Seems we need a new OOC thread...

*Basks in that new thread smell* :D

Ruins the new thread smell for everyone.

"President's Choice: Memories of Aarnr".  Lovely.  -_-

Strolls in  Oh, hey, there's a new thread!

eyes Arkan suspiciously

...What's that smell?

Waiting on a little information, then I'll post.

Me, too.  Specifically... What is that smell!?  Not posting 'til we find...

Waitaminute.

Oh, no.  You're not shutting me up that easily!

Since this is a swank inn I will hazard a guess they offer top tier scented bubble baths; we should all pitch in to get one for Aarnr (rubber ducky optional) ;)

I imagine the rubber duck would be required to entice him into the tub (and a little teeny axe to hunt it with in the bubble forest).

Aarnr would eat the ducky.

So how long are we staying in this town again?  Couple of nights?  Two weeks?  Because I'm seriously thinking about forking over the four gold a night.  ^_^  Two, if Erista decides to share a room.

Aarnr's got his bow now, don't forget.  Should be able to pick off a non-waddler like a rubber ducky quite easily without getting at all wet ...

Which are the gold ones again ?  And how are we going to get the oxen and cart upstairs ?  Well, I know how, just wondering if that will constitute 'provocation' ?

Oh now, surely even Eilieen will admit that has got to be provocation of the worst kind ! <grrrrrrins>

.....

I can't wait to see this.

*goes to read thread*

Well that's certainly going to influence the size of the tip !  ;>

I'm rather busy at the moment, so this will get me out of the way... :)

Apologies for the delay in posting, pesky RL interfered again. :<

Such things happen - happened to me all last week!  :D

Aye, something needs to be done about this pesky thing called life that draws us away from the stuff that really matters. ;)

Where is our promised future where robots would do all our work and we would just sit back and chillax? Were my childhood dreams all lies? :(

I'm waiting for my flying car.  I know they're out there, but I haven't had one delivered yet.  :(

Still waiting for flying cars too, and my holiday on the moon.  :(

Okay, maybe science wasn't able to deliver all that was promised, but why oh why don't we have Rollerball ?  Surely we could manage that ?!!  Motorbikes, helmets metal ball,  couple of big magnets ... not even cutting edge tech !

Apparently we have jetpacks:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...d-jetpack-wi/6260864

<or at least available for preorder>

*preorders one*

Pretty cool, but I will wait for the iJetpack which will be leaner and meaner.

Sorry everyone, but apparently I have to kill you all.  No offense intended ...

It was expected.

Seriously, though, coming after Eilieen when she's in the bath is a swift path to suicide.

1.  She takes her bathing seriously, and doesn't like interruptions;
2.  She has a metric ton of experience dealing with people breaking in on her baths (c.f. Eilieens Frustrating Time In The Zadasthan Temple).

Expect a lot of high-pitched shrieking.

...Eilieen might even yell something, herself.

As if Aarnr would attack someone in their bath !  He might get clean ...

... but good news !  Looks like you've got a temporary reprieve from being horribly murdered.  ;>

Perish the thought!

Now why does that sound like a veiled threat? ;)

It took me a while to come up with something sounded neither boring nor like innuendo.  I'm pleased with the result.

Oh, I thought he was making a crack about Zadasthans and their famous Dance of the Point-Zero-Seven Veils.

Eilieen always thought that meant 70 veils.

Say folks, if you could please chime in and tell me if you can see the following runic font I have typed below on your screens:

ᛇᛖᛚᛚᚩ

(If the font is not compatible with your software you should just get a bunch of question marks like this: '?????')

Normally when casting spells in games I make up some mumbo jumbo for my PC to chant while casting; but I was inspired by Erista's use of the Chinese font to cast spells so I was thinking about using this runic font I had lying about for when Arkan casts spells. :)

I see it.

.....

As runes, not ?????.

Thanks :)

Edit: Author Terry Pratchett has just passed away :(

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31858156

I was not really much into his Discworld series but I know a lot of people IRL and online who were. I did enjoy a 90's adventure game based on his novels though. He was also a stand up fellow it seems from his many interviews and appearances.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:07, Thu 12 Mar 2015.

In reply to Arkan (msg # 34):

I see the font, not question marks. I must have compatible eyes :)

What does it mean if I see runic question marks?

Actually, what I do see looks suspiciously like "smurf".  Which could be an amusing language to use for your spellcasting.  "SMURFY MISSILE!"  "Smurf Smurfy Wounds."  "Tasha's Smurfy Smurfy Laughter".  Hmmmm....


Sniff  Pratchett is hitting me as hard as Robin Williams did, which is to say, for all that I never met him, it feels like losing someone I knew, not just another celebrity. sigh

Heh, it does look like 'smurf' now that you mention it. ;)

The runes say 'Hello' in Runic Anglo-Saxon font ^_^

I see dead people runes.

But with a computer this old, that's normal.  Isn't it?

It's all squiggles and scratchings to me.  :>

I do feel badly about Terry Pratchett.  I enjoyed his earlier books.

Yeah, it's a sad loss.  The earlier books hooked me in and made me laugh, but I much prefer his later ones as the jokes gave way (if only a little bit) for a lot more depth and feeling.  My personal favourite is Night Watch.

Definitely!  Although I actually found some of his very last books to be a little bit too heavy with the `deeper meanings'.  My favorite is either Lords and Ladies or Witches Abroad, depending on my mood.  Interesting Times gets a strong honorable mention, though.  I didn't tend to like Rincewind's line as much as Vimes or the Witches, but that one was really good.

I enjoyed all of them.  I read The Colour of Magic when it first came out, and was hooked.  And I can honestly say that his work has influenced the way I approach gaming.

Especially fond of "Cut-Me-Own-Throat" Dibbler and Gaspode the Wonder Dog.  Oh, and DEATH, of course.  And Granny Weatherwax is awesome.

His final words on Twitter, though likely typed by his daughter right after he passed away were likely on his own instructions to her, are especially poignant. he meets DEATH basically.

I enjoyed a computer game based on his work, and made with his input, released in the nineties. You play as Rincewind the wizard if I recall correctly, along with his Luggage.

Interesting, that.  My own favourites would either be Lords and Ladies (which is pretty dark stuff, and a very...ancient take on the fae of which I heartily approve) or Reaper Man.

But there were a lot of them that I really, really loved.

I read those final words, Arkan.  Pretty moving.

...and being in several of your games, DM, I can see the influence at times.  :)

Apologies for my way-behindness.  It has been a difficult week (last week, that is).

Behind again, and I'm not sure I'll be able to post today.

Nothing wrong with Eilieen's behind.  ..Er, wait...

Ale.  Ale is less cumbersome.  And sausages in buns.

You just rent ale.

Depending on the vendor, the same could be said for a sausage in a bun.

Et tu, Erista?

Anyway, I'm sort of back.

It is.. faintly possible that I should have turned the computer off and gone to bed on Thursday.


waggles eyebrows  Especially if the vendor is Eil----

checks time

... hangs head in shame

I have no excuses.

Ozzie - we need to pick up a couple of excuses for Erista while we're shopping.  Better make that a round dozen - it's a long way to Rappan Athuk.  ;P

I should be appalled, but instead I find I'm not surprised.

The temple is everywhere.  I cannot escape.

Apologies for my own delay in posting folks, been a bit busy. :P

I'm getting in ahead and apologising for my forthcoming absence - will be offline for the next 4-5 days, so don't you go and kill the ogre without me !  :>

We sort of need you to do most of the heavy lifting, Aarnr...

