Hey everyone,
In a few weeks I'll be back and I'm toying with the idea of starting a fourth PbP (or possibly 2nd or 3rd depending on if my other games still have interest :p)
Anyways, I've had my hands on Monte Cook's Ptolus and I'd really like to run a game using that setting. Reading the Player's Guide would be required, and I'm not sure which game system I want to use for it (3.5/PFRPG/Aracana Unearthed)
So is there interest? What kind of Ptolus game would interest you? What system would you like to use to play it?
I want to use this forum to connect and toss some ideas about this.
THIS IS NOT A RECRUITMENT THREAD. Please don't post characters, I won't be considering them right now and will in fact ignore them.
I had a chance to dabble in Ptolus in a my Friday night game as a player. Unfortunately the group dissolved after the two Evil characters decided to kill the rest of the party in their sleep...I know..you heard that one before. Sort of killed the mood and goodwill.
We had a great time up to the betrayal and I would love to get the chance to play again.
This was pre-pathfinder, so we were 3.5 but also running characters from Book of Swords and Arcana Unleashed which added its own wrinkles.
Any system would be fine, but I prefer PF nowadays, but that might mean too much editing on your part as DM, so it should be your call.
But definitely a great setting.
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Hey Rennick,
In your title, I see Alkenstar PBP. I would be interested in that. Is that what you intend for the setting regardless of the system? I prefer Pathfinder for the streamlined rules, but 3.5 is still fun. I am unfamiliar with Ptolus but am willing to download the player's guide and give it a whirl.
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I, too, prefer Pathfinder, but have lots of fond memories of 3.5.
I loved the little of Ptolus that I played and think it's a great world.
I would like to see a campaign to figure out what's in that damned Spire...I still don't know.
However, I'd equally intrigued in going below as well.
I'll need to re-read the Player's Guide, but there are a ton of ways to go about this.
-Pain
I am down, down, down for this one. Pathfinder rules would be the easiest for a larger segment of players, but it sounds like a lot of people have their 3.5 stuff still. I really want to see someone explore Alkenstar. I think that this area of Glorian really needs some developing, especially with the Gunslinger coming our way soon. I like the tech replaced magic feel of this City-State and can see the the greater need for RP to make the stories work.
i too show preference in the pathfinder system and interest in an Alkenstar PBP.
i had an idea for an "assassin" who does wierd stuff with her own "electrical currents" and uses "current manipulation" (chi points) to dissapear (invisibility), to displace herself (mirror image) or even to create fields of "blurryness" around her (smoke bomb). carries a bunch of throwing knives beneath her dress (treated as shurikens) and carries a dagger as her primary weapon. she would also be the equivalent to "Thomas Edison" and "Nikhola Tesla" when it comes to understanding "electrical currents". she justifies all forms of supernatural talents as being a manipulation of these "Currents" and beleives that not only can everybody potentially learn to tap into them, but that everything produces these "Currents". i was thinking of putting ranks in "spellcraft" and calling it "Knowledge (electrical currents)". for her name, i was considering Elsbeth Edison-Tesla (her last name is hyphenated) great granddaughter of both Thomas Edison and Nikhola Tesla. she misuses her family's knowledge in the name of the government of Alkenstar.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Given that you're probably more used to Pathfinder rules now, I'd suggest going with that, even if it does mean there would be some conversions. I'd be happy to help with that if you need any aid.
I love the Ptolus setting and would definitely be interested in either helping out with DM duties or playing in a Ptolus game.
how do you like my proposed oddball concept? i'm not even sure that people can tell what class i am referencing without looking at the notes within parentheses. have i really divorced the flavor that far from that assumed within the mechanics?
I would be be happy to help with any world development brainstorming you might have on this one, also. So if you need a sounding board or some bits of research done just let me know.
I might be interested if you weren't running four games...I just don't see how any person can devote that much time and make every game COUNT for the players. Ptolus is a freaking huge setting, one I know little about, but it is interesting nonetheless. Alkenstar is also gonna be a good setting, I think. 3.5 or Pathfinder would work for me.
