This is a short trial story for the purpose of learning to play by posting on the messageboards. It is a closed story with three characters.
Dice Roller: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm
Game Board: (MUST be signed into a Gmail account to use, email me for access) https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?hl=en_US&key=tsadAcp4BZ blQQiJ9okiJzA&hl=en_US#gid=0
The introductory GM post that will start the campaign will take place this weekend. Please post once to introduce your character (follow Ryan's example below) and take time to fill out a character sheet under profile details before Monday, 6/6.
Rules:
1. Combat will take place here, but using a Google Document as a reference point. For access to the document, email me. When you make a move here, move your character on the document. It's a grid, just like tabletop. Initiative order is on the document, too. Bold your name there when you've taken your turn, and wait for GM response.
2. Use the dice expression for dice rolling, bold for spoken words, and the out of character commentary mechanic for anything off-table. In story mode, describe your attempted action, "Zorthak pauses, scanning the ground for markings," and then roll for a skill, "Survival:" Please roll all of your rolls using the dice mechanic here unless otherwise noted. The GM will not be rolling visibly in this trial story.
3. Try to do "showing" and not "telling." For example, show us that your paladin is sad by describing his tears, or by having him fall to one knee, not by saying "Zorthak is saddened by..."
3b. Let's make good writing a priority. Take the time to use proper grammar and formatting. We want this to be enjoyable for anyone who happens along.
3c. PRESENT TENSE.
4. Don't post things that you wouldn't say on-table in person. For example, you wouldn't post your character's inner thoughts.
5. YOU are responsible for describing your character's actions in this play-by-post, not the GM. In combat, the GM will describe action resolutions. For example, when attacking, describe the attempted move, move your character on the game board, and then wait for the GM to resolve the attack and describe the outcome.
6. We are all learning how to play this way, so be respectful. Any rules explanations, arguments, or other mechanical justifications should be placed in the out of character commentary mechanic. Let's aim for one post every two days at the longest, but understanding that things come up.
Introducing Lucas "The Brawler" Tavington! (fighter 1)
If you click on his name you can see his stats and stuff! Woot! (Not finished yet.)
This is Darksmokepuncher's alias. More to come!
Introducing Lucas "Strong Jaw" Tavington! (Fighter 1)
If you click on his name you can see his stats and stuff! Woot! (Not finished yet.)
This is Darksmokepuncher's alias. More to come!
We now have a page in the discussion forum, with set-up information and background on the world: Go to Goblin Cave Discussion
.
Use this discussion post for comments and questions about the game while we play! I'll also be adding some tips there for how to post certain things as we nail that stuff down.
Introducing Carys Heylyn Wizard extraordinaire.
Introducing Ariana Firth: stealthy cutpurse.
Carys, Ariana, and Lucas awake to find themselves surrounded by a wall of rock. The room is about 20x20 feet, with a hollow doorway leading into a dark passage. A single torch, cradled by a crude iron brazier, provides enough light to illuminate the room, glancing off a glistening greening-brown dampness on the walls. The only obvious sound is a shuffling, which seems to be coming from the darkness beyond the doorway.
Carys, Ariana, and Lucas awake to find themselves surrounded by a wall of rock. The room is about 20x20 feet, with a hollow doorway leading into a dark passage. A single torch, cradled by a crude iron brazier, provides enough light to illuminate the room, glancing off a glistening greening-brown dampness on the walls. The only obvious sound is a shuffling, which seems to be coming from the darkness beyond the doorway.
Lucas sits up and gives his head a quick, hard shake to fling the groggy from his vision.
What's going on? He thinks to himself.
Lucas slinks quietly toward the opening in the wall, trying to determine where he might be and what might be near.
Perception:
Stealth:
Also, as you all wake, you seem to be missing all of your possessions.
** spoiler omitted **
Also, as you all wake, you seem to be missing all of your possessions.
I slowly open my eyes and sit up, looking around the cave. "Whhhatt? " I say groggily.
Perception
Hearing her master, Carys, stir, Rhan moves toward Carys sniffing the ground. When I reach Carys, I nuzzle her hand and look around protectively.
Perception:
Everyone notices the shuffling as it grows slightly louder. It almost sounds like footsteps, mixed with something else. Rhan, the fox, perks up her ears. She utters a low, gutteral sound and stands alert. Ariana still lies unconscious on the floor.
I slowly open my eyes and sit up, looking around the cave. "Whhhatt? " I say groggily.
Perception 1d20 +3
Lucas nearly jumps out of his skin when a voice speaks out in the darkness behind him, but he quickly smoothes his features and turns around.
"Who is that? Why are you here and what do you want?" Lucas hisses through clenched teeth.
Stealth Check
EDIT:
I slowly open my eyes and sit up, looking around the cave. "Whhhatt? " I say groggily.
Perception 1d20 +3
Lucas nearly jumps out of his skin when a voice speaks out in the darkness behind him, but he quickly smoothes his features and turns around.
"Who is that? Why are you here and what do you want?" Lucas hisses through clenched teeth.
Stealth Check
1d20 + 1EDIT:
Hearing muffled voices, Ariana wakes suddenly and holds her breath trying to be as silent as possible until she can determine what is going on.
Perception:
Stealth:
Hearing muffled voices, Ariana wakes suddenly and holds her breath trying to be as silent as possible until she can determine what is going on.
Perception: 1d20 + 0
Stealth: 1d20 + 7
"I don't know. I just woke up here. Who are you?"
