Through the Wicked Thorns (Changeling)

[Shakespeare]

I've recieved such demand for a Changeling: the Lost game that, despite initial uncertainty, I've decided to solidify my interest and dedication to a forth-coming Lost chronicle. Anyone interested in applying for it should post their intent here, and supply me with the following details:

Character Statistics
Background
Physical Description (Mien and Mask) and Personality Summary
Sample Post involving the Character, detailing some part of his/her Background
Each character is to be made using the standard Character Creation method found in the World of Darkness rulebook. Merits and Contracts can be taken from other rulebooks, with my approval. Each player then has 35 experience points to spend on their character (for my benefit, please note on your application where you spent these points). You can choose to keep these points in standby for later use, if you wish.

The game will be set in the city of Manchester, England. Changeling numbers in the city have lessened of late, due to accident and design, and the Freehold's on edge. The Summer Court's vigilance has done little to change things, despite their best efforts; Motleys are becoming more common, as Changelings seek to better their chances at survival through sheer numbers.

Other things worth keeping in mind: I intend on using the Increased Wound Penalties rule mentioned in the previous Changeling thread (and in the Armory Reloaded rulebook); I'm looking for a maximum of five players, though I might have more if the concepts are really good.

As always, I expect any applicant to my game to be able to post an average of 250+ words; players who post more, and offer more detail and flavour, will earn additional experience points.

More details will come in time. I don't intent on requesting the board for this game until Star Wars, my third game, is up and running, but it's worth planning ahead now. After my other games are settled into, I'll look to getting this one up and running.

Any questions, post them here and I'll get back to them as soon as I can.

[AoM]

Yeah, I'm interested, will work on getting the character to you.

[Shakespeare]

I note a sudden lack of enthusiasm from everyone who previously wanted the game up. :P I jest.

Feel free to get the concept to me AoM, and we'll talk through it. I'd advise you, and any other players who aren't English, to look into English law and culture a little more to make the game more authentic. Our gun laws, for example, are very strict, and you can only get one through highly illegal means, or through joining a gun club (though you can't take the guns away with you); knives are much more prominent.

Bump.

BRR Edit: I merged these for hopefully obvious reasons. Also, still with the font nonsense? Really?

[Explosive Cheese]

Wait a second.
.
..
...

We have bumping on these boards?! :? :]:x

[itches]

No, we consider that posting for the sole purpose of increasing your post total. If however someone were to post saying "Hey guys, I'm just posting to check if anyone else is interested before this starts" or something like that, it isn't bumping. Complete sentences.

[AoM]

Gun laws aside is there anything us foreigners should know about what sets Manchester apart from other cities in England, aside from the funny accents and that football team of theirs? Things like staple industries, real life local politics, and maybe even local legends that have to do with fae or magic?

[LeadPal]

I note a sudden lack of enthusiasm from everyone who previously wanted the game up. :P I jest.
All I can offer is my continuing belief that I may find enough time to play... theoretically... in 2013.

[BigRedRod]

Gun laws aside is there anything us foreigners should know about what sets Manchester apart from other cities in England, aside from the funny accents and that football team of theirs? Things like staple industries, real life local politics, and maybe even local legends that have to do with fae or magic?

1) They have two football teams
2) It's the second largest city in England depending on where you count the edge of a city (Manchester and Birmingham fight about this)
3) It was a cotton town
4) The IRA bombed it in the 90's.The urban redevelopment since the bombing has made it much nicer, so nobody really minds (Especially as we had enough warning to clear everybody out)
5) The BBC are being moved up there in drips and drabs
6) If by funny accent you mean the "Oasis" accent, then I'm sorry, but that's not what people sound like.

These are my top six Manchester facts.

[Shakespeare]

Sorry, I meant to write more than bump, but the post was sent pre-emptively, and it being very early in the morning my time I felt very little desire to edit the message to it's entirity.

The message was supposed to read:

"Bump.

To the players who've sent me their information: I might have lost some of your messages in the recent cleaning of my Inbox. So if I don't get back in touch with you, that's probably why."

Also, regarding the font: I thought I'd settle on one single font, one that was easy to read and all. According to those I've asked, Arial is fine, and I've been using it since gaining the Mass Effect board (save in my personal games, and that's purely for amospheric and appearance reasons), so I don't really see the "nonsense" part, or the problem. But if you want me to resort to the default font outside of my games, then sure; otherwise, I planned on sticking with Arial.

