Chronicles of Arcania: B/X Homebrew game.

Game Master Peet

Ferrous seeing his enemy crumble before him rushes towards the next walking piles of bones with a frenzied look in his eyes.
He brings his axe down in a brutal swing at the skeleton to his left.
Attack: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (18) = 0
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
This is Ferrous's left so Yellow.

I'm in shock... ac 0??!? :D

Natural 18! About time!

Ferrous rushes towards the corner and smashes the skeleton's skull. It collapses in a heap.

The skeleton in the far corner swings at Brathas and deals him a glancing wound.

19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (18) = 11d6 ⇒ 2

Brathas: 2 damage.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 4 Initiative:
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: Skeletons
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep

Ana, Brathas, Wallia, and Zynazyr are up. Only 2 skeletons left.

Staying out and watching the hall would have been safer...
Brathas grits his teeth and swings his axe at the skeleton.
THAC0 17: 17 - 1d20 ⇒ 17 - (12) = 5
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Walia 19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (18) - 1 = 0 if hits 1d6 ⇒ 6 Walia heaves down on the skeleton with all of his might.

11:00 AM, Day 5

Brathas and Wallia dispatch the last two remaining skeletons.

Combat Over.

After dispatching the skeletons, the party examines the room. No secret doors or traps are found.

The swords wielded by the skeletons are corroded and not particularly valuable; you would only use one if deprived of any other weapons.

The gear held by the one remaining figure is of much better quality. The halberd and plate mail are both good enough to be worth using.

The plate mail is of an antique design but will still work and it could be worn by Fistep, Wallia, or, with some adjustment, Ana. It will not fit Ferrous. Note though that it will reduce your movement speed if you are wearing it.

Likewise the halberd is of reasonable quality. Ana and Fistep are both trained in its use. The halberd is a pole arm. It is a two-handed weapon that does 1d10 damage and it has reach, so you attack creatures two squares away. Cover applies if there is someone between you and your target.

The mummified corpse inside the armor shows no sign of "waking up" when the armor is tampered with.

Who wants the armor and the halberd?

So now what?

* Continue down the hall?
* Go back to the beetle nest?
* Return to camp?
* Something else?

I would move from an AC 1 to AC -1. I, at 2nd, have 13 hp.

If Ana wore it she'd move from AC 6 to AC 4. She, at 1st, has 12 hp.

Since Ana is going 2 handed, I would say she'd make best use of the halberd.

I would say you should wear it until it could be properly modified for Ana. LCDM may give her the full -2 to AC or just 1 because it doesn't fit her properly. Judging based upon gameplay, I would surmise it would just be a -1 for now.

Walia says, "Turning undead, in the seminary we covered it before but I haven't had much practical use before. Now I have a better handle on how it functions at least on skeletons. Hall?"

I would say you should wear it until it could be properly modified for Ana. LCDM may give her the full -2 to AC or just 1 because it doesn't fit her properly. Judging based upon gameplay, I would surmise it would just be a -1 for now.

It won't take a lot to "modify" the armor to fit Ana, and the necessary adjustments could be done within the turn. It will function as regular plate mail for her or for Fistep or Wallia. The real issue is that whoever wears it will have the most encumberance and will have a combat move of only 15'.

Thus there may be some strategic questions on the basis of who needs to retain their mobility.

"Only problem that I can see," Ana offers, "Is freedom of movement and spellcasting."

Nods to the elf, Didn't think about that he says with a shrug, Being not one familiar with spells. He looks over and grins at Ferrous Perhaps I should wear the plate then... but then even the dwarf will out run me!

Perhaps I should wear the plate then...

Plate Mail: With the slow movement rate it stands to reason that whoever is wearing the plate mail should be in or close to the front line, since if they are in the back they will often not have enough movement to move to the front and engage an enemy there.

FYI, the plate mail will not interfere with Ana's spellcasting (as an elf she can wear any armor and still cast spells).

If Fistep wears the Plate Mail this brings his AC to -1. This means that Fistep could adopt a strategy where he tries to deliberately draw fire from enemies knowing they will have a hard time hitting him.

I will assume that Fistep is switching to the plate mail unless I hear otherwise.

