This is an interest check for Court of Blades, a fiction-first RPG based on the Blades in the Dark game system. Ultimately, if you liked the War for the Crown AP but thought it needed more intrigue, more skullduggery, more romance and just generally more, then this may be a game for you! I already have 2 (possibly 3) players interested but I’m looking to build the group out a bit as PbP seems to work best with between 4 and 6 PCs.
Court of Blades takes place in the vibrant, fantasy renaissance city-state of Ilrien, in a world populated by scheming nobles, court magicians, and dashing duelists.
In Court of Blades you take on the role of a talented retainer to a newly-risen House of the Esultare in the great city of Ilrien. The Esultare, composed of the six Houses Major, are considered to be the most powerful families in the Principalities. Amongst them they have their own pecking order, and every citizen of Ilrien is aware of every house’s position within that order. In the service of your House, you will engage in the polite civil warfare of the great families. You will host lavish balls, and manipulate the courts, uncover the plots of your rivals, protect the city from arcane dangers, manage your own intrigues and personal scandals, leverage your reputations, connections, and so much more.
We play to find out if our noble retainers can play the Great Game and win it all, or if they'll fall prey to the machinations of their rivals or their own human failings.
If that (hopefully) caught your interest, I’m looking for players who are prepared to:
*Learn at least some of the rules of the game AND the setting: I’m happy to handle rules queries and describe the setting, but the more you understand them yourself, the more fun you (and, frankly, everyone else) will have. One big difference in this game over d20-based games is that the players get a huge say in how the game world works, and get to take part in the world-building. It therefore helps to know about the game setting so that you can contribute to it. You can get hold of the game here.
*Live daringly: you can be anything in Ilrien, except boring! This is a game where you swing from the chandeliers, run across the rooftops and make that jump from dockside to the gondola, thumbing your nose at the condottieri you leave behind in your wake; where you seek a dance – or perhaps more – from that person you know you absolutely, positively, shouldn’t. It’s not a game about playing it safe.
*Laugh at failure like the imposter that it is: in this game, consequences and miss results on the action roll are what drive things forward as you succeed but cause new problems that add to the DRAMA of the game. Don’t be afraid to roll actions you are not good at, trust that it will all work out in the end. Failure might be an option, but fear of failure is no option at all.
*Lead the dance: this game is NOT an adventure path with a predetermined railroad that the GM pushes you along: your goals and your desires will significantly govern the direction the game takes. As the GM, I’m your partner-in-crime rather than your adversary – be proactive in driving the game forward and trust me to follow your lead in providing you with opportunities to be awesome (which yes, on occasion, you will fail spectacularly).
Interested.
I'll pick up a copy of the rules today or tomorrow. Looking over the brief outline of the game, I'll probably be deciding between a Kiss or a Knack. Love me some intrigue and romance. :)
Interested! :)
Liking the sound of the Key.
I also could be interested, but I've never heard of the system and I honestly can't buy the book. I'm from Brazil and the current exchange rate from R$ to US$ will make this cost just too much (multiply this by 6 and imagine it is US$ to have an idea).
Well, you could of gotten a community copy, but none are left until someone buys one over asking price.
Hmmmm....
Consider me tentatively interested. I have a teensy bit of experience with Blades in the Dark, though I have yet to look at the rules of this particular adaptation.
Hi WW, I'm certainly interested. Probably look at trying The Eye or as a secondary choice The Knack. Open to most any of the Houses, I guess Bastien or Lovell would be my tops picks, but really anything could work for me.
Having had a gander at the Court of Blades book, I think the system looks pretty good! Similar to BitD in many if not most ways, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
Playbook-wise the Couth tempts me – though most likely I am getting ahead of myself there.
Glad to see there's some interest! I guess that makes this an official recruitment thread, then :)
@TheWorstFighter - it's very similar mechanically to BitD, but it seems to play very differently. It's more a question of tone and theme than anything else. You're not at all getting ahead of yourself in thinking about what playbook(s) you would like.
@Tareth - good to see you. Eye and Knack are both solid choices, and I see you've already started thinking about what House you want to serve. I will get into more of that later today once I have more time to post.
@Nik - the Key is a good choice for a political schemer who unlocks people and contraptions with equal ease.
@Itzi - the Kiss is one of the two advanced playbooks (the other being the Curse) which are off-limits for basic play. Given this is my first time running it, I'd like to stick to the basics please.
