The obligatory OOC thread.

Characters for now:


Plus 2-3 more characters undergoing brainstormy time.

It seems I'll be splitting you in three or even four groups. It's team picking time, so mingle and grab the hand of the special person you want to use as a meat shield.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:28, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

Oh oh! I wanna be on the team with the Halfling Barbarian! There is nothing about that character concept that isn't awesome.

Character sheets should be ready and user-editable now.

Hello all will be playing Ghorza the 1/2 orc cleric of Tempest.  She is NG

If it helps for picking teams she will be a front line Cleric (Highest starting attribute will be STR).  Her background gives her access to some thieving.

Cheers!

Ha! For once Human is the minority. Love it!

Wow, it's great to see such lively interest in the game!

Hello all, I look forward to writing and gaming with everyone. :)


As the GM has noted in his chart, Rurik will be a Dwarven fighter (Mountain/Shield Dwarf most likely), with a background of soldier (Dwarven Hold-Watch).

Well Ghorza seems to be the only cleric so far so Hai wants to be in her group as well. :)

What Pantheon are we working with?

Voting time. What number of PCs per team should we use? Less PCs means faster turnaround but less interesting fights. I'm thinking 4 or 5. Thoughts?

The pantheon is the standard Forgotten Realms one from the basic 5e books (plus some from 2nd edition days, but that's not important right now). In Phlan there are only 4 or 5 priesthoods active at this time. On the good side those are Tyr, Tempus and Sune; on the evil side, Bane and Shar.

Four to five to a group is pretty much the standard. Might as well go with something that isn't broken.

Sorry, my bad. Forgot you said this was set in FR.

Seeing as how we have 13 players, I say groups of 4 with one of 5 would be more balanced.

What, nothing in Phlan for Moradin? We really need to get busy and clean this place up! :)

Five or six PCs per team sounds about right to me, depending upon how the numbers work out.

So nice seeing so many meaty Barbarians. :D I wonder how many of yall are planning on going Bear Totem?

How are we allocating stats?

Deities cheat sheet:


Stats are, as stated in the game info, either 4d6 drop lowest, or the usual point buy from PHB.

Yeah, Moradin is underrepresented in Phlan. But there are dwarven cities in the Dragonspine mountains.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:06, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

Hello all, glad to meet you.

@DM Five sounds good.

Hurrah! Our GM has allowed me the pleasure of switching my race to Forest Gnome!

LOL -- yeah, Ghorza is going to be in high demand. Rurik might even be able to overlook the taint of her Orcish ancestry . . . :)

PS. Now that I look again, I see that Brak, as a Druid, can also serve as a healer. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:50, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

My bad. I never really pay any attention to the Game Info tab. :(

Roasted Gnome is a staple of the local gnoll fine cuisine. They pay up to 200 gp for a well fattened Gnome.

Just sayin'.

Yes, that's a plot hook as well.

Mmmmm...Gnome. *toothy grin*

Gnomes are delicious but remember this Gnome Monk is at nut-punching level.

Order of the Waist Down Fist!!!

And when Hai Tao takes the Fangs of the Fire Snake discipline, he is going to be roasting some chestnuts over a open fist flame!
This message was last edited by the player at 11:04, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

Hello.

Oskar is one of the friendly Barbarians.

I think the groups should be groups of 4 or 5.

@Tarkun, I am not sure where Oskar's path leads beyond Phlan! It depends on how the game unfolds.

@Rurik and @Brak: Oskar is a Shield Dwarf outlander - his family expelled from his clan in the Dragonspire's because of the misdeeds of Oskar's father. I would be open to discussing background connections. Oskar has lived as a hunter since his exile.

I did consider that but in fact Sharlee will probably go Totem Warrior.  But we have time to consider that.

As to groups, 4-6 is ideal.

And for the Barbarians amongst you are any of you Varm?  That I think is where Sharlee is from.  Out on her manhood (womanhood, halflinghood?) trials.

Inspired by this portrait:



Brak is a mountain dwarf druid.

As far as the size of the party, I've got no preference.

Sharlee: "When not fighting she does tend to drink a lot, hence her byname in the tribe - Threeflagons - indicating how much she can consume with no apparent effect."

Now here is a Halfling whom Rurik can respect! :)

@Brak: that is a great picture. It will be fun to see (read) how you bring that to life.

I go to bed for less than 8 hours, and we jump from 2 people to 13, and no posts to 30.

Maybe we should try and organize groups by time zone?

Edit: I'd recommend 5-6 people per group, simply because we're likely to face losses, usually in the middle of the first combat, based on my experience with RPoL.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

Greetings all,
Another friendly barbarian type and I too look forward to this adventure.

As for groups....4-6 is the ideal but 6-7 may work for long lasting gaming on pbp. Many groups lose players to the dreaded RL and become too few causing a pause or stop.
But I am easy going and can go with whatever falls outs.

In reply to Ra'Mer (msg # 32):

Good point, Ra'Mer. I, too, have noted how RL attrition seems to take a toll on RPoL adventuring groups.

Hail and well met, fellow Faerunians! Meriele the Sun Elf wizard would join thee!

Meriele is cheerful, trusting, and seems to pester everyone with excited questions.

All, I think in terms of group size, if we see a lot of attrition from the groups as originally created, can groups be combined further down the line?

Previous experiences make me expect serious attrition ;) I have a 72-hour rule, where a PC will be temporarily NPCed to not hold the game up. That being said, shoot me a PM if you are bothered by something or want something addressed in-game.

Awesome dwarf druid pic BTW.

Cue the fanfare...

We will have 4 groups of 4 characters each.

4 characters might seem light, but the first opponents are kobolds, and it allows us to go through the initial attrition phase more quickly too.

Pick your meatshields, friends! it's first come, first serve. If you have already made dark deals with other players, now is the time to profit! ;)

After the first mission is done, you are free to reform your teams in any way you want, but during missions teams are usually fixed.

Pick the name of your team as well ;)

I tried to divide the greoup up by class.  Doesn't work too well but something like this:


Gharuk Half-Orc Barbarian Sailor
Faire Elf Wizard
Ghorza 1/2 orc, NG cleric of Tempest Criminal
Caine Human Monk Urchin


Torymyn Shield Dwarf Barbarian Exile
Meriele Sun Elf Mage
Risshil Elf Cleric/Knowledge
Ghorgath H-orc fighter


Ra'Mer Human Barbarian
Tarkun Dragonborn Sorcerer
Hai Tao Yummy Gnome Monk
Ghere Human Warlock


Sharlee Halfling Barbarian
igail Half-orc warlock
Brak Mountain Dwarf Druid Outlander
Rurik Ironhand Dwarf fighter



A barbarian in each group, a fighter or monk in each group
an arcane caster in each group
3 groups have a cleric or druid the fourth has an extra caster.

Just an idea.

Greetings, I am Risshil priest of Labelas, Lifegiver and the elven god of history and time. I am a historian, philosopher, and archaeologist.

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 37):

Works for me. Let us by all means bypass the long and boring 'pick' phase.

And we now have another priest so group 4 can have one as well.

I wohld work best in a group where characters are more open minded, crave adventure into ruins with traps and ancient writtings, and who don't see violence as the first and only solution to problems.

I think Mirielle and Risshil can get along great.

that grouping works for me too.

I've noticed that both characters with acknowledged thief skill backgrounds are in the same group. I'd recommend moving one of them to spread the skills around.

FWIW, Tarkun is of Noble background and pretty well suited to play the "face" role.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:55, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 44):

The reptile as the 'face' amongst humans?

Who you calling "reptile," monkey boy? *glares* lol

Hi everyone! Sorry I've taken so long to get around to introducing myself; work work work and all.

I'll be playing Gharuk, Half-Orc Barbarian and nautical type.

Due to some slightly polar stat rolls, I'll be a pretty typical Half-Orc Barbarian; thick as a brick and twice as tough!

