DM Fflash's Shattered Star Campaign

Game Master DM Fflash

As the party Chronicler, I'll be using this post to keep track of our adventures, so others may want to make it a favorite. I'm intending to do it as an in-character journal from Lorlenn's perspective. I'd use a Gameplay post, but those can't be edited as I add new entries.

I'll start doing the same... As we make splits, I'll remove them from the tally. It will be up to you to keep track of your own wealth and possessions from that point on.

Appraise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 for the gems.

Braelex thinks the gems are worthless.

Relan, when you upped your Intelligence you gained a language. You can pick any except secret languages (like Druidic).

All: Be sure to make any claims on gear, otherwise it stays on a mule (I assume).

So, how are we dispersing loot?

Appraise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 also for the gems.

that reminds me -- i've gotta find clarence another stupid crossbow. grrr.

chris.

I'd like to claim the ring of feather falling.

Lorlenn believes the garnets are worth something, perhaps around 40gp apiece.

Let's talk about flex time and dungeon crawl mode.

Flex Time

So, you've noted my use of headers and my encouragement for you all to use these as well. Flex time is the reason for that. For example in this upcoming investigation there will be multiple things going on. They may or may not be happening simultaneously, but as long as there isn't an encounter there's no need to do them serially. I'll leave the discussion with Sheila open and if you wish to ask her more questions based on your investigation, feel free to do so and just title it Venture Captain. If you forget to take care of something while shopping, just throw it under a second heading, Shopping, while you're say talking to the Amazing Zograthy written in a previous header, The Amazing Zograthy, inside the same post.

Easy enough? I'll set an amount of time for the whole ball of wax to wrap up and pass it to the Timekeeper for the big record keeping. This prevents posts like "I head back to Sheila" or "I need to go back to the guards now that I've learned this rumor from the tavern" etc. Helps the game move along.

Should a combat or trap event come about, we'll put flex on hold until it's resolved and then press.

Dungeon Crawl Mode

In a dungeon, I'll make some baseline assumptions.

• You're moving in a standard party order (you need to determine that for me, here shortly: single file/double file/who's in front etc).
• Every door or chest you come to will be searched with a take 20 Perception check before touching it
• The rest of dungeon crawl exploration will be take 10 Perception checks unless you specifically request to search a particular area. In some cases, I may add a Perception spoiler for a roll.
• All loot will have detect magic cast on it, assuming someone has it ready
• All magic loot will be identified with a take 10 Spellcraft roll by whomever cast detect magic
• I'll use flex time to describe several rooms at once, vice going through them serially.
• Deviations from these assumptions must be addressed
• Other assumptions are allowed within reason by party request

Questions?

I'd like to claim the ring of feather falling.

As would I. Is there anyone who doesn't want the RoFF?

Fulmen wrote:

I'd like to claim the ring of feather falling.

As would I. Is there anyone who doesn't want the RoFF?

So that brings me back to the question of how to divvy loot? We can go with a classic roll-off, highest roll picks first. We can distribute items logically where appropriate, and then sell everything else to split evenly. We can track total value taken by each person, and let people pick based on who has received the least in past picks. We can just sell everything and split the cash.

Generally, I like to use the things we find, when they're usable -- the party as a whole benefits when the fighter doesn't have to spend money on armor, because the party found some and let him have it, rather than the wizard rolling high and take it to sell for 10% of its value.

That being said, lots of published adventures do a poor job of providing a distribution of loot for a well-rounded party. When every mini-boss is a tank, and the wizard never see a wand-wielding opponent, that's no fun either. Inevitably, good magic items have to be sold in order to buy useful ones.

A method that I've always wanted to try, which is more feasible in a digital format is to track everything that we get, use what we can, and when we're done using it, sell and split. So if we find a breastplate +1 and the fighter uses it, then later buys his own full plate, +1, the breastplate goes back into the general pool for someone else to use, and if no one wants it, it get sold and the profit split. I'd be happy to help with this bookkeeping (like I've said before, I like spreadsheets too much).

My take on the ring of feather falling is that it's best on a character that is already highly mobile, further empowering their ability to actively pursue isolated enemies, rather than someone using it as a defensive novelty item.

But I also babble a lot. :) I'm open to any method. Easy options work, too.

Personally id like to go with the NEED/GREED/PASS loot rolls. With the idea that if you already got something good in a drop you pass it to the next person.

NEED = you need it to improve your char
GREED = you want it to use or sell
PASS = dont want it (if everyone passes then just randomly give it to someone).

I think something like this would work nicely.

NEED item 1d20 ⇒ 17

Thank said, i like MIke's idea of "using it, sell and split" as well, which could be part of the NEED/GREED idea or seperate.

But I also babble a lot. :) I'm open to any method. Easy options work, too.

i'm out of pocket until thursday and will only have spotty internet access -- stupid canada and stupid-expensive data roaming.

i am going to pick up a heavy crossbow in the market, but i need some cash help. if i could use one of the gems, that'd be swell.

oh, and i'm cool with whatever anyone thinks about dividing up the loot. clarence is fairly loot-agnostic. (except for that damn crossbow... stupid gremlin.)

/autofollow

chris.

Meh, I'd rather keep it simple. Make a claim on anything you want, roll off on conflicting claims, sell the rest and split the cash. We can use some common sense to sort out claims - i.e., wizards aren't winning a piece of armor to sell that the tank would actually use.

I like the idea of giving back to the group split if an item you own becomes upgraded or outdated.

So:
* anything in group loot can be claimed by anyone
* conflicting claims are resolved on a need vs. greed basis
* if that doesn't work out, then we roll off
* claimed items that have lost usefulness, but still has value, are returned for group split

I will also be out of town on a (different) business trip tomorrow and may not be able to be in touch. I'll try to post in gameplay later tonight.

