Chapter 6: Q&A / Discussion

[Brian]

I prefer the new format also. You are putting the rolls and such right next to the descriptive actions. I think it flows better.

[Dave W.]

One more thing you could add to the damage sig - conditions. So Adamant and Syrdan would have "dazed" after there hp.

[Jeff]

Ken, to be clear:

If the statue is destroyed, and if the window is within 25 feet, Belarin will teleport up to it.

Does Belarin mean to teleport right up close to the window, or behind it? From his view, there's no obvious way to come back should he choose to teleport just beyond the window.

[Ken]

If there's room on the window frame for him to essentially straddle it, that would be ideal.

If not, then he'll land on the other side.

[Jeff]

If there's room on the window frame for him to essentially straddle it, that would be ideal.

Nope. It's too narrow for even Varna to slip through.

[Ken]

Okay, then -- he'll land on the other side. Worse comes to worst, he does have an arcane "escape hatch" to get out of there. I'll update my post to reflect other contingencies.

[Jeff]

I think I'm confused now with Belarin's ifs. Does he only plan on teleporting to the other side of the window only if he sees someone there? Or regardless? In your post I can't tell...it still says "up to the window."

[Ken]

Sorry -- definitely through the window. I'll update that in the post. The various "ifs" kick in depending on whether he teleports on his action (in which case he can use an action point right away) or as a result of someone's else action (in which case he can't use an action point until the next round). The action point will be used if he encounters enemies at the other side. The number of enemies will determine which power he uses.

[Ken]

Apr 24, 2010 13:34:10 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"Master Belarin, I don't suppose you have a way of magically traveling back with us, do you?"

Good question - one that'll need a DM ruling! ;D Jeff, the power otherwind stride in PHB is technically a burst 1 attack power that also has a teleport feature, which kicks in regardless of whether any foe is hit by the attack. But going by the flavor text or the "read as intended" basis of the power, it could be seen as a arcane vortex that teleports the user and happens to injure anyone standing nearby. So the question is: Does Belarin actually need to have an enemy nearby in order to use otherwind stride?

I had kept this in my back pocket in the assumption that Belarin would find more foes when he "landed," but I just want to know what my options are, should Belarin want to rejoin his allies sooner.

[Jeff]

Because these teleportations are by-products of attack powers, I'm ruling that Belarin can't just spring them whenever. It's a slippery slope to allow it, actually. Sort of like that old "bag of rats" thing that was debated back in 3rd Edition with feats like Cleave. That is, feats/powers being used via loopholes to accomplish what clearly wasn't intended.

Besides, given the warlock's pact, I'd go further to say that the whimsical nature of the fey doesn't allow for casual teleportation. Expend a resource, and do so malevolently...then you get a surge of teleporting power as a reward.

So right now, Belarin's stuck. Unless he faces a legitimate foe and can capitalize on that situation...that's in keeping with the fey, to me. But of all characters, I think Belarin's the first to accept his predicament.

[Jeff]

Is it okay to safely assume that unless Kal moves the Light elsewhere or is engaged in combat and cannot sustain the light due to other actions, that he is sustaining Light on his sharrash?

You don't need to "sustain" it. It just lasts for about 5 minutes, at which point you can simply renew it again (if it was in combat, you'd have to use a minor action to do it). But...

Special: You can have only one light cantrip active at a time. If you create a new light, your previously cast light winks out.

So if he keeps a light on his sharash, he can't have a light hanging out by the window as well. So you tell me what Kal's doing.

[Dave W.]

Apr 24, 2010 17:25:02 GMT -4 Brian said:

EDIT: My save was better than Condign's. The tornadoes missed us by only 10 miles. However, I don't want to make light of it too much. Severe damage has been reported in the areas we drove through to get here. It was that close.

I'm glad you're fine... 10 miles seems like a pretty near miss to me though. I've never been that close to a tornado. Had to be a little nerve-wracking...

[Ken]

Jeff, that's a good ruling. Thanks. It IS an attack power, after all. And no, Belarin isn't at all upset about his current predicament.

Brian, glad to hear you're OK.

[Darren]

No, I get that part, Jeff. But there's also a part in the description that says the Light can be moved as a minor action. So what I'm saying is that, unless I specifically say Kal is moving it, or unless we're in combat and sustaining it would require minor actions that Kal doesn't have available, is it a safe assumption that the light is active on the sharrash? Or do I need to say it every time?

