Hah! I'm not so impatient that I can't wait for you to decide who has what.
Consider both Seraphiel and Caine to be under my tender care until further notice.
I think for my next character I will make a female dwarven battlerager. Or maybe a dragonborn or human greatsword fighter. Being a rogue is just not cutting it for me in combat. Sure I can dish out 46 hp in damage in a single round, but then I took 40 hp of damage back in enemy attacks. Since things are not looking very good for us, I thought I would start thinking about my next character. Also I have been reading the fighter essential articles in Dragon and are eager to take a stab at playing a fighter.
I just wrote a two page (at least) stream of consciousness post that took too long to complete and so was eaten by the board when I posted it. In it, I talked about fighters and rogues, how much I enjoy playing Snaggletooth, and analyzed our fighting style- particularly mine own and came to a couple of conclusions.
1. I need to stop charging into combat in the first round. Despite my first strike ability, I do not have the hp or the AC to survive this kind of pummeling.
2. As a party, we don't deal enough damage per attack and we don't absorb enough attacks. Our AC and defenses are not high enough. I don't know how to correct this, but it is a problem. These berserkers have really brought this out. We are in the midst of a slugfest and our opponents have better defenses and better attacks. Or seem to, anyway. We will see. If these seers can summon more berserkers like the other one could, we are in major trouble.
All is not lost, there is hope. We have two leaders and a paladin. But if we keep missing and they keep hitting, poor Snaggletooth and his friends will not survive this battle and I will have to finish up Helja Hammerfist's backstory and bring her on-line. Or maybe Darien Blake, former corporal of the Waterdeep Guard. I really need to get some sleep. This insomina really sucks.
All is by no means lost.
As a group you've done very interesting things with this adventure with lots of thinking outside the box.
By all means think about your next character, but don't abandon hope just yet. Some of your actions (i.e. taking the regalia and befriending Gratitude, to say nothing of setting all those traps) have opened up pathways that wouldn't exist otherwise.
On a practical note, you have Volkanth pretty well surrounded and he's not an idiot. He wants to complete the ritual, but he needs to be alive to do that.
One of the things I like so much about both the long-running groups in my games is their willingness to keep trying stuff and constantly surprising me. I am (as always) out to kill you if I can, but I do feel that my job is primarily to help you tell as story. The plot is up to you.
I feel your pain with the insomnia, Cale. It really is a brain-dissolver.
We don't deal a lot of damage simply because Snaggletooth is our one and ONLY damage dealer. Some non-striker classes can be tweaked to deal large amounts of damage but we're not playing as any of them. As for defense, there's nothing that can be done about that in an ongoing game other than begging the DM for magic armor or purchasing feats. I've already purchased one armor feat just to get Erik's AC as high as it is now.
With my Create Magic Item ritual I can also make armor, but that gets expensive and one magic item creation often wipes a character's monetary gains out for several levels.
I will agree that Snaggletooth should be staying back during the early rounds until he can get flanking with a defender who can protect him. Retraining for a ranged attack would let you keep advantage of First Strike and still maintain your distance. Rev said we'll be making level 8 soon so that may be a good time.
As a melee striker, however, Snaggletooth is always going to get caught in tough situations. That's why melee strikers are capable of so much more damage than ranged strikers, who are usually out of harm's way.
I think we'll get though this, but it definitely won't be easy. I also DON'T think it should be easy since this is likely the climax of this dungeon. My only regret is that we wasted our advantage in initiative with the opening banter. Banter is good, but it pretty much nullified the use of my Synchronicity power. :<
The loss of the power is a pity (and a fortune of war), but the banter was useful in a lot of other respects. Volkanth couldn't tell you any of what he's just told you if he's dead.
There was also the possibility that Perigia might have wanted to stop the fight and find some other way. I have enormous faith in this group's ability to find interesting solutions to things.
If you feel underpowered, then when you level, you can explore the possibility of doing some rebuilding if you'd like to rebalance the party. I'm very open to that - it's particularly important in a pbp that you feel balanced, as you simply don't have the resources to discuss every option with each other.
Oh - it's level 7, not level 8. You're within spitting distance.
The loss of the power is a pity (and a fortune of war), but the banter was useful in a lot of other respects. Volkanth couldn't tell you any of what he's just told you if he's dead.
There was also the possibility that Perigia might have wanted to stop the fight and find some other way. I have enormous faith in this group's ability to find interesting solutions to things.
