FYI, I'm going on an RV trip for a week tomorrow (visiting Glacier National Park).
I AM taking my laptop and plan to keep up (at least to the best I can) on posting, and I know we're supposed to have WIFI, but no guarantees. Feel free to bot if I haven't posted.
Sounds supercool! Enjoy!
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I have a couple of suggestions to speed up play just a bit:
1. For out of combat healing, how about we just assume Doc uses the wand and roll our own healing? When the wand is used, in combat or out of it, whoever did it can post something along the lines of to indicate how many charges are remaining. If you want some out-of-combat healing, just look for the last "Wand Count" post, roll the dice, and include the updated "Wand Count" in the post where you rolled the healing. Doc, if you did the same thing for in-combat healing, then the count would be up-to-date when anyone goes to do out of combat healing.
2. For exploration, if we're not in a rush or there's no obvious danger, maybe we could just go with the first suggestion of what door to go through, assume that Ayita (as our esteemed trapfinder) takes 20 and gets a 24 on searching, and then whoever picked the room can go in if she didn't find anything suspicious?
One last suggestion, not about speeding up game play, but Derek mentioned that he actually looks at the hp bars on Roll20. So if you take damage it might be helpful to him to make sure to update your hit points there. Until he mentioned it to me, it hadn't even occurred to me.
I have a couple of suggestions to speed up play just a bit:
1. For out of combat healing, how about we just assume Doc uses the wand and roll our own healing? When the wand is used, in combat or out of it, whoever did it can post something along the lines of to indicate how many charges are remaining. If you want some out-of-combat healing, just look for the last "Wand Count" post, roll the dice, and include the updated "Wand Count" in the post where you rolled the healing. Doc, if you did the same thing for in-combat healing, then the count would be up-to-date when anyone goes to do out of combat healing.
2. For exploration, if we're not in a rush or there's no obvious danger, maybe we could just go with the first suggestion of what door to go through, assume that Ayita (as our esteemed trapfinder) takes 20 and gets a 24 on searching, and then whoever picked the room can go in if she didn't find anything suspicious?
One last suggestion, not about speeding up game play, but Derek mentioned that he actually looks at the hp bars on Roll20. So if you take damage it might be helpful to him to make sure to update your hit points there. Until he mentioned it to me, it hadn't even occurred to me.
Thanks for the ideas, Art. I'm fine with each of these, with the following caveats for player control of their characters:
1) It is Doc who would technically be doing the healing. If you're ok with that, Doc, then you all should go ahead with the Wand Count method described. Doc, if for roleplaying reasons you find yourself hesitating, or perhaps wanting to roleplay the healing (I can imagine offering grumpy advice to the friends who keep stumbling into dangerous traps), then please roleplay it, as desired. Is this OK with you?
2) Ayita taking 20 spends a lot of time. But that's fine. AYITA: iIs this OK with you? Naturally, you could override that procedure and tell us if you roll or take 10 or whatever. You're the one searching, so... tell us how you'd like to play it now, in general, and/or in each instance.
3) adjusting your HP in Roll20 is helpful and I'd appreciate that. Given we are playing PbP, however, I'll use your profile line update as the official word on your current HP if there is some discrepancy on Roll20.
ALSO, the wand is a CLW wand, to clarify.
Current charge count: 50
Charges used: GM Derek 0 charges
New charge count: 50
BTW, I'm psyched that you guys are moving on through the house. It is creepy AF and I'm enjoying it. However, that last combat took SOOOO LONG in PbP time. Seven rounds is a fine combat in real life, dangerous and life threatening, but damn that's long in PbP-land. ;)
Getting out of the early stuff in an AP seems to be a sticking point. After the first scene or two, the story starts to become clearer as clues are found, details revealed and objectives set.
Anybody else have AP-via-PbP stories? Best practices from successful runs?
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Yes, certainly the players involved would have to be in agreement in each case. I don't want to nerf anyone's RP opportunities, just set a couple of defaults for ease of play. I tend to do some similar things when I run RL games. I don't have much PbP experience, though.
Once Walf gets to rememorize spells, if it would be helpful I'll have him learn detect magic so we can do something similar both when searching rooms and examining items. Unfortunately, he's not trained in Spellcraft, but if we get to rebuild before 2nd level, I could maybe fix that. He certainly has the INT for it.
I recommend hitting REPLY to the previous wand count message, that way you get a thread AND you get the big formatting that makes the message easy to find when scrolling through.
Current charge count: 50
Charges used: Doc Hatfield 1 charges
New charge count: 49
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2) Ayita taking 20 spends a lot of time. But that's fine. AYITA: Is this OK with you? Naturally, you could override that procedure and tell us if you roll or take 10 or whatever. You're the one searching, so... tell us...
Taking 20 on searching for traps would be fine with Ayita. Her perception varies though; she has +1 to perception to find traps right now, +2 alertness bonus if Ter is near her, +3 additional if it's bright light and Ter is there. So her perception for most indoor trap situations would be +4+1+2 = +7. So Taking 20 would be 27, I think.
