Discussion could probably go in the main thread, but in the event people were waiting to start discussing in a separate thread, here it is.
Link to the Game Rules/Character Creation/Selection.
Sample Characters are now up.
Li Chenggong- Merchant Prince ("Successful Righteousness") (male)
Jiang Fengyun- Skyfleet Captain ("Windycloud River") (female)
More are coming.
Any questions?
I've been wanting to take a look, but I've been quite busy.
I will have some time tomorrow so I'll check it out. At first glance it did sound interesting.
Interesting. I like the focus on pseudo-China. The fluff and crunch seem rather Exalted-ish.
In the first case, that's good, because Exalted's fluff is pretty cool.
In the second case, that's bad, because Exalted's rules are a brain-corrupting mess.
Consider it Exalted-Lite.
It's a Turn Based Tactical RPG.
It's the Exalted game I've wanted to run, which I mentioned to you in IRC once Sparkle, but could not because (1) my group and I have very different ideas of what is appropriate for an exalted game :). and because (2) Exalted's rules tend toward inertia (they are too complicated).
I would never run this game if I thought it would take longer for a GM to run than Underdeep. It's going to play a little like City of Chosen in that fashion- you tell me what you are, what you want to accomplish and conduct investigations, then I give you options to pursue; choices A, B, and C, and you can do an option D that you invent yourself. You choose which options to pursue and how to get there from here. You build up yourself and your allies and your society and change the world.
Major play/game inspirations and touchstones for players are: Exalted and the Jade Empire (video game).
I also plan to have some subplots based on the Seven Samurai and 47 Ronin and other famous Eastern works, but it remains to be seen how I can integrate them... depends on what the players are doing.
That being said; China, Korea, Mongolia, Northern India (Tamerlane style), Turkishness and Norseism will be the focus as opposed to Japan.
We now have 4 sample characters.
And one short story is up for a sample character:
[ic=Li Chenggong's Story]
Chenggong had always had a knack for solving problems. But now he was hanging upside down by a fishhook while an incensed Imperial Guard officer spat in his face.
"It is not my fault the bribes were not delivered." Chenggong stated. "I delivered the money to the old man who lives by the sea."
"The old man is dead!" The Officer screamed. "You gave the funds to a charlatan."
"I see." Chenggong gritted his teeth as gravity caused the hook to dig deeper into his leg. "Seems like that's the real issue here."
"You're also on this list." The Officer held up a piece of thick paper, stamped with an imperial seal. It was upside down, well, it was right side up and he was upside down, so Chenggong couldn't read it.
"Is it an important list?"
"It lists you as one of the spirit-accursed, an enemy of the empire unless you report to the Island and prostrate yourself before your rulers."
"Spirit accursed?" Chenggong had heard of those, people who gained supernatural powers from ghosts who struggled to breach into the natural world.
"We have a medium who can find out these things. She tracked your aura."
"Aren't the spirit accursed gifted with unnatural strength? And how do you know it's *My* aura?"
"Process of elimination." The official smiled and placed the list back in his pocket.
"I can't say I've felt any different, save for the nightmares."
"Aha!" The Official nodded, patting a sword at his side. "Then we have you. We'll be freezing you in carbonite and then shipping you to the island so you can do no danger." He hit a lever beside him and the ancient machine to which the hook was attached whirred into action.
Chenggong, seeing the rapidly approaching carbonite freezer, which would stop his heart and his mind and his body until it unthawed in an even more hostile location, figured it was worth a try to see if his dreams and the Official's suspicions had really been correct and not mere hallucinations. What did he have to lose, anyway. He closed his eyes and meditated, focusing on the spirit Qi. And he found himself free of the machine, bleeding still, but standing next to it. The ground was unsteady, so he stepped to the side. And he heard a groan. Beneath him, to a side, lay the Official. Curious... Chenggong watched the carbonite freezer activate, freezing nothing. Below lay the Official and the man's sword. Chenggong reached for it and the man moaned. "You... moved... on top of me."
"I guess it was worth a try." Chenggong shrugged. Then he considered the sword and the man. And his aching foot. He stabbed.
The man moaned a last "Wh-". Chenggong shrugged. "Why? Process of elimination and all. Couldn't escape, so might as well innovate."
