Let's start then!
I've let 'em know, Aku. And thanks for taking this on for us, bud. I appreciate it.
Black Dhugal checking in. Thanks Aku for taking over!!!
We've been rescued! Welcome aboard, GM!
I'm loving the title. You wouldn't happen to have any plans to
would you?
Just a heads up, Dakcenturi(Jagray) won't be coming back.
This is the pm he sent me: "I would love to continue but things are getting a bit hectic as my side company is in the process of launching another Kickstarter campaign. I think I will sit this one out."
Which stinks because:
1: He was a good character and,
2: He was our lone healer.
Outside of that, we should be good to go when the others pop in.
We've been rescued! Welcome aboard, GM!
I'm loving the title. You wouldn't happen to have any plans to
** spoiler omitted **
would you?
I do not know, I have yet to read this AP, I've started the first book, I still do know know the one you are talking about :D
Anyway, I'm planning some changes in the game, to be more like a pirate move.
I'll talk more about this later. It may take some days yet to set up everything, but we'll get there. :)
I look forward to seeing what changes you've got, though, as you've indicated that you haven't read the AP yet, I've got a concern to mention. I've played the AP through the first book and have had some long discussions with that DM about the AP as a whole, so I have some knowledge of what your task requires.
The AP, as-written, becomes very sandboxy after the first book. There's a plot that provides structure, but the timetable isn't very strict, and there's quite a lot of potential that goes beyond the plot as laid out. I bring this up only because if you're planning on making changes to make it 'more like a pirate movie', you may end up having to cut a lot of that out to make it fit whatever vision you've got. Trust me when I say that the first book can quickly result in railroad fatigue; if done properly, that's its entire purpose - to get the players ready to take control of their own lives. While I love Pintel and Ragetti, I would much rather play as Jack, Will or Barbossa in an RPG.
The counterpoint to that is that, if you decide to keep the sandbox nature of the AP with the flexible plot structure/timeline, this could be a truly spectacular campaign. I have faith that you'll do a great job; this is merely friendly advice from somebody who knows more than they should. I sent the last GM a list of helpful threads via PM. I can send it to you if you'd like. If not, that's fine too.
We'll see.
Thanks for the advice. My modifications are not in the 'AP' itself.
I was thinking in some house rules about guns and acrobatics, to make the game more cinematic and fun, nothing that will limit your char, it will make you good at being a pirate with style. I am still thinking.
Over this weekend, I will read the first book and see what to expect from the next. I am running other games too, so I cannot really take the time needed to read the entire thing at once. :D
Whoops, thought I had dotted this one already.
And like the others said, thanks for picking this one up.
@All, I've added some house Rules, please read then and if you have any doubt, ask it here.
@All Recount for me, in a few words, your experience in the Wormwood. (Really, I've tried to read the previous gameplay but hell, that was hard.)
I’m still waiting for the other member to check in; once he does that and everyone is okay we’ll begin again.
We woke up within the ship's brig. Dhugal attempted to bluff his way into the good graces of the Captain, but failed, earning the ire of Scourge. We then competed for our crew positions. As punishment, Dhugal was assigned to bilge duty. That evening we drank grog and had some discussions amongst ourselves and the other crew members. That night Dhugal sneaked out and explored the ship. The following morning we were attacked by the ship's thugs. We made it through one round of the fight.
Yeah and Sh'torek hit the fat guy with a solid shot to the grill. Doing max damage(Like 5 non-lethal). But it was still awesome! :)
Typically my rolls just flat out stink. :P
Outside of that, Dhugal sums it up real well.
I pm'd Duboris again yesterday. But it's starting to look like he's not gonna show. Maybe give him another day or two to see if he turns up.
If he doesn't, do we just go on and roll with four from here on out? Or should we look for another? Or maybe look for one at a later date?
Currently, we have a wizard, fighter, barbarian, and rogue.
The APs are designed for four PCs, so we should be ok. It is concerning that we have no healing, but we'll figure something out.
The APs are designed for four PCs, so we should be ok. It is concerning that we have no healing, but we'll figure something out.
Sounds good to me.
There's always Sandara. I mean, that's kinda what she's there for, from the metagame perspective.
Okay, we will start then next week.
You guys have any doubts about the house rules or anything like that?
Also Jeggare, I would not be taking for granted that everything the in AP will stay just as you know, because, well, you already know then! That gives me freedom to chance lots of things! :D
Suspending all knowledge of the AP in 3...2...1...
Why are we on a boat?
Kidding aside, the wording of that last house rule is confusing. You say that if we want anything not in the core rulebook, we have to look for it inside the game. That part makes sense; spells outside the core rulebook might not be as easy to come by, feats might be more special, etc. But the example of a wizard spontaneously multiclassing to fighter doesn't clarify the intent of the rule, as both the wizard and the fighter are in the core rulebook. I assume that you just mean that you want our characters to roleplay our progression, which is fine (and I have every intention of doing so, considering that I am a wizard intending to multiclass into fighter), but I have no idea what that has to do with searching for things not in the core rulebook.
Well, as basis just this: You have to Rp for you progression! Sorry if it was confusing :D
I'm good with 'em.
Okay, Duboris has officially backed out. He got back to me and mentioned a great deal of work has come up. He sends his regards.
So we are officially at four.
Edit:
We begin in morning, in the second day after you were press ganged into service of the Wormwood.
I'll try to finish that combat.
