Aw crap, I'm totally a grumpy Boromir, aren't I?
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* gets murdered at end of first act #ThanksSeanBean *
Sorry for the delay Dulae - there was some urgency to do science before the hurricane shakes the ground too much. (Swamp science problems.)
Also, HOW DID YOU KNOW MY EVIL PLAN?? (need to rewrite the plot now, brb)
And just to offer some role model counterpoint for the very well done RP in-game I'll throw out there for young Xizoh that drinking is not a requirement for being awesome. (Of course I think that, not being able to drink myself, but it seems generally true.)
Pshaw, Xizoh can manage to do weird and dumb stuff sober. A good example would be the short version of this last little couple of weeks starting with my friends and I kidnapping a fellow classmate with a van and burlap bag, failing to rig a poll, a kid getting arrested for a gun at a game, and myself testing the force required to break a coconut. Also, 600 forks and a hammock are involved.
I thought death was covered under plot armor, subsection 4, your plot armor and you.
o.O
Well then.
Did you perchance use the hammock as a makeshift trebuchet to throw a rapidly disintegrating shotgun-like blast of pointy fork death at the coconut?
Pshaw, Xizoh can manage to do weird and dumb stuff sober. A good example would be the short version of this last little couple of weeks starting with my friends and I kidnapping a fellow classmate with a van and burlap bag, failing to rig a poll, a kid getting arrested for a gun at a game, and myself testing the force required to break a coconut. Also, 600 forks and a hammock are involved.
... And you're sure you don't want to be a physicist? This morning I woke up and went to work at a lab with 5 miles of moat, complete with alligators, and a giant laser. (That is true. Well, who knows with the alligators after the flood.) You seem like our kind of people.
Also, it is somewhat comforting to know that students aren't allowed to carry guns to school events in Idaho. One of my friends was a math lecturer at a uni in Texas and she worried a lot about guns in school.
Hey all,
Probably goes without saying: I am back in California and good for posting 'til the next trip (in 5 days).
Might not go without saying: the NPCs, with some mysterious universal politeness, are waiting for the party to have the chance to chat amongst themselves before approaching (unless approached). Some kind of signal would be useful when you're feeling ready to move on (which I figure may not be for another week or so out of game).
Question for the party: Dulae had the interesting idea to organize an hour when we're all free to RP some interaction, such as the current in-game conversation. I think it sounds fun and useful, and the gameplay thread would probably work for real-time RP if we keep posts short.
Any interest in trying this once? (If it works well maybe we could try to find a good time once or twice a month.) No worries if not - we seem to be doing just fine with the post-a-day schedule.
Looking at the rules, you can consume alcoholic drinks equal to 1 + Double Con Modifier. Which means that Henri is the light-weight of our group.
I'd be down for an hour of RP. It sounds fun.
I do have a monthly PbP via Facebook game that we sit down to do live that I could easily do this as well. It's typically the 3rd Sunday of the month if that is doable!
The third Sunday of the month is generally good for me, modulo wherever I am in the world.
It looks like the next third Sunday is this coming Sunday, Oct 16. (How the f*ck is it mid-October already?) I might have something going on midday Pacific, but could with high probability be around in the morning and late afternoon/evening.
Someone confessed to me today they have no memory of why a military base staffed with characters far more powerful than the party had need to hire civilian search parties. (This was my initial reaction, but it's been five months and it had little relevance while you were on the mountain, so fair enough really.)
I figure if one player is wondering others probably are too, so here are some reminders to address that specifically:
- Post 116 (Just for Dulae - contains spoilers)
- Post 243 (Just for Alaina)
- Post 248 (In which there was some introduction to the mission)
- Post 257 (In which some questions were answered)
There are a lot of other details in the first ~10 pages of posts (for example, post 278, in which Alaina, Dulae, Henri, and Xizoh heard a few more clues). Some of them are very important to figuring out what's happening, some of them not at all. Many were collected by just one member of the party (including some important clues).
