Black Sands(Intrigue Rpg, info/interest check)

So, with lockdowns in place, I'm left with a lot more time on my hands as I imagine other people are. With a few other games starting to wind down, maybe it's time to make something so people have something to do. This can be kind of looked more of a suggestion on my end. I don't think I'm too skilled at gm related stuff, so if someone feels they could do better with the idea and wants to lead it, then they are more than welcome to take it from me. Intrigue games usually end up flopping, but I figure with the amount of time on people's hands, this could actually work.

My only real intention with it is two things. To give people something to do, and try something a little different outside of the typical western themes we see.

In the walls of the grand city of Kharum, Pharaoh Tota Amenssess, resides in the grand palace amassing his armies and pushing into the west, while they push back. The borders of the empire an unyielding wall where neither force can make progress. The empire repelled by the joint forces of the Western neighbors banding together, but still constantly threatened to be swallowed by the civilization of Thiata.

But not all wars are fought on the front lines. The capital itself is subject to corrupt merchants, thieves, power hungry councilors, and with the Knight's Templar starting to turn it's attention to the capital, chaos is constantly brewing under the surface, and will soon be brought to the surface....whether or not, they are a manipulative princess, a secret society member belonging to an an ancient war, or just a lowly beggar, everyone's goals have turned into the same. There's only one specific goal, whatever walks in life someone has. Don't die.

Magic is a present force in this universe and the Thiatan's have very few concerns of how it's used or what kind of forces it is. The only concern is who. In their society, the bottom rungs of the ladder are treated with disdain while the crimes for bringing harm to the nobility are swift and severe. That doesn't mean nobility is safe either. If anything, it just makes them a much greater target for cloak and dagger games more than some lowly chambermaid.

I'm not sure what kind of system I had in mind, but it might be the one we've gotten used to using. Except I kind of had a twist on it. While you have five points to spend...your best skill is hidden from other players and only known to the gm. Could this character actually be a master swordsman or a master manipulator? You won't know, until it gets sprung on you. It's up to the players when they want to reveal their true talent and if they want to really challenge themselves, see how long they could go only relying on their weaker skills. Or just wait until a pivotal time for the sudden revelation they are actually a powerful sorcerer. This is just an idea of something that could be done, but I think it has potential to make things more interesting when it comes to planning out actions concerning other players, never sure what you've seen from them is really all they can do or what their secret skill actually is and whether or not it could derail your plans at a moment's notice.

Just voicing my thoughts. People can let me know how they feel about it or if anyone thinks they got a better version and idea for how it should go since I don't see myself as the greatest of gms, but just feel like having more for people to do right now anyway.

 

In lockdown too, so I am more open to another rpg. This does sound interesting.

 

I'm iterested as well.

 

Alright. I'll try working up a rough info thing. If it's occurred to anyone before, I don't usually think too far too ahead so I'm working out some of the details. The world is loosely based on one I had on my personal discord server, so I have some of the general lore plotted out. I'm wondering if character's true factions should be kept a secret as well. I'm not too experienced in intrigue based games, so I'm still open to someone just hijacking it from me, but I'm sure I can work something out. I don't really want to tell players what they should or shouldn't do. I also think it can make consequences more interesting if you can't be sure that certain characters aren't actually moles or might actually be completely loyal after all, but it's made difficult to be sure.

I think my rules are going to be mostly with player to player interaction and that things like harems, mind control, rape, and all that stuff. I won't stop players from doing it, but that should be discussed with the other player first at least rather than trying to start those things without the other person actually agreeing to it. Including relationship dynamics for that matter. If that's how players have fun, that's fine. It should just be something both(or possibly more) people agree to. I know what my point is, this may sound like I'm just babbling though. Basically won't stop people from doing harder things, just be sure it's something that other players are actually good with doing first. Go nuts with npcs though as long as it's still in the site guidelines.

 

I'm definitely interested too. Uni is on a break due to the virus, so I was hoping for something to do. Is the psychic rpg still on?

 

I hope both rpgs are still on.

 

I still plan on doing the psychic one. Just having issues figuring out where to go about doing things for that one.

 

Glad to hear that. Take your time.

 

I don't know what my plan is for that one, but a game with a different setting outside of western culture is something I kind of wanted for a while now, so may as well just take initiative on the front. Something with east asian themes would be good too...but thoughts for later in the future. Still not sure how good or poorly I am at gm'ing, but, I'll see what I can do with this.

 

I've been enjoying it so far.

 

Agreed.

 

Same here, I don't have much to do right now. So I'm in.

 

Alright. That should be a good number of people, though I won't stop more from joining if they want to. I'm still pretty new to actually running things so I don't know how good I will be with a super large group, but I think we could definitely fit more in, if people want to play.

 

I'll have to see if I can think of a character to play for this. What other civilisations are the besides the Egyptian-themed Empire?

 

Hmm, well if I'm going off the little discord world I had, their major enemies were a Germanic vampire kingdom that's at war with them to ward off the invasion....so they can keep their human neighbors alive as cattle to feed on.

I haven't really thought about the other parts of the world, but if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

 

Desert Elves / Sand Elves are a possible player race?

 

I didn't know those were a thing to be honest. That should be fine I think. I don't imagine them too heavily integrated into Thiatin society however, but there's probably some exceptions too. I don't know enough about DND sand elf culture and the like to comment on what they do and don't have and all that, but I see no reason you couldn't use one really.

 

To be honest, neither do I. The only such elves I have encountered previously are the ones from Battle for Wesnoth. So I guess we will be making things up as we go along.

Anyway, I already have an idea for a character, but will need some time to turn it into text.

 

No worries. I don’t expect people to be all ready and stuff right today obviously.

 

I'm intrested too. I can play only one rpg and Empire almost finished so I'm looking for something new. If I understand correct, your fantasy world will be more like acident Egipt, then medival Europe?