aka Robert G. McCreary
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Comment time again, and I'll try not to wax as poetic as I have in previous rounds.
So...monkeys. They got some love, while others were turned off by it. Keep in mind, of course, that it's not actually monkeys we're talking about here, but monkey GOBLINS. And I feel I do have to respond to the comments that I was "pandering" to judges and/or voters by pointing out that monkey goblins were first mentioned (in passing) in my Round 2 entry Iskandria. I did get favorable comments on monkey goblins in that round, so they seemed like a natural thing to use for a low-level encounter in this round, that was something more than just vanilla orcs, goblins, or kobolds.
Ironically, I'm not really a fan of monkeys myself. As a designer note, they were actually an accidental creation. In my first draft for Iskandria, they were actually described as "monkey-like jungle goblins," because it seemed natural that a race of goblins living in the trees would be associated with monkeys. However, that description was a casualty of word count restrictions, so it was reduced to simply the "monkey goblins" that we know and love (or hate) today.
That said, if you really like the monkey goblins, you can go one step further with a non-SRD source, adding the Arboreal template from Advanced Bestiary, which gives them, among other things, brachiation and tree leap abilities and makes them much more effective in the trees.
What level is it for? EL4 means it is an average encounter for 4th-level characters.
What's up with all the names at the beginning? I tried to put the encounter into the context of an adventure. What came before, what will come after. And it would make no sense to kidnap a NPC if you have no idea who the NPC is.
Vriksha trees: No, the leaves of the trees do not grow in perfectly hexagonal shapes in ordinal compass directions. But without access to a scanner, I had to draw the map in Photoshop, and it was easier to make geometric shapes than to sketch realistic leaves with my mouse. I would assume a professional cartographer would render them more realistically.
Regarding other comments about the map, I would have liked to include a side view showing leaves of different elevations, but I wanted to stay within the "one map" rule restriction. Also, I thought about showing other leaves at different elevations and pointing in non-ordinal compass directions, but I felt it might clutter up the map, not to mention making the encounter more complex to run. Again, I think a cartographer (or DM, for that matter) could probably add a few more, but I wanted to keep it simple and just give the basics needed for the encounter.
Falling: I really like some of the ideas for reducing falling damage posted by some people here. I briefly considered mentioning something similar, but I was already over recommended word count, so I cut it.
Swinging and Climbing: Yeah, the monkeys should probably not have to make Strength checks (or better yet, ancientsensei's idea that they can take 10). And wizards or druids trying to climb a tree? That's why I elaborated on different means to get into the trees. If they can't climb, use levitate instead. Or get the rogue up there to drop a rope for the rest of the party.
Why snatch the NPC? Yes, it's metagaming, but I wanted to force the PCs into the trees. A series of lucky rolls could mean no PC gets caught, and they run out of the encounter area with no climbing or swinging or combat. So give them a hook that they MUST follow into the trees. It's also why I staggered the traps on the trail, so it was conceivable that PCs could miss the one trap triggered by Janeeta.
Well, that's about all I have to say on this. Thanks to the judges and to everyone else who commented on it. I really enjoyed writing this, and reading everyone's comments. If there are any other comments or questions, post away! And if you use this in play, let me know how it works out!
Hope to see you next round too!
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aka Robert G. McCreary
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[snip]So..you want to be the guy to run Iskandria for some of us? You couldn't have a better group of players than the DMs that hang out here. : }
I did make a post a few days ago here about the possibility of a future Iskandria game. I'd like to to do one, but I'd need to do some planning first, as what you know about Iskandria is what I know about Iskandria (i.e., I created it for the contest). But as you were the first one to mention it way back in round 2, rest assured I'll save a place for you, ancientsensei.
There have some problem the English.I teach science in English in Taiwan. No way would any of my students be able to play D&D though.Why not?
lol
Mine are all basically fluent, and just a little rough on the vocab.
They learn the rules by playing.
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I did make a post a few days ago here about the possibility of a future Iskandria game. I'd like to to do one, but I'd need to do some planning first, as what you know about Iskandria is what I know about Iskandria (i.e., I created it for the contest). But as you were the first one to mention it way back in round 2, rest assured I'll save a place for you, ancientsensei.
[snip]So..you want to be the guy to run Iskandria for some of us? You couldn't have a better group of players than the DMs that hang out here. : }
Sweet. You already know what I want to play, so just be generous with the ability scores for us multiclassers. : }
I have never played a PBP before,so if there's a goodplace for learning etiquette for such, lemme know. Even if you're not running Iskandria. Coward. : }
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Congrats, Rob! I dug your rap all the way back to the coin belt and I'm glad your oozy goodness slid through in the monster round! Bring it on in the final 4!
