Tearstone

Dresden Files RPG

Have blasting rod, will travel.

I have nearly all the DFRPG materials and have read up to and including Skin Game, and some of the side anthologies, like Side Jobs. I have a couple small private Dresdenfiles RP's that I do in cycles, so I'm definitely interested in doing something with a larger group, or anybody really.

I would be up for playing a wizard or up-and-coming spell slinger, which I already have a decent setup for in my head.

I would also be interested in playing a Clued-In Hardboiled detective, stuck in either cold cases, or working Dark Room/Black Cat files, like Special Investigations did. Perhaps a member of CPD SI that moved out of Chicago? (Unless we're holding it in Chi-Town)

And yeah, @shagranoz is right. It's hard to get a Dresden Files game off the ground. - also not sure about Skype...

Walking Dead - Miami, Florida

Name: Christopher Williams
Age: 27
Gender: male
Height: 5’ 10”
Build: lean & athletic
Appearance: Dark hair, light eyes, athletic, good looking.

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Family: -- Listings for immediate family only---
Grandmother - Francine Landers - deceased, six months ago, died old age in nursing home in fort lauderdale
Grandfather - William Landers - deceased, 26 years ago (too young to remember, doesn’t remember stories either)
Grandmother - Theresa Williams - Unknown, presumed dead ((Still alive, in fact))
Grandfather - Richard Williams - deceased - heart attack - 1 year ago
Father - Terry Williams - deceased, heart failure 2 years piror to outbreak
Mother - Melinda Williams - deceased; gunshot some 24 years ago
Brother - Michael Williams - unknown, ((still alive, several states away in Southern Ohio))
Several cousins in the family, but status is largely unknown

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Personality:
Pragmatic, charismatic. Chris can be a charmer when he wants to. He has a solid poker face most of the time. He tends to be analytical and intuitive, he grasps things quickly. Can be caring and compassionate, or alternately cold and dispassionate. His moods can change like the weather, but usually for good reason. He has a reason for everything he says and does.

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Occupation Before: Undercover Cop

Notable skills: (Most are a combination of police training and natural talent, but bear detailing out)
-Shooting - Good (standard police training, time on the range, occasional need to use it, includes handguns and shotguns)
-Running - Good (good general fitness, fast on his feet, has to occasionally run down suspects who usually are fleet of foot and determined to escape)
-Charismatic - naturally talented at understanding aspects of people and how to sell lies, covers, and make personal connections, which can also make for good leadership capabilities
-Undercover Operations, Performance, Infiltration, - all part of a skillset to get into groups, organizations, places, and get close to people, sell lies and cover identities to eventually bring down people and organizations.
-Intelligence gathering/interrogation - a more subtle version of an interview, used to work up information on suspects and persons of interest, usually while undercover. The more information and intel a UC can get, the better.
-Hand to Hand: Expert - Trained in police hand to hand tactics, able to scrap/fight quickly and efficiently, for when guns might not be an option, or too loud. or when expected to deal with violent situations on the mean streets of any city. A skill expected of any SWAT, UC, beat or patrol cop. Also has some kickboxing training as well.
-Surveillance/Stakeout - includes tailing, watching locations and people without being observed, includes long hours and usually weight gain from stress eating. Usually used to gain intelligence on groups, people, locations, and objects
-Decent boat pilot/navigator, good on jet-skis.
-Some wilderness survival training, excellent with computer operation (but not programming or hacking), good impressionist and decent beatboxer, great driver

-Bad dancer

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Bio:

It's long

Christopher, or Chris has lived in southern florida for most of his life. He grew up on and off of boats, in the tough scenes of street life here and there. His mother was shot at a young age. She died in the operating room as they tried to save her life. It had been a typical mugging, except something had gone wrong, or perhaps the mugger had decided to add more to his rap sheet. Who can say? As far as Chris goes, the guy was never caught. This left him in the care of his father, who tended to work in what little horse business there was, as well as working oil rigs, so by default he was raised by his grandmother on his father’s side. His grandfather had passed away a year before, but Chris does not remember the reason why.

A few years later, his father became interested in a woman in Southern Ohio. Chris was relocated by his dad, with his brother. Life there was decent, but not without struggles as his father remarried. The brothers were thrust onto the life of a horse ranch. It was discovered almost immediately that Chris had asthma. HIs mother had been a chain smoker and kept him locked in a room with her in his infant and toddler years. The Ohio humidity, combined with being around the barn and all caused him to be nearly deathly ill at first. After some time they looked into taking him to a chiropractic specialist, they were able to straighten him out in a month. Before, he had been on powerful steroids to try to combat the effects, but quickly he was off of them, and was able to mostly be a happy little boy.

