I am getting ready to make two more Warhammer characters. Yep. One is a one-shot character for a small rescue adventure and the other is very important, because she is going to be the main character for our new campaign. I don’t want to make any new characters. I have an attitude against it. I couldn’t figure out why, until I started writing an email to my good friend.
I don’t like playing new characters. Our gaming group has a running joke to say “I hate X” whatever X is. But it is true. I hate playing new characters. It feels a lot like going on a first date. I don’t know anything about this person, I’m not sure that I want to, and I am more than a little self conscious the entire time. I rarely have a perfectly good picture of who my character is or what they want when we first begin. After I have played a character for a while, at least 8-10 games, I have a much better idea of who they are and what they want. Slipping their personality on is like putting on my favorite high heels, the ones I can actually run in (and have!).
The thing is, two of my friends love making new characters. Though both are accomplished role players, they self define as gamers. It is a game in some ways to get their stats just so, or to see what new characters they can make. One of my friends created 100 D&D characters because he was bored once. That sounds like a layer of hell to me! I self define as a role player, but no I do not LARP and do not care to.
Don’t get me wrong, I will create my new characters and like them. We will have fun adventures together and eventually I will know them as well as I know Zarnian or Candy, but right now, I am ready to leave the cycle of 50 First Dates.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Amassing an army…
For a very long time, I held a remarkable record in gaming. I had the same character for 18 real months of campaign, gaming almost every week. For those of you familiar with Warhammer 3rd edition (and if you’re not, get familiar, you’ll love it) I had over 40 XP with Candy. She would kill or heal with relative ease. I knew her in some ways better than I knew myself. I used her life to help me work out issues with my own. She was another version of me. I loved playing her.
Everything eventually changes or ends. It came time for Candy to retire. It was the only right decision for her, really. She just married the love of her life, they adopted a daughter. She needed time to be with her family and recover from all the bad stuff that just happened. It was cool. I was cool.
Rel was my next character. Putting on someone else’s skin was harder than I thought, and that part of the story was very dark. A few games before it happened, I had a good idea how it was going to end. I was right. Surrounded by guards, about to be captured, Rel killed herself. It was the right decision. I was still cool, but anxious to create a character I could be with for a while.
So Jason allowed me to just pick a class, something that normally people have to do by random in Warhamer 3rd Edition. I wanted to be a wizard. I had never tried anything like that. Together we decided my character would be from Kislev, and an Ice Witch!! I created magic cards unique to my background and read extensively on Kislev. Last night, I lost that character, too.
Now I have to create another character, this one temporary to finish out the mini story we are on, and then likely another character when this arch is over. Yep, that is 5 characters in 4 months. Sigh.
My response is perfectly logical. I am going to amass an army. Now this is not like my friend Eric’s character army. When he was younger he got bored and rolled up over 100 characters. He created so many that our friend Wil created a special dungeon whose sole purpose was to kill those characters off. My army will not be characters. My army will be a troop of female miniatures, so I have a great mini for any new character I need to create. Two by two, like the arch, I will get at least two of every race and class I am interested in playing. After all, a great female mini is hard to come by (which would make a great blog topic). I have been on Reaper’s website www.reapermini.com for over an hour now making my list of possible figures, and earlier today I bought my first two. After all, games are unpredictable. The least I can do is be prepared.
Now while creating an army of minis is a little extreme, have you ever bought a mini because you thought they looked cool? Have you ever created a character based on a mini that you love? I find myself now wanting to play a game with vampires just based on some of what I’ve found but first I need to create a warrior that can deal with the Chaos Wastes, and hopefully survive the next two or three games…
Everything eventually changes or ends. It came time for Candy to retire. It was the only right decision for her, really. She just married the love of her life, they adopted a daughter. She needed time to be with her family and recover from all the bad stuff that just happened. It was cool. I was cool.
Rel was my next character. Putting on someone else’s skin was harder than I thought, and that part of the story was very dark. A few games before it happened, I had a good idea how it was going to end. I was right. Surrounded by guards, about to be captured, Rel killed herself. It was the right decision. I was still cool, but anxious to create a character I could be with for a while.
So Jason allowed me to just pick a class, something that normally people have to do by random in Warhamer 3rd Edition. I wanted to be a wizard. I had never tried anything like that. Together we decided my character would be from Kislev, and an Ice Witch!! I created magic cards unique to my background and read extensively on Kislev. Last night, I lost that character, too.
Now I have to create another character, this one temporary to finish out the mini story we are on, and then likely another character when this arch is over. Yep, that is 5 characters in 4 months. Sigh.
My response is perfectly logical. I am going to amass an army. Now this is not like my friend Eric’s character army. When he was younger he got bored and rolled up over 100 characters. He created so many that our friend Wil created a special dungeon whose sole purpose was to kill those characters off. My army will not be characters. My army will be a troop of female miniatures, so I have a great mini for any new character I need to create. Two by two, like the arch, I will get at least two of every race and class I am interested in playing. After all, a great female mini is hard to come by (which would make a great blog topic). I have been on Reaper’s website www.reapermini.com for over an hour now making my list of possible figures, and earlier today I bought my first two. After all, games are unpredictable. The least I can do is be prepared.
Now while creating an army of minis is a little extreme, have you ever bought a mini because you thought they looked cool? Have you ever created a character based on a mini that you love? I find myself now wanting to play a game with vampires just based on some of what I’ve found but first I need to create a warrior that can deal with the Chaos Wastes, and hopefully survive the next two or three games…
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Preparing for the End at Creation
There is one question that one of my best friends asks me often about my characters: “What is your character’s endpoint?” It always struck me as a bit of an odd question, because I while I have a good idea where my character is going next, I never would swear where they will end up. Meanwhile, even when my friend is creating a character, he has a good idea where he wants that character to end.
I think that some of this is due to what systems we cut our teeth in. My friend has played a lot of D&D (and tons of other systems), all versions. In that, you have a pretty well defined character path, and there are certainly rewards for plotting out your character’s entire existence before you get in and play.
Meanwhile, I learned by playing Warhammer, 3rd edition. In that, you can change your characters career completely at any time. What your character’s career is ties in heavily to the story line. For example, in my gaming history, Candy is the best example. When I created her, she was a barber-surgeon. Then, in game we needed someone who could pick locks and sneak better, so I had her train with a thief and become a thief. When it came time for her to change class, she had to assassinate the man who killed her parents. Welcome to being an assassin! Then, at long last, with that done, she was able to finally go back to her roots, transitioning to physician. If I had continued playing her, I planned for her to train in apothecary next, but who knows? All the other careers were reactionary, except the first and last.
I really do think that while end points work with other systems, they do not with Warhammer. Even my friend that introduced me to endpoints got burned in Warhammer. His original concept was to take his character from pauper merchant to noble. In the words of Phil from the Hangover, “Yeah. That’s not going to happen.” When that character left the group on he was a duelist and a bit of a lovable scoundrel, but no closer to being a prince. Matter as fact, he had just learned his biological father was not a noble, but a Reiklander merchant.
Is it better to know the character’s end toward the beginning? Are you exactly where you thought you would be when you were a kid? As a kid I thought I would either be a single comic book writer or a single scholar. I am a very happily married chef. I thought I would have a daughter by 27. I am past that age with no child of either sex in sight. If the system rewards you heavily for knowing where you will end up, or offers you limited options, then by all means, make a rough sketch. But if you have never tried just going with the flow, try it and see if it helps you immerse yourself into the world.
I think that some of this is due to what systems we cut our teeth in. My friend has played a lot of D&D (and tons of other systems), all versions. In that, you have a pretty well defined character path, and there are certainly rewards for plotting out your character’s entire existence before you get in and play.
Meanwhile, I learned by playing Warhammer, 3rd edition. In that, you can change your characters career completely at any time. What your character’s career is ties in heavily to the story line. For example, in my gaming history, Candy is the best example. When I created her, she was a barber-surgeon. Then, in game we needed someone who could pick locks and sneak better, so I had her train with a thief and become a thief. When it came time for her to change class, she had to assassinate the man who killed her parents. Welcome to being an assassin! Then, at long last, with that done, she was able to finally go back to her roots, transitioning to physician. If I had continued playing her, I planned for her to train in apothecary next, but who knows? All the other careers were reactionary, except the first and last.
I really do think that while end points work with other systems, they do not with Warhammer. Even my friend that introduced me to endpoints got burned in Warhammer. His original concept was to take his character from pauper merchant to noble. In the words of Phil from the Hangover, “Yeah. That’s not going to happen.” When that character left the group on he was a duelist and a bit of a lovable scoundrel, but no closer to being a prince. Matter as fact, he had just learned his biological father was not a noble, but a Reiklander merchant.
Is it better to know the character’s end toward the beginning? Are you exactly where you thought you would be when you were a kid? As a kid I thought I would either be a single comic book writer or a single scholar. I am a very happily married chef. I thought I would have a daughter by 27. I am past that age with no child of either sex in sight. If the system rewards you heavily for knowing where you will end up, or offers you limited options, then by all means, make a rough sketch. But if you have never tried just going with the flow, try it and see if it helps you immerse yourself into the world.
NPCs VS PCs… is there a difference?
There have been several games recently when the issue of whether an NPC (non-player character) or PC (player character) have different values in the game. Obviously, PCs are those characters played by the gamers at the table. NPCs are those characters that the DM plays, but are essential to the story line and inhabit the world just like the PCs. The interaction between the PCs and NPCs is what pulls a story forward.
I think that much of how you feel about NPCs vs PCs depends on how you see the game and the world. I my mind, the gaming world is just that, a world. It is filled with people. My character, Zarnian in Dark Sun, for example, just sees people. Hamdi killed her lover. Denning is one of her best friends. Barok is like a brother. Two of these are NPCs, one is not. It does not matter.
But, I find that some players, especially those coming from a Dungeons and Dragons background, see player characters as being better and superior to non player characters. Somehow, no matter what other player characters do, it is ok, because they are, after all, player characters. My friend told me in the past she gamed with a guy who had his characters just start killing simple farmers in a bar because he was bored. That was the only time she played in that game.
Another thing that some players do is treat NPCs like tools to be used and discarded. One player had a history where he had been raised with another character (a NPC) their whole lives, but he said “I would let him be killed in a second if it meant me getting away”.
I game because it allows me to easily submerge into another world. That world is populated with many other people. In fact, it is filled with a world’s worth of people. Five or so of those are my fellow gamers, but the rest are technically NPCs. However, I don’t see any differences between any of them. Some of good, some are bad, some I kill and some I protect with my life. Trying to see a difference between them drives me insane.
But that is just my experience. What is your gaming experience? Do you see NPCs and PCs as fundamentally different or do you see them the same? If you see them as different do you see other parts of your world as being artificial? Does it feel like you’re in the Matrix? If you see them all as the same how does that affect your view of your gaming world?
I think that much of how you feel about NPCs vs PCs depends on how you see the game and the world. I my mind, the gaming world is just that, a world. It is filled with people. My character, Zarnian in Dark Sun, for example, just sees people. Hamdi killed her lover. Denning is one of her best friends. Barok is like a brother. Two of these are NPCs, one is not. It does not matter.
But, I find that some players, especially those coming from a Dungeons and Dragons background, see player characters as being better and superior to non player characters. Somehow, no matter what other player characters do, it is ok, because they are, after all, player characters. My friend told me in the past she gamed with a guy who had his characters just start killing simple farmers in a bar because he was bored. That was the only time she played in that game.
Another thing that some players do is treat NPCs like tools to be used and discarded. One player had a history where he had been raised with another character (a NPC) their whole lives, but he said “I would let him be killed in a second if it meant me getting away”.
I game because it allows me to easily submerge into another world. That world is populated with many other people. In fact, it is filled with a world’s worth of people. Five or so of those are my fellow gamers, but the rest are technically NPCs. However, I don’t see any differences between any of them. Some of good, some are bad, some I kill and some I protect with my life. Trying to see a difference between them drives me insane.
But that is just my experience. What is your gaming experience? Do you see NPCs and PCs as fundamentally different or do you see them the same? If you see them as different do you see other parts of your world as being artificial? Does it feel like you’re in the Matrix? If you see them all as the same how does that affect your view of your gaming world?
Friday, September 16, 2011
Zarnian’s Journal 9/15/2011
We escaped Tyr, but needed a place to shelter. Ohzon has many contacts here and suggested that we shelter with Lady Jamaya, a Sky Follower who has a great deal of wealth. The estate was only about 15-20 minutes’ walk outside Tyr, so we traveled. When we arrived, the guards would not allow Ohzon access to her. They were four well armed city guards, but luckily, one of the serving girls saw him and altered the Lady. She asked us to return the following night, but said that we could not stay because her husband was there. She also has a particular contempt of slaves, which she assumes Barok and I are. Leaving the estate for the night was what we needed, but it was also where Cael was supposed to meet us. Therefore, Padras and Xanus stayed behind to wait and hide in the Farrow fields so she would not be alone when she came. Ohzon, Barok, and I found a small inn on the roadside from town. It was packed due to the fact the gates had closed early that day. Ohzon paid another to leave their room, so we could have it.
The next night we traveled back to the estate as we were bidden to do by the Lady of the estate. She ushered Ohzon inside where he apparently showed her more than the wonders of the sky judging by the happy sounds coming from inside. Meanwhile, we were given berth in the slaves quarters and cactus needle bread. Cael still had not appeared. Padras was visibly shaken. He was starting to fear that something has happened to her. We made plans to go into town the next day but that night he showed me what he was carrying – scroll with writing unlike any I had ever seen. I gave him my paper, quills and ink and helped him copy it. The following day, we traveled into Tyr. Since we were hoping to attract the minimum amount of attention, just we two traveled, wrapped in desert gear. The guards were not concerned about who they allowed inside, so we slipped in. Then, we headed for the elven market. The place was swarming with templars and other guards, some of which immediately started staring at Padras more than was warranted. I overheard that a male wizard had been killed. Immediately in my heart I knew it was Aegon. Padras did not want to believe it, but instinct is what keeps you alive in the ring, and mine told me our link to the resistance was dead.
Once we traveled back to the plantation, we found the others in the Crodlu barn. Ohzon said that while Lady Jamaya traveled to Tyr in order to arrange other prominent templar husbands and wives to meet Ohzon, but she came back in tears because her husband had killed one wizard and captured another, this one a woman. We all knew that he was holding Cael. Ohzon searched the house for clues. He found a crystal. Xanus read it, discovering that Cael was being held in Under Tyr and the templars were trying to break her mind.
We are leaving the plantation and heading for Tyr. We will either rescue Cael or we will die in the attempt. But I will save Cael for Trakas. I will not fail.
The next night we traveled back to the estate as we were bidden to do by the Lady of the estate. She ushered Ohzon inside where he apparently showed her more than the wonders of the sky judging by the happy sounds coming from inside. Meanwhile, we were given berth in the slaves quarters and cactus needle bread. Cael still had not appeared. Padras was visibly shaken. He was starting to fear that something has happened to her. We made plans to go into town the next day but that night he showed me what he was carrying – scroll with writing unlike any I had ever seen. I gave him my paper, quills and ink and helped him copy it. The following day, we traveled into Tyr. Since we were hoping to attract the minimum amount of attention, just we two traveled, wrapped in desert gear. The guards were not concerned about who they allowed inside, so we slipped in. Then, we headed for the elven market. The place was swarming with templars and other guards, some of which immediately started staring at Padras more than was warranted. I overheard that a male wizard had been killed. Immediately in my heart I knew it was Aegon. Padras did not want to believe it, but instinct is what keeps you alive in the ring, and mine told me our link to the resistance was dead.
Once we traveled back to the plantation, we found the others in the Crodlu barn. Ohzon said that while Lady Jamaya traveled to Tyr in order to arrange other prominent templar husbands and wives to meet Ohzon, but she came back in tears because her husband had killed one wizard and captured another, this one a woman. We all knew that he was holding Cael. Ohzon searched the house for clues. He found a crystal. Xanus read it, discovering that Cael was being held in Under Tyr and the templars were trying to break her mind.
We are leaving the plantation and heading for Tyr. We will either rescue Cael or we will die in the attempt. But I will save Cael for Trakas. I will not fail.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Issill’s Journal 9/12/2011
Hi to all those who read this blog. Last week you might know that my normal Warhammer Character Rel killed herself. This made the most game sense and character sense. This is still the Warhammer game, but it now follow the adventures of Moh instead of Ian for a while. My new character, Issill is an Ice Witch Apprentice from Kislev as you can tell. Read on and write with any questions.
-Madelyn
Issill’s Journal 9/12/2011
My mistress and I arrived in the city of Nuln. We are tracking a weapon of great chaos power that the Ice Queen wants to know more of. It threatens us all. Being only a novice, it is a perilous and frightening journey but I will do as commanded.
My mistress learned that a local professor at an engineering college has knowledge of the weapon. He has a student, Hugh, who likes me a bit more than I find comfortable, and he invited me to a party. Since I might be able to gain insight into Hugh and the professor then, my mistress commanded me to attend. It was unlike I expected, filled with drugs and sex. The professor took many drugs. As he was passing out I leaned over, whispering in his hear to tell me about the cannon. He said it spoke to him, that it knew his name. One of the professor’s older students was writing in a book, and had the same chaos look as his mentor. His name was Adolphus, and propositioned me sexually, so I did what I needed to. I pleasured him in exchange for looking at the journal. Inside was a picture of the cannon and ever increasing madness in his words including “It knows my name! How can a weapon know my name?” I left his side, returning to Hugh’s. After the party was over, I asked where I could meet him later, then went to meet my mistress. After telling her all that I knew, she said she would deal with Adolphus who wanted to meet with her later. She commanded me to meet with two dwarves that might prove useful to our pursuit of the cannon.
First, however, I met with Hugh and convinced him to help me steal Adolphus’ journal. He agreed, thinking it was a prank. We went to his apartment with a duplicate journal in which Hugh had written bad poetry and drawn pictures of penises. However, when we arrived at the apartment, it was apparent that he left with the intention of not returning.
At this point, I decided to involve the dwarves. Hugh accompanied me. We made contact with them. After talking to them and learning they are as dedicated to discovering the cannon as I, the surly dwarf, Moh, proposed that we return to Hugh’s apartment to look for clues. We did, and discovered a small crawlway behind his dresser. I entered, encountering walls full of notes pasted to the walls. These notes show that he was working on the volley gun and it slowly corrupted his mind. The last entry was about killing my mistress. Then I saw the image of Slaanesh it corrupted my mind, leaving only the perfection of numbers swirling around.
I recovered enough that we knew we had to find Adolphus. We traveled to the imperial college of engineering in time to see a huge covered weapon being escorted from the college. The quiet dwarf and I followed the cannon while the grumpy dwarf and Hugh stayed at the college. After we had traveled for a time following the volley gun, I saw Adolphus join the guards with the journal in hand and a horrible gleam in his eye. I feared for my mistress’ life. Leaving the quiet dwarf to follow the cannon I ran through the streets, asking about Mistress Anya and where she might be. I finally found a small bar where she was supposed to be. I found traces of her magic but not her, only a bartender and three men. When I tried to demand where she was, they attacked, after proclaiming they had ‘Killed one bitch’ and could kill another. I managed to freeze one, but the magic was not easy to draw upon. Then I got shot with a crossbow bolt and stabbed. Bleeding badly, I ran from the bar and made my way back to the location I was supposed to meet the others. They got me some medical help but I refused to rest, instead insisting that we chase the cannon.
Once we arrived at the cannon’s location, a barn outside town, we prepared to attack, but saw it was too late. Adolphus, the eight guards, and all the population of this small town were slaughtered by Chaos Knights. The cannon is now in their hands. We must pursue the cannon and recover it if possible, or destroy it if not.
-Madelyn
Issill’s Journal 9/12/2011
My mistress and I arrived in the city of Nuln. We are tracking a weapon of great chaos power that the Ice Queen wants to know more of. It threatens us all. Being only a novice, it is a perilous and frightening journey but I will do as commanded.
My mistress learned that a local professor at an engineering college has knowledge of the weapon. He has a student, Hugh, who likes me a bit more than I find comfortable, and he invited me to a party. Since I might be able to gain insight into Hugh and the professor then, my mistress commanded me to attend. It was unlike I expected, filled with drugs and sex. The professor took many drugs. As he was passing out I leaned over, whispering in his hear to tell me about the cannon. He said it spoke to him, that it knew his name. One of the professor’s older students was writing in a book, and had the same chaos look as his mentor. His name was Adolphus, and propositioned me sexually, so I did what I needed to. I pleasured him in exchange for looking at the journal. Inside was a picture of the cannon and ever increasing madness in his words including “It knows my name! How can a weapon know my name?” I left his side, returning to Hugh’s. After the party was over, I asked where I could meet him later, then went to meet my mistress. After telling her all that I knew, she said she would deal with Adolphus who wanted to meet with her later. She commanded me to meet with two dwarves that might prove useful to our pursuit of the cannon.
