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TreeQuest: Magitech (Riot Quest)

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Does anybody know the etiquette for the "Open Voting" tag? I'm assuming it's valid as long as the quest's "Voting is Open", but am I allowed to just leave it up as long as any incoming vote will generally be honored?
(Because that's... 99% of the time, thanks to how easy a single Action is to insert to the turn.)

Razzocnor said:
Hmmmm.... true, biology is too broad on it's own. I'd need to think of a more narrow categorization. Maybe something along the lines of 'biological alteration/mutation'? Hrmmm, might need to think on it some more.

My ultimate goal is to figure out how to grow designer kaiju, but I must consider the many intervening steps along that process. Well, I yet have time to think.
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You could take a relatively broad option, and just not have terribly many dice to compensate. You could also pick "Animal Biology" or even "Moving Biology." After all, either of those rules out most of the Growth category.

"Megabiology" would be interesting, would include Yggdrasil-type shenanigans, and could frankly be initially represented as a write-in bonus (as we currently have no standard Megabiology actions). It might be a bit limiting at first, since it would take quite a while to do more than make a few materials-science breakthroughs.
 
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Razzocnor said:
My ultimate goal is to figure out how to grow designer kaiju, but I must consider the many intervening steps along that process. Well, I yet have time to think.
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May I suggest starting with [Size] Magic if that's a valid choice? It would be a very useful one for your goals while also enabling shrinking so to speak.

If not, [Space] would likely be a very apt Magic for making things Bigger.
 
Razzocnor said:
Hmmmm.... true, biology is too broad on it's own. I'd need to think of a more narrow categorization. Maybe something along the lines of 'biological alteration/mutation'? Hrmmm, might need to think on it some more.

My ultimate goal is to figure out how to grow designer kaiju, but I must consider the many intervening steps along that process. Well, I yet have time to think.
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Maybe Biology Research and then change to a more applied field when you hit the 25 votes threshold for ancient?
 
Phigment said:
(Via morse-code flashes)
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A sudden thought: Is there a standard of Morse Code that you and the Last Star would share?
...
Probably. Sure! I'll allow it. The current world remembers Ancient Elven Morse Code well enough to use it coherently, with copies of it written into books and everything.
 
Robinton said:
One Tree learned the absolute basics of Earth Magic, from a - partially successful - attempt to grow a pseudo-skeleton. It grew something like the right mixture of minerals, and found some connecting whatsits to keep it all together, though it's too brittle and not strong enough for true bones. On the other hand, taking an existing bone and very slowly deforming it, while only slightly reducing the strength, is now feasible. (Earth Magic to Dabbling.)
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YEAH! BONES! HRAAAGH! I'M GETTING HARDER!
My plan comes soon. I wait in silence. Hey, @Robinton? You roll 1d100s for how well a Unique Action (Write-in vote) goes, right? What was the ballpark roll for this one?
 
Nigerian Duck said:
YEAH! BONES! HRAAAGH! I'M GETTING HARDER!
My plan comes soon. I wait in silence. Hey, @Robinton? You roll 1d100s for how well a Unique Action (Write-in vote) goes, right? What was the ballpark roll for this one?
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Not a d100. GURPS dice, actually: 3d6, lower is better. I like GURPS - partially elitism from having roughly memorized the probability distribution, partially because it follows a rough normal distribution (unlike d100s).

You got a natural 8. Just building pseudo-bones, given time and resources, isn't that hard, so you made some progress with a merely somewhat-above-average roll.

Addendum: I've generally been reluctant to discuss particulars of the system - beyond what the players see, of course! But consider this a part of the quest's 6-month anniversary celebration. :)
 
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Do any of the oldest few generations of Trees want to grab Seer? If so, I'll pick differently - for the rest of the 6-month reward - than if not.

No point handing out information you're liable to get yourself, after all.

Probably either "3 useful clues to the upcoming Interlude choice" or "a minor-but-intriguing clue about your existence."
 
Robinton said:
Not a d100. GURPS dice, actually: 3d6, lower is better. I like GURPS - partially elitism from having roughly memorized the probability distribution, partially because it follows a rough normal distribution (unlike d100s).
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Interesting. It's my first time hearing of GURPs, since I'm not a particularly knowledgeable guy in those areas.

Robinton said:
You got a natural 8. Just building pseudo-bones, given time and resources, isn't that hard, so you made some progress with a merely somewhat-above-average roll.
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Oh, yay! So that's meaning that to get something really cool done, I'd need to get a 5 or lower. I'll try rolling better next time. Hurrah hurrah, for getting closer to the ultimate goal.

