Sanosuke's Mormont's Gauntlet (Inactive)
Game Master Shanosuke

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Hello everyone and welcome to the Mormont’s Gauntlet discussion thread. On this threat I will inform you of the rules of the campaign as well as how I plan to run things as your GM. Pretty much all of you have your alias’s down so that’s a start. There are a few rules that I need to go over with you about how I GM

1. Leveling:I believe I have mentioned before that leveling happens as you complete main plot objectives. They also increase for every five subplot objective you complete. There are a lot of both main plot and sub plot objectives and in this particular campaign it is easy to miss a lot of them. So be sure and keep your eyes open for them. There are a lot of opportunities for preplanned combats, but I am open to peaceful solutions if you can manage to persuade the problem away. You don’t have to kill everything you encounter. Get creative. More fun that way.
2. Combat: Okay. In my short time I’ve spent on these forums, I’ve noticed that combat is one of the trickiest aspects of PBP. So I’ve come up with a system that seems to work best. Once a combat breaks out everybody posts their initiative and their first two round actions. Here is an example of how combat will look:

This is how your combat rounds should look. Feel free to get wordy if you really want to get into character. I will wait for everyone to post before I move on. Once everyone has posted their round one and round two actions, I will arrange all actions in initiative order and make changes as necessary. Then I will post the results and we will move on to round three and four. This will make combat go by quickly and efficiently.
There will not be many random encounters, these have a bad habit of slowing PBPs down and I’d like to keep this campaign moving.
3. Posting: Now, I like roleplay. Very entertaining. How ever, some of you may be on more often than others. If that is the case, I’d like to limit most folks to about three or four posts a day. I’ve been in a game recently where I wont be able to post for several hours, I come back and suddenly there are ten pages worth of posts to read. It’s a pain to get left behind like that so again, please keep your posts to at the most three or four a day. I myself will only post one to three times a day. Also, I will not fill out any progression in the campaign until Everyone is ready to move on. I want this to be fun and not a chore so hopefully we are all ok with this pace. No one gets left behind.
4. Player/Character interaction I’m not a huge fan of PVP. Unless merited, I’d prefer we don’t fight each other. Now I’m big on character development and when people really get into character. This might produce some really irritating characters for some people. Now, I know some people might be annoyed with someone’s character. Please understand that they are most likely playing the role they gave themselves even if it is annoying. This is like life and in life, people don’t always get along. So. As a player, respect your fellow players. If you have an issue with a particular character, don’t take it out on the player, resolve it in game. If it leads to a PVP (Again please try and avoid this) then so be it. I like diverse character’s so don’t get upset as a player, get upset as your character’s personality would.
5. Rulebreakers Now not every rule is set in stone. I am willing to make modifications to certain rules as it pertains to a character or a situation. Also, roleplay always wins out over the rules. For example. (My favorite example) You’re trying to convince someone to see your point of view. You don’t always need to make a diplomacy check to do so. You can make an in character argument to try and convince someone to do what you ask of them. I will usually yield to a reasonable argument. Also, get creative in everything you do. The rulebook doesn’t cover everything, and if you have a creative way to improve rolls or lower DCs, then by all means make the attempt. Also I don’t always give in to natural 20s. In combat yes, but certain skill checks, I would have set DCs high because I don’t want you to succeed. Thus in those scenarios, I will also take away the natural success. Finally, I reserve the right as the GM to make some serious augments to the rules if I need to. Usually this will be to help keep my campaign or plot intact. If there are loop holes, I will likely keep you from using them by making such changes. This wont happen often I promise.
6. Notes on GM Okay, I have been running games and players like you for over 12 years now. While this would mean I am very experienced, it doesn’t mean I’m perfect. I have one major weakness that I’ve been managing to cope with for all that time, it’s Ironic considering how I’m trying to game right now. I am not good at reading. Not sure why, but I am very scatter brained when I try to read and usually do not retain all that I have read. As such, I may forget rules often. I read the rulebook daily to try and keep learning but if anytime in game, I miss something, please remind me. Also, It is possible I might miss certain details in your posts. I apologize in advance for that and please note I do not mean any harm by it. For these weaknesses, my strength (Very ironically) is writing, I love to write and I am extremely creative (As I have been told by many others). I’ve spent a good amount of time on this campaign and it should be very fun.

