The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Bloodstained Elanor Planning/Discussion Thread

Durelin · 03-04-2004, 06:25 PM

I know it is dominating the discussion, and that's why Fordim has PMed me to help clear things up.

He is right in one point: many things should be allowed to just be played out in the game. Everything can be set down, or it's just no fun.

So, I believe we can continue to discuss possibilities concerning the houseless, anyone who wishes too, over PM. That way, the planning thread can return to being more open to discussion.

Soon (I promise), I will get a sketchy RPG proposal filled out. Fordim suggested one with the Houseless a part of the story, one without. These will be general, of course.

And, actually, the Lorien scout party is the one that has the reason to be out wandering. The Mirkwood scout party does not have a defined purpose, as far as I remember. A Mirkwood scout party was only really mentioned, as I recall.

Here, I will post these outlines again (with some revisions and additions), as they sum up much of the options discussed:

Houseless Possibility:

Lorien envoy/scout troop (which one?) find inner border patrols gone, without any signs of dead or with signs of slaughter obvious, and follow tracks to Mirkwood.
-Tracks: Lead into a trap?
-The work of careless orcs and easterlings?
Mirkwood scouts carefully make their way south toward Dol Guldur, perhaps following the trail of the orcs and easterlings sent to take prisoners back to Dol Guldur, and to gain reinforcements?
-Catch up: confrontation, elves freed, learn of Houseless (or just that there’s more of an army back in Mirkwood), run back to help out Lorien group
-Catch up: confrontation: one or some of the Houseless are with the party of orcs and easterlings
a. defeated: cannot face power of Houseles
-Captured?
-Killed?
-Become Houseless?
b. win: orcs and easterlings refuse to take orders from Houseless?
-this seems unlikely, unfortunately
Meanwhile, with Lorien group: come to Mirkwood
-Find ambush awaiting them
Or
-Just catch up with Houseless and crew
-Confront Houseless
-Bring back from dark side
(somewhere in that battle the Mirkwood elves could come to rescue)
Envoy makes contact with Mirkwood elves, at last, and so we come to the united army bit
Army marches from Dol Guldur
Last Stand
Destruction of Ring
Victory

------------

United Army Possibility #1:
Scouts find the army:
-already on the move
-Preparing to attack
Report back
Seek aid from Thranduil
-Envoy: incorporate more characters, of more types than elven warrior/scout
-Inner borders must hold
-Aid gained from Thranduil: united forces drive back orc army
-End here
or
-Move on to destruction of Dol Guldur

-------------

United Army Possibility #2:
Scouts encounter Orc scout troop:
-Skirmish
-Capture orc
-Learn plans of army
From here:
-Move to above possibility,
-Above possibility + Houseless
or
-Lorien stands alone

------------

A Summary of the Basics:

The outer border patrols of Lorien have disappeared. A scout party is sent to investigate. An orc army is discovered to be near or even inside the edges of the forest. - or, a survivor is found: Houseless. Either way, an army is preparing to attack Lorien from Dol Guldur. It may be that Mirkwood is also being attacked. But, Lorien needs aid. An envoy is sent to Mirkwood to ask Thranduil for aid. While the envoy is gone, the soldiers of Lorien must hold back the orcs. (another viewpoint) They return with soldiers of Mirkwood, surprising them from behind. Perhaps they could intercept the orc/easterling patrol we spoke of returning to Dol Guldur with hostages - or with the Houseless (as he now has a body, so he's done his work??). The orc/easterling (an easterling leader work well) army is defeated. Skip to the meeting in Mirkwood renewed, the renaming.

------------

What I do not want everyone to be so set on is 'plot twists'. Plot twists should not be set down during planning, an they should not be entire events or characters added as a twist. If that is what you wish to add the Houseless for, I hope you will reconsider. 'Plot twists' are formed as characters develop, once we actually begin to roleplay. How characters act, react, think, feel: that is what makes a story interesting, as well as a strong, sensible, good storyline.

No, I have not thrown out the idea of Houseless. Of course not. But, I want the discussion to become much more of a planning thread for a RPG, rather than a discussion about these spirits. Once we reach an idea of a storyline, we will see if the Houseless fit, and are still desired as an aspect to the story.

I hope I didn't sound nasty or anything. I'm just trying to get things straightened out...but I feel so nasty doing it!