Relatedly, my take from the hints I gave earlier is that what I'm hoping the party will be able to infer from the dropped details isn't always getting across. This probably means I need to give more inferred knowledge from checks, but I'm wondering if part of it could be detail retention.
Question for the party: Is the level of detail too much to remember on a PbP time scale?
(Experienced PbP players: how do you usually keep track of a mystery over months? I have a bunch of notes on my end - other strategies?)
Oh, also, Happy early Tuesday. (Let me know if you need a bot tomorrow Dulae.)
I hope to be ok? Who knows.
Sunday works for me!
===== GM travel advisory =====
I'm commuting to a conference in Long Beach tomorrow and Saturday. Not a long trip, so I should be good to post at least in the evenings.
Apparently I'm also moving on Sunday. (Surprise! Third time in 13 months.) Non-zero chance you won't hear from me at all on Sunday, but I'll do my best. We only had 3/6 consensus for this Sunday anyway in terms of real time RP, so that probably wouldn't have worked out, but apologies anyway.
Morning all - Henri is due for another bot, but I have a big talk today I need to focus on. I should be able to post this evening at the latest.
Good luck on your talk Mikkel!
Thanks Xizoh, that’s thoughtful of you.
Conference and commute completed, now I just need to move. Nobody panic. Everything is fine.
Moving and unpacking completed. No problem. Should be back to regular posting until the next trip (T minus 3 days).
Happy early Tuesday all. (Dulae, let me know if you'd like a bot.)
==== GM travel advisory ====
I'm headed to Massachusetts/NY tomorrow (Thursday) and back to California on Monday. Posting at least once a day in the evening shouldn't be a problem, with the exception of Saturday. (Single alarm family emergency fire - you may not hear from me Saturday.)
Dulae, I am bringing your whiskey - I expect to see fall colors in exchange.
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Hope you get well soon Cel.
(Whoever made that gif has no idea what a meerkat is)
Bonus insight into Dulae's Player: Tequila!
(No tequila for you.)
This also seems like a good time to mention that I'd prefer for players to keep posts SFW (including in spoilers). Let me know if there are any objections.
Oh I planned on 'Fade to Black', don't worry.
Magic.
In case anyone needs some good cheer after the debate: Science!
Ahahahahaahahahah!
That made my day.
Happy Friday all. Question for the group.
It’s been about 10 days now since we’ve heard from Henri, so it’s probably time to talk about what we want to happen presuming she’s not coming back. (I’m going to assume she is well and found a good RP group or other opportunity.)
Here are some options as I see them:
- 1) Henri is assimilated as an NPC. This keeps her character present and her spot open in case she does return.
- 2) Henri is written out of the game (has some urgent business somewhere) and the party carries on as a group of 4.
- 3) Henri is written out and someone else with some connection to the party appears (presumably played by a new player, to be recruited).
I’d prefer options 1 or 2 myself, in that order (hoping she does return). Dulae reminds me that I probably won’t be able to play Henri quite true to character in unpredictability, but I'd give it a go if that’s what the party wishes.
What are your thoughts?
I feel two would do the most service to Henri, gods bless her foul Draconic tongue.
Henriiii, come back to us. I made you a muffin!
2 is probably the best, but on the other hand if Henri can join us again I wouldn't want her to have to make a new character.
I'm good with options one and two as well...has it really been 10 days?! Man, time flies
Duly noted. Alaina?
Apologies to Xizoh for internet humor references from before Google was popular or YouTube existed.
Speaking of apologies, I anticipate a further short delay in GM posts - Dulae and I had an unexpected adventure tonight when we drove into a freak October blizzard and spun out on the highway. We're fine, but I'll be helping deal with get the car sorted tomorrow. (Sorry about your car Dulae. Hopefully it will live on.)
Sorry for my absence everyone, been a bit under the weather. Options 1 and 2 work best.
However, if we wanted to keep the party number, I would like to point out that I am willing to make another character for this game. That way the game doesn't get delayed due to recruitment.
I'm not saying option 2 is preferred, I'm just offering an alternative.
