First Impressions of Birthright

[dominicreynolds@dial.pip]

Its a long time ago now, clutches the zimmerframe (walker for
those who need translation), however when I first heard of
the Birthright game setting my first impression was 1st level
and you are a King of a realm - what do you need to adventure
for.

One of my RPGing buddies loves shopping, and I thought of him
writing down the equipment for a character in this setting with
much humor. If only characters got XPs for shopping :-)

So my impression was that the game was mainly to encourage
very young and impressionable players into the game.. Start
as a Ruler and become the Emperor.

The first time I saw it being played, a number of people were
using the background for a Dark Elven (FR) game, using a
combination of Menzobaranzum (sp?) and BR rules to play the
noble houses.

I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.

I have seen players doing 4 DT in an evening, which though it can
be interesting, then gives those non regent characters a year of
adventuring.

So what is the greatest amount of Domain Turns a game has gone
through without any adventuring.

Does anyone bid more than 4 ?


Dom
- ---

mailto:dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com or mailto:dominicr@bigfoot.comTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[SCO Adam Theo]

Hello Birthrighters, Adam Theo here.
This day of Thursday, May 27, 1999, at 8:26:40 AM

On Thursday, May 27, 1999, dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com [dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com]
Wrote in [BIRTHRIGHT] - First Impressions of Birthright:

ddpc> Its a long time ago now, clutches the zimmerframe (walker for
ddpc> those who need translation), however when I first heard of
ddpc> the Birthright game setting my first impression was 1st level
ddpc> and you are a King of a realm - what do you need to adventure
ddpc> for.

ddpc> One of my RPGing buddies loves shopping, and I thought of him
ddpc> writing down the equipment for a character in this setting with
ddpc> much humor. If only characters got XPs for shopping :-)

ddpc> So my impression was that the game was mainly to encourage
ddpc> very young and impressionable players into the game.. Start
ddpc> as a Ruler and become the Emperor.

ddpc> The first time I saw it being played, a number of people were
ddpc> using the background for a Dark Elven (FR) game, using a
ddpc> combination of Menzobaranzum (sp?) and BR rules to play the
ddpc> noble houses.

ddpc> I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
ddpc> the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
ddpc> Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.

ddpc> I have seen players doing 4 DT in an evening, which though it can
ddpc> be interesting, then gives those non regent characters a year of
ddpc> adventuring.

ddpc> So what is the greatest amount of Domain Turns a game has gone
ddpc> through without any adventuring.

ddpc> Does anyone bid more than 4 ?


ddpc> Dom
ddpc> ---

ddpc> mailto:dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com or mailto:dominicr@bigfoot.com
ddpc> ************************************************** *************************
ddpc> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
ddpc> with the line

Here is my reply:
wow, that's long. i now go about one month without some sort of mini
adventure or roleplaying. there is almost always something to roleplay
inbetween or during months on a character level... i try to
incorporate adventures that do happen as more political intrigue,
since i find it impossible to get my players to adventure in response
to 'mundane' things like responding to monsters or bandits. i don't
mind. i'd rather focus on the betrayals, the mysteries, etc.

at most, i've gone 2 turns, though. that was just after a series of
huge wars which left the PCs emotionally and resourcefully drained,
and they really wanted to spend time getting their domains back on
track to prosperity.

- --
Adam Theo, A Patriotic American Libertarian Capitalist.
SCO of Theoretic Internet Services, http://www.theoretic.com, http://www.theoretic.com
'Your Web Hosting, Email Forward, and Weather Forecast Solution,
With Just Two Words: Quality and Privacy.'
Mailto:adamtheo@Theoretic.com , ICQ:22377963
Using 1.33

To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[SCO Adam Theo]

Hello Birthrighters, Adam Theo here.
This day of Thursday, May 27, 1999, at 8:26:40 AM

On Thursday, May 27, 1999, dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com [dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com]
Wrote in [BIRTHRIGHT] - First Impressions of Birthright:

ddpc> Its a long time ago now, clutches the zimmerframe (walker for
ddpc> those who need translation), however when I first heard of
ddpc> the Birthright game setting my first impression was 1st level
ddpc> and you are a King of a realm - what do you need to adventure
ddpc> for.

ddpc> One of my RPGing buddies loves shopping, and I thought of him
ddpc> writing down the equipment for a character in this setting with
ddpc> much humor. If only characters got XPs for shopping :-)

ddpc> So my impression was that the game was mainly to encourage
ddpc> very young and impressionable players into the game.. Start
ddpc> as a Ruler and become the Emperor.

ddpc> The first time I saw it being played, a number of people were
ddpc> using the background for a Dark Elven (FR) game, using a
ddpc> combination of Menzobaranzum (sp?) and BR rules to play the
ddpc> noble houses.

ddpc> I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
ddpc> the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
ddpc> Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.

ddpc> I have seen players doing 4 DT in an evening, which though it can
ddpc> be interesting, then gives those non regent characters a year of
ddpc> adventuring.

ddpc> So what is the greatest amount of Domain Turns a game has gone
ddpc> through without any adventuring.

ddpc> Does anyone bid more than 4 ?


ddpc> Dom
ddpc> ---

ddpc> mailto:dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com or mailto:dominicr@bigfoot.com
ddpc> ************************************************** *************************
ddpc> To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
ddpc> with the line

Here is my reply:
wow, that's long. i now go about one month without some sort of mini
adventure or roleplaying. there is almost always something to roleplay
inbetween or during months on a character level... i try to
incorporate adventures that do happen as more political intrigue,
since i find it impossible to get my players to adventure in response
to 'mundane' things like responding to monsters or bandits. i don't
mind. i'd rather focus on the betrayals, the mysteries, etc.

at most, i've gone 2 turns, though. that was just after a series of
huge wars which left the PCs emotionally and resourcefully drained,
and they really wanted to spend time getting their domains back on
track to prosperity.

