And yet the alternative is asking PCs without the requisite Knowledge skills (or interests) to break character and run on like an antiquities scholar. Ahkenaten and Aerathiel are both in the room and the most Knowledgeable of the party: Why not just say that one of them delivers the speech that one of them would be doing if they were around? If I were unavailable for a while, you'd DMPC Pherenike in combat rather than asking the party to fight encounters without their main melee combatant, just like you DMPCed Musad to search for traps while Mark was away rather than just telling us we walked into them.
me ---> :(
I will advance things later tonight. Do you wish to skip the RPing of loot selling and shopping and go straight to the Tooth & Hookah?
Doesn't mean no one else can put anything in, but it seems like our scholar and party face ought to do the scholarly faceing. I believe the only other PC with a relevant Knowledge skill is Mus'ad, and he's got the stoic dwarf-of-few-words thing going.
DMPC the Professor going over all the stuff in posts like this, and then anyone else with anything to add can do so. (He'd probably also tell Pherenike to sit down and be polite.) Heck, he's the only one who knows Ancient Osiriani so none of the rest of us even know what any of this stuff says.
I thought rather than me talking to myself you players might want to participate. ;)
There is nothing saying that one of you can't run Ahkenaten or Aerathiel for this encounter. :)
I'll post on Sunday evening if that's ok (inc. level up). As for taking notes etc., I made a point of Aristedes doing that from the first moment we entered (there is a post to that effect somewhere).
Sunday is fine. I am pretty busy this weeekend as well so we'll pick things up then.
Myron level 2 summary:
+1 level of Fighter (Lore Warden)
HP: 6 + 2 con = +8
Feats:
Butterfly's Sting (fighter bonus)
Combat Expertise (Lore Warden bonus)
Skills: (2+2):
Acrobatics +1
Knowledge (local) +1
Linguistics (ancient osiriani) +1
Perception +1
Saves:
Fort +1
+1 BAB/CMB/CMD
Character updated. The Professor takes the False Life spell but can't cast it until next level.
Kheled is leveled.
Sorry for the delay. Unexpectedly sent out of town for work. Will resume in a day or two. :P
Pherenike made a comment, then the priest responded with a cold stare and spoke thusly His tone was anything but friendly now. and threatened us with everything from being thrown out of the city to being arrested. The background characters scribes sit rigid, some with mouths agape reacted as though this was a very tense and threatening moment.
Mus'ad responded In level and even voice and explained what they broke and why. He also referenced to the other team's reports... as surely they broke stuff too, or if they said they didn't, they're lying. Raising the fact that if he let the other teams off for whatever they smashed up, why is he making such a big deal now?
Besides, if he's been in tombs - he knows that things need to be broken - so he's being a giant hypocrite for making such a big deal over it.
Mus'ad's last answer was to highlight the above... somewhat rudely in interpretation perhaps, but he is getting 'interrogated' now and answering in kind. Apart from Pherenike's first comment there hasn't been any reason for the NPC to treat us like school kids that were out after curfew.
This statement isn't true - as before Mus'ad mentions the documents he states: "Mirror try burn hole in head, had to smash. Little figure try stab us, had to break. Had to jam few trap... keep trying to shoot us. Man had fake tomb... tomb try kill us - that one still moving if you want go see it... had to spike room so could not get out and kill us." thus clearly explaining what they broke.
I really don't want to get into another argument about character motivations and actions, but like our GM, I'm both baffled and frustrated at the confrontational tone that has been present during this campaign.
The premise of this entire AP is very clear: The authorities of Wati and the church of Pharasma hires adventurers to explore tombs and bring back reports and important objects.
So I don't understand the desire to act openly hostile towards both NPCs and other party members for doing just that?
Joana, when you choose to have Pherenike openly insult the very people who sent us on this mission (right after strenuously objecting in the OOC to anyone but the professor speaking on behalf of the group, mind you), you take the rest of the group hostage. We can either side with you and further antagonize the people who hired us, or turn this whole scene into a big interparty argument. Neither option is fun for me, and it makes the GM's job a lot harder.
