Maze of the Blue Medusa 5E (Inactive)

Game Master TPJ

Yep. I screwed up. I have 809 gold and treasure.

So.

Since we've been talking music in this thread, what song would you think best describes your character?

For me, it's "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" by Megadeth.

Man, when that guitar kicks in during the chorus, it moves my soul. And the drums - oh man.

(On a personal note, my favorite drums are from Fascination Street (Extended Mix) by The Cure).

On the note of awesome videos, I offer Howling for you official video

I really liked that. Thanks for the link. Although I didn't like how the music dimmed when the announcer spoke.

On the note of music videos which emulate a movie advertisement, I present:

Cold War Kids, "Hang Me Up to Dry."

Dear god, every time I watch that video I get mad that it's not a real movie. I so want to watch that.

This is the first thing that came to mind because Wan'di is a homeless traveling adventurer (but not murderhobo, he's a frugal jack of all trades that helps others when he can). So I thought of a pretty peaceful song that isn't a bad representation of him Float On, by Modest Mouse.

All of these picks make so much sense. I listened to disintegration today for the first time in years. So good.

I'd have to say that DIS ONE would encompass Vehemence's job quite adequately.

Wow. I was not expecting that. What a great song!

For Tenchi, I was really listening to 2 different songs when I made him, so the duality kinda makes sense that they would be his theme songs:

Before he draws his sword.

After he draws his sword.

also, I amembered a Russian band I really like, the red elvises. If you've seen the movie six string samurai, they appear in the film and wrote most of the music.

here is my favorite of their songs: 200 lbs. of pure love

something completely different.

I'd have to say that DIS ONE would encompass Vehemence's job quite adequately.

I'll have you know, you rascal, that this song has now been stuck in my head for days.

I may just have to ask for a new tool proficiency in the accordian just so our characters can play and sing this song together in game.

I almost picked a different song from the Yoshimi album, Do You Realize?

It went a little too cerebral, but it's still a nice song from a great album.

LULZZZZZ

DM Critic, it's been communicated to me that the Luck feat might not work well with PbP, since I get to replace an enemy's roll. Would you rather that I take something else?

Brother Aterro, I encountered the same thing myself this week. :)

I'm currently thinking about this as a challenge -- is it a mechanical issue or one of play style? Can it be workable with some additional communication of intent beforehand? I'm not totally sure yet.

If you want to take a different feat for now that's up to you. I'm not ready to rule out Lucky just yet.

How valuable will background features be? Completely useless or occassionally useful?

I've been in some PBP games where we just completely ignore background features. But I think they're a valuable part of a character and helps expand a PCs capabilities beyond their class. How do you think they'll interact with this game?

Thratch,

The short answer is, it depends.

While the characters are starting out in the city adventure, the background features might be more prominent. While in the Maze, it's going to vary based on the feature. The Maze is its own world, basically, so some features may be a better fit than others. If your feature relies on previously established relationships, reputation or location, it won't really have use early on. However, you can set that as a character goal to establish in the new setting.

For example, your criminal contact feature is something you can use quite easily in Vornheim, even if it's an underworld contact you've just recently met. Within the Maze, you will be completely new there, and you have no prior contacts. You could however assess the situation and decide to try to establish new contacts amongst the less hostile NPCs you may meet.

I'm not going to discourage the background feature, and I think it'll be up to the players as to how deeply they want to go with it, because it will be challenging.

I have made an introductory post in the gameplay thread, and have PM'd each of you pieces of information that you've learned.

You may begin introducing yourselves to one another and comparing notes if you are so inclined. We'll be easing into play in the next couple days.

Also, in this thread, please list the magic item from your current inventory that was stolen from you. I'll be nice and let you pick.

Can I say my fetish heart necklace??

It's pretty magical..... and sentimental.......

my wakizashi of warning.

It should be one of the items I bestowed or one you purchased with your gold. Though if you want to also add the fetish heart necklace and up the stakes...

ok.

for now, you have my bestowed elixir.

Vehemence suffers not thieves in general, so plot will surely ensue anyways.

Eventually I'm sure the necklace will come up, and when that incident proceeds, it shall be glorious.

