I think the biggest tool for figuring out where we've been will be tracing our cellphones/implants/datapads. That will cover most places outside Underpendros. I'm sure I'll be calling Sam asking for another favor soon, and she can probably help with the Razor too. I want to know a bit more before I bother her though...
The other thing in my post was that I was looking for a way down... does anything present itself, or are we climbing?
I had a very busy few days with work and family...
Things should be normal over the weekend but I'll be traveling next week Monday to Friday, and I don't know how much time or network access I'll have.
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Probably not; it would probably be the last place any Vampire would find themselves, unless it is to feed; considering how easy that would be, I suppose it would be highly contested amongst those Kindred who are no good with social situations; assuming they are comfortable with feeding on the elderly.
I know exactly the type of casino you're talking about now, for some reason it didn't click when I first read the description.
A thought occurs to him as he tests the door,
My plan was to test if the door was locked and start heading down, but I wasn't explicit enough about it. There's not much left to talk about up here on the roof...
Sorry for the delay! I had less free time than I thought I would while traveling, and things got busy at home. I'm getting caught up on my PbPs now...
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For registering an account on the wiki, Richard is awarded 10XP!
Note: It seems difficult to register an account on the wiki. To become a member, you'll need to make an Obsidian Portal account, and then PM me there. From there, I can send you an invite to wiki. This seems to be the only way to register an account.
Thanks!
I was re-reading Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and that quote just seemed a perfect fit.
This one. It never hurts to be prepared.
If that model isn't available, he'd probably just use whatever Sam recommended. Something expensive and stylish.
"FINALLY, I CAN ORDER BROCCOLI AND BEEF AGAIN!"
I laughed :)
I'm spreading the word to all of my discussion threads... there's a 'werewolf' forum game kicking off on Sunday and we could always use a few more players/victims. You can check it out here.
@Thomas/Saki: Are you still interested in the game? We had some pacing issues with the waking-up scene and getting in the cab, but we can still get things back on track. I think we've been waiting to move things on until everyone was happy with their destination... if you guys are fine with the Glitterdust club for our first destination and still want to continue the story just chime in!
@G85: I had a chance to do some more writing, please take a look at the section on Goals and Contacts in my obsidian portal profile. I may have taken a few liberties with Tina Smalls and Tyrone Williams... let me know if my take on them meshes with what you have in mind.
I was just waiting to arrive at our destination, before posting again. The queen told Oroku to go with these folks and that's what I'm doing for now. Outside of the club/monastery/combat situations, Saki is really still a baby. And while I'm fairly smart as a player, trying to play down to an Intelligence 1 leaves Saki without much to say outside the few arenas he is comfortable in here at the beginning of his unlife. He'll get better the longer he survives, but it will take some time. I check the thread several times throughout the day for story updates and opportunities to interact though.
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@Jack: I'm going to bed soon, so I haven't finished reading his bio on the wiki, but otherwise,
*Stamps*
Character approved!
My quite long post tomorrow will have a way to bring you in...
@Richard:
Awesome stuff on the wiki! It helps me detail all of them, and Tyrone, who appears often in the RL game, is now better detailed, something I must thank you for! You'll be XP tomorrow, along with Jack.
@Oroku: Should you wish to grind for XP, adding details to your character on the wiki will do you wonders!
Hey everyone, I'm looking forward to the danse :)
I changed Jack's gym to the Cherry Blossom Temple but otherwise I think Jack will stand as he is though, believe it or not, I'm still mulling over his disciplines. Do you guys think I'm overboard with five different ones? They just feel appropriate and since Jack's a fledgling I think it makes sense not to have more than one dot in each, he's just recently been turned after all so I think it makes sense to have his power level low..
@G85, I did that intentionally, making the wiki for the xp, I'll be putting a dot into his haven security (put a padlock on the cellar door at least) and maybe his masquerade/requiem or tutor, I'll run the changes by you of course.
I'm looking forward to gaming with you!
Regarding the disciplines, I'd just go with whatever you'll enjoy playing. There's enough wiggle room in how the embrace works that you can justify it working either way for depth versus breadth.
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@Oroku, Richard, & Thomas:
I never rewarded XP for the end of March. Each character gains 3 XP, and if you cite any time the following occurred for your character, I will reward additional XP and possibly Willpower:
Virtue
Vice
Each Motivation
Your character’s goals
Your character’s conflicts
Your character’s flaws
@Sigz:
I’d like a longer exploration of Jack’s goals; these do not have to be goals he consciously has, but goals YOU have for the character. I do mean it when I mean a paragraph. However, you listed Survival as a goal; I suggest adding that as a third motivation (not that you need to remove that as a goal though).
For your motivations, I will tell you this; you get XP for rewarded for a paragraph for each individual one. You’ve done a good job of describing each in one albeit in one total paragraph; I think that as the character evolves, those motivations will either change or become better defined, and then you could get another paragraph in there, warranting more XP. Cool? Also, you can never get more than 1 XP and Willpower in the game for an action that occurs; meaning that if an action activates both Jack’s Duty and Faith, he’ll be rewarded only 1 XP and Willpower for one of those motivations, not both. Make sense?
