Hah! I'm not so impatient that I can't wait for you to decide who has what.

Rev

Consider both Seraphiel and Caine to be under my tender care until further notice.

I think for my next character I will make a female dwarven battlerager. Or maybe a dragonborn or human greatsword fighter. Being a rogue is just not cutting it for me in combat. Sure I can dish out 46 hp in damage in a single round, but then I took 40 hp of damage back in enemy attacks. Since things are not looking very good for us, I thought I would start thinking about my next character. Also I have been reading the fighter essential articles in Dragon and are eager to take a stab at playing a fighter.

I just wrote a two page (at least) stream of consciousness post that took too long to complete and so was eaten by the board when I posted it. In it, I talked about fighters and rogues, how much I enjoy playing Snaggletooth, and analyzed our fighting style- particularly mine own and came to a couple of conclusions.

1. I need to stop charging into combat in the first round. Despite my first strike ability, I do not have the hp or the AC to survive this kind of pummeling.

2. As a party, we don't deal enough damage per attack and we don't absorb enough attacks. Our AC and defenses are not high enough. I don't know how to correct this, but it is a problem. These berserkers have really brought this out. We are in the midst of a slugfest and our opponents have better defenses and better attacks. Or seem to, anyway. We will see. If these seers can summon more berserkers like the other one could, we are in major trouble.

All is not lost, there is hope. We have two leaders and a paladin. But if we keep missing and they keep hitting, poor Snaggletooth and his friends will not survive this battle and I will have to finish up Helja Hammerfist's backstory and bring her on-line. Or maybe Darien Blake, former corporal of the Waterdeep Guard. I really need to get some sleep. This insomina really sucks.

All is by no means lost.

As a group you've done very interesting things with this adventure with lots of thinking outside the box.

By all means think about your next character, but don't abandon hope just yet. Some of your actions (i.e. taking the regalia and befriending Gratitude, to say nothing of setting all those traps) have opened up pathways that wouldn't exist otherwise.

On a practical note, you have Volkanth pretty well surrounded and he's not an idiot. He wants to complete the ritual, but he needs to be alive to do that.

One of the things I like so much about both the long-running groups in my games is their willingness to keep trying stuff and constantly surprising me. I am (as always) out to kill you if I can, but I do feel that my job is primarily to help you tell as story. The plot is up to you.

I feel your pain with the insomnia, Cale. It really is a brain-dissolver.

We don't deal a lot of damage simply because Snaggletooth is our one and ONLY damage dealer. Some non-striker classes can be tweaked to deal large amounts of damage but we're not playing as any of them. As for defense, there's nothing that can be done about that in an ongoing game other than begging the DM for magic armor or purchasing feats. I've already purchased one armor feat just to get Erik's AC as high as it is now.

With my Create Magic Item ritual I can also make armor, but that gets expensive and one magic item creation often wipes a character's monetary gains out for several levels.

I will agree that Snaggletooth should be staying back during the early rounds until he can get flanking with a defender who can protect him. Retraining for a ranged attack would let you keep advantage of First Strike and still maintain your distance. Rev said we'll be making level 8 soon so that may be a good time.

As a melee striker, however, Snaggletooth is always going to get caught in tough situations. That's why melee strikers are capable of so much more damage than ranged strikers, who are usually out of harm's way.

I think we'll get though this, but it definitely won't be easy. I also DON'T think it should be easy since this is likely the climax of this dungeon. My only regret is that we wasted our advantage in initiative with the opening banter. Banter is good, but it pretty much nullified the use of my Synchronicity power. :<

The loss of the power is a pity (and a fortune of war), but the banter was useful in a lot of other respects. Volkanth couldn't tell you any of what he's just told you if he's dead.

There was also the possibility that Perigia might have wanted to stop the fight and find some other way. I have enormous faith in this group's ability to find interesting solutions to things.

If you feel underpowered, then when you level, you can explore the possibility of doing some rebuilding if you'd like to rebalance the party. I'm very open to that - it's particularly important in a pbp that you feel balanced, as you simply don't have the resources to discuss every option with each other.

