This is a discussion thread for the game.

Please post OOC comments/questions here.

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

I suppose the first thing that's going to come up is the minimum gold for 1st level. Keep in mind that this is in keeping with the adventure, that it asks the DM to ensure the characters are poor to begin with. It also helps provide the incentive for adventure :).

Feel free to ask questions :).

Also on the Deities and Demigods thread, if I'm missing a God you think should be included ask. If a god seems to be missing a domain and you think that domain is appropriate then ask (given all the sourcebooks it is not an exhaustive list by any means in that thread). Certain things such as the power level of a god as posted in that thread takes precedent over published material.

Is there anything we should know (IC) about the Temple? I know a little about it but I don't want to transfer any knowledge if our characters are oblivious.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 4):

You're characters would know little to nothing about the Temple of Elemental Evil. Though you might could learn some things about it from the people in Hommlett as you arrive and interact with the townsfolk :)

You will be coming from the direction of Verbobonc though and most likely came this way due to hearing about banditry along the roads with the Viscount having posted a notice for the need for adventurers to clear out the bandits.

23:37, Today: DM, on behalf of Albrecht Delmorn, rolled 6 using 1d20.  Knowledge Local.

Unfortunately that's about all Albrecht knows at this point.

Alright, cool. So, bandits, viscount, that's about it. Good to know.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 6):

Oh i didn't mention this in the Character Creation thread, but I was wanting to use fractional accounting for BAB and Saves since we are gestalt characters. This won't change anything for a 1st level character but will for future characters.

I'm not sure how familiar you guys are with the subject.

For those not familiar with fractional BAB/saves, at each level your character gains the fractional equivalent of the normal BAB/save progression for your classes.  So, a fighter would gain +1 BAB, a monk would gain +0.75 BAB and a wizard would gain +0.5 BAB.  For saves, there are two progressions, good and bad.  Good progressions gain +0.5 to the save at each level, and bad progressions gain +0.33 at each level, with good progressions getting +2.5 at 1st level.  An example is below. Note that, with gestalt, you would take the better progression in each category.


       Class                 BAB    Fort    Ref    Will
       Fighter/Rogue         +1     +2.5   +2.5   +0.33
       Fighter/Wizard        +1     +0.5   +0.33  +2.5
       Monk/Wizard           +0.75  +0.5   +0.5   +0.5

I've found with gestalts this is a better option.

So if I stay with Fighter/Dragon Shaman, I'll get +1 BAB, +.5 Fort and Will, and +.33 Ref every level? I've heard of fractional but never used it with Gestalts before.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 8):

Yes if you don't change classes that's right :)

Its actually easier to use Fractional in gestalt, and even normal games, due to making it that multi-classing doesn't ruin your characters BAB and Saves.

Well, to say hello, I have three concepts I put before the DM, but am willing to wait to see who else applies as what.

Current is Dwarf Fighter 1 // Incarnate 1

I also have Dragonborn Paladin 1 // Dragonfire Adept 1 and Elf Cleric 1 (Obad-Hai, Earth and Water Domains) // Hunter Druid 1 as possibles.  I would like to be useful in the dynamic, so if we are lacking in something, I can alter my concept to fill that role.

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 10):

It's good to have you here, hopefully the others from the thread put in their rtjs soon. I'd like everyone there to get first shot before I put up an ad or something.

In reply to DM (msg # 11):

How often will you guys be able to post?

I'm usually able to post multiple times per day, depending on what times everyone else is active. I work 2nd shift so early afternoon and very late at night are my most active times normally. Also, I'm at EST if anyone is interested.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 13):

I work graveyards so I'm active at night and mornings mostly, I also live in the ET USA.

I put up some more info :). Hopefully the other two guys submit rtjs soon. If not by tomorrow I'll do an open call for players. I'm thinking only taking 4 total.

PST myself, work evenings to early mornings, so most of the time early mornings, sometimes early afternoons.

I am generally good for once a day once character creation is done.

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 15):

Once a day is not a bad rate, especially with us in different time zones.

Hello everyone! I will be your blaster! Because I like to blast things!

I've always wanted to try to make a Warlock, assuming that's what you're playing, but I feel like I would get bored of Eldritch Blast-ing things all the time.

Greetings all, I'm playing a druid rogue for your support and edification.

In reply to Cyrinelle Wolfsfang (msg # 19):

Larmiun is a Psionic character not Warlock. He's an Ardent-Psychic Warrior.

Hopefully this will help Oren to make up his mind on his character.

In reply to DM (msg # 20):

Status

Albrecht Delmorn      Sheet Completed/Approved
Cyrinelle Wolfsfang   Sheet in Progress/Needs Equipment
Larmiun Dol'Uten      Awaiting Sheet
Oren Stonebreaker     Awaiting Sheet

Equipment is now done.  Just need to do spells memorised and I think I'm done.

In reply to Cyrinelle Wolfsfang (msg # 22):

You'll need to redo your equipment Cyrinelle, you seem to have skipped the rule that you have minimum gp for your class. Meaning you only have 50 gp to buy equipment. Yeah I know its not much but that's how this adventure starts out. Your longbow alone costs more than that :).

Remember the start of this adventure the adventurers are destitute.

I made suggestions in PM to Albrecht as he couldn't afford all his equip either. So I'll provide suggestion for your starting gear :)

Amended.  For some reason I read that as Maximum.  I've ditched the bow for now until I can get a useful one.

In reply to Cyrinelle Wolfsfang (msg # 24):

That looks better :), keeping the armor might not be a bad idea :), I'm sure one of the bandits has a bow....

Updated Status

Status

Albrecht Delmorn      Sheet Completed/Approved
Cyrinelle Wolfsfang   Sheet Completed/Approved
Larmiun Dol'Uten      Awaiting Sheet
Oren Stonebreaker     Awaiting Sheet

Warlocks have quantity. I have quality.

In reply to Larmiun Dol'Uten (msg # 26):

Before Bed Update:

Status


This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Tue 18 July 2017.

I was thinking Barbarian one side, undecided on the other.  I ma look into some kind of wild mage or something?  Suggestions?

I think there will be 1 to 2 more entries. After that I'll close RTJs :). I think most everyone from the original thread has applied (except 1 guy so far). I also invited a couple folks to join in.

Oren and Undecided 1 are wanting to see what the party needs. I don't know what the other 2 folks will be either.

Hopefully we get these specifics nailed out and start the adventure soon :)

Barbarian/Bard might be a cool combo
Barbarian/Druid is always a strong combo if a bit overdone.

You could be a Barbarian/Wizard, it's an unusual choice, maybe not take the wild mage part :).

We have 1 Druid already. Find something you are comfortable with though (but please keep in mind these adventures can be very harsh at 1st level, hopefully you guys being Gestalt and 6-7 of you will help on that part.

Well we need a skill monkey, so there's that to consider. Also someone who can talk their way out of a paper bag. Bard/Rogue maybe? Kinda sucky with the requisite skills though.

I've always wanted to try a Warmage. Maybe that can be my next character if I die...

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 30):

Velox just accepted said he's going to be Favored Soul-Soulknife

That's me! I'm still thinking about deities and such :)

I was thinking barbarian/savage bard then going into warchanter  Thinking about dragonfire inspiration as well.

Well then, I think I will go for Fighter // Incarnate then.

Sucks that we start out destitute, but hopefully this is end up with us getting some real wealth.

It looks like we have two people with rogue skills, hopefully one of them went with the trap finding and disarming path.

A few classes have the diplomacy skills, but its always more about how you play your character than your rolls.

To the Character Sheet!

Howdy!

I'll be Druid/Wizard. :) So, basically a swiss army knife. :p

I'll be delving deep into knowledge skills, and should be able to provide a lot of tactical support and battlefield control, with a bit of healing. :)

Remind me what an Incarnate is again?

And I guess you'll be the one hiding behind me, huh Milander? I don't care as long as you keep me alive. ;)

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 36):

Yuuuuuup! I'm just a frail old man, please keep me safe you delicious meat shield you.

Think non-spell casting cleric, self buffing.

I will be a buff master with a portable army.  Just finished the rough build, just gotta tea NB ever it here and pick spells.

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 39):



Maybe 1 more who inquired on race restrictions but hasn't officially applied yet. I'm going to turn off RTJ now, though if that last fellow is still interested I'll let him join.

I'm at work so I"ll only be on a little the next few hours.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:04, Wed 19 July 2017.

In reply to DM (msg # 40):

I've got a few questions on race.

If you choose to be a nonstandard race (that is not in the PH) then expect prejudice up to and including hostile action from NPCs. An orc or goblinoid spotted near town will be enough to call the town militia up, and possible action from Rufus and Burne.

