OOC: High Fantasy Roleplay/Strategy...In the Valley

[Jagged]

For sometime now I have been running a strategy/roleplay game called Village Warrior. It has always gone well with players coming and going but always a few staying to see if they can build an empire from the ground up in a semi-historical world. This continues to be fun for me and my players and I have every intention of continuing the thread, but with some experience behind me I would like to start another thread that is roleplay/strategy. Also I would like the new setting to be more fantasy based. Humans aren't the only playable race and alchemy is the magical power of the day. A world where alliances bring together many races to defeat a common foe that is invading from foreign lands....


What is the difference between strategy/roleplay and roleplay strategy? Well simply put this thread will be more character driven. The focus will be more interaction between the main character and their family and their people. Also more player contact so your not always interacting with just me your Game Master.

The story the heart of the thread.........Tales of the Valley. Players find themselves in a beautiful but isolated valley cuttoff from other settlements beyond the mountains. This has been little concern though since the Valley has always provided. Plenty of resources are available every season with fine crops, good timber, and plenty of fish in the river. The river goes the whole length of the valley with the majority of the communities on the Western side of the river or nearby. These communities range from Human to any number of fantasy races (Elf, Dwarf, Gnome and others) with their own cultures, religions, and way of living in the Valley. The Valley is relatively peaceful place with conflict from time to time , but the last great war was over a 100 years ago so few remember what a real war is like beyond the occassional raid, tracking criminals, or hunting down a vicious predator. That is all about to change.....

As Autumn approached the sleepy little Valley a darkness fell on the land... Lights appeared in the skies, thunder and lighting with no storm. Night after night for some thirteen nights these strange events could be witnessed in the East from the communities along the river. The bold and the curious would cross to the opposite shore looking for answers while others simply crossed the river and went about their daily business. But the days that would follow would be far from ordinary. Days would go by with no word from those exploring and working on the Eastern woods. Search parties were organized and sent out as news circulated of missing loggers, berry pickers, soldiers, and even fishermen. The parties sent out into the woods would return bloodied, terrified, and exhausted. They would describe nightmarish creatures that fought like demons and ripped men apart. They would tell of seeing the missing skinned and hanging from trees while others were rescued from pits where they were held like animals. Some creatures were armed with claws while others used weapons never seen before in the Valley and many say anywhere else. The camp fires of these strange creatures could be seen in the Eastern woods now and many are fearful that they will come to the communities across the river soon. Others are ready to fight and will not let these demon creatures take their lands from them without a fight.

This is a time for leaders who will step up and face death. Take up arms and ready yourselves for the greatest of battles. This is the stuff legends are made of !!!




I have your interest still I hope? The players will take on the role as either a town leader, army captain, or adventurer hero (the latter two will adventure from another players community). Like in Village Warrior there is a strategy system I have come up with but this one will be more refined and more like Civilization so that players can concentrate more on the roleplaying aspect. All communites are within 20 miles of each other (a easy days ride) and for the most part are on the Western side of the river. As I mentioned earlier magic will be alchemy so that players can prepare potions to enhance ablities. Also there will be clerical magic used by priests in the name of Gawd(s). The biggest differance is that this is a fantasy world with many options open to players. If I had to make a comparrison I would say this would be like playing Dungeons and Dragons starting at 12th level.

There will be level progressions for characters and there will be a technology tree, and different bulding types to aid players. Also different classes with everything from peasant to knight.


I have more details about the campaign, but would like to hear your thoughts before I post more about this new thread. So post your ideas and questions.

 

[chocolatemouse]

Even if all is not yet clearn in my mind, it seems to be a very intersting idea, i will think about your thread.

