NIGHT BELOW - Black Dow's C&C Underdark Campaign

Game Master Black Dow

I like the max +1d4+strength version.

I am fine with either.

Hey gang - apologies on the delayed posts. Work's been a chore - new systems going live in a week and no-one has been formally trained yet has created angst, topped off by news I'm moving from our bespoke building (and my operations office) to parent company's run down building in an open plan bullpen.

Our house move gains momentum ahead of 21st Oct move in date (we get the keys the week before) so lots of change for someone whose not a fan of change lol. Bear with if I'm spent and post rate dips while I get my bearings.

PS: Let's go with max+1d4+strength as written for crits :)

Works for me. Also, good luck and I'll be praying for you. That sounds like a lot to go through for anyone.

Cheers Adam - I'll take all the support I can get :)

Meantime hope you all are enjoying things thusfar? Taken a wee bit to get the game bubbling but think we're picking up momentum.

I'm certainly enjoying the flavour and handwaiving of rules to give us atmosphere and drama.

Hang in there BD - resilience is half the fight!

I for one am enjoying the game - it is starting to draw me in after a bumpy start ;)

Oh, I'm loving it. Yeah, it was a slow start, but now that it's picking up momentum, I'm really getting into it.

I too am having a great time with all the characters and their interactions!!! Keep up the great work everyone

Glad to hear - hoping to keep this momentum going. Won't lie I'm doing things on the fly - olde school style as if I was rolling the bones behind a cardboard screen lol. The necro-angle is somewhat off the cuff but its added to the encounter I think.

Regardless - appreciate the feedback and how the characters are shaping up.

An aside: I actually thought Mos' surname was akin to a gardening barrow... beginning to wonder now (after his snipering antics) if it refers to a "little grave" :S

His mother's maiden name was Casket. ;)

Multiple Operating Systems...from the IT Crowd. lol

Heh, I have done dual-boot systems. I'm planning on doing that whenever I get around to buying a new computer.

Thinking that I should give the others a chance to respond.

By the way, Mos, are you trying to guide her into some cover, like the tree/bushes she's next to?

Also, GM, are we running with 0 level spells are lost when cast?

@Ping: Yes we are :)

Alrighty, thanks! That's Prestidigitation and Ghost Sound down.

Poor Huni. He was just warming up, too.

Was go live on a new operating system for us at work today... Shambling undead was more apt than go live however and "global rebrand event" tomorrow... Heads burst :S

For someone who struggles with change I've a whole lotta o' change going on with my new hus and all lol...

Anyway will be on the morrow before I post on the well earned loot.

Yikes, and this is why I am glad I don't do IT anymore. Web dev is more my speed.

Good luck on tomorrow. Hope you don't wind up giving yourself a concussion tomorrow.

And yay! Loot!

Hey everyone, I will need to be away for some time due to a family emergency. Please feel free to bot me as needed.

Praying everything turns out well.

Will do Rannock - echoing Ping with thoughts to you and yours mate.

Introduced some house rules on sub-standard/damaged equipment, will really be more for flavour and downgrading any mooks on the odd occasion. Repairing the items restores their full bonuses (and trade value).

Also how do you lot want to divvy up and track loot? Any preferences?

Liking the Ping and Mos interplay btw... giving me some nice seeds for the future :)

"Oh no." Ping shivers as a sudden feeling for dread falls over her.

Looking forward to it. ;)

Thank you all for the well wishes.

Unfortunately my grandmother has passed away - she was 96 years old and had been hospitalized for some time now. It was not unexpected, but still a very hard blow to the family.

Also how do you lot want to divvy up and track loot? Any preferences?

I have no particular preference.

Thank you all for the well wishes.

Unfortunately my grandmother has passed away - she was 96 years old and had been hospitalized for some time now. It was not unexpected, but still a very hard blow to the family.

Oh man, I'm so sorry. You and yours have my thoughts and prayers.

Echoing Adam - thoughts to you and yours Rannock.

Thank you both. She is at peace now.

My prayers go out to you and your family Rannock.

