This is a non-Campaign to Test Stuff

Game Master Tacticslion

I knew they were brightly coloured! And therefore fun to play with!

So basically you get a say purple belt, then you need to get the tapes, yellow, green, red, brown and blue?

Then do you automatically get a light blue belt after you’ve earned the tapes on your purple belt?

How thick are the boards, and what material are they made off that you’re supposed to break? Does it hurt when you try to break a board with your hand/foot?

*Looks around, wanting to add something to the conversation*

I have a belt! It's a black belt! Well it used to be black, now its sort of a faded black and brown.I got it at a shop here. Yep, right there at the River Ridge Leather Company. It's made out of saddle leather, very durabl..

*realizing their not talking about that kind of belt.*

On a side not, if you ever in central Ohio, Roscoe Village is a fun cheap day trip in Coshocton Ohio :)

I knew they were brightly coloured! And therefore fun to play with!

True!

... but that's strictly forbidden, so we don't.

(In class... >.>)

So basically you get a say purple belt, then you need to get the tapes, yellow, green, red, brown and blue?

Correct! Each belt you get, you have to do this again.

Then do you automatically get a light blue belt after you’ve earned the tapes on your purple belt?

No. You have to go through an official test - the test is held once every three months (more or less).

How thick are the boards, and what material are they made off that you’re supposed to break? Does it hurt when you try to break a board with your hand/foot?

Varying thickness, actually. They're pretty careful about it.

Younger kids get thinner, older kids thicker, and adults even thicker.

Mine are... intimidatingly thick, at times, but they might vary in thickness (I know that earlier, at least, they only had thinner ones, and I had to break several at once).

Humorously, the "fake" board we use (plastic, made with alternating "teeth" along a central fault) is much harder and more painful than the wood, so far.

Also, my boards tend to break rather... spectacularly, so far. It's kind of weird.

I did a neck chop that rather cleanly separated the boards into three pieces - the middle one where my hand hit, and two left in the hands of my instructor who was holding it.

That said, in the actual tournament, for whatever reason, I simply couldn't do the jumping 45 kick to break my board the other two were easy. The guy holding it might have moved it a bit, but I was hitting it hard enough, and definitely kicked through the space where it was (I wasn't stopping at the board itself, which is a recipe for pain and an unbroken board). Either way, my foot was pulsing back and forth between a rather vibrant red and white color for a while.

Planning a vacation to Taman Negara.

Tentative plans:

Day 1(Fri):

Arrival(late afternoon): Book Night Jungle walk and walk, Also book walk for next day, Option B

Day 2(Sat):
Inner jungle trekking
Starts at 9.30 am, so a late night is fine.

Day 3(Sunday):
Climb up Bukit Teresek. (If we can get a local guide, go get) (Morning) (Estimated time, 2.5 hours)
Boat Cruise to Lata Berkok and Kelah Fish Feeding (Afternoon)

Day 4(Monday):
Head back Home. – Will probably arrive at late afternoon.

Lol at Robert’s belt. I am sure my dad has lots of belts too..they’re black, so they don’t show dirt that regularly. In fact I bought him a couple after he wore them out…

But…belts are so colourful and even have tapes on it…shinny!

Maybe you need to watch a slow motion video on how you broke the boards if you want to find out why they break spectacularly. You know, physics…

Ouch. Board breaking sounds painful. When you break the board, are you channeling any kind of force through your body or is it more of a you decide where you want to hit and just smack.

How long does it take for you to execute a board breaking technique?

*Looks around, wanting to add something to the conversation*

I have a belt! It's a black belt! Well it used to be black, now its sort of a faded black and brown.I got it at a shop here. Yep, right there at the River Ridge Leather Company. It's made out of saddle leather, very durabl..

*realizing their not talking about that kind of belt.*

On a side not, if you ever in central Ohio, Roscoe Village is a fun cheap day trip in Coshocton Ohio :)

Your belts sound great!

I need some new ones!

... I'm a long way away.

