The Fall of Plaguestone

Game Master Eric Collins - France

Discord is in fact a software for chatting!

Some of my longer-running groups use Discord as a way to keep in touch and sometimes coordinate basic tactics (or for the GM to complain that the party rogue just rolled a natural 20 on disarming the BBEG on the first turn of combat and now he's useless and I had such a cool encounter planned you guys). I've even seen it used to discuss the possibility of actually grabbing a Teamwork Feat, which very rarely happens in PBP PFS (due to the wide range of PCs you're going to work with unless you coordinate).

Definitely not a must-have (especially if-- like y'all-- people are generally pretty responsive via forum), but some people like it.

I don't mind, I'm on Discord even if I don't use it often.

Well, since there's some interest: Here it is!

At least, one thing is sure, we should have all alignments covered :D

Ok I've got the first stab at my Dwarf

@Drag be careful, they made a FAQ about the bonus feat of the wizard, they don't have one :'(

So, as the group is getting set up, tell us here or PM me how you wish to be joining the caravan (or if you want me to offer up hooks).

As a reasonably well-armed nomad, Natsume has a pretty tried-and-true method: get to the next town, spend a few nights, join the nearest caravan when the money starts running short. Usually she's going to join as a little extra hired muscle, night watch, etc.

I've sent a MP to you dear GM :)

Remember that this is a Campaign not PFS, so, even if I am running it basically like PFS to simplify things, please tell me if there are specific things you want to change.

For example, re. Asmodeus' clerics alignement and anathema, I do not mind at all if you want to change things and be LN vs. LE, and create your own anathema (or not even have a real anathema). So, if you want to show mercy sometimes because deep down you are manipulating, I am fine.
I mean, the most important is that you RP your character, and I am sure you would come up with a logical and Asmodeus-fitting RP, so I am fine with that. So just tell me if you want to switch things around a bit (remain LE w. this Anathema if you wish, but feel free to build your own Asmodean cleric ideals if you want, I trust you to know the deity etc. to do so well).

The same with others, if you see some rule that you feel is not fitting, and have some logical/RP thing that better fits your character, tell me.

I just don't want to spend time changing rules and having to track them etc., but, especially with things like this re. character creation, please speak up w. ideas if you have them.

@Drag be careful, they made a FAQ about the bonus feat of the wizard, they don't have one :'(

Thanks Tamerius, you can always rely on Asmodeus Clerics to give you a helping hand ;) I learned that while creating the profile and forgot to remove it. Profile is corrected my arcane thesis allows me to get methamagic feat. And the same FAQ allows me to use simple weapons ;)

Tamerius Archilus wrote:

@Drag be careful, they made a FAQ about the bonus feat of the wizard, they don't have one :'(

Thanks Tamerius, you can always rely on Asmodeus Clerics to give you a helping hand ;) I learned that while creating the profile and forgot to remove it. Profile is corrected my arcane thesis allows me to get methamagic feat. And the same FAQ allows me to use simple weapons ;)

Breaking a rule is anathema to them :D

@DM: I'm fine with my current character. I wanted to play my PFS one anyway.
The only thing I'd say is, when it comes to loot, I'm far less interested by magic weapons than by Occult casters' loot (scrolls, wands and such). I don't know if you plan on modifying loot, but it's in case ;)

@GM I provided some background info into the gameplay thread. I omitted the inn name that I am in as well as city and any other detail. I described my PC and a reason to travel. I basically wanted to flesh out some details in my head and make your life a bit easier with bringing us all in.

If I ruined some of your great scheme, let me know ;) The post is a bit long, but things were coming to me as I was writing.

I realize I posted in gameplay with my main account. Do you know a way to tell you'll use your character account only in one specific forum? I don't wanna post as Giggett anywhere else, but I'll prefer not to post as SuperBidi here.

In general, once you've started posting with a character, it will be the top one in the drop-drag down window below here.

Also, another thing that is important to know, sorry I didn't say before, is to remember to select/copy/save before you post.
Sometimes the site can bug and you lose your post.
Is great to be able to just re-paste.

