Tomb of Horrors (4e) - Group 2, Part 2
Game Master Rev Rosey

Welcome!

Just a brief recap.

You can play any race or class that appears in Character Builder.

Feel free to pick a background. I'd ask you to avoid the traits which nail you to specific places in Eberron or Faerun, but otherwise, no restrictions. You can take as many backgrounds as you like for flavour, but you can only have one trait bonus.

You will start at level 12, so you have a paragon path and associated powers.

Starting gold is 13,000 which you can spend as you wish.

Starting equipment is one magic item of level 13, one of level 12 and one of level 11. Let me know if you want some other combination (10, 11, 14, for example) and I'll take a look on an individual basis.

I need you to put full stats with FIGURES in your player profiles please. If I ever need to run your pc, it will help enormously. You and you alone are responsible for keeping your hp/surges/AP useage and used powers up to date.

Please keep an eye on each other's powers and effects. At this level, you'll all have actions that affect each other a lot. Speaking from experience, it's incredibly easy to miss things.

We have 12 players at the moment and once ToH arrives, you will be entering the tomb as two groups.

At that point, it may make sense to split the thread, but for now, keep it all here.

Tentative groupings below.

Group 1
Pat516 - defender/melee striker
vagrant-poet - leader (bard/warlord) or another defender
Peasant Railgun
Ragna (detritus) - melee striker (rogue/monk/assassin) or controller
Scranford
Xabulba - leader (cleric)

Group 2
Cotesia - defender
Bluenose - leader (tiefling warlord)
Rad - defender (genasi swordmage - Kidlat)
Eric Swanson - controller (wizard)
bmars3
Tristan Mcleod - melee striker

As close on a month is a long time to wait, I thought you might like to run through a trial combat to get the feel of your characters. If anything doesn't work, or you decide you hate my GM style, it's probably better to find those things out early on before you're neck deep in an adventure.

Paragon level pcs can take a little getting used to as well, to get the most benefit from them.

So. Please stat yourselves up asap. Let me know when you're ready to go and I'll get you started on a single encounter.

I should have something mapped up and ready to run shortly.

Just a quick question: I know some of your time zones as we've gamed together before, but if you could all just quickly recap, that would be a help.

I'm UK based. GMT.

U.S. Eastern Insomniac Time (currently GMT-4)

Thinking Assassin for my melee striker, Peasant and Scranford does that work for you two?

I am in EST.

5:15 PM (June 30, 2010, Philippines)

Ok, I've done up a Battlemind and an Assassin. If I go with the Assassin, should probably switch groups away from Ragna.

They both look like great fun, so I'm happy to fill whatever niche.

Let's see what everyone settles on first.

Once the character creation dust settles, we can get groupings sorted out.

I'd rather you played characters you liked than force yourselves to build to fit niches, but let's see how it looks once we have some actual pcs.

So far we have the following expressed preferences:

Bluenose: possible warlord (leader)
bmars3: no preference yet
Cotesia: possible defender
Eric Swanson: possible wizard
Pat516: Battlemind or Assassin (defender or melee striker) - -4 hours from me
Peasant Railgun: preference for vestige warlock, rogue or shaman
Radavel: Swordmage (defender) - +8 hours from me
Ragna: possible Assassin or rogue or monk (melee striker) - -4 hours from me
Scranford: no preference yet
Tristan Mcleod: preferred melee striker
vagrant-poet: possible leader or defender
Xabulba: cleric (leader)

If any of these are wrong, let me know. I'll try and keep the listing up to date so you can all see how we're looking.

I have my assassin done as well. :) Well and a rogue and a monk. So I am easy. Also as an aside all of them are trained in perception and thievery so that part is covered by any of them.

Rev, can I have your permission to include Clovis in the backstory I am writing?

Thanks

Rev, can I have your permission to include Clovis in the backstory I am writing?

Thanks

Surely. When last seen, he'd reached epic levels and was part of a group who had just wiped out Dagon. He hadn't changed.

Radavel wrote:

Rev, can I have your permission to include Clovis in the backstory I am writing?

