[Recruiting (CLOSED)]Heroes of the Middle Reaches[4E : Wandering Star]

helium3 · 17th July 2008, 04:08 AM

Disclaimer

I'll be upfront about this. When it comes to running a pbp game I'm a total noob. I haven't even participated in that many pbp games. None-the-less, I'd like to give pbp a try. So, consider yourself warned that if you do join up things may be a bit "rough" at first.

Wandering Star

This is the name I've given to the 4E homebrew setting I'm using for my tabletop gaming group. The pbp game would be in the same setting and would utilize all of the material that I've already put together for my tabletop players.

Everything that's relevant to the setting can be found at the Wandering Star website.

Game Details

This game would be a "straight from the books" 4E game for 4-6 players. Everyone would start at 1st level and in the town of Helen's Reach.

If you're interested in playing, download page one and two of the Campaign Handout on the website (my copy of Adobe Acrobat 9 has yet to arrive) and look them over. After that and if you're still interested, download and read the rest of the material.

If you have any questions, post them here and I'll try to answer them as soon as possible.

I'm just getting ready to head out on vacation and my internet availability will be spotty at best starting Friday, July 18th. Needless to say, I'm not planning to start this game until early in August.

If more people want to play than the 4-6 spots available, preference will go to the folks that have obviously read the material and are paying attention.

When the game starts, there'll be the usual IC and OOC threads.

There will probably be some sort of story hour, but how detailed it is really depends on how much free time I have once everything is said and done.

Dice rolls will need to be routed through Invisible Castle.

I'm not entirely sure how I'm gonna handle mapping. Encounter maps might be hosted on my website or maybe I'll just put them on photobucket. I don't really know for sure.

I think that covers all the basics. Let me know if I missed some important aspect of pbp that's usually provided in the recruitment thread.

eoghanbt · 17th July 2008, 04:35 AM

Heyas!
I've given a first read through...well done! It's great to see a developed Points of Light setting laid out. I need to print it off and read it a bit more closely to get a few concepts worked out in my head.

Are you interested in concept first, then sheet, or all at once?

helium3 · 17th July 2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eoghanbt

Heyas!
I've given a first read through...well done! It's great to see a developed Points of Light setting laid out. I need to print it off and read it a bit more closely to get a few concepts worked out in my head.

Are you interested in concept first, then sheet, or all at once?

Concept first, I'd imagine. That way we're on the same sheet of music, so to speak.

Drowned Hero · 17th July 2008, 07:28 AM

Would be my first time using the 4E system and i guess this will be a good opportunity to learn to use it.

Im thinking on a Dwarf Cleric - Battle option.

Ground concept: A sailing cleric that has spent his whole adult live at sea, as a teenager he was part of a priest society of Melora the godess of the sea that believed in exalting themselves and praising their good trough battle and prayer. Tends to be a easy humor type laughing at the most common thing as farts and bad jokes about his beard he almost fall of his chair if someone trips in a tavern over a drunk sailor. The balance comes when someone talks about sea creatures and what Dorlar believes to be myths of the sea, he then get dead serious taking the stand of theres no such things as ghost ships, mermaids and giant squids that can swallow a entire ship.

Dorl Dungar had from a early age been taken up into the monk society as all child of his family, boys and girls where taken into the monk society as soon they where teenagers to form them into 'proper adults' as his father, grandfather and great grandfather always said.

Odd at it migh seem this family of dwarfs had been one of the dwarf families to settle on the surface after the 'borehole incident' and had since 75 years ago lived by a river poring into the sea near the town of Helen's Reach.

As a child he used most part o fhis time to play at the beaches grabbing crabs with the other child's with an adult watching them play. He was often allowed to accompany the adults onto the boats to learn how to sail and fish whit harpoons and trick the shoals of fish into their netts. The sea was a natural habitat for Dorl.

After long years of training with the priests Dorl had taken the job as a sailor/healer/defender of local pirates of the middel reaches. The ship he was working at 'singing fat lady' was a transport vessel carrying mostly wood, silks and canvas with olive oil between the different ports.

He ocationally stayed at port to visit his family, pray at temples or just having fun at the taverns gambling.

At some ocations Dorl feels a longing after love and would walk the streets thinking if he any day would be blessed to meet a maid that would fall in love in him accepting his adventurous lifestyle, someone that would drag him back to port more often then the lust of adventure at sea.

