Jeff Kyer wrote:

>To do a proper clan questionaire a-la KODP and
>adding detail for the last 300 years would take
>20 pages. Twenty pages they can't afford.

Which is why I have advocated upping the page count of the various books.
A 96-page Barbarian Adventures could have included the 19-page current
clan questionnaire draft plus added detail on the tribes, rings, etc. My
modified version of Robin's original comes in at fifteen pages, including
a worksheet and form for the the final clan profile. Mind you, my margins
are a bit more generous but both are roughly the same length.

Else post the damn thing on the website as a freebie, and be done with
it. :)




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Bryan Thexton wrote:

>Would people be interested in this as a basis
>for the setting, to be tweaked as needed by
>later developments?

Sounds like an excellent beginning to me. Consider the first stead tree
cut. :)




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Putting in my tuppence worth, work on a single stead and the simplest one at
that, lets get all the dissagreements and arguments out of the way befor we
move onto bigger and better things

Giles

----- Original Message -----
From: "theunspokenword" <mark@...>
To: <stormsteads@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2002 7:47 PM
Subject: [stormsteads] Re: Cutting the first stead tree


> Just a couple of first (and banal) thoughts:
>
> --- In stormsteads@y..., "John Hughes" <nysalor@p...> wrote:
>
> > The second question is do we proceed on several steads at once, or
> do we do
> > one together and iron out our system as we go? (I personally
> prefer the second option).
>
> I'd also go for this - and for that matter, I'd suggest we start
> with the simplest option,
>
> > * a small, single bloodline stead that might be home to a hero
> band, with a
> > single shrine, vegetable gardens, a few crafting sheds and modest
> herd pastures.
>
> and get a better handle on (a) how we work together and (b) what
> stead-building involves, before going for more ambitious targets,
> however fun they will undoubtedly be.
>
> > Each stead description would contain the following sections, built
> up in
> > stages (though we could do parallel first iterations:
>
> The stages work well, even though inevitably
>
> > 1. A brief overview and description of the stead (using the clan
> gen etc.)
>
> will not only be the first to be written but then the last to be
> edited, as we retro-fit all the cool ideas we come up with in the
> rest of the project.
>
> All the best
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> stormsteads-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

It so happens that my Finnish great-grandfather homesteaded in
northern ontario (not far from Sudbury, for those who know Canadian
Geography--not an area noted for its rich farm land).

They had two dry fields and one wet one for extra grazing and hay, as
well as the big vegetable garden.  They also had a lot of wooded
rocky hills, one of which the pigs roamed, and all of which provided
wood and a place to hunt grouse and snare rabbits and pick berries.
Besides the house (and the addition which was put on for the next
generation) there was a barn a wood shed, the summer kitchen, the
sauna, and some root cellars.

After the initial subsistance period they mostly functioned as a
dairy farm, and of course also had a few big draft horses.  (The barn
cats liked sleeping on the horses backs in the winter).

There was a track to the village which eventually became a road, but
at first most travel was actually done in winter when you could
travel on the frozen river easily.

I go into all this because this sounds like about the right setting
for the sort of small stead that we are talking about, and it has the
advantage of having worked in the real world.  If people were
interested I'm sure I could do a sketch of the area (an aunt of mine
still lives in the original farm house and I've visited numerous
times, so I can do it from memory.)

Would people be interested in this as a basis for the setting, to be
tweaked as needed by later developments?

--Bryan

--- In stormsteads@y..., "KYER, JEFFREY" <jeff.kyer@c...> wrote:
>
> Agreed. Otherwise we'll be arguing semantics and or relativism all
week.
> =)

Ticks?  you don't argue with them boy, you got to burn them off with
a piece o'red hot bronze.

Relatives, now them ya argue with, Dark season gets mighty long
otherwise.  Just don't kill 'em, no matter how wrong they are, that'd
be bad.

