Mr Clint's Duchy of Ashlar

Game Master Mr Clint

Hah, well that's a coincidence. I am also writing to set-up my own homebrew world. I am writing a fantasy novel, that explores many of the local legends, myths and stories of the land. Instead of writing those down myself as a writer, my main characters have multiple interactions instead to uncover those stories, so it is always from their view that as a reader you get those tales.

so I deleted a post, when I counted, I was going from Ewan's location not his original location, Sorry.

I updated the map with the X being where he started and his token being the 40th foot movement. I placed the distance along the way. The "tumble" was more descriptive, he mechanically withdrew which would not grant the AOO from the first 5-feet, everything after that does prevent, but they aren't threatening squares.

If I am misunderstanding that withdraw rule I am open to clarity. If I am correct on the rule, I hope the traveled path with distance marked helps.

No your cool, both on the count and the tumble, I counted it last night and thought it was good, then started looking at it this morning, thinking he started where Ewan is.

As far as I can tell your understanding is correct, the error was on my part.

What checks do I need to make to stabilize in the water, secure any planks that are floating nearby, and climb up the far side of the bank? How fast is the current?

Ivar would give chase after one of the archers at 30 ft movement, I don't know what their movement is, but if it's 30 can we use the Evasion and pursuit rules to give chase, at least while Ivar still has rage rounds left?

If that is what Ivar would do, I am cool using those rules instead of running the rounds. Does anyone else take chase after the second archer?

They have 30-foot land speed so it would come down to the Dex checks using the system Ivar supplied.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Ivar dropped the breastplate, he'd be faster than the baddies?

yes, but I fear it would take a minute to "drop" remove the breastplate. Even with help, halving the time it would take too long to be able to catch them. Five rounds would be an eternity.

Nempura is going to be shooting out until range increment 3. And I'd imagine Hank would as well. Then she'll run x4 to catch up.

That is fine, we can play this out for a round or two and see how things develop. I added markers to show how far the archers are off the map.

Do you want to roll the dexterity rolls for a few rounds or do you want us to?

I understand that they are running away, but that is what a longbow is good for, so I'm not not going to take advantage of my great range. :P

Do you want to roll the dexterity rolls for a few rounds or do you want us to?

Yeah I will go ahead a roll a few rounds and play it out over in the game play as everyone else does what they are going to be doing. Is anyone else wanting to run after them? I suppose based on the current situation it would only be Ewan... maybe?

Apologies for the wait guys.

Ivar is still chasing the archer, Mr. Clint you said you do the 'chase rolls' do you just want some fluff saying he's still chasing, or do you want to roll, to see if he caught up or not?

I have rolled 3 rounds worth of the chase rolls, just need to know if you and Ewan will still be chasing.

...The swordsman that was in the water, climbs up the steep bank and leans against a rock; “I give up!” he says as he tosses his sword to the side towards Ewan. Leaning back against the rock he closes his eyes and catches his breath.

I had noticed this post earlier, but hadn't seen anything else about him. Apparently in the chaos he decided to take off...

Mr Clint, may I assume that it is your playing style to not roll a bluff for NPC's unless we roll a 'sense motive'? Or do you roll them off screen just in case?

not that it really matters I guess.

I just got super nervous about Nash and his group possibly not being bandits.

lol, There is no way they aren't. They have a stronghold. They didn't present that they were guards. Then look at what the one just said to Ewan.

Right, now that we've seen what the fleeing archer said to Ewan I agree. but I was a little nervous there.

Being a neutral ex mercenary Ivar would have killed legitimate authority and everyone associated with him to keep from being locked up or hung. But that is not a character I want to play.

Just looking for a way to make sure I didn't miss something that would have given us more of a clue.

I think if it turned out Nempura killed guards, she would be almost unplayable. It would directly shift the character far from what she is right now, so let's hope that's not the outcome and he was just being tricky.

The archers on the run continue their flight. One of which is no longer in sight of Ivar and Ewan who are following the other two. The swordsman who climbed up the slope sees that the man he surrendered to has ran away. Seeing that no one is around him, he picks up his blade and flees up stream in the cover of the trees.