 

[Tonofnoise]

If I'm reading this right

If I'm reading this right it should be intresting. Naturaly I'm a fan of your other strategy game and fanticy is something that I'm always down for. So here we go.
Race: Minotaurs, a nature loving race both half man and half cow. Guardians of the vast plains and hills. This group of beings resemble modern native americans with the tribe being lead by a cheif and advised by a shaman who speaks with the spirit world. With the world progressing they seem willing to moving into the modern age. With monstrous strenght and strong backs there is nothing they can't build.
Faith: Their faith revoles around spirits of the wild & of their past. But their two God is She I ea, the mother. This god in the shape of a cow allowed a human male that was starving in the wild and a injured cow both drink from her utters. With her heart broken for these animals she gave birth to a mixure. The human's mind and heart with the might and loyelty of the cow.
*With this bond with humans most minotaurs look upon humans as allies unless treated as foe.
Other information. As a right of passed all bulls are branded when they enter adult hood and their horns are tipped with metal to show their strenght. Where cows get ornate rings through their utters as a side of fertility.
Bow & arrows are the standered weapons of choice. Next are quaterstaffs or axes. But lets be real who needs that when you have 50 7 foot 4 inch bulls charging at you with their horns sharpened.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Jagged]

I like what I am reading here....not a traditional player race but it fits this world well. So we have one settlement on the Western Shore....what of others. More data to come but please ask questions. Take a chance. Your reading it try playing it.

 

[chocolatemouse]

i am thinking to a character but as i never particped before to a lit thread , i will first observe creation of the others characters before to create mine.
Nose kisss

 

[Mantra]

So can we pick any race or just make something up?

Cool! Can I play a dragon as a leader??? I promise it'll be 'interesting' for all involved. *evil grin*

If not, I have a more normal idea in mind for a character.

 

[Jagged]

Dragons interesting......well Mantra a pair of Dragons leading humans perhaps. Small Dragons (ever play Golden Axe?). Male and female.....ruling humans. Could lead to half dragons among some of the humans. Dragons do build up wealth and knowledge don't they....hhhmmm.......many possiblities. Write more.....I like this and the fact that we have two ideas so untraditional.

 

[Jagged]

So at least two players willing to hop on board to this new adventure. Writers take up your keyboards and take on the challenge and lead a small settlement. Anyone can guide one character through a plot now try it with a whole group of people. Now I will answer a few questions some of you may have about this thread....


Your starting resources are as follows.....

+You chose what religion and how it effect your culture. Want to have a cult or build churches it is up to you the player. If you want to take many wives or husbands that is up to you the player. Do you have a war gawd or one of nature? Two or more Gawds are allowed for each tribe and you can always begin to worship gawds from another player's settlement once you have learned about them from contact with the other settlements.

+I will soon list the technology tree of all the things you can develop in game. Huts for example can be up graded to large huts then farm houses. Simple strong holds can be developed into huge castles. Combining technology will also produce things. Horsemenship combined with heavy weapons and armor can produce the knighthood. Add religion to this mix you can found a holy order. Build a alchemist lab and you will see strength potions and gunpowder in time. The game is set in the Medieval time period of knights and castles with fantasy added to the mix.


+Your main character and family.....whether it is the traditional Chief and wife or a pair of Amazons ruling together. Maybe you have a knight married to a local witch. You could even be a bitter tryannt who wonders why nobody likes you as you torture the peasants.

+The starting population of your village. Every one gets the same amount of people to begin with though how the population grows after that is up to you...constant warfare or allowing more then one spouse may increase or descrease your people.

All players begin with.....

300 soldiers.....armed well with armor, shields, hand weapons, and a long weapon. You choose the break down of troop types. You want 250 axe weilding soldiers and 50 spearmen that is fine. The only restriction is that these are grunts. No samurai, knights, dragon slayers or musketeers yet.

200 skilled workers like blacksmiths, lumberjacks, priests, boatbuilders, famers and others. You select the break down. Peasants can do all the jobs above under the guidance of these skilled people, but without them it at best goes slow and at worst completed badly.

500 others.....that is up to the players. Just remember you need women and children to continue on your settlement. Many choices are open here and really let players customize their settlars.

Also I will give a new player four things.......A holy relic, new building for their settlement, a unit unique to the player's settlment, and helpful advisor character.


More to follow I hope this helps you all out.

