Play@YSDC

Any conversations are being moved here about the End of John Company game until the game's official start in mid-November.

Moving character idea...

Idea 1: Dr. Herman Lovell: Dr. Lovell is a young practicing psychiatrist with an interest in the occult. He has a considerable amount of wealth from his family fortunes as well as his practices.

Smug and proud, he believes himself to be above all those he deems intellectually and morally inferior, serving as a stark contrast to the friendly outward appearance that he always puts on.

Idea 2: unnamed official: Cynical and amoral, he recognizes the corruption and the exploitative nature of the company and does not do anything to stop it, in fact often being a the heart of the corruption itself. He will use any method possible to further gain in power.

He is quick in being able to convince others to work with or for him or at least share in his darker world view.

Psychiatry didn't exist yet in 1857, and Psychoanalysis isn't on the Gaslight character sheet. A medical doctor might be a good fit, though.

My character idea is Julia Kaye, a missionary engaged to one of the male PCs. I'll decide which one I'd rather have her be engaged to when I see the other characters. I can't see her falling for the corrupt official.

Here's how Arthur Dodgson is shaping up.

Arthur ran away from home at 12 and found a place with a company of navigation workers, itinerants who labored on canals and roads. At 18 (1836), Arthur went for a soldier and soon was a sapper-private in the Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners.

He was assigned to a survey company until 1849. In 1842, he was ordered to India as a member of the Great Trigonometrical Survey being conducted for the East India Company. He was present when Everest departed for his retirement and served under Waugh for four years. In 1849, Dodgson was promoted to corporal and assigned to the 7th Company at Corfu.

7th Company was sent to the Crimea in 1854 with the British Expeditionary Force during the Russian War. Corporal Dodgson was present at the June 18, 1855 attack on the Redan, serving under Lt. Howard Elphinstone and with Colour-Sergeant Henry MacDonald when they performed the actions that led to their Victoria Crosses. He was one of the men who held the Sap with MacDonald. He was wounded in the side and was one of those brought back to the British Trench by Elphinstone. Fortunately, he recovered from his wound when thousands were dying of wounds and fever (under the personal ministrations of Florence Nightingale).

At the end of hostilities, Dodgson left the Queen’s service as a lance-corporal (acting sergeant) after twenty years. He determined to return to India, having decided that was a place where a man could find a fortune.

Mr. Handy wrote:Psychiatry didn't exist yet in 1857, and Psychoanalysis isn't on the Gaslight character sheet. A medical doctor might be a good fit, though.

My character idea is Julia Kaye, a missionary engaged to one of the male PCs. I'll decide which one I'd rather have her be engaged to when I see the other characters. I can't see her falling for the corrupt official.

If push comes to shove, she could also be the memsahib/fiancee to the District Officer you have been assigned to assist.

Ah, shucks. There goes that idea then.

Corrupt Official:
Name: Alexander K. Lovell.
Description: Greying hair and sharp angled face as if it has been chipped out of marble. He always seems to have a thin smile about his face amongst his many "colleagues" while maintaining an aura of calculated indifference among others.
Personality: Cynical, although he does not consider himself that way. He often sees the worst of humanity and is willing to become a part of corruption himself. He is manipulative, often not worrying about using people as his many "resources." He is, however, very courteous to other people in public, often making rather magnanimous and eccentric gestures that puts people off guard.

He sometimes engages people with intellectual debate, for which he is infamous for being surprisingly honest.

One of the few virtues that he understands is honor. If he makes a promise, he will do all he can to keep it, if only by the word. Betray a promise with him and he will beat you down with all the power he has in his disposal.

He is unafraid to abuse his position of wealth and power if it comes down to it. He has a strange kind of charisma about him, allowing him to easily convince others to work with or for him.

Background: A wealthy gentleman who made his fortunes by investing in opium and saltpeter trade and manufacturing, Alexander did not come to the position that he is by playing things nice. He has many enemies, both in and out of the company that he worked for for so many years, and despite the fact that he has many "allies," those he can call his friens are only a handful of individuals.

He is married to a socialite and has a son who lives in Boston. The rumor goes that the son desired to have nothing to do with both of his parents.

Major Michael's bio from 'The Season of our Discontent'.

Philulhu wrote:Name: Major Douglas Michaels (Rtd).
Profession: Ex-Military (Army)
Age: 53
Date of birth: 11 March 1846... ....

... ... which would make him 11 years old in 1857.... .... bugger!

It wasn't unusual for men/boys to lie about their age to sign up but Michaels was from a longstanding military family and would have a paid-for commission so that seems unlikely. The only explanation I can offer is that he's a vain sod and he was lying about his age at the time of 'TSooD'!

How about a 16 year old ensign, straight off the boat from England?

Who's to say Michaels doesn't have an older brother?

Incidentally, I'm going to be playtesting a game at Metatopia called John Company at the Metatopia convention in Morristown, New Jersey the weekend after next. The players are all part of the EIC trying to help the company succeed while jockeying for position and personal profit. It sounds like it might be similar to Republic of Rome. I'm not sure whether or not I'll be able to talk about it afterwards, as it's possible we'll have to sign NDAs.

