Heroism, much like a nation, is not built in a single generation...
Welcome to the wondrous tale of something-something Arthurian (original name, do not steal). Summarizing this RP concept in a few simple words is pretty easy - it's a questy sort of romp set in a fantastical, foreign universe tentatively called "Britain". You will design the knightly head of a noble house under the one true King of Britannia using a very CYOA inspired character creation process. From there, you will accomplish many great feats, and probably die, because men aren't immortal.
But that doesn't have to be the end. Hopefully, through a combination of your actions and chosen features during the "prologue chapter", you will have defined your legacy to such an extent that the next phase of the rp makes a little more sense. That is, managing and controlling your descendants. Furthering the blood of heroes, and protecting Britain to the best of your ability.
You will triumph. You will fail. You, your children and your grandchildren are all likely to die, but it will all be for a worthy cause. To preserve the True and Just flame that is Britannia, and to see its enemies scattered before you. That is your Oath as a knight, and you will fulfill it at all costs, so that you may obtain honour and glory for your noble line.
Such is life in "Britain".
A: Wow, thanks! The co-GM and I are looking for a handful of players before we start rolling things out, so for the time being, the intention of this thread is to garner interest and discuss possibilities with prospective players going forwards. Once we feel like there's sufficient interest, we will begin the character creation process before proceeding to the "prologue chapter", details below.
2) What's CYOA, precious?
A: Short for "Choose Your Own Adventure", in this context it typically means a system wherein you are given a series of decisions that determine various traits and qualities of your character and their setup. To clarify, the player will still have total freedom in creating the "character" side of their sheet, such as appearance, personality and backstory. But other aspects of their sheet, such as combat equipment, specialization and potential weaknesses, will be chosen from a pool of options provided.
3) What do you mean "prologue chapter"?
A: The prologue chapter will be the initial phase of the roleplay, starring great heroes at the height of their power and standing at the pinnacle of Britannian might. They will embark on a great mission, but unfortunately, all good things must end. Probably rather quickly. Your first character, the great knight standing at the forefront of your dynasty, is meant to be more than just a throwaway character doomed to die immediately. They're the shining ideal of your noble house, meant to form and flavour their descendants, passing along victories, spoils and magical favours, but also failures, curses, and perhaps even blood-sworn enemies.
4) Will the RP be especially long term?
A: While the scale of the RP seems to suggest a serious time investment, this is intended to be more of a lighthearted experience than anything else. It's something we're building for fun, to have fun in heading forwards into the foreseeable future. That isn't to say we don't take it seriously, we very much do, but the general goal is something much more relaxed, and hopefully steady. A place to kick your feet up, crack open an ice cold ale and remove some Saxons from our shore.
Hopefully we've managed to perk your interest with the information available so far. More will be added as questions are asked in the thread and as the roleplay's core systems are worked on further by us GM-folk. Before signing off for the afternoon, I'd like to leave the first available choice in character creation here, to give an idea of what we're working with and to hopefully inspire possible character ideas.
Naturally, any thoughts or criticism we will gladly welcome. It has been a while since we've done something like this, so it ought to be a bit of an experience for all of us.
Prowess / Master of Warfare, Upholder of Virtue and Strength
A true Knight, through and through, possessing great skill in battle matched only by their measured discipline and steady mind. Knights focused on Prowess are paragons of Knighthood, and serve as well-rounded and capable warriors on the battlefield. Fights atop a warhorse or on foot, typically wielding a longsword and shield while equipped with the shining full-plate that is the symbol of their status as a Knight.
Loyalty / Immovable Wall of Justice, Protector of Kin and Kind
To be the living, breathing shield for one's brothers and sisters in arms, and to protect the weak unflinchingly. Knights whose focus lies on Loyalty are natural guardians, possessing a great desire to protect others and the capabilities to do so under any circumstance. To serve as the greatest shield, when war comes to bear, they must don the greatest armour - it has no technical classification, as no ordinary man could be expected to wear it and still fight. Each suit is hand crafted for the knight, and represents their unbreaking willpower, the totality of their dedication to the protection of their fellow man. In one hand, they hold a Kite or Tower shield able to block all but the mightiest blows, and in the other, they carry a longsword or spear. Notably lacking only in speed, they are truly the mightiest forces to behold on the battlefield.
