Warriors of Haunden

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade

I don't know if this would help you or not (good chance it wouldn't). But there's a 5-point Herbalist talent in GURPS Fantasy Folk: Elves that might help. The book also has Forest Guardian which could also be quite useful, but that's borrowed from somewhere else. Note that the latter is defined as for elves only, so that would be the GM's call as to whether it would be allowed. Of course everything is the GM's call! :-)

Its not in the basic set, so no. Yes, I have a bunch of other books, but this game is intentionally basic set focused.

Originally Posted by Valornor

I wonder if Anoras knows about no. 4?

That's a good question! so often crush means "I never expressed it"...

Originally Posted by Valornor

However far one would go hunting. I would imagine some years a small group of hunters might have to go four or five days away to find a herd of auroch, bison, elk etc. Is there a trade gathering held each summer that some of the villagers go to trade surplus items. That he might of gone to? Are there traveling traders that periodically stop off at the village? That he may of learned more of the greater world when lessoning to their tales.

Area knowledge is in. Trade... The Haunden are part of a larger tribe, and tribal festivals happen each summer... though with pressure from the Venasir they happen less and less: it can be dangerous to travel. Most traders are doing it with neighbors or at the tribal festival.

Please remove 'Naturalist' it's useless at that level.

done.

So will need to add Survival (Swamp) 2pt. and Survival (Plains) 1 pt. will be needed as well as the Boating/TL2 (Unpowered) 2 pt. An yes, put the 3 unspent language points into speaking or writing Venasir or speaking Yorikup.

But them in Yorikup. A hunter will see them more.

You know your basic "Code of Honor":
Treat others like you would like to be treated.
Lend aid to those who are truly in need of such.
Defend those who cannot defend themselves.
Speak the truth, in all matters.

How about give him a -10 Disadvantage for the above and drop the 'Loner' Disadvantage?

Sounds good. That's a meaningful code of honor.

Quirks
1. Still thinks his Father is somehow still alive, out there somewhere.
2. Dislikes snakes very much.
3. Turtle Soup is his favorite meal.
4. He had a childhood crush on Anoras.
5. Blackberries is his favorite berry to eat.

Done. Not sure if I'm happy with two different favorite foods... but we'll see.

So, with the 5 pts. taken and 1 pt. added up above, that should leave us with 7 points. Add a point each to 'Climb' and 'Jump'. Use 2 points to raise 'Hike' up to 12. That leaves 3, is that enough for Area Knowledge?

Hiking needs three points to go up to 12. I've boosted skills. Remember 3 points in a gurps skill doesn't do anything, the costs are 1,2,4,8,12, etc.

Does Personal Basics include a backpack? He needs Rope as well, along with a Canoe.

They include a sack to carry them, but not a backpack. You are $10 over with the listed gear. You can spend a point on signature gear if you want more cash--- though that will need to come from exiting points.



Here is the new sheet. The old link will work too.


We're really close to being ready to start off!

[Valornor]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade
I wonder if Anoras knows about no. 4?

That's a good question! so often crush means "I never expressed it"...

I wrote this at the bottom of Message #55. 'Concerning Anoras, surely, she must have been taught by his mother, Rhiannon.' Thinking Alden Loveshade would see it and comment on whether or not that was ok with him. So, when he hadn't by the time I was working on my Quirks I decided to throw the crush thing in, as if indeed such was the case. With Anoras being 5 years older than Fenian. It seemed like it would likely occur. Surely his Mother and Sister saw him quite often taking stolen glances in Anoras direction. Whenever they crossed paths. Anoras's training would most of the time taken place indoors. While Fenian was outdoors with his father.

Area knowledge is in. Trade... The Haunden are part of a larger tribe, and tribal festivals happen each summer... though with pressure from the Venasir they happen less and less: it can be dangerous to travel. Most traders are doing it with neighbors or at the tribal festival.

Good, Fenian wouldn't be that interested in trade itself. But rather the tales of travel that he heard. Once Branwen was old enough to marry and found a good provider. He planned on leaving, to explore the greater world.


But them in Yorikup. A hunter will see them more.

Ok.

