Old School Greyhawk - Saltmarsh Campaign PFRPG (570CY - Southern Keoland)

Game Master ALLENDM

This is for OOC discussion. Discussing rules, house rules, and any questions for me from the party.

This is also the party chat room for discussion for the campaign.

Party so far is made up of 4 characters and I will be finalizing the party with two more characters by no latter than 2/9.

Current Party:
Oceanshieldwolf - Naia Temlow - female human fighter from Saltmarsh

mishima - Zove - female high elf druid from Saltmarsh by way of the Dreadwood

Jovich - D'ogryn Amaidor - male human (Suel) rogue from Saltmarsh

hustonj - Rabalar - male wood elf Divine Marksman Ranger from the Merchant Caravan acting as a Scout/Guard

Thanks,
SD

All,

When you set up your Alias information below your picture please include a [wound threshold status].

Example 1: [HP 16/16 (Healthy)]
Example 2: [HP 16/11 (Grazed)]
Example 3: [HP 16/7 (Wounded)]
Example 4: [HP 16/3 (Critical)]

Thanks!
SD

Hello all,
Glad to be here.

Hello everyone, looking forward to gaming here for the next years.

I had some questions I was saving until this point, but failing to have written them down has caused me to forget. I will take a hard look over everything again today.

Sounds good.

With that if anyone has any questions let me know.
You will find I am pretty flexible and my strong belief is this is “our” game not mine.

SD

Hi all! Looking forward to some adventuring...

Howdy!

Lot of work to do on my alias yet. But I got past the hard part. It exists!

Interesting group we're working with . . ..

Harpoon Fighter
Nearly unarmed Rogue
Olven Druid (fairly traditional at a glance)
Olven Archery Ranger (very traditional)
Warpriest (Combat Cleric - Pretty traditional)
Abjurer (Kinda traditional, but an oddball specialty, in my opinion)

Half are locals.
Two employed by the Caravan.

Seems a pretty combat capable group, too.

Curious to see how we actually work together.

Hi everybody! Sorros is pretty much all ready to go, and I'm excited to venture forth into Oerth once again.

Edan is set.

I remember now. It was about the alternative racial traits. I wasn't sure if I could take both Lightbringer and Treeshaper*. I was confused if the * meant I could not take another trait with an * or could not take any other trait whatsoever.

It means Treeshaper costs two traits. I didn't catch that when I reviewed your character and should have.

SD

No problem I'll remove Lightbringer.

I still have Zove's opening post. I will have that up today.

Tick, thanks for the message about the headers to alert who the post is directed at. I was more focused on getting the posts out and didn't think about putting a header on it for each person.

If you need a map of the Town. There is doc in the Google Drive marked Player Maps of Keoland and Saltmarsh. I will update the map tonight with each of your homes (for those from Saltmarsh).

SD

No problem SD :)

I think I'm finally done fiddling with my alias name. I'd switched over to a double 'r' because the Soros alias was already taken, but I dislike the Sorros spelling for various reasons. And then I realized I could just add some non-letter characters to the alias to differentiate it from whomever this false Soros is, and voila!

I just realized I don’t have doc for you on common NPC’s in and around the town. As welll as those associated to each of you. I will get that out ASAP.

SD

All,

I have made an opening post for each player so now it is all yours.

I will get the Player Maps of Keoland and Saltmarsh updated with Key NPC's in a few moments.

SD

Very nice intros, I know that would take massive effort for me to accomplish something like that!

Thanks Mishima,

I enjoy doing these. I will try to keep up the pace and effort as best I can.

SD

All,

Some housekeeping items. This is the official start date for our campaign. I am looking forward to it and as I have no table top games going, no PBP players in campaigns my attention are 100% (from a gaming aspect) on this campaign. I will work to develop things around you in the campaign world.

1) Pace and effort are always important in a PBP if we want it to be successful. We have a lot of GM's in this group and I always think that is a good thing to have as GM's understand how important the little things are and that helps the game progress faster. I would ask we attempt to keep up a good post rate. At a minimum, I would ask for a post a day understanding that weekends can be tough.

