In reply to DM (msg # 74):

How tight are you going to be on provisions and water, etc? Those are the only things I think we would need to purchase, but in the interests of moving things along we can either skip it or just mark them off.

What do you think?

Aren't provisions (rations and waterskin) part of every standard, background based equipment (dungeoneers pack, explorers pack, etc.)? Maybe not for all. If not, let's discuss further.

I'd like to at least acknowledge that provisions are purchased if you don't have them, but at the same time I don't want to turn this into a logistical nightmare.

I'll take a look and give you a final ruling after hockey tonight.

Rations:
Rogues, Fighters, and Artificiers all get, as part of their class based equipment, a pack of some sort that includes rations. If you haven't already, please make note of which type of pack you have on your character sheet (some classes can choose between two or three).

Laaret, you will have to buy rations because they are not included in the diplomat's pack (5 sp, 2 lbs per day) and a waterskin (2 sp, 5 lbs when full) before departing. Or there may be some others who would like to cut down on their encumbrance by getting rid of a couple day's worth by giving to you.

Pack contents are listed on page 151 of the Player's Handbook.

Encumbrance (groan):
As we embark, I'd like to follow the variant rules on page 176 of the PH for encumbrance. Basically, you can carry 5x your STR with no penalty. Between 5x and 10x your STR, you are encumbered and your movement is -10 ft. This will have no negative impact on daily travel distance. If you carry 10X to 15X your STR, you are considered heavily encumbered (-20ft to your speed). Being heavily encumbered will have a negative impact on the time it takes to get to the bridge. You may want to consider leaving a few days of rations (5 lbs/day) or some other heavy items (crowbars, shovels, 50' of rope (yes, rope could be useful, but does everyone need to be carrying 50' of it at 10 lbs?)) at home to get yourself into the category of your liking.

Travel:
Rules for travel are on page 182 of the PH. It says you can travel at a normal pace 24 miles in a day. 30 miles if you are willing to take a -5 on passive wisdom checks. There is no additional rate for having horses, but I think it's reasonable to award an extra 50% if you are mounted, so we'll go with that.

Finally, a horse can be rented from the stable for 9gp, which is about 10% of the cost of horse, saddle, bit/bridal, and saddle bags. Between the 4 of you, you may have enough to cover it (and you could get by with 3 (or maybe even 2) horses if Thorfire and Therarak agree to share). It would improve your time to and from the bridge, increase you carrying capacity, but will present some issues if you need to spend a lot of time inside the cave (if you find the cave) and need to leave them unguarded while you explore. A good topic for discussion!

In reply to DM (msg # 77):

I've purchased some rations and a waterskin and deducted the appropriate gold.

Let's walk since we don't have much money at all.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 78):

I think we look at renting horses/ponies otherwise we may not have time to get there and back in 48 hours if we have a lot of exploring to do...Maybe Therarak can watch the animals.

I'm going to assume this means you've decided against horses. Thorfire, you have one last chance to object. I'll post later tonight as if you are on foot unless I hear otherwise.

I'm fine with walking and not dealing with horses.

You know, in the other game I am playing, they give out XP for just reaching a certain number of posts. I am already a level 2 barbarian and I haven't even left the tavern. Just Sayin'

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 82):

Marc just had a minor stroke!

Then again, I haven't left the tavern. I've been sitting in there for three weeks (about an hour in the game time) waiting for some other people to show up and create a group. The total game has like 50 players and the milestone reached was 17k posts. Now I am in the tavern with 3 sorcerers (human, half-elf, dragon born), a changeling monk, a dwarf druid, a half-orc fighter, human barbarian and 3 warforged who knows what. I am creating a group with two of the socerers (they have been there with me the past three weeks) and the monk, druid and fighter. There are no plot hooks given out so I just made up some story about a lost dwarven city. Seems interesting.

So YOU are responsible for the hooks? That's an interesting way to do it! I guess that makes you more invested in it.

Celador, when I posted this in the in-game thread:

OOC: Roll for initiative (except for Celador, who has a 17 already) and post round 1 actions .

What I meant was "Celador doesn't have to roll for initiative (because he already has a 17) but he SHOULD post a first round action."

So your second arrow was indeed fired!


Currently waiting for Thorfire to post. Will NPC Therarak if needed. Once I have Thorfire's action for round 1, I will list the results (hint - at least one of you hit!) and then we can proceed to round 2.

Thorfire, you are unseen and as a result would attack with advantage if you attack the big orc as he runs by.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:23, Tue 18 Apr 2017.

of course, yes. thank you

Yikes. Orcs can hand out a fistful of damage. You'll have your work cut out for you finishing off the last two.

Good luck!

In reply to DM (msg # 88):

Point of clarification...I am not finely attuned to all of the DM rules...

