Play@YSDC

So, hello everyone, I've just recently came to the forum. While I wait for a new game to start, I was thinking of starting my own project, and see if I can find enough people interested. There's a campaign I've been wanting to run for quite some time, but haven't had the chance so far due to many reasons. I'ts the Eternal Lies campaign published by Pelgrane Press for Trail of Cthulhu. It's a massive campaign, but a very nice one with an epic feeling and many disturbing mysteries to uncover. I would run it with the Trail of Cthulhu system, mainly because it was designed for that, but also because I like it a lot for investigative adventures. It is a very simple system, so anyone can jump in even without any previous experience.

i would be looking for 3-6 players. No previous knowledge of the game system is required. At the same time, I'd want all players to not have any previous knowledge of the campaign.

Additional informations can be found here: http://pelgranepress.com/index.php/eternal-lies/

Trail of Cthulhu quick start rules: http://www.pelgranepress.com/trail/file ... _rules.pdf

I'm available if anyone has questions. Well then, hope to have a positive feedback

I'm definitely interested! I've heard great things about this campaign, but they were also vague and devoid of spoilers, so I don't have any prior knowledge.

When you're ready to start, you can post here with a short text blurb for the game like you'll see for the games on the home page. Then I can set up a forum for it.

Will do, thank you I'll start the preparations once we reach a number of 3 people interested.

Uhm, not many views. Perhaps I should have advertised the game with something like "naked women inside"

Anyway, two more people needed. Come on guys The campaign is a blast, I can guarantee for that. The system is simple and you can jump in even without any previous experience - all you need are the quickstart rules. And while I know it's a massive campaign, I'm determined to see this project to conclusion... if we manage to get it going. Come on, come on

I'm sure there will be more interest. Many people don't get on much during the weekend. I, on the other hand, don't have much time during the week, so the weekend is usually when I post more. Also, it's only been a couple of days so far.

You might also want to advertise for players in the Conventions, Meetings & Greetings forum on Yog-Sothoth.com. It'll get more views there, and some players may come here if you post a link to this thread there. There has been discussion of Eternal Lies on Yoggie, and a lot of interest in it.

Thank you for the advice, will try that

Hi Overlord87 - welcome to the forums. Your taking on a hefty campaign! I think your ambition ought to be supported, so count me in. I didn't listen along to the audio run-through on YSDC, nor own the campaign so I too only know this in a 'general' way. Anyway, I'd be glad to hop on board if you'll have me.

Yes, welcome aboard It's a massive campaign, but I've studied it thoroughly and I'll try my best

Hi there, just picked this thread up notification in my email.

I'm interested in taking part in this campaign too, as I've heard good things about it, but need to know a few things first.

I haven't actually tried 'play by post' before so intrigued to know how it actually works. I play CoC alot with my main group on Sunday's and some ToC on Monday's, so very familiar with CoC and mildly familiar with ToC.

How often are we expected to 'play' or post?

If you could get back to me that would be appreciated.

Cheers, D

Hello there If you're new to play by forum, the first thing I suggest is checking out a game of two in this forum to get a general feeling of how it works. It is a different experience from playing live with friends, but it is interesting nonetheless. You don't "act" your character in person, but there's more space for thoughts and feelings. The pace is relatively slow, but this is not necessarily a bad thing.

Regarding the frequency of posts, from my experience this changes from group to group. I personally prefer things to move at a good pace (let's say one post per day on average), but I'll fix my pace according to what is comfortable for everyone. Since you usually need for all people to participate to action, the pace naturally tends to accomodate itself as you wait for all to post.

As a minimum, I'd keep a number of 3 posts per week on average from each player. It is a very long campaign, so a minimum of frequency is required.

Hey there Overlord,

Yep, I'll be sure to take a look at the previous posts of games that are out there to get a handle on how it works.

I think I'm confident at the moment that I can post at least once a day, happy to go with the flow and see what suit's you and the other players. I'm used to running as well as participating in games so this should be straight forward to play, I hope.

I'm quick to learn so hopefully get to grips with it fast.

Is everything done through this forum then? no emails or anything else going on?

Yes, everything is done by the forum. Usually on the topics, occasionally via private message. So, can I count you in?

Sure, count me in. I'll have a look at the forum properly over the next few days. When do you hope to start? I don't mind waiting until you and the other players are ready.

I plan on starting in 7-10 days. I'll keep the recruitment open another week or so and see if we can find at least a fourth player. Four would be the ideal number, but three is fine (as is five or six, in case). In the meanwhile, we can start defining the Investigators.

We'll need the forum up for this, anyway. For the descriptive text, I'd go with something simple like: "A decade ago, a band of occult investigators battled against the summoning of an ancient and monstrous evil. They failed. Now you must piece together the puzzle and finish what they could not. The stakes are high, and so is the price to pay. Can you do it?"

I've created the forum and made you the Keeper. You can find it here.

I'll be away at a convention from Friday-Sunday and probably won't have time to post until late on Sunday, but I may be able to get my character ready before I leave.

Ok, I have created the topic to discuss the character creation. Everyone can head there for a start

I have not played Trail before, and don't own any of the rulebooks, but I am still keen to play, if possible!

