[Traveller] Game of Thrones: House Ascending

[savoylen]

Running Now
Re-Opened until 5-NOV
Coming in September of 2023!
Game of Thrones: House Ascending



"When you play a game of thrones, you win or you die."
- Cersei Lannister

Welcome to Game of Thrones: House Ascending.

Game System: 2d6 (The Sword of Cepheus, MgT Dynasty)
Skill Level: Any - you will This works very much like DnD 5e and MgT2 (Traveller). A classic, 2d6 skill based system.learn the system as you play.
Min. # Houses to Start the Game: 4
Post Frequency: Moderately Paced - At least once a week basically I'll follow your pace if the House decides to pick up the paceor better.
Theme: Political and Military Intrigue, House vs. House Espionage & The War of AssassinsRivalry, Fantasy Elements
Setting: Game of Thrones Novels (A short time after the fifth book "A Dance with Dragons").. so yes, if you didn't like the way the TV version ended, here is your chance to re-write it!

The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros is a place of deadly duels, feudal politics and mysterious foes in a land where a blade can change the fortunes of thousands. Build your House and carve your place in the world or rebuild an ancient lineage and fight for the Iron Throne.

Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.
- Tyrion Lannister

Game Concept: Enter the captivating world of 'The Game of Thrones' as a House Ascending, where power is the ultimate prize and alliances are as fragile as ice. In this epic campaign, immerse yourself in the sprawling continents of Westeros and Essos, each with its own treacherous landscapes and intricate political webs.

Choose your side wisely among the noble houses, each with their sigils and words, and craft your own destiny. Will you aim to sit upon the coveted Iron Throne in King's Landing, or will you forge a path in the exotic lands of Essos?

Navigate through a world filled with unpredictable twists, mythical creatures, and dark magic. Make strategic decisions, form alliances, and outmaneuver your rivals to claim victory. Are you ready to play the deadliest game of power ever conceived?

Unleash the dragon within you and conquer 'The Game of Thrones'!"

We will run as many houses as wish to play. Recruitment will be on-going once play has started. I expect houses will ascend and houses will fall.

Let the battle for the Seven Kingdoms begin.

We will draw primarily from the books for content and inspiration. There are a lot of resources available on various fan sites. We'll work together to decide what is cannon for our version of GOT so if you love COLABORATIVE world and nation building, this game is for you.

The Rules We'll primarily be using the classic Don't let this scare you. If you know how to play DND 5e... replace 1d20 with 2d6... now you mostly know how to play this skill based system. You're welcome.2d6 system (Traveller/Sword of Cepheus/Barbaric!) as the basic system with enhancements which I'll make available via the system SRD in our game thread (all legal and above the board of course). Other resources I'll be pulling inspiration from include Dynasty (MgT), Mercenaries (MgT2) and Modiphius 2d20 Dune. Players do not need any of these resources. I just want you to know what to expect. I'll provide everything you need to play mechanically through the game's forums.

Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on the wall. And, a very small man can cast a very large shadow."
- Varys. Varys

What You Can Expect in the Game:

This is a PvE (Player versus the Environment) and PvP (Player vs. Player) game. Your Everyone starts with as a minor house - either newly formed or from the setting.minor house is will form alliances with other houses and battle against others (all run by other players). There will be blood and not all Houses will Ascend.

Of course as soon as you and your allies think you have defeated one rival house or threat, another will jump right into its place.

How to Create Your House

The basic steps are...

• Create your House using the template I'll provide.
• Design your House Sigil and Words.
• Describe your Main Characters that will represent the House.

Houses are activated as soon as they have been acknowledged by their liege lord which to begin will be me (your host) and latter, other players whose houses have Ascended.

I hope you understand that this type of game is not for everyone so please bear with me if it takes a little longer to get Houses and Characters for this campaign going, and dropped into the story. Done well, this game will have an 'open universe' feel. You will also have A LOT of narrative freedom. As the Referee, I'm here to keep the cannon/story lined up and provide you a specific generality (what happened at a high level) while the players fill in the details of the specific events from their Point of View as a House.

 

GOT content includes intense and potentially distressing themes that may be triggering for some people. "The Game of Thrones" novels and TV show contains graphic depictions of violence, including battles, warfare, and executions. Additionally, the series explores complex and morally ambiguous characters, which might be emotionally challenging for some.

