Example #1:
The party has encountered a group of bandits out in the wild.
Initiative:
Agnatha:
Caelius:
Davor:
Holbrecht:
Ragnor:
Tarith:
Bandits:
Example #2
The party has encountered a pack of wolves led by an Alpha male.
Initiative:
Agnatha:
Caelius:
Davor:
Holbrecht:
Ragnor:
Tarith:
Alpha wolf:
wolf pack:
In this example the Alpha wolf would attack first followed by group #1 consisting of Davor and Holbrecht in posting order.
Ragnor and I would then have to roll off (since we both have the same initiative number and modifier). If Ragnor wins he goes with group #1, the the wolf pack wins Ragnor goes with Group #2.
Group #2 consisting of Agnatha, Caelius, Ragnor (possibly), and Tarith would then follow the wolf pack, in posting order.
Again at the end of the round I would post a summary with appropriate flavor text.
Please tell me that makes sense.
That makes perfect sense to me. Sounds like a good plan.
Perfect. Just like me, only missing I don't have the spoilers, but it does minimize the page a bit.
Yeah, I'm tracking now. Sounds fine to me.
Perfect.
Sounds good to me.
Init roll off
hope the wolf pack rolls lower then that :)
There we go, I think this picture fits Davor better.
Sorry about the delay in posting, but with the Holiday weekend and me working today, yesterday was a family day.
I hope all my American players are having a happy, and safe, Memorial Day.
Thank you AJM8665, I hope you had a great memorial day weekend and enjoy the rest of the holiday.
FAmily day, huh? That's something I'll have to look forward to when I get a family of my own.
Memorial day? Heard of it and have a basic understanding of it.
Sorry all, I'm not ignoring you. But right now I am suffering from a major allergy attack and a mother of a sinus headache. I just popped a couple of Benadryl and am headed off to bed. I promise to get to your question first thing in the morning.
Sorry all, I'm not ignoring you. But right now I am suffering from a major allergy attack and a mother of a sinus headache. I just popped a couple of Benadryl and am headed off to bed. I promise to get to your question first thing in the morning.
No troubles. I know from sinus headaches. Get some rest.
I hope you feel better! Allergy season can be rough...
hope you feel better
OK, let's see if I got this right.
Agnatha will be hiding on the walkway at V-11
Caelius and Holbrecht will be hiding behind the doors at V-18 and V-13, respectively.
Davor and Ragnor will be hiding in the barn at O-10 and N-10
and Tarith will be in the main house at L-21.
Does that sound about right?
OK, let's see if I got this right.
Agnatha will be hiding on the walkway at V-11
Caelius and Holbrecht will be hiding behind the doors at V-18 and V-13, respectively.
Davor and Ragnor will be hiding in the barn at O-10 and N-10
and Tarith will be in the main house at L-21.
Does that sound about right?
Yes, assuming that the hiding places work.
Just wanted to remind everyone that a surprise round only allows a standard or move action so we should take that into account when making our individual plans of action when the things kickoff. We will most likely only have the chance to move into position or make a single ranged attack if the ambush is successful...
Just wanted to remind everyone that a surprise round only allows a standard or move action so we should take that into account when making our individual plans of action when the things kickoff. We will most likely only have the chance to move into position or make a single ranged attack if the ambush is successful...
Yup.
Agnatha, standard action cast sleep.Me & Holbrecht half close the doors. One action each.
Barn Force one. Charge if in range or position/buff if not.
Oleg RUN!
Bodyguard. Cover Oleg.
We haven't rested yet, correct? Will we have time to rest, and subsequently, swap out prepared spells?
We haven't rested yet, correct? Will we have time to rest, and subsequently, swap out prepared spells?
Yes, the bandits aren't due until tomorrow morning.
Just a heads up, today is my wife and mine anniversary. I won't be able to update anything after 6:00 CDT tonight until tomorrow morning.
Just a heads up, today is my wife and mine anniversary. I won't be able to update anything after 6:00 CDT tonight until tomorrow morning.
Congratulations! My wife and I just had our anniversary on Monday.
Seeing as things have changed, can everyone give the FINAL coordinates of where there character will be when the bandits arrive, otherwise I will go with what I have posted above. Once set I can get the party started.
Now that I'm starting in the house, I believe I should be placed at L20.
Seeing as things have changed, can everyone give the FINAL coordinates of where there character will be when the bandits arrive, otherwise I will go with what I have posted above. Once set I can get the party started.
Ok. Final version
Tarith at L-20. The door will be cracked open.
Agnatha will be hiding on the walkway at V-11
Davor and Ragnor will be hiding in the barn at O-10 and N-10 the door is closed but held open a crack for listening/peeking.
