Kyler, my game just started. I versed in, it was raining, I found 2 or 3 of the jumpsuits and put them on, along with shoes and socks. I'm currently trying to find my equipment. I asked for a GE roll on finding the 14 inch knife with the fishing line and fire starter. Hopefully everything will work for you now, so we can play.
Kyler, where ya at buddy?
(494 posts) (4 voices)-
Kyler has company over the long weekend; she will be returning home tomorrow evening. I think it likely that he will be missing until then. I don't think it's a technical problem.
--M. J. Young
Tue Aug 21 2007 8:19 pm # -
I should have included that the old thread was A Historic Moment for A Nut.
--M. J. Young
Tue Aug 21 2007 8:22 pm # -
Way to not keep up with the thread, pops. He already versed out of A Historic Moment for a Nut and is Going Number 3 -- er, in his third world, that is.
It would've helped if everything on this equipment list had already had a weight value, but I guess it can't be helped now. If you argue with me about the weight of something, forcing me to go back and alter the weights of several items, then I'll make you regret it.
These are the items you manage to find from following your scriff sense over the course of a few days:
Equipment
1 school backpack weight 1 pound
1 school duffle bag weight 1 pound
1 luggage style duffle bag, weight 1 pound
1 case bottled water, 24 500 ml bottles weight, approximately 28 pounds.
1 14 inch hunting knife, black nylon sheath with 2 carrying pouches. Inside one pouch is a Leatherman multi-tool, (pliers, 3 flathead screwdrivers, 1 Phillips screwdriver, blade, can opener, two-sided file and awl punch) 12 sewing needles and 3 small spools of thread. The other pouch contains a magnesium fire starting tool, 1 BIC cigarette lighter, fishing line, fishing sinkers and several fishhooks. Wrapped around the knife sheath is 15 feet of high-tensile black nylon cord. total weight approximately 4 pounds
1 tool box, containing complete ratchet set, 2 ratchets, 12 screwdrivers, 2 pair of regular pliers, 2 pairs needle-nose pliers, 1 pair vice grips, 1 soldering iron, 1 solder removal tool, 1 roll of solder, 2 pairs wire cutters, 2 crescent wrenches, 1 hatchet, 1 claw hammer, 1 box of 3 inch nails, 2 rolls duct tape, 1 utility knife with 4 changeable razor blades, leather work gloves, a complete set of Allen wrenches, 2-AA battery flashlight, voltmeter, and wood saw. weight, approximately 25 pounds.
100 feet high tensile white nylon cord, weight 1 pound
1 21 speed all-terrain mountain bicycle, with security chain and combination lock, weight approximately 15 pounds
1 complete first-aid kit weight 1 pound has tweezers, over 100 band-aids, several gauze pads, an instant ice pack, surgical tape, rubber gloves, instruction book
1 dynamo flashlight (shake it to charge, no batteries needed) weigh 1/2 pound
1 dynamo radio (crank to charge, no batteries needed) and black nylon carrying case with strap. radio receives AM, FM, audio to TV frequencies 2-13, 7 weather bands. It is equipped with an LED flashlight, siren, and hazard signal flasher. It can also be used to charge a cell phone battery weight 1 pound
1 Marlin 22 caliber rifle, 18 round capacity, 2,000 rounds 22 ammunition. total weight, approximately 10 pounds
1 can opener weight approximately 1/2 pound heavy duty crank type
1 aluminum baseball bat, weight approximately 1 pound
Misc. clothing, jeans, tee shirts, 1 heavy winter coat, 2 camouflage army jackets, socks, etc. total weight approximately 30 pounds
black jeans and red tee shirt, black leather belt, socks, black military combat boots, carrying leather billfold and house keys
Ruger P-99 pistol 15 shot magazine 9mm 3 lbs
5 boxes 50@ 9mm pistol ammo 5 lbs
Spare 15 round magazine for Ruger P-99 1 lbs
6 magazines 15 round each for 9mm Ruger 6 lbs
Military Surplus Sleeping Bag 1 lbs
Keyring: house key, mailbox key, toolbox key, AND a key that will open standard issue police handcuffs
MAK 90 Russian-made shoots 7.62x39 ammo, low quality detachable bayonet comes with a metal sheath that can be hooked to the bayonet to become a pair of wire cutters, back of bayonet has hacksaw blade as part of the blade, serves as bayonet, fighting knife, wirecutters, and hacksaw. 7 lbs
Remington 700 30.06 7 lbs
3x scope for Remington
Utility belt
10x30 round MAK magazines 10 lbs
Leatherman multi-tool, (pliers, 3 flathead screwdrivers, 1 Phillips screwdriver, blade, can opener, two-sided file and scissors) (second of these, slightly different) in black nylon case on belt
radio flyer wagon 8 lbs
Mossberg 500 18.5 inch barrel cylinder bore gun, (5 + 1 shot) 30 inch 20 gauge full choke hunting barrel 10 lbs
tactical shoulder sling for Shotgun (Has loops to hold 15 shotgun shells)
25 rounds 12 gauge 00 buckshot 5 lbs
25 rounds 20 gauge #6 bird shot 5 lbs
universal gun cleaning kit
three throwing knives 3 lbs
holster for a Ruger P-89
two-quart aluminum canteen with canvas case and shoulder strap 3 lbs
New Combat Boots, original SWAT brand, size 13 1 lbs
Hobo Knife, splits with knife and spoon on one half, fork and can opener on the other, fanny pack
15 BiC lighters, five (one sealed pack) in fanny pack
KABAR, 12 inch Marine (military) fighting/survival knife, black leather sheath.
