RoW: Let's Thaw the Frozen Stars! (Inactive)

Game Master Daxter

level 2 cleric of Sarenrae.
+5 hp (+5 HD+0 Con)
+1BaB
+1 Fort and +1 Will
+1 o-lvl spell, +1 1st-lvl spell
+2class sk pnts, +2 Int sk pnts, +1Human sk pnts=+1diplomacy, +1perception, +1sense motive, +1heal, +1spellcraft.

Will post a summary of Kalt's leveling up when I'm back at my Hero Lab computer.

On my previous question: shall we wait around to gear up properly, or hurry off to the Dread Gate of Frosty Doom?

Seeing as how the Dread Gates of Frosty Doom™ may or may not include a portal to Irrisen, we should probably wait in case it’s a one-way trip. =P

Seeing as how the Dread Gates of Frosty Doom™ may or may not include a portal to Irrisen, we should probably wait in case it’s a one-way trip. =P

My feeling also, just wanted to get the party's views.

Very clever of you, by the way, to add the 's' to Dread Gate and trademark the phrase. Now you'll make millions off it and I'll sit in my garret apartment shaking my fist and saying "It all could have been mine!"

Yup. Whenever possible, trademark things. You never know what’s going to be big!

Also, this will give us more time to RP with each other and the residents of Heldren. I don’t know if Sven’s ready to give up on Lady Argentea. Betrothed means she’s not actually married yet. Also, I believe he’s in debt to Ten Penny – assuming she hasn’t skipped town.

Level 2 druid
+7 hp (+5 HD + 2 Con)
+1 BaB
+1 Fort and +1 Will
+1 0-level spell, +1 1st-level spell
+7 skill points (Climb, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), Perception, Ride, Spellcraft, Survival)

Awww, and I thought that Avora and Sven had something special...

I wasn't sure if Avora was reciprocating Sven's attention so I had him turn elsewhere.

Was I mistaken?

You give up to easily. Avora hasn't known Sven but a few days and is still deciding what she thinks of him. There is a mutual attraction there that, if nurtured (if Sven is willing to work at it), might develop into something more.

Typical, the beautiful blonde goes for the big, brawny, charismatic type, instead of his pale, awkward, socially insensitive and frequently rude friend.

"It all could have been mine!"

Or maybe she's just saying that to Sven to see if Kalt seems jealous, as a way of gauging Kalt's interest? Better take a long walk in the snow and think about this.

Same goes for Kalt. Avora isn't necessarily exclusive to Sven, if Kalt shows more initiative or manages to impress her more. As I said, she's only known you fellas for a few days. Give a girl some time.

Heh. Why are women in the fantasy universe as complicated as they are in real life?

Sven’s more of a throw things at the wall and see what sticks sorta guy but I’ll keep that in mind Avora. =P

I just hope she’s not offended by his shameless flirting. He is charming after all.

Step aside Ulfens, Bugsby's got his eye on all the girls in the vicinity. You should know when your undermatched.

You can't go home till you've tried gnommmmme.... mushroom soup!

Typical, the beautiful blonde goes for the big, brawny, charismatic type, instead of his pale, awkward, socially insensitive and frequently rude friend.

"It all could have been mine!"

Or maybe she's just saying that to Sven to see if Kalt seems jealous, as a way of gauging Kalt's interest? Better take a long walk in the snow and think about this.

The physical aspects are reversed but I’m reminded of Rand and Perrin’s views of each other in regards to women.

Interesting point, Sven. It's funny the number of fictional duos we've managed to compare ourselves to - Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, Jon Snow and Rob Stark, Rand and Perrin - when do we hit Rocky and Bullwinkle?

I think Kalt is likely to cede the field pretty quickly to Sven in the pursuit of Avora's affections. He's not used to much success in such pursuits, and wouldn't jeopardize his friendship with Sven. Hint! Hint!

Step aside Ulfens, Bugsby's got his eye on all the girls in the vicinity. You should know when your undermatched.

You can't go home till you've tried gnommmmme.... mushroom soup!

Many women say that the most important thing a man can do is make them laugh. I think you're off to a strong start, Bugs.

We will hit all of the literary tropes!

In other news, you guys are lucky Ouidda is out of dominates. =P

I feel now is an appropriate time to add, I have had pregnancy in past games I've run, and it did not end up going well for any involved.
*Evil GM cackle*

Don't worry Kalt, Sven's got your back.

And when this monster punches your lights out, Sven'll get you a steak for that black eye.

I'm going to give people till tonight to finalize any in town purchases and plans. After then I'll be writing up a "week in review" montage before the group sets back out into the woods.

Question, Are you guys just going to head back in on the same trail you have been using this entire time?

... Are we aware of any other trails? If not I imagine we'll take the same one.

At the risk of leading the witness, you are not currently aware of any other trails. However, you do have a week to check if there are other trails, or to at least scout the edges of the frostline. If you guys don't want to, or don't want to risk it without the full party, that's fine. It is something my other group did, and I wanted to know what your plans were.

