Thanks, Amelia!
"He remembers the war, but none of the places. He remembers the blood, but none of the faces."
Cogmin sings this old dark song to himself, taught to him by a war bard in The Great War, as he quietly tinkers away with his small collection of clocks. Mevitari has allowed him to board in a small storage room in the back of the orphanage in exchange for running errands, looking after the children, and general upkeep.
Cogmin relates to his clocks, he feels broken and useless. However, just as each clock winds down or throws a spring, it can be repaired anew - the cycles continue ever on. Cogmin can feel a new cycle coming - a renewal of his spirit. This gives him hope.
He sees the children as wonderful, ticking automatons, their heartbeats the master spring. Some of the younger children are frightened by his appearance - but they quickly warm to Cogmin when they see his slow and gentle demeanor.
Cogmin looks slightly different from most warforged - he has a decidedly clockwork appearance; aesthetic changes have been made to his joints, abdomen, and head where visible are silently spinning gears, springs, and levers.
Even though he abhors violence - Cogmin still carries his old war axe, given to him by the an officer during the beginning of the war. He knows that at times all that stands between oblivion and continuance is a sharp edge.
Whimsy: I'll email you my goals and secrets - as well as my exploit and feat choices.
I'm still in, will get it up by tonight or tomorrow morning.
As I stated before, I won't be able to post again until Thursday (goin' to SanFran for a show). We'll officially kick it off when I get back! Thanks everyone for you creative work thus far.
Have fun in SF Whimsy!
Bmars, what are you going to be? Just curious.
Thanks Ostran.
For those who wish, you can develop your character's past while I'm gone (or after I return) using flashbacks. I got the idea from Xulbulba's "earth is better than storm" post. It's optional, so don't feel you have to post anything. But it might be something to do while you wait for other people to post their actions or during down times.
So what does everyone think of 4th edition?
So what does everyone think of 4th edition?
I like it. It takes some adjustment time from 3.5. You can't play just once or twice, IMO, and understand the elegance and nuances of the system.
Bmars, what are you going to be? Just curious.
Minotaur Ranger
Update:
Lamander - Changeling cleric
Tulgeikh - Orc warden
Kyleria - Human psion
Ostran - Halfling sorcerer
Cogmin - Warforged fighter
Balgron - Minotaur ranger
I'll be starting to post at some point during the day today. I still need Cogmin's secrets and stats and Balgron's background, but I can start without these things.
Pertinent links:
So what does everyone think of 4th edition?I like it. It takes some adjustment time from 3.5. You can't play just once or twice, IMO, and understand the elegance and nuances of the system.
I agree. At first, like many who started playing with 2nd edition or younger, I was very skeptical about having to learn a whole new system AGAIN but I have slowly started to see the "ore amongst the dross" as the dwarves say. I am especially happy to see the sorcerer class revamped and made useful. :)
This is only my second time playing with the 4th ed.
I ran a game for some kids back in Seattle when I worked at Blue Highway Games but that was just for free RPG day and it was a just a little thing.
So far the system seems much much simpler than Pathfinder or 3.5 which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Almost feels like the "pick-up-and-play" nature of Heroquest or the like.
I loved Heroquest. I used to combine it with D&D, for flavor. :)
Balgron?
Something interesting came up for me. Orphans usually don't have very much money, and certainly not the kind of money your typical 1st level adventurer would have. Somehow and someway you've managed to collect your equipment and gold. Perhaps there is a story behind why you have a certain item (example - this chain shirt belonged to my father before he died), or you've managed to make an item with odds and ends (example - I've used these modified kitchen utensils as my thieves' tools for years; they may not look like much, but they get the job done), or perhaps you've earned it, perhaps secretly (I've received a silver a day for running contraband for a gang in the Cogs; I've saved up several gold over the years).
Do you have to keep these items secret from Mevitari? Where do you normally store your valuables (on your person, in your unlocked chest in your room, in a secret hiding place, a combination of these places, etc.)?
You don't need to directly answer these questions (of course, if you wish, feel free to in your Alias descriptions or the Flashbacks). I'm not going to be stickler for what you are handling when, but it's something to consider that could create some interesting story dynamics.
For me it's simple. Clothes and a staff are things even an orphan would have and the adventurer's kit could have been collected over time. My potion's likely a gift from some of the less savory people I know.
