Posting on behalf of the GM: ------------------------------------------------------- This is a game of action and mysticism, where we will intrigue over the throne of the greatest empire in the world and contend against dark auguries. There will be swashbuckling adventure, heavy role-playing, moral dilemmas and laughter. Along the way, I hope that we will travel from acquaintances who share a common interest to become friends. Hi. My name's Keith. I grew up on the first generation of RPGs. They were a huge part of my youth and I was pretty good. My crew and I ran games at various conventions, won some awards and got to be kind of known. It was fun. But then, life happened. Went to law school, got married, had kids and being an adult got in the way of playing games. No complaints; I have a nice life. But my daughters are adults now and they have gotten into RPGs (proud dad). They’ve shown me this site and watching them play has rekindled some old instincts. I’d like to play games with friends again. Something I learned long ago is that what matters most in an RPG are the people you are playing with. System, setting, level – all of that is negotiable – but if you are going to spend hours hanging out with people, you need to like them. So, what I want is a group of good people who like telling stories together. This is my attempt to gather them. ------------------------------------------------------- Setting: The game is a low-magic fantasy set in a close analog to Constantinople during the Byzantine Empire. Guy Gavriel Kay’s “Sarantine Mosaic” is about the right vibe. Here is the text that would introduce a Netflix series based on the game: "She is the Queen of Cities and the Mother of Lies, the greatest city in all the World. She is the bridge between continents and the gate that divides oceans. The savage Rus call her Emperor City, “Tsarigrad” in their barbaric tongue, and they pay tribute to her in furs and human souls. The masked nomads from the Sea of Dust know her as the Shadow That Blocks The Light, and even their boldest raiding parties give her soldiers a wide berth. The flame-worshiping Sassanids count her as their greatest foe and they have wept bitter tears after their mightiest armies were broken against her impregnable defenses. Her wealth and power are so great that even in the farthest East, the million divinities of the mysterious Land of the Gods and the ancestor monarchs of the Heavenly Kingdom must account for her in their subtle manipulations. Her arcaded streets teem with multitudes, vast numbers who live their entire lives within her mighty walls, as well as travelers from every corner of the globe. They are drawn to her for every possible reason; to pray in the blessed Sancta Sapienta (the largest building in the world), to cheer the colors in the thunderous Hippodrome, to study at The University, to petition the Emperor in the sacred Imperial Palace or to transact business in her endless forums. And you, brave adventurer? Know that there is a place here for you too - so long as you serve her purposes. Welcome then, to Sarantium." ------------------------------------------------------- I envision the game as primarily, but not exclusively, urban with roughly equal shares of action/physical conflict and political/magical intrigue, but that will naturally be influenced by the desires of the player characters. Rules: We’re using the Fate Core System because I like the emphasis on role-playing and supportive drama. My experience with these rules is pretty limited so if you haven’t played Fate before, no problem. It’s not that hard and we’ll figure it out together. If you have played Fate, awesome – I’ll sponge off your knowledge. Character Guidance: We’ll use the Fate system for collaborative character creation so you don’t need a detailed design yet. A few words for a high concept and maybe a trouble will be sufficient to get started. And let’s avoid concepts like “This irritable and sullen loner has a hair-trigger temper.” We’re here to make each other look good and have a good time. Technology: We’ll use Zoom for the personal interactions and Roll20 for the fiddly game mechanic stuff. Player types: I’d be happy with all kinds of players, whether you are as gnarled and old-school as I am or a youth brand new to the hobby. In particular, women and LGBTQ players are welcome, not because they need special treatment, but just because everyone deserves to feel welcome and safe. If that makes you uncomfortable, this may not be the game for you. Commitment: Since the point here is to build a group of friends and invest in one another’s stories, I would really appreciate it if you can commit for the foreseeable future to consistently make the game. Obviously, stuff happens but if you’re not sure what your schedule is going to be in two months, this may not be the game for you. ------------------------------------------------------- Apply here! <a href="https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/300607/swordplay-with-friends" rel="nofollow">https://app.roll20.net/lfg/listing/300607/swordplay-with-friends</a>
