Enjoy.
That's perfectly dreadful, Helaman! Well done !
Stability.
Well, assuming you all survive? You don't leave town until 30 days have passed so you should be good to go there.
Otherwise? Its another, largely slow to heal, resource that you need to track. Its an unknown variable, it can cripple you in battle - terror driving your swings wide or even resulting in weapons dropping from your nerveless fingers as you faint.
It keeps you off balance and guessing if you can survive or not.
And hopefully? That will lead to fear on your parts.
sooo...
Dr. Death went on surprise round and then:
Elidal(24), Baradlon (18), Simeon (18), Vigilance (16), Dr. Death (9), Jaru (7), Lament (5)?
Yep. I am HOPING that the term 'Surprise' round was justified with this encounter.
Everyone except Lament ending in the lounge room at the end of round 1.
Lament can try to close but Kendra is in the hall, giving cover to Zombie Lorrimor, and Nighteyes is in the doorway.
I'll allow a double move (with acrobatics) to try to get past Lorrimor and behind him.
Oh - and in spite of that really awesome hit? The professor is still gonna be up.
change HP in status bar to this HP 12/(12)/[12].
- first number is your HP, the (#) is your injury adjusted max hps [#] is your actual max.How does this work.
You take an arrow "hit" (more on this later) : 3hps
Your status is now 9/(12)/[12]. You've got 9 hps. If the battle ends you won't need healing spells or potions... You take 10 mins rest, put a cool cloth on the bruise or some salve or give it a rub, or have someone kiss it better, or whatever, adjust your armour some and you are 12/(12)/[12] again.
Lets say combat doesn't end and you get an unlucky crit (or fail a save) for 6 damage. That's an injury.
You take 6 off your hps and reduce your injured max hps by 6.
You are 3/(6)/[12].
Still not sure I understand this- you just gave a crit example, but what happens when hp reach 0? do wounds then go through 18 points of injury and then we start the -Con countdown to death?
Glad you asked - this is the core part of the mechanism that frees up healing resources but make 'wounds' dangerous.
Hit points have always been abstract. Your ability to soak up increasing amounts of damage have been played out in different ways over the years depending on your DM and game.
Here? Its your ability to defend yourself, luck, endurance etc.
You are not taking damage per se as much as gaining scrapes, bruises, numbed arms from the shock of blows, armour being displaced by vicious blows and worse positioned to stop fatal thrusts, footwork that grows increasingly flustered and positioning you short term to defend yourself but eventually leaves you open to the killer thrust.
All the damage that Baradlon has taken? Its all be 'strain'. I had neglected to remind him earlier but the way to track it (I think I mentioned this very early) is 18/18/[18].
First number is strain/HPs, second is injury (more on that later) and third is total full HPs.
So Lorrimor belts him. Its a shocking hit but natural training and his armour absorbs the worst of it... there are bruises and he is winded.
8 points.
10/18/[18].
If combat stopped now? He'd just need 5-10 mins to catch his breath, adjust his armour, calm down from the shock of it all etc. At that point he's full HPs again.
He gets hit again, 6 points.
4/18/[18].
He gets his guard up in time but it leaves him in an awkward position (or numbed arms or with bad foot work and off balance - whatever you wish).
This has NO mechanical effect - just narrative.
He's now at 4 strain, 18 hps. He hasn't taken an injury as yet.
Lets say he gets whacked again, this time for for 9 points of damage... as it exceeds 0 hps, he takes that ALL as injury damage, the same as if he failed a save or took a crit. Lorrimors blow breaks ribs and sends him to the ground unconcious.
It looks like this.
-5/9/[18]
He's now at negatives - so he needs to stabilise etc - rules stay the same.
But he ALSO has taken an injury. These 9 points won't heal without a heal check or magical healing.
Is Nighteyes at -5 or at 9 for purposes of dying? He's at 9 but now every time he takes damage it comes as injury. Stablisation rolls use strain/hp.
It gives characters a bit of extra time before dying in some circumstances.
Lets assume he stabilises and enough healing given to bring him to 0. After 5-10 mins he'd awaken with broken ribs. He'd be at minus the remaining hps until he was properly healed. Its persistent until then. His max strain / hit points are limited to that number.
