Damn, already starting to think of character concepts for this....
Lol! Been absentminded penning updated stats here and there in my head. Pretty sure I'm going to have everyone start with nothing. In my version of DS, Wizards use preserver magic (preparing in advance), sorcerers use defiling magic (pulling it as they need it). That way instead of sorcerers coming from dragons, dragons come from sorcerers.
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DM,
Just wanted to share a method I have been using for PBP battles to keep inventory of where players and monsters are.
I print out a sheet of graph paper, cover it with clear, bookcovering plastic (cheap way of laminating at home), and use dry erase markers to place PC initials and NPC initials on the page, drawing any effects and map items as needed. Since you are running the Savage Tide, you can download the PDF, print the map page, cover it, and use as is with Dry erase markers to track combat. If you wanted to share the map with the group you could have people download it, print the page you want and use a grid identification method (numbers across the top of the sheet, letters down the side or vice versa)to let players track the locations on their own at home. Some of the maps may contain too much info that could spoil some stuff, so you may not wish to do that with certain maps but most of us have read the adventure (or are DMing it for another group) and seem to be having no problem separating player and PC knowledge so far.
Just thought I would share some stuff that I learned from the Arena combats and from Aubrey's Rise of the Runelords PBP that I am in.
FH
I use the *cough* copier at work *cough*, which can e-mail me .pdf's of my maps. Was going to post this battle last night, but it got busy.
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Whew! Terin got lucky!!! With the -2 to range I thought I wouldn't have a chance to hit Vark, but to hit him for max damage is saaaa-wweeeet!
I love slings! Anyone else who loves slings should check out the Slinging website:Slinging.org, the best source for all things sling.
Do I detect levels of rogue in your future?
Mothman is getting screwed over by the APEC conference, I think, poor guy. If I don't see anything from Eldin by noonish, I'll take a turn for him (sure hope he posts though, I stink as a cleric).
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Do I detect levels of rogue in your future?
Mothman is getting screwed over by the APEC conference, I think, poor guy. If I don't see anything from Eldin by noonish, I'll take a turn for him (sure hope he posts though, I stink as a cleric).
Thanks. Didn't effect me too badly actually, but took the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend!
Thanks. Didn't effect me too badly actually, but took the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend!
That was really the only good thing about the whole crazy thing. Should have been in Canberra (it is our capital city after all), not in the middle of Sydney.
Hey welcome back! Typically political grandstanding. Couldn't put a big conference with world leaders somewhere you could easily secure that was built to hold conferences; that would just be silly.
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Thanks. Didn't effect me too badly actually, but took the opportunity to enjoy a long weekend!That was really the only good thing about the whole crazy thing. Should have been in Canberra (it is our capital city after all), not in the middle of Sydney.
Yeah, that's what I've been saying - we're on the same page mevers; are you in Sydney by the way?
Quick question: Did you want to go with Longstrider for sure? I put up a quickie placement map, but I didn't want to start wailing on poor Tyndal until you had a chance to act.
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NM, that answers that. :)
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Quick question: Did you want to go with Longstrider for sure? I put up a quickie placement map, but I didn't want to start wailing on poor Tyndal until you had a chance to act.
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NM, that answers that. :)
Aw crap, I just posted, without reading the whole thread - like the Tyndal being tripped over bit! Guess it's too late to change my action now right ... ?
If I can change it, I will move forward and attack Vark - let me know, but I'll understand if I can't "redo".
Go for it. Just remember, you are diagonal to Bark now, and the bottom side is actually the ship railing, so chances are good you will move through Bark's threatened space, and into Vark's to get there,
Yeah, that's what I've been saying - we're on the same page mevers; are you in Sydney by the way?
Yeah, unfortunately I had to move up this year (to bexley) from Wollongong. I am a country boy at heart (grew up in Wagga), and can't wait to get out of Sydney in a couple of years.
Yeah, Poor Tyndal. He was doing so well until he met the dog :)
Ah well, I'm glad they got away. I love recurring villians.
You were rocking hard right up until the trip. If the round had continued I was going to attempt a disarm.
It was so close too: He had 9 hp left with 8 nonlethal on him. What a great fight that was. Will pick things up as soon as I get settled in to work (just woke up, have to clean up a bit yet and sing my son to sleep).
poor kid....;P
I think it's more of a defense mechanism. He passes out once he reaches the limit of listening to my voice. Seems to work on his mom too.
Shoot, forgot to bring the current xp totals with me to work. Will post them by this afternoon for sure though.
