DM Squirrel Ninja's Reign of Winter Campaign

Game Master The.Squirrel.Ninja

Congratulations and Welcome!!!

I am excited as we start out together on this RoW AP.

There are a few things before we officially start that I would like to cover.

1) Get to know one another! My goal is to run this AP to completion, that means we are going to spend a lot of time over the next X years playing this game.

2) Go over our character sheet and be sure that you have purchased all of the equipment you would like. You have max gold plus 50, be sure to buy all the items your character would have in life. Have it listed in the character's alias.

3) I would like to know a single file and a side by side marching order.
1-2-3-4-5
and
1-3-5
2-4

4) Posting. I typically post in the morning and evenings. I would like everyone to post once per day Mon-Fri and once on the weekend Sat/Sun. I know life happens and I am flexible with that, but please let me know if you are gone for any period of time.

5) Let's have some fun!!

Appreciate the invite, Squirrel Ninja! I hope to be a fine contributor to this game.

I'm pretty sure that Calie is good to go when it comes to equipment, but I'll give her one more look over before official play. As for marching order, given Calie's role as a melee defender her being at the front in single file order makes the most sense to be. The same goes for side by side. So her being 1 works for me less someone else, like Randgríðr, wants that position.

I do have a question for you, though. Calie's a paladin, a one for Shelyn to boot, which means she'd prefer not to kill if she doesn't have to. So, I'm wondering whether you apply the -4 to attack penalty when someone tries to do nonlethal damage with a lethal weapon?

Thanks for picking me for the game, I'm looking forward to it.
I'm tidying up Otta's story and purchases. Otherwise, I'm ready to go.

Fantasy names are one thing but we have got a whole scrabble board. And I think the gnome is going to win.

Looking at my traits, I've picked one that says Otta grew up in the snow in Irrisen; Winter Warrior. I think I must have picked this before fleshing out his backstory. Can I change it to Debt to a Witch? It fits better and I think Otta has become indebted to his wife more than he realises. The bonuses change from a bonus to survival & stealth in the snow to a bonus to save vs cold descriptor & cold weather.

ps, I'm from Australia, a High School Art & Design teacher. Just a bit younger than Otta.

Hello! Thank you so much for the selection into this game!

I'm a Michigander, so my postings are typically between 6am-6pm EST/EDT and I either post once or post in whatever space I can fill. On weekends I try to check the forums at least twice, though my posts may be a little shorter. I'm a selenium automation person where I work, so I mostly post while I'm at work and waiting for my tests to run.

For marching order I think that will generally depend. As it stands I'd probably rather be 1 for single-file because of my AC focus and I don't use a reach weapon. For double I'll second that Calie and I will be side-by-side 1&2.

As for gear, I'm down to dimes and pennies here so I think I'll stop myself from buying too much more. The extra gold for gear was fun to spend, and starting at max helped me get a shield that wouldn't tank my attack bonus.

@Calie I do the -4 for non-lethal with a lethal weapon. Basically just trying to not cut out the other guys inners with your glaive.

@Ottast I had you down for having Vigilantle Witch Hunter as your campaign trait. Winter Warrior & Debt to a Witch both require you being from or lived in Irrisen for sometime. Considering your background I think that Debt to a Witch would make sense and still be from Heldren

@Randgrid I wanted to say that I don't know how to make my keyboard to do that I or D so I hope Randgrid is ok. My mother-in-laws side of the family is from Michigan Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo areas. I am a Red Wings fan.

@ALL Marching order so far makes sense. Randgrind with the highest AC in 1, Calie with a reach in spot number 2.

Once we hear from the other two we will be good to get things going.

Hello! Thank you for bringing me in! Jujo will be responsible to keep the party's chin up. Well, except when they're looking at him, then they'll have to look down.

I'm Brazilian. My posting hours are not very consistent, as I don't know when I'll have free time to check the forums between my final months of Statistics PhD and teaching Statistics in the Rio de Janeiro federal university (if you wonder whether I love Statistics, I do). However, I have been posting rather consistently every weekday, at least 3 times (I get frustrated when my model doesn't behave, so check the forums to cool off). Time zone is GMT-3 (it is 1pm as I'm writing this).