Courage / Live without Fear, Confront all Wrongs
Dauntless masters of battle, and the natural enemies of insurmountable odds - these are the devotees of Courage, slayers of monsters and heroes and kings, furious champions of all that is right. Their armour is unimportant - they wear what they must, be it heavy or light in load. They carry no shield, but instead, carry either a weapon of great size or a weapon in each hand, every fiber of their being devoted to the destruction of their enemies. They may appear reckless, but they do not seek death. No matter the glory to be won, they will not throw their life away unduly. This integrity, and devotion to their cause is what makes them strong.
Empathy / True of Heart, Humble of Soul
To walk on one's own two feet among their subjects, blade in hand, ready to fight and die at their sides. These are the ideals held high by Knights of Empathy, who shun the traditional status symbols of shining plate and horse. They are true champions of the common folk, adored and known far and wide as a kind and true soul. In battle, they carry a kite shield and sword, spear, mace or pike. For armour, they wear a breastplate over chainmail - notably lighter in terms of protection compared to their fellow Knights. Usually make for skilled leaders.
Faith / Devotion to Truth, the Light against the Darkness
Those that follow the virtue of Faith are champions and paragons of their chosen religion, which is almost always Romano-British Christianity. They are a staunch bulwark of their religions values. Typically they wear common plate armor, and their choice of arms is dependent on their religious alignment. Their unique mentality is typically what sets them apart from others, and they have a crusading zeal unseen elsewhere. Mentally focused, they strive to practice their faith at the same level a Saint would. It isn't unheard of for the most radical to wear nothing but cloth robes and wield blunt weapons such as quarterstaves, maces, flails, and morning stars to prevent the shedding of blood on Christian land.
Franchise / Virtue by Choice, Selfless Noblesse Oblige
To be Noble is to stand on a perch above more common folk. To use this freedom of choice correctly for the common good is the the primary focus of Knights following the Ideals of Franchise. Not quite as warlike as other Knights, they make up for this in their diplomatic skill and charismatic magnetism. It is quite common to see "the look of eagles" in the eyes of Knights following this path. Their weakness on the battlefield is made up by their capacity to gain allies easily enough to win a battle before it even begins. Typically surrounded by retainers and squires, they are an imposing force to come up against.
Stoicism / Steady of Mind, Pursuer of Action
While others hold themselves to lofty ideals and values, those devoted to the vows of Stoicism understand practicality, and subtlety. They seek to change the world directly, taking initiative to better the situation of themselves and others. Their job oftentimes goes unnoticed, but they make stalwart companions and contributes to society beyond just their combat abilities. They consider no weapon beneath them, often being the only knights to learn the art of Archery on foot or on horseback. In combat, they favour a shield and arming sword in addition to a terrifyingly powerful Britannian Longbow. They may alternatively use a spear, warhammer or pike - their skilled and versatile nature lends itself to many weapons. Are often tactical experts.
Joust / Master of Pageantry, Ride ever towards the Horizon
Flamboyant, surely, but far from ineffectual - Knights focused on the ideals of the Joust are masters of many Tournaments, winning glory and widespread affection through honourable duels and, most commonly, competitions on horseback. They are expert riders or expert duelists, commanding either peerless skill on horseback or in the regulated environment of single combat. Their unusual weapons and varied armour sets them apart, typically wearing plate armour with no helmet and carrying into battle a lance or cavalry spear, as well as a quick blade - normally a rapier or arming sword plus accompanying buckler.