[Shakespeare]

Gun laws aside is there anything us foreigners should know about what sets Manchester apart from other cities in England, aside from the funny accents and that football team of theirs? Things like staple industries, real life local politics, and maybe even local legends that have to do with fae or magic?Not many local legends that spring to mind (at least, nothing that I myself won't be making up for game purposes), but I suppose it's worth mentioning that North-Western England is particularly fond of Boggarts and ghosts as paranormal creatures. The Boggart, particularly, is Fae-related.

[BigRedRod]

Also, regarding the font: I thought I'd settle on one single font, one that was easy to read and all. According to those I've asked, Arial is fine, and I've been using it since gaining the Mass Effect board (save in my personal games, and that's purely for amospheric and appearance reasons), so I don't really see the "nonsense" part, or the problem. But if you want me to resort to the default font outside of my games, then sure; otherwise, I planned on sticking with Arial.

I just don't understand why. It's generally regarded as bad form on the internet, a bit like if I chose to type all of my posts in a font-size larger or smaller. You deviate from the norm for effect within a post, having a personal offset is just weird.

Regardless, we're getting off-topic here. Standard forum etiquette applies here. I suppose you can harmlessly ignore it if you like, but you have to understand that it makes a bad impression.

[Shakespeare]

Then I shall keep to Verdana outside of my forums. Apologises for any difficulties caused by my annoying habit. :P

And on topic: I think I've got my first player ready for approval. Just got to double check stats, and then I'm 1/4 to 1/5 of the way towards a full Motley.

Addendum: A few kinks aside, I've got my first player -- an Ogre of the Spring Court. That's one down, four/five more to go.

Actually, on the topic of player numbers, I'm comfortable just grabbing three members, if interest in the game isn't what it was. 3-5 is the min/max for this game, and when I reach that threshold I'll begin working on getting the game moving; if Star Wars hasn't been sorted by that time, then I'll get this game up first, and work on the sci-fi as my fourth game when this RPG is settled into.

[AoM]

Cool. And now I play the waiting game...

[Ergonomic Cat]

I'm really interested but I worry that I'm getting overcomitted. I may still pt something together. I've never played. C:tL but I'm familiar with New WoD.

I'll look over the book. If you get more active ones i'll just lurk tho.

[Croaker]

I'm still interested. I'm still gonna put my Darkling Antiquarian Autumn Court guy together.

Gonna wait until I get home and get started!

[Ergonomic Cat]

I sent in a concept for a Beast Raver/Druggie Spring Court. I've got a Manikan Toymaker in my pocket too, in case someone's already working on a Beast....

[AoM]

I haven't heard of a beast concept yet, and it'd be nice to have a fellow Spring Court in the mix, considering other players have chosen Autumn. What type of animal(s) does your Beast emulate?

[Ergonomic Cat]

Winged Monkey.

He's kinda messed up. He's the climber kith, but kinda wishes he were the winged.

[Shakespeare]

Going to give my PMs a look asap.

[Shakespeare]

Got my second character concept through, which we're working out the kinks in/finalising and such.

AoM: Given that Ergonomic Cat is going to be playing in the same Court as you, and that he was rescued shortly after his return from the Hedge by a changeling (maybe Jillian?), I'd suggest that you both talk through your concepts, and Cat could feed off of what I've already okayed for you.

Just make sure you don't give too much away about your sheets. Maybe just hint at what categories you've put what set of dots in (Mental, Physical, and Social), so that we're not as likely to get duplicates as we otherwise would.

Up to you both, but it's worthy of consideration.

[AoM]

I've sent Ergonomic Cat a PM with a little overview.

[Shakespeare]

The Manchester City Library will be the main meeting ground for the Autumn Court of Manchester, England. The main headquarters of the other Courts, and other relevent information, will be added in time.

[Croaker]

I'm gonna get to my character asap, but I'm feeling pretty sick today. Went out drinking with some mates from back home and got completely tanked. I woke up in a friggin' graveyard.

Anyway, I'll be good to go tomorrow.

[Shakespeare]

No worries Croaker. I've only had two proper applications through so far, and only one of those has been approved (the other's incomplete), so you're not in a huge rush. I've still got a minimum of two places left (three to five characters in total).

[Shakespeare]

Getting more information down from my second player; if any of the previous players who showed interest in the game still want in, I advise them to get stats to me as soon as possible, since I'll be fishing for a board when I get three characters.

