Wolfgang von Goethe's page

Ditto what those two said. o.O

Also,

1) This doesn't seem like an insurmountable gap. I mean, if I may, that for the statement "There is this campaign that I wish to run" I don't really understand what that means. Like, above, Stitch put a -LOT- of work into a chronological review, all for the purpose of explaining a point which might be improved, and just from an efficiency standpoint.

2) I've seen games where someone wants to run a dungeon basher, and a player wants to do "But the monsters are people too!" and do Persuasion -in- combat.
That's a wide chasm.
This is more like a group of people deciding that they want to go out, they want to do Italian, and it's just a question of pasta or pizza.

Mmmmm, pizza.

Oh, ya, totally. This isn't a "U r teh SUX" kinda gang up thing. Each of us have complemented this game and the story element so far. We're just having a minor kerfuffle about tactics.

Like, I really liked how Taoni, probably a throwaway NPC at best, has been incorporated into honest-to-goddess sidekick, and has potential for full-blown love interest. Good job.

Mind you, for as brilliant a move as that was, it was a bit surprising that all the normal pirates seemed to decline joining us with an almost Hivemind-esque efficiency. Sure not all would join, but I was hoping, after all those Persuade rolls, that we might have like,

Pirate 1: "Hey, Ripper, Imma jump. You coming?"
Pirate 2: "Y'know, -Frank-, F*%# off. Becky dumped me once she found out what we did to that last ship, and Moonsong always hated me. You go jump into cold, cold water miles from rescue and see how that goes. These guys seem at least not as bad. I'll take my chances--you go take yours.
Hey, Mr. Gang-of-Wolves, I'm Chad, not Ripper, not Killer, just Chad. I'm not sure what you guys are doing, but I like where this is going. Consider me on board."

Or somesuch. Same thing with the Cannith. Between my week messing with the door and the ship asking for authorization, it seemed like a message was being sent that "Sure, you guys can succeed, but the prize will be such a headache you'll wish you hadn't."

IMHO. YMMV.

Init!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

'That looks important guys. Please try to stop them! Or at least the one carrying the Important Thing!'

I'm gonna totally agree with that that this is a really cool intro...

...I just wish the pacing was a bit quicker? I get the feeling that it would take me three rolls to get across the street. I just sort of wish that some more stuff was hand-waved to keep the action going.

IMHO. YMMV.

I admit that I also took it as Intimidation the first time I read it, but with the "hard coach pep talk" modifier, I see it now. It's like a "be useful or I don't have time for you!" kinda thing. Yeah?

Blacklock, when anyone aids anyone to do anything, you get Advantage, and can roll twice, taking the better of the two.

Wolfgang keeps at it..

Wolfgang keeps at it.

Wolfgang winks back at her. "Oh, I'm sure we can find _some_ use for it. For now tho,"

Wolfgang takes a step back send of black wave of black, brute anger into the door's lock.

Eldrich Blast, which hits with the force of a polearm, until it opens.

OH yeah, I'm fine with it too.

I just...I just don't wanna be first level anymore. >.>

*fistbump*

Fistbumps all around! =)

Um, any chance we gained a level for overcoming TWO ships worth of enemies? =)

So, no to the level then? Do we get any experience or are you waiting for...?

Wolfgang frowns and motions Taoni toward the locked door. "Who locks their door before battle, honestly? Ah, well, I believe in an 'open door' policy, so, Taoni, my sweet, would you be so kind as to get this door open...by any means necessary?"

As the situation resolves itself to more stability--or, at least, a lack of chaos and life-threatening dangers, Wolfgang enters that captain's quarters to inventory it.

At this point Wolfgang is pacing back and forth. "Okay, lots to do, lots to do. Need to inventory this ship. Then, we'll see if we can swoop down and get any new blood--this far from shore, rescue is unlikely, they'll be more pliable to join. Then, we gotta figure out where we are. Ask the Cannith? Yeah, they'll know where they were heading, we just think about the shortest radius, we'll at least now which direction we are from land, and can just head back that way. Things'll be easier if I can just bring them into our fold. Okay, long term plans...."

He keeps one eye on the Cannith. If they do indeed go to the mess, he can talk to them individually later, and either recruit them or eliminate them piecemeal. If they all band together and get angry though....

What skill would we use for the engine? That some kind of an intelligence check? 5E is pretty lenient on untrained checks.

Also, guys, please stay nearby for right now. I haven't "technically" been "truthful" with the Cannith guys. They "might" still think that "our" ship is actually "their" ship still.

Also, they're not "maybe" wearing charms, so they might "fight and die with honor" still.

Just saying. =)

*fistbump*

Unable to maintain composure, Wolfgang takes up Taoni in a massive bearhug, swinging her around and around before setting her feet back on the shipdeck.

