Reagent's Throne - Suggestions and Questions Thread!

[blurry89]

I didn't want to clutter up your thread, GD, so I thought I'd throw one up.

The first suggestion that comes to mind is the idea of the poor, poor, Soldier's Duel, who's life or death situation comes down to a game of complete chance - nothing else is taken into account. For a level 20 fighter to lose to a .. level 8 barbarian, or a level 10 wizard alchemist... it's a bit odd to think about. I understand the premise, but maybe something else could be worked out?

[Torgar]

Reading this, I notice that the nobles have absolutely no risk, and the most possible reward. The henchmen have the risk of losing xp against the gain of slightly more xp then they would lose. Not that I think henchmen should get the exact same amount of reward as the noble, since it's an event specifically for them, but this might actually serve to discourage anyone from helping them, if they don't really get anything out of it while the nobles are getting high color items and the money with no chance of any real loss aside from the 5k the spent to participate.

As an aside, the 5k to hire the henchmen, does that go to the individual henchman? or does that simply disappear and that player is a henchman? Because 5k stag on top of xp is a good reward versus the risk of losing xp, where as just losing or gaining xp is sort of...can't think of a good word for it, just woke up.

I also notice besides being a potion brewer, there really isn't much for a caster to do in this for their noble. Wizards, although having high INT, don't get appraise, so having 10 appraise is hard if you don't prestige. Almost no caster has Hide/MS, so can't be a spy. Casters are either 3/4 or 1/2 attack rating, so being a soldier will put them at a distinct disadvantage. The diplomat is the only one they can really partake in, and only if they have a good charisma. So, that leaves out wizards and probably druids too. Heck, even some clerics if they didn't go for a good Cha for turning.

Not saying the system is bad at all, looks very fun. Just trying to point out some things for consideration to maximize the potential the event can have for people wishing to partake in it.

[ManUtd4Ever]

The Regent's Chair is a mini-game that the nobles of Sundren can play

If the mini-game is for nobles to play...

Winner gets a reward of a red item, two blue items, or three green items and the pot

Then does this mean only nobles can be winners?

Henchmen who lose, lose 1,000 xp. Henchmen who win, win 1,500 xp.

It would appear a Henchmen's reward is either 1,500XP gained or 1,000XP lost.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Then does this mean only nobles can be winners?

The idea is that the nobles have to find PC's to act as henchmen, and hire them accordingly. Who's to say what they'll hire you with? But direct benefits are for nobles.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

I didn't want to clutter up your thread, GD, so I thought I'd throw one up.

The first suggestion that comes to mind is the idea of the poor, poor, Soldier's Duel, who's life or death situation comes down to a game of complete chance - nothing else is taken into account. For a level 20 fighter to lose to a .. level 8 barbarian, or a level 10 wizard alchemist... it's a bit odd to think about. I understand the premise, but maybe something else could be worked out?

This is a good point, I'll think about adding in a percentage of their ab on the rolls. The idea though is to not make things too overpowering, so a level 20 fighter won't win every time.

As for the xp cost, I'll consider changing that a bit. I didn't want this to be too hardcore unless folks want it to be, so it makes sense. As for the classes, I won't be changing the requirements unless it's absolutely necessary. I'd rather have more things available to players who invest in skills and classes other than casting.

The 5k cost was to hire an NPC, in case there were no players to go around. I might raise it to 10k, just so that nobles will be more inclined to hire PC's than NPC's.

Keep the suggestions coming, I appreciate the feedback.

[roguethree]

I also notice besides being a potion brewer, there really isn't much for a caster to do in this for their noble.

There's not much for a fighter to do than be a soldier. The more skill-based classes (rogue, ranger, bard) have more things they can do. Makes sense to me.

As to rewards for henchman, I guess that'd be worked out between the PCs. The noble has to put up 5k to put the henchman in play, but whether or not the henchman is even available to be put into play is between the noble and the henchman. "Yeah, I'll be your soldier. For one thousand stags, and 10% of the winnings." No flaw here.

But the "duel to the death": Is that to say that the losing participant is permadead? If not, can we call it something that doesn't the further trivialize "LOL death on Sundren?"

Soldier duels: What blurry said. Will levels matter?

Spymasters: Hide/MS v. HP. Don't like it; it just encourages the min/maxing of hide/ms that only Cartel/Eboncoin PCs can really excel at. There are many other means of assassination/abduction, like trap setting, use rope, disguise, bluff. I think a more complex aggregate would be better.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

There's not much for a fighter to do than be a soldier. The more skill-based classes (rogue, ranger, bard) have more things they can do. Makes sense to me.

As to rewards for henchman, I guess that'd be worked out between the PCs. The noble has to put up 5k to put the henchman in play, but whether or not the henchman is even available to be put into play is between the noble and the henchman. "Yeah, I'll be your soldier. For one thousand stags, and 10% of the winnings." No flaw here.

But the "duel to the death": Is that to say that the losing participant is permadead? If not, can we call it something that doesn't the further trivialize "LOL death on Sundren?"

Soldier duels: What blurry said. Will levels matter?