Anyone else think Sir Galdean is a shapeshifted ogre magi, come to lure adventurers to their doom?  I'm calling it!

Damnit!

Time to switch to Plan 2.

Ahh, the duplicitous doppelganger, who has the real Sir Galdean locked in his own basement while he lures adventurers to their doom?  Good idea, boss!  That one's a good plan.  We'll never see it coming.

*admires*  VERY imaginative!

Actually that's even more cunning than the other 101 ways I'd figured this could go horribly wrong ...

Thought #1 - Ogre is actually a cat called Timmy<sup>1

1</sup> not to be confused with Tommy

Aarnr since you are now 'officially' owner of Bard's Gate do we get to shop there for free?

AGAIN?

Yes, after we loot the place and raze it to the ground.


Oh, it never gets old ... I expect that right at the bottom of the dungeon of Rappan Athuk the fearsome boss monster turns out to be a cat called Jimmy.  Probably a polymorphed Ancient Red Dragon, but nevertheless ...

Hmmm...  *takes notes*

I think you mean a polymorphed Decrepit Red Dragon, that has forgotten how to change back from being a cat and is on its last hit point!  I hope our DM wrote that down right.  I'm sure he did.  He's terribly clever like that.  Also handsome.

It's cute that you think we're going to survive to see the bottom of the dungeon of Rappan Athuk !  But maybe, in our own small way, we can make things really difficult for those fools brave souls who follow after us.  ;>

C'mon, I can't be the only one who's got his next character ready to go ?  H'mmm ... Red Dragon ... maybe I'd better work up a few more of 'em.  Dragons are notoriously hungry.  And grumpy.

Quick question to DM: We cannot take any standard/move actions in this round correct, only roll for initiative (and any free action skills like spot/listen)?

That would be correct, yes.  Galdean specifically asked that nobody interfere with the combat until he was splattered all over the field of battle had achieved his glorious objective.

And the proud new owner of Bard's Gate and a very big sword is watching like a ... well, I'm sure some of the denizens of the lower planes would envy the twisted visage and homicidal scowl that's Aarnr's good side ... to be sure that nobody interferes with Sir Galdean's most brave and reasonable request.

Thanks for the confirmation DM :)

And Sir Galdean's choice of meeting his end is indeed grand. But too timid for someone like Baron Aarnr, lord of Bard's Gate. Only an ancient dragon would be a worthy foe for our mighty warrior!

Best faced by himself of course, the better to get all the glory.

So...enough of that garbage.   -_-

I'm utterly astonished you let him get away with it ! <grrrins>

Barring bashing him over the head, I couldn't think of a (good) way to prevent him.  :(

Don't worry - I'm confident that Ozzie will tidy it up in the Ballad of Sir Galdean and make everyone look good.  :>

And we're very lucky that it's a Giant we're facing - not a lot rhymes with Ogre.  Hard to work in toga or yoga meaningfully in the context of getting our bones ground to paste ...

*tsk* Think of all this as a test from Eileen's deity, checking in to see if Eileen has been putting points in the 'heal' skill and memorizing her daily dose of cure light wounds.

Yoga...something Eilieen needs to take up.  Wait.  How does yoga and toga rhyme with Ogre?

Where are you from, Aarnr?  :D

As for the heal skill, I darned well put a FEAT into it, Zadastha is most pleased!  +12 at level 3, hah!

^_^
This message was last edited by the player at 12:19, Tue 26 May 2015.

That is impressive indeed, we will all be needing it :D (those that aren't smears on the ground anyway)

There was a young maid in a toga
Twas assailed by a mighty big Ogre
Said the priestess of Zadastha
"Tis a froggin' disaster !
I'm plannin' on takin' up yoga !"

*applauds*

Erista, Bilfro, thank ye both ... thy posts made me laugh out loud ! :>

You've done it for us often enough!

This is turning out to be a surprisingly nimble Giant, isn't it?  I bet it's a kobold in a Giant suit.  Kobolds love mines.  Mythologically speaking.

Can't talk ... Raging ...

Hmm... I wonder how big this giant is, compared to, for example, the side of a barn...

Sorry...I'm rather ill.  Stress-related.

Will attempt to post.

I think it might be a case of objects in mirror are in fact much bigger than you think, oh illustrious GM, sir.

Much sympathy, Eilieen.  :<

Thanks...it's somewhat unexpected, but I guess if I had been aware of the issue beforehand, I would have done something about it.  :)

So, our quick-thinking GM had to modify my post because I completely missed something.  :(

Apologies, Eilieen won't be acting this round.

Feel better soon, Eilieen!


Well, clearly, that depends a lot on the barn.  Are we talking a gable barn?  Or dutch?  And what angle?  I mean, if we couldn't hit the broad side of a cantilever barn, then, well, yeah, that would be pretty embarrassing.  But if, by the side of a barn, you mean, say, one of the panels on the raised section of a moniter barn?  Why, that's a pretty difficult target, actually!  Especially one that's all jumping around.

I am ignoring all evidence about Fergus for the moment.

Might be a good time to bring in your doggie Eileen. ;)

And yes, get better soon. If only cure light wounds was a spell in real life.

You think he's just pining for the fjords?

Well, he is arguably sort of Norwegian.  And does look a bit blue at the moment.

Could be!  Could very well be.

Is anybody else starting to understand why Aarnr is so angry?  :p

I always assumed it's because he knows his player already has his next character ready to take his place.

<ROFL> That's probably it !  I'd been labouring under the misapprehension that his currently little difficulty was what happens when you try to be nice to people (Aarnr's dead granny has a lot to answer for).

What I need ... is a second next character.  Just in case.

And I think those messing about throwing stones and firing arrows ought to front up out here with the rest of us and take their lumps !

Let's ignore the facts that a) missile weapons are proving a LOT more effective and b) the owners of said missile weapons are obviously far, FAR more sensible than the rest of us.  ;>

You'll need a second character if you hit Eilieen...or I will.

I just realized I require a roll of 17 (natural) to hit the giant.

*sighs*

So, not much use here.

If it were Anima, I could at least eat up one of his defenses.  And, potentially, get counterattacked into next week, but it's rather a risk one takes.  :)

Aw, don't give up, Eilieen!  I can - purely theoretically - hit him almost half the time, but my maximum damage is, er, negligible, to say the most.  But every die roll counts!

Besides, if this were Anima, I'd be a Wizard/Mentalist, and Nameless would have used her Chi powers on those orks, and... I think being able to tie up one of his defenses would be one of the smaller differences, really. grin

Goodness, if this were Anima I'd be the group Tao...  ^_^

Wizard Mentalist?  You're braver than me!  O_O

:)  But fine points, indeed!

Aarnr hits the Anima with his great-sword.  Oh right, sorry ... Aarnr misses the Anima.  <mumble mumble groan complain>


Oh, I don't think you need worry on that score for the moment, Aarnr's still hoping to get Eilieen to join his tribe.

<reads lastest update>

OOops !

...you see?  Hm?

I tried to get into Anima, I really wanted to, but the system was too crunchy. I could have preservered but I also found the character options a bit too limited; for instance there are many classes but not much really differentiates them. The Paladin and Dark Paladin might as well have been warrior/fighter reskins.

This was before Dominus Exxet was out, but even with that only a few classes appeared to me to be capable of chi powers, or magic. The rest just swung a weapon, and there were no feat equivalent to sweeten things up for them.

Ofcourse, given my limited experience I could be totally wrong about the above. :P

My own feelings on the matter (been running a tabletop game off and on for years, know people who are in online games here and elsewhere).

Disclaimer - others may feel perfectly differently than the below, and I totally understand.  Perspective is everything.

