Ahoy Me Matey! A Skull and Shackles campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Keith S.

Don't worry Cap, we're coming...

A cure wounds wand for willy is definitely on the 'to do' list

It was a knee-jerk action last night to bulls strength Noonan.

In the future, do you guys think using a buff like that is best on him, or should it go to Amaru or Darvan to buff up a non-full bab character?

I think the up front fighters should get the STR buff so either Noonan or Amaru should be fine.

Noonan can rage so someone else can get it if you are near them.

we'll just roll with what I said last night this time.

That thing looks pretty big. We need to hit it pretty hard, pretty fast.

Level up to 5

HP: 1d12 ⇒ 6 +2=8
Bab +1
Rage rounds +1
Feat Weapon Focus-Greatsword
Improved Uncanny Dodge
Swim,Perception,Climb,Handle animal,Survival +1

@ Noonan - we use average hp per level

I've taken a stab at updating our Loot spreadsheet.

I figure we'll wipe the slate clean from the start of this year.

We have these potions to divvy up: (did we use one of these to heal Darvan?)

2 potions Cure Light Wounds (CL5)
3 Potions Cure Moderate Wounds (CL5)
1 Potion Bull's Strength (CL5)

I'm open to opinions on Divying up Consumable Items like Javelins of Lightning and Dust of Appearance. (I kinda think they shouldn't count when dividing up loot between us because they'll get used up quickly)

Who between Amaru, Noonan, and Wilma should take the Keen Longsword?

I lean towards Willy, because (a) Noonan has a lot invested in swinging a greatsword and (b) if Amaru isn't using the magic cutlass we found then nobody is.

Loot division is a democracy aboard the Sea Hag, so speak up and let me know what you guys think.

Sounds good. I don't swing swords that often (even less as more spells become available), but a +1 and double crit chance doesn't hurt

Updating the character:
+ Siege Engineer (Proficient with all siege equipment)
+ Cure light wounds
+ Heroism

Sounds good. I don't swing swords that often (even less as more spells become available), but a +1 and double crit chance doesn't hurt

I agree and quite frankly, given the crit range of the cutlass, it is very close to the +1 keen longsword (just a little less damage).

Does bull strength stack with rage?

Let's not forget that we need someone else to be able to heal besides the captain.

1 or 2 Cure Light Wounds wands are on the agenda as soon as we reach civilization

Noonan is sticking with his greatsword. :)ME AM BARBARIAN!

Noonan would like a potion of CMW. He does like his bow for ranged combat.

All seems good! I'll forgo taking any healing pots, I usually float around the back of combat anyways.

How about this:

Noonan: 1 CMW, 1 CLW,
Amaru: 1 CMW, 1 CLW, 3 Javelins of Lightning, 1 Bulls Strength
Willy: 1 CMW, 1 +1 Keen Longsword
Dewyn: Mutjoy's Scrolls to add to his spellbook
Darvan: 3 Dust of Appearance

Any opinions?

@Amaru: Bull's Strength is an enhancement bonus to strength, Rage is a morale bonus so the two stack.

Sounds good to me.

I'm good with the loot split.

Thanks.

At some point there will be some armor/simple weapons that Darvan can use, or we'll invest in making something.

I know my 18 AC didn't feel high enough when I was getting pounded in those fights in the temple.

Are we done leveling up?

Nothing left in the temple, time to ride the swamp boat back to the Hag

All done

Done with character sheet and equipment.

52 hp
+1 reflex saving throw
18 to AC (dodge feat)
no longer flat-footed (uncanny dodge)
+1 bab
+1 ranks on: acrobatics, climb, disable device, perception, selight of hands, stealth, survival
+2 ranks of use magic device
Rogue talent: resiliency

and 1 CMW, 1 CLW, 3 Javelins of Lightning, 1 Bulls Strength

@ Amaru - update your "header" when you get a chance.

That actually applies to everyone - I use that info more than you may know!