Sounds good. That's a meaningful code of honor.

Done. Not sure if I'm happy with two different favorite foods... but we'll see.

Change 'Blackberries' to. 'Plans to one day leave and travel to faraway lands.'

Hiking needs three points to go up to 12. I've boosted skills. Remember 3 points in a gurps skill doesn't do anything, the costs are 1,2,4,8,12, etc.

They include a sack to carry them, but not a backpack. You are $10 over with the listed gear. You can spend a point on signature gear if you want more cash--- though that will need to come from exiting points.

I want lower Axe/Mace down to 14. What can we do with those 4 pts $ wise?
You wrote 'There is lots of water in the terrain.' That's why I brought up Fenian having a canoe and the skill to use it. But I get the feeling that it likely won't come into play in the scenario you have planned. I need changes made to the following as well.

Height: 5'11", Weight: 170 lbs, Eyes: Green, Hair: Red

[URL="https://imgur.com/15h4AjD[/URL]

Can anyone tell me how to make the picture be shown in the post. Instead of just the URL?

We're really close to being ready to start off!

Sounds great!

[ericthered]

Can anyone tell me how to make the picture be shown in the post. Instead of just the URL?

You can't. Forum quirk. Or rather, you need to be a mod/employee and have a darn good reason.

Change 'Blackberries' to. 'Plans to one day leave and travel to faraway lands.'

Okey Dokey.

I want lower Axe/Mace down to 14. What can we do with those 4 pts $ wise?
You wrote 'There is lots of water in the terrain.' That's why I brought up Fenian having a canoe and the skill to use it. But I get the feeling that it likely won't come into play in the scenario you have planned. I need changes made to the following as well.

Having a canoe could very well come up. I wouldn't say that feeling is justified.

You can stick those 4 points anywhere you want on the sheet, or even save them in case we realize we forgot something! Or signature gear...

I'm not sure what that last sentence refers to.


EDIT: your sheet is updated.


I will be starting the game sometime this week, I hope. It will be in a new thread.

[Valornor]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Having a canoe could very well come up. I wouldn't say that feeling is justified.

You can stick those 4 points anywhere you want on the sheet, or even save them in case we realize we forgot something! Or signature gear...

In message #61 you wrote 'They include a sack to carry them, but not a backpack. You are $10 over with the listed gear. You can spend a point on signature gear if you want more cash--- though that will need to come from exiting points.'

That is exactly what I wanted to do with those 4 points. Covering the $10 Fenian was over. Then get the Rope and Canoe I asked about getting before. Perhaps also an actual Backpack as well.

I'm not sure what that last sentence refers to.

'Sounds good!', it was in response to your, 'We're really close to being ready to start off!'

EDIT: your sheet is updated.

Could you please make these changes to my PC's description on his character sheet. As was previously requested.

Height: 5'11", Weight: 170 lbs, Eyes: Green, Hair: Red

https://imgur.com/15h4AjD

I will be starting the game sometime this week, I hope. It will be in a new thread.

Again, that sounds great!

[ericthered]

From a PM:

I was thinking of whipping up a rough draft of the Village area map idea that I have in mind. I think things like that aid in getting Players further immersed into the game world. Would that be ok?

sure.

If so, I have a few questions. From what you and I have written the Village is located next to a creek and not far from a swamp. Here we go.
1. What is the name of the village? An from what anyone knows. How long has it been there? What events in the past, besides the periodic flooding. Have happened, that stories are routinely told about it, around the fire?

Wetterhod was founded two generations ago, when the Venasir first drove you out of the fertile lowlands. Its quite new, as far as communities told. The stories told are those of its founding, and of battles against the monsters that the Venasir create

2. What is its political structure?

The family heads sit in a circle and talk. Occasionally they agree to put people in charge of specific tasks, like defending the village or tracking the grain.

3. How many structures are there in it? Are they all family homes? Or is there something like a Village Long House and or Barn/Grange? Where grain and fodder / hay used to feed any livestock over the winter, is stored.

Probably around 80, mostly homes? Then a Grain barn, and an open area where they gather to talk. Around five shops attached to homes, and as many work areas next to homes with extra space.

