Balacertar |
Hei people!
I just want to say good bye and give an explanation.
You can feel save it is not Douglas wants to kill you all, but just an end to my PJ. After a couple of days of play it was pretty clear for me I would not easily adapt to the playing style proposed in the Campaign.
Better than just crawling along the thread raising the tension of the group and getting stressed up myself, I informed Douglas about the topic and asked him to drop out.
He was much reasonable and offered me the opportunity to change some things for me being more comfortable. But I don't want to change the game some others are enjoying and it is nothing that is being made bad, it is just some differences on style, in taste.
He then informed me Kyami had been suggested magically to surrender, and Douglas told me to approach the dwarf if I wanted to die, or another NPC if not. So it was my choice in the end.
That said, I might keep having a look and reading from time to time. It seems Douglas has a cool history on his head and he had worked a lot for it to happen, so I hope you have a nice time here.
Good luck everybody and have fun! :D
Douglas Muir 406 |
Yes, Balacertar was very reasonable -- it really is just a difference in style and comfort level. Also, I appreciate his help in setting up the macro and the playing field.
BTW, going forward, please feel free to tell me if there are things that make you uncomfortable or unhappy. I think it's obvious by now that this is a slightly unusual campaign opening scenario. If we continue... well, it's the Worldwound: nothing is easy, bad things may happen. But I hope you guys will see this as a series of interesting / fun challenges and RP opportunities rather than a DM trying to screw you over.
Sir Constantine Godalming |
If we have to roll higher than 18 on will saves we are screwed....b/c you can't roll much higher than that......
Yeah I know, but the bug is in the way....that dwarf is the one i'm after!
Surely a dwarf knows about Abadar, he seems pretty into fighting, but when it ends, the chains he has toiled in evil will shackle him in eternity.
Redemption?
Haruka Shiraboshi |
even if I am fairly new to pathfinderI have enjoyed the campain sofar.
I think we should start collecting character Idears for the next party :)
In case Haruka doesn't survive I have my Drider(Wizard(Spellsage)) :) , a second miko (Hungerseed), or a tiefling rogue.
Sir Constantine Godalming |
I don't think any degree of planning would have been better than what we did...
....Other than everyone taking a 50 gold hit out of initial gear for holy water, potions.
I rarely buy any out of initial funds. But it is one of my first purchases with treasure.
Takka of the Toad |
Just gimme one one good critical hit, and I can bite that dwarf's head off! He reminds me of a One Piece villain, you just want to see him get face-smashed. Good job, GM!
...also, watch this turn out like the Young Justice episode - everything's going totally wrong for our heroes, and then they wake up and find out it was an elaborate mental training exercise.
I know that if Takka survives this, he's going to be legitimately questioning whether he should continue trying to be a knight. He's seen two folks die already and he blames himself for both.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Just gimme one one good critical hit, and I can bite that dwarf's head off! He reminds me of a One Piece villain, you just want to see him get face-smashed. Good job, GM!
Well, thanks... but I don't know much of One Piece. Should I? Is it good?
(I have kids, ages 6-13, so I always have one eye out for good stuff for them.)
...also, watch this turn out like the Young Justice episode - everything's going totally wrong for our heroes, and then they wake up and find out it was an elaborate mental training exercise.
I remember that one. It's funny you should mention it. No, this isn't going to turn out a dream. But the demon can rewrite your memories, yes? So if it gets you all helpless...
Takka of the Toad |
Takka of the Toad wrote:Just gimme one one good critical hit, and I can bite that dwarf's head off! He reminds me of a One Piece villain, you just want to see him get face-smashed. Good job, GM!Well, thanks... but I don't know much of One Piece. Should I? Is it good?
(I have kids, ages 6-13, so I always have one eye out for good stuff for them.)
It's an anime about pirates and stuff, and I would highly recommend it to fans of anime, classy characters, and pirates. But the one thing I will say about it is it has some very good villains. The kind you just love to hate. By the time an arc is over and the bag guy is defeated, you are VERY happy to see him/her taken down.
I can't say how good it would be for kids, but I know the english dub kept me interested enough to watch it for the whole time they played it on Cartoon Network (back when their motto was still 'Cartoons 24/7' and Cartoon Cartoons and Toonami were still a thing). I would say your older ones would definitely enjoy it, if for nothing else, but the great action scenes.
Takka of the Toad |
I don't think any degree of planning would have been better than what we did...
