You know what to do. :)

Hey everyone

Thanks you Mr Gm for invite me! And welcome to everyone else

So far we have 5 players. I'm going to recruit 3 more for a total of 8. If things go as normal, with an expected drop rate, we'll end up with a rock solid team in three months time. I'm looking forward to a great game, as we have some great RTJs in the works. :)

I'm hoping to get the game underway ASAP or in a few days.

Waiting on a few replies. Going to bed now, we'll see what tomorrow brings. :)

First, Thanks for getting the game set up!

Second, I look forward to gaming with all of you and getting to know your characters.

Love your list of the dieties and their alignment. I find myself in close agreement with your choices.

Just a comment:
Athena... She's the one who cursed a woman who was raped by Poseidon in her temple to be a Gorgon. Not sure that's lawful good: it's not like it was the woman's fault or could do anything about it. Maybe that Myth's different in this world?

That's one version of the myth. Another is that the gorgons were products of Gaia to aid the titans in their fight against the gods of Olympus, and that Athena had slain one and wore her skin.

Also, hi all! I'm going to be playing the resident centaur.

In a few levels I'll be a proper battlefield controller, for now I'm just a helper and seeker of legends!

I prefer your myth Gerakas

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 10):

Greetings all, Yngvar the Mad, wizard, at your service. I guess I worship Selene and Chronos, magic, knowledge, and time!

Out of curiosity how Mad are you? Because the idea of a mad mage is ... scary!

Mad enough to worship the Titans..

The sun is the center of the galaxy and we are all hurtling through the cosmos on a ball of mostly rock with water... Or the Oprah of Fireballs?

Worship can be placation or supplication... Wanting power to remove a few gods is understandable. They are at least as messed up as mortals.

Fairly lucid. but not completely.

Wizard||Rogue, for the skills.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 7):

Athena is actually neutral good on the list. The only lawful good gods are Prometheus and Helios.

As to Athena, let's just say she had to do A LOT of penance to atone that major sin. In most stories, she is actually a Force for good. Plus, I can't have all the Olympian gods be evil. I have to have the pantheon list be somewhat balanced, plus trying to somewhat accurately reflect the true alignments of these gods. Not as easy as I originally thought, I tried the best I could. ;)

I hope the pantheon list is Worthy of such a great list of players. That said, you may notice we have a few more players than I originally intended to recruit. There were a lot of great candidates.

So after some lovecraftian style horror meets Greek mythology I'm sure we'll thin down the list some.... I mean, after some players probably drop.... I'm sure we'll have a great group. :)

lol

OK my character is slowly taking shape. I hope to sort out images and backstory and stuff tonight.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 17):

I'm slowly working on Yngvar, finally got a sheet up, that was a bitch, it kept distorting and coming out not to my liking. After a few hours of cut & paste I got it looking okay. We starting in Greece? ;-) Athens? Sparta?

In reply to The Fates (msg # 16):

It's almost as if the Olympian gods were as fallible as humans..

Like our DM, who invited 10 people.


I, for one, am quite sure the unspeakable madness-inducing Lovecraftian horror eliminating excess players will actually be the very first bout of 10-player pbp combat. ^^
This message was last edited by the player at 15:08, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 18):

Your ship sailed from Troy, the gods only know where you are now....ha ha ha(evil DM laugh). :)

In reply to Gerakas (msg # 19):

Indeed, hubris was a major sin in ancient Greece. Let's hope my wax DM wings don't melt in the Sun.

All players are recruited, character sheets set up. Now we play the waiting game. :)

Howard eh?.... I can work with that....

Hello all, I'm Pantelis you're neighborhood Satyr.

I like Conan :) I ran a table top (Mongoose) Conan for about ten years, and even one here on RPOL until I discovered that what works table top is less good on RPOL.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 20):

A voyage back from Troy? Those never go wrong.

How do all, looking forwards to the game. A fairly dull choice of Fighter/Wizard here

In reply to Aetius (msg # 26):

Wizard||Rogue. Character is done, just have to spend a few hours putting it on the sheet.

I'm a universalist caster, I don't specialize, never have. I like access to all schools. I need to make some money so I can buy my necessities for travel!

I'll let everyone know, I'm 61 years old, been playing 41-42 years. I'm disabled and at my computer and on rpol 8 to 10 hours a day. I post often and am in 20 games +/-. If I'm going too fast, tell me to slow down. Games like this always start fast with MANY posts the first 3 to 6 days or so, then they slow down. I am a diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesterol. I have a lot of doctor appointments to control it all. My wife is in a similar boat and my roommate has the same plus Kidney disease and prostate cancer. I usually have to take him to doctors too, so I'll be sporadic sometimes, though I'll still be here everyday.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

Hello all,

I am your resident priestess of Artemis, professional midwife. Cleric//Druid I'm planning to do mostly support for spell casting.

Debating if I'm gonna wear armor initially or not more for looks then because it's a good choice.

In reply to Anstice (msg # 28):

200gp doesn't go real far for armor AND weapons either.

Χαίρετε my new friends!

I will be playing Theoros, black sheep princling and fearsome mercenary more at home in the wild woods than civilization. *CoughScout/RangerCough*

Looking forward to playing with you all!

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 29):

The joys of being a poor first level adventurer. Treasure and weapons of great renowned must be earned. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:37, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 31):

yup! I'm working on skills then have to add gear and spells. An hour or two +/-

A lot of friendly faces! I'll be your resident meat shield / friendly face. Are we planning on running as a single large group or sub-dividing into 2?
To help with character description feel free to PM me. I am happy to take feedback and to give it if requested.

Well one I hope...

In reply to Eleni (msg # 33):

If you want to read mine and give advice Eleni, I'd appreciate it.

Skills are done, spells and gear.

Hello all, another meat wall for the pile. Looking forward to making it past the first combat.

In reply to Garvarius (msg # 36):

I hope we all make it. I just started in another game and one of the fighters got a dagger in the skull and the wizard a stone in the forehead, he survived, she didn't survive the dagger.

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 37):

I just finished my sheet, getting ready to save it, my cat Pixie jumped her furry little ass up on the mouse and keyboard, now I have to redo my gear! ARRRRGGGGHHHH!

Finished Finn, I'm slightly encumbered and have 3sp and a few coppers. I'm broke and need to adventure!

Can I suggest Google docs. No more cat mouse problems. And spreadaheets make character sheets easy.

If the gods had intended us to make character sheets by hand they wouldn't have invented the spreadsheet

Ouch. Damn fur babies. Too cute to be mad at!

Also, where is everyone's character from in this ancient mythical Greece? We all might be from the same place, or at least close neighbors for all we know.

EDIT: I'm from Phthiotis.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Mon 23 Jan 2023.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 40):

It was on my computer, the sheet here, I was editing it in and she jumped up and hit a button that changed the page here on RPoL before I could 'Post' it and it was lost. I just through it back up. I have a mule, I also cook and brew!

I am from Elaea in Epirus (North Western part of Ancient Greece).

In reply to Eleni (msg # 43):

I haven't studied Greece in 50 years, I don't remember too much about it. I'm a wizard/rogue so should be from a city. I'm not a fighter so no to Sparta. Athens? Thebes? Other suggestions? I never heard of Elaea.

Elaea is a city in Epirus, about 200mi as the crow flies NNW of Sparta. A good map to use is:
https://cdn.britannica.com/33/...E/Ancient-Greece.jpg

As for a brain: Athens would be fine, as would Delphi.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 45):

I could be the Oracle of Delphi! ;-) A diviner, but still a universalist!

I am almost positive that position was limited to females (specifically of 'blameless life'). Attendants and travelling orators could be either gender however.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 47):

But I identify, as a mad man!

Lol, I don't doubt it. I think the attendant / interpreter is a better route, as they also travelled to deliver information. Easily explains your travel/adventuring.

I would make a great Oracle. But... I hope I am not mad. Other people will have to judge that for themselves

I have a little description in place, but will enhance it as we meet and the character develops

In reply to Eleni (msg # 45):

Very helpful, thanks.

My sheet is done and I'm ready to rock and roll.

Ditto :)

Same here!

I'm finished but I usually give it a day and read it again before saying 'hey done'.

I think I'm right...

Since the majority of players are done with their character sheets, I will kick off the role-playing portion of the game tonight. That way people can roleplay and get comfortable in their characters skin. And a few days hopefully everyone will be done, and then comes the meat grinder... I mean, your first chance at some real combat, perhaps.

Let me practice my combat words. Ah yes 'looks dangerous you go first, I'll make the tea over here'.

Oooh me too. "Tea sounds nice. Save a cup for me while I take out the trash over there."

