My Final Way (Inactive)

Game Master Big OM

Things have been going rathet slow and I am not going to lie to you the adventure has not had my full attention.

In the upcomming chapter your 3 man squad is going to be challenged. The other parties I am running are close to level 2 or already there and they have had some problems. So how should we handle this. I am asking before we have a character death, which is a real possibility in the later partes.

I can take a character death. If the AP recommends four... We could add a NPC or henchman--I figure a drow specialist necromancer or infernal sorcerer would fit with our evil theme.

Is there a reason they are higher level than we are? Typically the APs have you at the appropriate levels, at least the Paizo ones do.

Your escape was way to easy, you were simply to lucky on your dices. There were a lotof xp to be had in Branderscar.

I am not keen on npc until you reach level 7 and can take the leadership feat. I feel they are either inadequite or overshadow the players.

Maybe send us back to the prison for payback rather than being a level behind and a character down for the rest of the AP?

Not sure on the best course of action myself. I could easily argue that we should be rewarded for not insisting on doing things the hard way with extreme prejudice. Add in the fact we are Lawful Evil types not Chaotic Evil; I think we did well. If you as a DM (or other players for that matter) want to play up more collateral damage, I am all for it. Each of the PCs were chosen for this type of group and we played to our strengths. Very successfully, I might add. We operated with the surgical precision of a tactical team vs chaotic vendetta of a shopping mall shooter.

As for the slow pace, I kinda figured we were on the low end of priorities for several reasons. We were the last group of four simultaneous campaigns; we lost a player early on and recruit effort died but had to request someone to step in whereas normally the enthusiasm of recruits are overwhelming. Thanks Gimlet for jumping in! This delay put us way behind the other campaigns with virulently active players needing more DM hands on (ie damage control). We went stealth, which required us to fail at a skill to enter combat. Success = bypass whole floors of scenarios and distracting side missions.

A couple of solutions:
1) Fold us into the other campaigns.
2) Stay here and see what a deceitful team is capable of.
3) Shelve this pbp. Tip your hat with sad adieu.

Only you can say for certain what is best for YOU. I'll hold no judgment against you for trying to run four campaigns at once. It is admirable; I have trouble running one RL campaign. So kudos for you.

Addendum: Also the three-person team meant we had no bench players to throw into the game to soak up damage. We couldn't afford to play murderous pyromaniac hobos in Brandascar, as much fun as that could've been. I really was hoping the ogre would be helpful in that regard but he disappeared, figured it was DM fiat to hobble us a bit.

Actually in regards to the ogre, he has taken a back role inthe other games as well, some one just flat out killed him. I'll give it some thought on what to do.

Yeah I know people who've been through this AP and slaughtered their way through the prison. We essentially walked out.Great job as far as a stealth breakout is concerned but not great for level progression.

I love this, "We operated with the surgical precision of a tactical team vs chaotic vendetta of a shopping mall shooter." because most times people assume evil characters need to be The Joker 24/7.

If you really like I can create another character more geared towards bringing the violence. An Anti-paladin that once served Mitra maybe. Assigned bodyguard/heavy hitter duty. If you thank that's a good idea I can create the character and we can introduce them as one of the people at the mansion before we head out.

I guess it comes down to philosophy. As a fighter with no weapons or armor I could use, it seemed quite important to leave and get equipped. With an unarmed monk or sorcerer, I would have felt more comfortable.

We can always go back to the prison. If we want to see how far we can get a character and a level down, I'm fine with that too.

I would argue we did more long term damage. Plenty of survivors to punish, loss of morale, infighting and insidious rumors. Brandascar's escape proof rep shredded. We kept martyrs to a minimum who will likely end up as scapegoats anyway so they'll effectively remove any rallying cry of "Remember Brandascar!"
Most importantly, we escaped and currently at large.

Lawful Evil: We prefer the good guys to do our dirty work.

BTW how many xp do you have?

I am currently considering recruiting another player and giving you the next level when appropriate.

We are sitting at 650 xp.

So. What I am understanding is Gimlet, Slevin and I are happy with our tactics and overall strategy.

If Big Om recruits, do we want to double down on our deceit with another "face" PC, look into a skill monkey, meat shield or throw caution to the wind and go for flavor of the best writeup? Gimlet, once he has armor, should be a decent front line by himself. I could actually see Tin, with armor, as a close second to Gimlet delivering the hurt.

Might as well have the discussion now.

So what do you want from a perspective 4th member, I would like to have your inputs before I begin looking, so the recruitment can be as targeted as possible.

I am of two minds on this.
1) Throw caution to the wind with a Devil may care attitude. A sort of "Something Wicked this way comes." Where we can just do a first come first in basis. Let the player play his/her evil inspiration, far be it that I would limit their choices.
2) We've two divine-based PCs and one divine fighter. We did have a bard. I think an arcane or another bard would be a unusual mix; potentially glass cannons but thus far it has been exceedingly efficient. I'd like another spellcaster of any sort just to see how we tear up the place or fail in a glorious manner. Let Gimlet take the glory and infamy due to our sole front line (small-sized) intimidator!

If we continue, an infernal sorcerer would be my preference. Or a necromancer.

Arcane caster would probably be the best choice.

Judging from your response I should open recruitment announcing that we are searching for an arcane caster, perhaps a bard, an infernal sorcerer or a necromancer.

Is that all right with you?

Sure but not a psychopath.

Concur. Also agree with Slevin. Prefer a RED mentality. Retired Extremely Dangerous nonchalance attitude. No need for wasteful vendetta. Why destroy a tool you can turn to your own use.

Tin is going to be quite the bubbly liaise faire Archnemesis Cardinal if she survives that long.

Just finished reading King of Plagues. This is quite the Lawful Evil cabal.

So far an infernal sorcerer, what do you think?

Sounds good. We want to go back into the prison and rescue him?

agreed. I'll leave the scenario of how we meet to Big O.

Works for me

Are you satisfied or should we look further?

I am still looking through the character.

Bring the sorcerer in. I am not seeing any further applications.

Greeting all,

Your new sorcerous teammate checking in. I am working with Big OM now for a good way to tie me in to the game. Look forward to gaming with you all!

Welcome

Al right I hope to have the time to advance you tomorrow, but it might first be Saturday.

Lukasz I'll get back to you on your escape and how we're going to handle it. For now I'll write you in when I advance the others.

Shouldn't we go back to get him to get back on experience track?

That wasn't the plan, he hasn't been captured and brought to Branderscar.

No problem. At least we will be 4.

Looking forward to it.

I have been trying to get the energy over the weekend to get you going, but I just couldn't find it. I am going to try in the week to come, but I am a little tied up.

We'll just rack up the RPing and character training time. As long as we are not forgotten.

Yup will post something RP tomorrow to keep the thread going.

Yep, take your time Big OM. Real life first, then roleplaying.

I think I am in over my head. I am starting a new job to morrow and just can't run this campaign with my other activities here. So I am ending this. Sorry for the work you put into it.

And Lukasz sorry for getting you involve and shutting it down.

Heh. I was kinda expecting this. No hard feelings. Thank you for the attempt and the courtesy of notification. Good luck with your job.

Tin Jasha
aka
ReckNBall

Yeah I pretty much saw this coming. Good luck.

No worries.

Good luck with the new job.

Thanks for trying please inactivate this thread