(5E) Odyssey of the Dragonlords - By Supreme Being (Inactive)

Game Master scranford

1. I've always thought more players made pbp much faster, but if you just mean combat yes.

2. I like playing on weekends.

4. I like group initiative, but as DM I still find it essential to roll init for everyone to help determine a sequence to certain things. Ignore it completely for order of combat, but then pay it mind for when spells expire, death saves, buffs begin, etc.

For example, say a wizard cast a paralyzation effect that would expire at the beginning of the following turn. That means the paralyzed enemy would be stiff during its turn, but then no players would be able to attack it with the benefits paralyze gives. Since the effect expires at the top of the group init. Its better in cases like that I think to resolve posts with a mind of a real initiative order.

Anyways, just something I noticed from my personal DM experience on pbp. 90% I just ignore it, but there's things that crop up that are really borked if you don't have an init list somewhere. Don't really care either way and just my opinion but I think it warrants consideration.

Yes to all except keeping rolls for later use. Sorry.

Speaking of probabilities the expected value for n-sided dice rolled twice and maximum of two kept is:

[(n+1)(4n-1)]/6n

For a d20, that means a change from 10.5 to 13.82 (disadvantage swings it the same the other way). Other dice are:

d4: 3.17 instead of 2.5
d6: 4.47 instead of 3.5
d8: 5.81 instead of 4.5
d10: 7.15 instead of 5.5
d12: 8.49 instead of 6.5

[BIGGER GEEK]

Since hit points are one shot per level, I would analyze this decision as the likelihood to do better or worse than the PHB "average," instead of expected value. Meaning, I want to ensure that I've a much higher chance of doing better than worse, because "losses loom larger than gains." (Kahneman)

So, the probability of doing worse than PHB "average" when rolling advantage on your Hit Dice is 25%. Meaning, PHB "average" for a d10 is 6, so the probability of rolling a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 is always 25%. I used Excel, because my head is to fuzzy to find the math.

The probability of doing better than the PHB "average" improves with the size of the Hit Dice as follows:
d6 = 56% for 5 or 6
d8 = 61% for 6, 7 or 8
d10 = 64% for 7, 8, 9 or 10
d12 = 66% for 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12

From the theory of Loss Aversion in Behavioral Economics, we know that most people weigh the probability of loss twice as much as the probability of equal gains. Since every class is more than twice as likely to get more than less compared to the PHB "average", then all but the most risk averse person should be comfortable to roll advantage on hit points, instead of taking the certain PHB "average."

[/BIGGER GEEK]

1. I've always thought more players made pbp much faster, but if you just mean combat yes.

2. I like playing on weekends.

4. I like group initiative, but as DM I still find it essential to roll init for everyone to help determine a sequence to certain things. Ignore it completely for order of combat, but then pay it mind for when spells expire, death saves, buffs begin, etc.

For example, say a wizard cast a paralyzation effect that would expire at the beginning of the following turn. That means the paralyzed enemy would be stiff during its turn, but then no players would be able to attack it with the benefits paralyze gives. Since the effect expires at the top of the group init. Its better in cases like that I think to resolve posts with a mind of a real initiative order.

Anyways, just something I noticed from my personal DM experience on pbp. 90% I just ignore it, but there's things that crop up that are really borked if you don't have an init list somewhere. Don't really care either way and just my opinion but I think it warrants consideration.

I'll definitely roll initiative for everyone... just have them act in groups.

Okay, so I feel (and usually use in my own games) that posting once a day during the workweek is a good standard.

As far as HP goes, I prefer to just take the flat amount from the PHB.

Heh, alright Jubal I'll take your word for it, youre the engineer. :)

It's always a challenge determining the progress rate on a new game. I don't want to push you guys forward, and rob you of inter-party dynamics... but also don't want the game to drag to a halt waiting for something to happen.

I'll leave today without moving forward, so you get a chance to RP among yourselves, then Wednesday morning I'll move past the prologue to Act 1, Scene 1.

HP and healing at new levels is a personal character choice. You don't all have to use the same method... just announce it before the first level up.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and I'll keep an eye on the game to resolve anything before dawn.

Heh, alright Jubal I'll take your word for it, youre the engineer. :)

Yes, I happen to be trained as an engineer; although, I haven't worked as an one for almost 20 years.

My bigger geek comments come from the doctorate that I earned in the area of Behavioral Economics that I'm not using for my current job either.

So, lots of education not directly connected to career...

cheers

Something I like to do in my tabletop games is come up with standard marching orders for different situations. I then always assume this is how the party is arranged, unless I'm told otherwise. Following are the things I like to determine.

