRC, that's not really clearly defined in the rules and I've seen it handled differently in various games in the past.
Alric, If you are very fond of that avatar, I will change mine. But one of us will likely need to change to avoid confusion.
I'll get it; didn't notice, sorry!
How does that work with older generation rankings? Benedict's going to be better no matter what, but is that a qualitative difference where he's actually got different kinds of abilities or just "bigger, better, faster"?
IIRC, that's not really clearly defined in the rules and I've seen it handled differently in various games in the past.
A bit of both. There are some things that are going to be out of the scope of the younger generation that Benedict and the other Elders might be able to pull off, but this is mostly a measure of them being "bigger, better, faster". That said, this isn't a game about the Elders - don't worry too much about them, they're (mostly) going to be kept busy with their own affairs. Unless you or your siblings go poking the bears, that is.
Watching Marjana and Chaney spar is awe inspiring, they move with a deadly grace he has never seen before. With a respectful nod he gives proper honor to their obvious skill "I have never seen anyone fight so well... either of you would be made captain of the jaguar or eagle knights in a heartbeat."
Gods of war truly walk in shadow. I must remember not to contest anyone directly should such unfortunate situations arise.
Also speaking of which, at this point, you are free to choose if you have been in Amber for a little time or not after the summons. There was no command to arrive at a specific date, and you are certainly not the only attendees to the conference, so you can have been in Amber for as long as a month already as one of the first arrivals. This can give even those of you who have spent your lives in Shadow a chance to meet one another.
Jumping back to this, now that I'm not stressing over whether to bid in Warfare, this sounds like you plan to start play with the actual conference, but I'd like to actually play out my return to Amber, at least in brief. Since Marjana's never knowingly been in contact with the Family, how that goes is likely to be pretty formative.
How she's summoned, assuming she is, will make a big difference as well. Letting her know whether she's managed to stay as unnoticed as she thought. If she isn't, as I originally suggested, she could pick up on rumors in the Golden Circle and take the opportunity to make her entrance at last.
Alternately, and this just came to mind rereading the quote in your opening post, a bird of desire might be able to find even targets the sender didn't know of, leaving her summoned, but still potentially a mystery.
Of course, you've probably got it all covered already and I'm just fussing over nothing. :)
Someone asked a question about how Words of Power work, and I figured I'd post my answer here for everyone's benefit, such as it is.
Words of Power are a fairly limited form of magic, primarily defensive, limited in their scope to the immediate time and place of the caster. There are twenty well known Power Words, but users frequently invent new ones (players are free to do so). Characters start with only five Power Words known to them, but at character advancement they can increase this allotment one at a time, for a point each.
As with all magic, they are powered by Psyche, and the only hard and fast rule for their effect is that they must be fast and easy. Anything with multiple steps or complicated execution is outside of the scope of a Power Word.
The 20 known Words and their meanings (more clarification later if necessary):
Nogtz! Magic Negation. Disrupts a spell as it is cast.
Polrz! Chaos Negation. Used to defend one's self against destructive changes.
Shagsk! Psyche defense. Disrupts any Psyche contact you are engaged in.
Askiir! Psychic disrupt. Disrupts the concentration of someone else engaged in psychic contact.
Krolak! Neural disrupt. Throws off physical coordination of another, as opposed to psychic concentration.
Lievz! Life force. Creates a burst of life energy in the target, throwing off deadly effects (has no time for healing).
Schang! Resume true form. Forces the target back into their true form.
Fortz! Defensive luck. An instant of minorly good karma.
Legant! Pattern negation. Used to defend one's self against Pattern influence.
Voile! Pain attack. Gives a jolt of pain to the target.
Jask! Trump disrupt. Used against a Trump card to block a connection.
Magique! Process surge. Speeds up a physical process (fire, combustion, freezing, magic, etc.) briefly.
Quimk! Process snuff. Dampens a physical process.
Ombre! Shade. Adds to the shadows of a given area, dimming the light.
