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Citadel of the Iron Crown - Burglars in Mirkwood
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<blockquote data-quote="Dlsharrock" data-source="post: 4286275" data-attributes="member: 55833"><p>OOC</p><p></p><p>I'm quite keen to move things on a bit, and it may be apparent that I've attempted to do that with the Thalion/thrush plot seed. At the risk of seeming authorial, my intention is to give the group a reason to leave the camp and set off to explore the setting (as was the original plan), thus opening the game a bit more to players who are probably getting mighty bored with sitting on the back benches. Whether this involves going in search of the one who sent the Hobbits, or going with Thalion, doesn't matter so much to me as the fact that the game progresses outside the limitations of the logging camp.</p><p></p><p>Having said that, Fred is playing Baran to character and there really is no underlying reason for him to take up with Thalion immediately and abandon his duties so far as I can see, so I don't particularly blame Fred for his character reacting this way, though I am a bit concerned that the way things are going the game will eventually dwindle to a premature end. I do, however, think that for the general good of the group, and if everyone wants to continue playing, the game needs to move away from its current situation and get a bit more dynamic, with situations that everyone can get involved in.</p><p></p><p>As I said, this risks me coming off as authorial, but I think in a pbp sometimes you have to be, otherwise things stagnate and some players get left out of the loop. I have tried to create an unusual setting here, rather than the more tried and tested combat pbp or a one off adventure set at the start of a known module, so I think in some ways I'm going to have to bite the bullet and lay down a few suggestions.</p><p></p><p>Therefore I suggest a compromise, somewhere between characterisation and adventure. </p><p></p><p>I suggest that we officially end this IC thread and assume that Thalion cannot convince Baran to change his mind. We'll use the rest of the thread to discuss what happens next.</p><p></p><p>I would suggest that the following may be a solution:</p><p></p><p>When it becomes obvious Baran isn't going to budge, Thalion sets up camp nearby and, over the course of the next few days, attempts to persuade others to come with him to the Lonely Mountain. Aranel agrees, because she doesn't like the sound of the vapour and wishes to learn more from the thrushes. Aerec and Ulfang also agree to go, but Baran continues to refuse to 'abandon his life's work' and life around the camp for him goes on much as usual (though he probably keeps his windows locked).</p><p></p><p>The Hobbits are held in the camp for a while and healed, but the male will prove troublesome and he will attempt several escapes and cause mischief in the process. Moreover, the superstitious logging folk are scared of the female after several of them witness a change in her demeanour one day (the same thing Aranel saw that one time) and swear blind she is possessed with dark powers. A meeting is called and Baran/Granthan preside.</p><p></p><p>It is decided that the Hobbits are not welcome at the camp, but nor can they be turned loose into Mirkwood, so the vote is taken to take them to Lake Town where authorities there can deal with them. Seizing an opportunity to grasp control of the logging camp, Granthan has been laying groundwork prior to this meeting (and Baran will likely suspect he's also played a hand in stirring trouble with the male Hobbit) and when it comes to voting for who should take the Hobbits to Lake Town, Baran's name comes to the fore and there is a general sense of uneasiness about the Dwarf. Many are unhappy with Baran, since the Hobbits came for something in his hut and have been inextricably linked with him. Furthermore, they believe there is something mysterious and evil about the parchment rumoured to be in Baran's possession. He also gets the blame for Elves hanging around the camp of late.</p><p></p><p>The two monthly trip to Lake Town is therefore brought forward and Baran is voted by the camp (much to his chagrin, no doubt) to take the Stoors and deal with logging camp business at the same time. Spotting his opportunity, Thalion suggests he accompany Baran to Lake Town in the hope he can persuade him to go the rest of the way to the Lonely Mountain. Aerec, Ulfang and Aranel go too. NPCs in tow will be the two Stoor Hobbits and probably Gellion.</p><p></p><p>How does that sound?</p><p></p><p>If it sounds ok, we'll pick up the next part of the game as a start-of-adventure thread with the group setting off north for Lake Town, presumably following the tributary to the lake. Once we're rolling along the game should unfold in a more non-linear way with the focus off any individual players and more open to everyone playing a character. I've set up possible adventure threads at journey's end, but there's no presumption on my part that anyone pick them up. My main concern is that we get the game moving outside the logging camp scenario.