Palace of the Vampire Queen, the 5e version (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

No worries!

The Goblins are holding out the small ring with two keys

Sent a PM to Beldak, there has been no response. I will post soon, like tonight I hope, on what is found on the other side of the door.

I've got work issues that will slow me down.

No worries Sir Aethorduil, thanks for the heads up!

On the other hand we may have lost Beldak. I've sent a second PM to him, and there has been no response.

I will begin the delicate process of trying to recruit a new player or two today.

Sir Aethorduil, Myna and Morgrym each receive 23 experience points for defeating the Goblins in room 5.

Yes I realize that experience point awards are sluggish, but then again, the faster you all can communicate with each other about your plans, the sooner you will encounter more monsters. I really believe that a PbP game moves faster if the players develop are rapport with each other and learn to communicate with each other

Greetings! I have been chosen to help round out your group with raw arcane talent and power. I look forward to a long and prosperous adventure with all of you.

Welcome aboard, Amon

a couple of quick points

Please take a moment or two over the next few days to skim over the house rules in the Campaign Info tab. I have run into a situation or two where 0players thought that what they were getting into was different from what this actually is. Second, if at any time you think I am doing something you don't like, please speak up and let me know, and I will do my best to look at the situation from your point of view.

Sir Aethorduil, Myna and Morgrym each receive 23 experience points for defeating the Goblins in room 5.

Yes I realize that experience point awards are sluggish, but then again, the faster you all can communicate with each other about your plans, the sooner you will encounter more monsters. I really believe that a PbP game moves faster if the players develop are rapport with each other and learn to communicate with each other

Are you tracking our XP somwhere or do we need to track it?

I would like you to track it, but as I will always be posting it here, it shouldn't be a problem if you forget. next time I award xp, I will include my total for each active pc

ok... because I lost track of the last award I think

I want to try and see if there is anything I can do to get the players to be more interested in this game. Please tell me what I can do, for you, to make this game fun. I am sorry for not being able to think of the right things on my own, but I do want to try to learn how to be a better DM, so help me out if you can.

I think its just this particular time of year mate. Lots of PbP games slow down.

I think you are right, Sir Aethorduil, but any support on what I'm doing wrong or what i could be doing right, is appreciated.

I run my own PbPs... sometimes things just slow down - the players arent engaging with the game. In my case? I am waiting on the other and they in turn may be waiting on you or others. It could be the pace has put them off and they lack inspiration to work out what the next move should be - for one game I am in? I am waiting on the others to take more of a lead but keep posting small sentences here and there to show I am still in.

My tip? Move the story on if it gets bogged down. Jim Butcher of the Dresden Files also recommends that if he doesn't know what to do, then he starts a fight scene :) Me? Not so much but I've been known to do so on occassion.

In extreme circumstances? I PM the players and ask are you still playing, if not, why.

An important reminder! – well, we’ve lost every single one of the original players, so I need to say this again. There are no maps. I will not be providing a map. This is not a computer game. If you think you need a map to keep track of where you’ve been, or where you want to go, I suggest you make one yourself, and share it with other players if you feel so kind. I will do everything I can to help you understand where you are, where you have come from, and what your options are, but if you get lost. That’s your problem, hehehehe

I think this is one area where I'd like to make a suggestion.

Normal games are hard enough with maps vocalised by the GM. PbP games? When players are focusing on the game briefly once or twice a day? It becomes frustrating especially if we get lost. In all my games I provide maps. On occassion I run my combats map less so I get that bit, its just easier but I think providing a simplified map wouldn't hurt.

An issue that I am having is the inclusion of a DM PC that was not discussed with the party and created more powerful than the PCs.

An issue that I am having is the inclusion of a DM PC that was not discussed with the party and created more powerful than the PCs.

I never checked her out - I was assuming she was a generic flunky

The "chaotic warrior" is statistically as close as can be represented from the original module

Waiting for the players, a player, anybody, to tell me what they are going to do next.

I'm a bit lost GM - I don't know who is playing or where we should go next... Maybe a rolecall of who is actually still in and we leave this room and turn left??

Roll call - still in (but confused)

In and confused as well.

There is a link, at the top of this page (and every page of the campaign) that is called "current Map" that will show you the current location of the characters.

Gwendolyn will leave the party at the first opportunity

Are there any specific questions I can help with?

I really wanted to try and run this game without providing maps.

Thanks for trying

That can work sometimes - I run mapless fights sometimes - but total mapless isn't good in a labyrinth.