Luum! Light strobe. A strobe of light.
Aflak! Spark. A spark of fire.
Hurg! Burst of magic. A pulse of magic, useful for activating magic items.
Marsk! Weaken structure. Temporarily weakens an object's molecular structure.
Haggk! Thunder. Boom!
Zzaaq! Burst of Psyche. The caster's Psyche is boosted for an instant.
How she's summoned, assuming she is, will make a big difference as well. Letting her know whether she's managed to stay as unnoticed as she thought. If she isn't, as I originally suggested, she could pick up on rumors in the Golden Circle and take the opportunity to make her entrance at last.
Alternately, and this just came to mind rereading the quote in your opening post, a bird of desire might be able to find even targets the sender didn't know of, leaving her summoned, but still potentially a mystery.Of course, you've probably got it all covered already and I'm just fussing over nothing. :)
This is a good point. How were we summoned back to Amber (for those of us who weren't there already. I was working under the assumption of a formal request of some sort, but that is likely impossible for some of our group.
To put it officially, I will make no more bids on Warfare.
Are we ready to bid for the next attribute?
And what will it be???
... I'd like to actually play out my return to Amber, at least in brief.
So would I! We'll get to it. I envision us determining who arrives in what order through discussion, then we'll play them out individually.
How she's summoned, assuming she is, will make a big difference as well. Letting her know whether she's managed to stay as unnoticed as she thought. If she isn't, as I originally suggested, she could pick up on rumors in the Golden Circle and take the opportunity to make her entrance at last.
Alternately, and this just came to mind rereading the quote in your opening post, a bird of desire might be able to find even targets the sender didn't know of, leaving her summoned, but still potentially a mystery.Of course, you've probably got it all covered already and I'm just fussing over nothing. :)
We'll totally cover all this as we go. I have some ideas, but I want to see how Creation plays out first, as it could change (significantly) how your character is received and/or summoned in the first place. For instance, should your brothers let you have first in Warfare...well, that's a very different person to be approached then the mostly unknown girl from the Golden Circle. Whether you're known directly in Amber is another question, but it would be hard to hide rumors of someone with that level of skill.
Are we ready to bid for the next attribute?And what will it be???
I believe we are giving Roy and Chaney a chance to respond to Marjana's move to first place.
I believe we are giving Roy and Chaney a chance to respond to Marjana's move to first place.To put it officially, I will make no more bids on Warfare.
Are we ready to bid for the next attribute?
And what will it be???
Chaney, at least. Roy earlier stated his intent not to bid any further, though I will give him a little time to change his mind as a courtesy, since he may not wish to be third.
Also, as exciting as all this is, I'll be hitting the hay at this point (night shifts are mean), so expect not to hear anything more from me until at least 9 PM PST. (GMT-8).
Eztil, James, Alric, you've got a little time to consider your relatively weak Warfares! Roy, Chaney - you gonna stand there and get shown up like this?
All this and more, to be determined later!
Eztil, James, Alric, you've got a little time to consider your relatively weak Warfares! Roy, Chaney - you gonna stand there and get shown up like this?
All this and more, to be determined later!
I love the voice you're using.
"Stay tuned, Amber will return after this message from our sponsors."
Eztil, James, Alric, you've got a little time to consider your relatively weak Warfares!
I've a plan and written too much backstory to be tempted by the warfare auction ;) Maybe I'll be terribly mysterious and low bid everything :)
... I'd like to actually play out my return to Amber, at least in brief.So would I! We'll get to it. I envision us determining who arrives in what order through discussion, then we'll play them out individually.
We'll totally cover all this as we go. I have some ideas, but I want to see how Creation plays out first, as it could change (significantly) how your character is received and/or summoned in the first place. For instance, should your brothers let you have first in Warfare...well, that's a very different person to be approached then the mostly unknown girl from the Golden Circle. Whether you're known directly in Amber is another question, but it would be hard to hide rumors of someone with that level of skill.
