[Other] Forbidden Lands: A hexcrawl for folks new to the system

[97mg]

Game Name Forbidden Lands

Game System Other Roleplaying Games

Theme Exploration, survival, friendship, discovery

Flavour Gritty mixed with humor and random suprises

Plot Summary Welcome to the Forbidden Lands! A rewarding yet hostile, lore-filled and challenging landscape awaits the arrival of... well... some players! Will you be... A peddler desperate to trade and greedily profit from distant cultures, perhaps? A minstrel seeking fame and admiration from villages with better taste in jazz percussion? A druid seeking to expand his exotic dried fungus collection? A fighter who just knows the above can't be trusted to travel this dangerous world, alone? ... or something like that... This game is seven months in, has been a blast, and we'd love a few reinforcements! We have a great team of writers, and... morally questionable explorers whose likelihood of survival can be increased... by you! Can you see yourself exploring the world alongside a shady and manipulative Peddler? A sneaky and culturally challenged goblin Sorcerer? A grumpy and conflicted Hunter? Well, we have room for two more characters! Preferably either Druid, Fighter, Minstrel, Rider or Rogue. Forbidden Lands is a new take on classic fantasy roleplaying. In this open-world survival roleplaying game, you’re not heroes sent on missions dictated by others - instead, you are villagers bent on making your own mark on a cursed world. You will discover lost tombs, fight terrible monsters, wander the wild lands and, if you live long enough, build your own stronghold to defend. WHAT KIND OF GAME IS THIS?: Forbidden Lands is a hexcrawl conducted on a map of mammoth proportions. Although there is an over-arching plot, history and truth to discover along the way, there are no rails here. Who knows what is in the next hex, where an adventure site might pop up, or what kind of troubles a team might get into? Well... not even the GM knows exactly what and where things will happen, until the dice come out. Most, if not all, encounters and story elements will depend on where the PCs choose to go, fate, and what has transpired in earlier sessions. But this isn't just about moving around a map, that would be too easy (and boring)! Oh no, this world can be as harsh and unforgiving (there's an angry hag chasing us!) as it can be cute and quaint (look! a baker's hut! I'm soooo hungry). Speaking of hungry, to survive... you'll need more than a sword and broad shoulders my friends. Crafting to supplement limited resources. Foraging for food. Winning the hearts of distant villages through songs and homemade gifts. Do not underestimate the power of this land's meeker and more... pleasant professions. That said, you'd better bring along someone who can keep a blade sharp too. 300 years of evil have lurked out there, and word on the street is that not all of the critters have chosen to depart from their extended vacation in this world. Above all, I like my games to be about the characters themselves, and role play. Bringing PCs to life as they tread through lands unknown, forming friendships, discovering themselves, and finding coping mechanisms to deal with whatever the dice might throw our way. WHO IS THIS GAME FOR?: I'd like to run this where a majority of players have not played the system before. This is to crank up the "unexpected" factor, and also allow me to return a favor, that a GM once did me... by taking on a group of new players and working with them, as a team, to craft something really fun. If a few players are old-hands at FL, then that's great too! We can all help each other. Seeking 4-5 players. Seeking 2 players. WHAT ARE THE RULES?: There is a Quickstart PDF available for free at drivethrurpg.com! How awesome is that. It covers almost everything you need to know... except the specifics of creating your own character. So, together as a group, before the game begins, I'll be mentoring players in character creation. It's a pretty easy process actually. Choose a race, class, allocate some numbers, and you're good to go. The more important part is going to be PC personalities, quirkiness and attitude. As a team, we will be deciding/establishing a few things as a group effort, before we begin. Pre-existing character relationships (you will all be from the same isolated village). The nature of your village (tree houses in a forest? desert tents? snow domes?), as this will impact where you begin on the map (which will have fog of war turned on hehe). WHAT KIND OF PLAYERS DO YOU WANT?: As rules-light as FL is, I'm more of a story-driven GM than a strict rules follower. I'm looking for people interested in trying out something new, and