GOT and this game may feature mature themes such as political intrigue, betrayal, and abuse of power, which could evoke strong emotional reactions. Furthermore, it includes elements of fantasy, dark magic, and mythical creatures that might not be suitable for everyone.

Please be aware that "Game of Thrones: House Ascending" may contain content that some people find disturbing, and it is not recommended for individuals who are sensitive to violence, trauma, or morally ambiguous narratives. Every effort will be made to be inclusive as possible and to have potentially triggering content happen "off screen" to keep the content within the site standard of "PG13".

Your discretion is strongly advised, and please remember to prioritize your emotional well-being while choosing your reading/playing content.

GOT: House Ascending will integrate some elements of Safety Tools, to help ensure that all players have an enjoyable experience. Specifically, Veils will be used during applications and in the House Thread when a player's house is accepted (like a Character Sheet thread in most games), giving potential players and players alike a voice in any content they would deem offensive, that would otherwise fall within the listed guidelines for this game. The X-card will be used, as a PM to the Host (Savoylen) if an issue arises. Depending on the severity of the issue, play may be paused until a resolution is reached. This may include locking game threads and using private workspaces to edit needed content before play resumes.

0. Please read this before you apply: Its my gaming Foundational Principle, the Content Advisory above and the FAQ (Coming Soon). If you have a problem with what you read there, please stop reading now and don't apply to join.

1. Your House - Think about the kind of story you want to tell. What follows is an Example House for you to modify as your own. There will be a full tutorial in the actual game but for now, feel free to play with this if you wish to get a feel for it.

 

House Stark (Great) House Stark A running grey direwolf, on an ice-white field Words Winter Is Coming Seat Winterfell (Exiled) Regions North, Riverlands (formerly) Titles King in the North/King of Winter, Lord of Winterfell (Formerly), Warden of the North (Formerly), King of the Trident (Formerly) Heir Rickon Start Overlords (House Baratheon of King's Landing), House Bolton Vassals House Greystark (extinct), House Karstark, Barrowton Starks (possibly), White Harbor Starks (possibly) House Stark, an ancient and storied lineage, hails from the wintry stronghold of Winterfell in the North. Once a thriving family, their fate took a tragic turn. After the tumultuous events that followed the War of the Five Kings, the Stark children found themselves scattered across the vast expanse of Westeros and beyond. Bran, embracing his powers as a greenseer, ventures into the mystical lands beyond the Wall, seeking the Three-Eyed Crow. Arya, determined and resolute, trains with the Faceless Men in Braavos, shedding her identity. Sansa finds herself under the care of Petyr Baelish in the Vale, concealing her Stark heritage. Rickon, the youngest, remains hidden from the world, under the protection of House Umber. Amidst uncertainty and loss, the Stark words, "Winter Is Coming," still echo with resilience, suggesting that even in the darkest times, hope may endure. The fate of House Stark remains uncertain, but the direwolf sigil still stands as a symbol of their strength, and the North remembers their legacy. (Major) House Characteristics   Understanding and circumventing problems before they become insurmountable.Cleverness (Cvr) 3 Symbol of general fiscal desires (not a negative) as when found in an individual. Measure a House's hunger as well as proficiency in keeping it generationally.Greed (Grd) 11 Ultimate binding force that keeps members together through the generations. Describes how close the average house member feels towards the house and its management assets.Loyalty (Lty) 15 Martial prowess, combat resources and the willingness to use them. A measure of physicality as a whole and its access to weapons, armor and even fleet assets.Militarism (Mil) 11 Social standing of the House. A reflection of how outsiders look on the House's agents, members and actions.Popularity (Pop) 14 Sum total of a House's underhandedness and potential for criminal instincts. Plotting and dreaming up machinations that are designed to get around laws - both governmental and social - in order to get the better of actions toward rival Houses.Scheming (Sch) 3 The House's backbone. The ability to weather difficulties that appear in its path over the generations. Rating surviving against all odds.Tenacity (Tcy) 15 Represents how well the ideals and teachings of the first generation are inherited by those who follow, unchanged by the passage of time. Richness of religion, nobility and culture fall into this characteristic.Tradition (Tra) 15 Dice Modifier Table Ability 0 1-2 3-5 6-8 9-11 12-14 15-17 18-20 21+ DM -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 Measures the health and ability of the House. Grants special benefits to House esp. at higher levels.Traits Name Lty DM + Tra DM +2Culture : 8 Grd DM + Tcy DMFiscal Defense : 4 Mil DM +1 (Landlocked = 0)Fleet* : 0 Ten DM +1Technology : 3 Loy DM + Mil DMTerritorial Defense : 4 House Similar to skills used by individuals, Houses collectively have abilities and talenst that fall into larger categories - Aptitudes. Represents something that a House can do or an action it can perform; the tools in which it finds, creates and shapes the world to suit its needs and desires. Can trigger "zoomed in" character level interactions at key moments in the life of the House.Aptitudes Aptitudes Level Acquisition - Bureaucracy 1 Conquest - Economics 0 Entertain - Expression - Hostility 2 Illicit 0 Intel - Maintenance - Politics 2 Posturing - Propaganda - Public Relations - Recruit 0 Research - Sabotage 2 Security 0 Tactical 0 Tutelage - Inapt -3 Values Name Lty + Pop DM + Culture TraitMorale 5/13 Tcy + Tra DM + Tech TraitPopulace 8/20 Grd + Clv DM + Fiscal DefenseWealth 10/14 Conditions Scattered House Boons and Banes In the Wind (Boon) Scattered (Bane)   Current House STATISTICS Cvr 3/3 Grd 11/11 Lty F/F Mil 3/11 Pop 10/14 Sch 3/3 Tcy 15/15 Tra 15/15 DMs: 0: -3, 1-2: -2, 3-5: -1, 6-8: +0, 9-11: +1, 12-14: +2, 15+: +3

