Blackguards

TABLE OF CONTENTS -
   Introduction / Posting Guidelines
   Setting
   Character
   Rules

Introduction

   The Blackguards is an OD&D play-by-post roleplaying campaign set in The World of Greyhawk, being hosted on Rondak's Portal, a free RPG website. I put this campaign together specifically to roleplay with many of my old friends who have scattered to the winds. For this reason, this campaign is initially going to be by invitation only; time will tell if that will change.

Greyhawk is a generic fantasy setting, obviously borrowing heavily from J.R.R. Tolkien, Fritz Lieber, Michael Moorcock, Robert E. Howard, Greek mythology, and medieval history. This makes it fairly easy to grasp, and yet in my opinion it's still a very interesting and unique setting in its own right. I'll also admit to having a fair amount of nostalgia for Greyhawk, as it was the first setting I began gaming in.

   For those of you who are familiar with Greyhawk, I've worked to make the setting more of what I want it to be; I've dropped or altered a number of things I thought were silly or inconsistent (unofficial contributor Rob Kuntz's descriptions of his original gaming sessions with Gary Gygax - much of which formed the basis of historical events, deities, and so on - send shivers up my spine for sheer goofiness), and I've added to, embellished, and focused on the elements that I liked (national politics become more consciously feudal, cultures are hopefully more internally consistent and recognizably different, religions are more developed). You may be pleased or disappointed to learn that while this campaign takes place near the Barrier Peaks, there will be no "Expedition" to them, if you know what I mean (sorry, no laser guns in this campaign...).

   I should note that while I'm beginning in the Common Year 576 (the starting date given in the World of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 1980) and have incorporated elements of later publications, I make no promises to follow the events outlined in later Greyhawk adventures and supplements. The future is malleable, and the actions of your characters will have an effect on its course.

   Okay, on with the game!

- Devin Parker (aka TireDamage), DM

Posting Guidelines

   While there are numerous advantages to roleplaying online - especially for a GM as prone to written verbosity as me - the drawbacks of this style of play necessitate a few ground rules and guidelines:

Play-by-post games usually move much more slowly than tabletop games. In order to keep things moving and preventing players from getting bored, I'm posting at a rate of at least 2 turns per week. I may post more often than that if everyone in the game is responding quickly enough. If you decide to play, I ask that you keep up with this schedule, and let me know (in advance, if possible) when you'll be unable to post.

If you are unable to post, I'll play your character as an NPC. While I promise that your character will not be afflicted by sudden suicidal urges, I make no promises he will remain free from harm. If you remain inactive for more than two weeks without prior notice, your character will become an NPC and I may remove your name from the player list. No hard feelings; I understand how Real Life demands attention. I just don't want the game to get bogged down. Don't worry, though - given the structure of this campaign, I can always give you your character back to play when you can return to the regular pace of the game.

Try to refrain from the one-sentence post. I don't expect you to write a chapter every turn, but it becomes more interesting for everyone if you post more than "I swing at the Orc." You might mention your character's expression, the way in which he does or says things, even the character's thoughts, if you feel like sharing that much information with the group.

Now, Onward to the Setting...

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws