Iren's Play-by-post fantasy games - General Discussion thread

[Stack of Turtles]

By the way, why did you stop doing the little runsdown of how you imagined characters thought about things? I agree with Rusty that you shouldn't try to tell people what they think, but if you just framed it as your own idea, it was interesting feedback.

[Irenaeus]

It wasn't well received, I thought.

[rusty_shackleford]

By the way, why did you stop doing the little runsdown of how you imagined characters thought about things? I agree with Rusty that you shouldn't try to tell people what they think, but if you just framed it as your own idea, it was interesting feedback.

It wasn't well received, I thought.

I just had a critique of telling a player what their character thought, I hope I wasn't the deciding factor.

[ERYFKRAD]

By the way, why did you stop doing the little runsdown of how you imagined characters thought about things? I agree with Rusty that you shouldn't try to tell people what they think, but if you just framed it as your own idea, it was interesting feedback.

It wasn't well received, I thought.

Do it anyway, I'm curious to read your take on it anyway.
Mine should be easy- guy's not tarried anywhere long enough to figure **** out.

[Irenaeus]

Alright, I've written them all, here's the list - and reminder that it's not canon. Feel free to correct me on typos, mistaken information or misinterpretation.

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What the Characters Know and Their Opinions
1. Osgar Saustian (Fighter, Sharp-Eyed, Skinny, Fearful) - posted already

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Knowledge: Osgar, a cowardly border clan guard who fled after a scandal, knows the Arandian Kingdom as a place of rigid rules and harsh consequences. He’s heard of the crown’s taxes and the Church’s sermons, but his knowledge is limited to village gossip—tales of bandits in the wilderness, beasts that haunt the woods and up the hills, and the Church’s priests who “judge every sin you commit.” He’s vaguely aware of the kingdom’s stories but doesn’t care about its history, too busy running from his own.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They’ll never find me here, but their taxmen are worse than bandits—squeezing us dry while we starve!” Osgar fears the crown’s reach, seeing it as an extension of the authority he fled.

The Church of the One True God: “They judge and hang folks for less than what I did—best keep my head down around those priests.” He’s terrified of the Church’s inquisitors, seeing their faith as a noose waiting to tighten.

Noble Hierarchy: “The Lords' guards are a bunch of dumbasses, but his taxes? They’ll take your last copper and spit on you!” Osgar resents the nobles for their greed, though he’s too scared to defy them.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools for nobles? Sounds like a fancy way to burn yourself up.” He’s heard rumors of the Academy but dismisses it as irrelevant to his survival.

The Wild Frontier: “It’s a death trap out there—beasts, bandits, and worse! I’d rather guard a gate than step one foot past the palisade.” The borderlands terrifies him, amplifying his fearful nature.

Magic: “It’s cursed, all of it! I heard of a farmer who found a glowing ring—next day, he was a pile of ash!” Osgar fears magic, seeing it as a harbinger of doom.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are cheats, crafters overcharge, artists are liars, and outlaws? They’ll slit your throat for a laugh!” He distrusts everyone on the fringes, seeing them as threats to his already uncertain safety.

2. Alfwine Hengstsson (Magic-User, Educated, Skinny, Naive)

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Knowledge: As a scion of a fading noble house and a former assessor of magical items, Alfwine knows more than most about the Arandian Kingdom. He’s studied its history in dusty tomes, aware of its 300-year rise, the war with the southeastern tribes, and the borderlands’ failed settlement. He knows the Church’s stance on magic, the crown’s regulations, and the Academy’s role in training warmages, though his own necromantic black lore puts him at odds with all of them.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They claim to rule with justice, but their laws bind the gifted like me in chains—hypocrites!” Alfwine resents the crown for its control over magic, seeing it as a barrier to his freedom.

The Church of the One True God: “Their One True God cursed me for seeking knowledge—they’re blind to the truth of the arcane!” He antagonizes the Church for its curse on him, viewing it as a tyrannical force.

Noble Hierarchy: “My family was noble once, but the hierarchy is a rotting tree!” He’s bitter about his noble family’ decline, sees the aristocracy as corrupt, but he's not really able to explain it in detail.

The Warmage Academy: “A school for warmages who bow to the crown? I’d rather die than trade my freedom for their leash.” Alfwine scorns the Academy, valuing his independence over its structure.

The Wild Frontier: “The borderlands holds secrets—something that could break my curse, if I’m brave enough to seek them.” He’s cautiously optimistic about the region, seeing it as a possible path to redemption.

Magic: “It’s a gift, a mystery to be unraveled, but the kingdom fears what it cannot control—fools!” Alfwine reveres magic, despite its dangers, viewing it as his salvation.

Fringe Groups: “Traders might know where to find artifacts, crafters could help me craft a counter-charm, artists spin useful tales, and outlaws… they might understand my plight.” He sees potential allies in the fringes, his naivety coloring his optimism.