Did I scare you all away with the +10 wall of text? Looking for some sort if gameplay input.

Sorry, the rest of the month is a busy one. Just a heads up, Ill be out of town starting Friday but ill pick up as soon as i get back.

I rule the monuments spell boons extend to extracts and supernatural abilities. I don't think that's outside the intent.

Just incase something goes down (ill be back on Monday) so we can keep the ball rolling, if its ok Tike, id like to let Mike use my char as needed.

No worries, CJ.

I realize folks are out o' town and the holidays are coming up. Post as able, and I'll slow the game down to accommodate.

Although I am surprised that we haven't heard from Steve in a bit.

That's "The Chosen One"... or "King Humpal". He's got a ring now!

Yeah, sorry. It's been a busy week. Had basketball playoffs and final this week and have been working long days so I could take Friday off to go away for the weekend with my wife for our 16th wedding anniversary.

...to go away for the weekend with my wife for our 16th wedding anniversary.

Grats!

Yeah, sorry. It's been a busy week. Had basketball playoffs and final this week and have been working long days so I could take Friday off to go away for the weekend with my wife for our 16th wedding anniversary.

indeed! congrats!

man, i thought i was the old man at 12 years!

chris.

Tike, I'm planning on taking a rank of Linguistics at level 2 (Lorlenn is supposed to be a scribe after all) and was wondering what campaign-specific languages might be appropriate? I see that Andel knows Thassillonian, and the d20pfsrd lists a couple like Azlanti. Would one or the other be more appropriate given Lorlenn's scholarly traits?

Btw, I'm in Canada again for the next three days. Spotty internet.

Chris.

P.s. again - stupid Canadian carriers.

P.p.s. this damn site isn't very phone-friendly.

You at least staying caught up with the story?

Did the ring or dagger get allocated to anyone? A reminder that the baseline assumption is that its on a mule if not claimed.

Steve back from anniversary bliss, yet?

Tike, I'm planning on taking a rank of Linguistics at level 2 (Lorlenn is supposed to be a scribe after all) and was wondering what campaign-specific languages might be appropriate? I see that Andel knows Thassillonian, and the d20pfsrd lists a couple like Azlanti. Would one or the other be more appropriate given Lorlenn's scholarly traits?

Thassilonian is still a good one even if Andel has it. Varisia is known for giants and goblins ... consider the general CR for tgose creatures when considering when to take languages.

I'll have to check if Azlanti is used or if Common and Thassilonian cover it. I think the last is more likely. Outsider languages could be good, too ... Or languages that you all can communicate with each other in.

Well, if it's a roll off:

Ring of Feather Falling: 1d100 ⇒ 70

Passing on the ring; but I'll frequently be in melee, so wouldn't mind the dagger for those times when silver is needed.

Mwk Silver Dagger: 1d100 ⇒ 67

I will withdraw the roll if the fighter wants to claim NEED on the dagger.

You at least staying caught up with the story?

yup, yup. it's much easier in this forum format than the old email campaigns.

chris.

Ring of Feather Fall: 1d100 ⇒ 35

I will be out of communication this weekend, while visiting family.

Merry Christmas folks! Updates tomorrow for those that are interested ... No rush, post as able and I expect to hit full speed after the New Year again.

Going to claim the dagger until there is an opposing roll when everyone's back.

Alright, partys over! Time to get some steam back in this game. Expecting to resume daily posting today. Right now, looks like we need a gameplan for the night time visit to the slaver meet. Need some CJ and Chris posts as well to let me know they're caught up and reading.

Caught up and reading. :)

Need some CJ and Chris posts as well to let me know they're caught up and reading.

word. caught up. i'm here. etc.

also, i don't think i'm personally a fan of the flex time thing for narrative stuff. it may make the game go faster, but i find myself only caring about one path and ignoring the others.

for example, zograthy is the only one that is sticking in my head and that i actively read. the rest all blend together in confusion so i end up skipping them for time's sake so that i don't have to go back and re-read all of their previous posts for context.

it feels like reading three books at the same time, but rotating every paragraph.

chris.

Simple minds ... I'll see what I can do to help you out. It's way more important in a dungeon to aid exploration but that's less narrative. How do you others feel about it?

Simple minds ... I'll see what I can do to help you out. It's way more important in a dungeon to aid exploration but that's less narrative. How do you others feel about it?

Im with Chris, i like being able to go back, but bouncing around was getting confusing. But ill adjust to it im sure.

Cool, ill keep it to the minimum necessary, as long as you guys stay engaged and keep posting.

I definitely won't drop it in dungeons otherwise we'll still be working this adventure in 3 years. But those threads aren't quite as long. It's more like me explaining 5 rooms at once.

I'm guessing the issues stem from 2 things:

1) reading it all after the fact versus actively holding multiple conversations;

2) each of these non-combat encounters are still encounters. It feels a little odd to progress on encounter 3 when encounter 1 hasn't been resolved, but that resolution could impact the decisions made during 3.

I'm cool with flex-time where consequences over time won't matter, but even if those consequences are very minor, then we should do things sequentially.

Had a small relapse of my fever last night. Will get the update out this afternoon.

I'm cool with flex-time where consequences over time won't matter, but even if those consequences are very minor, then we should do things sequentially.

I dont mind those ethier, like the Shopping cutaway didnt really affect anything.

One more thing to discuss is traditional marching order.

I've thrown up a suggested one since most dungeon hallways are 10 foot wide. Change it as you see fit.

2x3 Formation

I'd recommend a single-file one as well.

Once we pick a default formation, I'll assume that's it unless you guys specify otherwise.

One more thing to discuss is traditional marching order.

May I recommend these?

Wide and Thin

I like having a little space between people, for maneuvering.