Oh my gosh, yes! I was just thinking how much I'd like to be in War for the Crown as a player (I run a game of it on the boards), so this is definitely up my alley.
I have played Blades in the Dark and beta-tested Girl by Moonlight (another Forged in the Dark system), so I am pretty familiar with the mechanics. I don't have the book for CoB yet (similar issue as Sir Longears)
In terms of character concept, probably going for a Key. I have the bones of the character ready, just need to slot in the setting-appropriate details.
@Kittenmancer - great to have your enthusiasm! Girl by Moonlight caught my interest but I never got round to playing/purchasing it.
@Crusaderwolf - thanks for dotting in, if you know the mechanics for BitD that's a big plus.
In terms of the rulebook, I'm sympathetic to the $$$$ problem, and if we gamed at a tabletop I'd gladly share my copy of the rulebook... but we don't. You will need your own reference copy of the rules.
I said in my previous post that I'd talk a bit about the noble houses, so here goes.
In CoB, your group of PCs serves one of the six great Houses, the newest to rise to the Esultare. You get to choose which House you have collectively pledged your loyalty to. They are thematically and mechanically very different, so it's important you pick a House you can see yourself enjoying.
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HOUSE AL-MARI
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House al-Mari are known as “a Tower built of spit and spite” and their motto is “Mah Hafez [we keep].”
They came as foreigners to Ilrien, but money knows no provenance. Swords know even less. Unfashionable, gauche even, they set to the task of securing their new prize. Once mercenaries from across the seas, now they are conqueror-princes.
Their key strength is in supply (House Al-Mari is a self-sufficient House. They keep, indeed); their preference is for overcoming obstacles through dominance or aggression.
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HOUSE BASTIEN
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House Bastien are known as “the Rising Tide” and their motto is “And Yet We Rise”
Among the lower orders of the city, House Bastien is held as proof that anyone sufficiently audacious may rise to the highest ranks. Among the old Houses, Bastien is often thought of as a distressing novelty. Their true words, if tavern talk is to be believed, are “They Said We Could Not.”
Their key strength is in transport, getting what you need to where you need it (popularity opens many doors); their preference is for overcoming obstacles through audacity or unorthodoxy.
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HOUSE BATTALIA
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House Battalia are known as “the old House of Martial Valour” and their motto is “Ever Upon Our Shields”
House Battalia won the freedom of Ilrien with blood and valor. With strength and honour, they hold it still. They are not naive, or blind to the games of the Esultare. They see the dance, see through the lies. What was won at the edge of a sword cannot be stolen by pretty words. Battalia stands vigilant and unimpressed.
Their key strength is in force (House Battalia boasts more swords than any but the Grand Council); their preference is for overcoming obstacles through honour or tradition.
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HOUSE CORVETTO
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House Corvetto are known as “the Majestic Tyrants” and their motto is “Beneath Our Wings”
The people of Ilrien would be hard-pressed to think of a time when House Corvetto did not dwell within the city, plucking arcane strings and dispatching assassins from atop their shadowed towers. There is an old saying: Better under a Corvetto wing than a Corvetto beak.
Their key strength is their magic (the Corvetto hoard magic and boast more magicians than any other House); their preference is for overcoming obstacles through coercion or majesty.
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HOUSE ELANDA
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House Elanda are known as “the Fist around the Heart of Trade” and their motto is “Gold Does Not Rust.”
Ilrien was once a city of merchant houses; dozens of tightening fists around the gold which flowed through the city of canals. Now, only House Elanda remains. If there is something you need, be assured the Elanda either make it, import it, transport it, or ensure that you needed it in the first place.
Their key strength is their wealth (none can match the accounts of House Elanda. They like it that way); their preference is for overcoming obstacles through guile or extortion.
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HOUSE LOVELL
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House Lovell are known as “gossipmongers of Wealth and Taste” and their motto is “Far Sight & Foresight.”
Everyone in Ilrien talks. From the Twist to the Palace, words drift in scores of tongues. Somehow, by guile or magic, they all make their way to the ears of House Lovell. It is no surprise that many of those words are words of admiration for the House. We do not speak ill when they are certainly listening.
Their key strength is intelligence (if you mean to keep it secret, House Lovell already knows); their preference is for overcoming obstacles with secrets or discernment.
@Itzi - the Kiss is one of the two advanced playbooks (the other being the Curse) which are off-limits for basic play. Given this is my first time running it, I'd like to stick to the basics please.