Also it is nice to Preview before that way you can see if you forgot to put the correct avatar etc..

I have another question:
How do we split the party?

It looks to me there's only one subject, so we can't have multiple actions happening at the same time without intertwining them in the main subject? Just to be sure.
If I want to make RP stuff with another character (PC or NPC), I must do it in private messages? So our DM won't know what's happening between PCs?

Everything that happens in the game should be happening in the Gameplay thread. If you want to have a conversation with one PC/NPC you can do this in the spoiler like:

In that case, GM can see it.

Ok.
I hope everyone will respect the spoilers, as I don't want Tamerius to know what you told me about him :O

Tamerius is already the one being targeted?!

Yes, it does not seem possible to have PMs with multiple addressees...

Of course not! We really love Tamerius!

Spoiler for who? ;)

The format can be:

[spoiler=XXX]bla bla bal[/spoiler
(that you close with ])

Also, you can put spoilers in the spoiler, but not say what they are about, so that would just be a spolier that you must announce before

For example:

[spoiler=For GM & Giggett]Bla bla bla bla
Following is for GM only:
[spoiler]yadda yadda yadda[/spoiler
[/spoiler
(that you close with ])

Here is what that would look like:

I will start looking at your character sheets and putting info down somewhere for me etc..

Please continue to RP your meeting as you wish.

I will give the last pre-game info' about the caravan and the NPCs over the next couple of days, and probably start the actual game intro' over the week-end, and have us start for good on Monday at the latest.

My feeling is that if you address someone as Mistress (Mistress Giggett, Mistress Lucy) the meaning is that of a female Master.

It becomes ambiguous, and may be seen as making fun of or insulting, if you talk about them to someone else: "Giggett the Mistress" would probably be seen as the love-affair thing, vs. "Gig the Master" ; and "The Mistress Giggett" would also be avoided I think.
You would say of a woman, I think, "she is a master of martial arts, a master of her craft", and not a mistress.

Anyhow, Mistress Giggett feels fine and not ambiguous at all, since it clearly is a title.

Though why anyone would think Giggett is Mistress Giggett is a whole different issue?!
Maybe "Depressive Giggett" would be more fitting! xD

I mean, Giggett IS looking for a life of excitement...

Never make assumptions on a gnome's sexuality...

Mistress Giggett masters her sexuality!

________________________________________

I have put a slide up with templates (for spells, AoEs etc.), and info' on your characters: minis (w. a rough default marching order), and a list I can copy for basic initiatives etc..

Can you fill out your Perception and Stealth bonuses (put 0 if you have none)?
You will see,for example:
[dice=Giggett]1d20+[/dice
Can you just add, please, whatever bonus after the "+":
[dice=Giggett]1d20+3[/dice

________________________________________

Regarding the Slides, I have started preparing for what is to come.
So, the big colored boxes are like spoilers. Try not to move them to peek, so you can keep the surprise effect.

A battle map will appear there if one is ever needed at one point during this module (wanna bet?).
That is where the characters will be placed, and moved around using your minis.

Important: you will probably miss-click now and then, and move the entire map (background), or something. The most important is to not panic, stop, and simply do Command Z to Undo. Which moves everything back in place.

Also, sometimes, if you move, you can copy your mini and paste the copy of it where you are going (to keep the initial place, and show the final place) so we can figure out if things happen during the move.
Or you can use arrows etc.

We'll explain how to use those as we go (Arrows come from the 2nd top row w. the icons, under "Arrange", you have 'Shapes' and 'Lines', and you drag those down...).

________________________________________

QUESTION: do you wish for some time to RP the first days in the caravan, or shall I start narrating the start of the adventure?

I dont know. If we are supposed to stay for some time with them, it would be good to play a bit the first days. Otherwise, I would prefer to start the aventure.

Agreed with Bidi. I’m happy to roleplay Natsume challenging folks to wrestling matches and tying down tarps... but equally happy to just carry on if folks would prefer!