8 gold coins, 1 ounce each, 24K ($3200 original price in B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
19 blocks .999 silver, 1 ounce each ($461.00 original price in B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Diamond ring, gold setting, $195 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Diamond ring, gold setting, $200 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Diamond ring, gold setting, $210 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Diamond ring, gold setting, $225 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Diamond ring, gold setting, $235 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Fanny pack, black leatherette with cloth strap and plastic buckle, on waist; weight 5 lbs
Diamond ring, gold setting, $430 original price (B Monster Movie World), fanny pack
Ronco Pocket Fisherman
4 Cartons cigarettes weight 1 lbs
Deck playing cards
White Jumpsuit x4 (Pearl Harbor)
White Tennis Shoes (Pearl Harbor)
Olive underpants x4 (Pearl Harbor)All seem to be in good working order. Over the course of your travels, you see no cars, no sign of industry or electricity, the people you see wear mostly robes that tie around their waists; no buttons.
(GE: 21)(s. Intuition check: 5,3:8)
Your clothes and equipment draw quite a bit of unwanted attention from the peasant classes. No one actually causes trouble for you, but they often speak amongst themselves in the hushed voices that make you sure they're talking about you.
(s. Will power check: 4,13:17)
You've had one cigarette since you got to this world. Pretty good, but not enough to say you've quit.
Now that you've got your equipment, I might add that your stomach is beginning to warn you that if you do not seek sustenance soon, you will have to pay for it.
Ky
Sat Aug 25 2007 8:36 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberI did a cursory check of the equipment. Some things are too heavy, some things are too light. It's not enough of a discrepancy for me to argue with you about it. I did notice though that my canned food was gone. Are there empty cans anywhere? I'm assuming that was all eaten by the $%#^&*%$#$%# that took it away from me at Pearl Harbor. Well, if I do find empty cans, disown them.
Put on the fanny pack, hang the 9mm holster from it, with all the spare clips that I can get into the fanny pack and pockets. Also, the 14 inch knife. The gold, silver, and rings go into the fanny pack as well. Load everything else into the wagon. I've got cigarettes, and no desire to quit at the moment, so I'll be smoking. Maybe in this world tobacco doesn't exist, and I'll be forced to quit, but I'll worry about that when it happens. That portable radio will pick up any fequency, AM, FM, even TV and weather bands. Turn that on and see if I can get any kinds of signals. After that, ask one of the locals if they know of a place to eat.
Also, I need to see if psionics works. Try to TK some rocks into the air, simple, multiple, heavy, etc (this is PRACTICE) I just need to see if it works in this world or not.
Sun Aug 26 2007 4:10 am # -
"See whether it works" is not practice. Anytime the outcome matters, it is not practice, and if you are looking to see if it works, the outcome matters.
Way to not keep up with the thread, pops. He already versed out of A Historic Moment for a Nut and is Going Number 3 -- er, in his third world, that is.
I knew that he had versed out; I thought there was a new thread, but could not find it. However, I also cannot find the thread in which my game was played, so it may be that it was lost somehow. I've asked about the other and not yet gotten a reply, but if you remember the name of this thread (or want to do a search for all posts by you on the old forum to see if you can find it that way) we can add it to the list of the missing.--M. J. Young
Sun Aug 26 2007 9:21 pm # -
JohnA1nut
Member(OOC) I notice that I lost most of my ammunition. That means most of the guns are useless. Are the 9mm and MAK 90 magazines loaded? If they weigh a pound each, they would almost have to be loaded. (Magazines empty weigh 4 ounces maybe) You said arguing about the weight would have consequences, not telling you they have to be loaded to weigh that would have consequences hahaha. Just be nice and say the magazines are loaded OK? Now that you have told me about the equipment, would it be OK for me to ask how that is decided? Since it seems I have no ammo for the 30-06 I'll disown that, but keep it. Perhaps I could trade it to someone. I just don't want dead weight traveling with me on my next verse.
