Well, this is where I'm at:
Every time I've taken the time to try to salvage this over the last few days (and, surprisingly, I've actually had and *used* multiple opportunities!), I simply haven't felt excited or confident about any aspect of it. Every piece of what's in my head feels just "plain dumb". And presenting material that I think is dumb is, . . . well, . . . dumb.
My Errors
1) I aimed for too epic a tale.
2) I did NOT go for a series of one-shots within that epic story.
3) My descriptions were cumbersome and ineffective.
4) Too much of what I created was simply contrivance in order to try to maintain a semblance of plausibility when questions were finally answered, to whatever degree.
5) I didn't keep to my own schedule.
6) I did not push enough to bring the best out of my players.
. . . .
That's a start, anyway.
Well, I am definitely not opposed to continuing, to be honest. But I feed off the energy that others put into a game -- it's a necessary component for me. That is the primary driver for why I have said more than once that we can retcon anything that any player puts "out there" that can't jive well with what I've sought to do with this game.
With that said: if you're in this game -- and I mean in this -- , then take some risks! Be a bit more aggressive about describing the world around you. I grabbed onto Blizzard's alcoholic status and Fitz's faerie "best fiend" because those are hooks for good story. So too with Daniel's moment of near-thievery at the ruined carriage -- it inspired the whole arc of the two guardsmen trying to track him down before he made his escape beyond the wardposts of Last Rest.
Give me a day or two, and I'll just post something in Gameplay that puts the group at the mouth of the canyon, more or less ready to venture forth. At that point, it's going to be about a host of die rolls, choices, and the threat of death (or worse).
I mean, it's been 15 days, and only now have we gotten any push at all to keep this moving.
And I know that there are any number of factors that bear upon the matter. I just stepped into a new position last week, and with the additional hours (and significantly better pay), I'm exhausted every time I get home. Where I used to spend 4-5 hours a day sleeping, now it's more like 6-8 -- and that heavily impacts the time I can dedicate to gaming.
I can only imagine what life must be like for most of us, what with things returning more and more to a pre-COVID normalcy.
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There's a tiny chance that this may be premature, but I'm thinking that it may be time for an autopsy report on this game. But if I go that far with it (whether we bury it afterward or get some Frankensteinian action going in its wake, no difference to me), I'm pretty sure that the reality check involved might be more than any of us wants to actually engage.
And I think it's quite clear that too few of us actually have the TIME to dedicate even to that effort.
But, here's the question: how many players want to at least read a brief discussion about what happened here?
. . . so have we died off?
Hey, gang. Wanted to provide a heads-up: got a lot of family business going on this weekend, and so I might not get as much posted as I intend. I'm pretty sure that I will get that follow-up post finished before I have to go in to work tonight, but it may be as late as tomorrow. Beyond that, it'll likely be Monday or Tuesday before I get anything else posted.
Hilariously disgusting! I'm going to ask for a Constitution check for the "projectile upchucking"!
Oh, WOW.
Those rolls were made of fail!!! lol
It has become increasingly clear that my current manager is simply determined to work the $#!7 out of me before my promotion kicks in.
Will have the next bit o' shenanigans posted soon!
Daniel's Escape Attempt
This first round was basically dedicated just to movement on the part of the guards and Daniel. Next round, though, we'll start to see how the three 'main players' try to use their wits and skills to achieve success.
And on that note: Throw out ideas for any or all of them here in Discussion!
What a week!! Glad for a couple days off!
1) I've seen no activity at all on rorek's account in recent days. We may be in the market for another player, potentially.
2) The post that was *supposed* to go up yesterday will be presented today.
3) For those who have chosen to either interfere with or aid the guardsmen: I'll just use the initiative rolls you've already made as opposed rolls for Brel and Whatshisname, unless you'd rather make more specific checks. But do note: I may beat you to the punch on that count, considering the syncopation of our typical posting times. If I don't see any feedback on this point before I make the next Gameplay post, I'll proceed with the existing rolls, and we'll move on.
We'll be moving forward in Gameplay in a few hours!
