[dungeoncrawl] Re: Thursday Morning Review
- From: jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 15:20:56 US/Eastern
Hmm. Good question! It's going to
take a while.
For starters, the low-level guys have
to complete their quest for Sonya's
soul. That will take 1-2 sessions for
the current leg (possibly an extra
one).
Then there will be 1-3 sessions for the
next leg of that mission.
After, they're looking at Sinjen's
situation, I presume. That's hard to
predict right now - it depends on what
they do. To be safe, figure 4 weeks.
And then there's Ilana and Kilian. Not
so easy to predict - future more
cloudy, it is.
All together, if we just did that
group, we'd have plenty to play with
until Christmas.
By the way, John - is it a safe
assumption that Magnus will stop
copying spells for Master Lothar?
OK, the other groups. We have no
active plans to DM Marnie's inquest for
now, but that may change - fast -
depending on Keith's availability. And
we'd also deal at that time with Zann,
or whoever Keith may be interested in
using at the time.
The "higher powered" group could take a
couple of directions. If they decide
to track down Celane, it could take
several weeks. If they decide to try
to locate the world on their own, it
could also take a while. They could of
course try other options - hunting down
the Black Legion, or learning more
about Dr. Klaw, for example. I'd give
the whole shebang at least several
months to finish.
All told, I could easily keep DMing
until at least next summer -
> I am honestly looking forward to it.
I do have one question though. Do you
> have any idea how long it will take
you to get both of these groups to a
> point where you would consider
them "finished"?
>
> I am just curious, because I would
like to know how much time I have until
I
> start DMing the Sigil to their
conclusion. Also, has anyone thought
anymore
> on what we are going to do once the
Sigil is completed? I know we won't
> really need to decide that until we
get there, but assuming that Jim DM's
> for a few more months and then I DM
the Sigil to their conclusion, I foresee
> them ending sometime before the end
of the year next year. Possibly around
> this time frame. So, we most likely
have a year to decide what we want to
> do, but I was just curious if anyone
had any ideas. Especially with the
> idea that some of the Riders might be
deities by that point, we could even
> play around with the new world.
>
> Anyway, I wanted to get a heads up
from you Jim, just so I can continue
> planning with a time frame in mind of
when I'll need to be ready by.
>
> I can't wait to play either of the
groups together again. The mini-riders
> have an interesting mix of characters
and personalities that makes them very
> fun to play. The riders are always
interesting, especially because they can
> kick some major tuckus and they will
have to if they want to make it to the
> prize.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002
10:17 AM
> To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Thursday
Morning Review
>
> Yes, next week should definitely be
> more action-oriented. I'd really
like
> to continue the adventure to help
Sonya
> find her soul. When that is done,
the
> group will be heading back to the
Green
> Mill - an excellent time to
springboard
> to the other group if we want to.
That
> might be at the end of next week, but
> the following week at the latest.
>
> > Okay, I'm back! I missed the
> beginning of the conversation, but I
can
> > participate now. I echo John's
> sentiments about the individual role
> > playing. It does tend to take away
> from the momentum of the night and
from
> > the mood that is set. If two
people
> aren't into the game, then they can't
> > help establish the mood and end up
> detracting from it.
> >
> > I did enjoy watching Mylena go
around
> and collect the Riders though. It was
> > fun to watch and Jim did a great
job
> of making it entertaining. I would
say
> > that it would have been more fun to
> get to play the characters together.
> > Certainly that is more fun than
> watching other people role-play for
long
> > periods of time.
> >
> > I can also say that over the past
two
> weeks my enthusiasm has lessened,
> > simply because we didn't really get
> much of a chance to work with the
> > characters together as a group. We
> are still getting things "set up" and
> > the set up stage is the most
tedious
> and least exciting from a group
dynamic
> > standpoint. But, I look forward to
> the next few weeks as we get to see
the
> > groups in action.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Johnathan Detrick
> [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002
> 1:21 PM
> > To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re:
Thursday
> Morning Review
> >
> >
> > You have certainly given her
tons
> of style. I'm interested to see
> > her in action with the Riders.
> >
> > jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > > I have to say also that I really
> had no
> > > idea if Mylena was going to
> succeed -
> > > especially at the end. All of my
> > > expectations had Rig doing all of
> the
> > > work, and her doing the
> transportation
> > > afterwards.
> > >
> > > She could have easily been killed
by
> > > Baish, if things had gone
> differently,
> > > or especially by Nadan. Gadget
> never
> > > got the chance, and I was really
> > > relieved that he didn't. I don't
> even
> > > want to think about it if Marnie
and
> > > Escrima weren't my own characters
> near
> > > the end there.
> > >
> > > On a personal note, my favorite
> moment
> > > (one of them, anyway), was when
> Nadan
> > > made a very real threat to finish
> her
> > > off and she said "Hold on a
minute,
> I'm
> > > thinking." Very Swordfish, if
you
> ask
> > > me!
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Oh thank God! I feel so
much
> > > better! I wanted to make sure you
> > > > understand that I truly respect
> your
> > > skills as a DM, but I did want to
> > > > make my feelings known.