Holbrecht and I are hiding behind some stuff just behind the open half of the gate. This will be the half closest to the bar if that matters. The other half of the gate will be shut. In a perfect world that will put us at V-12 or 13.
We move the wagon to T - U 6-10ish.
Show Time!
And Agnatha has memorized sleep, mage armor, and charm person for the day. She'll cast mage armor before any of the fireworks start.
Happy anniversary AJM8665.
Updated my characters spells memorized with
0th: Flare, Ray of Frost, Daze
1st: Shield, Color Spray
Holbrecht's Spells
0th: Detect Magic, Guidance, Stabilize
1st: Forbid Action x2 (if UM spells not allowed, those will be Command)
Domain: Animate Rope
Wow, that sleep spell worked like a charm!! Go, go, Agnatha!
Yes! We might even all survive this!
Awesome Agnatha 1/2 the enemies down in a single strike is a good start.
And with Davor's crit we're really on a roll!
And with Davor's crit we're really on a roll!
Yes, but I believe it is the bandits turn now. This could be bad.
That must be a guaranteed kill for a bandit
Yes, but I believe it is the bandits turn now. This could be bad.
The only bandit capable of spotting you and acting in the Surprise round was Happs and he was taken out before he could do anything. So it's up to you guys to finish off the surprise round.
Do we only have 1 action for this surprise round?
Do we only have 1 action for this surprise round?
yup only one action in suprise rounds.
That must be a guaranteed kill for a bandit
'cept I'm not sure he can reach a target. All the bandits in move range are resting comfortably. Unless he is talking about killing a bandit in their sleep. Not a good idea, that kind of ruthlessness tends to recoil.
BTW. Great work on the maps DM. Very easy to read and the grid is very clear.
And with Davor's crit we're really on a roll!
hopefully that intimidate scares the s@$+ out of them and demoralizes them. Even if it doesn't force them to surrender, they will still be at penalties.
Very damn lucky rolls.
And with Davor's crit we're really on a roll!hopefully that intimidate scares the s%$! out of them and demoralizes them. Even if it doesn't force them to surrender, they will still be at penalties.
Very damn lucky rolls.
So Devor are you going with the attack or the intimidate?
So Devor are you going with the attack or the intimidate?And with Davor's crit we're really on a roll!hopefully that intimidate scares the s%$! out of them and demoralizes them. Even if it doesn't force them to surrender, they will still be at penalties.
Very damn lucky rolls.
thought intimidate would be a free action like I stated, but if it isn't then just the attack.
Also, DM is it too late to swap around Davor's wisdom and strength?
Also, DM is it too late to swap around Davor's wisdom and strength?
No, go ahead.
I'll be away from home for the next six days or so (Thursday through Tuesday EST) and will have sporadic access to the internet at best. I should be able to check up on the forums in the evening, but if you find things slowing down because of me, feel free to just DMPC my character. I'll be back in action in a week for sure. Sorry about the short notice!
I'll be away from home for the next six days or so (Thursday through Tuesday EST) and will have sporadic access to the internet at best. I should be able to check up on the forums in the evening, but if you find things slowing down because of me, feel free to just DMPC my character. I'll be back in action in a week for sure. Sorry about the short notice!
Tarith. Before you go. Could you give us your take on the prisioner issue that is about to explode? What do you want done with the bandits once we have got all the info out of them that we can? As I see it there are only 2 real choices with a pseudo real 3rd.
1. kill them. Simple but we can expect the same treatment if we are captured. Also may set a precedent for harsh justice.
2. let them go. Tell them this was their one chance. It we see them again they will be killed out of hand. This sets up a more merciful rep that might cause some of the less dedicated bandits to vanish in the woods for a while and see which way the wind is blowing rather than fighting us. It may also mean more troops for the bad guys.
3.Take them back to civilization to be hanged. Not a real option as we do not have the resources to do this and keep working in the greenbelt.
So which option or do you have better ideas?
Tarith would not agree with letting Happs (the leader) free. He'd have to be killed, probably after interrogating him. The rest of the bandits he would agree with letting free, with the warning that catching them causing trouble again will most likely result in their death. He'd like to give them the chance to redeem themselves, but he doesn't trust them to stick around while everyone is out scouting the area.
Tarith is kind-hearted, yet stern and realistic. He's willing to play the bad guy in order to put fear into the enemy, but he doesn't relish in killing anyone.
I believe Ragnor would be of a similar mind as Tarith. Those that lead the bandits should be handled harshly the others should be given the opportunity to repent. I am undecided on what if anything else should be done to deter any bandits we release, such as branding or something similar Arcane mark would work. If bandits go back to their groups it will be obvious that they where defeated and the bandits would have to wonder what their returning compatriot divulged during captivity. It has the benefit of being noninvasive unlike actual branding or the brand spell available to the inquisitor.
