This is the place (obviously) where we can discuss mechanics, game stuff, rules, or even non-game related, if so desired and inspired.

To begin, please share a bit about what you hope to get out of this game. What do you hope to see in this Numenera game?

Hey everybody!
I'm excited to get to play Numenera with you all. Quick question, where do you want us to post the character sheet? Should we PM it to you or did you want us to post them publicly in the character creation thread?

If you want us to put it in the Character Details you need to open them up for us through the GM menu.

Hello, everyone!

I have two basic things I'd like to get out of this game:

1. A chance to taste the Numenera setting more deeply, as amplified by the imagination of our GM, and
2. To do awesome things^TM with my character and watch you guys do awesome things^TM with yours!

What you said, Esperon!

I am hoping to explore the world of numenera and tackle some of its challenges. I love the flavor of the game, but so far it has only been flavor. I want to bite into it and see what kind of adventures the game support.

As I told the GM, I appreciate a bit more structure to the adventure in this setting, because I am not really sure what the heck is out there. I think its cool, but I don't really know what "it" is.

I am excited to see not just how the GM imagines this world, but you guys as players as well. I am looking forward to it.

I went ahead and opened up the Character Details and copied the template into them for you.

Thanks for your patience as I find my way around the GM side of RPoL.

Greetings and salutations, fellow adventurers! I am the fabulous Kaelan Drell... but if you cross my palm with a few shins, I'll let you call me Kae.

I'm not actually new to Numenera (or the Cypher system at all -- https://imgur.com/a/eMGuj -- I have a slight problem). However, one of my favorite parts of the system is how mutable it is, and how GMs can have sweepingly different interpretations and treatments of the world, and still be easily valid.

I'll be the outgoing, gregarious Face of the group... so expect a lot of shmoozing. And silk, when I can get it. :)

Well, that would make me your extraordinarily tough, wily and resourceful bodyguard, Esperon! :-)

This is good. I may be fabulous, but proper accessorizing means I'm also a bit squishy. Meat shields are always appreciated.

First of all, Kaelan, I'm jealous of your bookshelf.

Should be interesting how we all get along. Hurley isn't a quiet brooding type of Glaive. He likes to have some fund make some noise. Plus a good hustle never hurt anyone (not true but don't interrupt me).

Mostly I'm just hoping this game makes it out of character introductions. That's as far as any Numenera game has gotten for me here on RPOL.

Really? I've been involved in one set around Jargolamis for a few months now :-) Unfortunately, the story has stayed tied to the area right around Jargolamis as well, so I hope we break that trend here.

Looking forward to this!

Oh, that's not a bookshelf. THIS (https://imgur.com/a/RIQvH) is a bookshelf. I have had an addiction for far too many decades.

I'm right there with ya!
Except wife declared that my books stay in a closet - there's gotta be some joke to be made there. What's amazing is that I have probably as many books, but very little overlap! I am overwhelmed with D&D books from various editions, plus a much smaller number of WoD stuff, Rifts and SR. Still, your collection around the 9th world is pretty impressive.

As convenient as the online tools are as compendium resources and character generators and such, I just can't give up the feeling of sitting with one of those books in my lap and flipping through. Efficiency be damned!!!

Many books, but many more PDFs in recent years. Easier to store and fire-proof. :-)  Lost a few over the years. My favorite "saved it" moment was when I finally found my Doctor Who RPG books from FASA after thinking I threw them out! Huzzah :-)

Yeah. :) PDFs are nice for reference... but I find it much easier to quick-check when DMing or playing in a real book. Too many years of practice.

Not me. Failing vision requires the ability to search & bookmark better.

The Numenera book was a gift from my family for Father's Day--and I had to buy a flashlight-magnifying glass to read it :-(

What a great gift from the family!

I do miss quick-flipping via Post-its on the edge of pages, but I'm a digital guy now. I have to rely on the bookmarks in Adobe Reader to jump between pages. It's building a whole new synapse path. I do like the zooming with my aging eyes and all.

I do say though... there's something about cracking that big book and flipping those pages... kinda miss it...

So, some background-building basics:

1. Where in the Numenera world are we starting?
2. Where are your PCs from?
3. Do we know each other from prior travel or not?

Hurley reached out to me in PM to discuss a connection already, but I'd like to hear more about everyone's characters. I will confess I have too many ideas for mine so I need help narrowing my background :-)

The adventure is going to be starting in the Steadfast in the country of Ancuan, about halfway between Kaparin and Rachar. The town is called Groshdou, with a population around 300.

I like to kick off the adventure tailored around the motivations of the characters. Once you get your backgrounds and goals established I'll fill in the rest so you have a reason to be where you are at the start of the game.

My background is still in the works, but I'm actually based in Kaparin... a relatively well-known (if somewhat eccentric and flamboyant) merchant. I craft light weapons and armor of excellent quality, each with its own unique, recognizable touch, despite being personalized to each customer (meaning not a lot of backstock, or really any, to be found). He also has recently dabbled in the collection and resale of oddities, although that has been the source of a recent downfall, and why he's now looking to go out and adventure: The purchase of one oddity pretty much wiped out all of his stock, and most of his capital, in one day... and so Mr. Charming obviously went toward adventurers he knew (because he'd sold to/bought from them in the past) to help him rebuild his personal capital, the hard way.

As to connections, I snagged two:

- One would allow one of you to choose a light armor or weapon in your current inventory that I sold to you in the past.
- The other is similar, in that you also purchased an item from me, but it is very recent, and allows you to add it as a new item in your current inventory (outside of what you generated) -- again light armor or weapon. This has been claimed by Hurley

First come, first served, and I'll work out the details with you in PM.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Tue 12 Sept 2017.

Thoughts from me tomorrow!

Greeting 9th Worlders!  just checking in finishing up character Mad Nano who converses or tries to with machines. Looking forward to the game.

