In my old Feng Shui group, we had a rule about trying something: Basically, if someone wanted to try something not really covered by the rules, we would let it float once. If the kept going back to the well, so to speak, it would work less and less often.
I think that something like that could apply here: If someone wants to try something clever, give them a chance of doing so (which to be fair you definitely have) but unless we get set in stone rules for intimidating in combat, then it should be less effective over time, until we can agree on a hard and fast rule for it.
That way, it encourages us to try new things, but not keep trying the same new thing over and over.
That way, it encourages us to try new things, but not keep trying the same new thing over and over.
I'm reminded of a story!
I was playing a barbarian with a great axe, and the annoying wizard enemy thought that flying 15 feet up would keep him out of my reach. So I instead climbed up one of his book cases, lept off it to gain extra height, and swing with my ax, hitting him! I thought I was rather clever with that bit.
And then, so did everyone else, as literally every other PC in the pbp game proceeded to do the *exact* same maneuver: climbing up, leaping off, and attacking. Like an assembly line of PCs moving up this book case and flying at the enemy wizard. The imagery was ridiculous at best.
I realize that I've been dumb and should be narrating how my time in the military aids me, giving me a boon roll to counter that bane roll. I'll keep that in mind for the future.
I'm open to more fluid interpretations of actions. So long as they make sense within the game world.
A boon would be handy!
@bookrat, how should we handle potential boons in our posts? Or will you add them post-hoc?
I'm all for loose situational rules. Hungry bandit boys being intimidated? Why not. A big ass dragon or whatever being threatened by a small human? No chance. It's a bit like the rule book says at some points: If something seems easy and reasonable it's an auto pass (intimidating a baby for example). If something is questionable but possible roll for it (DC 10 +- boons/banes to match the dificulty). Everything else auto fails.
I'm open to more fluid interpretations of actions. So long as they make sense within the game world.
A boon would be handy!
@bookrat, how should we handle potential boons in our posts? Or will you add them post-hoc?
If we were at a live table, I'd ask that you talk to me about it first.
But as this is PBP, we can do it both ways - you can make a judgment call yourself or you can ask and I'll add post-hoc. We're all learning this game, we're all fairly experienced gamers, and no one here is likely to try and twist the rules to gain maximum benefit, so I think it's safe to say that we can all make our own judgment calls to help fit the story.
I'll still hold veto rights, so if I disagree I'll just ignore a particular bane/boon.
Hows that sound?
That sounds fair.
As you say, we're all trying to get used to this game. In the case, I'll make suggestions as I think they are appropriate.
Yeah, that sounds good.
Some information about the Novice Class you'll get at level 1:
Magician
Unrestricted access to traditions and robust access to spells lets magicians wield magic with unrivaled ability. Focus on attaining magical power demands much sacrifice and thus magicians tend to be more fragile than other characters. You need a high Intellect or Will to excel as a magician.
Priest
Unwavering faith and constant devotion to a god or religion grants priests the power to produce miracles through prayer. Hardier than magicians, priests bring the light of their beliefs into the Demon Lord’s darkness, fighting against the horrors that would unravel the world. A high Strength and Will help you excel as a priest.
Rogue
A path suited to the cunning and quick, rogues use underhanded tactics to achieve their objectives. They are tricksters and scoundrels, adventurers and ne’er-do-wells, possessing an arsenal of tricks to help them overcome almost any obstacle. Rogues develop talents that reflect their techniques, either becoming dangerous killers, dabblers in magic, or charlatans skilled at manipulating others. If you have a high Agility or Intellect, you will do well as a rogue.
Warrior
Trained in the use of weapons and armor, warriors depend on toughness and combat skills to keep them alive. Warriors use a variety of techniques, from picking off their targets from a distance with pistol or longbow or crashing headlong into their enemies’ midst, hacking and slashing as they go. Whatever method they use, warriors are the best at fighting. You need a high Strength or Agility to excel as a warrior.
Jexen seems most suited to being a fighter, though priest or rogue are not out of the question depending on how things develop.
I'm almost certainly going magician.
Re: Time zone.
While I'm on PST, I get up at 4:30 am, so I'm more on schedule with an EST normal working day. :)
However, yesterday was a bit of an anomaly, as I was home sick and was able to post throughout more frequently than usual.
Don't feel pressured to post multiple times a day if you can't or don't want to. Just because I'm here to answer questions or provide clarification doesn't mean you have to be as well. It also doesn't mean I'll always be able to post this frequently; I've just had a bit of extra time these past few days.
I am considering Warrior or, depending on how the fiction goes, Priest. I have some ideas rolling around in my head
I will go for a magician with that backstory of T.A.S.
@bookrat: I'm in BST so your time schedule fits me quite well haha
Just now saw the Private Message to join the game. Sorry about the delay.
I'm at work right now, so I'll have to wait to make my decisions about what to play until later when I can sit down with the book.
I get the feeling that we're gonna have five warriors and two wizards, haha. I may sit down and look at rogue. I planned on being a frontline fighter and picking up a party buffing class later, may work well with rogue still.
Well, having looked over the priest more, I definitely like it and I definitely adore my cleric-types. I'm just looking for a good time to introduce it. If I get knocked down in the fight (or any other fight), it'll give me the best chance to start introducing elements to go that route.
I kind of think Pork will go rogue, and I also figured Sköllji would do the same.
Kandl is most likely going to be a warrior, unless I keep rolling that doo doo to hit, and then he'll probably look at something like priest.
I have considered going a rogue. Lack of Strength rules out warrior, and makes priest less effective. Happy to see what shakes out though.
Gonna roll a d4 and let the stars decide
That's why I love simple systems, you can pretty much choose anything and it'll work. I really enjoy Pathfinder, but there are just certain race/class/ability combos that are never going to work. I tend to build humans a lot in PF.
