Here's the last HP status update:
Trellara -37
Bran -55
Tal'ariel -43
Gaius -47
Flame -34
Hamailii -37
Should we burn some Channel Energy and see where that takes us? I can top folks off with my wand of Infernal Healing, which I believe would be welcome by Gaius and Flame. Seems like we should try to fight the fleeing enemy now rather than later.
Hamailii also has a wand of CLW.
And you all have a LOT of potions of healing (some of which are CMW).
You slew five monks (three upstairs, two downstairs) who each had a CMW potion. And two clerics, who each had 2 CLW potions.
Okay, we'll assume Tal uses 14 charges of the Infernal Healing Wand to bring up herself, Gaius, and Flame to full. I'll adjust down if other sources of healing get used. There's 18 charges left on her wand.
Awesome. That takes about 5 minutes to work doesn't it? So we're looting the bodies and retreating, then chasing down the 'Wyrmlord' tomorrow?
I would still assume we try to pursue today. I mean, we've been having a chat with the Wyrmlord and he's been showing us stuff and dispelling some sort of storm. That should cover the 5 minutes. But if I'm wrong, just get in however much healing makes sense, and start drinking potions for the rest.
I vote to pursue further.
I'm fine with glugging down potions and tracking her before she gets too far away.
Finish the fight before she gets reinforcements (or worse) informs the Red Hand that they lost the Ghostlord's support.
Cure Moderates on average will provide 12 a piece and I have 5, which can get me to full fighting strength again. Let me know what the plan is!
Hamailii, would you mind using the CLW wand or channels on the party? Average healing on a CLW is 5.5, so combined with Tal's healing, party can be at full with 24 charges as follows.
Trellara -37 (7 charges)
Bran -55 (10 charges)
Hamailii -37 (7 charges)
You can certainly get in front while staying well out of reach of the bard's thunderclaps and the behir's lightning. Maybe land 200' ahead of them and force them to face you?
I will try to get a map up tomorrow. Any other buffs you would want to use if starting the combat at 200' distance?
For Tal, proposed buffs are Long Arm, Shield, Protection from Evil: Communal. Resist Energy: Electricity x2 if we don't have a communal one going; otherwise Resist Energy: Sonic x2 (using Arcane bond). I'm not really sure who to choose for the Resist Energy, but maybe Gaius and Bran, and let the warriors wreak havoc?
If we get the buffs I'm pretty sure we can be distracting enough! :)
That is super flattering!
Hope you enjoy it!
Exciting and only a little stressful to have spectators! Hope you enjoy it.
This is my first PbP campaign, and my first time running a campaign of any kind in about 12 years. I took over as GM when the prior GM disappeared. There's been some player turnover, as happens on the boards, but the PCs have been making great progress with some epic moments along the way.
We are blessed to have a wonderful GM who has taken ahold of this game. It's been awesome!
You could have fooled me that this is your first PbP and your first time in 12 years!
In other news, do I charge them?
Using a completely non-tactical, "what would Bran do" analysis, the answer is clearly yes!
Hopefully I've occupied it, time to pile on in!
Had I known how Bran would have changed throughout the game I would have invested in Charisma a little. Is there any way in E6 to bump it up a tad? I know it barely does anything but the growth would be cool.
Yes, there are ways to bump up ability scores.
Assuming Bran makes it through this...
Behirs are nasty in melee. This is a Half-Fiend Behir that is allegedly CR10. Its Will save is pretty weak (+5) if Hamailii or Tal'ariel can do anything to affect it, but Bran got out quite a ways ahead of them.
Oh wow. I really, really regret telling Bran to charge.
Nothing ventured nothing gained! He has to live up to the title of Darechaser, even if it isn't the smartest decision.
We're inside the beast but hopefully I can pound my way out here. I'm hoping that second 9 roll is enough to break the stomach (18 total).
If not... At 2d8 + 9, that's an average damage of 18 (though 1 DR puts it to 17). He needs to roll low on that belly damage. Puts me to a roughly 30% chance of survival here. Ouch.
I know how dangerous a Behir is, but Bran doesn't. That's what makes this so interesting I suppose.
The better question is, even if I break out do I maintain that hold or drop it right away? I have to think on that.
