Kho

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

@jangel bit busy right, but will set aside ten minutes later today to tell you exactly what is wrong with your posts.

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

Right, everyone.

I'm going to be away this week and won't be back until next Sunday. The RP goes on and Click This will take up the mantle of GM until I return. I'm expecting some impressive things to have happened by then in order to hand out a few Khookies ;)
Remember, don't be afraid to go off the book and create your own adventure with the other players (i.e. don't give Click a head ache and makes things fun rather than stressful for Clicky :P)

Have fun, and protect this RP with your lives.

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

So Boerd said
Seems interesting. I may make a Dutch admiral to be the since you are all pirates.

Feel free

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

I've introduced the concept of XP points (or Khookies) in a few of my past RPs and players have generally liked them, and they've helped in making the IC more interesting, and I think I would like to try it out for this RP. Tell me what you think.

Khookies explained:

XP points are very useful, the more you have, the more powerful your character is. A character with high XP will be able to do more things, for example, if you have a pirate with high XP, and he started out with say, average fencing skill, once you get a good amount of XP (i.e 5-8) you can have them start to notice that the sword feels much lighter in their hand, or they've become a tad bit more acrobatic in combat etc. As they gain more XP, their skill can grow and they may even develop other skills which they previously didn't have, for instance they discover their climbing is actually very good despite never having climbed much before, however, remember that with things like, say, knowledge, they do need to learn or get taught. For instance, your character isn't suddenly going to be an expert on kinds of fish despite never having seen a fish or read a book about fish in their life (though with higher XP they could learn those things quicker.)

With higher XP, your character will be able to do more daring things, like take on more than one person at once or sneak into places a person wouldn't usually be able to sneak into, or even survive falls or fatal attacks which one would not usually survive. XP is not 'experience' it is a higher force which guides the power of those chosen by the story.
XP gives one licence and ability to get away with more daring things and survive incidents and accomplish feats they usually would not be able to.

However, XP will be worth naught if the post is not well written, Example 1:

Horath, the myty man hoo kils all hoo stand in hiz way puntshed the grayt boldjer in hiz way and distroyd it, bikoz he h'az 340 XP and can do stuf lyk dat. he den run's a fyoo step's and fynd's himself akros the owshin, in de midle of tat batle goin on in hat plase. widout weighting, he smash't the first soldier he see'd, and befor he new it he waz saroundid by the ded or dying body's of the soldier's, he lookt to the sky's and gayve a miytee ror before jomping bak over the sea, getting into bed, and having a good nights sleep aftr a veri lonng day.

And lack of XP will not limit a character if the post is well written. A char who has 5 XP for instance, Example 2:

Horath took another step forward, forcing himself to continue onward, against the pain in his arms and the pressing heat of the merciless sun, he forced himself to push the boulder, one more step, even half a step further. His breath was shallow, coming in quick gasps, sweat ran freely down his face and all over his body, and his cracked lips and dry throat called out for even a droplet of water. If only he'd been more prepared before leaving on this mad quest! If only he'd not been so angry and frustrated with her...
He shook his head, this was no time for regrets, and so he continued onward, pushing the great red rock across the dry plains. It was a large thing, nearly twice his size and ten times his wait, and the fact that it was not perfectly round did not help, in fact, the side he was trying to roll over now was completely flat. He put his shoulder to the rock and tried pushing it, but to no avail. This was hopeless! He was never going to get this stupid thing to the city, and he was never going to be able to board the ship and get to Mardithia in time. But then, he could always walk, yes, it would take a few weeks, he may miss a few battles, but he'll get there eventually. He shook his head, no, he was needed at the front, and he was needed now, even if it took him all day and night, and all tomorrow too, he would push this impudent rock to the city, whether the rock wished to be pushed or not!
"You look in pain young one. Why do you push such an ugly thing, when you can walk, free of its burden, free of its weight" a strange old voice, crackly in a way, sounded to Horaths right. He immediately jumped back, reaching for his sword and drawing it.
"Who the..." before him stood not a man, but a strange ethereal being, human-like, but not human at all.
"Fear me not for I wish you no harm young one, your plight merely intrigued me. Why do you push such a great rock, and where do you take it?" Horath was speechless, what in the world was this?
"Uh, it's...well" the creature raised an ethereal hand, and Horath stopped, it closed its eyes and did something, before long it began to nod.
"Ah, I see, you wish to travel the large blue yes yes? You wish...to go to war" its voice faded slightly at the last bit, as if disappointed.
"You wish to fight...to kill your brothers and maul your sisters and SPREAD EVIL IN THE LAND!" its voice rose dangerously high and its colour changed, becoming very dark, its ethereal body becoming more like smoke. Horath backed away.
"NO! No I don't" he tripped on a dried root and fell back, landing on the hard ground and smashing his head badly...
(Little Time Skip, WOULD BE FILLED WITH WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!)
The great spirit Xeanthiel nodded as it picked up Horath.
"Very well, for your love and your people, to Mardithia I shall take you" and before Horath could say a thing, or even ask for a second to prepare, the being was off, flying through the sky at speeds Horath did not know possible.
"AAAHHAAAHHAHAHA. NO! NO! Stop! You're going to FAAAAAAASSSSTTT!!" but the creature ignored him, going even faster. Horaths ears suddenly popped and his hearing became weird. Then it was over, he was back on solid ground. Once more, he fell to his back, this time out of dizziness and inability to stay on his feet.
"Ar-...-ou...-ay?" someone was speaking, someone was saying something, he just couldn't make out the words.
"Ho..ath, ar- -ou -kay?" he looked around himself, not entirely seeing what was around, it was all just a blur.
"What?" he asked half-consciously.
"Are you okay?" his ears had popped again, and he could hear again....

