Jun 29, 2025 10:38 am
All right, folks—this is the last attempt to get The Curse off the ground. That means the rules are going to be firm so we can actually have a game that runs.
Posting Deadlines
- If you don't post within 48 hours and haven’t let me know in advance, your character will be minimally autopiloted: follow the group, take basic actions in combat, or if a decision arises—I’ll choose, and it might not be a good one.
- If this happens 3 times, you’re out. I’ll phase your character out naturally.
- If you warn me ahead of time, that’s totally fine. We’ll either pause the game or have your character "follow along" until a fight or decision comes up—then we pause until you’re back.
Character Creation
We’ll begin when everyone’s back from vacation—but no web-generated character sheets. Two reasons:
1. It takes me longer to verify them, and out of 12 character sheets I reviewed, only 1 was correct—causing features or abilities to be misapplied or overlooked.
2. Most have weak or non-existent backstories. That means the character has no past, no personality, and often, the player has no engagement. Not always, but enough that this is now a rule.
If your character isn’t ready by the time the game starts, you won’t be part of it. The game will begin with the players who are prepared.
One Last Reminder Yes, the rules are strict—but this is the fourth try—and every previous attempt fizzled because players ghosted. Well... except for the second time.Let’s make this attempt count. So sharpen your blades, polish your staves, resole your slippers! And be careful—the Curse is coming. Don’t trip on your lace.
Posting Deadlines
- If you don't post within 48 hours and haven’t let me know in advance, your character will be minimally autopiloted: follow the group, take basic actions in combat, or if a decision arises—I’ll choose, and it might not be a good one.
- If this happens 3 times, you’re out. I’ll phase your character out naturally.
- If you warn me ahead of time, that’s totally fine. We’ll either pause the game or have your character "follow along" until a fight or decision comes up—then we pause until you’re back.
Character Creation
We’ll begin when everyone’s back from vacation—but no web-generated character sheets. Two reasons:
1. It takes me longer to verify them, and out of 12 character sheets I reviewed, only 1 was correct—causing features or abilities to be misapplied or overlooked.
2. Most have weak or non-existent backstories. That means the character has no past, no personality, and often, the player has no engagement. Not always, but enough that this is now a rule.
If your character isn’t ready by the time the game starts, you won’t be part of it. The game will begin with the players who are prepared.
One Last Reminder Yes, the rules are strict—but this is the fourth try—and every previous attempt fizzled because players ghosted. Well... except for the second time.
[ +- ] Second attempt
Let this be a warning: I don’t kill parties. I warn them. Repeatedly.
In the second attempt, the players were told plainly: there might be a murderer in the camp. They found a map with mysterious Xs marking distant houses, and—despite the warnings—decided those Xs were more interesting than the potential killer in their midst.
I asked: "You’re sure? Even though the danger is in camp?" They said: Yes.
So I introduced an NPC who asked: "You’ve swept the camp, right?" They replied: "Absolutely." They had not.
One last time: I had them pass directly by the firepit, where the rest of the circus members were gathered. An NPC asked, "Is it safe for us to stay here?" And once again, they lied. "Yes," they said. Then they left.
While they went off to explore an unknown house—searching for clues they weren’t even sure existed—the rest of the circus was slaughtered.
When they returned, they found nothing but silence and corpses.
So no, it wasn’t bad luck. It was a masterclass in avoidable doom.
In the second attempt, the players were told plainly: there might be a murderer in the camp. They found a map with mysterious Xs marking distant houses, and—despite the warnings—decided those Xs were more interesting than the potential killer in their midst.
I asked: "You’re sure? Even though the danger is in camp?" They said: Yes.
So I introduced an NPC who asked: "You’ve swept the camp, right?" They replied: "Absolutely." They had not.
One last time: I had them pass directly by the firepit, where the rest of the circus members were gathered. An NPC asked, "Is it safe for us to stay here?" And once again, they lied. "Yes," they said. Then they left.
While they went off to explore an unknown house—searching for clues they weren’t even sure existed—the rest of the circus was slaughtered.
When they returned, they found nothing but silence and corpses.
So no, it wasn’t bad luck. It was a masterclass in avoidable doom.