I don't intend Jujo to learn Cure Wounds spells, but will if necessary. Also, living in Rio de Janeiro, I don't be sharing the feeling of "playing a game in snow to celebrate RL snow". Hopefully, being in this game will make me forget the heat over here.

I can be number 4 in both walking formations. I don't have the highest AC (15), but not the lowest.

@Randgríðr: How do you make the computer write your name and human pronounce it?

@Jujo Sounds good. I will put you at spot number 4.

@ALL something I forgot to mention. When posting in the Gameplay thread, I would like us all to respect the spoilers. There will be times where I need to roll stuff and want it to be secret, also when I am wanting to only tell one person information and everyone else doesn't know.

Just waiting for one more person before we can really kick things off. I posted in the Gameplay thread to have a starting point. Looking forward to being your DM.

í = ALT + 0237
ð = ALT + 0240

Pronunciation is Rahnd-grii-duhr (I am not a linguist I'm so sorry)

I'll see if I can find a sound clip for you when I'm not on mobile. Also just copying and pasting my name works, but if you want Randgrid / Randgridr is fine. Might add a last name later. It's a reference to a valkyrie and the name basically means "shield-breaker".

Thank you for the invitation.

I'm in North Carolina and generally try to get on the boards in the morning before work and sometime after work. No smart phone so no checking while at work. I too have in-laws in Grand Rapids and it's outskirts.

I think I'm good with the number 3 spot in both orders.

This is Trawets' third time though this AP. Never made it to the second book. Trawets was the first RPG character I ever created back in AD&D days. He was the kinda guy that carried around 3 fireballs and 2 lightning bolts and 4 magic missiles and a detect magic. I'll be trying to play a little support as well, but expect a lot of blasting. Gear should be good to go.

Sounds good! Looks like we have a marching order

I take it that Ottast will be 5th since he is ranged. I added a scouting formation also.

Formation seems fine. Also, it seems I'll have to get Cures after all.

Thanks for being lenient with the trait switch.
I'm happy to stay in the back for a bit but will range on ahead where needed.

Just a heads up, I changed the layout of Calie's sheet to better keep of track where all her bonuses were coming from. Mechanically nothing has been touched or changed. Hope that's alright.

@Calie not a problem. The easier it is to read the better.

@Ottast It just made sense to have that as a trait, regardless of the requirement.

@ALL looking forward to really jumping in. Just so everyone knows. The weekends are kind of crazy for me and my job. I typically can only post once on the Sat/Sun, that is why I don't expect everyone else to post more than that. But, I loved jumping on this morning and seeing the RP happening in the tavern!!

Hey all! Just so there is no confusion. The Border Woods is to the south/west of Heldren. Not a big deal, I have just seen a few post saying to the north. That is all! Enjoy.

XD I may have just picked a direction.

@Ottast no worries. I just wanted to clarify so we were all on the same page.

@ALL I have a post ready, but really am enjoying the scene with you all. Please feel free to play that out as you see fit. I will jump in when the timing is right.

@Randgríðr thanks for the great question! The current date is 16th of Sarenith 4713. I will do dates on my postings to keep a record of time flow.

@Jujo if you could, would you put the information in your bar similar to what he others have done? HP/Defenses/Saves/Initiative/Perception/etc? It makes it easier for me to look up without having to go to your character sheet.

Is there a particular reason you asked this now? o.O

Ha! I just now noticed that you didn't have one. I should have checked before we really got going. Sorry about that, and Thank you for setting it up!

Side-note, there are a couple of you who have negative perception. That is extremely foreign to me. The group I play with in person always tries to have perception and take a trait to add it in class if it isn't.

Jujo's not one to mind his surroundings. I sort of assumed someone else would have Perc.

Is there a forum board post or link about putting information in the bar?
I see different colours and even a spoiler tag.

In another game I'm in the GM had use this as a mode for our stat bars.

I just use some template a DM posted in a game I played.

In another game I'm in the GM had use this as a mode for our stat bars.

This is excellent!

I'll be moving this weekend, so apologies if I don't post anything until Monday. If I need to be botted I will be attacking nonlethally and one-handed unless the party is moving in the direction of killing our target.

