Warning: This is a work in progress and things may change. It looks like it may be available to test in late December/January.

Aesca is a blend of magic, fantasy, technology and myths as two separate worlds are once more linked and how players can found/grow their realms, reclaim what was lost and collaboratively fight their way against a world pitted against them. Initially, players will play an elf within competing courts vying for power and supremacy to influence the elven queen Aelfwynn and the Elves of the March as the worlds of magic and science are colliding and only one will win. It is based more on D&D 5e rules currently. XP is gained by all characters on completion of an adventure chapter which may span months. I imagine it'd be played by 5-10 players, I don't see it growing large or popular. I am planning this game to be run and built on Ares.

You can read more about Aesca here.

Background
The world of Aesca is one where magic exists readily and technology is far more medieval. It’s a dark world with raiding orcs, abominations lurking in dark forests of amber, oceans frozen in jade and darkness encroaching all around. Most ancient cities have been lost as have their knowledge, and it leaves the elves of Aesca struggling to understand what has happened after a great cataclysm and the total destruction that event caused. Strange portals are opening, linking a strange foreign world filled with terrors and cruel strangers but also rich in resources not available in Aesca. Of rumors of a magical nation long thought destroyed coming back. The gods may have gone quiet, however the major and lesser incarnations still are somewhat active and cults spread their influence and power across the people with mysteries trying to be understood and explained. Aesca, the planet herself, is alive; magic intertwines within her core as she calls you, the March elves, to fight the encroachment of Gaia’s poison which will destroy her.

There have always been stories and myths of magic, gods being real and terrors of the imagination. However, as time moved on especially with the Renaissance, humanity replaced those beliefs with science. Occasionally, a faith healer or miracle is attributed to some belief system, but Gaia has been transformed through the impact of technology that science has birthed. Capable of incredible and unimaginable destruction on a global scale, sculpting land so vehicles can transport at incredible speeds, the vast flow of information at an unprecedented availability and speed, technology has destroyed magic in humans. However, humans have the unique ability to use electricity, harness the atom and other wonders that magic simply cannot do. But lately, unexplained things have been happening. Strange things. Where people say they’re abducted by aliens, where monsters of folklore appear in stories, where folks go missing and crazy conspiracies of an unseen group controlling the real world are hinted at. How climate change is rapidly creating problems for everyone as resources seem to be draining away. Gaia is alive, science and technology bound to her core as she calls you, the humans, to fight against the warped and twisted chaos of Aesca which will destroy her.

Systems of Fun

• Domains. Players have the capability and are encouraged to explore, improve and build their realms so that sub-domains are made and those lower tier nobles are tied in service and bound to their higher overlord. It will require resources and players to explore, and a domain is started by building a stronghold and thereby expanding. Expand too fast, and the enemies of the March may overrun you. Expand too slow, and your people might not have enough resources to maintain your rule while your competitors leap ahead. Actions for domain would be done on a monthly basis with logs referenced and a request submitted.
• Politics. The March is set up similarly to a constitutional monarchy, where the elven Queen Aelfwynn acts as a non-party head of state however she is assisted by the two major Courts (Summer and Winter) who make up her Privy Council in their respective seasons. This allows for the people of the March to have a continuity of the head of state who maintains history and tradition, and as Queen Aelfwynn is not a party to either of her Courts, it creates a sense of balance and allows those with different viewpoints to have the ability to climb the ladder of power. Each court oversees across their respective time period, have different goals and methods to attain them, but while they may clash with the other court they work collaboratively as neither court is able to solely do everything.
• Magic. The Elves are born with one of two affinities affecting their inherent magical ability. There are then eight paths of magic, and four magical orders which a magical elf can join and participate in. One cannot master all magic paths, and the two affinities offer great power but come at a price that requires collaboration with someone from a different affinity.
• Houses. Currently there are six main houses of the March, however more can be player created as time goes on. This is important with it tied to the Domain system.
• Individual Combat. Using 5e rolls to support the focus on RP. Coded combat isn't quite yet capable.
• Domain Combat. This will be done on a monthly cadence as armies are raised, maintained, directed and managed by the domain leadership.
• Races. Currently, elves (main) would be available however humans would open up later on in the game. Humans would have a WoD Technocracy vibe to them. There are other nasties like the Orcs of the Black Hand, the Dwarves of the Underkingdom, the beings of the White Throne, etc.
• Religion. It's encouraged for players to create cults to try and explain what they encounter, and the offices of the incarnations may be opened up to players depending on their choices and actions.
• Grids. There is planned for two grids which are able to be connected to one another, Aesca and Gaia.

