Yep. I'd be very interested at least for the endgame. Sounds like it shall be fun.
Spends some time pondering the implications of Yasha's request...
You do realize that I would effectively be creating an NPC for later squishing of other player characters ... I rather like the idea.
If all goes well, Allen will get to post a few more character deaths, lament the squishing of BBEGs and then I'll wrap up with the "bio" of the 'endgame' PC used.
Sweet. Sounds like a wonderfully evil plan.
Interestingly enough, I used to think, OMG what an arse. How do these people keep playing with this DM, etc etc. Maybe it was due to a previous DM who seemed to delight in taunting many players with "The answer is right in front of you" before TKPing us again. (In hindsight I think he got some serious perverted kicks, but thats another story).
However after reading the thread, and coming back to it each time a new post appears, and not to mention the fact that Mr Stewart has more players than I have seen in a lifetime, who come back each week, I have well and truly rescind my unvoiced arse comment.
Your game sir, is obvious testament to your love and your players love of the game. It does not always have good points, but it obviously has more than bad. I take my hat off to you and your team.
With all the character ideas I have floating in my head, I wish I was able to experience such a game. It maybe the only way I could ever get to play them all 8)
Tearlach and Olaf the Stout,
yeah, perhaps it is surprising that my players stick around as long as they do. The munchkin players seem to be much more up for my brand of game than the 'Role Players'. The few pure RP'ers have long since bailed and I'm left with those who enjoy my style or who are just die-hard gamers who'll tolerate getting wiped out weekly, if it means they've got a game to play in:) I'm glad you both enjoy the thread. It's all a sort of nod to the "good old" style of the game back when Turin and I began playing in the early 1980's, and I'm pleased to know that it strikes a chord with a number of the posters on Paizo.As the heavy-handed style of the game does have the potential to drive away players, it is very much sustained by the personality and presentation of the GM. I don't think I'm generally much of a 'roleplayer' but this is perhaps my style of RP'ing, where I create the humorously adversarial GM that the players love to hate. I think that the players in my group either like or respect me personally enough that they stick with it, though they probably ask themselves why they do so from time to time...
And tonight, Turin the Mad has educated me in the use of the 'alias' so that I can post as my TRUE SELF:D
Is that beautiful or what?
Way to go Allen! Go Tentacled evil monster O Killer GM!
Now you did it Turin.
A human(oid) bomb? Beware you brought into the game you can't unbring it.
Allen go to it. It's fair game now.
Turin correctly points out that in the past there have been ways of taking out other with you when you go with the items in question (willingly and unwillingly). Turin is the only player who has ever used this intentionally for his own destructive ends however. Most players are so apt to avoid the prospect of death, that they do not design their characters to bo Bang when they perish...
Wow! 78 deaths so far. I am amazed that:
1. You have managed to kill 78 PC's. Either the AoW AP is a lot tougher than I though, your players are very unlucky or they are making a lot of bad decisions. I don't see any other way that they could die so frequently.
2. The players keep coming back for more. Either they are gluttons for punishment, they are having too much fun to care or the constant deaths have become a challenge in itself for them. i.e. Lets see who can get their character to last more than 4 sessions.
Regardless of all that Allan, what are you doing that keeps the players coming back? If I had this high a death rate in my game I think my players would have left long ago.
Olaf the Stout
I really do try to make it fun. I believe that it's largely a product of the GM's personality, whether the players like him personally, and how the players relate to the GM and his style of running the game. To respond to your statement, the AoW path is difficult, but I make it perhaps even more so, and go out of my way to find ways to eliminate PC's whenever the opportunity to do so fairly presents itself. I do that by the villains' preparations and tactics, occasionally swapping out scripted villains for home brewed villains of equal CR, changing out spells and items that certain monsters/villains have or make use of, etc. you get the drift.
You know Olaf, some times it is hard to squash the life out of the character (and to a certain extent, the player,-you should see the exasperated looks that some players have after their characters die so horribly after trying so hard:) I ALMOST feel a slight pang of, dare I say G U I L T :O:O
But then I reach deep inside myself and find those invaluable characteristics of Courage, Determination, Tenacity, and sheer Will in the face of difficulty, and then...
I rise above my weaknesses as a GM and I WIPE OUT THOSE BASTARD PLAYER CHARACTERS IN DROVES :D:D:D
DAMN YOU ARCANE STRIKE!
I had always made my own rulings on this Feat, but I am definately making a specific House Rule to adjust this. That is utterly ridiculous. Sucks on the initiative snafu Allen. Definately looks like Dragotha put up one hell of a fight though, in spite of such funky tactics on the Dragonthingy's part. Arcane strike was never intended to be used that way...its that simple.
/End Rant
Yes, Arcane Strike is Ridiculous. What can I say. I knew I didn't like it, even before it was used in a ridiculous way to do the obscene amount of damage that took out Dragotha.
