Welcome to 'In Search of the Unknown'

I intend this to be an exciting adventure as well as a bit of an 'ode to TSR' as it is the first module I ever played AND ever DM'd (albeit poorly).

Welcome - I hope you enjoy & I hope I do it justice.

Regards,
The Seer.

Hiya, Gents - you're in.  No hurry - need to find at least 2 more players - if y'all know any good players, send them the link - I trust you.

Okay guys - got another one in.  Have 2 pending requests.

One note:

You guys decide what class you want to play.  Where debates occur, I will try to facilitate to everyone's satisfaction.

I'm quite handy with thieves, so I may branch out and try something wild and new.

good for you.  PM me some of your ideas - don't limit yourself, shoot the moon and we'll discuss.

that goes for everyone in the game.  let's make this adventure fun, let's see where it goes.

Part of the fun for me is to let the dice help decide the fate of what the character will be.

currently, he is but a mound of clay waiting to be molding into something more.

Looks like the character development has some options at this point.
16:29, Today: player 2 rolled 23 using 1d100, rerolling ones.  strength stat roll sucked  LOL.
16:28, Today: player 2 rolled 8 using 1d100, rerolling ones.  possible strength stat roll.
16:28, Today: player 2 rolled 85 using 1d100, rerolling ones.  roll for magic.
16:28, Today: player 2 rolled 19 using 1d100, rerolling ones.  roll for level.
16:26, Today: player 2 rolled 18 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat 6.
16:26, Today: player 2 rolled 16 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat 5.
16:25, Today: player 2 rolled 14 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat 4.
16:25, Today: player 2 rolled 12 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat 3.
16:25, Today: player 2 rolled 13 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat 2.
16:25, Today: player 2 rolled 15 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  Stat 1.
Hummmm.....

17:38, Today: player 3 rolled 2 using 1d100.  magic item.
17:38, Today: player 3 rolled 26 using 1d100.  level.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 14 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 15 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 13 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 15 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 16 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.
17:37, Today: player 3 rolled 15 using 4d6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  stat.

not to shabby, nothing super awesome, but no crap either. I will pm you a little later this evening boss.

don't forget racial modifiers to scores.

once you guys have names, get 'em to me and I'll update.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Fri 19 Aug 2016.

Kullonar reporting for duty and eager to explore the unknown :)
Will be working on my character sheet off and on through the weekend while I'm traveling.
Glad to be aboard fellers!

07:25, Today: player 4 rolled 11 using 1d100.  magic item.
07:25, Today: player 4 rolled 54 using 1d100.  level.

07:24, Today: player 4 rolled 15 Stats
07:23, Today: player 4 rolled 8  Stats
07:23, Today: player 4 rolled 11 Stats
07:23, Today: player 4 rolled 18 Stats
07:23, Today: player 4 rolled 14 Stats
07:21, Today: player 4 rolled 16 Stats

Options are open.  What to be, what to be.

I'm excited to note that we have 5 players so far.  I have one more invitation extended, and 6 seems a good number, but depending upon the class spread of the group, I think 5 will do as well.

Keep working on your sheets.  If you rolled for level 2 or a magic item, holler at me and I'll assist as I may.

And thanks very much for joining!

I didn't roll a positive result for either of those, but I'll take 'em lol

The Map of the Eastern Portion of the Flaness is up in the 'Maps' thread.

File too big for me to put in game map.  Any advice y'all have re: downloading maps, especially the Greyhawk Map, is welcome - I'd like to have 1 embedded map of just Ratik and the surrounds (The Rakers, Timberway Forest, perhaps the Bone March)...anyway, thoughts and ideas and suggestions are welcome.  I know there are a lot more savvy tech folks here than me.

I'd just take a page from Hedge's game,  (Hedge hope you don't mind)

Instead of posting a huge map of Oerth - and because the site won't let me upload a 3 mb map - here are some links to some excellent maps I found online.

Classic World of Greyhawk Map (clickable to zoom):
http://www.highprogrammer.com/...wk/map/supermap.html

Atlas of the Flanaess - maps by Anna B. Meyer - these maps are stunning!
http://www.ghmaps.net/

Living Greyhawk Maps - beautifully rendered!
http://www.orcwood.com/rpg/greathunt/docs.html

I was just about to lead with what Zan suggested.  I think the Anna B Meyer maps take a lot to beat.

http://ghmaps.net/wordpress/wp...ds/2014/02/Ratik.jpg

It's a great general overview, expands really well, and we've all been around long enough to know the area in question.

Ranger thief here, I'm sneaky everywhere.

Otto's map is perfect, except too large according to RPol.  Unless I save to photobucket and then download to the Maps thread.

I still wanted one for the 'Game Map' link up above.  Oh well, in the immortal words of Mick Jagger: 'You can't always get what you want.'

Thanks guys!

That Meyer map was just the trick - love the detail.  It is posted in the Maps thread for those who want a closer look at the starting point.  Thank you to Uthecar and Zan for their help!

Okay, so here's where we are.  Most of you have rolled your ability scores and have begun working on your sheets.  I also have sketches from most of you on a back story.  These actually will be a bit more important than the typical fare, as I will (try to) actively integrate 'who' you are into the first chapter.

Thus far we have 2 elves, a half orc and a dwarf.  Please note: I did not call you a party.  You're not...yet!

*As for the game: I'm going to ask for a deadline of two weeks to get character sheets done.  Obviously, real life takes precedence, but I would really like to start the game no later than September 4th.  I know several of you are busy - I'm certainly in the same boat, but I think 2 weeks should be enough time.

If any of you need help w/ your characters/equip, etc. please let me know - I am here to help.  Being not a fan of paperwork, I can relate!!!  LOL.

One other note: I've added my email address to the Land of Imagination thread, below my sig.  If any of you need to touch base, you can reach me there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:14, Sun 21 Aug 2016.

I believe I've corrected the editing function on the character sheets.  If you're still having issues, please let me know.

Seems to be working for me

It's working for me as well.

Hello all! Looking forward to writing a great story with you!

All good for me thanks.

No doubt I'm already playing with some or all of you elsewhere, and I'm enjoying that, so this will be the same, only different.

looking forward to the game for sure.

was in a bit of an accident last night, so my posting/work on sheet, may be spotty for a day or two.

Hope you're okay.  A bit of an accident is kind of an oxymoron isn't it?

It was an accident I am sure, just how debilitating it is to you afterwards is the concern we all probably share, even if we don't know you directly.

Crap - hate that, Myrrick.  Hope everyone's okay who was involved.

I'm relatively ok, sore shoulder, very sore. Makes resting difficult. Improving everyday. Just me, thankfully.

Wasn't watching the road, messing with my radio, looked up was almost in a ditch, over corrected to the opposite side and we'd just had a storm, so that was that.

Well - if it makes you feel any better:

6 months 3 days after I got my license, I was on my way to pick up my girlfriend for a date on a Friday night.  She lived on a curvy road, was kinda curvy herself.  A light rain was falling, I was speeding, the radio was playing, went to turn the channel (using the manual dial) and fishtailed one way, then the other, then back the other - panicked, jammed my foot down on what I thought was the break, sped up instead, grazed a tree, a telephone pole, then went straight through the front of the house right in front of me.  It was like one of those weird Farmer's Insurance commercials.

Happily they weren't home...

Had it been 4 days earlier, I would've lost my license.


All that to say, glad it wasn't worse for you, and that you're mending.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:00, Tue 23 Aug 2016.

I'm just sore. makes sleep difficult. at least now, if the truck is totaled, the fiancé gave me permission to buy something fun.

You have a cool fiance'.

Get well soon, Mano.

she politely suggested a convertible mustang. I didn't argue. I hope my truck is ok, but if it ain't... we will see.

Oh...wow.  You have a REALLY cool fiancé.

Sorry to hear of your adventures, Myrrik!

We've just returned from a weekend visiting friends in NH, which was a wee bit tense, because the last time we visited my husband smashed the front of the car when the pickup in front of us stepped on the brakes unexpectedly in stop and go traffic on the Mass Turnpike. THIS time we timed the trip to avoid as much Boston traffic as possible both ways and managed to get home without any excitement.

people do that from time to time. glad you had a safe trip.

As bad as it could have been.

Count your blessings.

you guys be safe out there

oh I am, Zen, I held up much better than the truck did.

If you have the green light from your woman, get another truck man!! :)

Glad to know you're okay and on the mend.

My son and I had an "end of summer" "guys weekend" > drove to Manassas, VA to see Black Sabbath > freaking melted our faces!! Incredible show!

We had safe travels, thank the good Lord, because people on the road are crazy!

Glad to be gaming with you all!

Dude - Sabbath - Awesome!

A lot of good work on the character sheets - great stuff.  Looking about 10 days out on start date, so y'all have time.

For my part, I'm putting the opening chapter together.  Pretty excited - the first act should be exciting!

