Traveling the Mists - OOG, I think I'm confused

[Shhh I'm not here]

So in and out of game I've never really given all that much thought to how the mists work. OOG, it served the very practical purpose of allowing players to chapter hop and explained how all of these independent games were tied together as part of a larger world. In-game, it was a strange, real, but also dreamlike force that swept adventurers to and fro as they were needed. The hand of fate so to speak, taking people to where destiny needed them to be. But it has always been just that handful of potent, fame worthy adventurers.

But the issue is starting to come up IG about significantly large military forces crossing the mists. Whole armies crossing that mystic sea from one realm to another to fight the good fight. This seems to me very contrary to the way the mists and travel between our continents is supposed to work, or at least has in the past. I'm a little concerned about the impact on the game world if armies and armadas are suddenly sailing out across the mists from one chapter to another. And this, by the way, is not just directed at one particular post. It's come up a few times in the last season and with many different people. Before now, if someone had suggested whole armies crossing the mists to me IG, my character would have scoffed at them and called the notion insane. This is still a medieval era world after all. The Spanish armada wants to attack England.... sure! Send the whole armada to invade the America's.... uh, not so much.

I think you see where I'm going with this. Short of it is, we're starting to hint at very large motions of powerful forces across a bridge that we've only ever seemed to use for us small number of exceptional adventurers. I'm a bit confused how to make sense of it IG and OOG, and worry what long term affect it's going to have to send whole armies across chapters.

Please discuss. I'd really like to know what other people think about this?

 

[Mike Ventrella]

One of the reasons for the mists was to prevent that sort of thing from happening. We didn't want chapters going to war with each other.

However, within a single campaign, your Plot Committee could have it happen in order to transport armies from one side of the continent to the other.

Trust your Plot Committee!

 

[Ondreij]

Just as a storm gathered up the Spanish Armada and cast many of those ships against the northwest coast of Ireland (giving rise to the black-eyed, dark haired Irish), so might the mists gather up that Army and cast them about Fortannis -- leaving some of those troops at a thousand feet above the ground, or hundreds of feet under water, or back a dozen feet from where they started, or on other continents than where they wanted to go. Mists travel can be capricious or helpful. The Mists seem to suffer whims upon its travellers just as might the Fae or various Elementals.

One never knows - does one?

 

[Shhh I'm not here]

The one side of a continent to another within a single campaign I have no issue with. We've done that before, it happens in the background, and has mostly been a means of setting the story and getting us from one place to another.

The cross-chapter movement of large military forces, however, is what I wanted to bring up. We seem to be on the brink of it and it's being discussed extensively IG.

 

[markusdark]

IMO, it is up to the local chapter as to what is allowed to travel through the mists to them. So Ashbury can't simply send a huge force to Parna to invade it. However, if Parna wished to have a huge force from Ashbury show up for whatever reason, then those spirits from Ashbury could find themselves there in huge numbers.

I'm actually working on a chapter/storyline that basically uses the Mists as a major force in the game and attempt to explain some of its more hidden mysteries. Of course it will just be my take on it.

 

[Ondreij]

OOG, let us say that IG the adventurers of the continent of QUIXOTIC decide they want to invade the continent of CONCRETIA and so every single member of that chapter have their character cards transferred so that they can play in the CONCRETIA game. Okay, so now CONCRETIA's logistics and plot are aware that something strange is up. So, they create a plot line that allows the players to travel to CONCRETIA --- only thing is that they are dropped at the opposite end of the continent and the players are told that they can walk to the place where the adventurers of CONCRETIA are at ... only thing is that it will take them more than a month to get there.

So they are allowed to play what amounts to a separate game, that weekend. At the end of the weekend, Plot tells all the players from QUIXOTIC that the mists pick them up and drop them back at QUIXOTIC, and that any future travel they attempt to CONCRETIA with more than 10 adventurers will result in the same effect -- that is, the players of CONCRETIA are basically forced to play a separate game.

Also, the plot committe and monster desk COULD turn up the throttle to FULL and throw all the largest monsters at the adventurers of QUIXOTIC, and all the rewards of that weekend's bucket are thrown at the adventurers of CONCRETIA --- if plot and monster desk and the owner(s) are so disposed.

It could happen -- but might not (probably wouldn't) happen that way -- but it could.

 

[Pantzike]

Really the way I've figured this is it's completely up to the receiving chapter what gets through. If it helps further plot, awesome! If not then it shouldn't work.

