Play By E-Mail Campaign for 1st Level Characters

[marcuspeddle]

Game Basics

I am starting a Play By E-Mail (PBEM) Castles & Crusades game for four to five players. I am looking at a long term campaign so I would like dedicated and reliable players who are interested in playing for a long time. I will be using 'vanilla' Castles & Crusades rules; i.e. no house rules and only classes, races, equipment, etc. from Players Handbook and Monsters and Treasure. This may change as the game progresses and I will incorporate the Castle Keeper's Guide when it is published and I have a copy. Although this is a PBEM game, if all players are using Skype then it might be fun to occassionally have a real-time session. After encounters and certain points in the game I will write up a story and post it here. Although it will not be riveting fiction it will allow all of us to look back on the game and see what we have accomplished. It is also a way of easily remembering places, people, and so on.
Campaign World

The campaign takes place in human lands, in a fertile region of the world through which run two great rivers. Along these rivers and in a few other locations are city states that control a number of towns and villages around them. The politics and geography will be explained in a later post when the game is about to begin. Your characters are from a small village some distance from a southern city. You have lived in this village all your lives except for the several years you spent in the city learning your professions.
Character Creation

Characters begin at 1st level with maximum hit points and you should roll for your starting gold. I will contradict my previous words about no house rules by introducing a house rule about rolling attributes. Roll 4d6 for each attribute and discard the lowest die. If your character does not have a total of at least +3 in modifiers then you may reroll the lowest attribute score until your modifiers total at least +3. Also, no single attribute may have a modifier below -1 and no character should have more than one attribute with a modifier of -1.

Before deciding on a race and class please read the following notes.
Races

Human: The campaign takes place in human lands and this is the most logical choice for a character's race. Humans have Anglo-Saxon type names such as Hrothgar or Alodia. An Internet search will give you many options.

Dwarf: It is possible to play a dwarf and a possible reason for the dwarf character living in the starting village would be that the character came there long ago as a craftsman. Dwarfs would have Slavic sounding names such as Borislav.

Elf: Elves are acceptable player characters though it will take some thought to invent a reason why an elf would be living in a farming village with humans. Elves have Latin names such as Augustus or Olivia.

Gnome: Gnomes are extremely rare in the campaign area. A gnome may have set up a toy workshop in the village and sells to passing merchants. Gnomes have Greek style names such as Antigone or Thales.

Half-orc: Not recommended.

Half-Elf: There would be no problem thinking of a reason for a half-elf to have grown up in the village if he or she had embraced their human heritage. Names could be elvish or human or some combination of the two.

Halfling: It is plausable that a halfling family would be living in a human village as farmers or craftspeople. Halflings have modern English or Irish sounding names like Patrick or Pamela.
Classes

All classes are playable except assassins. Barbarians are okay but your starting village is a long way from the uncivilised regions so you will you have to think of a reason you would have settled there. I don't forsee a strong need for a rogue in the party but if you want to play one you will have to tell your fellow villagers that you learned 'locksmithing' in the city while you were away. Nobody wants a thief living near them.
Playing the Game

I think all of the people here at the forum are honest, mature people and so I do not require that you use an online dice roller and post the link. I used to do that at another roleplaying site and it was inconvenient.

If you decide you want to play in this campaign, send me your email address. My email address is my forum ID at gmail. When I have everyone's email address I will send them to all players. When playing your turn, please send your email to all players in the group. Unless, of course, you are doing something other characters wouldn't be aware of.

I think it is not unreasonable to expect an email every 24 hours but this is not always possible. I would like to make a 48 hour deadline and if you haven't taken your turn by then I will make a decision about what your character does. I won't unnecessarily endanger your character or have your character do something you probably wouldn't do yourself.
A Few Odds and Ends

I think the best games are cooperative so no evil characters, please. Characters will not always agree on everything but I really discourage PC vs PC fights. These are no fun for anyone, disrupt the game, and help the bad guys win.
Don't expect to get rich quick in my game. You definitely won't starve to death but gems and magic swords aren't lying around in the street protected by giant rats.