Lol at Robert’s belt. I am sure my dad has lots of belts too..they’re black, so they don’t show dirt that regularly. In fact I bought him a couple after he wore them out…

I've lost enough weight that my belt (and pants) are now a little too loose on me. XD

But…belts are so colourful and even have tapes on it…shinny!

They are...

Maybe you need to watch a slow motion video on how you broke the boards if you want to find out why they break spectacularly. You know, physics…

Would be awesome, but we don't have any equipment that works like that. Maybe someday.

Ouch. Board breaking sounds painful. When you break the board, are you channeling any kind of force through your body or is it more of a you decide where you want to hit and just smack.

It actually usually isn't painful. The fake board is but the real one isn't, usually. It's only when you hit it wrong.

You are definitely channeling force. When you break something, you move your whole body, shove out air in a yell-like expulsion ("kiai" in Japanese - sounds like we say "kee-yup" in TKD, which is Korean, so, I'unno), and gain power by twist-snapping your form into a sharp point.

It's the difference, say, between pushing the flat-side of a chisel on something, hammering the flat side of the chisel on something, pushing the sharp part of a chisel on something, or hammering the chisel.

How long does it take for you to execute a board breaking technique?

Um... a second or so? Less, probably?

I mean, it's as fast as a punch or kick is.

I can take my time setting up. If you count that sort of thing - practice kicks, preparation, and whatnot, it's longer, but it varies with how comfortable I feel with using the particular technique - such preparation is basically the same as practice swings for golfing. The breaking is usually slightly (extremely minuscule) faster than swinging a golf club (at least, it feels that way anecdotally), because you don't have to pull all the way back (you have a "starting" position, like in golf, but it's closer to where you end up, so not as far to travel). The actual break time certainly depends on which technique you're using, but it's all a matter of less-than-seconds unless you're doing some sort of super-fancy twirl or something.

Ugh. Writer's block.

I have this thing in my head, but the words don't form in the post.

>.<

I'm trying, guys, but, literally, I know what I want to happen, but I'm just sitting here, and not typing it, until my ADD kicks in, and I flip somewhere else without remembering what I was doing.

I don't know why I'm hitting this brick wall.

Anyway, I'll try to have something up, soon.

Just asking - are quiet gazer's sisters in their shared jewelry protected from Holy word since I stacked spell immunity holy word on everyone and their dog?

Also - how big is the room? Is there anywhere I can go to make sure they're out of the radius, assuming they are not immune to Holy word?

My pants got loose but I suspect its something wrong with the garter. Lucky you…still trying to lose weight. I’m 133 lbs..up from my 121 lbs when I started sitting around trying to be a bookworm (aka studying)

And I'm an even longer way away...probably 15,000km or so.

Are you allowed phones in the dojo? My brother used his fancy phone to take a video of me feeding some hornbills(Robert, don’t look at me like that, I didn’t eat the hornbills. It was in a bird sanctuary), we could even see the individual wingbeats of the hornbill in question.

Don’t mind us TL, we’re both likely to go around singing C is for cookie. And the Om Nom Nom Nom Nom afterwards...

Ahhh..I see. Here I was thinking it was some kind of meditation technique where you need to uh…wiggle your fingers …oh that was pathfinder spellcasting? Ooops :P

Sorry – never done much involving martial arts.

Man, I'd be a psion, if it were possible.

Anyway, we're technically allowed phones, sure, but... who has the time? We're always doing stuff, and if we aren't, we're helping other people do stuff.

Neither our Sabonmim nor the other assistants have the time, either, given everything we try and cram into those 45 minutes.

(Our belt tests are always longer than expected. Always. Scheduling more time has consistently just made them take longer. XD)

Just asking - are quiet gazer's sisters in their shared jewelry protected from Holy word since I stacked spell immunity holy word on everyone and their dog?

Also - how big is the room? Is there anywhere I can go to make sure they're out of the radius, assuming they are not immune to Holy word?

Well, you're on the upside of that ginormous plate with all the destructive energies on the bottom. Also, it goes for hundreds+ feet up. So... lots of room. :)

Wizard. Just for the books. And the fluffy familiar! *squeals*

Also because I dumped wis and Cha.

