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I vote to start a new AP, but it shouldn't count as 5 votes. I feel like I've caused this game to get off track by stepping down as captain and whining about the S&S AP and that nobody should have to leave it unfinished to placate me. Maybe continuing this AP without Budos is the best option for the group?
Just read the Paizo blibs on Hell's Rebels, that does look interesting and Mott owns it already.
Strange Aeons does look interesting. It probably incorporates some new game mechanics from the horror book released recently and the new game mechanics in S&S kinda suck, so hopefully it doesn't go down that same path. Rise of the Runelords looks like it got the best votes the first time around, but if others have played it then maybe that's not a good choice. I'm not a fan of The Sims: RPG where you spend time building ships, fleets, crew, fortresses, armies. I realize some people may really like that, but if those people aren't in this group then let's ditch S&S. I've long maintained that I don't care one bit who built the castle wall or the planning involved or the resources used, I just want to stand on the castle wall and defend it from the dragon that's attacking. I'd be happy to jump this group of characters into another AP, or start fresh with another AP. Most of all I just want to continue with this group of players in a PbP friendly game.
"...and we said to those Chelish marines, don't be messing with the Murderin' Murder or we'll murder you!" Bud brags to everyone, even the old pirate with four wooden limbs.
We started this AP in my local group and had ditched the modules by this point and started with home brewed adventures and the 'shore to sea' adventure in place of the AP. I have a ton of complaints about this AP, the point Cargas makes is just one of them. We jumped back into the AP for book 4, because Neil Spicer makes good adventures, but the rest of the AP we chucked. I could go on a lengthy rant, but I'll jump to the end and just say, Please, Mott, please take liberties with this AP to create fun piratey encounters!
Budos spends his first day at the tavern telling stories and convincing swabs to join the Murderin' Murder. "You wouldn't have thunk it, but them ghosts do have a sense of smell, after getting close to Cargas they fled to the bowels of the sinking ship and we were free to escape. Don't worry about being on our ship with him, the sea air carries the worst away and you can stay upwind most of the time."
A few lads looked eager to join, then Cargas walked into the tavern and they fled with hands pinching their noses.
"Bray all you like dwarf. Bray all you like." "Don't encourage him, Besmara's barnacles, it's bad enough as it is." growls Budos.
Bud follows the captain back to the haunted ship after Sandara works her charms, although he remains distracted by the horrors they encountered earlier.
Bud retreats with his crew mates, more than happy to escape the terror below decks.
"Blimey me, Its a ghost ship!" Budos growls as he continues to hack at the fishmen.
Bud cringes at the sound of hacking flesh and hurries to dispatch the fishy threat. "You outta be able to cook these things better this time, eh Cargas?"
When the boats pull together Budos leaps to the sinking ship and quickly starts searching for trapped survivors and loot.
"Maybe we could save the ship and bring it back to Rickety's for a nice profit?"
Bud starts tinkering with the new siege equipment as he learns the slight variations on the Chelish units. "You know, captain, we can only use so many of these and they may fetch a good price at the right port."
Bud hauls the loot to their ship, happy to be plundering evil doers like the Chelish marines instead of simple fisherfolk. "Aye, captain, the loot is secure, and I think I'm warming up a bit." He punctuates his sentiments with a backhanded slap to the former Chelish captain. "We could lock this one in the bilge for her extra insolence to you?"
"Aye, aye, captain." Bud starts searching for goods and valuables to scavenge from the captured ship.
Bud keeps his axe blade ready and stands next to the defeated marines. "Oye, captain, are these swabs worthy of bilge work, or do you have another plan for them?"
Bud flinches at the pain, but surges forward and strikes again at the remaining marine.
Bud shifts forward inside the reach of the boarding pike and attacks the marine resisting him. "Die, you devil worshipping scum!"
As the ships clash together Bud hurls his spear at the marines.
Letting the momentum of the throw carry him forward, Bud leaps across the decks and draws his axe before banking the momentum of his charge against a mast and careening into the sailor on the far side of the boat with his blade flashing.
"One of them must be a group of scurvy pirates, now that's something I can sink my axe into." Bud starts prepping the boarding gear with a new enthusiasm.
Bud moves to the edge of the larger building and readies another strike.
Bud grimaces as the pirates swarm over the village. Turning his axe in his hands, he adjusts his grip to strike with the flat of the blade and not maim the innocent fishermen. "Spare them dogs too, lads, we can take their gold, but leave a man his best friend." Bud moves forward to the nearest barking dog and prepares to strike if it attacks.