Interesting that we've got no Rogues; I'm planning on multiclassing in that direction if that colours the groupings. Otherwise, I'm happy to go with whichever group (though a 4 Barbarian party could be...interesting!).

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 47):

HaRuh!

Hello, new folks! Actually I suppose that it should be "newer", since we are all new. :) I'm looking forward to writing and gaming with everyone -- especially the folks who end up being in Rurik's group.

Speaking of that, congratulations upon attracting so many players to your game, GM. Sixteen players . . . woot! :)

Unless the gm wants to work with me on an explorer background I qm probably going to go with sage. I also plan to dip into Bard for at least 3 levels to get more of that archaeologist feel. He will end up caster and skillmonkey.

HuRah!

I also notice that there's four Half-Orcs knocking around...might also make for an interesting and exceedingly durable party (that should totally have "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba as it's theme song!)

Hi, I guess I'm the atypical half-orc since Charisma is my highest attribute, and I'm more curious and devious than bloodthirsty.  I was an orphan living off the streets until I was recruited by an ancient nameless god for a mysterious destiny.  I think a half-orc party would kick ass!

And that's why I'm recommending splitting the two public backgrounds that have thief too skill, rather than bunching us up in one group: None of the others seem to have that skill set covered, while the one group has more than it needs. It doesn't make sense.

And now we have 3. One more and all the groups will be covered.

That was intentional. I saw there were some other half orcs with names starting with "Gh", so I had an idea of making another and asking if you guys want to be related?

The idea was, that Gharuk and Ghorgath, have recently broken out there sister Ghorza from prison (I noticed Ghorza has the criminal background) and the three of us need to leave town quickly and so this 'Phlan' sounded like a good place to have a fresh start.

I missed Abigail, I didn't notice her before but the story can be adjusted if desired. Now as this is possibly changing Gharuk and Ghorza's character concept/history it would require approval from all parties. What do you think?

Well, one idea would be for Abigail to be the youngest sibling. Maybe she was lost from the tribe (which is why she doesn't have a name starting with Gh), which matches your story of growing up on the streets.

But now that Ghorgath, Ghorza and Gharuk have found their long lost little sister, they feel protective of her.

I propose;

Abigail half orc warlock
Ghorgath half orc fighter
Gharuk half orc barbarian
Ghorza half orc cleric of tempest

The Grimm family?

Charisma isn't, funnily enough, one of my dump-stats...I like the idea of being able to actually use my racially granted skill proficiency!

I can see it now; Abigail to the fore, using her eldritch charms whilst Gharuk looms behind her, glowering at the hapless victim of our interrogation! That or some poor sod of a merchant getting more than he bargained for when he thought he'd have an easy sale trying to pawn off some useless tat to a bunch of Half-Orcs!

I'm well up for the Half-Orc party now!



This sounds awesome to me!

<singing>"I get knocked down,
but I get up again!
You're never gonna keep me down!"</singing>

So that will make Gharuk the pretty one of the group?

Yeesh. Orcs . . . I have to be nice to Orcs. :D

Nah, little sis' (Abigail) would be the pretty one! I'd be the very large and imposing (but dashingly handsome in an empty-headed roguish way) one ;D

A quick couple of questions to the GM:

- What's occurring RE: starting gear? As per Class/Background or are we rolling for gold?
- Are you happy for us to make minor alterations to our Background skills/proficiencies? Particularly, I doubt Gharuk would know what Navigators Tools were, if they hit him in the head, let alone knowing how to use them! I was thinking he could be good at dice instead...

I'm going to take 'Folk Hero' background, as I think the feature 'Rustic Hospitality' is going to be essential for the story line of good folks hiding us from the authorities to get us to Phlan. Just waiting on Ghorza to agree to this story line.
This message was undeleted by the player at 22:45, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

But would your little sister be perhaps Abighail?

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 63):

Oh snap! I didn't notice.

LOL -- nice! :)

Abigail was raised in an orphanage after being abandoned, that's why she has a human name (I could add an h to fit in.)  Maybe the eldritch whispers in her head have led her to join her brothers, which is unusual for her since she isn't used to having a family, especially a grimm family of orcs.

If that's the case, then between your "Rustic Hospitality", my "Ship's Passage" and Ghorza's "Criminal Contact" (assuming he's game for the Half-Orc party), we've got pretty much all the bases covered!

One question, though; who's going to be the eldest?

I want to ease back of the planning here until Ghorza gets a chance to weigh in. I don't want their player to feel like its been decided for them.

Ghorza, if your not keen on this, we can adjust the story to whatever you're comfortable with.

That aside, nomination for age order and dice rolls if both want a certain age order I guess. Dice roll ties mean twins (gasp).

As long as you're happy with the story. This is sounding better and better!

Agreed.

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 51):

HuRah is the military HaRuh sounds more like 300. lol

Huh, I guess I should've said;

"Hoorraaarrrgh!"

...then! More apt for a Half-Orc, I think! ;)

Works for us!

-puts in earplugs- not sure everyone heard you. Could you yell louder?

A 3rd shifter like me is going to have a bloody devil of a time keeping up with all this conversing we have going on.

GM: I, too, am curious about the flexibility of backgrounds.

In reply to Risshil (msg # 75):

Its what happens when barbarians meet up, wait til the celebration begins.

Apologies, I've moved the half-orc conversation to private threads to cut down on spam.

I like the idea of all 1/2 orc party.  Could make for some interesting Roleplaying!

Also difficult to keep up for those of us in a different time zone :)

Meriele is another noble, and fairly good at talking to people.

Oooh, another noble. Nice.

I could pick up theif's tools proficiency next level when I go bard. It fits along the archaeologist flavor I want with him. There are always traps in ruins, so one must always be prepared.

So I'm a bit lost on group organizing are we putting ourselves into groups or is the GM going to do it? And if the players are doing it who wants the Monk Forest Gnome with a either Hermit or Sage background (though some combination of the two would be more accurate).

The DM hasn't made any official groups. Someone suggested groups based on covering roles. I think all the half-orcs gravitated together and decided to be a clan. I believe I am the only Dragonborn, but just found out I'm not the only noble, so I definitely am gonna work to make ties there.

AS stated before, Risshil will work best with a group of adventure lovers, those who enjoy traipsing through ruins and unlocking mysteries of ancient cultures. Also ones who don't see violence as the first and only solution to a problem.

Also stated that Miriele and Risshil will probably get along well. The sun elf and wood elf diversity would be interesting to role play as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

As I plan on taking Hai into the Way of the Four Elements tradition I'll probably have him focus on learning/discovering new ideas about combining magic and martial arts. More student of the world especially since his temple home has been destroyed and he is using the tragedy as an opportunity to go out and see a lot of things for the first time. He would probably mesh well with more arcane types and less with wild frenzy killing types.

In reply to Hai Tao (msg # 83):

DM said to make what groupings we wanted.  The half orcs seem to.have done do, and Tarkun seems to want to form a group for the country club set, which makes sense.  I assume the DM  will match up the stragglers on his own, after he sees what's left unmatched.

Seems like Meriele, Risshil, Hai and I would make a good group. At least socially.

Not the most combat efficient group but would make for excellent RP. I'd say adding a straight fighter to balance out the mechanics (who isn't completely prone to violence) and we'd have a group.

Roll for gold, pick gear as per character class. Nothing extra compared to PHB, except as follows...


Run those alterations with me through PMs. I should allow everything as long as you stay out of the realm of ridiculous.

So, for now it seems we have team half-WAAAAAGH formed. The three dwarf brothers could fit together, if they find a fourth. The pansiesnobles could go together as well if they find a meatshield. So that leaves the slowest-posting unfortunates for the fourth group, right?

Remember, you can all mix and match between missions - the groups aren't permanent.