Other race subraces for example Wood Elves is acceptable (They actually live in this area) though Drow would probably get an extreme reaction.

Only races with LA +0 can be selected as you are 1st level. (However note as the game progresses other races may open up as we progress should your character fall a new character of the appropriate level can be created including those with maybe higher LA). Such characters will still be subject to prejudices.

Incarnate sounds needlessly complicated. Something I'll likely never try, but you can have fun with it. ;)

The race thing sounds fine. I'll likely end up doing some sort of LA race, assuming we can do a buyoff eventually too. Nothing too crazy, maybe half-giant or catfolk.

How much time do we have to finnish the sheet?

The DM mentioned to me he wanted to start by next week, so that would be preferable, but I don't think there's anything set in stone yet.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 44):

It would be nice to have the sheets done by this weekend and get us started Sunday/Monday.

Trying to go with Dragonborn Barbarian//Bard

Hi! I am happy to be with you!
I see a True Thief Lark... I better choose something else for the second side of the gestalt.

In reply to Ailishi Urcmon (msg # 47):

Those of you taking 2 different Psionic Classes at the same time remember you only get the better of the Power Points/Day from both classes not both classes power points. Your power points will be in a pool useable for powers from either though.

You would also get the better of Known Powers not both based on the gestalt rules. Though you could pick powers from both lists.

This might have some of you rethink your combos but better to get it out now while we are still under character construction.

Incarnate is a little difficult, but there is flavor.  Its really no different than selecting your strategy as you go along.  Alignment wise, how many Lawfuls we got?  How many Goody two shoes?

Question to DM, will there be downtime to craft items in this game?  It matters for later on, so I can craft armor, weapons, etc..

Do spellcasters get only the best spell slots from one of the gestalt sides?

The principle alignment of this area is LN (St. Cuthbert), so whether the party is or not the locals tend to the Lawful alignments.

I do hope there will be time for crafting in the future. We have so many folks though it would probably just be okay we rest for a week or two and then you do in that time whatever :) (rather than playing out each day).

I'm concerned about balance.

Yes a Druid/Wizard the only one I see off hand, but I've not finished looking up the classes, would have different spell slots and different spells for each class. However one class has divine spells and the other has arcane spells. (page 73 of Unearthed Arcana makes that clear).

I suppose if I modified my ruling above to be in the same spirit then you would need to keep separate power points and separate power lists for each psionic class. Earlier I was going by page 72 and Power Points/Day and Known Powers would be the same ability by two different classes which means you'd accrue them at the rate of the better class not both. If we take psionics to be a type of spellcasting then we could use the page 73 rule and see how it goes.

Would that be satisfactory?

Yes, the way that I usually play in gestalt is this:

Three pools of Power points:

1st pool: One side of the gestalt
2nd pool: The other side of the gestalt
These pools can't see each other.

3rd pool: Racial power points, feats taken by character advancement (Like Psionic Talent at 1st level, 3rd level, so on)
This pool can be used with the other pools.

Is that Ok? If I take Psionic Talent with the feats provided by Psychic Warrior, those power points go to that side of the gestalt only.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Wed 19 July 2017.

In reply to Larmiun Dol'Uten (msg # 53):

This seems reasonable :)

Great.
Another question.

In Dragon Magazine 315 there are some Greyhawk feats. Can we use them?

Hello, I am glad to be able to play with all of you!
I decided to play a healer for the first time in my life. And I am going to do it with the strangest class to do it: a psion.

Let's see if I can do it right!

I'll review them when I get off work in the morning. Right now I'm at work. Most likely they will be okay since it's a WotC published source.

There is also a Healer class in the Miniatures book you might want to look at. It is a powerful healer.

See, I had assumed (wrongly, apparently) that he was a Healer/Psion, not a healing Psion. That would be an interesting combo to say the least...

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 59):

I think they were thinking of doing Psion-Lurk but if healing is what they want Psion-Healer might be a good option :)

The idea is to see how much I can heal with a psion. Get Magic mantle later on and strike better while healing you.

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 61):

I've made a little prelude thread for while we work on characters. It might be a place to introduce yourself and get to know the others a little before you travel south and east :).

Yes you may.

I know there was a Prestige class for psionic classes that focused on healing, Septic or something.  It was interesting, but not really viable for low level healing.  Complete Psionic with the Ardant helped a little.  Anyways, I think I will focus on not getting hit, especially with our low level and armor situation.

Can we use flaws to get more feats?

You can take 1 Flaw to get 1 Feat

Hello? Anyone there? I know it's Friday, but this place is a ghost town!

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 67):

Hi :)

I think we are all working on our sheets. I will most likely dish Lurk for Factotum.

That's fine :).

Friday and Saturday nights busy nights at work usually :)

In reply to DM (msg # 70):

Well I have Burne and Rufus ready to go for the adventure :). These NPCs like you are Gestalts now :).

In reply to DM (msg # 71):

How is everyone coming along on your sheets?

In reply to DM (msg # 72):

Current Character Sheet Standing

Finished:

In Progress


No Sheet Yet



Everyone should feel free to make a post in the Prelude just to help you establish your character :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:46, Mon 24 July 2017.

In reply to DM (msg # 73):

Okay I've got sheets from 5 people now, 4 are approved, one needs some finishing work.

How soon will the rest of you be able to have your sheets ready :). Not trying to push you to hard but would like to begin :)

I am hoping to get done tonight, with luck.

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 75):

Thanks pal :)

Just finished my sheet.

In reply to Ailishi Urcmon (msg # 77):

I'll be reviewing it shortly :)

Current Character Sheet Standing

Finished:

In Progress

| Seralessa Vadmal| Psion-Factotum| Sheet Received/Undergoing Review|

No Sheet Yet



| Undecided 2| Ranger-Scout| Awaiting Sheet


Everyone should feel free to make a post in the Prelude just to help you establish your character :)

I'm going to give the other 3 a little more time, I had hoped to start yesterday but we'll give em a little more time. The rest of you keep posting getting in character in Prelude. It would help if the other 3 would as well, might help em get an idea on what to put on their sheets :).

Minor changes are okay on your sheets until we actually start. At this time I'm going to set the start date for Sunday July 30th. At that point character sheets will be locked for a while and no changes allowed after that. I hope this will be an enjoyable campaign. Don't get overwhelmed by the NPCs I probably will add more as time goes by (and remove some as they die).

In combat when we get to it I would prefer you roll initiative and then in the same post post an action and all related rolls for that action. I'll then sort it out as I make the post after everyone has posted. Note you can also list multiple actions based on what's happening in the same post and I'll pick the one I feel appropriate. For example you might post I'm going to attack the orc next to me. Well Bob kills Orc before your go so as alernative you might say if Orc is dead I'll move 10' and attack that Ogre. We will have a lot of characters, during combat it will be important to post as quickly as possible, if we get to a point where 6 or 7 have posted and we are waiting on the others more than 24 hours I will decide the others actions to move us along (I realize real life takes over sometimes).
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:51, Wed 26 July 2017.

Hello. I finally decided to go for Factotum instead of Lurk.

As such, I will try to focus on some roguelike skills, like search, disable device and tumble. But is there a vital skill that hasn't been taken by anyone?

It would help me a lot if you tell me what skills will be your forte.

Well, I'm a Swordsage, so Tumble and Concentration will be my go-to's, along with Listen. Have a decent Spot check too, even if it is CC. High Wis helps with that.

If your looking to craft Weapons or Armor, I am your dwarf.  Other than that, I have a few knowledge ranks and concentration.

Is it cheaper to craft weapons than to buy them? Because I could use a Large Greataxe if you're offering... ;)

If you can find me a proper forge, it generally costs 1/3 the market price to craft it.  Large Greataxe is 40 gps, so 13.4 gps.  Now, the check DC is 15 to succeed.  With one week of work, I would have to roll a total of 28 to complete it in that time frame.  Even with all of my bonuses, I would have to have access to Masterwork Weaponsmithing tools to roll that high.  Wow, having thought of that, I am amazed that any masterwork items are done in a reasonable time frame.  It would take my character 3 months to craft a masterwork item (roughly) unless I had access to a dwarven forage.

Yeah, you pretty much need a portable hole with a forge inside and it takes forever in game time. Crafting is all about the downtime and having a check so high you can safely "rush it".

Oren could always open a shop up in Hommlet if you want. Though that might take a sponsor at first.

The current smith in town is an armorsmith, however they have no weaponsmith. (and you'll be better than him as an armorsmith in a level or two :) )

In reply to DM (msg # 85):

Seralessa Vadmal has submitted a sheet now and needs to make a couple little changes and she'll be ready to go.

