I appreciate all of the input. Anything that can speed us up without minimising the enjoyment must be good.
Some ideas I've seen:
1. If a PC doesn't post in combat for 24 hours, they are NPCd (or do nothing)
2. Anyone with a higher initiative than the bad guys can act in any order. No need to wait for the #1 guy. The same once the bad guys have gone.
Please keep giving me feedback, we will make a decision as one team. Oh, and an intersting observation...
The game I referenced will take us 2 years to complete the AP at our current pace. This game would take 7.5 years. This is most likely one reason that players drop out. That's not me saying 7.5 years is bad - but we'd need to be really committed to see it through at that pace. I suspect PCs are less likely to walk away from a 12th-level character than a 2nd-level one.
1) Excellent idea.
2) I usually make all "enemies" act at the same time, taking the average of their initiative. That way the party can act as one.
1. Agreed. I like that.
2. I also like this. After all, we're 'acting simultaneously' in story terms anyway, so a 'first come first served approach within a given block of initiative isn't unreasonable in my opinion.
DMPCing is a great way to speed up combat. I might draw up a list of actions Horatio's most likely to take, in case I go AWOL.
I like the idea of acting in blocks - party, then enemies, or vice versa. Streamlining combat is always a win for me.
@Kalig That is a very thorough analysis of our combat options, and while as you said decreasing the number of enemies could make fights easier even if the enemies are tougher, this could work if the number of enemies in bigger fights anyway was roughly our own or a bit more, in smaller fights where we have the advantage of numbers and the enemy isn't a boss or some tough enemy we would have just as easily breezed through, except now it would happen even faster.
@Birch I like both ideas, the first especially should at least help us move the fight by at least one round per day if not more.
Has anyone seen Merwyn anywhere recently?
Regarding Merwyn, I checked her Jen the GM alias, and she was posting as recently as yesterday, but she has not posted as Merwyn in a week. I suggest poking her with a PM.
Hi, apologies for the absence.
I could've sworn that I've been posting, it's a bit of a weird sensation. Perhaps I've just been dreaming. :)
That was fast and sweet :)
Hopefully we'll be able to keep up the pace, I believe everyone made a post except Horatio and the monster's round was already wasted because of Merwyn's spell so all and all we are off to a fine start!
They've been updating their site this week so it's also possible you posted and it got eaten. That's happened to me before.:)
Is Merwyn's alignement really good :)
I've been asking myself the same thing :p
Good is such a relative term, isn't it? :)
She just takes pride in Gnomish craftsmanship. :P
Would like to get some opinions on the feat I'll pick on the next level up, keep in mind I plan to take all these feats eventually, I am just wondering which would be better taken earlier.
Improved Dirty Trick: I just love the wide range of effects this maneuver can cause.
Dazzling Display: Demoralize all enemies within 30 feet sounds like a great deal.
Ironwill: With a fighter's abysmal base will saving throw you can't say you didn't see this coming.
Improved dirty trick: Flashy, fun, interesting, not the fighter's job. If you want to go disabling route go for trip/disarm.
Dazzling Display: Surprisingly effective, especially considering the fact that it scales well into late with powerful feats it is the prerequisite of. Allows you to throw definitely non-negligible debuffs around the field.
Iron Will: Boring, but never bad. Half the time it will never be used or won't matter, the other half it will save your ass. One of the "boring but safe" choices.
All IMHO of course, others may disagree with me.
Birch, I believe it's the goblin's turn now? Veryl, Miro and Kalig all rolled higher than it, and all three appear to have taken their actions.
Hey Birch, when we levelled, would we have regained resources like spells per day, rounds of performance, etc.? Or does that happen next time we rest? I've known GMs who handle it both ways, so I'd just like to check. =)
You levelled and rested at the same time - I tend to make sure it happens that way. You all went off to the Rusty Dragon for a good night's sleep before returning to the Catacombs. So presume you have regained resources.
Thanks for the input Miro, I'll probably go with Dazzling Display first, but Veryl hasn't leveled yet so if anyone has a different opinion please let me hear what you have to say.
Pretty sure Haunted Fey Aspect has a range of 'personal', Merwyn. I could be wrong, though.
Oh, hey, how about that. :O
A bit late to edit, so I will just use it on myself since my turn has already passed.