You really gonna call someone who can do infinite d10 damage a pansie? :P

Pansies are defined by habits, not by damage per round. ;)

Hmmm. It seems, fate decided to have Ghere somehow connected to the orky band. Because names are a sign...
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:29, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

I'm not seeing a lot of viable fighter options for our little band. If Caine joined us we could have two monks to dish out punches of death if need be.

Keep in mind that not every encounter/adventure is a fight. If need be, I can trade out Magic Missile for Mage Armor.

Which brings me to something I'm wondering DM. Mage armor says the target gets AC of 13+Dex bonus. What if they have a class feature (like Barbarian) where they add another stat as well? Would that stack? Essentially bumping the base AC to 13?

AFAIK, when some feature sets your AC to a certain level (13+dex bonus), it is cummulative with things that give AC bonus, but not with other things that set your AC to somehthing. So having three features settnig your AC to 13+dex bonus would result in the character having an AC of 13+dex bonus.

(Yeah, that does make Mage Armor kinda useless for you. I don't have my books with me, but perhaps you can have a custom version that gives +1 AC instead. We'll work something out.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:08, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

I wasn't concerned for me. If I took it, it would be for the other party members. I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't overwrite any class feature.

@Tarkun Hey I'm good with it just being the four of us if necessary but sometimes it's better to be safe ya know.

I do have shared history with the other Dwarves. We may not start in a group together. If we did, we could do with a magician of some sort.

The bestiary is populated with a few threats you're likely to encounter in Phlan.

If you gents want a fake match against one of those, I'll put up a sparring thread.

Wait Undead have a con score now? That's.....unsettling.

I detect someone who started with 3.x
Don't worry, the confusion  effect shall pass.

For the record, on the discussion of base armor and Mage Armor:
Barbarians have a base armor of 10. They add dex, as usual, and con. Plus shield
Monks have a base armor of 10. They add dex, as usual, and wis. No shield

So, mage armor on a barbarian monk would give you a base armor of 13, plus dex, plus con, plus wis. No shield

Mind you, I'm not recommending it, and I'm certainly not planning on it myself, I'm just saying Magic Armor on unarmored barbarians isn't the waste the above discussion seemed to conclude.

I WAS looking at sorcerer barbarian for a future character, however.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

I thought I'd responded to this, but the post seems to have disappeared.

I'd rather not join the nobles. moreover, the GM has decreed 4 groups of 4, I believe, which means making a group of 5 leaves a group with only 3.

I started with 2nd actually, where undead had no listed stats for con. In fact monsters in general had no listed dex, con, wis, or cha. Some monsters had their strength listed, and all creatures had intelligence listed as well as morale.

Somehow I cannot see fragile skeletons having 16 con. It seems unlikely that a mere animated skeleton would have the same constitution as a musclebound orc.

In reply to Risshil (msg # 104):

Magic. Negative energy is just as powerful as positive energy.

Skeletons having a con doesn't bother me, animated objects having one is a bit much.

I suspect it's all part of 5e's simplification goal: If you don't eliminate stats from critters, you don't have to come up with rules for things that get by without certain stats. Instead you just list a lot of immunities for them.

Unless the GM decides to override it, this is incorrect.

The Barbarians Unarmoured Defence sets your unarmoured AC to 10+Dex mod+Con mod.
The Monk gets 10+Dex+Wis
The Draconic Sorcerer gets 13+Dex
Mage Armour grants 13+Dex
Wearing armour grants the value listed.

Each of these is mutually exclusive. Under no circumstances do they ever stack. Use the best one applicable.

Wearing multiple sources of armour doesn't give you better AC, wearing armour and using Mage Armour doesn't give you better AC, being a Draconic Sorcerer/Barbarian gives you the best of either 13+Dex or 10+Dex+Con and so forth.

Hmmmfff...
If we cannot make a barbarian horde then I will go where the wind takes me. I doubt Ra'Mer would fit in with less violent groups. His charisma alone makes him a bit unapproachable by NPCs, one reason for the less than good looking barbarian. Not a charmer, maybe traveling with the Dragonborn face man, needs someone to do the talking. Until they get to know him.... nice guy

From the multiclass section of the PHB. If you were a barbarian and you go monk you don't even get the monk's unarmored defense.

I believe gharuk has the correct. Only one source of something+x ac at a time.

Dont ket a low cha dictate your possibilities ;-) just go for it!

I am thinking of using old 2e hit location tables, just for flavor purposes. Is everyone allright with that?

I am always down for that.

Well, we disagree.

Both monks and barbarians have a base armor of 10 listed. Mage armro providesa base armor of 13.

Con and Wisdom bonus to armor, are, like dexd, bonuses. They add to base armor.

In neither case does it say that base armor is 10 plus con or wisdom, and dex is added.

It specifies on page 144 that armor worn determines base armor class. Not armor oplus anything.

Barbadians are tough SOBs. They add their con to their armor IF they aren't wearing any armor except shields. Monks are canny. They add their wisdom to armor if they aren't wearing any armor.

Draconic resilience isn't armor, it's tough skin. It applies if you are NOT wearing armor.

Mage armor also applies if you are NOT wearing armor, and changes base armor, much as Draconic resilience does.

But only DR and MA change the base. The two Unarmored Defenses add to the armorless bases. They don't replace them.

Now, yes, a DM may decide otherwise, but that's not what the books say. Nor the errata. And yes, I understand you disagree.

Fair enough. THAT bit I missed. Mind you, I doubt anyone could have sold a DM on a barbaric monk in the first place.



That depends: Do they come with extra damage and disability, like making arms unusable or limiting movement if a leg is taken out? If so, I'd rather not, simply because it's a bit more than the current damage system is set up for. Otherwise, I dont' much care.

In reply to Caine (msg # 113):

As i said, just for flavor purposes.

In reply to Caine (msg # 112):

There's no such thing as "base armour". Everyone has an Armour Class. By default (unarmoured) it's 10+dex mod. Several abilities, spells and pieces of equipment set your AC to a given value and that's it; pick the best one. Read the entry for Unarmoured Defence; it doesn't say "you may also add your Con/Wis to AC when unarmoured" it says "your AC becomes 10+Dex+Con/Wis". If it was meant to be a bonus to AC, it would be listed as a bonus (like a Shield or Shield of Faith spell does).

@GM: I'm cool with flavour hit locations.

Oh I will have proficiency with theif's tools by the way, so that makes 3 or 4 of us.

Barbaric monk, sounds interesting ;-) bronk? Monbarian?

A barbaric monastic tradition venerating self control through rage? Angry monk style?

So...was that a yes or no to Tarkun's group idea?

In reply to GM (msg # 110):

Called shots? Or just random places to takes damage?
As called shot had a negative to hit but I am game to whatever.

He would embody when the monk can take no more of people and putting up a calm face....
Medieval Postal Worker

I am good using hit location tables for descriptive purposes.

We might wanna do like the half-orcs and take our conversation to PMs.

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 122):

What was your group idea?

My mistake. I simply assumed that the book using the words base armor class on page 144 meant that there was such a thing.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 17:10, Wed 23 Sept 2015.

OK, maybe you COULD sell a DM on the idea. :-)

Or you're a primitive tribesman and a monastery is trying to reform you to civilization through meditation.

AKA you are Tarzan, the Jungle Fist.

In reply to Risshil (msg # 126):

Nice

Teams so far:

Team Waaagh - Abighail, Gharuk, Ghorgath, Ghorza
Team Dorfs and friend - Ghere, Brak, Rurik and Torymyn

Two more teams to be made. I could possibly start the first two on their first task tomorrow.

Everyone, please remember to update your character sheets!

Perhaps Sharlee would be interested in joining two nobles, ak archaeologist, and a gnome monk.

Sounds like a very refined group.  Just the thing for an alcoholic small barbarian.  Consider me joined.

