Random Post

So, have been referred to the Random Blog Post Topic Generators from The Rusty Battle Axe which provides for an interesting assortment of, well, topics.

I rolled a 17, so it's Clothes and Style for Player Characters;

Copyright - Alan Lee

And I say, whatever suits you, providing it's functional for what you are trying to do, and you accept that it will get dirty, ripped, bent, broken, lose it's shine, and you'll probably need to buy a new one when you get back to civilisation as even the poor washer people who live under the bridge won't touch some things.

And I reserve the right to make ad-hoc judgements based on certain items carried or (especially) worn.  For example, few of the systems I play give a material bonus for wearing a helmet, and they can even hinder perception at times.  But I'll take that into account when the goblins pour burning coals onto the group. Along with flammable clothing choices.

Aside from that, mages really shouldn't wear long robes, as they aren't functional (ever tried running in a toga?), and get really wet and dirty when treading flooded corridors. I recommend soft leather pants and a cuirass, possibly reinforced with bone or the like.  So long as it doesn't mess with your casting or your fleeing skills, any protection is good.

As for warrior types, swashbuckling is fine in the City, or the Palace, where wearing full plate mail would be largely out of place, but peasants don't fight fair, and neither does anything that has to live in a dungeon.  Armour stops you getting hit, and then helps you survive the hit a little more.

Slightly irrelevant but a good picture

You can loot better weapons and armour from your beaten down foes, but even if the plate mail worn by the dark cultist is clearly magical, as it has engraved skulls and scenes of depravity, you will attract unwanted attentions if you insist on wearing it.  And even if the next group of cultist think you're on their side, your team may not be able to tell the difference when you're dressed the same as them.

But aside from that, conformity with stereotypes is discouraged. Why do all rangers have to wear leather, carry bows and fight with two swords? Somewhere in an unfinished dungeon crawl I've got a 2nd level woodsman character, who's the closest thing we have to a ranger.  Chainmail and a warhammer suit him well.The accompanying sorceress wears leather armour and uses daggers, but the barbarian is a stereotype, despite not having bulging muscles, and being an albino.

On that note, give your PC it's own style, and remember, clothing choices can both define and kill a character.

Kunili Part 2 - Personalities

Here's something I jotted down straight after the last post, but has languished while I had a bad cold, my wife had a bad cold, and after I bought Sword of the Stars... I equally love Fantasy RPGs and Space Empire building games.  For some reason, SciFi RPGs leave me cold.

From http://ayris.wikispaces.com/

But on with the people in your neighbourhood, at least if you live in Kunili...




The current Ruler is Lord Kazrees Brightwater, a former mercenary captain employed by the City during an invasion by a neighbouring city some 25 years ago.  As the last one of any rank standing during the initial counter attack, he received a field promotion from the dying Guildmaster.  Following the unexpected victory, a wave of public support kept him in charge, and he has never found good reason to step down since.  He is still a military man, level-headed but a little too literal. He spends most of his time engaged in either martial pursuits (falconry, hunting and swordplay, mainly) or holding the Guilds in check.

Guildmaster Merastor Sadin, Master of the Merchants Guild and the centre of the black market in the City.  Considers Kazrees too inflexible, but enough seems to be able to be snuck past him to be tolerable for the moment.  Merastor is a large and florid man, loud and bearded.  He prides his collection of stuffed animal heads, and will offer favours to those that bring him more exotic or rare examples.

Nin of the Burning Skull.  Plainsman, expert rider and Captain of the Guards.  Informal, insulting, honourable and always seeks revenge for any slights suffered or imagined.  Actually seems to like adventurers, and wears tokens of defeated foes. Prefers ears.


Chilerosen - Swordsmith and blade sharpener.  Also the first person ever to return from the third level of The Weeping Skulls.  Feels the call of the dungeon in his dreams, but lives vicariously through the many stories told by adventurers who frequent his shop, in the poor area near the north gate. He is a robust figure, large, red-haired and a heavy drinker, and an expert swordsmith and swordsman.  His forge is a general hang-out for serious adventurers, but bring your own drink.  Will repair arms and armour for average prices, if stories of the dungeon accompany payment, and he finds time to make 2-3 blades a month (despite the drinking) which are highly sought after and sell for triple normal price.

Thiolin, Elven diplomat.  Thin, languid (think David Bowie in the mid 70s) and exceedingly decadent, and the placid centre of a network of spies and informers.  He controls Elven involvement in both the Guilds and the Black Market and can source anything illegal and even most legal substances when required.  Is rumoured to be a Cleric, and has strange powers of illusion and darkness, but few understand the complicated ancestor worship of the Elven Cities.

Sonistos the Graceful.  Aged but elegant and slender sorceress, and, by default, both the ranking mage and Chair of the Mages Guild.  She is quiet and remote, but respected by all good citizens.  Her magical talents lie in the disciplines of Alteration and Constructs, and she has indicated an interest in the strange mechanisms that lie in the Weeping Skulls.  Hair, eyes and robes usually a shade of yellow.