A Place of Blood and Iron (Inactive)

Game Master Mowque

For discussion!

Hot dang. Didn't really expect to be here right now, but very happy for it. Thanks for the pick, man. I'll do my very best not to disappoint.

And on that subject I best get to work on finishing the crunch and that alias. Any objections to me using some of the gold to purchase additional spells for the spellbook?

Don't be surprised, your write-up was great (and I checked out your posts in some of your other games). I think this will be great!

So, like I said we have lots to discuss, for two big reasons:

A. I couldn't overly plan things out since I didn't know which faction the PC would be, and that drives things a great deal. It is annoying but I felt faction choice was a key part of the game. I find your choice to back Quinus Thrune a bold one!

B. I like to greatly customize the game to the player's wants and desires (within reasons of course). But in a solo game things can be very tailored for what a person likes. I don't know if you glanced through my other games, but all have very different feels base don player feedback and playstyle.

So, some questions to start us off!

1. First off, any issues/topics/themes I should stay away from? Stuff that makes you uncomfortable (in a bad way)? This can be as specific as 'no giant spiders' to 'no racism'. We are here to have fun, not make you upset.

2. Any themes/issues/topics you really want to see? Stuff you've always wanted to do but haven't had the chance yet? This can be as specific as 'I love cracking safes' to 'I've always wanted to try building a network of spies'. I can't promise everything (probably no planar trips in this game, for example) but I do try my best!

3. I'm not very mechanically inclined, much prefer the RP aspect (although I enjoy a good dice-based fight as much as anyone!). Can you tell me a bit about your build and how you expect to use him, especially in combat?

4. Your imp. Do you have RP plans for them as of yet? Would you like me to play them or yourself? I think the former could be fun but there is potential for the latter as well.

5. How do you feel about long-term NPCs? Do you want me to 'assign' a sidekick to you? Granted, int his game, they are unlikely to be comedic relief but maybe you'd like a meatshield to have around? Obviously I'd give them motives, personality and such of their own.

6. I have been thinking of starting this game 'in media res'. Any objections or thoughts?

7. Do you have a discord? I find the process can go much quicker with instant communication. If you want, feel free to PM your ID.

Let me know what you think!

Glad to hear you enjoy my overly long nonsense. There will no doubt be more to come seeing as I am damn near incapable of writing a short post - It's honestly a problem. But to return the compliment, you should know that your own history on the boards is just about the most impressive I've seen. Wouldn't have put in the effort if I didn't think you deserved it.

Right, questions...

1. Stuff to avoid: Nah, not really. I've got pretty thick skin when it comes to most things, and honestly, trying to skirt around the horror, both moral and bloody, of civil war is probably doing a disservice to the subject. I don't revel in gore and try to handle any sensitive topic with as much tact as possible, but when forced to choose between 'good manners' and 'good story-telling', I pick story-telling, 100% of the time. The world (Cheliax especially) can be an ugly place and that ugliness should not be hidden away but confronted. You go exactly as far as you yourself are comfortable, man.

2. Stuff to aim for: Uuf, big question. Feel like a kid told to pick any one toy from the store... I'd like to see discussions, I guess. In addition to out and out conflict between the different factions, I'd love to see some opportunity (public or private) for the leaders or representatives of the leaders to just discuss their ideas. There are few things I adore more in fiction than characters driven by ideology, any ideology. It's just gosh darn fascinating to watch not just people but ideas clash. A chance for Novox to air his grandiose thoughts about the human spirit vs for example, the dour creed of the hellknights or the kindliness of the Host of Freedom... Not sure if this is something you're up for, but I think I'd like for us to go full on debate club at some point. Especially if it means winning people over.

Beyond that, a chance to use that one skill point in Perform (dance) would be nice.

3. How does your build work? Boy, I wish I knew. I'm not particularly experienced with wizards and am still trying to nail down a spell list (so many spells...), so I don't even feel equipped to answer that, but here goes: the idea is to abuse Planar Binding to call up meatshields behind which Novox can, I dunno, throw offensive spells, I guess. He has the stats for that. Of course, Lesser Planar Binding is a lv.5 spell, so I'm gonna have to spend gold on a scroll for now, but I hope to call up a bearded devil fairly soon. More specifically, the Diabolist prestige class meshes really well with the damnation feat (very appropriately) Maleficium. Powering up evil spells is real good when Diabolist lets you add the Evil descriptor to any spell. That Fireball is going to be nasty come next level.

But yeah, that's not until lv.7. For now, I think Novox is a pretty vanilla offensive caster. And not even a particularly good one.

4. The imp: I'm ashamed to say I had no plans for what is one of the character's biggest class features when writing him, no. Some ideas have come up since then though. If you have a definite character in mind for the imp, I'm happy to let you play him/her, but I'm working on a kinda atypical devil persona - a seemingly very laid back, humble and humorous imp, very much a foil to the grandiose, arrogant Novox. Might add some much needed levity. Of course, this would all be a facade; the imp would be every bit as evil as any other devil, having been given this post as a means of keeping an eye on the wizard and to temp him into indulging in all his worst habits. Something along those lines.

5. Long-term NPCs: Love 'em. Bring out as many as you think you can handle. Or just take control of an ornery bearded devil lackey Novox calls in. Whatever you thinks works best.

