Palace of the Silver Princess (OSE)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

This is the OOC Discussion thread for the OSE Palace of the Silver Princess Game.

Character creation rules:

1) Ability Scores: Roll 3d6 and assign them as you wish. Rerolls of all ability scores/scratching your PC and starting over allowed if you don't roll above a 10 in anything or roll a 5 or below in anything. Note that certain classes have minimum ability score requirements.

2) Class: Any of the 7 classes presented in the CFR (Cleric, Dwarf, Elf, Fighter, Halfling, Magic-User, Thief).

3) Adjust ability scores: You may raise your PC's prime requisite stat(s) by lowering other ability scores on a 2-to-1 basis (i.e. a fighter lowering his Dex by 2 points raises his Str by 1). No score may be lowered below 9.

4) Level: We'll be begin at 2nd level for everyone. Set your XP to the minimum necessary for 2nd. Yes, that means we'll be starting with different amounts of XP.

5) Attack Values: We WON'T be using THAC0, but will instead use the optional ascending AC system presented in the books.

6) Hit Points: Roll for each level (no automatic max HP at 1st level). You may reroll 1s and 2s.

7) Alignment: You may choose any alignment, but if you pick Chaotic, you are still loyal to the other PCs and want to help your friends Jeremiah and Bernadette who are in trouble. I need everyone to have a logical reason for staying in the group and wanting to work together.

8) Equipment: Since we're starting at 2nd level, you get 2d6 x 10 to begin in cash but DO NOT need to buy any of your starting equipment.

Here are my proposed house rules for this game. If you have objections to any of these or would like add some, please let us know and we can discuss them. I'm not made out of stone.

1) Ascending AC
I already discussed this in character creation, but we won't be using THAC0. Instead, you will have an attack bonus to which you add in combat.

2) Resisted Tests
If you are working against another person on an ability check (see p. 42 of the Basic Rules) you roll opposing Ability Checks. Whoever rolls the highest number (while still under their Ability Score) wins. If it's a tie, whoever has the highest Ability Score wins. Note that sometimes you will be attempting to roll under DIFFERENT ability scores (such as you rolling Dex to sneak past a guard who is rolling Wis to notice you).

3) Advantage and Disadvantage/Positive and Negative Dice
Roll extra dice in particuarly favorable or unfavorable conditions. If you have advantage, you get a Positive Die and you pick the number from among the 2 numbers rolled, if you have disadvantage, you get a Negative Die, and I do.

4) Dying
When an opponent reached 0 hp, they are usually dead. PCs have a chance of survival if reduced to 0 hp (there are no negative hp) and is considered Dying. If they receive medical help within the hour, they get a 50/50 chance of surival. If they succeed, they get 1d4 hp, but receive a Negative Die to all actions for an hour or until they receive healing. If they fail the 50/50 roll, they are dead. I have this rule because I want PCs to have a slightly better chance of survival.

5) Encumbrance
We'll be using the Option 1: Basic Encumbrance rules on p. 113 of the CFR.

6) Movement and Range
Movement in combat will be simplified so that we don't have to deal with detailed encounter maps. There are four basic ranges in the game: close, nearby, far, and distant. Melee combat only occurs at close distance. A character can perform any feasable action and move to a nearby location in a round, or can forego all actions other than movement and move to a far location. To move to a distant location, a character needs to spend 3 rounds moving. Ranged attacks can hit targets at any distance, but receive a Negative Die if they are at close or distant range. The Negative Die replaces attack penalties for different ranges.

7) Helping and Group Activities
When you help someone on an Ability Check, they get a Positive Die. If they fail, however, negative consequences apply to both parties. Multiple helpers do not increase benefits, although at a certain point, I may say that a roll isn't necessary (such as everyone working together to lift something really heavy).

When everyone is working together to accomplish a single goal, pick one person to make the roll (they may be helped). If that person succeeds, all succeed. Sometimes the situation is not who is in charge, however, but who has the highest chance of failure (like when everyone is sneaking). In that case, the PC with the lowest Ability Score should roll (although they may still be helped). That person's roll is the result for all.

8) Searching
Searching an area requires an Int check, but noticing something passively is a Wis check.

Anything else we should add? Problems with any of these?

Those changes are perfect! Especially #1 as THACO hurts me brain.

KoY checking in!

Those changes are perfect! Especially #1 as THACO hurts me brain.

KoY checking in!

Yeah, it's just an unnecessary extra calculation.

I've added a link to the hex map for the Barony of Gulluvia to the Campaign Info tab and would like you all to please take a look at it.

I'll post a short description of what you know of each of the named locations now.

One of the more "modern" things I like to do in my games is share some narrative control with players. To that end, could you please take a look at the info presented in the Campaign Info tab and add something to it? Something to expand the lore about Gulluvia.

I forgot to say, you can post the changes here and I'll copy them over to the other page.