His dad and stepmother worked on building a new house for their growing family, as they were all at first living with his step-mother’s mother, or step-grandmother. That was no big deal to him, and having a younger step sister to play with was a good thing. Most of the time that was fun as well. There were storm clouds on the horizon though as his father and step-mother fought a fair bit now and again. It seemed to get better at first when they moved to the very large house a half mile or so away. It was two stories and a basement, and larger than anything Chris had lived in. His mother worked for a government facility as a chemist at that time, and his father managed the ranch and related horse business. They served as a breeding service, a stabling service, and effectively a veterinarian service. Most of the local vets didn’t have much knowledge of equines so they tended to defer to the ranch’s knowledge, which was pretty extensive. They tended to bale their own alfalfa as it grew naturally on the property, and had 40 acres to work with.

Being so occupied, this lift Chris and his younger sister free often times, though there were chores especially on the weekends. Still, he found time to go out and play in the woods, following deer tracks, playing around the creeks, learning to fish, learning some basic hunting skills. He grew comfortable with the outdoors and loved it even. Eventually, things reached a head with his dad and stepmom and he was shipped back to Florida to live with his grandmother. It was a tough transition, as he had gained friends that he had become attached to in school. Florida was a new experience, now that he was back as a pre-teen, there was lots to do.

There was anonymity in school, but he did manage to find friends, and gain some popularity. He reconnected with the rest of his family and found it to be good. School was a little rough though as he didn’t fit in with any certain clique, and bullies found him an easy target. Having some family to fall back on helped, but his time in Ohio had left him with an independent streak. He knew that he could take care of himself decently, had decent judgement. Rarely did he want to discuss his problems with family that he still didn’t entirely know, at least in his own mind, and who he didn’t feel valued his own decision-making, or intelligence. So he turned to video games and the internet. Along the way he met a friend Jamie who was similarly minded, and the two of them became fast friends. After a while they were making regular trips to the glades, or the beach, not just for swimming, but as a means of escape, to think, and to dig into the local flora and fauna. Chris rediscovered his love for being outdoors here and relearned old skills, and new skills tailored for south Florida.

Jamie also happened to be unstable, bi-polar, and perhaps had a few other conditions that Chris never cared about. Jamie was just Jamie. Eventually, Jamie had gone off meds, and had an incident that wound up putting Chris’ friend away for a while. Jamie wound up in a local asylum, which Chris was never able to get much information about it from Jamie’s family members, who did not like Chris himself. Eventually, he moved on, but kept up with his skills. Another set of skills he’d learned from Jamie was basic psychology, learning how people think, how to understand them. Chris had been a skilled liar when he was younger, covering for his step-sister, or older brother quite often, as well as covering about his own personal shortcomings, such as completed/incomplete homework, and so on. He’d learned to look his dad or stepmother right in the eye, and with a straight expression, tell them a total untruth. These days he got better at it, more focused, more determined to seal the holes, and to believe the lie to sell it. He’d had to practice it a fair bit when he’d come home at midnight, sometimes one or two in the morning, or if he’d made a short visit after school with Jami or other friends.

In high school he took up running, as well as some general bodyweight exercises. He got into kickboxing as an outlet for his energies, and some anger, but even then he’d begun to mellow out. The bullies began to leave him alone, as he was no longer a fun or easy target, and found their jabs could be turned on them. Chris did get into a couple of fights, but defended himself at least adequately,. Eventually the bullies left him be entirely, and his circle of friends did expand. They often found him to be the quiet voice of reason, and found his advice usually solid.

A couple years before graduation another person joined the ranks of their group. Her name was Heather. They took an immediate liking to each other. Soon they were seeing each other and dating. Again, Chris had to use some of his skill at deception, mostly to have the freedom to spend his time with her. After a time they were nigh inseparable. To anyone on the outside it was obvious they were head over heels for each other. Chris was a grade above her and after two years together graduated out. Heather’s folks wound up moving that summer a good distance away, her father chasing a job in Missouri with a food production company. They tried to maintain a long-distance relationship, but eventually broke up due to the realities of their situation. They did not speak again for a few years, but remain very close to this day. Chris still loves her very much, but he keeps it very tightly under wraps.

Chris spent the next year still living with his grandmother, working small jobs, living life, partying. He began to look into hooking up with girls wherever he could in an effort to take his mind off of Heather. It helped some, but at the same time provided sharp contrast. After a while, he decided to make use of some of the protective instincts he’d gained over the last few years, as well as the skills he’d picked up along the way and joined the Miami PD. He made his way through the academy. The kickboxing and other basic martial arts experience he had served him well and he learned fast in that area. He’d been a gun enthusiast for many years and took to firearms training quickly. He’d spent part of his time breaking or avoiding the law in his middle school and early high school years, so learning the official side of it was easier. Soon he graduated from the academy.