TheLibrarian wrote:I have not played Trail before, and don't own any of the rulebooks, but I am still keen to play, if possible!

Yes, it's possibile Do you have any previous experience of play-by-forum?

No experience of Trail, but I have played other systems by forum, and have been reading a few of the other games here to get a feel for how it works,

Ok TheLibrarian, you're in Head for the game forum (linked above by Mr.Handy) and start by posting in the Investigator Creation Topic. At first choose a general concept for the character, a profession and a drive. We'll start from there. If you have questions about a specific profession or drive that is not explained in the quickstart rules, just let me know and I'll answer them

Hello. Is there space for one more?

Hello there laitang We can probably accomodate one more player. I have a few questions:
1) Do you have any experience of play-by-forum?
2) Have you already played Trail of Cthulhu?
3) Do you own a copy of the Trail of Cthulhu Rulebook or the Player's Guide?

Hello Overlord.
1) I have no experience of play-by-forums, but looking at the current stories on the site, I get the gist of how stories are played out.
2) I have not played ToC, but I have played Call of Cthulhu, currently playing 'Masks' face to face, and have the 6th edition rulebook and some campaign books.
3) Just downloaded the Condensed rules.

Ok, you'll find a list of professions and drives in the quickstart rules, along with the basic informations on how to create an Investigator. You can go to the campaign forum here and take a look at two already created Investigators.

For a starter, define a general concept, a profession and a drive. The rest will follow from there. Remember that a balanced group should try to cover most (possibly all) investigative abilities, so keep that in mind when choosing your investigator's abilities.

I take it that your full? If so please put me on your reserve list.

as for your questions.

1) Yes!
2) Yes!
3) Yes!

Quatermass wrote:I take it that your full? If so please put me on your reserve list.

as for your questions.

1) Yes!
2) Yes!
3) Yes!

Hello Quatermass I'm seeing that some people contact me telling they're interested, then they bail out or plain disappear. At the moment I have two 100% confirmed players, two more that I'm fairly confident will stick, and one or two very uncertain. I'll ask you to wait a few days to allow me to assess exactly who is currently playing, then I'll see if I can have you in the team. I'd like to have someone that knows the system and is also experienced in the play-by-forum (since we'll have newcomers).

One additional question: can you confirm me that you do not already know the campaign?

Hi

A) A general concept of the Investigator.
He is Clarence Lanalor, 35, from a noble family bloodline living in Boston, now having to make a living. He is persistant, cautious, but curiousity always gets the better of him

B) Profession. Private Investigator.

C) Drive. Thirst for knowledge

I've got Clarence's stats all sorted:

Drive: thirst for knowledge
Occupation: PI
Age:35
Male

Sources of Stabilty:
wife
2 children
extended family

Pillars of Sanity:
truth of physical world
moral principals
bloodline purity


Accounting 2

Law 4

Assess Honesty 4
Credit rating 2
Reassurance 2

Locksmith 4
Photography 4

Athletics 7
Conceal 5
Disguise 2
Driving 2
Firearms 6
Fleeing 3
Health 12
Piloting 3
Sanity 10
Stability 10
Scuffling 2
Sense trouble 3
Shadowing 4
Steath 6
Weapons 4

that's it.

Overlord87 wrote:One additional question: can you confirm me that you do not already know the campaign?

Amazing enough, I don't know anything about his campaign.

@laitang: we have the forum for the campaign up: viewforum.php?f=352 . You'll find a topic there to discuss the investigator's creation

A few comments:

1) Elaborate more on the pillars of sanity. Why are they important to your investigator. For example, your character might think that his bloodline purity makes him better than the rest of the world. The pillars of sanity are also meant to be roleplaying elements.

2) Every profession has a credit rating range (for PI it's 2-3). You get the lower value of that range for free (in your case, 2 points). Also, remember that you can (should) buy also abilities that are not occupational. The occupational abilities only cost half the points, so it's convenient to buy them, but you should widen your focus. For a PI good choices might be: Evidence Collection, Cop Talk, Interrogation, Streetwise.
Also, I think you need to check better the number of points bought (remember that you have 14 points and occupational abilities cost only half).

3) Consider getting the eighth point in Athletics since this will raise your hit threshold from 3 to 4.


Make the changes you need to make and post it again in the other topic

Hi Overlord. I've looked at the investigator creation forum, but I cant post to it. I believe you'll need to give me authorization.

laitang wrote:Hi Overlord. I've looked at the investigator creation forum, but I cant post to it. I believe you'll need to give me authorization.

I'll look into it. I'm also new to this forum

I've tweaked my stats. For the benefit of others there is an online character generator at http://www.pelgranepress.com/blackbook/support.htm

I've 'validated' laitang's account - you can now post on the main forums. Sorry for the delay and any inconvenience but it's the best way for us to stop spammers from flooding the site.

There is another new player that needs his account validated: leonardolad.

I've also sent a pm to Quatermass to invite him to join.

If there are no problems, we should start in 5:
Mr. Handy
carnage_lee
laitang
leonardolad
Quatermass

And that should be fine for now

Thanks for letting me join.