New scene is up for the 1st of Spring! It's mission day and you're all together in the briefing room -- it's up to each of you as to where you are seated next to one another. You can interact with what's going on in the room, talk to each other as PC's, describe what you did during the prior New Year's Day between 91 Winter and 1 Spring, or something else.
Great stuff you three -- I've got a bit of a response in my head and should be able to get that up tomorrow for you to play off of in the briefing room. If you haven't had the feel of your character yet, now's the time to get in there and solidify your personality!
In other news I am working on learning MapTool in conjunction with GIMP and a neat utility that helps scaling conversions of existing maps to the MapTool grid. I also have all of your character tokens (TokenTool) completed as of today, so I should be ready for combat encounter goodness when the time comes in this game.
Added a "RHC Mission Types and Codes" spoiler to the main Campaign Info Tab - thought it might be interesting to convey mission assignments and changes in a different way that all the Constables know. It could be made to be really detailed but I think a streamlined version of code is fine and yet still provides some immersive flavor. Let me know what you think.
Awesome technical schematics Talyssa!
We're getting close to starting our first mission encounters.
For those of you that have taken the opportunity to get familiar with the R.H.C. background and interact with your "peers" and superiors at Flint Branch, I thank you.
For those of you that have your backgrounds posted, I have reviewed them and plan to incorporate some of your NPC's (friends, enemies, other) and side-story arcs into the campaign where it makes sense ... though much of this will not occur until after the end of the first adventure. If you have not posted your background yet (or are still modifying it), please wrap that up so that I can think about seeding the story with appropriate elements as I read forward into the campaign.
Any final statblock choices, changes, blah blah needed to be wrapped up ASAP before we get into our first encounter. Also, I'd like for all characters to have the primary statblock line in the "Race" field of their character profile please.
Ex. from Devinn LeMont
Human (Risuri) Bard (Sandman) 1st AC 14/12/12 / HP 9 / F +1 R +4 W +3 / Init. +2 / Perc. +7 / Sense Motive +3
Finally, I should have a new development concerning the PbP campaign out tomorrow for you, though I am still in the midst of wrapping up a few details. More forthcoming on that soon.
I would like to announce the addition of a new player to our Zeitgeist game - Anderlorn! Anderlorn was actually the fellow that first pointed Cromlich and I to Pathfinder and Paizo back in 2010, as we had not heard about it before then (and which was one of the elements that broke us away from dedicated MMO time in LotRO). A long-time PbP gamer, Anderlorn applied for Celeador's Zeitgeist game last year, and I know was always rather interested in getting a chance to experience the Zeitgeist AP.
In the context of our campaign, he will be playing a character named Willem Muhnee, who will start as an existing R.H.C. Constable of Slate Branch - though he has more time on-the-job as a Constable in Slate, the old apprentice-patronage system that is practiced in the high-profile capital of Slate has not been kind to Constable Muhnee. I will be posting a separate starting intro scene for Willem by (hopefully) tomorrow, which will coincide in real-time with the current morning briefing room scene. In general terms, I foresee events of this momentous day of 1 Spring getting you all together.
Welcome Anderlorn!
Neat! Welcome.
Hello everyone, thank you for inviting me into your fine game! So far, I am very impressed with all of the effort I see by everyone and I am going to do the same. After moving to North Carolina from California, I started playing Play-by-Post when I first could not find a good group to join nearby. And being in Information Technology when you find yourself oncall and having an young family, as some of you know, having to go out of your way to play in a group is not condusive to either. As for MMOs, I only play Star Wars - The Old Republic with only one kin member from the LOTRO clan but enough about that so I am not a bad influence to anyone ... ;-)
Thank you again! And I am happy to be here!
Welcome!
Welcome to the group!
Thank you all for the Welcomes!
Glad to see you Anderlorn.
Vord is going back on writing duty tomorrow (Wednesday) night - apologies for the outage.
As stated in the Gameplay tab but referenced here for emphasis:
Roll-call post – it can be brief but needs to describe (in scene, in-character) your dress as well as what weapons and special items you have prepared and at the ready. At this time all spell and extract selections need to be locked in, and all skill/feat/statblock choices finalized and posted to profile please.
Also, please get your post up within a day or two – I will lay out the skill encounter and its first two goals as soon as everyone active does this. Anyone who does not post in a reasonable amount of time will be out of the upcoming encounter(s).
