Dangit! I was this close to contriving for Ellie to start a monster crush on Galen. Oh well...
Dangit! I was this close to contriving for Ellie to start a monster crush on Galen. Oh well...
There's always Gwernach?
Well I'm here!
Sorry, I'm here, I just have the worst memory.
Sorry about the delay - my weekend is busy, and started early. And by weekend I mean disaster.
BTW, Eltanin checked out the vial and tube in the 'treasure box' earlier - I don't see any results on that. Did I miss something?
BTW, Eltanin checked out the vial and tube in the 'treasure box' earlier - I don't see any results on that. Did I miss something?
The only test on the items were for their magical nature - and the contents of the vial weren't magical. As an alchmist, you'd supect the liquid was three 'doses' of silversheen, but you'd have to do a more thorough test to be sure (you've only glimpsed it through a vial until now).
I received some honest and fair feedback on my online GMing skills and the key is that I don't press the game along as fast as I could. Specifically I don't act on behalf of PCs if they are holding the game up.
Taking that feedback on board, I have posted this in every game I'm GMing as a commitment to start to push things along. If players can't keep up (we all agreed to posting at least daily in the recruitment thread) then it's not fair on the others if they have to wait a few days for their next action.
So, starting Thursday, I'll start this revised approach.
As an aside, I've been reveiwing activity and may bring in another player or two to balance the group.
A slight change of approach.
I’m playing in a campaign on these boards and we’ve just finished the first adventure path. It’s taken us just over 400 posts and we’re at level three already.
It came as a surprise (a pleasant one I might add) and it made me wonder about the pace of my own games. As you know, I love the role-playing and would never speed that up. But simplifying combat seems sensible (without taking away the challenge). On reflection, what we did that really made things quicker was the lack of searching individual rooms – and rolls every room to see if we spotted stuff.
And that’s what I propose as a way forward. What does it mean in real terms? Firstly you would level up quicker. Are you OK with that? Secondly, expect fewer but tougher fights. Again, are you OK with that? I will moderate to ensure no TPKs but won’t eliminate the prospect of a character dying. Next, expect to be told what’s in rooms and not to explore every drawer and chest. You’ll still have to let me know about sensing motives etc. but I expect to do away with the searching of six rooms in every house, just to let you know there’s nothing in them.
Finally, this is a proposal. The game is underway and I don’t want to enforce any of this. Please let me know what you think (even if you’re ambivalent) so I can make an informed decision.
Oh, and I've identified a new character (and possibly a second one). She'll be introducing herself on the boards very soon.
I'm ok with simplification, although I think we should still have to at least enter the room. Entering a house and 'knowing' what's in all the rooms is unrealistic.
As for the combat, dabble away. The GM for one of the other campaigns I'm in is a brutal tactician, we are always on the edge of TPK. Sometimes this is just do to rotten luck with the dice :P It's fun, but aggravating. So if you want to make things tougher, it's something I should be used to.
And yup, faster leveling is cool. I've been in very few campaigns where we actually got past fifth...things just sputter out.
New girl? Is she a wizard? We have a couple wands for her :)
I'm ok with simplification, although I think we should still have to at least enter the room. Entering a house and 'knowing' what's in all the rooms is unrealistic.
As for the combat, dabble away. The GM for one of the other campaigns I'm in is a brutal tactician, we are always on the edge of TPK. Sometimes this is just do to rotten luck with the dice :P It's fun, but aggravating. So if you want to make things tougher, it's something I should be used to.
And yup, faster leveling is cool. I've been in very few campaigns where we actually got past fifth...things just sputter out.
New girl? Is she a wizard? We have a couple wands for her :)
Excellent points. I'll start at the end. Even at the fast pace in the game I'm playing in, it'll take at least two years to play the campaign. At our present rate, it could take seven and a half years to complete. That must be one of the reasons that online games fizzle out.
