And The Devil Will Drag You Under (Inactive)

Game Master nightdeath

A strong healer certainly, a strong combatant would be a bonus.

No worries Terry, I'm more concerned that the new player or players fit into the party more.

Party balanced is achieved by both GM and Players so no worries on that score.

So we're looking for at least 2 more players. Let's watch the thread and make decisions by then. I set the closing dates as 9th March.

@Terry,

Wow. Needing to roll a 7 or better (70% chance of success), I failed 50% of the time! 90% chance of success on the climb checks and I still almost failed TWICE. Dicebot doesn't like me.

Actually, the rope climbing DC is 15, not 10... we both had a 70% chance per 7½ ft... six climb checks in a row rolling 8 or greater would have been required. :/

@nightdeath,

A hit will cause you to make a reflex save DC 10. A climb check DC 15 is required.

I am wondering, did you swap the Reflex and Climb DC's by accident (Reflex 15 and Climb 10 instead of vice versa)? Damn brutal as it is, lol... very few would make it.

Yes, the whole bit of not getting any Dex adjustment to AC or Reflexes while climbing is a pretty harsh penalty.

There aren't going to be many pirates in training with a +7 climb!

Of course, I am aware that the whole point may simply be to have an excuse to whip us all.

Let me check again. I'm at work atm. I simply copied what the AP stated. And yes I agree that it's brutal.

I'll have aonething nice for you all after this.

Here is the excerpt from the AP. It's evil I guess.

Throwing a grappling hook (Core Rulebook 155) requires a ranged attack roll, treating the hook as a thrown weapon with a range increment of 10 feet.

The Wormwood’s rail is AC 5. At 40 feet away, the PCs have a –6 on their attack rolls. Once the hook is set, the PC must tie off the rope as a move action, then shimmy along the rope, requiring DC 15 Climb checks.

As they climb, the four pirates aboard the Wormwood hurl a variety of rotting food, garbage, empty bottles, and buckets of bilgewater at the PCs. These items (which count as improvised weapons) do no damage, but any character struck must make a DC 10 Reflex save or lose his grip and fall into the water.

I'd say yes it's an excuse and ties in nicely into one of my plot hooks for one of you.

On the other hand what do you guys think of the Candidates so far in the recruitment thread?

I hadn't been looking, yet. Honestly.

Thoughts:

(those with information in a presented profile, first)

Krissina - Flame Oracle. Primarily a combatant.

Nolwazi Nkosi - Trible African Cleric. AMAZINGLY good presentation of what we requested, presented as a unique character that fits the setting extremely well.

Valgram Sunlocks - Aggressive combat build. Potentially very fun stereotype combo (Dwarven Viking)

(those without profiles but enough presented to start an evaluation)

Gaius Gracci - human druid (world-walker/storm?). Good choice for the AP, I think, but nothing story or personification to work with, yet.

Olotor - Elven Rogue (Swashbuckler). Some differences in the skill set, but at a glance it feels like a minor variant from Terry.

Nilus Romani - Interesting character, honestly. Provides a good complement to No-Eyes (group buff/debuff) while also overlapping into Doc's role.

The dots could still expand out into, well, anything. Hard for me to express hard preferences, yet, though I have some soft preferences right now.

Thanks Terry. Now how about the rest of you?

I got 2 that looks fine but the number of posts made so far tells me they're new.

No worries on the DC's, I was probably just grumpy on getting so many 1's, 2's, and 3's. Lol. But it does seem like, with this difficulty, ships generally have not a lot to worry about pirates since most pirates would fall into the sea while attempting to board them.

As for the new recruits, I've honestly hadn't had the time either. I will do so next opportunity. Generally speaking, I would prefer good back story over stats and party fit (I prefer roleplaying over roll playing, written as it may be), and I would also favor experienced PbP gamers to new ones (less chance of drop-outs). WIll try to get back to you by tomorrow night with my opinion.

Haven't checked them out yet. I'll get it done by tomorrow.

If it helps Reijo, I brought a tower shield fighter into this AP, not knowing any better cause I was a Undine.

