But more data does increase the accuracy, Troy. Every bit of information added to the known data increases the accuracy. It might not make it accurate, which is subjective, but it absolutely makes it more accurate, which is objective.It absolutely is not subjective. We are talking about a non-controlled experiment that would completely invalid any conclusions derived from these statistics.
I think you misunderstand my statement there. The term 'accurate' is subjective. Some people might feel that a sample of data that has less than a 5% error compared to reality, would be accurate. Some might not consider that accurate, and insist that accurate is within 1% error.
However, the term 'more accurate' is not subjective. A 1% error rate is more accurate than a 5% error rate, regardless of which you feel is 'accurate'.
There can be no argument about either of those two claims by me. They are merely definitions.
Look, it is not my intent to start an argument on this (incredibly boring) topic, especially with you (I like you. You’ve been nice to me in other threads.) However… (oh, GOD, I didn’t want to do this)…
A valid statistical sample would be a true play test: Each module is run, under controlled conditions with pre-rolled characters and the game would be run multiple times with different players (randomly selected). In other words, you would get the same number of runs on PoD as TiNH. Then, when you have done as many play-tests as necessary to have a statistically significant sampling, you can graph your data and say, “Hey, yeah! PoD has a much higher mortality rate than TiNH.
Given the sheer amount of possibilities within DnD, your controlled playtest criteria here would serve to further divorce your findings from the reality of actual DnD. It isn't actually useful to control a situation to measure it if your controls cause the situation to be no longer reflective of the situation when it occurs in real life.
If you keep accumulating more and more bad data, it never becomes more accurate.
Your standard for 'good data' here is actually bad data though. A real playthrough, with real players, and real characters is going to provide better data for determining how deadly any given adventure is, rather than a sterile and pregenerated game played by robots. It is like experimenting with a test under super controlled conditions, but administering the test in the real world with no such controls and a wide variety of possibilities. Your experiment doesn't reflect reality.
So, yeah, I’ve got my rant out. Thanks. Please, let it die. You can believe I’m wrong. You can tell me all about how “statistics can mean anything you want” if it makes you feel better. It’s just, there is a different between real statistics and misleading collections of numbers.
I'd say no such thing. Nor will I let it die, you got to say your piece, why shouldn't I get to say mine? I agree that the numbers here reflect a very particular set of the population. For instance, no one here has posted unless they had fatalities in the first place. It is entirely possible that the 14 fatalities (or whatever) in PoD reflect a much higher percentage of characters that went through PoD than the 100+ fatalities from TinH. And that's just one possibility. I agree that these numbers aren't good statistics, nor have they been obtained in a manner that can provide useful conclusions from their analysis.
My only point is that more data makes the data sample 'more accurate'. Not that it in any way makes it accurate.
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QUOTE="Troy Pacelli"]
actually, this increases the accuracy of those numbers. you see, most people don't play STAP from beginning to end- and even if they do, they are not bound by any means to report their Obituaries here... and still, we've got 14 reported deaths. I think that makes PoD into one deadly peace of epic demon fighting.
Oh, I see what you're saying. Your point is that PoD is really deadly. Okay, sure, I'm with you.
However ... the accuracy is NOT increased. Technically speaking, of course. Sorry, I'm just Über-sensitive about statistical data. I'm afraid thee semesters of advanced statistical analysis at a "publish or perish" university has left me a little … well, you know …<twitch><twitch> Really, three semesters – that’s no joke. I tend to go into convulsions when someone says “standard deviation” or “statistical significance” to me (which, thankfully, almost never happens).
I will concede, though, that for our purposes here, informal and unscientific they may be, we might be able to imply some conjectures which, ultimately, are just reinforcing our pre-existing biases based on logical assumptions regarding the traditional structure of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, in general, and what we know of the Savage Tide Adventure Path, specifically. <twitch><twitch>
And East is East and West is West and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh... Now you tell me what you know.
well, I certainly don't understand half as much as you do about statistics, but I know my basic math. if PoD scored 14 deaths out of somewhere around 300, than it has a little more than 3% of the total. since I assume that less than 3% of those who began STAP reached it's conclusion, the death toll looks good.
of course, this thread is not a very reliable source of information, but still, some conclusions might be maid from reading it. such as- STAP is a deadly campaign. so many deaths... well, it points to something. also, PoD is, really, a deadly module. this are logical conclusions that really don't reach anywhere near a 100% accuracy, but that's still enough for me.
well, I certainly don't understand half as much as you do about statistics, but I know my basic math. if PoD scored 14 deaths out of somewhere around 300, than it has a little more than 3% of the total. since I assume that less than 3% of those who began STAP reached it's conclusion, the death toll looks good.
of course, this thread is not a very reliable source of information, but still, some conclusions might be maid from reading it. such as- STAP is a deadly campaign. so many deaths......