Next, I'll keep the balance correct in terms of combat. Not a walkover, but not at risk of killing a character every fight.
Finally, I need to find a balance between oversimplifying searching and spending three calendar days identifying that the first room is empty. Then five days to find a drawer in the second room has a +1 dagger in it!
Oh, I nearly forgot - the new girl. Not a wizard. And there may be a new boy too. I know both players, so I'm comfortable they'll add to the group and keep things moving.
Hi everyone, this is the new girl!
This is Callie Cobalt (and I am DeathQuaker), former wannabe famous swordswoman, turned runaway/street performer/recovering drug addict. She is an arcane duelist bard and good with both the stabbing and the talking (and might or might not be able to use those wands... sadly I do not have UMD trained for her though). I had her originally built for another COCT campaign which died and Birch was kind enough to let me transfer her over. She will be sad that in this universe she was unable to participate in beating on Lamm but certainly be happy to aid those who have defeated him.
If you've any questions/comments/concerns/etc. let me know. I've been scanning your thread a bit and I look forward to joining the party! Thanks. (ETA: And a quick avatar change--this one has the blue cloak and looks a little less snooty. :) )
The streamlining seems like a good idea, to keep things moving. I checked out of curiosity, and it's hard to believe this game's been running for 4 1/2 months already! Fewer, tougher combats seem like a good way to run things, because once a combat starts, it seems like everyone gets into a "groove", as an example, I can look and think "Oh Gwernach just went, I should put up what I'm doing now"
As for out of combat, I think a lot of standard things can kinda be assumed. Searching rooms, checking exits, that's stuff anybody will do in any room, so assuming we check a place, we can skip a little bit of back-and-forth, which save some time.
As for Callie: Hi! Welcome to the crew. Sorry you missed killing Lamb, but there should still be plenty to do! I did notice your sheet said you're a level 2 Bard, and I just make sure, is this intentional? You did mention that this was a previously created character, so I just wanted to be sure, or is this just something that will work itself out by the time you're introduced? Sorry if I'm intruding, I kinda did an unprompted character audit last time, and it's almost instinct at this point. :P
Sorry if I spoiled any surprises -- all I can say is I was told to create a level 2 character. I presume this means y'all will be leveled up by the time we meet (which I reckon will be shortly after you're done with the spiders). :)
Shhhhhhhh Callie, don't tell them >_>
Your new frontliner checking in. Chopper style fighter: Because they're simple and efficient.
I'll be look'n farward ta meet'n ya both...jus'as soon as we get past these pesky ar-rach-nids!
Got the fluff on Roran done, I'm ready to go!
Cleaving Finish + Improved Cleaving Finish = Whirlwind of Death.
Once they open that door...
Please chat away at Zellara's home and take the time to level up (except those already at level two of course).
HP? Average and rounded up. So, for a fighter (with a 10hp per level max) that would be 11/2 = 5.5 = 6.
Why 5.5? Because the range in 1-10 - which equals an average of 5.5 not 5!
Once you've levelled up, let me know here and we can move on...
Evening, all! Heard you needed more of a frontline, so here I am, with a shiny new two-weapon fighter, focusing on shield bashing. While this means we have two fighters in the party, I'm hoping we won't overlap too much. ;-)
Yeah, fancy defensive fighting is exactly what Roran is not. Just a quick glance at his stats and you can guess how he fights lol. Welcome aboard!
AM FIGHTUR! AM SMASH!
Haha, this is the best thing I've seen in a while.
"Ok, peace." *Kicks open door*
Welcome all the new crowd! Sorry, got a little distracted this week, but I'll try to make a better effort. For starters, I'm watching this thread closely to see if anyone got the joke in my Sunday night post.
Oh my god it's a talking drink!
Yeah I enjoyed it haha, but Roran would have no hope of getting it
Still reading, don't want to interject anymore in case anyone else has anything to say.
