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I know my posting has slowed, and I apologize. My schedule and circumstances are different from what I thought they would be when we first started. Specifically, my old job got busy this year, and then I got a new job in October. And the thing about my new job is that, unlike my old job, I'm 1) immediately busier at the start, especially during November and December, and 2) I'm much more invested in the work I'm doing now, so I'm not inclined to try to get away from it by posting during work.
This is all meant to be explanation, rather than excuse. I'm still invested in this game, and I believe I can still achieve 1 post/day at a minimum. I think sometimes it's hard to maintain the length and quality of post that I want to sometimes, but I like Catina's idea of responding to each other more. I've set high standards for my own posts, but I'm going to work on recognizing that I need to meet the pace even if my writing isn't perfect. So I'm going to try focusing on maintaining high quality writing that helps drive us forward, and try not to worry too much about individual post length.
Sev, I'll wait for you for your answer for three days more. Past that time, I'll assume you're too busy to continue the game and go on recruiting another player.
I'm still at work at the moment. I have a shifting schedule that doesn't give me a consistent window to post during. Given that it's only been a day and you've already assigned me a time frame to answer, I think it's safe to say that I am not meeting the expectations you require for posting and it might be best for you to recruit.
I think there's a misunderstanding here, Sev. I meant that if you didn't answer in the next three days I was going to recruit. But I was referring to the question I raised here in the Discussion Thread. Anyway, I'd like to know if you feel you'll be able to post once/day, or that is too much for you.You missed the deadline many times, and even though I like both Sev as a character and you as a player, I'm sure you'll understand that without regular posting from everyone our game is going to be extremely slow and cause you to lose interest. I was aiming to get an answer to this question rather than to posit an ultimatum.
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You missed the deadline many times.
This is why I suggested you recruit. I do not hold it against you, and I'm just as frustrated as you at my inability to reach a deadline, but my schedule drastically changed just shortly after I agreed to play in this game, as I had informed you then.
I'll miss playing Sev, and will likely continue to read this game, but rather than hold everyone up, I think it best that I step out.
You missed the deadline many times.This is why I suggested you recruit. I do not hold it against you, and I'm just as frustrated as you at my inability to reach a deadline, but my schedule drastically changed just shortly after I agreed to play in this game, as I had informed you then.
I'll miss playing Sev, and will likely continue to read this game, but rather than hold everyone up, I think it best that I step out.
I'm very sorry to see you go Xynen. You're a wonderful player and I hope we'll meet again on the boards soon! And if you somehow happen to have more time, please write me and I'll see what I can do to get you back in.
Oh, I see I misinterpreted the flow of action. :(
To me, once initiatives are rolled, all the previous actions/plans have already occurred.
I would not roll initiative until the tiefling at the door reacted to Catina. If everyone else was waiting for that action then why roll for initiative at that time.
Oh well, just chuck it to Lorenzo being over-protective of Catina. :)
Game on!
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PS: Sorry to see Sev go.
GM: will you DMNPC Sev for this encounter? Will you open up recruitment or do you have someone in mind to start playing?
I would not roll initiative until the tiefling at the door reacted to Catina. If everyone else was waiting for that action then why roll for initiative at that time.
Because you could use that round of time to cast buffs, produce light, draw weapons, ready an attack and so on.
Lorenzo, in that case you might probably have better used a predicate for your action. "As soon as Catina acts, etc." However, I don't think it matters much in this case, and as far as I can tell this way is totally in-character. ;)
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Yeah, sorry that it didn't work out, Xynen. I enjoyed reading your way of bringing Sev to life.
Sorry to be pain but I'm confused again.
I thought you said that we were doing 'block initiatives' (i.e, all the players go at the same time).
Does Lady Faustinia get to act now or does she have to wait until Tiefling Male acts?
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Can I attack the dog the way the tokens are placed or do I have to move Catina and/or get inside (take an AoO from the dog)?
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Also for some reason, I can't see the number after ⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞.
I just see a 'ball' after ROUND. Can you change that to a regular number or the symbol you use for the INITIATIVE table?
Thanks!
Sorry to be pain but I'm confused again.
I thought you said that we were doing 'block initiatives' (i.e, all the players go at the same time).
Does Lady Faustinia get to act now or does she have to wait until Tiefling Male acts?
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Can I attack the dog the way the tokens are placed or do I have to move Catina and/or get inside (take an AoO from the dog)?-----------
Also for some reason, I can't see the number after ⁞⁞⁞⁞ ROUND ❷ ⁞⁞⁞⁞.I just see a 'ball' after ROUND. Can you change that to a regular number or the symbol you use for the INITIATIVE table?