2) My schedule I work Saturday to Tuesday night from 10pm to 10 am central time and then I am off the rest of the week. During my work hours I run a team and if we have nothing going on I have some downtime and often get a chance to check posts and update. I will attempt to always do an update at some point in the morning and the evening every day. If RL gets in the way at any point I will post if it will affect my posting rate. I would appreciate the same thing in return for all of us.

3) I have found it is always good to set a goal for the completion of each module so that we have something to work towards as a party. U series themselves are actually pretty fast modules but with role-playing and character development we can get bogged down. So setting a goal can help get through all that. I would like to propose we work for a conclusion date for U1 at May 9th. I think that will give us enough time to role play events out that each of you want to spend time on as well as work through the entire module and some of the subplots I have put in for latter development.

4) I will push pace and tempo as often as I can. If you are planning a post and you suspect you need to make a roll go ahead and do so. If I need to make the roll I will and let you know I didn't use yours but the one I made. Combat rolls are made go ahead and make a to hit and a damage roll as well as critical damage roll (this way if you do make a crit you already have the damage). I would ask to think ahead on your posts two to three posts so that if you expect to make a roll or an action that requires a check of some sort do it and put it in a spoiler. If it turns out we don't need it we simply won't use it and note it in the OOC. That way we keep things moving along and don't let the roll playing bog us down.

5) AOO/Flanking/Conditions - stay on top of these and other abilities and effects... Don't be afraid to put a spoiler alerting me to things as I will do the same. I might miss something don't hesitate to remind me :)

6) At the end of all encounters I will hand out XP so that we can progress the game along. XP will be handed out the same for everyone in attendance. Any botted characters (long term only - more than a week) will only get 50% of the XP normally rewarded. Heroic actions will be awarded Hero Points. On this note, I will award these and you guys can also; so speak up and suggest someone if they deserved a hero point for something outstanding or well done. This includes a really well done post or chain of posts that move not only move the story along but is simply great role playing or character play. If at any poin you achieve a new level at the next point of downtime (rest/no encounters) you can advance in level. Please make sure you update all character stats and let me know what you added in the OOC.

7) Suggestions, comments, complaints please don't hesitate to let me know. Like I said I want this to be our game, not mine.

Post Often!!!

That is it for now.

Thanks,
SD

P.S. Post Often!!! :)

I have updated the Player Maps of Keoland and Saltmarsh with key NPC's and locations of interest in Saltmarsh. I will update as we progress.

Player's Maps and Information of Keoland and Saltmarsh

SD

Sorry for the delay, folks - I'll have a post up within the next 2 hours.

DM, how are you on reflexive rolling(working name)? I've adopted it in my games and it helps the flow immensely. That is to say, rather than bog the pace down with waiting for a player to post a roll before the rest of the narrative can continue, If they are unaware of it, or I would have to stop the pacing to wait for them to post a single roll and ruin the flow, I roll using their modifiers. Any other actions that they want to initiate, I let them roll— but otherwise, Saves, Initiative, and even a passive check, I roll just to keep the story going.

Does any of that sound good to you? I can format up a copy/paste for Edan's stats if so.

I'm all for the GM making any passive/reflexive rolls for us rather than waiting on us to do so. I try to include in my header my character's bonuses to the most common rolls of this type (saves, perception/sense motive, init).

I am totally fine with that. I am in the process of building a spread sheet as well with stats for rolling. I will post it when I complete it.

SD

DM, not a big deal but the gameplay thread is named 'Old School Greyhawk Campaign Discussion (Saltmarsh and the Old East Road)'.

mishima,

I realized that; not sure what my logic was behind that... I am not sure how I edit that header now.

Filler gameplay post; I'm also giving D'ogryn a chance to chime in on the conversation :)

Will post tonight.

Sorry for the delay, my youngest has two teeth cutting in and she has not been happy...very long nights. I will have my post up very soon.

