The People's Campaign - Team A (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob DeCourcey

Welcome Team A of the people's campaign!

Dot

correct char dot lol

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Masao - I see an easy way for you and I to be associated with your links to Tian Xia, we could easily have met at my NPC friend's dumpling cart. Brother Dumpling (Tsaoting Wang) is his name, a former Monk now cook from that region.

Hob and Arwen, ideas or thoughts on how we could have met/ got teamed up?

Samant - works great for me! mmm... dumplings from Tian Xia...how exotic here lol It's a great idea for how they know each other before the game start. Maybe I should add Brother Dumpling as a contact, eh?

OK, here are a few points of standard procedure:
Posting Etiquette
1. Please try to post at least 5-10 times per week. Ideally this would include one post per day, but I understand if you can’t.
2. If you are going to be absent for more than a few days, please tell us in the OoC thread.
3. If you miss 2 consecutive days, we will go on without you. Depending on the circumstances, I will either skip whatever you were doing or take whatever action seems appropriate for you.
4. Please use proper English spelling and grammar. I could be the difference between life and death.
Combat
1. Combat will be carried out on a battlemat that I will post a link to. I will keep the mat updated as often as I post, but don’t wait for me if you can just figure out your move. The rows and columns are numbered and lettered, respectively. Please format you movement/targeting like this:
Roscoe moves from R5 to Q9 and fires on Orc #1 standing on M14.
2. I will roll initiative for everyone at the beginning of combat just so that we don’t waste time waiting on everyone’s initiative rolls.
3. Please include all relevant rolls in your turn post. Do not wait to see if you hit before you roll damage, for example.
Roscoe hits the Kobold with his big ol’ axe. (1d20+3 = 15, 1d8+3 = 6)
Game Mechanics
1. Max HP at level 1, ½ HP+1 on all others
2. Fast experience progression
Miscellaneous
1. Feel free to take liberties and make assumptions. If you want a prop to be available, assume that it is.
2. Magic Items are not available for purchase. They may be found, crafted, or commissioned.
3. Experience will be dished out to the whole party at once, and will be dished out often.
4. Err on the side of awesome. Go for the big one, make that risky bet, swing for the fences. It’s more fun that way.

If you don’t mind, I’d like to also ask a few questions about you, the players.
1. Please take a quick look at this article, and tell me what kind of player you see yourself as. That will greatly help me give you what you want in terms of fun.
http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html
2. How long have you been playing RPGs? Pathfinder? Play by post?

I will follow up with anything else I need to add or to answer questions about rules, policy, or whatever.

Again, thanks for playing. I’m psyched.

ok Jacob - I have to say I fall somewhere between the method actor and the Storyteller, probably leaning more toward the storyteller. Doesn't mean I don't like tactical combat and all that too, because I do enjoy a good fight scene and looting bodies *cackle*

I've been playing D&D in it's various forms since my little brown books in 1974. I've played 1st ed, 2nd ed, 3.5 and Pathfinder. I've also delved into lots of other RPGs over the years - Chivalry & Sorcery, EPT, GURPS, V&V, Shadowrun, even Bunnies & Burrows and lots of other silliness.

I have never played a PbP before. I've been reading DHs guide to play by post gaming at this link to learn the protocols, so if you want things done any differently just let me know.

I have played and run games on IRC for many years, which is similar to a play by post but a lot faster since it's all real time as fast as you can type, with everyone in a chatroom together. So I'm not a total stranger to roleplaying via computer - just in a different way.

I'm really excited about playing in this game... can't wait til we get started!

I'm a method actor/tactician (Love tactical combat, but still within character design), probably why I get so many PK's when I DM.

I've been playing for well on 20 years, and Pathfinder since RotRL first launched. I'll play any system and run quite a few too

This will be my 2nd attempt at PbP gaming. The other attempt falling apart within a few weeks.

Cleric here :) Yah, looks awesome and uff, again a lot of question.. so to get down of them

1) Hmm, I can clearly see myself as a The Specialist. I am tending to play most of the time as a cleric and offering "healing" for the party.

