[pnpgm] Game Update #11a - File #137 - Update recap
Scott Adams
longshot at darktech.org
Tue May 26 08:10:05 CEST 2009
HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma
W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma
W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
--.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe
R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma
Do.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma
R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
R1 NPC...................Shu.Yeoh..........Wizard..Normal/Human..Fe
W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe
Do John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma
R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma
Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, 2 Donkeys
Cover Story Info:
Caladan aka Ca Lu as Guard/Archer
Farseeker aka Fu Sa as Guard
Fremea as Noble child [Disguised]
Kell aka Swan as Trader
Unali as Zhou's wife
Game Web Site - http://www.funport.com/longshot/pbem
Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
Private emails (not public actions) to longshot at darktech.org
Game Update #11a in sequence (file #137)
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Admin Notes: Part 1 of 2
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[Recap]
From Raban: [Re: Actions]
<Since Fremea wanted the spells done in a more private area I
assume she wants the results private for now. Raban does not
care if other know about him since he has exposed a few secrets
already. But then he does not know just what can be detected and
could get surprised by it too ;) <So unless Fremea says
otherwise, secret for mana reading and insight
<With Arawn it will depend on his scene location etc.
<Raban offered to cast Insight on others but I do not recall
much for replies on that? But I may have missed it.
<So if there were others who wanted to test it, Raban will try.
Once more privacy is up to them and Raban will try to keep their
secrets if that is what they want.
GM: Ack. Most want to be private. So no one wanted scans but those
who have already posted so far.
From Fremea: [Re: Actions]
Fremea does want to keep it private.
When the trip gets started, Fremea wonders if she will ...
GM: Ack.
From Kell: [Re: Actions]
Ha'Kell wants all three: Mana Sensing, Mana Reading, and Insight.
Results private. Ha'Kell will reveal as necessary.
GM: Don't forget the languages file.
[Ok.]
GM: Ack. No one has added to the language file so there are plenty
of slots left. Tons.
From Will: [Re: Actions]
Will throws himself into ship board life. Not only is...
OOC is the ship Lateen Rigged like a Dhow or Junk Rigged and
does it have a crows nest?
"Thank you for your kind greeting I too hope we have the ...
OOC I am experimenting with my tecnique and trying to group my
responses together let me know if it is working or not. Also I
am interested in learning the various languages on board ship so
I assume we will somehow take turns using the amulet let me know
how that works.
GM: Ack. Yes has a crows nest in the forward rigging only. The
sails are Rigged and square. In our world it has some Roman,
Arabic and Indian flair to it. It is a custom ship so not
quite like most on the seas. Couldn't figure out where Arawn
introduced himself to you so put it on the 15th early on.
The necklace allows one person per day. So just select from
the list in the language file what languages you want and let
me know. I'll put you in. Will do them and process. There
are plenty of days for failures. Need to add sailor languages
as well to the file (mental note). The technique is great.
Handle it if you can. I know it might be confusing. I tend
to save files to HD/pc then load them up edit out the stuff I
don't want the reply to those I want. How I've done it. But
if it is a hassle its only optional, but appreciated. :)
From Kiet: [Re: Actions]
Kiet stops at Wills comment, and looks him over with a...
Kiet replies, "The 'Her' is the second most powerful mage...
GM: Ack.
From Raban: [Re: Actions]
Raban grins and says, "That is quite good, but not something...
<Damn that is a very poor reply! Just cant think of what to say!
GM: Ack. I'll add to it. :)
From Will: [Re: Reply to Kiet]
"Frankly I agree with your easement of the probable outcome....
GM: Ack.
From Kell: [Re: Actions]
[Why you say something like this - "that is fantastic. Thanks
for sharing it with me, now get out of my face before I throw you
overboard!" Er, maybe not. That is the Barbarian Bard response.
Kell looks Will over again, examining him squarely. He looks...
GM: Ack. Figured this was more OOC so didn't put it below.
From Will: [Re: Taking a joke]
"Ha ha...ha"
GM: Ack. :)
From Arawn: [Re: Actions]
Arawn will perform Mana Reading and Insight (max EL) on Raban
and Kell (the latter to include Mana Sensing as well) with
results private.
OOC: If you want to use the necklace just say what languages
you'd like to learn. I'm assuming Will will see others use it
during the time aboard and inquire. Feel free to RP if you want
but basically you can learn one language permanently (through
Tongues) a day. Scott can make a list of those learning and what
days as well and you can look on the PBEM site at the bottom for
languages commonly known to be possessed among the group.
