This is meant to be the big introductory melee, not what every single encounter will be like for certain- there's been a few bad breaks that have slowed it down, combined with persistent real world interference slowing me down.
I tend to start campaigns out with a major encounter, and this one was ambitious and made more ambitious by the sheer size of the party. but I assure you it is rapidly nearing its completion and the tide should have turned for you as you start picking up the resources that were seeded to keep you in it.
That said-- my games absolutely do feature complex and lengthy combat scenes, so I understand if ultimately you are not interested in continuing.
Anyone who doesn't want to continue, let me know and I'll remove you from the campaign.
For those who do, we will keep going and assess whether we need to add more or simply drop the two tables concept and consolidate as we get to the conclusion of this first part.
While I like complex combat scenarios - especially when the action economy involves the environment as well - I believe they only truly work at higher levels. At lower levels, I believe faster, more straight forward combats would work better, as most characters wouldn’t be one trick ponies. I think your approach would work great for other games (mid to high level, or something overpowered like gestalt or mythic). Right now, we don’t have enough investment in the characters or the story and, like I said, the first levels are way too limiting for all of us to enjoy thoughtful combat scenes. If you’re open to adapt certain things or could disclose the near future plans, I’m sure we could make it work well (if it’s not the case, I fully understand and support you, wish everybody the best and would take my leave).
Shad's in. I think the combat was and is a bit more than we could take on atour level, But im trusting the dm to not have made his first combat a TPK ;)
I'd like to see the little grippli grow up into something badass. I do realize and appreciate how daunting an ambitiously large combat is but I agree it was a bit much for being at first level. I'll still be here as long as we have enough for a story :)
Ultimately its going the same direction it always was-- you'll do missions from a selection of options/leads which will help you to amass combat power to ultimately take the fight directly to the Absolute Order and their dark masters.
There will be a variety of challenges, to include difficult combat ones.
I think this one suffered from a few factors-- 1. I overtuned a few of the NPCs (the Bruisers come to mind- I made them too well for their official CR), 2. I should have discouraged splitting further than into two groups-- not having Shad and Heskavar with that south group to face the Boarding repellers set everything back and expended too many resources too quickly, 3. Doubling the party size put me in uncharted territory as far as how many foes were needed-- apparently what is an appropriate challenge for a party of 5 or 6 can't just be doubled to handle 12 and I should have adjusted
Those combined with some bad luck on rolls set everything back and what I envisioned as a more discreet set of several combats loosely connected flowed together into one mega-brawl.
That wasn't my intention, but ultimately, I do take responsibility for the mistakes in designing the encounters.
As much as I appreciate this experience, your invitation(s), and the cast; I do regretfully need to slim down a bit myself.
I do hope to game with you in the future. Thank you, so very much; for the opportunity!
I'd like to see where this goes, so long as it's not going another 30 rounds of combat. I'm in.
ZAILOR IS STAYING!
I still dig the concept and want to continue playing. I get that sometimes things don’t go as planned. I’m sad to see many leave, but I look forward to seeing what’s next.
I am down for staying but I would really like to move along from this combat soon. I'm having a really, really hard time keeping up with what is going on and the slides are kind of confusing as well.
I'm still down for staying. I'll make another post tomorrow.
I'm fine for staying but if the next couple of encounters are 10-15+ rounds then I might as well roll up a Witch or something cos I'll otherwise be useless for all of it.
I've been thinking on it for a while, but I think I'll have to drop too. My personal schedule has become pretty busy and I've needed to slim down for a while. Thank you all for game together though.
No answer from Zeebu for two days; assuming he is gone as well and moving on.
I will have a post up later today folks, have to help a friend out most of today.
Happy Thanksgiving to folks in the U.S.!
Happy Thursday to those elsewhere!
ZAILOR IS THANKS!
Happy thanksgiving everyone; sorry for the delay there, we were hosting this year so my house has been insane and I'm just getting caught up.
its all good.
