| Author | Thread: Campaign Setting |
| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #15170 Posted: Oct 21, 2008, 6:51 pm |
It seems that joining a clan is the only opportunity for roleplaying on this site.
Together with your clan you strive to new levels of research and form relationships with other players, even going on special missions and recieving rewards.
But except for a select number of clan officials, it is not an opportunity to roleplay. It is an opportunity to contribute; characters roleplay the farmer, bringing in their produce, except on rare occasions. These occasions are clan wars, in which normal pvp has a deeper meaning that can be roleplayed by any in the clan. I suppose it is some new thing for farmers to become soldiers in times of war. It seems like clans are the only opportunity to roleplay, but to me they are not, nor are they even the best way.
Take, for example, the missions for the Dimitrian Guard. There are a variety of missions to choose from, which will be listed later. However, there are a limited number (approximately 8 at the time of writing) so by hitting the refresh button a number of times, you can pretty much choose the mission you want. Further, that any number of people can choose the same mission with this method can be verified by online messaging.
A roleplaying group can be put together on the IRC, select the same mission, hit the confirmation button in unison, and effectively go on the same mission together. Nothing in the mision selection page contradicts this, and the details of the mission (including the "nagging doubts" et cetra it does mention) can be written here, on our new "Roleplay Discussions" forum.
You are given experience for going on the missions, yet never has it said if the mission was successful. It also doesn't say you "can't" bring your golem with, but I'd wager some of the missions are complex enough that you can't just send it to do missions for you. If you were right there, though, it would recieve direct instructions and be less likely to take any damage. The only thing they stipulate is that the army doesn't accept anyone from the clan army reserves.
Now that one of the biggest brains at the university is getting married to one of the biggest swords in the skirmish stable, I think we can expect both great and terrible things (like karaoke at the reception). Certainly its no time to be leaving the safety of the group. Why not being in a clan would be as foolish as, well, walking into a monster-infested dungeon alone, sword in hand. At best its accompanying a ragtag band of misfits into a monster-infested dungeon.
Isn't that what we have golems for?
Since its so dangerous not to be in a clan, I'll just post the general campaign notes here and we'll work on individual threads when people feel its safe to adventure.
The eight missions are divided into positive and negative alignments by the words (respectable) and (questionable). They are:
1. Extend a farming regions fields to provide more food for the people (respectable)
2. Help repair a local communities hospital (respectable)
3. Protect a town from goblin bandits (respectable)
4. Rebuild a villages dikes after a recent flood(respectable)
5. Destroy a farm because its owners failed to pay taxes recently. (questionable)
6. Forcibly remove farmers from an area the military has claimed (questionable)
7. Supress an outspoken critic of the government (questionable)
8. Tear down the statue of a well known philosopher (questionable)
Unlike some activities, these missions have a moral consequence. Not an immediate one, but the shift from evil to good is not an overnight one, regardless of what propagandists may say. These missions are also very vague on the method used to fulfill them.
For example, I made it part of my character description that on missions #6 and #7, rather than use a display of force, I preferred to "gas" the human element and let soldiers take care of the heavy stuff. However, after I wrote that, it seemed like mission #7 came up more often. I don't believe it was because my results were less random, but I simply noticed it more because I now had an emotional attachment to what I was doing.
Also, I noticed some missions "stack." Let's say that for my positive mission (I do both to remain neutral) I chose #1 and cleared land for farmers to grow crops. Then I got #7 and cleared farmers off land the military had claimed. Now the land I cleared on mission #1, the army had legal claim to it because I, acting as military personnel, had cleared it. Did that mean I was only giving them land so they could make it valuable enough to take back? Questionable, very questionable...
On a lighter note, after the recent floods in mission #4, the local hospital might have water damage, so you could be nice and repair that two. And after seeing the looks of gratitude on the little curse patients and nurses, you'd be shocked to hear they'd been targeted by goblin bandits and might drop everything to protect them. Its an upward and downward spiral as well, and perhaps that might draw you in. But its not like you don't have a choice with the clan. You can always donate resources or pvp someone on the "wrong" side. That's the way to prove your alignment isn't it? |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #15200 Posted: Oct 21, 2008, 8:10 pm |
The reason most of the RP is based around clans is partly because it started in clans, and also partly because we don't have enough information about the world at large to speculate, wheras each clan has their own little domain they can influence - nobody will argue if we say, for example, Magisterus University has a conference room where they can host summits, because the good folks at Tomu are assumed to have built said conference room themselves. We can't, however, say that the Dimitrin Guard has a jail in which they employ torture devices, because the gamemaster, Arkham, hasn't revealed that information. Thus, many of us are hesitant to employ many of the game structures for fear of getting the flavor wrong and upsetting the almightly Arkham.