I'll be moving this weekend, so apologies if I don't post anything until Monday. If I need to be botted I will be attacking nonlethally and one-handed unless the party is moving in the direction of killing our target.

Sounds good! Good luck with the move, hope it all goes well. I will bot with those instructions in mind.

I'll be moving this weekend, so apologies if I don't post anything until Monday. If I need to be botted I will be attacking nonlethally and one-handed unless the party is moving in the direction of killing our target.

Good luck. I've moved this year and it's still fresh in my memory. It was somewhat stressful, but hopefully you have people to help you!

I don't mind moving- its the packing that I really really don't like.
I'll move boxes anytime over packing them up.

btw, sorry about not being on the ball. I had an interview for a new teaching gig and was focused on getting everything prepped for the application and interview.

Well the packing (and then unpacking) is part of the moving process I find tiring. Good luck on your interview, hope you get it.

Thanks for the well wishes, everyone! Everything has gone pretty good, I think. Just going to be spending the upcoming holiday unpacking, which as you all have stated, is the worst part (part 2).

For those in the US, Happy Thanksgiving! For those outside of it, Happy Thursday!

I will be using a house rule for the Heal skill check. I will be allowing a check to be made on a short rest (1-2 hours) to give a 1d4+1(Per rank in heal).

I do know no one currently has ranks in heal so I will also implement another house rule we use IRL. After the first encounter we always allow minor tweaks.

If you would like to make any minor tweaks to your character now is the only time that will be allowed.

@Jujo you currently have 3 skills selected as background skills. You need to correct that and adjust your skill accordingly.

let me know if you would like to adjust anything.

Hi, I have 8 ranks/level in adventuring skills, but only used 7. I used the 8th on background. According to the rules, I'm allowed to do that. Please confirm.

Just as a heads up I'll be at PAX Unplugged this weekend so I won't be able to post from Friday 12/6 to Sunday 12/8.

Hey all! Sorry I did not post yesterday. My house came down with the flu and I was knocked on my butt Sunday and Monday. I will get a post up shortly.

@Jujo I see, yeah that is fine. It works the same as taking it regularly.

@Randgríðr thanks for the heads up!

Would Calie trading in her Dancer's Garb (100 gp) for two potions of cure light wounds be acceptable as a minor tweak to her sheet?

I was more thinking of skills or feats. something that is more long term.

My question about the Dancer's Garb is would that have been something that she had?

Yes, it was on her sheet as part of her miscellaneous gear, but I mostly bought it for fluff reasons.

Of course, if you had only feats and skills in mind than I'll stick with the garb.

@Calie I will allow you to switch out the dancers outfit for the potions.

Does anyone want/need to make any tweaks before moving on? After we move on, everything is set.

Also, in the last combat I only provided a map and we just RPed the combat with our roles. Is everyone ok if we continue to do it this way? Not using tokens and marking everything down exactly? I am fairly gracious with movement and always try to be descriptive.

If anyone is 100% opposed to this I can figure something out. I typically never have used grids online. Let me know either way and lets have some fun.

I'm ok with how it was, but I will assume to be able to use things like Point Blank Shot. If I'm not, I'll leave to you to make adjustments.

I'm ok with how it was, but I will assume to be able to use things like Point Blank Shot. If I'm not, I'll leave to you to make adjustments.

Sounds great, I'll be descriptive on distances when it matters.

I'm fine with us going gridless.

@Jujo your Color Spray has me thinking. Had it succeeded would the spider of lost grip of the wall and fallen? The spell specifically states that you drop what is in your hands. I will need to do some future research.

If anyone knows definitively I would love to hear.

I think the spider would have just fallen limp. If it is perfectly centered around the tree branch, then it just lays there like a resting cougar. Otherwise, it just slides off. Maybe the wind would help it slide off. All in all, I think it would be your call.

Spiders have tiny hairs on their limbs that helps them cling to walls and things. They don't actually "hold" the wall, it's more like they are stuck to it. I would rule they don't fall but I'm not the GM of this game.

I'm in another game where Randgríðr is GM and their friend said they caught a flu after the weekend and will show up when they get better.

Gotcha, thanks for the heads up. I will go ahead and continue to bot her. You are going to have the honorary title of Detective Jujopotamous Jumbomanic the 3rd