Burning Zethuar (Commentary)

[jc_madden]

I'm interested in hearing feedback on the setting (http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=938) and the game as it developes. You can use this topic to tell me what you think.

[jc_madden]

A lot more info has been added to the Burning Zathuar Campaign info thread check it out.

[csjames75]

I'd love to take a look. Where would I find info about that campaign, JC?

[jc_madden]

Ahh sorry bout that, you can find that here (http://burningwheel.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=938).

[Verrain]

It is looking quite intriguing jc. I like the various races and their different flavors.

[jc_madden]

I wanted to create something that is unique but that draws from something we can relate to. I'm glad you're likeing it. I'm working on some fiction for it now. Although we intend to use the setting of Zethuar for urban intrigue I think it'd do nicely for your standard "adventure" fare.

As far as the Merchant houses go and the player's affiliation with them I was leaving that someone open. I'd like the players to enjoy the challenge of fleshing out thier own house and family memeber (both allies and enemies). Have you given any thought to the type of character you'd like to play?

[csjames75]

Very very nice. The description of the races really brings them alive for me. I think it would a blast to play in a campaign like that.

[jc_madden]

You're welcome to join my friend. By the way, I've never been to Fayetteville AR but I've been to Little Rock. Once I was visiting my girlfriend there and she and I played some Vampire LARP. I remember it was at night and outdoors neer a big stone fountain of somesort. It was a good time. But I digress. (it's okay if I hijack my own threat RIGHT!?)

[csjames75]

Thanks for the invitation. I suppose it would be play-by-post? As I said it sounds like a vibrant campaign world.

A LARP-ing in Little Rock, ehh? I lived there for the past two years and am rather fond of the city. Was it downtown that you were playing?

[jc_madden]

Yeah it's PbP (and PM/Email for the secrety stuff) hard for me to get a good table top game going of BW in alaska.

Yes, I think it was downtown.

[csjames75]

Ahh, then I know exactly where you were, it was Riverfront Park. A beautiful place with lots of greenspace but very underutilized.

Well, I'm game to the Play by Post thing. As I understand it, we're talking less than an hour a day to play and you can post when convenient? I'd love to be included.

If you want to talk about it more, feel free to buzz me on yahoo IM at csjames75. I'm invis but there.

[jc_madden]

Excellent. Riverfront sounds kind of familiar...
Anyway I'm at work but I'll be leaving in about 20 minutes so I can get on Yahoo then. I'm usually on but invis too, my dad's current wife is a psycho who bugs the shit outa me anytime I log on.

[csjames75]

*chuckles* I understand. Having read the basic outline, I think I'd be interested in playing any of the character races you mentioned.

[jc_madden]

Sorry I didn't get on last night the family spent some quality time together. As for character races we have to sit down and discuss it, DaGreathJL and Verrain seemed interested in an urban game for which Zethuar is going to be the setting I'd present it in. For this playing a Zeth or Numari would be the only option. If the players decide on a more "adventurish" game then any race would be available (but playing a Yeksh or Sho would take some heavy explaining).

P.S. I've added a lot more on the idividual appearance and technology (specifically refering to war) on the idividual races.

[Verrain]

As far as the Merchant houses go and the player's affiliation with them I was leaving that someone open. I'd like the players to enjoy the challenge of fleshing out thier own house and family memeber (both allies and enemies). Have you given any thought to the type of character you'd like to play?

I was thinking that whoever speaks for the noble house in that Council of Five must have a staff of assistants and fact gatherers. I was thinking of being one of the right hand men with eyes on the top position himself. A fellow like that would have rivals and allies within and without his own house I would think. Twould be fun.

[DaGreatJL]

Dude, looking very cool. I'm digging on it.

I'd kind of like to play a charismatic and ambitious noble who's got hooked up with the whole "Dark Magic" path. The fact that he has the Gift at all is something he tries to keep secret. I also thing I'd like to play with Abstractions a bit; basically, this guy wants power, and is willing to touch all the nasty, dark parts of magic to get it.

Also, this is a guy who definitley wants to be the one calling the shots in the House. Whether this means being the head, or simply controlling whoever is the head, is fine with him.

[csjames75]

There are no small parts, only small actors, I'd be happy anywhere you put me, from power-hungry noble lackey to white faced-Sho.

Great campaign world!