Michael Schwartz wrote:
>
> John Hughes wrote:
>
> >Do we proceed on several steads at once, or do
> >we do one together and iron out our system as
> >we go?
>
> The latter is preferable.
>

Agreed. Otherwise we'll be arguing semantics and or relativism all week.
=)

Jeff

John Hughes wrote:

>Do we proceed on several steads at once, or do
>we do one together and iron out our system as
>we go?

The latter is preferable.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Just a couple of first (and banal) thoughts:

--- In stormsteads@y..., "John Hughes" <nysalor@p...> wrote:

> The second question is do we proceed on several steads at once, or
do we do
> one together and iron out our system as we go? (I personally
prefer the second option).

I'd also go for this - and for that matter, I'd suggest we start
with the simplest option,

> * a small, single bloodline stead that might be home to a hero
band, with a
> single shrine, vegetable gardens, a few crafting sheds and modest
herd pastures.

and get a better handle on (a) how we work together and (b) what
stead-building involves, before going for more ambitious targets,
however fun they will undoubtedly be.

> Each stead description would contain the following sections, built
up in
> stages (though we could do parallel first iterations:

The stages work well, even though inevitably

> 1. A brief overview and description of the stead (using the clan
gen etc.)

will not only be the first to be written but then the last to be
edited, as we retro-fit all the cool ideas we come up with in the
rest of the project.

All the best

Mark

> The second question is do we proceed on several steads at
> once, or do we do
> one together and iron out our system as we go? (I personally
> prefer the
> second option).
Do one together at first.


> * a supernatural cloud or lightning stead, home to demigods and great
> heroes, set among the storm clouds, where sky bulls and cloud
> sheep graze
> and immortal winds range forth to terrible purpose. (Wouldn't
> we all like
> one of those... or at least to visit one).
Well we need somewhere to put the Windchildren. But that would make it
sprit based which is even scarier.

> Each stead description would contain the following sections,
> built up in
> stages (though we could do parallel first iterations:
[snip]
Sounds ok

> Grammar and sentence structure strictly optional!
Good.

> One that just occurred to me: I'd like a Wyter who is like a bear.
Well that explains why the bee hives are so important to us.



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Okay that's more modern than I the one I saw.

However, to do a proper clan questionaire a-la KODP and adding detail
for the last 300 years would, according to Greg and Steve, take 20
pages. Twenty pages they can't afford.

Sadly, I have to agree with them on that. =(

Jeff

Michael Schwartz wrote:
>
> Jeff Kyer wrote:
>
> >Most closed lists are considered reasonable grounds
> >for discussion of NDA signees by many organizations
>
> Fair enough, but not all members of this list have signed NDAs with
> Issaries. Additionally, my NDA specifically requested that materials
> *not* be posted to electronic archives of any sort.
>
> >Depends on how recently you saw it.
>
> The copy I have was created on January 18th, 2002 and was touted as
> the
> final draft. As John has been asked to give the questionnaire a
> once-over, that assessment appears premature.
>
> --
> Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
> mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
> Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly
>
>                    Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>                           [Image]
>
>
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Integrated Technology Management (ITM)
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mailto:jeff.kyer@...

Comrades

Darrin - thanks for the background. I especially loved that plinth painting.


How are we to proceed? Can I ask folk to comment on my proposed stages of
stead building, which are reproduced below. It was not intended to be in any
way final, so if you have alternative ideas or structures, now is the time
to air them.

The second question is do we proceed on several steads at once, or do we do
one together and iron out our system as we go? (I personally prefer the
second option).

Third, we have a talented and diverse bunch of people here. If one
particular part of the project interests you, please speak up.

I propose that after a few days discussion on how to approach the project,
we put up a poll towards the end of the weekend where people can indicate
the parts of the stead or steads they might like to work on. That will
probably give us small groups of two or three people who can go to private
email and come up with something - even something tentative - to share. We
all have characters and locales and story seeds, I'd like to get them in
circulation as soon as possible. I think we'd all prefer to have some real
data to work with, even if we put it through two or three iterations till we
get it right.