First, however, I met with Hugh and convinced him to help me steal Adolphus’ journal. He agreed, thinking it was a prank. We went to his apartment with a duplicate journal in which Hugh had written bad poetry and drawn pictures of penises. However, when we arrived at the apartment, it was apparent that he left with the intention of not returning.
At this point, I decided to involve the dwarves. Hugh accompanied me. We made contact with them. After talking to them and learning they are as dedicated to discovering the cannon as I, the surly dwarf, Moh, proposed that we return to Hugh’s apartment to look for clues. We did, and discovered a small crawlway behind his dresser. I entered, encountering walls full of notes pasted to the walls. These notes show that he was working on the volley gun and it slowly corrupted his mind. The last entry was about killing my mistress. Then I saw the image of Slaanesh it corrupted my mind, leaving only the perfection of numbers swirling around.
I recovered enough that we knew we had to find Adolphus. We traveled to the imperial college of engineering in time to see a huge covered weapon being escorted from the college. The quiet dwarf and I followed the cannon while the grumpy dwarf and Hugh stayed at the college. After we had traveled for a time following the volley gun, I saw Adolphus join the guards with the journal in hand and a horrible gleam in his eye. I feared for my mistress’ life. Leaving the quiet dwarf to follow the cannon I ran through the streets, asking about Mistress Anya and where she might be. I finally found a small bar where she was supposed to be. I found traces of her magic but not her, only a bartender and three men. When I tried to demand where she was, they attacked, after proclaiming they had ‘Killed one bitch’ and could kill another. I managed to freeze one, but the magic was not easy to draw upon. Then I got shot with a crossbow bolt and stabbed. Bleeding badly, I ran from the bar and made my way back to the location I was supposed to meet the others. They got me some medical help but I refused to rest, instead insisting that we chase the cannon.
Once we arrived at the cannon’s location, a barn outside town, we prepared to attack, but saw it was too late. Adolphus, the eight guards, and all the population of this small town were slaughtered by Chaos Knights. The cannon is now in their hands. We must pursue the cannon and recover it if possible, or destroy it if not.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Xanus vs the Kank
From our game last Wednesday. Don't be late to the table, or odd things happen to your mini...
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Looking in the Mirror
There are many things that gaming continues to teach me, and many ways in which it continues to surprise me. I did not think when I first started that gaming would be my therapist in so many ways, or that it would teach me a thousand things about myself that I didn’t know.
I have been gaming two years now, and most of those have been spent in two long running campaigns. During this time, I have had two primary characters (a a dozen minors that basically acted like NPCs in other people’s games). Those two primary characters, Candy and Zarnian taught me many things about myself. For instance, both women are very strong willed. Anyone who knows me will be shocked at this, I know. Both characters care deeply for their friends and lovers. And speaking of lovers, both characters showed me things about my husband's and my relationship that I didn’t even know.
First, Candy gradually fell in love with another character, Adalard. Adalard was never meant to be Candy’s lover. I even had her semi-engaged to another man in her back story. But, Adalard was an NPC, which meant he was played by Jason. Adalard was shy, a little insecure, and very sweet. He was the one that took primary care of the six year old girl we found, and by the time he explained how though her parents were gone, they would always love and look after her, Candy was head over heels. It was still months of real and game time before she acted on it, and now they are married. I learned that all those qualities Jason brought out of himself to play Adalard were things I cherished about Jason.
So when it came to Zarnian, I was pretty determined to not have her fall for an NPC. After all, I already did that with a character and I am not about duplication. Nine months have gone by of Zarnian not falling for an NPC. She even had a few night affair with another player character, but that fell apart before it even started. I thought, I’ll keep her single. That was, until Trakas. Trakas is a character Jason created who is mysterious, strong, and has Jason’s actual laugh and smile. That laugh and smile are kryptonite. Zarnian has developed a huge crush on Trakas. Stuff happened last week in game that prevents her from acting on that crush, but I still learned that Jason’s laugh and smile can make me happy no matter what reality I am in or what I am doing.
Gaming has taught me many more things about myself besides what attracts me to my husband, but that can all be saved for other posts. So what has gaming taught you about any of your relationships or yourself? I would love to know. You can always reach me at thebadkittybakery@gmail.com.
I have been gaming two years now, and most of those have been spent in two long running campaigns. During this time, I have had two primary characters (a a dozen minors that basically acted like NPCs in other people’s games). Those two primary characters, Candy and Zarnian taught me many things about myself. For instance, both women are very strong willed. Anyone who knows me will be shocked at this, I know. Both characters care deeply for their friends and lovers. And speaking of lovers, both characters showed me things about my husband's and my relationship that I didn’t even know.
First, Candy gradually fell in love with another character, Adalard. Adalard was never meant to be Candy’s lover. I even had her semi-engaged to another man in her back story. But, Adalard was an NPC, which meant he was played by Jason. Adalard was shy, a little insecure, and very sweet. He was the one that took primary care of the six year old girl we found, and by the time he explained how though her parents were gone, they would always love and look after her, Candy was head over heels. It was still months of real and game time before she acted on it, and now they are married. I learned that all those qualities Jason brought out of himself to play Adalard were things I cherished about Jason.
So when it came to Zarnian, I was pretty determined to not have her fall for an NPC. After all, I already did that with a character and I am not about duplication. Nine months have gone by of Zarnian not falling for an NPC. She even had a few night affair with another player character, but that fell apart before it even started. I thought, I’ll keep her single. That was, until Trakas. Trakas is a character Jason created who is mysterious, strong, and has Jason’s actual laugh and smile. That laugh and smile are kryptonite. Zarnian has developed a huge crush on Trakas. Stuff happened last week in game that prevents her from acting on that crush, but I still learned that Jason’s laugh and smile can make me happy no matter what reality I am in or what I am doing.
Gaming has taught me many more things about myself besides what attracts me to my husband, but that can all be saved for other posts. So what has gaming taught you about any of your relationships or yourself? I would love to know. You can always reach me at thebadkittybakery@gmail.com.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Zarnian's Journal 9-7-2011
Bali’s funeral was today. It is a sad day to say the least.
Two days have gone past the funeral. Already Trinidas is trying to restore the house to some level of normality. He mourns his son, of course, and wants revenge. We have the shell of Rokan. Xanus volunteered to probe his mind, a tactic that I thought would work better than torture. Besides, I have little stomach for pain for pain’s sake. Xanus was able to invade the things mind and learn who sent him. Kalak is behind these bladed assassins as I thought since the second one attacked. Who else could have the skills and the money to arm a throw away undead assassin with two metal swords? This information does not comfort me. I already had a passing knowledge of how formidable Kalak would be before the keep, but when we relived the Ogre visions and saw how he killed the Ogre warrior… that was centuries ago and I can only imagine that he has gained a refinement of his skills since then. There will be little hope of us being able to take him on directly if it comes to that. But, why Kalak is after us is open to debate. I have two theories. One involves the oracle and the scroll. The other involves one of us, but I will not record it, not even here. Trinidas was obviously rattled about the fact we had attracted such a powerful enemy. He suggested that we travel to Tyr in order to recruit guards. Barok and I had already discussed a plan to recruit gladiators there so I readily agreed, but do not plan until leaving tomorrow.
Trakas came today, wounded, with two others. I rushed him into the house to tend his wounds, but they were so old that I could not heal them with my own skills. Instead I brought him my water ration and ordered more food and water from the kitchens to be billed to me. I watched him eat and drink for a moment, though he told me I had to assemble the others and it was urgent. Once I had assembled the others he explained that the two others were Cael and Padrus. He said that we had to escort them to Tyr with all possible haste, and that their lives were more important than our own. I also learned that Trakas and Cael have a relationship, which makes me feel rather childish. Of course he has an arrangement with another. I should not have thought otherwise. I will take the mixed emotions I feel and channel them into completing this task and killing Hamdi.
Traveling.
Today we fought and killed some giant rock turtle out in the desert. They are rare creatures, but it was vicious. It bit me which was painful, but more painful was the fact that the bastard snapped my spear. I must get another Agafari spear, soon. I do admit that I took some of my rage out on the creature. The loss of the ability to form closer connections to Trakas wears on me more than the others will ever know, and more than even I had guessed at first. I kept my intention to become his apprentice too close to chest. Cael confirmed that she is a druid, and Trakas’ apprentice. He does not need two. But… the creature is dead and though Barok and I are wounded, we will continue to travel.
We entered Tyr. I journeyed with Cael and Padras to the bar where they were to meet their contact Aegon. I did this because it is apparent to me that they are in the Veiled Alliance and meeting their contact. I approve of this, and I intend to keep them safe. However, the contract never appeared. We found the others and tried to make new plans.
We have been discovered. Templars closed the gates to the city and tried to close the net in upon us. We saw one traveling with six half giants, moving to intercept us. We escaped the city, but now must find a way to get the information to Aegon, if he is still alive. I fear that he has been captured. If that is the case then we must find another way to act on the information.
Two days have gone past the funeral. Already Trinidas is trying to restore the house to some level of normality. He mourns his son, of course, and wants revenge. We have the shell of Rokan. Xanus volunteered to probe his mind, a tactic that I thought would work better than torture. Besides, I have little stomach for pain for pain’s sake. Xanus was able to invade the things mind and learn who sent him. Kalak is behind these bladed assassins as I thought since the second one attacked. Who else could have the skills and the money to arm a throw away undead assassin with two metal swords? This information does not comfort me. I already had a passing knowledge of how formidable Kalak would be before the keep, but when we relived the Ogre visions and saw how he killed the Ogre warrior… that was centuries ago and I can only imagine that he has gained a refinement of his skills since then. There will be little hope of us being able to take him on directly if it comes to that. But, why Kalak is after us is open to debate. I have two theories. One involves the oracle and the scroll. The other involves one of us, but I will not record it, not even here. Trinidas was obviously rattled about the fact we had attracted such a powerful enemy. He suggested that we travel to Tyr in order to recruit guards. Barok and I had already discussed a plan to recruit gladiators there so I readily agreed, but do not plan until leaving tomorrow.
Trakas came today, wounded, with two others. I rushed him into the house to tend his wounds, but they were so old that I could not heal them with my own skills. Instead I brought him my water ration and ordered more food and water from the kitchens to be billed to me. I watched him eat and drink for a moment, though he told me I had to assemble the others and it was urgent. Once I had assembled the others he explained that the two others were Cael and Padrus. He said that we had to escort them to Tyr with all possible haste, and that their lives were more important than our own. I also learned that Trakas and Cael have a relationship, which makes me feel rather childish. Of course he has an arrangement with another. I should not have thought otherwise. I will take the mixed emotions I feel and channel them into completing this task and killing Hamdi.