> > > > I thought that Mylena
> returning
> > > was you trying to get us to do it
> > > > ourselves, and I almost did.
> > > However, Magnus had used Mylena
in
> the
> > > > first place just so he didn't
> have to
> > > do it himself. He figured, if he
> > > > started going after people now,
> why
> > > bother to use her at all?
> > > > Anyway, I already feel
better
> > > about next week. I'm anxious to
> play
> > > > again.
> > > >
> > > > jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Nah, you're right. I'm really
> > > > > committed to the long-term
> story arc
> > > > > that I envision, but it's
> important
> > > to
> > > > > me that the foundation not be
> > > > > undermined to rush to the good
> > > stuff.
> > > > > Last night, I went in
assuming
> that
> > > > > after the first two or three
> > > characters
> > > > > got free, they'd get together
> with
> > > > > Magnus and take care of the
> rest on
> > > > > their own (eliminating any
need
> for
> > > > > individual roleplaying).
> > > > >
> > > > > That's one reason why Mylena
> came
> > > back
> > > > > partway thru - she thought
that
> the
> > > > > group only needed her to get
> them
> > > > > started, and they'd take it
from
> > > > > there. Still, though, it was
> > > important
> > > > > to me that the characters come
> > > together
> > > > > in a plausible way - after
all,
> they
> > > > > were put on the planes in a
> manner
> > > that
> > > > > made it tough to leave, and I
> didn't
> > > > > want to make that seem like a
> > > trivial
> > > > > limitation.
> > > > >
> > > > > I don't foresee any need for
> nights
> > > > > like the last few down the
> road -
> > > > > actually, if it does happen,
> I'll be
> > > > > banging my head on the wall
to
> keep
> > > > > things moving - but it does
seem
> > > like
> > > > > it's becoming the norm.
> > > > >
> > > > > I guess the stakes are so
high
> in
> > > what
> > > > > we're doing with
the "powerful"
> > > group,
> > > > > that I want to make sure the
> group
> > > > > earns their victory - warts
and
> all.
> > > > > The last thing we need is for
> the
> > > > > characters to easily obtain
> godhood,
> > > > > and then for us as players to
> find
> > > the
> > > > > whole thing so unsatisfying
> that we
> > > > > look for ways to make them
> mortal
> > > again.
> > > > >
> > > > > Definitely open to
suggestions -
> I'm
> > > > > actually planning on emailing
> Shawn
> > > B.
> > > > > soon (hee hee) to get guru
level
> > > advice
> > > > > on my long term plans, but
it's
> > > > > important most of all that
> everyone
> > > is
> > > > > having fun when we get
> together -
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Ok, I'm going to start
by
> > > being
> > > > > honest. I have been debating
> how to
> > > > > > respond to Jim's e-mail,
> which may
> > > > > seem odd, since I am the cold
> > > hearted
> > > > > > bastard of the group and I
> usually
> > > > > have no problem being
honest.
> My
> > > > > > concern is that I know that
> Jim
> > > is a
> > > > > superior DM, and I don't want
> this
> > > > > > taken the wrong way. That
> being
> > > > > said, I didn't enjoy last
night
> as
> > > much
> > > > > > as I had hoped to.
> > > > > > I think the thing that
> really
> > > > > killed me was the second week
> in a
> > > row
> > > > > > of individual role-
playing.
> It
> > > seems
> > > > > to be a common thread for us,
> and
> > > > > > I'm not sure how we became
> caught
> > > in
> > > > > the trap. Three weeks ago,
> before
> > > > > > the Riders fought Rig, Jim
had
> > > > > brought the subject up with
> me. I
> > > had
> > > > > > advised against it. He
> decided
> > > to do
> > > > > it anyway, and he did some
> > > > > > individual role-playing with
> > > Ilana,
> > > > > Kilian, Valeria and the
group.
> And
> > > > > > it went very well. Jim
jumped
> > > from
> > > > > one player to another and
kept
> the
> > > > > > sessions short. He had
> proved me
> > > > > wrong; individual role-
playing
> can
> > > > > > work, and he went on to DM
> one of
> > > the
> > > > > best nights of D&D we have
had
> in
> > > > > > a long time. He also left
me
> > > feeling
> > > > > incredibly positive and
excited
> > > > > > about the future. I
believe,
> if
> > > Jim
> > > > > had suggested it, I would have
> > > > > > called off work, and told
> Brad I
> > > > > wasn't coming home, and then
> > > barricaded
> > > > > > myself in the basement for
the
> > > next
> > > > > three weeks straight to see
> what Jim
> > > > > > had planned.
> > > > > > Then last week
happened.
> We
> > > did
> > > > > almost all individual role-
> playing,
> > > > > > and it caused the night to
> slow
> > > > > down. I know that when I
left
> last
> > > > > > week, my enthusiasm had
> dimmed a
> > > > > little, but I was still
excited.
> > > > > > Unfortunately, last night
was
> > > more of
> > > > > the same. I had hoped that
Jim
> > > > > > would quickly gather the
party
> > > and we
> > > > > could be off. Instead, each
> > > > > > individual character was
> gathered.