Ah, you mean Granville?

Philulhu wrote:Name: Major Douglas Michaels (Rtd).

Major Michaels is a member of, and frequent visitor to, the East India Club. He meets his younger brother, Rupert, for lunch at the club every Friday at lunchtime. He meets his older brother, Granville, for supper at the St. James Club every second Wednesday.

Granville Fortesque Michaels, ensign in the British Army. Seventeen years old, fresh out of some military academy or some-such. First time away from England?

Philulhu wrote:fresh out of some military academy or some-such

Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, if he's in the British Army.

If he's in John Company's forces, it would be Addiscombe Military Academy.

His father was in the army, so Granville will follow suit, so it will be Woolwich for him.

I had the idea to play a retired businessman who had and sold a small trading firm after the first Opium War. He has remained in India and while not opulently wealthily by European standards enjoys a his status in India. His main motivation for staying in (and for initially coming to) India is an affinity for the exotic. Despite any formal training he considers himself an amateur naturalist, having become well read in retirement, and having planned several (small) surveys in the surrounding countryside. Lepidopterology is his budding passion, he believes he has found a new variety of Morphinae and has started (and now for sometime neglected to finish) a monograph describing it.

What do you think? Suggestions/comments?

Seon wrote:Ah, shucks. There goes that idea then.

Corrupt Official:
Name: Alexander K. Lovell.
<snip>
He is married to a socialite and has a son who lives in Boston. The rumor goes that the son desired to have nothing to do with both of his parents.

Seon, since the East India Company is English, just curious as to why the son is living in Boston, unless you meant Boston, England?

Otherwise, it looks fine. I think I can find an appropriate office for him within the company, and since John Company also controlled the English opium trade (and made a fair penny from it) this makes sense.

Gaffer wrote:Here's how Arthur Dodgson is shaping up.
<snip>
At the end of hostilities, Dodgson left the Queen’s service as a lance-corporal (acting sergeant) after twenty years. He determined to return to India, having decided that was a place where a man could find a fortune.

Sounds good to me Gaffer.
He certainly sounds like he is blazing the trail Peachey and and Danny will be following later on...

Philulhu wrote:Ah, you mean Granville?

Philulhu wrote:Name: Major Douglas Michaels (Rtd).

Major Michaels is a member of, and frequent visitor to, the East India Club. He meets his younger brother, Rupert, for lunch at the club every Friday at lunchtime. He meets his older brother, Granville, for supper at the St. James Club every second Wednesday.

Granville Fortesque Michaels, ensign in the British Army. Seventeen years old, fresh out of some military academy or some-such. First time away from England?

Phil, sounds good to me...and with an experienced Sergeant in the group, being assigned to the party as the Company's military liaison will make perfect sense.

Collector wrote:I had the idea to play a retired businessman who had and sold a small trading firm after the first Opium War. He has remained in India and while not opulently wealthily by European standards enjoys a his status in India. His main motivation for staying in (and for initially coming to) India is an affinity for the exotic. Despite any formal training he considers himself an amateur naturalist, having become well read in retirement, and having planned several (small) surveys in the surrounding countryside. Lepidopterology is his budding passion, he believes he has found a new variety of Morphinae and has started (and now for sometime neglected to finish) a monograph describing it.

What do you think? Suggestions/comments?

Collector, this works fine with me.
Perhaps your family trading firm couldn't compete with the larger Hong Kong based opium and trading companies such as Jardine, Matheson and Co., Dent and Co. and Russell and Co. Instead, they moved their operations back to India, hoping to carve out a larger chunk with the aid of the East India Company.

Hong Kong companies to give you some background info...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jardine,_M ... nd_Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dent_%26_Co.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hongs

His son went to live in Boston after he decided to sever most ties from his family.

It's probably something sneer-worthy in the upper circle of the British Social Life.

Lammomedes wrote:

Philulhu wrote:Ah, you mean Granville?

Granville Fortesque Michaels, ensign in the British Army. Seventeen years old, fresh out of some military academy or some-such. First time away from England?

Phil, sounds good to me...and with an experienced Sergeant in the group, being assigned to the party as the Company's military liaison will make perfect sense.

Royal Military Academy at Woolwich would suggest training to join the Royal Corps of Engineers?

Apparently, or Artillery.

However, the Royal Military College at Sandhurst opened its doors at West Street in Marlow in 1802 for training infantry and cavalry officers.

Either infantry or engineers will do for me. Whatever best fits with the storyline.

Dodgson was a sapper for twenty years. It would give them something in common. What was Granville's father? If he was an engineer, they could possibly have known one another.

His father was a soldier so it's quite possible he could have served in the Royal Corps of Engineers, or otherwise knew Dodgson. If I'm right, the reason that the military colleges were popular is that men left with a commission at the end of it (albeit just an ensign) but they didn't have to buy it, which was the most common means of advancement in the British army at the time.