I'd suggest for course of action, walking the guard back to the barracks, and then seeing about giving back the brooch. If the riot started at the castle, the castle might be guarded but maybe we can ask the other guards at the barracks for advice.
Still reading, don't want to interject anymore in case anyone else has anything to say.
I'd suggest for course of action, walking the guard back to the barracks, and then seeing about giving back the brooch. If the riot started at the castle, the castle might be guarded but maybe we can ask the other guards at the barracks for advice.
Sounds good to me.
Valeria, do you want to RP returning to check on your child?
Wilthorn and Eltanin, is there anything you'd like to check on before heading to the Citadel?
GM Birch has agreed to allow the party a 5% discount on items purchased at Whitehammer's. Feel free to adjust your supplies :)
Is anyone interested in RPing this out?
I don't feel the need to RP out Whitehammers, but I would be interested in purchasing a potion of cure light wounds for emergencies.
I'd like to RP checking on Quinta, even if it's just one post I can respond to retroactively so as to not bog things down. I'm a fan of characters having connections (Callie and Birch are probably well aware of my bard's homesickness in another game).
I'm with Callie in that I don't feel the need to RP Whitehammer's, though. Might pick up a couple of potions and oils, depending on my funds.
I don't have anyone to see. Thanks to that revelation about my sister, all my familial loose ends have been tied up. Also, I don't see shopping as something needing to be roleplayed out, personally.
Ok, with the 'shopping' done, we can RP Valeria's reunion with Quinta.
Going with my medicated straight conversion for ingots and half for the box, (1500/6=250 + 25/6= 4.16666) everyone adds 255gp 7sp
Which can we go with?
Ok, with the 'shopping' done, we can RP Valeria's reunion with Quinta.
** spoiler omitted **
Gold ingots are effectively cash, so 1500/6 each = 250gp each. The silver box should be halved so 50/2/6 = 4gp each and 1gp left over
It going to Wilthorn OR tipped to Elzin sounds good to me. Maybe leave it up to Wilthorn?
Birch, can you take us to Quinta's house?
Just a note, I probably won't be able to post tomorrow, or until late the day after. I'm happy to delay this bit of unimportant RP and just retcon it in later. (For reference, Valeria's daughter is about 7 and staying with her grandparents while her mother's out adventuring.)
I'm not especially gold-hungry. A tip for Elzin for his assistance seems appropriate.
Dangit again, when did I miss the memo? I apparently forgot to level up...
Dangit again, when did I miss the memo? I apparently forgot to level up...
Better late than never...you levelled up after the Old Fishery
See, the obvious plan at this point would be to sneak in using those two-person animal costumes, where one person plays each pair of legs. Then we leap out and stab everybody.
We kinda did that in the We Be Goblins! game I was in the other night. After killing Stomp, we decided to hollow out the carcass and carry it around as a disguise. So we did. All four hooves dragging on the ground, one goblin at the front holding up the head, all of us yelling out different animal noises. Not making them, just yelling out "MOOOOOOOOOO!"
Still waiting for the door to be answered.
Hello everybody, I will be visiting my girlfriend this weekend and my posting will probably be non-existent until Sunday evening. I'll see you all then.
DMPC me as needed.
Surgery update: teeth all out. Apparently I did a crocodile roll as I was waking up and yanked the needle out of my arm, so I have a nice bruise there. Mouth full of stitches, everything's bloody and very sore. Really groggy, but they gave me good drugs.
My mother's been looking after me, and my boyfriend's been great. He bought me chocolate custard so I can eat, and he's fetching me drinks and tissues. Currently snuggled down on the couch watching Black Adder.
I've already posted this in Birch's other games, so he knows, but just in case the party's wondering, I've been pretty stressed for a few days and unable to get in character. Still not there yet, but I see combat is imminent. Luckily, Valeria is a fighter, so she'll just do what fighters do best. DMPC as needed. She's more focused on defense, as opposed to Roran's offensive power. Use Saving Shield, use two-weapon fighting.