assault

Hopefully I will get most of the rosters updated today. If people can put their own rosters together, that would help, but only because I'm lazy. I'm still personally failing on my Monster pick, but I've explained why before. Mind you, on a personal level, this has been the useful exercise I was hoping it would be. I've stuck names on a bunch of characters and ideas I had sitting in my head in fragments for years. Not as much fun for everyone else though. I should have worked out a way for more interaction between players. The Monster, the Monster...

And I'm stuck on my last (Monster) pick. A lot of the problem is that my picks have diverged from my original idea, so my Protagonist is actually irrelevant to the rest of picks. (My Ally/Companion is probably my actual Protagonist.) And therefore, so is my original plan for my Monster. That's a shame, because it was a good idea - just in a different story. It was basically a Rocky Horror joke - "In just seven days...". But that doesn't really work in the context that has emerged. So I need another monster. Annoying.

Somewhere, Marx and Engels' ghosts are going: "told you so". The obvious response, of course, is "what about Stalin etc?", but whataboutery only lasts for so long. And in any case, why were all the communists on the side of the Civil Rights movement, while most of the anti-communists were on the side of the Klan, or at least their more "moderate" associates? This is the Age of Marx.

Second Last Pick. --- Secondary Antagonist: Latro the Conqueror. Latro wants to be a King. No, Emperor. All he thinks he needs is the Sword of Destiny, and a rabble of supporters. Unfortunately, because of the prophecy, the people of Ytic believe him, and would rather flee than defend their city. Who will stand against him?

I'll still be one behind after this pick... --- Location 3: Sisters' Mountain. (Mountain of the Sisters.) Sisters' Mountain is the common name for a site known for the presence of the Hermit Sisters, a group of devotees of the Great God. Each Sister notionally lives alone, although some have gathered groups of acolytes around them. The Sisters don't particularly get along with each other. Some disagree on doctrinal matters (such as the presence of acolytes, and views on same sex relationships (totally unrelated, obviously...)), others have interpersonal issues, while others simply dislike having others living so close to them. Why would you go there? What could you find there?

And yes, I have a third pick for today. I'm still one behind. --- Neither protagonist nor antagonist, Korus the Bard is the closest thing to a neutral character in this story. While he is helpful to whoever he is with, his allegiances are only to himself. He also functions as something of a narrator, and handy source of data dumps, disguised as stories and poems he recites. Option Pick: Korus the Bard.

I'm 4(!) picks behind. I have excuses. 2 picks today though. Maybe three if I can nail down the details. --- Alnar of the North is, in most respects, your typical wandering barbarian. Sure, he is a Big Man where he comes from, and could recruit a warband if he had a good reason and could promise lots of loot to his followers, but mostly he just does the familiar solder of fortune/bandit/thief routine. Amongst those he has met on his journeys is the Dark Lord Surga. Strangely, his refusal to be daunted by the Dark Lord has led to a friendship of sorts between them. Ally/Companion: Alnar of the North. --- There is a prophecy. It consists of two parts, although the relevance of the second is disputed. It is said that the city of Ytic will only be conquered by one who wields the Sword of Destiny. It is also said that a sword is not a shield. Given the famous wealth and power of Ytic, many have sought the sword, although none have, as yet, found it. Now the Dark Lord Surga knows where it is. What will he do with the knowledge? A McGuffin/Gadget: The Sword of Destiny.

Let the pigeons loose! It's time to post again!

That would be awesome, but no AI would know who Seeker was. Apart from Mechanon. In that case, "Seeker in the style of Mechanon" would be highly appropriate, although lots of red would be used.

Personally, I know I'm not real. Enjoy your existence. I'm a sophisticated enough simulation to not add the word which I thought of to the previous sentence.

I really like the "Mad Max Fury Road in the style of Bill Sienkiewicz". Something that comes to mind: one of the main obstacles for producing new Hero system material is the cost of art. Some fancy/weird AI generated art could be an option.

Your original post had "Sinorsky". Which is correct? Also, what does the palindromedary count as? Lunch?