 

[chocolatemouse]

race : felid
My people is a nation of human, felines hybrids.
Proud but curious, playfull but independents.
we are a forest race of hunters who lives in small communities, often in giants trees if thoses exist.
We are not skilled in advanced metallurgy but are excellent hunters and skirmishers.
The felids are not a nation of advanced craftmen for buildings;metallurgy or technical skills. Our craft is more directed toward wood, leather, bones, hunting craft.
we worship a double sided godess . Her avatars are Sekmeth the lioness the one who bring wrath, war and destruction and on the other side Basthet the she-cat, guardian of the familly, the mother, the lover.
Felid society not know sexual separation of works, females are too soldiers, rangers, huntress, craftwomen. The oldest of the females being mainly in craft and in taking care of the kitties of the community.
The felid race is based on clans which relates to common ancesters, the clans appartenance comes with birth marks.Between us our trade is more based in exchange of services and barters than on money. Mariage are not commons vows and are exchanged more between 2 true loves or as link between two clans. Usualy sexual and familly life of felids is relativly liberal, jealousy or taboos being uncommons and few. Childrens are educated by the communauty , thoses not able to hunt or to work, being cared by the communauty.
The communities are usualy ruled by a council of the oldests felids assisted by a Choosen ,when one is alive. Choosen ones are said to be children of the godess she gave to us, when our nation is in danger.
Felids art of war is mainly one of skirmishs, embushes. Our weapons, spears, staffs, short bows, slings;gladius, and our favorite weapons, metallic claws.
I am Mnelraow the She-Cat, the choosen one. I am born with sekmeth birth mark on my forehead(two fangs) and the birth mark of Bastheth in my cleavage ( 3 claws scare marks). I am still a young and inexperienced huntress and Choosen one but i know that my goddess is my mother and that i have follow her way. The council of the elders is teaching me wisdom, how to call my godess mother in help and how to rule. The masters warriors and hunters teach me how to protect our nation. My spiritual mother is in me, i can pray her to lead me, to help me.

 

[Jagged]

Minotaurs....dragons and now Cat people. This is truly high fantasy....I like. Love to have some more detail from the first two now that I have given the frame work of a settlement (no rush). And polish the cat people alittle.....I will help our French friend with that but I really like this so far.


So many people have viewed and many more races....to play. I am really surprised that nobody has picked the old favorites.....Dwarves and Elves. Well I will be on later today so feel free to post questions here or pm me...I am findable.

 

[chocolatemouse]

This is actual composition of the felid army, it will of course become different when our lands will be in danger.
Felids army is actualy more a defense force. Felid war art is one of ambushes , skirmish, trapping and night attacks.
felids women are as savage than their males, they are 30 % of our units.

Main felids soldiers in numbers are the hunters (200)and huntress who provides foods, leather, in same time they patrol our forest. They are skilled trackers and silent hunters , geared with light leather armors. They are armed with short bows,bolas, slings, short spearsand gladius. With them some tamed pantheras Being forest hunters and climbers ,felids dont are used to long or heavy weapons.



The guardians (100)have in charge security of our BasthAamra our city..
They are geared with heavier leather armors, studdeds with metal and bones.
They are armed with spears, gladius, short bows, metalic claws for close fight. With them some pantheras
Some of them have nets and bolas to capture intruders.






Somes professions are clan related. The craftcats of theses clans are not only artisans but more mastercrafts who consider their skill as a duty and an honor.
Our artisants and citizens are:
10 smiths and apprentices for smithing from Fireclaw clan. ( we are forest nation and mines and metal are not so common, and the fire is dangerous for our towns)
35 leather , textile, bone , fur crafters
35 lumberjacks , carpenters ,woodcrafters ( our tree cities needing large amount of wood and woodcraft).
40 Harvesters who harvest fruits, medical plants,poison plants, animals caughts in traps.
40 farmers who breed our animals, produce food and vegetals supplies.
10 Animals trainers from Blacktail clan, who are in charges of tamed animals ( falcons, trackings and huntings savage cats, war pantheras, carrier pigeons .........)
5 Shamans ( nature spirits priests and healers) from the Moonpaw clan
5 Erudites scholars , medecine cats ,from the Shadowfur clan
Yes we have no boatbuilders. Remember we are cats of forest, the one who want to put me on a boat will keep marks of my claws.


The 500 others are the others, the children , the ancients, the women who care of our children , the men who take care of our city.
But there is among them the Ancients who rule our cities .
They are 20 , they are took among the two oldest wise men or women of each our 10 main clans. They are our judges, our guides.