There's a lot of crunch, I agree.  It depends on what one likes in one's games.  I really don't feel there's MORE crunch than, for example, D&D 3.x, where there's easily as much when it comes to the vast array of combat rules and feats/abilities/classes.  Pathfinder, even moreso.  :)

I think it's a matter of how the crunch manifests in play.  In D&D, a lot of the crunch happens in the feats and in the combat rules, working out who does what when and how this gives an advantage.  In Pathfinder, with even more combat stats and abilities, moreso.  In Anima, the crunch is mostly in character creation - combat (for me) runs more streamlined than D&D (though still crunchy!).  Also, the style of combat is different.  It's very give and take, with different tactics and strategies necessary due to the different rules (multiple attackers is a truly Horrible Thing™, counterattacks make for an interesting issue, getting hit meaning one loses one's action for that round except in specific circumstances, etc).

It PLAYS very differently from D&D, but having a fair experience with both I don't feel there's any difference in crunch level.  :)

Character options, especially with the supplements, I've found to have endless variety.  Just enormous.

Paladins and Dark Paladins are rather different from warriors, as they have an incredibly easy time developing Social Skills - the easiest out of the entire game, in fact.  They're meant to be leaders.  Their fighting ability isn't on a par with a Warrior's - not quite - but they more easily wear heavier armor and provide a rallying point.  Essentially, they fill a different niche than a Warrior, just like an Acrobatic Warrior or Weaponmaster does.  Especially since they're customizable - they can easily be taken 'as is' with their supernatural abilities (Banish skill for Paladins and Control skill for Dark Paladins), or have their supernatural abilities dropped in favour for even MORE social skill benefits.  :)

I've found little difficulty in having classes with Ki powers (with Anima, I use the work Ki because that's the word they use in-game).  Warriors, Acrobatic Warriors, Shadows, Tao, Technicians (obviously), all of these can easily develop Ki abilities and even Dominions.  Paladins and Dark Paladins, less-so, but I know someone in an online game (here) who is playing with a low-level Paladin in their group...and that Paladin has already developed two Ki Dominions without sacrificing much from their other abilities.

And just getting Ki Abilities is dead-easy.

Weaponmasters aren't really intended to develop Ki abilities, so that's not so much a problem for them (they're perfectly functional without them), and they can still be easily built starting out with Ki stuff at level 1.  :)  Assassins and Thieves run about the same as Paladins for developing Ki abilities, but they're supposed to be skill monkeys, not front-line combat types.  :)

Dominus Exxet vastly improves this as well (as you note).  I view DE as the single-best and biggest 'game rules' supplement.  Ever.  For any game.  It is literally a game-changer - new combat rules, more complex (but easily workable) martial arts, more Ki abilities, more fleshed-out Ki-dominion creation system, all kinds of new character options, new supernatural skills for fighter-types, etc, etc.

Add on Arcana Exxet for more options for Mages, Summoners and (less-so, but they don't NEED it) Psychics, and there are huge amounts of possibilities.

Characters classes capable of magic...well, there's the Wizard (base mage), Illusionist (Part mage, part skill-monkey), the Warlock (mage-fighter), the Summoner (weak mage, powerful at calling beasts and aeons), Warrior Summoner (seeing a pattern?), Wizard-Mentalist (which is difficult to work, but Erista seems to have a method).  For psychics, there's the WM (above), the Mentalist, and the Warrior Mentalist (at low levels, the most powerful class in the game).

The other thing I've found about Anima is that the straight warriors don't suffer a nerfing at higher levels by comparison to the mages.  Sure, magic is powerful.  But it has massive limitations (slowly regenerating power, in-setting checks and balances to it), and in Anima, thanks to Ki abilities, Warriors can do things like 'Cut incoming spell in half' or 'BLOCK a 100m radius fireball from hurting them'.

As well as, at higher levels, toss out massively powerful quasi-magical attacks of their own (Ki Dominions).

In my tabletop game, the characters have reached a level where they're considered on a par with the lower name-level people of the setting (that's about 6th level...in D&D terms, it would be somewhere between 9th and 12th level for overall power, given the capacities of Anima characters).  The fighting types are certainly not proving to be 'weak' by comparison to the mystic/psychic ones.  Nor are they lacking funky abilities or cool stuff.  :)

Our GM here knows my fondness for Anima, I've blathered about it to him often enough.  ^_^

For some, it might not be to their taste.  Certainly the STYLE is different from D&D.  But everyone is different, after all, and all have different preferences!  :D
This message was last edited by the player at 12:49, Fri 12 June 2015.

Aarnr attacks the Dice Roller.  Misses.

Oh well, at least I've heard of Anima now ... ;>

I hold to vote a name change!  Aarnr Fumbletongue henceforth?  Those for, say aye!  Those against, oh come ooooon!

Thanks Eileen that's pretty informative. :) From what I recall Dominus Exxet only has a few sample powers but provides rules for making your own.

The dice roller finally rolled my way, but still seems to hate Aarnr though. :P

The core rules have a method for making Ki Dominions.  It's pretty darned good.  Dominus Exxet takes that, expands on it, and turns it into pure madness.  :)  Good madness.

They do include about 12 pages of sample Ki Dominion paths, just as samples.  They're enough that GM's don't have to always be making up Ki Techs for the antagonists/NPC's and still have them reasonably unique.  Really, players are going to want to make their own anyway; I've yet to see a player pick Dominion Techniques out of the book once they've gotten a look at the creation rules.  ^_^

Also included are pages upon pages of Ars Magni (the 'Great Arts' of combat - supernatural combat abilities that are not Ki Dominions but something different), Impossible Weapons, Legacies of Blood, new combat skills, new Ki Abilities (rather than Dominions), new kinds of abilities (Nemesis abilities, for example), new character advantages, expanded martial arts rules (including new ones), new rules for combat, etc....

All for fighty types, though some are useful for fighter/mage types and the like.  :)

Generally, people who play the game agree that the entire books of rules is relevant to the game in terms of improving it.  It's rather crazy.

*hyperventilates*

Sorry.  :)

Glad to hear we're getting SOME success...maybe we'll actually beat this monstrosity.  :D

Nah... Aarnr's just about to provide it with a new, squishier club.

Haha, like the Hulk and Loki scene in Avengers eh? ;)

edit: Eileen that's actually pretty helpful. I think I will take another look at Anima when I get time. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Tue 16 June 2015.

Aarnr smash !  Admittedly most likely to be you lot that gets smashed when he's used as a club ...

GM - you mustn't forget that Aarnr probably qualifies as a magic weapon.  Well he has the anarchic, disruption, mighty cleaving, shocking and vicious qualities ... and anybody unlucky enough to be struck with him can undoubtedly consider themselves cursed. :>

Glad to hear my frothing has been helpful.

.....

At least Aarnr isn't vorpal.

Actually, I believe he has the "vorpal stench" quality.

I think Aarnr has gotten so polite, that he has decided to give the giant a hug because it seemed so upset about losing its club.  Eilieen should be proud!


It helped me, too!  I only have the core book... will have to look into the Exxets now.

 ...as I read that, I'm not sure "helped" was the word I was looking for. grin

The Exxet books make the game, as do the changes to the core rules (that help characters...considerably).  Core Exxet - the new rulebook - isn't coming out in English for a while (if ever), but people have gotten ahold of some of the basic changes to character creation rules and use them in their games now.  Makes things a lot more interesting.

I would advise getting those changes (I can PM them to you), and purchasing in order....