It’s really a lot more simple than I make it sound. Here’s the bottom line: You can make conclusions about individual parts of the adventure just as you say, but you cannot generalize to compare one to the other because you are working with a very different sample size. You have a WHOLE BUCH of people who played the first and a much smaller number who played the last. So if there is any aberrant results in the first group, they will be minimized by the spread, but in the smaller, later group, a few aberrations could drastically effect the spread.
Here’s what I mean: You take a d2 and roll it 1000 times. When you average the results, you would expect to get a number right around 10. However, Compare that to my results when I roll the dice twice and get a 1 both times and conclude that rolling a d20 results in a 1 every time. Of course that’s absurd, but I go to an extreme for illustration.
The term 'accurate' is subjective.
I’ll go back to DePaul University and tell Dr. Chen and Dr Scott that they are misinformed about how they do statistical analysis and all the stuff in the text books is hogwash, too. It’s very liberating, honestly, to lay down the burden of this chapter of my life. I kind of feel like I should change my resume, though, to say “no collage” under “education.” Actually, I don’t have to because accuracy is subjective, right?
Hey, yeah. That’s all Bill Clinton was trying to say. “Accuracy is subjective.” Richard Nixon, too. Maybe Rod Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson can make use of that defense. Accuracy is subjective.
The term 'accurate' is subjective.I’ll go back to DePaul University and tell Dr. Chen and Dr Scott that they are misinformed about how they do statistical analysis and all the stuff in the text books is hogwash, too. It’s very liberating, honestly, to lay down the burden of this chapter of my life. I kind of feel like I should change my resume, though, to say “no collage” under “education.” Actually, I don’t have to because accuracy is subjective, right?
Hey, yeah. That’s all Bill Clinton was trying to say. “Accuracy is subjective.” Richard Nixon, too. Maybe Rod Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson can make use of that defense. Accuracy is subjective.
Don't be a prick and actually read what I said. Go call up your professors if you'd like, and have them explain the different between the qualities of 'accurate' and 'more accurate'.
Which is nothing to deal with the word 'accuracy'.
Now now chillens, let us get back to the intended purpose of the thread: reporting many and numerous character deaths - player or otherwise - occuring in the STAP. :)
I'm about to get two more if my players don't beat the will o' wisp in Tamoachan. Which brings to mind another question...
See, this is why I wanted to drop it long ago. I’m really not a prick. I AM, however, a prig.
Anyway, I’m sorry it got nasty and I apologize for “being a prick.” That was never my intent.
See, this is why I wanted to drop it long ago. I’m really not a prick. I AM, however, a prig.
Anyway, I’m sorry it got nasty and I apologize for “being a prick.” That was never my intent.
Soright - back to our regularly scheduled death and mayhem, already in progress.
DECEASED: Darvoullrach, Human Cleric (0)/Wizard (0)
LOCATION: The Ticklish Ogre in the Merchant's District
CATALYST: His own morning star
LONG VERSION: The characters have just finished buying all of their starting equipment when Alura Darkstrider (Human Rogue (0)/Ninja (0)) complains of being hungry. They're next to the Ticklish Ogre and Orbee (Halfling Swashbuckler (1)) wants to try their turkey leg and thin mead special. Calamity Thundersword (Human Fighter (0)/Psychic Warrior (0)) doesn't care one way or another.
Then Orbee notices that one shifty-eyed pirate-looking guy (Slipknot Peet) seems to paying too much attention to a red-haired beauty (Rowyn Kellani) at the other side of the tavern. When Peet signals for the distraction so that he and his men can move in to take Rowyn out, the PCs mobilize in her defense.
One of Peet's guys intercept Darvoullrach and rolls, on the first attack roll the character is on the receiving end of, a natural 20. And then the guy rolls a second natural 20, followed by a 14. Good thing he was only trying to keep Darvoullrach out of the way and it was a grapple. I ruled he was pinned so harshly he wasn't likely to free himself by the end of the bar fight.
Which would have been a good thing. Nahum Smiles, the taverns' owner and barkeep sneaks up on the man holding Darvoullrach at bay and smashes a bottle over his head. This breaks the hold long enough for Darvoullrach to draw his morning star and take a swing. And roll a 1.