My nickname was "Whipping boy." Never passed a single climb check during the whole AP. Didn't survive it either lol.

Lol. Well, at least now I know why Reijo really kept falling in. :D

...Riaris Krine declared No eye and Doc as the best throwers among all of those who tried today.

Guess Riaris likes when Reijo gets smacked with a grappling hook twice. Lol.

I will look through the candidates soon...

So far I checked out three of the candidates, will return for more when I can:

Krissina Avenis - Good concept, and healing abilities as requested. Her back story reminds me of the horrific voyages of da Gama & Cabral in India [link]. My chief concern, I'm not sure about the wisdom of casting fire spells (burning hands in particular) onboard a sailing ship. Then again, pirates don't exactly research the abilities of those they press gang.

Nolwazi Nkosi - I particularly like this character concept. She not only fits the role as healer well, but her powers are not going to accidentally burn the ship and us along with it. I also like that her ethnicity is Bonuwat Mwangi; most characters tend to be more Eurocentric, yet we're sailing along the west coast of Garund. Looking forward to the player's promised back story.

Valgram Sunlocks - I also like the character concept. Another strong melee combatant would do us good. Some abilities overlap Reijo's, but this guy is different enough to work well together - Reijo's more of a skilled dirty fighter, whereas Valgram is the brute squad (with protective perks to allies as well).

Ok Guys, I'm looking to integrate which ever of the candidates that you choose. Please indicate your preference and why.

Choose 3 in order of preference. I'll send them a PM and I can push the story along towards that direction. I suspect with the recent gamesday announcement, we got a few distractions. (I'm guilty too).

(Reijo your char knows you should be near the coast of the Mwangi Trade routes.)

I would have liked to see even a sketch of a background from GM Tekkite. The lack of story bothers me, but not enough to drop his character off the list . . ..

I like these three. The order I have them listed in is fluid. This was my feeling at the moment when I hit "submit". Maybe. I could still reorder them.

Nolwazi Nkosi
Remidax Gotubo
Valgram Sunlocks

Thanks Terry, how about the rest?

I would like to have the selection finished soon so that I can integrate them into the next part of the story arc.

I honestly haven't had time to really give them a good look over. But I'll try to soon. If you guys make a decision before I make input I'm sure you'll choose wisely though.

Mine is:

Valgarm - Male Dwarf Viking For the muscle
Nolwazi Nkozi- Female Human Cleric (Shimye-Magalla) For the healing and the colorful speech.
Krissina - Female Human Oracle (Flame) For the healing and the fire.

Hell, take 'em all!

So to sum it up so far.

Reijo:
Krissina Avenis
Nolwazi Nkosi
Valgram Sunlocks

Terry:
Nolwazi Nkosi
Remidax Gotubo
Valgram Sunlocks

No Eyes:
Valgarm
Nolwazi Nkozi
Krissina

Valgram features strongly in all three choices.
Nolwazi as well.

Would love to take them all but I can only accept 2 more as I think that 7 maybe a bit much for this.

I intend to introduce them in the next segment. Which as most of you would have guessed is boarding.

Apologies, I wish gamesday was the reason for my absence. Had a hard couple of days, and haven't had time to really review anyone but the three I mentioned. I probably won't have a chance to really give all the candidates a fair shake for a day or so more, but it does seem like Valgram and Nolwazi are the top picks so, I'm happy with them.

Aye for Valgram and Nolwazi? I'll be sendin them a PM unless anyone objects by tmr 14th march Midnight GMT+8.

The only vote we're missing is Doc's, right? He could bump Krissina up to having 3 votes also, but I don't see that his vote can really do much else to change the results.

Well, Reijo could be more enthusiastic about his vote, but he voted.

Sounds good to me!

Yeah, sorry. It's been a really busy week in the lab and most of my time has been devoted to keeping up with my own games, I haven't really looked in to the candidates much. But both of them look good to me I suppose. I'm excited to meet them (in character) and move on to the next phase!

Sounds good! Let's put them lubbers t'work!

PMs sent.