I will tomorrow, Sunday.
As we wait for players to check in, I thought it would be a good idea to go over the notion of a non-combat Skill Encounter, as this will be used often in our Zeitgeist game, perhaps nearly as much as Combat Encounters and the more traditional exploration-and-skill-checks methods. I have played it briefly in last year's Zeitgeist game, and found it to be both exciting and challenging to win the scenarios.
Here's what the Zeitgeist AP has to say about non-combat Skill Encounters:
The Zeitgeist adventure path uses a broad mix of combat and non-combat encounters, with a heavy focus on investigation and exploration. While you can certainly just roleplay the scene and call for the occasional skill check, we try to provide a mechanical structure that gives the characters a reasonable challenge...without slowing the game down and forcing the GM to roleplay dozens of insignificant NPCs as the party investigates suspects. Normally these skill-based encounters let each PC make one skill check per “round,” though a round could represent 6 seconds, ten minutes, or even a week of work, depending on the encounter. Successful checks will yield information, provide access to new options, and eventually accomplish goals. The party typically has some sort of time constraint, and if the party doesn’t achieve their goal in time, they might fail or only get a partial victory.
In terms of the specifics of this first Skill Encounter, I borrowed much of this explanatory text from Celeador's Zeitgeist game last year, which covers it very well...
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Skill Encounter - The King's Arrival
Passage of Time:
Every ten minutes of this encounter is one “round,” and each PC can make one skill check per round. There are three "rounds" for a total of thirty-minutes of time elapsing during the encounter. Each PC therefore gets three checks (one per 10-minute round) that they can make to contribute "successes" to overall goals achieved to "win" the encounter before time has elapsed. Successes are required in four stages or "Goals," with each Goal needing to be completed in order before the next Goal can be begun.
Accomplishing Goals.
Each goal requires one or more successful skill checks. The relevant skills and DC's will be listed with each goal, so that you can roll and attempt your checks in a post for your character in each round. If you think of a clever way to achieve the goal using a different skill, you may go ahead and use it against the listed DC. *BUT* the differing skill must make sense in regard to the current skill check (or it will automatically be counted as a failure).
Skill Encounters and Taking 10, Aiding Another
Take 10 is not permitted for these Skill Encounters, as it essentially nullifies the point of a combined series of successes for the party to achieve goals in a given time constraint. Aid Another is allowed, though in many cases it will probably be preferable to try for a success with an applicable skill, or hold action for the next Goal so as to not waste your action. The choice is yours though, as there could be situations where it makes sense.
Party Order or "Initiative" in Skill Encounters
Unlike Combat Encounters, these Skill Encounters have no initiative priority for the characters. Due to the Goals and what kinds and quantities of checks are needed to complete each goal, it is up to the party overall to determine who should go first to tackle a specific goal (with a relevant skill, usually because a character is skilled and has a high success chance to use that skill to score a success). In many cases a Goal will require multiple successes to complete it, so the exact order of characters isn't an issue. In cases where a Goal may only need a single success to advance, the players will need to be careful that they all don't post for the same goal, as they may waste their action. Bottom line is to communicate/coordinate with players to work through posting priorities...and when in doubt "preview" before you post just in case someone beat you to the skill check success.
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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 of post to describe skill action above and how your character goes about it.
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Please don't act on this yet in Gameplay, but this will be the first of four Goals that you will need to complete in the 3-Round (thirty minute) timeframe. When we officially start this in Gameplay I'll release the first two Goals, as you will potentially be able to complete both Goals One and Two with a perfect set of successes by five characters.
Goal One: Brief the Party and Police.
Successes Needed: 1
You can’t just question the whole crowd. You need a clear idea of what appearances or mannerisms might be clues that someone’s a threat.
In their preparation for today’s event, the Royal Homeland Constabulary determined that four groups in particular are likely to cause trouble. The fastest way for the PCs to search for threats is to figure out who in this crowd of seven hundred people fit any of these profiles:
* Dockers, angry because of how the city treats them.
* Primalists—i.e., believers in the old druidic faith—angry at all the new industry.
* Agents of the fey terrorist known as “Gale,” who might try to sabotage the ship.
* War veterans, who might target the ship’s tiefling designer.