On my “Gone Native” character idea: from what I’ve been reading, the “White Mughal” effect had declined significantly by the 1850s, with the Mutiny and the post-mutiny reaction killing it off. I quite like the idea of a character being a bit of a hold out in this regard though, and possibly the tensions of having a native wife. I’m therefore thinking that he’s mid 30s, has been working “in country” for most of career, and his native sympathies and ways have basically killed any chance he has of advancement.
I came across a mention of the Oudh Frontier Police being in existence prior to annexation, as a force controlled by the British Resident but paid for by the Nawab, with 900 men under some British officers. The head appears to have been a Captain Orr at the time. They apparently were to pursue fugitives fleeing into Oudh, although it sounds like they effectively acted as the Resident’s eyes and ears as well.
What would you think of a junior officer (Lieutenant?) in the Frontier Police, who’s spent most of his time commanding native troops away from civilisation, and has ended up going at least partially native? His local knowledge is considered valuable, but he has been passed over for promotion and is clearly stuck. He has been attached to the new DC for his language skills and local knowledge.

(I’m not sure how military rank and rank in the Frontier Police would work, but I’d guess he’s an equivalent military rank on long-term detachment, or something?)

I believe we're going in pre-Rebellion/Mutiny.

Gaffer is right, but its only very pre-Mutiny. The Mutiny itself may or may not (I don't want to give anything away) be playing in the background of the events we are dealing with in this adventure. But I certainly did give a hint that the causes of the mutiny are simmering away and you are headed into the recently conquered province of Oudh (Awadh in the modern spelling) which was one of the most virulent areas of violence during the Mutiny itself.

So Mark, your character concept is still sound as a "white Mughal" or an official who has gone native. Having the idea of playing part of the OFF is fine. Perhaps a young subaltern, probably an ensign (since I believed they were using British military ranks at the time) would work well. Promotion was occasionally slow in the British Army, and since this is pre-Cardwell reforms, commissions are still bought and sold in the regular army.

Gaffer and Phil, please keep up the back and forth character background building!

I'll go for the Royal Corps of Engineers for Granville. If they are heading into Oudh, chances are that they would have taken engineers to to help get things set up. An officer who's not a infantryman may also offer a different perspective on things.

I presume that young Granville missed the fun in the Crimea.

Dodgson may be a civilian assistant to the Engineer detachment.

Sorry for the apparent silence this week. Been busy at work and school.

I'll have character generation materials posted up by Monday afternoon, EST. However, if you want to get a headstart and have access to the Cthulhu by Gaslight rules, go ahead and use those. Look at Mr. Handy's character in the other list as an example.

I'll have the first post up tomorrow morning, EST.
The game will start in Calcutta, before moving out to the Oudh.
It is New Year's Day, 1 January 1857.

Okay, as you can tell, I am about a week behind schedule. Life, work and my birthday all popped up in the middle of things.
I can assure, as in the previous game, I will try to post as frequently as players need and keep things moving.

I will finish my work on the first post, and without any other problems, it will be up tomorrow mid-morning at the latest.
I know it is US Thanksgiving, but it will give you some time to think about a reply.

Hopefully everyone who has a character is ready to go?
If not, try to post any last changes before tomorrow.
If you have an OOC questions, I am going to create a new OOC posting area.

Matt

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of this little journey.
Once again I apologize for the late start, but I am now on schedule and trying to post responses at least once a day.
The ball and the meeting are the immediate events, though the journey to your first posting will largely be a red-line experience (ala Indiana Jones).
Once at the first posting, the rest of the planned adventure will unravel...

I notice that we have lost a few players, but hopefully they will check back in sooner than later and we can get them caught up.
If there is any sort of background Information or ideas, info you need, just let me know in the OOC section.

Matt

Good morning/afternoon,

I hate to say this, but I am considering having to stop this bold experiment. I am working on writing my doctoral thesis this semester (deadlines and all that) plus a full time academic job, and I thought I could balance my time better. When posts/responses got to longer than a week, I knew I was in trouble. I thought I could keep up with things, but as I have learned from playing in previous pbp games, when the lag gets too great, things end up becoming spotty at best.

I hope you all will forgive me. I know this started with the greatest of promises, and hopes, back in the fall, and to effectively get through less than one day, well that is a shame, and entirely my fault. At some point in 6 months or a year, I would love to try again, but I think its only fair to you as players to give you a chance to respond, and for me to apologize to all of you for this lack of judgment on how much free time I have in reality.

Thank you for your patience and for giving this a shot,

Matt

Totally understood, Matt. I hope you'll be able to revive it in the future. Please let me know if you do.

Damn you real world, damn you all to hell.

No worries Matt real world does have that nasty habit of interfering with gaming plans - please notify me when you are ready to start up again.

Damn you real world, damn you all to hell.

No worries Matt real world does have that nasty habit of interfering with gaming plans - please notify me when you are ready to start up again.

Totally understand. If I'm honest, I was finding it difficult to find the time to make my posts meaningful ( ) but please let me know when you re-commence.

Cheers,

Phil.

I understand too. Let me know when you're ready to shelve the game, and I'll move it to the Graveyard. When you're ready to pick it up again, just let me know. I'll move it back from the Graveyard, and I'll be eager to resume playing.

It happens

Hope to see it back when you're ready.

Mark