3. Da Great Green Prophet (Magic-User, Corrupt, Dim-Sighted)

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Knowledge: The Prophet, a hobo mystic raised in ruins, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of the wilds. He’s heard of the crown’s neglect of the frontiers, the Church’s dogmas, and the old gods who linger in the frontier—Hunkar, the Lady of the Lake, and elder deities whose names he mutters in his cryptic prophecies. His knowledge of the kingdom’s institutions is vague, filtered through rumors and visions.

Opinions:
The Crown: “Kings and their thrones mean nothing to the wilds—they’ll crumble like the ruins I was born in.” He dismisses the crown as irrelevant, caring only for his own survival and prophecies.

The Church of the One True God: “Their One... True... God blinds them to the true powers—the real gods will feast on their souls!” He scorns the Church, seeing it as a rival to the old gods he sees in his visions.

Noble Hierarchy: “Nobles are fat pigs, rich while I starve—let the beasts devour them!” He disdain the nobles for their pettiness, his corruption fueling his antipathy.

The Warmage Academy: “A school for magic? Hah! I learned more from the whispers of the stones than they’ll ever know.” He mocks the Academy, proud of his self-taught mysticism.

The Wild Frontier: “The wilds speaks to me—its ruins hold power, its gods answer my prayers, if I offer the right price.” He’s drawn to the wilderness, seeing it as a source of mystic power.

Magic: “It’s the breath of the arcane, a gift for those who dare to listen—let the fools burn, I’ll keep my visions!” He reveres magic as a source of power, intensified by his corrupt nature.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are useful for scraps, crafters make trinkets I can sell, artists steal my prophecies for their songs, and outlaws are either my kin—wild and free—or rats that eat the rot.” He sees the fringes as a means to an end, wary but opportunistic.

4. Gunthard (Fighter, Cheerful, Fiery, Heedless)

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Knowledge: Gunthard, a peasant farmer turned fugitive after killing his corrupt elders, knows the Arandian Kingdom as a place of betrayal and hardship. He’s aware of the crown’s taxes, the Church’s influence in the villages, and the valley’s dangers—beasts, bandits, and invaders. His knowledge is practical, gleaned from a life of labor and violence, with little understanding of the kingdom’s broader history or institutions.

Opinions:
The Crown: “Kings don’t care about peasants like me—they let the lands rot while they feast in Segothir!” He resents the crown for its neglect, seeing it as complicit in the people’s suffering.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests blessed my village, but they didn’t stop the elders’ corruption!” He is uncertain about the Church, seeing its faith may be hollow in the face of real evil.

Noble Hierarchy: “Nobles may be worse than bandits—taxing us while we fight to survive!” He is frustrated with the nobles, his anger fueled by his fiery temper.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? Never heard of ‘em.” He dismisses warmages, valuing his axe over magic.

The Wild Frontier: “It’s a battlefield, and I’m ready to fight—beasts, bandits, I’ll crush ‘em all for my dog and my honor!” He’s eager to face the valley, his heedless nature driving him forward.

Magic: “It’s a trick for weaklings—my axe doesn’t need spells to kill evil!” He scorns magic, seeing it as a crutch for those too cowardly to fight with steel.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are fine if they’ve got food, crafters make good axes, artists tell tall tales, and outlaws? If they’re evil, I have something for them—I'll see them fighting to survive!” He respects the skillful and honest strangers, but evil outlaws will be cut down by his axe.

5. Alfred (Bard, Cunning, Quick-Witted, Cowardly)

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Knowledge: Alfred, a bard raised by the Lost Tribes and later a trader, has a broad but shallow knowledge of the Arandian Kingdom. He knows of the crown’s neglect of the valley, the Church’s influence, and the noble hierarchy’s taxes, having dealt with them as a trader. His loremastery gives him insight into the kingdom’s myths—the old gods, the valley’s ruins, and the frontier’s dangers—though his cowardice keeps him from delving too deep.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They’ve forgotten the borderlands, which suits me fine—less guards to chase me!” Alfred appreciates the crown’s neglect, as it gives him room to hide.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests don’t like my songs about the old gods—they’d burn me if they could!” He fears the Church, wary of its intolerance for his art.

Noble Hierarchy: “Lords are vultures in fine cloaks!” He resents the nobles for their wealth while he's poor, and whose secrets drove him to flee the cities.

The Warmage Academy: “A school for warmages? Sounds like a place for stuck-up nobles to play with fire.” He’s dismissive of the Academy, seeing it as a noble privilege.

The Wild Frontier: “It’s a death trap, but the ruins might hold tales worth singing—if I can survive to tell them!” He’s torn between fear and ambition, his cowardice clashing with his desire for glory.