Healing affects strain and injury points to the exact same amount. A cure spell that heals 5 points would heal both 5 strain and 5 injury.
Lets say he receives enough healing to bring him to 16 hit points? His Hitpoints would look like this.
16/16/[18]
His max hit points are 18 but until he gets that injury properly healed? Its going to limit his endurance in combat.
Jaru has looked over them, for the rest of you, I recommend you look over the Injury Rules here.
Mechanically combat will play out the same way... its dealing with the after effects of combat that will change.
I think I need to add an example and clarification on negatives and stabilisation etc though in light of Jaru's question.
Edit: Updated wording on negatives on the obsidian portal site but if anyone has better clearer wording etc? You can have a free re-roll for a week, just like a journal entry
---
'Why are you working it this way? Seems overly complicated'.
Yes and no.
It means that minor hits can be, given 5-10 mins of quiet time, handled without healing. It allows clerics and other healers to focus on other roles rather than walking bandaid however the injury mechanic (also applied for damage for failed saves or crits) creates a wound that NEEDS the victim to seek proper attention for it or carry a lesser ability to avoid future injuries in combat.
It also creates an interesting question - do we catch our breath and possibly allow the enemy time to react or do we use healing resources.
I also like it for the narrative effect - many a sword and sorcery novel has the heros stressed and strained, arms shocked by the force of blows etc but the actual REAL hits that get through at that point tend to be serious or mortal blows.
Finally? I want see how it works in a real game - its something I have wanted to use for a year now. I want to see how it works. Play by post allows us to slow down and discuss without impacting the flow of the game.
There are two important elements of the Strain-Injury rule that are worth announcing up front:
Firstly, this variant is actually a rule about hit point recovery rates. All it does is set specific rates for the recovery of different types of damage. The rule does not include damage penalties (although that is a popular addition enough to merit its own thread), nor does it create a new damage type with special effects that will alter the outcome of combat (such as Bleed). Using this rule, 99% of your battles should resolve exactly as they would with unmodified HP rules.
Secondly, the Strain and Injury damage types are a property of damage received. A weapon or attack form never deals Strain damage or Injury damage consistently. Rather, Strain damage results from avoiding a potentially lethal attack, and Injuries result from failing to avoid potentially lethal attacks. In very extreme cases, a GM might alter damage from one type to the other, but if you have a grasp of how the system works such cases should be extraordinarily rare.
---
Am I 100% wed to this? At this point a tentative yes... we're still 'seeing' how it works. This, like mental stability, needs a good run to see how it plays out.
At the end of chapter 1? I am all for re-evaluating.
If any are interested the original thread is here
Last thing...
And this I'll throw to you, the players.
I'd like to try penalties for being wounded.
BUT
I'll hold back on either not using them or using them later depending on your opinion. I think we're getting to grips with things now but its gonna take time and I'm afraid it may be too much too soon.
These injury rules are in the above link but here they are again.
Damage Penalties
A character that receives damage in battle loses its capacity to fight efficiently. Be it from weariness or as a result of an injury, the character receives penalties according to its current state. Penalties remain until Hit Points are restored beyond the point the penalties are triggered.A character becomes fatigued when the character loses more than 50% of their maximum unadjusted hit points. If a character loses more than 75% of their maximum unadjusted hit points then they become exhausted.
These conditions replace those in the Core Rules.
Fatigued = -1 to AC, caster levels for spell results, spell like abilities, save DC and all combat, saves, initiative and skill rolls. Encumbrance is counted as if the character had -1 Strength.Exhausted = -3 to AC, caster levels for spell results, spell like abilities, save DC and all combat, saves, initiative and skill rolls. An exhausted character moves at half speed and cannot run nor charge and consider all casting time as one step higher (swift action becomes standard action, standard action becomes full-round action, full-round action becomes 1 minute etc). Encumbrance is counted as if the character had -3 Strength.
Raging characters ignore these conditions. There are other abilities that may negate fatigue or exhaustion.
Most (not all) GM controlled monsters etc will simply apply a -2 to their rolls and AC at 50% hit points or less for purposes of simplicity.