Followed by another 1. Followed by a 4. He hit himself and did double max damage. That was enough.
Now I have to come up with a name for that unnamed thug who rolled two natural 20's in a row (I think he earned it).
PC: Bolk, the druid's advanced wolf animal companion
Adventure: Sea Wyvern's Wake
Location of Dead: The Birthing Maw
Catalyst: Full attack from the Mother of All
Bolk was a loyal and effective follower who proved surprisingly resilient, but her luck finally ran out.
PC: Dexter, half-orc barbarian 6/ Champion of Gwynharwyf 1
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Location of Death: The beach
Catalyst: Angry Masher + Hungry T-Rex + no healing in between = 1 dead half-orc.
Neither the players nor the DM realized that the party hadn't had a chance to heal between battling the masher and waking up on the beach until after Dexter charged the T-Rex. He didn't survive the trip down the dinosaur's gullet. The party barely had time to mourn him though, his friend the druid was delighted to have an opportunity to use her new reincarnate spell, so Dexter the half-orc is now Dexter the dwarf.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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PC: Elyn Chillwind, female star elf Sorcerer 20
PC: Arros Firebrand, male human Clr 15/Demonwrecker 5
Adventure: Enemy of my Enemy
Location of Death: Outside Bagromar's encampment
Catalyst: The evil eye from a Bodak T-Rex
Long Description: Having tracked down General Bagromar the SWORD had assembled the last piece of the alliance for an assault on Gaping Maw. Dealing with Dingoslag and convincing Bagromar his best interests lie with usurping Tetradarians position in the Armies of the Prince of Demons the group prepared to plane shift away... except the were still in the teleport ward of the camp.
They reappeared outside the walls of the encampment on top of a Symbol of Insanity (which caught the Sorcerer, her familiar, and the barbarian). Also awaiting them was Major Enderan and his JuJu Giant hit squad. They had tracked the party down following the possessed vorpal greataxe the group had taken from a Molydei assassin which also turned on the party. The lancers charged in and once in range the Demonwrecker and Sorcerer (+familiar) died of the Bodak Tyranasaurs death gaze. For nearly a minute the standing members of the SWORD battled Enderan, the Giants, and the opportunistic Bullywug Lich Orgosh the Despoiler before killing or driving them off.
The Cleric and Sorcerer were subsequently resurrected in the Court of Stars before the War Council against Demogorgon was convened.
--System Vrock Failure!
Arien (elven wizard 6) - Turned to stone by the basilisk (a ghost brute in my game) and smashed by a falling rock from the ruins.
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Name: Aethir
Class: Paladin/Bahamut Dragon Knight (custom PrC)
Level: 16
Catalyst: DC 34 Fort + Stings like a floatin' eye.
On the assault of the Wreck, everything is going great. The party ported onto the guard tower right off the bat, killing the pirates there as well as the captain readily.
With mindsight active on the Bard, the party then moves from building to building, killing more pirates in their sleep, then fighting the assassin/socerer Yuan-Ti threat.
Finally, they move over to the abandoned building with the eye-of-the-deep inside. The teleporter uses telekinesis to poke the floatin' eye to see if he's real, and initiative starts.
Everyone fails the save vs. blind&stun, the pally by 1. Floatin' Eye then proceeds to claw/claw/bite as well as eye-ray zappin. 4 rounds later, the rest of the party can move, casting freedom of movement etc. Poor pally gets pulled into the room, dropped into the water with exactly 1 hp between him and death, and left for dead.
The rest of the group 'ports out, then Escher the teleporter goes back in under greater invis, haste, and freedom of movement, snags the pally's gear (no remains left, alas) and the other treasure there.
end result: floatin' eye is out his loot, party is out about 26k GP for the true-res on the pally, and floatin' eye is down some 10-12 con from the cloudkill we set on him.
-t
Ahh.. the Eye of the Deep. Fond memories of that thing. The only thing that saved our party's butt was Astral Projecting in, and even that tactic doesn't work in some spots of the module.(totally doesn't in the next module) Even without fear of real death, the beastie was still a house- My 15th level paladin, Skurm Hellscream, went down in about three rounds before being blasted back to his body.
Of this module, I remember the DC of that beastie being jaw-dropping, as well of the number of attacks possessed by a certain demon lurking nearby...