PROJECT OUTLINE

My tentative overview suggested we target four types of stead -

* a small, single bloodline stead that might be home to a hero band, with a
single shrine, vegetable gardens, a few crafting sheds and modest herd
pastures.

* a wilderness fastness stead, perhaps a fortified valley, self-contained
and self sufficient, with stout palisades, a defensive hill fort, bloodline
lodges, crafting sheds, and a number of different shrines. Such a stead will
be home to hunters and forest folk as well as farmers and herders.

* a chieftain's stead, rich and full of tradition, with a law rock, clan
temple, smithy, crafting sheds, a market, bloodline lodges and of course the
chief's feasting hall.

* a supernatural cloud or lightning stead, home to demigods and great
heroes, set among the storm clouds, where sky bulls and cloud sheep graze
and immortal winds range forth to terrible purpose. (Wouldn't we all like
one of those... or at least to visit one).


Each stead description would contain the following sections, built up in
stages (though we could do parallel first iterations:

1. A brief overview and description of the stead (using the clan gen etc.)

2. An initial rough map of the immediate locale ( a rough grid and
splotches!)

3. A brief timeline recording significant events affecting the stead (lodge
burned. giant sat on buttery etc.)

4. A listing and description of the local clan ring (names roles and brief
stats)

5. A listing and description of important people at the stead (names roles
and brief stats, possible story seeds)

6. A detailed description of stead buildings and landmarks (description,
location, associated stories or history, scenario seeds)

7. A listing of resources, crops, crafts, shrines, wyters etc. (stock,
crafts, trade if any, whatever is appropriate. Eccentric wyters with
personality!)

8. Associated poems, mythlets, songs, triads and cattle boasts (optional but
adds a lot)

9. A list of people and locales keyed to scenario seeds

10. A final, detailed keyed map

As we build up data and detail, there will certainly be a lot of shared or
alternative detail. If we end up doing four steads, we should try and use
four different clan types, four different ring types etc.

I have asked Issaries about sharing the clan questionaire, and will report
as soon as i hear back. While the clan generatore may be extremely helpful,
we can also go far by producing backgrounds based on the current version (or
even without using it at all).

I will upload to the files area up some windoz truetype map symbol and
dingbat fonts that mat prove useful. Please do likewise if you have any you
think might be useful.

At this stage, don't be scared to post a brain dump of silly and not so
silly ideas, half-formed thoughts, lists of things you'd like to see etc.
Grammer and sentence structure strictly optional!

One that just occured to me: I'd like a wyter who is like a bear.

Pass the axe, brother, for I see this land through the eyes of my god...


John

____________________________________________
nysalor@...                              John Hughes
Questlines: http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/

The hills of Largertarn
Midst the storms of Ohorlanth
Are two silver horns,
Two breasts childing,
Two steads of lightning.

Midst the gales of Valind
They are two rusted swords,
Twin waves of darkness,
Twin pillars of ice.

- TarosKarla.

Jeff Kyer wrote:

>Most closed lists are considered reasonable grounds
>for discussion of NDA signees by many organizations

Fair enough, but not all members of this list have signed NDAs with
Issaries. Additionally, my NDA specifically requested that materials
*not* be posted to electronic archives of any sort.

>Depends on how recently you saw it.

The copy I have was created on January 18th, 2002 and was touted as the
final draft. As John has been asked to give the questionnaire a
once-over, that assessment appears premature.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Depends on how recently you saw it.

Jeff


Michael Schwartz wrote:
>
> Graham, Andrew wrote:
>
> >Apart from us poor Narrators desperate to get
> >our hands on it to build our own clans
>
> Better content yourself with the old one, the new one is vastly
> different
> and nowhere near as generally useful. I *can* post my modified version
> of
> the original questionnaire to the Files section, though.
>
> --
> Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
> mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
> Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly
>
>                    Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>                           [Image]
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> stormsteads-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

--
Jeffrey Kyer - Consultant
Distributed Technology Management (LOB Porting Lab)
Integrated Technology Management (ITM)
CGI Telecommunication Information Systems and Services Inc.
1 Dundas St. West F11 Toronto, Ont M5G 1Z3
Tel: (416) 215-9464     Fax: (416) 585-7805
mailto:jeff.kyer@...