Thanks, folks.

Human thief coming up....

Weasel.  5' 3"  (160cm), 105# ( a little under 48kg).

He's charming.....   kinda.

Heh - charming.  Right.

Busy the rest of the day - will work on this some tonight.  Any questions, leave them in this thread!

Slainte'

Lol if we somehow survive it.

You elves are always so pessimistic!

Yeah, what brother Bruno said.

Yeah! You tease us about our dancing not around and singing. And the flowers. ....

Wait. Erm.... I may have been called confused for a moment.

Still seems a bit pessimistic.

Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.    LOL

rumble young man, rumble

- Will our characters have any prior knowledge of the others?
- Is there a tavern that we all happen to frequent?
- Possibly of knowledge of the others by race?

-some
-possibly
-probably not

Full plate armor is reasonable right.

yes.  you're gonna need all the help you can get.

(rubs hands together in villainous glee)

Look over your sheets for any last minute items or to update stats.  Think we'll get started Sunday night, if everyone's okay with that.

In the meanwhile I discovered this post on FB. Ever wonder what Plate Mail looks like, etc?

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

This message was deleted by the player at 03:28, Wed 31 Aug 2016.

Dang you need two or three squires just to get dressed

Well... You could do it with one, but it ain't happening quickly!

Always one of those fun things when out in the wilderness - taking off/putting on armor.

Oh, a pack of dire wolves are attacking?  Can you tell them to weight while I get dressed?

Breast plate makes for a quicker transition at half the weight, and you only lose one point of AC.

I thought waiting on a woman to get ready to go out took a long time.

No telling how long it would take to polish the armor up.     LOL

I'll help polish the armor and strap it to the guy if it means I don't have to wash dishes anymore...

.... or sweep the floors, rinse the middens, or shovel the stables.

Or service the daughter...

I was actually clearing the way for full plate armor (cost about 4,000gp) as opposed to plate mail (cost 400gp). Maybe it wasn't clear, but it seemed to be working in my favour so I wasn't going to argue the point.

Um...no on the 4k gp armor.  Excellent effort though!  LOL!

Okay so that's a 'no' on full plate armour, and a wise choice if I must say so myself.

I take it your views on field plate will be held in a far more agreeable light.

At a measly 2,000gp I know it's hardly worth mentioning or wasting your time on.  I'll just write it on my character sheet, and you won't have to worry any more about it.  It's obviously well within the 'reasonable supplies' criteria previously stated.

Yer killin' me...

Breast Plate or Plate Mail are fine.  Beyond that, you'll be in debt to a shady loan shark who charges usurious rates and has the means to enforce payment.  :)

It's the unspecified '....has the means to enforce payment,' I object to.  Otherwise it was almost a goer.

In this new light the choice of the stock standard plate mail seems fine.

Always fun negotiating with you, Uthecar.

Yes negotiation can be fun, though the preferred outcome on this occasion seems to have fallen to the wrong side, wouldn't you say?  Perhaps that is something you can work on for the future, so we can all call you our favorite DM, at least in this game. :o)

For future reference, I will appraise any and all treasure for the group :)

Uthecar, I thought things turned out just swimmingly!

Myrrick, I think I've heard that somewhere before.  You may have competition this go 'round though, o mighty one...

For future reference, I'll be keeping careful lists of everything appraised and the values determined through the appraisal process. ;|

competition... that guy isn't in this game.. but he's awfully good at 'appraising' things. and acquiring them.

Heh, heh, heh.  Pride goeth before the fall...

Well apprasing is somewhat of a subjective process.    But it does bring up a good point,  diving up any potential loot.

Does anyone have an equitable solution that would make game sense to the characters.

We as players know the book value of things but would our character really know that.  Point being would fighter really have a clue what a wand of magic missles is worth?  Or would a Mage or Priest know that true value of a magical weapon?

Well, since you all are merely carrying my loot anyway, it does not matter to me who holds what.

:-)

I say it is a game, and some aspects of it need to be kept as a game.  A fair division of loot from the players perspective is probably a better division than from the characters perspective, within reason.  A dwarven fighter may not need or ever use a spell book, but he knows it is highly prized, and people will pay.

A fighter would certainly know the value of a wand of magic missiles, even if he couldn't use it, as soon as he saw it being fired off.

The crux of the matter probably comes down to group survival.  Spell casters can't do the job without the arrow fodder, without the grunts to keep the badies at bay.  While there may be joking and ribbing among the characters, there should be an understanding among the players that everyone plays their part and should be rewarded appropriately.

Personally I'd like the idea of there being a separate division of 'party treasure.'  Depending on whether spells components are used, there can be a cost to some spells being cast, and should the caster pay from his/her own treasure for something the party benefits from?  I think not.  I don't play a caster here, but I still think it is the fairest way.

As players, by now, we should all intrinsically know the value of certain items, so fair division really shouldn't be that hard we're all adults, I think.

PS.  That doesn't mean I intend to be reasonable or necessarily unreasonable IC.  I just intend to be big and solid, in a short dwarven sort of way.

I agree with Uthecar to a great extent. (Maybe this is why we're both Dwarves?)

Ultimately, this stuff is best worked out IC, because that's the only place where it's relevant. That said, I promise that I know the difference between playing a character and being practical/not-being-a-jerk. and whatnot.

oh I'll hold all the treasure for the group, I'm a big strong elf.

Whatever you fellers figure out works for me.

Treasure?  Heh.  Heh heh.  Heh heh, ha ha, heh heh HEE!  HEE HEE HEE HEE HEH HEE!!!!!!!

Aw, shucks...you guys!  HA HA!  Good stuff...

We be wanting the Booty    harrr... harr... harr

Psyched to see the first post setting up Act 1!

I've gotten 2 intro's out to players so far.  Should have the rest done by this evening.  No, make that I will have the rest done this evening!

Gonna be a blast!

Cool, bar fight.  watch out for flying mugs.  If you get hit by one, my character didn't do it.   ;)

Bar keep.  The priest and I will take the nice heavy tankards thanks.

Okay - the last directive has been given.  Shit's about to get real around here but quick.

;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Mon 05 Sept 2016.

Sorry, but I'm a bit unclear about procedure. Should we be posting in Act 1 in response to the messages you sent us in Private? Or should we be replying in the Private thread and then you'll set things up in the Act 1 thread?

What the good brother said.

Great question.  Sorry I wasn't clear.  There is 'something' that will occur in the (hopefully) not too distant future (in game time) that act as the starting gun of the adventure.  It should happen soon.

I posted in private, figure that will work til we are given the green light to post in the thread

I think a bit more clarification is necessary.  I don't like railroading players in a certain direction as DM.  In this case, a bit of showmanship and flair is covering the fact that such different parts are going to hare off on an adventure together despite having very little reason to do so.  It should be the only time in the adventure (and the campaign, though let's not get ahead of ourselves) that this will occur.

In order to be fun, I think this game has to be organic.  Characters will live and die by their players' decisions, not by DM caveat.  That I promise you.  So relax, enjoy your bitter or ale or beer or wine or Dwarven spirits until the 'something' occurs which will initiate the adventure.

Thanks,
The Management

Post, post script - if you wish to interact with anyone that's currently in the inn, by all means...fyi.

game on

gotta say I enjoyed that immensely - thanks to Zan and Myrrick for letting me hijack their characters to get this ball rolling.

any time,  ;)

I like to roll with the punches
This message was last edited by the player at 00:03, Tue 06 Sept 2016.

Uthecar likes to see elves roll, and he also likes punching.  This IS going to be fun, fun, fun.

no worries boss.

Good replies fellers!
This is gonna be fun or we'll die trying! :D

Oh boy, I'm going to LOVE this game, a natty 20 on the first throw!! You beauty.  That's got to be a good sign fellas.

Well done.  A charge like that deserves a critical hit.  Double damage.

15 goblins attacking in the main taproom.  2 hits.  Doesn't seem fair.

Sorry Bruno - misunderstood your intent.  After messing up your 2nd post, I think I've fixed it (albeit without highlights), then offered explanation in my own post below.

Let me know if I got it right?!!!

My intent was to indicate interest in dealing with the trouble that seemed to be occurring in the kitchen. Then 15 troubles burst into the room.

Given that they're still outnumbered by the goblins it would not make sense to head into the kitchen in round 2.

Unless, I'm missing something?

Without metagaming, can't really say.  You will note any issues in the kitchen have been drowned out by the noise in the taproom.

Gotcha. Well, the intent was not to move out of the room with all the goblins in it.

I'll stick with my post for round 2.

I have a man crush on Uthecar.

I promise I won't tell him, especially given his current excited stated.

I forgot to mention big ups and thanks to Bruno for the bless spell.

Personally I think that is one of the most un-sexy spells to ever have to cast, because nothing visual happens.

