Ruins of Azlant

Game Master Aldizog

Fenna and Vexas should be good. I'll try to send out invites for the rest. Sorry peeps!

No worries! Post up!

I have found Google Slides to be a better interface than Google Drawings and would suggest that for maps going forward.

It can be edited on a phone, unlike Drawings.

You can have one link to a presentation with multiple slides. For example, the map of Talmandor's Bounty on one slide, the close-up encounter map on another, and other maps as needed. You can have a text box of all the Perception and Initiative checks, so you can just copy and paste that into the browser to make the group rolls when needed.

I have attempted to use Slides, and for some reason, cannot get it to do what I want. I will keep trying until I figure it out.

It's weird. I used to use PowerPoint all the time to create presentations for work. Since it has been awhile, I feel like a luddite.

I was just playing around in Slides a bit, and I think I have it figured out. Next Map or encounter will be in Slides.

Fenna, your Aquan makes me laugh LOL

Great job on your first AP encounter!

I posted something hours ago to move the plot along, but I must not have saved it after previewing it. Grrr

I'll repost when I get home.

My chaotic side likes where Fena is going with the roof.

Sunlight's a great cleanser, at least as far a cockroaches are concerned (maybe?)!

The roof is evenly pitched with the apex in the middle. It is made of thatch.

before we get too far, remember the potions Vexas found and the shirt Fenna was holding.

Unless you folks do not like magic items. . .

I believe Vexas had handed out the potions to the warriors (Brannart, Sho, and Malakar) - but there are four vials, maybe Fenna should get the last.

I'll post in game on the subject, but for the sake of clarity I'll put one here too.

Fenna doesn't benefit all that much in this context by using a potion and trying to move barrels. She'd only be 50/50 to succeed with the potion. If three people are enough for the task, I'd suggest Brannart, Malakar, and Sho use potions and do it since they're the strongest. I'd happily hand over the 4th potion (assuming Fenna has it) to someone else for later use.

On the other hand, if you want 4 for the job she can pitch in. It just seems a shame to blow all the potions on this when it could really turn the corner on a situation at a later time in the right hands.

Fenna does have the magical shirt, but no way to identify it. No point in Spellcraft yet and no Identify spell.

I didn't use a potion here, thinking that Brannart could risk a round of swarm damage.

Those potions are quite valuable and could make a big difference in a tough combat.

I hadn't seen you bring the shirt up to us, I'd be happy to try identifying it if you do.

Fighting a migraine tonight, so I will post the next building tomorrow.

Between using firelight and muscle, provisions will be saved with no rolls needed. I will post this also, along with any other goodies. Feel free to post about your success in saving the provisions.

I hope your migraine passes quickly Mioki. They're the worst.

Hey Folks,

Will catch up on weekend. Work has me a bit fried to formulate a cohesive thought. sorry for the delay.

No worries! I know the feeling.

Yup, me too.

@ sho – My mistake. Damage to goblin redacted

What was the damage on me? And my AC without shield is 17.

Malakar, if your correct AC is 17, then you took no damage, and this is my mistake.

I guess I am confused on how Flat-Footed works. Please correct me.

This is my interpretation of the rules: A character is considered Flat-Footed until their first move in an encounter. In this case, the goblins were hiding. I considered removing themselves from the tangled blankets and readying their weapons as their actions in a surprise round. Since no one else noticed them, they alone got to move in this round. In Round 1, everyone except Malakar, had higher Initiative than the gobbies, and got to move or attack. Since the goblins had higher Initiative than Malakar, they went keeping Malakar Flat-Footed (AC: 14) until his first turn. This would have Malakar taking 5 hp of damage. Is this interpretation incorrect. My apologies if it is, but this is how I am reading the rules.

Adding to the discussion of Flat-Footed AC. If it is determined that Malakar took damage, would he then need to roll a Concentration Check DC 16 {10 + damage taken (5) + spell level (1) } to determine if he lost the spell he was casting? His modifiers would be caster level 1 + wisdom modifier. Is this correct? Thanks

Other than on the spell I believe you are correct, in terms of spells, one I don’t see that he was casting anything.

Malakar's flat-footed AC is 16 with the shield (you keep shield bonuses when flat-footed) or 14 without the shield.

Given that he has said he is casting Shillelagh on his quarterstaff, one might have guessed he had that in hand, which would mean no shield. He could not have the quarterstaff in hand AND a shield AND a hand free for casting.