Yea, I'll stay in the game, let's find that balance between Captain Shakespeare's ship from Stardust and the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Gezza motions, once, and the officers obediently gather around him in a huddle awaiting his directions. The plan is clear, logical, and likely to appease the restless crew. For the health of the Murderin' Murder, Budos knows what he must do. "Lads, I've done a poor job of leading this crew. What sort of captain doesn't know how to hoist the jibdoodler or paddle the swankdankler. Truth be told, I don't even know what a crobnobbler is or when it's tight enough? Gezza here is yer leader and a fine one at that." Budos takes the captain's hat from his own head and places it on Gezza's brow. "Gezza, I promote you to captain. If you'll keep me on the crew I'd like to say aboard as expedition planner and treasure mapper. The crew needs a full time mapper, you can never have too many maps."
No worries Mott, your post was fine and helped clarify this campaign. I feel like this AP is some weird version of a Milgram Experiment designed to test how far we'll role play chaotic evil behaviors if they are published in a book as 'adventure'. I'm super not digging multiple parts of the story and I need to step aside as the captain so the campaign can continue properly. Maybe Bud can stick around as chief treasure mapper or some other non-decision making role.
I need to pass the role of captain. Also, if any of you have a great PbPer that wants in this game I could surrender my spot to them, with Mott's approval of course. Gentlemen, my apologies, I was eager to participate in a second campaign with this awesome group and GM.
I need to pass the role of captain to another player, who would like to take the wheel?
"Raiding simple folk, is that what we are? Let's go with 'trade' instead of 'raid', we got plenty of fish, and maybe if we're nice to them they know of some fat merchants sailing our direction. Who's in for a Trading Party, I'll lead the way." Bud tries to display confidence, but he worries that his crew might be more bloodthirsty than plain thirsty.
"We don't have a map that says 'treasure here', we keep sailing towards the Rock and keep looking for opportunities for piratin'."
Budos slaps both Aretta and Gezza on the back and steps up the stairs to address the crew as the Murderin' Murder puts distance between them and the hapless fishing boat. "Good work, bad haul, sometimes Besmara is fickle. We continue on to the Rock just like we planned, there will be coins to go around if we stay the course."
"Take the fish we can use or salt, leave anything that would just spoil with them." Before he departs the captain appraises the fishermen for any possible new recruits.
Budos surveys the looting of the Elten Baide, making sure that the captain and officers have their quarters and persons thoroughly searched while leaving the crew members with their few coins and possessions. After the loot has been secured, Budos directs the dwarf captain and his officers to the rail and a plank extending over the sea. "You should have gone with the 'Circus' option. Now you officers get to walk the plank, then we sail away and if yer crew wants to haul you back on board they may. Hear that lads?" Budos addresses the defeated sailors of the Elten Baide. "It'll be yer choice if you pluck them from the sea, their fates rest with you. Now cheer up lads, you've met The Murder's Sailing Circus and lived to tell the tale." Bud turns a wicked grin on the dwarf captain before nudging him over the plank. "Hope you treated yer crew well.
the captain yells to the Elten Baide.
Will try to get to the ship rules this evening as well. Looking at the map, we're both going west and we're ahead of them rather than trailing?
I'm just being an ass by not laying out my modifier and metagaming the entire thing. I get that...but I hope and think PbP is different/better I hope you don't think that about metagaming, it is hard to avoid and should be for RPG sake. RPGs are also about character building and skills are a big part of that, so I would also hope that a PC gets to use a skill they've invested in heavily. Maybe PbP can be better, I could see the hidden modifier working for many skills, or even just a list of trained skills without numbers. I don't think it would take a few weeks to realize someone doesn't know a profession like sailing. One wrong turn of the wheel and three sailors just got flung from the rigging into the waves. I'd be cool sitting down with you and creating 'PLs PbP Playing Skills Guide', but let's work out a good middle ground before Cargas sinks the ship. Maybe we start with something simple like just knowing which of the skills the PC is trained in that can't be used untrained. Most important of all, no one should be laying their genitalia on the table, for measuring or otherwise, and now I feel like I need to bring clorox wipes to PaizoCon this year.
