In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #35):

Just didn't think it was a good day to die, is all...

Cole might have misspoken.  Perhaps he is interested in par'mach with the Indian woman.  They have experienced the combative foreplay and now they are ready for sexual congress.

It should have said "Passing within 20 feet of Randy," (I had just noted that the rider went past Randy, whose bullet was off-target). No, he didn't leap 20 feet. He rode up to the horses and leapt off his own horse amidst the likes of Snake, Jenny and the Pinto, trying to cut the rope (line) between those horses and others.

The dismount is a normally an action, but he used Ride: Fast Dismount. I thought he had succeeded, but I forgot to figure in one of the modifiers. The way I adjudicated was that the Fast Dismount was a free action (because I thought the roll had succeeded) so the Control was the move action and cutting the line was his attack action. Your question prompted me to review the rolls and I see he wouldn't have succeeded on the Ride check so indeed that should have been 3 actions, not two. I'll rectify.



As per table 7.3 noted by Randy, mounting dismounting a horse is one Move action. The woman used a Move action to mount the horse while Cole did his actions. He made it pretty clear that he didn't want to fire on the woman unless she fired. She didn't fire.

Because Cole and the others have been focused on their own gunfire and now the woman, they haven't noticed the gunfire to the south, yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:23, Wed 10 Feb 2010.

I take it that those players in the northeast US still have power during the snowstorm, as I've seen posts. I'm guessing you're also all at home. I wonder about Travis . . .

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #39):

I still have power. But, there is no way I'm going outside to do anything except move snow. And, as luck would have it, one of my more generous neighbors (who happens to own a snow blower) just eased my burden considerably.

I heard that in MD one can get arrested for being out on the roads, at all.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #41):

I'm back.  Art has it ten inches worse than I do.  I shoveled at 8:00 last night.  11:30 last night.  6:00AM and 12:00.  So mu driveway is clear and the drifts are small enough to get my Forrester out in an emergency.  We've blown by the all time Baltimore record for snowfall by 8 inches or so.  This is the first time we've had two blizzards within the same week.  Howard county closed schools for the whole week yesterday.  I couldn't take the dogs out for a real walk, it was more like a step.  We went out a bout 100 yards.  Winds are high.  Temperature is bitter.

I've been working around the house and now we've finally hunkered down.  Mrs Sunday is baking cookies with my eldest Childzilla. Kid Kong is reading.

We played the game "Life."  Ironically Mrs Sunday won.  Her keys to victory, which the game of life now imparts to my children were... be an athlete, if you lose your job be an entertainer.  Sue others espescially doctors frequently, share others wealth with yourself, skip college and gamble.  If only I had known this when I was young.

Anyway, I've got a fire going and am now finally able to see what's up in the wild wild west.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #41):

I've not heard anything about a curfew. I could partly understand why, though. Visibility is low and the roads must be complete crap. I'm sure they would like as few number of people on the roads as possible. The big snow trucks will need as much flexibility (and room) as possible to get the snow cleared. And, the last thing the local governments need is to rescue people who have no business on the road.

My county cancelled school for the entire week, as well.

In reply to Cole Trayne (msg #43):

Baltimore doesn't have a curfew but only emergency vehicles are allowed on the roads.

In reply to Travis Sunday (msg #44):

Only Baltimore City has a restriction, Phase 3 Snow Emergency meaning State owned and emergency vehicles only are allowed on the roads. I believe some highways are closed, though, such as I83.

Please be more specific about movement speed. Terms such as "best speed" and "top speed" are sort of relative. Does "top speed" mean using the 'Run' action (4 moves)? Or does it mean a double-move? (i.e. best speed without taxing the horse). So far, there have been a couple of times where I just decided what you meant, but moving forward, that's probably not in your best interest, as I may well decide it means something you don't want it to mean.

I would prefer that you use terms such as "double-move" or "run" or whatever actual action you are using as per the S:R Action rules.

The Judge is giving a little more time for clarifications from a couple of players. Look for a post in the afternoon (eastern).

All you Balti-morlocks have nothing to complain about... not like these folks:
http://www.darkroastedblend.co...ontent=Google+Reader

Saw a couple of players who logged in earlier today, but didn't post . . . if I don't see a post within the 24 hours of my post, I'll interpret next actions based on previous statements.

I'm giving a little extra time to a couple of players, with whom I have either received or sent (or both) PMs.

Almost as soon as Silas thinks things might change for the better, he sees Randy peel off from the chase.  Shew, I think that's a good idear.

Randy's departure from the pursuit marks a new feeling for him.  He never really felt defeated, until now.