Halberd: Whoever has the halberd will have the option of using it to attack from the second rank behind whoever is in front (though the penalty for cover will apply just as with ranged attacks). If Ana uses it she can stand behind Fistep or Ferrous and attack in melee.

Wallia wanted to continue down the hall, and I haven't heard any objections. Since this is the fairly obvious default course of action I am moving ahead.

11:10 AM, Day 5

The party continues westwards down the hall.

The corridor narrows for 10' and then beyond the hallway turns south and continues out of sight.

But straight ahead is a 10' alcove, in which stands a door in the north wall. The door is battered and splintered, and clearly has been broken open in the past. The door is not locked, and there do not appear to be any traps.

6d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 5, 5, 4) = 24

Listening at the door, Ferrous can hear a faint grunting sound from within. It does not sound human.

TIER 4 MAP UPDATED.

So would you like to:

* Open the door?
* Continue down the hallway to the south?
* Something else?

open the door!

Steps up beside the door, the new plate armor clanking more than the chainmail every did, and readies his shield while drawing forth his sword.

He looks over at the dwarf, To battle my friend, to battle!

Seeing the cramped space and not wanting to expose himself to the unknown from the hallway to the left, Zynazyr stands at the end of the narrow corridor and waits for Fistep to enter the room. He keeps an eye on the hallway behind them.

Aye long legged slow paced sword-swinging foul-smelling friend.
The dwarf said raising his voice slightly at the end. There be something growling in there. Get ready all.
The dwarf will wait for his friends to get ready and then open the door with a kick.

Aye long legged slow paced sword-swinging foul-smelling friend.

rotfl

Having done his job checking the door for traps, and done more than his job charging in to smash skeletons in the previous room, Brathas will watch the hall with his bow (which he has retrieved).

Ferrous opens the door with a kick.

The room is dark.

Zynazyr still holds the light and from where he is standing hardly any shines into the room. But despite this a bestial screech comes from within the room.

1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: Zynazyr
Block 2: Monsters!
Block 3: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Zynazyr is up. Right now only Ana and Ferrous can see into the room. If Zynazyr wants he could throw the clump of beetle-glands that are the light source onto the floor in front of Fistep and Ferrous. However, this may not light the far end of the room, and would ruin Ferrous' and Ana's ability to see with infravision. It would also eliminate Brathas and Zynazyr's ability to see down the hall to the south.

"Two humanoids," Ana shouts, "Warm-blooded, but they don't appear to be the source of the screech."

Ana would take the halberd, if no one else did.

Those shapes are White Apes Ana. Very dangerous when provoked or hungry. Watch out as they hurl objects at people. Ferrous says in what he thinks is a whisper as he grips his axe.

"Are you going in or drawing them out? I'll need to get closer for Fistep to see," Zynazyr says while moving next to Brathas to try to get some light into the room.

If Fistep wants the light, he will try to throw it into the room and then cast a cantrip to create a small light near him.

Cantrip: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Walia will stand back with his sling slinging around his head to unleash his sling bullet at an enemy.

If Fistep wants the light, he will try to throw it into the room and then cast a cantrip to create a small light near him.

I'll assume you are waiting for a signal from Fistep as to whether he wants the light, and are therefore delaying. At the angle you have on the door, actually throwing the light into the room will require a hit roll, but just having it land near Fistep's feet would not require a roll.

Also, you won't be able to cast a cantrip in the same round as throwing something. So that will have to wait until next round.

Zynazyr gets ready to throw the light.

The apes screech and beat their chests. Both pick up rocks and throw them at the men standing on the doorway.
Fistep and Ferrous will both have some cover from the doorway.

vs. Ferrous: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (19) = -31d6 ⇒ 5
vs. Fistep: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (18) = -2 Would have hit if not for the doorway!

One of the rocks glances off of Fistep's shield; the other strikes Ferrous squarely.

Ferrous: 5 damage.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: Zynazyr (delayed)
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Everyone is up. Ana and Brathas both get two actions in a row.

Right now only Ana and Ferrous can see into the room.

If Zynazyr throws the clump of beetle-glands that are the light source onto the floor in front of Fistep, Fistep could use his attack to kick it into the room (since he won't be in melee range anyway).

Ana assumes a defensive posture with her halberd at the ready. "I'm not overly sure that we want to attack. They seem to be willing to leave us alone."

