@Molasbar - completely agree. Makes sense.
I've opened up recruitment again because it seems like we've lost Bryce. If there's anyone you know that might be interested, send them my way!
Sorry to hear he's gone! Thanks for keeping things going!
@Zeltor - Because of the trapfinding houserules, we are actually just fine on rogue stuff. Ninivic has a good perception, stealth and disable device. He also has darkvision ontop of that, so he's really quite adept at filling our thievery needs. You could probably use Zeltor without having to even worry about making him more "roguish". I don't have any objections. I think you should play what you want.
Hi guys,
On request from GM Alice, I am jumping in the discussion thread to pitch you the two ideas I had posted as character submissions for this PbP:
- Initial submission was Zeltor (Monk Zen Archer). The details are in the alias link but you are probbly familir with what a Zen Archer is - good ranged offense skills, and in couple of levels (if he survives) will be nothing to sniff at even if he is caught in close combat. Feel free to take a look at his backstory since it was written with RA in mind ;)
- I also offered the option of bringing in a cleric of Desna - the concept revolves around Heroden, a support combatant and healer. I am now entertaining the possibility of converting him into an Oracle, probably battle with same fighting style (ranged longspear), but also able to lay support. Am I correct in the understanding that there is no healer in the group? Isn't that dangerous? :D
Thank you for your feedback already Reginald. Let me know your thoughts all.
Hey there Zeltor!
We have a witch, who can do some healing if needed, but mostly we alleviate the need for constant back-and-forths from the tavern (or taps with a wand of CLW) with the Strain-Injury house rules.
Essentially all damage that is not from a failed saving throw or a critical hit (or alternatively that which sends you into the negatives) is only temporary, and you regain it after a quick rest. So far it's worked well, in my opinion... it allows the group to slog on for quite some time, which is much cooler than clearing two rooms then retreating because Olofire's out of heals.
That said, Reggie is considering switching out from his Fighter to something else, maybe a cleric at this stage, so perhaps the Zen Archer would be a better idea?
That is great - if it is ok then I will finish fleshing out Zeltor?
Go ahead. Although I'm unsure when I will be able to introduce you into the scene (certainly not for a couple of days at least) so don't feel like you have to rush!
Zeltor updated :D
No point in trying to stop me - I AM in a rush to join this.
Unless... hey, are they going to level up by any chance? :D
Going to take another look at gameply so far.
Probably not for a while yet - hmm, actually I have no idea what XP everyone's on at the moment... *calculates*
Gnoll Ambush - 2,000 XP
Disabling two pit traps and the portcullis trap - 1,000 XP
Dealing with the sticky room trap - 800 XP
Gelatinous Cube - 800 XP
Zombie - 200 XP
Giant Centipedes - 1,000 XP
In total that's 5,800 / 6 = 966 XP each.
New characters can start at the same XP as everyone else - just 'coz it's easier to balance encounters and such if everyone is equal...
As for gold, everyone has a little bit extra than normal starting gold, I believe it's around 150 gp over at the moment. So that's max gp for your class + 150 gp. (You guys need to find more of the treasure already! ;)
You might think that the zombie encounter was really wussy because it was only one little zombie.. but he REALLY hated Reggie's singing. Scariest encounter so far. Abunai!
Zeltor again updated.
Well, as far as catching up with the rest of the group... From what I have read, they have left Zelkor's Ferry recently - how far is the travel to the Mouth, about 10 miles? Zeltor could just be rushing to catch up with them :D
I would imagine he has been hanging around Zelkor's Ferry for some time now, actually waiting for a group such as this, so that he could follow through his intents of exploring what lies below. In the meantime (and since he is a good natured fella) he hunts brigands and the such - he could be out of town while you guys came back and forth - wait, he could be out of town looking for the orc/half-orc bandits ;)
@Reginald: I guess Zombies don't like music overall :D
Bandits probably won't like you much either...they weren't big fans of us. Very happy to have you join Zeltor, should be an excellent ranged addition.
Thank you Ninivic ;)
Zeltor looks great. One of my aliases is actually an aasimar zen archer - very cool character. If you're more excited about him definitely play him. I hear you 100% regarding wanting to see if a well built character like him can survive. :)
Welcome!
Thank you Olofire.
Mechanically speaking, the Aasimar is a better bet for a zen archer - bonus to Dex and Wis without ny penalties - that difference between the... well... lets call them half breeds from space :) still makes me pause and wonder why.
In any case, from the horror stories I have heard about it, I have the impression that RA is immune to well built characters, and actually to characters in general :D
It's about 5 miles from Zelkor's Ferry to the Mouth of Doom.
But hold on - first I have to...erm...dispose of some things :)
That's ominous. Maybe its time to run again. That is probably a more critical factor to survival than build.
RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!
I wish I could say I added this encounter in specially to kill off Bryce or something.
Nope. This is exactly what's written in the manual. :)
Stand fast guys - I am on my way! I think...
Hi Zeltor! Welcome to the group, and I'm sorry about the delay in introducing myself. Work has been a little hectic.