Mon Aug 27 2007 5:15 am # -
I have been reliably informed that the thread I cannot see, Going Number 3, John A1nut's Third Verse, is here. Apparently any unregistered guest can see it, but somehow my account has been blocked from it. I have not yet attempted to log out over there to see whether I can access it that way.
--M. J. Young
Mon Aug 27 2007 9:27 pm # -
There is no sign of the canned food.
Yes, they are loaded.
(skillcheck: 86)
The telekinesis does not come to you.
I don't see any kind of plans for how you're going to combat the forces of hunger and exhaustion. Water is simple enough to find, if you're comfortable drinking from the various rivers and streams. It seems that's how most people survive.
Ky
Mon Aug 27 2007 10:57 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberI have no problem whatsoever drinking from streams. I did put down a plan for combating hunger. I said I was going to ask one of the locals if they knew of a good place to eat. Go up to a local and say "Hey buddy, I've got some silver, do you know of a good restaurant around here?"
Or better still, observe the locals and see if I can determine how they feed themselves. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I can't determine that, and there's no place to eat, sit down at a stream with that Ronco pocket fisherman, and see if I can catch dinner.
Kyler, tell me more about where I am. I've got rivers and streams. How many, how large? Are there any buildings? Even like straw huts? Do I see anyone carrying weapons? The people are in robes that tie around the waist. Tell me more about that. I can't see anything, all I know is what you tell me. Tell me everything. You've got to be a storyteller. A good storyteller can tell the story so the reader can see it in their mind. I'm not seeing much in my mind, so tell me a story.
When I was in the first grade, in gym class one time, we were playing baseball. They just kind of assumed that everyone there knew how to play baseball. I didn't have a clue. My father never watched sports of any kind, and I had never even watched a baseball game on TV. Anyway, the ball gets hit, and it landed about 5 feet away from me. I didn't know I was supposed to do anything with it. I just stood there and pointed at it "Hey, the ball is over there." I got yelled at by everyone on my team because I didn't pick the ball up and throw it in. I think whoever hit it got a home run. The point is don't assume that your player knows what he is doing. I don't know what world this is, or what is happening. I only know what you tell me. If you don't tell me anything, I don't know what I am supposed to do. This is partly what got me into trouble in Pearl Harbor. I versed in. Adam said "You see ships in a harbor." That doesn't tell me much. For all I know, it's a lake and people are going out boating on a picnic. If Adam had said "You see huge World War 2 era destroyers, next to what appears to be a naval base, and there are soldiers all over the place" I might have had a better idea of what I was supposed to be doing there. You need to tell me what I cannot see. For all I know, I just landed in a hippie commune, where all the hippies wear robes and drink out of streams. If that's the case, I'm just going to get blitzed out of my skull with the hippies. I'm sure that's not the case. So, tell me what I cannot see. Be very descriptive.
What kind of robes are they? What color? Style? Is everyone walking around in flannel bathrobes? How big are the rivers and streams? Are they all over the place? Is there land? What kind of plants are around me? What color are the plants? Are there trees? Bushes? Are there any buildings? If so, what kind? Concrete skyscrapers? Straw and mud huts? Where am I? How many people are around? You need to tell me all of this. I need to be able to see it in my mind so I know what is happening.
Tue Aug 28 2007 6:09 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberAlso, you said it has been a few days whilst I found my equipment. What's been happening during those few days? Where was my equipment? Was it far? Was it 20 feet away? What are the days and nights like? If it's been a few days, no wonder I'm hungry, what was I eating? Were there berry bushes and fruit trees that I could get food from? Where did I sleep for those days? You need to tell me all of this.
Probably we should go back in time to my verse in. That's the equipment I am going to find, you just let me know when and where and how I find it.
Tue Aug 28 2007 6:53 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberI might make decisions based on what is around me. I mean if I had known before that I was sitting on a United States military base, I probably would have high tailed it out of there, so I didn't get arrested for trespassing, which is exactly what happened. I'm not trying to be a prick, but I do need to know this kind of thing.
Tue Aug 28 2007 9:11 pm # -
hahaha. You only wish you versed into hippie world. Mostly what I do is give a brief explanation of everything, and anything that you want more detail on, you ask.
The rivers are bigger than the streams, but none of them are so large that you can't see the other bank. They're of varying sizes and currents, some of the rivers being large and swift enough that you wouldn't trust yourself entirely to swim across, and some of the streams small enough that a simple hop can get you from one bank to the other.
The plants are green and look mostly like plants. Do you have some kind of outdoors skill that should lead me to believe that you would recognize certain plants? You don't recognize any of the plants or fruit-bearing trees.