But maybe he had the shield in one hand, the other free for casting, and the quarterstaff on his back.

That would mean that next round he will have to drop the shield (a move action) and draw the quarterstaff (a move action), and then attack the round after.

It's reasonable enough, but when a character has both "weapon and shield" and "two-handed weapon" modes (as Brannart does as well), it is good to clarify which mode you are in.

As to taking damage while casting, that is only while casting, so with a readied action or for a spell with a "1 round" casting time. Neither applies here. He hadn't gotten to start casting when they attacked him.

I will wait for Malakar to act before posting my turn.

I assumed, since holding the staff, Malakar was not holding his shield. Am I correct to use the Flat-Footed AC of 14 since he did not have a turn in this encounter yet?

Yes, that would be correct. You are flat-footed until you get a chance to act, unless you have Uncanny Dodge or a similar ability.

Wasn't thinking flat-footed. I don't have the shield up when using a 2h weapon. So yes if the attack was before my action in the first round than ac was 14.

Not sure where we are in the Init now tho as a buch of people posted.

I had been waiting for you, Malakar, but posted anyway. Since you go before me, if you move out of the way I won't have the cover penalty (not that it matters much with what I rolled).

@GM, here is how I usually track rounds as a GM. This may make things easier.

Round 2
Active Effects: Inspire Courage
Brannart
Sho
Fenna -3
Kowal
Vexas
Goblin creatures (Blue -5) I normally give each a different color border, easy to do in Google Slides, so we can say who we are aiming at.
Malakar -5

Bold indicates whose turn it is, and the numbers indicate how much damage anyone has taken. You can also add conditions like "Prone, Stunned, etc." after a name. And you can move people around when they ready or delay (but with all of us in the same "block" it doesn't make a big difference).

There are numerous formats you can use; some people post HP as "Fenna 8/11" rather than "Fenna -3". Either way, I find that posting the updated tracker each time I post really helps manage the combat.

Then if Fenna ceases Inspire Courage on her turn, and then you post the goblins' actions, it would be
Round 2
Active Effects: None
Brannart
Sho
Fenna -3
Kowal
Vexas
Goblin creatures (Blue -5)
Malakar -5

You could also do a "wrap-around" round counter, like this:
Round 2
Malakar -5
Round 3
Brannart
Sho
Fenna -3
Kowal
Vexas
Goblin creatures (Blue -5)

The latter option would mean we don't all have to wait on Malakar before moving to Round 3.

Thanks Brannart. Always appreciate the suggestions to make the game better.

It does make things a bit confusing when we go out of order within our "block", but it makes the game move much faster.

@Brannart thanks for that advice even if not directed at me as I am running a PbP also and this will help me keep track. :)

Folks, I'll be busy the next two days. I'll work on getting back into it on Wednesday.

No problem Mioki. Stay well!

I know the feeling. Thanks for the update.

No worries

No worries, we'll be here.

I added the map of Talmandor's Bounty (which you had on the Excel document) to a new slide in the slide deck, after the smithy map.

A1 was the dock.
A2 were the seven canvas pavilion tents.
A3 was the storehouse with the roach swarm.
A4 was the Tool House.
A5 was the Smithy.

Brannart, Thanks for the map update. Day went better than expected. Working on a quick post.

Tomorrow, Promise! Really want to get back to this, just too tired tonight.

Don't sweat it. i've been feeling supremely drained at the end of the day too. We're here (and maybe likewise tired :) )

I can vouch for that. I blame the dog because of all the extra attention she demands. :)

No problem with a slower game

page 14; April 26

I put information there regarding the shirt that was found. Not sure if anyone wants to revisit that. The post may have been missed.

I've been waiting because as far as I know Fenna still has it so I don't know to identify it

You had a spoiler if anyone casts Identify. I don't think we have that spell in the party. What about just Detect Magic plus a Spellcraft check (you would need to tell us the DC)?

Fenna can't identify it either. Kowal can have it. I thought I'd already handed it over.

You had a spoiler if anyone casts Identify. I don't think we have that spell in the party. What about just Detect Magic plus a Spellcraft check (you would need to tell us the DC)?

That would work too. Sorry, should have been more clear on that.

Yeah, I'd thought of it before but Spellcraft is trained only and Fenna doesn't have a point in it yet.

I'll get back to the game soon. With the holiday weekend and some amazing spring weather, I am hitting the trail for some much needed outdoor therapy.