1.  Dominus Exxet.  Game-maker.
2.  Gaia: Beyond the Dream.  The setting book is possibly the best setting book I've read in some 30+ years of game play over lord-knows-how-many-systems.
3.  Arcana Exxet.  Not as good as Dominus, still fantastic.
4.  Those Who Walked Among Us.  Creature book, with loads of good background stuff as well.
4.  GM Toolkit.  Some good stuff, and it's cheap.
5.  The Anima Tactics rulebook.  It's not necessary (for the miniatures game) but has loads of name-level character bios and background information for the world.
6.  Prometheum Exxet.  Least useful.  It's a good book, but Anima isn't all about the 'magical gear'.

...you will have to suffer through some stuff that is poorly translated.  It's a common gripe for Anima books.  *shrugs*



Well, it's not helping your WALLET....   ^_^

C'mon - killing a giant with a sword might get you a thank you, but taking it on bare handed - that's the stuff of legends !  :>

Admittedly getting yourself killed taking on a giant bare handed ... not so much.  Likely to lead to much head-shaking and mocking laughter, and perhaps a mention in the sagas as a cautionary tale, under the heading "don'ts".

Well... between Aarnr's stranglehold, Ozzy's stab to the brain, and Bilfro's point-blank crossbow quarrel, the giant's grâce is well and truly couped.  Unless it's Wolverine... seemed angry enough.

Bilfro shot first.  Don't retcon it.

Great, kid. Don’t get cocky.

I have a bad feeling about this.

RULE NUMBER TWO: Double tap.

These sword cuts - too accurate for sane people. Only Aarnr Foultongue is so precise.

Sorry - too brief for what Fergus deserves, but there's some drama right now.  :(  Edit: In life, I mean, not in the story.  So I'm a little harried.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:09, Sat 04 July 2015.

Apologies for the delay, got swamped in RL :(

On a cheerier note, now that Aarnr has crossed "wrestle with giant" off his bucket list, we can move on to ... oh, this will be fun ... "dragon-riding" !  :>

Can I hear a huzzah ?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:42, Sun 12 July 2015.

chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp

Sssh!  Quiet!

rolling eyes

Honestly, Crickets.  We're listening for huzzahs.

Actually that might have been "demon-riding".  It may be a mental list (I don't think anyone would disagree with that), but it's still pretty indecipherable ...

Just do both.

It's the only way to be sure.

Also, apologies Aarnr.  Been dealing with personal stuff every day this last week.

Every. Day.  :(

A tad tired.

Are you sure it wasn't dinosaur-riding?

Eilieen - no apoologies necessary, and much sympathy.  I was out of things for a couple of days myself, working on a building project (replacement chicken coop), but thankfully all is well on the personal front.

Dinosaur-riding ?  It's hard to be certain ... yes, as Eilieen says, best do 'em all to be sure.  Though preferably not simultaneously.  Aarnr's Balance score isn't that good, or indeed in any way measurable.

Indeed.  Seldom have I seen a more unbalanced individual.

Steady on ... Aarnr is more than unbalanced enough for two or three people at the least !

Yes, you are indeed a schizogenic balloon creature, mark my words.

(8___°)


Love reading your posts.  (^ , ^)

You'd think I'd know by now to read, reread, and reread AGAIN before posting something to Aarnr.

It doesn't help.  You need to have a certain kind of mind, and have managed to evade the authorities.

Valiant attempt at an explanation of this fearsome toothpick, though !  Aarnr nearly believed you.  ;>

You see - the future is closer than we think !  We have the hoverboard !  All right, it comes with a few disclaimers, but it's a start !  ;>

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/art...t-vehicle-hoverboard

Almost...

When our daughter was three, she asked for a hoverboard for Christmas.  And when we told her we couldn't do that, she put her hands on her hips and said, "You can.  You just won't."  And stomped off up the stairs.

She's eleven now, and we still can't. sigh

No, you just won't.

<LOL>

And we've had teleportation since 1997 (albeit problematic for anything larger than a particle):

http://phys.org/news/2013-08-t...ation-easierbut.html

Though it might not be ready for release to manufacturing yet:

The first step to teleporting a person is measuring and recording the position, direction of motion and energy of every particle in the body, which would require more data storage than will ever be available – much, much more.

In fact, a conservative estimate would mean you'd need about 1022 gigabytes (1 followed by 22 zeros) of hard drive space. That's a stack of hard drives about 20 light-years tall.

Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth other than the sun, is around four light-years away.

Worse, we have no method to even make these measurements, let alone reconstruct a person based on the data. So we can forget about teleporting people.

Though they've improved the odds of it actually working for that particle up to 40% now !  As Douglas Adams put it:

I teleported home last night
with Ron and Sid and Meg.
Ron stole Meggy's heart away
and I got Sidney's leg.

What a delightfully alliterative eulogy.

Drat.  I was hoping it would be described as a fabulously fun farewell.

(I say "Drat", of course, because the alliterating term is, um... well.  I don't want to hurt Aarnr's delicate sensibilities.)

Puzzled stare.  How would that hurt Aarnr's tentacles ?

gives Ozzy a knowing look

I'm sorry, Aarnr.  You're just too tall to understand.  It will make sense someday, when you're shorter.

... but what I really wanted to type was:

Refrains from finding further fault, adding only, "though Fergus fought fiercely against the foul foe he fell, for fortune did not favour him. Foremost, Fergus was a farmer, and a fervent follower of Freya, and therefore we, his friends, have fetched him here for full and fervent funerary rites that he might thus find favour and, finally, fulfillment in some fine field."

Aarnr is fond of obliteration.  ;>

*applauds*

Fond of excess as well!  :D  Nicely done!

sulk  That was... I mean, it was alright.  I could've done that.  I just.. cats on the keyboard, and... mumble

I did show it to my daughter, though.  As an example of something cool and funny that I totally could have done.  She asked if that was the same person who did the post all in alphabetical order, which I can't find and am not at all sure I could have done, but I think that was Bilfro.


...It is especially impressive that you did the whole thing without using "frogging."  Hehe...

Alas, it did involve a dictionary (which is woefully out of character), I totally messed up by not using froggin' or fobbin' etc, and it's still not a patch on Bilfro's earlier efforts.

I actually started typing it in the game thread before realising that Aarnr wouldn't say anything like that, so had to cut it.  But it was fun to piece together anyway. :>

Not sure why people are talking about getting breakfast.  The party set out with Sir Galdean early in the morning, and have returned to Bard's Gate the same day.

You still have an entire evening of drinking and lamenting before you have to worry about facing the horrors of greasy eggs and bacon with your hangovers.

I'm sure we can order breakfast if Ozzie pays them enough ! :>

Breakfast for dinner is fun!
Of course, so is 'drinking and lamenting' as long as we lament the lack of breakfast for dinner in the process.

At risk of sounding clichè...  haven't you heard of second breakfast?

Indeed. And Noonsies. ;)

Aarnr was drinking at breakfast too ... figure we might just have to call it "Foodtime" from now on to avoid confusion.

Pardon my absence, I haven't been around.  Hence the absence.  From not being around, that is.  The absence, I mean.

...

Yes.

Back now, though!  I think.

*hugs*

I'd post, but I can't really walk away from Erista at this point.  :(

Sorry!  Didn't mean to leave you like that -- just a kind of busy week, and I forgot it was my turn. grin

Sick now myself, so not to worry.  Will try to respond here.

Feel better soon!

If you want to, of course.

You are projecting again, my dear Aarnr.  I surmise this is why you are so irate, no doubt.

Yay, Aarnr!

<breaks down and cries>

Well done, Bilfro.  You won that bet, but I will take the prize next time.

