Out-of-Character

please let me know if I am doing something stupid by following the noble guy. I was hoping to some chatter between the guards when the rest went in, but he seemed like an important clue in all this.

I'm not sure when I'll post the results. It makes most sense in game to give you a summary when sufficient time has passed with the other players.

ok - then I'll wait

I know that I kind of sidelined my self, by splitting of from you guys. I am following along, and expect the GM to tell me when we sync up :D

Yup. After the encounter with the little girl, you'll likely meet up.

I'm still here, following along, just has a hard time figuring out how to move forward

I was intending to play this bit kind of loose, rather than roleplay it, since I expected you all to split up. I expect that you met up in the middle (i.e., after the first rolls and results). You can make another investigation montage, based upon the first results, or take another attempt at it.

I agree with The_Librarian, I also struggling to find a clear path after the game lost momentum for a few weeks.

My GMing style for World of Darkness games (relying on player initiative to steer the story) may not work well in this format. There are options, two of which are:
1) we quit and move on, or
2) we discuss how the game should operate on a player side level, and try and make it work.

What are your thoughts?

I’m fine with the game as is, but I understand that everyone has a different style of play. I can go whichever way.

I can only speak for my self when I say that I have a hard time taking initiative when I don't have any idea of where to go. This is my first Mage game, and it has been a while since I created Stephan, so the rules are not fresh in my mind. I had forgotten the magic investigation rote that he just used, until I was looking over the sheet, to get some idear how to move this story forward. I am relying on you Qralloq to convey the setting as I know very little about Russia in the 1500s or its political intrigues.

So:
1) I don't feel like I have any clues to act on
2) I don't like I know the setting enough to act on
3) I don't feel any chemistry/history/connections between the characters
In total: I don't feel that I have that much to move the story forward



So what to do?
a) Quit and move on
b) Continue and hope for the best
c) Change something. Lock us into our sanctum, send us 500 years forward in time, something that would put pressure on the whole group. Uniting them against a common problem.

But we have agreed on what to change

This is also my first mage game. I think the break is what threw me off a bit. I dont mind player driven action, on fact I usually prefer it. I would love to continue, though some prodding or suggestions are welcome as well

Investigation scenes are hard. I'll wrap it up tomorrow and summarize what you have learned. I hesitate to think it through for you, but we're (players and Storyteller) also operating through a intermediary medium.

I am going to redraw from this game. It has nothing to do with my fellow players, but I am having trouble enganing with the setting and the plot.

It fealign like a chore to write a post. I'm sorry, and hope to play with you guys some other time

I get that runekyndig, and totally understand.

With Lux disappearing (she hasn't posted in two months, I think), and runekyndig pulling out, I think it's time to kick the dirt over this shallow grave.

I wouldn't mind discussing the game with all of you before I shut it down. Feedback about:
- the story I tried to craft, or
- about the Mage system (in general or in PBP context), or
- even about third part of Russian history

Feedback from my and Stephen point of view:

1 I fu#kedup! splitting away from the party, ment 2-3 weeks where stepan could'nt act. don't split the party!

2 the setting was to foreign for me to relate to, and to establish for me to safely improvise in.

3 I really missed some connection to the other cabal members. I was expecting some play with Lux as the second founder.

4 From Stepans point of view the plot wasn't important. Some one is doing something terrible, but why should I care?

The mystery was interesting, though I was never fully sure what I could do as a character since Mage is a fuzzy area for me In terms of WoD. I think its partially my fault for feeling disengaged because I built a semi reclusive character.

That’s unfortunate. I enjoyed the game, especially playing a Cossack. That was a fun character.

I liked the investigation, though I have to admit that I’m not the best at investigative games. That’s something I’d like to work on.

I suppose my only criticism isn’t really about the game. It’s that we all decided on the Russian period setting largely because a certain player (who shall remain nameless) really pushed for it. And then that same player stopped posting a few weeks into the game. I enjoyed the historical setting, but it wasn’t my first choice. So it kind of irked me when she dropped the game suddenly. I also was really into the idea of exploring the Mage cosmology, which she was against (but that’s neither here nor there).

I loved your Cossack!