Forums for Noble Houses

[Chiangtao]

I suspect the nobles game will never get off its feet with GD's recent announcement. Regardless, there is good lore built currently for the noble houses. Having a forum to tie their communications together would be helpful.

[Catastrophe]

I don't think this is a bad idea, but I imagine the nobles could make a social group which would work much like the same thing.

[Chiangtao]

Yeah, it would help for sure. But part of the problem are the nobles that don't know each other, but should. So if I'm a new Pendraig noble, how do I know who to contact to join this social group? How do I know it exists?

If we do go the social group way, maybe we can make a sticky somewhere for how to join those social groups if they are part of the house.

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Yeah, the game isn't likely to happen due to a) me leaving, and b) lack of nobles to do so. Snowmane, Nwilmen, and I tried it out for about two hours once, and everything worked out mechanically. However, I don't see a real call for the mini-game without a thriving population of nobility.

[Snowmane]

If you look at the Aurelianus page, we have family trees with links to character bios. Meriadoc has the same. The Pendraig players should do the same to their page for their house and characters. If we ever get some Ulsteris folks, they should do the same. It seems the wiki is the best place for the nobles to keep tabs on each others houses and PCs members of those houses.

Internal house communications can be handled in PM's or in the Correspondance forum. Communications between houses can be done via the Correspondence forum as well. With GD about to be swallowed up and taken away, I think that's probably our best option.

[Nwilmen]

I think the wiki should be used with discretion by both players posting character information and players reading about other families/PCs. I generally assume that if it's on the wiki it's (perhaps) available as public knowledge, but just because we play nobles doesn't mean our nobles know each other or know one another's business. They are 6 large families with cousins and offshoots and everything, living in different parts of the valley. Unless your character spent a lot of time by the docks or sailing ships, for example, I wouldn't assume they know Evelyn very well. When making a new character, it's always best to talk to existing nobles to plan together how they may or may not be related to one another.

While the mini game was clever, I think the lore and RP value of nobility is rewarding enough. It offers great insight into the politics of Sundren and offers a wide variety of opportunities to get involved in the larger scheme of things.

That being said, noble PCs and now unofficial "henchmen" could benefit from a dedicated thread for noble-specific rumors and events. This might help drum up some interest in this sphere and if one day we come to have a decent number involved, maybe then we can explore social group or forum options.

Maybe noble-related things could be a sticky thread under the Rumor section?

[Snowmane]

I generally assume that if it's on the wiki it's (perhaps) available as public knowledge, but just because we play nobles doesn't mean our nobles know each other or know one another's business.

Nobles are under constant scrutiny.

When it comes to familiarity with other nobles houses, their members and backgrounds, well I believe that is exactly what Knowledge:Nobility and Royalty is for. Marcarius will occasionally ask folks who have that skill to make a roll to recognize him, since he never introduces himself as noble. Knowledge:Local or Gather Information might also be used to get the same results at a higher DC.

As for a nobles current business, Gather Information it is. Or you could always just ask them .

[ManUtd4Ever]

Marcarius will occasionally ask folks who have that skill to make a roll to recognize him, since he never introduces himself as noble.

I wouldn't restrict your request for the skill roll to only those who have that Knowledge skill. Very few folks are likely to invest in that skill - as a general rule - and rightfully so since it should be rare that any common folk should/would know a Noble.

I would also suggest that anyone who invests the time to RP a noble be given some plausible support. For example... find it hard to believe a noble would be renting a room in the Second Wind Inn with the rest of the common folk. Perhaps the Staff could give those who are selected to play a noble the opportunity to live at the La Croix Mansion. It is more plausible that a noble house would extend this courtesy to visiting nobility with the expectation they would receive the same in return.

Finally, if you walk out towards the Four Lanterns Inn and listen to the dialog from those in the street you will find there are a lot of poor citizens in Sundren. Nobles should take into consideration that once their identity is known they will become the targets of both common and organized thieves. Holding a noble for ransom will happen in the not too far distant future. Accordingly, I believe folks will be less cavalier about their affiliation when it becomes both risky and costly to be a [well] known noble.

Cheers!

