ToDo and Ideas for Heroes Gate
4/15
When I start Cycle Two… change to “Sessions” instead of “Scenes”
Flashback memoires
Build more of these in… sometimes they are longer… a whole “Session” long. Build Session long tellings of things that took place in the past. Also use other characters – use a solo session (or something like that) to glimpse in on Marlon Emberjaw or his sister, or some other shield. Intersperse these within textplay.
Also… Terra Emberjaw – in addition to running the detective agency at Delzorin Street – also runs other such businesses. One of which is a Guide Guild… Gwynma’s Guild of Guides. Perhaps Shent will be a member. Unlike Heroes Gate (party of 5) and Delzorin Street (part of 3) Gwynma’s Guild of Guides are adventures for a party of 1. The Wardens Guild will often hire a guide (Marlon knows about this side-hustle of his sisters, though not the Delzorin Street).
Also… what about the Iron Shadows? A guild of bounty hunters… Is this also Terra Emberjaws? If not, surely it belongs to a friend of hers… or an enemy… a social enemy… perhaps not directly… perhaps a social enemy of a dear friend in Raven’s Bluff? I am a ways off from this… but keep it simmering.
Back to Gwynma’s Guild of Guides… Adventuring Parties often need to hire a guide. Someone who knows the land, and the dangers within it. A Guide is different from a Warden… A Guide may or may not protect their client – depending on the situation. They may not even delve into the depths with the party – but they can get them there to the mouth of the mines. These can be shorter too – one or two sessions rather than 15-20. Guides can also be used as teachers…
As much as possible – every skill or feat is learned from a teacher (an NPC usually). New feats require a session with a teacher – like Yisi and Valea and their Defender feat. Also, go back into the early years of the monastery more… use flashback sessions to tell the story of learning Flurry of Blows or basic unarmed attacks, or the training which led to the proficiency with blades. These are told in first person… flashback style. No rolling or tables – the outcome is set. This way I practice more normal style of writing some
4/12
Rethinking the 5th member of each shield…
I really like the basic idea of Tanala Sola – a Rune Dancer Sorcerer. She is pure support… carries only a dagger and has rarely used it. As she is dancing, runes form overhead. She can then go touch another – friend or foe – and the rune will transfer to them and will remain as long as she dances. Some runes are buffs, some are banes. She has high charisma and high dexterity.
Mynnzi is starting to form into a very similar character in my mind. She sings and plays music. So at first thought… a bard… but what if she is also a sorcerer with a gift of music. She has aspects of the harpy – illusions of small harpies form in her hand and fly overhead singing songs of charming spells (somewhat lesser than the actual harpy monster). If a creature targets or attacks Mynnzi, or one of her harpies, they instantly have disadvantage against her charm spells and the DC increases.
Shaggy… he also has field benefiting spells. He can cause flowering vines to sprout from just about anywhere (2-3 rounds of concentration) If a player eats these flowers (bonus action if within reach), they gain hp or a buff or something. He is basically a druid but with a sorcerer like gift of magic
In all three… I could either make them strictly a sorcerer class with special subclass… or use the apparent class and restrict them… I’m thinking – just use the sorcerer class with a subclass flavored towards druid, bard, runewizard.
What about other classes in the shields? Both Everwelte and Iron Aegis have 4 monks and a sorceror… Northern Towers also has a Barbarian and some fighters… should I make Rodan and Brava monks also? And Kildar? Maybe he is a barbarian-flavored monk? His monastery was a cave in the Spine and his teacher was his mother… but she taught disciple and strength and honor… so perhaps he is not a barbarian class.
Why are Hit Dice based on class and not race? Maybe it doesn’t matter… I’ve maxed the max hp anyway – but a monk at d8 is never going to have the hp of a barbarian at d12… shouldn’t a goliath have more than d8? Maybe that is where constitution comes in… All my other monks – elves, dwarves, tabaxi… d8 makes sense but with the Northern Towers these are big monks… if I +2 their con scores, that is an extra 6 hp only at lvl 3. Maybe all this does not matter. I’m not going to let them die anyway – unless I want them to.
