The Campaign Builder's Guild

So, an offhand comment in the Tavern set me to cogitating, and that's never a good thing.

Here's my idea: what if we, as a community, formed a regular online gaming group based around running short games in our respective worlds? We'll use IRC or similar instant chat software that happens to support dice-rolling functions, we'll get a weekly timeslot that works pretty well for most folks, and we'll set up a list of who wants to run what and when to rotate with.

I figure we could all use a casual venue for playtesting things, and we could certainly all enjoy some gaming with each other (considering how much we enjoy collaborating together on our projects and just virtually hanging out and whatnot.) And I don't know about you, but I have definitely got a long list of other people's settings on this site that I'd jump at the chance to play in.

I'm thinking we could come up with some ideas for very short games-- gaming vignettes, if you will-- that could be played in 1-2 sessions. That way, we can rotate around freely. That is, I'll run a game in my setting one week, and the next week I'll play as a character in another game run by somebody else in their own setting, and the week after that it'll be a different person running a game in a different world, etc. This is nice for people with weird schedules, because if you can only make it to the game once a month, you don't have to feel like you need to sit out the whole thing. You can miss Game X in World X one week, and still jump in for Game Y in World Y the next week.

The plots themselves would be nice and brief; just little things to whet our appetites. Since they'll (most likely) be confined to one location for time reasons, this is a great thing to do with unfinished settings, where only one city or one nation is complete enough for you to run it comfortably.

Post if you're interested, I guess. We'll hammer out the minutae and come up with a timeslot and a list of who is running what and when, and who is playing in which games. I figure it can't hurt to have a list ahead of time so we can have a few weeks of lead time to figure out characters, read up on pertinent setting information, and familiarize ourselves with setting-specific game mechanics, if any.

pooooooooooooooost
(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3740/csimiamiyeahle9.gif)

Sounds interesting. I'd be up for it. (I'd have to do more work on Derunas, though)

I think your ideas are great.  Always.
(hugs for LC)
Can't wait to see what folks do, and I think it could allow for a lot of play testing, which is vital.

But I don't do one-shots.  A short campaign for me is 4 years.  No Joke.

But your consistency here and the enjoyment I get out of the CBG has set me to trying to convince the wife to let me add 2 more IRC/AIM sessions a month (which is what think it would take).  Says the arrogant bastard old fool.

Sounds good, except for possibly getting bogged down with making characters. Maybe whoever is running it would provide a selection of pre-made or partially-made characters, to keep things moving on a relatively quick clip. (And also to focus play-testing on specific areas that need it.)

Yeah, I was thinking about the character- creation process... Ideally, I imagine (assuming we're using this vignettes for playtesting things) the game master of the particular game would have some stock characters made up for testing purposes?

Oh, and I'm in, I have a few things to test.

yeah.
Hypothetically speaking, character creation is a full 1.5 sessions for us Guildschool folk.  I think either premade, partially premade, or some kind of an understanding would have to be made.

I'm really surprised you're going to attempt this once again LC. Good luck. You remember what happened when we tried a IRC last time.

I would think you'd have better luck with PbP, only thing is things will be slow and I mean slow.


Either way, great idea. Good luck.

I'd be up for it, depending on timing. It sounds interesting, and good chance to get more familiar with more settings.

Quote from: PoseidonI'm really surprised you're going to attempt this once again LC. Good luck. You remember what happened when we tried a IRC last time.

Yeah. I hate that the old IRC game never really got off the ground, but I really had bitten off much more than I could chew when I set that one up.

You had one experience with an IRC game, and it was a flop. It's understandable that you want to write them off entirely. On the other hand, I've had many experiences with IRC games, and most of them were amazing, and one was a flop. I've got a different perspective, so it's also understandable that I want to keep on trying. :yumm:

Also, this sort of rotating system will be less vulnerable to scheduling difficulties than our last game, because there won't usually be continuity from one week to the next. There's a different game each week, so the players can be different as well, which means that it's no problem for people to have to bow out.