Create a Threat Profile. (Knowledge (History or Local) DC 15, or Profession (Soldier) DC 13) To be able to brief the police and the rest of the party, a PC needs to have a clear sense of the different threats.
Any questions so far I can answer?
I've just posted our first Skill Encounter Challenge!
Due to Sigz not checking in with Francis Kane in over a month, Francis will not be part of this encounter challenge.
So it's up to the five of you to get the job done...but hey nothing serious can possibly happen in this most routine of missions, right?
Please review both tabs and make sure you are squared away with the requirements of the Skill Encounter Challenge and how to post in it. Right now you're first task is to complete Goal One, which only requires 1 Success. This means you all need to decide who is going to go for that check...or at least all don't waste your Round 1 actions by going for that at the same time. If one of you has the relevant skill and is going for it, call it out in Discussion Tab.
Once you complete Goal One you may start building successes for Goal Two, which requires 3 Successes to advance. Though unlikely, it's possible you could complete Goals One and Two and still be in Round 1 with a single character not acting yet. Don't forget to post an in-character description of your action (whether you succeed or fail) with your checks as appropriate. In any event I will provide round recaps as the time elapses with what is going on in the square.
Sounds good?
I don't have any relevant skills for Goal 1 but I do have a Diplomacy of +8 so I can attempt Goal 2 after someone clears the first.
Just to state openly with respect to these skill challenges - there's no problem OOC-wise in reviewing everyone's skill values and collectively deciding who is best able to go for the various checks. Obviously that's not the only factor, but it is a valid factor...something that you'd probably do quickly and informally if you were around the gaming table. Cromlich has the right idea by posting here for good party communication.
On an unrelated point, feel free to run short and optional in-character communication or observational posts if you'd like to, aside from making the skill check post when ready. In other words okay you guys can talk to each other now if you want!
Friendly reminder, Constable Landreth told Constable Muhnee to report to Flint Branch HQ with packages and this is where Willem is now.
Goal 2 is 2/3 done!
Friendly reminder, Constable Landreth told Constable Muhnee to report to Flint Branch HQ with packages and this is where Willem is now.
Well Anderlorn that was before just to get you to the branch and into the area. Assume you were asked to assist the security detail and by that afternoon you're with the other constables. You got there late that morning or by midday and now it's three and you're at the checkpoint with Emerson and the others.
Sorry I didn't bridge that better but no one is left at RHC HQ right now so you'd be sent to the square to help. Don't retcon it but just move forward in scene like you've been there for an hour or so.
Friendly reminder, Constable Landreth told Constable Muhnee to report to Flint Branch HQ with packages and this is where Willem is now.Well Anderlorn that was before just to get you to the branch and into the area. Assume you were asked to assist the security detail and by that afternoon you're with the other constables. You got there late that morning or by midday and now it's three and you're at the checkpoint with Emerson and the others.
Sorry I didn't bridge that better but no one is left at RHC HQ right now so you'd be sent to the square to help. Don't retcon it but just move forward in scene like you've been there for an hour or so.
I did retcon a little but it was something fast and there wasn't a lot of time for meet and greet. We can role play that later.
Looks just fine for Willem there, and thanks!
Well you all just hit it out of the park for Goals One and Two. Nice job. Gemma Atherton still has her Round 1 action to use, but I'll need to setup a couple of posts (one of which I'll put Emerson into due to his perfect 'natural 20' success) before Goal Three can be introduced, and then Gemma will be at the top of the list to go for that.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!
Merry Christmas Anderlorn.
Out sick with a terrible cold, I'll post again when I feel better.
Please robot me if necessary, I have a severe sinus infection. I am going into to work to drop off the secondary On Call phone and then call in sick. Sorry for this disruption, it was not my plan to get sick over the Christmas Holiday.
Not a problem Anderlorn -- I've been sick since Christmas evening myself so I've had a similar drop-off.
So at this point it's Anneca, Willem and Gemma left (in any order) with Round 2 Actions for Goal Three (with 1/4 successes in so far).
Quite a few near misses. Hopefully Round 3 will be better for us.
Happy New Year!
Huzzah for 2015!
Happy Belated 2015!
"...with Willem stepping up on a crate alongside them all with a practiced eye on something that looks out of place with the placement of police footmen."
