May Game Announcements
A Word From Your Mod Team
Diatu is no longer a new game (by EMP rules, anyway)! We've made it this far and we hope to make it much farther. We would, however, like to increase our playerbase! We advertise on rpanons and EMP already, but we would like further suggestions on ways to attract players. Most importantly, we are considering an advertisement rewrite, and would like your input on what aspects of the game you like best, and thus might be the best sells.
What Changes Are Coming?
Several!
First, Research on the Sundered threads links are now part of AC, rather than a response to an event top-level. This will save us some time in processing them.
Second, we have changed the mechanics for adventures so that a failed roll no longer ends the adventure for the month. Instead, failure will simply cause consequences within the adventure. We think this is an improvement to the mechanic, as we've concluded the original fail/retake mechanic was offputting and offered fewer benefits than drawbacks.
Third, we have updated the Game Guide and FAQ to address common questions we've received about continuing adventures, canon updates, and deaths.
Fourth, we have created the Diatu Master Spreadsheet. This spreadsheet tracks student houses, Colormarch contributions, Regard, Familiar Bond, and Fame. We will also add any other numeric trackings to this sheet as well. Our goal is to remove the burden from players and transfer keeping track of these things entirely to us, making the mechanics easier to use and interact with and less likely to see a burden to track. As of now we believe it's up to date, but if you see anything in review that needs our attention, please let us know. We also appreciate familiar names, if you are improving your bond!
This Month In Diatu
Late Spring Weather is ramping towards summer, as warmer winds catch Ascelion as they roll gently across the land. The most notable weather event in this month is hail; freak storms can drop hail on the city from pebble sized all the way up to fist, on rare occasions. Buildings are prepared for this assault, so duck in one quick if hail starts to fall! Also, feel free to end up awkwardly trapped under a bridge or awning with someone your type, because...
Live and Love is the theme both on-campus and off. As spring's growth settles solidly in and the birds and bees are about in number, Ascelion traditionally takes the chance for romance! Summer is hard hot work made better by a new love or a new spouse, after all. Many weddings occur at this time, including some on campus as students decide to tie the knot. Many deals are aimed at couples, whether it be a discount at a restaurant or a special line of earrings to catch the eye of that special someone.
Sundering Around Campus shows the dangers of that formerly-forbidden Curriculum. As students gain enough knowledge to work some minor spells, and laziness born of increasing familiarity, troubles from miscast magic keep popping up. Little gremlins skitter around, causing mayhem and havoc. A small cherub has taken up residence in the fountain and won't stop proselytizing. Small portals occasionally pop open, disgorge a disgruntled familiar, then shut. The faculty is moving quickly to crack down on this misbehavior, but till they weed out all the students responsible, who knows what you'll face?
This Month In Anastara
Pop-Up Opportunities appear around the city, as it finally becomes pleasant enough to perform or sell outside of a store, but before the focused commerce of summer really settles in. Merchants unfurl blankets right on the street, hawking their wares both mundane and mysterious. Dancing troupes burst into performance without warning, then pass the hat with a smile. Fantastic Foil duels occur outside of shops to lure in the impressionable. Maybe you'll find a deal from a shifty smuggler, or enjoy a sudden burst of acrobatic flair -- or maybe you're responsible for one or the other. Or both.
Adventures
As detailed on our Adventures page, you may sign up for an adventure by responding to the appropriate comment on this post. We will respond with your adventure setups in a few days. There are new adventures, so check them out!
We were asked a question which we want to answer generally: you may undertake a new adventure this month even if you are still in an adventure from previous months.
We also want to encourage everyone to involve others in your adventures! Though it is possible to do many adventures solo, we intend them as opportunities for characters to mix and mingle.
Actions
To represent characters working long-term towards a goal, you can submit up to two actions on the appropriate comment below that your character will be focusing their time towards (or one action twice). This can range from studying, to exploration, to trying to gain points for the Colormarch, to buttering up NPCs, to others. At the end of the month, once you submit AC, you will be given your results.
The Colormarch!
We've calculated the Colormarch stats for the past two months and victory goes to Aer et Calculum! The Gates and the Walk are now in silver and black, and as a reward, you have all been granted Robes of Immaculate Style. These fine, fancy robes are enchanted to repel dirt and grime, resist wrinkles, protect against rain and snow, and generally make you stylish as all get out. (Gekronus Maius students are particularly jealous!)