Can we give half of that damage to Veryl's pride?
So its Horatio and Merwyn up next, then we can put a close on this round. I hate to be that guy but if I am not mistaken we are pretty close to the 24 hour mark, so if they don't make a post soon I suggest npcing them so we can move things along.
I thought I posted, but the forums must have eaten it. Been horribly sick all morning; I'll post once I'm well enough to get my head on straight. If I take too long, just take my actions for me.
Hope you get to feeling better!
Sorry to hear that, I hope you'll feel better soon.
I'll spare you the details. Right now I'm just lying on the couch, all rugged up and feeling very sorry for myself! Seeing the doctor in a couple of hours, and I'm just trying to recover enough to drive.
Feel better, I'm recovering from a nasty bug myself.
Guys. flaming sphere is a druidic as well as a sorcerer/wizard spell, I don't know if it's an arcane or divine version of the scroll. Kalig just couldn't ID it.
Even so, I'd like to be offered the chance at it as well.
ARGH. This will teach me to actually look more closely at spell lists in future. Sorry!
At any rate, Horatio's not particularly interested in keeping the scroll, so you and Merwyn can fight it out ;-)
Ah yeah, we should check if it's arcane or divine.
So is Miro still around? Its been five days since he last made a post? Also wow is it just me or were the last two days incredibly slow. I just hope we can get things back on track, and I think we scared Kalig away with all the attention we bombarded her with.
Just waiting confirmation that you want to progress....you all appear to be at the door, waiting for someone else to go first.
We are still mid conversation, but it seemed to have seen a sudden stop. What about our missing rogue he still there?
Sorry, I had a busy day yesterday (and am about to leave for work so will post later).
Horatio and Kalig were going through the door was my understanding. If it is helpful for you to put our intentions in OOC (i.e., "").
Also Birch, if you're waiting for us to post something, please say so. Likewise, maybe we can post ooc when we're waiting for the GM to move us on because sometimes I think we misunderstand.
We all have our busy days, so no apologies are needed. I was just worrying(needlessly I guess) that the game was slowing down, and nothing kills interest in a game like stalling it, I appologize if I was rude or out of line.
Glad for the feedback. With other groups I've been inclined to ask them outright - are you going through that door? - but so far that hasn't been an issue here.
This time Kalig indicated she was following Horatio and Horatio said he was going to follow Kalig.
As a rule of thumb, I won't automatically move you through a door with a dragon on the other side - but if there is a general indication from the posts to move on, I'll make the call even if nobody posts specifically.
Oh, and did I mention there's a dragon in the spherical room... ; p
I think for stuff like who is following who, unless it's really important (in which case just ask), you can handwave that. Assume Kalig and Horatio awkwardly circled each other till they both pushed through the door.
Regarding waiting for me to reply... generally, if someone's asking a question to another PC, I don't see why others can't post the rest of their thoughts -- we can always backtrack as needed, it's text, we just have to be clear when posting in what order things happen. I also feel like I post very frequently and sometimes try to actually make myself hold back to make sure others have a chance to get a word in.
Five hours of exams, I'll be back afterwards. :D
Sorry, just started a new semester of school, busy as hell. Hopefully things calm down soon.
Hey, fyi, I haven't been feeling well lately. In fact I've pretty much slept through the past 24 hours. Don't want to hold the game up while I'm only semi lucid, so feel free to npc Breacca as needed.
Feel better!
Just posting plenty of notice in all my games: I'm booked in for surgery on the 15th of April. Nothing major, just several tooth extractions in preparation for braces. But I'll probably be groggy as hell and feeling sorry for myself for a few days afterward, so if I don't post much for about the next week, just GMPC me.
Of course, I could be on all the time due to being stuck at home, so hey, who knows.
Never liked any procedure involving ones teeth...but I am sure no one does, hope you feel better soon.
@Breaca Are you feeling any better?
Much better, thank you. :)
Glad to hear it.
You chose those words on purpose, didn't you, Birch? I hope you did.
You chose those words on purpose, didn't you, Birch? I hope you did.
They brought a smile to my face.
Same here. If Horatio dies in this campaign, I demand that someone adapts that soliloquy for whatever funeral he may or may not have.