I'm sorry. I should have assumed that when you grew tired you would have laid down to sleep, or at least asked if you were going to, or that when you grew hungry you would attempt to fish. At fishing, what would you say your ability level is? Amateur, professional, or expert?
I was assuming that you would find all of your equipment within a couple of days did not stop to eat or sleep. If you stop to sleep on the ground then I suppose it may take you more like three days.
You see no sign of civilization until after you've found most of your gear, when you find a worn trail that seems to be heading in the same direction as your remaining scriff sense. The dirt road ends in a bustling village with many straw and mud thatched huts all scattered about a large, ominous looking stone castle.
The robes of the people are in drab colors, browns and grays. The material looks to be less flannel and more cotton, though you can't be certain that the light, thin, opaque, airy material is even that. They have, I think I may have mentioned, no buttons, no snaps, no zippers, and keep their clothes tied with rope.
Here and there you see a guard dressed in chain mail with a sword or a spear. There is an eatery in this village, as well as an inn. There are many other buildings which offer various services here.
You find your remaining equipment, the fanny pack and KABAR, in plain sight behind one of the huts.
Ky
Tue Aug 28 2007 9:29 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberOK, so this is a medieval world. I'm going to go to the eatery and get something to eat. Ask questions about who owns the castle, what country is this, who is the king, things like that. Try to find out about local customs and superstitions. Listen for anyone telling stories in the background. What kind of accents do people speak in? I can do a reasonable British accent. I might try to affect it if I feel the need. Sit in the back, as far from other people as possible, but still listen.
Gold, silver and diamond rings are probably the currency of this place, so that's a good sign. Go into the eatery, and get some meat, salad and potatoes if they have it. Also a good helping of whatever alcoholic beverage they have. I have a reasonably high tolerance for alcohol, if it matters. Pay with silver, and leave. Do I get any coins or currency back as change? If so, what does it look like, and what does it have printed on it? Then go to the inn, and get a room for the day, and crash out, again pay with silver. Again, any coins or currency as change? I'm not disowning the silver. If it verses with me, it verses with me, that's their problem. Tell me about the eatery and the inn. I'm carrying the 9 mm on my hip. They wouldn't have any clue what it was, so that should be safe to do here. I'll be wearing the white jumpsuits from Pearl Harbor. That probably blends in better than anything else I have to wear. If anyone asks me where I am from, or who I am, I am John, from the Region of Verse.
I used to have a Scoutmaster who was a former army ranger, and he did teach me ways to identify edible plants. I probably have 1@3 ability in that. As far as fishing, my idea of fishing is string, float, sinker, hook, worm. If the float sinks, you have a fish. I've never used a Ronco pocket fisherman before, but it's just a reel with a handle. Can't be too difficult. 1@10 ability fishing in the described manner. I'm not fishing at the moment, just getting something to eat and getting a room. After that, we will see.
Tue Aug 28 2007 10:26 pm # -
Still none of the plants look familiar.
I'm marking you down as a 1@4 low to mid range amateur fisherman.
The eatery is a part of the inn. It's a rather larger building than the others, made of wood, and is kept quite clean on the inside. Although it's growing late into the evening, the inside is well lit by numerous candles as well as a large fireplace.
They don't have potatoes. However, they do have a meat and a vegetable that you've never seen. Kakaobu meat is very tough and served well done, and theedles are grainy and sour. The owner doesn't give you change, but he doesn't hassle you for paying how you do. You aren't served water with your meal, but a sweetish alcoholic beverage much akin to mead that tastes like it was made from fermented honey.
People speak in the English language in accents that you are familiar with and are very similar to your own; they don't sound foreign. Most people are as quiet as you are and seated alone, but there are some small groups who are rather noisy. There is talk of dragons to the east and the west, and one man is speaking about the king and a problem with his daughters, although you aren't close enough to hear great detail at this time. As you predicted, no one mentions anything about your gun.
You pay for a room, and are given a candle and a key. The bedrooms are located upstairs from the common room, and you find that yours is rather threadbare, with little else other than a straw mat and a wash basin.
Ky
Tue Aug 28 2007 11:39 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberI'm assuming no running water. I'll just wash up in the wash basin, and throw my sleeping bag on the floor, and catch some much needed ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs How many silver pieces did I spend?
When I wake up, go find the blacksmith. Ride my bicycle, to make sure it works (tech bias and all that) and assuming it does, ask the blacksmith if he would like to go into the bicycle business? Simple to make, simple to ride. Faster than walking, not as fast as a horse, but you don't need to feed it either. Mine is a 21 speed mountain bike, but a 1 speed bike should be well within his technological capabilities to build.
