Orc Quest; or, A Critical Examination of Agency Through in Interactive Fiction (Warcraft)

Jasten · May 22, 2021

Uhtread said:
I believe it was mentioned in an update that their secret mission was to the Undercity.

True, but that is just one Blademaster unless I am mistaken. One of the more footloose ones that has only gotten pulled back into the active clan do to FelDad machinations. I'm not sure how much Grok has interacted one on one with that blademaster, (Sesk I think), so he probably does have some things he could show Grok.

We do still have the hopefuls with our warband and another mentor though as well even while the other is gone.

Uhtread · May 22, 2021

Jasten said:
True, but that is just one Blademaster unless I am mistaken. One of the more footloose ones that has only gotten pulled back into the active clan do to FelDad machinations. I'm not sure how much Grok has interacted one on one with that blademaster, (Sesk I think), so he probably does have some things he could show Grok.

We do still have the hopefuls with our warband and another mentor though as well even while the other is gone.

fair I'm thinking it could be an outcome from a good roll if we write-in trying to get info out of them during our training.

Nevill · May 22, 2021

Jasten said:
If anyone would like to drop out Silverpine investigating for the Undercity, I would be open to that change as well.

Me. But that is already known, so perhaps you meant "anyone else"?

I stand behind the plan as it is, but the Undercity plot hook is shinier and is connected to our homeland. So I'd be down for this iteration of the plan:

The Nightmare Vale
Training the Warband
The Feast
Pyremaster
Shadow Magic
The Undercity

Doomed Wombat · May 22, 2021

Jasten said:
blind sided by Necromantic/Shadow stuff.

How do you expect to be blind sided? What we currently know is necromancy can res the dead and the guy we have to talk to us about it doesn't use the same type of necromancy. I'm genuinely at a loss for how he's meant to have helpful information when his stated reason for coming here is "figure out how their necromancy works."

Asking more generally about shadow magic on the other hand is also a bad idea, because it is the only magic that manages to be even more evil than fel. As long as it is definitely 100% "information about it" specifically how best to stab it then that's fine*, but we just refused the fel, I'd feel incredibly dumb if we then went and jumped on the one thing that tops it in terms of evil.

*Even then currently, Grok himself has a better idea of what to expect than most if for no other reason that surviving fighting someone who does use it.

Jasten said:
Also I am vaguely hopeful that Shadowmagic and Pyremaster could have some synergy. Its all about dealing with death after all, so getting a good two sided update seems good for Grok's psyche.

Seems doubtful to me. Pyremaster is all about respect for the dead shadow magic is the magic of despair and necromancy specifically is the ultimate betrayal of the dead. Grok does not need to know the specifics of its operations in order to feel justified in pyremaster stuff.

Jasten said:
With the focus moving East to the Plaguelands next round, and FelDad seeming up to something with sending Sesk there, it just seemed like to big a can of worms to open before a new area opens up.

Ummm we're heading to Brill. That's hardly the plaguelands.

As for blademasters and undercity presumably its getting to know the blademasters who are actually better than we are, especially since we'd be doing more training with them.

Jasten said:
True, but that is just one Blademaster unless I am mistaken. One of the more footloose ones that has only gotten pulled back into the active clan do to FelDad machinations. I'm not sure how much Grok has interacted one on one with that blademaster, (Sesk I think), so he probably does have some things he could show Grok.

Its both, they're just alternating.

We've interacted with them about equally and they're both better than he is being full proper blade masters with years worth of experience.

Cryos · May 22, 2021

[X] Plan, Meetings, Food, Lights and Fire
I agree with everything in this plan except for following our bodyguards and necromancer, I'm not certain we want to get involved in whatever it is they are doing....on the other hand not knowing what they are up to could be worse I suppose.

also
[] Plan Mingle and Mangle
I'm gonna have to put a hard No to plans involving shadow magic, I just don't think it's a good idea to get close to that kind of thing, especially in our state of mind.

Doomed Wombat · May 22, 2021

Cryos said:
I agree with everything in this plan except for following our bodyguards and necromancer, I'm not certain we want to get involved in whatever it is they are doing....on the other hand not knowing what they are up to could be worse I suppose.

