Character and World Creation

You raise a good point, it makes more sense for Dirk to have a different skill other than tinker, especially since his DEX is 0 (I know there isn't a mechanical connection between DEX and Tinker, it just makes sense narratively) He also does a lot of manual labor so he would be more tough than sneaky. I replaced Tinker with Hardy.
I think I'll try to connect Dirk with both Albert and Rook.

Dirk frequently visited Albert's tavern, I propose Albert would recognize Dirk as the guy who would talk about tall tales and strange theories(equivalent of Ancient Aliens stories) to other patrons. Dirk would always tell these stories in a tongue-in-cheek way, as if he didn't really believe the stories and was mainly trying to entertain people.
I have this idea that he would tell Albert his real thoughts on matters, and would discuss privately with him the strange things he found on his "exhibitions". He tries keeping his grave-robbing activities a secret to Albert but I think Albert figured out Dirk's true "occupation" by piecing together clues from his stories.

I propose Rook and Dirk worked together one time, I don't know exactly how, but it was probably a job that required the expertise of an experienced grave-robber. Other than that job, Rook would see Dirk a few times at the tavern.

I have an idea that both Albert and Rook wouldn't be TOO surprised at finding their grave-robbing, weird lore enthusiast acquaintance at this old temple.
Dirk has been following a strange trail he picked up from the last few jobs he had, where the bodies he found had the same tattoo. How he made the connection between the tattoos and the location of the temple I haven't yet worked out. He does know about the "ancient foul sorcerer".

He suspects that the temple has an artifact called the "Horn of the Star" which is said to grant "eternal life" to those who drink of it, he believes that this is one and the same as the object known as "the chalice". However, he might be wrong about a few of these details since he arrives to his conclusions based on a lot of unreputable sources and his own wild conjectures.

Last night he had a dream where he saw the "Horn of the Star", only it was different than what he imagined. He wants it because he's deathly afraid of dying and wishes to have eternal life.

Let me know if that makes sense

While it could be argued otherwise, most of the things Tinker allows would probably use DEX.

Hardy makes sense. Even if it is a little boring. :)
Hardy and Lucky together might say something significant about the character. I wonder how that factors into their fear of death? Very Interesting...

I was going to ask about why Dirk's HP were already low when he arrives, but being down by 3 points from 9 does not seem as noteworthy as being at half health, so it is not a big deal.

Note that HP are not your 'max'. They represent your current, right now. The HP mechanics are a bit weird, you can roll for healing and end up with less (or is it fewer?) HP than before you rolled, this represents discovering that things were worse than you thought. If rolling in a completely safe place, we might allow the old number to be kept.
If they go for it, both those connections --especially Albert's, since he knows you as an archaeologist and as close to an 'expert' on the sort of situation they are in as there is-- would make their immediate acceptance of Dirk make sense.
GM scribbles a note and smiles 'mysteriously'.
Good luck with that. Those searches never turn out well for the seeker (one must assume, since they are all dead... one assumes:).
Really good stuff.

You want to bring Dirk into the story? Before they enter the tower would be easier than after.

Sounds good. Albert will keep the truth on the down low ;)
Judging by what Albert knows about Dirk, I was thinking the same thing.

All of this 'connected character building' really makes me hanker for some Traveller, with its whole --sometimes multiple-session-- character creation minigame (no, you can not die in character creation anymore).

I've never played that, but might look it up sometime :)

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I'm wondering what would be a good place to "find" Dirk. If we go into the tower, is it likely for him to be there? Or is it something we don't really have to worry about cause we'll make it work either way?

I would take a look at the latest version from Mongoose Games, looks like they just released a 2022 update to the core book which includes everything to get started.

It is on the other side of the crunchy spectrum to this one, or even to most of the games use (having to go back 'Initiative' order will be a blow:), but space games can benefit from crunch and it is tried and tested.

I also have the version from 1977, which is really impressive for its day, but I don't think I would use Classic Traveller these days.

Wherever it happens we will just make it work. We can not apply too much 'realism' to such things.

From the roof, you call can see a short ways around the temple building, so spotting Dirk and having him join your party before you go into the temple will be easy.

Finding him in the temple tends to raise suspicions. The temple is not a good place, and anyone there is... well, you are there, but you know what I mean. :)

We can also always flashback and say they met up on the ground, before climbing. That way you don't need to come back down or play out more details than we want.

Can we get an update of the current party thread? Some characters are now inactive/gone and there are a few new ones too :)

It's a 'wiki', so I think y'all should be able to edit it. Let me know, else I will do it later.

I only have the edit option for my own posts it seems. Same thing in summary of recent events thread. Maybe a settings issue?

Well... Drat! Apparently I need to give players 'Moderate' powers not 'Edit' powers to allow them to edit. I suppose it makes sense.

‣ Can you edit them now?

It is hard to check these things as the GM, I can not see what they players see, none of the permission apply to me. :(

Yes, that did it! :) Thanks! I'll update the thread.
If you need me to check anything else, let me know.

Thanks. Hard to know what needs to be checked till players report problems.

I know that the Help! thread is not writable, but its function kinda changed from a place for requesting help to a 'Help Document'. I should go back and make sure the language reflects that.

My stats are Str 0 ,Dex 1, Con 3, Int 1, Wis 2, Cha 1

Thinking woodsman a better title as the trees I manage must all be near the town. Perhaps the trees are dying and I want to find why.

My stats are Str 0 ,Dex 1, Con 3, Int 1, Wis 2, Cha 1

Thinking woodsman a better title as the trees I manage must all be near the town. Perhaps the trees are dying and I want to find why.

'Forester' literally means 'someone who makes forests', so it is a perfectly fine title. 'Woodsman' just means someone who spends time in the woods. But the title is not that important. :)

You don't have to have been all that near the town, your forest could be way out here --a days travel from town-- but, to maintain the theme, you would not have ventured too far your lands. Basically, you are not 'well traveled' or experienced in the other types of wilderness.

Having your trees showing signs of dying over the past few weeks fits with the events we have seen. Has that led you to the temple alone,? Or did you join up with Dirk who may be known to you if he spent any time in your forests practicing archaeology?

If you came in with Dirk we can very easily slot your character into the current events, else we will need to come up with another way to get you integrated, but we can handwave a lot of it to get the story going.

The site has a dice roller (see the red ADD below on this page). Rather make use of that in the future.

‣ Does anyone object to us keeping the excellent 'Str 0 ,Dex 1, Con 3, Int 1, Wis 2, Cha 1' roll. PM me and I can be the bad guy.

I think the link with Dirk digging round the old ruins in my forest seems fine. Do you want me to re roll with the dice roller?

One advantage of rolling publicly is that we can see if mistakes are being made and provide guidance. If you are happy you followed the instructions (took two dice, rolled them, added them together, consulted the chart, and then assigned that number as your STR score, then did the same for DEX, and so on down the line in order) then I am happy to let them stand. I don't think we think you are cheating or anything.

Or, if you want to reroll them, you are most welcome to do that, too.

I have re rolled them as follows
d6+d6, d6+d6, d6+d6, d6+d6, d6+d6, d6+d6

d6+d6 : (4) + (1) = 5

d6+d6 : (1) + (3) = 4

d6+d6 : (4) + (5) = 9

d6+d6 : (1) + (3) = 4

d6+d6 : (6) + (6) = 12

d6+d6 : (2) + (2) = 4