The wand count sounds good, better than hoping Ayita or I get a good UMD roll when realistically Doc would be the dedicated wand-holder. And I don't want to use this system for Doc's own healing abilities, which will probably be the bulk of his healing until he runs out of spells each day.
All my AP experience is GMing or playing in person, I only started pbp games a year ago, maybe a little longer. On the positive side, when I can't remember something I can just go back and look at the older posts for the details. On the negative side, we're still first level and we already have 650+ posts just in Gameplay! Takes a while to find THAT ONE POST from two months ago.
Did we ever really do much investigating around town? Now I can't remember.
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Did we ever really do much investigating around town? Now I can't remember.
Not much because we had a big clue; Audrahni pointed us here and we followed the narrative. I suspect that there are a lot of juicy clues from this house that will help us investigate elsewhere. Nasir has already done some. And we've got the map.
Did we ever really do much investigating around town? Now I can't remember.Not much because we had a big clue; Audrahni pointed us here and we followed the narrative. I suspect that there are a lot of juicy clues from this house that will help us investigate elsewhere. Nasir has already done some. And we've got the map.
You had considered asking around about the people involved in the deaths that occurred off screen just prior to the beginning of the AP. But Doc Hatfield is right. Audrahni pointed you in this direction.
Loot haul by my reckoning:
A1Outside: Silver locket[/b]: 50
A5Dining room: silver serving set 70, silver decanter 35, copper mugs 15
A6Back Hall: slippers, curtain rod
A11Master bedroom: Sword case 350
A15Lounge: decanter stopper[/b]: 95
A16Sewing room: bars of gold (9) 1800
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Loot haul by my reckoning:
Ooh, I was soooo close. I didn't catch the locket!
That brings my tally up to 2,365 gp, 2,015 if we keep the cabinet...just in case. ;) (sorry, not sorry, about the pun)
Are you sure we found that, Derek? I'm not finding a reference to it in the threads. Did we look inside?
Oh, we also have the wand of CLW and 4 holy waters left.
Yes, I believe you found it outside under the stairs when the stirges attacked.
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Derek, Palvi suggested we compile what we know as players. How about we do a shared note in Roll20 like we did in a Roll20 Starfinder game? That way everyone can add their 2 cents, but it's preserved in one spot, rather than across a half dozen or more posts that quickly fall pages back. That will also make it easy for us to update it over time as we learn what information is important, what is not, and new information.
Could you create one so we can try it?
Derek needs to create a handout on Roll20 and make it available to all players in order to do that. It is a great idea.
You should do that for Plaguestone too!
Could you create one so we can try it?
DONE.
Will do. I'll cut and paste your existing Plaguestone notes over when I do!
Cool. I copied them for myself just in case something happened.
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I entered what I could think of for notes about what's going on. Please feel free to add to them and fix them.
I also entered what we came up with today for treasure so far. Same there, feel free to add and fix things. I had just gone through today trying to figure out how much we have and thus what Walf might be able to afford to learn spell-wise (e.g., identify).
In doing so, I made some correlations, so I documented them, as well as the others I can remember us making.
I am sure there are others, though.
The notes sum up what I know and then some.
Sorry, team. Little busy yesterday and today. Will post tomorrow.
Definitely! We should be able to send blackberry muffins and possum punch, too!Walf cannot think of any situation where "Honored Lady" would have some special religious connection, or even a planar connection.
OMG. Muffins and "punch" sound amazing. I may have to do that myself tonight.
Punch recipes?
Rainbow Planter’s Punch
Ingredients
5 oz Myers's dark rum
5 oz Appleton white rum
3 oz Orange curaçao
6 oz Fresh orange juice
6 oz Pineapple juice
3 oz Simple syrup
1/2 oz St. Elizabeth allspice dram
3 oz Fresh lime juice
3 oz Grenadine
1 tbsp Angostura bitters
Garnish: Pineapple slices
Garnish: Orange slices
Garnish: Lime slices
Steps
1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or bowl.
2. Before serving, shake individual drinks in a shaker with ice and strain into punch cups or large goblets filled three-quarters of the way with ice.
3. Garnish each drink with pineapple, orange and lime slices.
Also...
Mexican Punch
Ingredients
3 Limes, quartered
2 Lemons, quartered
1 Orange, quartered
15 oz Blanco tequila
7 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
7 oz Fresh lime juice
6 oz Grenadine
7 dashes Aromatic bitters
12 oz 7UP
Garnish: lime wedge
Steps
1. In a large pitcher, muddle the limes, lemons and orange.
2. Add the tequila, simple syrup, lime juice, grenadine and bitters.
3. Stir well and add ice.
4. Top with the 7Up and stir gently.
5. Pour (unstrained) into 6 rocks glasses and garnish each with a lime wedge.
After this "obligatory thug attack" (LOL, thanks Art. You can take the Derek out of Greyhawk, but you can't take the Greyhawk out of Derek), I'd love to know where each of you is sleeping/staying/living in town. Some of you may have your own places (?), some may be staying with others.