The first few adventures will be straightforward missions and encounters and later become a bit more complex once the campaign world fills out.

It is much more difficult to follow the thread of a game when we are communicating by email once every couple of days and it is easy to forget details such as an NPCs name or what he may have said a week ago in real time. But, please read my descriptions and email carefully so you do not get too lost. I once played with someone on PbP who would consistently waste time because he hadn't read my posts.

Checking your email for spelling errors, confusing sentences, and incorrect information before sending would be much appreciated.

If I have forgotten something or you have questions, please ask away!

[calculus]

Marcuspeddle, this sounds great! Are you wanting character creation now?

[marcuspeddle]

It will probably be a few days before all four or five spots gets filled so there is no big rush on posting your character. If you say what class you would like to be then that will help others choose their class.

[marcuspeddle]

There are seven temple gods that are worshipped by the priests and people of the city-states. These are, in no particular order of importance,

Anu God of Sky

Enki God of water, fertile earth, and crafts

Ki Goddess of earth and the Earth Mother

Enlil God of air and storms

Inanna Goddess of love and war

Nanna God of the moon

Utu God of the sun

Each city has an official god or goddess. The temple of this god or goddess is the main structure and centre of a city. The high priest is the ruler of a state and his priests run the beauracracy of the city. There are many formal rituals, sacrifices, processions, and so on.

In contrast to the formal religions of the cities, folk religion is very informal and there are no official temples, although there will be a religious shrine in even the smallest village. Folk religion is animistic and includes the worship of Sky, Earth, trees, mountains, and ancestors. During special occassions the villagers will gather at the shrine to dedicate food to the gods and their ancestors and then have a feast.

Clerics in the campaign can worship a city god or simply be shamans of the folk religion. The campaign world is polytheistic and all gods are equal, though temple gods are deemed to be superior and more civilised by city dwellers.

[calculus]

I'll be playing a Human Ranger.

[Brad]

New account, but I've been lurking for quite some time. I'm interested; sent an email.

[marcuspeddle]

I got your email. What sort of character are you interested in playing?

[Brad]

marcuspeddle wrote:
I got your email. What sort of character are you interested in playing?

Human of some sort. Illusionist/Wizard or Druid, depending on what everyone else plays.

[marcuspeddle]

Either of those will be fine. I have never played a game that had an illusionist. Any experience with that class?

[Brad]

I've played Illusionists before in AD&D campaigns; from what I can tell, the C&C variation is functionally equivalent. I just prefer them to Wizards because illusions seem much more intellectual as opposed to overtly flashy and combative.

[marcuspeddle]

Sounds interesting. That should liven up encounters quite a bit.

[marcuspeddle]

Would this game get more bites if it was a Play by Post, I wonder?

[jaguar451]

Just not sure if I could commit time to a third game....

I do like the name idea for the different races.

BTW, why Play by email instead of PbP?

[marcuspeddle]

It would be nice if you could join but I understand about not having time to do many of these games.

I chose PBEM because people (including myself) can sometimes forget about a game if it's on a website. When the posts come by email you can't forget to reply.

That said, if everyone prefers to post on the boards here then I am willing to make the a game a PbP.

[marcuspeddle]

It looks like no one else is interested so I think we should go ahead and start. Do you think it would be a good idea to advertise this game again as a Play by Post? Maybe it's the email format that's putting people off.

[calculus]

You are ready for characters now?

[marcuspeddle]

Yes, since no one else seems to be interested. If there are only two of you then I will need to alter the adventure a bit. That's quite simple to do so no problem.

[boxcornersdiety]

I'd like to play a Monk or a Knight. I just rolled up a nice set of scores:

11

15

13

17

15

18

Question: are the attributes taken in order or arranged to taste?