The only other reason for not playing monks is because I want more variation. But that is easily remedied by giving them extra bonus actions… that prevents always have to say “you follow up with a punch”. Maybe add something to the three monk bonus actions? Flurry is great for an unarmed fighter like Deynn… but why would Dawndra kick or punch if she has her ice pike in hand. Occasionally… sure… but every round? That gets boring. So then… give each monk some sort of subclass specific bonus action(s) in place of the “extra punch”… like some manuever to give advantage on next attack or some weapon magic that only uses a bonus
4/11
Watching a skyrim video with music – town is Riften and it made me want to play there. Should I consider uprooting the entire guild and moving it to Tamriel? After the first few missions, Marlon will get arrested and sent to Black Rose Prison in the Mere of Dead Men. Breaking him out of Prison is only the first objective… then what to do about the council who wants him out? Maybe the Wardens Guild at Heroes Gate needs to sit borded up for some time. Terra (did I change her name?) will be running the detective agency in Waterdeep. Perhaps the guild moves to another plane?
The Everwelte will go to Tamriel first – on a contract for Missey (7th level I said?) That same level, the Iron Aegis will go to Calimport and Nothern Towers will go to Garren Nor – all three are long term contracts
4/1
Fire silk – although perhaps quite some ways off… maybe the Roven’ris sisters travel to Tuern based on a rumor of fire worms being found in the Flame Fault.
3/24
Consider using this statblock generator to create stats for PCs? For use in ppt reference deck
3/17
Eventually… Take all of this practice and experience and build something I can publish. Move away from Faerun and Tamriel and Albion… yet be informed by them all.
Create lore books – campaign settings which can be read for entertainment rather than strictly as reference. Mimic the skyrim books and the Volo books where there are many writings by various characters in the world. Some writings are very reference-oriented but others are snippets of personal journals or other writings with character.
What to name my world?
Why does this seem an important first step? It is something to hang things on.
Zoe + Tabula
Tablet of life
Zotabuh
Zotaba
2/28/2022
Everwelte changes
Replacing Joloobo with Acoma
Should I allow Joloobo to die in the Feywild?
Or continue with him through another cycle and allow him to return to his forest? If he remains alive, he may return as NPC or even a quest giver / contract.
Acoma and Zoony are both, therefore, picked up from the feywild.
Perhaps Acoma is one of the entranced of Zoony?
Or how should I introduct Acoma? She is in the Feywild searching for her brother Chato. They could find Chato dead… find an artifact which links them and then connect the dots when they encounter Acoma
2/26/2022
Go back to scene 14… deynn should have put up more of a contest during the discussion on whether or not to kill the Red Wizard. He accepted it too easy and that does not fit with his character. I could also use the moment for a flashback… to a discussion with a teacher in the Abbey (ala Kwai Chang Caine) or maybe… maybe his insight emblem has influenced this decision… at any rate – make the decision bigger than it currently is
Also…. And I think I noted this elsewhere… but go back to Everwelte and somewhere insert a short conversation with Dawndra about her plans to travel North for the Frozenfar Fray Games. If I tack on the feywild quest to cycle one (which I am thinking I will, rather than making it a whole cycle) then I could just have a teacher tell them that Dawndra has gone north for the games… but maybe still – it would be best to have Dawndra herself express some excitement about the journey, the games, and the possibility of learning something of her kind.
2/23/2022
Delzorin Street Mysteries
Waterdeep Mysteries
Charlies Angels kind of thing… three wizards solve mysteries in the big city of Waterdeep
A wealthy mystery somebody named Charlimir (Charlie) runs a detective agency via a speaker stone and his personal assistant, Iarno (Bosley). His detectives are three beautiful women, who end up in a variety of difficult situations.
L’Khifrey Roethorn (Khi-khi) – Loremaster – Human
Ravralynn Loh’Delthos (Loh) – Bladesinger – Sun Elf
Words on White Bones (Bonesy) – Divination – Tabaxi
Charlimir is secretly Terra (Terradryn Emberjaw) the sister of Marlonmir Emberjaw – Guild Chief of the Wardens Guild of Heroes Gate. (but not even Marlon knows she is running this agency)
I had this idea to blend Dungeons & Dragons and Charlie’s Angels… no really… hear me out…
I am using D&D lore and settings as a place to write in.
Delzorin Street is a location in Waterdeep,which is a rather famous fantasy city for D&D in the world of the Forgotten Realms.