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dlsharrock, post: 4286275, member: 55833"] OOC I'm quite keen to move things on a bit, and it may be apparent that I've attempted to do that with the Thalion/thrush plot seed. At the risk of seeming authorial, my intention is to give the group a reason to leave the camp and set off to explore the setting (as was the original plan), thus opening the game a bit more to players who are probably getting mighty bored with sitting on the back benches. Whether this involves going in search of the one who sent the Hobbits, or going with Thalion, doesn't matter so much to me as the fact that the game progresses outside the limitations of the logging camp. Having said that, Fred is playing Baran to character and there really is no underlying reason for him to take up with Thalion immediately and abandon his duties so far as I can see, so I don't particularly blame Fred for his character reacting this way, though I am a bit concerned that the way things are going the game will eventually dwindle to a premature end. I do, however, think that for the general good of the group, and if everyone wants to continue playing, the game needs to move away from its current situation and get a bit more dynamic, with situations that everyone can get involved in. As I said, this risks me coming off as authorial, but I think in a pbp sometimes you have to be, otherwise things stagnate and some players get left out of the loop. I have tried to create an unusual setting here, rather than the more tried and tested combat pbp or a one off adventure set at the start of a known module, so I think in some ways I'm going to have to bite the bullet and lay down a few suggestions. Therefore I suggest a compromise, somewhere between characterisation and adventure. I suggest that we officially end this IC thread and assume that Thalion cannot convince Baran to change his mind. We'll use the rest of the thread to discuss what happens next. I would suggest that the following may be a solution: When it becomes obvious Baran isn't going to budge, Thalion sets up camp nearby and, over the course of the next few days, attempts to persuade others to come with him to the Lonely Mountain. Aranel agrees, because she doesn't like the sound of the vapour and wishes to learn more from the thrushes. Aerec and Ulfang also agree to go, but Baran continues to refuse to 'abandon his life's work' and life around the camp for him goes on much as usual (though he probably keeps his windows locked). The Hobbits are held in the camp for a while and healed, but the male will prove troublesome and he will attempt several escapes and cause mischief in the process. Moreover, the superstitious logging folk are scared of the female after several of them witness a change in her demeanour one day (the same thing Aranel saw that one time) and swear blind she is possessed with dark powers. A meeting is called and Baran/Granthan preside. It is decided that the Hobbits are not welcome at the camp, but nor can they be turned loose into Mirkwood, so the vote is taken to take them to Lake Town where authorities there can deal with them. Seizing an opportunity to grasp control of the logging camp, Granthan has been laying groundwork prior to this meeting (and Baran will likely suspect he's also played a hand in stirring trouble with the male Hobbit) and when it comes to voting for who should take the Hobbits to Lake Town, Baran's name comes to the fore and there is a general sense of uneasiness about the Dwarf. Many are unhappy with Baran, since the Hobbits came for something in his hut and have been inextricably linked with him. Furthermore, they believe there is something mysterious and evil about the parchment rumoured to be in Baran's possession. He also gets the blame for Elves hanging around the camp of late. The two monthly trip to Lake Town is therefore brought forward and Baran is voted by the camp (much to his chagrin, no doubt) to take the Stoors and deal with logging camp business at the same time. Spotting his opportunity, Thalion suggests he accompany Baran to Lake Town in the hope he can persuade him to go the rest of the way to the Lonely Mountain. Aerec, Ulfang and Aranel go too. NPCs in tow will be the two Stoor Hobbits and probably Gellion. How does that sound? If it sounds ok, we'll pick up the next part of the game as a start-of-adventure thread with the group setting off north for Lake Town, presumably following the tributary to the lake. Once we're rolling along the game should unfold in a more non-linear way with the focus off any individual players and more open to everyone playing a character. I've set up possible adventure threads at journey's end, but there's no presumption on my part that anyone pick them up. My main concern is that we get the game moving outside the logging camp scenario. [/QUOTE]
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