AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic - Alternate Beginnings: On Commonwealth Ground

The Premise

Cordor, the City of Water, the Gem of the Trackless Sea, was once the home to adventurers of all walks of life. In the wake of Duke Montgomery d'Cordor's abdication of his rulership, the intercontinental trade stop has transformed from a laissez-faire duchal government into a commonwealth that is ostensibly a commonwealth of common people. These common people are the ones who either did or did not suffer at the hands of the bourgeois merchants and the noble elite just over three years ago, and now either rejoice under proletarian rule or lament what they may have lost with the exodus of wealthy nobles and the resulting disintegration of many businesses and industries. These are the people who work seven out of ten days in the tenday, from nine bells of the morning 'til five bells in the afternoon as one of hundreds of new governmental clerks; these are the people who struggle to keep their business afloat when capital is tenuous at best; these are the people with families who need assistance from the Ministry of Health and Public Welfare and wait for rides on end for some monetary subsistence; these are the people who salt fish, who make soap and candles, who hand out newspapers and clean the streets, who wait tables at the Okappa Otama, who have political aspirations to serve the Commonwealth, the people who cheat, lie, steal, help, save, spend, hinder, complain, eat, sleep, drink, bathe, serve, donate, contribute, buy, sell, chat, work, lolligag, vandalize, clean, bake, barter, and otherwise live from day to day.

You are these people.

Your Role in the Premise

Under Speaker Joseph Maximillian's rule of Cordor after subsuming the Ministry of Law, the fine old madman's hobby of adventuring has lost its glamor, its allure. You recall that there were days when adventurers strolled through Cordor bigger than life, even bigger than the nobles who oppressed the common people, but ever since the Ministry of Law's bitterly hardline stance against the profession and those in the profession, the few adventurers one does see are not celebrities. If anything, they seem to be exactly what Maximillian says they are: feckless mercenaries. You never noticed it before, but maybe that's because you weren't looking for it - their battle scars, their mistrustful gazes, their auras of power and danger and mystery...no to mention their brutal looking weapons and armor.

Nonetheless, you are a true fanboy or fangirl. In spite of the Commonwealth's negative reaction towards the adventuring lifestyle, you have maintained your peculiar interest in or adoration of adventuring culture. Some of you may keep this a secret, and others may tell the world how they feel, but the one thing that binds you is your love of adventure...and, somewhere, deep down, your desire to taste that thrill, that adventure, that penultimate career of deadly risk vs. incredible reward.

One other things binds you, as well: a ticket stub to spend an evening with the Outsiders at the Nomad's Retreat. The Outsiders are a company of five adventurers who had their origins in Cordor over a decade ago, started small, built a massive fortune on the island of Amia and finally sought adventure elsewhere. Rumor has it they've traveled as far as Thay and even Kara-Tur, plundering the ruins of lost cultures, fighting for the freedom of the common people, and otherwise living the life. Now they've made the last voyage of their careers back home to Cordor, the city they still call home after all these years.

Even if the social climate of Cordor has changed, you're not going to let these luminaries of the adventuring world retire unrecognized. Even if all you have to do by recognizing them is pay for an event ticket and a room at the Nomad's Retreat for a simple question and answer session with the Outsiders. Or not pay. How you came by the ticket is up to you...as are many other details.

The Gameplay & What to Expect

Anticipate a game of social and political intrigue. Combat will happen, but it will not be a primary focus. After all, there's more to adventuring than killing people and prying loot from their corpses. At least you think there is. The right questions posed to the Outsiders might shed some light on that. When combat does happen, expect that it might happen suddenly and without warning, putting you in a do or die situation.

And speaking of dying, you can die in this, or be otherwise put out of commission. The sticky in this very forum labeled Cordor = Serious Mode has rules that apply to this Alternate Beginnings campaign.