Residence:
Note how far apart the University district is from the Latino district. Locations. The distance from the Latino district to the University district, walked, takes an incredibly long time. Without the resources merit, there is just no way your character can afford to get there any other way than walking (I guess there is biking…) Just FYI.
Once we've addressed these, I will reward you XP for your wiki-entry details. Note, however, that XP must be spent based on events that occur in game, and you must note how you are using and spending this XP when you spend it.
@Richard:
Wiki-entry related XP rewards: 3 XP for adding goal(s), and 3 XP for detailing relationships, and 2 XP for going above and beyond with those descriptions. Total: 8 XP.
Goals: They're short because I haven't defined them yet for myself, as it is my goal for Jack, and myself, is learning the game and fitting him and myself into it.
Long term I see him building up a power base in followers and resources, maybe in the form of a gang of some-sort, maybe not, I don't know. One thought has him re-connecting with childhood friends (read criminals) in the Latino quarter and forming them into a gang to vie for rule in that sector and another thought has Tim Noble hooking Jack up with other bruja to do the same city-wide. Those thoughts involve a lot of violence on my behalf and I don't know if this game has room for out-right war between kindred controlled kine, or maybe that's exactly what this game is calling for, I don't know. That's why my goal for now is just to learn the game.
Trust me; it will evolve.
Motivations; That's cool, XP is nice but it's not the ultimate motivator for me, I'd rather get no xp and play a great game than get bought into playing a dull one. A balance between the two is best of course ;)
A.t.m. Jack doesn't see the moon for Tim. As a player I fully expect Tim to betray or sell Jack out or for Jack to grow disenchanted by his sire. But as is, Tim is Jack's higher power.
Adding survival as a motivation sound fair, I'll do that but I expect his motivations to grow as we move along.
Residence: I hadn't realized the two were so far apart, is there a suburb in the university district for me to move my house to or should I turn it into something else? He could have sold the house and bought a small apartment, turning the getting back the old house into a goal?
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There are indeed areas in any district (except the park) for anyone to live, at any price.
I just realized what an ass I sound like! My apologizes! :) You are of course welcome to allow your character to grow and evolve from where you have started him. I love these games because I find asking players to write a paragraph about different aspects of their character are rarely, if ever, requests that are met with optimism, but adding in the reward of XP seems to make people become writing geniuses! You have set up Jack in such away his potential excites me, and seems built in to explore aspects of Pendros I have never looked at. Actually, everyone's character is built like this, which is another reason I adore this game.
Expect a lead in for Jack later on today.
@G85: I got into PbPs just so I could get back into practice at writing, but the extra XP certainly doesn't hurt ;)
March was a slow month for us, so I think the base 3xp award will stand.
On the occasion of getting a new player, I took a few minutes to look back over our campaign so far and see if I'd missed any details... here is a more-or-less chronological detailing of the things we're fairly sure of. There's a lot of guesswork and background information that didn't make its way onto the list, but I find that refreshing myself on everything from time to time helps me to make plans.
• Two years ago anknown Tzimice turns Thomas, he is told to report occasionally to a bailbond office owned by 'the Giovanni group' under the auspices of Chastity Maximoff. They tell him that they represent the vampire government and take blood from him.
• Anneliese Barkovia appointed Sasha's Harpy
• One year ago Iranis's friend Taki notices a string of deaths around one of Sasha's clubs.
• One month ago Taki contacts Iranis about "Catiff", vampires who show up on film, can walk in sunlight, and turn to dust when slain. She reports that there are hundreds of them, and Iranis joins Taki's team. They attack a group of Catiff who are working with changelings and werewolves and is gravely injured.
• One week ago Michael forsees disaster if Barkovia goes through with her plan to make the commencement speech in daylight, and is dismissed from her service. He also has visions of Prince Runningwater.
• Richard is called to task for 'the Barkovia incident', Nathaniel intervenes to spare him. Richard is assigned to track down Sires for Natasha and Thomas.
• Whisper saves Natasha, then kills her. (?)
• Zack contacts Whisper about the information Richard gave him, the Maximoffs send assassins after Zack. Whisper investigates by following a truck from Thomas's contact point. She reports seeing a horrifying ritual where people are rendered into bloody goo and fed to other captives but is chased off before she can investigate further.
• Nathaniel reminds/persuades Sasha to have Saki report to Richard
• Annelise Barkovia takes her position as mayor during a formal daytime commencement speech. Richard, Thomas, and Saki wake up on a rooftop at sunset with no memories of the preceeding night or day. It seems that we had visited 'the Glitterdust club', The Golden Goblin (a Maximoff casino), and Barkovia Tower. Our electronics are behaving oddly.
Yep, I should have given it another round of proofreading. Sometimes the 1-hour editing window on this site gets annoying...
I'm glad Jack excites you G85 but please, don't apologize. It's your game and you have a right to be adamant when you feel the need for it. Besides, free xp should never be free ;)
I updated Jack's profile on obsidian portal per your request but after reading through the section on Carthian in V;tR I have a better idea on a planned future for Jack, I'll update that when I get the chance later this evening and hopefully I can wrap my head around his embrace and such so I can type out a background for him. My timezone is GMT btw.