Teehee.

Wait Wait! No teas yet.

"I'll make the Tissane" there that sounds better...

Charecter creation is done. I should be good to go now.

Character sheet is done and ready for review

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 62):

The Satyr that must be used is from The Savage species book, that breaks monster races down into classes. You use the Saytr just directly from the monster manual, that will have to be changed.

If you do not have access to this book, I can give you the details over pm, just let me know.

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 62):

Also, you will have to fill out your character description, under character details.

Should be fixed that's what i get for doing this half asleep, i'll take care of the character description a little later today

Yngvar the Mad, please roll 1d100 and 1d20. We will see what bounty your searching comes up with.

Theoros, as you saddle your horse, something is going to happen before you can ride out....

The Enlarge person is on you Garvarius in case it was unclear. And should you move before me unless you charge out of reach I'll change where I move to to cast it on you after.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:50, Wed 25 Jan 2023.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 67):

08:05, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 81 using 1d100.

08:05, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 14 using 1d20.

Welp, my character has never fought Skeletons or Statues before, so he is going to do something really stupid, and realize one of his main Class features doesn't work on them.

If I die, it was fun knowing y'all.

lol

Yep, no Skirmish for you alas.

Yep. Or my Favored Enemy.

I'm just a less-tough Fighter at the moment.

So it goes at times.

Dice roller was feeling very Contrary to my desire on that set of rolls. I wanted a Low Initiative and high roll on turning and got the exact Opposite.

In reply to Anstice (msg # 73):

just signal us when it is time to post again! ;-) I almost did already but few have responded once yet.

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 74):

Feel free to post, and I will summarize all the actions in accordance to initiative order.

Once everyone has posted for this first round of combat, I will summarize update and move the story forward for the next round of combat. ;)

Can I complete my scouting of the area now?

In reply to Theoros (msg # 77):

Exploring the hex your in will take half a day on horse, a full day to travel through on foot. So my question to you is where do you want to go? You just want to go an hour ahead of the party or a particular direction?

I'm going west 1/2 an hour and back as an initial. If time is moving into 'half days and days' then I'll explore (after reporting back) half a day to the west

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 79):

At your present speed, half an hour in, you notice that there is a mouth of a large river up ahead, to the Southwest, and likely more lightly forested terrain to the northwest. Theros and you would also notice some light logging going on.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 78):

I mean, I'll take the half day of exploration, if there are no surprises. Better to be informed, after all.

Unless you are trying to hint that I shouldn't run off too far...

In reply to Theoros (msg # 81):

NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY! You die alone!

In reply to Theoros (msg # 81):

You can see from a distance in your travels, assuming you went a different direction as your compatriot, that the land to the north, is slightly forested. To the Northeast and Southeast, the trees begin to thin and the ground changes to sand dunes and desert in the distance. Also this is not an empty Forest. You notice tracks of various kinds of game dear, ram, and a variety of small animals like rabbits. You also notice the occasional faded human and goblinoid tracks. There are also tracks of other things, potentially more monstrous that you can't really make out.

Also, the dice favorite both our scouts. As none of them came across anything dangerous. But just so you know, it is a possibility, all in the dice. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:03, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

These lightly forested areas are also populated with Cypress and Cedarwood trees. It is early spring, and pollen from flowers fills the air, and birds sing as they make their migrations.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:06, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

Just so we've got a notion on the sort of time it's going to take for things to happen GM as far as I can see we've got 4ish tasks currently underway

Long scouting (1/2 day)
Burials (? but more than an hour given the lack of tools)
Checking the wreckage/other swept ashore things for anything salvageable (? but probably more than an hour)
Short scouting 1 hour (already completed)

We know long the scouting is taking, just checking how long the rest may take before I post IC now that Cassandra's back from the shorter scouting trip. I could see the burial and shoreline scavenging lasting till the long scouting is over too.

I agree, though we'll also need to continue foraging for food as well. The burials shouldn't take too long. It is a beach after all. I'd guess 10-15 min per grave.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 86):

How many dead are there?

Technically a profession miner check is going to take a week. Maybe you'll allow a craft jeweler check to take a day to harvest silver... Maybe you will let me fudge the timelines on the skill checks or the troupe wants to try to barter the knowledge of the location to someone else later.

If we had an hour Mal would have started looking the partial silver wreckage over at least. Also, if no one has plans on one of those scimitars and a short sword... He also would announced his 24hr weather forecast and if he is familiar with any locations that this might be(and probably that he needs tonight to narrow it down more). Aranea can help dig in sand though she stays within 60 feet of Mal at most. Mal would have to help her get the idea while watching others do the first one.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

What were the weapons from the skellies? I can use a short sword too.

In reply to Malvolo (msg # 88):

The weather will be sunny today, around 70° Fahrenheit. Tonight, it will get colder, around 40° Fahrenheit. Clear skies for the next 24 hours, sunny weather, light breeze.

Burials will take as long as the long scouting will on the return. As the scouts returned from their long scouting you will finish the burial, as just when you think you're done another body floats onto the shore. Sadly, no more tools can be found or useful equipment, except firewood.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:02, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

You are on a Sandy shore, however once you get about a foot and a half to 2 ft deep, it begins to get rockier.

Makes sense. No worries on the timeline, a few hours is not unreasonable :)

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 89):

Looking back over the thread stuff found so far (your body looting and the fight)



I could have sworn at some point the number of days the supplies were good for was posted, can't find it now though.

Thanks DM, timeframe is helpful to know.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:07, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

+2 days

In reply to Aetius (msg # 94):

Glad to help. I hope everyone is enjoying the game so far and the commentary of the gods.

Aye it's a fun one.

Thanks Yngvar, I'll edit the 2 days into my post.

Hey guys, just a heads up, I had work interfere with my posting yesterday. I have some errands I am doing for my mother in law today but sometime this evening (I run on US Eatern Time) I'll be reading through and putting up an in character post

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 98):

Thank you for the courteous notice Pantelis!

It is very amusing listening to the squabling of the dieties :)

If I take proficiency Bastard Sword, could I wield the Large Masterwork Bastard Sword in two hand without penalty? Would I also need the Monkey Grip feat?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

In reply to Garvarius (msg # 101):

Wielding a (normal sized) Bastard Sword two-handed is treated as a Martial Weapon. Exotic Weapon Proficiency is only needed if you want to swing it one-handed without a penalty.

Monkey Grip lets you wield a weapon up one size category larger than you are with a -2 penalty on the attack roll, but the amount of effort it takes you to use the weapon does not change. For instance, a Large longsword (a one-handed weapon for a Large creature) is considered a two-handed weapon for a Medium creature that does not have this feat. For a Medium creature that has this feat, it is still considered a one-handed weapon.

So you eat a -2 penalty with the Monkey Grip feat but can still swing it two-handed and consider it a Martial Weapon.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 102):

So, I can't use the weapon at all right now due to it's large size?

Monkey Grip would let me wield it in two hands? Is that right?

Correct.

No Feats: 2 handed for same size

Monkey Grip: -2 to attack, use next size up like it was a normal size weapon with the exception of the attack roll.

Exotic WP: Use 1 handed, with no penalties.

Ok, questions for the party. It seems that the group is going to head for the river, is that set in stone? Also, when is the party going?

Scouting is going to take you into the after noon time. Set camp for the night on the beach and head out in the morning? I would like to see the consensus be unanimous. If not unanimous, then at lest majority. Since everyone has posted, since I have posted, I'm just going to set up a vote. I will setup a second vote if needed.


1. Who going towards the river?


2. In the morning of the next day?


3. You can vote to stay behind on the beach, alone....(and be most likely eaten/killed by wandering monster).... :)



.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:25, Sat 28 Jan 2023.

I vote for morning. I think the potential for bad things to happen in the woods is higher than on the open beach.

I will let the others decide

I am in agreement with Eleni, in the morning may be best

Do we want the silver from the statue? Sometime in those hours I think I could get an idea of the labor and time for actual extraction.

Jack of all trades only lets me get so far in every profession.

Good with a morning time move out either way.

In reply to Malvolo (msg # 109):

Morning. River.

I'm a firmly in the spend today getting food and supplies, planning, and setting out for riverside tomorrow.

I'd say morning and river like others, not least because at the beach we'll also have a better view of the stars when night falls which will be relevant for people trying to work out where we might be via assorted knowledge/profession skills.

Go for it on the silver Malvolo, we might lack the tools for it at the moment but it's worth a try.

As for using the stars to try to work out where you are, a knowledge: Arcane DC 20 check or a Profession Sailor DC 15, should do it.