A few things to note about Mormont’s Gauntlet:
There are 6 chapters, they are relatively long chapters with a boat load of subquests. The first three chapters are survival, and the last three chapters are mission based. The convenient thing is that all of the first six chapters are relatively close in CR so leveling up your character will be enough to keep up with the changes.
Also, for the first three chapters, there are multiple ways to complete them so don’t simply settle on the first solution you find.
One more thing, Silent: You have the Premonitions Trait.

Enjoy your trait Silent.

Okay. Those are my rules as GM. Now, once everyone posts their present and ready to go and cleared up any final questions or concerns then we will begin. I have been looking forward to this for a long time. Here’s to a good time.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Reporting for duty.

Male City Elf Wizard 1st

I'm here as well, excited to see where this goes : )

Reporting. Eltumal, I love what you did with your hair!

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Yours doesn't look half bad, either, Gylwinth. :P

Dot.

Silent will definitely (mentally) nickname you two 'the twins'. :)

Sheesh... that's one serious trait, Shanosuke!

Also, looking though gear now. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. Though I only have 400g to play with.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

You might want to get some potions, they're always good. I'm starting with 11 CLW potions, but those will only last but so long before I have to start brewing more, and it'll take a while to gather ingredients, set up, and actually craft these new ones, if at all plausible wherever we happen to be making camp. Of course, if anyone else has suggestions, put those ahead of this, as it's only a minor concern.

Also, that nickname would probably suffice, if you were allowed to say it. :P

Sheesh... though I just realized if I want my temple sword masterwork... that's 330g right there.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Actually, you probably should get that masterworked.

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Dot.

Silent will definitely (mentally) nickname you two 'the twins'. :)

Sheesh... that's one serious trait, Shanosuke!

Also, looking though gear now. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. Though I only have 400g to play with.

I have one player at my Friday night sessions who hates it. She's human and tends to wake up tired frequently. And trying to make sense of her dreams frustrates her to no end. It's really quite funny. The dream thing doesn't happen too often. You'll get a few good nights of rest.

Silent thinks back on his strange dream, knowing his groupmates would appreciate the knowledge... then he looks at his black slate and chalk...

I'm going to need a bigger chalk slate...

___

Which bring me to my next question. Could I persuade anyone (with the requisite Intelligence or an extra rank of linguistics) to take Sign Language as a language?

I'm going to add it to Silent's list (losing my rank in Climb), and it'd be awesome being able to communicate someone without having to resort to writing. :)

Male Elf Alchemist 2

If Shano doesn't mind, I'll take it instead of Goblin. It would have been beneficial out in the field to be able to converse without speaking, so it's not all that far off. Truthfully, I just picked Draconic, and then filler languages.

I'll get on my equipment pronto.

I'm here! Getting my gear bought, then I'm good to go.

Tam

Both Martian Level 20 invader

I'm here! Getting my gear bought, then I'm good to go.

Tam

Tam looks like a yeti. That must be the synthesis.

Here's a few questions I had about hwo the team knows each other (or not).

How big is Darpuul? I mean, i know the constant influx of refugees would shape this somewhat, but how likely is it that all the native Darpuulians know each other?

As far as Silent's concerned, I'd think he'd at least have seen or been introduced to Aldo - as they were both in teh militia (even if Silent was only there for a week or so). Maybe they shared a watch?

Any other thoughts?

Male Elf Alchemist 2

We are more likely the only survivors. Mormont isn't just a "take this place over" kinda guy, he's more of a "put the survivors in a chamber and gas'em kinda guy" (no offense intended to anyone.) If I were in this situation, I'd pretty much trust anyone who was run out of town, if only so that we have a better chance of survival.

M Human Fighter 4(Two-handed) (AC 17; Hp's 44/49)

Cool. I'm on the same side as a yeti. ;)

Btw, thanks for the selection Shanosuke. I appreciate it.

Joe's all good to go. He's pretty average, so, nothing fancy like the rest of these cats. :)

Okay, purchases are done… with some money left over! (not sure how helpful that will be, but still.)

I figure it this way: He grabbed what he could loot on the way out of town, grabbing things he'd wished he'd had during his long flight from Mormont's men. He probably was able to hit two homes/businesses before passing beyond the city limits, one being the home of a fisherman and the other being some kind of craftsman… seemed like a smith or carpenter.

And yes, you'll notice he got out of town without any food... apparently the people from whom he looted had already grabbed all the portable food! The nerve!