It's been long established that mist travel is usually best for "small groups" and even then not everybody can get through. Large groups are not impossible, and armies are rarely possible.

Using a recent IG post as an example, if armies from all over Fortanis respond and plot teams begin contacting the other plot team... it is up to the receiving chapter (in this case Deadlands) what gets in.

Just like with magic items, green tags, and anything else.


As for my personal beliefs? I think having embassies, cross chapter garrisons, and other "IG cross chapter alliances" only helps further the OOG alliance of chapters we have. I have a character that is actively working towards achieving this goal.

 

[Mobius]

having been born in QUIXOTIC, i can fully understand why we'd wanna invade those knee-biters in CONCRETIA. buncha windmill splitters

in terms of your worries, methinks they're unfounded. for any army invasion to actually happen the plot teams of both Chapters would have to agree and it would be a major ordeal. it would be part of a huge plot-arc and would have to be properly thoroughly vetted and planned (¡and it'd be something i'd lurve to see! we need a war or two to stir things up). of course, there is nothing intrinsically stopping plot teams from writing such an arc, it's just unlikely due to logistics and the low probability of two plot teams agreeing on the all the important facets

now In Game, that's a different story. one should be in constant fear that an "invading army" could come through the mists at anytime. i've worried more than a few times that legions from "out East" will descend on my poor hamlet in retribution for some of the snide i've thrown their way. in theory, the Mists do work in army's favor from time to time; they could place skirmishers behind or even within enemy lines

of course, this is all based on the theory that the National Game coming in September doesn't radically change the rules of the world. it certainly did last year

 

[dreadpiratebill]

Belive it or not what is being proposed IG by myself and others for plot occuring in NH isnt about armies, its about resources. If individual players, who own ships (green tags) want to come and assist with something their IG property (in this case boats) would have a dramatic impact on, then why shouldn't they have the chance, regardles of where they are from. You pay the IG gold for the item, you should have full use of the IG item, provided it could concevable get from point A to point B. On a complety side note, I asked if ships from out of chapter would be alowed, and got permission first. I take very little for granted.

As for armies, never was teh intent, nor is it expected. Large forces generaly just cant get through, and we have always generaly stuck with that, to which I am fine. However, kingdoms across the mist can still choose to help each other in many ways in their various battles that have nothing to do with armies. Perhapes a kingdom lends another ships, or seige equipment or food. Perhapes a single highly qualified engineer for a nasty seige is ordered to travel the mists and organise defences, or a crack squad of sappers is loaned to take out a key enemy position with PC escorts. The possibilites for plot and ideas are endles if you open your mind to new possibilites.

The point is if your creative there are many ways for cross chapter alliances to be benificial, make sence, and still have nothing to do with armies. Cross chapter plot makes the joy and fun of chapter hopping so much more in depth, and brings the world far more belivablity and options. All it takes is plot teams talking to each other, and keeping an open mind. Just about every peice of cross chapter plot I have seen has blown my mind with awesomeness.

So in closing, I am actualy talking about goods traveling the mists, not armies. Crates of swords, ships to sail by, and other things which players earn with their treasure that may even define their character (such as ship captains). If plot is going to present a problem that can be solved with a green tag and creativity, then it certainly dosent hurt to give it a shot, and since we are all an Alliance here, I belive anyone who wants a bite out of the plot apple should get their chance.
--bill

 

[Polare]

If plot is going to present a problem that can be solved with a green tag and creativity, then it certainly dosent hurt to give it a shot, and since we are all an Alliance here, I belive anyone who wants a bite out of the plot apple should get their chance.

A quick side question for you : What's a "Green Tag"? I've never heard that term used before, and as far as I know color of tags is completely up to the local chapter, so it would help the discussion if you elaborated a bit on what you mean by that

Thanks!
-Bryan

 

[Robb G]

i think some of the east coast folks (HQ included) use green tag system to represent items. similar to labs.. a green item tag can be a horse, a boat, anything really that needs to be represented IG and can be sold to other people.

 

[Deadlands of Old]

Really the way I've figured this is it's completely up to the receiving chapter what gets through. If it helps further plot, awesome! If not then it shouldn't work.

It's been long established that mist travel is usually best for "small groups" and even then not everybody can get through. Large groups are not impossible, and armies are rarely possible.

Using a recent IG post as an example, if armies from all over Fortanis respond and plot teams begin contacting the other plot team... it is up to the receiving chapter (in this case Deadlands) what gets in.

Just like with magic items, green tags, and anything else.


