Ragadolf's page

OK, posted.
Enjoy! :D

Nighters Silver Rose!

Hello, Finals week here.
You'd THINK I'd be bored. Or at least slow? But Nope.
SO much drama, (Between renters) You'd think they were auditioning for a Soap Opera. ;P
A SPANISH soap opera. :)

Managed to get my passport paperwork sent off. And paid a small fortune for as much 'expediting' as they can promise (and charge) for. Now I just have to actually buy plane tickets and a hotel reservations. O_o

Sigh. I'm trying to NOT spend money. I really am! :P

So, I wrote up Justin's 'level up' post.
(Ye D&D and Ravenloft powers I am a wordy lil aged wizard.)
Hopefully it will serve as a bit of entertainment for everyone. And perhaps a peek into the wizzie's brainbox. :)

It is spoilered for length, and to separate the 'behind the scenes' parts from the general public access. Feel free to read it all at once, or the 'public' parts first, and then the spoilers. Either way. :)

I'll likely post it tonight.
(Otherwise I'll just keep tweaking it. Although my tweaks HAVE been making it a bit shorter. A bit.) :D

Hope everyone is having a good week?
Carry on!

So I started writing Justin's "Level up" post last night,...

Yeah. It's getting away from me. (He IS a wordy lil wizzie, ain't he?!?)
;P

Again, no REAL time passing, other than how long it's taking me to write it, in between trying to help my wife nail down a new job, get (and pay for ) passports so I can make my 'Lil'' brothers wedding in June. (He lives in Washington state. Like in the middle of a Hallmark card. But getting married in Canada.) And just keeping with up the 'usual' level of insanity from work. :P

You know, I USED to think that retiring to a beach and lounging around sounded boring.
Now? It's starting to sound better and better. >_<

Maybe I can see if there's any truth to those posts about retirees just living on cruise ships. Everything included, and cheaper than retirement homes.
<Insert 'Thoughtful emoji' here>

I don't *think* that was meant as a complement?

But Hey! You do you! :D

Ragadolf wrote:

Kenzo Hagetora wrote:

Awesome, hopefully life calms down a bit for you soon.

Seconded! :)

It's not, this is going to be a hell week but hopefully a hell week that produces some revenue so I can live with that...

That works. Even storm clouds have silver linings. :)

Awesome, hopefully life calms down a bit for you soon.

Seconded! :)

SO,... since we are re-gathering, and collecting our wits (And hopefully our players!) ;P

Is this a good time to 'level up' Justin? :D
I have an in-game idea of a way to work it. (Quickly, no Real-world time) Just need to write it up. ;P

I'm actually NOT meta-gaming (not intentionally) especially since after this arc, we'll be hanging around Sigil for a spell,
(See what I did there?) :P

BUT Justin doesn't know that! So his dilemma with Planar traveling (which you just re-posted from much earlier) can be solved with a 7th lvl spell. SO that is affecting my spell choices.

WHY oh WHY are there so many actually GOOD 7th level spells?!?!?
And why are there even more that SHOULD be good, that are so BAD?!?
(Mage's Sword anyone?) :P
(THAT spell should be a straight up lightsaber. Instead it's like a force-powered bastard sword.) :(

Once he realizes what loot and knowledge they MIGHT have recovered, but now will never see, from the Mummies-Lord's tower/demiplane, he is gonna straight up in-game CRY. :D

Works for me! :D

A certain Wizzie (And his player) are apparently easily confused, and keep getting lost when traveling multiple Planes from 'here-to-there'. ;P

Sounds good! :)

_Bastian 'Ogre' Zorovich wrote:

Bastion mounts the steps and raps upon the door.

"Bang, bang."

Bastion actually saying Bang Bang as he knocked cracked me up.

Then Love Shack started playing in my head, and I started trying to figure out a parody involving horrible asylums.

Heheh, yeah, I smiled too. NIce touch.

I used to do a lot of musical theatre, but I've mostly recovered.