Robinton said:
Do any of the oldest few generations of Trees want to grab Seer? If so, I'll pick differently - for the rest of the 6-month reward - than if not.

No point handing out information you're liable to get yourself, after all.

Probably either "3 useful clues to the upcoming Interlude choice" or "a minor-but-intriguing clue about your existence."
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Reward? What reward? Did I miss something?
 
Nigerian Duck said:
Oh, yay! So that's meaning that to get something really cool done, I'd need to get a 5 or lower. I'll try rolling better next time. Hurrah hurrah, for getting closer to the ultimate goal.
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Something like that. Depends on what you're attempting. You were tackling something where you probably wouldn't make fantastic progress, but probably would make some progress.

Generally a 6 means "you made at least one serious breakthrough," even for fairly hard tasks. 1/10th chance of getting this or better, theoretically. But I make adjustments for difficulty, naturally.

Right now: "I move to Newton Village" is almost incapable of failing. "I study antimatter - without consulting ancient books" is almost incapable of succeeding.

Nigerian Duck said:
Reward? What reward? Did I miss something?
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You probably read the post before I added:
Robinton said:
Addendum: I've generally been reluctant to discuss particulars of the system - beyond what the players see, of course! But consider this a part of the quest's 6-month anniversary celebration. :)
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Robinton said:
A sudden thought: Is there a standard of Morse Code that you and the Last Star would share?
...
Probably. Sure! I'll allow it. The current world remembers Ancient Elven Morse Code well enough to use it coherently, with copies of it written into books and everything.
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I honestly figured that was something we're have to work out, even if the Last Star folks noticed the flashy lights on the first try. The sample message was just a joke to establish the tone.

But if Elvish Morse Code is around, awesome! Maybe one of the local wizards knows it.


Also, I'm considered taking Seer, but I'm not in the first batch of fancy trees, and I've considered taking a lot of things, so don't count on me for that.
 
[X][Action] Grow the Forest
[X][Focus] Grow the Forest
[X][Focus] Grow the Forest x2
[X][Focus] Grow the Forest x3
[X][Traders] Talk with them and let them Harvest Lumber
[X][Lumber] Grow a Lumber Tree to automate the Lumber-Generation process
[X][Squirrel] Lead a search-party along the North path
[X][Deer] Assist with Ice/Fire Negacion Research
[X][Moles] Widen the Cave Entrance (8 dice)
[X][Beavers] As aquatic mammals, provide insight towards research into Water Magic
[X][Bees] Search the Skies
[X][Ants] Death to Pests
[X][Wolves] Exploration to the North

My actions are grindy. Besides little things like getting the Beavers and Deer to help us streamline research, I want to explore some. We don't even know what's North or West of home!
 
Happy 6-months, TreeQuest!

Hmm... One Seer minimum. That said, I believe the other bit of information might just be accessible another way, here soon... Yeah, better give you the Interlude clues.


The Interlude options are: the Archon, the Archer, the Mook, the Hunter.

Your clues are three:
  1. There is an ordering to these options. It is simple, comprehensible, and potentially useful. You may or may not figure it out, but it does exist. Some side-notes:
    1. It is somewhat debatable whether the Mook or the Hunter should be last, this year. But I still say the Hunter.
    2. If the prior Interlude options were ordered the same way, they would be listed as the Star, the Archer, the Refugee, the Hunter.
    3. There was no debate, last year.
  2. You have heard the proper Names of three of the four Interlude options.
  3. You have enough information to guess at the meaning of three of the four Interlude options.
(I think each top-level clue is about equally useful, though I could be wrong.)
 
It's likely Scope or Relative Power.

The Star is literally an orbital laser platform Big Good, so the Archer is likely that Craig guy, so the Hunter/Mook is probably a basically normal person on ground level of things.

I'm leaning Hunter because that might be more directly relevant for our immediate area.
 
[x][Action] Research Vine Growth
[x][Focus] Grow the Forest
[x][Focus] Ice/Fire Negacion (Magic Research)
[X][Focus] Grow Lumber Tree
[X][Traders] Sell them Lumber
[X][Lumber] Grow a Lumber Tree to automate the Lumber-Generation process
[X][Herbalist] Friendship
 
@Robinton; After thinking on it, I'll probably go with a Tree focused on Magical Biology specifically. We might not have any of that yet, but I shall endeavor to invent it. Some smaller bonus for just ordinary Magic and biological research would be fine as well, but not strictly necessary.

Anyhows, I need to think on actual votes.

[X][Action] Examine the exact mechanics of how Growth magic works as other trees use it to grow. What makes Growing a Special Tree different?