Magic: “It’s a fine subject for a song, but I’d rather not get too close—cursed artifacts aren’t worth the risk!” He’s wary of magic, preferring to sing about it than wield it.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are my old kin, crafters make good lute strings, artists are my brothers, and outlaws? They’re good for a tale, if they don’t rob me first!” He feels a kinship with the fringes, especially artists, seeing them as his true community.

6. Norman (Cleric, Thoughtful, Honorable, Believing)

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Knowledge: Norman, a cleric born to a lord’s concubine and later a bandit, has a good understanding of the Arandian Kingdom’s spiritual and social landscape. He knows the Church’s doctrine, having been granted divine magic after a prophetic dream, and he’s aware of the crown’s neglect, the noble hierarchy’s corruption, and the valley’s dangers—beasts, bandits, and the old gods’ influence.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They’ve abandoned the frontiers, leaving people to suffer—where is their honor?” Norman disapproves of the crown’s neglect, seeing it as a betrayal of its people.

The Church of the One True God: “The One True God saved me, and I’ll serve Him—but some priests care more for power than faith.” He’s devoted to the Church but critical of its more corrupt elements.

Noble Hierarchy: “Corrupt kords tax the poor while hiding in their manors—they’ve forgotten their duty!” He despises the greed and corrupt nobles, but his honorable nature puts him in alignment with the pious and just lords.

The Warmage Academy: “A school for warmages? Their magic is a temptation, not a blessing—better to trust in the Light.” He distrusts the Academy, seeing its arcane magic as a potential sin.

The Wild Frontier: “The valley is a test of faith—its chaos must be brought to order, for the Light’s sake.” He sees the valley as a divine challenge, eager to prove his atonement.

Magic: “Divine magic is a gift, but arcane magic is a curse—look at the valley’s ruins, cursed by fools!” He reveres divine magic but fears the arcane, seeing it as a source of chaos.

Fringe Groups: “Traders bring life, crafters build hope, artists inspire faith, but outlaws? They’re a plague, like I once was.” He respects the honest fringes but condemns outlaws, haunted by his past.

7. Tillomar the Accused (Ranger, Knows Ambush Tactics, Skeptical, Cold)

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Knowledge: Tillomar, a ranger falsely accused of murder, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of a peasant, without any real knowledge of the wider world. He’s aware of the crown’s neglect of the border, the Church’s influence in the villages, and the noble hierarchy’s taxes, but his focus is his survival in its wilds. His skills will help him get a practical understanding of the land’s dangers.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They don’t care about me. Let them linger in Segothir.” Tillomar dismisses the crown, his skepticism fueled by their abandonment.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests did not believe me when I was called a murderer without proof.” He expected help from the clerics of the Church in his false accusation, but received none.

Noble Hierarchy: “The lords' guards might be hunting me, I better run and hide.” He fears the nobles and their guards, his cold nature hardened by the betrayal he suffered.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? Never heard of them and I don’t care.” He’s indifferent to the Academy, focused on survival.

The Wild Frontier: “The frontier might be my home now—I can overcome its dangers.” He embraces the wilderness, seeing it as a refuge despite its perils.

Magic: “It’s trouble—cursed ruins, mad wizards, no thanks. I’ll stick to my arrows.” He’s wary of magic, seeing it as a source of chaos.

Fringe Groups: “Traders have goods, crafters are useful, artists are fools, and outlaws? I doubt they would help me.” He respects outlaws, but distrusts strangers.

8. Ryre of Blackweald (Fighter, Sharp-Eyed)

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Knowledge: Ryre, a veteran of a failed army campaign, knows the Arandian Kingdom through his military service. He’s aware of the crown’s expansion, the war with the southeastern tribes, and the frontiers' neglect, having marched there briefly before his company disbanded. He knows a little of the Church’s influence and the noble hierarchy’s taxes, but he's well aware of the frontiers' dangers—beasts, bandits, and invaders.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They send us to die in battle, then forget about us!” Ryre is indifferent of the crown, not animated by their ideals.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests blessed our swords, but their God didn’t save the slain men.” He’s indifferent to the Church, seeing its faith as irrelevant to his survival outside healing and blessings the clerics might provide.

Noble Hierarchy: “The lords' taxes are high as always—nobles care only for their gold.” He dislikes nobles who offer little pay for mercenary work, but welcomes a good reward.

The Warmage Academy: “Warmages fought with us once—useful, but too rare to matter now.” He respects the Academy’s warmages but sees them as a distant memory.

The Wild Frontier: “It’s a hard land, but there’s coin to be made—bandits to kill, loot to gain, bounties to claim.” He sees the wilds as a means to an end, his pragmatism guiding him.

Magic: “It’s a tool, like a sword—useful if you can control it, deadly if you can’t.” He’s pragmatic about magic, respecting its power but wary of its risks.

Fringe Groups: “Traders pay well, crafters make good gear, artists are a distraction, and outlaws? They’re my targets.” He values the practical fringes but sees outlaws as prey.

