Originally, I was writing as if Rann and Ylva shared something like the emphatic link, as the wizard familiar does, but that was a mistake on my part. However I do think the druid should have some awareness of their companion and it just makes sense to me that Rann's awareness of Ylva strengthens when she's in totem transformation.
No worries, Ylva is alive. She'll be able to feel that at least, in puppet form.
What no stuffed wolfy? I was looking forward to that :-)
Holy crap, that last post was the crux of the entire adventure! Although there is no way Nicu the character is going anywhere near that book, everything that matters to us solving this dilemma is contained in those few journal entries, like a Bram Stoker novel, so let's crack at it my fellow adventures! Let's get our rightful bodies back from the manipulations of Maligno, for the boy Figlio is already a casualty as we will surely be if we do not act!
Ok folks, this part of our little adventure is where creativity will really pay off, (and can really be a lot of fun!) Giuseppe's notes on Carrionette creation can be used to give you a +5 to an untrained crafting check to add anything to your doll-body that you can imagine.
Also, I know everyone has reassured me that they like the game and don't want to quit, but despite that, the post frequency continues to dwindle. I don't have my NPC mouthpiece to nudge you guys along anymore, so you'll have to make some decisions, reach a consensus and act on your own. But you could stand around talking in the toyshop indefinitely and nothing more will happen to you until a move is made. Feel free to discuss options here ooc if you prefer.
I do hope you're still enjoying the game, as always, please let me know if I can do anything more toward that goal.
I've been a bit busy this week.
Had a wedding this weekend. The lead-up to it was a giant pain, but the ceremony was great.
I didn't expect it to take up as much of my time as it did. Things are back to normal now.
Do we need to roll for adding armor?
Just in case, here's my extra rolls.
Ok folks, I've been super busy with studying and gearing up for PFS stuff (playing in 2 games on the online event and I've been asked to GM a PFS table at our first ever Comic con in this area! Whee!) This is why I've let this lie a few more days despite the fact that I've gotten two PM's from players echoing my own concerns about the state of the game.
We've stalled out and that was somewhat inevitable with the transition. But if we're going to reach the end of this roller-coaster, we've got to build up some momentum. I really need a re-commitment from everyone to post at least every other day. I don't think three posts during the M-F period is too much to ask. And honestly, if you're just not getting into the theme, no hard feelings if you want to bow out. We can proceed with a smaller group or I can open recruitment again. I check my games several times a day and we could be rolling along pretty swiftly if everyone would participate in a timely manner.
I plan to keep going with the game as long as I have interested players, but I need at least one player to take the lead in terms of moving the action forward so we don't continue to stall.
You guys can take 10 on the crafting check for the armor, but weapons really need to be a rolled crafting check. Let's get those puppets moving!
I'm here ready, willing and able to play.
I'm in. This is just getting awesome.
I'm still here, but I've been negligent. I’ll try to get my puppet modifications done tonight or tomorrow,
I also admit to having been a bit lame lately: I'll step up my game. In my defense, I was crazy sick this week, but really, that's no excuse to not sit down and type a little. I'm with you guys - this thing is reaching a very cool point.
Ok, looks like everyone has checked back in, at least. The next update will move us into combat, so finish up any crafting and gathering of supplies (you want to bring the glue and string, at least, for repairing yourselves) and be ready to go for Monday! ^_^
I've decided not to do any crafting. Can I use the weapon as I described (did I find the weapon I was looking for)?
Also, where do I get the silver needles, and how many can I carry? Did I miss that?
I'm going to try and stay with this game. Life is getting a bit complicated (I am a government sub contractor working at a DOE site, so, yeah, its coming)
There is one thing that sort of troubles me. It's not a big deal, but I just want to get it off my chest.
You see, when the puppets were trying to hit us with the silver needles the plan was that they sort of needed to succeed, no matter what, because that is how the story is supposed to go. So naturally the way the combat is geared it is unbalanced against the player's favor. But, now that we are the puppets that probably isn't the case, or at least it seems like it shouldn't be because that almost takes all free agency away from the players. But, this is sort of the way a few second edition products were built, very strange, interesting stories, very poor game play.
So obviously we are not going to have as easy a time of needling the bodies as they had with us. I get that, but it is a bit weird.
Also, have we learned how, other than the destruction of the initial puppet (which I'm not certain I really know what puppet that is, right?)we are supposed to end this curse even when we do get our bodies back?
It wasn't a completely foregone conclusion that you all should've ended up in the puppet bodies, but it is what I preferred so I went hard at you. A mistake on my part translating the Carrionettes to Pathfinder (the soulbound doll is a bit overpowered, that's my fault) combined with a certain amount of personal apathy when judging if the encounter was fair since I knew a TPK would only land you in your current predicament added up to the rather grueling encounters so far.