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I have the free choice spell left and hideous laughter, the latter with DC16 isn't a good choice though, since the behir likely gets the +4 for being a different "race" on his save, giving him a +9.
I'll have to look something up tonight and see what i can do. Suggestions welcome!
Also i have to say, Hamailii has a speed of 50, there's a reason i only moved 25' ;)
Was afraid to get charge pounced and singled out or swallowed, which is always a thing with big monsters like that.
I suggest Murderous Command. Make that Behir turn on its master.
I'm kind of out of ideas for Tal as well, best thing I can think of is to Grease up Gaius next turn to help protect him from grapples.
You could always use the Lesser Reach Metamagic rod for a touch spell on the behir if you wanted.
Or given how low Bran is, Life Pact could be an option.
Alternatively Bestow Curse is decent, nothing (other than Constructs) resist Curses. 50% chance to not Act is very debilitating.
Now that I think of it, imagine living your whole life not being able to act 50% of the time due to a permanent Bestow Curse. Oof. Imagine the horror of half your life freezing before your eyes.
I don't think Life Pact will help, even if you bind all 8 of us, it means it can heal a total of 7 hit points which probably won't make a dent in the Behir's attack routine.
Never mind what I said about Command in the gameplay thread; any creature within 30' of Trellara can use the Countersong in place of their save against any language-dependent or sonic effect. Murderous Command, however, is not language-dependent.
Don't forget, the bard and the behir go back-to-back after Hamailii's turn (unless she chooses to delay).
I have always had DMs rule that at 0 HP you can choose to be unconscious, though the rules don't seem to say that. Well, that's how I am doing it. And it can be a decision by Bran's player rather than Bran the character if he chooses, to say that Bran passes out from the pain.
So the fact that it's exactly 14 damage is a sign of some sort. The question is in what way?
Even if I maintain the Grapple I'll pass out due to the Disabled condition on my next turn. However I will consume it's Standard (right now) if I stay conscious and hold on.
Going unconscious is safe for me but bad for you all, think you can finish off the Behir? If not, I don't mind taking it's full round or Constrict here as we have that Salve of the Second Chance.
Then there is always a 15% chance it fails the maintain.
Heroic sacrifice or foolhardy tactics gone bad? Hm...
Ok. Judging by the raw numbers if the Behir Grabs Tal or Gauis there is very little chance of escape for them, can the other one handle it? Tal can't use her ECB in the Grapple and Gauis can only fight at half power (1 hand only).
Heavens forbid the Bard heals the Behir and it regains its Swallow Whole; then thats it for whoever is in it.
Not to mention it probably has a nasty full-round attack...
I'm leaning toward making the sacrifice here, it was his hasty decision that got him in this mess and its unfair to have someone (potentially) ripped apart instantly. I also don't see him letting the others take the brunt of the attack if he can avoid it. I would like to hear the other opinions though if you don't mind waiting a little Zell.
Gaius would really appreciate another full round to attack in but I don't want to see Bran smashed apart for good when Gaius can take the damage and then some. If Bran hangs on then its a case of Gaius and Tal killing the Behir before it goes again. Which isn't impossible - just not easy... all comes down to the dice really...
I need to pick up some daggers so I can fight in confined spaces better.
No problem waiting.
I will tell you that if Bran goes down, the behir will almost certainly grapple Gaius and the enemy will then use this leverage to bargain for their lives.
While they can certainly take one or two of you down before they die, they can't beat all of you, and they do not want to die.
Wait, is it true that Gaius can't TWF while grappled? I genuinely thought it was fine to do so, but I guess I see how it's not clear. (And I totally realize that in making this argument, I am effectively weakening Bran's grapple build.)
A grappled creature cannot use Stealth to hide from the creature grappling it, even if a special ability, such as hide in plain sight, would normally allow it to do so. If a grappled creature becomes invisible, through a spell or other ability, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus on its CMD to avoid being grappled, but receives no other benefit.
Casting Spells while Grappled/Grappling: The only spells which can be cast while grappling or pinned are those without somatic components and whose material components (if any) you have in hand. Even so, you must make a concentration check (DC 10 + the grappler’s CMB + the level of the spell you’re casting) or lose the spell.
