In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 950):

Thanks, Judge. That certainly helps.

I would interpret what was discussed to mean that unless something unexpected occurs, the four amigos should attempt to rejoin Red Shirt (in the Echo Canyon valley) by late afternoon of the current day, game-time. That would be the end of the third day since the split-up, it seems to me.

Waiting to return until the following morning, game time, would put the link-up into the fourth day, by my count. While this is certainly an option, I don't see any need to possibly trouble Red Shirt by failing to observe the agreed-upon return time (unless in-game events necessitate it).

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 951):

That's all fine by the Judge. Not trying to push it either direction. Simply bringing this up as it will impact the group's approach to this day -- what they do and for how long before heading back to base camp or the Paiute's camp.

The players should discuss that here in OOC, or IC in Ch26 (or both is fine, too). Just want that to be part of the day's "agenda."

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 952):

The Judge will fade up again at the rodent cave, as no one suggested any different desire for what to do on the last day before rejoining Red Shirt. And thanks for the input on the timing of the meet up with the Paiute. In essence, this means the group will have about 7 hours to search the piles in the cave before departing.

I believe that I have previously mentioned Jake's using a camp shovel to dig a fire pit in the evening, in an attempt to make it more difficult to spot the flames of the group's campfire (in those circumstances where such a thing was important).

I envision this camp shovel as being the approximate size of a modern army entrenching tool -- that is to say, of a size that could be carried in a saddle bag.

Although I forgot to mention it in Jake's IC post, he would certainly have made this shovel available to Tracy (assuming that the Californian doesn't have one of his own) in an effort to make today's excavation efforts more efficient.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:44, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 954):

This is all fine, including Tracy's narrative about using the shovel ... but it has no bearing on the success or failure of the searching at this time. The Judge had already determined that the men have adequate tools for searching the piles of muck, based on previous posts in the game, character sheet items, etc. The structure of the Support and Survival rolls put in place by the Judge already assumes the group has items like Jake's shovel.

Re: Earnest's msg #52 in Ch26, yes, the Judge will use the existing roll. Follow-up will happen later today.

The Judge has observed a slow down in posting from the players lately -- this is a result of RL activities for some of the players, I believe.

That's fine, I'm just acknowledging it. I still have the same desire to continue the game, as long as the players want to continue.

At this time, it's up to the players as to what they post (and do in the game). There's nothing the Judge can do to advance things. The players can state what to do about what they found in the chest. They can state what they do next (another search with more Support rolls). That said, the Judge has some interesting ideas vis a vis the title of the current Chapter 26, whenever we regain momentum.

The Judge will be monitoring as always and looks forward to more player posts (IC or OOC).

FYI: The Judge has asked a question to Earnest, in PM, re: his examination of the items in the chest.

Earnest clarified his Notice roll in PM. The Judge gave additional information — the professor can elaborate IC — but it doesn’t change the skill roll  specs given previously.

Judge,

I'll (OOC) admit to not having a very good understanding of the interior caves-system layout.

Can the pards tell, at this point, whether any previously-unexplored areas or passageways have opened up as a result of the dynamite-induced tremors?

Thanks.

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 960):

Understood. The short answer is "nope, the heroes haven't observed or detected any kind of previously unexplored" areas as a result of the tremors.

The longer answer is, well, not really an answer but something that prompts the Judge to expound a bit.

In-game IC, it's apropos for Jake to feel this way. Really, for all of the characters, but probably the most for the rifleman as he doesn't have Survival, Repair, Academics, or Science. The underground system is dark, twisty, and confusing. Any hero lacking these certain skills is bound to feel at a loss within the caves. Even those having these skills still face a challenge when it comes to underground exploration in a game which is predominantly set aboveground. Most of what Tracy learned about navigation, for example, involves gauging the movements of the sun and the moon as well as the positions of the stars in the night sky.

As players sitting around the virtual table, OOC, this is something that needs to be managed. If we were actually gathering around a table in the same room, the Judge and players could easily talk things through -- at least enough for the characters to proceed without holding up the action for too long. Even so, the Judge probably wouldn't have provided any explicit maps of the cavern. It would still be mostly "theater-of-the-mind" except for maybe some grid maps to ease the combat situations.

