Ptolus (Light-EX, Fantasy, Light System)

Started by Myrleena, December 10, 2010, 09:02:28 PM

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Myrleena

Ptolus

This game is going to be somewhat different than most games I've tried to start, in part due to most of those games not quite working out how they were intended to.  First off, the setting is in Monte Cook's Ptolus.  If you don't known anything about Ptolus, you can download the free Player's Guide.  It should be stated that while Ptolus was made for the 3.0/3.5 Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, this game will not be using those rules.  Explaining Ptolus in its entirety would be difficult, as the setting book proper is over 600 pages alone, but there are some ways that it can be explained.  Although it's a semi-mideval city, magic is common in Ptolus.  The people might be surprised to see a mage turn into a troll and charge into the street after a thief, but they won't be shocked because that simply is how the world is.  Although its in decline, there are steam engines and basic firearms in the city, as well as specacles and other mechanical marvels.  Certainly, you have to carry citizenship papers with you, which are required for owning firearms, but such is the nature of the Empire.  Demons live furtively in some districts, while angels live in the Tower of Pale, ancient ruins filled with treasure and danger are below the city while two ancient dread fortresses are built on the spire rising into the heavens above the city.  This is Ptolus, the City on the Spire and one of the bastions of civilization in the declining Empire of Tarsis.  But even here things are eroding, and no one is certain what the next year will bring.

The Game

One thing that will be different is that the Game Master (or Game Masters) will not be the one running the game for everyone.  Rather, the GM will be approving character sheets and adjucating character advancement, but more on that later.  Instead of having the GM run things, it is up to the Players to come up with plots and challenges.  There are many ways that this can be done, from one player building challenges for several others to simply building challenges for yourself to go through, and which others might be allowed to tag along through.  This is more of collaborative storytelling than a structured game, and one can simply spend all of their time socializing if that is what one wishes.  So in this case, the game truly is what one makes of it.  However, there are some vague rules for conflict resolution.

As an example of the Storytelling: Antreana, a drow disguised as a surface elf, has been looking about the city for a time.  Deciding that she wants to have Antreana explore the Dungeon below Ptolus, the player considers things and decides to have Antreana come across a smashed shop.  The injured owner, controlled by Antreana's player, explains that a group of kobolds burst out of the connections to the sewer in the back of his shop and stole the valuable shipment of jewels he just received, as well as most of his jewelry before fleeing back into the sewers.  At this point, Antreana is intrigued, if only for the reward.  The player may choose to write up the encounters over time, or the player may choose to get others involved who might add their own elements to the plot, or simply set up the situation for the entire group.

Threat Rating

As a disclaimer, this is almost solely for Players to use when up against Non-Player Characters.  Player vs. Player conflicts can be resolved in the following manner, but only with the permission of both players.  If one player has created something, you may NOT change it without their permission.  The same goes for their characters.

Every character and NPC has a Threat Rating (TR).  Player Characters may start with a character that has a TR of no more than 5.  Threat Ratings range from 1-10, with 1 being the weakest and 10 being the strongest.  Note that there is no true upper limit to TR 10.  Examples of each will follow, but first I will discuss conflict resolution.  A creature with a given threat rating can usually defeat any creature with a lower threat rating than themselves.  Thus, a TR 5 creature can likely mop the floor with a TR 4 creature.  When creatures have the same TR, the result is usually too close to tell, and the winner will likely be injured (most likely temporarily lowering their TR by 1).  PCs can choose whether or not they win an equal fight, though unless they're extremely clever they will be injured by such encounters.  If fighting a creature of one TR above you, you may win (if you're a PC), but it will require luck and you almost certainly will be injured in the process.  Anything more than two TRs above your own TR will defeat you handily.

Now, there is a way to raise your TR to a degree.  When grouping with others of the same TR, your group effectively raises your total TR by 1.  However, the same goes for other creatures that you might encounter.  The following Threat Ratings are just examples, feel free to use your own within limits.

