Chapter 6: Q&A / Discussion

[Jeff]

Gotcha. Yes, this is how it would be:

[Jeff]

Oh, and should this matter, I was mistaken earlier: the otyugh has reach 3. So it can attack anything 3 squares in all directions from the 2-square-by-2-square space it occupies.

[Ken]

And should this become necessary.... remember that Action Points can be used for an additional Move action, too.

[Ken]

One more thing, Jeff: Although he hasn't said this in character yet, Belarin is uneasily certain (and Ken the Player is damn well certain) that the otyugh's LONG tentacles (reach 3) will enable it to get a shot at Belarin without it stepping into range of his otherwind stride attack (close burst 1). So please move him 2 more squares southwest. He'll then hold his actions until Stuff Happens. If it looks like the otyugh will catch up to him or Kal, he'll run toward it (woo hoo crazy!) before it can make its attack. Am I sounding clear?

[Jeff]

And should this become necessary.... remember that Action Points can be used for an additional Move action, too.

But only if we're in combat mode. Any of you can request that, but it will slow things down. Still, it's certainly possible regardless of what you want.

[Jeff]

"Master Condign, if you would take the van; stay one step between the inside column and the creature and slightly ahead."

Dave, can you help me translate this into easier grid specifications?

[Dave W.]

Jun 26, 2010 19:25:54 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Dave, can you help me translate this into easier grid specifications?

I wish I was good with Photoshop-y stuff or had Photoshop. Let's see what I can do... Let's assume the monster goes up the eastern side. The with the wall being the '|', we have two columns side by side:

|  A
|
|V Sy
|St
|
|. C

So Condign (C) is in front one square from the wall. Two sq back and one W of Condign is Streko (St). In the row N of that is Varna (V) and Syrdan (Sy). Two sq N of Syrdan is Adamant (A).

If the monster goes up the West side then flip it so the Varna/Streko column is against the Eastern wall.

Better?

[Jeff]

Hoo-boy. Not really. What's W mean in your description? And what's this part of the sentence mean: "The with the wall"?

Might best to just specify direction once action begins. The 'columns' thing is throwing me off.

[Dave W.]

Jun 26, 2010 22:41:36 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Hoo-boy. Not really. What's W mean in your description?  And what's this part of the sentence mean: "The with the wall"?

Might best to just specify direction once action begins. The 'columns' thing is throwing me off.

Well the W is easy; it is West. So in that sentence Streko is two sq north of and one west of Condign.

To be honest I'm having trouble other sentence. The thought it was meant to express is that in the ASCII picture, the symbol '|' is the wall of the chamber.

[Jeff]

Let's just wing it as we go. Unless you show both cavern walls, I just can't picture this against the map. I'd have too many questions about your text visual: there's a period I'm not sure what that represents, where's the other wall, where are these figures in relation to the otyugh, etc.

In any case, history has shown that each person acts rather independently, no matter what someone else orders. So each person can state their actions, and obey Adamant's suggestions if they so choose.

But I think I get the gist. It's important that each player indicate where their characters are going; no implied actions, okay?

[Jeff]

With his greatsword drawn, and still not glowing, he moves to where he could take the lead if the plan proves successful.

Hey, Mike. Just waiting to find out where that is.

[Darren]

Based on Dave's post of how the group is ordered, I'm assuming that Condign is leading the group along the western wall, opposite of where Kal has his light, so that we can play Ring-Around-The-Rosie with the monster and slide out behind it. Correct me if I'm wrong.

That had been the intention of my plan, Brian.

[Brian]

I know, Darren. I needed to repeat myself some. My brain is a little slushy at the moment.

[Darren]

Mmmm....Brain Slushy.

[Brian]

Beats the heck out of a Brian Slushy. ;D

[Darren]

It's all about equal to the zombie community.

[Jeff]

Brian, I think you're owed more than your share of slush. Have at it.

[Mike]

Jun 27, 2010 8:09:31 GMT -4 Jeff said:

With his greatsword drawn, and still not glowing, he moves to where he could take the lead if the plan proves successful.

Hey, Mike. Just waiting to find out where that is.

Well, the original plan as noted by Darren was Syrdan and Condign up front, with Syrdan leading the way. So by Condign.

[Jeff]

Due to all the problems orders and plans have had in the past (and the resentments people have had with being told what to do), the way I want to do this, going forward, is: if your character wants to follow another character's order or plan, please state what your actions are; if you're following the plan, say what that action is in your own post. If you're not, saying what you're doing instead. I can't emphasize enough how much implied actions don't work in this game. They've caused so much yuckiness.

[Darren]

Don't go nuts yet, guys. I don't think the plan is completely dead. I can't really do a full post yet because I'm on my phone, but don't everyone go charging the thing before I get back.

[Ken]

No worries. As I said in Belarin's post, he'll wait until it looks like the thing is about to attack one of us before he does his thing. He's expecting Kal to make the first move.

[Jeff]

FYI, the use of any power (otyugh included) will kick off combat mode, whether attacks are made or not.

[Mike]

Jun 28, 2010 11:19:38 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Are weapons out?

Kept out the greatsword ever since Syrdan went fishing for bone fragments, yes.

[Dave W.]

Btw. If it's not obvious, not listening to Adamant is fine. Adamant realizes that none of you are warforged soldiers so he doesn't expect any degree of precision.

And David has enough years of experience with rpg's to expect the unexpected! Really, I'm hard to offend, a few people have managed it in my 40+ years but not many.

[Darren]

Quick OOC strategy discussion....don't worry too much about Kal getting trapped. I do have an escape plan, and I'm pretty sure I can get past the otyugh without getting hurt too badly (if at all). I'm going to try to get it to keep moving northeast. I think, at this point, that everyone should start skirting around to the southwest and try to move around it. Worst case scenario is that we have it flanked. Best case is that we all get out of this alive.

[Ken]

Okay... but Belarin is still sticking around as Plan B. He can move pretty fast when he has to, also.

[Mike]

Jun 30, 2010 8:44:26 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Mike: instead of going a full 14 squares, I merely moved Syrdan to the edge of the light. If you truly want him going directly into the darkness without knowing the layout of the tunnel, just say the word.

Totally fine with that, Jeff. Edge of the light is fine. Thanks.

[Ken]

Jeff wrote:

Brian: When you're grabbed, you can still attack as normal. However, you can't go anywhere and you may be subject to a worse attack from the otyugh (bite!). You can make an Athletics or an Acrobatics check as a move action; if you succeed, you escape, and you'd still have a standard action left.

Better still, Brian, with a successful escape, you get to shift, so you could take your other action to move away from the otyugh -- which I strongly recommend -- after you get free, and you wouldn't provoke an opportunity attack.

[Jeff]

Darren! Ahem...

What are you trying to pull?

Yeah, yeah, you just forgot.

[Brian]

Darren:

:Of course, if everyone had STAYED AWAY from the otyugh like we originally planned.....

Okay, maybe I need to explain why I chose Condign's action. I did originally go along with the plan . . . until the otyugh's reach had cut off everyone but Syrdan on the western side of the cavern. We were no longer away from it. I felt the light trick, while an excellent idea, wasn't working. That left me with a decision.

Based on how I play Condign, I had only one choice, really. I thought hard about it. And about other options. But in the end, this is exactly the kind of thing he would do: sacrifice himself to save the others.

Plus, back in the day (the mid-80s), when I played AD&D in college, I was the mage. It used to make me completely bonkers when Paladins did just what Condign did. So, I had to try it once, right? ;D