This is a non-Campaign to Test Stuff

Game Master Tacticslion

Agreed: I find that certain genres, even if not my favorite or even liked at all in general, can be excellent, if well made.

Horror movies and similar generally fall into that for me: I still like Stranger Things, regardless!

Yeah, Rogue One is a phenomenal, if dark, Star Wars film! We just saw it tonight: the CG people were freaky, but still awesome to see!

I don't like reading what happened during the empire because there's no way they can retcon stuff, so if some rogue jedi goes against Darth Vader, you know how that'll end. There won't be any happy endings.

I also didn't care for the Yuuzhan vong expanded Star Wars series...though yes I have a LOT to say about Han Solo going after Kylo...

FFS...you should have brought along a tranquilizer gun then get ready to haul him back home, BEFORE you try give him the annual lecture...for being a bad boy.

Honestly I can't read too much horror. I get nightmares, you know.

*High fives Robert on Romance novels* Yeah...I always skip any mushy parts when it crops up..

Driving home!

(I've read three romance novels. Two of 'em weren't entirely terrible, one - the only name I recall - was even enjoyable... but, uh, super-definitely NSFW in a couple parts...)

if NSFW means what I think it means, I've read the uncut version of Stephen Kings "the Stand" definitely NSFW

Well, "romance" was both literal and euphemistic. ... if you know what I mean.

...

...

>.>

<.<

*sigh*

But, look, I've also read Song of Solomon, soooooooo...
(Spoiler alert: it's also not safe for work.)

((Stopped briefly here for the family to go potty. I am not texting while driving.)) :)

*Sighs*

Not a good year 2016 has been...

Quote="Tacticslion"]
But, look, I've also read Song of Solomon, soooooooo...
(Spoiler alert: it's also not safe for work.)

also not safe for wor... aaahhhhh NSFW ok, I was close...

*Sighs*

Not a good year 2016 has been...

True, I thought killing Hans was bad enough...

and 60 doesn't seem all that old now...

I feel weird about the disconnect, a person has died, and the only way I relate to her is by the character she has played in movies. I mean I know she had children and lived a full adventurous life and those things, but I don't know her. It is still very sad, and I feel for her family and the community around her.

For me I'll feel a little odd when I watch the next star wars movie. Is like someone who was always there, then suddenly there's a gap.

I felt that way when Richard Harris died, and Professor Dumbledore was played by Michael Gambon. Everytime I'd watch Harry Potter, I'd go, that's not Dumbledore!

and the teeth like a flock of sheep part, well it's still a little confusing ;)

All I'm saying is that comparing a woman's (or really anyone's) nose to "the tower of Lebanon" (or really any tower) is more likely going to get you strange looks than Roman if wistfulness. But that's how you know they were in love: she totally saw his trying-too-hard-but-secretly-a-nerd side and had the hots for him anyway...

*Sighs*

Not a good year 2016 has been...

True, I thought killing Hans was bad enough...

and 60 doesn't seem all that old now...

I feel weird about the disconnect, a person has died, and the only way I relate to her is by the character she has played in movies. I mean I know she had children and lived a full adventurous life and those things, but I don't know her. It is still very sad, and I feel for her family and the community around her.

I feel terrible for her loved ones, too.

I wanted to make a joke about Hans Gruber from Die Hard, but, uh, I'm stuck on the phone - my internet is t working and formatting is haaaarrrrrd. I'll see if I can get it working for tomorrow to update. Blaaaaaaargh.

At least you know who Hans Gruber is...

So what are you doing up at that terrible hour anyway?

At least you know who Hans Gruber is...

So what are you doing up at that terrible hour anyway?

Trying and failing to update our game, because our internet was out!

We all got home pretty late, and I was trying to make the house a little better... and failing.

In the end, "Not accomplishing much of anything, despite trying, then giving up and playing Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door before going to bed." :)

Is that thing blocking the entire passage or is there a way to run past? From the wording, not really, and how large is that thing, how far is it to the portal?

Is it threatening me at the moment? (Also, how far is it away from me).

If its not blocking the entire passage, I could invis sphere/glitterdust to blind, and we could all run for it.

If its blocking, the only option I see is to Ddoor. Rather not use that big gun so early though.

Her mother didn't long outlive her...

*Sighs*

I guess to me Carrie was more of a symbol of feminism - in an era where movies were mostly about male protagonists, and damsels in distress.

