[GM Arcadius Blue] On The Fourth Day, We Kill Them All (Inactive)

Game Master B S 207

Hey sorry for the delay - my PC has been in the shop and I'm all thumbs with my phone.

Ahh that's alright. I'd hate posting from my phone, so I don't blame ya. :-P

I'll likely continue to forgot about your reach for the next few combats. :-O However, a question occured to me when I looked over your character sheet again, and...

Summoner: If I choose the reach evolution for my eidolon, how many of its attacks gains increased reach?

The ability description says "pick one attack," not "pick one attack type." So if your eidolon has two claws and you pick "claw" for the reach evolution, only one claw gets increased reach. (The reach evolution is intended to let you emulate having a dragon-eidolon, as a dragon's bite attack has greater reach than its claws.)

Given the wording between the two is essentially identical, I'd say it is safe to assume that any FAQ that applies to eidolon evolutions applies to metamorph evolutions. In reality, only 2/3 of your attacks should have reach right now. For the remainder of this fight (which may well be over when I switch back to gameplay and post), it's fine to keep all three at 10-ft. reach, but I'd like you to adjust your sheet to reflect this afterwards. You can drop a different evolution if you desire to keep all three at reach - that's not a problem.

Ah. I don't read FAQs, so this is news to me. Will adjust accordingly.

Merry Christmas!!

To you both as well! Hope you have a swell holiday surrounded by your loved ones!

Also,

Though I probably will, there's a chance that I won't get a post in today. Got a new computer for Christmas and I'm in the process of moving all my files to it and reinstalling HeroLab and stuff.

no worries, take your time.

Alright, I'ma ask about optional rules again. Going along with the psychological combat rules, I've been interested in throwing in additional combat maneuvers from Rite Publishing's The Secrets of Adventuring, and from Everyman Games' Childhood Adventures and Microsized Adventures. I've been putting together a personal rules compendium whenever I have time (so, not often), and so I've linked my complete list here.

Thoughts? Any in particular jump out at you as needing discussion about balance or clarification? The Ránulfr failed its maneuver but only by two, so it doesn't make a difference either way, but if the above are in, he attempted to Paralyze Opponent for his AoO; if not, he attempted to Trip.

Will give it a read later, have a eye apt.

Havark Torgrimson wrote:

Martial Charge feat allows a strike at the end of a charge.

huh, you need a feat for that? Would have thought that would have been a basic usage for a strike.

He does, actually. Maneuvers are very much like using Vital Strike in that way - can't combine them with other 'attack' options because they exist as their own action. In my other game with Taka where I play an initiator, I wasn't even sure I could fight defensively with maneuvers. He ruled I could (as I would as well - RAI and all), but due to the way fighting defensively is worded, it seems like it conflicts.

Speaking of martial systems, I don't if you saw this, but it looks like Spheres of Power is getting a little brother soon. :-)

Yeah I saw that! Exciting! I have high hopes...

Me too, definitely. I think I'm being a bit of a nuisance in the preview doc thread, but I want this thing to succeed and be awesome, dang it! Glad I was able to get in on this kickstarter - I was too late to the 3PP party for SoP, so it feels good to help out there.

The biggest question mark about the system for me right now is how it will interact with SoP. That is, SoP does significantly curtail the versatility, and therefore the power, of spellcasters. How will this new product affect the power curve of martials in comparison if I use both systems side by side.

On a completely unrelated note - Huh, just noticed Tyv has become my second highest post count character.

Got caught up getting housework done, and I will likely be driving out of town for some shopping tomorrow morning. Probably will post tomorrow night, if not then Saturday night.

Coup De Graces under Laying Waste
Automatically deal max + bonus damage, and then roll a severity check, counting your original attack as if you had rolled 20. For each level of severity you get, add bonus damage again (so, 4x bonus on a severe crit). I've found this approximates regular coup de graces pretty well, in that while it is possible to survive them now and again, it's pretty unlikely overall.

