Nation Building BeckonCall's Fantasy Nation-building RPG thread

[SpiralErrant]

might be worth saving it until "The start of summer" I'll be refreshing my faction overview then too and it might make a good time for a group effort to making one.

 

[SpiralErrant]

Has anyone heard from Leusis recently btw? He hasn't been around much and I don't want to be the only first wave faction left, especially with our town about to start going up once the battle's over.


(Damn the rock slide too on that account)

 

[KamiKahzy]

I will say that you are all entitled to your preferences for your character profiles, but I can't advertise enough the awesome BBcode functions like spoilers and accordions that you can use. It's made my profile look so damn pretty, like damn lookit dat layout.

 

[Beckoncall]

If there is a learning curve to learn it, I am intimidated only because I would prefer to put that "figuring out" energy into my RP.

 

[Beckoncall]

@Elendithas and @Leusis are in good contact. If there is some sort of complexity I imagine that one party would speak up for the other.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Blood's gonna fly in a minute. -taps fingers together maniacally-

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

I will say that you are all entitled to your preferences for your character profiles, but I can't advertise enough the awesome BBcode functions like spoilers and accordions that you can use. It's made my profile look so damn pretty, like damn lookit dat layout.

I tried formatting, but it was a mess.

 

[KamiKahzy]

You can steal my setup if you like.

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

You can steal my setup if you like.

How do I do that? How do I see the formatting?

 

[KamiKahzy]

You should be able to quote my post and it'll... Actually hang on, no. One moment.

 

[KamiKahzy]

[center]Ratfolk Faction

Nameless Clan (Previously Black Corn clan)[/center]



[accordion=75%|bcenter]{slide=Population}Manpower: 200
Population: 145

Pups: 54
Bucks/Does: 45
Learned: 40
   Clean Paws: 16
   Dirty Paws: 24
Aged: 6

Births - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Deaths - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Extras - High Fertility
[spoiler="Details"]-High Fertility: Ratfolk can quickly repopulate their numbers as they die relatively quickly compared to other races. Females can birth two litters in a year if timed correctly, and those litters will often have an average of two or three pups per birth.[/spoiler]{/slide}
{slide=Statistics}Food - Undetermined
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Wealth - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Influence - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Tears of Divinity - Bone
[spoiler="Details"]-One slate colored Tear of Bone, received from the Muurdaan at the beginning of their journey.[/spoiler]
Commodities - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Notable Supplies - 05
[list]
[*]Black Corn crop
[*]Carrot crop
[*]Garlic crop
[*]Digging Tools
[*]Black Powder
[/list]
[spoiler="Details"]- Black Corn crop: A special crop developed between Ratfolk herbalists and the Muurdaan. It is a hearty corn with black leaves and white kernels that was designed to combat hunger within the ratfolk clans of the major cities. This crop can be grown without direct sunlight, and can instead be grown with any type of light source, artificial or otherwise. Many warrens host caverns that are lit entirely by torchlight or bioluminescence to give the black corn a healthy environment to grow, and the crop has since been refined enough to be enjoyed by even the fairer races.

- Carrot crop: A selection of carrot seeds meant to be planted at the colony.

- Garlic crop: A selection of garlic cloves, preserved and prepared for seeding at the colony.

- Digging Tools: Wheelbarrows, shovels, pickaxes, pulleys, and many other assorted tools meant for digging on an industrial scale.