Thanks

Surely. When last seen, he'd reached epic levels and was part of a group who had just wiped out Dagon. He hadn't changed.

So, um, Clovis is now a gawd in the campaign?

Rev Rosey wrote:

Radavel wrote:

Rev, can I have your permission to include Clovis in the backstory I am writing?

Thanks

Surely. When last seen, he'd reached epic levels and was part of a group who had just wiped out Dagon. He hadn't changed.

So, um, Clovis is now a gawd in the campaign?

What even half-way sane sect would worship Clovis? He's a Wild Mage/Arcane Trickster and plays Find the Lady with death on a regular basis, but he's no deity.

Radavel wrote:

Rev Rosey wrote:

Radavel wrote:

Rev, can I have your permission to include Clovis in the backstory I am writing?

Thanks

Surely. When last seen, he'd reached epic levels and was part of a group who had just wiped out Dagon. He hadn't changed.

So, um, Clovis is now a gawd in the campaign?

What even half-way sane sect would worship Clovis? He's a Wild Mage/Arcane Trickster and plays Find the Lady with death on a regular basis, but he's no deity.

A nihilistic sect comes to mind....

I'd like to play a Human Avenging Paladin if that's ok with my group. I'll flesh out a character some during lunch and/or after work.

See above (someplace :D). Build a pc you like and we'll fiddle around with the groupings once you've all got yourselves statted up.

Paladin works fine in any group and the extra healing won't hurt either.

Great! Thanks Rev :D

I'll put together a bard this evening.

I don't have the character buildr put I do have the first two PHBs and the first DMG and MM. I hope that's okay.

P.S. I find it nifty that I got put in the group with Peasant Railgun as he ran the PBP that let me play 4e for the first time!

P.P.S. I'm Irish, and thus on GMT like you Rev Rosey.

Pat512: Battlemind or Assassin (defender or melee striker) - -4 hours from me

Umm -- aren't you on GMT+1 in the Summer? <ducks>

I'll put together a bard this evening.

I don't have the character buildr put I do have the first two PHBs and the first DMG and MM. I hope that's okay.

P.S. I find it nifty that I got put in the group with Peasant Railgun as he ran the PBP that let me play 4e for the first time!

P.P.S. I'm Irish, and thus on GMT like you Rev Rosey.

vagrant - that's fine. Build however you want, and someone will check you over, I'm sure. I remembered you and Peasant running that one shot. It looked fun. As I mentioned to Tristan, groupings may change, so don't feel you have to stay wedded to any particular concept.

Pat - time zones, pah. You know me and numbers. Not a good mix.

Everyone - the only interest I have in the time zones thing is to make sure I don't hassle someone when they might legitimately be asleep.

I can usually post during the day, but I cannot see maps because they are blocked. :(

Ragna, I normally post maps on Flickr these days.

Like this.

Just post when you can. I know you're reliable :)

I'm not the most awesome mapper in the world, by the way, so if I post up something that makes no sense, tell me.

Thinking Assassin for my melee striker, Peasant and Scranford does that work for you two?

Fine by me, I'm leaning towards a ranged striker. The vestige warlock looks interesting, though if it doesn't work out I might stick with the brutal efficiency of the ranger.

I'm in GMT+10 Australian Eastern Standard Time.

I need you to put full stats with FIGURES

Sorry, I'm unclear on what you require.

I find it nifty that I got put in the group with Peasant Railgun as he ran the PBP that let me play 4e for the first time!

Awesome! I look foward to gaming with you again, your regular posting maintained the momentum of the game.

Rev, do the PCs already know each other before the start of the adventure?

Peasant Railgun:

I need the actual attack/damage figures for your powers in your profile. There is a cut and paste facility for posting characters at the back of Character Builder and it says unhelpful things like "Charisma v Will" and "1W plus Cha mod".

What I need is "1d20+15" and "1d8+9" plus details of any hit/miss effects. If it's not there in the profile, I'll have to keep checking the compendium and that's a pain if I end up running your character for a turn. Apologies if it was unclear.

