Clever Hans

On the Limitations of Creativity

I think there's some confusion among terms. To have ideas limited by setting, plot etc. doesn't necessarily mean that creativity is limited. Also, do you equate creativity with ingenuity? When faced with a creative framework, an artist has to work harder to accomplish her goals. Does the situation therefore limit or encourage creativity? Or are limitations and lack of limitations two different kinds of stimuli that both engender creativity in different ways?

Marvel: Knights of New York

I am also intrigued, but struggling to think of characters I'd like to play. It's weird, because usually it comes right to me.

The City of the Dead - Post Apocalyptic Medieval Fantasy

Deffo interested.

The Ultra Moderns (stylish celebrity supers role-playing)

I will have an OOC page up. Soon. Soon-ish. Well, you know how these things go, sweetie... one breaks a heel just as one is about to go off and running :D

Whistlehowl Star {always open!}

Milo Sunwhistle

NAME: Milo Sunwhistle
HAIR COLOR: dusty brown
EYE COLOR: brown
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: mehndi-like tattoos of curves and geometric patterns on both hands
SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: None

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH? Arlo's father was a wiseman, his mother a carpenter. He was an only child, and his parents died of a fever many years ago. Arlo likes being around anyone who is friendly and

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME? Arlo was born in a small settlement on a lake tucked away in an obscure nook of the world. He lived there until his parents sent him off to apprentice to an aged wizard. His parents died while he was away, and he ended the apprenticeship to put their affairs in order. When that was done, he began wandering and has done so ever since.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY? Someplace with lots of trees and no people.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL? Arlo has two related fears: one is that he will never be able to develop control of his wizardly abilities and wind up dying, alone, on the road. The other is that his "focused personality" (see SECRET) is not a symptom of the concoction he drinks to control his magic, but a very real part of himself that could take control at any time. He's never told anyone about either of these things, and currently he can't see a situation where he would.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET? Arlo's secret is that he could be a powerful wizard – if he was willing to pay the cost. Arlo struggled through his apprenticeship because he simply wasn't very good at magic. Appropriate power level was his issue: he'd be unable to start a fire in the fireplace one day, and instantly melt a candle trying to light it the next. His master brewed up a potion that helped him control this, but it had the unfortunate side effect of turning him into a cold and ruthless person, lacking in empathy and eager to acquire power. The duration of this effect is unpredictable, but it's always too long. Arlo did some unkind things while under this influence, and he refuses to use the concoction - although he carries some with him, as he can't quite bring himself to get rid of it.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD? Many things. Good jokes, bad jokes, clever turns of phrase, a lucky roll of the dice, the vagaries of the universe…

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE? No.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH. 1. His boots (see below). 2. The Sunwhistle. This is a coppery-colored penny whistle that has been in Arlo's family for generations. The problem is that his father died before explaining to him what it does and how it works. Arlo knows it to be magical, but he's never been able to get anything out of it except clear, pleasant musical tones.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE. A pair of knee-high boots made from some unknown animal's hide. They are tough, insulated, and waterproof, and made from a patchwork of pieces in various brown shades. They lace and button up the outside. His mother gave them to him as a going-away present when he embarked on his apprenticeship.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE? The smell of bread baking. Arlo's an indifferent cook, but he knows how to bake, and has many pleasant memories of baking with his father.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD. The first time Arlo's father started a campfire using magic. It's a bittersweet memory, because while it's a fond memory of Arlo's family, it's also a reminder of his own shortcomings.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL? To make a difference… somehow. Arlo's spent much of his adult life trying to find a way to control his magic, or failing that, to contribute to something larger than himself. He's not been successful at either so far.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM? In yet another attempt to work his magic and be part of a successful endeavor, Arlo hired himself out to a group of fairies who have a magic door on one of their tress that's stuck. The problem is that Arlo can't figure out how to unstick it, and the fairies are not allowing him to leave until he does.

Whistlehowl Star {always open!}

This seems like it had loads of potential.

Arlo's sheet

NAME: Arlo Sunwhistle
HAIR COLOR: dusty brown
EYE COLOR: brown
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: mehndi-like tattoos of curves and geometric patterns on both hands
SCARS AND BIRTHMARKS: None

WHO ARE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY? WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE DO THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH? Arlo's father was a wiseman, his mother a carpenter. He was an only child, and his parents died of a fever many years ago. Arlo likes being around anyone who is friendly and

WHERE WERE THEY BORN? WHERE HAVE THEY LIVED SINCE THEN? WHERE IS HOME? Arlo was born in a small settlement on a lake tucked away in an obscure nook of the world. He lived there until his parents sent him off to apprentice to an aged wizard. His parents died while he was away, and he ended the apprenticeship to put their affairs in order. When that was done, he began wandering and has done so ever since.

WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY'RE ANGRY? Someplace with lots of trees and no people.

WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR? WHO HAVE THEY TOLD ABOUT IT? WHO WOULD THEY NEVER TELL? Arlo has two related fears: one is that he will never be able to develop control of his wizardly abilities and wind up dying, alone, on the road. The other is that his "focused personality" (see SECRET) is not a symptom of the concoction he drinks to control his magic, but a very real part of himself that could take control at any time. He's never told anyone about either of these things, and currently he can't see a situation where he would.

DO THEY HAVE A SECRET? Arlo's secret is that he could be a powerful wizard – if he was willing to pay the cost. Arlo struggled through his apprenticeship because he simply wasn't very good at magic. Appropriate power level was his issue: he'd be unable to start a fire in the fireplace one day, and instantly melt a candle trying to light it the next. His master brewed up a potion that helped him control this, but it had the unfortunate side effect of turning him into a cold and ruthless person, lacking in empathy and eager to acquire power. The duration of this effect is unpredictable, but it's always too long. Arlo did some unkind things while under this influence, and he refuses to use the concoction - although he carries some with him, as he can't quite bring himself to get rid of it.

WHAT MAKES THEM LAUGH OUT LOUD? Many things. Good jokes, bad jokes, clever turns of phrase, a lucky roll of the dice, the vagaries of the universe…

HAVE THEY EVER BEEN IN LOVE? No.

DESCRIBE THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR THEM TO PART WITH. 1. His boots (see below). 2. The Sunwhistle. This is a coppery-colored penny whistle that has been in Arlo's family for generations. The problem is that his father died before explaining to him what it does and how it works. Arlo knows it to be magical, but he's never been able to get anything out of it except clear, pleasant musical tones.

LOOK DOWN AT THEIR FEET. DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE. A pair of knee-high boots made from some unknown animal's hide. They are tough, insulated, and waterproof, and made from a patchwork of pieces in various brown shades. They lace and button up the outside. His mother gave them to him as a going-away present when he embarked on his apprenticeship.

WHEN THEY THINK OF THEIR CHILDHOOD KITCHEN, WHAT SMELL DO THEY ASSOCIATE WITH IT? WHY DOES IT RESONATE? The smell of bread baking. Arlo's an indifferent cook, but he knows how to bake, and has many pleasant memories of baking with his father.

DESCRIBE ONE STRONG MEMORY THAT HAS STUCK WITH THEM FROM CHILDHOOD. The first time Arlo's father started a campfire using magic. It's a bittersweet memory, because while it's a fond memory of Arlo's family, it's also a reminder of his own shortcomings.

WHAT DO THEY WANT MOST OF ALL? To make a difference… somehow. Arlo's spent much of his adult life trying to find a way to control his magic, or failing that, to contribute to something larger than himself. He's not been successful at either so far.

RIGHT NOW, IN THE FIRST MOMENT OF OUR STORY, WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM? In yet another attempt to work his magic and be part of a successful endeavor, Arlo hired himself out to a group of fairies who have a magic door on one of their tress that's stuck. The problem is that Arlo can't figure out how to unstick it, and the fairies are not allowing him to leave until he does.

The Ultra Moderns (stylish celebrity supers role-playing)

One last bumpitty bump...

The Ultra Moderns (stylish celebrity supers role-playing)

My initial thought was 3-4; however, I'm now thinking 5-6 if there's enough interest.

The Ultra Moderns (stylish celebrity supers role-playing)

Bumpitty bump.

The world can be your oyster in this game! - well, except for the giant flying sharks... the Cyber-Dervishes... the Fashionista Hive... or maybe the zombie primate zoo...

Sorcerers and Sellswords - Where'd all that Chaos go?

Was wondering if there was any interest in playing Sorcerers & Sellswords. I ran across it the other day and loved it. The rules encompass all of two pages. It's a free download right here.

The story idea I had in mind was a small castle and the surrounding town, built to keep an eye on the chaotic swirling nothingness that demarks the edge of the world. One morning, the swirling chaos is just... gone. In its place is a new land, a colorful jungle filled with mysteries and wonder. Normally, the High Wizard would want to investigate, but she's gone, too. The group would represent a group of volunteers willing to go explore this new and decidedly weird place.