I was struggling with the words until GM Beernorg stated it. Sometimes I get tongue tied when it comes to expressing things.

I'm not very good at expressing myself and my feelings. Princess Leia was one of the few princesses of that era that didn't just sit there and wait for their prince charming to rescue them.

She showed us that girls can be leaders and kick @ss. We don't need to wait for guys to make things happen...

Is that thing blocking the entire passage or is there a way to run past? From the wording, not really, and how large is that thing, how far is it to the portal?

Is it threatening me at the moment? (Also, how far is it away from me).

If its not blocking the entire passage, I could invis sphere/glitterdust to blind, and we could all run for it.

If its blocking, the only option I see is to Ddoor. Rather not use that big gun so early though.

Apologies - I thought it was clear enough (which, obviously, it wasn't; oops!) that you could run through/past it, but it would provoke an AoO, as it did with Ereven.

Let me know what else needs clarification.

Congratulations! You survived your first combat!

(It was a weird one.)

Take a breath, regroup, decide what you want to do (and how you want to handle meta-information)!

Also what you want to do with Inarus' new little mousy passenger!

I'm good handling 'meta-information' however everyone else is, I commented about not knowing the success number only so to know how to respond.

If I know the number I will try an write a narrative appropriate for the save. If there is not knowledge I can roll for fort (In this instance) wait until you tell me if he passes or fails, and then I can write a narrative OR you can write the narrative, I really don't mind either way.

Golan or Inarus how do you want to handle the meta information? I'm really easy!

I will automatically roll knowledge checks (if applicable) and share it with the party. For the purposes of this game, since I have Loremaster, I will take 10, all the time.

I do not mind the GM helping me roll my saves and describing the relevant effects, AOOs, for the reason of speeding up gameplay. I think it is better then rolling my own saves (since if I get hit by a stinking cloud and become nauseated, I get only a move action and that could change my turn quite a lot).

I am not sure how to handle my immediate action spells like liberating command, saving finale yet...TL - how would you want to handle it?

I do not mind the GM helping me roll my saves and describing the relevant effects, AOOs, for the reason of speeding up gameplay. I think it is better then rolling my own saves (since if I get hit by a stinking cloud and become nauseated, I get only a move action and that could change my turn quite a lot).

I'm good with the gm rolling also and describing what happened, then I can just type how Usawoti would respond or act or whatever.

I think either doing it like that or telling us the save #/results that it would go the fastest, not that speed is of the essence but I would rather play than wait for the results of a save roll.

... it is at this exact moment that I realize I've opened at least two PbPs with wild/primal magic-and-storms (though this one is, by far, the least aggressive of the two. I may have to start changing something, soon. (Hint: RotR probably won't start with a storm like this.)

I am not sure how to handle my immediate action spells like liberating command, saving finale yet...TL - how would you want to handle it?

Hm, those are good questions. I think it depends on how we handle things over-all. That said, with the way this game is set up, especially if I end up rolling/describing anything minor, individual momentary retcons are not a big deal - if I describe Inarus vomiting from uncontrolled nausea, and Inarus uses saving finale to suddenly never-have-been-vomiting, no harm/no foul - the image was of a glimpse into the possible future now averted.

... but more on that later. :)

To be clear, Inarus, you have not crossed another border - you are still in a primal magic zone.

Everen is... not happy. Much less happy than he's been this whole time.

Also, from now on, I'm going to start forcing single-checks for such events as Fly and more normal DCs for things like CMB! Huzzah!

Well, mostly: you guys are still hashing out the final choice of how you want stuff handled. As I said, I don't mind how to handle it, but I'd like to have a general consensus - that way I don't alter it by the person. Makes it much easier to GM.

(This is a test-run/game for exactly that - to create a style that meshes for the four of us. Also a fun way to set up a 600-year backstory that will have, at best, (probably?) a minor influence in our RotR.)

Also: spoiler alert - the storm will end, eventually. It's currently in place for an in-world reason; it is not a permanent feature of this game. OR IS IT?! >:)

(no it is not)

Lets get focused.

Saving throws:
Luke: wants to roll them by himself (Does he want to know the DC)?
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

AOOs:
Luke: ??
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

Skill Checks:
Luke: ??
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

Did I get that right?

I might take a little longer with gameplay thread...lets see if I can sing it...

Hmm and I both have "Quickened SLA (Speak in Rhyme)."

Lets get focused.