The 'SNAFU' was the biggest irritation of the afternoon for me. Had I but followed the correct initiative order, I'd have used the evil cleric to oblitterate the Dragonfolk Duskblade, as I subsequently did anyway, and then Dragotha & cleric WOULD have gone on to wipe out the rest and then we'd have seen Battle #4, absolutely...
Greetings good Sir Olaf!
In many ways, Allen seems to primarily derive enjoyment of the game from the simplest of things: character survival, no matter what else happens, has always been (for us both really) a prime goal of the game. Can I keep Joe Fighter alive from 1st level onward ?
Turin is correct here. First and foremost, for me, the game is all about character survival. Can I make it from level 1 to 20 without getting killed. Turin and I don't do character resurrections.
Incidentally, sorry to all for my absence. My old computer suffered a fatal virus and it took me a while to get a new hard drive and get internet up and running...
Sweet. Thanks Turin. =)
Too bad that Complete Arcane is not allowed in our current campaign(s).
Can't wait to see what you're cooking up for Kyuss.
-Galli
PS. The "Turn like no cleric has turned before" PC is my favore thus far.
Glad you enjoy the thread Galli. Do rest assurred, if you thought Dragotha was hard on the PC's, I will make SURE Kyuss is even worse, and I have no intentions of allowing a happy ending, as I imagined eventually I'd have to do with Dragotha. I won't now go into exact detail as to Kyuss' tactics and preparations (save to say that the Dragonfolk Duskblade will not live to even attempt an Arcane Strike again), but I will say that I intend to eliminate each and every character and Proudly usher in the Age of Worms:D Afterwards, I'll probably refer my players to therapists/counselors for grief counseling...
I know you seem to run your game very much by the rules as published Allen, but personally, I would change Arcane Strike from being a free action to use to a swift action. I really don't think that the designers intended for the feat to be used as a giant attack bomb, with a person converting all their spell levels in one go.
By changing it to a swift action you limit its use to just 1 spell, which I think is fair and the original intention of the spell. Of course, if everyone insists on keeping it as a free action and you really wanted to be evil, just give Arcane Strike to a Dragon. It's not like they use their spells in most encounters anyway so it makes them even more powerful than they already are. Of course, it doesn't seem like you need any help to kill PC's as it is! :-)
Olaf the Stout
I know you seem to run your game very much by the rules as published Allen, but personally, I would change Arcane Strike from being a free action to use to a swift action. I really don't think that the designers intended for the feat to be used as a giant attack bomb, with a person converting all their spell levels in one go.
By changing it to a swift action you limit its use to just 1 spell, which I think is fair and the original intention of the spell. Of course, if everyone insists on keeping it as a free action and you really wanted to be evil, just give Arcane Strike to a Dragon. It's not like they use their spells in most encounters anyway so it makes them even more powerful than they already are. Of course, it doesn't seem like you need any help to kill PC's as it is! :-)
Olaf the Stout
Following this campaign, Arcane Strike will be modified to scale it down. I have the option to scale it down now, but I am considering leaving it as is until the campaign ends, namely because I have modified Kyuss, to allow him to use Arcane Strike, and I intend to give certain PC's a taste of their own medicine. If the PC's are unfortunate enough to try to gang up and melee with Kyuss, I'll Arcane Strike for 100 spell levels and likely kill a PC with each hit of Kyuss' executioner's mace. I'll initially make use of Anti-Life Shell in an effort to keep the other PC's off me, and I'll probably have a fall back Greater Contingency that puts an Anti-Magic Field up the instant that the Anti-Life Shell is breached as a fail safe against any of the same BS from the Dragonfolk Duskblade.
In some ways, I think that the designers of the campaign have allowed Dragotha to overshadow Kyuss himself. My players were either looking forward to/terrified at the prospect of meeting of/ or convienently absent when Dragotha showed up. Most have little or no impression of Kyuss, nor of the Pasting they are likely to receive at his hand. In hindsight, I wish that the campaign designers had paid a bit more attention to Kyuss somehow made him more of the lightning rod that he should have been.
When I think of Kyuss, I often make a real-world comparison with him (Kyuss) and the Reverend Jim Jones. The Reverend Jim Jones was involved in illegal activities under the premise of running a fanatical religious orgainzation here in the United States, and rather than end up in jail, he took his followers and traveled to a jungle location in South America, there they built a town (Jonestown), and everyone did what Jones wanted. Eventually U.S. Government officials came down to South America, and were shown around Jonestown, but when they returned to the airport to return to the U.S., gunmen opened fire on them at Jones' order, killing a number of them (including a U.S. Congressman if I remember correctly). Jones then ordered all of his followers to take their own lives, which they almost all did (over 900 people).