As a player, I really want for all of us to work together to keep this adventure going. I want for us all to be able to roleplay with the NPCs and to move on to exploring other parts of the necropolis.
In the real world, blowing the boss off when he ask for a report on the job he told you to do gets you reprimanded. Arguing with him over the reprimand gets you fired. Same thing in a fantasy world. And if we get fired, game over.
So can we please just play nice with the boss and get on to the tomb raiding we signed up for in the first place?
Frankly, it's partly my own frustration with what a poorly-conceived first dungeon this was. Any one of those toy soldiers or the metal snake, as centuries-old constructs, have to be several times more valuable than the jars and tapestries we carried out, and yet we smashed them without a thought. I cringed the whole time we were fighting the constructs, feeling we should be trying to catch them in a bag or box and bring them out whole, but that's not something that would begin to occur to Pherenike.
Also, I originally had no intention of Pherenike addressing Sebu at all, but the DM seemed disappointed everyone wasn't speaking up. She's entirely unqualified to express any sort of opinion on the contents of the tomb.
And while it may not have been intended, Sebu's remark about the "helpful insight" provided by other groups came across as smarmy and patronizing. Perhaps it was the word "quip" that gave me that impression. Sitting around a table with tone and body language present, it probably wouldn't have sounded that way.
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I've not been around enough to get especially involved, but lets just roll with it now the RP is in place. Its a nice opportunity for Kheled and Aristedes to attempt a smooth recovery at any rate.
I also had the impression he was being smug and it was the word quip that gave that impression to me too along with a sense of smugness.
My last post is Aristedes trying to give the others a way out of the tense situation as well as some damage control. Please don't take it as OOC forcing anyone out of the conversation, more just opening the door.
Nice post, Alex. Hopefully the well-placed use of diplomacy can steer us towards a more amiable resolution to this encounter. And I like the touch about attributing the negative outbursts to the stress and strain of the experience.
Personally, I don't think the dungeon was all that bad. Sure, there was a heavy concentration of constructs, but also plenty of interesting traps, some vermin and an overall feel of an ancient osiriani tomb. So far, this adventure has contained pretty much what it says on the box: Traps, tombs and treasure.
What I did find frustrating was to have fellow party members grumble and show open disdain for the entire endeavor all the way through. Especially when my character was directly antagonized for expressing enthusiasm over finding a valuable object. After all, it was the main reason we were there in the first place.
With that in mind, I will be honest and say that when Joana made her post stating that only certain members of the group should be allowed to speak, I was NOT happy. I let it slide without speaking up because I was headed out and didn't want to start an argument, but that was not cool.
And when I came back to see our encounter turn from a friendly greeting to a hostile confrontation in the span of a few posts, I was close to throwing in the towel.
I'm not writing this to point fingers or assign blame, just to point out that this style of play, with a high level of tension and hostility, both towards NPCs and other party members, is not my idea of a good time.
I absolutely respect the desire to be true to a character concept, even if it creates tension. Conflict drives a story, and without conflict, the story is boring. But it is OUR job as players to make sure that the motivations and actions of our characters contribute to moving the story forward.
So far, I have been getting the distinct impression that Pherenike, and to a certain extent Mus'ad as well, don't really want to be part of what we're supposed to be doing at all. And I am really confused as to why that is.
I've expressed similar thoughts before, and I sincerely don't want to rekindle the bad feelings that brought about. This is NOT a personal attack or a passive-aggressive guilt trip. I'm merely trying to convey my personal perception of the game so far, and to find out if it is accurate or not.
I just feel we need to address this, because right now I'm struggling to find the motivation for Myron to want to continue to be on a team with people who seem more interested in complaining and arguing than adventuring and exploring. And as a player, I want to be able to enjoy the game BECAUSE of the characters in it, not in spite of them.
I want for us all to be able to roleplay with the NPCs
That's all Joana / Pherenike was doing. Sure her character was being rude... but I read the NPC as being overly smarmy as well.
It's worth noting that while she fired the first shot, the NPC responded in kind with both barrels. DM Okoya could have had him rock back surprised and allow another character to come in with a save - or have him simply challenge "What do you mean?" - but instead it was a complete mood switch and the sledgehammer brought down.