Hi all, just a heads up that I'm not well so will be a day or two more away.  Have spent the last two days asleep for the entire day.

In reply to Ghayth (msg # 22):

Hope you feel better. Rest up, take care of yourself. Health is priority #1. We'll be here when you're ready.

Work has thrown me a curveball, so more thoughts from me later tonight (if I have brainpower left) or early tomorrow (if not). :-)

Just an update, all...

I'll be putting up an intro to the adventure in the next couple of days. Don't worry, I won't leave anyone behind. Ghayth, if we start rolling before you're back on your feet, not to worry. It'll be easy enough to slip you in.

To clarify my earlier statement, the adventure starts in Groshdou, but the party mostly meets up in Kaparin.

Eli Bumgarner, with us starting in west Iscobal you're now about 1000 miles/1600 kms from Auspar. What got you to Kaparin?

It looks like Esperon, Kaelan Drell, and Hurley Kosson all know each other to some degree. The adventure will be based on a bit of information Kaelan receives from a contact in his line of work, so if that helps anyone who needs to come up with why they are in Kaparin, maybe that will help.

So with that info, if you all want to come up with what got you to Kaparin or if you're simply a resident of the city, go ahead and do that. It will be enough to get the campaign going, so you don't have to feel like you need your whole bio or backstory conceived before we get rolling.

Working out some backstory with Hurley; chances are Esperon followed Hurley there.

Kaelan, how would you react to a guy who never bought anything, who didn't believe in weapons or armor? I was thinking you might fit this connection for me:

In reply to Esperon (msg # 26):

Well, while he does craft armor and weapons, he also did a farly decent trade in oddities as well, so you might have purchased those from him -- but considering not everyone fights with weapons (nanos, for instance, with powers and such) -- unless Esperon went on at length deriding the products Kaelan made...

So Hurley has taken the special new peice of light armor/weapon connection to me. Any takers for having purchased one of their starting peices of equipment from me in the past?

I vote for Eli :-)

Here are all four of my options--need to pick one that sounds interesting to you guys:

1. Pick one other PC. She/he seems to believe that the only true weapons are those that you can hold in your hand, and he might look at you with disdain.
2. Pick one other PC. This person seems incredibly unaware of her body and always happens to get in your way. If you miss your foe and accidentally hit someone else in close range, it’s likely to be her.
3. Pick one other PC. You once trained with a close friend of her/him, and you owe that mutual friend much.
4. Pick two other PCs. Once these two heard about your skills, they expressed interest in being your students. However, only one seems to have any aptitude.

Eli or Kaelan, maybe we could do #3?

Who is this Gaelan Krell character in the first pose? Hrm? :P

Esperon: I'm good with #3. Perhaps the friend was a regular supplier/customer of mine?

Haha good catch and my apologies! Must have Krill on the brain from watching the season premiere of The Orville last night. Yeah, that's it! ;)

I would be more than happy to have obtained gear from Esperon.

That sounds perfect!

ElI: Did you mean get gear from me? I still have that general slot left.

Just an FYI for you all: some of my commitments have lighted up a bit for the time being, so I'll be able to post daily. For those of you who would like to post more often than 3x a week you are welcome to do so. Of course, as the expectation was originally set for 3x a week at minimum you can still post at that rate if that's more comfortable for you.

All good! No rush from me.

I'm happy to post more often for a while if folks are into it. As I am available at the moment, I'll follow whatever pace you guys set for now.

Let me know if there is anything your PCs want or need to do while you're still in Kaparin. If not, I'll go ahead and move forward with the party going to Groshdou.

How many days' travel to Kaparin? Trying to determine if 3 days' rations are enough.

Also, anything we should know about the terrain between here and Groshdou? Any dangers?

yeah, same questions here - how much food do we need? Are there any obvious challenges we know we will have to deal with (a mountain range or a river for example). Also, do we have any way to carry salvage material larger than a backpack? Do we need a cart perhaps?

It's just under 3 days to get to Groshdou from Kaparin. There is a road that runs between Kaparin and Rachar which passes through Groshdou. It's a pretty well traveled road that passes along rolling hills and plains, so the landscape is pretty mild terrain.

Due to the road mainly used by merchants there have been some reports of bandit ambushes on occasion, but not to the point of great concern. Most caravans are accompanied by well trained persons-of-arms which helps keep the frequency of attacks at bay.

As for means of carrying materials... I would imagine Kaelan might have a cart that he uses for carrying materials. You're welcome to bring it if you think you might need it, but I can't imagine you will, and moreso, you may find yourself in environments where you may not be able to take it at some point. I'll leave it up to you as to whether or not you want to bring one.

I think we should buy more food, then. I have a few shins and will stock up on a couple more days myself.

Agreed. More food. Hurley likes to eat.

He's also super cheap when it comes to basic necessities. He only wants to pay up if it's something awesome or luxurious. So he will want to split the cost, and he won't decline if someone else offers to pick up the check, even if he has the shins. :-)

I'm buying another 2 days' rations, then.

---

FYI: packing tonight for a camping trip with my youngest son's scout troop and then leaving on said trip Friday night-Sunday morning, after which I will have to recuperate :-) Posting from me a bit today, then next on Sunday (if I'm up to it) or Monday (if not). NPC me on Friday-Sunday as necessary.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Thu 21 Sept 2017.

In reply to Esperon (msg # 45):

Totally appreciate the heads up! Have fun with the troops... sounds like a great time will be had by all!

Note that I very much intend to post again early tomorrow before I leave. Don't NPC me yet.

Good to know, Esperon. Have fun!

For the record, that is my first ever esotery used in Numenera. In that way, this game has already made it past a milestone for me!

Awesome! Here to hopefully one of many milestones!

FYI... as we've got a player 10 days MIA I'm considering recruiting a replacement. I'll wait until after the weekend once Esperon is in full play again though.