6. Starting in the middle: Completely agree. The beginning would be a tad slow if we had to set up how exactly Novox joins up with his chosen faction and the myriad relationships that would come with it. It's a lv.6 character; he's already established and we might as well play him as such.

Your answer to #2 just made my day.

My favorite scenes are people sitting around, talking, threatening, cajoling. Watching motives clash using the personalities of the participants as tools and weapons.

For reference my favorite scene in Star Wars is that one where Vader force chokes the Imperials, after a internal political debate. People sitting around tables? Love it. Looks like I picked the right character.

As for the imp, I'm happy to play him with your personality in mind. I look forward to him popping your bubble at times.

Ok, then. I'll ask other questions as I think of them. Give me some time to come up with where exactly we want to start. As you seemed to indicate, I'm going to skip a giant first post that provides all of the backstory in one giant chunk. We will tease it out over the course of a few scenes. Should be more interesting and natural. Don't worry, I won't have you driving blind for long. What Novox would know, you'll know.

Anything else you want to know, discuss?

P.S. Already angling for the next level! Love it but you gotta pay for it....in blood and iron.

Plotline is coming together!

As are things on my end. Novox now has something approaching a proper spellbook. I could spend literal days trawling through the Wizard's spell list for goodies, but for the sake of my own sanity I'm gonna say this will do for now. Spent 975 gp adding additional spells and this is what his prepared list looks like now:

Also, Bilbastis (better known as Bill the Imp) now has a finished stat block. Well, almost. He's still missing a feat. But man, did I underestimate him. For a class feature I didn't even pay attention to when writing the character, the Diabolist's imp companion is a beast. Never mind any bearded devil, I think this lowly imp will do now.

Finally, I spent some of the leftover gold. Bought a Circlet of Persuasion, a noble's outfit with 100 gp of jewelry (gotta look fresh), a scroll of Lesser Planar Binding, and some other minor things.

Just briefly dropping in- I’m in another one of Mowque’s solo games, and will likely be eagerly following along. I can already tell Narsus is going to be an utterly magnificent bastard, and I eagerly anticipate his progress.

You’re in for quite the spectacle, and I hope you enjoy the ride!

Novox is great.

Man, I feel like I've been inducted into the large Mowque family. Thanks for the kind words, dude. Took a quick look at your own game and Connacht is a really well realized character. Take better care of your neck of Taldor than Novox will Cheliax - we all know he's gonna go mad with power at some point.

Post tomorrow, sleep deprived due to having to open polls this morning before dawn. I am not an early riser.

Also, thanks for the kind words Connacht. Your game is about to take a hard left swerve but I think you'll like it.

I'm kinda surprised Rudabeh hasn't shown up yet, to be honest.

Man, I feel like I've been inducted into the large Mowque family.

*chanting*

One of us. One of us. One of us.

Welcome from me too, and I have to say, it's a thrilling ride for me as well. I have a particular liking for diabolical schemers, and I'll be dropping from time to time to see what's on the up and up!

Also, we should compare notes for machinations, scheming and eventual backstabbing. You never know - once you get the numbers rolling, tyranny just might be the most logical conclusion!

Novox should write a book. How to Win Friends and Influence Peoole.

Novox and Infrastructure Projects. Name a more iconic duo.

You do 'Chelish arrogance' amazingly well. Excellent RP, man.

Erastil's antlers Connacht would already have a dozen reasons to throttle your character on moral, personal, aesthetic, theological, metaphysical, and philosophical grounds. I'm torn between eagerly anticipating Narsus finally getting impaled on a pike and enjoying this trainwreck of a human being wreak havoc wherever he goes.

Well done- I'm taking copious notes for my own RP.

Even outside of morals, this is a...sticky wicket, as the British say.

Erastil's antlers, Connacht would already have a dozen reasons to throttle your character...

Alright, first of all, bring it on, Davy Crockett.

Secondly, wow. Child murder. Didn't think we'd get here so soon. I thought it would take a level or two. This is the sort of thing that would utterly destroy any other character of mine.

Fortunately, Novox's ego is UNBREAKABLE. Just gotta have a think as to how to get out of this one...

The 'no' actually made me laugh out loud. Love it!

I'm ok going to set up all kinds of nice and good NPCs only to see them ground under Novox's boots, aren't I?

Short post, but not sure what you want to do!

Wonderful post!

I love Novox painting Hax as a drama queen.

"We are cheating, right?"

Evil games really are something else.

Wow Novox. What are you doing hanging out with us backwater bumpkins? Go write a book already and cash in on that wordsmithing!

In any case, I am watching this scene with great interest.

Popcorn time.

This from the player with double the post count. Thanks. You're too kind.

Still totally rooting for that crossover episode, by the bye! Someone like Novox needing a good lawyer is only inevitable, right? Then again, he works with devils; shouldn't have any trouble finding an attorney.

We do need a crossover episode, it's true. I'm sure they could find some common ground. Unite against the forces of chaos! Take out a band of vigilantes, battle demons of the abyss, tame a city in anarchy... institute tax codes! Start an institutional banking service.

The thought of Novox and Rudabeh teaming up to institute financial reform is terrifying.

Damn it, these are literally and actually all things Novox would be up for.

First Bank of the Imperium of Mankind, no smelly non-humans allowed.