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Shanosuke, do you mind if I drop Goblin and instead take Sign Language? It could easily be fit into my backstory. You don't always want to be talking around Dinos, now, do you? :P

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Darpuul is the largest and furthest non military settlement from Mormont's territory. (Military settlements have a problem with deserters) People in the militia would know each other. Native Darpuulians used to know each other fifty years ago. The flood of refugees has made it very crowded and people have very small communities of familiar people. The eight of you are the ONLY survivors. And yes, Mormont's Military is very kill all. They only let fellow murderers live (That would be none of you no matter what your alignment). So yeah. Once I here from Vivaji I will start this thing.

Also, We are technically still in the developmental stage of this campaign. If you need to make changes, nows the time to do so. Just make sure you let me know what changes you are making.

Also. I will be using Hero points. You can find them in the APG. Also, if you level and you would get four hero points, you can trade all four in for an ability point.

Thanks for the Invite, I've had a busy 4th Holiday and will finish the final detail of the character tomorrow. All I have left to do is buy gear and then update this Alias with the character sheet. I should have it done by tomorrow evening.

Question to the party, does anyone want to have a connection to Nye that existed prior to the events of the attack on Darpuul?

Here is the background if anyone is:

Nye Wajid is a Chaotic Good Half-elf Wizard Air Elementalist who until the ports were destroyed earned his living serving on a merchant ship. When he returned from his last voyage to find the ports had been attacked and the settlement ransacked he raced to the home of his betrothed, Tellia de'Amith. Her home had been burned to the ground and her family slaughtered but she was nowhere to be found. Nye searched for days his heart filled with hope but he didn't not find her or any sign of her. Assuming the worst he turned to drinking, but instead of uncovering liquid courage to fuel his revenge, he found misery and despair. Down on his luck, he turned to drink and carved out a hole in the town of Darpuul. When the attack came he was sleeping off a three night bender, a fact that caused the first raiders to think he was dead, killed by another in the fight. When he came to the end of the battle was close, he found his wits and realized that fleeing would be difficult. He picked his way carefully through the carnage avoiding the raiders and found a privet yacht of one of the towns well to due that had not been set aflame yet. Untying the ropes he pushed off and with his arcane mastery of the wind, pushed the sail and maneuvered the small vessel up to coast to the eastern beach. Though trained as a sailor (campaign trait) the boat was too much for one crew member to control and he crashed it upon the rocks not far from the shore. As the ship goes down he gathers his personal belongings and loots somethings from the yacht.(explanation on how the down on his luck drunk has big bucks worth of gear.) Swimming to the beach, he crawls out upon the sand to find a few others who also managed to escape the attack on Darpuul.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

I've switched out Goblin for Sign Language.

I've switched out Goblin for Sign Language.

I greatly appreciate that. Anyone who has a decent reason to know it might also consider it. Not only wil it help Silent, but it's a nice way of communicating quietly... which, as Eltumal pointed out, can be very helpful.

Alternately, I'm sure Silent would be more than willing to teach Sign to anyone who wants to learn it once the campaign starts.

Gear should be ready today.

I am leaving Friday for around ten days. I'll be nowhere near a computer. Feel free to NPC me.

Male Tengu Ranger (Trapper) / 2

Whew! the 4th is over. Gotta drives the neices n nephew back home though

And checking in!
A few notes:
Jivaji has some limited food supplies, which he would not mind sharing. Likely he will be trying to live off the land as much as possible, which shouldn't be difficult? Depends on how much time we have I guess.

Also, as he bellies up to the beach, he's on a BIG horse, donkey in tow.
Shanosuke, what's the odds I will get to bring them along?

Oh, and, though it's never seen a lick of use, he's got a CLW wand stashed somewhere, and if there's anyone who'd like to save their spell slots maybe...? (he can't even use it. Gave up magic for the trapper archetype)

Eyes the horse and mule...

"Hey! Back-up food stores!" :)

Here is most of the crunchy bits. Still need to finish deciding on what gear to buy and what spells he has in his book/prepared.

I hope to get that done later this evening.

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Here is most of the crunchy bits. Still need to finish deciding on what gear to buy and what spells he has in his book/prepared.

I hope to get that done later this evening.

Thats fine. I have posted the start of the campaign. So you can finish gearing out and then you can start.

