My Round 1 post is up now too. I think I couldn't spot the DC either even though its probably right in front of my face. I think its in that next to last post on page 2, but I only saw the DC 13 for sure on the Threat Profile goal.
The DC for goal two is 15.
Actually Steven, I do not find Reginald irritating. He is certainly not the fluffiest and most endearing person around, but I find the Holmes-like way he interacts with others something between intriguing and delightful.
Also, what movie are you referring to?
Yep, it was staring me in the face. Just up a few posts from where I was looking. So we're still at 4/6.
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Please pardon my interruption. I'll be brief so you can get back to gaming.
I'm Ryan Nock, director of the ZEITGEIST Adventure Path, and I'm scouting various Play-by-Post forums for groups playing the campaign. We're running a Kickstarter project for ZEITGEIST, which finishes up on July 13th, and if you're enjoying the adventure we thought you might be interested in pledging, or at least spreading the word to your friends.
For GMs, we're producing a hardcover compilation of the first five adventures. For players, you can pick up a softcover copy of the Player's Guide or get a portrait of your PC done by one of our artists, as well as other options.
You can find all the details here, but if you have any questions just ask; I'll keep an eye on this thread for a few days.
Thanks for your time, and have fun with the adventure.
Pledged!
Yep, it was staring me in the face. Just up a few posts from where I was looking. So we're still at 4/6.
You'll beat the RNG next time Talyssa! Next time in-game you've just got to get smarter kids to do your work for you :)
Evening Guys, I'm about to do a summary post for round 1 of the skill challenge. The current standing is as follows.
Round 1:
Goal 1: Completed - Filby
Goal 2: 4/6 - Rhegalion, Devinn, Ifris, Alastair
Goal 3: 0/3
Goal 4: 0/1
As a reminder for Goal 2 and Goal 3, you need to hit a DC15. Because its possible you may finish Goal 2 during this round, here is the information on Goal 3:
Goal Three: Find the Suspects.
You’ve picked out about twenty people of interest, but you need to separate the innocent parade-goers from actual threats.
Failed skill check during this round probably result in the character pulling aside an innocent people, and then wasting time questioning them before realizing they’re not a threat.
The Wolves need three successes to meet this Goal 3. The first success identifies a lanky docker named Coulton who wears leather armor hidden under a cloak and has two daggers (one in each boot). The second identifies Mercliffe, a docker with tattoo sleeves and set of brass knuckles. The third identifies Iscalio, as smarmy grease slicked docker with a dagger and a flask of alchemist fire.
Once you properly identify a threat, you will also need to question the suspect (so please include a description of it in your post)
Confrontation. (Sense Motive) A PC could go to people of interest and ask questions.
Deception. (Bluff) A PC might feign camaraderie with the different people of interest in an effort to draw out an admission.
Good Cop, Bad Cop. (Diplomacy or Intimidate) This option is only available once the party identifies Coulton (so after the first successful skill check for Goal 3). Two PCs must both spend time on this action. One PC makes an Intimidate check, and another makes a Diplomacy check. They each gain a +2 bonus to their check. If they both succeed, it will have an additional unknown but highly useful effect.
Observation. (Perception) A PC could watch the various people of interest to see how they react to all the law enforcement activity.
Yank Them All. (Stealth) A PC might just grab as many people of interest as he can, but he has to do so discreetly so that no actual threats get tipped off and try to hide in the crowd.
Given the settlement details there, I'd like to point out for my fellow team-mates that these modifiers directly impact our skill checks in Flint as follows:
Bluff
Checks vs. city officials or guards: +7Stealth
Checks made outside in the city: +7Sense Motive
Checks to avoid being Bluffed: +6Sleight of Hand
Checks made to Pick Pockets: +6Craft, Perform, Profession
Checks made to generate income: +13Intimidate
Checks made to force an opponent to act friendly: +5Diplomacy
Checks made vs. government officials: +5
Checks made to call for aid from city guard: +5
Checks made to Gather Information: +5
Checks made to influence non-government individuals: +6Knowledge
Checks made when using library resources: +5Disguise
All checks: +6
A couple of questions, your DMness.
Firstly, do the above modifiers work? I am asking because if Alastair was to use the Stealth option for Goal 3, it would mean a +7 bonus added to his own +7 skill modifier.
Secondly, I am a little unsure on how the Stealth option actually works. How could one grab people without either physically/literally grabbing them (i.e. grappling and moving them away more or less) or without using perhaps Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidate to prevent them from screaming bloody murder? Though I suppose flashing his badge is an option?
Just to clarify, I can make another check for Goal 2 in the new round, yes? I presume that is the case but since this is a new mechanic I just want to be sure I'm handling it correctly.
@Ifris: That is correct. Each character can attempt one skill challenge per "round". You may not move onto Goal 3 until goal two has been completed.
