I'm heading into my weekend (as in the time when I don't have to work for a day) and so I might actually be able to catch up and post something here. (~_~)*
Yeah and I keep forgetting you're halfway across the world too, so I need to keep that in mind for posting!
Nice one Anneca!
Okies great job on the freeing of Burton, but a quick clarification before I respond in-game:
Decision Point (John, Ifris, Willem, Emerson): Give me a quick indication here in Discussion Tab of (a) who is going with Anneca and Burton back to the ship on the rope line, (b) who is staying put at the rockfall and (c) ...well Gemma is already investigating the tunnel passage until around the 24th minute, so that's already committed - unless someone is determined to trail off after her. For those staying at the rockfall, not much going on other than what bodies you may see from the passwall.
Getting Burton Back to the Ship: To be fair about it, Anneca really needs at least one other PC to assist her getting Burton Glix back to the Impossible, as he can barely hold onto the rope with the pain he's in. Despite not having to sever it and risking death from shock and full bleed-out, Burton's right leg is clearly destroyed and mashed to pulp, while his left foot is intact but bones shattered - he is completely combat ineffective. Whoever is going back up topside will hear more of the story from Burton (but of course all the players will get to read it).
Willem Perception: Sorry Anderlorn - a good roll but there's nothing changed about the first part of the sea cave with the rockfall than what is described. I will say that he may be able to deduce that Gemma went around the corner to investigate, but otherwise the way out is right behind you back through the sea cave entrance to the cove.
Don't overthink it -- just give me a nod on what your characters would do next after freeing Burton (stay, go, explore) and I'll describe the next few minutes in my next post, then get y'all back together.
Johnathan would prefer to take another Constable who has an underwater effective weapon, and go after Gemma. Her splitting off alone seems like a bad idea, and against his military training.
He doesn't really care about Glix. Far as he's seen the dude is a prick, and he's not in their unit. At this point he's just dead weight. Taking him back to the ship is a waste of valuable time.
Johnathan would prefer to take another Constable who has an underwater effective weapon, and go after Gemma. Her splitting off alone seems like a bad idea, and against his military training.
He doesn't really care about Glix. Far as he's seen the dude is a prick, and he's not in their unit. At this point he's just dead weight. Taking him back to the ship is a waste of valuable time.
No problem - John stays in the cave and will be one of the first to see what Gemma is up to, depending on those conditions with the others and such. Cool. Who else?
Interpersonal conflicts stay at the base. Once combat starts, he's a brother.
I've talked to Cromlich and he's going to have Emerson assist Anneca get Burton back to the ship. Willem and Ifris?
(I'll write the scene tomorrow as I'm jammed up tonight, but want to do it correctly for you all)
So I'm thinking a typical party order.
What do you guys think of having the heavies up front casters in the middle followed by the range guys?
Ifris - Gemma
Anneca - Emerson
Willem - Johnathan
Seems fine to me.
I am good as well.
Sounds good to me!
GM Vord,
Does it look like the floating widget is going up to where the ladder leads? I also have to find a way to look at the map, my home proxy states it is a bad reputation web site ... lol.
You catch something very odd to your right where the wooden dock has a vertical ladder leading up to a taller platform above it. The sunrods and the movement of the tidal waters cast shadows all across the mine shaft, but to your right you distinctly saw a shadowy figure move independently upon the docks away from your group, almost as if it was floating, making no sound whatsoever as it moves upwards on wooden platforms into the full darkness above that you cannot make out…
Ok, map proxy problem fixed.
@ALL: Commenting on the in-game actions - while Gemma does have her "fighter's kit" with her that includes 50' of hemp rope, I'll also allow her once she gets up there (move action) to kneel and reach back down with her arm and help pull up folks as a standard action on her part, reducing the Climb check to a DC5 (and therefore should be an automatic Take10). She can assist up two at a time this way if they are in adjacent squares, so Willem and Emerson next round for example. Standard action DC5 Climb checks for those she's helping up to the docks.
Or, get the rope out of the backpack and throw it down, though Gemma would have to tie it off or brace & hold it while others climb up (also a DC5 Climb check).