2. Your Sigil and Words - Use one of the many GOT style banner makers online to produce your Sigil or Banner along with your house's words.

3. Your Main Characters - What are the main characters and relationships in your houses. This should be about a few paragraphs or less. Just enough to give us a feel for the place but not so much that we give away all your secrets!


What you can do now until the game opens:
Post your interest below describing you concept for a House (no House Sheet is needed for now) and your main characters descriptions (we won't need Character Sheets until later in the game). Once the game forums open, I'll provide links where can start building your House. Be sure to include the following information so we understand what you are thinking: The House EscutcheonSigil , Name, Words, Seat, Region, and Overlords/Liege Lord.

That's all there is to it!!

I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with and as always, if you have questions or would like more details, please post them below.

1

EscutcheonSigil

The Name of Your HouseHouse

Your House PhraseWords

Name of the town or village that serves as the House "home"Seat

The Region in which the Seat is located... usually indicates the regional Liege Lord that can call your bannerRegion

The Lord (House) that can call your banner. This is the house of which you are a vassal.Overlords

Player

Status

 

[Classic Gamer]

House - Balustre
Sigil - Golden Staircase on Azure Background
Words- Watch Me Ascend
Region - Crownlands
Seat - Redgrass Field (Goldenhome)
Overlords - Baratheon
Lord - Bryon Balustre

 

Talman Waters, Castellan of Goldenhome
Pierson Briar, Master of Livestock
Edmund Mench, Accountant
Logan Bend, Master at Arms

Backstory - The Balustres are an old merchant family who were happy enough with their lot in life until the ambitious heir Bryon greased enough palms and provided enough favors to be raised to a minor house. Bryon chose a spot near Redgrass Field as the house’s site and plans to create a cattle based empire upon the famous and fertile plains.

Where the Blackwater Rush makes its fork and touches the Gold Road, there you will find Goldenhome.

[savoylen]

Wow... that was fast!

First blood to Classic Gamer.

Looking good... Overlord denotes which house Blaustre is a vassal of.... I'm guessing Tyrell or Baratheon. There are several other minor houses in the region that could also serve as Byron Balustre's liege lord.

I think Redgrass is very close to King's Landing so there are also cases where house are sworn directly to the city.

Your call of course... and thanks for your interest!!

You might find this interactive map a good resource, especially if you turn on the nobility layer.

- Savoy

[Elanir]

A quick question, Savoylen. If one wants to play a “new” (non-official) minor House, are we allowed to invent the House’s seat (a keep, small castle, town or village) as well?

Also, I found this map to be incredibly detailed and useful. Clicking on the various sites opens up the wiki with a wealth of information!

[Classic Gamer]

I will go with Baratheon. Tommen will make a fine king. Especially with the right advisers.