Review the Gazetteer provided earlier to decide what you're living arrangements are.
Link: Roderic's Cove Gazetteer
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Review the Gazetteer provided earlier to decide what you're living arrangements are.
Although Walf normally stays at Perik's, he's concerned about the safety of this many valuables. He'll suggest that the group take a large room at Creekside for the night and share it, keeping watch until they can sell the items or find a safe place to store them...especially if they are getting jumped out on the town.
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Apologies for the absence, we just completed a major project at work this past Friday. I haven't looked at the gameplay thread in about a week, but will try to catch up tonight.
Review the Gazetteer provided earlier to decide what you're living arrangements are.
Could Hatfield rent a room at building 5, Brogan's Apothecary? His profession (herbalist) seems like a good fit.
Review the Gazetteer provided earlier to decide what you're living arrangements are.
As a worshiper of the empyreal lord Zuhls (determination, investigation, and truth), Frantino normally rents a room near the Temple of the Stars and Roads.
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Ayita grew up in a Shoanti clan that values animal companions highly -- not just hawks. When she got the opportunity, she chose to rent a room from Hudsten's Kennel. She is happy to help Svaci Hudsten exercise the dogs whenever possible, and is willing to help clean the kennels too. As a young Shoanti in the carnivals, she is very used to this work.
Ayita's animal handling skill of "6" is decent though she's not a hunter or ranger.
She's hoping to adopt one of the ridgeback puppies at some point -- if one becomes available! She let Svaci know that a small puppy that no one wants would be fine; some of the best pups she's known were unwanted by most traders.
Ter's ability to speak and her acrobatic tricks might interest Svaci. It's likely that food for Ter could be available at the Kennel as well.
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Hello GM Derek. Our characters are still technically Level 1... might we be able to make adjustments between whatever the sections of the AP are, before we hit Level 2?
I'm not planning major theme changes but would like to shift a bit toward strength and wisdom, and am considering a couple of other possibilities. Perhaps the workouts with the Guard are buffing her up!
Thanks!
Hello GM Derek. Our characters are still technically Level 1... might we be able to make adjustments between whatever the sections of the AP are, before we hit Level 2?
I'm not planning major theme changes but would like to shift a bit toward strength and wisdom, and am considering a couple of other possibilities. Perhaps the workouts with the Guard are buffing her up!
Thanks!
Yes. Now is the time, as you are all about to level.
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I see a few more things we may want to ask the Port-Captain about or mention to her, in addition to anything else you can think of. Feel free to jump in with them!
Speak to Morely about what he saw the strange creatures that jumped us doing [we could ask the Port-Captain more about what Morely said to see if this is worth doing]
Ask Port-Captain Freson about the recent altercation between the Horned Fangs and the Roadkeepers
Ask Kreela McIntosh (Port-Captain Julit Freson's deputy) about her time in the Churlwood with the Roadkeepers
Check the bodies of the monsters that jumped us in the night and bit Roscoe, Frantino, and Nasir
Look into the deaths of the six Horned Fangs caused by the Roadkeepers about two weeks ago
Ask around about the Shoanti Roscoe saw in his vision, maybe he's still in the Cove or someone observed him while he was here (within about the last month)
Ask around about the moniker "Honored Lady" and who the Shoanti may have been referring to by using it it (within about the last month)
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Yes. Now is the time, as you are all about to level.Hello GM Derek. Our characters are still technically Level 1... might we be able to make adjustments between whatever the sections of the AP are, before we hit Level 2?
I'm not planning major theme changes but would like to shift a bit toward strength and wisdom, and am considering a couple of other possibilities. Perhaps the workouts with the Guard are buffing her up!
Thanks!
I'm contemplating multiclassing into rogue/ranger (beastmaster); she might adopt a puppy from the kennel, and get a little more buff for fighting.
Hunters are neat too; thinking about hunter vs ranger...
GM Derek -- this would mean that she would have both a hawk familiar and a dog or other animal companion. A little more on the game board to manage?
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Where should we stash the case for the missing rapier while we are going around town and adventuring? It seems like a really big thing to be carrying, and it would advertise what we're doing to whoever took the sword.
Or is it something we want to make sure we have with us in case we come across the sword and want to stuff it in there to protect ourselves?
I don't think that we will find the sword in town, so we should stash the case at someone's house. Roscoe seems like the most local local who might have a house where we could store stuff. we can pull it out to take with us when we go into the Churlwood.
Or is it something we want to make sure we have with us in case we come across the sword and want to stuff it in there to protect ourselves?
Walf would know that lead is a common barrier against scrying and object location. He has never heard of lead being an effective barrier against OTHER magic. Not that its not possible. He just hasn't heard of that.