Kyuss was a fanatical religious leader, he led his people to a tropical/jungle clime in the Amedio Jungle where they built a small city. Kyuss reigns as a king and eventually kills all of his followers to fuel his ascension to divinity. I don't know if Kyuss' story was based off of Jim Jones, but the similarities are interesting. He's certainly a chilling villain, the caliber of which players seldom encounter.
I'm very much looking forward to adding all my Players' Characters to his already sizable body bag:)
In the Thirty-First Session of the Killer Age of Worms campaign, the PC's began the Dawn of a New Age. There was ONE (1) Player Character Fatality. The group went directly for the Spire of Long Shadows in Alhaster, flying over all of the chaos that was destroying the city below. The crew went straight for the top. The had barely touched down when Lashonna and the Blessed Angels arrived. The PC's had a relatively easy time with the lethal ladies and Lashonna. This was due mainly to Turin the Mad's Cleric 4.0. And folks, I hope Turin posts some highlights of this character, as your head will spin when you read it. Cleric 4.0's Colossal sized, immune to damn near everything, and does about 75 HP of damage per hit. And lest I forget it, has the usual 40 Precast spells up. At the end of the fight, no PC's had been killed, two of the three Blessed Angels had been dispatched, and Lashonna flew away with all of about 10 hit points left. She'll likely return however after she heals (harms) up...
Immediately after the defeat of the Lethal Ladies, the Kyuss Knights arrived. Seven of them charged Turin the Mad's monstrosity (Turin had previously put up a Blade Barrier, which they charged through, because I had (so I thought) every reason to think that Turin would be dead in 1 round. Multiple Kyuss Knights hit Turin with their Kyuss-Worm Eye Bite attacks, and the Intelligence Drain was certainly enough to kill Turin. Turin then informs me that he's Immune to Ability Drain. Some ridiculous spell in the Spell Compendium (Veil of Undeath). A subsequent maximized Fire Storm would obliterate 7 of the 9 Kyuss Knights. Maralee (the Kyuss Knight 'numero uno') was however one of the two who was attacking the Feral Dragonfolk Duskblade 18 PC, and hit with both eye bite attacks, and scored a Confirmed Critical Hit on one of the two, and then Proceeded to EAT Mr. Ineputus/Duskblade's Brain for Lunch:D:D:D
After taking stock of her situation, Maralee decided to withdraw and wait for the next group of enemies to arrive to join, followed by Kyuss.
That was where we left off for the afternoon. We'll play again in one week on Nov. 17, for what I suspect will be the Final session of the Killer Age of Worms campaign. I'm planning on telling all players present that we're staying until things are finished.
Damn, and here I was hoping this was the full endgame!
Oh well. The Dragonthingy died eh? Oh well.
So much for Turin's Archer guy. Cleric 4.0?
New Rule: Don't trust Turin as a cleric.
Well, we'll just have to see how the final session goes.
Good Luck Allen.
Several posters, Yasha included, have lamented why I don't permanantly kill off player characters, and allow relatively easy "returns from death". There are several reasons for this: 1. Continuity of the Game, 2. The irritation that it creates in the majority of players when having to spend time during the game session rolling up a new character, 3. the high death rate in this campaign would only exacerbate reason number 2, 4. (and the most compelling reason) to avoid "one-shot wonder PC's". The entrance-to-the-game of new PC's and the hideous gold-piece value of all of their magic items, that a new 19th or 20th level player character entails, provides "epic level headaches" to your friendly neighborhood Killer GM. Furthermore, these characters are naturally created with player knowledge of what is to come in the campaign, and are created using items & abilities both legal, illegal, and downright Bull S**t.
Naturally, the scripted villains are made using primarily only PH/DMG abilities & spells. Let's just say that Mr. Kyuss will be getting a needed "upgrade" before his appointment with the PC's next Saturday. And as he's had plenty of time to precast spells in his prison prior to combat beginning, he'll be ready to splat anyone that has the nads to step up to him.
Despite his prior assertion that I am a Meta-gamer, Turin the Mad has created a Meta-game'd Cleric 4.0 with one specific purpose, that of taking down Kyuss. Unlike all of Turin's other cleric's, cleric 4.0 has comparitively little to no ability to Turn Undead. That's convenient considering the main villain isn't undead. The final battle will likely turn into an 'epic struggle' between Turin and myself, as one tries to 'outfox' the other, with the rest of the players sitting by, watching intently, stuffing popcorn in their pie holes, and whining about anything I try and do to rain on their parades>:(
And for the record, the player of the former Ninja/ former Hexblade/ current Feral Dragonfolk (Lizardthingie) Duskblade has died a total of TWENTY times over the course of the campaign!
We're at Seventy-Nine (79) total kills for the entire campaign.