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PC: Ursus, shifter duskblade 8
Adventure: Here There be Monsters
Location: The Shrine in Fogmire
Catalyst: Going toe-to-toe with the Lemorian golem and then Olangru
He had already been brought near-death by the golem, then faced off against Olangru after the wizard "regrouped" him away for healing. He was Ring of the Ram'd into the fire pit. Twice. The flames technically killed him the second time, but the cleric used "Close Wounds" and the druid swooped into the pit and carried him away, so he's back to fight another day.
PC: Pagos, tortle VoP cleric/monk
Adventure: HtbM
Location: The Shrine in Fogmire
Catalyst: Failed grapple checks
Oh how he wished he had access to freedom of movement. Grappled by the golem, he never escaped the hold and thus perished.
However, I give each player one penalty-free death, and having Pagos come back from this death works beautifully into a couple of sub-plots. He was also going to get "a strong aura of good" soon, so during his funeral I'm going to have his spirit appear inside the Silver Flame at the cathedral in Flamekeep, where he will have a discussion with his god. So when his body is given to the fire and the burial ritual is complete, the flames are going to burst into silvery motes and Pagos will rise with a shining aura about him.
Any chance of someone posting up an up-to-date tally of all the deaths? I'd like to see how ToD is doing in the death race. :)
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couple more deaths and pseudo deaths to add in.
at the end of Serpents of Scuttlecove, the party has earthquaked the wreck into much smaller pieces, bringing out and killing the yugoloth, bunch of the captains, and basically taken out all the mooks.
heading back in to finish up looting/killing (something like 450,000 scattered coins littering the floor) we encounter the 7th coil snakey people.
The first Yuan-Ti Anathema that shows its face gets a 1-round death attack before it gets a chance to act, rolling a 2 on the DC 24 Save or Die from the Assassin, Dead. dead snakey person.
So.....a little liberal license later.....
Another anathema shows up, with some Sorcerer backup.
which leads to:
Who: Dead, 16th lvl Rogue/Assassin
Where: The Wreck, 2nd to last encounter
Catalyst: Full Attack from the Anathema, without Hero's Feast up.
Without the normal paladin/cleric duo (had a stand-in Druid w/ Bear pair) the party was not as immune to poison as it usually is. All 6 bites hit the rogue, and he couldn't manage to roll higher than a 7 on his 6 Fort saves vs. 1d4 Con Damage. with a 10 con to start he was dead in 4 bites. the other 2 were just gravy.
the anathema was later shredded to forever away, after the druid Last Breath'd the dead Dead, and it was plane shifted to Irian, the Eternal Day.
Pseudo deaths:
"Funnel Cakes" Advanced Polar Bear animal companion: Turned into a sparrow by a Daelkyr lord after Cold Captain Wyther and his Snakey Demon went down like chumps.
Vlad, Bard 14/Mindbender 1 (cohort of warmage), permanantly Insane from same Daelkyr lord.
Captain Rhys: Warmage 16 feebleminded from the Daelkyr lord.
it was a gory and fun day.
-t
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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PC: Duklar, m tiefling Scout 19/Ftr 2
Adventure: Prince of Demons (aftermath)
Location: The Well of Ahazu
Catalyst: Ulu-Thurg and Heartsipper.
After defeating Demogorgon the members of SWORD wasted no time in bringing the corpse of Arendagrost to the Wells of Darkness to fulfill their bargain with the Seizer. Since Arendagrosts fall the Master of Assassins has tracked the Maw of the Abyss hoping for a chance to strike a blow to his masters murderers. The Assassin along with his War apes and Captain Urbala the Hezrou went to Bagromar with the opportunity to raise themselves in the New Prince of Demons esteem (Tetradarian). Astrally Projecting they follow the Sword to the Wells of Darkness and attack while they are communing with Ahazu.
Taking fire at the bottom of a Well is not a good place to be! The Scout flies up (Solar Wings) to the top being the fastest (and the Forbiddance is still up) to draw fire. Little does he know the Master of Assassins is hidden and invisible (defeating the Scouts true seeing and high spot checks) and casting True Strike! Pouncing on the little tiefling Ulu-Thurg starts feeding his vicious spear the heroes blood. A little help from Captain Urbala and the Scout is bleeding out while his Party is fending off Bagromar and the War Apes!
After defeating Bagromar, the Demonwrecker cleric manages to updraft to the top of the Well as the rest of the demons are drawn down to the Divine Tricksters Enraging jests. He is then Revananced and Revivified after the battle.
--Vrock you like a Hurricane!
