@Raven- I don't know if you want feedback from us at all on the recruiting, but I'm willing to look over submissions and offer it if you do. Just let us know.
By all means, please offer your thoughts. That goes for all of you. You can post them here, or direct message me to keep things a little more private (might be best in fact to keep all of you anonymous in the process).
Oblivion's Scion (and everyone else): it's clear to me that I'm not going to be able to contribute to this game in the way I and you would like me to. Work has become really difficult with covid (I work in a lab and we've had to halve the number of people working in there at any time which means more junior types like me get shunted into weird hourss) and the time that I do have free, I'm not in a headspace to follow a complex game like this one. I have literally lost the plot of what we're doing and why.
You deserve better than I can give you right now, and I'm sorry. This is an amazing game and I would love to be able to contribute to it, i had great ideas for where Lucia was going to go, but I don't have time or energy to write the posts needed for that to happen.
It's probabyu better if I leave now while you're recruiting than try to drag the agony out any further. Please accepte my apologies.
Please mark me as inactive. I hope you and yourse continue to stay safe and that things will improve for all of us!
Hey all, I lost power and internet last night. It's still not back up but wanted to quickly let you all know from my phone. It is supposed to be back up in the next few hours, I will post after.
Lucia I am so sorry to hear you will be departing. It is a stressful time for everyone, I know the feeling of having your work situation turned upside down. I hope things stabilize for you in the coming months. When they do, please let me know, I would love to see your character return to the game. Best of luck with everything.
Sorry to see you go, Lucia. Like Raven said, if things ever slow down for you it'd be cool to see you make a comeback. Hope things settle down for you asap! Be good!
I'm guessing that means you're going to be choosing two now, Raven? Gonna check them out a bit and throw in my 2 cents. It's not really worth that much but I figure what they hey. :P
And here's hoping you get your power back soon as well. That's just flat out annoying.
Sorry to see you go, Lucia. Stay healthy.
Power and internet are back! Turns out a nearby construction sight managed to cause some serious damage to the local infrastructure. Two days without power was a good learning opportunity with the little guy - I am just glad it happened now in the warm, yet temperate fall as opposed to the inferno that is summer around here.
Game post in a few moments!
I was looking at two, to replace William and Peter. With Lucia gone, I will likely pull in three now. John has sent me some thoughts on the applicants, I would welcome anything Scarlet/Smooshie or Jakob/Javell has on them as well. As mentioned before, please send them via the private message system.
You got it. Been meaning to check 'em out and haven't got around to it. Will do that and get back to you tomorrow on it at the latest.
Sorry to see you leave, Lucia. I too hope all things go well for you!
I was looking at two, to replace William and Peter. With Lucia gone, I will likely pull in three now. John has sent me some thoughts on the applicants, I would welcome anything Scarlet/Smooshie or Jakob/Javell has on them as well. As mentioned before, please send them via the private message system.
Alright, I will take a look at them when I get a free moment. I've been busy running my website, but I'll make the time.
Hey Scarlet, Jakob, and John - thank you all for the time and effort you
each put into your thoughts regarding the applicants. You all had unique insight, and I feel the selections I am making are better for it. I have also reached out to many of the applicants based on questions or pro/cons you posed, to get further clarity on some matters. I hope you are pleased with those I introduce into the game in the coming days.
Wonderful. I look forward to seeing who you've chosen.
Thanks all for your kind words. I feel bad about leaving but I wasf eeeling even worse about not being able to contribute properly. I am sure you will all go on to have an amazing game! I may try to keep up by reading it if I find time :)
Thanks for the opportunity to play.
Thank you for accepting me!
I have been reading along with the recent gameplay developments, I am curious to see how this possibly-deadly play turns out.
I am also sad to see that Lucia has decided to step out. I hope that your work situation becomes less stressful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GM, do you currently have any ideas on how to work in the trio of new characters? I believe the campaign is still in the stage where there isn't quite a party yet, correct?
On a side note, if anybody is interested, I would like to open the table to discussing roleplaying in a party with Mordecai, who I admittedly wrote with an abrasive personality. I want to make sure any possible concerns are open and addressed because the last thing I desire is to ruin somebody else's fun.
