OOC II

[Leitz]

For the Darcen ruins, are there enough leftovers to make rebuilding in place worth the effort? Or would being right on the Genin trail be better?

Does a current Baron of Chybisa "control" that area? Or are they focused on more populated areas? In effect, would going directly to the king be the best approach, or through a baron? If the latter, what does Gerolt know about the baron in question?

Given my total lack of skill at making up characters, I'm pretty much open to however you want to handle creating the contacts. In theory, the project seems to be a "win" for all involved. Gerolt would sound his contacts out on whether or not they wanted to be a part of the project. He doesn't have the money to pay, but maybe the farmer's fields are worn out or washed out, and he wants a new place for his growing family? Maybe the noble, male or female, can see an advantage to helping the project move forward? One never knows, without asking.

In a way, Gerolt's effective status might increase for a while, given that he's helping the project move forward. He's not trying to own anything, though of course won't tell the king "no" if told to go run the place. Because Gerolt's contacts are local, and he's a noble, it should hopefully make this easier. The small size of Burzyn is a win, for this.

[shaidar]

Not sure what to spend my SMBs on aside from trying to improve his psionic healing.

I assume it takes time to learn a new skill and you need a teacher.

[Rex]

In response to hedgeknight:

Just ask questions and I will gladly help. I am planning on posting some pics of his spells, herbs he knows, alchemy recipes, and psychics. I don't have the pdf for anything but the psychics so I need to take pictures and download and post. It will take me a few minutes, LOL. But I will get it out.

Just remember, the higher the ML of any skill the better and almost everything runs off a skill. The attributes are used to calculate your initial skill mastery level.

[Rex]

Comment on how I handle most NPC's including contacts.

I don't do character sheets for NPC unless they are a very significant NPC I will be using a lot. I prefer just to jot down some notes and maybe some skill levels for important skills for that NPC.

Example:

Sir Gerolt has a Contact listed as
Military/Militia (Town Guardsman in Burzyn), Friend, Loyalty 63

So we know his (most likely a he) contact is a Guardsman in Burzyn. That he is considered a friend and has a loyalty of 63 (just another skill really).
I would add a name. How you know him, how long have you known him. How old is he. Anything that stands out about him. The stuff that isn't notable just ignore. The story details are important the stats are not.

So maybe he is Fred of Flintstone, Town guardsman.
Strong as an ox but about as bright.
Average combat skills for his position, grew up on a local farm and would make a better farmer, but guardsman are in demand and he had to abandon the farm as Chybisa contracted.
Married to a good women who does her best to keep him out of trouble but often fails.
Loyal to the king and won't do anything to endanger Chybisa knowingly.
You met when you were in training and have remained friends since, visiting any time you are in Burzyn.

Now an example
You arrive in Burzyn and pay Fred a visit. I am in town bla bla bla. He fills you in on the basic gossip, you learn a rumor or 2. You ask him if he knows anyone who is really good with leather type armors, he points you in the right direction to see someone. Gives you a name and says to mention him. No rolls needed yet, this is simple friend stuff. You then start asking about what he knows about patrols in your area of Harn. Maybe he knows something, maybe he doesn't. I establish the odds and roll, he does know something but thinks it is pretty important/secret stuff so now does he tell you. He knows you and what you do so you have a legitimate reason and he trusts you so I would give this a +20EML modifier. We roll against his Loyalty of 63+20=83 a good chance he will share the info but maybe something holds him back.

No scores needed just a little backstory. Keep in mind I usually start with minimal info (like above) and every time you interact with him we add a detail or 2. Maybe his brother you never mentioned before shows up and you write another line of info, His brother is Bernie and you never got along with him.

I will also be honest here, contacts are great DM tools. I sometimes don't even roll or they approach you. A great way for me to drop plot hooks, suck you into a side adventure or just drop some info you need to advance the story.

[Rex]

Not sure what to spend my SMBs on aside from trying to improve his psionic healing.

I assume it takes time to learn a new skill and you need a teacher.

The rules tell you how long and what you need to learn a new skill. Examples range from Swimming, first time you try to swim it automatically opens (it starts poor by the way). To Alchemy, 6 months (full time) with a teacher.

Psychic Healing is a good one, remember it takes 15 SMP per improvement roll for Psychics, Ritual, and Magic Convocations instead of 10 and you can't use weekly SMP's once they are above 70 ML. You you would make 3 skill improvement rolls if you wanted to use all of your SMP's on Healing or 4 rolls on something like Physician. Keep track of any leftover points as they add to your next award. You get Will SMP every 10 days plus any from working at a job with a master (must be used for a skill related to the job) or studying with a teacher (again must be used for what you are studying). So you help out for a week at the local weapon smithy preparing for a coming battle. You spend 40 hours working there and earn 10 SMP to use on a skill improvement roll for Weapon Crafting. You can combine different sources of SMP as long as it makes sense. Maybe you only work 1 12 hour day at the smithy, that is 3 SMP, but you add 7 from your weekly total to get a skill improvement roll.

