Darkness Gathers (Inactive)

Game Master Edeldhur

I have alot of Od&D to 3.5 on digital file.

Also love Hackmaster for my 2e/1e needs

As for Xp you could get xp for killing ants! And all manner of animals and insects and some plants

I think like I said we repost everyone's in character goals and we can see what we can try and focus on.

I have tried to get back into 2e, namely AD&D2e and it saddens me to say I found it... Lacking... :/

I can still enjoy 2e...as long as the 2.5 Player's Options stuff isn't in play. I really like the 2e skill system especially (yes, the NWPs). When they took the player's options and redid everything for 3.0 that was much better.

As for character goals, Reu is still chasing his optical themed innovations, hoping to gain some standing/renown in the glassblower's guild and Lord's Alliance (to secure access to exotic supplies he 'needs'). He's going to always want lots and lots of gold (for spell shenanigans that are expensive in 5e), so will be up for just about anything.

Like I said I think AL modules are pretty solid. They're great for PbP because of the length it takes to get through a varied story arc. First post here was Jan 5? Not even March and we are done. I don't know if this was in Season 1 (which is the Phlan season) but later seasons have modules that are like 4 of these length adventures in one and are a blast to play/run. They're certainly more convenient to run compared to published adventures, those require a lot more from DM and can take years for even a couple chapters.

What do YOU want to see, Obermind?

Well from my end, I am expecting we find a way to tell a story, even if it is a low level story for now :)

The episodic nature of the adventures we are playing does make things easier for me, but I am trying to slowly tie things together with the characters, the setting, and whatever plots may be running in the background.

While I am learning the system, it is good that things don't get too out of hand, and let me grab the opportunity to thank you all for clarifying stuff when needed.

However and even though we ARE following some sort of 'adventure track' and 'keeping it simple' for a noob DM, in your head I would like you all NOT to look at things simply as 'episodes', but instead from a perspective of what your characters would like to do as we go along.

It should be ok to be proactive instead of reactive, mainly in these 'downtime' periods between 'episodes or events' - do you go back to the Tea Kettle? Is it open or closed? Do you need to convince Freona to let you in? Is there someone else in the bunkroom? What will you do tomorrow? Do you have any plans? Etc, Etc :)

Ispen's Character Goals:
1. To one day own a tavern.

2. To accumulate brewing recipes for various ales (for eventual use in the aforementioned tavern, as well as to sample)

3. To adventure and see the world...during which time he wants to earn gold and find treasure...most of which he'll want to use to save up to eventually purchase or build a tavern...

...see a trend here? LOL

He's pretty straightforward. I usually play characters with complicated or deep backgrounds and thought that a no-nonsense dwarf, focused on a simple, straightforward but long-term goal that wasn't combat based, might be fun.

Beyond that, Ispen's more than willing to help his comrades and anyone he decides is a friend in their own pursuits. None of the other characters has reached the latter status yet, but it could easily happen with future excursions. ;)

Selene wants to find those responsible for her Husbands death.

Oskar's personal goal up to this point is just survival and try to come to terms or understanding of the ghosts that haunt him. Part of that would be discovering that the flood that destroyed his village was not a mere act of nature or failure of the protective spirit, but instead caused by [Insert DM's Villain/Cult/Evilness of Choice]. Once that is discovered, he'd be driven by both himself and the ghosts to learn more and seek some kind of revenge or justice or foiling of evil plans.

I say DM choice for the villain so that it could easily be tied into whatever you might want to run. So if we continue with some Tyranny of Dragons, it could have been a High Priest of the Dragon Cult or if we just bum around town, it could just as easily have been some Phlan noble who wanted to turn the valley into an exclusive fishing resort.

I'll be honest, I like the idea of pushing on through the Tyranny of Dragons stuff...which I had not actually realized we were doing, ooc.

Ox? Johnny? Any thoughts?

Hm? We're doing Tyranny of Dragons? Never heard of it but it sounds fun.