Thanks!
I use block initiative only in some particular circumstances, such as when there are a lot of similar enemies. When they are two or three I usually use normal initiative. You can easily recognize what type of initiative I'm using by checking the initiative order below the descriptive part of my combat posts. If enemies are grouped together then I'm using block initiative; otherwise I'm using normal initiative.
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I can't access the map now, but you can easily see the Combat section of the Core Rulebook to get all the clarifications you need about positioning in combat.
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Actually I do luke my formatting and I would rather not change it. It is safe to assume for you that when you see round and a black circle then another round, following the one immediately previous one, has started.
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Guys,
I'm respectfully bowing out of this game.
I know Giuseppe doesn't like to talk about these things in public so I've sent him a PM with specific reasons.
Others feel free to PM if you have any questions.
Hope you have a great game!
PS: please use Lorenzo as best fits the story.
I'm sorry to hear that, Lorenzo. Take care, maybe we'll run into each other other some time again in the future.
Edit, because my earlier post was shorter than it should have been: It's a bummer that you're leaving, Lorenzo, but I'm sure you have your reasons as you said. Giuseppe, does that mean you're going to recruit two people to round out the group?
I see no other choice, my trusty friends. Seems like there are only 3 of us left now. I'll extend the recruitment duration and the number of characters to recruit. Of course if you know good and reliable players, you're more than welcome to point them to me and viceversa.
Anyway, this raises another issue: how are we going to go on during the recruitment period? Honestly, I think we should avoid stopping the game once again and lose pace now that we managed to gain it. On the other hand, though, I think it would be too hard for me to manage 3 NPCs at a time during a dungeon. Any ideas on how to solve this situation? Maybe you can use them in combat instead of me (of course no roleplaying needed)? Or maybe there are some other options I've not considered?
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I think it would be too hard for me to manage 3 NPCs at a time during a dungeon.
3 NPC's isn't even including every enemy NPC! While we look for more players, Catina and I could take control of one extra PC for moving combat and exploration forward. Catina, does that sound good? Do you have any preferences on whether you'd like to control Sev or Lorenzo if we do that?
Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Should I pick Lorenzo, since he and Catina are usually close together in combat? Also, should I keep the botting to just combat actions, or some roleplay as well? The first would make them fall out of tone, while the second would be somewhat awkward as well...
Recruitment is appartently going very slowly...I hope someone will pop up, somehow.
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Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Should I pick Lorenzo, since he and Catina are usually close together in combat? Also, should I keep the botting to just combat actions, or some roleplay as well? The first would make them fall out of tone, while the second would be somewhat awkward as well...
This sounds good to me! You handle the LG front liner and I'll take the rogue - just like old times. ;)
We'll handle combat for now to keep things moving. Once we come to non-combat situations, we'll try to keep things in character with our respective allies, but have minimal input from them until we get replacements.
Speaking of recruitment, I think we just need to be patient. Invitations are good, and I think replacements tend not to be as immediately popular as new campaigns. If things are looking bad on the recruitment front, we can discuss other solutions or options then.
Hey guys,
it seems like despire all of my devotion, this campaign isn't going to get any better. It would be impossible to run it for two people only, and we have only two people in recruitment...Honestly, I don't know what to do in order to improve this campaign, and it seems like there's nothing I can do at all.
I appreciate your devotion, I absolutely love your PCs and I'm particularly fond of you as players, so much that I couldn't stand to lose you. Maybe we should end this project and start another one, but before attempting anything else, I'd like to hear from you if you have any idea to improve our current game.
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I did send an invitation to a forum friend of mine who does a lot of PbP. They have been busy with preparing for a medical procedure for a bit, but they expressed some interest and will be looking over the recruitment today. If you think you can wait until the end of the week or so (or until I hear back from them), we may be able to gain enough players to keep going.
If we can't keep this up, perhaps we could scale down. An AP is a big undertaking for PbP, and despite any individual's commitment, it's tough to maintain a high and consistent level of it among five people. Perhaps another module would be more achievable for other players.
I'll have to think about this a bit. Indeed, recruitment so far hasn't seen that much interest. It might be a combination of stepping into a game that's already running, and people being unfamiliar with the rules set you're using. The 'market' for games where lots of character building are available just seems to be bigger.
Hi guys, glad to be here!
Thanks for the selection GM. Do you have an event in mind to introduce the new players?
@Everyone: If you have some request/suggestion to make about Baolus build, feel free to tell me. I know twf isn't the best mechanical option but the flavor is nice and classic IMO.