I will also say you can get 200 lbs. of silver ore from the rock, but that is all. That's generous. :)

I am working on a post now.

If we aren't capable we'll spend a long time doing things like 'who is on watch when' and 'what's your marching order'

Why don't we set up some defaults?
So for example

• I am happy to do any watch.
• Marching order outdoors: I will usually be scouting in front of the group
• Marching order indoors: I will usually be in the middle of the group

Once we have this list of preferences we can probably set up defaults in a thread somewhere
This message was last edited by the player at 05:38, Sun 29 Jan 2023.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 114):

I can open locks and disable devices, but I'm squishy and not sneaky or diplomatic. I can cast spells, I want to be in the middle, near the front or near the back. I'm also weak, when I get Weapon finesse, I'll be better than I am now.

Do you have a preference for the watches so that we can get defaults setup

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 116):

As I put in IC, first, or last.

Good notion Cassandra. As with Yngvar I'm aiming for start or end of rest periods due to the good old 8 hour rule, marching order however I am fine wherever whether in or outside.

Diplomatic and squishy but utility skills otherwise. I'm planning to change spells a bit on rest. We may have to make it a 10 hr to accommodate several spell casters. That would give us 4 watches which overlap with set up camp.

I don't think I'll ever be good hand to hand, but I'll try to help reduce enemy tactical options.

Divine casters do not need 8 hours uninterrupted rest to prepare. They just have to pray/mediate at there set time everyday. That gives us some freedom but 4 watches do make since. If we are doing 2 hour watches I think and we call it say 8pm - 6am I'll cover the 10pm to midnight and fo my spell recovery at midnight since that's when the moon is at its zenith.
 If we do it another way that's fine but I'll need to be awake at midnight but meditating not watching.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:38, Sun 29 Jan 2023.

I just flew cross country, once I get settled into my hotel I'll try to post, if not it'll be first thing in the morning.

I didn't know that Anstice. Thanks. I've edited my posts on the topic.

I like the groups. Nice balance of skills and pets. I'll acknowledge IC when others have had a chance to post some. No one likes a spotlight hog lol.

I plan on posting later tonight, to move the story forward, giving some players a chance to catch up. No offense, but with ten players, post or perish. :)

You are on the the island of Ameíliktos, (Made for this game). With a Knowledge History check DC 15, you would know that this island is a colony of Troy, but has suffered under heavy pirate and bandit troubles recently. There is a small village somewhere on the island called, Néa Elpída.

Thanks GM.
It's already 11 here and I tend to get up at 6 so bed time for me. Didn't make the History check but I know Garvarius made the Profession check too so those still posting feel free to assume if he doesn't post it I do for our location.

To try to figure out what tax of the sun could be what are we allowed to roll if anything.

I could see:
K religion if its a godly thing
K. Local if is a humoniod related thing.
K. Arcana if its some kinda spell thing.
K. Nature if sun is kinda weather related.

Just FYI I can't see the map of greece: the image doesn't load

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 127):

I can't either, a little square with color on it indicating there is a pic I can't see.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 127):

I can see it on my end. I think it has something to do with the "cookies" of the site itself, although I could be wrong. Does anyone else have greater knowledge in this area?

In reply to Anstice (msg # 126):

Sure, characters feel free to give me a knowledge religion.

How big is the river?
The river is a 100 feet across.

What is it like: white water or gentle snaking oxbow you would find at a large estuary?

The river is easiest to Cross by the beach. As you go up northbound, you notice that your at a slight incline, and the water becomes less gentle and more white as you go up.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 129):

Can sometimes be the browser in use. I had a try on Chrome on one device, Brave on another with the same results but if anyone's using Edge that might be worth checking.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 132):

So just to clarify you can see the Greek map correct? :)

Sorry, no I cannot see it.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 133):

I can see the main view map just fine, just not the one in the thread.

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 135):

Under game maps, can you see the map under T?

No one can see the greek map.

And no can't see 'maps under T'.

In general the game maps don't work. I've never played in a game that has kept them. It's much better to put the maps in a thread
This message was last edited by the player at 16:22, Mon 30 Jan 2023.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 136):

Only given one option in the game maps, Main Game Map. Can see that fine including the purple highlighted hex we left and the red one we're now in.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 137):

I find the site not very user friendly sometimes, so please bare with me. Can I upload directly onto post? Or do I have to find a picture hosting site and do it that way?

Picture hosting site I am afraid. I use imageshack. Or github.

I typically just have a thread called maps and then I can easily do things to them. But certainly maps are harder than I would like!

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 140):

Oh my... Very well I guess I will have to do that later on today. Lol.

If you give me the URLs I can sort it out for you if you want. Lots of people here happy to help you do the boring gming stuff I think

i'll be posting to catch up sometime this evening. wound up pulling 2 days of double shifts at work

For sure, I think a few of us are site savvy.

Rather then edit my old post ill just put it here. 24 Knowledge Religion.

Also no map.

19 from bardic knowledge (can't take 10 or 20... Sad)

But unless there's some kind of danger in thinking wrong, that's a 23 on every other knowledge check though others will spend less time thinking about it.

Think I have it fixed. How is this everyone?

Perfect. Perhaps a little large, but that's not a problem

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 148):

Had to setup a imageshack account, but whatever works. ;)

Map looks good to me.

Map is good.

By the by I'm making a quick check here to avoid bogging down combat. As far as I can see the only people who would both want and qualify for Enlarge Person (not saying it'll be used this fight) are;

Eleni
Garvarius
Myself

Theoros is a mounted combatant so size increase makes them too big for the steed
Gerakas is not a humanoid so cannot have the spell cast on them
Cassandra is avoiding combat
Everyone else is more of a castery sort

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, don't want to provide buffs people don't want.

Did the priestess pass her save on entangle

I found it. Was confused because the entangle wasn't shown on the map.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:42, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Aetius: Too right! Far too dangerous for me to be comfortable in. Good choice I thought, especially with the reach weapon.

Of course it says 'shoot me I am the most dangerous target here...' but that's what the rest of us are for

I'm far from most dangerous, just got a few lucky rolls in. But if I can convince them I am and make them hit me that's part of the job description on fighter.

Happily you've got me conscious still within reach of the archers before their initiative too. Sure the prone condition means I now need really lucky rolls but it means I get to keep on attempting to fulfil my role.

And if you look at my position you are my shield against the arrows. Not that I have an aversion to being filled with arrows or anything :)

Alas I won't be much cover against the priestess if she shimmies around me to get you.

Weird finding from the SRD. Stunned says you drop what you're holding. Unconscious, helpless, dying etc. don't. I disagree with that and have reflected as such but it's amusing.

I think it's OK for stunned, and I share your view :)

*laughs* I think if the priestess comes for me: firstly you will AOO her. And secondly...well we can only do what we can do

Ok, question for everyone. Do you like the way we have been handling the Initiative order? I love roleplaying combat, but I hate how long combat can take. This said, this is not just my game, this game belongs to each of you, for as long as you are willing to put in the posts.

There has been some concerns over the initiative order and how it is run. So I will leave this up to a vote. To be fair, I will not vote unless there needs to be a tie-breaking vote. This Vote need not to be unanimous, but must be majority. I will yield to the majority vote of the player base.


1. Those who wish to have Initiative remain the way it's currently being handled.

2. Those that wish for it to be changed to a group/party initiative vs an enemy initiative.

3. Those that want it broken up into different parts (in round 1 anyone that beats the bad guys Initiative acts, then I post resolution and bad guy actions then everyone gets to post actions).

4. Something Else (give example).
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:56, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Also, any voted changes will happen at the beginning of the next battle, not this current one. Just to keep everything sane.

All I care about is that the game doesn't die because combat takes too long. So the nightmare scenario is that a combat round takes days to do because of some concern over initiative. That would be a disaster

The only way I've seen it not grind the game into extinction is 'players go', 'monsters go'. And if you have higher initiative you get an extra go at the start of the fight (you go before the monsters). Other people might different experiences.

I don't really understand you are doing initiative now. I'm just posting my actions and relying on you to do stuff. However option 3 looks perfect

Summary: Option 3

Initiative is always a pain on PBP games. From my perspective it's been fine, I've had to edit a post once I think because of things that would happen before me in the initiative count but by and large when it comes to online games I tend to assume DMs will where initiative counts change what actions players can perform to match their intent as best possible.

For the options given I'd veer to 1 or 2.