That's basically my fear.

I'm not doing it cause I'm especially enthusiastic, I am however terrified at being surprised that their orders turn out to be "undermine the SC by working with Varimathras."

FractiousDay · May 22, 2021

Jasten said:
Gilnead

"Blessed be the fruit." - Genn Greymane

Doomed Wombat said:
its an easy boost to morale and loyalty for comparatively little cost,

it is comparatively little, but keep in mind this isn't just a free morale boost, it will require a reasonable degree of work

Nevill said:
I'd like to clarify the difference between the actions:

One is going to the undercity with them, the other is training with them

Will keep out of the cosmology stuff till later when I can read through it properly, let me know if anyone's got specifics queries

rx915 · May 23, 2021

Since Grok is human sized, is any blademaster sword made for an orc is how a human in monster hunter would wield it like the longsword?

Netos · May 23, 2021

IMO, in Dark Souls terms, a weapon that an Orc swings like an ordinary straight sword would be a greatsword for little Grok'mash (and thus wielded as a two-hander)

FractiousDay · May 23, 2021

Adhoc vote count started by FractiousDay on May 23, 2021 at 7:20 PM, finished with 31 posts and 7 votes.

5 people have voted
[X] Plan, Meetings, Food, Lights and Fire
- Doomed Wombat
- Thule
- Uhtread
- rx915
- Cryos
2 people have voted
[X] Plan Mingle and Mangle
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
-[X] The Nightmare Vale
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
-[X] Silverpine Forest
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
- [X] Training the Warband
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
- [X] The Feast
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
-[X] Shadow Magic
- Jasten
- Nevill
2 people have voted
-[X] Pyremaster
- Jasten
- Nevill

And closed

rx915 said:
Since Grok is human sized, is any blademaster sword made for an orc is how a human in monster hunter would wield it like the longsword?

Netos said:
IMO, in Dark Souls terms, a weapon that an Orc swings like an ordinary straight sword would be a greatsword for little Grok'mash (and thus wielded as a two-hander)

So I'm not massively familiar with either of those, I'm using real world swords. For example, a longsword would be a mainly two handed sword, which might be wielded less effectively in one hand because its quite large. A longsword can be worn (a little awkwardly) on the hip like other swords. A longsword would be roughly half a soldier's height.

Comparably a greatsword was a very specific weapon which developed in a particular time, they're massive, you have to carry them not wear them, and they're more like polearms and they're often at least the size of the soldier, sometimes longer than he would be tall.

The blademasters have various weapons but they're generally longswords with spikey bits. Some of them have polearms though. Grok is indeed small so he's got what would normally be a longsword, but to him its still massive so its more like a greatsword.

@Doomed Wombat

You still good with the below? Wanted to clarify if you'd changed anything in the subsequent discussion.

[X] Plan, Meetings, Food, Lights and Fire
-Training, try to train in manoeuvre warfare, currently, the biggest risk is being overwhelmed by the undead so its critical we know when to fall back and how to not over extend. Probably good practise in a forest.
-The Nightmare Vale: LETS GET COOKIN!
-The Feast FOOD!
-The Blade Reborn
-Social our bodyguards and the necromancer: Go with them? If not I'll swap it out for something else.
-Pyremaster (This is good for morale and common sense.)

rx915 · May 23, 2021

FractiousDay said:
So I'm not massively familiar with either of those, I'm using real world swords. For example, a longsword would be a mainly two handed sword, which might be wielded less effectively in one hand because its quite large. A longsword can be worn (a little awkwardly) on the hip like other swords. A longsword would be roughly half a soldier's height.

Comparably a greatsword was a very specific weapon which developed in a particular time, they're massive, you have to carry them not wear them, and they're more like polearms and they're often at least the size of the soldier, sometimes longer than he would be tall.

The blademasters have various weapons but they're generally longswords with spikey bits. Some of them have polearms though. Grok is indeed small so he's got what would normally be a longsword, but to him its still massive so its more like a greatsword.

I was going with this.

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

FractiousDay said:
You still good with the below? Wanted to clarify if you'd changed anything in the subsequent discussion.

