Hexville - Recruitment CLOSED

[RedPhoenix]

Recruitment is currently closed.

Old Intro Post

The rules are very simple. You make a character (your Aspirant) and you pick their motivation and make a quick sheet for them including their secret lair and minions. Then each turn your Aspirant and their minions will go try to drum up support for your cause. As your influence grows, NPCs will start to notice you and complicate your life, and of course random events might make anyone's life far too interesting at any given time.

The full write up of what I've been fiddling with is here - > Hexville

Hexville

Welcome to Hexville, where everything is great! Or at least it was until just last week when King Fred the Excellent-at-Ruling unexpectedly croaked. The sudden death of the King has left the city in a state of unease! While the people mourn, an inexperienced, unenthusiastic, and rather incompetent regent known as Princess Red the Terrible-at-Ruling, has been placed on the throne due to a series of incomprehensible loopholes in the old laws. Whether she is just blunderingly incompetent or actively dislikes the citizens seems irrelevant at this point. The city is falling part and someone needs to take charge! Aspirants from all walks of life are starting to plot about how they may take advantage of this situation.

Are you a bastard child who should be wearing the crown? Simply one with more ambition than sense of place? Are you wanting to end the monarchy for good, to establish a more progressive government? Or are you just the town baker who only wants to see someone with a few brain cells rule for once? Maybe you want to see the city burn when you smash the throne? No matter what your motivation, you have become a player in this game of chairs that rulers sit in and your aim is to shape the world into what you believe it should be!

Starting as just a simple Aspirant with naught but a secret lair and a single group of minions, you will rise to power and glory! ...maybe.

Hexville is a game that is part CYOA (Choose Your Own Adventure) and part tabletop game with a dash of strategy thrown in! You play as an Aspirant, someone who wants to have a say in what goes on in Hexville!

This will be a turn based game, with turns processed by your GM. Turns will reflect the happenings of a week's worth of time in Hexville. The game ends when someone controls the Palace district for three consecutive turns, or five turns total.

While the game will begin very simple, with only a few choices and actions, things will become more complicated and, hopefully, interesting as time passes!

You may encounter helpful NPCs and take advantage of tricksy random events! You may end up in charge of a certain district, or even in control of the Palace itself! Or you may spend the whole time in your secret lair bemoaning the incompetence of your lackeys.

Influence

The main mechanic of this game is Influence. Each Aspirant will have a tracking score of influence in each of the seven districts of the map. Each of the six outer districts will give bonuses for gaining influence over it, but the game is won when someone has enough influence to take and keep control of The Palace for three turns in a row.

How you flavor your influence is entirely up to you. Whether you are terrifying the populace, making passionate arguments for your cause, using logic to convince the doubters, showing a better way through your actions, or using law and morals to your advantage, this game is all about you making your mark on the city and taking control of it!

The very sensibly laid out city of Hexville!

Influence scales as follows in all of the districts Except the Palace:

Nobody: Less than 25 Influence. Nobody knows who you are! Yet!

Established. Once you reach 25 Influence you have become Established in the area. People have heard of you. You're starting to get some buzz! Once you hit this tier of influence other players will be notified of your presence in the area. Once you become established in an area, you automatically recruit a group of minions from that area. Being established in an area gives +1 to all rolls in that area.

Prominent: Once you reach 50 Influence you have become a Prominent figure in the community. People look to you set trends or establish leadership. Being prominent in an area gives +2 to all rolls in that area. Once you are prominent, your ideology will begin to have a minor effect on the district. Additionally, you will be influential enough to recruit an NPC from that area to join your camp! What that means exactly depends on a mix of your motivation and the district in question!

Eminent: Once you reach 75 Influence you are an Eminent power in the area, someone that must be thought of before any moves are made. Once you become eminent in an area you recruit an additional gang of minions from that area to be loyal to you. Being eminent in an area gives +3 to all rolls in that area. When you become eminent, your ideology will begin to have a strong effect on the district.

In Control: To be in control once must have 100 Influence and at least 50% of the total influence earned in that area. Being In Control of an area gives +4 to all rolls in that area. At the start of the game, an NPC will be in control of each area.

Each district is inhabited by its own unique NPCs. Depending on your style and how you interact with them, they may support or oppose you.

The Palace is a unique district. There are no rewards for anything short of full control of the Palace, and the only NPC who resides there is Princess Red the Terrible-at-Ruling. Once a character has control of the Palace, they must hold it for three consecutive turns, or five turns total, to win the game.


Minions

Minions are the name for a group of those who are enthusiastic to your cause, or too scared not to be, for any reason. Minions are represented as groups of supporters but can be flavored however you like - from a gang of goblin criminals to a trio of pontificating philosophers, to helpful city guardsmen to shambling zombies. You begin play with one group of minions.

