[OOC] Swan Song of Troy (Homeric Greece NRPG)

[Dedonus]

Surely there is no blame on Trojans and strong-greaved Achaians if for long time they suffer hardship for a woman like this one. Terrible is the likeness of her face to immortal goddesses. Iliad 3.156f trans. Lattimore.

TL;DR Summary:

- Post-Iliad Trojan War (Events leading up to and following the Fall of Troy).
- Character-centric Nation Roleplay
- Rules for optional randomness and simple way for resolving conflicts.
- Mythological Greece setting with hybrid influences from Bronze, Dark, Archaic, and Classical periods of Greece.
- Players control a single Greek City-State (preferably original)
- Please place Nation/Character Sheets in Nation Sheet Thread.

In Character Info:

Greece has been waging an almost ten-year war against Troy for the sake of a single act of adultery, spilling the blood of countless Greeks and Trojans alike. Even after the death of Hector, Troy’s towering guardian, the war still stumbled on. Nevertheless, Troy is destined to fall, as it is decreed by the Olympians, and the Greeks led under Agamemnon’s banner are fated to fulfill this destiny. However, be wary of your actions, as the gods still uphold their divine laws, even though some of them spill their hatred onto Troy. For even if the battle is won, without the favor of the gods, the journey home might turn out to be even far more perilous than the war at Troy.

The war sparked by a single woman is not the only concern. While the men are away, fighting for the wife of Menelaus, no one knows what is happening on the home front. Will the leaders of the Achaeans return home, being welcomed with open arms or with an axe to the back? Will the land to which these warriors return be the same as it was before, or will the brave men of Greece have to endure countless more trials beyond those that were fought at the walls of Troy?

The Greeks

The warriors from across the sea, the Greeks, under Agamemnon’s leadership, has come to reclaim Helen of Sparta. They are comprised of a loose confederation of city-states tied to an oath sworn at the marriage of Menelaus and Helen so that the other suitors would come to Menelaus’ aid if Helen would ever be endangered. The Greeks understand that they all share the same culture; nevertheless, they still can find ways to bicker.
Supporting Gods: Athena, Hera, Poseidon, Hephaistos, Hermes, Thetis
Heroes: Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ajax (both), Odysseus, Achilles, Nestor, Diomedes

The Trojans

The city that has suffered because of the adultery of one man, the Trojans rely on numerous allies to the east and south to increase their numbers. For ten whole years the Trojans, along with their allies, have prevented the Greeks from infiltrating their city. Even with Hector’s death, the Trojans still fought on.
Supporting Gods : Aphrodite, Artemis, Apollo, Ares
Heroes : Aeneas, Paris, Memnon, Penthesilia, Laocoon

Maps:
Right Click and "View Image" will provide a larger view.

World Map

Greeks = Green, Trojans and Allies = Gold, cross = dies (error by Nestor. Nestor does not die).

Area Affiliations

Nation Sheets:

City Template

Polis Name: Name of your city-state
Demonym: What your people refer to themselves. (e.g. Athenians for Athens, Spartans/Lacedaemonians for Sparta)
Location: Select a location for you city-state.
Government: (Please give a brief description of your exact governmental system, e.g. Democracy, Oligarchy, Tyranny)
History: Provide a brief (or not so brief) history of your nation.
Society: Please give a brief (or not so brief) description of anything peculiar of your city-state. What makes it unique from all the hundred other Greek city-states in the Aegean?
Supporting Gods: Pick three gods who your city-state worships above the others. Your city-state may worship the others, but these three are the most important three. You may pick the gods who are Pro-Trojan, but don't expect much aid on the battlefield from them (unless there is some divine lineage or something). You may also have one local deity count as one of the three supporting gods. However, local deities have a smaller sphere of influence (usually around the city-state) and can only influence areas outside their sphere of influence if that local deity has ties with one of the Olympians (cf. Thetis).
Religion: Please give a brief (or not so brief) description of the peculiarities of religion in your polis. Festivals? Temples? Etc.
Military: See Nation Sheet Thread for more information.

Character Template

Your first three characters will be given stats. You may have other "important" characters, but they will not have unique stats.
Name: What is your character’s name?
Age: How old is your character(s)?
Description: Please give a brief description of the character’s physical attributes.
Background: Please provide a brief background to your character(s). Tell us why they are important.
Stats: See Nation Sheet Thread for more information.

Guidelines:

-Please be respectful to one another. If arguments arise, please take it to PM's.
-While gods are involved in this RP (npc's), please refrain from God-Modding. The gods love to have a chance to punish mortals who are full of hubris.
-Anyone who has read either the Iliad or the Odyssey (or Lucan's Civil War) will know that these are extremely violent narratives. While this should not be interpreted as a free pass to do whatever, you do not have to conform to "PG" violence.
-While Zeus's sexual exploits are tales of legend, Zeus never dwells into the exact details. Everyone should follow this advice. Implying that something has/will happen is okay. Actually showing it is NOT.
-If you are going to be gone for a long period of time, please let me know either in the OOC or PM. I don't need to know why but I consider it courteous to let me know if you will be gone for a while.
-The gods of Olympus commands everyone to have fun.

Cities:
Completed

-Titanic: Naxos

Incomplete

-Dedonus: Bennipolis (3 Characters)
-MissingAxis: Skepsis (3 Characters)
-HazmatMedic: Tracha (3 Characters)

[HazmatMedic]

My head hurts after reading th NS rules. I might be a while

[Dedonus]

HazmatMedic said
My head hurts after reading th NS rules. I might be a while

What parts were confusing or were causing your head to hurt? Just asking so that I might improve it.

