Check out my blog, Anarion's Last Stand, with such diverse topics as poetry, writing, and [insert blog topic here] Anarionslaststand.blogspot.com
I am the stone that comes not from the sea. I am the blood but the blood is not me. I am the key to the door with no locks. I am the mainspring that winds broken clocks. I am your tears on the chains of the rack. I am your gift and you can't give me back.
Just a note to those unfamiliar with play-by-post and the like - When making a post, you don't have to pick up directly at the end of my own or another person's. You can react to anything in a previous post. So, for instance, despite the cathar's appearance at the end of my first post, feel free to begin by describing the trip to Drunau, your interactions with the locals, or anything that happened up to the cathar's speech (although that will have to be addressed at some point).
"I don't like X, they should remove it." "I like X, they should keep it." "They should replace X with Y." "Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better." "Why don't they include both X and Y." "Yeah, everybody can be happy then!" "But I don't like X, they should remove it." "X really needs to be replaced with Y." "But they can include both X and Y." "But I don't like X, they need to remove it." "Remove X, I don't like it."
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
I'm wondering if I would like a game like this.. never did it before. Is it doable without being reasonably deep into the lore of Innistrad? I was thinking that maybe I could RP a specific group of minor charachters as an introduction to this sort of thing. I was thinking of a sort of intellectual circle that is trying to keep Innistradian society from going mad and paranoid. A group of couter-culture thinkers, politicians, rebels and optimists dispersed through Innistrad, trying to formulate a fitting approach to keep things livable and light. That way I don't nescecarily have to travel with the main gang and the story can call on me whenever it fits. I realize I'm steering things my way here, so if everyone just ignores this post, I know what you think of it. If you can see this happening though, let me know so I can formulate some members.
We've ah, already started. See the "The Shadows of Innistrad - Interactive Story" thread down the list? You can read through what we've done so far to get a feel.
HARDER THAN DIAMONDS STRONGER THAN STEEL AND BURSTING WITH VIGOR.
THAT'S THE WAY THE BEAST ENGINE PLAYS.
PROUD BEARER OF THE MOST INCORRECT THING JIVANMUKTA'S READ ON THESE FORUMS YET AWARD.
SO BRING IT ON. ALL OF YOU. I have taken the top of the mountain and I will accept all challenges.Attack me, all at once if you must! I will never falter! THE ONLY GLORY IS IN DEATH.
AND DON'T FORGET TO COWER BEFORE THE METALLIC MIGHT OF JUSTICE.
I'm wondering if I would like a game like this.. never did it before. Is it doable without being reasonably deep into the lore of Innistrad?
Certainly. As the narrator, I'm establishing new material that is faux canon for the sake of making a more manageable story. You shouldn't worry about memorizing all the details that have been released.
I was thinking that maybe I could RP a specific group of minor charachters as an introduction to this sort of thing. I was thinking of a sort of intellectual circle that is trying to keep Innistradian society from going mad and paranoid. A group of couter-culture thinkers, politicians, rebels and optimists dispersed through Innistrad, trying to formulate a fitting approach to keep things livable and light. That way I don't nescecarily have to travel with the main gang and the story can call on me whenever it fits. I realize I'm steering things my way here, so if everyone just ignores this post, I know what you think of it. If you can see this happening though, let me know so I can formulate some members.
The trouble with this approach is that such a group - removed from the main focus and existing for a specific function that would creep up at specific moments - would be more appropriate as a collective of NPCs, which, as narrator, would fall under my control in order to maintain the progress of storyline. There is a main storyline laid out (even if the players only know the early details), and although your personal goals can run contrary to your companions', associating with the group and counting yourself a full member of the party is more or less necessary for the sake of maintaining cohesion, as is limiting yourself to one major character.
I'm not saying your character can't be a member of this intellectual organization, nor am I forbidding the introduction of NPCs when appropriate (in fact, I have done just the opposite in the main thread). However, for the sake of progressing through the story, characters are going to be travelling side-by-side for the majority of the time, and I would need the same of you.
"I don't like X, they should remove it." "I like X, they should keep it." "They should replace X with Y." "Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better." "Why don't they include both X and Y." "Yeah, everybody can be happy then!" "But I don't like X, they should remove it." "X really needs to be replaced with Y." "But they can include both X and Y." "But I don't like X, they need to remove it." "Remove X, I don't like it."
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
Sure thing. Just think of a concept, pick a color, and I'll definitely find a way to write you into the story. It should be pretty easy, all things considered.
"I don't like X, they should remove it." "I like X, they should keep it." "They should replace X with Y." "Anybody that likes X is dumb. Y is better." "Why don't they include both X and Y." "Yeah, everybody can be happy then!" "But I don't like X, they should remove it." "X really needs to be replaced with Y." "But they can include both X and Y." "But I don't like X, they need to remove it." "Remove X, I don't like it."
Until you've had an in-law tell you your choice of game was stupid, and just Warcraft on paper, and dumbed down for dumber players who can't handle a real RPG, you haven't lived.
Lady and gentlemen.... I present to you the Edition War without Contrition, the War of the Web, the Mighty Match-up!