@F. Castor: When the campaign was written (along with the provided for DC's for the skill challenge) the settlement modifiers to skill checks was not taken into account. While I expect that lawful citizens would recognize your authority, that is why I gave everyone their R.H.S. Badge that provides a free +1 on bluff, diplomacy and intimidate. So the long and short of it is that we will not use settlement modifiers. Also it would make the challenge too easy.
In regards to the Stealth option for Goal 3, you might describe it as quietly approaching someone. Once you are right next to them, you could dragging them off with into a nearby alley using a wristlock to prevent movement (via a pressure point) and clapping a hand over their mouth to keep them from yelling out. It is a heavy handed tactic, but one that I think is valid. Something to consider is that each of you are playing a law enforcement officer. One of the "rules" that are taught when considering "use of force" against a suspect, is that the officer is supposed to use the "minimum amount of force necessary to compel compliance".
In law enforcement training, the officers are taught the use of force continuum. I would think that the R.H.S. would use something similar. Basically you as a R.H.S. officer need to make a judgment call when confronting a suspect. Are they being passively compliant with your commands or passively resisting your commands? Are they actively resisting? Then you need to consider what force is necessary to compel compliance.
You may want to consider using a mindset of a six-step model of use of force:
That said, as members of the R.H.S. you are vested with an extreme amount of power. You can move up the use of force ladder as necessary. If you as an officer feel that step 2 is not enough to subdue your suspect, you have the authority to jump up to a step 6 as needed. Fair warning however is that repeated actions such as this may call you up for review unless you can justify why you choose to take this action.
If we are going to be discussing Use of Force, keep in kind that reasonableness is determined by the totality of facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time of the decision. Also, you have an obligation to constantly re-evaluate the circumstances and adjust down if the force is not necessary in the new circumstances.
I hope that we don't have to write a Use of Force letter each time we deal someone hit point damage. Considering that all other officers on-scene have to write a letter as well, the bureaucracy might get pretty overwhelming.
And please don't kill any targets. It takes about 4-6 hours to process an officer-involved shooting and a few weeks to fully investigate.
@Rhegalion: No, you won't need to worry about reports or administrative reviews. I feel that it is unnecessarily bureaucratic for a pbp. I may mention it in posts to add flavor and a bit of grittiness to it, but by and large we will be glossing it over. The R.H.C. is a much more independent organization, made to deal with specific threats against the King and Country.
If you are at all familiar with Warhammer 40K I am aiming for the R.H.S. to have more of a feel like the Inqusidor Ordos; I.E. vested with great amounts autonomous of judicial authority, who's reach extends beyond the power of normal Risur bureaucracy. Each R.H.C. cell is immensely powerful. As the R.H.C. cells duties involve the investigative scrutiny and policing of the other organizations of the Risur, potential threats to their homelands wellbeing, and other dissident elements, the R.H.S. itself is answerable to no higher power except the King and their direct cell supervisor. In fact no one, except the King himself, is beyond the scrutiny of the R.H.C. This power is officially known as the Royal Constabulary Remit.
An R.H.C. cell is an ad-hoc group of R.H.C. agents who share a common goal. Often they are factional in nature, recruited by their city branch and are formed to confront a particular problem. Cells can be formal or inform groups and occasionally transitive in nature. Often one or more of the agents in the cell will work overtly through investigation while the rest proceed through infiltration.
Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what feel I am aiming for with the group. If your unit is heavy handed with their approach it will raise eyebrows and may lead to your overall commander, Margaret Saxby the Lady Inspectress, of Flint branch calling you to task. How you deal with Stover Delft the Asst. Chief Inspector of Flint branch will also play a role as he can be a huge resource to you.
Thoughts?
Round 2:
Goal 1: Completed
Goal 2: 4/6 - Ifris (aid Rhegalion)
Goal 3: 0/3
Goal 4: 0/1
I was going to hold off on my check in Round 2 to go for a Goal 3 check (as my Bluff is my highest skill), but if needed I can go for a Goal 2 check this round. Anyone feel lucky on knocking out Goal 2? Maybe call your shot here in OOC so we don't all try and go for a Goal 2 check this round.
If Rhegalion can nail the sense motive (with the aid another bonus he'd have to roll like a 5, I think), I feel like Filby could knock the last point out of the park for Round 2. I think they, collectively, have the best alignment of skills for it.
Alastair could perhaps also Aid Another for a Goal Two check as his round 2 action, at least if it is a Perception or a Sense Motive check anyway. With Ifris aiding Rhegalion and Alastair aiding someone else (Filby maybe?) and hopefully both pairs succeeding, that leaves Devinn, Anya and Talyssa to try their hands at a Goal Three check each.
Even if they do not accumulate three successes, we will still have round 3 to do it.