Why the outrage?  Nobody actually checked if this tavern can even provide rooms... some places are just for locals to get drunk in.  :)

Look.  We want breakfast for dinner, accommodations at the tavern, and doubled experience points for each unique letter in our names.^*

Is that really so much to ask?


^{*- Sorry, Aarnr and Eilieen!}

Aren't those called 'Taverns'?  O_o



It...puts me ahead of Aarnr.

;_;

Is this a bad time to tell you that Aarnr's last name is Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzαβγδεζηθικλμξπρφψω?

So very typical.

:(

Someone should tell the Walking Dead crew (and other folks caught in a zombie apoc. ) to bury their dead upside down. It would solve a lot of problems. :)

You could make off like a bandit with this idea DM. :D

It's spelled "Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzαβγδεζηθικλμξπρφψω" but pronounced "Luxury Yacht" ...

... but don't worry, Eilieen - Aarnr can't spell his own first name, let alone his last !  Alphabetical order is one of life's little mysteries. :>

:(  Little mysteries that always seem to leave me in the hole.  :(

Short posts to get back in the swing of things!

Yep, Erista does subscribe to Rocket Raccoon's Theory of Ownership.  If somebody has something, and somebody else wants it more, it should belong to that second somebody.  They want it more.

I posted in the new thread before I could answer this so:

Mr. Aarnr, Arkan would prefer his corpse to be disposed of at the nearest temple with a high level priest who can cast resurrect on him. Failing that, to the nearest archmage who can bring him back as a lich. ;)

Seems a shame to come so close to immortality only to have your corpse disposed of, but I bet a lot of lich-creating archmages would at least appreciate the irony of it.  You can count on us, Mr. Arkan!

So, we make Arkan into a lich, THEN we burn him.

Got it!

*Arkan now seriously considering an early retirement plan* ;)

No, first we kill the archmage who's capable of making liches, then we burn him ...

... now I'm confused, Arkan wants us to put a dead archmage on his funeral pyre ?  Just the one ?

You're an adventurer, Arkan (pronounced in very much the same manner as 'yer a wizard, Harry') ... three guesses as to what constitutes early retirement.  Here's a clue - it involves a dead archmage.  ;>

There seems to be some confusion... Bilfro actually volunteered to speak about Fergus' death before Eilieen did.

Not paying attention will get you killed in Rappan Athuk faster than almost anything else, apart from following a plan proposed by Aarnr.

Oh, we knew Bilfro was keen, but we didn't realise we were quite ready to go to war with Bard's Gate just yet !  <grins>

Of course, all of Aarnr's plans (I use the word advisedly - it's cute that anyone might believe his actions are thought out beforehand) involve rolls for initiative. :>

Ah, Bilfro and Aarnr in the same party.  I predict something like ...

http://www.dorktower.com/files.../03/DorkTower430.gif

*nods sadly*

Butbutbutbutbut.....

That's a fishing boat from the future.  It has what is called an explosion engine.  I think the sound is to lure the fish in.  Possibly the mating call of fishis in the future...

But, to deviate from the subject at hand, we are in the same party already.  :S

In regards to war, it seems you are confused again, dear Aarnr.  That would must assuredly occur should you give the speech.  :d

Wait.. they want me to speak about his life now??  Like... right now?  Oh, dear.  scatters little index cards all over the floor  Um, I was.. almost ready, I just... mumble ..moment here..

Am sorry - weekends are always bad for me.  I'll try to get something eloquent written up soon!!

No problem, I'm sure you have lots of chores to do for your mother, little girl.

I look forward to wiping the tears of sadness from my eyes when I read you piece of poignant prose.

Edited my post to reflect Bilfro and Eileen both desiring to speak of Fergus's death.

Fergus was certainly a popular fellow both with the ladies and the elderly ;)

I's not bein' so sure as 'ow Eilieen'll be takin' ter bein' called "elderly".

I was thinking Aarnr's words would not so much cause a breakout of war as usher in a new Dark Age, as he undermines conventional wisdom and moral tropes.  :>

rolls eyes. Ugh. You have no idea. I totally told her I have to write a stirring eulogy for an imaginary farmer, and she, like, so doesn't get me, you know? I swear, her priorities sometimes.

Though he'd settle for just ushering in Erista's mother.  She sounds dangerous.

Thought I'd share something with you while we're waiting for Erista to finish the laundry...

I have this job at a doggy daycare place.

Part of my job is walking dogs, sometimes quite long walks, and other times much shorter (depending on the dogs).

This is a photo, taken at about 10.00 this morning.  Each time I have to take a long dog walk, I go past this place.  It is in a park which is located around a pond (only a small portion of which is shown) just around the corner from work.  I walk to the park, go right around the shore of the pond, then back to work.

Today it was a beautiful, clear morning (but cold, with a slight frost), and the pond was full of ducks and geese flocking together to get ready for migration.

This sort of thing is why I love my job.  :)

Bilfro was pretty explicit about there being tons of uncertainty about him speaking for Fergus' death.  :)

But if Bilfro wants to step forward and actually claim that, Eilieen will back off.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:01, Tue 13 Oct 2015.

.....

What?!

He very clearly said "eye".


Oh, that's a bad idea.  In my experience, laundry isn't a thing you `finish'. sigh

Anyway, on one hand, I kind of wanted more time to actually write a good eulogy for my favorite imaginary farmer, but on the other hand... it's not like Erista got three days to work on her speech, so I decided to just go with what came out.

That looks like a beautiful morning!

I got a whole whack of uncertainties in his post, culminating in "You never can tell with Bilfro."

So.

But it's fine, Bilfro can do the talking.

Just as well, because he already did.  :)  Or, rather, he did the singing.

Maybe you could both, since Bilfro did it wrong.

Albeit, awesomely. But I bet the Priestess would be glad to have someone who will actually just speak...

It is called a bridge.  He sang (thank you, Erista!) about his life and death.  Now perhaps Eileen can speak?  :)

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 198):

That is indeed a great site to see every morning. The air must be pretty crisp too. :)

I'll see what I can put up for that.  Wasn't expecting to do so, because Bilfro had claimed that spot.

Honestly, while I'd love to say something in the ceremony, it would be redundant at this point.  :(

I guess the group can stand around when it's over and everyone can say what they will.

Aarnr might be disappointed but the player enjoyed Bilbo's Lament.  :>

So, latest and final Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer will be out later on today. I admit I am just a little giddy, yet also apprehensive. Obviously the trailer will be good and designed to hit all the right notes...just hope the movie is too.

After the last three ... I must say I'm delighted that JJ Abrams was at the helm for the new one !

I know exactly what you mean - I was like that with LOTR:FOTR ... right up to when I was sitting in the movie theatre and they rolled the opening scene with the cart coming over the hill into Hobbiton, then ... YES ! :>

I won't talk about Lord of the Rings, though I admit to enjoying Fellowship.

But I'm looking forward to the new Star Wars.  ^_^  After me giving up on the series after suffering through The Phantom Menace, I'm actually interested in it again.  ^_^

For those who remember the old D6 Star Wars RPG, our GM runs a game here.  ^_^

...it occurs to me that some of the people here might also be in that game.  Anyone else?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Tue 20 Oct 2015.

I really enjoyed the LOTR movies, and yes I just knew they were in good hands when I saw Gandalf's cart roll up into Hobbiton. :) Can't say the same for the Hobbit trilogy though :P

Eileen I am not in that game; I would apply to join because I like Star Wars and our DM is quite excellent at running games, but I prefer wotc's Saga edition of the Star Wars game.

