Post by Corey the GM on Feb 5, 2016 10:18:02 GMT -5
We're about to start a new story line, ten years before the previous line that some of the members here were involved in. Our veteran members have a pretty clear idea of how I operate and what to expect in game, but to our new crowd I figured I would introduce myself and explain what to expect in the coming weeks. I'll also explain some information about the new plot and game mechanics.
The GM
Hi, I'm Corey and I'm addicted to gaming. It's been a few months since I've ran a game and I have a nagging itch to get back into it. I have chat based role played since I was 12 (1997) using a freeform system. I learned Pathfinder about four years ago, and started GMing about 2 and a half years ago. I've never really played D&D in person, my only experiences with tabletop gaming have been online. I was a closet nerd until a couple years ago, and since then have been slowly going to gaming stores and branching my nerdom to board games and other stuff. I'm an avid PC/X-bone player (our group Steam names can be found the in the Gaming thread). So, if you ever want to game on something else, hit me up.
I've been married for five years and we're about to have our first kid in July. I'm about to receive my Bachelor's Degree in Project Management in June, so I have some busy times ahead of me. But as the vets know, I'm always busy doing something.
What to Expect
Our games will usually last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, and I usually won't play much past 10 pm (I wake up at 4:30 am on Fridays so late gaming is not good for my beauty sleep). In the past we would show up an hour or 30 minutes before the game to talk and hang out. Games will be pretty serious in nature and story and RP driven. I try to create most of my battle maps, some are better then others. I'll also borrow some from DeviantArt when I'm in a time crunch. I will attempt to be more prepared then I have been in the past, but as GM's know, it can turn into a full time job at some points of a campaign. I appreciate the offers for help, but it can be difficult for me to accept help. Just try to relax and enjoy your time here.
I try to curb as much OOC in chat as I can by reminding the players to get back on track, but I know that OOC is where we do most of our joking and kidding. All IC post will use the /me command, while everything else is OOC. I like rolls of dice to figure random chance, but I also love good story and writing. I'm often easily swayed if it makes sense. I'm not a GM who wants to kill characters, I'd rather them create lasting stories and memorable moments (Just as Lloyd about the death of Bilkin, I think I took it worse then him). I try to be as much for the players enjoying themselves while throwing some difficult challenges and moments in there. The themes of most of my games seem to be dark. The NPC are usually not friendly sunshine Disney characters, and issues such as drugs, death, and sadness will play apart in the world around you.
I give out extra XP to players who take the time to RP on the forums throughout the week. Also, at the end of each session, players will also send me a private message voting for the player they felt added the most interesting aspects to the game that night. The winning player will be awarded bonus XP. Players may be vote for the most interesting writing, clever ideas, awesome rolls, or just being an awesome team player. Its not a contest for the best brown noser, its to help influence great story telling and awarding each other for a job well done.
About our OG players: Adam is the master of Google Images for any comment, and Lloyd is the D&D 5e rules reviewer and answerer(even if he doesn't want to be!), and Tec is our in house brute.. if he makes it back for this game.
Plot and Morality
As you all know, your characters will be working for Mr. Wesson who wants you to track down artifacts throughout the world. His little club is know as the Radiant Few. Each mission, Mr. Wesson will give you a run down of the new mission and answer any questions that he has answers for. He'll give you the mission particulars that you need to complete and send you on your way.
Each mission will have side quests that will not be stated directly in the beginning. Characters will have to speak to NPC's or find certain clues that may lead to other stories. It will be up to the players if they want to help these individuals, towns or groups - or to simply screw them over. There are many different ways a character may complete a mission and its side missions, and which ever way they complete them will have a morality effect on the group.
The Radiant are still mostly neutral in the world. Some people hate them, some people like them, but most don't have a strong opinion yet. Based on your actions as a group, the world's perception of the Radiant will change. If you want to be thugs and hard heads, then people will be afraid and talk negatively of the Radiants. If you want to be helpful and heroes, then you'll grow to be respected. Or, if you want complete missions as secretly as possible, then you may become known as a hidden sect that people can only whisper about.
In the distance future, the organization may become a Brigand troupe or a Clan of Heroes. You may even branch out and become involved in worldly events. It'll all be up to you whether we go from Artifact Hunting to Open World Theatrics.
