GM: Great, yes we're on the same page for reach weapon rules
Damrak, the charter if you read it mentions Oleg's Trading Post as the key landmark denoting the bounds of the regions we are to explore and make safe from bandits. No more details. Perhaps one of us should ask about it. Sounds like a place we might be able to resupply, but perhaps its a burned out ruin that's used as a landmark... wouldn't do to assume.
Anibeth would still want to contribute to the party fund, even if we've got enough gold at present. So if we're not using the 20 gp she has to offer, we should split it up equally among the contributing people, or create & track the party fund directly.
If you insist Anibeth. I'm always ok with more gp. We each get 5gp right? Hope I got my math right this time...
I'd say we just keep a "expedition pool" for things we need, we can take shares from it once we get some money built up.
Just a small shout-out: loving the rp and the detailed posts re: your motivations!! I'm enjoying the ride, so all of you keep up the good work!! Fantastic start!!
I've been encouraged. Now you all are in for it. :P
Lets adopt a method to divide treasure we find. I do not have a preference, beyond having a method. The two prevailing methods in my experience seem to be to either track the value of everything found and let the PCs "buy" from the bank, not worrying too much if a character goes a little in the hole, or, assign items found to the person who needs them most (benefits from the the most) and divide other loot evenly. In this method if a PC gets an upgrade he turns the old item back to the group to be reassigned or sold. I find that usually both of these methods work out about the same in the long run. The latter is a little less fair, but had much less book keeping.
Thoughts?
Other gear we might want - Leeching kit is only 5 gold and gives a +2 to treat poisons.
20 gp surgeon's tools never is used up and adds an additional +1 with a Healer's kit for heal checks to tread wounds.
Good idea to get this squared away early...
I'll follow the view of the group, have done much more RPG in person than PbP, so more used to things just working out between friends.
I typically like the idea of a party fund -- at least 1, maybe 2, shares going to the party . I also know Anibeth, while being communal now, is going to want to indulge in some pointless crafting and eventual downtime building/organization building aside from any actual kingdom building... so I hope to have some disposable funds that I can feel ok about using "non-optimally"
Could we get the charter posted in campaign info?
Sure, Den. Done!
Thanks!
Total Party Fund: 97 gp 5 sp
36 gp - 2 Yaks
40 gp 5 sp - (6x) 18 days trail rations
3 gp 4 sp 5 cp - (4x) 23 days animal feed
18 gp 2 sp 5 cp- Leeching Kit + Surgeon's Tools
Total: 95gp 2sp 0cp
Party Fund remaining: 2 gp 3 sp
For treasure allocation, I vote for the second method outlined by Dendarial.
For the record, I also vote for the second method Dendarial suggests. I'm like Anibeth and have more experience at the table than on the boards, and this is how we usually play.
And count me as another. With everything going back to the pool eventually when we don't need it anymore, it's extremely fair in the long run, and optimal for party success in the short.
I also like the idea of having shares of the pool, with one (and maybe eventually more) shares being allocated towards expedition money. That allows everyone to withdraw when they want without feeling guilty, while ensuring we have some savings for things that come up expedition-wise.
That is two votes for assigning items based on need and group benefit and splitting everything converted to cash evenly. Doing this we could still carve off a share for party good, or simply buy party items before we split money up. I'll obtain from voting so as to prevent a tie, as I have already said I am good either way.
I do not mean to preclude some other method if someone has an idea or strong preference. Can we hear from everyone else? Does anyone feel strongly that each item value needs to be accounted for? It would be nice if we were unanimous. :)
In theory, Damrak as a Lawful type would want a strict accounting method - but the thought of that much paperwork makes me the player cry, so I too vote for the second method.
The second method is easily handled as lawful too. A contract is written up that says everything that is found on the expedition belongs to the expedition, and gives a share to each of us, and one to the company itself for "expenses". I was actually considering having Grimath draw up such a contract.
just letting everyone know, I might not get many chances to post this weekend... going to be traveling a bit and some areas have lousy cell coverage/wifi
Late on this, but - I thought I'd put Damrak's stash (19 gp) into the party pile; having checked though, it doesn't look I actually posted anything on this.
I'll get a leeching kit (5 gp) as Den suggested (Den: please take it off my hands!) - is there anything else anyone thinks we might need?