Welcome to the wondrous tale of something-something Arthurian (original name, do not steal). Summarizing this RP concept in a few simple words is pretty easy - it's a questy sort of romp set in a fantastical, foreign universe tentatively called "Britain". You will design the knightly head of a noble house under the one true King of Britannia using a very CYOA inspired character creation process. From there, you will accomplish many great feats, and probably die, because men aren't immortal.
But that doesn't have to be the end. Hopefully, through a combination of your actions and chosen features during the "prologue chapter", you will have defined your legacy to such an extent that the next phase of the rp makes a little more sense. That is, managing and controlling your descendants. Furthering the blood of heroes, and protecting Britain to the best of your ability.
You will triumph. You will fail. You, your children and your grandchildren are all likely to die, but it will all be for a worthy cause. To preserve the True and Just flame that is Britannia, and to see its enemies scattered before you. That is your Oath as a knight, and you will fulfill it at all costs, so that you may obtain honour and glory for your noble line.
Such is life in "Britain".
FAQ
1) Wow, this is a pretty cool roleplay idea there Miss Tomato! Totally original. What's the plan?A: Wow, thanks! The co-GM and I are looking for a handful of players before we start rolling things out, so for the time being, the intention of this thread is to garner interest and discuss possibilities with prospective players going forwards. Once we feel like there's sufficient interest, we will begin the character creation process before proceeding to the "prologue chapter", details below.
2) What's CYOA, precious?
A: Short for "Choose Your Own Adventure", in this context it typically means a system wherein you are given a series of decisions that determine various traits and qualities of your character and their setup. To clarify, the player will still have total freedom in creating the "character" side of their sheet, such as appearance, personality and backstory. But other aspects of their sheet, such as combat equipment, specialization and potential weaknesses, will be chosen from a pool of options provided.
3) What do you mean "prologue chapter"?
A: The prologue chapter will be the initial phase of the roleplay, starring great heroes at the height of their power and standing at the pinnacle of Britannian might. They will embark on a great mission, but unfortunately, all good things must end. Probably rather quickly. Your first character, the great knight standing at the forefront of your dynasty, is meant to be more than just a throwaway character doomed to die immediately. They're the shining ideal of your noble house, meant to form and flavour their descendants, passing along victories, spoils and magical favours, but also failures, curses, and perhaps even blood-sworn enemies.
4) Will the RP be especially long term?
A: While the scale of the RP seems to suggest a serious time investment, this is intended to be more of a lighthearted experience than anything else. It's something we're building for fun, to have fun in heading forwards into the foreseeable future. That isn't to say we don't take it seriously, we very much do, but the general goal is something much more relaxed, and hopefully steady. A place to kick your feet up, crack open an ice cold ale and remove some Saxons from our shore.
Hopefully we've managed to perk your interest with the information available so far. More will be added as questions are asked in the thread and as the roleplay's core systems are worked on further by us GM-folk. Before signing off for the afternoon, I'd like to leave the first available choice in character creation here, to give an idea of what we're working with and to hopefully inspire possible character ideas.
Naturally, any thoughts or criticism we will gladly welcome. It has been a while since we've done something like this, so it ought to be a bit of an experience for all of us.
Archetypes
Britannian Knights hold many ideals, and their Oaths become their strength. Dedication to sword and steed are universal, but beyond that, each warrior holds a special vow in their hearts. One that drives them to greatness, and defines them. Choose one from the list below - this choice will decide your Knight's starting equipment and specialty, which will be passed down by example to those who come before you.Prowess / Master of Warfare, Upholder of Virtue and Strength
A true Knight, through and through, possessing great skill in battle matched only by their measured discipline and steady mind. Knights focused on Prowess are paragons of Knighthood, and serve as well-rounded and capable warriors on the battlefield. Fights atop a warhorse or on foot, typically wielding a longsword and shield while equipped with the shining full-plate that is the symbol of their status as a Knight.