The deflated man turns his Fanny northward,  Silas turns southward.  Each do so to avoid the lone rider between them.  Randy waves to his trail-mates the chase is over.

Pumping his spurs lightly into his horses side, he moves back to a full gallop back to the remuda.  Silas does as well.

It appears that the round-by-round combat is over. There is still an aftermath to play out, but it can be sorted out through daily posts. Time is still of the essence for part of the encounter, but it doesn't require round-by-round action statements.

I'm going to post a narrative to advance.

Let's not forget the "Aiding Another" benefit described on p59.  In a nutshell, the judge might allow the assistance to benefit the 'lead' character.  If you make a roll against DC 10, you might give the lead character a +2 for his skill roll.

A specific example is when JEB knelt to assist the Major, even if he doesn't have "Treat Injury".  If JEB makes his roll (DC 10), the Major has a better chance of stabilizing Ayasha.

Don't forget your own bonuses when making your "Aiding Another" check.  JEB would add any Wis bonuses.

Sorry if you all knew that.  I'll wager the judge will tell us how wrong I am -- as I'm apt to be quite wrong (much, if not most, of the time).

That would be true, Randy, if there was a medical kit here to use with Treat Injury. The Stablize Dying Character action requires a medical kit, as per p97 (which has arrived with Meri). To use Aid Another, the kit is required.

However, I do have a house rule and have been allowing it so far. A character gets ONE chance to Stablize Dying Character without a kit. But no aiding another here--it's a straight up one roll per character. Because Stabilize can be tried again, when a medical kit is available the normal rules will apply--characters may try repeatedly (well, until the wounded character is dead) and Aiding Another may be used.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #54):

Sorry for sporadic posts last few days.  Nature of my work prevents any internet access until i get home.   Will try and do better.

So, is Travis intentionally ignoring the question asked by Rojas?

Or does the player's previous post in this thread explain his lack of a response, even when posting recently?

Phew. That was a close one. Just look at Ayasha's grit.

By the way, Ayasha means "Little One" in Cheyenne. So here you go, I am officially revealed as the new PC. I hope some of you were fooled nicely.

I wouldn't use the word "fooled," because my intention wasn't to fool or mislead--simply to let the scenario play out, without stating anything OOC-wise.

I can say that I know of at LEAST one player who didn't make the connection, for a fact.

I know of another player who, based on public posts, didn't seem to make the connection.

For the record, Ayasha (the player) controlled all the Indians on the north side of the river. The Judge controlled the two Indians on the south side of the river.

While the Judge knew of the north-side Indians' plan, he didn't know exactly would happen or how the combat would transpire. There was no collusion or pre-determined outcome (which I suspect resulted in a few days of nerve-wracking moments for Ayasha). None of the Judge's actions on the north-side were pre-determined. None of the actions concerning Ayasha, the Major or those who helped save her were pre-determined. I simply reacted to the combat stimuli for each NPC as it was happening--including the initial lasso toss by the Major.

And all the rolls were on the up-and-up. No fudging whatsoever. It was fascinating to watch the combat play out, with the Major and Sesenovoto getting some seriously good rolls even when I had them do relatively difficult tasks. Or Meri spurring his horse 4 times successfully to increase speed. Not to mention the intriguing die rolls for how the wounding and stabilizing of Ayasha played out.

I'd be interested to hear the perspectives of Cole, Travis, JEB and Randy.

As frustrating as the actions (and amazing rolls) by Sesenovoto, I was in awe of the plan on the Southside of the river.  It was intriguing how Silas and his horse took massive damage.  Randy was never fired upon and Joe was likewise unscathed.  Neither of the marauding natives were injured.  Put that in contrast to the Northside battle where four (I think) natives were killed and one mortally wounded.  Rolls rule the battles, always, but they sure make for interesting outcomes when they all work or fail for one character.

Ayasha had me fooled; I'm the one confirmed by the judge.  Literally, a day after I learned the secret, she fell in battle.  She told me the sure giveaway was the lassoing by Major Gray.  I need to go back and read that event again.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Mon 01 Mar 2010.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg #58):

Actually, I will admit that Travis turned me on to Ayasha's identity, quite a long time ago. The topic came up inadvertently while we were discussing some aspects of the game.

Note, however, Cole's decision not to fire upon you when we had you dead to rights, had nothing to do with any of that. He was acting totally within character. For Cole, the confusing part was the Major's behavior during that time.

Ayasha, it is good to have you "officially" join us. Welcome!
This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Mon 01 Mar 2010.