Besides the simple clothes (pants, sandles, and robes) and his adventureer's kit, Ostran carries a simple staff.
Anything Cogmin has are leftovers from his time in the Last War:
Axe
Chainmail
Woolen Robe
Longbow
12 arrows
The rest of his gold he gave to Mevitari to help wit hthe running of the orphanage.
Balgron's equipment, hide armor, swords, were recently acquired for being a messenger(smuggler) around the lower portions of Sharn. He will keep his equipment on his person under his clothing when wandering about, but while at the orphanage, he'll keep it hidden inside the mattress of his bed.
The ritual book, reagents and holy symbols were all gifts from someone or another. The chailmail and morningstar? Well, he needed some armor and a weapon before he could be ordained, and no one notices a guardsman walking out of the gym and putting on his equipment, they only notice when he comes out again a few minutes later and starts yelling about where his equipment is. He managed to convince Mevitari that he bought it off of a veteran and just wanted to protect the orphanage as well as he could.
The ritual book, reagents and holy symbols were all gifts from someone or another. The chailmail and morningstar? Well, he needed some armor and a weapon before he could be ordained, and no one notices a guardsman walking out of the gym and putting on his equipment, they only notice when he comes out again a few minutes later and starts yelling about where his equipment is. He managed to convince Mevitari that he bought it off of a veteran and just wanted to protect the orphanage as well as he could.
Love the flashbacks on the flashback thread - I've never done it before in any of my games but it's a really cool way to get to know other people's characters and even your own.
I am new to this whole PbP thing, but when I make characters for my own D&D'ing; I try to come up with a back story as well. That way I don't just have "Klod the barbarian" who kills stuff.
I'm liking the flashback thread too. Some very interesting developments that hopefully will feed the overall story. Thanks for participating!
Here's a heads up that I'm going to be away from a computer starting tomorrow and returning on Tuesday. I'll be able to make an entry tomorrow morning and Tuesday evening, but in the meantime, I'll be gone.
I'm enjoying the game everyone. Thanks for playing thus far!
Also, don't forget the Flashback thread. I've enjoyed what I've read so far.
For about a week starting Tuesday I'll be at a family reunion with probably no internet access. You are forewarned.
Hmmm. We haven't really discussed what to do when someone can't be there for an extended period. Because I haven't asked Davi about it, I don't really feel comfortable NPC'ing his character. We may have to put that part of the storyline (the battle with Bandatiq) on pause for the moment while the encounter with the xivorts takes place.
Any thoughts?
Ostran can't really gripe much as Ostran agrees with DM Whimsy (Ostran now speaks in the third person LOL).
I agree the search for Jolin part can continue. If we do encounter resistance, the encounter will likely take some time, so we can get a head start on Ostran and Lamander as their encounter likely isn't taking as long. If we all wait on Davi, then they'll likely be waiting for us to complete our encounter later anyways.
Though I would like to add, if I may play devil's advocate for a min, that I get screwed because the other guy involved in the battle is out for a week. A lot can happen with everyone else and who knows if it intersects with what Lam and I are doing. (Well DM Whimsey does but he probably wouldn't say.)
I feel I'm to blame for this. I didn't set policies for people with extended absence from the boards. I think the future policy should be that people who are gone for a long time should either have a place their character goes or they are NPC'd until we reach a place we can put their character aside until the player returns. Because I didn't set this beforehand, I don't feel comfortable NPC'ing Lamander in the meantime. I apologize Ostran, especially since it's in the middle of a fight, but it shouldn't affect the overall storyline too much.
Hey, I'm just here while I still definitely have wifi access to give you explicit permission to run around using Astral Seal on everything possible when my turn comes up, since that will probably be the most useful at this point. Also, this is where I regret playing a low-damage cleric. I work best with more people to buff, and I only have one little sorcerer to buff.
Hey, I'm just here while I still definitely have wifi access to give you explicit permission to run around using Astral Seal on everything possible when my turn comes up, since that will probably be the most useful at this point. Also, this is where I regret playing a low-damage cleric. I work best with more people to buff, and I only have one little sorcerer to buff.
Actually, since the battle is going in a bad way, I may use anything I can to help out the sorceror. Hope that's okay. If not, we'll figure it out when you get back.
Thanks!
Well, since I'm down to one last heal other than Astral Seal, feel free to use my daily. (Bane won't do much more good with taking out Bandatiq than Astral Seal.)
