DM Jesse's Kingmaker PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Jesse Heinig

I can't see roll 20 on my phone either, but I'll probably do a similar maneuver soon.

Reminder on weapon of awe spell, which Jenya and Cass have:

If the weapon scores a critical hit, the target of that critical hit becomes shaken for 1 round with no Saving Throw.

I had stealthed in to throw a thunderstone to get it's attention and reduce it's initiative. Did it have some means of seeing me before that?

I had stealthed in to throw a thunderstone to get it's attention and reduce it's initiative. Did it have some means of seeing me before that?

It does.

Looking at our Swag bag we have quite a lot of loot! When we get back to River Run we should hand out equipment to some of our subordinates and sell the rest.

Vald, there's an amulet of natural armor in our group loot if you want it?

So, keep or tower? :D

Keep is closer so Keep -> Tower -> Home probably. Unless we want to go owlbear hunting.

I can't reliably get on roll20 so I'm good with Keep, Tower, Home.

keep

KEEP IT IS!

Would it be useful if I migrated our maps to Google Slides? It's a little more work than Roll20, but not much, and it's faster to log in. I don't know if it works any easier with different mobile devices, though.

I wish there were an app that had layers like photoshop so I could just say "characters are on this layer" and it is always on top. I guess Roll20 sort of does that since it has a map layer and a token layer, but I can't do like... map layer, occlusion (dark/unexplored areas) layer, then token layer on top. Sometimes causes issues with stuff being covered when it shouldn't be or vice-versa.

Roll20 also has that nice feature that I can easily switch which map comes up as the default.

Vladric is fine with going to the keep; and depending on our general health condition after that, would also be fine with a tower trip too.

Vald, there's an amulet of natural armor in our group loot if you want it?

Heh, wasn't quite sure of who exactly had what from the Swag Bag but that Amulet of Natural Armor+1 sounds like it'll be very useful for Vladric. Come to think of it, is there a way for me to note having the amulet from that online list? ;)

Would it be useful if I migrated our maps to Google Slides? It's a little more work than Roll20, but not much, and it's faster to log in. I don't know if it works any easier with different mobile devices, though.

While I'm more used to seeing stuff on the Google Slides (a big majority of online pbp games seem to use it), I don't really have any problems using Roll 20 myself. I do recall that with Google Slides, some people are unable to move their character tokens via their smartphone/phone (I've had to help move them around in the past). ;)

Google Slides and Powerpoint online do have great smartphone apps that make it possible for me personally to be able to move tokens around and stuff like that. I'm suprised that Slides doesn't have layers. I think Powerpoint does? Anyway no ideal solution unfortunately but for me Slides would be better.

Slides works on my phone, but I don't mind Roll20. I can move my tokens when I get home.

Vladric, feel free to take the amulet. I figured we'd just delete stuff off the list when someone took it.

Vallen's spell list for the Keep Adventure:

1st: (DC 14)
+ Divine Favor
+ Comprehend Languages
+ Magic Weapon
+ (Open)
+ Animate Rope (Domain)

2nd: (DC 15)
+ Protection from Evil, Communal
+ Spear of Purity
+ (Open) (Saving in case we need Ghostbane Dirge!)
+ Wood Shape (Domain)

Apologies about the radio silence these past couple of days- didn't have any internet access during that time but I'm glad to be back and will have Vladric up and running for the keep foray now. :)

PS. Will take that Natural Armor Amulet then from the Swag bag too (His AC stats now reflect having the amulet on instead of the charm thingy). ;)

From the hole can I haul up the rope and toss the grappling hook the rest of the way up to the top of the wall?

Sure, though there's nothing special to see along the walkway. Most of the tower tops are collapsed and ruined.

That's fine. The point is to avoid the courtyard. Still don't trust it. More climb checks or assume we bypass the hole? I think everyone can make it with a take 10. Even Vallen.

Hi all! DM Jesse gave me the greenlight to jump back in, so I'm happy to be back in the game. Thank you all for your patience, and DM, thank you for botting Ilystria in my absence.

Welcome back Ilystria! Nothing makes me happier than to see someone return to a game.

Good to hear, Ilystria. :)

And well-said, Vallen. :)

Aww, thanks! I wish I didn't have to leave in the first place (especially considering I just got here), but I'm so glad to be back. You guys are great. =)

Incidentally, my team is now on overtime, AND I have a dance recital this weekend, which might kill me. If I stop posting, assume that my heart gave out.

Did you make it? Hope you're finding some time for sleep!

