"Let us not waste our time in idle discourse!"
"Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for once the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us! What do you say?"
"It is true that when with folded arms we weigh the pros and cons we are no less a credit to our species. The tiger bounds to the help of his congeners without the least reflection, or else he slinks away into the depths of the thickets. But that is not the question. What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come—"
Is there ever a bad time to quote Samuel Beckett?
AK will return.....eventually.
Well, with my mad skillz of forum-stalking, I know that he occasionally makes brief posts in other PbPs he's a player in....
Speaking of forum-stalking: I'm flattered you agreed with something I said enough to favorite it in another game entirely, Joana. ;P (I really do hate cluttering up the class/level bar with AC/HP/saves stats, though.)
Yeah, I did that to a few aliases (like this one) just to show how ridiculous it can get. As a frequent player of clerics, I hate that system, because it makes it impossible to go back and check when damage was taken and healed. If people don't update their profile every single time, you can forget about keeping track of who was hurt when and how much.
And, geez, play a brunette for once. Blondes don't actually have more fun; they just have such short attention spans that everything seems new and exciting to them. ;P
But...Ansha's a blonde, and that character is pretty much an alternate-reality version of the Ansha in this game. ;P
(Also, Lara Evangeline Ellicott-Tillingsworth in AK's Slumbering Tsar game is a brunette.)
I don't think we are there quite yet. :P
I still have faith. :)
(Although the fact that Alex has not popped in to say that he is still just busy is somewhat disconcerting. I hope he is truly alright.)
I'm lurking like some helpless alien abberation, gazing in from across the stars. I'll try and give a date for a kickstart soon...
He lives! (Sorta...)
Kickstart? - is that where we pledge various amounts of money for boons within the campaign? :P
We'll be here when you're ready... I wouldn't set a date - just surprise us when you can.
On another note I've started a 5th edition PbP here more out of curiosity to see things in play rather than any other reason... and it's 'interesting' so far. Let's just say that I don't think they quite took out the worst of 4th edition, and I wouldn't think there's any risk of it rising like a leviathan to parse RPGers off PF any time soon.
I have done so as well. I will admit that I am finding it interesting. It certainly feels a bit simpler or easier to get into, at least at first glance. Of course, one cannot entirely compare 5th, which has just come out and does not yet suffer from the bloating effect of a myriad supplements, and Pathfinder, which is fast approaching the point of supplement... err... myriad... ness.
There are five characters in the PbP - a Paladin, a Rogue, a Druid, a Warlock and my Barbarian.
Every single character has a +5 to attack (as the character creation caps the abilities as either 16 or 17 and proficiency bonus is +2)... and most of those have a +3 to damage.
The AC of the Rogue / Druid / Barbarian is 14 (16 with shield); the Warlock is 13 and the Paladin 16 (18 with shield).
Everyone is just so 'samey samey'... there's very little character choice and even then there's even less specialization possible... The first 10 levels only contain three tangible character customization choices, and of those only one is a real choice (as at 4th and 8th you're an idiot if you don't take the stat boosts).
Just seems so confining and restrictive... and there isn't much you can do to change that without wholesale class adjustments.
While 5e is unquestionably a simpler game, simpler is the last thing I'm looking for. Simple bores me. I want more options than I'll ever get around to using; otherwise everyone's just playing the same PC over and over again with new names slapped on. That was why I never played the same class twice in AD&D: What was the point in playing something I'd already played? With all the choices in PF, I'm already getting bored with some of the classes I've played more than once (hello, cleric), as I've already taken all the options that interest me and can't play another without feeling like I'm recycling a previous PC.
You do have a point there. Make no mistake, I love options. Between base, core and advanced classes, archetypes and prestige classes, mythic levels, a multitude of feats and more than a few optional rules, there are so many character concepts I can actually create that I get positively giddy when I think about, especially considering how often character ideas pass through my mind. Hell, you can make Gambit if you want to for Pete's sake!