If you feel underpowered, then when you level, you can explore the possibility of doing some rebuilding if you'd like to rebalance the party. I'm very open to that - it's particularly important in a pbp that you feel balanced, as you simply don't have the resources to discuss every option with each other.
Oh - it's level 7, not level 8. You're within spitting distance.
Honestly, I don't think it's that we're underpowered so much as the enemies we're fighting are pretty tough. It seems like even the minions are hitting with a +14 against AC a lot of the time and somewhere around +10 or +12 against other defenses. Even with +2 scale, a shield, and an amulet of protection those bonuses hit me more than 50% of the time. So all it takes is a small shift in the DM's favor and party members start dropping like flies. Luckily all of our healing helps make up for it.
I'd agree the encounters are tough, but most of your battles have been very swingy which is how it should be. You tend to have rounds where you all hit and that will clear out half the baddies, followed by one where everybody flubs.
The other thing, of course, is that as a group you have vested interest in staying alive and the baddies can afford to be more ruthless tacticians as they have a cause to fight.
I winched this encounter down a bit, since it's designed for 5 level 8 pcs originally and I thought the defenses were on the high side. A tough fight is one thing. A situation where you can't hit anything unless you roll 15+ is another and I didn't want that.
I will say this, Rosey has set up a very intersting moral dilemna. Volkath obviously doesn't see himself as evil, just committed to the Dreamer's cause. His actions thus far, from his perspective, were necessary to achieve his goals or rather the Dreamer's goals as told to him by Perigia's sister. The Dreamer himself, in the dream skill challenge, referred to what Volkath was doing as a good cause. So in the back of my mind, I am constantly debating our course of action. At first, when we were with the pilgrims and we were viciously attacked, it was a simple 'stop the evil cult and return the artifact' kind of mission. Then she starts dropping these clues that perhaps it is more complicated than that. Finally, she has Volkath make a direct appeal to Perigia on behalf of her sister. Kudos, Rosey, Kudos. You have me doubting myself while I continue to complete the original mission.
Well, Erik doesn't particularly care at the moment. He didn't really have any meaningful dream himself and no one has talked about their own dreams at all. He also hasn't been told anything about Perigia's sister. He's just doing what he does best right now. :)
That you did, that you did. That was some kind of combo you just did. Very impressive.
That you did, that you did. That was some kind of combo you just did. Very impressive.
Thank you. Bards have quite a few interesting tricks up their sleeves. The dice gods were also favorable, otherwise it wouldn't have been quite as useful. That was the first time Song of the New Dawn actually paid off so I was finally vindicated for taking it.
Shout of Triumph may be my favorite leader power ever.
Speaking as your hapless DM, I hate it ...
Folks, we're coming to a close on this adventure and I'm more than happy to carry on with you all if you're willing.
However ... there are a couple of things that I'd really value your input on. The first is that Leo is still offline. This segues into Caine's huge work issues, which are pretty much devouring him. Neither of these things are controllable, but it does leave us two players down and I'm reluctant to recruit new blood as they're both planning to return full time as soon as they can.
What I'm tentatively proposing is this:- That at the end of this adventure, we wrap the group and the game in mothballs and place it to one side until we have a full team again. This is a very character driven story and it's hard to run it without the full set of players.
If, after a reasonable time has passed (a month?), neither Leo nor Rad can post regularly, we'll recruit.
Please know that I love this group and this game and very much want to continue with it. The thing is, I'd much rather call a temporary halt for a time at a sensible stopping place and regroup, than grind to a slow death with me DMPCing half the party. I think my heart might break a little if I never saw these characters again.
Good hearing Rad.
One down I can deal with. Leo will be back once the internet gods have responded to his pleas. He's in the UK and it can take a very, very long time for the authorities to realise that a person has moved house.
Onwards we shall go.
You know you can count me in, Rev. I feel like Erik still needs to do a lot to become a real member of the party and further adventuring with him would be great.
Well, you said to post my new character ideas. My two favorite ones are the female dwarven battlerager, with warhammer and shield. Helja Hammerfist, I believe I called her. I haven't played a dwarf in a while and the battlerager is an interesting build.
The other one is a greatsword fighter with plate armor. I don't have all the details worked out yet, but I want to be able to stand in there with the heavies in combat. (I read the Dragon article and it got me thinking about this)
Both of these would give me the combat challenge feature, which would make us more sticky in combat.