Hi Baolus, welcome! Nice to have you. I just checked your character sheet and background on my phone. Nothing jumped out at me that I would suggest to change, at this point. Looks like an interesting character.
Well met Baolus, it's nice to have you on board. Before you jump right in the action, there are a few things I'd like you to work on.
The Dottari: I believe that the only thing that can be improved about your background is your relationship with the city guard. In your backstory is mentioned a sheriff. Well, I'd suggest you take a closer look at how order works in Westcrown, especially concerning guards. To learn more about it you can read the following extracts. In general, I would like you to make the guards in your background more specific and in line to Westcrown flavor.
"The first forces of law and order encountered in Westcrown are often the dottari, the city’s guards or wardens. Regardless of where their posts lie, dottari all wear the city’s mark—Aroden’s Eye—stenciled in black over a red field on a shield or tabard. Dottari officers wear a reversed mark (red on black field) on their left arms, their rank rising as the mark moves from the shoulder (for lesser officers), to the forearm, to a ring for the duxotar or warden-major in command of the guards who answer only to the mayor. Dottari, regardless of postings, always travel in squads of seven—six soldiers and one lieutenant. Five squads report to each captain and at least three captains report to each major. There are at least two majors per rego or sector reporting to each of the four durotasi, or “rank wardens.” On paper, the dottari are one singular order under the control of the mayor’s appointed “high warden”— his young, oft-drunken nephew, Duxotar Iltus Mhartis. As Iltus “prefers to apportion his command to focus on the broader defenses of the city,” his subordinates more often handle his abandoned responsibilities. Thus, personal vendettas and politics divide the dottari into four nearly independent forces.
Dottari Durotas Saria Roccin controls the common dottari who man the gates and patrol the streets of the Spera, and she commands the most troops of any civic leader in the city. Privately, Saria holds the Hellknights in contempt, and only works with them as much as necessary while not giving them reason to find her guilty of any charges.
Condottari: With at least two adels and a sail barge at official docks on each floating marina, Durotas Scasi Bolvona commands the condottari, or “canal wardens,” who patrol the Westchannel, the Dhaenflow, and the canals of the Regicona. A passionate native of the city, Scasi has almost as many friends and political connections as the duxotar, and his ambition drives him to ever-bolder moves among the nobles of the Regicona.
Rundottari: Based out of Keep Dotar in the northeastern Rego Cader, the rundottari, or “ruin wardens,” operate under the authority of Durotas Arik Tuornos. Arik is a cynical but fair man who assumed this rank only to prevent Eccobar Drumanis, a long-time family enemy, from assuming command and wasting the lives of friends or good soldiers. Arik knows his command is a posting of low prestige and social punishment, but he and his men take pride in their responsibility to man the walls of Rego Cader and keep the threats and dangers of the ruins contained and out of the city.
Regidottari: The regidottari (“palace wardens”) operate under the authority of Durotas Lhiana Strikis. Lhiana treats her troops like her personal slaves, often berating them publicly for minor offenses. She maintains control of her forces only by offering higher pay than other dottari and the prestige they gain both in working on the Regicondan Walls and in their potential ability to craft alliances with the city’s rich and powerful. Lhiana herself has been a pawn and lover to at least three members of the city’s nobility since her arrival in Westcrown more than 7 years ago, though she is unaware she is considered a plaything rather than an asset to those with influence among the Council of Thieves.
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It's your choice which rank you served in. As a matter of fact, I'd like you to provide me with some information on how you came to leave the city guard. Yes, leave it. Because it would be very hard for you to have the proper motivations in pursuing the AP's goals, if you stay with the Dottari. I leave the reasons behind this choice entirely in your hands.
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As for the event through which I plan to introduce you to the group, I'll just say that Baolus was attacked immediately after leaving Vizio's Tavern, waking up into a dark dungeon as a prisoner...
Good evening all, thanks very much for the selection. Same goes for Petals on any changes that will fit best for the story.
Schedule wise, I usually can check in the morning before heading out and the evening when I get back, with a potential couple of times depending on what is going on.
I've read some of the newest gameplay threads. Any suggestions on how far to go back or where to start?
I'll also mod the header line of my alias to match up with your alls.
Ok... I believe the most fitting would be the rundottari, as Durotas Arik Tuornos is probably a man that Baolus could respect and follow. If possible (and fitting), Arik could be the one to have given Baolus his second chance, even if he had not hold the same post since then.
