This is the standard OOC discussion thread, for coordination and questions.

The first planned adventure is one I hope will be fast-paced, somewhat light-hearted though not a comedy, and non-lethal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:33, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

We have two players already, welcome to the both of you.  Anchorhead is on the northern coast, east of where Denmark would be, about due north of Berlin in real historical Europe.  We begin in that vicinity, the adventure will start outside the city proper.

Greetings Lilly!

Looking forward to this.

Folks, how did you calculate hit points?

Averages.

In my case, 6+Con.

I have been using full HP per die for so long I didn't even think about it.  That tends to help mitigate the inherent advantage casters have over non casters a little bit, but if we are in a low enough magic setting to lack casters that shouldn't be as big of a problem.

It's roll each level after first, but I'll accept average.

Thanks.

Alright, two more joined us today, a pair of spell casters.  Welcome!

Hello all, happy to be here.  I'll be your friendly neighborhood support/utility caster.

Speaking of casters and magic, DM, how does magic play into this setting?  Are spellcasters a commonplace thing with academies and wandering sages roaming the countryside?  Or is it a more rare and unusual gift, or even something given a side-eye in some communities?  Are magic items and potions the kind of thing one can find in stores or are they bespoke, singular treasures with histories all their own?

Mallory! You are supposed to be in an ice tower with some Bugbears!

Magic is fading in the world.  In ancient times there were colleges or academies of magic, not any more.  Now wizards are often lone figures with an apprentice or two,  though they are still sought after and respected.  Magic items are not bought and sold in stores.  The fading of magic is one of the themes something that perhaps goes hand in hand with modernity.  Elves are likewise very rare now, wood elves being the only type seen regularly.  There are legends of a hidden kingdom of elves.

Greetings companions!

Luisa your sorcereress at your service.

Welcome new players!

@Galerius
The multiverse is a varied and layered place.  ^^  Looking at your character description, I'll gamble... this is another esteemed Paladin from another universe?

@DM
Ooh, neat angle.  I'm going to have a lot more questions as time goes by, but I'll keep them to PM for the most part so as not to overwhelm.

While I am sure all your fancy magic and gizmos are handy, if you have them, I tend to take care of my problems a fair bit more directly.

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 14):

Maybe...

Anyway, here is more fun with character creation programs!

Okay, we have a fifth:  Alester Romtree, welcome.

I'm good starting with five characters, but if I get any more applications in the next couple of days I will let some more folks join.  Not too many more, but PbP always has attrition of players and since you read my expectations, it is easy to infer that I don't like new players taking over existing characters.  Doesn't feel right somehow.  I've allowed it in the past, but don't really like it.

Okay, so as soon as we get the character sheets and descriptions done we can begin.  I will encourage folks to have at least met in the past, though you come from the four corners of Ivalis, which is great.

Alester is of the Gypsy type people, for which I need a new name since "Rome" was replaced with "Sidon."

Luisa's family is from a town near here.  I will suggest a couple of options and let her choose.

Mallory is from Rousset to the West.

Lilly is also from a nearby town.  The halflings are well integrated in human society, though vastly outnumbered.

And Galerius is from the Sidonian Empire.

Romani Name Alternatives
Not sure myself, there.  Maybe lean on some of the various regional subgroups of the Romani names for inspiration?  Assuming none of those names aren't also seen as pejoratives today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...lation_and_subgroups

Prior Relationships
Mallory - and her larger family as well - should be pretty easy for people to draw links to.  The Bonheur family operate a sizable mercantile company that focuses on catering to the common folk's needs over all else, so being a prior customer, employee, or business partner is entirely plausible.  Mallory herself is the sort to go out trekking and exploring (despite her disdain for such rough endeavors), so she likewise could cross paths with just about anyone during her travels prior, or hired more adventurous sellsword types as bodyguards to help her.

Character Sheets
I see you've placed a character sheet in our profile section, DM.  Is the format you've set mandatory for your purposes?  I have another I tend to use for the sake of my own readability needs.

Character sheet: no you don't have to use that one.  I like it for readability also, but as long as I can find everything reasonably easy I don't care which one you use.

How about we go with the Hungarian Lovari for the Romani in Ivalis?

Since the Bonheur family is from and in Rousset, direct linkages of the customer type are less likely.  However, knowing a friend in common or family member who is a Bonheur family factor/supplier/partner in Anchorhead is possible; or encounters with Mallory as she traveled on family business are very reasonable connections.