Doesn't adding a fifth to that group short one of the others? Or have I miscounted characters?

In reply to Caine (msg # 131):

No it seems I miscounted. Somehow I had 5 in my head. That and "crap why did half the combat characters team up together?"

Gotta say, I'm really geeking out over this guy. Loving the idea of a fire-breathing Dragon Sorcerer. I'm really liking how D&D is handling magic in this edition.

Castrated and diluted? In 2e, even a lowly 1st level spell could spell instant doom for PCs no matter how high level. Save-or-die was a way of life :P

Also, half of team Waaagh still doesn't have character sheets filled out. Torymyn is in need of the same as well. As soon as that little thing is fixed teh first two teams can take off.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:58, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 134):

Shrug. I endured the Red Book and 2nd but 3rd/5th is a lot more playable imao. We won't mention 4th.

4th? There was a 4th? -_-

I liked 4th edition. Everyone had different roles, and it was like WOW.

Back! Back! Vile 4th-lover!

Being like WoW was my biggest complaint about 4th :)

NSFW.

http://orig07.deviantart.net/c...ransbot9-d3ehcto.jpg

TBH I never got to play 4th because nobody over here would touch it with a 10-foot pole. It had some interesting concepts tho, and some of the ones I liked filtered into 5th edition.

It wasn't their most successful venture, but they do seem to have learned from their mistakes. Can't really ask for more than that.

It went along the line that everyone focused on a different role, doing different things. Instead of just hitting things until their hp went down before yours.

In the end the market is the final determiner. I am sure that they tried to make 4th a good game, they are in business to make a profit after all, but the fact of the matter is that 4th failed miserably.

I think piracy hurt them a lot too.

Did you hear that Gharuk, it was your fault.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

A little piracy never hurt anyone, arrrr.

Is Team Dorf & Friend a/k/a Dwarves Uber Alles ready to go? If so, can we get under way, or do we <Sigh> have to wait on the silly Orcses? :)

Nah, piracy didn't hurt. I work at a bookstore and the 4e stuff didn't get shoplifted. We're having a challenging time keeping track of the 5e stuff. It's getting boosted so much we're probably going to make it order only.

I dunno, are we? Does everyone in Team Dodo have an accepted charsheet put up, a portrait and a description up? Everyone spent (or decided to save) their starting money?

That was the entire problem, you were better off playing an actual MMO.

It felt far more restrictive on choice, both in character creation as well as choice of actions. Each character having a different role has been a thing since 1st edition, it wasn't new to 4th. All they did was make it even more obvious and gave classes even less flexibility and variance. The modules for 4th were a great example of this. In other editions modules had choices, but there was always flexibility there for player actions. In 4th you had to do things their way or it didn't work. You had maybe three choices on abilities to solve each problem, and by the rules of the module those were your only choices. Creativity be damned.

People who enjoy it are welcome to it, but it is clear that it was the least popular edition by far.

In reply to GM (msg # 134):

@GM: I have now completed my character sheet.

@Ghere and Rurik: I was the holdup :shameface:
This message was last edited by the player at 14:54, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

Goody! To battle!

Huzzah!! All of my other games here on RPoL seem to be mired in the doldrums today. A little monster-bashing sounds like just the thing! :)

Electronic piracy. No one stole it from stores, because they could steal it while staying at home.

I'm kind of surprised that isn't happening with 5th edition

Oh it is happening, I assure you. Maybe not on the scale it once was, but PDFs are out there for the dowloading.

I'm sure it is, and I'm sure some folks shoplifted 4e stuff jut wasn't an issue at our location.

It's interesting, unlike the music industry there are a couple of studies that show print piracy (when I use the term I almost always mean illegal downloads/file sharing) has a marginal positive effect on overall sales. I think it has to do with the nature of printed media (he amount of time invested in consuming the new hit single vs your favorite author's new book) and a more intimate appreciation for an author than a singer or a band. It probably has the most to due with positive word of mouth free advertising. My fellow booksellers and I discuss these issues often and there also seems to be an ego/self-image cache for some people having particular books visible on their shelves at home. I wouldn't be surprised is some "pirates" buy the book after reading all or part of their digital copy. It's all getting to be a hazy line between stores, libraries, friends loaning books/files, and file sharing sites/bit torrents.

I think Wizards made a great marketing move releasing the basic PDFs for free. I don't expect them to sanction a full SRD online though. The Adventure League stuff is also fascinating. I tried to get the chain I work for to sponsor but gave up because I just could get to the right corporate big-wig to help get the ball rolling. Even then I bet the marketing and legal departments would take issue and want some kind of special treatment. Blah Blah Blah...

Sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant.

Yeah, dl'ing the PDFs help me decide if I want the book or not. PDFs are nice to have, but I will always prefer a real book.  As much as I reeeaaally want the 5th ed books, I don't have $150+ to shell out for the basic books.

Yeah that's how my group is. We all can't afford the books, so we all have a PDF in order to not take forever with char gen and leveling up. However if it's a game system we use often or at least like we buy 1 to 2 copies of the books as well as other things such as GM screens and dice and whatnot. We know that giving them money will help keep things coming. Fantasy Flight is who we support the most right now because we love the Edge of the Empire Star Wars RPG, and they come out with a lot of supplementary material.

When it's a song or album there's really no point in getting a CD copy, considering how technology is nowadays. You can hook up your phone to your car in order to play it that way, so I can see why "piracy" is a negative thing for the music industry.

Amazon, $27.50 each, and free shipping and handling if the order is over $35 and you can wait a week.

Agreed. Starcraft did the same and it was enormously successful. Best advertising in the world remains word-of-mouth.

Good to know. Don't know why I didn't check.

Be a pirate! Fight global warming!! :)

$31.06 PHB at Barnes and Noble, free shipping if over $25.00
$29.73 MM or DMG.

We gotta charge yards full price in store. Don't even get me started on that...
This message was last edited by the player at 17:17, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

So what groups are still looking for staff?

I need a group.....

GM: Rules Query.

How are you interpreting the Reach rules? Particularly in relation to Opportunity Attacks.

There is an argument for saying that a Reach weapon only allows you to attack at 10ft when you are taking the Attack action and that an Opportunity Attack is only provoked by someone moving out of your normal threatened area of 5ft.

The common ruling, however, falls in line with the 3ed interpretation that a Reach weapon gives you a larger threatened area and thus greater agency to make OA's.

The contentious rule can be found on pg.147 of the PHB. To paraphrase and contrast, you provoke an OA when leaving an enemies reach, but a Reach weapon only grants 10ft reach when attacking with it. Thus, the argument goes, if you're not attacking (i.e. because it's not your turn; it's your foe who is moving's turn), your reach is the standard 5ft.

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 165):

By that ruling, if you attack at 10ft you will almost never get OA's, because once your turn ends they are outside your melee reach. Therefore they can move wherever and not provoke from you. Thus by that logic a each weapon would have close to 0% OA chance, which doesn't seem right.

Edit: found a forum with a screencap of a tweet with mike mearls, one of the devs of 5th asking for this clarification. He asked mike if reach weapons threatened at 10ft, and the answer was yes. Thus you gain OA if they move from 5-10ft away to 15+ft away.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:17, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

The only rule I see on page 147 says that reach weapons add 5' to your reach, including for opportunity attacks.

Opportunity attacks happen as a creature moves out of your range. Page 195

So, as long as you have a reach weapon *in hand*, they can provoke an opportunity attack by moving farther than 10' away from you.

On the other hand, it also means they can safely move from 5' to 10' away from you without provoking one.

I'm not sure what there is to interpret. It seems pretty clear.

The emphasis is mine. The argument goes (and I'm not saying I agree with it) that if you're not attacking with your reach weapon, it doesn't grant extra reach and thus you only threaten OA's in squares adjacent to you (which, incidentally, Risshil; Reach weapons are capable of attacking adjacent squares too in 5ed, unlike in 3ed where Reach weapons could only attack at 10ft and not 5ft).