Also, splendid news about Tyv's post count, guess something's working here! In ~2 weeks, it'll be a year since I made the recruitment thread. How time flies...

So i had not thought about it till now when I did the narration, but I think it will be Havark's thing when he focus's to regain maneuvers it will be in the form of prayer to Wotun. Has a nice feel as he seems vulnerable praying in combat but they soon find out he can still defend himself in such a manner.

Yeah, that's really cool actually. Nice to have the recovering tied to a specific action that Havark takes. Also, congratulations are in order to you both on successfully completing this adventure! Good work, team.

Woot!

Sorry for the delay - ended up working extra shifts to get ready for a corporate visit at work.

That's okay - the boards were messed up (at least for me) most of yesterday and today anyway until I checked just now, had to manually find the gameplay threads for my alias. Probably won't get a post in today myself, but back at it tomorrow.

In other news, I reached out to my friend who was going to join, giving him a 'hey man, I've been patient but you're either in or you're not', and for a number of reasons I don't begrudge him for, he's bowing out. That said, the game's running smoother with just the two of you than I originally anticipated, so I think we'll do fine without - your thoughts?

I am fine keeping just the two of us. I can check with a buddy of mine see if he has any interest. He is my table top GM, moved to back to Michigan a couple years ago so we did play on Roll20 but now on Fantasy Grounds every week. He is a great player.

I'm good with that. Either way works.

Also... I'll pick up posts again on Monday. I don't think I've disclosed this in the discussion here, but I suffer from ADHD (wasn't actually diagnosed until ~4 or 5 years ago), and it's been kicking my butt the past couple days, preventing me from accomplishing much of anything. Doesn't help that I'm out of town today and forgot my medication. :-\

Thanks for your patience, all!

No worries, I'm only working half a day today and traveling to the In-Laws so the wife can see her sister this weekend.

So, couple of questions for you guys.

1) What are your goals for your characters, as well as what are your characters' goals (so OOC and IC goals)? Although I feel like I've got a pretty decent handle on Havark given how grounded into the adventure's backstory he is (where Tyv is deliberately a bit of an enigma) and we've gone over in a general sense what kind of games you guys are into, I'd still like some insight here so I can better tailor your future adventures to your characters.

2) This question is directed more at Tyv, as I saw from your other aliases Irondesk that you tried to run a game in Raging Swan Press's Lonely Coast setting, but to either of your collective knowledge, are there things from their Village Backdrops, Town Backdrops, Subterranean Enclaves, or Places of Power series that I should avoid using in this campaign for spoilery reasons?

I'll answer 2) quickly before I turn in. Nope. I own most all of Raging Swans adventures and most of their tribes stuff, but never got into any of the backdrops etc that you mention above.

I am an epic story kind of guy. A quest with a grand goal. I guess that is why I like adventure paths. They can be rough at first but once you have your grand purpose they are great. Mechanically I would like to see how Havark's build progresses. as it has been quite good in the early levels. Character wise he feels a tie to the clan and whoever the Jarl may be. Him continuing to develop and fight and duel as he gains Fame/Infamy would be interesting even if it is The Jarl using him as a pawn for their gains :)

I don't really have any grand long term goals for Tyv. Mechanically, I'm just exploring ( somewhat unsuccessfully) the SoP system and the concept of gestalt. Narratively, I can see Tyv building his own fey court of sorts over the long term, but for now he's content to be Merry/Pippen to Havark's Aragorn. I can also se him being the connection to "what's really going on," In the northlands. Like, while most of the NPCs and plots revolve around the corporeal struggles of politics and power of the varios clans, Tyv flits above it all, concerned with the spiritual/existential threats that only a few others are even aware of.

I like the high fantasy, grand plots as well, with clear goals and rewards. I do shy away from adventure path sized plots in this PbP format though, because of the RL time frame required to complete.