Traveling.
Today we fought and killed some giant rock turtle out in the desert. They are rare creatures, but it was vicious. It bit me which was painful, but more painful was the fact that the bastard snapped my spear. I must get another Agafari spear, soon. I do admit that I took some of my rage out on the creature. The loss of the ability to form closer connections to Trakas wears on me more than the others will ever know, and more than even I had guessed at first. I kept my intention to become his apprentice too close to chest. Cael confirmed that she is a druid, and Trakas’ apprentice. He does not need two. But… the creature is dead and though Barok and I are wounded, we will continue to travel.
We entered Tyr. I journeyed with Cael and Padras to the bar where they were to meet their contact Aegon. I did this because it is apparent to me that they are in the Veiled Alliance and meeting their contact. I approve of this, and I intend to keep them safe. However, the contract never appeared. We found the others and tried to make new plans.
We have been discovered. Templars closed the gates to the city and tried to close the net in upon us. We saw one traveling with six half giants, moving to intercept us. We escaped the city, but now must find a way to get the information to Aegon, if he is still alive. I fear that he has been captured. If that is the case then we must find another way to act on the information.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Will of Rel
From the saddlebag of Revica Horse -
Ian, if you have this letter, you survived and I did not. I know that despite all that is said about you, you are a good man. Under other circumstances, I think my cousin would have loved getting to know you better. I do not blame you for what happened to her. I know that the Witch Hunter is insane, he would have to be in order to find chaos in someone as beautiful and innocent as my cousin. I hope I killed that son of a whore, and I hope that the next world finds a way to make him suffer for all the harm he caused. I guess we did, too. I feel bad for all the soldiers we killed. I’m not proud of that. Still, riding with you was a good experience in many ways. But, I need you to do something for me.
I want you to take Revica Horse and all that she has in her saddle to your friend in Altdorf, the one that helped Blimey. You said that she has a husband and kid. If she’s like you described her, she’s a good person. I want her to give Revica Horse a good and happy home. In the saddle, there is ten gold, and if I time this right, my pistols and rifle. Give it all to her so she can keep her family safe.
As for you, you will need a place to go. I suggest you leave the country. If you decide to stay, I am willing my cousin’s horse farm to you. The paperwork does not say Ian, of course. It’s under Thorsten Hagen, but Dieter, the main farm hand is a good man. He knows everything, and loved Revica like I did. He will do what is right. Go there, change your name and appearance, and live a quiet life if you want. If not, give that to someone else, too. I have included directions to place below.
Find some peace, Ian. I have.
- Rel
Ian, if you have this letter, you survived and I did not. I know that despite all that is said about you, you are a good man. Under other circumstances, I think my cousin would have loved getting to know you better. I do not blame you for what happened to her. I know that the Witch Hunter is insane, he would have to be in order to find chaos in someone as beautiful and innocent as my cousin. I hope I killed that son of a whore, and I hope that the next world finds a way to make him suffer for all the harm he caused. I guess we did, too. I feel bad for all the soldiers we killed. I’m not proud of that. Still, riding with you was a good experience in many ways. But, I need you to do something for me.
I want you to take Revica Horse and all that she has in her saddle to your friend in Altdorf, the one that helped Blimey. You said that she has a husband and kid. If she’s like you described her, she’s a good person. I want her to give Revica Horse a good and happy home. In the saddle, there is ten gold, and if I time this right, my pistols and rifle. Give it all to her so she can keep her family safe.
As for you, you will need a place to go. I suggest you leave the country. If you decide to stay, I am willing my cousin’s horse farm to you. The paperwork does not say Ian, of course. It’s under Thorsten Hagen, but Dieter, the main farm hand is a good man. He knows everything, and loved Revica like I did. He will do what is right. Go there, change your name and appearance, and live a quiet life if you want. If not, give that to someone else, too. I have included directions to place below.
Find some peace, Ian. I have.
- Rel
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Rel’s Journal – 9/5/11
Rel's Journal
Getting ready for the big confrontation. Ian found a small village called Bittenthrop. It was a small fishing village with about fifty people in it. I rode in with Anchor and made contact with the village. I paid the first family very well to leave their house. I did not want the Witch Hunter to kill them for sheltering us. They had a baby, and so many people were just good, hardworking people. I can’t see them get hurt.
I paid them all to leave, Ian helped. The bigger families got one gold to leave, the single people or couples got fifty silver. I think that was more gold than they see in a few years. These poor people have at least a shot of getting away and starting a normal life, because if we don’t kill this bastard, I do not put it past him to take it out on all of them. The only ones that didn’t leave were the village miller and his daughter but they holed up tight in their two story mill. Anchor and Ian especially built up massive fortifications. They used the oil that we bought and what we found around the village to create fire points to help in case of attack. I brought our horses into the great hall since Blimey is in the barn in a sniper spot. I think that the horses will be safe. I have been spending large amounts of our time standing by the trail on Revica Horse, waiting. I also made Ian promise that if anything happens to me during this battle that he will take Revica Horse and the contents of her saddle to that woman who helped us in Altdorf. He said that she used to be like him, and that she retired, got married, and has a little girl. I already sent money and instructions home to the horse farm; little does Ian know that he has a source of income for him. I don’t intend on getting out of this alive. If it comes to me or the Witch Hunter, he will die. He killed the only person I loved; for that he will pay. Now, it is just Revica Horse and I. The sun is setting and all will be well. This bastard will fall by my hand.
The Journal of Ludolf Wulrich, Guard Captain for Graf Sigfriend Von Soponatheim
We heard that Foul Ian the Black (Sigmar curse the chaos spawn) had terrorized an entire fishing village into leaving their homes. The Graf assembled the army to attack. Luckily, we were nearby and could get to the village without overly fatiguing our horses or men. Though I warned him to stay back, the Graf came with us, as did that Witch Hunter who has been burning chaos spawn throughout the country looking for Foul Ian. We brought the volley cannon, and thirty men down the trail. Ten men commandeered a barge to come down the river, and six soldiers rode from each side of the beach. Before we came in mass, three good men volunteered to act as scouts. They posed as foul bandits who wanted to join Foul Ian for a share of his bounty. Somehow, the bastard found them out and killed them. Maybe he didn’t find them out. Maybe he just enjoys the killing now, or maybe he sacrificed them to one of his foul gods. It doesn’t matter I guess. They are dead all the same, but back to the battle.
As we rode in, the Witch Hunter slipped off his horse and disappeared into the woods. We proceeded in when all hell erupted. Those bastards set the forest and most of the village on fire. Our horses spooked and it took us a while to ride in from the forest. We couldn’t get the volley cannon in, so we left it and the wagon. The bandits managed to set a boat and raft on fire, which kept those men out of the fight. As they rode off, they killed the men that rode down the beach after them, and started to get away. That was when the Witch Hunter attacked. He shot Foul Ian right in the chest, almost killing him. It must be part of the pact that he made with his evil masters, but he lived and shot the Witch Hunter. He shot his nose off. We thought we had the woman pinned in, because the Graf insisted that they be taken alive, besides Ian. She broke away and shot that poor Witch Hunter right in the back of his head. He died in Sigmar’s name, doing what was right. We got the bitch surrounded right as the others rode away. I heard from Sven that she got cut a few times, then as he was getting ready to capture her, she put a pistol against her head and shot. Crazy bitch. She was probably chaos tainted, too.
I rode off after the others with the rest of my men. They had a few with them that could ride well, and we had Sigmar on our side. Every time it looked like they were going to get away, we caught up. Finally, we ran one of them down. He got off his horse and killed three of my men with a damn blunderbuss. Four more crashed into them and got hurt, but we took him alive. I know that he’ll suffer for what my men’s lives before he dies, but that doesn’t bring them back. Then Ian and the dwarf got away. I rode and rode, but my horse gave out. I will get that bastard. It’s just a matter of time. He will pay for his children buggering, Nurgle infected, warpstone loving ways. Sigmar will see to that.
Getting ready for the big confrontation. Ian found a small village called Bittenthrop. It was a small fishing village with about fifty people in it. I rode in with Anchor and made contact with the village. I paid the first family very well to leave their house. I did not want the Witch Hunter to kill them for sheltering us. They had a baby, and so many people were just good, hardworking people. I can’t see them get hurt.
I paid them all to leave, Ian helped. The bigger families got one gold to leave, the single people or couples got fifty silver. I think that was more gold than they see in a few years. These poor people have at least a shot of getting away and starting a normal life, because if we don’t kill this bastard, I do not put it past him to take it out on all of them. The only ones that didn’t leave were the village miller and his daughter but they holed up tight in their two story mill. Anchor and Ian especially built up massive fortifications. They used the oil that we bought and what we found around the village to create fire points to help in case of attack. I brought our horses into the great hall since Blimey is in the barn in a sniper spot. I think that the horses will be safe. I have been spending large amounts of our time standing by the trail on Revica Horse, waiting. I also made Ian promise that if anything happens to me during this battle that he will take Revica Horse and the contents of her saddle to that woman who helped us in Altdorf. He said that she used to be like him, and that she retired, got married, and has a little girl. I already sent money and instructions home to the horse farm; little does Ian know that he has a source of income for him. I don’t intend on getting out of this alive. If it comes to me or the Witch Hunter, he will die. He killed the only person I loved; for that he will pay. Now, it is just Revica Horse and I. The sun is setting and all will be well. This bastard will fall by my hand.
The Journal of Ludolf Wulrich, Guard Captain for Graf Sigfriend Von Soponatheim
We heard that Foul Ian the Black (Sigmar curse the chaos spawn) had terrorized an entire fishing village into leaving their homes. The Graf assembled the army to attack. Luckily, we were nearby and could get to the village without overly fatiguing our horses or men. Though I warned him to stay back, the Graf came with us, as did that Witch Hunter who has been burning chaos spawn throughout the country looking for Foul Ian. We brought the volley cannon, and thirty men down the trail. Ten men commandeered a barge to come down the river, and six soldiers rode from each side of the beach. Before we came in mass, three good men volunteered to act as scouts. They posed as foul bandits who wanted to join Foul Ian for a share of his bounty. Somehow, the bastard found them out and killed them. Maybe he didn’t find them out. Maybe he just enjoys the killing now, or maybe he sacrificed them to one of his foul gods. It doesn’t matter I guess. They are dead all the same, but back to the battle.