@Johnathan: Based on his dialogue, just want to clarify if Johnathan is swimming full-round (20') to where he sees the water level is less by the stone column, or if he's headed towards the docks, or holding where he is treading water.
@Ifris: Need to get some direction for Ifris, though if I have to DMPC it I'll swing her to swim forward with her light source.
Ok, map proxy problem fixed.Yeah I did some research on Postimg.org prior to using it, as it has a foreign feel to it, but it seemed to me to be legitimate. I am running a paid version to (hopefully) eliminate the advertising that sometimes is seen.
It's probably the adware causing it to be flagged as poor reputation because as you may know, a lot of malware is fed through adware?
I suppose for now I'll hold at the rear. It was more of a general suggestion for the group.
I suppose for now I'll hold at the rear. It was more of a general suggestion for the group.
No problem -- I'm going to update the map when I give you a quick post tonight, and then turn you all loose on a couple more rounds' worth of actions.
Mr DM, so the "patrol" look to be fleeing or responding to something? Instead of patrolling?
Mr DM, so the "patrol" look to be fleeing or responding to something? Instead of patrolling?
To Willem it looked to be high tailing it up to the top of those platforms, but he would have noticed it near the first ladder near from the docks.
I will be away to the beach from today through Monday on a last summer vacation hurrah - I'll be checking in but won't have my map tools with me. Please describe your three rounds' of actions and run any dialogue the group would engage in, and then I'll update everything on Monday night.
Thanks!
Vord
What, preposterous?! Going on vacation?!
Have fun! ... :-)
My apologies for the delay, as I'm holding out for final Ifris actions, as well as wrapping up some deadline items outside of Zeitgeist. Once I post I expect the frequency will (and should) pick up, so stay tuned!
Since it's been a bit for combat posts, please refer to my earlier reference here, as well as any number of prior examples back during the Coaltongue Sabotage Encounter.
Any questions that you have about the combat mechanics (lighting rules, cover, skill checks, etc.) as well as combat posting in general - cover them here and I'll do my best to answer.
Is it just me, or is the map too low resolution to see? I can't make out anything to take my action.
I can see the grid coordinates and the tokens and such pretty well from my system, though I'm using a 23" monitor and not a tablet or such. It's a pretty big map in terms of size. What I'll do here for now is to take three cuts at it - one full overview and then two that focus on the top and bottom of the map.
EDIT: Added two more maps in addition to the full one, so you all have three cuts at it now. Keep in mind there's a lot going on with this map, as you have elevation differences and lighting to contend with.
Those section ones are much better, I can see them fine. Thanks.
Round 2 is up! Everyone verify the map link for me when you get a chance, as there are a couple of different link methods the site gives me, so I'm trying a different one this time. Also just the one map for the moment, as I don't have to show the entire mine map now with everyone's current position...but I can always give you a two-map larger "cut" option if desired!
GM Vord, if Willem moves to q17, to confirm, all assailants but the one Gemma is fighting will be within LOS?
GM Vord, if Willem moves to q17, to confirm, all assailants but the one Gemma is fighting will be within LOS?
Q17...yeah that's 55'-60' range on the Mysterious Man and Stout Assistant respectively, and they both have partial cover to reflect their spot in the mine, but you'd have LOS from there to them.
Boo ya! Take that crazy guy!
GM Vord, if Willem moves to q17, to confirm, all assailants but the one Gemma is fighting will be within LOS?Q17...yeah that's 55'-60' range on the Mysterious Man and Stout Assistant respectively, and they both have partial cover to reflect their spot in the mine, but you'd have LOS from there to them.
Will Willem have partial cover at the corner as well?
Will Willem have partial cover at the corner as well?GM Vord, if Willem moves to q17, to confirm, all assailants but the one Gemma is fighting will be within LOS?Q17...yeah that's 55'-60' range on the Mysterious Man and Stout Assistant respectively, and they both have partial cover to reflect their spot in the mine, but you'd have LOS from there to them.
In this case I'd say yes, due to the height differences and such.
That '20' Intimidate is pretty special and gave me an idea for an optional encounter challenge, which I'll run on 'Mysterious Man's' initiative as soon as Willem goes.