That sounds like a really fun idea (to get in my D&D fix) and a really good way to playtest parts of settings and stuff.  Talk about total stroke of genius.  I'm in if we can get timing worked out.  Unfortunately, in like 3 or 4 weeks my schedule will be flooded in a completely unpredictable way.  So I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up with it.

[blockquote=LC]You had one experience with an IRC game, and it was a flop. It's understandable that you want to write them off entirely. On the other hand, I've had many experiences with IRC games, and most of them were amazing, and one was a flop. I've got a different perspective, so it's also understandable that I want to keep on trying.  [/blockquote]

I agree with LC here.  SOme of my best gaming from my PC's has come online over the last few years.  Things are a bit slower, etc, but in some ways, it makes for a more concentrated game.

Quote from: LordVreegI agree with LC here. SOme of my best gaming from my PC's has come online over the last few years. Things are a bit slower, etc, but in some ways, it makes for a more concentrated game.

The pace takes a little getting used to, especially for a game like D&D, where combat includes so many little details and die rolls that it takes absolutely forever even under the best of circumstances. Still, if I had to name the five most awesome memories I have from gaming, four of the five happened in IRC.

I like this idea. I have found that pbp doesn't really work all that well and jsut recently finnally put my pbp game to rest, but i have yet to try a irc game. i also like the idea of short games for testing stuff and there are lots of settings i have been interested to try out.

the pre-made character made by the dm seems very neccesary to me. that would cut out a lot of time and allow for better focus on the elements of playtesting you are going for.

Quote from: Luminous CrayonSo drop in for a week here and there, when you can. That's the beauty of the vignettes-- you can participate even if you are unwilling or unable to block off the same time every week for the next four months

And there lies the beauty of this system.  Thus, why I love it so much.

Quote from: Luminous CrayonYeah. I hate that the old IRC game never really got off the ground, but I really had bitten off much more than I could chew when I set that one up.

I blame Crit for being so dashing.... :P
And it wasn't a bad experience. I just know getting people in different time zones together is difficult. (I have no RL group because I now have a hectic schedule.). My previous post wasn't suppose to be such a downer, I was really just saying I hope you guys have better luck this time around than we did for JS (which was fun when we had a game)

Quote from: IshmaylYeah, I was thinking about the character- creation process... Ideally, I imagine (assuming we're using this vignettes for playtesting things) the game master of the particular game would have some stock characters made up for testing purposes?

Depends on what you want to play test. If it is a creature/monster/npc or system change then yeah stock characters will work.

However if you are play testing a class or race, then you want players to build the characters. It will tell you how easy is it for a person to build the class, possible interaction problems you hadn't thought about when designing it, and other things. What I suggest for games like this is that the DM makes a thread for character creation a week (probably two) in advance for character creation. This way the characters are done before the session begins and any questions/concerns a player might have can be answered and addressed ahead of time (leaving more time for playing during the session).



I expect narrative play logs from each of the games. :P (I probably won't be able to participate)

I'm so ridiculously up for this. Like, actually, massively, hugely up for it :D

well, maybe I'll finally get someone to run a Bugbear death mage.

Another thought, what with the whole playing-online-is-slow-due-to-mechanics.... Reth Jaleract is rules-neutral. I've also, coincidentally, come up with a basic rules system recently, which I designed for situations just like this - where you want to play but not worry about/get bogged down in the rules.

Needless to say, it's ridiculously simple.

So, I could run any possible Reth Jaleract online game using that, which would make play a lot more streamlined, if somewhat unrealistic due to the very simple rules.

I would definitely be interested, but I couldn't see myself joining more than one in four vignettes. (As has been stated, that's the beauty of the system!)  I would also love to run Tephra, but Tephra has a high learning curve.  It'd be awkward.  Still, I'd love to see what everyone else does!

Quote from: L to tha CI don't know about you, but I have definitely got a long list of other people's settings on this site that I'd jump at the chance to play in.

I'm actually interested in doing this with Vilydunn (The Original Nightmare version) as well as Haveneast, though the former would use multiple variant rules from UA.

Quote from: WickedTrollI'm actually interested in doing this with Vilydunn (The Original Nightmare version) as well as Haveneast, though the former would use multiple variant rules from UA.