But I think you'll find the mod takes a weird turn toward being easier as the enemy seems to have turned complacent and underestimated your ability to escape. You guys have a big job ahead of you, and this is what you know:
1) The "boss" puppet is the one with the apparent ability to make wolves dance wildly in place. He is made to look like a little boy (in lederhosen and a feathered cap) and often speaks in rhyme. Giuseppe calls him Figlio, but he has taken on the new name Maligno and declared himself ruler of this place.
2) Giuseppe seems as though he may be a hapless victim of this creature or possibly even consumed by madness as he seems either ignorant or deluded as to Maligno's true nature. He mentions an entity in his journal he calls "The Blue Lady", though it is hard to know if this is anything beyond his own imaginings.
3) It's reasonable to assume you are not the only victims of the Carrionettes. Gregorio had been possessed and Luc had noticed something off about Aldo the Constable before and there is no telling what has befallen Olivia and Ylva since you last saw them.
There are a lot of pieces on the board, including your stolen meat-suits. But step one is escape the toyshop.
Crazy at work through tomorrow afternoon. sorry.
No worries Baldwin, you've made your move. ^_^ Dimitrio has about six hours left to make his and then we shall move on. I still don't like DMNPC'ing the PC's, and I've decided to be stubborn about it so I have a new plan that I will implement today. Monday - Friday, PC's will have 24 hours from the time of my update (probably early afternoon to late evening) to dictate actions if their turn is waiting.
Once a PC's 24 hour window to post their combat action has closed, the first alternate player to dictate the absent player's actions INCLUDING the die rolls will receive my gratitude in the form of a special GM granted boon of *One Free Reroll* for you to use at your discretion for your own character.
Yes, see the opening combat scene post here. The attacking toys consist of a pair of rollerskates, a set of three tops that have taken up position in front of the first step of the stairs, and the cowboy puppet. I'll look at getting a combat map up today.
Received my Furlough notification today, going to complicate my life in some ways, but I will try to keep on schedule here. I apologize for a brief delay while I get things in order.
I'm sorry to hear that, Terquem. I sincerely hope things improve for you soon.
About attacking with your improvised weapons: anything bigger than a light piercing weapon (like Donovan's swiss pike) will incur the -2 Str penalty. But light piercing weapons (the silver needles, nails, fine drill bits) can be used without the penalty as can the monkey puppet's natural attacks. Characters with weapon finesse obviously have no penalty and add their Dex bonus to the +3 BAB when attacking with a light weapon (not necessarily piercing). But it is easy enough to find a light piercing weapon to use among Giuseppe's tools as he does a lot of very fine scale work.
Come on guys, BlueDove deserves way better than this, she's put a lot of effort into creating a good game.
Oddly enough, I'm seeing slow-downs on nearly all my games, maybe this is just a busy time for folks. I'm not going to take it personally, but I am running out of ideas. The general consensus seems to be that the GM takes over the game, runs people's turns without them and eventually absent players just never post again and new players are recruited.
Maybe fresh blood is what we need. I'm about ready to open up recruiting, though I may limit it to invitations to begin with.
DMpc the characters, as needed, to suit the flow the game that you wish to achieve. From experience I run two active games one has over 22,000 game posts in 17 months the other has 3100 in 7 months, that is because I will DMpc the characters as needed to move the story. The players understand and don't mind, they appreciate the story moving. There may be some attrition but that is the way PbP games.
Forgive me, as I know everyone is trying to help me grasp this concept and I may come off as a bit exasperated, but if the GM directs the PC's... what is the point of the game? If I wanted to write fan-fiction, I could do that. I want the interaction, the give and take... I really can't do that by myself. =/
Maybe it's because I'm a rabid player, but I really don't understand why everyone is so pleased with the idea of the GM running things. I do see it happening all over in the PbP's, but I don't get it. Even when people post to say what they want to do, they don't make the roll, leaving it for the GM to do. Maybe it's my control-freak nature coming out, but speaking as a player; win, lose or draw, I want to have rolled it myself.
So I don't get it, and I don't like it, but since no one seems up for taking me up on my offer for free re-rolls if you'll direct the absent PC's, (What's that about, if I can ask? It's fine for me to move all the pieces but not another player?) I guess I will suck it up and roll the turn.
Should I go again? I'd kind of like to post my character's actions as reactions to the battle as it progresses, you know, trying to throw myself around as a warrior trying to be where he is needed most.
Are we going to be able to wear down these toys doing only 1 point of damage in a successful attack, or should we be looking for ways to up our damage out put? Will Bless, from Luc, improve out damage?
New turn is up, so yes, you should go again now.
These things are a little hard to hit, but they don't have many hp. The cowboy is already half gone already. And yes, Bless would still add +1 to damage.
I haven't cast Bless...yet.
Do I have to kick you harder?
Do I have to kick you harder?
He tried to negotiate first.
No update today. I'm mourning my poor diabetic kitty-cat that I had to have put down today and I have a test in nearly every subject tomorrow. Hopefully we'll hear from our absent players soon.
Very sorry to hear of your kitty and hope your tests go well.