[jc_madden]

Yes it's shaping up nicely. The one thing that's most important in my opinion csjames75 is that ultimately it's you who chooses what role you play not I. I can't put you anyway (nor will I). You must come up with a concept that GRABS you and come up with your BITs accordingly. I've set down the foundation of the campaign world and then you get to create something using those guidelines. Since it's a PbP it's fairly freeform. You all as players have to be fairly creative and get a lot more freedom to shape the "world" than most table top games. It's sounds like both Verrain and JL are going with crafty noble types as was alluded to at the onset of the campaign's inception. So I'd start there. Feel free to use this thread to discuss your character ideas with the others. Unless someone jumps in real soon we'll probably just start off with the three of you, but I can easily work in more if interest picks up.

Now the big question that pops into mind for you three:
Same house or rival houses? I'm leaning towards same house at this point as we've got two real contenders for a power bid.

[jc_madden]

Dude, looking very cool. I'm digging on it.

I'd kind of like to play a charismatic and ambitious noble who's got hooked up with the whole "Dark Magic" path.

A Zeth Noble would probably fit you well then, they never had "regimented" magic until the Numari conquered them and imposed their doctrine upon them. The Zeth in fact were once known for weilding much of the magics that are considered the "Dark Way" in these days. Of course they've long since publicly renounced any non-sanctioned magic.

[csjames75]

I'd like the role of the heir apparent of one of the noble houses. Maybe a nephew to a patriarch who has no other blood relations to choose from. My character would have been coddled from birth, scarcely able to even dress himself and he expects all to respect his station in life, even though he has eanned only animosity among those of his noble house. His weapon skills are untested but he's pad ruffians out of his sizable allowance to spread rimors of his battle prowess. However, it's backfired and now in the streets he's called The Peacock. Basically a total selfish prick. Let me know if this concept might work.

Radiff Thorsalen


Let me know what you think.

[jc_madden]

Hmm okay. Numari nobility is based on bloodlines so it is possible that you could have a noble house who's heir appearant is a nephew however that would be a fairly weak house. Simply put, the leader of a major noble house would have many nephews to contend for the top spot. If the house has only got one nephew it'd be fairly smallish. Now that might be okay with you.

If you want to talk about the Zeth Nobility as I said before they are granted title by the land they own. In the case of the family holdings of one house, the head of the house has the right to choose any relative he wishes. This custom serves to protect the house rulers who tend to reward loyalty by granting family members property. Generally one's fortune is made by sucking up to the head honcho while making your siblings look bad.

I never want to completely shoot someone's concept down, and I certainly don't want you to feel discouraged if I've failed to provide enough source material for you.

Let me suggest some similar concepts to the one you posted.
#1 Having lost her husband in the last Yeksh skirmish a Zeth noble lady spent her life grooming her son so that he might take a postion of power within her house and thereby restore some of her station. The boy has several relatives to condent with however so it won't be easy.

#2 An aging Numari warlord's health is failing but he refuses to name a successor. Oldest of his nephews you are next in line, but with little skill in battle you'll have to avoid your younger relative's attempts on your life. (which you can pretty much tie in with your original story very easily).

Though the differences in these story are subtle they should help you springboard your concept. You see the way you wrote your concept you kind of painted yourself in a corner, an heir appearant with no contenders to his rule and lots of money.... I don't see a downside.

[csjames75]

Good call and great comments. Thanks for the background on rules of succession among the Numari and the Zeth. To be honest, I was just kind of thinking outloud with that character concept. It's not something I'm married to at all. I think the revisions you mentioned might be very interesting, especially Scenario #1 in which the Zeth character is being groomed for a noble house appointment but will have to brown nose the Head of the Noble House and avoid the blades of his relatives.

Essentially, his skills are diplomatic and he is still untested in either leadership or combat. He is a talented manipulator and uses underhanded trickery to remain in the good graces of the leader of the house. I'm fascinated with the idea of playing a Macchavelian type only concerned with gaining more power.

Perhaps this is more workable?

[jc_madden]

Absolutely, and actually what you said about "thinking outloud" is really what this thread is about. Each player must fully discuss and flesh out their concepts here before a single lifepath is taken. Same goes for BITs.

[Verrain]

Don't know if this is for our characters or one we might want to use in the game but here goes.

Many years ago, House Peshwar was merely one of the many minor noble houses squabbling amongst themselves and trying to catch the attention of the major familes through comely daughters or their best plots of land. That is why the actions of House Peshwar seemed completely insane.