learning/experiencing the mechanics as we go. I'm also pretty flexible, so if something mechanical isn't working, we'll find a way to resolve it. Really, all we need is a group of friendly, open-minded players who want to have fun! I always deeply appreciate things like originality, creativity, and detailed posts. Together the players can work out a posting rate, but I'm thinking 1 or 2 a week would be nice. WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHERE WE WILL START?: Not long ago, our mischievous trio departed their peaceful home village of Kiersap, seeking new knowledge, potential riches, and maybe just wanting to get away from their tiring and same-day lives. After encountering a horrible bog, and being stalked by an unusual fox, they discovered a hamlet named Greyvale. This place appears to once have been a great city, but during centuries of border disputes and due to the effects of the blood mist, it has become a small and struggling community. And people's children regularly go missing. Does the trio care? Not so much... except they've been offered free board, maybe some rewards, and as much bread from a local baker as they can eat! During their clue-seeking around town, they've heard that a local Druid might be worth questioning, and also "investigated" an abandoned wood carver's shop. So, the carver was an apparition and thus our friends have seen fit to set the place alight. It isn't totally ablaze yet, and nobody saw, right? Are you a local to Greyvale? A fellow who hails from Kiersap and decided to leave home too, only to stumble upon Greyvale too? Or a wanderer who just happened to come by this way? WHO ARE YOU?: Yup, I'm a new member here, and have already been blown away by people's welcoming nature, support and friendliness! I most certainly plan to stick around. I've been roleplaying since the mid 80's (basic D&D, then AD&D), and in more recent years 3.5e and 5e, with occasional dips into Shadows of Esteren, James Bond, The Witcher etc. As far as PBP goes, my first days were in Freeform. I've played on other sites (including some home-made ones) in the past, but with a game like FL I wanted to broaden my horizons, and see who else is out there in the PBP world. I wanted a chance to game with some new people, rather than the regulars I often write with, and experience some new adventures along the way. I live in Australia, sit at a computer most days, and enjoy stuff like gemstone fossicking / faceting, making music, and reading fiction. There's probably something else I should warn prospective players about. I LOVE domestic stuff. Domestic drama. Sometimes I get bogged down in small details that not everyone agrees is fun. If this happens, let me know! That said, I do really enjoy making the small things mean something... like... trying to buy a horse, or set up a comfie camp site, or stuff like that. I really like focusing on some of the things that often get overlooked in other systems. Day to day things, which can have an impact on character relationships and the world around them, no matter how small. Application Process Ok, this is a little tricky, because rather than being chosen based on character applications, we'll need to select players based on some other things. If you could reply with answers to the following questions (a sentence or two for each is fine), that would be a huge help in trying to assemble a team! Honestly... I hate application processes, and would love to take as many people as possible into the Forbidden Lands, but I'm going to try to cap it at 4 or 5 players two reinforcements. This ad will be open until it looks like the spots are filled. The Questions Note: None of the PC-related questions are binding, you'll be free to change your mind if accepted. I just want to see people's ideas and creativity. What kind of villager would you like to take out into unexplored territory? The available professions are Druid, Fighter, Hunter, Minstrel, Peddler, Rider, Rogue, Sorcerer... but what would your particular "take" or unique flavor on one of these be? How do you like to inject personality into a PC? Via elaborate backstories? Quirkiness or cuteness? With detailed mannerisms or strange use of language? Or something else? Are you happy to commit to a game which though combat-lite, can be quite brutal and unforgiving when things get "real"? What lured you into reading this rather long game advert, and choosing to reply? Is there a piece of IC writing on this site that you'd like to share with us, to show your style? What's your general availability to post looking like? And Finally... Thank you!

[Effete]

Sounds interesting. Never played Forbidden Lands before, so I guess that checks your first box.