@DM: I know that you were going to swap ut brew potion for something else, my suggestion would be to just swap it for another feat. If you aren't comfortable to just open that option up then maybe an extra discovery or extra bombs or even skill focus heal. These would all be character and thematically compatible I believe. Just throwing out ideas.
Thanks again for letting me in to play.
Mordecai, here's an idea. I often visit various local to get "supplies" for my experiments. We could have met multiple times and have a grudging respect atleast for each other. You could possibly even helped me obtain certain ingredients safely from some of the seedier parts. I do nothng to break the law but sometimes my ingredients are on the verge of not being completely legal.
Just throwing out ideas.
@Mordecai- I think (in character) all the current characters are pretty diplomatic and all have reasons why they’ve had to deal with difficult people in the past, so as long as there’s a reason why we should be doing something together I’m sure we can get along. That said, it may be worth considering that people typically interact differently with some people than others... so you could be abrasive with most people but have some reason to be more pleasant with us? Like, maybe you have a little crush on Scarlet so you’re extra nice to us or something...
@Bairais - That background connection could certainly work, although I don't know if that alone would get Mordecai to hold him in a place of respect, unless something about his experiments was sufficiently interesting. Also, do you plan on keeping that goblin avatar? It seems out of place for the setting.
I've figured out the flavor for my antiquarian trinkets. Some of them overlap and have multiple purposes, and I even got a little cheeky with the Polypurpose Panacea and made it a flask. I think they will be fun and interesting, and I got real-world inspiration for most of them, which I linked in their description for reference.
@Mordecai- I think (in character) all the current characters are pretty diplomatic and all have reasons why they’ve had to deal with difficult people in the past, so as long as there’s a reason why we should be doing something together I’m sure we can get along. That said, it may be worth considering that people typically interact differently with some people than others... so you could be abrasive with most people but have some reason to be more pleasant with us? Like, maybe you have a little crush on Scarlet so you’re extra nice to us or something...
I do like the direction your thinking is headed, and the GM and I discussed something similar in private messages. I don't feel the inspiration in a love interest, at least at this time, but the GM's suggestion of being more tolerant of those he finds worthy of his respect or at least sufficiently interesting is what I'm currently thinking. By and large that means that the high capabilities of the party members should help to temper any scorn or malice that Mordecai would direct their way. Not entirely sure how it would play out on an individual basis, hmm...
@Bairais: Here is an idea. Bairais' father could have served with Scarlet's father, and before his death, perhaps sent a letter to Bairais' father to help Scarlet. Perhaps your character's father is too old now, and knowing his son has military experience and is capable (also with unique talents), perhaps he sent him in his place?
@Mordecai: I do have concerns about abrasiveness between a high society noble and someone rude, but Scarlet isn't weak, and rude, harsh people are in high society. If your character is overly abrasive though without cause, it may switch Scarlet from a cooperative mental state to one of isolation, and I want her to remain a team player. Also, it is very improper to be rude to women in that era, so perhaps if you are abrasive with others but not her (because she's of the "weaker sex"), we should be okay?
Hmm, I appreciate the character insight Scarlet. I will definitely abstain from causeless abrasiveness, and I will have to think more on Mordecai's relationship with women. Perhaps a pseudo-progressive stance of "Women are just as capable as man so I won't treat them with kids gloves", while still acknowledging the reality of the times, so he would be inherently respectful of any woman of notable influence due to recognizing their ability to overcome prejudice.
Here are some points he could have additional respect for her:
She has been active in the community with progressive ideas and women's rights.
She also was noted in the paper as "Lady Carver" due to her triumphs over a cult. Supposedly she discovered a cult and brought their deeds to light. They converged upon her home to kill her and her family. She instead killed many of them and the rest are in jail now (probably executed by this time).
She has had competitions with her fencing in challenges with some men, but mostly women with similar desires.
While an eligible match, she has not followed the norms of being married at 18 in favor of study and improvement of character.
There are rumors of her having lived abroad and seen much of the world.
She is a woman of strong faith but doesn't oppress others.
She actively cares for those of lesser station than her, helping them get a leg up from their poverty.
An excellent list of accomplishments!
Yes that list would certainly make Mordecai hold more than a small amount of respect for her. If anything he might make light hearted jabs about how she's some kind of overachiever.
