Crucible
Welcome to the campaign website! Let me show you around. First, if you read nothing else here, read this: Welcome to Crucible. After that, make sure you check out the
wiki. After that, just start working through all the other tabs (Adventure Log, Characters, Maps, etc).
NEWS – July 5th, 2011
OK, as you all know, I’m resetting the “extra credit” rules, I just don’t know how yet. Honestly, I want a system that will allow you to buy things other than magic items (such as extra languages or other small benefits). I’m just not sure what yet. So, hey. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Also, two two threads up in the forum. Go at it.
NEWS – March 18th, 2011
Man, has it really been that long since I updated the News? I suck. Since we’re back on track, I wanted to announce some quick changes to the extra credit system. Here’s how it works.
After every game, you have the opportunity to earn one extra credit point. This is awarded to players who participated in the “Fireside Chats,” did journal entries, etc. You don’t have to go crazy, but at least one journal entry per level and basic participation in the Fireside Chat is the baseline for that.
Extra credit points can be cashed in for magic items. To figure out how much a magic item costs, take the level of the item, subtract your level (minimum of one) and then triple it. So, if you want a magic item three levels higher than you, it costs 9 extra credit points. When you cash it in, you have to give me TWO magic items you want, and I’ll pick one. That way, you can never be sure of getting exactly what you want. This to prevent min/maxing, which is strongly equipment dependent.
NEWS – June 29th, 2010
The next game will be on July 5th, since everyone has that day off. Let me know if you have any issues with this.
NEWS – June 21st, 2010
Just a quick note. There is a new forum post since the last one went so well. Feel free to chat it up there. However, I’d like to ask that you don’t write what other people do or say, only what your character does and says.
Also, as you all know, next game would fall on the 4th of July. I’m sure we all have stuff to do on the 4th, so I’d like to reschedule, and I’m thinking of doing one or two weekday games instead. Does anyone have any preference or any days they can’t make? Please, let me know.
NEWS – June 18th, 2010
I’ve been going through the wiki the last few days, and have made some updates and done some general reorganization. The following pages received significant revisions:
The following entries are all-new:
Also, the Portal recently added some new options to their site. If you log in and go to My Settings, you can turn on email notifications and set your time zone (so posts actually show what time they were really posted on the forums). I really recommend you don’t turn on email notification for all wiki updates. You’ll get a deluge of them as I go in and fix typos or little things like that pretty often. Whenever I make big updates, like today, I’ll make sure everyone gets a list of stuff to check out. That being said, if you want to drink from the firehose, be my guest. ;)
UPDATE: I have updated the adventure log for last adventure. I have also added Extra Credit Totals, which you can find under General Information. Please review it and let me know if there are any errors (and remember, you can only get one point of extra credit between adventures). I’m also really happy with the involvement on the forum, it was interesting to see some inner thoughts of the characters, and how the PCs interact when not actively out adventuring. It’s been a fun read, so I’m awarding everyone a point of extra credit for participation.
NEWS – June 10th, 2010
Just a quick update. I have done some updates to the maps. First, I updated the Arandor map to include a lot more small cities, including Brighton and Carathir, so now you know where you’ve been. I also made it so it doesn’t look god-awfully ugly anymore and added a scale.
While doing the scale for Arandor, I also realized my scale on the large map was off. By a lot. Like, my “continent” was about the size of the southeastern US. My verbal descriptions have always been that Arandor is about the size of France and Crucible as a whole is about the size of South America. So I fixed the scale, and now that’s actually true if you measure it. :)
I also added a lot of detail to the world map, just to make it look a little better, but honestly most of it is “placeholder” space, especially in the south. I have vauge ideas for what most of the countries are like, but some of them are just names at this point.
Also, just a reminder, there is a forum thread for in-character chitchat if anyone wants to participate. I’m considering making participation there count for Extra Credit as well (though remember, you cannot gain more than one extra credit point per week), but I haven’t decided for sure. Feedback is welcome.
NEWS – June 3rd, 2010
OK, so it’s not quite June 3rd yet, but I have more updates! You guys just blow me away with your writing sometimes. Seriously, I’m impressed. Your character journals are great summations of the adventure and fun to read at the same time. I’m humbled that you’re enjoying the game so much, and lucky to have players like you.
As I said in yesterday’s update, I wanted to give character journals a more prominent place, and so that’s what I did today. They now have their own entry in the wiki’s index, and I took the liberty of doing some formatting. Please, feel free to format them however you want if you don’t like what I did, though. It’s your journal.
I’ve also created a Wiki Howto to help everyone with creating entries. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Or, if you don’t really feel like worrying about the nitty-gritty, when you create a new page, click on the “Email Notification” option at the bottom so I see what you did, and I’ll add any formatting that needs to be done (like creating the Index).
NEWS – June 2nd, 2010
After much work, the Advanture Log has been relaunched! I hope you enjoy the new format, I’m pretty happy with it. If you look at the Log, you’ll see that it heavily incorporates your own contributions. The most recent one was, basically, all from a player perspective (Hovan) with a little bit of framing text, and the one before that is heavily written by Brigga and Teagan. This is how I’d really like to do them all, so I hope they keep coming in!
