GM PDK IRONFANG INVASION (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Miss chances don't stack, they overlap. You take the worst one. In this case, same 20%, so no difference.

Gren and Ringo advance through the bushes with some difficulty, and manage to close the distance to the camouflaged archer. Gren swings and misses, but Ringo's mighty antlers connect with his foe's midsection, drawing a grunt of pain from his target.

Arthur advances and pokes his halberd through the bushes:
Miss chance 01-20 is a miss: 1d100 ⇒ 74
When he withdraws the halberd from the bushes, it is wet with blood.

ROUND 2 - bold may go!
Snipers [one -9, two -8, four -8]
Luke -21 [prone]
Grenwold [shield companion caster]
Ringo -17 [shield companion recipient]
Arthur
Dommer -7

Curious, was there a reflex save to avoid the pit?

no

Ouch!

It's probably one of those things where if you're charging, you don't notice it. That said, next time, we're dragging Vale and Herman along!

Herman glances out the cave entrance at the pouring rain. "Sodden fools probably got lost out there," he mutters at Mulch. "You'd think they'd be able to find their way through the woods they've been patrolling for a week, but apparently that's giving them too much credit." He continues working with the bone in his hands, looking up every few minutes with a look of growing irritation.

I mean, those two could possible join the combat after some number of rounds?

Dommer gets out of the hiding, takes a slight step ahead and again shoots on the furthest enemy he can target.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

Assuming Dommer shoots number 5:
Concealment miss chance; 01-20 is a miss: 1d100 ⇒ 79

Dommer's arrow flies true and clips one of the archers in the trees. The archer grunts in pain, and jumps from its branch into the thick bushes below.

The one in front of Arthur drops his bow and draws his sword. The one on the trail with the shield draws his sword too and moves against Arthur as well. The one in front of Grenwold also draws his sword.
longsword, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 4 = 9
longsword, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 4 = 6
longsword, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 5
Miss

One of the archers steps out of the bushes and walks up to the pit, shooting at Luke.
arrow, vs. prone: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 4 = 13
Miss

The one in the trees sees Dommer step out of his foliage cover and tries a shot.
arrow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Miss

ROUND 3 - bold may go!
Snipers [one -9, two -8, four -8]
Luke -21 [prone]
Grenwold [shield companion caster]
Ringo -17 [shield companion recipient]
Arthur
Dommer -7

Grenwold grins, and says in common and goblin, ”you thought us easy marks? We have power. I’ve been in these woods a week, fools, and you never knew.”

longsword, outflank, bull: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 13
longsword damage, bull: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

add +1 if hatred applies - +1 to attack goblinoids/reptilian. Note that Ringo and Grenwold are now in the bushes. Gren should have a 20% miss chance potentially.

Ringo keeps trying to gore his enemy.

gore, outflank, power attack: 1d20 + 4 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 4 - 1 = 14
gore damage, power attack: 1d8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 3 = 10

Luke stands up and tries to climb out of the pit.

climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Arthur strikes twice at the enemy in front of him, before carefully backing up a bit to try to draw him out of the foliage. Full attack +5 ft step

Halberd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 31
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Shield Bash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 24
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Is my sword in the pit or outside? If it is in the pit then Luke will stand up in pick up the sword.

Gren and Ringo begin to battle with their foe, making mock trusts and parries to gauge the swordsman's skill. Luke stands up, and sheathe his sword, preparing to attempt a climb out of the pit. You may attempt two climb checks next round; Luke think it's gonna be hard unless someone lowers a rope...

Arthur manages to pierce the camouflaged archer once more! The archer grunts in pain and collapses in the heavy undergrowth!

ROUND 3 - bold may go!
Snipers [one -9, two -18, four -8]
Luke -21
Grenwold [shield companion caster]
Ringo -17 [shield companion recipient]
Arthur
Dommer -7

My post is above

Dommer now flurries his bow, again targeting the furthest enemy he can see. He does a small forward step before letting his arrows fly. This time he uses the resources he has available to try to help deal with the enemies quicker.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Attack 1 (Retry): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Perfect Strike
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8

Attack 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 Ki Attack
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 3 = 14

01-20 is a miss: 3d100 ⇒ (75, 7, 27) = 109

Two of Dommer's arrows fly true and take out the remaining sniper in the trees.

The one on top of the pit shoots Luke.
arrow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Luke's armor deflects the arrow.

The other two archers who now have swords wave them at Arthur and Gren defensively.
longsword vs. Gren, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 4 = 19
longsword vs. Arthur: readies an attack

20% miss chance vs. snipers 3 due to foliage concealment; 01-20 is a miss on a d100

ROUND 4 - bold may go!
Snipers [one -9, four -8]
Luke -21
Grenwold [shield companion caster]
Ringo -17 [shield companion recipient]
Arthur
Dommer -7

Arthur steps back forward, bracing himself for an attack, and when the attack comes steps forward again before unleashing his attacks on the archer turned swordsman.