I'm going to hold back Anneca in the hopes that the 4th goal is in her strengths. The best I've got for Goal 3 is Profession: Constable at +4.
I too am limited on the skill side except for Diplomacy. I'll hold until a few others go and if there are no successes then I'll give it a go.
Nice skill checks there!
Happy Belated 2015!
"...with Willem stepping up on a crate alongside them all with a practiced eye on something that looks out of place with the placement of police footmen."
Nothing too specific I was trying to go for there - unfortunately for this third goal I didn't want to give out the answers ahead of time, as I wanted it to be a surprise for the players. Unfortunately it makes it a bit hard for you to describe successes I know.
I'll post what you collectively found out and also give the goal four success in a spoiler so whomever gets the final success will be able to post about it.
Great job to everyone on completing your first Zeitgeist Skill Encounter Challenge! You made all four Goals (9 successes total) in the three Rounds allotted for full victory, with one player action to spare. I hope you liked the challenge that it represented.
We now turn very quickly to a Combat Encounter! I will roll initiatives for everyone to start and put that plus all the essential elements (including a map) in my next game post.
Due to Anneca's burning of a Hero Point to complete the last goal, I am giving her the advantage of:
1) Having her gun already drawn (no move action required), and...
2) Will factor in her '20' intimidation check on the hapless impostor she discerned the deception on.
Willem will also get his "studied target" slayer bonus on the same fellow, as he was the one spied out from the distance when he completed his (Round 3, Goal Three) check.
Finally, Arthur will get to use his unused +2 crit success bonus (from Round 2, Goal Three) as a free action "Aid Himself/Aid Another" bonus for the first combat round only (use it or lose it).
I'll restate all of this in the combat post coming up, but just so you know my plans. In the meantime, no posts on actions please until I get the combat going. Also, remember that drawing weapons is either a move action (+0 BAB) or part of a move action (+1 BAB), so review your combat action economy in preparation for combat as needed. Also to the also, remember that firing ranged weapons into a melee where allies exist incurs to-hit penalties (unless you have Precise Shot) and possible "cover" AC bonuses, as well as an AoO if a foe threatens your square. So for my ranged-happy types, be sure to understand your potential limitations in close-quarters combat.
Range types, remember and if you can depending on your circumstances, take a 5' step to get out of AoO to either reload or use a range attack unless of course you have weapons or feats that mitigate these handicap.
The first Combat Encounter Challenge has begun! Here are some notes to consider as you go about posting your combat actions and sorting out how best to do it.
First - I have a Combat Template in this Google Drive if you want to something to start with. For a good example of how to setup your combat stats and combat block, refer to Anneca's post on the very lead-off of this first combat.
Second - It's important to post an with your current Round and Initiative rank, to make it easier to sort out the combat actions.
Third - Post your current stats, hit points, buffs and conditions as they are at the time of your action - including if you receive a buff from your own actions in that round. Use the combat template (or make your own) to help you. Make sure to keep your AC, Saves, Hit Points and various power usages current, and indicate both the conditions that hinder you as well as the spells/powers that buff or help you - where applicable indicate the number of rounds remaining on these effects.
Fourth - You don't have to hold exactly to the initiative order, as long as you don't go before a foe that has better initiative than you do. I will help clarify who gets to go in my posts, but refer to the Initiative Order for reference.
Fifth - I have posted the basic enemy stats, so that you can determine if you hit the enemy's AC, do enough hit point damage to take them out, and even roll their saves for a spell you are casting. All this is to facilitate the posting so that you are not constantly waiting for me to tell you if your round's action was successful or not...and to avoid unnecessary (and jarring) retcons. Some statistics will not be clearly evident, but you should have enough basic info to effectively post your combat action and results. PM me if you need additional information, such as if you are going to incur an AoO that may disrupt your spellcasting or something power/feat reactive that needs to be sorted out ahead of time.
Sixth - Use the map coordinates and indicate where you are moving to with the coordinates, so that at the top of every round I can update the map and give you a freshly updated version. Remember the rule about diagonals (every second diagonal taken counts as 2 squares).
For a good example of a prolonged combat, refer to the Kingmaker Game I play in where we had good fun in a Troll King and Wisp Battle!
Cough! ... a one?! Thanks for the initiative roll of 1 ... LOL.