An additional note -- I'll be using some old English ranks and titles in this game for jobs such as sheriff and seneschal. Such titles include: Freeman, Yeoman, Esquire, Knight, Baron, Earl, Marquis, Duke, etc. I'll be working out the details more, but it's just a small note.

I'd advise my current two players -- Cat and AoM, though the former's still being tweaked -- to discuss a few details between them, particularly about Jillian and her sudden disappearance (since you're both her followers, and are both in Spring Court). It's not 100% essential, but since your characters are linked in some way, it might be worth doing.

[Ergonomic Cat]

Getting more information down from my second player; if any of the previous players who showed interest in the game still want in, I advise them to get stats to me as soon as possible, since I'll be fishing for a board when I get three characters.

An additional note -- I'll be using some old English ranks and titles in this game for jobs such as sheriff and seneschal. Such titles include: Freeman, Yeoman, Esquire, Knight, Baron, Earl, Marquis, Duke, etc. I'll be working out the details more, but it's just a small note.

I'd advise my current two players -- Cat and AoM, though the former's still being tweaked -- to discuss a few details between them, particularly about Jillian and her sudden disappearance (since you're both her followers, and are both in Spring Court). It's not 100% essential, but since your characters are linked in some way, it might be worth doing.

We've talked some, and we'll certainly add more as time goes on. :)

[Shakespeare]

More information: the Trafford Centre's New Orleans section is where the majority of Freehold meetings happen (after dark, of course). Might be worth looking up to guage its appearance, particularly the food hall, which is where things happen.

[AoM]

Sounds good. Took a look at the Trafford Centre on Youtube. Wouldn't a place like that have security after hours though?

[Shakespeare]

Yes, but WoD Britain, like the USA, is a dark place, and so it's likely that the Lost either have enough influence to commandeer it for the occasional night (it would be only used for sizeable gatherings), or have a big enough bribe to hand to make the security patrol a different route that night. Away from the food hall.

[AoM]

hmmm, well Gargulec was the one who was also interested in this game, but he hasn't checked into the site for over a week. Don't know what that means, but maybe he found another game somewhere.

It may end up just being me, Cat, and Croaker - which is okay with me.

[Shakespeare]

If Croaker's interested still, I've not heard from him.

[Gargulec]

Is there still an open spot? For I am still very interested in trying to participate.

Sorry for being late, but, well, holidays.

[Shakespeare]

There's still 1-3 spaces, so feel free to send on your concept and everything else I asked for.

Forum's up btw, curtesy of BRR. I'll get the OOC Threads up soon. In the meantime I'd like Cat and AoM to update me on their background, and prepare to post up their stats when given the go-ahead.

[AoM]

Eh, we haven't worked out the background all that much yet. He's agreed to have Jillian be in his background as his former major contact within the Spring Court and is willing to help find her after she goes missing. We've also decided that we're both club frequenters. Sandra likes going to the clubs to remind her of the carefree days of partying that she remembers, and of course to promote desire and her Court's influence. Cat's character (Synth) seems to be a big proponent of free love and casual dalliances, and so goes to the clubs for different reasons than Sandra, but the two of them are probably friends - so long as he treats his many partners decently.

[Shakespeare]

Righto. Then I'll aim to get the OOc Threads up, and then CSs can be posted. I'll give them a final look over, and when I've got my third PC, we'll begin.

[Shakespeare]

Alright AoM and Cat, get your Sheets up and I'll privatise them and look them over in more depth.

[Ergonomic Cat]

Eh, we haven't worked out the background all that much yet. He's agreed to have Jillian be in his background as his former major contact within the Spring Court and is willing to help find her after she goes missing. We've also decided that we're both club frequenters. Sandra likes going to the clubs to remind her of the carefree days of partying that she remembers, and of course to promote desire and her Court's influence. Cat's character (Synth) seems to be a big proponent of free love and casual dalliances, and so goes to the clubs for different reasons than Sandra, but the two of them are probably friends - so long as he treats his many partners decently.

Ayup. Synth is in to the hedonism for escapism idea. The more you can lose yourself in the dancing and the drugs and the sex, the closer you can get to the highs of Arcadia. And he kinda misses those highs. Though certainly not the lows.

[Croaker]

I'm still in, sorry. My books are two cities away at the moment; working on getting pdfs.

[Ergonomic Cat]

I'm still in, sorry. My books are two cities away at the moment; working on getting pdfs.

What's your email? I can hook you up. :)