I’m creating 3 Wizards with a penchant for solving mysteries.
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- L’Khifrey Roethorn (Khi-khi) – Loremaster – Human
- Ravralynn Loh’Delthos (Loh) – Bladesinger – Sun Elf
- Words on White Bones (Bonesy) – Divination – Tabaxi
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I have a “Bosley” character – Iarno Albrek. (He happens to be the father of one of the wizarding detectives) In the official published adventure Lost Mines of Phandelver, he was portrayed as an evil villain… but in my possible world, he was simply undercover.
I also have a Charlie character – “Charlimir” which, of course, is not the person’s real name. None of you will remember, but a few of you met this character briefly when you played D&D with me a few years ago…
I will be writing in the same way that I currently write at Heroes Gate
http://heroesgate.wonderlore.quest/
It is an odd blend of roleplay, fan fiction, and fun (for me if no one else…).
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Harpers%27_Hold
Is Terra Emberjaw secretly a member of the Harpers?
Surely she has friends within the Harpers,she has friends every where
But with a Harper connection, some clients may come that way
2/22/2022
Joloobo… Not sure he really fits as a “Rogue” and as it is, he is the only character I did not homebrew a subclass for. Maybe Joloobo is really a Ranger Soulknife?
2/17/2022
For Stitch… I had a crazy idea… Stitch is a bard… and the opportunity may arise for him to sing a song. I was listening to AC/DC yesterday (She’s Got Balls) and I had this crazy idea to put those lyrics into the mouth of Stitch (credit to Aussie boys of course)
She’s got style, that woman
Makes me smile, that woman
She’s got spunk, that woman
Funk, that woman
She’s got speed, my lady
Got what I need, my baby
She’s got the ability, hey
To make a man out of me
And she’s got taste, my lady
Pace, my lady
Makes my heart race
With her pretty face
She’s got balls, my lady
Likes to crawl, my lady
Hands and knees all around the floor
No one has to tell her what a feller is for
Or perhaps a slight paraphrase to fit the time and place… but still.. This idea opens up thousands of songs and lyrics for use by bards in-game.
2/11/2022
Sunless Citadel?
Where to place it?
The top level is not kobolds but goblins with lycanthropy
Second level is the kobolds as written – but they have the relationship with the druid
Where is the spellbook? Maybe… not sunless citadel?
2/09/2022
GO back and add something to set up Dawndra for her trip to Icewind Dale and the Frozenfar Fray
1/28/2022
Lots of things to note from my walk yesterday.
Rey Ko Toh… He can enter into another space but when he does, time stops. He can pick 5-6 others in that space which do not experience the stop of time – he basically pulls them into the space between time. He can carry them to another space in the exact same time but he must tag them magically and the tag will not “stick” if they are unwilling to be carried. He can only leap around spaces a few times before exhaustion.
Speaking of exhaustion… use this more.
Rek Ko Toh also helps IronAegis “If you help me, I help you”. He cannot move forward or back in time, but he has gotten good and prediction. He can antipate things fairly accurately
Deynn and Roonoo – they must pass thru The Darkwood Hill on the way to Phandalin. Add an encounter here. When they exit and start the downward slope into the villlage, they see a beautiful elf lady dressed in temple garb walking hurriedly uphill towards them. She smiles and greets them and continues. Roonoo, perhaps, cautions her about going alone into the wood – after what they just fought. “I am not alone, Tymora goes with me.” and off she goes. Moments later, they hear her scream. Rushing back they find nothing helpful. There are tracks in the woods but they go in several directions… perhaps they find one set and follow only to find a small group of redbrands sitting round a fire eating some small prey. The Redbrands, of course, kidnapped Garaelle. She has been far too outspoken against them and they cannot have the only local priestess bad-mouthing them – else the townsfolk may rebel. She is taken to Tresendar Manor into the cages below.
Adalissi – when she enters into Phandalin – the messenger – the bird guy Syrinx (?) finds her and recognizes her at the High Priestess of Selune – and falls to his knees to honor her before giving her a message that came earlier in the day. Reading the message, Adalissi charges the sisters to find Garaelle and complete the mission – something critical calls her back to Triboar… and she leaves. The sisters begin searching for Sister Garelle – asking around…
Now the question is… where do they meet? Deynn / Roonoo and Leely / Ileel… a couple of options
In the Inn?
