I would strongly recommend roll20 over MapTool. I've had some bad experiences as a player in MapTool which I attribute to the program's design, though it could work for some people.

I haven't really had a chance to play with roll20 to its fullest extent; it seems better than MT, though, from how we've fiddled with it.

@KRyan That's valid criticism.

The problem is, if you're going to use MapTool, you either need to set up port forwarding or use a VPN.

And half the time, it doesn't find your appropriate Java path

Like I say, half the time ;)

Weird. About half of the people I've played with have had problems with setting up Java paths.

Windows 7 64-bit

@wax I'm a java dev, and have it set up.

@KRyan The JRE doesn't automatically add itself to your path.

Yep.

IMO, Roll20's stable, and that's what counts. Players can work around the rest

Which, while hopefully no compensation is needed, is sometimes the case.

The Roll20 hangout app looks nice

It's a little cramped, though

XMPP is... tricky. It's deferred, and I get the impression it's far down their list.

@AlexP I figured out what I want to do with the Qunden, and it's open enough as to possibly be relevant if the players would like. Torden's (the head of the Taiden) advisor is going to be... not quite as loyal to the Taiden, and kidnapped Torden's son and daughter. He's secretly blackmailing Torden to "help out the Qunden." As a result, the Qun have had a run of good luck in the markets, but there's growing suspicion around them, and they're not quite sure why.

That's true. I think Torden would still be held responsible, if his negligence is ever revealed.

Yeah. The players have a few places to go with this session, all of which could be interesting.

But it's not the Qun's or Taiden's fault, it's Torden's chief adviser.

It's a weird situation, and it really depends how it unfolds.

And, if they choose not to work with either guild, they still need to address the Cult.

Yeah. One of the three heads of the Qunden is a militia leader of sorts. That was somewhat the plan.

Though having them guard shipments could be interesting.

The Cult is smuggling something in on a ship. It is probably stored with a cargo of food.

Yeah. There are two fronts for the Cult; there's the small planning area, and there's the actual cult building.

Most of them are merchants during the day, though their positions are varied.

Torden has decided to leave the Cult be, so when they're on business, they wear lavish green cloaks. People avoid them, but they're not criminals.

He's kind of oblivious to the political climate.

Hmm. What would be a good illegal import that would be powerful in a spell?

Yeah. Players sit down and get to business, and don't need to bother with finding people. Finding people isn't particularly interesting.

Somewhere between Sword and Sworcery and GoT?

I think I'll call it melano, and it shall be a hallucinogen. An addictive one. One which people mistake to be communication with the gods above

I mean, it makes sense. Nobody would question that weird cult getting a shipment of a hallucinogen, even if it's illegal.

Hmm. You're right, I should leave that open.

So, currently, I have three ingredients for this spell, and I think that's enough.

That gives the PCs three leads into the Cult. Plus, they need to find the Cult's hiding place. And then there are political shenanigans which get in the gears.

The spell seals off the city so that nothing gets in or out without approval of the cult leader Xavier.

The economy collapses, and he is free to make the demands he wishes.

It's a pinkish membrane-like translucent bubble that extends out from the top of the town's shiny new clock tower.

The clock tower is actually an invention of the Cult of the Dominus.

It's not too fancy, as it's a relatively modern idea. Most major intersections have sundials. It's also not incredibly tall, but it towers over most of the other buildings.

It's definitely a centerpiece, though, and serves to impress inbound merchants with the message that this city is advanced.

Not necessarily telling it exactly, but that most people should have a sense of the time.

It's a symbol. The people don't feel too strongly about it as a whole, but it definitely serves a function, and it would be sorely missed.

Hmm.

I see what you're saying.

Hmm. How about this: Since the Dominus are already technologically advanced, they invented the idea of a clock tower. Since it's a merchant city, the technological understanding is important for business, since the flow of ideas is just as important as---this is too convoluted.

Yeah, you're right, it's out of place.

How about this; instead of a clock tower, the spell extends from the tops of the four parapets of Taiden's keep in the center of the city.

And it'll be hard to set up a casting circle underground without generating some suspicion.

I'm... more nervous than I probably should be about running this campaign >_>

Yeah.

Everything is so... precariously balanced in this city.

Ahaha yeah! I'm excited to try this out. It's going to be very interesting.

Thank you so much for your help. This is going to be a good one-shot.

MANIACAL LAUGHTER SHALL SLAUGHTER ALL. THAT IS THE ULTIMATE WEAPON!

Er---what?

Will do! You too!