I am very excited about the indie RPG, "Barbarians of Lemuria." While Paizo does not yet sell this product, I purchased it from RPGNow.com a few months ago for $10. I have fallen in love with this game, and want to re-experience the game online through play-by-posts.
I'd like to use the 2nd Edition rules, although 1st edition rules are available for free on the web. I'd like to run a small game, maybe with 3-4 players. Think "Conan" and the game genre should gel quickly and is very easy to use. Let's look to see what kind of responses we have by Tuesday/Wednesday of next week...and then we can plan characters based on suggestions, team play, etc.
"That's Crom, strong in his mountain."
I'm up for it.
I'll be happy whatever, perhaps the cunning wilderness man type. :D
So far, it looks like just the three of us, but this is okay with me. Having fewer players to start means I'll have more direct feedback and time to work with you.
Two questions:
I'd like to use the 2nd Edition rules; is this okay with you two?
Can you make a character and post it here (or email me...later) by Thursday, or would you prefer me to mold pregenerated characters based on some of your input?
I'd like to start in the Axos Mts., or near there.
My email address is:
I am very busy this week, so I can't promise anything. It would probably be best if you created a pre-gen for me, as I will barely have a chance to log on to the boards and look at rules between now and Thursday (that and I am in GMT)
Okay- so you were looking at an out-of-doors type of character, right?
Yes, kind of Fafhrd-like. :D
"That's Crom, strong in his mountain."
I'm up for it.
I love the new avatar.
(Have fun guys looks like a great game)
Fantastic background and very interesting choices, Bluenose. I approve!
Dear FabesMinis:
I hope you like this pre-generated character! I think the careers, traits, and equipment matched your initial role-model. I opted to make the long sword a greater item, and wrote the reasoning in the character story.
<Character Name>
Origin: Valgard
Attributes: Strength 2; Agility 1; Mind 1; Appeal 0
Combat: Brawl 1; Melee 2; Ranged 1; Defense 0
Careers: Barbarian 2; Blacksmith 0; Hunter 1; Thief 1
Lifeblood 12; Hero Points 3; Armour 2
Traits: Valgardian Blade, Snow Tracker
Flaws: Illiterate
Equipment: Valgardian Long sword (Damage D6+2, use an extra die), Dagger (Damage D3), Hand Axe (Damage D6), Boots (1 Armour), Greaves (1 Armour)
Languages – Spoken: Lemurian and Valgardish
Languages – Written: N/A (Illiterate)
<Character Name> wanted more challenges and excitement than his barbaric lifestyle held. His determination and impressive physique lent itself well to the hunt, surviving the bitter Valgardish snowstorms and beasts. Keen weapon skills and great strength led <Character Name> to study metal smith work within his clan. He forged his own Valgardian Long sword! His interests piqued during recent trades with foreign merchants. Seizing this opportunity, <Character Name> stole gear and supplies, and some rich silks from the merchant caravan. He re-traced the Tyr merchants’ trail, but broke off towards the Axos Mountains. Something about the lavish wilderness still calls him. Near the Tower of Jesharek, <Character Name> met a group of disgruntled loggers. An apprentice wizard, Alyssi Serpenthelm from the tower seeks Urld wood for her alchemical studies. Rumors of a large untamed beast roving the northern wildnerness keeps many simple workers tending their home fires. <Character Name> is no simple worker – he is a Barbarian and a Hunter! Losing himself among some braver loggers, with chances for grand adventure, avoid the Tyr merchants, and meet an otherworldly sorceress sets his heart afire!
Dear Bluenose:
Looking over the character story above, do you think your character would be willing to travel into the mountains, hoping to lose the scent of the Thieves' Guild? Without railroading you two, I envision the logging group being a mutual starting point: both of you are unfamiliar with the land to be (too) scared of a big beast, and see the chance to chop down some teak-like wood profitable, too.
Thoughts?
Bluenose:
I think we are on the same wavelength regarding your character's motivations and look forward to seeing where this takes him/us. Let’s have you travel into the area with some
Jared Ouimette:
Wow- you like a challenege, huh? I will accept your entry at this point, but do you think you could have your 2nd edition character fleshed-out (numbers crunched and short history) by sometime Saturday or Sunday? I know that FabesMinis was busy this week, so we aren’t really racing to start the game. What other (zero-level?) careers were you considering? If you take alchemist 2/magician 2, you may have some *serious* flaws to plan, so please keep this in mind when planning your origins. Let’s keep in touch regarding what items you have created between adventures for the alchemist background. Honestly, I’d like to adjudicate some free-form spells that Barbarians of Lemuria allows. Again, will character creation work for you within this timeline? I included my email in a spoiler listed earlier in this post. Welcome…
Jared Ouimette:
After re-reading my "helpful" introduction to you, please don't feel constrained to take 2 ranks in each listed profession. I just wanted to make myself clear on this issue. However, a Halakhi alchemist/magician/assassin/physician with posion immunity might be very flavorful! Please, in no way is this intended to give any insight into the adventure; it's just for fun thinking out-loud.