I agree! Please let us know if you're okay and where we can find a clip of you dancing online. ^^

I survived the dance recital. It is now midnight and I'm still at work.

No clips online yet, probably in a couple days.

Please bear with me!

I went through Cass' active chracters and April 25th appears to be their last posting date on a few characters. I'm sure they'll be back, but it's odd they didn't say anything.

I wish I could say I have a good reason but I don't. Work picked up a little but it's mostly because I just haven't had the motivation. I got distracted by a new web serial (A Practical Guide to Evil) and then just kept putting it off. I've been on the boards for almost 4 years (juggling 12 games at my peak I think) and I think I am finally feeling burnt out. In the coming days I think I will drop a few of them but this will not be one of them if you'll still have me after disappearing. I know I get irritated when others do it so I expect nothing less in return.

No problem, this game is pretty slow compared to many which I know can be frustrating. Unfortunately my schedule just makes it hard to keep a fast pace. I'd rather just keep plugging along if possible! Especially since we reached kingdom-building, so now things get interesting. :)

I feel you Cass, it can get overwhelming to keep up sometimes! Glad you're not leaving us, though.

Glad to see everyone posting :). Man this Will save though. I have no idea how to snap you guys out of the enthralled state!

Vallen has a Communal Protection from Evil that, if he can cast it, will provide everyone another saving throw I think. If whatever this thing is is using a bardic performance I think you just have to interrupt it?

I'll let you figure out how her dance works in play, but she doesn't seem terribly afraid of Jenya's gun! :O

Not to metagame or anything, but it's pretty clear to me what Jenya needs to do here: Have a dance-off.

Also, I'm having trouble moving my icon on Roll20.

Token should be fixed.

I wish I could say I have a good reason but I don't. Work picked up a little but it's mostly because I just haven't had the motivation. I got distracted by a new web serial (A Practical Guide to Evil) and then just kept putting it off. I've been on the boards for almost 4 years (juggling 12 games at my peak I think) and I think I am finally feeling burnt out. In the coming days I think I will drop a few of them but this will not be one of them if you'll still have me after disappearing. I know I get irritated when others do it so I expect nothing less in return.

No worries- and glad to have you staying on. :)

Does Vallen get an action this round if Jenya's "See No Evil" tactic works?

I'm hoping so!

You get a new will save with a +2 bonus Vlad! Apparently none of us can make the save expect Jenya, so it's up to you!

I only had a 40% chance of making it even with the bonus. Hell of a Will save. An Obscuring Mist would allow us to flee at the very least.

Alright what kind of action is it to toss a bedsheet over the dancing lady?

...improvised weapon attack? So touch attack at -4?

@Cassie: This is apparently one of the TPKers of the adventure, but you guys are smarter than that and not stuck on just "swing a sword and cast a spell" so I'm sure you'll figure something out.

Urgh, Jenya has no strength, so I don't think the bedsheet is a great idea at -4. It might work and get everyone free or it might be another round of nobody being able to do anything. Looking at the map (only rarely have access to roll20), I think the choice is to turn Vallen towards the stairs so he can make a full withdrawal and then free Ilystria. Can I go ahead and take my turn?

Go ahead!

You get a new will save with a +2 bonus Vlad! Apparently none of us can make the save expect Jenya, so it's up to you!

Good to hear that he has another opportunity for one; originally, I wasn't sure if Vladric would be able to reroll in the first place which was why I didn't do so in that earlier post. :)

I'm going to guess that the -2 penalty still applies or it doesn't for the second save? Either way, I'll leave in both results in the new roll.

I think it's time to call a retreat!

Uh yeah, time to run! Thank goodness for that scroll of obscuring mist.

Stuff to remember while considering whether to go back and fight the undead elf woman thing:

* Once you make a save vs. its dancing, you are immune for 24 hours.
* If you come back later you can bring spells to be ready for it.
* If you defeat it, you will reach level 5.

Hmm, I do like the idea of being level 5... Vallen also has an issue with leaving an evil undead elf unchecked.

How about we retreat for now, and try to kill the thing in the morning? That way Jenya will still be immune, and we can prepare appropriate spells to negate the dancing.

If that's the plan, will we be exploring the rest of the keep or calling it a day? I've no preference either way, just curious about what you all think.

Good with either. Though I think everyone's pretty rattled IC and maybe not up for exploring. Any idea on how to make sure dancer there stays where she is?

We could have Vallen call in a bunch of Dwarven masons to brick her up in the tower à la Elizabeth Bathory. Which might be fitting considering what she planned to do to Vladric.

But if you were looking for helpful suggestions, I... don't have any. =/