[FONT="]I received some old TSR Planescape books from a friend and after playing Planescape:Torment I was hungering for more action in the multiverse. The problem was it was all in 2nd edition AD&D (I'm a 3.5 player) and regardless of this I didn't have time to prepare a campaign anyway and didn't know anyone else who was interested.
So was it time to give up on my dreams of a Planescape campaign? Nope! Not with the Mythic Game Master Emulator by Tom Pigeon at my disposal. I'd purchased the pdf months ago and attempted to run a game with my brother but we didn't get too far with it so it kind of got left on the bottom of the pile. The concept is radically different from any other system I've encountered.
Basically the idea is that with this system based on logic, interpretation and improvisation the player/s can do away with the GM and construct a game without any preparation. Mythic GME acts as an artificial intelligence, answering any and all questions you have about the game world, while leaving you free to choose any RP system with which to implement it. Sounds wacky I know, and I have to admit I don't think the system would be to everyone’s taste but it’s certainly very clever. And I'm definitely getting used to it.
So...I have the 2E rules but am not familiar with them. I have the Planescape campaign setting books and I've familiarised myself with the player's guide but haven't read the DM's guide so as not to spoil too much for myself. When the situation arises and I need information regarding a certain topic, plane or character I'll turn to the relevant section.
I've got the Mythic GME rules and a cool little program called Mythic Apprentice which is a good aid for using the system, and there are plenty of random generators online that I can use for naming or describing NPCs, towns, inns etc. So I'm ready to roll up a character!
But first, the Planescape guide tells me to ask my DM what kind of campaign he/she is going to run. Is my character familiar with the concept of the planes, perhaps a denizen of a particular realm, or is he a visitor from another world (a prime)? Since there is no DM I ask Mythic. It seems I am a visitor to the planes and I come from another campaign setting originally.
I am very familiar with the Forgotten Realms campaign world so I decide to that my character hails from Faerun. I know it’s clichéd but I love the drow so I roll up a renegade dark elf fighter/mage. Once I'm done I wince at my starting hp of 2 and AC of 20 (in 2E, for anyone not aware, 20 is bad, 0 is good). I also notice that the more time I spend away from the underdark the less drow abilities are available to me. Well...at least it'll be an interesting character to play.
And so Luaryn Auvryani is born! I knock up a quick description and back story:[/FONT]
[FONT="] Using the setup rules from Mythic I soon begin my adventures. But the question remains: how do I end up travelling the planes? Well here's a transcript of the adventure so far. Mythic splits an adventure up into scenes so here is the first scene. I write as each event transpires. Its not the most eloquent or graceful of scripts because I didn't want to get bogged down thinking up elaborate descriptions or elegant wordsmithery because I wanted the adventure to run smoothly so as to maximise my enjoyment of the game. But I had to write things down so I don't forget what's happened![/FONT]
And so ends the first scene. I can imagine it might be somewhat confusing to those of you who aren't familiar with Mythic so if you have any questions regarding the means to which I generated the above events, conversations and characters then please ask away.
So was it time to give up on my dreams of a Planescape campaign? Nope! Not with the Mythic Game Master Emulator by Tom Pigeon at my disposal. I'd purchased the pdf months ago and attempted to run a game with my brother but we didn't get too far with it so it kind of got left on the bottom of the pile. The concept is radically different from any other system I've encountered.
Basically the idea is that with this system based on logic, interpretation and improvisation the player/s can do away with the GM and construct a game without any preparation. Mythic GME acts as an artificial intelligence, answering any and all questions you have about the game world, while leaving you free to choose any RP system with which to implement it. Sounds wacky I know, and I have to admit I don't think the system would be to everyone’s taste but it’s certainly very clever. And I'm definitely getting used to it.
So...I have the 2E rules but am not familiar with them. I have the Planescape campaign setting books and I've familiarised myself with the player's guide but haven't read the DM's guide so as not to spoil too much for myself. When the situation arises and I need information regarding a certain topic, plane or character I'll turn to the relevant section.
I've got the Mythic GME rules and a cool little program called Mythic Apprentice which is a good aid for using the system, and there are plenty of random generators online that I can use for naming or describing NPCs, towns, inns etc. So I'm ready to roll up a character!
But first, the Planescape guide tells me to ask my DM what kind of campaign he/she is going to run. Is my character familiar with the concept of the planes, perhaps a denizen of a particular realm, or is he a visitor from another world (a prime)? Since there is no DM I ask Mythic. It seems I am a visitor to the planes and I come from another campaign setting originally.
I am very familiar with the Forgotten Realms campaign world so I decide to that my character hails from Faerun. I know it’s clichéd but I love the drow so I roll up a renegade dark elf fighter/mage. Once I'm done I wince at my starting hp of 2 and AC of 20 (in 2E, for anyone not aware, 20 is bad, 0 is good). I also notice that the more time I spend away from the underdark the less drow abilities are available to me. Well...at least it'll be an interesting character to play.
