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Messages - magnusarin
1
« on: May 09, 2007, 01:27:26 am »
I wanted to say I had a great time tonight just sitting around Stormcrest. Mainly with Ozy, Klaug and Aeryn who gave me some great information and food for thought in game.
2
« on: May 06, 2007, 02:35:42 pm »
The problem with spiderman 3 is that it seems like Raimi got two seperate scripts. One about Green Goblin, one about sandman/venom and he couldn't decide which one to make so he made both of them at once. It's the same problem I had with Pirates 2. Too many story lines and NONE of them are fleshed out or given proper finishes. It's not a bad movie. It's entertaining and the action sequences finally show you what Spidey is capable of, but there is no real character here.
And Ghost Rider was awful because Nike Cage can no longer act. Not since he started doing action movies like The Rock and Conair.
3
« on: May 05, 2007, 01:21:59 pm »
Trajan wouldn't mind taking a walk as long as I can fit it in my schedule.
4
« on: May 02, 2007, 01:39:16 pm »
Leanthar, I've only been on Layo for a short time, but I've really come to enjoy all the time I spend on it. I recently moved away from my family and my oldest friends in attempt to chase a dream, but that meant making alot of sacrafices and DnD and the like were one of them. This has been my only outlet and it's really been a wonderful experience and I want to thank you and the entire team for all the dedication, creative and hardwork they put in to making this such a great enviroment. It's a shame that because certain people can't take this server for what it is and find it necessary to complain when no one is forcing them to be here. Whenever I've had a problem or question, the GM team has been more than helpful and I hope that they feel I have been polite and thankful in term, because I truly am.
All that being said, this is a short life we all have and when it's avoidable, we shouldn't be waste on time on things that cause us more headache and heartache than joy. If Layonara, which you have given us the privelage (not the right) of playing, is no longer enjoyable to you it really might be time to turn off the open sign for the last time and call it a night. You don't owe us anything. You gave us a great game to play and it's your decision when it's over and if this no longer brings you the fun it should you have every right to send us on our merry ways and for my part I would wish you health and happiness and say Thank you for the fun.
Doug
5
« on: April 30, 2007, 12:46:57 pm »
I've taken more and more to wearing this mask. I can't tell if it's for the best or the worst. There is something empowering about staying behind it. I see so much and no one ever really sees me, but I fear I'm growing cold. It doesn't effect people I already hold as friends, but I think I'm standoffish now to strangers. Maybe I'm taking Kinai's lessons a bit to far.
I've spent so much time with myself lately. In part it's the lack of friends abroad, but part of it is just my desire to be alone. I spend so much time just wandering now...but what am I looking for? That's the real question. I keep staring of into the night and imaging the shadows and darkness are moving, living things. I think I'm becoming a little paranoid...that might serve me well.
How I wish I could just melt into the shadows lately. I've begun to fell more and more uncomfortable in the cities and only go there to use the craft halls or docks. When I go to Port Hempstead now I wait outside by the pond if I'm meeting someone or out in the fields under the cotton field tree. I find myself wanting to just slip away when I'm in big groups, especially with those I don't know well. I want to see but not be seen. I find myself clinging to the small groups I feel safe with: Tialle, Lino, Coyote, Savon...I feel the list grows shorter by the day.
I met with Lino, Kinai and Hawk today. I'm not going to go into detail, but something is going down. Part of me was screaming in my head that I should say something, but I didn't. Why? Lino wouldn't have cared if I spoke up, at least I don't believe so. Am I worried about what Kinai will think because she's training me? I did the same all those years ago in the wilds with the Elf. I've quit pushing her for more lessons, but somehow I feel like I've learned more on my own. She gives me sayings and I learn on my own to implement them. She did tell me my fourth lesson though: Know when to duck. Duck out seems to be the jist of that. Learn when to cut your losses. I don't know, maybe that's what I should do now...
It was my birthday today. I almost forgot. At nineteen I'm already underwhelmed by my own anniversary. I told Lino, but only because I thought I was supposed to. He was generous though, as he always is. Gifting me a bow and discussing that he should teach me the halfing tongue since we can't really speak freely in thieve's cant. Everyone seems to know it now a days.
6
« on: April 28, 2007, 11:38:00 am »
I do have a quick question. My ranger/rogue has a +2 Int modifier and has thieve's cant and animal ears. Does that count against my total languages that I can learn?
