For when you-all need it.

first!!!11!

I'm trying to figure out a consistent voice for Viktoria when I post, but it's hard.

What exercises do you guys do with your characters to ensure they stay consistent in overall voice?

Are you asking in terms of question of sound or in terms of tense? As far as character voice, when I create a character, I try to hear the voice in my head. What do they sound like in various moods, occasions. If I can't hear the character saying it, then I will generally re-write the same phrase in a different way until I can.

I will say that I think you do a wonderful job as Vik. I try not to read into the other threads as I don't like to ruin a good surprise, but I have a clear voice of what Vik sounds like in my head. To me, you are doing it right so keep doing what you are doing.

Oh, well if it seems good on your end maybe I shouldn't worry. Getting too obsessed over details tends to ruin a character after all.

I don't know that I'm qualified to answer that question Vik, but I feel everyone here does a great job in playing their character.  I've been tabletop gaming since I was a tween and just really love creating characters.  I never really think about it myself, I just play the character.  I think "real" actors (not to offend any of you but I don't consider myself an actor) would call it method acting.

In reply to Zorah (msg # 6):

We should interact. Where's Zorah from?

The edge of the Gronzi Forest.  You may need to wait and see if I'm still alive by the time we all make it back to Oleg's.  I've braved a suspicious shrubbery recently and don't know the outcome yet.

I have your back or do you, like so many others, lack trust of me ;)

Sorry, I'm a product of my upbringing.  It's hard for the half-elf to trust the drow.  At least that was how I wanted to originally play it, then we got carried away with teasing Rook and I forgot about it.

It's because of my charming disposition, I'm sure.

I tend to grow on people.

Like mold.

I know we all like whispering super secret things, but it makes it hard to know when we should act or not? Like, this whole river crossing thing has been pretty awkward; it's hard to roleplay my character not knowing something when I don't know what she doesn't know.

I saw something in the woods.  I didn't want to spook it or alert it that we knew it was there, but at this point it/he/she knows we know or is gone.  I'll keep it to a whisper everyone can see next time instead of a pm.

No one whispered at me, I simply turned and left all of you. Sorry Pipre.

This room is awesome! It must be hiding something even more awesome!

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 15):

The more monsters, the more I think we must have stumbled on the optional super-hard sidequest that pays out awesome loot

... if you survive.

I think we will make it, I think running from a rat is not on Cyrus' top 10 things to do today list...

Vik, we should take the fight to them, but I didn't want to jump the gun so to speak.

My apologies for being scattered here and there recently. I've been a bit under the weather.

Aris'ta -  Hope things are feeling better soon.

Group 2 - Or you may just have met one the DM's favourite 1st ed dungeons from when expectations were different :)  It was originally intended for third level characters, but I have taken a couple of encounters out :)

So ... there's no treasure.

Let me out!!!   ;o)

Well, there might be.  Or there might not be  :)  Who can tell  :)

In reply to DM (msg # 22):

How big is this little squid? Is it something I could stab or would a more precise scrape be necessary to remove it?

About three inches in diameter  :) Now you look at it more carefully - the tentacles are wrapped quite securely around Andalon's leg :)

It is always fun for the DM when players start slashing at things attached to their colleagues  :)

Don't worry Andalon, I promise I won't swing too hard ;)

Wait, I feel like this would be a good job for Vik's special knife or Percy's new rapier, what if all three of us tried at the same time?!?! Just kidding Andalon, we don't want to have to carry you back to camp missing a leg, then again you did just say we all looked tasty...

That's alright. I've still got another one ...  ;o)

You have a whole group of replacement adventurers on the other side of the map.  No need to worry about losing a leg here or there.  Just look at how willing we were to throw our cleric at a bear.

In reply to DM (msg # 24):

Well as it stands, the creature is grappling Andalon, yes? Nothing about grappling makes it any harder to hit the creature (the random chance to hit your buddy is for ranged attacks)

The only issue is if the creature is illusory . . .

In reply to Viktoria d'Lodovka (msg # 28):

Should we attack the debris first?

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 29):

I attacked the squid . . . not sure if it was the right call, but Andalon's got to survive

Hey, I ran at that bear. Gonna have the scars to prove it. I'm so cool.

:| mhmm

You walked.


You walked towards the bear. The only one who did any running was me. _{For all it got me}.

In reply to Aris'ta (msg # 33):

...it was a super bad-ass walk. Because I punched it to death.

You walked towards it BEFORE you punched it. Why is it always the pretty ones who are so daft?

Is it just me or does tentacled squid just scream Alien Facehugger ?  Don't open the airlock !

Perhaps I am just more into fantasy than science fiction but my confused thoughts were more along the lines of a baby mind-flayer.  ;o)

Regardless of whether I hit something in the debris or not, I am fine with a full retreat. Cyrus will be the last one out and then will help clog the doorway again

Lifting buddies for the win!

Oh my god, I'm so not used to people describing damage reduction correctly I didn't consider the creature might have DR/magic!

Bravo Mr. GM!

Thank you :)

*grin*  I wanted to get you a reply on the 'squid' quickly.  More detail later.  For those of you interested -  it was originally a Symbiotic Jelly with a charmed Caterwaul.

It did need a bit of a rewrite (on the fly, as always) because things have changed quite a lot since this dungeon was published in  1983 :)

Very nice indeed!

I recall reading somewhere that it was a little after 10 in the morning when we either entered the tunnels or left the tunnels the first time. I would assume we have spent an hour to an hour and a half since then... Is that right DM?

I don't think anyone else is "returning" home, I think they fled. That said, it wouldn't be the worst idea to set up camp away from here and then return in the morning. We are going back in to fight whatever is in there, right?

I'll get on times later this evening :)  I think I mentioned the time last time you came out of the tunnels.

But discussions about fleeing and camping are best carried out IC rather than OC :)

In reply to DM (msg # 44):

Noted, I will make that point IC when I know what time it is later :)

I will talk about it IC, once I get home later today. Been a crazy work week. I apologize for the delay.

No problem -  we are all stuck with work requirements.  Me too, which is why you guys only got a quick response about the 'squid' earlier.

I went back through the thread for a quick check for times.  You rode 8 miles (or so) and came more or less straight to the 'Orcy Ring' without exploring the hex.   You went through 'The dungeon' fairly quickly, came out, had a quick sort through treasure and went back in for a second time.  The longest phase of the second exploration was taking down and rebuilding the wall - which we put at about 15 minutes taking it down.  Say the same putting it back up.

So it is probably only about lunchtime ....

we gotta fight these bandits if only because if we don't we will be coming back to oleg's totally empty handed. :p

Oh, I don't know.  You have established that there really are Fae in this woods (and you think you know where their nests are), and that strange accidents can happen  to nasty people.  You have discovered a shrine to Erastil that could be used as a base, and you have discovered that the bandits haven't given up their camp site easily.

All good information.

Or are you guessing that there might be loot in the bandit camp?
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:49, Wed 24 Aug 2016.

I have just updated the Player Information thread with some basic information concerning Rikka, Tib, Borric and Adoven.  They aren't going to go away, but we can use them to in lesser roles in the as the game develops. The comments list their hopes and expectations - in very broad brush strokes -  and is the type of stuff you would all know from general conversation with them.

As significant NPCs, they will have some influence and investment potential as the game develops - although significantly less that you guys.  As you develop your plans for the future you might want to engage them in possible alliances, etc.

I build various bits of the campaign around the information I have in that thread.  If any of you want your hopes, plans and expectations updated -  please let me know

Oh good, so just like the Keeper that held Londo Mollari in thrall in Babylon 5.  We've probably just started a second Shadow War ...  ;>

 EMPTY
 HANDED

The contents of a man's letters are far more valuable than the contents of his purse

Knowledge is valuable

Still against this. I don't need any loot at all. Just want my skin intact ;)

And no leeway at all was set for this expedition DM?

We shall have to be more careful in future, there's always the unforseen that crops up!

How worried will Henry get if we're a day late?

Can we rest now and delve into the cave this night, then ride overnight (assuming we don't die) to our next objective?

Ah.  You are, perhaps, getting the wrong end of the stick.  You guys set your own itinerary and didn't leave yourself any leeway.  Henry set you some boundaries and said explore inside those.  He didn't say you needed to explore everything inside them.