They instead fogred alliances with lesser noble familes and accepted as dowries barren and rocky plots of land that seemed good for nothing. They were sure the Peshwar had gones absolutely mad when they saw these plots of lands covered in nothing but wildflowers and scrub grasses.

The following year though everyone understood. The flowers and brightly colored grass were harvested, processed, and turned into the most brilliant of dyes and darkest of hennas that Zethuar had ever seen. Everyone praised them as best and of course the finest merchant houses had to have the best. That was the start of House Peshwar's rise to power. They have since spread out into the weaving of cloth and have some pasturelands and they have started some mining operations with some success. The Peshwar have become the leaders of fashion and as such always enjoy great popularity among many of the nobles. They have not always won a seat on the council but there have been more years with a Peshwar on the council than not. The Peshwari are known for two things: how to make the most from the least, and how to flaunt what they have without being crude about it.

How is that for a framework to hang our family on?

[jc_madden]

This is excellent Verrain! That's exactly the type of contribution I was talking about from players. Even if the players decide not to use this as the base for their house it will be a wonderful addition to the setting. (It also frees me up from some of the creative burden, which hasn't been a problem as of late because I'm in one of my creative bursts but inspiration comes and goes.)

So what do you other guys think?

[jc_madden]

I posted a brief history of House Peshwar in the PbP forum and I revised it a bit to flesh it out. Hope you enjoy it!

[jc_madden]

Okay guys get cracking on making your characters! I dont see any discussion going on.

[Verrain]

The current House Patron is the eldest of five brothers. The youngest of them Fadi married Hessa, a Lady of House Khalidah, and had five children of his own. The youngest of them is Akram.

Akram was rather left to his own devices as a child. His eldest siblings were taken by Fadi and molded early to take their places in the family and House business. Akram was given the luxury to study with private tutors before being ushered out of the nest and asked to earn his keep.

He was sent as the head of a routine trading expedition to the Numari and with trip back his successes became greater and greater until the whole House was buzzing about this new wunderkind of the trade routes. With this newfound respect came new enemies. Members of the family that never really noticed him before now saw him as a threat. So they arranged for his 'promotion'.

Akram was made the head of one of the largest henna plantations the House owned. It also happened to be one of the furthest from the main city and thus assured Akram would be far from the hearts and minds of most of the House. Akram seethed in his exile of a promotion for years. He tried to spin this into something positive and forged connections with the few family that came out to haul away the henna, but even the finest run plantation was simply not exciting enough to be the talk of the House.

Finally, Akram managed to call in enough favors to return to the city and get attached to the personal staff of the current Peshwar Councilor. He was swiftly overwhlemed by the levels of powerdealing among such a circle of men and made several enemies before he finally learned to turn his merchant skills upon the politicans. He currently aspires to take over the Councilor position himself one day and has come to the conclusion that is no reason to wait for someday and hope to be selected by merit. Much better to take things into his own hands and assure the position will go to him.

----------------------------

Still many parts to flesh out and detail but that is the basic idea for my character.

[DaGreatJL]

Mattei was a third child to a couple who were themselves not closely tied to the family; his mother is a cousin twice removed to the current Patron.

Because of his place in birth, Mattei did not have to worry about expectations of militiary service, or serving the church. He was free to study, and showed himself to be an excellent student of the arts and sciences; his tutors were very impressed with his work, and were honored to have such a studious pupil.
At the age of 13, Mattei was sent away to stay with an uncle there, to further pursue his studies, and hopefully get a more varied and cosmopolitan education. Here, he learned well, and was an exemplary pupil. For a number of years, he studied history and law, becoming truly knowledgable, while his uncle looked after him. As he grew into adulthood, his uncle began giving him special tutoring, teaching him special forms of lore and symbology Mattei had previously not known. Mattei was unafraid of this secret knowledge, though; he took to learning these new studies as eagerly as the old.
Over time, Mattei's uncle introduced him to others who studied the old ways. He told him how these ways were his people's legacy, and that the law had wrongly denied it to them; those in power wished to keep them down. Mattei accepted this information, not because he truly cared, but because he wanted to learn more, always more, and the Dark Path truly interested him.
He studied for many years, becoming a sorcerer in his own right, when his uncle suggested he return to court, and begin practicing his power in a practical setting. He wished to learn what court could teach him, and se he traveled back to his home, bringing with him considerable scholarly knowledge, as well as tales of his travels- tales that concealed his sorcerous powers, of course. With the help of his magic, he quickly became a favorite at court.
Unlike others, he does not want to rule; rather, he wishes to have influence from the shadows, being a voice in the ear of whoever is in charge. He also wishes to push forward his mystical knowledge, and perhaps find an apprentice of his own.
`

[DaGreatJL]

Okay, here's a little addition to the setting.