Oh - it's level 7, not level 8. You're within spitting distance.

The loss of the power is a pity (and a fortune of war), but the banter was useful in a lot of other respects. Volkanth couldn't tell you any of what he's just told you if he's dead.

There was also the possibility that Perigia might have wanted to stop the fight and find some other way. I have enormous faith in this group's ability to find interesting solutions to things.

If you feel underpowered, then when you level, you can explore the possibility of doing some rebuilding if you'd like to rebalance the party. I'm very open to that - it's particularly important in a pbp that you feel balanced, as you simply don't have the resources to discuss every option with each other.

Oh - it's level 7, not level 8. You're within spitting distance.

I'd agree the encounters are tough, but most of your battles have been very swingy which is how it should be. You tend to have rounds where you all hit and that will clear out half the baddies, followed by one where everybody flubs.

The other thing, of course, is that as a group you have vested interest in staying alive and the baddies can afford to be more ruthless tacticians as they have a cause to fight.

I winched this encounter down a bit, since it's designed for 5 level 8 pcs originally and I thought the defenses were on the high side. A tough fight is one thing. A situation where you can't hit anything unless you roll 15+ is another and I didn't want that.

I think Rev is just out to get us. :)

I will say this, Rosey has set up a very intersting moral dilemna. Volkath obviously doesn't see himself as evil, just committed to the Dreamer's cause. His actions thus far, from his perspective, were necessary to achieve his goals or rather the Dreamer's goals as told to him by Perigia's sister. The Dreamer himself, in the dream skill challenge, referred to what Volkath was doing as a good cause. So in the back of my mind, I am constantly debating our course of action. At first, when we were with the pilgrims and we were viciously attacked, it was a simple 'stop the evil cult and return the artifact' kind of mission. Then she starts dropping these clues that perhaps it is more complicated than that. Finally, she has Volkath make a direct appeal to Perigia on behalf of her sister. Kudos, Rosey, Kudos. You have me doubting myself while I continue to complete the original mission.

Well, Erik doesn't particularly care at the moment. He didn't really have any meaningful dream himself and no one has talked about their own dreams at all. He also hasn't been told anything about Perigia's sister. He's just doing what he does best right now. :)

That you did, that you did. That was some kind of combo you just did. Very impressive.

That you did, that you did. That was some kind of combo you just did. Very impressive.

Shout of Triumph may be my favorite leader power ever.

Speaking as your hapless DM, I hate it ...

Folks, we're coming to a close on this adventure and I'm more than happy to carry on with you all if you're willing.

However ... there are a couple of things that I'd really value your input on. The first is that Leo is still offline. This segues into Caine's huge work issues, which are pretty much devouring him. Neither of these things are controllable, but it does leave us two players down and I'm reluctant to recruit new blood as they're both planning to return full time as soon as they can.

What I'm tentatively proposing is this:- That at the end of this adventure, we wrap the group and the game in mothballs and place it to one side until we have a full team again. This is a very character driven story and it's hard to run it without the full set of players.

If, after a reasonable time has passed (a month?), neither Leo nor Rad can post regularly, we'll recruit.

Please know that I love this group and this game and very much want to continue with it. The thing is, I'd much rather call a temporary halt for a time at a sensible stopping place and regroup, than grind to a slow death with me DMPCing half the party. I think my heart might break a little if I never saw these characters again.

Still here, Rev.

Good hearing Rad.

One down I can deal with. Leo will be back once the internet gods have responded to his pleas. He's in the UK and it can take a very, very long time for the authorities to realise that a person has moved house.

Onwards we shall go.

You know you can count me in, Rev. I feel like Erik still needs to do a lot to become a real member of the party and further adventuring with him would be great.

Well, you said to post my new character ideas. My two favorite ones are the female dwarven battlerager, with warhammer and shield. Helja Hammerfist, I believe I called her. I haven't played a dwarf in a while and the battlerager is an interesting build.

The other one is a greatsword fighter with plate armor. I don't have all the details worked out yet, but I want to be able to stand in there with the heavies in combat. (I read the Dragon article and it got me thinking about this)

Both of these would give me the combat challenge feature, which would make us more sticky in combat.