In the Redbrand Hideout?
At the Stone Giant tavern?
The abduction of Garelle ties them together. The sisters ask around and learn of a connection to the redbrands… Deynn and Roonoo now have multiple pressing things… The finding of Gundren, the finding of Colt and Darsley (they did not meet on the road), the finding of Iarno (Sildar and L’Khifrey drive this pressing thing), and now the finding of the beautiful young priestess.
Stitch
Tabaxi Bard from Tethyr. Full name is Stitch in a Sock. Known to most as Stitch but his mom calls him Socks. His mom is an elder at the bards college (Wintertalon Academy) in Darromar (Capital of Tethyr). Her name is Elm Tree by a River (Elm Tree). She specializes in teaching Lore (giving her a possible connection to L’Khifrey who seeks to become a Lore Master) and she is particularly knowledgable when it comes to her own kind – the Tabaxi. She has a book called the Blessings of Jone and Jode which is a mystery to everyone. She thinks it is evidence that the Tabaxi lived also in Melabrauth – the lost jungle I the Dragon Empire – Laerakond . She has formed a theory that Jone and Jode where worshipped in Laerakond by Tabaxi and somehow they were responsible for the disappearance of Maztica for a hundred years . She does not know the truth… that Jone and Jode are from another place entirely (Tamriel) but she does know the name “Khajiit”. She suspects that is just how the Tabaxi of that land referred to themselves. Anyway… all that leads to a personal quest for Valea Syh at some point. Elm Tree will recognize the symbol of Jone and Jode which she carries around her neck – but will mislead her into thinking her homeland is actuall Laerakond.
Dawndra – How to explain a Half Giant / Half Polar Bear / Half Human? Maybe the deranged Frost Druid who created her people a century ago was experimenting with genetics after meeting a Half Giant. They magically created a Half Polar Bear child who died early but not before having a litter of children by the half giant… in fact – it makes sense that childbirth of a litter of half giants probably killed her.
Lore – Start adding my own pages for locations like Conyberry and Phandalin… whenever I make small changes – reference the FR wiki but “in this possibility” things are slightly different… Don’t talk about multiverses and their ilk… just talk about “Possibilities”. Whether all the Possibilities exist somewhere side by side somehow is pointless and beyond our need to know… but the dice rolls and in some Possibilities, characters may look quite different or have different experiences
Collaboration – What does Garaelle look like? Build a table with different pictures – roll to see which picture fits. Also write up a version where another character is active has blank lines for dialog so that someone else can join in the Adventure Txtplay… this may be difficult – but I want to find ways to include others collaboratively… voice actors may want to record an extra scene
Character Sheets – I want to start distinguishing “Player” voices. The character sheet needs to be a place where player voice can come out. Step into each player.. Spend more time speaking as the player and not just the player character. Also – give each player character some sort of journal or gazette or the like. Each “Player” will contribute to the PC Journal regularly… reflections on things that are happening or dreams of what may come… no rules… just a forum for the player to speak and reveal things about the PC that do not happen in game. Something which can be emulated at a real table.
Scene Notes – Use these as a Catch All … within Scene Notes, tag the various other things such as DM Notes, Story Notes, etc – then write those notes later – a little more formally perhaps. Then Klay and Kinney will “find” the notes and begin to study them in dialog.
1/23/2022
Restructing things…
Much of what I have been calling “DM Notes” probably belongs to another category. I deal with character backgrounds and motivations and plot arcs and other stuff which I sort of planned to write separate notes for.
Here is what… I will rename DM Notes to Scene Notes… these will include all kinds of notes – whatever it takes to prepare for and finish writing the scene. After I write the scene I extract them into specific notes (as below) and link to them from the scene note (also catalog them in a Page)
Notes will be important soon… I plan on using Klay and Kinney to study the notes… perhaps something like “Klay and Kinney Learn How To Adventure”. The idea is that these two characters will come across Heroes Gate, read it and then have chats about what they learn from it… especially from the Notes section. Then I plan on publishing their study guide. Perhaps it is all too convoluted… but I like the idea… and I have decided to implement some courage and make it happen – if only for my own sake.
