So any questions and such can be asked here. Also, to help remember recurring characters, I will ask everyone their impressions of a character and what comes to mind when they think about them, so I will just write a few notes and put them in the campaign info to help people (and myself) remember them.
Setting question that occurs to me regarding the balance between D&D material and sorta-medieval England. What's the religious practices like? Is Christianity or a mostly-Christian fantasy world alike the rule of the land, are we importing the Pathfinder pantheon, or something in between?
It held me up when I started to write about Dougal's christened name and realized that word might be entirely out of place. And it'd help to know what sort of signs a superstitious peasant should make to ward off evil.
Mostly Christian with elements of Pathfinder pantheon. So ya know, protestants and catholics have different interpretations of god.
In this world, the different deities of the Pathfinder pantheon are different aspects of god that people choose to focus on. For example, one person could focus on the "Erastil" side of god, believing that according to this piece of scripture, God wants us to live a simple life.
Meanwhile, an "Abadar" fella might think that God is more of a lawbringer. It is not particularly strict, so you can actually make up these signs and superstitions.
A helpful trick with the dice roller you might not be aware of, everyone. If you hit Preview for a post with dice rolls in it, you'll get the roll results in the preview and they won't change for the actual post. It's handy for things like Initiative, knowing if you made a Perception or Knowledge check, and seeing if there are any crits in a combat post.
What are your first impressions of the Verderer and his wife?
Kindly and a little overly trusting. 'Course the overly trusting part might be on us...
I was half expecting them to be friendly cannibals who try and knock us over the head and put us in a stew pot, like the story. But I can be a touch paranoid till I get used to a new GM's style.
As for the "flee or fight" comment in the thread, for me at least it's two factors. From an IC perspective, all we've met is two possessed people that crumpled from one hit each. That's disturbing but not deathly dangerous seeming.
From a more OOC perspective, I make it a point to create characters who have an urge to get involved in trouble. I still remember the modern-day game with a couple newer players who didn't follow that rule. The first adventure they thought it would be rude to jump the fence and investigate the spooky mansion, so their characters spent the whole game session sitting in an IHOP doing nothing. I'm not saying I make all my PCs suicidally brave. Just that generally they won't run away from an adventure unless things seem actively overwhelming.
Well I kinda forced you into that shack in the first place, so killing is not an option.
One of my personal pet peeves is the DM making stuff up casually with no game mechanic backing (so can't be replicated by players) or plot armor, so I will try to play things as realistically as possible.
Likewise, if you come up with awesome plan that derails my entire plot, I'm not going to say it failed just because of that. If your character prematurely dies, you may build another character or take over one of the NPCs that are around your level. (You get the build the NPC, but it usually has a role that it starts as).
So barring any data on the trail should we try the cave?
Without healing magic, which I notice we are rather short of, the bandaged 'witch' will not be fit to talk for a day or three of care.
Someone should also check the corpse the three were standing around.
Oh and sorry if Hywel sounds bossy. He is a noble and rather used to folks doing what he says.
Ok I'm lost.
Who are these people?
Why should we listen to them?
And there is no way Hywel is getting into a prison carriage when he has a perfectly functional horse.
Did the two campaigns cross streams perhaps?
Sorry for the absence I had internet issues. I will read what I have missed, and post a response shortly in the gameplay thread.
Apologies. I'm not sure if I was completely clear, so here's a brief summary:
You ask the guard captain for help
He knows the job is too much for him
These two people show up on his behalf
And you're just getting to know them now
Unfortunately I will not have the time to give this game the attention it deserves and I will need to withdraw.
Thank you for an enjoyable time and good gaming.
No problem. Best of luck!
Yes, this is my fault as a result of inexperience.
So I believed that this was actually an encounter that you guys could handle, but after it began, I realized that a)The hag had way too much AC for you to handle and b)The hag had too much HP and it would result in a TPK.
So it later turned into a "show them how far over their head they are" encounter, but it was not initially planned. Apologies for that.
Thank you for informing me though, as I am trying to work my way through the CR system (which I realize now completely does not work).
CR is a guideline, not a rule. It won't take account of scaling issues like attack and AC. For instance, with an attack bonus of +12, the hag hits Dougal on anything except a 1 or a 2. If as you say her AC is also too high for us to reasonably hit, that's an example of something we do have to just run from. Which is fine, if that's a reasonable outcome for the story.
You're right, I haven't had enough time to put enough effort and thought into the campaign, and I shouldn't have strung you guys along like that. Maybe I was deluding myself, but I'm not really sure.
All of you made great characters and I wish I had made a campaign that lived up to your expections, but I haven't. I'm sorry that I made a campaign that had to close down reasonably early, and I had that you can find a suitable place for your wonderful characters in another campaign.
Thanks everyone and good luck
Don't feel bad Jen. This GMing gig is hard.
Major kudos to you for taking the risk and running something different. I have every confidence that you will be an amazing Gm on these boards in the not too distant future. Thank you for running, you are braver than I.
Just posted on the PBP then read the discussion, lol.
No worries Jen. PBP is not the most conducive format for all DMs. I still think the idea was marvelous.
Keep gaming.
Thanks for the game. I do like the general idea, and I may borrow it for one of my own home games.