Best wishes to you and yours, Rannock.

I’ve built and updated a loot sheet, accessible from my profile and character header.

Thanks stormraven!

Best wishes to you and yours, Rannock.

I’ve built and updated a loot sheet, accessible from my profile and character header.

Thank you stormraven.

On the loot, I don't think Rannock can use any of the weapons, and the armor bits are worse than his, so you guys go for it.

Introduced some house rules on sub-standard/damaged equipment, will really be more for flavour and downgrading any mooks on the odd occasion. Repairing the items restores their full bonuses (and trade value).

I really like this idea BD.

I can use the scimitar and the smaller expert blades but there really isn't a point to it unless we run into some monster that is immune to getting punched in the face. :) So, I'm happy to let anyone who can use <weapon x> get first and second dibs.

Same here. Ping's not a fighter. If she's in melee with someone, a plan has gone awry somewhere.

Mos is mostly ranged, so mostly that...but a backup weapon and would nice too!!

I'll have to double check, but I'm not sure if Ping can use any weapons beyond a few like daggers.

Well Rannock can only use blunt weapons, so up to you guys.

NOTE: I'm getting an unwelcome visit from Milton probably tomorrow, so if I don't post you'll know why.

Stay safe, Scranford. Hope this isn't as bad as it has the potential to be.

Ditto...prays with you and yours!!

Stay safe Scran. I'll get a post up on XP shortly gang.

Campaign Tab updated with source of XP.

Currently tabulating all the sources... Does everyone want to track their own XP (ie I give you a total after each chapter/stage) or want me to keep a running total in the Campaign tab or header?

Also am mulling this Optional XP Rule - wonder what everyone thinks:

XP for New Spells: For magic-using classes, casting spells is a major source of knowledge and experience. Each time casters learn and cast new spells they learn new things. Granting experience points for spellcasting is an optional rule wherein each new spell the caster uses grants them a certain amount of experience (see Table 2.13 Spell Experience Points*). Magic users (as noted, this includes the wizard, illusionist, cleric, and druid classes) only earn experience points for casting spells they have never cast before and only for the first time they cast them. Consider any extra benefit they may gain from casting the spell a second or third time as part of the normal experience point acquisition due to monster death, role-playing, or adventure totals.

* As a reference guide 1st Level spell would net 50XP when cast of the first time, 2nd Level 100XP and 3rd 200XP... Not sold, but its interesting way to encourage spellcasters to broaden their repertoire.

I'm not sold either. Personally, I'm fine without that rule.

Now as for XP tracking. I'm inevitably going to miss something, so I think you keeping track of it might be the best.

I like XP for new spells… and I’m not a caster. :)

I can track my personal XP or not. Either works for me.

Stay safe scranford!

Apologies for the possible melodramatics. I may have gone overboard a bit, but I think it gets the point of Ping really not knowing where to turn or what to do now across. There's a rather selfish part of me that really, really wants to see what everyone's reactions are when they fully realize that Zeebo was a ruse. I'm a-okay with many, even everyone, in the party not trusting her a bit. One of her main themes is that lies erode the foundations of trust, and another is that lies will always be found out. It happened with her father, and I had always intended for the party to learn that Ping was not really a fat, elderly halfling. This may be a bit too soon, but I thought the moment was fitting and made sense.

I'm looking forward to Ping's journey and seeing how she grows and develops from here. I am also looking forward to the fallout from her disguise being blown. I know this is a game, so don't worry about offending me. I think we are all adults and mature enough to handle our characters sniping at each other or being handled roughly without it spilling over into our out of character interactions.

(To put it another way, if your character would reasonably threaten Ping, I'm a-okay with it. I'm even okay with Ping getting manhandled or roughed up. Lay it on as thick as you please.)

I'm liking it, and given her backstory the subterfuge and ensuing panic at lack thereof a disguise makes total sense.

Likewise won't be surprised if she reprises Zeebo or adopts some other persona when you enter areas of populace etc.

Based on the heroic bent of the party I also think she's in safe hands.