It's not until battle commences that everybody has the +1 to hit edge, which may swing the battle, and it is often overlooked that the magic was in play once the battle finishes and we are picking through the loot.  (Tips his great helm to Moradin's best)

In reply to Bruno Rhunthane (msg # 104):

A very practical choice.  Moradin is pleased.

Reverend!

Old plan:  stab goblins.
    Result:  2 chances to hit.... 2 misses.  Like playing wiffleball... but worse.

New plan:  run to cower behind the death-machine that is the enraged dwarf.

I'd start throwing things.   LOL

Enraged dwarven death-machine.  I like that tag.  Now to bring down the big guy, shatter their moral, and plunder their goodies.

Rather than cower, I believe my esteemed colleague meant to say getting an early start to phase 2 of the plan, plundering goodies. There is no telling when we might have to hightail it out of here leaving behind hard won reward, and that would be a travesty.

Yes, that is what I meant.  I will be.... BEHIND the enraged dwarven death machine looting the bodies to ensure that the machine has fuel.  Runs on ale and roasted boar.

For the record: you actually got one.  Makes for better theater...

Next post is Sunday, I believe.

cool. maybe I'll get a decent roll by then.

Practice makes perfect....

Love the creativity and depth of the posting.  Please don't post other player's actions, however.  Thanks.

ROFL: Zan is staying clear of the back side of Uthecar

Hey Gang,  just wanted to give you a heads up,  I’ll be doing a bit of traveling over the next two weeks,  I should have some access at times but can’t guarantee when.
Please put my character in support mode as needed.
Thanks

So Zan will be first to charge the fire breathing dragon...

;)

Or he can stand behind Uthecar in the marching order.  He'll survive, just.

Did I mention I am growing into Uthecar quicker than I thought I would?

He's a fun character.  I always liked dwarfs.  Playing one in my face to face - priest of Moradin, no less.

OMG - you guys are a cast of characters.  I'd love to play face to face with all of you.

I'll have something more in depth up no later then Sunday.  Been a busy week, not slacking any tomorrow...ergo the slow pace.  My busy season is here so...

You've got to do what you do, so you can do what you do, it's all understood.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:30, Fri 16 Sept 2016.

Busy weekend.  Just got home, gotta be up early in the a.m.  Post coming tomorrow night.  Unless I can't sleep.  Which is a distinct possibility with so much on my mind.

Cheers.

Do what you got to do.

That moves the needle a bit. Some things to ponder, anyway.  I'll have more coming shortly - trying to move things along without being too terribly obvious about it.  Transitions have always been a pain in the butt for me.

Thanks for your patience!

From where I'm sitting I'm cool for you to move Uthecar however you want Seer.  I guess the general overall desired end result is to form an adventuring party of sorts, and my IC posting may lengthen that process or not help initiate a connection otherwise.

Take your time, dude.
We ain't going nowhere.

Everybody's been great.  It's been fun so far, but really want to get you on the road asap.  I'll try to facilitate that.

Having just posted it occurs to me that I don't really know very much about the Archbarony of Ratik. I mean, I've found some stuff online, but much of it seems to have been created for specific campaigns and I don't know whether it's relevant to this one.

I bring this up, because it occurs to me that there may be blatant/obvious things about Selene's party and several of my comrade players that Bruno would get, because he's a native that I don't get because I'm uncertain about my background info.

Could you give us your definition/story of Ratik, GM? Thanks!

Heh - I run a real danger here.  Three of the players in this game are embedded deeply within Ratik's politics in another game - frankly, I picked Ratik as a setting because of the proximity to mountains, forests, several bodies of water and a ton of natural enemies north and south.

In other words, I took the easy way out, but left myself in the precarious position of having three authorities call me out every time I make a mistake...so much for the easy way out!!!

With that said, I don't put a lot of stock in what Gary Gygax put together back in the day, except insofar as it provides me with the ammunition I need to create a great adventure.

So, let's assume the following(using european based titles of nobility):

Lady Everleigh is the Arch-Baroness of Ratik - she is the unquestioned ruler of Ratik, though there is more contention in her relationships on the fertile plains than among her allies in the heights.

Locally:

RE: the elfs:
-Selene, is part of the family that holds some authority along the lower Rakers & up into the Timberway Forest.  She is the equivalent of a Countess (though her father, the Earl, is still living at his hold in the Timberway).
-Antonin is her uncle and guardian, youngest brother of the Earl, his rank similar to a Baronet (lower than high nobility, but higher than an esquire, squire or even a knight).
-Zenon (Zan's father) is similar to a Viscount, oversees a small county that is among Selene's father's protectorate.
-Rennar is a scout/ranger and sometime Sheriff in the town of Ratikhill, though he spends more time in the wilds than in Ratikhill.

-Full Pint is a small waypoint at the base of the Rakers.  It suffers no leaders, though the populace meets monthly to discuss (and argue local affairs).

The dwarfs - Dilvhom is a dwarven fortress found in the upper Rakers, a strategic stopping point as well as toll station for folk moving east and west over the mountains to/from Pale.  It's location is north & west of Full Pint and is overseen by a dwarven warlord who is closely aligned with Selene's father and Lady Everleigh.

Internationally:
-Long standing enmity between Ratik and the Barbarians north, and the former states of the Great Kingdom south and east.
-Friendly neutrality between Ratik and Pale.
-Hostility with the Bone March.  Ratik actively ships weapons to enclaves of freedom fighters who use the border mountains as bases of operations and hideouts.  Ratik eagerly defends the borders, but have not sent troops into the Bone March to assist the rebels.

In order to mark time, I'll try to get up to date on one of the calendars in the WoGreyhawk setting, and use that in my 'big' posts so we can keep track of the passage of time.

I won't say a word.... promise.

Heh - thank you, Weasel - you're the wisest of them all!

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

Okay, so I vomited up a chapter - some good info, but I pushed the pace.  Once you get started, things will slow down a bit as details become more important in your adventure.

By all means, read through the post, and if there are in character questions, comment, fire away!  I'll roleplay the sequence between parts of the battle.

I would advise, however, that you don't interfere with the battle itself - it will go against the grain of several of the characters, but wisdom should prevail here.  This was never meant to be your battle (I'm looking at you Uthecar!!!  LOL).

Frankly, the adventure begins now - I've accomplished what I wanted in this prologue.  Now let's have some fun!

Fair call Seer, but as a character, it did seem to be a lead that warranted investigation.

I'll come clean, Uthecar has misplaced/never seen his script, and these mistakes are bound to happen from time to time.

We should be able to work a deal with the local blacksmith to plate a few of our weapons in sliver in exchange for a magical sword.

Mmm - coating let's say 100 arrows with silver will cost much less than the cost of a +1 short sword.  That's not really a fair deal for the party.  FYI.

I was thinking about getting the rest of the group's weapons coated in silver as well.

for a +1 short sword, figured that we could sell it and then pay to have that done and have some coins left over for the group.

I understood your intent.  Just thinking a +1 short sword for low level characters (much less 2) is more valuable than gold at this point.  Especially with wererats running around.

Not that I would use the wererats at this point.  Nope, not at all.  They ran far away.  Promise.  Really.  I swear - no!  I mean it!

Or some such.

:)

It's like Bam-Bam merging with Kull the Conqueror!  Everytime Uthecar says something I start to laugh!

"Excuse me worthy members of my troupe.  I'm in the lead.  I am always in the lead and will be leading from the lead.  You all can follow my lead when I am leading, because I'll always be in the lead.  Except when something attacks us from the rear, at which point I will turn around and take the lead, because that's what I do, I lead.  Any questions?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:34, Tue 27 Sept 2016.

I like that quote.

I see Uthecar as already being at the pinnacle of his evolution as a character, while everyone else (I think) will be gaining additional powers as they gain levels.  Being a straight fighter he is as complicated as he is ever going to get, so it shouldn't be hard to figure out what his basic plan of attack is going to be in every situation.

Working his methods in with everyone else's methods will be my test, as there will be many times when his methods are not appropriate, especially as levels are gained.

It should make for fine entertainment - I can't wait.  Heh!!!

Early Autumn - 12 hour days and nights.  4 hour watches at night, the first to see the sun down, the last to see her rise again.

Let me know the watch schedule, how your watching, whether you're moving about, etc.  Thanks - and for the record: you're all playing at the level I thought you'd be playing.  Great players all - it's a privelege to have you in the game!  Can't wait to get to Quesqueton!

I take it only Myrrick, Weasel and Uthecar are watching as the spell casters rest.  Weasel will probably be best in half light given he is human with no infravision.  Perhaps he can take the first watch if we have a fire going, and at least keep it going until the 2nd and 3rd watch starts when it could be extinguished so the infravision of Myrrick and Uthecar can kick in.

In armour Uthecar is about as silent as a tank, so he would be standing still near the dead embers of the fire which I imagine is at the center of the camp, slowly turning as he keeps an eye out for heat signatures other than those of his companions.  He may be slow, but he has plenty of stamina really.

