Dungeon Master S's "Skull & Shackles" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Art looks up to the crow's nest. HOW MANY MASTS, pirate??

IF IT IS 4 MASTS (makes it more likely a Man-o-War and too tough for us) we'll evade.

IF IT'S <4

Ha! Besmara smiles on us; we lose one quarry, and another thinks to attack! They'll find that we're going to stick in their craw! PIRANHA!! WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION?!?!

and we move in. Goal is to board ASAFP; i'm not interested in a ship-to-ship battle.

do we want to try disabling the ship? Having a wildshaped druid either burn their sails or take out their rudder? Then maybe soften’em up with Call Lightning before we close distance.

The assumption is that leading up to being in range is spent prepping and what not. Remember the squares in ship combat are 30', so you won't be as close as you think.

The scout calls down that she's got three masts and is running the colors of Absalom under the name Truewind.

The ships close for combat! Combat begins at 150' out! Naval combat rules are at the top.

Red's Initiative: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Red's Hand: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Captain, roll initiative and roll for the upper hand.

I literally cannot beat that upper hand roll!

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Hand: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

I will leave it to individuals to choose their actions leading up to the boarding...

Art, you're upwind and therefore get a +2 when rolling for Advantage!

Stay the Course: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 FAIL
Stay the Course: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 PASS

The Truewind cuts across aiming its aft catapult at the Pirhana!

Round 1:
Pirhana: MOVE
Captain Art: Go
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Go

I literally cannot beat that upper hand roll!

[dice=init]d20+4
[dice=Hand]d20+9

FYI, Kiltem has a +7 to his sailing skill. Feel free to post his assist check

can I have a slight retcon? Kiltem will cast LongStrider and GreaterMagic Fang on himself. These are hour/level spells, easily cast before now

Round 1 Action

After making sure his marines are all prepared for ship-to-ship combat Kiltem waits near the helm. The burly druid (still in his human form) looks ready and even a little excited. Without thinking he flexes his muscles and bounces a little on the balls of his feet. He glances over at the Capitan. We are almost in range Capitan. While we lack siege weapons, we do have other options. He flexes his muscles again and shouts Papa's Lightning!
Kiltem begins to cast a complex spell...

Casts Call Lightning
Full round casting, 150' range

We don't need siege weapons...we got him he thumbs at Kiltem.

FULL AHEAD!!Art barks out the orders to angle the sails appropriately, and catches the wind just right (he hopes...)

Surely one of the crew will provide an aid, right?

Sailor: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
USING WEEKLY PROF: SAILOR REROLL FROM TRAIT!!

Besmara, look kindly on us...

Sailor: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Now (hopefully) at a good clip of 60', we Stay the Course

sailor: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Currently the enemy ship is forward and slightly diagonal. Your opening speed is always 30'. If you pass the sailing check to full ahead, your speed will be 60' (Staying the course keeps your speed.)The DC for all sailing actions in combat is 20. So if Art gets an Aid Another from another player, he'll pass and can move the ship forward/diagonal 60' (2 squares.)

Kiltem begins complex preparations, trusting that the others will handle the positioning.

Round 1:
Pirhana: MOVE
Captain Art: Allowed to change to "full ahead" if he wants
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Cast

This ain’t play time now boys. Hop too get that rigging right. The Captain wants speed you give him speed. Slappy yells his voice normally made for comedy doesn’t strike fear into the crew, but the low growl from Ko does.

prof sailor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Ko heaves on a line and shouts to, "Tighten the rigging!"

prof-sailor: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Still working through. Rules state that the ship moves at the beginning of your turn. So does it move AGAIN on the captain's turn, or does the captain's action dictate the movement for the next action?

Ko directs the crew to help the captain's plan. The sails snap in the wind as the Pirhana makes a go at the enemy ship!

Round 1:
Pirhana: MOVE
Captain Art: Allowed to change to "full ahead" if he wants
Slappy: Fail
Lucky: Go
Ko: Aid
Kiltem: Cast

Still working through. Rules state that the ship moves at the beginning of your turn. So does it move AGAIN on the captain's turn, or does the captain's action dictate the movement for the next action?

I would say neither. I'd say that the pilot determines how the ship moves, at the beginning of the turn. This takes up the pilot's turn (regardless of his/her place in initiative--effectively going first every turn, but only able to make sailing checks. you buy that?

With Ko's aid, Art is just able to get the ship to increase speed, closing with the enemy!

Point of order: is it 2 move actions, so 4 squares?

Lucky spends a few precious moments searching the enemy ship's deck for anything that might tilt the odds in our favor.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33

Now he kinda wishes he had attacked.

That makes sense to me about the Pilot's turn Art.

