Citadel of the Iron Crown - Burglars in Mirkwood

[Shayuri]

(OOC - Maybe we should have this discussion in the OOC thread, so as not to clutter up the IC stuff. That said, I'll answer here so everyone knows where to look for now.

I am not generally a person of strong opinions when it comes to stuff like this. Either way is fine for me, honestly. I'm not sure I agree that roleplaying it out would lead to weeks of delay...but I suppose it could, depending on factors I have no way to predict. At the same time, I'm here to play Aranel, not just roll dice. If it takes a week to play Aranel, that's a week well spent (provided it doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of others).

And, as noted before, this isn't really an all or nothing question. Rolling the dice doesn't erase the RP value, nor does roleplaying the questions eradicate the need for elements of randomness, ie - dice.

With that in mind...I am increasingly unsure as to what the difference is, really, between the two approaches. For my part, I'd think the order of events would logically be something like:

1) Questions are asked (by whoever). Social skills may be used (Diplomacy might make him more receptive to a particular question, Bluff might mislead him, Intimidate might cow him into answering, etc...) to augment any given question, in which case a roll is included.

2) Prisoner makes any rolls necessary to determine his reaction, then replies as the GM sees fit. Possible rolls here too, especially to bluff lies or bluster for his release. GM can also make rolls for us here, so he can tell us what our skills tell us about the prisoner's response and/or character knowledge (based on Knowledge, Sense Motive, etc etc).

3) We respond to his response, according to our characters and the info the GM provided us.

And so on.

Sort of like combat, only instead of attacks, there's skill rolls.

So, I guess if I must vote, I vote for something like that. Whichever that is. )

 

[Fenris]

On another note, I've not heard a Dickens from Fenris (emailed and posted his character in the OOC thread) so it looks like he's dropped out.[/COLOR]

OOC: Nope, just waiting and reading. You said you'd work me in as you could and I have been waiting in the wings until me cue, which I assume will come from Gellion, once he has a chance to excuse himself from the current scene. My apologies if you were waiting for an additional response from me, but I was simply following the last instructions
"Consider Thalion approved and keep tabs on the game progress as I'll be trying to introduce Thalion at the nearest opportunity". But I am here and keeping up stoor-stomp.

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=tidied up OOC about interrogation rolls]Might as well thrash it out here, then afterward if all concerned could just edit their posts into SBLOCKs that would be helpful in decluttering.

I vote for something like that. Whichever that is.

Rollplay.

Roleplay will deal with far fewer dice rolls (if any, to be honest) and require a greater element of 'roleplaying' the answers out of the NPCs, leaving me to give responses based on what I think the NPC would say/do, not based on the random roll of a d20. It leaves you open to a lot of 'not the Elf's business' and demands choice dialogue.

I've given an option for this, or for use of dice in a way that determines time restraints on the length of a round, removes ambiguity and ensures everyone knows whose rolling what, when and why.

I'm not ruling out completely use of dice in the roleplay version, just relegating it second fiddle to my own free will and roleplay talents of the players. Then again, if we're going to delve deep in characterisation I'll probably put the dice to one side for now and we can dust them off later for the next combat action.

Clearer?[/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=Fenris]Well, that's a relief But you obviously didn't get my last email with the introduction one-on-one scenario I devised to get you involved quicker. When I saw you hadn't commented on the character approval and didn't hear back about the email - which I sent a few times - I figured you'd lost interest. What's the best email to use to contact you? I'd rather mail you the one-to-one details than set up a seperate thread here.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Fenris]

Hey DL,
[sblock]
Just saw it and replied. I wasn't expecting a reply in email and so was watching the thread. Go figure.

That's my "gaming" email. and I check it periodically, but if I know to expect something will check it regularly. It's still funny, I was waiting for a reply in a thread while you were waiting for a reply to an email.

But a reply is sent, and I have no problem getting Thalion's introction accomplished that way. i will just be sure to check it more often.