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Okay Mormont's Gauntlet is Here and now.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

I suppose I can take the wand. Alchemist's can use spell-trigger items of the spells they have, but they can't use spell-completion(without UMD, of course.) If anyone else wants it, though, they can take it.

Gylwinth could use the wand, too, right? Might be handy for us all to know where that thing is... in case things go sideways.

Also, are people going to be annoyed with me spoilering Silent's sign-language? Would you prefer I simply assume Eltumal will translate and preface all of Silent's comments with a "the elf translates Silent's worsd as "blah blah blah"?

Gylwinth could use the wand, too, right? Might be handy for us all to know where that thing is... in case things go sideways.

Also, are people going to be annoyed with me spoilering Silent's sign-language? Would you prefer I simply assume Eltumal will translate and preface all of Silent's comments with a "the elf translates Silent's worsd as "blah blah blah"?

I prefer the spoiler way, just because my character doesn't understand and he will need to rely on if and what another character will say about it.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

The way you're doing it is fine. It allows for some word-tweaking for the CN Elf. >:)

Just kidding of course.

Edit: I suppose Gylwinth could use it. If he wants it, he can have it, as I have some potions with which to distribute healing.

Lol. He is the one communication Silent has at this point.. note to self: don't piss off the translator elf.

as to the wand, I don't actually care who has it. Just wanted to make sure we all knew it was accessible. :)

Male Elf Alchemist 2

I suppose I'll take it, if not from a mechanics standpoint,the fact that we can actually communicate.

I am having very spotty internet connection tonight, I'm sorry to do this but I might not be able to finish the character tonight. Hope to be done with it soon, if not tonight then tomorrow for sure (knocks on wood)

Equipment done!

Sorry for the delay. Will post in the IC tomorrow.

Sorry to go Silent on everyone. < snicker snicker >

I ended up having to take the day off to watch my kid... surprisingly enough I have way less time to post when I'm with the little guy.

Should be able to post tomorrow.

again, sorry.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Hey Shano, I won't be able to post today, I've got an IRL game that's going to last from about 2 to tomorrow. I'll either post in the wee hours of the morn, or sometime tomorrow. If push comes to shove, feel free to NPC me.

A week from today I am attending a week long conference out of town that I get class credit for. I am not sure what kind of internet access I will have. I am hoping I will get to post at night but won't know for sure until I get there. I am OK with being NPC'd by the DM while I am gone if need be, or if you want to work out something in the story to have my character "exit" for the week I am cool with that too.

Happy to be here

I'll be away Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Feel free to DMNPC.

Male Humanly Awesome 'n Totally Rockin' Paladin of Greatness

Between all of you, THE BIG SPIDER DIES IN ROUND 3 YAY! AND MAC IS ALSO DYING YA....oh sorry.

Okay, now THAT'S just wrong, dude! (Although, I can't help but laugh. Just too dang funny!) :)

Hey Shanosuke, sorry for the silence in game, it's been hectic irl, and i've not had much of a chance to set down and look over the thread. Again, i'm terribly sorry but if you'd like I'll post now. If you've already made the decision to drop then i also understand, and would like to thank you for the opportunity to play in your game.

Both Martian Level 20 invader

Hey Shanosuke, sorry for the silence in game, it's been hectic irl, and i've not had much of a chance to set down and look over the thread. Again, i'm terribly sorry but if you'd like I'll post now. If you've already made the decision to drop then i also understand, and would like to thank you for the opportunity to play in your game.

Male Tengu Ranger (Trapper) / 2

Heads up! I'm going to be out of town August 5th - 8th. Internet access will be spotty. I will try to post but can't promise. If anyone wants to take over NPCing for Jivaji during that time, is ok by me.

Male Elf Alchemist 2

Just making sure you see it, Shano, I'm going to be out off town from tomorrow until the following sunday, possibly Monday. I will have absolutely no internet access until then.

Male Humanly Awesome 'n Totally Rockin' Paladin of Greatness

Hey Shanosuke, in your Crypt of the Everflame recruitment thread, some cat asked if you were still interested in running a Lizardfolk druid or cleric or something like that. (At least I think it was a lizardfolk. *shrugs*)

Just letting you know.

Both Martian Level 20 invader

You all have good trips. Remember if I need to I will NPC your characters I usually wait a day before I resort to that. I will not drop anyone who has given me notice. Post here once you get back and I will summarize all the happenings for you.

I am back from my conference and will be catching up in each of my threads soon. Thanks for your patience.