Haveneast definitely makes my list. I don't remember much from Vilydunn, honestly, but I'd give it a look if you were running something for it.

Quotethough the former would use multiple variant rules from UA.

Required Texts[/b] ought to be listed on it.

Depending on the levels of interest, I'm not sure that this will be an impediment to getting a group together. I don't have a copy of UA, but I'm betting there's tons of folks here who do.

UA is available at www.d20srd.org under "Variant Rules". If you can remember way back to when Vilydunn was on the WotC forums, it used the Sanity mechanic, which is found under the Variant Rules > Campaigns section I think :D

Required text lists are definitely a good idea. Vilydunn can run entirely on Core + Unearthed Arcana, while Haveneast would probably require access to most of the Complete Series as well as Libris Mortis. I'm assuming there will be a large variety of game systems that people will consider using, but it may end up that D&D 3.5 and/or d20 Modern will be the systems easiest to use due to widespread familiarity - I'm sure almost everyone at the CBG is familiar with at least one, if not both of these.

Quote from: Poseidon

Quote from: Luminous CrayonYeah. I hate that the old IRC game never really got off the ground, but I really had bitten off much more than I could chew when I set that one up.

I blame Crit for being so dashing.... :P

*poof* you called? *poof*

In other news, I am interested in this, and as long as my nocturnal streak keeps up, I look forward to participating.  Hopefully LC, you run a vignette game on a time slot that I am available.  I'd love to play Sarenin again.

Can I just say, please let's not let this idea go by unused. I dunno if anyone else has been thinking about it or not, but in my mind, it's too good an idea to be simply forgotten :)

This idea sounds so awesome. I would totally love to do it and I am mIRC scripting language knowledgeable in case anyone needs certain scripts whipped up for sessions.

[blockquote=LC]So, an offhand comment in the Tavern set me to cogitating, and that's never a good thing.[/blockquote]

Every other Tuesday might turn out being possible for an online Celtricia thang.  Baby on the way might be a monkey wrench and a half.

I might continue the Ocodig setting group online.  The person heading that group says he might take on two new ones.
  Ocodig (http://celtricia.pbwiki.com/Ocodigians)

*Kisses Vreeg's feet*

I haven't been part of a session in over a month. I am beginning to have roleplay withdrawals.

This is getting closer.

The pacing on online gaming is a little different, at least for me.  Generally, we keep one IM 'window' open for the game, and the GM keeps one extra window open per player, so as to be able to give them some info on the side if nec.  
Sometimes only a few rooms in a crawl get done in a session.  The group has to stay together, as well, so while the sep. windows make the sneaky types easier to play, they cannot really get away to do 'Bad Things' as easily.
Experience is normally given after a session.
At least that's how we do it.  Any other conventions that mnight need to be discussed?

I have played sessions on AIM before. That was generally how it worked. It actually went along at a decent speed. I would think IRC sessions would have a similar feel and design. There are other bonuses to IRC sessions as well because of the ability to code mIRC to run scripts.

I've actually been running my recent D&D games on IRC, on the Otherworlders server (the one that host ENWorld's "official" chat; Ish knows the place I'm referring to). That would probably be a great place to run games - they have a dicebot and everything.

Quote from: WickedTrollI've actually been running my recent D&D games on IRC, on the Otherworlders server (the one that host ENWorld's "official" chat; Ish knows the place I'm referring to). That would probably be a great place to run games - they have a dicebot and everything.

So how condusive would this be to other systems.  Pardon my ignorance.  

Quote from: LordVreeg

Quote from: WickedTrollI've actually been running my recent D&D games on IRC, on the Otherworlders server (the one that host ENWorld's "official" chat; Ish knows the place I'm referring to). That would probably be a great place to run games - they have a dicebot and everything.

So how condusive would this be to other systems.  Pardon my ignorance.  