Unhealed injuries can be a lasting issue with this rule as well. Like the idea but again, I leave it up to you, the players.
Let me know if you want to use the rules above.
Also, Simeons secret undead skeleton mouse in a box is still around :) Jaru channeled to heal and not hurt undead.
We should settle on a name for each score. I'm seeing hp used interchangeably for strain and injury points which is confusing. So what happens when the injury points fall below 0? Is that an auto-kill?
Star Wars and modern RPG has a wounds system similar to this. I'm not against it, but I think it fits those settings better. I don't know that it will see much use in a fantasy setting where magical healing is much more available. We shall see how it plays out though.
I'm not 100% on the stabilization part, but I like the rest. Wound penalties are fine, as long as you're willing to explain everything along the way/gently correct mistakes.
I use Hp/Injury
'Strain' is something that I tie back to source document.
So lets use
'hitpoints' for temp damage
'Injury' for damage that will stick
'Health' for max total hps.
And so begins your 4th day in Ravengro :)
In a table top setting I'd move it along a tad slower but in pbp things move slowly of a matter of course. This gives me the 'excuse' to mess with you all every game day or two in the "interests of pacing".
And on that happy note?
Everyone can move to level up on the next stage.
The game, as written, gives Xp rewards for research and you've been doing well there so I think it's an appropriate time.
Just waiting on Simeon.
Here's journal entry two.
NB To those reading this, if you have received permission from myself or my estate then read on and enjoy, for I know you must! If not, be warned that this missive is cursed, your extremities and private parts will wither and rot away to nothing!
22nd of Calistril, 4714
Strange happenings in this strange little town.
Rose quite tired after a night of reading, met the others in the meeting room when word came to Miss Kendra that some miscreants had absconded with our dear Petros’ corpse, exhumed as they say.
Off we went, securing our precious tomes of course, to mutter and maunder around the hold in the ground that had been Petros’ grave.
We found the so-called Sheriff lording about, but it was obvious that the man had no clue. The others asked some pointed questions that had the man almost frothing at the mouth! Very unprofessional. The prime suspect was that primate Gibbs who had accosted us on the way to the funeral yesterday.
And so all and sundry went off to the Gibbs residence where questions were flung and insults returned. Seems the dullard had some friends who it was thought perpetrated the vile act. Nothing of substance was achieved…how surprising!
We were then invited to the local tavern by the owner, Zoltar, apparently an associate of the good Professor. Quaintly, Petros had the man provide his menu items with ghoulish pseudonyms.
Somehow, my recollection isn’t clear, some of us, myself included were convinced to participate as judges in a local food competition. All I desired was to return to the residence and continue my researches.
Quite a bother.
Gained a tour of the town from the inn-keep’s son, whose name escapes me. Store, Forge, Pharasmin Temple, Apothecary, Loan Shark, another Inn and pleasantly surprising, a wizards’ Shoppe. Quite the list for a quaint country town.
Met the village mutt.
Met with some petty official to be ‘sworn’ in as judges…..really, how preposterous!
Jaru, the Pharasmin went off to the Temple.
Interminable day, walking to and from contestant’s residences, seeking their innermost motivations for cooking such and such a dish. Quite tiresome. Until the wizard Shoppe. Was shocked at the proprietor’s name: Ghoroven. Mistook the man for his brother, a much more accomplished man. Still, I will sup with him at a later date.
The judging was upon us. Despite my misgivings, some of the dishes were fairly accomplished. A dessert won first prize.
The festivities was interrupted by the Pharasmin arriving from a jaunt on the moors with the decrepit High Priest, Grimsbottom.
After a near riot, I swear these ignorant country folk are a surly superstitious lot, we heard that the two holy men had come across two corpses on the moor.
After my expert examination, I determined that the men were attacked and killed by nasty creatures called Stirges. If they’re the ones that took Petros’ body, good riddance.
Back to the faire. The surly lot of fair-goers were, as they are wont to do, gossiping and carrying on. The combined work of myself and my companions served to distract the people of Ravengro enough to declare the event a success.