Is everyone okay with the order of Weasel, Uthecar and then Myrrick?  I'll leave you guys to say what else you are doing on your watches.

Zan can help with the first or last watch

Thanks for the note, Seer. I'm having a great time and appreciate everybody's contribution here!

Given our numbers it seems to me that we could each take a watch and spellcasters would still be able to refresh their spell lists, no?

Bruno has a crossbow, which he'll be glad to leave it with you on your watch, if you'd like, Uthecar, regardless of whether he takes a watch or not.

Typically I play that casters usually take first or last watch so that they can get the required meditation (priest) or study (MU) in, and still have time for sleep.

Unless there is an egregious instance where there's no way study/sleep occurs, I'm pretty liberal in my interpretation of game rules.  Not much fun playing a mage or priest w/ no spells.

works for me.

Unless you all tell me otherwise the watches are set up as follows:

Bruno/Weasel

Uthecar/Myrrick

Kulloner/Zan

Everybody good?

Looking over everyone's posts I think this is what is closer to the 'agreed':

Uthecar/Weasel

Bruno/Myrrick

Kulloer/Zan

Though, to my mind given height differences, etc. to my mind a better option is:

Uthecar/Weasel [Berzerker/Sneaky Thiefy]

Bruno/Kullonar [Healers and Buffers]

Zan/Myrrick [Spellcaster over the heads of the shorter two in front of him/Ranger increases difficulty of surprise from behind]

Though, I may be overthinking this and am good withwhatever despite this really long post!

Wesasel is small, not cute.  Sneak thief.  Not sneaky thiefy.

works for me

We're only discussing the watches not the marching order right?  Will Bruno get enough rest taking a middle watch?  With 12 hours of darkness or semi-darkness, arguably with discussion and people settling in for the night etc... the first watch could almost be redundant.  Even 8 hours of sleep seems generous.

OOC: Assuming that the group is currently in a forest type terrain.

In the future, you guys can hash out watch schedules and such.  Apologize for the DM fiat.

That said - I was thinking in terms of making sure spellflingers have the time to learn/pray for and even change unused spells.  Think on that in the future as there were no encounters and we're past that point, making it moot.

It might also help if I read ALL the words in a given sentence. Thanks, Uthecar, and sorry for whatever confusion I may have caused Seer, et al!

Easy to do, no biggie.

Good Afternoon =

New thread, new post, we're moving apace.  New introduction as well...excited to have Ginger on board, though, to be honest, I much preferred Mary Ann.  What can I say, I'm a sucker for brunettes.

I did shut down Thread 1 - not sure I should have, though.  If you guys have anything that needs to be resolved in the first chapter, let me know and I'll re-open it.  I read through, but may have missed something.

Happy Monday (it hasn't been, but that's anther story...think I rolled a natural '1' when I rolled out of bed this morning).  Good luck rolling the bones in this next stage of the adventure.

The Seer

Before we head towards the rat people - there was talk of us getting weapons 'silvered', but no real posts of it getting done IC.  Where do we stand on that Seer?  Do we only have the 2 magical short swords to rely on, or can we consider our weapons 'silvered?'

Kullonar has 10 silver bullets and I think someone else does as well; can't remember who.

There were the twin short swords, silver bullets.  I'll allow that the edge of your ax was silvered by the elfs as well - if anyone doesn't have the means to attack a lycanthrope, now's the time to tell me!

I believe I have the other +1 Short Sword.

I took one of the swords.

If you took a Sword and Weasel took the other, then I misunderstood things and don't have one.

I'll have a bit of silver on the ol' Hammer! (In addition to Silver Bolts for my Crossbow.)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Tue 04 Oct 2016.

Weasel did not take one of the swords - Bruno and Myrrick have the +1 Short Swords.  fyi.

Doh! Gotcha. Thanks!

LOL  the sword must have snuck up on you.

A little suspense...yes, yes, my plan is coming together.

<rubs hands eagerly>

This is what I had on the groups marching order.  If it is incorrect let me know

General Marching Order

For our current situation I figure that Myrrick would be a bit ahead of Uthecar.  How far ahead would be for Myrrick to say not me.

Everyone can speak up for their character as needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:36, Wed 05 Oct 2016.

I agree with Zan's marching order!

I see nothing wrong with the marching order from Uthecar's point of view, though I wonder how useful it will be to have Myrrick more than a step or two ahead.  He will be able to scout out tracks that way, but as far as his ability to surprise and be surprised is concerned, Uthecar is a very effective handicap, unless he is a mile away.

Hard luck with the dice roll Bruno, wrong end of the bell curve for us.

Uthecar - fortunately for you, it just about takes a natty 20 to hit you for 1 HD or less monsters.  And you got a tub full of HP.  However, if you insist on rushing forward at every turn, a 20 foot drop onto spikes might limit your enthusiasm.

LOL.

Now that would teach the young and brash dwarf a valuable lesson.  I can't think of many ways of attacking a 20 foot drop, and looking like you have come out the winner.  To be fair he is only thinking about his own safety at this point, of which he is not hugely concerned.  If his actions impacted negatively upon others, now there would be a wake up call for him. I have actually enjoyed playing his simplistic narrow minded approach to problems, but it needs to be, and will be scaled back.

Just having some fun with you.  I have enjoyed your character immensely thus far.  He fits his role as seamlessly as all the other players do.  Really like the dynamic so far - I'm having a lot of fun & can't wait to see what's next.

I enjoy having dwarf fodder on the front line with me :)

I like Uthecar.   You play him well

Gee thanks, I'm just glad there's a canvas here to draw on, and other people want to draw their story as well.

For what its worth, the plan is for him to be softening and organically growing as he gains adventuring wisdom, and gets to witness the growing powers of his fellow adventurers.  There'll always be dwarf in him though.

Point of Clarification: When you are stating an action that may require a roll for a class skill or such, go ahead and roll without my prompting.

Just curious, what color is goblin blood?  Inquiring minds want to know?

Blue
Red
Green
Yellow
Purple

Also do they explode on impact?    ROFL    "Goblin go Bada-Boom"

That would be a dark green, a similar, but darker tint than hunter green.

Uthecar - roll a d20 + strength bonus.  I'll let you know if you make it - be a helluva throw if you did.

both rolls failed.

That's gotta be a good'un

05:41, Today: Uthecar Hornskin II rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Goblin Toss.

Edited.  Sorry I got carried away using the damage modifier.  We're just trying to clear the stream at this stage so it is still a 'to hit' type thing
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Wed 12 Oct 2016.

Good evening (1039pm here right now).

So, we're off to a good start - a bit faster posting rate than I expected, tbh.  Just fyi, though, as things are going to slow a good bit as I begin my busiest season of work.  I'm an insurance agent, and it's the health care open enrollment season for several products.

I expect I'll get down to about 1 post per week for the foreseeable future.  This is what I had in mind when I started the campaign, so it shouldn't really be a shock, but I did want to give you guys a head's up.

Thanks for playing...looking forward to getting that door open!

I'm good set whatever pace you need to.

Hope the enrollment thing goes well

In reply to The Seer (msg # 186):

I'm all for a slower pace > you guys are posting fiends. :)

Morning (Sat 15th 6.31am) I'm guilty of being the most recidivist poster, but if the posting rate should becomes slower I'm okay with it.  I may not want it, but I'm okay with it.  I'd rather a good game than a fast game, and I think we have all the ingredients here for a good game.

Okay folks - I think a caller might be in order here - I want to keep things moving in linear progression, but it has to make sense.  So if Myrrick says he's checking for traps, but Uthecar says he's running down the tunnel, I want to make sure that Myrrick's not finding the trap after Uthecar has a ton of rock fall on top of him.  If no caller is suggested, I will post in what seems the most logical order (to me), and we'll go from there.

A second thought as well.  You are all low level, so there's a chance one or more of you will die.  To that affect, it might behoove you to come up with an idea for a second character in the event the dice don't favor you.  That's not to say I'm going to try to kill you...but I will let the dice fall where they may.

All that to conclude: Game on - good luck!

Oh I've always got ideas for new characters.

I have the inkling of an idea, Uthecar Hornskin III.

Regarding infravision:

So, all of us are old enough to remember black and white TV's with the knob channel changer, no remote control, knob volume control - many of them actually can in a nice, wooden console, and last up to 20-25 years.

That's what infravision looks like - except grainier.  So while it is a helpful characteristic, there are fine details that you miss in the dark - that why dwarves have braziers and torches in their stronghold.

Put it this way: a thief with infravision is no better than a thief without when checking for traps - typically poison darts don't give off heat.

So sayeth the sage...

then I'm keeping my damn torch.

does a fart give off heat        lol

Only if you light 'em :)

No, but one of Uthecar's acts as a stinking cloud spell...