If we have extra coin I think we should buy herbs and spices for seasoning of foods and curing of meats. Lets get good cooking spices to either sell or make a gift of for Oleg and Svetlana(sp?) at the trading post. Befriending these folks could be very handy. We could/should also make sure we have tools to do minor building/engineering projects and repairs. Thoughts?
That's a pretty good idea Den, I'll second that idea. I think we already bought a leeching kit, so we could spend a chunk of Damrak's contribution on gifts for the trip if everyone else agrees.
Having a few gift/trade items sounds good, as does having a few left over gold, just in case. Don't think we should spend every last piece.
All good advice, thanks - since we've already got a leeching kit, I'll get tools (spade, shovel, pick, hammer, nails, saw) and 10 gp of assorted herbs/spices; and keep 4 gp in cash.
Just wanting to say, this is fun :) and a great group
It is fun - sorry for all stuck at the gate, bear with us and we'll get you involved shortly... :)
I'm not worried, (and I'm travelling/out of town so ok that things are a little slow :) )
I should have a post up tonight. Thanks!
DM: Would a surprise round against the bandit happen before his readied action?
Hm? I think we're still in the same original combat, so no new initiative, no possibility for a new surprise round (I know its part of the Diviner shtick).
I feel Den blind-sided me with his counter-ultimatum :) I think Anibeth knows better than to quarrel in-front of the enemy, so she'll proceeed with her current plan to go help Svetlana. (Not sure if its worth posting a third time in the game play thread that 'i'll still do what I said I'll do' effectively, but wanted the GM to know I'm set.
DM: Would a surprise round against the bandit happen before his readied action?
If you could surprise him, sure.
DM: Would a surprise round against the bandit happen before his readied action?If you could surprise him, sure.
Great. Here is the scenario I have in mind:
Peer is without an initiative count and has not taken hostile action so she is not in combat. She goes in stealth this turn and charges the bandit once he is within 60', surprising him and gaining a surprise round. Because of Forwarned Athenasius can act as well. Both will attack the bandit with disarm attempts and the bandit will be flat-footed against both because he is surprised, loosing his dex to AC and CMD; and also no AOOs. With Foresight Athenasisu gets 2 rolls and Peer gets one, so the chance of success is reasonably high. We can time this with Olo so he can try greasing his sword.
Please let me know what you think.
Very creative...I like!!
Ok! I'll make the appropriate posts. Now it's up to the dice gods. :)
Can anyone point me to the most updated combat map? I can't seem to find it.
Hm? I think we're still in the same original combat, so no new initiative, no possibility for a new surprise round (I know its part of the Diviner shtick).
I feel Den blind-sided me with his counter-ultimatum :)
Welcome to Ranger think 101. :)
Love out the box thinking...nicely done all of you!
Love out the box thinking...nicely done all of you!
Thank you DM. I appreciate your willingness to entertain creativity and not being overly RAW. :)
Let me know when you've settled on your ambush plans and what they are precisely, so I can forward the game to the next morning.
Maybe better to do planning here in discussion. Here are some ideas.
Ranged attackers on the wall under complete cover until the trap is sprung. have ladders either drawn up or trapped. They could notice drawn up I guess.
Someone closes the door in the surprise round. Maybe Olo, but I hate to deprive him of a sneak attack in the surprise round as well. I am not convinced they need to be on the outside. Maybe hide on the inside near the gate. Note you can take 20 to hide and person with the best stealth can assist. Currently there would be no way to bar the door from the outside and providing some way may be easily seen by the approaching bandits.
I like the idea of the bear traps. :)
Note there will be 7 or 8 of them. We have to capitalize on the surprise round or this could be deadly to us. Even is we do, it may be deadly to us. We have to be prepared for 4 or more archers to shoot at us for multiple rounds as we cannot engage them all in melee. So the cleric's ability to heal us during the fight could be critical.
What buffs might we have? A bless could be very handy. What arcane can we count on? Do we have a sleep or a color spray?
Sounding good so far, blocking their pathways and using the bear traps are great ideas. As far as arcane, Olo can use Grease to try to keep them off their feet and eat their turns up, or summon monster to keep them busy and help our turn economy.