PC: Elyosha Tatanya Fyorovna, elf druid 8
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Location of Dead: Demogorgon's Shrine
Catalyst: Full attack from the Lemorian Golem
Elyosha, with a refreshing lack of multigame thinking went to check the crucible for treasure even though the DM still had the party on combat time. Unfortunately that left her right next to the Lemorian Golem when it animated.
Luckily, Elyosha had acquired a scroll of reincarnate. Urol was able to read the scroll and Elyosha will continue her adventures on the Isle of Dread in the body of a dwarf.
PC: Arcanix 13013 (AKA Rusty), Warforged Barbarian 1
Adventure: There is No Honor
Location of Death: D17 of the Lotus Dragon Hideout
Catalyst: 6 Ixitxachitls
Long Description: Originally constructed by House Cannith as a gift to the Wardens of the Wood, Rusty only recently moved to Sasserine (a recently rediscovered culture hidden away in the Lhazaar Principalities). Intending to test his mettle against the monsters in Sasserine's infamous arena, he fell in cahoots with a group of adventurers hired by Lavinia Vanderboren. He met his end after wading haphazardly into a sea urchin-infested cave pool and provoking the ire of the Ixitxachitl inhabitants. Rusty was a strong, silent type, known for being a living wrecking machine and his tendency to cut NPCs in half before the Paladin could question them. :-)
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(Playtest only, but notable)
PC: Sajan, Human Monk 16
Adventure: Serpents of Scuttlecove
Location of Death: Crimson Fleet base
Catalyst: Failed Fort save, Finger of Death
The party had just dealt with the bar-lguras, but one escaped to warn the outpost. The party retreated to the surrounding brush as the various thugs assembled and approached the temple. The wizard of the group snared most of them in a Black Tentacles spell, but the flying captain from the tower spotted them in the brush and ordered the attack. A fly spell was cast on Amiri, and she flew after the captain, who retreated and lured her into range of the death slaad. Sajan ran up the docks and lept across the water to engage the death slaad. Sadly, his SR and saves against the repeated Fingers of Death didn't hold out. Sajan failed his save by 1.
PC: Seltyiel, Half-elf Eldritch Knight 16
Catalyst: Failed Fort save, Assassin death attack
While Seltyiel was finishing off the last of the thugs that had either avoided or escaped the Black Tentacles spell, little did he know that an invisible yuan-ti assassin was hovering overhead, studying him for a death attack. The attack struck. Seltyiel failed his save by 3.
PC: Tanans Adihanr, half-elf expert 1/ sorcerer 1
Adventure: There is No Honor
Location of Death: Blue Nixie, B10
Catalyst: Rhagodessa and a low player wisdom score
This player has a habit of wandering away from the party and decided to go down into the hold all by himself while everyone else was dealing with some healing and searching the main deck. Not only was the hold on fire, but the rhagodessa had managed to escape from its burning cage. He walked right into it and bled out before the party could reach him.
PC: Turij, human warrior 1/ ranger 2
Adventure: There is No Honor
Location of Death: Lotus Dragon Hideout, D29
Catalyst: pr0n
The party used the Earth Elemental Gem to wreck havoc in the area leading up to Rowyn's room. After it had killed everything from the training room until just before her room, it poofed after moving through the wall and into her room. She went invisible and went to see what was going on. Half of the party followed the elemental while the other half was back in the training room looting, so they returned to the training room to heal up before continuing; Turij was the last to leave the room. My re-written Rowyn cast Suggestion on him and told him that he should probably close the door because there were scary things out there. She then invited him to join her for some 'fun', DDed away with her now-willing target to her dungeon, had her way with him, and then killed him while everyone else was looting corpses and healing up.
PC: Cadell Virtanen, human warrior 1/ ranger 3
PC: heck if I can remember his name now and I dunno where I put my notes, dwarf warrior 1/monk 3
Adventure: The Bullywug Gambit
Location of Death: Kraken's Cove, K6
Catalyst: DM uber-rolls while they tried to rest
Ripclaw rips them all a new one and they retreat to K6 to rest (the fungus didn't stand a chance). They try their best to barricade the doorway and set the rangers on watch with a 6-hour alarm spell. I roll randomly to see if the savage creatures smell the blood in the room from all of their damage and disease, 5% chance and I call high. Nothing the first six hours, but hours 7 and 8... 100 on the dice. Both times. Well, that calls for something somewhat epic. So Brissa tries to claw through their barricade, then gathers three other savage creatures to help her claw through it. The rangers fail their listen checks and down comes the barricade. No problem, the rangers are fully healed and standing right beside their comrades, easy to wake them up, right...? The baddies all get initiative (even on separate initiative rolls), move in and start gnawing on Cadell. And they crit. Twice. He's down, and the monk is next. By the time the others wake up, their comrades are already beyond saving. At that point I felt pretty badly, wished that I used a a screen so I could have fudged those rolls, and gave the creatures will saves to keep eating the dead instead of attacking the rest of the party, who escape, retreat back up the cliff face and to the fishing boat to return to Sasserine and get these diseases removed.