OR

and I just thought of this. Aglarond sorcerer, human dragon magic build. One of the Simbul's forgotten "children", part of the program the Simbul set up to raise up magical weapons to fight against Thay. She would test all the kids in Aglarond and when she found a likely candidate, she would move them into the palace and teach them magic. Simbul's been gone for many years, no one knows where, but she left the training program in place. This character would be one of those trainees. Read the fluff section on the Simbarch of Aglarond paragon path (FRPG) for the gist of what I am saying. While the paragon path is for wizards, given Simbul's makeover in 3E as a sorcerer, it seems likely she had a program for them, too. Part of an elite spellcaster unit called the Dragons of Aglarond. Although I would not get my bloodlust satisfied with this character, it is a striker and with the Str bonus and the Arcane reserves feat, we are talking about +5 for most of the at-will damage at range.

Well, that's what I got so far. What do you think? (Everyone who wants to, please chime in! I welcome all opinions, no matter how stupid-just kidding.)

Cale, it's up to you. Build yourself a character you want to play and we'll go from there and look at party balance once you've cooked up your new pc.

I'll take a longer look at all your concepts in the morning. I'm a bit too tired to engage my brain properly at the moment - been in London all day at an awards ceremony. All somewhat surreal.

I'm looking at the current line up of pcs and we have the following:

Brujo - moonelf (eladrin) swordmage. Melee only apart from the odd bit here and there.
Caine - human bravura warlord. Melee only.
Erik - human bard. Mixed tactics available to him.
Leo - paladin. Basically melee.
Perigia - genasi wizard/mc druid at the moment but that may change. Ranged.

A ranged striker certainly wouldn't hurt. Snaggletooth has routinely doled out a lot of damage with his SA and that needs to be re-balanced.

The sorcerer might be a good choice, but any of your proposals work. It would also be useful to have a tank.

Gosh. I'm so helpful... :)

Cale?

Yes, Rose?

Oh, so you wanted me to write it up, ok? Got it. We'll go with the dragon magic sorcerer. We have a lot of melee, but we don't have much in the way of magic and ranged. I think it could a better fit. I will write it up this weekend and get it to you before Monday. We will still be finishing this plot up by then. Between the beholder and whatever else is waiting for us, I figure I have until then. I will come up with the background but you will have to help me fit it into the next plot.

O.K.?

And with Str as a secondary attribute, his melee basic attack won't completely stink, either.

I just have one question, how much 'stuff' does a level 7 character get? I looked for wealth by level rules and can't find them.

Level 7 pcs get one each of a level 8, 7 and 6 magic item and starting gold of 2,600.

I'm houseruling that non-magical mundane equipment is something you already have (i.e. tents, adventurers kits, but not small boats or fully trained warhorses). If you think something might count, but aren't sure, ask me.

You've got time and plenty. You still need to get out of there, deliver the relic and work out where you're going next. I'll help you sort out how you join up with the party once you get me some background. Have fun with the build.

Rosey,

I have a question. The descriptions for Dragonfrost and Acid Orb state that they can be used as a basic ranged attack. The description for the Bracers of the Perfect Strike say that they give a +2 to damage on basic ranged attacks. The Character Builder interprets this as a +2 for damage on these at-will powers. Do you concur with this assessment? Because Dragonfrost is alright with the cold and the push, but Blazing Starfell is the only area burst at-will a sorcerer gets and it is radiant so it is quite effective against those pesky undeads. even without the extra cosmic magic effect and the minimal base damage (1d4, smallest for an arcane power), it is tempting. I need the fire blast spell to keep people away and protect myself if they get too close and acid orb is a range 20. So without the extra damage bonus, I might consider the area burst. But what is the difference between a basic ranged attack and an at-will that can be used as a basic ranged attack anyway? I think that is why the CB gives the +2 for those powers. Let me know what you think.

If CB declares it legal, I'm happy enough to ride with it. If errata emerge to change that, we can look again.