[savoylen]

Originally Posted by Elanir

A quick question, Savoylen. If one wants to play a “new” (non-official) minor House, are we allowed to invent the House’s seat (a keep, small castle, town or village) as well?

Also, I found this map to be incredibly detailed and useful. Clicking on the various sites opens up the wiki with a wealth of information!

Absolutely! There is plenty of room... just be specificish about where it is.

nice resource... thank you for sharing!

[savoylen]

@Classic Gamer

Congratulations, I have your application marked, COMPLETED.

Nicely done. We'll detail out the House once the game gets started up.

- Savoy

[Classic Gamer]

Thank you. I look forward to seeing the other applications roll in and the game advance. Allowing ascended houses to sponsor the newer minor houses as they appear is a great way to keep the game exciting as well as providing world building opportunities. I foresee great things in the game’s future. Congratulations on such an amazing concept and design!

[savoylen]

@CG
Thanks! Its a different enough an idea it might be a bit while we gather some momentum/House concepts. So please be patience with the process... I'm aiming to launch the end August-ish.

Once the forum is available and we have our minimum (around 4 houses or so), I'll make the House Creation details (step-by-step tutorial) available. That will give us a little to do while we hang out.

[Elanir]

@Savoylen: It will take me at least a few days to flesh out House Curver, but please know that I am working on it.

Are there any limits to the House’s (extended) family? What about officials and retainers? How many of them would it be reasonable to create?

[Maestrosity]

House Current Basics House: Current Sigil: A horseshoe, an anchor, and the Greenblood Words: Luck, Loyalty, and Liberty Region Dorne Seat: Savior's Rest (Between Godsgrace and Saltshore) Overlords: Martell Lady: Ayless Current Members Ayless Current, Lady of the House Kendo Current, Advisor & Brother Dyron, Castellan of Savior's Rest Beysa, Horsemistress Ondor, Master at Arms   From left to right: Ayless, Kendo, Dyron, Beysa, Ondor Backstory Doran Martell once sailed over the Greenblood. His ship hit a rock and the Prince and his wheelchair fell overboard. Kaywa, a passing Orphan of the Greenblood, dove in and saved his life. She was rewarded with a Lordship, but wasn't interested. Years later, when her daughter Ayless learned of her mother's gift, she claimed her birthright. With some close friends and family, she now runs House Current, located at Savior's Rest, just south of the start of the Greenblood. There, they trade with the Orphans of the Greenblood and they breed sand steeds.

[Hack]

I really would like to flesh out the mysterious House Upcliff of Witch Isle with some custom history and characters. Can I play a minor canon House with no lore during the "Game of Thrones" timeline, and next to no lore historically? It is essentially a blank slate.

