Metal Men of Markshire

[s-m-r]

I was thinking of ways to integrate crafting into events I host these days, since there are some characters focused specifically on crafting. I then thought of how I could include the Auger Bit Syndicate in those plans, being that they’re a natural ‘adventure pimp’ for the crafting crowd.

What if the gnomes of Markshire wanted to take Gastlinyk Gate back? Or at least give it their best shot?

Their current project (if you all think it’s cool for me to pursue) is to build a troop of Metal Men, similar to thier Hollow Knight guardians, that will assault the Gate in an effort to repel the giants. Eventually, a simple possibility is to stage an event where a bunch of adamantium skeletons, their factions changed, would assault the Gate with a bunch of hired adventurers in tow. I know that time is at a premium for the builders these days, but if a tough custom creature is created for this event, then so much the better.

The Syndicate will host a number of events focused on player characters’ efficiency in gathering resources. “Lumberjack contests” and “Miner contests” will be hosted, each offering rewards of more effective tools (a mining pick that causes 1d6 extra damage, for example). This can even be made into a team event, with a miner and carter team (one person breaks up the rocks, the other carries them to a bin on the other side of the field).

Of course, this series of events doesn’t have to ultimately succeed. The gnomes could be taught a lesson in humility, and the storyline for MS2 wouldn’t be affected in the least. This is simply more action prior to the server switch-over. An important aspect of this series of events is that the true motives of the gnomes are never revealed to the players through normal channels; an element of secrecy pervades all record-keeping of events and any Storyteller entries. Even when the assault is planned, players would be told that this is simply another ‘project.’ A final journal entry–resembling the final scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where a Metal Man is boxed and tossed in a warehouse–would close the Storyteller series.

Think a Metal Man would make a suitable henchman for hire? Gnomes could build these things, which would legitimize them being in the game world.

I rolled out of bed with this series of ideas today. Last night, a representative of the Syndicate requested a large order of Platinum Ingots from Tarl’nesh; he later mentioned that it had been “SO long” since any DM had given him any attention. I figure he can be one of the chief suppliers for these projects.

Any thoughts on orchestrating this assault?

[BeyondThePale]

I think Nerulean is trying to make some golems as well, or at least I have read such. Could he be recruited as well, with Tarl, to help construct them? I would have no problem with this.

Normal golems could be used, there are many in the palette.

My big concern is that the players REALLY don’t know when we are trying to give them the boot out of town. i.e. RETREAT. Some of them think they are invincible, and some are close. To get them out of the Gate once they get seated will be tough. We had to kill them many, many times over to get the point across last time.

I would say if we can impress upon them just how bad the Gate is now (and Thrym has redone the spawns there, so the city will be more active) between the Titan roaming about, the Minions, and the giants then we should be fine to do this event.

[s-m-r]

I have no clue as to a suitable procedure to simulate in-game the crafting of golems/constructs, which is why I was shooting more for the resource-gathering portion of the process to have player input. Any ideas from you all on that creation stage, and how to incorporate PCs?

I’ve seen Nelurian fairly pleased with the summoning he does, as opposed to wanting to create his own constructs. If he comes forward with some bio information/CDS requests following up that notion, then sure, the gnomes can contact him to see if he’d be interested.

[G_kinkaid]

@BeyondThePale wrote:

My big concern is that the players REALLY don’t know when we are trying to give them the boot out of town. i.e. RETREAT. Some of them think they are invincible, and some are close. To get them out of the Gate once they get seated will be tough. We had to kill them many, many times over to get the point across last time.

Bringing the titan himself in will easily, quickly, get the point across. I don’t know that even a large group of pc’s could withstand a small group of his tougher minions.

[mule]

Ghak can take his minions, but it isn’t easy.

Oh and it’s For’lana who’s making the Golem.

I like your idea SMR, if you wanted to do the Golem making process well. It takes armor smithing or weapon smithing, enchanting, and usually a power source. Maybe some ritualistic magic to tie the golem to some elemental plane (like air for electricity) for its power. So I guess they’d need a lot of enchanted ingots, then they’d need to beat them into a very elaborate construct, then power it up..kind of like Frankenstein’s monster. I think the gnomes could do most of the work and/or get help from PC’s if you wanted to bring them in.

– mule

[Opinvu]

For;lorna has the Magi-pry. It’s a.. well it’s.. um, it is really just a tool, but it can pry any amount of weight up with great ease. Pry it up… like a small hydrolic jack only a special pry-bar. It was to obtain a towel stuck in Arik being used to stop a leak from an underground spring…. Intent on use of it hasn’t been revealed, nor has my origonal intent been sought either. So, plans for it are beyond me right now.

