I've received my Shadows of Esteren PDFs from the Book 2 Kickstarter, and I don't have time at the moment to run a game IRL. So of course, I'm posting this, as PbPs are the next best thing.
A couple of comments:
- I've started a PbP as GM on this site, and I've struggled to keep up, even though it involved my real life friends. We've had fast-paced periods, and stylistically I'm fine, but it's been on hiatus for a while as I realise I need lots of time to do it properly. The upshot is, I'd rather be a player in this one, not a GM.
- I'd be interested in a fairly RP-heavy game, which I've found PbPs are perfect for. I play in a few games online here, and the two longest running ones are my favourites - one is a highly optimised Legacy of Fire, with lots of combat (though good interaction as well), while the other is a Wheel of Time conversion that goes months without a battle. Both are great, but the second style is more what I envisage for SoE.
So, anyone out there keen to play or run a Shadows of Esteren game? I'd be up for playing through an adventure/scenario, and we could take it (or leave it) from there. I'd much prefer to play with people who have at least the first book themselves, so that everyone's fluent in the mechanics and the flavour, and if I had a choice I'd have an experienced GM to run it - but beggars can't always be choosers :)
Also, if there are no suitable offers for GMs, I'll put my hand up - but I couldn't commit definitely for more than one adventure.
So, anybody out there..?
Watching.... with ominous intent and interest.
Watching.... with ominous intent and interest.
Gotcha ;)
Again, if needs be I'll run it myself, just to play it at all, but I do have a pretty cool Varigal statted up...
I'd be interested to play. I have no experience as GM though...
Well, three of us is a start. I must admit, I expected a little more love for Tri-Kazel...
No one else..?
Still bumping just in case - we'd really want 5 of us (4 players & GM) for a game I guess...
I'd be interested in playing this, though I do not have any of pdfs at this time
It might have been too much to expect to start with :) I'm on the run, but when I get a chance I'll pit up a link to the free starter pdf. Doesn't have all the character options, but it gives a good head start.
And there it is :)
if you dont have enough bites by this weekend, i will look into making a character to flesh out the team. I am usually interested in broadening my RPG horizons. i dont have any of the books but i will check out book 0 this weekend when i get some down time.
Yeah I had downloaded that which made it look interesting to me. Is it enough to get me going?
Book 0 gives you a set of pre-gens and a flavor - but you'd probably want to pick up Book 1 to really dig into character generation and the rest of the system.
I'll pick up book zero and look it over this weekend. I remember seeing something about this game a while ago and what I saw looked interesting. Of course, for me, anything with a Celtic flavoring looks interesting. So, call me tentatively (but probably) interested. ;)
Just got Book 1 as it looks amazing. I'll look it over this weekend and I'm already glad I got it, even if I don't get into the game.
Yeah, I bought into the recent Kickstarter on the strength of the production values. Can't wait to get my hard copies.
Well, looks like we may have a group forming here! What are you thinking VoV - are you keen to run it? If so, I'll flesh out my Varigal; if not, I'll start coming up with some campaign ideas :)
Books in hand are sensational - especially the limited edition covers ;)
I'm still in two minds over whether I'm up for running it - though if I did, I would probably go with A Life Choice from Book 2.
If I played, then probably a blacksmith.
Hi everyone !
French Esteren player here, and first time on Play-by-Post. I guess there is no more room here as a player ?
(I can speak / write English, don't worry guys :3 )
I can back out if you want to join Shad, I don't even have to books.
I also do not have the books, and it looks like there has been enough bites. I don't really have the time to learn a new system, either.
I don't know about "not enough bites"... There are seven of us who have noted our interest - if we can get at least a GM and 3-4 players we're laughing.
So who's in?
I'm up for playing for sure, and if needs be will GM at least an adventure (VoV..?)
littlehewy - How about this for a deal... if you act as GM for the first 'adventure', then I'll commit to taking over and moving forward from there if the party holds together.
I think I can live with that - I'll bring in my character after the first scenario then.
Ok, hands up if you're playing!
Also, if you have Book 0, let me know if you've read through any of the scenarios, and if so, whether that will affect your enjoyment of them. At this stage I'd prefer to run one or two of them (they're fairly short I think), but I'm happy to write my own if anyone's read them all and would rather play something fresh.
*Raise hand*
I can back out if any one wants to join, I'll be the least at-ease with the system, since English isn't my mother language.
I haven't read any of the scenarios, though I played through the Loch Varn one.
No need to back out - we're not exactly overrun!
I'm obviously in, and haven't played in any of the Book 0 scenarios - and haven't read them deeply enough to remember anything about them in detail.
