Well done, everyone: we're off and running on time, with everyone posting by the first deadline. I'm very pleased with this start. Have one Hero Point. That gives you a total of two to start (one for this, one for the Broncos going to the super bowl (and yes, that's really your L1 hero point)). We'll run them as Pathfinder recommends, since I haven't used 'em before.
Hero points! AWAY!
Thanks!
Woo. Two hero points. :)
Figured I'd go with Latin-sounding names - given Cheliax's "place" in Golarion.
Wasn't 'til I posted that I realized that I did the 3 name thing here (like I did in DSX's game) -- which is funny because it's like 2 in 32.
Makes sense; it's half of the Jorvik crew here! I always got an Italian-y flavor from Cheliax.
And it's so hard to refrain from saying "Take ten hero points for Gryffindor."
Edit: Rags, I just realized we USAians are outnumbered 2:1 by citizens of the Commonwealth. Shall we use British spellings in this one? :)
Hah! And again I say hah!
Never surrender! Never go backwards!
What is that my teacher used to say?
"Americans don't borrow words from other languages. We follow them down dark alleys, hit them over the head, and rifle through their pockets for loose grammar."
;P
I wouldn't mind using British spellings,... IF I knew what they were!
The only Brit spellings I'm actually familiar with (besides, you know, Shakespeare, I'm a theater major and all) are the ones at the English pub wannabes we have over here! ;)
Oh! Flashback!
The Three Broomsticks in Harry Potter World was so good, we ate there twice!
[/flashback]
:)
I'm no good at Italian-y names either. (Which is sad, as my wife's grandparents were from Italy. They came over on the boat to get away from Mussolini!) ;P
¬_¬ Yeah, in no way did I use one of the AP families & barrel it with the Italian for 'sailor' with an X on the end :P
But at a game the other day, we were just talking about the ease with which English assimilates other languages without a care. (I think someone placed it down to the combination of Saxon & other tribes inhabiting the same region) Whereas French & Welsh have to make up stupid rules or pretend that modern words are actually a historically accurate version (according to the academy).
I find that, for names, I'm increasingly looking at meanings -- spend some time on a side like Behind the Name, for instance.
But, given that *many* Latin male names are down to birth-order, which made no sense for a non-legitimized bastard, I just found latin words that worked for the sense of the character I wanted.
(f'rinstance, Corax is Raven) ;)
That's cool, I've done that for a few PC's over the years.
Not all, but a few. ;)
I enjoy doing that. Hestia Harper's name in the Mass Effect name is tied to the core of her being. Sal's name (her real one, not her posted one which has turned into an alias) is also significant. My elven alchemist Syliva's name is ironic, since she considers the woods strange and "elfy". So yeah, even though others may not "get it", I often build meaning or jokes into character names.
8 years ago when I first started PbP-ing, I tried to make sure that the names were at least cool sounding, and have meaning if I had time to look them up. I looked up Japanese names for a short-lived oriental campaign, etc.
One of the favorite names I ever used was taken straight out of a book of names.
Of Tolkien Characters. ;)
"Akallabeth" means 'The dark one', I always liked that for some reason.
Eeps! I neglected to mention that these "Social Combat" rounds are not listed in any sort of initiative order. Post freely. I just listed the names in order of posting.
If this threw anybody off, sorry!
I think we just end up posting in this order because of the times we're free to post!
As for names, I don't really have any particular meaning behind most names, I just try to make them sound regionally appropriate. But all my Paizo characters seem to have names that end in vowels, and usually 'i', so that's interesting (probably not that interesting).
I hope that's the case. I will make it clear whether we're in initiative order or not in future.
Meows: I can’t get the +9 on the Intimidate. 1 rank + 4 CHA + 3 class = 8. You counted the +1 from Famous separately. It doesn’t matter for the purposes of the roll; I’m just checking. Friends in High Places requires a prior Diplomacy check to get that +1. What am I missing?
Oho, right you are. I will adjust my sheet as I missed the stipulation on Friends in High Places.
Cool, no big. This opening scene had so many conditionals (they added that Reasons to Protest bonus) that it was hard to track.