2. is not bad because it lets the DM roll the party initiative as well as the villains and input the opening post accordingly. However it then gets fiddly with surprise rounds since if the NPC side wins initiative their surprise round and first round would occur in the same post but then in the PC surprise round they might murder some NPCs who would already have acted in the first round's post. There'd also need to be some ruling around the (many) ways to boost initiative for an individual which might make such abilities more valuable. I'm fine with it much as with 1.
3. I'm reluctant about because it relieves on everyone who wins initiative posting quickly and effectively before the DM posts and then everyone else can. A single person has real world delays and it can cause hefty delays which then puts a bit of pressure on those who win initiative. I'd avoid this.
4. Just make the villains go last (this is a joke)

My reading of option 3 is as follows. (If I am wrong I am not voting for it)

We roll initiative. The monsters only get one initiative

• Those that win initiative get a go
• The monsters go
• The players go
• The monsters go
• The players go
• ...repeat

Option 3 Is my preference it give a point to having Imitative bonus without breaking down into waiting on people to post in an order and resolve on action per day.

Option 2 works but I don't like that it removes the value of Initiative bonus to players which I don't like as well.

Option 1:Im strongly against its has already caused IMO out of character actions to happen.


Though even though Aetius was joking with option 4 i have seen it work in other games in the past, in fact there are entire game systems that run on that concept completely but again it removes the benefit for getting a good Initiative bonus though it comes with the bonus of every player posting and the DM just resolving those actions and the enemies all at once.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 163):

That's my reading too with a slight difference.
Option 3, to use our current initiative count as the example;

23. Aetius
21. Eleni
20. Garvarius
15. Malvolo
12. Yngvar
10. Cassandra
7. Bandits
3. Pantelis
2. Anstice

Higher initiative all have to post before the GM can (Aetius, Eleni, Garvarius, Malvolo, Yngvar, Cassandra). As soon as they have posting stops for all PCs.
GM posts.
Lower initiative than the GM all have to post before anyone else can because if they successfully do anything it changes things for the next round (Panetlis, Anstice)
Higher initiative can post again
GM posts
Lower initiative than the GM all have to post before anyone else can

Before the DM or anyone in the later initiative can post 6 people have to post first. Once they have the DM must post. Then 2 other people can. Then the first 6 can again and the loop resumes.

I might be wrong about this, if that posting method only applies for the first round and as soon as the initiative winners have posted the GM posts and then everyone can post again it essentially becomes option 2 as soon as the first round is over. Which if that is the right understanding I would be fine with and would likely pick as the best choice even if it does come with more risk of delays than option 2.

That takes twice as long Aetius.Which is bad...

To be honest, I would be happy with Option 2 or Option 4(Let the players go first). A game needs to move to not die. Option 3 puts a stop sign, halting the flow of the game and waiting on others (this is how games died).

So my vote is

Option 2 or Option 4 (Let the players go first). Option 4 may make a joke of the initiative system, but that system was made for the table, not PBP.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 166):

It is. But that's how I read option 3, might be wrong.

I think 2 or 3.
If we go 2, then we use the average for each group.

For 3, I read it as:

Those who beat the initiative
Enemies
Party (any order)
Enemies
Party (any order)
Enemies
ect.

Can I simplify it

I think a lot of us care about 'no stops'. Is there anyone that thinks  'stops' are a good idea and if so can they explain why?

Only benefit to them is to give people time to post if their schedules are busy. Personally i'd rather the DM play the character for a round to progress things, but I understand that not everyone agrees with that.

That's a different things to stops Eleni.

Stops mean 'you are not allowed to post now'. Which lengthens the combat enormously.

Okay, I guess I considered a stop as anyone not being able to post, not everyone.

The only nearly-perfect solution is play around a table. I hardly see any difference. Perhaps, as has been done to an extent the initiative roll can affect surprise status rather than order in combat.

Going first might mean taking down a weak opponent but going last can mean reacting to stop a potential plan the enemy put in motion.

If we give people a couple rounds to step back in, we might keep more players but maybe all our dead notified the GM they were out before their characters died. I'm fine with that too.

So do i

Let's suppose we have three phases in a combat round

• one group of players
• monsters
• second group of players
• monstesr

Then it takes twice as long as

• players
• monsters

The stops are where you are not allowed to post. In the first example you can only post half the time which is why it takes twice as long

If you have three stops in a round it takes three times as long...

It's likely that the usual Rpol burn through rate is operating as normal and this is the GM just removing people who decided the game is not for them. It might seem early for that to happen but PBP moves through players swiftly.

We might be overthinking it. Looking at the people who have posted the main thought seems to be to minimise posting restrictions on the players. Since the GM is already kindly providing ACs and HP we know if we've hit and if we do enough to drop a target so there's no issue of people targeting someone that's already out of action so that's not a problem.

If Cassandra's understanding of 3 is correct the only difference between 2 (group initiative) and 3 is that in the first round for 3 every PC who won initiative gets to go then the DM posts. After which we're in an all PCs then the DM loop of posting. It still makes an important distinction and adjusts the value of certain combat encounters for the DM more than the group initiative of 2 but in terms of posting it only means an additional delay once at the start compared to 2. So either of those two seems the least disruptive to posting rate.

Like Eleni said it might be worthwhile confirming with the DM what your character would do so if you are unavoidably delayed and things need to move on in combat and letting them NPC where needed. I'll send that through in a separate PM DM unless people would prefer that in a general thread so they all can see it.

Nicely summarised Aetius :)

My view of the initiative rules in most games is that they exist to control the flow of a round table game where access to the GM HAS to be controlled and done in some order. Five players, one GM... It's important to do the players in a structured way.

In 'the real' combat all happens at once. There is no order, it's all confused, the fog of war, tunnel vision and survival demands kicks in. No one goes 'you hit me, then I'll hit you'. Almost always when you look at a person and who they are fighting one of them  'has the initiative' and they are the one hitting again and again and again and the other person is trying to survive and get some breathing space so that they can do something. The D20 initiative mechanism is 'take a turn' and in the real there is no 'you hit then I'll let you have a hit before I hit you again'.

Games however are designed for 'round the table' and 'fairness' and 'game balance' and not 'simulating the real' (a few exceptions to this exist but d20 isn't one of them), All of these goals make for a good game and the enjoyability of the game is important!

So from a 'versimilitude' point of view... I don't mind at all what we do! We aren't trying to simulate 'the real' and we're all used to some form of initiative system. But from a 'game working' point of view, I do want to minimise barriers to people posting, because that's (in my experience) is what kills game.

But this is only a small thing to me. I am only posting because the GM asked! I'm quite happy to go with the group decision. I was happy with the original, and I'd be fine with any variant we adopted even though I have a preference.

---

I'm sad to see people go. I hope they went happily ... just recognising 'it's not for me' and not because they were upset.

I hope the rest of you stay: it's been a pleasure reading your posts. We have some interesting characters and a lot of nice writing so far. I've found the GM very helpful and I am enjoying quite a lot of aspects of the game which I'm not seeing in others (the Gods bickering is particularly amusing and makes this feel almost like watching a movie)

Let's make this a game we all love!

Two quit, sounds about right. Even I have decided against staying in a few games and bowed out. Sad, seemed like interesting characters.

Just remember, if and when you quit a game, be polite and inform them that it isn't for you, don't just ghost. I've had GM's start a game then a few weeks later, they just quit without a word.

Bad guys' turn? Before I shoot at someone.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:27, Fri 03 Feb 2023.

Everyone Levels up. Let me know when you are done leveling. :)

Remember Ability Increases: Every even level (2, 4, 6) instead of every fourth level.

Also, since I am a simple DM and now that you have had a sometime to talk about it, please post below what your vote option is, just the vote option. :)

I vote any option that doesn't stop players posting. I can't work out which number that is. Or whether it's multiple options.

My prefered is (no idea which number)

• All players that go before the monsters with an initiative roll (they get an extra go)
• The monsters round 1
• The players
• The monsters round 2
• The players
• The monsters round 3

whichever way works best for you. as long as everyone gets a go is all that matters.

Forgot to say... WOOOT!!! Thanks for the level

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 182):

sweet!

I agree with Cassandra, both the level and the initiative (I believe that is #3)

Just to remind people: we get an attribute increase at level 2..

I am done leveling.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 186):

I'll update Yngvar in the morning.

Aye Cassandra it's very enjoyable. Hopefully we'll tick along merrily, we certainly seem to be so far.

Agree Yngvar, real world comes first so it's occasionally necessary to leave but only polite to say ciao to the DM at least.

Thanks for the level boss, sent the update via PM and will update my sheet once it is all confirmed as good. Quick check though, for new HP and spells those do not come in fully refreshed but need to be recovered as normal (next spell prep for those, however long is needed for the HP). That the way you're running it?

Initiative I'm going with Option 3 assuming it does work as Cassandra's laid out.

