Be back on Saturday.
Okaydokay!
Am I allowed to say I feel like this game lacks a little....I don't know, punch? Is it my fault since it is a sandbox?
No, that's fine. I feel the same anyway.
I'd initially not planned this entire section in the forest, but had planned to move through the days training Aki a bit faster and send you on your way to Ordu-Aganhei so you could embark on your journey across the Crown. Meeting the kami was supposed to become just a minor part of the in-game day. A couple of posts, and then it'd be over. Except I then attached a side mission, and that's dragging out way more than I expected it would.
Rixin will need people to aid him in his quest, and I thought it'd be fun if I'd present you with some NPCs that could join you early on. I basically wanted to present you with a situation that could lead to either Huan or Yuka, or maybe both, joining you in your quest. Truth be told, I got a bit lost on how I want to implement that...
The possible outcomes of this side mission were basically this:
* Yuka (who has trust issues) keeps having trouble trusting others. Huan stays in the forest to watch over her.
* Yuka learn to trust the kami and makes friendly contact with them. Huan doesn't feel like he has to watch over her anymore, because he knows the kami and trusts there won't be any conflicts now, and decides he's up for an adventure. He joins you in your quest.
* Yuka learns to trust you, and wants to come with you to find out what happened to her parents. Huan also comes with you, because he wants to look after Yuka.
Then based on your relationship with them they'd later return to the Forest or Spirits (maybe make a comeback way later), or they'd stay with you during the remainder of your quest.
If you feel like this won't work or you just don't like the idea we can just cut your stay at Yuka's place short and go back to training Aki, which we can fast-forward if you want to. You could just tell me what you want her to train on a day, I'll give you the results, and then the day you'll leave for Ordu-Aganhei will follow.
If you like my idea we can maybe still try to finish this side mission, but maybe you have some ideas on how we could shape it? We can then move back to Aki's training (which we can still speed up), and you might have (a) new companion(s) that'll show up on the day you'll head toward Ordu-Aganhei.
Pacing is always tough. I've been doing this for years and I still misstep. (How are you enjoying Pieces of Eight, btw?)
First thought, please add some stakes. I understand not wanting combat every three steps. I have two games that, in the past 8 months have had zero combat, but they aren't boring. Just this game.....it seems to lack a sense of urgency, of danger? Except for when those wolves were following me...
As for these ideas....I'd love the idea for Yuka or Huan to come with us. I had no idea I was supposed to be going for that though....Maybe I missed some clues you were providing?
I really like Pieces of Eight. Though the sudden appearance of a tentacle monster was a bit random, but that's okay! I'd like to talk to Brew at some point. Maybe it'll be possible for me to find him somewhere in the evening?
I have some stakes planned for the Crown and the caravan you'll use to cross it, but this part certainly needed some more thinking through...
Getting to know Yuka better would've revealed she'd love to see more of the world, but has trust issues and is afraid to leave her house. If she'd come to trust either you or Aki she'd actually ask if she could come along, instead of you having to recruit her. For Huan it's somewhat similar except he doesn't have trust issues, but he's staying in the forest to take care of Yuka. If there's no reason for him to stay, he'll actually just tag along without asking. (You may have noticed Huan doesn't have a lot of manners.)
What about the following?
I could write an end to this conversation you're currently having with Yuka, then summarize how you go back to the kami with tea, you drink tea, and head back to your camp. Just to tie that up so we can get past it, because continuing here won't make it any more fun for you. Best to close this off and move on.
You can then spend the in-game afternoon/evening training Aki like before, or just tell me what you want her to train and I'll give you the results. I suspect you'd prefer the latter?
The next in-game day you'll still have 2 days left till Dung's caravan heads for Ordu-Aganhei in the morning. I thought of another side mission that actually has some stakes and will include both Yuka and Huan. It'll be possible for you to get them on your team during that mission.
That works for me, GM!
Alright! I am currently unable to post though and will not have internet access for several days. I will be back in the weekend, and then we'll kick this game back to life! :)
As a monk, I fully approve.
I think you'll like the 'mission' I've come up with for the next day! I've taken some time to think things through, and so far at least I really like it! :)
Hmm, do I have to volunteer for something here or are the oni going to attack in the middle of the night?
I've planned out several possible directions for this event. It's possible to volunteer, but I wasn't trying to steer you in that direction. Just giving you some info about what's going on.
Sorry, got a bit of a bug while on holiday visits. Just not up to posting. Will be back in a couple of days probably (OR THE GRIM REAPER WILL TAKE ME).
I've been coughing and feeling icky the past couple of days. I'm going to bed early today and will resume posting tomorrow.
Get well soon!