[MissingAxis]

I should have my city-state up by Sunday evening.

[Dedonus]

MissingAxis said
I should have my city-state up by Sunday evening.

Great to hear. Any interesting ideas?

[HazmatMedic]

HazmatMedic said
My head hurts after reading th NS rules. I might be a while

The stat system.

[Dedonus]

HazmatMedic said
The stat system.

Do you need me to explain anything better? Also, just remember that these stats are primarily used for the optional randomness. I would just prefer to have them up for everyone because it allows me to easily resolve any arguments (if such even arises, although technically this will probably be more of a cooperative nation rp because it's Greeks vs Trojans) and it can provide relative strengths and weaknesses just for guidance. For instance, you might take the stats into account when showing how one character is stronger or more skilled than another character.

[HazmatMedic]

Dedonus said
Do you need me to explain anything better? Also, just remember that these stats are primarily used for the optional randomness. I would just prefer to have them up for everyone because it allows me to easily resolve any arguments (if such even arises, although technically this will probably be more of a cooperative nation rp because it's Greeks vs Trojans) and it can provide relative strengths and weaknesses just for guidance. For instance, you might take the stats into account when showing how one character is stronger or more skilled than another character.

I don't really get how they're assigned and if the classes are set in stone.

I had the idea of having one really agile, fast guy who preferred to dodge than defend, a super-heavy fellow who met attacks with a half-inch of steel and a third, more seductive character who'd avoid head on contact if possible.

[Dedonus]

Classes are set in stone if you mean switching classes. However, I would consider allowing leeway for personal customization of characters for skills that are not covered by the stats. For your second character, I see either the Barbarian (and note this class should be seen as a Herakles/Ajax-like character) or Spearman. For the third, I was looking over the manual for Mazes and Minotaurs and there is a thief class. The only reason I did not include it because it had other special rules and I did not want to add more complicated material that would in the end be optional. I would really have to think about the first one.

For assigning stats. Let's see if I can explain this better. After I give you your rolls (I will give you five sets of 6 numbers so that you have options to choose from), you take the two highest numbers and assign them to the two attributes that are listed under the "primary attributes" section in the class section. The remaining four numbers, you get to choose where they go. Each value that can be assigned as has a modifier (the 'Y' value in the character sheet). Below the example in the attribute section is a range of numbers. To the right of each range is the corresponding modifier value. This modifier value is used to calculate the rest of the stats.

To be honest, I kind of regret showing the "Saving Rolls" (Athletic Prowess, Danger Evasion, etc.) because without a clear explanation, they can seem quite confusing. Basically, they are used during situations where you are avoiding danger, performing an athletic maneuver (climbing), exerting physical strength, etc. There is a roll to determine whether you succeed and these values are added to the die roll.

Please ask anymore questions if anything is still unclear.

[Dedonus]

@MissingAxis: Is the "formal secondary education" supposed to be something like Plat's Academy? Remember that generally there is low literacy in the ancient world (although the aristocracy would have higher literacy, so what you have probably would not be a problem).

Otherwise, the Nation Sheet looks good so far.

[MissingAxis]

Yes, the "formal secondary education" is restricted to wealthy families who can pay for their children's education.

I'm sorry it's not finished. I haven't been focused on it, as I noticed everyone else was missing or similarly slow. I'm still very interested in this roleplay, and I hope it takes off.

[Dedonus]

MissingAxis said
I'm sorry it's not finished. I haven't been focused on it, as I noticed everyone else was missing or similarly slow. I'm still very interested in this roleplay, and I hope it takes off.

No problem. I mean, my Nation Sheet is not totally complete (close, but not 100% complete).

[Titanic]

Are you allowed to be on the side of the Trojans or neutral?

[Dedonus]

Titanic said
Are you allowed to be on the side of the Trojans?

I would not be against it. But just be aware that Troy is destined to fall (although that does not mean your city would fall).

[Dedonus]

Titanic said
Nation Sheet

Looks good so far.

[Dedonus]

HazmatMedic said
Nation Sheet

Looks good so far.

Also, I added a section that states all city-states that have nation sheets and what needs to be completed for them to be accepted.

[Titanic]

Are you going to leave the stats system as it is or simplified it?
Edit: Does a hammer or an axe count as barbarian weapons?

[Dedonus]

Titanic said
Are you going to leave the stats system as it is or simplified it?

What type of simplifications do you have in mind? I can say you don't have to put the "save rolls" because I could calculate those on a case to case basis. Also remember that using the stats are not required. They are just there if you would like to use them or as a means to resolve disputes.\

Edit: Also, when I say not required, I mean you must have them on your three major characters, but you can ignore them for the sake of "storytelling".

Titanic said
Does a hammer or an axe count as barbarian weapons?

Yes, they do count as a "barbarian" weapon. But remember that they don't have to be literal barbarians. Think of Ajax or Herakles as models (although Herakles' might be a little to powerful for player characters).

[Titanic]

nvm on the stats system, I think I get it now
Edit: Can you do the stats for me while I work on the descs of them.

[Dedonus]

Titanic said
nvm on the stats system, I think I get it nowEdit: Can you do the stats for me while I work on the descs of them.

Do you mean you want me to give you the rolls?

Edit:
Here are your five rolls. Pick three to use.
1: 15 14 12 11 13 10
2: 10 17 12 12 17 10
3: 10 16 14 14 14 14
4: 14 8 16 17 17 13
5: 14 11 14 13 12 14