Samnell |
So we have a thing.
Many years ago, I was in a game where PVP was highly-encouraged. It did not go well. Nor have I ever seen it work out very well. It's a team-oriented game. The dice rolling and PCs going at each other gets things into a death spiral pretty fast. Not the kind of experience I want, or I expect any of us are all that eager for.
You're both playing your characters, and not in that jerky "It's what my PC would do!" way where RP is an excuse to mess up someone else's fun. Dommer's a paranoid stick in the mud Lawful type. Trib's a playful rogue. Both totally normal concepts. But something's got to give. I've seen situations where PCs ended up at odds and both refused to budge, but that leads to everyone losing.
Will having the whole party gang up on him help Dommer's paranoia? If he and Trib throw down, what's the next step? None of can anticipate every future scenario, but ideally we're looking for a lasting solution rather than getting to do this all again next month. The thing we do again next month is murdering monsters. :)
Options off the top of my head:
1) Retcon. This never happened. Either Trib and Dommer kept their insults to themselves or one or both just let them pass. Maybe they're tense around each other, but they can eventually get along. This is naturally the easiest way to go. The problem would be what happens next time. It's not the greatest to always be walking on eggshells.
2) If not that, then some reasonable, non-violent resolution compatible with both PCs remaining in the party. Maybe you settle on a non-violent means of conflict resolution. (Drinking contest? Arm wrestling? Strip poker? Competitive ballet?) Specifics don't matter, except that it's some IC way they can reach a modus vivendi without chafing one another too badly. If it helps, we can invent some sort of cultural tradition that lets people de-escalate from Weehauken, Dawn, Wands Drawn.
3) If there's got to be violence, same provisos as above have to apply. I'm not interested in fighting it out with dice; we can figure out a scene and do it in narrative, quick and simple. Main thing is you're both on board and it all comes to some kind of IC settlement. Maybe you start something and you both knock over potions that turn you into little ducks for a few seconds. Everyone laughs and we're all friends.
Bottom Line: I don't want to cost anyone a PC. Still going for the everyone wins solutions.
Regin Ald |
I'm all for gyrating halflings, but what happens if things go the other way? I'm not sure the sight of a gyrating dwarf is something any of us want on our conscience. Well, except Dommer.
That said, I've never been a big fan of pvp. I tried it once. Somehow it never works out well for anyone. I vote we go with the narrative in gameplay and Namatar's and Anar's words prevail. They do appeal to the lawful perspective.
Tribim |
the strip competitive ballet may not be a bad idea...
Sorry about the inconvenience, Wasn't sure how to proceed, I don't like PVP at all. I attempted to have trib react appropriately, act upset then cool off, and attempt to make things right. It obviously didn't work as well as I thought it would.
The worse thing is it slows the game down, I would prefer everyone calm down and quickly move on, I will wait until after work to post tribs actions, hopefully we have some sort of resolution by then.
Arundel |
So, honestly, I really don't know how to proceed here. I'm not so good with the social situations. I don't think we have 52gp between us (assuming we gave back the money as discussed yesterday). So far, we have learned all of nothing from him but he has learned very little from us either. Even the mention of Zummabu I don't think is a big deal, since I'm assuming his tower is relatively well known, so the fact that we know he was standing right outside it wouldn't exactly be ground-shaking. How should we proceed?
Also, fair notice, I'm still pretty new at PbP gaming, so if this sort of meta-gaming discussion is frowned upon, I will henceforth keep my mouth shut :D
Dommer |
Hi! In all pbp I participate this kind of discussion is natural and healthy! I particularly feel we might be giving too much importance in a small plot point, maybe. On a group like ours, it'd be fairly easy to just take the road and lose the tail, or capture him and leave him out on some step of the way if he insists in following us. Maybe we shouldn't take it as a big deal? Definitely, for sure, 50 something gold coins is a hell out of a lot of money, by the way, especially if he'd be just a hired drunk to spy on us. This is almost as much as a medium contract for Red Mantis... :)
Arundel |
Well, from the looks of things, he isn't actually a drunk. The slur was an act, and went away when I confronted him about it. There's no way to tell at this point whether he is here to watch for the people who robbed the big guy, or the nosy elf wizard, or unrelated to our travels and just watching Zummabu. Perhaps our friendly wizard ruler isn't the only one to receive a handy letter about the new tomb.
That being said, if we just chuck him and move on, I'm not too concerned. Might make things more interesting later!
