BBeast

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

Proposal: Give demi-gods double the might, or at least some extra might, so they are not affected by these really long turns.

Of course, that only applying to the demis who are played as main characters, not to the ones god players have.

@Double Capybara

<Snipped quote by Double Capybara>

With how long the turns are, I can see this being an issue. I would be willing to give the base might of main PC demis a boost depending on what they want to do with it.

@BBeast, @Antarctic Termite? Thoughts?

@Muttonhawk

This sounds like a reasonable measure to improve their activity over the very long turns.

While we're at it, I think the Acts of Creation level-up system has worked very well so far in Godspeed. I propose incorporating it into Mk.II as of next Turn.

@Kho

While there is the fact that the Godspeed system is indirect and pretty much 'free', the asking price is really in 'creativity' (literally, in-game, but also on part of the player). For a level 9 god like Gadar/Belru-Vowzra, actually coming up with things to spend 18 Might on to get to level 10 is going to be difficult.
In order to avoid Cyclone's 'hurrdurr I dump all on byg webin hurrdurr' we can also incorporate the 1-Might 'Hero Weapon' and 2-Might 'Divine Weapon' dichotomy Godspeed establishes. Weapons created before now can continue to exist as very powerful legendary weapons (in fact, stopping their production will ensure their value is not saturated further).

@Kho

While I agree that the Acts of Creation level-up system is a very good system, it is also completely different to the existing system. The change is not minor; it will change the way the game is played. I am reluctant to authorise such a radical change to the system half way through the game.

Also, imposing a hard limit on the strength of single items at this point would be unbalanced, as those who already have powerful legendary weapons will receive no further competition.

I did. But I will post for you as well. Fluffy dog person.

A large group of Shaman want more, for their people. Dealing and binding with Djinn does not cut it anymore, and so they all gathered around a ritually prepared girl and sacrificed themselves so their essence was siphoned into the woman. Some Shaman had Djinn, some had just dealt with Djinn for a long time. the large number of Djinn-touched souls mingled inside her and condensed into a strange spirit of great power, making the woman host a Demi-God.

@KabenSaal

This is an origin story (one which might need some adjusting, since we require some divine influence to create a Demigod). Tell us more about the character. Who is this woman? What is her Domain and Portfolio? What will she do?

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@KabenSaal My goodness it's been a while since I've seen you. I hope you're well.

Just for your information, we have developed a Divinus spin-off called Godspeed which is some weird fusion of a Free and Advanced roleplay, designed to have a significantly lower barrier to entry than Divinus but retaining all the godly fun.

Existing magic systems from memory:
Shamanism (elementals): Covered by Cyclone.
Shamanism (nature): Basically druids. Native to Mesathallassa. Talk to Capy.
Spiral Script: Wizardly magic used extensively by urtelem (stone people). Works through the written word (except their written word is super complicated and geometrical). Details here.
Tounic Calligraphy: Used extensively by the Rovaick. Carefully written symbols from the language from which the Codex of Creation was written manipulate reality.
Winds of Change: Zephyrion's essence which leaked across Galbar at some point. Currently only used by urtelem to supplement their own magic.
Astartean magic: Occasionally we get mortals who are naturally proficient in magic due to the very dilute essence of Astarte distributed to the mortals of Galbar long ago. Their magic is generally quite personalised. Ogre sorcerers are one such example, although we get the occasional weak spellcaster in the other races (it was once mentioned that some hain shamans had the power to attack elementals with magic, although not necessarily effectively). Destruction magic falls under this category.
Azibo magic: The Azibos of the Rovaick have a tendency towards magic.
Grotling slave magic: Grotling Overseers are able to dominate the minds of slaves.
Alchemy: This is what happens when you attempt to perform chemistry in a universe where magic and the occult is actually a thing. Not only do you get chemistry, but all those alchemy things which us Earthlings would call superstitious or fanciful actually work here on Galbar. Can make magic potions. The art of alchemy is used primarily by Sculptors.
The Occult: Some places have developed knowledge of occult rituals which provide some magical effects, although typically at some sacrificial cost.

I plan to explore magic with one of my characters.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Kho it makes sense.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

Is it possible to invest Might in into a Domain without a Portfolio?

And regarding the Eyes of Reathos, since it's a curse can Helvana study and learn it for free?

@Slime

Normally, one would obtain a Domain before filling it with Portfolios (although, of course, the investment in obtaining that Domain likely involves some overlapping Portfolios). Portfolios do not have to be associated with Domains. There is no issue there.

As for the Eyes of Reathos, it depends what you want to do with them. Given your Portfolio and the crow theme, Helvana would definitely have an affinity for them and should be able to figure out how they work and possibly how to make more for free. You could probably attune yourself to the Eyes of your crows. However, if you want to do something big (eg. hack into any Eye anywhere and see through it, like Gadar does with ants), that might take a Might to acquire such an ability.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@BBeast It's coming up really small for me. Can't see :C

@Kho

Try this link.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

I drew some Prometheans. Pardon the poor photocopy quality.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

Teknall did not dream.

As a divine being, his mind did not need to go through the mortal process of sleep and the dreaming associated with it. On such occasions that Teknall's mind was idle, he would design new inventions and simulate novel mechanisms.

But Gerrik did dream, and Teknall could see Gerrik's thoughts.

'I am Chiral Phi. You are my children, my sons and daughters, offspring of my barren womb, Chosen People of God. With you I am well pleased, and to me your hearts belong. You are mine- and I am yours, forever and for all time.'

But Gerrik did not dream like regular mortals. His divinely enhanced mind granted him an unparalleled capacity for metacognition, meaning even during the deepest dreams he was lucid. Which meant he could recognise when a thought was not his own.