And I'll now await Turin's likely-annoyed response to my having called him a Meta-gamer, which I probably deserve:)
I've got to remember to post as "Killer GM" more often, or everyone will realize I (Allen) really am that disturbed...
I lament that you don't find ways to permanently kill then Allen, but I understand just how much more of a headache it is should you do so....
I too remember the Anti Magic armor.
Cleric 4.0 is going to be a pain to kill it would appear...
so
Allen Steward Killer GM VS. Turin the Mad, Carnivorous Hobbit
Kyuss vs Cleric 4.0
And I'll now await Turin's likely-annoyed response to my having called him a Meta-gamer, which I probably deserve:)
I've got to remember to post as "Killer GM" more often, or everyone will realize I (Allen) really am that disturbed...
Allen's sick? What do you mean?
Why is there a tentacle sucking on my brain? I don't know...its just been there...not like it hurts. You were saying...?
I lament that you don't find ways to permanently kill then Allen, but I understand just how much more of a headache it is should you do so....
I too remember the Anti Magic armor.
Cleric 4.0 is going to be a pain to kill it would appear...
so
Allen Steward Killer GM VS. Turin the Mad, Carnivorous Hobbit
Kyuss vs Cleric 4.0
Although he's created a monstrosity PC, I've got a few aces up my sleeves Yasha. We'll see what happens.
Although he's created a monstrosity PC, I've got a few aces up my sleeves Yasha. We'll see what happens.I lament that you don't find ways to permanently kill then Allen, but I understand just how much more of a headache it is should you do so....
I too remember the Anti Magic armor.
Cleric 4.0 is going to be a pain to kill it would appear...
so
Allen Steward Killer GM VS. Turin the Mad, Carnivorous Hobbit
Kyuss vs Cleric 4.0
Heh - I'll post more on this subject some time this week gentlecritters.
Heh - I'll post more on this subject some time this week gentlecritters.Although he's created a monstrosity PC, I've got a few aces up my sleeves Yasha. We'll see what happens.I lament that you don't find ways to permanently kill then Allen, but I understand just how much more of a headache it is should you do so....
I too remember the Anti Magic armor.
Cleric 4.0 is going to be a pain to kill it would appear...
so
Allen Steward Killer GM VS. Turin the Mad, Carnivorous Hobbit
Kyuss vs Cleric 4.0
Speaking of which Allen, before any of the sheeple came outside during a break, an interesting comment had been made. Something to the effect of "... aiding Kyuss in bringing about the Age of Worms ... " as I recall. Nothing like a polite (er, brutal) nudge into the afterlife from a high priest of Tharizdun to cement the deal perhaps ?
Speaking of which Allen, before any of the sheeple came outside during a break, an interesting comment had been made. Something to the effect of "... aiding Kyuss in bringing about the Age of Worms ... " as I recall. Nothing like a polite (er, brutal) nudge into the afterlife from a high priest of Tharizdun to cement the deal perhaps ?
Sheeple. I like that very much. Quite fitting:)
Turin, what you've stated above is EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING IS WRONG WITH PLAYERS. They want it handed to them. They've got the most Munchkin'd PC's possible, and they STILL don't want a difficult fight where the odds are stacked against them. What's their first reaction when "the going gets tough"?, they get going right out of town, the lousy ingrate cowards. (Insert patriotic anthem music here to accompany my rant). When our U.S. Olympic Hockey team played the mighty Soviets in 1980, did they opt not to show up. Hell NO, they showed up, a severe underdog, and Won, making Olympic History. Did the N.Y. Jets not show up for Superbowl 3 against the vastly favored Colts, they did, and they won.With cowardly players like these, they DESERVE to lose. In the 1980's back in first edition, I sent my favorite character, Noah (a 10th level Halfling Ranger) into G2: Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl by HIMSELF with ONLY two Henchmen in tow, and I ended up fighting the Jarl, the Jarl's wife, and his two stinking Winter Wolves by myself, and lucking out a stunning victory. When you (Turin) GM'd the Red Hand of Doom in 2006, and the rest were ready to pack it in during the final series of battles, who rallied the troops? I DID. And we WON.
I sincerely hope these Yellow Bellied players scrape up the nerves to be present so Kyuss and company can permanently Annihiliate their sorry butts. They may die, but they will have the satisfaction of going down valiantly and "dying with their boots on." Just like I'm willing to do:)
As an aside note, Turin, yes, we can definitely cement a deal. What's your price for betraying the lousy lot???
To continue my rant from the above post, I've ranted before about many players in 3rd edition. They want "Happy Endings" where a favorable end outcome/victory is seldom in doubt. They want "Serious Role-Playing Sessions" where they 'get in touch with their character' and other such nonsense.