2) Never really had the chance to get on Tabletop games due to unpopularity on my hometown / region so ended up playing PbP. Had the chance to play couple of games: Infernum - Call of the Damned / Rogue Trader / Eberron (was more like a try-out due to GM just disappeared after couple of days...) and Pathfinder

I could see myself ending up buying some dumplings from the cart when it arrives near to town. Even clerics get hungry... faith is water for your soul but does not really fill your stomach.

Much as I admire Robin Laws, I've best seen my type described as 'Builder'. I suspect this might be what power gamers (which I was) grow into... I tend to get goals for my PC (usually some big, overwhelming goals, and usually about creating something) and then work towards them like crazy - so a bit of a method actor. I've been doing this for a while though, and I know that for a game to work everyone has to be having fun, so I'll work out IC reasons to do or not do certain things if that's necessary for the game to be successful. That said, I also know the secret to having fun is working out the game's style and playing to that.

I started playing D&D back when I was young, 26 years ago. I started playing Pathfinder a couple of years ago. I tried a Laundry PbP last year that died a few days in, got disheartened, and have just tried again here a fortnight ago - unbelievably I am now in two games!

Hob and Arwen, ideas or thoughts on how we could have met/ got teamed up?

Off the top of my head...

Some thoughts
* shared family: Hob's actual parents won;t work, but he has an "adopted father" (Johan).
* Johan's master was a very educated master smith, who had a library and taught Hob to read. He also knew Alchemy (and migth actually have been an Alchemist).
* Hob left "home" seven years ago and hasn't gone back. It *could* be the same town that Samant came from.
* Hob owes his life to a doctor who was serving on a ship many years ago. If we're allowed to merge NPCs, I could change him to be Samant's teacher. I can imagine Hob, once he starts wandering, would have visited.
* Hob is looking for a cheap scribe to translate some old runes on some stonework he found.
* Hob often joins large caravans as a handyman/smith. Could you have been on such a caravan?

Anything grab you?

Well, Galrian, perhaps you've met Masao at Brother Dumpling's food cart. Masao would be a frequent customer there, as often as he could afford to go and sometimes when he couldn't as well. He'd go just for a chance to speak to someone from his homeland, and could be seen frequently chattering in Tien with the old peddlar.

Wouldn't you know it, the game hasn't started and I'm already retconning =) Earlier I said the parties would be starting on Arodus 7 and 14, but I'm changing it to Arodus 8 and 15 so that the days of the week line up with the 2012 real life calendar. Also, the in-game year is 4712. The reason I'm doing this is because I'm setting up a google calendar for the campaign, and I don't feel like having to convert every date. Apologies to all.

Masao hires out as a caravan guard from time to time, so anyone who elects to know Hob via that mechanic might know Masao from the same time/place. Just putting that out there if anyone wants to make use of it.

I'm still trying to get into a mode where Masao might have seen/heard about/somehow found out about a group of slavers and their cargo in the area. Maybe while out in the woods practicing his kata in a serene natural environment as his master taught him, he might find some sign of their passage - or see them going by. Or maybe someone came into town with a tale of a caravan of people in chains skirting the roads to avoid detection.

If he did find out about the caravan, he'd tell his friends Hob and Samant on his way out of town to follow them, hoping they would go with him.

Perhaps they might meet up with Galrian at Brother Dumpling's food cart on their way out of town to chase down this slave caravan.

Or maybe one of the others who knows Galrian better might suggest asking the cleric along to see to the prisoners when we free them.

Any more ideas guys about how we can get into this? Perhaps one of your characters might have seen or heard signs of the caravan?

Just some random thoughts here... feel free to chime in with something better of course.

I'd write up something short-storyish and post it in the ic room, but the ic room isn't open yet :/

I wrote this up: maybe it will suffice to get us all into this... I of course bow to better writing or better ideas or Jacob's veto (be kind in your criticism, it's a quick first draft lol):

The trees hung thickly overhead and their trunks surrounded the low hillock on which the young man stood. Masao was drenched in sweat and his hakama was damp up to mid-calf from the wet grass. He held the unfamiliar curved blade at arm’s length, his shoulder aching from the weight and strange balance of the scimitar. He hadn’t held a proper katana in his hand for years. The strange weapons of this land still felt alien in his grip. He turned slowly, weapon swirling to confront an imaginary foe to his other side. As he went through the rote movements of the kata, he felt his mind clear of troubles and thoughts that plagued him, but a sudden sound interrupted his reverie.