Exhausted by my efforts, it was welcome to return to the residence. However, our day was not finished.
Kendra was waiting for us. With her father’s diary and another ominous letter from my dear friend. This Harrowstone, he seem to think it dangerous. It was only propriety and my love for her father that let me allow the girl to keep possession of his diary, she desired to read it first!
Most importantly, however, she produced the key to Petros’ library. Finally!
I quite respectfully and tactfully requested some privacy in my first forays into Petros’ library but that Pharasmin outrageously thrust himself where he didn’t belong!
Determined to ignore the interloper, I gained access and was amazed at the quality of Petros’ sanctum. He had volumes I’d only heard rumors of…an original of Forkul’s Necrogammatron, two copies of Hazzuth’s Hellish Descent! Amazing! A lifetime of collecting by one of the foremost minds in Ustalav and here I was standing in the middle of it! It was a dizzying experience.
Collecting myself, I approached and read a diary that seemed Petros had left to be discovered first.
Revelations!!!! The Whispering Way! Incredible! Petros was and had been for some time investigating The Whispering Way! The insanity of it! The bravery of it! It beggars my mind that he kept this hidden from me all these years, but I think the clues had been there , had I been observant enough to have made the connections.
I’ve finished my initial survey of the diary and grow weary, those that read this now know that Petros was on to momentous discoveries that I hope to discover anew with the dawn.
Your offering is pleasing unto the forces of Ustalav. Have a free re-roll. In fact it's excellent!
That covers up to the day before yesterday.
Anyone want to take a crack at yesterday?
Starting with the desecration of the towns monument to those guards who died in Harrowstones fire, the additional revelations found in research and then a quiet night, to peacefully turn in? Not nearly the full day that was covered by Simeons entry.
[ooc]Now it's at 5. You realize with these rules the way they are we're going to be stark raving mad before book two,right?
Reading back on game play your first night at Kendras was uninterrupted and dreams were vague. You should have gotten a point back that night.
The days and nights since then have not allowed for rest... Use same rules as natural healing for attribute damage.
Obsidian Portal log updated.
An entry on 'yesterdays' events including the death and burial of Old River would be a good addition to Simeons most excellent entry for the day before.
Post here when you've taken your next step on your character progression and what you took with it.
Can you remind or link me to the step leveling rules again please? I believe I took BAB last time, but I also appear to have 2d10 HP. Did we already do two steps?
This will be your second step - BAB/HPs are linked so you've done that right.
Here is the link.
When in doubt on rules? The link to the ob portal site is in the heading - go to House Rules on the overhead menu. You should find whatever you need there.
I hope you guys are enjoying step leveling. It can take a LOOONG time to level in PbP games but with this? Every two-three weeks or so you'll be getting some progression.
I hope you guys are enjoying step leveling. It can take a LOOONG time to level in PbP games but with this? Every two-three weeks or so you'll be getting some progression.
yeah. I hadnt seen it before, but its a cool idea. I'll take the BAB, hp boost next once we resolve another mob scene.
remind me, are we just taking average hp?
yeah - average HPs.
Anyone wanting to roll can do so but pls keep the result.
Nah - standard races are just up for mild discrimination and racial prejudice ;)
Standard need to buy a drawback unlike Tieflings, Dhampir and Half orcs (and possibly changlings... haven't thought that through - they look MOSTLY human), who can have their extra trait for free because I intend to use them as props to show case the underlying ugliness of Ustalav and its fear of the 'unnatural'.
To show a semi real world analogy?
Think southern USA 1960's.
Non Ustalav Human? Think northern states Yankee... They probably call you something 'interesting' and non flattering. 'Taldan' is a common term for an outlander who looks like them.
Standard Demi Humans? Divine spell caster in the 'wrong' context or religion? Same discrimination as if you were openly Jewish. Won't matter to some, funny looks, wild rumours and whispered words for many and some real unreasoning prejudice for a minority. Kellid Barbarians (not Kellid gone native Ustalav after 2-3 generations) will get this too ,though with more fear.