First, figure out what we're already doing.

[X][Traders] Sell them Lumber
A safer middle ground.
[X][Lumber] Grow a Lumber Tree to automate the Lumber-Generation process
Automation is always good. Our attentions are too flighty. We probably need to automate that Mining Tree too, we've basically forgotten it.
[X][Herbalist] Friendship
We're telepathic, if she starts thinking dangerous things we'll probably find out.
 
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Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by Robinton on Oct 18, 2022 at 4:02 PM, finished with 88 posts and 45 votes.
    Action Focus Squirrel Deer Moles Beavers Bees Ants Wolves Traders Lumber Herbalist
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    Edit: added Toboe's Action vote (missing [Action] tag), plus Nigerian Duck's (below), to my own notes.
    For that first one: May I just state that I love having a script that automatically tells me "here are all players that voted but don't have a recognized Action vote"? Makes it so much easier to find!
     
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  • Voting
    • Robinton said:
    Scheduled vote count started by Robinton on Oct 18, 2022 at 4:02 PM, finished with 88 posts and 45 votes.
    Action Focus Squirrel Deer Moles Beavers Bees Ants Wolves Traders Lumber Herbalist
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    Wait, the vote's closed?! Oh crap, I didn't vote yet.
    Ugh, I was too busy celebrating my happiness at some success.

    Editorial: Juuuust in case Robinson gives some leniency…
    [X][Action] Your pseudo-bone structure has only begun to grow, and you wish for more. Seek out a higher supply of skeletons, preferably newer ones with higher bone density, and incorporate within the confines of your bark and branches, growing a skeletal system.
     
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    Well, you should still be allowed to submit an action vote. Vote closure is for focus and consensus decisions, individual actions are usually accepted even afterward.
     
    Razzocnor said:
    @Robinton; After thinking on it, I'll probably go with a Tree focused on Magical Biology specifically. We might not have any of that yet, but I shall endeavor to invent it. Some smaller bonus for just ordinary Magic and biological research would be fine as well, but not strictly necessary.
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    Sounds good. I'll update the front page.

    Razzocnor said:
    We're telepathic, if she starts thinking dangerous things we'll probably find out.
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    Good point.

    Nigerian Duck said:
    Editorial: Juuuust in case Robinson gives some leniency…
    [X][Action] Your pseudo-bone structure has only begun to grow, and you wish for more. Seek out a higher supply of skeletons, preferably newer ones with higher bone density, and incorporate within the confines of your bark and branches, growing a skeletal system.
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    Yep!
    (Indeed, since you were within a few minutes of vote-close, I'd have been willing to throw in Consensus votes as well.)

    Also:
    *Glances back at O'Neill Evolution quest* ... Are you trying to engineer a duck?
    (No objections if so.)
     
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    Robinton said:
    Yep!
    (Indeed, since you were within a few minutes of vote-close, I'd have been willing to throw in Consensus votes as well.)
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    Yay! Gracias.
    (I've only read about 28 pages, so I'm not confident in voting for anything behind my own personal actions.)

    Robinton said:
    Also:
    *Glances back at O'Neill Evolution quest* ... Are you trying to engineer a duck?
    (No objections if so.)
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    Whaaaat? Of course not. If it just happens that that incredibly handsome or beautiful flying specimen that has binary sex, monocular vision, and feathers (with an excellent mindset of global domination) resembles a duck, it's only speaking to the truth of the matter.

    Forgothrax said:
    [X] Grow the Forest

    Crap, I forgot as well... I shall beg for GM mercy.
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    I wish you good luck, my comrade-in-roots.
     
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    Area and Continent Maps posted to the front page!

    You rolled well enough to grow to Magnitude 4! :D

    And stay tuned for the results of a certain Unpredictable Tree trying to contact the Last Star...


    Forgothrax said:
    [X] Grow the Forest

    Crap, I forgot as well... I shall beg for GM mercy.
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    Apology accepted. Vote added to my local copy of the records.
    BTW, you should technically add the [Action] tag, though it doesn't practically matter when I'm editing a vote in, anyway.
     
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    Well, I made quite a bit of progress on the next turn. Still a ways to go, admittedly.

    Thought for the day: "Once you've located the spider, though, shooting it with a laser is trivial."

    Edit: Also, @Razzocnor, do you want your +2 dice into anything in particular? That's for keeping the Situations and Anomalies listing updated. I suppose I could slightly buff the effects of your write-in as well, but you're already working with a write-in inside your specialty, so I'm not willing to buff it much further.
     
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