Adventures in Middle-Earth (Inactive)

Game Master Wandering Wastrel

DM Wandering Loremaster wrote:

Seriously though, 2020 can f@%@ right off.

Oh, I get that sentiment!

"May you live in interesting times." and all that.

I have hopes for the second half of this year but we'll see how those pan out.

Not to burst your bubble, but we've probably just had the better half of this year.

In generaly, I avoid talking politics, and I have close friends on all sides of the various political divides we've fallen into over the last few years, but if I have one prediction this year, it's that those of you who live in the US of A are about to find out why the rest of the Western world went in for that there "sociamalised medicine."

If it wasn't for the fact so many of my family is here and my husband's career finally got locked in, I'd of immigrated to Canada or Scotland long ago.

Come to Bonnie Scotland! Freeeeeedom!

Well my mom is Scottish descended. She actually is a third or fourth generation here. Her great-grandparents immigrated. Which is why I thought about Scotland. Then Canada because it is closer and I can drive to it! XD

Then Canada because it is closer and I can drive to it! XD

Not right now, you can't - pretty sure the border is still closed?

Ran out of time for a post today but will press on tomorrow.

No worries, DM.

I actually have cut down on my news consumption lately, which has reduced stress.

Oh I was talking back in 2016! XD
It would time some time to save money up for a move like that, aimed for 2018 only for my husband to get a job at one of the best job places you can get in our area. So, that plan went out the window! XD

I'll be travelling this weekend and I won't be posting again until Monday at least.

No problem, thanks for the heads-up. Safe travels.

Heh. Illyria's player once threatened to cook and eat a (rather over-zealous) vegetarian so her character's attitude doesn't surprise me. But Morwen isn't wrong about the need for courtesy

??? Pretty sure that wasn't me - are you thinking of someone else?

Was Harry supposed to get an inspiration point? Just to confirm.

[oprah]Yes, YOU get an Inspiration point and YOU get an inspiration point and YOU...[/oprah]

EDIT: and for avoidance of doubt: yes, Morwen, these are Orcs. Not Goblins

A critical fail on Perception? Yeah, I can do something with that.

Post in progress.

OK, you guys are up! Surprise gives you a full round of actions, but not Advantage (that would be OP). If you could post your Surprise Round action and then your Round 1 action (not Illyria), that would help me resolve what happens in which order.

I've added in a bit about what you didn't see for reasons of drama - I trust you not to metagame it.

I'll post for the sake of speeding things along but Harry is waiting for Morwen and Bergur to report - or yell.

I'll give Onar some time to roll the Advantage from his attacks, and then if Bergur hasn't posted I will bot them for this round.

Bergur: my assumption is that you would stand at a distance and shoot rather than go toe-to-toe in melee. Let me know if you disagree!

You are correct :)

Thanks for the bot, and apologies that it was needed.

@Morwen - how are you getting +7 to damage? I can see you have a +3 from Dex but I can't see where the rest comes from.

(Should probably have noticed this sooner)

Because my mind thought the proficiency bonus and archery skill Morwen gets went to damage to... I don't know why, but I did! XD

I'm still getting use to this system, as I don't really play 5e and this is only my second time making a character for this type of system.

No problem! I should have spotted it sooner, but I'm getting used to 5e as well.

Grr. The one time I actually hit, and I roll a 1 for damage?!

Great posting rate, everyone! Thank you :D

Just a small heads up, as I'm still not familiar with 5e or how is runs completely, I need to look up a few things before attacking... But I'm on my phone any it isn't loading my book! T_T
So my post would likely come up after my morning shift tomorrow. Yes I have an evening shift tonight and a morning shift tomorrow.... Kill me...

Thanks for the update - hope all ok. Post as you can :)

@Illyria - For you

I'll post an update later today.

@Illyria - For you

Yeah, she has that effect on people. There's no kill like overkill.

Harry: Morwen is right. you can't heal anyone else if you are dead.

Morwen: "It still only counts as one", I see what you did there :)

I couldn't not! XD

I'm generally OK with intra-party conflict (as long as it's between the PCs and not the players): it makes for good roleplay and allows peoples' backstories to come out. Bergur, Illyria and Morwen all gain a point of Inspiration.

HOWEVER... this is Middle-Earth, not Golarion; and dissension between the Free Peoples only ever helps the Enemy.

In view of this, everyone needs to make a Will save v Corruption to avoid gaining Shadow Points as the bonds of fellowship are tested.

Harry, Onar and Bergur have a DC 10 check (Bergur has Advantage on the role for trying to act as peacemaker).

Illyria and Morwen have a DC 15 check (Morwen has Disadvantage on the roll: "verbally digging the knife" feels good and all, but you're wielding a weapon of the Enemy (see: Grima Wormtongue))

Also, let's end this here. I want the next posts to be de-escalating, although the way you do that is up to you - walk away, kiss and make up (metaphorically or literally, I'm good) - I don't care what as long as some sort of truce is made. Any more posts continuing this fight will count as a Misdeed and automatically gain Shadow Points without need for a saving throw.