Saving throws:
Luke: wants to roll them by himself (Does he want to know the DC)?
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

AOOs:
Luke: ??
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

Skill Checks:
Luke: ??
Robert: Doesn't care either way
Mort: Would rather GM roll, tell me results.

Did I get that right?

why yes, yes you did, On the saving throws, if we do them I like to know a little bit so we can roleplay it with the success/failure...

I’ve rescued a princess from a tower

Climbed a mountain to find a healing flower.

"Flynn Ryyyyddeeeeerrrrrr~!"

I told you I watch too much Disney :P

The full version of Let it Go is hell to play on piano. I cant do it. Its set in a minor key and you need to bounce unintuitive chords very fast >.<

ROTR maps complete.

Thank you! Excellent!

Please let me know if anyone needs more clarification of what they see around.

The implication that Ereven left is that you should stab the monstrous little freak-heads... before "something else" arrives. You, of course, may do as you like.

Look, I'm not saying I'm listening to high opera (such as it is) in a Hannibal-like state while plotting the demise of my players' characters.

I'm not saying it.

Look, I'm not saying I'm listening to high opera (such as it is) in a Hannibal-like state while plotting the demise of my players' characters.

I'm not saying it.

ok, that's a little scary...

Happy New Years!

Friends in town today, my Internet is acting a little weird, and it's Sunday! I'm uncertain of my ability to update, but I will try!

Urg. Somehow, since Golnan posted, I'd forgotten Inarus had! Sorry!

Still try and update when I can.

(Updating at the park is not my best idea!)

While browsing on my phone I found something fun...

>:}

Please, as always, let me know if there is any confusion.

Golan, Usawoti, the entire region seems lit with a steady low light with no more thunder or lightning.

Inarus, that is the opposite of true.

>:D

Happy New Year!

wow,

ok Usawoti is a traveler, though hind sight being 20/20 he should have taken linguistics, but I assume that he would have seen an aurora borealis.

I will begins writing a post, I will realistically need to put it on hold to drive to work, and will post it latter this evening.

Sure. Remember, make it he save each round we play.

The DC was higher than I expected - I'm going to either drop it in a few, or allow you to act for something like 1d4+1 rounds. Not sure, but it doesn't affect you now.

problems at work, I will need to do that post later! But I have not forgotten it ;)

Golan: you may be unable to act, but that doesn't mean you're unable to... act*! You might not be able to do much, but the reason I gave the DC so that you, specifically, could roll stuff, is so that you and Usawoti could give me something to work with!

All: here are the details on the dazed condition.

Though you're not able to perform in-game actions, I find your characters' thoughts and emotions still worth expressing, as it helps build the story of the game for all!

(Obviously, if you're pressed for time, it makes sense for you to bypass stuff. I'm just encouraging you: no matter what condition your characters are currently suffering, you, the player, aren't entirely out of the game.)

* As a player, not as a PC!

problems at work, I will need to do that post later! But I have not forgotten it ;)

In order to prevent a day-stall, I'm going to go ahead and start working on the next update; it won't be immediate, though.

More, I will check before I finalize to see if you've posted more, yet, or not, so feel free to add to your post at any time!

(And if something unusual does happen - like I post immediately before you, or something -, I've no problem changing my own post later, so long as it's within an hour*!)

Thanks!

Also: I hope the problems at work get resolved! I know how frustrating those can be!

* Forum limitation, not my own. :D

Im back to the regular scheduled programming, so yes maybe a little too active...

Well, yesterday I had to sort out some long due ROW gameplay posts...

Long gameplay posts and having only a phone + slow internet do not go well.

Anyway, the beach at Pankor Island was wonderful. I saw 3 sea sponges, 4 sea cucumbers, a tiny rock crab, oysters growing on rocks, a red coloured brain like looking coral and my brother found a scallop shell with an octopus hiding inside it.

There were schools of anchovies that where you startled them, they'd jump into the sky, and it'd seem the sky was filled with shimmering diamonds. And no dead fish on the beach.

Why don't you get that in Singapore? :(

We fed the hornbills, the wildboars (consider it urmm...repayment for eating one of their kind the night before?), visited the temple (it's really grand) on our vacation.

That being said, I think for the rest of the world(unless you're in Asian Timezone), it's still New Year Holiday, so there are probably plans with family.

The next big festival for us will be the Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year Eve, 27 Jan 2017. We have public holiday from 28th Jan - 30th Jan 2017. My family will traditionally spend the morning of 28th Jan 2017 in Gardens by the Bay, taking photos of the new year flower display.

