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| Iron Horse | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 18 2015, 07:54 PM (459 Views) | |
| kio | Jan 18 2015, 07:54 PM Post #1 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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Here's a speculative RP group. It may need tweaking. Don't know if there is any interest. Even if there is, I don't know if it will get off the ground, peter out after three weeks or go strong for a year. Speculation and observations welcome. Obviously I'd volunteer to be the Luminary. Iron Horse A Luminary Guided Weekly SIM 9ish prep, 9:30ish start, ~1 1/4 hour sim, optional ~half hourish RP wind-down Structure: A fellowship / raid channel journey of character discovery. A broad storyline arc, guided by a luminary leader and greatly enhanced by in-game travel vistas, fights and quests, in which the interactions, revelations and little details of the various characters serve as the greatest unknown and the most important story elements. Along with the usual riding/walking trek, an artificial ration & supply system will be run by the luminary, requiring the players to gather wood, hunt, grow crops and make food to continue to proceed. For RP purposes many villages and towns will be considered off limits or “under siege” and thus too risky to enter. There will also be defeat penalties that result in “wounds” and shared setbacks for the entire group. At several points along the journey, the group will have to make unanimous decisions on the path of their storyline. These decisions will dramatically affect the future storyline. There is ample opportunity along the way for entertaining side quests, maybe even hopefully lead by other volunteer luminaries. SIMs If you are unfamiliar with SIMs, they are very time focused, text-driven character roleplay. While riding across the changing landscape or actually facing down the goblin king helps considerably with roleplay emersion, the beauty of SIMs is that a level 10 character sitting in Bree can contribute just as much to the story as a level 100 on the journey. All /fellowship-raid, /says, /shouts, /emotes and combat will be recorded and posted by the luminary as the story for that weeks SIM. Luminaries for LoL have traditionally been neither dictators nor dungeon masters. Their purpose is to guide the greater story along, provide opportunity for individuals to equally participate and be heard, bring up story reactions based on character decisions that are not showable ingame, and generally to keep sessions from degenerating into endless Monty Python jokes. Another attractive element of SIMs is that a fully developed character backstory beforehand is irrelevant. This creates a level RP playing field for all types of roleplayers. Outside of the general description of what your character looks like to everyone else, the only story elements that count are what you reveal during the SIM. You may have as detailed a character bio as you wish to guide your own characters RP, but if you want everyone else to know you have a horsetail on your helmet or a scar on your arm, you have to reveal that during the SIM. That aside, players are encouraged to dream, write short stories, poetry, music or entire novels if they get inspired. That is wonderful! The only thing other players are expected to read is the weekly SIM posting. Another important element of SIMs is that you can only move or give action to your own character. You may never move, speak or dictate action for another character, beyond granted permission and the obvious (...I drag her unconscious body from under the fight...). You may heal another player in game freely (and please do!), but in the SIM you can only offer to heal or go thru the motions to heal. It is up to the other player if they were actually healed or not. Extrapolate that out to everything else. Details of the Iron Horse adventure Iron Horse consists of 4 phases, or “hooves”, and thus quite naturally begins in Rohan. Remember you don’t have to have a LOTRO character in Rohan to play one in the SIM. Mane The year is 2989. King Theoden is 41 and Lord of the Mark for almost a decade. Gothred, a brother-in-law by the Steelsheen, is a new Second Marshall, tasked with rooting out the Uruk-hi thieves stealing horses. Theoden & Gothred want stronger, lighter horse armor to fight against the tougher than usual Uruk. They are aware from their Gondor youth of alloys, but cannot find the secrets of how to make it correctly. Turned away by the White Mountain dwarves, they decide to try contacting northern dwarves. As the mission is dubious, and the Uruk problem growing, a group of expendable horsemen are