- House Upcliff "Who Tempts the Swell" Sigil: A cresting sea-green wave, on a black field Words: "Who Tempts the Swell" Seat: Witch Isle Region: The Vale Liege: Lord Parmount Robert Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale, and Warden of the East History The ominously named Witch Isle is one of the threescore islands off the eastern and northern coasts of the Vale of Arryn. It is an uninviting landscape of jagged stone and gnarled trees, surrounded by violent churning seas. Since the mythic Age of Heroes, long before written history, the isle has been the seat of the sinister Upcliffs. Often neglected and overlooked by indifferent Maesters, much of their long history has gone unrecorded. What little is known of Witch Isle and its secretive lords is surrounded in myth and legend, embellished ghost stories recounted by superstitious sailors. Fantastical tales of sirens luring bewitched sailors to ruin upon the rocks, or of sinister sea hags striking deals for mortal souls, and heathen rituals both titillating and abhorrent, all added to the macabre mystique of the isle. More grounded scholars will note that Witch Isle itself is generally considered the epicentre of the ancient Cult of the Merling King, an ill-understood faith of First Men once common throughout the Three Sisters and the coastal isles off the Vale. It is said that during the coming of the Andals, the Witch Queen Ursula Upcliff made common cause with the High King Robar II Royce to repel the invaders from the shores of Westeros. Their efforts were ultimately in vain as the First Men were eventually subdued, and Ursula slain by Torgold Tollett in the Battle of the Seven Stars. Yet for the centuries that followed Witch Isle remained isolated from the Vale mainland, an untameable holdout of bygone era. Only the marriage of Arwen Upcliff to Alester II Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale, finally brought the insular isle into the realm of House Arryn of the Eyrie. Yet to most of the prim and proper Vale mainlanders, the Upcliffs were little more than an upstart heathen Witch Coven turned noble House. During the War of the Usurper, House Upcliff boldly defied Jon Arryn’s call to arms and instead remained loyal to the ruling Targaryens dynasty. Alongside House Grafton and other Vale Loyalists, the Upcliffs fought in the desperate Battle of Gulltown during opening phases of the conflict. The outcome was a decisive victory for the Rebels, which resulted in the capture of most of the participating Upcliffs. These prisoners proceeded to spend the rest of the war as hostages, until they were granted amnesty by the newly crowned Robert Baratheon in an attempt to maintain the future peace. The War of the Usurper had left the already ostracised Upcliffs pariahs among the haughty nobles of the Vale’s interior. However, the insular islanders cared little for the courtly politics of the Eyrie. Instead they found what few friends they had among the coastal regions of the Vale, where their shipping and maritime ventures flourished. They share a strong solidarity with the other Valemen of the Narrow Sea, House Pryor and Elesham. Likewise, the Upcliffs have also gone to great lengths to integrate themselves into ruling Sistermen families through marriage. Though their relationship is at times tumultuous, the Three Sisters and Witch Isle are like estranged kin, sharing many similarities in faith and customs. However, their staunchest allies are the Graftons of Gulltown, whom never forgot those Upcliffs that died in the defence of their city. Those more refined members of House Upcliff that have sort to escape their dreary backwater, have found a second home in Gulltown. This exodus has reached the point where the there is now as many Upcliffs residing in Gulltown as there are back on Witch Isle. These expiates have proven invaluable, as their Gulltown business ventures generate more wealth than any domestic operations. Members of Renown "Auntie" Ursula Upcliff: The venerable matriarch. She may hold no titles, but Ursula is the undisputed master of both her House and island. Overseeing the three Upcliff generations below her, nothing escapes her piercing gaze. Lord Manfryd Upcliff: The macabre knight. A life time of pacifying unruly Sistermen has left Manfryd with more in common with those heathens than any shining knight of the Vale. Manfryd may be the de jure Lord of Witch Isle, but Auntie, well Auntie knows best... Lady Myrcella "the Siren" Upcliff: The predatory socialite. Her first husband drowned at sea, whilst the second lasted less than a year before he tragically hung himself. After being widowed twice, no suitor has since tried his luck. From the comfort of Gulltown, Myrcella entertains herself with local intrigue and short lived affairs with her various paramours. Selyse Upcliff: The esoteric witch. Left to Right: Manfryd Upcliff, Ursula Upcliff, Myrcella Upcliff, Selyse Upcliff

[Kepheren]

I have only a passing familiarity with the GoT world and it's houses but I do love the political intrigue and rp opportunities in building up a small household to prominence. Hopefully I can pick up on the important world details as I go but I am expressing interest and doing some reading to build a nice little house for myself.

[Lazer]

I’d love to get involved!

My thoughts so far;

Book-canon The town of Saltpans was burnt by raiders and the Knight, Lord Cox, locked himself in his castle and did nothing to help.

Not book-canon Lord Cox was deposed by decree of Edmure Tully (currently hostage of the Lannisters), and a new Knight was put in place to rebuild the town and expand the port for trading. The new knight, a mild-mannered man who has the ‘distinction’ of being the favourite bastard of Ser Forley Prester, was chosen for this position as a reward to Forley for his loyalty, and because Forley happened to be in the room when the decision was made (having been given the job of escorting Edmure Tully to Casterly Rock). Since taking the position, the new knight has had a whirlwind romance with a Martell girl, and subsequently married her, much to the annoyance of his Lannister benefactors. His new wife has proven to be an asset in rebuilding the town, showing great skill as an administrator and diplomat.

Does this sound reasonable so far?

[savoylen]

Originally Posted by Elanir

@Savoylen: It will take me at least a few days to flesh out House Curver, but please know that I am working on it.

Are there any limits to the House’s (extended) family? What about officials and retainers? How many of them would it be reasonable to create?

Sounds great!

Not really (no limits on size)... just whatever you can keep track of. Some of these minor houses will be small in numbers, some could be quite large. There any number or reasons why they would still be a Minor House. They're holdings could have been recently reduced to the chaotic times or perhaps there is a very powerful rival. That is all up to you! Enjoy