Application Questioneer What kind of villager would you like to take out into unexplored territory? The available professions are Druid, Fighter, Hunter, Minstrel, Peddler, Rider, Rogue, Sorcerer... but what would your particular "take" or unique flavor on one of these be? Peddler sounds fun to me, since there aren't many games that actually let you play a merchant. My spin on it would be more like a snake-oil salesman, a guy who uses doublespeak and fast-talking to sell objects of a dubious nature. This means he's usually in-and-out of a town, always trying to stay a step ahead of an angry mob. How do you like to inject personality into a PC? Via elaborate backstories? Quirkiness or cuteness? With detailed mannerisms or strange use of language? Or something else? Um... any of the above? I tend to start with a basic, but solid, foundation for a personality, then fill out the quirks and nuances based on how other characters interact with my character. I try to avoid developing a "competing" personality with other party members, while still staying true to my established baseline. This means that a "rude" guy might also feel like he owes a personal debt to the party, being less abrasive with them. Something like that. Are you happy to commit to a game which though combat-lite, can be quite brutal and unforgiving when things get "real"? Certainly! What lured you into reading this rather long game advert, and choosing to reply? I prefer narrative-driven gameplay over strict, mechanics-heavy rulesets (i.e. roleplay, not roll-play). Not that I think dice rolling doesn't serve a purpose, but not when it's used as a substitute for a good, detailed post. Is there a piece of IC writing on this site that you'd like to share with us, to show your style? 1.) Introduction to Bill Dawes, a former biker-gang member running from his past in a post-apocalyptic world. 2.) Slug handles business (continues on post #25). An alchemist and a lush, Slug is part of a crew of thieves operating out of Doskvol, a Victorian-esque dystopic city plagued by ghosts. What's your general availability to post looking like? I can do 1-2 per week easily. 3-4 if a plot is moving fast and/or I'm particularly inspired.

[Chylopan]

Player Application What kind of villager would you like to take out into unexplored territory? The available professions are Druid, Fighter, Hunter, Minstrel, Peddler, Rider, Rogue, Sorcerer... but what would your particular "take" or unique flavor on one of these be? Often I pick a class and try to find inspiration therein, unless something jumps out at me. Having skimmed through the Player's Handbook, I feel like a Wolfkin Fighter would be pretty fun. I almost never play animal-oid-ish races so it'd be nice to get out of my comfort zone. Given their might-makes-right, pack mentality attitude, I think it would be fun (and amusing) to play a very laid-back, past his prime warrior-turned-drunkard. I'm thinking more Shaggy Dog, less Viscous Werefwolf. How do you like to inject personality into a PC? Via elaborate backstories? Quirkiness or cuteness? With detailed mannerisms or strange use of language? Or something else? I take a well-rounded approach to all of those. A little bit of each really brings out the character's personality; sometimes one more than others, a mix, etcetera. Backstories I prefer vague to give the DM and other characters opportunities to inject what they will or collaborative ideas. Plus, I enjoy the improv aspect of roleplay — having things sprung on me that I may not have considered beforehand. Quirkiness can go either way, if I have an idea that I think would add character and not detract from the RP or become something of a handicap (or annoyance) throughout the game. Mannerisms? Yes. Language. Yes. These are essential in my book and will be heavily considered. Are you happy to commit to a game which though combat-lite, can be quite brutal and unforgiving when things get "real"? I prefer it this way, frankly. What lured you into reading this rather long game advert, and choosing to reply? Hex crawls are fun. Always read about this game, never had an opportunity to play. Is there a piece of IC writing on this site that you'd like to share with us, to show your style? 1) A post from MoldyNold's Duskwall Rising: My tag-in character getting caught up to speed on the goings-on of the Moonrakers. 2) A post from a game that is on hiatus, Therru's After the Quake: My hot-headed Samurai and the rest of his party battling a powerful Oni. What's your general availability to post looking like? Free most of the week Mo — Fri, posting rate varies. Can work out 1/2 a week, perhaps more.

