Chapter 8: Q&A / Discussions

[Darren]

Thanks. That was fun to write.

[Mike]

Hey Jeff - I think you attributed a quote to Syrdan that was really a quote from Shorak.

[Darren]

You can't expect Jeff to keep you guys straight. I mean, two elves with names that start with 'S'? That's outrageous!

[Jeff]

Yeah, that's the second time I did that. Sorry! Fixed. I know it when I'm writing it, but the wrong name comes out of my fingers.

[Mike]

Feb 16, 2011 11:35:00 GMT -4 Darren said:

I can't recall if Syrdan shared the information about Lerhanna being on a ship, but I'm going to assume.

Yes, Syrdan shared the information with the entire group.

[Darren]

Thanks for the refresher, Mike and Ken. You guys know I can't remember anything.

I'm not sure what Kal's excuse is. Hit in the head one too many times during sharrash practice, or something.

[Jeff]

Two things:

1. If some PC-to-NPC (or even PC-to-PC) conversation is just getting started, and you have you character walk away from it without a specifically stated destination or goal, know that you're basically opting out of what will probably be a couple days of conversation posting.

Maybe that's intentional? I have no way of knowing unless you tell me. I'm terrible at taking hints. In any case, I do a lot of things to try to keep everyone engaged in the game...sometimes you just have to work with me on that. If you're interested in taking a break from posting, I'd rather you just say so in the conflicts/scheduling thread.

2. Also, regarding sparring, what's your preference? You can just describe what you're doing, generally speaking, or get more specific. Or you can actually hash out a mock combat, if you want. You guys tell me.

Everyone's an experienced warrior; we could establish a combat system wherein you trade blows and all damage is considered "nonlethal" from the get-go. Even with spells. It's basically reining in the lethal edge from attacks: hitting with the flat of a blade, a pommel of a hilt, a smack of a shield, or even simply lessening the impact of otherwise dangerous magic.

If you want to try this, I'm also happy to reward a tiny bit of XP for it.

Let me know what you prefer, either way.

[Dave W.]

I'm assuming that we have no way of going exploring on the other ship. Much as Adamant would like to go see if our missing elfwoman is on board, the Captain was already getting pissed with Syrdan so it seems unlikely that we're going to get any closer. Maybe I'm misreading things, but Addy's pretty much trying to keep the relationship between us and the captain and crew tension-free until we have dry land under us again.

So I did try to seperate Syrdan specificly from the Captain.

Adamant would like to do some sparing. I'm fine with anything: a simple description of the combat "style", playing it out, or some middle-ground.

Actually, though maybe I haven't been posting as much as I could, I think Adamant's been busy.

I (me, David, the player) am still trying to figure out how we end up actually backing the threat-level down and going on what I'm sure is going to be an amazing journey in a strange new (well to Adamant) land. Maybe we need to chat a bit about how that's going to happen or what we plan on doing when we reach port?

Do we know how many days the journey is? Is it likely we'll run into danger or something strange?

[Jeff]

Much as Adamant would like to go see if our missing elfwoman is on board, the Captain was already getting pissed with Syrdan so it seems unlikely that we're going to get any closer.

Well, the Merrow would have passed the other ship regardless, but probably come much closer to it. The captain has now been warned away from it, so the plan is to go widely around it in the passing.

I (me, David, the player) am still trying to figure out how we end up actually backing the threat-level down

Heh. I actually have no idea what this sentence is saying.

Do we know how many days the journey is?

Yup, a few times it's been said that the voyage is 2 weeks. It's day #2 now.

[Dave B.]

Since I'm still a greenhorn, I'll go along with whatever everyone else wants to do about the sparring.

[Dave W.]

Feb 17, 2011 21:03:10 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Heh. I actually have no idea what this sentence is saying.

Hummm, I'm not sure you can blame the sentence... I think you'll need to blame the author... My only excuse is that I've been working since 8:30 am so I'm a little fuzzy. I'll try again...

I'm trying to figure out how we get from threatening the Prof every time he gets within earshot to taking on the mission of looking for the eye-thingy.

I just keep thinking it's going to get tiresome after a while...

We dock: "Here Professor, let me get that backpack... oh, we're going to kill you later."
We set up camp: "Professor, what watch do you want? Oh, we're going to kill you later."
We're examining the map: "This looks like a good route... oh, Professor, we're going to kill you later."
We go to visit the loo: "Whew, that stinks... but not as much as the Professor will after we kill him later."
"I've been working 17 hours straight and I still have to kill the Professor later."

[Brian]

Regarding the sparring, I was just going to assume we go through some sword routines, not really intending to do any damage--though the occasional nick and scratch is common enough. Just a way to keep limber. Maybe to a little sharing of technique. Personally, I'm not too interested in XP for it.

[Jeff]

We dock: "Here Professor, let me get that backpack... oh, we're going to kill you later."
We set up camp: "Professor, what watch do you want? Oh, we're going to kill you later."
We're examining the map: "This looks like a good route... oh, Professor, we're going to kill you later."
We go to visit the loo: "Whew, that stinks... but not as much as the Professor will after we kill him later."
"I've been working 17 hours straight and I still have to kill the Professor later."

Hahahaha! Yeah, you got me. I guess at least everyone's being honest.

