Chapter 6: Q&A / Discussion

[Ken]

I'm good with Belarin's money total, Jeff.

Darren: Awesome post for Kal! I'm glad you did that performance.

[Darren]

Okay, Jeff. I got you. Thanks. Kal will hang on to 3 platinum (and the other gold he was carrying) and put the rest of the platinum in the bank.

Thanks, Ken. It was fun.

[Brian]

I second Ken's sentiment, Darren. That was spectacularly done. For my part, the applause was real.

[Dave W.]

Thanks for the image of the octogram, Jeff! Nice.

[Dave W.]

Here's a question that's probably obvious to you all. By our avatars there is some info and then it has "Karma: 0" and some also have buttons "[ Exalt | Smite ]". Can someone clue me in?

[Brian]

Not quite so obvious. I don't know the answer to either. ;D

All I know is that Condign needs a shot of instant karma. And he doesn't have an exalt/smite link.

[Jeff]

Hah! Don't worry about those. I don't know specifically where it gets the values for those Kharma things, but whatever it is, it has nothing to do with our game. It's just part of the message board interface of Proboards.

You know how on some boards you can "Report" a problem poster, or what have you? I think that's what this is. "Smite" is probably the same thing as "report." But I haven't messed with them. We probably shouldn't.

[Darren]

Your karma is directly related to how often someone exalts or smites you. As Jeff said, it's probably just a general board rating system.

I occasionally exalt someone when they do something I like.

[Jeff]

Does this mean when your characters roll bad and a monster hits them, I'll be smited by my players?

[Darren]

I dunno. You've got a pretty high karma right now. SOMEONE must like you.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever smote anyone.

[Brian]

I just exalted Dave for a mighty fine post.

[Ken]

And I just exalted you for a fine reply!

Yet no in-character response to this:

Feb 15, 2010 14:10:48 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Oh, let's take two if we have to!" says Belarin mischievously. "Kalarian will pay for it. Why, I can see that his pockets are practically bulging with coin right now. Off we go!"

Very disappointed. Clearly, Belarin needs to make his double entendres more obvious.

[Darren]

Oh, I caught it, Ken. I thought about making an out-of-character response, but Kal was actually out of the room already by the time Belarin had said it, and even if he was, he probably only would have blushed more.

[Dave W.]

Thanks for clearing that up... I've been enjoying the heck out of this...

Brian, it's like volleyball, the spike only looks impressive if there's a good set first. Thanks for a great set.

Ken, sorry I have to confess I missed your entendre... I am chagrined.

[Brian]

Oh crap, I just got it. I'm so slow at times.

[Ken]

Feb 16, 2010 18:40:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"The fellow who owns and runs the place is a Lhazaarite. He can tell you some tales, that's for sure."

Jeff, what would our characters know about Lhazaarites?

[Jeff]

Bear with me, guys. I'll post again as soon as I can.

[Ken]

Hey, Mike! Welcome back (officially)! ;D

[Mike]

Kal clears his throat, but makes no other comment.

OOC, Darren, Kal didn't introduce himself - Syrdan still doesn't even know Kal's name - and Kal went straight past Syrdan to talk to Gerus.

Just sayin'.

[Darren]

Yeah, I know. Kal's just being Kal. Although, he did loudly introduce himself to Gerus, who was still in the back.

But it's all good, Mike. I promise it won't be like last time! ;D Like I said to Dave, Kal won't be a jerk to Syrdan forever.

[Ken]

Feb 23, 2010 20:08:09 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Ken, you a strange man.

Ha! Hey, as far as Belarin's concerned, he's got a new audience for the "half-mad bard" routine. "Warlock" has pesky negative connotations.

[Mike]

P.S. Mike, the "hunt him down like a dog" comment cracked me up.

All I have to say is this: don't try to run from a pursuit avenger. It's probably going to end badly. ;D

[Darren]

In my mind, Kal asking Condign to get the guy back was similar to hearing Indigo say, "Fezzig, tear his arms off."

[Jeff]

"Would you mind bringing him back here? I think I'd like to have a word with him."

At least Kal asked this time. That's a good start toward Kal's recovery, Darren. Third lesson learned from his AA meetings. Arrogants Anonymous, that is.

[Darren]

I told you....I'm TRYING! ;D

[Dave W.]

Feb 24, 2010 13:45:24 GMT -4 Mike said:

All I have to say is this: don't try to run from a pursuit avenger. It's probably going to end badly. ;D

to say nothing of quickly!

[Jeff]

Skills 101: The Difference Between Insight and Perception...


Insight: You can discern intent and decipher body language during social interactions. You make an Insight check to comprehend motives, to read between the lines, to get a sense of moods and attitudes, and to determine how truthful someone is being.

It's usually opposed by another creature's Bluff check. It can also be used to recognize an effect as an illusion, or to see if someone's actions are being effected by an outside influence (like some sort of magic charm).

Perception: Notice clues, detect secret doors, spot imminent dangers, find traps, follow tracks, listen for sounds behind a closed door, or locate hidden objects.

It's usually opposed by another creature's Stealth check, or a set number for a trap, hidden object, or scene.

In conclusion, if you enter a cave and want to search it for traps, treasure, or hidden enemies, you use Perception. If there's a dragon lying in the middle of the room who tells you "There's no treasure here!" you use Insight to see if he's lying.

Although this reminds me, I want to remind you how passive skills work:

When you’re not actively using a skill, you’re assumed to be taking 10 (as if you rolled a "10") for any opposed checks using that skill. Passive checks are most commonly used for Perception checks and Insight checks, but the DM might also use your passive check result with skills such as Arcana or Dungeoneering to decide how much to tell you about a monster at the start of an encounter. For example, if you’re walking through an area you expect to be safe and thus aren’t actively looking around for danger, you’re taking 10 on your Perception check to notice hidden objects or enemies. If your Perception check is high enough, or a creature rolls poorly on its Stealth check, you might notice the creature even if you aren’t actively looking for it.

I should note that in the interest of time, I usually just roll regular knowledge checks (Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion, Nature) for you at the relevant time, rather than assuming a passive check and rather than waiting for you to task for it.

[Jeff]

He starts moving quickly in that direction, although not so quickly as to be the first to arrive.

Brilliant, Ken. ;D

[Dave W.]

Mar 3, 2010 23:55:30 GMT -4 Darren said:

Whether he has information or not, I would not traumatize him further by making him relive it.

Oh, that is a good suggestion... oops.

[Darren]

It's okay. You're an unfeeling machine. How would you have known?