. . . aaaaand it's a Thursday morning.
Recommendations?
As soon as we hear from rorek, we'll get to the action!!
I have decided to try a thing, in light of Helaman's treatment of my voiced concerns. I don't want to put up flashing neon signs that say "THIS IS A PLOT POINT", but I *will* start putting an ooc-text asterisk next to phrases within the Gameplay posts that have the potential to point to New Things To Do. I'm not going to differentiate between 'main quest' and 'side quest' material as I have conceived it; the significance of any of these things will depend upon how the characters react to it. Hopefully this will make opportunities a bit clearer for all of you, and I won't feel like I'm spoon-feeding anything out.
And I have a request: at some point over the next week or two, go back and review one or two of the Gameplay posts I've put up, and see if you find some detail or hint that I worked into it that you missed. (Since Edelsmirge has avoided reading other characters' material, he might have the easiest time of it! And, by the way, since I didn't exactly say so before, Edelsmirge: I am quite surprised that you would practice that much discretion, and I am impressed. That shows a dedication to abstaining from metagaming that I find shockingly rare, and commendable. Good on ya!) And this should not be taken as a critique or judgment of players that have fewer or zero compunctions about tracking down every aspect of the game, regardless of the boundaries of player knowledge and character knowledge -- I appreciate the commitment required to "master" a game in that fashion, as well.
I make this request for another reason, as well -- I think we could all benefit from routinely reviewing previous posts, especially prior to making our own posts. I'm not trying to lay an onerous burden upon anyone, but a thorough review of what's been done before within our group will expose a handful of overt contradictions between the GM and the players (which is a thing I tried to avoid from before Gameplay started!). I believe that beginning to practice a pre-post review pattern may work to streamline our efforts and prevent too much need for retcon-style adjustments. Let's talk about this notion a little more!
Okay. Back to working on Blizzard and the party!
Gotta make do with 1/3 of what I wanted to finish. I'm starving, and the Fitz segment there really took it out of me. But I loved crafting it!!
It would appear that my sleep schedule has flipped itself completely!
I'm going to try to get the last segment of the feast posting finished before supper, folks!
A quick word before my shift:
Thanks for the feedback! Keep it up!
Also: Fitz acquired some firewood, and there'll be opportunity for more gear-gathering as you go along. Cold weather gear isn't *necessarily* mission-critical, but could come in handy.
I'm going to need one more day before I can get Fitz's and Blizzard's segments posted. Work was a meatgrinder last night -- I had to work much harder than usual.
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RE: Player/Character Knowledge --
I have made an effort to keep the release of information tied directly to the narrative and mechanical choices made by characters and their respective players. Most of the exposition has been made in very broad strokes, generic terms, light on details, etc. to help keep from grinding the game's gears any more. There is also the consideration, from my perspective, of an aim for some element of suspense and the unknown in our proceedings.
I have long operated on these forums with this bit of accepted wisdom: if it's written, everyone reads it. That goes for everything -- no matter for which character or player a given thing is intended. I believe in the players' responsibility and desire to limit the impact of metagaming; I strive to be as "hands-off" on that aspect of things as possible.
So it is, bearing those things in mind, that I say the following:
1) The things in the "feast scene" can be regarded as general knowledge gained over the course of the night, so far as I'm concerned.
2) And this ties in with the second part of what you mentioned, Helaman -- I've dropped hints throughout Gameplay posts about multiple categories of relevant information. But to be specific: it's early spring, and the trip will take the characters into the mountains --> cooler temperatures are quite likely!
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I should have just started this whole campaign with everyone at the mouth of the canyon, gotten the die rolls started, and wished the characters "Good luck!". I can only say that I regret that error as fully as possible. I've tried to set too much of the stage for immersion, rather than action, and we've all paid the price for it. To be sure, I want both immersion and action, but I'm beginning to think you all feel that I baited you with the promise of action but haven't delivered. That was never my intention.