Tribim |
hey, Arundel as far as I know this kind of conversation is totally ok, if that's not the case Samnell please let us know. Some groups do this kind of discussion here, some do it in the game thread under ooc either way it's good to be on the same page.
the only thing is if we wait for the conversation to finish it may slow down the game.
I'm ok with giving him the money but that's wasn't the judgement given, what we need is someone with intimidation to try and give him a good scare, then, if I understand it correctly (help me out here if I'm wrong Samnell) we could "Aid another" to bump the intimidation, but to make that happen we need whoever has the best "intimidation" to start us out.
Of course we can take him with us.
Or just leave him like Arundel said.
Or, murder-hobo him and all drop to neutral evil ;) I'm just kidding, I'm not up for killing him...
But whatever we do lets get the conversation over with so we can move on, I would really like to be in a game where the GM asked for a post a day and we get to actually do it ;)
please everybody, don't take the last comment the wrong way. I know RL happens but once a game slows down it's really hard to get it started back up again.
Samnell |
So, honestly, I really don't know how to proceed here. I'm not so good with the social situations.
I am also not good with social situations. :)
I don't think we have 52gp between us (assuming we gave back the money as discussed yesterday). So far, we have learned all of nothing from him but he has learned very little from us either. Even the mention of Zummabu I don't think is a big deal, since I'm assuming his tower is relatively well known, so the fact that we know he was standing right outside it wouldn't exactly be ground-shaking. How should we proceed?
Also, fair notice, I'm still pretty new at PbP gaming, so if this sort of meta-gaming discussion is frowned upon, I will henceforth keep my mouth shut :D
It's totally fine to have this discussion here. If you want to do it IC, you can also slip back and discuss things in the game thread. Or talk about it in front of him.
This is basically an open-ended RP encounter; we're feeling it out as we go.
I'm ok with giving him the money but that's wasn't the judgement given, what we need is someone with intimidation to try and give him a good scare, then, if I understand it correctly (help me out here if I'm wrong Samnell) we could "Aid another" to bump the intimidation, but to make that happen we need whoever has the best "intimidation" to start us out.
You can certainly do that.
Tribim |
Tribim wrote:You can certainly do that.
I'm ok with giving him the money but that's wasn't the judgement given, what we need is someone with intimidation to try and give him a good scare, then, if I understand it correctly (help me out here if I'm wrong Samnell) we could "Aid another" to bump the intimidation, but to make that happen we need whoever has the best "intimidation" to start us out.
which, the "give him the money" or the "Scare the crap out of him"?
Samnell |
Samnell wrote:which, the "give him the money" or the "Scare the crap out of him"?Tribim wrote:You can certainly do that.
I'm ok with giving him the money but that's wasn't the judgement given, what we need is someone with intimidation to try and give him a good scare, then, if I understand it correctly (help me out here if I'm wrong Samnell) we could "Aid another" to bump the intimidation, but to make that happen we need whoever has the best "intimidation" to start us out.
The intimidate is what I meant. You can give him the money too, but that's not what you're supposed to do with it per Zummabu.
Arundel |
Looks like Namtar is the only one of us to have any ranks in intimidate, with a +5, so maybe he could lead the charge in an intimidate check to get us some more information, and if that doesn't work we can just blow him off and be on our way?
Tribim |
ok, Namtar already rolled an intimidate score of 8, so we can either add to it or someone else can give it a shot.
Samnell |
test post, having trouble putting in gameplay:
I think the boards ate a previous version of this just now. Possibly twice.
Dommer sized up the well and believed the stone balanced so a strong man with a good rope run through a pillar nearby could probably move it. It might take a pulley too, but whoever built the well knew their business.
The building's windows offered little beyond debris, a few rotted sticks of furniture, and drifts of sand. Birds had nested in some of the debris. He almost passed over one nest as abandoned, but a second look showed him just how perfectly round it was. No bird made that.
Tribim |
Amarekashu the Bronze wrote:On the plus side, all three made it through! Like rampaging bulls through the digital world.There were four in the end. :)
that sounds more like the beginning of a very interesting module...instead of a technology snafu
Tribim |
do you all want to put together a marching order, maybe one for inside and outside, and an order for watch at night?
Amarekashu the Bronze |
I'll take the rear. Dragon Style will let me charge through everyone, and Monk will give me the speed through the whole party, so I've no problems being rear guard.
For order of watch, either first or last shift, please. Hate having my sleep broken up, and this always seems to get picked up by my characters.
