I'm a little confuzzled, and I had to look up what meta-gaming was via google. So let me see if I get this right:
The item actually grants the PLAYER the ability to effectively 'metagame' by giving them divination and fore-seeing type abilities, thus being allowed to use info that their in character players are usually supposed to know? In addition it allows the player to find the best possible loot in any 'looting' scenario (except when it's overused, and the powers are inverted).

Is that what i'm seeing here? :D
It's an interesting thought if so!

Also, it would be an interesting twist if the inversion also affected the divination, and they were actually fed INCORRECT and warped information for days/weeks etc. Go to Comment

It's funny how there's always a way around a hurdle. Feeling depressed? Hah, don't kill yourself! Go seek glory in battle; and here, have this suit - it will protect you!

This is definitely an item which would would create more fun and havoc if the owner does not know it's effects. If a PC gets their hands on it, they will certainly start thinking they can take on those previously unsurmountable odds - even though his companions are ready to flee!

Imbria sounds interesting - I hope you have more from it on the way! Go to Comment

I've always been a fan of greco-roman imagery. In fact, i'm re-playing the game Titan Quest right now :p This is a handy sub which gives some nice visuals of these Imbrian Templars. I like that it's a Matriachal society and that all of these Templars were women. I also like that various incarnations of this suit (plus or minus accessories) are used from the simple 'militia' style temple guardians, up to the Royal Templar - clearly something ingrained into their society. Go to Comment

The more I read these subs relating to Imbria, the more I want to know about it! My imagination swirls with the kinds of horrors which lurk in the dark places and caverns of the moon, which require such a weapon to combat it!

Whatever destroyed Crysia and the Imbrian society must have been a massive force, to thrust debris and these swords from it to earth.

I see that Imbrian society makes use of swords, shields, moonsteel ring-mail and such; is it 'medieval-esque', alternate-modern or something inbetween? I noticed there was also magic present.

So I looked up Imbria, and found that it is a Lunar geological time, measuring about 3000-4000 Million years ago from present.

A roleplay in the Lunar scenario of the Matriarchal Imbrian society would be awesome - exploring moon-caves, fighting off moon-beasts and discovering all that the moon has to offer :D I might have to do a fan-sub of Imbria one day, Scras!

Screw it, the more I wrote in the reply, the higher my vote got - it started at 3.5 but you got me thinking about moon-societies and moon-monsters! Go to Comment

This is really cool. Also, your oekaki subs are impressively long and detailed considering the 30 minute limit, Axle. The story drew me in and though it was a little rough at times (easily forgivable in Oekaki). I liked that I had to read the story through to understand why brait seemed so inactive and even lazy, even at the cost of his brothers life.

Now that you've finished the Oekali portion you should definitely look into expanding it. I would love to read more about Josslander and the why behind his want for Titanic deeds, plus detail into the abilities he bestows on his subjects. Nice stuff Axle! And good storytelling, too - very gripping. Go to Comment

It took me a couple of reads to ubderstand what was happening in here properly, but that's probably because I'm on my phone and i missed a part :p

So the paladinhood or priesthood offer a euthenizing service for those who are downtrodden, with a fictional reward on the 'other side'. Very manipulative!

I would imagine that this church will be -very - into the death penalty too, for even minor crimes if they can get away with it; through beheading with the blessed blade, of course. Perhaps with the reasoning that "they have strayed and are beyond redemption, so we give them another chance in the green fields of paradise" or something to that effect.
I like the idea behind it, and also the idea of the tiered paladinhood, with different levels of knowledge of the Ruth. Go to Comment

Neutrality seems the way to go with this cult; either they could worship one neutral god, or three (or more), using a neutral god as the fulcrum between the good and evil one, which can be used to help justify their actions.
So for example, perhaps their main deity can be the neutral god of possessions or materialism, and their pivotal gods can be the god of stealing and god of charity. Thus, by following the lesser doctrines of theft and charity they promote the greater doctrine of materialism, and create their equilibrium. In addition, following this thought process may give their minds justification and stave off the insanity so common in the cultists without the fulcrum.

This is a cool, thought provoking sub, Gossamer, and I agree that quality doesnt necessarily mean pages and pages of text! Go to Comment

Update: Changed to plot as per comment suggestions! Go to Comment

As for Axle's impressive critique, all I can say is that I really don't look quite that deep into the things I write :p

You seem to want me to write you out an entire book - your expectations of me are far too high; I don't have that kind of attention span.
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Sometimes there will be contradictions and errors, and there will always be questions left unanswered. All I try to achieve by the end of a post is to have a neat idea, which is still hopefully open-ended enough for it to be adapted for whatever purpose the reader wants.

There's a balance that I think is good to have in subs - which I probably sometimes don't manage to achieve - wherein something is specific enough to have all the details and info that you might need, yet still vague enough that it can be manipulated and worked into any number of scenarios.

Additionally, to address all the possible issues; such as in-depth descriptions of what the recruiter may say or use to entice the people into joining, or to expand the entire pantheon of gods and give backgrounds and descriptions of them, would make this sub extremely long and also take up a hell of a lot of my time. If I was on a payroll I might consider this, but since i'm not, you have what is presented to you.

What is written here is not the be-all-and-end-all of this idea. For example; if you wanted the characters to have an opportunity to have the debate on theology, add it to your game! As you mention; characters have plenty of depth and might not be motivated by greed etc, so I can't anticipate what stance your gamers will take on the subject, or how you would approach it; it is something which you have to decide and make up for yourself, based on how you know your players and their characters.