P.S. One of my first ideas for an encounter to submit was actually with goblins in the trees (well, with barghests and dragons too!).
WOOT!
Nothin' but net!
I'm really looking forward to what will undoubtedly be a super awesome adventure proposal!
<jumps up with purple pom-poms in hand>
:-j(enni)
Fot the umpteenth time by this point, I must offer my apologies for not voting in this round due to incompetance and idiocy.
Superb job. While Boomer and Christine's entries blew me away, this was easily my third choice (not that in this case in matters in the slightest!) Altogether a marvellous piece of work.
Personally, I think most level 4 parties of my acquaintance would shred the poor Monkey Goblins in about five seconds flat (even with a +50% number increase due to party size), so I'd be inclined to ramp the opposition up a bit, but that's just me.
The Bad: Oops. A big boo boo. You presume character reaction in your read aloud text that many players would object to—“It’s been a constant battle between collapsing from heatstroke under your clothes or armor, or exposing your skin to the ever-present hordes of biting insects.” I appreciate what you are doing, but there are many players who would say, “hey, Darkron the Deadly doesn’t get heatstroke! He is the mightiest fighter ever to roam the Forgettable Realms! And he scoffs at puny insects!”
I dunno, I think the appropriate responce to that sort of problem player is as follows (and yes, I consider that sort of player always a problem):
Player: My character is so hard/cool/awesome nothing bothers him! He doesn't reac-
Aotrs: *Smack*
Player: Aaaargh! My Con stat!
Aotrs: I suggest, player, that if you wish your Con to remain at a point wherein Raistlin could not duff you up with his bare hands, you remember that a) you are required to play an actual character and that Thou Shalt React to things in a manner with some degree of sanity (even Wolverine gets scared and irratated on occasion) and b) YOU ARE LEVEL FOUR!!!! Unless you have some sort of resist Heat Stroke feat, which would be odd, seeing as there is no such feat, you damn well are feeling less than chipper. If you like, I can enforce the issue by making you exhausted with an additional Con penalty. No, I don't mean your character. Now, shall we try again? Or do I need to use the other punishment...?
Player: (very fast) No, mylord, yes mylord, sorry mylord! Froog the Mighty comments on how hot and unpleasent it is! Ow, the sticking inscets, the stinging insects!
Aotrs: ... Better.
...
I suppose less harsh DMs might look the player in the eye and point out that the descriptive text is meant for the modal adventurer and also is addressed to the collective "you", and could they please not be such a lame-ass drama hog.
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I dunno, I think the appropriate responce to that sort of problem player is as follows (and yes, I consider that sort of player always a problem):
Player: My character is so hard/cool/awesome nothing bothers him! He doesn't reac-
Aotrs: *Smack*
Heh. Gotta love the drama queens.
"Hey, how come you aren't sweating?"
"I am a Winchester. Winchesters do not sweat, they perspire, and *I* do not perspire."
On the other hand, if one of the party was a Warforged or a Necropolitan, they could legitimately make such a point, depending on how pedantic they were feeling.
On the other hand, if one of the party was a Warforged or a Necropolitan, they could legitimately make such a point, depending on how pedantic they were feeling.
True, but that's not got anything to do with reaction, just physical capabilities. I suppose depending how pedantic you were feeling, you could argue creatures with DR (Barbarians/Warlocks et al) can't get bitten by insects come to that...
On the other hand, I don't believe there's any nonHumanoid SRD races, so outside WotC you kind of have to assume the party is going to have biology.
... it would be a lie to say that I am rooting for you, when I've already pegged Christine or Boomer as the ultimate winners in this contest.
The two aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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I suppose depending how pedantic you were feeling, you could argue creatures with DR (Barbarians/Warlocks et al) can't get bitten by insects come to that...
It is exactly correct that damage reduction prevents bug bites, although some damage from a swarm might get through.
But bugs are still irritating, and nothing prevents heat stroke from effecting barrbarians, so the travel could still be exhausting even to them.
But I think if you are in a game set in Iskandria or a similar place, the bugs and heat are not gonna be mentioned much.At low-levels,and then intermittently throughout the campaign, sure. But it is always there, and most or all PCs will be used to those conditions from birth. Now, a foreign character might keep whining: Can we stop the war against the Consort and just focus on the dire mosquitos for a while?
