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Post by Thorn on Apr 8, 2024 21:24:34 GMT -5
Rp thread here. It's been a few years since we last had a text-based forum roleplay. We're busy people after all! Much of my time is spent creating ttrpgs (you may have seen me mention the Forged in the Dark game Voidwalkers, or the icy D&D campaign setting Illambria!) A week or so ago I was conducting a solo, text-based playtest for a new game. It occurred to me as I was doing so: this very lowkey game would be excellent for a forum roleplay! Would you like to join me in playing Arthurian knights on a grand quest? How Does it Work? For the Grail utilises the Descended from the Queen system, which originated with For the Queen. There are no character sheets or complex rules to be seen here! Each player assumes the role of a knight accompanying the legendary King Arthur on his quest for the Grail: a chalice rumored to have amazing powers (although not associated with a specific religion in this interpretation.) You can choose one of the many, many knights from existing Arthurian fiction; twist an existing character by (for example) recasting Guinevere as a knight, or even create a new character of your own. The story takes place in chapters, with players taking turns randomly selecting prompts from a list. Through these prompts we explore the characters' adventures, relationships, and inner worlds! At any point after each player has answered at least one prompt, a player can declare the Chapter End on their turn. At this point, that player randomly selects a prompt from a separate Chapter End list. The prompt provides a dramatic moment that each player can respond to, before the chapter concludes. How Does This Work on the Forum? An order of play is determined. Players take turns answering prompts through text posts until one player declares the Chapter End, and uses their turn to set out that scenario. All players have a chance to respond to the Chapter End prompt, and then we begin a new chapter. Unlike previous forum roleplays, this is very low key, with chapters potentially taking days or weeks to resolve depending on when people have the time to answer prompts. And if people will be offline for an extended period, it's also totally okay to skip a round as long as you inform the group! I think that's everything. Let me know if you have any questions, suggestions or concerns! Confirmed Players: |
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Post by Celestial on Apr 9, 2024 3:04:42 GMT -5
Could be fun. I am interested. ^^
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Post by Moni on Apr 9, 2024 6:35:16 GMT -5
me
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Post by Thorn on Apr 9, 2024 7:40:12 GMT -5
Gosh I've loved rping with both of you in the past- so would love to see what we get up to here!
Not quite sure how the post format will work for prompts which involve a second player character. Can probably do collabs like the good old days I guess! Or just a simple "does this detail work for you?" over DM if it's just kind of a mention rather than an interaction.
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Post by Lizica on Apr 9, 2024 22:20:19 GMT -5
I could be interested!! =o Sounds like a really cool way to make a TTRPG text-based for us writerly folks.
Slightly confused about prompts and stuff. What kind of prompts will these be? I'm so used to the phrase "prompt" in forum RP chatter to be small things like your character's favorite ice cream flavor or whatever, but would the prompts here be more in the action/story vein like "Your party's path is blocked by an ordinary-looking rabbit. How do you proceed?" or something else?
How many chapters do you think there would be, or does it depend on the action we do?
In any case, color me intrigued! =D
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Post by Thorn on Apr 9, 2024 22:40:03 GMT -5
I could be interested!! =o Sounds like a really cool way to make a TTRPG text-based for us writerly folks. Slightly confused about prompts and stuff. What kind of prompts will these be? I'm so used to the phrase "prompt" in forum RP chatter to be small things like your character's favorite ice cream flavor or whatever, but would the prompts here be more in the action/story vein like "Your party's path is blocked by an ordinary-looking rabbit. How do you proceed?" or something else? How many chapters do you think there would be, or does it depend on the action we do? In any case, color me intrigued! =D The number of chapters is up to the group really! The game ends when the players agree it should. Then a prompt is either drawn at random OR selected from a Journey's End list (depending on what the group would prefer to do), everyone decides how to respond to that, and things end. The Journey's End prompts are along the lines of "you all reach the Grail but Arthur is dead", "you all reach the Grail and must decide what to do now", only one person reaches it, nobody does, etc etc. Since the end of a story is such a Big Final Thing, this is why it doesn't have to be drawn at random unless the players choose to do so! As for the game prompts: here's the full list from the playtest kit! These are subject to change (the game hasn't had a full release yet, after all), and we can always personalise them a bit for our own game anyway.
Hearts
Ace. What have you sacrificed to be here?
