Dice Shadows of the Setting Sun (OOC)

[WlfSamurai]

Oh yes! and to add:

You are starting out Allies, not friends as I mentioned. But, key words to that is STARTING OUT. Same with your starting locations when we decide. You are free to make enemies of each other or go anywhere you want. Up to you after the start.

 

[Sherwood]

I'm not quite sure what to do with all of this. It will take a bit to process.

 

[WlfSamurai]

I'm not quite sure what to do with all of this. It will take a bit to process.

Sorry! It’s a lot!

 

[Rykon]

So my takeaway in short is we pick up from an agreed-upon starting point and the rest is a collaborative sandbox. Even if that means the group splits off to pursue separate goals, and I would hope, occasionally reconvenes for more critical matters. Regardless the objective is that everyone has fun cooperatively telling the story even if everyone isn't always working towards the same goals during each story beat or story arc. I've no complaints there. Looking forward to getting started!

 

[WlfSamurai]

So my takeaway in short is we pick up from an agreed-upon starting point and the rest is a collaborative sandbox. Even if that means the group splits off to pursue separate goals, and I would hope, occasionally reconvenes for more critical matters. Regardless the objective is that everyone has fun cooperatively telling the story even if everyone isn't always working towards the same goals during each story beat or story arc. I've no complaints there. Looking forward to getting started!

Yes. Thank you. LOL

 

[Random Word]

I also like Powered by the Apocalypse games and Blades in the Dark and whatnot, and I'll be pleased if Exalted: Essence cribs some good ideas from it and its ilk. Everything you described lines up with how I run my Exalted campaigns, so there are no surprises for me there. I've never tried it with eight players, though!

Okay, so once there's a decision on whether we're all based in Whitewall or scattered about I'll know if I should carry on with Two-Manse Farm Nation or come up with something new that fits in nicely with the city, maybe with a personal tie to Zoya.

Let's see, the roles we have filled are:
All of the Social + Lore + Sorcery
Murder + Showmanship
Just So Much Murder, All of the Murder
Surely We're Out of Ways To Murder - Oh, No, Bear Murder
Murder + Mass Murder + a Secret Clubhouse

Okay, so, initially I thought it might be a challenge to find a niche for a new character idea, but it really is just 'Anything but murder.'

 

[Sherwood]

You say 'Bear Murder' like it is a bad thing.

 

[Rykon]

You say 'Bear Murder' like it is a bad thing.

Depends, Bear Murder as in murdering Bears? That's a tragedy. Bears that murder? I'd say it's a Bear necessity for this group.

 

[Sherwood]

The right to bear arms, or is it the right to arm bears?

 

[WlfSamurai]

I think the puns will bear this game into success.

I am so looking forward to bear murder.

 

[Esbilon]

Basing them on the little dotty lines on the map you showed. Its a border of something. I do not have handy a great amount of geographical information on various cities, regions, inhabitants, etc. And have also not had the benefit of playing through several edition to accumulate the knowledge of.

Oh. I think I see how the confusion comes about. Assuming you're talking about this map Exalted 3: Mapping Tools, those dotty lines are roads, not borders. We currently live in a world dominated by nation states and it took quite a while for myself to realise that these are a relatively new invention and generally not how things are done in Exalted's timeline. Most of the cities in the map are just that - cities. Medo which is between Sijan and Whitewall is a country, and the Haslanti league in the north east is sort of a country, but you'll note that there are no hard borders.

With three dots of influence, I am not sure how far "regional" extends. Combined with the sorbiquet merit that insinuates deeds being widely known. As one of my prime concerns was not wanting Afureru's backstory consequences to just bleed into Zoya's like that.

Yeah, "regional" is very much an ill-defined word in this context. I take it to mean "the area relevant to the game," but since it's speciflcally rooted in a place far away from Whitewall, it probably shouldn't extend that far. At least not among the general populace, but you could easily have notoriety among the criminal element, or part of it anyway.

We have two or three separate starts

If you're mad enough to run a game with 7-8 players and 2-3 starting locations, I think it might actually be for the best. That said, I would in no way what so ever blame you if you weren't. This is already quite an undertaking and I wouldn't want you to get burned out.