You do have some freedom over the direction of the story and, in fact, the actions taken in this Alternate Beginnings campaign may very well have a major impact in the overall plot for the server. This is a good thing, because it means that these PCs, who will begin at level 2-3, may have something to "attach to their name" in whatever career they pursue once I am done with them.

Choose your skills wisely. I take advantage of them. Sometimes I may demand rolls, and other times I may simply scan your skill list to see how versed you are in certain areas and feed you information based on that without the need for a roll. After all, people interpret the world around them in terms of what they know. A person with a high Appraise skill is going to be able to perceive things in terms of value, whereas a person with no Appraise but some background in Crafting skills may comprehend things from their mechanical or "nuts and bolts" perspective. A person with a Lore background will understand things theoretically, with a lot of information (most possibly extraneous), but when asked to place an actual, working value on something or explain how something functions, the Loremonkey may have to defer to others with more experience in certain fields.

XP will be given at various points, as well as other rewards. DCs will flow if you keep one thing in mind: your concept (listed below). When a player plays their concept to such a degree that I see how it has a major impact on the story, drives it forward without me having to pull too many strings, or takes it off in an unexpected but exciting direction, that will be worthy of a DC.

The "closed" game will take place on Wednesday evenings for an unspecified series of weeks. Your PCs will be primarily confined to the Commonwealth of Cordor, since you are entrenched in this city. It is your home, probably the place you were born (though not necessarily), you have things that tie you to it, and you are not an adventurer...though there may be some hope that, by the time I am done with you, you might be. Or you might realize that Maximillian is right about those greedy, uncontrollable bastards.

However, due to the nature of this game and other Alternate Beginnings that have had their hiccups, I am making the following rule: you can play these PCs during the week in intervals between Wednesday night sessions. In fact, I encourage it, in order to fit into your role. But do not gain XP. Do not go hunting. Work your Job System jobs and make money and spend it as you see fit on whatever you have access to purchase (even if that means weapons and armors - hey, there's nothing wrong with being prepared, right? Or being a collector). And then the story will progress on Wednesday. Note, this means that at the end of every session I am likely to leave you to your own devices. In between sessions I may or may not be available for individual, private actions, but this is based entirely upon my availability.

You may or may not be a citizen. You may or may not have a job. You may or may not work for the city, if you do. You have quite a bit of freedom in choosing your walk of life, your history, your essential character, but you would do well to have it all revolve around the concept you choose.

Concepts

I will accept 5-6 players for this campaign. I want you to submit a character design to me based on one of the following concepts. Incorporation of the concept in a clever, appealing way is essential to being accepted. I do not necessarily care about your build, but you may share it if you like. Length of and detail included in the submission is up to you, but I will say this: if it contains too much information and risks boring the crap out of me, you will be passed over. If it contains too little information, I might send you a response back with some questions to clarify or expand if i think you're really onto something, but don't expect it - you'll probably just get overlooked in favor of players who really seem to grasp that certain je ne sais quois about the campaign and the setting.

The concepts I provide below are intentionally vague. You may interpret them in a myriad of ways, and major props to those who conceive of them in a way that I had not even considered. As an example, the concept of "The Sellout" may refer to a character who makes a habit of selling people out (a snitch, an informant, a whistleblower, a narc) or it may refer to a person who simply compromises his or her own strong values in favor of another paradigm: safety, conformity, profit, stability, whatever. "The Mother to All" may be a person with a nurturing personality; it may be a character who literally has TONS of kids or dependent weighing him or her down; or it may be your basic overbearing nag. If you do not grasp the plurality of these concepts based on this simple description, you might want to consider another alternate beginnings campaign.