Hey all, I'm here. Spent a few days laid up due to vertigo. Hope to post soon.

In reply to Kaelan Drell (msg # 50):

Oh boy... I hope it has passed. Having a close family member that went through that, I feel for you. Above all, take care of yourself. We'll be here when you're ready.

Agreed, hope you feel better soon!

That was my IC post for the weekend--I'll be back in the swing of things Monday.

I just recruited another player. Although I didn't wait until after the weekend like I said I would (pants ablaze), they'll still be putting a character together and whatnot so it will still be after the weekend at the earliest that they'll be joining.

All good. Welcome, New Player!

All right. Back, and not swimming in Anti-Vertigo meds. Will take a bit to catch up, and I apologize for any weirdness in the responses trying to tie things off. :)

Welcome back everyone! Hope you had a great time with the troops, Esperon!

Kaelan, glad you're feeling better and more grounded!

Yeah - welcome back all. Kaelan, hope your symptoms are under control.
I am going to let Kaelan handle the intro to our new "friend." Seems like his forte. If you are not feeling up to it, Kaelan, I totally understand. Let me know and Hurley will take it over.

Hullo all. I'm the aforementioned new player currently recuperating after weeks of illness which were finally given a proper diagnoses and treatment. I'll be up and right as rain soon, I hope. Looking forward to seeing everyone in game!

Welcome! Make yourself at home, grab a chair! We're glad to have you!

Cheers! I'm glad to be here. :)

How completely out of sight is the guy pulled? Or can we follow them through the crowd?

You can totally follow the crowd. Everyone is headed in the same direction. You'll be able to catch up with Mardrough; he's just a bit inaccessible until you all get to the town hall where they'll be holding him.

That event was a big sideswipe, I realize. The intrusions won't be such a big total blindside in the future..

Following the crowd is good enough--just trying to get a sense of how we move forward.

Yeah... I'm a bit confused on the rules being used here -- so basically, you require the spend of XP Before the 1/1XP offer is made? Homebrew? (Not complaining, just checking)

No. When the GM intrudes, here's options:

1. The player intruded upon spends 1 XP to avoid the intrusion.
2. The player accepts the intrusion and gains 2 XP. S/he hands out 1 XP to someone else at the table.

In this case, we couldn't refuse the intrusion because we had no XP. He also gave it to all of us, so he assumed we passed out the XP equitably to each other. No house rule, just a weird beginning moment.

Ah, I never read the rule that way... I always saw it as the player getting the intrusion having the option of spending their 1XP of the 1 and 1 to refuse the intrusion.

The rules do state that when the GM gives an intrusion and the player doesn't have the XP to decline it, they have to accept it.

That's an interesting way Esperon has of breaking it down. My intention of giving 2 XP was to:
1. bump up the XP early so you have it to burn later and...
2. to try to make up for the fact that I threw such a heavy intrusion at you all out of the gate. I hope that wasn't too much of a railroading. I believe it will be much less so as we go. Certainly feel free to call me out if it continues to feel that way down the road.

Oh! Please don't think I have an issue with it. I tend to be more giving with the Intrusions myself, but that likely stems from my reading as outlined. :)

Intrude away. :)

Yeah - frankly the intrusions are probably where the fun is :-)

So the group of us are not explorers, adventurers, nor even craftsmen. We're just a bunch of grifters!

Kaelan is a numenera-powered manipulator, Hurley is a bluffing showman who just happens to carry an axe, and Esperon is the muscle who intimidates when all the gee-whiz-flash-bang doesn't work.

This might as well be 'Now You See Me 3.' :-)

Does that make the GM the guy played by Mark Ruffalo?

Feel free to discuss what you want to do next, but I'd like to introduce our new player while you're still here in this building. Just want to give you a heads up before you move on.

You'll be joined by Arryanna, a Mutant who Howls at the Moon. Say hi, Arryanna!

Hello Arryanna, welcome to the game!

Hi, Arryanna! :D

Hello Arryanna!

Kaelan, Eli, anything to add to the IC thread?

Eli hasn't been on in a couple weeks. I reached out to see whether or not they're still interested in playing in this game.

Well, since it's evening and you guys have chosen to talk to the mayor, do you want to find out where she is and see her tonight, or do you want to wait until morning? Her attitude might depend on when you plan to talk to her...

I'm thinking morning, really.

Alright, as you have a majority that wants to talk to the mayor, we'll move forward and get you a place to conk out. If there's anything anyone wants to do before meeting with the mayor in the morning, let me know.

I just need to consult the magic pot and see what it thinks of our plan.
Just kidding.

The only thing I'd like to do tonight rather than just wait is to see the barkeep to examine the item he's hiding. If you don't want to, I'll wait till morning, but I think it makes sense to gather more clues.

Agreed with Hurley's plan.

It occurred to me this morning that I'm going to be offline 90% of this weekend. If you need my actions, go ahead and NPC me this weekend. I'll be back in action early Monday.

Thanks for the heads up, Esperon. If Hurley and Kaelan are both active I'll NPC you if need be.

Hurley or Kaelan, feel free to  take the lead on getting the party back to see Yrgan at the tavern tonight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:08, Sat 07 Oct 2017.

I say take the XP, Hurley--I'm ready to beat the guy up for you ;-)

Oh, you know I'm gobbling up the XP!
Bring him on - "You mess with the bull, you get the... pot...." Hmm, may not roll of the tongue quite yet.

There goes the big belly flop! It might even work in spite of my 2.

Thanks, Hurley!

Question, O good GM: what would be the difficulty of doing a leap over the bar so I can engage this man in hand-to-hand combat?

To completely clear the bar and land on the other side... that would be a DT3. He's not a terribly fast man, average middle age guy slightly out of shape (Level 2) but the bar is wide that not everyone could clear it in a single jump.

