Hell's Rebels: Flight of the Silver Ravens (Inactive)

Game Master pinvendor

Readying colour spray, again.

Ok...so I want to talk readying actions v. the 'Ready' action.

I recently had what turned out to be a rather heated discussion with another forum goer regarding what exactly the rules allow when not in 'combat time.'

Her take was: the 'Ready' action doesn't exist. In principle, I agree completely. It took a little thought, but I understood what she means. The 'Ready' action in the rules requires a triggering action to occur. It can be pretty general, but it's also happening within a single round as a character has to re-'Ready' the action if their turn comes again without the previously 'Readied' action triggering.

By that virtue...one cannot 'Ready' an action outside of combat. Especially something like a spell which requires verbal/somatic/physical ingredient sacrifice components. Even if the spell happens to be that one outlier that has none of them, it still requires a certain amount of focus and concentration immediately prior to the casting which by RAW, is only permitted if it is a spell which allows continuous "charge" as long as one concentrates via successful skill checks are made every round. Which means every six seconds.

When one is not observing combat time, that dramatically changes what's happening. You should visualize that what would normally happen in the space of seconds, Isabel doing arcane sign language, focusing psychic power, or speak words of magic all while tossing up some kind of ingredient into the air to be consumed by the aether and create the spell...but then nothing happening. For several minutes until the boogeyman suddenly jumps out.

If I were to allow what has been described above to occur, then there would be nothing stopping Isabel in the future from 'Readying' fireball or wish every morning and just letting it hang there until there's a reason to use it.

So I'm afraid I'm going to have to say NO to having a spell 'Ready' prior to combat time.

This includes immediately prior to expected Surprise rounds, i.e. the party is setting up their own ambush. Since magic happens instantaneously unless the spell specifically states allows concentration or a touch spell which holds a charge for X rounds/minutes, if Isabel were to try and do this...unless she actually casts the spell within the same six seconds as a typical round would be, the spell is lost and the spell slot would be considered used for the day.

Now that said, let's talk about readying an action. I'm making a distinction because it's ludicrous to imagine that the warrior is not drawing back his bow, the rogue is not ready to stab with his dagger, etc. when combat is anticipated but not yet engaged. In theory, this is already covered by the rules of the Surprise round. However, I feel they don't quite cover the pre-combat action announcements which indicate being on edge, hair-trigger, high adrenaline moments. Especially regarding how do I adjudicate if Isabel says she's ready to cast a spell as soon as the enemy appears, but she doesn't make the Perception check to act in the Surprise round.

My solution is this: I will allow 'readying an action' pre-combat time. This means you can be ready to slash that monster up, have the spell ingredients in hand physically ready to just say the words and burn the spell into existence, etc. But before you get too excited, here are the limitations.

• If you announce a specific action, such as the desire to cast a spell, and something, anything surprises you, you will automatically take your action on your initiative during the Surprise round. Which means, yes, you may absolutely end up disemboweling the fleeing child that bursts from around the corner.
• If you decide you do not want to take the action you have already committed yourself to taking, you will need to successfully pass a Perception check to recognize what you are seeing followed immediately by a straight Dex check to stop yourself if it is a physical action. If you had committed to casting a spell, you may choose to fail the casting meaning, yes, you intentionally lose that spell slot since you were already expending the energy to cast it on your turn.
• If you do not succeed at the Perception check to act in a Surprise round, I will still allow your Surprise round action, but you will remain flat-footed as if you had not taken any action until your Round 1 combat action.

That's what I'm offering, but if it sounds too complicated, we'll just stick to RAW which is no 'Ready' actions prior to actual combat time.

I don't mind either way really. I can certainly see the issue with constantly having spells 'ready' so that makes sense. The reason I was 'readying' is because of the condition in psychic spells that says casting any spell with an emotion component requires a DC20 concentration check or take a move action immediately prior to remove the need.

Would you say it is reasonable to mutter the lines of meditation, or try to focus on the appropriate feeling beforehand (effectively taking the move action in advance) or not? If I then decided to cast sleep instead of colour spray (for example) then obviously no dice I'd have to do it properly but if I was ready would I be able to move to maximise the effect of colour spray and then cast? Otherwise both Galen and I suffer a massive action economy problem vs. arcanes, at least at any level lower than 10...

Honestly I'd prefer not to involve extra rules where possible so if you prefer that I don't then that's fine. :)

Hey guys, I'm finally starting to feel better and I'll catch up as soon as possible, most likely within the day.