> > > > > It took almost all night.
And
> I'm
> > > > > > afraid it drained my
> enthusiasm
> > > even
> > > > > more.
> > > > > > I'm still looking
forward
> to
> > > > > where Jim is going with this
> plot.
> > > As
> > > > > > we saw three weeks ago, he
> can DM
> > > an
> > > > > adventure better than most,
and
> > > > > > deliver us a great night of
> role-
> > > > > playing. But I fear that the
> last
> > > two
> > > > > > weeks have leeched some of
the
> > > > > momentum he had going. It's
> going
> > > to be
> > > > > > more work on everyone's
part
> to
> > > get
> > > > > us back to the fever pitch we
> were
> > > > > > in a few weeks ago.
> > > > > > Comments? Please? I
> don't
> > > > > intend to be overly critical
of
> > > Jim. I
> > > > > > know how hard it can be to
DM
> (I
> > > am
> > > > > the person that has had more
> than
> > > > > > one campaign that I put a
lot
> of
> > > work
> > > > > into shot out from under me
when
> > > > > > the players said that they
> weren't
> > > > > interested), and I know Jim
can
> pull
> > > > > > it together. But the last
few
> > > weeks
> > > > > just haven't worked for me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > jimkaren@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I don't know about
everyone
> > > else,
> > > > > but I
> > > > > > > had a good time last
> night! It
> > > was
> > > > > an
> > > > > > > odd night, in a way, as
> only one
> > > > > player
> > > > > > > was doing anything at any
> given
> > > time
> > > > > > > for most of it. I didn't
> intend
> > > > > that
> > > > > > > at first, but somehow it
> worked.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The gist was Magnus sent
> > > Mylena, his
> > > > > > > alternate-reality daughter
> > > (believe
> > > > > it
> > > > > > > or not, it all makes
sense
> from
> > > a
> > > > > > > campaign perspective)
> > > to "capture"
> > > > > > > certain Riders who were
> > > imprisoned
> > > > > on
> > > > > > > the outer planes. If
they
> left
> > > of
> > > > > > > their own free will, or
> > > knowingly,
> > > > > > > there was a greater
chance
> of
> > > the
> > > > > gods
> > > > > > > becoming offended or
> realizing
> > > what
> > > > > was
> > > > > > > happening.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And since the gods have no
> > > > > influence in
> > > > > > > the city of Sigil, and
since
> > > Mylena
> > > > > > > technically never existed
in
> > > these
> > > > > > > characters' version of
> > > > > the "realms", it
> > > > > > > seemed plausible that her
> > > activities
> > > > > > > could go unnoticed for a
> period
> > > of
> > > > > time.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In the end, Mylena
> succeeded in
> > > > > > > capturing most of the
Riders
> > > she was
> > > > > > > sent for after a very
> difficult
> > > > > > > struggle. She exhausted
> Rig,
> > > my now
> > > > > > > very-deceased evil 17th
> level
> > > > > > > gladiator, five powerful
> > > mercenary
> > > > > > > githyanki, and almost
> herself
> > > to do
> > > > > > > it. She used sheer power,
> > > > > treachery,
> > > > > > > luck, or whatever it
would
> take
> > > to
> > > > > pull
> > > > > > > it off, and it was fun to
> see in
> > > > > action
> > > > > > > since I didn't have a
> definite
> > > > > outcome
> > > > > > > in mind.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I thought about forcing
> > > characters
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > be captured last night,
but
> in
> > > the
> > > > > end,
> > > > > > > I would be helping the
> Riders to
> > > > > win.
> > > > > > > And that wouldn't be
fair.
> It
> > > may
> > > > > > > sound like a "yeah sure"
> thing,
> > > but
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > group's rivals (like
> Celane, the
> > > > > Black
> > > > > > > Legion, and maybe Dr.
Klaw)
> all
> > > > > have a
> > > > > > > chance to succeed.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > So the Riders ended up
> > > prisoners of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > Dustmen faction in Sigil's
> > > Mortuary
> > > > > (as
> > > > > > > Mylena is a member there -
> > > > > apparently,
> > > > > > > she's at least partly a
> > > > > necromancer).
> > > > > > > They were released
> > > simultaneously
> > > > > from
> > > > > > > gas-filled iron caskets,
and
> > > > > proceeded
> > > > > > > to deal with their
> situation.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In the end, Magnus got a
> core
> > > group
> > > > > to
> > > > > > > agree to his crusade.
Some
> > > other
> > > > > > > characters offered to help
> > > Marnie
> > > > > (my
> > > > > > > swashbuckler) search for
her
> > > > > husband,
> > > > > > > Surrote, who had gone
> missing
> > > on his
> > > > > > > own and couldn't be
located
> by
> > > > > Mylena.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Ambrosia preferred to
remain
> > > > > retired,
> > > > > > > running her new inn, and
> > > the "lower
> > > > > > > level" riders that we
used
> last
> > > week
> > > > > > > are still doing their own
> thing.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > And that is where we
ended.
> > > > > > > Thoughts/comments?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
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