Eldarian Stardancer |
Have to say I am pretty GEEKED to be playing Keep on the Borderlands again after all these years.
I'm curious though, Tribute, are you using the Basic D&D B2 module or the 2nd Edition AD&D module "Return to the Keep on the Borderlands"?
Btw, Tribute, I included a "hook" for my character in my background wherein my PC has been sent to the Keep to visit an old friend of my master. I left the details concerning the purpose for the visit (I figured maybe he was sent to deliver something)and identity of the visitee (is that a word?) purposefully vague so that you could use them as you saw fit.
Its a shame that it appears that we will not have a Halfling "class" character in this game.
Eldarian Stardancer |
Forgot to ask if there is a particular format you would prefer that we use to present our "stats" (i.e. HP, AC, saves) in the class area that shows just under our PC name.
Rowan the Fox |
This is going to be great, I am seriously looking forward to cutting a swath through the caves of chaos.
I had the basic set from '82, and I am pretty sure it had the keep with it. either that or the local game store bundled it with the box sets.
Elwitta Bad-Axe |
Greetings all, I'm very much looking forward to the campaign!
Concerning the name Elwitta, I actually took it from the tournament characters provided in the original A1-4 slaver series. He's definitely male :)
Eldarian Stardancer |
I made the update to my stat line below my PC name, Tribute. If there is anything else you would like to see up there or any changes to what I have currently, let me know.
GM Tribute |
Here are words in this module from the master (Gary Gygax). I was amazed at how they still have meaning today. I do not imply that you are novices, just that it can be helpful to outline the social contract of adventuring together. I could not say it any better.
On a lighter note: Hoping for the BEST GAME EVER
TIPS TO THE PLAYERS
It often helps for beginning players to have advice on how
to play D&D. Many points are overlooked by novices in
their eagerness to get on with the adventure, The following
points are given to help these players.
Most importantly, players should be organized and cooperative.
Each player should have complete information
on his or her character easily on hand and should supply
the DM with this information quickly and accurately if
asked. As parties will usually involve a variety of alignments
and classes, players should work together to use their abilities
effectively. Arguing among players will cause delays,
attract monsters, and often result in the deaths of some or
all of the members.
Cooperation should also be given to the DM. He or she is
the judge of the game and his or her decisions are final. If a
player disagrees, he or she should calmly state why, and
accept whatever the DM decides. Shouting, crying, pouting,
or refusing to accept decisions only angers the other
players. The game should be fun for all involved. Not everything
will go the way players want it.
Planning is another important part of play. Players should
be well equipped, comparing each member’s list and
balancing the items on each. No character should be overburdened
nor under-equipped. This may mean sharing the
costs of extra items. Rope, oil, torches, spikes, and other
useful items should always be carried. Plans should be considered
for encountering monsters and casting spells.
Caution is also necessary and is a part of planning. A party
that charges forward without preparation is almost
certainly doomed. Danger should be expected at any
moment and from any direction, possibly even from one’s
own party. Lying and trickery are not unknown. Cautious
play will help avoid many (but not all) tricks and traps and
may save a life. However, too much caution is as dangerous
as too little. Many instances will require bold and quick
actions on the part of the players, before all is lost.
Above all a player must think. The game is designed to
challenge the minds and imaginations of the players.
Those who tackle problems and use their abilities, wits, and
new ideas will succeed more often than fail. The challenge
of thinking is a great deal of the fun of the game.
Eldarian Stardancer |
@Ryan/Mot: You've got Combat Casting on your character sheet under special abilities. Where is that feat coming from? It's not a feat from your domains and you already have two other feats listed under the feat section in your sheet.
Also, you are wearing Hide armor which means that your movement rate is reduced to 20 feet per turn not 30 feet.
Eldarian Stardancer |
I have no problem seeing the maps but they are oriented in a difficult manner to view. Is it possible for me to rotate the view or would you need to re-post them to Google?
GM Tribute |
You can cut and paste the maps into a Powerpoint slide and use rotate. Given I was cutting and pasting and cropping, they were oriented to preserve the most detail and information from the original document.
For combat posts, let us post the round and character name at the top. I know we can update character sheets, but try to keep active effects and hp totals as well as what is in your hands each round. When movement and spell area of effects are specified, we can use the coordinates in the excel spreadsheet. For melee characters, tracking what is in your hands can be important, sometimes at both the beginning and end of the round.
Round 2 Grug the Barbarian
In hands=Mwork greataxe 14/18hp
Active effect = Rage/bless Rage power grants 2 AoOs per round
Move=take potion of enlarge from belt pouch Std=drink potion of enlarge
Grug takes his blue potion and drinks it while easily holding his greataxe with his left hand. He waits to get bigger and puts his hand back on the greataxe discarding his potion bottle.
Casters can track the counters on their spells too.
Bless 8/10 rounds left, Summoned badger 6/8 rounds left.
Eldarian Stardancer |
Tribute, would it be possible to move your instructions for combat information you desire over to the Campaign information tab so that it doesn't get lost in the jumble of later discussion posts and will be easier to find for future reference?
Morgan Iron Wolf |
Hello! Thanks again for the invite!
Morgan has arrived, newly refitted as a ranger.
Please let me know if I need to make any adjustments.
I figured Morgan, as a ranger, would logically be a local at the keep. She would even be someone the party could bring along as a guide to the Caves.