He was able to impress upon his peers and superiors his skills at reading people, leading, and more. He set the goal of working as an undercover cop in narcotics and vice, posing as a mule or dealer often. He began making small busts and arrests, before starting to make contacts and connections. He set the goal of infiltrating a few organizations, knocking out the pins here and there. He took to it quite a bit, and found he liked the challenge, and sometimes the adrenaline that came with looking down the wrong end of a barrel, and the wrong said thing would get him ended. He branched out into robbery and other divisions as well.

Eventually, the port authority and Miami police wanted to check out an unusual business. It seemed to be a small boating concern that was arguably a tourist trap of sorts. Except it made a lot of money, and seemed to be extremely successful. It made a ton of trips up and down the coast and all over the place in coastal waters. It wasn’t easily tracked, and the finances just didn’t look right. So Chris was called up as a young sea hand on the docks, letting him spend a while doing odd jobs, and working on basic seamanship.. With his knowledge of the beaches, waterways, the glades and other places, he made a name as a guide and soon approached the Tide Runner’s captain, a young lady by the name of Zephy about working on the boat.

He was brought on, on a trial basis, and soon became part of the crew. Chris took some time to get to know her, and the others aboard… the Chef Andre, and a masseuse, medic, and holistic medicine specialist Shelly, who also served as a sort of hospitality specialist. At first Chris thought there might have been something there with Shelly, but after a while, found nothing. She was just a girl on a boat with a good job. Andre checked out, even though he was known to have a chat with Mary Jane from time to time.

It took a while to get close to Zephy who was recovering from the death of her father who she was very close to. Her attitude at times was almost combative toward Chris. She also got into altercations with her mother, Karen, who was the business manager. After a while though, there was a bit more ease between Chris and Zephy. One evening after a fight between Karen and Zephy, Chris decided to take a risk and had a talk with Zephy. His words were gentle, but intent, and designed to provoke her anger, and her grief about her dad. She hadn’t really grieved at all, just bottled it up and shoved it in a drawer. He deliberately focused on cracking that shell, since he was a better target than her mother. After that he left her alone with her thoughts. She left, went to go visit her father’s grave, and had the breakdown she needed.

She returned the following morning, drained, and dried out but in much better condition. Over the following weeks, she repaired the relationship with her mom, and the relationship with Chris improved, dramatically so in some ways. Part of the money had come from a hefty life insurance policy, and they had been having a large run of some of their more lucrative charters. The boat was paid off years ago, so almost all they draw in now goes to paying crew, and normal operations. Whatever is left goes into their pockets. Chris was on board long enough by now to know that the numbers did add up, they were just kind of expensive, but for good reason.

Deciding he had found an ideal circumstance, and he made plenty as a member of the crew, he decided to take an extended vacation or mini-retirement from the Miami PD. That was when the outbreak hit. At first it was good, with the airports shutting down, they had a few charter auctions, but after that, when the walkers started showing up, they shut down operations. Shelly, Andre, and Karen went ashore to get supplies. Chris did too, but made it back. Eventually, they were left with no choice but to cast off. They took the Tide Runner out off shore and began using the tender to run to and from the ship. They had radio contact with the crew at the office for a while. They were seemingly safe, but eventually the batteries wore out on their end.

Lately it’s been just the two of them aboard the ship, and supplies are running low. The water maker is broke down. Time to make a call.

---

Disability/Fear:
-Asthma - very mild most of the time, was very severe when young.
-Photophobic eyes - gets migraines when exposed to direct harsh lighting for more than a few minutes, which can last hours afterward.
-Former smoker - sometimes may return to smoking
-Trick shoulder, left - while fighting a large fish on the line on the Tide Runner, was jerked to the railing of the boat and subsequently dislocated shoulder. Has trouble with it from time to time
-Family history of heart conditions
-Mild to moderate arachnophobia - watched the movie Arachnophobia waaay too young. Tends to come to mind whenever encountering spiders (other than Daddy Longlegs, or tarantulas. Still doesn’t like either of them, but isn’t skittish of them much), and is paranoid of things crawling on him, specifically bugs/insects
-Hates heights, but likes being high up. Is more worried about the fall and sudden stop than the height itself. Takes the time sometimes to face down this fear by putting himself in high places.
-mild to moderate video game addiction
-moderate caffeine addiction (former)

