I have been DM’ing tabletop for five years, playing for fifteen and running an RPoL campaign in the Realms for well over a year. My style is descriptive and as detailed as I can get. I try to give you a feel for what you do, where you and how you do it so that you can emersed yourself in the Dales and get a feel for its unique beauty and dangers. Here the environment is a bigger killer than those that lay within. Preparation is the key and thinking on your feet the best survival mechanism.
Please take the time to read and understand below. It seems like a lot but becomes second nature quickly enough!
Here's my set of rules:
1
This is a story being played out by your actions. But like a story it needs to be written in third person. I would like to see Sir Anthony cries out a warcry and plunges into battle OR Sir Anthony cried out a warcry and plunged into battle rather than I call out a warcry and plunge into battle. While it may seem a minor point it reads the way the game should be played. This is RPoL not tabletop.
2
OOC chatter in-game ruins the read and makes it confusing to follow (as I have found out when reading the thread to this point). If you want to ask something then do it in character i.e. Dorn turns to Joshua and asks curiously
”What was the name of that dwarf king we saw?”. If you want to talk OOC then do so on the OCC thread or private lines. Know however that if you don’t ask in game your character can’t act upon it. This means no meta-gaming occurs (where player knowledge outside of game affects the character in game where it shouldn’t). That is what it is for. I am a stickler for this after seeing several adventures ruined by meta-gaming.
3
If you want to ask me something privately then you can send via an inserted private line (if there are other things you are doing in the descriptive post that you want others to see) or by PM if you don’t want anyone else to know.
4
When talking in a different language than common put it in
orange like this:
(Dwarven)"Pumilia, how are you?"
5
With rolls for anything (attacks, damage, skills, saves etc) insert the rolls into a Private line to me with your descriptive text so that it doesn’t show to others in game. Once again this is purely because all I want you to see is the descriptive text so that this reads like an ongoing novel not a dice convention. It actually makes it quicker for you to read multiple posts and not lose the feel for the game. For me it makes no difference as I’ll be seeing the roles but I know you will enjoy reading it more. Trust me!
6
Combat: Always fun, sometimes confusing. Tell me what you are doing descriptively and then place the initiative, attack, damage etc and your actions (charge, bull rush whatever) in a line privately to me in the same message. Remember the basics and let me handle the details on full round, step, move, standard, partial, move equivalent, free actions etc. You’re to get into combat and enjoy, not get bogged down.
7
I also use a mapping program called Dundjinni to create great maps to avoid the confusion of RPoL. I will be posting a map for each combat round (or environmentally danger being handled like a chasm, abyss, rope bridge falling apart etc) on a Yahoo website called RoA: The Dalelands. They really do help you (and me) keep track of what is where and visualise the situation better. No more text maps… full colour jpegs with each of your Portraits as counters (thanks to Adobe Photshop!)
Here is the link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roadalelands
Press the Join button to send me a RTJ and use your characters name. Makes it easier for me to know whose who and not get a spammer coming in! There in files - maps is a demo map from a another game I play. Check it out!
8
I live to post. I will do so at least every day and I hope you can keep up. If I haven't heard anything within 24 hours I'll NPC the character. By keeping the pace up the fun keeps up. I am sure you'd agree it is hard to keep focused on things when you can't get the information you want quickly. RL is always there but if it gets too much don't go silent - PM me and I'll take over until you get back. I am here to help.. use me!
9
Lastly, here is an example from my other campaign the give you an idea of combat and how I tell a story.
The players are being attacked by a group of Wyverns on a fallen tree bridge across a gaping chasm. One of the parties has fallen from the bridge and is now levitating thanks to some quick magic. Another has heroically jumped on the flying Wyvenrs back that is attacking his levitating friend. Meanwhile several other party member are attacking a newly arrived Wyvern on the ground.
This is what I sent to them after they sent me all their actions for the last round.
Round 2 results:
Hacatio moved like a stalking cat through the shadows of the ravine. Distracted as it was by Balaedriel the Wyvern did not see nor hear the Sembian’s stealthy approach. It was to cost it dearly!
Hacatio took up position close to the west face of the ravine. Taking a moment or two to steady the heavy crossbow he lined his target up and gently squeezed off his shot. His weapon kicked forward slightly as the thick bolt flew across the thirty feet between himself and his draconic prey and the swordsman watched with a small smile of satisfaction as it pierced its thick skin and sunk completely into the gap between its wing and ribs.
The monster reared in surprise as the bolt struck it from behind. It had no time to turn upon its unseen attacker however as Balaedriel struck from the front. This time it was not with something as brutally efficient as Hacatio’s crossbow bolt but a ray of scorching fire that erupted from the centre of her hand as she cried out ”Ram en’ naur”
The magical ray enveloped the left side of the Wyverns face, searing away skin and flesh. It flapped its wings in hatred as the sight in its eye was scolded away then hissed as it looked with it’s only remaining eye at the tiny prey that had caused it so much pain. Its sting was poised to strike down up Balaedriel at a moments notice, weaving and bobbing as if it had a mind of its own.
Nearby Strya was faced with an immediate dilemma. Elias and Jasper lay below engaged with the first Wyvern, Elias clinging to its back and Jasper now mysteriously bobbing in mid air like he had suddenly sprouted wings. In front of her lay the second Wyvern engaged with Hacatio and Balaedriel. Which should she attack? Returning to the words of her teacher Thruod she made her decision. She pulled her bow up and fired twice at the one closest to her.