[[DM] Grinning Death]

Nobles should take into consideration that once their identity is known they will become the targets of both common and organized thieves. Holding a noble for ransom will happen in the not too far distant future.

Who says they haven't?

[Doubtful]

Finally, if you walk out towards the Four Lanterns Inn and listen to the dialog from those in the street you will find there are a lot of poor citizens in Sundren. Nobles should take into consideration that once their identity is known they will become the targets of both common and organized thieves. Holding a noble for ransom will happen in the not too far distant future. Accordingly, I believe folks will be less cavalier about their affiliation when it becomes both risky and costly to be a [well] known noble.

Cheers!

Setting wise it's a lot less risky to be a rich noble wandering around than a rich commoner. Your average thug knows that Nobles have privilege, private law, and a lot of resources and connections. Mugging or kidnapping a noble will mean extra harsh sentances and vicious punishments, nobles have the full force of the law both private and public to protect them, commoners, even rich merchants, don't.

[Snowmane]

I wouldn't restrict your request for the skill roll to only those who have that Knowledge skill. Very few folks are likely to invest in that skill - as a general rule - and rightfully so since it should be rare that any common folk should/would know a Noble.

Like I said, Knowledge:Local or Gather Information in a pinch. But, if they don't have the skills, then they just won't recognize Marcarius, though they might recognize his last name if he tells it to them (which he usually doesn't).

I would also suggest that anyone who invests the time to RP a noble be given some plausible support. For example... find it hard to believe a noble would be renting a room in the Second Wind Inn with the rest of the common folk. Perhaps the Staff could give those who are selected to play a noble the opportunity to live at the La Croix Mansion. It is more plausible that a noble house would extend this courtesy to visiting nobility with the expectation they would receive the same in return.

I have spoken to GD in the past about family lands back in the begining of the Noble lore writing and it was decided that the Aurelianus family holds lands outside of Aquor. Not sure if that blurb made it onto the wiki or if any other house has had their lands specified.

Finally, if you walk out towards the Four Lanterns Inn and listen to the dialog from those in the street you will find there are a lot of poor citizens in Sundren. Nobles should take into consideration that once their identity is known they will become the targets of both common and organized thieves. Holding a noble for ransom will happen in the not too far distant future. Accordingly, I believe folks will be less cavalier about their affiliation when it becomes both risky and costly to be a [well] known noble.

Some PCs that have met Marcarius have considered doing bad things to him, but his winning personality and ultra high Diplomacy, Sense Motive and Bluff skills have gotten him out of a few ugly moments unscathed . . . so far! However, nefarious folks should keep in mind that repercussions for crimes against nobles will probably be stricter as well.

[Tamha]

I have spoken to GD in the past about family lands back in the begining of the Noble lore writing and it was decided that the Aurelianus family holds lands outside of Aquor. Not sure if that blurb made it onto the wiki or if any other house has had their lands specified.

The Pendraigs have always had it written in their info that they settled in Aquor. I would think that with the cool relations between them and the strong ties that the Aurelianus family has with the Temple of the Triumverate and Legion, and their efforts to aid the Arbiter's Stand, their lands would be more likely east of Sundren City. With the Ulsteris house originating around the Viridale, and the Meriadoc house entrenched in Port Avanthyr, they could also make sense falling between the two in the areas near Sestra and Mirakus post, as the coastline is more settled than the eastern areas of the valley, especially since the fall of Argyle to demons.

Not to say you can't have lands outside Aquor, just that does put your borders directly on the Pendraig's lands.

Edit: Looking over the lesser Noble houses again, it seems that the Aurelianus is the only one that doesn't have their location of lands set on the wiki page.

[roguethree]

Marcarius will occasionally ask folks who have that skill to make a roll to recognize him, since he never introduces himself as noble.

There are a bunch of noble personalities in Sundren, and recognizing one by his/her face is a stretch unless that noble person has done something pretty noteworthy to be noticed or gone to great lengths to be known by appearance. Most folks, even with some Knowledge: Nobility, won't know an Ulsteris from a Pendraig, or a Pendraig from a commoner in nice clothes, at a glance because their faces aren't plastered everywhere to be seen. Someone from Aquor might be able to identify a particular Pendraig, but some adventurer off the boat from Sembia? No way.