- --
Adam Theo, A Patriotic American Libertarian Capitalist.
SCO of Theoretic Internet Services, http://www.theoretic.com, http://www.theoretic.com
'Your Web Hosting, Email Forward, and Weather Forecast Solution,
With Just Two Words: Quality and Privacy.'
Mailto:adamtheo@Theoretic.com , ICQ:22377963
Using 1.33

To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Alaric]

dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com wrote:
>
> Its a long time ago now, clutches the zimmerframe (walker for
> those who need translation), however when I first heard of
> the Birthright game setting my first impression was 1st level
> and you are a King of a realm - what do you need to adventure
> for.
>
> One of my RPGing buddies loves shopping, and I thought of him
> writing down the equipment for a character in this setting with
> much humor. If only characters got XPs for shopping :-)
>
> So my impression was that the game was mainly to encourage
> very young and impressionable players into the game.. Start
> as a Ruler and become the Emperor.
>
> The first time I saw it being played, a number of people were
> using the background for a Dark Elven (FR) game, using a
> combination of Menzobaranzum (sp?) and BR rules to play the
> noble houses.
>
> I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
> the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
> Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.
>
> I have seen players doing 4 DT in an evening, which though it can
> be interesting, then gives those non regent characters a year of
> adventuring.
>
> So what is the greatest amount of Domain Turns a game has gone
> through without any adventuring.
>
> Does anyone bid more than 4 ?
>
> Dom
> ---
>

8 here, but I suspect PBEM games might go an entire campaign.To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Alaric]

dominicreynolds@dial.pipex.com wrote:
>
> Its a long time ago now, clutches the zimmerframe (walker for
> those who need translation), however when I first heard of
> the Birthright game setting my first impression was 1st level
> and you are a King of a realm - what do you need to adventure
> for.
>
> One of my RPGing buddies loves shopping, and I thought of him
> writing down the equipment for a character in this setting with
> much humor. If only characters got XPs for shopping :-)
>
> So my impression was that the game was mainly to encourage
> very young and impressionable players into the game.. Start
> as a Ruler and become the Emperor.
>
> The first time I saw it being played, a number of people were
> using the background for a Dark Elven (FR) game, using a
> combination of Menzobaranzum (sp?) and BR rules to play the
> noble houses.
>
> I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
> the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
> Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.
>
> I have seen players doing 4 DT in an evening, which though it can
> be interesting, then gives those non regent characters a year of
> adventuring.
>
> So what is the greatest amount of Domain Turns a game has gone
> through without any adventuring.
>
> Does anyone bid more than 4 ?
>
> Dom
> ---
>

8 here, but I suspect PBEM games might go an entire campaign. We had no
nonregents, as well.To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line

[Kenneth Gauck]

>I now very much enjoy the BR setting, however I do find that
>the game can become focused on the regents and their Domain
>Turns, and sometimes role playing can be left behind to an extent.
>

IMC, there was far more role play in the politics of realms than in the
adventuring. We had 2 hours every other week (alternating with a Dark Sun
campaign the other two weeks that we did not play). As DM, I was sending
e-mails concerning political events maybe three times a week. When all was
said and done, players spent more time replying to e-mails about what they
would say in council, or to foriegn diplomats, or before the people than
they did in our semi-monthly sessions of actual play.

When you consider local, regional, family, guild, temple, and inter-realm
politics, to put aside the question of the Iron Throne or other such
meta-politics, you have more than a regent can handle. The regent has to
pick and choose what to address and what to leave alone for a later time, or
just hope for the best.

Much of the conflict I set before the players was good-on-good conflict.
Two trusted advisors don't get along. Perhaps the council is divided into
two or more factions. Have everyone trying to preserve, and sometimes
advance, their own interests. Permit very few NPC's who take a broad and
realm-wide view. At the very least attach family loyalties to an NPC who as
loyal only to the PC's. Let's say your campaign is set in Roesone. On top
of all the intrigue discussed in that Sup, add conflicts between the towns
and the surrounding villages (rights in market, taxes, jurisdictions,
outside merchants, prices); personality and policy conflicts in the council;
personality and policy conflicts among the nobles; do the same for the
temples, and the guilds. Work out who all the nobles are, and what all the
guilds do. Such detail will suggest of its own nature conflict.

I assume there are as many nobles families in a province as there are levels
in a province. That means Roeson has 21 nobles houses. Most are squirely,
owinging a single estate. They are basically large land owners who are lead
by classed individuals, mostly fighters. Half of them have bloodlines.
Most of these bloodlines are around 4-10. Bloodpowers of these are not
only minor, but mostly inconcesequential; many have no Bloodpower, only a
few points of Bloodstrength. When you consoder how these families will
co-exist over the generations, the families with strong bloodlines (20 and
above) will eventually produce children who marry un-blooded nobles or
commoners. Eventually there is a whole sub-group of nobles with diluted
bloodlines. The politics of this group of nobles, with their connections
to the strongly blooded nobles, templars, guilders, and mages makes for a
vastly interesting political scene. They may divided in their loyalties to
the regent, or to foriegn powers -- but most interesting is when they are
all more or less patriotic but are loyal to symbols, policies, factions, or
ideologies that divide them from one another.

So, just because a game has little to do with adventuring, the role play can
be even greater in BR.

Kenneth Gauck
c558382@earthlink.net

To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line