[Burning THAC0] B2: The Keep on the Borderlands (ooc/setup)

[mistrlittlejeans]

Ok, let me know about the NPC's and beliefs.

I need some time to think about it; again, suggestions are welcome. Today's a busy day so I might not have too much time to work on it, but what about something like,

"When underground always use Deep-sense to locate an exit tunnel."

or, stemming from his soldiering background

"When underground I always have my hammer/axe-shield at the ready."

I could get rid of my first instinct and take these two, or some variation of them. I rather like the drinking one. Drunking tests...

Also, I wasn't trying to scope out a Dwarven Shield (that's a Gray shade item!); that'd probably be the equivalent of a lvl Dnd character with a +3 item. I was just thinking a regular old target shield.

 

[engrishonly]

Ok, let me know about the NPC's and beliefs.

I need some time to think about it; again, suggestions are welcome. Today's a busy day so I might not have too much time to work on it, but what about something like,

"When underground always use Deep-sense to locate an exit tunnel."

or, stemming from his soldiering background

"When underground I always have my hammer/axe-shield at the ready."

I could get rid of my first instinct and take these two, or some variation of them. I rather like the drinking one. Drunking tests...

With the NPCs, pick one to tie into the situation at hand, and reserve the other one for the future/a less defined role that can emerge through play.

Having the axe ready while underground is only going to help if we go into peaceful underground settings because you'll likely go armed into hostile territory. Is this what you want?

My creativity level is just low right now.

The Deep Sense one works well enough. I was going to be more specific, but that only works in a mapcrawl DnD setting. The way you have it worded is fine for our purposes.

Also, I wasn't trying to scope out a Dwarven Shield (that's a Gray shade item!); that'd probably be the equivalent of a lvl Dnd character with a +3 item. I was just thinking a regular old target shield.

Okay, feel free to take a Shield of Dwarf-make (like the Dwarf-made armor) if you use a 1-hand axe... but if you're taking a 2-handed weapon, then I don't think you should take the shield.

 

[HandofMystra]

I am stuck trying to think how my Traladorian could be a patriot to his people and be in a party with a Thyatia. Not hopeless, but I cannot think about this on the weekend, so I open to ideas.

 

[mistrlittlejeans]

Ok, cool. I like Gloi as the NPC, mainly because I think the other NPC, Lofar, could be tied into my search for Gloi. I dropped the relationship with Lofar. It can spring up organically through play.

I'll drop the Belief pertaining to Lofar and add the Deep-sense one, keeping my original first belief as well (I kind of like it too, especially given the stock make up of the group). From a background perspective, the Deep-sense belief stems from Aurvang battling orcs, goblins, and trolls within caves/tunnels. An exit was always very important for survival.

Dropping the second relationship gives me the rps to spring for a light axe (1-handed), so taking a dwarven-made shield with my armor will give me some versatility in combat. I've always been partial to 2-handed hammer-wielding dwarves anyways, but a shield is a good thing. Since it is dwarven made, it has the same bonus as the chainmail, right? (ignore the first 1 on an armor test).

Aurvang has been updated on the Rogue's Gallery.

 

[engrishonly]

I am stuck trying to think how my Traladorian could be a patriot to his people and be in a party with a Thyatia. Not hopeless, but I cannot think about this on the weekend, so I open to ideas.

If you're stuck, then use it. Use that conflict to fuel the fires of your character!

Cooperation is not a requirement. In fact, too much cooperation makes for a dull game. Fighting monsters might be one of the primary duties in D&D, but in Burning Wheel, the monster is you. Yes, you run into "monsters" on your path to glory, but the great work of the game is in you realizing who your character is & what he's meant to be.

So, what do you do in the Burning Wheel? Build a Belief around the internal conflict. For instance, here's one idea (kind of weak, but I wrote it quickly): "I will work with these Thyatians to cleanse the Borderlands for *my god/deity*, but I do not love their kind. There will be a reckoning when the quest is complete."