1@4 fishing? I'll go with that. I was hoping to fudge my way there, but you caught me. How do you decide what equipment came? Now that I know what came, it wouldn't hurt to tell me.
Tue Aug 28 2007 11:52 pm # -
The way that I decided what equipment came with you this time is that it was mostly up to me. You had a lot of things with you that were outside of your weight limit but were inside of your van. I went over the list a struck out a lot of things that I didn't think you'd be needing (my call) until your weight seemed more appropriate for your third world.
Ah, the blacksmith. (GE: 18) He should not too hard to find, although your mechanical horse does draw more attention than you've had up until now. No one stops you, however. Speaking of which, I have reason to think that you have professional skill level at riding the bicycle, as it's your primary mode of transportation. Any reason why you shouldn't have such skill?
(s. Intuition check: 9, 10)
You easily find the blacksmith's shop by following the sounds of his hammer. However, he doesn't possess the type of equipment he would need to make a bicycle, and he's shocked at the degree of detail and the small moving parts on your bicycle. He thinks that he might be able to handle the frame, but is sure that he could not make one so light as the one that you have. He's very polite when he speaks to you, as if he's sure that you must be someone rich, like royalty, a nobleman, or an American tourist.
Ky
Wed Aug 29 2007 1:35 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberKyler, I'd greatly appreciate it if you would mark down what rolls you make. It kind of helps me keep track of how to play the game. Start a new thread if you would like, but I'd really like to be made aware of the rolls. The entire purpose of this is so that I can learn how to play the game and all.
Wed Aug 29 2007 1:35 am # -
JohnA1nut
Member"Blacksmith sir, what is your name? I am John, from the Region of Verse. This bicycle is more advanced than you could possibly make, I know that. However, I have little doubt a man of your skill could produce a working replica, if given the proper motivation."
I then reach into my bag, and pull out one of the diamond rings, completely at random. Which ring did I grab? I'd like it to be one of the cheaper ones.
"I'm sure we could work out some kind of arrangement here. Where I come from, these are very popular, and I have little doubt that you could be swimming in a sea of golden rings just like this one if you tried to make bicycles and sell them."
I don't give him the ring just yet, I just want him to know that I do have some fundage.
"If nothing else, this fine bauble could be yours if you see about making a suitable replica of the bicycle"
I then explain ways that unneeded parts can be removed, and the mechanisms be made more simple. I'd say professional level riding the bike. I have not had a car for about 2 years.
"Also sir, I am new in town, and I need a place to stay. I would be more than happy to apprentice with you, and help you around the shop, in exchange for a place to stay. What say you, fine sir?"
I would be speaking politely, but with an air of arrogance. I want him to think I am rich and powerful.
How many silver pieces did I spend on dinner and the room?
Wed Aug 29 2007 1:47 am # -
I have been writing down any and all rolls that I make, but now that you mention it, I don't really have to write down any of them if I don't feel like it. So you've been lucky to have someone as fair as I am who isn't worried about letting you know what the dice come up as.
You spent four silver in all on the dinner and room.
(GE: 25)(d. Persuasion check: 3+10=13)
The blacksmith is moved by your offer, claims that he wants to help you, clearly wants the $200 ring in your hand, but doesn't believe that he'd be able to create something more than the frame, which he says will be extremely heavy. When you ask if you can be his apprentice for a time, he introduces you to his 10 year old apprentice working in the shop. "There are a lot of things he can't do that you might be able to do, like helping me move heavy parts of some of the larger orders that I get from the castle. I would never think to make you do a peasant's job, though, my lord."
So, in short, he accepts your offer to work here in exchange for room and board for a time, but can't make a bicycle other than the frame with the tools that he has and already has an apprentice.
Ky
Thu Aug 30 2007 8:43 pm # -
JohnA1nut
Member(OOC)Kyler, I appreciate that you do write down the rolls, but you missed a day. I just want to be aware of them, since the entire purpose of this is so I can learn how to play the game. It's all good though.
"Blacksmith sir, you still have not told me your name. First things, please, I am just a man like yourself. Don't treat me any differently than you would treat another man in your personal status. In my land, I am not anyone more important than you. Treat me with the same respect that you would give a fellow blacksmith, no more, no less. I have no problem doing peasant's work, and you are the boss in the shop. You say it, I do it, end of discussion. There is something else that I would like to check out (Kyler, you said the magazines for the MAK 90 were loaded, PLEASE tell me there are some bullets in the 30-06.) I have this magic stick here (showing the bolt-action 30-06) With this magic stick, you could strike a man dead from a great distance. Do you think you could produce a duplicate of it? An army which carried this weapon into battle would be nearly invincible. (GE Roll on if gunpowder has been invented yet, if not, I do know how to make it) If we offered this to the king for his armies, we would be paid handsomely. (I say with a twirl of the ring) What say you fine sir?"