I’m also planning to rework the section for you all to post your journal entries and other extra credit projects, so they’ll have a more prominent place on the site. In cases where two people write logs that could easily both serve as the full adventure log, I’ll take weave them together in the Log, while maintaining the full text on the original wiki page.
Also, finally, I’m making a minor change to the Wish Lists. From now on, when a wish list item drops, I’d like you to give me a list of up to three items you’d be happy with, and one of those will drop. For those of you who haven’t picked your first Wish List item yet, you still get to choose the exact item. If you have any questions, let me know.
NEWS – May 19th, 2010
Check out the updated House Rules for details on how to earn Extra Credit magic items, as well as combat and other stuff of importance. I’ve also got the Advanture Log started, though I plan to be more detailed about future adventures, at least I have something there now. It also has your current XP total.
Crucible Comments
Its good to be back posting.
Dear Jarod, Please have patience. We are all very busy people who would love nothing better than killing orcs and running from super crazy elves. However, we have work and other daily tasks that must me preformed first. Sincerely, Sam.
I declare this site officially dead:
RIP Crucible website!
I find this campaign to be quite inspiring – it’s given me a myriad of beautiful ideas that I just need the inspiration to execute now…
Cut us some slack! There’s a lot going on around here, Silly! _
No update in a month? For shame!
I am impressed with what you have done here!
Well, we didn’t have a game last Sunday due to the 4th of July (we were going to do that Monday, but it didn’t happen). So, yes. Next game is this Sunday, and there will be updating. :)
Are you ever going to update again? :-P
I bet I can make you even more jealous… check out our forums. :D
But, seriously, thanks for the feedback. Your input has been invaluable to me, and really helped me make this thing better. Particularly the maps! I really appreciate it.
Hardhead, man this site just keeps getting better! I like what you’ve done with the Main wiki page, very clean and crisp. Likewise, your site navigation guide is both aesthetically pleasing, and unobtrusive. Gotta say also that your maps, which looked great to begin with, now appear much more fleshed out. And kudos to everyone that has been writing such wonderful campaign logs, as a DM I can’t tell you how envious I am of that!
Cheers, -Arsheesh
Very intrigued by this campaign…
That exactly what I do for my players, I tell them to make up whatever they want, and then I’ll fit it into the game somehow. It’s really helpful to the DM too, gives you the chance to make the game more personal for the players.
Thanks! I’m also really happy with the first two… I just hope they don’t intimidate the other players. :) I’d also like to point out that while the player of Hovan read the History section, all the detail he made up. The Champions of Bael Turath, Courtland the Brave, etc, are all his inventions. I told the players they could go wild, and I wanted them to feel like they could contribute to flesh out the world, and they’re doing exactly that. :)
I agree with Arsheesh, I just read some of your history and I like what i hear, sounds like a pretty awesome game world. I also read Hope’s bio, and I agree, pretty awesome stuff. I wish I could get my players to come up with something that detailed (I’m crossing my fingers for my new campaign :).
Wow! I just read the bios for Hope and Sgt. Hovan Roark (is that a nodd to Howard Roark?). I am completely amazed at how well written these bios are guys! The bit about Hope’s mistreatment as a child actually hit a nerve for me (the historical account alluded to in Roark’s background was great as well). I also liked the way that each bio included both a back-story, and a contemporary tie-in with the first adventure. Kudos guys!
Thanks. I’m really happy with it right now. We’ve got a great mix of RP and no one is falling asleep or getting bored because of too much talking. :) We had some scheduling issues at first, but things have been really taking off lately and everyone seems to be excited. :)
Hey Zach, the site looks really cool! Wish I was there and could participate, looks to be quite a campaign. :)
Thanks. The players have actually been through five adventures so far, and tomorrow I’ve promised myself I’m going to get them written up. :)
Just finished reading your Adventure Log. Well done! Looking forward to more!
Wow, your banner looks wonderful! What a great job so far!
Hardhead, Wow! That map looks great! And I like your new banner allot as well. Glad to here that that you are now a Guild member. By the way, have you shown off your map to the Guild yet? If not, you should post it in the finished maps section. One of the best ways to learn the ropes of mapping is to receive constructive feedback from one’s peers. I have just recently finished a map for my Tales of Darkmoon Vale Campaign. If you are interested, here is a link to my map of the Western Baronies.
Cheers,-Arsheesh
Arsheesh, I want to thank you SOOOOO much for the link to the Cartographer’s Guild. As you can see, I completely redid my maps using a tutorial from there, and though they’re still a bit rough, I’m very happy with how they’ve progressed so far.
I agree, you have a knack for weaving interesting tales; I found that once I began to read your introductory “Welcome to the Crucible” I felt compelled to read more. I am also VERY intrigued by your religious cosmology. In fact, it is quite similar to that of my own campaign world, even down to the name “Magisterium”! I am still in the process of writing an account of religion in my world, but if you are interested in comparing notes, I’ve written down many of the basic elements in the Religion section of my campaign.
Also, I’m pleased to see another member of the portal who likes maps. Are you familiar with the Cartographers Guild by chance? If not, I’d like to invite you to consider joining (it’s free). It’s a site for people who are enthusiastic about maps to show off their work, give and receive constructive criticism, and share trade secrets of map creation. I just recently made my first map (which you can find in the above link to my site) with the help of the guild. We also have several talented CC3 mappers as well.
Cheers, -Arsheesh
Very good start!