Also, I would like to ask you guys something:
When replaying to someone in the game thread, avoid using quotes; try to incorporate the question into your rp.
Something like this:
Ambrose's upper lip curls into a derisive sneer as the ruffians issue their challenge and he exhales a stream of sulfurous smoke. Responding to Sh'torek out of the side of his mouth, he says, "Fighting has been a punishable offense on every ship I have ever been aboard. I doubt the Wormwood is any different. Defend yourself if you must; we'll all be punished for this as it is."
Sh'torek nods, turning his attention to the pirates. "What reason do you possess for wanting to 'beat the tar' out of us? Did the whip-wielding man order this?"
It could have been done as this:
Sh'torek nods after hearing Ambrose statement , turning his attention to the pirates. "What reason do you possess for wanting to 'beat the tar' out of us? Did the whip-wielding man order this?"
I think it makes the game more realistic, since you are incorporating the others actions in yours, instead of just putting then into a quote.
I've set up a rolld20 map with your tokens.
I'll do a recap of the combat then we start.
Move questions like those to Discussion please! :D
I read the gameplay thread of the other campaign, and I saw you got to talk with the woman, but I saw nothing indicating you had changed her attitude towards you. If you put a really good RP with the other crew members, I may even not take the Diplo roll into account, but I did not saw that in the earlier campaign. I may have missed something; it would be good if you can show me what I got wrong.
About the officers, hum, that is a hard question. You can sure try to change their attitude, just remember that even if you are able to do it, I may not let then join you atm, because some of them are too strong as allies and for some other reasons. Anyway, to influence the officers, you need more than diplomacy. You RP must be something that will convince why they should abandon their current captain to join baby-born pirates without a ship or fame(or infamy)!
Looking back, I don't see that I ever rolled diplomacy with Shivikah at all. She simply didn't seem all that hostile to begin with. My apologies.
As far as influencing other officers goes, I'd be interested in trying to ally myself with Peppery Longfarthing. I wouldn't really be trying to get her to join the eventual mutiny. It would be more about advancing Ambrose's position on the ship and securing some work that is suited to his talents (as he is both a navigator and wizard) and that shields him somewhat from Plugg and Scourge. Unless it's been changed, Peppery is the sailing master and a spellcaster of some sort, which makes her the ideal person for Ambrose to try and get in good with, even if it's only for a few weeks.
I think Sandara may have introduced herself to Edgard, but I don't believe that anybody left in the game had met her. The previous DM let me start with my spellbook, but I can roll with the retcon. Over the course of day one, I also found my familiar, a small hell-plumed thrush that speaks Infernal. Will that be retconned as well?
That's fine. I understand that there will be a couple of hiccups here and there for the first couple of IG days, especially since blackaeon's posts tended to be large walls of text. We all appreciate you taking over!
So, since I just got my spellbook back, does that mean I don't have any spells prepared? Or do I just keep the ones that I had?
If I get to keep them, I have Silent Image prepared :D
You can keep then. Let's say you had then prepared and still had not used it.
Okay boys. I want to move this part. Tell me what will you do, and how. I'm afraid that even then, Dhugal will stay in Bilges for a day at least. :(
The volumetric limits on silent image don't allow for too much, and I was trying to think of something suitably distracting that wouldn't get us lashed for being disruptive. As tasteless as it may be, I think a showgirl might be our ticket. As bonus points, they shouldn't actually care that it's an illusion. I'm thinking we get Rosie Cusswell to provide the music, somebody (Ambrose could do it) stands up and asks for everybody's attention, the show is about to begin, yadda yadda, somebody else extinguishes the torches, Ambrose casts the spell, and we sit back and let Sandara do her sneaky thing.
Would this count as a pirate entertainment?
Yeah I don't know a whole lot about magic so I just threw that out there.
That sounds like a good distraction plan to me. I say we roll with it.
Unless Boldwin prefers to, Sh'torek will put out any torches. Attempt to anyway.
The volumetric limits on silent image don't allow for too much, and I was trying to think of something suitably distracting that wouldn't get us lashed for being disruptive. As tasteless as it may be, I think a showgirl might be our ticket. As bonus points, they shouldn't actually care that it's an illusion. I'm thinking we get Rosie Cusswell to provide the music, somebody (Ambrose could do it) stands up and asks for everybody's attention, the show is about to begin, yadda yadda, somebody else extinguishes the torches, Ambrose casts the spell, and we sit back and let Sandara do her sneaky thing.
Would this count as a pirate entertainment?
Yeah, that could work, just becareful with how you put out the lights, you dont want about 15 pirates thinking you are trying to rob then in the dark....
Oh crap. We don't actually know that there's anybody on board that can play music. I guess we'll have to make do.
Well done Ambrose.
Heh, maybe you spoke too soon.
@Ambrose: She has made out.
I'm giving you all time to say something before the other pirates.
Do your best.
Is that to say that I should take back my post about saying nothing?
That was not my intention. :D
I'll proceed with the action and see what we can do.
It looks like we're skipping over the rest of the night. Should I roll a Diplomacy check to influence one of the NPCs that got Scourge off my back?
Any news about Boldwin?
I'm waiting for his action so I can continue with the game.
Also, Ambrose, you can do your influence attempt. Just put it inside a spoiler.
Hey gal, you are pretty! <3
Sorry about that GM, for some reason I thought I had posted something already. I went ahead and put both actions up.