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 168):

Except that you only quoted half the sentence. To conclude:

, as well as when determining your reach for opportunity attacks with it.

The sentence, when read in its entirety, says that it does, in fact, affect opportunity attacks. Not sometimes, not only if you've made an attack with it that round, but when determining reach for opportunity attacks. Period.

"As well as" would be the words to highlight, I imagine. They mdkr opportunity attack determination separate and distinct from attacks.

Again, I can't see why there would be any question. Once the WHOLE sentence is read.

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 168):

Yes you can attack at 5ft without penalty, but an enemy only provokes an OA when they leave your reach, which would be 10ft. You would not get 2 OAs if they went from 5ft tk 15ft away, just one.

Likewise, you would not gain an OA if they went from 5ft to 10ft away, as they have not left your threatened area yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

Before an argument breaks out... :)

Gharuk correctly quoted the original printing (same as my copy). The correction was added in later printings; see the PHB errata:

http://media.wizards.com/2015/...ds/dnd/Errata_PH.pdf

10 foot reach = 10 foot threat area.
Opportunity attack as area is left.
I believe everyone will be fine with this?

Team Ork and team Dorf are ready to go it seems. Depending on my time available (have to prepare for my RL gaming group too - running Bard's Tale for them), the first IC thread should be up sometime between now and monday.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:04, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

Thanks for the clarification.

This message was deleted by the player at 10:24, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

Polearm master gives you AOO when opponent enters your reach while you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike or quarterstaff.
The usual AOO is when the opponent leaves your reach.

the manual states:

Reach. This weapon adds 5 feet to your reach when you attack with it.

Gee, aren't they using silly wordings.

Long story short, I decided to use the following. Might not be the best ruling, but it will keep me sane:

By the way, thanks, DM, for taking the time to put up the Mission threads for the two Teams that were ready to engage the enemy.

I know that you mentioned needing to put in some time getting ready for your tabletop group, but it was really nice being able to get started sooner rather than later! :)

I totally agree; it was great fun to charge out of the gate and right into combat.

But...but...I wanna blow stuffs up too. Ya know, after I talk them into surrendering.

Team Squishy has been formed and ejected into the first mission.

okay, who is left for the last team? Let's have a show of hands please.

Really guys? That's our name? >_> ugh alright then.

Haha sorry. Do you want to be Team Noble instead?

No no it's fine. It's the truth after all.

I'm still here and waiting for a team.

In reply to Caine (msg # 183):

Likewise

I'll give the rest of team Slow until monday before looking for replacement players.

DM, can you put up a thread with the teams and their members please?
That way as people fall out (sad but true in Rpol) and come in it makes it easy to mix and match.

I prefer team Square Peg. Just because we don't fit into arbitrary categories doesn't make us slow, it simply makes us  hard to easily categorize.

At least that's what I've been telling folks for the last few decades.

Square peg leg it is. Us old geezers have to stick together.

I think Sharlee is still looking for a team.  At least I don't think I got into one yet.

"We wander the Island of Misfit Toys until we find a place,
Come Rudolph, light our way....."

Hey boss, just a suggestion; you might want to set up language groups.

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 191):

Will happen at some time, surely.

Pearls from my today's RL game:

"Do Australian bats hang upside down?"

(after dragging an NPC out of a tar pit, via shark-fishing hook lodged in the NPC's eye - double 1 on two d20) "I plant the magic acorn into his empty and bleeding eyesocket. Does he feel better?"

"Using beer shortage as pretext to make five hundred alcoholics storm the evil cult's temple is completely legit. So what if only thirty-seven survived?"

Right now, we aren't using any optional rules apart from Feats.

Do you want to use either or both the Flanking and Facing optional rules? Remember that these apply to your enemies as well if we use them.

I'm happy to keep it simple, myself. Without those optional rules, there's more leeway for "theatre of the mind" and that's a good thing in my book.

I do not have a strong opinion on the matter one way or another.

I think flanking will benefit our enemies more than ourselves since we are likely to face larger numbers of smaller enemies whom it would be better to not give advantage on their attacks.  When it's us versus small numbers of larger enemies, we won't need the advantage so much until it's time for us to face dragons and the like.

I say if flanking isn't a mechanic any more then leave it out.

It sure would be nice if the rest of my team would post. :/

We're waiting on...Meriele?

Yeah, sorry. Forgot you actually went first. My bad. It doesn't seem she's very active. Maybe skip her if she doesn't post today? Then again, maybe I'm just anxious to see if I can talk down the kobolds. Would love to see Boros's reaction coming out with them in my service. :D
This message was last edited by the player at 14:17, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

I'm going to vote in favor of the Flanking optional rule, since the DM was kind enough to give us a tactical grid to work with. If we were working purely with a Theater of the Mind situation, I would be inclined to vote the other way.

True, the rule may work against the PCs sometimes, but the PCs should be smart enough to steer clear of some situations which will lead to their being flanked (e. g., don't charge willy-nilly into a pack of foes, with no means of protecting your flanks), and smart enough to get themselves out of being flanked one they find themselves in disadvantageous positions, at least in many instances -- as well as being clever enough to use the rule to give themselves and their companions advantage on their attacks. Some monsters don't have that measure of tactical acumen, however.

I don't care for the Facing optional rule, however. To my mind, it seems a little too anal, considering that a combat round lasts for six seconds, during which PCs and their foes will be constantly stepping, whirling, lunging, blocking, and looking about.

Some might argue that we can't have one rule without the other. Well, sure we can! It's D&D after all, and we can use (and ignore) whichever rules we like (or don't like). And when facing a counter-argument based on logic, I simply smile and quote Henry David Thoreau: "Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds." :)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:15, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

I am an old school grognard, I like both flanking and facing. With that said however, Rpol is slow enough already. Rather leave them out.

As the first person accepted AND the first person with a completed character sent in, I'd like to vote for the formation of group 4.

I've gone from first to last....

Group 4 should be formed tomorrow, this or that way

Caine could join group squishy since he is ready and Meriele can join team four.

Caine doesn't want to be with Nobles remember?

Right. Forgot.

Plus the fact that You'd be swapping members around in the field, behind her back. That's a bit unkind to her.

Plausible excuse, ya classist you! :)

In reply to Hai Tao (msg # 209):

Sure. Those self entitled Nobles are willing to dump someone for taking the weekend off. I LIKE the weekend myself on occasion. I'd hardly be wise to volunteer to get dumped by them when *I* took a couple days off with the rest of the world.

Personally, I find it ironically hilarious that Team Squishy, with the nobles, is looking to swap out a member in mid combat due to impatience. The DM really should change your name to Team Noble. It's so...fitting. :-)

I have no problem with people taking a weekend off. If that is the case, the she should have let us known. As it is, she's been slow to reply anyway. As someone who is pretty much a daily poster, I get annoyed at having to wait.

As a side not, we're not looking to replace someone mid combat. We are not even through our first round, and she hasn't even made so much as an introductory post.

Lastly, my character my have the Noble backstory, but he is far from being stuck up and arrogant. Not all nobles look down their nose at everyone.

It seems, teams will be formed by posting frequency from now on, eh?

In reply to Caine (msg # 210):

I love how you assume the whole team agrees on this when one person said it. That's a bit rude in my opinion. Secondly, taking days off is fine as long as you let people know. People drop out of games like this all the time without word, and sometimes it's hard to tell if RL simply gets in the way or if they simply quit without word. Informing people of vacations and whatnot is important in PBP, so that people know what is up.

Also a note, there are only 2 nobles on Team Squishy. Some of us aren't nobles, and taking such a haughty attitude makes you far worse than any pompous noble my friend.