Figure out what the nature of your character's conflict is, and give voice to it. "The Thyatians killed my father. Though I serve justice in the name of *my deity/god*, I will always carry hatred towards the Thyatian bastards." Your character is a Paladin... why not write something completely un-Paladin-y about Thyatians? Something that will propel your character forward, over the edge! That's what we're talking about.

What you don't want is to be fake or to ignore this issue. So it's GREAT that you have internal conflict in your character. This makes for a better game!

Don't be troubled by this sort of thing... it's a great thing to build the character around!

 

[HandofMystra]

I am stuck trying to think how my Traladorian could be a patriot to his people and be in a party with a Thyatian. Not hopeless, but I cannot think about this on the weekend, so I open to ideas.

I think that there is some diversity of the clans on how they stand with the Thyatian. The clan that I am banner to can be one that has decided to be at least neutral in regards to the Thyatians.

 

[engrishonly]

I think that there is some diversity of the clans on how they stand with the Thyatian. The clan that I am banner to can be one that has decided to be at least neutral in regards to the Thyatians.

The clan is one thing.

The character is another.

Push your character towards conflict. Conflict builds strength. Don't settle for neutrality.

If the clan is neutral or friendly to Thyatians, then maybe your character also has a conflict with the clan (the "Braveheart" version of William Wallace & the Scottish nobility & Robert the Bruce)!

Your character is seeking to restore the ancient rites & glories of the Traladaran people. What is in the way? That's stuff that should feed into your character's Beliefs & Instincts.

In the Burning Wheel, it is your duty to figure out how your character can achieve greatness... and then you have to demand it! Fight for it! Beliefs are at the core of that greatness.

 

[HandofMystra]

Maybe I don't understand. How can my character be in party with someone with whom he has that much conflict. Don't we have to want to save one another's lives?

 

[engrishonly]

Maybe I don't understand. How can my character be in party with someone with whom he has that much conflict. Don't we have to want to save one another's lives?

As an example, from another PbP game, Mathalus is playing Prince Burik... the blooded ruler of a Dwarven hold. He wants a magic crown, so he can show his father who is boss. And he's willing to work with oathbreakers & outcasts to get this crown because it's so important to him.

I am playing Thurik, the brother of Burik. Thurik swore an oath to his father, the former Prince of the hold, to accept Burik as his new Prince. Thurik broke that oath, and was outcast from the hold. Thurik wants the crown for himself so that he can claim the Dwarven hold for himself, and advance himself to be the Prince.

The two of them are working together because each brings skills & resources that the other one lacks, and finding the crown is impossible without the other.

(Burik would just as soon be rid of Thurik, and Thurik would rather have Burik's head on a pike... but doing so would not get either of them closer to the prize!)

...

Your character doesn't have to like his companions in order to cooperate & to accomplish things. Think about Sturm Brightblade & Raistlin Majere, if you've read the old Dragonlance books. (Damn, I wish I had some more recent fiction to put up there...)

The fact that the others can help your character is reason enough to tolerate them, provided that the goal is lofty & compelling enough.

In the "Braveheart" movie, William Wallace enlisted & depended on the support of the Nobility at the Battle of Falkirk... so you can work with those you dislike (or even despise) if it gets you closer to where you really want to get to.

 

[mistrlittlejeans]

HandofMystra - What about a belief showing that you are willing to work with Thyatians for the time being because it serves your interest of keeping the borders safe. There's nothing saying that you have to like them, or even save them if they fall in harm's way. They are just tools for a purpose.

That said, there's no reason why your belief couldn't/shouldn't change over time. You could decide that not all Thyatians are bad, or you could decide they aren't even worth working with. Another layer to that is your faith; I'm assuming all Thyatians are heathens according to your faith, so that could make for a fun belief. Fun meaning interesting.

for example, "Thyatians are heathens. I will work for them as long as it serves Traladarn, but I will not spare them my sword should our paths diverge."

As an aside, I haven't played BW before, but I have played Mouse Guard, which is extremely similar. Unlike Dnd, BW (as I understand it) encourages intraparty conflict and independent goals. It's what drives the game. If you come from a Dnd background these are hard habits to kick. I still struggle with them myself. Don't be afraid to write conflict into your character. Trust the game and the GM and go for it.