Also, please note that Olo doesn't have the sneak attack feature so no added bonus for attacking in the surprise round. I think using him for stealthy actions is a good way to make use of him. But, do any of us have a lock? No use shutting the door if they can just open it up themselves. Perhaps Oleg has one if we don't.
I have bless, protection from evil, and shield (domain). We should plan on using bless, and saving PfE for a spontaneous cure casting. My other domain would grant PfE so neither domain spell is apt to be useful in this one.
I can do a 20' burst for one round for +2 AC (deflection bonus), its a standard action for me. So I could see doing bless in the surprise round, (lasts 10 rounds), and then deflection aura in the first round. Hopefully after the first round we've dropped a few so we're subject to fewer incoming attacks, and I can start healing as needed.
GM, with general NPC death happening at 0 rather than -Con, how does that interact with channel? Will I pop up downed enemy combatants if I channel? (I generally assume yes, but your rule tweak makes me thing I might not have to be as careful)
They die at -1 actually; they're staggered at 0 hps. But once they die, their souls are gone, so no worry that you'll revive them.
I was going to post this in-character, but...
We should limit how many we have on the wall as they won't be able to help those on the ground in melee (especially if you pull the ladders up!). Too many on the wall, and those on the ground will be outnumbered. Perhaps Den and one other? Olo/Athenasius?
Edit: Actually, I am going to post this in character. So there. :)
I agree and was thinking the same thing Damrak. Den becomes much less good in melee so it makes sense to have him on the wall. Who else?
If we close the gate and bar it then its two actions to undo that for anyone who tries to leave. I am not sure it will work to lock it from the outside. Maybe if we have a lock. but barring it from the outside should work just as good if modify the door to accept a bar on the outside.
Olo could actually start on the ground outside and around the corner too. Thoughts?
...How does Olo get back in once he's secured the gate shut? If we have a rope up to the wall, that's fine- but it's then 1 more person on the wall... in which case, perhaps it's Den (starting) and Olo (eventually) on the wall, with the rest of us on the ground?
Also, Anibeth - bless is one of my known spells, just in case you want to prepare a different spell (or keep it uncast to convert to healing as needed).
A knotted rope can get him back in. But again, I am not sure he needs to be on the outside at all. Closing and barring the gate from the inside could be very effective, especially if its guarded. I expect that, if things go well for us, it will take a few rounds before the bandits to realize they are in trouble. They will not think about retreat until then, so the gate does not have to be closed right away even.
A grease on under the horse could be good… A summoned eagle can pursue a fleeing man. But it only lasts a round I fear.
Edit: I was looking at the map and wonder if Den might be better off on a roof than on the palisade. Hard to tell what he can see from the towers versus what the roof lines block.
Anibeth has no real ranged capability (just reach), this is somewhat intentional to ensure she commits to buffs early.
If Damrak has a useful surprise round action that's not bless, I'll keep bless and use it in the surprise round. If you also lack a good surprise round action, we can see who ha a better secondary buff to prepare.
Things that might be interesting:
Shield of faith, same as my aura, but 1min, any one target (+2 deflection AC) perhaps on whomever is holding the doors/barred
Command ("fall" on Happs to get him off his horse)
However command feels a little outside her persona, if you have that it does more more Damrak-esque
We should keep in mind that Olo is a bit slow, and is best at point blank range. so if he is goin to shut the door, perhaps he should stay on the ground afterward. (Esp if we keep him inside ala Dens suggestion, which I am also leaning toward). He can avoid AOO's pretty well with acrobatics, so if he gets in trouble can aways back away to shoot, or even use his sword in a pinch. I can also activate my own luck ability to help me out, stacking with bless.
So, I think, go straight for the door, grease the most vuenrable target, then start shooting and moving around for Olo. All thats left is to create a proper hiding spot for him near the door. still thinking a lock would be useful.
Things that might be interesting:
Shield of faith, same as my aura, but 1min, any one target (+2 deflection AC) perhaps on whomever is holding the doors/barred
Command ("fall" on Happs to get him off his horse)
However command feels a little outside her persona, if you have that it does more more Damrak-esque
Ha - yes, I have command as a domain power; it is very Damrak: efficient, demoralising - and nonlethal. I like it, thanks for the inspiration.