My only close familly is my father Mrarn, member as me of the Bloodtail clan, a clan famous for it warriors and hunters
He is The Leader in charge of the defense of our main town.
He is a muscular Black panthera like felid. He is very famous too for his love of females and his numerous offsprings. He keeps a jealous guard on his daughter Mnelmaow , throwing dark gazes to anyone seeming in his mind to keep her far of him.
Knew members of felids
Mrarn Bloodtail mnelmaow father and commander of Felids army.

Brucie Shadowfur is but only a few years older then Mnelraow, but has learned very much from the forest and life. She has even killed one of the most fierce bears in the woods with only her hunting blade. She knows of many religions, military science, and even knows how to swim and control a boat.

Fryggr Fireclaw mastersmith ( felid title being "Sekmeth Omradar Seera" (Keeper of sekmeth blood)) in charge of our weaponry

Mnaraassi Blacktail the young new Mistress of the Wild( tittle given to thoses to thoses in head of taming and domesticating war and hunting beasts).

Sfrarss Nightclaw ,Second in command behind my father and chief of the hunters

Frria Moonpaw Shaman Priestess and childhood friend of Mnelmaow and Brucie
Frianssa Mneldir Elder Lady member of the council for the clan Mneldir
kssao Sasstar Elder member of the council for the clan Sasstar

 

[Mantra]

Elves are all snooty and dwarves are too stubborn for their own good. Elves are envous of dragons for their magicks, dwarves are jellous because of dragon hoards. I would devour them all before anything of use would become of them.

I will work on my character tonight. more to follow, oh and chocolatemouse; Me-YOW!

 

[Mantra]

Divine's Blessing

Divine's Blessing is primarilly a mining and smithing community set within a large plateu. The bulk of the community is carved into the sides of the surrounding rock with some agriculture settled atop. There are also some settlements in the woodlands below, but trade is nessessary to provide for the resources that Divine's Blessing lacks. All have come at the calling of their spiritual leader, a true-blooded dragon-priest, known only as 'Reverend.' One of the last of a dying breed in this world. Reverend sees great promise in both the location of his new 'project' and the chance to re-introduce draconic culture, guidance and mysticism so that the wisdom of dragonkind will not be lost among these squabbling children, struggling for dominance in the future-time. Reverend himself lairs in a deep cave, high above the most inaccessable cliff of the plateau.

Reverend is a shape shifter as are all Trueblood dragons. In his human form, he appears as a young, handsome man in his early 20's with a somewhat pale complexion and long, platnum-blonde hair. He sometimes has a pair of silver-white, reptilian wings with his form. his eyes are ice blue with black, Y-shaped pupils. Reverend has no family that he will speak of. He has not taken a female to wife nor does he show any interest in any female among his colony aside from professional interest.

Any Gawd is worshipped if that is desired, but that is not the religion of the land. Reverend and his priests teach the worship of the six elements which forms all things. (yes, six!) Earth, Fire, Air, Water, Spirit and Time. It was the six elements who came together to create the Dragons, and the other of the First Races, and it was from those races that all other religions sprang.
The only excepton to worship it the absolute intollerance of anything demonic in origin or ideology. Demonkind and Dragonkind have feuded since the First Times, and shall continue to do so until the Final day.
Religion and ideology are the cornerstones of the populace and order. Naturally, the Priesthood is regarded as the topmost caste and theology is heavilly ingraned into the military as well as the craft guilds and populace.

Race: 85% human, 15% dwarven. (and one very special leader) All who have 'seen the light.'

Military breakdown:
50 Pikemen
100 Hv. Infantry
100 archers/crossbowmen
50 engineers

Skilled Citizens:
15 armorer/weaponsmiths
10 blacksmiths
25 miners
5 'specialists' (gold/silver smiths, jewelers, etc)
35 scholars/priests
20 healers/priests
5 bishops
25 farmers (to include small animal tenders, chickens, pigs, etc,as well as brewers)
15 trackers/hunter-gatherers
10 lumberjacks
15 carpenters/stonemasons/craftmasters
10 weapon trainers
5 siege trainers
5 animal tenders/breeders (mostly oxen)

Remaining population:
There is no specific breakdown for the 'commoners', however, every member of the colony is expected to do their part. Many are apprenticed under one of the skilled citizenery, forming a general labor pool or provide care for those who can not provide for themselves yet. Each does their duty in return for the care, protection, and guidance of the colony.

How's That?