OR
and I just thought of this. Aglarond sorcerer, human dragon magic build. One of the Simbul's forgotten "children", part of the program the Simbul set up to raise up magical weapons to fight against Thay. She would test all the kids in Aglarond and when she found a likely candidate, she would move them into the palace and teach them magic. Simbul's been gone for many years, no one knows where, but she left the training program in place. This character would be one of those trainees. Read the fluff section on the Simbarch of Aglarond paragon path (FRPG) for the gist of what I am saying. While the paragon path is for wizards, given Simbul's makeover in 3E as a sorcerer, it seems likely she had a program for them, too. Part of an elite spellcaster unit called the Dragons of Aglarond. Although I would not get my bloodlust satisfied with this character, it is a striker and with the Str bonus and the Arcane reserves feat, we are talking about +5 for most of the at-will damage at range.
Well, that's what I got so far. What do you think? (Everyone who wants to, please chime in! I welcome all opinions, no matter how stupid-just kidding.)
Cale, it's up to you. Build yourself a character you want to play and we'll go from there and look at party balance once you've cooked up your new pc.
I'll take a longer look at all your concepts in the morning. I'm a bit too tired to engage my brain properly at the moment - been in London all day at an awards ceremony. All somewhat surreal.
I'm looking at the current line up of pcs and we have the following:
Brujo - moonelf (eladrin) swordmage. Melee only apart from the odd bit here and there.
Caine - human bravura warlord. Melee only.
Erik - human bard. Mixed tactics available to him.
Leo - paladin. Basically melee.
Perigia - genasi wizard/mc druid at the moment but that may change. Ranged.
A ranged striker certainly wouldn't hurt. Snaggletooth has routinely doled out a lot of damage with his SA and that needs to be re-balanced.
The sorcerer might be a good choice, but any of your proposals work. It would also be useful to have a tank.
Gosh. I'm so helpful... :)
Cale?
Yes, Rose?
Oh, so you wanted me to write it up, ok? Got it. We'll go with the dragon magic sorcerer. We have a lot of melee, but we don't have much in the way of magic and ranged. I think it could a better fit. I will write it up this weekend and get it to you before Monday. We will still be finishing this plot up by then. Between the beholder and whatever else is waiting for us, I figure I have until then. I will come up with the background but you will have to help me fit it into the next plot.
O.K.?
And with Str as a secondary attribute, his melee basic attack won't completely stink, either.
I just have one question, how much 'stuff' does a level 7 character get? I looked for wealth by level rules and can't find them.
Level 7 pcs get one each of a level 8, 7 and 6 magic item and starting gold of 2,600.
I'm houseruling that non-magical mundane equipment is something you already have (i.e. tents, adventurers kits, but not small boats or fully trained warhorses). If you think something might count, but aren't sure, ask me.
You've got time and plenty. You still need to get out of there, deliver the relic and work out where you're going next. I'll help you sort out how you join up with the party once you get me some background. Have fun with the build.
Rosey,
I have a question. The descriptions for Dragonfrost and Acid Orb state that they can be used as a basic ranged attack. The description for the Bracers of the Perfect Strike say that they give a +2 to damage on basic ranged attacks. The Character Builder interprets this as a +2 for damage on these at-will powers. Do you concur with this assessment? Because Dragonfrost is alright with the cold and the push, but Blazing Starfell is the only area burst at-will a sorcerer gets and it is radiant so it is quite effective against those pesky undeads. even without the extra cosmic magic effect and the minimal base damage (1d4, smallest for an arcane power), it is tempting. I need the fire blast spell to keep people away and protect myself if they get too close and acid orb is a range 20. So without the extra damage bonus, I might consider the area burst. But what is the difference between a basic ranged attack and an at-will that can be used as a basic ranged attack anyway? I think that is why the CB gives the +2 for those powers. Let me know what you think.
If CB declares it legal, I'm happy enough to ride with it. If errata emerge to change that, we can look again.
Yay! Then my sorcerer's damage quotient should be excellent, if he hits. And it fits my elemental theme, fire, acid, and cold. I am almost finished. I just to finish the writeup on the background. I have a loose idea, but have not written it down yet.
Rosey,
You should have my email with my write-up. As well as my ideas for a background. I like the government agent part of it, but I think I went too far with the whole 'spy' thing. A sorcerer would not make a good spy, too dangerous. I think it would be better if the Dragons were more like the sorcerer-equivalent of the Simbarchs and the War Wizards. That way we have the special training, but don't slide over into roguish or bardish territory. I will keep the lute and the musician cover however, or at least the amateur lute playing. He can do it to "impress the ladies" but Erik should be frustrated by his lack of skill.