(OOC)I do know how to make black powder. The priming system is out of my hands though, but I'm sure a good alchemist could devise a working primer. That's all wizards were, after all, chemists.
Thu Aug 30 2007 10:56 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberHow old would I guess the blacksmith is? Also, I don't know if this is a GE roll or just your call, but I'd like the blacksmith to be cynical, smart-aleck, sense of humor, a laid back kind of guy, once you get past his exterior. Those are the people I get along with the best.
Thu Aug 30 2007 11:19 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberKyler, it's been a few days. You have not posted to your game, so I'm not complaining about that. (Adam would post to his, but not to mine, that really irked me) However, you have not posted to your game either, so it's cool. Were have you been? Anyway, I just had a question concerning the persusassion check on the blacksmith. I dangled a diamond ring in front of him, and he thinks I am some form of nobility that could probably make his life miserable. Shouldn't the persuassion check have been bonused in my favor? Is that totally your call on things like that, or is it in the rules? I have no idea, so I'm asking you. I would have thought the persuassion would have been majorly bonused, all things considered. How are things like that decided? Thanks.
Tue Sep 4 2007 6:42 am # -
Kyler is visiting a friend at college for a while; I am not certain whether he has computer access there, or how long he will be.
Whether an action bonuses or penalizes a check is to a significant degree up to the referee. This is because there are too many variables involved for the book to cover all the possibilities. To illustrate, let us suppose you attempt to bribe a politician. Most people would expect that most politicians would take the bribe, particularly if it were offered in a fashion that made it seem less like a bribe and more like a thank you gift for what you are going to do. However, it might be that this politician has a strong sense of moral duty, and is inwardly outraged (if that's possible) that anyone would impugn his ethical standards by offering him a bribe. It might also be that the politician has heard rumors that there is an F.B.I. (or other appropriate law enforcement agency) sting operation about attempting to bribe politicians to get evidence against them, and suspect that you're part of that operation; this would make him less likely to agree to do what you have asked, lest you take that as having been done in expectation of the bribe (or "expression of your gratitude", as the wording might be).
I would probably have bonused you for that, but it's not my blacksmith so I don't know how he thinks. I do agree with Kyler that the complexity of your devices will be challenging to a country blacksmith (bicycle gears have to be made to a high standard, but bicycle chains are something else again), although I'm not sure they're impossible in the milieu. On the other hand, in a place like this most people will probably be settled into their lots in life, and unlikely to have great dreams of becoming wealthy through some hair-brained scheme.
And you are a little old for an apprenticeship, but I'm sure that there's work for you here and you can learn the trade even if in a somewhat unorthodox way.
Those are, of course, my thoughts as an outsider, and not binding on anyone.
--M. J. Young
Tue Sep 4 2007 7:05 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberWell, I really would like to learn blacksmithing in this case. In an end-of-the-world situation, a skilled blacksmith would be a God among men. Just as, if not more valued than a doctor. I just have no means or inclination to learn it in my present status, but I think I would want to learn it in the given situation.
Wed Sep 5 2007 7:26 pm # -
John, it appears that Kyler's life has gone into upheaval for an uncertain but possibly extended period, and so I will be taking over the world he started. I don't see a thread here yet, but before I dig up the archived one I thought I'd better check to be certain it was not my blindness.
If there's a thread already here on the new board, I'll pick it up; if not, I'll create one and link back to the archives. Just let me know.
--M. J. Young
Mon Oct 1 2007 2:55 am # -
I really feel silly, looking all over for what turns out to have been this thread all along.
The blacksmith is called John--John the Smith, to distinguish him from several others of that name in the village. He appears to be perhaps thirty, although for that it's hard to tell--he could be as old as fifty for the wear and tear on his body, or as young as twenty-five for the strength of his arms.
He looks at your rifle, and indicates that he has no idea how to make a pipe with so consistent a diameter, or so perfectly round a shape.
The 30-06 is fully loaded. As I recall, you kept all your weapons fully loaded, and you've not had occasion to use them.
I do not need to roll for whether gunpowder has been invented, as I know the answer as part of the scenario. You do not know whether there are wizards in this world, or alchemists either.
The blacksmith seems to be an honest, open, hard-working craftsman who takes pride in his ability but also knows his limitations. He is willing to let you work with him, and to teach you some of the craft, if you apply yourself to it.
--M. J. Young
Tue Oct 2 2007 6:29 am # -
JohnA1nut
Member(Well, it is true that I never used the 30-06, but it was in possession of the US military in the last world, and they might have used it. I'm very surprised that none of my gear has been messed with or tampered with. Must have been one helluva good GE roll there.)