Dorl Sheet [in progress]

Spoiler:

-DH

Blackrat · 17th July 2008, 07:32 AM

I took a look at your setting and might be interested joining this. Having taken part of quite a few pbp's I might also give you some little pointers in making it work more smoothly if you want, seeing as you said you're more new to this kind of gaming

As for character I was thinking Dragonborn Fighter or Paladin. Ever since that Dragon article about Dragonborn came out, I've been wanting to try out one. But I'll read your setting material more before saying that in definite.

Blackrat · 17th July 2008, 08:22 AM

Couple of questions, well more like couple of things I'd like to know more about:
There is mentions of The Lady and The Dragon and apparently they are important figures for dragonborn but there is very little about them.

And I'd also like to know more about the Glory Blades.

EvolutionKB · 17th July 2008, 09:05 AM

I too am interested. I'll give more info tomorrow after a more detailed look at the info you've provided.

Rayex · 17th July 2008, 09:15 PM

I'd be interested. I'll be away untill saturday though, so you might want to pick someone else.

I don't have a fleshed out concept yet, but I would like to try out a Wizard.

Drowned Hero · 17th July 2008, 09:16 PM

I made a temporary character sheet in my first post of this thread. Temporary as character creating guildlines hasnt been given out or confirmed. Anyways i think my character will end up looking something like that.

-DH

helium3 · 17th July 2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackrat

Couple of questions, well more like couple of things I'd like to know more about:
There is mentions of The Lady and The Dragon and apparently they are important figures for dragonborn but there is very little about them.

Heh heh.

What was supposed to be a quick response to your questions turned into a five page "historical account" of a specific event. I've attached the rough draft (only edited for errors found with a spelling and grammar checker) as a word document.

The Dragon is "Bright Scale", a wyrm of advanced age that is said to live within Bright Scale Mount at the eastern end of The Dragon's Isle. The Lady serves The Dragon and is herself served by the Dragonborn that live on said isle. What they're all about isn't very clear, but they do worship Bright Scale as the living embodiment of the divine retribution aspect of Bahamut.

Anyone who sets foot on The Dragon's Isle must choose to either swear the same oath or leave within three moons of choosing not to. Any other choice renders their lives forfeit. Dragonborn that have chosen not to swear the oath are scattered across the Middle Reaches and generally don't agree with the Dragonborn of the Dragon's Isle for a long list of historical reasons.

As for the Knights of the Glory Blade, in short they're an order of knights and paladins of any race that are dedicated to the destruction of the evil creatures of the Shadowfell. As such, they're mostly concentrated in Anju where they're constantly doing battle against the creatures that emerge from The Pit.

They've spread to the other towns of the Middle Reaches though and Helen's Reach has recently seen a new temple to Bahamut completed and dedicated. Originally, the order hails from regions closer to Old Nerath, the city that was once the heart of the Empire of Nerath.

The relationships between these two different Bahamuti sects and the two Dragonborn groups are intentionally complicated, murky and unclear. I'm trying to play up the aspect of PoL that allows for two religious groups that worship the same god to be very different from one another. Same goes for racial groups. Just because you have the same blood running through your veins or worship the same god doesn't mean you have exactly the same outlook and set of beliefs.

Blackrat · 17th July 2008, 10:06 PM

Damn, I'll take a closer look at that doc when I've had some sleep

. But for what I understood, I think my idea would be then a dragonborn paladin with allegiance to the Glory Blades. If you're taking into account the fluff in the Ecology of Dragonborn article, I was thinking about one of the legendary Moonscale Clan. (Perhaps even a direct descendant of General Surina Moonscale) He has a legacy to uphold

.

helium3 · 17th July 2008, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drowned Hero

I made a temporary character sheet in my first post of this thread. Temporary as character creating guildlines hasnt been given out or confirmed. Anyways i think my character will end up looking something like that.

-DH

What sorta things do character creating guidelines typically cover?

drothgery · 17th July 2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helium3

What sorta things do character creating guidelines typically cover?

How ability scores are generated, starting wealth/equipment, what races and classes are allowed (mostly referring to things in supplements, though MM races and the online Dragon articles for warforged and artificers are probably the big ones in 4e), any alignment restrictions (typically 'no evil PCs').

EvolutionKB · 18th July 2008, 02:47 AM

My character thoughts were of an eladrin wizard or a halfling rogue

Hawkeye · 18th July 2008, 02:55 AM

I would be interested in playing, possibly a Paladin or Warlord. I won't have internet access for most of the day tomorrow.

Edit: Character concept: Charles Bryngannon is a young Cynbel (War chief) from his tribe, trying to learn more from the world around him to better his skills as a Warlord to lead his tribe into battle.

