The future of RoE and the need for a DM team

[X-ETN/Maire Cwyllmie (Libor)]

Since the game is offically closed, would you mind sharing your agendas, the way you pursued them and your plans for future? I think it could give interesting and fun insight into the game for other players.

If more people agree with that idea, I will start it with my own statement.

[DM B]

I've no problem with this: But perhaps a new thread is in order?

It's voluntary though; if people don't want to share that's ok too.

[DM B]

Ah, thanks Bjorn.

I've been converted the P&H to "turn 1" and kept wondering about it.

My plan is a "turn 1 Bjorn-ised" and "turn 1 vanilla" versions, with the second having the vassals either removed, or perhaps more simply, having the area summaries assign all the vassals income/regency to the canon regent.

It is taking a little while 

Initiative is good!

I'm taking this to mean your definitely on the team Andy?

Also we need to find out just how many turns have conceptually passed - to make room for all sorts of alterations to the provinces and holdings.

[X-Bellam & BC/TB (Bobby)]

Things to think through:

- DM team; how many and who?
- how many players?
- geographic location (there are several good spots)
- geographic extent (from a local game with just a few realms to a really big RoE-type game)
- what types of domains will be available
- frequency of turns
- amount of interaction vs. focs on strategy
- number of turns to be played
- should agendas be used?
- rules?

1) I think there definitely needs to be a lead DM.  This can be Bjorn acting as Executive Producer while one or more lesser DMs do the actual writing work, or someone else, but one mind should guide the overall story.
2) I think the group that's still coming back here to the forums is more than enough.
3&4) I'd love to get into Brechtur or the Khinasi lands.  I agree with the common attitudes here, that a tighter, denser population would work better.  It'd also reduce the number of NPC vassals and whatnot that the DMs are having to play.  Having played a minor noble both games, I can vouch for it being just as entertaining as playing a sovereign ruler.
5) I think we can do the full range of domains as long as the overall scope is kept limited, but I would actually suggest temples as NPCs if we want to cut some out.  Temple regents get sucked into being Blessing Engines pretty easily, and playing them right seemed to be tricky.  But I'd rather we had the full range.  Keeping the character level of casters low would cut a lot of complexity, too.
6) A month to a month and a half.  Having a kid has cut into my time, but longer than that and we'll start to lose steam again.
7) I've always found more fun in diplomacy and adventures than massive warfare, but if we reduce the scope of the game, that'll keep the warfare more functional too.
8') 20-30 turns would work for me.  I just want enough time to settle into a character and really DIG at my Agendas.
9) YES.  Agendas MADE this game.  PERIOD.
10) I'd argue for simplifying the rules, but that just winds up putting workload on the DM at the start instead of through the game.  We'd probably be best off keeping the rules as written for the most part.  I'd be happy to dig into them some and rewrite - I love game design and balance and often do House Rules for my tabletop games - but it'd take some time and delay the actual game's start.  If you'd like me to take a crack at them, though, let me know what you'd like me to accomplish and I'll set to work. 

[X-WIT/Toreas Kharnmoin (Rune)]

5) I think we can do the full range of domains as long as the overall scope is kept limited, but I would actually suggest temples as NPCs if we want to cut some out.  Temple regents get sucked into being Blessing Engines pretty easily, and playing them right seemed to be tricky.  But I'd rather we had the full range.  Keeping the character level of casters low would cut a lot of complexity, too.

Agreeing with Bobby. Temples can be a lot of fun, but the bless game does get a bit tiresome. Maybe increase the costs and change the benefits so that won't be seen as mandatory to perform them, more like a actual blessing (pun intended) that only happens on rare occations?

10) I'd argue for simplifying the rules, but that just winds up putting workload on the DM at the start instead of through the game.  We'd probably be best off keeping the rules as written for the most part.  I'd be happy to dig into them some and rewrite - I love game design and balance and often do House Rules for my tabletop games - but it'd take some time and delay the actual game's start.  If you'd like me to take a crack at them, though, let me know what you'd like me to accomplish and I'll set to work.

I'd suggest to hand out domains first, and then every player can start working out the details of that domain (under DM supervision where needed  ) in parallell with some of the rules being rewritten. As long as it didn't take too much time to revrite what we deem most needed, I wouldn't mind spending that time just fleshing out my domain. The more I prepare my domain beforehand, the more I will be able to immerse myself right from the start.

[X-Haelyn's Aegis/RK (Andy)]

Ah, thanks Bjorn.

I've been converted the P&H to "turn 1" and kept wondering about it.

My plan is a "turn 1 Bjorn-ised" and "turn 1 vanilla" versions, with the second having the vassals either removed, or perhaps more simply, having the area summaries assign all the vassals income/regency to the canon regent.

It is taking a little while 

Initiative is good!

I'm taking this to mean your definitely on the team Andy?

Also we need to find out just how many turns have conceptually passed - to make room for all sorts of alterations to the provinces and holdings.

I'd be very happy to be on the team, co-DM, player, npc+turn churner, whatever.

I was turn 1'ing for br.net as I've had a few people ask me for your rules and P&H, they tended to blanch at the turn 70-odd P&H though ;-)

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

That merely shows they do not understand the GLORY of that which Bjorn created! 

[X-MOC/Leman States (Even)]

I'm all for expanding the P&H to have a lot of complicated VB macros!

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

I'm all for expanding the P&H to have a lot of complicated VB macros!

Mad! Mad I tell you!

[X-Coeranys/WD (Greg)]

I would agree that 1 turn a month is realistically the most you could expect out of players, plus a fudge week for the inevitable late orders.  I think 40 turns (10 game years) is a nice window, though more would be even better.  Keep the rules the same, or simplify if it can be done without dumbing it down.

[X-WIT/Toreas Kharnmoin (Rune)]

Trying to push things along here: What's the status? It seems we're still enough people checking the forums that we can get a big enough playerbase to start up - once we have a DM team that's willing and able.

Feeling very motivated for a new game of RoE these days 

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

I am willing to go for it - my other major project is now live (ie Empire http://www.profounddecisions.co.uk ) and accepting aplications from non english native speakers to play special roles so I could do with something else exciting to do.

Andy and Bjorn - time to chat I think

[DM B]

Yes; it's time to chat!

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

I'm awake... I am awake! 

Now, where do I start?

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

the poll thread!