DECEASED: Alura Darkstrider (rogue)
LOCATION: The hanging silk cave in TBG
CATALYST: Ripclaw's claw
Long Version: Orbee (swashbuckling halfling) and Manone (npc hireling, {yeah, that's right, "Man One") take a quick peek at the Sea Wyvern while Calamity Thundersword (psychic warrior) and Alura investigate the cave complex. They get to B5 with the hanging silks and Ripclaw starts his hit and run tactics. They exchange a few blows before retreating to the SW entrance to B5. Ripclaw exits SE and runs around the beach. Orbee & Manone fail to spot him. The ladies fail to spot or hear Ripclaw sneak up behind and foreclaw Alura with a 20. The roll to confirm the critical? Yep, another 20. And that confirmation? A 14. Since I rolled out on the table there was no fudging behind the screen. So, I killed my wife's character. I wonder if I can fit in the cat house?
DECEASED: Calamity Thundersword (psychic warrior)
LOCATION: B14 in TBG
CATALYST: Captain Harliss Javell's rapier
Long Version: In TiNH, while staying at an inn, the party overheard a conversation next door. A desperate thief was trying to unload a certain black pearl he'd stolen. Diamondback wasn't buying, because she didn't want to get on the backside of Captain Harliss Javell. My players never back down from a fight so I thought I should foreshadow Captain Javell's toughness early on.
Anyway, after dealing with Alura's body, Orbee goes back to the boat so that no one can escape on it (they erroneously think that Vanthus is still around), Calamity and Manone search the rest of the caves. So, after describing the masterful strokes that cuisinarted the savage pirates in Kigante's room, and describing the artwork with which she was currently dealing with the 8 savage pirates surrounding Captain Javell, what does Calamity do when Capt. Javell mentions about sending Drevoraz to Vanderboren Manor? Yep, she attacks her. Manone couldn't beat Calamity's initiative, but when he did go, he just screamed, "Are you nuts? What are you doing?!?" Calamity pressed her attack and Harliss cut her down to -2 in one round. Calamity didn't stabilize until -8.
When Orbee finally investigated and revived her, he had found that she'd been hastily bandaged and a note on her chest, from Manone, saying, "I quit." I guess it is time to hire Guyduex . . .
Last night was the third death of one of my PC's in the savage tide.
they were saving the phanaton's from the one armed Temuahti-Tecuani, after all of the PC's had been swallowed and most had carved their way out, poor Punkin the 9th level rouge/scout was digested by the powerful belly juices and stomach muscles of the angry dinosaur. now the search for a high enough level cleric begins.......
Last night was the third death of one of my PC's in the savage tide.
they were saving the phanaton's from the one armed Temuahti-Tecuani, after all of the PC's had been swallowed and most had carved their way out, poor Punkin the 9th level rouge/scout was digested by the powerful belly juices and stomach muscles of the angry dinosaur. now the search for a high enough level cleric begins.......
Yeah, that was a mess...poor Punkin, we hardly knew ye...well, my character didn't, at least.
Yeah, that was a mess...poor Punkin, we hardly knew ye...well, my character didn't, at least.Last night was the third death of one of my PC's in the savage tide.
they were saving the phanaton's from the one armed Temuahti-Tecuani, after all of the PC's had been swallowed and most had carved their way out, poor Punkin the 9th level rouge/scout was digested by the powerful belly juices and stomach muscles of the angry dinosaur. now the search for a high enough level cleric begins.......
ack, i have an evil twin! where's your goatee?
RIP
KREET Hadozee Barbarian 1st level
ISPAHAN Aquatic Half-Elf Cleric of Deep Sashelas 1st level
First blood to the Hungry Dead.
We've kicked off the STAP and the party got suckered into Vanthus' trap perfectly. I worked out where the Ravenous Zombies would be distributed and even added in some loose timbers blocking the eastern doors and passages to flag up the threat. I figured they were put there by Penkus during his retreat.
The barbarian charged in to the first combat hand to hand, and quickly found out how dangerous the zombies could be when they got a bite 'locked on'. The cleric forced them back with turn undeads, they then encountered another group of zombies who they also turned and pushing them back kept advancing to the furthest eastern flooded chamber right outside the room where I had Veldimmar positioned.