As we rode in, the Witch Hunter slipped off his horse and disappeared into the woods. We proceeded in when all hell erupted. Those bastards set the forest and most of the village on fire. Our horses spooked and it took us a while to ride in from the forest. We couldn’t get the volley cannon in, so we left it and the wagon. The bandits managed to set a boat and raft on fire, which kept those men out of the fight. As they rode off, they killed the men that rode down the beach after them, and started to get away. That was when the Witch Hunter attacked. He shot Foul Ian right in the chest, almost killing him. It must be part of the pact that he made with his evil masters, but he lived and shot the Witch Hunter. He shot his nose off. We thought we had the woman pinned in, because the Graf insisted that they be taken alive, besides Ian. She broke away and shot that poor Witch Hunter right in the back of his head. He died in Sigmar’s name, doing what was right. We got the bitch surrounded right as the others rode away. I heard from Sven that she got cut a few times, then as he was getting ready to capture her, she put a pistol against her head and shot. Crazy bitch. She was probably chaos tainted, too.
I rode off after the others with the rest of my men. They had a few with them that could ride well, and we had Sigmar on our side. Every time it looked like they were going to get away, we caught up. Finally, we ran one of them down. He got off his horse and killed three of my men with a damn blunderbuss. Four more crashed into them and got hurt, but we took him alive. I know that he’ll suffer for what my men’s lives before he dies, but that doesn’t bring them back. Then Ian and the dwarf got away. I rode and rode, but my horse gave out. I will get that bastard. It’s just a matter of time. He will pay for his children buggering, Nurgle infected, warpstone loving ways. Sigmar will see to that.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
To Whom Does a Character History Belong?
This last Wednesday, we sadly had a character pass away. It happens to us all. As gamers we all lose characters at one time or another. If the game is a one shot, or you know you will never revisit that world, I am sure that some people (gasp) throw away their character sheets and notes. I am new to gaming (going on two years) and such an idea is abhorrent to me. I have binders of carefully divided characters, histories, game notes, and tokens from various games and campaigns. I am not alone in my group. One of our group, Jordan, makes small cartoons of various game situations, and Gregory makes elaborate game notes. We are all packrats and we hoard this info.
But Jason, our DM, also needs this info. If a character dies, there is a chance that they may not stay dead. He might bring them back as an NPC in a dream sequence, or to haunt your new character into completing some task. He needs the character sheets and notes of major characters. So if a character dies, who keeps it? The DM or the Player?
I think the fair thing to do is see how comfortable you are letting the DM keep it. If you know and trust your DM, then go for it. If you are like me and need that for yourself, then make copies. Most printers now have copiers or scanners, and if not, a Kinkos has to be close by. Just make a copy for the archives and keep the originals.
And I think this goes without saying. If you have been using something like original cards, or cards from a set like Warhammer that the DM owns, make sure he or she gets those back too, because that is just classy and fair. Just remember, no one ever plans to die, but knowing what to do when it happens can be comforting.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rel’s Journal 8/23/11
Monday – We are back in Oakenville waiting for the Witch Hunter. I was hoping that he was on our heels and this would be quick, but it isn’t. I have spent the last two days with my horse, waiting for something to happen. Nothing has. I did mail off a small package to my cousin’s farm. I included gold for them and instructions on what to do with the farm should I fall in this battle. I believe that to be a possibility at least. I do not care if I fall, only that I take the Witch Hunter with me.
Tuesday – Ian and Detlef are talking about pulling a job. There is little here worth robbing – no nobility that still hold their lands. I am against robbing from those who can ill afford it, but there is a temple of Sigmar here.
Wednesday – Yesterday we evaded capture. When I went to the temple to case it, that is what I was doing, I hate to admit, I saw that there was a priest of about 50 years and four armed men, two in leather armor. I left and I barely had the words out to Ian when the five attacked. Ian was hit by two arrows, wounded badly. I shot the priest, but did not manage to kill him. Ian knocked him out, I shot the one other in the group that was brave enough to stay once gunfire erupted and we managed to make our escape, but not before Anchor looted and burned down the church of Sigmar. It all feels so surreal at times. A month ago, I would have tracked people like us down to be hung. Now, I am one of those people. Too many have seen my face. There is no going back. That thought makes me sick.
Thursday – We are now in this little town, waiting again. When will that black hearted son of a bitch ever show up? Again, I am mostly staying in the stable with my horse. Being with her makes me feel closer to my cousin, and I have more in common with my horse than with Blimey or Detlef. I am bored, but Ian needs to rest and recover before he can face what we must. For now, we continue to wait.
Friday – nothing to report.
Saturday – Last night, we almost died. A knight rode in with eight men at arms, all mounted. Ian was lanced by the night and attacked by others. He is greviously wounded and fell in battle. I was also attacked by many swords and have four deep wounds. Anchor fought by our side, attacking several men at arms with daggers. That dwarf in as insane as a Slayer. I find myself admiring him more and more. Had it just been Ian, Anchor and I, we would have fallen in battle. As much as I hate writing these words, and I do, Detlef and Blimey saved our lives. This was an even greater accomplishment than one could guess because Blimey was still completely drunk when this happened, yet he still managed to kill three of the attackers. I killed the Knight. I shot him in the face. I don’t know how to feel about that, so right now I am letting myself feel nothing. Ian needs to heal, so again we wait, and just hope that soon we can meet our foe.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Terrain
I have not posted for a few days because Jason and I were on vacation. We needed to get away from it all for a little while, but that does not mean that we were trying to get away from gaming at all. Matter as fact, we incorporated gaming into our vacation in several ways. Some of which were obvious, like trying to find new game stores, but others were not so obvious and those will find their way into various game tips in my blog.
One of the ways that we brought gaming into our vacation was paying attention to all the different scenery. Even though we only traveled about 150 miles from our house, the landscape varied quite a bit from what we see locally. As we drove I would point to some scrub in the middle of a desert and say, “It’s like where Zarnian and Takas fought!” or denser bigger scrub brought a cry of “It’s an Athas forest!” Both these statements were from our Dark Sun game. Seeing the places that we game made me understand better how my character could hide or more likely not hide, and how she would navigate around it all.
Once at our destination and walking around, we tried to find more destinations that had great gaming potential. We took a tour of a mine, which not only would be great for a place that our Dark Sun characters could hide, but the beauty and elegance in the underground rock was a great view for seeing what Warhammer Dwarves must see. Even watching a recreation of the gun fight at the OK corral was interesting for the few Deadlands games we’ve played.
So when you are out on vacation, see if you can find things around you that inspire you to understand your character’s game environment more. It adds a lot of fun to an already great time.
One of the ways that we brought gaming into our vacation was paying attention to all the different scenery. Even though we only traveled about 150 miles from our house, the landscape varied quite a bit from what we see locally. As we drove I would point to some scrub in the middle of a desert and say, “It’s like where Zarnian and Takas fought!” or denser bigger scrub brought a cry of “It’s an Athas forest!” Both these statements were from our Dark Sun game. Seeing the places that we game made me understand better how my character could hide or more likely not hide, and how she would navigate around it all.
Once at our destination and walking around, we tried to find more destinations that had great gaming potential. We took a tour of a mine, which not only would be great for a place that our Dark Sun characters could hide, but the beauty and elegance in the underground rock was a great view for seeing what Warhammer Dwarves must see. Even watching a recreation of the gun fight at the OK corral was interesting for the few Deadlands games we’ve played.
So when you are out on vacation, see if you can find things around you that inspire you to understand your character’s game environment more. It adds a lot of fun to an already great time.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Dreams
For all my life, I have had very vivid dreams. I never understood the ‘experts’ that say we dream in black and white. I dream in color, remember almost all of them, and can sometimes even make changes to control what I am dreaming. Maybe I’m special, maybe I’m a freak, maybe that is why sleep is my favorite drug (caffeine is ironically, my second favorite drug).
Last night I had a dream where I was Zarnian, my Mul character from Dark Sun. In this dream, she was young, still a slave, and already one of the best Gladiators in all of Nibenay if not Athas. Her slave masters did some really messed up things to herself and one of her friends in the dream, I will spare you the details. After that, her anger soared and she thought about committing suicide by killing as many of her slave masters as she could. The house Psionic detected this and planted walls in her mind to remove that righteous anger, leaving the core of who she was so she could still be affective in the ring. I woke up knowing that this happened again when her lover was sold to another slave master that killed him, and now the walls are breaking down that she has her freedom. This explains much of her behavior the last year and a half of game time, and is just kinda cool. I immediately decided that was cannon and I needed to build it into the character’s backstory. I guess since my gaming group reads this blog, I just did.
Do any of you ever dream about your characters? If so, do those dreams ever affect your game decisions? If so, I would love to hear from you. If not, I find that as I’m drifting off to sleep if I can think about my character in a story setting, it can help to trigger the dreams. Do whatever helps connect you with your character, consciously or subconsciously.
Last night I had a dream where I was Zarnian, my Mul character from Dark Sun. In this dream, she was young, still a slave, and already one of the best Gladiators in all of Nibenay if not Athas. Her slave masters did some really messed up things to herself and one of her friends in the dream, I will spare you the details. After that, her anger soared and she thought about committing suicide by killing as many of her slave masters as she could. The house Psionic detected this and planted walls in her mind to remove that righteous anger, leaving the core of who she was so she could still be affective in the ring. I woke up knowing that this happened again when her lover was sold to another slave master that killed him, and now the walls are breaking down that she has her freedom. This explains much of her behavior the last year and a half of game time, and is just kinda cool. I immediately decided that was cannon and I needed to build it into the character’s backstory. I guess since my gaming group reads this blog, I just did.
Do any of you ever dream about your characters? If so, do those dreams ever affect your game decisions? If so, I would love to hear from you. If not, I find that as I’m drifting off to sleep if I can think about my character in a story setting, it can help to trigger the dreams. Do whatever helps connect you with your character, consciously or subconsciously.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
What do you do during game breaks?
Our Dark Sun group meets every Wednesday at 6pm until about 10pm. Every Wednesday. That is, every Wednesday except for tonight and next week. Tonight, one of our primary players is too sick and we have someone else with a work conflict. Next week, Jason, our DM (and my husband) is traveling for a class so he can’t be here. With two weeks off without the game, the question arises as to how to use that time wisely?
Now, I am like the rest of you. I have a list of housework and chores to do that is easily ten miles long. I could clean my rambling 5 bedroom house for days and still find something to do in it, but doing housework during what should be game time will only make me cranky. The same is true for other things I could be doing like working on recipes or getting ready for my cooking class tomorrow.