Rad:

It's probably helpful to build yourselves a bit of backstory, but if I might suggest, hold fire on that until we have all the pcs and groupings sorted out.

I bought stats with the 22 point method in the PHB, is that the way to go?

@Peasant Railgun: Yup! Should be great fun!

I bought stats with the 22 point method in the PHB, is that the way to go?

It is indeed.

PC reunion at the old hangout sounds very familiar as a plot hook :-)

I'm ready, wake me when the adventure begins.

What I need is "1d20+15" and "1d8+9" plus details of any hit/miss effects. If it's not there in the profile, I'll have to keep checking the compendium and that's a pain if I end up running your character for a turn. Apologies if it was unclear.

Thanks for the explanation! I know what to include now.

I will finish leveling up my wizard tonight after work, I am in Paizo time, PST btw, he he.

Eastern Standard time here. Since I'm new to 4E, character suggestions are welcome. That way I don't have to read every character type this weekend. If anybody sees a 'hole' that needs filling just suggest it and I'll try to fill it up. If it's something from PHB2 or 3 I don't mind purchasing one to help. Also any other books besides the original 3 I might want?

What type of character do you like playing? Looks like we have plenty of defenders, so healers (melee or ranged), striker (melee or ranged) or a controller would be most welcome.

Healers (cleric, warlord, artificer, shaman, bard, ardent, runepriest)
controller (wizard, druid, invoker, seeker, psion)
striker (ranger, rogue, warlock, sorcerer, monk, avenger, assassin, barbarian)

i am sure i missed one or two in there

Arishat Prioska Kutrigur, of an ancient and noble house, will be up today or tomorrow. She's a Tiefling resourceful warlord.

I'm in the UK, so GMT/BST.

looks like confirmed, 2 strikers (me and peasant), 3 defender (tristan, rad, pat), controller (eric), 4 leader (bluenose, scranford, vagrant-poet, tavar)

Looks like strikers would be the best for the last 2 slots, or a striker and a controller.

Confirm me as a defender (multiclass striker). The assassin just wasn't gelling.

Profile soon.

If it's something from PHB2 or 3 I don't mind purchasing one to help. Also any other books besides the original 3 I might want?

Well since you said in the recruitment thread that you now have DDI and the Character Builder, you'll be able to find whatever we suggest from PHB2, PHB3 and the Martial/Arcane/Divine/Primal Power books in the latest compendium and builder.

I think I'll go with a runepriest. That just sounds cool.

That is one cool class. Minotaur and dwarf both make good ones, in my opinion.

Done for now (Pat)

Eastern Standard time - Northern Virginia, US

I'll likely go controller, possibly hybrid striker. I will get in CB tonight and see what comes out.

Okay, this is my character. All pertinent infomation is on my profile, have a look over and correct my on formatting errors, etc.

I'm a little overwhelmed by powers, but I'nm sure I'll get the hang of it.

For wealth, I think we were to get a 13,12,11 level magic item, then spend gold seperately, so I bought a bag of holding and lv 11 magic armor.

Is that right?

Woah.

I pop out to torment children for a few hours and voila, come home to find virtually an entire party good to roll. Amazing work, all and I cannot tell you how grateful I am.

Check me on this and make sure I'm not missing anything. Do these look like workable groupings to you? Both get two leaders, two defenders a controller and some sort of striker. You should be able to deal with most things.

Group 1
Pat516 - Lyan Hurzin (hobgoblin battlemind). Defender/striker
vagrant-poet - Darwyn Tafare (human bard). Leader
Peasant Railgun - vestige warlock/rogue. Striker
Scranford - runepriest. Leader
bmars3 - controller/hybrid striker. Controller
Tristan Mcleod - paladin. Defender who can heal

Group 2
Cotesia - defender. Defender
Bluenose - leader (tiefling warlord). Leader
Rad - defender (genasi swordmage - Kidlat). Defender
Eric Swanson - controller (wizard). Controller
Ragna (detritus) - assassin. Striker
Xabulba - Saint Tavar (eladrin cleric). Leader

I'll start checking over the character sheets tonight.