[shaidar]

Thanks rex, I'll probably divide the rolls between psychic healing and physician, rolls later.

I saved 2 points from previously so I have 50 to spend.

[shaidar]

Although, might it be worth hanging on to at least some of them? If we end up spending a little time at the capital then we might get opportunity to invest in newer still rather than just boost current ones?

[Rex]

I personally don't see much point to saving the points except situations where you don't have enough to make a roll on something you want to try and increase. So less than 10/15 depending on what you are trying to improve at the moment. That said I am not opposed to it. The rules actually say you can't save them more than a month but I have never cared for that and just ignore it. Keep in mind you can't use SMP to open a new skill so you would be saving them to increase it after you open it somehow. From a story stand point it doesn't really work but it is something I really wouldn't worry about (it is supposed to be from your spare time and what you did with that time but if you haven't already learned a skill you would be using time from before you had the skill to increase it...), I try and give the players as much flexibility as possible.

[shaidar]

OK, thinking about it let's just keep this simple and I'll use them now:

Psionic healing :

Percentage: [1d100]=91

Psionic healing:

Percentage: [1d100]=34

Physician:

Percentage: [1d100]=13

Physician:

Percentage: [1d100]=91

OK, so I think that's 1 point on psychic healing and 1 point on physician.

[Leitz]

I'll see if I can figure out the SMP rolls required after church. My thinking is that Gerolt has 16, and he's thinking through the Diplomacy/Rhetoric project. If he can get some time with a more skilled person, would that help his roll? Basically, bounce stuff off the smarter person, and in doing so, learn more, faster.

[Rex]

OK, thinking about it let's just keep this simple and I'll use them now:

Psionic healing :

Percentage: [1d100]=91

Psionic healing:

Percentage: [1d100]=34

Physician:

Percentage: [1d100]=13

Physician:

Percentage: [1d100]=91

OK, so I think that's 1 point on psychic healing and 1 point on physician.

Nope but close. You get to add the skills SB to the roll so your P Healing rolls would be 91+16=107 and 34+16=50. I have your current ML at 32 but I think it has gone up? Either way I think it will go up +2.
Physician would be 13+13=26 (missed it) and 91+13=104 (+1).

Good rolling!

[Rex]

I'll see if I can figure out the SMP rolls required after church. My thinking is that Gerolt has 16, and he's thinking through the Diplomacy/Rhetoric project. If he can get some time with a more skilled person, would that help his roll? Basically, bounce stuff off the smarter person, and in doing so, learn more, faster.

You can. The requirement is that their skill ML must be at least 20 points higher than yours. Then you get 1 SMP for every 4 hours spent working on it with them. Remember you need 10 SMP for 1 skill improvement roll.

Arngeir is the best in the group with those type skills.

[shaidar]

Thanks Rex, Adding the SB to the roll is what always catches me out.

My psionic healing is 32 as I've failed all rolls to increase it up until this point.

Finally getting some good improvement rolls.

[shaidar]

I've suddenly realised that Arngeir has good skill levels for rhetoric, oratory and intregue! Shame his harnic isn't better

[shaidar]

It's just occurred to me that Gerolt could help Arngeir with his Harnic and he could help Gerolt with these communication/diplomancy skills.

If Gerolt can explain how the (obviously inferior) politics of the country work then Arngeir can help. He's charismatic and intelligent for a drunken, paranoid xenophobe

[Rex]

Clerics and Heralds rule the Communications skills. A few others are as good at intrigue as well. Your group is actually very well rounded and can handle all sorts of situations. Improving Arngeir's Harnic is a good idea.

[Leitz]

Does the teacher gain anything for teaching? I always learn more when I teach.

[Rex]

I agree with you on that, but by the rules no. We could implement something where the teacher gets half as many SMP as the student. Any other ideas?

[Leitz]

I've posted Gerolt's re-introduction in the "In Search of a Body" thread, so we can talk about the political and learning ideas in character, and have a position for Arngeir and Gerolt to talk/train/plan. The assumption is that Gerolt left a little bit before the group started back down the trail, but he stopped at the ruined village of Darcen and did some thinking.

Is the group bringing the drake head, or leaving it?

[Leitz]

I agree with you on that, but by the rules no. We could implement something where the teacher gets half as many SMP as the student. Any other ideas?

My guess is that the rules were written to prevent munchkin games, not to actually reflect how people learn. If you only do the ABC's for each learning experience, then the teacher might not learn much. In this case, though, both teacher and student are actively learning at an moderately advanced level. Let's try the "half SMP" and see how it goes. The SMP are limited to the topic, unless teaching is its own skill.

For this exercise, Gerolt has:
Harnic SB 14, ML 84
Lakise SB 15, ML 85
Rhetoric SB 14, ML 42