"Yes! Victory! Now for the good part. LOOT! Stitch, check all the bodies, see if any can still be saved, everyone else, take stock of all the -things- we have access to, starting with the corpses before they get tossed.

Men of Cannith? Well done! Grab ourselves some chow while we get things sorted out up here."

Is there still half a ship stuck on our front prow? =)

*fistbump*

Fistbumps all around! =)

Um, any chance we gained a level for overcoming TWO ships worth of enemies? =)

Heh. Apologies but I didn't want to distract from this momentous occasion and victory of Blacklock's. =)

"YES!" Wolfgang roars as his mechanizations come to fruition. "You see now? You see how all shall fall before us! Not even the mighty Purple Pirate himself can resist us when we all pull together!

You there! Dragon Drop! You should surrender now! You are without allies, thine liege lord is surely dead, and there is an ENTIRE BOATLOAD of dangerous hurt coming for you!"

Wolfgang pauses and looks into the future. Pleased by the wrath already wrought this day, his wish is granted and much is made clear to him.

"You have already lost."

Casting True Strike.

Wow, Tharivol, that was a fantastic spell. Awesome! Also, considering how tough he very well may be, and that we already have a tough player on the field in the warforged, and that we're already getting more than we could have imagined, I'm willing to take a pass on risking waking him up to get more loot and just dump him. =)

Seems to me that simply coming up with a battle plan wouldn't need to take up a whole action. I've always assumed that having familiars attack took an action because they are, really, not that smart. XD Just as PCs can say "you attack him" because each of them are human(ish) so too NPCs are (usually) smart enough to take a suggestion and do as best they can.

Persuasion!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"They kill the bad guy and live happily ever after?" Wolfgang quips back at the rhetorical question.

"Taoni, my dearest," Wolfgang says, head swiveling, taking in the situation, "they were going to kill us instead of pay us. But we're turning the tables on them. Look there, my friend Blacklock did nothing to Captain Moonsong, but he just tried to run him through! I'm going to kill him for that. Please assist me."

Wolfgang busies himself gather Power while mentally contacting his Cannith allies. 'Yes! Already have his cowardly pirates fled before our might, and we have only declared our unity!

Now we strike. You and you,'he emphasizes in the heads of two of the men, 'we are concentrating our firepower in the villain even now. Assist my friends Blacklock and Taoni in killing him. Surrounded, and targeted by my own firepower, he will quickly fall before us!

You and you,' he mind-says to the other two, 'I need you to occupy his warforged. No no, no heroics do I demand, you do not need to win the fight, simply surround him and keep him busy at swordplay, but concentrate on dodging his blows and keeping him from helping Moonsong. Once the captain is brought down, we will turn our collective might on him.

STEEL WOLVES!'

Taoni and two Cannith to attack Moonsong. Two other Cannith to go to Drag And Drop and do Dodge action.

Having done all he can to direct what forces others can bring to bear, he begins using some of his own.

Spending a moment to call on favors own, an ephemeral ball of force swirls between his cupped hands before being thrust at Moonsong.

A ray of scarlet Misplaced Loyalty mixed with black black FEAR lances out from the Warlock at the Purple Pirate.

Eldritch Blast!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Eldritch Blast Damage!: 1d10 ⇒ 1 ._.

*chuckle* Ha! Quite true! =p

*hee* In the military I was in a Combat Support Hospital, so, just for reference, "combat" triage differs from civilian, calm, hospital-based triage. In the hospital, the three levels reflect what you're saying. In -combat-, there are three different levels, which are 1) Treat and return to duty, 2) Not-dying, treat and move to the rear, and 3) "Expectant". As in "we expect these people will die without care, so we can not waste resources on them so we will put them in a tent and then THEY WILL DIE. Of note, I'm quite certain about that last one because, in a "no, really, as real as we can get it" training scenario I was handed a card that said "bullet wound-head". They put a very real bandage around my head and then put me in a tent that said "Expectant". And there I stayed until the exercise was over. (I had a funny convo with the head nurse later about it. =p) Anyway, moral of the story, and as a combat medic Stitch would know this, that, once the steel sings, you do what's best for the combat because no one lives if the enemy wins. Just saying. =)

Wait, Stitch, I'm not sure what you are doing. Instead of healing an NPC, do you want to go and CLW on Tharivol? Please?

Hmmmm, I interpreted that as "still is on the gunwale" as in, outside the boat. GM? Ruling on if DnD is inside the boat and all safe'n'stuff, or outside the boat and still gently caressed by the ever-loving grip of gravity?

Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Wolfgang smiles and nods as the three pirates remove themselves from the board. 'Probably weren't trustworthy anyway.'