@ Dewyn - did you want to take any scrolls and convert them into spell book spells?

@noonan are you still hurt?

32/54

We had several days coming down river. Darvan would have channeled energy to heal you during that time.

Err.. To be honest I didn't even know that was a thing? I'm sure it's beneficial to do but I'll look up on the rules for it to get a full grasp on it

Assume everyone is healed up and full on spells. I should have said that.

Movement actions for a ship

full ahead! accelerate by its rating. Move straight forward, or into either diagonal square ahead of the bow. If the sailing check is failed, it moves only straight forward and speed doesn't change.

hard to port or starboard (if the current speed is twice the acceleration the check is at -5; if three times the acceleration, the check is at -10). Turn the ship 90 degrees at any point in the move (change facing by putting the rear of the ship where the bow is and rotating by 90 degrees).

Heave to! slow the ship by the acceleration rate. Note that a failed sailing check means the speed doesn't change and the ship moves straight forward only.

stay the course! Move without accelerating or decelerating. If sailing check is passed, it can move diagonally forward.

I am going to propose a house rule that allows ships to turn 45 degrees. The 90 degree rule seems restrictive to me.

Any objections?

makes sense

Sounds good

Outside of combat, the base DC for all sailing checks is DC 5. In combat, the base DC for all sailing checks is DC 20.

Willie asked a question under gameplay that I think may bear some discussion.

Should she roll once for the entire broadside or once per shot?

My thought is roll once for each shot - that way some will miss and some will hit, as is "realistic" (if that applies in a game like this).

BUT...if the broadside fires under Willie's direction, each shot gains a benefit from her shooting and any reload skills.

If the cannon crews end up firing individually, they don't get her bonus (or a maximum of 1 cannon does, the one she is working with).

Also - first cannon shot of a battle gets an extra +2 to hit for anyone because it is the most carefully loaded. Thus has more consistent powder and tamping is more accurate.

How does all that sound?

And where will I write that down so we can find it again?

sounds good by me

Sounds good to me to too.

Write any and all house rules like this in the Campaign Info Tab.

If it's getting too crowded then put it under a 'spoiler'.

Okay to me

Sounds excellent!

so 5 more shots from Willy at the Nitro?

So give me some feedback (and I am an adult so I can take it)

Is this campaign what you want it to be?

We are off the rails from the Skull and Shackles storyline a bit (or more than a bit).

I am sort of going with "Kingmaker with Ships" sort of format.

Is it working? Is everybody involved enough?

Is the map(s) too complicated / too small / good the way it is?

I'm at work right now but I'll provide some feedback later tonight.

Getting to do pirate stuff is fine for me.

So give me some feedback (and I am an adult so I can take it)

Is this campaign what you want it to be?

We are off the rails from the Skull and Shackles storyline a bit (or more than a bit).

I am sort of going with "Kingmaker with Ships" sort of format.

Is it working? Is everybody involved enough?

Is the map(s) too complicated / too small / good the way it is?

Ok, here we go.

I think the campaign is really good.

The maps are fine and I think everyone is involved in the game.

I would bot players sooner, especially in combat situations. Give us 24 hours or bot us along.

Something I would do is give us a something to focus on. And maybe this is just me getting on the campaign late but what is the overall goal here?

Are we trying to be the best pirates? (kind of broad...)
Are we trying to get revenge on someone?

A tighter focus may help us (me at least) out.

Good job overall!

Game on.

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to incorporate your thoughts.

But the focus is going to have to come from you guys. This is more of a sandbox game like Kingmaker, not your classic Skull and Shackles.

There are opportunities for you to find adventure and move yourself forward without a doubt.

Feel free to discuss in this tab what your goals are.

The initial goals were to escape from the Wormwood and set yourselves up as pirates.

More or less accomplished.

The next goal was to find hidden treasure. That part's done, you are working on surviving it now!

The next will be up to you.

Early discussion of that will help me prepare.

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to incorporate your thoughts.

