CLASS.
Some of us don't have any class. :(
Hey everybody! All moved in and ready to take on the Baron! DMHW: I have to see this electric warlock harp!
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DMHW: yes, I too must check this harp out. YOu'll have ot bring it to Merrimack and jam with me!!
Thordak: if I may . . . it looks like what you're trying to create is a Repeating Crossbow. Takes an Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat to use (or take the Rapid Reload feat and load a regular Xbow as fast as you like). Or is that too simple an answer for ya? :-)
on magic items: rules state that every + equivalent for armor is
(# of +'s) squared X 1000 gp
for weapons, it's double that, or (# of +'s) squared X 2000 gp
So to enchant +2 armor should dock you 4,000 gp whereas to enchant a +2 (equivalent) weapon is 8,000 gp.
Oh, and glad you're done moving in, moving sux. heh.
Yah, you guys will love this harp! It can sound like a stack of marshall amps, or something from hearts of space. I have this box with pedals that has thousands of special effects. I am still learning what half of the stuff does. Everything from reverb, to modulation change. I hope to to do a concert at my school with it and surprise all of the students.
Thordak, I am concerned with upsetting game balance. I prefer Bofus' idea on this one. If you want a faster crossbow, let's try and do it with feats and/or magic first. Post here what you are thinking about. Is it simply speed what you are after, or something for role-playing purposes?
You could join with the guy from UK, didn't he play the electric violin or something. And Jethro Tull has the ever popular rock instrument, the Flute.
Tirion, you are talking about Eddie Jobson. Yah. I loved his music. They were definitely pioneers!
Well, I have a wedding to go play at this afternoon. Glad I have the opportunity to earn some extra money and pay down the harp!
It is amazing what You Tube has. Here is an old recording of UK's "Nothing to Lose". I use to listen to these guys all the time. This is so cool! I will have to keep looking for more of their stuff.
Lol - sweet, if you look closely, I think that there is actually some smoke coming off of the violin. Glad I got the group right.
How about a double-barreled crossbow? It would shoot one or two bolts. Eh? I did some reading on the boards and the discussion panels, and most people agree that crossbows are already at a huge disadvantage because they take so long to reload and you can't add your strength modifier. I was just trying to figure out a way to improve the crossbow for Thorry a little bit and make it more practical to use. I hear other ways to improve it that included a crossbow with little fairies that came out and reloaded for you, but..... I plan to wait for sixth level, then take the crossbow mastery feat from the APG. If someone has other suggestions please share!
** spoiler omitted **
DMHW: Sounds good.
You realize Florence that I could not follow you into the garden. Then I would be a Garden Gnome, and we all know that Garden Gnomes have a terrible habit of getting kicked around and broken. Sounded like a bad idea to me.
Well, tomorrow is my first day of classes. I was working in my classroom this afternoon, and I think I am ready for the students to arrive.
Bofus, that is awesome that you have been kayaking. On our field trip the other day, I went out with some of my colleagues at 6:30 a.m. on a lake up in Derby. We paddled around and saw a Loon diving and swimming. It was awesome. Do you have your own kayaks?
Good luck DMHW - remember, they are just like goblins, you kill a few and kick a few others and all the rest with obediently follow you.
I love Bofus' "We must stick together command", now 1 hour later we have 1 person sneaking into the enemies stronghold, 1 in a tree, 1 in a shed, 1 wandering the palace, 1 with the lord and 1 in the woods - nice
I am always amazed at how this story unfolds. I have to admit, I have many plots unfolding and many characters all with their own motives working in this wild world, but I often have no idea how things are going to end up. I should ask you guys how you are all feeling about the adventure.
I have not done a check in with you in a while. I decided to borrow Zyren's survey questions he asked in his campaigns earlier this summer. At your convenience, please answer the following questions and please feel free to be truthful. I can take criticism well. This is my first PBP as a DM and I am still learning a great deal as I go, and I would like to be able to improve as I go. Thanks ahead of time for your feedback!
1. Are you content with the story:
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise):
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?:
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay:
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?:
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?:
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?:
8. Where do you see room for impovement?:
9. Any other comments?
1. Are you content with the story:
yes!
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise):
yes!
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?:
yes!
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay:
yes!
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?:
yes!
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?:
yes! Maybe a few more checks, but I think it's good, and I have fun adding them when I feel like it, too!
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?:
yes!
8. Where do you see room for impovement?:
I am trying to scrape together enough money for some nice things like armor but my crossbow is also a priority! It's almost like real life that way! I'd like to find some nice things perhaps...
9. Any other comments?
It's fun, and I'm inspired to start my own campaign at some point, methinks!
I am always amazed at how this story unfolds.