If you want us to be characters, then let us be those characters. Respond in character on it.
Especially when my character was directly antagonized for expressing enthusiasm over finding a valuable object.
Pherenike pointed out the distasteful nature of it... which is an opinion that Mus'ad kind of shared. Just because we're given clearance to do so by the AP - it doesn't turn it into 'Yay we get to desecrate the fallen and steal their stuff'. This wasn't an item lying around for us to pick up - this was the funerary mask being physically worn by a corpse.
That's all Joana / Pherenike was doing. Sure her character was being rude... but I read the NPC as being overly smarmy as well.
It's worth noting that while she fired the first shot, the NPC responded in kind with both barrels. DM Okoya could have had him rock back surprised and allow another character to come in with a save - or have him simply challenge "What do you mean?" - but instead it was a complete mood switch and the sledgehammer brought down.
I think everyone agrees that it was unfortunate that this scene evolved the way it did. And I acknowledge that while I personally didn't feel the NPC was being smug or rude, three other players each got this impression.
That said, I'm in favor of going with the diplomatic efforts set in motion by Kheled and the professor.
If you want us to be characters, then let us be those characters. Respond in character on it.
The problem is, my character is a halfling, and a former slave. His natural response to abuse from humans is to bow his head and bear it, and to flee if it gets to where he can't bear it any more. Kheled posted a fine response to Pherenike's remark, and I didn't feel Myron had anything to add. I suppose i could have posted some internal monologue or roleplayed some body language reaction, but I decided to let it pass.
The obvious person to reprimand Pherenike for her outburst is the professor, and Alex chose not to have him do that. The special relationship between Pherenike and the professor, coupled with the professor's status as de facto leader of the group makes it hard for the other characters to challenge Pherenike in her behavior.
That's part of the reason why I'm taking this OOC. Because if things keep going this way, I have a hard time seeing why Myron should choose to stick with this group and not go try his luck with the friendly all-halfling team we met earlier.
Pherenike pointed out the distasteful nature of it... which is an opinion that Mus'ad kind of shared. Just because we're given clearance to do so by the AP - it doesn't turn it into 'Yay we get to desecrate the fallen and steal their stuff'. This wasn't an item lying around for us to pick up - this was the funerary mask being physically worn by a corpse.
That is precisely my point. The main premise of this AP is tomb raiding, which in my world pretty much boils down to "desecrate the fallen and steal their stuff". The AP is literally called Mummy's Mask, so it should hardly come as a surprise that we are expected to find and retrieve funeral masks worn by mummies.
Yet both you and Joana have chosen to make characters that find this sort of activity distasteful. It is like volunteering to go on the expedition to find the lost tomb of Tutankhamun, and when you finally find it and the other group members go "Huzzah!" you turn around and say "You're a horrible person!" The same goes for creating a character with a strong prejudice against foreigners, in a game where interaction with lots of foreigners, both on the team and as friendly NPCs is to be expected.
It should not come as a surprise that such a character frequently gets into conflicts, which is precisely what have been happening. So what I'm asking is: Is this a conscious choice?
This is what Mus'ad did:
Mus'ad pauses, and looks to Kheled.
And after Kheled said he was okay with it:
Mus'ad shrugs as Kheled takes no offence at the liberation of the funerary mask, but after a few moments with furrowed brow asks Pherenike "Could help Mus'ad with this?" seeking to put their combined thews to purpose replacing the lid of the sarcophagus.
If assisted he looks a little sheepish afterwards "Seems silly thought, even after take man's golden face... but not want to leave him for bugs to eat."
Did he find it a bit distasteful - yes. Did he stop it - no.
Will he ever go "Yay, lets go rob the dead some more" - no. Will he go on another journey and do his job - yes.
Has the AP to date provided him with an ability to be more than just a relatively mute, slightly ornery dwarf - no. Does he have hidden depths yet to discover - yes.
Is that enough? - perhaps you might ask Mus'ad in character in game why and what he thought...?
Is that enough? - perhaps you might ask Mus'ad in character in game why and what he thought...?
Thank you for elaborating, Mark.
