[IC]Secret of the Black Crag, but stonepunk ?

Hi, all!

I'm just preparing my IRL campaign with stone punk(dinotopia? ) themes based on amazing module of Secret of the Black Crag by Chance Dudinack himself. I plan too also use many classic modules, like: DCC Frozen In Time, OSE The Incandescent Grottoes, Wyrm of Brandensofrd and many others - taking ideas and content from them, and adjusting to my overarching story for this campaign and stone punk, inkan and a little sci-fi themes (Erich von Däniken books anyone? ;) ). So after initial point-crawl on the starting island there would be possibility to became a pirate:)

My idea for the beginning is that PCs are (1-2) from royal family (king's children but adult, wife, brother, other descendants?), but kiddnapped and stranded on remote island with their loyal companions( the rest of PC, generals, chief, others). And their initial aim would be regaining their kingdom:) So a little like in Dune (from Paul perspective) but in fantasy, stone punk world with occasional ancient/alien technology that feels more like magic to PCs then anything else.

The system I want to play is (amazing, but little known): Tales of Argosa (aka Low Fantasy Gaming 2nd ed).

There is still free Tales of Argosa Public Playtest that is almost a full game without some art, but I'm a backer and have now a final version of the system and am willing to teach and help any newcomers.

Anyone interested? So I could make a proper recruiting post?

I mean I want to run a parallel game here with the same assumptions. In PbP format.

Ok, last bump up for this:)

After some valuable feedback I corrected description about beginning of campaign and expectations who PCs might be. As some have read this as I'm expecting PC to be children. Sorry for my writing, but that was not what I meant:)

And about Sci-fi elements... it is meant in the way of "S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks" - but not exactly this module - so the adventures will expect that PC don't know too much about science and to them it will be more like magic. For me it was perfectly done in Thorgal comic books, but I don't know if you know them (they are amazing!).

I would be interested however unfortunately at my game limit right now I think (naturally I've told myself this and suddenly several interest/recruitments have popped up)

I'll be honest. My interest would be to take a look at yet another system, but I've been disappointed in most of systems I've learned in last few years, so there is a risk I will not like this either.

For example reading core features I am skeptic if it is even possible to implement fun "Morale checks" in fantasy RPG or make introduce fumbles that don't make a single dice roll turn into PC death or auto win combat.

If that didn't scare you and if you are willing to invest your time helping player new to the system, but eager to ask whole lot of questions about that system - I'm in.

Tentatively interested, on a brief look through the rules, are you sticking with randomised species & backgrounds, if so will the most appropriate backgrounds get "upgraded" to royals?

Stonepunk/Dinotopia setting sounds awesome! But would definitely need a lot of guidance to learn the rules from a quick look at what was listed.

I understand you much better then I would like to admit... :)

I will qualify it as putting you on waitlist. Let me know when amount of your games will drop.
Few things:
1. There is always such risk. But I'm one of those persons that (also?) have checked like tenths of RPG systems looking for his 'perfect system' during the years (more reading then playing actually... until I found GP... :) ). And as Tales of Argosa (ToA) is not perfect, I must say that when someone recommended it for me own Reddit and I started to check it... I was truly surprised.

ToA looks to me like the mix of best things from many more and less popular system from recent years AND is semi-compatible with most OSR and DnD modules. To name a few that I like the most:
- Minor/Major exploits - like Deed of Arms from DCC , but available for every player,
- dimnishig luck for such 'heroic attempts' - but fully controllable by players(also similar to DCC),
- actually interesting options for PC classes from level 1, with injected flexibility (so like 5E but better for me) in contrast to OSE where PC options are mostly boring(core books)
- simple but flexible ruleset, with some 'slots' for "rulings over rules" - so no more endless (and boring to death for me) rules debates,
- bulit-in degrees of success and failure (like in Alternity 1ed)
- dangerous magic
- can be deadly, what is good because PC are not demi-gods with no consequences to their choices(I'm looking at you "5E in general)

So for me ToA is a best middle way between 5E and OSR - and thats great, and I really recommend you to try it"_

2. Don't worry about Morale checks we will use it only when the fiction will strongly indicate it, so sporadically. I see ToA more as toolkit - than strict rules that restricts everyone.