Because she deserves it, Wolfgang turns toward Taoni and says, "I'm sorry. But we always knew it would come to this. After we had served our purpose, the Purple pirate was going to kill all of us. Less bodies to share the loot with. I mean to turn the tables on him and kill him and take his ship and seize the world by the throat and give it what I...what we...desire.

I hope I can count on you."

Persuasion. Let's face it. We never were going to get paid.: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

He now communicates with all of his allies.

'If anyone has any way of neutralizing the warforged before he comes on board, now would be a good time. For the rest of us.

Attack!'

I'm not sure we should declare our actions before we know where we are in the initiative.

Also, it might be good if some of us Stitch, perhaps? Like, a cleric or something? had some way of making a warforged let go of the gunwale and fall down. Perhaps if they were Commanded to Drop what their hands were holding? I'm just trying to think outside the box here. =)

Okay. I'm gonna have to do epic-levels of talking then.

'Alright, guys.

On my signal, cry out STEEL WOLVES. You will know my signal. =)'

Wolfgang reaches down and holds the hand of the she-dwarf. His exact reason isn't known, even by him, but he does know that he is risking all to win all.

He takes a deep breath.

He establishing a mind-link with both the pirates and the Cannithmen.

'HOLD! Cease this fighting!

STEEL WOLVES!'

Deception!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I'm just saying that the GM has been stressing how much she wants this to be Open Sandbox and the that "players" should "drive" the "game".

Well, okay! =3

I can't think of any better way to drive the game than by having a OH MY GOODNESS ITS A FLYING AIRSHIP!!1!!11!!!!eleven!!!!

Hold a moment, DM.
So, wait, the four of us, my NPC, makes five. So, then, what, there's Captain Professor, two of his pirates and two Cannith left?
...
All in favor of murdering Captain Professor and claiming this ship for our own?

Wolfgang establishes a mental net with his friends.

'I like not being shanghaied, it reeks too much of slavery. And as there is no honor lost in killing a thief, are we all in favor of slaying the pirate captain and seizing this Ship of Destiny for ourselves?
In the long run we will be doing the world a favor. We will eliminate this two-faced LYING PIRATE that uses his position of influence to gather would-be criminals under FALSE promises, and then ATTACKS innocent ships.

Are we agreed?'

With another ally manipulated secured, Wolfgang sighs sadly. "Aye. Alas, though there's half a ship all but empty to pillage and loot, methinks that the time has come to be gone. Let us alight to the only ship up here that still is in one piece and see what IT has to our liking."

Wolfgang never considered himself either a thief of a marauder, but having been press-ganged into service still sits sourly on his tongue. Had the man simply been _straightforward_ in his request, and given him a modicum of respect, Wolfgang could very easily see himself fighting next to Captain Professor.

Well, time to see what the future held.

Acrobats!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The sine-wave of tumult and confusion plateaus briefly and Wolfgang lightly steps onto the other ship.

As Wolfgang sees the annoying she-dwarf take a tumble, and then misses her safety, Wolfgang takes a moment of contemplation. First he starts to go back for her. Then he stops, puts on both of the talismen that he found, and starts to move away. Finally he grits his teeth. mumbles, Bleeding hearts of the world unite,' and then makes a deft danger-defying dodge for the short woman.

Acrobatics!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Barely holding on to gravity, he hauls her up. "Am I going to have to make a habit of saving your life?" he quips, smiling.

Dex!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

The massively heaving deck tosses the surprised warlock off his feat and into large coil of rope that stops his continued sliding. Quickly he gets back to his feet swivels his head rapidly about, pondering the fate of dwarf.

Wolfgang shakes his head as he pulls his head back. "Aye, you have the right of it. I can't tell what it is, and we've little enough time left.

Let us away." He looks around. "There might not be many others left on this ship. We could probably loot more rooms before the battle is done?

Let's work our way forward, see what else there is?"

"For my part, I should rather settle for just being rich. Fame, in my experience, carries more hazards than boons. Your time is not your own as it's spent pleasing people you neither know nor care for."

Wolfgang swears softly at the lack of valuables and turns to the crate. "What what? What do you see? Skootch over a bit and let me see," he says, peering in to the thing, bringing over a nearby torch if such is needed.

Wolfgang nods to himself, already a good day, and quickly deposits the goods into his beltpurse, mentally noting to go through them after things are less hectic. No time now, no telling when this window of opportunity will close.

That done he rises and claps in praise at the she-dwarf. "Yes! Excellent, excellent! That's a way to..." he waits for it, "use your head! Now, see if you can discern what is inside. If not, make the hole bigger. I trust in your talents."

Deception!!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

That done, he bends to the other chest, wishing to harvest the low-hanging fruit before moving on to whatever it is that is in that crate.

Perception; general!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Perception; chest!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Dex!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Daamge!: 1d12 ⇒ 2

AOWWWWWHHhh!" Wolfgang cries as he is KNOCKED off his feet and onto the floor, though he lands mostly on his back and is spared any worse damage.