A Note On This Month's Event
Thanks to player actions in adventures, this month's event will be a little special: it will occur in two parts, separated by time. We invite you to consider making two different top-levels for it, as the themes and tone for these days will be very, very different indeed. We considered making this a mid-monthly event instead, but wanted to try this experiment and see how it works. Please let us know your opinions on it.
CRAUs?
When initially designing the game, we decided against including CRAUs for the usual reasons: the idea that the characters are no longer the canon ones we expect, the concerns of players who might have other characters assume or insist on past interactions with theirs, and so forth. However, Diatu has turned into a small, close-knit game and we do not think those concerns would be especially burdensome. We'd like your opinions on the matter. Should we change the rule, or keep it as is?
Monthly Mod Plans
Our focus was actually taken up designing the Master Spreadsheet this month, meaning we once again dropped the ball on Religion -- but we think making the game easier to track and manage is more important. With that said, we actually have few new areas for improvement to consider this month. In response to a suggestion, we hope to have a CR meme out soon!:
- Update Locations to include all new discovered areas (monthly)
- Update Adventures with new options (monthly)
- Create a Religion page to explain the religion of the Tenscore Kingdoms (past due)
- Create and post a CR Meme
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diatuooc2019-05-01 07:57 pm
My PhB needs to just live with my computer, I think.
V had been nearly done trancing, or would say as much if pressed. Not that anyone here seemed to have any more clue about V than they did back home. V was tempted to let this insanity go, except for one thing. While here V is a professor. Which... lends some modicum of responsibility, even without the lawful alignment. If this was what it felt like to be Roy, V was just as happy to stay to the middle of the party. There weren't many cantrips that V was used to thinking of as useful in general. But for this...? This a few cantrips plus a page already in V's pocket from a previous encounter would work well.
V slipped closer to the pair and then activated the first prepared cantrip. Message. V used it to create a ghost voice, a whisper ahead of them on the stairs. "Uh oh, teacher coming! Back to bed!" the voice gasped in an audible whisper, as though they were not the only miscreants on the stairs that night. V was positioned to be seen as soon as they charged back into the dorm room. But V was never one for a simple plan with only a single spell. To ensure that the message would convince them, Open/Close opened the far door, as though someone were actually coming. And Dazzling lights on the wall made it look like whoever it was was bringing their own light. V stood, scrap of parchment in hand, waiting for the miscreants to flee back towards their beds, away from the illusionary teacher and right to the actual professor and irritated wizard that awaited them.
no subject
You have passed the roll against Curriculum Breach Detection with a roll of 73 (98, -15 for using three cantrips).
You have failed the roll to Not Attract Seriously Unwanted Attention with a roll of -11 (4, -15 for using three cantrips).
One of the students has the bright idea, once they duck into cover, to cast an Intimation spell to determine when they'll be safe to leave again. Because there is no professor, it tells her 'now', to her confusion. But they tramp out hurriedly, doing their best to be quieter now.
no subject
Ticked off, V stalked up the stairs after them. V, being a professor. was not concerned about getting in trouble. These two however?
"LO!" V called using dazzling lights to insure they could see their approaching doom. "Halt your pointless and petty nocturnal nonsense. Unless you wish to face my wrath and the utmost punishments that could be imposed upon you, you shall not pursue this path of petty revenge! For should you wish to take vengeance upon one whom you think sought to do you wrong this is not the way to go about it! Sneaking around in the middle of the night when you are in one dorm and your target in another! Nay! Nay I say! Cease and desist this at once. This is not the way to go about such revenge for this path of foolishness can have but one result. Think upon your folly, meditate upon your idiocy. How did you fools even think you would get into another house's dorm in the first place? Nay! Nay I say! If you want revenge, sneak not out from a dorm which you share with a professor only to be stymied by a locked door. Instead find a school sanctioned way in which to duel, during the light of day, with judges and a proper audience. Anything less simply tells all that you were unsure of your prowess, that victory was ever in question! That serves only those you wished to thwart in addition to being stopped by a door. And getting expelled. Harken to me, young students and listen! And also... you both have detention for a week, every evening after dinner until ten pm, served with your least favorite professor." Which V presumed they had one of.