I look forward to seeing your character, Jared Ouimette!
Sorry, as well as being in a play I have flu now too. Yay. But the PC looks good. Thank you.
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How does this look (never playing the system before, I may have over thought it).
Nax S'virlu, Zaluti Warlock
Attributes:
Strength: 0
Mind: 3
Agility: 1
Appeal: 0
Brawl: 0
Melee: 0
Range: 1
Defense: 3
Careers:
Mage: 3
Alchemist: 1
Physician: 0
Assassin: 0
Traits:
Power of the Void
Poison Immunity
Flaws:
Unsettling
Delicate
Craving: Pain Killers
Untrustworthy
Languages: Sorceric, Lemurian, Ygddari, Cerulean, Haklatii
Written: Same
Jared Ouimette:
Nax S'virlu, Zaluti Warlock
Attributes:
Strength 0; Mind 3; Agility 1; Appeal 0
Combat:
Brawl 0; Melee 0; Ranged 1; Defense 3
Careers:
Mage 3; Alchemist 1; Physician 0; Assassin 0
Traits:
Power of the Void
Poison Immunity
Flaws:
Unsettling
Delicate
Craving: Pain Killers
Untrustworthy
Languages: Sorceric, Lemurian, Ygddari, Cerulean, Haklatii
Written: Same
---Comments---
Fantastic illustration of placing all eggs in one basket. Well, not exactly...I wondered if you ever considered adding the "Priest" career to totally maximize spell casting and magical effects in play! WHEE!
Actually, I think this character could be quite powerful, and you have given me MANY hooks to help steer the adventure! Thanks! I see you need these following things added to your character, some of which I can help you do right now...
Lifeblood 8; Hero Points 5; Armor 0; Arcane Power 15 (whoah!)
Please come up with some equipment that may impact your armour, and anything in combat. I am also curious how you might explain ranks in assassin...I CAN see it, but the view is just my perspective. I'd like to see what you envisioned.
Finish these two things this weekend, and let's check back with FabesMinis soon.
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Funnily enough, thought about priest, but I think it might have been a tad too overpowered.
I was thinking when I designed him, that he would be a mage, who also knew alot about anatomy and how to make his own medicines.
He had a rival mage he needed taking out, but it wouldn't look too good if they knew he had done it. He puzzled it out: Why hire someone to do it for him, when he could do it himself on the cheap, know it was being done by someone with competence (himself), and also learn a few things about anatomy and poisons (after all, if he is poisoning someone, why couldn't someone be trying to kill him?).
He learned alchemy and study medical books, developed a poison (a quicksilver derivative) and killed him. Unfortunately for Nax, he wasn't paranoid about others trying to kill him, but they weren't as worried about getting their hands bloody.
So he fled, and through some act of the gods, ended up wherever it is that we start. (don't know much about the beginning, so if you could fill in any gaps please?)
Note to All Players:
Good evening, and welcome to an original adventure: “Frostburn.” To date, we have three players and myself as Game Master (GM). We may add/subtract more players as interest and time permits. I wanted to outline some of my expectations, and please comment and add your ideas.
1 Players have lives outside of role-playing, yet a play-by-post requires some commitment level. Therefore, I suggest the compromise might be for everyone to post at least once every weekday (on average), and at least once on Saturday/Sunday. I am willing to re-visit this guideline.
2 Players and I want to have fun, and assume a measure of mutual trust. Because all dice rolls use d6, we can simply post the results of any roll without having to resort to third-party audits of dice rolls. However, if anyone is in doubt as to how many dice they need to roll or if they earn any other bonuses, please feel free to post this question to either myself or to the group.
3 We have to be mature with what we say, but please feel free to use a narrative flair to your actions or descriptions, since this seems to be the heart of the game. We play barbarians, but need not be barbarians ourselves.
4 Other suggestions are welcome.
Our characters are:
Anxallos Tsengut,
Nax S'virlu,
and FabesMinis, I need a character name for your pre-generated barbarian, please.
The characters have assembled in a small logging camp nicknamed “Feathered Falls;” surprisingly, no tress have been felled in weeks! The camp has simple items most adventuring characters need. The foreman, “Cat-Face” Deuce, appears to be a strong albeit it short-in-stature de facto leader in the camp. He is one of the only people willing to talk to characters at this moment…
Possible reasons why YOUR character visits Feathered Falls:
* Elude persons’ “misunderstanding” of your or your most recent situation(s);
* Heard that an alchemist will pay a sizable sum of wealth for large supplies of Urld trees;
* Nature draws you forth, and rumors of a roaming, man-eating Andrak peak your curiosity.
* Other rumors can be uncovered. I would be willing to spoiler-share these rumors on successful rolls. Remember, the Target Number is 9 or better on two d6, and some characters are eligible for a bonus, if they recognize it…
I thought we could try starting this adventure whenever you are ready. ...
Nax S'virlu, you have been carrying your gear for awhile. When you sit down and look through your stuff (which is approved), you gleefully recall something...
Nax S'virlu Spolier:
Anxallos Tsengut, you suddenly want to double-check a pocket- the sight of some of these ruffians reminds you that you are far from home...which might actually be a good thing.