I like the "trying to prove himself" motivation. He could be wandering around looking for trouble so that he can then ride in and save the day. I might even make him bigger than life. Boisterous, full of himself a bit. Prone to exaggeration and bold-face lying. I don't know. I guess I am all over the map on this one. A little help, maybe?
Just got him. I'll take a look Cale and see if I can help.
While we're on the subject of changing characters, Hopeless seems to have vanished and Caine is very intermittent due to work issues.
The regular, reliable posters are:
Cale - about to change characters from kobold hero to boisterous Sorcerer
TGZ - Erik the all around wonder boy
David - Perigia the fire girl (and somewhat crucial plot hinge)
Laz - Brujo the Gollumesque swordmage.
Recruitment time do you think? I know Caine will get online when he can, but that's very rare at the moment. I'm happy to run with four of you, but would you like to add anyone yourselves?
If so, now is a pretty good time to so it as I need to work Cale's new kid in and Snaggles out.
No offense to Hopeless or Rad, we've been together awhile, but we need to recruit. At least one player, maybe two. And please for the love of pete, make one of them a true fighter. We need stickiness from our meleers. If one of the recruits would prefer to play the sorcerer, I would be glad to take the meat shield role. I only chose the sorcerer to balance out the melee-heaviness of the paladin and warlord. (and swordmage and bard)
Like when Dave left us for awhile, we brought Perigia back when he could join us again. I propose we do the same for our ertzwhile companions. Rather than you having to DMPC them so often, Rosey.
That's just my opinion.
Whatever everyone else wants to do is fine with me. But if I had my choice, either our buds need to post more regularly or we will have to replace them until they can.
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Sorry to thread jack, but I need some opinions and quick. My next home game is coming up shortly and I only have two PCs left.
Now before I go on I need to lay out that the party is a three man cell. Since two of the players, both clerics, decided to quit. One of the players decided to leave his cleric behind and be run by me (unfortunatly the cleric died last week fight Aldern). What the party was left with was the following:
Candace, Level 6 Dwarf (formerly an elf before reincarnation) Summoner - Formerly a druid, but was rebuilt when the playtest started
Areseh, Level 6 Teifling Monk
Laz, Level 4 Gnome (formerly a halfling before reincarnation this session)Rogue - Was killed by Rogors Craesby while the party was checking out Hambley farm.
After beating doen Aldern the party returned to Sandpoint with enough loot to sell for a Reincarnation scroll (the party for one reason or another is always broke). They recieve it and with some help from Madame Madame Mvashti bring Laz back into the world of the living.
Day or two go by and the group finds itself heading back to Thistletop. After finishing off Nualia they never explored the rest of the place. Both Areseh and Candace found themselves involved with the pillar in E5, so Laz decided to check out E6 himself. Well after walking in and discovering the door he was ambushed the three shadows. Now comes the bad part. Every character in the party likes to think of themselves as a "tank". Laz rarely uses his sneak attack or other rogue abilites, instead just runs up and hits things. Candace, even as a druid, sees herself as the main damage dealer never, is rarely, using her spells.
Well two rounds after initiative was rolled the party found themselves again with a dead rogue, and now funds to bring him back. The two pushed on and somehow toppled Malfeshnekor. After swinging on the Aresah while invisible. She countered with a stunning fist. Followed in the next round by stunning fist. Malfeshnekor failed every save against the her fists (DC 16, but he never rolled above a 3).
So now I'm left with just the two. The player of Laz may not be coming back, almost definiatly. How can I continue the adventure with the two? Should I look into Gestalting as an option?
Again sorry for the jacking Rev, but I normally get my best advise from you guys :)
I'm inclined to think we should recruit. I don't like DMPCing long term and now is a good place and time to do it.
With all this in mind, do any of you have any suggestions for reliable players you think would enjoy this before I head out to Gamer Connection?
What may make sense at this point, is to call a temporary hiatus while we get the party sorted out. I'll rustle up something flavoursome with suitable lead in to finish this properly and start a fresh thread when we're cleaned, tricked out and back to strength. Sound good?
Temporary pause only. There is more for those that want.
Laz -
One - run the adventure as writ and drop the monster levels to something plausible for 2 characters. For Skinshaw, that might work, as it's a haunted house mystery (albeit a potentially lethal one). Focus on the investigation and run some inventive and put some long term skill challenges into it. Make sure there are always options to get out of Dodge and make it clear to the players when they are outmatched and need to find another way around the problem. Actually, this bit of advice applies to suggestions (2) and (3) as well.