3. I like to talk about "RPG theory" so no problem with answering questions and learning the system. I think this system really deserves to be tired by many people. But please remember: it's also/in part OSR game, so there is place for "rulings over rules". But - I think - you played enough with me here, to probably see that I'm rather reasonable player:) But the story(fun?) will be always more important for me then rules. But for me story is only good if it's logical and semi-bolivable. "Semi" - because we are talking about fantasy with magic at the end of the day.
No. The rules are for good story. Not the other way around. And as my proposition is to introduce the royal family members <-> their closes friends and loyalist dynamic(and frame) into the group (what I find interesting, but we can resign if no one will like that) I will definitely let you choose whatever is possible by PC creation rules, never requiring random rolls(expect starting money and such thing).

There are those classes in the core book: Artificer, Barbarian, Bard, Cultist, Fighter, Magic User, Monk, Ranger, Rogue all available. I also have did my on the fly conversion of Druid class from Low Fantasy Gaming to Argosa. So Druid is also available.

If someone don't want to spend their time on creation process there are pregens available: pregens
No problem form me:) Pregens have rules digest and I think I would be able to provide you with GM screen/cheet sheet. Besides core rules are quite simple, and we will use specific mechanics only when needed. Will start low, and add what needed on the way.

As it looks that we have 3 potential players - we need 1 more and we could be starting this game! - few more info:

The beginning of the adventure will be quite railroad-y, as I want to use (parts) of Tomb of Serpent King adventure/dungeon. As it is designed to teach players (and GM) OSR style and it is quite good:) Then I have planed/wanted to use The Incandescent Grottoes as this is also good low level dungeon. Then we go to very sandboxy Wyrm of Brandonsford and Winters Daughter(combined). If we go that far(and I hope we will!) you get to know how to get to the port and have the whole Black Greg archipelago before you - and its complete sandbox with many islands and mysteries (connected by me by overaching narrative) but will start with clear clues for direction to the place where I will be using materials from DCC's Frozen in Time. But will be able to choose wherever you want to go.

I think a clear direction in new world/enviroment and system will be good at the begining, but we will slowly move into realms of more and more options. Hope it is ok?

Do any of you knows mentioned modules maybe? I hope not.

Besides:
- we will be using Less Dark Magic and Less Dangerous Magic variants from rules.

Last post - for now)

For those that have stated or will state their interest in this game:
- please share your ideas for your PCs race, class and backstory for this game. Who they are in relation to royal family? What did they do when you all were still at the king's castle?
- Classes are mentioned above, available races are: humans, Dwarves, Elves, Haltings, Half Scorn. All good but Half Scorn will be probably hard to justify from story pov, but I'm always open for good ideas:)
- I don't play at weekends, so the pace will be 3-5 post per week.

I mean, it's hard to resist being self indulgent and play a Princess... But how to spin it... Currently leaning towards Human Artificer.

So Ileosa, a former princess who has been forced to turn her mostly theoretical education to more practical use when stranded...

I'm happy to shuffle around concept to fit with others though.

Just wondering, will the party start with dinosaur/creature mounts or companions or will that come later in the story? Also, would only certain classes or races be able to do that? Finally, how are the races viewed in this setting?

I was thinking of a halfling bard, along as entertainment for the long nights ahead and support in combat, but has been trained as a spy. Whether they are a spy for our princess or for someone else can be hammered out later. I am also flexible in changing this if it fits better for the group/story.

Weekday posting sounds good!

Rules say you don't get to choose race, you roll. Don't you? Same for background. It also say you only choose your class after you roll race, background and attributes. I would prefer to follow the rules on character creation. Nevertheless I am primary looking into one of 3 roles: "Merlin" (hope it is self explanatory), hired brute bodyguard (barbarian) or the person in change for "Royal hunting" (if such practice would have place in the setting) - the a Ranger.

I've got also two (not relevant, but still) questions
1) Are "Less Dark Magic and Less Dangerous Magic" the only on the variant rules to be used?
2) Do you pick those two variant rules to encourage "magic user" class?


P.S. I prefer railroad for game start. Seriously

Update: I've been digging through the rules and decided to drop idea of "merlin" as not adequate for system/settings. And my priority drift toward ranger described just the way I prefer to play PRG on PBP " Beholden to none, you alone decide your fate"

If we want this dynamic between royal family members and those that are not royal by birth - and we can still drop this (even though I think it will provide quite few interesting story opportunities in my opinion) if groups wants it - someone have to be a prince or princess. So I would say: go for it. I think - surprisingly - there is not many occasion to RP someone so close to King's family.
In fact in my IRL game I have provided some "basic, raptor-like dinosaur mounts" almost right after they were dropped on the island. So yes, Dino-mounts are as common as horses in usual generic fantasy settings. All classes can have it. But on 3rd lvl you can choose or even invent(with consultation with me!) your Unique Feature. So we could make it something connected with mounts and giving you same advantage with them - if that will be your direction.

