And this is what I don't like about scatter posting. I wasted a first level spell on a dead man...
And this is what I don't like about scatter posting. I wasted a first level spell on a dead man...
You know what I don't like about the alternative? When somebody is number 2 on the initiative order and nobody can post their actions because that person hasn't gotten around to posting for a few days. ;)
If you'd rather change your action after you've stated it, based on what other people post, I have no problem with you changing your mind. In fact, if you'd really like to decide not to cast a spell, I'll let you do something else in round 1. No problem.
The thing is, it's really difficult to choreograph combat via PbP; some people like "scatter posting", some don't. Personally, I've liked it. It's cool if you don't.
So, for everybody's future reference, if you'd like to alter your tactics based on what unfolds, that's fine. :)
P.S.: Happs isn't technically dead, you know. ;)
I think flow is best served by a combination of scattering posts and in order posts.
Some characters have abilities or intentions that require precision. My wizard in Hu5tru's CC game will cast spells that affect the battle in (hopefully) dramatic ways, so it makes sense for others to potentially wait on my actions, particularly if I go before them. Another good example is my cleric in the Jade Regent game Rhys and I are in; I have often held to the end of the round to determine if I need to throw a spell or what not, so it requires DM Wellard to post before me.
On the flip side if your action is "I want to smash the face of the person closest to me or get as close as I can", its not like that players intention needs to wait and if the added bonus is that a player can throw that out during a time he/she can post then others aren't stuck waiting if they are posting during that other players off board time.
Ultimately I guess it depends on the player/characters intention in combats and how they are best served by the different types of posts. I think this flexibility also resolves the need to redact previous narration.
I think a solid rule in place for holding up combat might be prudent, in the RotRL game I took over I basically have been given the option to bot certain characters if they don't post face enough. I have seen other game where it was explicitly stated that a choice would be made if you didn't post within 24 hours or if you were the only person left to make a decision (with some flexibility as to the level of importance of that decision). I am game for just about any arrangement as long as the system is clear and the party is satisfied with the results.
My 2 cp anyway.
Yeah, it's hard to be a spellslanger and go last. The target could be dead and then your action is basically wasted.
I think if we're going to scatter post, I'm just going to wait on others actions before I post my own...
Harsk and Tityanna, you do have good points. Why don't we try posting in order, just to see how it plays out? We haven't had anyone not post at least once per day, so it probably wouldn't hurt to try out posting-in-order combats. Maybe it'll work very well for this group; just because I've had bad experiences with it before, it doesn't mean it'll be bad for this particular group.
Starting at Round 2, we'll try it that way. If somebody must post out of order, maybe give sort of an alternate action pending unforseen circumstances (like Harsk did vs. the bandit in the storage pen).
Sound good? :)
Sounds good to me.
Do we have a map yet for round 2? I didn't want to miss it and have people waiting on me :)
Do we have a map yet for round 2? I didn't want to miss it and have people waiting on me :)
The map for Round 2 is finally up! :)
In a couple of hours, I'll be heading out (and away from a computer); I'll be returning briefly (I'll check back here and post during that time), and then leaving again to run my tabletop game. After that, I'll be home fairly late, but will try to post at that time. Just as a heads up! :)
I'm going to assume that attack will put the fleeing bandit down, if not dead outright. My next question would be how did the horses flee? Did they scatter, or all run in the same direction? Assuming Shadow and I can get ahead of them (if they didn't scatter), can I settle them down enough to tie them together and lead them back? Let me know what checks I need to make to attempt such a feat.
Hope you don't die, Harsk :).
I'm going to assume that attack will put the fleeing bandit down, if not dead outright. My next question would be how did the horses flee? Did they scatter, or all run in the same direction? Assuming Shadow and I can get ahead of them (if they didn't scatter), can I settle them down enough to tie them together and lead them back? Let me know what checks I need to make to attempt such a feat.
Hope you don't die, Harsk :).
