Solstice Scar GM Thread (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

There are 19 tables.
This part ends on Friday ('bout a day and a half or so)

So we need to get to 38 to avoid a devastated army? Ouch, by my count we are on about 27 at the moment. So it is doable, but not easy.

need to hit 39

Gang -- Remember that these are shaken orcs that will flee the moment they lose half their hitpoints. If a warrior is also shaken, and all their buddies are fleeing, think about having them flee too.

We have one more day for everyone to get one more success. With the scattered leaders condition up, we can do this! My advice is that if you haven't started the convoy yet and you have other options, pick any other option than the Convoy. It's the one that takes the longest. Go for short and sweet!

Go, team!

Hmm

PS Aerondor, 27? I see 20 on the table.

30 as of your last report, Hmm.

(Special successes counted as well in there)

The success tracker has been fixed. I made a copy pasta error when adding in the special successes.

Okay. 30 is better -- there's a good chance that we can avoid the devastated convoy, especially if the orc enemies start fleeing!

Query: if a hypothetical GM finished all four of D-G encounters early, is there anything that hypothetical GM could run to earn another success for the team? I do not see an option for optional encounters for success here.

Hmm

I don't see anything, either.

Might be worth asking in the GM Prep forum?

or, they can just take a break?

I'll ask Andrew Hoskins.

Hmm

If the scenario does not offer additional encounter options, then there are none. Take a break.

So we need to get to 38 to avoid a devastated army? Ouch, by my count we are on about 27 at the moment. So it is doable, but not easy.

It might help if Granta posts an IC Overseer announcement suggesting impending bad stuff in the next few minutes (translated to RL time). Might help to motivate players and table GMs to increase the post rate in the next day and a half.

I think that's well within our rights as GMs to make said post. I'd rather not make Granta trudge through our 19 tables and post more than he already has to...

I got a response from Hoskins.

He suggested it would be okay for a fast group to take on challenges from the next subtier in order to rack up more successes, if the whole group agreed to it.

I just asked Granta, and he gave me the okay, so I am now off to ask my group about it. Because we sorely need some more successes before tomorrow, or we'll all be hip deep in undead. I don't know if any other fast GMs want to join me on this... But it's worth a try.

Hmm

I got a response from Hoskins.

He suggested it would be okay for a fast group to take on challenges from the next subtier in order to rack up more successes, if the whole group agreed to it.

I just asked Granta, and he gave me the okay, so I am now off to ask my group about it. Because we sorely need some more successes before tomorrow, or we'll all be hip deep in undead. I don't know if any other fast GMs want to join me on this... But it's worth a try.

Hmm

Or repeat a tier appropriate encounter if the group doesn't want a higher challenge.

If I'm not mistaken, I think HMM's the only table who managed to hit all four encounters so far. My table is pushing and will likely get out third success in the next 24 hours.

Think you're on your own for this HMM!

My table is almost done with the caravan, and will probably do head-on next which I suspect can be done in a day. So at least one more success, maybe two coming from them.

I reported success but it's not showing on the Tracker?
My table is heading for High Ground.

you've reported 'Protect the Convoy' twice, nightdeath.

My table finally finished the caravan encounter, their 2nd one in this section which is sad 'cos they steamrolled through all 4 in the museum with time to spare. Put them to tackle "Mugoh", the brother of Mugek, the aspiring orc leader to be! (Rather than the high ground encounter which would waste time for them to climb up the slope.) Hopefully there's time to squeeze out one more success.

It's now looking likely we will get the 1st milestone, will be a stretch to get the 2nd milestone.

you've reported 'Protect the Convoy' twice, nightdeath.

Damm it I knew I hit something twice. Since the page didn't load.

No, I don't think that's it.

You submitted one this morning (the 2nd one)...
But you also submitted the same event, three days ago.

I'm thinking it more likely you submitted the wrong event the first time?