Welcome back Varian, glad you're feeling better.

I agree with Isabel that "less is more." I usually just disallow readied actions outside of combat. A character should be able to say "I color spray whatever pops from behind the corner." But that spell should just trigger initiative, and the color spray goes off on that character's turn.

I.e. maybe we're over-thinking this. I try to err on the side of the players and have their actions turn out in a generally beneficial way (unless there's a cool story opportunity). I say use your discretion. It's one of the advantages/drawbacks of PbP. If auto triggering the action would produce a "cool" result, you're within your powers to make it happen. We can discuss anything that seems "unfair" on a case by case basis.

Regarding 'readying' Psychic magic with a move action, pre-combat:

As I stated in my pre-GM selection interview, personally I'm a fan of revising rules which seem to ruin my suspension of disbelief (i.e. ignoring Real World physics that aren't being altered by the supernatural) or seem to ignore corner cases just because they are complicated. But if more of you are fans of not adding or stepping outside of the RAW and less of considering RAI then we will just go with that.

No readied actions pre-combat, period.

In the end Pinvendor its all down to you - we are the players and we will play the game as given to us so by all means go for whatever version of the rules you like. It's simply that, for myself, if we have a complicated subset of rules for it I'll probably just avoid doing it - in order to save myself a headache. I fully agree that considering RAI rather than RAW is an excellent thing.

So second Avrora - you do what you want to do and we'll call out if need be.

And yes, meant the thought component - my bad! :)

Sorry for the delay. Work's been crazy today.

I'll be on a cruise next week and will have only limited access to Internet. Please bot me as necessary.

Anyone have any suggestions on what Avrora might do? As GM, I'm always a bit shy about burning resources and options a player not have chosen in absentia.

You may not wanna do it like this, but to avoid that very problem, I generally do the most absolute basic thing they could do in my campaign when I have to DMPC someone.

1) Make a basic attack action, unless a full attack is available.
2) Cast a spell of the lowest spell level available to them.
3) Perform an Aid Another action.
4) Make an appropriate skill check.

Etc.

Hi all. Hope everyone has had a good week. I'm just checking in to let you know I'm back from my trip. It will still take me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things (one of my games had nearly two hundred posts while I was gone). I'm actually relieved we haven't moved so quickly! Unfortunately it's a busy work week as well because I'm now playing catch up. I'll work on getting a post in by tonight or tomorrow.

Hey gang, just want to be 100% sure about our direction before I start listing off stuff you might find. Since Crustypeanut provided me with his campaign notes and adjustments, would you like to move forward with using the APB and altered magic items, or eschew that and thus use the magic items as would be used in the AP with normal Core Rule expectations?

Show of hands, please. :)

I personally like the basic system.

Core rules for me :)

Keep it core!

50% for unadjusted so far.

I'm with the others! #Keepitcore.

While I'm a fan of ABP in my table game, I use a hybrid version and am not a fan of the original as written, so core w/ Big6 is fine with me!

Core sounds good to me.

Thank you for your feedback everyone, I apologize for the delay. Probably going to make a fairly large post, so I need to make sure I have time and less distraction to do it justice. Plus, we've reached the point when I need to get 100% caught up on all your prior game, backstories, and where the AP is heading, so you might see a bit of slowdown from me over the next week or so, but I'll get back up to speed soon.

No worries, this stuff does take time.

Not a problem Pinvendor, and thanks again for taking the time and making this game a reality for all of us!

Sorry guys I've been hit by an extremely potent cold bug, but I should be back in the game tomorrow :).

Games weren't updating new posts to me. Catching up now.

*Runs through threads madly waving arms to get every one's attention*

(^_^)

Games weren't updating new posts to me. Catching up now.

This was everybody. Thread new post notifications were down for about 24+ hours entirely.

I would also vote to free the dogs. I certainly wouldn't want to kill them, and leaving them confined would mean death or torture at the hands of the grimples.

Hey guys, sorry for lagging behind. I was disoriented by Paizo sudden disfunctionality and I though we were still on hold. I'll try and catch up as soon as possible. I plan to do some work on Varian this Sunday in order to finalize his new build.

I am planning to update soon. Please bear with me a little longer. This is literally the last of the PbPs I need to update today, and I definitely plan to do so.