Paragon is a bit daunting at first, but it will get easier. That's one reason I'd rather run you through a preparatory outing before we start heading into the Tomb itself.

I will post mine tonight, it will be late I am working like 12 hours today.

Arishat Prioska Kutrigur, of an ancient and noble house, is done. Background later.

Darwyn -- do you still mean to buy rituals?

Speaking of . . . Rev, standard starting gold is 9K -- was the bump intentional?

Parties look good. And with our abundance of defenders and leaders, very hard to kill.

Looking forward to it!

Woah.

I pop out to torment children for a few hours and voila, come home to find virtually an entire party good to roll. Amazing work, all and I cannot tell you how grateful I am.

Check me on this and make sure I'm not missing anything. Do these look like workable groupings to you? Both get two leaders, two defenders a controller and some sort of striker. You should be able to deal with most things.

Group 1
Pat516 - Lyan Hurzin (hobgoblin battlemind). Defender/striker
vagrant-poet - Darwyn Tafare (human bard). Leader
Peasant Railgun - vestige warlock/rogue. Striker
Scranford - runepriest. Leader
bmars3 - controller/hybrid striker. Controller
Tristan Mcleod - paladin. Defender who can heal

Group 2
Cotesia - defender. Defender
Bluenose - leader (tiefling warlord). Leader
Rad - defender (genasi swordmage - Kidlat). Defender
Eric Swanson - controller (wizard). Controller
Ragna (detritus) - assassin. Striker
Xabulba - Saint Tavar (eladrin cleric). Leader

I'll start checking over the character sheets tonight.

Paragon is a bit daunting at first, but it will get easier. That's one reason I'd rather run you through a preparatory outing before we start heading into the Tomb itself.

Awesome!

@Group 1: My character is a human bard in his early twenties, adequately handsome with a ready smile and browns hair and eyes. His name is Darwyn and he hails from a small city.

It'll be a pleasure working with you all!

It's fine, Ragna. Scranford needs a little longer to get sorted being new to 4e and plunging in the deep end and Cotesia needs to post himself up as well.

As a general rule, I can (and do) post reliably every day. The one exception is Saturday when I spend my time neck deep in children and there is a slight lull in activities.

If those of you that have CB are willing to email me your character sheets, I would be most grateful. I appreciate that not everyone is happy to use emails, so don't worry if you'd rather not.

vagrant-poet, you're going to hate me very much I fear. The information is fine, but I really need you to detail out the powers for me. Like this:

Vicious Mockery
At-Will Arcane, Charm, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Ranged 10
Target: One creature
Attack: 1d20 + whatever the number is vs. Will
Hit: 1d6 + whatever the number is Charisma modifier psychic damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.

I know exactly how much of a pain this is to do, but it will make both your and my life easier when you need to look things up in a hurry. Take a look at Arishat's profile for an alternative example.

You don't have to use that exact layout, but I (and you) will need that level of detail at your fingertips or I promise you you'll spend half your life with your nose buried in the book working it all out from scratch.

What I tend to do is copy and paste direct from the compendium and change the figures manually.

Ritual casters
Make sure you take your full complement of rituals. At level 12 you will have access to a lot of useful stuff, so take advantage of it.

Pat - gold bump was deliberate. I'm not great at supplying treasure and I reckoned you'd have picked up more knicknacks than 9,000 would buy in your long journey to paragon tier.

EDIT: Pat, you still need to put in the mods on your profile. There are a a lot of 1d10+ nothings in there.

Bluenose - Arishat looks good.

Woo -- off to spend!

There's a note at the top of the powers with the uniform mods. I usually do that so when we level or get new weapons, it's only changed in one place. Let me know if that's a problem.

This sounds like a lot of fun, thanks for putting it together Rosey. I'll be heading home from work in about 30 min. I'll finish working on my character and shoot you an email.

Pat, if you could add them in right through, I'd be grateful. Sorry to be a fussy pain.