The Concepts

The Politician - Robert E. Strumgull (The Cortroy)
The Sellout
The Mother to All
The Mama's Boy - Trent Goodwater (GreatPigeon)
The Dirtbag - Charley Shemlee (Chickenchaser63)
The Peddler
Nature vs. Nurture
"This is not an exit."
Mary Quite Contrary - Araell Wickley (NaturallyCaffeinated)
The Wannabe
The Poser
The Leader
The Actor
Sweetberries
"Please, sir, may I have another?"
Child of Science Neea Twinkerby (Sylfwe)

Details

Campaign: Alternate Beginnings - On Commonwealth Ground
No. of Players: 5-6
Starting Level: 2-3
Ending Level: 7-8
Location: Cordor
Time: Wednesday evenings, CST. Exact hours TBA.
Recommended Races: Human would be ideal. Dwarf, elf, half-elf, and hin all perfectly acceptable. Anything other race and you'll have to work a little harder in the request.
Recommended Classes: Any. Be creative.

I will answer any other questions as they arise and amend them to the first post here.

I would really like to join; things that kept me out of Silent's group have calmed now. If not, I totally understand, but I'd like to.

Then submit a character design around a concept. If it is something I can use, you're in. If it isn't, then catch you on the next attempt, maybe.

Can DMs get in on this? Shifty eyes.

Yes, because I am probably too lazy to make an Events thread about it so you won't be at risk of spoilers.

I'll wait to see if players pitch in before I start my innane scribbles.

I'm actually interested. That's how much of a glutton for punishment I am.

Burningoutbright wrote:

I'm actually interested. That's how much of a glutton for punishment I am.

If you need the people I will, but may want to just be Bells watching on e sidelines.

A very interesting oppritunity but I don't think I'd be eligible for 2 reasons, first being a couple of prior characters who've served the Commonwealth, and one current character who's opposing elements of the Commonwealth ICly.

Sounds like a good one though!

I have just had the best idea for this, writing it up now!

But depending on the times, I might not be able to attend...

What week/s are you planning on starting? Any set date, or whenever you get the right amount of right concepts?

I'm very interested, but I need to know probable event times before I write a concept and commit to it.

edit: nevermind, read the post more closely. I'll get a concept sent by tomorrow night.

I've sent in my concept too. :-)

Estara wrote:

What week/s are you planning on starting? Any set date, or whenever you get the right amount of right concepts?

The latter.

Grymia wrote:

A very interesting oppritunity but I don't think I'd be eligible for 2 reasons, first being a couple of prior characters who've served the Commonwealth, and one current character who's opposing elements of the Commonwealth ICly.

Sounds like a good one though!

A decision I commend you on. I would not prevent you from applying, but you take the stance I would take were I in your shoes.

dayfer wrote:

I have just had the best idea for this, writing it up now!

But depending on the times, I might not be able to attend...

Assume anywhere between 5pm CST and 10pm CST. Maybe as late as 11pm or Midnight.

Of course. *nodnods*..

That said, if there's anything y'need from me tied to either character, just give me a prod and I'll be glad to provide.

I don't suppose newish players (of a sort) are welcome to this? What concepts are still free?

Newish players are welcome, but I would encourage you to do a search for "Cordor" on the forums and read casually read up sometime on the setting. It will help.

And all of the Concepts are still open. Unless one of them WOWS me instantly and I simply close it off, guaranteed I'll accept that one, I probably won't update much til the weekend.

When should the already submitted know if they are declined and/or accepted mister Yoss?

When I post it here.

Chicken and the egg... would love to do this, would have to ask to switch from Friday's off to Wednesday's off. This is doable with enough notice, but I'd have to know if I were accepted first... but I'd have to know if I'd be available to know if I could be accepted... chicken and the egg.

I guess the best thing to do would be to submit a concept anyway with the caveat that even if it is accepted, I might have to in turn decline if it's too short of notice to get the days off?

Sounds awesome, but I already had a slot with Silent's.

I would totally be for this!

However, I play Zelly. And that would just not work properly. xD Good luck and have fun with this, everyone!

...The "This is not an exit" one kinda immediatly made my mind go to the gutter.
Shame I'm a DM, this is one of those things that is right up my alley. Ah well. Probably the wrong timezone anyway.

Bowing out too!