BUT this time I wanted to provide fewer mounts than party members(at very start at least). Wondering what would you do? Give it to princess? :) Or the best fighter? Or use it solely as pack mule? :) This is one example what this non royal-royal dynamic MAY provide - if we all want that:)

About the races in the setting:
The setting itself is nothing rigid right now. You get to the remote islands against your will. And there people(of all kins) may behave a little different than in mainland kingdom. You will experience it "by your PCs eyes and ears". We start with what is written in rule book about races and develop it further if I or any of players will have interesting ideas.

I'm very open with co-creation and world building together if you like this, but if not I can provide you all with specific flavor of races in this settings. You want that now?

I love spy themes so it works very well for me. And bard is excellent fit for group coming from royal court. I even have some generic supplements about making heist and stealth more fun. But that's for later:)
If you like to go strictly by rules Grey - go for it! But I think choosing your race and class is very often more fun, especially with uncommon setting and assumptions. And fun will be always higher for me than rules. But I will communicate any departure from rules in advance so everyone will know where we are in their terms.

Rules in RPGs - for me - are mainly about managing and reaching an agreement about probabilities of current situation. So it can be surprising even for GM what happened - even it was strongly against the odds. Rule books are made so players and GMs don't have to waste their time to think up how to handle most common situations(probabilities). But - personally - I hope there will be many "uncommon" situations in our game - thats what makes RPG and human imagination so interesting. And then we can even roll 1d6 to see what happened:) Or use some interesting supplement about particular cases. Or allow me to make some fast an neat "ruling":)

We start with Tales of Argosa rules as base, but I can't promise you - we will ALWAYS be using every of its subsystems. Because sometimes it's not worth the effort in my opinion. But at some points I will PROPOSE you additional rules (from other supplements) for some interesting aspects: like sword duel, stealth, others... that are not even in the book. But it will not happen too soon. That's how I see our game in terms of approach to rules. Hope it is acceptable for you.

ad. 1 For now yes.
ad. 2 Less Dark Magic - I picked because some of the mishaps in the book are quite dark for my taste... and I don't like to dark/demonic themes.

Less Dangerous Magic - makes magic baiting you into your own ass less common, but it will certainly still happen:) But we can go with standard rules here if you guys and gals prefer.

Glad you like it this way. In my opinion a strong and clear direction/aim at the beginning of a game - especially in PbP format - is very useful and helps learn the system and PCs grow to someone "more specific".

Ranger works for me completely. "Royal hunting" is also good. As I would like to assume that PCs know each other and have strong relations.

As I said before: I would prefer to have one or two more players. So I will collect results of our discussion in this post to "proper recruiting post" soonish (around Wednesday) and then open the game and invite you all, so we could start de facto character creation( I will lead you through this, are there are some changes in final version to this process). I think I will write there an opening scene for all to see what I mean how it could look.

Unless you think some of you will be able to lead and RP semi-NPC Hirelings that could be used as backup characters ( if there will be such need:) and support in combats?

Sounds good to wait for more interest! I am also good with doing some NPC/back-up characters too.

OK, the game itself is created and I have added to it it's very first version description/beginning of an adventure:
Game link
Tomorrow I will work on recruiting post.

I haven't had a chance to look at the magic rules yet as I have been making random characters to check out the character creation process (and my characters mostly have been melee/ranged focused) but count me interested.

I looks like we have 4 potential players! What is great. On this occasion I have forced myself to make the requirement post :) So please -> repost your PCs concepts there so we all know who is still interested and I think I will start to invite those that will post with interesting concepts to the game and we will be able to start creating our PCs. 4 is minimum, so we can start, but I will keep the recruiting post for a week from today to check if someone will join.

When I get off work I’ll download the ruleset to which you linked and see how it grabs me. Mentally, I can add another game to what I’m juggling, especially as one is on hiatus, but I have to see if I can feel a character in a new system. Thanks for the detailed descriptions! Also, that YouTube video of combat imagined is compelling :).