GM Tribute |
The master himself used to say that a party of half martial characters was a good mix. When there were only four classes, he liked a party of six to be fighter, fighter, fighter, cleric, thief, magic user. When rangers were invented, he liked to see one of them in the mix. So, we are there!
Morgan is good.
GM Tribute |
I have a post from another game this is actually more realistic. Later added tracking smite evils and LoHs. Ministats are nice, because it allows us to track hp fluctuations and leaves a record. Updates to profiles/character sheets do not leave a record, but are still encouraged. I see Mot is all ready to track his many resources.
Justin turns to wink at Aarakess. Time is on our side
This is a standard chokepoint defense. I have a magic shield without using any hands, this is so amazing.
Justin draws the big flail and slings the big sword. He prepares for the inevitable rush of skeletons.
In hands:2-h flail Effects:shield(4rnds left)/aid(3 temp hp)
Move: ready 2-h flail/Std: Ready attack on approach
"Sorry Ingrid, don't think we can give you an opening with your whip without exposing the formation. Kilthan, you have to show me that hardening your skin trick."
AC: 24; flatfooted: 24; Touch: 10
HP=37/34
CMD=17
Fort Save: +8
Ref Save: +4
Will Save: +5
Eldarian Stardancer |
Wasn't Morgan Iron Wolf a name given in the rules for a Fighter in Basic D&D? Awesome little inside joke/Easter egg.
Well played, sir...or madam.
Rowan the Fox |
I am going to be in a seminar all day (Saturday) for work, feel free to bot Rowan if I am slowing things down. His main actions in combat will be flanking and sticking them with the sharp end of his sword.
Eldarian Stardancer |
I am going to be in a seminar all day (Saturday) for work, feel free to bot Rowan if I am slowing things down. His main actions in combat will be flanking and sticking them with the sharp end of his sword.
So..."stick 'em with the pointy end" ? (Apologies to Aria Stark)
Mikal Amakiir |
Rowan the Fox wrote:I am going to be in a seminar all day (Saturday) for work, feel free to bot Rowan if I am slowing things down. His main actions in combat will be flanking and sticking them with the sharp end of his sword.So..."stick 'em with the pointy end" ? (Apologies to Aria Stark)
Yah, pretty much.
GM Tribute |
Ok we can set watches for practice. I will probably put that in the campaign tab with initiative and marching order.
I tried to learn maptools after installing it and reading some tutorials. It is not going as quickly as I had hoped. I will probably stick with the quick Excel spreadsheets shared in google docs for now.
I was able to import the map, put a square grid over it to make a five foot square grid on a map made for ten foot squares, hide the appropriate sections with fog of war, and import tokens from the PC pictures.
We will see how it goes, but a map should be up today or tomorrow for the caves.
Eldarian Stardancer |
Tribute, is the map for the CoC still a "work in progress"? I see a link to it but when I click on it all that comes up is a completely blank spreadsheet with no overlaying map as seems to be suggested in the post above this one.
Has anyone else opened that map and seen anything different?
Eldarian Stardancer |
I just saw an article that today is the unofficial 40th birthday for D&D. Thanks to Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for creating this awesome collaborative gaming experience that has given so much enjoyment to people all over the world for 40 years.
Different comment
I looked at the map for the area surrounding the Keep and noticed something about Caves of the Unknown. Is that where B1 -- Expedition to the Unknown was supposed to take place? I never played that module and was unaware that the two modules (B1 and B2) were supposed to take place almost right next to each other.
Eldarian Stardancer |
Regarding the marching order proposed by Elwitta, I'd make a small amendment by placing Eldarian in middle. In our games we always stuck the "squishiest" PC's in the middle because you never know when your group might get attacked from the rear.
Morgan Iron Wolf |
I agree that the dwarf fighters make a good choice of being on the front line.
Of course, if we put one dwarf and the rogue or ranger on one end, and one dwarf and the other stealthy-type on the other, then the party can make an immediate about-face without really changing the party's strength.
The cleric and the wizard can be in the middle: the wizard for protection and the cleric for healing access and being able to use his spear reach in every direction.
Eldarian Stardancer |
I think your proposal makes a lot of sense. I would go with...
1st row: Dwarf -- Ranger
2nd row: Wizard -- Cleric
3rd row: Rogue -- Dwarf
Any of those could be flipped within the row obviously.
Rowan the Fox |
I think this should work, the only thing I would say is that it would be nice to have the rogue in front to check for traps. I will also need to be able to move efficiently to get into flanking positions, which can be done from the rear. So being able to flip the order front to back when needed should be a good strategy.
I am not able to see the map. But I think we can work around it for the short term.
Daniel Stewart |
Eldarian Stardancer |
Tribute, it is my turn but as we don't have a tactical level map I am not sure exactly what I can do.
I might cast color spray to try to affect as many of the orcs as possible but without knowing where everyone is positioned that would be pretty risky.
Do you intend to put up a tactical map (like you used in Swordthrust) for us to use or will we be just doing Theater of the Mind?
Eldarian Stardancer |
Just a suggestion it might be helpful if people indicate the cell address of where they intend to end their move as well as the cell address of the location of any enemies they attack.
For example, Ewitta could post: I move 10 feet to FC41 and attack the orc in FD41.
I think that might makes things a little clearer for everyone especially GM Tribute.