Only a 3???? So Hurley will make the leap if the liquid doesn't shut him down. I should have added effort to the defense roll :(
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Wed 11 Oct 2017.

Hopefully I'm using the right language. Difficulty Task 3 = Target roll 9.

Rolling like this is why I have Bennies in all my games. Yeesh.

Yes, that is the right language, but assets and training affect the DT directly. So a DT 3 gets lowered by 3 to a DT 0. That essentially means auto success I believe.

That would definitely be an auto success.


Bennies?? As in benefits? How do you mean?
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:29, Thu 12 Oct 2017.

"Bennies" are a mechanic from the Savage Worlds game. They're basically re-roll tokens. I give a limited number to counteract the tendency for the dice roller to go cold at dramatically inappropriate moments.

Ran out of time today. Update from me tomorrow.

Me too.

No worries. Thanks guys.

Does anyone want to swap out any of the found cyphers with ones that you have before moving on?

Also, are you looking to find a place to crash until morning or are you going to try to find the mayor tonight, or any other option?

I do not.



Was going to discuss that IC. Haven't decided yet.

Kaelan put his two cents in on that one. ;)

Hurley is on record IC wanting to crash for the night.

He will also drink his potion giving him Trained persuasion for 28 hours in preparation for the morning (seems like we may need it with the Mayor). Then he will take the Phase Changer Cypher.

If the others are good, I say we fast forward to morning.

Busy day for me--update tomorrow.

Woot!
16:20, Today: Hurley Kosson rolled 19 using 1d20.  Persuasion T plus Asset (maybe?)

OK guys - clock's ticking!

Sorry, make that tomorrow. Busier weekend than expected.

No worries, Esperon. RL comes first. This'll be here.

Nice roll, Hurley! Any thoughts on what you'd like to happen for a minor effect?

Maybe she takes a liking to Hurley and considers hiring him? Do they have a sheriff? Maybe she deputizes him to investigate. That might be a major effect, I don't know.

If that's too much, then perhaps Hurley just gets some political capital for down the road.

Let's say she considers your party an extension of the townsfolk, like an ally or a trusted liaison. So yes to gaining some political capital. A major effect might have encouraged her to risk remanding Mardrough to your custody.

Advanced warning: I am prepping for a business trip today, with the flying tomorrow, the all-day-meeting on Thursday and the flying back on Friday. If I do not post for a day (or even two) in the midst of this, do not be alarmed.

If I’m away inconveniently long, NPC me.

Thanks, Esperon. Be safe in your travels. I suppose I ought to create a thread for absences, huh?

I left it open in the IC thread in case you want to talk to Mardrough or take any other actions. If not, let me know and I'll advance the story.

I'm ready to move ahead - not impatient, just willing.

As I'm sure you've all figured out, the girl in the cell is the new PC who will be joining our adventure.

**waves** Hi everyone.

Hello! :-)

*suspicious stares ensure*

Suspicious stares ensure what?

My guess is he meant to say "ensue", yes?

I know, I was being cheeky. I really wanted to know what they ensured.

At least 40% of your investment, with a +/-2% margin of error. :P

To clarify: can the party find our own way out or does the mayor have to show us how to get out of the Maze o' Cubes?

Oh - that might be my bad. I just assumed we could get out fairly easily. If not, GM can correct me IC.

It's not too much of a maze. You can figure your way out pretty easily, as this corridor opens into the larger one, which takes you to the reception area.

Let me know if any of you want to do anything else while you're in town... see anyone else, gather supplies, etc. before you get on your way.

I would like to roleplay a bit more--we're finally getting through introductions. I'll let you know when I'm ready, but please don't fast-forward right now :-)

No worries, take your time. :)

At this point I'd like to continue the adventure to keep things moving. Let me know if there's anything else your PCs would like to do beforehand, but I think we've got enough roleplay under our belt as far as bringing in the new PC for now.

I'm good. Arryanna, you good to move on?

I'm good to go.

Me too!

It's like when your wife says "I adopted a puppy!" What are you gonna do? :-)

I'd have my wife's identity tested. After getting the dog we have, she's sworn off puppies. Cats from now on.

XP, cheers!

What a shame.... :)

GM, you mention 2 other rasters. Do you mean 3, since we now have a 4th party member? Or is one person not targeted?

There are only 3, so one person isn't targeted... at this moment... ;)

That's right... The Glint is a Bard. Accept it. :P

I won’t be able to post until later. I’m at work and my iPad now sings with the Choir Invisible. It’s taking a dirt nap, it is a late iPad.

Yeah, the nat 1 roll pretty much negates any lowering of the DT.

The rasters are about 7 meters above you, so attacks would be ranged only.

Sorry for the loss of your iPad. :-/

FYI: unexpected busy-ness in RL. Nothing bad, just busy. Post from me no later than Monday if anything is needed beyond today.

Can I grab Aryanna?

I say yes. It's pulled her just over a couple meters off the ground so I'll say DT3 Speed.

I'm free of goo, but had to spend my turn breaking free. No idea what my nat 20 effect can be in this situation. Hurley is free and the goo acts as an effective stain remover cleaning his clothes and gear?

Maybe offset the might spent in effort? Is that viable?

I'll give you the cost offset. And you get the benefit is stain-free clothing and shiny weaponry! ;)

Yay! I'm shiny!

I am a little disappointed that I was slow to post. I REALLY wanted to get in on that action. I would not have been able to resist jumping to grab a hold of Esperon making one of those cartoon people-chains. Just for the image of it all.

Oh well.

That would have been funny!

Sorry - lost track of the game for a few days. I'll get something posted tonight.

Cool... Thanks!

RL had been a bear--I will be able to update tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

Totally understandable. Life happens when one tries to RP. Thanks for the update.

Friday-Monday I'm locked up with all-day type events and a bit of family travel, so you won't hear from me at all during that stretch. NPC me as needed during that time.

