Interludes Q&A / Discussion

[Jeff]

Quick checking in from my parents' place...

That is really difficult to do when I'm checking in from my phone or during a 2 minute break that I get during the course of the day. I mean, I can try, but it'll probably just slow the game down.

Right. Understood. But Kal's attack modifiers are almost always the same, moment to moment. His attacks are either Charisma-based or Strength-based. Once you know what that is, it won't change much.

[Ken]

I like the New Look for the stats.

Boy, this Kreelo guy is a bastid!

[Jeff]

I went for the new look on the power blocks to separate the base number (which everyone really needs to know) from the variety of mofidiers that can be added to it.

Anyway, I'm willing to change it again, if that's the concensus.

Incidentally, check out the February editorial calendar for DDI. Note February 4th (this coming Thursday). That first article listed will be mine! Can't wait to see it go live. Wasn't expecting it to go up so soon. Fast turnaround time for WotC.

It'll include both Fherina and Ralsor as NPCs.

[Darren]

When I was younger and would read a lot more D&D stuff and read things like the Dragonlance books, I used to always think how cool it would be to be involved in a game that an author then turns into a book, or at least uses ideas from the game for their books. So it's really awesome to me that elements from our game are now being put out there for others to use. Very cool, Jeff!

[Jeff]

Thanks, Darren. Yeah, it's sort of inevitable that my roleplaying-for-fun world would collied with my professional-RPG-writing world. It's not really the first time, but since I'm doing some Eberron stuff, DE definitely had to connect somehow.

[Darren]

*fingers crossed* Kal NPC. Kal NPC. Kal NPC.....

;D

[Jeff]

If I'm given an assignment to develop some NPCs related to House Deneith, then I might have cause enough to make mention of Kal. Beyond that...

So I'm still playing catch-up for being gone for a couple days. In addition, prepping for Sharn is a lot of work. Hence the delay. Probably tomorrow I'll begin Chapter 6.

But some of you still have choices to make and last touches to see to it. If something still pending with me, remind me in your private thread, okay?

[Jeff]

Darren, FYI: there will be a risk of hitting the kid instead. You're certain he'll try anyway?

And non-powerful NPCs don't have hit points like PCs. A single hit can kill.

[Mike]

FWIW, my strategy is going to be to try and shift this critter away from the kid in subsequent rounds (most of my avenger powers allow me to move opponents with a successful hit).

Just letting you guys know, in case that affects the actions you might want to take. (Or if someone's got a better idea, let me know.)

[Brian]

I don't know Mike. That's an a lot of squares to cover to be able to hit the creature this round. But I'll defer to our fearless leader for judgment. After all, I have no clue what an Avenger is.

[Mike]

Syrdan has a move of 7. The charge means moving 14 squares.

With 4E's definition of how to move along diagonal squares (and charging), I'm right in his face. ;D

[Jeff]

Yup. Given that Syrdan can close the distance in a round's time, go ahead and roll initiative (those of you able and willing to), and of course link to the roll to see who acts first.

[Brian]

Hot dog! ;D

I'm at work, so all my books are at home. Does that mean Condign can charge to try and get closer, even if he can not get adjacent to the creature? And if so, can I modify my post (and add the initiative roll)?

[Ken]

The way that charging is defined in 4E, any squares that you move as part of your charge are considered part of your Standard action, not your Move action. So yes, you could move up to your speed as part of your Move action, then move up to your speed again if you're making a charge. But not vice versa -- a charge ends your turn unless you use an action point. Other restrictions:

You must move at least 2 squares from your starting position, and you must move directly to the nearest square from which you can attack the enemy. You can’t charge if the nearest square is occupied. Moving over difficult terrain costs extra squares of movement as normal.

[Jeff]

Charging is an attack action. It doesn't actually allow you to move further than you normally can.

So what Syrdan is attempting is a move action (7 squares), then using a standard action to charge, which allows him to move his speed (again, 7 squares) and then make a melee basic attack. All in one round.

Offhand, also without my books, I believe this grants him a bonus on the attack but also makes him easier to hit for a round. Essentially it's a reckless act, allowing you to accomplish more at the expense of caution.

[Ken]

Mar 1, 2010 15:05:31 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Offhand, also without my books, I believe this grants him a bonus on the attack but also makes him easier to hit for a round. Essentially it's a reckless act, allowing you to accomplish more at the expense of caution.

Nope, that was true in v3.5, but not in 4E. You still get the +1 to hit, but there's really no penalty for charging. You provoke opportunity attacks as normal for moving through threatened squares.

