SB in Dragon Pass [Empire Builder]

So how does building shrines work? It seems that in the computer game, you first have to sacrifice to learn a mystery and hope that it is a blessing suitable to be maintained by a shrine? Does that apply here? If so: are ancestor shrines the same? Is it a matter of knowing the mystery, and you can build the shrine years after the blessing itself has worn off, or do you have to build the shrine while the blessing is active, and how long do those last without being maintained by a shrine, anyway?

No. You can build a shrine to any deity that your people can accept. For example, seriously proposing to build a temple to Malia will quickly see a revolting mob of your own people come to lynch you.

Shrines and temples assist in sacrificing to a god in order to get something back. In here, they do not as such support permanent blessings, but having one goes a really, really long way towards gaining one from the deity. So it is not a perfect cause-effect as it was in the computer game, but rather a very strong correlation. It is possible to get a god to like you enough without a temple to gain the same quasi-permanent benefit, likewise it is possible to have a temple and loose such a benefit.

Ritualistic blessings from gods NOT done during Holy Time/Sacred Time/whatever term you wish to use, can have a duration from anything of an instant, to a single season, to an entire year, to until a specific circumstance triggers the effect (such as preying for might against Trolls from Urox - next time you fight against Trolls, gain a boost.)

Holy Time rituals as represented by clan magic last a full year.

Quasi-permanent blessings as represented by the Mysteries of deities in the computer game, and upheld by temples, perform as described above. You do not need one to build a temple to that god. Building a temple does not automatically grant one (though goes a long way), and the blessing is not tied to the temple but to the approval of the god in question.

What about fortifications? Working on something like this during this Fire season looks like a good idea that could pass a vote. In some ways, it seems like a ditch + rampart, possibly even a palisade, should just be a matter of manpower - assign the workers, if they need timber then the process includes clearing a patch of our wildlands. On the other hand, even if it is only for game balance or to quantify things, I'm used to seeing stuff have a resource price tag. What's the ruling?

Small price tag on the basic stuff, slightly more on the advanced. Lots and lots of manpower required.

so folks: should I repeat the previous action? Or make better weapons for you fighters? Dont forget to use the new enchanted bronze armor I made.

IIRC, the four candidates needed the following things to actually become weaponthanes: a few months more practice (which they're getting), a horse (not your field), weapons and armour. Since you've created four sets of armour but only two weapons, more weapons would solve one of the clan's niggling little problems.

Alright, weapons it is, spears or some other weapons? (Hammers or other blunt weapons since we seem to be in the business of fighting undead alot?)

Actually, since the old battlefield is down to patches of green glow now, I suspect we're almost finished with that problem. As to what weapons to make, if you specify that it's to equip the new weaponthanes, that should be enough information for SakSak to make the best pick for you.

Ulf need some lessons in leadership.

Well, I did suggest that Garran or Ortossi take over supervision of weaponthane training. You can assist them (eg. you sparring one of the trainees while they call out advice, point out problems etc.) and specify that you're paying attention to how they relate to people, the group tactics they explain/demonstrate/train in, all that sort of thing. For that matter they'd probably be training you alongside the others in things like group tactics, which might actually help the mood of the weaponthanes a bit. It's the best way I can think of for you to raise that stat, anyhow.

Doubtful Ortossi can help with the Training, he is a good leader, but weapons? Not his cup of ale.

Okay, this waiting game has gone on long enough and we're still missing personal actions from Berzerker and AceRaptor. If you do not post anything within 24h, your characters will just be taking it easy for one season.

I'd prefer to keep a pace quicker than updating just once a week (barring special occasions).

My bad. My character will forge enchanted weapons that suit the weaponthanes as well as work on improving his skills at enchantment. Trying to see if he can improve the new enchanting method.

AceRaptor, perhaps you should post that in the In Character thread, not just here in OOC/mechanics?

Okay, so. Couple of weeks have passed, with me waiting to see if we'd actually get the posts needed for an update without me pulling and dragging them out of the players like usual (outside of the core minority).

It doesn't seem to be the case. The moment I stopped keeping the game afloat, pretty much everyone stopped posting. Maybe it was the setting, maybe it was me as a GM or the quality of my posts, maybe this just wasn't all that interesting to you guys. I don't know. No one gave any comments when things died off. And I asked myself, if people aren't interested why would I continue to run the game?

So lets ask a frank question that needs to be answered: Do the players still wish to play this, or this is RP dead before it even properly began? Because I am willing to continue GMing this, if people just want to play. Or if not, I do have other projects I could start, maybe revisit/continue/restart an old one or something.

I like it well enough, it just seems like it wasn't as popular as it could have been.

Yes, very much so. I've been eagerly waiting for an update ever since posting my own actions weeks ago.

I know how frustrating this must be for you, to have invested so much time and effort into GMing and get no feedback from the same people who asked for one of a limited number of player slots before, taking the places of others who wanted to play. If you look at my signature, you'll find that the very same thing happened to me not too long ago.

My advise to you is to be merciless, and replace everyone who doesn't post for longer than a certain timespan to be determined by you with other players who actually want to participate. Perhaps if I had done that, my motivation (which was very high when I started the Warcraft RP) would have survived, and the game would have continued.

I was liking the game, you were very detailed and the action was interesting, even the challenging situation is fun.

Pretty much in agreement with Brain_Caster.

Indeed. I really want to continue. It's shaping up to be a really fun game.

I am willing and eager to continue.

You are one of the better GM's and I do hope that you continue.

Sorry about that; between a cold and month-end stuff, I haven't actually been on the forum in more than a week. I am still interested in the game. (*Checks* I did remember correctly, at least Tolar isn't at the battle so I haven't been holding things up.)

5 out of 8. That's good enough. Plus the fact that Lilithium asked about this over PM, thus instigating the revival

You will have an update within 24h based on posts currently made if nothing else. And if people do not post within a few days when required of them for the next update, they get dropped. Exceptions of course can and will be made on reasonable circumstances. I simply expect you to have the politeness to inform me via PM or mentioning it in a post if you're going out of town/vacationing/travelling/whatever.

That said, Darkandus, looking at you. Still waiting to hear Ulf's actions...

I already have my actions up. I look for leadership lessons off of someone. If I get my leadership up I'll be more effective as I'll be able to train people without them grumbling. I also assist in the raid.

And there is where you need to post your action. Quoting from the raid-post on IC thread

and you didn't post anything after I had put that up. You also have the option of commenting on the battle tactic.

It shouldn't be too much to ask from the players, to read the actual posts and updates I put up.

I probably missed it because I wasn't on much for a few days, due to finals. I'll get on it now.