That leaves just 1 person needing to submit their character the Ranger/Scout :). Hopefully they get it in today :)

Would be nice if some more posted in the Prelude.

In reply to DM (msg # 86):

Current Character Sheet Standing

Finished:

In Progress



No Sheet Yet



| Himo| Fighter-Cleric| Awaiting Sheet

Seralessa just has one minor change to make :) and she'll be done.
Himo has decided on several things and hopefully has his sheet in today (he was previously Undecided 2)

Everyone should feel free to make a post in the Prelude just to help you establish your character :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Thu 27 July 2017.

In reply to DM (msg # 87):

I guess most of you have noticed I locked your character sheets.

Himo has submitted some information but needs to complete his sheet hopefully today or tomorrow so we'll be ready to run on Sunday.

We will be starting the game Sunday.

I have one other thing for you all to read over and I'd like to see you submit in PM to me, your priorities or your principles/superstitions :) This will help me know if you are within your alignment or not as that can be difficult to judge especially on play by post.

I'll be making that thread available here in just a moment :)

In reply to DM (msg # 88):

I moved all of you to group 1 :)

T1 is the adventure thread when you get finished in Prelude :)

I've had a couple ask, no I'm not forcing all 10 of you to stay in one party. I do not suggest breaking into a party smaller than 5 though (so you could do two parties). However if you want to stay together that's great too (there is strength in numbers).

Are we all supposed to be in the main thread now. I wasn't sure if we'd finished the prelude.

In reply to Velox (msg # 91):

You can comment to Prelude still if you like, but yeah I'm assuming everyone made it to Hommlet together, for purposes of moving to hommlet it's assumed you traveled as a group to deter banditry....

But no banditery was found along the way :)

In reply to Velox (msg # 93):

Yep :) because you are dirt poor, all armed and traveled as a group :)

Ha, we do make very poor targets for bandits :)

You are a priest of a religion, not of a place. It can be because he lives in the town, but we ARE in the town, why the need to say "I live in this town"?

Also, let's see how much people donate to the victims of the bandits. Victims that are not of this town because the city guard or something protects them... And the poor box is supposed to be for a town's poor people, not victims of pillage from outside the town...

As a player I don't like this at all. As a character, even less.

In reply to Larmiun Dol'Uten (msg # 96):

Priest of Hommlet is a title, Much like say someone might be Minister of Jefferson Baptist, where Jefferson is the town and Baptist is a denomination. It's just you are in a chapel of St. Cuthbert so it's understood he's a priest of St. Cuthbert.

I'm sorry you feel offended by this.

Do you not like it or does it raise suspicions?

I am not offended! I just think it was suspiscious. Sorry if I expressed it wrong. It is just that in Larmiun's shoes, I would be looking everywhere for signs of bandits.

You made some very logical conclusions about your concerns and I'm glad it just raised your suspicions. I hadn't even considered Calmer to be a potential bandit lord, but I like where your head is :)

Okay :) I'll update the main thread after some rest :)

So some badgers protect the town, but we haven't seen anything. I am with Larmiun. If that is a priest, I am a LG half celestial paladin lvl 20.

LOL, I don't want to steal the box! I shaked it because I wanted to know if there was something inside. Remember:



If they are all poor, then they won't be able to donate anything. If they are all bandits, they will steal from the church. Both cases represent problem because there are soldiers nearby protecting the castle and then the corruption could have spread.

I am taking a leave of absence from rpol for a while to get my life back in order.  It doesn't mean I am leaving for good though.

In reply to Faerrash (msg # 104):

Okay thanks for letting me know. You've made it to Hommlet so you'll be hanging out at the Welcome Wench til you can return. :) Hope things get back to where you can return soon.

In reply to DM (msg # 105):

Giving a few more a chance to weigh in before moving the thread along :)

In reply to DM (msg # 106):

I'll need to know how you guys are splitting up :)

I will go with Ailishi to meet the good folks of this town.

In reply to Larmiun Dol'Uten (msg # 108):

I'm kinda sick today so I probably won't post in game thread today, but hopefully I'm better tomorrow and you guys have left me a clear idea of who is doing what :)

Sorry you aren't feeling well. I will go talk to the Badgers. I would guess that I am near the top of our diplomatic characters but would welcome any assistance.

I think I will go and talk with the townsfolk as well.

To be clear,  are there three groups now, right:
1. Flower hunters
2. Those speaking with generic villagers
3. Those seeking out and speaking with the Badgers

Or just two (flower hunters and everybody else)?

My impression is that we are three groups.

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 113):

This is what I have so far based on posts:

Flower Pickers:

Seralessa
Himo
Milander
Albrecht (???)

Burne's Badgers:

Velox


Townspeople

Ailishi
Larmiun
Oren


Oren has not posted yet, Faerrash has headed to the tavern without anyone else (his player has taken a break from rpol as he posted earlier).

Does this seem correct?
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:11, Sun 06 Aug 2017.

Yarp.

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 115):

I made 2 new threads :)

In reply to DM (msg # 116):

I noticed I forgot Cyrinelle Wolfsfang in the groupings. I'm sorry for this oversight. I've sent them a PM asking which group they are with. Please if I make a mistake let me know like Milander did when I used the wrong modifier for a check I did for him last week. I'll make mistakes we all do. We'll do our best to correct any we make.

it's up to the player of course I'm not trying to influence them but it might be good if more then one guy went to meet the Badgers

I'm hoping to hear from them soon. I feel so bad leaving them out :(.

The group in town seems to be slower posters still waiting on them and waiting to see if the ones in the other group move to stop Milander or not :). Well mostly waiting to see if you and Saralessa post again before I post :).

In reply to DM (msg # 119):

Ailishi, Harick never told you his name yet :)

In reply to DM (msg # 120):

Seralessa are you leaving the grove after just an hour?

Fixed. LOL.

All the flowers under the sun had been picked. Tomorrow will be a new day.

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 123):

Rough night at work I'll catch up tomorrow I hope :).

In reply to DM (msg # 124):

Larmiun whatcha doing?

Cyrinelle Wolfsfang still waiting to see what group you went with?

I am silently waiting for something suspiscious and then use Sense Motive. Otherwise, my charisma score tells me it is better if I shut up.

In reply to Larmiun Dol'Uten (msg # 126):

Saralessa has her own thread now. Having parted with the group she was in.

I'll have one up for Velox in a moment.

Not wanting to break the secrecy and I appreciate the effort of the DM to mantain so many active threads... but guys? At least are you having fun there? Didn't you hear the bad omen silence?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Mon 14 Aug 2017.

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 128):

Guys in Combat please try to post in the 24 hours whether it's your initiative or not, you can include alternate actions as well :).

Oh damn, I told you to run with me! :(

And your there without my Warhammer...sigh

I'm here to kill baddies, and eat pastries.....and I am all out of pastries

You have my respect, sir.

*cough cough* You're welcome Albrecht. :p

I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for me to repay the favor. ;)

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 135):

I'm a caster class.... my hope is that I never actually get hit.

I had another caster that managed to avoid taking any actual damage (save from my own experiments with magical things), and was only successfully targeted once by an enemy caster. An enchantment though, so no actual damage taken. :p

But yes, my meaty meat shield. I fully intend on you repaying the favour by being an omnipresent bulwark against any physical aggression I might be targeted with. :p

I'll be there to heal those who have survived the encounter!

I've yet to be hit, so there's that at least.

Does this count as a separate encounter, or the same? Because if it's separate, my maneuvers refreshed.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 138):

Separate encounter so as not to make it to difficult....though once we get into the temple proper i'd be careful :)

In reply to DM (msg # 139):

To find a stone to throw guys is DC 10

In reply to DM (msg # 140):

Seems folks have slowed down posting, anything I can do to help?

We were going to the tavern.

In reply to DM (msg # 141):

sorry
it takes me awhile once I join a game to think to check it
I'm a creature of habit

First week of college, sorry.

It's okay guys :)

Don't do what I did and make DnD priority in college (you won't graduate if you do :) )

I''m not in college but I do work for myself online so when business is good I go after it

In reply to Himo (msg # 146):

That's fine

tho actually I wish the business would pick up even more :o( I was all glad cus I had what I felt was a good month, and it has been my best month since I started but it really wasn't that great.

Hopefully this month will be better :)

I dunno my best selling stuff is basically depleted so it'll be al hit and miss now
for whatever reason I can keep small saw blades and flameless candle remotes moving at least 1 a week sometimes more often till I run out

After the holiday weekend, and school day over, Back!