If I have an opportunity attack, it uses a reaction and does not count as an attack round.  My first attack was an opportunity attack (reaction) and I rolled 23 on my initiative (higher than the large orc).  Shouldn't I get my first "attack" before the orc gets to attack me back?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Tue 18 Apr 2017.

Good question. Let me clarify. I didn't consider it an opportunity attack because the orc wasn't running directly by you. I shouldn't have used the words "within arms reach". I meant that as more of a figure of speech (close but not that close). I thought of it more like you (going first) held your action until he ran past you (exposing his back to sneak attack). Then you took your move to close the range and took the attack action. He, in turn, stopped running and attacked yoi, instead.

Yes, that was a lot of assumptions on my part. You can change your post if you'd like, although 8hp of damage against the big orc is a very good start and I'd hate to forego that damage. Of course it would save you some hit points, too.

If you don't attack, he will continue ahead another 50' past you. Both of you would have 8 more hp in that case.

In reply to DM (msg # 90):

I definitely would have done something different (attacked from range) had I known that I wouldn't get an Attack of Opportunity (e.g. two attacks).  Had I attacked from range, Lazaret would likely not have had to come to my aid...going back to round one seems kind of difficult now with too many moving pieces.  Although losing 8 of 10 hp isn't too good either...I propose that since I missed my first "official" attack (not AoO) my turn has ended.  I think it makes sense for the large orc to take his turn now and reroll his attack on either me or Lazaret, basically wiping out the large orcs first attack and sparing me 8 hp.

First "official" attack: 11:46, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 8 using 1d20+5.  Rapier Attack on Large Orc.

Thoughts?

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 91):

Not to nitpick, but the orc you attacked did not leave your reach so you don't get an attack of opportunity. If he did not see you, you might be entitled to advantage on your attack though.

I think we've got these guys, but I'm going to miss the gnome.

Well battled, adventurers! Everyone contributed to the victory, so good teamwork. Thorfire, as it turns out, Celador aleady had the big orc handled at the time of our discussion, so I just left it with my original (incorrect) interpretation of the events. Were it more life or death, I certainly would've been open to backing up to your last action and replaying from there.

Lazaret, I also took the liberty of directing your last action from the big orc (who was dead by the time your turn came up) to the final orc. On the one hand, this allowed us to reach a conclusion to the battle sooner, but if you'd rather I ask you to repost, we can do that, too. It will add a little time to the combat, but it also allows you to decide all of your actions, which may be more fun. Pros and cons either way.


I think two lessons learned from the encounter with the orcs.
1. Theater of the mind is vulnerable to differing viewpoints/interpretations. I will try to do a better job of laying out the scene more exactly as it relates to game rules.
2. Initiative really screws things up. So, as Mark suggested about two weeks ago, for future combat, we will forego initiative rolls. You guys go first. The order of posts will be the order of action.

blah, blah, blah. xp?

Just kidding. As far as combat and initiative, its your game, do whatever is easiest for you.

If one senses that the previous attacks would kill the foe could they just post a second "if/then" attack with separate rolls? (e.g. IF the orc is already dead, THEN I will attack the other)

Maybe you could include some hints as to the HP status of the foe - e.g. unaffected, barely a scratch, lightly wounded, bleeding heavily, nearly dead...you get the point.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Wed 19 Apr 2017.

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 94):

What happened to the glass jars the guy was going to show me?

Nordal: What have the adventurers ever done for us?

Well we saved you from your orc captors.

Nordal: Yes, well, other than that, what have they ever done for us?

https://youtu.be/Y7tvauOJMHo

Glad you asked!

Msg #67:

Nordal was unable to rise to his feet, and as a result was unable to show you where the potions were.


Msg #71:

At this point, I was ready to hand the potions over (thinking the potion was going to Nordal)!

So now Nordal knows you have healing potions, but still don't offer to help. That's certainly their prerogative, he thinks, just as it is mine to not offer what I have in the way of magic items that may assist. Plus, I am still unable to rise from this kneeling position anyway!!!


Msg 72:

Basically, if at any point a hand was offered for Nordal to get to his feet, he would have struggled to the cart and gladly given you one or more of the potions. If Therarak had offered him a healing potion, along with Lazaret's persuasion roll, he would've joined the party on their quest! Of course that's easy for me to say because I knew exactly what I was looking for. I tried giving you a couple hints, but didn't want to make it so obvious that you were railroaded into helping.

Running late. Will have an update later tonight!

In reply to DM (msg # 97):

Whoops!

I think with the long time between posts it is sometimes hard to keep track of all the details. I find myself responding to the latest post first and forgetting some of the details of the older ones especially if they don't occur simultaneously in game.

At least Marc didn't kill him!