I am EST, and will post on the morrow.

The raven

Oh it has to be the broom really doesn't it.

I only have some spell scrolls and the item I bought, so I guess it's my stone of good luck. I generated some fluff on it from the tables in the DMG:

Devil's Luckstone. This ebony stone is inscribed with illegible runes when heated with fire. At one point is was a gift to a distinguished fiend warrior, but it was claimed by a human when the creature was felled on the mortal plane. It has been too useful to destroy for the various human hands that have exchanged it; though celestials or those that recognize its origin are repulsed by it. It tells the bearer roughly how far underground they are like they were standing below a cliff, and it can guide the bearer to the surface. Each time it saves the bearer from misfortune it bears the wound against fate on its surface; as old as it is there are small fissures and craters all over it's surface like used soap that has been struck by ball bearings.

Posting for all my games, I was admitted into the ER last week and have been until today. I will likely not be posting for at least a couple more days until I'm feeling up to it.

Feel better!!!

Be well. We'll get you caught up when you're ready.

Get well soon, DM Kugo! =)

@DM Critic: I've spent some time thinking about what you said about the Lucky feat (in conjunction with how I learned about it originally, from a man both heavily muscled and devastatingly handsome ;) and I think I may have some ideas about it.

We could set up a condition that, if any attack that has a maximum damage potential at least 10 hit points (so, either d6+4, d8+2, or 2d6, etc) would hit, then we'll call for a re-roll of the attack, which can be done by the DM in the same post.

Hell, we could even tack on an addendum, of that if any attack (even of less than 10 hp potential) would put us at zero hp, that would be re-rolled also.

There. I like that. What do you think of it? =)

If it seems like I'm applying PC knowledge to my post, I'm not, I'm just following the scripts' allusions to the PC's sensing of something weird abrew and having him put 2 and 2 together.

Apologies if he came off like that however. Won't happen again.

So I’m giving the Lucky feat some thought as it might work in PbP. Here’s what I’ve got. I’m certainly open to debating this.

Lucky Feat, RAW: (PHB 167)

You have inexplicable luck that seems to kick in at just the right moment.

You have 3 luck points. Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check. ar a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20. You can choose to spend one of your luck points after you roll the die, but before the outcome is determined. You choose which of the d20s is used for the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw.

You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you. Roll a d20, and then choose whether the attack uses the attacker's roll or yours.

If more than one creature spends a luck point to influence the outcome of a roll, the points cancel each other out; no additional dice are rolled.

You regain your expended luck points when you finish a long rest.

PbP

Attack rolls, saving throws or ability checks - use the “preview" function to determine what the roll will be. If you want to spend a luck point and add a second roll, you may do so before finalizing the post. Modify the post to declare (ooc) that you will be spending a luck point and then indicate which roll is to be used.

DM: A giant scything blade comes forth from the wall at you. Please roll a DC 15 dexterity check to avoid being cut in two.

DEX: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2 (preview roll)

Brother Aterro: Uh oh. I will spend a luck point!

DEX: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
Feeling Lucky: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

Brother Aterro: Huzzah!

Attack rolls against you - The DM will post the roll and ask if you want to spend a luck point. If you do, post your roll and the DM will substitute and use it for the outcome.

DM: The Surly Orc swings his great axe at Brother Aterro.
Great Axe Att: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Great Axe Crit Damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (12,12) + 4 = 28

And this might fix it --> DM: Brother Aterro, would you like to spend a luck point on the attack roll since I know you have the Lucky feat and otherwise you may surely lose your head?

Brother Aterro: Why, yes I would. I like my head attached.

Feeling Lucky: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Crit roll of 20 + 6 is replaced by 12 + 6 = 18

DM: The Surly Orc hits Brother Aterro!

Great Axe Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

DM: The Surly Orc inflicts 16 HP of damage! But Brother Aterro gets to keep his head till the next round.

Disadvantage - you may spend the luck point to replace the disadvantage roll. Outcome will still be determined by disadvantage.

DM: Brother Aterro, please roll a DC 10 CON save vs. the poison you just drank. Please add disadvantage because of the curse put on you 2 rooms back that gives you disadvantage to all CON checks.