And Lady Carver...that spends a chill down your spine, what an excellent moniker.
Thank you! :)
Hey folks, thanks to GM Nevermore for the pick!
I’m at work right now, but I’ll set up my alias and get into some ideas on how to join the party once I’m off.
@Bairais - That background connection could certainly work, although I don't know if that alone would get Mordecai to hold him in a place of respect, unless something about his experiments was sufficiently interesting. Also, do you plan on keeping that goblin avatar? It seems out of place for the setting.
@ Mordecai -- I'm honestly not sure how to change the avatar picture now. I chose it cuz i liked it but didn't think of the era when I set it up. I'm not married to it if you can tell me how to change it I am more than willing to.
As for background, its just a way we know each other. Not meant to be a this has built respect just that we know each other.
@scarlett= The letter would work but maybe even just a mutual friend received the letter but isn't in london and so forwarded it to me. I'm not the best terms with my parents, due to my experimentations that they don't agree with.
@Herkymr: On your profile page of any of your aliases, go to "My Account" around the top right corner of your screen.
Scroll down to "Account settings" and click on it.
You then scroll down to "Bairais Strigh" and click on the "Edit" button that is to the right of it.
Directly below the Avatar pic will be the word "Change".
Simply click on it and that leads you to a whole bunch of avatar pics.
And welcome!
And welcome to CampinCarl and Simeon as well!
Been a while. The only game I was in with Carl was about 5 years ago. Man you're still around, Carl?! My gosh, man, you're like a bad penny! Or maybe it's me that's the bad penny. *shrugs* ;D
It's only been about a year since I ran in a game with Simeon though. You cats still plugging away in that one? Really cool western theme you had going there, bud. Good stuff.
Good to have all three of you on board! Should be interesting.
Thanks Javell
I knew it had to be something simple I was missing.
@GM= we were supposed to do the progressive bonus at +1 level right? if so mine is wrong. I just thought about it and if it is at +1 level then I need to adjust although it should be a minor adjustment
Oh man Javell, that was so long ago and I can barely remember what I did last week. What game did we play together?
A bad penny, I will decide to take that as a compliment :P
Yep, still goin’ strong in the Barrens!
I played with Carl in an unfortunately short-lived game of Wrath of the Righteous. If memory serves, Skalv and Angahaar had an awesome paladin bromance.
I’m a lot more worn out from work than I thought I’d be, so I’ll get the alias up tomorrow.
That works for me, Herk.
Alias is ready to go.
I could see my in with the party being some familiarity with Jakob, maybe having performed at his bar before Arthur joined the army, or now that he's out of the army he's a regular there. Possibly both.
Jakob is a barkeep. There is zero chance he isn't aware of Mordecai. There is a non-zero chance that he has thrown Mordecai out of his establishment though.
John is a working barrister (trial lawyer)... given that Mordecai seems like the kind of guy who definitely would have gotten himself in trouble (likely on more than one occasion) by being rude to the wrong people, there’s a potential connection there too. Perhaps he’s successfully gotten you out of trouble (or at least into less trouble) in the past? That would give you an in (or another in) with the party and a justification for not being a d!ck to him.
Yes...rudeness...surely that's the only reason Mordecai would need a lawyer.
Criminal As an unscrupulous independent or as a member of an underworld organization, you live a life of crime. Perhaps you’ve turned over a new leaf and are trying to go straight. But more likely, you’re still in the thick of it.
Honestly I think being his lawyer is a great connection to have. In fact, how about you were the one who originally cut a deal to lower time served in exchange for "community service" of helping Scotland Yard take down other criminals? That would be a very strong connection, as well as a solid way to bring Mordecai into the story if you need to be investigating something.
That sounds like something we’d need the GM’s permission for, but also like an awesome idea! John’s greatest strength as a lawyer isn’t his legal acumen but his people skills, so talking someone into letting his client work off some of their sentence like that sounds right up his alley. And, an experienced investigator would definitely be someone I might call on in the present situation
Oh man Javell, that was so long ago and I can barely remember what I did last week. What game did we play together?
A bad penny, I will decide to take that as a compliment :P
Lol!
