The Fellowship of the Fourth Age (Part 1): A New Beginning Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Child of the 7th Age · 07-04-2006, 11:29 PM

Folwren,

I am sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

_____________________

I have just gotten back and must read over the discussion thread and the game. I promise to post in the story and to respond to questions on this thread, hopefully tomorrow.

Tevildo · 07-04-2006, 11:48 PM

Folwren,

I am really sorry to hear this. I hope things turn out well.

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

I just arrived home and will look at the game tomorrow.

Hilde Bracegirdle · 07-05-2006, 10:09 AM

I will keep both horse and family in prayer, Folwren.

Firefoot · 07-05-2006, 12:11 PM

I'm a little bit confused about the Orcs' situation. I had assumed that they would be skipping two months from the first posts just like the rest of the groups, but Nogrod's post seems to immediately follow them. If they did skip two months... what have they been doing in the mean time? If they had just kept travelling, they would be far ahead of the slaves/Gondorian group...

Regin Hardhammer · 07-05-2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

So Regin: how about we start with the assumption that both Gwerr and Ishkur have a shared past (well not necessarily been at the same platoons or something, but having beeen involved in the same battles and hardships - and ended up on the same plantation) and would thence be inclined to trust each other somewhat - at least over the others. Colagar could be something like Gwerr's "mate", but as you see from the first post I made, their relation is not the happiest one. That would set us the opportunity to go and see the ways how our characters could come to know each other better during this little trek and see what comes out of it: disaster or friendship - or something in between?

I think it's fine that our characters have had some sort of past relationship. I'll make sure to include that in my next post. In regard to the general question of conflict between the orcs and the uruk-hai, I think there will definitely be some of that in the game, both in terms of personalities and vying for political power within the orc group.

However, I do think that some of those concerns will be swept away when the orcs are presented with a group of slaves and men from the west. Whether they like it or not, the confrontation will force them to learn to cooperate with each other.

- Regin

Durelin · 07-05-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

I'm a little bit confused about the Orcs' situation. I had assumed that they would be skipping two months from the first posts just like the rest of the groups, but Nogrod's post seems to immediately follow them. If they did skip two months... what have they been doing in the mean time? If they had just kept travelling, they would be far ahead of the slaves/Gondorian group...

I think we're assuming that the Orcs' first posts actually occured after the two month skip for the Fellowship and the slaves.

Is that what you were thinking, Child? (Another question for you, sorry. Please, take your time responding.

)

I'm sorry for the confusion...time is an odd thing, particularly in games.

Nogrod · 07-05-2006, 02:08 PM

Quote:

= Durelin
I'm sorry for the confusion...time is an odd thing, particularly in games.

Yes it seems, but in #126 Child was encouraging us to start posting to get the orcs on the way.

And surely it's better that we get also the orcs on the move so that the characters have time to get to know each other and create relations before meeting with challenges?

Child of the 7th Age · 07-05-2006, 02:33 PM

This is not something that Durelin and I have talked about at length, but this is my perception. Durelin -- if you see things differently, please pitch in and we can hammer this out.

I have been involved in a number of games that initially had two or three separate story lines. Generally, we have not made an effort to coordinate the time line for these different groups until the actual point when the characters met up in the story. Thus, the fellowship/slaves might be settling down in camp for the night while the orcs are posting in the morning (or vice versa). It might be day one for the Orcs on the trail and day three for the other group.

The same is true for the two-month gap. You are certainly correct that the Orcs left their plantation (not necessarily the same one from which the slaves escaped) months later than the slaves. This is why the Orc posts were put at the end of the first posts....after those of the slaves and those of the fellowship leaving Gondor.

If it would make things clearer, I will gladly append a heading to the first orc post (I believe Regin's) that would simply say "Two months later"... or some such indication that time has passed.

I think we have very good precedent for treating time like this: the example of Tolkien himself. LotR consists of a series of interlaced stories. Tolkien did keep strict account of the various days the different groups spent on their activties in his outlines, but he was very loose about this in the story itself. We don't get an exact accounting with days and nights matching up purposely between Sam and Frodo, for example, and those of the rest of the group.

I think this loose correspondence will work till the point when the groups actually meet. I do have some thoughts on the Orc situation and will post when I get back from my taxi duties as mom.

07-04-2006, 11:48 PM	#2
Tevildo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Curled up on Melko's lap Posts: 425	Folwren, I am really sorry to hear this. I hope things turn out well. -------------- I just arrived home and will look at the game tomorrow. __________________ Now Tevildo was a mighty cat--the mightiest of all--and possessed of an evil spirit,...and he was in Melko's constant following; and that cat had all cats subject to him, and he and his subjects were the chasers and getters of meat for Melko's table. Last edited by Tevildo; 07-05-2006 at 12:42 AM.

07-05-2006, 02:33 PM	#8
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	This is not something that Durelin and I have talked about at length, but this is my perception. Durelin -- if you see things differently, please pitch in and we can hammer this out. I have been involved in a number of games that initially had two or three separate story lines. Generally, we have not made an effort to coordinate the time line for these different groups until the actual point when the characters met up in the story. Thus, the fellowship/slaves might be settling down in camp for the night while the orcs are posting in the morning (or vice versa). It might be day one for the Orcs on the trail and day three for the other group. The same is true for the two-month gap. You are certainly correct that the Orcs left their plantation (not necessarily the same one from which the slaves escaped) months later than the slaves. This is why the Orc posts were put at the end of the first posts....after those of the slaves and those of the fellowship leaving Gondor. If it would make things clearer, I will gladly append a heading to the first orc post (I believe Regin's) that would simply say "Two months later"... or some such indication that time has passed. I think we have very good precedent for treating time like this: the example of Tolkien himself. LotR consists of a series of interlaced stories. Tolkien did keep strict account of the various days the different groups spent on their activties in his outlines, but he was very loose about this in the story itself. We don't get an exact accounting with days and nights matching up purposely between Sam and Frodo, for example, and those of the rest of the group. I think this loose correspondence will work till the point when the groups actually meet. I do have some thoughts on the Orc situation and will post when I get back from my taxi duties as mom. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote. Last edited by Child of the 7th Age; 07-05-2006 at 04:53 PM.

07-04-2006, 11:29 PM	#1
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Folwren, I am sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you. _____________________ I have just gotten back and must read over the discussion thread and the game. I promise to post in the story and to respond to questions on this thread, hopefully tomorrow. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

07-05-2006, 10:09 AM	#3
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	I will keep both horse and family in prayer, Folwren.

07-05-2006, 12:11 PM	#4
Firefoot Illusionary Holbytla Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 7,547	I'm a little bit confused about the Orcs' situation. I had assumed that they would be skipping two months from the first posts just like the rest of the groups, but Nogrod's post seems to immediately follow them. If they did skip two months... what have they been doing in the mean time? If they had just kept travelling, they would be far ahead of the slaves/Gondorian group...