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise): Almost 4 levels in 7 months is not bad - I have read somewhere that a typical AP takes 2 years or more, so at this rate we would be level 13 or 14 at that time. As I mentioned earlier in the email, there are times when the pc-pc and pc-npc interactions seem to bog down a little, but it is not really your fault - you have to decide whether to give larger parts of the story on a silver platter, or let the pc work it out for yourself. Also, I think that things will pick up with Thordak, Matthais and Mantooth posting more.
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?: They are great - I love the dwarven witch - although I an not sure that Thordak does. If you create a black gnome witch, I will have to hunt you down though - may have to buy Zyren's DM hunting book.
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay: Lol - what fights, I walked into the quasit and have not had once since as everyone else chickened out on the fight versus the devil. I think that more fights will be in the near future.
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?: I love the battlemaps. The quasit was fine. I thought that the rat/slaver fight was good and that the owlbear was interesting. Having them in places where the characters can use their heads to set up the fight to maximize their skills - and intelligence is fun. As I mentioned, the fact that the party did not immediately backtrack and get a table to block the rats with still dumbfounds me. -- I really wanted to see how much damage dropping a huge chandelier on a devil's head would do, lol.
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?: I do not know whether you make invisible rolls -- check out the Kingmaker campaign that I just started in - Carina Stigard is my alias. I there the DM does a fair amount of perception and similar checks behind spoilers to determine whether the players see anything. As far as our rolls go, we can roll as much as we want - heck, I have started doing rolls just for fun - Bad Joke
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?: Yup - enough detail to let us know what is going on and you are quite willing to add additional detail. Look at the campaign that Nngara is in, that DM is a little too minimalist and there are no maps so far, so it is frustrating, will be interesting seeing how long it lasts.
8. Where do you see room for impovement?: Just keep doing what you are. I would say faster play, but we are a team - players and DM, and can only move as fast as the slowest member. Actually, the amount of posting in this is pretty good and we are all in pretty much the same time zones, except Zyren, which makes posting and responding quite easy.
9. Any other comments? Keep it up - you are doing great. As I mentioned in the email, click through a couple of people's accounts to find an interesting campaign, then bookmark it and read it, if you are questioning how you are doing things, this will give you the ability to see how other people direct campaigns, there are all sorts.
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Tiron: yeah, "do as I say not as I do" :-) I think in general we do need to concentrate on sticking together, but split up when necessary. If we try to stick together, we'll end up splitting up ONLY when necessary.
and Bofus' unspoken addendum to "stick together" really does except himself. He's a scout, so he's going to have to be separate sometimes (often!!).
While the irony isn't lost, I think we're doing the best we can. We did split into two groups, which was necessary--one for recon, one for diplomacy--and these groups further split, also necessary in thier situations.
but it's damned funny. :-)
DMHW: we made the kayak purchase Monday; it took a LOT longer than we anticipated because we weren't fully equipped to transport them all back. On teh way home we stopped at a local pond and let the kids try theirs out. We're going to buy car racks for ours (kids' are smaller, can fit in the van--ours can't), then we can take whole fam trips. It's about time we had something we all love to do outdoors!!
1. Are you content with the story:
It's definitley interesting; what I'm finding is that personally it's *almost* too much. There's A LOT going on all at once, can make for confusing priority choices.
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise):
Mostly. XP, certainly. Story-wise . . . the complexity of the current threads makes for somewhat convoluted discussions, so that can bog things down a bit. i'm looking forward to "clearing some decks" and solving some of the strangeness that's around, rather than (as it seems we do) continue to uncover more stuff wihtout actually solving anything first!!
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?:
Absolutely. It's cool ot have friends, enemies, and "not sures" (Strictland falls under that category, IMHO--until he's out of Trask's grip, we cna't be sure where he'll side if the poop flies)
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay:
Yes. I rarely look forward to combat, being focused NOT on combat, so any situation where I can sneak/clever out of a fight is fine with me.
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?:
yes.
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?:
Hehe Being a Skillz Monster, I'm always up for more skill rolls!! However, others aren't as focused on that area so I konw it's not All About Me. Overall, I find the skill roll requirements to be fine, if not excellent.
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?:
yes--no further comment required.
8. Where do you see room for impovement?:
. . . I shall think about that. If I come up with anything, I'll email you on it. :-)
9. Any other comments?
I think you're doing a fine job catering to our separate character needs/desires, which IMHO is one of the most important things a DM can do to get the players invested.
1. Are you content with the story:
Oh yeah, the story is great, however there is quite alot going on, but I'll try my best to follow all leads.
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise):
Absolutely.
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?:
Yes, I like all NPCs and everything is very imaginative.
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay:
Time for another fight :)
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?:
You do all really good job, all maps are great.
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?:
Yes.
