DM Voice's Osirion Expedition (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

1) I liked the setup that started this whole thing. But the favorite moment was the dream sequences each had in their separate door.

2) fighting them damned pug-thingies full of bad luck...but that is me the player saying that in frustration at a unique enemy. But having fun so not really dwelling on any 'non-fun' moments.

3) Just today I was thinking that Noor hasn't really been much of a desert princess lately and then Jaru went and questioned her judgement. Her snap was a reminder that she had been accustomed to getting her way. Mechanic-wise she is currently a simple character so no worries there.

4) I liked the inclusion of the map last battle. I know we had been getting by without one, but it did seem like there was always a bit of mental gymnastics to keep some things straight and a little slack given to keep things moving

Favorite part so far has been, well, all of it frankly. I quite enjoyed our beginnings, and the travel times have been especially fun interludes.

I can't really say that I've had a least favorite moment that is due to your influence (unless you are secretly controlling the die roller). After a while, it does become annoying to lose most of my awesome spells because I simply can't seem to hit anybody, but I'm trying! I'll have slightly more luck now combining my talents together, so it shouldn't really be a problem anymore.

I feel as though I've been able to make full use of my abilities so far. I don't really use Spell Combat, but that's because my terrible rolling so far has made me wary of taking any penalties to my attacks. We'll see how things change now.

Keep up the great work, and thanks for putting up with my tardiness!

Thanks for the feedback guys - warms the cockles to know that my gibbering ramblings are generating enjoyment :)

I went back and read over some of the thread, and realised that apart from the opening gambit we haven't spent any time within a city. I'll have to rectify that if you survive the Fiend's vault....

I can state with certainty that more maps are in your future. Now that I've figured out a way that works for me, I'll be able to whip them up a bit more easily.

Super advance Holiday warning post:

I will be going on a pretty long trip down to Australia between 14th December and 10th January to visit relatives, celebrate Christmas, that sort of thing.

Whilst I will have net access, my available time will be restricted to alot less than I can currently swing; so ability to DM will be virtually nil through that time.

So my initial long range thoughts is to essentially park the PbP over my vacation time, and then pick it back up in the new year.

Anyone have any concerns / issues with that approach?

For clarity - the PbP will keep running as usual right up to December 14 before going on temporary hiatus.

That will be fine. I'll still be here.

FYI - I'll be out of town tomorrow, so probably won't get a chance to put in an update until Sunday evening my time (in roughly 48ish hours from this post).

So feel free to take the weekend off, and sorry for the delay in the game.

Be honest with me - are the riddles too obtuse and vague? - or do you think they are ok?

In hind sight the answer was there, because even during his beat down (my choice) he felt superior. I don't mind tough riddles, but I am glad the place didn't fill with sand for making the incorrect choices.

Be honest with me - are the riddles too obtuse and vague? - or do you think they are ok?

I don't think they are too hard, I just have to apologize that I haven't had the time to put into figuring them out :(

to answer your earlier question, I'll probably have to drop out of this game as well, but I'll try and hang in until we get back to Sothis if that helps. the 3 games I'm running really take up all the time i have to post. i'm still playing in 2 games- one that posts fortnightly so it isn't much of a time suck and the other doesnt' require much thought so i may stay in those, but I just don't feel like I'm able to put the required thought into this one unfortunately.

I'll be sad to see you go, but completely understand the pressures of time and how they act as predators on PbP time. And being completely upfront and honest I'd rather lose Jaru than O' Cap'n My Cap'n.

Don't feel the need to hang around till we make it back to civilization, we can say our teary goodbyes now if it makes it easier on your good self.

Rest of the crew - given that we'll be down to three if / when Jaru rides into the sunset, I'd suggest we pick up another two when we come back from hiatus in January. What say you?

Sorry for dropping off the radar for a while; I lost my internet connection for a few days, and only just managed to re-instate it :-/ Everything should be normal from now on, though :-)

I agree, I will be sad to see Jaru go, but I understand your reasons!

@DM - Voice: I definitely want to see about picking-up another player or two; I have been enjoying this game :-)

Without spoilering the plot too much I can state that your next adventure location will be somewhere that you could recruit additional companions fairly readily. Plus an ability to cash in on some of the loot collected so far.