 

[Jagged]

Mantra........excellant as always. I am sure your people will do well in the game. Chocolatemouse.....fine work for a first time. Tonsofnoise I am sure I will see your information after you read the update.

I intend to post somethings later today but I will say it will include some parts of the technology tree and the gifts for those of you who have posted and joined first. Also I will announce a settlement I will control.....besides the valley invaders.

I hope that by countrolling a group it will help answer player questions. Granted I am running this thread, but I will work hard not to tip the balance. I didn't play in my last strategy/adventure but I would like to play in this one. I am pulling a creature from a childhood story book I enjoyed.


"I believe this story above all others had the greatest influence on me as a child. It's the simple story, beautifully depicted, of a fictional world inhabited by the unremarkable creatures known as trumpets. The trumpets are a peaceful and pastoral species, living above ground in their picturesque sunshine utopia, but come winter, they flee to their underground homes to hibernate until the return of spring. -Was how one reader remembered the fury little hippo looking creatures.

Trumpets.....are human size creatures who look like small fury brown haired hippos. Friendly creatures who are very happy to just farm, garden, sail the river and be content of the simply pleasures of farm life. Of coarse I have made a few changes making them Jagged's Trumpets. My Trumpets do not sleep through the winter, but are great fans of the spring and summer so they mostly keep to their village during the winter. They live in large earth halls which look like hills from a distance. They enjoy rasberry wine which they make, and a good pipe tobacco. In the books it was not clear about what herd animals they kept only that they were very good to the animals in their care. So I would think they would have sheep, geese, chickens, and cows. Though not war like creatures they do maintain a army and units are organized around communities. The books they had their moral enemies the Grumpets (hey it is a children's book) who want to invade and raid the lush lands. So my Trumpets should be no less ready to fight the good fight to keep their peaceful lands. They like broadswords, rounds shields, and spears. All Trumpet males and many females are part of the Settlement Defense Force (SDF pretty much a large militia) though there is a small professional army that guards the settlement all the time. They are also mechanical creatures who spend the many winter months in workshops. They worship a god and goddess both of nature to be named later. The village is always a busy happy place with bright gardens, and happy creatures going about their business.



More to come later.

 

[Mantra]

Friendly creatures who are very happy to just farm, garden, sail the river and be content of the simply pleasures of farm life.

Egads! Furry brown hippo-hobbits!

Can't wait to start Jagged....now I just gotta do something with those pesky Romans....

 

[chocolatemouse]

Egads! Furry brown hippo-hobbits!

Can't wait to start Jagged....now I just gotta do something with those pesky Romans....

I would say hippo shaped fraggles or ewoks

 

[Jagged]

"now I just gotta do something with those pesky Romans...." Funny mantra.....the Visigoths think the same thing.....and the Perians and the Celts and the Gauls.....lol


And I will not have you all making fun of my fury, gardening valley folk....They are tough....damnitt! More to come...

 

[Maid of Marvels]

 

[oralyfix8d]

Greetings from Peaudale

Greetings and well met, friends. My name is Grimearn Wudu, and I am the council leader for the village of Peaudale. I am a widower, my wife disappeared in the forest many years ago. I have one son, Jared, who has no interest in following in my footsteps, but wants only to spend all his time in the forest, practicing his hunting and tracking.

We are a race of wood elves. Our village in built in the trees, a large series of tree houses connected by rope bridges and swings.

Our council is made up of five members, as follows:
Council Elder - Grimearn Wudu
General of the Army - Llhona Elsic (a female but she has no match with bow, word, or wits)
Guild Master of the Arts - Newell Disa (he is in charge of all our craftsman)
High Druid - Evonia Newmoon (she is our spiritual leader)
Historian - Dyrell Miela (he is in charge of keeping records and the clerical aspects of our government)

Our army is comprised of both men and women. They use bows and javelins as missile weapons, with an odd blow gun thrown in. As our race is very agile, we prefer to fight in hand-to-hand combat with two weapons and no shield. Short sword and dagger is the main choice, with a few axe units as well. The church warriors typically use a sickle. Our armor is usually tanned hides, sometimes gilded with metal. Our army is skilled at using the forest to hide, make traps and generally frustrate our enemies.