As for my personal beliefs? I think having embassies, cross chapter garrisons, and other "IG cross chapter alliances" only helps further the OOG alliance of chapters we have. I have a character that is actively working towards achieving this goal.

Yes

Also, what Mike V. said. Trust your plot team.

 

[Deadlands of Old]

Belive it or not what is being proposed IG by myself and others for plot occuring in NH isnt about armies, its about resources. If individual players, who own ships (green tags) want to come and assist with something their IG property (in this case boats) would have a dramatic impact on, then why shouldn't they have the chance, regardles of where they are from. You pay the IG gold for the item, you should have full use of the IG item, provided it could concevable get from point A to point B. On a complety side note, I asked if ships from out of chapter would be alowed, and got permission first. I take very little for granted.

As for armies, never was teh intent, nor is it expected. Large forces generaly just cant get through, and we have always generaly stuck with that, to which I am fine. However, kingdoms across the mist can still choose to help each other in many ways in their various battles that have nothing to do with armies. Perhapes a kingdom lends another ships, or seige equipment or food. Perhapes a single highly qualified engineer for a nasty seige is ordered to travel the mists and organise defences, or a crack squad of sappers is loaned to take out a key enemy position with PC escorts. The possibilites for plot and ideas are endles if you open your mind to new possibilites.

The point is if your creative there are many ways for cross chapter alliances to be benificial, make sence, and still have nothing to do with armies. Cross chapter plot makes the joy and fun of chapter hopping so much more in depth, and brings the world far more belivablity and options. All it takes is plot teams talking to each other, and keeping an open mind. Just about every peice of cross chapter plot I have seen has blown my mind with awesomeness.

So in closing, I am actualy talking about goods traveling the mists, not armies. Crates of swords, ships to sail by, and other things which players earn with their treasure that may even define their character (such as ship captains). If plot is going to present a problem that can be solved with a green tag and creativity, then it certainly dosent hurt to give it a shot, and since we are all an Alliance here, I belive anyone who wants a bite out of the plot apple should get their chance.
--bill

Also yes.

The green tags represent things like castles, boats and horses. You can purchase them with actual gold and get a "green tag" in return. The tag proves that you actually bought it, built it, or was given it, and aren't just saying your character happens to own a castle, when in fact he doens't have a copper to his name, nor ever has.

 

[Polare]

The green tags represent things like castles, boats and horses. You can purchase them with actual gold and get a "green tag" in return. The tag proves that you actually bought it, built it, or was given it, and aren't just saying your character happens to own a castle, when in fact he doens't have a copper to his name, nor ever has.

OK. "Asset Tags" to us WC folks, then. Never seen a green one though

-Bryan

 

[dreadpiratebill]

Correct, by green tag, I ment the tag used for horses, keeps, my balista, etc. Their green out here, but I think you get the point.

--bill

PS: thank you to everyone who has responded so far btw, its making for a cool situation.

 

[syra pefferfoot]

i have always thought of the mists as being finicky
and it takes us not so much as where we want to go, but sometimes where we need to be.

 

[markusdark]

i have always thought of the mists as being finicky
and it takes us not so much as where we want to go, but sometimes where we need to be.

Nice Gargoyle reference.

Although I disagree with this. Since too often one character will know where and when he/she will be appearing in another chapter.

 

[jpariury]

I look at it as being able to be playable both ways. You can generally summon up and enter the mists to try and go extremely long distances with a bit of guidance, but sometimes it doesn't work out as you'd hoped, and other times, you could be walking down a path, enter a fog bank, and come out somewhere else entirely.

 

[syra pefferfoot]

i have always thought of the mists as being finicky
and it takes us not so much as where we want to go, but sometimes where we need to be.

Nice Gargoyle reference.

although i disagree with this. since too often one character will know where and when he/she will be appearing in another chapter

1) shhhh, i dont know what your talking about :lol:


2) sure, they can know if they so choose to play it that way
but when my character ended up in vandalar in january she didnt know where the heck she was.
same thing last november when she went to stone roost.
and sometimes also if i cant decide whether or not to npc.

 

[Jevedor]

hey Rachel,

my understanding is that in Laerthan(Deadlands), mists only work while inside the bastions of Finn Castle Bastion and The Hollow. Otherwise you have to use the bastion portals to get anywhere. So in regards to stone roost, you couldnt have misted to it. If i remember correctly you guys misted to finn castle and then were brought to Stone roost as reinforcements for the paladin. You know.. just to be technical, but then again i could be wrong.