I was kinda hoping more people would have posted in 'flashback' but oh well.
Hmmm...I'm getting a little concerned about the speed of play, particularly in the encounter with the xivorts. Since Saturday, we haven't gotten through the first round yet. I get that there was a holiday, but it hasn't really sped up since then.
Ideally, if everyone posts once a day, then we could get through a round each day. However, if one person doesn't post, it can slow us all down. I'm thinking that if one hasn't posted within 24 hours, I'm going to NPC your action to help move things along. I'll make an exception for weekends since it seems it's a little more challenging. I believe that will help.
I know people in our game are involved with other pbps - how have you or your DM's handled slowed down play?
If interest is waning or if you think you can't commit to one post a day, please let me know if you would like to drop the game. I won't be offended or angry, I promise. ;)
Remember, my email is whimsychris (a) gmail if you want to send me a message.
I use Rosey's combat rule of 24 hours, then a GMed action. It works well in her games, and so far in my own Underdark one.
I use Rosey's combat rule of 24 hours, then a GMed action. It works well in her games, and so far in my own Underdark one.
Do you do it with 24 hours since the absentee's last post or 24 hours since the last combat move?
I use Rosey's combat rule of 24 hours, then a GMed action. It works well in her games, and so far in my own Underdark one.Do you do it with 24 hours since the absentee's last post or 24 hours since the last combat move?
Since the last combat move. If you go by 24 hours since their last post you won't have any real defined time to stop when they don't post for more than 24 hours.
Yeah, what Davi said. Between combat, I'm more loose, to let RP and all devlop, but in combat you sometimes have to be draconian to keep things moving.
Since the last combat move. If you go by 24 hours since their last post you won't have any real defined time to stop when they don't post for more than 24 hours.I use Rosey's combat rule of 24 hours, then a GMed action. It works well in her games, and so far in my own Underdark one.Do you do it with 24 hours since the absentee's last post or 24 hours since the last combat move?
I try to do the same with my game also.
I just saw the above posts about speed of play. I won't feel bad if Balgron gets DMPC or anyone else's PC for that matter. The xivorts battle is going painfully slow. I was hoping Balgron breaking down the door would speed things up. Who are we waiting on?
In response to the above: my utmost apologies for absences - been so busy I sometimes forget to check the boards...! Oop! It's my turn!!!
I'll do my best to commit to at least a posting once a day.
Feel free to NPC any Cogmin turns if I am absent.
With love,
Jeremy
I'm back! Thanks for NPC'ing Cogmin! Sorry for the delay... ;{
Now that we finished a couple major combats, I wanted to talk about people's experience so far. For me, I'm enjoying people's characters and the direction of the story, but combat lasted much too long.
The combat with the xivorts took roughly a month. This is long time to side rail the overall storyline to settle what is roughly a couple minutes in the game's time. I also found the numerous combat updates, such as updating the map after every turn, to be very time consuming.
Are there any ideas how we might make combat smoother? Would people be interested in trying out an online virtual tabletop like OpenRPG so we could settle combat in an hour or two?
Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Combat, in a PbP is by it's very nature time consuming. I see that in my own Underdark game.
The best way to combat it is agressive DMing. From the DM side you have to push posting, hard limits on time between posts. Better organization of the fights could be helpful too.
For instance, I know in the Xivort fight there were a lot of times I didn't know who was up. That'll slow down a fight if we don't know if it's our turn.
Posting an initiative order with the conditions for each PC/enemy would be helpful as I know I didn't realize it was my turn and forgot conditions several times. I know this is my job as player to track but having a reminder at the bottom of every DM post really helps. Thanks for DMing and being open to advice.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while.
Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to be able to continue this pbp. I'm having a lot of personal challenges at the moment and I don't think I'll be able to commit to a post every day. While I was sick, I was able to reflect on this and came to this conclusion. I thank you for your patience.
I apologize and realize this is a disappointment for some of you. I hate to leave things hanging like this. If there are any questions that you are curious about concerning this or that in the storyline, feel free to ask me.
For those of you whose pbp this is the first, please do try it again. There are other pbp's that have lasted over a year with some very committed DMs.
Happy gaming everyone, and I apologize again about cutting this campaign short.
Let us know if you want to fire up this or another PBP again. I enjoyed my time.