[Jeff]

Well, you've lost me again, Darren.

But there's also a part in the description that says the Light can be moved as a minor action.

Where?

Light (Wizard Cantrip)
With a wave of your hand, you cause a bright light to appear on the tip of your weapon, upon some other object, or in a nearby space.
At-Will ♦ Arcane
Minor Action Range 5 (25 ft.)
Target: One object or unoccupied square.
Effect: You cause the target to shed bright light. The light fills the target's square and all squares within 4 squares of it. The light lasts for 5 minutes. Putting out the light is a free action.
Special: You can have only one light cantrip active at a time. If you create a new light, your previously cast light winks out.

A minor action is needed to create the light in the first place, not to "move" it. Then it lasts for 5 minutes. Nothing is required to sustain it. It just sticks around for 5 minutes, then winks out (or dismiss it as a free action).

Now, outside of combat, when that 5 minutes is up, we can just assume Kal effectively renews it automatically every 5 minutes, to keep it going. Of course, if 5 minutes is almost up and then combat begins, yeah, I'd tell you that Kal would have to use a minor action on one of his turns to keep it going.

So for the present situation, will Kal have the light on his sharash or one of the squares around the west-side window? He can't do both.

[Darren]

Oh, I must be thinking of the 3.5 rules for Light. This game has been going on for a long time....

So, right. For right now, the light is going to the window. Once that's been checked out, Kal will put that light out and start a new one by him.

[Darren]

Belarin can make out most, but not all, of what was said to him. Did Kal just tell me to lose weight? Damn him. Too many pastries from Streko's mother. Aware that his allies have moved ahead, he opens the door before him, dagger in his other hand and a curse on his tongue.

Hang on a sec, Ken. Before you do that, let's explore what Brian was saying. Jeff, is there any connection between where Belarin is and the bridge? On the map, it looks like there may be.

Also, would Condign attacking Belarin allow Belarin to teleport?

[Jeff]

I think this is an example of where out-of-character strategy is a bit too close to metagaming. Belarin's not with Kal, so it's best if Belarin does what he does a bit independently. (In fact, I'll be posting results of Belarin's actions in Belarin's private thread next, to further reinforce the isolation.)

[Jeff]

Nope, there's a wall between Belarin and the cavern area. He can't see it.

And the Condign trick would only work if Condign was REALLY attacking Belarin, not mock attacking him, and Belarin would REALLY have to try and hurt Condign with the appropriate power.

So...up to you.

[Ken]

Yeah, I agree with Jeff that - at this point - Belarin is on his own. In character, Belarin acted quickly and a bit recklessly (in true v3.5 chaotic fashion, I don't care what 4E says about alignments! ) to take out or at least scare a presumed puppet master. Oh well, didn't quite work out that way. And he's fine with that for now. And he hasn't given up hope that this will turn into a positive development.

[Darren]

Fair enough. Questions are answered, so I guess we move forward.

Good luck, Ken!

[Brian]

Um, I was kidding about attacking Belarin.

Kind of. ;D

[Joe]

Out of curiosity, did anyone consider just breaking the windows and letting Belarin back in? Just asking....<shrug>

[Darren]

I didn't get the impression that there was any glass in the windows. Jeff described them as being like arrow slits, which is why I don't think Belarin could just climb back through.

[Jeff]

Yup, no glass. It's open, but far too narrow for even a halfling to squeeze through.

[Joe]

Well BLEH!!

[Darren]

Still a bit confused here. Who's merely holding, and who's getting wrapped/tied with rope?

My thought, assuming everyone agrees, is that Condign would get tied off to Adamant, and Syrdan would get tied off to Kal, Varna and Streko (or as many of those three as we could fit the rope around). That way everyone is tied to someone else.

Of course, I might also be making it so we all get pulled to our deaths together.

[Jeff]

I definitely need to hear some consent for everyone first, then.

But basically each person should also decide whether to be tied, or just wants to hold on tight.

[Brian]

Put a rope around Condign. It's fine by me.

[Jeff]

Apr 29, 2010 18:14:01 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal waves his hand behind him without looking, and suddenly the light on his sharrash winks out and appears at the tip of Condign's horns.

Amusing as that is, Darren, I'm afraid I have to nix this. Light can affect "One object or unoccupied square." Condign's horns are part of him, not an object. (Unless you break one off, first, and I dare you to try.)