Now that being said I think my teammates are being a bit impatient here. Seriously guys it has been two days since her last post. TWO DAYS. If you're that impatient PBP is not the setting for you, you are better on in a RL group. I prefer being on a team that posts about as often as I do, but it's not an absolute requirement. As long as you keep people up to date on what's up and post a couple times a week at minimum I'm fine with it.

That's just the difference between active and casual posters. I prefer games that are a post a day or every other day speed. There are those that prefer faster just like there are those that prefer slower. All of it is fine. The problem is we all got swept up in this idea of groups that nothing really got fleshed out. I already had my reservations about grouping with Meri bc of how long it took her to reply to my PMs and our group's PM. I have no qualms waiting. However, she is now holding us back. We all have posted, so now it's her turn to act. As I suggested earlier, if she hasn't posted by tonight perhaps her turn should be skipped for now.

Anyone who has been playing on this site knows good and well stagnation is the biggest killer of games.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

In reply to Risshil (msg # 213):

That's two of you that seem to think you need notification if someone wants to enjoy their weekend offline. I tend to take it for granted, myself.

This is OOC. I don't think any of the players are actually nobles. Just that you have unrealistic expectations that everyone else might be here 24/7.

I fail to see how *I* am pompous for realizing some people may have lives and families, and might want to spend their weekends with them, rather than with us online.

I don't, but some folks do.

The fact that everyone that seems to think so, as well as both attempts at a 5 man team, have all come from the same group is merely funny and ironic as all hell.

To me, anyhow. That isn't me being pompous, just me paying attention.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

And i would like to point out that sharlee is still waiting for any reply at all.  She thinks it is very rude for folks to decide everything by pm and just ignore the needs of others.

Again, no one is saying or implying they can't. Everyone is free to spend their downtime how they want. It's still a common courtesy to inform your fellow players and DM if there going to be periods of inactivity so no one is left guessing.

Tarkun seriously chill. The combat thread started yesterday, and it has barely been 24 hours since it started. If this is how impatient you are even I don't want to be in your group, and I tend to post daily myself. Skipping her turn does us no good in the long run. It will make her feel alienated and less inclined to stay and post, but it robs the Team of actions. Some people have careers and families that take up valuable time and so they don't have all day to do this sort of thing. It's rude to simply leave them behind.

The standard I have seen is anywhere from 3 days to a week before skips happen. For combat I would be fine with 3 days before skippage, as that is a reasonable amount of time to get stuff done even if RL gets in the way.

I want to get this cleared up now, because this weekend I will be busy with my brother's wedding, and if I'm simply going to be left behind by this Team then I will simply leave now and not waste my time.

@ Caine as I said before I goofed my math on number of teammates. If you can't accept that and my apology then there's nothing else I can say. It is not unreasonable to ask for the common courtesy of a "Hey life's got me busy right now, post soon" or "I will be unable to post on weekends" or something in the OOC thread. Sometimes I need a break too, which is why I let people know when I do.

JFC, why am I getting crucified for an effing suggestion?

Now I really do wish we had had more time before being thrown into this.

Yours' was the second such request. Both for me. Come to that, I was the choice as replacement, too. You folks must really need some muscle.

I had no problem accepting your apology. But the fact is: all the requests came from the same group. I noticed. I found it humorous, even ironic given the avowed nature of the group. I'm not sure where my crime is, there.

Also, to me the weekend as a couple of days off for family (or dating, or just sleeping) is a given. I see no reason to announce the obvious. Although it's becoming clear that it isn't all that obvious, anymore. Times change, I guess. You young whippersnappers need to learn to relax.

And, if you think weekends with family is a BREAK... I envy you.

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 219):

Umm dude no one is crucifying you stop being so defensive. Your suggestion was made with an attitude of "this should happen", and it's the fact you are suggesting it a mere 24 hours after the thread was started scares the hell out me to be honest. I have a pretty busy life myself, I just happen to be able to check on things at work from time to time. That will be less so coming into the holiday season, and so I want to be sure who I am gaming with is patient and understanding enough to not write me off because of it.

@ Caine a couple of days don't matter really in my opinion. If you haven't posted in 4+ days a notice would be nice is all I am saying. No need to twist my words and assume the worst. Meri is not in that situation.

Not everyone has the same lifestyle dude.

Just quoting this Risshil since apparently you missed over half what I initially posted.

Man, I hate typing on a cell phone.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Sun 27 Sept 2015.

And again: You weren't the first to comment on her absence, either. Wasn't twisting your words, simply noticing that two of you were commenting on her lack and then I pointed out the OTHER person's solution.

In combination with other things coming out of your group (the group, not just you) I find it ironically funny.

You might too, if you weren't quite so close to it. It really IS funny. Neither of the other groups has complained about their numbers, their makeup, or a slow posting member. It's all been from Team Squishy Noble.
How is that not both ironic and funny? Seriously?

Yes, there has been ONE complaint from group 4: From me, specifically. I mentioned the lack of a formalized group 4, even though there should only be four of us left. I haven't really worried much about it because I suspect there aren't, in fact, four of us left anymore. It's RPoL, and we started with 16: someone has surely dropped out by now. My not being in a group simply struck me as another bit of irony, for the reasons I gave at the time.

My point exactly.

*facepalm* I'd like to just point out that my suggesting you replace her in the current line up was simply because you were obviously posting at a higher rate than her which was more cohesive to our groups post rate. We've been led to believe these groups aren't permanent andthis is just an initial run. My intent was not to exclude someone.

In reply to Hai Tao (msg # 226):

After combat has started. Not while you were between missions in town. *I* would feel a mite excluded. She probably will when she checks in and catches up.

The groups may not be permanent, but swapping characters out while in the field isn't quite what the DM had in mind, I'm willing to bet. It's certainly not the sort of group I want to join. Just in case, for some reason, I were to become the next person not to be excluded...in the field.

There's no way to shine this up, bud. In the field was the wrong time. Sorry.

There's really no point continuing to argue this. This situation is a byproduct of the clusterf*ck of people trying to form a group, then being pushed in one before any agreements could be made. I didn't want to be part of this group but by the time I made my mind up about it, the ball was already moving. Oh well. It is what it is. Suggestions were made. Nothing more. If some of yall want to make those of us who made the suggestions into villains (which to me it really feels like), so be it. I'm here to play a game and have fun. Can we all just agree to disagree so yall cand send your PMs to the DM to say "I never want to group with him."?

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 228):

I've turned you folks down 4 times now. I think he's got it. I know one of you does.

And I'm very sorry if my pointing out your actions made you feel like a villain. I think that's s little over melodramatic, myself. The term I used was like a Noble, not like a villain.

Ignore Shakespeare's take on names.

No need to argue that which we are not fully a part of.

I will definitely apologize to Meriele for making the suggestion if/when she returns and if she is even offended. Though I suspect enough people have been offended for her so she might let it slide this time.

Honestly after all the hoopla over something so minor I really wouldn't mind having Hai Tao pound some kobold skulls into putty.

Please check your char sheets for accuracy. Listing armor type next to your armor class will make me happy and save me from making sanity rolls.

As for Faire, perhaps we will need a replacement player soonish.

Ra'mer needs some kind of description too ;)

Hey there! I'll be filling out my character sheet and such today. Should be done later tonight. Looking forward to playing with all of you!

Welcome, Faire! I'm looking forward to writing and gaming with you. :)

In reply to GM (msg # 232):

I wasn't entirely sure I was "in", so had delayed in getting more detail. But I will get on that.

Welcome to the game Faire.

Welcome Faire. Tell us about your character (did she bring cake?).

Cake is a lie. Did you bring cookies?

Or pie. I quite like pie.

Mince meat pie is quite delicious.

I wonder if monsters have cake.

Do kobolds ever go to the trouble of making cake? These are the important questions Faire, and they must be answered.

I think that they were planning on some tasty Dwarven/Human/Half-Orc stew.