9. Zollo (Thief/Assassin, Fearless, Tall, Scarred)

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Knowledge: Zollo, an exiled assassin from the Naked Rock tribe, knows the Arandian Kingdom as an outsider. He’s vaguely aware of the crown and the Church’s hatred of his god Hunkar, barely knows about the noble hierarchy, which his tribe always resisted. His knowledge is focused on the frontier—its tribes, beasts, and the old gods who linger in its wilds.

Opinions:
The Crown: “Whoever hides in their cities—Hunkar will crush them!” Zollo vaguely despises the crown, seeing it as a distant enemy to his tribe.

The Church of the One True God: “Their God of Light is a lie—Hunkar demands blood, and I’ll give it to him!” He is antagonistic with the Church, viewing it as a rival to his god.

Noble Hierarchy: “Their lords wanted to drive my tribe out—they couldn't do it!” He is alert about the nobles' intentions, but his own exile means he might have to tolerate them... for now.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? Hunkar’s power is all I need.” He dismisses the warmages, loyal only to his god’s magic.

The Wild Frontier: “The land is my hunting ground—its dangers are nothing to Hunkar’s chosen!” He embraces the wilds, fearless in the face of its perils.

Magic: “Hunkar’s gifts are true—fire, blood, and death. The rest is for weaklings!” He reveres the magic of his god, scorning all other forms.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are prey, crafters are useless, artists are liars, and outlaws? They’re weak compared to my tribe.” He sees the flatlanders as beneath him, his tribal pride unyielding.

10. Stein Von Steiner (Fighter, Sharp-Eyed, Nervous, Scarred)

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Knowledge: Stein, a disgraced brewer whose family was ruined by a cursed magical mug spell, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of a disgraced crafter. He’s aware of the crown’s taxes, the Church’s influence, and the noble hierarchy’s vanity, which contributed to his family’s downfall. He knows of the valley’s dangers—beasts, bandits, and cursed ruins—having heard many tales of them.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They let the merchant guild destroy us—where was their justice then?” Stein resents the crown for failing to protect his family.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests called our mug spell a sin, but they didn’t stop the mob—hypocrites!” He is frustrated with the Church, place some of the blame of family’s ruin in them.

Noble Hierarchy: “Taxes have always been brutal, and when our ruin came, the nobles laughed in their palaces—vipers, all of them!” He the nobles, his paranoia fueled by their betrayal.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools for nobles? They’d never help a brewer like me!” He scorns the Academy, seeing the warmages as complicit in his downfall.

The Wild Frontier: “The wilds are dangerous, but it might hold riches to rebuild my life—if I can survive the curses.” He’s wary of the valley but sees it as a chance for redemption.

Magic: “It’s a curse—our mug ruined us, and the land is full of more curses like it!” He fears magic, his family’s failure a constant reminder of its dangers.

Fringe Groups: “Traders cheated us, crafters were my kin, artists mocked our pain, and outlaws? They’re the mob in disguise!” He distrusts the fringes, his paranoia coloring his view.

11. Kal Arion (Cleric, Calm, Sharp-Eyed, Cold)

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Knowledge: Kal, a cleric torn between revenge and faith, has some understanding of the Arandian Kingdom’s spiritual and social landscape. He learned some of the Church’s doctrine, the crown’s history, the noble's hierarchy, and about the borderlands' dangers. His calm and diplomatic skills and his foreign language skills should give him insight into the frontier’s tensions.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They were incapable of saving my village, leaving my people to fight and die alone—where was their duty?” Kal disapproves of the crown’s neglect, his calm nature hiding his frustration.

The Church of the One True God: “The divine voice guides me, but the Church's priests are more concerned with heresy than my salvation.” He’s devoted to the the divine voice but critical of the Church's nearsightedness.

Noble Hierarchy: “The lords always taxed our village but where were they when the real threats came? Cowards!” He dislikes the nobles for what they let happen in his village, his cold nature at odds with the perceived cowardliness and neglet.

The Warmage Academy: “Their warmages wield dangerous magic—better to trust in the divine voice than in spells.” He distrusts warmages, seeing its powerful magic as risky.

The Wild Frontier: “The frontier is a crucible—its chaos to be tamed, a place to find and serve the voice that saved his life. However, the raiders I hunt lurk might be out there too.” He sees the valley as a divine test, torn between faith and vengeance.

Magic: “Divine magic is a blessing, but arcane magic is a risk—look at the ruins, it was probably cursed magic!” He reveres divine magic but distrust the arcane, seeing it as a source of chaos.

Fringe Groups: “Traders bring knowledge, crafters build strength, artists inspire, but outlaws are a scourge—I’ll bring them to justice.” He respects the honest fringes but condemns outlaws, driven by his past.