Shuriken, I see you on a lot of the threads getting about the same response on all of them. Attention to detail is golden to most GMs on these boards, especially the good ones. Be sure to read the post in the thread before just throwing ideas that are out of context or inappropriate for the situation and I think you might start seeing some more receptive replies to your thoughts.
When someone post in all capital letters that they do not want to see a character concept and you follow up by posting twice on this very issue, do not expect them to give you the time of day. This is very rude and dismissive to many people. I understand you love this character, but you should not be married to a single concept. As far as I can tell it has yet to be picked up in any of the connection threads which you have posted it to. It sucks to have this thing in your head you would really like to see developed, but so is life in a creative field. In the future just try to be more aware of what is going on or what others have posted before doing so yourself. By doing neither you show a GM you are likely to get a party killed or derail its progress. Hope you take this as it is meant, just some friendly advice. Cheers!
-Bilbo
i apologize for posting a character concept in a non-recruitment thread. but i like to plan before the recruitment thread even comes. and then, i try to snatch a spot. but it usually fails. i applied for like 30 something pbps during my time on paizo. 2 of them ended prematurely, 1 of which i am "on deck" for and 3 of which i was in the initial cast and 2 of which, i "ninjaed" a replacement slot. i am not married to the concept but i enjoy playing relatively "unusual" characters that i try to canonically blend with the setting. i am still waiting for either a magical steampunk campaign so i can slip in Dimitri Molotov.
I might be interested if you weren't running four games...I just don't see how any person can devote that much time and make every game COUNT for the players. Ptolus is a freaking huge setting, one I know little about, but it is interesting nonetheless. Alkenstar is also gonna be a good setting, I think. 3.5 or Pathfinder would work for me.It seems a very postive response and it's my impression that Pathfinder is the weapon of choice?? Now just need to leave through a Player's Guide....
Not really sure why you quoted me or what your reply even means...
Wow, this is a huge response. Okay I'll try and answer everyone succinctly.
I might be interested if you weren't running four games...I just don't see how any person can devote that much time and make every game COUNT for the players. Ptolus is a freaking huge setting, one I know little about, but it is interesting nonetheless. Alkenstar is also gonna be a good setting, I think. 3.5 or Pathfinder would work for me.
I understand the concern, but I do feel I can handle the load. an average PbP post, as a DM, takes me about 30 minutes to write, so if I post in two games a day that's only an hour of my time per day and still keeps a post every 2 days at the least. As for plot and development; thinking about my games is my distraction and how I unwind so I'm honestly doing it most of the day during spare minutes and such. Also one of the PbPs that I'm hoping will be able to re-start when I get home is RotRL so a lot of the hard thinking is done for me.
Stuff about systems
My issue with running PFRGP, which is definitely my favorite system, is that Ptolus has a number of things that haven't been converted, or I don't have converted (Litorians being an example) but it is my first choice for a system anyway.
Alkenstar stuff
This is a separate idea I had for a campaign set in Alkenstar that I was going to put in this thread, but decided to start a different one for later.
It would be a very Steam-punk/Victorian era style game, taking influences from Eberron, Fable II and III, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Arcanum of Mysterium and Magics, Ptolus actually, and others.
I originally decided that I wasn't going to advertise about it yet because there's still a lot of very fundamental world building I need to do (Just how do the mana wastes affect magic and what does that mean for casting classes, what does it mean for healing, etc...) which is why I was going to start a different thread later. forgot to change the title, oops.
oddball concept
As many have said, this sort of thing wasn't just unasked for, I specified that I didn't want to look through these yet and I stand by it. Saying "I was thinking about playing a Damphir Alchmist" is one thing, giving a full concept write up is another. And Honestly I wouldn't accept a background using real world influence (Edison and Tesla) anyways. sorry.