I think many players in 3.5 d&d did NOT play competitive sports as children and teenagers, nor serve in active duty military service. I suspect they were, forgive the expression, NERDS. Because in competitive sports and the military, you learn very quickly, that in a game or in war/combat, someone wins, and someone loses. Athletes and Soldiers understand that. In 1st edition d&d, we understood that, because it was a weekly battle to stay alive, and you died repeatedly, and as soon as you did, you learned your lession, enthusiastically rolled up a new character, and gleefully dived right back in to continue the carnage. Almost all of my players who did NOT play in 1st edition, or have not played sports/served in the military are "Whiny Gamers" who want things handed to them during d&d games. They can't handle adversity. They can't handle serious competition. They can't handle failure or temporary setbacks.
And what am I stuck with. "BOO HOO, We don't have a chance". "We want an almost Guarenteed Victory". What I have here is a bunch of lame players who want to have dear old Allen pull the punches and bail them out, providing a 'Miraculous Victory where none seemed possible'. The players in Dawn of a New Age CHOSE TO GO DIRECTLY for the top of the Spire. They did not wander around the city and rescue the citizens, nor do other actions that could have dropped Kyuss from a Demi-Power (DR1) to a Quasi-Power (DR0), and they're probably going to get CRUSHED for their impatience and rush to the top. That was their decision. And their predictable response is to complain or contemplate not showing up. It's garbage like this that makes me want to VOMIT!!!!!!!!!!!
So what's the plan after you finish age of worms?
So what's the plan after you finish age of worms?
Good question P.H. Right now, it seems I've got some "uprisings" amongst the players to quell. I will be a player in Turin the Mad's Savage Tide Group #2 as soon as my Killer AoW campaign ends (likely on November 17). At some point in the future, I'll resume GM'ing the group, likely after Savage Tide 2 finishes, unless I have more time available to do so, or circumstances change (or Savage Tide 2 falls flat on its face).
When I do resume GM'ing, I'll do one of two things: #1 GM my flagship homebrew campaign, called "the Lunatic Knights" (likely) for 4th edition. OR, #2 I also want to GM a few Dungeon adventures that were published for 3.5 that my players have never had the opportunity of experiencing. I may opt to GM these first, as they will make use of the current 3.5 rules, rather than going back to 3.5 after GM'ing a 4.0 rules campaign (which would be strange, and I don't want to convert these adventues to 4th edition. The adventures in question are namely (and interested readers should look for the following threads in the months to come):
Killer GM Runs The STYES & The WEAVERS (by Richard Pett)
Killer GM Runs The ISTIVIN TRILOGY (by Greg Vaughan)
and Killer GM Runs MAURE CASTLE (by Rob Kuntz)
Those adventures would be among my picks as well, though I haven't really looked at the Istivin trilogy- from the descriptions I've read it would be up my alley. I can certainly picture you running Maure Castle, it looks like it would suite your style just right. No Rise of the Runelords?
So what's the plan after you finish age of worms?Good question P.H. Right now, it seems I've got some "uprisings" amongst the players to quell. I will be a player in Turin the Mad's Savage Tide Group #2 as soon as my Killer AoW campaign ends (likely on November 17). At some point in the future, I'll resume GM'ing the group, likely after Savage Tide 2 finishes, unless I have more time available to do so, or circumstances change (or Savage Tide 2 falls flat on its face).
When I do resume GM'ing, I'll do one of two things: #1 GM my flagship homebrew campaign, called "the Lunatic Knights" (likely) for 4th edition. OR, #2 I also want to GM a few Dungeon adventures that were published for 3.5 that my players have never had the opportunity of experiencing. I may opt to GM these first, as they will make use of the current 3.5 rules, rather than going back to 3.5 after GM'ing a 4.0 rules campaign (which would be strange, and I don't want to convert these adventues to 4th edition. The adventures in question are namely (and interested readers should look for the following threads in the months to come):
Killer GM Runs The STYES & The WEAVERS (by Richard Pett)
Killer GM Runs The ISTIVIN TRILOGY (by Greg Vaughan)
and Killer GM Runs MAURE CASTLE (by Rob Kuntz)
As for player uprisings- it sounds like you've got some fat to trim off your roast. I don't understand how you and Turin run these groups of 8 players. 4-5 I find is lots, more than that and I think the game would bog down too much for my liking. I like to keep a nice lean gaming group (some of us being more lean than others). Plus if some of your players are being whiny b##+@es then maybe your styles aren't meshing and they need to move on.
Are these the same players who are also playing in Turin's ST campaign or does he have a whole different crew?
Any thoughts on PC #1 for the new ST campaign?
YAY! for the Killer GM rant!
You've brought up a whole slew of wonderful points Allen, and while you and I disagree a bit about the place of RPing in games, I agree with you whole heartedly that you just have to jump back in gleefully after a character death.