5 ft. step forward; assuming that triggers his readied action use Dodging Panache deed to step forward another square and at +2 for AC 25 against this attack, then full attack.

Halberd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 4
Magic Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Shield Bash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 93
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Grenwold attempts to strike at his closest foe, again.

longsword, outflank, bull: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 23
longsword damage, bull: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

add +1 if hatred applies - +1 to attack goblinoids/reptilian. Note that Ringo and Grenwold are in the bushes. Gren should have a 20% miss chance potentially.

Ringo tries to gore his foe.

gore, outflank, power attack: 1d20 + 4 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 - 1 = 15
gore damage, power attack: 1d8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 3 = 7

Luke starts to climb up.

climb1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
climb2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Arthur you can't do the second 5-foot of movement Dodging Panache deed into the Heavy Undergrowth as it costs 4 squares to move into it. Do you wish to continue past the 1st square an take a complete move action followed by your 1st Halberd attack?

With the snipers down, Dommer saves some of his resources and simply flurries his usual two arrows against one of the enemies, after walking another step ahead.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 3) + 3 = 12

Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11

He aims at the enemy at the South of the Pit with none of Dommer's allies adjacent to him.

No- if I can't do the dodging panache and still be in position to attack I won't use it

Arthur steps forward and the swordsman is ready.
longsword, defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 4 = 3
His skill is no match for Arthur's agility and his slash goes wide. Arthur attacks the camouflaged swordsman and manages to ring him with his shield. Gren scores a hit with his small longsword but Ringo does not connect. Luke begins to climb up the pit but falls back down halfway through. Dommer takes out the archer close to the pit... the archer falls into the spiked pit a few feet from Luke and gets impaled at the bottom, negating any chance of surviving Dommer's arrows.

The two remaining swordsmen attack:
longsword, vs. Arthur, defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 4 = 5
longsword, vs. Gren, defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 4 = 18
Both miss their mark, holding their defenses up.

ROUND 4 - bold may go!
Snipers [three -2, four -12]
Luke -21
Grenwold [shield companion caster]
Ringo -17 [shield companion recipient]
Arthur
Dommer -7

Grenwold seems to be annoyed at his foe not dropping yet and attempts to strike at his enemy.

longsword, outflank, bull: 1d20 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 28
longsword damage, bull: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

add +1 if hatred applies - +1 to attack goblinoids/reptilian. Note that Ringo and Grenwold are in the bushes. Gren should have a 20% miss chance potentially.

Ringo again tries to gore his foe.

gore, outflank, power attack: 1d20 + 4 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 4 - 1 = 19
gore damage, power attack: 1d8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 3 = 12

Arthur strikes at the swordsman again, trying to finish him off.

Halberd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 23
Magic Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Shield Slam: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 62
Piercing Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Luke stands up and continues to climb.

climb1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Gren manages to get past the swordsman's defenses, and Ringo kills him instantly, impaling him. Arthur once again collides the defender with his shield, his halberd getting tangled in the bushes. Luke manages to get halfway up the pit.

Dommer is up

The Dwarf again flurries his exotic bow against the remaining enemy.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 = 12

miss: 1d100 ⇒ 6
Dommer misses due to foliage. That archer sees the writing on the wall and disappears into the bushes.

COMBAT OVER

What do you do?

Can I track them? Ringo can move faster/as fast as most creatures, even when moving half-speed while tracking. Don't want anyone getting away if we can avoid it. Note: I can switch his focus to "Stag" and boost his base speed to 60'. I also can theoretically track while mounted, especially since Ringo is a medium-sized creature.

You can do whatever you want! tell me what, where, how, when and roll away! oh, and Luke is in the pit, with holes in his side and butt! ;)

Gren says quickly, "Arthur, can you get Luke out of the pit? Dommer, Ringo needs a heal - can you grab one of the potions and follow behind? We're going to try and follow this thing fleeing - if it gets away - it'll be bad for all of us."

Grenwold gestures briefly, and Ringo seems to walk faster. They quickly approach where the creature was last seen, and try to follow the tracks.

survival to track: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Ringo's switched to Stag focus. As they go, Grenwold stays armed for melee, except if he assumes that the creature is farther away. Theoretically, if the creature is hiding, they're moving at half-speed, and I should catch them quickly except if they have a special ability which would prevent that (such as trackless step). If they're not hiding, it shouldn't be too hard to see them, even with concealment.

Luke continues to climb out of the pit.

climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Arthur nods, and laying on the ground flat by the pit reaches down to try to help Luke up.

Assist Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Muttering to himself, "I should have thought to get some rope. . ."

Gren goes off into the woods to track the fleeing archer. Luke falls back into the pit, luckily avoiding the sticks. Arthur bends down and begin to assist Luke. Dommer: do you go with Gren, effectively splitting the party 1/3 (pit trap crew, tracking crew, cave crew) or do you remain with Arthur and Luke?

Gren, how long do you track the fleeing archer? based on the spacing of foot prints, Gren can tell the archer is running. You can track the fleeing sniper for about an hour (one mile, trackless forest) before having to make another Survival check.