Are you allowed to ask friends/family to the belt tests? Otherwise you can ask them to do the video recordings...

Sure - it's still not as easy as it may seem.

There are lots of people, and a few standing at one time.

It's possible, but usually we've just stuck with pictures. :)

(Also videos are really, really big. Our phones have a looooot of stuff on them.)

True especially if you have a crowd. But I'm a firm believer that you need to know what you were doing if you want to know why things happen in a certain way. It's like mythbusters where they apply the scientific method to prove/disprove things.

Oh, of course. It's just not always possible to do. :)

sorry about the delay, but I will need to post tonight, so give me about fourteen hours :-(

Hey, take your time, my man! No rush!

so when you said allies did you mean Inarus' horde or do you meant he talking heads?

I'm, uh, I'm super good at this, everybody!

... By which, of course, I mean, I'm sorry about the radio silence.

So here's what happened:

Friday, I was surprised by a visit from my parents. With about an hour's notice, I packed the kids up and shipped them off with my parents for the weekend. Then it rained on my stuff that was crying outside (it had been a cloudless sunny day five minutes prior) - including my TKD stuff. Then I assisted teaching at TKD. Then my wife got a flat tire. Then we finally got the car home and ate dinner and collapsed.

And then my in-laws came over first thing in the morning in, so we cleaned like fiends trying to get everything ready (we failed, at least according to my standards, and my mother in law helped us clean to my embarrassment). My father in law helped replace our tires (all had experienced dry rot though only one had actually gone flat... so far - apparently, it was a bad run of particular set of tires). Family dinner. Collapse.

Then was super busy Sunday.

Then was picking the boys up (on the other side of the state) Monday.

And now we are here!

Tomorrow I have a thing at my Eldest's school, so I'm uncertain about that. I'm still not recovered from the flurry of activity and emotional back-and-forth from this weekend!

All that to say: maybe today (though storm prep for hurricanes), maybe Thursday (though maybe hurricanes). So... we shall see?

A series of unfortunateinconvenient events? Sorry. I cannot resist being lame, or punning at times.

Your in laws helped you replace your tires and clean your house? Oh no…that’s so embarrassing. At least by Asian standards. You know Guests and all that.

My day in Ravenloft:

Lord of the area volunteers to help us take care of a werewolf that wants to turn over a new leaf.

Reformed werewolves are fine, but you need to build special accomodations for them when they change.

Local lord helps volunteer to take care of problem? Yay! Happily hands over the girl werewolf to the Lord in question.

Bard was smarter and actually did an insight check. I probably should have as well…

He had her hanged. We saw it as we were leaving the place.

Killing her in the battle is one thing, but to have handed her over and getting her executed as a result was just wrong.

The sad thing? Before the werewolf fight – I was urging my party to murderhobo out of self defense – i.e if she is feral – the only thing you can do is to defend yourself. I started quoting, ”Death is the only cure.” Of course, at the end of the whole thing, I got that quote thrown back in my face.

Plans: Building an NPC sanctuary in the forest. I swear I will not trust people in Ravenloft. God knows what the hell lies in the woods, sanctuary will probably look somewhat like a fortress when I’m done.

Helping me clean: humiliating.

Helping me with my tires: incredibly generous. (Not so much embarrassing.)

My father-in-law had been planning on coming to give us new trash cans - our old ones had holes in the bottoms, and he wanted them to look better for us. He is... an extraordinarily generous guy.

I will not trust people in Ravenloft

... and now you understand Ravenloft.

>.<

I'm innocent and fluffy! Even though I've looked through all the tomes of summoning of devils and demons and the manuals on creation of undead.

But it pales to knowing humans are the Real Monsters.

I mean if she couldn't be saved(she was under a curse), I could kill her myself, not a problem. But to have the hope of redemption dangled in front of you, then cruelly snatched away >.<

In character is like we promised that we would keep her safe. We failed. We brought her to her doom instead.

