PBEM Campaign - Freeport

[Seraphina]

Interested in joining or have questions or concerns? Email me at Queen.Seraphina@gmail.com

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The last sunbeam lightly falls on the prow of the ship and night begins to enwrap the raker in her arms. Alex Sandro stood at the head of the ship, watching the vast city grow as the raker closed.

"Do we even have a chance?" He says sardonically into the deep darkness half to himself.

A sinuous figure unfurls from the darkness. "You must not fail Sentry Alex," The figures hissed sibiliantly. Silently he places a claw on the man's shoulder.

As figure approaches closer, it's distinctive odor overwhelms the man. "You shouldn't use that title here, old friend." He blushes lightly, his brown eyes glistening in the moonlight.

Twenty years of relentless duty to my Goddess, thought Alex, and it could all amount to this. Despite his years of training, or rather because of it, he grimaced to himself.

The port loomed closer,"All Hail! Be welcome to Freeport!"

Lady of Love protect us all...

--

I'm beginning a play by email campaign based in Freeport. I'm hoping to recruit all my players from Enerla peeps, for I've leeched here for a LONG time and want to give something back. Thusly those hard at work to keep Enerla alive get preferred treatment.

Ok the nitty-gritty:

It's d20 (3.5) rules, only the SRD, Freeport: the City of Adventure, and the Book of the Righteous are being included, though I'm certainly willing to include other sourcebooks pending my approval.

The campaign will be called Gods and Glory.

Yes, religion is a major part of this campaign. The Treatise of the Divine is required reading for all players as it explains the religious tone of the campaign.
Character Generation:

• Level
  • Normal users - 1 character level
  • Voiced users - 2 character levels
  • Ops/Half-ops - 3 character levels
• Alignment - No Evil please
• Point Buy
  
  
  • Normal users - 25 points
  • Voiced users - 28 points
  • Ops/Half-ops - 32 points
• Deity - This is REQUIRED, you must declare a patron deity or be a member of the Great Church, meaning you worship the pantheon.
• Starting cash (Note: you don't have to spend all your cash then keep the rest as coin, bank notes are permissible but must be noted in your inventory.)
  
  
  • Normal users - as your class starting money
  • Voiced users - 1125gp
  • Ops/Half-ops - 4050gp
• Classes available - All SRD but paladin, it's being replaced by the Holy Warrior, which is essentially a Paladin detialed for each God or Goddess in the pantheon. I would really like to see a Holy Warrior in play.
• Races - If you have enough character levels to spend on your desired race, go for it. Keep in mind this is a good-aligned, city campaign.
• Background
  
  
  • This world has no details beyond Freeport and the Serpent's Teeth, so sky is the limit in creating your background.
  • I would like to see a plot hook or two in there, if possible
  • All SKILLS, FEATS, and LANGUAGES must be justified in your background.
  • Exceptional abilities (16+ or rather 6 points above racial norm) should be noted in your background also.

Posting Rules:
Turn Submission Time
When the player's turn is due, and how many days it is to cover, is decided upon either by the DM or the group leader. You should format your turn to cover the amount of days called for, or in the case of combat, 1 round. Whomever sends in their turn first is the first to act in their groups initiative, so it may behoove you to wait til your leader sends in his turn first in case there are certain orders he wishes you to follow. In Combat Turns, you may not resubmit a turn to make changes, this is somewhat akin to cheating since everyone in your group acts at fairly the same time and you would never know to make those changes in the first place. Those who do not send in a turn will not be doing much and in the case of combat, will be defending and not attacking. If you know you're going to miss a turn, please let me know and we can work something out.

Turn Format
When you submit your turn, your email subject header should only contain:

GGd20: character name

The body of your turn should look similar to the examples below. Do not include both Daily Turn and Combat Turn information in the same turn. If combat starts, then the Daily Turn format stops and it switches over to Combat Turn Format and vice versa.

Daily Turn Format
Example
Day1
- Elvador will sleep on his watches
- Write in my journal everything I've seen today and everyday
- come up with a tune to make Osprey sound like a momma's boy
- eat my secret stash of candy, spreading it out over the coming days Day2-7
- Same as above

Combat Round Format

Example

Cursing his damnable aim, Jainus takes a cleansing breath to control his anger and calm his nerves. With still one target left he nocks and draws another arrow and prepares to take careful aim at the remaining orb. Calm. Steady. At the moment he looses his arrow he exhales as if he his trying to propel the missile to be true. Almost as fast as the first arrow flies Jainus reaches back to his quiver to retrieve another arrow and the game continues. Nock. Draw. Loose.

