I think that depends on luck and skill. It sure is quite possible to roll an open-ended 100 and finish the task in a single roll, just as it is possible to fumble a roll on the first try and mess everything up royally.

And if you add strong penalties, things will be harder.

I think that five rolls for success was very generous, just because there were so many chances for success there. Adding the results up to 100% is easy with so many rolls.

I can't think of a different, or more complex, or more challenging, way to do a multiple-roll challenge yet. But I'll be thinking about it.

So in most games, I will make perception tests for the players at times.  Usually when there is a chance for them to notice something they weren't actively looking for.

I do this because if I suddenly announce a perception check out of thin air, it tends to alert the players that there is something worth seeing.

Do you have an issue with me making blind perception tests on your behalf?  Or would you rather handle all your tests yourself?

Thanks.

I don't mind. I see this as the equivalent of a GM rolling dice behind his screen.

Let me know if Varen sees something... or not. =)

And my apologies, I haven't gotten a chance to respond to the large post yet. It is quite busy at work, and it is taking a lot of my energy. The next several days will see me supporting a rather large event online, and things will be a bit tiring.

I'll get a chance to respond as soon as I can.

In reply to Varen (msg # 38):

Thanks.  I know some players are touchy about this issue, so I wanted to ask since you are serving as my guinea pig.

No worries on the response.  My post was so open ended, I was just worried you might not know if you were supposed to respond.

Take your time.  I completely get the whole work backlog thing.  I'm plowing through one myself.

Have a good one.

So, got that post out of the way. Finally. =)

Varen is good at herbcraft and healing himself, but perhaps not as good as Moontoad. But that remains to be seen.

Do you require skill rolls for spell casting when in non-stressful, non-risk conditions?

In reply to Varen (msg # 40):

Good question.

For now, yes.  Please always roll when casting.

I will waive fumbles in non-stress situations for now.  But I would like to see the system at work before I decide on the house rule for that.

Thanks.

Sounds great. =)

I was planning on responding to Moontoad's question, but I realize I don't know where Varen is from. I can make stuff up if you want me to, but I don't know if you already have the maps, locations and histories for elves all drawn up.

Let me know what direction I should follow on this.

In reply to Varen (msg # 43):

You are from the central plains of Oln (which is where the city you're departing from is located).  You've never been north or been upriver on the Azwhen.

Feel free to make the rest up.

Central plains of Oln. Ok.

I know we are working off Tolkienesque fantasy, as most of it does. Can I assume elves are civilized, spiritually and philosophically advanced, with experienced technologies for their times, with homes in the forests and mountain sides, as well as masters of magic and esoteric knowledge?

How large are the plains of Oln in terms of miles across?

In reply to Varen (msg # 45):

About the size of the American midwest

Sorry did not get to you today.  Technical issues.

I will respond tomorrow.  We will set sail at last.

Thanks

In reply to The Barkeep (msg # 47):

For some reason, the lamp on this game doesn't light up when you post a response.  Does it light up on your end when I post a response?

Sorry for the delay.  I will check this board more closely.  Thanks.

The "lamp"? Are you referring to the small diagonal yellow icon that looks like an incoming fireball?

I believe that if you posted the new post yourself, it will not light up for you. But for anyone else loading the page, they will see the "new post notification".

No worries about posting delays. It's the holidays, and this game wasn't meant to be ultra fast anyway. Just take it at a relaxing pace, unless you want to go faster.

Either way is good for me.

Hey All.

Injured my eye.  Taking a couple days off of staring at screens.  Will respond to posts starting Friday or Saturday.  Sorry about that.  Thanks.

In reply to The Barkeep (msg # 50):

I'm back. Thanks.

Roger that. Looking to resume as well.

In reply to Varen (msg # 52):

Hello.  Sorry for the delay.  I wanted to read up on a couple of things.

The first couple of combats are going to be very easy and straightforward.  This is intentional so I can reacquaint myself with RM/HARP's crunchiness.  And also see how I want to handle the PbP factor.

I would like to try the following going forward:

1)       Roll init once at the start of each combat.

         The fewer rolls we have to wait for, the less chance the game bogs
         down while we wait for players to post (not that it's an issue
         now since it is just you and I.  But at some point, there will
         hopefully be others.)

2)       For 'grunts' like this guy, I will post DBs upfront.  So
         You can adjucate your attack rolls without waiting on me.

         For special combats (boss combats, fighting on an unstable surface, etc)
         I will adjucate the results of your OB rolls like on this round.

Let's use this starting the next round.  Roll your init and that will be the roll used for the rest of the combat.  I'll post his DB (26) and you can resolve your next attack using the appropriate tables.

You are using your long sword, correct?  It's listed on your character sheet as a medium puncture but it should be a medium slash I believe.  I resolved the action using the slash table.  Let me know if you think I am incorrect please.  Don't be afraid to double check me.

Thanks.

Sure. Sounds good.

I can re-roll initiative. No issues.

I figured you'd have his DB in place, and that you would apply it and then describe to me how well things went. In the end, it is you who is keeping hits for the NPCs and me who keeps hits for my character. Are you wanting me to keep hits for both?

I don't know how much 'public knowledge' you like to give, but I see how making the NPCs/Opponent's DB 'public' will make things faster.

And yes, that sword is supposed to be 'slash' weapon. I bet I made a copy/paste mistake with the bow. I'll fix that right away.

Keep me posted.

In reply to Varen (msg # 54):

I would keep track of the hits.  But you make some good points.  I was thinking of just asking you to post results of the crit table.  But that probably is something I should do.

Let's finish this one up as I had previously described and I'll reevaluate.

I appreciate you letting me use you as a test subject for this.  Trying to PbP crunchy systems can be tricky.  Dress rehearsals help.

Thanks again.

In reply to The Barkeep (msg # 55):

Hey.  Didn't know if you were still buried under work wise or not.

Things just got much easier this last Friday.

Sorry, been absent for a while, in all my games.

Let me work something tomorrow.

It just occurred to me that I have been using only the parry bonus to Varen's defensive bonus. I have completely forgotten his armor! His regular armor DB is 28 right now, since he has not slung his shield to his arm. His full DB should therefore be 68, not just 40.

My bad. =)

I will take that into account on all subsequent rounds.

In reply to Varen (msg # 58):

I missed that too.  Will keep that in mind going forward as well.

Thanks.