7
« on: April 28, 2007, 10:30:21 am »
You missed the animal ear rangers and druids get and I believe there is celestial, though you can't start with it from what I understand.
8
« on: April 26, 2007, 06:55:28 pm »
When talking about any stat, whether it be Cha, Str or Dex, we're talking about raw, natural ability. Sam the Orc is naturally better at swinging an ax than Bob the halfling. That doesn't mean Bob can't train himself through feats and attribute points to one day be better with an ax than Sam. You can be the most intelligent character in the world, but if you choose fighter over wizard in PnP you're often not going to seem that way because you don't have alot of intelligence based skills as a fighter and a mage has tons.
A charisma score is just the natural ability of a character to sway other people to his own point of view. Doesn't mean he's being deceptive or manipulative, people just naturally tend to see where he's coming from or want to be in his good favor. Whether it's out of fear, attraction or likabilty is up to the player who makes him. Again, that character doesn't ever have to put a point in diplomacy or intimidate to capitalize on this natural ability. Given time another character could start to garner that same respect even though they aren't naturally persuasive people. You can learn these things. In real life people take speech classes, work on grooming, and read books on rhetoric and become amazingly persuasive.
Unforunately, Charisma is the hardest stat to use because except for Intimidate, there's no real way to effect another PC. In PnP a character never has to believe a high bluff check if they feel their character wouldn't and you don't have to trust someone despite a high diplomacy. I personally always take these into account, but if a known evil person would come up to my paladin it doesn't matter how high these checks are, my paladin isn't going to trust him. Hell, look at presidents. Some people love Bill Clinton and thought he was a very charsimatic leader. Others hate him and found him to be a snake. In the case of charisma it really comes down to trusting players to RP it as best they see fit and as another character, judging characters on what the other player gives you to work off of. It's the least fleshed out of all stats.
9
« on: April 26, 2007, 12:15:14 pm »
The thing is, none of the mental stats (int, wis, cha) are easy to RP and it's always easier to play these stats lower than higher. I don't think you can seperate these stats when discussing a character's personality.
My examples in game are this. My first character Trajan has 14 int and Wis but only 10 cha. He's got a decent diplomacy check but I've very rarely used it. When I role play Trajan hardly ever decides where a group is going to go and he never volunteers to lead anything unless no one else will do it. But that said he's a personable guy to his friends. He's fairly quick witted and perceptive offering insight and humor to a group but little leadership.
On the contrast is my paladin Orin who has 10 int 14 wis and 16 cha. He's an earnest guy who doesn't understand higher end jokes. He's not necessarily friendly, but he's polite, attractive and when he wants to be, very persuasive and he's a decision maker.
If you take charisma by itself Orin would be the more well liked with more friends and Trajan would be someone that unless he was your friend you'd probably never notice. But I think you need to look at your combination of mental stats.
In a similar vein, how does extreme intelligence get played? I'm a smart guy, but not 20 intelligence smart and there aren't a great deal of game mechanics that support it, especially with the lack of Knowledge skills like in PnP. You just have to trust people to play a character as they see fit. Been that way in DnD for about 30 years.
10
« on: April 24, 2007, 12:16:29 pm »
Here's the thing. When you could buy two platforms for the price of one, you do it. Exclusive titles seem to be fleeing from the PS3 as if it were a sinking ship. It lost Assassin's Creed, which people are drooling for and that's just one of many. True, the Playstation line has always been the RPG heavy, but the Xbox is making a huge push to change that (Mass Effect, goes into his corner and rocks back and forth thinking about how good it should be). And while more strategy than RPG, the Fire Emblem series is excellent and only on the Wii. Plus, Nintendo has the strength of the Mario, Zelda, and Metroid series among others and while many of the other games for the Game Cube fell very flat, most of the ones attatched to these three lines were phenominal (Except that mario has d himself out to every possible kind of game a sport). For me, based on the price and library I'd take the Wii over the PS3, largely in part because if I want mature gaming I'll get it from my Xbox.
11
« on: April 20, 2007, 08:03:49 pm »
Layonara is NOT your brain on drugs. Any questions?
Layonara is NOT a career, but if it was I'd probably try to do it for a living.