12. Flipping Felix (Thief, Quick-Witted, Stoic, Corrupt)

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Knowledge: Felix, a circus acrobat turned thief, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of the spotlights and backstages. He’s aware of the crown’s power, the Church’s intolerance, and the noble hierarchy’s wealth, having navigated that world as a thief. Unfamiliar with the wilds, his ambushing and navigation skills might give him insight facing the borderlands' dangers.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They don’t care about the borderlands, which is fine by me—more room to steal!” Felix appreciates the crown’s neglect, as it gives him freedom to operate.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests would burn me for my ‘sins’—let them try!” He scorns the Church, his corrupt nature at odds with its dogma.

Noble Hierarchy: “Aristocratic gold is ripe for the taking—nobles are just fat targets!” He sees the nobles as prey, his thievery the key to his fortune.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? A place for nobles to waste their gold.” He’s dismissive of the Academy, uninterested in its magic—too complicated and too dangerous.

The Wild Frontier: “The frontier will be a playground—ruins to rob, bandits to outwit, if I’m quick enough.” He’s eager to exploit the valley, his witty nature driving him forward.

Magic: “It’s a tool for fools—cursed artifacts aren’t worth the risk, but they fetch a good price!” He’s pragmatic about magic, seeing it as a means to profit, if he can avoid the curses.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are marks, crafters are useful, artists are fun, and outlaws? My kind—we thrive in the shadows!” He feels a kinship with outlaws, some might become allies.

13. Wolfgang von Schwarzscheid (Magic-User, Brave, Calm, Thrifty)

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Knowledge: Wolfgang, a noble warmage trained at the Academy, he has a deep understanding of the Arandian Kingdom. He knows its history, the crown’s expansion and consolidation, the Church’s power and influence, the noble hierarchy’s politics, and the Academy’s role in training warmages. He’s vaguely aware of the borderlands' dangers.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They use people like me in their wars, but cast me aside when my family was ruined—loyalty is a one-way street.” Wolfgang resents the crown for abandoning him after his family’s fall.

The Church of the One True God: “Their dogma stifles magic—they’d burn me if they knew my true thoughts.” He distrusts the Church, seeing it as a threat to his arcane gifts.

Noble Hierarchy: “The nobles are all petty tyrants—my family deserved better!” He’s bitter about the nobles, his own noble status a source of mixed pride and pain.

The Warmage Academy: “It gave me power, but no future—I’ll forge my own path now.” He respects the Academy but is disappointed with how he was treated when he fell in disgrace.

The Wild Frontier: “The borderlands are a challenge—its ruins might hold magic to restore my family’s honor.” He’s eager to face the valley, his bravery driving him forward.

Magic: “It’s a noble art, a tool to shape the world—if only the kingdom would embrace it!” He reveres magic, seeing it as his path to redemption.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are necessary, crafters make fine gear, artists inspire, and outlaws? They’re a necessary chaos.” He respects the fringes of society, seeing them as potential allies in his quest.

14. George (Ranger, Fearless, Lost, Late Sleeper)

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Knowledge: George, a ranger raised by a druid, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the filter of his wild upbringing. He’s mostly not aware of the crown’s role, or the Church’s influence, or the nobles' hierarchy—his focus is in the wilderness—particularly the Lady of the Lake, whom he seeks.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They don’t care about the wilds, which is fine—I don’t need their help.” George is indifferent to the crown, focused on his quest.

The Church of the One True God: “Their God of Light means nothing to me—the wild spirits are my guide.” He dismisses the Church, loyal to his druidic roots.

Noble Hierarchy: “Taxes don’t reach the wilds—good riddance!” He’s indifferent to the nobles, his life untouched by them.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? Never heard of ‘em—the spirits have all I need.” He’s unaware of the Academy, focused on his own path.

The Wild Frontier: “The wildnerness is my home—its dangers are nothing compared to my skills.” He embraces the valley, fearless in his quest.

Magic: “The spirits' magic is real—shimmering waters, whispered dreams. The rest is just noise.” He reveres the magic of the wild, dismissive of other forms.

Fringe Groups: “Traders might know of sacred places, crafters are useless, artists tell intriguing tales, and outlaws? They’re just lost, like me.” He’s focused on people who might know of his wild lands, indifferent to so-called civilization.

15. Hrod Lastson (Fighter, Stoic, Brave, Scarred)

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Knowledge: Hrod, an outlaw from the Hill Folk, knows the Arandian Kingdom as prey. He’s aware of the kingdom and the Church but is indifferent to them. His knowledge is focused on the wilderness and the fringes—the freedom it offers.

Opinions:
The Crown: “Who cares—let them choke on their gold!” Hrod is uncaring to the crown, seeing it as a source of plunder to score.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests are simply fanatics, my lot in life is my own.” He ignores the Church and prays alone for his own soul.

