STATUS:
I think I'm Advanced+ level and could do that. But under Adv, I feel compelled to write a certain way and it makes writing feel more like a chore even if it's just in my head. Thus, I prefer Casual
1 mo ago
Current
I think I'm Advanced+ level and could do that. But under Adv, I feel compelled to write a certain way and it makes writing feel more like a chore even if it's just in my head. Thus, I prefer Casual
1 mo ago
Many people equate "Advanced" to "Big, high effort posts with lots of flowery language." It's a habitual thought I struggle to shake as an RPer with 20+ years of writing experience. It's very draining
But yeah, for the current moment, if the act of bravery has to be from Shieldwing's perspective, then yeah, Shieldwing doesn't really approve of the solo venture itself. But what Skobeloff did while on his own WAS brave from his perspective. So the moment Shieldwing learns of these actions, I can give my approval for the passing of a Gem~
In the physical version of the game, it's mentioned each player must have ten tokens to give out to other players. Three is the cap for how many gems given to you by a single player.
Ah, okay. Yeah I think that sounds familiar to me now. It only just occurred to me that the reason it sounds familiar might be something we discussed in DM ages ago xD
The book is kinda vague to whether you have to actually see something to give the gem out. There is a line in the book that it is "regardless of physical distance between players" but I dunno... it does seem weird that you would a friendship gem for a event your character is not aware of. So I'm going to say, no, you have to witness the event to give friendship gem.
Hm...my only thing about that is, like you said, the line that mentions physical distance between the players implies there are ways that's possible. I mean, I suppose you could argue that something similar to scrying could cause them, I feel like maybe they don't need to actively see it happen? My interpretation was that as long as there's a way for the character to confirm the actions someone else has done, that would allow them to pass the gem along.
Like in my example, I mention that Shieldwing could potentially learn about the actions in the future, and when he learns about it--even if it's not from Skobeloff himself--the gem could be passed along. Because then he'd be made aware of his clutchmate doing something that he'd be happy with.
I have been wondering about when I should bring up that particular mechanic. But yes, at any point, feel free to bring up if your dragon has fulfilled a clutchmate's virtue or if someone else's character has fulfilled your virtue, and I'll add a gem to your character's tracker.
Well, I was wondering about something myself. Here's the passage you gave us about Friendship Gems. There are two implications here that I'm uncertain about since we're on the subject. Idk if we've had these answered or not, but I don't remember it. xD
Each friendship gem represents a moment when another character exemplified your virtue (detailed in the CS section) and earned your trust. These are represented by physical tokens that you are meant to pass to another player when their character displays the virtue you hold, regardless of the physical distance between your characters.
My first question is, these are supposed to be physical tokens in the actual game, right? Does that mean there's a hard cap on how many can be given out to other players? In a physical version of the game, there would only be so many physical items to pass around, so it may not have been mentioned in the rules specifically. I forget if we mentioned a limit on them or not earlier. I can't seem to find it if we did, though. And I don't see a limit actually mentioned anywhere, though for whatever reason, I had the number 3 stuck in my head. Though that might have just been because we had three Fellowships at the end of our CS.
The second question is that it says that they represent earned trust. I know these are obviously just player mechanics and not something characters are actually giving around. But I was under the impression that the characters had to know that the other actually did something of note to earn that trust from them before a gem would get passed. I just figured the distance part just meant that the player could give a gem even if the character found out while separated from the other. Here's what I mean:
Let's say Skobeloff and Stargaze were alone somewhere because the party got split. They get approached by a villainous character of some sort, some kind of big, dangerous dragon. Danger dragon then strikes or mocks Stargaze or something like that. Skobeloff intervenes, putting himself between Stargaze and the scary, danger dragon to support Stargaze.
That would be an obvious perfect exemplification of Shieldwing's virtue. So by the current ruling, I could hand over a Gem here. However, the way I THOUGHT it would work since gems are supposed to represent an earned trust between the characters would be like this:
After Skobeloff's intervention, Stargaze is able to escape, and flees to go get the others. She tells Fellwing and Shieldwing once she finds them about Skobeloff and what happened.
In this scenario, Shieldwing would not be anywhere near Skobeloff, but he learned about Skobeloff's actions through another means. Despite the distance between the two, I would give away the Gem because his trust in Skobeloff would deepen when he hears what he did.
If that's how it functions, Shieldwing would need to know about the actions he took. And if he does, then I have a caveat to this gem getting passed at this point:
Shieldwing would not think Skobeloff going off on his own is brave, he thinks it was stupid (quick side note, I feel it's important to say that these are Shieldwing's thoughts not mine xD). I wasn't around when the separation actually happened, so I can't exactly object when I wasn't here to play the scene out. So I just kinda play it off like Shieldwing didn't want to start an argument with his clutchmates in front of Garrok, so he didn't object as hard as he normally would have. He also knew that he probably wasn't going to be able to convince Skobeloff to stay, and wanted to make it seem like he was a good leader in front of Garrok as well, so he gave it his okay.
But he never approved of it, and deep down, he actually finds it kind of embarrassing that Skobeloff would take charge like that and make such a decision without really even talking to the clutch about it. Especially without getting Shieldwing's okay. Since he considers himself the clutch's leader (even though he hasn't been formally appointed the position), he was a bit embarrassed that his leadership kinda got undermined. xD
HOWEVER.
His actions while he was THERE, in helping the dragons that were in trouble? With all the stealth and acting and such? THAT was definitely an act of bravery that Shieldwing would approve of that would deepen his trust. So on that front, it all just depends on what specifically triggers the passing of a gem.
Shieldwing took a moment to adjust himself as he carried the Alpin on his back, more than willing to be the one to give him a lift whenever he needed it. If anything, he figured he should have just carried him the whole way, but it might have been for the best if he kept trying to swim by himself.... He swam alongside Stargaze for most of the time, and they would take turns helping him out. It seemed to him that she liked helping him out, though Shieldwing was almost more annoyed at feeling like a babysitter for this little guy.
The only solace he took in their trip was that Garrock remained mostly silent. He didn't dare look back at the older dragon for the entire trip, not wanting to see those judging eyes glaring at him disapprovingly.... To say the least, this trip had not been good for him getting in good with somebody of higher rank. His plan to make himself look like a good leader wasn't panning out very well.... He had even allowed one of his clutch to go off on his own; he would have fought back harder against it, but it seemed like the group was content with the decision, and he hadn't wanted to start an argument in front of Garrock. He still regretted that decision. He could only hope that Skobeloff was okay....
Finally, they arrived at what Stargaze and Alpin confirmed for him was Echo's cave. This perked him up; he'd gotten everybody but Skobeloff here safely. He turned over to Stargaze as Alpin asked his question.
"I mean, I don't really see the big deal; I could get in there no problem I bet," Shieldwing said, fluffing his wings a bit with a grin. To be honest, he would be glad to have an excuse to go somewhere Garrock wasn't just so that he could take a bit of a break from trying to show off for him. Plus, he might be happy to have a reason to take a break; and if Shieldwing could resolve the problem without him worrying about it, then maybe that would help his image. But in the end, Stargaze decided that they should just call on Echo to bring her outside to them...and he wasn't about to argue with her.
"But if you think it's better to just call her out, then go ahead."
He allowed his clutchmate to call out to her elemental friend, watching her walk a bit forward to let out her cry. However, he remained alert, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings; the last thing he needed was for something other than Echo to come find the source of such a loud call.
Yeah, now that I'm back again, I'm down to move on, but you're probably right; I don't think we have the full cast. xD Still, it might be good to have another go at this again, like Fell says~