But once in a while, I do like to try something a wee bit different. 5th Edition will not be pulling me away from Pathfinder any time soon, but on occasion I do not mind trying my hand at something, I don't know, simpler, not quite so... expansive I guess? And there is no better place to do so than in a PbP where mechanics tend to play second fiddle to the story, or at least in my opinion anyway.
Are you playing with the full PHB or just the Basic Rules PDF, Mark? I know the latter is very limited by design and anytime anyone expressed concern about lack of options, the response was 'There will be more ways to customize your PC in the PHB!'
The full PHB - and the comment there will be 'more' ways is one that is technically correct. As in that 3 > 1 I suppose.
The only things it really brings in are:
1) one or two choices for the 3rd level Class 'archetype'. But the choices are still in most cases only between two. Eg. the Rogue can be an Assassin, or a Thief - which come with the preset already chosen options.
2) Feats - which in 99% of cases are worse than taking an ability increase. Some offer a +1 to one attribute + extras, which could be useful to top out odd ability scores.
3) More backgrounds - which are really only a 'pick two skills to be proficient in'.
But every option is just so coarse. eg. there is a feat that can be taken and when you swing a two-handed weapon you can take a -5 to hit for +10 to damage.
Or the 3rd level Barbarian archetype ability that makes you take only half damage from all sources while raging.
There are very few +1s, instead couching everything in advantage (for roll twice pick best) or resistance (half damage), etc.
So yeah, there's 'more' but only because 1 is 'more' than zero.
Some of the spells are still baffling - sleep doesn't even offer a save, instead automatically working on hit points worth of critters.
Do they detail an enchanter specialization for wizards in the full PHB? I was disappointed that the basic rule set didn't cover anything but Evokers.
I'm pretty sure there is an Enchanter specialist, Wizards get more options than most due to the various school specialities.
Rob Donoghue over at Walking Mind did a very in depth 5e review here is a link to the section on Wizards et.al.
I'm sorry I haven't made any kind of announcement sooner. I'm currently working 70-80 hours a week and covering more than one position at work on top of that. I have had 0 mental energy to even think about booting up Maptools and whats left of my conciousness at the end of each day usually goes into destressing myself. Running and playing in as many PbP's as I do (formerly did more like at the moment) is simply too much on top of it.
I'd like to confirm my hiatus and set a date to come back re-energised. Hiring a new IT Manager at work, hopefully by early November which will take the pressure off.
I'm going to work on coming back and making regular updates again from the 15th of November.
As for the games I am a player in rather than a GM, i'll do my best to post regularly.
Thanks for your patience thus far everyone. If I lose people as a consequence of all this I completely understand.
I'll be here when you get back.
Hang in there!
Likewise--will still be here. And good luck on getting the work/life balance back where it should be!
I will be here as well.
I tried leaving once, didn't like it.
Apparently I just can't quit you.
:7)
Good luck with the new hire and that whole life thing.
Hey all this might be a good time to reassess, audit and update our characters.
I know I will be re-reading the thread to see what the party knows that this player has forgotten.
Hey, oKOyA, food for thought.
Thanks.
I think Akirra is still somewhat in denial. Focusing on the problems directly in front of him rather than dealing with the implications of his long slumber.
Well, right now he's still in familiar surroundings. I imagine things will become harder to deny if/when we make it out of the pyramid and he becomes Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer.
EDIT: My gosh, look at the size of that cell phone. I think he must have carrying that when he fell in the ice.
Too true.
Can't watch the video as we Canadians haven't paid our licencing fees apparently. :)
Meh, SNL's pretty tight-fisted with its IP. :P
The cell phone's like this.
I've actually carried/used one like that before. :)
And I wasn't even storming a beach or calling in air support. ;)
I've never found SNL all that funny...and that skit is another one that I fail to find the humor in. >.>
In my best Croc Hunter voice "That's not a mobile phone... this is a mobile phone"
When they first came out my Dad experienced a bit of schadenfreude when he saw someone lose control of one out a car window at 60km/hr.... lets just say they weren't made with much impact resistance.
I remember my dad having one of those car phones.
I was quite the fan back in the Chevy Chase / Gilda Radner days.