Nah, if I had gone with my kobold ninja concept, this might have turned out a fair bit differently. I'm not saying nobody would've still died, but I imagine he'd have gone in with less direct combat and more moving around to free the captives with subterfuge.
Much as I love kobolds, I always have trouble remembering they have to approach encounters differently. You have to shift your perception of how to handle things. (Sorta like when you push around a wheelchair, you start to notice where ramps and the like are, when you normally wouldn't pay it much thought.) As noble as it is to see a kobold stand up to threats head on like Takka, they tend not to last terribly long (especially against clearly outmatching opponents like that dwarf).
Haruka Shiraboshi |
Sir Constantine Godalming wrote:I don't think any degree of planning would have been better than what we did...Nah, if I had gone with my kobold ninja concept, this might have turned out a fair bit differently. I'm not saying nobody would've still died, but I imagine he'd have gone in with less direct combat and more moving around to free the captives with subterfuge.
Much as I love kobolds, I always have trouble remembering they have to approach encounters differently. You have to shift your perception of how to handle things. (Sorta like when you push around a wheelchair, you start to notice where ramps and the like are, when you normally wouldn't pay it much thought.) As noble as it is to see a kobold stand up to threats head on like Takka, they tend not to last terribly long (especially against clearly outmatching opponents like that dwarf).
we should make an all ninja team :)
Osei Otieno |
I think the situation was going to be more narrative, and more RP, than what it has turned out to be. I'm sure we would have had some battle, and perhaps some dangerous decisions to make, but the whole 'as a DM I won't screw you over' informs a much less direct confrontation. Maybe?
If our planning was solely about combat? I agree the outcome would have been similar. If we had taken into account other options that might have arisen as it developed? I believe this would be much more manageable.
That being said, it's still turning out to be interesting. =]
Sir Constantine Godalming |
Oh, I'm cool with a challenge. And I don't expect the Worldwound to be a romp in the fields. I just wish the dice would play along a tad more. X)
Sorry I couldn't save Kyami, Bal. That's gonna be plaguing Takka for a while... assuming he survives.
Pretty sure the only way we would be all ok, was if we watched everything unfold no way I would have sat back and let them leave/ kill everyone who's down.
Besides hopefully something stronger than mooks come along while we have them distracted, wasting their spells!
Balek Nine-fingered |
Balek is going to be gutwrenchingly angry. Partly at himself, but mostly at those locust-kissers.
Erastil emphasizes doing something constructive with anger. Balek may end up building a city or something.
Sir Constantine Godalming |
If I wake up I will have a serious hang-over.
Or maybe the DM has the plot set up so that we are trying to figure out what happened that we don't remember (like the movie the hang-over)....
I am still hoping that Balek (and Takka) can manage to escape.
Haruka Shiraboshi |
@SCG: still alive :)
Haruka will probably become harsher and a bit vengefull (Kyami was her frind after all)
@Duglas: can I ditch the Preacher archetype, the flexible teamworkfeats actualy fitt realy well with her "stand by there side"-Motivation?
Takka of the Toad |
Takka might have to do some re-training if he decides to walk back into the fray... at the very least, find a new mount after mourning Sleek's death. I don't even know that he'll want to find a new mount - Sleek was his buddy since he was a tadpole.
Perhaps channel that rage and become a barbarian. Titan Mauler kobold would be awesome (and effective, since they're small, so they get the bonus to everything!)
MannyGoblin |
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Been lurking here reading as I have Muir's other Way the the Wicked game and I have to wonder is there any point to continuing? It seems that even the PCs that fled are just going to get teleport killed by the demon or have something leap out to kill them. If so, then perhaps this should just be wrapped up?
I understand the PCs triggered this by charging in against high level foes but do wonder what would have happened if they followed orders and what about those who got stuck to the wall when things started? It looked to be just a covert or die thing in any event.
Sir Constantine Godalming |
Not certain your assessment is correct.
The thing is called wrath of the righteous....so I assume we have to be wrathful about something or at someone.
I have done this setup myself, and the PCs didn't catch up for a rematch until 4th or 5th level.....
Douglas Muir 406 |
Perhaps channel that rage and become a barbarian. Titan Mauler kobold would be awesome (and effective, since they're small, so they get the bonus to everything!)
Wait a bit on character-changing decisions. You will definitely have the chance to do this -- just wait in-game for a bit to see what happens before jumping to any decisions.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Peeling back the vinyl a little: the NPCs.