sent on a mission to the northern dwarves to perhaps bring home the secrets of dwarf armor. First Hoof The best of the Rohan horsemen, hand picked and well-trained, are needed at home. In the last week of April, 2989, a group of other Rohan horsemen; misfits, near-do-well’s, edge of criminality second chancers, are given the task of riding north from Aldburg to find dwarves. There is always the rumor of dwarf scouts around Moria. Dunland is dangerous, Galtrev and Launch are enemies to Rohan. No one knows for certain where the West Gate of Moria lies. But the Great River route rides close to fabled woods that offer no help, and probable death. The King Under the Mountain has been in rein for nearly 50 years and is known to consult with men on occasion. To the West is Dwalin in the Blue Mountains; a longer road, but perhaps an easier deal. The Iron Horse riders are tasked to go strike a bargain. Second Hoof With Moria swarming with orcs and not a dwarf in sight, the riders must choose to continue northwest in Eregion/ the Pass of Caradhras, or north to the great East Road. If the riders go west, we enter the second phase, and Bree men and dwarves can join the company. They travel west to Ered Luin, and seek audience with Dwalin. If the riders choose east we still enter the second phase, and Dale men and dwarves may join the company. They travel through Mirkwood, and the skirmishes of Dale and Erebor. For any Leaves that want to help, there is the possible opportunity to guest in the SIM as Haldir, Rumil and Orophin, Dain and Dwalin. Third Hoof Either way, dwarves never give away secrets. The dwarven rulers graciously consider the request as they generously craft a set of lighter, stronger horse armor in honor of the King of the Mark, but withhold the forge secrets themselves. Dwalin tasks the Iron Horse company to guide several volunteer dwarves; bodyguard warriors known metaphorically as the “Durin’s Crown”, to join his brother Balin in his attempt to retake Moria. Do this first, to earn the secrets of dwarven smithing. Dwarves join the Iron Horse company walking/wagon speed. Dain tasks the Iron Horse company to guide several dwarves to investigate the East Doors of Moria. If the Rohan wish dwarvish forge secrets, they must help the dwarves retake the Dimril Dale. Do this first, to earn the secrets of dwarven smithing. Dwarves join the Iron Horse company walking/wagon speed. Fourth Hoof Moria. Balin’s alive! Moria’s been retaken! Wait, what’s that sound?... How the heck does this SIM stuff work exactly? Each SIM lasts about 1.5 hours, and encompasses a single day in LOTRO. Each day in our game session then represents a week in our SIM passage of time. Around 9ish EST, folks start to log in. Normal gameplay. Given the variance of server resets, we try to start with a dawn, but it isn't always possible. If 3 people are on by dawn or 9:30, we start. Each day begins as if it is pre-dawn. Break camp, move out. How far you can go is determined by supplies. Walk horse speed. Once the SIM recording starts, keep all /fellowship-raid chat in character. You can OOC in LoL or another other channel to your hearts content, but keep OOC OUT of the recorded SIM channel. Teamspeak will be used if some wish. Supplies are limited. There are no Walmart sales people in this SIM. You do not need to adjust your real packs, but the Luminary will keep a running track of supplies in SIM. You must gather wood to have campfires. You must gather food to eat. You must hunt healthy animals for meat. You must harvest (grow) food in fields during daylight and cook food in ovens and campfires to make the journey. You must fight whatever attacks you. You can carry a half day of supplies. So can your horse. Your pack horse can carry enough to make that a full day. Move campsite to campsite. (Game “day” = SIM “week”) If you are defeated once, you lose your packhorse. If you are defeated twice, you lose your horse. If you are defeated a third time, you reset the entire group back to the previous campsite. Keep your friends alive. Once arriving at a camp for the night, SIM recording ends, and light roleplay around the campfire as long as folks desire. In the end, every quest has been done, repeatedly by many of us. It is difficult to RP raids well, and everyone else is the same quest hero you are. Everyone knows the timeframe, even if they don’t RP and just saw the movies. The only thing we have new and fresh is our imaginations. Using the backdrop of the LOTRO game, an odd 3rd age time frame and full imaginary characters to fill out the fellowships, it will still take individuals interacting with each others stories to keep routine boredom away. Edited by kio, Jan 28 2015, 02:55 PM.