"How you dey? Nolwazi Nkosi be I. Be doin' I good juju to ourselves, an' be keepin' ourselves swagger-swagger. Talkin' I all day to dey Shimye-Magalla, talkin' to her an' her an' dey spirits. Her an' her send birds; I catch and plenty learn I 'bout dem animals, dem plants, dat weather. Her an' her birds tell I deep juju 'bout sky an' water."

"No bad pirate be I; good merchant, far travel on water an' rig I sail proper. Be giddy I we be meetin'.

So I have a spreadsheet I made for the RotRL PbP I'm in. I don't think we'll have any crafters in this party, but I imagine we can adapt it for ships and spoils. Does anyone want me to generate one for this campaing?

Loot sheet in RotRL

Looks good to me!

Alright, the link if the GM wants to add the S&S specific sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq42_AldkhMwdHg5OHZWOGlHZkFPM2 0tOW4yZFB5bnc&usp=sharing

Will edit for current characters.

Oh, and I built in an option in the sheets to dedicate a certain amount of gold to a "Party" fund, if we want to go that route. It can be set as a percentage of total loot.

Welcome Nolwazi, I'm still waiting for one more. If he doesn't turn up, I'm sending a PM to him and then to the 3rd choice.

My plan to intergrate you guys would be during a boarding scene.

Hi Nolwazi. Love the accent, and the item tracking sheet sounds good to me. :)

Pm Sent to another player who can run a fighter. He's also a pretty good RPer as I have not received word from the others that I have PM.

Hey there, checking in. Thanks for the PM nightdeath.

Alright I'm moving on to the next part, To the new players please take note that this AP has gone slightly off course to accomadate and integrate all of you into this story.

There'll be a boarding action. You two are passengers aboard the Silken Dove, A Caravel Which is lightly guarded. Please take note to level to level 2 if you have not done so earlier.

Hp is 1/2+1 or rolled. Take higher. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.

"You holla I go. I keen on de get goin' wit' de story."

"You ain't the only one."

"Hear, hear."

"Wha'th' bloody 'ell ye be all standin' round jabberin' fer, ye mangy dungbies?! SHOW A LEG!"

Welcome Remidax! Looking forward to both of the new tars. :)

And the story now heads into full sails ahead.

Is there a map I'm missing?

I don't see one either...

@nightdeath - if you wish to use one, there's a neat caravel map here.

FYI - Shotgun message I am posting to all of my games (and the recruitment threads I have been participating in):

I will be attending a Mormon-friendly scheduled Wood Badge course (first weekend) this week. The Mormon friendly part is that the course runs from Thursday (0730) through Saturday (2000ish) instead of the more normal Friday through Sunday.

I expect I will be checking the boards and posting Wednesday evening, but probably not as extensively and repeatedly as I do most weeknights.

Then, my wife and I are supposed to get up Sunday and go shopping for some better work clothes for me. It will probably be Sunday evening before I post again.

Just trying to make sure people are aware, and don't end up waiting on me by mistake.

--- Do lots of rope swinging!

@Terry - Have fun! I will do my best with the ropes... apparently, wearing more cumbersome armor helps me to climb better. :)

@Remidax - You appear to be under the impression you're on the pirate ship, judging from your last post? I believe you're a passenger aboard the Silken Dove instead (according to nightdeath's post above)?

I did read and understand that, but still fell into thinking Remi was already with the group.

Ok guys for this, it's all rp. No maps needed. The silken Dove is outnumbered 3 to 1. Resisting is futile but the way you react may have a bearing on what happens next.

The AP will get slightly harder due to the increased players but the story will more or less ship shape as I try to make sense of the location of this AP. Not sure whether we are near the Mwangi Coast, the shackles themselves or the Abadago seas. lol

No-Eyes passes Nolwazi and whispers a secret about Reijo in her ear.

[dice=Bluff (Secret Message)]1d20+7 Failure. ...something something ... teddy bear... kiss....
At being slapped, No-Eyes hisses; "Ow! Just meet us at the Galley at second watch." He hurries away then.

Teddy bear kiss? Lol! Priceless.

Reijo is really an enormous a!&*$!%*. Lol.