But back to categories for Notes
Maybe all the entire collection “Adventure Notes” since the writing itself is called “Adventure TxtPlay” (or what should I call it?). Adventure Notes is just a top level box for all actual notes. Some notes will be writen before the scene – like planning for it… and other notes will be retrospective… what did I learn? What could I do better? What did I do that I want to be sure to do again?
Notes vs Guides
Right now I am writing notes… I am basically talking to myself, brainstorming what might be and exploring ideas… That is how I use all “Notes”.
“Guides” on the other hand, are more formal. They include Character Bios, Lore Books, Quest Guides and Design Guidance. (maybe more?) Guides are polished for public consumption whereas Notes are informal and unedited (largely). The TxtPlay itself links out to both as there are associations but the TxtPlay is its own thing.
DM Notes
(Specific & General) These should be centered around how to DM a particular scene with insights into how to DM in general. I need to separate the DM role from the Design role. DM Notes should basically answer the question “How might I run this scene or encounter at a table?” Also some general guidance for the role of DM as I discover it.
Design Notes
(General) This is the content around Adventure Design (or Engineering, or Development ) – the RPG Writer role. These notes are about how to create and write adventures generally, not about this specific adventure, nor about how to run it for a table. Yet Design Notes will be attached to scenes… as I design the specific adventure (or redesign portions of published modules) (or even… as I analyse published modules) I want to capture those learnings here in a general way.
Quest Notes
(Specific) Much of what is currently written as DM Notes really belongs here… planning out, brainstorming style, how the specific scenes and adventures will go. This is valid whether I am writing wholey from scratch or modifying a published module. I also create a lot of LGFLs (Locations, Guilds, Factions, Lore) while I am “noting”… anything Lore related should be refined in the LGFL Guide. These notes should eventually be refined into “Quest Guides” – content which other DMs can use to run the quest at their own table. I’m doing the work… I should do it well, refine it and publish it. Others publish guidance for WotC Adventures. I should do the same – except I am hesitant to actually sell anything as a product… treat it like a blog and accept gratuities. But do it well… good enough to hope for Best Seller status on DMs Guild.
RP Notes
(General) Here are learnings about how to step into a character and think their thoughts and speak their words and walk in their shoes. It is also general guidance for Role Play, not specific to the current scene… but taken out from it… Something I did with this character is something I can do with other characters – if I remember. And writing Notes is a primary way for me to remember.
Character Notes
(Specific & General) Really this is a brainstorming board for what actually goes into the character sheet. When writing Notes I have freedom to write nonsense… take my character notes and then refine them into the character sheet. But Character Notes should also include general thoughts on what makes an interesting PC / NPC. As I read books on character creation – write out notes on those within the section but do not tie it to a scene or a specific character.
1/15/2022
Each Shield has an informal leader… Yisi, Deynn, Dawndra
I almost feel like starting over… but no – no good will come from that just yet. Continue on plan and let what is be.
Each protaganist is chasing one of three transcendentals – without really knowing that they are
Yisi is chasing Beauty
Deynnis chasing Goodness
Dawndra is chasing Truth
Each will struggle with common setbacks… “How can one go sideways while seeking Beauty?” Vanity and shallowness and maybe even addiction perhaps are common setbacks on that pathway. While seeking Goodness, one can become judgemental and self-righteous and elitist (though elitism seems a setback for all three). One can also despair of ones Goodness as well, falling into a hole of self-pity and disillusionment. While seeking Truth, one can doubt everything, falling into subjectivism or go the other way of elitism and ‘know-it-all-ism”
Each will also run up against a recurring enemy… Daine and the undead (the epitemy of goodness?) Yisi and the Dragons (are they somehow contrary to beauty? Or if not… what is? Hags?) and Dawndra and the Giants (only because she is part Giant, unknowingly, and that is part of the truth she seeks. Perhaps she also has some trouble with mindflayers who are all about lies and non-reality)
The heroes will go thru many adventures, in the Realms, in Tamriel… eventually they all somehow arrive on a plane or a planet somewhere.. Perhaps they fall back in time on Tamriel to a point where there is little structure… They are seen as gods… and perhaps that is where the real story begins… They have new names and form a society based on Prophets (Truth) Priests (Goodness) and Poets (Beauty). Perhaps it is here that I begin actual fiction… having written my way into improved skills with words, sentences, paragraphs, plots and people. Too ambitious? Perhaps just ambitious enough…
Change up PC sheet – again
Top level is Bio, Roleplaying ideas, Backstory, Traits, Personal Objectives
Then link to Stat Blocs – one per level starting at 03
Duplicate in online site
Idea
Just Now
..with Shea Eugene
Idea
Use Mythic Table and Inkarnate in Heroes Gate.