12
« on: April 20, 2007, 03:12:21 am »
I agree wholeheartedly with the LG/thief dilemma and have little more to add. The LG character would still arrest him and he could help the guy find work after his sentence, recommend his family to the church as in need of aid. There's alot he can do.
As to a chaotic good character in the other circumstance, the biggest things about chaotic good characters is freedom. In the PnP books it talks about them being the biggest opponents of slave rings and the like. I think you could take the stance that the old man turning his daughter into half plant is trapping her in a way. She's not being allowed to pass on as she should (whether the old man acknowledges it or not). Granted, it depends in large part to what the girl herself wants, but I think it could be seen as trapping her soul in an unnatural body. I have a CG Ranger/rogue and this would be his take on it. Granted, he's mostly from the ranger mindset and see's it also as a perversion of nature so to him it's an affront on both counts. Granted, this is just one way of looking at a CG character's mindset on this situation. There are HUNDREDS of way to enterpret the alignment based on what's important to the character.
13
« on: April 19, 2007, 10:16:00 pm »
Kinai took me to Mariner's Hold. She wouldn't say much other than she had heard there was something big going down. We arrived and the area outside the Inn was packed with adventurers. Kinai gave me my first lesson. Stay quiet, stay to the shadows and above all, be watchful. Take note of everything. With the dozen or so people there it was easy to keep unnoticed, though harder to keep all the conversations organized in my head.
The second lesson was to keep an aura of mystery about me. It not only keeps myself and those I care about safer, but your enemies never know what to expect. I spoke very little on the entire journey and my mask came off just once, briefly.
The third was to never underestimate my opponents because, they, like me, may be keeping their true abilities hidden. I should search for the truth about them and everything else.
Kinai and I were chosen to go with a group who were in an ongoing investigation into the activities of a wizard name Zoraje (at least I believe that was his name). We began by speaking with his maid, who had a connection from the last time this group had run in with the wizard. Apparently he had poisoned her. Well, she told us of a tower that stood in a desert across the sea.
We set out on a lengthy sail where I introduced myself to another ranger named Rain and his wife Sonya. I'm not sure if Kinai approved, but Rain paid my fare and I felt I owed him a thank you.
After arriving on the distant shore I looked out on the first desert my eyes had ever seen. The sands had a harsh beauty to it that called out to my heart. It was dangerous and devoid of the vegetation I had grown so used to in the forests. Here the desert would give you little to survive. You'd have to earn everything and in that struggle was a beauty. We travelled, battling ant men and the sun. We dealt with a struggle to get passed a large group of boulders. During this time I took my mask off to squeeze the sweat into my mouth for hydration, quickly putting it back on. Others were trying to take off clothes to stay cool. I tried to inform them that staying covered would best fend off the sun, but few listened.
We finally made our way to the tower. The entrance was blocked by a large boulder which the strongest of us sent to removing. For my part, I sat and waited for a long time in silence. As the time wittled by I decided to look for another option. After taking a walk around the tower, I pointed out that there was a window on the second floor. Kinai lassoed a hold of something and a few got up that way just as the boulder finally got moved.
Inside, things became very strange. We didn't go up the tower, but down into a basement. Kinai took point and I attempted to watch her movements and see what I could pick up. It was little however, since she was out of my sight and back again before I realized what had happened. We fought a great deal of minogons and horrible massive golems which my arrows could not pierce. I quit trying and took to standing in the back with Sonya until we came to a giant glowing altar which the mages informed us had a heavy enchantment. Then the wizard appeared. He was cryptic and deranged and spoke of finding the truth at the core of the world. It was all quite beyond me.
And then he was gone. And all our adventure required was a return trip that slid quietly into nothingness and back to Mariner's Hold.
14
« on: April 19, 2007, 09:23:15 pm »
I saw Kinai in the streets this evening. I didn't know her well and I wasn't even sure if she's remember me, but I had to ask her about his ability to vanish in the plain light of day. With some hesitance I decided to approach her.
Much to my realief, Kinai did remember me and fairly well. So that was one hurdle I had over come, the next was just asking the question and hoping she didn't drop me on the spot for intruding on something possibly very personal.