Sorry about the kitty and good luck on the tests.
Hey all,
I'm sorry to tell you guys that I'll be dropping out of the game. It's become a chore for me and it is not fair to the rest of you.
Thank you all, especially you GM bluedove, and I wish you all lots of happy gaming.
Feel free to do with Dimitrio what best suits the story.
Thanks again,
Fabian
Thanks for letting me know. I enjoyed gaming with you, and appreciate the input you gave me. Hope we can play again sometime!
I'm not sure what do about dear Dimitrio. I'm tempted to ask someone else to step in to play him. I've stepped in on a character once before myself and though I enjoyed it, I feel like it violates something proprietary about the PC. I'll think about it some more, and welcome input from his friends.
I will be opening recruiting, so if you feel like you won't be able to keep a reasonable pace or you're just finding yourself less interested, this is the best time to bow out. I'd really prefer not to ask anyone to leave, but if I keep having to move for someone repeatedly I'll have to. Games are meant to be fun, so please don't let it cause you stress.
Thanks for the sympathies and well wishes. I'm working on the update now, will have it up soon.
Hey, guys - time to make it official. I'm really bothered by this, especially for this game (Ravenloft = awesome, and I've really been into the characters and story here) but it's become pretty clear that I don't have the time/energy right now to keep up with play by posts in any reasonable fashion, so I'm having to drop out of basically all of the games I'm currently in.
I'm very sorry to do this, as these things have always been a blast and I hate to let my poor characters languish in limbo, and even more so since you just lost another player, but I hate even more to let you guys suffer waiting for my painfully slow butt. No hard feelings, I hope, and good luck - feel free to use Rannveig as an NPC for as long as you like, or (as is more likely here in Ravenloft) get her killed at your earliest convenience.
Blue - I'm still around.
No worries, and no hard feelings either. Honestly I was expecting to lose Rann and as I said, this is the time to do it.
We do have some reinforcements on the way, so don't worry I'm giving up on the game. I'll wait til Monday to move the turn forward since I'll be pretty busy this weekend with GMing at con.
Thanks Baldwin! I don't plan to let this game die on the vine, so stick with me and you'll never go hungry again! (for creepy themed RP'ing anyway) ^_~
I'm really sorry for disappearing for so long. I'm producing a haunted house that opened last night (to overwhelming and unexpectedly phenomenal success). The lead up to that had me working on it 10+ hours a day for the last week in addition to my regular job. That coupled with some idiot cutting a fiberoptic cable near me that made me lose Internet access at my house for 4 days while the line was repaired, meant that I had no time to post and very reduced opportunity to explain my absence.
As of tomorrow I get my life back. I will post as soon as I catch up.
I'm still around as well, Bluedove, we'll get this game rolling again :)
Sticking my head in to say hi! It looks like I'm some of the new blood. *waves*
I'll be bringing in Shi-ru, a middle-aged Tien woman and/or doll, because clearly what this group needs is some good ol' common sense and making sure you all get enough to eat, you barbarians, you.
You'll see me in this form first =) Looking forward to playing with you!
Blue - I'm a bit confused on why your rolling everyone's actions. I understand DMPC'ing when someone hasn't posted but to roll everyone's actions at the beginning of the round is odd. We then either opt to take the DM's roll, or roll ourselves, which makes it difficult to follow the action/story. This gets muddled even further given the DM narrative that follows, which assumes the player is going to take the DM's roll. As a player this basically removes me from the game.
Um... I've been waiting for everyone's round 4 actions since Tuesday,Oct 29th. I've just been too busy to advance the turn myself til last night. And you were the only one who posted at all since then. I applied that roll to your round 3 action, but I still needed round 4.
Trust me, I don't want to take away anyone's autonomy. I hate DMNPC'ing my PC's, but I can only beg you guys to post so many times. Funny, and here I thought I was finally doing what you guys wanted me to do. *sigh*
I moved to block style initiative and the Toys go at the bottom of the round. I've been saying "everyone is up", but is that not clear somehow? Would it work better to have the toys attack at the beginning of the round? I'm happy to do whatever makes this easier to understand, but I thought I was being clear.
I thought that was Rd 3, and in looking back at the thread, it looks like my third round action was missed in the round's summary.
Ah, ok. You're right, I just missed that action when I did the round 3 wrap up. My mistake! So the miss would have applied to round 4, but my oopsie gave you a hit instead. Ok, to leave it as it is? Or would you like me to retcon?
I don't retcon actions, so I'll keep it. Retcon's tend to add to the confusion - IMO.
I got my but kicked by Halloween, I'm way behind, but I will be catching up soon, sorry
Ok, sorry for my mistake. Didn't mean to confuse matters, I'm just trying to keep us moving.
Hope everyone can jump back in soon. As I've mentioned, I have some fresh blood coming in to join us. I'll be introducing them to the gameplay thread soon. I know I've enjoyed playing with them myself, and I hope you guys will too. ^_^