Anything else you want to try while we're waiting for everyone to check back in?

Back online!

Welcome back!

GM, what would be the level of difficulty would my attempt to lob Arryana at the beasts?

For a short distance, which would equal the height of the dome, DT4. Anything further or higher than that, DT6. So once the rasters are lower or closer than 15 meters they'd be a short enough distance for DT4. They will be in DT6 range at the next post.

Can my special result from the 20 translate into advantage on the jump roll to land on the peak of the dome structure? I will roll with that assumption (he notices a series of trees that he can climb to put him in good position, for example), but please correct the DT if you disagree.

Also, I do believe Arry has 1XP to spend if she wants to avoid the intrusion. I don't necessarily think she should decline it, but I am pretty sure Esperon gave her 1XP from the last intrusion.

Hurley:
Hmm... the distance from the edge of the building to center is about 82 feet/25 meters. That might be a pretty high difficulty, but I do want to make sure you can utilize that major effect. That jump could get you onto the building, maybe not all the way to the peak, but partway up the dome. Let me know if that's what you want to do or if you want to take another approach.

Re: Arryanna:
That's right! I'll edit the post accordingly. Thanks for the reminder!

He will make for the top as best he can.

I don't get an XP if you spend yours, which is perfectly fine with me.

GMenera just corrected me on that so I'm spending the XP I already have to resist the intrusion.

I'll hang back a bit to see if Kaelan replies before proceeding. US holiday week and all...

Agreed. Happy Thanksgiving!

Alright, I'm going to get things moving again tomorrow. In the meantime please make a perception roll, DT4.

Glad I didn't spend anything on that Perception roll.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I am not entirely sure what state Hurley is in. I think the final ruling was that he could get some of the way up the dome on a tree, correct? So is he on the tree or on the dome now? Not really sure.

He's on the dome. I'll post the result here momentarily.

Tied up in RL; can update more substantially tomorrow.

Important question, though: is there a tree that is near the incoming rasters that Esperon could climb up and leap off of to try to grab one?

Also, how hard would it be for Esperon to climb on top of the building?

And is it possible for Esperon to interrupt the globe before it finishes repairing the structure's goop-exterior?

Thanks for the heads up :)


Yes, the trees form a circle around the building a few meters out from the edge. If you can climb up quickly enough, you could try to grab onto one.


DT5, considering the shape and size. Hurley got some help from his major effect.


Yes, it is possible...

So, question: what was the basic effect related to a high initiative? Not sure how to translate a high initiative roll into a major effect, so open to suggestions :-)

I've always wondered that myself. I think in the case of initiative a major effect would not only offer first strike, but a potential for gaining an advantageous position, like attacking from above or from behind, giving an attack bonus of sorts.

Right. I'm struggling to figure out what that would be in this circumstance, as I know nothing about that which I'm attacking or this building. Could you suggest something appropriate to the nature of either?

How about this... what if we say the major effect allows you two consecutive attacks or actions before the creature can counter?

I'm here, my friends but not feeling the best. I'm having a fibro flare so I'm just relaxing and trying to make my brain work. <3

Rest well, Arry.

I am traveling for the next 2 days on a bit of a whirlwind. Just go a head and keep Hurley trying to move up the structure and place the copper piece on top. Roll for me as needed.

That sounds good.

FYI: I am traveling for work this week; I will update, I'm just not sure when yet. I do expect to be able to post 2-3 times this week, though, and over the weekend once. If you need to NPC me to move things along, please give me 24 hours and then go ahead and do so.

Arry, hope you feel better. My wife has fibro, it's no picnic.

With Esperon and Hurley traveling and Arry recovering, I'll give everyone a bit of a breather. Kaelan hasn't checked in for nearly two weeks. I rmailed him but I'm not sure he'll be back. I'll take this window to recruit another player, and if he wants to come back, he's certainly welcome. Once we get a couple of you back in play we'll resume our regular pace. Sound good?

Guys, travel safe. Arry, I wish you a speedy and comfortable recovery.

Thank you all. Safe travels. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sounds good. Greetings from Chicago Midway airport, by the way.

Trophonius Delphi here! Half ghost, entirely Mad and an amateur oracle at your service. <I may use this as my in game intro too. Lol.>

Happy holidays, well wishes, and safe travels to all.

Welcome! Pull up a log, have a seat by the fire and rest for a spell. We're all mad here.

Pardon my lack of introduction. Please make our new friend feel at home. He will be joining our adventure at a yet-to-be disclosed time.

Welcome!
Should I should call you "phony" for short? ;)

So what say y'all? Should we turn the music back on and get the party rolling again?

I'm ready and willing!

In reply to Hurley Kosson (msg # 179):

We'll get it figured out IC. Certain things trigger mad men. I see and I know things, you'll see how phony it is. Better than my namesakes, all im saying.

Pump up the volume!

Fair enough. My ceramic pot was sort of an oracle too. It's never been wrong yet.

Did we lose Kaelen?

I believe so. I'll keep his seat at the table for awhile though.

I hope he comes back. His feelings on Arry would be interesting to see in their evolution.

In reply to Hurley Kosson (msg # 184):

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I would laugh so maniacally if the Mad man ended up being the one who could calm the shifter. Just saying.

Esperon, you'll want to make a Speed check, DT 3. A success will allow you to catch it to throw it into the fire.

Is there any way to use Might instead?

In reply to Trophonius Delphi (msg # 189):

That would be rather amusing.

Well, catching it would be speed based, as it is in motion.  BUT... you could burn an XP to make it might based.

Done. Burned the XP. Updated my post with the roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:32, Sat 09 Dec 2017.

Esperon, the ovoid on fire is still burning but still alive. It will continue to take damage each round, but you can make another attack on it if you care to expedite its demise.

Arryanna, DT 4 in Speed to sever the line.

T minus 35 hours 15 minutes.

What's the countdown?