2. What inspires you the most about King Arthur?
3. What does the Grail mean to you?
4. What is the hardest decision you’ve made in this journey?
5. What secret about King Arthur will you take to your grave?
6. Do you think you are worthy of the Grail?
7. Who here owes you a life debt?
8. Who here has saved your life?
9. Who is most important to you in this world?
10. Describe a situation that tempted you to abandon the quest.
Jack. What was your first impression of Arthur?
Queen. Describe your first meeting with Arthur.
King. What inspired you to first take up arms as a Knight of the Round Table?
Diamonds
Ace. When did you have a near brush with death?
2. What’s your greatest fear?
3. What’s your proudest achievement?
4. Would you help a stranger for no reward?
5. What do you want most in life?
6. What are your thoughts on honour?
7. Describe a time your views put you at odds with Arthur.
8. Who helped you at your lowest?
9. What brings you joy?
10. Describe an unexpected encounter with a travelling companion.
Jack. Why did you and another knight nearly come to blows?
Queen. Describe a time your past returned to haunt you.
King. Who or what do you fight for?
Spades
Ace. Where do you go in your dreams?
2. Do you consider yourself a good person?
3. What keeps you going when times are tough?
4. What do you miss the most about home?
5. What will you never forgive yourself for?
6. Who is Arthur to you?
7. Who here did you entrust with your deepest secret?
8. How has this quest changed you?
9. What have you confessed while delirious?
10. Who is missing you back home?
Jack. Where were you when you sustained your worst injury?
Queen. Who here do you hold a grudge against and why?
King. What have you lost along the way?
Clubs
Ace. Describe one good thing that has happened to you because of this quest.
2. What frustrates you about King Arthur?
3. Would you rather be loved or feared?
4. How do you hope to be remembered?
5. Which travelling companion do you have more in common with than you first thought?
6. What do you long for that you can never have?
7. Why does Arthur trust you?
8. Do you wish you were something other than a knight?
9. Describe a broken promise that haunts you.
10. How do you spend precious moments along with the travelling companion that you love most?
Jack. What reminds you of simpler times?
Queen. What is the most important part of your daily routine?
King. Describe a quiet moment after a battle.
The first chapter of my solo playthrough in a different spoilerbox, to demonstrate how I've approached this previously: 1
[What do you fight for?]
Mordred often wondered what he was even fighting for these days. His whole body ached. Some old scars had been slashed open by fresh wounds, and as he cleansed himself in the river he watched it briefly run red. Blood and filth spilled from his skin.
Was he fighting for Arthur? No. The enemy could have him for all he cared.
He was doing this for Gawain. His brother was the only good and noble thing left in this life.
He would do it for him.
[What do you miss the most about home?]
Mordred missed his mother. He’d left her side when he was young and never felt at home since.
[Would you help a stranger for no reward?]
Helping strangers was more Gawain’s thing. The perfect son, the golden child. Nobody expected that of Mordred. He gave bread to street kids when he thought nobody was watching though.
[Who is Arthur to you?]
The admiration wore thin a long time ago. Arthur was only his commander. Gawain held Mordred’s loyalty.
[Why did you and another knight nearly come to blows?]
Mordred had argued with Arthur. Called him a coward, called him spineless, for his refusal to acknowledge Mordred as his son. Percival looked ready to gut him. Probably would have, if not for Gawain.
[Describe an unexpected encounter with a travelling companion.]
Mordred had marched off into the swamp to seethe. He knew Arthur wouldn’t follow. Arthur always looked at him with hatred. Arthur had never trusted him because of his mother. Mordred could never escape her shadow.
Gawain came to him that night. He bought meat from the hunt and water from a nearby spring, and he didn’t leave until Mordred had eaten his fill. They watched the stars and shared stories about the constellations. Gawain reminded him of their childhood spent skimming stones and splashing barefoot through the brook. When he left to return to camp, he promised to keep the fire lit so Mordred could find his way back.
It meant everything to know that his brother still cared for him after everything.
[Who here has saved your life?]
Mordred slipped and fell in the mud. Wild, bloodshot eyes found his and a claymore as big as him cleaved his sword hand clean off. Mordred didn’t remember anything after that. The shock and blood loss quickly set in, and the next thing he knew he was sitting in the mud less than a metre from his deceased adversary. Gawain had one arm around him. They were both soaked in blood. Mordred shivered uncontrollably. Gawain retrieved a battered blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders.
“He’s a liability,” Percival snarled.
“My brother stays,” said Gawain.
That was the end of it.
