If a wordspell has more than one effect word, the shortest of all the effect words’ durations is used for all of the effect words.
RAW is kind of wonky on the point of duration. Because Flame Jet is instantaneous and Cramp is 1 round, the wordspell would become instantaneous. However, what that does is makes the effects of Cramp permanent!
So, I'm going to go with what I think is intended. The houserule is to separate words into the instantaneous group and non-instantaneous group. The wordspell selected flame jet cramp would apply the one time effect of flame jet (1d4 points of damage) and would then reduce the targets speed by half for 1 round (cramp).
Here's an example with three effects, selected ice blast life leech cramp:
The ice blast portion is instantaneous, so it would resolve as is (1d6 cold dmg/lvl and 1d4 rounds of entangled). Then because both life leech and cramp have non-instantaneous durations, you take the lower of the two (1 round). The target's speed is reduced by half and takes 1d4 points of temporary negative levels for 1 round only.
In this case, the target may choose to take either a fortitude or reflex save to lessen the effects of the wordspell, but not both.
I think it would be a bit unfair to be able to cause permanent negative levels or halved speed simply because you threw in a zero-level 1d4 points of fire damage.
I thought of this the first time I saw the block system (in the Kingmaker game DMD and I were both in, while it lasted). Using the block system, the uses are less obvious, but that may also be the way it has come up for us thus far. We have either all gone before, or after the enemy. If it comes to the point of the enemies init spliting the difference, then you may well see the difference between having it or not.
If it's an issue of having it in order to go before others in the party, then maybe not as much. Over time though, those that need the extra time (us casters/archers before the melees get in the mix) will see that we will get to go beforehand. As we will likely get faster, and they get slower, based on gear and feats.
It was my concern at first that it punished those that spent things on init, but it still changes whether you go before the enemy or not, just not before the ally.
The real benefit is that at the speed of PbP, it makes the wait less. Say in init order it is Me, Hawkeye, Skora, then monsters. Hawkeye is ready, but is waiting for me to post, I take 12 hrs before I post, and by the time I do, Hawkeye is no longer ready. It then take 8 more hrs before he posts, so now Skora and the monsters have waited 20 hrs so far. Because, it hits Skora at an off time, but he checks often it is only 4 hrs after Hawkeye that he posts. Now, by this time, DMD has waited 24 hours, for three people to go before he has the monsters go. But, if all three of us went when we could befor the monsters, then the longest wait was the 12 hours it took me. The whole thing speeds up PbP combat, but only loses the benefit of init in going before other party members.
Sorry, for the long rundown, I just had to go through it in my head when I saw it the first time. I had thought the same thing, but I see it's usefulness now.
Curious: What benefit is Improved initiative using your "block initiative" system?
I have seen these typs of systems in play and they do reduce the importance of things like improved init or the reactive trait. In my view this is a good thing and these feats/traits are a tad overpowered in my personal view.
This kind of system does make it easier for a group to work together which is a valuable thing to promote.
That may be so. I just don't like the concept of part of my character creation to be completely invalidated due to an impromptu ruling on how play will be handled.
I've had more than a couple GMs do things like: announcing in the middle of the game, that he was forcing me to drop a feat and choose from a list of feats purely because my previous character died, and I brought in a new one.
I'm just saying I would have liked to know about the "block initiative" when we were making characters, before the PbP thread was created. Now, I feel like I have wasted a feat for nothing. Though, if there is some use for it still, my feelings will have been unwarranted.
Again, it still has a use. It gives you an improved chance to go before the enemy. Does it matter all that much if you doesn't improve your chances to go before the allies? It still works where it matters most.
Your feat certainly isn't wasted but I know what you mean. I took reactionary as a trait in addition to my 1st level feather domain ability giving me a +2 to initiative for surprise rounds.
This change definitely devalues the power of initiative but at the same time I can see why a PbP game would use this style. It allows for better cooperation and posting ability.
I'm willing to continue playing and try it out. Let's rid this festival of goblin scum and then see how we feel, no?
I see what you're saying. Well, if you'd prefer, we can go to the traditional initiative order system and just make sure you put a "second choice" in case something changes (like an enemy falls unconscious). Or you could change your feat, which I wouldn't have a problem with. The last thing I want to do is be unfair.
Let me know what you'd prefer.