"SEE WHAT I MEAN!?" he yells quickly picking himself back up. "There. We've taken damage, probably a large weapon of the enemy, or a fireball or catapult throwing a rock or something. People are dying, things are broken and they'll just think that crate was cracked open in the battle now stop pussy-footing around and OPEN THAT THING."

Wolfgang renews his effort to loot the chests with determination and looks in the hidden catch he unlocked.

Investigation: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Wolfgang is dumbstruck for a moment, before he shakes his head and starts talking. "Eh, what? The devil is a 'waterbed'? And why would it be in a crate? No, no. I thought you wanted to see 'what she had under the sheets'. Well, in order to see what something has _under_ something you have to look _inside_ things. It's obvious that they want to keep whatever that is a secret.
Well??

Don't you want to know what they want to keep a secret from us? It could be anything under there! Some magical weapon that the plan to kill us all with so they don't have to share the loot? An ancient artifact that clearly outlines the need for human sacrifice? Some treasure of -incalculable- wealth...to which we might help ourselves to a small, and easily missed, portion of?"

Wolfgang stops rummaging the chest for a moment and sighs. "I'm sorry, but when you suggested we sneak a way from our gaolers and go find out things I took you at your word. If you are going to lose spine at the first whiff of grapeshot then I am sorry.

I was...just so enraptured by your freedom-loving spirit. Will you not see the deed through?"

PurrrrrSWAYshun!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Eyes alight with a a childish curiosity and an adult's avarice, Wolfgang quickly tries to open the two chests before asking (in a whisper) the dwarf if she can see a way to open the crate.

We're already at the rear, so officers cabins it is!

Stealth!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
MOAR Stealth!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

All but giddy with the new sensation of creeping amongst the enemy camp, the usually sober warlock uses guile and shadow to creep to wherever the odd dwarf should lead.

Wolfgang is intrigued. With the battle approaching he feels uncharacteristically reckless. "Why yes. Yes I do."

Wolfgang sidles over to the she-dwarf and nudges her playfully. "I admit that it has been awhile since I have slain my enemies for the gold they carry. Does not the blood begin to sing in anticipation of the coming battle?" he asks, a playful smile growing upon his mouth.

Insight: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Wolfgang motions interest in a talisman. "But, alas, I am currently bereft of funds, for had I such an amount, I might not have been here in the first place, so we are chained by Fate, are we not?

So long as there is no 'interest, fees, stipulations, or quid-pro-quos' and the price is still 50 after the battle, then, yes, I will avail myself of a charm."

Wolfgang replies back to Tharivol, 'Aye, that you did. But this is the most unusual press-gang attempt I've ever seen. Using the university as a cover? It seems unlikely that word of this hasn't gotten out...but here we are.'

Insight!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Wolfgang raises a noble eyebrow at his attention. "Hm? Oh, you don't need to worry about me. Having seen this tiny planet from infinite aeons away, the trifling of petty thieves grubbing for items of what they call 'power' is beneath my limit of concern.

To wit...drink up me hearties, yo ho!"

Yeah, for a game to keep going, there's usually a 24/48 limit. Like, if the DM says something general "anyone wanna do anything?" if there's nothing specific within 48 hrs, it's assumed that that's a no, and the scene can move on.

And for something specific, like, "Wolfgang, are you wearing pants?" if there's nothing for 24 hours, it's assumed that they are too busy with RL and the DM can bot them as needed.
That way everyone isn't waiting for 3 days for me to say "Wolfgang lost his pants at the pants-eating monster."

Understanding that the crew will be well-used to the situation and thusly tight-lipped about it, Wolfgang thinks about having a word about it with the dwarf to get her take on things.

...after the fight. Good coin is hard to come by.

Wolfgang nods slowly to Tharivol's message, many pieces of hte puzzle coming together. It is not unknown for a captain to take on a crew as "guards" only to find out that their job description is a bit more...offensively minded.

Still, it wouldn't hurt to try and have his assumptions confirmed.

"We seem to be at battle stations but not yet under attack. Do you know what's going on? What's -really- going on?" he spends a minute each to ask of his supervisor, the she-dwarf, and any random crewman he can pin down.

Persuasion Supervisor: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Persuasion Dwarf: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Persuasion Crew person: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Do...do you mean BEYOND the cool/not cool factor? (You ask that as if there IS any greater rational....)

The rational is that if a Warlock is in combat, and he casts it, he does not have the mental resources to filter out the chattel that his arcane net captures, and must just take the first petitioner that he comes across.

Outside of combat he is steady and cool, and can put the FULL POWER of his mental fortitude into the casting, and so has leisure to ensure that an entity of adequate stature is captured.