[marcuspeddle]

Thank you for joining. You can arrange the scores any way you like. If you haven't read my first post about race, class, and the game in general, please do so and then post your character here. Oh, and please send me your email address. My email address is my ID at gmail.

[Brad]

My character follows. Mister Average, had to re-roll just to get the 15.

Wylie

Human Illusionist

Level: 1

STR: 11

DEX: 12

CON: 12

INT: 15 P

WIS: 13 P

CHA: 13 P

Alignment: Neutral Good

BTH: 0

HP: 4

AC: 10

Weapon - Staff

Equipment:

Backpack

Bedroll

Blanket

Spell component pouch

Candles (5)

Pipe

Vellum

Vial w/ink

Quill

1 week rations

Tobacco

GP: 15

SP: 7

CP: 5

Spells Known:

0 - Arcane Mark, Influence, Message, Prestidigitation

1 - Change Self, Hypnotism, Ventriloquist

[mordrene]

if you still have room, i would be interested

[calculus]

Still room. Roll up a character, and email marcus your email address.

[calculus]

Eldwin - Human Ranger

Eldwin was one of the shepherds. Every year, he and his brothers and relations would drive their sheep up into the hills. For months they would live off the land, while protecting the sheep and moving a circuit through the hills.

14 STR +1

14 WIS +1 (P)

13 DEX +1 (P)

10 CHA (P)

9 CON

8 INT

AC: 14 (+1 DEX, +3 Armor)

To Hit: +2 humaniod/+1 nonhumaniod (+1 STR,+1 if against humanoids)

HP: 10HP

Sword, Two-Handed (2d6), slung in scabbard over back when not in use.

Knife (1d2) in boot.

Dirk (1d4+1) in belt.

Long Bow, 1d6, 20 arrows in quiver.

Sack on belt with, Tinderbox, spice box, string, small iron pot.

Small sack on belt, with Pan pipes

Slung Waterskin

Horn

Studded Leather (+3 AC)

Clothing, Boots, Cloak

Small black, keen eyed dog.

20Gp

LANGUAGE: Common

Ranger Abilities: Combat marauder, conceal, delay/ neutralize poison, favored enemy, move silently, scale, traps, survival, track

[marcuspeddle]

Hmm, I didn't get a notification from the boards about the last three posts.

There is still room. We have a ranger, monk or knight, and illusionist. A cleric might be a good idea.

[mordrene]

marcuspeddle wrote:
Hmm, I didn't get a notification from the boards about the last three posts.

There is still room. We have a ranger, monk or knight, and illusionist. A cleric might be a good idea.

I will write one up and send him along today. thanks guys for letting me in late.

[marcuspeddle]

The game hasn't started yet so you're not really late.

[mordrene]

ok here is my druid

Aldwyn Ware

Human druid

Level: 1

STR: 11p

DEX: 9

CON: 15

INT: 7

WIS: 16 P

CHA: 14 P

Alignment: Neutral Good

BTH: 0

HP: 9

AC: 13

enc: (12 base) 14, light

Weapon - wolf spear, knife, sling

Armor-leather and small wooden shield

Equipment:

Backpack

Bedroll

fishing gear

Spell component pouch

flint/steel

3 days rations

whetstone

50' silk rope

1 torch

GP: 21

SP: 5

CP: 9

Spells: 4 0 lvl, 2 1st lvl

will pray every morning

background will come later

[marcuspeddle]

Thank you. I haven't heard from boxcornersdiety so I wonder if he is still interested. If he is going to be a monk or knight I might play a cleric NPC.

The first few adventures will be fairly 'gentle' so the low HP characters can get out of the 'instant death' zone. But I have to warn you that dead PCs don't make me weepy.

[mordrene]

I can easially turn my character into a cleric. Just let me know.

either way he would be a rural, nature worshiper or god of nature

[marcuspeddle]

No problem. I'll make up a cleric to travel with your party.