When the game begins, your minions have only limited actions: Support and Suppress.

When told to Support, a minion will add 1d6 to that aspirant's influence in the area.

When told to Suppress, a minion will remove 1d6 influence from that Aspirant's influence in the area. You cannot ever reduce influence below 25 in this manner. 

Minions may acquire more advanced actions as the game progresses! Or they may forever remain simple minions. Who can ever tell with these people?


Working with Other Aspirants

You may be thinking, well, won't we just cancel each other out forever and won't it be impossible for someone to win?

Well barring some major luck, yes. That's why you'll need to cut deals with other players, and maybe even form an official alliance with them to combine your influence. Players are always free to make all sorts of deals with each other regarding joining forces or leaving certain areas to each other.

Also, at any time, if all players agree, the game will end in a draw with Hexville existing in whatever state it's in!


Random Event

On a certain turn, a random event will happen on a randomly determined location. Each event will be different. Some may be minor, some may be game-changing. That's why they're random!

Once an event resolves - either through completion, through the end of its existence, or after it goes a turn being ignored by everyone, a new random event will spawn!




Aspirant Sheet:

Name: What your character wishes to be known as!

Motivation: Choose one of the following: Civilization, Freedom, Harmony, Power, Progress.

Brief Description: A brief physical description. Hexville is a cosmopolitan city that features all sorts of fantasy races. As long as your character is approximately human in capability, nearly anything is welcome here.

Background: A brief background, no more than a paragraph or two. No epic stories, just enough to get an idea of where you came from.

Secret Lair Description: A short description of your secret lair from the inside. This is a small area that no more than two or three people could comfortably live in, so no bigger than a small house.

Starting Minions: How would you like to flavor your starting group of minions? A loyal group of the city watch? A gang of thieves? Goblin pirates? Traveling minstrels? It's up to you! This should be a brief description, no more than two sentences.




An image for your Aspirant is NOT required! However if you choose to include one, it should be art, film, or cosplay. No anime.

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[float=left][img padding=10 height=200]https://i.imgur.com/TST17IX.jpg[/img][/float][b]Name:[/b] What your character wishes to be known as!

[b]Motivation:[/b] Choose one of the following: Civilization, Freedom, Harmony, Power, Progress.

[b]Brief Description:[/b] A brief physical description. Hexville is a cosmopolitan city that features all sorts of fantasy races. As long as your character is approximately human in capability, nearly anything is welcome here.

[b]Background:[/b] A brief background, no more than a paragraph. No epic stories, just enough to get an idea of where you came from. You can have a more convoluted backstory than this if you like, you just can't write it all here!

[b]Secret Lair Description:[/b] A short description of your secret lair [i]from the inside[/i]. This is a small area that can fit no more than two or three people comfortably.

[b]Starting Minions:[/b] How would you like to flavor your starting group of minions? A loyal group of the city watch? A gang of thieves? Goblin pirates? Traveling minstrels? It's up to you! This should be a brief description, no more than two sentences.

[clearleft]

[c0i9z]

I would like to express my interest in this.

[RedPhoenix]

I would like to express my interest in this.

Hooray! One interest!

Any thoughts on what sort of Aspirant you would like to play as? :)

[c0i9z]

One idea I have is a goblin, fighting for the equality of her people. Something like that.

[RedPhoenix]

One idea I have is a goblin, fighting for the equality of her people. Something like that.

That's definitely a viable concept!

[Intimate Ink]

Interest.  I confess I might have stalked the thread before; it's always looked well thought-out and fascinating.

[Xurtan]

Also interested, and also stalked the thread a bit. I'm thinking... a Mage focused on Progress who wants to turn the city into a Magocracy, maybe. The nobility and the ruling class had their turn, it's time to advance things via enchantments and science and some good ol fashioned mind control if needed. Minions... maybe some golems. That could be interesting. Hrm. I'll poke at an actual sheet either tonight or tomorrow.

[Metro Mech]

Are you going to allow more monstrous humanoids cause I have an idea or two for a character as interest in this game.

[Xurtan]

A question as far as the lair is concerned. You mentioned 'can only fit two to three people comfortably'; do you mean people living there (ie, it's the size of say, a flat) or 'fit' as in it's more the size of say, perhaps a closet or a phone booth?

[RedPhoenix]

Interest.  I confess I might have stalked the thread before; it's always looked well thought-out and fascinating.

How flattering! Thank you! :)

Also interested, and also stalked the thread a bit. I'm thinking... a Mage focused on Progress who wants to turn the city into a Magocracy, maybe. The nobility and the ruling class had their turn, it's time to advance things via enchantments and science and some good ol fashioned mind control if needed. Minions... maybe some golems. That could be interesting. Hrm. I'll poke at an actual sheet either tonight or tomorrow.

