Session 0

Status
PAUSED until Further Notice
Schedules change, people get swamped. Life happens...


What kind of game is this?
Into the darkness is a low magic fantasy survival game. Your characters aren't auditioning for godhood; they're scraping by until they can find that big score. We're playing a hacked version of Freeform Univeral; as such there will be some modifications to the standard system.

Changes and House Rulings
For our purposes, FU points shall be known as Will points. Why? A couple of reasons. First, FU sounds more like a kiss-off than something you can spend to do cool stuff with your character. But more importantly...

While magic is considered rare and powerful in our Realm, it is entirely possible for your PC to be able to cast spells. Unless you roll extremely well, this will require spending one or more Will points to accomplish. In addition, you can spend Will points for extra advantage dice (one each). I'd suggest not spending them all in one place, however. If you would like to play as a spellcaster, let me know. We'll need to figure out what spells or abilities are available to you.

Otherwise, Will points shall work the same way as FU points, as described in the system reference (SRD).

Status Conditions, Death, and Dying
The classic SRD doesn't have a lot to say about death, so I'll say something about it here: if you aren't careful with your character, it CAN happen. It won't happen instantly, however. Pay close attention to your conditions; if it looks like your characters are on death's door, they probably are.

More specifically, if you have more than two conditions checked on your sheet, expect the dying condition to come up if you're damaged or afflicted again. This will, of course, depend on the context of the fiction, but it could happen so be prepared.

OMG, NOW WHAT?
A dying PC needs someone to take a turn and either cast a recovery spell (heal or cure ailment) or attempt first aid to stabilize them (expend a bandage if you have one), then make a beat-the-odds roll. Success or failure will be narrated according to the results of the roll -- good luck!

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The Social Contract
Activity Level
I expect to post at least four times a week, either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday. On most days players will have until 10:00 PM Central (USA) to make their moves; after that I start considering my responses. A player who doesn't post by then is essentially skipping their turn. I'll make the most sensible assumptions I can about what happens next, but the fiction will move forward.

We're all aware that life happens sometimes. Just let us know in the OOC channel if you have to step away for more than a couple of days.

Safety Tools
Use lines and veils to define things you don't want to see. You may add or remove them at any time during the game. Just let me know. You can always message your boundaries to me directly if you aren't comfortable posting them directly in the thread.

If anything comes up in the roleplay that hits particularly hard, you could post (or DM me) an [X] with perhaps a brief note about what needs to be retconned. We'll pause the roleplay and address the offending content.

I don't need to know 'why', I just need to know 'what' to remove.

Lines
Lines are boundaries we can't cross. The subject matter listed here shouldn't be mentioned in the roleplay at all.

• Body horror.
• ...
• ...

Veils
These boundaries might come up in the fiction, but if they do we 'fade to black' or 'pan away' from the offending action instead of describing it.

• The group has expressed a strong preference to keep things close to PG-13.
• ...
• ...

We're all here for fun. Let's make it amazing!
BE EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER

Procedures
Character Generation
There should be a Freeform Universal character sheet available via the 'custom' system setting. If for some reason that doesn't work, there is an example character for reference here.

Follow the Freeform Universal SRD and the above reference to create your own character. Feel free to ask questions here in Session 0 if you need clarification on something. You're free to create any character that makes sense for the setting.

As stated elsewhere, our story is set in a pre-medieval society of city-states with an iron-age technology level. Outfit your character accordingly.

I'm including lists for race and class for those needing inspiration. You do not have to adhere to these lists, you could just go completely freeform and discuss your ideas below. Remember that these lists serve the fiction; they're here to facilitate character creation, not put you in a straitjacket. Note: In this world, Dwarves, Elves, Humans, and Halflings are all considered common. Exotic races such as Catkin, Dragonkin, and Pixie are considered rare. If you select one, don't be surprised if you're met with mixed reactions around town.

The same goes with exotic classes. If you're a wizard or a druid and you let your powers loose where common folk can see them, expect to be met with awe and suspicion.

Your choice of class may confer special abilities or advantages. We'll address the specifics during character creation.

Spells
The list isn't perfect, but I've tried to cover several domains with a balanced selection. I've taken inspiration from games like D&D, Heroquest, and the usual suspects. There are four spells per domain; in most cases you'll be selecting one spell deliberately and then if you're entitled more you'll get the rest rolled randomly to start. As stated elsewhere, the Winds of Magick can be fickle.