Uses the door for cover and once the beet glands land by him, he'll kick them into the room.

Uses the door for cover and once the beet glands land by him, he'll kick them into the room.

Zynazyr throws the light to Fistep, who kicks it into the room.

This room has scenes of warfare painted on the walls. It also has a large wooden sarcophagus standing upright along the north wall. Painted on the outside of the sarcophagus is a picture of a warrior in armor. Squatting to the right of the sarcophagus are two large apes with white fur.

Do you wish to advance into the room afterwards?

Nope

Doesn't much seem to be any thing here... perhaps we should close the door and move on?

Zynazyr frowns at Fistep's suggestion. "Maybe he should have thought about that before kicking our light source into the room," he thinks to himself, rolling his eyes. "Best keep him on my good-side though, especially with that new armor. He makes a good shield."

He casts a cantrip to create a small light. "Anyone have a torch then? I don't wish to wander around in the dark," he says with a slightly annoyed tinge in his voice.

lol

Walia scrambles in to get the light source, letting a sling bullet fly 19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (12) - 1 = 6 if hits 1d4 ⇒ 1
"We cannot leave those beetles behind that would be foolhardy." as he dives upon as many beetles as possible.

Zynazyr creates a small flickering blue light which hovers above his head. Marked on the map as the blue circle.

Wallia trots into the room and lets fly with a sling stone. It strikes the Ape to the left. The ape screeches with rage.

The apes are AC 6.

FYI I marked the location of the beetle glands as the little flame in the middle of the room. To pick them up you would need a free hand and you would give up either your move or your attack.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 1 Initiative
Block 1: Zynazyr (delayed)
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Ana has another action unless "readying" was meant to take both her actions. Brathas still has two actions and Ferrous still has one.

[ooc] I envisioned Walia diving on the beetles like they were a fumbled football, using his entire body.[/b]

Brathas uses the Mask of the Parakeet to make chirping noises in a corner of the room behind the apes, to hopefully provide Walia a distraction to escape.

Ana will count readying as her two actions. I want them to come to me!

Ferrousbot throws a throwing axe at the ape that Wallia already hit with a sling stone. The axe goes wide.

18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (10) = 81d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

OK, moving ahead...

I envisioned Walia diving on the beetles like they were a fumbled football, using his entire body.[/b]

I arbitrarily put the beetle-light in the middle of the room. You didn't quite have enough movement to get to that square.

Mind you, standing up from prone would have taken an action and so would picking up the object. You'll be in the same boat either way. Also being prone makes you easier to hit in melee, so you are better off not lying on the ground.

Brathas steps over and activates his mask. A chirping sound can be heard from behind the apes. They jump up in surprise and look behind them.

I figure a charm save would stand in for their chance to be "tricked," so...
save c: 1d20 ⇒ 13
save g: 1d20 ⇒ 19

One of the apes roars and pummels the floor behind him, looking for some invisible creature. The other glances around for a moment and turns back and screeches at the party.

Brathas: In order to know where the Apes were so you could throw the sound behind them, you would need Line-of-sight. So I moved your icon over so you could see through the doorway. You also have a second action if you want.

One ape is busy trying to strike at a creature he cannot see. The other is not fooled, however, and rushes at Wallia. He pummels Wallia with his fists, hitting once.

16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (18) = -21d4 ⇒ 4
16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (2) = 141d4 ⇒ 1

Wallia: 4 damage.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 2 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia.

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Brathas

Everyone has an action. Brathas still has his second action from before (I'll consider him to have 'delayed'). Ferrous, Fistep, and Wallia all have two consecutive actions.

Walia picks up the beetle and jacks the Ape in the face with his shield 19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (12) - 1 = 6 hitting for 1d6 ⇒ 6 ?

Then Walia runs out of the room.

It doesn't look like Brathas has a shot at either ape, so he will ready to shoot once an ape comes into view.
THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (5) = 11

The dwarf hurting more from the loss of pride at his off target throw than the bruises left by the ape-hurled boulder rushes into the room to take two swings at the ape with his battle axe.
Attack1: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (2) = 16
Attack2: 18 - 1d20 ⇒ 18 - (2) = 16

That's more like Ferrous.