"I guess I have a bit more of a problem to solve now." He bent beside the body, turned it over and reached inside the Officer's vest for the paper. "At least I also have a few potential allies. But first..." He listened. The Officer's men were chatting outside. "Time to deal with yours." He turned from the dead man.
[/ic]
Any rules questions?
I wrote up Shuimen so you can have a bit of a sense of place. It's down the game page, near the end.
Ok (to the general reader). If this isn't the type of game you are interested in, then I understand. And if people are too busy, I understand.
On the off chance you don't fall into either category and you might potentially be interested, please let me know what you need to know to be interested in the game.
-On another note; Culture of Shuimen has been added, including the Pact with Undead, the Treaty with Fey, and the Deal with Deities.
Also, a description of how the Celestial Bureaucracy functions has been added.
While I probably don't have the time to participate, may I say that I *love* the idea of tactical stances ("Ferocious Advance," "Hold the Line" etc), and wish I'd thought of it with Underdeep. Also the name "City of the Metal Flowers" is really awesome.
Right now, I'm too busy getting FA ready and not sure if I can commit given that this would be my fourth forum game if I join RR as planned. That being said, I would love to be able to since this looks like fun and may give it a second look once I have this rutting map plotted out. :P
Steerpike, Thank you. :)
For what it's worth Xathan, this is my fourth game as well, since I just joined City of the Chosen. :). I did not realize you were planning on joining Republic Reborn; RR is a very intriguing game.
-
In other news, I detailed Nanjangistrand (slightly) and the City of Metal Flowers.
Wait, your fourth? You joining FA too? :P And I think I just need to get a bit more past planning stages, then I'll be able to figure out if schedule allows. :)
Xathan- I've been in Republic Reborn; I am in City of Chosen, and Underdeep (although it just ended), and this one I wrote up. I'll admit, though, the overlap lasted about only 2 days before Steerpike canceled Underdeep, but I was willing to do it all. :)
No worries.
--
Posted Street of Mannequins and some more units (including tax collectors)
Essentially, gather units to your cause and they are how you can do extra other actions. You are a leader of people, all sorts of groups of people. This is your story, and theirs. Let it be written.
Thread updated with the types of events that characters may face...so you can get an idea of the challenges you can respond to and how gameplay will work:
Events that A Player May Face
Li Chenggong, the Merchant, has just escaped his close brush with death and beaten back the Imperial soldiers. Now, he has some options.
He has Headquarters of 2
2 - You have private access to several connected buildings; or you have a very large house; or you have a small house and some land (rural). In all cases, your furnishings are the most appropriate that money can buy. The furnishings and the land may have been donated to you, or you may have inherited them. Please do not confuse these possessions as resources, although they may become them if sold. Essentially, all income from the land goes back into its upkeep.
Effect--As before, and Conducting a Qi action costs 1 less Qi.
And Followers of 2
2- You have around 100 followers (Magnitude 2);
But he selected to take less so he'd have thematically related followers, so he has around 40 very dedicated followers who are caravan guards and other martial characters, and 20 very loyal merchants.
You may always suggest different checks, but make a good argument for them. I do not have to take your suggestions, but I can use them as a guide! Be creative! And make a good argument!
[ooc]Event 1
-Your advisor Qin Shalong, a tall man from the Imperial Island clasps your hands in his as you enter your compound. "I had not thought you would return." He said. "You convinced them to free you?"
He fills you in on what has been happening at your compound; men came and ransacked it, stealing much of your wealth, but Shalong managed to hide some of it. Several of your guards were arrested in the battle though. There are those at the compound who would see them freed, whether by purchase, negotiation, or might. The guards who resisted numbered around 30 in total and they were taken to the Blackened Rock, a prison at the top of Shuimen's waterfall that cuts down to the sea, on the side without the sea-lifts.
Options:
A.-A straight up battle will first require you to make a successful Tactics check to navigate and use Guerilla tactics. Then you must pit your forces against 40 trained Imperial Guards on the exterior defenses and fight your way past them. Once past them, you will face the Guardian Langzhi (The Guardian Wolves), which number 20, and the City Guards, which number 40. If you can make it past them, then you have additional options.
(A1) Do you also rescue the 40 noncombatants who are in for debt crimes and petty crimes ranging from shoplifting to arson? They will go free, but an Awareness or Tactics and Presence check may point out the best fighters among them and you can focus on recruiting them (likely 10).