Graham, Andrew wrote:

>Apart from us poor Narrators desperate to get
>our hands on it to build our own clans

Better content yourself with the old one, the new one is vastly different
and nowhere near as generally useful. I *can* post my modified version of
the original questionnaire to the Files section, though.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Um, do you want to get work done or worry over legalties?  Most closed
lists are considered reasonable grounds for discussion of NDA signees by
many organizations such as the extremely sticky Wizards of the Coast.

Jeff

Michael Schwartz wrote:
>
> Bryan Thexton wrote:
>
> >Just ask the questions to the list...
>
> Again, confidentiality issues arise. Posting the questions is the same
> as
> posting the entire document... both result in an archived electronic
> copy.
>
> --
> Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
> mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
> Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> stormsteads-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

--
Jeffrey Kyer - Consultant
Distributed Technology Management (LOB Porting Lab)
Integrated Technology Management (ITM)
CGI Telecommunication Information Systems and Services Inc.
1 Dundas St. West F11 Toronto, Ont M5G 1Z3
Tel: (416) 215-9464     Fax: (416) 585-7805
mailto:jeff.kyer@...

Bryan Thexton wrote:

>Just ask the questions to the list...

Again, confidentiality issues arise. Posting the questions is the same as
posting the entire document... both result in an archived electronic copy.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

That sounds useful.  What can I do to help?  I can probably conjure up a
few steads - and I THINK I have permission to use the non-standard
'Trouble People' from Black Spear by Robin Laws (if not, I'll buy the
damned thing from him and give it to Issaries as a gift - its $600 USD).

Jeff

t_m_ellis wrote:
>
> --- In stormsteads@y..., "BEThexton" <bethexton@y...> wrote:
>
> > I think to be most useful the clan should at the very least be
> > Orlanthi led (rather than one of the less common Ernaldan or Elmali
> > led clans).
>
> Yes I'd agree.  If someone has a burning desire to describe one of
> the other types of clan then they can always produce a "Sidebar"
> explaining how it would differ from the "norm"
>
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> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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--
Jeffrey Kyer - Consultant
Distributed Technology Management (LOB Porting Lab)
Integrated Technology Management (ITM)
CGI Telecommunication Information Systems and Services Inc.
1 Dundas St. West F11 Toronto, Ont M5G 1Z3
Tel: (416) 215-9464     Fax: (416) 585-7805
mailto:jeff.kyer@...

--- In stormsteads@y..., "BEThexton" <bethexton@y...> wrote:

> I think to be most useful the clan should at the very least be
> Orlanthi led (rather than one of the less common Ernaldan or Elmali
> led clans).

Yes I'd agree.  If someone has a burning desire to describe one of
the other types of clan then they can always produce a "Sidebar"
explaining how it would differ from the "norm"

> No need to send it out at all....just ask the
> questions to the list, have some discussion, then
> choose an answer that seems reasonable based on the
> discussion (or else set up a poll).
Apart from us poor Narrators desperate to get our hands on it to build
our own clans :-)

> Someone else suggested we start bottom up.  We could
> actually do the two things in parallel, start working
> on some building blocks at the same time as we hash
> through at least one clan background.  Then the
> individual pieces can be offered up as standalone
> plug-and-play components for narrators who need them,
> but we can also assemble them into a whole sample
> clan, with more detailed relationships, names on the
> ring, etc.
  A combination of the two would be fine with me. I imagine the small
bits will more or less be done by a single person with the group as a
whole setting the overall tone of the place.