Tieflings, Half Orcs, Reckonised Dhampir? Openly casting Divine caster or recognised Arcane spell caster (that doesn't blow things up and plays nice)? You're black and not just black, but those trouble making 'coloured' folk wanting civil rights who are in the part of town they don't rightly belong in. (very)Small minority of sympathisers or people who don't care. Funny looks, discrimination, fear will be the norm. Unreasoning hatred is only a few misconstrued words or events away.
Openly practicing arcane spell caster who happens to be one of the above? Oh you just hit the jackpot! They're just gonna love.... to have an excuse to lynch you.
Necromancers? Oooohboy. Its not gonna be pretty. Pitchforks and torches time.
Now I may not play it THIS ugly but it gives you an idea.
This was posted quite early in the game but I am pretty sure I mentioned that Magic was seen as suspicious etc as well.
The write up on Lorrimor on the Ob portal site speaks to his reluctance to use magic.
I cant find any entry I posted though I'd swear blind I did give warnings of how the populace view magic. I know the House Rules wiki has a section on spell casting that reads
Open practitioners of magic in general suffer from mild discrimination at the best of times in Ustalav – used by an obviously appointed divine caster and in accordance with clear need, ceremony or request there generally isn’t any issues. Divine casters normally embellish their spells as part of a full round casting time (though this is not needed) to almost that of a ceremonial nature so as to allay the fears of local Ustalavians.
Arcane casters (including bards) on the other hand suffer considerable prejudice and those who openly practice their arts have an uphill battle to grudging acceptance and are among the first suspected when events take on a paranormal tone.
Spell casting is obvious, with the exception of metamagic feats to quieten the spell or remove the need for moving your hands, spells must be spoken in a clear strong voice (not a whisper) and require arcane gestures, and likely the use of material components.
The question may be asked: Is the GM out to 'Punish' Simeon?
The answer is 'Not at all'. I thought it was an innovative approach and one worthy of a ruling that, with an opposed roll, gave him potential to singlehandedly bring events under control. I wanted to reward him but there has to be some consequence to failure and I have to be consistent to the background of the story. Is he going to be lynched tomorrow, jailed etc? I'm not saying for the simple reason is I want you, the players, to feel uneasy about what may come about.
What I also want is a theme of 'fear of the supernatural' and 'fear of the paranormal' and one of the best tools I have for that is to have it reflected in the background and in the people around you. Adventurers deal in 'weirdness' as part of the job so it sort of loses its impact but watching these simple peasant people flip out drives it home again.
Heres a good YouTube link on the people of Ravengro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHJbSvidohg
Morons....reprobates....whatever :)
I've got no issues at all with how this is playing out. Even Simeon had to expect it, but with lack of sleep, the shock of Petros' arrival and then the mob throwing around accusations.....well he just did what comes naturally, he was a a-hole :)
I remembered that about magic, but Simeon's got to RP Simeon! I agree with the GM. He is doing a great job!
I was well aware that they are superstitious idiots. I just didn't realize it extended to the level of law.
I can see someone getting lynched if the yokels think they're a necormancer, it just surprised me that the law enforcement would want to officially investigate. It's fine if that's how it is. I just misconceived the level of distrust.
It is and it isn't - if it gets real bad? The sheriff might join in the lynching! Rule of law be damned.
As to why he'd investigate? If it was said one of you punched a local he'd investigate that too. Spells are an attack as far as these people are concerned.
On the House Rules page under social conventions...
Magic, particularly of the arcane sort (priestly magic is sometimes overlooked in the right circumstances), is feared and reviled – especially the art of necromancy. This is a natural reaction to hundreds of years of being subjected to the brutal reign of an undead wizard. Obvious spell casting or flouting of magical ability may have nasty consequences, ranging from social prejudice and ostracism all the way to the extremes of encounters with lynch mobs out to protect their community.
While spell casters are not unheard of and may even operate openly within their own communities, it takes some time to develop the necessary trust… sometimes, years. Magic in the big cities such as Lepidstadt or Caliphas is more accepted and with lessening degrees of prejudice… but the threat of mob justice and attacks on known casters is always in the undercurrents of any community.