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| Macalaure | Jan 18 2015, 09:33 PM Post #2 |
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Beachcomber
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You will have to guide me but this is very interesting and I am game on anything that involves roleplay. I like the idea of no one knowing who you are and having to reveal things about yourself, just like real life. I have some questions. How do we all meet if we do not know one another? Do we empty our bags and just bring along supplies for a week or do you keep track on paper and not worry about what you have in your bags? Is the log copied and storified? You have done a lot of work writing all this down. I am sure once I actually rp in a "SIM" it will be more easily understood. Thanks for doing this! You have my sword. |
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| Inheroth | Jan 18 2015, 09:55 PM Post #3 |
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This sounds incredibly interesting and I would love to be a part of it! Like Maka, I'm not exactly sure how the SIM experience would play out, but I'd love to give it a go. |
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| kio | Jan 19 2015, 06:22 AM Post #4 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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How do we all meet if we do not know one another? We are misfits gathered together by Theoden & Gothred and formed into a group for the purpose. Drafted, sentenced, asked, begged, it's up to the individuals. The exact reasons may be as varied as the people. Just remember royalty, heros and the best stayed home. Being rich or chummy with the ruling class would get you OUT of this mission, not assigned to it. Do we empty our bags and just bring along supplies for a week or do you keep track on paper and not worry about what you have in your bags? All supplies are tracked on paper by me as they are gathered or made so that we don't have to actually rearrange packs. Naturally what we gather along the way adds to packs. If people want to cook or grow food they need to have the store ingredients in their packs to allow them to do so. Farming and cooking skills become incredibly central to the well-being of the group. There is an element of immersion in using the wood gathered with kindling to make a campfire, using the onions just harvested to flavor a roast, etc, but no one had to actually use pack space for these supplies if they don't wish too. Is the log copied and storified? Absolutely! I'll try to post an example of a SIM to give you a clearer idea. You do 90% of it already in the usual RPs. |
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| Macalaure | Jan 21 2015, 02:46 PM Post #5 |
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Beachcomber
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Are we going to start Iron Horse tonight or do you want more discussion? |
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| kio | Jan 21 2015, 03:00 PM Post #6 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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not ready tonight, but certainly in a week |
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| Macalaure | Jan 21 2015, 03:37 PM Post #7 |
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Beachcomber
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Ok thanks! I'm looking forward to it whenever you are ready. |
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| kio | Jan 21 2015, 08:09 PM Post #8 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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We'll get far more folks interested if we play rather than talk about playing it anyways. Play-doh is like that. |
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| kio | Jan 22 2015, 07:42 PM Post #9 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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Typical SIM - storyfied BEGIN SIM+++++++++++++++ Sunny morning, 5 Rohan riders in camp in the Norcrofts Player4: in camp, getting breakfast, packing up bedroll Player2: other side of horse corral, watching sunrise and listening to birds Player5: in camp, trying to finish up mushroom and onion omelette Player1: in camp, packing up camp, putting out fire Player3: in corral, saddling up horses Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player2: saddles up horse Player1: Come on P5, we don’t have all day. Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player4: Good morning Buttercup. Ready to ride today? *gives horse treats* Player5: I’m hurrying, I’m hurrying. Player3: starts saddling up the P1s horse. Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player5 has acquired [Mushroom and Onion Omelet] Player5 ok, done. Player1 Bout damn time. *puts out fire* Player5 packs up, saddles horse. Player3: coils up rope corral. Player1:*whistles to his dog* Fang stands up and trots over join him as he mounts up. Thanks P3. Player4: Everyone ready? Let’s head out. Player2: that fellow in Faldham said after the river we could leave the trail and head northeast across the Norcrofts towards Harwick. Player3: No problem P1. Player5: I’ve got a cousin in Cliving. Player2: A he or she? Player5: A he. Player2: Not much point going out of our way then. ACTION: Fang scares up a deer. Player4: P2, you still want to keep that banner on your spear? Player3: *shoots the deer* Player2: Yes indeed. Proud of it. Player5: You’re flying enough laundry with that thing for a tablecloth. Player1: Dip it in the river when we cross. It’ll look like washing day. Player4: get us spotted a league away. Player2: and the orcs can clear a path or come get some. I don’t care either way, the Stoke banner is flying on my spear. Player4 has acquired [a Bunch of Raspberries] Player3: There’s the river. Player5 Crap, half orc here. Player1: *Holds the packhorses* ACTION: Player2, Player4, Fang fight the mounted half orc. Player4 gets deathblow. Player2: Another one too. Player3: *shoots arrows at the orc* ACTION: Player2, Player4, Player3, Fang fight the mounted half-orc. Player2 gets deathblow. Player1: *checks orc horses* is one of them my precious Ozzie? Player2: You say Ozzie was a bay with two white socks?” Player1: Yes. Player2: Nope. ACTION: party crosses river Player2: *pauses, letting horse drink” We can head northeast, around that outcropping there to the right. HOW THE SIM ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE Player1 is a lvl100 Dale Minstril Player2 is a lvl100 elf Hunter Player3 is a lvl63 dwarf champion in the 21st Hall Player4 is a lvl96 Gondor Champion Player5 is a lvl30 hobbit Burglar in Esteldin Voice: Player4: Ok, everyone has full rations from last time but P5 Voice: Player5: Sorry, had to go before P2 finished cooking. How many am I short? Voice: Player4: 7. Voice: Player5: Ok. thanks. Voice: Player2: You need a summons P1? Voice: Player1: No, just got into Snowbourn, riding up to the camp now. Voice: Player3: Bio while we wait. Voice: Player4: Waiting on folks to get here then. ACTION: Ready check Voice: Player4: Everyone’s Ready. Starting SIM Chat Recording. T-minus 90 minutes. ACTION: Begin SIM All 5 players type in /Fellowship chat what they are doing and saying. It is recorded. The 3 players actually here mount horses, start to ride up the trail towards Cliving. Voice is used to describe general movement, food nodes, the deer and such. Combat is actual combat. Those players not actually here contribute as they say. Players not actually here can still “gather resources” by simply saying so when they are mentioned. |
