If I might interject here, I think this is getting out of hand. If I were the heroes, I think I'd be pretty pissed about getting killed off by a bunch of tax-collectors/law enforcers turned mech warriors.
1) I was hoping the game would be a series of encounters, sometimes violent, between the heroes and the villains. Using a proxy seems kind of lame.
2) Sarcon never actually changed any law, so the order to the sentinels is borderline.
3) Sarcon also never stated that he was bunching the sentinels around Garroth, so I think we're overestimating how many are around Garroth, and how quickly they can get there.
If this were an encounter to get the heroes to realize what serious shit the City is in now, I'd be all for it. But the encounter is purely to try to wipe out one of the heroes (which game mechanics wise is reserved for weekend work, anyway).
I might be out of line here, but those are my thoughts. No offense to you, Sarcon...I just know how I would feel on the reverse side of this.
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Just going to throw a simple question in that will determine matters from my view.
Are the Sentinels going to stop attacking Garroth once he goes down or is it to the slaughter? And as a follow-up: If he surrenders, are you going to stop and escort him to the Arena?
I agree that we are the villains, but... Aren't we just getting to the good part before we start Zapping the heroes down with our little army?
Well the idea behind the sentinels is that they take time to destroy (due to high HP and some DR) but aren't a huge threat (due to generally weak attack options, low AC, and low CMD). Garroth should be able to easily outrun them, and for those heroes who may not be so swift, I'm certain they can outsmart them (as only one at a time may be scryed upon, making it more difficult to make them act intelligently). I thought it would be a nice encounter to establish 1) the unrelenting presence of the sentinels, 2) that the heroes can beat a sentinel or two, and 3) that they can't just fight them all day long and then storm the castle. I don't really expect anyone to die (sorry Sarcon).
Alrighty...like I said, I was just throwing my opinion and thoughts around. No hard feelings.
That seems like a good plan, DM-Kal, and about how I would envision it. Just seemed like it was getting a bit more...lethal than that. :)
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I can certainly see the logic, so it makes okay sense. The oppression part of constantly being attacked by sentinels is also a cool touch.
I also agree to the fact that they can't just go around in our town and go "Well... Rebellion anyone?" without us noticing, so yeah, it all makes sense.
I just wanted to know if we went for "Kill'em!" or we were still at the "Let's see how big a threat they are..."
I think that leaves it back at either Robominion or DM-Kal's retort to Garroth's stinging strike in Rule the City, then.
However Sarcon plays it is up to Sarcon. If your characters don't like how Sarcon is playing it (and anyone in the Keep's throne room should be able to see what he's up to), you are welcome to intervene as you see fit. I believe the rules permit non-lethal PvP in this case.
Sarcon, if you prefer to do your own combat, you are welcome to take Robominion into the thick. Otherwise, I'll just follow your instructions/basic combat logic, burning and smashing as a sentinel is wont to do.
I can't say that I disagree with anything that Crystal has written, I know that if I was on the receiving end of this little encounter, that I would be less than amused by how it went. Sure, it is one way to point out to the heroes that this is no longer a place for them and that they should flee and stay low for a while, however, killing them in this manner seems to be contrary to the spirit of the game.
That's why I've been holding off for as long as I have, DM-Kal. I wasn't present in the throne room, and the two who were either condoned the action or took no action against it. That wasn't so bad...but then we got into the robo-gangbang burning glare territory.
Anyways, I apologize for disrupting things, if I have. Again, no offense to you, Sarcon.
I don't mind. I just prefer to let players do as they please and sort it myself rather than telling players beforehand what they can or can't do. But having a spontaneous dogpile on Garroth seemed unfair, so at very least I thought setting parameters on how sentinel encounters go made sense.
Fate established already that she approves of Sarcon's plan only if he doesnt go to far. Turning the other half-orcs of the city against Garroth by having them blame him for their troubles is how she wants to spin this.
No crushing people. Yet, anyways.
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Spontaneous dogpiles don't have the tendency to be nice and fair... especially if they are of the burning kind... (Heheh, made a poop joke)
But in all fairness... It makes sense that we go "AHA! We have an army!" instead of us just sorta hiding in our newly achieved keep... We are villains.