Feel free to critique, give feedback and input or submit ideas.

It's been a busy time in the land of Aesca building. A few updates that have happened:

Domain System: I’ve been working on the specific mechanics around the Great Legions of the March Elves. While the Winter Court does deal with the direction and management of the Great Legions, every domain leader does have their own armies, militia, troops too as it ties back to being able to protect your own stronghold from others. This is tied into the larger your domain and vassals then the larger your ability to raise an army and support them. Worked out the time required, how conscripting peasants works and potential mercenary companies or local militia. The randomness component that will create uncertainty such as betrayals by officers, morale, costs, etc. Worked on siege mechanics. I have the unit types and costs. And of course, how PC’s can impact armies and army battles if they choose to do so.

Exploration: Have been working on this, and the map below I think is most likely how things are going to roll out. Each quarter, exploration/adventuring parties/companies/domains can submit a request in where they’d like to go. It costs resources and time, and the further away you go the higher risk rating it has where the expedition might not come back. However if they do, you can immediately see a section of the map revealed. As you explore, domains can be claimed and made with strongholds built and successfully defended too although the dangers of being further away from the main overlord’s power could mean you end up in a similar situation like Roanoke Colony, the American Colonies separating, or enlarging successfully your domain and court power. Exploration can also be done on already revealed areas to search for hidden spots (caves, etc) leading to other adventures. For exploration in already revealed locations, it's a higher probability you'll find a hidden spot successfully. For exploration that requires ships, ships are extremely rare due to the rarity of wood to be used. That could change though in the future, depending on portals to Gaia!

Read about it and vote here.

Who is the fluffiest? Who will win? You decide!

Or just watch them here.

TS.

Does it reinforce the story and uphold the theme recipe by adding flavor without overpowering the dish you're setting out on the table that everyone is sitting at? If it does overpower, then you probably should re-think why you're serving it to your fellow guests at the table. If you've been eating that spice for so long you can't tell that other people might not like said spice, then do the right thing and ask.

Otherwise you're going to be having those dinner parties all by yourself after awhile as folks might not like your spiciness, and then you're eating your dish all by yourself crying why no one is RPing with you.

TS now means The Spice.

@Derp said in Consent in Gaming:

No, I don't. And I know for a fact that I am not the only person in this hobby that has expressed that opinion before. "I am not here to be your therapist" was a rallying cry not even a year ago, and now we're presented with material that says we're essentially responsible for making sure that others can handle stories?

I agree that I don't have a responsibility (nor the qualifications) to be someone's therapist and I don't provide advice, but I can as a friend and fellow person sitting at the RP table we’re together at make sure I’m not an asshole trying to pierce our shared fantasy and affect them in real life. It takes hardly any time to note there may be some triggers or content that can be off-putting or slightly ramped up on an adult theme, and if someone raises it to my attention or I notice that they're affected/upset, I pause or adjust the scene/responses and work out a resolution that helps our stories move forward without losing a player at the table. After an act in any PRP, I seek out player feedback; I want to make the story fun and grow their character, not to be some random fire to put out or something that really upsets them in real life.

We're supposed to be having fun together. That's the whole point of this. Even players I share a mutual significant dislike I wouldn't want to push from the RP table.

@WildBaboons

TL;DR I haven't decided yet, but will be listening here.

Why I’d limit to March Elves at the beginning:
I’d say yes at the beginning so people can be comfortable with the theme and the world of Aesca. Then, those with Vision will be able to start perceiving and later on opening portals (however they can’t use those portals) so that those with Power affinity can use portals. The goal here is it takes trust and collaboration to do great things instead of just one side or person being able to do everything. Once those with Vision recognize what is there, and those with Power choose to go through portals to step into Gaia, then that gives a great opportunity to introduce Gaia’s humans.

Why I can see humans from the beginning:
Gaia is its own world, and that world is experiencing events very similar to Stranger Things as humanity would struggle to understand just what magic and Aesca are. The humans there are more going to be like the technocracy. Running those types of scenes as portals are starting to open, abominations spilling into the streets and needing to be dealt with could really be a lot of fun. And then when portals are more permanently opened and the humans perhaps decide to explore into those portals, I can see some fun naturally happening.