Magic isn’t the only thing to inspire prejudice – race is often a factor. Humanity, the majority population in Ustalav, is suspicious and close minded enough when it comes to their own kind, let alone when it comes to the non human races. ‘Magical’ races such as Elves and Gnomes are distrusted, Dwarves are seen as tight-fisted, tricky and grasping, and halflings, while perhaps the most tolerated of the non human races are looked down on. Half Orcs and Orcs experience fear and hatred in varying degrees due to the constant raiding of the Orcish tribes from Belkzen. Kellid Barbarians, even though they are human, also experience similar responses because of their occasional raids of civilised lands.
This will be a common theme through out the campaign... in a way its good to get this out into the light now and let you all experience it somewhat.
I think GM was totally forthright about the level of superstition in the local population. It's an affront to go casting spells on anyone without permission and especially in the given environment. I guess Simeon was hoping EVERYONE in the crowd would fail their save and be mind-wiped.
Jaru would have intervened, but he was busy tending to Kendra. I think it played out fine given Simeon's personality- definite pompous arse ; )
Sounds like we are all onboard then.
[Mr Burns Voice] Excellent
Anyone up for a journal entry?
No?
I'll see what I can do :)
Everyone leveled to their 2nd Step yet?
Yes - it goes up.
All characters have a stability score of 10 + Will Save OR level (minimum 10). Remember, for level purposes you are still level 1.
I was going to make it just will save but then some characters would sit permanently behind the sanity 8-ball. The effect is that around level 3-5 the playing field will even out. Players with a better will save will do better at avoiding mental stability damage but everyone should have an equivilent amount of max points, story penalties and rewards aside.
In any case we are field testing this. On the basis of how it works, I'll tweak it.
yep, demi-level added.
I guess I'll take Step B also.
Any one?
By the way, I took A. I thought I posted this. I'm not sure if the boards ate it out what.
Cool
Alright. Bloody extortionist!
I find it a good idea to keep some account of the events that have occurred recently. Some detail might prove invaluable in days to come. Fate has thrown me in a dark and dire place. I pray to Pharasma that I am up to the challenge.
The Professor’s grave has been defiled and his remains have been stolen. I suspect the leader of the mob that sought to deny the Professor a proper burial, a drunkard named Gibbs. I spent yesterday with Father Grimburrow searching the lands around the town for the body, but turned up only two more dead men. Killed by some sort of blood drinking bird, I am assured. I feel awful to have not been more aware of Father Grimburrow’s age and health. He fell ill from the exertion, but appears to be recovering quickly fate willing.
Our rest that night was interrupted by a summons from the Sheriff. A crowd had gathered at the cenotaph to the Harrowstone Fire. A local dog had been sacrificed and a V written in its blood splashed across the monument. The pale elf had arrived first and was disturbing the townsfolk with his ill tempered display. With some assistance from Lament, we were able to disperse the villagers to their homes. What can be meant by this act of vandalism, I do not know. Gibbs appeared affected by the death of the dog and I cannot see any reason for him to have done such a thing.
The next day there was a ceremony held for the dead dog. I spent the day at the Temple looking for anything that might explain the previous night’s strange events in the hopes it might be tied to the theft of the Professor’s body. We uncovered little beyond more details on the Harrowstone Fire and further mention of this Whispering Way cult with which Simeon seems so obsessed. I discounted it until that evening when Kendra offered us access to the Professor’s more recent journal.
I am afraid the information contained within proved fearfully illuminating. The Professor reported most dire omens and the presence of the Whispering Way in Ravengro. He seemed to imply they sought something or someone lost in the fire. Could it be one of the five prisoners that died? I shall have to continue my research tomorrow. The professor also mentioned a false crypt that might contain tools or more information. I shall ask Father Grimburrow if we might investigate that as well.
More and more, I am convinced that Professor’s death was no accident and that the theft of his body was no act of local hooligans.
Now that wasn't so hard now, was it? :D
And Zombie Lorrimor will be someones lucky entry for the 24th.
I am ok on accepting multiple entries for the same date if you feel your character wants to get their own impressions out there. The reward is the same re-roll as always.
I for one am loving Simeons entries but would be eager for you all to share as the muse descends.
If I have time I'll write about the zombie one.