You get the point! I would go on, but then this post would never finish! So example one would be rejected outright even though the character has a legendary amount of points, while example two, even though what happens is slightly ridiculous, would be accepted because at least the writing is of a better level (that example was for a fantasy RP so it wouldn't apply here, but I think the point is the same.) The same goes for fights, if a char of higher XP is fighting one of lower XP, generally the one with higher XP would win unless the difference in writing quality from the one with higher XP is that bad. If two chars are of equal XP, then it would come down to writing quality, while if two players are of equal writing quality, it would come down to XP, while if all is equal, then the two players will have to discuss where they would like to take this.
Of course, if players have a storyline going, then they don't necessarily have to stick to the above rules.

Now, how to earn Khookies. It all depends on your IC posts. When handing out Khookies, I will take into account various factors:

Spelling and Grammar (graded out of 10): Example 1 is the king of kings when it comes to terrible spelling and grammar. If your post is anywhere like that...let's not think about that. Just basic spelling and punctuation will get you a 10/10, and there is allowance for general typos or mstakes everyone tends to makes.

Writing Quality: There is difference between getting spelling and grammar right and having good writing quality. If your post grips me and your use of language and vocabulary is better than average, you've got yourself a 10/10.

Story Line Advancement: If your post actually adds something to the RP and develops the story in an interesting direction, then you're ticking this box. Even if you're basically RPing on your own but are creating an interesting storyline for yourself then that's brilliant.

Character Development: I want to see real characters, real people, not some shallow character who makes Barney seem like the most complex creature in existence by comparison. A post which really delves into the workings of the characters mind and makes me think, 'yes, this is real, this isn't just some game someone's playing somewhere' then you're good.

Independence: Quite simple, this is about your ability to create a story line with other characters rather than be depend on the GM to do so for you (basically, help me be lazy.)

After taking those factors into account, I'll hand out however many Khookies you have earned. an average post should receive 2-3 Khookies. Good posts should receive 3-4 and stunning posts could receive up to 10 (more than ten is thus far unheard of in my RPs, and I've seen some simply stunning posts.)

Fiat Bello: A fantasy geopolitical roleplay

I haven't got time to make anything at the moment and will be out of the country all this week, but I would like to claim a bit of land for Mardithia. I will do my best to get a basic NS up today, but if I don't, know that I will have it up next Sunday when I come back.

Edit: Oh, and if you are still in need of a co-GM, I have experience with NRP's and normal RP's, so I will be more than happy to help out when I come back.

Edit II:

Nation name: Mardithia

Location on map:


Race: Human

Type of government: Elective Monarchy

Faction: League of Ingria

Ruler: High Thian Magnus 'the Old Wolf' Feuertarga

Capital: The City of Maj'Dwaremburg

General info (will develop history and others later): Mardithia is a relatively young kingdom, having risen to power one hundred or so years before the present . Originally made up of three warring nations, each with their own cultural and military tradition, only a powerful leader could hope to unite them. This powerful leader rose to power in the Kingdom of Majdathia, and within five years had a standing army unlike any other seen before. Instead of concentrating on huge numbers and relentlessness to win battles; he had developed a new idea: a military built on tactics, discipline and training. He had seen how the neighboring nations of the elves and the dwarves had standing armies which were trained and disciplined, and he reformed his Kingdom's army on this basis, but he went one step further: he trained and disciplined them to work in formations, designing his armies to be tactically superior to any enemy, just by existing.