Yep seems accurate.

Edit: The depressing thing is I had intended to swap in the lights over the lake for blademastering, cause I have no idea what that might be and am really curious now! But since I was completely dead yesterday I forgot to bring it up.

FractiousDay · May 24, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
Yep seems accurate.

Edit: The depressing thing is I had intended to swap in the lights over the lake for blademastering, cause I have no idea what that might be and am really curious now! But since I was completely dead yesterday I forgot to bring it up.

feel free to amend if you you want, I've not started writing it yet

Also the social action, is this socialise with blademasters and necro, with the first part of that being also to accompany them to the undercity to see what they're up to? Want to confirm whether or not you're going with them.

rx915 · May 24, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
Yep seems accurate.

Edit: The depressing thing is I had intended to swap in the lights over the lake for blademastering, cause I have no idea what that might be and am really curious now! But since I was completely dead yesterday I forgot to bring it up.

You want to do it do it. I picked yours to improve the blade but I'm also curious about those strange lights.

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

FractiousDay said:
feel free to amend if you you want, I've not started writing it yet

Also the social action, is this socialise with blademasters and necro, with the first part of that being also to accompany them to the undercity to see what they're up to? Want to confirm whether or not you're going with them.

I'm thinking (elaborated on below.)

The intent was to try and take him up on the implication Grok could come with them as they were carrying out their orders.

FractiousDay said:
"And you have other orders?"

Sesk nods.

"If you aren't going to tell me what they are, do they prevent me from accompanying you?"

Sesk answers in the negative, but your frown doesn't cease.

Which I assumed would head them into the undercity, since they went there before, but if not the important part is still coming with to find out what Fel dad told them to do.

rx915 said:
You want to do it do it. I picked yours to improve the blade but I'm also curious about those strange lights.

My issue is I want to do it because I think it synergises well with a "social" action with the two blade masters, but the lights are strange so yeah. Want to do em too.

Grumbles. Curse you moving to Brill

FractiousDay · May 24, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
since they went there before, b

To clarify, you don't know what Sesk was up to, you just know he's been gone for a bit, and now he (possibly Ishi as well I've not decided) are going to the Undercity for something. Keep in mind I've referenced the undercity as being covered in blight though.

Doomed Wombat said:
lights are strange so yeah. Want to do em too.

Grumbles. Curse you moving to Brill

You can make the decision next turn about whether to stay at brill or return to the manor

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

FractiousDay said:
To clarify, you don't know what Sesk was up to, you just know he's been gone for a bit, and now he (possibly Ishi as well I've not decided) are going to the Undercity for something. Keep in mind I've referenced the undercity as being covered in blight though.

I know, the point is to find out, which I assumed meant going to the undercity, with them.

FractiousDay said:
You can make the decision next turn about whether to stay at brill or return to the manor

mm? Oh that's not the issue the it was about loosing an action, cause then I could have crammed in the lights without loosing something else

I am undecided on "should I stay or should I go"

though I am leaning towards stick with the crusaders. Depends on the quality of the reception we receive I guess.

FractiousDay · May 24, 2021

Rolls

Plan, Meetings, Food, Lights and Fire
-Training, try to train in manoeuvre warfare, currently, the biggest risk is being overwhelmed by the undead so its critical we know when to fall back and how to not over extend. Probably good practise in a forest.
Training = 58
Attract attention? = 36

-The Nightmare Vale: LETS GET COOKIN!
Encounters = 3d4 = 3
Strength of encounters
Boss battle, Ressan the Needler

Warband vs X=

5 vs 65
36 vs 80
44 vs 72
50 vs 23

-The Blade Reborn
Training rolls, Sesk, Ishi, 52, 45

-Social our bodyguards and the necromancer: Go with them? If not I'll swap it out for something else.
Discerning, 3 rolls,71, 55, 93

-Pyremaster (This is good for morale and common sense.)
Morale effect = 77

rx915 · May 24, 2021

Rolls done. Depending on them you might've switched the vote if you're curious like a fly surrounding a lamp light.

The warband got a severe beating from the rolls.