I think the most productive use of my time during this game break is to get to know my character Zarnian better. I started working on a freeform mini ‘story’ that is little more than the thoughts she allows herself to have about the other players and her current situation while she is out on patrol. Already, this freeform exercise has illuminated how a crush that I did not know she had (I suspected, but now it is confirmed) and better answered how she feels about many of her other relationships in the house and village. I will work on this story during game time tonight and next week, when I have the house to myself I will work on her origin story. I know it, but getting it all out on paper might reveal some things I didn’t even know before.
With these writing exercises, when we play again in three weeks, I will have an even stronger grasp of my character, and I will have a bit of writing to add to my body of work. That is a much better use of game time than cleaning litter boxes or doing dishes.
Now, I am like the rest of you. I have a list of housework and chores to do that is easily ten miles long. I could clean my rambling 5 bedroom house for days and still find something to do in it, but doing housework during what should be game time will only make me cranky. The same is true for other things I could be doing like working on recipes or getting ready for my cooking class tomorrow.
I think the most productive use of my time during this game break is to get to know my character Zarnian better. I started working on a freeform mini ‘story’ that is little more than the thoughts she allows herself to have about the other players and her current situation while she is out on patrol. Already, this freeform exercise has illuminated how a crush that I did not know she had (I suspected, but now it is confirmed) and better answered how she feels about many of her other relationships in the house and village. I will work on this story during game time tonight and next week, when I have the house to myself I will work on her origin story. I know it, but getting it all out on paper might reveal some things I didn’t even know before.
With these writing exercises, when we play again in three weeks, I will have an even stronger grasp of my character, and I will have a bit of writing to add to my body of work. That is a much better use of game time than cleaning litter boxes or doing dishes.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Candy and Rel's Journals 8/15/11
Candy’s Journal 8/15/11
Wow! Ian came to visit today! Adalard and I have only been back in town for a week when we got a knock on our door. At first, I was afraid it was that dick Witch Hunter, but it was Ian, along with one of his new posse members with a damaged eye. I fixed him up, and he was nice enough to play with Newt while Ian and I caught up. I told him about most of what happened, with the island, us adopting Newt, getting married to Adalard, and even Kalbie. Wow. I also asked him what was up with the wanted posters for Foul Ian and now the posters for Foul Ian the Black. I mean, the latest one was for 30 gold! Then I found out that Ian is doing all of this to draw out the Witch Hunter and kill him. I want to go with him, but he reminded him that I have a life and family now, and his life is already tainted with what he has done.
This has all been so hard on me because first Moh gave his life over to Khorne so Adalard and I could live, Zell died for us, and now Ian? I know Ian has money now, but money isn’t everything. Adalard is already bored, but I have not been feeling well lately, not well enough to travel easily. I have been feeling sick lately and the dreams are fading but still there. I need to decide what to do soon. Do I stay with this life or do I try and ride out with Ian?
Rel’s Journal 8/15/2011
Today I killed a man. He was a goon that was riding with a bounty hunter. While it is true that he slashed at my horse, it was still killing a man on a street in the empire. I think my old life is gone. I knew that to some degree when I went to visit my cousin and found a grave instead of her. I asked one of her farm hands what happened and he told me. We were more like sisters than cousins, growing up with summers together from the time we were yearlings. I had always thought that it was she would marry and have the next generation, because she loved her farm and horses as much as I loved the road. I had to avenge her, even if that cost me my life. At first, I thought that Kurt was responsible, since the Witch Hunter killed her for riding with him. Once I got to know Kurt, or Ian, and learned it was the Witch Hunter who was acting with more venom than they normally do, I had to make a choice.
The choice has not been easy. Ian killed Heinz Ballwerth, a well known Bounty Hunter. He was an ass who often tortured suspects, and he did not have my respect. I killed his agent and the other got away. I did not run him down because it serves our purposes to have our actions known. Blimey fought another in hand to hand combat, which damaged his eye. Detlef got cracked over the head by the whore he could not satisfy and only managed to fire one arrow in the entire combat. I threw him on my horse and we rode away. After hiding for a few days, Ian decided that we needed to get to Altdorf, especially since I did what I could for Blimey and he was in danger of losing his eye.
Once in Altdorf, I got a room for Detlef and I while Ian took Blimey to a healer he knew. He came back later that night to tell me that the healer was able to save Blimey’s eye and tell me where he could be found. He also said that another would be joining our party, a dwarf named Anchor. When the other three joined us again, we waited a bit before we supplied. I did not want to spend my wealth about town and draw attention, so I only went to the gun smith. I did get a long rifle, a blunderbuss, shot, powder, and holsters for both and my second pistol. Now it would easier to stay armed since this is likely to end bloody.
Finally, after a while, we rode from Altdorf to Oakenville where Ian got word the Witch Hunter had last appeared. We will make a stand here in order to kill the bastard. Blimey and Detlef know about him now; they are rightly terrified. I would send them away for their safety but they are criminals and they will be dead anyway if this bastard lives and finds them. If he showed no mercy to my cousin who was just then he will show none to common thugs. All this will come to a conclusion soon, and then what? I have no more life here. Perhaps my horse Revica and I will ride for some other land. But first, revenge.
Wow! Ian came to visit today! Adalard and I have only been back in town for a week when we got a knock on our door. At first, I was afraid it was that dick Witch Hunter, but it was Ian, along with one of his new posse members with a damaged eye. I fixed him up, and he was nice enough to play with Newt while Ian and I caught up. I told him about most of what happened, with the island, us adopting Newt, getting married to Adalard, and even Kalbie. Wow. I also asked him what was up with the wanted posters for Foul Ian and now the posters for Foul Ian the Black. I mean, the latest one was for 30 gold! Then I found out that Ian is doing all of this to draw out the Witch Hunter and kill him. I want to go with him, but he reminded him that I have a life and family now, and his life is already tainted with what he has done.
This has all been so hard on me because first Moh gave his life over to Khorne so Adalard and I could live, Zell died for us, and now Ian? I know Ian has money now, but money isn’t everything. Adalard is already bored, but I have not been feeling well lately, not well enough to travel easily. I have been feeling sick lately and the dreams are fading but still there. I need to decide what to do soon. Do I stay with this life or do I try and ride out with Ian?
Rel’s Journal 8/15/2011
Today I killed a man. He was a goon that was riding with a bounty hunter. While it is true that he slashed at my horse, it was still killing a man on a street in the empire. I think my old life is gone. I knew that to some degree when I went to visit my cousin and found a grave instead of her. I asked one of her farm hands what happened and he told me. We were more like sisters than cousins, growing up with summers together from the time we were yearlings. I had always thought that it was she would marry and have the next generation, because she loved her farm and horses as much as I loved the road. I had to avenge her, even if that cost me my life. At first, I thought that Kurt was responsible, since the Witch Hunter killed her for riding with him. Once I got to know Kurt, or Ian, and learned it was the Witch Hunter who was acting with more venom than they normally do, I had to make a choice.
The choice has not been easy. Ian killed Heinz Ballwerth, a well known Bounty Hunter. He was an ass who often tortured suspects, and he did not have my respect. I killed his agent and the other got away. I did not run him down because it serves our purposes to have our actions known. Blimey fought another in hand to hand combat, which damaged his eye. Detlef got cracked over the head by the whore he could not satisfy and only managed to fire one arrow in the entire combat. I threw him on my horse and we rode away. After hiding for a few days, Ian decided that we needed to get to Altdorf, especially since I did what I could for Blimey and he was in danger of losing his eye.
Once in Altdorf, I got a room for Detlef and I while Ian took Blimey to a healer he knew. He came back later that night to tell me that the healer was able to save Blimey’s eye and tell me where he could be found. He also said that another would be joining our party, a dwarf named Anchor. When the other three joined us again, we waited a bit before we supplied. I did not want to spend my wealth about town and draw attention, so I only went to the gun smith. I did get a long rifle, a blunderbuss, shot, powder, and holsters for both and my second pistol. Now it would easier to stay armed since this is likely to end bloody.
Finally, after a while, we rode from Altdorf to Oakenville where Ian got word the Witch Hunter had last appeared. We will make a stand here in order to kill the bastard. Blimey and Detlef know about him now; they are rightly terrified. I would send them away for their safety but they are criminals and they will be dead anyway if this bastard lives and finds them. If he showed no mercy to my cousin who was just then he will show none to common thugs. All this will come to a conclusion soon, and then what? I have no more life here. Perhaps my horse Revica and I will ride for some other land. But first, revenge.
The Great Smart Phone Plague
I remember when I first signed up for email. Yes, I am that old. At first I thought that it was the greatest thing ever. I could send and receive letters to some of my most remote friends in hours instead of days. It was awesome! But then several decided they wanted to copy me on what were nothing more than electronic chain letters. I really don’t want emails full of baby animal pictures that are supposed to give me good luck if I pass them on, or sappy poems about friendship that I am supposed to email back to the person that sent it and all my friends. At the time, I thought nothing would be more annoying than those damn chain letters.
Now I am a gamer and I know what is more annoying than getting those by email – getting them at the game table, or the equivalent thereof. Most of us have smart phones now, which some gamers use as a weapon to show you the latest video of kitties sleeping or a five minute clip from Robot Chicken or whatever. Ok, I don’t care 99.9% of the time, but I will look at it… UNLESS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME!! I don’t want to have a handful of dice, be trying to figure out which of my combat cards will best annihilate the 15 enemies that I am about to be killed by only to have someone stick philosoraptor in my face, or read the captions aloud to the group. I’m trying to kill elves people! (Not that I have anything against elves, but in Dark Sun, they are often jerks…)
Also, smart phone use is rude when you are keeping it to yourself, but checking emails, text messaging, and watching videos even on silent at the game table when we are actively playing. Even if it is not your character’s moment in the spotlight, pay attention to what everyone else does. It will make you better able to act in a few seconds when it is your turn.
I think we all can get distracted by our lives. Still, gaming is the time to get away from our real lives and slip into another world where you can be someone else. In real life, I am NOT the 6’1” exotic Mul former Gladiator Champion ass kicker I play in Dark Sun. That’s what makes it fun. Let the real world wait while you share that experience with your group, even the video of Ninja Kitten.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Zarnian's Journal Entry
Zarnian’s Journal (August 10th 2011 Entry)
I have started this writing because even though its discovery could be my death sentence after all that has happened, I need a place to write my thoughts. Sorting them out by writing them down is something that Tillian, my mentor taught me. He taught me that and so much more. It was he that first placed a stick in my hands when I was two summers old, it was he that taught me that the beauty of art and words helped balance the brutality of the ring.