Arawn actually enjoyed the debate. Caladan was good humoured and
able to discuss different views while remaining emotionally
detached, a trait Arawn always admired. Unfortunately many did
not have such a trait and when he found those quick to react
emotionally to a discussion he had learned that is was easier
to end the talk quickly. Those who lost their composure often
had reached a point where listening to anothers words had stopped.
Arawn will use his Navigation skills to work with the crew to
ensure proper travel while aboard the ship, likely assisting
keeping an eye out at night as well since he'd be up then.
GM: Ack. Thanks for help to Will. I did forget to mention
the link again. Will assume navigation checks are done
secretly. Might not be good to ruffle the First Mate
by challenging his skill. But in fact when a good 95%
of the trip will be in sight of land by eye or spyglass
there shouldn't be a issue unless storms arise.
From Kiet: [Re: Actions]
Kiet listens to the discussion and tosses in the comment, "...
GM: Ack.
From Kiet: [Re: updates]
Is it entirely necessary to include all of the Old Stuff?
Seems to me most of that can be skipped, unless there are
points that have to be made in terms of sequence...
Just a thot.
GM: Ack. Well the GM stuff as you say is needed. Let's break down
a typical session for me. First posts come into my email.
I skim them to see if anything vital must be replied to or
commented (about 2-3 min). If reply another 2-3 minutes.
I then save the email to a file (30 seconds). I then go
in and edit that said file to remove the email headers and
other junk (2-3 min) format it for reading. I then move
that file to my personal post directory (30 second). Then
edit the directory master file for archival purposes (1 minute).
Then go and edit the game site html file (2-3 min). I then
copy the saved file and html file over and upload that
to the game site to update it (2-3 min). Now that's just
to get the material in place total time 13-16 minutes. Let's
say on a low side 10 minutes. Now let's look at last update
till this point sunday night - 16 posts (some combined for
space thus edit time more). That's about 2-3 hours of work
right there just for those files. Not including getting the
update to work. When I finally get to the update I have to
merge the posts into coherent sections and time periods (5-10
minutes per post at times - 90 minutes say on average for 16
posts). I then have to format it to make it readable. I
then once I catch up and add comments here in this section
I can finally do new stuff. But at this point for a 16 poster
session it has taken 4-5 hours easy BEFORE I start the new
stuff of the update. :) Then it might take 1-3 hours for
new stuff to be done (30 min to spell check). So a typical
session for update might be 5-8 hours. When typically I
might only have 2-3 hours a night (thus 2-3 days). This is
the low side of things as combat takes a good 3 hours to type
up at times (coordinate charts, stats, etc.). This is why
the updates might be delayed. Especially when last minute
posts come in the same night of the update (like last week
with about 5 posts). Not your fault just explaining how
things are. With the surge of new folks this game is more
active than post where typically its been 4-5 posts between
updates now its 15-20. So takes longer. Not saying stop
the posts its fun to read and good role playing. Just saying
this so folks know where I'm coming from. Now there are only
two areas of GM stuff. This Recap section. I post the posts
here (used to do the full posts now just the top line of
the posts) to show that I got the post. In the past they
have been lost. So its a review to ensure you got me the post
if not you can repost it. I then add comments like these to
them that I might not have time when I see the posts. To
clarify issues and such. Why its good to read these notes
for your posts. The bottom section are more GM comments on
overall things all should know. Stats, reports and frankly
reminders to me so I don't forget things. So they are needed.
As of Sunday I've caught up to posts done to this point.
The update is over 900 lines and I've yet to start "new stuff"
it has been just old stuff and posts. So that is another time
factor. Again though not to stop just a why its this way.
While it takes you minutes (20-30) to read it takes me hours
of work. I do keep stuff not posted below like OOC stuff in
the recap section. I like to have the update rehashed with
old stuff only because it allows folks to skip the posts and
just read the updates in one cohesive story. That way if you
go on vacation you can skip the posts and just read the update.
From Will: [Re: Actions]
Will stands back and listens to the back and forth between...
GM: Ack.
From Will: [Re: OOC/Ships]
More OOC:
You may be right although I was guessing that it was either junk
rigged or lateen rigged but unlikely to be square rigged. The
only sailing vessel of any size that I have ever seen up close
was a circa 1600 ship called the Dove. (addresses below if you
want to look at it) I think its about half the size of the boat
were on. I think that to do things like furl sails (I believe it
involves a lot of tying and untying) they would lock there legs
in the rigging and then use both hands to work. Ive never seen
anything that shows how they used bows while in the rigging.