How she's summoned, assuming she is, will make a big difference as well. Letting her know whether she's managed to stay as unnoticed as she thought. If she isn't, as I originally suggested, she could pick up on rumors in the Golden Circle and take the opportunity to make her entrance at last.
Alternately, and this just came to mind rereading the quote in your opening post, a bird of desire might be able to find even targets the sender didn't know of, leaving her summoned, but still potentially a mystery.Of course, you've probably got it all covered already and I'm just fussing over nothing. :)
However, it may or may not be known that it's someone from Amber. As opposed to Chaos or Corwin's branch. Or something entirely unknown.
Any of which still argues for caution of course.But sure, I was just thinking in terms of any interaction before things got started. That can just stay on hold, though.
Eztil, James, Alric, you've got a little time to consider your relatively weak Warfares! Roy, Chaney - you gonna stand there and get shown up like this?
All this and more, to be determined later!
I love the voice you're using.
"Stay tuned, Amber will return after this message from our sponsors."
Personally it reminds me more of the typical Dragonball Z outro, especially given we're in the stage of figuring out who's good at what--much like the buildup to a fight in that series. "But what you didn't know is that I've recently unlocked my ultra-powerful secret new technique!" Bids to dominant Ranking in Warfare
But on a serious note, I'll confirm again that Roy is sticking with 23 points bid for Warfare. He's a fine gunslinger, but I don't feel like dropping over half my points on the first bid.
Personally it reminds me more of the typical Dragonball Z outro, especially given we're in the stage of figuring out who's good at what--much like the buildup to a fight in that series. "But what you didn't know is that I've recently unlocked my ultra-powerful secret new technique!" Bids to dominant Ranking in Warfare
But on a serious note, I'll confirm again that Roy is sticking with 23 points bid for Warfare. He's a fine gunslinger, but I don't feel like dropping over half my points on the first bid.
Thank you; I was even hearing that voice actor in my head, but could not put together where it came from!
"Ah, the little joint finally blows her smoke. Tell me, MJ, you still kissing Peter upside down in the rain?"
Did I hear someone say 75 Points? Oh yeah, that was me.
"Roy, of course my mouth is big. It got stretched out swallowing the notion you knew what to do with a weapon."
For those who enjoy diceless and are unaware, Rite publishing has a new Kickstarter for a compendium of Gossamer worlds for the descendant of Amber DRPG, Lords of Gossamer and Shadow.
Marjana still smiles, but the delight has left her eyes, replaced by ... disappointment? "It has been a long time since I faced a worthy opponent with a blade. I had hoped that in storied Amber, I would find such. Your skill is great, cousin, but if you don't yet know that any remotely skilled foe will have learned to ignore such schoolyard taunts long ago, there is nothing of value you can teach me."
She turns away, towards the others.
----
It's all yours.
I'll settle for a solid second.
Chaney leans in as she turns to depart, whispering "Ah, but you have not ignored them, Dearest Cousin. You have allowed them to paint an image of me that I desired you to mispossess. These others have neither your skill nor your mind, and yet you limit your perception of me based solely on my words. You dismiss me as an ally when together we could accomplish so much more than at odds. So, if you wish to learn something from me, you must attend to more than my words."
--------
Thanks. As rivals, enemies, or allies, I salute your willingness to step up the game.
Of course!
It is a foolish spy who announces his presence. Who are you reporting to?!
That last draws a small smile, quickly hidden, but no other response.
---
So, are we still waiting on anyone who hasn't formally announced they're done bidding or is it time to move to the next attribute?
If the tone had gone differently and sparked by the description of what 1st place warfare gets, I wanted to suggest settling things with a drinking tour of Shadow looking for a weapon that one of us wouldn't immediately master. :)
And the auction for Warfare has officially ended! The final rankings stand as follows:
Amber Rank: Alric
6th: Eztil, 1
5th: James, 3
4th: Nikolas, 16
3rd: Roy, 23
2nd: Marjana, 65
And First in Warfare, the Master of the Blade: Chaney, with a massive bid of 75 points!