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 151):

Welcome back :)

In reply to Oren Stonebreaker (msg # 151):

Welcome back. Sorry for butchering your name..,

How many are affected by the storms? I noticed posting has slowed a bit. I know one group is waiting for me to let them get to another groups area :), but I need a few posts there before I merge the two back, much like Saralessa had to sit out when she ran from the fight before rejoining.

I live in FL. Irma should hit my area this evening I think, but we're still getting the feeder bands at the moment.

that is why I always try to avoid splitting up, even if it makes sense ic lol

milander, good luck man
I'm in sc, it may hit us a bit if it does hopefully it'll be considerably weaker right  now of course we are fine

In reply to Himo (msg # 156):

Anyone know a free service I could upload maps to and link here? I used to use photobucket but I can't really afford the price of it these days.

Imgur does basically the same thing as Photobucket and it's still free.

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 158):

Thank you for suggestion.

I posted a map of the surrounding area, note that the map has certain things marked that you don't know where they are. Some of you know where the Moathouse is now :) and some know where Deklo Grove is but no one yet knows where TOEE is :) even though it's on this map.

I will be gone until probably Sunday, good luck!

let's go to 'Beware Evil' and kill everything we find there!

In reply to Himo (msg # 161):

Those of you in town, you waiting on me or something?

I am just now emerging from my own work chaos. Still in a bit of a fog. Will post when I am able to.

Okay thanks mate :)

I have been a bit off myself lately

Okay

It was a truly hectic week followed by a busy weekend.

Welcome Back

Doesn't anybody have a sense of honor anymore? There's some kid lost out in the woods in an evil ruin and no one cares :( :) :) :)

No please! Don't let him be a honorable type! Dear God, don't let him be a honorable type! I don't want out lives to be put at risk without need!

what did I miss

Himo and them are not there yet :)

Are we intentionally recruiting an entourage of NPCs? Did we lose a bunch of players. Also Elmo’s a furry red baby from Sesame Street :)

Nope just part of the adventure really, you don't necessarily have to take any of them with you :).

There are really probably a half dozen to a dozen folks that you could get to go on the adventure, but the more that come the less each share is worth of course (assuming all survive to take a share)

Unfortunately, with school and real life, I am going to have to drop a number of game.  I apologize for any delays I may have caused, and wish you good gaming.

Okay Oren good luck with school and life, if you want back later just let me know, do you want to retain lurker privileges or would you prefer I completely remove you?

I am amiable to Lurker status, since I do not know how long I will need to take a break.

Okay I'll leave you here for now :), you'll just hang out at the Welcome Wench while you are away :)

is someone keeping track of treasure btw

That's a good question are you?

I knew I should have played a Rogue

Will update this evening, I'd like to get both groups back together by then if that's okay with folks :)

thatd be ideal I actually forgot about the other people

Come on you flower gatherers! :)

So how are us flower pickers splitting the gold? I'm be darned if the two of you get all the reward.  :P

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 185):

I'm bad at math, was wondering that myself. I figured it should all be split evenly amongst everyone.

Alright, well, it was essentially 25 gp, spilt 4 ways is... 6.25. DM, how much loot was on the spiders again?

1 Dagger (on Body)
1 Suit of Leather Armor (on Body)

1 Amehyst
12 pp

ew should probabaly sell the non coin items to get a total before we divide
unless someone needs any of it
amythest are very pretty

How many players are there still here?

total or that went on the mission for the flowers?

I think ya'll left the body with Calmer, which probably means those items are at the chapel :) now that I think about it.

So, how are we splitting the 50 gp scattered along the forest floor, the amethyst and the 12 platinum pieces? I am be darned if the four of you get all the reward.

The 50 gold doesn't split 4 ways evenly without making change, so 2 of us get 13 and 2 get 12, then 3 platinum pieces, and we'll have to wait to split the amethyst until we sell it.

But we are five.

With a Platinum piece worth 10 gp, we can say that there are 170 gp

170/5 = 34

So...
4 people can have 3 platinum pieces and 4 gold
1 people can have 34 gp

and we'll have to wait to split the amethyst until we sell it.

I thought there were 4 of us?

There are 7 active characters (Faerrish and Oren are on leaves of absences....they are drinking over in the corner sharing stories, they would make 9).
There were 4 that went to get wildflowers :)

I would appreciate some portion of the gold given I went and did the thing we actually had to do to go on the adventure :)

Hopefully they share :), though some of these 4 seem kinda greedy....like almost knocking one another over in race to get through chapel doors to turn in their flowers....

Technically Velox doesn't even know we have the money. If everyone agrees to share it 7 ways, Albrecht won't argue. I doubt Seralessa or Milander wouldn't, though.

That’s why I said it out of character :)

I know. :P

so we supposed to split our gold with yall but you aint splitin free dinner with us.....
mmmmmmhmmmmmmm......

I didn’t get free dinner either but I do know where any Arcane casters can get a free spell and I got the blessing of the lords of this area and I found out where the temple of elemental evil is, so I would say I contributed more than my share :)

they holding out on you to huh......I guess we just starve I mean I was thinking of going with Ranger you know survive in the wild

To tell the truth, they didn't ask for the gold or anything.

we still have to figure out the value of everything overall before we can s plit it no matter how we do it

Posting has slowed do we want to move forward to the Moathouse, or you want to talk a bit more?

Sorry, real life has been kicking my ass in ways you can't begin to imagine. I will handle the gold stuff IC.

Moathouse please.

With 170 gold and 7 people, the split would be...

24, with 2 left over. Should we just use some of the leftover for room and board? Or food?

Yes, I say we should pay for food and a roof over our heads and then split the treasure.

oh lord we gotta split the future funds with the npcs!

Only if you take them with you.

Okay Velox is going to the moathouse, is anyone going with him?

No offense but I have been waiting for 6+ weeks for us to get this show on the road. So yeah, I am going to branch out on my own and you can catch up whenever you’re done with dinner and drinks...

In reply to Velox (msg # 215):

well I'm going to be honest with you, for the most part play by post is slow. it's a trade off, it happens at a much slower pace then tabletop but you don't have to have a time where you are all able to get together, or at least all be online at once.
it is very frustrating but for me that is why I get multiple things going.

There is slow and there is non-responsive. This group has proven to be content debating who is going to have dinner for the past few weeks and I don’t really care anymore. I skipped the only adventure to date so that someone could get the information we need. So you all can keep chatting about dinner all you want. I am moving on in this game, catch up if you can or want to...

yes, that's because it's a roleplaying game. being in character is enjoyable to most people, if you want to move things along and try to find some action the best way is usually to ask about that in the ooc channel. it seems quite a bit like you are having trouble with the ic/ooc divide. you are reacting ic to things that are bothering you ooc.
Himo asked if there was information about people being actively in danger, that would have been a good time to say yes and would have encouraged everyone to come with you.
As it is a good portion of the group has been on a long journey (walking to and from the flower area) and we have been in combat. spells were cast etc. It's foolish to just go from action to action without recovery in between that isn't something that characters could realistically do so the way things played out I don't think it would be good roleplaying to go with Velux.
If you as the player were eager to get to some action I dunno about everyone but I personally would have been fine with a quick timehop to the next morning to set out and I doubt it would have been a problem for anyone else. It would have still gotten you what you were after but would have made more sense and we'd have all been going.

In reply to Himo (msg # 218):

Scroll up here in the OOC thread - the DM asked if we should time hop. I said yes. No one else replied.

I had already shared details of who was in danger twice and had been blown off. I moved along and people can camp and regain their spells. I actually really enjoy RP but it’s literally been six weeks and I am done waiting both in and out of character

No mention of "time hop" here. "Moving forward to the Moathouse" may mean to go right now instead of resting some time. I am fine with resting and even more, we have been talking IC.

Your still in the Welcome Wench feel free to talk to others :)

Velox and Albrecht did leave with Furnok and Elmo.

Sorry for my own unresponsiveness - I've been and am still dealing with a lot in real life. Trying to catch up today.

Thanks for checking in

NP, sorry for the wait.

Basically, to add to this OOC discussion, yes. As a spellcaster, I need my beauty sleep. I haven't posted because I've had some shit going down, but had I seen the posts in real time I would have arrived at the conclusion that we need to pay for a night's rest (or camp in the dangerous, spider and badger filled forest).

at these prices we should open our own inn, get rich

Busy weekend for me will try to post later but if unable might be Monday.