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Weapon of Choice:
-Sig Saur P220TB .45 cal ACP (suppressed) - 5x box 8+2 magazines (loaded), on person (47 rounds)
-Remington M870 shotgun, tactical furniture, 7 round tube mag (full), 5 spare rounds on buttstock, paracord sling (50’ cordage, double dragon tongue), extra box of ammo (25) (stored in car trunk)
-Double barrel sawed-off shotgun - smooth bore - 10 rifled slugs, 3 buckshot (2 loaded)
-large crowbar
-expanding steel baton (on person)

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Equipment:

Worn on person
[indent]Set of clothes: shirt, ]url=ep.yimg.com/ca/I/policestuff_2311_2450.., belt, socks, underwear, boat shoes (26” paracord laces), baseball cap, sunglasses[/indent]

Leather jacket

1 folding pocket knife (in pocket)

1 keychain LED light(in pocket)

1 set work gloves (in pocket)

1 walkie-talkie (clipped to pants)

1 large bandanna (worn, on head)

1 multi-tool(worn on belt)

2x paracord bracelets (roughly 10’ of paracord each, one attached to good watch)

2x bobby pins (in wallet)

1x fresnel lens (in wallet)

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In haversack - usually worn on person, or close at hand

1 rain poncho w/ hood (good quality)

1 roll bank line

1 local/regional map (good)

1 canvas sail needle

1 spare bandana

1 large roll gorilla tape

1 Altoids tin (fire kit) - contents: 1 disposable lighter, 1 ferro rod, 5 fire straws, 1 chapstick, 3 inches char cord, 2 “ranger bands” (holding shut), sealed with electrical tape

1 32 oz Smart Water water bottle (full)

1 vial iodine drops (sterilization of water and wounds)

1 albuterol/primatine inhaler

1 lifestraw

1 brss knukles

1 box mag, 9mm - 13 rounds (15 capacity)

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Duffel bag - (in stateroom on Tide Runner)

Set of clothes: shirt, pants (5’ kevlar thread/wire sewn into inseam), socks, underwear, running shoes (30” paracord laces)

2x pairs swim trunks

1 large towel

1 mag lite

1 disposable lighter

1x ferrocerium rod

1 set binoculars

1 ENO double nest hammock, AM Steel cable and cargo strap hanging system and bugnet

1 gun cleaning kit

1 business directory

2x local/regional maps (good)

1 boonie hat (multicam)

Has a bugout bag in his car, located at the Marina parking lot, if he can get to it. Also has a tactical shotgun, as well as some police tactical gear in there, and tools of his trade.

[TFFN] Fight club!

bump

Hope On The Horizon (A Combat Rescue Role-Play)

Hey I would be really interested in this. Been gone for a long time due to some bad experiences here and bad rps. And if you would wanna combine the whole elite squad with the combat rescue team you could make it that the elite team is sort of the QRF for the combat rescue team or their bodyguards when they go into an area.

@RPCWhite

You mean like a combat paratrooper security element?

Hope On The Horizon (A Combat Rescue Role-Play)

What do you mean?

Hope On The Horizon (A Combat Rescue Role-Play)

*pulls trigger* Tango down. Resuming Cee-SAR... Heads on a swivel.. Check your corners, watch for friendlies...

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Very interested.

Create-A-Hero: A Superhero RPG (Closed)

Which would be?

Dresden Files: Minnesota Nice.

Any bites?

[Always Lonely] Naruto: Continuum [Always Open]

Detours

Kumogakure, Outside Genmyou's office - Morning

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Hanawa studied the two women as a mixture of expressions fluttered across her face. A little bit of surprise, irritation at the interruption, then more irritation as her would-be partner was being stolen. And then of course, the realization that she'd be left to this mission, dangerous as it could be, by herself. Hanawa was a capable shinobi in every respect, but still. Safety in numbers. Two is one, one is none. Still, she'd have to work differently now, tread more carefully.

Before she could respond, Minami was pulled away. The extra scrolls were left in her care, of course. "Fine," she said with a sigh, she shook her head and slipped them away, where they would be safe and quick access. At least most of her gear was summonable. Turning back she headed outside into the bright morning sunlight, breathing in the crisp mountain air.

Masshiro would need to be notified. He'd probably freak out looking for her, and then worry himself into an ulcer if she didn't tell him at least a little, and say goodbye.

---

Hanawa trudged through the village again, barely making a sound with her tabi. Idly she stopped to ask a couple of the villagers if they had seen Masshiro this morning...

A T1 or Turn Based Textual Combat Primer - The Basics

Turn-Based Textual Combat
Written by Vøices øf Xenøn
geocities.com/eden_era/TBIntro2.htm

There are primarily two forms of textual combat to be aware of if you intend to role-play in a real-time chat environment. The first of the pair relies on typing speed and speed of thought, which does not allow for the true movement or sophistication of the second, which is called Turn-based Textual Combat (TB). TB is dependent upon the honesty and integrity of players, as well as their ability to out maneuver their opponents whilst thinking laterally, following a logical course of progression. By this, each player is the sole judge of their character and what happens to their character; no other individual holds any away over their actions. They are expected to play fairly and with refrain at all times, deciding whether the outcome of events should go against what they might wish.