The jangle of chains, the crack of a whip and a muffled scream brought him to a sudden halt. He sheathed his sword and grabbed his kimono from a low branch where he had hung it and slipped it on, tucking it into his hakama. Masao was no master of stealth, but the sounds were all too familiar to him. He didn’t like to remember the time he spent as a captive of slavers as a child, but the sounds brought it all back in a flash of memories. He crept forward, using the trees as cover and he saw the slave caravan passing by at the bottom of the hill he stood on. He was too well hidden for them to spot, but he was afraid to move for fear of drawing their attention.

When the last of them had passed, he was torn between trying to free the slaves himself or getting help first. He could handle one or two guards, maybe even three or four, but this caravan was too well guarded for one man alone to take out the entire cadre of guards and slavers. He definitely needed help. He thought immediately of his friends Hob and Samant back in town… maybe others as well if such could be rounded up quickly enough.

When the slave caravan had passed sufficiently that he could move unheard, he ran back toward town. Masao needed to get help... and quickly.

So, had a chat with Masao, and have this for link (correct me if I am wrong)

Hob and Masao met when they were both working a caravan.

Masao observed Hob casting Prestidigitation and began a discourse on methodology, with Hob in awe of Masao's depth of knowledge. They got on well, and shared their knowledge of cantrips.

Over time this became a discussion of of crafting and smithing and Masao's search for a sword to replace the one he lost. Hob felt he might be able to create a replacement, and this became a shared interest of the duo.

The two have spent a lot of time poring over what magical tomes they can finde, and on designing Masao's new sword. (Obviously finding a Minkaian master smith would be best, but none have been found).

Masao tried teaching Hob some simple katas, but Hob - despite having blacksmith's muscles and a vicious instinct - simply lacked the discipline to master much of the art.

Hob has taken to spending a lot of time around Masao, rather than moving around, and has been introduced to the yumminess of rice balls and dumplings at the food cart in town.

I wrote this up: maybe it will suffice to get us all into this... I of course bow to better writing or better ideas or Jacob's veto (be kind in your criticism, it's a quick first draft lol):

Sounds good to me!

So, would you say that Hob and Masao have been in town for a while? And if that's the case, how much of each of your backstories has happened in Piren's bluff?

A - if you want to put Masao's mentor and contacts, good and bad, in a small town like Piren's Bluff, basically the entire last 3 years of his life could have been here... but it's an awfully small town for that - Or maybe you want Piren's Bluff to be a little bigger than 210 pop.? (which would work too.) If that's the case, he's probably between jobs when the game begins.

B - or maybe he's just here because this is where his last caravan guard duty job left him. If this the situation, then his backstory and contacts listed therein would be in a different larger town, probably somewhere to the east of Piren's Bluff. - In this case he can have been here for days or even weeks while he looks for new work.

I could go with either of these scenarios. Whatever works for you (and Hob, of course). If we were working on the same caravan, which is part of our combined backstories now, B would work. I can't speak for Hob as to how well A would work for him.

Very little of Hob's backstory has taken place here - most of it took place 7 years ago though. I'm happy to do a "Seven years later" cutscene :)
Hob wants to settle down. *I* don't want him to, or at least not at level 1!

B works for me
A sort of works, but the town would need to either be too small to support a full time crafter, in the process of being built, or have a master craftsman who is edging into retirement and happy to let Hob start to take over the more strenuous jobs. If that's true I suggest maybe add some new friend/foes made over the last seven years that will be easier to work in.

Sorry I was out yesterday, my wallet got misplaced and I was spending the day on the phone and getting new id.

I am opening the IC threads right now, so we can get moving. I will be less involved to start so that you all can hash out your recent stories. The encounter with the slavers will still be Thursday night, so keep moving towards that. I don't know if any of you have the Inner Sea World Guide, so if you need a name for some city, let me know and I'll pick the most likely one.

I have been parsing all of your information and I'm loving some of the directions it's taking. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself :)

Also, can everyone please switch over to your alias full time and get your description fully up to date with story, friends, foes, goals, and full character sheet?