I see what you're saying. Well, if you'd prefer, we can go to the traditional initiative order system and just make sure you put a "second choice" in case something changes (like an enemy falls unconscious). Or you could change your feat, which I wouldn't have a problem with. The last thing I want to do is be unfair.
Let me know what you'd prefer.
Sign of a good DM.
I see what you're saying. Well, if you'd prefer, we can go to the traditional initiative order system and just make sure you put a "second choice" in case something changes (like an enemy falls unconscious). Or you could change your feat, which I wouldn't have a problem with. The last thing I want to do is be unfair.
Let me know what you'd prefer.
I actually prefer the block system. It works so much better for folks gaming across time zones. But the preference is not what you would call strong so I am open to whatever system wins out.
We could do a combination. Everyone in a block posts and initiative order is how things are resolved (with a back-up action in case something changes). Here's an example:
Stark: 25
Occa: 21
Skorabor: 18
Enemies A: 15
Durvin: 14
Hawkeye: 8
Enemies B: 4
Block A would be Stark, Occa, and Skorabor. Block B is Durvin and Hawkeye.
To start, Block A would all post. I would then resolve posts in initiative order. Because Occa and Skorabor do not know the result of Stark's action, they may want to add a back-up action (in case an enemy falls unconscious or another player gets in the way). While updating the map, I'll also include the actions of Enemies A. Then Block B would post and again initiative order happens (even if Hawkeye posts before Durvin). Hawkeye would want to include a back-up plan. Etc.
In this system, the downside is that sometimes things happen and the actions you've decided may not be the best depending on how other actions happen. If Hawkeye posts before Durvin that he is going to make a ranged attack, but then Durvin posts that he's going to move to a square that blocks said attack, Hawkeye takes a penalty he wasn't anticipating. So, either he would have to have a backup plan, or I would have to take DM liberties to rectify things.
That's the only downside to that system that I can think of. The current system has the obvious downside that initiative feats aren't as important. So if we decide to stick with it, I would be okay with letting you all modify your character to take different feats.
I do not want to move to a "post in initiative order" system, because that will slow things down far too much.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like I dislike the block system. I happen to like it a lot for this game. I just feel that if I had known that we were using it, I'd have opted for something other than Improved Initiative. And I do understand that it does have its use, even in block initiative, just not something that I would've selected.
Also, I can't wait to sear that goblins face.. It'd probably be an improvement =)
I'd rather stick to the block we have now and not think about multiple blocks and so many contingencies. I'd rather coordinate once with everyone and move on. I'm much more fond of the story + roleplaying than combat when it comes to PbP games, I think.
That being said, I'm sorry if I missed it but how are you handling exp and leveling? Are you going to give us XP here and there or story-arch leveling?
BTW, DMD my gmail account is olondir. I can be reached there for messaging purposes.
I concur. Let's keep the system we have going now. If I can select a new feat to replace Improved Initiative, I'd like to pick something else.
I have no problem with Stark choosing a new feat.
As far as xp. I rather dislike tracking it. I have no objection to you just telling us to level when you fee like it. It prevents us getting either to buff for or lagging behind the AP, but I can understand wanting to do things the XP way as well.
In my personal home games I just level everyone when it is time, for the reasons Occa stated above. It'll make things easier for me if we do it that way, but if you feel you want to have XP handed out after each encounter as a sort of reward, that's fine too.
In one of my home games I tried doing it by ear and when the AP demanded it. It worked flawlessly and made sense. Everyone was new at the game but we all were very story-driven individuals and it worked out great.
In my other game we did it by XP. It was a group with a lot of brand new players and the DM used XP as an incentive for people to think about characters, develop good backstories, encourage roleplaying, and bring snacks instead of just showing up late and trying to kill every NPC for no reason.
I like the idea of using XP as a way of encouraging or rewarding great roleplaying and what not but I'm also the kind of player that doesn't need that to continue to roleplay. From the way we were at the festival- I think we are all story-driven/character driven players here and I think we can do away with tracking XP and just level when you see fit. Besides- it's one less thing to worry about when reading posts and making sure everything adds up.
Stark: For this next round, I went ahead and moved you next to the warchanter for your touch attack. If you don't like where I put you, just let me know and I can fix it. Also, go ahead and pick a new feat in place of improved initiative, if you'd like.