On a pure OOC  basis -  This DM is expecting to send you out for another week to cover the rest of your areas :)

In reply to DM (msg # 56):

No I got that, but did we leave said itinerary with anyone so they'd know to expect us back at a certain time? Because if we're just on our own clock and no one's waiting up at the end of day 7 for the returning explorers, that changes a lot about the schedule.

Nope.  You didn't leave an itinerary behind.  I do, however, need you try and keep some sort of synchronicity with the other group :)  Currently they are on evening Day 6 - you guys are at midday day 5.

Don't assume that you are going to waltz through every hex, the way you waltzed through the first few.  I would appreciate it if you don't, as a party, push the time envelope too hard.

In reply to DM (msg # 58):

Slowing us down on further hexes will not improve synchronicity, I'd point out. Seems like an argument to stay here where we have known unknowns... I kid

As DM you ultimately control the pace and this right here is an excellent way to do so. Since we're talking about this OOC and frankly, yeah we will move on in character. No problem bosd

You haven't yet explored this hex properly - although you have done a reasonable job of exploring the Ring ....

Which reminds me, I should put another  map up.  It might prove helpful.

new map for group 2 -  which might help put your progress in context.

Anyone for plate mail?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGl_UXc9HIE

Ooooh. Nice.

Even worse, they have less than they left with.

*bursts out laughing*

I forgot about that... hilarious.

Actcherly ... "report back here in one week’s time" would technically give us 8 days ?

Using the "same bat-time, same bat-channel" principles of chronology (or in holiday advertising terms, 8 days, 7 nights), if we we left on, say, Moonday, then we're not due back till the following Moonday ...

Moonday - DAY 1
Toilday - DAY 2
Wealday - DAY 3
Oathday - DAY 4
Fireday - DAY 5
Starday - DAY 6
Sunday  - DAY 7
Moonday - DAY 8

Would that make timings between the two groups easier or harder ?  :>

An interesting observation, batfans.  However, at the moment, I think it would probably make it more difficult - as the other group appear to be working on arriving home, in good time, on the seventh day.

And for them it is already the evening of day six ..

Someone was interested in Tree Houses.  Look what I found.

http://static1.paizo.com/image...Round2-DanaHuber.jpg

what's the password to get into the tree fort?

I don't know.  What is the password to get into the tree fort?


Mind you -  I think I would have Area 6 as a Kitchen rather than an Alchemy Lab.  But then, I prefer eating to smelling acrid fumes :)

So Andalon, Valoria can we come to a conclusion?

We staying or going? If Valoria is getting a full eight hours we might as well all rest, get some recovery

Because Vik wants to move out, but I the player frankly don't think either option is better or worse.

In game terms, unless I've overlooked something in Pathfinder, even if we rest now, Valoria won't be able to memorise her spells until tomorrow ?   Looking at that in character, of course, I can very well understand how a mage would feel depleted/exhausted and want nothing more than to rest.  And of course, Percy knows little of the arcane arts, so he wouldn't know that anyway.  <grins>

Correct

I think traveling with both our healer and mage depleted is as dangerous if not more dangerous than staying put.

In reply to DM (msg # 68):

I love that tree house! Beautiful! But I'm sorry, I would have to move my hammock. I want a nice safety net underneath it, not a 45ft drop to the ground!   ;o)

Not in any way meaning to have Vik or Lolli come across passive-aggressively, just working from where they would be thinking.

But anyways, concerning staying/going. Progress? Progress!

One good thing about moving on, you never know what will come next!

And don't worry Andalon, if something happens to us on the road, if's not entirely your fault. It's also Percy and Vik's.

Edit: re: Percy and the mirror. If we're going back in to run a ruse, is Percy (or others) able to snatch that mirror?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Sat 27 Aug 2016.

In reply to Viktoria d'Lodovka (msg # 76):

I didn't think they were passive aggressive. I think Cyrus' confidence that the others won't return is just as flawed as Andalon's that they will ;)

I always forget Lolli is with us. I am going to edit my post to include her after Valoria. Sorry Lolli...

I just stuck her where she can help, next to the spent casters

I knew I was waiting on Bai to post for a reason.

For the record. I was so not rude ;p
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Mon 29 Aug 2016.

Hey, you scolded the soccer mom, how'd you think she'd take it.

And then you probably made fun of her in your crazy people language, Bai is onto your tricks!

I could point out that you scolded the dance mom first ;) but I am having more fun this way anyways.

Funny thing is, all Aris did say is an explanation of her reasoning and nothing about Bai at all. ;)

Woo, Pipre isn't the one making trouble for once.

Oh hush, you.

*keeps his mouth shut and  doesn't think anything about 'put a bunch of women in  a room' and definitely doesn't let it slip out aloud by mistake*

:)

Definitely you hush ;)

With the horses and without any major distractions, would we be able to explore the rest of G and then ride to Oleg's at a faster pace out of the forest tomorrow?

Yes.  Barring any major distractions, you should be home by supper time  :)

Why won't my hugs work?!!!

Is group 2 moving out away from the bridge?

You do seem to have agreed that -  but you need to tell me which way you are going :)

Probably because too many 'bigginses' have had thoughts about putting one in a jar -  and actually had a jar with them :)

In reply to DM (msg # 90):

I thought the plan was to follow the river through the rest of this hex and then head back north on our way to Oleg's. Priority 1 now is finding a safe place to camp

But I will love them and squeeze them and call them George!

*grin*

Just a reminder -  the group 9 map has an overview of the area,  although it contains information  from  both groups.

In reply to DM (msg # 95):

Thanks DM, is the Bridge location marked on the Group 9 map?

Not yet -  but just below thew Orcy Ring ...

There was a much more threatening version of the post I just made. I missed pulling out one of the comments in it before I posted. Please refresh your browser if you aren't seeing the edited version.

Yay!  Both groups back on the same game day - and only a few hours apart  :)

A thought occurred, as I was writing my post. Vik's sixteen, what are the ages of the other people in her party?

Andalon is 22.  Clearly he must have started his clerical training a bit later than most!  ;o)

And Henry is 33 - nicely matured in the family business ....
This message was last updated by the player at 13:25, Sat 10 Sept 2016.

Bai's 29, though the way she's developed I wish I'd made her in her 40s...

In reply to Bai Kao (msg # 103):

You're an old soul, that's all. Wizardry or being an oracle or what have you is likely a profession that ages you beyond your years

Lolli's 25 which is young for a half-elf but still I take orders from a kid!

Zoarh is 17.  I know what you're thinking, she hides it so well you may not have been able to tell she's younger.

David is 47.  I wanted to go older but wasn't sure what would be realistic to the setting.  I figured 40s and 50s was unusual, but I guess that's a question for the DM.

Percy is 29 but looks older due to his worn clothes and somewhat disheveled appearance (it seems life on the road away from the luxuries of civilisation does not agree with the young gentleman).

Tib is 28
Rikka is 23.

---

Retconning a bit of back history -  both have worked for Henry previously as caravan guards - although only for one or two trips each.

47 is a good age to be.  While there are a lot less 47 year olds around than there are 17 year olds - there are enough that it isn't too unusual.  Mind you, I can see David picking up a nickname ..  Grandad  :P

I like the sound of Pappy David.

Cyrus is 27.

Pipre is also a teenager.

Makes a mental note not to leave Vik, Zorah and Pipre home alone.  Damned teenagers and their house-parties ....

Not to mention one of those teenagers drinks like a fish and makes bombs in here spare time....

Reminds me of me when I was young  :)   Some mates and I managed to get our hands on a explosives 'recipe book'.  As we were all studying chemistry at school ...  It WAS homework, officer.  Honest!

But the fox, hawk, horse, hedgehog, and faeries followed me home dad!  I had to keep them.

Babies. Im surrounded by babies.

ooh, Aunty Aris'ta then ....

Do not call me that ;p I look about 23ish

Valoria is 24 years old.

With the houserules I needed 1 HP healing Andalon

Rook is 24. I assumed he was older, but that's what his sheet says. He's surrounded by young women and it's driving him up the wall! Sorry for my silence.

Welcome back :)

I remember that book with the black cover. Still have mine! Thanks, I missed everyone.

