GM Phntm888's Way of the Wicked Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Phntm888

I've set up / expanded upon the GM's timeline page here; editing is enabled, so feel free to start writing in thoughts and notes.

Second, you'll also notice at the top of the page a bolded "VP:". This for tracking Victory Points. As you carry out your sabotage against Balentyne, you will earn Victory Points. Once Sakkarot's attack happens, the number of Victory Points you've earned will determine the success of his attack. The more Victory Points you have, the more successful the attack. I will not tell you how many Victory Points are available, nor will I tell you how to earn them. I will also only suggest ideas if you seem to be stuck or having trouble deciding what to do next. This part of the adventure is very much player-driven - I'll do what I can to keep things moving, but if you guys don't take actions, things will bog down.

Is there any way to calculate what effect / how much disruption (meaning how many Victory Points) a particular course of action would result in? I'm speaking specifically of situations/issues that we're certain about. As a couple of examples, figuring out how many VP would we earn by taking out Mad Martin's birds, or how much would be earned if we manage to eliminate both Captains Mott and Eddarly.

I don't think we know enough about the others -- at least not Lord Thomasson, Fr. Donnigan, or the mage Tacitus -- to necessarily be able to calculate how much they'd be handicapped by their loss, but I hope there's some way of calculating 'damage done' before actually doing it.

Per the book, there is not - in fact, according to the book, I'm only supposed to give you the number of Victory Points you have if you roll a check. PbP is a slightly different animal, however.

I won't give exact values, but I will allow either Profession (soldier) or Knowledge (engineering) checks, depending on the action you want to know about, to get an idea of how effective an action will be. It will be a qualitative answer, not quantitative.

Some of the answers may be obvious based on the information given, and you guys will be able to make a pretty good guess at the effect without making a check.

Works for me. And perfectly willing to make checks; both Cole and I have PS soldier at a fairly good level.

I've seen that I posted in gameplay and not in discussion.

Any thoughts on that spell wishlist?

I say get all you can. ;)

Those spell choices seem reasonable, Lutor.

More tools at our disposal means more options for our approach and they will be useful after this mission as well.

Good stuff.

That's the list assuming Lutor can only get straight swaps. I may purchase scrolls too.

I currently have an earache so my response time might be affected.

As much as we are being cunning and trying to be clever in game I really think we need to spring our devil woman... it's be almost eight months in real life the player has been patiently waiting. I am feeling guilty we're not getting her into the game.

I do too, but it’s gathering rumors and information in the game’s “today” that will finally get us the information we need to spring her.

I don’t mind and there’s no need to feel guilty over the wait, at least not on my end. I only asked to join during this arc because I figured you might could use a fourth to make everything go smoothly. The planning is an important part of the process :)

Sixth. ;) But we definitely are in need of a rogue. And it is very nice to see you're still here; I was kind of wondering/concerned. :P :)

Thanks to Wesh's gather information, you'll notice that Rumor 19 is now listed as being False. As you confirm the truth of various rumors, I'll update the spoiler with the rumors to show whether or not they are true.

I've updated the Countdown to Invasion link in the Campaign Info tab with the date of William Marcus Marlowe's performance.

Apologies for the delay. Feel free to point out anything I need to catch up on that I've missed.

Is there now an opportunity to roll those spellcraft checks?

Yes, go right ahead. Master Scaramore will copy:

Color Spray 1
Silent Image 1
Grease 1
Levitate 2
Web 2
Invisibility 2
Silent Image 1
Enlarge Person 1

Since you were learning 5 level 1's and 3 level 2's, I balanced it against his in a one-for-one.

You can take all day to copy these spells and get them done today, or you can copy up to 6 hours worth of spells (one hour per spell level) today, and then the rest tomorrow.

Hel will have interrupted at some point as posted, and would counsel the critical half now — including sleep.

I may not be able to post again until Saturday. Just a heads up.

Sorry for the delay, everyone. Let me make sure I know what the plan is.

1) Send Faila to tell Grumblejack and Timeon to head out in the morning.

2) Faila will keep an eye on the cart, and follow it before alerting you.

3) You'll all ride out in the morning to ambush the cart after Faila alerts you, trying to get ahead of it.

What time of day will you ambush the cart? Are you going to do anything in town before leaving?

How much time is needed to ask about rumours?

I wouldn't mind getting a little more information if we can spare the time but effecting a rescue is the priority here.

I think so. I'd rather not dawdle too long.

Gathering Information to get further clarification on rumors takes the standard 1d4 hours, unless you have an ability that shortens that.

I believe that was the plan as laid out above. I passed the role so I believe we were going to set an ambush where they were likely to camp.

Okay, then. I'll move us on, then.

He will also buff with shield of faith and then Divin Favor before rushing in.

I feel it very important to note that spellcasting requires you to speak loudly and clearly. It will likely take you two rounds of combat to get these buffs off unless you are far enough away that they won't overhear you.

divine favor is the only one that has a small enough duration to matter.

I assumed we are set up a couple hundred feet away. We will watch them set up camp and then with the cover of night while a few of them sleep we will attack. I assumed that's why we found where they are likely to Camp.

I'll be travelling this weekend and I won't be posting again until Monday at least.

I thought the plan was to wait until night, too, but then you brought up invisibility as a way of not setting up cover for you and Grumblejack. Invisibility only has a duration of 1 min/level, and I got confused and thought you were planning on attacking them right as they got to the camp site.

If the plan is to wait a couple hundred feet away, you'll need someone to hide close enough to be able to see when the wagon arrives and alert you. Since Perception penalties are -1 per 10 feet, that's a -20 penalty to be able to tell when they arrive from 200 feet. If you're out in the open to be able to see them, they can probably see you, as well.

You may also want some cover for Grumblejack to hide behind initially regardless. He's a bit large.

Yeah I guess the hiding through me off. I thought Hel's flying scout would be our eyes. Confirm their location and then I would turn myself and Grumble invisible to go in. I was just changing based on what you posted thinking they were coming upon us and I would make me and Grumble invisible.

So yes I believe we want to be far enough away to not risk notice and then sneak in at night.

Ah, I see. A little confusion all around, I think.

I'd still like the Stealth checks, and setting up cover via Survival checks will still give the bonus. There's a reason besides just the prison wagon.

My posting will be near non existent from the 29th til the 3rd, just a heads up.

Just a note. My rate of posting has gotten more erratic lately. It may remain that way for some weeks yet.

Hey folks. I've been wiped with a cold... then felt rough today. Now I'm awaiting a covid-19 test. I hope to catch up again soon.

God, I still miss this game.