Alright, good to know. When you say you avoid 'AP-sized' plots, I take that to understand that you don't want to spend 8 levels working towards the goal of XYZ? Or do you mean more specifically to say you'd want the overall length of the game to be limited?

Right. I like grand world shaking plots, and an ap played face to face over the course of a year or so real time is great Spending 6 years real time playing the same ap over pop becomes an impossible to complete grind

*clears throat* I, uhhh... meant that as two opposing options. Trying again and perhaps a bit more direct - is your desire that

A) there is a defined upper time limit to this campaign (say wrap-up around level 8 for an example), or that

B) the Havark and Tyv in the Northlands campaign doesn't need a set endpoint as long as the adventures and character motivations get the opportunity to grow and vary organically?

Not that I'm really looking to carry things to level 20, but option A implies that I should start figuring out how it all ties together, as this adventure leaves a few disparate loose ends. Option B speaks to a game where we wrap up only those ends you decide to pursue, and let it grow organically from there.

Also, totally feel you about long grinds - I'm still running the first game I ever ran (Carrion Crown AP) that started almost five years ago. Been on hiatus for the last ~8 months because one of my players decided to go get his third bachelor degree, this time in engineering, so I'm running something else for the others in the meantime. The AP's been fun but part of me would kinda like to just let it die - we're only halfway through book four...

Hmm. . . option B methinks.

Yesterday got away from me and today is looking to as well; I'll squeeze in a post by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

take your time. We are not going anywhere. I will be going on vacation in 2 weeks though so I will be camping in nowheres mississippi. so no reception and no posting from the 9th-19th

Yup! Just keepin' y'all informed.

Hi sorry for the lack of posts this week - things have been hectic. Should be better now.

Well, Havark leaves tomorrow, and I figure we can just take a brief break while he's gone. Sound good?

Sure!

Gentleman, let's move it to discussion. Take a deep breath, figure out what you want to next, we can rewind a little bit as needed. If you guys need to hash things out player-to-player as well as character-to-character, do that too; I'll offer my own input on request.

Player wise I like twist like this, hard decisions, and lines in the sand our characters must make that help shape who they are. Character wise not sure where Tyv's motivation has come from. Having watched over Havark and being close with him he knows if there is one thing about him he is loyal to a fault. He showed that same loyalty to the Jarl and has the same for his clan. When the request was made for the clansman Tyv should have know Havarks stance. Not sure where his stance on wanting the ritual to happen is coming from.

Don't assume what I as a player or another character knows. You have had several weeks to suggest ooc that Havark might not be okay with the way things are going yet said nothing. Your opposition now essentially invalidated all the gameplay that I put in leading up to it.

Playing alongside Havark has often been trying - It regularly feels like you would rather be playing a solo campaign, routinely making unilateral decisions and not making any attempt to engage other players or assist in the development of their story. You say you like twists that force hard decisions, but you don't stop to consider if your fellow players want to be forced into those situations that you create.

You warned me not to go PVP, but you are the one that escalated things by taking action against an allied NPC before even waiting to see how the GM resolved the turn and your fellow player's action.

Not sure what you are talking about. There has been no direction until now. That's why I asked why we were even seeing the witch.

So when did Tyv set up all this secret ritual and

Sorry you feel that way, but no one has tried to engage Havark. Fana or the children have got the most out of him as well as the Jarl. The same could easily be said of everyone. PBP often leads to players only investing in their characters story. The GM knows how I play by now running this game and being in two other games with me, fortunately we all post daily in those games and we ask each others opinions. You wan't to influence the game post more. It may feel as it's Havark's story because I post daily multiple times if game allows and keep the game moving in a direction. Best I can determine looking back is you had some plan looking for a black sheep or someone no one would miss. If you would have approached Havark one of the prisoners could have been used or he would have been fine even raiding another clan or village and getting someone to sacrifice. Now if you if the person was willing and it was their choice he would not question as it seems best for the clan but he would never sacrifice a clansman against his will unless commanded too by the Jarl

As for the turn it was resolved.