A character dying in D&D is a part of the game, pure and simple. I have happily played a character (roleplay...I know Allen) to their death simply because it was more fun to play the character and let them die than try and cheat my way into having the PC survive. The whole point of the game is having fun, whether for you its roleplay, hack and slash or a mix of the two (my preference). The fact that these players are considering dropping out just because they don't think they can win is total horseS$!7
What was the point of even playing the game! I am going on a roleplaying rant here Allen...so...
In character...even if you are evil...who would leave something like that undone? Especially when running away means death and Writhing Doom for you anyway? You damn well better try, if not to save someone elses sorry hide, that at the very least to save your own!
It ONE session pretty much...go and give it your all and hope for win.
Oh yeah...and Killer GM runs Maure Castle?
O.O
*shudder*
I actually offered to attempt to solo Kyuss, which Allen demurred, preferring to score some hefty casualties if at all possible first.
The opening stages of the extended foray against Dragotha witnessed The Journalist and Cap'n Monkamuck bow out at roughly that time frame for personal reasons I do not fault them for. It likewise witnessed a player dubbed 'Haru' abandoning ship as well, as the mood had struck him to participate in a non-D&D game that presented itself to him. With his departure, two other players left - one due to the absence of his buddy Haru, the other due to being disinclined to drive about 30 miles to the game unless carpooling with someone he finds acceptable. A sixth player simply lost interest, most likely due to the lack of RP in such a large group with poor Allen at the helm. A seventh is in his senior year of high school and ... well, 'YDFC' applies pretty much to every homid of that general age, so while he is an awesome example of a gamer, he has his senior year of high school to deal with. When he attends, naturally, we eagerly frag his characters ... if he is unfortunate enough to be in too-close proximity to antagonistically-inclined personages. To his credit, he is a treat to have as a player, along with some few others.
At present, one of the few remaining players is out of country due to work until after Turkey Day. That leaves myself, Sir Ineptus, Torsin Tightbutt and our esteemed artist-who-won't-drive-very-far as the only known available players this coming Saturday.
That leaves myself, Sir Ineptus, Torsin Tightbutt and our esteemed artist-who-won't-drive-very-far as the only known available players this coming Saturday.
Translation: You are Wormfood.
As for player uprisings- it sounds like you've got some fat to trim off your roast. I don't understand how you and Turin run these groups of 8 players. 4-5 I find is lots, more than that and I think the game would bog down too much for my liking. I like to keep a nice lean gaming group (some of us being more lean than others). Plus if some of your players are being whiny b*%%%es then maybe your styles aren't meshing and they need to move on.
Are these the same players who are also playing in Turin's ST campaign or does he have a whole different crew?
Any thoughts on PC #1 for the new ST campaign?
Crew #2 as it presently stands would be comprised of Allen, the Artiste, the Gunbunny Gamer, Da Pimp, the Ebil One and perhaps Lord Morose as well. Other possible participants are The Dying One Jr., perhaps even another one or two that are not presently attending.
It was very deliberate that Crew #1 is comprised of players that rub certain others the wrong way over time... all to the better in my opinion however.
As for player uprisings- it sounds like you've got some fat to trim off your roast. I don't understand how you and Turin run these groups of 8 players. 4-5 I find is lots, more than that and I think the game would bog down too much for my liking. I like to keep a nice lean gaming group (some of us being more lean than others). Plus if some of your players are being whiny b%@!@es then maybe your styles aren't meshing and they need to move on.
Are these the same players who are also playing in Turin's ST campaign or does he have a whole different crew?
Any thoughts on PC #1 for the new ST campaign?
Yes, downsizing is probably in order for Turin's upcoming campaign. The bigger player counts are helpful in generating the high PC fatality counts (I hate to put it so crudely, but its true...). I however agree PH, that 4-5 players is ideal to GM and to participate in/with. The upcoming Savage Tide group 2 is fairly decent, player wise. The two players I most wanted to get in the group have opted out due to work and family responsibilities that couldn't be avoided.
Yes, several of the players in question are also playing in Turin's ST campaign #1, and will not continue with us.
I'll either play a Elvin Ftr/Ranger (preferably) or a Halfling Cleric if no one else will play a cleric... The FTR/RGR will help significantly at higher levels against evil outsiders (of which Savage Tide has in abundance) and the cleric (should I be compelled to play one), will compare with Turin's cleric 4.0 in the current Age of Worms campaign:)
Good to hear from you again P.H.
That leaves myself, Sir Ineptus, Torsin Tightbutt and our esteemed artist-who-won't-drive-very-far as the only known available players this coming Saturday.Translation: You are Wormfood.