From a game mechanics perspective the only comparable the thing I
found was mounted archery which had a 0 modifier while
stationary and a 10 modifier while charging. I was hoping that
it was going to give a wider range of movement modifiers. I
haven't checked the version 2 rules yet. For my own opinion I
think I would rather be on a moving ship than a stationer horse
if the water is calm but if the water is rough I think it would
be more difficult than on a charging horse.
The only time I was ever on the water where the swells where
higher than the deck of the fishing boat we were on I cant
imagine trying to hit another boat with an arrow. If the other
boat were more than a few hundred feet away you wouldn't have
been able to see anything but the top of the mast (at least while
in the trough) and these were gentle swells. Obviously I'm no
seaman. I'm sure that navel battles must have been conducted
under less than ideal conditions but I'm guessing that both sides
just have to deal with the fact that every action will just take
2 to 10 times as long depending on how bad the conditions. If
the seas were really rough then I'm beating that they all would
be more focused on surviving than fighting.
GM: Ack. This was sent to the list but looks like you, Mark and
David had a private talk on rigging. Some of the quoted stuff
I never got. It wasn't CCed to me. If game related in terms
of things I should know it should be. I am doing a ship
project 90% done. Read 2 big books on ships for research.
I've done a few megs of material already. Just have to complete
in my spare time the construction and combat parts then done.
Some of the material is on the pnp website I believe.
From Will: [Re: OOC]
OOC Continued: In thinking more about the doge and cover issue I
think I both agree and disagree.
While I'm not sure what the effect would be on dodging. The
people I have seen who are proficient at working in the rigging
move pretty well but I'm not sure what it would be like if the
were trying to dodge something, but they do have cover a mast is
bigger than a telephone pole and if you were standing behind a
telephone pole you would have pretty good cover . That said I
think of the photos of civil war sniper who had excellent cover
and was a probably a better shot than most of those shooting at
him but while he may have fired a dozen shots he was fired on
several hundred times and hit once. So he may have hit half of
his targets but he may have been the only target for a battalion
and they only had to hit him once.
In terms of game mechanics while the GM may asses a penalty
(though I think it would be difficult because of historical
precedent) for being in the rigging but even if he did it would
probably be worth it since from that location he could hit
targets such as a captain or pilot (which could change the
outcome of the battle). These targets would have to much cover
otherwise. There cover would include the side of the ship those
lining the railings those firing volley fire (ie indirect fire)
as well as masts rigging ships wheel etc. each of these layers
of cover would effectively double or possibly even quadruple
the range there is also a -5 modifier for firring from above.
GM: Ack. All I can say is for this ship rigging is too open. You
might have cover behind sails but your best archer position
in the rigging is the nest. But frankly its too dangerous.
The deck is best for archery.
From Z'leyra: [Re: Ships]
My understanding of the ships of the Perilous Lands is that they
are late bronze age/early iron age designs, with the trireme being
the latest greatest design. Basically these designs are too small
to put men up top to shoot from bows. Some designs might have
protected areas on the bow and stern to give some cover for the
fighting men. It takes a large ship to need masts thick enough to
mount a crows nest big enough to be a shooting platform. Frankly
I don't think the technology of the Perilous Lands is to that
point.
GM: Ack. Correct. Tris are the top. Some exceptions are noted
especially magical ships. That is why I have a file on special
ships like the Korchi or Choshai ships. The nest is big enough
for only one man to stand only (not to sit). For Fremea it
might give shoulder height. Its for observation though not
combat. Yes, there are no castles for archers on this ship.
From Will: [Re: ship data]
The tonnage of Roman merchant ships
History
The first records of junks can be found in references dating...
GM: Ack. Normally since this is OOC stuff I would post it here
but its too big in this case. Folks can read it on the site
if they need to. :) Its info I've read numerous times in
my research. Good material though.
From Will: [Re: More ship stuff]
Our discussion of the triremes led me to start reading up on
trireme development and It seems that they were so 400 BC. By
31 BC Mark Antony was using "eights" a large example of which
had 1600 rowers and 1200 marines (non Roman eight). Check this
excerpt out.
GM: Ack. If you want more info check out my ship material on the
pnp site it has alot of actual facts.
From Arawn: [Re: Actions]
In the Forest:
While travelling Arawn speaks to the various mages of...
GM: Ack.
------------------------------------------------------------
GM: This is just the recap update since its big.
Always good to review for comments or such. In the above
Raban, Kell, Will, Arawn, Kiet and Z'leyra have direct comments.
Next post the actual update...
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