Standard Operating Procedures.

• Wilderness Marching order - Daylight
  
• Wilderness Marching order - Night
  
• Dungeon Marching order - Darkness
  
• Dungeon Marching order - Light.
  
• Camping sleeping positions
  
• Typical Watch Schedule
  

Kaia will take the back slot, as she has decent ac and is a ranged combatant, unless I'm really needed to scout.

I don't have darkvision, so I would say I should have first or last watch.

Aristeides doesn't know shit about adventuring, combat or hunting, so he will accept whatever he's told.

I'll be more of a ranged combatant for a while. So, with marching order anywhere behind a few characters is good.

Watch schedule, likewise no darkvision, however I do have Skulker which removes dim light penalty, effectively letting me treat it as brightness. So with a normal torch, I have a darkvision equivalent 60 ft radius I can monitor.

I don't have Expertise: perception yet though, but likely will starting with 6th level (if survive).

'Camping sleeping positions' -- Not sure what is meant here, but I'll be removing armor in most situations.

Coronus doesn't have darkvision so will be using a Light spell at Night. So, he should be the front middle

Stairs and 5 foot hallways will be difficult terrain, so back middle

He sleeps laying on the ground

Watch when it's light outside, because of no darkvision.

For your help in developing a strategy. The Hill is about 50 yards from where you are behind a rise in the land. Most of the vegetation, and trees have been stripped from the area around the combat zone. It is clear ground with a few medium sized boulders, and some small remnants of underbrush, and fallen limbs. There is one upright but scarred tree about 30 yards from the entrance off to the right, but most of the limbs below 30' have been removed Climb DC 15. The next closest trees are about 120' from the entrance of the cave. The area above the cave has some loose brush and some boulders. The beast has done a number on it's surroundings. but is likewise treeless. This is a nasty beast and a nasty encounter.

As far as the "Camping arrangements". We usually place a campfire on the grid, then arrange the PC's around it like the hours of a clock, with 12:00 being North. Once we determine all the "Marching Orders", watch schedule, and Camp procedures I'll put them on a sheet, and put in the "Campaign Notes".

For instance PC1 is at 12:00, and has first watch. PC2 is at 10:00 and 2nd watch. I'll make adjustments if there is no fire or it's against a wall.

Lysander is a bit of a tank, so he'll prefer front row and his abilities with a shield will require him to be near the middle to help out other people's AC.

Since he doesn't have darkvision, he's limited in the dark, but has learned to effectively use torches and the like.

His training means he'll adapt to whatever we need.

I don't know what happens but I can't post in the Gameplay tab.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

The site isn't a fan of just die rolls. Add something to your post and it should show.

Sorry about the late response, a migraine had me in its grips all weekend long...

Mateo is skilled in Perception (even took it as an Expertise) and has Darkvision, so I expect him to be scouting up near the front most times whether it is day or night, especially with Novyx since they can "Help" one another one most rogue-ish tasks for that sweet, sweet advantage to the rolls.

For the first few levels, Mateo is going to be a "get in and stab" kind of guy. Once he hits third level and gains finesse with tridents and spears and proficiency with shields, I expect him to hang out around Lysander a lot to make use of his hoplite abilities. I'll be using that ability that gives everyone advantage against a bad guy to focus down bad guys pretty hard.

As for sleeping positions, I can't remember if light armor still causes fatigue if you rest in it. If you do, he'll sleep without it and generally be resting in more interior parts of camp, being squishy and all. Mateo is good for any watch time, preferably when it is darkest so his darkvision is more useful.

Discussion Item...

Last round Coronus charged doing extra damage, and took a bonus action from his Warpriets to take a bonus attack. Group vote here, as this seems a bit broken...

The Warpriest bolt of inspiration allows you to take a bonus attack when taking the "Attack" Action.

My take is that since the "Charge" seems to be different from a standard attack action since it gives an additional benefit (1d6 extra damage). I'll allow it this time, but it seems a bit overpowered to allow these two things to stack... Thoughts???

Let me clarify. There is no Charge action in 5e, like previous editions. It is a Move and Attack.

Centaur's have a special feature called Charge = "If you move 30 feet straight toward a target and then hit them with a melee attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage from the first attack"

Then, he used his bonus action, because he used the Attack action.

Clear?

I agree the way they have written the Centaur Charge ability is wonky compared to official 5e and reeks of 3pp etc.

However, from that clumsily worded ability it seems intended that movement and melee attack are separate things. In other words its not a special Charge attack, its just if you take 30 spd and then melee attack, you get the d6. So his war priest triggering makes sense.