I've booked the lime for the family lunch on 29th Jan 2017. Last year I booked Oscar's, but some jokers of relatives couldn't find the place properly...and they sold their car, so the Lime is more accessible. I think Oscar's has better food, but we'll see when we get there this year.

My nephew will be visiting my family on the 3rd day of Chinese New Year (30th Jan 2017). Wonder what we can do to keep him entertained...my brother has a fish tank, but we don't have kiddie toys in our house.

Chinese new year is spent visiting relatives and gambling with them(poker, mahjong, blackjack say hi), so don't expect much activity from me during that period. Night post, yes, morning, if I'm pushed for time, maybe not. And ye can't be fiddling with ye phone when you're supposed to be entertaining relatives, you know...

Bards do not get much in the name of condition removal – that’s under divine casting. Also, I didn’t pick all the condition removal stuff, since we had a divine caster. If I had been a standard bard – using countersong might get rid of Usawoti’s and Golan’s dazed status, but I don’t have it as an archaeologist.

The dazed status is caused by the black mass, so I was hoping pulling them out of there might help them recover. I did consider using silence, but it wasn’t a sound based effect explicitly causing them to be dazed. Freedom of movement does nothing for the dazed status. To actually remove the dazed status possibly something like cleanse or heal would be required, which I don’t have(wrong class for it). Dispelling maybe… on Golan(just to prevent getting the wrong buffs off), but getting things out would probably be more like remove disease…

I suppose I could grab everyone and Ddoor, but that wasn’t the point, and to me its sort of like evading a plot hook. We were supposed to defend the NPC, and I presume he has reasons for being here, so I wouldn’t be trying to grab him and run.

Also, I’m not too bothered about dying here, some adventures result in you dying/turned to stone/imprisoned in a capsule, before the adventure truly begins…(Neverwinter nights 2: Hordes of the underdark – a large part of the adventure involves getting out of Cania after you get killed by plot)

Holding off gameplay post for GM hint, before I make all my saves - I really am not the type of person who would run away leaving my comrades to die. Especially not on an NG character.

Also, I’m not too bothered about dying here, some adventures result in you dying/turned to stone/imprisoned in a capsule, before the adventure truly begins…(Neverwinter nights 2: Hordes of the underdark – a large part of the adventure involves getting out of Cania after you get killed by plot)

I loved NWN 2!

I told you to go play NWN 2, mask of the betrayer :p

Its cooly dark! And makes you think some philosophy. What lies beneath the mask? What mask are you wearing everyday? Does the mask become the man?

philosophy? I played through that game with three or four different characters, just because I was bored and it was the only game on my desktop... yeah, it was the 90's....

Holding off gameplay post for GM hint, before I make all my saves - I really am not the type of person who would run away leaving my comrades to die. Especially not on an NG character.

1d100 ⇒ 79

GM Hint: "inaction would be worse than unpleasant action; a living character may be better able to help than a dead one" "do what your character thinks is the right thing to do"

... but what do I know? I'm just the GM... :)

I am curious how your character is going to do, however...

EDIT: revised the hint; the new one is better, and also free of charge; I wasn't satisfied with what the old suggested either in-character, or out-.

Not much. Fort isn't a good save of mine, and DC 30 is pretty high esp with multiple attacks. Was going to base more on miss chance to mitigate, but those stuff typically lasts rounds/level so pre-casting isn't THAT viable. Good thing I already pre saved a post before I went for movies...

Which reminds me, did I tell you about my svirfneblin fighter that went into weapon master, took a level of bard to qualify for red dragon disciple. No, I wasn't drunk. Those little red wings sprouting out of my shoulders were adorable! Squee!

Don't ask me for a backstory on that, cos I don't have one. You see, I found having to stop every 1h if you play a caster boring, so I usually do melee classes on NWN games. Plus, when you chain 3 Isaacs Greater Missle Storms on the comp it gets...really flashy, and REALLY LAGGY. I'll pass.

Then there's this part where I'm a packrat and need to urm...loot the dungeon all in one run. So I need to play a character with high strength. Then there's this other part where I really don't like to keep having to hit the heal pots, so I thought it would be a good idea to get that +4 dodge bonus against all foes. +2 to all saving throws and spell resistance 11+char level looked quite promising in reducing spell damage as well. Of course the -4 ECL was a nightmare...:p But oh well ;)