In most IRC servers (I've only played on Magicstar, so Otherworlders might be set up differently), the dice are pretty flexible. I've had no issues typing /roll 17d42+190, and getting the totaled results for seventeen forty-two-sided dice. We kept character sheets in word processor documents. There's no system built into IRC, so it's a piece of cake to run just about anything as long as you don't mind keeping track of stats and resources in a separate document.

The only thing I could foresee being a problem would be running systems that use, for example, a deck of cards for randomness. There are plenty of dicebots floating around, and I'm sure it would be possible to program and run a "cardbot," but it might be a bit tough to put together.

Edit: LV, I've heard you describe your process of playing on instant messenger programs, and it sounds a lot like using IRC. The main exceptions that stand out are IRC's ability to be more customized, players' ability to emote actions (and have them separated from normal talking by text color, etc.), and GMs' ability to have greater channel permissions (like, for example, emoting actions on behalf of NPCs.) You're really not going to lose much functionality if you were to move from one to the other.

My campaign has been using OpenRPG for the past 2 or 3 years now (with occasional live sessions thrown in), and it works really well nowadays - many of the bugs of old days have been fixed in recent patches, and being able to have battlemaps (which you can save), dice rollers, character sheets, and private windows all in one program is pretty nice...

The mapping part is mentioned as 'buggy' in a few reviews.  Has this been the case in your experience?
Way more dice rolling in Guildschool.  Much of it is percentiles, however.

I figure right before spawning I might as well find another way to not sleep.
Maybe I'll learn to type like the ten-fingered do someday...

Like I have said guys I am pretty advanced with mSl scripting. If we need a dice script or a card script or anything else I can code it. :P

Don't worry about that. I think we just need to worry about how sessions are handled and who all is going to be in them.

I have absolutely 0 experience with IRC. I'm not even entirely sure I know what it is, Lol.

Just saying...

It continues.

Soon.

obscure reference is here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Letter)

So I've been talking to the other folks involved (mainly Grakdung-not that anyone would know) about this, and it is moving slowly forward.  Hopefully, there will be other folks doing similar.

I have him looking at OpenRPG right now.  The mapping seems neat.
Nomadic, Guildschool has a few idiosynchrasies I'd like your input on.
(the ones that might affect the prgrams effectiveness, not the other peculiarities).
1) Continuous initiative system.
2) dividing dice
and how does it save data?

LV,
There have been new upgrades and patches to OpenRPG for the past year or so, and my group hasn't noticed the map being particularly buggy - is it possible those are older reviews?

Quote from: LordVreegIt continues.

Soon.

obscure reference is here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Letter)

So I've been talking to the other folks involved (mainly Grakdung-not that anyone would know) about this, and it is moving slowly forward.  Hopefully, there will be other folks doing similar.

I have him looking at OpenRPG right now.  The mapping seems neat.
Nomadic, Guildschool has a few idiosynchrasies I'd like your input on.
(the ones that might affect the prgrams effectiveness, not the other peculiarities).
1) Continuous initiative system.
2) dividing dice
and how does it save data?

I would need a better look at it. Perhaps an explanation of it or better yet a link that can show me what it looks like/does.

Quote from: Nomadic

Quote from: LordVreegIt continues.

Soon.

obscure reference is here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Letter)

So I've been talking to the other folks involved (mainly Grakdung-not that anyone would know) about this, and it is moving slowly forward.  Hopefully, there will be other folks doing similar.

I have him looking at OpenRPG right now.  The mapping seems neat.
Nomadic, Guildschool has a few idiosynchrasies I'd like your input on.
(the ones that might affect the prgrams effectiveness, not the other peculiarities).
1) Continuous initiative system.
2) dividing dice
and how does it save data?

I would need a better look at it. Perhaps an explanation of it or better yet a link that can show me what it looks like/does.

We're overusing our pronouns.  Which it do you need to see?  Do you need to see how the continuous initiative and the dividing dice systems look like?  I'll be more than happy to comply.

I also think IRC could work out quite nicely. There is no "system" built in but the ability to run bots/scripts/whatever means that you can automate just about whatever you can think of, and create a pretty good experience for players.

(About the only thing it can't do very well is a visual depiction of the area you're in)

Quote from: LordVreeg

Quote from: Nomadic

Quote from: LordVreegIt continues.

