Ok, time to resume this thread about #BROSR / #BROvenloft
When the #BROvenloft concept was initially announced, I was intrigued.
initially, I was thinking about doing a Brovenloft patron based on Lord Summerisle from Wicker Man.
When the #BROvenloft concept was initially announced, I was intrigued.
initially, I was thinking about doing a Brovenloft patron based on Lord Summerisle from Wicker Man.
https://twitter.com/pius_xiii_/status/1593741299995365378
But after reading this tweet about "a clandestine resistance faction led by paladins and clerics"
I thought that seemed like a bigger challenge, and potentially a lot more fun.
I thought that seemed like a bigger challenge, and potentially a lot more fun.
https://twitter.com/NotJonMollison/status/1564375933498208257?s=20&t=AVdoEAFMueZ5UwudDRLzBg
Also, I had been feeling dissatisfied for a while about the issue of religion in D&D. Specifically, I felt like it was kind of dumb (especially in pseudo-medieval or pseudo-roman campaign settings) that the religion for lawful good PCs is basically "reskinned european paganism"
So I decided instead of running a faction that was "reskinned fantasy catholicism"
I wanted to run the Actual Catholic Church in #BROvenloft
This decision proved to be somewhat controversial with some. There were some who argued I couldn't do this without causing scandal.
I wanted to run the Actual Catholic Church in #BROvenloft
This decision proved to be somewhat controversial with some. There were some who argued I couldn't do this without causing scandal.
I can't speak to other people's consciences, but as far as mine goes, I had no problems playing the "Papal States"/ the Pope in what was essentially a wargame.
From the beginning of the scenario, I had two goals:
1) keep Rome, Catholicism, & the Papacy safe
2) convert other PCs, patrons, & campaigns to Catholicism.
1) keep Rome, Catholicism, & the Papacy safe
2) convert other PCs, patrons, & campaigns to Catholicism.
As part of achieving the first goal, I would say I made my first strategic mistake.
At the beginning, my faction was MUCH MUCH weaker than other major players.
I probably would have lost in a head-to-head with the Count, or Eddie the Lich, or Kangsta Wrappa.
At the beginning, my faction was MUCH MUCH weaker than other major players.
I probably would have lost in a head-to-head with the Count, or Eddie the Lich, or Kangsta Wrappa.
Since my goal was "survive," I wanted to remain neutral in the war that seemed to be brewing between the other patrons.
The other issue, I had was that none of the other "major" players looked like strong allies for the Pope.
The other issue, I had was that none of the other "major" players looked like strong allies for the Pope.
My thought was that I would make pacts with the major patrons, to obtain safe passage & relative neutrality from them.
The Count agreed. Eddie and Kangsta Wrappa did not.
The Count agreed. Eddie and Kangsta Wrappa did not.
I'm not sure 100% why Eddie and Kangsta didn't agree to grant me freedom/neutrality in their realms. But possibly, it was because I announced my pact with Count von Count--and I think it was interpreted as an "alliance"
As September wound down, I started hearing troubling rumors from a number of different sources.
All of them were saying roughly the same thing: "The Dark Alliance (Eddie & Kangsta) is gunning to take out the Papacy/Rome"
Obviously, I was pretty worried about this possibility.
All of them were saying roughly the same thing: "The Dark Alliance (Eddie & Kangsta) is gunning to take out the Papacy/Rome"
Obviously, I was pretty worried about this possibility.
so I made an alliance with Macho Mandalf (@LL_929) and we created a dimensional passageway directly connecting Rome and Machodor.
Although, afaik, Macho Mandalf never took direct action against any of my enemies in #BROvenloft, this alliance proved extremely useful.
Although, afaik, Macho Mandalf never took direct action against any of my enemies in #BROvenloft, this alliance proved extremely useful.
Critically, Macho Mandalf suggested that I should try to see if I could get a Solar to come and join Rome.
I pored over the rulebooks, and eventually found a clerical spell which the Pope could cast, and that when reversed would allow me to call an extraplanar ally.
I pored over the rulebooks, and eventually found a clerical spell which the Pope could cast, and that when reversed would allow me to call an extraplanar ally.
I ran it by the DM. I told him--"I want to ask St. Michael the Archangel to fight for me for a month."
I think the final odds were 50/50, but the DM made the roll (on the Feast of St. Michael), and ST. MICHAEL JOINED the Papal Army!
I think the final odds were 50/50, but the DM made the roll (on the Feast of St. Michael), and ST. MICHAEL JOINED the Papal Army!
https://twitter.com/KKalvaitis/status/1575662580227780608?s=20&t=AVdoEAFMueZ5UwudDRLzBg
At the time, I did not yet realize it, but overnight I had gone from the weakest "major power" in #BROvenloft, to the strongest one.
And one of St. Michael's abilities was that he could add a planetar (who in turn could summon lesser angels) every day.
And one of St. Michael's abilities was that he could add a planetar (who in turn could summon lesser angels) every day.
Another of St. Michael's abilities was the ability to cast 1 Wish per day.
Since, as I noted, my primary concern was to protect Rome from being destroyed, I used my first wish to permanently banish Zanzel (who nuked Machodor), and Vince McMaximus from #BROvenloft.
Since, as I noted, my primary concern was to protect Rome from being destroyed, I used my first wish to permanently banish Zanzel (who nuked Machodor), and Vince McMaximus from #BROvenloft.
Thus began #WorldWarWish, which was one of the high lights of the #BROvenloft campaign for me.
Around this same time, another problem emerged--as @NotJonMollison started releasing his video series about the Fate of Stormbringer.
In the first video, he mentioned that if the fake pagan God of the Sun won, then Stormbringer would end up in #Brovenloft
In the first video, he mentioned that if the fake pagan God of the Sun won, then Stormbringer would end up in #Brovenloft
The idea of Stormbringer ending up in #BROvenloft seemed like it would be a disaster for Rome (and for everyone on the side of law and goodness in Brovenloft)
And so, the Pope worked hard to deal with it. Reading this tweet, I had an epiphany
And so, the Pope worked hard to deal with it. Reading this tweet, I had an epiphany
https://twitter.com/NotJonMollison/status/1573118031290667011?s=20&t=yrz3W9O9yk8Wb4WA7Dk4PQ
specifically, I realized that the outcome of the "Fate of Stormbringer" was already determined.
And since it was "etched deep within the fabric of the cosmos," then presumably, this meant I could learn what would happen.
So I communed to learn the pagan forces of Law would lose
And since it was "etched deep within the fabric of the cosmos," then presumably, this meant I could learn what would happen.
So I communed to learn the pagan forces of Law would lose
@Bdubs1776 was a bit upset with me for learning what would happen in his campaign about three weeks beforehand. He asked (and I agreed) me to keep this information to myself.
So with the threat of Stormbringer "resolved" from my perspective (e.g., Stormbringer isn't coming to #BROvenloft), I turned my attention back to my goals:
Survive, and Convert. (going to leave it at that for now, I'll come back again later and finish up the story)
Survive, and Convert. (going to leave it at that for now, I'll come back again later and finish up the story)
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