I think for a large part that Mus'ad has been true to his role as the mysterious and withdrawn dwarf, and that he's not really been given many opportunities to go beyond the image of "a relatively mute, slightly ornery dwarf". On the flip side, he doesn't exactly radiate an aura of "come and ask me about my inner feelings" either.
I'll make an effort to engage both Pherenike and Mus'ad (and the rest of the group as well) in character.
I just want to address a few things before we move on.
The document piles were only mentioned initially as a way to indicate your arrival order, and to reinforce the competitive atmosphere surrounding your assignments. When Mus'ad made eyes at them (this is the first response I was refering to above Mark) I had Sabu elaborate on them. I had no idea what Mus'ad was meaning with his pointed look at Ahkenaten, so I chose to have Sabu emphasis the archeological nature of your tomb foray. My attempt to alleviate the distasteful nature of this assignment going horribly awry obviously. As for your "brown nosing competitors", two of your own party were doing the same thing all along, and had said as much previously. :)
While "quip" may admittedly have been a poor choice of word the response to the perceived slight was a significant overreaction in my opinion. After Pherenike set the tone, two more characters followed suit and piled on immediately and unquestionably. :P
First, let me say that given the extensive introduction post/narrative, I would have hoped that that would have been given some consideration when attempting to determine Sabu's "tone". I assure you that I will not be that subtle, or sophisticated when I narrate. If it seems I am trying to set a tone and something seems out of place, give weight to the majority of the text. Or if things seem unclear, ask for clarification OOC. :)
Second, even if Sabu had acted smugly (he was not) or had intended to insult the party (again no), even if he had, I would have expected a much more muted response given his position as your employer. This is the same group that wouldn't delve the prelude due to inexperience, but then after a half day exploring, mouth off to a high level priest like Sabu who is directly responsible for handing out future assignments? Nothing has been stated that the lottery system is to be used for the follow up assignments. ;)
This last bit is what has really been bothering me the last few days and I feel I really need to address it as it feels to me like a bit of a personal attack. :(
It's worth noting that while she fired the first shot, the NPC responded in kind with both barrels. DM Okoya could have had him rock back surprised and allow another character to come in with a save - or have him simply challenge "What do you mean?" - but instead it was a complete mood switch and the sledgehammer brought down.
Sabu's response was entirely in line with the situation, again in my opinion, as he was (in his eyes) treated rudely and with great disrespect, in his own church, in front of his subordinates, by a group of inexperienced and unknown adventurers.
I would politely point our that the opportunity to intervene was available to any and all of the characters. After Pherenike's outburst, 3 characters posted and 5 days of real time passed with no attempt to make a save made.
As for both barrels and the sledgehammer, Sabu was inquiring (I made OOC statements to the fact that he was not "raging", and made sure not to include any exclamation points in his speech) as to whether Pherenike was admitting to violating the "rules" as put forth previously. He had made no determination yet as to whether a violation, or what type, had indeed occurred, and his recitation of the repercussions of violation was his warning to Pherenike before she spoke further. If you follow this link to the cermony post and open the spoiler labelled "Rules" you should see a familiar bit of text in bold contained within. Sabu was giving Pherenike the chance to explain, "What do you mean?", just not in those exact words.
Anyhow, now that I have gotten that off my chest, and I hope that I haven't created any more animosity or tension, I would like to get back to the game. I think this is a wonderful group of players and it really bothers me that the game is off to such a rough start. I apologize profusely if I have offended anyone or said anything to make anyone uncomfortable. I hope that you will forgive me, and that we can continue.
Regards,
Chad
PS And I really want to reiterate that I do not want players to feel that they cannot contribute to RP or social situations because of characters with "low" scores or skills. The game only suffers if everyone cannot get involved with the story.
Annotated Mus'ad's 1st response:
Wow that's a lot of documents
he seems to want us to fill in the same amount.
wow... still a lot of documents.
oh bugger, he really really wants us to fill them in.
Help?
I didn't attempt a 'save' from Pherenike's first outburst partially because I was curious as to how the NPCs would react, and secondly because it would've been out of character for Mus'ad to do so.
