Any Nobilis GMs out there?

[MadPanda]

Long strange story, but Circlmastr talked me into buying this coffee table book of a game, see, 'cause he wanted someone to run it.  He had a cool idea, and a cool concept...and I just plain dropped the proverbial ball (on the original idea, at least).

So he and I are more or less in the market for a HG who can handle such a diverse pair of players as ourselves.  ;D

Drop us a line, if interested!

[Muse]

I've got a friend pushing this game on me too, but I know full well I can't run it right now. 

[MadPanda]

Le sigh.
Anyone else?  (makes big googly panda eyes of supplication)

[MadPanda]

Re-pinging the question unto cyberspace!
Just 'cause.

[Ajoxer]

I might be persuaded to do a game, since I like both you and Circl, and have lost my mind.

What sort of concept do you have in mind?

[MadPanda]

I had nothing in particular in mind, but I'm in a game where each of the PCs embody one of the Major Arcana in some way.  That seems to have worked out pretty well.

Any input, Circ?

[MadPanda]

Repinging.

Surely out there, someone else has run this...

(And the other game went belly-up some time ago, so we can probably recycle the Major Arcana idea without stepping on anyone's toes.)

[MadPanda]

Booting this back to the top, although Ajoxer has expressed some interest...

[Ajoxer]

I know Circl may also be interested, and considering your preferences, we might do a Dragon-Monkey-Rat zodiac game. I'm divided over whether to have there be Nobilis other than the Zodiac- I'm thinking I'd like to let this game be directed by the players. Think of me as the river, and yourselves as the shore.

[Ajoxer]

Furthermore, by the way, should we not have a third person who we really want, might always make amusement to have the third member an NPC.

[CirclMastr]

I call dibs on Dragon.

[MadPanda]

Monkey for me.  Am reading Journey to the West, and the Great Sage Equal to Heaven gets the first eighteen chapters more or less to himself and his antics...  :)

[Jefepato]

This would be potentially interesting if I could understand the Nobilis book at all.

[MadPanda]

Circ, I believe you're our SME on the game...

[CirclMastr]

SME....

Simple Minded Emissary?

Senior Major Ensign?

Slightly Mad Egomaniac?

[MadPanda]

Subject Matter Expert.

[Ajoxer]

Then it looks like things are looking cool for us. We have any wish for a specific focus? I'm ready to produce a Small Game. What level do we want?

[MadPanda]

Now there's a problem!  As we have a distinct lack of female PCs thus far, I'd say non-adult or Vanilla (just in case).

Trying to get my head around a reasonable template for a Monkey-lord.

[Dingo]

Any more players accepted ?

(A recent cola accident made me pull out my own nobilis copy)

[MadPanda]

Can't see why not.

We have a unifying concept which, if memory serves, is to have each character based around one of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac (or, rather, some element that they represent).  Dragon and Monkey are taken.

(I was in a game that went belly up, but there we were supposed to base our characters on cards out of the Major Arcana.  There was some confusion because the title of the card does not necessarily represent the area of interest!  The Death card, for example, does not mean death...anyway, it was a cool idea, and I suggested it to Ajoxer and Circ when we first considered this game.)

[Dingo]

I will take the Snake (my own sign)

[MadPanda]

Coolness.  :)

It makes a handy motif, if nothing else.  Or a cool nickname.  "This is our brother, Vinny the Snake."

[Dingo]

I'm still dubbing seriously as to what my main Estate will be.

[MadPanda]

If nothing else, you could always pick one of the many, many associations with Snake.  There are a lot of those...

For me, it's a bit easier.  Monkey implies Mischief.  And also Monkey-style kung fu...  :)

[Dingo]

Well it's more that I am dubbing wether to be really good at my Domain stuff, or actually just be a personification of Snake. Both are actually quite interesting.

The snake has quite some nice tricks up his sleeves, wether as the first or the latter option.

[MadPanda]

Well, good luck with him!
Can't wait to see what Ajoxer has in mind.

[Ajoxer]

Well, something of a note, my main concept here relates to the 'compatible' relationships between Nobilis, and the 'Rival''s. As such, I'm uncertain if I'd want to add a fourth person- Particularly one neither compatible with the others- zodiac speaking- or 'incompatible'.

Also, a further thought, is if we'd like to have domains as simply whatever your animal is- which would make them INCREDIBLY wide, but I can accept that- making them the effective equivalent of nobles among nobles. Alternatively, we could just choose to go with it being a title bestowed upon certain people, and let you choose your own Domain.