Blades in the Dark and whatnot

I'll be the dissenting voice here and say that the two Blades in the Dark-style games I've been in, I've really felt that the system took away from the experience. It turns an rpg into a collaborative board game where I don't know the rules. I'm sure there are things that can be applied elsewhere, but consider me a skeptic.

Okay, so once there's a decision on whether we're all based in Whitewall or scattered about I'll know if I should carry on with Two-Manse Farm Nation or come up with something new that fits in nicely with the city, maybe with a personal tie to Zoya.

I'd be very happy to work out some kind of tie. Zoya's backstory has touchpoint when she's like 0, 10, 15, and 25, so the there's a lot of room for filling in the blanks. And if you want to do things with powerful manses, the Ex2 description placed a level 5 solar manse in the center of the city, so there's something to work with even if you don't start out with it.

 

[Random Word]

if you want to do things with powerful manses, the Ex2 description placed a level 5 solar manse in the center of the city

Oh yeah, I remember that one. I don't actually have a powerful manse fetish, though, I just specifically wanted those two hearthstones for their immense transformative effect for a whole Northern community. The Manses themselves were very secondary. Those effects are really hard to replicate with any existing Solar Charms, and the similar Lunar Charms have much smaller areas of effect at E1. There's no Merit for, 'And by the way I've already done a bunch of Sorcerous Workings', otherwise that would be a viable replacement for the Hearthstones.

If I go Whitewall based I'll just free up the 10+ points of Merits to allocate elsewhere.

I'll be the dissenting voice here and say that the two Blades in the Dark-style games I've been in, I've really felt that the system took away from the experience.

That's too bad! I haven't played it myself, just enjoyed reading the rulebook and some of the derivative games, and have watched some actual plays that looked fun.

 

[Esbilon]

That's too bad! I haven't played it myself, just enjoyed reading the rulebook and some of the derivative games, and have watched some actual plays that looked fun.

My experience - which may be biased by GMs inexperienced with the system - is that its strict division of mission-time and down-time suppresses roleplaying both during missions and during downtime. One of the games I tried (which is still ongoing) is a survival-based game where we need to tick up a bunch of clocks to not die from starvation which is very board-gamey.

Regarding Whitewall, there's also a big ol' Wyld Zone next door, and Zoya is Lore Supernal. I haven't gone deep on Wyld Shaping atm because that's not what her BG's about and we had nothing from Wlf or the rest of the party indicating it'd be a priority, but that means she could relatively easily help you dig out some Demesnes, and Whitewall has one of the leading colleges of architecthure (and Zoya has a connection with one of the professors) so there's a support system for building manses there.

 

[WlfSamurai]

I also like Powered by the Apocalypse games and Blades in the Dark and whatnot, and I'll be pleased if Exalted: Essence cribs some good ideas from it and its ilk. Everything you described lines up with how I run my Exalted campaigns, so there are no surprises for me there. I've never tried it with eight players, though!

Okay, so once there's a decision on whether we're all based in Whitewall or scattered about I'll know if I should carry on with Two-Manse Farm Nation or come up with something new that fits in nicely with the city, maybe with a personal tie to Zoya.

Let's see, the roles we have filled are:
All of the Social + Lore + Sorcery
Murder + Showmanship
Just So Much Murder, All of the Murder
Surely We're Out of Ways To Murder - Oh, No, Bear Murder
Murder + Mass Murder + a Secret Clubhouse

Okay, so, initially I thought it might be a challenge to find a niche for a new character idea, but it really is just 'Anything but murder.'

Yeah, Apocalypse World is my favorite. Just ask Teh Frixz . So good.

I'll be the dissenting voice here and say that the two Blades in the Dark-style games I've been in, I've really felt that the system took away from the experience. It turns an rpg into a collaborative board game where I don't know the rules. I'm sure there are things that can be applied elsewhere, but consider me a skeptic.

Yeah, Blades kind of gets away from the point of Apocalypse World’s collaborative and opinionated narrative by building the mission structures and such. I feel like there are better PbtA games out there, but I’m biased.

