The Unseen Servant forums

The dice roller on this site is pretty solid. Among its virtues is that it keeps a log of dice rolled for a particular character in a particular campaign, which can be linked to, and which the GM can check at any time. You never need to worry about if people are being honest with their rolls.

As far as game type: I'm in a couple dungeoncrawls, at the moment. Happy to join another one, but I'd also be open to something different—say, a hexcrawl or a saltbox, or something. If we go dungeon, I would also advise starting smaller at first, and see where things take us. A small dungeon can always open into a megadungeon, if that what we want.

I enjoy NPC interaction, myself. And I don't mind my characters meeting grisly fates—especially if the system allows for quick replacement chargen.

Hi guys,

Agreed, let's aim for something shorter to start, and see how we go.

In terms of post frequency, any more frequent than daily is doomed to failure, but daily (if possible), is a good way to get a rhythm going. We don't want to rush anyone or leave them behind, though, so lets keep it flexible and see what happens.

I've requested a campaign topic to be set up, which should be live on Monday. In the meantime, here's the intro:

Bound at the wrists with thick rope, tied to the man ahead of you, you march towards an unknown fate. You have been told by your captors that you are a prisoner of war.

But first, some background...

Named so due to the grey-tinged complexion of its people, the continent of Ashenland consists of rich farmlands to the West and East, with a thickly-forested, mountainous interior. Marsh and wetlands lie to the warmer South, with sparse, rocky moors to the North.

The bulk of Ashenland’s population is human, from the darker-skinned people of the South to the white-pale Northerners. The Ashenlanders’ shared heritage is evident in the hints of grey below the eye, flecks of grey in the iris. Enclaves of other races can be found in the less-travelled parts of the continent, although their isolated populations are in decline.

The West of Ashenland is broken into numerous duchies and other small feudal states. Decades of prosperous harvests have lead to lassitude and decadence among the nobility of the West. A proud martial tradition has all but disappeared among lavish courts and staged and theatrical tourneys.

The East is dominated by the Old Kingdom, an ancient realm ruled with an iron grip. The reforming inclinations of the present King’s son have made the Prince widely popular. The King has repeatedly blocked any meaningful change, however, hewing ever-closer to the rigid tradition of his ancestors.

Five Summers ago, the wide-hulled, armoured ships of the Empire landed on the Western shores of Ashenland. After a brutally short campaign, the majority of the Western states became vassals of the Empire or were eliminated. Building on their early triumphs, the Empire’s expeditionary force has subjugated the merchant city states of the South, fighting through swamps and forests to the borders of the Old Kingdom. Over the course of two years, the Empire has worn down the Kingdom’s armies to a fragmented, demoralised force. Pockets of resistance now harry the Empire’s forces as they consolidate control, encircling the massive fortress-city of the Eastern Seat. Trapped behind near-unbreachable defences, with years of stores remaining, the Old King is prepared to force the Empire to pay a heavy, bloody price for their final victory.

Please have a think about why your PC has been captured by the Empire’s forces. Are they a deserter, having rejected a life of endless campaigning in foreign wars? A soldier loyal to the Old King, captured in battle? A brigand, or just someone/something in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Any questions, let me know...

Ok, I'm game. Let's get this bird in the air. I'd like to play a thief. I'll think a bit about him today at work.

I'm very curious to see how well the TBH Thief works, but I assume it would not be wise to have two in a party of three. I guess I'll wait to see what the dice lead me towards.

Hey Pulpatoon. The fella that's been roaming about my mind today isn't really a thief in any kind of mechanical sense. He's a bit of a small town guy leaping at an opportunity to escape those cold rocky moors.

I think he's as much a rough little common fighter. In fact I was thinking of him as a "reluctant thief". It was also my way of casting him before I saw the dice.

So yeah, play your thief. I'll roll with my country boy good with a sword or bow (at least I hope he is).

Thanks! I really appreciate your flexibility. We should probably all wait until we see how the dice shake out before claiming classes. It's hard to resist starting to dream up who they might be, though!

I'd definitely be up for taking part in this, especially if the posting expectations are at one per day or less (and if there's room for one more!). I'm really enjoying TBH right now, and another perspective on it would be very cool (although I'm good with other systems, as well).

Sounds good. I'm happy to go where the dice take me as regards class. I'll come up with my reason for capture after that. Are we ready to virtually roll characters now?

We are - I'm just waiting on word from the mods in re when the campaign forum will be live.

In the meantime, let's roll up. Unless anyone has any objections, shall we use the forum dice roller? The campaign ID is 455.

Do you want to roll up using TBH rules as written? Alternatively, if that approach is a little too old school, I would accept as an alt method the roll 4d6, drop the lowest, as discussed previously.

Go for it.