Kinai didn't kill me nor did she berate me. She opened up to me and told me a fascinating and terrifying story. Kinai said that she was what was called a shadowdancer. Most who had taken up this mantle had done so through long training and study. Kinai was tricked into a much quicker path. She didn't go into great detail, but it seems that a Shadow approached Kinai with an offer for power and tricker her in to sacraficing an innocent man. After the pact was sealed, the Shadow entered Kinai, creating some kind of symbiotic relationship. In exchange for the host body, the Shadow gifted to her all this power.
It was enough to send a cold ache down my spine, but instead of dissuading me the cold was like a steel rod being driven into my determination. I asked the question I truly wanted to know. How could I learn this power? Could it be done without this cost?
Her answer was yes and that she would teach me. While she herself hadn't gone through the training, having aquired the power, she knew how to unlock it in others. She asked me several questions, testing my resolve but I know when I finally proved myself.
She told me of studying the shadows and staring into them, knowing that they would stare back, but having the will to withstand the temptation. I recollected my time, shortly after my training with the Elf had ended, when I studied the ogres and giants of the silkwoods and others in hopes of understanding how they had sacked my village all those years ago. I spent months in the shadows, hidden at close quarters. Listening to them, studying them. I learned their customs and habits. I watched their movements and I came to understand why they had done what they had. But at no time did I ever grow to pity them. They were the enemy and I would not forget that. That is how I regarded the shadow. I would study it and learn all I could. It was an enviroment, a tool that I would use against those who would oppress the weak.
Kinai accepted to train me.
15
« on: April 19, 2007, 01:00:14 am »
deforestation
16
« on: April 19, 2007, 12:13:09 am »
But it's kind of like when you go to a national monument (albeit the Grand Canyon isn't in the middle of a troll infested swamp). There are plaques and signs everywhere talking about it. Maybe just a brief write up about it so you can still try to get the PC interaction.
17
« on: April 16, 2007, 11:38:14 pm »
Okay, I know I'm new here but I've got some thoughts on the whole thing.
I just made a second character, a paladin of Rofirein. I stated in my bio that he uses a bastard sword and wears full plate. Well, okay, that's all well and good. I take my feat to weild a bastard sword, which I'm more than happy to do, and I dish out the chunk of change for the weapon, which is significant at first level. Now I go over to the armorer, oh, guess what, copper full plate is almost 2000 trues. Guess which first level character doesn't have that much? Yes, thats' me. So I buy a tower shield and the only armor I can afford, studded leather.
Should I go around with a sword, shield and nothing but a robe until I save enough to wear full plate? Because I tell you I wouldn't survive long enough to do so unless it was gifted to me or some high level characters took me around with them and just told me to stand in the back. I could also see a cleric of the same god not wanting to use a bastard sword because of the feat requirement. Granted, come up with an in game reason to mask your own player reasons for doing so.
As far as colors, I have been a catholic my entire life and I hold a degree in history with a roman and medieval concentration. Throughout the history of catholicism there have been different camps as to the interpretations of church dogma, even though the faith benefits from one central figure who can decide if he wishes to(something Layonara lacks) the pope doesn't always make such rulings because he understands the split within the church. You also have to look at the different sects within the religion. Putting Real Life in DnD terms a friar or a monk in the catholic tradition falls under the cleric PC class or the priest NPC one. Well, of the hundreds of sanctioned monastic orders in catholic history, all have had there own dress codes and preferences while worshipping the same god.
Looking at the current incarnation of the church, there is a dress code. Certain holidays and feast seasons require certain colors. When not in these seasons priests are still recommended to wear certain colors at certain times of year. Now, if you've ever regularly attended a catholic church you'll find that the local priest has a favorite set of robes he normally wears, recommendation be damned. Whether this is due to lack of funds for more robes or an attatchment to a certain set, you'll find few priests that follow the dress code to a T. If you want to say they're less spiritual for this I want you to go talk to a priest who has served for 30 years through chastity, poverty and many other sacrafices. Before you say that it's easier to do what you want when you don't have powers granted to you by your diety I'd remind you that a priest truly believes he turns bread and wine into the body and blood of their god and that they serve as vessels of God's forgiveness.
My two cents.
18
« on: April 14, 2007, 04:13:08 pm »
The last few days have been slow. I've dealt with several kobolds and Savon and I dealt with some restless dead in the Gloomwood, but I've had little on my plate. I've traveled a great deal, exploring a much as I can. I came for the first time to the city of Haven and its leader has asked me to deal with an ogre problem for him, but I fear I'll need a great deal of help before I can accomplish the task.
