In reply to Declan Williams (msg # 30):

Name changed. Is that considered a cool name by other dragonborn, or average, or funny or what?

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 31):

hmm, good question, I hadn't got beyond it being the name given by his parents (in truth it's a part of a name I use for characters in many gaming sessions, stemming originally from a character called lucky Luke, though that connection isn't perhaps easy to see)

I think other dragonborn see it as a cool name, not one to make fun of (his strength and toughness may come in to play to show them the error of their ways then)

Hello Everybody!
Sorry for the late entrance. I've got a Hunter Ranger (Essentials, range, controller) I built for a previous game run here. Just to keep it simple and fast, I'll use that.
His name is Rottimer Lind. He tried to join an adventure company but the team kind of fell apart.

I've run a alot of 4E and played a little at conventions, but until Covid, it has always been face to face so online and play by post is still something I'm learning. Particularly the interface of this site just seems to leave my scratching my head. So please pardon my mistakes and clumsiness with posting.

I'm down for a practice combat or whatever everyone else wants.

As I recall this character has a couple magic items. Are we allowed any in this game or should I get rid of them?

Maggie the Kenku Bard (Ranged Leader) is ready, character sheet are in the Character Details section (hopefully, anyways. LMK if they're inaccessible, Paul)

In reply to mbeacom (msg # 33):

Yeah, no magic items, and please make sure you're at level 1.

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 35):

Cool, think I'm good now.

A few minor issues with one character, and I'm waiting on confirmation that another is finished. Still planning to kick things off on Monday.

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 37):

Character is made, on a slides presentation. I’m needing to convert it into just text. I can send you a link if you’re interested.

In reply to mbivens (msg # 38):

No need for you to send it, as long as it's complete. I'll change your name and start setting up the practice encounter.

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 39):

Just got the character sheet loaded. I put the basics of abilities, defenses, HP, powers, and skills
Happy with my character and the chance to learn about Ebberon

In reply to Frug (msg # 40):

This won't be heavily about Eberron, as I'm keeping the adventure pretty generic. But I'll throw in a few things. Picking rhe setting mostly just helps me frame things.

I posted the first scene, but forgot the intent of making it simple, for practice. Iade it much too complicated. I'll retool it and post again soon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:45, Mon 02 Nov 2020.

Ok, it's roughly the same encounter, except I put all the enemies in one spot, and removed other complications like terrain. The point is just to get a bit used to how I run PBP combat, and how the dice roller works and whatnot.

I'll wait a little longer on Maggie and then put them last in initiative.

Froodle, are you seeing the private messages I'm sending you?

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 44):

No, I'm not seeing the private messages

In reply to Froodle (msg # 45):

ah wait, yes, found them now

Let me digest and get back to you

In a little while, I'm going to post the first turns of the first round.

My method is to post some prose paragraphs that describe the mechanics, then post the mechanics, followed by any notes and then the "status block." I'd like you to roughly follow that example.

Post as much or as little description as you're up for, but have some mercy on your fellow players. No need to go overboard. You don't have to emphasize things, I just do it because I think it helps draw attention to what's going on.

I like to post the dice roll results from the dice roller. You're not required to do that, but please give us a little to go on: what powers you used, where you moved to, what effects you placed, how much damage you did, and anything else you changed about the scene.

You don't have to use the dice roller on this site. You can even use physical dice. I trust you.

It's usually not necessary to copy over my notes.

What does need to be copied and updated from the most recent post containing it is the status block. The status block consists of the lines that begin with the names of the PCs and non-PCs/monsters in the situation. After you have finalized your turn, the status block should reflect the situation as it is now. Any change in HP, or condition or location. The most recent status block is the basis for the next person's turn, so give them what they need to know.

Here's what the status block would have looked like, if there had been a turn before mine:

Security Armatures (3) (48/48; 15/15/13/12; +7, 1d10+3/9) Far side of square, near retrievers.
Retrieval Armatures (8) (1/1; 16/13/14/13; +6, 4) Far side of square, near quadrupeds.
Froodle: (34/34  19/16/14/11) Near rest of party, 5 squares from nearest quadruped.
Rottimer Lind: (22/22; 17/12/17/13) Near rest of party, 5 squares from nearest quadruped.
Drake (27/27 20/16/11/15) Near rest of party, 5 squares from nearest quadruped.
Maggie: (22/22; 15/10/14/15) Near rest of party, 5 squares from nearest quadruped.
Frug: (23/23; 15/12/14/14) Near rest of party, 5 squares from nearest quadruped.

The monsters went first, so for my turn, I took what you see above, adjusted it according to the mechanics (some movement, some attacks), and reposted it. You'll see it at the bottom of my game post.

The next person to act should work from that block, modify it, then repost the updated block at the bottom of their post.

The person after them should work from that previous block (not my original one), modify it, then repost it at the bottom of their post.

Mistakes will be made. We're not computers. When you post, you can correct errors you see. Please avoid going back and changing blocks once they're already posted, so we can avoid having multiple versions of reality at once.

On the lines for the monsters, I have put the attack roll modifier and damage for the monster's melee basic attack. For the quadrupeds, it's +7 (vs. AC) and 1d10+3 damage (1d10+6, if within 2 squares of their ally. This is so people can roll opportunity attacks and even things like triggered charges, if they don't want to wait for me.

I'm on my phone and don't have time for a full post with dice rolls just now, but Froodle you can roll the attacks if you like.

In reply to DM Paul (msg # 48):

will figure that into future turns, but I'm about to head out to work, so you may get there first with the opportunity to roll their charges

Will be back on line later to finish my turn so we can keep things moving

In reply to Froodle (msg # 49):

I'm working on the post now.

Froodle's remaining turn is ready for him.

Note the changes to the status block. I usually use the term "engaged with" to mean, "adjacent to and actively fighting." I usually use "near" to mean "most characters could reach it in a single move, or less." If something is too near to charge, I'll say so, otherwise, a charge is valid.

Froodle is bloodied, which I believe grants him +1 to all his attacks for being a dragonborn. Can I just say that I love using brutes at low levels?

As the quadrupeds acted on Froodle's turn, their initiative changes to just before him - which is where they were in the first place.

Froodle's minor action will be dragonbreath, he should be able to take in the two brutes, but how many of the others are in range? Can the blast 3 take in all 4 in the middle which were 1 square behind? Or are some out of range?

In reply to Froodle (msg # 52):

Ah, good question. And the answer is, "I don't know, what do you think?"

I could decide something, but it would probably be conservative, or my explanation confusing, and you might have more questions, which would slow us down.

The way this approach works is that you decide for yourselves, based on what has been said so far, what makes sense to you, and what the rules are.

I'm probably not going to correct you unless there's something that doesn't seem based in the rules or description at all. If I saw things differently that how you decided, in a way I thought mattered, I should have said. Since I didn't, it's up to the player.

Some considerations one might make in this case:
Dragon breath is a 3x3 blast, without feats.
The quadrupeds had to move 2 from where they were in order to charge.
The quadrupeds are medium creatures.

If up to me I'd suggest more would have been in range had the quadrupeds not charged, so the humanoids are now at the extent of the blast - so only three could really be in range given they were in the square behind. This assumes they lined up behind the quadrupeds. If you rule they were spaced wider, then only two could be in range, so disregard my final roll.

In reply to Froodle (msg # 54):

What you decided is fine. It's true, and part of the reality people should use going forward in this encounter. Just note the effect on the status block.