----------------

The Order of the Returning Grace is a secret mystical order of Zeth who believe that the magics known as 'The Dark Path' are the birthright of their people, and should be practiced. They train themselves in the magics of influence and control of the mind and body, telling themselves that this is the way things were always meant to be. Because of the nature of their practices, they must meet in secret, and keep their abilities concealed, but they talk of how one day they will be publicly revered for their work.
Members have differing opinions on how their power should be applied, and to what purpose. Some seem to simply enjoy having magic that others don't have, and don't really strive for anything other than improving their spells. Others are very active in trying to change society through use of their magic to where they will be tolerated. Still others claim to work to this end, but are truly more interested in simply gaining temporal power for themselves.
An important item to note is that, as they are already practicing a frowned-upon form of sorcery, many members of the Order pursue other forms of 'wicked' magic. Some practice Abstractions, working on newer and different spells. Some learn arts such as Summoning and Nigromancy. Opinions within the Order about such things are mixed, but so far nobody as taken a stand against such practices... yet.

[jc_madden]

Okay we're waiting on just ONE more character to be submitted..... and plese feel free to discuss your character between yourselves. I can only do so much to get this rolling along. The rest is up to the players involved. Lack of intrest will kill this campaign so if folks who signed up for it don't want to participate we can kill it right now and save me the the trouble of exhausting my creativity.

[Verrain]

Hey DaGreatJL!

Do we want to be of the same house and do we want our characters knowing one another? I think it makes it more interesting if we have ties so that we have reason to run into each other.

[luke]

Hey DaGreatJL!

Do we want to be of the same house and do we want our characters knowing one another? I think it makes it more interesting if we have ties so that we have reason to run into each other.

Let me field this one: YES. You must know each other and have Beliefs and Instincts that will bring you together and create the story.

:D

[jc_madden]

Well doesn't HAVE to be the same house, but you need BITs that bring you togther yes. I would say it's a good idea to be from the same house but ultimately it's your game too. What you get out of it is up to you.

[DaGreatJL]

I, for one, am all for the both of us being from the same house, and knowing OF each other, if not perhaps actually being acquainted. I am totally for that.

[csjames75]

Hey jc, my apologies for not getting to this sooner. I'd be happy to finish burning this character concept we talked about tomorrow or so. I've just been buried under a see of legal casebooks.

If you still have room, I can commit to checking the site at least daily for the Play-By-Post concept.

Christopher

[jc_madden]

Yes I'm definately still commited to running this, I was absent from the boards the last 3 days because I was sick as a dog but I'm back (but still pretty sick).

[csjames75]

Alright, just as soon as I get this monkey, I mean paper, off my back then I'll burn up a character, JC

Christopher

[csjames75]

I really hate to do this, but it seems I'm just not going to have the proper amount of time to dedicate to this in a way that I'd like to. Grad school, family and two live games I'm in already are just sucking up my time completely.

So sorry jc. You have an awesome concept and I love the idea of high intrigue in the contexy you established. I bet a third will come along soon to get it up and going.

Christopher

[jc_madden]

I've got another person interested in this game (or any PbP) but I haven't heard much from the other 2 players who originally wanted to do it. I'm open to running something else if we get enough interest but I put a lot of work into the campaign material already presented. If I don't hear from the original 3 I'm going to declare this idea dead and do something more traditional.

[Verrain]

I am still here and willing to give this a shot.

[Tobias]

The setting looks cool enough, I'd sure be willing to give it a go (and then the ordering and waiting for the new edition will start).

[jc_madden]

Excellent! I dont have the revison yet, mine's still in with the other preorders but I think it's a good idea to wait for revised to come out then create new characters with that. Sorry to the two of you who already have characters but from what abzu says you'll wish you started fresh rather than converting when the new edition arrives.

[Verrain]

From what I hear of resources and reputation circles the game will definitely work better with the revised.

The background is already made and that is really the hard part. Making them up under the new rules won't be bad at all.

[Tobias]

jc and I are discussing my character as we speak. Since I don't have the revision yet, he'll write 'm up for now.

I'm psyched.

[jc_madden]

Yeah I'll write it up as soon as I get my copy of the revision.... :P