If / when Jaru does ride off - It'll be in such a way as there remaining a chance of returning if time / work allow.

For picking up players, I'm happy to go off recommendations or suggestions rather than open up a new recruiting thread and sifting again.

Ok folks - I am now officially on holidays and will be wending my way downunder on the morrow to visit family and such. With that, I'll put this PbP into slow-mo mode.

The conflict currently underway is such that I'll be able to keep it going regardless of me being in Aus - but the updates will be slow coming, erratic and sporadic. So don't sweat checking every day while I'm away, but I'll try and keep it slowly rolling until at least the conflict is resolved.

Enjoy your christmases and such, may you eat yourself into a stupor, and get what presents you would enjoy from those that would offer them.

Come 11th January I'll be back in force and we'll get things kicked off once more.

Those were all pretty high rolls. Too bad the save was so high.

And no offense Setesh,...but you scare Noor. 8^o

DC was set high so I could be pretty sure I'd catch at least half of you with the effect ;)

Don't worry, this is hardly a rocks fall everyone dies moment.

Ok - I am now safely ensconced back home in KL after my month break, and will be kicking this Campaign back off into regular service. I'll sleep off the jet-lag and cantankerous toddler torment tonight and get the next in-game post up come morning.

Right - you'll soon be back in climes where a replacement for Jaru and a belated extra 5th can be added into the party.

Do you guys know anyone personally who would be interested? - or should I cast out a recruitment thread?

My brother, UltraFennec, might be interested in joining our game.

Tarik - feel free to have him check out the thread and if he likes what he sees check in here and say hi :)

HI!

I hear you guys need some more people. How can I be of service? What kind of role do you need filled and all that, what should I stay away from, level, point buy, DETAILS PLEASE!

Hi!

I would recommend looking at the Recruitment thread for the details of character creation :-)

We are currently level 3, and are about to lose our Cleric...

(We have a close-combat heavy party - a Magus 3, a Ranger 1 / Sorceror 2, and an Alchemist 3.)

Hmmm. I'm thinking either a Cleric of Irori going for Loremaster, or a Desert Druid, maybe aiming toward Nature Warden, maybe not. Does either one of those sound more interesting to play alongside to anyone? They're both equal in my head at the moment, so...if you want to help tip the balance, please inform me! XD

Thought Lion Shaman originally, but Osirion is totally the wrong place for lions!

UltraFennec - as pointed out by others the character creation details are in the Recruitment thread. Only addition I would make is that you create a Level 3 character, but with Level 2 equivalent wealth.

As to character type - no preference from me as long as it fits into the Osirion landscape.

Here's Grynbarl Oukhreid, dwarven cleric of Irori, loremaster-in-training. Still working on equipment, but the rest of it should be there.

HP rolls:
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Have had a short scan over Grynbarl and nothing leaps out to me as an issue.

Jaru - can you 100% confirm that your plan is to step out once the group is back to civilization? - or are you getting a second wind?

yeah, unfortunately i'm going to wind down my playing and focus on running. it's just a fun excuse to procrastinate and i've got waay to much to do. :P

Darn, now I can't threaten to kill Jaru if you don't let Dibbs live :P

Again will be sad to see you go, but understand. After you've calmed down Fresnic it will be fast forward back to a town, so that's the point where the swap over can happen.

Yay, let's see if I can make this guy work.

I'll confess, I actually designed him towards the non-combat parts of the game when I saw how much combat prowess the party already had, so I didn't really make survivability a concern beyond decent HP and an okay AC. This was probably a bad thing, but every party needs its squishy character, right?

We'll see how long the dwarven archaeologist lasts.

Heh - yeah not much survives a full attack next to Setesh, that's for sure. As this is a 100% homebrew I tend to wrap things around the players anyway. There's a little more plot to resolve, then we can get to a position where you're able to join.

A follow-up question - as we now have a replacement for Jaru when he departs, do you want to get a 5th? - or are you happy with 4?

I don't have a strong preference either way, so will leave it to you guys to decide.

Yeah, that combo is brutally effective. And having played a Magus from playtest to final rules once before, Tarik will turn into a nightmare in a few levels.

So glad to know everybody's got my back...but because I'm mildly paranoid of danger in RPGs and because I have too many character concepts to ever play, I already have a backup concept ready to go if Grynbarl dies. Heh...