Sounds like fun. Let me see if if I can get my creative juices flowing…

House rules all sound good to me.

That’s pretty solid!

@GM BrOp Would knowledge/lore be handled by INT checks?
Debating whether I should keep that 13 or knock it down to a 9 and max out my Wisdom…

@GM BrOp Would knowledge/lore be handled by INT checks?

Yes

I’ll respec the 12->10 and 15->16 for stat array:

STR 10. INT 13. WIS 16. DEX 7. CON 14. CHA 10.

Old Bones is wily as well as wise, so I’ll stick with the 13. Also, if Jesse does goes cleric, my guess is they’ll end up with an 18 Wisdom :)

I’ll complete character details in my profile by end of weekend. FYI I’m on EST time.

I'd like to introduce an additional RP-prompt if everyone is up for it: a "complication" for the PC. This is from the OSR game "Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells", and basically introduces something that acts as a drawback for your character. I find that more complicated PCs add a lot more interesting RP opportunities than generic "good guy with a sword" PCs.

If you like you may chose a complication, or you may roll 2d6 for a random one. Examples of complications can include an enemy that you have, a duty to someone or something or a debt that you owe.

What does everyone think?

sounds cool to me... I'll try a random complication

2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

sounds cool to me... I'll try a random complication

2d6

1 and 1 equals: Debt to a corrupt noble.

That works very well with the current setting, as the baroness of Gulluvia is very corrupt.

I’ll take one please or you can assign me one.

2d6: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Let's roll them bones!

Complication: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

Let's roll them bones!

Ooh! A 1 and a 6 = a debt to a supernatural entity

I’ll take one please or you can assign me one.

2 and 6 = Addiction to stealing

Dolion wrote:

I’ll take one please or you can assign me one.

2 and 6 = Addiction to stealing

Good thing I chose thief. Hold onto your stuff!

How Osseus feels about the others.

@Osseus - perfect
, thanks!

Good morning,

Hope everyone had a good long weekend (if you observe the holiday, that is).

A few requests/comments from me:

1) I'm still missing a character sheet from Helaman and Jesse Heinig
2) I'm missing a description of intra-party relationships from Jesse Heinig
3) Goodwicki, Helaman, and Jesse Heinig still need to "dot" or check-in in the Gameplay thread.
4) Once these are all done, we can begin play. If someone is mostly done and everyone else is waiting around for that person, we'll continue "without them" but they can catch up at any time.
5) We'll be using safety tools for this game so that we can all be on the same page and have a good time. Specifically, we'll be using Lines & Veils, the X-card, and the Open Table. I'll give a brief description of each below.

Lines & Veils: This is a list of topics that you (you the player, not your PC) feel comfortable with including in this game. Different people are comfortable with different things, and we're all here to have a good time and not get stressed out in a world that's already stressy enough. The distinction between what is a line and a veil is as follows: a line describes topics that you don't ever want to deal or even have mention of in a game. For all intents and purposes, these topics don't exist in the game world, or if they do exist, the game will never dwell on them as a topic. An example for me is sexual violence. It's a topic I don't want to deal with in an RPG, and therefore no one in the game will ever be the victim, the perpetrator, or even the witness to sexual violence, end, fin, basta. A veil is a topic that you want to have exist in the game, but you don't want to actively role-play about it. If that topic were ever to come up, we'd "fade to black" (to use a film term) and skip to its conclusion. An example of this for me is consensual sexual activity. Sex obviously exists in my game world, but it's not something I want to role-play, so if it ever comes up, we'll just skip it and resume RP at some time afterwards.

Below is a link to a Google Sheets doc that anyone with the link can edit that allows you to set your lines and veils for this game. It can be changed at any time and is anonymous. This doc has several tabs, and we'll be using the one labled "LinesVeils Advanced". Everyone needs to read the tab and check off any subjects you want as a line or a veil. You may also add new topics. You'll see that I have already checked the ones I mentioned above.

Lines & Veils Google Sheet

The X-card: If at any time you become uncomfortable with something in the game, just type the letter "X" by itself in either the PbP Discussion or Gameplay tabs of this campaign. Once that happens, we'll pause the game and I'll ask what the issue is, after which we'll rewind to before this thing happened. The X-card can be invoked at any time for any reason, and does not need to be justified.

Open Table: This is simply a concept that states that you can walk away from the game temporarily or permanently if you wish to; there is no obligation to play. We're all doing this to have fun, and if you're no longer having fun, you are welcome to leave. I only ask that you let us know whether your absence is temporary or permanent ASAP, as otherwise you have folks waiting around for you, which is unfair. Real life trumps game life every time.

Any questions/comments?

Sounds fair. Thanks.

Sounds great. Looking forward to starting!!

Confirming I’ve reviewed Lines & Veils sheet.

Sorry, didn’t realize you were looking for gameplay check-ins - I dotted into gameplay to add game to my campaigns tab, then deleted my post to reduce thread clutter.

