The Last Express, Take 2

[Laraqua]

Inspiration for this Campaign

I'll admit that I've tried to run this campaign beforehand but it came crashing to a halt due to inexperience and a lack of understanding of the major pitfalls of running a number of branching and individual plotlines - namely how to keep the timelines matched up as well as how to keep things motivated and moving along. I've done a lot of thinking over the past few years and by golly I have it! So come aboard the Orient Express for this extravaganza of labyrinthine plots mixing player driven plots, Mythos affairs and - in this case - even conspiracies fed by the oncoming Second World War. This game, set in late August 1939, will take you from Paris to Istanbul where you can play anything from Mythos wracked sorcerers to defunct nobility to retired generals to dilletantes to spies to killers to devoted family men to bored housewives to hardened investigators while simultaneously brushing elbows with all kinds of other strange individuals.

So how does it work?

Well first of all register your interest below and then have a chat to other interested folk about any tie-ins you might have. Friends, rivals, enemies, you name it! If you want to come onboard solo, that's fine as well. In which case just jot down in your post that you don't want any ties and then PM me with your character concept. Once we have your concept you can then develop your character sheet, draw up a history, figure out your inventory (both in your compartment and the baggage car - folk might break in to take a look), as well as three goals your character wants to achieve during the journey. You don't even need to plan to get off at Istanbul.

What are some possible goals?

Find a criminal, unearth secrets for the gossip pages of your society column, get other people to help you come up with the ending of your novel, read your occult texts in public, spy on the other guests, seduce someone, win a bet, make new friends, party hard, set up an arms deal, smuggle someone over the border, escape Paris on a forged passport, make business contacts, steal yourself some new jewellery, sell a nonexistent bridge or fake artefacts, find a husband for yourself (or your daughter), locate a relic, smuggle relics, convince people of the perils of Nazis or socialism or the Zionist conspiracy, recruit for your new cult, poison or kidnap someone.

If you want to take a look at what the game will be like then feel free to mosey on down to the Last Express category in the Other Eras & Settings major category and read through the various threads. Later on you'll be restricted to the threads you've already been in but for now you can read through it to get an idea of what the game will be like. The game will open in late July to early August as I've got a bit more construction to do.

[Laraqua]

I've almost finished construction for those who want to take a look before diving in. The list of passengers sits here while the staff lists is over here. Yes, I know that some of the uniforms aren't historically accurate for the Orient Express but I went with what I could find. You can find the compartment and timetableover here if you're curious about what stops will be being passed. Your characters have the choice of Single Cabins, Double Cabins (fits two in bunk beds), or even the Private Car (Credit Rating 80% and higher)! The cabins come in First Class or Second Class. The cabins all share a washroom between them so feel free to collect between you all a group of four to come aboard and claim two compartments that share a washroom. The game begins in Paris and you can take a look at the various places you can visit at the Paris Platform before the train departs. As you can see there are already some NPCs populating the platforms and awaiting interaction.

Hope to see you aboard!

[Mr. Handy]

I'm definitely on board for this one (pun intended)! I'd like to reprise my role as Elena Orloff, though I may need to tweak her character sheet a little.

[Laraqua]

Elena Orloff is more than welcome to return.

[Laraqua]

Players may take the best of three for their attributes but must use www.invisioncastle.com for their dice rolls OR use the forum's dice.

[Electricity]

I do not want any ties, but I am interested!


I shall P.M you with a potential character concept shortly.

[darchildre]

I'm definitely interested - this looks great.

I'd like to come aboard solo. I'll PM you with a character concept soon.

[jdd2035]

I'm just go easy on me...I'm new

[Laraqua]

The game will begin on Friday 26th of July (my time) so please get everything squared away and ready by then. If anyone would like to join after that point, don't worry, the train won't be leaving the station until the 16th of August so you have plenty of time to hop onboard. Don't worry, there'll be plenty of intrigues until then. Even after that point you could have boared the train at Paris but stayed in your compartment and therefore no one noticed you.

The game works on Hollywood Time principles which means that fifteen minutes passes every real world week no matter what which means that all of the various threads will be continuous so you won't need to wait for each other unless you are interacting with each other. This will allow for a smoother run. Any PCs who spend too much time in a car without posting or interacting (about one to two weeks depending on circumstances) might be NPCed into the toilet or to a seat on the car to make it easier for the others to continue. Anyone who spends a month without posting will end up in their Sleeping Car compartment awaiting your return.

Mr. Handy, will you need to make any changes to your sheet or inventory? I will still need three goals from you that can be done on the train.

Electricity, I haven't heard back from you.

Darchilde, I just need your sheet, inventory and two other goals. They can be quite mundane or touristy.

Jdd2035, you should be find for awhile at least! I'll need a character sheet, inventory (carried, kept in compartment, kept in baggage train) and three goals. If you need tie ins to any of the NPCs, I can arrange something.

[Mr. Handy]

I probably won't have time to do that during the week, but I should be able to do it this weekend.

[Laraqua]

Sounds good. So long as I get it within the next week and a half before game starts, I'll be happy.

[darchildre]

I just have to put the finishing touches on my character sheet - I should be able to get it to you in the next day or so.

[Laraqua]

Remember to roll your attribute lines three times and then pick the most suitable line. This doesn't mean roll each 3d6 separately, but rather roll them all together. Its intended to allow you to have a far more suitable character rather than ensuring that all rolls are the best they individually can be. The best of the three rule means you can always pick the one with the highest education if that's what you need, or the best all round 3d6 rolls if you needed a bruiser. All results within a single line can be swapped around so long as they match - 3d6 with a 3d6, 2d6 + 6 with a 2d6 + 6.

I may allow a 3d6 result to be exchanged for the 3d6+3 roll if you can make a good case and your usual EDU rolls are all crud.

[Raziel]

yay Wifey game.

[Laraqua]

And that's my husband's way of saying he's up for a train trip.

[Laraqua]

Roll up! Roll up! Game Starts on Friday!

[DanteZ]

Interested in checking this one out...

[Laraqua]

viewforum.php?f=261 Feel free to take a look down there and let me know what you're interested in playing. The train won't be chuffing off for another three weeks so you've got time to run concepts by me and start play. Thus far everyone's playing solo. PM me any ideas you might have. I recommend someone with language skills as the game will be full of linguists.

[Laraqua]

I've got space for one more at the Paris platform. Theoretically others can still jump on as the train hasn't left Paris but your sleeping car won't be attached until later that evening so you'll need to wait in the dining car until it is connected. There are, naturally, other platforms you can hop in on as the game progresses. It's only be running one week thus far.

[HasturAndCassilda]

Popping in to register interest. PM incoming for my character concept.