Alright. Time for the conversation that begins it all, so we're not poluting other threads on the RPGs forum.

I've been thinking of running a Ptolus game online for some time. I wasn't quite clear about the system and circumstances. Now the system's been chosen, AD&D/OSRIC. I am going to run a Ptolus in the past, rather than Ptolus-as-written (which really *is* 3rd edition D&D - it'd be nonsensical to me to use the city as written and try to change it into something it is not. Instead, I am sticking with some of its core concepts, and basically applying AD&D to these concepts instead of 3rd ed).

The game system is AD&D/OSRIC, which means it will not include the Weapon vs AC table, or weapon speeds. You can get a copy of OSRIC v2 for free on that site (download link is on the top of the right-hand side column on that page).

The particulars so far are that the player characters will start at 1st level (I want the experience to start from the start, as the game itself assumes). I want to run a somewhat short introductory adventure at first, so everyone gets a feel of it, has a good time with it. We will see where we're going from there.

We won't be playing tomorrow. I'm just throwing the idea out here so that those interested might step forward and that we can discuss the game before hand.

I am still looking through the History of Praemal to try and select the most appropriate time period for what I have in mind. I'm going to use the base concept of the town and try to make it reflect AD&D, rather than have Ptolus somehow using AD&D as a side-dish (which would be completely contrary to one of Ptolus' core concepts, i.e. that it is basically a reflection of the game in a microcosm).

This is a town that is growing on top of a large dungeon. This is a known fact that created an effect similar to the Gold Rush, with many people from all over the Tarsis Empire coming to the area and improvising a career of adventurer (or "delver", as it were) for themselves. You guys would be amongst these people coming to town trying to strike it rich.

Details are still very much in flux at the moment.

So, at this point, I would like to know: who would be interested?

PS: Try to not spoil yourself about Ptolus. If you don't know the city, this actually might be more exciting to you in play. Now we're all adults, you do whatever you want. The way the city looks, the people that populate it etc are going to be different, of course. Still, there are going to be similarities, commonalities, echoes, so if you're curious about Ptolus and don't know much about it, that's not a problem, far from it. I'll post some information about what I'm coming up with and what the players are likely to know at some point.

PPS: Players interested as of yet
No maximum number of players, so if you want to join, just let me know in this thread.

Cole (*)
Cranewings (*)
Drohem (*)
Lilaxe (*)
Imperator (*)
Peregrin (*)
Sigmund (*)
skofflox (*)
TheDungeonDelver (*)
winkingbishop (*)

(*) Characters generated.
_______

Ptolus/AD&D Threads on the RPG Site
Pre-game Chat
Player Characters
Experience Points
Out-of-character thread #1
People and Places of Ptolus
In-character thread #1 - The Gold Ladder
In-character thread #1a - Delbaeth
In-character thread #2 - Underground (part 1)
In-character thread #2b - Limbus Sanguineum
In-character thread #3 - Back to the Surface

interested I am..will be downloading OSRICv2 soon...

got it...wow 400 pages...good stuff!

Cool. Don't rush. Read through it at your own pace.

We're not going to play right away so, you've got time. I need to brainstorm, put some stuff in writing, we'll discuss the game here to try to figure out what we want out of it, and I'll come up with something more fleshed-out from there.

:cool:
Will keep my eyes peeled for updates here as I peruse the tome!

I'm in.

Awesome.

I'm interested. Assuming real life doesn't eat me alive before the game starts, count me in.

Excellent. AD&D allows for large parties too, so there's no maximum number of players.
If you're interested, just say so. We'll make it work out for everyone involved, no matter how small/large the game is.

Also, questions, feedback and whatnot is welcome, of course.

Interested.  I'm happy and comfortable with the system.  The setting sounds fun but I won't go running off to buy the book, I would prefer the sense of discovery you described.

Quote from: winkingbishop;414692Interested.  I'm happy and comfortable with the system.  The setting sounds fun but I won't go running off to buy the book, I would prefer the sense of discovery you described.

I wish more players enjoyed that.  A good GM can do so much with that stuff.