By the way - going back and reading...a small critique of myself:  My prose has sucked ass so far.  My spelling and grammar ain't much better.

I am pretty certain it's the hours I'm keeping - can barely keep my eyes open right now, but you all have lives too.  Needless to say: I'll endeavor to improve.

Cheers!

My little human butt likes torches, flashlights (yes, a synonym for those who speak the Queen's English instead of 'Murican), lanterns, and continual light spells.


FWIW


A couple days late and several dollars (pounds) short.

Here is a little nugget that I use to help me keep up.  Especially when you're in a hurry to get something put together and sent out and you didn't major in English.

   www.grammarly.com

It's basically an add-on application that helps with spelling, grammer, sentence structure and such.

I personally found it to be helpful in many ways, I actually bought a subscription for me and the family. Don't fret if you don't want to spend any money there is also a free version as well that they offer.

Check it out and decide for yourself

I think I remember your human (or possibly anothers) posting about a torch it had bought 5 years or so back Weasel, but come to think about it, it might just as easily been a hunting knife.

Starting off as mere mortals it's easy to overlook the basics like torches and foodstuff.  Usually, I'm pretty thorough about completing my character sheet, but given RL it was mostly overlooked apart from armour, weapon and iron rations this time.  Luckily Uthecar is pretty light on caring about almost everything else other than fighting at this point.

Thanks for the Grammarly tip, notice my much-improved grammatically correct posting?

I wonder how I get it to English spelling rather than American English, not that it really matters since most words are fairly interchangeable now.  My OCD does get rubbed the wrong way when I keep on getting a red underline when I spell words in any way other than American though.  Too pig headed to stop spelling armor as armour though, among other words.

I like British English.  Sounds, I dunno, educated - even Cockney has a bit of class lacking in American slang.

Then, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmVRKXkYQy8
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Wed 26 Oct 2016.

In instances like this where the door is potentially your enemy, by all means don't wait for me to tell you to roll, etc.  That'll speed things up a good bit, I think.

A half orc with claustrophobia...classic!

That's just the sound of the house settling, Bruno!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:03, Tue 08 Nov 2016.

Uthecar - good to hear the impact to you wasn't great.  Bad to hear the new house is closer to the big quake.  Hang in there - you and your family (and your country) are in my thoughts and prayers.

Quite so, Seer. Take care of yourself, Uthecar!

Cheers guys.  Wellington has been built with earthquakes in mind, except you don't actually expect a big one to happen.  The quake yesterday was apparently 50 times greater than the one that flattened some of Christchurch in 2011, but that was more a tear than a push up or so I believe.  There's been over 800 aftershocks and counting, but I am yet to feel any ground movement at all.  I do not need to feel any.  Currently sitting in a pub with my wife tasting the house Pilsner which is awesome, as our daughter does entrance exams for her new school, and the bar manager has just said yesterday the bar was an utter shambles with broken glass, stock and fallen plaster.  You really couldn't tell.  It's all ambient now with 'The Gambler' just come on the house sound track.  I strongly believe nothing will happen and I intend to stay that way.

Good to hear!
Cheers to your continued good health and safety!!

Nice to see you rollin' with the punches.

Preparation is a powerful thing. Good to hear that your managing things and you know when to hold them. Know when to walk away and know when to run....

(I could do this for hours!)

Keep taking care, comrade!

My father has been put in hospice.  Heading down to FL - posting will be intermittent at best, though I'll have the module with me.

Those of you who share other games w/ me, pass along the good word, please.  Gonna be a late night/early morning.

Our thoughts go with you and yours, comrade. Take care of yourselves!

I hope the transition is easy on you and your dad Seer.

I'll say a few prayers for you & your dad.

My deepest condolences.

Very sorry to hear, Mike. Will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Evening, Folks.  Dad passed this morning at 8:04 am, Eastern Time.

Dad was born Harry Elmer Eschbach on December 27, 1925.  He was a member of America's 'greatest generation' who gave up a dream to play professional baseball to join the US Army Air Corps.  He was a tail gunner in the B-24 Liberator, a heavy bomber, in WWII, making nearly 20 missions in the skies over Europe from 1943-1945.  Two months prior to VE Day, he lost his best friend Frank to flak over France.  They were like brothers & he claimed he didn't stop weeping for the loss until he returned home.

He used the GI Bill to earn an accounting degree from New York University.  He started a family, had three kids, then divorced.  A few years later he married again, had 5 more kids (I'm the 4/5 or 7/8 - take your pick) - needless to say, he was fruitful and multiplied.

He worked hard, taking the 4:15 train into New York City every morning, rarely getting home prior to 8pm at night.  Still, he found time to teach us how to play baseball, how to pray, how to brush our teeth and how to read.  He used to read to us out of Cooper's 'Last of the Mohicans'...and, of course, the Bible.

All of his children have been productive members of society, each more ready to offer respect to a stranger than expect it from a stranger.

He loved my mother dearly.  They celebrated their 54th anniversary some 5 days ago on November 15.

There is so much more to tell - this doesn't even come close to telling how great a man my father was.  But I do not weep, and ask that you not weep either.  Rather celebrate the man, his legacy and his life, for all are worth celebrating.

My thanks for your condolences - and your indulgence in reading what I've penned in Memory.

We should be ashamed to think we have it hard at times, when we hear stories like that Seer.  He's sounded like part of the grit and backbone that built America to greatness.  I'm really sorry to hear of your loss and pass on my condolences.  He would stand proud of the respect you show him, your words give a glimpse of his measure.

What you've offered here about your father is wonderful. I second what Uthecar said so well!

A wonderful eulogy, Mike, and I am even more impressed of this man! Truly, an American hero.
God's blessings, my brother, in the days ahead.

Your dad sounds like a good man to have known.  I thank him for his service to our country, there are so much we take for granted in this country.  It was men like that help make it so.  I Toast up my glass in his memory, and to his legacy that he has left behind.

May God bless and welcome him lovely into his arm.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:08, Mon 21 Nov 2016.

Thoughts and prayers to you and yours boss. Sorry for your loss.

I'm home, gents.  Sorry for the absence.  Sent my Dad off in fine fashion - thanks for all the well wishes.  I'm glad he went peacefully in his sleep.

I'll be posting something tomorrow, I think...if not, then definitely this week.

Cheers.

We're here and happy you're back with us. Welcome, back!

This marks 500 posts.  Auspicious.

I'm thinking of the next stage...will have something up today - taking a day off from work to get my feet under me...putting up the Christmas tree I think as well.

God Bless, all.  Merry Christmas season to all of you.

Thanks and many blessings to all as well this holiday season.

          **
          /\
        */  \
        / *  \*
      */    * \
      / *      \*
    */       *  \
    /   *        \*
  */______________\
          ||      

Issues retrieving photos from photobucket - anyone else have issues with that site?  Really slow, and I don't have an old computer.  Anyway, I'll have something for you tomorrow, if photobucket cooperates.

Photobucket's been wonky all week.  I put in 2 'WTF' emails to their help:  1 reply "We know there's a problem and we're working on it."

Ah, the old standby: F*** off and leave us alone.

I'll have a new map giving you a better picture up this weekend, if possible.  Open enrollment for Medicare ends on December 7th, so I'll be a bit more active (I think) after that...but honestly, this pace suits me, as long as you guys are content.

Cheers, and Merry Christmas, everyone.  Or Happy Hanukkah.  Or whatever flavor you prefer.  :)

Going through the process of selling a business, as well as moving house and cities on Thursday next week so a slow pace is fine.  If I am MIA Seer you have full robotic control of Uthecar.  If he should die, it would almost be poetic as his tabletop counterpart was killed when I missed a session back in 85.

LOL.  If Uthecar dies, it won't be because of poor NPC play.  :)

Love the pace!
Happy Holidays to all > I've been waiting for December all year! :)

Do we currently have a fire source

Lantern.  Think 30 minutes per flask of oil...

Hi gang - didn't want you to think I'd disappeared.  I'm hopeful this weekend will provide me the extra time necessary to move things along.  Part I of my busy season is finished, and the 2nd part should be less strenuous.  Barring any further unforeseen circumstances (knock wood) I think we'll be in pretty good shape through the rest of this year, into next.

woohoo. sounds good boss.

We're here and sufficiently patient!

cool!

new post tomorrow - am working, bringing the module with me & will get the next post up.

You'll note the right side is closed - since Uthecar stated that he would open it quickly, I figured he closed it quickly again.  He (and whomever else took a look-see) did not stay to inspect further because there was inspecting to do on the otherside.

Please state actions - rereading some post I think I didn't do so great translating some of your intents.  Be as clear as possible - that helps me help you!!!

Oh, and thanks for patience - it's been a long few weeks.  The aftershock is over, now normalcy is starting to return.  Hope I can bring you some consistency moving forward.

