Changeling: the Lost (need a group and GM)

[Croaker]

Hi all,

I've been trying to actually play in a game on ORPG for a very long time now. Several handles later, I've managed to be a part of an aborted Warhammer 40k game and attempt to get in on some D&D, but to be honest my heart isn't really in D&D anymore. I love playing in Pathfinder and 4e dungeon crawls, but extended campaigns don't really do it for me anymore. I'd rather invest my time in something like In a Wicked Age or Apocalypse World, two of my favorite games.

My other favorite game, however, is Changeling: the Lost. I own all the books and I've followed it since it came out. I even got to play a Darkling called Jack Spade once, but that gaming group and I don't really get along at the table.

(They're all about the social act; merely being together is enough for them. I like the rules and how the rules interact with people to produce interesting stories. They'd rather just hand-wave everything and have inconsistent rulings. To each their own, but the point of my digression is I'd really like to play in a Changeling GAME, not a Changeling freeform loosely based on the game.)

Anyway! This is my dedicated bid to a) find a GM and b) find players. Off the top of my head (and from Shakespeare's thread in the UC subforum), Cadrius, LeadPal, itches, Zachol, and AoM would probably be interested in this, so I invite them to chime in. If Shakespeare decides he'd like to run Changeling, I'd gladly join that game. If someone else wants to take up the mantle, I'd gladly join that game.

I'm looking for a GM that could post maybe 3-5 times a week, as needed. Fewer posts outside of combat, and preferably a flurry of resolution when we get into fights. I'm not too into pbp combat, so if we could find a way to shorten the fights and keep the tactical element (maybe a round cap of three rounds, whoever is winning at the end of that is assumed to have maintained the lead and wins the stakes of the conflict). These are just my preferences stated up front, as long as I'm here.

Players would preferably post once a day or so, to facilitate inter-party interactions and whatnot. Again, 3-5 posts seems about right for all parties involved, give or take a few depending on how busy/dedicated everyone is.

What say you lot? Can we do this?

Addendum: I totally call Darkling, btw. Unless someone is as attached to that kith as I am, in which case I'll pick something else.

[Shakespeare]

I've already hinted that World of Darkness would be the fourth game that I'd be aiming to begin, though not until all three of my current games have settled into a steady rhythm. However, if I did run a WoD game, then Changeling is a very, very likely venue for choice.

However, I wouldn't cap combat. Whilst I disagree with freeform for the game (I would incorporate the rules as needed, just like in all my games), combat is deadly in WoD, and you can't capture the entire thrill of it by limiting the number of posts. So, if I did start a game, and you did join it, that'd be something you'd have to bare with.

Otherwise, things look cool. :) Darkling would be an acceptable kith, though all characters would have to be detailed, and all players would need to be into detailed posts (minimum length of 200-300 words depending on circumstances). I believe this to be essential more for WoD than any other game I've played (with the exception of maybe The Window).

Any ideas?

[LeadPal]

This is another game I'd find awesome, even moreso than Apocalypse World, but that I doubt I'll find time for. So, don't make any decisions based on me. If something changes, though, I'd probably play an Elemental.

[Croaker]

Shakes: If you ST the game, I'd of course go along with your decisions. I don't mind the combat too much, I just don't like it when combat stretches on for weeks at a time.

LeadPal: Someday I will play a game with you. =D

[Shakespeare]

The trick is making the combat as interesting and exciting as the rest of the game. I try to achieve that in my games, but of course it's hard to do without considerable player input and aid.

[Croaker]

I just don't enjoy combat in most RPGs. The White Wolf system takes way too long to resolve in person, much less on pbp. nWoD has gotten a bit better (hit roll and damage roll in one), but I still think it takes too long.

[Shakespeare]

Yeah. It's not for everyone. But I personally like combat as an aspect of story -- Marvel: Los Angeles, for example, has just resolved a combat that has lasted for just under 2 months (real time). It seems as though my players enjoyed it (I hope, at least), but, then again, combat is a big aspect of Marvel comics, so...