Thanks for your patience I had to work a lot towards the end of last week, hopefully this week will move towards a more normal routine.

we all have lives, I fell and injured myself in my real life today ;o(

I'm sorry to hear that I hope you have a quick recovery.

thanks, it is a mixed bag. the fall itself was easier because I have trained in grappling, however I threw my arms out to the side to 'break-fall' and that is how I got injured, I was right next to a car hauler and smashed my arm into the wheel well on the way down :o(

I hope everyone will get better soon.

it's less painful today then it was yesterday but still sore
I've been injured worse

You guys in the moathouse decided what you doing yet?

The folks in the tavern are you just eating except the sleeping wizard?

planingto eat/drink and get some rest so I can pray for the spell back in the morning
unless there seems to be other intel I can gather by conversting with anyone

Most likely. Hope dawn will come soon.

Yuuuuup

Awkward!
Can I edit my post to not be taken as a bigger fool than I am?

Nah lets just play it through folks confuse names all the time :)

In reply to Ailishi Urcmon (msg # 237):

embrace it
sometimes a 'botch' is the best thing that canhappen

I was sick much of last week sorry :(.

hope you are feeling better

I'm doing better thank you

what is everyone's opinion on a sword where the cross guard is like a maple leaf of sorts and the blade continues from the middle part? I think that fits nicely for an Elf

sounds fancy might be a good masterwork weapon, though perhaps its just roughed out righ tnow.

I'll see if I can find a picture because I damn sure can't draw it.

it sure sounds like something an Elf would wield maybe better as an Elf Ranger tho but no one is perfect

Happy Thanksgiving!

indeed happy Thanksgiving

Happy thanksgiving.

I'll be updating later today. Spent this last weekend cooking and having Thanksgiving dinner :)

I hope everyone had a good holiday.

I was just dreaming of Longswords with Leaf inspired Crossguards and vanquishing the enemies of the Elven people!

That's cool :)

Ailishi and Larmiun you back from vacation?

Where is everyone :)

I'm here I just was hesitant to proceed in case people were not ready

Umm... still waiting for you to post? :P

Oh oops I forgot to come back and give the treasure. I saw me as the last poster sorry. I'll get it when I get off work :).

I don't expect to post again til Tuesday Dec 26th. I've noticed posting has slowed and with the holidays I know folks are busy.

I'm still at this point but I sure like Himo so I hope this game picks up again after Xmas

I hope so to I think the the groups in town will meet up soon again, and we'll move forward :)

Is it okay if I combine those that visited the farmhouse and the inn folks? To help move things along on the 26th?

I tend to wait on player actions but seems you guys have stalled on this :)

In reply to DM (msg # 259):

I'm down!

I'm not 100% sure why we hadn't set out, did we eat and everything already

In reply to Himo (msg # 261):

And now you see why I was not down for waiting around :)

In reply to Velox (msg # 262):

I was spell spent, so I needed to rest. You MIGHT have stuck around and moved with us after we rested.

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 263):

Don’t be one dimensional and meta-gamey. My PC heard someone was in need of help. I am not going to wait for you to schmooze the locals and take a nap.

Learn how to play a game without all of your spells. It will be ok. The GM is not out to kill us all :)

In reply to Velox (msg # 264):

Kind of an asshole response dude. Spell spent means 0 spells left.

Learn to operate with a group and don't split the party. That's gaming 101. Not only is it perfectly in character for my character... It also happens to be the right move for a low-level character.

As you said, the DM isn't trying to kill us, so its not like he's going to penalize us for not making stupid decisions.

Also, this is a role playing game -schmoozing the locals and interaction with each other is more in that spirit than racing from encounter to encounter. If I wanted to mindlessly hack and slash I wouldn't be playing a caster.

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 265):

The party started split. I spent the whole first part meeting the locals and getting the blessing to adventure in the area. But you go on thinking you are better than me and calling me an asshole. :)

It was noon and you all wanted to bed down for the night. I am just saying that is meta-gamey and we are Gestalt so maybe count on other players to make up for you blowing all your spells on a single encounter...

In reply to Velox (msg # 266):

The truth is, we should never have split up in the first place but insisting on sleeping after one encounter is the lamest of lame power/meta gaming and there is no way around that.

All you had to do was get out on the road and we could have avoided all of this. Instead you piddled about in this little town for three months of real life time and I wasn’t up for that. Not that we’ve made a ton of progress on the road but we did survive an encounter without anyone becoming “Spell-spent”...

In reply to Velox (msg # 266):

Charging forward and expecting everyone to follow you is what caused the group to split. This isn't a race. It's a role playing game. If you want to talk one-dimensional, you don't have to look further than that.

I have enjoyed every character developing post from the other players. That's what role-playing is. All I've seen from you is bitching about things not going your way.

Seriously, most of your posts are just whining. Including this last one.

You aren't in charge. You don't get to dictate how others enjoy the game. And bitching because things aren't going your way isn't going to change that.

It also doesn't change the fact that you are responsible for the latest party split. It makes zero sense for me to make a suicidal decision to trust someone who cares more about racing to the next encounter than the other members of the party.

I "blew all my spells" keeping my teammates safe. I wasn't grandstanding, I wasn't showing off, and I wasn't leading the charge away from what the group wanted to do. I was stopping them from taking damage. Meanwhile you are encouraging people to rush off to new encounters unprepared because you are impatient to roll the dice.

I was following along with plot hooks from the DM and keeping my group out of harm's way. Building rapport. Creating reasons for the group to trust me.

Both in and out of character you've demonstrated nothing but selfishness, only concerned for what you want to do. Why on Earth would I trust you to have my back?

Especially when you bitch about us piddliing around in the same breath that you admit you haven't gotten much further.

And for the record, part of the delay in progress was my posting rate, which decreased because I was dealing with a friend's death as well as other things. We would likely have gotten further if the DAM wasn't waiting around for my replies. But real life is more important, which is why your comments are assholish.

honestly no, if you had waited for us to post that we waited till the next morning and all set out together we would not have split up (which I advised against in ooc)
once we had split up things got complicated to balance between multiple groups so we couldn't just set out in what was our next am post because the timeline wouldn't have worked so we instead had to busy ourselves with posts about what to have for breakfast etc

I understand that as the player you wanted to get things moving but there was an IC reason for us to rest, the spellcasters were either tapped out or at least low on spells.
because of how play by post works splitting up is ALWAYS a problem

Now I'm not really mad at you or anything we all game to have fun so if you wanted to go off I get it but to me that's why I get in multiple games so that if there is a stall I still have things going on. I see that you and Milander are going back and forth, I'm not sure if either of you are particularly religious but I'm sure that isn't the best use of time off for the Holidays.....

In reply to Himo (msg # 269):

Actually the party was split when you all charged off hunting flowers and left me to deal with the diplomacy. Which I did. But nice re-telling of history.

In reply to Himo (msg # 269):

And to restate my initial point, it was noon on the day you had wasted all your spells in the game earlier and there was no way Velox was going to sit in a bar all day while he knew there was someone in danger.

Sure OOC you all needed your spells back, but quit metagaming, get in character and feel the weight of a missing person in danger.

Oh and maybe do that in less than a couple months...

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 268):

I am sorry for your loss. That is unfortunate.

I will say, that I understand your outburst given what posts you have access to as we were not together when you went hunting flowers and I have no knowledge either in or out of character about those events. I tried to tell one group what I had accomplished and discovered, namely that an acolyte of the local Druid was missing and in danger. It was noon. You all started talking about dinner and resting for the evening thus wasting precious time when a person was in danger. So yes my character pushed forward risking potential death because that’s what he would do.

It is rather unfortunate that you can’t see what I was able to accomplish in terms of making in roads with the local blacksmith, druid and the nobles in charge of this land as you would benefit from it quite a bit. But that was not my decision. I am merely trying to play my character.

Also, even though this is low level, it is Gestalt so it is reasonable to think your character should be able to hold his own even if he’d spent his spells. Unless you went double casting classes and still spent your spells, which again I have no knowledge of, especially not in character.

The relevant facts as I see them are: Missing Person. Many hours until nightfall.

You ninja'd me, and I'm typing on my phone, so apology accepted.I am also harboring a cold today, so I don't have the energy to go back and edit with my thumbs over much, and the factual statements are still relevant for framing my position.

But yes, I have no idea what you actually accomplished. Even if I did have access, I wouldn't know because I work hard at avoiding ooc information.

And yes, I do have a dual caster progression (hence the old man. I am really looking forward to dripping my back story to everyone). So yes, I would be very useless for anything but knowledge checks.




The flowers are part of the plot. We were splitting up chasing leads. Partly at YOUR suggestion. I just chose a group to go with.

Reread the posts where we split up and you'll see what I mean.

You keep insisting I "wasted my spells"... considering I pointed out that my spells were spent freeing people from webs, intercepting attacks, etc.