And.... AWWWW... thank you all.

It could easily have gone wrong that scene. I am touched that you came to support Cassandra. Anyone with sense motive will see it's genuine by the way: she's not at all used to this sort of violence.

As an aside it's quite fun playing this character with the rest of you all being so capable (I'm including you in that Yngvar: you were just unlucky with the die.. and I love your spider).

As far as the combat rounds go, I have no overall preference, just whatever is easiest for you to run and still allows all of us to have our time in combat. For myself, a lot of my days are becoming 10 to 12 hour shifts, so when in combat I will try to post as often as I can, even if it is a quick post here to let you guys know what time to expect and IC post.

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 190):

Not fun. I tend to average 9ish these days, when the next major project kicks off end of March it'll probably be a week of 12 hours (and week does include the weekend).

In reply to Aetius (msg # 191):

Lately I've been getting asked to pull some doubles and going to help other locations. Not that I mind too much as it is overtime pay and anything over my normal weekly hours is automatically transferred out to the budget of the locations I go to help

Option:3

I start back into nights working today for the next 4 days. I should be able to get the level done at work tonight but that depends on work load.

Option:3 looks to be the winner.

All magical Items

Breastplate +1 Magical

Gauntlet (Fist of Hera. +1 Flaming,  Unarmed Damage equal to monk of your level).

Cloak of Charisma +2 (Luxurious robes, decorated in peacock feathers).


Ring of Mind Shielding

Ring of Protection +3

Scroll, not magical, looks like some kind of list, but in a code.
Decipher Script for the coded scroll DC 20
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:37, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 192):

Ah, a reasonably sane approach.

Thanks for telling us Anstice

Oh thank goodness, no faffing around with days worth of identifying.

I'll hold off an requesting anything from the loot stash, lay on other people. Breastplate is definitely of no use at all to me, my Fighter variant means I have to avoid anything heavier than light to avoid spell failure.

19 on the Decipher Script. So if anyone can make a successful Aid Another that would push me over.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 195):

07:11, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  decipher script. no help

Most of those items are good for me. Cloak is best as charisma is the chosen stat for my classes. Otherwise both the breastplate and protection ring would be good for an AC boost for frontlining. Good with any of the 3.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 197):

Yngvar is updated. We get feats every other level too? ;-)

Not this level. Levels 1,3,5,7 etc... And yes which is very nice

Sweet, yes it is! Where you at geographically? Shippensburg, PA here.

From what I can tell the Cloak of charisma would work well for most of us, including myself with being half bard.

Yngvar, as for myself, I am about 3.5 hours west of you on the other side of Pittsburgh, in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle

Wheeling?

Actually about 30 to 45 minutes north of Wheeling, in the Weirton area

beautiful region, cold today though.

That it is, born and raised in this region of the Ohio Valley, and even I am still discovering either places and views I didn't know existed or rediscover those I had forgotten about

Never fails, in general both on here and at my in person games I always roll better outside of combat...

Yeah, Paladin/Bard so I feel you there. It's THE stat. Even still, I think we can spread the love around if need be. The other thing to remember is we can trade them around if we find something more suitable to a character. None of these options are set in stone even after being gifted to a character.

In reply to Eleni (msg # 207):

This is true. A paladin/Bard could definitely make better use of it currently than I, since spellwise I am going utility and summons mostly I don't need to worry about spell dcs, and right now with level 2 I just got the Satyr +4 bonus to perform checks, so my perform pipes skill is riding a +10 already

Nice! That's gonna get crazy high if you specialize. We'll have to find some of the magical pipes for you at some point.

Im mostly done with my level up. Im just debating if i should grab the Healing hands skill trick from Complete scoundrel. Its just kinda cool to be able to get actual healing even if its once per minute off a stabilize.

Also The Fates are skill tricks okay?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

In reply to Anstice (msg # 210):

Sure feel free.

Also remember everyone, maximum hit points every level. You're going to need it. :)

How much gold do we get each? I'm not sure how many of us there are.

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 212):

yay, we got the decipher script!

I'd just keep the gold in a bag for 'group spending' on essentials (food ammo) etc as there isn't an enormous amount of it.

77 gold, 15 silver each, with 1 gold and 4silver in the kitty, there are 8 of us now. I think it should be split, as what I want to buy, might not be what you want to buy!

I too have leveled up.

My point was just that there isn't really enough money to worry about Yngvar. But sure go do! No problems or angst coming from me.

True, it is only 77gp and a few silver it just makes me feel better, I had 1 silver and 3 copper to my name, I'm rich now!

Who wants what? The horse? The swords? The magic items?

GM, what does the code mean, we got the number to decipher script.

As a suggestion GM it might be worthwhile having a loot thread to keep track of what has been acquired and where it went thus far. I've thrown some bare bones below with the monetary value of the magic items and an extra section for a direct split of the raw cash. I'll try to edit in actual values for everything else tomorrow.

Encounter 1



Encounter 2




This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Sat 04 Feb 2023.

That's a nice summary. Thank you Aetius

Welcome. I'm also slogging through the IC and OC to see who is interested in the magic items currently.

Mark me down for none of them! for the reasons given IC.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 221):

Completely fair.

Just to check this isn't you having taken Vow of Poverty right? Because the feat makes it very clear you still take a share of loot. You just convert it directly into charitable deeds rather than let the others PCs claim it (for fairly important mechanical balance reasons) and failure to do so is the same as breaking the vow.

Thanks for clarifying that :)

I'm not getting the loot for the reasons given :) And there are others as well of course

Entirely reasonable. Meanwhile the rest of us will resume the looting :)

Just FYI Yngvar I'm not ignoring the matter of the unattended horse since you mentioned it IC, I'm just giving the GM chance to post for our captives and those better suited to animal wrangling chance to do so too.

I can wrangle (obviously) but I suspect Eleni will want it. Paladins need their Warhorses!

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 225):

Girls and their ponies
(this is entirely a joke)

Is the First of Hera a single gauntlet? Does it effect other unarmed attacks too or just the one hand? Mal would actually be interested in the application of a shielded flaming touch... Not so much as a weapon but that is an impressive tool... Possibly.

In reply to Malvolo (msg # 227):

I'd have to assume that it applies to 1 hand because it's a single gauntlet. I did all the maths assuming the same (Gauntlet 2 gp, Masterwork 300, +1 2000, Flaming [going from +1 to +2] 6000).

Sheet is done.

I really dont see Anstice needing any of the items. I mean the ring of protection +3 is good for everyone but front liners should get first dibs on that IMO. Also around level 5 most of my magic gear will probably need to be Out of combat stuff because i intend to use alot of wild shape.

Im still waiting to find out if any of the downed people are able to be saved then I can try and help with the horse. I just have full ranks in Handle animal nothing more.

My character sheet is done. 30 HP, d12s. Feeling the strength of the character, now I just need to wait one more level for the monkey grip...

In reply to Aetius (msg # 218):

Your wish is granted. :)

In reply to Anstice (msg # 229):

The downed people are unable to be saved, sadly.

Would Knowledge local apply to noticing any similarities to names on the list.

Would Knowledge religion make more since to see why the church of hera, Would hate this list?

In reply to Anstice (msg # 233):

The list is from the church of Hera. Give me a knowledge religion.

22 on Knowledge: Religion.

In reply to Anstice (msg # 235):

You know that Hera is the goddess of contracts, rulers and nobility. Her church deals in a lot of kill for hire kind of work too. The clergy of Hera also seeks to put an end to the threat of any of Zeus's seed, not birthed by Hera, or at least put out of her reach.

Almost all the names on the list, are suspected children of Zeus or of another god deemed too dangerous. There is also a key-word by your name on the list, Metis.

Thanks for the loot thread DM.

From the looks of things only Malvolo has an interest in the gauntlet for now so that can got to him without issue (if you ever opt to get rid of it Malvolo I'll nab it, that's a unique effect on the item and therefore interesting).
Similarly only Eleni wanted the breast plate so that's not fought over.

Breastplate +1 [Value 2000] (Eleni)
Gauntlet (Fist of Hera. +1 Flaming,  Unarmed Damage equal to monk of your level). [ Value 8302+ (no price for the monk damage)] (Malvolo)

For the others I think we have multiple in each, I'm not adding myself on the ring of Protection requests because on my current HP a single lucky hit is taking me down so it'll go further on others but I would suggest Garvarius should be on the contending for it too. From the wording of Pantelis's prior post I think perhaps the cloak might have had an agreement sorted. For those contested the fairest way is likely a dice roll to see who ends up with it unless an agreement can be made.