The turns couldn't last, they were far too deep into the chambers and outnumbered. Isfahan at the head of the party invoked the name of Deep Sashelas once more, but his God did not hear his cry (he rolled a 1), and the tide of undead swept forward. Everyone else fled leaving the Hadozee raging and falling under a blizzard of frenzied bite attacks. They ran in terror and boarded up the doors again with the awful sounds of tearing flesh and a raving undead hunger finally sated.
Now the cleric's sister has to lead the party to rescue the bodies and exact revenge and they have all found out just how deady the trail of the Savage Tide can be.
Nefaste (NE male human true necromancer 20)
Was he a single-classed Dread Necromancer 20 (20-level base class lich-wannabe from Heroes of Horror), or a multi-classed combination like a Cleric/Wizard/True Necromancer (14-level Mystic Theurge-like prestige class from Libris Mortis)?
Bad luck on the TPK, by the way! Although some GMs seem to aim at that ...
The first fatality in my STAP campaign that started last October:
Veliree Toregson, level 7 elemental air bloodline sorcerer, ripped apart by a critical hit on an attack of opportunity by Olangru when trying to fly away from the party's first encounter with the bar-lgura in the Fogmire ruins in "Here There Be Monsters".
She is survived by her brother, Sir Mandragor Toregson, a knight and paladin of Mayaheine, as well as her companions, Lujan Miomar, a Hero of the Third Rank of the Valorous Host of Heironeous, Aethelred Tyfar, a rogue and wizard, Harc Thervalain, barbarian and fighter, and Arknor Braunstein, a dwarven ranger.
May she rest in peace.
Character: Uruj 2nd level Spirit Shaman
Adventure: There is no Honor
So the PC's hit the Taxidermist's Hall, Nemien Roblach managed to pull off an escape and disappeared. The party came back a day later to find the Hall shuttered and locked down with a couple of Lotus Dragons keeping a close eye on Dead Dog Alley. By this point the Dragons and the PC's had been trading blows and were both well aware of each other.
They had a couple of rogues deliberately placed to lure the party into the Ring of Ruin by jumping into the well. The only member of the group who jumped in after the rogues was the shoal halfling spirit shaman. The first volleys of bolts was bad enough, but the crocodile released into the water made quick work of such a tasty, lightly salted appetiser. The halflings now not much more than a spreading pool of blood. Bless.
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Another 2 fatalities to add in here.
Who: Dead
Class/Level: Rogue/Assassin 17
Where: Divided's Ire, near the entrance.
Catalyst: Nabassu's and their trisky energy draining ways.
The party approaches the doors, getting attacked by the clutch of Nabassu's. They approach the now-weakened (enervation + energy drain) rogue and bring him into the death-stealing gaze range. 2 failed fort saves later, one dead rogue.
Who: Rheese
Class/Level: Warmage 18
Where: Divided's Ire, S'Shasha's area
Catalyst: Staying outside the vrock room while 2 assassins prowl about.
While engaging the vrocks in the nearby room, Rheese is tossing Horrid Wilting's and whatnot into the fray when the DM calls for spot checks. The Bard, Cleric, and Warmage are all outside and have a line of sight. They also all have crap for spot. No-one sees the Greater Invisible S'Shasa and her friend the Cannith Wand Adept Assassin until its too late.
A Ray of Stupidity, some negative energy damage, and failed fort save later, Rheese drops with melted brains leaking out of his ears.
These are care of my friend Thom's game, and we can't let the tally fall short, can we?
-t
Kill zem ... kill zem all ...
Raiders of the Lost Ark ensues
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Name: Darley Sand
Adventure: There Is No Honor
Profession: CN Female Human Rogue 2
Location: Lotus Dragon Guildhall
Catalyst: Rapier and +2d6 sneak attack
The final fight with Rowyn was a great knock down drag out climactic fight for my PCs, especially considering they'd met Rowyn earlier in Sasserine and didn't suspect a thing.
The Bard was dropped by Gut Tugger, and while the dwarf swashbuckler/fighter held off Rowyn, Darley poured a CLW potion down his. As soon as he was okay, she headed for Gut Tugger. The next thing she knew, Rowyn had spun away from the melee with the dwarf with a dancer's grace and shoved 2 feet of rapier through her back. (-11 hp) Darley died nearly instantly.
She's just been raised by Lavinia and the PCs and swears "If I ever see that Kellani b*@%$ again..."