Spoiler:

Hawkeye

Redclaw · 18th July 2008, 03:54 AM

I'm tempted to create an elven rogue, probably one who was kicked off of Dragon's Wood Isle due to his thieving and mischevious ways. With that in mind, I need to take a stab at the

easter egg

So I guess I need a bit of clarification about the elves and their role in the Middle Reaches. The first page of info on the Middle Reaches suggests that some elves serve the Lady, but the Elves entry in the races section suggest that they all live elsewhere. Are there any elves left on the Dragon's Wood Isle, or have they all relocated? I'm kind of liking the outcast from the cult build, but I could do a standard street rat rogue instead. Eiither way I'm thinking of mixing some brawny rogue and artful dodger components, to make him a shifty, flanking brawler, with a bit of buckle in his swash.

EvolutionKB · 18th July 2008, 07:49 AM

So many ideas...

Eladrin Wizard: Evanos was exiled from his Feywild home-city for his garish art of wizardry involving pain and blood. Scars crisscross the Eladrin's pale skin, signs of the art of which he was devoted. He learned of his techniques from an ancient tome from the destroyed Tiefling empire of Bael Turath. He has journeyed to Helen's Reach knowing it was built on a destroyed tiefling stronghold and to seek the knowledge of the Voice of Sul on the topic of his bloody artistry.

Halfling Rogue: Reed grew up in Helen's Reach as a pickpocket and thief until he stole the wrong person's money pouch: A Berkstrom. Reed led the man on a lengthy chase through the city and eventually escaped, until caught days later while smoking one of the fine cigars he had stolen. Reed was jailed, but quickly released when one of the Heirata guild heard of his exploit(s) and paid the bail. Reed now works for the Heirata's, as a problem solver while on land, and to discourage boarders while at sea.

helium3 · 18th July 2008, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redclaw

So I guess I need a bit of clarification about the elves and their role in the Middle Reaches. The first page of info on the Middle Reaches suggests that some elves serve the Lady, but the Elves entry in the races section suggest that they all live elsewhere. Are there any elves left on the Dragon's Wood Isle, or have they all relocated?

The elves weren't originally part of the whole "The Dragon and The Lady" situation, but ultimately they too were caught up in the event and were forced to swear loyalty or leave. Significantly more elves chose to leave than Dragonborn, and the Elves of the Middle Reaches found outside the Dragon's Isle are a good deal more bitter about that.

helium3 · 18th July 2008, 08:53 AM

All right folks. Lot's of cool character concepts.

I'm leaving for my vacation tomorrow morning and my internet access will be spotty for the next two weeks. I'll log in and answer questions whenever I can.

Otherwise, we'll see who's still interested when I get back!!

The Digger · 18th July 2008, 04:21 PM

It looks like you have a lot of people wanting to play. Unfortunately I only stumbled on this thread recently so I suppose I may be too late. I've written up a halfling rogue which I could play if you have space.

Nice background btw. Makes a change to see a well thought out setting.

Charlotte (Halfling rogue)

Charlotte was a well-respected member (utter lie) of the crew of ‘Avandra’s Gift’ under her renowned and feared (true) Captain Dannal Threefingers. She joined the crew when her parents died and she needed work to support her orphaned little brothers and sisters (what a load of bollocks) and she soon became an accomplished sailor due to her superb agility (at least partly true).

After coming down with a mysterious illness (stealing from a crew member and then being beaten up) she had to be left on a small island south of Belltower whilst her friends sailed off in search of a remedy for her illness (Oh Yeah!). They never returned (What a surprise!).

Fortunately Charlie, after several days of rest, recovered from illness. There was water on the islands, and wild corn and berries, and she was able to fish and hunt for the small animals which abounded on the isle. Thus she lived for several months until, by chance, a passing trader saw her fire and rescued her from her solitary life of exile.

Once safely returned to Helen’s Reach Charlie was anxious to discover what happened to her crew (Bastards!). They would not have abandoned her without something of tremendous import preventing them from doing so (Oh my giddy aunt!). One possibility is that they were lost in a raging storm which blew up a few days after leaving Mirza. (She bloody hopes not! She wants to get them herself!)

Since then she has spent her time inquiring after her old crew, desperately seeking for news. (Although why she should be seeking in that man’s purse is anyone’s guess!)

In the past few days she has noticed that she has attracted the interest of a runty-looking halfling who seems to be following her around. He looks like some kind of unemployed sailor?