[OOC] Surwall - South of the Wall

[Thamewolf]

Oh, man. Hmm... maybe my wife is right. I thought everyone got drunk at least 10 times before the end of high school, because that was sort of my experience and everyone else's experience that I knew of. She said high school drinking was far less prevalent. I actually drank more before I turned 21 than between 21-25 (most of that was in college though). I might finally have accumulated more drunken experiences post 21 than before, but it took a few years.

[WildKnight]

I definitely drank a lot more as a teenager than I ever did after I got legal, but I think your wife is right. In general, high school drinking isn't as common as the movies make it seem.

[Aitrus]

Definately not for me either. Got drunk a couple of times in school, but that's all. I joined the military right out of high school, so you can imagine the fun times the guys had with my naivete. Once I'd had my fill of foolishness, I cut back to a drink or two once or twice a year. Had an eye opener from my dad, who's 59 but looks like he's 89 from all the drinking, smoking and "good living" he's had over the years. Not a legacy I want to leave my kids.

I'm cool with the bandit attack.

[VPA_Shadow00]

I have a complicated history with alcohol. I've seen it do a lot of damage to my family. When I was younger I used to believe in absolute abstinence from it, just because of what I'd seen. But, if you're Chicago, in a friends apartment, sharing a couch with a girl you have a crush on and she wants to share a bottle of vodka with you. Well, cheers. Did I sacrifice my morals? Not really, they'd lost their conviction a long time ago.

I'm trying to find a sort laissez-faire-go-easy-zen. I don't want to drink all the time or every week or anything like that. I just want to be able to tip back a few every once and a while with friends.

[Gargleblaster]

But ... see ... if you'd stuck by your convictions and not shared, she would have ended up twice as drunk!

I didn't ever get really badly drunk until I went out with a bunch of nurses one night .... not only can they drink like fish, but I'm pretty sure what we were smoking was legal only for medical purposes in designated states....

[Thamewolf]

My parents don't drink much, and they used to react harshly whenever I asked to try some at a restaurant when they were drinking. Then they realized that was making me want it more so they relaxed a bit. We used to get all sorts of alcohol as Christmas gifts that they never drank, so once I was in college they let me have a bottle a semester of whatever. I definitely got drunk a lot on weekends, but I wouldn't say I abused it overly much, never blacked out or anything. Now I rarely drink, mainly because if I don't go to sleep before my buzz wears off I usually get an instant headache. If I'm drinking, I'm in it for the night, so the occasional party only.

Hmm... never started a game off with a lengthy discussion of the societal situations of alcohol. When all the characters are ready shall we step out of the tavern and hop on the caravan to ambush town?

[VPA_Shadow00]

Ambushed caravans are not cliched. Pfft.

Pfft.

Pfft.

Hmmph.

Plooft.

Pfft.

You know what, just to spite you the caravan is going to make it safely all the way to Byford. So, ha.

[WildKnight]

Ambushed caravans are cliched for the same reason that "so you're all at the tavern" is cliched. Its fun, its recognizable, and it works. Don't fear the cliche. Fear the boring.

[Aitrus]

What was it the Hourglass Mage said?

"Only the dead are without fear."

To which the dwarf should have replied:

"Bah! Where's me ale?"

[WildKnight]

That would probably make more sense if I knew what an Hourglass Mage is.

[Thamewolf]

Lol
So... we were such a fearsome sight that none of the dangerous types along the road even dared try an ambush?

EDIT: The reason ambushes and other unexpected fights so often start off adventures is that they are a way to bring everyone together without the whole "You've all been sent a mysterious letter" cliche. Ambushes seem more random and allow the players to feel like they have more control in choosing to figure out what's going on (although really both are almost equally directed through statements and hints by the DM) But all stories are directed, because human beings don't have the time to completely simulate an entire world. Computer can start to, with videogames in open sandbox worlds like Oblivion or GTA, but even they have to resort to stepping in and giving some direction to keep things interesting.

That said, if you have a plan for getting us all together in town, go for it! You're the DM! There are plenty of ways to do that too.

[Aitrus]

Originally Posted by WildKnight

That would probably make more sense if I knew what an Hourglass Mage is.

Oh, this just ain't right.

Homework: Read the Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, the Dragonlance Legends Trilogy, Dragons of a Summer Flame, The Soulforge and Brothers In Arms...in that order. Pay attention to the character named Raistlin Majere, the man who would be a god, and who both failed and succeeded.

That's just to get you started. You'll figure it out from there.

[Gargleblaster]

Dragonlance should have been one three-book trilogy and then ended.

[WildKnight]

Um... I read Dragonlance back when I was in 6th grade. I'm very familiar with the character of Raistlin (though I would never recommend to ANYONE that they read Dragons of Summer Flame, if I wanted them to actually LIKE Dragonlance...).

I've just never heard Raistlin referred to as "the Hourglass Mage." Mostly I refer to him as "the whiney, childish prick with enormous power that everyone seems to like despite the fact that he's one of the biggest jackholes in the history of literature. No, not Anakin Skywalker. The other one."

I was always more of a Tanis guy, and after reading the War of Souls books, I really developed empathy for Caramon. But Raistlin? Just don't get the fascination (the same could be said for Tas, another favorite from that series. They're both great literary characters, but if I knew them in real life, I'd have killed them long before the Draconians showed up)

[Aitrus]

Ah, another "Hater of the grossly misunderstood man-who-virtually-single-handedly-saved-the-world-several-times-over only because he's ambitious and not as nice and cuddly like Elminster."

Kidding aside, I think that Raistlin is popular because he's the example of what can happen when somebody goes for power at all costs, yet still tries to hang on to his humanity (remember Bupu's testimony before the Council?) Power, or charisma? Which is more important. Remember too that Raistlin at the beginning of Dragons of Autumn Twilight is estimated to be somewhere between 4th and 7th level. His backstory is much more fully fleshed out in The Soulforge and Brothers in Arms and explains his attitude toward others, along with his ambition.

Was he a jackhole? Yes. Was he ambitious? Yes. Was he willing to be nice to those that weren't nice to him if it cost him power? No. Does that make him evil? Well...that's kinda what the story is about, now isn't it?

Tas wass comedy relief resulting from the mix of childlike wonder and adult reasoning, nothing more. Although it was pretty cool that he defeated Ao with Rabbitslayer. You do have to admit, he did have the best insults in the setting. And I loved Dragons of Summer Flame. See below for my feelings on the after-effects.

@ Gargleblaster: I didn't like the 5th Age game or books at all, but I think that if Dragonlance was cut off at the original trilogy so much would have been lost. I believe that there have been just as many, if not more, Dragonlance books than Forgotten Realms books printed. And Dragonlance is an intriguing mix of mid-magic and high-fantasy, which is something you don't see very often.