And so Luaryn Auvryani is born! I knock up a quick description and back story:[/FONT]
[FONT="] [/FONT]Origin
Hailing from the infamous Underdark of Faerun, Luaryn despised his family and his entire race. He grew up in the vast city of Zorrbinarki. He attempted to flee but was captured, brutally tortured and locked away for twenty-five years. His chance to escape came when his mother visited him to hold a dark ritual with all of the family males needed to complete it. As the door opened and his handcuffs were taken off he used them to strangle his mother and demanded to be set free or else he would crush her throat. His brother opened the door and Luaryn fled. He stole a sword from one of the guards and fought his way from the tower and out into the dangerous wilds of the Underdark. Here he fled Svirfneblin, Duegar and even a mind flayer.
Eventually he reached the surface and was taken in by an elderly mage called Esorl Whitewand. Esorl apprenticed the fearful drow and taught him the ways of magic. After many years the old wizard died and Luaryn was forced to make his own way in the world. He travelled Faerun, seeking his destiny but always hampered by his obsidian skin and white eyes he took to wearing a black hooded cloak which he pulled low to conceal is face.
Appearance
[FONT="]Luaryn is small and lithe like others of his kind. He has a gaunt, feminine face and melancholic white eyes. He is dressed all in black, decorated with mystical white patterns and carries a sword, a longbow and a large black and white, leather bound spell book. Beneath his cloak hang many bags of strange arcane powders and other spell components. When his hood is pulled back his beautiful, flowing white hair his visible, and falls down to his waist. He often ties parts of it up for practicality.[/FONT]
[FONT="] Using the setup rules from Mythic I soon begin my adventures. But the question remains: how do I end up travelling the planes? Well here's a transcript of the adventure so far. Mythic splits an adventure up into scenes so here is the first scene. I write as each event transpires. Its not the most eloquent or graceful of scripts because I didn't want to get bogged down thinking up elaborate descriptions or elegant wordsmithery because I wanted the adventure to run smoothly so as to maximise my enjoyment of the game. But I had to write things down so I don't forget what's happened![/FONT]
Scene One
Travelling through the farmlands of Sembia on the outskirts of the city of Selgaunt, at night of course, after being chased by a mob of angry merchants who want to see my kind ‘back underground where I belong’ I am saved by a kindly man called Thiambus who hides me inside his farmhouse.
‘I cannot thank you enough sir’ I bow gratefully to the man who is suffering from a broken leg. I help him down into his chair and he thanks me in return. ‘If there is anything I can do to repay you please tell me. Unfortunately my coin purse is rather light at present so I can offer you no gold. It is…difficult to find work with this wretched appearance…’ I close my eyes and clench my fists in frustration and self loathing. ‘But anything else I would be happy to help you with. I have a fair sword arm and studied under the tutelage of a fine mage for a number of years.’
‘I helped you, master drow, because I could see innocence in your eyes’ Thiambus tells me. ‘I have always been a good judge of character so I can see that you have a good heart.’ I smile at this, one of so little positive things said about me. ‘I do indeed have need of your skills as it happens. Recently I was expanding my field out back. I was cutting down the nearby wood so as to extend its reach and I came across an enormous oak. When I tried to strike the oak with my axe something happened. The very bark of the tree melted into a pulsing portal. A portal I fear leading either to some dark corner of Faerun…or perhaps another world entirely. For as I stood back a band of strange, lithe, yellow-skinned creatures leaped forth armed with wicked blades and assaulted me. I was glad I had my axe at hand because it saved my life, if not my leg.’ He glances at his broken leg and winces. ‘I dispatched them but one of the bastards managed to jab my leg and as you can see it is broken. As you can see I live alone and am in no fit state to defend my farm against these monsters. I need somebody to close the portal but the tree itself must be practically indestructible. Will you find a way to do this for me?’
‘Spells to seal portals are beyond me I am afraid but I will visit this place and see if there is anything I can do to at least block it temporarily before I can locate a more seasoned mage.’
‘Thank you night elf’ Thiambus shakes my black gloved hand gratefully.
‘You are most welcome’ I smile awkwardly. ‘You may call me Luaryn. Luaryn Auvryani.’
‘Luaryn it is then.’
‘I will investigate this portal immediately, for I fear more of these creatures may break through.’
I follow Thiambus’ directions and see the tree stumps at the edge of the wood and eventually I see the great oak with the shimmering portal embedded in its trunk. I tentatively approach the tree, looking for any arcane symbols I may be able to interpret. However as I do so the portal begins to shimmer more violently and it ripples like the surface of a pond. Suddenly a figure emerges. A tall, yellow creature, just as Thiambus said. I draw my sword slowly. The creature smiles and walks towards, a cruelly hooked blade in hand. He is followed by a large group of the creatures who all approach me and screech commands in a language I do not understand. Seeing that I cannot possibly defeat such a large number of enemies I hold up my hands in surrender. They smile evilly and grab me violently. They bind my hands and feet and throw me over their shoulders before rushing back towards the portal. I close my eyes as the mystic doorway pulls me in, like breaking the surface of water.
And so ends the first scene. I can imagine it might be somewhat confusing to those of you who aren't familiar with Mythic so if you have any questions regarding the means to which I generated the above events, conversations and characters then please ask away.
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