- Black Powder: A reasonable supply of black powder that was smuggled past customs at Port Cestus.[/spoiler]
Guild Affiliation - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]
Feats/Legendary Actions - None
[spoiler="Details"]None at present.[/spoiler]{/slide}
{slide=Characters}Milkweed - Clan Chief - Faction Leader
[spoiler="Biography"]A contemplative buck with ruby red eyes and fur like pure snow. He was the chief of the Black Corn clan before being sent on this journey by command of the Underlords. He is a crafty rat with high ambitions and a deep love for his people. He earned his title as Chief through great pain and trial, setting himself above the rest for his vast intellect and cunning. He despises a full on battle and will often seek to negotiate rather than spill blood. But if it must come to blows he will always seek to win a fight before it begins, in whatever way suits him best.[/spoiler]
Nateema - Clan Shaman - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]An unnaturally old doe whose fawn-colored fur has long since been veined with silver. Nateema is not her true name, as the word means 'First Daughter' in the ratfolk tongue. It is a title given to all female shamans when they complete their final rites, though the head shaman of the clan is typically the one who responds to it. Ratfolk shamans are rumored to be both alive and dead, and Nateema does nothing to dissuade this perception. She is responsible for the mental and spiritual health of the clan, and is learned in the ways of plants and magic to help guide her family through the tough and trying times. A former member of the Bone Heart clan, she insisted she go on this journey for the sake of her people. Nateema is a dodgy old rat that is fond of riddles and the occasional jape at her Chief's expense.[/spoiler]
Breeze - Smokewalker - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]A reclusive but kind buck with grey fur and a white diamond on his forehead. Breeze was becoming an adult by the time Milkweed was born, and as such watched the young chief grow up among their kin. He saw the potential in Milkweed early on and took him under his wing to teach him the finer points of shadow and secrecy. Milkweed had a ravenous appetite for knowledge, and soon outgrew his place as Breeze's student. When Milkweed became the new chief he elected Breeze as his personal guard and spymaster, building upon their already deep friendship. Breeze is a master of stealth, and has been known to spy, steal, scout, infiltrate, and even assassinate on rare occasions. Don't bother trying to find the Breeze, because it will always find you first.[/spoiler]
Needle - Sniper - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]A reserved doe with chestnut brown fur and a white blaze over her nose. Needle is originally from the Black Corn clan, and is also one of Milkweed's many grandchildren. She too showed promise at a young age, but her shy nature held back her full potential until she was nearing her seventh year. She was assigned as a guard for a trade deal with some smugglers and things quickly went south. But instead of panicking a strange calm came over her, and she managed to split each of the smuggler's heads from her perch with her crossbow. Not a single rat died that night, and Needle began her sniper training from that day forward. Needle usually keeps to herself or a select few friends, but once you earn her trust she can be a very warm soul, provided you never ever cross her.[/spoiler]
Daisy - Tinker - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]An energetic young doe with white fur and a slate gray hood pattern. She comes from the Stone Fang clan as part of a deal Milkweed struck with their chief. From birth she was known to always be active and exploring, constantly getting into things she shouldn't. What surprised much of her clan was that she appeared to have no desire to mate when she was nearing maturity. Instead she found joy in tinkering and fixing many of the gadgets that her clan produced. Without the usual desire to breed and bear litters Daisy was free to pursue her passions, and quickly became one of the most skilled tinkers in the clan. The Stone Fang's chief let Daisy go as an act of good faith between their clans, and because Daisy would not pass her blood to future generations. Daisy rarely has enough patience to sit still, and is always either exploring, chatting with others or tinkering with one of her projects.[/spoiler]
Hawthorn - Poisoner - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]A wiry looking buck with blue-grey fur and long white patches near his paws. Hawthorn hails from the Short Tail clan, which is infamous for doing the seedy work ratfolk are rumored to thrive on. His mother tried to steer him towards a life of healing as an herbalist, even going so far as to arrange a mating with a doe from the Bone Heart clan, but Hawthorn found his passion in death early on. He marveled at how the body responded to certain stimuli, and spent his life searching for new plants and substances to experiment with. He's a cheerful enough sort but will often get lost in his work, and his moral compass is somewhat skewed from what the common man would consider 'decent'. A mind such as his needs test subjects after all, and there's only so much you can observe from cadavers and livestock.[/spoiler]
Coalback - Miner - Aged
[spoiler="Biography"]A stoic buck that is larger than most, sporting white fur and a jet black stripe from head to tail. He was originally a member of the Stone Fang clan, and was also given to Milkweed's company as an act of good faith. While the Stone Fangs are known for producing fine miners and tinkers, Coalback is not the best in his trade. That honor belongs to the doe Fire Eyes, but Coalback is still very knowledgeable of what lies beneath the earth. He might not know every gem or rock by sight alone, but he can wield a pickaxe like no one's business, and he's even trained with black powder for mass mining. Coalback may seem gruff at first, but that's simply because he takes his job very seriously. Danger is ever present underground, and as such he's constantly vigilant for anything that might pose a threat to his clan and kin.[/spoiler]{/slide}