The first shot went wide and nearly took Balaedriel in the chest as it flew past her target. The second sunk deep into the Wyvern’s throat, embedding in the hard hide that covered the vital area. The arrow cut its vocal cords and the creature hopped up and down on its two massive taloned legs making gagging sounds as it tried to deal with yet another wound. Strya reached for another arrow and took better aim. This time both would strike true.
Across the other side of the ravine Rizzen had reached the position where the other horses were tethered before the battle had begun and he tied Old Stodgy to his horse. The war pony was absolutely terrified - Wyvern’s were not things it was trained to fight against - and it washed over to the two horses he now stood beside. Rizzen whispered a few quiet words that calmed them all and then drew two short swords from his belt, one slightly bigger than the other. Assessing the situation quickly he moved forward to join the battle.
As the older elf began to move his young comrade loosed another arrow at the Wyvern flapping chaotically below in an effort to keep itself in the air. He knew a little something about these creatures, most elves did, and the fact that it could hover so was particularly strange. Normally they were poor flyers who struggled to keep their bulk in the air at that best of times. Even as critically wounded as the one below was it still managed to hold its place. He made a mental note to talk to Icenshrike about the mystery later. He nodded as he watched the arrow strike true, embedding itself deep in the monsters right wing joint. The Wyvern’s cries of panic increased as he nocked another arrow.
Elias managed to get his legs locked into place to stop himself falling. As he propped himself upright behind his opponents wings he felt several of his ribs move and a small trail of blood dripped from the side of his mouth to stain his chin red. Through his pain he cried out ”If I am to die then you shall die with me!”
He rose his bastard sword high above his head and struck down with all his might, burying the entire twenty six inches of steel into the Wyvern’s exposed neck and severing its spinal column. That was enough to kill his enemy outright. It wasn’t however enough for the Helmite. He withdrew the two inch wide blade in a spray of blood and struck down again. Then he and the Wyvern began their plummet to the ravine floor. Elias said his final prayers as he toppled off its back and let calm descend upon him. He knew he was going to a better place, just as he knew the wyvern wasn’t!
Jasper had other plans. Having already prepared for such an eventuality, though this wasn’t how he pictured it was going to happen; he began to incant again from the same scroll he had just used to levitate himself. The magic flowed forth as Elias came within range and just as it had done for the gnome the human stopped in midair, protected now by the comfort of a levitation spell. The Wyvern however continued its path to the rocks below.
Somehow sensing its mate had just died the Wyvern engaged with Hacatio, Balaedriel and Strya surged forward and struck out with all its fury at the closest target – the elf maiden. Balaedriel tried to fend off the large predator but in the end its rage was too much to contain with just dexterity and a two bladed sword. The monsters beak ripped a massive gash in her leg that slowed her down enough for it to cut across her face with one clawed hook on its forward wing joint. Reeling from the attack she didn’t see one of its claws snake out and grab her like she was a piece of wood. It wrapped her up in its grasp and the longsword length talons slashed her back as she struggled to break free. It was useless, the beast was to strong and she was quickly weakening from her wounds. This was not looking good.
OOC combat rolls
Hacatio’s Move Silently roll successful!
Hacatio’s Hide roll successful!
Hacatio D'Salacion (Crossbow, heavy MW) hits!
Hacatio D'Salacion uses item Bolt (heavy). 18 are left.
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Balaedriel uses skill Concentration. Successful!
Balaedriel casts spell
Balaedriel hits!
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Strya starts a Rapid Shot.
Strya (Longbow, mighty composite MW) misses!
Strya (Longbow, mighty composite MW) hits!
Strya uses item Arrow. 20 are left.
Strya uses item Arrow. 19 are left.
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Young Elf (Longbow MW) hits!
Young Elf uses item Arrow. 17 are left.
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Elias Helmfist (Sword, bastard #1) hits!
Elias Helmfist (Sword, bastard #2) hits!
Wyvern 1 has died.
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Jasper Mirrorgem: Levitate
Jasper Mirrorgem uses item Scroll of Levitate (arc) (1), Darkvision (2), Magic Mouth (2).
Scroll of Levitate (arc) (1), Darkvision (2), Magic Mouth (2) casts Levitate on Elias.
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Wyvern 2 (bite) hits!
Wyvern 2 (wings, #1) hits!
Wyvern 2 (wings, #2) misses!
Wyvern 2 (talons, #1) misses!
Wyvern 2 (talons, #2) hits!
Wyvern 2 rolls a grapple check:
Balaedriel rolls a grapple check: Fails!
Grabbed and Helded!
Wyvern 1 is INJURED!
Wyvern 2 is CRITICAL!
Balaedriel is HURT!
Round 3 actions please. :) New Map posted.
The next part is the actions of Hacatio D'Salacion, a rapier wielding rogue/fighter.
Seeing the beast latch on to the elf, the Sembian tossed the arbalest to the ground and raced forward, drawing his rapier…
I hope that gives you an idea of how I can describe combat as well as how it runs. We’ll muddle through together until we get the right balance.
Last rule. HAVE FUN! If there is a problem let me know. I am obliging, friendly and impartial (at least my other players tell me <blush>) and happy to try and make the game better for all.