Pity.  :(

We have a solid group of characters and it's a great game thus far.  I like the old system - really captures the feel of the first three movies, where things weren't quite as Space Wuxia.

Back from a nasty bout of gastro in the family (we all took turns) ...

Yes, Hobbit movies were a bit disappointing, entertaining enough, but departed far too much from the books, probably to get enough material to pad it all out to a trilogy.

And yes again, Phantom Menace turned me off the franchise.  :<

Goodbye, Fergus.  :(

Massive food poisoning last night.  Probably nothing from me today.  Will spare details.

Ah, if only Cure Disease/Poison was a spell in real life.

Get well soon :)

Oh yes, much sympathy ... though I have to say, when the Cleric falls ill, it does look bad.  Kinda shakes people's faith ... ;>

Hmmm... *takes notes*

Ooh.  We just had a stomach flu rip through the house.  Thought it was food poisoning when only one of us had it, but then... ugh.  Hope you feel better very soon!!


You know what else shakes people's faith?  When those pesky halflings, of all people, suddenly find themselves with wealth beyond their wildest dreams!  Ooh, people hate that.

Hmmm... *takes notes*

Sorry to hear, Erista!  Obviously you're better now, so that's good.  :D

I'm back - sorry for the short post, I'm getting into the swing of things again!

Speaking of strategy, that's pretty brilliant Aarnr.  :D

You're telling me Fergus was strong in the Force ?  Explains a lot ...  ;>

I take it everyone has see The Force Awakens and we can talk openly about it?

Even if not, I will say I really liked the movie. It had flaws yes, but still it was much better than I expected. :)

I.. Haven't yet. hangs head in shame

But you guys can still talk if you want. I'll just plug my ears and shout LALALA (or Llama, if autocorrect has its way) until I get to.

Heh, that's ok Erista :)

I think we should avoid spoilers then, and just give a general opinion.

No, seriously, I have this thing I call "self control."  I know it's rare these days, but I kept some in a box and I dig it out now and then, when I need it.  You could use spoiler tags, if you want to make it easy - I'm pretty sure that's more or less what they're for - but really, I could just skip over messages that look like they have stuff I might not want to read yet.  And then, later, when I have seen it, I can come back and catch up.

Actually, I bet this isn't the only place this is happening.  Maybe we can ask Jase to make a "Star Wars" tag, that would work just like the Secret Groups, only it would be keyed to a box in people's User Preferences where they could mark if they've seen it yet or not.  Anyone who checked the box could see them, and to those who haven't, well, we'll just watch as RPoL slowly goes silent, filling up with more and more completely blank messages until, gradually, our eyes realize they have no more purpose and we suddenly go blind, spending the rest of our days wandering, lost, bumping into things, _{no longer even able to see the movie that...}^*

...Um, wait, that went a little off track.  I just meant, really, I'm fine.  I generally don't even mind spoilers.  I mean, if the movie had flaws, maybe I don't even want to see it now.  Hah.

...

...OK, still totally want to see it, but also still really don't mind if people talk about it.


^{*--Seriously, though, where's my <haunting whispery echo> tag?  I can't tell you how often I've needed that one.}

*phhhsssshhhhtttt hummmmmmmm bzzzztttttt* *crackle crackle* *eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooo* *pewpewpewpewBOOOOM!!!!*

Er... I mean... yes, I've seen it.  It was surprisingly enjoyable.  :)  It felt like real Star Wars.  _{Unlke those midichlorian infested prequels...}

I don't do cinemas, but I'm eagerly awaiting the DVD !  Due out 20 April !  Wonder if Lucas will have changed much of the original by then ? :>

... so yes, it might be a bit rude to make everyone else hold back that long to voice their opinions !!  Just be sure to speak in Bocce.  <grins>

Surely that's "lah-LAH ... lah-lah-lah-LAH-lah ... lah-lah-lah-LAH-lah ... lah-lah-lah-lah," Erista ?

But I'll be binge-watching Game of Thrones season 5 first - that's due out 16 March.  So probably just a long weekend's worth - maybe watch it over Easter if I can hold out that long (a whole week !)

Oh, hey, my daughter has been asking what makes Game of Thrones so interesting, and I can't explain it because I've only seen one episode and haven't read any of the books.

So, on the assumption that anybody here who also hasn't can sing whatever variant of las they might choose... What's so great about Game of Thrones?

Short version - the Red Wedding.  That's all you need to know.

Longer version - the night is dark and full of terrors and people die.  A lot.  It's a standing joke that your favourite character might not last the season episode.  First fantasy world that I can remember that seems to be aimed at adults, not kids.  But there is a lot of sex and violence ... definitely not suitable for younger viewers (such as BBR).

Got the disks and watched the first episode and frankly thought "OK, but no great shakes" ... and put the disks away ... but came back to them a couple of months later when there was nothing on TV, rewatched the first (helped that it was kinda familiar this time round, so we knew who was who) ... then the second.  By the fifth episode we were addicts.

Same here.  The Captioning hereabouts is terrible, so we'll be waiting for the Blu-ray.

Probably with extended scenes.  :D

As for spoilers, as I've said elsewhere (and our lovely GM knows) I don't mind them at all.  Doesn't ruin things for me to know what happens beforehand, so by all means, chat away!  :D

Not a huge fan of Game of Thrones.  Read through the first book and a half of the second before stopping, so I can say that I tried, at least.  If I want a grim world with (easily) potential character death, I'll stick with Steven Erikson.  :D

There's a vaguely Pratchett-esque tone to some posts in this game...

Also, was that 'Fiat Lux', Arkan?

Eileen, that was 'Dancing Lights' typed in Runic font. Although it does kind of look like Fiat Lux now that you mention it. :D

I wanted to use Tolkien's elven font initially but could not get it to work, both for this game and a Pathfinder game where I am playing an elven Magus.

Not to mention I think it would need to be installed on everyone's pcs for everyone to see it rather than garbled gibberish. :(

As for Pratchett-esque tone I believe Bilfro and Aarnr might be fans of Terry, though I could be mistaken ^_^

(Where is Bilfro btw, hope he is doing ok.)

Aha, dancing lights in runes.  Fiat Lux fit, and the first word sorta-kinda-maybe looks like that.

Cool.  :)

I like the tengwar, but that style has been somewhat beaten to death since Jackson's movies.  I'm personally more happy seeing the runic stuff.  :D

Yay!  A fight in which I might be useful!

That 'Extra Turning' feat means I'm the Energizer Bunny of undead fighting!
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

Depends how extra "extra" is...  >:D

I watched the first 4 seasons of GOT before I read the books - there's some divergence, but hey, PJ took liberties with LOTR, and I didn't have a problem with that either - some things that work in print don't on screen and vice versa. But certainly helped to be able to envisage the actor's face and manner of speaking when reading.  Peter Dinklage OWNS his role.

On the other hand, I could have forgiven the Hobbit movie trilogy anything ... except for the rabbits.  And the moose. <shakes head sadly>

That's Sir Terry to you, Arken !  Yes, I've been happily accused of liking Pratchett's works before.  :>

Extra Turning ?!!  Don't chase 'em away !  I'm trying very hard to catch 'em !  I hope we're all on the same page here ... <grrrrrins>

Tastes differ, and I've no problems with people enjoying Jackson's stuff.  I didn't (except Fellowship), myself, but it was hugely popular.

Same deal with ASOIAF.  I didn't enjoy it, but Martin is a good writer and obviously is doing something correct, as there are more than a few fans.  :D

To each their own.



I'm trying to BURN them.  :D  Hoping.