@Ivar If you go halfway up the second to last gameplay page you will see the scene where the man who surrendered was left alone with no one around him and he took off.

Unless someone is specifically looking to use Sense Motive, then I am not going to roll a bluff/diplomacy. And specifically during combat there is a lot going on and a lot of emotions flowing that there wouldn't be a "passive" Sense Motive.

@Everyone I was gone all day yesterday for work. I will be posting in the gameplay thread shortly after I drop my son off at school.

Helgar, Ivar has referenced twice to handing you a note, I'm assuming you didn't catch it.

Helgar, Ivar has referenced twice to handing you a note, I'm assuming you didn't catch it.

I did not! my apologies

Tomorrow in the states is Thanksgiving. I will be posting once in the AM, but after that I will be offline. Don't sweat trying to post if you are in the states, just enjoy the day with your friends and family.

I am very thankful for this group. You took a chance on me as a new PBP DM AND it is a homebrew... you all are bold! Thanks for the fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for running the game!

A well-decided chance. Have fun!

Tomorrow in the states is Thanksgiving. I will be posting once in the AM, but after that I will be offline. Don't sweat trying to post if you are in the states, just enjoy the day with your friends and family.

I am very thankful for this group. You took a chance on me as a new PBP DM AND it is a homebrew... you all are bold! Thanks for the fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I hope everyone has a chance to celebrate with someone they love. After last year I'm trying not to take it for granted.

As for the game, we really appreciate you running it for us! Even if it's homebrew :)

Interactive Map

Ewan moves up and his rapier finds a home in a gap in the swordsman armor, just below the shoulder. Pulling the blade free, blood begins to pour from the wound.

Reaching to his belt pouch with his free hand, Nash grabs a glass vial from his hip and tosses it at the cluster of Nempura and Helgar, but it falls short. Breaking right in front of Nempura, the fire licks free from the glass vial and burning Nempura, Helgar, and the horse next to them. 1 fire damage. “Bandits? Ha, you drew your bow on us followed by magics from your hidden friend in the wagon. You would bear your steel just as I did had my men drew their bows.”

Damage Taken: Arren -0 HP, Ewan -3 HP, Helgar -0 HP, Ivar -0 HP, Merion -0 HP, Nempura -0 HP

It was from the splash damage from Nash's alchemist fire. Nempura, Helgar, and the horse took 1 damage.

Ah yes, now I recall.

Helgar. Do you want to use that Banded Mail?

Banded Mail is heavy armor, and sadly clerics only get medium armor proficiency (sad noises).

Hey all! Hope you had a happy thanksgiving. Just wanted to do a wellness check on the group. Making sure no one was still in their turkey comas.

I was waiting to post trying to give time for the rest of the group to interact with Fin if they'd like or even to help with the caravan crossing the bridge.

Just let us know if you are still around. I will be moving the story forward tomorrow regardless of who actually post.

I'm around :)
I already stated I was helping do all of that stuff.

Oh I know, I just want to see who all is around and if I need to check in one on one with people. I love the group and thing everyone adds something special to the story.

So around. Not round. Well a little round, thanksgiving didn't help that. I don't think Christmas will either. Maybe new years resolutions? Really need to get the cookies out of the house...

Still around, but a lot quieter as the end of NaNoWriMo came into view. Was laying the finishing touches on my first attempt.
I am done now, so all ready to go ahead again.

I'm here! Little crazy the past 2 days, but I'm here.

I'm sorry that I've been less active than some of the others! Everyone else has wonderful chemistry! As someone with a very limited skill set, I have just one request; can one of the bandits we fought have a light crossbow? I'd really like to be able to add slightly more to a fight than ray of frost during these low levels.

--

On a similar but not entirely the same note, what are your plans for frequency of leveling? My fault I know for playing a sorcerer but I always forget just how few spells they actually know. No rush, I know a lot of people really like the earlier levels, myself included, where fights are much more rough and tumble, and you have to use all the resources at your disposal to survive. On the other hand, I'm playing a full caster class that gets second level spells at the same time as a bard with none of the additional features. (I always forget just how much paizo hated spontaneous full arcane casters) Once again, not really a complaint, and even if it was, it'd be my fault for picking the class! Thank you again for running this game!