Ah, well done on the use of logic, Father Bruno!  Recall, however, absent any further clues, logic oft times proves faulty.

Not saying that's the case, although I'm not saying it's not the case either!!!


MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

In Bruno voice:

...

sigh

Each player is responsible for their own initiative.  fyi...

Post up - combat ensues!  I'll update the map tomorrow.

OMG - just read Zan's post.

'We come for your women!'

The goblins yell back, 'Take my wife, please!'

ooc: goodness, i'm old...Old Henny Youngman line, in case you don't know.

Nicely played, Zan!  Made me laugh!

"Presents" awarded, such as they are.  Not all were immediately useful, but we'll see how they play out.

Hope everyone got all they wanted from Krampus (btw: quick story.  My face to face group got together before Christmas and we faced Krampus.  He was a demon, a big one...we lost one party member, but killed Krampus and saved the kiddies from a bad end).

I love gaming!!!

RE: Initiative - I'm using the first roll you make at the start of combat.  Sometimes that's good, sometimes not so much...

Bruno - it's about 60 feet, so I see your point.  All the hobgoblins are vanquished, as are the goblins.

So my birthday is on Saturday - I will be 48.  For those who care.  I certainly don't care - I feel pretty good, still look somewhat presentable (which was me on my best days anyway so...).


All that to say: I'm going to try to get a post in this weekend, but may not be until next week.


Until then, Slainte'.

I've got two years on you and feel more or less the same way about things.

Most days... ;)

Happy Birthday!

Well Happy Birthday to ya.

too funny, my bday is this Sunday, I'll be 48 + 4

  (Everything still works no drugs needed)

Happy Birthday Seer for Saturday, and you for Sunday Zan.  I hope you both have a great weekend.

I turned 48 back in July, and though I'm not in the best shape of my life, I'm not doing too badly if we add 20+ years of wear and tear.

Happy birthday one and all! Hope everyone has a great weekend. GO PACK!!

I guess me and Zan are the "old timers" in the group :)

And here I figured I was probably the oldest. Thanks for the relief!!!

How 'bout them Falcons!

anyone but the patriots,  tired of seeing them being so good for so long

In reply to Zan (msg # 256):

Of all the teams in the AFC I hate the Patriots and Steelers the most.
So...I'm pulling for the NFC this year...hopefully the Packers; but would mind seeing Matt Ryan get a Super Bowl ring.

I'm rooting for the Steelers due to spousal interest - her family is from just outside of Pittsburg.

I think I'd like to see a Pitt/Green Bay matchup - I like the history and tradition of both franchises.

A post is forthcoming...fyi.

Howdy.  Things are going to speed up now w/ action started.  Including my post rate.  Got a new all in one printer/scan/copy - old one died about 3 months ago - I swear I don't know how I did without it for that long!  Used my work all in one to post maps and such - awkward explaining to my co-workers what I was doing.  LOL!

Look for 2 posts per week now - think that's fair & I'll try to spread them out over several days so that everyone can be on the same timeline.

Great job so far fellers!  Thanks for playing.

Recall initiative is in order, highest to lowest.  Uthecar starts with a 1.  the fellow coming down the hall rolled a 4.

Map is up on the game map link at top of the page.  fyi.

GAME ON!

Those of you familiar with Dragonsfoot website probably know the author Gnarley Bones and his adventures in the land of song - heavy undead presences in all three modules and apparently the 4th and final installment of those adventures is coming soon.

Without giving out spoilers, those 4 modules would be my ultimate adventure. It would be at least a 10 year game, but well worth the effort as it would take you from modest mid-level adventurers to exploring other planes.

I'm REALLY excited to see the new module...to the point that I almost can't wait to finish this one.

That said, spoilers suck, so does meta gaming.  I know many of you have visited their site & likely seen the modules I'm speaking of. To the best of your ability, don't metagame if you can help it. I'm going to add some of my own surprises anyway, so you might get busted if you do...but honor system's in place.

Which brings me to my next point, something I touched upon in my last post. I am committing to you right now that I will stick to a 2x/week posting schedule to the best of my ability moving forward.

That should accelerate the game and make it more exciting and interesting. And this crawl has a lot to offer you guys in terms of leveling and some treasure that will prepare you down the road.

All that to say: Hail and well met, Gents - let's do this!!!

Bruno -

Curing him stops the bleeding and in my world effectively brings him up to 0 HP. Weasel is unconscious. Casting another cure wounds spell will repair the amount of healing that's rolled - i.e. if you roll a 5 on an 8 sided die, he's healed for 5 points of damage and is up and mobile.

of course, he was bit by a ghoul...

Have I ever mentioned I have a pathological fear of the undead?  Yeah well I do.  Hate them, hate them, hate them.  I think it has more to do with the potential XP loss than anything else.  Is there anything scarier than that?

This is possibly meta-gaming, apologies if it is but we need to know.  Is minus hp just to be considered unconscious, with -10hp being dead?  The difference is of some importance given the nature of ghouls and weasels recent fainting fit.

I use the -10 true death measure of death, however I'm not above sticking some 'DM's caveat' into certain rules.  For instance, when is death really death when it comes to a character who's been bit by something like a ghoul or lycanthrope?

We'll play it by ear - since Wine Guys given me plenty of leeway with his character, I can make things really interesting.

On the other hand, and especially given that this dungeon is a lot harder than I think I gave it credit for, I might go easy on y'all.

Wouldn't count on it though...

;)

As for meta-gaming: you guys are always welcome to ask questions. I will always answer them at my discretion!

:)

well... crap.

Well put, Myrrick!  LOL!

I am assuming a retreat is the order of march for the group.

I will be posting this weekend sometime, please let me know if anyone disagrees with the plan of actions between now and then.

Thanks

Yep retreat

Rather than the general marching order, would the injured order be more appropriate?

General Marching Order

Injured Marching Order


I'm easy either way really, but Uthecar in the front doesn't seem to make the best sense as less care would be taken of Weasel if a fight erupted.  At least he'd have a chance to put him down first if he was in the second rank, otherwise the poor boy will be partly shield as Uthecar joked IC.

Paralyzed by ghouls is written as a rigid form of paralysis, (unless you say otherwise Seer) so he would be a little cumbersome to carry.

In reply to Uthecar Hornskin II (msg # 271):

This makes good sense to me!

Hang tight: I'll be posting sometime today.

:)

Gang - A spell thread's been put up - help me help you by keeping track of your spell lists there.

you can private line me in that thread if you don't want to share your surprises w/ the other players.

Thanks!

More issues with accessing RPOL this week. strange. The last couple months have been pretty poor for me.

Sorry for the delay.

You guys have nearly an entire dungeon to explore - wouldn't worry too much about the surrounds outside...consider that part of the whole 'idea roll' thing from last week...

:)

Then let's get cracking!
Kick that damn door in and let's rock!! :)

Don't you have to finish eating first before bossing the rest of the gang around?

New Thread: Day 2

Welcome back to Quesqueton. Have some nifty surprises in store for the intrepid party this go around! Looking forward to killin...er, lauding you with oodles of treasure!

Good stuff Uthecar and Zan -  like the idea of turning the tides. Strategy seems sound. Of course, the DM might have some plans in place...oh, wait. I'm the DM.

Scribble, scribble, scribble...

We obviously go down the other side than the side you thought we were going to go down.

I got it.  we will walk in backwards.   that will confuse the goblins.  they'll think that we are leaving.    ;)

:o)

what, a smilie face isn't meaningful?

Howdy all. Some good stuff coming up, looking forward to y'all opening the door.

Mwahahahahahahaha! (best Vincent Price laugh...)

Updated Map coming NLT this weekend. Loamy smell is slight thus far, almost mildewy.  see rewards thread - 790 posts deserves a reward...

Please note the change to message 37 in the current thread: I changed 'south' to 'down the corridor' in the opening sentence. Directions are nearly irrelevant inside Quesqueton.

Sorry for the confusion.

A "you are here" note or symbol, like an "X" would be helpful to know where we are exactly on the map :)

Always a critic in every group.

'Sigh'...

LOL - next update to the map, i'll update the map with markers.

Map up in the Game Map link at the top of the page - I have to do a better job shrinking the pick, but should give you a bit of clarity.

P = Party

H = Hobgoblins

I'll post further clarity on the situation, tunnels, etc. once everyone's had a chance to reply.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:49, Tue 25 Apr 2017.

I'm back (been back for a bit, actually) so we should be back on a 'normal' posting schedule.

Happy to be back, though there's a lot to be said for relaxation...

In effort to keep things as organic as possible, I'm not going to offer advice beyond the suggestion that you make assumptions at your own peril. That doesn't mean your right or wrong, just that right can be wrong in this dungeon, and vice versa.