Now WHY would you want to recover from that?!? O_o

(Says the aged wizard who still enjoys doing musical theater. When he can.) ;P

Yeah - I decided to go ahead and do it. If anyone has serious concerns we can hash it out, but my watchword now is forward momentum. We aren’t going to RP every painful inch of this. I want this done. I Am already workshopping the next arc and the arc after that

Ooooo,

Dungeon Monkey has stories to tell! O_O

I can't wait! :D

(PS- I am being serious!) ;)

ROFL, Sounds good Dungeon monkey!
Onward! And Upward! :D

understood,
Did we lose Blayze? In game? Or just out of game?

I wouldn't want to teleport out and leave her behind!

PS- (PC issues stink!) ;P

Ragadolf wrote:

Time?

Time,... to do stuff.

I've heard of this mystical 'Time', but I don't believe I've ever actually SEEN it.

O_o

I haven't either lately, once or twice a week I do this a*~+*$% thing called falling asleep early... that's what happened last night when I was intending to post :-(

I'm not quite the machine I used to be 10 or 20 years ago!

Ugh, tell me about about it!

(I'm still 'A machine'. But it's an older, starting to break down machine!)
O_o

Hopefully she asks for a turkey sandwich, on rye, with lettuce and tomato, so she can share it with her good friend Karrin.

ROFLMAO! :D

Time?
Time,... to do stuff.

I've heard of this mystical 'Time', but I don't believe I've ever actually SEEN it.

O_o

Four year side quest *head desk*

I can see the adds now,

"For those moments in your game when a facepalm just won't do enough, *HEAD DESK*! Now available in Normal, Large, and Silver Rose sizes!"

:D

ROFL! And our Rage-machine is a wannabe Bard! I luv it! :D

And, in some versions of the rules (3.5/5?) a Bard/Barbarian combo actually works! ;P

And, as always, nice storytelling. :)

(Especially for what was supposed to be a random encounter-turned-side-quest!) :D

HAD to post Justin's thoughts on the current situation.

It was almost like it was set up for it! :D

We DO be doing more damage before breakfast than other Adventuring groups do all day! ;P

Just waiting to find out what happened to Blayze & Alessia (Hopefully getting them both back!) before activating the Teleport to outside!

WHY do I get the sneaking suspicion this is gonna be another close call?
:P
I mean the adrenaline rush is cool and all, but poor wizzie's gonna have a heart attack!

On a side note, planning Justin's LVL up to 13 for when he gets a nights sleep :)
(Hoping to make THAT an interesting post for you all)

But, WHY are there SO many good 7th lvl spells?!?!?! O_o

LUV the RP guys,

Just a note, before we talk ourselves TOO far ahead in the narrative, Sterling really would like to verify that he hasn't lost his connection to Pharasma or her blessings. (Powers) :)

Zek, I have not read ALL the Discworld novels, But I DO like them!
I still have an old copy of the OG Discworld game for Windows.
(On 3.25" Floppy disks)
It was not a sandbox, it was an old school, linear-style game, where you cant proceed to Y until you did X. You play as Rincewind, and his walking chest is your Inventory. :)

Before I even read the next posts, Just so you all know,...

I was in a hurry when I wrote that last Sterling-Speech. Did not realize how long it was getting. (Sorry?)

(I was almost late for work. SOmeone has to run the Auditorium) :P
I was thinking later that maybe a lot of that (most of it?) could have/should have been internal dialogue?

Then later I thought some more, and realized that Rambling on (for a good while) about why he doesn't need to apologize for anything, And then offering a (sincere) apology, is pretty much on-brand for Sterling I think. ;P

Ok, Now to see what we've gotten up to before I crash for the night! :D

LOL< Keepin' it PG here.
But I really wanted to throw in an adapted quote from Iron Man.

"Come on Alessia, get back here. You better not be playing 'Hide the Phylactery' with the Mummy Lord'!"