[/sblock]

 

[Redclaw]

With some of the issues clarified, I guess I vote for rollplay, too. I don't love that wording, as it has a negative connotation. I, personally, see the combination Shay is talking about as roleplaying. We play a role, and use dice and stats to keep us honest and balanced. If it's just description, or the roleplay version you have described, then what use is there in putting any skill points in the social skills?

I would like to see written description of actions, some personality injected into things, and a set of dice rolls to decide how successful a character was with the action the player determined for him.

There, I have escaped the lure of neutrality and taken a stand.

 

[Binder Fred]

So we are go?

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=Tidied Up OOC Relating to Interrogation Rolls]

There, I have escaped the lure of neutrality and taken a stand

And very scary it was too. Where will it end, I fear ;P

Yes, we are go, but with a slight technical hitch in that I have run out of time. Got myself signed up for the Ceramic DM Smackdown and it took me all evening to write my first story (which is a bit crap as it turns out, probably because I've run out of time). Now it turns out my in-laws (there's a term with negative connotations for you) are coming for tea tommorrow *shudder* and then Saturday I'm attending a nephew's first communion. So it looks like I won't be able to post until Sunday.

A thousand apologies for this. I didn't spot the social commitments time bomb approaching until some time late last night otherwise I'd have tried to change arrangements for the Smackdown start time.

Anyway, next week will be much quieter for me.

[/SBLOCK]

 

[Dlsharrock]

OK, as previously mentioned- the questions being asked are not asked outright. They represent the ideal end result question. In putting across the jist of the question (and hopefully reaching an answer) Baran and Aranel use a mixture of staccato questioning, reasoning, tact, subtlety and wordsmithery. Taking onboard what you guys have requested, I'll try to include some descriptive reactions. All descriptives are based on the outcome of rolls.

Q1
Who is your master?(Male Hobbit)

The Stoor Hobbit glowers at Aranel as the Elf and the Dwarf join forces with their questioning. At first his response is non-existent, but with cajoling and some reverse psychology they soon have him muttering under his breath. He's still horribly unfriendly, but the harsh hostility seems to be melting slightly. "The master, he'd fry me and burn me! Can't tell them about the Master. Put me in the tower he would. Put me in the tower and hurts me for saying such things!" (Reliability percentile 80%)

Aranel, Ulfang and Aerec find this believable, the Stoor Hobbit seems to be rambling but doesn't look like he's trying to fool them or make anything up to throw them off the scent of the truth. Baran, on the other hand, isn't so sure and thinks maybe the Hobbit is smarter than he's making out and a good actor to boot!

Q2
Why were you sent here? (Male Hobbit)

The hobbit continues to squirm under interrogation but this time seems unwilling to open up as much. Aranel fumbles with subtlety in her questioning and the hobbit senses her eagerness to fool him into submission. He clams up and says simply, "not the filthy Elf's business." This infuriates Baran who reacts with a little too much aggression. At this point things seem to be going rather badly and no matter how they dress up the question the Hobbit refuses to respond.

Next two questions please, or actions/reactions.

[SBLOCK=renau1g] I'm rolling for Ulfang but don't have a list of his skills in front of me as I've lost the link to the online character sheet you gave me. Can you provide me with his skills. In the last set of rolls I just rolled d20 for Sense Motive. It didn't make much difference to the overall outcome this time, but it might next time.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

At this point, Aranel confers briefly with the others, suggesting that they switch to the female for a little while and that the man and woman be separated so he can't hear or see her responses...nor intimidate or influence them.

She'd like to pose the following two questions:

What is the mark on your forehead?

Why did you try to steal the dwarf's scroll?

She mentions that they can then pose the same questions to the male separately and see if the information corroborates.

 

[Redclaw]

Aerec agrees with the elf-maiden's suggestions, respectfully showing deference to her years of experience with members of other races. He will gladly take the male into a different room and glare at him to keep him quiet.