But while Mus'ad didn't respond to Pherenike's outburst - it took him 11 minutes real world time to respond to the NPC's reaction to her statement, which was a measured and annotated answering of his implied 'what do you mean?' in his own way.
On the perceived personal attack - the comment I made OOC was essentially more a response to Jacob than yourself. The queries against playing nice with the NPCs vs roleplaying, etc - it wasn't directed at yourself.
In character - I was absolutely fine with the way that you handled it, and Mus'ad's responses were in line his blunt, factual and pragmatic way of dealing with it in character.
Thanks Mark. :)
I'd also like to add that my posts and Mark's responses have done a great deal to alleviate the growing sense of frustration I was feeling. I think I let a lot of minor things get to me, and I'll admit that I have been quick to take things up OOC that could and should have been addressed in character instead.
With that said - on to selling the recovered items and distributing the wealth.
Looking at the bigger loot list that Mark was kind enough to put together, I think that most of the things can be sold off without much consideration.
I suggest we handle loot like this:
- All consumables (potions, scrolls, alchemical items etc.) are distributed to the members of the group best equipped to use them, for the expected good of the entire group. This includes our party wizard wishing to claim scrolls to add new spells to her spellbook. Anything we don't have any reasonable use for is sold.
- Group members then have the opportunity to claim items, and have the sales value subtracted from their share of the cash from the subsequent sale.
- All remaining items are sold off, and each party member receives an equal cash share, with a share going to a group fund. The group fund covers things like wands and other items that benefit the entire group.
I think Terok has a handy dandy spreadsheet that lets us handle the math, if we feel the need for accurate bookkeeping.
Here's the bigger loot list, reposted for easy reference. I'm in favor of letting Sabu handle the sales and moving on to some deserved R&R and a bit of inter-group roleplay to get to know each other better and try to iron out some of the kinks we have been experiencing.
Couple of metal pitons and a usable hammer - used to lock in the sarcophagus, hammer with Myron
2 x alchemist’s fire
2 x silversheen
MW longbow - Mus'ad
10 cold iron arrows - Mus'ad
Gold scarab clasp
Onyx and silver holy symbol of Pharasma
Silver hand mirror
Wax-sealed clay urn of nard
Exquisite and perfectly preserved suit of padded armor
500 ancient gold coins
Small, well-preserved darkwood coffer
Number of glass vials
Ornate lapis and carnelian pendant
Assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones
Exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask
2 x golden books - 300gp each
4 x funerary masks - 30gp each
2 x light wooden shields
Scarab Shield - 4399gp
2 x potions of CLW
Potion of darkvision
Composite shortbow (Str rating?)
Masterwork kopesh
Masterwork spear
Papyrus records - 140gp
Nard - 75 gp
100 gp, 42 sp
How does that sound?
Works for Kheled.
Happy to get the items sold off screen, and Mus'ad wouldn't have much interest in bartering or the like.
Ok... let me know what you wish to sell and what you wish to keep/claim and I will determine the net value.
Really long day for me, will post up the Tooth & Hookah tomorrow.
Mus'ad only wants the bow and arrows.
Nothing for Myron except perhaps a couple of the consumables, and the hammer he's already carrying.
I figure we hold on to:
2 x alchemist’s fire
2 x silversheen
2 x potions of CLW
1 x Potion of darkvision
I'm not sure if these have already been distributed to people.
I don't think we split up anything.
Silversheen to mainline fighter types
Alchemist fires to the dextrous ones.
CLW to misc.
Kheled doesn't really need them with his healing.
Kheled isn't interesting in anything except for the holy symbol, do we know what it is worth? He may want to sell it if it is worth 50gp+
We split up the first batch of treasure here (and following posts). Pherenike and Myron took the silversheens, Mus'ad the arrows, and Kheled the holy symbol.
There's nothing else on the list Pherenike wants.
Sorry for the lack of posting this past little bit. Getting absolutely slammed with work as everyone is trying to get their projects finished before the snow arrives.
Also, I am out of town (with no cell service expected) from Saturday to Wednesday. Doubt I will have time to update anything before I leave. We will resume on Thursday.