Hey guys, as you may have noticed, I'm struggling a bit in adapting to the flow of this campaign. I'm a somehow routine PbP player, meaning that I have some difficulties in finding the time to post in a campaign if the posting rate isn't consistent and I know, e.g., that I need to post 1/day every day. Since our rate seems to be very unstable, I'm finding it very hard to find a suitable spot in my routine to post, because when I try and find a good time to post, there's no need to post in the following day.

Are we planning on settling for a stable posting rate or will it keep changing? I say this because if we don't settle for a stable posting rate, I'm not sure I'd be able to keep up with the campaign consistently, for the reasons explained above.

Hey guys, as you may have noticed, I'm struggling a bit in adapting to the flow of this campaign. I'm a somehow routine PbP player, meaning that I have some difficulties in finding the time to post in a campaign if the posting rate isn't consistent and I know, e.g., that I need to post 1/day every day. Since our rate seems to be very unstable, I'm finding it very hard to find a suitable spot in my routine to post, because when I try and find a good time to post, there's no need to post in the following day.

Are we planning on settling for a stable posting rate or will it keep changing? I say this because if we don't settle for a stable posting rate, I'm not sure I'd be able to keep up with the campaign consistently, for the reasons explained above.

I sympathise Varian. I check the game daily myself - as to a solution, I don't know...

I personally love frequent posting, but try not to impose my characters RP on anyone unless directly engaged. So if you ever want to post and need someone to direct it at, consider Darian fair game. This goes to everyone.

Quite frankly, you should always be able to post, if you desire. Need because I, the GM, require something from you...I have yet to play in any game RL or PbP where that is always the case.

Your fellow players have certainly done a good job of providing opportunities to RP and converse. I am more about the RP than the mechanics. If you are not interested in RPing of your own volition and are much more interested in posting because specifically there are rounds involved or some other skill based requirement, I'm afraid I'm not the GM you seek.

While I know I have lagged a couple days here and there with no posts, I have yet to see anything that prevents any of you from RPing with each other or Rexus/other NPCs. It's much easier for me to fire off a quick RP/conversation/reaction post than some of the more scene setup GM posts.

As far as regular posting, I feel I have been pretty good minus a couple days lag here and there. If you disagree, then I can only reiterate, you may want to look for someone other than me as I can only play as my time allows and try to be pretty open when I'm delayed.

I think your post rate has been fine, Pin. I just think we are at a weird crossroads in game of ending one scene and moving to another. And like I said, Darian is always available as an RP source. I probably would bounce something off Remus myself, but I've been sick/busy and not been able to go back and refresh myself on what Darian knows of them.

Well I'm still ecstatic that the game with all these characters and chemistry actually got revived from the grave! I'm still not exactly sure how that happened, but it was a wonderfully pleasant surprise to me, and one I want to commit to and protect.

I can understand frustration and inconsistency with posting. It positively killed a powerfully strong and meaningful Kingmaker game I was in (my first PbP experience). Of course in that game the inconsistencies and drops in posting rate were measured in weeks and not days, so I know that's not the exactly the same scope of issue.

Actually, I could never commit to meeting a daily posting frequency all the time myself, except in short bursts to keep up combat or keep a player dialogue going. I know I never would have joined this game originally if a once/multiple posts-per-day frequency was required. I've seen some games that go super-fast and have depth, though mostly I've seen shallow gameplay with bad writing and zero character development with those types of frequencies. Maybe to be good and fast it just takes a job type that I simply do not have.

None of that really addresses Giuseppe's need here - and not fully certain if the desire is more consistency rather than frequency - but just putting my own PbP style cards on the table as it were. The good news is that from what I've seen, the players are as interested in posting interactions with each other as well as with NPC's, so it allows for more posts. That issue where the players only really want to interact with the DM is something I'm wrestling with in my own Zeitgeist game.

I personally love frequent posting, but try not to impose my characters RP on anyone unless directly engaged. So if you ever want to post and need someone to direct it at, consider Darian fair game. This goes to everyone.

Again likewise. Although I can't usually match the length or depth of Galen's posts(!!) I love me a bit of roleplaying so if anyone wants to post and give Isabel something to do/say I'll be happy to respond.

I agree Pin is doing a fine job. My own posting rate, across the board, has suffered in recent weeks. I'm taking an important exam at the end of this month and have amped up my study schedule, which means I often have to push my posting aside more often than I'd like to. I hope that come May I'll be back to posting daily again. In the meantime, please bear with me :).