{slide=Racial Facts}[Fieldset=Important Note!]Ensure you roll to see if your faction knows these facts or not.[/Fieldset]-Clan Structure
[spoiler="Details"]Ratfolk clans can range in number from 20 to over 2000 souls, though none have reached the same populations as the cities they inhabit. The larger clans are all ruled by a single Chief who is supported by a council of Aged that oversee various aspects of clan operations. Clans often see themselves as a large family unit, and much of their behavior reflects this mindset. If ratfolk are unfamiliar with another rat, either because they haven't met or they're not well acquainted, they will address each other as 'brother' or 'sister' as a sign of respect. Younger rats will address adults or those senior to them as 'aunt' or 'uncle', and older rats will primarily address younger ones as 'child', though sometimes 'niece' or 'nephew' is used instead. But elderly rats are always referred to as 'grandmother' or 'grandfather' as a sign of deep respect for their wisdom and cunning to have lived for so long.[/spoiler]
-Lifespan
[spoiler="Details"]Ratfolk only live an average of 20 years, though some have been rumored to live longer with the help of magic and tonics. They reach sexual maturity at three years, and will often be fully grown within four or five. However many are not considered mature adults until they are at least five years old, since hormones dictate much of a younger pup's life until they can control their instincts. Females will start to become infertile at around 10 years, but males can remain fertile throughout their lives.[/spoiler]
-Mating & Children
[spoiler="Details"]Ratfolk form very tight knit communities and have very little sense of personal belongings. The clan provides for all, and all must provide for the clan. Because of this there's really no need for couples to pair off individually to support each other, which means that ratfolk will often have many different partners throughout their lives. In particular the younger pups that reach breeding age find themselves in dire need to reproduce, and this urge is nearly constant for at least two years. While there's no shame or betrayal in mating with multiple partners, ratkin will usually form some emotional bonds with their partners. These bonds can last for many years, and when a previously mated couple grow older they may decide to cohabitate for practical and emotional reasons. Newly born pups are also looked after by the clan at large, and are often raised together in large groups. This helps to build the sense of family that ratfolk hold so dear since the pups grow up directly with their 'brothers' and 'sisters', regardless of blood relation.[/spoiler]
-Religion
[spoiler="Details"]Ratfolk religion revolves around a central idea of ancestor worship, going all the way back to their matron deity Neesa who they believe to be the mother of their race. There are two primary aspects to their religion: moral guidance and communion with the dead. There are many stories about Momma Neesa (as they call her) that are told to ratfolk youth during their formative years. These stories are meant to teach them good morals, clan law and survival skills among other things. They often feature Neesa as the protagonist against an array of other spirits like Cat, Dog, Man, Snake, Bear, Fox and Crow. Crow is unique because while he often poses the greatest threat to Neesa he is also the only one smart enough to fully match her wits. Because of this there is a mutual respect between the characters, and they will sometimes work together to overcome a common foe. The communion aspect of ratfolk religion involves their shamans conducting rituals to speak with the dead. This will often be accomplished through bone reading, as ratfolk believe there is a wealth of knowledge stored within the bones of both the living and the dead. If their warrens have the space for it they will often create catacombs that house the skulls of their dead, each inscribed with the owner's name and two symbols, one for the season they were born and one for the season they died. Influential leaders will often have their entire skeleton pieced out and turned into charms or reliquaries, with their skulls being held as prized heirlooms within the clan.[/spoiler]
-Reputation: [spoiler="Details"]Ratfolk have earned a reputation as nothing more than thieves and beggars since they've been forced to live in the dark and shunned corners of the Empire. City sewers and inhospitable wastelands have become the only places their kind can grow in number, as other lands are either already inhabited or claimed as 'Muurdaanian Soil'. Because of this ratfolk have had to do many unsavory things to survive in these places, and in this regard their reputations are true. But the clans that have not gone completely feral also seek to hold their people to a higher standard. They actively seek to teach their children how to fight their instincts as well as basic education and morals. Many young rats will leave the clan to seek jobs above ground, often being hired as sailors, laborers or merchants. But just as many youth are lured away into criminal gangs with promises of wealth and prestige. Those 'dirty paws' that return to the clan are used as valuable resources, but the ones that will not return are considered outcast and often shunned by other clan members.[/spoiler]{/slide}[/accordion]

 

[KamiKahzy]

The main thing to know about an accordion setup is that Slides designate the different sections of it. I know there's fancy ways to make sub-drop-boxes within the accordion, but I felt like keeping things simple for mine because I don't do BBcode often.


So for example, something like this:

[accordion]{slide=1}{/slide}{slide=2}{/slide}{/slide=3}{/slide}[/accordion]

Would give you an accordion with three different slides in it. Mine has four for the four different sections I made up.


The stuff I added into the accordion code means that I wanted the accordion to take up 75% of the screen, and that I wanted it centered.

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

The main thing to know about an accordion setup is that Slides designate the different sections of it. I know there's fancy ways to make sub-drop-boxes within the accordion, but I felt like keeping things simple for mine because I don't do BBcode often.
So for example, something like this:

[accordion]{slide=1}{/slide}{slide=2}{/slide}{/slide=3}{/slide}[/accordion]

Would give you an accordion with three different slides in it. Mine has four for the four different sections I made up.


The stuff I added into the accordion code means that I wanted the accordion to take up 75% of the screen, and that I wanted it centered.

Ok, thanks! I will try again. There is much I wrote that I never put up there because it was a entire essay. The accordion makes it more presentable.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Indeed. Don't forget about spoilers either! In reality I could have used more accordions for the sections within the accordion, but I didn't want to get all Inception with my faction sheet.

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

What do you mean do not forget about spoilers?

 

[KamiKahzy]

I put spoiler code within my accordion to organize things even more. You'll see them inside the code, they're basically little buttons that reveal text when you press them. It's similar to an accordion, but it only lets you do one box of text per spoiler.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

I should flesh out my more important characters, especially my nobles/specialists.

 

[Beckoncall]

That would be AWESOME! and I'll try to up my format game as well... in case you didn't follow with spoilers prince -- look at Kami's characters in his overview...there is basically a "spoiler" button for each one, which shows or hides each character. In the case of your overview it would be VERY useful, because people would only see the illustrations that were pertinent to the person or item they were reading about!

 

[KamiKahzy]

That would be AWESOME! and I'll try to up my format game as well... in case you didn't follow with spoilers prince -- look at Kami's characters in his overview...there is basically a "spoiler" button for each one, which shows or hides each character. In the case of your overview it would be VERY useful, because people would only see the illustrations that were pertinent to the person or item they were reading about!

I second that notion.

 

[Beckoncall]

And yes, blood will fly -- I have literally EVERYTHING I NEED to really throw buckets of dice and have already calculated imagry for a lot of what I envision happening... it's just finding the right time... which is one of the reasons I like PbP so much -- players, and GMs can have time to "cook" and react to stuff.


The arrival of the ratmen is going to precipitate a LOT of new activity, I am sure.

 

[KamiKahzy]

Oh yes, I'm sure shenanigans will be happening on the island in short order.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

I'm simply awaiting the results of the battle with baited breath.

 

[Beckoncall]

I'll try not to keep you, but at least we are finally of one mind with how many horsemen you have, and got an interesting personality for one to boot.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

He might be a hedonist, man whore, but he's my hedonist man whore.

 

[Beckoncall]

Since the battle will be resolved soon... I'd like to poll people on how they envision "Loot" being fun for them... commodities, specific items, described items of value or finery? It will doubtless evolve, but I wanted to get people opinions so the loot system if not now then going forward is a motivating driving aspect. Loot can be really fun, but not everybody agrees why!