~

Concerning females: I do not doubt their power, I merely know that it is not realistic for elf women to be running around in the forests during the War of the Ring when orcs were practically closing in. I most likely would have accpeted this fact, as well.

03-04-2004, 06:25 PM	#49
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	I know it is dominating the discussion, and that's why Fordim has PMed me to help clear things up. He is right in one point: many things should be allowed to just be played out in the game. Everything can be set down, or it's just no fun. So, I believe we can continue to discuss possibilities concerning the houseless, anyone who wishes too, over PM. That way, the planning thread can return to being more open to discussion. Soon (I promise), I will get a sketchy RPG proposal filled out. Fordim suggested one with the Houseless a part of the story, one without. These will be general, of course. And, actually, the Lorien scout party is the one that has the reason to be out wandering. The Mirkwood scout party does not have a defined purpose, as far as I remember. A Mirkwood scout party was only really mentioned, as I recall. Here, I will post these outlines again (with some revisions and additions), as they sum up much of the options discussed: Houseless Possibility: Lorien envoy/scout troop (which one?) find inner border patrols gone, without any signs of dead or with signs of slaughter obvious, and follow tracks to Mirkwood. -Tracks: Lead into a trap? -The work of careless orcs and easterlings? Mirkwood scouts carefully make their way south toward Dol Guldur, perhaps following the trail of the orcs and easterlings sent to take prisoners back to Dol Guldur, and to gain reinforcements? -Catch up: confrontation, elves freed, learn of Houseless (or just that there’s more of an army back in Mirkwood), run back to help out Lorien group -Catch up: confrontation: one or some of the Houseless are with the party of orcs and easterlings a. defeated: cannot face power of Houseles -Captured? -Killed? -Become Houseless? b. win: orcs and easterlings refuse to take orders from Houseless? -this seems unlikely, unfortunately Meanwhile, with Lorien group: come to Mirkwood -Find ambush awaiting them Or -Just catch up with Houseless and crew -Confront Houseless -Bring back from dark side (somewhere in that battle the Mirkwood elves could come to rescue) Envoy makes contact with Mirkwood elves, at last, and so we come to the united army bit Army marches from Dol Guldur Last Stand Destruction of Ring Victory ------------ United Army Possibility #1: Scouts find the army: -already on the move -Preparing to attack Report back Seek aid from Thranduil -Envoy: incorporate more characters, of more types than elven warrior/scout -Inner borders must hold -Aid gained from Thranduil: united forces drive back orc army -End here or -Move on to destruction of Dol Guldur ------------- United Army Possibility #2: Scouts encounter Orc scout troop: -Skirmish -Capture orc -Learn plans of army From here: -Move to above possibility, -Above possibility + Houseless or -Lorien stands alone ------------ A Summary of the Basics: The outer border patrols of Lorien have disappeared. A scout party is sent to investigate. An orc army is discovered to be near or even inside the edges of the forest. - or, a survivor is found: Houseless. Either way, an army is preparing to attack Lorien from Dol Guldur. It may be that Mirkwood is also being attacked. But, Lorien needs aid. An envoy is sent to Mirkwood to ask Thranduil for aid. While the envoy is gone, the soldiers of Lorien must hold back the orcs. (another viewpoint) They return with soldiers of Mirkwood, surprising them from behind. Perhaps they could intercept the orc/easterling patrol we spoke of returning to Dol Guldur with hostages - or with the Houseless (as he now has a body, so he's done his work??). The orc/easterling (an easterling leader work well) army is defeated. Skip to the meeting in Mirkwood renewed, the renaming. ------------ What I do not want everyone to be so set on is 'plot twists'. Plot twists should not be set down during planning, an they should not be entire events or characters added as a twist. If that is what you wish to add the Houseless for, I hope you will reconsider. 'Plot twists' are formed as characters develop, once we actually begin to roleplay. How characters act, react, think, feel: that is what makes a story interesting, as well as a strong, sensible, good storyline. No, I have not thrown out the idea of Houseless. Of course not. But, I want the discussion to become much more of a planning thread for a RPG, rather than a discussion about these spirits. Once we reach an idea of a storyline, we will see if the Houseless fit, and are still desired as an aspect to the story. I hope I didn't sound nasty or anything. I'm just trying to get things straightened out...but I feel so nasty doing it! ~ Concerning females: I do not doubt their power, I merely know that it is not realistic for elf women to be running around in the forests during the War of the Ring when orcs were practically closing in. I most likely would have accpeted this fact, as well.