Correct Translation. But Turin and I may have an even more sinister plan yet in the making. What I need to do is to rally the player into returning for the final game, and they avoid pissing them off so significantly that they never speak to me again... Most important is the former:)
That leaves myself, Sir Ineptus, Torsin Tightbutt and our esteemed artist-who-won't-drive-very-far as the only known available players this coming Saturday.Translation: You are Wormfood.
Most likely - but if so, they'll have to earn it. ^_^
And the Rant from you is appreciated Yasha, and wholeheartedly agreed with.
Maure Castle is my little secret gem that I'm secreting away for the right group of victims... er, I mean players, to GM for. Mostly, I'm looking for "old school d&d players" regardless of their age. They are few and far between. I'd also save it for those players who have an appreciation for the Greyhawk campaign specifically, and the 1st edition origins of the adventure.
Are these the same players who are also playing in Turin's ST campaign or does he have a whole different crew?Any thoughts on PC #1 for the new ST campaign?
Crew #2 as it presently stands would be comprised of Allen, the Artiste, the Gunbunny Gamer, Da Pimp, the Ebil One and perhaps Lord Morose as well. Other possible participants are The Dying One Jr., perhaps even another one or two that are not presently attending.
It was very deliberate that Crew #1 is comprised of players that rub certain others the wrong way over time... all to the better in my opinion however.
I am looking forward to playing with a number of the players in group #2. naturally, my two buds are the 'resident Artist', and the "Dying One" (assuming we can get him back); and Da Pimp will help me in taking over the Savage Tide to where Turin's lamenting on his weekly posts rather than bragging:)
I actually offered to attempt to solo Kyuss, which Allen demurred, preferring to score some hefty casualties if at all possible first.
The opening stages of the extended foray against Dragotha witnessed The Journalist and Cap'n Monkamuck bow out at roughly that time frame for personal reasons I do not fault them for. It likewise witnessed a player dubbed 'Haru' abandoning ship as well, as the mood had struck him to participate in a non-D&D game that presented itself to him. With his departure, two other players left - one due to the absence of his buddy Haru, the other due to being disinclined to drive about 30 miles to the game unless carpooling with someone he finds acceptable. A sixth player simply lost interest, most likely due to the lack of RP in such a large group with poor Allen at the helm. A seventh is in his senior year of high school and ... well, 'YDFC' applies pretty much to every homid of that general age, so while he is an awesome example of a gamer, he has his senior year of high school to deal with. When he attends, naturally, we eagerly frag his characters ... if he is unfortunate enough to be in too-close proximity to antagonistically-inclined personages. To his credit, he is a treat to have as a player, along with some few others.
At present, one of the few remaining players is out of country due to work until after Turkey Day. That leaves myself, Sir Ineptus, Torsin Tightbutt and our esteemed artist-who-won't-drive-very-far as the only known available players this coming Saturday.
Turin is basically correct, in that I'm not really satisfied with just solo'ing the final encounter with just him. If Kyuss is going to go down in flames, he's taking a S**tload of PC's with him. I"ll hold out until I can wrangle many if not most of the group and possible new players in for the final battle, before completing it. **A note to all readers, IF I am looking at a low or even moderate turn out for this coming Saturday, I may delay the Final session several weeks or even one or two months, to give the players time to forget my acts of barbarism over the last 12 months. In the future 'Killer GM' campaigns I run, I'll keep them to a relatively short to moderate duration (3 to 6 months at a pop) to avoid player burn out. Even my goading personality has its limits... And the drop outs, although most are probably NOT directly related to me personally or my campaign, are still somewhat of a disappointment. I'd like to fix this and finish the campaign on a HAPPY note (lots of PC deaths) rather than just finish it for the sake of having it done and complete. Turin would probably disagree, but such is my line of thinking... Sorry man...
Are these the same players who are also playing in Turin's ST campaign or does he have a whole different crew?Any thoughts on PC #1 for the new ST campaign?
Crew #2 as it presently stands would be comprised of Allen, the Artiste, the Gunbunny Gamer, Da Pimp, the Ebil One and perhaps Lord Morose as well. Other possible participants are The Dying One Jr., perhaps even another one or two that are not presently attending.
It was very deliberate that Crew #1 is comprised of players that rub certain others the wrong way over time... all to the better in my opinion however.
I am looking forward to playing with a number of the players in group #2. naturally, my two buds are the 'resident Artist', and the "Dying One" (assuming we can get him back); and Da Pimp will help me in taking over the Savage Tide to where Turin's lamenting on his weekly posts rather than bragging:)
That is the Dying One Jr good Sir Al of N - not the one who so easily fell sway to your beckoning him to his hideous doom in the 3.0 Return to the Tomb of Horrors - I was referring to. ^_^
I imagine between Da Pimp and yourself, alone, the game will be pretty interesting. Tack on a few others for meat shield duty and Crew 2 is good to go!