TR  0: A puppy, child, or older person who is unable to defend themselves effectively.
TR  1: Drunkard, punk, zombie, skeleton, rabid dog, or newly recruited guard.
TR  2: Thug, city guard, new adventurer, apprentice mage, common orc, warhorse.
TR  3: Minor demon, adventurer, courtier, panther, priest, ogre, gnoll, dark elf recruit.
TR  4: Experienced adventurer, troll, just-turned vampire, tiger, dark elf soldier, duergar soldier.
TR  5: Potent adventurer or mage, mid-rank demon, high-rank guard, lich, vampire, assassin.
TR  6: Young dragon, mutant trolls, ranked dark elf or duergar, genies.
TR  7: Master mage, elite guard, master adventurer, elite assassin.
TR  8: Adult Dragon, high-rank demon, dark elf matron, greater elemental.
TR  9: Archmage, Elder Dragon, Swordmaster, Demon Lieutenant.
TR 10: Demigods, Ancient Wyrm Dragons, Demon Lords and up.

Characters

Characters can run the gamut of what one can imagine inside of the genre, though I will ask that no one try to bring in high tech characters.  Realize, while you can bring in an exotic character, that doesn't prevent those in the city from having predjudice toward you, nor would it keep the guard from sending their elite members to get rid of a demon trying to operate in the open.  The guard is extremely competant in Ptolus, but they can't be everywhere at once.  The following code is what I use for my own characters, just to give something of an idea for how to format a character.  After you've finished a character, you simply PM it to a GM for approval.  If they approve it, you may post it in the Character thread and get started.


[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Age:[/b]
[b]Height & Weight:[/b]
[b]Race:[/b]
[b]Threat Rating:[/b]

[b]Description:[/b]


[b]Powers:[/b]


[b]History:[/b]


Additionally, a character may have Minions.  Yes, I capitalized it.  I will say that it is best to err on the side of caution with this.  However, that said, there is no hard limit on the number of minions one can have, save for those of TR 3 to 5.  Like PCs, these characters may not be higher than TR 5.  If your character is TR 5, you may not have a minion of TR 5.  You may have no more than 1 minion of TR 4 or 5, and no more than 4 of TR 3.  An example of using this is for a competant lieutenant, bodyguards, or other such uses.  I also have put up some advice for players Here and advice for GMing Here.  I have placed my own character in the Character Thread as an example, and so that I can play as well.

Advancement

A character can still grow beyond the starting limit of TR 5.  In fact, its possible for a character to grow from TR 1 on, should a player wish to try for it.  The key to this is going out and doing things that make sense and push the limits of the character.  Each step up the TR chart is harder than the last, requiring more work to gain a further step.  When your character has done a lot that you feel would qualify to raise you a TR, simply PM one of the GMs.  Include details of what your character has done to stretch their limits and why you think they should grow in power.  The GM will discuss the submission with any other GMs, which may take several days, and then they will PM in return, telling you their decision.  If they feel that your character has not done enough to grow, they will inform you of this and what sort of things would help with this.

The OOC Thread, where you can ask questions.

Game Masters:
Myrleena
ShamshielDF

Ironwolf85

Sure I'll take a crack at it

Name: Vincent Laroque
Age: 20
Height & Weight:6'2, 217lbs
Race: Fey blooded human
Threat Rating:4
Description: Blonde hair, Ice blue eyes, white skin. athletic build. Vincent 's attempt at manifestating his bloodline has left him with the warped traits of his fey ancestor, the former necromancer has started to resemble a humanoid unicorn. he tends to wear a blue vest and tabbard, black pants and boots, with various potions attached.
for those who need porn pics and have an inability to imagine:  http://70.86.134.186:2143/h/915b122c9ac77e66d0fe595113698b2f106441a5-259256-946-1500-jpg/keystamp=1292047692-c525e8187f/genusmale_27.jpg
Powers: Enchantment, cold, and necromantic based magics, he's adopted a mece and handgun.
History:Vincent apprentenced as a necromancer in the countryside outside Ptolus, when he was finally sent away he had the same thirst for power and domination most in that unsavory profession have. He attempted to manifest his bloodline in the Ptolus Necroplis, buying a ritual on the blackmarket, and stealing the rest of the information from various wizards.
as it turns out wizards that have scrying powers and money want their spells back. Vincent was attacked by adventurers, beaten down, and thrown in prison. He eventually got out claiming to be reformed. indeed the innate good of his bloodline whitewashed his soul, now out, he's taken up the profession of adventurer, and having been a former boss level foe for early adventurers, he's now got a decent threat rating.
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

Myrleena

Okay, sorry it took me a bit to respond, I just have had a busy week.