Two - run the adventure as writ, but get both players to play two characters if they're willing.
Three - get them to roll the pcs they want and find an adventure to suit them.
Of those, three seems like the best option to me, but you know your players and I don't.
Remember what I said, Rosey. If one of the new recruits does not want to be a true fighter, then they can be a sorcerer and I will take the fighter role. Not a warden, not a paladin, but a fighter.
On a personal note, do you think Pat would like to come back? I always liked playing with him. I don't converse with him, so I don't know his status.
And I am always in favor of balancing our guy/girl ratio. But expecting to find a reliable female gamer who isn't our DM is unrealistic, but I still hold out hope.
That's all my stated preferrences.
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For those who wish to chip in :)
So everyone seems keen on continuing on as is. They realy want to finish the AP. Talked to Liz earlier and she seems ok on playing a second character (as long as it's not a spell caster). Susanne is completely against playing an additional player as she has "too much trouble handling Candice as is". But she is entirely for gestalting though. It's funny the woman plays a Summoner, formerly a druid, but thinks she's the main "tank" of the party. She refuses to play a melee class though. Same went for Mike though. Played the rogue of the group but thought he was the "tank" too.
No one's heard from Mike so no clue on his return as a character still.
I'll ask Pat, but I know he's been cutting down on his pbp gaming a good bit.
Anyone else you can think of? I'll put the word out on the Winter thread - we might pick up someone from there.
Putting out a call on Gamer Connection.
I'm up for anything. I really like Erik but I'm not super attached to him yet if the party needs anything else.
Hopefully Davi will be joining us. He's got finals this week, so it won't be immediate. He's suggested either a half orc fighter or a longtooth shifter warden. Either way, the melee problems should be easier to deal with, but the half orc would be more useful in terms of damage output.
TGZ, I think we need to hang on to Erik as is, or the party healing is going to be zilch. Plus, he's fun.
Either way, the melee problems should be easier to deal with, but the half orc would be more useful in terms of damage output.
The DM has spoken, the half-orc fighter it is.
Anyway, it's good to be in another game with the rest of you again.
Cale is now free to go with his sorcerer, which offers more ranged options (usually highly destructive ones).
Xabulba and Amelia are both joining up as well, bringing us back to seven regulars. I've asked both of them to come along and discuss what they want to play and I'm sure they'll take account of the current party composition and requests.
I can deal with seven regulars and Caine can catch up with you when he can post regularly. If Leo shows up again, I'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I won't be starting the new thread for another week to ten days to get everyone back up to speed and to give myself the chance to work in whatever delightful fruitloops you all come up with. If those of you who are rebuilding or creating could post outlines of your characters, preferably with some background notes, it would help me a lot.
I'll aim to get us back on the road just before Christmas if that works for everyone? I know that means hitting the holiday hiatus as well, but I think it's important to have a start date in mind.
Since tonight's the last night before the hard-core studying for finals begins, I figured I'd at least get the basics down for my sheet.
Hey everyone - I'm glad to be hopping into another Rosey game and I'm totally flexible with slipping into whatever role you guys most need. I've got about a dozen character ideas in my head right now, and I'm sure one or more of them can be tweaked for the game :)
So, please, toss some ideas about what might work well, and I can put something together pretty quick :)
Hey everyone - I'm glad to be hopping into another Rosey game and I'm totally flexible with slipping into whatever role you guys most need. I've got about a dozen character ideas in my head right now, and I'm sure one or more of them can be tweaked for the game :)
So, please, toss some ideas about what might work well, and I can put something together pretty quick :)
Well, all the basic roles are currently filled, although from what I've heard the damage output is a little low. Maybe another ranged striker?
Well, all the basic roles are currently filled, although from what I've heard the damage output is a little low. Maybe another ranged striker?Hey everyone - I'm glad to be hopping into another Rosey game and I'm totally flexible with slipping into whatever role you guys most need. I've got about a dozen character ideas in my head right now, and I'm sure one or more of them can be tweaked for the game :)
So, please, toss some ideas about what might work well, and I can put something together pretty quick :)
I was thinking of a ranger myself, maybe a bladeling barbarian then.
Are we limited on what races we can play? A Minotaur barbarian would be cool or if the group really needs another defender a Wilden Warden.ps. How many bacgrounds can we take?