Hey all. I had a family issue come up, and I will be MiA for a few days. Feel free to bot me. Myrsko will use the wand of shocking grasp.
I'll be out thurs-sun and I believe I'll have limited posting ability, please bot me as necessary. Currently casting Summon Nature's Ally with intent to have an angry eagle mess up the blood queen or another pirate, after that if there's access he'll wade in with Barrett and start swinging his sword.
I’m back! Thanks for botting for me. I’ll list what treasures Myrsko grabbed.
Sorry guys- I'm buried after work today and our wonderful rural internet doesn't work in bad weather so I was delayed last night; was able to update some games and I'll still try to keep things rolling- but I'm on the road from tomorrow till the 28th, so apologies in advance and worst case we will pick everything back up the 29th.
I understand most people are traveling during this time as well.
I'm back from Christmas travel, and dropping the Blood Queen finally puts up to the end of the first scene!
Things got a little wonky, and we lost some along the way, but the rewards for those who stuck with us are great as well:
XP Handout 1:
Previous XP: 0
New XP: 3500
Total XP 3500
That puts us at level 2, correct? Which xp track are we on?
Yes! It does! We are on the Medium XP track so it takes you a good ways into 2nd level.
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I will level up Billy in a bit. As we discussed, I'm going to make him an Inspired Blade and switch his Wisdom and Intelligence around. Poor guy is going to have a sad revelation.
The other pending question to close out this section is whether you take the Blood Queen prisoner, or kill her while she is bleeding on the floor.
Biligup would be for keeping her alive personally.
Bot me if needed, I am feeling under the weather so my posts will be slow :(
Leveled up, didn't add too much. Outflank for Grin and Barret both.
I'm all for taking her prisoner.
Yes- everyone take the time to level up and we will kick off the next section January 2 ( I may post the intro before that, but plan to resume posting by Jan 2.)
How are we doing HP?
Let's do average (half hd size +1) for simplicity/fairness.
I may mot be able to post until the 4th.
Shads all set
Looks like your Feats & Traits disappeared there Shad.
Cordelia is updated. Nothing really new for me at this level.
that was strange...but its fixed.
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Heskavar is leveled up. Went with leveling up in Hunter this level, mainly to keep Fang on level for the time being.
I also went with Outflank for the feat from Precise Hunter. This means three or four people in the group can benefit from this feat depending on the environment we are fighting in at the time.
Heskavar is leveled up. Went with leveling up in Hunter this level, mainly to keep Fang on level for the time being.
I also went with Outflank for the feat from Precise Hunter. This means three or four people in the group can benefit from this feat depending on the environment we are fighting in at the time.
I'm very excited about that!
My apologies for my recent silence, I got hit with a bit of a 1-2 over the holidays with some major shake-ups both at home and at work. I believe things have returned to a state of relative stability and I plan to post in all my games tomorrow.
Biligup is ready to go.
I should clarify--
This next section will be kind of modular with these missions; as you complete some, new ones will open up, but old ones will still be available as well.
(This is when in the original pitch we would have been splitting into two groups- and I know that then there was a bit more balance between characters better on land and characters better underwater)
Level Up - Oracle 2
New Spells: stabilize, faerie fire
Skills: +1 each to craft (armor, weapons), diplomacy, knowledge (geography, nature, religion), spellcraft, swim
Other: +8HP (5 base + 2 Con + 1 favored class), +1 BAB, +1 Will
My head is hurting super bad today folks. I am likely to just do a Full Defense and get a +4 to my AC for the round.
Just checking in after the site was down. I had to clear my cache to get back in. I know people in my other games were having trouble signing in, too.
as did I...
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I also had issues getting in, and have only just been able to get back on today. I'll get a post up soon.
Glad to have you back Heskavar- yeah I know this has been rough, hopefully now that we're all back we can get rolling and pick up steam on this game again.
Checking whose still here--
I feel the pace of this game slowing to a crawl and I'm not sure how to rehab it at this point.
I am