The reason for Baolus to leave the dottari could be simply because after arresting a couple of bad elements and seeing them released a couple days/weeks later, Baolus kind of lost the point of working within the law, and probably chancing from LG to NG in this process... now, he would be looking for another way to solve the city's problems.
How does that sound?
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Welcome, friends! It's good to have you!
Baolus: I think your build looks fine. A TWF ranger is actually pretty nice in a lower point buy game, since you get to ignore the usual stat requirements. As long as we can get you some special materials to overcome whatever DR we encounter, I'm sure things will go smoothly. Also, I think the Rundottari sounds like a very appropriate choice for a more rugged and humble ranger type of guard.
Petals: Looking at your build, paladin/bard is a neat combination. Considering what the rest of our group is, I would humbly suggest that you lean more into the bard side of that, especially the more charisma-focused side.
As for how much of the gameplay to read, perhaps from this point if you want to get caught up quickly: LINK.
This is the start of our current endeavor, leaving our safe house to launch a raid on the hideout of a tiefling criminal gang known as the Bastards of Erebus. The goal: destroy their gang before they can rob or kill anyone else, since the guards seem to be doing nothing about them.
Ok... I believe the most fitting would be the rundottari, as Durotas Arik Tuornos is probably a man that Baolus could respect and follow. If possible (and fitting), Arik could be the one to have given Baolus his second chance, even if he had not hold the same post since then.
The reason for Baolus to leave the dottari could be simply because after arresting a couple of bad elements and seeing them released a couple days/weeks later, Baolus kind of lost the point of working within the law, and probably chancing from LG to NG in this process... now, he would be looking for another way to solve the city's problems.
How does that sound?
That sounds very good indeed.
On the top of the motivations for leaving the Rundottari you mentioned, you can also add the fact that in Westcrown, as like in all Cheliax, city guards are known to be openly corrupt. There's even a list of bribe types and how much a citizen must pay in order to successfully bribe an official. So this would justify Baolus choice even more.
Oh, and instead of being attacked on his way home from the meeting at Vizio's Tavern, since you've chosen the Rundottari, we can imagine that Baolus has got back into service right after returning from the meeting. He was sent to Parego Dospera as usual, but this time someone attacked him and captured him. This way, Baolus would still be a member of the Dottari when the game begins, so that we can play his withdrawal in game.
Good evening all, thanks very much for the selection. Same goes for Petals on any changes that will fit best for the story.
Schedule wise, I usually can check in the morning before heading out and the evening when I get back, with a potential couple of times depending on what is going on.
I've read some of the newest gameplay threads. Any suggestions on how far to go back or where to start?
Hey Petals, welcome on board!
I find your background good enough and there's nothing I would change about it, except from the fact that the head of Westcrown's Temple of Shelyn in our game is supposed to be a woman and not a man.
Concerning your build, I've got nothing against a multiclassing bard/paladin, but I'm with Faustinia in suggesting that you lean more toward bard than paladin in your progression for party balance.
One more thing: I think Petals is the only one in the group who could benefit from having a few ranks in Disable Device. At this point, no one can pick a lock in the group, so maybe in the future putting a few ranks in it wouldn't be a bad idea.
@GM: Ok, I've made the appropriate changes on Baolus's background. I like your idea of Baolus still being a dottari in the beginning of the adventure. I've also added about him receiving constant offers of bribe... so far he had refused but he knows that eventually someone will see him as an obstacle and try to remove him from play.
@Petals: If I could suggest you a small change... you could change your Wisdom to 8 and increasing either your Intelligence or your Dexterity to 15. You'll get the same penalty you on wisdom checks and will saves but you get a higher score that could be turned into a 16 lately more easily.
Bard it will be then. That was the general idea, since there were two paths suggested in the recruitment. Petals could go down either way based on what the story or party needed.
Do you mind Giuseppe if I modify her a bit to move a point into disable device, and shift funds (probably removing charges out of the wand) to get masterwork thieves tools?
Makes sense on the wisdom. Probably Dex.
And thanks for the starting point Xerysis! I will read over it today and be at least partially caught up.
Caught up! Well at least on the current encounter. Will delve backwards as time permits to know at least who the NPCs mentioned are.
For the new players: Sorry for keeping you waiting, I plan to introduce you as soon as the current combat ends.
In the meantime...
As the combat ensues, you're welcome to use this time to roleplay with the other prisoner, Petals.
After the attack, you woke up in a dark and cold room. You lost track of time, and you're not able to tell how much time you've spent down there. The only thing you know is that you're being held prisoner together with another prisoner, Baolus. Someone regularly comes with stale bread and murky water to keep you alive. Your wrists are tied by a pair of manacles affixed to the stone wall, and no matter how hard you tried, you were not able to free yourself. All of your equipment has been taken away from you except from your clothes.