Noble Hierarchy: “Lords and their guards hunted us like dogs—they are the true beasts!” He loathes the nobles and whoever works for them, his stoic nature hiding his anger.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? Wizards are just another threat.” He is weary of warmages, focused on his axe.

The Wild Frontier: “The wilds are my freedom—its dangers are mine to conquer, its ruins my home.” He embraces the wilderness, brave in the face of its perils.

Magic: “It’s a coward’s weapon—my axe is all I need to fight!” He scorns magic, seeing it as a crutch for the weak.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are prey, crafters are weak, artists are fools, and outlaws? Brothers in the wild.” He feels a kinship with outlaws, seeing them as his kin.

Summary of Perspectives
The Crown: Most characters resent the crown, while some appreciate their neglect of the frontier for the freedom it grants.Some might feel betrayed by its politics.

The Church of the One True God: Clerics are devoted but critical of its flaws, while others despise its intolerance. Some fear its inquisitors.

Noble Hierarchy: Almost all characters resent or are at least indifferent to the nobles, some see noble status a source of bitterness and with others actively seeing them as oppressors.

The Warmage Academy: Some respect its knowledge, while others scorns its structure. Most others are indifferent or dismissive, seeing it as a noble privilege and source of dangerous power.

The Wild Frontier: Some embrace the wilderness dangers, others see it as a means to an end, and a few fear it. It’s a crucible for all.

Magic: Clerics revere divine magic, while arcane users value it despite the kingdom’s suspicion. Others fear it or scorn it.

Fringe Groups: Outlaws might feel some kinship with their kind, while the Bard connects with artists. Traders are seen as useful for most.

[SpellSword]

What the Characters Know and Their Opinions
10. Stein Von Steiner (Fighter, Sharp-Eyed, Nervous, Scarred)

► Show Spoiler

Knowledge: Stein, a disgraced brewer whose family was ruined by a cursed magical mug spell, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of a disgraced crafter. He’s aware of the crown’s taxes, the Church’s influence, and the noble hierarchy’s vanity, which contributed to his family’s downfall. He knows of the valley’s dangers—beasts, bandits, and cursed ruins—having heard many tales of them.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They let the merchant guild destroy us—where was their justice then?” Stein resents the crown for failing to protect his family.

The Church of the One True God: “Their priests called our mug spell a sin, but they didn’t stop the mob—hypocrites!” He is frustrated with the Church, place some of the blame of family’s ruin in them.

Noble Hierarchy: “Taxes have always been brutal, and when our ruin came, the nobles laughed in their palaces—vipers, all of them!” He the nobles, his paranoia fueled by their betrayal.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools for nobles? They’d never help a brewer like me!” He scorns the Academy, seeing the warmages as complicit in his downfall.

The Wild Frontier: “The wilds are dangerous, but it might hold riches to rebuild my life—if I can survive the curses.” He’s wary of the valley but sees it as a chance for redemption.

Magic: “It’s a curse—our mug ruined us, and the land is full of more curses like it!” He fears magic, his family’s failure a constant reminder of its dangers.

Fringe Groups: “Traders cheated us, crafters were my kin, artists mocked our pain, and outlaws? They’re the mob in disguise!” He distrusts the fringes, his paranoia coloring his view.

This is great.

I'll try to play Stein as a bit cautious and a little paranoid.

[ERYFKRAD]

Yeah checks out.

[logincrash]

Can we initiate rolls ourselves or do we only roll when you call for it, @Irenaeus?

[Irenaeus]

Can we initiate rolls ourselves or do we only roll when you call for it, @Irenaeus?

If you want to act with a skill or the like, you can announce the action and roll for it, then I will judge the results.

[logincrash]

Can we initiate rolls ourselves or do we only roll when you call for it, @Irenaeus?

If you want to act with a skill or the like, you can announce the action and roll for it, then I will judge the results.

I want to roll a Perception roll as it's known in DnD to see if my character notices one specific thing. Are those rolls even a thing in ACKS? If they are, do I roll a d20 and add my WIS modifier?

[SpellSword]

► Meanwhile in the cellar...

Meanwhile in the cellar.png

[Irenaeus]

Can we initiate rolls ourselves or do we only roll when you call for it, @Irenaeus?

If you want to act with a skill or the like, you can announce the action and roll for it, then I will judge the results.

I want to roll a Perception roll as it's known in DnD to see if my character notices one specific thing. Are those rolls even a thing in ACKS? If they are, do I roll a d20 and add my WIS modifier?

There isn't a Perception roll in ACKS, but there's this "Hearing Noises" roll:

• Hearing Noises: To determine if a character hears a noise at a door or intersection, the Judge typically makes a proficiency throw on behalf of the character. The standard target value for success is 18+ on a 1d20.

You can roll for that. It would be better if discussion of rules be contained in the rules thread.