Soon.

obscure reference is here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Letter)

So I've been talking to the other folks involved (mainly Grakdung-not that anyone would know) about this, and it is moving slowly forward.  Hopefully, there will be other folks doing similar.

I have him looking at OpenRPG right now.  The mapping seems neat.
Nomadic, Guildschool has a few idiosynchrasies I'd like your input on.
(the ones that might affect the prgrams effectiveness, not the other peculiarities).
1) Continuous initiative system.
2) dividing dice
and how does it save data?

I would need a better look at it. Perhaps an explanation of it or better yet a link that can show me what it looks like/does.

We're overusing our pronouns.  Which it do you need to see?  Do you need to see how the continuous initiative and the dividing dice systems look like?  I'll be more than happy to comply.

It is more of the whole thing overall. I have no idea what this guildschool thing is. Perhaps as a starter you could show me the continuous initiative and dividing dice.

ouch.

So really just an explanation of what these things are and I am sure I can tell you how they would affect an IRC session. If anything, I can also code you an initiative roller as well as a dice script (I use to have both of them on my mIRC actually).

I'd be interested in running either a Xiluh vignette or a Fiendspawn vignette, but, well, I intend to be a bit too busy for that (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?48995.last). However, if anybody else would like to run one, I'm willing to play in a game or two. I can play on AIM, and IRC. If it's IRC, though, I'll obviously need to know what server and channel you'll be using.

NOMADIC
this is from an earlier thread.

[ic=Guildschool initiative]

I have mentioned quite a few times that we use a continuous initiative system...
And what does that mean? It means that combat initiative is kept continuously instead of stopping at the end of a round or a turn and starting again. A character in combat, anfter they have attempted a feat or action, will roll intitiative for their next action, and add it on from there. This can often mean a character with a fast weapon might attack two or three times before a character with a slower weapon. However, since smaller weapons normally do less damage and have higher dividing dice, they penetrate armor less...

Creatures in a melee roll a d10 and add it to their speed factor, creatures outside of a combat but somewhat dependent on actions within the melee (like an archer on the fringes, or a character preparing to backstab someone in the melee) use a d8, and characters not affected at all (like a spellcaster casting a non-targetted spell) roll a d6, and add that to their speed factor.

Due to some events in game play recently, I have been asked to codify some procedures and set up some guidelines for certain common actions.

For the procedural side, there are 2 issues, readied items and declared initiative.

Readied items must be declared at the beginning of every session. One cannot expect everyone else to accept a character claiming to '˜always have their scroll of '˜Water's Way' in their hand'. Unless the say so in the beginning of a session.

Declared initiative is more of a disclosure, what a character is planning to do and with what. In other words, the GM needs to know if a spell is being cast and what the initiative is, if there are reagents, if it is coming from a scroll, where that scroll is, and etc. If that information is not ready and prepared, there will be a penalty of 5 and I'll ask the same question then.
A target must also be declared when the action is readied.

Some standardization of penalties:

Unsheathing a weapon +1
Taking more than ½ total HP in a blow +1
Taking more than 75% of total HP in a blow +3
Waking up +5
Getting something out of a pocket +1
Reading a scroll +3
Getting something out of a pack +7
Getting up from the ground +2
Readied for a charge -2
Redirecting an attack (reroll init) -2
Picking a weapon up from the ground +2
Uncorking a potion +1
After being below 0 hp and healed +5
Every 3 feet of ground that has to be made up +1

Remember, that when rolling for initiative, the die rolled can be a d10, a d8, or a d6, depending on how deeply involved you are.
A d6 is rolled and added to the SF if the player is not affected by combat, is outside the combat and casting a automatic hit or group effect spell, targeting undead, etc.
A d8 is rolled and added to the SF if the character is out of combat but is affecting by combat, i.e. shooting a missile weapon into combat, timing an entry into combat.
A d10 is rolled and added to the SF if the character is in combat or has to account for dodging blows while attacking.