I don't think that's going so well for them. :)

No its not, the meat would be too chewy.

Sorry about the wait. Been traveling. Should be able to post after about 20 minutes or so.

Take your time. Its about quality not quantity.

We are still talking about cake ... right?

A little cake is better than no cake.

The mission for team 4: retrieve the kidnapped cake. For the sake of deliciousness.

So, team Cake is formed! [insert 8-bit Final Fantasy SFX here]

Ra'mer, Sharlee, Caine and FAIRE. Your Mission 1 thread will be up in a second.

Remember, not every encounter needs to be a combat ;)

(never type in a hurry :) )

If her player doesn't post in a few hours I'll assume Meriele just stands there, indecisive, and taking the Block action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:24, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

I just read the Proclamations thread, and am wondering if we're already following the fourth proclamation about preventing the kobolds from gathering, or if we have to go back to the city council to take on that mission?

I think the first proclamation isn't posted. It was the one where they threw us in here and said not to come back until we had half a dozen bloody kobold heads.

THEN we can get other assignments.

Until then, I'm not sure we've even seen the the postings, not being allowed to wander in the safe part of town, yet.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:42, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

Yea! My portrait got added.

Caine has the correct.

Cool! Congratulations. :)

I'll be posting a little later tonight, but it might be delayed since my head is killing me at the moment. Going to take some medicine and see what happens.

Well. I just puked my guts out. Going to delay my posts to tomorrow. Sorry about all the trouble.

Please have the weapon used for reaction attacks clearly stated on your char sheet (atk bonus and damage). My sanity begs of you.

Use link to a message in another game or link to a message in another game if you need a blank sheet.

Good luck with the pukeathon, Faire.

Thanks DM for at least lining them up for me for a breath weapon attack. lol

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 255):

Hold up on that. Going to try to salvage this. Hopefully it will work......maybe....

Too late. lol Of course the dice would hate me on my damage roll.

So...it looks like we're all getting different "secondary encounters" on mission 1. Team Waaaargh!, it seems, has taken the "kill it before it kills us" approach. No dilly dallying, standing around talking for us! Rargh!

Faire, are you still alive, or do we have to go all Team noble on you? And drink some Gatorade or one of it's knock offs. It'll help with the massive dehydration.

And if puking is a problem, try eating something horribly sickly sweet; if you're in the UK, a Mars bar will do the trick. Many overly sweet confections contain anti-vomiting agents and might help with the nausea without having to get prescription medication.

I found that sucking a mint often helped to take your mind of the puking.

Actually, the best thing for pukeathons is leaving your tummy be. Not ingesting anything at least 2-3 hours after the last bleargh is advisable. (no volume in stomach = no irritatin = no vomiting)

Oh, such yummy topics in our OOC :D

Anyways, shall we put a hard limit on how long we wait for the last person in a team to post? Like 72 hours? 48 hours?

Don't forget you can plan in advance too. So saying that next turn your character will do blah, means combats might run much faster.

Sorry about the pukeathon yesterday. I'm puking a lot less today and should have a post up momentarily. I'm probably going to switch my picture, but I think I'll just post first so I'm not holding people up anymore.

Gharuk's guide to puking:

It depends on the source of the problem. Vomiting is usually a result of the body deciding that it doesn't want whatever you just put into it; hence why you puke after drinking too much alcohol or literally consuming too much food.

In the case of illness, however, the source is most often a bacterial or viral infection that has found its way to the stomach. In those cases, the body is trying to expel the nasty bug by vacating the stomach.

Often, in either case, the perceived problem remains (such as when your blood-alcohol level is too high), so you will continue to retch despite having an empty stomach or having purged the offending article. When this is the case, it's better to have something to vacate than not, if only because dry-heaving is a truly horrendous experience.

Drinking water in small quantities is usually the best thing to do when feeling pukey; it hydrates you, it puts something in your stomach to come back up again (which, as I say, is better than dry-heaving) and it's pH neutral, meaning that it's not going to feel uncomfortable going down or coming up; unlike, for instance, fruit juice (which can burn) or milk (which stinks and tastes rotten when mixed with stomach acids).

If you know that not vomiting is an ok thing to do; for instance, if you've already yakked up all the booze you're going to get out of your system, then the very best thing you can do is take an anti-vomiting agent to stop the urge to puke in the first place. These are available over the counter or as prescription medication, but they're also hidden in commonly available foodstuffs; most frequently in over-sweet confections. It's often cheaper and more pleasant to eat, for example, a Mars bar than to swallow some pills or some nasty goop.

If, on the other hand, you're puking for a good reason, then an anti-vomiting agent is a bad idea. Let the body do its work; it probably knows what its doing better than you do. Just make yourself feel a bit more comfortable by putting something in it to come back up.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:04, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 264):

Rurik's guide to puking: Dwarves don't puke. :)

That sounds like a challenge to me...we're sure to find ourselves in a pub sooner or later (or at least in the presence of vast quantities of booze); when we do, Gharuk and Rurik are having a chugging contest!

(and yes, I'm aware that you'll have a significant advantage what with your racial tolerance toward poisons, but Gharuk isn't one to back down!)

Ghere's guide to puking:

Herr Doktor Professor Klaus Von Krieg's Cure-All.

It may or may not work, but you will be too busy taking up your new career as an amphibian to care.

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 266):

Well, Rurik has yet to see anyone who can handle mass quantities of Dwarven ale as well as a Dwarf.

Who knows what sort of nasty concoctions the Orcs drink, though? Probably fermented goat-piss, or some-such. :D

Who knows what orcs drink? Could be anything. Gharuk's a sailor; he drinks rum! He also has a suspicion that it's a closely guarded secret that the so-called Dwarven tolerance for ale stems from Dwarven ale really being weak and watery. Then again, Gharuk isn't exactly blessed with any kind of sense!

In reply to Gharuk (msg # 269):

Personally, I've always considered Dwarven ale to be something along the lines of a juiced-up Guinness stout -- say, double or treble the "stoutness", and double or treble the alcohol content. :)

Hmm, I dunno. Stout is a drink very commonly associated with Ireland (for obvious reasons and not wanting to mention a certain brand with a harp for its logo) and Ireland is a country with a mythology commonly associated with the "laymans" idea of fairy tales. So, for me, stout is what pixies drink when they're not drinking milk and honey.

Dwarves, on the other hand, have a culture with heavy Nordic overtones. Going with stereotypes, we're probably looking at either mead or a palish ale or lager. We can also take the assumption that most "common" beer in any given fantasy setting has a relatively low alcohol content (approx 2%, say) because, for one, brewing techniques in the middle ages were not that good and secondly it was really only used as a device for purifying water. Taking into consideration that Dwarves are master craftsmen as a racial trait, I see Dwarvish ale as being roughly approximate to any "real ale" or microbrewery lager in modern day Britain (and of similar strength, i.e. 3.5% to 6%).

Maybe, however, I'm just overthinking this!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:12, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

Whoops. Edited my post to reflect the movement.

In reply to Faire (msg # 272):

Didn't I have a reaction from a delayed action, or did I lose that to the dash?

reaction is only enemy leaving your reach.

Dash is an action. You get only one action.

Ready is also an action. It's either dash or ready or attack or whatever.

Some class abilities give free actions. A monk can have a dash as a bonus action at 2nd level for the cost of 1 ki. However, you are 1st level.

Am I missing anything?
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Thu 01 Oct 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 274):

Well, he gets a bonus action, being a monk, but only if he attacks.

So basically a dash isn't a dash, it's a second move replacing your action.

well, that sucks for me.

Flanking is an optional rule in the DMG in 5e. Here is where the DM addressed it elsewhere in the OOC thread:



I'm pretty sure that both Flanking and Facing got voted down, although we are using Feats. Hope this helps. :)

Rurik has the correct. Facing and flanking rules are not used atm, as the majority of players didnt want them.

