Petrichor -- Somewhat Experimental

[Darkraven]

I just hope that this magic doesn't make things too simple and easy.

[Mokley]

@Mokley Basically, I'm in this other roleplay about zombies in which the GM is the Dungeon Master. He's basically the one who'd move the story along when a scene is done/beginning to stagnate, and whenever he feels proper, would start an event or drop a bombshell on us XD. Is that what you're thinking?

As for quitters, basically, he'd just kill their characters very quickly so that it doesn't bog down the RP.

@Darkraven

That sounds like the essential idea, yeah. I'm looking to take a looser style than what I'm currently using in other RPs -- that sort of gentle story-nudging (and occasional disaster-dropping) seems just the thing.

@Xistina Your idea seems pretty doable to me, and has more than enough shortcomings to balance its advantages.

Agreed, magic would be equally present throughout the world -- the difference is only in how the different regions/people have learned to take advantage of it. So all the characters gathered together could essentially teach each other the different ways of manipulating magic -- and possibly combine each other's magic systems in-character to create something entirely new.

Edit:

I just hope that this magic doesn't make things too simple and easy.

@Darkraven

With a good batch of characters, there'll be plenty of moral and personal problems that can't be solved by force or magic.

Also, at least in other games I've modded, actions that characters take don't always have the result they anticipated.

[Darkraven]

So all our characters would have some knowledge of magic? If my pikeman knows some magic, he'll probably know the least amongst everyone in the group. He's a pikeman, but he's also a town guard and therefore a volunteer with a domestic occupation that he's equally capable in. So the magic he knew will probably have a civilian/domestic origin and use, just that it would have to be bent towards use in the field. I'm thinking he could have a relative who was a healer and he/she'd taught him a bit of it. Either that, or I'm thinking he could be a shopkeeper, and peddles trinkets amongst other things like tools and wares, and some of those trinkets could be protective charms, which would make him an enchanter, but by no means a powerful or even adept one.

[Mokley]

So all our characters would have some knowledge of magic? If my pikeman knows some magic, he'll probably know the least amongst everyone in the group. He's a pikeman, but he's also a town guard and therefore a volunteer with a domestic occupation that he's equally capable in. So the magic he knew will probably have a civilian/domestic origin and use, just that it would have to be bent towards use in the field. I'm thinking he could have a relative who was a healer and he/she'd taught him a bit of it. Either that, or I'm thinking he could be a shopkeeper, and peddles trinkets amongst other things like tools and wares, and some of those trinkets could be protective charms, which would make him an enchanter, but by no means a powerful or even adept one.

@Darkraven

This is the worry that I hoped to avoid with my initial aversion to magic. I don't want anyone to feel like their character needs to be more powerful or more adept in anything, just because other characters seem as if they might be more useful.

Of course, if you like and want magic, it's allowed. However, all characters are encouraged to be completely underprepared for what might be in store for them.

Think of it this way: the more powerful the character is when they start, the more stuck they are in their chosen profession. Clean-slate, powerless characters will probably be more likely to find cool stuff, learn stranger magic, find themselves in more unpredictable situations, and essentially develop in weird and powerful ways as the story goes on. Those that begin with power will continue to use it in the way they're used to, and may be less open to alternatives.

In short, your character does not have to have any idea that magic exists at all. Seriously, whatever you want to add to the world, whoever you want to play, do that without any concern for anyone else. ;)

[Fairess]

Well, I've been in the throes of building stuff myself, and I have to admit I'm already making plans to go against the grain. While I don't plan on having an advanced or even magical "tribe," they would be a coalition of villages with walls, canals, and engineering feats not unlike the Romans. Given the relative stability of such a background, is such an idea permissible?

[Mokley]

Well, I've been in the throes of building stuff myself, and I have to admit I'm already making plans to go against the grain. While I don't plan on having an advanced or even magical "tribe," they would be a coalition of villages with walls, canals, and engineering feats not unlike the Romans. Given the relative stability of such a background, is such an idea permissible?

@Fairess

Absolutely permissible! Just remain aware that death rates will remain high, as would raids and natural disasters, and crops would therefore be unreliable to feed a high population. You'd probably be looking at something that is on a cycle of destruction and constant rebuilding. In other words, life ain't easy.