If anyone else has improved initiative or a different feat that increases initiative, feel free to replace it if you wish.
For now, I'll be letting you know when you level, as opposed to giving out experience. I'm not very good about awarding good role-playing, so this way will be more fair. Besides, I'm not too worried about you guys keeping up the good role-playing, you're doing fantastic so far.
I for one prefer the xp less system to handing out xp per encounter. It makes it easier for the DM and it saves us from having to go through every encounter just to get the xp it offers.
So the "no xp" and the block initiative system get's two thumbs up from me!
A brief question about the block initiative though. Are the blocks always all of us and then the monsters either before or after, or can we and the monsters be divided into different blocks depending on the initiative scores?
If the enemies' initiative happens between allies or if I roll multiple initiatives for separate enemies, you may be grouped into multiple blocks.
When it come to XP, to me it should be either one of two ways. Individual or Invisible.
The mentality being that, if we will all always get the same XP, then tracking it is unnecessary. Much like in 4E (which I do like), if no matter what we always split XP, then each player writing it down is extraneous.
I prefer individual XP, myself, but that is more from being the most active RP participant at a table of number crunchers. I feel that those of us that do more, should get more. If people miss sessions, they don't get any (I tend to give 3/4 if they were ghosted, by me or another player, since they were not played to their full potential).
For this game, maybe all PbP, being that it seems to be much more RP'd. Then if equal, should be invisible, and you just tell us when to level.
Sorry, if it was a little ranty. Had a big blow up in my group when I tried to individualize XP, to promote RP in my game. The argument being that it wasn't fair, to 'force' people to Role-play.
After debating with myself which feat I should take, I decided on Toughness.
Damn Skora you CANNOT catch a break, can you?
That will all change now, just let me get my other axe. One moment. Any day now. Damn knots.....
That will all change now, just let me get my other axe.
Man I told you nobody sells real Fender Stratocasters on the street!
Another dream crushed :(
This game has seriously had the strangest dice rolls.
Nice crit Durvin.
Heads up, I will be unable to post from Fri afternoon to Sat evening (Eastern). I will back on Sat night to update all my posts.
No problem! Thanks for the heads up.
I think it's a neat idea and certinly worth a try. It will allow to create more accurate descriptions of our actions. The downside of this approach is that it will enable some metagaming but that's when the honor system comes in. And a Boulderback always holds an oath! :)
I know I said we'd wait until the next combat, but I thought we'd just give it a shot now anyway. You have a good idea about the enemies already anyway. I figure we'll give it a go for a little while and then if we don't like it, we'll just swap back. Doesn't hurt to do a little experimenting!
Hey guys, I'll be unable to post until Tuesday. Sorry about the long wait, but there's not much I can do about it! See you then.
its ok. thanks for the heads up.
Hey DMD,
If it isn't too late, after we wrap up killing the goblins can I re-do my character? I've been reading more and more about wordcasting and would like to try that out for myself. Basically I'd like to change my feats to SF(Conjuration) and Varisian Tattoo(Conjuration) and do word-casting.
I really think word-casting with a varisian tattoo would be more of that shamanistic shoanti vibe that I was going for anyways and be part of my unique connection with The Sky Father and Earth Mother and my destiny to fight a great emerging evil. My varisian tattoo would expand and grow to represent the words I prepared, much like Stark's body changes with new words, too. It would explain why we kind of liked each other on the way to the festival. I'd still keep reactionary and heirloom weapon to represent my skills on the plains as a hunter.
If the changing window is closed, I understand.
Sure, I don't mind. If anyone else wants to change up their character, now would be the time to do it. As long as the changes aren't too drastic, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
Battle update to come shortly.
Thank you. You have been a very fair and generous diety/GM. :)
I have him about 90% done in Hero Lab but I won't be able to post up the new version of him until later this evening when I get home from work.
I'm happy with Occa as a traditional caster.
So I'm good.
No changes
that is odd. Dot fell off.
I suspect goblins.
Hey guys, I'll be unavailable for much of the weekend, but might be able to get a good post in here or there. Then next Friday I am moving out-of-state and will have intermittent access to Internet for some time. I will most likely be unable to post at all on weekends until the second week of August. The weekdays may be a little better, we'll see.