ToniXX is out of State. He's usually pretty quick setting up the game forums, but I wanted to be sure you knew it may take a day or two this time.
Good luck and have fun everyone!
--Ron--

lab mix wrote:I'd definitely be up for taking part in this, especially if the posting expectations are at one per day or less (and if there's room for one more!). I'm really enjoying TBH right now, and another perspective on it would be very cool (although I'm good with other systems, as well).

Welcome lab mix!

rredmond wrote: Welcome lab mix!

Thank you! Not to jump the gun on things, but I went ahead and rolled some stats on the die roller.

STR:10, INT:9, WIS:13, DEX:10, CON:14, CHR:8

I used 3d6 (and didn't get any 15+ so TBH's tempering rule never came into play anyway), but I'm certainly fine with others' going with 4d6-drop or whatever. Also...I realize there might not be space for this new character, so just consider them a creepy onlooker until further developments!

Thanks for the update rredmond.

Welcome lab minx!

cmrsalmon wrote:Do you want to roll up using TBH rules as written? Alternatively, if that approach is a little too old school, I would accept as an alt method the roll 4d6, drop the lowest, as discussed previously.

I'd like to go as written. I know the system has been play tested, so I assume there must be a reason for the unusual method. The level progression might have something to do with it, isofar as characters gain stat points as they level up. So it's better not to start too high, I reckon.

EDIT: Waiting for my dice roller registration email now.

EDIT: Got it, but I'm not sure how to roll 2d6+2 for stats?

EDIT: Rolled stats in the wrong order at first, so it should be STR:15, DEX:10, CON:10, INT:9, WIS:5, CHA:12. But I should be re-rolling because of that STR:15. Okay, I did, and got a DEX:7. I can swap two stats, so I'll swap DEX and CHA.

I guess this makes me a warrior -

SIEGFRIED THE STRONG (PC id: 3824)

STR:15, DEX:12, CON:10, INT:9, WIS:5, CHA:7; 12 HP; 3 coins (started with 100)

Equipment (remaining coins) - able to carry 17 things (STR:15 + 2 for backpack)
1. Gambeson (50)
2. 1-Handed Axe (25)
3. Backpack (20)
4. Work Tools (18)
5. Iron Spikes (17)
6. Fresh Rations (12)
7. 50' Rope (11)
8. Small Sack (10)
9. Flint & Steel (7)
10. Torches, 6 (6)
11. Wineskin, full (4)
12. 10' Pole (3)

I'm also new to the dice roller, but I think you might have to roll them in sequence:

Str: [3d6]
then
Dex: [3d6] OR Dex: [2d6+2] as appropriate

I think it works out okay to roll them as 3d6 each, and then re-roll any that follow a 15 or higher as 2d6+2. There won't be many 15+ rolls, and you can't roll 15+ when you re-roll with 2d6+2, so there won't be a cascade effect. Of course you have to do the re-rolls in sequence.

Aden Hollow: Warrior.
Country boy. Good with a bow and fairly clever. I like him.
Stats: STR:8, INT:14, WIS:12, DEX:14, CON:12, CHR:10

I also went 3d6 down the line. Don't know how to roll 2d6+2 unless you just manually reroll the following stat. Doesn't matter anyhow as I didn't roll over a 14.

Okay, going with a Cleric here. His name shall be Ezra and...holy crap, worst possible rolls for coins AND hp!! (At least I managed to roll a 2 for spells known...)

http://www.unseenservant.com/default.as ... ts&pc=3823

So...I guess he'll be a fairly poor young man currently working as an assistant to the local vicar.

Ezra
Level 1 Cleric, 5 HP
STR:10, DEX:10, CON:14, INT:9, WIS:13, CHR:8
Equipment [cost]: Mace [-], preserved rations (d8) [15], wineskin [1], flint & steel [3], torches-6 (d6) [1], flask of oil (d6) [2], backpack [5]
3 coins remaining
Spells known: 1st - Cure Light Wounds, 2nd - Hold Person

[EDIT: And thanks for the welcome, y'all!!]

Siegfried, Aden and Ezra. Excellent.

With Pulpatoon's possible thief, that makes for a very solid party.

Looking forward to getting this underway.

Does anyone have a specific mechanics/house rules questions? Here's mine:

How do you want to handle passive rolls, e.g. find secret doors? Is everyone happy for me to roll for you? Should keep things moving a little faster, but do say so if you'd rather roll everything yourselves.

I have NO issue with someone else making such passive rolls for me. Forum games are perpetually in danger of stalling to the point of stopping, so I'm up for whatever keeps that from happening. (I'd be very willing to have an established window where, if I have a decision to make and don't get to it in a timely manner, you can make a reasonable call and go with it...)

(EDIT: Oh, and I'm fine if other players would like to handle it differently; I just wanted to go ahead and throw up a buffer between me and "holding up the game!")