Finally, I don't think its overpowered. Rogue could grab 2 shortswords and do very near the same at lvl1 considering sneak conditions met:

mainhand 1d6+3+1d6
offhand 1d6

Here, Coro met conditions for Charge and got:

atk1: 1d8+3+1d6
atk2: 1d8+3

Remember also that the atk2 that gets the ability mod damage is a per long rest ability.

Anyways just my thoughts as asked for.

edit:

"Charge" seems to be different from a standard attack action since it gives an additional benefit (1d6 extra damage).

I disagree, "Sneak Attack" is exactly identical to this but still considered a standard attack action.

Let me clarify. There is no Charge action in 5e, like previous editions. It is a Move and Attack.

Centaur's have a special feature called Charge = "If you move 30 feet straight toward a target and then hit them with a melee attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 1d6 damage from the first attack"

Then, he used his bonus action, because he used the Attack action.

Clear?

I’m not ruling this doesn’t work BTW... just questioning...

I understand this... however my thoughts are that the Centaur “charge’ ability is not a standard attack action. If you closed and attacked without the extra damage from this ability I’d have no problems with the warpriest ability, so the question is, is Charge a standard attack action or does the extra D6 damage make it not a standard attack action. Either way it’s not a game changer, really just trying to resolve in my thoughts.

I think the ability itself isn't an action at all. It simply says 'if you do this you get a +d6'.

Exactly like how Sneak Attack works which is obviously an attack action.

Makes Sense. I'll allow it. (Like I said it really doesn't change things that much... however it will not stack with the following feat which is what I was basing my question on.

Charger
When you use your action to Dash, you can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack or to shove a creature.

If you move at least 10 feet in a straight line immediately before taking this bonus action, you either gain a +5 bonus to the attack’s damage roll (if you chose to make a melee attack and hit) or push the target up to 10 feet away from you (if you chose to shove and you succeed).

The centaur Charge feature wouldn’t stack with Charger, because the feat requires a Dash for the standard action for the turn, instead of an Attack action. And War Priest, wouldn’t apply with Charger either, because you only get one bonus action per turn.

The charger feat is still useful to a mobile combatant. But I don’t see it in the top 3 feats for Coronus.

Cheers

Probably because Charger eats most normal PCs action by requiring Dash. So it has to be a bonus.

Even if he stacked it with Charger feat, it would never be able to stack with War Priest since it requires Attack. I suppose he would have to take some fighter levels to do that and Action Surge or be 5th+ with figher. But even then you only ever get 1 bonus...so it would always be a choice between the 5+d6 or regular weapon damage.

edit: Centaur ninja'd

Just a note on the gods and worship practices in Thylea. Because they interact among the residents freely, and have their own plots and schemes, the worship here is a little different from standard fantasy campaign. Most worship the pantheon instead of just one god, and they try to keep a balance between catering to one god or another. After all it's OKay to have a god in your corner, but you don't want 3 other jealous gods out to get you either.

Typically prayers are offered depending upon the situation. If you were going into battle you might offer a prayer to Prythor, but if you were going on an ocean voyage, you still might offer a bit to Sydon to keep storms away... just to be on the safe side. It's more a matter of appeasing instead of worshiping for most on Thylea.

For clerics and paladins it's only a little different. You still embrace the other gods as necessary of unnecessary forces, but you choose to promote the "Agenda" of one particular god. You try to push forth their doctrine and views of the world... but you still might pray to another is the situation arises. Just not too much. Wouldn't want the source of your divine power to dry up.

So it's right for Coronus to promote and put forth Chiron as a sacrifice target... but not necessarily against belief to accept the sacrifice might be to another god.

Again, not trying to railroad you guys, just offering a little insight into the world.

Mateo, I have to say the consistency and quality of your posts is amazing. Wish I could do what you do!

Awww, thank you! I...really like play by post and have been doing so for many years, just mostly in freeform rooms and HTML chats. I am only as good as the material I have to work with so thank you all for making troubled, conflicted, and interesting characters! Thank you GM Supreme for running this mythic tale for us!

Travelling the next three days, so might be a little inconsistent in posting. Feel free to bot as needed.

Sure, we can bot you :p

Sure, we can bot you :p

Let me guess. You're all now 20th level, and just achieved Godhood???

:-)

Hey, I didn't make the rules! XD

Of course not. Godhood comes next level.

Great Role-playing guys the personalities are really developing, and I'm very eager to see where this goes. A couple of notes as we head into level 2 of the adventure.

1. Don't forget that when you cast a healing spell from your own spellcasting you do it with advantage... roll an extra die, and keep the highest. when you have multiple dice of healing you still only roll one extra die however.