Darn. Oh well. I guess I'll probably do a Bravo then.
Here is Sasha Elena Pyrope, Eye originally hailing from the sunken Jeweled City of Garnetyne. I have the basics and will start working up a background over the next couple of days.
Oh, definitely House Bastien, with Lovell as a second option.
Before I post my concept sketch, how are you with mature themes @WW? Nothing over the top, but the PC I have in mind is someone who uses their body and their sexuality to advance their goals - and they see no shame in that.
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@Sir Longears - thanks for letting me know, sorry it didn't work out this time.
@rdknight - thanks for your post, feel free to read along! Hopefully we can create a story that the bards will still be singing for ages to come
@Sasha - wow, you have put work into reading the lore! I will hold off on questions until we have a bit more to go with.
@Kittenmancer - good question. Romance is/can be a big part of this game and so sexuality is also in the mix (although the two things are NOT the same: there were innumerable Bond girls, but only ever one Moneypenny). As far as I'm concerned, as long as you don't make any of the other players uncomfortable then we're good.
Also, that reminds me of something I should have added in my first post - I wish this went without saying but it does need to be said: LGBTQ gamers and LGBTQ characters are fully welcome in my games.
I'm looking forward to the story we will tell together.
House votes so far
Tareth/Sasha: Bastien/Lovell
Kittenmancer: Bastien/Lovell
Do you hear the people sing...?
This is TheWorstFighter checking in with his Couth character! I haven't tackled any of the playbook mechanics yet, but fluff-wise pretty much everything should be in place.
As for House votes, Bastien/Lovell (in that order of preference) both sound agreeable to me as well. Elanda ranks a distant #3.
I have experince with Blade in the dark, and some of the other systems it host. I would think perhaps a young noblewoman who is certainly given to showing scandals... but does she really? Who really is her lover, or is it someone different each week, as she is seen with both men and women. Others say she does arcane evil arts... who knows? All anyone knows is she is part of House Bastien.
Tho Lovell would work perhaps. So color me interested!
@Luciana - looks good! I look forward to seeing what mechanics options you go for. The Couth is a versatile class.
@fatmanspencer - that sounds like an intriguing character, I look forward to reading more.
I'm really pleased this thread has already got so much interest, I was a bit worried a non-PF game might be met with crickets. I want to give everyone time to flesh out a concept but I also want to maintain momentum - I'm thinking I will close the recruitment next Wednesday 27 March, some time in the evening (UK time).
Does that give everyone who's posted so far enough time to read the rules and setting and put a PC together?
If anyone has questions on the setting and/or the rules please post them and I will reply as quickly as I can.
Going to be a little controversial and say I'd like House Battalia the most. Bastien would be fine after that.
"We are House Atreides Battalia. There is no call we do not answer. There is no oath that we betray."
Looking over the Amazon listing because I wanted the hardcover but don't wanna wait 11 days for it... Either a key or a knack. Kiss looks cool but it's off limits and I'm not sure how I'd play it anyways lol
How well connected are we to each other, like we are all trying to make ourselves better and our group of is there to be a little cut throating amongst ourselves?
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How well connected are we to each other, like we are all trying to make ourselves better and our group of is there to be a little cut throating amongst ourselves?
Your group (or Coterie, to use the Court of Blades terminology) functions much like an adventuring party, so you are all on the same side. There's no "aha! My character is secretly working for House X instead" moments in this game. That said, and again like War for the Crown, this is an intrigue-based game so it's entirely possible that your character's interests don't always align with the other PCs - but I would expect everyone to discuss it with the other players so that it doesn't lead to PvP and/or stop being fun.
I've seen some wonderful disagreements between characters where the players were on the same page... but I've also seen it get out of hand.
EDIT: For anyone who's interested, Third Floor Wars (Youtube) did a great season of Court of Blades where the players were all clearly in sync but the characters were very much not always on the same page. It worked really well, but only because of the high level of trust the players all clearly have in one another and the GM.
I have acquired the book and I am slowly reading through it. Getting very excited about this game, especially the flexible and collaborative aspects.
Introducing Itzi's proposed character:
Elisabetta is an Altori Brava to House Battalia (or Bastian ... or Lovell - whichever is chosen).
Very short version of her background:
Her family came here when she was very young and her father found a position as a scribe within $HOUSE. Not long after that, both he and her mother died due to a fever that swept through the city, leaving her in the care of her older sister, Serana, who found a place as a guard within the House. Elisabetta runs loose in the streets gaining a name for herself among the street toughs.