The bard flubbed his insight check. I didn't even bother to insight check even though I had the better modifier, because in character I thought it was a nice solution to our little furry problem.

Oh, for demiplane creating powers...

And I don't think picking a fight with the lord is a good idea. He may be evil, but how about his henchmen who are serving him because they have to put food on the table?

Can you patch a trashcan like you can a shirt?

But it's nice of him.

Eh if someone helped me change my tires I'd be embarrassed because I know it's hot, hard work. Plus they're older then you, right?

I've heard that if a paladin goes into Ravenloft, he either falls, or goes mad. Take ye pick.

Well, that's water under the bridge. Always have to keep lookin forward.

But it pales to knowing humans are the Real Monsters.

You are getting to know Ravenloft.

I mean if she couldn't be saved(she was under a curse), I could kill her myself, not a problem. But to have the hope of redemption dangled in front of you, then cruelly snatched away >.<

That's Ravenloft.

In character is like we promised that we would keep her safe. We failed. We brought her to her doom instead.

That's... still Ravenloft.

The bard flubbed his insight check. I didn't even bother to insight check even though I had the better modifier, because in character I thought it was a nice solution to our little furry problem.

That's exactly how Ravenloft keeps getting you.

Oh, for demiplane creating powers...

Heh.

And I don't think picking a fight with the lord is a good idea. He may be evil, but how about his henchmen who are serving him because they have to put food on the table?

Spoiler alert: all the lords are evil.

Also, that's what Assassins are for.

Also, also, it won't matter too much, because: Ravenloft.

Seriously, it's the setting where hope and joy goes to wither and die. Good things can happen, but they're always bounded by tragedy, one day or another.

Can you patch a trashcan like you can a shirt?

But it's nice of him.

1) I was fine with the old ones, because they didn't collect rain water anymore

2) It's super nice of him.

Eh if someone helped me change my tires I'd be embarrassed because I know it's hot, hard work. Plus they're older then you, right?

That's not how it happened. He had it towed to a tire place and paid for it.

I've heard that if a paladin goes into Ravenloft, he either falls, or goes mad. Take ye pick.

Often. It's not automatic, but it's a more common trope than a paladin not falling in Ravenloft.

It's why I don't like the setting.

Well, that's water under the bridge. Always have to keep lookin forward.

Always!

Often. It's not automatic, but it's a more common trope than a paladin not falling in Ravenloft.

It's like one thing to hear it, but one thing to experience it for yourself?

And the werewolf isolated herself in her cave because she knew she was a danger to the townsfolk, but the townsfolk told us to find her whereabouts so we did. And an inconvenient storm trapped us in the same cave as the werewolf.

So the predictable happened.

I know the lords are evil. I've also heard stories they are being punished for something that's why they're stuck there. And if you kill them, you get to take their place. But that's meta.

That's also why I don't want to kill any lords... I might be the next lord of the area and succumb to whatever corruption there is.

The lord might have a point as well in the sense he thinks nothing could keep her confined and killing her would probably be most expedient. But it's like the equivalent of burning a city down to the ground to stop plague from spreading.

Most of our final preparations are made, and the hurricane's coming in tomorrow! If I can't finish this game because I'm eradicated by bad weather, I hear-by dub Robert as the replacement GM! 'Cause he hasn't posted in a while! Hah! Take that, Robert!

>:D

huh? You were talking about Ravenloft, I started it once in a modern game using 'd20 modern' but it didn't get very far. So I didn't have much to add.

Of course since your a Ravenloft fan and D20modern fan who likes to DM, I wouldn't object to trying it again :-)

And besides I posted last in game... Just sayin'

edit:That said, be safe.

We'll wait. Batter down the storm hatches!

Yaaaarrrgh!

So.....

How did the storm go?

Hey TL appointed you as replacement GM and you lazy slacker haven't been doin' anything :P

.. If I can't finish this game because I'm eradicated by bad weather, I hear-by dub Robert as the replacement GM! ...

We clearly haven't established whether the weather has 'eradicated' GMTL or not...

