COVID Interim! PBEM Game - Background Set up

Due to the Pandemic, about a week after our last get together there was talk about doing something. Roll20? Discord? I am not a fan of playing virtually, I think it loses something in the game, so I didn't want to water down my existing game. Instead we talked about doing something else.

Years ago I had played in 2 PBEM games and although it has been 30 years, I figured we could duplicate it here - especially if it was email. So the group all agreed and I put together a pile of BX characters for them, 5,000 xp each. And I was going to photo document everything.

And here's how it started:

(I/C) Halgafar, Ispan of the Dawnlands, was a beloved elven Lord known far and abroad for his even temper and his generosity. Trades for rare woods, skins and furs, and medicinal works and elixirs brought merchants from near and far to the principle city of Acreage. On high, Halgafar looked over his country with a firm and beatific hand.

During the year 378 DF (Dragon Fall), goblin raiders from Jector skirmished with the Ispan's forces and in a surprise turn of events, defeated the elven lord's forces in the field. Halgafar summoned his most able spellbinders and arcanists to help stem the tide of the marauding goblins who were tearing their way to Acreage. Together they worked to erect a barrier that would stop the greenskins in their tracks.

The spell went horribly wrong.

A wave of rainbow fire coursed out from his castle and twisted everything that the light touched, warping it, breaking it, killing it. The land roiled and the skies turned black with sheets of lightning. The goblins had been broken and driven back, but the same was said of the people of Acreage.

When it was over, a scintillating aura of rainbow lights encircled the Castle of the Ispan and the land of Acreage was a blasted wasteland. It was eventually discovered that no one could get past the rainbow ward and the riches and fate of Halgafar were lost and unknown. The Dawnlands were slowly abandoned and various monsters from Jector and brigands made their home there instead.

It has been almost 30 years since the fall of Halgafar and the Dawnlands when word has come to Specularum from rumor, ranger, and trappers that odd lights have been seen deep in the Dawnlands, coming from Acreage. There is thought that the rainbow barrier might have fallen. The Academy of Explorers has put together a call for adventurers who would risk the week long journey to the Dawnlands and see if the Ispan's Castle is indeed open.

If so, the adventuring group is charged to find and retrieve Halgafar's headpiece, a Silver crown with a 7 count of cut crystal stones referred to as the Prism Crown. The Academy is willing to pay 200 Gold Crowns for the effort and the knowledge is that any treasure found at the castle is for the party to keep.

Your group of 6 have answered the call and will brave the journey across heath and hill to find the Prism Crown if at all possible and plumb the depths and heights of Halgafar's Castle.

(OOC)

Ok! Here we go!

When you see I/C - it means that is information that is given IN CHARACTER.

OOC is OUT OF CHARACTER.

When you write your email post - please specify what is I/C and OOC so we can keep it straight.

There will be some assumptions along the way. I am assuming that any thief character is looking for traps and checking locks if they are in place and able to do so.

I am assuming that all characters will be looking for secret doors if able to.

Combat will be simple initiative - they go/you go.

Before Combat everyone will have to decide:

Front Line - engage the enemy head on

Support Front - engage the enemy in conjunction with another person

Missile Fire - stay at least 5' away and use missile fire

Spells & Other - use spells, rods, wands, potions, anything else

How do we start??

That's the first part!

I need everyone to pick a color - just one - same people CAN pick same color if need be:

White

Green

Blue

Red

Grey

Yellow

Pink

Orange

Then, I need everyone to pick a Character - these are B/X style characters so keep that in mind. Everyone is starting at 5,000 XP so the level range runs from 2nd to 4th..

Human Cleric

Dwarven Fighter

Human Fighter

Elven Fighter Magic User

Human Magic User

Human Thief

Each person can only pick one! So please - discuss amongst yourselves who wants what, Don't let someone just get "stuck" with something.

If I get everyone's answer by End of Day today - I'll send out the first part and character sheets and we can go to the next part and start of adventure!

Thanks guys - remember - this works only if everyone participates and does their best!

Good luck on your quest for the Prism Crown

Then the next email that evening was:

Thanks to everyone for your efforts so far on this.

Dean has gone through the thread for me and we have the following:

Dean: Magic User, Pink

Kelly: Cleric, White

Mike: Elf, Orange

TJ: Fighter, Blue

Rik: Thief, Red

Adam: Dwarf, Yellow

Following this email, I will send everyone a copy of their own character.

You can not bounce scores - they are what they are - all randomly rolled up last night

You can not get more equipment - what you have is what you have to start. You characters are 1 week away from home and 5 days from civilization - and I've arranged it so that everyone has 15 gold crowns left. If you need something, hopefully you'll have a chance to find in in Halgafar's Castle.

On your character sheet in the equipment section you will see a number in parenthesis - that is the encumbrance weight of the item you are carrying - every 10 coins of weight is equal to a pound

Typically, every 400 coin weight is a reduction in speed. Higher strength adds to this number, lower strength removes from this number.

Under Melee is listed your adjustment on the d20 to hit your foe, and damage done with your weapon

Under Missile is listed your adjustment on the d20 to hit you foe based upon Short/Medium/Long range - which is also listed in feet. You do NOT get 3 attacks with a missile weapon.

If you have a Dex 13 or greater, you can swap a weapon or quickdraw a weapon if you did not have or wanted to swap - otherwise you have a -4 to hit on first draw round or swap.

I need you to look at your character and make sure it makes sense - any questions - please ask HERE in REPLY ALL format since if you have a question how the PBEM game will work, others will as well.

I will also need a character name and if at all possible - try to find a picture of YOUR character and crib it from the internet and use it when replying I/C.

After every combat or every few turns, I will send you an updated character sheet. The sheet is yours and I am not sending them out to everyone - if you WANT to share - that is up to you.

Thanks guys and good luck!