I also read up on the first encounter thing with vampires and now realize the implications of the first dot it protean *grins evilly*
Please expect my character to grow as I read more of the setting/rule system.
Also I'd like to change Jack's requiem to courtesan if that ok with you. (See goals below).
Long-term goals; Force a democratic system on Pendros. (I have to chuckle at the thought of a democratic election system run by evil beasts but Jack's a firm believer).
Short-term goals; Get to know the players, form a power base, unify the and enlarge the Carthian movement.
I realize that these goals will paint a big bulls-eye on Jack's back (I'm guessing the queen won't go along with it without a few grumbles;) but hey! It's politics.
And a month it shall be. Hadn't really set my heart on that one, just knew he was fresh.
@Oroku, Richard, & Thomas:
I never rewarded XP for the end of March. Each character gains 3 XP, and if you cite any time the following occurred for your character, I will reward additional XP and possibly Willpower:Virtue
Vice
Each Motivation
Your character’s goals
Your character’s conflicts
Your character’s flaws
Well the curse flaw has sure been its namesake so far. And while nobody appears to be covered in claw marks or is in pieces, plus with a dozen new texts (Needed), and Saki seems to have been to quite a few new places (Curiosity), I can't take credit for any of it. March was really slow and I only got through basically a couple introductions.
I would like to just go ahead and spend 2xp for the Plug-Ins Merit-Translator to exclude it from my curse flaw. The translator was just supposed to be a funny little tongue-in-cheek/slap-stick/chop-saki dubbing bit for comedic relief. But with it failing almost half the time, its getting in the way of basic communication, which is really what PbP is all about. We can't read facial expressions or body language over the web so witty banter is really all I have to work with.
I created an account over on Obsidian Portal and have tried to join the thread.
So... I just rewatched the first TMNT movie and a certain name jumped out at me.
::shakes fist a Saki::
Haha I was wondering when someone would figure it out. Though the only similarity between my character and his historical namesake is the tendency for our enemies to end up in bloody ribbons.
@G85 - The text for the lvl3 curse is on my sheet, but here's the whole range that the flaw covers in the book:
Cursed (1-5pt flaw)
You are the recipient of a supernatural curse. The strength and pervasiveness of the curse depend on how many points you wish to incur. Examples follow:
* If you pass on a secret you were entrusted with, your betrayal will come back to harm you in some way. (1pt)
* You stutter uncontrollably when you try to describe what you have seen or heard. (2pt)
* Tools break or malfunction when you try to use them. (3pt)
* You are doomed to make enemies of those whom you most love or admire. (4pt)
* Every one of your accomplishments or triumphs will eventually become soiled or fail in some way. (5pt)
(VtM pg301)
Given the pervasiveness of technology in every day life, I figured you could really get some mileage out of the one I chose in particular. From shorting out an electronic keypad or the lights in a room, simply by touching the switch, to never finding an elevator that is actually working, I think this curse can keep us on our toes for the foreseeable future.
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Ok so far on obsidian portal I have made it through:
Registering an account and joining the wiki (10pts)
Adding a paragraph of description (5pts)
Given my character a portrait (3pts)
Adding a paragraph about his physical appearance (3pts)
I'm working on his virtues/vices/goals/merits/flaws, and Saki is still developing the first real relationships he has ever had in his sheltered existence, so that will take a bit of time.
Oh and for the text messages, should I be waiting for you to create them or should be thinking up people I have been dealing with over the last 6 months on my own for the unknown numbers to start cultivating contacts and potential herd members?
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@Oroku
All right Saki:
1 XP for the cursed flaw coming up in play.
10 XP for registering at the wiki.
3 XP for a wiki portrait; although, he doesn’t look very Chinese…
3 XP for adding a good description of your character to the wiki
3 XP for adding a good description of your character’s appearance to the wiki (I like the bit about the protean claws)
3 XP for adding in your character’s background. I edited a few spelling errors. I might suggest making it prettier, but I feel like you plan on doing so.
Remember, you must spend XP with in game experiences.
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@Jack:
Stick in there buddy! Your 'in' is coming soon, and your character gen XP.
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I'm flooding the character section with characters. True Carthians for Jack, Invictus for Richard, Martial Artists and Dragons for Oroku.
No worries, I'm still here. Just RL kicking in after easter, been swamped myself, hopefully I'll find the time and energy to type up a background tonight.
What's the difference between a Carthian and a True Carthian?
Heh. That's one detail I really like about the setting. The queen is a "Carthian" who rose to power with the support of the Carthian movement. Since then she has basically only given lip service to their goals while cementing ties with the established powers within the city. She's been stringing them along for about 30 years now and many of the "True Carthians" have become thoroughly disillusioned with her rule.
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Well, to her credit, she did do one thing I think is clearly Carthian:
The magistrates are all elected, except for the club and underpendros areas. From there, they oversee their territories as they see fit. The election process is very complicated, and I'm trying to bust out what is easily the longest post yet. Once I am done, I'll type out the election process.
Careful you don't go over the word count ;)
Awesome post. You've got my mind moving a dozen different directions at once.