Spymasters: Hide/MS v. HP. Don't like it; it just encourages the min/maxing of hide/ms that only Cartel/Eboncoin PCs can really excel at. There are many other means of assassination/abduction, like trap setting, use rope, disguise, bluff. I think a more complex aggregate would be better.

The duel isn't to the death, it's to incapacitate the opponent so they cannot take place in the game any longer.

Spymasters, I tried to crunch some numbers so that even ridiculously high Hide/MS won't be able to win all the time. But I'm open to another mechanism.

[blurry89]

But the "duel to the death": Is that to say that the losing participant is permadead? If not, can we call it something that doesn't the further trivialize "LOL death on Sundren?"

Agreed. Suggestion? First blood. Seems pretty 'noble-esque' to me.

[roguethree]

Accountant

(Must have INT of 14 and Appraise of 10)
o Embezzle
(-1d3 x 1,000 gold from enemy)
o Procure
(add 1d4 x 1,000 gold)
o Fiscal Planning
(-500 gold per enemy, +x amount of gold)

How does gold factor into the game once it's started? Do actions cost gold?

[[DM] Grinning Death]

At least one action does, I may add another.

But this is a function that's more 'multiple game' oriented. Sure, they may win this round. But if you bankrupt them, and line your own pockets, they may not be able to pay their henchmen. Heck, I might even make the NPC henchmen ask for their pay at the end, in order for nobles to really keep an eye on their gold.

And I'll change the 'Duel' Function.

[Snowmane]

Just nit picking a little here to point out some potential pitfalls before they happen. The more rules/guidelines we have in place, the less likely people are to get angry when these things happen. Sometimes when DMs are forced to make on the spot calls, they can make bad ones and sometimes players don't take that very well, especially when things like exp are on the table!

Does the noble himself get an action or only his henchmen?

Can the noble fill the role of a henchman if he qualifies?

What happens if a noble has to withdraw for whatever reason (perhaps an RL emergency)?

Can another noble take over and if so, does that noble need to contribute to the pot?

What happens if a PC serves as a henchman and he/she has to withdraw for whatever reason (perhaps an RL emergency)?

Is the player still subject to exp loss/gain?

Can the player be replaced with another player?

Can the noble hire an NPC to replace the PC?

I'll keep thinking about potential pitfalls. If you'd rather I kept my mouth shut and just rolled with it, let me know GD and I'll shut up!

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Does the noble himself get an action or only his henchmen?

Can the noble fill the role of a henchman if he qualifies?

What happens if a noble has to withdraw for whatever reason (perhaps an RL emergency)?

Can another noble take over and if so, does that noble need to contribute to the pot?

What happens if a PC serves as a henchman and he/she has to withdraw for whatever reason (perhaps an RL emergency)?

Is the player still subject to exp loss/gain?

Can the player be replaced with another player?

Can the noble hire an NPC to replace the PC?

I'll keep thinking about potential pitfalls. If you'd rather I kept my mouth shut and just rolled with it, let me know GD and I'll shut up!

It's all good!

1. The noble gets to decide the actions of his henchmen, being the noble he is. However many henchmen he has, that's how many actions he can take.

2. I'm not decided on this one, but I'm leaning towards no. Another noble can donate money to the participating noble's cause, but I can't see him stooping to act as a soldier.

3. The game plays for a month, so I don't think it'll be too much of a problem. Rolls can be done another day. But if it does happen, another NPC member of the house will take the turn (A DM).

4. If a noble withdraws, another family member can take his spot.

5. See above

6. No, he isn't. It's meant to be fun, not to grief players.

7. Only if the henchman is still in the game. If he's eliminated, then the noble cannot replace him. If he is still in, he can take the spot (and this is only for a OOC problem, not just 'because' )

And I'm a little concerned by the objection to xp loss so far. Is it really that big of a deal? I'm not trying to be sarcastic or rude, I'm just curious.

[Snowmane]

For lower level characters, say below 15, no it's not a big deal. But once you hit that low exp gain curve then 1000 xp can be a hard hit. My highest level character is 15 and with the difficulty in getting exp at that level, I would have to be offered a lot to risk my exp in the Regent's Chair. Remember there will be 3 losers and 1 winner. Characters above level 15 might actually be too expensive for nobles to consider using as soldiers in the game because they would demand so much in exchange for the risk they are taking.

Then again, a wiley noble could make such strong bonds with a high level PC that the PC would feel obligated to help the noble, but the player might resent being manipulated in such a manner and being exposed to such a risk.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

I always figured that the higher level characters had an easier time. But then, I'm probably thinking of solopwnclerics. A level 20 fighter would have a lot harder time recouping the xp than a level 20 cleric.

I'll rethink it, and see what might be a good alternative.

[Standur]

I always figured that the higher level characters had an easier time. But then, I'm probably thinking of solopwnclerics. A level 20 fighter would have a lot harder time recouping the xp than a level 20 cleric.

I'll rethink it, and see what might be a good alternative.

Perhaps offering a faction point reward for the winning henchmen would be an acceptable alternative.