[psuedenim]

What kind of villager would you like to take out into unexplored territory? The available professions are Druid, Fighter, Hunter, Minstrel, Peddler, Rider, Rogue, Sorcerer... but what would your particular "take" or unique flavor on one of these be?
A goblin sorcerer, kicked out of his tribe for an incident involving some uncontrolled casting now looking for teachers to help him understand and control his power. A goblin more comfortable with other races after being forced to live with them and not his own kind.

How do you like to inject personality into a PC? Via elaborate backstories? Quirkiness or cuteness? With detailed mannerisms or strange use of language? Or something else?
I always refer back to the character profile and try to make sure I hit at least one of the items listed for their personality. This will drive whats done, "spoke" or thought

Are you happy to commit to a game which though combat-lite, can be quite brutal and unforgiving when things get "real"?
Yes

What lured you into reading this rather long game advert, and choosing to reply?
Tried for a long time to get into RPG groups and bribe family to try it - nothing worked or stuck and then I eventually found this place and its fantastic! Whilst I gravitate towards DnD 5e I have played other systems in the past and like the change in vibe they provide and I love the idea of trying a game that's grittier and more dangerous. Your call for newbies was appealing too as I am new to the site and this system.

Is there a piece of IC writing on this site that you'd like to share with us, to show your style?
Intro of my character to a new group - I usually keep the slapstick levels low

What's your general availability to post looking like?
Several times a week, possibly daily if real life allows and the game demands it (but writing quality might drop).

[97mg]

Hi everyone, love it!!! Thanks so much for these responses

[HotsuSama]

An Aussie with a gemstone hobby? Are you me? Although I've never had the chance to get out for much fossicking.

This is a tentative expression of interest.

• Villager: Open-minded, but currently thinking Hunter or Rider. Race TBC. Basically I want someone who's seasoned in living on the land but still has strong bonds and/or prestige in the stronghold, so no loner-in-the-woods but someone really connected in the community. What that means probably depends on the party makeup and what type of place the stronghold is.
• Personality: Depends, really. I'll have backstory elements but I build on it as I go. I don't go in with a default 'quirky/cute' tone, I try to match the tone set in the game.
• Combat: Sure, I want to see how lasting injury and conditions could feed back into RP in a game like this, not to mention the cost of death.
• Being Here: I've been sitting on the Forbidden Lands books for years but never got around to reading them. Might be less pressure to jump in somewhere as a player and learn by doing, so I'm keen to wander around a map and help build a stronghold.
• Sample: A young samurai's coming of age
• Availability: I'd be most comfortable with 1/week, but could do more on an infrequent basis.

[DBCowboy]

What kind of villager and what would your particular "take" or unique flavor on one of these be?

A Druid or Hunter who will hopefully be of use as the group travels and help to find food. Unfortunatley he or she is somewhat unhinged, or maybe just a tad ferral. They've lived at the fringe of society, more by choice of the village than their own. Oh they're friendly enough just...not....well not ENTIRELY...civilized.

How do you like to inject personality into a PC?

So it varies. I'm basically playing Charlie Brown in a Fallout 2d20 game and occasionally drop hints of what may have happened to the other members of the Peanuts gang. But for this character it feels more like quirkiness will be the approach.

Are you happy to commit to a game which though combat-lite, can be quite brutal and unforgiving when things get "real"?

Always. There's no end to the characters I can create if the current one bites the dust. My only hope is that they were fun and memorable for the rest of the group while they lasted.

What lured you into reading this rather long game advert, and choosing to reply?

Been wanting to play Forbidden Lands for a couple years now but no luck. I have the book from a Bundle of Holding sale and read through it once but never had a game last past the start.

Is there a piece of IC writing on this site that you'd like to share with us, to show your style?

Not sure I have anything spectacular but here are a 7th Sea noble and a Deadlands: Hell on Earth character I've played/am playing:
Lachlan MacQuarrie
Garret Sax

What's your general availability to post looking like?

