I’m sending out final briefings to all players (and also Malacandra has the first NPC.)
Just a reminder of how I think things will go best:
This thread is for players to ask questions, organise amongst themselves and then say what their character is doing.
I can then put that all together and write the result in the game thread.
So the game thread (arrival imminent) will contain just:
my adjudications - with (hopefully) exciting descriptions of what happens
characters speaking
Here’s some examples…
a) if you want to introduce yourself, just put that speech in the game thread.
N.B. The first time anyone sees you, they can tell your race, gender and what clothes / armour you’re wearing - as well as any visible weapons. So pop that description in as well.
A tough-looking male human (with an impressive beard) strides over to the party. He has Chain Mail and a Halberd.
“Jornilsson’s the name - Arena combat’s the game!”
b) if you want to alert the party to something you know, that goes in the game thread too.
Dorric says “I think there’s an ambush ahead.”
Johannes states “I detect no Evil through the door.”
c) If you want to suggest a plan or help make a decision, post it in this thread.
(That allows me to do neat summaries of party discussions - which are usually spread over many hours.)
Remember to stay in character, e.g. the Paladin will not allow evil acts by the party (such as torture.)
Plixican - Go to Freeport first, as I’ve been there
John Smith - My character can’t tell you (in-joke!)
d) Say what your character is doing in this thread.
Quentin - I look for any tracks the bandits have made
I’ve e-mailed out final briefings to Johannes, Quentin, Dale and Dorric.
The last two will go out after lunch, then I’ll post the Game Thread.
I’ve had perceptive questions from newbies, which is great (since that was the idea of the thread.)
It’s taken me some time to answer - but it will make for a much better campaign.
remember that you may well know more than your character does (e.g. you’re an experienced player or know someone else in the game.)
That’s fine, but always roleplay your character using only what he knows.
For example, a low level Fighter would notice an Undead, but not know which type it was (unless he’d met it before.) Dale, please note that as a Cleric you recognise any Undead you can Turn.
along those lines, I forgot :eek: to tell Dorric that (like all Thieves) he knows Thieves Cant.
This is a very discreet way of using hand signals to communicate. For example, you can tell another Thief that a guard is coming, without alerting the guard.
Dorric (and Malacandra), please add that ‘language’ to your character notes.
Now if any Thief wishes to use Thieves Cant, the player should put it like this:
Dorric (Thieves Cant) “Anybody here speak Thieves Cant?”
and only characters who are Thieves themselves notice anything (and may choose whether to reply.)
My best guess is that copying-and-pasting that link so many times has stacked a bunch of redirects, and the server is rejecting it for too many redirects. It’s probably some kind of DDOS protection. To post the map, you’ve got to copy-and-paste the URL directly from the photobucket website.
… and although I’ve been playing D+D for 34 years :eek: , it’s still as exciting as ever.
How will the characters react?
What personalities will they adopt?
Will they be cautious or reckless?
Will they pick up on my hints and plot elements?
For the benefit of newcomers, here’s what goes on in a roleplaying campaign (and how a Web game differs)…
First find your players!
Then the DM writes the story - including plot, contingencies, villains, NPCs (non player characters) and background.
The players roll up characters and off we go.
Now in a face-to-face game, the character creation might only take an hour or so. (For example, the players could swiftly agree a balanced party at the table.) The introduction would also be quick, partly because everyone was present for making up the characters.
In contrast, making up characters here took days and the game thread introduction at the Arena will take many hours (because of time differences / family + work commitments etc.)
Next there are several ways for the DM to write his story.
The easiest (and probably best for new DMs) is a linear set of scenes:
party meet up and learn the setting (they work for a prosperous merchant)
they hear that the merchant’s prize marrow has been stolen
they interview witnesses and suspects
they find evidence showing who stole the vegetable
they travel to the criminal’s house, arrest him and retrieve the marrow
Of course these scenes can be lengthy - and there may be several combats along the way.
But the general idea is that the DM knows precisely what will happen and in what order.
There’s little chance of confusion or error.
Many games run like this (although some players might get a bit tired of knowing their choices are strictly limited.)
Another way to write is to have many plot lines within an area.
Each player starts off with their own background, and the party have a free choice what to investigate first.
The DM has to be well-prepared, since it’s not possible to predict what the party will do next.
However this is great fun for players and DM alike (provided nothing goes wrong!)
So instead I will give you a rough map of any combat area (with brief description of the opposition) and invite the whole party to discuss their strategy in the Companion Thread.
Then I will adjudicate the whole combat (making all the die rolls myself) and publish the final result in the Game Thread.
Jimmy Chitwood and Appleciders, how well do the three of us know each other do you think? My background says that we have spent a couple of days together before the story starts, we should probably figure out what we think about each other.
We can do that here or in email if we don’t want to clutter this thread with stuff that only the three of us can know.
Dale, Dorric and Quentin have all spent time together training at Mayor Crumlin’s residence.
Crumlin hasn’t said anything, but it looks like he’s trying to form a party of adventurers.
Assume that you all know each other’s weapons and armour, plus who’s best at melee combat (= 1. Quentin 2. Dale 3. Dorric).
Also do have any and all discussions in this thread.
It’s much more useful for me (and interesting for any spectators!)
Remember that all players will honourably avoid using stuff they know - but their character doesn’t.