No worries Alaina, glad to have you with us. Hope you're feeling better.
Sure, I am fine with players dual-wielding characters. If the group would prefer a party of 5, I would much prefer one of you play another character rather than recruit, particularly since that leaves things a little more flexible if Henri resurfaces.
I think this group will be okay with four; you still have decent ranged attacks without Henri and you tend to make smart (and interesting) decisions as a group. If you'd feel more comfortable with five or you're keen to make another character in this world, that'd be a good solution too. (Longer term context in terms of investing energy in character building: I'm planning to offer another arc after this campaign ends to the current players if there's interest. Details to come in a few weeks.)
Further thoughts, particularly on 4 vs. 5 PCs in the party?
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Posting update: Dulae is a stupendous badass who managed to get me to Boston in time to catch my flight tomorrow even without his car, so I was able to post tonight (thanks Dulae!) I just need to make it back to California tomorrow, then I should be good to post until my next trip (Wednesday). Almost done with travel season.
Since things got held up on my end I'm resetting the auto-bot clock as of now.
Happy early Tuesday. (Dulae, let me know if you'd like a bot.)
No further thoughts on party size? I'm setting things up for Henri to make a graceful exit, but we still have the rest of the night in-game to add a 5th PC played by a current player if the group would prefer 5 over 4.
So..........does anyone have an issue with my making another character?
None here, but I agree I'd like to hear from the other players. (Curious what you have in mind either way.)
In Terrible Tuesday news, poor Dulae's car is totaled. Boooo. (On the bright side, hooray for guardrails and standardized car safety, otherwise we might not be having this conversation.) Hang in there Dulae.
Oh no! I hope you're doing okay! I see a lot of car accidents in my clinic (yay Seattle drivers), and it's usually pretty achy for a while but I also wouldn't put off getting treatment for any persistent pains. Some of that stuff can get chronic without some slight activity modifications and treatments.
I'm totally fine with you making another character. New backstories are always fun to see/read/etc.
Yikes. Sorry about that Dulae, I understand your vehicular pains.
Go wild Alaina. I'm curious to see what else you've got.
Is Dulae alright?
As far as the other character, I'm thinking a rogue-ish character. Thoughts?
I think Dulae is annoyed. He has some aches and pains, but is otherwise physically fine (or at least was when I last saw him).
A rogue would complement the group well, particularly one with some range.
Thanks for the concern everyone :). I am indeed well; I had a sore neck yesterday but am good today. Poor Ford Focus, you were either cursed or lucky, I can't tell. Another incident had a tall pine tree fall next to it, crushing the car 3 feet away while leaving it untouched (and also missing my bedroom). I am resigned to going car shopping again, and thankful that I got comprehensive insurance.
I have no problems with Alaina playing another character - she be pro ;). A rogue-ish character sounds like fun! (As a side note, for another game I'm planning on playing a thief Aether kineticist! I'm looking forward to it.)
Given that a high speed crash could easily have been way worse, I'm going with lucky. (When you're car shopping, please get snow tires. Good ones.)
Oh right, this is happening: ===== GM travel advisory =====
I'm driving to Arizona tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon, making a knowledge bureaucracy check all day Thursday, and giving a talk on Friday.
I should be able to post in the evening Pacific Wednesday and Thursday. Friday evening I'm going to try to check something off the bucket list and stop by Joshua Tree National Park to see the Milky Way.
Should be back to regular posting Saturday, then I'm home for a relatively long stretch (11 days).
Joshua Tree is a great place for that, I've been there twice myself.
Quick question: Can I assume same Creation rules?
Awesome.
Quick answer: yes, including unchained rouge.
It's Rogue, not Rouge.
Lived too long in Baton Rouge, it seems. That or I need to powder my cheeks.
(I also misspelled it in the character creation rules. Huh, that is a deeply engrained switch.)
I completely forgot that Arizona is a special snowflake and doesn't do Daylight Savings. Thanks Verizon.
Apologies all - I'm super busy yesterday/today, but should be able to post again tonight.
Thanks for the bot!