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--- raconteurx <mschwartz@...> wrote:
>
> I have the final draft of the clan questionnaire,
> although I prefer not
> to post it to the Files Section for reasons of
> confidentiality. I will
> email it to the various members of the list for
> personal use, however.

No need to send it out at all....just ask the
questions to the list, have some discussion, then
choose an answer that seems reasonable based on the
discussion (or else set up a poll).

Someone else suggested we start bottom up.  We could
actually do the two things in parrelel, start working
on some building blocks at the same time as we hash
through at least one clan background.  Then the
individual pieces can be offered up as standalone
plug-and-play components for narrators who need them,
but we can also assemble them into a whole sample
clan, with more detailed relationships, names on the
ring, etc.

Regards;

Bryan

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--- BEThexton <bethexton@...> wrote:
> Although I understand that the intent is to keep
this clan fairly generic, all the same some decisions
have to be made....to describe temples and shrines we
have to know who they are too, to describe ring
members or even general stead inhabitants we need to
have some idea of popular cults, main source of
provision, and so on.<

One alternative is a bottom-up approach. We describe a
series of pluggable components then weave some clans
from them. This gives us time to await a completed
clan generator and makes the porkject more generic.

For example we could design X many sample lodges,
examples of each size of temple for major gods, X
intereseting local features like Tarad Rield (sp?)
from KoDP, out-buildings etc. A stead would then
contain a number of these low-level components. A clan
would then contain  a number of steads. We concentrate
work on building the lowest level components.

Obviously the missing factor here is
interrelationships and how these elements take on the
flavor of the clan. How each lodge relates to the
stead and clan that contain it. To get around this
containers like a stead or clan description would need
to show the interrelationships.

At frist this will produce strange clans, as we will
not have enough components (hard to do an Elmali clan,
if we only have one Elmali hearth). But as we get more
components it wshould become easier to assemble more
coherent clans.

However, the advantage, IMO, is that these components
are usable on their own by narrators with established
campiagns, even if they have their own container to
slot them into. And once we have a framework going it
is easier for future contributors to add a new element
(Add a hearth, or add a shrine etc.)

Thoughts?

Ian Cooper








=====
Ian Cooper
0208-672-0717(H)
07970-411892 (M)
0207-337-6217 (W)

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The creator, Mark Cummins, mentioned in previous correspondence with me
that certain aspects (such as names) would be easy to tweak. Adapting for
the various marriage types practiced by the Orlanthi would involve a bit
more work.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Very nice! Its a CGI (server side) script, alas, so I've got no idea how
easy it would be to modify, and what the ISP requirements would be, but if
nothing else it certainly sets a standard. I for one would be very
interested.

John

____________________________________________
nysalor@...                              John Hughes
Questlines: http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/

On the seventh day when the crescent moon reaches its fullness,
You bathe and sprinkle your face with holy water.
You cover your body with the long woolen garments of queenship.
You fasten combat and battle to your side;
You tie them into a girdle and let them rest.

- Inanna: Loud Thundering Storm.

John Hughes wrote:

>I have been asked to look at the clan generator,
>with an understanding that there may be further
>changes.

This bodes well, as far as I am concerned. The current draft lacks that
"certain something" which made Robin's original so generally useful.
There *are* some interesting new bits, but I'm not at all pleased by its
significantly narrower focus. It no longer allows the diverse array of
Orlanthi clans possible from earlier drafts.

The text you quoted was Bryan's, not mine, BTW. :)




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Michael:

> >If anyone could get access to the clan generator
> >that will be in Orlanth is Dead, that would be
> >even better...

I have been asked to look at the clan generator, with an understanding that
there may be further changes. So I will check with Issaries and try and
confirm what is happening, then get back to you.

John

____________________________________________
nysalor@...                              John Hughes
Questlines: http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/

Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness.
- Meister Eckhart.

>If anyone could get access to the clan generator
>that will be in Orlanth is Dead, that would be
>even better...