If you're mad enough to run a game with 7-8 players and 2-3 starting locations, I think it might actually be for the best. That said, I would in no way what so ever blame you if you weren't. This is already quite an undertaking and I wouldn't want you to get burned out.

Yeah, I’m leaning that way. Madness and all (not really that mad).

 

[D. Rex]

Okay, couple things here I need to clear up.

1. Random Word , do not rework yet. I like the idea you have. And, while 2, 5 dot manses is insane in some ways, the way you're using them is fantastic. And I'd like to play that story out, if we can.
2. Yes, the whole Fortitude --> Whitewall thing doesn't happen. It is too far and over terrain that wouldn't make sense for a group of criminal gangs to raid over. BUT! Again, D. Rex , I like that you're character is infamous in the region and has a great story along with it.

So, let me clarify a few points that I never really did. I've played games with most of you over many years. And I think ran a few games for many of you. But, some things about me and this game in particular:

1. Against Sherwood 's very good and sage advice, I am a character-driven MC/ST/GM/DM. Meaning, my games are really OUR games. And I want you to tell them WITH me. This isn't me dictating a story to you. This is the story about your characters.
   1. Hell, there may be times I ask you to tell me about stuff! That's your time to add to the world!
   2. Also, it's up to you to choose what you do in the game!
2. I, unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you ask), have been RUINED by modern game design. That is story-first, narrative, usually-indie games. However you want to call them. I call them hippy-dippy games, often. Just to make fun of myself. Why do I point this out? Well, because:
   1. I'm not interested in "balance" or worried about "power-gaming". In the end, it all ends up being story. In theory, you can't be "too powerful" to deal with. I'm the effing ST. I can just say you're dead, right? BUT! Everything has to be played out in-game or through the story. Have two manses? Great! Tell me how and why. How does it fit into who your character is and what they do? And remember, just because they're on your sheet and you paid points for them doesn't mean they're magically protected. They are assets ready for the taking. (Sorry, Random Word , that was just an easy example)
   2. There is no such thing as meta-gaming and there is no such thing as hiding behind "well that's what my character would do!". No. This is our GAME. And in it, we decide what happens and how. And in it we say, "Hey! I want to be there!". And I say, "Cool! You're there! Now what do you do, though!?" I mean, if you're 800 miles away, you're not going to be there. But, within "reason" let's make it fun and awesome. Also, we're here to have fun telling a cool story. You are your character and your character is you. Think free-form style: don't do it if it would upset the other player's fun. Permission.
   3. With above, I'm going to do a lot of zooming-out. I'll be feeding you information at a larger scale. Then we can frame up scenes we really care about and jumping into those.
   4. I'm a fan of the PCs! Yeah, I'm gonna throw some crazy shit at you, but you're demi-gods and I want to see you shine! Show us how awesome you are!
   5. I don't sweat the small stuff (see above with the being in scenes and stuff). Meaning, this is a pretend game about half-gods who's ancestors killed world-makers where time is measured in scenes. Does it really matter where you take a poo? Realism doesn't exist because...it's not real!
3. Also! I don't know all the Exalted lore! I've been playing since 1e in 2002 and I'm still surprised all the damn time. And 3e turned a ton on its head. So, I plan on making a decent effort, making my own stuff, and drawing on 1e and 2e stuff where needed.

Okay, I swear, I'm putting the soapbox away! Okay. There. It's gone.

None of that was directed at anyone or about anything that's happened in the thread here. I just wanted those that don't know me to better understand where I'm coming from when I give the answers I do. So it's not a shock, yeah?

I hope those points don't dissapoint anyone. I want you all to have the game YOU want.

Now, with all THAT garbage in mind. Let's talk about what we want this thing to start out as. I made a mistake. I had two sets of conversations going about this game at the same time in parallel in different places. And I mixed up what I said where.

But it's okay! Let's just ask:

I see two options for our start:

1. Everyone piles into Whitewall and we start there together making a mess out of it
2. We have two or three separate starts
   1. Whitewall
   2. Random Word 's...two manse...farm...nation?
   3. And maybe the wastes between Fortitude and the Mountains where D. Rex in known as some devil-lady?

Maybe somewhere else, too?

So, what do you guys think? Which should we go for? I mean, we have 8 people playing. We can split it up without issue or pile on.