Part 2 has been concluded, not part 1. Somebody just pointed out the typo to me--after everything had been posted :-(

No worries Granta - I will just note it to my table, suggest everyone just do that.

Kind of makes it sound like the group had time to rest at end of Part 2 but I wanted to make sure if they did or not?

The text states their were two days to travel. Did they actually travel that or is that simply flavor text that the Kellids have 2 days to finish?

Looks like it.
The first announcement, it says they're two days from the circle. ('We are only two days from the stone circle')

Then the next ammouncement, they're only two hours out. ('We are only hours away from the stone circle')

So basically you've been traveling for two days, since the orc ambush.

That is the way it sounded to me as well but wasn't 100%. Giving the players a rest period and spells back makes a big difference so wanted to be absolutely clear.

When I played it we were told we had rested. That's also the way I read it.

When I played it we were told we had rested. That's also the way I read it.

I'm going with that.

Just found this on page 30 --

With that, the Overseer GM should announce that Part 2
of the adventure has concluded and that PCs will begin the
next chapter fully rested. This is a good time to provide a
short break before beginning Part 3.

I'm reading it the same as all of you: players are rested up.

Looks like it.

The first announcement, it says they're two days from the circle. ('We are only two days from the stone circle')

Then the next ammouncement, they're only two hours out. ('We are only hours away from the stone circle')

So basically you've been traveling for two days, since the orc ambush.

CORRECT!

Nope. The first time I submitted, the page didn't load. I was on mobile at the time and had just entered a tunnel underground.

So I thought it didn't load nad left it at that as I was heading to work.

If that has being removed, good. High Ground has alot of ground to cover.

Thanks all for he rapid responses! :)

Andrew Hoskins, you make me want to burst into a round of "For he's a jolly good fellow!"

Thank you!

Started the Seeking Aid encounter, and that one took me quite some time to compose, so I am linking it here, in case this is helpful to other GMs.

Hmm

Thanks Hmm!

Can someone take over my table for a couple of days? Going back to bed with some illness.

Link

I got you.

Get better, Magabeus!

Remember, the PCs have a choice. They can either try and talk the leadership into staying, or they can fight undead to defend the town. Both are valid choices.

Once the PCs reach the camp (area I), they can meet with the Twinhorn elders (the Seeking Aid encounter) or fend o the undead that are attacking the settlement (the Spirits of the Past and Planar Opportunists encounters).

Well... that round looked painful... Ragewight just cleaved 3 PCs, confirming a crit on one of them. 4 negative levels in one fell swoop.

Well... that round looked painful... Ragewight just cleaved 3 PCs, confirming a crit on one of them. 4 negative levels in one fell swoop.

Ouch

Don't worry, it got better from there... the paladin ate 4 negative levels from the Bodak.

They be hurtin'.

That Bodak is vicious! Able to gaze everyone in 30 feet for 1d4 negative levels each round.

The paladin told everyone to stay back and she had an epic duel with it. Party won, but 8 negative levels are now scattered amongst the tier 7-8 table... One member has a scroll of restoration though, so at least one of them will get cured.

They'll pull through though... I've got faith in em!

Question about Seeking Aid.

That encounter says you Medda needs two successes in order to vote to stay. Is that just if we had Tragic Death condition?

No, if the Tragic Death condition was triggered, she would need 3 successes instead, and all the skills to get them would have increased from easy to hard. (page 36)

Without that condition, the PCs still need to convince her she's doing the right thing (I assume because the other council members have been persuading her to change her mind)... its just much easier to do so.

But it also says on page 37, under Development, that So long as the House did not earn the Tragic Death condition, Medda votes to remain. So is there any point in influencing her?

I don't think you get the double successes unless you influence all three. But that is just my opinion. I could see it read both ways. Maybe we can ask the great Hoskins.

Speaking of double successes, my table got them by the skin of their teeth! Granta, I hit the button twice by mistake. There are not really four diplomatic successes from Hmm's table. Though given the fantastic intimidating chicken on my table, I would have awarded that to them if I could!