Anxallos Tsengut Spolier:
FabesMinis, whenever you are ready, I didn't forget your spoiler... :)
Vandis the Huntsman shall be his name. Speak it with respect. ;D
Still somewhat ill here, so catching up with things.
Vandis the Huntsman, you awaken from your light slumber with full stamina and steadfast resolve. The long trek across the foothills brought you to this camp weary, but now you know why you are here.
Vandis the Huntsman Spoiler:
Hope you feel better soon, FabesMinis!
Making rolls and adding bonuses
I wanted to give an example of how I hope to see dice rolls played on screen. Here is an example, and I am open to other suggestions for formatting it.
Example: Abdulamek the Assassin seeks to eliminate his chosen target- a common noble merchant. A VERY quick review of his character sheet shows us this information:
Assassin 1, Thief 1, Physician 1, Priest (Nemmereth) 1
Traits: Fighting Knife, Poison Immunity
In preparation, the player informs the GM how carefully the assassin coated his fighting knife with Cathgan venom with hopes of dealing the killing blow. Because the character hails from Halakh, it seems reasonable that an assassin with poison immunity would do something as described.
Abdulamek is told he needs to roll a 9 or higher to score his hit. Because he uses his fighting knife, his trait grants him 3 six-sided dice (taking the results of the best two rolls). He reports the following information:
Abdulamek rolled a 1, 4, and 6. As GM, I allow him to add his Assassin career to the hit! The best two results make 10, plus 1 (plus any Strength score), thereby beating the Target Number. The wicked curved blade bites into the corrupt nobleman’s shoulder and venom drains…
Rolling for damage, Abdulamek again uses three dice (fighting knife). He rolls a 2, 4, and 3. The best two results make 7 (plus any Strength score), and then the GM will apply any other mitigating abilities the noble might have himself. Likely, the GM will make the noble roll against “Formidable” Strength, because of the debilitating poison used. I do not want to add the Assassin career as a bonus here, because an element of this career was already used above, and in obtaining the poison to kill the noble.
Note: If the player had planned the attack more vividly, perhaps taking time to utter a solemn prayer to his deity, I may have allowed him to add his Priest career, too!
Does this style work for everyone? I realize that I was more descriptive than may needs be, but I wanted to illustrate different thoughts that went into the attack and damage. Again, this is a brief example of play…Feedback is welcome, from the Paizo community as well as the players! Again, the example is just that- I didn't want to make two new characters to illustrate the points.
Scale of the adventure:
What do YOU want to see in play?
a) Low-scale...the campsite is the main geographical area with smaller, individual threats
b) mid-scale...surrounding mountain area is in play, with larger obstacles/challenges/threats sometimes present, sometimes looming
c) large-scale...until you conquor the BBEG, not much of what you do will affect the enemies' evil plans, but it can be a workout. Large area of the map is effected by what is going to happen...
Please vote...
a)
Please, at least for while to find my feet.
A for now while we find our feet.
Darkness falls amid the meager campfires, campfires that use very precious timber. The logging camp of Feathered Falls feels the presence of darkness like another visitor and witness to its miserable state. For three weeks, no successful ventures have brought forth more than a few cords of Urld wood, a rich black bark sought by sages and alchemists. Newly hired hands have vanished like the loggers whom they replaced. A few stronger or stubborn men have returned to camp- lacking their axes, any wood, and perhaps their minds. While the small camp can provide for its workforce indefinitely, the spirit of its people might dwindle faster than any sundry supplies.
Heavy rains pour down your necks. This close to the timberline, the cold water aches the your muscles and chills bone. However, the logging foreman asked that people gather near his tent for some news. August Steadfellow, a fellow logger, returned this morning and straightway visited his foreman. His story seemed too impossible to tell second-hand, so “Cat-Face,” your de facto leader, asked August to tell it to you himself.
“They walked,” starts August, a young lad of no more than eighteen years, and assumes that his captive audience knows who ‘they’ are. Your question is quickly answered: “Bones picked themselves up out of the ground and walked! There were too many of them. Aarrrgh! They probably followed me here. We’re doomed. We’ll never leave this camp alive, and we’ll be like th…them.” The young man appears visibly shaken, and his stammering stems more from fear than any cooler temperatures. As his speaks, he withdraws into himself, shielding his eyes with his elbows as if horrifically reliving the experience. Even the fires around the camp seem affected by his speech- the smoke swirls around August in weird patterns and seems to make odd shapes. August finally collapses to the ground, and Cat-Face places a blanket around the man.
“Well, that settles it. Camp Feathered Falls closes tomorrow. Everyone will go home. We can’t get the wood we need to fund this mission, so we have to return to wherever we call home,” says Cat-Face. The rugged and short foreman appears un-shaken by the story, but rather matter-of-fact in his business bravado.
You are left standing in the growing darkness, being cold, wet, and possibly unemployed.
What does anyone want to do?
All-
I successfully started a new thread in the play-by-post and p-b-p discussion sections of the message boards.
