So I've narrowed it down to three, but being ridiculously indecisive I still haven't made up my mind. I think no matter what I'm going to eventually do more Tempter sessions, every now and then. In the meantime, here are three 'previews' of what the campaigns might resemble. If you'd be interested in playing in one of these and could realistically devote a couple of hours a week to an online campaign (probably starting some time in July), let me know here! Other comments/questions are welcome.
From everything I've heard PbP is slow campaign suicide (at least with more than one or two players), so whatever I run it'll be in IRC or some other real-time medium.
[ic=Blood and Bewitchment in the City of Bodysnatchers]It squats in the midst of the badlands, beyond the clotted murk of the swamps, between the undulating sickness of the Tallow Plains and the desiccated enormity of the Slaughter-lands: Macellaria, the City of Bodysnatchers, where grave-robbers are richer than kings and corpse-men drink blood nonchalantly beneath sallow moonlight. Here the moneyed classes sport ornamental grafts purchased in the upscale tissue-shops of Hexwarren, augmenting their bodies in accordance with fluctuating fashions: one year the Limbruff style swept the city and the wealthy sauntered the streets with necks bristling with grasping collars, only to be supplanted a year after by the strange style called Binarism, whose followers are bisected by alternating complexions and skin-textures. In the city's meaner sections, gangs and upstart thief-clans bicker over territory, skirmishing in the sewers and on the rooftops with sputtering pistols and gutter hexes; their petty struggles are like a microcosm of the Robber Guilds' brutal machinations, or the internecine rivalries of the Fleshmongers and the Splicing Consortiums. The Watchdogs howl at the gates, the chimneys of the Sanguine Church smoulder with the smoke of sacrifices, the cestoids cringe in their tunnels, and the unsleeping Skin Markets seethe with grisly commerce.
Drink tea with hagmen over a game of Imbroglio in the greenstone pagoda-towers of Slimesquallor, or lunch on iced blood-jellies with lilix exiles and ghilan libertines in the red-lit common room of Porphyria. Purge the catacombs of mad leechkin or swarms of piranha rats, or exterminate gibbergeists in the quarantined spires of Wormhive. Haggle over the cost of symbiotic armour or the barbed limbs of oneiroi with graft-peddlers in Murrain Square; trade ensorcelled gems or ancient coins for clockwork guns or serrated runeswords in the Curio Bazaars. Venture out into the endless wasteland to make your fortune: battle skinchanging tribesmen and nightmarish beasts and soul-hungry demons in the depths of the desert, and pick clean the ever-gleaming ruins of Scrutatos, or the festering towers of the Cultivar Technocracy. Delve into cursed tombs, into subterranean libraries, into forgotten palaces with walls of human skulls. Earn the favours of exotic courtesans in Velveteen Circus, and fight arcane duels with quarrelsome scholar-witches. Watch the shows at the Pulsetown Pits where the Rotten King holds court in a hall of macabre trophies, lose yourself in the esoterica of the Vellum Citadel where spiders the size of cats spin webs between the stacks, have your fortune told in the Court-of-Bones, or put it all on black on the tables at The Ribcage.[/ic]
[ic=The Synod of Cosmogonic Discordance]It's that time of the century again, and the Synod of Cosmogonic Concordance is about to convene for the three hundred and forty second time. Originally, the Synod was created to resolve '" once and for all '" a single, unified theory of multiversal genesis, planar formation, and cosmic geography. However, since sorcerers are a notoriously argumentative bunch, the Synod has thus far been unable to come to any sort of consensus. The Synod '" now known colloquially as the Synod of Cosmogonic Discordance '" has outgrown its original purpose and become a glorified pretext for the world's sorcerers to get together, eat far too much, drink even more, bicker over their theories (often with no relation whatsoever to cosmogony), form new rivalries, nurse old grudges, and generally scheme, canoodle, squabble, backstab, and mingle. It's the social event of the sorcerous world: after the Synod ends many sorcerers will retreat to their hidden herimtages and pocket planes and secluded towers and study-dimensions for the next century, having negligible contact with the outside world save for the occasional visit with a colleague or a foray into some corner of the old and eldritch Earth to conduct some far-fetched experiment.
You and your cabal are attending the Synod. This century, the conference is being hosted by the eccentric sorceress K'Thell in her sprawling, enormous mansion, Naa-Zeb: a strange, many-chambered citadel (said to be much bigger on the inside than even its impressive exterior would suggest) on the site of a Paradox Seam, a twisted tangle in the Weft that emanates impossibilities and contradictions. Doors in Naa-Zeb often lead to unexpected places; the halls are full of bizarre curios and unusual specimens; there are forgotten rooms with ceilings hundreds of feet high, and chambers full of embalmed monstrosities, and hidden laboratories filled with esoteric machines and unwholesome projects mouldering in the gloom. K'Thell's many servants are even more curious than the odd architecture and the weird décor, and some of her creations are said to have escaped her workrooms, living a precarious existence in abandoned wings and disused cellars.