Anycek - Ranger 2
Benno -- Rogue 1/Ranger 1/Expert 2
Don - Rogue (Sczarni Swindler archetype) at least 3. The coin flipping? If he does that as a standard he can get a bonus on his next round's skill check or save.
Sergeant Kir - Rogue/Ranger total 5
Laurine - Sorceror 2. Her bloodline has been calling her here.
Nurrah -- Rogue at least 5. If you were looking closely you may have noticed she rolled d8s for her SA dice -- Knife Master archetype.
Torg -- Barb 2.
Osei Otieno |
Peeling back the vinyl a little: the NPCs.
Anycek - Ranger 2 Deceased or dying.
Benno -- Rogue 1/Ranger 1/Expert 2 Head-squished
Don - Rogue (Sczarni Swindler archetype) at least 3. The coin flipping? If he does that as a standard he can get a bonus on his next round's skill check or save. Alive?
Sergeant Kir - Rogue/Ranger total 5 Miiiind larvae!
Laurine - Sorceror 2. Her bloodline has been calling her here.Alive- Abyssal Bloodline?
Nurrah -- Rogue at least 5. If you were looking closely you may have noticed she rolled d8s for her SA dice -- Knife Master archetype.Badass with a heart of glass.
Torg -- Barb 2.We shall drink to his memory.
Sir Constantine Godalming |
I only regret swapping that point I had in Spellcraft to handle animal.
And not spending my last 20 gold on an armored kilt. (A fashionable choice I think)
Though both things can be corrected. I will leave the skill point, but next level will be adding a point into Spellcraft.
I imagine right now I am in a self induced coma. Stable and begining to heal.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Debrief, Part 1.
As I said, a somewhat unorthodox opening. The bad guys were way, way out of your league. The weakest of them would have been a real challenge for you. Together, they were just completely unbeatable. It was an overwhelming, not remotely level-appropriate combat encounter. The body count was about what I expected, but it could certainly have been higher.
So, why do this? Well, I wanted to start the AP in an unusual and (I hope) interesting way. Most APs have opening scenarios where the first combat or two is pretty easy: goblins attack the butterfly festival, and like that. With just competent play you're pretty much guaranteed a win. But that gets old after a while, and you're all fairly experienced players. So I very deliberately set up a scenario where the first scenario was brutal and challenging, and where you could either win big or fail hugely. If "win big", then you all immediately level up and, in game, win enormous acclaim. If not... well, you could get some new allies, new enemies, new motivations, and an interesting background story. Assuming you survived.
More in a bit --
Balek Nine-fingered |
Plus a certain amount of name-dropping, and a look into the DM's take on the Worldwound and the Abyss (frightening stuff!), and a chance for the PCs to interact in a high-stress situation, different from tavern talk.
Douglas Muir 406 |
Debrief, Part 2
What the hell were those guys?
Staunton Vhane is a Fighter (Polearm Master) 3 along with at least 4 levels of antipaladin. (Fortunately for you guys, he never bothered getting his smite on.) As I've mentioned, I think the Polearm Master is one of the more mechanically interesting fighter archetypes -- it's not particularly flavorful, but it gives some interesting tactical tradeoffs. Weaknesses: large ego, low Sense Motive, fanatic worshipper of Deskari who thinks everyone is just one bad day away from becoming a demon cultist.
Lewis is a bard (Court Bard archetype) of at least 8th level. You'll notice he was throwing all bard spells and fighting with a rapier. The laughter? The Court Bard satire debuff, which is basically Inspire Courage in reverse. Weaknesses: even larger ego, extremely vain, likes sniping at Vhane, snob.
Cringing Robed Guy / Vidkun is a wizard (conjuration specialist). (You'll notice he was throwing all conjuration spells? No summonings, though.) He can cast fourth level spells, so you do the math. Weaknesses: cringing coward, crushing guilt, psychologically damaged.
The demon is a nerfed version of the ooliooddroo demon, a cool demon concept from the Worldwound splatbook with a really stupid name. The original version is CR 13, which is perhaps a bit much -- putting a bunch of first level PCs against an AC 28, 175 hp creature with DR 10, SR 24 and a bunch of terrifying SLAs would be a bit much even for me. I toned her down to a mere CR 9 or so. Weaknesses: lazy, insubordinate, sadist.
Weaknesses common to Team Evil generally: bored, overconfident.