Furthermore, you're playing very low level, inexperienced characters who are just getting around to finding their way in the world. As such, they're not going to make the intuitive leaps you guys, as experienced players, would make.  Be careful of metagaming, because in certain parts of this adventure, it might turn out really bad for the party.

I love playing low level characters b/c they're so ignorant, and their high mortality rate makes things interesting. Have fun with your characters, work hard to keep them alive (which, to all of your credit, you have done thus far), and take what comes. And don't make assumptions!!!

(kind of like Gandalf telling Bilbo and Co. "Don't stray from the path!" before riding away from the edge of Mirkwood!)

That's all I got. Good luck.

Gaming weekend - my 3rd edition group getting together Sunday, first time in a few months.  Woohoo!!!

Also, will be posting tonight for sure - hopefully most are around this weekend. Should be some excitement coming your way!!!

Envy the table top stuff! My group is now lucky to get together every few months as well.

Shoot, I can't honestly remember the last time that sat down around a table to play

When describing your actions, be specific. In this instance 'door' was referenced a couple times by different party members. Are you talking about the door where you ran into the hobgoblins?

Or the door sitting on the north wall of the right/left corridor?

All that to say, I'm going to assume what you meant to move things along.

Thanks!

My table game a blast yesterday. My elven ranger hooked up w/ a dryad. Yes, I am a geek.

LOL.

I will post here tonight.

New Map posted to the 'Map Thread' not the 'Game Map' link at the top of the Rpol page. fyi. keep in mind the original right/left corridor that you're departing from as well - that leads into darkness. Fwiw.

Since dungeon crawls become a bit stale if there is too much crawl, pick a direction and i'll push things along.

Hope everyone is well.

Another new map is up, replacing the old map that is now obsolete.

Might due for everyone to take a gander. Some flesh appearing on the bones of the dungeon, to mix a very appropo metaphor...

Cheery thoughts for a rainy night in South Carolina!

Ugh... the GM is mixing metaphors. We're in trouble now!

Cheery thoughts for a sorta-spring night in New York!

...but is it more trouble than before?

Cheery thoughts from a cloudy autumn day in Wellington.

What part of NY?

I spent a good bit of time on Long Island during my youth. Graduated from Massapequa High many, many years ago now.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 302):

NYC -- Brooklyn. We moved here from Sacramento, CA at the end of 1995.

I've heard of Massapequa -- I may have met somebody you went to school with....

So, my 30 year reunion is in October.

I guess I wouldn't be shocked if you met someone who graduated in '87. A bit surprised, but not shocked. I had about 500 classmates graduate with me.

I'm not much on reunions with people I don't like, so I am not planning on going. My college and Navy years were far more important to me.

In reply to The Seer (msg # 304):

I'm only a few years older than you (class of 84), but I know exactly how you feel about reunions. Of any sort, but particularly H.S., etc. I've never attended one (went to a school only slightly larger than yours in West Sacramento) and probably never will.

One of the things I've found interesting about living here is how few native New Yorkers one meets,  as everyone is from some place else originally. That said, there are more Long Islanders here than folk from anywhere else, I think, or maybe that's just an impression.

Coming from Cali where almost everyone was from some place else at least a generation prior I've found it interesting how similar NYC is. Sure, everyone knows this place is diverse, but that the diversity is significantly within the last generation or two was kind of surprising.

Go figure!

Most native NYer's move away. Winters are horrible, Taxes are horrible, Costs of living are horrible.

I find myself quite happy in L'il Ol' South Carolina...

C'mon down, if ya ever have the chance, ya hear?

LOL!

Happy Tuesday > the weather can't decide if it's going to rain or if the sun is going to shine > from the beach in NC!

The only class reunion I went to was the 10th, although I really should have attended the 30th. Only 129 in my graduating class of 1981; small farming/mining community in Virginia; we've already lost several classmates. I definitely plan on attending our 40th.

Nawlins

Coming from Northern California where winters are cold and wet, but not snowy, etc. I've found them to be great here. Granted, there are few things less-good than a snowy city street 3 or 4 days AFTER the snow (well, 'wintery-mix' might be worse), but I can deal with it.

What I hate are the summers. Humidity sucks and it's something I didn't really know until moving here.

I remember. What's worse is that most of the older homes in NY don't have central A/C. At least in SC we can go inside to cool off.

"The place sort of wreaks of weird wizardry to me even without the big talking lips back there."


Mick Jagger?

When we moved here we landed in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and managed to keep the same apartment for 19 years. Probably part of the reason we adapted as quickly as we did is that it actually had central a/c (apparently the previous owner of the building had been the local bookie and he spent the money to have it put in). It's only in the past few years since we had to move into another place in the neighborhood next door that we've had to live with lousy in-window units.

The only time I have ever lived in an apartment was for about 8 months in my 20's.  I can't say I liked it.  Air conditioning was opening the window, which brought the car fumes up from the street below.  It was either completely bake or be partially baked as we were fumigated.  It wasn't pleasant.

I have to admit, most of the apartments I stayed in in my late 20s were nice, but there was one on Nolensville Pike in Nashville that was pure ghetto. Like drive-by ghetto.

My first month there, a drive by occurred in the street that ran next to the complex. A couple of months later, the woman in the apartment directly across from me stabbed her boyfriend because he didn't share his crack.

LOL - I was only there 6 months, but it says something to the nature of my stupidity (or stubbornness) that I stayed there that long. But the rent was REALLY cheap...

Ha! Fun times!

(Oh, and the bar up the street called the Elyssian Inn. It was anything but paradise, unless you liked...well, the less said and all that!!!

Howdy - sorry for the delay, had some family stuff going on, not bad, just had more to do on the 'honey do' list than I thought.

New map is up. Party has a decision: explore the tunnels in the lower quadrant or continue along what appears to be the outer passageway.

Hey! I've got a trade show to attend this week, so I'm going to be unable to pay attention until this weekend. Until then!

Have fun (I think)!

You buying or selling?

I'm back! I'm a consultant in the publishing biz and this week has been Book Expo America. Soo... I'm on both sides of your query, Zan: much of my work is helping small publisher build their programs and the rest is selling myself as somebody that can help.

Here's to it!

So the last module of the Land of Song was finally published on Dragonsfoot. It looks amazing - I realize so saying that asking you to not read it is like asking children to not seek out toys prior to Christmas. All I ask is that you not metagame.

Frankly, it's a 4 module series. With the current modules +4, I think we've got a decade of good roleplaying to look forward to, depending on health and motivation of course.

If nothing else, it'll give us something to keep us motivated!!!

:)

We're no longer children though Seer.  We tell kids about Santa Claus to create mystery and spice, and speaking for myself I won't go hunting on Drafonsfoot for the very same reason.

To clarify - no offense, meant. It was a simplistic analogy, and in hindsight I probably should've left analogies out of it...

And I definitely appreciate the sentiment - I am like you from that perspective: i want my surprise to be, well, a surprise.

Certainly no offense taken.

LOL.

I get a sense of great relief from the players that they've actually got something to do besides wander aimlessly through the corridors Rogahn and Zelligar built...

A philosophical question:

Magic resistance has an opportunity to negate magical spells.

What if a spell is clerical, however? You could argue that divine magic is a boon from your deity...with that in mind, it is far more esoteric than mage-craft, thus, in some ways more powerful given its divine nature.

I've always played that MR affects both magical and clerical spells, but I'm open to other arguments and interpretations.

Discuss...

I like the idea that Clerical magic is inherently different from Wizardly magic. It makes sense at a basic level given that while nothing aside from losing the intellectual capacity (i.e., Intelligence) to memorize and cast spells can actually take the Magic User's spell casting ability away from him, a Cleric's god DOES NOT have to grant him spells. that is, coming directly from the god worshiped, if the PC fails to behave in accordance with the belief system of his Deity, then he should lose his ability to cast the Clerical spells the god bestows.

[NOTE: I found the 1st Edition Spells on a website for easy reference when we started playing this game (http://pandaria.rpgworlds.info...ules/adnd_spells.htm) and note that they provide the following at the beginning of the Clerical spells list, which sort of underlines that there is a moral obligation related to spell use by Clerics that does not exist in the same way for Magic Users:

The reversal of some spells might well place the cleric in a questionable position with respect to alignment. The use of spells which promote weal must be shunned by evil clerics in many cases. Likewise, spells which are baneful may be used only at peril by clerics of good alignment. Incautious use of spells will change the cleric's alignment, if such usage continues unchecked, and it is up to the player to guard his or her character's alignment with care. In any event, the cleric must decide which application of a reversible spell will be used prior to learning it i.e. it is not possible to have one spell both ways. In like manner, the mere request for a spell (or its opposite) through prayer will not guarantee that the spell will be given to the cleric. As the spell level becomes higher, confidence will decrease that that deity will concur.]