I have tried to sow the seeds of adventure, mystery, intrigue, interpersonal conflict, character arcs, and the must-have-driver of the accrual of power throughout the material I've posted in this campaign. But I am truly beginning to feel that a) the number of characters is holding you all back, and b) that my hooks are far too weak to actually draw you players in. And, frankly, if I'm failing any or all of you in terms of a satisfying game right now, then I need to know it.
So:
What do you want? Combat? Mystery? Dungeon crashing? None of the above?
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I will wrap up the feast scene as quickly as I can. That will be done by Thursday, at the latest. (Wednesdays are unusually trying days for me, typically.) After that, and as we hash through things here in Discussion about what I've posted above, we'll see what direction(s) we need to move, and get away from anything that is making this harder/more unpleasant than it needs to be.
And I assure you: once this passel of 0th-levelers takes its first steps into that canyon, we will likely learn that "Slaughter is the best medicine."
I've almost got the next Gameplay post up, gang! Lots of family goings-on keeping me from finishing.
I waited a little bit longer than I originally intended, just to see if anyone else posted. I'll have the next post up sometime over the next 12 hours.
Well . . . . I posted a thing. Let's make something happen!!
Just remember: the devil is in the details, folks.
A third-day, finely-crafted excerpt paired with a terrible roll or rolls is perfectly fine, and even desirable.
Wow. I crashed.
I may be posting this as a 2-parter, but I'm going to try to get it finished today.
I'm trying to make the push to get us to the morgue quickest, searles. Hang in just a few days more, if you can.
And despite the liberties I have taken with some of the characters in order to advance some things: I'm not Blizzard.
Yes, we are in a bit of a lull. My apologies for not getting Caraya's next bit of story posted yesterday -- got busy doing other things and couldn't get back to it in time.
Things are about to get *much* clearer, though!!
Did we hit a snag somewhere?
Finally!! I got the next things typed up!!
Let's hit the ground running, now, folks! Time for this story to really get rolling!
Ugh. Why am I so tired all the time?
Postspostsposts tomorrow, folks.
At this point, I would like every active character to choose a course of action and make any desired skill/ability checks for the 3-4 hours before the feast begins. I have a handful of things already planned to be woven into the goings-on, but this is the best time for each of you to lay out any threads for the story to follow through on as we go.
I hope to get the next piece of narrative posted no later than Wednesday this week, but if we get some quick responses I will break it up over multiple posts beginning tomorrow.
As you can tell, I've completely disengaged my three characters from an active role. I'll probably only make rolls to see if any of them survive the Trial.
Because once we leave Last Rest, it's going to get intense in very short order!
@rorek --
Did you ever determine where your characters were from within the Vale? I've been going back over some of the details since I'm getting ready to bring out more plot threads, and I don't see any of your characters' points of origin specified.
Just to make sure you caught it --
I dunno how, but our post order got flipped. My reply to your question is above your post, Edelsmirge.
Nothing more than the next leg of the sequence of wooden shavings.
We'll bring the group to Last Rest and get that literal party started tomorrow!
Alrighty! I have slept like the dead for most of the last two days. And now I'm ready to put up a post!
@rorek --
If you aren't sure how much liberty you can/sgoukd take in Gameplay, pist your idea/question here! Use the tools available!
I may not post each day, but I do check in several times daily, just to see what's up. I am available!
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Also: do try to make sure that you make use of [ ooc ] chat font for in-Gameplay text that isn't directly tied to the story, folks! Thanks!
Roger that. I crashed *hard* yesterday, so I need the extra time, too!
It seems like this weekend was a busy one for everyone. I'm going to wait till tomorrow to post another Gameplay segment.
If you don't plan to interact with this scene, please let me know so I don't hold our progress!
It'll be tomorrow before I can make the next gameplay post, folks. I'm behind the schedule I put forward, but I like the angles y'all are working!
See you then!
Wow. Work applied the boots to my posterior last night. I haven't slept that hard in weeks.
I'll try to get that gameplay post up before I have to prepare for work, but I can't guarantee it. Just wanted to give y'all a heads-up.
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RE: Adric's backpack -- What if we say that its compartments were poorly stitched, and so it functions more like a slightly more durable large sack, or something?