My main reason for wanting a rival is, well, I like the idea that Rivals simply have very strong emotions towards each other, not necessarily negative.

[Ajoxer]

Hmmm, though, according to the wiki, there may be a mild amount of compatibility with Snake. I'll leave it up to the others, but I'd prefer not to add anymore characters, 4 will probably be more than enough, honestly.

[Ajoxer]

As for domains...

   1. Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial, rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming, sturdy.
   2. Ox (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
   3. Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colourful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish.
   4. Rabbit (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, lazy.
   5. Dragon (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, zealous, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, generous, loyal. Can be arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, eccentric, grandiloquent and extremely bombastic, prejudiced, dogmatic, over-bearing, violent, impetuous, brash.
   6. Snake (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious.
   7. Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn, lack stability and perseverance.
   8. Sheep (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer.
   9. Monkey (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
  10. Rooster (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated.
  11. Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amiable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
  12. Pig (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, simple, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

The general 'connections'.

[MadPanda]

Hmm.  My original idea was that our names were epithets rather than overarching concepts.  That is, 'Bill the Dragon' is called 'the Dragon' because he represents something associated with the Dragon, not because he is DRAGON the archetype.  Does that make sense at all?

Rivalries?  Okay.  We're all one big happy family, sired or borne by our Imperator...  :P

[Ajoxer]

That'd be a vote for the 'zodiac' thing being a title, then?

And essentially, each Trine will be the Nobles of a different Imperator.

[MadPanda]

Inspiration and epithet was the intent.  However, if you want to make us Archetypes, that's cool, too.

In fact, while I think of my character as being an aspect of MONKEY, he makes better sense.

[Dingo]

Actually being the Aspect of Snake, instead of just a part of it, is very interesting in my opinion.

It doesn't necessarilly make you more powerful, but it does give you more flexibillity (which is power as such).

I'm actually open to both concepts.

[Ajoxer]

For Imperators, I'm rather picturing that each Trine is under one of the Four Symbols.
    * Azure Dragon of the East (青龍): Wood
    * Vermilion Bird of the South (朱雀): Fire
    * White Tiger of the West (白虎): Metal
    * Black Tortoise of the North (玄武): Water

I'd leave it up to you which one you'd like and how to build them.

Yes, this game does have something of a recurring theme.

[MadPanda]

Azure Dragon of the East (青龍): Wood

I've had a bit too much Fuushigi Yuugi to go for Suzaku...

[Jefepato]

I still have a lot more reading to do before the setting makes a lick of sense, but if it wasn't clear yet, I'm all over the Rat thing.

Having the archetypes be our overall Estates is fine by me.  Of course, that creates some overlap, but in a game like this I don't see that being as big a problem as it would be in some.

[Ajoxer]

Alright, further ideas- They're flowing like wine!- Genbu, the former Patron of the trine of Snake, Ox, and Rooster, was murdered by the Excrucians, leaving only the Tiger of the North, Bird of the South, and Dragon of the East. Snake, as it happens, ended up with the Azure Dragon. Explains why one of them would be spending so much time out of his Trine.

[MadPanda]

We're equal opportunity! We'll accept anyone into our club...  :)

[Ajoxer]

Alright, thought for how to start the game: Chinese New Year, in the chancel, all the Powers of Seiryuu getting together to celebrate, discuss what they've been up to, and start talking about what they want to do in the coming year. Generally enjoying a damn nice party, booze, and fireworks.

[MadPanda]

Any excuse for a party, that's the Chinese pantheon...

[Dingo]

Now, I do have one question.

How is Snake still around when his Imperator was killed ?

[Ajoxer]

Well, we can choose to either have your Imperator have died during your life- in which case Seiryuu intervened and saved your life out of loyalty to the reptilian breed, which would suggest Byakko got Ox and Suzaku got Rooster- or have it happen in the past, and that happened, but you didn't personally experience it. In the former, there's potential for your character still trying to find acceptance in the others, but in the latter, we assume that they might at worst treat you as the kid brother to the Familia.

[Ajoxer]

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=17238.0

Alright, posted here.

I'd also like you guys to discuss what sort of Chancel you want, and what properties to buy for your Imperator. As so far, none of you have any Realm points, you'll probably need osme drawbacks to keep things solid.

[MadPanda]

NOBODY bought Realm?  I may have to reconfigure...
Will post later, when I am not encumbered by squirmy Cub.

[Ajoxer]

Eh, don't worry about it, you can still customize your Realm... It'll just be a bit more... exciting.