Storyteller Forum: 29 March 2001

Thanks go GMs Holyph and Jubalee for graciously fielding all our questions and providing valuable insight on their plans for the Storyteller profession. Thanks also go to Fati for providing me with a copy of her log after I discovered my scretary fell asleep on the job.

[Athens, Place of Assembly]
The huge, oval meeting area is paved with blocks of limestone. Sunken, it is surrounded by three tiers of limestone steps topped with a marble parapet. Carved benches and a few twisted olive trees are scattered around within the circle. This is a favored spot for citizens to meet and debate legislations or other concerns.
Also here: Rebbeca who is sitting, Pamico who is sitting, GameMaster Holyph, Lyricist Anika who is lying down, Athenios who is sitting, Deryni who is sitting, Writer Euphrasia who is sitting, Leanna who is sitting, Angelia who is sitting, Epoclaen who is sitting, Brete who is sitting, Sarrah who is sitting, GameMaster Jubalee and Bardess Heartsong who is sitting.
Obvious paths: northeast.

Holyph points at a finely carved marble pedestal.

Euphrasia says, "I was just wondering how exactly we can use the books for experience, I hear tell there is something with key words but I am not sure how to utilize that... and no one seems to know"

Pamico chuckles at Holyph.

Euphrasia grins at a finely carved marble pedestal.

Holyph nods.

Holyph says, "I haven't looked too much into books to tell you the truth..."

Holyph coughs.

Jubalee says, "Me neither."

Holyph says, "But, apparently depending on the subject of the book there is a set of keywords"

Euphrasia asks, "does anyone know where that is?"

Holyph says, "That you will gain more experience for if they are in your story."

Euphrasia says, "right"

Epoclaen says, "On that subject, I'd like to see us earn a bit more from them though was surprised to see a bit more that I earned last time I checked than I was used to seeing"

Holyph says, "You need to use books in a performance area with an audience though, and there is a certain amount of time within which to say those words."

Euphrasia says, "but if we don't know what they are, it's kinda hard to have them be part of a story."

Holyph says, "Which begins when you READ the book."

Euphrasia says, "right sicx minutes..."

Deryni pouts.

Holyph nods to Epoclaen.

Euphrasia coughs.

Epoclaen says, "no one has done a study on what keywords work yet to my knowledge"

Holyph says, "Learning for puppets and masks as well as song writing has gone up over the past few months."

Holyph says, "Books will likely follow that trend."

Euphrasia says, "I tell stories for groups all the time in there and I would love to be able to earn a little something for it."

Anika says, "Yeah, I noticed I went from a pond to a river in just three fame songs."

Anika gazes happily at Holyph.

Brete asks, "gone up?"

Holyph nods to Euphrasia.

Anika says, "Or something big like that."

Holyph grins.

Holyph says, "It went up from a paultry sum of like 4 experience per actions with the masks and such."

Leanna grins at Angelia.

Holyph says, "To help with the "new" experience pool we got some time ago."

Brete nods.

Euphrasia asks, "so will someone be looking into that?"

Holyph says, "The higher experience is by no means a new change, but I know people don't use masks a lot so figured I'd throw that out there."

Holyph nods to Euphrasia.

Holyph says, "I will look into it this week."

Jubalee smiles at Holyph.

Anika says, "It'll make it worth it to incorporate masks now."

Epoclaen asks, "Were you looking at finding what those keywords were though Euphrasia?"

Epoclaen peers quizzically at Euphrasia.

Euphrasia says, "yes the keywords "

Euphrasia says, "I mean if a love story needs the word romance in it I would like to know that"

Epoclaen says, "I think that'll always be something we'll need to guess at"

Euphrasia says, "not all my love stories say romance" Holyph nods to Euphrasia.

Jubalee says, "The problem with finding out the key words is that we don't want someone just making a list of words to get experience."

Holyph says, "Well, we don't really want to publicise the keywords."

Epoclaen nods to Jubalee.

Holyph says, "Or we'll see a lot of stories like..."

Brete nods.

Athenios nods.

Holyph recites:

"Hercules love broken heart sighed Aphrodite marriage bond"

Euphrasia says, "stories have to last more than six minutes to count for anything "

Angelia grins at Holyph.

Jubalee chuckles at Holyph. Epoclaen chuckles at Holyph.

Euphrasia asks, "right?"

Epoclaen recites:

"The end!"

Epoclaen grins.

Pamico chuckles.

Holyph looks over at Euphrasia and shakes her head.

Jubalee grins at Epoclaen.

Holyph nods to Epoclaen.

Holyph says, "The keywords make sense with the subject of the book though."

Jubalee says, "Imagine how boring 6 minutes of that would be."

Anika asks, "Or 6 hours?"

Holyph says, "They're there to make it so someone will actually use a love story book to tell a love story."

Anika smirks at Jubalee.

Euphrasia says, "but you only gain experince when you READ the book, and you have to READ it every six minutes while you are reading the story"

Holyph says, "Instead of using one about death and war to tell it."

Holyph says, "Because the words likely used in a love story would give them more experience."

Brete nods.

Holyph says, "Yes, you only gain for things recited after READing the book."

Brete says, "makes sence to me"

Euphrasia says, "but I have one about Echo and narcissus, unrequited and self love, so I might not be getting THOSE words in that persay..."

Holyph says, "It's not a perfect system, but it's about as good as it gets."

Holyph grins.

Euphrasia says, "right. I know that."

Holyph nods to Euphrasia.

Holyph says, "I'll look into the keywords."

Holyph says, "I haven't even found them."

Holyph says, "Puzzle was a sneaky GM."