Our skilled craftsman produce many fine goods. Our bows are highly prized for their strength and accuracy. We make many fine things from wood such as furniture and barrels. Our special Oakblood wine is known for its potency. We do have several small farm plots, but rely more on hunting and gathering to provide our food. As Evonia the High Druid loves to say, "The forest will provide."

Our religion is based on nature. There are chief spirits for all the elements. We believe all living animals and plants have a spirit, and protect them from outsiders. We take only what we need from the forest. Our priest perform rituals when we must cut down trees or when a hunt has been successful, to put the spirit to rest. Our priests use natural remedies and potions to cure our people.

Our race tends to live for a very long time, so our families are small. Most families have no more than two children.

 

[chocolatemouse]

Oralfix and Maid of Marvels be welcome in name of the felids clans

 

[Jagged]

Maid of Marvels .....Welcome aboard. We have already spoken and your celtic humans are welcome to the Valley just come up with some more ideas.....and use the setup I posted.



oralyfix8d Welcome as well. I like your ideas....just use the starting package I posted above that follows your ideas and we will be ready to go for the game. Sound like true wood evlves....you will fit in perfectly in the valley. Another group living in the trees...interesting.


So four brave settlements plus mine to face the forces of evil in the valley......excellant. It will take so much longer to kill you all.......lol No I mean.....to play with you all. Good turn out people you won't be sorry.

 

[Mantra]

Speaking of every day garden variety... Any room for a human type in this little world of yours? Not sure what I'll be doing (then again, am I ever?) but I hope that I will meet your expectations.

Give me some time to think things out?

Hey, some of my favorite people are humans!

Welcome aboard!

 

[Mantra]

We are a race of wood elves. Our village in built in the trees, a large series of tree houses connected by rope bridges and swings.

Welcome one and all, just look out for the furry hippo-fraggle-hobbit-thingies. (although rumor has it they're quite fierce)

*ducks and hides*

 

[Elayne]

Hi, I'd like to throw my hat into the ring.

Valence will be a small port town, surrounded mostly by farmlands and forest. Valence was originally a colony and trade port from the Illuvian Empire, but Illuvia disappeared in a series of volcanic catastrophes, leaving only its overseas colonies intact.

The Valencians believe there is only one Creator Gawd, but that the Creator doesn't interfere in the world. They believe instead in a variety of daemons and spirits who can be appeased, appealed to, or controlled with a variety of spells, offerings, prayers and sacrifices. Valencians claim that these entities occassional take corporeal forms to seduce humans, and the children of such couplings have great supernatural power, becoming Heroes and Emperors.

Valence tries to cling to its former Imperial Glory of decadence and political maneuveuring. Valencian law permits polygamy and the slave trade. This, combined with their descent from the Illuvian conquerors and their rites with demonic creatures leads many people to distrust them.

The current Governor of Valence is the Lady Christina. Born a daughter of a poor scholar, she was orphaned when her father died trying to contact a supernatural being. She was taken in by her mother's sister, a skilled courtesan. Christina became her aunt's apprentice. After reaching adulthood, she used her contacts as a courtesan to marry a wealthy older merchant. Her husband died unexpectedly only a year later, after which she used his wealth to expand her influence and become elected as the Governor. Often called the Red Widow by her political rivals, Christina has long, midnight dark hair that pours down to her knees, tilted black eyes and very dark red lips. Her skin is very fair and she is voluptously curved. Christina's canines are sharper and longer than normal, as are her fingernails and tongue. These small signs hint that she is one of the Demonblooded, though she prefers to keep that fact private.

Population - 90% Human. 10% Demonblooded.

Military - 150 Centurions (Chainmail, spears, short swords, shields), 120 Auxiliaries (leather, crossbows, short swords) and 30 Rogues (With no set equipment)

Skilled Citizens - 20 Lumberjacks, 20 Carpenters, 10 Shipwrights, 20 Masons, 15 Alchemists, 10 Scribes/Librarians, 10 Merchant, 5 Jewelers, 10 Scholars, 20 Slavers, 10 Gladiators, 10 Courtesans, 30 Farmers, 10 Ranchers

Peasants - Almost exclusively women and children. 300 free, 200 slave.

 

[Mantra]

My my my.... reading all of this definatly whets one's appetite.

This could get...naughty.