I had one character on a game which was one of the more popular targets for TS and while many wanted the TS, only a select few got it. What was good is that the character was written to use these people for another purpose, cultivating relationships, obtaining information, putting ideas and manipulating, all sorts of fun. The players behind the screen understood that while it may be new or not so common for them in their day to day RP, that my character did this regularly. I really liked it when players would go out of their way to make what could have been dull TS into something more; those folks always gave me a boost of life rather than the “so we can TS now right?” behavior. Anyways, back to that character: I would give an @mail to the other player outlining a few boundaries, make sure I understand if they’re over 18, if they have particular triggers or comfort levels themselves and then when I get an @mail response back, we act like adults having fun.

I’ve tried a few times to take female characters but it felt many players were really rushing to the TS or marriage thing where I wanted to apply the brakes and say slow down. I usually gave up the character not very long after being pestered too many times, and I see a lot of points made by so many above that I'm nodding in agreement with. I don't think I was very successful at all although I'm not fun shaming folks who want that, and my flakiness on abandoning characters that I thought were so much more than TS or baby-making probably was a negative towards players that needed that character off roster (sorry).

My favorite character was a guy who asexual and found those lost in lust and love to be giving in to their passions rather than controlling it, and thus creating imbalance in the universe within them and the universe outside them.

I sort of miss playing him now.

What Can Players Do?

Create. "Better to give than receive". Players are encouraged to create PRPs and adventures that link with the current chapter of the game's story which they all share. The more PRPs and adventures that are ran, the higher the XP that can be earned and the higher challenges that can be attempted. We'll have a PRP Guide for players to follow. There will be a set goal of PRPs and adventures with appropriate challenge levels before we can proceed as a group to the next chapter. This way, we're encouraged to generate and make fun for others, so that we can all progress.

Impact. "As on earth, so in heaven". Unlike other games, players will have a unique place in Aesca where they are able to create theme based on the foundation lore of the game and the guidelines given so the game changes based on their actions and interpretations which creates a more living world. This puts a significant amount of power to the players as an important component in the Collaborative Creative Process. Players can impact on the entire world by the choices they do together. This means though it takes effort and collaboration, rather than a single person. With logs and monthly submissions on their PRPs and adventures, what they've done will become approved theme.

So I've created then the Chapter and Story Progress System (CSPS).

The CSPS is designed with the following in mind:

• Players are in control of pacing.
• Players are responsible for creating and impacting the game.

A chapter covers a significant span of time (ie. 6 months) of which there are four episodes. In order to complete the chapter, players must earn an amount of Adventure Points (AP) before the game can progress to a new chapter with new episodes. The four episodes will cover Combat, Domain, Politics and Religion, and each episode component is worth 25 AP. Player-generated Role Play adventures can span a range of Challenge Ratings, with higher risks equating to higher chances of rewards and higher AP. Each episode will have a general area to deal with, and require that any any one component of Combat, Domain, Politics or Religion being at max 30% of the total to that episode AP value. All PRP logs are publicly available so that it becomes general player information.

For example

Chapter 1: Ripples Across Aesca 14/100
    Episode A "The Amber Forest" 14/25
        Combat 4
            PRP Link
            PRP Link
            PRP Link
            PRP Link
        Domain 5
            PRP Link
            PRP Link
        Politics 3
            PRP Link
            PRP Link
        Religion 2
            PRP Link

@ThatGuyThere Thanks! Got it, they made it clear just a few posts ahead of you but thanks for taking the moment to comment too, I appreciate it.

Irritated that folks aren't treating fellow players how they'd like to be treated. Imagine sitting at a table and every single time we sit, jerkface does something just to treat the other person across from them like garbage. I'd probably slap their face. Not really, I'd probably just leave the entire game and not come back because I'm very flakey.

Today I've been working inside the Domain system, specifically around player armies and the battle mechanics for wars, how leaders interface and how PC heroes also can impact on grand scale battles involving potentially thousands of units.

• Raising and Maintaining Mechanic.
• Movement: Daily and weekly short and long-distances, impact of terrain modifiers.
• Supply: creating supply chains, breaking supply chains, impacts on battle and army.
• Pre-Combat: Reconnaissance, counter-intelligence, movement and maneuver.
• Combat: Rolls, sequence of events, PC heroic influence, completion of battle.

Affinity
I’ve been working on a few things with Aesca, specifically around two affinities which the Aescan elves theorize to be linked to ancient mythological powerful creatures. It splits the elves so no one can do everything, and requires teamwork if great things are to be accomplished.

***Affinity Foo***

The Chapter and Story Progress System (CSPS)
The CSPS is designed with the following in mind:

• Players are in control of pacing.
• Players are responsible for creating and impacting the game.

***CSPS foo***

I love 5e.

