I am Howlando, AMA

[Miscellanious]

How is it decided when major events will happen? As in, things such as the Siege of Multakt, The Siege of Traensyr, or the rise of plot creatures such as The Hubris of Man?

For context, i've noticed periods where there's a dearth of DM activity, and then times when there're dozens of major things happening at once. Is it on a time scale or whenever you're available, or..?

[Howlando]

How is it decided when major events will happen? As in, things such as the Siege of Multakt, The Siege of Traensyr, or the rise of plot creatures such as The Hubris of Man?

For context, i've noticed periods where there's a dearth of DM activity, and then times when there're dozens of major things happening at once. Is it on a time scale or whenever you're available, or..?

The most important factor (obviously) is the availability and interest of DMs.

We also try to maintain some level of plot activity going on in the life of the server as much as possible. Some times are certainly busier than others.

[Knight Of Pentacles]

Does Sigil exist in Efu? If so are there any rumors to what's going on there?

[Howlando]

There have been various references to the existence of Sigil in the past, but nothing too important. Describing and detailing what is going on in every canonical corner of the FR setting during what is clearly a cosmologically a very tumultous time in general would start to get pretty distracting. In general I would say that the focus of the EFU narrative is narrowing on our particular corner of the UD and that we are eagerly trying to resolve various plots and stories that are already in motion.

So no rumors, and probably best just ignored/forgotten for now.

[OMGbearisdriving]

Is that you, John Wayne? Is this me?

[I love cats]

Some genuine plot questions


1 How did the Count manage to get the support of House Jultar/Other Drow houses?


2 What was the deal with the half-drow in gobsquat and why where those goblins so obsessed with being civilized?


3 What caused the Tigereye mercenaries to mutiny and kill eachother?


4 Have DMS ever considered implemented more player housing/offices that individual PCS could rent?


5 What is the story of Colonel Spittlefire and does he live?


6 Apparantly the nine hundred brothers lead by a certain Gnomish Urdlenite general where a mercenary company in the Underdark. What did they do in the Underdark?


7 If the council hadn't voted that one seeker councilors bid to remove Shep's long list of powers could a coup have been prevented? I feel somewhat responsible for my vote during the last council sessions of chapter 1.   


8 Where Ivylsar and Frederick Bresley lovers? Since he apparantly had no wife and Grulpo's poem does imply that Ivylsyr misses his lover.


9 Why did Ysionde invade Sanctuary in chapter 1?


10 Did Thrask Morv ever come close to betraying Razul and could he have pulled it off?


11 If a PC ever became a Ruby what kind of bonuses would they have gotten?

[One_With_Nature]

2 Questions-

1. What is the most satisfying event in efu you have witnessed that came about due to player action/inaction?

2. Same question- but the most gut wrenching event.

[Bacon_Cheese_Burger]

What is your favorite beer?

[zerotje]

What would you like to see more of right now?

[Howlando]

Is that you, John Wayne? Is this me?

Great film. Greetings OMGBear, you old fossil.

1 How did the Count manage to get the support of House Jultar/Other Drow houses?

The relationship between the rulers of Old Port & and the Drow Houses of Jhael'nyir and then Jultar predated the Count. Old Port's principle source of wealth was as being such an important trading port between Traensyr and the surface world. The drow's primary concern was that the trade (particularly a ready supply of slaves brought in by pirates and slavers from elsewhere) continue uninterrupted. So long as the Count did nothing to affect this the drow would not overthrow him. I'm sure there was all manner of intrigue that went on over the years, but the Count and his Rubies were canny players of the game.

2 What was the deal with the half-drow in gobsquat and why where those goblins so obsessed with being civilized?

Baelara (I think that was her name) was exiled from Traensyr/Old Port, unwelcome in either place. She found her way to Ymph and came upon a tribe of goblins who had come to worship the cargo that had drifted onto the Ymphian beaches in the style of RL cargo cults. The goblin tribe had adopted this almost cult-like, religious enthusiasm for "civilization" (which they didn't really understand) and she used this to manipulate them to let her establish her modestly profitable tavern in Ymph before the activation of the mythallar and settlement of Nebezzdos. Before the start of EFUA she had a fairly quiet life, protected by the goblins and selling rooms & ale to the occasional visiting hunters and explorers. Then of course EFUA happened and the whole region changed dramatically.

3 What caused the Tigereye mercenaries to mutiny and kill eachother?

A degree of discontent was built into the faction's design from the start. A lot of the members were not happy at all with hiding out in Sanctuary, nor were they pleased with the circumstances of how they ended up there (formally called the 'Broken Shield Mercenary Company' they were induced to betray a contract, which led them to needing to hide from angry former employers and live in Sanctuary). There was one half-drow NPC, in particular, who wanted to take advantage of the discontent to eventually topple the Captain and take over. I believe he enlisted some PC help and one weekend - while I was away skiing - other DMs ran with and had a general mutiny. Personally I think it may have been a little premature, as I quite liked the faction, but it was cool how everything worked out in the end.

4 Have DMS ever considered implemented more player housing/offices that individual PCS could rent?

Sure. I think there will be more stuff like this in the future, but it's difficult to get right. Unfortunately sometimes when we implement this stuff it just ends up being used by generic adventurers for storing junk items or contributes to characters moving away from inns & hubs... so, it must be done carefully.