[AoM]

I think I would enjoy the theme of the game, and would like to try it out, but I generally shy away from making combat characters, which means I generally prefer PC solutions that avoid combat, or use it only as a last resort.

Not that I don't enjoy a descriptive and tense combat scene if it's an important confrontation that has had sufficient build-up - but if it's just to take out the nameless thugs guarding the back door (speed bumps in plot progression) I'd rather the combat be done quickly and cleanly - or at least give us options to avoid said thugs all together so that we aren't forced into excessive small combat situations just for the sake of having a fight. Random encounter nonsense was one of the great downsides of D&D for me.

That being said, I am interested in trying out this system, and would be able to compromise.

[Croaker]

Yeah, I think AoM shares my perspective on things. If it's an important fight, I'm all for taking our time. If it's mooks, well, I prefer to treat mooks like any other skill roll in the game.

"Roll Larceny to pick the lock."
"Roll Athletics to jump the fence."
"Roll Melee to skewer that mook."

Of course, the Mook would get their defense and since it's melee I think that makes it an opposed roll or some junk, I can't really recall it's been so long. I'm really just looking for one roll mook resolution here. Does that sound like something you'd get behind, Shakespeare?

[Shakespeare]

Yeah. I know the difference between an important fight and someone you need to just knock out. Most of the time, knocking them out would probably be resolved via narrative anyways, unless you messed up and provoked a confrontation out of it.

And combat isn't opposed. All rolls are Strength/Dexterity + Brawl/Firearms/Weaponry + Modifiers (if applicable) - target's Defence (if in melee). Successes = damage.

[Croaker]

Right! There it is.

[AoM]

Got a copy of the rules today and I'm going through the background. I'm torn between the Spring and Autumn Courts - I could see playing a character in either. Yeah, when and if you decide to run a game, I will play.

[Shakespeare]

It's growing more likely, though I still maintain that I won't be entertaining the idea until my games are running smoothly (2 out of 3 are running well so far); I'll get some plots together in the meantime, but in order to speed this up, I'd like all interested parties to state which seeming and court they're interested in, since such decisions will influence stories.

[AoM]

I'm thinking of playing an Ogre (gristlegrinder) allied to the Spring Court.

[Croaker]

Autumn Court Darkling Antiquarian! :)

Or maybe a Gravewight...

[AoM]

If opposing courts among PCs is an issue, I can play an Autumn court and just tweak the character personality.

[Croaker]

It's usually easy to work out Court issues; no need to change I think. Shakespeare's call, really.

[Shakespeare]

The only true issue with multi-Court motleys becomes apparent under two circumstances: when common purpose is lost, or when a big political mound of shit hits the fan. In order to remedy this, you'd need a big, potent reason as to why you all choose to remain together; a pledge helps too.

[itches]

you'd need a big, potent reason as to why you all choose to remain together

I tend to fall back to IC friendship in those situations.

[Croaker]

I tend to fall back to IC friendship in those situations.

Yeah, it'd probably be best to have known each other as mortals. Then when we escape back to the mortal world, there is a potent reason to be friends. Even a casual acquaintance would be a dear friend when you realize that they, too, share your 'curse'.

[Gargulec]

Hah, should this come into existence, I would really love to participate (though my English can limit me at times, sadly), most likely as Spring Court Beast/Darkling with a strong wanderlust and a decent grasp of oneiromancy.

[AoM]

My Ogre wouldn't be much for oneiromancy, but would be attempting to be a political force within the Spring Court (yes yes, an Ogre with social graces, I'm sure I'm not the first one who wanted to do this, but I like the motif).