That being said, at least one invitation has been extended to Arkham to join us in roleplaying. |
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| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #15231 Posted: Oct 21, 2008, 11:39 pm |
And the town of Enwich, while being separate entity, grew from proximity to MU and became a "university town." Appologies if I'm mistaking "Tales of MU" for the actual Magisterius RP, but because of its strong influence, the town is treated as an extension of the university? I'm not about to try anything so large, and I won't do anything like the Walled Market.
What I was thinking was that these missions, while picked up from Mottonsborough, were carried out in a little town just off the map. Population of about 200, maybe 16 family groups of 12 and a half, though the "half" could be the "2.5" child, a golem, or just a pet. A "hometown" as much as a "jumping-off" point for adventure.
You'll have to think about this as well, now that you've switched from wrangling students to leading knights. Knights have a slight aftertaste of "noble" that separates them from common fighters. In order to bring this out you may have to give them a sense of "overseeing their domain." Knights are both "above" the people (while on horseback) and "bonded" to them in what was once called "chivalry." Fealty demands that they watch over and protect the people in their lands, and that's all the more real when those people have things like names and families.
A major part of roleplaying is putting in this human element back into a world of systematic violence. The town would belong to the players in the sense that no one else need have heard of it or even have permission to visit it. In another sense, they'd be limited in their interactions to the eight missions outlined above. They'd know the local lord who rewarded them, the innkeeper who gives them a place of rest, the sick child who asks if they can put in a treehouse while they're rebuilding the hospital, and other people "of interest."
That may make it more "real" for them.
While "overseeing" a game, I prefer to build where the players are looking, at the points of their interest. They seem to enjoy it more when they have a hand in setting the tone, and Arkham may feel the same way. If so, he may look to see how we're playing before he finishes drawing the playbook. If not, and I'm playing with something dangerous or with something dangerously, he need only say so and I will stop.
But at the moment, we aren't playing anything. I'm just jotting down some campaign building notes, which might explain why I'm writing books! And for once I'm doing it without" adding" to the current site.
And yes, I'll take down the part about your wedding and karaoke soon. :) |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #15234 Posted: Oct 21, 2008, 11:58 pm |
Trust me, I'm fully capable of writing entire campaigns and settings on my own. The issue here is that I don't own this game, so I'm reluctant to make definitive judgments. I don't like it when players in my campaigns make things up without consulting with me because it often conflicts with my unrevealed plans, I can only imagine how bad that'd be for Arkham since he's not revealed much of anything.
For the record, the TOMU RPs take place entirely within the university itself and the relevant workshops. I could wax poetic for a while about the history of the clan/school, but I think House is on so I don't have time.Last Edited: Oct 22, 2008, 12:00 am |
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| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #15248 Posted: Oct 22, 2008, 4:35 am |
When you have more time, I'd like to say that your ability was never in doubt nor was your stance ever invalid.
Having this discussion before attempting the plan outlined above has been helpful. I was under the impression that what I was doing was providing a sort of backstory, character development without any effect on current gameplay. I would ask that you to clarify your argument a bit, but I can partially understand where you're coming from.
In a tabletop game, this kind of activity would be extremely dangerous. It introduces characters who could alter the storyline any number of ways from being logical sources of information to providing shelter and supply in dangerous times. I should not have used the term "reward" for the thanks expressed by the local lord, because that makes it sound as something monetary would be gained. It is not so. This storytelling cannot increase resources or build golems or provide xp beyond that normally given by participating in missions.
I certainly did not plan to bribe people into participating. I ask again that you clarify when you are able, but your arguments about respecting the game designer's vision are valid. If Arkham had a specific vision for the Dimitrian missions, as he very well might with the item quests, why my hypothetical players would have to draft a scenario in which they failed to "Protect a town from goblin bandits" and the town was destroyed. Dozens of fictional characters could be left homeless, and my players would be broken-hearted even if the scenario included their favorite NPCs being brought home as lab assistants.
I could never ask that of my players, or of Arkham to make such a decision, so this topic is pretty much moot.
Why not go ahead an wax poetic on the history of your alma mater? After all, it IS a "campaign setting" since, for the record, all TOMU RPs take place within the university. :) You'd be right on topic, and if there's anyone who doesn't like long posts, they left long ago.
Go nuts, when you have time... |
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| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #15634 Posted: Oct 25, 2008, 3:45 am |
Although if you prefer not to comment on Magesterius University because its someone else's guild...
...I won't say I understand, but I'll sort of nod my head in a knowing fashion. |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #15636 Posted: Oct 25, 2008, 3:50 am |
| Sorry, I'm planning on running my ideas past Kaelas before I post them up and I keep forgetting to ask >.> He should be on soonish though.... I hope... in theory.... U_U |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #15730 Posted: Oct 25, 2008, 10:30 pm |
| It's posted in its own thread, after we finished tweaking the grammar XD |
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| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #17411 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 1:46 am |
I already read that post a long time ago.