For this weekend, feel free to keep roleplaying. Those of you heading to the garrison are taken inside by guards and down to the basement where the jails are. In the jail you'll meet with Vachedi, a male Shoanti with many scars all over his face and arms. He is gruff, but not mean. With him is Sheriff Hemlock who is questioning the goblin.
Feel free to roleplay with Vachendi, speaking for him if you'd like, but he won't let you in with the goblin until the Sheriff is done (I'll be back for that). If you'd like to ask any questions of Vachendi about himself, I'll answer them when I have the time to post again.
I feel as if I'm being ignored.
I feel as if I'm being ignored.
I'm sorry, how can I help? The interrogation has the spotlight at the moment but you could help with the wounded. Things are quiet for the non-goblin crowd right now but that will change.
You're fine. I like to roleplay. I like to "see" what I'm doing (in-game). I'm not feeling that right now. In addition to feeling ignored. Beginning to think this isn't the right game for me to be in. But, I'd like to talk first before any decisions are made.
You're fine. I like to roleplay. I like to "see" what I'm doing (in-game). I'm not feeling that right now. In addition to feeling ignored. Beginning to think this isn't the right game for me to be in. But, I'd like to talk first before any decisions are made.
Hmmmm you seemed pretty involved during the goblin fights. I was enjoying seeing a clear example of how wordcasting can work.
I am not quite sure what you mean by seeing what you are doing in game, but then I can be pretty dense sometimes.
I know the pace has slowed a bit but with summer and vacations and things that is to be expected. I know the DM is very open to us soloing, when Occa wandered off to help with the wounded the gm offered to solo role play it and it was me who choose the off screen role.
Is there something Stark wants to do?
More specific examples of what I mean:
When I was upstairs at the garrison, what's there? What do I see? Who else is there?
You're right, I was having a lot of fun with the description of how wordcasting worked in-game. Now that we're at the garrison, however, I'm not having so much fun.
Sorry Stark. I just sort of assumed by your statement about staying above that you weren't interested in roleplaying at that moment. If I'm not picking up on hints that you wish to roleplay separately, don't hesitate to throw in an OOC comment in the main thread asking what's going on where you are at. I'll be more than willing to oblige.
Let's see, right now you are down with the group, but if you want to go back and see what's going on upstairs, that's fine too. Right now there are a few guards running around delivering messages, but most of them are out patrolling the streets.
If the "seeing" thing has anything to do with my descriptions (or lack thereof in some cases) that's because I'm a bit inexperienced with PbP DM'ing. Let me know what I can do better and I'll give it a try! You won't hurt my feelings or anything.
I tried writing something saying its a PbP game, how things are a little slow but they pick back up, but I felt no matter what I wrote I came off like a pretentious douche. Since you manned-up and notified us how you feel instead of just disappearing off the boards you definitely deserve something better than what I had originally wrote. Too bad I'm not sure how to say it.
Since the start of the campaign your character has kind of been very introspective and the none of those festival games really were tailored to your set of skills. When the fight broke out you were on those suckers blasting away with jets of fire and you seemed to be enjoying the game... now that we have hit a lull I see why you feel left out again. Maybe DMD could introduce an NPC for you to talk to and keep you active during this time? After starting my own PbP it is very different from a real-life game and sometimes its hard to tell what people want.
There is no harm in questioning the DM or wanting some more stuff so you can feel more active.
No worries. It's a learning process. And each person has different styles. Sometimes my posts will be short, because I just don't have the time. I've become very busy lately, but I'm enjoying a day off today =)
I'm fine where I'm at.
Edit: After a couple incidents of me just bailing, I've come to realize (since then) that communication is key to any relationship (corny as it sounds, it's true). So, instead of getting POed about stuff, and letting it eat at me, and eventually exploding and saying "Eff this! I quit!".. I'll try to discuss things, to figure out if it's just me, if there's something the GM can do, or if there's something we both can agree on, and go from there. =)
Hey, it might sound corny, but it is absolutely true! Please don't hesitate to call me out on something or bring something up that you think I can work on. I'm happy to take any advice and criticism, and hopefully they'll help the game be better in the end.
Sometimes I can be a little daft at taking hints from people! So if you need to be direct and prompt me with an OOC, I won't mind! And I'll try to be better about making sure everybody is involved as fully as possible.
=) Game on!