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?:
I'm always impressed how much detail you put into everything.
8. Where do you see room for impovement?:
For me it would be esier to follow the plot if it was a bit more railroady. But that's only because I have so many other plots swirling through my head :)
9. Any other comments?
Is Ailetha you, Tirion?
Is Ailetha you, Tirion?
Yep - as are a whole bunch of others, but I have Ailetha set up as my default so she is the one I accidentally post under.
1. Are you content with the story:
Yes. Though admittedly I am sometimes not entirely sure of what direction we are going, I find it enjoyable. Thank you for being so willing to follow us when we decide to chase after slavers or ask for magical swords/crossbows.
2. Are you content with the pace (story and Xp-wise):
Yes. I am excited for level 4, though.
3. Do you think the NPCs are colourful, unique and interesting to interact with?:
Yes. Everyone seems great and very realistic. I particularly liked the one a while back that invited us to comes to his party.
4. Are you content with the ratio of fights/roleplay:
Yes. I know that we will probably end up fighting a lot later, but right now I am anxious to try out the "new" sword.
5. Are you content with the battle maps and the kind of fights? Are they difficult enough?:
Yes, they are great. We barely got by with the slaving keep and that was great. I am not sure how fighting the bearded demon would have turned out, so I am just glad that I haven't been knocked unconscious yet.
6. Are you content with the amount of rolls and skill checks you have to make?:
Yes. I have seem to made all of the necessary skill checks necessary, but none of my non-combat skills really stand out from anyone else's anymore. In particular, I am no longer the character that one would absolutely want to do the diplomatic discussion, but that's fine.
7. Are you content with the descriptions and the general way of storytelling?:
Absolutely.
8. Where do you see room for impovement?:
More gold to buy more nice things? This isn't a huge one, but I feel as though if I buy better armor or an enchantment for my armor now I'll be way behind everyone else by the time I get enough money to buy even better armor when I need it.
9. Any other comments?
I am sorry I have been posting less and less. I am now trying to run a student government at UVM and take 18 credits, so I am doing the best I can to budget my time accordingly. I am still very much invested in the story, though!
"Yay! Its the weekend! I think the weather is going to be nice too!"
"Yay! Its the weekend! I think the weather is going to be nice too!"
Weekend? Isn't that when you try to catch up on the things you did not get done during the week?
Question: Thordak has a +2 initiative normally. In his favored terrain (urban) he has +2 to that. He also has +2 when underground. So in the sewers, is his initiative +6?
"I will accept that. Just remind me in case I forget."
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OK, I'd like to discuss a pet peeve of mine when it comes to gaming, specifically in combat.
Teamwork.
In the battle we're currently in--the 6 of us against 2 rogue guards--two of us have attacked one guy, and two of us the other. Why is that? Why not concentrate everyone's attacks on a single foe until he falls, then move on to the next--particularly when we have a "free round" in the form of a suprise round?
I picked stabbing the lead guard because I was fairly certain that would be the one Thordak shot at. I was kind of surprised to see Mantooth and Tirion choose to attack the other one.
Think of it this way: if each one of us can do enough damage to bring a bad guy down, say, 20%, isn't it better to reduce the number of bad guys ASAP so they have one fewer attack next round, rather htan damange a number of them a little, so they still have ALL their attacks next round? As a friend of mine says, "Hit points and damage dealing are independent; four hill giants at 75% health do a hell of a lot more damage than three at 100% health"
one of my other PBP's suffers from this phenomenon, but I'm not as comfortable bringing it up . . . I am here though. :-) Let's try for a single battle rather than 3 or 4 individual fights!! I think we'll meet with much more success.
you speak of HOD? I think you can surely open a discussion about that!
Btw. I'm playing the flute and stabbing no one!
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And I think that's the right choice . . . instead of one extra attack (Florence), it gives us up to 5, most of them probalby more effective than Florence's. THAT'S teamwork. :-)
I am trying to decide if we didn't have initiative and if that would change the way people attacked. What if each round everything happened simultaneously? In other words, you all choose what you are going to do and not change the plan based on what is happening on the other side of the room or based on the success of those that attacked just moments before you. For example Matthais would have planned to attack the first rogue, but he only did something completely different because the rogue did not survive all of the attacks of his friends. I am not sure how I feel about being able to change your plan so quickly. I am not planning on altering the rules just yet, but I am just thinking about it in context of what Bofus is saying. I don't think you would all plan on attacking the same guy at once. You would trust some of your opponents to slay their own foes. Just a thought.
I actually though that Tirion attacked the first since he was more than 30' from the second and could not hit the second since his earth power has a 30' range.
Yes, taking them down as fast as possible is the best option. Having read the mayhem that was your slaver-rat battle, I think coordination is a good idea.