It took me a bit longer to recover (still not 100%), but I'm currently in the process of slowly catching up with all my games. I should now be able to post regularly again in our solo games! :)
Real life happens, glad you are feeling better.
Happy new year! :)
Happy New Year. Here is to a 2017 filled with fun roleplaying!
Am going on vacation! Will be back on February 9th. Will report back then!
I think there's something I should've probably made a bit clearer, because I have the impression it didn't come across as intended.
The red oni has a very severe leg wound and can't walk. That wasn't a lie on the onis' part, it's a real leg wound. It cannot get up from its prone position. That's why the red oni stayed in place at the start of combat, readying an attack from its prone position. The only way for the red oni to move is to drag itself with its arms, and that'll provoke.
I didn't quite expect you to walk straight up to an enemy that can't move from its position without provoking and that only carries a non-reach melee weapon, while there's also an enemy that can move about. So I wonder if it maybe wasn't clear why the red oni stays prone?
(Unwounded the red oni would've indeed posed the biggest threat, but I gave it its severe leg wound to balance the combat. The golden oni isn't wounded though.)
If this wasn't clear to you and knowing this would've led to you picking different actions, you may retcon your previous post.
Bah, I got confused when I posted. I was thinking the gold oni was the wounded one. Can we adjust it to that instead?
Sure! Could you adjust the map to show me where you want to position yourself in this case?
Moved Rixin. Still a five foot step so no AoO and he has Improvised Grapple so no AoO for that either.
Our party's damage output is still rather low...hmm.
Composite bows would definitely improve the damage. Both Aki and Huan have 14 Str so that'd be +2 on each of their shots.
I also feel like Aki desperately needs Precise Shot in order to have a better chance of hitting things in combat, if her focus is indeed going to be ranged combat.
Fun fight.
Yes, we'll have to buy one for Aki. And yeah, Precise Shot. Me grappling and her shooting will help.
I don't have a lot of time today. Will update again tomorrow.
Sounds good to me. An army of ten thousand....hopefully that amulet calls up more then a few dozen soldiers.
That army's size is a small hint of the kind of thing you'll have to face much later on. I figured some introductions of the various armies on the continent were in place, considering where you're headed with Rixin. You're now aware of the oni from Chu Ye, of the khan of Hongal and the warring tribes that are at his beck and call, and of Lingshen's terracotta army. There's also a forest full with kami, some of which have deity-like powers, and I think I also mentioned the kraken ruling Wanshou at some point?
I haven't even read up on some of the other countries in Tian Xia, but there are a lot of potential allies and enemies on the continent. I'm very curious about how this game will develop, and how it will be shaped by the time you're more powerful and head back to Tian Xia with an army of your own.
I'm trying to keep your options open and let you make the big decisions, while also trying to let those who accompany you have some small contributions to what's going on.
I'm hoping that'll make the NPCs a bit more interesting, like real people who also come up with ideas, while it's still about what you want to do.
You are doing an excellent job. The NPCs should totally have input and sometimes even disagree with me on stuff. It would be boring if they just nodded and never said anything.
Great work on that, GM!
Game is picking up steam, at long last.
Also, for me, martials are better for lower levels so that part doesn't bother me.
Rixin needs to find a man to teach him about running an army and fighting battles. he is woefully ignorant.
Put that on the list.
Check!
But to his defense, he got kind of tossed into it. He gained the trust of the kami by warning them about a huge treat, then got the trust of the Khan by appearing together with a massive army of kami.
Oh, no, it makes perfect sense. I love it when a PC gets tossed in head over heels into something and have little idea how to handle it. Hard to do in PBP but you have managed it here.
Yay!
Looking forward to giant battle sequence.
I'm currently unable to post. Will be able to resume posting tomorrow or the day after.
My apologizes for the lack of posting. Things have been nuts lately but all settled down now.
It happens!
Do you still wish to make a reaction post to my last post, or shall I move the game forward?
For all the attacks you, your 3 companions, and the oni attacking you or them make I want to use actual rolls. I have a mechanic in mind to resolve the fights between all the other individual kami and oni a bit faster, because I'm of course not going to roll for every single token on that gigantic field. Curious to see if it'll work on this scale!
The mechanic will require (simplified) rolls, so the outcome of this battle's certainly not set in stone. Though the better you do, the higher the morale of the others. High morale will add bonuses to the rolls I'll use for the rest of the wave. Of course the reverse is also true; if they see you being beaten up while unable to hit a foe morale will drop.
Can I formally put our games on hold for a week? Work has been killer but it will change after the week is up.
Okay. Just let me know if you need longer.
I will not be available to post in the week to come due to some college stuff I have to finish up. I will resume posting from next weekend onward.
See you! :)
I'm back! Ready to continue when you are! ;)