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

[Irenaeus]

Oh goody, we've split the party, what could possibly go wrong?

We're not splitting the party, the GM is just so based and ambitious, he's gonna run several different modules at once.

Yes, the idea is starting Chapter 2 as two different game threads, or "modules", as you say. Of course, the adventurers may arrange a reunion later at some pre-determined location and merge the adventure... or they can diverge at will and keep going further and further away from each other - no one is connected by force!

[Irenaeus]

Oh goody, we've split the party, what could possibly go wrong?

Not only that. All our meatshields fighters had decided to bum off into the forest at night without any magical or healer support only to be surrounded and massacred by rabid squirrels.
Dump int, dump int everywhere.

I get your feeling of wanting to keep the large party together, particularly the meatshields fighters but the different goals and ambitions of the players and their characters is leading to a split in the group. That's an interesting development for the adventure and will be a challenge I am willing to face. Hope it keeps on being fun!

Only Ryre remains and... I don't remember him at all. Did he drop the game? Was Great Green Prophet sitting on him all the time?

I think I explained earlier that Rand (who created the veteran mercenary Ryre) decided to leave the game and let his character become an NPC, which I haven't touched since the early in cellar part. Maybe it's a good idea to have Ryre make a comeback. Da Great Green Prophet was created by asf who rarely types a whole sentence and I'm not sure if he's even reading the game.

Without fighters we'll either have to delay dungeon delve, put my misfit crew on the front line or put rangers there. And Wolfgang. He has magic shield, his corpse would also do fine.

Don't be so discouraged, the group who potentionally signed up for investigating the underground is very large and capable. You also don't know what's down under and I will not force players to fight against impossible odds. I'll leave it at rest for now because I want to maintain an atmosphere of mystery for the next chapter and hopefully for the whole adventure.

I vote to delay until the expedition returns. Then we'll pick up everyone who has at least one limb remaining and stick them up front.
Then we'll discover that skaven were a lie all along and the most dangerous thing in that underground is granny's preserves.
In the meantime we can explore the village and local wenches. And since Tallyman's house was fortunately left unguarded, Felix can explore it as well.

Delaying the actual descent underground is one of the possible actions I outlined in the end of the last game post. There are a number of good reasons for doing that like investigating more the town and the outskirts, further preparations, and of course, waiting the possible return of the party members who traveled to Mossbarrow (are they ever returning?). Of course, you should by now realize that there will be consequences for delaying and, again to keep it mysterious, they are unpredictable at this point. Like you said, maybe the most dangerous thing in that underground is granny's preserves.

@Irenaeus make a character google sheet, pls. At least with char list from here.

Alright, alright, I have been delaying this for a long time. I haven't been able to make a character google sheet but I will update and repost the tables with the characters and equipment. It's in the to-do list.

[Irenaeus]

Where are Norman and Tillomar? I think I missed it in all the hullabaloo.

They are back at the inn with everybody. Norman waited while Wolfgang and Tillomar went to the market square to gather resources. In fact, it is Kal Arion and Felix who haven't returned to the inn after their visit to the market square, I have them here in my notes going back to the Church directly - correct me if I'm wrong.

[DemoGraph]

I get your feeling of wanting to keep the large party together

Don't be so serious. It was a lighthearted rant. I think that we're here to have fun, not "win".
If Felix dies, I'll try taking the toad boy Jarlo for a character. Or Bennick/Madgen/Linno. We're going to run a children empire fueled by prepubescence and other unspeakable horrors.

Of course, you should by now realize that there will be consequences for delaying and, again to keep it mysterious, they are unpredictable at this point.

Nothing unpredictable at that. Those cans would either explode or they do not. The main mystery is, is there raspberry jam?

[Lord of Riva]

@Irenaeus I am sorry for dropping of the earth again, I should have known this would happen.

Nothing bad happened on my end, I was just pre-occupied with work, children, hobbies and touching grass.

We had our first "lan party" with my son and his friend, a celebrations of our volunter firefighters that had to be organized (I am one of them) and then enjoyed which ended up in drinking a lot of whisky, there was the family hiking day, we went on a biking tour as well and went swimming.