*looks around nervous hoping the Gestalt Monk-Paladin shows up soon*

ok, just in case Florida actually fell into the sea, I'm asking Luke for help, that's all I'm sayin'

Hah!

Sorry, you two!

We're okay.

It's been a bit of a thing getting back into the swing of things.

Basically, things that are super-obvious and even important have slipped through the cracks.

Blarg!

Anyhoo, I'm hoping to get back into the saddle.

It'll take me a bit! I'm re-addressing my notes and remembering my stuff.

I’ve been busy too…getting distracted all over the place… I started up Strange Aeons =D

I’ve been busy too…getting distracted all over the place… I started up Strange Aeons =D

yeah, she forced everyone to be 'arcane casters'

*Glares at cat*

You're a bad bad kitty...

It was for science!

I wanted to test the hypothesis on whether a full 6th-9th arcane spellcaster party with 4 players on a 20 point buy could complete an AP, and if so – what challenges they would face?

Robert- you participated in my Gestalt single character solo PFS scenarios before, so you know that I have a streak of mad scientist in me!

Okay, almost got my act together.

Taking longer than I expected, because of complex notes and trying to figure out what, exactly, it all meant.

Running several rounds of actions prior to picking the game back up.

It'll work out much more smoothly that way.

I'll be going on vacation with my family to to taman negara on 6th October to 9th October to hike in the jungle.

I will have very limited internet access during those days, since there is no wifi in the jungle and only when I am at my room in guesthouse at night and in the morning will I have internet access(which is likely to be spotty), so my apologies in advance.

Well that took to long by far, but BAM! Update!

... I'm really, really sorry. My notes were a mess, my headspace was wiped of the information I'd been keeping carefully balanced, and getting back there was much more difficult than I'd wanted it to be. Plus, ADD. >.<

I'm so sorry!

I'll be going on vacation with my family to to taman negara on 6th October to 9th October to hike in the jungle.

I will have very limited internet access during those days, since there is no wifi in the jungle and only when I am at my room in guesthouse at night and in the morning will I have internet access(which is likely to be spotty), so my apologies in advance.

Looks beautiful! I hope you enjoyed!

Gimme a bit, I need to digest, will post probably at work.

You may want to use the coven firestorm. I no longer have it so it's moot. I have a whole slew of other abilities I can't remember because it's been a while so I need to check them out.

You may want to use the coven firestorm. I no longer have it so it's moot. I have a whole slew of other abilities I can't remember because it's been a while so I need to check them out.

Sorry, bad GM'ing question, but... did we ever clarify that you're no longer part of that group? I'm in a bit of a time crunch and still can't penetrate my very thorough but very poorly kept notes.

I thought that was my gemstone?

Or was it the one I gave Iya-Iya?

um, I thought Inarus was still part of the group and he gave the third to Iya-Iya, just my two-cents worth.

um, I thought Inarus was still part of the group and he gave the third to Iya-Iya, just my two-cents worth.

That's my recollection as well!

so that mean that Usawoti can use the coven firestorm correct? Now I just need to go back and dust off my word document and remember what it is :-)

Hah! ... yes.

Limits/day apply.

Figure I should make things clear.

Just for clarification/ease of understanding!

What the sisters "point" at is the central shaft.

As a reminder/explanation of what it looks like:

- imagine a column that's made of stone and fifteen feet in diameter

- fifteen feet off the floor, extending from that column, is a large, flat stone "cone" - kind of like this roof, except the eaves of the roof extend much further (fifteen feet out, in fact) and the "roof" is actually just a projection from the walls that just keep going up a really long ways

- the upper portion - everything above the "roof" - is coated in a prismatic wall-like effect

- under the edge of the overhang/roof/whatever there are seven equidistant alters (similar to the one Mope had been sacrificed on) with a seven-pointed star on the top

- this all sits on a massive floor that is very "plate-like" if you look under it (where you all came from)

Hope this helps!

(Feel free to ask questions, or ask for clarification, or discuss actions, here. Or just slam away at the baddies! No wrong answer, really!)