Assuming round 1 started when GM asked for init.

Round 1: Havark stood, summoned blade: Two move actions.
Authun paused ( held action, delayed )
Asdis continued with ritual
Tyv got up and tumbled over in front of door, Two move actions.

Round 2: Havark disarms

So where do we go from here? I have no intention of making you feel like it's my game, it's only the two of us. At this point Havark has no ambition. He seeks to serve. A better situation would have been Asdis explaining what needed to happen. We could have discussed it with the new Jarl and if she wanted to give someone up Havark would not have questioned it.

You want to influence the game post more.

That is not a constructive comment. I work ten hours a day and do not have the luxury of posting from work. I have maybe 2 hours a day to devote to my own leisure. Posting more than once a day is not going to happen.

...one of the prisoners could have been used...

Nope. Asdis specifically requested a member of the Tower Guard.

Assuming round 1 started when GM asked for init.

Round 1: Havark stood, summoned blade: Two move actions.
Authun paused ( held action, delayed )
Asdis continued with ritual
Tyv got up and tumbled over in front of door, Two move actions.

Round 2: Havark disarms

Also nope, it was actually:

Round 2: Havark disarms before waiting for GM resolution of previous round's actions
Tyv summons his bound nexus and moves to door (no tumbling)

Now if you if the person was willing and it was their choice he would not question as it seems best for the clan but he would never sacrifice a clansman against his will

Hence my diplomacy check in round 1 where Tyv lays out the necessity of what they were doing and tries to get Authun to go along....

...we all post daily in those games and we ask each others opinions.

I completely agree. You and I do a very poor job of communicating with each other. "Table talk" is not something that translates well in PBP. I promise to discuss more ooc, if you reciprocate.

Anyway, I've said my piece, and I genuinely don't want to blow up this game. Thank you for listening to my concerns, and for your measured and respectful response.

So to move the game forward again may I suggest the following:

Retcon to right after Tyv's diplomacy check, let the GM resolve the first round properly, and continue from there. If Havark still wants to disrupt the ritual and make an enemy of the only NPC that is working to stave off ragnorok, then I promise Tyv will sit on his hands and do nothing to stop him (other than loudly and vociferously state his disagreement).

I honestly don't remember you talking to Asdis and her asking for a tower guard. I assume this was sometime before I went on vacation. You are correct the "posting more" comment was a low blow. We all have reasons why and how often we post. I'm not really and a+* h*!~ I just play one sometimes. :)

If you can convince the guard to give himself up for the good of the clan Havark is fine with it.

All cool. Your above post was the light bulb moment for me: All this time I assumed you as a player had been following along and understood the situation, and by your silence on the subject were tacitly in agreement with our course of action. Thus my total surprise when Havark upset the apple cart so to speak.

Also...

I'm not really and a%& h&$+ I just play one sometimes. :)

LOL, ironic that our character roles are now pretty much reversed from the last game you and I were in together, where Johan was the a!@ h#t and Cedric had all the manners and social grace. :>

Yeah. I do try and follow along especially in a game with just the two of us, but I totally missed what was going on here.

Post incoming soon as I spit all the words out. :-)

Sorry was away a few days.

Out of character, I want to make it clear that while the challenge may vary a bit between your options and might present different effects on the world should you fail, there's no wrong answer here. It's all about what interests you as players; any direction you take can lead you to a truly-broken curse. So don't overthink it, cuz I'm not going to lead you guys around for IRL just to be like "oh, well, the buried city was the wrong answer, so good job but you should have tried to meet the wind lords instead."

Don't know if it went without saying, but I'm saying it. :-P

I figured as much. I'm sure each has its own ups and downs. Trying to talk and earn the help of Gods seems the most fun choice to me. Waiting on Tyv to chime in :)