IC, I don't know this person that may or may not be in danger. In character I know the history of the Temple. In character I know that person is likely to already be dead if they are in the temple, and my dying isn't going to bring them back.... If that's where they actually are.

So your claim of metagaming is B.S - insert nicer way of saying "unfair". Sick blergh

I will say that I would have liked to have found that stuff out IC. It likely wouldn't have changed much, but I could have at least sent my snake after you, etc. Discussion would have been worthwhile. There is metagaming, and then there are the compromises needed to play with a group. I see this as one of those OOC compromises that could have occurred (but I can understand your impatience to move forward.)

That's really all water under the bridge at this point. How we got here is less important than how to move forward. Assuming you agree, I would suggest we all make less assumptions and treat each other with less contempt when we disagree. We're all dealing with partial information, and none of us is immune from making horrible decisions.

I get the "many hours until nightfall" thing. But, and correct me if I'm wrong... You guys had a free "dinner", correct? Dinner typically happens after noon. I was under the impression it was noon when we were picking flowers, and dinner time when we got back.

Seralessa doesn't have many motives to trust any of you...

But in any case, I don't know why splitting the party is so "bad". We have different goals. Velox has them, and Seralessa couldn't care less. Milander has them and Seralessa couldn't care less either. Still, everyone has a common temporary goal.

It was in character for Velos to go there. It is in character for Seralessa to stay in the inn.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 275):

Merry Christmas!

And it comes down to this - https://youtu.be/PUMCIn2swTU

I hope this is mostly character vs character troubles and not player vs player, I do like the RPing and it's nice to see some liveliness here.

Himo yeah pretty much you guys have ate etc at this point :)

Merry Christmas all :)

Velox Albrecht is waiting on a response in the game thread :)

In reply to DM (msg # 278):



Agree completely with the first paragraph.

I was not a part of the free dinner group. Perhaps we have too many groups here...

In reply to Velox (msg # 279):

Yeah, just a lot going on. I'm not even sure of how much money I have at this point, so I'd be thrilled if we just hand waved us to a thread where we're all together in 1 group, either in a random encounter or at our destination.

Then Velox and I can verbally snipe at each other "hatchlings that rush into danger" and "doddering old men that forget the importance of saving lives, etc."

it was decided as a group that we would split up at that point I always want groups to stick together tho personally I'd prefer you leave because you seem to be an adolescent irl and you do nothing but hinder everyone elses gameplay experience.

when the group split up the second time it was because our role playing was getting in the way of your hacking and slashing
and there is no need to retell history because it's recorded in the threads.....

you run your mouth a lot about metagaming for someone who makes comments like "the Dm isn't trying to kill us"

so what in character rational does Velox have for believing he will never die? none you say? oh so you are a metagamer I'm not surprised

I don't really care for your attitude and you can't roleplay to save your life. Dungeons and Dragons isn't for you in the role play format, you would be better off on a Mud or like playing Everquest or something whre you don't have to think and can just run around mindlessly killing things. that's more your speed

frankly if I saw you get run over by a car I'd hurry over to check how bad the damage to the car was.....

here I found it for you... to help you stop with your lies

Velox smiled and said, "I think the suggestion was to have some portion of us go see what we could learn from the Badgers, while a few others explored just outside of town for any of the flowers. I don't think it will take everyone to go speak with the Badgers, but we can all stick together if that will make everyone feel safer."

now that is YOUR CHARACTER you likely can recall his name at the least? saying we should split up. you said we could stick together but you UNDENIABLY said it would be good for us to split up! check the thread throughout the ENTIRE thing Himo is suggesting we all stay together

don't ever accuse me of retelling history again especially without checking yourself first
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sun 24 Dec 2017.

again your arrogance annoys me, Himo asked if you had information that someone was in danger right then, rather then respond you left and asked who was with you.....
to Himo your failure to answer meant you did not have any useful info. in other words knowing where he was kept etc. for all Himo knows the kid is 20 leagues from here so why am I supposed to charge off and go after him when I have no idea where he is?
Does your character never sleep?
it's not meta gaming so stop the baseless accusations, people know when they are out of spells and ALL YOU HAD TO DO was indicate you knew where the kid was (but you don't) so your setting off 'now' was meaningless
how about YOU quit metagaming and consider it'd be easier to free someone from captives if the group was altogether
would you go to free him if you were at 4hp? I know the answer but I'm wondering if you will be honest

if you can't handle how play by post works the forums aren't for you man. it's a slow pace it always will be, is this your first game online or something? you can't be over 20 years of age, you simply can't be
you don't even have the respect to back off knowing Milander lost a friend irl over this timeframe and my father passed away....but we shouldn't take time or anything to deal with something as petty as death irl when it impacts your ability to hack and slash in a game.....

sorry are you not reading this? you are coming close to needing to decide whom to kick out of the game because there is only so  much of Velux telling me I'm a metagamer because I don't do what he wants that I'm willing to put up with particularly when Milander and I both sufferd losses irl (people died who were important to us in our REAL LIVES, if Velux can't understand that takes importance over his hack and slash I can't understand but kids do get on the internet)

in a table top game it's fine, it's easy to deal with. in play by post it's fucking terrible. I'm not sure how you can't understand that when it's unfolding in front of you but if a real time example does not help no explanation ever can I'll try tho.

even when people are ooc totally ready to be back 'together' they can't because the timelines don't synch up. once they get out of sync for any reason, only metagaming can put them back parallel to each other. I have gamed on forums for over a decade, it has NEVER been worth it to split up.

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 280):

I'm glad that will work for you but for me once the insults start I'm gone. can't be acting like that in the ooc accusing people of retelling history and shit

see ya guys

In reply to Himo (msg # 285):

I hear ya dude. I don't blame ya either. We have other games, it's not the end of the world, and if your fun has been killed there's little to be done. I'm super sick, so that's all I will say on the matter, but hit me up if you find something.

In reply to Himo (msg # 282):

I actually said that I was sorry for Milander’s loss and I am sorry for yours.

Again, i agree that splitting up was a bad decision and has lead to much if not all of this drama. I had already shared the information I had in a post just prior so I didn’t feel like retelling that after having been ignored. I realize now that I should have but oh well.

You and Milander have both personally attacked me calling me an a-hole and referring to my speech as bitching and now refered to me as a child. While I have merely pointed out that resting at noon is metagaming. That’s all. I think you should really consider your motives when you decide to use personal attacks in any forum.

I am going to continue playing here for now but I won’t be sad if I never meet Himo in character again.

In reply to Velox (msg # 287):

Not to belabor the point, but I didn't call you an asshole. I pointed out that your behavior was assholish.

Let's unpack this a bit, because while I'm not big on blame, you seem to not understand how your post catalized this situation. Which is normal and understandable. We all err, but the problem is when we don't own our actions.

So, I'll own that me pointing out that you chose to move on without us is what set you off. I can see how that feels like blame.

My intention was a reaction to you basically saying, "I told you so" in the prior post.

From my view, I can understand you didn't feel heard about how long these were taking, but your snark in doing so was unfair and contemptuous. You assumed your interpretation was the correct on for reasonable reasons, but it was more complicated than you assumed, which was revealed when I started replying to your reasonable yet incorrect claims about how and why shit was going down.

I can accept and admire you for admitting that people dying in real life is not something you expected. You were ignorant of those circumstances, and felt your own casual walking back was sufficient, until it was revealed that you made those same e assumptions about Himo.

I think it's fair to point out that your assumptions, while reasonable, they are also not my responsibility. I'm only responsible for correcting your assumptions, which I believe I did fairly given my own circumstances. I didn't call you an asshole, I pointed out your behavior was "objectionable", and assumed that you would want to understand why. Instead, you assumed the worst and doubled down on your assumptions.

Your human. I get it. We all make assumptions of relative reasonability. But I also don't have to tolerate being treated unfairly. You could have dug deeper, but you were impatient and chose not to. While you had reasons for doing, if you look at my comment that you snarkily responding, is my assumption that you would treat me as a competent, reasonable person less reasonable than the assumptions you made on incomplete information? Was my comment really something you actually disagreed with?

Can you see how, given the circumstances, your comments escalated rather than deescalated the decision?

This is why it may feel like we're casting blame. It's not that your assumptions we're unreasonable, it was how you chose to treat us based on your assumptions that is unfair.

You could have chosen differently.

You didn't.

As a result you are facing the consequences of your assumptions. To imply that we are responsible for your assumptions is what is unfair, and I am not clear on why that is more our responsibility than yours. I think, if the circumstances were flipped, you'd appreciate being treated as someone making a reasonable complaint, and I don't think there is anything other than the apologies that fits that criteria.