But the focus is going to have to come from you guys. This is more of a sandbox game like Kingmaker, not your classic Skull and Shackles.

There are opportunities for you to find adventure and move yourself forward without a doubt.

Feel free to discuss in this tab what your goals are.

The initial goals were to escape from the Wormwood and set yourselves up as pirates.

More or less accomplished.

The next goal was to find hidden treasure. That part's done, you are working on surviving it now!

The next will be up to you.

Early discussion of that will help me prepare.

Thanks again for the thoughts.

Keith S. wrote:

So give me some feedback (and I am an adult so I can take it)

Is this campaign what you want it to be?
We are off the rails from the Skull and Shackles storyline a bit (or more than a bit).
I am sort of going with "Kingmaker with Ships" sort of format.
Is it working? Is everybody involved enough?
Is the map(s) too complicated / too small / good the way it is?

Ok, here we go.

I think the campaign is really good.
The maps are fine and I think everyone is involved in the game.
I would bot players sooner, especially in combat situations. Give us 24 hours or bot us along.
Something I would do is give us a something to focus on. And maybe this is just me getting on the campaign late but what is the overall goal here?
Are we trying to be the best pirates? (kind of broad...)
Are we trying to get revenge on someone?
A tighter focus may help us (me at least) out.
Good job overall!
Game on.

If I can add to that (thinking aloud here):

- I noticed that I've been drifting off a bit. I'd enjoy having a bit more role-playing interaction, but that admittedly also requires me to put some more time into it. I had great ideas for Willy, I just need them to come out.

- I can really recommend Painlords guide to PbP and Painlords guide to PbP GM-ing. I don't use all of his advice (and I don't necessarily agree with everything), but he does have a good number of ideas on how to make PbP smoother.
- My own favourite is 'the push and the hook' (I guess this goes for players more than the GM, but it's a good way a GM can interact with his characters). My chinese-new-year's resolution is to use this more:

- I'd enjoy having a bigger goal. I think we have a nemesis roaming around somewhere, but we could always go for claiming our own island and setting up our base from there. Build our own little armada. Boss around some other pirates. Capture the Cheliax treasure fleet.

- I like that you take the effort to make the enemy captain in this encounter an actual NPC. It's the details that matter, and it adds great flavour

- Would it be possible to have all non-game discussion in 'ooc' tags? It's really far easier for me get what is going on if I can quickly distinguish description from comments.

- In my games, I use an initiative tracking list during encounters. It makes it easy to see who is up for actions. here is an example (link).

I also use the push/hook in my games (I call them 'tags') but the problem is that there's only so much a player can do. If you see that your efforts are not being rewarded then you stop doing them.

I firmly believe that these games are contagious in that if a couple of players and the DM start producing some decent posts then the rest of the players will follow (and those that don't should just be dropped). Harsh yes but that's what it boils down to. This is voluntary and if you agreed to post a decent post once per day then you need to be a big boy/girl and do just that.

Let's try it and see what happens, then ;-)

Well, we did steal this ship from harrigan, so he's a villain to look out for.

Theres some fishmen we owe a little payback as well.

I am not sure I agree with Willie and Amaru.

Some folks like detailed, in depth posts.

Some like to role play a lot.

Some folks (on the other end of the spectrum) treat the game like a miniature based combat system.

I am somewhere in the middle. I am interested in telling a fun and entertaining story. And roll some dice along the way.

But your points are all fair.

There have been several clues of folks to worry about from a long term standpoint. There will be more.

I won't be handing them out on a silver platter, however.

Good luck!

btw, Darvan has evolved into the character he had to be.

In the beginning (with an entirely different cast of characters) we needed healing so I made a cleric.

Then we needed somebody who could drive a boat, so I maxed prof(sailor).

Along the way I decided to build him into a dreadlocked version of aquaman.

I don't take this "captain" part very seriously. The group is a democracy, Darvan only shouts orders because somebody has to.