(A2) Do you also rescue the 200 murderers on murder row. Presence check to keep them in line. They may become a unit (Magnitude 2).
(A3) Do you rescue the 30 mad fey creatures that gnaw on human bones and that may be mad. Presence check to ensure that they do not attack you while you are freeing them; then a Socialize check, Or Presence check, then offer them Qi in payment (won't know how much they will take from your soul), Or you suggest something. They may become a unit.
(A4) Rescue the 25 surviving guards who you came to save. They may become a unit.
B.- Bribe the guards to free your men, surreptitiously walking around the legal system. Cost: 3 Resources and succeed on a Bureaucracy check and a Presence(Persuasion check) (hard). Fail and you lose all the money and they're still in.
C.- Bribe and deal with a speedy court case. Cost: 1 Resource and succeed on a Bureaucracy check and a Presence(Persuasion check) (medium). Fail and you lose all the money and they're still in.
D.- Sneak into the place and try to free the guards. Awareness, Athletics, Stealth, and [Theft(Lockpick) or Weapon] checks. Essentially first you have to find a secret way in, then you need to be athletic enough to get in and do it stealthily, then you have to steal a way into the prison or kill a guard (you must pick). Then must spend some Qi to hide the allies you have freed, some Qi expenditure like "Hidden Body Technique", or "Convenient Memory Gap" if you are trying ot exit stealthily.
(D2) If you want to fight your way out after getting in stealthily, you can free the others under A and fight everyone you'd need to under A, except backwards. Keep in mind that your troops are not armed at first, so battles are unarmed.
E.- Your suggestion. Pitch it to me.
F.- Do nothing. Abandon your guards. They failed to defend your home and they deserve little care.
[/ooc]
[ooc]Event 2
Your assets have been frozen now that you are persona non grata in the Empire. You need money, but how to get at it?
A. Petition the Court for your funds.
Bribe 1 Resource, then Bureaucracy Check (hard) to unfreeze 4 Resources for the month (onetime), but you haven't unfrozen the entirety.
B. Steal the funds back from the Treasury. Only results in 12 Resources for the month (onetime).
(B1)Fight the Shi Shi Shi The Ten Stone Lions of the Treasury gate and the 50 Heavily Armored Imperial Infantry. (very hard)
(B2)Stealthily try to get in (hard)
C. Mobilize your merchants and start calling in favors and cutting deals. Focus on selling in the Alabaster quarter.
Earn 2 Resources from your work. Then deal with this issue-> Yal Gongsi, the Federation's representative comes around to your merchants and demands the Federation's cut, which would be 50% in this case since you are trading in a non-licensed location.
(C1) Negotiate with Mr. Yal. Presence or Socialize for a waiver of costs now for a greater payment later when you get back on your feet.
(C2) Beat up Mr. Yal- (battle stats for you individually vs. his honor guard of 5). Steal the 1 Resource he had on him.
(C3) Get Mr. Yal drunk and then blackmail him with embarassing revelations. Socialize and Investigate (hard).
(C4) Diagnose Mr. Yal's dangerous skin condition and then heal him. Medicine (easy), Socialize (med), Medicine (very hard). He pays you 4 Resources and promises to keep the Federation's goons off you in the Alabaster quarter. Your business also increases and next month you will earn double resources in the Alabaster Quarter.
Also deal with this issue-> Captain Soon Hae-Yoon, from the Northern provinces, has confiscated a shipment of your goods. If you could free the shipment, you could sell them for 2 Resources.
(Cx1) Knowledge check or Socialize (Upper Class Manners) with the Captain to figure out that the Captain needs the goods because her unit is shipping out on Grax next month and the Imperial supplies are variable...Offer to get supplies at a cheap rate for the Captain. To pull that off, you'll need Allies or Theft (Stolen Goods) to get something from the Federation that might have 'fallen off' an Imperial shipment. It's a hard thing to do.
(Cx2) Investigate and Theft to try to frame the Captain for a crime, delaying the shipping out of her unit and putting the supplies out of her commandeering.
(Cx3) Occult check to note that the Captain has Hungry Ghosts floating around her; agitate them and cause her misfortune, then Socialize check to explain that you can free her of the ghosts... for a price.
[/ooc]
Bumping because someone by PM requested that I bump this up.
If you are interested in playing, please create a character as per the instructions. :)