The horses pretty much ran together, as a group. The closest one to Oleg's is about 190 feet past the edge of the map. If you're charging the fleeing bandit, you'll have to see how far the horses get during the next round.
If you can reach them, you'll have to try to calm them via Handle Animal. I'll let you know the particulars momentarily.
Presumably, the horses won't gallup endlessly without guidance :)
Presumably, the horses won't gallup endlessly without guidance :)
Exactly. They've slowed to a trot, come round 2.
If you manage to get ahead of one of them, you can grab one of their reins as a move action (requiring a DC 10 Ride check; I'm using the "control mount in battle" DC halved, since the riding horse isn't in combat anymore, but still spooked). If you fail, it'll be a full-round action instead of a move action, but you'll still have the horse's reins. Either way, once the horse is "controlled", I'll let you command it to "come", "heel", or "stay" with a DC 10 Handle Animal check, as a move action. Does this make sense, and sound fair?
Sure, that sounds fine. Will I have to do it for each horse, or will they all slow if I can get the lead one under control?
As an aside, I meant to mention it earlier, but because we knew combat was coming, Shadow is not carrying all the saddlebags and such, which is why he still has his full 50ft speed. His medium encumbered speed is only 35ft.
ETA: Sorry, asked it in the IC thread, but would the "spur" ride check add 10 or 40 ft to my speed at a full run?
Sure, that sounds fine. Will I have to do it for each horse, or will they all slow if I can get the lead one under control?
As an aside, I meant to mention it earlier, but because we knew combat was coming, Shadow is not carrying all the saddlebags and such, which is why he still has his full 50ft speed. His medium encumbered speed is only 35ft.
If you can get ahead of the one who is currently 150 feet from you, and control him, I'll allow the horse's "followers" to follow suit, and be calmed, as well (not sure if that's how horses really are, but I think it's a workable solution). ;)
Good to know about Shadow's speed! I figured he was traveling light! :)
I think that's how horses work... assuming they are used to each others company, they will stick together and allow themselves to be handled. It depends on how badly they were panicked.
If I can get them to stop, I'll take the time to tie them together to lead them all back.
. . . And with that, I must begone from Paizo-Land; I've got my tabletop Kingmaker to run. Feel free to post your actions, or wait, depending on others' actions.
I'll post again later tonight! :)
Cool, good luck. Thanks for working through the mounted stuff with me. I've had a tendency to avoid it in my previous games, so this is still new, but fun :D
I'm hoping I can get a Council of Thieves game going. Thread is up in recruitment if anyone is interested.
I'm hoping I can get a Council of Thieves game going. Thread is up in recruitment if anyone is interested.
I'll check it out. :)
Struggling with a cold, will post but probably late.
Struggling with a cold, will post but probably late.
Oh man, I hate being sick! I hope you feel better. Take care of yourself!
Didn't want to clog up the IC with OOC comments, so Tityanna is going to stay beside the bandit and waste her action, essentially, as the final one has declared that he surrenders.
She certainly cannot lift the man up and to safety with her strength, otherwise she might try, and she's afraid of moving him as well.
That's fair enough, Tityanna. You didn't want to take another move action, instead?
Are we out of combat, now?
Are we out of combat, now?
I'd say yes, but we don't have Harsk's action, yet.
I just wanted to say, Hu5tru, that in each of the games I've applied for that you have as well, I've always thought your characters to be some of the best. I'm enjoying this chance to play with you. I have no idea how we're going to resolve the different philosophies of our characters, but I look forward to the chance to do so :D
I'm hoping we can soften each other's characters to the point where we agree most of the time, and work extremely well together. However, I love the fact that we're butting heads so much early on. I just want to make sure we don't do anything the other can't get over.
Initially, I was going to go ballistic with what happened earlier, but I decided to let things play out as the rest of you wanted. I will save my confrontation to the next "plan" we have to come up.
I think we're going to have to resolve something, though, about executing these prisoners or not. If anyone of them turn out to be evil, I will probably take matters into my own hands, but the ones that do not, we will have to decide what to do.