Edelsmirge --
1) I'm guessing you're referring to the vaguely-described bundle from the quartermaster? If so, then this is as specific as necessary: any and all additives and components for fashioning twenty torches in short order.
2) The supplies provided by Kadmin are clearly indicated in the Gameplay post.
3) Yes, Durr has been "rewarded" with a pot and ladle.
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I'm not going to be doing much in the way of bookkeeping, folks. In fact, it's safer to say that I won't be doing any of it at all for your characters. I'm going to trust each of you to be honest in your accountings; I suggest that maybe keeping a separate note-taking tab open (or pencil and paper nearby) while reading through Gameplay may be of help. Updating your characters' inventories will be much easier once we pare the list down to the active characters for each player -- we won't have the juggling as part of the norm for much longer. The kill count is about to start climbing.
Schedule got a little jumbled. Gonna have to wait about 12 - 15 hrs before I get the next post up.
I loved the spoilered character actions! We can definitely keep that going. In fact, those smaller social interactions can also have some impact on useful advice, future contacts, and the like. If you want to try some out, post them -- they will get responses!
That merited a post of its own.
Back to Gameplay: I'm gonna give Blizzard a chance to respond to Kadmin's one-sided dialogue, and then I'll move us forward to the next day's events in about 24 hours.
Folks, I know that I've done more with Blizzard's character than I have with any other, so far, but I want each of you to know: there's more where that came from. We've seen some seeds planted for character development as we've gone along on this strange process of ability checks and mundane events, and I do intend to dive deep into the survivors that, well, . . . survive! But in the meantime, even the "Least Likely to Succeed" in your character pool can contribute meaningfully to the lead-up to our main action.
If there is anything that you think would be a good element for our story, even if it turns out that we don't fully flesh it out because the "driving character" bites the dust in the days ahead, mention it in here, and we'll work out a way to incorporate it with the narrative. This is part of my own homebrew setting (some fifteen years in development), but it is very much a shared world. Bring your creative energies to bear!
Edelsmirge --
I've got to post a serious "Thank you!" for that. I got so wrapped up in crafting my story that I completely neglected to account for what would be a totally reasonable celebration of a rite of passage being completed. Three Waters would have some festivities lined up for the close of the Trial -- the Nameday Fair, indeed! I had kinda shoved that aspect of things aside because of how the ritual is "officially" completed -- when the new Valers return to their hometowns. But even within what I've drummed up, there's plenty of room for a few days' revelry in every community. It makes sense that the newly-minted citizens would be feted at every turn after their Names are entered into the Rolls.
So again: "Thank you!"
Excellent immersion.
Yesterday went a little awry. I'll get back at it today.
The plan is that if the dice don't pare down on the total number of characters naturally by the end of our first adventure arc, each player will simply choose one character to focus on from that point forward. Any other surviving characters will become NPCs that could rotate in should the main character die later on.
And I know that the current plot point (Captain Kadmin putting his career on the line to equip our crowd of newbies) flies in the face of the purest sense of the "hardcore mode" I advertised originally, it still feels like an organic response to the events that are unfolding in the Vale.
Just a heads-up -- today's gameplay post will be a bit late, but I'll get it done. Just gotta see the orthopedist for what I hope is my last follow-up for my knee injury.
Yes, if a character posts at 0 hp at 0th level, they are incapacitated/bedridden/out of commission until the story progression brings them out of it.
Which prompts the question: what happened to Winny to put her in such bad shape?
For example, my #3 got crushed by a wall of rolling logs when a chain broke while he was cutting timber with #2 (his brother).
You all can go ahead and make the rolls for the ersatz "weaponsn training" at the Ranger post.
If you find anything in the story that came before that you find interesting in terms of exposition or narrative, feel free to initiate some dialogue.
Note: ths isn't meant to be punitive, but don't apply any retroactive rolls for the first or second days of the Trial if you weren't already "written in".
I'll go back through our new members' backstories tomorrow to try to weave them into our story a bit more effectively.
See you then!
You're good to go, as well, Dfsearles.
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