The form of TB is exactly as the name implies: each player takes turns to have their character perform a sequence of events, planning to stay one step ahead of their opponent's actions. Generally, the two players first agree that they are using the same form of textual combat to ensure there is no confusion, then between themselves they decide which character should take the first turn. The player with the first turn then has as much time as they need to type up their introduction to the battle, perhaps in the form of a first attack or as the readying of their weapon. For example:

Conan_the_Barbarian lumbers forward, sneering at the old man who has dared to challenge him, standing tall and proud as the very symbol of honed athletic prowess. His broad hands reach to his shoulder, drawing his broadsword with the hoarse whisper of steel on steel, leveling the blade before him. Both hands grasp the hilt firmly; his feet spaced evenly in a slight crouch, sharp eyes narrowing at the warrior.

After this, the other player will then be able to take his turn, deciding to go straight into the heat of the battle:

Druss_the_Axeman makes no meal of his actions as his gauntlet-clad hand snaps back to draw his axe. His feet pound the flagstones, racing towards the barbarian, Snaga the Sender comes loose with a violent tug and sweeps outward as he nears, barreled chest and large muscles tightening like iron with the soar of the silver edge through the air. Right before the barbarian he halts and throws his full momentum into the deadly crash of the blade, swiping out for his guts in a quick, deadly motion.

What should be noticed, when reading the above attack, is that at no time does Druss declare that he has struck Conan, only that his actions will strike him unless he reacts. This is the standard form of TB combat, as rather than state that an opponent has taken any damage the player explains his attack, allowing the other to decide if it can be dodged. If one player decides the outcome of any direct or indirect action against another, save for the exception of descriptions, it is called an auto-declaration (auto for short).

Autos are illegal under the rules of TB, yet it is generally understood that if the player receiving the attack agrees beforehand that it will carry through unhindered, then it can be announced. However, the player receiving the damage or effect has the sole right to decide on the degree of success; whether they find their character's head struck from its shoulders, or if they merely have a gash across the brow. Taking this into account, the new player should avoid committing autos in any form until they fully understand the mechanics behind the combat.

The process of logic decides the next stage of any simple fight: can the player think of a way to deal with the attack without taking damage, and can he turn it to his advantage somehow? In this manner the player receiving the action can decide the end result of the attack, yet must describe clearly how this result is obtained. Again, fairness of discretion is required to continue. In the example given above, Conan has readied himself to receive such an attack, and so has no trouble in deflecting it away:

Conan_the_Barbarian sends his sword smashing down against the axe, jerking from the jarring clang of metal on metal, then with a grunt of effort pushes it back to the lower right of the axeman, pinning it with his own blade. Continuing his turn he spins on the ball of his foot, launching a momentous kick toward the old man's head, intending to catch him with the heel of his boot right upon the jaw as he pivots around.

With the attack thwarted, the player then has the opportunity to initiate a counter-attack or to withdraw and ready his next action, be it a defense or otherwise. It is important to regulate the number of actions a player takes in one turn, though no real limit is imposed for this purpose. Players are expected to generally agree on what is acceptable either before hand, or as they are going along, but it has to be understood that too many actions spoil the event. This particularly applies if the players are spending less time describing or portraying the actions, making it interesting reading, and more time simply churning out actions in a bid to win their battles.

A good post only covers one to about three actions, making use of adequate description to make what is happening crystal-clear. The less confusion the better, as players can spend less time pondering over what is happening and more time considering what to do next. When a player totally misunderstands what is happening in the game, a message or so to the opponent should straighten out the ordeal, and so avoid cluttering the flow of the match… Should a player post without asking and get it wrong, having misinterpreted the actions, they are generally allowed a second attempt to get it right.

Druss_the_Axeman feels the clash of their weaponry and rebounds slightly, Snaga held rigidly within the lock of Conan's blade on the floor. He had expected this however, as having seen from the man's crouched position and his hold upon his weapon that he intended a retort. When the barbarian spins Druss is already in action, dropping low as the boot floats over his skullcap-protected brow, thundering a first in close quarters to his belly, ramming it forward to knock him off balance and free his Axe.

There comes a point when a player has to admit that an attack was successful, being logically unavoidable and soundly executed. This need not result in instant death or loss of the battle, but rather in a swift change of ploy to maintain a running fight. Assuming a player has the means with which to recover swiftly, he can employ them to his heart's content, yet should be aware that his character has taken some minor damage from the events that have unfolded. Punches can be rolled with, but if they hammer into a character when they are unready they can be devastating… not all damage comes from edged weaponry. It is important to pinpoint the degree of damage, and to make a judgement as to whether the character can proceed beyond that point with it as hindrance.