2. When you level up you have the choice of rolling that with advantage...roll 2-dice and take the highest, or take the average HD for the new level.

3. Please read mine and your fellow characters posts carefully. I usually only have time to post once per day, and sometimes have to put a lot of not necessarily related information into that post, so sometime details can be overlooked. I know it's the reality of PbP, but I've seen several times where things that both I and the Players have misinterpreted, or overlooked. Not a big deal, but can be confusing.

4. Now is also a good time to air any gripes or suggestions on how to improve the game. I promise I won't be offended, and embrace the opportunity to improve my GMing.

"Game On!".

2 hp: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14 (8)

3. Sorry, if I havent been guilty of this yet surely I will be moving forward.

4. No complaints here, very fun game.

1. I'll probably forget, so everyone please remind me or roll the extra dice if I forget

2. HP: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 2) = 10 8! Woot!

3. Echo Novyn: "Sorry, if I havent been guilty of this yet surely I will be moving forward."

4. One suggestion is your spoilers.

It's different rules and setting for all of us, we will surely forget something, but I guess that's fine. Well fix glitches when they happen.

HP: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9 5 it is, then.

Now the dreaded time: choosing which philosophy school to follow...

Hey man, you didn't ask so feel free to ignore, but I play wizards quite a bit (really the only other class I can stand besides rogue...I'm lame like that). I would personally go Cynicism without hesitation...nothing matters like quantity of spells in spellbook, and getting the school discount universally is awesome. The little forage bonus at the end is a f*@*ing sweet cherry on top.

Now for pure RP there might be some more interesting options, but just saying that's easily the most attractive from a crunch standpoint, imo. A wizard without spells in their spellbook (above the level granted ones) is just a sorcerer without any cool abilities.

1d10 ⇒ 31d10 ⇒ 1 ayup, 5 it is.

Gogo team action surge!

HP: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 10) = 14 I'll take the 4

No, I'm kidding :)

No gripes on my part, I like the disparate personalities we have and I'm excited to see how it plays out.

In the end, did we make the offering to Kyrah?

Okay... Moving on... Everybody don't forget to update your profiles, as that's what I'm gonna use in gameplay... :-).

OK

Coronus will claim the Longbow, 30 arrows, one dagger and one handaxe. Unless anyone else wants them.

He would leave a shortbow and 20 arrows in the pot.

cheers

Is studded leather armor available as part of the basic supplies? I could use the arrow and my share of the coin to afford it.

Sorry that I've been away, a migraine got me again now that summer's dreaded heat is returning...and I unfortunately picked the hottest room in the whole damn house...

Hit Dice Roll #1: 1d8 ⇒ 3
Hit Dice Roll #2: 1d8 ⇒ 7

I will definitely be taking the seven. Being a melee-ish rogue is dangerous business. I'm a little late for the notes but...

1) I'll do my best to remember and remind people if they forget. Hitpoints are hitpoints, man.

2) Done & done.

3) I will do better for that myself, I am sure it will happen to me if it hasn't already. If anyone has any pointers for my writing to make it clearer and more enjoyable, I'm all ears.

4) It has been a blast so far and I'm really looking forward to diving into the Mythical Hero mindset with such a cast of characters. It is going to be a lot of fun.

Sorry I was AFK yesterday- It was my Anniversay. I should have something up today.

@Novyn>>

sorry I missed that about the Studded Leather. Guess I should follow my own advice, and read the posts. :-)

Studded leather is available. It would take the rest of the evening to modify it for your frame, but the leatherworker would be all to happy to work through the night for the chosen ones. Standard price -10%. Workmanship is solid if not attractive.

Awesome thanks.

Alright, so 40.5 base cost. Arrow knocks it down to 15.5. Can trade in current Leather armor for half base price I assume to lower to 10.5...which I can pay with leftover coin from character creation.

Will update on profile and note on sheet.

edit: also we had 24.7 gp and if splitting even its 4.12 gp each. Did all items get claimed? We could sell whatever wasn't for coin.

Coronus replaced his shortbow with longbow and took the handaxe and dagger.

He can buy those for half and sell the shortbow and 30 arrow for half, too

If that's how we're handling the loot.

cheers

Alright, if we're not going to use any other gear that hasn't already been selected (Coronus taking the longbow, dagger, and handaxe), then that leaves us with...

2 spears - 5sp each
1 shortbow - 12.5gp

that gives each of us an additional 2.25gp to have after splitting it. Not a whole lot but still a bit more. Our grand total, if no one grabs anything else, is 6.37gp each.

With my money, I'll spend ten gold pieces and pick up a shield. Now I just need to live to level 3 so I can start using it properly...