Brain... doh!
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Okay, guys, a nugget of a plan is forming in my mind. There's a fair bit here and to speed things up I figured I'd put it here rather than roleplaying every little detail. Let me know what you think.
A. We leave the eastern gate about halfway open, but the west one closed. People are lazy and generally go through an open doorway rather than opening a new door. Especially when on horseback. One (or more) of us waits at the door, ready to shut it.
B. We move the wagon so it is next to the west wall of A2. This funnels the bandits into the middle and also gives some cover to whoever is hiding by the door ready to close it.
C. We leave some hay bales and animal feed by the southeast corner of building A3. Hopefully when the bandits dismount some of the horses will be drawn to that corner away from the fighting.
D. Zokon is hiding on the battlements and can let us know when the bandits are getting close. He gives the signal when they are about 2 rounds away.
E. Bella casts bless one everyone. Once that is done everyone gets to their places and hides.
F. The bandits will likely gather in the courtyard in front of A4 and A3. Once they are there and off their horses, or they seem to be going somewhere we don't want, then Fronar and Numalar close the gate behind them, and everyone emerges with weapons ready. I am thinking Luna and Celyne from A3, Valeska from A4, and Bella from A6 (someone has to keep between the bandits and oleg and Svetlana). Everyone has an attack ready.
G. Celyne calls for their surrender. (I am assuming here that a Diplomacy check would be needed. If it is Intimidate instead then Bella should be the speaker).
H. If they fail to surrender, everyone attacks:
Zokon shoots with rapid shot from the battlements.
Celyne casts summon monster to both attack and set up flanks for Fronar
Luna attacks, keeping between the bad guys and Celyne
Numalar tries to get shots in with burning hands
Valeska and Bella engage in melee
Fronar engages in melee with a flanking buddy.
What do you guys think?
Ooc: Let's just everyone use range and kill'em. Muhuhuha... If the moral ambiguity is not intended, they're an obstacle.
Overcome the obstacle. More sophisticated DMs typically like to torture Players with moral ambiguity.
@KDM - is the moral ambiguity intended either by yourself or the AP as written?
Will we be doing map grids or theatre of the mind?
As much as I appreciate theater of the mind, I will be providing map grids for you. Working on that now as a matter of fact. They might not be pretty but should be functional.
Ooc: Let's just everyone use range and kill'em. Muhuhuha... If the moral ambiguity is not intended, they're an obstacle.
Overcome the obstacle. More sophisticated DMs typically like to torture Players with moral ambiguity.
@KDM - is the moral ambiguity intended either by yourself or the AP as written?
Are you calling me unsophisticated? ha! Just kidding.
There is plenty of moral ambiguity built into the AP yes, and I do like including plenty myself.
This brings up how I view alignment. For me, it is a mechanic that we need for certain spells and things but I don't like making it anything hard and fast. The truth is that we all have our moral struggles and have to make difficult decisions. Very few people are always LG or always CE. So, you will rarely hear me say, "A LG character wouldn't do that..." Well, they might. However, if you consistently act against your alignment then there will be repercussions to that.
Also, I believe in there always being consequences for your actions. Good or bad, there will be consequences. So, be ready for that. You make your own way and your own choices but in that there will be consequences to any action/choice made.
Actually, I was appreciating your sophistication and confirming said torture.
Ok, I posted a tactical map at the top of the Gameplay thread. Please check that you can get there and then update the map to place your initial where you want to start out. Let's see if we can use this to move each round. Only move your name please.
Let me know if there are any issues.
Thanks.
P.S. I am not skipping over Numalar's question to Svetlana. There will be information coming from that but will be later in the afternoon. Have a lot going on at work at the moment.
I think Numalar's plan is solid. If you're okay with it, Celyne, I think an intimidation is more relevant here, so I'd like Bella to do that.
Do our folks have precise shot? If not, we shouldn't have folks in melee to start. Suggestion.
In fine with the plan.
that's fine
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Do our folks have precise shot? If not, we shouldn't have folks in melee to start. Suggestion.
In fine with the plan.
Zokon has precise shot, and he is the only one committed to range in the plan.
If people want to go all ranged that is feasible; everyone could be up on roofs and such. But I think we do less damage that way overall, and our enemy has bows, so after the surprise round they are shooting back. Also Luna won't have anything to do.