"John Smith? Interesting name. Where I come from, that is the most common men's name around. Well, I am John as well, so remembering names should be easy enough to do. Let's get started. I'll let you have another look at the rifle later. Perhaps you can figure out how to make it with some examination and practice. Do you know of a Tinsmith anywhere? They would probably be best suited to make the ammunition."
With that, I unload the bullets, and show them to him, warning him not to get them too close to the fire.
"They're magical. If they get too hot, they get angry. You don't want to see them get angry. Don't worry, as long as they don't get too hot, they won't get angry, and are perfectly safe to touch."
After he is finished examining them, I put them on a shelf high and far out of reach of the apprentice, and as far from the fire as I can get. I also put the 9 mm on the same shelf. "That gets angry around fire too." I explain.
"Again, as I said, you say it, I do it. Don't worry about making me do Peasant's work. This is your shop, and you are the boss of your shop. Just don't get upset with me if I can't keep up with you. I can see you are much better at this than I am."
(I told Kyler about this, I don't know if we ever resolved it. Anyway, my TK pulse should be 1@8. I believe he has it down at 1@6. I got 2 new uses, one for annoying the MP, and one for knocking over the house of cards.
Just so I remember, not now, but later, I'd like a GE roll on the Blacksmith's apprentice being bullied by other children. Not now, as I said though. You want to know what will make me interfere? I'll show you.)
Tue Oct 2 2007 6:45 am # -
The blacksmith is uncomfortable with the presence of anything "magical" in his shop or his home if it has any chance of "getting angry", and asks that you please find somewhere else to keep them. He says he means no offense to you, and is sure that a wizard knows what he is doing, but if the church hasn't approved it, it's probably not a magic that is safe to have around.
He won't touch them, and asks that you not keep them on his premises.
He also asks whether you might have come in response to the King's offer.
--M. J. Young
Tue Oct 2 2007 8:46 pm # -
JohnA1nut
Member"No problem Mr. Smith. I guess you are right about these. I'll take them back to the Inn. Like I said, this is your place, and you are the boss of it." Turning to the apprentice "Hey little man, you want some cake? Come with me back to the Inn, I'll buy you some cake, and I'll get Mr. Smith here something too. What would you like Mr. Smith? They had some really good ale last night, would you like me to bring you some? You can tell me about that offer when I get back."
I'd like that GE roll on the apprentice running into a bully or two now while he is with me. Do yourself a big favor. If the GE roll isn't good enough for that to happen, keep rolling it until it is. You will absolutely love what happens.
Tue Oct 2 2007 9:06 pm # -
I find it difficult to imagine that a blacksmith's apprentice in a small village would ever be the target of any bully's efforts. He's probably the strongest kid his age, and the blacksmith for whom he works might just be the strongest man in the county.
When you mention cake, the boy's eyes get wide and the smith laughs.
"Our 'peasant' seems to have confused the local in with the king's palace. Cake indeed. You'll be lucky if Mary has sweet buns, and this late in the day they'll be gone for certain."
He indicates that he'll be fine until you return, that the mead is quite good at the local inn, and that if you're conjuring up any cake he'll have a piece, too.
--M. J. Young
Thu Oct 4 2007 12:55 am # -
JohnA1nut
Member(Well, you're talking to someone who was 6 inches taller than most of the kids in his class most of his life, but it never stopped kids from bullying me. Bullies are a strange sort.)
"Actually, Mr. Smith, I lied to you. I forgot that I am not addressing just a simple peasant. I am addressing a man who understands and respects technology. There is no such thing as magic, and I am not a wizard. These bullets have no magic to them. They have a chemical inside which explodes when it gets too hot, which is why I wanted to keep them away from the fire. If you will permit me, I'll show you."
Assuming he doesn't beat me senseless for lying to him, I'll go on. I take out my Leatherman tool, and pull the bullet free from the casing, and pour the gunpowder out on the ground.
"This is a chemical called 'gunpowder' Nothing magical to it. There is no such thing as magic."
I then light the gunpowder with my cigarette lighter. It would burn up very quickly, with a fierce flash.
"I forgot that I am addressing someone who understands technology. There are things that you do, which would look like magic to someone hundreds of years ago. This is simple chemistry. To you, it would look like magic, because it is so far advanced. However, there is nothing magical about it."
Holding up the empty case, I toss it into the fire. It would still have a live primer on it, when that heats up, it would give off a loud POP. Probably as loud as a 22 rifle.
"That's what I meant when I said they would "get angry" around a fire. There is nothing magical about them though. It is simply a piece of advanced technology. Magic does not exist. Please forgive my deception good sir. I forgot that you are probably the only man around here who could possibly understand this at all."