Also, Carys stands to her feet. Obviously ill at ease, she crouches ready to move at a moments notice.
"I don't know. I just woke up here. Who are you?"
"I am Lucas and I am leaving, are you with me?"
Perception to notice Ariana:
"Ariana! Are you hurt?"
The noise outside of the doorway grows louder still.
Carys cautiously walks toward Lucas.
"What is that noise?" she says businesslike.
Description: Carys is a 5'6'' female human of 25 years of age.
I'm a fox yo!
Knowledge Local: (to know about the footsteps)
"it's a goblin..."
Lucas stands straight and tall. The tawny muscular yooth, both handsome and rugged. However, there something in his eyes that looks changeable and tricksy.
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 1 (to know about the footsteps)
"it's a goblin..."
Lucas stands straight and tall. The tawny muscular yooth, both handsome and rugged. However, there something in his eyes that looks changeable and tricksy.
"I'm with you!"
The green-slicked walls flash bits of light from the torch to outside the doorway. The flickering illumination in the hallway outside reveals a sudden blur of movement as the shuffling, rasping noise seems to reach the small room.
Roll a perception DC10 to notice the movement outside.
Perception:
"I think it's getting closer"
Carys moves toward the torch and attempts to pull the torch from it's holder.
Perception:
Ears still trained on the opening, Rhan crouches as if ready to pounce and continues to let out a low growl.
Perception: 1d20 + 3
"I think it's getting closer"
Carys moves toward the torch and attempts to pull the torch from it's holder.
Carys pulls and the torch in the brazier comes free with ease.
The green-slicked walls flash bits of light from the torch to outside the doorway. The flickering illumination in the hallway outside reveals a sudden blur of movement as the shuffling, rasping noise seems to reach the small room.
Roll a perception DC10 to notice the movement outside.
Ariana is a young and thin female human, with a pleasing appearance, and based on her lean musculature, you would judge her to be quick on her feet.
Perception:
"Lucas, no, I am not hurt. It's good to hear your voice. Ugh, I hate goblins."
Ariana moves to stand near Lucas, and, hopefully, hide in the shadows preparing to attack.
Stealth :
"I'm glad you're not hurt Ariana."
Lucas takes a deep breath and sets his jaw, determined to look confident whether he feels it or not.
"Ok. I am going to take this creature down. You, He indicates Carys. stand behind me with that torch held high so I can see. Ari, if you can safely get behind it after I engage, do it.
With a sharp nod to his companions, Lucas stands from his crouching position and launches himself around the corner.
Initiative -
"I'm glad you're not hurt Ariana."
Initiative - 1d20 + 2
Everyone else, ROLL INITIATIVE! (I'm rolling for you so we can start combat)
Carys/Rhan:
Ariana:
Initiative order:
Ariana (21)
Lucas (20)
Bojangles
Carys/Rhan (15)
Initiative:
Initiative: 1d20 + 3
Here are the Paizo surprise rules:
"When a combat starts, if you are not aware of your opponents and they are aware of you, you're surprised.
Sometimes all the combatants on a side are aware of their opponents, sometimes none are, and sometimes only some of them are. Sometimes a few combatants on each side are aware and the other combatants on each side are unaware.
Determining awareness may call for Perception checks or other checks."
Here are the Paizo surprise rules:
"When a combat starts, if you are not aware of your opponents and they are aware of you, you're surprised.
Sometimes all the combatants on a side are aware of their opponents, sometimes none are, and sometimes only some of them are. Sometimes a few combatants on each side are aware and the other combatants on each side are unaware.
Determining awareness may call for Perception checks or other checks."
"I'm glad you're not hurt Ariana."
Lucas takes a deep breath and sets his jaw, determined to look confident whether he feels it or not.
"Ok. I am going to take this creature down. You, He indicates Carys. stand behind me with that torch held high so I can see. Ari, if you can safely get behind it after I engage, do it.
With a sharp nod to his companions, Lucas stands from his crouching position and launches himself around the corner.
Initiative - 1d20 + 2
Ariana quietly moves nearer to the doorway , and patiently waits for either the assumed goblin to move within reach to attack, or for Lucas to act.
Stealth:
Lucas clenches his teeth and tears around the corner. () His lowered shoulder crashes into the oncoming creature () and he comes down on top of it.
Lucas clenches his teeth and tears around the corner. () His lowered shoulder crashes into the oncoming creature () and he comes down on top of it.
Lucas clenches his teeth and tears around the corner. () His lowered shoulder crashes into the oncoming creature () and he comes down on top of it.
As Lucas crashes down on the approaching creature, what he assumed to be a goblin is, instead...different. In the dim light, he can make out the shape of fangs glinting in the light of the torch. The creature lets out a what sounds like a scream as it falls to the ground, and Lucas finds himself hugging a quivering, hairy, yellow-green mass which squirms beneath him.
As he holds on to the creature, falling to the ground with it, he feels a creeping feeling on the surface of his skin.
Fortitude save:
: Lucas begins to itch all over his body only milliseconds after coming into contact with the writhing creature. Lucas takes a -2 to DEX and CHA scores for one day's length.
NEXT UP: Ariana (delayed standard), then BOJANGLES
Lucas clenches his teeth and tears around the corner. () His lowered shoulder crashes into the oncoming creature () and he comes down on top of it.
Lucas clenches his teeth and tears around the corner. () His lowered shoulder crashes into the oncoming creature () and he comes down on top of it.
Ariana, following Lucas' command, moves behind the creature.