I have the final draft of the clan questionnaire, although I prefer not
to post it to the Files Section for reasons of confidentiality. I will
email it to the various members of the list for personal use, however.



Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

At <http://www.jdrpg.com/family/family.cgi> there is a Family Generator
for PENDRAGON which I'm certain the creator could tweak to allow for
Heortlings names, epithets, and whatnot. I can contact him, if folks are
interested. I personally enjoy completing extended geneologies for clan
bloodlines and my players' heroes, and assume that others do as well.




--
Michael Richard Schwartz | Language is my playground,
mschwartz@... | and words, its slides and
Ann Arbor, Michigan  USA | swingsets. -- yours truly

Although I understand that the intent is to keep this clan fairly
generic, all the same some decisions have to be made....to describe
temples and shrines we have to know who they are too, to describe
ring members or even general stead inhabitants we need to have some
idea of popular cults, main source of provision, and so on.

A few possibilities spring to mind:
1- some leader suggests a fairly typical and generic set-up, we
discuss it, and eventually it is finalized.

2- someone sets up a bunch of web polls, and we decide that way.

3- We somehow figure out a way to work through the clan generator as
a list, and use the output of it.  (and if anyone could get access to
the clan generator that will be in Orlanth is Dead, that would be
even better).

I think to be most useful the clan should at the very least be
Orlanthi led (rather than one of the less common Ernaldan or Elmali
led clans).  I have views on other bits (like farmers and herders
should be the two principle providers), but I'll try and hold them
until we determine the proper way to express them.

Regards;

Bryan

Greetings and Salutations
2002-02-18-1955.

I have just uploaded some files to the Stormsteads files section.

* Applelane-1a.  This is a picture of APPLELANE in an isometric view.  I
will be doing the final stead pictures like this.

* Tribal Tree^1.  This shows a make up of a tribe and clan down to
stickpicker level.  This was done in the old days o' Runequest.

*  Duanis 1^  A little speech to inspire.

------------------------
Cheers Darran.

...  Aeolia, where the storm-clouds have their home, a place
teeming with furious winds from the south.  Here Aeolus is
king, and in a vast cavern he controls the brawling winds
and the roaring storms, keeping them curbed and fettered
in their prison.  Resentfully they rage from door to door in
the mountainside, protesting loudly, while Aeolus sits in his
high citadel, sceptre in hand, taming their arrogance and
controlling their fury.
                         Virgil.  The Aeneid.

THE HEORTLING STEAD PROJECT

The Heortling Stead Project is a list enterprise to describe a number of
typical and generic Heortling steads and their inhabitants in ways that can
be easily customised for individual campaigns.

I have created a home page for the project at:

http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/stead.html

The page presents a proposed structure for the project for us to gnaw upon,
four suggested stead types that we may wish to detail, and some lists and
locale examples from my own Lagerwater stead. None of it is set in stone -
obviously we'll get together and decide collectively what we want to do and
how to do it.

Don't click just yet - the present contents of the page are reproduced
below.

One initial question is whether we should form a discrete Stead Building
mailing list for the initial stages of the project. A lot of what we talk
about will be of practical campaign interest - stead and clans and how they
work, but some of it won't - who's doing what etc. Whatever list we use, I
imagine we'll be making fair use of online polls to decide directions.
Opinions on whether to separate the list, especially from the HW moderators,
would be most welcome.

It's my hope that once the basic structures for each stead are in place, HW
list members will contribute characters and locale seeds to fill in the
details of the steads. We can use the dynamic nature of web documents to
full advantage.

John

THE HEORTLING STEAD PROJECT

Some Preliminary Ideas


Yip, we're gonna build us a stead. All we need is 'a great tree, a strong
god, and a bloodline for a day'.

The Heortling Stead Project is an attempt to create and populate a number of
generic steads for use as Hero Wars campaign resources. It will describe a
number of distinct stead types, and by successive increments map their
buildings and landmarks, describe the clan ring, wyters, stead locale and
resources, and provide descriptions and game stats for significant
inhabitants. References will be for the most part generic - "the city", "the
river", "the rival clan", to allow for campaign customisation. The resulting
stead templates will be made available on the web.