Things change when a brutal assassination attempt is made on some of the heads of the House. Amid the destruction and carnage Elisabetta's sister vanishes and is assumed dead along with a number of the House Guard. Elisabetta takes a formal position with the House in part to discover more about what happened to her sister.
WW: I've added some background bullets to Sasha's profile. The family heirloom would be similar to a Lucky Charm and also is the focus for her Channel since she isn't a Knack. Let me know if anything doesn't work. It's all still changeable. I couldn't find anything that states an exact date for when the islands sank, so I went with 20 years. Can fill in actual House details once that is finalized. I can fill in other stuff along through the game.
Pretty settled on her initial skill choices, but I'm still bouncing a bit between Infiltrator or the Shadow special ability.
Heya Nik, Itzi
Interested as a Hawk, voting House Battalia
I too got the game, and order the hardcover, so someone may can snag a free copy really quick
@Kittenmancer - great! Excitement leads to enthusiasm, which leads to a great game. I look forward to reading your character concept in due course.
@Elisabeta - looks good so far, some nice plot hooks already.
@Sasha - your idea of "some bullet points" is a little different from mine! Some excellent ideas in there. Most people tend to see the Fortunato as the 'good guys' trying to stick it to the Bank of Brass & Bone, so it's really interesting to see you go in the other direction with them. I love it. Your idea for family heirloom being the focus for her Channel works for me.
@CrusaderWolf - sounds good, I look forward to reading what you come up with.
@The Lobster - thanks for dotting in! Looking forward to reading more about your Hawk.
On the topic of Houses: the 4/5/6 (haven't decided yet) players that end up getting picked will get final say on which House they serve, but it's helpful to me to get some idea of which Houses aren't in the mix so I can start thinking about them as NPC factions. Nobody has expressed interest in Corvetto or Al-Mari, for example, so I already have some ideas about what direction those Houses are going to go in.
Heya Nik, Itzi
Interested as a Hawk, voting House Battalia
Hey Lobster!
COMPLETE/MOSTLY COMPLETED CHARACTERS
Itzi - Elisabetta Filosa, Altori Bravo
TheWorstFighter - Luciana García, Iberican Couth
Tareth – Sasha Elena Pyrope, Garnetyne Eye
INTERESTED/BASIC CONCEPTS
Nikolaus de’Shade – possible Key
Azure_Zero
Dorian ‘Grey’
Kittenmancer
CrusaderWolf – possible Key
fatmanspencer – possible Key or Knack
The Lobster – possible Hawk
I'll go knack, so I'll work on the character more later tonight for you
Kittenmancer's WiP profile. Still need to finalize the crunch and add a list of contacts, relatives and NPCs.
This is the character sheet for fatmanspencer, but I am trying to figure out how the others got their sheets to look so professional and well crafted!
This is the character sheet for fatmanspencer, but I am trying to figure out how the others got their sheets to look so professional and well crafted!
Impressive, aren't they! Fortunately I'm looking for great characters rather than beautiful character sheets :)
COMPLETED/IN PROGRESS
Itzi - Elisabetta Filosa, Altori Bravo
TheWorstFighter - Luciana García, Iberican Couth
Tareth – Sasha Elena Pyrope, Garnetyne Eye
Kittenmancer - Kyra Kyralina, Iberican Key
fatmanspencer - Bianca Lucia Donatia, Altori Knack
INTERESTED/BASIC CONCEPTS
Nikolaus de’Shade – possible Key
Azure_Zero
Dorian ‘Grey’
CrusaderWolf – possible Key
fatmanspencer – possible Key or Knack
The Lobster – possible Hawk
This is the character sheet for fatmanspencer, but I am trying to figure out how the others got their sheets to look so professional and well crafted!Impressive, aren't they! Fortunately I'm looking for great characters rather than beautiful character sheets :)
COMPLETED/IN PROGRESS
Itzi - Elisabetta Filosa, Altori Bravo
TheWorstFighter - Luciana García, Iberican Couth
Tareth – Sasha Elena Pyrope, Garnetyne Eye
Kittenmancer - Kyra Kyralina, Iberican Key
fatmanspencer - Bianca Lucia Donatia, Altori Knack
INTERESTED/BASIC CONCEPTS
Nikolaus de’Shade – possible Key
Azure_Zero
Dorian ‘Grey’
CrusaderWolf – possible Key
fatmanspencer – possible Key or Knack
The Lobster – possible Hawk
You have me listed twice. Besides going for knack, I have some questions about what everyone is thinking like, for our goals as a group? I mean clearly the standard getting a good character death/ending, but what else? Do we decide that now or do we keep that sorta secret?