Is anyone else thinking our crafty GM is baiting a trap?

'Well, you could go the way you went the first time... OR you could try a different and maybe better way...'

Meanwhile he's perfecting a trap-laden, monster-infested, labyrinthine mess of a path, chuckling and rubbing his hands together in anticipation of our unsuspecting heroes to waltz into oblivion.

Or is it just me? ;)

Explore for alternate routes I say!

Me? Bait a trap? NEVER!

Definitely up for some exploring of alternate trails to follow!

And no, Bugs, it's definitely not just you.

Sounds good Mez. I'm happy to fast forward a week. Unless there's prodding from the party, Sven will spend the week carousing and flirting at the Stout. Does Avora return from her Circle before the week is up?

How deep will you be exploring any alternate trails you find?

And when Avora returns is up to her.

Yes, Avora returns from the Circle well before the week is up, and she is game to find an alternate trail, especially after her dousing in the stream last time.

Avora does not make any purchases except to replenish her rations and spell components.

Bugsby will wait to recover before participating in much of anything.

I'm still good with montaging our way through the week but the more I think about it, there's a ton of RP I could see working on.

*Checking in on Bugsby and possibly finding out what he knows about Xanthippe for Kalt's sake.
*Sparring with Kalt - I'd imagine Sven and Kalt have gotten in plenty of time tussling and Kalt probably comes out ahead most of the time.
*Sparring/drinking with Isker.
*Talking to Argentea and learning about this whole 'Betrothed' situation.
*Doing a morning's prayer with Ankih.
*Spending time with Avora. <3

Maybe we could do some of this stuff via Flextime™.

Yes, there is definately a lot that could happen, but then we'd also end up spending like 2 weeks of R/L time sitting in town chatting, which isn't bad mind you, but tends to stall out the game if there is no action.

Definitely which is why I suggested handling the RP with Flextime.

Are you familiar with the idea?

Yay for flextime. No way you're trade marking that one too! ;)

Too late! It's all mine!

Ah nuts. 100 million dollars slipped through my fingers!

I'm not familiar with Flextime, or at least the term.

Eh, it's just a fancy term for the idea that since general RP isn't necessary super important to advancing the plot it can be done on the side and essentially retconned in as necessary. This is usually done though spoiler blocks to minimize clutter for general reading.

A quick example would look something like this.

***

Sven's Post

Sven moves forward and attacks.

*dice stuff*

Avora's Post

Avora move into cover and casts a spell.

***

=P

Flextime is using an OOC headline (or a spoiler) to specify a post is written for a particular scene, usually in the past. It's an RP tool best utilized in a PbP medium since, as you said GM, PbP games without action in them often stall after a while.

For example, if Bugsby wanted to continue his conversation with Ankih while their at the Apothecaries and Bugsby recovers it'd look like this;

Flextime - with Ankih at Apothecaries
Bugsby coughs, "I'm so sick, I think I'm gonna die!"

----------
or possibly like this;

----------

Then the other person(s) involved in the designated scene can respond in kind, keeping their posts similarly 'addressed', if you will, so everyone reading knows that the post is meant for a different scene.

EDIT - What Sven said!

Also flextime is not meant for non-rp mechanics, usually just for RP. It helps keep the main storyline going, while still letting people RP certain scenes and not feel like they're getting left behind. Very helpful for groups with very different schedules all posting at different times.

OK, so I've used flextime, just not called it that, lol.

Yeah, it's fancy term for something that's pretty intuitive.

In other news, if Sven ever dies. My next character is going to be the blacksmith. =P

I've heard the term, but seen it play out various ways. Perhaps you could edify the lot of us, Sven?

Or you could post an update to our Rivalry's End game!!

Edit: never mind about that second point. Awesome.

Edit again: never mind about the first point either, got distracted mid-post and you guys covered it quite nicely.

I'm fine with the idea of a montage of the week also, just to keep us moving along in the story line.

Levelling up info:

Level 2 ranger (guide)
+9 hp (+6 HD +2 Con +2 favored class)
+1 BaB
+1 Fort and +1 Ref
Combat Style feat: Rapid Shot
+6 skill points (Climb, Heal, Knowledge (geography), Perception, Stealth, Survival)

It's not super important but how did Kalt and Sven do in their scraps with Isker?

Also, Avora you have a flex spoiler waiting for you. =)

I know. Sorry, it's been a bad day. I'll catch up in the morning, if that's alright.

Alright but you're going to have to make it up to me. =P

Have a good night.

Isker is a level 8 character, mostly warrior with a couple Expert levels from his time blacksmithing.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 231d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 231d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

One round: Kalt would be KO'd, and Sven is nearly brought low. He wasn't kidding when he said a 2v1 would probably be the most fair fight. You guys got some whacks in, since his AC isn't obscene, but in the end, you DO feel like a piece of metal he's been working on.

Xanthippe is more "on your level", and being an unarmed fighter can help with Sven's transition into a Brawlerdin.