Thoughts?

Also, I absolutely love the characters you guys have made so far. I'm so excited to see the stuff they do!

Tagging again so no one misses my BS:
Esbilon , Epiphany , Rykon , Sherwood , D. Rex , Funnier President , Random Word , Teh Frixz

I'm fine anywhere! And I would be more leaning towards being closer together than farther apart. And if we do split it, probably no more than two groups to keep things manageable.



We know we are in land North. Central to West seems to be where most of our activity has taken place.


Maybe it might help to determine what our goal is? Since we have been together for a little while as allies. A clear goal might give us an idea of where to set up shop.






Random Word
Have you looked at Gethamane? That city supposedly can self sustain on subterranean gardens. Maybe it is related to the manses?

 

[Random Word]

Have you looked at Gethamane? That city supposedly can self sustain on subterranean gardens. Maybe it is related to the manses?

I'm familiar with Gethamane, but the character really was all about creating the seed of a new empire that I thought Rykon was interested in founding. The Manses are very much a means to an end - Empires need abundant food, which either means growing it or buying it. Growing it is almost always superior to buying it in this era. The character concept I created wants to be worshipped as a goddess, and the easiest path to that is for the source of the abundant food to (at least appear to) be her. The concept also calls for living in a remote place without a large well educated power nearby that would have long ago recognized the potential of the Manses and seized them from the monastic order watching over them (This serves the dual purpose of not having some giant neighbour immediately try to eat your fledgling empire). If the Manse is in the middle of Gethamane then there's zero chance someone hasn't attuned to it long ago, and thus if my character comes along and attunes to it it's just business as usual. No one is surprised or impressed, and certainly not worshipping her for the miracle of making tundra into incredibly productive farmland.

Basically, I should use Two Manse Farm Nation Bodhisattva if and only if there is a consensus that we want a story (at least partly) about weaving a new great power out of whole cloth in what is currently largely unpopulated wilderness. If we do not decide we want to tell that story, that is not a bad thing! I will make a new character concept that fits with the story we do want to tell. I can grow up in Whitewall and be properly integrated into the community and power structures there. I am both very agreeable, good at having fun in almost any circumstance, and only in the game by a special extension of the player limit, so I want my integration to be as frictionless as possible.

 

[Rykon]

I'm familiar with Gethamane, but the character really was all about creating the seed of a new empire that I thought Rykon was interested in founding. The Manses are very much a means to an end - Empires need abundant food, which either means growing it or buying it. Growing it is almost always superior to buying it in this era. The character concept I created wants to be worshipped as a goddess, and the easiest path to that is for the source of the abundant food to (at least appear to) be her. The concept also calls for living in a remote place without a large well educated power nearby that would have long ago recognized the potential of the Manses and seized them from the monastic order watching over them (This serves the dual purpose of not having some giant neighbour immediately try to eat your fledgling empire). If the Manse is in the middle of Gethamane then there's zero chance someone hasn't attuned to it long ago, and thus if my character comes along and attunes to it it's just business as usual. No one is surprised or impressed, and certainly not worshipping her for the miracle of making tundra into incredibly productive farmland.

Basically, I should use Two Manse Farm Nation Bodhisattva if and only if there is a consensus that we want a story (at least partly) about weaving a new great power out of whole cloth in what is currently largely unpopulated wilderness. If we do not decide we want to tell that story, that is not a bad thing! I will make a new character concept that fits with the story we do want to tell. I can grow up in Whitewall and be properly integrated into the community and power structures there. I am both very agreeable, good at having fun in almost any circumstance, and only in the game by a special extension of the player limit, so I want my integration to be as frictionless as possible.

I apologize if the background or my personal goals were misleading on the nature of the game. I have been planning on expanding my background writeup today, so I'll make sure to get as much done as I can after work given various commitments.

I do want Toun to raise a nation as it's living God. I want him to go head to head with the tribe that killed everyone he knew before the second breathe. One that now allies with the Bull for added challenge.