We have damned smart people roaming this website - Axle, you're obviously a prime example of one - If you put the same energy into filling in the blanks i've left to suit a game of your own as you did writing and re-writing your impressive critique, then the sub would be rich, complete and full of all the added detail you require, as well as being suited to whatever game and characters you need.

I don't think people need everything spelled out for them anyways; where's the fun if there's no room for someone to make it their own?
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Akin to the ghosts of starcraft, I take it? I love a good, deaceiptive post and this one I enjoy! The science of bending light and the requirements of the users to be psychic are nice features of this, but what I liked most were the "known ghosts.". All of them could easily be expanded into full subs, and encountered in a cosmic era game. Thumbs up! Go to Comment

I'm more of a fantasy kinda guy, but I find myself really liking the matter-of-factness of your cosmic era posts, scras. I really enjoyed the company rivalry you had with VM and CB in this, and the way these suits came to be.

The way you describe more than just what the suit does, and include things like the creator and the history of the suit gives this sub a depth that makes it fun to read. Go to Comment

I like her! Her role seems flexible enough to slot onto a bunch of minor or major encounters and plots, and the background of her affliction of hatred is a nice story. It would be interesting to have her in the party, and perhaps reunite with the witch who granted her a soul to see if she had a way to patch her soul up. Go to Comment

"Conrad - Valadaar's cousin. A fierce warrior, that even an orc feared him."

my favourite line :p

Everyone should write up a valadaar backstory and post it! :p we could make a '30 Valadaar backstories' sub!

Or the next quest should be to write a backstory for different citadelians! :p

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It is what it is: A solid list of names :)

Or, it will be when we get some more into it! :D I'll delve through my subs and pull up a few for addition to this! I may have to be reminded to do this, though :p Go to Comment

I notice going through this that I favour short names - one or two syllables.
They're not sorted perfectly, and there may be a duplication or two, but these are the names I gleaned from my posts of yore.

Poxxin - A Town name.
Ixxil - Male
Jhalk - Male
Murtez - Male
Krondell - Male
Brother Hukkel - Male
Raun - Male
Podd - Male
Mull - Male
Rouse - Female
Azalea - Male, angelic
Zalentoah - Male, angelic
Nazrem - Female
Jaimev Ulkeav - Male
Dermond Jaged - Male
Axtrami - God, Male, Female
Ouzquin Dremorix - Society/race
Ionilas - Town name
Vanitos - God
Hurani - Female
Durmanigar - Town
Ilken Lillet - Female
Kote - Male
Maltuka - Town
Valdus Darkmour - Male
Animus - Male
Gaeric - Male
Xarlith - Male, Draconic
Tarquin - Male
Gandacai - Creature
Lister Otticus - Male
Cables Auligra - Male
Scable - Creature
Sarlin Church - Male
Mogrolyth - Creature
Linn Lightson - Male
Khalrani- Male
Rasp - Male
Goli - Male, God
Nurin - Male
Lenith - Male
Karea - Female
Durimar - Male
Heu'valis - Male, Demonic
Fue'mar - Male
Demolius Ghith - Male

From The Ouzquin Dremorix compendium:
Moruz - male
Xartina - Female
Barhaki - Male
Scarlin - Male
Balrin - Male
Naraku - Male
Dermond Jaged - Male
Ilariel - Unique Weapon
Luid - Unique Weapon
Hembali - Unique Weapon
Axer Adrami - Unique Weapon
Loen - Unique Weapon
Xactaki - Unique Weapon
Tarax - Unique weapon
Vaxatra - Unique weapon
Karyla - Female
Jazranika - Female
Inistiz - Male
Nimbi - Female
Gaxatir - Female
Elusimau the Harper - Male
Narine - Female
Hainis- Male

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Done! Threw up my names into the sub! Go to Comment

An island fortress of undead gumbearkins which can be shot to neighbouring continents. That. Is. Awesome.

yes, there are spelling and grammatical errors. But considering you did this in 30 minutes they can be overlooked. I couldn't write half as much in 30 minutes, so cudos there. The backstory of how the island and sling shot came to be is amusing and light-hearted and the island will give any adventurers trying to invade a good challenge as well as a few guffaws.

I can just see the party, sailing towards the island whilst undead bear creatures glide above them, some dropping into the water around them, others missing the mark by miles and flying off onto the horizon. Go to Comment

Another fair writeup to supplement the demonic princes and princesses.
I notice that though your spelling is fine, your grammar is somewhat... Jumbled - is English your 2nd language?

It would be interesting to see more details on the council members, like you had done on the demonic princes/princesses sub. Go to Comment

A fair write up of a major evil, and his 'lesser' evils. It feels somewhat 'diablo-esque', like the video game; how each of the princess and princesses are representative of a particular negative force (such as sacrelige or plague).
There is some grammar and spelling issues, which can be excused. This would be a good kind of thing to turn into a '30's' sub.
"30 demonic princes" Go to Comment

I like the idea of awarding XP for enemies left alive. Any fool can swing a sword; it takes some skill to talk or sneak yourself out of a situation!
Good roleplaying should always be awarded with XP.

I like that your first post is a good, open-minded discussion about roleplaying mechanics. Keep 'em coming! Go to Comment