[IMAGE] justs links out to an image
Or…
[ImageNEEDED] links to a Collaboration page. That page has a link to a Survey “Why do you wish to contact me?” or “Why you are contacting me?”
Anyone can submit a link to a map, an image, a sidequest txtplay, . I will consider and add it to the site. If I select more than two, will create a page which link to a note about those two images with links
Idea
Use templates for content
Published the template but add links to articles in the example text. Article explains why the section.
Idea
User characters to explore the site. !!
ToDO
Later – Joloobo might mention he was never actually introduced – he just hangs around the backyard and goes offf into the mountains hunting. Have a Joloobo Session where is it all Joloobo hunting a troll or something.
Idea
Work to make an underlying story about the monastaries the heroes come from.
Wardens Guild of Heroes Gate
Aka
The story of the Three Monastaries
The Abbey Ironwall
Song Moon Temple
Treyvigg Monastery
Idea
SideQuests. Write short adventures and publish under SideQuests. Some may be used by characters and some may not. Link to Collaboration page so others can run the sidequest
Idea
Surveys. For Collaboration, or anything else, I need to give people the ability to contact me. I don’t want to be contacted by people wanting to sell me shit. So maybe… use Survey’s? I link to a survey, person fills it out with the understanding that I may contact them back as a result.
ToDo:
Build out some ideas for what happens when Vetla Coin of Tymora is used. I don’t think a simple table will be enough – but it should be the least. I think the coin works with alignment. If the will of its possessor leans towards the good of others, a good table is used. If the will leans towards the ill of others, the Black Bess table is used. Other things may happen as well, just randomly when having possession, without any flip of the coin. DM determines what happens. Vetla used it while angry and it brought down the scaffolding of the new tower project in Luskan.
ToDo:
Build out a table of feats used for monsters, NPCs and PCs. Make it easy to copy/paste into sheets
Idea:
Create an explorer character to tell the lore. Perhaps even Loremaster Ool. As Volo and Elminster are used to tell about monsters and places in interesting ways, add one to my version of the world
Idea:
Open a Slack or Discord chanell where people can interact with the the Shield Heroes in character
Adventure Idea
Rehash Dagger Vulu – the prized horse which needs protecting as he changes owners. Roonoo is the obvious source of this quest – maybe it is a side quest for him…
Website
Go through and add Next links in addition to links to Appreciation page and Collaboration page. Add to every page at the bottom
Monsters
Create a generic stat block for varying CR levels… When creating a monster or vNPC… just link to the generic block unless some tweaking is needed.
Flashbacks
Go back to first shield first cycle and add in some flashbacks for each of the PCs (Yisi, Valea, Joloobo). Maybe improve the format somewhat so it is obviously a flashback and stands out from the rest of the text
Notes
I include a lot of notes in DM Notes that really belong in Character Notes or Shield Notes… it feels like a major undertaking but I knew I would have to eventually sort through all of the notes pages, organize them, toss some, refine some… As I get further into Cycle one… the mess will only get more difficult if I don’t sort it. Plus… sorting it now will probably help future cycle’s be more focused when it comes to notes.
Clay and Kinney
Wondering if my notes should be in C&K dialog… as if these two personalities were actually writing all of this stuff. It would help set Heroes Gate apart from “second-rate fan fiction” even though, truth be told… that is what it is… but by roleplaying a couple of roleplayers… I might set myself apart. It is strange to use two names as a nom-de-plume… but perhaps I am counting in it being strange enough to gain attention and then at least good enough to earn some appreciation. Maybe… differences can be added in how the Shields are written and formated so that it might appear that either Clay or Kinney are doing the heavy lifting on any given cycle. Perhaps, however, if that is the only reason to do it, the effort is not worth it. If there are other reasons then maybe so.