Vark got away in my ST campaign, too. We haven't even started Bullywug Gambit (and have been on basically a three month hiatus, busy season for a bunch of us) so he hasn't popped up again yet, but my players will see him again soon.
And yes, I've had him go find more guys.
Vexing bugger, that one. I'm thinking you will all hate him a great deal before he's through.
Okay, the hand thing? Ew. Creepy!
Okay, the hand thing? Ew. Creepy!
Hey thanks! That means I lot. I was totally going for the creepy factor in that scene.
Bonus 25 xp to anyone who can guess what it is (one guess each). :)
Dead, momentarily.
Everybody's a comedian. :)
Hermit crab! :)
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Dead, momentarily.Everybody's a comedian. :)
I am running STAP for my group, they are in the midst of the Sea Wyvern's Wake. I think I know what it is but the presentation is phenomenal and I am really enjoying it, but I don't wanna spoil anything for others (or myself, I literally mindblank myself when I game and have player knowledge, so I can still be surprised).
Great edge-of-your-seat stuff going on, Great Job MW.FH
Aren't we still running with most of our players also currently DMing STAP?
I like to shake things up a little, so you can follow right along with the storyline material and still be pleasantly surprised (or shocked). Besides, the thought of whipping something at you with improved grapple this early just didn’t seem fair.
Cat is out of the bag now, as they say. Hope it goes well, been leading up to him ever since the boat ride in!
As far as the single party initiative goes, I'll be offering bonuses here and there to shake things up, so don't feel as if you'll always be trapped in the same order.
I like to shake things up a little, so you can follow right along with the storyline material and still be pleasantly surprised (or shocked).
BOOOOOO! Bad pun. BOOOOOOO!
Besides, the thought of whipping something at you with improved grapple this early just didn’t seem fair.
OMG! That damned raghodessa nearly TPKed my party. The improved grapple wouldn't be quite so bad if its bite wasn't capable of cutting down even 2nd level characters.
And good. I'm glad you're surprising us. I was getting the sense that our previous DM was just going to run it as written, even though most of his players had read the AP in depth.
I like to shake things up a little, so you can follow right along with the storyline material and still be pleasantly surprised (or shocked).BOOOOOO! Bad pun. BOOOOOOO!
To each their own I suppose. I can easily see myself making the exact same pun, and even forcing my players to sit through it again if (although I would make sure it was when) they faced another shocker Lizard.
Keep it up mwbeeler. I know I would have been absolutely pissing myself when i typed that post, just as well it is easy to have a poker face on a message board:)
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with bad puns, I'm just responding appropriately.
The really sad thing is I didn't notice it until after I'd hit submit, and thought, "Oh cripes, that's a rough one; I've spoiled it for sure now." I was about dying trying to keep a straight face with the entire party standing in water, though. Good times!
Should be interesting to see if he can live through another round or not. This one has an extra hit die and weapon finesse (not that it matters, as I doubt he'll be biting anything).
The subdual damage starts out as annoying, but if it lives long enough, is going to get ugly fast. I wanted to present something you'd recognize, but in a way that wasn't done to death. Originally I debated a second shocker lizard (the dead one), or animating the pirate as well, but decided that it'd be overkill. Close call, usually entertaining; total wipeout, not so much (though occasionally).
You guys have been a very cohesive party, so it's tough to tell what a "challenging encounter" really consists of. Ought to only get better from here, considering you are all still only facing the little monstrosities.
Thanks! Sorry for the two day hiatus. Rash is 80% gone now, but my hands and feet are mega swollen. Actually woke up from the lack of circulation and had to pry off my wedding ring. Thinking I ought to be good to go by tonight hopefully, because hunting and pecking with balloon fingers is annoying.
Gah! Feel better, man.
And stop... touching... stuff!
And stop... touching... stuff!
ROFL! Tell me about it. I wish I knew what set it off. Tell you what though, I feel worlds better. Took an oatmeal and epson salt bath, and covered myself in calomine and hydrocortisone. Oh cripes, so, so much better (still can't get my fricking ring on though :( ). Going to head into work tonight, so barring any more issues I should be back in the swing of it. It'll take me a little while to read up on what the party is up to, so I ought to be able to help move things along for you all say by 2 am eastern.
Am on now, little backed up at work from having been gone two days, but I should have an update shortly. Thanks for being so patient!
Where in the heck was the monkey keeping that hand? Ewww...
[dawn breaks over marble head]
AHA! Now I just have to figure out how to figure it out in character.