"No, really. What are you intentions, Capt'n?" "Really, that's my intentions, we'll take what we want and do it without bloodshed if we can. A man backed into a corner will fight with ferocity, but a man that is left a route of escape will take that option more often than not. Follow the plan, and follow Brood's orders if we get to combat." The captain holds a stare on the dwarf long enough for him to realize that is the plan. "Not sure how we can embellish the number of performances we can assemble, but Magilla can put on an act, and I can throw daggers and brandish whips. Pretty sure the others can invent their own acts, should it come to that." "We just need one act, Magilla wearing their captain's hat and loping around our ship acting like a captain. We're setting the prices for the show." "Brood, if combat starts focus on their captain and officers. If we loot then leave the coins in the pockets of the common sailors. We're building a reputation here and we need those men to tell our story." Budos yells to the crew,
There is a practicality in gaming sense to knowing a PCs relative skill level. The party should never send Ol' Two Left Feet Butter Thumbs to climb the stone tower while McGrippy Spidertoes watches from below, they would have the sense to send the guy in the party who was better at climbing. Likewise, and even more so, we don't want Crashy Reeffinder driving the boat (our floating home) while Besmarason Andretti watches. If Cargas can drive better than he cooks then maybe he gets the wheel, but let's assume that Brood or Nim push him aside if it becomes obvious that he's still working on his learner's permit. Also, everyone feel free to set a course of action for the party as we would in a normal campaign that didn't have a role of 'captain' for one PC, you're all officers on the MM and that gives you authoritah!
"Not at all, they'll get a choice, a fine performance from our traveling circus for the goods of our choosing, or we'll take everything including their ship. Harrigan never offered entertainment in place of conflict."
"What flag are they running?" Budos calls, then thinks of an equally important question. "What flag are we running?" Seeing no flag hoisted he calls to Nim. "Put something up for a flag, a pair of red longjohns if nothing else, but make it bright and colorful and the more cluttered and confusing the better." the captain shouts to the crew, "This be yer chance to show ye'r real pirates, not just lubbers in a stolen tub. Remember yer training and be hungry for their loot. Wait on my order, not a man fires a shot or throws a hook until I say." "Gezza, what's the other ship doing? Brood, get the boarding gear in position and remind the men that yer the leader in combat. Nim, when yer done with that flag stay by my side, our story is that we're a traveling circus, can you and Magilla sell that? Someone go wake Cargas and tell him we need blood spilt."
"Good work lad, those fish men won't tangle with us if we keep giving them the boarding axe." Bud claps Gezza on the shoulder as he stomps up top to check out the situation. "We're headed to the Rock, maybe they got a market for gemstones." Growls Budos at Nim's query, "but yer right about guarding Sandara, tell our Master of Arms to keep her close and keep an eye on her flank." Pleased with the overall piratin' Budos makes a few rounds on the boat to be sure all the sailors will survive and that no more fish men are sneaking aboard. He does pull one of the dead creatures out of the kitchen as Cargas protests and the other pirate's souls cheer silently.
Budos eyes flicker open at the knocking on the cabin door. "Right, who's there?" Slipping from the bed he grabs his axe and strides toward the door swinging it open. "Gezza, lad, what's all that stomping up on the deck? The men should be gettin' their rest."
Budos rolls over in his sleep and his snores are briefly interrupted.
Budos continues to rest peacefully.
Budos sleeps contently while battle rages on the deck.
Let's go with 5 sailors on watch at all times. During the day the other 18 are working. At night all the sailors have a watch shift or sleep time. We'll always have one officer (party member) on night watch as well, Budos will take one of the middle shifts on the night watch.
Budos nods in approval at the fine work of the officers. At least he thinks it's fine work with his limited experience. "Don't be shy with those holy stones, we don't want any slippery patches on our deck. Get a man fishing, we'll save our stores and have fresh meat."
Budos surveys the piratin' with appreciation. "That's it lads, remember to say 'Aarg' with each action." As the drunk Fishguts staggers up, Bud turns him back towards the kitchen and calls after Cargas, "Get this lout back to the kitchen, or bunk if he can't stand, and cook up a good meal for the crew." Sure that change is needed before the cook can spoil the broth, Budos makes a request from Brood. "From now on Fishguts only gets metered portions of drink after the meals are completed. That man needs some incentive to keep him on task."
treasure hunter 4 Dexterity +1 bab +1 saves: ref +1 scout's charge rogue talent: bleeding attack skills: acrobatics +2, diplomacy +2, intimidate +1, perception +2, swim +1
"...And it was there in the dark of the squid goblin cave, the dwarf floating like a raft and me life's blood dripping into the water, when Besmara herself blessed our master of arms. Like a wave he crashed against the bloated beast, hacking at it until the creature's growls had turned into gurgles. Godblessed he is, Nothing can stand in Brood's path..."
"A Castle to call our own. A base of operations for searching out the cyclops' treasures. I like it, Harrigan will never know it's us until we're ready for him. To Tidwater Rock lads!"
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