MOVEMENT: Jainus closes in by 30'
ACTION: Jainus shoots one arrow at the creatures eyes.
AC:16 HP:10
Longbow - Atk +0 Dmg: 1d8 crit 20/x3

-or-

FULL ACTION: Jainus shoots twice at the creature.
AC:16 HP:10
Longbow - Atk -2/-2 Dmg 1d8/1d8 crit 20/x3

Daily Turn Format Errata You can do as many things you think are possible to do during the day, however, I reserve the right to decide if certain actions warrant shorter or longer periods of time. For example, you might think it will take you five minutes to get an audience with the King and have allotted that much time for it, however, when it actually takes you five hours, I have to decide what further actions that day are actually possible for you to do. If I do not list an action taking place in the story and I haven't sent you a private message telling you the outcome of your action(s), then you'll need to re-address them in the next turn or in an Attn DM. Everything in your Daily turn should be from a player's standpoint, i.e. OOC. This will make it easier to use your creative juices during the between turn messages and also lets you tell me in plain english what you want your character to do during the turn. Seperate actions during the turn with either line breaks, dashes, numbers, etc... don't lump them all together in a big paragraph.

Combat Round Format Errata
Combat will always be held in 1 round turns. Always try to follow the format above with one section stating what you're doing in-character and another in game terms. Please limit your IC dialogue in the round to 1 sentence during movement and 1 during your attack or spell casting. If you neither move, attack, or cast a spell, then you may say 2 sentences of dialogue during your round.

During Combat Rounds there are to be no IC conversations happening between the turns, i.e. Everyone sends in their combat turns and I busily work on the outcome, during this time someone sends an IC message asking everyone what they should do-- this is not allowed. IC conversations can only be included in your submitted turns and they don't make much sense unless you're ordering or warning someone about something. Asking someone a question in your turn after they have already submitted their turn is useless-- they cannot answer you cause they have already acted. Asking someone a question in your turn before they've submitted their turn is valid. They'll be able to respond, but you can't react to it because you've already sent in your turn. OOC messages during combat is perfectly fine, but don't count on them too much because of the short turnaround time of the combat turns.

Sending a Copy of Your Combat Turn to the Mailing List
I don't have a problem with this, in fact I think it helps coordinate the game so everyone knows who is doing what and when during the chaos of battle. But remember, if someone has already sent in their turn stating that they're casting a fireball on the enemy you are engaged in melee with, no matter what you say, the fireball will go off before you get a chance to react.

The Finalized Turn
After all of the player's turns, whether they be Daily or Combat, are processed, the DM will send out the finalized turn with the following subject header:

TurnName1 Example:
Delving1

Character responses to the turn are explained below. Email Threads

Between Turn Email
All email between turns, which is 90% of the game, must have the correct subject header. Messages that are IC (in-character) must adhere to the following format to keep the messages in proper order and your DM sane.

Delving1 Turn sent by the DM
Delving1:El a reply from Elvador to the TurnDelving1:El:Dar Darius' reply to Elvador's reply Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf Aelf's reply to Darius' reply

Note that the following threads are not the same since they are replies to different people, so you shouldn't crosspost whatsoever:

Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf:Atr:Aelf
Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf:Sak:Aelf

Private messages are handled at the same time as all other email, however, there are some special rules concerning them as follows. First you must state in the current thread you are in that you have engaged someone in a private conversation, then reply to your own message when you receive it from the list, but add a (p) after your character name abbreviation and only send it to the player character's email address and not to the list, unless you wish the other players to know what you're talking about. Their characters won't know what you're talking about, but I don't suggest doing this because some people may mistake what they read in a private message not addressed to them that was sent to the list as one that had been. Here is an example of the proper format to follow:

Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf Aelf indicates he's going to talk privately Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf(p) Aelf then sends a private message Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf(p):Sek Seklaras replying to Aelf's private message.

DO NOT start or reply to any message threads until your private conversation is over because you are either not there, or didn't hear the conversation.

It's all common sense just like in real life, you can't be in two places at the same time, nor can you move to the future and speak there and return to the present.

When your conversation is over, you can rejoin any group by advancing the thread number as explained below. This is done so that it will sort right and that anything you say later will be sorted after your conversation.

Advancing the Thread Number
Every turn I send out has the number 1 attached to it, such as Delving1; this is so it will sort correctly when someone advances the thread number to 2, or higher. When should the thread number be advanced?

• When the subject header becomes too long.

• Joining a group.

• Having left and making your own group.