Many people seem to take their strikes very well, but do not carry onward with the results as part of their character; all damage is accumulative unless countered by some healing action. Therefore, whereas an ill-timed knee-blow might only leave a bruise on a character's cheek, enough of such will weakened and split the skull, causing brain hemorrhage. Mere cuts of a razor blade down the arm should not stream blood too strongly, but with enough of them criss-crossing a body, loss of blood will be a major problem. Each character will have differing factors to take into consideration, such as their threshold of pain and capacity to absorb the damage rendered upon them, and so should think very carefully over their actions during play.

Conan_the_Barbarian was surprised by the sudden crunch of the old man's fist against his back, having expected his sole to render him unconscious… after all, he reflects as he tumbles forward, the old an infirm are weak compared to the freshness of youth. Ramming his elbow off of the floor, he bites down hard on his tongue, turning over with the remaining momentum and clambering to his feet with graceless gestures, facing the man with a bloody roar of utter rage as his sword sweeps to rest by his side once more.

One of the more important features of role-play in general is that it is done within the present tense, as opposed to the past, which does have a reason other than the preference of the player. Every action taken is in real-time, in that it happens as the player is describing it, building upon the scene already present… this means that there is a constant need to refer to events which have already passed by. If the actions are written in the past tense, when speaking of events prior to the present, it can be very difficult and confusing to make sense of it all. Again, for clarity, it is best advised that players keep to the present tense in detailing the motions of their character.

Writing in the present tense is much more important in a TB combat scenario, especially when dealing with the more complex ideas behind the flow of the match. For example, a player may wish to collect a particular item during one of his turns, then perform an action with it, later referring back to the action. Smashing a bottle then later taking note of the broken glass on the floor can be troublesome to accomplish without a clear distinction between past, present and the future.

Druss_the_Axeman laughs heartily as the youth sprawls across the floor, raising his foot to rest on one of the tavern's overturned chairs, Snaga set between his feet with the points of the blade gripping the flagstones beneath. "You're no match for me, boy. Keeping this up is only going to embarrass you further in front of all these lovely young lasses. Now how about you pay for the drink you stole from me, and I repay by not cutting your head off?"

In reference to the first few points made, the player should always take time out during the lull of fighting to play their character. Fighting is worthless if it fails to enrich and enhance the plot of characters, to both settle disputes and further the game environment. It is also rather dry to plow through lines of text concerned only with the direction and frequency of attacks, resulting in others players becoming bored and less likely to interact or role-play themselves. The resource to spot chances to relax from heated combat is vital, for it separates the combat into multiple sections that are easier to digest.

Conan_the_Barbarian foams at the mouth with rage, his words biting into the rafters above with sharp, heavy syllables. "My ale you bastard, the barkeep gave it when I walked up to be served!" he roars, spitting in the direction of Druss as he hefts his blade once more.

Druss_the_Axeman "Perhaps you should have asked the man, rather than hit him between the eyes when he tried to tell you? Or do your young harlot companions demand that you thump everything that gets in your way?" he replies calmly, shifting his grip on his axe to spin the blade's flat towards Conan.

Conan_the_Barbarian shouts at the top of his voice as he charges to the ancient, a sweeping arch of silver shining in the lantern light with glittering dark intent. Merely footsteps away, he sends his sword straight overhead to crash down with sheer power across all defenses, bent on cleaving the liar's skull in twain.

Equally important is to recognize when a fight seems to be tapering off due to too much conversation, and to initiate events to swing back into motion. This can be quite literally by swinging an attack around, or it can be achieved by a variety of other methods, such as cursing or enticing an attack. Either way, raising the hostility levels should keep the action tense and intriguing, though not overwhelming with ferocity. Reading the other player's style is essential to finding the best methods of play; for if a character is more inclined to sit and talk it will take much more to have him fight than a few insults.

Communication between players through Private Message, to discuss and decide on the scenes ahead, generally leads to closer role-play and more enjoyment from the battle; for example, Druss' player might have spoken to Conan's about the kick and punch routine. With each working together to increase the realism of events and portray their characters as they are to be played, a fuller experience is realized.

Druss_the_Axeman drops his foot from the overturned chair as Conan begins his scream, then sweeps Snaga up in counter balance to lift the chair, hurling it forward from his axe as Conan raises his blade overhead, spinning forward to topple him by a blow to the chest. As the chair is freed he lunges forward, crossing the intermediate ground moments after the flight of the wooden mass, preparing to strike forward and tear Conan's chest open under the swoop of his companion, the axe.