Remember this is just an outline. If the enemy fails to dismount or does something unexpected then we have to improvise. And usually unexpected things happen.
Valeska and Bella have good ACs, and Celyne and Fronar are not too bad either. My AC isn't very good but I can negate one hit against me per round. So I think we are okay overall.
I think Numalar's plan is solid. If you're okay with it, Celyne, I think an intimidation is more relevant here, so I'd like Bella to do that.
Fair enough! Celyne has the second best Intimidate so she can aid. My intimidate is not very good due to my small size.
Yeah if Celyne wants to aid, that works too!
Can everyone see the tactical map and also place your icon where you want it? I see that Celyne has already placed her and Luna on the map.
Please try to do that and go ahead and put your character where you want on the map. We can then evaluate.
Thanks.
No no I don't have precise shot.. I have rs and pbs.. ps next level. I'm good in melee anyway.
Do we have people allocated to close the gate?
Numalar is the gm ok with you using windy escape as its a sylph racial spell?
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No no I don't have precise shot.. I have rs and pbs.. ps next level. I'm good in melee anyway.
Oh. Well, hmm. There will usually be targets available that aren't in melee. With rapid shot you are still good shooting, unless you would rather be in melee.
Do we have people allocated to close the gate?
Yep. Fronar and I will be by the gate.
Numalar is the gm ok with you using windy escape as its a sylph racial spell?
Yep, I discussed it with KDM before I took the spell and we re-themed it.
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Can everyone see the tactical map and also place your icon where you want it? I see that Celyne has already placed her and Luna on the map.
Some small issues with the map.
#1 - the wagon should be on there, oriented north-south against the west wall of A2. Since the wagon is 20' long including the harness thing, the north end of it should extend 5' past the north wall of A2.
#2 - the tables will still be in between Oleg's "house" (A6 to A10) and the bunkhouse (A2). This means that only a narrow 5' aisle allows easy access from the courtyard to A6 - we don't want one of the bad guys getting to the house and hurting Oleg & Svetlana or taking them hostage.
#3 - the western (left) gate door should be shut. Only the one on the right should be open, and not all the way - from the post the door should point to the NM corner, like where "A5" is. the door will nearly touch the wagon and while the door is open you won't be able to get past the door to the area between A2 and the outer wall. It also means we only have to close one of the two gates to shut people in.
Zokon, please don't rapid shot into melee for -6 to Hit. Guessing bandits to be AC 14-16 range.
Also, let's work in unison meaning let's not wound 6 enemies, let's focus our attacks and bring down 2 or 3. That way, there are less possible event attacks the subsequent rounds.
We don't need to pair off one on one.
And of course, "No plan survives contact with the enemy." So, we'll need to be flexible.
Zokon, please don't rapid shot into melee for -6 to Hit. Guessing bandits to be AC 14-16 range.
Also, let's work in unison meaning let's not wound 6 enemies, let's focus our attacks and bring down 2 or 3. That way, there are less possible event attacks the subsequent rounds.
We don't need to pair off one on one.
And of course, "No plan survives contact with the enemy." So, we'll need to be flexible.
Sound strange, but I need to get to a PC... Or someone can place me. Thanks!
Can everyone see the tactical map and also place your icon where you want it? I see that Celyne has already placed her and Luna on the map.Some small issues with the map.
#1 - the wagon should be on there, oriented north-south against the west wall of A2. Since the wagon is 20' long including the harness thing, the north end of it should extend 5' past the north wall of A2.
#2 - the tables will still be in between Oleg's "house" (A6 to A10) and the bunkhouse (A2). This means that only a narrow 5' aisle allows easy access from the courtyard to A6 - we don't want one of the bad guys getting to the house and hurting Oleg & Svetlana or taking them hostage.
#3 - the western (left) gate door should be shut. Only the one on the right should be open, and not all the way - from the post the door should point to the NM corner, like where "A5" is. the door will nearly touch the wagon and while the door is open you won't be able to get past the door to the area between A2 and the outer wall. It also means we only have to close one of the two gates to shut people in.
Added tables and wagon on the map. Not sure if wagon is where you want it so feel free to move that shape if not correct. The wagon is 25 feet long by 10 feet wide.
You will notice that I made the tactical map a bit larger than the other map. This is on purpose as I've always wanted a bigger trading post.
Can't change the doors without changing the whole map and re-loading it, so just assume the southern most door is closed and the other one points the way you want.