This does not lock you in; spells can be learned later from other domains if you can find a source for learning them. Selection may also be determined by class, i.e., clerics traditionally begin their career by selecting from the Order domain.

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Procedures
Torches
Fumbling in the dark means rolling with extreme disadvantage, which leads to heightened hazards and missed treasures. The party will need a torchbearer or other suitable source of light. Certain events and actions will instigate what I call a torch check, essentially a beat-the-odds roll to see if the light continues. If this check fails, someone burns a torch (or casts a light spell, etc.) to keep the light going.

I'll get the party's consensus on this before we move out of Session 0: the torch check can either be a narrator roll or (since FU loves player-facing dice rolls) whoever is carrying the torch can do the roll when the narrator calls for the check.

Rest & Recovery
If the party secures a location that allows them to do so, they may rest & recover. It is assumed that a watch rotation is established for long rests; as such, each PC expends one ration and (optionally) one torch to recover a Will point or remove a condition (up to 2, one for the ration and one for the torch).

Casters can also get their Will point back if they roll a yes, and result on their beat-the-odds roll during the casting. This only applies to the initial spend, not to any Will expended to boost the roll.

Will points may also be earned as outlined in the FU SRD (reference: how FU points are handled).

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Order of Play
Who Goes First?
Generally, the Narrator will set the scene.

Since this is an asynchronous game, initiative will be a function of the fiction rather than any die roll. Either the party goes first or the monsters do, and we take it from there. As such, post your move (or at least the intent) whenever you're available to do so. For this game, we're not concerned about turn order. Just narrate what your character is doing or (if the outcome is uncertain) what they intend to do.

When do I roll?
Some situations can be handled by playing it through without rolling any dice at all. Sometimes, conflict is inevitable.

Make a beat-the-odds roll whenever you're being actively opposed or attempting an action with an uncertain outcome. If you wish to use one of the alternate charts from the SRD make sure you declare which chart you want to use to resolve your roll. Otherwise I'll interpret the result using the default. Which is fine, really.

Next, determine how many dice to roll. Identify and add any condition, detail, descriptor, or piece of gear that would make your PC's action easier or more successful. Subtract any of those things the would oppose the PC's action or make it more difficult.

Example Scenario
Nash the Brave, a Gatewarden from Finn's Crossing and Mira, a Geomancer from the Iron Coast have tracked a sheep-thieving giant cyclops to some nearby foothills and confronted him halfway up one of the hills. The time for words is past -- let's get to some action!Nash would like to shoot the giant cyclops in the eye with his sling. He's a skilled marksman with nimble fingers, so we'll add those descriptors to modify his roll. We can think of this as giving Nash two pluses: ++

The cyclops, however, is standing on a hill and has the high ground (environmental detail). Nash is also winded from having chased the monster partway up the hill. We can think of this as giving Nash two minuses toward his attempt: --

In this case, the pluses and minuses cancel each other out completely, leaving him with a single die to roll as he lines up his shot.

Nash's player rolls a single d6 to find out if his shot lands. He does not wait for the narrator's permission to roll; instead, he front loads the resolution (as he envisions it) in his post.Mira the Geomancer decides she wants to cast Hail of Stones (initially 1 Will), and spends an additional Will to focus and boost the effect. Her skill with magic gives her one die for the attempt; having spent an additional will point gives her a second. Let us assume her heirloom spellbook (equipment) gives her an additional die when casting spells. Together, this gives her three pluses: +++

The cyclops is tough, which makes him harder to damage and cancels out one advantage. Having the high ground probaby won't help him against magic, so we'll give Mira a single minus: -

This cancels one of her pluses, giving her two dice with advantage: ++

Mira's player subtracts two Will from her character sheet and rolls 2d6 with advantage.The narrator checks the chart and sees that Nash's result is a 'yes, but' while Mira's result is a 'yes'. A solid result, but one with a complication! He'll incorporate the players' intent when and where it makes sense, but keep in mind that he'll probably take a bit of license with the details as he imagines the scene playing out and describes what he sees.
Mira and Nash will continue until the adventure concludes, declaring intent and action, taking the context of the fiction into account, and then rolling to beat the odds. They may eventually have to deal with an angry shepherd who wanted his sheep back, but at least no one was killed by the cyclops.