Sounds fun lets do it

Reuleaux, I do not want to stifle your creativity or ideas, but I will ask not to do a lot of time jumps, and to stay within the action timeframe so we can get a consistent narrative without spreading too thin back and forth ;) A good option can be perhaps to spoiler your ‘intended future actions’ and label them as ‘When the group leaves the Tea Kettle’ or ‘Later when/if there is a chance’ - would that work?

Yeah that's actually what I meant, if there was a chance. I see I didn't explicitly write that though, so you assumed it wasn't the case. Hadn't posted for almost a week and no one was responding to his last conversation so I just started thinking what he might do next like you suggested. Don't worry about stifling my non-existent creativity, hehe.

please feel free to continue moving ahead yourselves - will you go looking for work? Will you ask Freona? Will you poke around for rumors of unexplored adventurous sites? Will you try to establish a business? Will you travel to a different city? Will you join the guard? Will you team up with the criminals in Phlan? Will you inquire around regarding the mysteries surrounding last night?

Sorry if I overstepped something...I usually embrace time jumps in my games, they are very convenient for getting stuff done in pbp imo. Especially when its a sandbox/downtime...sometimes a scene change is needed. Hard to get 6 players moving in the same direction without a DM, but I tried. Happy to just wait though when waiting is needed.

Glad you are back and ok.

Also, I'm a little confused now to be honest...

Having made a decision the young farmer crosses the common room and eventually gains the attention of Freona. Keeping his voice low, he politely asks about the possibility of other such work as she had discovered for himself and his companions.

"You see, we worked well together and thought that by banding together we could accomplish more than racing about all on our own." He adds with a casual shrug.

Is Freona just straight up ignoring Oskar?

Are you telling us to pursue Selene's story instead of a DM-structured adventure? Thanks.

I'm still here. Just wanted to check in. I haven't seen anything the ox would respond to yet especially where the group is so newly put together

Also, I'm a little confused now to be honest...

Oskar wrote:

Having made a decision the young farmer crosses the common room and eventually gains the attention of Freona. Keeping his voice low, he politely asks about the possibility of other such work as she had discovered for himself and his companions.

"You see, we worked well together and thought that by banding together we could accomplish more than racing about all on our own." He adds with a casual shrug.

Is Freona just straight up ignoring Oskar?

Are you telling us to pursue Selene's story instead of a DM-structured adventure? Thanks.

I am only ‘half-back’, still in the recovery process. And completely misread that portion of Oskar’s post :/

I was unable to delete my initial reply, but I have now added a second, correct one. Apologies for the confusion.

I'm still here. Just wanted to check in. I haven't seen anything the ox would respond to yet especially where the group is so newly put together

Thank you for checking in Davorox - and no worries, I think as soon as I am fully back from Covid we will return to a more heavily scripted game. I believe that was working out better.

I'm still here. Just wanted to check in. I haven't seen anything the ox would respond to yet especially where the group is so newly put together

Ditto.

Been busy. Distracted. Still here. Will be posting later today.

Hello everyone, unfortunately I have mixed news (some good, some bad). With the apparent improvement on the whole Covid situation and my new recent job, I will be gaining a whole set of additional responsibilities. These include among other things, becoming responsible for a high profile company internal system and all the additional workload it implies, frequent traveling, etc.

I want to make the best of this opportunity, and dedicate myself to it, which means my available (mental, and actual) time for PbP will be reduced to the bare minimum. Truth is, for those who play with me and know I am a frequent poster, this has already become evident over the past few months. So I will have to put a halt on DMing this game, as it is definitely the one which takes up more energy and commitment. I know I had pointed out this was an experiment from day one, and there were no guarantees it would continue past the first adventure, but still it leaves a bitter taste having to drop out like this. Alas, it is what it is.

It has been a pleasure DMing for you, and I am not leaving for any antagonism or issue with the players or the game. I just need to cut down due to RL constraints (and it is possible I will not stop here, we'll see...). Hope to still see you all around the boards, and wish you the best!

Thanks, totally understand. Hope to game with you again.

Real Life comes first. We understand, and congrats on the opportunity. All the best to you, sir! And everyone else. It's been fun!

Its fine Obermind, I hope to play more in the future with you. Its been fun and Hope Real Life calms down more for you, both for health and sanity.

hope you the best of skill...I do not believe in luck