Checking into hospital to have our baby girl.

Congratulations! First child?

Yay!! Post baby pics!!

My first, SOs second. Big sis is 9 1/2 and super excited.

And you can post pics on this thing?

You know, I don't know... never tried... very excited for you and SO and big sis!

Good luck Trophonius to you and your SO!

Hurley... wanna burn an XP on a reroll or are you going to go ahead and take the intrusion?

Oh! I keep forgetting about the reroll option. Yes! I will burn an XP. Also, if it is still jumping then it is also trained, so DT will drop to 2. I will updated my post with my new roll.

Ha! I rolled a 2... <shaking my head>

Get all those bad rolls out of the way, GM gets free intrusions once the Mad one is introduced.

@ Hospital. Its baby time!

YAY!!!

Congratulations!

In reply to Trophonius Delphi (msg # 208):

Hope all goes well and all is well! Welcome, new little one!

Esperon and Arryanna, you each have an action you can take if you like...

Esperon, as the creature just defended itself against you and is still alive (though continuing to take fire damage) you can attack it again.

Arryanna, you mentioned severing the sac via cutting the cord. That's a DT 4 to do so.

She has arrived! 1:52 am, 8lb 9.7 oz, 19.5 " my SOs good looks and my last name.

Congratulations! Stats sound nice and healthy!

Yay! So great. Congratulations to you both!

What pace would you all like to see the game run at throughout the holiday season? I know things get a bit busier on the RL side of things...

Well, I won't sleep for the next 18 years or more, so I've got free time for whatever.

Congratulations! :-)



Every other day would be nice. I definitely won't update on 12/24 and probably 12/25.

What Esperon said.

I am very available for the next week or so. Might be less between Christmas and New Years as we may take a road trip.

Yay!! Huge congratulations to you both!

I edited my last post with my roll. I finally succeeded on a roll!!

Alright, so it sounds like we're good with the standard post rate, barring Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and a bit lighter between Christmas and New Years.

I'm actually much, much freer between Christmas & New Years than most of the year, but I'll work with whatever.

Chronic illness deprives me of a life outside of work so I'm on here way too bloody often so I can post as often as my feeling well allows. When I feel like death there may be a delay. Just a wee one.

In reply to Arryanna (msg # 224):

My Sister in Law is chronically ill. Somedays just existing is a struggle.
Always mind your spoon count.




In combat a roll of 20 gets 4 bonus damage normally.

17+ gets bonus damage

There is no spoon.

Then I am open to suggestions on what to do with my 20 apart from the extra damage :-)

My understanding is that a 20 earns you the additional 4 points of damage or you get a major effect. I think the additional damage is considered a major effect. I could be wrong, though...

Then I'll happily take the extra 4 damage.

In reply to New GMenera (msg # 228):

That is correct. Effect or damage on 19 + 20.

17 + 18 just the damage.

So here's a recap of where we are:

• Hurley has inserted the power puck, making the building disappear. Only a tree stands where the building was.
  
• Hurley is stuck 15 meters up in the tree that is where the building was.
  
• Esperon has defeated the ovoid that arrived. He is calling to Hurley asking if he needs help.
  
• Arryanna has opened the sac she separated from the raster. All the raster have left, with three of the four delivering their loads into the building before it vanished.
  
• The new arrival Trophonius has become lucid(?) and is ranting skyward.

Yep. Mostly waiting for Hurley to respond on my side.

Ranting, yes. Lucid, not so much.

Welcome back, everyone! Hope you had an outstanding holiday!

Pretty good, and another family visit to come. They had the plague so we are keeping baby away until it clears.

Still no rest for the wicked though.

For my part, waiting for Hurley and Arry to say something before I chime in with Esperon again.

Happy New Year!

And a Happy New Year to you too!!!

So the day is at the tail end of ebb (the part of the day where it begins to get dark), almost night. You'll be headed back to Groshdou in the dark and you'll arrive there early (before sunrise). Do you want to travel at night or do you want to wait and travel during the day?

When were they going to execute the guy again?

Basically two days. I had the mayor originally say 48 hours to represent two days, but since a day is 28 hours that would be an arbitrary number. Let's retcon that to 56 hours, so still two days.

And this is Nightfall on day 1.

In reply to Trophonius Delphi (msg # 242):

Correct.

How dangerous is the area we're in? How much do we know about the area?

You know as much as there is to know about Ancuan, if you're from the area. Lots of herd animals, but where be herds there be predators. Plus the occasional satosh and chirrogs that wander the inner lands.

Rasters abducting people, totally a safe place to sleep.

Is there any apparent shelter that we've seen on the way here, or would we be sleeping out in the open?

Well, there was one....

It's pretty much just rocky plains between here and Groshdou. Unless you consider the surrounding trees shelter...

What kind of light sources do we have? I have two minor glowlgobes.

I have nothing.

Me either.
So we have basic supplies though? That might include a torch or material for a campfire.

Literally nothing. I have my clothes, a stick and a book.

I don't have access to my book--how long does a glowglobe last?

And how far back to town?

They last one hour. The trip back to town is about 9 hours away.

Is there material around from which we could make torches? :-)

Sorry for all the questions, trying to figure out whether it makes sense to travel back at night or not.

Trees, and a sac of goo?

In reply to Trophonius Delphi (msg # 257):

Possibly...

If you guys don't want to travel at night, then we will just have to bunk under the stars. I suggest being under a tree to give us cover from the birds - though Hurley will make sure there is no puck up in the tree.

Let's do that, then. Let's move this along.

Last call for anything anyone wants to do before hitting the hay then heading back to town...

...also, let me know what part of the following day you plan on leaving.

Arry offers to take first watch. Other than keeping guard over their camp she has no other plans before setting off at first light (if asked when she wants to leave).

As I was in stasis, i may not need sleep tonight so i will also take watch. Morning  departure works.