I should have excused me beforehand and I apologize for not doing so prior, when starting this I was very enthusiastic about it and wanted to participate because I really like playing P&P but I just don't have time for it anymore or rather I am pre-occupied with things more important to me.

I don't think I can reliably continue following this and ask the group to accept my apologies for this.

[DemoGraph]

Meatshield managed!
I told you,

He has magic shield, his corpse would also do fine.

On a more serious note, we may remove @Lord of Riva via messenger that summons him back to central regions, because his ban was lifted. Or he inherited something. So he can rush on family business.
We should take off his boots first, though.

[Irenaeus]

@Irenaeus I am sorry for dropping of the earth again, I should have known this would happen.

Nothing bad happened on my end, I was just pre-occupied with work, children, hobbies and touching grass.

We had our first "lan party" with my son and his friend, a celebrations of our volunter firefighters that had to be organized (I am one of them) and then enjoyed which ended up in drinking a lot of whisky, there was the family hiking day, we went on a biking tour as well and went swimming.

I should have excused me beforehand and I apologize for not doing so prior, when starting this I was very enthusiastic about it and wanted to participate because I really like playing P&P but I just don't have time for it anymore or rather I am pre-occupied with things more important to me.

I don't think I can reliably continue following this and ask the group to accept my apologies for this.

Hey LoR, don't worry about it. There's absolutely no need to apologize. I'm really happy that you enjoyed the little time you spent with the PbP as it has been a gratifying experience to me in creating stories and managing a large roster of PCs.

You sound like you're having a great and busy time. I kinda am as well (just returned from my son's judo class) which is why I haven't started on Chapter 2 yet, but I will soon! We can keep your character as an NPC if you don't object to it, slowly pulling him to the background as other PCs take the lead on the story.

Everybody playing can drop out anytime, a note to me would be good not necessary. I will keep rolling abandoned PCs to the background - from where they can come back into the game should the player so wish to!

[Irenaeus]

On a more serious note, we may remove @Lord of Riva via messenger that summons him back to central regions, because his ban was lifted. Or he inherited something. So he can rush on family business.
We should take off his boots first, though.

I'm thinking of using him as NPC if he doesn't object to (no reason not to), just gradually transition him from a leadership position he had achieved in play to a more secondary factor in the party to support the PCs.

Next Chapter will be divided in two game threads for two PC groups: Chapter 2a dealing with investigating Vertidor's underground, Chapter2b dealing with traversing Wolf's Maw and finding Mossbarrow. All players have made their decisions on which path they will take, and differently from Chapter 1 which focused on exploring and roleplaying with NPCs, this one will be mainly action. Hope you enjoy!

[Lord of Riva]

You sound like you're having a great and busy time. I kinda am as well (just returned from my son's judo class) which is why I haven't started on Chapter 2 yet, but I will soon! We can keep your character as an NPC if you don't object to it, slowly pulling him to the background as other PCs take the lead on the story.

Sure, of course

[Irenaeus]

It's been 5 days since I last posted about Chapter 2 and I'm sure some of the players might start worrying about the state of the game or getting impatient over when it will start. Let me ease your preoccupations as I acknowledge your worries and affirm that the adventure planning is in full swing.

For the next Chapter, instead of having a few key themes and letting the actions unfold with ample open ramifications - which I hope many players appreciated - I'm structuring both adventure paths with laid out pre-programmed reactions. The idea is that once this work is done on my part, we can set game posts easier with less work in story development. The fun part on my end is that if the adventure goes off the rails I will once again be forced to improvise on the spot. Let's have some fun!

Optimistically, starting later next week.

[DemoGraph]

Seriously, who keeps all those torches lit? Don't they care about their carbon footprint at all?
I'm calling the management. Their dungeon is seriously sick!

[Irenaeus]

Seriously, who keeps all those torches lit?

Sounds like a mystery.

[ERYFKRAD]

Seriously, who keeps all those torches lit?

Maybe it's just the illusion of a lit torch? Same output at zero emissions.

[Irenaeus]

Seriously, who keeps all those torches lit?

Maybe it's just the illusion of a lit torch? Same output at zero emissions.

