Sleeping Dragon

True, from my experience, if your going to play over an instant messenger, you want to keep it as simple as possible. I've got my homebrewed system if you want to share notes sometime, Ephesos.

I can't believe you preempted me on this! I had my whole game system planned and everything! I even beta tested it! Fine, you win, but I get to DM the next round. Weekday evenings are usually best for me. That used to be my favorite movie, I gotta get in on this.

When I try to think of how I'd rank the games based on difficulty, I end up with the newer ones all being easier than the older ones. This could mean a few things. It could mean that Jeff has been making them easier to attract a larger audience, or that they're just easier because the engines have been getting more user friendly. Or it could simply mean that I'm getting better or more comfortable with each passing game. I don't feel that Avernum 3 is the easiest Avernum, but Exile 3 was certainly more difficult than any Avernum game, in my opinion.

“This meeting is called to order. The Council recognizes Learned Vess, Councilor of Magic.” The servile in dark robes stood, she had a soft yet determined voice. “Learned Fand, esteemed Councilors. I stand here today to propose a new path for us all. No longer can we be complacent to wait here in Drypeak, as the serviles of old did before us. They choose to wait and it was their downfall. Only through swift action, like that taken by the drakons of the Great Rebellion, can we secure our independence!” Her words were met with cheers from some Councilors, and glares from others. Learned Fand tried to show little reaction, but he was clearly not pleased. He rose to address her, the Sergeant-at-Arms called out, “The Council recognizes Learned Fand, Councilor of Justice.” In Drypeak, the ruling Council tried its best to divide power among its leaders. Whenever one seemed to have too much power, that Councilor’s responsibilities would be divided again into two or more Council positions. This had led to the Council having 37 members currently, and constantly growing in the interest of keeping any one servile form becoming too powerful. Yet even with this system, it was clear that some had more influence than others, Fand and Vess were perfect examples of this. Lucky for the people of Drypeak, their coalitions tended to balance each other out. Leanred Fand spoke, “To where would you expand our influence? There are no serious threats around us. Peaceful farmers to the west and tranquility to the East. We have neither the threat to our existence nor the abundance of power to justify an aggressive expansion.” Fand’s supporters clapped, and Vess sat down, unable to defend her position, for now. When the meeting was over, the Councilors left, leaving Learned Fand and his friend, Krak Blade, the Councilor of the Sword, remaining. Krak Blade spoke to Learned Fand, “My friend, Vess will not give up her quest for power. Perhaps it is time to divide the Magic Councilorship once again?” “We can’t do that, if we suggest dismantling the Magic Councelorship, she’ll simply try to take down the Justice Councelorship. Both are due for a divide, I would prefer if neither had one… again. Politically, we are very limited here. Her call for war has rallied many zealous young serviles throughout our land.” “I stand ready for anything that you decide, Fand. I will defend the land if things go your way, and I will fight in the name of Drypeak if things go hers.” “You are as loyal a servile as they come, Krak Blade.” “Your words are too much, old friend.”

I took the opportunity to edit my intro post to be longer like everyone else's. Also, I wouldn't mind a light blue for my faction on the map, if that's okay.

Factions RPs are more land based than character based. The fun lies in being descriptive about your ideology, and you mostly act through your faction's leader. I suppose the objective is simply to defeat everyone else's faction, mostly through outmaneuvering. Kinda harder to explain than I thought... maybe someone could post a link to an old faction RP for reference? You guys have done them on these boards before, right? If not, I might be able to find one from a different board.

Neat, wish we had more players. Are the regulars all busy or are they just not Geneforge fans?

I remember seeing at one point (in the Louvre perhaps?) a complete Vahnatai PC graphic with portrait. I've never played a scenario that used it, however. I suppose anyone who wants to can use it themselves for any scenario, but I'm not sure how to go about doing that.

A map might be useful if this is going to be a faction based RP. Anyone savvy enough to make one? I got Drypeak Vale. The Emperor might want to claim some territory as well, as should future entries.