Hurley will take a turn standing guard. Leave early in the morning. No reason to linger.

Take the same watch as Trophonius. Confirmed leaving in the morning.

You know I love intrusions. Skipping them feels like cheating.

So I'll take the XP and give the other to Esperon, cuz he's kept things moving for all of us.

Fabulous, thanks!

I do most of my playing on my phone, and have found the RPOL Unofficial app super useful.

Just FYI.

WHAT?!?!? an app???

Gotta check that out. The number of times.....

The one I found for Android just sends notifications... however, in and of itself I like it.

Do you all want to pick some thing s up while in town before heading back to the coast?

I just wanted some flame and light sources. That was it on my end.

Seconded!

A bath, clean clothes, and some food would be nice, still havent had a chance to wash goo off of me yet.... sticky.

Sorry for the delay! Unexpected time crunch issues. Should be fine now.

Not to worry. :)

Do any of you need anything else from Lods aside from the torches or would you prefer to move forward with heading back toward the coast?

A backpack and a few rations for me.

Just the light source/torches for me.

Light sources, some food and then move forward! Onwards!

We're about to set out. Did you all by chance take recovery rolls when you were sleeping out at the coast?

I forgot all about recovery rolls!

Do we get one per increment--action, ten minutes, hour, ten hours--for our rest?

I say yes. You would have had an opportunity to have used all those up to this point.

Of course we took those rolls! Esperon did you forget telling me all about those recovery rolls you took <suggestive look at Esperon>.

We would never forget to make recovery rolls.... crazy....
<rushes to dice roller>

What Hurley said!

The dice were stingy--I still have some Intellect left to recover.

16:40, Today: Esperon rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Long recovery--Might.
16:40, Today: Esperon rolled 5 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 4.  Hour recovery--Speed.
16:39, Today: Esperon rolled 3 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 2.  10 minute recovery--Speed.
16:39, Today: Esperon rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  One round recovery--Might.

Well done, Trophonious! What would you like to do for a major effect on your initiative?

An asset on my action in the first round, silly hijinks to ensue <if allowed>.

You got it!

Should i just post now? And can i use the optional rule to drop damage for a small effect?

We're still waiting on Arryanna to roll for initiative, but the other three of you go ahead of the drebils anyway, so I don't see any reason for you three to not go ahead and attack. I'll hold off on the drebils' actions until Arryanna rolls initiative.

Updated my last post.

I am not entirely sure from the description if there are multiple creatures or just one. Is there another "bag" on the ground that hasn't moved yet? Or actually another creature?

Please to remind me on the Init roll. It's a d20 roll but d I have any bonuses to it? My brain is mush tonight.

No bonuses, just a standard d20.

Update later today for me!

Update coming when I'm awake and sentient.

PS. Post 600 is mine! I claim it in the name of...me!

FYI: Busy week for me. I may not update for a couple days at a time. Next update from me here is probably Tuesday, unless tomorrow is unexpectedly favorable.

We can keep going with Hurley's climb in the meantime. If anything changes that requires multiple PC participation, we'll hold until you're available, if that's okay with everyone.

Dang, Trophonius! Nice roll! Any thoughts on what you want for your major effect?

Very nice!

Narrative flair : have me phasing as the dome pulses into existence.

Possibly a mental blueprint of part of the dome.




I'm sure the dice roller will fail me when I need it most, unintentionally using up all the dice juju.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Tue 06 Feb 2018.

What's the difficulty of catching Trophonius? And is it a Speed or Might task? Deciding based on that whether to expend Effort.

It depends on where you are in relation to Trophonious. If you're a short distance it would be DT 3 Speed (add a step due to your slow reaction disability) to reach him in time. If you reach him, you catch him. With your Might bonus, we'll call it an automatic success.

If you're less than 10 feet from the tree, you'll catch him. It all depends how far from him you were when he hauled up that tree. I'll let you make that call based on your dynamics.

He did say he was standing at the base of the tree.

Well then, with that said, we'll call it a fair catch. Heeeeeee's safe!

Excellent :-)

Unexpectedly tiring weekend--had to drive home 11 hours after a flight was canceled and its rescheduled flight was also canceled. More from me tomorrow.

Giving Trop a chance to answer Hurley's question before my interesting next move :-)

Offline all day Saturday and possibly all Sunday--if the party needs to move forward with anything before Monday, go ahead.  Especially if something comes to investigate the racket he's making.

Exactly my point. ;)

Umm, is that how dice roller is supposed to work?

I thought it was supposed to be randomized...

You have had an inordinate number of 20s but you'll always have that 9 to remember...

I'll take an average of roll of 17. Seems good.

19:16, Today: Hurley Kosson rolled 15 using 1d20.  Initiative.

14:11, Today: Esperon rolled 18 using 1d20.  Initiative.

17:33, Today: Arryanna rolled 15 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Nice rolls, everyone. Everyone goes first, then the ovoids.

Trophonius, what would you like for your major effect on your initiative?

I'm going to go after Trop declares his major effect.

Gotta go with asset to attack an ovoid first round.

Dice karma...

LOLOLOL!!!!

The mental image that gave me made me laugh so hard I cried.

Right? Stoopid dice.

This should be precious :-)

"Bonsai!" **misses, breaks a hip**

I was thinking more like Flints cannonball into the Jello pool in cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

Just a wee note: I'm having surgery tomorrow and will be drugged and in pain for an unknown amount of days. As soon as I reach the equilibrium of drugged enough to get up and coherently post I shall.

Hope you feel better soon!

Here's hoping the surgery goes well, and to a speedy recovery. :)

Yes, roll all the 6s on recovery rolls!

Thank you all. :)

So...what would be the DT of a Might check to rip the ovoid in half?

You would have to do a full 9 points damage, as that's what they each have in health. Or you'd have to roll a nat 20.