• Crossposting

• When you're just not sure and want to be sure that your message will be sorted after all current messages and will be the first message in the new thread number.

When someone advances the thread number, everyone must advance with it. Backposting is not allowed because it opens up a can of worms in which a new series of questions might be asked but can't be answered because there might not be any room left to respond in the subject header, or it might cause an action to happen, thereby nullifying any current thread messages. Basically it causes a lot of problems and it just isn't allowed.

Crossposting also isn't allowed because of sorting problems, except when you advance the thread number, in which case it will get sorted after the current thread number.

When a new thread number is advanced, you must state a little bit about where and when you are, such as stating what room you're in and who is there, or who you're talking to. This is also done when you join or make your own group. Only the thread number is advanced, not the Turn Name.

Here are some examples:

Delving1:El:Dar:Aelf Aelf decides he's going to leave
Delving2:Aelf Aelf arrives at his destination.Delving2:Tha Thanduil, in the group Aelf just left, continues the conversation in his group.

OOC (out of character) messages must not use the above format, to avoid confusion. Including an OOC comment in a IC message is perfectly acceptable, just make sure it's clearly marked as such in the text of the message. Use the format below for entirely OOC messages.

OOC: Subject original message re: OOC: Subject reply to the original message using the reply feature on your mailer

Repeated failure to follow the above formats can result in your character losing experience points. Be sure to change your subject header and delete the common addition of re: at the beginning of the subject header placed there by nearly every mailer in existence.

Attn DM's and Actions
If you have a question about the posted turn, your character, or whatever, send me an email with ATTN DM: Subject in the subject header and I'll get back to you on it asap.

Performing actions such as using observation skills, casting spells, praying for miracles, and surprise attacks can be done between turns via message threads, but must also be addressed to the DM in a seperate message with the subject header ATTN DM: Action so the results of such actions can be processed in a timely manner.

Other actions, such as movement, don't require an Attn DM unless you're heading somewhere unknown to you, but must be stated in the current thread. If this movement removes you from a group, you must advance the thread number and state where you've arrived in that new thread number.

Actions take time, for example: say you're going to walk down an unknown hall, I would tell you what you see and that you could post immediately. Taking 20 on a check would take 3 days of not posting any Movement or Actions; taking probably 2 days (all these times are based on individual actions). If the whole company searches, then I would just do a turn and everyone could post immediately. Here are some examples of action times:

Time till post Action
-------------- ----------
1 day Making a check
2 day taking 10
3 days taking 20
immediate walk down hallway
immediate pick up stuff without examining it
immediate open door and set off trap.

I'll let you know when I respond to your Attn DM's and you can change your course of action then if you don't want to spend a lot of time doing something. But remember, DO NOT keep posting Movement or Actions until I respond to your Attn DM's as follows:

You may not post any further ACTIONS, but may respond to conversation, until xxxday. Any MOVEMENT before posting on xxxday may negate any ACTIONS. I shall inform you of your success or failure in the above action by xxxday.

When performing any action, other than something that wouldn't require a response from the DM such as moving to another room, never ever post a result of your action; it is my job to find out the results of your actions and then I will inform you what they are and you may post any discernable effects that others may see, or I might post them myself.

Purchasing Items
When you purchase something, please make a complete list of the goods or services and place it at the bottom of your turn. Place the individual prices to the right and a total cost at the bottom of the list. Any mistakes will count double against you.
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Two last things!
I strongly suggest using PCGen to create your character, you'll need to set it to 3e rules then load the SRD and the Book of the Righteous (under Green Ronin) as your sources then create your character. If you make your character with PCGen, send me your pcgen file.

-and-

I suggest using a gmail account for the pbem, the search feature and threading will be helpful and I have 50 invites if you need one!

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Interested in joining or have questions or concerns? Email me at Queen.Seraphina@gmail.com

[Seraphina]

Just wanted to add... I'm NOT a Nazi DM

Seriously I have rules and regualtions to keep the email game from turning into a morass of email back and forth with no linear flow.

Also, I'm looking for interesting character concepts from pirate cabin boy to dethroned princesses.

[Seraphina]

I have one player signed up so far. A 2-axe fighter with attitude, keep that in mind when thinking up a character!

[Seraphina]

Two more players signed up, one is a noble wizard and the other is TBA.

I'd like a couple more players. Will probably wait till midweek to start.

I'm thinking about an RSS feed for lurkers if the players don't object.

[Seraphina]

Ok, the email list is setup:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Gods-and-Glory

For non-players there is a RSS feed:
http://rss.groups.yahoo.com/group/Gods-and-Glory/rss