He created a formation very similar to the Roman testudo formation, but with spears jutting out of the front, flanks and back, make it very much like a hedgehog. Any direct attack on this formation was assuredly futile. This proved effective against cavalry, as they were put down by the spears when they tried to charge in. It also proved effective against archers who could not harm the completely protected Mardithian soldiers, and it also proved effective to some extent, against infantry who would receive great losses before the Mardithian soldiers would finally break the Testu-Phalanx formation and finish off the enemy infantry with short swords, extremely effective at close range. This army was proved itself to be the most disciplined and powerful, and with it the Kingdom of Majdathia went to war.
With this new formation and army, the Majdathia completely eradicated the other two warring Kingdoms in a matter of years, absorbing their cultures and creating one, united and powerful nation; the Mardithia. The Kingdom of Mardithia has been growing ever more powerful since then, its trade and economy both booming, and its military power as indomitable and powerful as it was a hundred years before. Even though the Mardithians are fully capable of sweeping through the continent, causing havoc and possibly conquering other nations, its kings have been very peace-loving, preferring to prosper rather than conquer, though its skirmishes with barbarians at its borders and combat with pirates have kept its army prepared for war and powerful as ever.

Mardithia has a very strict class system, made up of four tiers, the first is made up of the High Thian and Military Elite (generals etc) at the top – with the Emperor being the chief commander of the whole army, as well as the Senate, second come the High Thian's relatives, nobility and other aristocrats, while third are the merchants and landowners, those who have created their own class through wealth, and at the bottom, as usual, are the workers and peasants. No one can encroach upon the power of the High Thian and his Military, he is the supreme commander and authority in the land, though the Senate does wield considerable power and influence, often being the one to elect the High Thian. Generals and military officials are extremely powerful and also have considerable power. As all High Thians have been of the reforming stripe thus far, this has caused no problems, with even the peasants and workers having a relatively good quality of life. Inspectors constantly make sure that they are treated fairly by landowners and aristocrats, and that even though they are not paid for working, that they are fed properly and have as much freedom in their villages as possible. The city workers have these inspections as well, and their places of living and food are always checked for quality and quantity. However, these only happen due to the High Thian and Senate pushing for them, should an ignorant ruler come along, these inspections can disappear and the lowest class may end up in utter poverty, willing to rebel and cause great havoc.

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

Rum Cake may be delicious, but I know something even better. I am sure you are familiar with cookies, but are you familiar with...Khookies?

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

I'm sorry Jangel, but that post doesn't meet the basic English standard for this RP, let alone the quality required. While I don't mind first person and short posts, I do mind when the depth and calibre of this RP is brought down by bad grammar and uninteresting posts. I don't want to be dogmatic and have to start laying out the unspoken rules for a mid-high casual RP. I would appreciate it if that post was rewritten to a better standard please.
If I've misjudged and this is the kind of quality everyone else wants, then you'll find me a very democratic and fair-minded GM, but I personally cannot enjoy reading or writing such posts.

Edit: Mostly's is an exemplar post. Short but engaging and the conversations and description are to a good level

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

Quick heads up, I've added a bit more to the IC post. Some characters do feature in it (four by my count) some more than others. If your character doesn't feature, it's just because I didn't want to force anything. If it's a bad starting post and you're just left thinking, 'I dunno what to do' then tell me.

Kho's Storage of All Things

New Dawn of Kanorth


It seems no work of Man's creative hand,
by labour wrought as wavering fancy planned;
But from the rock as if by magic grown,
eternal, silent, beautiful, alone!
Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine,
where erst Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane,
that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain;
But rose-red as if the blush of dawn,
that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn;
The hues of youth upon a brow of woe,
which Man deemed old two thousand years ago,
Match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,
a rose-red city half as old as time.

Golden Age of Piracy: Caribbean 1655 (OOC)

That's the best I could do in my half asleep state. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a wall of nonsensical rambling when I come to read it later, but that's all that's coming out of me for that.
Just two notes:
1) Tavern keepers will have valuable information about where there is the highest demand for what goods and where there is the most supply (i.e. where you can sell highest and buy lowest) as well as other pieces of information they'd be more than happy to part with if you have a smooth enough tongue or enough gold.
2) Pirates die. People, in general, tend to die. If this RP goes on, your character could die, in combat or of old age (if this goes on long enough.) But as Assallya pointed out to me earlier, a big part of any gang/crew based RP in general is that intimidation and acting big was an important part. A lot of the time it was about who could go the furthest, short of actual combat. Pirates usually preferred their targets to surrender due to intimidation rather than actually overpowering them. So really play on that.

That's my two cents, now go wild.