Fact is, the Judge likes the way this has evolved since the group first began exploring the caves. Fortunately, this group has complementary skills to facilitate the exploration of the caves -- including the combat encounters in which Jake's skills have definitely made a difference. There has been good teamwork throughout chapter 25 and 26. Because of that, the Judge has assumed the characters can navigate to places they've already been, without needing any dice rolls or exposition. The Judge also provides information when the characters perceive something new or enter a new cave, sometimes with prompts and suggestions or reminders.

Please know that the Judge would pass along information such as "you see a new passage that you either missed before has somehow become accessible after the dynamite and the tremors" if it were true and important. That isn't the situation right now. The Judge alerted the players what was new and different -- the dead bats.

As Earnest noted in Ch26 OOC comment, the Judge is dropping clues. Please see my imminent reply to that, as well, for more information.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:05, Fri 06 May 2022.

The Judge is traveling for a family funeral. Will probably post today but it might not happen until tomorrow.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 962):

Thanks for the heads-up, but sorry to hear the news. Hopefully the person who passed lived a full and joyful life.

Thank you, sir.

Back home and will post this evening.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 962):

Sorry to hear that buddy!

Stay strong!

The Judge prefers not to assume that Tracy follows the professor's request in Ch26 msg #138. Earnest's post is fine; he notes that he speaks "once" Tracy joins him. Accordingly, the Judge wants to know what Tracy chooses to do.

The Judge sent Tracy a PM asking for public confirmation -- or otherwise. Nonetheless, the Judge will wait no more than another 24 hours after the PM (roughly noon EST on Sunday), before moving forward with the assumption that Tracy does join Earnest, at which point the professor will speak as written in msg # 138, and the Judge will post narrative.

FYI, the Judge will be picking up the pace a little at this time, because of the circumstances. Recently, I've been giving some time before posting after heroes post, but as evinced by this morning, more rapid and regular posts will be in order. Please log in daily if possible.

I have to admit, I was a little curious as to how Earnest (IC) would react to the developing situation. :)

The Judge is pausing in case Earnest wanted to take his action at the end of the round. Many GMs won't even allow the Hold after movement. This Judge looks at this on a case-by-case basis

The professor did move and speak, and said he didn't want to waste ammo, so the Judge is thinking Earnest would probably not act in any combat way at the end of the last round, other than making a Notice or similar roll (Healing takes 10 minutes, so not really an option right now, except to assess Tracy's wound, if desired).

So the Action Card draw still stands, just giving the professor chance at the end of the round, if wanted to take an action. Even if Earnest stayed on Hold to start the round, he couldn't interrupt the Joker's action and he's near or at the top of the order after the Sharpshooter pending Tommy's choice, so it's just a matter of whether he wants an action at the end. The Judge will allow something like Notice, again in this case.

The Judge also made one roll for the Sharpshooter (multi-action this round with the Joker) but is holding the roll for the 2nd action until Earnest responds. Then we will also need Tommy's choice.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 969):

The 'hold' was more of a 'just in case' item... I don't have anything that needs doing!

To Jake's earlier comment: Earnest is annoyed at how things have played out, but he will generally back the group!

In reply to Earnest Nicholas Samuel Ringgenberg (msg # 970):

Thanks.

It's just idle thinking on my part, but "WC" puts me in mind of William Cody (known to some as "Buffalo Bill"). :)

In reply to Jacob Richardsen (msg # 972):

An interesting coincidence. I like the way Jake's idle mind wanders. In this case, the WC stands for Wild Card!

The Judge will close this thread soon and open a new OOC forum as we're nearing the post limit.

In reply to Judge Messalen (msg # 973):

Waal, shucks! Ol' Buffalo Bill *was* accounted by some to be something of a marksman.

And Annie Oakley was an acquaintance of his. Howsomever, they were not enemies, nor was she a Scotswoman (all easily explained away by reason of this being an alternate history).

As I said, idle musings . . . :)

Maybe it's just me, but our in-game situation is starting to remind me of Dr. Seuss' "Butter Battle Book" wherein the opposing sides start to squabble (and eventually go to war, if I recall correctly) because "those other people" don't butter their bread correctly. :)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:08, Sat 09 July 2022.