Ana sighs and rolls her eyes before moving into the room. She comes to a stop behind Ferrous and swings over his head at the ape.

THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (9) = 7 Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"What the ...," Zynazyr starts to say when Wallia chases after the beetle glands. Shaking his head in disbelief, he moves into the room to see what he can do to help. He fires off an energy bolt at the ape in melee.

Cantrip: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Since Fistep is the only one left, I'll bot him to move things along:

Fistepbot rushes up beside Ferrous and swings twice with his sword.

15 - 1d20 ⇒ 15 - (16) = -11d10 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
15 - 1d20 ⇒ 15 - (2) = 13

He hits once, doing glancing damage.

Wallia picks up the light and tries to check the ape with his shield, but misses. The then retreats back to the doorway.

Wallia: you used the same to hit roll as your sling, but your sling included a bonus to hit for short range that the melee attack won't have. Instead of 19-1d20-1 it should have just been 19-1d20. So this is a miss.

Also, are you still using your large shield or did you go back to the buckler shield? If you are using the buckler shield you can reload your sling for your next attack. If you are using the big shield you can drop the sling and draw your mace if you want, but you can't reload the sling.

Brathas takes a shot at the nearest ape and misses.

Brathas: you can shoot from anywhere in your square. From the top left corner off your square you can see either ape, so I resolved the shot now. The doorway and intervening people give the ape a bit of cover though. If you move right up to the doorway it will not impede you but would still give you cover for missile fire.

Ana and Ferrous both move up and attack the ape, but miss.

Zynazyr's bolt strikes the lead ape.

Zynazyr: you are 2nd level now so your cantrip bolt does 1d2 damage.

1d2 ⇒ 1

The forward ape roars and pummels Ferrous while the ape at the back of the room charges and attacks Fistep. Ferrous is hit once and Fistep is hit twice.

Ferrous: 1 damage.
Fistep: 4 damage.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 3 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Ferrous, Fistep, Wallia, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Brathas

Round 4 Initiative
Block 1: Wallia
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr

Brathas and Wallia are up. The rest of you can post conditional actions if you like; it looks like the apes will just keep pummeling if given the opportunity.

BTW if you want to distinguish which ape you are attacking, note that one is colored and the other is greyscale.

assuming the apes don't move ...

Zynazyr steps to his left to get a clear shot of the second ape. He pulls out his ustar and throws it.

THAC0: 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (16) - 1 = 1
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Walia drops the shield as a free action and then reloads his sling and flings it 19 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 19 - (7) - 1 = 11 with a miss

Since Fistep is the only one left, I'll bot him to move things along:

Fistepbot rushes up beside Ferrous and swings twice with his sword.

15-1d20; 1d10+3
15-1d20

He hits once, doing glancing damage.

Thanks.

Brathas will move to the doorway and shoot the ape on the right (the greyscale one).
-1 cover, cancels out short range to-hit, but there +1 damage for short range, correct?
THAC0 16: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (17) = -1
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

-1 cover, cancels out short range to-hit, but there +1 damage for short range, correct?

Range does not modify damage - only your chance to hit. Shortbows follow the rules for light weapons so you would add 1/2 your STR (round down), but in your case that is +0, so in this case it should be just a straight 1d6.

Brathas' shot strikes the ape squarely, and the ape screeches with rage. Wallia's shot goes wide.

The apes screech madly as they continue to pummel Fistep and Ferrous. Fistep is able to fend off the blows but Ferrous is struck about the face twice!

Ferrous: 4 more damage.

Zynazyr throws his ustar and it strikes the ape to the left in the abdomen. The ape roars with outrage.

The ape to the left (colored) has taken 5 damage and the ape to the right (greyscale) has taken 11.

TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.

Round 4 Initiative
Block 1: Wallia
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, Zynazyr

Round 5 Initiative
Block 1: Ana, Brathas, Fistep, Zynazyr
Block 2: White Apes
Block 3: Ferrous, Wallia.

Ana, Brathas, Ferrous, Fistep, and Zynazyr are up. Ana, Brathas, and Fistep all get two consecutive actions.

Swings his sword at the ape in front of him, Bring the lights closer! they may not be used to it and could distract them

THACO: 16 - 1d20 ⇒ 16 - (11) = 5
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Initiative: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10