I do have one question or request, provided I can join the game.  Could you describe or link to [your preferred] description of the mythology/religions/deities in the setting?  I'm certainly no "reluctant cleric" kind of guy

Of course you can join the game.

Ptolus is a fast-growing town. About twenty years ago the city started growing in the vicinity of Dalenguard, a fortress built close to the Spire to guard the outside world from a return of Ghul, the Skull King, who tried to conquer the world by using the nefarious powers sleeping there, atop and within the Spire, since times immemorial.

With people starting to show up in droves to create businesses, trade with the Shoal Elves or delve deep within the Dungeon to strike it rich, came all sorts of holy men, preachers and doomsayers of all faiths and confessions.

The main cult in town is the Church of Lothian, based on the martyr of a wandering preacher of the same name crucified centuries ago, which is closely tied to the Lion-guarded Throne, i.e. the Empire of Tarsis. But even the Church cannot control who believes what, and how, as the city grows in population and diversity. There are many, many different gods that are worshipped by people of certain cultures, faiths or allegiances.

There are thus many gods to choose from to create a Cleric. If you so desire, you can make up your own, or import it, and so on. We'd have to talk about it of course to see if that fits the setting at large, but yeah, if you feel like you really really want to play a Cleric of Thor, say, or Muir, there shouldn't be a problem.

PM me and I'll send you a list of gods already included in the setting.

Characters are going to be straight AD&D first level characters.

Many types of humans exist, just like in our world. Gnomes and Halflings are considered distant relatives of Elves. Elves themselves are usually Shoal Elves, similar to the Sindar/Tolkien types of elves, with a love ships and the sea, though there are also Harrow Elves, who are descendants of survivors from the tortures of Ghul, the Skull King, and are basically broken, scarred, misshapen elves. There are two main sub-groups of dwarves: the Grailwarden dwarves, and the Stonelost dwarves. Think of them as differing clans with a different history to them. They don't differ in actual stats. There's more obviously, but that's a start for you to chew on.

Ability scores are generated using Method I of the DMG: Roll 4d6, discard lowest, six times, then assign scores to chosen abilities. I basically trust you on the rolls. Just think that the game is based on the idea you roll your stats. It's more fun that way. If you want to spoil your fun and cheat (not that I think any of you would, but it's worth pointing out), that's your problem, but you're doing a disservice to yourself first and foremost. So think about it, try to play the game how it's supposed to be played, and you'll have more fun that way.

Now, I have some questions for you guys: what would you like to play? What characters, and what kind of game are you expecting, if any?

If I tell you that basically you have Ptolus, the city, and the underground levels, which basically imply that we'd have some dungeon crawling, and maybe some stuff unfolding above ground as well as your characters become known in town, make ties, friends/enemies, bring back some loot and all, does that sound cool to you?

I have no shortage of ideas. I just would like to know what you want out of the game.

Oh. Also? Level of lethality. This is AD&D. Characters are first level. Chances are, there are going to be some casualties. I'm not going to sugar-coat the dungeon to make life easier on you. It's a challenge, and you make the best of it. That's part of the fun. Are you guys okay with that?

Yup, sounds awesome.

I'm playing a wizard so I can show all the cry baby 3.75 Eberon kids you can make it work with one sleep spell and a crossbow.

Quote from: Benoist;414760Now, I have some questions for you guys: what would you like to play? What characters, and what kind of game are you expecting, if any?

I'll play whatever class is needed and will enjoy any game that isn't a pure tactical combat fest (unlikely in a 1e play-by-post, I know).

QuoteIf I tell you that basically you have Ptolus, the city, and the underground levels, which basically imply that we'd have some dungeon crawling, and maybe some stuff unfolding above ground as well as your characters become known in town, make ties, friends/enemies, bring back some loot and all, does that sound cool to you?

Exactly what I'm looking for. I have no knowledge of Ptolus, other than spending 30-40 minutes flipping through the book once, so an exploration game is fine by me.

QuoteOh. Also? Level of lethality. This is AD&D. Characters are first level. Chances are, there are going to be some casualties.

I would not expect anything else.