I would like to point one thing out though... If you enter a room where the door is partly closed in on you, what do you typically do? Might want to think about that when determining how far you want that gate to be open.
I'ma no gonna shoot with a negative 6 don worry...
I jumpa and choppa in that case.
Valeska still needs to be placed on the map. Once that is done, hopefully tonight, we can start the encounter with the bandits tomorrow.
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OK, I put Valeska on the map.
Turns out I didn't realize that north was to the right rather than up. So some of my directions were mixed up. Edit: the original map had north at the top, hence my confusion.
I moved the wagon and put shapes to represent the current position of the doors. I also put Fronar behind the door that is open. Numalar probably would have had a hard time closing it himself with his STR of 6.
I put Valeska inside A6. Actually, Valeska, if you would prefer to be crouching behind the table that would probably work too, just as long as someone bars the way for the bandits to get to Oleg & Svetlana.
I moved Numalar actually... with only a 20 ft. move Numalar will have a hard time getting to the action if he is by the door.
I would like to point one thing out though... If you enter a room where the door is partly closed in on you, what do you typically do? Might want to think about that when determining how far you want that gate to be open.
The door still is wide open - these are big doors. Enough room for them to come in on horses single file. And opening the other door would require one of them to get off their horse. Oleg and Svetlana haven't offered much resistance in the past and I doubt they will be suspicious.
BTW, KDM you might find this like useful:
I'm (the player) is all about improv. You're quite thoughtful, sure it's fine.
Let the Greenbelt shenanigans, begin!
And we're off!
Posted the start of the day and the arrival of the bandits. As often happens, the plan is corrupted from the beginning. Not all the bandits entered the fort!
Enemy stats are at the top of the page so when time comes, make your rolls and feel free to describe whether you hit or miss based off that.
Let's have some fun!
Also, I obviously didn't have anything happen during the night but after the battle let's go ahead and post here what you want your normal watch order to be. That will be important going forward. :)
Couple of things everyone:
1. I have created a wiki for the campaign that I am working on. You can find it here. Please let me know what you think and offer any suggestions. More will be coming in the next few days and weeks.
2. When you make your move in the current thread, please be sure and update the map to show where your character is after your turn.
Thanks.
I need to wait on a PC for positioning. Sorry.
yes outside is all good, you concentrate on closing that gate
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Realized this post should probably be in the discussion thread.
Did Bella get a chance to cast bless in the period before the bandits arrived?
Our plan was to have an action readied and use that to emerge and demand the surrender of the bandits (while Fronar closed the gate).
Does this happen before the initiative count? Theoretically that would use up the surprise round.
BTW Zokon you can get the one that is still outside before he takes off with all the horses.
Oh, one more thing: Should it be five bandits plus Happs or five bandits including Happs? I see stats for a total of six bandits but only five on the map including Happs.
I'm fine with Bella casting bless before the bandits enter. You would have had plenty of time to do so.
You all can ready any actions you want in the surprise round. Bella is using Intimidate in the surprise round and then whatever anyone wants to ready.
Also five enemies total. Happs, Bren, and three unnamed bandits.
Hope that helps.
Heya all i'm away on holiday from the 2nd to the 7th of April (probably 1st to the 6th for those of you in USA), i'll have limited posting ability. As in i may have nowhere to charge my phone. I can be botted if needs be.
Heya all i'm away on holiday from the 2nd to the 7th of April (probably 1st to the 6th for those of you in USA), i'll have limited posting ability. As in i may have nowhere to charge my phone. I can be botted if needs be.
No worries, thanks for letting us know. We'll take care of Zokon for you.
Everyone, don't forget that if you want to ready an action, you need to tell me what the trigger is for your action.
Sorry, wasn't getting updates. And sorry for rolling a 2, Max damage, though!
He's right! Alas, if it would only make a difference... in Valeska's case! Zokon, might...
Oh, and for Zokon... the enemy has cover, but is Z elevated?
Yes i was.. if thats a plus.. ill look it up.
Cover is with respect to someone's vantage. So, if they had cover with respect to someone shooting through the gate (ground level, behind horses), maybe your vantage ignores that cover.
DM call.
I was hoping for the plus 1.. darn.. as I missed by 1
Hey all, I have a post recap for round 1 ready but waiting on clarification on something from Numalar.
Thanks.
No worries Numalar! Stuff happens