Separate question--does anyone understand the odds of Gaius being able to escape a grapple if on Tal's turn, she casts Grease followed by Liberating Command on Gaius? That gives him a +20 Escape Artist, plus dex bonus, minus armor check penalty. Normally I think a +20 is impressive but against this thing I'm not so sure.
My understanding of RAI is that you cannot TWF while grappled.
Bran's 30 Acrobatics check did not beat its CMD. So it is at least 31, maybe higher (but no higher than 35 since his Grapple check landed).
Gaius would have a +22 Escape Artist check (+4 Dex, -2 AC), so his odds would be between 40% (if it is CMD 35) and 60% (if it is CMD 31). Roughly 50/50.
I think Bran can let go. Gaius can still get some attacks in, even if it's one-handed. Maybe Tal can help Gaius get free. Hamailii still has spells. I think you can be grateful for being unconscious but stable.
Also, if this battle goes south, we will just mount a rescue mission for you. Assuming we can escape and the DM plays along. :P
This was a hard choice to make, but I feel like I had to make it.
Don't let these monsters escape to tell of their failures.
The extra 2 damage from Inspire Courage got me exactly to -16.
Just wondering, was DR taken into account already?
You have this! Don't let up!
Sorry, Bran.
I had softballed things a bit by doing the Swallow Whole (which I thought would make for a cool scene) rather than the Rake (which would have been a dead Bran a round earlier). Can't give you another break here.
No, I did not consider DR, but the going negative ends the Rage and that costs you 12 HP, putting you far past dead.
Not a problem these things happen. It made for an excellent scene and moment. If he didn't rush in initially who knows, it may have lashed at a ton more people.
The better question is, how do Negative Levels work in E6? If I were to take the Salve, 2 Negative levels seem impossible to remove in this.
Right, when the Con goes from the Rage your HP drops accordingly to compensate.
Restoration can be an Epic ritual spell.
I would also allow a Desnan Luck ritual to let you roll twice and choose on the Reincarnate... a little more fun that way.
For now I guess I can just enjoy the fireworks while waiting in the Boneyard queue.
Bran did it just because he wants to come back as a bugbear. :P
I'm really hoping for Dwarf.
Seriously, though, Bran's sacrifice helped shield the rest of us. So thank you.
This thing is super dangerous if it full-round attacks.
Here's to E6 making things super intense and here's to Zell for making it super memorable!
So, let me point this out: You were all doing your own thing. Hamailii hung back, Bran charged ahead, it didn't seem that the party had a cohesive strategy. And that will probably be necessary for the tougher fights ahead.
You've had fights where you took the initiative with a solid plan and just wiped out the enemy (like the barricade). Others where mostly lower-level foes had a good plan and nearly beat you (the first fight with Ulwai). Tactics really do matter quite a bit.
It would have taken them a few rounds to close to melee, during which time you could have tried ranged attacks or used more buffs. You guys lose a fair bit of power by engaging at range - the enemy would lose a LOT of power by doing so. Even though Bran goes down to maybe 25% effectiveness at range, the enemy would go down to 5% or so (the bard's 3d6 lightning strikes).
And Hamailii's any-spell should not go unused in a boss fight when you have time to buff. I tried to subtly hint during the earlier fight that Communal Resist Energy (Sonic) would be a good option.
Also, the enemy here was trying to escape. There would have been the potential to bargain for Bran's life was he merely unconscious. It is entirely understandable to value their deaths over Bran's life, which is the decision that Bran made.
Failures in leadership/consensus building, and I'm not pointing fingers--if anything, I blame myself the most. Bran did rightly ask whether he should charge in, and instead of worrying about tactics I just said he would totally do that. I think it's a good lesson for us in the future to have a strategy in mind going in.
I will say, tactics can be tricky with the PbP format because you can't just talk things out over the table. So it all takes longer. When a player's turn comes up, the incentive is to act and not hold things up.
Also, Bran could have lived if Tal's glitterdust hit, or Hamailii's forbid action. Those were about 50-50 chances and they came out in the Behir's favor. Bran charged without knowing whether the Behir was blinded.