Epoclaen asks, "oh! Are the words on a word boundary or not?"

Anika asks, "Word boundary?"

Holyph asks, "A who-what?"

Euphrasia asks, "so you aren't going to tell us, because some jerk has to mess it up all the time for others, what we can use to make our stories better for ourselves?"

Anika blinks at Epoclaen.

Anika giggles at Holyph.

Epoclaen chuckles.

Holyph says, "That and I don't know."

Holyph nods to Euphrasia.

Epoclaen asks, "i mean like does "lovely" count as using "love" since it's in the word?"

Holyph says, "I've tried to find them but they're buried pretty deep someplace"

Holyph says, "Ah"

Holyph nods.

Holyph says, "I'll look into it"

Holyph says, "Like I said, I haven't even seen the keywords."

Jubalee says, "Holyph is much better at unraveling other peoples webs than I am."

Holyph grins at Jubalee.

Holyph exclaims, "Hm, speak up!"

Epoclaen says, "I was wondering if you could go over fame and how it works a bit since I seem to have missed something in my uderstandings that doesn't correspond to the fame I see when I check INFO on myself or my EXPERIENCE."

Holyph grins.

Epoclaen grins at Holyph.

Holyph nods to Epoclaen.

Jubalee grins.

Holyph says, "The fame ticker in INFO can be a wee bit misleading."

Angelia nods to Holyph.

Holyph says, "What it is doing is checking your fame pool, not your fame."

Epoclaen nods.

Epoclaen says, "That much I understand"

Holyph says, "So when it says you're starting to be forgotten, it doesn't mean you're losing fame."

Euphrasia asks, "how do you check your fame?"

Holyph says, "It means that the fame in your pool is starting to approach the point where it deteriorates."

Holyph says, "There's no way to check fame currently."

Holyph says, "But I am pushing for the revealing of hidden stats."

Holyph says, "So we'll see what my influence does."

Holyph snickers.

Epoclaen grins at Holyph.

Jubalee smiles at Holyph.

Holyph asks, "What was it about fame you were confused about?"

Anika giggles.

Holyph peers quizzically at Epoclaen.

Epoclaen asks, "Okay, so when I sing to release my fame, doesn't that flood all the fame instantly into the actual absorbed fame stat?"

Holyph nods.

Epoclaen ponders.

Epoclaen asks, "then why would the messages get different as though it was being absorbed slowly?"

Holyph says, "plus or minus a bit depending on conditions."

Epoclaen says, "ah, okay."

Holyph asks, "How do you mean?"

Epoclaen says, "I thought it did it in one fell swoop."

Heartsong asks, "So the closer you are to needing a song before your fame pool overflows and you loose some, the different messages you get?"

Holyph says, "It does."

Holyph nods.

Heartsong peers quizzically at Holyph.

Holyph nods to Heartsong.

Holyph says, "The closer you get, the less famous you feel."

Brete ponders.

Heartsong says, "I understand."

Holyph nods.

Heartsong beams at Holyph!

Epoclaen says, "yes but AFTER I sing one, I get different messages as well."

Holyph says, "Epoclane, I'm confused..."

Holyph asks, "Oh, when you sing one for other people?"

Holyph ponders.

Jubalee peers quizzically at Epoclaen.

Epoclaen says, "or for myself unless I'm seriously delusional"

Holyph nods.

Holyph says, "Ok, when you sing for yourself..."

Epoclaen mutters no comment from the peanut gallery on that one please!

Holyph says, "You release your fame, then you get more fame from singing the song."

Brete grins at Epoclaen.

Heartsong nudges Epoclaen with her elbow.

Epoclaen exclaims, "ahhh!"

Holyph says, "So a storyteller singing their own fame song will never have a completely empty pool."

Jubalee smiles.

Epoclaen says, "gotcha"

Epoclaen nods.

Holyph grins.

Holyph says, "Ok, Juablee and I have been discussing some pretty big changes."

Epoclaen says, "that was causing me considerable confusion and I was afraid I had it worng"

Epoclaen grins.

Holyph says, "Of course we haven't gotten approval for any, but we'll bounce em off ya'll anywho."

Epoclaen raises an eyebrow.

Epoclaen asks, "hair color?"

Holyph chuckles at Epoclaen.

Epoclaen squints at Jubalee.

Holyph says, "I like my hair thank you."

Brete grins at Holyph.

Jubalee exclaims, "I like my hair color!"

Epoclaen nods to Holyph.

Jubalee rubs the side of her neck.

Holyph says, "We're looking to change the way songs work."

Holyph says, "So you would perhaps, scan a sheet of music before going out to battle."

Holyph says, "And be able to recite that music from memory for a certain amount of time."

Holyph says, "Depending on your skill above the complexity of the piece."

Brete grins.

Pamico says, "That would be handy"

Holyph nods.

Holyph says, "But, we are also looking into limiting the amount of songs you can use at a time."

Holyph says, "So that you will actually have to..."

Holyph gasps!

Anika says, "I got a question about the songs, Holyph..."

Holyph says, "Make decisions."

Holyph nods to Anika.

Pamico chuckles at Holyph.

Holyph says, "One second"

Brete grins.

Holyph grins.

Anika says, "Just tell me when I can ask."

Holyph says, "It doesn't matter much now with just 6 songs, but we're hoping to get more."

Holyph nods to Anika.

Anika asks, "I can ask now?"

Anika peers quizzically at Holyph.

Holyph says, "So say you're hunting something that you need to kill fast."

Brete nods to Holyph.

Holyph says, "You would want your marching song instead of your luck song."

Holyph says, "Stuff like that."

Holyph says, "Shoot."

Holyph nods to Anika.

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