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So ... because we have a number of people now that are cat people, and just as many that think cats are the bane of the internet and the world ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ywjpbThDpE

After a few whirlwind months of working dead-end part times jobs, surviving the polar vortexes of the American Midwest, getting engaged on a cliff off the coast of France, and finally securing stable full-time employment, I'm back in action. I'll at least be on IRC, mayhaps I'll find a concept and hop IG- though that won't be until at least a week from now when I reduce my amount of jobs from three to two.

Great guy! Really enjoyed our run-ins on Tolman. It's too bad we couldn't do more together as the plots we were getting involved in would have brought us together.

Look forward to whatever is next!

UGH. Just when I am starting to maybe have time again for EfU and get involved, you die.



He was cool during the time I interacted with him IG. Good character, good plans as usual.

Welcome to the Remade in Darkness Club. Wish I had a chance to interact with Hark IG as Tolman, always seemed like we missed each other!

Some screenshots posted. Unfortunately no Barag Varn shots, I started taking screens much later in his career.

Character Tolman Greybridge is also experiencing this bug as a ranger multiclass. Most noticeable is the lack of added damage to one of his favored enemies, which leads me to believe I am not receiving other bonuses.

For the past few days I have been out of town and/or working on a couple portfolio pieces for a couple future interviews. After Monday or so my playing time should rise above 0 playing time.

I think part of player retention issue may start with first impressions in the OOC room.

It's been six or so years since I've done the NwN RP thing. I found the beginning OOC room to be a little daunting as a rusty veteran; I could imagine it being even more so for someone unfamiliar to the setting and style of play that occurs here.

There is a lot of information poured into those large tomes, and it is definitely needed. There's a mix of mechanical changes, setting info, etc. I think it's brilliant having a scripted check on deities, a place to tailor your starting outfit, etc. The issue I found was that it was all jammed into a single place and a bit unguided. It's great to compact as much as possible, but I felt some sensory overload.

It would take time, energy, and resources, but my suggestion would be to reassess the area and perhaps break it into two or three open-concept rooms, each with specific content. i.e. a room marked for information about the setting and mechanical changes, starting gear/deities/disfiguration. All this leading to the IC portals.

The suggestions already given on IG ways to get people involved are quite viable, and it'd be good to see. I'm still working my way back into the setting and at times I do feel the server seems barren in the main Upper areas. I'll login with 20+ people in and see maybe four to six. I do not fault anyone for this as the server is huge and there are many places to be and plot. I plan to and will get more involved with player plots because I know how to go about it, but someone new may not know that players should try and do something with other players besides quest.

Tolman Greybridge's time has come to an end. Bittersweet, truly. [A coy smile]

Time to reveal some non-spoiler secrets, I suppose?

Tolman was a feisty rogue in the streets as a young lad until taken in by a clockwork animatron engineer. He learned how to assemble (and disassemble, thus FE: Constructs) different types of machinery. After the Dread attacked, he found his way into Lado's Barag Varn Holdout prelude.

His patron was Tyche, which became especially important after the events of Barag Varn. He and his fourteen compatriots were spared a death that should have happened. That's where he got his self-imposed title as "a Ghost of Barag Varn." Part of Tyche's dogma plagued him and became a meta-goal for him. "For every person that is spared, one must be seized." Through word, action, and presence, his pursuit finally ended in 5/15 souls returned to Tyche, including his own.

Tolman gave Alexandrite gems to those he trusted and swore to never move against. Except Jebediah T. Firefly. What a bitch.

He was a Black Guild member more out of convenience, rumor milling, and possible resources than idealogical connections.

He was also a conduit of information ("Ear in the Shadow"), relaying information between different parties; Tolman often double- and triple-crossed people for chaos' sake rather than personal gain.

There was one group he was actually honest with and did not leak their information.

In the end, Tolman played too much in the shadows, got involved with the wrong people, and was bound to

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. He rushed to a friendly halfling paladin, swore an oath to end his associations, and became the most honest he had ever been. She set him up on a date with a ritual to end the binding, which ended with him being pulled into a shadow realm and remade as ripped apart shadowy substances.

Tolman's characterization was initially based on Jaqen H'ghar, but he inevitably became a smattering of characters from Robert Baratheon's small council from A Song of Ice and Fire.

Some screenshots! Unfortunately I did not start taking screens until much later in Tolman's lifetime, and much of what I have is a bit spoilerish. Enjoy a few moments and his ending!
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Big/Little Love Interest


Tolman coming clean in the end.





Shot of the ritual to unbind Tolman.


The End.

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I made a character today to check out the new OOC starting zone (which is really well done, thanks for looking into it!) and to further use in the future. I input Tyche as the deity, but the deity checker/changer says that Tyche is not a valid Forgotten Realms. Canonically this is true, but in our setting this should be valid? May just be leftover scripting from an earlier time.