so in a continuous system, if 2 orcash are beating each other, on with a Mitre (SF5) and the other with a sickle (SF9), it might look like this.
Sickle orcash rolls his d10+9, and rolls a 4, and mitre orc rolls his d10+5, and rolls a 5, it means Sickle orcash has a 13 init, and mitre orcash has a 10 init.  So at 10, Mitre Orcash goes, and after, he rolls another d10, and if his second roll is 6(+5), he goes next at 21.  So when Sickle orcash goes at 13, he rolls his next initiative (d10, rolls an 8, adds 9) he'll go next at 30.
[/ic]

Ok I think that would work just fine as long as people were ok with using continuous init. If you get anyone who would prefer standard init let me know and I can code a script that does that for mIRC. Overall though that should be totally feasible.

ok.
Looks like the Ocodig online group will start again on 6/9/8
 Ocodig on the Everlovin' CBG wiki (http://www.thecbg.org/wiki/index.php/Celtricia:Ocodig)

This will be an online game, played every other Monday night.  It will start around 8pm Eastern, and probablY Go 2-3 hours a session.  My typing is slow-ish

Character creation will be done on a streamlined fashion.  I already have 2 Knights from the Armor of trade, one who is also a Scriven Letterman from Kegels letters.
I am looking for 2-3 other players for this enterprise.  I am also very open to answering any questions before anyone joins in.

I am, for those of you who do not know, running 2 live groups, and one other online group.  So I am not looking for this to be a high-stress, large commitment group.  

Awesome, LV!  If I didn't have band rehearsals on Monday nights, I would definitely jump in on this.  What will you use as a chat client/dice roller?

I will join in if you will have me LV... it looks like fun. So how exactly will we be running this?

I am here to tell you right now that the Celtricia game is going to rock your faces off, and I'm going to be fiercely jealous of those of you who, unlike myself, can make this work for your schedules.

Post your exploits on the wiki and I'll read along!

I will definitely have you.

for now, we will be using aol IM, but that will probably change after a few sessions.  Do you have an IM name there?  I am there as I am here, LordVreeg.

Unfortunately I won't be able to play on that date. I'm really looking forward to learning your system too, LV. :(

On a related note, 4e games are coming - so is a rendition of Haveneast specially for 4e.

Life is long, troll.  I appreciate the sentiment.

my AIM is hcnomad I will add you (all of my internet aliases tend to have something to do with nomad... don't ask).

You're added in.
I'd like to get online on Wednesday night if that is ok, for streamlined character creation.
might want to go here
http://celtricia.pbwiki.com/Character+Creation
first, just to get a peak.

I'd be willing to play, but I can't for another 2 weeks.

5pm (my time) Wednesday would be just fine. I will look the wiki over and get an idea of things to make it all faster when we get started Wednesday.

damn it.
I'm now travelling that day (Wednesday).
I need to go check out the frame and cushioning on a treadmill in STL.
Can we switch to Thursday, same time?

Higgs, it's going to run every other monday.
So, 6/9, 6/23, 7/7.  
If you want in, we can make that work.  Can you be online Thursday day night?  

Thursday will be just fine. I have been reading the wiki and it looks fascinating. It is alot different then the SRD though so it may take some time to get used to. I think the thing it is closest to is some of the MMORPGs I have played in the past. I may likely use my experience with those to help understand the system. In the end though, it looks like alot of fun (and very professionally done).

Possibly.

Nomadic,
I hope you like the 3/4 done first variation of your character.  I am gaming live tomorrow with my crazy Igbarians, and we are on for Monday night.

Wpuld you mind if I got you some armor, which is all you are really short for actual playing on Monday online.  Also, i wanted to ask if you wanted to be on leave or in between re-upping in active Duty with the Scarlet Pilums, maybe helping your dad out on a caravan since he is a Senior Teamster with the Teque Guild of Travelers?

Helping dad on the caravan sounds good to me. As to the armor, feel free to get me what you think fits best.

Monday will work for me (5pm my time (8pm eastern) correct?) I will be on aim and ready to go then. Just be gentle early on. Totally new system for me (I hope I don't hold things up too much).