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Don't worry about getting it wrong; if a detail was missed I'll modify the result (with an explanation) when I narrate what happens next. Go ahead and roll if the situation warrants it. If you're well and truly stuck and just can't figure out whether you're rolling with advantage or disadvantage, you can ask the narrator how many dice to roll.

In a pinch, the narrator can make the roll for you when he resolves the scene but Freeform Universal prefers letting the players roll the dice when possible. Remember, the idea here is to have fun and keep the scene moving without having to waste turns waiting for a half a dozen rolls to resolve.

Stepping on Out
A few more details about our journey...

We'll assume your character carries a standard knapsack than can hold ten items. This is in addition to your primary weapon and any armor you might wear. One spot in your pack can hold 3 consumable items (rations, torches, etc).

Add 5 copper coins, 6 torches and three rations to your character notes. If you want bandages, extra torches or more rations, trade 2 coins for a stack of 3 and mark it on your sheet. Coins go into their own pouch, so you won't need to worry about how many slots they take up unless you have over a hundred.

Once characters are approved, feel free to commit a few paragraphs introducing yours in the [IC]Finn's Crossing thread. This optional; if you prefer you can wait until the main event begins instead.

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Questions are welcome -- Let's build up our world together!

Let’s talk about the character. Despite my tendency to create magic-users, I’d rather not at the moment. I don’t feel like wading through the whole magic section, which isn’t even finalized yet :D.
As for the motivations and more "psychological" aspects—since it seems we’re all on the same page about doing something OSR/NSR—I’d focus on the reasons why he wants to plunder dungeons rather than other more "emotional" aspects. What do the others think? I’m asking everyone, since we’re in the process of defining the PCs, not just the GM.
Anyway, I was also thinking of something that isn’t just focused on combat but is useful in various other situations within the dungeon. I’m undecided, though, between something like a cartographer bard—a character focused on technical skills (setting traps, disarming them, but also building things; in short, not just a thief)—or something like an explosives expert (though I’m not sure how well that fits with the Iron Age setting; I guess we’ll decide that together since we’re also working on refining the setting).
Can you give me some feedback on these characters I’ve proposed?

Maybe im Going to Be Crossbow Slinger (Like Cowboy, without Gun, cus Gun Doesn't exist in Iron Age)

Just some thoughts on the matter, nothing set in stone here...

Regarding the magic system, I am trying to keep things simple by only putting up four spells per domain to start with. The tradeoff there is that I'm going wide with the domain selection. But yeah, magic is complicated so I understand not wanting to mess with it, especially before the list is finished.

The major impetus for the initial dungeon crawl is basically that the town's leadership is hiring the PCs to find a legendary artifact they can then trade to bolster the town's economy. I'd definitely look for a motivation that ties more directly to the PCs themselves, though, so I like your thoughts along those lines. If you examine the character sheet you'll find two 'relationship' questions that encourage you to explore some other ties your character has to the town. These may be of some use in figuring out your PC's motivations.

Gunpowder apparently was in use during the iron age. Even if it weren't I'd assume that for our fantasy timeline alchemists would know how to create explosions and incendiaries. We could do something like an explosives expert. This character concept could also be considered along the lines of a sapper (sort of a combat engineer).

To deal with traps I might take an equipment item like a 'tool kit' to give advantage when dealing with them. We could even use the classic old-school and take a 10-foot pole for that. I know you're avoiding magic at the moment but for reference the High Magic domain now has a spell that disables a trap on the item it unlocks (knock).

Bards are a classic addition to any party; cartography is an interesting idea. Descriptors along the lines of 'improvised engineering' or 'mechanical mastermind' might be useful to consider as well.
This is entirely doable. Among other things, I can envision ranged weapons giving you a first strike advantage before melee combat begins.

Right, I am somewhat split between a descendant of some demonic/monstrous bloodline, some sort of shaman/mystic (I got a bit of an obsession with characters that have horns/antlers for some reason), or a fairly straightforward, no frill, thieving, tomb robbing kind of character. The latter probably being the easiest to pull off.

An infernal bloodline would raise some hackles if it were made public knowledge. I can imagine you passing off the horns or antlers as an elaborate headdress if you're a druid (or maybe just posing as one).