I'm interested. Haven't read any of the scenarios
Ok then, Shad, VoV and David, feel free to start brainstorming some general ideas. In a few hours I'll post up some general ideas about setting etc.
I'm assuming we're following standard character generation?
My initial crunch thoughts are below:
Skill Domains at 2: Close Combat, Demorthen Art
Skill Domains at 1: Feats, Perception
Birthplace (Rural): +1 Natural Environment
Social Class: Commoner (Craftsman): Craft, Relation
Ways: Empathy: 4, Combativeness: 2, Reason: 3, Creativity: 1, Conviction: 5
Age: 28 - +1 to Demorthen Art, ??; Setbacks: and = Lucky, Rumor and Illness
A rural Osag that grew up working as a blacksmith, but was unfulfilled. Through TBC events, he grew trained in the Demorthen Arts.
I was thinking of playing a Varigal, maybe. The kind of "happy fellow on the road", but at the same time : "cross me once and i'll make sure you wake up with a smile going ear-to-ear — through your throat".
I'm still interested, but I have been on call all week and haven't had time to dig into these new rules yet. I am hoping to grab some time yet this weekend, but may not if everything keeps breaking at work in which case it may take me longer
@Gethric: Looks good, and yes, standard creation rules at this stage - having never played this game I've not had any chance to form an opinion on houserules :) I like the blacksmith/Demorthen combo. As an aside, I love how a characters's Ways give an insight to the character in a way that D&D/PF ability scores don't.
@Shadfrar: I like your idea, flesh it out a bit and post it up hen you can. I have made a Varigal as well, but if yours is too similar I'll think up something else for when (if) I get to play a character. Here's my Varigal for comparison - he's very much a social character, with good survival skills, stealth, and hints of other things (Demorthen, performance, shooting, perception):
Tri-Kazelian
Varigal (Travel 5, Natural Environment 3; shooting 2, relations 2, perception 1, stealth 1)
Birthplace - Rural (CC +1, NE +1)
Social Class - Middle (Performance +1, Relations +1)
Ways: Com 2; Cre 3; Emp 5; Rea 4; Con 1
Age: 22 (+1 domain, illness [Stamina -1])
Character Traits: Intuitive, Whimsical
Advantages (170):
Relations +2 (20)
Intuitive (+1 Demorthen, Relation & Travel, 40 xp)
Shooting/Throwing +3 (30 xp)
Perception +2 (20 xp)
Stealth +4 (40 xp)
Feats +2 (20 xp)
Performance +1 (10 xp)
Disadvantages (-80):
Addiction (tobacco, -1 Stam)
Phobia (locked up, 1 Perm Trauma)
Poor
Trauma (1 Perm Trauma)
Skills:
Close Combat 1 (3)
Demorthen 1 (6)
Feats 2 (4)
Natural Environment 4(9)
Perception 3 (7)
Performance 2 (5)
Relations 6 (11)
Shooting/Throwing 5 (7)
Stealth 5 (10)
Travel 6 (11)
@David: No hurry at this stage! The rules aren't crazy hard, so don't worry if you're feeling unsure/unprepared. I'd suggest that if you're pressed for time, read as much of the setting stuff as you can to come up with a concept you like, rather than the rules - so long as you feel like you have an idea of the world and its mood everyone else can help you with rules (I'd guess most of the adventure I plan to run will be storytelling/roleplaying rather than combat or skill challenges).
Also, I'd be up for people being able to redesign or switch characters after this first chapter (assuming we play on, that is). What do you guys think about that?
At this stage, I think it's safe to assume that we're beginning play in the north or northwest of Taol-Kaer. I'd love to design my own scenario, but I don't think I'm going to have time, so I'll be running either "Poison" or "Red Fall" from Book 0 - so don't read them if you haven't already! I'll keep you posted on that.
Northwest of Taol-Kaer... Next to the Gwydre border ?
I may make a vector then, this could be much fun.
Alright, let's see some characters :)
The three of you who are definitely interested, post up at least basic crunch and a general backstory on this thread. The area we're playing in is around Fearil (map location 8 on p59 of the English PDF), and once you all have your initial ideas up here we can tie in backstories, or at least come up with a reason why you're all here together.
David, if you're not confident about creating a character, feel free to ask for help, or vn play a pregen from Book 0 - if we play past this first adventure I'd like to give everyone the chance to tweak their character, or even replace them completely.
Let's aim for posting up your characters by then of the working week (Fri night). How's that sound?
Fia here. I think I'll try playing Yldiane while we're all learning.
Sweet :) Let's hope the other lads are still up for it.
Still holding out hope...!
Sorry, had a crapload of work. I'll do my character asap ! He should be ready in a few days.