So it's been a month now, and while I'd like to think it's going well, how is everyone liking the game? I've been reading other RoW games and I'm amazed at how different they are, and the way the encounters have played out.
How have you been liking the difficulty? The weather should become less and less dangerous as you level up since your Fort Saves get better and better. Sven is already at a +15 against cold weather, but then again, he does love those 1's on saves :D
She's been very distracted with the first steps of buying a house, so fun things have taken a back seat a bit.
No need to wait on your concern. PM me if you don't want it voiced to all.
As you wish, just trying to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves as a recent PFS experience showcased just how different GM styles can affect ones enjoyment of a game.
Mez, really enjoying the game. I like the pace and your willingness to move things along. It seems the approach has been well-received and positive overall. I think with the more 'formal' implementation of flextime will also allow for more RP in scenes that warrant it so I'm quite pleased with that.
I'd also be interested in hearing about your woes. :)
My first GM ever for a PFS ran a very dry adventure with 0 RP and the table only cared about slaughtering bad guys and looting the room. The game ran for 2.5 hours total. It turned me off for a few months to RL PFS, until last week when I went to a game ran by the local VC. That game was much more interesting and entertaining, there was RP, voices, some fighting, and even party conflict over how to deal with things. This game ran the full time plus some. The scenario’s may have had something to do with it, but the table reacts to the GM from my experience, and it was a very clear separation in GM styles and skills.
I'm involved in a few PFS games here already, and I'm not sure about a whole queue to determine when I can play, lol. Perhaps if you were going to get a set group of people to run multiple PFS games. I'd be much more interested in that.
Mez - thanks for taking a moment to check in on the game. In short, I love this game. A few thoughts in more detail:
-The pace has been very good - enough time to interact with each other and have some fun with that, very quick combats for a PbP, and just when it feels like a given moment in the game is losing steam a bit, you pick up the story and move it along. This has been great.
- The diversity of character personalities and opportunities to RP them with each other and with well-played NPCs is excellent fun.
- The difficulty has been about right, I think. The first battle with the fey was a bit lopsided because we didn't have the right weapons, but you adjusted for that on the fly. And the other encounters, with the bandits especially, were a bit touch and go, which is just what I like. Not sure I understand your point about the weather. Has it been cold? ;p
And on PFS games, I'm glad you had a good experience to balance out the first one - I think I've been pretty lucky so far. I've played a handful of PbP PFS games, and they've ranged from okay to quite good - but because it's first-come, first-serve rather than submitting PCs for a DM to choose, you can get a seriously mixed bag of players, just like in RL PFS games. And my only face-to-face PFS games have been with my son at PaizoCon this summer, and they were great fun.
Edit: just saw Mez's post about PFS games - I'd jump at a group to run through a series of them together. Even though I've promised myself no more PbPs for a while...
I have not. "Why, you thinking about running a group through it?" he asks knowingly.
About the combat of the rescue, was it just me or did anyone else wonder how any but the most prepared group of level 1's could have hoped to survive the rescue trip for the Lady and the Lodge if the baddies and encounters were played to the hilt by the GM?
-Lady Argeneaagaea (whatever) had multiple zombies
-Fey forest ambush
-Bandit Cave
-Snowman trap
-River traversal (w/possible elementals)
-Lodge encounter (multiple bandits turned zombies plus invisible castor)
-Environmental difficulties (cold, sickness, etc...)
That just looked like a TPK outing waiting to happen had the encounters been played with more... cruelty and/or NPC tactics.
Just me or what?
I am interested if there is a group set up for it.
Bugsby: I actually played them far more tactful than nearly every other game I've read.
For example, in other games: The fae closed into melee and stayed there instead of sniping with arrows. The ice elemental would just be sitting on the top of the river in clear view waiting. The bandits at the lodge just charging blindly at the group. The invisible caster just waiting for all his peons to die, letting the group heal, and move into another room before raising the zombies and sending them after the group.
The environment I do take "blame" for. Many GM's just ignore that part of it because it is just extra rolls/damage/annoyance.
That is part of why I’m asking how the group likes the difficulty. I try and have things be “real” and make sense when thought logically. At times, that can cause encounters to either be really easy, or really hard.
Oh interesting, well I'm very much enjoying the difficulty. I like it much better when the danger is real.
Yeah, I was curious how other parties got through the various encounters and was floored at some of the softballing. “Hello, I’m a tiny fae with long ranged weaponry and have a party of silly big folk bogged down in hip deep snow. Let me charge them with a butter knife!”
Mez, have you been through ‘The Devil You Know’ series? It’s a four part series for low level characters from year one.