Longest small party combat I was involved in with 5e took 3 sessions at 5 hours each for a party of six against multiple baddies and a Big Bad. Conversely, I’ve been in a single 10+ hour combat with 25+ players on a MUSH.

With grid map combat, you can as a DM engage with the players who want to use interesting solutions based on what they can see and interact with on that map. It’s sometimes hard to do in the mind. It also makes it easier to remind players such things as fireball can hit your flying character if you’re within the sphere of damage as it isn’t a 2D game, it’s a +3D (multiple dimensions/planes) game. Grid maps help identify where the player is in the world and the threats and such are at.

For this, I’d make a grid on the MUSH for normal moving around, but then for a specific battle or encounter, have it on a specific point in the grid map like a battlefield and run it simultaneously on Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 so my cohort of players can focus on strategic decisions which can be helped via visual cues they’re picking up on the grid map. But there's a bit of a learning curve on FG or R20, not to mention making accounts and whatnot.

For anything larger than 6 players and preferably at 40 players, I'd probably want 5-6 players per DM, and an overall DM coordinating and reporting to the overseer on something like an Epics event on a MUSH so things aren't clogged up and folks can see how their group and others are impacting the world. The overseer would emit on the main grid room of the battle, while I'd have players and their DM's TT in that room once combat started.

Sorry I've been not active on Aesca, I've been dealing with one of my properties being affected by stupid fires. Thankfully no loss to life, but it's gone and the workload for dealing with that has taken up all play time.

I'll get back to Aesca though as I want to see it bloom.

The one shots I've been a part of where we're maxed fighting some legendary level enemies goes for about 6-8 hours. Usually closer to 8.

@bored So there's hope for us yet!!

@bored We've obtained one +1 AC ring so far. I recall when we wanted to buy a health potion, it was about 150 gold and we had among ourselves about 70. I believe from the tarot deck that we're supposed to find a weapon that is required (or will make our lives easier) to deal with Strahd but we haven't found that yet. Still, there's about half the map still to uncover I think, but that group doesn't link up until mid January.

@bored I went to Castle Ravenloft at level 6 and the cold the DM had us roll against nearly wiped us entirely out due to one character forcing his way, thankfully we departed back with the entire party. He's a very hardcore tough DM and I feel sometimes he pumps up the difficulty of the enemies to see how close to death we can get. The house of death and bonegrinder were crazy fun and the Drow we encountered we were able to spend a few hours setting up traps on the map to prepare for which I've never been able to do before.

I want to go back to Barovia with my party as:

• Kobold Swashbuckler Rogue
• Lizardfolk Circle of the Moon Druid
• Tortle Circle of Spores Druid
• Aasimar College of Lore Bard
• Warforged Life Cleric
• Yaun-ti Fiend Warlock

It's a big concern and I think every single TT or MU has had this where one player hogs the spotlight while the rest get sidelined.

In a TT, it's a bit easier for the DM because you can see physically that Player A is dominating and you can read the face/body of the other players to see their discomfort or frustration. I adopt a rotation basis for first actions (not dependent on initiative), no matter if the character is proficient or not. Once the player has had their turn being the first action, the token is passed to their player on the left and it keeps going that way everyone can see who is next up and it doesn't get lost. The goal is that everyone has an opportunity to lead, and it gives them more experience to lead in other situations and adventures. It also pulls the reins on those who just constantly want to do everything (whether out of a conscious or unconscious desire).

For MUs, I try to do the same thing with my 5DR methodology in making sure I've built situations to focus on each player to shine and I'll pose directly to those players first. Those usually go into my notes specifically calling out a player on my plot map so I can quickly see that I've made sure to give each player a spotlight session. I also put that in my general guidelines/house rules at the beginning of the session so folks know that if I pose without a player's name first, then they're free to pose order as they want but if I pose a name, then that one gets to go first.

By the way, a few people have asked: I don't care if someone wants to use all or parts of the Aesca game for a game idea they have. I'm pretty slow to respond on DM's but I'm more quick on Discord.

You should send me an invite to play on your game though!

@bored I am nearly finished with Curse of Strahd with one TT group and it has been brutal. In that campaign, I really really want my Aasimar Paladin to die. They keep going unconscious (and I've scored that nat 20 death save) every single session to the point it's getting to be the norm. Without spoiling, it's definitely a horror game when people think they can split party and not very newbie friendly.

I am looking forward to the conclusion, but I'm afraid we're only level 7 right now and probably halfway in the big map. I think now that i know how the campaign goes, I'd like it more with a second play through with experienced players.