I'm not above causing some nonlethal damage to them that doesn't effect characters who grew up here. Hmm.
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aka Robert G. McCreary
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I suppose depending how pedantic you were feeling, you could argue creatures with DR (Barbarians/Warlocks et al) can't get bitten by insects come to that...It is exactly correct that damage reduction prevents bug bites, although some damage from a swarm might get through.
But bugs are still irritating, and nothing prevents heat stroke from effecting barrbarians, so the travel could still be exhausting even to them.
But I think if you are in a game set in Iskandria or a similar place, the bugs and heat are not gonna be mentioned much.At low-levels,and then intermittently throughout the campaign, sure. But it is always there, and most or all PCs will be used to those conditions from birth. Now, a foreign character might keep whining: Can we stop the war against the Consort and just focus on the dire mosquitos for a while?
I'm not above causing some nonlethal damage to them that doesn't effect characters who grew up here. Hmm.
Personally, I'm wondering what a 4th-level character would be doing with DR, but even a 19th-level Barbarian with DR 5 is still going to be bothered by bugs, and unless he has endure elements or something similar, he's going to suffer effects of heatstroke is if he keeps his armor on. This is steamy, humid, disease-ridden jungle. Think European explorers going into uncharted Africa or Central America. Make sure you've got a caster with endure elements (it's actually a useful 1st-level spell for sorcerers to take in Iskandria!) and a paladin for those pesky jungle sicknesses. Well, that's how it would be in my game at least.
So the read-aloud text stays the way it is, is what I'm saying. :)
Personally, I'm wondering what a 4th-level character would be doing with DR, but even a 19th-level Barbarian with DR 5 is still going to be bothered by bugs, and unless he has endure elements or something similar, he's going to suffer effects of heatstroke is if he keeps his armor on. This is steamy, humid, disease-ridden jungle. Think European explorers going into uncharted Africa or Central America. Make sure you've got a caster with endure elements (it's actually a useful 1st-level spell for sorcerers to take in Iskandria!) and a paladin for those pesky jungle sicknesses. Well, that's how it would be in my game at least.
So the read-aloud text stays the way it is, is what I'm saying. :)
*%£%^ boards...I've never found another one which is so damn temperamental.
I say again, then...
I was thinking for some reason, that barbarians get DR at level 4. Warlocks do get DR 1/Cold Iron at level 3, so it is feasible.
On the other hand, though, I'm with you all the way. The only people who are going to quibble about read-aloud text are thoise with a non-modal metabolism (and they can't really expect that they are going to be specifically supported) and complete asshats. You know, the sort of people whose "character" never reacts to anything because he's so badass (never gets scared, never gets injured, 'cos the hurt just makes him madder blah blah blah Maximised Disintegrate!) This is not roleplaying, it's Being An Asshat.
As a games designer you (this would be the collective you, obviously) have to assume that most people playing the game are not moronic asshats. While we should not exclude moronic asshats from playing D&D or anything else, we should also not encourage them and instead attempt to re-educate them to become NOT moronic asshats by occasionally saying NO, and telling them not to be so stupid (violently if necessary). It's like a betterment of society or something. (Or at least until the day that they make it a terminal offense to be alive while suffering a case of the Galloping Stupids.)
As a general point across rules mechanics as well as adventure building, we should not be dumbing anything down or altering it for the sake of the lowest common denominator, we should should be dragging the lowest common denominator up for the betterment of everyone. (How this is accompished it up to the individual (and this is not DM exclusive); personally I find the threat of sudden and unheralded death to work the best...)
Yeah, that was more of a rant than I intended, but idiocy is one of the few thing that really makes me twitchy.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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Well, I certainly don't believe the read-aloud text has flaws in whatever way someone up there said. I was just thinking an indigent party won't be as bothered by the heat or insects as a foreign party. Although I would occasionally throw in references or swarms of bugs and hope someone contra..erm...offer the PCs the challenge of ovecoming a disease.
As for the asshats, they don't get to play in my games. I am sort of on the yellow card system for that. I can put up with new players, can handle stat-crunching power gamers,and such. But if you're not rooting for evryone else to have fun in my game, you're probably fired.
I say keep your read aloud text, but don't let insects plague the barbarian or warlock.
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aka Robert G. McCreary
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Just so you know, this is the first encounter I plan to use in my brand new fourth edition campaign. It'll be adapted, of course, but the read-aloud text from the goblin charge is going in word for word. Sheer awesomeness.
Thanks a lot! Glad you can use it - let me know how it works out, especially in 4e!