Lucky keeps his eyes keen, and spots the officers on the other ship.It looks like it's just a pair of humans (possibly half-elves.) Looks like the woman is the captain.

Round 2:
Round 1:
Captain: Upper Hand
Truewind: TBD
Pirhana: TBD
Slappy: TBD
Lucky: TBD
Ko: TBD
Kiltem: TBD

Point of order: is it 2 move actions, so 4 squares?

moved our ship 3 squares, assuming we only got the speed increase on the 2nd half of the round.

Yes, sorry. I think you're reading it right. Still need you to roll for advantage.

prof(pirate): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 13 <--faaaaaaak

[dice=prof(pirate)]d20+9+2 <--faaaaaaak

Dont sweat it, clearly you have some dynamite rolls coming up

Pilot: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 FAIL
Catapult: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 HIT

The Truewind tries to accelerate out of the way, but only manages to stay the course. The catapult, however, strikes true, just inches from a critical hit at the waterline! The Pirhana takes DMG: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 5, 4, 4) = 25

Round 2:
Captain: Lost
Truewind: Move and fire!
Pirhana: Go
Slappy: TBD
Lucky: TBD
Ko: TBD
Kiltem: TBD

[ooc] what do you mean the Pirhana is up? [ooc]

Art winces slightly at the damage, but knows it'll be a small price to pay. He bellows out

HARD TO PORT!!!

1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 5 = 24

...and times his actions with the precision of a Pirate Captain!!

They are now nearly at grappling distance, which is exactly where they want to be!

apparently you were right, Kiltem!!

The Pirhana moves BEFORE anyone takes their turn, so the map has to be up to date.

The ships now pull up together, nearly in range to grapple!

Round 2:
Captain: Lost
Truewind: Move and fire!
Pirhana: Moved
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Go

Round 2

The druid is grinning into the wind, deliriously happy casting a magic he has never done before. He hopes it will turn out well. As he targets his spell he yells out in a UHF/Yankovic/Rambo-like manner. Mmrrraaaggghhhh!

A bolt of lightning streaks down on the catapult crew.

damage 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) = 8

Reflex for 1/2, DC15

The Pirhana moves BEFORE anyone takes their turn, so the map has to be up to date.

done.

Took a little bit of looking, but once you start targeting people, it's shipboard combat. Kiltem's spell would technically target the weapon itself.

Kiltem goes after the catapult with his lightning! It's clears damaged, but looks serviceable.

Round 2:
Captain: Lost
Truewind: Move and fire!
Pirhana: Moved
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Zap!

Slappy casts grease on the catapult ammunition

Creative! I dig. Will have it double the reload time. Slappy makes the pile of ammunition slick! They struggle to reload the catapult.

Round 2:
Captain: Lost
Truewind: Move and fire!
Pirhana: Moved
Slappy: Grease
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Zap!

Round the Second
• Current HPs: 38/38

Lucky draws a bead on one of the officers he spied as he scanned the deck moments ago. He believes he can still pick out the captain as she shouts orders amidst a flurry of tense activity. With his crossbow tucked into the hollow of his shoulder, and he cheek pressed against the smooth wood of the stock, Lucky draws a calming breath, but his adrenaline and nerves work against him. Nonetheless, with the training Ko had drilled into him in the forefront of his mind, Lucky squeezed the trigger lever at what he hoped was the perfect time!

RANGED ATTACK vs. ENEMY CAPTAIN

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 22 for Damage:: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Took a little bit of looking, but once you start targeting people, it's shipboard combat. Kiltem's spell would technically target the weapon itself.

Kiltem goes after the catapult with his lightning! It's clears damaged, but looks serviceable.

Im cool with that.

I dont suppose there is enough wind and weather for the die damage to bump up to 3d10?

I rolled for wind, and it's pretty mild.

Lucky levels a shot and sticks the captain with a bolt. Cheers go up from the crew of the Pirhana! She looks grievously wounded.

Round 2:
Captain: Lost
Truewind: Move and fire!
Pirhana: Moved
Slappy: Grease
Lucky: Hit
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Zap!

Ko looses a bolt at the opposing crew.

lt crossbow,att: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
lt crossbow,dam: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Crit confirmation
lt crossbow,att: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Crit additional damage
lt crossbow,dam: 1d8 ⇒ 5

1 is captain, 2 is first mate 1d2 ⇒ 2

Ko wounds the other officer on deck! It's nearly a shot in the neck, but the lucky sailor twists at the last second.

Advantage: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Round 2:
Captain: Advantage
Truewind: TBD
Pirhana: TBD
Slappy: TBD
Lucky: TBD
Ko: TBD
Kiltem: TBD

advantage: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 = 18

Art is grimly satisfied at the current situation--this is *precisely* where he wanted to be, minus the damage to his ship. He bellows out PREPARE TO BOARD PIRATES!! He looks directly at the enemy captain, and gives her a wink & a kiss!