I'm not sure how we will do so :)
I don't make characters to keep them static. I'm looking forward to Tityanna, Harsk and Haldaval's argument later. Coming up with a defense for her actions is always the best part of playing a character. Influencing each other is gravy. :)
I don't make characters to keep them static. I'm looking forward to Tityanna, Harsk and Haldaval's argument later. Coming up with a defense for her actions is always the best part of playing a character. Influencing each other is gravy. :)
I'm loving this :D
I just want to make sure right now that you know not to take anything personally. I've had a couple of bad experiences with players thinking I'm attacking them personally... It never happens in games.
Oh no. I had that happen in my previous KM group. This is essentially why I left.
GM forced a sleeping draught down my character's throat by refusing to allow anyone to post anything differently because less than 20 posts in a hour wasn't his thing.
This sleeping draught had my character down for over a day, which was over 2 weeks of play. My character was the party cleric.
During that time, the party decided to go ride after the bad guy. Druid refused to go with them. I told her OOC, "hey, go with them, because if one of them falls your heal check can make the difference between a living character you can administer a healing potion to and a dead character." She absolutely refused. She said I was telling her how to play her character. Her character hated my character, and there was absolutely no reason for her to.
Male NPC comes up talking about a new god, she says to him "Oh, I'm really interested in religion, will you teach me about that?" Meanwhile I'm sitting there, party cleric, she never once approached me about learning anything about new gods.
It continued like this for weeks, her snubbing my character, the GM subtly punishing me for "being mean" because this... terrible player had this fascist druid who knew nothing of balance and who believed that all men were inherently rapists and pulled the "I'm afraid of being raped" card every time it was convenient for her to not want to assist the party to solve a challenge. My opinion, you refuse to help the party on several occasions because of your emotional baggage, you do not belong in a group.
Anyway, it all culminated into this horrible, horrible affair where I just couldn't be a part of the group any more because it was affecting my happiness and my personal life. And then the GM recruited all male players who suck up to the druid, and neither help her progress as a player or a character, and the GM continues to lavish all his attention and super special power ups upon her and treat her like a prized player.
Master Ironback's player can tell ya how that ended. He read it, apparently. Sad, sad stuff it was. And ridiculous. It still made me angry thinking about that thread until I got into this game, and the alternate KM game by Keddah where I can run my bard.
All I've ever wanted was to play a character in Kingmaker. I am enjoying the interaction between Harsk, Haldaval and Tityanna thus far. :)
Well, good then :). I hope that continues to be the case :)
Although there is a disconnect on this medium, I feel like everyone is roleplaying very well--so much, that at first, I thought the players were having conflict instead of the PCs! Luckily, you guys are just good at what you do, and are playing your characters in a way that makes sense to who they are. :)
Wow, Hu5tru, that previous KM game you were in sounds miserable. I'd almost ask for the link--morbid curiosity--but reading it would probably just annoy and anger me to no end, so never mind. ;)
I'm enjoying this game, even though it's my first PbP (as GM). I'm learning a lot about how to run it more elegantly, and I still have much to learn. I'd like to thank you all for your input regarding my PbP GMing style.
Now, with coffee firmly in hand, I'll check out the IC thread . . .
Regarding Experience Points
I've decided to track XP as the party progresses through the AP, instead of using an auto-leveling system based on plot-points. This is largely due to the sandbox nature of this adventure; you could encounter varying levels of challenge during your travels, and I feel that regular XP awards will reflect the PCs' growth from this variance well (you'll get more XP if you manage to survive a random encounter with something really tough, for example).
Thus, each of you gains for defeating Happs and the three bandits (I also awarded XP for bringing in the "lead horse", if you're curious).
Nope. No problem between players. That's the beauty of PbP.
And yeah, you learn by doing. Running two games, I figure out stuff every day.
Hmm, I know the guys won't give off an aura, but I thought detect evil would tell me if the "presence of evil" was there or not.
Oh, also, I assume Shadow was healed by the channel as well?