(evil DM laugh for the Sea Wyvern's Wake)
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Character: Morgram, CN Dwarf Ranger 4
Adventure: The Bullywug Gambit
Location: Basement of the Vanderboren Manor
Catalyst: a huge critical hit with a Greatclub.
Morgram and David (human scythe wielding fighter) managed to drop the first bullywug before they even managed to notice the group... then the actual fight began, while David started to trip and terminate another bullywug Morgram engaged Chief Lorpth and managed to hit with his two dwarven axes.
then the Club goes down ... HARD...
Critical hit + Power attack + weapon specialization.... for a grand total of 34 enough to drop an already wounded morgram to -10
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Another 2 For-Reals deaths, and an "almost ran" as well.
Who: Escher
Class: Ardent/Elocator/Monk Combo
Level: 18
Where: Wells of Darkness, the Tower at Overlook
Catalyst: Stupid Varagoin's flew through our Gate-Escape-Vector
Who: Shadowfire
Class: Rogue/Gatecrasher
Level: 15? 16?
Where: See above
Catalyst: Poor AC when trying to dodge through like 8 Varagoin's threatened area
Who: Jaynes
Class: Cleric
Level: 18
Where: See above
Catalyst: Greater Dispel + Persistent-based Cleric = Sad Cleric Panda
So the party is at about 1/3 or so resources, and missing the usual Paladin/Cleric combo, and the Rogue/Assassin Dead. We figured we could power through, and fought the Humongo Retriever and some Bodak Baddies, readily tearing through them and finding out we need to go to Overlook.
We teleport to the roof, and the Bard (stupid, I know) pokes his head through a window (not invisibly, also stupid, I know) to see what kind of Magical Beasts and Undead he can see. Of course, they all see HIM, and start to flood out to attack. There's like 20 guys there, ok, this may be tough, and then the Nightwings show up.
Boom, Cleric is dispelled, Warmage is dispelled (had Mass Deathward, Heroes Feast, and some other stuff up, also Fly) and it's on. Warmage takes out 2 of the nightwings with Sunburst, debates whether to "Belt of Battle" and do it again on the tower-guys also. Chooses not to; this is our downfall.
Warmage then gets zapped for like 9 negative levels from the Undead guys, and the Varagoin rip into the Bard, Cleric, Warmage, and Monk something fierce, some of which I can heal.
We decide to split, teleporting away, dimension hopping, etc, and my Cleric Jaynes Gates us back to our ship. Why I didn't teleport us, THEN gate away, or something that would have made sense, I don't know, but there were a series of tactical blunders here. Of course, like 9 or 10 of the Varagoins, as well as the Liches, make it through the Gate before the Monk can go, so it's either leave her or try to tough it out.
Jaynes gets knocked unconscious right after she (successfully) makes it through the gauntlet, dropping the Gate, and they lay into us. Shadowfire dies to a bunch of AoO's, Jaynes drops from the actual regular attacks, and the Bard can't grab Escher when he teleports himself, Jaynes, and Rheese out of danger.
They gang up and shred poor Escher (non-dispelled AC is like 55, dispelled AC was like 32, and MUCH less HP without Vigor of course) into poisoned chunks, dropping her to -50 or so.
The next day, I Miracle her body back, talk to the corpse, and find out she doesn't want to come back. So, we recruited a wandering Cactace Shapeshifter Monk that was in Broken Reach, and will be setting out to regain our stuff shortly.
-t
DECEASED: Psion Seer 11
LOCATION: "Roper" Encounter, LD.
CATALYST: Mind Blast + Extract Brain: Urophidion (Lords of Madness)VERSION:
Mind blasted the entire group, the urophion latched his strands into some pgs.
One rounds later he extracted the brain of the psion.. meanwhile only two pgs could act.. and they killed the monster.DECEASED: Companion Animal
LOCATION: Encounter with the Bile Gas Rhagodessas (V. Turin the Mad)
CATALYST: Nausea and BitesVERSION:
They fought the Rhagodessas, but some of the pgs got a nausea.
The monsters killed the Companion Animal some rounds later, and the only survivor tried to escape with the snack.
The PGS rescued the Animal Companion and killed the last rhagodessas.
Gratifying indeed to see the bile gas deathbugs claim more food. ^_^
Awesome, Dark Roland! Sounds like it was a real rumble in the cavern!
And lest I be thought as "only a Killer GM", kindly note that Dark Roland nerfed my version of the Nethlagguthingamabob to suit his group better. ^_^