CON: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Disadvantage: 1d20 ⇒ 5 (preview roll)

Brother Aterro: I still have a luck point left and I’m going to use it!

CON: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Disadvantage: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Feeling Lucky: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Final DC is 11 - 8 replaces the first roll of 5.

Please note that these are just examples and do not reflect actual events in the adventure. The encounters are much more serious and deadly.

A lovely post that shows a lot of work and thought and should totes be appreciated.

Oh ab-sol-utely! =D

Mind you, that was -exactly- how I originally envisioned it. However, as was told to the person who had it shot down (and whose pecs bounce when he types if he gets an exciting idea) was told that example #2 might not work well, since if it is a roll to be Luck-countered, it needs the DM to post it, and then the player to see it, and then to write a post stating if they would like it Lucked. This might introduce a hiccup in the narrative, and possibly a delay in posting.

Mind you, this seems like a minor obstacle to overcome. If the player with Luck hasn't posted to Luck the combat roll within 24 hours, it's easy enough to say that they've simply missed their chance, and the game moves on.

Hence, I'm in total agreement that, yes, how you state it is -exactly- the way it could go. I'm even willing to go with that right now, understanding the option that you may modify it at any point if you believe that it needs to be modified.

Sound good? =)

That sounds good. Let's assume that if 24 hours pass with no response, then you decline to use a luck point and let the roll stand. It's a tiny bit more work for me, but as DM I should be tracking things things like which feats the characters have anyway.

W8, do we have access to feats yet?

Only if we're a human, I assume.

Correct. If you took the variant human you get one feat. At 4th level you'll have the option of either taking a feat or the ability score increase.

I don't know how to respond here, lol. I'll figure it out and get back to you.

I do want to slow our roll a little bit to let our other participants have their moments to process and interact if permissible.

Take your time. I probably jumped into things a bit. Order the lady a drink and relax. :)

Lol sure

G'night all. See you tomorrow

I probably jumped into things a bit.

On pacing:

I'm sure we'll all have our own opinions here, but, IMHO, I've seen campaigns of differing speed, and, as far as a philosophy goes, I've heard it said that a GM should go at the pace of the fastest player. Or, at least, in contrast to instead going at the pace of the slowest.

If a GM is posting twice a day, I feel like my posts mean something, and I feel energized, even challenged, to keep up and get engaged and bring out my best RP.

Conversely if a GM posts twice a week, I feel that my posts are meaningless, since they garner so little attention.

In one of my first games, we were in a lull, and wound up waiting a week for one player to make what we thought was a crucial post. It turns out he was dropping anyway. The game never recovered.

If someone doesn't want to post, then no amount of waiting will make them more attracted. But if someone does want to post, then let fly!

IMHO. YMMV. =)

Cool beans

Request: Can everyone update their taglines with relevent character information?

Similar to how Brother Aterro has it?

This interplay is fantastic. I wonder how these relationships will develop lol, especially as these characters change

Can you put up the maps in the campaign info for easy access?

So far, things are really interesting. I was curious, so I took a look at both our character sheets, and if Aterro and I ever did fight, it would be a really close thing. We're pretty evenly matched.

Hee. Oh absolutely! =)
In PFS, I've been quite vocal that the Warpriest is a perfectly viable substitute for the Fighter in any roll, and can even be superior, with a properly managed Swift-action economy. (Well, there's a paladin build that breaks the healing function, but I've never been that good at making OP builds, so we really can't count that. =p)
And I think that that same spirit was brought along in 5E, in that they did a good job giving the Cleric(War) enough versatility to be able to stand in the front line in most situations. =)

I put the map links in the campaign info tab. I'll be posting in the gameplay thread shortly. I had some unexpected work-related things come up yesterday that have crept into this morning.

Most of my (decidedly too many) PFS characters are high AC melee characters, including my oracle, Medium, Monk, and magus (who I had to retire).

Sooo do we post our actions in order, orrrrrrrrrrr

Post as you can. I'll sort by initiative and recap each round.

K. I'll wait for the enemies to act beforehand though, because things may cha ge before I get to go. Is that like, standard practice?

It's been awhile since my last Pbp lol