4. What livestock would they have?

Goats, Donkeys, Sheep, Chickens.

5. Is the Village designed in a somewhat organized manner? Perhaps surrounded by an upward standing log palisade? Or is it just sprawled out in a somewhat random fashion?

Its tight together but randomly organized.

I have the swamp south of the Village. With the creek running into it from the north. I'm thinking that there is not enough travel for anyone to justify taking the time and expense to actually put in any sort of road. I imagine most things are transported via pack mule. I imagine a mule trail running from east to west, going thru or very near the village. Perhaps they have built a rudimentary bridge of logs across the creek and charge non-locals a small fee to use it.

A road might actually be undesirable: the village doesn't want visitors. Several winding paths, a nice bridge for donkeys, and a few fallen logs will do.

6. Would there be Haunden villages to the east and or west of our Village. If so, in what directions are they in and what are they called?

There are some, but they are 15 miles away each. Guetill is east, Longet is west.

7. In what direction is the Summertime Trade Fair location in? How long does it take to get there?

South and East, and a full week's journey.

8. How far away and in which direction do the Venasir live in.

All around you. The nearest ones are south, but if you go far enough north that you leave the hills, you get back in their territory again... there is nowhere to go where they aren't at least Neighbors. Their homeland is far south.

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by Valornor

[B]

Originally Posted by ericthered View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Loveshade
I wonder if Anoras knows about no. 4?

That's a good question! so often crush means "I never expressed it"...

I wrote this at the bottom of Message #55. 'Concerning Anoras, surely, she must have been taught by his mother, Rhiannon.' Thinking Alden Loveshade would see it and comment on whether or not that was ok with him. So, when he hadn't by the time I was working on my Quirks I decided to throw the crush thing in, as if indeed such was the case. With Anoras being 5 years older than Fenian. It seemed like it would likely occur. Surely his Mother and Sister saw him quite often taking stolen glances in Anoras direction. Whenever they crossed paths. Anoras's training would most of the time taken place indoors. While Fenian was outdoors with his father.

Sorry I missed that! I'm OK with whichever way you want to go with that. Let me know what works best for you!

[ericthered]

Kalazz just submitted a character sheet that's 98% approved. I'm delaying the start of the game just a bit (monday, I think). Seems setting a start date does wonders for motivation.

I'm thinking the area of southern Germany, just north of the Alps. As far as wild life of any size goes, there would the following: Brown Bear, Wolves, Lynx, Wolverines, Aurochs, Wisent, Elk (Moose), Red Deer, and Roe Deer.

That's fair, but remember that sinister Venasir wizards and perhaps older dark magic has been around here as well. This game is only loosely based on history.

From a PM:

I was thinking 15-20. That's a town, not a village. Smoke from that many fireplaces rising up could easily be seen from many miles away. If detection is a worry, Many small spread groups would be the thing to do.
Back then 3 generations lived together in a home. So you could have 5 to more than a dozen people, in each. Lets take a average of 8. So, 640 people that have to eat, stay warm, **** and defecate each day. It would take a much more organized infrastructure then the family heads sitting in a circle and talking. If they did, they would be there all day.

TL2 Iron age europe is a big place and a long time period. Especially given that the inspiration here is a little loose.

I'm using Harn Manor's Village generator as a general rule of thumb, and it skews a lot lower. I believe its based on English demographics from the 1100's. (which yes, isn't TL2). I'm looking at around 250 people. Yes, that means a lot will be tiny huts.

It would take more than a few hundred acres of fields of grain and garden plots a plenty to feed that number. An many grazing pastures as well.

Very true. note the reduced number. You're leaning hard on hunting and fishing, with some farming, and occasionally stealing from the Venasir.

What 5 Iron Age industries do you think they would have? A Blacksmith, a Tinkersmith, a Weaver, A Clothier/Shoemaker? Of course, you would need a Tannery. But you couldn't have that in town. As it would stink to high heaven. It would be on the bank of the creek, downstream almost to the swamp. Every morning they would having someone pushing around a handcart collecting everyone **** to use in the tanning process. While someone in a donkey cart would be collecting the night soil to be used as fertilizer in the fields.