Cloak of Charisma +2 (Luxurious robes, decorated in peacock feathers). (Current requestors Eleni, Pantelis) [Value 4000]
Ring of Mind Shielding [Value 8000] (Current requestors Anstice, Yngvar)
Ring of Protection +3 [Value 18000] (Current requestors Aetius, Anstice, Eleni, Yngvar)

As a subsection on the fact that some characters might get more gear here my attitude towards that is that's the way D&D encounters go. Sometimes encounters have more stuff for one person than others. By and large DMs tend to even that out down the line.

Agreed, it evens out eventually.

I'm not getting the feeling the GM is being stingy with loot or XP :) Very happy. As you say we'll all get nice goodies in a while

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 239):

Completely true. I'm more just noting it now because there's no way for us to even things out until we're further along with more loot under our belt.

The gold is the only thing I worry about evening out. Items will even themselves eventually.

Aetius, if you'd like the gauntlet, for foes not at chain reach, you can take it.  Mal feels better keeping back as yet.

There are no foes not at chain reach :) It's a marvelous weapon. Both long reach and for those next to you. It does cost a feat to use though

https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Spiked_Chain

(sure it's d&d wiki and not authoratative... I was just lazy and got the first hit)

Well, it is also good for a front liner to have a weapon that is not something someone can just "save vs drop it" which in my experience is more common than someone using disarm.

I've been on a supporting cast kick lately and Jack of All Trades is a great Feat for Aid Another or pinch hitting for every skill that normally requires being trained to get to make a check.

Yeah I am on that supporting cast kick as well. Here and in a couple of other games. It's nice being the sidekick sometimes...

Technically I'm on the support kick too. I just had the misfortune of being the front liner at the back  when these bandits hit so I had to buff myself this combat. Once I get my War Weaver levels that will become simpler. Right now it's Enlarge person, next level I suspect Heroics will become my common cast.

As Cassandra says there's little out of reach for the chain but it's still good to have backups for the reason you mentioned and unconsciousness. But for the same reason as why I'm not interested in the ring of protection right now me taking the gauntlet would be a poor choice compared to someone else having it. I'm too low on HP (2, up to 3 after the goodberry) so I'm more likely to go unconscious than one of the more niche scenarios like being disarmed magically or otherwise. Appreciate the offer though Malvolo.

The gauntlet is thanks to its' abilities +1 to hit, damage 1d6+1 bludgeoning +1d6 flaming. So for a lot of people it'll be a straight damage upgrade on anyone willing to attack in melee.

Also never trust D&D wiki. While it might have improved it had a habit of marking homebrew as actual rules. The srd is the best place since it is the D&D rules thanks to the OGL.

https://www.d20srd.org/index.htm

I don't trust it Aetius. (hence the comment) but I was lazy and it was there :) I've done my checking on this sort of stuff quite a few times.

Alright, Mal will take the gauntlet and plan to be our next buffer zone.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 247):

Though you likely knew, in fairness it might have gotten better since it was years ago it had that reputation and they might have improved.

Something to remember as we talk about using a gauntlet as a main weapon unless it is spiked it does not count as an armed attack. It's an unarmed attack without improved unarmed strike and therefore provokes an AoO from the enemy if they are armed. It's buried in the descriptoon of the gauntlet.

I'm also planning on being buffing support. Maybe I should plan to switch to druidzilla with cleric Spells at 5th-7th I can't really do much to switch tell then. In retrospect I probably should have gone cloistered cleric instead of normal. Something reminded me of it's existence earlier today.

I hope everyone is enjoying the game. Cassandra is scouting the village and I'm sure she will be back soon to tell you all about it. :)

The gauntlet also gives the benefit of improved unarmed strike (as far as attacks made with it), it does not provokes an AoO from the enemy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:37, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

It's a very very nice item that gauntlet :) I'm surprised more people aren't after it!

And it gets better and better as we level up.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 252):

It is said that a "Fist(s) of Hera" are made by Hephaestus himself. Only worthy Clerics of Hera are allowed to be gifted one by the church. So the only people who normally have one are clerics of Hera...or those that killed one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:45, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

Oooh, so that puts a target on the wearer if they get noticed. How common is that knowledge? Religion dc20? History dc25? Common knowledge?

If you want a bardic knowledge check... Last ditch is 11. Can't take 20 on that one.

Jokingly, then maybe I should wear the gauntlet. I'm already on the hit list.

In reply to Malvolo (msg # 254):

Let's say Religion DC 20.

Thanks for that Fates.

By the way something mentioned in the IC thread but isn't in the loot was an amulet Kimon was wearing? Might become relevant as we play hunt the Sun King.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 257):

Thank you, almost forgot. The amulet Kimon was wearing is a +1 amulet of Natural Armor and is in the shape of the Sun, used by worshippers of Helios and Apollo alike.

So if I may ask, what's the plan? Continue moving north and avoid the village? :)

I don't think that decision has been made.
Where I think people stand please correct me if I'm wrong

Go to village:
Garavaeius
Eleni
Aetius (with reservation)
Malvolo did before Cassandra raised the danger.
Anstice


Not go to the village:
Cassandra
This message was last edited by the player at 06:45, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

And I thought the last plan proposed was

'go to the village for a very short time' and then 'watch for the traitors and spies to leave it'. No one has commented on it yet
This message was last edited by the player at 09:15, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

I think the question right now is go to the town or not. What we do there will have to be reevaluated. I know and doubly so after Cassandra's last statement that Anstice is frimly want to go to the village. She will not leave children and women to starve if she can help it.

It's a big post though and I'm at work.

And you don't mind them being killed by the invaders? who come to kill us and will kill them too

Let's do it IC :)

Oh I forgot to say: It's nice having this kind of chat IC. It's not 'chaos evil' vs 'goody two shoes'... it's about 'intentions vs expected outcomes'. A totally different type of RP chat

Let's be careful not to bore the others though!

Hey guys, I swear I am starting to hate the last 3 days of my work week, (saturday through monday stretch) as those seem to be the days I am either working doubles or being sent elsewhere and still working doubles so always exhausted. I'm off today and tommorrow thankfully. Just getting moving today (going on noon where I live) I have some errands to run but will catch up with an in character post sometime this evening

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 264):

No I love it to. Its two different moral ideas.

Well I posted before bed. Its a block of text and I don't know how well I did on writing it but I think I got the point across.

Have a good day all.

In reply to Anstice (msg # 266):

I got about 3 or 4 hours until I leave too, good night sweetie!

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 265):

Thanks for letting us know, hope things improve.

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 265):

We'll always wait, RL comes first, even sucky ones! Sorry to hear it. Back when I worked, if it wasn't mandatory, I refused it because taxes took it all anyway. Take care.

Yngvar since you brought it up IC there's still the OC discussion ongoing about it. Eleni got the Breastplate, Malvolo the Gauntlet. The remaining items have multiple people asking for them, though I suspect when Pantelis gets chance to post they'll confirm the item only they and Eleni are both pushing for. I suggested a roll to decide who gets the contested ones.

Cloak of Charisma +2 (Luxurious robes, decorated in peacock feathers). (Current requestors Eleni, Pantelis) [Value 4000]
Ring of Mind Shielding [Value 8000] (Current requestors Anstice, Yngvar)
Ring of Protection +3 [Value 18000] (Current requestors Anstice, Eleni, Yngvar)
Amulet of Natural Armour +1 [Value 2000] (Current requestors though I anticipate that changing)

I just thought we should do it in IC. I'll take the Amulet of Natural Armor +1
Anstice one of the rings, probably Mind Shielding to protect her from the gods.
Pantellus Cloak of Charisma
Eleni RoP +3

Sound good? Weigh in if it doesn't sound fair or if you want something else.

Doing it IC will drag it out in a rather complicated fashion but I am happy with what the majority prefer. Also perhaps wait to see if anyone else wants the Amulet before confirming it's yours since it only was confirmed existing today.

Edit - Yngvar you might have missed the other posts in the IC thread so it'd probably be better to edit your post rather than have us react IC. Both myself and Eleni have asked them questions we are waiting on answers to and a notion so far is to see who exits the village after we arrive to see potential informants for the Sun King.

Having them go now ahead of us to the village ignores all of that. If you are ignoring it IC I'll post accordingly but I thought it might be a mistake.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

Go ahead and tell them to travel with us for protection! I was just throwing it against the wall to get conversation again. I AM NOT the leader here and never assumed I was. Just an arrogant wizard. Feel free to put me in my place.

*big hug to Yngvar*.

I think Aetius was just checking that it wasn't a 'didn't notice OOC' to avoid you feeling grumpy as the player. Thanks Aetius

I don't think we have a leader yet. I suspect we should have one. One of you great charismatic war leaders who can ride on a horse and look cool.

