BBeast

Dungeon Keepers

The 42nd Gecko said
If we're using those terms, I'd say we have more of an upgraded commander (Cybran4life, bro) optimized for combat in a match that has other than those upgrades been restricted to T2.Your commanders are strong units who can shift the course of the battlefield, but sending him alone is still stupid, because the units are not negligible as in Destiny Warriors.

To be honest I'm not at all familiar with either of those games.

Cyclone said
How was building a computer, anyways? When I had to get a new computer a couple weeks back I considered building one, but didn't because I had no idea how to do that and my (usually computer literate) brother didn't have experience with it either. I ended up using a website shere you can pick the parts and have it assembled for you. It was definitely more expensive to go that route, but with the thing professionally built I feel a lot more confident in it.

It was quite rewarding. I had a friend that did have experience building a computer, so I sent him my prospective parts list and he was able to weed out the bad brands and give me some tips. Once I had decided on my parts, I bought them. I had chosen a single retailer (recommended by said friend), and I picked up the parts in person. Then came building it. Building it is relatively straightforward, you've just got to put all the things where they fit and plug in the plugs where they need to be plugged in, and the manual can help this. If you get into trouble, a laptop or tablet nearby is useful for Googling solutions, and figuring out which order to put all your disks in once it is done (OS goes first, btw). There is always a touch of uncertainty until it powers on successfully for the first time, as you worry whether you've accidentally fried it with an electrostatic discharge or something like that. In fact, it didn't successfully power on at first (it got power, but nothing showed up). It turned out that removing the graphics card until after everything else settled down fixed that.

But yes, once I got it running it was so satisfying. And the performance is so silky smooth, too.

Back on topic, is the section for 'The World' satisfactory? If so, I can go ahead and show you all the full OP.

Dungeon Keepers

Super guy and all the little peons, definitely.

EDIT: Here's the description of the World. It feels a bit brief to me, though. Does it need any more, or have I managed to say all that needs to be said? A map will come eventually, but that may be after we start.

---

This time we have emerged in a land called Cyprus. Cyprus is a small, coastal country, an oasis of lush green surrounded by inhospitable desert and vast ocean. It is very roughly 100 kilometers (60 miles) across and 60 kilometers (40 miles) long, which puts it at 2-3 day's march across, assuming human speeds, need for rest, and no resistance. For an Earthly comparison, it is about the size of a small European nation. The climate is temperate, bordering on tropical.

Cyprus is bordered on the North and West by a mountain range. At the North-Eastern corner there is heavy vulcanism, with numerous active volcanos constantly spewing out ash, forming the wastes known as the Ashlands. In the centre of the Northern border is a frozen wasteland, making that stretch of the mountain range even more treacherous. Beyond the mountains is desert, which stretched many, many days into the distance and is home to little more than the wildlife and a few nomadic barbarian tribes. The South and East of Cyprus is coastline, and while that is quite hospitable there is little of interest within reach beyond that horizon. Around the South of Cyprus sprawls a thick jungle, the fauna of which makes it quite a perilous location for the unwary. Within those borders lies lush green plains, interspersed with woodlands and lined with a few pristine rivers and a small lake.

Within those borders live the inhabitants of Cyprus, which are mainly human, some of which have magical capabilities, and number approximately 120,000. They have made their mark on this land. Half their arable land has been converted to farmland, and hundreds of little villages dot the countryside, spaced only a few kilometers apart on the myriad roads. While these villages are undefended and plentiful, they are also small, averaging a population of around 100 people each. A much more tempting target would be the towns, or even the cities, each with populations numbering in the thousands or more, but those are far fewer and also much better defended. There are also a few castles, fortresses intended for border defense, which may make useful footholds within their territory. That is just for the majority of the land. The races living in the borders are generally populated much more sparsely.

Dungeon Keepers

I've borrowed a screen, temporarily, and I've got a music playlist running on Youtube, and for the first time ever it is running smoothly, making fast transitions and with the new speakers I got the sound is so much richer. It almost brings tears to my eyes, it is so beautiful.

But the relevant stuff. If you want to add the current state of affairs of the Ashlanders then you may, but it is good either way. I'll get my description of the world done as soon as I am reasonably able, although my week ahead is somewhat busy, and at present I can only use my new computer if the family desktop is not in use (so I can borrow its screen).