I actually offered to attempt to solo Kyuss, which Allen demurred, preferring to score some hefty casualties if at all possible first.
Turin is basically correct, in that I'm not really satisfied with just solo'ing the final encounter with just him. If Kyuss is going to go down in flames, he's taking a S**tload of PC's with him. I'll hold out until I can wrangle many if not most of the group and possible new players in for the final battle, before completing it. **A note to all readers, IF I am looking at a low or even moderate turn out for this coming Saturday, I may delay the Final session several weeks or even one or two months, to give the players time to forget my acts of barbarism over the last 12 months. In the future 'Killer GM' campaigns I run, I'll keep them to a relatively short to moderate duration (3 to 6 months at a pop) to avoid player burn out. Even my goading personality has its limits... And the drop outs, although most are probably NOT directly related to me personally or my campaign, are still somewhat of a disappointment. I'd like to fix this and finish the campaign on a HAPPY note (lots of PC deaths) rather than just finish it for the sake of having it done and complete. Turin would probably disagree, but such is my line of thinking... Sorry man...
Naturally I agree with concluding the campaign ... the precise preference of the details naturally is the difference between malevolently-disposed GMs and those who play on the opposite side of the GM screen. ^_^ Getting this close to the finale ... within a hand's breadth of conclusion ... only to have to wait ... ngghh...
And P.H., no, Rise of the Runelords is not on the top of the list at the moment. Perhaps I'll leave that for Turin, somewhere down the road...
Well if you are trying to keep your campaigns a little shorter then I think the Istivin trilogy would be a good bet, and Maure Castle could be as short or long as you want it.
You would have to commit to another fairly lengthy campaign to get through Rune Lords, though probably not as long as AoW. However, Runelords does certainly pay some homage to the Against the Giants series, and since you have spoken of those adventures with obvious fondness, I thought you might be into giving the Rune Lords a go.
And P.H., no, Rise of the Runelords is not on the top of the list at the moment. Perhaps I'll leave that for Turin, somewhere down the road...
Well if you are trying to keep your campaigns a little shorter then I think the Istivin trilogy would be a good bet, and Maure Castle could be as short or long as you want it.
You would have to commit to another fairly lengthy campaign to get through Rune Lords, though probably not as long as AoW. However, Runelords does certainly pay some homage to the Against the Giants series, and since you have spoken of those adventures with obvious fondness, I thought you might be into giving the Rune Lords a go.
And P.H., no, Rise of the Runelords is not on the top of the list at the moment. Perhaps I'll leave that for Turin, somewhere down the road...
Allen generally enjoys generating iterations of the then-infamous Walking Death Machine from his days of playing through my GM'ing of Against the Giants. I suspect he will want to play through RotRL, due to the mighty giants to Hack at the end of the AP somewhere.
I'm looking forward to checking out Fortress of the Stone Giants. I really like the Hook Mountain Massacre. The problem with giants (though not so much in 3rd edition) is that they don't tend to have much magic, and without magic, they can be taken out pretty easily if a party has spellcasters and uses said spell casters well (ie stay up in the air out of melee, and make yourself hard to hit with missile weapons- via stoneskin, invisiblity, mirror image etc... then hit them with area of effect spells).
Allen generally enjoys generating iterations of the then-infamous Walking Death Machine from his days of playing through my GM'ing of Against the Giants. I suspect he will want to play through RotRL, due to the mighty giants to Hack at the end of the AP somewhere.Well if you are trying to keep your campaigns a little shorter then I think the Istivin trilogy would be a good bet, and Maure Castle could be as short or long as you want it.
You would have to commit to another fairly lengthy campaign to get through Rune Lords, though probably not as long as AoW. However, Runelords does certainly pay some homage to the Against the Giants series, and since you have spoken of those adventures with obvious fondness, I thought you might be into giving the Rune Lords a go.
And P.H., no, Rise of the Runelords is not on the top of the list at the moment. Perhaps I'll leave that for Turin, somewhere down the road...
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This thread is simply awesome. Reminds me of how I almost killed the entire party in sequential sessions using
#1 Half-Zombies(my own crazed creation).
#2 A dryad summoned by the party's own druid(who was being possessed by a Zombie Lord).
#3 A freshly raised minotaur(who impaled the druid upon his horns and fought the rest of the party with the druid dangling from his horns).
You know Allem. I have been wondering this: Why don't your players have some clone spells on the side? Especially with a mage handy or the like. Nothing surprises a person (PC or NPC) more then when they kill a person and that same person shows up in time to still help in that very same battle.
You know Allem. I have been wondering this: Why don't your players have some clone spells on the side? Especially with a mage handy or the like. Nothing surprises a person (PC or NPC) more then when they kill a person and that same person shows up in time to still help in that very same battle.
Hope you realize that should say "Allen". My apologies.