Her contracts would be wrapped up in Stone and Eternal Spring, with perhaps a smidge of Hearth. Taken based on her gluttony for thrills and new experiences, prized as a mortal oathbreaker forced to hunt down other mortals for the amusement of her keeper. Eventually snapped and refused to eat any more of her "kills" saying she would rather eat rocks. And so her Keeper indulged her, forcing her to subsist on the earth and stone (but did not excuse her from her task of hunting and killing other mortals for sport). Her terrible teeth have become as hard as diamonds, and her metabolism as changed with her diet.

Upon escaping Faerie, she's dead on determined to change her ways, leave everything she knew behind and focusing on creating something new. In that way she adds her voice to the Spring Court whole-heartedly.

[Gargulec]

Okay, thanks to mister AoM example, I guess I shall return to my previous concept (not so different from the one I presented before, though).

Darkling tunnelgrub of Spring Court. A bit aloof, certainly very shy, experiencing troubles with interpersonal contacts. Storyteller by heart, decent oneiropomp, versed in navigating the Hedge. Her understanding and knowledge of stories and legends made her bond to Wyrd stronger than usual, but also damaged her clarity. Since she spends so much time in Hedge (if ST allow, she will suffer from the Hedge-Calling derangement) and dreams, her grasp of reality begins to slip, and she is not entirely aware of that.

Despite that, she is of happy-go-lucky type, wholeheartedly Verdant Rule of Spring Court.

Her escape from her Durance is what troubles her most. As far as she can remember, her Keepers stuffed her into some kind of oubliette, little stone cell with no exit, and as the name suggest, forgot about her entirely. And yet, she somehow managed to return... However, she has no memories whatsoever from her escape, and what she remembers of her Durance makes her doubt that she could be able to escape by herself. Either someone helped her, or she was simply set free by her captor. She is not sure if she wants to find out.


Sounds ok?

[Croaker]

I was planning on playing an Oneiromancer as well... we may be stepping on each other's toes.

[Gargulec]

Or actually helping each other. I don't see an issue here, but it may just my lack of experience.

[Croaker]

If you want to build up a connected character concept, I would be more than happy to work with you on that. Maybe we escaped from the same place and have the same interests for that reason? I could play an antiquarian gatherer of knowledge and you could play the more hands-on practical tunnlegrub? Or something. Hedge adventures!

[AoM]

Honestly though, the game won't start unless Shakespeare says he's ready to GM it. You have time to develop you character concepts. Assuming the PCs knew each other before they were captured, we should share a bit about their mortal backgrounds. Or we could spin it that we met in Faerie during our Durance or our Escape.

I'm thinking that my character was taken sometime in the early 90s, when she was a teenager and a rebellious punk who bucked authority and hung out with the 'bad' sort. The hoodlums she was tied to were involved in crime and drug trafficking, but she didn't have a clue as to the extent that they were involved. She'll be from whatever city the setting eventually takes place in.

In her Durance, she was chained in servitude to the Underking, whose domain was the Everprism Caverns, a network of huge rocky caves underneath a looming mountain range, filled to the brim with veins of precious metals and pockets of gemstones unique to Faerie. It is a torturous labyrinth filled with many dark and terrible creatures. The Underking employs several types of changling seemings but the most common are his ogres, who make up the bulk of his workforce as mining slaves. They also serve as entertainment in the pits where they can be forced to fight captured creatures from the relatively unexplored tunnel depths. The Underking delights in buying up huge stocks of mortals from various other Faerie realms and then letting them run loose in his tunnels. He gives rewards to any ogre that catches and kills these humans in interesting ways in front of him. He delights in the dehumanization of his prisoners and in turning them into monsters. He holds particular interest in those who resist the downwards spiral, loving to invent new ways to torment them and break them.

My PCs eventual escape came when she was brought along on a grand hunt in the tunnels. She was left alone with a particularly dullwitted guard, whom she outsmarted and overpowered. She then fled through the darkness, with only her memories of a life somewhere else to guide her.

[Gargulec]

I had idea to make my character a Pole of Jewish heritage, child of one of the "old guard" communist officials of that were banished from Poland in the year '68, due to party infighting and anti-Semitic tendencies.