I get where you are coming from but its hard enough to focus on getting mapping right when you are face to face across a table and can clarify things on the fly, the DM can lean over the screen and see what is being drawn etc. PbP generally has pacing issues with a person posting once or twice a day. A combat and 25 posts later (a week real time has past) and the players can feel lost.

You have been around a long time and I daresay you play and run a lot of PbPs - are all of them mapless? Which games flow best with players for you? The mapless ones or the mapped ones?

In all my PbP games I try to provide as much as possible (inc. an obsidian portal site in my CC campaign) to make it easy for the players to feel connected, to minimise confusion and to aid game flow. I dont have your length of experience in GMing I dare say but I've only shut down one cmapaign PbP game and its not because of player stagnation or feeling lost, its because the players screwed the pooch so royally that it would have taken weeks of time I didnt have with a new player who was late in joining.

I for one appreciate the map - I know it makes it easier to post which in turn keeps the game flowing and hopefully the other players to get more involved and post more too.

As for party numbers, yeah, you may want to go for another recruit.

still here

I have edited the Vision and Determining Surprise Rule Entry, hopefully to make it more clear

Hey, DM? We have a light source still. The Light spell I cast on my horns. Read my last post.

AH! Yes that's right I missed that, updating soon to correct my mistake.

Day 3, Monday Evening, after Sunset, approximately 7:00 pm (turn 115, turn 3 of 6)You are in Darkness and Fog

Myna cannot find the secret stone that releases the door, because now that Beldak has disappeared there is no light!

Okay, I need to complain here, but it isn’t directed at any of you. See, Beldak left the game, and Beldak was carrying the light source. So, now we are relying solely on Darkvision (Gwendolyn, Morgrym, Sir Aethorduil, and Amon) but Myna is now effectively blind and cannot see anything.

Also doesn't Myna, myself and both dwarves have darkvision... not sure about Tieflings but I think they get it too...

Lightsource is needed to see colours etc but for basic dungeon crawling, cant we see a-ok? I'll have to read your updates

Only Myna does not have Dark vision, and cannot see anything in the darkness, and Dark vision, in 5e, has it so that darkness is treated as dim light, and in dim light you have disadvantage on perception skill checks that rely on sight

I don't know where I was getting all the wrong information, but I am once again sorry for making a deal out of nothing.

Everyone in the party has Darkvision - let's move on.

LOL..no worries...I thought I was going crazy at first...new system so we are all learning!!

And if anyone particularly cares; When it comes to the marching order, Amon will situate himself somewhere in the middle of his more armored allies.

Morgrym now has a permanent -1 modifier on to hit and damage roles when using his warhammer - this note will appear in future DM posts under the spoiler

A singular beast... what was it?, he says trying to kick it out of the way with his leather boots.

I think you hit the wrong thread, Aethorduil...

Defeating the Rust Monster awards the party 300 experience points

Each character receives 75 experience points

Hi all - I'm having work issues at the same time (and maybe because of) suffering acute "who gives a shit, the whole world hates you" depression.

If you guys are happy to bear with me about a week/two weeks or so (hoping new meds help my outlook - lord knows my current cocktail isn't helping) then I'll look at this game again.

If not, then I apologise for missing your expectations. I'll withdraw and wish you all the best.

We will keep moving along and hope you can pop in when you can.

Hopefully you'll stay

Dont leave me with that dwarven savage!! Hope work gets better and look forward to your return!!

Sorry guys.

For my own part the meds have me feeling marginally better but new work demands are crushing. I am going to pull the pin on my participation in this and a few other games.

My thanks for your patience as well as a great effort by the GM.

Thanks for playing! Good luck to you

I am not going to recruit at this time, if there are no objections Gwendolyn will fill the role of fighter for the party.

If any remaining players have friends looking for a house ruled 5e game they would be welcome here.

You are crouching in a short tunnel outside a chamber where it seems Morgrym has heard something. Do you have a plan for what you will do next?

Did the three of you lose interest in the game?

Still here.

I have added a link to a Bit map image of a world map I started on today for this campaign and the Woodbridge Campaign.

Its a start, I suppose, and hopefully I'll get better at these maps the more I work on them

Been a pretty rough week, but I hope to update tomorrow

Sorry

Check out the new version of the world map, please

I believe that there are three current active players in this game, however I believe all three are playing characters who are a bit on the strong silent type model.

So I am looking for new players and will see if anyone is willing to join us.

Edit -

I made a half hearted attempt at recruitment, and then deleted it.

You guys deserve better.

If you still want to keep this game going I'll post a better recruitment tomorrow, I'll really go out and sell this game with everything I've got.

Thanks for sticking with it, this far.