In other-other words, a character who feels relatively safe would have no reason to participate in this story. ;)

[Darkraven]

@Mokley Alright, point taken. These discussions did bring out alot of possibilities though, which is awesome. There are alot of things to consider. I will probably forgo magic altogether, the character's never intended to have it. At the most, he's probably going to own a trinket or two, or blessed water, but that's it really XD

[Girlie Go Boom]

Hiiii~~~!!!

Sooooo... like... I likes magic!! And I have a charrie set up as a --> basis <-- of what type of charrie I'd like to play. With or without magic too ;D

Tbh, muh friend helped me designing her and giving out ideas of how she would react IC-ly, but I dids most of the writing^^ She just made sure that I kept writing for a grumpy attack lady and not a sad mama bunny. xDD Sooo... would that be okay,@Mokley to re-purpose this type of charrie?

[Fairess]

<Snipped quote by Fairess>
Absolutely permissible! Just remain aware that death rates will remain high, as would raids and natural disasters, and crops would therefore be unreliable to feed a high population. You'd probably be looking at something that is on a cycle of destruction and constant rebuilding. In other words, life ain't easy.

In other-other words, a character who feels relatively safe would have no reason to participate in this story. ;)

@Mokley

On the contrary! If anything, tons and tons of adventures begin with characters who have relative security in life and who can actually afford time away from home without, you know, worrying about her entire family dying while she's away. I intend to keep the society plenty 'on the edge,' but I feel like 300 years is a fair amount of time for a broken civilization to rebuild to the point of at least relative security. If they didn't have some sufficient means of survival, after centuries of this crazy world, one would assume they would be completely wiped out. That's... kind of the basis I'm working off of, anyways. Call it Darwin's Law of Natural Selection at work.

[Mokley]

Hiiii~~~!!!

Sooooo... like... I likes magic!! And I have a charrie set up as a --> basis <-- of what type of charrie I'd like to play. With or without magic too ;D

Tbh, muh friend helped me designing her and giving out ideas of how she would react IC-ly, but I dids most of the writing^^ She just made sure that I kept writing for a grumpy attack lady and not a sad mama bunny. xDD Sooo... would that be okay,@Mokley to re-purpose this type of charrie?

@Bunnita

Look ok to me! Can't wait to see what you do with her. :)

<Snipped quote by Mokley>

On the contrary! If anything, tons and tons of adventures begin with characters who have relative security in life and who can actually afford time away from home without, you know, worrying about her entire family dying while she's away. I intend to keep the society plenty 'on the edge,' but I feel like 300 years is a fair amount of time for a broken civilization to rebuild to the point of at least relative security. If they didn't have some sufficient means of survival, after centuries of this crazy world, one would assume they would be completely wiped out. That's... kind of the basis I'm working off of, anyways. Call it Darwin's Law of Natural Selection at work.

@Fairess

Fair argument, and I stand corrected. :) Go for it. I maintain, though, that what caused civilization to collapse in the first place has not stopped; the chaos began 300 years ago, and has not slowed down in the least. But by now, true, people will have found ways to persevere, adjust, and adapt.

[XecutionerRex]

Yo @Mokley I was wondering if my character could come from a city state of a distant land? The word "city state" may come off as something too civilized to be in this setting, but remember that a city state is literally one city and it's surrounding area under one flag. Of course, the city itself would still be heavily fortified and whatnot, and teeter-tottering on the brink of collapse.

Also are two dogs too much?

[Mokley]

Yo @Mokley I was wondering if my character could come from a city state of a distant land? The word "city state" may come off as something too civilized to be in this setting, but remember that a city state is literally one city and it's surrounding area under one flag. Of course, the city itself would still be heavily fortified and whatnot, and teeter-tottering on the brink of collapse.

Also are two dogs too much?

@XecutionerRex

We're going on the assumption that every character is from a land distant from the others -- encouraging a lot of very different types of settings (from arctic to desert to jungle). And sure, as long as you keep in mind the difficulties of the environment, go for it.

Two dogs are logical. :)

[XecutionerRex]

<Snipped quote by XecutionerRex>
We're going on the assumption that every character is from a land distant from the others

@Mokley

That language barrier though.

Have you decided what will draw us all together?

[Mokley]

<Snipped quote by Mokley>

That language barrier though.

Have you decided what will draw us all together?

@XecutionerRex

The language barrier is covered.

I have no idea on the second point. Will see what characters there are to work with.

. . . Once I finally quit procrastinating and get the thread up.

[Mokley]

Aaaaand thread is up!