Awareness of the area in which combatants are playing marks a distinction from the average player, as a growing tend has emerged amongst those within chat, defined by the ignorance of the world around the characters. Unlike many would believe, there are very few custom-built arenas where characters and jump back and forth, performing endless aerobatics unhindered by the scenery… nor is it unfeasible to expect items to have been left around which they could make use of. Such simple details as the traction of the ground, whether it is ice or sand, can affect the movements of the creatures populating the area, whereas the temperature and humidity will change their stamina.

Effective play is not just in recognizing which elements can be used to the player's advantage, but in which cannot, what details are strong weaknesses against their character. Fiery dragons will not cope well in blizzards, nor will woodsman survive long in the stone streets of urban sprawl. Defense can be planned and implemented against much change in scenario, but once again it is the player's discretion that should determine what handicaps and what enhances the character.

Conan_the_Barbarian is firmly stuck in the chest by the flying seat, having been completely unprepared for such a foul ploy, and reels back suddenly under the impact, tripping over his own feet and falling downward as Druss moves to strike. A large slash cuts the skin across his breast, but thankfully the fall saved him from worse, giving him enough time to gather himself as Druss is carried around by the swing to muster a quick retort, lunging his blade forward in a stabbing motion.

One of the most difficult concepts to understand about TB is that, despite being played turn by turn, the flow of time within the game remains constant. This means that though each player has a turn in which to commit their actions, they are not standing idle as their opponent is making his or her action. To further elaborate, the above text shows how each player, both Conan and Druss, have made their actions at the same time as the other character. Whilst Conan is racing forward Druss is hurling the chair, meaning that Conan could not complete the rest of his action, as the chair prevented him from doing so.

The exact sequence of events is not set in stone till each player has commented on what their character is doing at any given time; thus large or small actions, which take time to employ, can be cut short by their intervention. Druss does not stand still whilst Conan is charging, but makes use of his initiative to block what he had intended, and Conan accepts this and carries onward. However, should Conan later deny that the sequence of events had taken place, he would be playing in bad form, as he already agreed that the action took place. In short, although the turns are played out in sequence, the content is brought together in real-time.

Druss_the_Axeman rapidly reverses the direction of Snaga with a twist of the palm and shift of grip, curling it around to repeat the same hacking gesture as he steadies his feet upon the ground. He does not run, but walks with each action, keeping his centre of balance solid and firm against the whirlwind of action, a calm contrast to Conan's vehemence. He methodically presses forward to send the sword away, catching it with his axe with a metallic ringing, pushing down on Conan to give him the advantage of position.

In considering the actions of a character, players are wise to understand the nature of their situation in terms of advantages and disadvantages. In causing a character to take a hit, thus losing their position and calm, the player opens the opportunity to press an advantage. Yet, with each change in stance an equal and opposite weakness is laid open, such as a vulnerability where previously the players were on the same ground. There are exceptions to this, for example when a character is facing a tireless and powerful onslaught which they are struggling to match, or up against a creature of exotic powers with which they can barely cope. It is important to understand that the simple rearranging of position, such as a player moving their character below another and to the side, does not immediately signal that they are losing.

Far from it, a character that is standing low can be far more deadly, capable of swiping at the legs of the other, as will soon be shown by Conan. In this case players must understand how to press the advantage gained to counter this effect, or to withdraw to the relatively safety of an even match. Clarity is again required when keeping track of all this motion, and so it is common courtesy to give reference relative to each character for each action, so that the visualization of what is unfolding is clear.

Conan_the_Barbarian feels his strength ebbing in his fallen position, and so deftly swipes his feet around beneath the legs of Druss in hope of either felling him or forcing him to release his pressure upon the sword. At the same time as he does this he spins around beneath the axe, his arm providing support against the flat of his own blade, preparing to rise up behind Druss should his actions be successful.

Length of description is never as important as what is revealed during the description; players should be very alert that the more of their future actions they reveal, the more a player can plan for in advance. Ideally, players should be capable of trusting their opponent not to press the information as an advantage, yet this is not always so, and thus a particular style must be adopted in such situations. Only enough detail to ensure the opponent knows what is currently happening, or about to happen, should be revealed, yet the groundwork must be laid for the next steps in the sequence.

Therefore, the actions of a character should balance nicely with the descriptions of those actions, giving a good read yet at the same time pitting the mettle of one combatant against another. Revealing future steps in actions may be utterly necessary at points, such as when Conan is preparing for his next actions above, yet the less a player extends himself out the less the risk of being out-maneuvered. In friendly TB this should never be a problem, yet in life or death of character situations it is sometimes impossible to agree with the other player on the outcome; either one lives, or it dies. Such is the case above, and so the players are being very competitive towards one another in these closing stages of the fight.