I suddenly feel so old... I may have to rethink this ;)

rolling 2+19 is painful. I mourn for you, bai

I know it has died down -  BUT  NPC play at Oleg's is suspended as  I prep the threads for adventurer return.  :)

If we make it back :D

At the rate I'm ending up using my dagger over a shortsword, I should simply retrain my weapon focus. Daggers are pirate weapons as well . . .

Of course I'll surely get masterwork and eventually magical shortswords soon enough.

*grins at Aris*  Oh ye of little faith :)

Vik, low level characters often finish up scrabbling around for the gear they want :)  Over the next few levels it will all come good,
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:35, Sat 10 Sept 2016.

You know me well, my friend ;)

To be fair, my friend, my character sheet does state NO DEITY for a reason :D
This message was last edited by the player at 19:18, Sat 10 Sept 2016.

I rest easy knowing that any +1 bomb launchers we find will be mine.

"What's that? Bomb launchers don't exist? Heeeeck."

You don't need them  :)    Your bombs damage creatures with DR/magic anyway :)

Bomb launcher?  What do you think I've been training this hawk for all this time?

Bombs damage creatures with DR/magic? ... I suppose now would be a good time for Andalon to break out that secret stash of bombs that Pipre made for him before we set out? What's that, we didn't mention it to the DM? That doesn't matter does it? Look ... er, just a minute ... look, there they are right there on my character sheet!  ;o)

Alchemist Bombs deliver energy damage  so they pass the dr/magic barrier -  but not the Fire Resistance (297) that these particular monsters have.

I'm going to start just throwing rocks. That will be more effective than any of my rolls of late.

I have missed my attacks the last 19/21 times (not just this game). I counted. I'm lucky none of my characters are dead :P

You didn't memorize Magic Weapon today, did you Andalon?

Perhaps if we all pray really, really hard ...

So, anyone given any thought to their next character ?  ;>

Cyrus - correct! Abadar didn't send Andalon any prophetic dreams last night.

Andalon can't actually do enough damage to hurt these things at all. Probably not many of us can. So, how does grappling work again? Can Valoria coup-de-gras with Acid Splash or something while we hold one down?   ;o)

I think we have a fair chance at this still. Urquant and Vik are dealing damage. Valoria can do some and I can do a bit if I roll well on the damage die... I am inclined to have Percy go try to take the other one out and leave the one with me but I would like the flank bonus :)

I love enthusiastic optimism  :)

Anyone unable to do damage should focus on providing some other type of aid. Special attacks like trip, or dirty trick. Aid another checks, flanking.

But yeah, all isn't lost, Cyrus, myself and Urquant can keep the creatures chipped, hopefully.

focus on providing aid.. or running away! :3

In fairness that is a form of aid. Not to your teammates per se, but it is aid to someone...

Wow. I am still optimistic and Vik and Urquant made short work of the first gargoyle but I took two solid hits as repayment for my bravado...

With one gargoyle down I feel we have a good shot at winning this fight, which is amazing. Valoria  needs a wand of magic missiles. That would free up some of her spell slots for more interesting  spells.  Perhaps one day. :)

In reply to Valoria der lin Lebeda (msg # 146):

Yes. We need a wand of magic missile (or fireball) for you and a wand of cure light wounds for Andalon.

Speaking of fireball, if you have Netflix, I highly recommend Stranger Things! Very nice throwback show!

I do have Netflix and will give it a shot.

I have to say this is one of the best games(if not my favourite) I have been in for some time. My hat is off to the GM. Well done sir. :)

Just curious, what does map A represent?  Stongholds/cities I assume? :)

Thank you :)

Map A relates to this thread ...

link to a message in this game

... where we were considering some of the stronghold possibilities.   The map was just looking at ways people could work cooperatively.

As it is getting closer and we have a better idea of the shape of the land available and we all have a better idea of inter-character relationships - that thread starts to become relevant again.

I have been giving some thought to ways that people can co-operate within cities and towns and still retain  control of their own Holdings  -  he says looking at Val and Cyrus, although it particularly relevant within the capital city as well.

Nice roll Andalon! Thanks for the heal and the kind words!

You earned it. I'm just glad the diceroller agreed, for a change.  ;o)

I've had literally dozens of people tell me to watch this show.  It's on my list but I'm trying to finish up American Horror Story.

And yes, kudos to the GM.  I play in another game with him and he is great in both.  Although so are the players both here and there, it's nice when you find a good group of players.

cool ghost!

Sorry for not responding sooner, IC post will happen in about an hour... first day of school for my 4 year old...

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 154):

Enjoy!  The important stuff of RL comes before games  :)

My youngest (also 4) started school this year too, we started before today though.  It's always a happy and sad day.  Like the DM said, enjoy it.

Thanks!  Northeast schools start late every year... On the other hand last year he didn't finish until well into June.

I'm in Maryland.  We always start two weeks before Labor Day.  Last year we still didn't finish until the middle of June.

I had a teaching exchange to Maryland - many years ago!  Frederick Community College.

I know of Frederick, but I'm not from here originally.  I'm a Pennsylvanian originally.

My outlaws In-laws live in  Lancaster PA.

It is a small world sometimes.

It is.  When we first moved I met a couple at our church who I didn't know until then and found out they were from my hometown.  Weird.  I'm from the T, as they say, in PA.  But I've been to Lancaster a few times.

One of the thing I have noticed over the tears of paying at RPoL, if that players have a tendency to skim through a DM post and only really concentrate on one paragraph.  Then as the game moves on (a minute or two of game time spread out over a week or two of  RL time) people forget that there was more than one paragraph ....

Sadly, I am guilty of that as a DM too, sometimes. Then a player or two asks why their actions weren't allowed, etc. ...

Oh, I do that as well  :)  all the time ...

But think my comment as a hint - or a plea to bring it to my attention if I have missed an appropriate action  :)

In reply to DM (msg # 165):

Cyrus just looked at the smaller objects. Not sure if that was what you were hoping for though :)

I have bought this over here so I can give a fuller answer :)  Valoria asked ....

OOC: If Valoria reads all of  “The Taldan Expansion”, can she buy a rank in knowledge history on her next level upgrade. I ask because she does not have  knowledge history currently and it's “trained” only.

I would also like to buy a rank in Knowledge dungeoneering, since we recently did some  dungeoneering in a real dungeon(caves, tunnels, etc). I guess what I am asking is, can a character learn a trained skill by doing it(real "hands on" training, learning, reading, etc)?

When you advance a level you can take a point in just about any skill you want.  It is assumed that you have been reading or practicing quietly in the down time since you last levelled.

Personally, I love it when a character uses something from the game  (ie Taldan Expansion, been in a  cave complex) to add a bit of specific backstory to the skill acquisition  :)  So Yes to both questions :)

The only thing I would like you guys to do is foreshadow any languages you learn -  either by learning from the people you are with -  or by ordering books etc.  The main reason for this is that I want you to telegraph the language to the group.  If someone has been using a language for private conversations, it is only reasonable that they get a few hints that it is no longer private.  Secondly (and much less importantly, because I have sucked it up!) I dislike the way languages are treated.  But hey, it is what we have, so it is what we get :)

Thankfully most of my skills will be either already in character or extensions of training (might pick up Stealth and Sleight of Hand as I do simply to keep competent once I step off the Fighter path)

I think Valoria's skill purchases sound amazing and very flavourful!

Standing in disbelief is pretty much spot on as I didn't know how to respond. Sorry about not saying something to that affect so that I didn't slow things down.

NP, I watch The Cast page -  as DM I get detailed info about the last time someone logged into the game.  I was waiting to give Rook a chance to get in and say something.

*polishes fingernails in pride at making Pipre speechless*

I was the same, Pipre, but I really need to get this awful rolls out of the dice roller, so what the hey.

In reply to Viktoria d'Lodovka (msg # 168):

Thank you. I look forward to the day when Valoria has her own library and can learn much more. :)

"knowledge itself is power." - Francis Bacon
This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

We are getting there  :)  I am going to level you to again  shortly.  It is a bit early and you won't all be WBL range - BUT ...

We it means you can  cope with the stag lord quicker -  which lets us move towards the next stage of the game -  although L3 to L4 will take longer than you have come to expect - which will also sort out any WBL issues :)

A bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:04, Mon 19 Sept 2016.

I don't think I was speechless, I just wasn't sure how things were going to shake out. It almost felt like one of those moments where everyone stops what they are doing and the ghost does some dope break dancing or something.