Tonight I must decide to stay here at the House of the Painted Eye or leave. I have wondered of late if it would come to this. It did. Still, it might be better to tell the story from the beginning to have it recorded.
I was at the House when a caravan that C’aro was driving arrived. He had been attacked by Elves and barely survived. Jingleheimer was hurt and shaken, but Innis and Miwl were both good guards and they are dead. Because only the wealthy caravans of the house have been attacked, we suspected that there was a traitor in the house. I told Trinidas that if there was a traitor I would see him suffer before he died.
In order to weed out any traitor that might be hiding in the house, myself, Bali, Xanus and Ohzon along with Denning and Jacob took a caravan out after leaking the information that it was full of valuables. It was not successful. We were not attacked. That led us to believe that another of our fears might be realized and the target might be the house. We turned around, but instead of heading back as originally planned, the decision was made for us to sneak back into the village. Xanus, Ohzon, and I stayed with Tolmeza, one of the sky followers. That was when we learned that her husband was missing. Blye was a good man, so I promised Tolmeza that we would find her husband or who harmed him. Soon, Bali, C’aro, Copper, Denning and Barok came to ‘save us’. Once they were there, C’aro decided that we were not in danger and went to the bar. I sent Denning with him in case C’aro was the target of the attack and also to place him in a safer position. I care for Denning as a friend deeply, and I had a feeling that everything might become more insane than others were expecting.
While Ohzon, Bali and the others went to investigate Blye’s disappearance I went with Xanus who had a lead he wanted to investigate. In the end, he abandoned that plan so we went to ‘keep’ an eye on C’aro and Denning, but really we went to the bar. The others met us there. They told us of a half elf and man who were new to the village and also the ones that Blye was supposed to be meeting when he disappeared. Ohzon also suggested that Xanus ask the local insects if there were any new feeing areas. He did and we followed a massive ant trail back to the body of Blye. It was in the north east quadrant, a place I had witnessed Salish sneaking home from. We decided to not tell Tolmeza yet that her husband was dead nor to move the body. I hate leaving the body of someone I knew out for the elements, but I followed along.
Ohzon came up with a plan to have a meeting that would lure in the half elf woman, I volunteered to watch the man. That night Barok and Bali were supposed to be close by, while I waited in the shadows. As time pressed on, I started to feel off. I trust my instincts, they kept me alive in the arena. My instincts said that that little shit Salish was getting ready to run. Down the street, I heard Ohzon shout. That was all I needed to listen to my inner voice. I burst into the house only to find him stuffing his pockets getting ready to bolt. I attacked with every intention of keeping him alive for questioning. He looked behind me and I knew that someone was behind me. He bolted forward and I ran after him, ending up in the street. Two elves attacked me. I speared the first one that rushed me and then the next one before Barok appeared and Xanus. I had them help me haul everyone back into the house then I stepped outside to assure the villagers that Salish was responsible for the death of Blighe. Then I searched the house. I found more evidence that he was a spy for House Ianto including a signet ring. I took that for Trinidas. While I was getting ready to transport my prisoner, Bali came and we exchanged words. He and I can look at a cup of water and not agree on what it is. His words toward Barok surprised me. Barok, Ohzon, Tolmeza and I took the prisoner back to Trinidas. I gave him the ring and offered to leave the house as Bali had commanded me to do. Trinidas asked me to wait while he talked to others, including Bali who had come back to the house. In the end he asked us all to stay, but to work together and end our differences. While the others immediately agreed, I said I needed time. I did. I talked to Barok and Denning. If Trakas were here, I would have spoken to him as well. I value their opinions. Barok, Denning, and Jingleheimer all want me to stay.
I will stay, and I will for them. I do love Denning and Jingleheimer. Barok is like a brother to me. We would easily die for each other, so I can stay for him. From this day forward, the past is past. We will move forward.
I have started this writing because even though its discovery could be my death sentence after all that has happened, I need a place to write my thoughts. Sorting them out by writing them down is something that Tillian, my mentor taught me. He taught me that and so much more. It was he that first placed a stick in my hands when I was two summers old, it was he that taught me that the beauty of art and words helped balance the brutality of the ring.
Tonight I must decide to stay here at the House of the Painted Eye or leave. I have wondered of late if it would come to this. It did. Still, it might be better to tell the story from the beginning to have it recorded.
I was at the House when a caravan that C’aro was driving arrived. He had been attacked by Elves and barely survived. Jingleheimer was hurt and shaken, but Innis and Miwl were both good guards and they are dead. Because only the wealthy caravans of the house have been attacked, we suspected that there was a traitor in the house. I told Trinidas that if there was a traitor I would see him suffer before he died.
In order to weed out any traitor that might be hiding in the house, myself, Bali, Xanus and Ohzon along with Denning and Jacob took a caravan out after leaking the information that it was full of valuables. It was not successful. We were not attacked. That led us to believe that another of our fears might be realized and the target might be the house. We turned around, but instead of heading back as originally planned, the decision was made for us to sneak back into the village. Xanus, Ohzon, and I stayed with Tolmeza, one of the sky followers. That was when we learned that her husband was missing. Blye was a good man, so I promised Tolmeza that we would find her husband or who harmed him. Soon, Bali, C’aro, Copper, Denning and Barok came to ‘save us’. Once they were there, C’aro decided that we were not in danger and went to the bar. I sent Denning with him in case C’aro was the target of the attack and also to place him in a safer position. I care for Denning as a friend deeply, and I had a feeling that everything might become more insane than others were expecting.
While Ohzon, Bali and the others went to investigate Blye’s disappearance I went with Xanus who had a lead he wanted to investigate. In the end, he abandoned that plan so we went to ‘keep’ an eye on C’aro and Denning, but really we went to the bar. The others met us there. They told us of a half elf and man who were new to the village and also the ones that Blye was supposed to be meeting when he disappeared. Ohzon also suggested that Xanus ask the local insects if there were any new feeing areas. He did and we followed a massive ant trail back to the body of Blye. It was in the north east quadrant, a place I had witnessed Salish sneaking home from. We decided to not tell Tolmeza yet that her husband was dead nor to move the body. I hate leaving the body of someone I knew out for the elements, but I followed along.
Ohzon came up with a plan to have a meeting that would lure in the half elf woman, I volunteered to watch the man. That night Barok and Bali were supposed to be close by, while I waited in the shadows. As time pressed on, I started to feel off. I trust my instincts, they kept me alive in the arena. My instincts said that that little shit Salish was getting ready to run. Down the street, I heard Ohzon shout. That was all I needed to listen to my inner voice. I burst into the house only to find him stuffing his pockets getting ready to bolt. I attacked with every intention of keeping him alive for questioning. He looked behind me and I knew that someone was behind me. He bolted forward and I ran after him, ending up in the street. Two elves attacked me. I speared the first one that rushed me and then the next one before Barok appeared and Xanus. I had them help me haul everyone back into the house then I stepped outside to assure the villagers that Salish was responsible for the death of Blighe. Then I searched the house. I found more evidence that he was a spy for House Ianto including a signet ring. I took that for Trinidas. While I was getting ready to transport my prisoner, Bali came and we exchanged words. He and I can look at a cup of water and not agree on what it is. His words toward Barok surprised me. Barok, Ohzon, Tolmeza and I took the prisoner back to Trinidas. I gave him the ring and offered to leave the house as Bali had commanded me to do. Trinidas asked me to wait while he talked to others, including Bali who had come back to the house. In the end he asked us all to stay, but to work together and end our differences. While the others immediately agreed, I said I needed time. I did. I talked to Barok and Denning. If Trakas were here, I would have spoken to him as well. I value their opinions. Barok, Denning, and Jingleheimer all want me to stay.
I will stay, and I will for them. I do love Denning and Jingleheimer. Barok is like a brother to me. We would easily die for each other, so I can stay for him. From this day forward, the past is past. We will move forward.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
What is your character’s theme song?
I know that for many of you, this is either one of those questions that you know, or leave you scratching your head. After all, I play Warhammer Fantasy and Dark Sun. Neither one of these has iPods, and while I could be cute and make up some song and say it has special meaning for them, that is not the music that I am taking about.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but the day I am getting ready to play a character I have a set of songs I listen to that put me in the mood. Before I retired my Warhammer character Candy, I listened a lot to P!nk when I was getting ready to play. I especially loved P!nk’s “U + UR Hand” because she was hot and guys would hit on her at the bar, “’Cuz I Can” was her primary theme song because she was rich and a bad ass, and “Nobody Knows” for those quiet moments she could be sad without others knowing about it. With my Dark Sun character Zarnian, I find myself listening to Disturbed, A LOT. She is a former gladiator and a captain of the house guard. She can kill almost anyone she pleases, but right now is in a rather difficult place in life. About three weeks ago I found myself listening to Disturbed’s “I’m Alive” three or four times the morning of a game. The beat, lyrics, and mood the song invokes in me make slipping into Zarnian’s skin that much easier.
So what music do you listen to before you are getting ready to play? Is it always the same songs that get you pumped up as a player or is it different songs for different players? Are there some songs that help you mentally access your character’s mood/background/emotions better?
For those of you who might be curious, I am including the lyrics to Disturbed’s “I’m Alive”, Zarnian’s theme song. I got the lyrics from www.azlyrics.com.
"I'm Alive"
Never again will I be dishonored
And never again will I be reminded
Of living within the world of the jaded
They kill inspiration
It's my obligation
To never again, allow this to happen
Where do I begin?
The choices are endless
Denying the sin
My art, my redemption
I carry the torch of my fathers before me
The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice
To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
Change again, cannot be considered
I rage again, dispelling my anger
Where do I begin?
The choices are endless
My art, my redemption, my only salvation
I carry the gift that I have been blessed with
My soul is adrift in oceans of madness
Repairing the rift that you have created
I am not alone, brothers, give me your arms now
The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice
To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive
I'm no slave
Are you feeling brave?
Or have you gone out of your mind?
No more games
It won't feel the same
If I hold my anger inside
There's no meaning
My soul is bleeding
I've had enough of your kind
One suggestion, use your discretion
Before you label me blind
The thing I treasure most in life cannot be taken away
There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice
To change myself, I'd rather die
Though they will not understand
I won't make the greatest sacrifice
You can't predict where the outcome lies
You'll never take me alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
I'm alive
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Rel's Journal August 8 2011
I can’t believe that she’s gone. My cousin Revica burned at the stake! She died because she got mixed up in some gang that had a chaos cultist. At least that is the rumor. It was enough to get her killed. The least that I can do is find the cultist that was responsible for getting her murdered, Slim Tuck’s vassal Kurt.