I will remain with Arthur and Luke, trying to help them.

Dommer holds his rope, slightly knots it and drops the other end for the guys to climb. He keeps a firm grip on his end, going around one of the trees if needed.

Luke has no problem climbing back up with the offered rope.

Arthur, Dommer and Luke are close to the cave, perhaps another half hour walk to the west using the familiar trail you're on (see map); Gren and Ringo are heading north and east, away from the caves in the trackless forest; what do you do?

Dommer will check all the enemies to see if anyone is still alive enough to be stabilized and taken prisoner for interrogation, then collect his arrows and head back to the caves - believing that Gren and Ringo won’t go too far and head back as well at some point.

Before I get too far chasing - if I cast feather step on Ringo, allowing him to ignore difficult terrain, and assuming my foe can’t ignore difficult terrain, would I be able to catch the enemy within an hour while still tracking? All dark green areas are difficult terrain iirc, and I specifically made this character to be as fast as lightning in the woods. Also, if he’s running, is it easier to use survival to track? Do I have to go at half speed the entire time? :D

Before he starts moving, Grenwold augments Ringo with Feather Step.

If I don’t catch them within an hour of chasing, there’s no point - they obviously have a supernatural ability to escape. Very few natural creatures could run for a full hour straight and outpace a magically augmented megafauna. Track with feather step (refreshed at the 40 minute mark). If I can’t catch the thing I assume it’s too powerful to fight, and head back.

Once we get Luke to the top, Arthur will begin to check the bodies of the slain enemies while we wait for either a signal or the return of Gren

Perception Search: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

@Gren: you didn't cast feather step when you began tracking, so no take back on that one, sorry, although Gren is free to cast it later by making a Concentration check and by foregoing that round of tracking and triggering a need for a new survival check to keep following the trail. Tracking takes concentration, by the way. Also, I don't agree you can track while your deer is running at a speed of 50 ft, this makes no sense whatsoever. When tracking you must move at half speed or normal speed with a penalty (which must be decided before your roll). You can't hustle or use the running actions. Finally, please keep in mind that Feather Step is a tactical spell for use during combat, and won't make an ounce of difference with overland movement (which includes effect of topography, foliage, trees, boulders the size of houses, etc.) With that in mind, how long are you willing to pursue your quarry? Please keep in mind that the combat is over and that this AP will have many fights in the woods... :P

Luke finally out of the pit starts searching the bodies.

"Guys, can one of you two heal me? I don't feel so good."

No I’m giving up, but for clarification: 1) I know that you have to move at half speed, I had assumed that above, 2) Ringo’s speed with Stag focus is 60’, not 50’.

Effectively, catching this foe is impossible, given that I didn’t take into consideration the penalties before I rolled, and there’s no chance I’ll get another good roll. It seems like you don’t want me to do it, so I give up. Grenwold stumbles through the woods for like 10 minutes (assuming that if he hasn’t caught someone running full tilt for 10 minutes, he never will - because they can run forever), and then goes back. When he starts heading back he switches Ringo back to the default of turtle focus. He assumes the person fleeing had some magic to help them get away and are therefore too strong to fight alone.

Of all the arrows shot, Dommer finds three that he can re-use. Checking the bodies of those fallen around the pit, Dommer finds no survivors. While checking their pulse and looting them for valuables, Arthur and Dommer realizes that those are hobgoblins. Under the camouflage, the hobgoblins all wear an insignia on the shoulder of their uniforms. Successful DC 16 Knowledge (history) or Knowledge (local) check to identify

Arthur's looting session on the four bodies yield the following:
Treasure: studded leather armor x3, light steel shield x3, longsword x3, longbow x3, 21 arrows, 10 Provision Points (all in the form of iron rations and waterskins), 3 Provision Points (in the form a wheel of cheese), potion of cure light wounds x2, alchemist’s fire x2, padded armor, composite longbow (+2 Str), handaxe, mwk battleaxe, backpack, bedroll, blanket, mess kit, small tent, 3 gp

After ten minutes of tracking, Gren does not find the fleeing sniper. His trail is relatively easy to follow though, so there could be a potential to follow it later. Gren returns to his friends, and sees them go through the deceased snipers, where he learns that they are all hobgoblins wearing the same insigna on their armor under their camouflage.

Gren returns, shaking his head, "the creature escaped too swiftly - I couldn't follow. It may have had woodland stride or some other ability. But it left an easy-to-follow trail. Shall we go after them?"

Gren is obviously interested in chasing their foe with some help. He looks at the corpses, and nods, "hobgoblins - to be expected." He has a look of disgust on his face.

We need to get herman or vale to come with us, and have nature's paths and I need to pick up greensight as one of my 2nd level spells, ASAP or this will be a problem for us forever.

Gren: you're making too much out of the last encounter, as I've tried to explain to you multiple times now. Please relax and let the other players play their character how they like. It's ok to make suggestions but 'We need this PC to mem THIS or THAT spell ASAP or this will be a problem for us forever' is a bit much and could come off as bossy.