Tialle and I have journey a great deal together. It's odd that I know so little about her and yet I consider her one of my closest friends. She's quick with a smile or a joke and is always willing to lend a hand. I have to remember to ask her more about herself.
I did have one very interesting day. In the early morning I was leaving Hempstead to wander the woods. I had no real destination, just needed to get out of the city. As I was leaving I noticed Beili, a companion from the northern expedition, sitting near the pond. I went up to say hello and it was immediately evident something was wrong. I took a seat and we began to talk about how she has grown to resent being tied down. I know she has a relationship with Tadhg, but as to how serious it is I've never asked. We talked at length and eventually her mood started to lighten. Lino joined us after a time as did Savon. We talked at length of life, death, the nature of the adventurer, love and many things. From dawn till well past dusk we chatted. It was amazing to just talk with my new friends. So often I'm travelling from town to town and forest to forest that I have little time to sit and reflect. It's times like these that remind me that I'm lucky to lead the life that I do. My only problem with the entire leasurely day was the treatment of Gorzak. Lino met him with fear and curiostiy. Beil by rudely ignoring him and many others by mocking and demeaning him. The only other person who stood up for him was Sol, an elf I had marked as a callow and self-righteous jerk. It seems I was wrong and I owe him quite the apology next time I see him.
19
« on: April 12, 2007, 04:25:12 pm »
I feel as if I am finally coming into my own. It began with finally getting myself a fine looking suit of armor. My old set was a little too bright for my normally stealthy work. I've traded it in for a set of black and darkest green. The right arm is unguarded save for the forearm. It allows for a quicker release of my arrows and more range of movement to grasp my arrows from my quiver. The left arm is more heavily armored. I've attatched a heavy shoulder piece since I'm most often presenting my left side to my enemies. I wear a glove, but I've cut the fingers for a better grip on my bow. My scabbards I'm moved both to my right hip. It keeps them out of the way when firing and allows for quick withdraw and a heavy lateral slash for when my enemies get too close for bow work.
Shortly after fixing my armor, I met up with Tialle. She was in the company of a cheerful halfling named Lino. The two were off to explore the small southern continent of Alindor. They invited me to join and having never seen the foreign land and jumped at the chance.
We sailed into the Mariner's Hold and just outside of town, in a plain of lions, we met up with a woman named Dalila, a friend of Lino's. Our quartet wandered this new and fair land. We journeyed through the Swamp of Sorrows, infested with trolls. I laid my eyes upon The Lake of Glass, so smooth and calm it was as a mirror. I gazed upon the magnificent castle and a roaring river where we took the time to help a farmer with a scarecrow problem. What truly shook my heart though, was the Forest of Illusions. I felt as if I could stay there for the rest of my life, lying under the canopy and listening to the musical sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. It's a place of peace and I feel my heart will desire to return for many days. It reminds me why I have chosen a life of uncertainty and possibly death, so that places like this will be forever protected.
There was little battle and the skirmishes that did take place were mostly animals and bandits, but I did more than hold my own for perhaps the first time. My arrows struck true and my blades bit deep. I felt like I had truly felt the spirit of Kithairien flowing through me, guiding my hand.
Dalila talked little it seems, but I felt a great kinship with my companions. Tialle and I have now stood side by side on three excursions. She is a cunning mind and a kind soul. We have become fast friends and her sense of humor countinually lightens my spirits. Lino is one remarkable little man. His heart should not fit in a breast so small and his energy is contageous. I took the time of studying him. His ability to remain unseen is exceptional and I've been soaking up as much of his technique as I can. He has a great natural ability due in large part to his height, but I see how a use of my own much taller frame could lead to a similar advantage, but in a slight reverse application. I'll have to continue to study.
20
« on: April 12, 2007, 02:27:35 pm »
Captain Trent is the prime example as to why I can't stand city officials. When he needed something done he was more than happy to promise me reward, but when it came time to pay up he was nowhere to be found. The damnedable man had me waiting for an entire day and a half before I finally caught up to him. He paid well enough, though I had expected a little more thanks for me effort. Oh well, I helped to protect the people of Hempstead and that is what should and does matter to me.