About marching order, I think it'll be fair to put Giggett next to Natsume. It's ok for her (she's not a coward... at first glance :) ). And considering we have the same AC and HP, I don't see why she should be alone on front line.

For the marching order, it is not that important since most of the time if not always you will place yourselves.
I just ask this for the rare occasion where it might be needed, but I’ll just take the single row one (not two people up front).

Sorry I did not clarify: only the upper row is for the marching order (just you four).
I simply put Bort and all on the lower row so you could see them, not as part of the marching order.

Otherwise: please add your Perception and Stealth bonuses to the slides.

And, in general, as I said, I post every day, so, in combat I will normally delay people who do not post within 24 hours of being up for action.
I really want to keep things moving to not have people become bored.
Tell me if, as a general rule, you want to something different (if people cannot be sure to post on week ends or whatever)?

In case I won't be able to post, I'll send you a description of my actions. So fine by me.

I am not certain if I will be able to post on every weekend but I will try. I will let you know at least

I am fine with whatever we all decide on.

re. fights, I can see about pushing the story along from Tuesday mornings to Friday mornings my time, and then just leaving the weekend open to see if people post or not.

I keep on adding things as I think of them, sorry...

When I run combats, I put all the dice rolls at the bottom, in a spoiler named "GM Rolls" (which has nothing to do with my bread rolls!).
This is not secret, and you can look at it whenever you want.
In general I put the rolls in but not the bonuses the enemy have, so that you do not know exactly what you are against.

For example, if something attacks three times, I would just put:
1d20
1d20-4
1d20-8
So you would see that it has Agile, but not its attack bonus.

...not that we’ll need it, I’m sure. What are the odds this caravan ends up embroiled in conflict anyway? :D

Thanks all for filling out the slides.
Oh, well, I thought the odds were good the caravan would slip through 'uneventully", but, heck, since you filled out your init', why not use it maybe... or not?

I haven't filled my Initiative!!!!
It's +7!

Just as note: I changed my info' so that you have the link to the slides--

[url]https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18Z1CPYmGKb0Av_qt5bc1Ommrm3sIhC5czDv Wla0M9bs/edit#slide=id.p]Plaguestone[/url]

--just under my avatar name.
(makes it easier for you to get to the map and stuff during combat)

Otherwise: I will most probably add the direct link to the current map or whatever is going on at the moment, both up on top of the page, as well as under my avatar.

@Giggett: sorry, I saw +5 / +5
What is your Perception bonus (for Init') and the same for Stealth (for Init').

[spoiler=Perception
[dice=Giggett]1d20+5[/dice
[dice=Tamerius Archilus]d20+7[/dice
[dice=Dragh Goldenoak]1d20+4[/dice
[dice=Natsume Ren]1d20+5[/dice

[spoiler=Stealth
[dice=Giggett]1d20+5[/dice
[dice=Tamerius Archilus]d20+1[/dice
[dice=Dragh Goldenoak]1d20+2[/dice
[dice=Natsume Ren]1d20+5[/dice

All good other than Giggett?

Perception ? Stealth? Can't we talk before drawing weapons??!??
:P

Can you give me Giggett's Perception and Stealth bonuses for Init', please?
Are they +5 / +5 or something else?

Good for me!

Yes,they are. It's my Deception bonus which is +7. Deception can be used for Initiative. I was just joking.

Okay!
Thanks
(yes, I'll use Deception and others for init' when needed, and please tell me if you think other stats can be used for init' vs. the usual Perception - like here, with the wolves, it is simply perception to see how fast one spots them).

I added a link to the Current Battle Map under my avatar ; and at the top left of the campaign pages.
I will update that link (and change its name if needed) when we change locations etc. (just so you know in case I forget to tell you each time).