Dope break dancing ghosts. My favorite rap group.

Hrmph!  Everyone is going to think you two have already seen my next post!

I see nothing! Nothing!

"Aris'taaaaaaah!"

*in my best German officer accent*

R-E-Tah

Sorry about the silence. But he's in the same spot as Pipre, really. He throwed away his pointy stick. Can't go rushing into a group of men, that would just be rash. And he doesn't do that. Just that bear. The one time.

You could be like me... I'm just tossing arrows at them. I'm in trouble if they start to throw them back.

Welcome back though, you were missed.

Yes.  :)  Welcome back.

Just curious, who here is dreaming of a future stronghold? That is if any of our characters live long enough to claim one.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:34, Wed 21 Sept 2016.

*Grin* It is getting close enough to the start of that phase of the game, that there might be a point in  starting horse trading.  So a bit of OOC perspective before you all get too carried away.

Just remember you have explored about half the map of included in the first book (of six)  The rest of this book is  based on exploring the rest of the map.  Book 1 covers L1 to L3 (as I said earlier, I have been advancing you a bit quicker so far, but that will  slow doe a bit when you get to L3).  Book 2, which covers L4 to L6 continues exploring the Narlmarches and Kamelands - so at the moment you have seen about 1/4 of the land that will be available to you.

So far you have come a cross a few plains hexes, hills and forest.  You know there is water (lakes and rivers) coming and there is also a bit of swampland (although Pipre might warn you about the inhabitant).

You have (so far) found the Orc-ring and Bridge, Eratil's Shrine and Quern's hideaway, a number of trails - and you know the Staglord has a stronghold south of the areas you have explored. So this area might not be completely un-populated.

Off the top of my head, I can think of four other places that could, potentially, be turned into the starting place for settlements - and I can think of a couple of places that would really suit a New Build settlement.  (and I haven't considered any extra bits I might need in Book 2 yet).

As I said previously there is scope for all sorts of strongholds Including -

• The traditional barony with a town at its heart surrounded by acres of rural farmlands.
• The (D&Desque) wilderness stronghold where rangers and druids maintain a small human population in harmony with nature.
• Rural strongholds, where there is little else but farmers, fishermen and other rural craftsmen.
• Urban 'powerhouse' strongholds.
• There is even scope for an underground dwarven style complex (Shame we don't have any Dwarves)
• Others, if you can think of anything I haven't mentioned.

You don't have to do one or the other.  I expect Henry to have a lot of Rural hexes -  but also to have some urban holdings as well.  Your holdings to be in one place, but could be developed in different areas over time.  Most early British Lords and Barons had spread out holding - deliberately so, to reduce their military ability.

Remember that Strongholds (or Merchant Empires) don't spring up completed over night.  Plan to start small and build your holdings slowly.  What starts out as walled village today - has the potential to develop into a large town over ten levels of play.

I intend for Henry to declare the hex of the Staglord's stronghold as the location 'Capital City' and make it a Free City - basically a single hex city-state run by a council (DC, Canberra style).  This will give PC who are not interested in setting up strongholds a place to build their city districts, businesses, churches and noble estates.

Mind you, all that is open to suggestion, if anyone has any better ideas. :)

My plans are to start a zoo.

No, my actual plans are to raise and sells various animals to others.  I'll probably start with horses being raised for various reasons, such as military, work, or messenger.  Then I can branch out into more fun ideas.  Can you say courier faerie dragon?

This all probably requires me to have ranch type areas for raising and training the animals.

I'm dreaming of a stronghold, or possibly a series of small holdfasts.

I'm told there's an island to the south that commands an approach from the waters . . . sounds like my kind of place, even if it's somewhat remote from you guys. Once I get some men in my garrison, I can move about a bit more.

I am, as of yet, undecided, but it is interesting to read others remarks and choices.

Zorah, that looks pretty much like a single hex stronghold set up with a Village at its center -  with the whole thing acting as your ranch.

Vik -  Look at the Main Map of the game.   There is a lake due south of Olegs.  Red + on the shore is where I an planning for the capital.  See the island on the lake below it ...   The two other +s mark (within a hex or so) Erastil's Shrine and The Orcy Ring.

Aris'ta -  No rush.  Plenty more exploring to do.

In reply to DM (msg # 188):

Whatever ends up being the smartest option

But where will I raise my whales for pulling water caravans?


I can see the papers now.  Ranger's family sues Zorah for "accidental" death in whale training.

In reply to Zorah (msg # 185):

If my plans come to fruition, I think there might be a suitable hex near the stronghold Valoria and I will build/inhabit and Cyrus would be very interested in aiding you in the endeavor to train horses at least... You know when we level up a bit more that is :)

Whales are too intelligent to be used as simple bests of burden. Best to use giant sea turtles for that!

Dolphins! one for each foot ....

I think working together will yield more than working solo( as there will be more people to invest in said Stronghold). I would imagine(hope) that the Stronghold Cyrus and Valoria will work on would look like a motte and bailey after a few months. Once that is set, it will grow, slowly. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:09, Wed 21 Sept 2016.

Why not turtles, dolphins, and whales?

Oh, and Bai I forgot to put it in my IC post, but I love apples.  In fact, I'm perpetually eating them.

If anyone is interested -  I have just tweaked and streamlined the Rural Development Rules.

http://johnbs-games.wikidot.com/rural-developments

Cyrus is busy making eyes at the Orcy-Ring :P If I were developing that particular edifice - I would probably look at a Shell Keep like structure rather than a Motte and Bailey.

If any of you are on Pinterest and thinking about castles ....

https://uk.pinterest.com/johnbailey8297/small-castles/


Hmm -  I need to go and weed out a few duplicates.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 06:52, Thu 22 Sept 2016.

In reply to DM (msg # 197):

It seems very strategically located! Far enough from Oleg's to maintain autonomy and allow for expansion. The hex has a river with a bridge in place and being on a hill with an internal tunnel system already in place. What's not to go all googly-eyed over about it :)

Tiny hallucinogenic squid?  ;o)

In reply to Andalon de Lebeda (msg # 199):

You had to go back and bring up the squid, didn't you...

Better that than weeds that sap your Dexterity, not to mention deal quite a bit of damage...

I warned you !  That squid's dynamite !  Run away !!  ;>

In reply to Percy Arndell (msg # 201):

It's a killer...Look at the bones! :)

That was pretty damn smooth, Cyrus. Valoria is lucky girl ;)

Excellent decision making guys -  I can legitimately get you back to Oleg's at about the same time :)

Sure, just ignore someone... well I never! /s

Oops ... I thought I had covered everyone ... where were you hiding?

Oh, I see! You had ridden on ahead to Oleg's trading post.  ;o)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Wed 28 Sept 2016.

Antlion's gonna get shanked with all that cheer he's spouting!

I'm surprised you two have yet to bump heads IC over the very different faiths you hold. The small town traditionalist and the big city, greedy money maker. Abadar and Erastil have very different ideas about how their followers are to do things.

Hmm.  I am not sure of Andalon's choice of heraldic device ...

http://johnbs-games.wikidot.com/antlion

Lol.

That certainly made me laugh - in character and out!  :o)

In reply to DM (msg # 209):

It's like a chimera, so body of an ant with the head of a lion.

Good lord...

I had a long running character at one point who rode a giant ant as a bonded mount.  It eventually died, but the character was a dwarven engineer.  He built a giant metal body and had the animal's soul transferred into the contraption.

Just some food for thought since we have many craftsmen at Oleg's.  Maybe some who could even build a giant metal ant-lion.  ;)

Guys -  work today has been horrendously busy.  I need to to an hour or two of overtime (for which I don't get paid :(  ) before I can finish tonight.  There are lots of great posts that need a response -  but bear with me ...

Antlions are a real classification of insect, just saying. :p
I know, I know, I'm a spoilsport.

Boo science!

Is it just me or is everyone waiting for Percy's recap of Group 2's travels??? No pressure Percy, you just do such a great job :)

Can't talk.  Resting.

Andalon had his own ideas  on his Blazon ..

http://johnbs-games.wikidot.com/antlion

personally, I prefer my version.

And there will be a dedicated Heraldry Page  when I complete and release the wiki elements for this campaign :)

In reply to DM (msg # 220):

I'm interested in seeing what the heraldry page will hold!