The Synod lasts for one year: a glorious, debauched, nonsensical year filled with mayhem, mishap, and mischief. Debate your crazed, illogical theories with bombastic aplomb, revel in the outrageous excess only sorcery can provide, explore the labyrinthine depths of Naa-Zeb (perhaps straying into realms beyond?!?), and conduct ridiculous experiments both social and arcane. Solve unlikely mysteries, spread even less likely gossip, and generally indulge in a sumptuous, abundantly weird world of lunatic godlings, transplanar toursists, senile machines, materialized thought-forms, and sublimely absurd sorcerers![/ic]
[ic=How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Blood War]From the variegated depths of the Abyss to the etiolate emptiness of the Gray Waste to the iron cities of Baator and all the bloodstained, terrifying, mutilated realms between, the Blood War rages in a ceaseless tumult of pain and fear and grim courage, a perpetual, orgiastic maelstrom of hate and horror and death. A lot of clueless and other berks tend to get depressed by all that suffering, but here's the real dark of it: the Blood War's one of those immutable constants of the multiverse. It's unstoppable. Might as well try and halt the turning of the gears of Mechanus, or have a conversation with the Lady of Pain, or peel a yugoloth out of some jink. Fool's errand: you're only going to end up flayed, addle-coved, or just put in the dead-book. Even the most powerful cutter's not going to dent the illimitable armies of tanar'ri and baatezu.
What's more, the Blood War's not just unstoppable '" it's positively necessary. Ever pause to think what'd happen if the fiends had a truce, or if one side overcame the other? If the tanar'ri got the better of the baatezu the planes'd be plunged into anarchy '" there'd be swarms of Chaotic-aligned monstrosities spilling out of the Lower Planes and wreaking all manner of havoc wherever they could. If, on the other hand, the baatezu crushed the tanar'ri, you can bet your last torus they wouldn't sit around in the Nine Hells twiddling their thumbs, either. The thought of the fiends making peace with one another's even more blood-curdling: can you imagine what the combined forces of capital E Evil would do if they stopped killing one another for a moment and starting working together? What's more, the economies of whole cities depend on supplying the war with arms and provisions: if the Blood War ended, there'd be mass starvation and unemployment. What's better, a bunch of monsters endlessly slaying one another and keeping their noses out of trouble, or honest folk going hungry because they can't afford bread? No: short of the fiends actually destroying one another for good '" which is pretty damned unlikely '" any outcome to the Blood War would be a very, very bad thing. Truth is, the Blood War's never going to end while the Great Wheel turns '" so a basher might as well make the best of it.
Ranging from the dizzy heights of the Infinite Spire itself to the blighted depths of Nessus, the Blood War is played out on many levels: political, tactical, economical, strategic, logistic, social. Dodge hungry Night Hags in Hades, spy on enemy encampments in the fiery deserts of Gehenna, swap war-stories and rumours in Sigil, Plague-Mort, and Ribcage, arrange Astral ambushes, and battle yugoloth mercenaries through the howling caverns of Pandemonium. Get involved in weapons-trading or some other form of dodgy cross-trade, loot old battlefields for quality treasure, pledge your sword to Law or Chaos and get mixed up in the fighting itself, and otherwise embroil yourself in the brouhaha that is the Blood War. Play as a planar drow from the Demonweb Pits on a special mission from Lolth, an escaped convict that gave Carceri the laugh, a tiefling mercenary trying to make their fortune, a mad wizard looking for fiendish bodies to dissect, a baurier basher just itching for a fight, a fire genasi paladin keen to smite some evil with the flame of righteousness, a slaad rogue keen on stirring up mischief, one of the fiends themselves, or anything else your barmy bonce can cook up![/ic]
Hmm, originally I was going for Cadaverous Earth, and I think I'm still leaning towards that. However, the scenario for Eldritch Earth sounds quite interesting and ripe with amusingly excellent RP opportunities.
Basically I'd be comfortable with either.
I'm a definite player for either of those whenever you'd like to start them.
I smiled (and simultaneously set off several nukes) when I saw the third title. Just sayin'.
Argh, I wish I wish I wish I could commit to a real-time game! This is going to be awesome, you must post transcripts so I can enjoy the game vicariously :P
The first and the third sound interesting to me. I should have time to play in July, as long as it isn't on the same night as the SIG.
Kindling, I might give a play by post a shot at some future date just for the hell of it, and I`ll probably use one of the ideas from here I decide not to go with.