I am unsure if walking away like this is considered a truce as no words of truce have been exchanged... But it isn't the continual fighting of Illyria and Morwen so it's totally fine by me and we're moving on. I'm always nervous of character fighting, because I've had some people take my character says as a direct jab at them when it isn't. Or I have players who are trying to take out some frustrating thing they have on my character be that from my character, from me, or from their life.

That said, I'm fairly sure Illyria's player knows I don't dislike her and think she's good people. And I'm fairly sure Illyria's player doesn't hate me either! XD

I think Harry is at a bit of a loss as to how to proceed.

I'm also thinking that he isn't in the best condition. His usual torrent of words is greatly reduced as a sign of that!

Sorry for delay in posting, got caught up in other things.

Morwen: we;re good. Illyria is dealing with some stuff and Morwen's screw-up gave her an excuse to pick a fight, I don't intend to play her like that normally.

It's cool, things happen!

Illyria: Oh I figured that out fairly quick. The moment I noticed Illyria was focusing just on Morwen put two and two together, and figured out pretty quick that this was baggage from Illyria's past. The only difference is that now Morwen figured it out too. Sadly if the poor girl didn't have to claw for everything she's gotten in life when it comes to respect she might have handled that far better. However Morwen is not in the mood to be anyone scapegoat after everything from her own life... What I mean is things will get better I'm sure! XD

Folks, just a heads up that my posting might be erratic this week. Got a bunch of RL stuff that is stymieing my creative flow and has frankly ground me down mentally...

I’m still missing my boy terribly, and while we’ve discussed getting another rescue pup of late, a sense of “replacement guilt” has weighed on me heavily. Additionally while gym's reopen in a week’s time here in Scotland, but it's been a long time coming, and that lack of “iron therapy” has been acutely felt of late in my mental wellbeing.

Lastly, but not least, I often set myself up as a defacto union rep in my workplace. Lately there’s been some issues that have put me at loggerheads with upper-management, whilst trying to do right by co-workers and the small team I’m responsible for. Sleepless nights and frustration has ensued, which has also contributed to my headspace being less than stellar.

I’ve taken Friday off, to bookend a bank holiday this weekend. Hoping to use the time to recharge and deload. If my posting is off, or I go awol for a day or three hope you’ll understand why in light of above.

Thanks ahead of time for your collective patience and understanding.

Gary/BD/Ónar

Thank you for keeping us informed, and I hope your break is a refreshing one.

Thank you for letting us know! Please focus upon yourself and your family my friend. We'll be here waiting!

Take care of yourself, and have a good bank holiday break.

What they said - RL comes first. We'll still be around (I hope?) when you're ready to continue.

2020: when it feels like you're tempting fate just by promising to stick around :/

Harry has not seen the core of the matter. Hopefully I've guessed it!

What they said - RL comes first. We'll still be around (I hope?) when you're ready to continue.

2020: when it feels like you're tempting fate just by promising to stick around :/

*ducks*

Why would you even say that?! Are you trying to tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing?

You can keep talking, but in game terms, the Audience is over. It went well enough for you to pacify Viglund and get him to entrust you with a task to win more favour, but you didn't roll high enough to get permission to stay.

That means you don't get the benefits of a Long Rest. Maybe you'll get an opportunity later down the line. Or not.

Understood! At this stage, Harry is aiming to get information to make this all-but-inevitable task easier!

I want to try and strike a balance in the back-and-forth of conversation which is great for RP but slows down the PbP. Generally I'm going to abstract the minor details of these things: if you agree to travel to Viglund's hold, or to Drusilla's steading, you can expect to be given the details you need on how to get there.

There will be exceptions of course, so if you end up agreeing to go on a quest in search of the Lost Castle of Arrrgh, it's you know, lost; so don't expect directions in that case.

That's a fair balance to strike.

I agree, that sounds a good balance to try and strike!

@Morwen - just a reminder that you're still only at 14/21 hit points. You can "burn" a HD (as Illyria did) to restore d10 hit points.

Hey folks - just a wee update that I've had some much needed time to recharge and refocus - very much appreciate the kind words and understanding from everyone.

I've had a brilliant start to the holiday weekend and have a busy day ahead, but hoping to have a post up shortly.

In short - I'm back, but won't be in full flow in all my games until tomorrow :)

If possible Ónar will also use the Short Rest burn a HD and recover 1d10 ⇒ 8 HP

Hi Ónar, good to know you're doing better :)

Everyone: I bought the full set of books to this game when they wnet on sale. I've been thinking for a while about trying to run a game on PbP but I haven't got round to it yet. One option would be for me to run the Mirkwood campaign for you all, if you're interested? Let me know.

Just so you know: the Mirkwood campaign is full on grimgrim darkdark McGrimDark.

Cheers Illyria - much appreciated.

Given my boards moniker is Black Dow I'm all about the grim dark lol.

I'd be definitely interested :)

I'd be interested too. This game has been a lot of fun so far, and I've no objection to grimdark McGrimDark :)