:-)
I may not be able to post until tomorrow evening because I may not have all of the resources available to me at work due to the proxy server.
Cough! ... a one?! Thanks for the initiative roll of 1 ... LOL.
:-)
I may not be able to post until tomorrow evening because I may not have all of the resources available to me at work due to the proxy server.
Yeah sorry about that - not sure why the RNG penalized both of our martial types there so viciously!
Most of my updates during the week will be in the 8pm+ evenings (EST time) anyway, as I don't have my MapTool and HeroLab (obviously) here at work. I am looking for Arthur to get his post in today, so by tonight I can post possible enemy actions and then open the remainder of the round for Gemma and Willem.
EDIT: I was going to chide Emerson for drawing pistol as part of his move action with a +0 BAB, but then I realized he can draw as a free action with his "The Man with Two Guns is God" Theme Feat. So Emerson has that going for him...which is great...though the damage roll was not kind to him on his opener...
By the way, I have no problem with brief "free action" talk out-of-turn for story flavor, so if it's not your action but you want to get into the verbal mix (so-to-speak). Obviously things that could affect combat like raising an alarm or calling out precise tactics I would prefer to be left as a free action on your turn taken (and the same goes for NPC's).
Ok, cool! I just wanted to make sure you knew I was not flaking on you.
"The Man with Two Guns is God" Theme Feat work on a Gunsmithy with one gun or are you allowing it?
Ok, cool! I just wanted to make sure you knew I was not flaking on you.
"The Man with Two Guns is God" Theme Feat work on a Gunsmithy with one gun or are you allowing it?
Nope it's cool and I appreciate the communication. That's why I want you all to know when I generally can run combat-post updates so that you can rely a bit on my schedule for expected consistency (which I am trying to improve on my end now that things are rolling a bit).
So we still can use The Man with Two Guns theme if we don't have two guns? Logically speaking, I think if you can draw two guns and fire without provoking an AoO in the same round, you surely can do so with one.
By the way, I have no problem with brief "free action" talk out-of-turn for story flavor, so if it's not your action but you want to get into the verbal mix (so-to-speak). Obviously things that could affect combat like raising an alarm or calling out precise tactics I would prefer to be left as a free action on your turn taken (and the same goes for NPC's).
Willem was responding to Anneca and reminding everyone, that we are under Force Level Spear - Lethal for protection but non-lethal is preferred. Since Willem is type A, by-the-book by necessity and personality, I thought that would be a perfect time to post that reminder. And there had to be a reason for such a low initiative roll ... LOL
I was going to have Willem state this is your last chance to get on your bellies to the perps, but then I thought about your above statement and I didn't want him barking commands when Arthur's actions may be lethal nor steal his lightning.
So we still can use The Man with Two Guns theme if we don't have two guns? Logically speaking, I think if you can draw two guns and fire without provoking an AoO in the same round, you surely can do so with one.
Absolutely. That one confused me as well due to the title, but a close reading to me suggests you don't have to use two guns simultaneously (which is wonky with early firearms for several reasons aside from that requiring a full-round attack action), only that you can do it. Now past that first round, firing in threatened melee range incurs an AoO, as does reloading at any time. But the first round is good to go!
By the way, I have no problem with brief "free action" talk out-of-turn for story flavor, so if it's not your action but you want to get into the verbal mix (so-to-speak). Obviously things that could affect combat like raising an alarm or calling out precise tactics I would prefer to be left as a free action on your turn taken (and the same goes for NPC's).Willem was responding to Anneca and reminding everyone, that we are under Force Level Spear - Lethal for protection but non-lethal is preferred. Since Willem is type A, by-the-book by necessity and personality, I thought that would be a perfect time to post that reminder. And there had to be a reason for such a low initiative roll ... LOL
I was going to have Willem state this is your last chance to get on your bellies to the perps, but then I thought about your above statement and I didn't want him barking commands when Arthur's actions may be lethal nor steal his lightning.
It's all good -- I prefer it for you guys to start interacting with each other directly since you're together. It will be interesting to me to see how your team's dynamic progresses from this point on with all the personalities involved...
Just thought I would keep the momentum going as far as the action. Emerson will be ready for entry into the next room with is impromptu flashlight.
I'm assuming everyone else will be moving up as well.