Aetius might be a good choice Cassandra. He has a good head on his shoulders. And he posts.

I'll post noticeably slower soon, I'm in a lull at the mo.

And while I appreciate the offer Yngvar I'm not putting anyone in their place. It's more a quick check OC before I post IC since I'm aware a lot of posts went in so it's easy to miss. I had to check back to confirm I was right when I said Eleni had asked them too and my own questions to them were buried at the bottom of a larger post.

Charismatic war leaders who can ride a horse will probably be Eleni, Malvolo or Gasrvarius.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 276):

Sorry to hear it, like I said, you put ideas out there. I'm getting old and don't think like I used to, I try, but it ain't happening. I do greatly enjoy this so far. I try to let everyone post, sometimes I get ahead of myself too. Let me know if I get to far ahead of my skis too.

We do have a pretty good group here!

In reply to Yngvar the Mad (msg # 277):

Don't worry about it Yngvar, age happens to all of us (if we're lucky). Like Cassandra noted my main concern was it was stuff that was missed. We all miss stuff IC and OC so if I think people are online I'll try to check.

Thanks guys.

I definitely miss stuff too. I've been going back to 2 posts of mine and re-reading all of it before another to double check things. I am also having a great time with the game :)

My friend is basically finished with the art for Eleni. I think it turned out pretty well overall:

Very nice. I'll be crashing shortly for the evening, I'll catch up tomorrow.

Any of you ladies interested in a budding 'G' rated relationship, 'R' at the worst, because I'm an old fashioned fuddyduddy.

Who's against going to the village IC Cassandra? I can't find that IC, or do you mean the split between staying at the village vs visiting and leaving it as soon as possible?

Maybe I don't understand it.  I was mostly reacting to this and probably didn't write it well



I'm good with whatever you do! Sorry if it came over wrongly...

Oh no apologies needed, it was more that your post seemed to suggest a large number of people were opposed to going to the village so I thought I missed a post or two.

Forgot to say: nice art work Eleni!

I did an in character summary of where i think everyone is leaning so we can just to see if we can move forward. It seems like we are in a strong majority for going to the village and deciding from there.

Pretty much where we seem to be at Anstice.

And as an update on the loot the current layout seems to be;



If anyone's got any objections or wants to contest for any of them speak up and I say we use a dice roll to determine if there are multiple for any one. Otherwise I think we're more or less ready to move on to the village while Cassandra checks further afield.

Morning all, sounds good!

Hm... Per rules the character doesn't have to deal lethal damage with an unarmed strike! Malvolo will not have to feel badly about backhanding the opponents that didn't surrender when he enlarges and delivers warning to surrender on round 1... Though enlarging Eleni would likely go farther than his own squishy AC.

He'll plan to do that...

I will be moving the story forward tonight. Cassandra, you see much of what you did before, poor children and fishing, a woman cooking fish in a large cauldron, the blacksmith working away, the occasional drunken farmer coming out of the inn, etc. You travel up the river, but you see no other village. you stop at the foot of the mountains and they seem ominous and treacherous. You can meet up with the rest of the party at the village as the afternoon is slowly turning into night.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:49, Wed 08 Feb 2023.

Thank you :)

I will post in the (real world) morning when probably the players will have moved to the village.

Do we have the option to forage while we travel or are we moving to fast for that?

Just making sure I understand where we sit on food: We should have 2 days left

There were 12 Mouths to feed for the first day. 6 were covered by good-berry 6 were covered by our hunting.  We hunted for 13, leaving 7 leftover. Today we got 3 good berries leaving 7 mouths to feed after the battle drooping us to our scavenged food from the ship going into tomorrow. Was there anything I missed?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:48, Thu 09 Feb 2023.

Malvolo where are you finding rules saying Profession, Perform or even Intimidate provide synergy bonuses to gather information? I know Knowledge Local does but I can't recall any of the others doing

Malvolo, I don't understand the bonuses you seem to be getting below. You have a +8 Gather Information, not + 16. The perform below shows a +24, not a +11 that is on your sheet. Can you break it down for me?


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:15, Thu 09 Feb 2023.

I don't assume static synergy bonuses but do assume profession entertainer, diplomacy, bluff(to ensure sending honest micro expressions etc), and perform will all help the complex action of gather information- at +2 per skill that is +8 to the existent 8. 16.

For actual performance we see all of those skills coming back plus History and hopefully arcana (or counting as a MW tool)to know an applicable story being +12 to a +11 skill, taking 10. 33. So I will readily admit I was off by 1 there.

All subject to you of course.

Bonuses with a type don't stack as far as I know. That means I think if have a 'synergy' bonus to a skill it has a type of 'synergy'. You only get a +2. I could be wrong of course, it's just that's how 'we' have always played it.

Perform doesn't get a synergy as per SRD. Bardic lore does of course from Knowledge: history

• Knowledges skills: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/knowledge.htm
• Perform skills: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/perform.htm

I know you get a +2 synergy bonus on Spellcraft if you have at least 5 ranks in Knowledge Arcana, that's the only synergy I'm familiar with.

The rules and errata officially say, to the effect: you get a +2 bonus from the synergy of skills and what exactly can provide that +2(untyped bonus) is up to the GM.

Maybe I should have asked about all of it first, but decided to go with what seemed reasonable and ask forgiveness to try to save time.

Sure :) We all play in our little bubble with the friends we know. And we all unconsciously select things that make sense for us.  My little bubble is different to yours. Both work

Just please keep it simple. I'm old, GET OFF MY GRASS!

The pathfinder skills system is ten times better than d20 3.5. Far simpler. Better names of skills. Got rid of synergy. Make the class/non class a lot better.... the feats work better... etc

But we're stuck with the complicated 3.5 I am afraid :)

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 301):

I hate PF, but their skills were a bit better.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 296):

Interestingly they do stack because  the bonus itself is untyped. While it's often called a synergy bonus it's specifically untyped;

https://www.d20srd.org/srd/ski...lls.htm#skillSynergy

Diplomacy for example can get it from 3 skills. Bluff, Sense Motive and Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty. As long as you have 5 ranks in all three of those there's a +6 untyped bonus to Diplomacy from skill synergy.

The synergy bonus listed in the rules though only is gained via skill ranks, simply having a +5 modifier to the skill from attributes, class features (like Bardic Knack), feats and so on won't do it. Anything outside of those listed in the rules though is entirely DM discretion and should not be assumed (and with the usual caveat as Malvolo says that the DM has final say and can choose to remove even the ones in the rules).

As for the Pathfinder skill method I like their consolidation of certain skills but otherwise it feels a bit bland for me. I can see the appeal though.

My view (just a personal view, not commenting outside that)... that +6 is well over the top. I mean I'll get it too if we go that way so it isn't a 'hey that's unfair' it's a 'nah...that's just wrong'. The numbers in the game / difficulties are not geared up for that kind of number escalation.

Even the +2 is good. But to everyone their own.

How bout we kick sun-king butt! ;-)

Can't do that in OOC...

I'm going to apologize to everyone in advance for this ruling. I did not foresee the situation arising, not all knowing and all seeing as a person, just as DM. :)

I am going to put a cap on the synergy bonuses. +2 Max bonus for synergy, no stacking. I know this might seem a little harsh, but if you look at from my point of view, the bonuses are just way too high. So I would have to increase the DC just to even things out and that wouldn't be fair to the other players. If I just let the huge bonus slide, again I feel it would be unfair the other players and it would just break the game, as you would nearly Auto hit almost every DC in that field that would thrown at you.

Henceforth, synergy bonuses do not stack for the purposes of this game. I'm sorry for this, but the story needs to trump the rules in this regard. Story will always Trump rules in my game. That said if any of you feel a bit cheated, please message me privately and I'm sure we could come to a reasonable accommodation.

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. I seek to create a game and story that is enjoyable to all parties involved.

In reply to The Fates (msg # 307):

All good to me! +2 is the biggest I ever played! Thanks for allowing me to play!

That's fine with me DM. As far as I can easily recall Diplomacy was the only one in the rules with more than one source of synergy bonus and Malvolo's idea that so many would stack is something I've never seen any DM even consider let alone agree.

There are a few but most are specific instances. Bluff might be the only other one for multiple broad synergy?

In reply to Eleni (msg # 310):

Ah you mean that gives multiple skills the bonus? Yeah it does but it only provides +2 to each. I was thinking skills that can get multiple sources of synergy bonuses that would end up higher than +2 total.

If you want rules system with complex synergies... Go with gurps... Wow... My head explodes sometimes trying to work out what level of skill you have!