Sadly, it doesn't boost my turning damage or anything.  So WHEN we bump into the Ghasts or more powerful stuff.... *wiggles hand*

But nine turns a day is pretty decent.

<snigger>

That's what I'm talkin' about !   Forgive my doubts ... ;>

Ash vs Evil Dead got good reviews too.  I think Chainsaw would be Bowbe's favoured weapon if they existed ... just sayin'.  As his priest it would behoove Aarnr to use one, matter not his personal distaste for the noise and smell and blood ... sorry, where was I ?

Oooo, chainsaws as weapons....

...I'm sorry, I've too many years of practice behind me.  Funny as Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness could be, every time I see chainsaws being used as a weapon I cringe.

Though in a Fantasy World, I'm sure Aarnr could make it work!

Just reread your last post ... NINE turns a day !  Go Eilieen !!  :>

I can see us striding through the halls with Eilieen lighting up clumps of ghouls left right and centre while Aarnr is racing around trying desperately to chop at least one up before you dust them !  <grins>

Yes, I've been using a chainsaw for years around the block - definitely not my weapon of choice !

FOTR most definitely my favourite of the LOTR movies.  :>

But I'm still hoping someone, someday will make Julian May's Saga of the Exiles into a series of movies.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

Thank you!  But I gave up a feat for it, sooooo....



Maybe I'll get some respect! :D



Heavy, clumsy...

...KICKBACK.


O_o



It's certainly my favourite.  After that...well, I'm told I'm no longer allowed to watch any of the other movies with anyone else unless I physically gag myself.



I would pay to see it!  Love that series.  Then they could do the prequels, as well.

.....

Qualifier: I would pay to see it if it were done by anyone but Peter Jackson.

All of which would be even worse if Aarnr had a chainsaw... just sayin'.

Ew.

Poor Aarnr!

<frantically checks Erista's Dice Roller logs ... probably a hit ... breathes sigh of relief>

It's her first offence, so Aarnr will probably overlook it ... not like she's ever attacked him from behind with a Sleep spell in the darkness while he was fighting some nameless horror ... hang on a minute !

At least she's not Colwyn.  :)

Lightning.....

....

...

..

....reflexes.

I don't remember anyone ever proving that was me, so I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  Or what I'm talking about, and goodness knows, that's nothing new.


That's pretty much the first thing she says to herself every morning. grin


Also, go Eilieen!  It's always nice to give the GM a chance to use a word like "limns".  That was awesome!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Sun 10 Jan 2016.

Poor Colwyn!  :D



Heee!  :D

Thank you!  So glad that worked.

I mean, you're all dying of radiation poisoning now, but that's why we have Cure Disease spells!  ^_^

Well, at least he's not--- oh.  bows head solemnly  Nevermind.  Um.  I'm.. sure he'll.. be fine.


But halflings get +6 against radiation!  There was that whole Halflings and Hydrogen Bombs Handbook, I think it's on page 12.  Because, er, our bodies are so small, so we only absorb half as much.  Yeah.  That's the ticket.

Sounds plausible to me.

And Aarnr has never heard of 'radiation', so he must be immune to it too.  Even if anyone explains it to him, he's not going to believe them, so he'd get a Save vs Illusion anyway.

"If you get killed ... walk it off."
   - Captain America (Avengers - Age of Ultron"

Came down with flu & fever over the past 2 days, it was pretty bad but I should be well enough to post by tomorrow. Sorry if I've held anything up! :(

(Feel free to NPC Arkan if needed ofcourse)

Ow!  Get better, Arkan!

Sadly, I don't have cure disease readied...  :(

Evolution of a DM...

2002


2005


2009


2010


2016

Well you seem to be benefiting from the blessings of the Dwarves anyway.  In a "may your beard grow longer" sense.  :>

Pic 3 ... someone's familiar is in trouble !

I rather like 'ancient master Ron', pic 2.  :)

But my favourite is this year's!  ^_^

Ooh, all the way from Bigbadronmander to Bigbadronizard!

I like this year's, too - it reminds me of George Carlin, somehow.  But I think my favorite is '02, Agent Ron. '02 was a good year for Rons.  Hopefully '16 will be, too.

All the pics look great! Hope the cat is doing good tho :D

Sadly the cat has long since gone to the Great Cardboard Box in the Sky, after a short illness.  Her sister is still doing well though.

Poor kitty. :(

Good to hear about the sibling cat though :)

Well, my turn undead attempt isn't working out THIS round.

...maybe it'll tell me if they've been 'enhanced', at least.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit swearing ...

How about sniffing glue?  :D

Going to try Turn Undead again.  Maybe it was my HORRIBLE rolls rather than Turn Resistance that allowed them to laugh at me.

Fortunately, I have a lot of Turn Undeads left.

Maybe the enemy cleric is protecting them from your turn attempts Eileen or strengthening them somehow:



I think there are some feats enemy clerics  can take that could allow them to do so, or maybe it's a spell perhaps (like evil version of bless)

There are certainly spells to that effect.  Next round, assuming my Turn Attempt doesn't work, I'm going to mess that spell up.

...hopefully.

Nuke 'em again !  Nuke 'em again !!  ;>

I'd hoped to change his mind by hitting it with a rock^*, but there's all these ghouls in the way. sigh


...So, a series of quick questions for the GM...  Did Erista get as far as the columns before she had to avoid the press of oncoming ghouls?  And if so, are these, like, worn, loose-bricked, easily-climbable kinds of columns?  And if so, do they reach at least a few feet above the heads of the ghouls?

Or, to put it into one, simpler question: Could I make a Climbing roll and reasonably hope for a better view of whoever's shouting at the ghouls?

^{*-I am having a wonderful time, but I wouldn't rather be whistling in the dark.  I suspect that would give me a sizable penalty to my Hide check.}
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Fri 19 Feb 2016.

... OR you could climb up, wait till there's a whole crowd of ghouls beneath you and then hurl yourself into their midst, cutting a bloody swathe through the fiends with naught but your dagger and your bare teeth !   At least that's what Aarnr would do.

You remember Aarnr ?  The mad chap you had a nice funeral pyre for last week ... ;>

I like Aarnr's plan.  :)  It's simple and elegant, and there's absolutely nothing that could go wrong with it, beyond quick and brutal death, or a possible new career as a ghoul.  *thumbs up*

As to the "pillars"...

If you mean the pillars between the Antechamber and the East Hall - while they are climbable, scaling them will not give Erista a view of Supreme Evil Bad Dude™ who is hiding in the Inner Vault.

It's a Balrog !

Old guy with beard, old guy with beard ... Bilfro, you're up !  <grins>

Hmph.  Coward.  Skulking about, hiding...

 ...What?  Erista never claimed to be anything but. grin

Yes, Commander Breetai!  Main Particle Beam at 70%.

80%.



That's just smart.

Bit of a Berd* moment for Eilieen, there.  Now let's see if the dice support it.

* Amber: Shadow Wars, refereed by BigBadRon... :D

Aaaand...the dice HATE me.  Again.

This is getting ridiculous.

You're being too nice to them.  The trick is to make the dice cower before you ...  :>

sits down cross-legged and looks up at Eilieen with wide, bright eyes

Ooooh.  Fulgent.  That's a neat word!  Clearly, the dice don't know what they're talking about.  DM, I move that we count Eilieen's roll as straight natural 20's because she used "fulgent"!  I don't know about the rest of you, but I had to look that one up.  Somehow it's never come up before.  Not even in Paranoia, where you'd expect it.  "Basking in the fulgent glow of the reactor..."