The stead project is communal, coordinated through the Hero Wars mailing
list, (at least until we decide if it needs a dedicated home) and is open to
all who wish to contribute.


FOUR STEADS

For purposes of initial discussion, I suggest that we describe four
different steads

* a small, single bloodline stead that might be home to a hero band, with a
single shrine, vegetable gardens, a few crafting sheds and modest herd
pastures.

* a wilderness fastness stead, perhaps a fortified valley, self-contained
and self sufficient, with stout palisades, a defensive hill fort, bloodline
lodges, crafting sheds, and a number of different shrines. Such a stead will
be home to hunters and forest folk as well as farmers and herders.

* a chieftain's stead, rich and full of tradition, with a law rock, clan
temple, smithy, crafting sheds, a market, bloodline lodges and of course the
chief's feasting hall.

* a supernatural cloud or lightning stead, home to demigods and great
heroes, set among the storm clouds, where sky bulls and cloud sheep graze
and immortal winds range forth to terrible purpose. (Wouldn't we all like
one of those... or at least to visit one).

Each stead description would contain the following sections, build in
consecutive stages:

1. A brief overview and description of the stead

2. An initial rough map of the immediate locale

3. A brief timeline recording significant events affecting the stead

4. A listing and description of the local clan ring

5. A listing and description of important people at the stead

6. A detailed description of stead buildings and landmarks

7. A listing of resources, crops, crafts, shrines, wyters etc.

8. Associated poems, mythlets, songs, triads and cattle boasts

9. A list of people and locales keyed to scenario seeds

10. A final, detailed keyed map

I suspect that certain key characters and locales may be applicable to most
or all of the steads. It may also be possible to create a javascript
template along the lines of Oliver Bernuetz's Orlanthi Naminator

http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/5545/gaming/herowars/namina.html#
naminator]

that will supply unique names for character lists, to assist narrators in
producing their own unique campaign material.

To make campaign changes as simple as possible, each stead template will
also be made available as a series of rich format text or spreadsheet
documents for ease of editing.

The reason I believe this makes such a good list project is that, once a
rough framework is established, individuals can contribute to the project in
small (individual character or locale) increments, in many cases
contributing existing material from their campaigns. And existing characters
and locales can be given greater depth by adding more detailed stats,
descriptions and story ideas, again just a paragraph or two at a time.


SOME SAMPLE MATERIAL

By way of example as to what's required, and to get you thinking about best
presentation and what does or doesn't work, here are links to a number of
lists and descriptions from my own Lagerwater stead set in the Tresdarnii
clan lands of the Tovtaros tribe of the Far Place. Note that these examples
are highly specific in terms of location and clan: the Stead Project will
produce more generic descriptions that can be fitted into a variety of
campaigns with minimal reworking.

* The Tresdarnii Clan Ring, listing people and positions.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/tovtaros.html#tring

* A description of Lagerwater Stead, a list of Important People at the stead
and also Significant Others.

http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/lagerwater.html


* Two locale descriptions for Lagerwater Stead: The Palisades By Night and
Harmony Lodge. An in-depth locale has a physical description, a number of
characters associated with it (with game stats where relevant), and possible
mythic or historic links. It often can supply a number of story seeds. And
sometimes it will function as an entertaining short story in its own right.

[I will post these separately to the List.]

http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/lagerwater.html#seed


John
____________________________________________
nysalor@...                              John Hughes
Questlines: http://home.iprimus.com.au/pipnjim/questlines/

The hills of Largertarn
Midst the storms of Ohorlanth
Are two silver horns,
Two breasts childing,
Two steads of lightning.

Midst the gales of Valind
They are two rusted swords,
Twin waves of darkness,
Twin pillars of ice.

- TarosKarla.