So we actually seem split down the middle for which game world, though the system looks like it'll be PFRPG (though I think for this game I will also use outside sources like Arcana Evolved, especially if it's Ptolus)
I described my basic idea for Alkenstar, my basic idea for Ptolus is best described in Monte Cook's own words "D20 with the volume turned way up." Ptolus is a campaign setting that takes place in a single huge city, with a giant dungeon underneath (and actually one in the sky above). It's a city of intrigue and adventure and was used as the testbed by Cook to work out the D20 rules. This is a place where magic is common and Centaurs walk down the street. Where a dying Empire has been split in three, where secret societies struggle to bring back the technological glory that the Empire used to have and where Cults of pure Chaos stalk the streets at night. It's a game that's made to be as much urban adventure or dungeon delving as you would like.
take a look at the free player's guide, found here:
lets keep this discussion going, from either setting, Ptolus or Alkenstar, what kind of stories and games would you like to see? If you don't know enough to feel comfortable answering that about a specific setting, then what kind of urban games would you like to play?
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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I ran the Banewarrens adventure once. It was a ton of fun and really reinforced the idea that you never need to leave the city to have an amazing time. For Ptolus, I also own the Banewarrens and a copy of Chaositech, so if either appeals, I can lend the information from those.
Honestly, I'd rather help run than play in a Ptolus game. I love the city but I read the book and know way too much about it to convincingly play a character that doesn't know much.
As for Alkenstar, the idea of a city in the middle of the Mana Wastes lends itself to strange monsters, alchemists and firearms, complete with the frontier sense that entails. I'd almost go for a Deadwood, Weird West feel to the setting.
i have a backup concept in mind.
"The Steel Seer" Dimitri Molotov.
an "athiest" human diviner with a steel arm and leg.
his backstory is fairly generic (easily adaptable) and features no real world influences.
i have a backup concept in mind.
"The Steel Seer" Dimitri Molotov.
an "athiest" human diviner with a steel arm and leg.
his backstory is fairly generic (easily adaptable) and features no real world influences.
Again with a character concept? Really?
@Rennick - if you are torn between game systems, my advice is to run with what you know and what works best with the game you are running. If it's 3.5 w/d20 influences let 'er rip! If it's Pathfinder, that's cool too. Really like the thought of some clockwork fantasy. Recently read [u]The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack[/u] by Mark Hodder. Very well written and spurred my interest in doing some gaming in such a setting; I recommend it highly. So, I'd like to see some city adventuring mixed with some good dungeoneering.
i have a backup concept in mind.
"The Steel Seer" Dimitri Molotov.
an "athiest" human diviner with a steel arm and leg.
his backstory is fairly generic (easily adaptable) and features no real world influences.
Again with a character concept? Really?
@Rennick - if you are torn between game systems, my advice is to run with what you know and what works best with the game you are running. If it's 3.5 w/d20 influences let 'er rip! If it's Pathfinder, that's cool too. Really like the thought of some clockwork fantasy. Recently read [u]The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack[/u] by Mark Hodder. Very well written and spurred my interest in doing some gaming in such a setting; I recommend it highly. So, I'd like to see some city adventuring mixed with some good dungeoneering.
sorry. i really want to join this pbp. i guess i can wait a little.
I, too, like the idea of a mix of urban and dungeon. I think that this lends itself to greater story development options. Were you thinking of this as a more combat heavy game or story driven?
i vote for more story driven if i get to do the alkenstar one. Dimitri would be very fun to play. i changed him from a diviner to a magus. but haven't filled out the stats yet.
i vote for more story driven if i get to do the alkenstar one. Dimitri would be very fun to play. i changed him from a diviner to a magus. but haven't filled out the stats yet.
Shuriken....you just don't seem to be understanding what everyone is getting at here. You are being quite pushy with this whole deal. You already made your point about being excited about an idea, but now this like the third or fourth reference to a character concept in a thread which currently is focused on world development ideas and system interest. Attention to detail is something I would suggest you take a bit more seriously as you seem to be putting a good number of people off by not doing so. By continuing to put up ideas that are irrelevant to the conversation you are, more or less, spamming the thread and drawing attention away from where it needs to be, i.e. world building ideas/general interest.
Shuriken: I won't belabor the point, Bilbo explained it quite well above this. Honestly the constant reference, some only hours apart, to a facet of the game I asked not to discuss right now, isn't helping any chance of accepting you to this game, whatever it ends up being. You are more than welcome to participate in the discussion but please focus on what's being discussed.
I'm going to put another update to this soon, I don't have time to write all I want to right now, so a quick note on systems.