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@Tirion--yes, the rat battle was a bit . . . hairy and scary. :-) I consider us lucky to have survived it. Hehehe
@DMHW--I understand where you're coming from, but don't think committing to an action at the beginning of the round is any more realistic than "waiting your turn." The inititative system is there (in part, and IMHO) to impart some sense of order in the chaos of battle. A true fight wiht 6+ opponents on each side woudl be far to chaotic to make a good, fun game.
Personally, I look at it like this:
1) adventurers are a cut above, as evidenced by their abitlity to earn XP. They have a cooler head under fire, and can make decisions and act on them beyond what "normal people" could do. Along those lines, I (the player) am certainly nether Bofus nor Vaughn; both of them have tranign and abiilties I do not. I need time to decide how I think tehy will react if i want to be realistic.
2) this is a game of fantasy escapism. I want to partly escape from reality, and I want to play a game--which means I'm goign to try to extract what I can from within the system without cheating. In computer games, that means saving before a big fight. IN D&D (oops, "Pathfinder"), that means taking advantage of the turn-based battle system. Divide and Conquer, the age-old wisdom, holds true. cooler heads should do that. . .
I guess think of it this way. A round is 6 seconds. If you see your compatriot impale an enemy with his sword (higher initiative), you are unlikely to decide it would be fun to hit the guy a second time just for kicks. More likely you would shift your focus and whack the enemy trying to poke you in the side with his dagger.
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Building off what Tirion said, you are (or SHOULD be) aware of what your compatriots are capable of, so you should konw that the sorcerer might send magical attacks at foes they can't reach . . .you keep your eye out for that, and stab the guy the sorcerer just injured if your sword-wielding buddy takes out the guy he's on.
I'll second Bofus. Since the introduction of battle mats and grids fighting has become a thing of immense teamwork.
@ Bofus: I think you can surely bring that up.
Well guys, I like all of your input. Don't worry, I won't be getting rid of initiative anytime soon! I think the most important piece in all of this is having fun. If that's what you are having, then you must be doing something right! However, Bofus has some good points, especially when battles start getting really tough! Ganging up on foes can be a really useful bit of advice!
Well, friends, this weekend is the New Hampshire Highland Games in Lincoln, NH. As usual, I am running the harp events as the Chairperson of the Harp Committee. We have concerts, workshops, and rehearsals nearly all day on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday we have competitions all day. I suspect posting will be extremely light. Sorry. Understatement. I will not be able to post from Friday morning until Sunday night once I've gotten back home. In the meantime, I will be checking the boards quite frequently, making sure we get you through each encounter in good time.
On a cool note, the Mount Washington Hotel called me today to offer me three big paying gigs in the month of October on Thursday nights! This is awesome money and it doesn't take up any of my weekends! This will be a another big chunk to help pay down my electric harp.
Congrats on the gigs! Throw a sword for me at the highland games!
PS: I have some questions about my post, so if anyone has input, please let me know!
Congrats. Make sure you keep NH rockin'.
Sorry I attacked the other guard. I realize it makes logistical sense when playing the game to all attack one guard, but in reality the party would not just ignore the other guard and let him attack us. You are absolutely right about HP being independent of damage, so in the future I will use better discretion in situations like that.
Sorry I attacked the other guard. I realize it makes logistical sense when playing the game to all attack one guard, but in reality the party would not just ignore the other guard and let him attack us. You are absolutely right about HP being independent of damage, so in the future I will use better discretion in situations like that.
As a note on the reality vs. fantasy, if we had not attacked the second guard immediately, with 6 of us standing outside his door and beating the heck out of his friend, in real life he would have turned tail and run for help. By hitting them both, we probably delayed him long enough to take both down.
However, generally speaking taking them down one at a time is a much more effective tactic.
"PS: I have some questions about my post, so if anyone has input, please let me know!"
What questions do you have about your post?
Just another explanation (an example would be nice) of what I should do if I get a critical with my axe. (a x3 critical)
For each attack roll the d20 add your modifier and also roll for damage. If it hits, the DM will add the damage, if it misses, he will ignore the damage roll.
With a natural 20, you may roll another "to hit" roll to confirm that it was critical. If your weapon is x3, you may also roll two more damage rolls (of 1d10+ 3). (or simply 2d10+6). If the second roll hits, then the DM will add the additional damage. If it misses, then he will simply just count your first damage roll only.
For example, Thordak rolls (20) +5= 25 and has a potential critical. So he rolls again and gets (12) +5 = 17. If this simply hits, the original hit scores 3 times the amount of damage normally rolled. So Thordak would roll an additional 2d10+6 for damage. The DM would look at the confirmation roll and decide whether or not to add it. Does this make more sense?