Alternately, I conceived the wyrmborn class concept as sort of a dragonkin/other option that doesn't have to focus on fire-based magic; we might be able to work that angle as a more publicly-acceptable alternative. You'd still be considered exotic but much less likely to stir up the torches-and-pitchforks crowd.

Again, not set in stone, just tossing some thoughts out there.

I don't know. Maybe I will stick to the more mundane thief character for now. Just keeping it simple.

@DocLeadFoot
Question of the weekend. Since we’re in a pre-medieval period with Iron Age technology, what historical references were you thinking of? When it comes to the Iron Age, from a fantasy perspective, the only thing that comes to my mind is Conan, while from a historical perspective, I think of "late" Mesopotamia (the Assyrians, Babylonians), the Hittites, the early Roman period before the Republic, etc., etc.

Can't really think of anything else besides Conan either. A bit of a shame the era is so underrepresented in fantasy. I would be down for something antiquity inspired. Though 'Finn's Crossing' alongside the existence of elves and dwarfs suggests something more Celtic/Germanic than Mediterranean to me.

@aline So, something more akin to the peoples of what are now France and Germany during the Iron Age? In other words, Celts and Germanic tribes.

Pretty much, yes. Although in a fantasy setting some artistic freedom can and should be afforded of course.

Some good questions there. Mostly I've been making do with general Google searches for different things I want to visualize in or around that time period, so... what I've got in my head is likely a hodgepodge of cultural references from all over the place. I started with pre-medieval Europe but I've kinda been all over the place. lol

I'm pretty sure I saw several references to Goth and Phoenician styles and practices. Some of what I saw came from bronze age or earlier, but I assume many practices would have carried over from one age to another. I've been going with the general idea of 'anything goes as long as we can justify it' according to the broad parameters I set forth when I described the campaign.

That said, it *would* be interesting to tie it all together with some actual history. I'll dig around and pull together some references.
I think the Celtic era hits pretty close to what I was originally trying for, yes. Like I said, though. The area is a melting pot so we should feel free to mix it up. And as you pointed out, we do have TONS of artistic license here. 😁

The Earthsea books come to mind, but I'm not sure how many folks have read them. There was a mini series but I'm not sure it did the books a whole lot of justice. Then again, I may be harboring a bit of resentment over the way they pronounced Ogion's name (I pronounced it differently in my head when I read the books). PLUS they mucked up the whole 'true name' thing with Ged.

Let’s talk about the character. As mentioned in the thread about the setting, everything is subject to approval by @DocLeadFoot. You can also find my ideas about the character’s civilization of origin in that same thread.
The character would be an immigrant from the Hittish civilization. He was a master blacksmith skilled in working with iron and also an expert in crafting mechanisms. Mechanisms that are somewhat more complex than those produced by the artisans of Finn’s Crossing.
He is also trained in warfare, since the Hittish civilization, however advanced, was centered around the warrior class. He previously served as a blacksmith in the army, during which time he learned to fight.
He headed to the Finn’s Crossing area because it seems that an ancient, advanced, and now-extinct civilization there produced a metal stronger than steel. Steel whose secret he does not know (in the future, I might post something in the relevant thread—namely, about iron with carbon and steel in the Iron Age).
This mysterious metal was used by the Sea Peoples who invaded the lands of the Hittish. Clearly, they were not able to produce it themselves. It is unclear where they obtained it. During the invasion, he was unable to get his hands on this metal.

It all sounds good to me since we're still building up the world's lore. You might get the local smith eyeing you askance if he thinks you're in town to horn in on his business, but that could be entertaining as well.

ETA: I've added an example illustrating the order of play; also, anyone who may be contemplating a magic user should double check the spell lists. I made a swap between Order and Wild magic that felt a bit better thematically.

So I made a character for the Char Gen January and the Mazes and Minotaurs system that I am strangely fond of and since I don't expect to see anyone running M&M anytime soon, maybe his could be the game to port the character in to.

The character makes use of the very heavily Egyptian themed Desert Kingdom expansion for M&M. I had the idea for her when I stumbled over the artwork. It is a bit of a meme but I do intend for this to be a serious, if maybe a tad camp, character.
My idea was that she messed with some evil roach cult and had to flee her homeland to loose them.
I'm not entirely sure how well that would fit the setting, considering I am getting a bit more of a high-verisimilitude vibe from you guys so far. So please let me know what you think.