Through Scandinavia, they have migrated to [whatever the chronicle's city is]. I also assume that she was taken by the Fae few years after, somewhere in the mid-seventies (so she could, for example, get to know English a bit).

Her keeper was Mournful King, ruler of the Castle among the Sea Of Ruin, a domain that was horrible mishmash of various medieval architectural and art styles (like French Romanesque church filled with filled with frescos inspired by late Italian medieval). This pseudo-city was always covered by smoke from burning buildings and thick fog that smelled of rot, blood and roses. It was mostly inhabited by beasts of various kiths, all twisted so they appeared at least a bit artificial (deer with iron antlers, for example), with only exception being Mournful King's personal castle, imposing and half-ruined construction filled with shredded banners and screams of tortured prisoners. Indeed, my changeling was one of them, another forgotten victim of the Fae whim. Put into deep, small oubliette, she was promptly forgotten by her master, spending untold time in darkness, with her ability to move greatly limited.

As I already said, she has no idea how she escaped her Durance, and I would be very glad to create a common background over that, if you find it interesting, of course.

[Shakespeare]

Just a few points:

Firstly, well done on the concepts all. You've pretty much convinced me that a Changeling game would be good to run; I'm about 90% certain that, after I've gotten the final of my three games moving, I'll begin work on a Changeling story.

Secondly, a note about Durance -- I'm aware that you all probably know this already, but Changelings rarely remember their time in Arcadia clearly. Those with low Wyrds (1-3), tend to forget or muddle details about their time there based upon the haphazard memories that come and go in dreams. So it's possible that changelings who met in Faerie might know one another, they will likely remember very little about the other beyond that they've seen one another in the Fae Realm. This, understandably, can lead to paranoia, just as often (or perhaps moreso) than not.

Three more notes for you all:

1) Keep with the character-building, especially the co-writing. Everyone here should know of my need to have players who can write detailed, lengthy posts (for a WoD game, around 250+ per post), and finding the heart of your PC through talks with others can certainly make writing for him or her easier.

2) I'd be making use of one of the rule adjustments found in Armory: Reloaded. I'd be using this rule because of the fact that I've never been entirely happy with the wound penalties in the new system, shoved right to the end of the Health Chart like a forgotten problem. What follows is a C&P of the rule from the book:

• Increased Wound Penalties:
This hack changes the way that wounds affect characters. With five open boxes, the character suffers a –1 to all actions. With four, the character loses the ability to spend Willpower for heroic effort, but can still spend Willpower to increase Defense or Resistance traits (see p. 133 of the World of Darkness Rulebook). At three open boxes, the character suffers a –2 to all actions. At two open boxes, the character loses the 10 again benefit (if a weapon would grant the character 9 again, this still applies; a man armed with a shotgun is still dangerous, even if he’s injured!). Finally, at one open box, the character suffers a –3 penalty to all actions.
Rationale: It’s difficult to act through pain, and even more difficult to summon extraordinary will when injured. This hack makes wounds more serious.

I will be changing this very slightly, so that you have to have a wound marked in the box in question in order to suffer the effects. For example, say you have a character with Stamina 3 (Health 8); he can suffer 3 boxes worth of wounds without incurring a penalty, but as soon as his fifth/sixth/seventh/eighth boxes are marked, he begins to suffer wounds as per above. This makes combat and wounding more dangerous.

3) I'm torn on the city to base this, of which I've got 3 choices. The first is Los Angeles (I love it as an American city), the second and third are both in Britain, and are London and Manchester. I'm not entirely sure which to use yet, but it's worth letting you know the potential areas.

Opinions on all of the above?