Sigh, I hope it is good because I think the delaying an action rules kind of suck so that means just a move to the corner and do nothing more so I can keep my initiative. I will post later, need to do something first. The past 3 days, I've been in class.
So we're going into a mini-skill challenge encounter, due to Gemma's special intimidate check. Round 3 COMBAT is suspended, and you are all now in the special two-round skill encounter challenge.
Success in this challenge will gain you victory just as if you had defeated the Mysterious Man and his minions in combat, plus your opportunities for information would be much improved. Fail, and combat will resume where it left off.
Here's a copy of the Skill Encounter Challenge Rules I posted in spoiler - this is akin to our first challenge at the beginning of the Chapter 1 adventure on 1 Spring.
Posting a Skill Encounter Check
You'll use something akin to what we will do for Combat Encounters, but much simpler in verbiage. Here would be an acceptable template:
Descriptive text follows to describe skill action above and how your character goes about it.
REMEMBER: Only the first two successes for Goal One will be counted, so coordinate and don't post unless you know the goal hasn't been met yet. Three successes in Round 1 for Goal One doesn't help you and wastes the actions for two of your PC's for Round 1. You cannot post for Goal Two until Goal One has been completed, but once you see two solid posted successes for Goal One, you can go for Goal Two.
Any questions? Remember that you can go in any order, but only one round at a time. You have two goals to achieve in two special rounds, with three total successes (two for goal one and one for goal two). You must achieve the first goal before attempting the second goal. Got it?
DM NOTE: Until I hear from Robert, I will continue to DMPC Ifris Lanvaldan in combat, but do not wish to do so for this skill encounter challenge. So the participants are the other five PC's: Anneca, Emerson, Gemma, Johnathan and Willem.
Can Anneca still move and reposition herself in case violence breaks back out? She doesn't really have the social skills to make much of an impact here.
She can, though anything that might be considered "threatening" in terms of movement or prep action would be interpreted as such...
Goal One is met, with still Willem, Gemma and Anneca to go for Round One. Perhaps not as nail-biting as I thought, though I was counting Gemma's DC25 initial Intimidate check as an early goal (getting the Mysterious Man's attention) already fulfilled. That being said, besides Emerson you all are pretty horrible at Diplomacy...heh at least a couple of you might want to shore that up down the road.
Remember for a skill challenge there are no failures in trying, and Diplomacy is an untrained skill. You can also do an "Aid Another" to a specific PC (that hasn't already gone yet for Round 1) identified in your post, if you'd rather try to prop someone else up.
Sorry, on call this week and had a call last night from 3 AM to 5 AM. Tonight is a cut over for 400 computer sites at 2:45 AM and I am still on call as well. Going to try my best to at least be caught up and in the game as much as possible.
I just found out I made RPG Superstar top 32! I will not be posting in any of my PBP games until I get my entry for round two done. Thanks for being patient with me.
I just found out I made RPG Superstar top 32! I will not be posting in any of my PBP games until I get my entry for round two done. Thanks for being patient with me.
Congrats!
Sorry, on call this week and had a call last night from 3 AM to 5 AM. Tonight is a cut over for 400 computer sites at 2:45 AM and I am still on call as well. Going to try my best to at least be caught up and in the game as much as possible.
No problem at all Anderlorn. Rest up, and when feasible come back in at whatever is going on with the latest post. We'll just say Willem is wary and slow to make it up to the top of the mine shaft to start with.
@All: Combat is over, so this is your show as they say. Ask him questions, don't ask him questions, check stuff out, prep and clear the rest of your stuff, ask directions to the nearest Duchess-occupied fortress, etc. When you're all done, the "exit" from the mine is down that vertical mine tunnel a ways to the interior.
My apologies for not getting to posting sooner. All that taking care of kids stuff really gets in the way! :)
Hoping to post tonight or tomorrow ... ugh!
Slackers!
You're fine ... I'm just citing Danoran myths about Risuri practices in the meantime...
Posting tonight, leaving work early to fix a configuration problem in the latest code release for my firewall and since I am on call, I rather VPN in than drive into work for a call.