Cyrenik, I'm going to say no for the boon on comabt rolls due to a profession.
Reasons: Professions are meant to replace skills in other games, so while a profession may influence combat in some other way (such as setting up an ambush or something), they're mostly for knowledge and out of combat stuff.
Secondly, there are actual class abilities which do the same thing. For example, warriors get a boon with weapon attacks.
However, if someone wants to use their action to help you (DC 10), then you can use that same boon roll to hit this bandit.
Ah, I see. I'd like to change from a Peasant Conscript to something more...interesting. There is very little that I derive from that otherwise outside of "Here are the ultra-basics, don't die." and that feels like it can be covered by Refugee just as well.
What do you have in mind?
Things I can think of off the top of my head for peasent conscript:
- Knowledge of a formation and/or Pike lines
- Knowledge of how to interact with non-mimitary peasants and get them to follow orders
- Basics of military life
- What it's like to be a peasant prior to being conscripted
- How to set up conscripts or what it's like being conscripted
- A notion of affinity or "shared experience" with anyone else who was a conscript; or the idea that you're "one of them" when interacting with peasants
Things like that.
I suppose so. I'll keep it since I've been running with it already, I'll guess we'll see how much Professions come into play as time and play goes on.
Definitely going to be going rogue, yeah. As for time zones, I'm EST but I work weird hours so I kind of post whenever I can. Sometimes it's a few hours in between, and there's a lot of stuff to sift through, so apologies in advance if it gets a bit sporadic.
Definitely going to be going rogue, yeah. As for time zones, I'm EST but I work weird hours so I kind of post whenever I can. Sometimes it's a few hours in between, and there's a lot of stuff to sift through, so apologies in advance if it gets a bit sporadic.
No worries! Some people are around the world, and we all can have very different work shifts. :)
Trade with someone who has a dagger. Daggers can use agility, and they'll likely he thankful for the staff. :)
Also, I don't think Ability scores modify damage in this game. So it's just the weapon damage.
I would have went for the help action but I have no idea how helping in combat would work. Is it just motivating someone to hit harder? Trying to hold someone in place to help the orher one to hit him?
Help
Choose one creature within 5 yards of you that can see you and understand what you say. Make an Intellect challenge roll. On a success, the target makes its next attack roll or challenge roll before the end of the round with 1 boon.
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One thing I should note, if you all haven't figured it out by now, is that this system uses yards instead of feet, meters, or any other type of movement. Each round, you can move a number of yards (meters) equal to your speed score.
For the help action, you don't have to be right next to someone, but you do have to be close. 5 yards is 15 feet, or three squares away for you PF players.
TAS - you can still make a help action. DC 10.
I'm both in the Antipodes (AEST) and a musician, so depending on the day I could be posting at any hour of the clock - or conversely, sleeping at any hour! Often I post quite frequently, but sometimes I'm on the road for days on end, and hardly post at all.
I'm really happy with how everyone has been playing the game so far. There's been some fantastic role-playing going on and some great interactions between players and PCs.
I'm granting everyone Fortune.
The Game Master awards Fortune for exceptional roleplaying, if you have a good idea and share it with the group, if your character pulls off a remarkable stunt, or if you do something else that makes the game more fun to play. Once you gain Fortune, expending it represents a dash of good luck when you need it. While you have Fortune, you can expend it in one of the following ways:
• When the result of a d20 roll is a failure, you can expend Fortune to turn the failure into a success.
• When another player rolls a d20, you can expend Fortune to grant 2 boons to the roll.
• When any player (including you) rolls a d6, you can expend Fortune to replace the number on the die with a 6.
Once you expend it, you do not have Fortune until the GM awards it to you again.
Woo! Go team :)
Huzzah!
Fo whoever is going to roll to explore the next hex:
• Movement on the road is quicker, but it leaves you more exposed.
• Movement in the forest is slow, but it's also hard for anyone to see you.
My money is on forest, but keeping the road in sight.
Jexen has academic geography, so seeing if that brings up possibilities. :)
I'd be inclined towards deeper forest, away from the roads where the bandits might try first.
Sowrds. Must be used in your primary hand. 1d6+2 damage.
Crossbow. Two hands. Long range. Action to reload. 2d6 damage.
If anyone is interested I have mapped out my character advancement and am going to go Warrior -> Ranger -> Champion. I was going to roll and decide but decided he was going to have a crisis of conscience and devote himself to protecting the common folk.
Sounds good Slugoth. I don't know where Jexen will go, except likely warrior or rogue.
For clarity, are Jexen and I taking the swords?
Yeah. Sköllji wants no part of those items.
To keep track:
• One crossbow -> No one yet?
• A case with twenty bolts -> No one yet?
• healing potion -> No one yet?
• seven days of travel rations -> Distributed and eaten evenly among those who need food (everyone except the clockworks)?
• two swords -> Jexen & Slugoth
• two scrolls -> Brinda and T.A.S.
• a holy book outlining the teachings of the Cult of the New God -> Cynerik
I have no access to the map right now, so can't make the decision where to go next.
I'll take the crossbow, bolts, and the potion until someone wants or needs them. The rations being split up sounds good, depending on who wishes to take part of it.
Pork and Kandl could probably do well with the crossbow if they wanted...
Indeed. If they want to take them when they post, more than happy to let it go. I just wanted the holy book :D
Yeah, mind if I take that crossbow? Also, apologies for not posting yesterday, I had a 9-hour shift yesterday and today at the catering company where I work and I have just been exhausted.
Kandl is a melee fighter.
@Pork - Certainly. You'll just have to ask Cynerik rather than just saying it was stolen away. He's holding onto it in his hand at the moment.
No worries, Pork! We all get busy! Thanks for checking back in. :)