It's the timezones... Goddamnit. I can't attend something i know will be 3-4 in the night for me

Yossarin wrote:

dayfer wrote:

I have just had the best idea for this, writing it up now!

But depending on the times, I might not be able to attend...

Assume anywhere between 5pm CST and 10pm CST. Maybe as late as 11pm or Midnight.

That should be A okay

I'll get writing.

Aren't you back at school in Sept, Dayfer?

Crap, true, but I've pulled all nighters on school days before, one night a week sleeping at 3 never hurt before. Though the earlier the better really.

Eh... That sure doesn't sound healthy

Its fine, one night a week, the rest, way earlier, I'll be pretty much unaffected, done eet before. But if it passes the 3am mark, I'm a no go.

Pfft, dayfer. Just sleep when you get home, then stay up all night. Thats what i used to do. :>

A fine idea!

Oi don't you go spoiling the bright academic future of the country!

And despite loving the conept the timezone writes me out. I'm looking forward to the posts about it though!

Did fine last year going without once in a week. Stop ganging up on me, I want to do this :cry:

Mama's Boy appears to be a popular concept. I found a perfect one I'm going to go with, though. Congrats, GreatPigeon, with Trent Goodwater.

To the others who submitted ideas for that concept, if still interested, see what you can do with another concept. I was admittedly amused by the transvestite interpretation...

And yes, I will advertise/point out what concept you chose for your character. While some may feel there's an element of metagaming going on there, that's not entirely true. It's just something I do to help you and your fellow players in the campaign orient yourselves to your little community of adventure-lovers.

It also goes without saying, but be certain to point out the character's outlook on adventuring and adventurers in the request, since that is a fairly integral theme.

Yossarin wrote:

I was admittedly amused by the transvestite interpretation...

I still have no idea where that came from... Anyway, back to the drawing board I guess!

I think I had a pretty awesome concept typed out, but I think I'm going to have to go the way of Grymia and forgo the fun for common sense, knowing I've got some hands in Cordor already.

Hihi, I think I'd be interested. Politcian sounds like my type of game if your still looking.

Gnome is not in the list of acceptable races. Racism.

I'll have a go at it, if the more exact hours fit my schedule.

gorgometh wrote:

I think I had a pretty awesome concept typed out, but I think I'm going to have to go the way of Grymia and forgo the fun for common sense, knowing I've got some hands in Cordor already.

He has more hands involved (that's what she said-- and typical), but I'll have to agree. That and my reliability is totally circumspect. Sorry, Yoss! I'd love to play a closeted gay nobleman who fantacizes about muscular adventuring men (that'd obviously be my best to relate to, even if I totally had other ideas). Your DMing cruelty knows no boundaries besides Leggz's. Another time.

Think I'm going to have to pull my concept out of this one for Dusty's 'mafraid. Not that I was ever going to get picked.

i know it says evenings CST, but what do you consider evening?

I ask because I'm starting work soon thatll go from about 5-8 EST, which I think is 7 cst?

I have a feeling this will be too late, and dont want to go for something if my schedule will not fit it anyway.

I sent mine in. You're a good story teller.

Grats so far to Cortroy, Pidge, Chickenchaser, NaturallyCaffeinated and Sylfwe, who sent me characters based on the concepts presented that worked very well. I am still willing to take on one more with the hope to start next Wednesday.

I received many applications. Just because I did not respond to yours does not mean it is not a good one. There are some very particular criteria I am looking for in each application and I am intentionally being vague about it with reason.

And those I did not respond to yet may still get an approval. None of the applications I received were an outright "no". Aside from the ones named above, who pretty much sang their parts, the others are very close, sitting on the fence, and I'm just waiting to see what else comes in.

I dont think my work hours will overlap at all, but when you decide on a time for the evening will you tell me asap please? I have to make sure I claim the hours. I know I can/will be free but need to move shift around (I wait tables it wont be hard).

6pm - 10pm CST.

Alternate Beginnings: On Commonwealth Ground

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