And as for your character, looks good by me, though the link isn't working on my end.  Just put it into the character thread and feel free to start your own thread, or I can start a 'main thread' for things.  Anyway, I'm planning to try to post tomorrow.  We'll see if I have time, though. ^_^

Lyell

Hmm... interesting. It almost sounds like a Cowboy Beebop setting with swords, magic and a dash of steampunk insted of the interstellar transport and ships.
When you absolutely, positively have to kill it with fire...accept no substitutes.

Ironwolf85

that's what i was thinking.
that and maybe coming up with a small industrial battle for one of my subplots.
i found the picture elsewhere
http://g.e-hentai.org/s/915b122c9a/104514-29

I used to get Genus Comics (a long running furry comic book) E-mailed to me, they sent some male editions too, interesting stories and some good pics for male characters, but not my thing. have fun people
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

Myrleena

I wouldn't know on the Cowboy Beebop bit...I've never watched or read it.  Just didn't catch my interest, really.  Wish I didn't have a headache so I could post, though.

Ironwolf85

same vibe, you'd have to watch it to understand, I could type for a long time explaining it but here's the wiki instead http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowboy_Bebop
I found it saves a lot of time
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

Ironwolf85

my impression was simmilar to a high fantasy world, falling apart like rome during it's waning years
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

Myrleena

Haven't looked at the link yet, prolly will tomorrow, but your analogy is pretty accurate.  I mean...that's what I first thought when I looked at the setting myself.  In fact, to some extent Ptolus was what shaped the end 3.0 D&D rules.  It was where Monte Cook tested rules, a setting/city where he could throw anything he wanted into it.  I mean...when you can shapeshift into a troll and run after a thief on the street and not have most people freak out.

Ironwolf85

it's a wild kind of town where anything goes as the great empire it's attached to is in it's death throes
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

Myrleena

Approximately, yes.  But when you say anything goes, it's about the same for the inhabitants.  Demons lurk in the Reliquary, and the Guard knows they're there, but also knows that it would be difficult to root them out.  So as long as the demons try to be subtle, they're ignored.  Innkeepers put up 'No Detection Spells' signs.  Charm/mind control spells are illegal.  People are warned not to stay in the graveyard after dark, as there are a good number of undead, and the graveyard is walled in and has guards watching it at all hours.  Dwarven tinkers use steam engines to drive everything from ferryboats to bellows for forges.  Magi build towers for their arcane studies or end up as glorified, if well paid, gardeners or housekeepers.  Priests raise the dead and heal the wounded on a near-daily basis.  This is Ptolus, it simply is.

Ironwolf85

WOOOOO I got ideas a poppin now, I get everything you're saying.
Prudence, justice, temperance, courage, faith, hope, love...
debate any other aspect of my faith these are the heavenly virtues. this flawed mortal is going to try to adhere to them.

Culture: the ability to carve an intricate and beautiful bowl from the skull of a fallen enemy.
Civilization: the ability to put that psycho in prision for killing people.

ShamshielDF

I have an idea in mind, and am going to begin writing it up.  The idea in brief - Succubus who was actually born in this world, and promptly left alone by her "family".  She "grew up" on the streets of the city has rather...mixed morals overall.  She is what she is, and she knows what she needs to survive.  It doesn't mean that she feels good about doing so, though.  By and large, poses as an adventurer about town, never joining any group on a permanent basis, but changing frequently in the hopes that they won't figure out who/what she is, and to prevent any attachments that could prove to be dangerous.
Ons and offs!
President of the CharlieSariel fanclub ^_^
A&A

Myrleena

And, FYI, I did start a main thread...I've just been drained lately.  I swear holiday season does that to me.

ShamshielDF

#14
So people are aware, the first few posts have been made and the game is starting, but there is still plenty of room to jump in.  Remember, this game is going to be largely self motivated/oriented, so there is no problem at all with stepping in at any time later.  For convenience, the links:

Main IC Thread
Character thread
Main OOC Thread

A number of questions have already been asked and answered in the OOC thread, so you may want to take a look at that thread and see if there is anything there that may help you with something that you have a question about, or might help you come up with additional ideas.

Others are welcome to start other threads as needed, and, as always, feel free to send a message to myself or Myrleena if you have any questions about the game.
Ons and offs!
President of the CharlieSariel fanclub ^_^
A&A