5 What is the story of Colonel Spittlefire and does he live?

Colonel Spitfire was an early humorous antagonist NPC that sort of stuck around for a while. I think GreenerGrass invented him specifically. I think the idea is that he would be a reoccurring goblin master-mind who would continuously be launching hare-brained shames against Sanctuary that would always fail. The NPC also satirized the view of some DMs that occasionally people would try to insert "tactics" into NWN gameplay in a way that just felt forced.

6 Apparantly the nine hundred brothers lead by a certain Gnomish Urdlenite general where a mercenary company in the Underdark. What did they do in the Underdark?

All right I can't remember who they were and don't remember a gnomish urdlenite general. I do know that at one point I wrote an IG text with a list of a bunch of random mercenary company names and the Nine Hundred Brothers was one of them. The intent was mostly to give some hints as to the Broken Shield/Tigereye Mercenary Company backstory.  Later I think a lot of the mercenary companies ended up being used in amusing ways, including in the War on the Dark Lake - but I don't remember all the details.

7 If the council hadn't voted that one seeker councilors bid to remove Shep's long list of powers could a coup have been prevented? I feel somewhat responsible for my vote during the last council sessions of chapter 1.   

I can't remember this period well enough to really say.

8 Where Ivylsar and Frederick Bresley lovers? Since he apparantly had no wife and Grulpo's poem does imply that Ivylsyr misses his lover.

They were not. Neither were gay. Ivlysar was just elvish and easy to make fun of by a goblin, Frederick's passion was just the Way. I suppose they did have a strong admiration and regard for each other but not as lovers.

9 Why did Ysionde invade Sanctuary in chapter 1?

It was hardly a real invasion but they were interested in testing an enthralled version of a dragon (Etorix) as a potential super-weapon. There is a long tradition of Sanctuary being an excellent testing ground for new projects of the Illithid....

10 Did Thrask Morv ever come close to betraying Razul and could he have pulled it off?

Well Razul was the one who betrayed Thrask Morv, no? Thrask Morv did not fully understand the ritual that he was helping to complete, and he died in screaming agony in order to bring it to pass. Thrask Morv, although a formidable man and powerful Thayvian wizard, was somewhat outclassed by Razul and it's difficult to imagine circumstances where he'd have gotten the better of him.

11 If a PC ever became a Ruby what kind of bonuses would they have gotten?

It was designed to be a PRC that was overlaid on top of whatever their existing build was, with additional perks being granted according to what they managed to accomplish IG on behalf of the Count.

These were the bonuses:

Rank 1
Duty of the Infiltrator
Must successfully infiltrate an organization opposed to the Count and provide valuable intelligence and/or action.
Bonus:
Skill focus: Bluff, Stealthy, Skill focus: Disable Trap

Rank 2
Duty of the Assassin
Must assassinate or otherwise remove some enemy of the Count as targeted by a superior
Bonus:
Skill focus: Set Trap, Use Poison, Improved Sneak Attack 1d6 (basically just a way to throw an additional 1d6 sneak on top of whatever sneak the PC may already have....)

Rank 3
Duty of the Guard
Must perform valuable guarding service in the interests of the Count
Alertness, Skill focus: Intimidate, Iron Will

Rank 4
Duty of the Duelist
Must participate in and win a duel on behalf of the Count.
Skill focus: Taunt, Skill Focus: Parry, Dodge, Skill Focus: Discipline

Rank 5
Duty of the Protector
Must protect the Count from some grievous harm.
Improved Poison Saving Throws, Great Fortitude, Defensive Roll

Rank 6
Duty of the Advisor
Must be accepted into the Count's inner circle of trusted advisors.
Skill focus: Persuade, +2 Wisdom, Slippery Mind

Rank 7
Master Ruby
Must perform a deed of sufficient importance to the Count to be declared a Master Ruby.
Toughness, Gift of the Bloodmage (scripting required - polymorph into boy, girl, dog, rat, raven, gull 3/day), Gift of the Vizier (Shadow evade), Gift of the Count (powerful custom item), Sap

[Howlando]

What is your favorite beer?

I like a nice sour Czech pilsner served in a rural lodge after climbing a mountain.

Of the mass-market beers, I'll go for a Stella or Pilsner Urquell.

What would you like to see more of right now?

Really I just want players to find characters and concepts that are interesting in some way that they enjoy and will stick with. I'm looking to ramp up some plots relating to Sanctuary and its inhabitants in the near-future.

[Black_TopHat]

I have recently learned you ski, are you a Cross Country or a downhill kinda guy?

[Jello!]

I have recently learned you ski, are you a Cross Country or a downhill kinda guy?

And what do you think of snowboarders?

[Howlando]

I have recently learned you ski, are you a Cross Country or a downhill kinda guy?

Alpine.

And what do you think of snowboarders?

What is the difference between snowboarders and yogurt?
Yogurt has culture.

Actually I don't mind snowboarding, I am just too busy/cheap to learn something new so I will stick with skiing.

[IIIIIIIII]

A bit of reminiscing and upcoming major events got me wondering about possible divergences in EFU:R's timeline. I'm not sure how much you're able to share, but I thought it'd be fun to ask anyway.

How different do you think the setting would be right now...

If Sanctuary had allied with the Drow in the Canal War?
What If Sanctuary had kept its alliance with the Svirfneblin?
Or If the plot to capture Kingsley by the Dread had been discovered in time?
How about if the Crystal War had gone the other way?
If the Ascension or the Ibrandulites had won the race for Shaundakuul's arm?
If the rebellion that brought the young bresley back to Sanctuary had been lost?