How will his fellow Amberites equal the Grimson's unveiled skill? Let's find out!
The flashing blade may be the symbol of war, but since long before even Amber discovered steel, there was but one true measure of power. Now we discover who will hold the coveted title of Strength! Governing skill with hand-to-hand combat, your physical power, and resistance to most forms of damage, Strength may be the only Attribute that an Amberite can be truly sure will win the day if they give it their all.
Let's start the private bids! As always, if you have any questions, sing out.
There is now a link to the Public Rankings Ladder spreadsheet in the Campaign Info tab.
GM K,
For purposes of buying up Warfare in the future, do the 11 point and 57 point ranks still exist (even though no one occupies them at the moment)?
No. The only Ranks that exist are the final ones. Good question.
No. The only Ranks that exist are the final ones. Good question.
But, we could spend 23 points, and be 3.5 Rank? Or is it limited to 75pts/1.5 Rank?
Ouch, 3rd to 2.1 is brutal.
^ Yup. And, of course, the same applies to all other Ranks.
Alrighty, so I've gotten bids from everyone but James, who has informed me that he's at a conference for the next day or so and isn't allowed a computer there. I'm gonna give him the evening to try and get me a message, but after that I'm gonna move on and throw him a bone later to make up for it. We've got some momentum going here, and I'd hate to lose it.
GM K,
In the interests of completion (because I have no good ideas at present) what are your thoughts on contributions?
Good Question!
Very good question. Been curious about that.
In some games the GM (including myself) handed out a trickle of points for contributions rather than a lump sum. Mine was 1 point per session per contribution (max 1 or 2 depending on games). I got better results that way than 10 points up front without having to bust out "you haven't given me a diary entry in a while... guess you have some bad stuff coming"
I didn't require the user to make original art for "trumps" because I had a mix of really good artists and people who couldn't draw a stick figure if their life depended on it (including me ;) ). Found the artists just had more points as well as skill ... so I hated them for it ;)
We did basically get 175 points though.
Blast, I was hoping I could skate by not making a decision on contributions for a while longer. They've found me out!
Contributions get a little weird with a PbP, I think, but I will allow them. I will definitely be handing them out as a trickle instead of a lump sum at the beginning (Games I've been in have also done that, I think it works better).
Tell ya what, folks: Propose some contributions that seem reasonable, and I'll consider them. If you think you have something you can contribute that will help the game as a whole be better or more fun, then speak up and we'll talk about getting you some points down the road. Don't worry about it for creation, though, no contribution will net you anything before game begins.
Very good question. Been curious about that.
In some games the GM (including myself) handed out a trickle of points for contributions rather than a lump sum. Mine was 1 point per session per contribution (max 1 or 2 depending on games). I got better results that way than 10 points up front without having to bust out "you haven't given me a diary entry in a while... guess you have some bad stuff coming"
I didn't require the user to make original art for "trumps" because I had a mix of really good artists and people who couldn't draw a stick figure if their life depended on it (including me ;) ). Found the artists just had more points as well as skill ... so I hated them for it ;)
We did basically get 175 points though.
I agree on the trickle rather than up front lump. Results in a lot less hassling people to keep up on the contributions.
Honestly, I'd be just as happy without them.Edit: Ack, ninja'd by the Game Master.
Are you looking for a commitment to do something regularly or would occasional one-shot pieces work instead? I've got some ideas for backstory vignettes that introduce things you can torment me with, but there wouldn't be a steady flow of them.
I've got a growing back story that could be expanded from a summary to some vignettes plus I've been digging hard for inspirational art. Plan to do a diary as well.
Actually one of the things I've always felt sad about Amber is that only the GM gets to see them because of all the scheming ;) Not that I have any schemes... or you either :)