I need to try Aarnr's trick, but I'm terrible at making anything but Undead cower.  Maybe Orcus' priest can animate them or something.

Glad to hear I've done well, Erista of the fulgent eyes!  :D  I like verbiage, if it doesn't get enormously excessive.  And I like your suggestion, to boot!

I'd try begging the GM, but he'd laugh in my face.

...the Paranoia metaphor works well with the nuclear one that has been floating around.  ^_^

I think I stole your dice luck for this round Eileen. :P

Considering what Arkan rolled and if it applies if he had Cleve and Great Cleve the fight would already be over. :D

At least SOMEONE is getting good luck!  :D

Is just me that worries that Eilieen's well-worded ultimatums are so much scarier than Aarnr's drool-speckled insults ?  <grins>

You can thank her time at the temple.  Years and years of suppressed fury...

Not...EXACTLY the reaction for which Eilieen was hoping.

:)

Everyone mob the Cleric!

Which one ?!!  ;>

...give me strength.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:15, Thu 03 Mar 2016.

It is an elemental creature from the plane of fire.  Cyrrollalee, Colwyn, try to keep up.

Hehe...

Sorry, I were still bein' flabbergasted by the idea of Eilieen rushin' over ter "succor" me.  Zadasthans... one track minds.

I bloody well edited out that footnote because I thought it might be too much!

Colwyn!

^_^

Apologies for my lack of posting and the current short post - been away, forgot to update before I left.  Just needed to catch up.  :)

You can't take him anywhere.

I have made an error - I go to fix said error.

Okay, so I HAD meant that to be Aarnr, after a massive mixup involving the names of Arkan and Aarnr (I know, they sound NOTHING alike).  And ended up writing 'Arkan' in my post, which probably made much less sense because of that.  :D

Now seeing that it's AARNR who is HURT, and ARKAN who is CRITICAL, and me only knowing about Aarnr's injuries, I hope it's okay I've downgraded to Cure Moderate Wounds, as I wouldn't have burned my cure serious wounds on 'hurt'.

Aarknr.  '_'

Tis but a flesh wound ...  ;>

No, I figured it was me, unless you suddenly were planning a mad dash across the battlefield.

Can't think of a more worthy recipient. <grrrins>

Wot ?  ;>

Apologies for being away so long - long weekend, we went away.  :)  Spur of the moment decision.

Anyway, short catch-up post! :D

That's what long weekends are for !  :>

Attacking Aarnr from behind !  That's ... probably sensible, given the priest packs a Breath Weapon, if not one covered in the standard rulebooks.

Tell you what, if you succeed in a touch attack and do 4HP or more damage (subdual would be nice, but ...) he'll pause to see what the fuss is about.  Though be warned, if you succeed in a grapple that means you've married him, according to tribal stricture.  <grins>
This message was last edited by the player at 13:39, Wed 30 Mar 2016.

...Aarnr!  You need to mention this BEFORE I try to grab you!

Yes, it was a close thing.  :D

Actually, I was hoping for a successful grapple, just for the entertaining conversation that would ensue.

I'll take potential disaster over that.  :)

You see !  Nobody ever takes Knowledge (obscure customs of distant barbarian tribes), but every once in a while it'd come in useful.

As for what happens next, I invite you to recall the Young Ones episode where Vivian is hitting the nuclear warhead with a hammer, asking "why doesn't it explode ?"  :>

Nice catch on the 'handwriting' error, Aarnr!  :D

I'd never thought of it before !

Now ... who wants Aarnr to explain about the traitor in their midst ?  And by explain, I of course mean yell at the Knights using very offensive language and accuse all of them of being degenerate and filthy worshippers of Orcus ?

Or should we just roll for initiative ?  :>

*places white stone*

*raises hand*

*Ballot checked 'Aarnr yells'*

You get the picture.  :D

My first thought after reading this update was, "Aww.  Poor ghouls."

...Which is something I don't think I have ever thought before.  You'd think it would have been when Eilieen was turning them into radioactive ash, but no - something about listless undead is just so sad.  Like a puppy waiting for someone to come home.

It is rather sad...

.....

...yes, still sad.  I mean, it's not their fault they were turned into soulless monstrosities.

It's Arkan's fault.  He's the one who killed the person who was telling them what to do.

Eilieen's fault too, for scaring them until they couldn't think of anything to do themselves.

Also Aarnr's, because it's always his fault.

Wait ... are you actually saying that Aarnr's responsible ?  Suppose there's a first time for everything ...

I totally KNEW you would jump to that!

It was a given, wasn't it.  :>

Fortunately for Feldon, I'm gonna be offline for a few weeks for reasons beyond my control (I blame my wife entirely), so please look after Aarnr till I get back !  :>

Have no fear.  I shall ensure that he dies a glorious (if ultimately pointless) death.  The sort of thing that the skalds of his people will sing of for days, and the rest of his tribe will chuckle... nay, snigger... about for centuries.

Somehow...I never received any notice of this new post.

Weird.  O_o

Sorry for my absence over the last couple of days.  The whole town where I live lost internet access a few days ago, along with telephone and mobile phone coverage, and the only ATM.

Only just came back.

Will catch up with everything again over the next few days.

It was nice getting a break from the threat of murder.  ^_^

I don't consider it murder.  We signed up for this game, after all.  I understood it was a group suicide pact.

A whole town without internet??  Oh, dear.

...Might be curious to know how many babies are born next March.

Here we observe Eilieen making the classic PC blunder: "I only have a few pieces of the puzzle, and cannot hope to see the big picture, but I will extrapolate like mad until I come up with something plausible that fits only those pieces of the puzzle."

Hopefully she will not follow it up with PC blunder #2: "I will then cling to my explanation as if it were my child, and force-fit any further evidence into that vision without regard for how nonsensical it actually is."

^_^

lol, I cannot count how many times I have done that (blunder #2) myself Eileen or seen it done in games! :D

As a GM, I've watched it happen...

...as a player, I've done it.

^_^

I'm baack !  And worry, not ... Aarnr is quite capable of leaping to quite absurd conclusions without any puzzle pieces at all !  :>

Oh, on reflection, I can see how that might cause some concern.  <grins>

Not Being At Home When Visitors Come Calling seems to be certain grounds for conviction as an undeath worshiping cultist.

Just sayin' ...  :>

Seems reasonable to me.  I've certainly come across more extreme leaps of logic.

Uh-oh.  Would this be a bad time to mention that Erista... isn't at home?

Of course she isn't.  She's out.  To lunch.

But what if somebody tries to visit her?  Will she even realize she's turned to Orcus?  I'm not quite sure how this process works... I mean, is it automatic as soon as someone knocks on her door and she doesn't answer, or do they actually have to go in and realize she hasn't been home for months?  Does the fruitcake and the note of apology she left out mitigate things at all?

I guess I'll just keep an eye on that "Deity" spot on her character sheet.  If it ever changes to "Orcus", I'll know.

Look, we're talking about the sort of visitors that come around your house armed and in company and are quite prepared to kick the door down.  I think at that point having switched allegiance to the Demon Lord of the Undead should be somewhat further down your priority list.

If you haven't been home for months, the decaying fruitcake alone will just be seen as the sort of vile provocation expected of followers of Orcus.

But yes, excellent idea to keep an eye on the Deity spot.  You should also see subtle changes in other sections of the character sheet ... the hue of your clothes change from bright and cheerful to graveyard black, your spell list gives off a certain negative vibe and your possessions include several artifacts that were banned under the Geneva Convention.

And finally ... is it just me or does anyone else think the current thread title should be "The thick plottings ?"  ;>