I suppose I can try to make Agnatha's position clear. She doesn't believe that we can trust any of the bandits to genuinely repent and thus itbwould be wiser and kinder ton just kill them swiftly. She can be persuaded to do otherwise. She'd like to believe that people can change form the better, but is not sure whatbwould count as good evidence ofbsuch a change.
So positions as I see now
Devor-kill
Tarith-kill
Agnatha-kill
Holbrecht-probably kill
Ragnor-maybe kill
Me-catch and release
Oleg and Svet- unknown but split at best
I see I am facing quite a headwind.
Unfortunately this is a deal breaker for me. I've studied too much about the LRA and the Bosnian war to enjoy role playing something that scates close to a war crime.
Perhaps this is not the adventure path for me. Perhaps I am looking for something more heroic.
Given that Caelius will die before he lets anyone kill prisoners with out a fair trial with a viable defense and a chance to challenge the evidence and given that this is Dungeons and Dragons and not Courtrooms & Lawyers it may be best if I bow out and let Caelius vanish in a rhetorical flourish.
I do not want to do this. Up until now I was enjoying the game. the characters are interesting and I was looking forward to the chance to play this out. Kingmaker is a lovely experiment. The players actively build something which is rare in RPG's. Most adventures are reactive, bad guy moves first players act to restore the status quo.
I don't know. This is really depressing. I need coffee.
Any thoughts?
I don't think it's as bad as it feels at the moment in the game. We are all new to one another, in character and as players (pretty sure most of us may not have played together).
Holbrecht's stance is to not kill a prisoner. His stance is follow the law. He is from Westcrown region originally, a very Lawful evil society as I understand it.
He is also semi closed off to people, he values order and organization. If the law is "enemies die", they die, if it's "there is trial" so be it, if "they all go free" ok. As long as it is an adhered to legal system.
He also doesn't agree to kill the prisoner, as the only law we have in front of us, is that the "Unrepetant die". So if they don't repent then that is the law. But the word also says executed, which is in a formal designated means, probably hanging or beheading.
As a political campaign, it will offer us many opportunities to try and establish agreed upon methods, and we will have many good debates to arrive at those.
The general expectation with the nature of the PF game in general, however, is that the enemy dies on the battlefield. If they are in negative HP's, they lost the fight, and we have limited resources to maintain both their lives and ours. If they surrender, I'm fine with taking prisoners, but if they fight to the death and fall, then that's where they stay.
Poor Wandering One, I'm going to apologize in advance if I offend you. I'm not trying to, really.
I can definitely see where you are coming from and I tried to stake Agnatha's position clearly here, even if she hasn't articulated it clearly in the in character thread. It is this: Agnatha is willing to accept repentance from the bandits, if she has some reason to trust them. Otherwise, she feels that we are just releasing them so they can come back and kill us all another day. She is not advocating killing the sleeping bandits. She is advocating not healing those that are critically injured and then hanging the rest, or beheading them.
Now perhaps that is a war crime. But from Agnatha's view, these men were planning on stealing from Oleg and Svetlana; and, if things went south, these men planned on raping Svetlana, killing her, and then killing Oleg. In Agnatha's view, there is no reason to trust these guys–they are killers and rapists. Agnatha has trouble seeing why we would defeat them in combat and then let them go, considering the bandits' aims and methods.
That may perhaps be an immoral view. Agnatha's open to being convinced, but, in character, Caelius has, frankly, not done a very good job of advocating an alternative perspective. His argument to Agnatha's suggestion that we need a reason to trust these guys has been: "Get their names right, murderer."
As an aside, you are also swimming against the many of the core assumptions of D&D (and by descent Pathfinder): the idea of the game for most people for most of the time playing is kill the guys get the loot. I suspect that Tim Hitchcock and James Jacobs knew exactly what they were doing when the set up this first encounter. By having us fight human bandits, and not silly face eating goblins, and arranging it so that most 1st level parties would blow their opponents out in the first round, they arranged this moral dilemma for us. I'll be interested to see how much moral squemishness we encounter when we are fighting kobolds and trolls and not humans or demi-humans.
I'm certainly willing to move to your position. Or at least to one that says, we give them a chance to repent and if they refuse, then we execute them in accordance with the law as set down in the charter. I'd rather play in a game where everyone is comfortable. But I'd like to have some sort of in character reason for that. As of yet, I haven't seen one that would convince Agnatha, at least how I see her.
Perhaps we need to find someone to switch sides so that it is a more even debate. Or perhaps we need to make an out of character decision about this that everyone can be comfortable with and then find in character reasons to move in that direction. Any thoughts Poor Wandering One, or anyone else?