[describe a situation that tempted you to abandon the quest]
Mordred almost left after that. But the thought of his brother lying dead and alone on some grubby battlefield steeled his nerves. He would see this through for Gawain’s sake.
[What inspires you the most about King Arthur?]
Even though he despised the man, Mordred had to admire his resolve. Nothing broke his spirits for long. There was mead and merriment whenever it was needed, even for Mordred. But when it came to Mordred, the smile never quite reached Arthur’s eyes.
[Who do you miss the most?]
Mordred thought again of his mother: the scented potions of her craft, the warm bread waiting for him on a cold winter’s day. The first time he’d bled, she’d been there to reassure him and teach him how to manage the pain. One could treat it like any other illness. It had made him feel less weak.
[Chapter End: the knights are unwillingly separated]
It was a storm that tore them apart.
It ripped through the night without warning, destroying the ship and scattering debris. Mordred awoke on a lonely shore just as dawn started to sweep the horizon. For the first time in his life he was truly alone.
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Post by June Scarlet on Apr 10, 2024 19:02:49 GMT -5
Would the prompt responses be allowed to be as short as in the examples? If so, I'm more interested. For whatever reason, I was a bit intimidated by the thought of having to write for knights, but if it's short, that's more manageable.
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Post by Thorn on Apr 10, 2024 19:19:24 GMT -5
Would the prompt responses be allowed to be as short as in the examples? If so, I'm more interested. For whatever reason, I was a bit intimidated by the thought of having to write for knights, but if it's short, that's more manageable. 100%, they can be as short or as long as you like! Your writing focus doesn't even have to be on the actual knight-ing, the game is primarily about all these people on this journey together. The game this is inspired by ( For the Queen) is played verbally. People take turns drawing cards and answering prompts until they draw a prompt to end the story. It's likely that those responses would only be a few sentences to a couple paragraphs written down! |
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Post by Coaster on Apr 11, 2024 17:12:16 GMT -5
Tentatively interested! Mostly depends on timing, since it's possible I'll be out of commission for a bit (and I don't know when that will be) and I don't want to repeat Naelus where I disappeared halfway through |D
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Post by Octavia on Apr 11, 2024 17:18:25 GMT -5
Also Tentatively interested! Dependent on timing as well and how much mental capacity/spoons I have for writing when it happens, but I have been curious about the idea of joining a forum roleplay for a while now
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Post by Twillie on Apr 11, 2024 20:29:06 GMT -5
Officially signing myself up!
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Post by Thorn on Apr 11, 2024 21:22:21 GMT -5
Aww yay, so excited! =D
Twillie, I have added you to the confirmed list.
Coaster and Octavia- I've made a maybe list for you two and some others who were kinda interested! Maybe we can work out some ways to make it easier for folks to skip a round, if you are worried about suddenly dropping out being an issue?
People on the lists: lemme know if you want to be moved to a different list
People who have not yet signed up: there is still time!
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Post by Lizica on Apr 14, 2024 0:20:10 GMT -5
This sounds very cool! Thanks for answering. <3 And I loved reading your chapter one, Thorn! =DD Just really makes me excited to read what will happen with this one!
At the moment I think I'm still only tentative, but part of me wants to ask if there might be any NPC opportunities? Although I'm not sure how that would work with this setup, and with a set turn order. (Like a helper/hinderer or non-knight character or something that only appears/is mentioned in one or two chapters? I dunno.)
Anyway, though, I'll look forward to reading even if I don't play. =D
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Post by Thorn on Apr 14, 2024 3:07:49 GMT -5
This sounds very cool! Thanks for answering. <3 And I loved reading your chapter one, Thorn! =DD Just really makes me excited to read what will happen with this one! At the moment I think I'm still only tentative, but part of me wants to ask if there might be any NPC opportunities? Although I'm not sure how that would work with this setup, and with a set turn order. (Like a helper/hinderer or non-knight character or something that only appears/is mentioned in one or two chapters? I dunno.) Anyway, though, I'll look forward to reading even if I don't play. =D NPC could be interesting! Maybe NPCs could present, like, wild card prompts almost for others to respond to? So whatever the NPC writer writes is something anyone can interact with that round? |
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Post by Breakingchains on Apr 14, 2024 9:55:15 GMT -5
This sounds like a really fun time! And I feel like I'd be better at text-based roleplay than verbal. Wish I knew more about Arturian legend lol, the fact that I know almost nothing makes me hesitant to jump in. Is that going to be much of a sticking point do you think?
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