I haven't played this either, if you're looking to build a party of PFS'ers, and can stand more online time with me.
If we could go with known quantities that would be good. I can think of one guy I'd invite from a PbP I'm in, though it looks like he doesn't have any PFS characters here, but that's pretty easily remedied. There's another possibility that comes to mind, but I don't know him as well.
Anyone you'd invite from your games, Sven?
Count me as interested in the PFS game, if you'll have me. I have a new character that I've been wanting to try out.
As for this game, I'm enjoying it. Yes, it was a close call. Yes, I actually told my wife and friends that I thought we were dead in the Lodge, but if there is no risk, then why play the game?
Mez, you go right on playing the foes intelligently (if they are intelligent). It's more realistic that way. As I said, I'm very much about the RP and immersion, so the more realism, the better from my perspective.
Thanks all for the votes of confidence :D
Mez, you go right on playing the foes intelligently (if they are intelligent). It's more realistic that way. As I said, I'm very much about the RP and immersion, so the more realism, the better from my perspective.
I do try and fit the tactics to the monster. It's why the zombies trundled forward into the grease on the first encounter, and why they continued to beat on Lachna even though Ankih/Kalt could have been killed with ease. They did what they were told: hit the living thing. The humanoids use tactics, lure paladins into thinking they'll let them share a cave, or try to set up defensible positions. I try and separate GM knowledge from NPC knowledge, which is why trying to set up protection from ranged attacks in he lodge helped SOO much, lol.
And Sven, response sent
On the matter of bad guy tactics - I think you've been playing them smartly and it's made it more real and fun. I agree with Avora, it makes it much more immersive. When the bandits surprised us in the lodge, when I thought we might have the drop on them, I realized we were in for a hell of a game.
Mr. ShoulderDeville: Just join in one more game Mug. It's just one more, it'll be fine! You've got the time, or can make the time.
Mr. ShoulderAngelo: Now now Mug, we've been over this, you're already pushing things as it is. Think of your work, family, other nerdy things you enjoy... the time for all that is going to become even more scarce if you start another game.
Mr. ShoulderDeville: Oh come off it ya pansy, he's a grown man he can make his own decisions! Works under control, family is doing great, plus how long does it take to check the boards and post? Like 5 minutes. 10 tops!
Mr. ShoulderAngelo: Now now, I recall more than one occasion he's been typing away for over an hour!
Mr. ShoulderDeville: Those are for the games he GM's! Not when he's a character, those are usually much quicker.
-----
And so it goes. :)
Hehe
What kind of characters would people want to play in Sven's PFS? I haev a stable of options. I would like to lean away from the divine on my end. I'm currently playing 3 Inquisitors, 3 Clerics, and a Bard/Cleric
But Mug, most of the games go slow enough you don't need to post more than once a day and keep up. You need a more active game or two to keep things interesting :D
I'd be fairly open on classes - and I'd love to have Avora and Bugsby along. I play a lot of rogues and rangers, so I wouldn't mind moving away from that. I've been thinking a bit about sorcerer, as I really don't play many arcane casters aside from a longish-standing bard I have. (Sven can testify to my, uh, deft handling of a level 7 pregen wizard recently.) But I've got a second level inquisitor who's just starting another PFS game with Sven that I'd love to play further, though he'll be 3rd level by the time I could play him again, so that might imabalance things if the rest of you are 1st level.
Baaahhhhhh I want in too if you're taking people Sven or whoever. I'm a crazy fool.
I wouldn't mind a cleric-ee healing type if I get to play.
If I am invited, I would like to run Alexia Whitemane, my female tiefling white witch with the prehensile hair.
Blaaaaah. Need to catch up. Sorry for slow. Rushing to offer/counter-offer on a house in a "bid war" this week, so I've been out like every night and home late. I do apologize for radio silence.
I also really like the game so far Mez. It's almost too fast for me with my schedule but enjoyable, and I try to contribute more when I can...
We looking at starting first level characters for that game, Sven? Meaning my almost 3rd level inquisitor wouldn't fit, right?
Sorry for the delay, I spent most of the day with my daughter, and only had a few minutes to tag other games.
I'm thinking about a Ranger for the Devil you know game, starting a new character for it.
Alexia is a fresh face.
Went with a Barbarian instead :D Nothing like a +8 to hit at level 1
Bugsby and lachna
Bidding wars suck. Buying a house is already stressful and a bidding war multiplies that tenfold. I'm a big fan of highest and best.
Agreed. They accepted our offer, but now we have to rush to do the inspection and everything. Crazy times.