Doseyclwn
GM, 150 posts
Fri 17 May 2019
at 02:40 | OOC: What do we do now?So the game has stagnated a little bit. In part this is because I did not want this to turn into a tactical combat game, yet that's the way some of your characters were built. Nothing wrong with this, it's just not what I wanted to do. I'd really like to run a mostly Theater of the Mind game. I'm not the best at descriptions right now, but I can get better. Question is, is this the kind of game you all want to play or should we just stop? Please let me know what you'd like to do, how to fix this so that we are all having fun, you know? I have no desire for a game where everyone is not having fun. I take a huge part of the blame for this on me, as I should have been more clear when getting it together.
So what do y'all think?
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Galdefax Cainwraith
player, 83 posts
Hp Max:8 AC:13 PP:14
Fri 17 May 2019
at 02:50 | OOC: What do we do now?I'm completely fine with theater of the mind. At this point there's not much I can really contribute however. It's a find/ disarm traps scenario. I'm ok with this as well because I'm sure farther in there will be all kinds of interesting rooms.
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Roman Jakes
player, 62 posts
Ac16,hp11,int 4
Just call me RJ
Fri 17 May 2019
at 02:57 | OOC: What do we do now? Ummm, part of our speed right now is everyone having to wait for the rogue to search every door and lock, and if any trap is there to disarm the damage device.
Add to that the multiple doors in this first section. Not sure but i would guess you as DM would have to modify the scenario to let the others have something to add.
Not sure how to speed it up other then the above. At least this setting.
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Lexard Blackhull
player, 64 posts
AC 21, HP 12/12
Fri 17 May 2019
at 04:20 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?| Roman Jakes: | Ummm, part of our speed right now is everyone having to wait for the rogue to search every door and lock, and if any trap is there to disarm the damage device.
Add to that the multiple doors in this first section. Not sure but i would guess you as DM would have to modify the scenario to let the others have something to add.
Not sure how to speed it up other then the above. At least this setting. |
Yeah, that's the major hold up with this style of dungeon. It doesn't play out the same in text as it does in person.
Here are some ways I've done it myself, or seen it done in other games:
1. DM can reduce the traps/locks in the dungeon, turn them into encounters instead.
2. DM can roll all of the time-consuming skill checks on our behalf and just describe the results when you post (you enter the room, discover a trapwire that the rogue disables, and investigate the room revealing a secret door to the east and a second trap that shoots Lexard for 4 poison damage). Most DM's in your position don't like this option because they want the interaction of players searching for the secrets that are littering the dungeon.
3. You can take the skill bonuses from the highest players (+5 Investigate, +6 thieves' tools, etc) and let any player roll those skills with the high bonus as part of their own action that would utilize them. Examples are "Lexard asks Galdefax to investigate the door for traps (rolls G's investigation), has Jurik disarm it if there are any (rolls J's tools) and then opens the door." The player makes those rolls himself, and then they take the hits if traps go off.
Without some kind of solution like that, we're basically putting the game on pause repeatedly, until the skilled character(s) have a chance to post. The only other option is for us to just barrel through it all, ignoring the secrets, taking the trap damage, and dying a terrible death, or the game slows to a crawl and the game itself dies a terrible death.
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Alison Romtree
player, 104 posts
AC18 HP15/9 INIT+4
Tough Damned Chick
Fri 17 May 2019
at 12:36 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?I like Lexrd’s #2. I am much better at theater of the mind than map based combat tactics. I agree with above, its the waiting on the rogue that is bogging us down. Rogues...right?!
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Bongar Bonehammer
player, 66 posts
Mountain Dwarf Fighter
Swinging a Giant Maul
Fri 17 May 2019
at 15:50 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Thanks a very big amount for starting this thread. It's refreshing to see a DM initiating this kind of conversation instead of just letting a game fizzle out.
I like battle maps but I know they're a pain and I have no problem whatsoever with TotM. We'll all get better at it over time, and we can all be understanding and flexible about misunderstandings.
I agree that trapfinding is what's slowing the game down. Don't have a lot to add to that conversation beyond what others have said (and I, too, particularly like Lexard's second suggestion.)
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Jurik
player, 64 posts
Fri 17 May 2019
at 15:53 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?DM, honestly I thought we were waiting on you to tell us whether Roman succeeds on disarming the trap.
As for how to proceed, I agree with Allison that I think Lex's option #2 is probably the best. We already have a sort of standard approach to our exploration so you could just go with that and make those rolls for us so as not to slow things down.
Basically, our strategy I believe is:
1) once we determine a direction, Jurik proceeds down the hallway/corridor/whatever, searching for traps and secret doors along the way.
2) If he detects a trap, he calls for Roman to disarm the trap, and then begins his exploration again.
3) if the hallway ends with a door, he then calls up Roman, who thoroughly checks the door for traps, and then opens the door, picking the lock as necessary.