For leveling I kind of do part experience and part milestone. I have a mental goals of where I want you to be level wise based on what I have coming up.

As far as the light crossbow goes, I don’t want to just add one in out of the blue. First reason is because they didn’t have it and second would be because it is then an open door for anyone else to ask if a bad guy had item X on them. That being said, you guys did get some loot from those guys and the shop that Nash suggested is well stocked.

Also, I need to relook, but didn’t you not spend all your gold and bought jewelry? Any jewelry and gems sell/trade for 100%

Side note: when we first started Nempura sent me a “Wish List” when we originally started this adventure. If the rest of you would want to PM me one also I will be able to add in some more sought after loot. And hey, I’m sure Santa visits Ashlar. But have you been naughty or nice, that’s the real question.

Also, I’m not sure if I did this with the newcomers or not, sorry memory seems to have left me, but I typically give everyone a chance to make minor tweaks after the first session. If you’d like I would allow you to switch out a spell per level if you’d like. I’d offer this to all of the new PCs

I know it's tough, but the contrast with a crossbow is you are trying to hit their actual AC with diminished BAB and average dex score. That's not taking into account any cover they may get from your allies in combat blocking your shots. With a ranged touch spell, it may do lesser damage, but it hits their Touch AC! Statistically, you may actually do more with Ray of Frost. You can always pick up weapon focus (ray) and hit better. Plus, it is infinite ammo.

If you are swapping your spell for a different one (which the Gm just made available) and you want to do more damage, sorcerers use repetitive spells, so often damaging ones that scale with levels are great (such as magic missile, shocking grasp, or burning hands), or strong status ones (such as color spray).

The benefit to being a sorcerer, in my opinion, comes from being to cast any of the spells you know spontaneously. If you pick up a Runestone of Power, that's 1 additional spell a day that you know, any of them at any time of that level. But a wizard who gets a pearl of power, can only use it to recover a spell they had prepared, so not as good.

This means you can be a spell spammer in no time. As you level up, or something to put on your "wish list", might be some Pages of Spell Knowledge or a Mnemonic Vestment and you can be as versatile as a wizard and twice as powerful. These are some things to think about, as even without your class abilities, you can be pretty nasty as a sorcerer.

Ah see, at the table I play at in person, we rarely ever get Wealth by Level, or even a place to spend gold if we had it, so the best way to get items that you want is to ask the DM! "Sure there can be an enchanted Tonfa in the dragon's horde, why not."

Oh for sure! When we get a little higher level, I'm going to be able to do some truly nasty things to our enemies.

I think that because I picked up both point blank shot, and precise shot to reliably hit with rays more, the crossbow actually becomes more worthwhile instead of less.

But math is boring and making a DPR machine was never my intent. I've always had a little bit of an issue with sorcerers just picking The Best Spell for the job as it were, because to me Sorcerers have always been closer to X-men or something, they have a motif instead of a smattering of random spells. Anyway, yes! Ray of Frost is very useful against high AC targets, but we're still low enough level that a crossbow will probably do me a bit better. I'm very sorry if this sounded confrontational or anything, I just get very caught up in the weeds of character generation, and enjoy discussing it!

TLDR: Yes I have spare money, I'll probably buy myself a crossbow or something, and thank you for your offer to move spells around, but I'll probably keep them where they are at the moment.

As we go, I do not think we will have any issues with the "Wealth by Level" or places where you can spend gold. In Ashlar it seems like every town has 3+ places to spend your coin. Toll booths not included... lol.

Excuse me for being absent, I should have given a heads up. I was busy preparing for my driver's license exam, for which I can now say, I passed.

Now I am back with full time posting.

Hurray!

Oh congrats! Oh man, I remember drivers ed and getting my license. Seems like so long ago. *Insert old man lost in his thoughts sitting on his porch picture.*

Mr Clint, I didn't realize you had to have a license for a horse and buggy....

Congrats Ewan.

Takes a step back from Ivar to dodge the lightning bolt and preserve her wonderous hair.

Thanks guys, it's been a long overdue time though, so glad to have it finally in the pocket.