[Jeff]

Right. I always fact-check before posting stuff like this. But I'm grocery shop-posting.

[Mike]

Nope, that was true in v3.5, but not in 4E. You still get the +1 to hit, but there's really no penalty for charging. You provoke opportunity attacks as normal for moving through threatened squares.

Thanks for posting that, btw. Forgot to add in the +1 bonus for charging. I amended my action post to include the bonus.

Also, one of the odd things about charging in 4E is that you don't have to necessarily charge in a straight line directly to your opponent. It's not something I particularly agree with rules-wise, but nevertheless, you can take some strange, curving routes while charging if need be.

[Jeff]

Guys, some confusion with the dice roller. The idea is to keep a single database for each character. Technically, two: one for rolls you make for your character (like this), and one for when I need to make rolls for you (like this). Only the first one you guys need to worry about, but it's important that you log into Invisible Castle with the same username each time, or else it'll make a separate list each time and then that just becomes an untrackable mess.

So when you go onto Invisible Castle and do a roll, make sure it's like this:

Character Name: Adamant, Belarin, Condign, Kalarian, Streko, or Syrdan
Campaign name: DE
Number of rolls: 1
Dice: [whatever the formula is, 1d20+6 or whatever]
Note: [whatever the roll's for]

Brian, right now your Initiative roll seems unattached to Condign's regular rolls.

Mike, can you link to yours, too? It really needs to appear here, which it'll only do if you're logged into Invisible Castle under username fergusm1.

[Mike]

I was logged in before when rolling initiative, etc.

Not sure why it's not linking up.

[Brian]

Sorry, Jeff. I didn't know we needed to put in the Campaign Name. However, I rolled the same way I've been doing it since I began, so I haven't a clue why it's not attached. If you wish, I'll reroll the Initiative with the DE put in.

[Jeff]

Not sure why it's not linking up.

I can imagine the URL not always working; God knows Invisible Castle sometimes goes down. But the BBCode can still be inserted into your post, which is built for boards like this one where you use brackets and such.

No need to reroll anything, guys. Just next time, can you follow that pattern so all rolls are linked to your growing roll list? I'd like to make sure the links in your signatures always go that same place. Just want to get everyone in the habit of a consistency.

Thanks.

[Jeff]

Also, one of the odd things about charging in 4E is that you don't have to necessarily charge in a straight line directly to your opponent. It's not something I particularly agree with rules-wise, but nevertheless, you can take some strange, curving routes while charging if need be.

I'm not so sure about that, Mike. You must move at least 2 squares from your starting position, and you must move directly to the nearest square from which you can attack the enemy.

I'll admit the official wording isn't the best, but to me this implies that you have to try and move in the most direct, straight line possible. Which suggests to me that the DM might allow you to move around any obvious obstacles (I probably would), but the intent is to make it a direct line. Like what charging should be, as you imply.

[Dave W.]

Some of us with Move 5 aren't as excited about charging...

Mar 1, 2010 15:54:08 GMT -4 Mike said:

Also, one of the odd things about charging in 4E is that you don't have to necessarily charge in a straight line directly to your opponent. It's not something I particularly agree with rules-wise, but nevertheless, you can take some strange, curving routes while charging if need be.

The opposite from 3.x never made any sense. If you had to swing around anything at any point in your move you couldn't charge...

[Dave W.]

Mar 1, 2010 17:19:11 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Campaign name: DE

I think for Campaign Name you have to say Dark Echelon not DE. When I click my Adamant's Rolls by my posts it shows me the ones I made a while back with campaign name Dark Echelon but not the ones I just did tonight.

[Dave W.]

btw, my tactics will be to get a mark on this guy as soon as possible to try to force him to deal with me. That's going to be a pretty standard thing for Adamant, mark a foe to make it turn on me.

Unfortunately, I need to either end my turn adjacent to my foe or actually attack him. This round's meek attempt at intimidate doesn't count, but I couldn't get near him anyway.

[Jeff]

It's much easier to just use "DE" for campaign name. Best to start anew with that one, Dave.

In fact, here's another, easier way we could all do this to ensure our rolls are consistent and easier to find. I could create a new account with Invisible Castle that we'd all use. One big list rather than different ones for each character.

What say you?

[Joe]

I am not keeping track...so whatever is easiest for you, Jeff.

[Dave W.]

I'm good with either

[Brian]

Up to you, Chief.