[AoM]

1. Yeah, no problems.

2. Death spiral's fine. Looks good.

3. I'm not intimately familiar with any of those cities, so I'm not fussed about which one you go with.

[Gargulec]

1. With this, I may experience some problems. I am used to Play-by-forums where my (and other players) posted around ~50 words per message. But I'll try to match your requirements. Also, I would like to ask you that should I make some grammatical or syntax mistakes, you would let me know about them, ok?

2. I like it.

3. As AoM, I am not familiar with any of those cities.

[Shakespeare]

No worries, I'll let you know where I can. :) And 200-250+ words isn't hard when you get used to it. It runs to about 2/3 paragraphs, or 1 big one. For a WoD game, detail is essential, hence the requirement.

[Gargulec]

Hah, I would want to note that 250 words is actual the LIMIT for "writing" part of Polish exams from foreign languages after middle school.

[Shakespeare]

Oh? Didn't know that.

Still, 250 isn't a lot. On previous boards, it wasn't unheard of to game with folks who hit the 10,000 mark. Gotta love Star Wars.

[Gargulec]

I do not complain, I am just a bit amused by that thought. It will be good exercise of my language skills, I guess.

[Croaker]

Hey, Gargulec, do you know Neuroshima? The Polish post-apocalyptic RPG?

Also, Shakes, 10,000 words is forty pages. Are you serious? My Master's thesis was forty pages. That's excessive, heh!

[Gargulec]

Croaker: yeah, I do. I was even one of the textwriters for the Orbital, one of the biggest Neuroshima fan-sites. Though my interest in it dropped lately.

[Shakespeare]

Yes Croaker, I'm being serious. A Star Wars game I used to play in on roleplayinggames.net (for the better part of 2/3 years) had a group of awesome, detailed players in. On average, people used to post upwards of 600 words, and three other players (myself included) liked to detail our characters a lot more -- especially during downtime -- and thus tickled the 10,000 word limit.

[Gargulec]

Oh... wow. I can't decide if I find it awesome or simply insane and mind boggling.

[AoM]

Reviving this thread:

Shakespeare, I was lurking around and noticed that your Mass Effect game has lost half its players. I'm sorry to hear about that, but I was wondering if that would free you up to consider this game, or if you were dead set determined to get a space themed game going before turning your attention to Changeling.

I'm not that familiar with Mass Effect, otherwise I would've already attempted to fill one of the vacant slots that you have there.

Having spent some free time last week pouring over the core C:tL book and three of its supplements, and since the two other games that I am in are in a temporary lull, I can freely say that I am totally 100% ready to jump into a game and this is the one that is preoccupying my imagination right now, so you would have interested players - well I can only speak for myself, but it seems like you would have at least two others who were interested.

[Croaker]

I'm still terribly interested. Burning to play this game, you could say. Fire, and related phenomena.

[Gargulec]

As do I.

[Shakespeare]

To be honest, this is a game that I'm hugely tempted to pick up in place of another sci-fi. The only issue I have is that I proposed a change over to a sci-fi venue to my other players -- however, only one of them has gotten back to me thus far.

If anyone's got their character finished and ready for me to view, send it along to me via FPM -- seeing stats and backgrounds might help jog my motivational impulses into motion. If I can't get the sci-fi replacement up and running quick enough, then I'll throw Changeling up in its place, and work on Dark Heresy/Star Wars as a fourth game; if it happens quickly, then I'll put up the sci-fi, and begin work on this as a fourth game for my list.

Either way, I'm keen.

[AoM]

Okay, well I said I'd play your sci-fi, but if it were a question of which one I'd prefer, it'd be this one hands down-- mainly because I've got the darn rules. I have the idea and backstory for my character ready, I'll work on the stats and send them to you by tomorrow.

[Croaker]

I'll start working on my character tonight, then! :)

[Shakespeare]

I've put a poll up in the Cackling forum area, giving players a choice between Star Wars, Dark Heresy, and Changeling as replacement game. Take a look, all.

[Shakespeare]

Are people no longer interested in this? I have 1-3 places left in Through the Wicked Thorns, if anyone is.