While waiting I did happen on some interesting individuals. A man, wizard by the look of him, who called himself Tadhg and and a mysterious woman named Kinai. I found Tadhg to be an earnest fellow. Idealistic and probably headstrong, but I couldn't take my eyes off Kinai. It wasn't due to her beautfy, though she has that in spades and any man who doesn't notice must not have eyes. No, it was the way, throughout our conversation and all that I had with her, that she could so easily slip my sight, even when I was staring right at her. I consider myself to be a man who can keep his presense to himself when necessary and I have met many who can do likewise, but I have never seen, or rather NOT seen, a person that can truly disappear before my eyes without the use of magic. Perhaps one day I'll ask her about it.
Tadhg seems to share my frustration of city officials and I was surprised that he made me privy to his thoughts. It seems there is a man who rules the city of Prantz who has brought strict laws to his people, laws that benefit those in power while keeping the poor, poor in both monetary wealth and spirit. He speaks of overthrowing the man and replacing him with a government of the people where they will vote for their own laws and leaders. While I support the liberation of the oppressed I'm not sure that this idea he proposes will bring the Utopia he imagines. A mob can take away the rights of the minority just as easily as a tyrant and it's easier to bribe small men with little power who dream of more than one who already holds it all. He's addiment though and perhaps one day I'll go to see for myself.
The two of them did invite me to come on a dangerous mission to the frozen north to a land called Krashin. I had never seen any lands but that of Mistone and was eager to travel the see. I agreed and we went about finding others to journey with us. A familiar face, Tialle, joined us with her companion Mitchel. We also picked up the warrior Savon and a dark elf by the name of Skull. I have no love of his race, but I have learned much due to my relationship with Gorzak and I'll save my judgement for him as an individual. More flocked to the expedition. An elf named X'une and several others. I was obviously a libaility, but I remembered the small amount of aid I had given to Balazar and the others and determined to do more this time around.
We made the long journey over choppy waters. I had never been on anything rougher than a river, and the large waves rocked the boat endlessly. I felt sick constantly, though I managed to keep my breakfast and other means firmly inside where they belonged.
I arrived on the Isle, happy to have my feet firmly back on the ground. I gave a short prayer to the Runner for delivering me safely and then I looked out upon the whiteness that was the Krashin. I had seen snow before, but never like this. It covered everything and the few trees that existed had seemed to give up to the harshness of their condition. It was beautiful though. It was clean and clear and you could see for miles. Breathing in I could feel the cold crisp air through my nose and lungs. It was painful in a way, but seemed to clean my body. I exhaled slowly, savoring the feeling.
We were long in diliberation and stockpiling goods, but we eventually set forth. I was amazed to travel in such company and continually studied my companions, but none so much as Kinai, at least when I could see her. I tried to find some clue as to her technique, but was disappointed to come away with little. So I was left with admiration of my companions and their abilities. They dispatched goblins even more powerful than those I had seen outside Hlint. Goblins that rode viscious wolves and studied vile magic. We trudged far across the island and into deep caves which offered no requite from the biting cold.
The cold. It was like a living thing, stronger than any enemy. It started with pinpricks on my skin and evolved into shivers. I exhaulted at moving forward because at least then I was thinking of something else. Eventually my fingers grew number and my knees stiff. Dodging the enemy's volleys became increasingly more difficult and drawing back my bowstring became a painful affair. Even when we lit fires at camp, I felt little of my extremities. I began to wonder if I had ever truly known what warmth felt like or if it was all my imagination.
We pushed on though and by all accounts were successful. My party collected vast amounts of minerals from the caves and once we had taken all we could carry, began our trek out. It seemed like we would be fine. We encountered little resistance leaving the cave, but as we prepared to mount a cliff, dissaster struck. A raiding party ambushed us, striking from behind. Most of us, myself included, were cut down. It was a massacre and those that escaped were pinned down.
Those of us who awoke in Hempstead went about making preperations to return. We braved the waters again and made the lonely cold journey back to our friends. With our combined forces we arrived at our own graves and fought our way back. On our way back, I finally felt of some use. My arrows began to strike home and my blades found the ribs of several goblins.
We made our way back to Port Hempstead and with my share of the wealth I was finally able to pay off Jal.
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