Dungeon Keepers

Yeah, we can go with a compendium entry. This means we can steer people in the right direction before it's too late if we need to.

In other news, I recently built a new computer (yay!). I am not posting on it yet, though, because the second hand monitor I was using for it died, so I need to acquire a new one.

Sanctuary

That's a very good summary.

Dungeon Keepers

Something which at the very least describes the concept they are going to give. Should we have them post it in the OOC or send it via PM to a GM?

Dungeon Keepers

That's brilliant. You even depicted the Cypriots brilliantly. With disappearing, I had originally been thinking of some kind of medieval version of the Thought Police, but that is much better. Much stealthier and more befitting of a dream-sorcerer.

An important question, though- should we maintain the 'just post in the IC' method of joining, or should we be a little more structured, perhaps request that they propose a draft first?

Dungeon Keepers

Here we go, the full entry for the Cypriots. After this, I just need to make an entry describing Cyprus itself and Cyclone needs to finish the Warlocks of the Ashmarch, then we'll have a complete OP and can make an Interest Check.

---

To anyone visiting Cyprus, we, the Cypriots, are the dominant power. Our territory spans most of the arable land in Cyprus, and is rich in farming villages and fortified towns. All the settlements are well maintained, and it is rare to find a person who is hungry. Just about all of us are happy under the rule of our monarch.

History tells that hundreds of years ago a small town in the then-divided land of Cyprus gained a great and magnificent ruler, Reginaldus the First, who led a glorious revolution and expanded their town into a kingdom with the vision of a united Cyprus under one ruling power. This revolution met with surprising success, as a foothold in the land was established and the loyalty of the revolutionaries did not falter even after many years. As the kingdom expanded, its power grew, and it was able to expand further until the races who could not be assimilated into the kingdom were pushed to the boundaries of Cyprus.

Today the expansion has slowed somewhat, as the remaining races now stand strong in their respective bastions. However, the armies of the Cypriots still stand strong. They are highly organised and trained, and well equipped with weapons and armour produced both locally and in the manufacturing hub of Monolith. Foot-soldiers, archers, knights, cavalry, mages of various creeds, as well as siege engines, ships, cannons and musket-men all compose the armies of the Cypriots. Their technology, strategy and tactics, as well as their size which outstrips that of any army the lesser races could gather, makes them a force to be reckoned with. If any enemy makes too bold a stand against the Cypriots then they can be sure to face the wrath of our armies.

The capital city is called Amplus, and is the most populous city in Cyprus. It is the hub of operations for the Cypriots, with much of our army and local manufacturing centred here. The whole city is in perpetually good condition, with many people employed for the purpose of keeping the city clean and well-maintained. It has numerous tiers of wall, made to both encircle the ever-growing city and as additional lines of defence, and behind all the walls is the palace, which combines stunning architecture with effective fortification.

Very rarely leaving the palace grounds is Reginaldus the Fifth, King of the Cypriots, who resides within the palace walls and is only seen by outsiders during public addresses. Despite that, he rules over us with incredible efficiency and is at times miraculously able to respond to our needs before we have to tell him. Some nay-sayers claim that our wonderful King is not as he appears, but instead say that he is a powerful, immortal sorcerer who controls us through our dreams, but any good Cypriot knows that such claims are lies and such men are crazy. Besides, if such men ever get too rowdy one day we wake to never hear from them again, and good riddance.

In terms of our relationships with the other races in Cyprus, we have an alliance and trade agreement with Monolith, which is where we export raw materials to by river and import manufactured goods, such as our weapons as well as tools and other things. We have our borders heavily guarded against the two abominations to the North. And the Dragon Riders of the jungle do not take kindly to us chopping down their trees. But while they, the Ice Witches, the Warlocks and the Dragon Riders, all hide behind their hellish terrain, we stand strong by our own might. We are powerful. Others shall fall, but we shall endure.

Sanctuary

As the Wall comes down and we escape:


And we've still got more to come!

Dungeon Keepers

Well, unless we take an unrealistically sparse country, then we would have no shortage of villages. Of course, many of these villages probably have less than 100 people, but that makes them all the more vulnerable to enslavement.