Schedule note: I'm finding that my schedule favors morning (sometimes ridiculously early morning) posting. It gives me time to read and digest the night's posts, review the adventure, and customize the next scene. Hopefully, it gives you time to read the post and think about it before you have to post at night. Except for DSX's skewed timing, of course. :P
My life is a skewed timing. ;P
Yeah, it was funnier in my head. :(
So, what are we going to do lads and lasses? I'm beginning to think that wandering off now might be an extraordinarily bad idea. ;P
Idea?, perhaps instead of all making our individual rolls for listening or watching, we can pair up and Aid Another? we might get a better overall result, and hopefully we will get warning of whatever's about to happen, and be ready for it? ;P
(I mean, we KNOW what's coming, but you know what I mean!) ;)
Oh yeah,... <a-Hem>
HAppy Birthday to Meeeeee!
HAppy Birthday to MEeeeeeee!
Happy Birthday old wizaaaaaaard!
You can no longer pretend your twenty-Threeeeee!
♪♫ Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
If you don't stop calling yourself old,
You aren't going to get any older... ♫♪
Happy birthday, Rags! +2 to one roll for today.
Do you want me to hold off updating for the weekend until you coordinate your Hour 3 actions? In any case, I plan to move along on Monday, unless you would rather not yet.
I am at your disposal. :)
Action Request: Can you decide approximately where your group is on the Aria Park map (CURRENT MAP in Campaign Info tab) and let me know? It's gridded and labeled with coordinates, so just give me the rough area and I'll place tokens. Many thanks.
If we can come to a consensus (plus or minus) -- then I'm good with moving on Monday.
So what do we want to do, seems things might be kicking off. OoC Dee ws going to spend this round searching for her 'contact', however if we can act & try & prevent the protest turning into a riot/excuse for a crack-fown, or even a slaughter....then that might be best.
Well we may be able to do both? If you are watching the crowd (perception) to find your contact, we will (hopefully) spot trouble before it starts.
Although I doubt that the AP has a way to actually prevent what's coming next from happening, I'm sure we'll have opportunities to be very heroic!
:)
Where do peeps think we should be standing around talking? (On the map)
May I suggest area K/L 17/18?
Line of sight to the opera house,
Near cover (water fountain) trees for shade (and cover) and centrally located for us to be able to go anywhere we need to. Whether running away from trouble, or towards it. ;)
I'd happily back up Valexia (Why didnt I think of that?!?) ;P
But Intimidate isn't exactly on my skill list. :)
DSX said the same about Dee, which is why I pointed out Aid Another (DC 10 for +2).
Not a bad location.
Wow!
Sceery lil' rogue, isn't he?!? ;)
OK, Ben votes for crowd watching, using bday bonus,... :)
Annnd, not too bad!
If anyone thinks that this is one of those 30DC to spots things, an aid another would put us over the top! ;)
Oo wait, am I mis-remembering the rules? (Again) ??
To aid another on a skill, you do not need to roll high on that exact skill?
Sigh, I really need to give myself a refresher course. I'm all over the place on a couple of different rules sets over here! ;P
Perception DC 30 at 1st level? Remind me never to play in games you design. :P
If you could, please look at the current map and let me know if your characters are in the right spot. I have Valexia and Bertom facing off with the Thrune supporters with Ben and Deanna behind them (don't have to be there unless you're supporting Valexia). I got the impression Ensis was going to wander around and look for his contact, so let me know where you want him, Tilnar.
Even though specific crowds are noted (the chanting groups), the map is essentially full of people. In general, movement through them is not easy (treat as difficult terrain).
Edit: just Dee left to act this "round", then we'll move along.
LOL!
No fear, No time. :P
I'm more the 'Take the module and maybe tweak a couple of things' guy than the design from scratch person anyway. ;)
I'm ok with our positions. :)
Ensis will fess up to looking for the one-gloved man, then head out to do it (figuring that of Dee is also looking, we'd likely stay close -- buddy system given the bad feeling we're getting)
I'll go make an IC post to support that.