Qhude stops to hear Tebati's words and mulls them. At first it appears as though some affront is taken at his courage, but reasoning shows the Sangoma's line of thought to be sound. With a sigh, followed by questioning eyes he speaks "Fine, let Ansha do it."
As Ansha moves towards the door, Qhude gently stops her with a hand on the shoulder. He then stands before her to open it himself.
I'd forgotten about Qhude's "send in the mage first" spat when Ansha started barging into various rooms. So has Qhude's opinion of Ansha improved since then?
Was a follow on from this - in that if anyone's opening doors it probably should be one who wants to be in combat, rather than one who does not. Not a softening of Qhude's opinion of Ansha in any real way - more a practicality of exploring the structure and his ingrained machismo; as well as trying to prevent Ansha from willy-nilly opening doors on her own.
The previous statement here was more a reflection of Qhude's views. Tebati said that he was not expendable... and Qhude was less than subtly implying that in his mind Ansha was - or at least challenging her to prove that she was willing to risk herself for the benefit of the group.
The key was here:
""But as before and again here you have shown your mind... you would sooner let us all bleed and die than risk any of your own flesh... If Sangoma bids me to not make the word, then I will listen. If N'bellocq has the courage to put his umkhaya before himself... I will not stop him. But when he spoke, your face showed nothing but impumuzo (relief)..."
So no... he still has an accurate opinion of Ansha as a self-centered person with little thought for anyone but herself :P
And here I thought they were bonding! :(
So no... he still has an accurate opinion of Ansha as a self-centered person with little thought for anyone but herself :P
Are you sure his Wisdom is only 8? ;P
It's complicated - she's still umkhaya... but he's still yet to see her actually put the family before herself in anything.
Or to put it another way - he'll jump in front of a loaded crossbow to save you, but he's deeply suspicious of you whenever you speak in a foreign language.
...and that skit is another one that I fail to find the humor in. >.>
Eh, the writing's not all that -- Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer was usually in the last half-hour of the show when they were desperate for padding -- but Phil Hartman could read the Gettysburg Address in that smarmy voice and make me laugh.
"You must gather your party before venturing forth."
Apparently, Dragon Age: Inquisition's interface asks you whether you want to gather your party and venture forth when moving between areas.
You know, one thing I really love about re-reading the Gameplay thread is how much like reading a good novel it is. Other PbPs just don't compare.
Hey, AK...I was re-reading the gameplay thread earlier and it occurred to me that I still don't know what the hidden purpose of that cook at the Lion's Maw in Freehold was, when he wanted to be introduced to Ansha.
Assuming that it doesn't spoil future plot points...what exactly was it that he was wanting from Ansha?
We haven't figured out what the deal was with that "pilgrim" Ntisi was covering for, either. Not to mention our friend Kamishah who also showed up in Freehold. I have the feeling Freehold hasn't been completely left behind us.
Yeah, I get the feeling there's still a lot that hasn't been revealed, but I'm not entirely sure that all of it remains relevant to the future.
I guess he could have just been trying to get Ansha away from Kieran. After all, the story immediately changed from "I've never seen an elf maiden before" to "I haven't see an elf since I was a kid!" as soon as Ansha set foot in the kitchen.
Yeah, I get the feeling there's still a lot that hasn't been revealed, but I'm not entirely sure that all of it remains relevant to the future.
;).
I'm on track to resume November 15th.
:(
Never trust a ;)ing GM.
I'm on track to resume November 15th.
This is good news, at least! Even if you are a tease.
340ish new avatars went up yesterday, if you haven't seen them yet. I don't recall any blonde elves offhand, but I wasn't really looking for them.
I hadn't, and there weren't. Just a few blonde half-elves...and a couple of blonde drow. (I still want to know when they changed it so drow had anything other than stark-white hair....)
Yeah, the new drow appear to have pale blue skin, too. They look more like snowcaster elves than dark elves. :P
Kinda purplish to me, but definitely not obsidian.
Eh, the most egregious examples from Monster Codex aren't in the avatars. This, for example, is a drow matron.
That is not a Drow. That is an Asari in a wig.
sigh....