Wow, thanks! And that's definitely a viable concept, including the golem minions! No rush on a sheet, this is still just an interest check, but I appreciate it!

Are you going to allow more monstrous humanoids cause I have an idea or two for a character as interest in this game.

I'm going to be pretty flexible on this. Something like an ogre, minotaur, troll, etc., is very possible. If you tell me what you're thinking I can give you the yay or nay. Basically as long as it doesn't have any special abilities that would need to be written around constantly or isn't at a crazy power level it should work.

A question as far as the lair is concerned. You mentioned 'can only fit two to three people comfortably'; do you mean people living there (ie, it's the size of say, a flat) or 'fit' as in it's more the size of say, perhaps a closet or a phone booth?

I meant day to day comfort, so like, the size of a small house. I'll make that clearer.

[Xurtan]

Interest check or not the sheet was short and sweet so I figured I'd throw one together, do you want it PM'd/tossed in here, or shall I just hold onto it for full recruitment? *snicker*

[RedPhoenix]

Interest check or not the sheet was short and sweet so I figured I'd throw one together, do you want it PM'd/tossed in here, or shall I just hold onto it for full recruitment? *snicker*

You can post it so people see what you’re thinking of playing if you want! :)

[Xurtan]

Something along this line, probably. The setting sounded a bit tongue in cheek so I wrote with that in mind, but I can make it more serious or change whatever as wanted, obviously. :)

Ixeor

Name: Ixeor, Sovereign of the Realms Betwixt and Between

Motivation: Progress

Brief Description: Standing tall for a human at 6'3, Ixeor has long orange hair that he tends to let run loose and gold eyes. He keeps a short cropped black beard, and perhaps most strangely one arm seems to be something much other than human; it has red scales going up the entirety of it, ending in long silver claws rather than normal fingers. His garb usually consistents of a tight fitted red robe bound by his belt, with the crest of a griffin in silver across his breast. He also favors long, dramatic capes, and carries a thin cane topped with a silver crow, a ruby eye glinting in certain lights. Some would say they have seen it blink at them.

Background: Despite his words and how he presents himself, Ixeor is no Wizard of legend. He is, instead, an Enchanter tired of magic being ignored its rightful due. A man from a noble background he is a city native, and has never stepped foot out of it. Adventuring is not the life for him and he knows it, so he instead finished up his Apprenticeship--rather, his Master blew himself up and thus 'ended' Ixeor's Apprenticeship--and has dedicated himself to using his family's money to speed progress through the city with the help of magic. Progress has, sadly, been slow--too many of the nobility disdain magic and its many wondrous uses. His title is self-given, and he hopes it catches on. With the death of the King and the horrendous behavior of the Regent, he sees this as his chance to really push magic to the forefront. 

Secret Lair Description: He likes to tell people--if he ever speaks of it--that his secret lair is actually shunted between planes. Whatever the truth (and it isn't that one), the space has clean wooden floors covered in thick carpets along with dark stone walls. It has a lived in, almost cluttered and whimsical feel to it even as all of the furnishings are clearly high quality. Small glass orbs filled with flame hover in place to light the rooms, and the majority of walls are covered in bookcases that are filled to near bursting with books, scrolls, and various knickknacks or tools. The kitchen is square and has a large cauldron in the center, whilst herbs hang from the ceiling. The sitting room has plush chairs and sofa plus a chaise lounge as well as a constantly lit fireplace. There is only one bedroom with a bed large enough for four, and a small privy off the hall. The majority of the space is taken up by a work room with a giant flat wooden table and schematics and drawing boards spread around the room; one entire corner is taken up by a desk. The major materials in view tend to be gems or clay. An enchanted broom circles the lair, constantly cleaning.   

Starting Minions: As a bit of a secret hedonist, Ixeor is fond of pretty things--consequently, he made his minions in that image. His cadre of minions are not living flesh but instead perfectly sculpted golems; they act, move, and speak just like real humans, but are blatantly made of clay inset with a large gem over the heart, with smaller ones for eyes. They can be identified easily by their differently colored gems and outfits, with the golems wearing silk togas done up in the color of their respective 'heart'.

[RedPhoenix]

That's a wonderful character for this yes, I think the tone fits perfectly. :)

edit: Moved the first page of the WB thread into the first post here so people can see more of it.