4) if the hallway opens into a room without a door, or after Roman has opened the door, Jurik proceeds into the room and does a cursory examination for traps and secret doors, and then motions for Roman who then comes in and does a more thorough examination, and then checks any/all doors in the room as described above.
5) Pick a hallway to proceed down, and start back at #1.
With of course the rest of the party following.
You could actually make all of those rolls for us, and not let things get bogged down with waiting for us to tell you what you already know we're going to do.
All of that assumes nothing of significance or interest. Obviously if there is something interesting (a chest, monsters, a weird looking throne, etc) then we'd stop the "auto-exploration" and focus on that. Think of it like a movie where you sort of gloss over the standard stuff (like with a montage scene or something) and then the focus zooms in on the interesting bits of the story.
As for theater of the mind, I'm totally cool with that, and 5e actually works with that much better than 3.5 of 4. The only things to keep in mind are that some people may at least want to know general battlefield things (ie. Roman gets sneak attack damage against creatures in melee with an ally, so that's important for him to know, people with sentinel need to have some understanding of the battlefield)., but at least there are no things like flanking in 5e that requires precise grid placement.
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Galdefax Cainwraith
player, 84 posts
Hp Max:8 AC:13 PP:14
Fri 17 May 2019
at 16:26 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Put me down as another one supporting Lexard's #2
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Roman Jakes
player, 63 posts
Ac16,hp11,int 4
Just call me RJ
Fri 17 May 2019
at 16:44 | Re: OOC: What do we do now? PS: Just a thought from my char, He is the type to want to clear a room before moving on(Example: 6 doors in the room,roman would like to be sure all 6 doors are cleared before missing some important clue or any hidden monster missed behind him.) But i will go with what ever the group wants to do.
Just mentioned that as standard reaction and actions to each room.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Fri 17 May 2019.
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Doseyclwn
GM, 151 posts
Wed 22 May 2019
at 10:01 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Folks, I think I'm just going to stop. I know it sucks, and I know people have time invested in this. Hell, I have time invested in this. The truth is, I just don't think I want to run 5e anymore. My reasons are personal feelings about the mechanics of the game itself, NOT any of you folks. You folks are awesome, and it's not fair for me to ask people to change game systems.
Unless that's what you want to do. I still like 5e, I just don't have any desire to run it anymore. I have, however, been itching to run the game in it's Swords and Wizardry version (it's a retro-clone of Original D&D). Oft times, that does not appeal to players of 5e, but I thought I'd ask to see if any of you were interested in that.
Again, I apologize for doing this, but I felt I at least owed folks an explanation before I stopped. Let me know if y'all want to do this with Swords and Wizardry (the rules can be obtained for free from drivethrurpg.net
(https://www.drivethrurpg.com/p...y-Complete-Rule-Book)
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Alison Romtree
player, 106 posts
AC18 HP15/9 INIT+4
Tough Damned Chick
Wed 22 May 2019
at 12:50 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Thank you for letting us know. I am uninterested in Swords and Wizards. Please remove me.
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Lexard Blackhull
player, 65 posts
AC 21, HP 12/12
Wed 22 May 2019
at 14:36 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Is it the game mechanics or the play-by-post format? I'm not familiar with the system you're offering to move to so I could be unaware of something important, but I don't know that any system would work better than another in this format without something being done to overcome the stop-and-go necessary for letting the players capable of handling the traps the time to do so.
If you just aren't feeling 5E, then that's fine. If it's the format that's the problem, there are things we can do, we just need to discuss the options and the solutions that you're willing to work with.
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Bongar Bonehammer
player, 67 posts
Mountain Dwarf Fighter
Swinging a Giant Maul
Wed 22 May 2019
at 14:49 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Sorry to hear. I'm going to take off, but good luck with the new game, if you get it off the ground.
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Doseyclwn
GM, 152 posts
Wed 22 May 2019
at 21:36 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?In reply to Lexard Blackhull (msg # 12):
Honestly, I think it's running 5e that's the problem for me. I think this format has some problems with it, but I think it's 5e. I seem to like playing it a lot more than I do running it.
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Doseyclwn
GM, 153 posts
Wed 22 May 2019
at 21:36 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?In reply to Bongar Bonehammer (msg # 13):
Thanks man.
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Merric Tealeaf
player, 69 posts
A light inside me
A friend beside me
Thu 23 May 2019
at 03:24 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Hmm. Well, disappointing, but I'm glad you are being open and upfront about it. I will pass on the new system but thank you. I wish you well on your gaming.
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Lexard Blackhull
player, 66 posts
AC 21, HP 12/12
Thu 23 May 2019
at 05:35 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Alright, no worries. Best of luck to you, boss.
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Galdefax Cainwraith
player, 85 posts
Hp Max:8 AC:13 PP:14
Thu 23 May 2019
at 13:25 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?too bad...good luck to all of you.
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Jurik
player, 65 posts
Thu 23 May 2019
at 14:13 | Re: OOC: What do we do now?Yeah, I'm going to pass on switching systems as well. Good luck.
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