Faction: Drypeak Serviles History: Warmaster Sahz was put in charge of Drypeak Vale after the First Rebellion. As the territory was tactically insignificant, the vale's aged leader has grown weak and complacent in his position. Rather then immediately repress his subjects upon the death of the Conclave, as many other drakon overlords did, Sahz instead chose to delegate rule to the Vale's primary populace: the serviles and their leader, Learned Fand. The serviles of the Vale have since become self governing, their only contact with their drakon 'leader' being when they pay him his yearly tribute gold. This benevolent agreement has made the serviles of the Vale very peaceful and diplomatic creatures, but also ones that would likely fight to the death to keep their independence. Location: Drypeak Vale Leader(s): De Jure: Warmaster Sahz; De Facto: Learned Fand. Ideology: Being the former servants of Drakons, they have a bit of a creation hierarchy imprinted on their society. Drakons are deserving of great respect, though they are not always particularly trustworthy. Serviles and humans are about equal, but since serviles outnumber humans in Drypeak, they generally lead society (humans had their chance). Non-intelligent creations are simply animals that should serve if they can and be taken care of if they can not. New creations are rarely made in Drypeak, as the few lifecrafters and drakons that there are only make them for personal use, not for the greater society (probably because most lifecrafters and drakons are crazy canister users who care only for themselves). Almost all new creations now are bred, and a bred creation owes you nothing.

Yeah, it makes sense. After all, if the enemy were entirely unpredictable, there would be no strategy in the game.

Yeah, it wouldn't be so bad that this was abandoned were it not for the fact that there's a sticky post reminding us about it every time we log on.

Not to mention the fact that that item existed before action points were nerfed, so I would have to agree. Emerald Chestguard all the way!

Hey, everyone knows Jeff doesn't let games die. It's only a matter of time before he comes out with a new, improved Geneforge. I, personally, hope he will take that opportunity to continue the series as well, like he did when he made Avernum. Though, I suppose, in order for a game to be resurrected, it has to die first. So, goodbye Geneforge. For now.

Originally Posted By: Dikiyoba 2. The whole Guardian/Agent restriction thing is stupid and pointless anyway. You have to admit you're a little biased on the subject. Maybe Barzahl couldn't be an Agent because he was a man. And I seem to remember there being a female guardian in one of the games who's text upon your meeting her remarked on how strange it was to see a female in that position. There doesn't seem to be a restriction, though, merely traditions. These people are medieval, they are expected to be at least a little sexist, for realism.

Wow, that site is beautiful. Who made it? I've always used Randomizer's thread on crafting for my information, but even though that site has the same stuff, the pretty formatting is greatly appreciated.

I agree, I don't think anyone has ever absorbed a creation that was not either their own or at least one that went willingly. Oh, and good story Sssharxx.

"It is tiiiiime... tiiiiime..." "To feed the master, right?"

Originally Posted By: Excalibur Also, apologies to *i for submitting actions so early. For some reason, I kept thinking that Eastern time is four hours ahead of me instead of three. It's never a bad idea to submit actions early. They are processed in the order they are received, so by submitting early you might be fortunate enough to pre-empt someone who has targeted you. You never know. I actually submitted an action to kill Nioca some 20 hours before it was valid, since I was sure he would be the one to attack me. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the only reason his was still valid before mine was because I hesitated to make my first attack on day one, so I ended up a few hours behind everyone else as far as actions. My lesson that game was to get your first action in as soon as possible, especially if you role's only ability is attacking people. And I'm sure Stareye doesn't mind. He seems to process actions at his own leisure, which actually adds an interesting aspect to the game. I used the fact that Stareye hadn't processed actions yet as my excuse for my inaction as Shanker a few times in the last game. I think a few of my 'allies' might have done the same thing, now that I think about it.

Yeah, I definitely remember scrolling through loot picking up all the coins first, then checking each item just to make sure it wasn't a special unique magical artifact or something. Since then, Jeff has made collecting money more efficient, and magical item placement more predictable.

I always assumed Alwan got picked for the Council because he was the obvious choice, being the only Shaper to be leading troops successfully against there rebellion, not because he was meticulously vetted. Sort of like Ulysses S. Grant, only minus the democracy.

Wingbolts remind me of mutalisks.

Small case in an envelope. The case is usually smaller than the average jewel case, but it protects it just as well.

You are, of course, welcome to play any way you wish. This topic was mostly for people who wanted to avoid huge mistakes, some of which could be, in my own opinion, game breaking. People who don't like permanently incomplete quests or friendly towns going hostile will probably appreciate this information the most.

Originally Posted By: The Mystic That's one major advantage the Exile games have over the Avernum series: Cash aplenty! Yeah, and you had to pick it up one pile of coins at a time back then!