This is my first PbP, so I have lots of questions:

- Tamerius acted when it was Dragh's turn. We can act whenever we want as long as there's no enemy before us? In that case, Natsume could potentially act again, as she's the next after Dragh and Giggett?
- Everyone seems to be rolling their dice. I'm not accustomed to it. So I may make mistakes when doing it. Don't be afraid to reroll my dice, beloved DM, if I do too many errors.
- What happens when I edit a post where there are rolls? Is it allowed or considered cheating?
- You say I have to make a DC 14 Fort save, but you didn't say when. Is it to allow me to do it before starting my turn? Or there's something else I can do before rolling that Fort save?

Hi!
Please ask any and all questions you have.
I'm trying to think of things that can help, but I will forget a lot, so do not be sorry for asking anything.

- Tamerius acted when it was Dragh's turn. We can act whenever we want as long as there's no enemy before us? In that case, Natsume could potentially act again, as she's the next after Dragh and Giggett?

So, I generally post (and it is often done like this) as follows:

Round 1
BOLD can act:
Natsume Ren
Red eyes
Yellow eyes
Orange eyes
Tamerius Archilus
Dragh Goldenoak
Giggett - 3 dam'

Meaning that those whose name is in BOLD can act.
Thus, before Tamerius acted, there were three names in bold, who could act, whatever the order.
Then, once Tamerius acted, I moved him up, and out of the bold, leaving only two (Dragh and Giggett).
So, basically, yes, you act when there is no enemy before you.
BUT-- actually, only act when you see you name in BOLD when it is stated (as it most probably always will be) "BOLD can act".

In theory, I could/would have added Natsume to the list, as you stated.
And I would have said it was Round 1/2.
In practise, in this case, I did not.
I'd say there could be at least two reasons to do so:
1 - if I feel that someone might finish things off or whatever before others have the time to act, so as to let all be able to try something and not have one person do too much early on (here, maybe I did not let her act before round 2 so that she not kill another wolf and thus prevent some fun for others)
2 - if something happens between rounds (here, maybe I did not let her act before round 2 because something is going to happen at the end of round 1)

So, yes, inits' are often lumped together like that.
It makes it easier for people to post, and not wait as much for others to post.

I sometimes do true Init' (one person after the other), rather rarely, but I remember one SFS game (where Ilmakis played) that had a very tough end fight, and so I did that from the beginning, so that it would be clearer who did what when etc., and not end up with dead people because someone acted twice before another could do something etc..

Anyhow: BOLD Can Act!

- Everyone seems to be rolling their dice. I'm not accustomed to it. So I may make mistakes when doing it. Don't be afraid to reroll my dice, beloved DM, if I do too many errors.

I'll probably just have you reroll.

- What happens when I edit a post where there are rolls? Is it allowed or considered cheating?

Just don't cheat.

You can also add a little Edited because bla bla bla at the end if you think it is worthwhile (you can only edit for one hour).

You say I have to make a DC 14 Fort save, but you didn't say when. Is it to allow me to do it before starting my turn? Or there's something else I can do before rolling that Fort save?

Yes, sorry, it was to roll right away, or before you act for sure.

I can cover these if the GM's not faster than me!

-In order to keep PbP moving quickly, people do what's called "Block Initiative", where initiative is sorted into blocks. GMs generally bold whoever's up, so as you say, so long as there's no enemy between you, you can usually act in whatever order.
-Some GMs separate block initiative by round, so Natsume won't move until Round 1 is over; that way, she doesn't move twice before someone else has even moved once.
-As for dice, most combat rolls are done by the player. You'll get the hang of it quickly!
-The rolls are baked-in, so as long as you don't change what you're doing, it's fine.
-Do the Fort Save before anything else on your turn, and apply its effects (if any) to your actions on that turn; in Face-To-Face, you'd roll it as soon as you took the hit, so it takes effect "before" your turn.

EDIT: GM's faster than me!

Is the GM ever not faster than you?!
Ha ha!
xD

Thanks a lot, Vixie!

So, the dice=Flail, bludgeoning 1d20+x ; 1d8+x /dice thing of before would be (with 2 for x):

Flail, bludgeoning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 51d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
So you have your 5 to attack (bleh!) and 8 damage.