Does that seem fair to say?

In reply to Milander Vos Drago (msg # 288):

You seem more than reasonable and like I said, had I known you or Himo were dealing with real life issues, that likely would have been handled differently but I didn’t so I was frustrated that I’d spent months doing the hard work and people wanted to chill and eat and drink while I had some in character motivation to head out immediately.

I also stand by my “catalyzing” statement which was also labeled as  asshole-ish, which I interpreted as meaning a statement made by an asshole. My statement was that it is lame to stop plot progression because someone is Spell spent. I am sure you used your spells for the good of the party but sometimes you have to press on and when there are people in danger I think that is such a time.

Anyway, I am sure I am at fault here but I still think the crux of my arguement was right. Could it have been communicated more effectively? Sure. I am currently typing this on a phone with a mostly broken screen and dealing with stupid iOS autocorrect.

Milander, you seem like a good dude and contrary to my previous statement about Himo, I wouldn’t mind meeting up in character. Hopefully after I have found the acolyte and she is alive.

Well I went and spent Christmas EVE with the family after stopping by earlier and come back to this.

I'm saddened that Himo wishes to leave, but if it is his choice that's his choice. I'm going though to wait a day or two before removing him to give him some time to sleep on it.

I think it's good to have discussions both in and out of character to realize people's expectations. Since the beginning it's been fairly clear to me that there will most likely be two parties.

I believe that Himo and Milander as well as Seralessa and those others in town acted in accordance with their IC information. Yes Velox told them of the danger to the person but each person has his own idea how to help. Velox and Albrecht were still fairly healthy and decided the best way was to go forward now. Milander and Seralessa has used several spells and realized they would be little help in an immediate incursion, Himo believed that the wisest course was to wait for the spellcasters and remained with them. (Himo is also a spellcaster but I can't remember if he'd used many spells off the top of my head).

Most of the characters have one side or the other as neutral with Velox one of the exceptions to that (that is he has no neutral side in his alignment).

I think the discussion was healthy to have, players need to know the expectations of one another. There is almost always some conflict in a group. I do hope we'll all move on but if after he's had a day or two to think about it if he still wishes to leave then that will be accepted.

I'm not purposely trying to kill you, however this is a very dangerous adventure and it is very likely that one or more characters will die in the course of time. Having you be gestalts I hope will help with that some but it won't completely overcome the adventure. I must say it was wisdom that Velox and Albrecht did not go alone, and they've discovered a bit more about some of the NPCs but I'll leave the tales to when the groups cross paths again.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas indeed!

How are we going to do handle leveling?

Leveling will happen when you rest. You'll have to get a full 8 hours rest to level up. I know that seems a bit harsh but it is a hard adventure :)

You may advance in any skill you have and any skill that allows a roll untrained by 1 rank per level. This is at no cost.

To learn a trained skill you previously did not know will cost 50 gp and 1 week's training. It also requires you to find someone to train you in that skill. Skill tricks require training as well at 50 gp per week and take 2 weeks to learn.

Learning feats depends. If the feat is a bonus feat for your class or the feat you get for normal leveling up (at every odd level) then you are considered to be working on it continuously and finally have a eureka moment and finally master the feat. There is no cost for this kind of feat and no extra time required to train.

Wizards get 2 new spells to add to their spellbooks at no additional cost when they level up. (or more depending on feats etc).

Those using divine magic there is generally a formal ceremony that is undertaken each time you gain access to a new level of spells. This might require you to travel to an appropriate temple or place in order to obtain the ceremony. You as a divine spellcaster can perform such ceremonies provided you have cleric vestments and the individual is advancing in spell use to at least a level below what you can currently cast. (Note that in Hommlett Jaroo can do this for Druids/Rangers and Calmer can do them for others including the clerics of allied gods.

Learning a Prestige Class (which you can't take til 11th level anyway) requires you to find someone with that Prestige Class to train you. If you have an idea of what prestige class you plan to take letting me know ahead of time will help me plan accordingly.

Assuming you aren't learning a new trained skill or skill trick then you will level after 8 hours of rest. If you are learning those you still level after the rest but do not gain ranks in the new trained skill or the ability to use the skill trick until you complete the training.

Level advancement should be sent in a PM to me :).

In reply to DM (msg # 293):

Roll for HP?

I can't remember, is Psionics allowed? How would it work if we wanted to advance a new class instead of our original ones? Do we have to find a trainer for that too? I've been thinking of taking Psychic Warrior instead of Fighter.

Maximum

I did say I'd allow them.
Keep in mind you can't have more than 4 classes and only one of those can be a Prestige Class.

Base Classes I think even though it doesn't make 100% sense will not require training time or seeking someone out, you essentially can learn through trial and error and are assumed to have been doing so in the past. Gaining an arcane class that requires preparation though will require you to have a spellbook, though you'll not have to pay for the spells gained upon gaining a level. Divine spellcasters will have to undergo the appropriate ritual. Beyond that I see no reason to restrict it further than I already have.

So about the rest - We have an agreement field, I appreciate your post on the matter DM and I agree wholeheartedly on all accounts.

Velox, we're cool as long as you don't treat me with contempt or make assumptions about why I'm doing things (which I think after this discussion you've gotten to know me well enough that is less likely to happen now).

Himo, I hope you stay, because if what the DM says is true, we need 2 groups anyway and I enjoyed RPing you, so its entirely possible for you to avoid playing with Velox if that is your wish.

I'm a bit jelly that we're talking about leveling up, since I think that means I'm a bit behind the curve, but such is life. I'm going to make a post in the only thread I think is active for me now, and we'll go from there. :)

At this time because they each have another encounter Velox and Albrecht I think are the only ones with enough xp to level up, getting 8 hours sleep where they are is probably going to be problematic though.

However I believe everyone is more than halfway to 2nd. Some are knocking on the door with the Stocking Stuffer.

Yeah, that giant frog we killed pushed me over the edge.

I've never made a Psychic Warrior before. Does anyone have suggestions for a build? I'm trying to make him a big damage dealer, using THW and PA along with maneuvers from my Swordsage side. I was thinking of using Expansion, but at first and second level, it only lasts one round. I could use Force Screen to start with... Also not sure what feat to take. I went with Cleave for now, but I'm open to suggestions.

Happy New Year !

Happy new year!

Happy New Year!

1000th post!

Also Happy New Year!

Happy New Year. :)

Wasn't breakfast free? Can't we exchange breakfast for a ration?

There were free bread and water for breakfast, you could stuff some rolls in your pockets and take it as food if you want :), not full rations but better than nothing :)

Do we need to find Burne? Velox already did and we are all going to the same place.

Not really but others in your group expressed the desire to do so.

Repost from RPOL Announcements:

New Server

Please be aware that we will "shortly" be moving RPoL to a shiny new server in a different location (Silicon Valley, California).

RPoL has been running off it's current software for about nine years now.  The operating system is out of date and no longer supported.  The hardware was upgraded once, three years ago, but the hard drives are the original and one has failed.  It's time to move to a newer operating system and newer equipment.

Our current host (NetDepot) has been very good to us but pricing has unfortunately increased for a modern equivalent of what we currently have.  Additionally virtualisation allows for a dedicated-like experience at a fraction of the cost.  In this instance 19/52s of a fraction, or around 36.5% of our current cost (if you want to be all user-friendly about it).

We'll be going from 3 GB memory to 8, a faster CPU (though less cores), and storage will be nice and fast on SSD (rather than 9 year old spinning disks).  Initial testing is promising and the new server looks very fast (up to 4 times faster for a very complex page), though take that with a grain of salt as it's not under any load at the moment.

Due to the fact we have to move a lot of data between locations there will be some downtime while the new server is updated with the latest from the current.  I will do dry runs before the final migration to give you a better estimate of the time it will take.

I'm not sure when exactly.  NetDepot have informed us they need to move our server in the next few days so it'd be nice to get it done by then, but I don't think I'd have sufficient testing by then to be comfortable to pull the trigger.

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

Just want you guys to be aware of this situation, I'm not sure when it will happen but if you come by the site and it's not working please remember they are migrating to new servers and try again later :)

Little under the weather, hope to update tomorrow.

Getting married this Saturday, so will be slow to post and might not post till Tuesday.

Congrats and thanks for the heads up.

Note to Self owe XP for Monstrous Spider encounter for Velox group
Note to Self owe XP for Giant Frog encounter for Ailishi group

I'm beginning to wonder if the only enemies in this module are frogs and spiders... lol

Sadly you'll find out there are other things in the not to far future depending which way you go.

