Up the Valley (Torchbearer RPG) (Inactive)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

Hi folks,

I have long been interested in the Torchbearer RPG published by Burning Wheel Press and am wondering if anyone else might be interested in playing with me if I run a game of it here. I've been reading the rules for the past few months and am ready to give it a try.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Torchbearer, it is a heavily modified version of the Mouse Guard RPG with some elements of the Burning Wheel RPG thrown in. Since I backed the Torchberer 2nd Edition Kickstarter, we'd be using the beta version of it that has been released for backers. If you have the 1st edition rules or none of the rules at all, that is perfectly fine, as the nature of Play-by-Post allows us to introduce rules elements bit by bit as we play.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Torchbearer RPG, it plays like a low-powered (compared to Pathfinder anyway), simulationist survival game where you have to keep track of supplies and live by the edge of your wits. Success or even just survival is not guaranteed, and players are encouraged to make plans and work together, rather than simply wading into every combat knowing that is is "balanced" for the party. In many ways it feels like the early editions of D&D and AD&D (which is intentional, as it is an homage to it). Unlike many modern games, it is actually quite crunchy rules-wise, but I feel the rules are well-designed and make sense.

There are quite a few reviews of the game online if you'd like to check them out: HERE, HERE, and HERE (video).

In order to make the game more friendly to folks here on the Paizo boards, I would be setting it in Golarion, specifically in northern Cheliax in the foothills of the Menador Mountains. Players would be portraying down-on-their-luck treasure hunters, searching the ruins of ancient civilizations for fame and glory.

There's no need to come up with a character concept right away, as Torchbearer character creation is best if it is done along with your fellow players, so just let me know if you are interested. If you'd like to start thinking about your character, please go ahead. The available classes are: Halfling Burglar, Human Magician, Dwarf Outcast, Elf Ranger, Human Theurge, and Human Warrior.

Dotting! I've been wanting to try Torchbearer for a long time.

Looks interesting
I am most interested in the Dwarf Outcast

Great, that's two of you! I think it would be good to have at least one more person before we begin.

Does anyone have any questions? Do either of you have the rules?

I do not at the moment

Looks interesting. I think I have rules till 5th level sitting around somewhere.

So we have one person in the dwarf outcast. Any other character selections? I believe it's best if there isn't any duplication.

I'm willing to play with 3 players, so we are good to go if everyone is willing to posting at least 1/day during the week and once on the weekend. Is that something everyone who has shown interest can manage?

I can commit to that.

Since we've got a Dwarf Outcast, I'll probably go with a Human Magician or Theurge (happy to let Havocprince decide first if they are eyeing either of those).

I'm interested in the idea of a gritty game system, but I don't have any of the rules or anything. Is there somewhere I can find them?

I'm interested in the idea of a gritty game system, but I don't have any of the rules or anything. Is there somewhere I can find them?

There's unfortunately no "quickstart" or similar document for the game. If you go to the DOWNLOADS page of the publisher, however, you can find several useful documents including a character sheet and a preview of the first chapter. These give you some good information on the game.

In general, however, I will be explaining the rules as we go. That's one of the benefits of playing in such a generally slow-moving format.

I'm looking at the Human Paladin for build. Unless there are more stocks and such to play around with. But something on the physical combat side of things for sure. I do not have the second edition materials, walk through of character creation basics would be appreciated when it comes time.

Everyone, please head over to the discussion thread so we can begin character creation.

Hello everyone. Just wanted folk to know that we still have room in our Torchbearer game and are still in character creation, so if you join us now, you won't have missed anything!

bump de bump-bump

We are still under the number of players I'd like to have for this game. Would anyone like to take a chance on the very cool Torchbearer RPG?

Come join our little band. If you are looking for a game where you can choose some of the lore surrounding the world, well my friends do I have a game for you.

I'll do it.

I'll do it.

Nilesr, you are showing up everywhere! Head over to the Discussion Thread for character creation stuff.