;P

My mind sometimes. I swear. :D

Wow, that is a lot. And really good!
Nice info-dump while IN game mode!

trying to figure how to react to all that! :)

** spoiler omitted **

Dark Powers:

Well, that WAS the plan! :D

(Or as close as we ever get to a plan!) ;P

Cool! thanks for the update!

Yeah, I can see how in writing a story or book, he would be awesome!
But in a game, where you can't control who/what you actually need at any one time?

It would be a bit like running the entire Scooby Doo gang, but only one at a time. At random. Every other round. :P

Sergei the Haunted wrote:

"If my theory holds, Zyblina should be along shortly, but her jar will not be with her."

Ngl, I kinda wanna stay behind, just to poke a tiny hole in Sergei's theory. Heckin know-it-all!

Or, at least, still have the jar on her, lol

ROFL!

And I thought Sterling was being contrary! :D

Lil jab at myself and my usual Character choice in my post. :)

Ooh, I just had an OOC question, (or 2)
Do we know all of Sergei's 'Guests' yet?
I mean, I know HE does, but have WE met them all?

Just thinking, having an annoying, know-it-all-wizard in his hip pocket might turn out handy! Especially when dealing with alternate/shifting planes/realms, whatevers. ;P

Heck, Sergei keeps going, HE'LL be an entire adventuring party all-in-one! :D

As long as I can still write novels, I mean extended posts, in response?
:D

All good my online amigo, whatever works to make your life easier!
I am just here to have fun, (And hopefully entertain you!) :P

Ragadolf wrote:

Zek'Karis wrote:

we go through The Eight again, just without support ;)

Sigh. Well, I suppose that anything worth doing is worth doing twice?

O_o

(THIS is why in RL I try to do everything right the first time. I am FAR too lazy to do anything twice!) :P

(I call it 'Intelligent laziness') ;)

I've been doing it most of my life. I call it 'Lazy Perfectionism.' Doing it right the first time so you don't have to go back and do it again...

Ooooh! "Lazy Perfectionism"! I like that one even more! Thanks! :D

we go through The Eight again, just without support ;)

Sigh. Well, I suppose that anything worth doing is worth doing twice?

(THIS is why in RL I try to do everything right the first time. I am FAR too lazy to do anything twice!) :P

(I call it 'Intelligent laziness') ;)

Sterling is lvl 3, just need to remove the two items from his inventory.

All good.

So, Haunt siphons, ring protecting vs death effects, Van Richten's sword, etc., all that goes bye bye?

But if the hateful 8's items are still intact, we still have those?

Just checking. :)

Goodbye to Harrowstone and welcome to Briarstone.

Not to worry, your other companions will be running along shortly....

Oh. Goody. O_o

No worries. Crazy busy too.
(or, 'business as usual') ;P
I'm trying to stay caught up.

Sterling is just looking at the golem/body/thing,... :)

All good.
Take care and hang in there!

I agree. These games ARE the best! ;P
(Admittedly I may be biased.) :D

All good. Hang in there! :)

And thanks!

Ragadolf wrote:

Also true! :)

Was just thinking, a lil +2 might have prevented 1 (or 2) of the group from failing their fear /paralysis saves.

Of course, as in 'RL', the fight was going so quickly, was hard to know who needed the '+2' next! :P

You're also used to playing Wizards so the Cleric is a pretty big step out of your comfort zone.

THIS. Yes. For certain.

It's not that I'm not used to keeping track of resources, Just not used to keeping track of CLERIC resources, And thinking like a support/healer. :)

Also true! :)

Was just thinking, a lil +2 might have prevented 1 (or 2) of the group from failing their fear /paralysis saves.

Of course, as in 'RL', the fight was going so quickly, was hard to know who needed the '+2' next! :P

And shame on you who had both at the end of the level! ;)

LOL!

(WHile updating, I realized I had started out good, but as the battles progressed I had almost entirely forgotten about all the lil' things I could have done! LIke the lil' single-person +2 to any roll for one round? Att Save or skill use.) O_o

OK, Sterling, 3rd lvl: (ReDuex!)