Just for fun: I've not only been to the Las Vegas Strip, I've been to bits of Las Vegas off the strip! Check that out, Yanqui scum! (Disclaimer: The term "Yanqui scum" may not reflect the view of assault or any entity associated with assault. Apologies are explicitly given where necessary to prevent legal or moderator action.) (Secondary Disclaimer: my father was a model railroad fan, and we went to hobby shops pretty much everywhere. I may have talked him into buying me some wargaming, but given the timeline, not roleplaying, material there.)

It's pretty easy for foreigners to rack up big scores if we visit as tourists. I think I could count about 17, although a lot are "see from a distance" rather than up close and personal.

I think the issues are in fact more in the abstract than real. Even with the doubling beyond a certain point, I would put on a hard cap as well. That would fix the problem of a monstrously huge power. I wouldn't stress about players spending points on seldom used multipower slots. The points add up quickly, and they aren't that efficiently used. (VPPs can be a problem though.) Multiple attacks? Well, I don't have much concern or respect for glass cannons. The character can get away with some stuff occasionally, but there will be enough other cases where they will get hosed to compensate for that.

Oops. I've already described a temple and a priestess. I guess I need to make a Deity pick. --- The religion officially practiced in the city of Ytic amounts to a henotheism. There is one major temple overlooking the city, and, at best, minor shrines to other deities. The deity worshipped is commonly known as the Great God. He may sometimes be referred to by other titles, but nothing resembling his "true" name is commonly used. What divine roles does he play? All of them, really, at best assisted by his small retinue of other godlings. Also, apparently he likes cats. Deity pick: The Great God.

I'm not sure this is the proper thread, but it deals directly with sport in Australia. (And Bazza and I are on different sides of it...) The Barassi Line: a globally unique divider splitting Australia’s footy fans

Once again, the hour of doom is upon us. I actually hit the mark this time, within a minute or two! Anyway, this will be the last pick until Tuesday (me and Bazza time) or Monday (barbarian time). A chance for you to catch up if needed.

Pretty much the first three, although the service in the second case is not necessarily military.

And yet they almost always consist of the same parties, just in different configurations.

Then it was the Fifth Day. --- First amongst the suitors pressing for Ianthe's hand is the Tribune Flaccus. This corpulent brute has already reached the heights of constitutional power in Ytic, but seeks more. He believes a strategic marriage would further this quest, with his target being young and beautiful a bonus. His current wife's opinion is of no concern to him - he will set her aside in an instant. Antagonist pick: Tribune Flaccus.

Just for fun, what is the difference between a crocodile and a dragon, dude from Darwin? Sorry, I shouldn't snark there. I'm from Toowoomba (Queensland). Originally known by white people as "the swamp". Don't worry though - I can pull monsters out of my ear just based on that. --- I've been wondering about the compatibility of my protagonist choice and the rest of them. But my protagonist pulling monsters out of his ear is another sport indeed.

OK, player characters in my game are either members of the gentry, or members of the social class below them. At the moment I am calling the lower class the Yeomanry. But what do you call the members of that class that aren't male? Think Jeeves and Wooster, or less dumb versions of this. What do you call a female"yeoman"? Or non-male, whatever.

Correct. I've started announcing the new days at some time after I wake up. However, for you, Bazza, assume 5:30 in the morning. You were the one that asked for Strayan time. Yes, this morning was pick four. And don't be lame. You can tell a decent story if you try.

This isn't a pick, but extra details on Ytic. It also provides context for my last pick and the one I am going to make tomorrow. --- Ytic can be viewed as a monarchy,a theocracy or an oligarchic republic. Essentially it is a compromise. In order to maintain the favour of the Gods, the roles of the High Priesthoods and the divinely anointed monarchy were merged, but restricted to religious authority. Secular power, on the other hand, was vested in the Tribunal Council, consisting of representatives of the three tribes that founded the city. Members of this group (individually known as Tribunes) jointly wield executive power, subject to a council of elders, and, nominally, an assembly of all adult members of the three tribes. Naturally, the Tribunal is dominated by the aristocracy, as is the council of elders.