I really don't need or expect daily posts from anyone. Varian, it sounds like if you're checking in every day, or even every other day, there's an opportunity to post, at least to RP with someone (like Avrora, who interacted with Varian in a post six days ago). Varian is a quality character, and I'd hate to see him go, so please reconsider.

Hey everyone, sorry for the silence. My laptop is having some problems and I was forced to leave it for repair. I hope they will solve the problem as soon as possible. In the meantime, please bot me as needed.

As a side note, I didn't want to create such a problem. My concern was way less serious than you guys have taken it. I will just set for 1 post/day then, regardless of the circumstances, hoping that someone will answer me ;)

I'm glad you have clarified things regarding how you are feeling. We certainly look forward to regular Varian posts to be sure.

What's interesting that I do that others do as well, is that I read the game at least once per day. Probably more than once per day. I just tend to post daily, but I like to read it often as it gets me thinking about the scene and how I'm going to react in it.

The game roll 20 map is updated for the Long Road Coffeehouse just in case any of you want to see how it's laid out.

Hey guys, I'm checking in to let you know that fixing my laptop is requiring more time than originally expected. They told me I'll get my laptop back on Monday. As such, I won't be able to post consistently in the next few days.

Thanks for the heads up. Scene is just some jawjacking RP at the moment. :)

@Isabel: Unfortunately, a single individual can only attempt an identify action on a magic item once a day, per Spellcraft's Retry rules section. I was planning to provide the info on them the next day from now in-game if no one made a successful check "on the spot." So never fear, the information will be given...just not today unless someone else tries it.

@Isabel: Unfortunately, a single individual can only attempt an identify action on a magic item once a day, per Spellcraft's Retry rules section. I was planning to provide the info on them the next day from now in-game if no one made a successful check "on the spot." So never fear, the information will be given...just not today unless someone else tries it.

Fair enough. Isabel can sit and nurse her headache then :)

Hey gang, I may not be able to get a "moving the story along" post up today as I have some work I need to concentrate on before my long weekend. It's the pinprincess' and my anniversary, so I will probably be semi-incognito through Tuesday (the actual day). It's possible I may find some space here and there, but probably mostly conversation. Laria is about to hand out a quest, I don't know if I will be able to get the setup completed or have time to do the normal GM math (initiative and combat planning) required to get you going. If possible, I would encourage you to be eloquent and verbose with your answers to Laria and feel free to have your characters talk among themselves for a bit.

Go ahead and review the Hell's Rebels Player's Guide if you haven't recently to freshen up on building the Silver Ravens. We're not too far off from the beginning that. Let's get started on preparations, so we can discuss any questions ahead of time so we don't just completely stall the game while we all get comfortable with the rebellion management.

Happy Anniversary! Enjoy it, we'll be here when you get back.

Now, getting controversial (and I have made no attempt to check peoples stats and see if they match up - these are just based on the characters...)

Demagogue: Varian/Avrora (our resident milanites, probably Varian first as he has the confidence required)
Partisan: Darian/Avrora (The muscle :D)
Recruiter: Varian/Phineas/Avrora (The passionate milanites again, Phineas too as I can imagine him planning recruiting drives :) Laria could probably do this too if we wanted...)
Sentinel: Darian (I can see him taking a watchful back-seat kind of role)
Spymaster: Isabel/Galen (Galen I can see being good at spying/managing rumours etc. Isabel has had training for it and would be good at in completely different circles to Galen...)
Strategist: Isabel/Phineas (The more analytical, big picture people)

I'm also going to say I think our focus should be Loyalty. Love for our city seems to be our main driving force as a group, and although we all have reason to be circumspect I don't think we're planning a Night of Long Knives style take-over its not security and frankly I think we're best off hiding in plain sight - given how notable some of our members are (looking at you Darian! :P)

WHY YOU GOTTA PUT ME ON THE SPOT!?!? Not my fault I was born this way...

Thanks for that spearheading this discussion Isabel. While I think Secrecy could make for a fun campaign, our group composition is more suited for Loyalty or Security. While Avrora might prefer to get scrappy with the agents of Thrune, I as a player would support either of those.

As to officer role, I agree that either Partisan or Recruiter makes sense for Avrora.

What do the rest of you think?

I can see Darian in the Sentinel role, like Isabel described. Kinda helping out if needed, but otherwise keeping somewhat distant yet supportive due to his noble lineage.