This is just a little note to give you the finger.
This game isn't any fun following your rules. I'm going to be creative. Deal with it. |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #17416 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 2:32 am |
Er... ok? Congrats? I don't really see why you're so pissed at me, but hey. Have fun.
My point was just that I don't want to treat this game like it's my own personal campaign world, because it's not. Lacking details, by necessity I'll have to fill in some blanks here and there, but sitting down and jotting out details? Filling volumes? The minute I start with a premise Arkham doesn't like, I'd be in trouble. All of my plotting has been either character-based or an AU, and I've got dozens of threads across 2 clan forums and the public one. Sorry if you feel you need to plan out every detail of a world and GM it to have fun O.o Last Edited: Nov 11, 2008, 2:53 am |
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| Haruna Posts: 471
Location: Jinkara
Magus Age: 117 years old
| Message #17424 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 3:33 am |
Indeed, as it isn't our world at the moment, we can't do much with it that Arkham can't go back and completely undo. Once that thread is undone, near EVERYTHING based upon it is undone, and slowly fades to plotholes and paradoxes.
Let's look at Haruna. Her father is rumoured to have created some of the monsters we now fight out there in the wilds of Muelsfell. Now they can't be more than rumors, nor can he be the specific source of that particular monsterl, but he could create some of a type which now plauges this world into these very days. She herself also has 3 artifical limbs, created by that father, which replace those lost in an accident shortly before her father disappeared.
One could do that, as an example, and still be spared any possible need for retcons at a later date.
And then... There's also a spot to mention where Arkham could get annoyed by someone coming in and wresting control of the story he plans to weave here, and banish said individuals from Muelsfell. But that is only if he decides to weave a greater story here, and until he says so, we must respect that.
And just so you know Boss, I've been banished from a particular game, it was called Dead Earth if you can find it, for being a part of a group doing just that. And not only that, the creator shut the game down, deleted the site and forums. When he did restart it, he banned the IP's of everyone that took part in the first version of the game, and banned everyone who tried to weave a story that would affect more than a handful of people.
Now I doubt Arkham is that overzealous of his control over us players or the stories we wish to weave. Nor do I think that he would be as petty as to do anything like what that other individual did. But I didn't think that it would happen with the other game either, and I don't want anyone to push him until he snaps. Still until he says we can play with the mythos, geopolitics or the flow of the world-weave, it'd be polite to keep things smallish until one get permission to build upon those bases and turn them into towers of plot and story.
Or I could be reading the situation completely wrong here. It's happened before.
And Boss, I don't think Yami is trying to force you to play by her 'rules', I think she merely wanted to show what may be possible in this world we are a part of.
And if you have something you really wish was a part of this world, well we have a Suggestions and Improvemants [www.muelsfell.com/world/map_community.php] forum...Last Edited: Nov 11, 2008, 3:41 am |
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ShanPosts: 589 Location: Arzenbourg Magus Age: 127 years old Clan: ARROW | Message #17428 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 4:14 am |
So, I have a question that's probably kind of important, maybe only a little off topic.
How should we treat time and distance in Muelsfell while roleplaying?
I expect that the few minutes it takes to send a golem between towns is just a simplification for gameplay's sake. I really doubt that we can walk across the entire continent in under half an hour. But then what is the actual scale of the game world? Twenty miles between towns? A hundred? A few thousand?
Or should we just gloss over it and abstract all large scale travel as just taking "a while"?
For example, recently Daryoon, Sconibulus, and Yamiko traveled from what appeared to be the South Capitol Ruins to Last Alvia Dawning in the length of a conversation or two. |
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| Yamikuronue Posts: 1288
Location: Mottonsborough
Magus Age: 116 years old
| Message #17429 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 4:38 am |
| We sort of went by the standby "however long is dramatically relevant" >.> you can assume there was more drunken rambling in between if it helps. |
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| Boss Posts: 132
Location: Zion's Reach
Magus Age: 115 years old
| Message #17458 Posted: Nov 11, 2008, 4:29 pm |
| I think she merely wanted to show what may be possible in this world we are a part of.
Okay now THAT, if anyone would do that, would be just peachy!
I'm just so frustrated that I'm taking it out on Yami. I've reached the "if I'm banned, then so be it" point, and I have words for the one who made me second guess my actions for weeks on end with their oh so helpful advice. I'm attempting to say as few of them as possible.
Bottom line, I like vivid descriptions and I hate having to wait for everyone to be online before I can move the story along. I'll respect that this is Arkham's game but I will do it in my own way, which involves accepting that he is a human being with limited number of hours in the day and therefore not enough time to flesh out all aspects of the game world. His descriptions carry more weight than mine; the only virtue of my descriptions will be that they will be given without fear or delay. |
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