[DemoGraph]

12. Flipping Felix (Thief, Quick-Witted, Stoic, Corrupt)

► Show Spoiler

Knowledge: Felix, a circus acrobat turned thief, knows the Arandian Kingdom through the lens of the spotlights and backstages. He’s aware of the crown’s power, the Church’s intolerance, and the noble hierarchy’s wealth, having navigated that world as a thief. Unfamiliar with the wilds, his ambushing and navigation skills might give him insight facing the borderlands' dangers.

Opinions:
The Crown: “They don’t care about the borderlands. That mean there're more opportunities for profit!” Felix appreciates the crown’s neglect, as it gives him freedom to operate.

The Church of the One True God: “Their dogma is too stifling for any reasonable man!”

Noble Hierarchy: “Aristocrats are just the most successful bandits. Their gold is fair target — with preparation!” He sees the nobles as predators and prey, his thievery the key to his fortune.

The Warmage Academy: “Magic schools? A place for nobles to learn unusual ways to kill themselves.” He’s dismissive of the Academy, uninterested in its magic—too complicated and too dangerous.

The Wild Frontier: “The frontier will be a scene — ruins to rob, bandits to outwit, if I’m quick enough.” He’s eager to exploit the valley, his witty nature driving him forward.

Magic: “It’s a tool for fools—cursed artifacts aren’t worth the risk, but they fetch a good price!” He’s pragmatic about magic, seeing it as a means to profit, if he can avoid the curses.

Fringe Groups: “Traders are marks, crafters are useful, artists are fun, and outlaws? My kind—we thrive on the borders!” He feels a kinship with outlaws, some might become allies.

I edited the quote.
I actually thought about him as an opportunistic thief, not a career one, with more focus on freedom and less on robbing everything not nailed to the floor.
Corruption is also more about being egoistic, susceptible for bribery, etc. than an open hostility to the church.
I'd imagine that he traveled with the circus through the richer regions of empire (where there's more demand for recreation and more money to get), saw corrupted nobles (and corrupted performers, and poor men), got impressed with them and decided that if everyone is treachery and opportunistic, he should be as well. Nobles are rich and powerful because they're the largest bullies, aren't they?

[Val the Moofia Boss]

It wasn't well received, I thought.

A decade ago when I started playing forum mafia, there were three regular hosts who would put a tremendous amount of time and energy into writing up lore for every player's rolecard, long 2 or 3 page backstories for every game, and 1 to 2 page long story writeups after everyone submitted their actions. At first was it was amusing to read through it all, but as the years went on I pretty much stopped reading and then skipped straight to the actual facts of what happened (X, Y, and Z are dead. Also something happened to W. Submit your votes within the next 48 hours), and it seems like most of the other players didn't miss those writeups. Years later when I hosted my own mafia game and tried imitating those early fun hosts, it seems like people didn't care that much. I think that perhaps when it comes to these forum games, people might be more interested in checking in to find out what the current game state is, strategize with other players, submit their actions and then click away.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

Another thing too, from my experience attending /roll 20 RP campaigns in WoW and following some quests on forums, I think some challenge/threat needs to be present most of the time to retain player interest.

In the WoW RP campaigns, the DMs never had the authority to kill people's RP characters with huge MRP bios that people are invested in. If you are downed you will juat get rezzed or carried to a medical tent by the end of the session, maybe have to miss a few days because you are out of action. People could theoretically kill their own characters but this rarely happened outside of big exciting war crimes trials with lots of attendees booing at the prisoners and throwing stones as the judge reads off the rap sheet. Being publicly hyped up as a big deal and executed is cool. But aside from that, eventually after enough campaigns, people realize they are just showing up to /roll 20 for three hours and there will never be an actual gameplay repercussions, so the people there for the challenge as opposed to the fluff lose interest. This is why for this game I tried to keep my backstory simple rather than spending a lot of time coming up with this long over elaborate doc, so if I die I can just shrug and reroll and continue on.

Forum quests seem to stall out after the exciting perilous initial situation when the players aren't being truly threatened by something and stand to lose a not insignificant part of their empire or major characters. The worst part is when there is so little challenge happebing that it's just one or two players updating a budget spreadsheet and the host is pretty much just reading you the news for what happened that year (pretty much nothing important, just like 24/7 where they are stooping to fluff to justify their length.).

[logincrash]

the DMs never had the authority to kill people's RP characters with huge MRP bios that people are invested in.

This is why for this game I tried to keep my backstory simple rather than spending a lot of time coming up with this long over elaborate doc, so if I die I can just shrug and reroll and continue on.

This is solved by rolling for everything (and especially the backstory) during the character creation. That way you're not spending your time and brainpower coming up with a backstory that just ends up being pretty generic anyway. And you're not whining about your character dying because you're so invested in your backstory and all the secret reveals and little connections and a hundred story-important characters.
You just roll a new character and see what interesting things come out of it. Emergent gameplay and emergent storytelling at its finest.