This doesn't mean that morals and ethics don't apply to Magic Users, this is what Guilds and other mundane organizations are supposed to be providing/ensuring (this is also where witchhunts, etc. come in to play), but it does mean that their spellcasting is reliant only upon their own training and innate capability to cast. Whereas a Cleric's is entirely based up his standing with the Deity granting the spell.

So, as long as the game is being run and played properly then either making it that Divine Magic is not affected by Magic Resistance OR making Magic Resistance specific to types of magic (i.e., Non-Divine or Divine) would be reasonable. That said, since the latter is not implicit already in the rules and stats of Monsters, et al. it adds a layer of complication, and the former might unbalance the system?

In other words, this is exactly the sort of reason I hate each edition of D&D. Please don't misunderstand me, after 36 or so years since being introduced to AD&D and through it rpging I have a sentimental affection for it and the highest regards for Gygax and Anderson and everyone else that created the original system.  HOWEVER, since those days as rpg systems have become ever more sophisticated there are systems that manage this sort of stuff elegantly and effectively without accretion like this adaptation would effectively be.
_{Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.}

There is so much left to DM interpretation in 1st edition that later editions seem to micromanage everything despite the fact that, in many ways, they made things more seamless and easier to manage from both the player and DM perspective.

In regards to Magic Resistance: one of the things that could apply here re: the divine 'spells' is whether the creature is an 'outsider' of sorts. i.e. a deva or solar, a demon or devil, etc. If that is the case, than perhaps the outsider's magic resistance works specifically against divine spells that run counter to its alignment.

Would like to hear more perspectives, especially from those who have played clerics before.

Seer you've posted again as I was typing, not that it matters, but some of your points are mine as well.



This looks suspiciously like an exam question.  :-)



I see the essence of the question answered in the question itself.  Spells are magical.  Whether it is divine or arcane in nature does not really concern this edition of ADND, unless there is a desire to add a level of complexity.

As Bruno points out when we delve into the depths of later editions we see various factions coming up with fixes for issues that they thought needed fixing which adds to the complexity and I think in essence begins to move the game away from freeform play and dumb down DM's.  You don't need to be creative and think up a solution, just turn to page blah, blah, blah and there's your pre-thought out answer.  Or rather than the DM (and players) coming up with a dice role solution one is already provided.  The more pessimistic side of me also says additional rules are mostly revenue driven.

Having said that some fixes are very helpful or insightful, but as the crinkles get ironed out, other smaller issues are also seen needing to be 'fixed' until all of a sudden we find ourselves in a heavily regulated environment.

In addition I believe the words of caution that Bruno shows for cleric's was written at a time when guidelines were being provided to players new to role-playing so they got a feel for the essence of the character class and game.  They have never been updated as they still serve as a good warning.  However, we have all developed and those guidelines are far too simple for the games we play.  For instance I would argue a good cleric could learn an unlimited number of Cause Wound spell's without punishment if he was using them like a mace to harm those that oppose his god's ethics.  Who would challenge that?  Is that one example going to fit every situation - NO - but our own better role-playing and understanding will.

It's all about perspective really, and the fact that we can have a philosophical discussion about a fantasy game means there is no right or wrong, right?

Correct! I'm open to all interpretations of the rules...gives us something to ponder as you all wander lost through the dungeon.  LOL!

I've always played that spell resistance encompasses both arcane and divine magic.

Post coming tonight.

Cheers Myrrick.

Hey, can't let my dwarf buddy die yet.

and I like your answer to the puddle fighting question.

Post tonight. Very busy week.

Rode hard, put up wet. You'll forgive me (I hope) if I don't post until this weekend - likely tomorrow, but perhaps as late as Saturday.

Pretty tired, folks - thanks for the understanding.

Take care of yourself Seer!

No worries, brother!

Thanks, gang. Needed a downtime weekend - went to a ballgame yesterday, church and some bbq today.

That said, new post coming Monday, without fail!!!

So, I really meant Tuesday -

Thanks for understanding. Last week was one of those weeks. This week, however, has gotten off to a much better start.

Party's move...

Hi All - Called out of town at short notice - deathly sick parent that has pulled through.  Not back home until Friday your time.  Only mobile phone as internet connection and can't be bothered typing much this way.

Seer FYI AFK thread says it is closed so can't post notification there.

Safe travels and prayers for your family.

What Kullonar said.

stealing 1000... I know a certain King of Thieves who would be very proud.

So, my printer crapped out - fortunately, it's only 6 months old, but I have to wait two weeks for parts.

In the meantime, I'll be describing things as well as I can, and will update the map as soon as I can.

Time out. I need to figure out what you guys are doing. The only door visible is the secret door, and you guys are inside.

Unless I'm completely off my rocker, in which case I've allowed this game turn into a shit show, which is my fault.

And before I go any further, I got the part, it doesn't work HP is sending me a refurbished printer to replace the brand new one I bought 7 months ago. fuckers.

worse, I had to talk to someone named Lucy who I will guarantee is not really named Lucy...

Aggravated - someone help me square this away. And look at the last map for reference.

Thanks

The MGMT, who've been sacked by upper mgmt, who've also been sacked...

(I'm getting better...).

Glad you said something Seer, I've been wondering about the secret door myself.  We're on the right page, the others seem to have muddled info.  Shall we just stick with Uthecar leading on and getting out of the room?

Looking at the last map, edited June 14, it seems we are at a secret room in the middle of a hallway...which is weird, but that's how dungeons were often designed.
Since this room is full of illusions and shit, I say we carry on up the corridor and see where it leads.
Uthecar, lead on...please!!

lol, add me to the confused list.    Following Uthecar lead

So, printer's not here yet, but I think I'll post tonight anyway. I'll try to keep you guys on track best I can.  We'll see - once I look at the module, I'll know if that'll work or not. There're a lot of subtleties in this dungeon - EGG was good for that.

I'm thinking those subtleties, gonna get us.    LOL

Yes, well, Hewlitt Packard sent the new printer, that was actually a refurbished printer...without the part installed. The same part that was bad to begin with. They further instructed I use the bad part in the refurbished printer to see if it would work (it, of course, did not).

I explained that I wanted a new printer, they said they could not do that. I said then that I wanted a refurbished printer with a new part installed.  They said I could not do that either.

I asked what they could do, they said they would send another replacement for the dysfunctional part. It would get here by Monday of next week.

So, that's how my evening went...

What you're going through here, Seer, is just flippin' horrifying. Sheesh!

So, I reached out to Amazon, from whom I bought the offending HP Office Jet Printer.

They sent me back a pithy email apologizing for my inconvenience, AND offering me three choices:

1- keep the refurbished unit and get 30% off my next Amazon purchase.

2- send the original unit back to them for a NEW replacement.

3- send the original unit back to them and get a full refund.

I'll be calling HP tonight after work in effort to take advantage of choice number 3. I will then use the refund to purchase a new, non-HP printer.

What kind of hp printer is it.  (sounds like you got a lemon, I'd pick Option 3 as well if they are trying to push a refurbished unit on you)


For what it's worth.
I've got a  hp 8600 all in one printer  (Prints, Faxes, Copies, Scans) for the home. Had it for more than 2 years works like a champ.  Bought it at Costco for like 150.

Yes, it sounds as if #3 is the way to go. Here's to it!

Yeah, you just got a bad unit, brother. Option 3 and get you a Brother printer. I love mine.

Yeah it's a bad unit, but I'd go with a Brother as well.  I swear by mine though it is a MFC - multi function centre including laser printing, fax and scanning.  Probably costs a little more, but A. I live in NZ and everything cost more, and B. I used it a lot for reports.   It's only black and white because I don't need colour but the cartridge will do 5,000 prints.

Mine was an HP 8610 Office Jet All in One.

I had a Dell 966 for nearly a decade. It was awesome (I still use it for making copies), but it's not compatible with Win 10, unfortunately.

I'll survive, but damn if it's not a pain in the ass to get work done without a printer.

Yeah my previous printer was also a Brother and I'd had it 8 years and it was still going strong.  Window 10 made it obsolete.  The new printer I have has done 20,000 copies and a little concerned I asked the technician whether it was close to the end of its life.  He had the exact same model in for servicing from a major corporation and it had done 220,000+ copies.

Having said that there is no telling whether any model you buy doesn't crap out.  They're all mass produced to a budget and there will always be a certain percentage expected to go bung.  I think it's more about whether you turn out to be the happy camper that gets it?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Thu 20 July 2017.

Absolutely correct.

Old Henry Ford considered a ground breaker, but in the end, all he did was teach folks how to produce crap for less.

Lol,  on the Henry Ford thing. Very true

With that said, I'm in the process of restoring an 1950 ford pick up truck

That's fantastic - when you get finished, or even feel the desire to share before hand, I'd love to see some pics!

In reply to The Seer (msg # 362):

Wow! I'm not a car guy (I may be the only native Californian relieved to move to NYC, becaus I could get rid of my car), but my father is, so... Somehow I've got an interest. Please do share!