Alkenstar would use PFRPG, and maybe a couple supplements that are already converted (RITE publishing's Ironborn is one that comes to mind.)
Ptolus is a different breed. If I run that game I want it to be with a group that understands the rules and is okay handling variants and DM discretions, looking to sources like Arcana Evolved, 3.5 has a lot more of these available, but maybe we could use a mix with the PFRPG, thoughts?
Ok I gotta run for now. post more later.
I look forward to seeing what you have in mind for Alkenstar. I wouldn't mind playing in a good Eberron/steam punkish style campaign.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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In terms of less work for yourself...if you want to run Ptolus I'd use the system it is designed for. Rather than converting anything just fire up whatever it is you have in mind and no one has to post endlessly trying to clear up any system to system questions.
Man's got a good point. If you'd like to, I have the Banewarrens and Chaositech books on my shelf. You can email me your address and I'll send them to you. Better you should get use of them than let them go to waste on my shelf...
I would have to agree with the fellas who have advocated for ease on your end. I think in the long run it will be more enjoyable for you and your players if there is little work to do on the conversion side of the house. I don't have anything from 3.5, but I bet there is a huge number of people who came to PF that you will be able to snatch up. But, if you wanted to do an Alkenstar thing or conversion is part of the fun for you then PF rules would be the way to go.
In the end, make it easy on yourself and the players will follow.
I don't have anything from 3.5
Dude, drop me an email: yankmychain at gmail dot com and I can hook you up with a ton of 3.5 pdf goodness!
** spoiler omitted **
Sweetness.
Thanks for the offer James but I have Banewarrens, still trying to get my hands on Night of Dissolution though.
There seems to be a pretty even split for which setting people would prefer, though I will admit an Alkenstar game will take more time to prepare because there's a lot of work that a pre-made setting like Ptolus has finished that I would need to do for Alkenstar. Things like how is the country and city's government structured? Are there any major landmarks, dungeons or what not? are adventurers welcome? what are the Mana Wastes and how exactly do they affect magic. is it just gone? or sporadic? how does this deal with magic/sci fi creatures like Golems. Does Alchemy still work? Are there any major NPCs the players know about?
As far as the rules with Ptolus, I'm ok with getting a little complicated, maybe it'll be a mix of both systems, using PFRPG as a standard and deviating using 3.5 and Arcana Evolved to go from there.
I'm going on a trip, I'll be back to discuss this some more in about 10 days.
Have a safe trip, Ren. I'll be heading back to the States from Japan for a couple of weeks so the flight there and back should give me plenty of time to work up some ideas and research on the subject of Alkenstar/Ptolus. I think a good place to start is going to be the web fiction. I am going to read it all over and see if I can mine a couple of pearls from that source.
@Hedgeknight, I'll send ya an email today, buddy.
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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Rennick, I just remembered you mentioned you wanted a copy of Night of Dissolution. My old FLGS has it for $4.99. You can order it online here.
James, thanks for the tip. I'll definitely look into it.
I'm hoping to get this discussion back in full swing. Right now I'm leaning towards setting the game in Alkenstar but taking HEAVY liberties with what source material there is. I want to run a high fantasy steam punk world, taking inspiration from Eberron for one, as well as a lot of Japanese sources, like Miyazaki's animes, Escaflowne JRPG video games like Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy 6, Fable II and the trailer of III and a bunch of others I can't think of right now. This is the kind of steampunk with airships, I'm going to allow the Ironborn race and golems walk the streets. and the style is a mix of victorian and medieval.
Ptolus doesn't quite fit because it's mostly medieval, with a bit of tech
Alkenstar (my current choice) would be altered and expanded upon. I do have a story reason in mind to allow the increase in magic, and I like Golarion and want to run a game there.
My third option is to use Eberron as a setting, it would still need tweaking, because while the tone is exactly what I want, there are things of the world I do not like (how much power the Dragonmarks houses have, and that there are no ninjas.) Honestly not my favorite choice despite the similar feel in style.
Alright, what do people think? questions, comments and constructive criticism is welcome
Eberron: Ghosts of the Mourning Sun recruitment thread
For those interested in where this discussion led, thanks to everyone for the help!