Thank you Raseri, and no worries, my week has been chaotic also so far :/
I think Zeltor was a good choice! Don't worry, the cleric can be your backup character. I know I've got my backup for Molasbar almost ready to go!
I actually have a wonderful back-up character with a really strong, legitimate connection to wanting to go into Rappan Athuk - an undead lord cleric of Urgathoa. He was sent to investigate and help defeat the "usurper."
Okay, no more talking about this. I feel like we're tempting Alice too much. ;)
Hey... Undead lord... That sounds like FUN :D
Don't make me send the snake after all of you! ;)
Reginald PM'd me to say that he'd like to change characters (because Reggie is a bore to play outside of combat apparently), so it's most likely going to be a two-for-one deal going on here. Unless you manage to pull some miracle here.
You mean I'm wasting precious ammunition when we're supposed to run?!?
Seriously...
Well, I think I'm going to need to write up another character, Raseri is definitely the "Leave no one behind" type, although she isn't stubborn enough to fight something that can drop her in one hit.
Hey, you can try and fight it. There's certainly nothing stopping you.
I think you have plenty of evidence to suggest why you shouldn't though.
This is Rappan Athuk after all. There's no such thing as "CR Appropriate" in this world. :P
I think you can count on Ninivic getting the hell out of Dodge here in a minute.
Lol sorry, guys. I guess my super obvious deathwish wasn't really super obvious when it comes to Reggie. He acts like that normally! My next character is probably going to be either a cleric or a druid, but I'm still hashing that out. :)
Thanks for your patience!
Hahahaha. This is hilarious. You are TRYING to die and the rest of us think it's in character!
Yeah, that was totally in character. I figured you were just doing your part to make sure Bryce died.
Well, that too. :)
Well, I am hoping my arrival is not precipitating all this dying around :D
I'm thinking that with Regis changing character, the frontline will be left lacking... Am I looking at this wrong? Shall I rethink into Barbarian or something? ;)
Partly depends what type of cleric or druid he decides to go with. You're right that Raseri would be our only front-liner if neither of you go that route. Ninivic fights up close, that's the nature of the gulch gunner, but he's not going to be much help with flanking and other melee tactics.
A Barbarian would work. I have a second level that has over 30 HP raging, so something like that would be most welcome, since a tank Ras ain't, but we can adjust tactics to be more stealthy (be nice if we had some facing rules to use.) Funnily enough that's how I play Skyrim is a switch hitting Nord that sneaks around dungeons :D
Stick with Zeltor. He can dish out the damage and I think it is obvious you put good effort into making him fit for Rappan Athuk. Unless our party is dangerously unbalanced playing what is fun seems to work out best.
I think we'll probably benefit more from having versatile, mobile characters. Even with Reginald at full force on the front line, our squishy people still took lots of damage. We fight in a lot of close-quarters situations, so it's only natural that the "front line" tends to dissolve when the enemies are all around us. Those centipedes really did a number on the party, but Reginald didn't even get hit. Good tactics and a little luck will go a long way no matter what we play. :)
Versatility is indeed probably a very good thing here in the dungeon! Plus, both clerics (with lots of protective spells and good armor) and druids (with lots of bonus meat shields!) can be very "tanky" if need be.
Speaking of -- Reggie, I'll need your new character very soon. ;)
By the way...... if anyone ever wants to change characters, you're more than welcome to. You can either make "arrangements" for them to be... removed from the game (what am I, the Godfather?) or even just have them decide to leave of their own will. I have no problem if circumstance or simply not being happy with your current character leads to a replacement.
I'm happy meeting up with them here unless anyone has something back in town they want to go back for.
That's fine with me.
Wow, only now I read the Gameplay updates for the fight with the snake in the room - damn! That one is a tough cookie I would say...
I can relate to Ras not wanting to be a tank, and I can bring a Barbarian to the table, but Regi has a point there - we will be hard pressed to keep a front line with the nasties sticking to it just because.
Zeltor is a good option if the group plans on a more stealthy approach.
On the other hand, and being completely honest, I am hoping to be able to somewhat be able to "hold the line" at level 3, mainly if someone lays a Mage Armor spell on me ;)
Is it ok if I dot the Gameplay thread?
Don't see why not. Just make an OOC post.
@Ninivic and Raseri - I was actually thinking the same thing. Bryce and Reginald are dead, yet the rest of us are unscathed. And, Molasbar has his mage armor going so probably even better for us to keep exploring? Just reflecting on how odd this must be in character....
@Alice - thanks for the flexibility regarding trying out new characters/concepts. I think we all have so many ideas and getting a chance to see what works and what doesn't in the game is always fun. I like the way Olo is developing his role in the group but it is frustrating to be limited to one target and not actually doing any damage. He is still first level, though, so I assume things will only get more fun with time. Also, I will let you and the group know that despite his cowardice I as a player will probably make him fight rather than run because I know we all get a chance to go back down with new characters!
Probably less odd for Ninivic. He's used to seeing people eaten, slain, driven insane, etc. by demons and having had to keep on.
My new character will likely make its debut in the morning! I just need to finish it up and run it by Alice and then we're set.
Lookin' forward to that. :)