Hmm, I know the guys won't give off an aura, but I thought detect evil would tell me if the "presence of evil" was there or not.
If you look at detect evil in the Spells chapter, you'll notice that the aura for aligned non-outsiders/undead/cleric-types is "none". If there's no aura, there's no presence of evil to detect. At least, that's how I've read it. That doesn't mean the subject isn't evil; it just means that the subject's evil isn't strong enough to be detected by this magic.
My Core Rulebook is the 1st Printing; is there errata concerning this spell that I'm unaware of?
Yes, Shadow would be healed by the Channel, if he was in range.
I was just going by the first round result:
"1st Round: Presence or absence of evil."
Don't get to aura's until the second round of the spell. Granted, My ability gives me the full effect right away (well, a move action) but I always thought that first round would give you the yes or no... at least so I could know what to smite :)
I see what you're saying, and I agree that the wording is muddy (does the presence of evil exist, even without an evil aura? Does evil intent, for purposes of the spell, have an aura strength, or is it based on HD? Et cetera).
Let's compromise: Although a target has no evil aura (but is still evil), we'll call it a "dim" aura (sort of like what is described in the "lingering auras" section). I was simply reading the RAW as I interpreted it, but--not being an extreme rules-lawyer, myself--I don't mind filling in that gray area a bit, and allowing "dim evil" to be detected in an individual. As far as this ruling goes concerning actual lingering auras, I'd say that a dim aura wouldn't linger like a faint or more powerful aura would. So, all these bandits would register as dim evil.
Fair enough? :)
That's fine :). I read through a thread discussing this issue exactly, and I can see the argument from both sides... there's not much love for paladins out there :(
I don't want to become annoying with detecting evil and wanting to smite it all the time, if that is boring to people, but that is kind of what a paladin does :)
I mean, if these guys trigger my "detect evil" sensor, I'm going to have a reason to see them executed, but I'm not going to just go nuts and kill them all myself... which is kind of what the people complaining about paladins in that thread were talking about.
Ultimately, I'm glad you agree it should detect something... otherwise it's a useless ability for the first 5 levels, and the smiting ability is pretty random.
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Although there is a disconnect on this medium, I feel like everyone is roleplaying very well--so much, that at first, I thought the players were having conflict instead of the PCs! Luckily, you guys are just good at what you do, and are playing your characters in a way that makes sense to who they are. :)
I'm gonna have to have Ray actually say something during the next conversation, because the arguments are too good to pass up!
well then, that was a better punch than I thought it would be ;)
well then, that was a better punch than I thought it would be ;)
Heh, I'll say! I figured you'd hit him; he's got no Dex-mod to AC, and I gave you a +1 for being on "higher ground" (he's sitting, you're standing!). Either way, I was pretty sure it wouldn't kill him (even with a crit). :)
I'm just glad it wasn't a miss, I'm not sure I would know how to RP that... although it would be comical :D
I'm waiting for Tityanna's response to that last statement. I'm not quite sure how Haldaval might react to it yet.
will respond shortly, just needed a bit more sleep to function properly.
Yeah, Eljas's statement could be taken in a couple of ways. These bandits are definitely not nice guys.
will respond shortly, just needed a bit more sleep to function properly.
yeah, I kind of want to do that too :D
*cleans moral gray off the lenses*
Hope you guys don't mind if i sit on this one a bit longer. will post soonish.
*cleans moral gray off the lenses*
Hope you guys don't mind if i sit on this one a bit longer. will post soonish.
Take your time; I'm sure you'll have a fitting response for Tityanna. I'm curious as to how this plays out. ;)
BTW all, it's not my intention to go overboard with the showcasing of these bandits' dirty deeds. I'm trying to remain oblique about their various degeneracies, but I also don't want to "kiddify" it. I hope I've found a happy (?) medium, and that nobody's uncomfortable.
Actually, I am a wee mite more disgusted with Haldaval's behavior at the moment... But... Tityanna is not going to argue that point in front of the bandit that just wet himself.