PREPARE TO BOARD!!: 20 + 8 + 9 = 37 <--BAMUTHAFEKKINZINGA

I didn't realize the mechanics would move this swiftly to boarding. Can you give me a retcon of GreaterMagicFang please? Its an hour/level spell.

Round 2

The druid is surprised at how the ship-to-ship combat is progressing. He puts his Call Lightning spell on hold for the moment, (he can feel it somewhere in the back of his head).
He takes a moment now to call one of the Mother's greatest gifts. His form breaks out into scales and bright feathers. His mutton choppy face disappears into a reptilian toothy maw. His tree trunk legs slim down into murder talons.

WildShape

Aye, greater magic fang it is!

Art pulls the ship alongside and both crews begin to shout cries of battle in preparation for the boarding action. The enemy marines hurl javelins before grabbing pikes:

Jav v. Art: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Jav v. Ko: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Jav v. Slappy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Jav v. Lucky: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

But they're all thrown wide! The officer levels a crossbow at Ko and fires!
Heavy Crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 Meanwhile the captain is busy!

Round 2:
Enemy: Move and prep
Art: Captained
[b]Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Go

Round the First
• Current HPs: 38/38

Lucky opts for a decapitation of leadership, and slings another quarrel downrange at the bleeding g Captain. His crossbow twangs and he crosses his fingers for a moment before getting back to the business of reloading.

He takes a step back and glances up to see the result of his handiwork...

RANGED ATTACK vs. ENEMY CAPTAIN

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 23 for Damage:: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Slappy adds a bit of thunder to Kilt's lightning.

Thundercall(red outline hit): 1d8 ⇒ 8 DC 19 fort save or be stunned 1 round

Captain FORT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Officer FORT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Marine FORT: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Slappy's thunder works better than ever, stunning 3 of the enemy, including their officers! Lucky's bolt helps too as the captain looks seriously injured.

Round 2:
Enemy: Move and prep
Art: Captained
Slappy: Thunder
Lucky: Hit
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Go

Kilt's Round 2 action is above, just waiting on Ko

Slappy chuckles at the amount of dropsies that they opposing crew has

Slappy chuckles at the amount of dropsies that they opposing crew has

Art gives Slappy a raised fist salute. DA'S me pirate!!

POINT OF ORDER: my sincere apologies, but the roll above entitled "prepare to board" was supposed to be the boarding/CMD check to grapple with the other ship. Totally my fault for not being clear, but I believe that's a high enough check to initiate the grapple/boarding action, innit?

So, does the actual boarding happen next round, or do we DUH IT NAUUUHH??? Because I've a feeling if he could, Ko would GTF over there, especially since the opposing officers are all stunned!!

BOTTING FOR KO

With grapple lines crossing from the Piranha, Ko boldly leaps to the enemy ship, ready to engage the officers!!

I'm assuming Art's entire round is spent by piloting the ship, and I can't get over until next round

The rules state that a boarding party is flat-footed (without a corvus--which we'll get soon!!), so not sure how this is going to work...

Ko lands on the deck, taking a split second to regain his footing. All about him both crews set to battle. Slappy's thunder wears off, but the damage is done as the grizzled marines fall to.

The marine next to Ko slashes with his cutlass ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Two brave enemy marines board the Purhana and close with dino-Kiltem!
Blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Their offence is weak.

Round 4:
Enemy: FIGHT!
Art: Go
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Go

I know Kilt goes last this round, but I'm sitting at a computer now and it shouldn't affect other actions

Round 4

The deinonychus gives a terrifying grin as prey comes to him. The feathered dino has no trouble dodging both weak sword attacks. Stepping on scaly taloned feet the druid takes a 5' step and focuses his attention on the red pirate.
In a movement not unlike a rooster, the deinonychus attacks with a strange little hop that brings both of his taloned feet to bear, along with his toothy bite, and even his foreclaws.

5' step, Full Attack

1st attack 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 1 = 25
bite 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 12

2nd attack 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 1 + 2 = 18
GMF talon 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 17

3rd attack 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 1 + 2 = 28
GMF talon 1d6 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 17

4th attack 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 1 = 23
foreclaws 1d4 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7

The sight is one of horror, enemy and friendly alike stop fighting as they watch the shifted druid eviscerate both enemy marines. Ribbons of flesh make the deck slick. Immediately, everyone gives Kiltem plenty of space...

Round 4:
Enemy: FIGHT!
Art: Go
Slappy: Go
Lucky: Go
Ko: Go
Kiltem: Double Play