Thanks

And one more thing:

If it isn't too much trouble can everyone fill out this character sheet right quick and email it to me? It's a form-fillable pdf. Having everyone's sheet in the same format will help me keep tabs on everyone's progress.

Sent, and saved that sheet for my use forever. lol

Jacob - I assume since I already sent you my char on that sheet, that we are good to go for Masao? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Jacob - in reference to my post in the in character channel:

Jacob, do you want us starting out from town tomorrow night, or already ready to ambush the caravan at start time tomorrow...ie when do you want Masao to arrive at the food cart to round up people? I mean I can have him arrive soon and we can do some rp, getting ready to set out (Masao needs to collect and don his armor for example)... or Masao can arrive at the food cart with the news at start time tomorrow - how do you want to play this? I just need to know when to actually have Masao arrive in back in town.

Masao, go ahead and be ready to fight at start time. You were a few miles south of town when you encountered the slavers, so you'll have to run back but once you round up your posse you can slow up a little because the four of you will easily outpace the slavers. The slavers have skirted the edge of town and are south of Piren's Bluff by just a few miles. The slavers are now on the road moving south and your party may approach from the road to the north, the light forest to either the east or west or both, if you split, or you can try to get around the slavers and cut them off.

Also, I already have your sheet Masao, so you're good to go.

Here is a link to a bundle of google reader feeds for all of the respective threads for both legs of this campaign.

Yay, triple post! Can I please have everyone's preferred color to use for your counter on the battlemaps? Don't pick any colors that are already taken.

Red - Enemies
Blue - Friendlies

i want black!

I would like to get yellow one.

PS. sent my char sheet to you

Green please

Jacob - since Masao got to see the caravan, did he get any idea of numbers that we have to deal with?

Masao caught a glimpse of at least a dozen guards with twice as many slaves. Several guards were mounted, but most were poorly outfitted.

Orange please

Arwen - Just so you know, there is no 'Samantha', the character's name is 'Samant' and he's a guy. I know it's been too long for you to edit your post, but for the future. :)

Hey all,
I wanted to talk to you about Hob's familiar. It is sort of another member of the party.
Hob got this familiar as a kid, so it means a lot to him. But the attachment is because it is the only tie to his childhood he still has, so it's actual form is secondary. The form will lead to the roleplaying function though, I think.

I was thinking Thrush, Goat, Raven, Viper or Cat.

I can see the Thrush as interesting because it can talk and hide - might hit Arwen's niche though.
The Goat is interesting because it is is independent, is good at surviving and is large enough to actually be a useful participant and combatant (hell, before we get weapons it might even be a better combatant than some of us!) I'm worried that explaining why there's a goat in our inn room (or whatever) might be a bit too much comedy.
The Raven is awesome... but I'm worried it'll become order of the stick.
Vipers are cool and very versatile.
Cat is sort of a fall-back familiar. I know cats.

Does anyone have an opinion? (If you don't want to end up sharing the midnight watch with a goat, this might be a good time to speak up)

Cheers

I'm good with whatever works for you. It's your familiar after all. Like you said, a goat will likely be better at fighting than I am lol. After all, I've only got a bab of 0.
(btw, no inn room for Masao, he's sleeping in the stables, it's all he can afford)

I'd say go for whatever gives the right flavor for your character - flying familiars make good scouts, the goat might make a good combat familiar, the viper can bite with poison, cats can see in the dark and also make sneaky scouts.. so they all have their good points.

All on you man.

I suggest steering away from a familiar that you intend to use in combat, as that can end quickly with a dead familiar... and that's no good.

Exactly what time are we starting tonight - I need to know - I have a meeting from 6-8ish pst. I can play during the meeting no problem, but it would be helpful to know our exact start time so I can be here at that time.

I'll be hitting send on my first post at 7 to 7:10.

in what time zone please?

EST. My bad.

ok... i'm ready.

Alright, I'm rounding everyone up and we're heading out.

Might I suggest that you - in character or out - select a "combat leader" to make large scale tactical decisions for the group so that we don't have to wait and discuss everything before every combat. Of course, if you want to discuss, go right ahead.

good idea - maybe we should have a player check-in and see who's even here yet.

I'm here!