We're using standard edition war rules. No posts of substance. Do not read the other person's posts with comprehension. Make frequent comparison to video games, MMOs, and CCGs. Use the words "fallacy" and "straw man", incorrectly and often. Passive aggressiveness gets you extra points and asking misleading and inflammatory questions is mandatory. If you're getting tired, just declare victory and leave the thread. Wait for the buzzer... and....
One, two, three, four, I declare Edition War Five, six, seven eight, I use the web to
D&D should not return to the days of blindfolding the DM and players. No tips on encounter power? No mention of expected party roles? No true meaning of level due to different level charts or tiered classes? Please, let's not sacrifice clear, helpful rules guidelines in favour of catering to the delicate sensibilities of the few who have problems with the ascetics of anything other than what they are familiar with.
Just a quick note on the MMORPG as an insult comparison...
MMORPGs, raking in money by the dumptruck full. Many options, tons of fans across many audiences, massive resources allocated to development.
TTRPGs, dying product. Squeaking out an existence that relys on low cost. Fans fit primarily into a few small demographics. R&D budgets small, often rushed to market and patched after deployment.
You're not really making much of an argument when you compare something to a MMORPG and assume people think that means bad. Lets face it, they make the money, have the audience and the budget. We here on this board are fans of TTRPGs but lets not try to pretend none of us play MMORPGs.
Something like Tactical Shift is more magical than martial healing.
Telling someone to move over a few feet is magical now? :|
I weep for this generation.
Given the laziness and morbid obsesity amongst D&Ders, being able to convince someone to get on their feet, do some heavy exercise, and use their words to make them be healthier must seem magical.
I've just finished reading what you guys have written. Cai is a friend of mine (giving her a game or three of magic later today) and she linked me here. I've done a heap of roleplaying and run my own group (sporatically) so things like this, run by other people interest me greatly. As such, I'd like to register my interest in joining the group. I've got a couple of character ideas and can easily work a back story of sorts to work myself into the story
Character 1 (and my favourite random character); (I don't know where some of this may sit in MtG universe, but I just roll with it and change what I need to later) A tigran, a being thats part human, part big cat. Human in appearance, they have a tail, big cat ears instead of human ears and fur over all visible parts (Not a goddamn furry, trust me). With practice, they can alter their form to either completely human, completely animal or combinations thereof, ie, change hands to paws with claws. Their temperament is usually laid back, but can change swiftly. Most of these characters I play are fist fighters or close combat, short swords, knives, etc. They usually have some herblore, being creatures that come from the wilder parts of the world and generally hate cities and crowds
Character 2 (Less thought through, but still an idea that I like); Earth mage barbarian. Someone from a large tribe of barbarians who was either born or given his gift of earth shaping and is held with some awe by other barbarians. They are, as expected of barbarians, big and sometimes have trouble with doorways. This character is a fist fighter and always has a rock or gemstone in his hand. The reason being is that, on command, he can change its shape and give himself boxing gloves made of earth or gemstones or a weapon, mostly spears, of the same material. Has limited ability to alter the earth not on his person (ie creating pillars or walls, making gaps in the ground, earthquakes, etc) and generally tries to stretch their abilities.
Character 3 (and probly hardest to write but certainly makes things MUCH more interesting); A wild mage. Usually a sprite, elf or other woodland creature (just noticed that most of my character ideas are not completely human or city dwelers). These characters are few and far between for a good reason. Sometimes they can better their community, sometimes they can utterly destroy it, usually not intending to. The wild mage knows how to see and manipulate magic, however, because they've never had any formal training or because of some character flaw, their magic sometimes goes wrong. Usually its nothing more than a fireball turning into an iceball or being much stronger than intended, but sometimes, rarely, the spell goes wild, either changing iteself completely or gaining some sort of sentience and not ending when its supposed to. Wild mages can range in temperament, but are generally very aware of their wild casting and try to downplay their spells as much as possible, to prevent as much chaos as possible.
I'd be happy to try other character types as well, like a ranger or an actual learned mage. If you'd like, I can provide some sort of example of first post, but I'd really like to join in, if possible. The only thing I'll need to add is that I'll be away from 22-27th, but I'll have my ipad, so I *should* be able to post. Hopefully.
It's all up to Manshoon, but those don't seem to fit quite in the world where this story is taking place. It's a victorian, gothic, horror world, with Frankensteins, vampires, zombies, demons, werewolves abound, and a faltering church desperately trying to protect the failing humans from collapsing before the growing horde of monsters. Flip around this site to get a better idea:
Check out my blog, Anarion's Last Stand, with such diverse topics as poetry, writing, and [insert blog topic here] Anarionslaststand.blogspot.com
I am the stone that comes not from the sea. I am the blood but the blood is not me. I am the key to the door with no locks. I am the mainspring that winds broken clocks. I am your tears on the chains of the rack. I am your gift and you can't give me back.
Sweet, well, as I said, happy to try other character types. Maybe the apprentice that Eligin is looking for? Personally I'd like to try something I havent done before and typical characters (merc, caster, ranger, etc). I kinda wanna try something with a qwirk.
Edit: Upon reading the snippet about Geists, I've decided that I'd like to try a hunter who is haunted by the geist of his or her over protective parent/partner... Maybe? Would create some sort of interesting conversation, the character either talking to something no one else can see or talking to something half the group want to get rid of.