Within reason, RPoL guidelines common decency and our ability to create it -  Your section will hold whatever you choose  :)

For anyone who's got an old collection of Dragon magazines gathering dust, there was a very useful article on heraldic devices in issue #275.  :>

Alas, I do not. I shall have to suffer and defer to other, more wise players *grins*

#275?  That might be a bit modern for my collection :(   However ...

This page is a mini-guide to the Heraldry of my old Galinia game - - from way back before google made it easy to look things up and Pinterest made it easy to collect images togeter.   It isn't very sophisticated or detailed -  Following the first five stages of process linked at the bottom of the page, would get you a blazon that complies fairly closely with the standard rules of Heradry.  The last three stages are a bit OTT for this game at this stage  :)

http://baileymail.net/j-bailey...raldryBackground.htm

This, on the other hand, is a much more modern collection of nice things that I thought might work well as charges on shields ...

https://uk.pinterest.com/johnbailey8297/zz-heraldry/

NOTE:  I have plans for the crossed sword and sickle - and have used the native American Cactus Flower symbol (with a different meaning) appears on Henry's coat of arms.

This is the start of the page that will eventually hold details of all the important people - ie you lot :P

http://johnbs-games.wikidot.com/mark-moot

Click on the min shield and you will get a large version.  Clink on the character name and it will take you to RPoL ...


There will other pages for less important people in the Mark, and 'foreigners' who are important - as well as pages for Cities, strongholds etc ...

Nice.

It seems that Zorah's joke about Andalon's name certainly started something much bigger.  ;o)

When you rolled with it, who am I to gain say  :P

Hopefully I'm playing Zorah well.  It was hard for me to imagine a semi-clueless hippy that still had the higher wisdom of a druid.  I went with occasional goofiness.  I'm finding her coming off as a certain npc from another game I'm in.  My original intent was "what would a disney princess that constantly has animals surrounding her be like in Pathfinder?"

To paraphrase what I said to one of the other characters a little while ago.

I don't have any problem with any of the characters and the way they are played.  I was a bit worried to start with that some of the tensions were going to overflow - but you guys got that all a=under control - and now tension ebbs and flows nicely :)

All of the characters are different -  and by that I mean you all have different personalities that come across in the posts.  You all (pretty much) have different skill sets and you all have some unique (in this game) skills and personality points.  You also have other skills and personality points that over lap.  And that is cool -  because it allows you to build a party of characters all with their own motivations - but a party that can work together -  even when I throw you things you aren't expecting - like Invisible Squids and Ghostly Forests :)

Character's grow.  You all started this game with character outlines that told you what an inexperienced teenagers (OK there are some exceptions) was like (and at L1 they are very inexperienced)  Now they have the best part of two levels of experience of ther world and it's unpleasantness.  It never surprises me, in fact I enjoy it,  when characters grow and develop with the new experiences they get.

Zorah - You are doing a great job.

The rest of you -  So are all of you.

I am enjoying this game and your interactions immensely.  :)

Oh god there's a fight, is it possible for Vik to get to the rest?

I have assumed that everyone is at gathering but leaving a space in front of Henry for him to conduct his 'court'.

Sorry folks - an awfully busy day at work today has left me drained. Tomorrow looks just as bad. It doesn't look like I am going to get a decent post in until Wednesday or Thursday.  Sorry.

The seasonality of work is a doozy...

I have a couple of questions about the current Group 1 conversation OOC -
1. Was Rook healed fully but still had the physical symptoms of a wound? Or was he still down a specific number of HP?
2. Either way are we venturing into meta game issues? While I agree that it is risky to not be at full strength, I considered doing the exact same thing that Rook did in terms of letting wounds heal naturally vs magically, and my wounds were not a part of a divine hunt...

Perhaps we should try and table this (after Rook responds) now that we are all back and healthy?

If I may throw in my two coppers, I personally see no meta game issues. I would think that Andalon is capable of spotting a wound(either current or recently healed, but still sore). Second, once Rook began talking about it, it's fair game. Third, a character who does not take care of themselves is a liability to his teammates(ten times so if it is the priest, who is the only one who can heal). Which is a legitimate IC concern.. This alone would be a problem for some characters, but increased by Rook's undiplomatic reponses. To boot, he was rude to Valoria's cousin...
Lol.

That said I think everyone is roleplaying well, that goes double for Rook.:) I like how hardcore he is.:)

Ok, I could be trying too hard to avoid internal conflicts... I prefer to save my aggression for the enemies!!!

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 236):

Agreed, it should be saved for our enemies. Perhaps we should try to table it, once/if Rook has a chance to give a response. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Mon 03 Oct 2016.

Yeah, I mean, out of the five of us I think 4 of us have access to healing. I wasn't going to argue about Rook wanting to keep himself unhealed for no particular reason.

I'm not sure what Aris'ta is but if she's a bard, that's 5/5.

Sorry, saw an opportunity for a joke from Vik

Not trying to make any disagreement lengthen

No conflict here, just good old-fashioned character building! Rook is still at about 75% of his full hit points. He's been riding wounded since the shrine, which was about midway through the week. He healed himself of a little and then slept for two nights, that put him where he is currently.

I want to give Bai plenty of chance to respond before going any further. I don't mind drawing it out a bit, if you know what I mean.

Ari is a ranger, fyi

Oh I wasn't going to have Bai respond. Most of what she'd say would mostly just parrot Val's feelings on the matter.

I thought the same thing when it was mentioned, but wasn't going to point it out.  Might as well mention it now that Pipre has ousted us as healers.

I was thinking about that when I wrote the post, but I couldn't remember Zorah or Pipre ever using healing, so I figured if Bai had never seen it, she wouldn't know it.

Hilarious that we have one healer and he charges us and you have 4 and you don't use them :)

Sorry Ant-Lion, I couldn't help pointing out the irony there...

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 246):

". . . he . . . charges us?"

Vik slowly blinks, walks to the window and stares at the sunset

Hahaha! a very reasonable day rate...

All seriousness, Andalon remind me to have Vik take the Antlion aside. She has something to talk to him about after the money is divided up

That's a good point.  Zorah doesn't take healing spells as her usual spells for the day so you wouldn't have ever seen her heal.

We're a weird group.

In reply to Cyrus Ondari (msg # 246):

Indeed. The rate is not bad, it's kind of funny in a way. The things we do for family. :)

Valoria looks at her almost empty coin bag....
This message was last edited by the player at 06:20, Tue 04 Oct 2016.

Pipre has clearly healed herself and given out potions of healing.

LOL. Next thing you know Valoria will be asking her cousin to borrow money off him so she can pay him to heal the party.

Actually, that could work out just fine, once the interest rate is factored in.  ROFL!

-------------

Rook may find this is the only time he will be able to keep his scars after battle, so I say go for it while he can.

In future it is more than likely others would also be wounded in any encounter and he will probably need to channel positive energy to heal everyone, which would cure his own wounds as well.

I am very, very glad that I didn't go with my first impulse to simply wade in as soon as we met the other group and channel positive energy a couple of times to give you all a boost to get you back to Oleg's in good spirits. If not for the question of someone paying for that non-essential healing, that is exactly what I would have done!

Ah. S'fun, s'fun. Sorry Valoria ;)

Does this mean that Aris'ta will not loan Valoria money? :)



Valoria speaks it loud enough for Aris'ta to at least hear the first part.

I was already stepping away in the first post, so imagine your voice will have to be pretty loud and carry to all ears. ;) And No. Aris will certainly not lend you any money.

I guess we agree to disagree on that point. How quick can someone speak, faster then you think(free action). Unless you are running away, you probably heard the first sentence at the least. Unless, of course, Aris'ta was trying not to listen.

Anyways, I guess it's a mute point. Get it, mute point? :P

Oh, I get it.

And yes. 100 years is a long time to learn to tune something out. But as stated, I was moving away previously. I walked across my living room reading your post. That's a fair distance. And I was already moving away before your first reply. But as you say, we can agree to disagree on this one. She's ignoring it regardless.

It will make reconciling all the more fun ;)

Indeed! I can see the roleplaying in that. I kind of want Henry to mix up the teams now, so we could have even more fun...Double date, Aris'ta and Rook with Valoria and Cyrus...Maybe. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Wed 05 Oct 2016.

I did warn you that teams might get mixed up.

did you say we were leveling up or has that not happened yet?