Tribim |
I'm good up front if were sneaking, if were moving loudly or outside in the middle. Trib likes the idea of doing night work so he will do watch in the middle (I'm assuming a three four hour watch)
for what it's worth
Dommer AC 18, HP 13
Regin Ald AC 17, HP 12
Arundel AC 17, HP 10
Tribim AC 17, HP 10
Amarekashu AC 16, HP 12
Namtar AC 14, HP 12
Dommer |
Don't trust my HP... I'm a kineticist :) I think I should probably be closer to the front line, but not in it. I'm slow (dwarf!) and I can do pretty much the same in melee or ranged.
Tribim |
So I recommend:
Regin in front, Namtar second so he can flank, Dommer third so he can range or melee, Trib and Arundel next so they can hide cast, I was going to say cast, honest, and Amarekashu bring up the rear so he can charge, or protect Trib and Arundel if he wants to ;)
Is that ok?
Now do we want to hammer out night watch?
for inside trib will float his four dancing lights just in front so they can see down the hall.
Samnell |
I'm good up front if were sneaking, if were moving loudly or outside in the middle. Trib likes the idea of doing night work so he will do watch in the middle (I'm assuming a three four hour watch)
Should sneaking be the plan, how much of a lead would Trib want on the others?
Tribim |
not much, the lights would really give him away!
Tribim |
hey, i'm heading to the Big Island tomorrow and won't be back with reliable internet until Sunday. So, feel free to bot me.
the "Big Island" I can't decide if your In Hawaii or New Jersey...
Of course that's just my 'American bias' assumption at work, I guess you could be in New Zealand...
Tribim |
I'm just trying to figure out why the "big island" doesn't have better reception than the "little island" I would think there cell tower would be taller ;)
Arundel |
I'm not clear on exactly how much Arundel knows of his companions capabilities, otherwise I would suggest this IC - Regin, what do you think about sweeping the area with a Detect Evil? I'd be curious to see if any of this stuff is giving off an evil aura.
Dommer |
Just an update to all my tables: I'll be traveling this holiday weekend and absent for most of the time. I'll be back next week but my connectivity should be a little spotty at least on the first days. For my players: don't worry, I'll get back :) for the tables where I'm the player: I'll come back as well, but meanwhile feel free to bot me if needed to keep things going. Cheers and have a nice holiday weekend!
Samnell |
This is beginning to look a lot like one of those D&D puzzles that players needed to cypher out instead of rolling dice and counting skill points ;)
I want to lay out my thoughts on this for the record, so we're all on the same page. Basically, I don't like that stuff and try to avoid it. It doesn't make sense to me that players are expected to just use their own attributes to figure things out any more than it would for you to resolve attacks by seeing if you can hit a target IRL. It's a fantasy game where you play characters different from yourselves, after all. :)
When puzzles do appear in-game, there will be ways you can get through them with the dice. Part of the fun of playing the skill monkey or the guy with a dozen knowledge skills and an Int the size of the moon is being able to hit the DC* and figure stuff out. There's always going to be a point where player thinking comes into things but I prefer to keep that on more of a meta level where you reason from things you find out with skills and so forth. NPC X is lying is the result of a Sense Motive check. Why is on the other side of that line, though you may be able to get hints through other skills, by stalking the NPC, etc.
To some degree, blind alleys and errors are part of the fun. I generally try to roll with player decisions as much as I can, which means where possible I try to turn blind alleys into something interesting and useful. Sure there's an adventure path, but nothing says you need to take each part in exact published order or hit each room in numerical sequence. Within the general frame of things, I try to let you have as much freedom as you like. Should things get too wild, there are lots of reasonable IC ways to rearrange things.
That said, there's also no fun faffing about and getting nowhere. So here's a meta thing: the present chamber is not a puzzle. It's just got traps, clues, and three gates.
And two IC things:
1) Zummabu said that the Cairn of Whispers (or whatever the correct translation is) is somewhere near the old Lidish Mine. He has this information from a letter written by people who believed they had a location for it.
2) You found a tablet (basically a scratch pad, Sumer-style) in the building up topside which named potential locations for the Cairn. Only one of those suggests anything intersecting with mines. It specifically references guarded mines as possibles and you found it in basically an abandoned compound contemporaneous with the well through which you got here.
*There may be rare points where for world reasons the DC may just be too high to hit or the information just literally isn't available, but that would be a very rare exception.
Dragonofashandflame |
I'm just trying to figure out why the "big island" doesn't have better reception than the "little island" I would think there cell tower would be taller ;)
Big Island: Hawaii, largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. It has giant mountains and lots of empty wilderness. There are places there that don't even have electricity, radio signal, or running water.
I live on Oahu. Most places here have cell coverage, unless you're in a deep valley.