I haven’t written lately because I’ve been tracking Kurt for weeks. I keep missing him by a day or two. But, with the strength of the sightings, I know that I am getting closer and closer. It’s only a matter of time before I bury a bullet in his head.
I finally found him and his gang in a forest outside hear Boëgenhafen. I got the drop on him and with my gun at the back of his neck I demanded that he give me a reason to not shoot him. He said that he was not a chaos cultist, that the Witch Hunter who killed my cousin has gone rogue and that his crime spree is part of a plan to draw that son of a whore out. I have spent my life protecting the empire. The thought of a Witch Hunter that is rogue and killing innocents for personal vendettas is terrifying. I agreed to stay with Kurt on the condition that I am the one to kill the Witch Hunter if all his allegations are true. Then, before we even fully agreed to this (and one of his henchmen ran away) the coach he was robbing showed up. He had promised that no one was going to get killed, but immediately there was a shot that killed men, and the slaughter continued. I was sickened by the killing of good guards, and worse yet, horses. However, the fact that it was the Von Sopomhteim made it easier, and with a bandana around my face, I held up that little shit Siegfried In the end I took his pistol and we all managed to ride off. Kurt (who know wants to be called Ian) even split the gold with me. Forty gold and another nice pistol. I have never seen that much gold in one place in my entire life, let alone held it. I have been wanting a rifle for a very long time, but I do not dare spend this yet. Still, this is blood money and all of it feels odd to me. My gut says that Kurt is basically a good man, but I am now on the other side of the Empire’s law.
We’ve been riding for days, sleeping on the road, or in small places that cannot even call themselves inns. Detlef continues to annoy me, between eyeing other members for their gold and eyeing my body when he thinks I don’t notice. Of course I notice. It is what I am trained to do. Karl keeps mostly to himself, and Blimey is well…unique is perhaps the best word. What we are doing comes at great risk. If my part is discovered not only will I lose all of who I am, my family will receive further disgrace.
The bounty on Kurt is now worth 30 gold. For thirty, I am surprised that none of our group has turned him in. More troubling is the fact that there are bounty hunters tracking him here, three of them that are large and imposing. They tracked him to a whore house where we are waiting for Detlef. I gave him one of my pistols, I hope he knows how to use it because I think we are about to enter the maw of chaos.
I haven’t written lately because I’ve been tracking Kurt for weeks. I keep missing him by a day or two. But, with the strength of the sightings, I know that I am getting closer and closer. It’s only a matter of time before I bury a bullet in his head.
I finally found him and his gang in a forest outside hear Boëgenhafen. I got the drop on him and with my gun at the back of his neck I demanded that he give me a reason to not shoot him. He said that he was not a chaos cultist, that the Witch Hunter who killed my cousin has gone rogue and that his crime spree is part of a plan to draw that son of a whore out. I have spent my life protecting the empire. The thought of a Witch Hunter that is rogue and killing innocents for personal vendettas is terrifying. I agreed to stay with Kurt on the condition that I am the one to kill the Witch Hunter if all his allegations are true. Then, before we even fully agreed to this (and one of his henchmen ran away) the coach he was robbing showed up. He had promised that no one was going to get killed, but immediately there was a shot that killed men, and the slaughter continued. I was sickened by the killing of good guards, and worse yet, horses. However, the fact that it was the Von Sopomhteim made it easier, and with a bandana around my face, I held up that little shit Siegfried In the end I took his pistol and we all managed to ride off. Kurt (who know wants to be called Ian) even split the gold with me. Forty gold and another nice pistol. I have never seen that much gold in one place in my entire life, let alone held it. I have been wanting a rifle for a very long time, but I do not dare spend this yet. Still, this is blood money and all of it feels odd to me. My gut says that Kurt is basically a good man, but I am now on the other side of the Empire’s law.
We’ve been riding for days, sleeping on the road, or in small places that cannot even call themselves inns. Detlef continues to annoy me, between eyeing other members for their gold and eyeing my body when he thinks I don’t notice. Of course I notice. It is what I am trained to do. Karl keeps mostly to himself, and Blimey is well…unique is perhaps the best word. What we are doing comes at great risk. If my part is discovered not only will I lose all of who I am, my family will receive further disgrace.
The bounty on Kurt is now worth 30 gold. For thirty, I am surprised that none of our group has turned him in. More troubling is the fact that there are bounty hunters tracking him here, three of them that are large and imposing. They tracked him to a whore house where we are waiting for Detlef. I gave him one of my pistols, I hope he knows how to use it because I think we are about to enter the maw of chaos.
Friday, July 29, 2011
How well do you know your character?
So this sounds like a very odd question to most of us. After all, we are gamers for a reason. If you are a smash and kill gamer, you probably are not reading this blog. The rest of us really care about our characters and their story arch. That is a huge reason why we play. In my group, we have character backgrounds, actual prose origins stories, carefully tracked XP and lots of love for each other and our characters.
Then I wrote a story that had another one of the characters in the group. I was really proud of my story, which filled in a story gap and explained a lot of my character’s recent thoughts and decisions. I passed it onto the DM who acknowledged that the characters were very accurate. Everything should have been fine, right? Wrong! The other player had hurt feelings about how his character was portrayed, even though all the other players and the DM told me it was dead accurate. It turns out that he had no idea how his character decisions were viewed by the group.
Maybe your fellow group members are not great writers, but a fun exercise would be to have everyone write a page or two that involved all the group characters. True, one or two people might write something a little inaccurate, but take a good hard look at all the ways your character is portrayed. Are their common themes? Is your character doing something you’re not even aware of? If all the stories have your character hording money, or killing NPCs at random, you’re probably doing those things even more than you’re aware of. Remember, just like real life there is your intentions and then there is how others see you.
Then I wrote a story that had another one of the characters in the group. I was really proud of my story, which filled in a story gap and explained a lot of my character’s recent thoughts and decisions. I passed it onto the DM who acknowledged that the characters were very accurate. Everything should have been fine, right? Wrong! The other player had hurt feelings about how his character was portrayed, even though all the other players and the DM told me it was dead accurate. It turns out that he had no idea how his character decisions were viewed by the group.
Maybe your fellow group members are not great writers, but a fun exercise would be to have everyone write a page or two that involved all the group characters. True, one or two people might write something a little inaccurate, but take a good hard look at all the ways your character is portrayed. Are their common themes? Is your character doing something you’re not even aware of? If all the stories have your character hording money, or killing NPCs at random, you’re probably doing those things even more than you’re aware of. Remember, just like real life there is your intentions and then there is how others see you.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A quick, easy game night snack
Games are wonderful, and being a great host is very rewarding. That is, until you are so time pressured that you think you’re going to cry. I mean, you still have to design the game, get figures, clean, and make dinner. Oh yeah, and some people just called to tell you that they are showing up two hours early. I can’t be the only household where this happens. When all this is going down, your only hope at salvation is a quick snack to put out while you throw together an equally quick dinner. This is where most gamers throw out a bag of Frito chips and call it good. Not me, and not you if you’re reading this blog. You want something more. Allow me to offer you a 5 minute recipe that is delicious and gourmet – minted cantaloupe.
This week cantaloupes were $.77 at my store, so I grabbed two and I had mint in my garden. If these ingredients are a bit more, it is still worth it. What you are left with is light and refreshing. This can also be made the night before and stored in the refrigerator for even shorter game preparation time.
Ingredients
1 cantaloupe
2 heaping teaspoons cup of mint leaves
Directions
Cut the cantaloupe in half. Remove all the seeds. Remove the skin. Cube the cantaloupe. Mince the mint leaves. Transfer the cantaloupe to a bowl and add the mint leaves. Toss and serve.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Character Challenge Time!!
If you add up all the moments that I spend inside my two primary characters’ heads. I know a lot about them, including how they think about things, who they love, and what they care about. I think about the previous game remembering it and processing it as they would. All this has become routine, and while it has allowed me to know the characters better, I am used to it.
Today I let my mind drift and suddenly I started looking at my life from their point of view! By turning everything on its head, I was really surprised at what I learned not only about my characters, but myself. Zarnian, my ex-gladiator is surprised at how rich my environment is. The fact I can take a hot or cold bath twice a day if I wanted blew her mind, and she was wistful that I have found the love of my life and get to be with him. She is a little disgusted that I do not take better care of my body, and disappointed that I do not always speak my mind. Candy is my rich playgirl adventurer. She was mostly surprised at how I can be happy being in one place, but many other elements of my life felt the same to her. We both have a great life partner, and we both are surrounded by friends that have become like brothers. She has witchhunters after her, I have bills. They are both aggravating.
So try this. Think about your characters, and then think about your life through their eyes. I think you will be surprised about what you learn about you and your character.
Today I let my mind drift and suddenly I started looking at my life from their point of view! By turning everything on its head, I was really surprised at what I learned not only about my characters, but myself. Zarnian, my ex-gladiator is surprised at how rich my environment is. The fact I can take a hot or cold bath twice a day if I wanted blew her mind, and she was wistful that I have found the love of my life and get to be with him. She is a little disgusted that I do not take better care of my body, and disappointed that I do not always speak my mind. Candy is my rich playgirl adventurer. She was mostly surprised at how I can be happy being in one place, but many other elements of my life felt the same to her. We both have a great life partner, and we both are surrounded by friends that have become like brothers. She has witchhunters after her, I have bills. They are both aggravating.
So try this. Think about your characters, and then think about your life through their eyes. I think you will be surprised about what you learn about you and your character.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sometimes things just don't go as planned...
If you are a player of role playing games at all, you know this is true. How often have we all planned and planned for something to happen in game and then…. Nothing. Nothing happens because one of your teammates changed what was going to happen radically. It has happened to us all. I just don’t think these moments are bad things.
Tonight we were supposed to have everyone over to play Dark Sun. We put out three kinds of soup and bread, two kinds of beer, and a big bottle of rum one of the players had left over. Jason drew a very detailed map, and just after Jordan, the first player got here, Eric called in sick. We were already short a player, so no game for us that night. The look Jason gave the map broke my heart, but it is wet erase mat so he couldn’t leave the marker without risking it staining. It had to come off. By then, Jon had appeared and out came the Magic the Gathering card. We tore into the soup and bread, chatted with Regi until he took off to get some work done, and the four of us played some New Phyrexia until we were full and at least one beer had met its end.
Did the night go as planned? No. Did we still have a great time? Yes. Sometimes with games and life, a little flexibility can have great rewards.
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