That sounds like a good strategy.
Keep in mind there is a fourth goal who's timeline ends when Round 3 is over. Once you have made one successful check for Goal three, I will post what the fourth goal is.
BTW: Great teamwork on knocking out these skill checks!
Rhegalion is so mysterious - even to me - that the last post was more comfortable for me to write with Ifris as the point of view instead of him.
Great post -- I loved the visual of Rhegalion moving through the crowd effortless while Ifris was struggling a bit (reminded me of The Matrix and the training program hehe). I could completely see Ifris give a barking shout though and force a path to open up before her :)
I think its probably worth having Talyssa try another Knowledge (local) unless that's against the Skill Challenge rules. She has a +8 and performing so abysmally twice in a row isn't likely. Then we can start using the aid others on Goal 3. I think she's probably better off switching to the aid role for Goal 3 as her only positive skills are Perception and Stealth (both at +2) and of those, only the Perception is really in character for her.
It is not against the rules Talyssa. You can try any of the options presented.
Chalk the first failure to her innate oddness and appeal to the same skeptical group using some late insight.
I've got another angle that will also give me a chance to introduce a new acquaintance of Talyssa's.
I loved that interaction with Rhegalion and Ifris! You handled her perspective perfectly.
I'll see if I can sneak in a post here this afternoon at work for Round 2 / Goal 3 -- if successful on Bluff I can flavor it to be either of the two remaining dockers, so I'll check posts before I hit final submit there.
Does it matter which guy we find with the check? Because I'd love for Filby to find the guy with alchemist fire.
I'm still writing the post a bit in Word before seeing if my RNG is going to play nice on preview, but if it helps I'll focus on Mercliffe if you want to go after Iscalio. If I fail and you succeeded in your check, Anya can still take a shot at Mercliffe for Round Two.
Do we have a pair planning to try the Good Cop Bad Cop routine on Coulton?
Rhegalion can take care of the Diplomacy aspect.
Not sure if we have anyone trained in Intimidate (Reginald perhaps?) so it might be you and Devinn for the best chance. I'm sure I could do a creative aid another if we don't mind using up my Round 3.
Hey guys, as soon as I get back home from work I will post the 4th Goal.
Ifris has rubbish Intimidate and Diplomacy, unfortunately. But I think having a good cop/bad cop tag team on Coulton would be a good idea.
It would be. It takes two rolls, but the pay off is worth it.
Steven, its fine if you want to grab Iscalio, the two are interchangeable for this purpose.
Anya has a +6 to Intimidate, and Rhegalion has a +8 to Diplomacy. With the +2 bonus, that means that she would have to roll a 7 and Rhegalion would have to roll a 5. This gives us just under a 50% chance to get two successes simultaneously, which isn't bad odds.
Phew! RNG is messing with me but I just squeaked that one by!
3/3!
Bingo, and Anya has only used one round so far. Might be stretching the rules too far, but would Anya be allowed to try both her Round 2 (on her own since I already used my Round 2) and her Round 3 (if necessary with my assist) to try it? Rhegalion of course could only use his Round 3.
That would leave us with Reginald, Alastair, and Devinn to attempt Goal 4 once that is revealed.
So should Anya join Ifris and Rhegalion in her Round 2 action to start up a good cop/bad cop gambit?
EDIT: Ninja'd by Talyssa. That's why she has all the INT there :)
RPG Superstar 2013
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I had issues before I could finish my last post. I'll try to make it right tonight, but I questioned Iscalion in the text. I didn't attempt any other rolls or anything.
Filby sucks at Intimidate for now. It will be a thing later on. Still working on a Perception check that matches with his pretentious brain.
As promised, here is goal 4:
Goal Four: Find the Fourth Man.
With little time left, the wolves needs to find the most dangerous member of the dissident dockers.
Various. (Various skills, DC 15) The PCs can use any of the methods
from the previous goal. Alternatively the wolves can use the "Good Cop, Bad Cop." option from goal 3 to cause Coulton to reveal that their is a fourth man who is the leader of the group, Dafton Marne, who is better known as a part time bare-knuckles boxer at the Broken Skull tavern in the Bosun Strand district.
I'm holding on any Round 3 actions until Anya gets a chance to wrap up Round 2, and getting a sense of how things develop.
As am I. Hopefully we can drag the suspect to a location where Anya and Rhegalion can (maybe with and Aid Another from Ifris) interview him in tandem.
In a fun note, Ifris autocorrects to Oreos on my phone.
Heh. Ifris = Iris autocorrect function? Nope! Oreos!
Heh... And I was wondering how Aid Another and Oreos were connected.
You know, you laugh, but I have given many a suspect Oreos or other small snacks. I daresay it does give a +2 bonus to Diplomacy.
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She does have nearly black hair and a kind of pale complexion :)