The Church undercroft and Vertidor's underground is a full of mysteries for adventurers to uncover. I spent some time last night writing about it. Don't want to spoil much.

However, ERYFKRAD, remember that you are going to on an another adventure, to Mossbarrow, which is expect to write about today and tomorrow. If you want to give suggestions now is a good time.

Later this week I expect to post the first game post proper.

[Humbaba]

I hope we will be waylaid by enemies and have to defend ourselves.

[TKVNC]

Where are Norman and Tillomar? I think I missed it in all the hullabaloo.

Busy with life, but I am keeping an eye on this when time permits. Hopefully I'll get an actual response ready soon.

Thanks @Irenaeus, if I never said it before

[DagothGeas5]

@TKVNC That the coin toss was tails and how well you wrote the actions gives an incredibly ominous feeling to end chapter 1 on. Cannot wait to see how it continues, hope Fergal will indeed ward the party from bad luck!

[Irenaeus]

Sorry about the delay in beginning Chapter 2, for all those who follow. Like @TKVNC I got a little busy with life. Hopefully this week I get all sorted out and we can start.

[TKVNC]

Sorry about the delay in beginning Chapter 2, for all those who follow. Like @TKVNC I got a little busy with life. Hopefully this week I get all sorted out and we can start.

No need to apologise, take your time

[DemoGraph]

I've just realized. I had a CK2 LP that I wrote for the drawer. It opened with the chief Ferghal the Elder renouncing his unenlightened warrior ways to find humbleness and inspiration, to find God. He managed it so well, he became a saint. And then his descendants used his reputation to organize the last crusade. Against Rome.
Ah, good times.

[DemoGraph]

Wake up!
This thread does deserve a little bump up!
Hide the scars left by the dropped setup!
Why'd you leave us sitting by bar table?
Come on, @Iren make another fable, you wanted to

[Irenaeus]

Wake up!
This thread does deserve a little bump up!
Hide the scars left by the dropped setup!
Why'd you leave us sitting by bar table?
Come on, @Iren make another fable, you wanted to

Yes, sir! At your order!
The new chapter will be dropping tonight.
Prepare your dice to roll...
Coincidence? I think not!

[Irenaeus]

@Oyster Sauce
@Stack of Turtles
@asf
@Val the Moofia Boss
@Jordy
@logincrash
@TKVNC
@Rand
@Humbaba
@SpellSword
@Kalarion
@Lord of Riva
@maidenhaver
@ERYFKRAD

New chapter starting!

[DemoGraph]

The new chapter will be dropping tonight.

Now I know that your night is my morning.

[SpellSword]

Lieutenant Emmerich may just be a brave young man curious about the well armed group of adventures that he and his captain are offering to risk life and limb with. Alternatively, he could be the advanced scout for a group of bandits or other nefarious individuals that he will tip off after we make our way by him.

It's not paranoia if the town is full of man-sized rats!

[Humbaba]

The lieutenant and his boys are very clearly evil, best we decline their sidequest and instead pickpocket their gear.

[Irenaeus]

Thanks all for the inputs. I'll be updating with a new post tonight if all goes right.
@Humbaba where did you get the idea of a sidequest for the "lieutenant and his boys"? Genuinely curious.

[Humbaba]

@Humbaba where did you get the idea of a sidequest for the "lieutenant and his boys"? Genuinely curious.

I thought you were doing the cnc thing of taking them along and when you do they backstab you and go "heh, now hand over the rat, FOOLS" and then we all go nooooo we thought you were cool and the have to fight them and get extra exp and loot.

[Irenaeus]

@Humbaba where did you get the idea of a sidequest for the "lieutenant and his boys"? Genuinely curious.

I thought you were doing the cnc thing of taking them along and when you do they backstab you and go "heh, now hand over the rat, FOOLS" and then we all go nooooo we thought you were cool and the have to fight them and get extra exp and loot.

Interesting, could happen maybe... No one invited him along and he has his duty of guarding the gate and the town walls. so...

[Humbaba]

Interesting, could happen maybe... No one invited him along and he has his duty of guarding the gate and the town walls. so...

It's why I told him to fuck off, he's clearly evil. Can Alfwine or the heckin doggo detect evil or something?