In reply to DM (msg # 315):

Are they done with the frogs? How far out is the other group? I am game for having them catch up and join us.

They are at the frog pond right now :)
Looks like they are stopping to eat too :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:22, Sat 24 Mar 2018.

Hmm, well in that case we'll keep on keeping on. Until we find our Aspirant I can't see Velox sitting around...

In reply to Velox (msg # 318):

I'll get a post up to move things along. We can field dress this thing and move along.

I'm enjoying the banter around the campfire :)

My mothers birthday today and my brothers tomorrow, will be away a bit, will update probably Sunday :)

In reply to DM (msg # 321):

Is there a map available? If not, am I in melee with the bandit leader or the average bandits?

I've not made one :(

I can try to get one ready but will take til Sunday night probably when I have time :(.

You are near the average bandits, Furnok is beside the bandit leader :)

Do we have expectations in terms of posting rates during combat? Milander hasn't been online since it was announced that it was his turn.

EDIT: Nevermind.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:55, Sat 21 Apr 2018.

I don't know what do you guys think is fair, 48 hours?

In reply to DM (msg # 325):

Do we have to post in exact initiative order or can we post in groups.

You can post in groups that would make combat faster :)

How many people are still alive/where are they?

One went North he's about 60 feet from you, however he's in the entangle spell that Milander cast.

One went West and he's also about 60 feet away from you

Just want you all to know it has been a rough week last week and will probably continue into next week, work related. So my posting is a bit slower than normal, hopefully after this coming week it will return to normal.

I think he attacked the only one who could escape.

I agree it is likely but I want to be sure.

She is right :)

Faerrash has rejoined us, he was here originally then took a leave of absence, he's been following you from town but you didn't detect him :)

In reply to DM (msg # 334):

Is the bandit that is entangled on the edge of the spell or is he in the middle? Can I get to him with a non lethal charge?

Given the Range of Entangle I'm sure Milander cast it so that the majority of the effect is north of the remaining bandit and he's on the edge of the field. I do believe you could reach him and do a non lethal attack if you choose.

In reply to DM (msg # 336):
Surely no one here would try to steal from the rest of us....
This message was last edited by the player at 09:45, Thu 26 Apr 2018.

We would hope not :)

(PS So far no one has indicated they are doing so I just wanted to make it clear)

In reply to Velox (msg # 337):

LOL, you should read the previous page! Fortunately I didn't move along and saw some things.

So confused about that statement Larmiun?

Page 14 of the IC thread. :)

Cool, I'll read it but it would be ideal if you'd describe it in character as well. Unless you'd prefer not to share that information with Velox and Albrecht, which is fine too.

So you learned that the Bandits use a Banner of a Black Hand, that they may have Hobgoblins in their ranks and that they might be using the temple because the lower levels are sealed? Does that about sum it up?

Again please make sure to share whatever you feel relevant IC so Velox. Albrecht, Elmo and Furnok can react to it :).

As for the gear, I could definitely use a Crossbow and the Chain Mail

I was going to ask the chain mail too. Shall we play scissors, rock and paper in the IC thread later?

Who would benefit from it more? What armor are the two of you wearing? I would kill for a chain shirt, but not chain mail...

It is chain mail.

I would also propose that we just appraise everything so we can divy up the value of everything in gold pieces.

Then, if someone wants an item, they pay that value using their "split". If 2 or more people want something, they can bid on it, with that value being part of the new split in gold, to be distributed to the rest of the party.

Obviously if someone wants something that they can't afford, they can get it "on credit", to be paid off with their "split" as the adventure continues.

Once "bought" whatever is purchased can be freely sold by the "purchaser".

This system should keep things fair, and keep these discussions to a minimum.

I'm wearing Studded Leather. I'm slightly better at melee combat than I am at ranged and I can dish out a bit more damage when I hit in melee as well, but if it's going to help Ailishi out, I'll defer and wait until we find another set of chain mail.

I'd rather not drive up the price of items here for the whole party and waste resources unnecessarily.

@Larmiun was your threat serious? Do I need to roll a Sense Motive check, because murdering families for information is not cool...

In reply to Velox (msg # 347):

Do you have an alternative system for divvying up loot fairly?

No, I like the system, I just meant that I would defer for now, I don't want to make an item cost more for one of my allies. At least not now :).

In reply to Velox (msg # 349):

Ah, thanks for the clarification. :)

And yeah, that's sort of the intention. You have to REALLY want and NEED something to want to mark it up, but those that would benefit most (like imagine our healer getting an item that enhances their ability to heal), we can shove that shit at them and not worry about it being "unfair", etc.

Happy to take any items that make me a better healer :).

I'm a Paladin of Freedom/Favored Soul of Trithereon so an UBER Paladin or maybe an UBER Cleric depending on how you define each class :).

I'm just a bumbling old man with a huge snake. ;)

But I DO love treasure, and anything which will help out the small amount of spell casting I can do.

*drools over shapechanging future.*

Druids are awesome at higher levels, a bit of a slog here at the start though :).

Plus you have your own fangirl in Seralessa :).

In reply to Velox (msg # 353):

There is that. Maybe I can take the form of an adorable kitty cat. :p

I'm still really torn about what I want to do with my build... I was planning on going Psychic Warrior, then Cleric sounded good, but DMM takes soooo many feats that I don't have... Thoughts? I have high Str, Con, and Wis, all the rest suck. Lol

Druid wouldn't be bad :) or Monk, you don't wear armor right?

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 355):

Strength Con and Wisdom SCREAMS Monk Dip, Cleric-Druid Build IMHO. Or just Druid and find yourself a monk's belt (like I intend to DIBS no backsies).

Yeah, I was also going to say if you want to be a little more hard hitting you could go Soul Knife and keep your psionic focus, but to be honest, you already hit really hard :).

Swordsage could work instead of Monk if we're using ToB. Are we using ToB, if so I need to look at it again :).

I'm already a Swordsage. :P

Swordsage gets the Wisdom to AC boost, and no self-respecting DM lets them stack (unless ours wants to be very nice... lol), so I would lose my studded leather and not get any AC from it if I went Monk. Druid would work, I think there's a prestige class that combines Wild Shape and doing maneuvers.  Of course, I used my Weapon Focus feat on Stone Dragon weapons (axes and such), and it would make Monkey Grip useless (which it kinda is right now, I was too broke to buy a Large greataxe like I wanted).

See my dilemma? >.<

Oh, I didn't realize you were already Swordsage... That's why you have been so effective :).

Hmm, is there any reason you wouldn't just progress in Sword Sage and Psychic Warrior? A large great-axe was out of reach at first, but surely it won't be soon :).

I definitely had been thinking about it, it's just the slow progression that gets to me. Just figured I'd ask the rest of you guys for some ideas and a general consensus of what I should do. We only need so many healers, after all. ;)

In reply to Albrecht Delmorn (msg # 361):

Yeah Druid would be better than cleric but I would stick with swordsage and psychic warrior.

As you plot ahead remember this rule from Character Creation:

You are limited to 4 character classes, and no more than 1 prestige class.

Is the Bandit Leader revived and answering my questions?

Sorry was largely distracted last few days :)

No worries boss!

In reply to Velox (msg # 366):

Ailishi, I understand what you were trying to do, but your not stopping Velox and he is only going about 100 yards away (a distance where he is well within sight, I would assume).

Also, you should probably not assume you are close to me and the other bandit at the same time as I was with the bandit leader.

Lastly, don’t assume you succeed in stopping someone with your action, that is dangerously close to playing God...

Dude, my character can walk freely, meaning he can be standing next to you. What do you want, that I ask the DM a map for tactical movement? Should I roll a touch attack if I want to tap your shoulder? Live and let live.

In reply to Ailishi Urcmon (msg # 368):

Sure but you didn’t narrate that. All you narrated was your character trying to forcefully stop me and then walking away from me.

I am just saying you are not my boss and Velox is very, very committed to finding this girl.

Saralessa, all Velox did was shrug off an attempt to stop him after taking down close to half of the bandits that almost ambushed you, you should be thankful he’s so committed :)

All you did was shrug off an attempt to help you.
By the way, did the bandit leader said anything to Ailishi?

I wasn't sure if he was still going to do it since Velox and Milander will already be headed that way, I sent him a PM to check, if he still wants to we'll resolve it :)

In reply to Seralessa Vadmal (msg # 370):

How was he trying to help me? He was trying to stop me :).

By the way, Milander, that was an awesome response!

In reply to Velox (msg # 373):

Glad you liked it. Seemed like something the old... man would say. Besides,

I've been playing Doctor Doom in another campaign, and his grandiloquence has a way of seeping out in other areas as a result. :p