Noor will not bicker over the items. She feels that is beneath her. She will not use any more diplomacy, but can use intimidate if things drag on too long.

Grynbarl - please toss up a dot in the main thread. We'll be getting close to the point where you will join up with the party.

Lastly - I'm happy with a party of 4, though an 5th would still be welcome. I'll not actively recruit for only one spot - but if you know anyone who has another campaign in them, please feel free to get them to check out the thread.

You could ask at ZZ's campfire thread. A fair number of dedicated gamers there.

Dotted as requested. Grynbarl Oukhreid, semi-curmudgeon, priest of Irori, relentless seeker after knowledge ready for action (and inaction if it comes to that).

Hi all -
DM VoV asked me to post here. I would like to join your group and was wondering what type of a character you would like. My thoughts are either a Fighter/Rogue or a Witch. I am good with either. Most likely human in either case.

Please let me know so that I can get a character put together.

Hmm. We kind of need both a straight up smacker and some focused arcane might.

As a witch, I really would not be a blaster unless I took Fire, which is fine. But could be a good buffer/de-buffer. I think that shadow is another good one, but the real offense does not come into play until higher levels. Witches do get the regular 1/3/5/7/etc spell level increases, so I would have higher level spells. Also, with fortune/mis-forture/evil eye/cackle, I could make for a very bad day for enemies.

As a rogue/fighter, I would be dexterity based. But will probably take the Dancing Dervish feat so that I get the dex bonus on att/damage.

Probably witch would be the better fit as you have a slow progressing Magus and a multi-classed sorcerer who is going DD.

Either would be good by me.

EDIT - was reading the Witch spell list, there are actually more blaster spells there than I realized. Would prefer the Witch if that is good with you all. Will still be more of a buff/de-buffer, but lots of options.

Definitely the witch. We could use some battlefield control, and have had trouble against swarms

Very true. Noor strikes again! A couple blasts pocketed away for a rainy day could be useful, in case the die roller decides to hate me again. When I actually hit, things die, but so far my best rolls have all been taken by knowledge rolls. I guess it's fitting for a magic teacher who's never actually done this sort of thing before.

Ok, may not be quite finished, but here is Kytana - Human witch. She is level 3, I have not finished all the HP and stuff. Also need to do traits. I used a template from another character, so please let me know if there is anything that looks out of place.

Look forward to joining you all..

HP-Level 2: 1d6 ⇒ 5
HP-Level 3: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Ok - starting to think about how to add the new characters into the story:

Both of those are just ideas, and if you think of a better / more organice one, then I am happy to hear it out.

Sounds good, damn do gooder, always getting myself into trouble.

Sounds great to me. Just the sort of thing Grynbarl would do, actually.

While waiting for the rest of the group to finish their baths and manicures, Kytana wanders over and finds a street vender trying to scam people. She hex herself with Fortune and then plays.

Game, there are twenty caps, 10 are supposed to have coins under them, only 5 actually do.

To win, need a 16 or better.

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Sadly she has no luck, and then steps back and begins to hex other players from 30 feet away.

Player 1:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Player 2:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Player 3:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Player 4:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Player 5:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Player 6:

Initial Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Fortune reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Amazed by her failure to help anyone, Kytana continues on her way.

As Kytana departs the market a boy runs up to her with a pouch and a small note.

What is the odds of doing 12 rolls and not having a single one in the top quartile. Has to be pretty low.

I mumble - A lot of good I am, only a 3% chance of that quality failure, lets hope I do not do it again. Of course without me there would have been 12 losers instead of just 6.

After realizing this, Kytana grins and continues on her way.

Ok all, trying to figure out what I should do with my 3rd level feat. Right now I have Craft Wondrous Items, useful, but probably not super useful as this campaign seems to be fairly fast moving. Other options are taking another Extra Hex and picking up either Slumber or Healing.

Other potential feats are:

Accursed Hex - allows a second hex attempt at a target if the target makes a save versus the first hex.

Spell Focus - probably evocation or enchantment

Spell Penetration

Improved Initiative

Rapid Reload - probably a waste

Hexes are the best to me.

Ok, went with Healing since you all seem to like to get beaten up. Also good if we find anyone injured on the desert somewhere.