It was called Wardens of the Reborn Forge. I've seen your name pop up here recently and I think to myself, "I know I've ran with that guy before." but I couldn't remember which one it was(And I'm totally right there with you when it comes to remembering last week) :P So I go and check the majority of my games and of course it's near the bottom. But at least I knew I wasn't crazy!(Well, mostly not crazy). :P
@javell: I prefer the term mentally hilarious over crazy :)
@scarlett: so our connection is one that by association. Your father wrote a good friend of mine to see if he could be of assistance to you. He was unable to come to London except for briefly passing through. So he stopped by and passed on the request to me. I will have the letter and probably a letter of introduction from him to you. We probably never have met yet or just briefly when I came to introduce myself. Does that sound workable? I know I expanded on the idea we came up with earlier so I hope it stays chill with your idea still.
Yes, it would be better if we've already been introduced. Then your society (company) is agreeable (accepted).
My, haven't you all been busy bees! Welcome, our new members. I like the potential connections people are discussing, and will add input as it comes to me. I am planning a few different options to help integrate the new characters, and am fleshing out the finer points of each one. The follow up to the current scene should provide some clarity.
Mordecai you would definitely know Jakob, he is a barkeep at The Horn of Plenty, a Whitechapel pub on the corner of Crispen and Dorset streets. Your investigations a decade ago would have seen you cross paths. Indeed, it might be a strained connection, given the pain it inevitably brings up for both of you. In addition, I have a potential professional tie in for you, which may work of a connection to Mr. Bryant.
Bairias I have selected the hospital where you are currently employed, which will create a tie that brings you in nicely.
Arthur as a former soldier, you have a potential connection to Scarlet's father, though I am still trying to work out how obtuse that would be.
Here are a few notes to help finish your characters.
Automatic Bonus Progression Yes, we are using ABP at a +1 level progression. So, you count as 4th level, which means you should have a +1 resistance bonus to saves, a +1 armor attunement (this can be applied to a signature piece of clothing), and a +1 weapon attunement.
Equipment Take equipment (including weapons) as appropriate for your character. You may have a couple masterwork tool sets (for various skills), but no masterwork weapons. Note that you can still 'attune' to one of your weapons, per the ABP above.
Herkymr Replacing the free Brew Potion, I offer the ability Medical Genius. Essentially, you will gain the 1st level power from the Medicine Subdomain (part) of healing, listed HERE. Thus, Healer's Hands will allow you to use Treat Deadly Wounds in combat a couple times per day, and this will give you several more uses that, while requiring more time than combat allows, is still a fraction compared to the normal 1 hour. Also, it essentially gives a 5e style "advantage" on those attempts. And given that you have a trait modifying it to be an Intelligence based skill, that can apply in this case as well.
Ohhhh, that game! You know I still tell the story about this post, absolutely terrifying.
Sounds good GM. I'll pick up a few masterwork kits but otherwise I am ready to go!
Well, Mordecai, that sounds like an implied “no” to me having represented you when you got tangled up with the yard... I guess we’ll have to wait and see what the GM has in mind for our connection?
@javell: I prefer the term mentally hilarious over crazy :)
Lol! Good one. Gonna have to remember that one.
Ohhhh, that game! You know I still tell the story about this post, absolutely terrifying.
Oh man that was insanely awesome. Been on these boards 11 years, nearly 12, and still to this day those are the best rolls I've ever had. I mean... just insane.
Your response to it in ooc still freaking kills me: "Wow. Good-freaking-bye." LOL!!! Oh man so dang funny. :D
@GM I took master work alchemist tools & Surgeon tools, but only normal thieves tools for my disable device-- I figured story wise I probably pick them up somewhere along the line but don't focus there so I wouldn't have sought out master work. Hope that's ok and makes sense.
I also checked on the APB and it doesn't change anything yet, so that's all good.
With all that said, I think I am ready to jump in.
@GM- I know it’s not likely to matter but I misremembered my bonus to knowledge (local); it’s actually +7, so that roll should have been one higher.
I will be out of town tomorrow and may not be able to post if the possibility comes up.
I'm back again...muwahahahaha!!
@Raven- If you want, for the sake of expediency, to move us along to meeting Stephanos in your next post, please feel free- we can handle John walking the ladies out to the carriage in spoilers or via PM.