But yes, it's all very, "Thank you for everything, Westley, good night now, I'll probably kill you in the morning." ;D

[Darren]

I was just thinking that, Jeff. Except it's, "Good night. Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning."

[Jeff]

I was actually directly quoting the book, Darren. Which, y'know, came first and all.

Although as someone who read the book, the movie's still way better.

[Mike]

At the moment, I'm in complete agreement with what Dave W. has written.

Moving Syrdan "off-screen" for the time being has nothing to do with wanting to take a break as a player. However, given the current circumstances our characters find themselves in, I'm really having a hard time balancing "what my character would do" versus "what's good for the game".

Obviously, this is usually the compromise that goes for any given situation. And I'm usually good with saying "Screw it, if I act 'in character', that's going to be disruptive and make the game less fun for everyone else, so I'll do something out of character instead."

But at the moment, I'm playing a character who's basically a more socially skilled version of Rorschach from "The Watchmen" (and who probably has better hygiene, too). Who's being asked to not only not aggressively go after someone he considers a lying, murdering villain, but a necromancer. Even though he's sworn to fight against everything said necromancer represents.

In this case, I can't personally find the compromise. If I was truly going to 'act in character', swords would be drawn, blood would be shed, and that would so completely disrupt the game that it would truly suck for everyone else.

So for the moment, he's 'below decks'.

[Jeff]

Funny thing is, Mike, when you say "the necromancer," I'm not sure if you're referring to the one on board this ship, or one you presume to be on the other ship, along with Major Krez.

[Mike]

Feb 18, 2011 9:54:44 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Funny thing is, Mike, when you say "the necromancer," I'm not sure if you're referring to the one on board this ship, or one you presume to be on the other ship, along with Major Krez.

The one on board this ship.

[Jeff]

Who's being asked to not only not aggressively go after someone he considers a lying, murdering villain, but a necromancer. Even though he's sworn to fight against everything said necromancer represents.

Feb 18, 2011 10:06:12 GMT -4 Mike said:

Feb 18, 2011 9:54:44 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Funny thing is, Mike, when you say "the necromancer," I'm not sure if you're referring to the one on board this ship, or one you presume to be on the other ship, along with Major Krez.

The one on board this ship.

Welcome to Eberron and its alignment blurring.

That said, I like your Rorschach comparison. One of the coolest comic book characters ever.

[Mike]

Feb 18, 2011 10:25:49 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Welcome to Eberron and its alignment blurring.

At the moment, I don't see it as much "alignment blurring" as "need to adjust character concept to fit a given situation".

And again, since I personally don't see a good way of doing that without really compromising the character, or disrupting the game ... exit stage left.

[Jeff]

Well, by alignment blurring, I mean sometimes you have to spend time with the bad guys. Period.

The bad guys in Eberron aren't only demons and fiends beneath the earth. They're also the guys in charge, the monarchs, "benevolent" church leaders, even everyday people. But they're only made more interesting because there's just as many good guys in those same positions, and it's not always easy to tell which is which.

Kind of like how in Eberron, dragons don't have set alignments for their colors. There are good red dragons and evil silver dragons.

[Dave B.]

Feb 18, 2011 5:28:00 GMT -4 Brian said:

Regarding the sparring, I was just going to assume we go through some sword routines, not really intending to do any damage--though the occasional nick and scratch is common enough. Just a way to keep limber. Maybe to a little sharing of technique. Personally, I'm not too interested in XP for it.

That sounds fine to me. After considering the mock combat option, I realized how difficult it would be to do, unless everyone were participating at the same time.

[Darren]

I apologize if anyone feels like I've been dominating the posting. I figured since no one else was involved in this conversation, I could just keep posting to my heart's content.

[Brian]

Regarding Big Red's recent comments toward Larest, I am not being purposefully difficult. You will have to trust me for now. There is a reason for Condign's behavior. As to what it is . . .

[Jeff]

I am alive... Sorry I've been off the air so long.

No worries, Dave. You checked in, we knew. It's cool.

Adamant nods almost as though he has just woken from a dream.

You guys don't need to feel the need to justify in-character why you had a few busy days. Really. We know.

[Dave W.]

Feb 20, 2011 23:19:22 GMT -4 Jeff said:

You guys don't need to feel the need to justify in-character why you had a few busy days.  Really.  We know.  

Well that may have been a little justifying-ish, but that whole bit is also a mental note that I want to come back to that question after the sparing...

[Dave W.]

Btw, Adamant would be all in for a raid on the Patriot, but that conversation's going on elsewhere...

[Ken]

Yeah, I figured that. Syrdan has the biggest personal stake in raiding the Patriot, so if he's in (and if Morsha agrees - a big if), things may happen quickly.

Also, Streko is fully aware of the Belarin-Histra chat, so he may choose to share this knowledge....

[Darren]

Condign, Adamant, Shorak, Starg, and Sem don't hear Belarin's request for a subtle "nod" or "grunt" from Kal, but they do hear Streko's words and Kal's spoken reply.

Quote:
"Streko is right. I'm up for a fight, Belarin. But we cannot put Morsha or the Merrow Down at risk. It wouldn't be right. If you can convince the captain, I will help you plan the attack."

"Attack?" Sem asks. "Whom?"

Sorry, Ken. Streko had already spoken.

[Jeff]

Streko has the magical halfling ability to hear conversations from far away.