A JRPG-Inspired Dungeons & Dragons 4e Game I'm currently looking to recruit one or two more players for a game I am currently putting together. Taking the D&D 4th Edition system, and warping it's very Game-like elements to fit the feel and world of a traditional Japanese RPG. The game seeks to emulate classic tropes, themes and emotions of the JRPG genre, drawing from games such as Tales of Eternia , Abyss , and Vesperia , Seiken Densetsu (The Mana Series), Final Fantasy , Etrian Odyssey , and the Chrono series. The game is intended to be both lighthearted, with the dip into darker themes, often about morality, personal ethics, and what it means to be human. Additionally, the style and mapping will be done in a 16bit-esque style, to further help evoke the feeling of participating in a classic JRPG setting. Maps will be built using RPG tilesets, rather than traditional top-down maps. The game is an entirely homebrew world (or rather, worlds), that will be constantly evolving, changing and reacting to how the players choose to interact with the setting, and where the adventure takes them. There will be plot arcs, but at no point does the game become on-rails. I don't come into the game looking to tell a story, but to be part of a story told by the players. As a result, I expect players who are willing to engage both myself, and the other players in participating in the story - players who want to interact with the world in a manner outside of combat, and who want to delve deeper into the world of Sylvant and it's close neighbour, Tellestria. In addition to it's homebrew setting, I make an effort to provide a unique experience with this game, by creating custom magic items, powers, and potentially even feats to help build the world. Unique mechanics will involve summoning special Elemental Spirits, known as the Greater Totems that the party will be able to form pacts with. These are not unique to character, and will have benefits for characters other than Caster-style classes. The game is designed around primarily human, or human-esque style characters, with the flair of Bestial races, elves, and and the exotic from the neighbouring world of Tellestria. Themes of racism, or being unwelcome to those who are not human will be common, but shouldn't discourage people from playing within the races chosen for the world. My Qualifications as a GM I'm a long-time GM with a history of long-running games. I currently am the GM of a Mythic Pathfinder campaign, Jin Xiang , which I have ran on Roll20 for nearly a year, and a consistent group of 6 players. Before that, I ran several long term games for another group that ultimately fell apart after 5 years. I have GM'd for around 7 years, but I have played TTRPGs for twenty. I pride myself on attempting to try something new when I run games - be in mechanically or story-wise. For me, this is my first run at building an RPG based around tropes and themes of the style found in Japanese RPGs, and my first serious attempt and building a game using 16-bit tilesets. I enjoy the "Yes, and..." method of GMing. My inclination is always towards what makes a better story for both the player and the world rather than what is the most mechanically sound choice. I also take efforts in creating a balanced and fun environment for my players - both in game and out. I prefer to game with people who make me feel better, and who can make me laugh. For a balanced and fun environment in the game, I'm fairly lax when it comes to the rules, allowing players who want to do cool shit to do that, and creating creatures, items and the like that interact with the game and world, without becoming must-haves. I do a lot of behind-the-scenes math, or sometimes, just try things off the cuff. Recognizing that failure is not the same as death, I often enforce that there can be consequences for characters failing that doesn't result in the end of a campaign, nor do I intentionally seek to kill characters - I let the dice fall where they may, though, if I feel I have misjudged, I make judgement calls in the moment, often behind the screen. But I am honest when I do so. If the players feel cheated, then so do I, because players shouldn't have hard fought victory robbed from them because of something behind the screen; I make my best attempt to be fair in such events. Overall, I desire to help my players tell a story. Not have my world tell a story to the players. Sometimes, the rails are necessary, but with the right incentives, or the right framework, those rails don't have to be a bad thing, and players can always get off them if they don't like where the story is taking them. What I'm Looking For Players willing to talk with me, and get along with the other players in the group. Interactivity is key to making a game flow, and if you don't feel like you can participate in being part of the group, then you probably don't belong. Someone who enjoys playing a game for playing a game. Who wants story, action, and can settle into elements of both easily. Sometimes combat won't occur, and sometimes, you'll see a lot of it. Be flexible as a character and as a player. Flexibility. Be it in when the game will be played, or with your preconceptions and character ideas. The more willing you are to make things work, the more willing I, and the other players, will be willing to work with you. Storytellers. People who want to interact with the world, and with other players. A loner character is fine, so long as he still brings something to the table at the end of the day. The more enthusiastic about telling a story with friends, the better. Players who are new to Fourth Edition D&D, or who have limited experience and are willing to learn. Players who are okay with using voice for Out-of-Character only, and have decent-to-excellent typing skills. This is a text-based game. What I'm Not Looking For Optimizers. Min-maxers. Munchkins. Something something Stormwind Fallacy here. I don't care about the idea that someone can be a solid roleplayer and still optimize - I recognize and trend towards this myself, but for this game, where most of the players are new, someone who comes in and tips the scales further towards being a solo star means that it becomes harder for everyone else to learn. It's not fun when someone brings in their Vader build, and proceeds to remove all difficulty from the game, or drastically scale it up. Rules Lawyers. I'm a permissive person, and I like giving my players the ability to think outside of the box. Players who strictly enforce the box are unwelcome. You not only make it not fun for other players, but for me, as a GM, because I have to break out my Rules Compendium every time something happens. Combat Monsters. Why are you here? This is a game about interaction with world and characters, not a game of Encounters. If your first instinct is to punch first, ask questions later every time, I probably don't want you at the table either. Lone Wolves. You will be surrounded by people who have a rapport of nearly a year at this point - we have gamed together for awhile, and as a result, have a degree of comraderie. If you choose to be silent and not integrate yourself, you will feel very left out. I can only do so much to help you. I currently have four players, and we're looking to add at least one or two to the mix. The time and date are to be determined, but we're looking at a Saturday, midafternoon EST game, potentially. This is subject to change, and anyone interested should be aware of this. Players must have access to Skype.