Jovich,

I hope she feels better. Teething is never fun. I have a nine and an elven year old...now it is braces and orthodontist appointments.

SD

I am going to let you guys play this out and decide on your courses of action. I will interact with the NPC's when needed.

I think we are doing good on pace and the background story is developing nicely.

SD

My first grandchild had her first tooth cut through last week. She has been amazingly calm compared to how her father was while teething.

Naia is heading to the town council, I'm guessing they have a meeting hall/house or similar?

Sorry, site was down yesterday when I had time to check it.

Also I want to give a heads-up that I'll be travelling Feb 16 - Feb 18; during this time I'll post if I can but please bot me if needed.

Not a problem, I can cover you while you are out.

I will have a few posts up this afternoon.

SD

Sorry for getting these off late. Got busy this afternoon and then had to take my son to baseball practice.

So I'm gathering Soros is a Saltmarsh local - I'm going to say as he has been gone for 6 years Naia may just not know his history, or only vaguely.

Also, can someone fill me in on the plague related to magic if it something Naia or the Temlows generally would know?

Soros is local. She would know a bit about him before he left. Any of the locals would know this.

1) He was an apprentice to the local Blacksmith.
2) He was a bit of a know it all. Very smart and was developing into a skilled blacksmith.
3) Was hired by a band of mercenaries. Memory serves they were going after a wizard accused of witchcraft. You don't know what happened to him after that. This was right as the plague was starting and the churches scrambled to stop it. Rumors were flying and many people were openly accused of starting or bringing the plague to their town or village.

Most in Saltmarsh are open minded but it is a small town. Most don't care or realize there is a much bigger world around them. The guard are always posted on the main roads and if they suspect someone is sick they will deny them entry into the town and have a acolyte from Pelor inspect them and tend to them if needed. The town has not seen a person with the plague in over three or four years.

SD

The Town hall is the building south of the Village Gaol (Jail). The Gaol serves as a jail and a barracks/armory for the Town Guard. There is also a guard shack (really a small house) on edge of the Bale Keep Road, The fork of the High Copse Road, The Old East Road (follows the coast), and the Kings Wood Road. Each shanty has two to three guards posted to watch the roads. There are always 4 to 10 guards walking the town.

The outlying farmers have their own patrols at night to watch the roads and ensure each of the farms is safe.

Excise watch keeps guard of the docks and inspects goods coming into Saltmarsh via the docks and the caravans. They inspect the caravans once they get into the marketplace.

Most meetings are held at the Townhall. Private ones are held at Saltmarsh Manor. The current meeting is being held at the hall.

SD

Jovich,

I hope she feels better. Teething is never fun. I have a nine and an elven year old...now it is braces and orthodontist appointments.

SD

Thanks.

Just a quick rundown on who is where.

Rabalar, Edan and D'ogryn are all still at the Mermaid.

Naia and Soros left the Mermaid. You believe Naia was heading to the town hall.

Zove left to give the donation to the farmer and his son at the Plough.

I will BOT Soros for the next few days while he is away.

SD

SD and I managed to post at about the same time, and then miss the window to edit. So I suggest that folks read both SD's post and my spoilered post, and then treat whichever one they like better as canon. Or combine them. :)

Either way, I like Soros posing the question to Naia regarding additional assistance, so definitely assume that was asked.

And on this note I will officially take my leave until Sunday evening. Everyone enjoy their weekends, and please treat my bot well - it's not his fault if he's an insufferable jerk, he was programmed that way!

Lol.

Soros' post and mine botting him can basically be combined. I apologize I thought Tick had already left.

Right now I am just waiting on Rabalar, Edan and D'ogryn to post.

SD

I was trying to avoid dragging Edan along. I'll see about moving on to the next stage in my head anyway . . ..

Waiting on Edan and D’ogryn to post.

SD

I will post tonight

Working on a post for D'orgryn, Edan, and Rabalar.

SD

I'm back from my travels and will post within the next 6 hours.

Resisting the urge to just laugh at another local making exaggerated claims.