That would be cool, although you (and others) are right about PbP games rarely getting anywhere as the slow pace means most people's enthusiasm drops off sooner or later. Still, it could be fun to at least try :)
I figure a PbP campaign with fewer players has a much better chance of staying alive. Maybe a Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser style party.
Sounds like a good idea - the posts-per-person would be higher that way. It's a fun dynamic, too, especially if the two characters are quite an odd couple.
Joining the first game would be awesome. But I fear it will be pretty difficult to accomplish real-time for me due to differences in time zones. I'm in GMT+1.
The second game could also prove interesting, or at least you'd get to train your ability to think up arcane theories on the fly (a useful ability if there ever was one).
I could go for a PbP if the IRC game doesn't work out for me.
Ok, I think there's enough interest in a Cadaverous Earth game to make it worthwhile to try. We'll see about the possibility of setting up an IRC schedule, and if that falls through, we'll bite the bullet and give PbP a chance; it could be fun for awhile at least.
What times are people free, and what timezones are people in? Unless everyone interested in a CE game would prefer to try PbP first?
EDIT: Llum, Kindling, maybe we should try a 2 person PbP Planescape game at some point...
I'm EST, I should be good for just about whenever since I am currently a worthless layabout, although if the game continues into the fall, it should probably be sometime in the evening, maybe on a tuesday? I'm not sure.
I'd really rather not do a pbp.
I'll be PST but I'll also be flexible as to times for a couple of months.
I'm EST. I should be free anytime after 4 EST.
For the next 4 weeks; Free from 7:30-1:30 EST M,T,H,F; Sa/Su variable. In July and August probably not available very much due to prior commitments (It will vary widely), but if you do start in June- those are the times I am usually free.
Hard to choose- if this was tabletop I'd want CE; but since it's mIRC I'll choose Eldritch Earth- it has potential for bizarre entertainment.
[blockquote=Light Dragon]For the next 4 weeks; Free from 7:30-1:30 EST M,T,H,F; Sa/Su variable. In July and August probably not available very much due to prior commitments (It will vary widely), but if you do start in June- those are the times I am usually free.[/blockquote] Sadly these next four weeks are going to be very busy for me: it's the last term of my MA, so I've got a paper, a presentation, and my Mieville conference paper to finish over the next little while.
It's definitely going to be a CE game, I think - even when people have 2 choices one of them is usually CE. It'll be real-time, either in IRC or some other program. Iron Heroes/3.5 D&D will form the basic rules-set with plenty of additions of my own (I'll post more about character creation later). It'll likely start sometime mid-July and run till whenever we get tired or unable to continue for scheduling reasons for a lengthy period - could always be picked up again later.
I may try a Planescape PbP at some point in the future, we'll see. Like I said I'll also definitely run more no stats Tempter, either sooner or later depending on how these games pan out. Maybe I'll do a no stats Eldritch Earth some time as well.
Any room for one more?
You'd be very welcome to join!
Quote from: SteerpikeIt's definitely going to be a CE game, I think - even when people have 2 choices one of them is usually CE. It'll be real-time, either in IRC or some other program. Iron Heroes/3.5 D&D will form the basic rules-set with plenty of additions of my own (I'll post more about character creation later). It'll likely start sometime mid-July and run till whenever we get tired or unable to continue for scheduling reasons for a lengthy period - could always be picked up again later.
Good luck with finishing up that MA--I did not realize it was a one year program. So, now on to the PHD?
Re: CE- have you considered trying Map Tools instead of mIRC? You can place the characters and draw some things. I tried it in 2004 and was disappointed, but trying the program in 2010 I have been quite pleased with the results.
[blockquote=LD]Good luck with finishing up that MA--I did not realize it was a one year program. So, now on to the PHD?
[/blockquote]Heck yeah! I was originally trying to focus on weird fiction/New Weird, but it proved pretty difficult to find a supervisor, so my revised (still very, very rough) thesis is going to be on aesthetics and monstrosity in fin-de-siecle Gothic and Modernist horror i.e. folks like Wilde, Stevenson, Stoker, Le Fanu, Blackwood, and Machen.
[blockquote=ibid.]Re: CE- have you considered trying Map Tools instead of mIRC? You can place the characters and draw some things. I tried it in 2004 and was disappointed, but trying the program in 2010 I have been quite pleased with the results.[/blockquote]I'll look at it for sure. It sounds pretty cool. I'm more decided on the real-time thing than the specific program.
Damn it! I'm excited to hear about a CE game, even if it comes at the expense of my beloved Planescape. Regretfully, my present situation in life probably won't allow me to participate.
I'm going to add another unnecessary voice here and agree that IRC is definitely the way you want to go based on my own experience with PbP and IRC games. I think the pace of PbP just isn't suited for what you want to do.