My apologies again. See you next week!
While our GM is out of town, I thought we might as well use the time for our characters to get to know each other a bit better.
Really sorry to have to postpone things again, but work is not letting up and I am out of town again from Friday to Sunday. (I did have one whole night at home this week.) :P
Things should be back to normal starting Monday. Again, my apologies.
PS I do like the RP that is being done in my absence. :)
Aristedes has no interest in any of this loot.
Ditto here. I am just getting my head above water and should be posting regularly again starting today.
This game will get my full attention by tomorrow at the latest.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
I attempted to figure out our treasure share today, but a lot of the items on the big loot list don't have gp values and I was alone with the kids, so I didn't get a chance to finish.
Could someone do the math and post what we each get?
I have to stop making promises... :P
Anyhow, let me get some things going so you can do your treasure split. I was going to be using your collective appraise skills to determine perceived values initially, (leading into RPing the sale of goods) but seeing as how that isn't happening it isn't worth the hassle on my end.
The list below is at full value, 75% of which you can retain upon sale.
Couple of metal pitons and a usable hammer - used to lock in the sarcophagus, hammer with Myron
2 x alchemist’s fire
2 x silversheen
MW longbow - Mus'ad
10 cold iron arrows - Mus'ad
Gold scarab clasp
Onyx and silver holy symbol of Pharasma
Silver hand mirror
2 x Wax-sealed clay urn of nard
Exquisite and perfectly preserved suit of padded armor see below
500 ancient gold coins
Small, well-preserved darkwood coffer
Number of glass vials
Ornate lapis and carnelian pendant
Assortment of carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise semiprecious stones
Exquisitely crafted gold funerary mask
2 x golden books
4 x funerary masks
2 x light wooden shields
Scarab Shield see below
2 x potions of CLW
potion of darkvision
Composite shortbow (Str rating )
Masterwork kopesh
Masterwork spear
Papyrus records
100 gp, 42 sp
The church is interested in buying (if for sale) the holy symbol, all the funerary masks, the golden books as well as the papyrus records. The rest you can assume to find buyers for in the Sunshine Market.
AKHENTEPI’S ARMOR
PRICE 5,235 GP
SLOT armor CL 7th WEIGHT 10 lbs.
AURA moderate transmutation
This suit of +1 stanching padded armor is of traditional Osirian design, consisting of a quilted cuirass of lightweight, breathable linen; a linen kilt; and a teardrop-shaped groin guard of stiffened linen. Besides its anti-bleeding properties, Akhentepi’s armor grants its wearer a sense of impending danger. Once per day as a free action when the wearer attempts an initiative check, the wearer can add a +3 insight bonus on that initiative check.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS COST 2,695 GP
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, anticipate peril, stabilize, cure
critical wounds or lesser restoration
SCARAB SHIELD
PRICE 4,399 GP
SLOT shield CL 3rd WEIGHT 6 lbs.
AURA faint conjuration
This +1 light steel shield is fashioned in the shape of a scarab beetle—a creature that functions as a psychopomp for Pharasma, guiding the souls of the departed into the afterlife. Scarab shields are especially favored by archaeologists and tomb raiders for the protection they grant against guardians and vermin frequently found in ancient ruins and forgotten tombs.
Once per day on command, a scarab shield grants its wielder a +2 sacred bonus on saving throws against fear and death effects for 3 minutes. At any time while this bonus is in effect, the wielder can end the effect as a swift action for a burst of healing energy. The wielder loses the saving throw bonus, but is healed of 1d8+3 points of damage.
In addition, a scarab shield can protect its wielder from swarms. If a mindless swarm attempts to enter the wielder’s space, the swarm must attempt a DC 11 Will save. If the save succeeds, the swarm can enter the wielder’s space and attack the wielder normally. If the save fails, the swarm instinctively avoids the space occupied by the wielder, completely ignoring the wielder for 3 rounds. This effect ends if the wielder makes any attacks, but the wielder may use non-attack spells or otherwise act without ending the effect. This ability functions once per day.
CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS COST 2,279 GP
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, blessing of courage and life, sanctuary
Out Camping tihs weekend. Might get a chance to get the posts but maybe not. DMPC me as needed.