Confirming I’ve reviewed Lines & Veils sheet.

Sorry, didn’t realize you were looking for gameplay check-ins - I dotted into gameplay to add game to my campaigns tab, then deleted my post to reduce thread clutter.

No worries.

I’ll take a stab at # 2) Describe the ruin at the base of the escarpment in a bit more detail. What do you know about it?

I’ll have a post up sometime after 10pm Eastern USA.

I’ll take the symbol.

Either way, the sight has drained away any happiness Ossues might have felt at returning to his homeland.

I really need to proofread before posting - or figure out how to add the name to my spellchecker. And then add every other fantasy gaming word. And then turn it on.

I really need to proofread before posting - or figure out how to add the name to my spellchecker. And then add every other fantasy gaming word. And then turn it on.

Lol. Yes, it's a perennial problem but we'll all bear the burden together.

Dammit... didn't know you were all over here

Will have my s&$+ together tomorrow on latest

Good morning,

Hope everyone had a good long weekend (if you observe the holiday, that is).

A few requests/comments from me:

1) I'm still missing a character sheet from Helaman and Jesse Heinig
2) I'm missing a description of intra-party relationships from Jesse Heinig
3) Goodwicki, Helaman, and Jesse Heinig still need to "dot" or check-in in the Gameplay thread.
4) Once these are all done, we can begin play. If someone is mostly done and everyone else is waiting around for that person, we'll continue "without them" but they can catch up at any time.
5) We'll be using safety tools for this game so that we can all be on the same page and have a good time. Specifically, we'll be using Lines & Veils, the X-card, and the Open Table. I'll give a brief description of each below.

Lines & Veils: This is a list of topics that you (you the player, not your PC) feel comfortable with including in this game. Different people are comfortable with different things, and we're all here to have a good time and not get stressed out in a world that's already stressy enough. The distinction between what is a line and a veil is as follows: a line describes topics that you don't ever want to deal or even have mention of in a game. For all intents and purposes, these topics don't exist in the game world, or if they do exist, the game will never dwell on them as a topic. An example for me is sexual violence. It's a topic I don't want to deal with in an RPG, and therefore no one in the game will ever be the victim, the perpetrator, or even the witness to sexual violence, end, fin, basta. A veil is a topic that you want to have exist in the game, but you don't want to actively role-play about it. If that topic were ever to come up, we'd "fade to black" (to use a film term) and skip to its conclusion. An example of this for me is consensual sexual activity. Sex obviously exists in my game world, but it's not something I want to role-play, so if it ever comes up, we'll just skip it and resume RP at some...

No lines, fade to black on initimacy or torture.

I'd like to introduce an additional RP-prompt if everyone is up for it: a "complication" for the PC. This is from the OSR game "Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells", and basically introduces something that acts as a drawback for your character. I find that more complicated PCs add a lot more interesting RP opportunities than generic "good guy with a sword" PCs.

If you like you may chose a complication, or you may roll 2d6 for a random one. Examples of complications can include an enemy that you have, a duty to someone or something or a debt that you owe.

What does everyone think?

I'll take a plug... 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

What equipment should I list?

I'll take a plug... 2d6

You owe a debt to a crime lord.

What equipment should I list?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Emmett "Knuckles" Thorpe wrote:

I'll take a plug... 2d6

You owe a debt to a crime lord.

Emmett "Knuckles" Thorpe wrote:

What equipment should I list?

I'm not sure I understand the question.

Buy equipment with the 2d6x10 gold ? Or roll 3d6 x 10 for starting gold or do you allocate starting equipment or do I pick what I want within reason?

Crime lord eh? Appropriate.

I'll come up with some backstory for that

Buy equipment with the 2d6x10 gold ? Or roll 3d6 x 10 for starting gold or do you allocate starting equipment or do I pick what I want within reason?

I mentioned ... somewhere above ... that since you are 2nd level, you can equip yourself with any normal equipment for free and then get 2d6x10 gold as cash spending money.

Cool

I swapped my 10 Cha with 8 Int as an fyi

I swapped my 10 Cha with 8 Int as an fyi

Sounds good.

Osseus has stated his requests for the journey up the escarpment. Anyone else?

Checking in, since nobody mentioned over in the Recruitment thread until now that things were going on over here!

Had something similar happen Jesse... you're in good company

;)

Mine was to keep a watch out... Osseus is digging for info

Setting up this alias for use with this game. (Jesse H.)

GM, the board seems to have dotted me in with my main account instead of my character alias. Please delete my main account from the character list and just leave Felder.

And I only just now discovered that the team already has a cleric, which I didn't know before.

I will re-make this character from scratch into a different class.

Converted Felder into a magic-user.

@Felder: You can re-roll 1s and 2s for hit points.

Ive completed the character methinks including a tagline for my debt to a crime lord