Ah well, I don't suppose the kobolds have an AC of 8??

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 278):

AC 12, according to the stat blocks the DM posted in our thread.

AC 12, according to the stat blocks the DM posted in our thread.

Doh!  :face palm:

I read that as your AC Caine!

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 280):

No, mine is 14, which makes it strange that fully half the little buggers hit. I have that sort of luck with the RPoL die roller.

My luck with the dice roller is that I can hardly ever roll over about 8!!

Expect long fights!

In reply to Caine (msg # 281):

Kobolds' rolls were 20 and 2 x 16, and 2 misses. Yeah, the randomizer goddess is out to get you.

In reply to GM (msg # 283):

And I don't break a 10. Still, 10 is enough to live. I hate this die roller.

And they claim they just fixed it, a month back. Makes you wonder if they caught all the bugs....

Ah well, I'll go back to dreaming of electric sheep.

Sorry about the wait everyone. Was driving for most of the day and I only just now got home. Should have a post up soon.

How much HP do you have left Caine? I'm considering an Area attack but I'd hate to kill or knock you out...

In reply to Faire (msg # 286):

Sorry if my posting about dreaming wasn't clear. None.

Oh. You're already knocked out...Hm...I might need to ask the Gm a quick question.

If I use the spell Ice Knife, would you still take the damage even though you're down? If it would kill you I can always use sleep to take away a few of our foes.

In reply to Faire (msg # 288):

Well, I can't speak for the DM but: Sleep has been the traditionsl 1sr level death spell since the original 3 volume box set. Ice knife does damage on a non successful Dec save. As I can't move, mine will be non successful. That is notbto say total damage will exceed my.maximum threshold, however.

Personally, I like the classics. Strauss, Sam Cooke, The Who, and Sleep.

Of course, I'm a dinosaur.

Yeah, I just understand that a lot of DMs have house rules about this sort of thing when it comes to downed characters. Sleep is hardly a bad option though lol. It's pretty darn good in just about every edition.

Bigass image explaining 0 HP in 5e in a dinosaur readable format:
(I count myself in the dinosaur category, as should anyone knowing Caine's chinese name, lol)

image

Basically, there are no negative HP in 5e.
Any damage taken counts as a failed death save.
3 failed death saves and you're dead.
Thera are some extra complications, but that's it.

I'm trying for a vanilla 5e game. So, no house rules. Optional rules are put to the vote, and if the players don't want them we won't use them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:30, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

Of course not. That would be gruesome and messy. We have to cut them off.

Also, I owe the DM two more saves, as we don't have a healer to make them unnecessary.

08:23, Today: Caine rolled 18 using 1d20.  death save #2.
08:25, Today: Caine rolled 10 using 1d20.  death save #3 1 failure, 1 success.
08:25, Today: Caine rolled 20 using 1d20 ((20)).


And Caine now has 1 HP. And  better opinion of the die roller


Sorry is those seems the wrong thread, but it's mostlyu ooc, and this is the ooc thread, so...

Technically, any first aid automatically stabilizes you. Jus sayin

In reply to GM (msg # 293):

Did I miss someone doing first aid?

Book says it's a dc10 medicine check to stabilize

Right.

I was thinking I'd wait with mission two until all the teams finish mission one. Seeing how well the first two teams hold together, this might not be necessary. Mission two will follow the same lines as mission one, shouldn't take more time than the first mission has, and should push the participants into 2nd level. You'll have the freedom to choose one of the missions form the proclamation board after the second mission is completed.

(or perhaps not, dying on the mission might just fork the adventure a little...)

In reply to GM (msg # 296):

Nah. Dying gets a bad rap.

Just to be clear on timing: That was my reaction, so do I owe you a new attack, as well?

Please be clear if delaying your action. Roll your attack and damage dice in advance. This makes me keep my sanity longer.

Also, today is migraine day. I must have missed Caine stating he'd attack.

Expect Mission 2 for some teams tomorrow.

In reply to GM (msg # 299):

The delay was stated in the private to DM stat line you requested. As per the example.

I'll add the rolls from now on. They weren't in the example.

Team dwarf needs a replacement player, as Torymmyn's has bowed out of the game.

Does anyone wnant to move to this team?

Meriele's player also hasn't posted for far too long. We should be having suitable replacement soon.

It seems only team halfOrc managed to thunder into mission 2 without losses. Good job, team!

If you have large losses from Team Cake and Team Dwarf, can you just merge those teams into one?

Team Dwaf will be at full strength in no time, don't worry.

One lurker has already submitted a character, and waiting on another to do so.

So we are still at 16 players.

(poke Sharlee so we can finish up Mission 1 for Cake team)
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Wed 07 Oct 2015.

Greetings!

I'll be playing a down on his luck noble knight.  My character sheet is about half way done, and should be finished today.  If team squishy, or Dwarf n Friends, will have me I'll gladly join my sword and shield to theirs.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:42, Wed 07 Oct 2015.

Welcome to the game, Ser Desdichado. I'm looking forward to gaming with you.

I think that the vacancy in the Dwarven party has been filled already, but I appreciate your interest. :)

Likewise, Master Ironhand, and I apleased to know that your team is set to go.  Best of luck to all of you on your mission.

Well, I'm wondering which group needs a solid melee fighter more?  I'm pretty flexible and should be able to post every day.  I tend to post from my phone, though, so they might tend to be shorter posts, but never a one liner.  I hate those.  :)

Team Squishy would definitely welcome your services, Desdichado.

Yeah, I hate one liners too. :-)

In reply to Ser Desdichado (msg # 307):

Team Cake would also appreciate  a meatshield Noble knight!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Wed 07 Oct 2015.

In reply to Ghorgath (msg # 309):

You cheeky orcsis!  ;)

I've been enjoying keeping up with this game since it started.  There is quite the interesting dynamic developing within each of the groups.  :)

We have a barbarian and a monk. What we need is a healer.

I wonder if anyone's going to multiclass when they reach level 2.

I am. Adding a bit of Rogue to my Barbarian; Athletics and Intimidation Expertise, plus Sneak Attack for double teaming with my big bro sounds like a tasty addition to me!

Sharlee might consider a dip into fighter.  Still don't know yet.

Im planning on sticking to fighter for the foreseeable future.  Role playing may change that, however, so we shall see how everything develops.  :)

Not I, planning on staying Cleric straight through

Ghorgath not into multiclassing, he likes women, and only one at a time too.

Well-played, sir! :)

In reply to Ghorgath (msg # 318):

So, you like dual-classing then?

Not into dueling women either. Normally a swift club over the head good enough.

Da orc wayz.

Man, I haven't read that in years.  Thanks for that!  :D

If the rest of team Squishy doesn't post something, they'll pass their turn.

Also, you are free to actually welcome the new arrival :) Another one is due shortly.

A great warm welcome to Librand Silver-Eyes!  Glad to see another new face.  :)

Yes, Welcome to all new faces

Welcome!

Team Waagh is waiting on GM.

Well met, one and all.  I look forward to getting started.

Welcome to the game Librand -- I look forward to gaming with you. :)

 Am I blind? Wasn't there a thread/post about how character creation should be handled?

EDIT: Also, I do not know if I pick a squad or am picked by one. Anyone favoring a roughish halfling with a love for nature?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Fri 09 Oct 2015.

In reply to Librand Silver-Eyes (msg # 331):

I'm holding out for healing.

 Unfortunate, but understandible.

Welcome to the game!

 Thank you! Just hope I can I find somewhere to fit in. Perhaps Librand's sneaky ways will have him scouting solo for the shot-callers.

Sorry, been a sh!tty week for me lately. Working on something now.

Raspberries happen.

Is there a particular format everyone is using for character sheets?

Not really, GM doesn't care as long as it is readable.