They're not all formal crafts: Smithing, Pottery, Carpentry, Weaving, Basketry would be a good list. And "Shop" here means "Work shop", not "place to buy things".

So log palisade around the village or not? What sort of military footing does Wetterhod have? Does each household have to provide a warrior 16-35 years of age, for the village militia. Kitted out with at least leather armor, a shield, spear and hand weapon of choice. That periodically practice fighting in a shield wall and has weekly nighttime guard duty. Do they have scouts out in the directions of where the Venasir live. Watching out for raiding parties?

No log palisade around the village. Maybe a smaller one that barely fits everybody. Around 50% of the households can provide a warrior, of varying quality. There is no drill: this isn't that kind of game. They certainly have guard duty, and scout the enemy / liberate their stuff from them (mostly livestock)

[Alden Loveshade]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Kalazz just submitted a character sheet that's 98% approved. I'm delaying the start of the game just a bit (monday, I think)....

Cool.

This is more a reminder for myself. But the version of my character Anoras which is posted is actually version 9 instead of 7.

[Valornor]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Kalazz just submitted a character sheet that's 98% approved. I'm delaying the start of the game just a bit (monday, I think). Seems setting a start date does wonders for motivation.

Great!

I'm looking at around 250 people. Yes, that means a lot will be tiny huts.

That seems much more reasonable.


Been doing some research and found that there was a real Haunden & Venasir. They were the Helvetil & Raetia. Those are the Romanized names given to those tribes after they were conquered by the Romans somewhere between 30 BC – AD 14. It was said that the Helvetil & Raetia Tribes had a north to south running border where the 'R' in Raetia is on the map. But over a few centuries pushed them off the best land in the Rhone River Valley, not Rhine River Valley. The Rhine is further north and is labeled as the Rhenus. The Rhone of course flows into what now is known as Lake Geneva. I found that parallel interesting.
Map
https://imgur.com/oZIwXyZ

[ericthered]

From a PM:

I'm thinking when they decided to build Wetterhod where they did. One of the reasons was that the tallest tree in the area was located there. Today, the tallest tree in Switzerland is a 58-metre (190 ft.) European silver fir. I'm sure over the many centuries hundreds of taller trees had been cut down in that region.
Using that height as a model. Currently every tree within a mile and a half in each direction has been cut down and utilized. Unless it is a tree that bears edible fruits or nuts. Except for the Sentry Tree and some ratty trees in the nearby swamp.
180 feet up in the Sentry Tree, a large covered crow's nest was built. From underneath, four thick ropes were secured. Each running to the ground in one of the four cardinal direction, at a 45 degree. Then tied to thick stakes driven deep into the ground. To keep the tree's swaying to a minimal during high winds.
Up there a spectacular and clear view of the whole area could be seen. Anyone approaching the village could be seen from far away. Giving those in the village time to prepare a proper greeting, whatever form that was needed. Over time it was discovered that male youths from age 10-14 had the sharpest eye sight. Plus, they were more light weight then full grown men who had their own work to do. A older more experienced youth and a younger youth, together stood 4 hours watch. 6 different watches a day. Those who stood watches at night were given a dozen dried Bilberries to eat beforehand. Which greatly heightened there night vision. Watches were raised to and lowered from the crow's nest. In a wooden caged platform attached by rope going to a pulley up above and then down to a team of four donkeys.

So, what do you think?

I'd prefer to go with a 150 foot tree, and clearing a full three mile diameter is too much. three quarters of a mile sounds much more feasible. Four donkeys sounds like a bit much. It will have to be done by man-power.

Oh, also, the Bilberries thing is true as well. They are considered to improve night vision because of their rhodopsin content. In fact, British fighter pilots ate bilberry jam during World War II to improve their night vision. Rhodopsin is the purple pigment in the eyes’ rods. It’s extremely sensitive to light, so it alerts the rest of the eye to quickly adjust to the new lighting. Consuming bilberries ensures the eyes have enough rhodopsin to adjust effectively to low-lighting.

Bilberries efficacy is in debate. Its cool though. I'll let them give +1 to spotting, but only at a distance at night.