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| Macalaure | Jan 22 2015, 11:00 PM Post #10 |
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Beachcomber
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Oh this looks great, I love the fact we can only RP. So I am still not sure of the physicality of it though. Are our players in game in Rohan or is this all done in a chat channel? I take it we can play anyone, not just Men from Rohan. |
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| kio | Jan 23 2015, 04:30 AM Post #11 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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We are roleplaying that we are all together. It works better if everyone can actually BE together, for descriptions, resource nodes, combat and the like, but not everybody has to physically be there. This makes it very inclusive, very easy and doesn't require mountains of preparation. In the above example, 3 of us are physically riding across Rohan for 90 minutes, using voice to describe the surroundings and using /fellowship chat to show roleplay and emotes. A fourth character is sitting in the 21st Hall in Moria the whole 90 minutes, listening to the voice and roleplaying in the /fellowship chat with the others as if she was there. A fifth character in the above example is actually sitting in Esteldin and roleplaying he is riding across the plains of Rohan with the others. If by some miracle we get too many people for a fellowship, we form a raid, switch to /raidchat and simply record that channel instead. For the Iron Horse SIM we are roleplaying that we are simple men & women of Rohan. The characters can be of any race in game, but in SIM we are all from Rohan, unfamiliar with the world outside the Mark. If/As the journey moves out into other areas of Middle Earth, the opportunity for other races to join the SIM opens up, particularly for Bree & Dale men and dwarf characters. As the flavor of the Iron Horse SIM follows the books more than the game, I don't foresee elves or hobbits joining the company, but you never know what lies down the road. We are people scattered all around the world, coming together by computer to roleplay middle earth characters in voice and chat. Think of this as if we are people scattered all around middle earth, coming together to roleplay a story using voice and chat. For those the require a specific sword or that special cloak or that exact horse in game as an RP prop to roleplay, this is going to be difficult. For those who can set their imaginations free, use the game as a backdrop and dismiss the hobbit fighting alongside of them in game and instead see the Rohan warrior in /chat the hobbit is portraying, the possibilities become limitless. |
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| Macalaure | Jan 23 2015, 11:12 AM Post #12 |
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Beachcomber
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Sounds super! A perfect thing to gather every roleplayer together to do something with others! Who rides with us?! Speak up Rohirrim! What news from the Mark? |
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| Maitimo Nelyafinwe | Jan 24 2015, 09:43 PM Post #13 |
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It would be great to do this, but I'd prefer to participate with a real character in the actual in-game location. Is it possible to do something like this in a low level area where everyone can be together? |
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| kio | Jan 25 2015, 10:43 AM Post #14 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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This group experiment was aimed at trying something different, and this text based SIM mechanic requires folks to break the real character mindset to achieve a new angle of freedom. Read the thread "I'm BORED..." above to get an idea why. With any luck, and in time, the Iron Horse company may be riding across low level areas, and any level would be welcome to participate, but ALL rp will still be taking place in the /chat text, not in game emotes or say. The LOTRO scenery and encounters are just backdrop and random flavoring. This is just one tiny RP group in a kinship full of big RP options. It is in no way meant to replace regular kinship RP or change anyone else's style. There is nothing wrong with either of us for trying or it not being our thing. Hugs always! |
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| Macalaure | Jan 25 2015, 11:06 AM Post #15 |
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Beachcomber
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Alassante told me last night that Wednesday nights would be hard for her since she teaches class and will not be able to make it on time. I'm not sure she will post here so I decided to ask if there is another day we can do this so she can participate? I can do it mostly any time as long as I know about it ahead of time. worthy |
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| kio | Jan 25 2015, 10:14 PM Post #16 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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sure! i just picked a random evening that wasn't busy. What night? |
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| Macalaure | Jan 25 2015, 10:37 PM Post #17 |
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Beachcomber
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I wonder if Tuesday will be better. Thursdays I have Andunie practice and sometimes it is in the evening. I didn't see this until after we grouped tonight. |
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| kio | Jan 26 2015, 07:17 AM Post #18 |
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Harlindon woodsman
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Tuesday's are fine with me. We can start tomorrow (1/27) if she likes. Check with Allassante and let me know. Otherwise we'll still plan on Wednesday until we hear from her. |
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| Macalaure | Jan 26 2015, 09:30 AM Post #19 |
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Beachcomber
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Ok Good plan. |
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