[Metro Mech]

Name: Iheion

Motivation: Civilization, the great balance is undone and must be made whole once again

Brief Description: Born to the north within the alpine world Iheion his body has been molded by the harsher elements, standing 6'8" with a lower body covered in plentiful and warming snow white fur sporting stripes of brown that cover the top of his lower half. His upper half is covered in darkened coal skin with piercing weary orange eyes that have long seen the face of war, his hair neatly kept in thick braids, brandishing a set of horns high over his head. Normally walking around with simple white robes that garb his muscular form he also wears a pin made of gold in the shape of a marble pillar with the lacing of vines going up its form as inlaid emeralds     

Background: Born to the high northern alpines Iheion wandered out of those grand forests not as a conqueror or a savage brute but a prophet of a small cult of peace seekers using his role of a druid and natural weaver, wary of the road and its perditions they came to hexcity with a hope of finding a quiet place to settle but alas the scum and villainy of the city cannot be tolerated. Iherion spoke out against these excesses much like their home so far away and rather then leave again it was about time they turned his word onto the people, preaching and gathering new followers to his idea of a peaceful existence and only through the application of a short war can they hope to purge the city of its evil elements. Though his prophet title is hailed by only a few Iheion has vision, a grand new world under his direction and word.

Secret Lair Description: His secret layer is a small space he carved out of a park, a small hidden grove that shields him from the world with none of the natural sunlight coming through but a small home woven from the wood, a quaint little place lit by the flickers of fireflies and luminescent pants that flourish thanks to a bit of his magic brought some of the magical forest with him. Within the small wood woven home is mostly the bare essentials for him, used to living a spare life the only thing within the home that is of any exceptional quality is the kitchen where Iheion spends what time he can cooking for guests and providing them meals that are cooked and seasoned to perfection from what groceries he can get.

Starting Minions: Those who have followed his word out of the forests and into the city away from the harsher aspects of nature are the spirits and denizens who dwelled within, satyrs, spirites, and dyrads have all followed him unto like a cult, looking upon Iheion as their messianic figure to deliver them. Though he seeks their peace he has exploited their generosity for his own carnal desires. Ever keeping them in line with his enrapturing personality and promise of a better future by his hand.   

[RedPhoenix]

That's a cool character, I really like it!

[c0i9z]

Kieri

Motivation: Choose one of the following: Civilization

Brief Description: A goblin, approximately three feet tall. Her skin is green and her golden eyes shine like gold when the light catches them right. The cloak she wears is the barest concession to human modesty. She carries with her a mask, fashioned from the skull of the monster she slew as part of her rites of leadership. She also usually carries a polearm, sized to her form.

Background: Kieri was born in Hexville, though, while still young, was driven away as part of one of the frequent, though mainly unsuccessful purges. Deep in the forest, she was picked up by a band of wild goblins. There, she learned much. She learned of the hunt, she learned the rites, rituals and sacred sign and she learned of goblins who were not treated, who did not act as an underclass and vermin. But she also learned that this was not for her. She longed, still, for her native city. As soon as she was of age, she demanded to take the rite, grueling, dangerous rituals they were, but she passed them all and that marked her as a leader of goblins. Now, she could return to Hexville, where she would fight for goblins to take their proper place, even if she had to take over the whole place to make that happen.

Secret Lair Description: Kieri's lair, in the slums, is quite bare. Simple walls, simple floors and little furnishings to speak of. but it makes up for it by being full of goblins. Goblins are are very communal, very gregarious species and this is well shown here. The place is always full of goblins lazying about, talking amongst themselves or engaging in... other activities.

Starting Minions: A group of city goblins that have recognized Kieri's authority and agree with her mission. She has made them promise not to cause trouble. At least, when she's not specifically asking them to do so.

[RedPhoenix]

Nice!

Well that's three good characters. :)

[RedPhoenix]

Hrm. That may be it though. I'll leave it up through the end of the week and see if any more interest appears.

[Intimate Ink]

Hrm. That may be it though. I'll leave it up through the end of the week and see if any more interest appears.

I plan to join in, just haven't gotten there yet.

ETA: Apologies, I didn't know that you were officially taking sheets yet.  I know Xur is an over-achiever so didn't pay his much mind. :p

[c0i9z]

True that this has only been yet announced as an interest check. A proper announcement might bring more.

[RedPhoenix]

I plan to join in, just haven't gotten there yet.

ETA: Apologies, I didn't know that you were officially taking sheets yet.  I know Xur is an over-achiever so didn't pay his much mind. :p

I'm counting you as interested, sorry that wasn't clear. Sheets aren't required yet.

True that this has only been yet announced as an interest check. A proper announcement might bring more.

I'm not going to run the game with only four players, so the interest check hasn't passed yet.

[pdragon]

potentially interested as well

[Elizabeth Ecsed]

Is princess red particularly attractive?

[RedPhoenix]

potentially interested as well

Cool!

Is princess red particularly attractive?

Well if you look in the World Building Thread you can see the art I picked for her in the third post there.