Thu Oct 4 2007 5:56 am # -
JohnA1nut
Member(OOC) Mr. Young, assuming that nothing happens to interrupt staying in the village, spring something on me. A person having a psychotic episode. Unless I miss my guess, said person would be thought demon possessed in this world. I thought I was demon possessed for a long time, actually. I would be able to ID this state, from having it myself. I also know of a way to slow down a psychotic episode using natural elements here. Spring it on me at your discretion. I don't want to know when it is going to happen.
Thu Oct 4 2007 10:15 am # -
John the Smith eyes you suspiciously.
"That's all fine, I suppose," he says; "but I'm not certain I trust a man who disbelieves in magic any more than I trust one who dabbles in it. There are stranger things in the world maybe than you or I know. But at least your angry objects have a sensible explanation. I'd hang onto them, though, if I were you. Never know when that dragon might decide to start looking for virgins or something."
Are you going to the inn?
--M. J. Young
Fri Oct 5 2007 6:10 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberWell, assuming that he means what he says by "Hang onto the objects" and will still permit me to stay, at least for a little while longer, I'll show him something. If not, I'm off to the Inn. I'd like to stay with him for a little longer.
"Well, again, this is technology. I have a power you would consider magical. It's called 'psionics' I can knock that (GE Roll for an object that can be knocked over with a TK pulse.) just by pointing my finger at it. I can do it from (How far away am I from said object?) here. It's technology, not magic."
Point finger, TK pulse object, knock it over. (TK Pulse is 1@8, not 1@6, for when you roll.) I imagine that if I just spent the past 2-3 years with nothing but a TK pulse, that is what I would try first.
If successful, tell him that it is not magic, just technology.
If unsuccessful, pray that I don't get killed, and try again on a different object.
If I botch, deal with that when it happens.Fri Oct 5 2007 6:22 am # -
The blacksmith shop is simply full of objects that could be knocked over by a TK pulse; I'll assume you pick one at random.
The first roll, on the hammer, fails; but with the second roll you knock over the anvil.
"Impressive," the blacksmith says. "Help me stand it back up."
As to what dragon, "What, do you think I'm an expert on dragons? All I know is people say there's a dragon in the mountains. Might be a hundred dragons out there, might be all nonsense. A farmer loses a cow and says a dragon ate it; did he see a dragon, or did he just want to hide the fact that he don't know how to take care of his own cows? Might be a dragon, but I know nothing about dragons but what people say."
--M. J. Young
Sun Oct 7 2007 9:15 pm # -
JohnA1nut
Member"Well, what do people say? Where I'm from, there were dragons a long time ago. They were called "Dinosaurs." Some people say that some of them survived and became the dragons of lore. In a place called China, dragons were said to flourish. The drawings done of these dragons matched exactly with the scientific descriptions of dinosaurs from the fossil record. That's probably way over your head, but it's OK. Not many people from my land believed it either. So, do I believe in dragons? I believe they are possible. Tell me everything you know about the supposed dragon."
Go over to the fallen anvil, and try to TK pick it up, while I use my hands at the same time. I need to see if the TK works in this world or not.
Sun Oct 7 2007 9:42 pm # -
Clarification: if you were at my table and wanted to use telekinesis in a world in which it would not work, I would let you roll for it and then tell you it did not work; it would be up to you to determine whether it didn't work because the roll was too high or it didn't work because it won't work in this world.
I don't do that in forum games because of the Behind the Screens thread.
See, I don't post the rolls "out here" where you can see them, but back there; and that's also where I post the explanations of the results. Thus in the live game there are three levels--the events of the character in the game world, your view of the dice, and my analysis of the results which is unknown to you--but in the forum game that is compressed to two. There is no point to me to rolling the dice, posting "he rolled a 17, which fails because the bias is flatlined." Those who have been around will remember me writing "I'm not going to roll because the bias is flatlined, although I would roll in a live game because the player wouldn't know that."
I am certain that Kyler "rolled the dice" for your TK attempt earlier because he had no intention of telling you that the bias was flatlined; he was not giving you the same kinds of details I give, but only telling you the rolls you would know in play. I can't do that in this game, because the point of having me run games is to demonstrate how those decisions are reached, which means explaining them.
I find it difficult to believe that you never used the TK pulse to knock something over. I could be wrong, though, so correct me if you really believe that's the case.
"Haven't you been listening? I already told you more than I know. Farmers sometimes claim that dragons ate their livestock, but only them as are on the edges of the kingdom in the mountains. Who knows if there are dragons there or not? King's got bigger problems, with his daughters and all. He's not chasing dragons as long as they're only eating an occasional cow."
--M. J. Young
Wed Oct 10 2007 7:17 am #
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