My apologies; I slept 11 hours last night and have to run to work without posting. Don't know why I'm suddenly sleeping 10-12 hours at a stretch if undisturbed. Will start setting alarms. :(
My apologies; I slept 11 hours last night and have to run to work without posting. Don't know why I'm suddenly sleeping 10-12 hours at a stretch if undisturbed. Will start setting alarms. :(
Because you deserve it?!? ;P
Heavens knows that I usually am lucky to get in a good 5-6 hours a night.
If I'm lucky.
On days like today when I can sleep in? I DO IT! :)
I'm agreeing with Rags -- take the time to rest while you can. :)
OK, still working tonight. I'll get an early morning post in when I'm fresh and have time to read and digest everything. Promise.
Problem was, I was supposed to be at my client's office at 9 a.m. and was awakened by her call at 10:30. :( I usually wake between 5 or 6 (or 2-3 some days), so don't set an alarm. I have plenty of time to prep a good post and get ready for work -- usually. D'oh.
Just a warning -- I'll be out of town for 9 days -- leaving Sunday the 14th, and back the 23rd (a Tuesday, I believe). I won't have internet access during that time (though, hopefully, I'll have a lot of sun and a nice beach).
Free free to bot Ensis, as needed.
I'll probably be able to provide slightly better direction for his next few actions once we see exactly how this situation gets messy.
Thanks for the info, Tilnar. I will make a note of it.
Here we go, here we go, here. we. go.
Point of order: Would you all prefer to roll initiative yourselves, or have me put an initiative roll at the bottom of the opening post of combat? That way, you can start right in posting combat actions.
But I perfectly understand if you prefer to roll initiative yourselves. If you want me to do the rolls, I'll do them strictly in first-name alphabetic order of your characters every time, for consistency. I'd do party first, then bad guys/NPCs, then post the full init order.
Map Notes: The map has the crowd omitted to make things easier to see. As a result, it looks like it's our heroes against a ton of enemies. It's not; it's a general melee/riot/brawl. There are people between you and the bad guys unless you're directly adjacent. (For now) Also, PCs have green halos to make it easier to spot allies. If you would like me to use halos for other types of tokens (NPCs, allies, hostiles), let me know.
Meows and DSX have weighed in on the "go ahead and roll for us" side.
I guess same question goes for pre-combat Perception, if that applies. Again, I'd have a consistent order.
I don't think people care as much about personally rolling e-dice. When it's your favorite D20, though...
I'm certainly fine with you rolling it, especially if waiting for me would otherwise hold things up.
It's not like the digital dice roller likes me very much,... ;P
I'm fine with you rolling for me as well. Though I must say if the digital dice don't like Rags I'm worried what they must think of you if the placement of the NPCs on the initiative track is any indication.
I'm having company for the next few days, probably until Tuesday and won't be able to post much, I was expecting them tomorrow night, but looks like they're early. Feel free to bot as necessary.
The Paizo board's roller loathes me. But as GM, the sheer number of rolls is on my side. Right now, I am burning bad rolls on thug init. ;)
Ah, good point! :P
So to clarify, (It's never been a problem before, but new PbP, just checking) we can POST in any order (IE=When we're available) and it's presumed that we went in initiative order? ;)
OK, I just discovered something.
I mean I knew about it, but still,...
I just did some math. And with his Dex Mutagen, AND the Reduce person spell/elixir, even with only an 'average' dex, and medium size, he's a dex monster!
I mean it's nothing to a few levels higher, but at first lvl?!?
:)
No wonder Ben is giggling! ;P
Q1:I've allowed posting in any order among PCs that were all acting before the next BG. Since we have the convention that we are all posting nightly, I would certainly waive that and go strict initiative order if you all prefer. So everyone able acting or only the top initiative PC?
Q2: In tabletop games, I usually ask another player to bot absent players' PCs. Would you like to designate another player to act on your behalf, or leave yourselves to my whims? Though I DO try not to kill off characters I'm botting.
Try.
Whoops, you are correct! Ben is missing his speed stat.
I'll fix that.
Should also probably add a 'Mutagen+reduce person' stat block. :P
I'm good with GM control -- but if Rags or DSX would rather get Ensis beat up, that's fine too.
I'm sure between the two of us, we wont get Ensis beat up.
TOO badly,...
;P