Anyone that's played with me knows how I want my characters to finish. :)
"And they lived happily ever after!"™
It's the definitive element of any romance.
Sasha's initial goal is to buy back her family ship (or make enough to purchase a new ship) and make a big score against the Fortunato Trading Company. Other group-type goals might depend on the actual House we decide to serve or something that comes up as we figure out the various Bonds between the group.
this is Crusader Wolf, I've shifted to a Hawk as the concept developed. Still in progress but I'll be done before Wednesday!
Very nearly complete--GM, I envision Adrionos utilizing a dash of magic for sharpening his senses, dulling himself to pain, etc using the energy of black powder, very much inspiring by the Powder Mage books from Brian McClellan. It's also the main driver of his Stupor indulgence.
Is that something that would fit in your Ilrien?
Anyone that's played with me knows how I want my characters to finish. :)
"And they lived happily ever after!"™
It's the definitive element of any romance.
How did you get your character bio so formatted cleanly? I love it and wanna use it for Bianca
I believe Kyra's profile is now complete.
(I shamelessly copy/pasted the nice formatting from other people's profiles. :D)
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How did you get your character bio so formatted cleanly? I love it and wanna use it for BiancaAnyone that's played with me knows how I want my characters to finish. :)
"And they lived happily ever after!"™
It's the definitive element of any romance.
You're welcome to copy it. You'll just have to insert the bold or italic tags manually.
Nik's submission here. I have an outline for her backstory but it can't be completed until I know what HOUSE we're working with. So short version below.
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Everyone loses the Great Game eventually. A player may win but a house that goes on long enough always falls from grace. So it was with the Valori - a once powerful house fallen to irrelevance and almost to extinction. Marcello di Valori's decision to take the remnants of his families wealth and favours and join with House Al-Mari was a good one, according to most nobles. His family disagreed.
Violetta was hurt by her brother's defection but the fact that he took all their remaining wealth and abandoned their ailing father and young twin brothers was utterly incomprehensible. With no other options she turned her own considerable skills to the Game and soon found a position with House ABC.
Caring for her family comes first, taking revenge on her brother... that comes later.
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COMPLETED/IN PROGRESS
CrusaderWolf - Adrianos Garibaldi, Altori Hawk
fatmanspencer - Bianca Lucia Donatia, Altori Knack
Itzi - Elisabetta Filosa, Altori Bravo
Kittenmancer - Kyra Kyralina, Iberican Key
Nikolaus de'Shade - Violetta di Valori, Ilrienne Key
Tareth – Sasha Elena Pyrope, Garnetyne Eye
TheWorstFighter - Luciana García, Iberican Couth
INTERESTED/BASIC CONCEPTS
Nikolaus de’Shade – possible Key
Azure_Zero
Dorian ‘Grey’
CrusaderWolf – possible Key
fatmanspencer – possible Key or Knack
The Lobster – possible Hawk
Recruitment closes on WEDNESDAY
@fatmanspencer - feel free to come up with some goals for your character; those players who are picked will also get a "Session Zero" where we answer some questions, including Bonds, and generally flesh out more of the initial concept. This will also include coming up with a name for your Coterie and some initial goals for them. What I'm looking for right now is as much background as you want to write (within reason) but more importantly some sense of who your character is (what makes them tick, what ticks them off, attitudes to problem solving, that sort of thing). Hope that helps?
@Adrianos - magic in this game is generally based on "what Effect are you trying to achieve?" Sharpened senses would probably be fine, but dulling to pain could be an issue because it could be used to negate negative consequences like harm. My answer therefore is that it sounds fine in principle but we would have to negotiate what it looks like in practice. I like the concept of black powder-based magical power so that's not a problem.
@Violetta - short version of your backstory is fine for now, it can be fleshed out later during Session Zero. The main thing I need is some sense of who your character is (what makes them tick, what ticks them off, attitudes to problem solving, that sort of thing).
Actually, that goes for most of the submissions so far - the mechanics look good and the background (where provided) makes sense but a sense of personality (or a description that goes beyond merely what they look like) would be very helpful.