[Irenaeus]

It wasn't well received, I thought.

A decade ago when I started playing forum mafia, there were three regular hosts who would put a tremendous amount of time and energy into writing up lore for every player's rolecard, long 2 or 3 page backstories for every game, and 1 to 2 page long story writeups after everyone submitted their actions. At first was it was amusing to read through it all, but as the years went on I pretty much stopped reading and then skipped straight to the actual facts of what happened (X, Y, and Z are dead. Also something happened to W. Submit your votes within the next 48 hours), and it seems like most of the other players didn't miss those writeups. Years later when I hosted my own mafia game and tried imitating those early fun hosts, it seems like people didn't care that much. I think that perhaps when it comes to these forum games, people might be more interested in checking in to find out what the current game state is, strategize with other players, submit their actions and then click away.

That's very interesting feedback! I will keep that in mind when writing up the next game posts so as to not as overextend on details and information.

[Irenaeus]

Another thing too, from my experience attending /roll 20 RP campaigns in WoW and following some quests on forums, I think some challenge/threat needs to be present most of the time to retain player interest.

In the WoW RP campaigns, the DMs never had the authority to kill people's RP characters with huge MRP bios that people are invested in. If you are downed you will juat get rezzed or carried to a medical tent by the end of the session, maybe have to miss a few days because you are out of action. People could theoretically kill their own characters but this rarely happened outside of big exciting war crimes trials with lots of attendees booing at the prisoners and throwing stones as the judge reads off the rap sheet. Being publicly hyped up as a big deal and executed is cool. But aside from that, eventually after enough campaigns, people realize they are just showing up to /roll 20 for three hours and there will never be an actual gameplay repercussions, so the people there for the challenge as opposed to the fluff lose interest. This is why for this game I tried to keep my backstory simple rather than spending a lot of time coming up with this long over elaborate doc, so if I die I can just shrug and reroll and continue on.

Forum quests seem to stall out after the exciting perilous initial situation when the players aren't being truly threatened by something and stand to lose a not insignificant part of their empire or major characters. The worst part is when there is so little challenge happebing that it's just one or two players updating a budget spreadsheet and the host is pretty much just reading you the news for what happened that year (pretty much nothing important, just like 24/7 where they are stooping to fluff to justify their length.).

Got it, thanks again for sharing! I'll do my bast to not post just fluffy story updates but keep the action going with immediate challenge/threat that need to be resolved in that very post with significant enough ingame consequences.

[Irenaeus]

I''ll post the next update only tomorrow, so take your time.

[Humbaba]

“Their lords wanted to drive my tribe out—they couldn't do it!”

That's a good Donald Trump.

Anyway, very good description, no objections.

[Lord of Riva]

Not a fan tbh of these character summaries, I agree that the story should be emergent and since I already posted a decent hook I think that should be enough.

[Irenaeus]

Not a fan tbh of these character summaries, I agree that the story should be emergent and since I already posted a decent hook I think that should be enough.

You can ignore these summaries, they are not canon. I only posted them because some people asked.

[maidenhaver]

Those summaries don't conflict with anything, because they aren't actual events in our characters' pasts. They're just uncreated thoughts passing through our senses heads. They don't mean anything, unless we act on them.

They're less than feelings.

[Lord of Riva]

Not a fan tbh of these character summaries, I agree that the story should be emergent and since I already posted a decent hook I think that should be enough.

You can ignore these summaries, they are not canon. I only posted them because some people asked.

I know, I just wanted to give you feedback.

[Humbaba]

I don't mean to be like that but @maidenhaver just opening with the negro word was incredibly immersion breaking. I don't demand anybody consider this pbp sesh srs bsns but I think Ireneu and everyone else has put a lot of effort into making this happen and I think it'd be a shame if it devolved into shitposting this quickly.

[maidenhaver]

Yeah, I'm done. Between not being told what was going on with the orc, and ruining immersion by using the lore correct jargon of Rangers for orcs, I can say George is done. He's retired.

[asf]

i cant wait do some prophesizing

[DemoGraph]

We can always declare that immersion breakers were possessed by heathen spirits and went glossolalic. Then GM proceeds to feed them to the biggest rat out there

► Show Spoiler

urmum

[Humbaba]

Campaign theme

[SpellSword]

Yeah, I'm done. Between not being told what was going on with the orc, and ruining immersion by using the lore correct jargon of Rangers for orcs, I can say George is done. He's retired.

@maidenhaver There may be an easy fix for there being no orc at the inn table. I don't think it has been specified how long everyone has been sitting and drinking in the inn. (With the exception of Humbaba's Zollo who just entered the inn)

George could be a bit inebriated and making it clear that although not present in the inn, there is an orc out there somewhere, and he hates this fact immensely.