Couple times a week and probably on the weekend. Not sure I could manage daily consistently.

[Aethera]

Thread title changed to reflect the change in opening post. Carry on.

[97mg]

Originally Posted by Aethera

Thread title changed to reflect the change in opening post. Carry on.

Thank you so much Aethera! That's awesome .

I'm really impressed and humbled by everyone's application responses so far. It sounds like we should be able to put a really varied and interesting crew together!

[97mg]

Hi folks!

I've sent out invites to everyone who showed interest here, except those who are tentative. We certainly still have a few spots if you're keen to join in.

Originally Posted by Effete

This will be a tentative application since I'm not sure how my gaming roster is looking atm.

No worries at all Effete! Just let us know later on if you're keen

Originally Posted by HotsuSama

An Aussie with a gemstone hobby? Are you me? Although I've never had the chance to get out for much fossicking. This is a tentative expression of interest.

Hi HotsuSama! So cool to hear you're into the gemmy stuff XD. What do you like collecting / working on? I live on the Aussie east coast... but its mostly sedimentary here in Canberra. We've recently been through New England though which was awesome. Where abouts are you located (if you don't mind me asking)? It's crazy where stuff can pop up. We've found pretty nice jasper and quartz specimens just going on local walks near home lol.

When / if you're keen to join in the fun, let me know!

Cheers,
Ivan

[Effete]

Originally Posted by 97mg

Hi folks!

I've sent out invites to everyone who showed interest here, except those who are tentative. We certainly still have a few spots if you're keen to join in.



No worries at all Effete! Just let us know later on if you're keen

Ohh, early enrollment?
Shucks! Sign me up then!

[HotsuSama]

Originally Posted by 97mg

Hi HotsuSama! So cool to hear you're into the gemmy stuff XD. What do you like collecting / working on? I live on the Aussie east coast... but its mostly sedimentary here in Canberra. We've recently been through New England though which was awesome. Where abouts are you located (if you don't mind me asking)? It's crazy where stuff can pop up. We've found pretty nice jasper and quartz specimens just going on local walks near home lol.

When / if you're keen to join in the fun, let me know!

Cheers,
Ivan

Well, ACT's better than NSW at least! I'm a little further south where the coffees are better. I used to find some interesting rocks west of Melbourne but never much in the way of gemstones, I mostly get those from markets and traders. I don't facet or work on anything but I love collecting raw specimens. Got great bits of crocoite and pyrite from Tassie on my honeymoon.

I'm a little freer for time now than I was a few days ago, so ... what the heck. If you're still taking on folks, I'd be willing to give it a show as well.

[97mg]

Originally Posted by Effete

Ohh, early enrollment? Shucks! Sign me up then!

Sorry I didn't mean to create any stress! It was a quiet weekend so figured it was time to start funneling folks through the character creation stuff. You're spot is safe, if you want it! I'll PM you in a jiffy

[97mg]

Originally Posted by HotsuSama

Well, ACT's better than NSW at least! I'm a little further south where the coffees are better. I used to find some interesting rocks west of Melbourne but never much in the way of gemstones, I mostly get those from markets and traders. I don't facet or work on anything but I love collecting raw specimens. Got great bits of crocoite and pyrite from Tassie on my honeymoon.

I'm a little freer for time now than I was a few days ago, so ... what the heck. If you're still taking on folks, I'd be willing to give it a show as well.

Oh I lived in Melbies for ten years! Miss it heaps, hopefully go back next year. Pyrite can be amazing, you have great taste Game invite PM coming your way!

[secretID]

Hi 97mg

I'm intrigued. Is the game full yet?

If not, I'm wondering:
- What post rate do you intend?
- What kind of posts do you like? Length is one characteristic, but I've also noticed a difference in PBP between those who lean towards collaborative fiction (more introspective) and those who lean towards improv theater (more cinematic).

Thanks,
SI