So given the parameters, it seems fair that Garroth gets a bit of the short end of the stick for the heroes... Tho in all fairness, I would have thought Sarcon to go for Ransaq for some good ol' fashion revenge, even if the elf is no longer among us.
Eh, they are more likely to mass around him as a hero and see us as troublemakers rather than him. Which could potentially lead to rebellion.
I'll have more faith next time, DM-Kal. Thanks for explaining.
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truth be told i was expecting the "heroes" to follow the herding and help Garotth when he tried something.
but of course the "screw waiting I'm going to attack it" mentality that I'm targeting kicked in and he decided to fight them by himself.
so although i wasn't planning for him to die from the robominions, I'm fully prepared to open up that can whup-ass for making a bad decision .
If he gets himself in over his head and refuses to back down and run, he deserves his fate, agreed.
Most certainly, stupidity should be punished in all Pathfinder games.
My opinion is that no good story came from people making the right decision every time, and Pathfinder is about making a good story.
No decision made in-character and with respect for the other players of the game is wrong.
I just want to point out that I didn't necessarily find anything wrong with Sarcon's or anyone else's actions. Just that the mechanics of the sentinels and that particular situation needed to be addressed/amended.
Sorry if it seemed like I was trying to advocate dictating player actions, or that someone was doing something wrong.
So how about those robominions? We gonna get some half-orc action going on?
Looks like Sarcon is leaving it to me, so I'll try to get a post up before lunch.
Any way we can get a timer on Marcello and I intercepting either Garroth or the other heroes?
I guess Victor, too, since he exited the Keep to come hang out.
Seeing as Garroth is yelling at the top of his lunges, and Victor was on the way to the stadium. I assume that Victor could change towards him instead, right?
I've given the heroes 3d6 rounds to arrive at Garroth's location if they have a reason to be there. I'll give you the same, but 4d6 for anyone currently or very recently in the Keep, such as Fate, Sarcon, or (sorry) Victor.
Hmmrp, could I be allowed to state a point? The heroes are looking for their compatriot while Victor knows exactly where he was, through the golem's sight. And Victor is taking run actions the entire way, seeing as he isn't limited by his constitution score and therefor doesn't need to stop to catch his breath.
The heroes and the in-the-city villains are both most likely able to discern the direction of trouble. You'll both roll the same.
However, Victor makes a fine point. I'll give Keep-ers the same 3d6 as well.
EDIT: I've been saying d6 when I meant d4. FYI.
Can this roll be for both Marcello and me?
I'll let you both take the average (or 7) if you like.
Didn't realize he had fixed his roll. We're together, so that seems fair. 7 it is.
Fate will stay with Sarcon to keep an eye on his use of the constructs.
Have fun!
Hmmmm...he did roll a 4. Not sure what he'd do in this situation.
Oh, what I would do?
I do what any good villain would do in this case, I find him, I bring him down, I am escorted back to the keep with my new prisoner. There I vouch that the bastard is hanged publicly.
The heroes are given a chance to save their friend, otherwise... He gets to enjoy a nice noose around his neck.
Well then get in there and roll some initiative, punk! :p
The standing question in "Rule the City" seems more up to you than up to me, Victor.
Really? I was thinking that it was up to you. Um, I guess I can answer his question then.
Things are going to get dicey fast, I think, so I'd better go cinematic. What's everyone going for? Victor is the only one aware of Garroth's location as by the time the rest of you get there, the fight is over and there's just chaos and bumbling 10ft-tall sentinels lumbering about.
Crystal is just going to investigate what is going on. I think we're getting there around the same time as some of the heroes, so we might interact. I can't see Crystal just opening fire on Garroth, having no idea what the hell is going on.
Soon. Soon, my fellow villains, they will see my devious mind.
Now that I am faster than Garroth, I am going to need a round to get in front of him, and then I will spring my trap. A scare spell in his face will cause him to flee from me. Back towards the crime scene, the waiting sentinels and you.
Oh, and also. I can't seem to find Garroth's initiative check anywhere. Knowing if I get to konk him at once or if I should wait a round more would be splendid.