Constructs? Well they should take many many items. Large quantities. And strange stuff, like goat poop, Moss from yet’s hair. Scales from a half-breed like Ederyn…. In the end lots of lightning and a special encantation. (lighting spells, chain Lightning if available somewhere. Make it risky to observers and self)

It would be funny if we made them scared baby like ungodly strong piles of metal. They easily scare and fear but have a str of 35. If under ‘fear or scare’ spells it spams an emote *tears burst from its eye holes followed by a whimpering coo sound*

[s-m-r]

Heheheh….Ever see that film “Ice Pirates”? They had robots with emotions, specifically cowardice. Somewhere clinging to my brain is the memory of watching a robot wet itself: motor oil streaking down its leg…

Back on topic…Is there a way to place CNR trees and rocks using the Creator? Or do we stick with the ones already in the mod?

[G_kinkaid]

@s-m-r wrote:

Heheheh….Ever see that film “Ice Pirates”?

Space herpes?

Teh robot pimp was the bomb.

[BeyondThePale]

Ice Pirates. Heh.

Yes, you can place trees manually I think.

[Opinvu]

Yes.

All CNR stuff is in the palette under the Custom Placeables. It’s in unusual locations. Try Special, Parks and nature… Stones & Columns.

[s-m-r]

Cool. I’ll fiddle around with this stuff tonight to see what I can do.

The bike trip and band trip to the West Coast have been pushed back a week, so I have a few more days to do things around here. If all goes well, I’ll have something worked up for sometime in the middle of this week.

[s-m-r]

The Auger Bit Syndicate’s Strong-Arm contest happens tonight, and at least two PC teams are competing. If any DMs want to jump in, you’re more than welcome. I envision gnomes of the Syndicate walking to and fro, complimenting PCs on their Critical Hits, and expressing their disapproval with misses.

If you do participate tonight, please read up on the Auger Bit Syndicate in the NPC Guilds forum to brush up on the general idea of how roleplaying will go.

Prizes tonight include a mining pick and woodcutter’s axe, both designed by the Syndicate to be more effective at their jobs; cash will be given to those who did not win. All participants will receive a certificate of participation, and the winning team will receive an “Affidavit of Endorsement” by the Syndicate for further business contracts.

[s-m-r]

Follow up, a week or so behind schedule:

Fram Orcsbane and Durok Bloodaxe won the tournament, as you all may have heard. They were both given a “Precision Pickaxe” that does an extra 1d6 points of piercing damage. It is quite nasty in combat, as well…particularly when those critical hits come along. Base item is a Heavy Pick.

A pair of NPC Yar Workers actually won the woodcutting contest…Not sure how that happened. But they bashed the iron boulder and made short work of the tree.

They’ve (that is, the dwarves) also received an Official Endorsement from the Auger Bit Syndicate, which is more for roleplaying. They can and will receive contracts and business proposals from the Auger Bit Syndicate frequently; it would be easy to arrange regular events with these two involving mining expeditions, missing equipment, and so on.

One last peculiarity: the Hickory Tree in the Placeables doesn’t appear. There’s a hot-spot, but literally no tree attached to it. The other trees worked out all right, however.

[s-m-r]

I’d like to revisit this storyline. Focus would be primarily on allowing PCs to have a golem follow them into the wilderness; the PC would then report back to their gnomish associate with how things went out there. Procession of events will go something like the steps listed below.

This is more appropriate for lower-level PCs, as building and construction is not required for participation. Actually storming the Gate is out of the question, unless the PCs are extremely foolhardy or this continues into when the current crop of PCs is of higher level.

1. Post a notice on the Bulletin Board about a “field testing team” needed for some of the Auger Bit Syndicate’s work. Generous compensation included.

Approach PCs in person with messengers, followed by an appointment with a gnome representative, if necessary.

Interviews for the position include summarizing the goal of the testing sessions–stress tests on new equipment–and the fact that the PC is responsible for reporting the prototype’s effectiveness.

2. A set time and place is determined for delivery–most likely just outside Stonemark, or perhaps in the Arena next to the stables–and the player is set to lead the construct on adventures.

The gnome instructs the PC on the voice commands needed to control the prototype (someone like Panitha, for example, would not be able to effectively control the construct).

I’ll double-check to see how the auto-follow widget works, so if several PCs are involved there will be one particular character followed by the construct.

3. The golem fights along with the PC; set faction to Defender or something like that to minimize foul-ups.

4. Introduce substantial quirks in the golem’s performance. For example, if coming across a range of choppable trees or destructible rocks, it will leap into them with abandon. Also, subtlety is not the strength of these constructs, so sneaking around is right out. Maybe whenever it goes into battle, the DM can place debris/junk items all over the ground nearby to indicate the construct’s wear and tear. There’s a lot of freedom in this area; depending on how the PC recalls this information for the debriefing at the end with the gnomes, any end-of-session XP reward can be adjusted accordingly.