Of course, my impression is that this is the same conclusion you've come to already, but at least this way I feel like I'm participating!
Hmm, the next three weeks I will only have classes between 9:00 and 13:00 (GMT+1), so any period of time between 13:00 and 24:00 (GMT+1) could work. Perhaps 1:00 or 2:00 as the upper limit could work too considering it's only once a week but i prefer a decent amount of sleep on weekdays... Any day is okay, but preferably not weekends. I'm not a hundred percent sure on my upcoming three-week schedule, though, as there might be some projects or homework I have to do, but I'll find a way around it. Between the 26th and the 4th of july I'm at a big festival, so can't come online there. After that I have vacation so I should be more or less available at any one time.
I've been having a look at map tools. It's a pretty amazing tool; the downside is that it's very... involved. I'm going to play with it for awhile and see how quickly I can build stuff. Some of the other tools look potentially useful.
How would 2 hour sessions on Tuesdays at 1:30 PST (4:30 EST and 10:30 GST+1, unless my calculations are messed up) beginning July 13 work for people? If it doesn't work that's totally fine: this is just my first attempt to set up a time slot. I'd suggest later but then Crow would be stuck playing in the wee hours of the morning!
Works for me. Until September anyways.
Should be fine for me.
Quick check: so far confirmed as players I have Cataclysmic Crow, The Meanest Guest, Llum, and Ghostman, and Light Dragon may show up if he has time.
Sarisa, are you still interested in joining? Anyone else? There's probably room for one or two more, but more than that'd get unwieldy.
So, would now be a good time to start building a character, or should I hold off until more rules are posted? I have the 3.5 book and access to 3.P materials, but I have no real knowledge of Iron Heroes.
Quote from: SteerpikeQuick check: so far confirmed as players I have Cataclysmic Crow, The Meanest Guest, Llum, and Ghostman, and Light Dragon may show up if he has time.
Sarisa, are you still interested in joining? Anyone else? There's probably room for one or two more, but more than that'd get unwieldy.
Don't forget me.
Yes, of course, I have no idea why I didn't add you, I'd just sent you a PM when I posted that! I am a bit overworked and tired at the moment, so that probably explains it...
[blockquote=Light Dragon]So, would now be a good time to start building a character, or should I hold off until more rules are posted? I have the 3.5 book and access to 3.P materials, but I have no real knowledge of Iron Heroes. [/blockquote]I think i'd better get all the rules up. Recent discussions on the other thread have made me realize just how different the systems are in ways. I'll try to get all the pertinent info up this weekend... it may not be pretty (i.e. formatting may be a bit goofy) but it'll be serviceable.
Ok, no rush. Thank you!
Feats/Traits/Classes are all up on the front page 4 posts down, only Skills and Equipment left to go, which are mostly the same as in the SRD. Apart from a few tweaks to Combat, we'll have covered all the crunchy differences between Iron Heroes and 3.5.
{Editted. Realized there would be a conflict anyways]
We have 3 confirmed players right now. There were several more interested in it, but if you head over to the character creation thread and build one you might just get a slot.
I think the cap would be 6 players. Any more than that would get unmanageable. The Meanest Guest, Ghostman, Nomadic, Cataclysmic Crow, and Llum are all (I believe) confirmed players so far, playing as an Insomnolent (Human) Armiger (I think), a Ghul Witch, a Ghul Gunfighter/Witch, and a Human Executioner (and fleshy/graftpunk). So we've got the Tank, the Wizard, the Sniper, and the Assassin, basically, plus whatever Llum decides to play!
Light Dragon has been greatly supportive and encouraging of CE so there's a chair at the table for him if he'd like to drop in (or play as a regular, but I know his schedule is tricky during the summer months).
Oh my. Thank you very much.
Add a potential Jatayi Bard/Arcanist to your list of characters.
[blockquote=Gypsylight]{Editted. Realized there would be a conflict anyways] [/blockquote]That's too bad!
Glad to have you aboard though, Light Dragon!
Quote from: SteerpikeI think the cap would be 6 players. Any more than that would get unmanageable. The Meanest Guest, Ghostman, Nomadic, Cataclysmic Crow, and Llum are all (I believe) confirmed players so far, playing as an Insomnolent (Human) Armiger (I think), a Ghul Witch, a Ghul Gunfighter/Witch, and a Human Executioner (and fleshy/graftpunk). So we've got the Tank, the Wizard, the Sniper, and the Assassin, basically, plus whatever Llum decides to play!
Light Dragon has been greatly supportive and encouraging of CE so there's a chair at the table for him if he'd like to drop in (or play as a regular, but I know his schedule is tricky during the summer months).
I am going to stick my head in and agree that 6 in IRC/online is a good maximum.