Loyalty / Immovable Wall of Justice, Protector of Kin and Kind
To be the living, breathing shield for one's brothers and sisters in arms, and to protect the weak unflinchingly. Knights whose focus lies on Loyalty are natural guardians, possessing a great desire to protect others and the capabilities to do so under any circumstance. To serve as the greatest shield, when war comes to bear, they must don the greatest armour - it has no technical classification, as no ordinary man could be expected to wear it and still fight. Each suit is hand crafted for the knight, and represents their unbreaking willpower, the totality of their dedication to the protection of their fellow man. In one hand, they hold a Kite or Tower shield able to block all but the mightiest blows, and in the other, they carry a longsword or spear. Notably lacking only in speed, they are truly the mightiest forces to behold on the battlefield.
Courage / Live without Fear, Confront all Wrongs
Dauntless masters of battle, and the natural enemies of insurmountable odds - these are the devotees of Courage, slayers of monsters and heroes and kings, furious champions of all that is right. Their armour is unimportant - they wear what they must, be it heavy or light in load. They carry no shield, but instead, carry either a weapon of great size or a weapon in each hand, every fiber of their being devoted to the destruction of their enemies. They may appear reckless, but they do not seek death. No matter the glory to be won, they will not throw their life away unduly. This integrity, and devotion to their cause is what makes them strong.
Empathy / True of Heart, Humble of Soul
To walk on one's own two feet among their subjects, blade in hand, ready to fight and die at their sides. These are the ideals held high by Knights of Empathy, who shun the traditional status symbols of shining plate and horse. They are true champions of the common folk, adored and known far and wide as a kind and true soul. In battle, they carry a kite shield and sword, spear, mace or pike. For armour, they wear a breastplate over chainmail - notably lighter in terms of protection compared to their fellow Knights. Usually make for skilled leaders.
Faith / Devotion to Truth, the Light against the Darkness
Those that follow the virtue of Faith are champions and paragons of their chosen religion, which is almost always Romano-British Christianity. They are a staunch bulwark of their religions values. Typically they wear common plate armor, and their choice of arms is dependent on their religious alignment. Their unique mentality is typically what sets them apart from others, and they have a crusading zeal unseen elsewhere. Mentally focused, they strive to practice their faith at the same level a Saint would. It isn't unheard of for the most radical to wear nothing but cloth robes and wield blunt weapons such as quarterstaves, maces, flails, and morning stars to prevent the shedding of blood on Christian land.
Franchise / Virtue by Choice, Selfless Noblesse Oblige
To be Noble is to stand on a perch above more common folk. To use this freedom of choice correctly for the common good is the the primary focus of Knights following the Ideals of Franchise. Not quite as warlike as other Knights, they make up for this in their diplomatic skill and charismatic magnetism. It is quite common to see "the look of eagles" in the eyes of Knights following this path. Their weakness on the battlefield is made up by their capacity to gain allies easily enough to win a battle before it even begins. Typically surrounded by retainers and squires, they are an imposing force to come up against.
Stoicism / Steady of Mind, Pursuer of Action
While others hold themselves to lofty ideals and values, those devoted to the vows of Stoicism understand practicality, and subtlety. They seek to change the world directly, taking initiative to better the situation of themselves and others. Their job oftentimes goes unnoticed, but they make stalwart companions and contributes to society beyond just their combat abilities. They consider no weapon beneath them, often being the only knights to learn the art of Archery on foot or on horseback. In combat, they favour a shield and arming sword in addition to a terrifyingly powerful Britannian Longbow. They may alternatively use a spear, warhammer or pike - their skilled and versatile nature lends itself to many weapons. Are often tactical experts.
Joust / Master of Pageantry, Ride ever towards the Horizon
Flamboyant, surely, but far from ineffectual - Knights focused on the ideals of the Joust are masters of many Tournaments, winning glory and widespread affection through honourable duels and, most commonly, competitions on horseback. They are expert riders or expert duelists, commanding either peerless skill on horseback or in the regulated environment of single combat. Their unusual weapons and varied armour sets them apart, typically wearing plate armour with no helmet and carrying into battle a lance or cavalry spear, as well as a quick blade - normally a rapier or arming sword plus accompanying buckler.