I'd be good with any choice we made, happy with this (what I normally play) but would have been just as happy with MOAR!

Now... How do we find that sun king? Yngvar's right!

No problems with the ruling.

Rule 0: Let no other rules get in the way of the game.

Rule 1: The GM is always right.

I agree that power jump like that should be put in check. I'll remember for the future.

Rules wise that's fine. Story or rule of cool always Trump regular mechanics in my book. So I know this is out of character but I won't be able to really post in character til after 10pm tonight, just on a quick break at work now, but Pantelis plans on offering up a few of his trail Rations to help out...

I also want to affirm, I edited the IC post ooc to reflect the new results with the old die roll. That 4 isn't good but I will own it regardless.

I painted myself into a corner! I think I'm up this tree for a while. I'd post but it would just say 'and Cassandra was up a tree again'. I'll come down when it's dawn or something happens.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 316):

Yep, and Anstice is off too. We'll try to get through quickly.

Sorry all. Been working hard in the Real Life. I will post tomorrow, sorry for the delay.

I'm moving the story forward tonight before bed. If anyone has any questions just let me know. :)

What's love got to do (got to do with it)?

You'll have to excuse me, I'm listening to music.

Also no worries Garvarius, come March I anticipate I'll be lagging behind the posting rate too.

In reply to Aetius (msg # 320):




As I understand it, it's a second hand emotion

My dad was and still is a Tina Turner fan, so growing up I along with older country and bluegrass music, I also listened to a good bit of the Tina Turner style of rock n roll
This message was last edited by the player at 02:50, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Most of the music I listen to is 1930's up to about 1985, generally 60's and 70's. Jazz, Blues, Motown, Pop, Heavy Metal, Old Country from the 50's, 60's and 70's. I also like classical and Big Band and old Country from the 50's and 60's and 70's. I will not listen to Rap or Hip-hop, they disgusts me.

In reply to Garvarius (msg # 318):

All good. I'm gonna post her actions in the scene up to the finding the deer then ill let you handle the bringing it down and after that we can start the talking RP thing if we still have time XD!

In reply to Pantelis (msg # 321):

That's the one.

Fates we can go ahead and describe the downing and talk afterwords right?

In reply to Anstice (msg # 325):


Of course. I most definitely approve and encourage that. :)

I plan on moving the story forward tonight. :)

We had a little breakfast party after work. I have had a little to drunk and have to stay up to shift from nights to days. I am not comofrtable posting at my current mentality. So ill just wait for the move forward at this point. Sorry Garvarius.

Got home late and I have to get to bed. Will post tomorrow.

Oops, it looks like we folded time a bit. Maybe we didn't though... No, there isn't necessarily anything folding over as long as we allow creative time license.

The Inn-vestigation would probably be done before the hunt comes back though... Unless the hunt was VERY short.

I suspect the inn conversation will be a couple posts. It could easily take a bit depending on where the conversation goes.

I don't think we can worry too much about that degree of precision in time. Life is too short!

LOL I really did a number on myself volunteering for this! Ah well suffering is good for the soul...

I will move the story forward tonight. :)

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 333):

I know, I am kind of in a holding pattern right now too

Hello all. I apologize for the slowness in the story, but we're at a juncture where some things have to be resolved before fully moving forward. That in conjunction with the decisions of some characters have gummed up the works. That said, I promise if we are all patient, will get this train running back to normal speed. :)

We do something wrong or unexpected DM? Can we help?

What he said.

I wouldn't say anyone did anything wrong. You were all roleplaying your characters, which is great.

That said, the fragmentation of the party has led to a bit of a slowdown/challenge management wise on my end. Plus, I underestimated how long it would take for the party to gather certain information and/or leave the village and continue exploring.

That all said, I will advance the story tonight, taking us to morning. What your characters do at that point is up to you. :)

In reply to The Fates (msg # 339):

Excellent, it was taking forever to get to sleep! ;-)

As much as we may be a party all of us are still relative strangers to one another.

Mal is choosing to operate under the ideology that everyone else has a handle on what it is they're doing or trying to do, and that they're competent at it, or that they will ask for help. He's also simply too late to start assessing the damage to the mill, if he is even uniquely qualified to handle an assessment of that sort. Imagine that people who went in to speak to the proprietor of the inn well come out with answers to share with the party in the morning that they will do without prompting.

As much as he may have a few concerns about some of the people on the party, he believes that they are -mostly- good and they can work together.

Though with only most of the party that entered the inn coming out, he has a concern he would give it a little time before investigation.

Yngvar is just trying to gain the trust of the women, we all know the men do what the women tell them! ;-)

Does anyone have issues with assuming folks share the public info unless otherwise noted?

Eleni will recount the conversation to the group.

Hey guys been my usual busy weekend at work, when I get home I'll post IC

I will post tonight. Are we staying in the village or leaving towards the Sun King's temple?

I'm not sure, I don't think we ever decided. I think we're staying for another day, but not sure.

I am out of the loop on the decision making: going scouting at midday. (I'm happy with whatever they decide :)

I think that our priestess specifically prepared magics to lay up some stores for this village today. If that is the case and we're planning on staying today and leaving out tomorrow morning then my character will be going to the burned Mill and summoning giant celestial spider or something like that to assist evaluating the mill and adding to the reserves of silk that he lost in the storm.

If we want to move forward faster than I'm about that too. Mal is flexible.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 348):

Oh and you will see something Cassandra...yes you will...(evil GM laugh). :)

Anstice wants to stay 1 or 2 days here and try and make them heading a better direction before we leave and are gone for a long time. Setup a fishing trap thing with a net.

Probably find berries and casting Goodberry a few times to try and see how much we can get going.

Though if we chose to continue she would accept that. Im kinda waiting for others to respond before arguing further her position.

Half the party already remarked Anstice so I would say feel free to argue the points further. Eleni, Garvarius and Pantelis might want to remark but I think if you have more points you might as well raise them now as wait for those three.

The big consideration is we are functionally a group of over a dozen (7 PCs, 3 familiars/animal companions, at least 1 horse and our 2 NPCs who surrendered). Just by being here we're forcing an area not sustaining a village of close to 50 to cope with a close to 25% increase in numbers. Not having to keep the Sun King's forces fed as the priority will likely help them quite a bit anyway.

I think staying the full day, and leaving in the morning to go to the temple, barring any info or external input.

Garvarius will post tomorrow. Sorry for the slow response. :)

There may well be info and external input :)

Sorry all I was sick most of last week and I'm back at work this week and just exausted as I'm not fully recovered.

I'll try to post as I can but my energy level is low atm and something has to give.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 355):

As you scout, you can count ten among their numbers, and they are setting camp.

In case anyone missed it there was a masterwork shortsword in Kimon's hut. If anyone is using that as their primary weapon currently a masterwork one will be a step up.

It seems that the group has agreed to ambush the oncoming bandits. Question, do you want to try and ambush them while they are camping for the night or ambush them on their way to the village before dawn?

I'd prefer on the way to the village I think.

Oh I will go with the majority.

In reply to Cassandra (msg # 361):

In their camp would be good, horses unwounded and alive for everyone?

Either works for me, just night would require more planning will be needed

True, I'm good either way, you got my 2 cents.

I think in the morning is easier because it would allow me to prep for the battle specially since my prep time is midnight. Though if they are camping in a natural envoirment we have the ability to shutdown charging horses in a 40 foot radius without having to make the location changed.

Mal won't press hard but is inclined to morning. He's really only been in a little bit more than bar fights or sibling rivalry issues beyond what he's encountered here on the island.

He isn't significantly applying himself to larger combat ideas though he is starting to think about it. He'll be more proactive about combat ideas by the second week surely.

In reply to Malvolo (msg # 366):

We should get up before dawn and head out to meet them though, we don't want them catching us in bed!

As your loyal scout, I'm going to do my best to make sure that doesn't happen!

I will be posting tonight. :)

Got home late team. It's snowing like crazy outside. Anyway, I will post tomorrow. Ambushing the enemy on the way to the village before dawn...

In the meantime, please roll initiative... :)

Can I suggest in the interests of saving a whole round trip of posting, you just roll initiative for us? It doesn't really matter who clicks the 'roll' button in the random number generator. Or use real world die because that is enormously quicker

You have to aggregrate the results anyway, so it's about the same work load on you. And just skips the wait.

I'm an 8. But then again I'm probably not doing much in the fight

I am also an 8 on Initiave

20 here.

08:36, Today: Yngvar the Mad rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  initiative.

13 initiative

So I do not know what to do with this setup. I cannot use Entangle because the area is so large I cannot hit the enemies without hitting half our allies.