From Across the Sea - A Saxon 'Migration' RP

[Jb]

From Across the Sea

A Saxon 'Migration' Roleplay

Pretty simple really, I'm quite in the mood for a more historical RP - something I've attempted a couple of times before, but never got to work...people don't seem to like reading.

It is the 6th Century AD, the Romans refused aid to the beleaguered island-province of Britannia and Picts and Scotti tribes raid it like a wounded beast. In their distress, and with the Roman belief of using an enemy against an enemy, the tyrant Vortigern invites a keel of Saxon warriors led by the brothers Hengist and Horsa to aid in rebuffing these enemies of the British petty kingdoms.

The lands here are fertile, the people are swarthy and weak, and Vortigern was a fool; such ideas have been sent to the lands of the north - to the flooded lands of the Angles, the frozen Jutish territories, and the Saxon homelands.

That's all really!

There are plenty of options, and I'd be happy to answer any questions, plenty of options and roles available in what I suppose could be called a semi-NRP; would you rather defend the island as one of the British kingdoms, or help to raid and settle as the Germanic incomers?

Aaaanyone interested?

P.S.

This RP takes from this RP, and runs on generally the same idea - a general narrative (but not a fixed one) of Britannia acting as the focal point for the events of the future. What those are exactly are up to the players and their actions. Colonise, defend or destroy? Or a mix of all three.

[Jb]

I can't delete this, so I'll just say that I would have.

[Dion]

@Jbcool Consider me interested, but I'm not sure if I can join up quite yet. I'd like to see where this goes anyway, so if need be, add me to the list of people that are willing to play.

What pace were you hoping to have for this RP?

[Jb]

@Buddha I'd like to say 'casual but constant' type pace; won't be whizzing along at breakneck speed, allowing enough time for folks to write a quality post, but not harassing people to post every day. I'd also be expecting people to be able to use their own imaginations and post accordingly without drastically changing things - I've RPed on other sites, so I know it's possible.

Does that answer the question?

[Dion]

@Jbcool I'd say it does except I was looking for something more straight forward. Once every week? Twice every week?

[Jb]

@Buddha I thought you might say that; probably twice a week if it can be managed, personal situations allowing.

[Dion]

@Jbcool Alright, if that's the case I'll keep up my earlier stated, interested but unsure if I can dedicate the time to it.

[Jb]

@Buddha No worries, I imagine you'll be one of the only interested parties, as - from what I've experienced thus far - 'historical' that isn't sci-fi/fantasy seems to get a rather lacklustre response on RPG. This isn't really the place to talk about that, but it irks me nonetheless.

[Dion]

@Jbcool I have noticed that going for a too realistic RP tends to attract people who want everything to be 100% accurate, and who expect everyone to do two hours of research backed up by sources and citing in-post. I don't think there are many people interested in having to read a bunch of stuff for an RP before even starting - so yes, it's a niché, and you've limited it down even further by making it based on the Norsemen, who by all means and accounts aren't exactly popular here to begin with.

So yes, I'm expecting a low player count. But that shouldn't be a problem all things considered. I'll see where this ends up, and if you feel like it's too hard to get a playerbase, you should consider at least downscaling the historical aspects. 'Barbarian horde plundering England' sounds perhaps more appealing to some than 'Vikingr from the Great Heathen Army of Sviðjod, Danmark and Noreger attack England to avenge their father who might or might not have existed, in order to ensure revenge is exacted, and then establishing the Danelaw'.

[Jb]

@Buddha Perhaps, but I was pretty sure that's exactly what I'd presented here - just a bunch of Vikings going 'a viking', not with any real intention of particular factions or people. In fact I'd quite like to stay away from history, but still think sacking an island monastery would be a good place to begin.

As someone of experience then, who would you say is popular? From what I can tell no-one is all that popular as a historical subject, unless you count pirates...but they're pirates. I've already gone for a nice broad Roman-sized brush that never worked.

What can ye do, eh?

[JDolan]

I might be up for this. If enough others show interest as well.

[aviendha]

I will participate, if I can play a woman.

[Jb]

Edited the OP for a broader 'statement of intent', and to take us away from linear beginnings.

[Jb]

@JDolan No worries, I expected as much. :)

@aviendha You certainly can, am I to assume she'd be a Shieldmaiden rather than your average joe?

[Jb]

@Buddha@aviendha@JDolan

Just to say, being a picky bastard, I've decided to change the RP to make it both more open and to a setting/time/place I personally am more familiar with - if you're still down with it then I'd be happy, if not then that's also fine.

This'll be the last time I change it, and if interest wanes, then so be it.

[Dion]

@Buddha Perhaps, but I was pretty sure that's exactly what I'd presented here - just a bunch of Vikings going 'a viking', not with any real intention of particular factions or people. In fact I'd quite like to stay away from history, but still think sacking an island monastery would be a good place to begin.

As someone of experience then, who would you say is popular? From what I can tell no-one is all that popular as a historical subject, unless you count pirates...but they're pirates. I've already gone for a nice broad Roman-sized brush that never worked.

What can ye do, eh?

@Jbcool

I agree, but I find it's generally hard to interest people in things that aren't 'the current hot topic on RPG'. I've learned over the course of my few years of GMing that generally the only way I can get an RP that isn't part of the 'mainstream' roleplay topic (I hate saying mainstream, I'm not critiqueing those RP's) is to have friends that I can count on to join up.

What is popular is standard fairy tales - princess and prince pairings, but that's only in 1x1. In group RP's it's typically a fandom. It's how things go.

Nice Sutton Hoo ;)

[Jb]

<Snipped quote by Jbcool>

I agree, but I find it's generally hard to interest people in things that aren't 'the current hot topic on RPG'. I've learned over the course of my few years of GMing that generally the only way I can get an RP that isn't part of the 'mainstream' roleplay topic (I hate saying mainstream, I'm not critiqueing those RP's) is to have friends that I can count on to join up.

What is popular is standard fairy tales - princess and prince pairings, but that's only in 1x1. In group RP's it's typically a fandom. It's how things go.

Nice Sutton Hoo ;)

@Buddha

Whelp, you are very right about that! Guess I'm attempting to break some sort of mould?

And thank you, nice...runes?

[Nightwing95]

@Jbcool

Will this borrow elements from the Arthurian legends? I am interested in this nonetheless, just asking.

[Jb]

@Jbcool

Will this borrow elements from the Arthurian legends? I am interested in this nonetheless, just asking.

@Nightwing95

Quite unlikely, mostly because this takes place after the Battle of Badon Hill, but also because Arthurian legend really just takes from much later French poetry. There may be some of the more historical elements, but if you're expecting anything like the film etc, you'll be disappointed.

[Oak7ree]

@Jbcool I am definantly interested.