Not yet.  Henry has a pair of  small jobs to send you out on before you level :)  But it will be soon.

Ha! The cleric is not interested. But cute idea.

Sorry guys.  Things may not have worked out quite as you thought they would.  I really needed to post earlier -  but I wasn't able to.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Wed 05 Oct 2016.

In reply to DM (msg # 264):

Time for a monk multiclass!

Did Aris'ta make it out of the area before Henry's orders were issued?

That is a very good question.

Monk multiclass!? Oh oh, that sounds like an interesting character build!

Sorry Percy, didn't mean to step on your toes but since I may have inadvertently knocked her down, I thought it made sense to offer to help her up. Now whether she takes the assistance is entirely up to her.

Not at all. :>   Manners dictate that a hand be offered to the fallen, and Cyrus stepped in, so all is well and Percy is relieved of the obligation.  And any fallout. <grrrins>

This time you can choose which group you go with.  Well all except Bai and Cyrus who have been press ganged.  *Evil Grin*  serves 'em right!

It doesn't have to be a 50-50 split - go where ever you want - except please don't leave Cyrus all alone  :)  However, I can run Bai's quest as a solo adventure supported by a couple of NPC's if you all want to go fighting. 


Your purchases from Restov are not here yet -  although they are expected in a few days time  (but after you leave on this current task)

Okay so I think we should pool our treasures and decide on how it all gets divided, but should we decide that ahead of time or argue it out in character?

Let's see if we can do the treasure split 'in character' first. If we want to debate some aspects 'out of character' we can come back here to do that later when we see what issues are raised.

Which thread shall we do that in? Location: Oleg's Trade Post?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Sat 08 Oct 2016.

I  moved all of the significant NPCs out of Location: Oleg's Trade Post, just so that you can have it to barter in :)

I have also left to  you guys to declare your treasure and some pieces have been allocated already - although I can go back and pull out lists if you really want me to.

Okay I made the first move then.

Now as my group will no doubt know I and Andalon have different views on treasure division, though most of the group see it Andalon's way (and the difference is really minor and his way works)

Should Vik and Andalon voice the potential treasure division options IC bluntly or is there another track to take with this method?

Personally, I would go with a reasonable level of honesty and bluntness and use the OOC for finer details.

Alas, Percy is an honest gentleman poet.  :>

As any poet should be.

Thanks Andalon, I'll edit my post to point to your master list.

That's a rough list, I'm sure the count is off on the bear traps. Let me know if I missed anything.

The Gentleman and the Goth Poets. Sounds like a really awesome public access show.

Now that's more like it! Mwk shortswords are exactly what I need!

My thanks for mentioning Aris'ta possibly wanting the bow, Cyrus, as I am not about to profess my desire ;)

So then, an OOC question -  Does Aris'ta want the bow?

I might. MW bow? Seems right up my alley.

*grin*  while it may well be out of character for Aris'ta to make a claim IC a thought for all of you ..

To be fair to the other players (as opposed to their characters :P ) if it doesn't feel right to make a claim IC,  you should make an OOC request (here!) if you want  you character to have any specific item of loot.

The guys are doing a great job of debating treasure split systems IC (and I really think you guys are doing brilliantly - kudos)  and we need to keep things as easy as we can for them when it comes to the actual split decision.

I don't know whether we are actually getting any closer to a decision how to divide the treasure yet, but given the posting rates and different time zones of different players this is bound to take a few more days at least.

As I see it we currently have 4 options on the table:

1. Vik and Cyrus's option: give the good stuff to whoever is the best person to use it (in terms of the greater good of the whole party), sell the rest and divide equally.

2. Percy's option: value everything based on what a merchant would pay for it and divide equally; anyone can buy those items instead of actually selling them (on credit if they don't have enough cash).

3. Andalon's second option: party owns all the good stuff and lends it to whoever is the best person to use it, sell the rest and divide equally.

4. Andalon's first option: value everything based on what a merchant would pay for it and divide equally to determine shares; let people claim an item even if it is more than their share (they don't have to pay back the difference later); sell the rest and pay everyone else as much of their share as possible.

If it helps you might think of them as:
1. The 'greater good' option.
2. The 'capitalist' option.
3. The 'communist' option.
4. The 'compromise' option.

As the player, I like option 3. Andalon likes option 4. Abadar would like option 2! ;o)

I will try and reply IC later when I am more awake but I did say I would speak once and then hold my peace. Options 1 and 2 are the only way Cyrus is going to be comfortable. I actually think option 2 is what I truly meant. It would be unfair in the system proposed by Cyrus for someone to claim a +1 sword and then sell it for additional profit after claiming a +2 sword.

All I want is a solution

It looks like (until we hear from them again with this) we got Percy and Cyrus on two, Valoria and Vik on one, Piper on four and Abdalon simultaneously trying to double dip two ideas but either three or four

Rook, Arista, Bai and Zorah may sway the vote any given way though really I just care about a world where I get some coin and those short swords

OOC, then ... Percy would like the MW rapier we 'found' = 320/2 = 160GP at sale cost.  He'd be extremely happy to take the +1 Leather = 505GP, but I think even with option 2 that would break the bank - what I the player really want for him is a mithril chain shirt (best bang for your GP).

Option 2 is great in theory until everybody else gets 5GP and a few people get the good stuff ... so I think it's going to be better to sell the +1 leather.  At our wealth level magic items are very expensive relatively speaking and they skew the distribution horribly.

Which means Percy would also want normal leather armour to replace that which he left behind (there was a set listed on Rook's list if nobody else is after it) for 5GP (much more affordable).

Percy is actually happy with any option, but will actually vote for whatever makes most people happy, though will be biased in favour of "his group"'s preference, of course.  ;>

Bringing it back to OOC:

Option 5: Everyone gets their share of the treasure ... and if they don't have enough to purchase a specific item outright, then they must hope that one of their companions will loan them what they need, with or without interest - whatever terms they agree upon.

Now, all we need to do is determine a method of voting.  1) Each vote for one method and most votes wins, 2) Rank options as 5 favourite to 1 most disliked, and method with most votes wins, 3) random dice roll to determine ... <grins, ducks, runs>

Could we not vote on how to vote? Especially before four people haven't even spoken?

That's one in favour of not voting how to vote just yet.  Do I hear a second ?  ;>

Option 1 (greater good option) has the greatest risk of creating big winners and losers, so that's the option I like least.

Option 4 (compromise option) still has some (reduced) potential for winners and losers.

Option 3 (communist option) is fair to everyone but gets a bit complicated when someone wants to leave the community and needs to be paid out their proper share.

Option 2 (capitalist option) is fair to everyone, eventually.

I would be happy enough with any of options 2, 3 or 4. So you can upgrade me from double dip to triple dip!

The idea of introducing a communist system of no individual ownership into a feudal society does tickle my fancy, though. That's got Monty Python written all over it! ;o)

Percy's option 5 is fine too. So now I'm a quadruple dipper!

Simplest method would be for everyone to (initially) vote once

As many qualifiers as you like can be thrown in there, but we really need to get a baseline idea. The first vote doesn't need to be binding, I just think we need to get an idea of what the players' thoughts are.

Say for instance six people mostly prefer the second option, with three liking the fourth, and one outlier. Well that might mean the second option is best, sure, but life isn't that black and white usually. There's always room for a solution everyone hates the least.

If it's super close, we cab break it down into spreadsheets and tiered options sure, but first-most can we put a stop to introducing new options and just figure out where we stand on the current ones? Please?

Edit: To defend option 1- I'm not saying it's the only option, just one that bears considering. More than my suggestion being the right one, I just want a solution that we then stick to (more or less, if it doesn't end up working we reassess). In my time as a DM I've seen parties toss useful items aside because no one person could afford it with their share, not without bankrupting themselves or more. The solution always ended up being that the party having a +3 greatsword in the hands of the fighter is better than everyone having a little extra money. You survive longer if the cleric has a periapt of wisdom +4, or the wizard gets that rod of extending. An imbalance between characters ALWAYS exists, Pathfinder didn't fix it. Wizards and Clerics will stand head and shoulders over Fighters and Rogues in a few levels. Rather than resist that imbalance, the key is to embrace it.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Sun 09 Oct 2016.