As the combat ensues, you're welcome to use this time to roleplay with the other prisoner, Baolus.
Petals tries repeatedly to talk to the person bringing the food and water each day, trying everything sort of certain things to get anything out of them, but nothing. She whispers prayers Shelyn and tries tries tries to not break down completely.
Petals... my name is Petals she'll tell the other prisoner... hoping he'll answer.
I'm on the road today, not going to be able to post before 8 pm. It'll be around 22.00, I think.
No problem, Iff. Take your time.
In the meantime, I'll take the opportunity to sponsor an Interest Check thread I've just opened in the Recruitment subforum: take a look at it, if you want to.
Baolus looked around, his vision and memories still obscured by a haze. What had happened to me? I must have been poisoned... His head was pounding in an unusual way, almost as if he had spent the night drink some foul and cheap alcohol, his pain was probably not caused by a concussion. After a couple seconds he could discern a bit of the surrounds... the underground, the accumulated dirt, the smell of mold. Soon he realized that his time had arrived, they finally decided it was worthy to remove him from the picture.
He then noticed the woman besides him and she was trying to talk to him. He tried to answer but his throat was hurt and dry. He tried once more, "Baolus... the name is Baolus." Looking around once more, he finds a bow and, gladly, drinks its content, even if the taste is fowl.
His vision cleared a bit more and so he was able to look the woman more clearly. "Hey... I know you. I remember you from that strange meeting... we did not talk to each other, but I surely remember ya... the beautiful elf..."
In a normal situation, Petals might have blushed a bit at the compliment, but here, scared, in the jail cell, well it wasn't much of a normal situation.
That meeting, yes, I remember. I went to another one and... she remembers being beaten up and dragged here in a stupor. Her body still ached all over. I think it was a trap, rooting out people who might... I don't know. one too many times sticking her nose in where it didn't belong. Just like the priestess warned her about.
Do you know why we're here?
Baolus remained in silence for a minute or two, thinking about what to answer. Do I tell her the truth? What I really think? Do I tell her that I believe we are here to disappear? How will she handle it?
"Hum, I think you deserve an honest answer... I believe we are here to pay for our actions." He once more reached for the murky water bowl, drinking a sip. "We are still alive, so it appears we are at least significant enough to not have been simply killed and ditched in the sewers. For whomever caught us, we have some value, be it answers, leverage, perhaps a ransom in your case..."
Baolus tested his chains once more. "Whatever use they have for us, it won't be pleasing for sure..." Working as a dottari, Baolus had seen only a couple bodies that were subject to torture but what he saw had become imprinted in his mind. ...and what they have done to that girl... no she don't need to know about the details. She seems frightened enough.
"Be strong, girl... Petals, and start to think about a way to get us out of here, for there is no one coming to rescue us... no dottari for sure." Sadly he was sure about it, since he was one of the only ones that still cared about such things and where had that brought him?
His words made her feel a little better, well at least a bit angry All I've ever done is try and be a good person... and well try and make others be as well softer and lower maybe a little too roughly
Taking a deep breath she'll take in her surroundings, no longer completely focused on fear. Locks but no picks, no nothing really. This spike holding the chains to the wall looks pretty worn, maybe we could work it free Baolus looks like he could rip it out alone.
Baolus & Petals: You can start roleplaying in the Gameplay Thread now. I've just added a post for you.
Iff and Mechapoet, if there was any doubt about the fact that you were amazing players, well, let me say that the way you're roleplaying Sev and Lorenzo is just a huge display of your skills. Thank you!
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Aww, thank you, Giuseppe! That's very kind of you to say. :)
Playing two characters isn't so different when compared to playing just one, but having our new players come in will be even better, I'm sure. It's always nice to have more points of view and contributors to the game and story. It's good to have you both and I hope you're finding your introduction to your liking!
Yes, Thank you very much. It has been very entertaining. While I am happy to be included, I am sorry it has to involve the loss of two companions.
Sorry, I messed up and posted as another character, one improvement I'd love for them to make is marking an alias as a default for a thread. Someday...
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Seems like we posted at the same time and I was not able to read your post before posting. Anyway, I hope that my solution is not a problem, since you wouldn't hit the wolf otherwise :p
Under the loot list of this post, shows three light maces. Should have linked what I was talking about in the post but didn't think about it. With Faustinia's walking stick, Catina's mace, and Petals' hammer, only you two need bludgeoning weapons.