Okay, let me re-phrase: what is the DT to grab and start damaging an ovoid? In other words, what's its DT in combat for melee?

They're level 3, DT3 to hit and defend against. DT4 to escape if they encase you.

Looking to see what nastiness comes of my nat 1. :-)

Is my Might roll considered Might defense?

Yes. If you are skilled in Might defense you can apply it here.

Who're we waiting for?

Roll from Arry, and action from Hurley. Then i get absorbed and go catatonic... cause I'm probably gonna fail the defense roll. Yay.

Since Arry is post-op and stated an intention to attack beforehand I'll roll for her. Hopefully Hurley will chime in soon. I'll keep things moving in the meantime.

I'm here. Trying to write myself back in, but I am a little confused as to where and how to post. When you said Hurley has an attack also, was that an attack for the "prior" round? Should I just roll a Pierce, speed attack?

Also, the dome was "uncomfortable" to touch, but it is solid, yes? It is not scalding or anything is it? I am wondering if he can slide down from the top into an overhead chop form the axe.  Would that count as an asset? or would I need to make an acrobatics or jumping check?

Excellent! Glad you're back! Go ahead and make your attack then roll defense with everyone else.

If you were up on the dome you would have used the previous round's action to join the others to attack. We'll retcon that and say you've joined the attack now.

The dome was uncomfortable as it was slowly reappearing and somewhat out of phase but that has passed once the building materialized completely.

No need to make a jump check, I'll give you the asset.

Arryanna, that needs to be a defense roll. You can take the 20 for defense. What would you like your major effect to be?

Dramatically dodging the attacks by the ovoids and giving an assist to any of my company who look to be in trouble? All done with tremendously brilliant leaps and flips as I finally unleash my true grace.

Giving an assist (I read as giving an asset) to any who might be in trouble might be a bit broad. I'll allow an asset to one PC of your choosing (including yourself) during the attack round.

Cheers!

All I ask is that you state which PC before they make their attack roll.

It shall be done, Mighty GM!

FYI: I will be traveling for work this week; if my posting is a bit spotty, that's why.

Waiting for the GM post next, though, I believe.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

Now that all defense rolls have been made we're back at the top of the round. Everyone gets an attack.

Can we see goo in the remaining ovoid that we could smear on ourselves?

Yes, but you would have to cover your entire body, which would take most of the insides of one of those things.

Is the goo spilling on the ground or is it pretty well contained?

It holds its shape. It's somewhat like jello in consistency.

GM, could you tell me what the state of the goo sacs is before I post? My assumption is that they're both "killed" and available for goo-smearing at the moment--please correct me if I'm wrong. And how far up in the air are the rasters?

Hurley just killed one, Trophonius' is hanging on by 2 health. Arryanna's has taken half its health in damage, and yours is unscathed.

The rasters are out of range, circling above, waiting, with the exception of the one that is picking up the ovoid. That one is within long range, in range for a ranged attack. How many times did I just use the word range?

Arryanna, remember... your nat 20 was a defensive move and you still have an attack left. You wanted your major effect to give someone an asset on their next attack. That would be either you or Esperon.

I can only do so much. Working with a light weapon here.

I'll give the asset to Esperon.

Thank you, Arryanna! I'm away from my book--could someone refresh my memory on how an asset works? I'm guessing it would reduce the difficulty by one step.

That is correct.

Still waiting on Arryanna's attack...

Ok my friends. I'm home and resting after the fall I took that exacerbated my post-surgical pain and complications so one more night of rest and some good meds should have me up to writing like a fiend later today.

Until then.

<3

No worries, health come first. Take care of yourself!

Just a heads up:

I'll be replying to posts throughout the day today, but I'll be offline tomorrow and probably Tuesday due to a procedure I'm undergoing.

No worries - take care of yourself! And you too Arry!

And now I have the worst flu bug I've had in three years +.

Someone just come and shoot me.

Hope your procedure goes well, GM!

And, seriously, hope you feel better soon, Arry!

Alright, back on my feet from my procedure, followed by my wife ending up with the flu.

I'll post a bit later today. Thanks to everyone for your patience.

Is it an action to defend? I can't remember.

You are all defending now, then you're back at the top of the round.

I'm still bed ridden by this Ebola Virus Flu Death Plague. Bloody nasty this year!

I'm really sorry to hear that... please take care and here's to quick healing!

Current status: Hurley has a defense roll to make, then everyone makes their attacks

Trophonius and Esperon each take 3 damage from their failed defense rolls. Trophonius, you've got a crit fail intrusion coming...

I am excited for the intrusion.

That's 3 damage to Speed, yes?

3 damage to Might.

I presume I can attack the one that attacked me?

Absolutely. You can attack any of them as they're all in range.

I will be 100% offline on Friday; if I'm holding things up, NPC me.

Will do. In the meantime Trophonius and Arryanna are up for making their defense rolls before everyone attacks.

OK - Traveling today. I'll be back in gear tomorrow.

Sorry all, still recovering from surgery. I had a complication which set me back a wee bit (dehiscence at one of the surgical sites and infection), came down with the Zombie Death Ebola Flu Virus which triggered my Fibromyalgia so I've spent the past few weeks wanting someone to put my out of my misery. It's slowed my recovery so by the time I get home from work I'm ready to gnaw on a brain and go to bed. And I'm all out of brains.

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. Here's to a speedy recovery for you.

I'll lay low to give everyone a chance to wrap up their RL endeavors and post again on Saturday.

Best wishes to you, Arry!

Thank you. Things aren't helped by the fact that admin is ignoring my surgeon's orders for light duty and have been working me per normal since I returned to work a week ago.

Busy weekend! Update from me tomorrow.

Edited my other post. Still works.

How much damage did Esperon just take?

A bajillion?!?

Close, very close.

The eye plates do 3 Might damage.

Hey! Hurley! Hit something!

Arryana, hope your'e feeling better.