Druss_the_Axeman feels the booted feet he had dodged earlier with ease smack him in the shins, a strong assault against his steady form causing him to stumble forward and over Conan. His hold on the blade is released, his gaze fixed on the far wall as he realizes the advantage he has just lost, and that they young youth is now behind him without hindrance.

Taking risks is a valuable tactic that has to be though out very carefully, planned to meticulous detail before implementation. It is more than feasible to expect a player to recover from a swift setback as the other is also re-establishing his foothold, but sometimes it is advantageous to allow the opportunity to pass by, playing a mental game of opportunity with the opponent. In the above paragraph, it appears that Druss has exposed his back to Conan, who will now be rapidly rising even as he continues forward.. yet a few mere lines of text would have removed the risk.

Clearly it is hard to win any battle without risk, but it is possible. Setting an opponent up to take advantage of a situation is an old trick which works most times, yet harder still is to force them to make a mistake they will pay for later. Observing their tactics can often help choose the best method, so separating the more able player readily, and giving them more chance of being able to accomplish their task.

Conan_the_Barbarian rears like a snake behind Druss, his blade swinging overhead once more, prepared for a downward thrust, mercilessly into the back of the old man, his cry of exultation startlingly loud as bloodlust is realized. He steps forward, the blade trailing over his right shoulder as he nears the stumbling figure, and with the quickness of the metaphor, he strikes.

Druss_the_Axeman turns in those fleeting seconds as Conan nears, the blade raising over his shoulder to strike at him, having rightly gambled that his penchant for the broadsword and the length when considered with his height would lead him to favor the downward cleave. Yet Druss is older, wiser, more experience as he spins with Snaga in both hands, raking it out to slice hits guts open, speeding against the slow trawl of the moment to strike before the final blow is begun, then away as quickly.

Druss shows himself to be true to character, the foresight to expect particular tactics from the player playing off to his advantage; in his mind, with the actions Conan has taken, there is little chance of him being capable of escaping… he is proven correct.

Conan_the_Barbarian stares in abject horror as the axe sinks into his flesh, pain exploding beneath his chest as he is burned by the searing sensations, the tearing of his intestines striking home suddenly and with less mercy than he would have allowed. Cold overwhelms him as the axe leaves, Druss spinning away, his blood spilling to the floor in a crimson spray, weakness consuming him and forcing his grip on the broadsword to loosen, then release. He topples to his knees, clutching at his stomach, his blade lying to the side, too far away to aid him now.

Ultimately, in accepting the death of a character, there are details commonly understood yet seldom practiced. It is possible to sustain severe injury to the tendon of an arm and still function, or to take blade's points in non-vital areas of the body, but if these objects penetrate the head, pelvis, gut or chest, there is little to no chance of baring it with grace. Rage might provide adrenaline when the pain is bearable, but mortal wounds such as they are just that; mortal, even in the midst of magic and fantasy.

Druss_the_Axeman stands slowly, his walk heavy and with weight as he approaches the boy, Snaga hanging with ruby coating beside him, swinging loosely in his arm. Over the barbarian he pauses, looking down, his cold blue eyes showing compassion and sorrow at what has taken place, yet still the hardness of knowing what is to be done.

Conan_the_Barbarian looks upward slowly, his forehead streaked with sweat, his pupils large with wonder and mouth hanging open with reddened gasp for life, cut of his tongue blackening his throat. "What… are… you… old… man?" he asks defiantly, arrogant barbarian to the very last.

Druss_the_Axeman "I am Druss," he replies, lifting his axe with fingers linked around the hilt, "…and this…" The shining crescent cleaves through the youth's neck, severing head from body with another, final spray of life-giving fluid. "…is Snaga, the Sender."

This concludes the introduction to the basics of Turn-based textual combat, though a few words remain to express the necessity of fair play. Always, players must remember that no matter how great their wish to win, it is only a game to be played, not a matter that should trouble them in real life. Those with great egos who gloat about easy victory are false and shallow, for in truth every battle fought should have some degree of difficulty. Players who are proficient should help those who are not learn, playing to their level… And for those who wish to practice their skills without ending the lives of their characters, an out of character sparring session can be arranged, in which two players may pit their characters against one another as if they were fighting, yet without the final ramifications. In such sparring sessions, the important emphasis on the plot or backing conditions for the battle are just as strong, and do require some fought to be given as to why, and where, and how each are fighting.

Copyright © James Thornbury 2001
All rights reserved.
Authenticated @ 2003 Dionysus.
Special Thanks to Kellindil (John), the founder of T1.