I agree I'd rather not let the pursuit of my goals or methods come at the expense of the rest of the group or limit their ability to engage in the fun. I made Toun to be broadly adaptable to various complications we come up across, so I've no problem improvising as we go along. Since our ST WlfSamurai has expressed the interest in a complete sandbox, I'm more than happy to double down on nation building and grand wars against fae, undead, or other Exalted led factions if it's not a problem for the other players.

 

[Random Word]

I apologize if the background or my personal goals were misleading

Oh, no, not at all. At the time most characters were foreign and travelling to some nebulous place in the North, and you were a native Northerner with some vague notion of settling down, again in some nebulous place. I was trying to be helpful by creating said nebulous place, but helpful is in the eyes of the recipients, and as soon as creating that place is no longer helpful I no longer want to do it. Things have developed since then, and now we have an alternative place - Whitewall - and the Syndics are generally pretty pro 'hand the place over to the Solars now that they're back and before Ruvia finds some way to get us all Audited.'

 

[WlfSamurai]

So I didn’t see a ton of feedback on our starting. So I’m just going to make a decision and say we spread out with multiple starting locations. I want you guys to be able to make any adjustments and work out your characters for sure. Especially if we’re looking for a Thursday start.

With that in mind, I’d rather no one start alone. So let’s group up. We know we’re going to have a Whitewall group for sure. We’re also going to have a group at Random Word ’s farming...nation...thingy.

Where else are we thinking? And where do you each want to throw in?

Tagging: Esbilon , Epiphany , Rykon , Sherwood , D. Rex , Funnier President , Random Word , Teh Frixz

 

[Random Word]

Yay decisions! I will go finish my character, then.

 

[Sherwood]

WlfSamurai Are you sure you will be able to handle seven of us all running around Creation, all going our own way? That's almost running seven different games all at once.

 

[D. Rex]

So I didn’t see ton of feedback on our starting. So I’m just going to make a decision and say we spread out with multiple starting locations. I want you guys to be able to make any adjustments and work out your characters for sure. Especially if we’re looking for a Thursday start.

With that in mind, I’d rather no one start alone. So let’s group up. We know we’re going to have a Whitewall group for sure. We’re also going to have a group at Random Word ’s farming...nation...thingy.

Where else are we thinking? And where do you each want to throw in?

Tagging: Esbilon , Epiphany , Rykon , Sherwood , D. Rex , Funnier President , Random Word , Teh Frixz

As for me, I didnt intend to start alone. Was fine going where the majority of the char decided upon.

Afureru, at the moment,we can call her a floater. No particular reason to be in any place, and can be paired with someone to make sure they aren't alone.



I do have a few ideas to throw out though. Whitewall is a grand place. But it is established, and there is sentiments floating around regarding a bit of creation and nation building.


What about the Mountain range between Fortitude and Whitewall? Specifically the Whitewall side. A good 16-20 day ride on horse. And the majority of the land around the range is assumedly unsettled.

Northern Mountains, they are bound to be a horrifying and inhospitable place. But what better place for there to be hidden life saving manses? A potential shangri-la in the making!

We can hit several beats here.

1. Random Word uber-fertility zone. Not taken by anyone else.

2. Rykon would have a good location to set up a well defended city of our own.

3. We have Fortitude on the other side if we need big troublemakers.

4. Whitewall isn't unreasonably far, creating ties to that city is believable, and it is visitiable. Trade, aid, etc.

5. To tame those mountains is an impossible task, fit for exalted.

 

[D. Rex]

 

[WlfSamurai]

WlfSamurai Are you sure you will be able to handle seven of us all running around Creation, all going our own way? That's almost running seven different games all at once.

I know it sounds crazy, but I should be able to take it on.

I really appreciate the concern. If I get into it and it's too much, I'll let you guys know and we can re-assess.

You were the one that taught me to think of it that way, actually. I hope you know that. But, it's what is strangely comfortable. I've always run Exalted that way. For better or worse.

 

[Sherwood]

I know it sounds crazy, but I should be able to take it on.

I really appreciate the concern. If I get into it and it's too much, I'll let you guys know and we can re-assess.

You were the one that taught me to think of it that way, actually. I hope you know that. But, it's what is strangely comfortable. I've always run Exalted that way. For better or worse.

I'm just making sure you are ready for trying to wrangle this herd of cats.