I was thinking, are any of you interested in possibly pooling some of our newly aquired funds to purchase a magical healing wand? It would be a good addition to my healing skills and should keep us in the hunt longer.
Seems like the need for a wand of clw ought to be lesser using the injury/strain rules. Far less topping off between fights, but maybe more in-combat healing to avoid "killing blow" damage?
I guess we could spring for one; it ought to last longer than they usually do since most damage magically goes away when the fight is over.
I was thinking, are any of you interested in possibly pooling some of our newly aquired funds to purchase a magical healing wand? It would be a good addition to my healing skills and should keep us in the hunt longer.Seems like the need for a wand of clw ought to be lesser using the injury/strain rules. Far less topping off between fights, but maybe more in-combat healing to avoid "killing blow" damage?
I guess we could spring for one; it ought to last longer than they usually do since most damage magically goes away when the fight is over.
Not especially interested in a party fund; would rather we have extra gear for ourselves and strain/injury mostly removes the need for out of combat healing.
Looks like we're skipping the party funds/healing for now. I guess the strain/injury rules do remove most of the need. People can stock up on an extra emergency potion or two individually.
A quick calculation of the sales worth of everything except the consumables plus the coins comes to 10.085 gp and 42sp.
Divided by six that's 1680 gp and change for each party member.
Once the division is finalized, Ansha you can spend and equivalent share (plus your starting wealth) on your equipment and we'll get you introduced properly.
Perhaps it would help if we had an objective? I'm really not clear on what our motivation is supposed to be to buddy up to our fellow delvers.
Information/rumor gathering? Character development? An opportunity to introduce story elements in an interactive manner? Foreshadowing? Setting establishment? To name a few. Take your pick. :)
It is proving difficult to set the stage when the characters are showing such little interest in their surroundings or with interacting with the NPCS. :P
You aren't expected to be buddies with your fellow delvers, and they don't all want to be your buddies I can assure you, but it would be nice if your characters didn't exist in a vacuum no? :)
Okay, in character, what is our motivation to talk to the other tomb raiders? :)
I mean, if I'm at a tavern in real life, I'm not going to just go walking from table to table talking to strangers. If we were actively seeking some sort of information, I can see going out and rolling Diplomacies to try to pick up rumors, but thus far, in story, everything seems pretty straightforward to our PCs: The church assigns us a place to go loot; we go loot it; meanwhile, the other teams have their own assignments somewhere else. Metawise, I'm sure things are all going to go horribly wrong at some point, but the PCs have no reason to suspect everything isn't on the up-and-up.
Full disclosure: One of the main reasons I cancelled my AP subscription was that I got frustrated with NPCs monopolizing the plots, and I've quit building the face characters I used to favor because I'm tired of having the responsibility of kissing up to them. You can ask Mark about my going out of my way to give Irabeth the cold shoulder in his WotR. ;)
In character I would say information/rumor gathering would be the top of the list. I'm not expecting you to run around and chat up all the other groups, but neither are they all unapproachable strangers. They are other teams engaged in the same mission as yourselves. The exchange of information about the Necropolis can be mutually beneficial. It is a dangerous place after all. And I would rather handle it with RP over rolling diplomacy checks. Makes the world come a little more alive that way.
I would like to emphasize that although you are in a competition of sorts with the other teams, they aren't your enemies. You are all vying for the choicest and most valuable assignments, true, but you are expected to at least be civil to each other. The Church does not wish to compound the problem of having a disease and undead riddled abandoned and wall offed section of the city with hostilities between its hired cleansing teams. :P
Teams coming into direct conflict with other teams will very likely be asked to leave, at best, or be dealt with within the scope of the law. This isn't anything goes in the Necropolis. :)
Good relationships with some of the other teams could likewise be mutually beneficial in the future. ;)
As for your concern, I can assure you that this AP does not have NPCs running amok, eclipsing the PCs (No DMNPCs will be joining the party) but they are a necessary part of the story. They have their parts to play.
It would be nice if some of them are on stage a little longer and not just a name and a stat block. :)