Actherly, I think options 2 and 4 might be the same, looking at Andalon's summary above (we may have just explained them differently IC ... which would give one less option, if that helps. :>

In reply to Percy Arndell (msg # 298):

It's basically a subvariant:

Everyone gets a share and if an item exceeds their share value they:

Option 5- owe the money to the party pot or individuals

Option 4- the excess is forgiven

Option 2- can't get it?

Edit: mixed up the nuance
This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Sun 09 Oct 2016.

DM Refereeing post :)

We have five options proposed - and I think they cover the main techniques of Treasure distribution.

1. Give the good stuff to whoever is the best person to use it (in terms of the greater good of the whole party), sell the rest and divide equally.

2. Value everything based on what a merchant would pay for it and divide equally; anyone can buy those items instead of actually selling them (on credit if they don't have enough cash).

3. Party owns all the good stuff and lends it to whoever is the best person to use it, sell the rest and divide equally.

4. Value everything based on what a merchant would pay for it and divide equally to determine shares; let people claim an item even if it is more than their share (they don't have to pay back the difference later); sell the rest and pay everyone else as much of their share as possible.

5: Everyone gets their share of the treasure ... and if they don't have enough to purchase a specific item outright, then they must hope that one of their companions will loan them what they need, with or without interest - whatever terms they agree upon.


One vote per person in this thread) for their favourite system and we can get a base position.

In the interim, feel free to move into other areas and chat :)

---

One system I have have always liked for Adventuring NPCs -  is that they get cast offs.  Bu the time you find a +3  Suit of Armour, the value of a +1 suit doesn't actually add much to main PC purchase options -  but it does strengthen the  DM's back up options.  Lolli was available as 'cavalry'  while people were were in the Orcy Ring - and I had a couple of things up my sleeve if something had gone wrong in the big bandit fight ...

As you progress, I have less and less effective options, unless you help me :)

Note:  Those wouldn't have been 'Get out of jail free cards'  but I did have some options to give you a bit of relief should it be required.

Sorry, been offline for a couple days.  I haven't read the IC threads yet, but my vote is option 2 with the possibility of having to borrow the money from other party members through agreements between characters.

In reply to Zorah (msg # 301):

So option 5 then? Is there a distinction I'm missing between the two or is Option 2 with loans possible Option 5?

Vik's vote: Option 1 (because I had to pick one and I might as well back my original idea)

Edit: quick question about the difference between Options 1 and 3 . . . is the only difference an OOC one of "what happens if the PC isn't in the game anymore"? Because I'm all for leaving your significant items behind if you leave the group (however much that skews WBL) because there's always someone who can use a +1 brass knife
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Sun 09 Oct 2016.

*Evil Grin* Skewing WBL is not an issue for me.  I am happy to reduce the loot you find next time out, to bring it back into balance. :)

Maybe Vik.  I'll be honest, I haven't been on for a couple days and skimmed over the majority of the conversation.  As a character Zorah wants balance and whatever is the most fair in her mind.  As a player I'm fine with whatever the majority wants.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:07, Sun 09 Oct 2016.

In reply to Zorah (msg # 304):

Well both ideas were Percy's I believe so your post works either way

Aris'ta never expects anything (yet, personality is likely to change) But she would also go with option 1.

You want fairness, but I don't think such things in the real of life would be fair. The best for the job would likely get the best of the lot.

As a strategist, I would want whomever will put the item to best use to get said item, even if that only leaves me with 1 cp. That will eventually come back to me and I'll obtain something I want.

I think if you go into other options you are going to get too complicated and adding a ton of math into the mix is not my idea of fun in terms of Roleplaying, but that is just my opinion. As I said, I would rather who needs the item, get the item and just recall that if you get a +2 item now, when the next one comes up, you are not likely to get it.

Anyways, I'm not there, but as stated, that is my reasoning for option 1.

I've always wanted to be a communist. I'll vote for option 3.

I'm not entirely sure how to take that.

I am not sure that is Communist - there is no intent to share with everyone.  Sounds more like Corporate Capitalism to me, where you are all shareholders of the organisation that owns it all   :)

Option 1 is what Cyrus meant and what I will vote for. Though option 3 is the next closest and would be fine with him as well.

Does anyone else think it is silly to have things valued at half what we would have to pay for them? I get that it makes crafting a thing but so strange and unnecessarily complicated.

Valoria would also vote for option 1.

Option 1, four votes(Aris'ta, Vik, Valoria and Cyrus).

Option 2, one vote(Zorah).

Option 3, one vote(Rook).

Also, great and mighty GM, did Valoria's detect magic discover anything new on the items from gourp one(Any info on the ring, etc)? :)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:29, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

Valoria -  I hadn't quite forgotten your spell.  Val cannot detect an magic on the items carried in and displayed by Rook.

I've been away from my computer since Friday, so I'll get to reading the IC threads now. I toss my vote in for option 1.

I hope it was a good weekend.  Take your time, there is a lot of reading there.  It all got a lot busier than I was anticipating ....

Someone asked earlier what is the difference between options 1 and 3. They are the same in terms of who gets the good items to use (i.e. items go to whoever is best to use them). The difference is just about who owns those items.

In option 1 those items are owned by that character and he/she would be entitled to sell them later if that suited their own best interests.

In option 3 those items are still owned by the whole group unless the character actually buys them.

The paperwork / record keeping would be similar in both options as even in option 1 someone will want to keep tabs on who got what and take that into account the next time items are distributed. If we choose option 1 I expect there will be conversations along the lines of, "you got the +1 sword last time; if you want this +2 sword we just found you should give that old +1 sword to someone else, because that's in the best interests of the group as a whole."

If we are calling option 3 'corporate capitalism' instead of 'communism' then that makes Andalon a bit more comfortable with that idea (in character). Andalon votes for option 3.

While he prefers other options, Percy will keep his opinion to himself and vote for the option that the majority of his comrades in arms favour.

So another vote for option 1.  :>



Not really ... have to think of it as market value - a sword you want to sell is only worth what a merchant will pay for it, which is half the cost you could buy it at.  Not surprising really, with those nicks on the blade, those scratches on the hilt, and the bent metalwork around the cross-guard ... unless you want to buy it, and then it's good strong steel that's forged to last, beautifully balanced and with one careful previous owner who only took it out on Sundays ...  ;>

Right I guess a shop owner has to account for overhead and there is no craigslist or ebay to list your items online. I get it but it makes discussions like this complicated... until we have NPC cohorts with major crafting skills that is :)

Yes but this is your chance to be heard!

Only throw a vote option 1s way if you're cool with that option

Percy is voting for a quiet life !  <grins>

I hear you!

So if Pipre keeps her voting the same, option 1 has six votes out of ten people

Of the people who didn't vote option 1, (Abdalon, Rook, Zorah and possibly Pipre), is Option 1 acceptable enough to move forward here? I know Abdalon and Percy like to tweak and perfect these methods?

We will wait a little longer  :)

Yes, I can live with option 1, although you are quite right about wanting to tweak it. I expect I will be one of those that keeps tabs on what is distributed to who and yes, I expect I will offer suggestions on what could be handed back for someone else to have in exchange for a better item in future. To be honest, though, I hope people will make that sort of offer without needing to be prompted.  :o)

Agreed.

Agreed here too!

In reply to Andalon de Lebeda (msg # 322):

System's probably going to work just fine without someone taking it upon themselves to police it. Considering the setting, we're not likely to simply sell items we no longer need (the hassle of selling in the wilderness, we'd have to broker merchant stuff) so as long as well all agree ahead of time to put items where they are needed, it works for treasure and for distribution both.

Edit: but sure, in character Andalon's likely the best person to be the traditional quartermaster for now, as a cleric of the merchant god.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:35, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

I don't know, we're slowly building up a supply train of NPCs who can take care of the selling of goods off screen. We just send them off to the nearest large city and have them take care of that while the PCs attend to more important matters.

In a level or two you will start building a town, with (i suspect) a merchant trading dock.  You might not be in  absolute wilderness for too long :)

Oh and I was just reminded that Bai had pocketed that ring we found, I'll edit her last post in the main area, but she's going to toss it in the pile with everything else.