Cleric lvl 2
HP: +10: Max now 32HP
(Do we also gain 'Sanity' points as we lvl up? How do we increase that?)

Feat: Extra Channel (+2 Channels/Day, now 9/day)

Spells:
Orisons: 4
+1 1st lvl spells/day. 4 per day (2, +1 Domain spell, +1 from Wis)

Skills: +1 to: Heal, K:Planes, K:Religion, Survival,
Background Skills: +1 to K:Geography, Linguistics (Adding Necril. Once Sterling realizes he has access to a book that is essentially a primer for the Language of the Dead, (and a tutor) He'll jump on that!)

+1 to base att bonus,
+1 to Fort and Will saves
+1 to all saves from ABP

+1 Action Points
(+1 per lvl yes? Since I have not used any I have 3 total)

And I think thats it!
Updating Online Profile next,...

ROFL,
Good notes thx all.

Psychopomps all speak Celestial, Abyssal, and Infernal. Maybe go for the complete set so when Stirling eventually becomes one he'll be ahead of the game and maybe be able to skip some parts of the orientation?

:)

I mean Teo already has that (Necril) covered it seems? But it never hurts to have overlapping knowledge, especially with difficult DC's to overcome. :)

Additional +1 to all saves from ABP? Cool, thx for reminder.

I have played WITH Dark Sun, and a little bit with Ravenloft (VERY little) but never really got in depth to all the lore, or had a long running campaign in either. But with what I have read, and read about, I would have to agree with Sergei/Doomed Hero above. Both are tough/difficult places to be in. Especially if you don't prepare ahead.
And in Pre-3.x D&D rules, Save or Suck REALLY sucked in Ravenloft! O_o

If only we had a cleric who had access to first level spells, like Remove Fear. Oh wait...

THPPPT! ;P

There aren't enough 1st level spells to Remove all the Fear I'm going to drop on this Party...

Oh. THAT'S not terrifying. At all. O_o

I'm trying to decide where to spend my 2nd background skill point, as I don't believe I need +10 to Handle Animal atm.

My current thoughts are: Lore(suggestions on what?), Nobility, or History, as I believe those all would fit what Zy has learned so far in game.

Whatcha ya'll think?

Hm, if you're staying 'in-game', I'd say Lore (You can Specialize in Lore? Or do you HAVE to specialize? I always thought it was a general K: skill? I learn something new every session!) :) or History. Both would make perfect sense In-game POV with what all we've been dealing with, and all the forays into libraries and paperwork. And both are good for helping to solve the puzzles and conundrums that we seem to be running into! :)

OK, 3rd lvl:
Cleric lvl 2
HP: Ok, what ARE we really doing with HP? :P Roll OR 1/2+1? Or are we concerned about Barovia so much that we think we actually NEED full HP each lvl to 10?!?
(I mean, maybe we will, Especially if we keep splitting the party!) ;P

Feat: Extra Channel

Spells:
Orisons: 4
+1 1st lvl spells/day. 4 per day (2, +1 Domain spell, +1 from Wis)

Skills: +1 to: Heal, K:Planes, K:Religion, Survival,
Background Skills: +1 to K:Geography, Linguistics (Any good suggestions for a new language?) :)

+1 to base att bonus,
+1 to Fort and Will saves

Did I miss anything? :P

ROFL! :D
Working on lvl 3,...

Woot! More Cleric spells! :)
(I think?) ;P

Someday I want to pull of the Dust Of Dryness/Holy Water Sploosh Bomb.

Hm,?

because ww're doing so great against unmodified form

this is why you don't split the party

THIS. YES. O_o

Splitting the Party, It only ever works in movies and books.

Waitaminute. Except it DOESN'T work in Movies.

Name me ONE horror movie where "I'll be right back!" EVER led to anything good! :P

TYVM,
As I say, Prayers and Well-wishes always appreciated. :)

Yes it is sad, and tough for my wife. But we have been more stressed about his condition for a long time now.

tears of relief as well as sadness.

Thank you Guy.
Prayers and Well-wishes always appreciated.