Conclusion
I hope I have covered everything. Adam and Lloyd, feel free to add anything about what to expect that I might have missed. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask below in this thread. And please share a bit about yourselves here as well. I look forward to getting to know everyone and gaming with you all.
The GM
Hi, I'm Corey and I'm addicted to gaming. It's been a few months since I've ran a game and I have a nagging itch to get back into it. I have chat based role played since I was 12 (1997) using a freeform system. I learned Pathfinder about four years ago, and started GMing about 2 and a half years ago. I've never really played D&D in person, my only experiences with tabletop gaming have been online. I was a closet nerd until a couple years ago, and since then have been slowly going to gaming stores and branching my nerdom to board games and other stuff. I'm an avid PC/X-bone player (our group Steam names can be found the in the Gaming thread). So, if you ever want to game on something else, hit me up.
I've been married for five years and we're about to have our first kid in July. I'm about to receive my Bachelor's Degree in Project Management in June, so I have some busy times ahead of me. But as the vets know, I'm always busy doing something.
What to Expect
Our games will usually last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours, and I usually won't play much past 10 pm (I wake up at 4:30 am on Fridays so late gaming is not good for my beauty sleep). In the past we would show up an hour or 30 minutes before the game to talk and hang out. Games will be pretty serious in nature and story and RP driven. I try to create most of my battle maps, some are better then others. I'll also borrow some from DeviantArt when I'm in a time crunch. I will attempt to be more prepared then I have been in the past, but as GM's know, it can turn into a full time job at some points of a campaign. I appreciate the offers for help, but it can be difficult for me to accept help. Just try to relax and enjoy your time here.
I try to curb as much OOC in chat as I can by reminding the players to get back on track, but I know that OOC is where we do most of our joking and kidding. All IC post will use the /me command, while everything else is OOC. I like rolls of dice to figure random chance, but I also love good story and writing. I'm often easily swayed if it makes sense. I'm not a GM who wants to kill characters, I'd rather them create lasting stories and memorable moments (Just as Lloyd about the death of Bilkin, I think I took it worse then him). I try to be as much for the players enjoying themselves while throwing some difficult challenges and moments in there. The themes of most of my games seem to be dark. The NPC are usually not friendly sunshine Disney characters, and issues such as drugs, death, and sadness will play apart in the world around you.
I give out extra XP to players who take the time to RP on the forums throughout the week. Also, at the end of each session, players will also send me a private message voting for the player they felt added the most interesting aspects to the game that night. The winning player will be awarded bonus XP. Players may be vote for the most interesting writing, clever ideas, awesome rolls, or just being an awesome team player. Its not a contest for the best brown noser, its to help influence great story telling and awarding each other for a job well done.
About our OG players: Adam is the master of Google Images for any comment, and Lloyd is the D&D 5e rules reviewer and answerer(even if he doesn't want to be!), and Tec is our in house brute.. if he makes it back for this game.
Plot and Morality
As you all know, your characters will be working for Mr. Wesson who wants you to track down artifacts throughout the world. His little club is know as the Radiant Few. Each mission, Mr. Wesson will give you a run down of the new mission and answer any questions that he has answers for. He'll give you the mission particulars that you need to complete and send you on your way.
Each mission will have side quests that will not be stated directly in the beginning. Characters will have to speak to NPC's or find certain clues that may lead to other stories. It will be up to the players if they want to help these individuals, towns or groups - or to simply screw them over. There are many different ways a character may complete a mission and its side missions, and which ever way they complete them will have a morality effect on the group.
The Radiant are still mostly neutral in the world. Some people hate them, some people like them, but most don't have a strong opinion yet. Based on your actions as a group, the world's perception of the Radiant will change. If you want to be thugs and hard heads, then people will be afraid and talk negatively of the Radiants. If you want to be helpful and heroes, then you'll grow to be respected. Or, if you want complete missions as secretly as possible, then you may become known as a hidden sect that people can only whisper about.
In the distance future, the organization may become a Brigand troupe or a Clan of Heroes. You may even branch out and become involved in worldly events. It'll all be up to you whether we go from Artifact Hunting to Open World Theatrics.
Conclusion
I hope I have covered everything. Adam and Lloyd, feel free to add anything about what to expect that I might have missed. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask below in this thread. And please share a bit about yourselves here as well. I look forward to getting to know everyone and gaming with you all.