In which case -  it is a Ring of Protection +1

In reply to Bai Kao (msg # 326):

Still would be pretty hard to sell larger items quickly. You CAN, as you say putting it off with some trusted npc servants, but hopefully we all prosper off the backs of each other in this regard

Which reminds me, can anyone make use of mundane shortswords? I got my eye on some nice upgrades

Edit before I even post: turns out Pathfinder's settlement rules are a bit more forgiving and even the smallest settlement could buy a couple masterwork weapons off you, so I'm wrong on my first point!

Zorah is fine with option 1.

Completely unasked for and likely unwanted, I've totaled up the goods and coins in the two group's treasure piles to get an idea of each person's share. Modified of course, when we sell on any unwanted or unneeded equipment, but likely a lot of the stuff we have here will make a good upgrade for everyone.

Edit: don't know if I should in fact post my findings . . . DM might get mad at me :P
This message was last edited by the player at 14:46, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

Post quicker than I can cope with ...


And another one while I wrote this one.  Vik feel free to post here.  i will adjust values if I don't like them  :P

In reply to DM (msg # 333):

Shares of goods and coin calculated at 176gp evenly each. Adjustments to come I'm sure!

Items
leather armour +1 (worn by Percy but not claimed?)
master-work Rapier (Percy)
belt with pockets
sling, 20 sling bullets,
set of thief's tools
trap mechanism (including needle) partially complete
A small clay pot with a wooden stopper (potion of Cure Moderate Wounds),
Spell Book (claimed by Valoria): L0 detect magic, All Cantrips except Evocation and Transmutation, L1 Silent Image, Obscuring Mist, Disguise Self, Colour Spray, Detect Secret Doors, L2 hypnotic pattern, magic mouth (Valoria)
A halfhelm
a glaive
Glow stick (purple glow - magical) (carried by Percy but not claimed?)
quill and ink (Valoria)
Bear Traps x10
Small Bear Traps x10
Tent
Backpack (spare clothes, twine, rope, flint and steel, and trail rations)
Mw Handaxe (Rook)
Mw Skinner's Knife (Zorah/Lex)
Darkwood Longbow  (DM: Darkwood is automatically MW, Ari)
Mw Studded Leather Armour
Explorer's Outfit
Mw Shortsword x2
Shoulder Bag (Mw Thief's Tools, a flask of oil, two small torches, a tinder box)
Ring of Protection +1 (Bai)
Mw Light Crossbow
Mw Leather Armor
Leather Armor
Utility Belt (Thief's Tools)
Daggers x7
Sickle
Light Mace
Heavy Mace
Shortsword
Handaxe x2
Battleaxe
Scimitar

Goods
twelve small matching gems (aquamarine, value 80gp each)
a cloak, a robe and a brocade gown (value 50gp) (Valoria)
a box containing a wig and a vial of perfume (value 40gp)
a fine dagger in a scabbard on a silk belt (value 80gp)
A box containing a bracelet and matching necklace (silver and amber value 80gp) (Valoria)
Four books 'Zuddiger's Picnic', 'Treatise on Forgotten Heroes', 'Betty's Home Recipes' and 'The Taldan Expansion'. (no value known)
silver mirror (5 gp based on Small steel mirror)
Animal Skins x6 (2 gp each) (Zorah)
Cloak (mundane?)
Platinum Clasp (160gp)

Coins
8gp
Belt Pouch x4 (containg a total of 85gp)
three full bags and one half full bag containing:
100sp
100sp
100gp
60pp
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Mon 10 Oct 2016.

Mr DM sir, can we please have a new thread to keep track of that list of treasure and who wants/gets which items? Rather than clutter up this OOC thread and not be able to find it easily again in future?

Hope no one minds, I'm just getting my scene I wanted to play out out of the way with Andalon?

Andy, hope you don't mind.

Just a note, the 8 gp was actual currency and not a value of the gems. I didn't do as good a job as Ant.

Ah, so what's the value of the aquamarines?

In reply to Rook Sanderson (msg # 337):

You both did an excellent job!

My assumption would be the same as the other six your group found, 80 gp.

If so, each person's adjusted share is 220gp.

The mirror assumption was correct mister DM?

correct

It was all I could do to not say "I have to see a man about a horse."

Sorry, Bai. I had a busy three day weekend and didn't have time to parse all the different threads. I'm getting caught up but Pipre will have accompanied you.

Oh no Ferdinand is the Golarion Donald Trump. Let's Make Restov Great Again!

*grin* But work out who he is working for ....

Jaw dropped open when I googled that one. I am assuming that is common knowledge especially for Cyrus, right?

He certainly assumed you understand the connection.

And there was a more direct reference in Henry's introduction.  But that thread was going so fast, we all missed stuff in there  :)

No, I caught the Swordlord mention but didn't realize it was a true Aldori :) Also that he adventured with an Aldori and has an oath to one takes it up a level! My bad for not looking up who was the First Swordlord of Restov...

Noted. Will post accordingly then!
This message was last edited by the player at 12:30, Tue 11 Oct 2016.

*grins*

A bit of warning folks.  I am just entering a busy Social time.  Next weekend, I expect to be camping half way up a Welsh mountain.  The following weekend, I am DMing a weekend long dungeon that is my wife's birthday party - and will need to prep for that beforehand as well.

You will have a couple of RL weeks to chat amongst yourselves and sort loot before you head off on your next adventures.

Like, are you describing her birthday party as a dungeon or literally running a dungeon? Because that's my kinda birthday party.

I would like to claim the MW thieves' tools and identify the glow stick. Unless we're quite sure that its only function is to glow purple. After Pipre gets some sleep and assuming we aren't leaving the next day she can prepare an extract of identify.

Does any of the armor look cool?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Tue 11 Oct 2016.

Aris'ta - I run a Pathfinder session with people we have enjoyed playing with over the years.  Ian, my son, comes down for the weekend. As do  Cris and Swampy - Ian and I have played D&D like games with them for years (on an occasional basis).  Greg, (from or last group) lives locally.  Leighton (from a game group ago) lives in London  and comes down for the weekend. And, of course, there is Ari, my wife.

People arrive Friday evening -  sort out character sheets etc.  Then we play until Sunday lunchtime :)  We normally get about 20 hours gaming in over the weekend.   This will be the seventh year in succession - and we are into a campaign!  I have games planned until 2020 for the same set of players and their characters.

Pipre -  The Purple glow stick has been checked out and it doesn't appear to do anything more that cast about the same amount of light as a candle.  I am afraid all the armour looks very 'normal' - although some of it is nicely made.

lol, I asked both of those questions.

The weekend-long gaming sounds pretty fun!

I'll just take the mw thieves' tools and my share of gooooold then.

And the half-helm, why not?

It doesn't count as armor really, does it? Are we talking like a sallet or what?

Whoops.  Sorry.  That is what happens when I rush about just before I go to bed.  I keep telling my wife what a lucky woman she is to get a party like that, but then she just looks at me ....

You can describe the helmet as you would like  :)

Can we talk about luxury items? Like, Luxury items should definitely be bought out of the shares, right? Talking about that 130 gp in clothes and jewelry Valoria took and didn't wind up on the second loot list.

Ahh.  Th second list that I published was just a rework of the things that Vik had included in the Items Section of the original list.  It was intended to make it easier to check / analyse the magic and MW items that could be of value to people.

You decided (fairly comfortably) for

1. Give the good stuff to whoever is the best person to use it (in terms of the greater good of the whole party), sell the rest and divide equally.

With (what appeared to be) generally accepted caveats of 'handing down' or recycling old gear and returning major items if the character moved on.

However, there was always going to be al element of tweaking.

There has been some discussion about minor shares for NPCs riding with you, and now there is Pipre's question about luxury items.

Shouldn't there be a wage for npcs riding along? I would think it's up to Vik to pay Lolli, for example. Like hiring people. That should be a fairly easy issue to resolve.

"luxury items" are under the Goods header with gems and such. Their value was factored into your share so yes someone is taking those as a portion of their pay

Edit: just like someone is taking the 60 platinum, and the 200 silvers

So would paying Lolli a quarter portion of my share be fair? About 55gp
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Wed 12 Oct 2016.

Someone, at one stage, suggested a smaller share of the party loot for 'Ride Along' NPCs such as Lolli.

I raised it because  I thought that might be one of the 'tweaks' for discussion.

Out of curiosity, of the remaining PCs who was in the first wave of PCs? I think it was just Aris'ta, Bai, Percy, Rook, Vik, and Zorah. Is that right?