5. Include at least one significant battle encounter, where the PC would definitely be outclassed without the assistance of the construct. This is particularly effective if the player leads their PC to an area they would not have explored otherwise, knowing that things are tough in that area.

6. Perhaps end the sessions with a spectacular light and sound show when the construct explodes in several pieces. Maybe fires are started nearby and need to be extinguished or whatever.

If the PC comes back to civilization with an intact construct, then the gnome will generally fuss about the condition of the creation–vacillating between extremes of “I can’t believe you put my beautiful creation through such abuse!” and “Why didn’t you push it harder?!?! Didn’t think it was tough enough–is that what you’re trying to say?!?!”

In any case, allow a decent financial compensation package, as well as an XP bonus for putting up with the construct’s odd behaviour.

///

There is no deadline or timetable set for this, other than “eventually.”

Any suggestions or input on this idea?

[Lt. Tyler]

Since I’m not one of the “good” DMs, I’ll let other people comment. 😛

Actually it sounds great. Depending on your time frame I could maybe help you out, either controlling the golem or getting stuff ready to drop for debris and effects like that. Moving day is next Tuesday for us, followed by some getting settled.

What were you thinking for the fight? Might the Ice troll cave be a possibility with some of the newer PCs (benefit being that there’s usually a small number of trolls, so the PCs won’t get mobbed – but as a single foe, the trolls can be pretty tough). Can’t say I’ve seen any of them go there.

[s-m-r]

I’d say for starters, the players can determine where to go. If they’re dawdling, then of course have the construct experience a malfunction of some sort, and it starts wandering off in a random direction, chopping down trees, or bashing rocks, or hacking at ice beetles. The player(s) should have an idea of where to go and give the construct a true test.

And yeah, the ice troll cave is a valid and distinct possibility. There’s another one up north in the Cona Mountains, not far from the entrance to the Spire as well, which has only a single troll residing within (along with some snow leopards, I think).

If all that fails, simply throw some creatures at them using the Creator. They’ll have enough adventure with some crazy-ass robot to follow around, one way or another.

Bottom line:

— If the players have an agenda, let them lead the construct.

— If they don’t, or are simply wasting time, then Control the construct and do the leading for them until they get the message.

[Thrym]

The players won’t be able to control the Golem in any way. The player auto-follow wand is for people who need to go AFK but are with a moving party. You set the player you want to follow with the wand and until you take control and click a location to move to or manually move with the keyboard your PC follows another.

You could give the golem an auto-follow wand, take possession without full powers and use the wand on a PC. It will work, however, once it fights, it won’t resume following.

It might be easier just to go ahead and run the golem the entire time. Or have another DM help and run him.

Just some game mechanics for ya. Great idea. Opportunity for great amusement.

[s-m-r]

Also, Thrym, can you reset the password for the Auger Bit Syndicate NPC account? For some reason, I don’t have it anymore.

[s-m-r]

Had quite a crew running about last night: 5 participants, and one other person with a new character, but old skool. A few old-skoolers on last night, in fact. Thrar, Loric, Bram, Catani, and Imkaro were involved and received rewards.

Didn’t see anyone who took a bite on your invite on the BioWare forums, Thrym. But hey, you took a shot at it.

As I’m at the office late on Wednesdays, I’d like to see if I can make this my regular evening slot.

[Thrym]

@s-m-r wrote:

Also, Thrym, can you reset the password for the Auger Bit Syndicate NPC account? For some reason, I don’t have it anymore.

I don’t see an account for them.

Do you mean the ABS forum? It’s not password protected, I have to add you to the list, which as a DM you should be already.

[s-m-r]

There’s an Auger Bit Syndicate NPC account to post messages in the forum, like this, for example:

https://markshire.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=3277

Here’s a link to the account information page/profile:

https://markshire.com/phpbb2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=421

Any idea if you can create a new password for that account? Or perhaps delete that account so I can create a new version with a password I remember?

[Thrym]

Most NPC accounts are passworded:

munin123

This one is now no different.

What I did do was remove the word “The ” from the beginning so it’s easier for people to find in the member list.

Same profile link:

https://markshire.com/phpbb2/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=421

Enjoy.

[s-m-r]

Thanks for your help, man!

[s-m-r]

Had a session with Willow Dawn, Bram, and Catani Daller this past weekend where they took another construct out for a stroll. Alluded that someone connected to Lord Mark and the defense of Stonemark was involved with the Auger Bit Syndicate; the characters–especially Catani–connected this to attacking the Titan, while the gnome representative mentioned “Oh, but I’ve said too much,” and left.

Willow is opposed to the constructs, feeling that they’re too dangerous and not contained responsibly; her thoughts are that if they end up in evil hands, Markshire will be in serious trouble. Bram and Catani had no similar opinions, or at least did not express them.

[Author]

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