Where's this dream coming from? This is not from my own head.

'That's the trick, of course. Mortals need to believe that they have control, that their decisions have weight.'

Stone Chipper, are you getting this? What's this about?

I am. I know Phi.

'Mortals are a resource. There's power, locked inside them. All you need is the right keys and you can play a whole civilisation to its doom.'

And she wouldn't be broadcasting her trade secrets across Raka. Someone's been spying on her and has decided to publicise her methods of deception.

'The patterns of mortal activity are predictable. As a unit or a population, they just take a few taps to steer irrevocably astray. Gratitude, fear, curiousity...'

I know Toun has been watching Phi, but I don't think he would send messages via dreams. Probably.

What should I do?

Keep listening. Check with others in a few days to see if they've had similar dreams; I doubt you're the only one to receive this dream.

'But that doesn't even matter, does it? Of course not! Nothing matters! Entropy will chew on our bones in the end no matter who we are or what we've done. Even in the short term, the only thing that matters is this: Mortals are power.

Maybe engage in a bit of philosophy too.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Muttonhawk Hummm, pre-Xerxes is good by me, but pre-Realta would be somewhat problematic - that would mean that Gadar's ants were not around to witness her murder (and so he through them come to know of her) and eventually aid her escape the grave.

@Kho

Realta happened Page 16. Mafie Snowhands happened Page 21. It would be a good rule of thumb to say that the order of posts is roughly chronological unless explicitly stated otherwise.

@Muttonhawk@Antarctic Termite@BBeast also also also, I mentioned this to Termite already, but with regards to Thacel, @Malchivo's demigod of war, his last post has him headed for Rukbany and I somewhat want that to happen, given the warkriegs that will likely be taking off there. I messaged Malch about this a while back, but he's not been on in a loong time. Would one of you be willing to play Thacel in Rukbany? Or alternatively, is it ok if I takeover purely for Rukbany's purposes, and then release him to whoever would like him interacting with their characters/peoples/civilisations/god etc.

@Kho

As @Muttonhawk mentioned, @Malchivo has been absent for a sufficiently long time without leave of absence that his agency over his character is forfeit. If you need Thacel for something, go ahead and use him.


@Antarctic Termite, I like the OP for Godspeed. I observe that you have slightly modified the skill set for the Level 1-3 Gods so they are more powerful. This could potentially allow us to lower the starting level, if we wish, depending on how quick we want the early game to be of course.

So, short version... what have I missed?

@Dawnscroll

Good to see you back.

As far as Logos is concerned, Xos has been up to more shenanigans. Xos has battled both Jvan and Toun on separate occasions; all parties survived more-or-less intact. Also, the Acalya is formally extinct on Galbar, although that's probably set a few years ahead of the stuff with Xos. Nothing has happened on Arcon. You've returned just in time for Mutton to rope you into a collab to fight Xos, or something like that.

If you want a broader summary of recent IC events, check the zero'th post of the IC.

OOC, we've changed the name of Khookies to Prestige, and possibly changed Freepoints to Miracles (the transition is very recent and ongoing). The price scaling of Avatars has been adjusted, although this would only affect you if you've got lots of Avatars. We've opened up a grant program from Fate's Might Pot. Check the zero'th post of the OOC some time for a rules refresher and a look at the errata.

As has been mentioned, we've got a lite version of Divinus called Godspeed being cooked up as a bit of fun on the side and to expand on the franchise.

P.S. @Kho, regarding magic in your latest post: You asked whether having the urtelem's magic work with their Spiral Script and Tounic Calligraphy and not much else is fine. I'll give a slightly extended answer, although the short answer is yes, it's fine.

The urtelem's special brand of magic is based on Spiral Script. Spiral Script is a highly non-linear form of writing, spreading out into an intricate two-dimensional (and even fractal) pattern. This is unlike virtually every other language in existence, which is totally linear in form. This makes Urtelem magic largely incompatible with most languages simply because of the dimensional mismatch. Tounic Calligraphy is special, in that its grammar is not fixed to a linear structure, so it can be spliced into the urtelem Spiral Script without too many problems.

However, the Spiral Script is not unique in being able to invoke magic. Any language or script can be made to have magic words in theory, provided you find the right patterns and syllables and apply the power correctly (probably with divine guidance to invent it). It is just that Spiral Script has a particularly elegant structure when it comes to invoking magic. I shall note also that the language of Spiral Script used to invoke magic is different to the language of Spiral Script used in regular communication, in a similar way that a programming language is different to English. To those unfamiliar with Spiral Script they look very similar, but they use completely different words and grammatical rules.

Tounic Calligraphy, of course, bypasses any need to trigger the right parts of the laws of magic and just goes straight to the source code. While you could use Spiral Script magic to augment the functionality of a set of Calligraphic Runes, if you make the entire thing out of Tounic Calligraphy you may as well go back to the regular rules for writing Tounic Calligraphy (although, like programming languages, skill in one can help you decide how to structure spells in the other).

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Antarctic Termite

-Should continents be larger and rounder? This will encourage overland travel a la the Silk Road and Saharan trade networks

That's a good idea. It's nice to have some deep inland areas. In your current map, there's a giant inland ocean which could be filled in to achieve that goal.

-Should some landmasses be inaccessible to one another without sea travel? This could let us have fun with old-world new-world dynamics with two or three continents taking completely different cultural paths (until sail). Enough land in between would do this too, though (Mediterranean vs. sub-Sahara, Japan vs. Britain, see large continents).

The current map already has separation into two continents, although the division is subtle: the only land connection between the east and west is over the north pole, which in most planets would be a frozen wasteland and thus a formidable barrier.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

@Double Capybara Unless he's changed editors, WrongEnd uses paint.net, which is a layered bitmap editor.