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

rx915 said:
Rolls done. Depending on them you might've switched the vote if you're curious like a fly surrounding a lamp light.

The warband got a severe beating from the rolls.

Yeah. Ouch.

We managed to pull the nightmare vale's only unique enemy. Its not like a boss boss, but it is a rare mob and the zone's not got anything/anyone else of interest in it.

I'd imagine we're putting that pyremaster morale boost to use already, since getting the crap kicked out of you by a bat has got to hurt.

On the other hand, fingers crossed for getting decent EXP for hopefully taking the bat down on the last roll?

The question now is, were there three encounters all against the needle, or three encounters with various mobs and the needler.

Actually I'm having a hard time dissecting those rolls?

Encounters looks like we had 3d4 encounters, he rolled for the strength of those encounters, but only then for Ressan? does that mean we attracted Ressan cause of all the dying orcs?

Or was that 23 a Ressan saving throw?

Sigh. And of course I might be missing something and those maybe rolls with advantage or something such as with the pyres.

Still at the bare minimum it looks like we did well Sesk, Ishi and the necromancer so we hopefully won't be bamboozled from that end and...mmm average rolls training with the two, but I'll take average I suppose. Any experience we get I imagine will end up focused into weapon mastery since we've no other things we can focus it on.

FractiousDay · May 24, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
I'd imagine we're putting that pyremaster morale boost to use already,

"Now remember guys, if you fight for me and are wounded in battle, I'll leave you behind under a load of rocks to die slowly in the dark like my last warband! Isn't that right Scorn?"

On the rolls,remember these are with context. Ultimately these are bats. Big bats maybe, but the initial encounters were messy victories rather than crushing defeats.

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

FractiousDay said:
"Now remember guys, if you fight for me and are wounded in battle, I'll leave you behind under a load of rocks to die slowly in the dark like my last warband! Isn't that right Scorn?"

On the rolls,remember these are with context. Ultimately these are bats. Big bats maybe, but the initial encounters were messy victories rather than crushing defeats.

Good job making me feel guilty as fuck

but I've had "go back and somehow repent for that" on the list for ages.

And yeah I've kept it in context don't worry, I was however expecting it to be tricky cause you know...giant evil blood bats.

FractiousDay · May 24, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
I've had "go back and somehow repent for that" on the list for ages.

I do find it highly amusing that you promised to take care of them all and then abandoned anyone else who'd survived. I was emphasising it with the 'living and the dead' thing, but it's still a point.

Doomed Wombat · May 24, 2021

FractiousDay said:
I do find it highly amusing that you promised to take care of them all and then abandoned anyone else who'd survived. I was emphasising it with the 'living and the dead' thing, but it's still a point.

In our slight defence I was focusing on the giant elemental.

In hind sight this was not the correct move and had I used more brain power I would have (in the moment) gone

1. Search for survivors.
2. Go to the crossroads.
3. Get wyvern.
4. Go with plan.

Thing was I was an idiot and forgot about the Wyverns/assumed we'd not get one. (Yes I know the rolls meant we didn't get one when we tried, but at the time I would not have known that so I can hardly account for that in me hindsight!)

One of the things to do is for me the player and Grok the character to remember that screw up and not repeat it.

FractiousDay · May 25, 2021

Doomed Wombat said:
One of the things to do is for me the player and Grok the character to remember that screw up and not repeat it.

So firstly, Grok's contribution was notable, it's not like he didn't do anything, he did delay Forneus.

However in general I find it to be an interesting character development. Grok is a pretty big picture guy. He thinks and confronts stuff around big political and cultural issues. If for example you took actions which ignored the little people, eg the Sollidens, I might write that in as a trait or similar where Grok just doesn't really care about smaller issues when there's the Burning Legion to confront. He'd be more interested in issues of broad topics like honour or justice, rather than whether X person is ok or has had enough to eat.

Also though I do suppose its a natural result of the quest. I don't plan to give all the orcs names, that would be immensely tiresome, indeed Scorn exists partly as a narrative device to represent your soldiers.

Orc Quest; or, A Critical Examination of Agency Through in Interactive Fiction (Warcraft)

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!

Let's go Darling!