Chapter 7: Q&A / Discussion

[Jeff]

Ugh, sorry, it looks like the map didn't update right. I'll fix when I can.

[Ken]

Oct 31, 2010 10:35:46 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"On the other hand, I believe I recognize this orc. Isn't he the one who released liquid wastes down his trouser leg when a smallish human stood between him and the even smaller woman he was threatening? And now he needs these numbers to keep his knees steady? I thought orcs were noted for courage.

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh SNAP! It's on!

Brilliant, Dave. ;D

[Darren]

Yup. Good one, Dave.

Also, just a quick meta-game conversation....we're in a great position if this does come down to a fight. They can only come at us in a cluster, and Kal has several spells that are perfect for groups of enemies, so if it does come down to a fight, Dave, I suggest Adamant stays glued to Kal's side and we should take them down no problem.

Kal's actually kinda looking forward to this one. ;D

[Dave W.]

Oct 31, 2010 10:52:44 GMT -4 Darren said:

Yup. Good one, Dave.

Also, just a quick meta-game conversation....we're in a great position if this does come down to a fight. They can only come at us in a cluster, and Kal has several spells that are perfect for groups of enemies, so if it does come down to a fight, Dave, I suggest Adamant stays glued to Kal's side and we should take them down no problem.

Kal's actually kinda looking forward to this one. ;D

I did sort of plan on sticking side to side. For one thing the Martyr's Blessing (where Adamant takes the damage for an ally) only works with adjacent allies. But it also looks cooler.

If we really want to metagame though I we could drop back into the tight alley with Adamant one square back. The Dynamic longsword can become a reach weapon. But that doesn't feel as cool-looking as standing side to side.

[Dave W.]

Oct 31, 2010 10:40:11 GMT -4 Ken said:

Oct 31, 2010 10:35:46 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"On the other hand, I believe I recognize this orc. Isn't he the one who released liquid wastes down his trouser leg when a smallish human stood between him and the even smaller woman he was threatening? And now he needs these numbers to keep his knees steady? I thought orcs were noted for courage.

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh SNAP! It's on!

Brilliant, Dave. ;D

Adamant learned everything he knows about negotiation from you guys...

[Jeff]

Kal's not going to attack first, though. Unless the implication is that battle has already been joined?

It hasn't, but it might be. When someone's striding your way with a weapon in hand, you have to decide whether they're trying one more time to intimidate you, or if they're really going to attack.

If your action comes up first, before you find out if the half-orc is attacking, would you prefer to opt for full defense, then? (Gain a +2 bonus to all your defenses until the start of your next turn.) Otherwise you'll just miss an action.

[Darren]

Can Kal ready an action? i.e. "if a thug moves to attack, Kal will hit him with lightning"?

[Jeff]

Yup, that's fine. But you have to be very specific. If x, then y. If the half-orc attacks Kal with a melee weapon, Kal will cast spell Z on him. Keep in mind attacks of opportunity and and placement.

[Darren]

Okay, I've edited my post. Let me know if that's okay.

[Jeff]

EDIT: Kal will ready Dancing Lightning. If any of the thugs moves more than one square forward with intent to strike, or if any of them uses a ranged attack, Kal will target whichever one of them will allow him to hit the maximum number of opponents. His obvious preference is to target the half-orc, but if the half-orc isn't standing near anyone, he will target one of the other thugs.

Is that okay, Jeff, or is that not specific enough?

NOT ENOUGH!

I kid. This is fine. But if I wanted to get technical about it, there's no way Kal can tell if there's true "intent to strike."

[Dave W.]

Nov 1, 2010 14:46:11 GMT -4 Jeff said:

* I couldn’t resist it.  No, he’s not actually saying that like Dolph Lundgrum in Rocky IV.

Admit it, you could[/b] have resisted, you just didn't.  

Nearly choked on a bit of bagel...

[Dave W.]

Nov 2, 2010 14:39:25 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Dave, you specified Kal with Marytyr's Blessing, so I didn't make that count for Tangat.  If you want to in the future, let me know.

Also, a reminder: unless you state otherwise, any blow that brings an enemy to 0 will most likely kill him/her.  You can choose to make it an unconscious-rendering blow.  In case you don't want to take every life.

I don't think Adamant see Tangat as equivalent to Kal for using Martyrs Blessing. So that seems right.

Righteous Smite also gives me and my allies 8 temp hp. So Tanget has that going for him.

I probably ought to have thought of not killing the thugs. otoh, Adamant probably has dealt with thugs in High Walls. 

[Darren]

Screw the thugs. They're trying to kill Tangat.

Of course, why he's in front of Kal in the first place is beyond me. Stupid dog.....

[Jeff]

Righteous Smite also gives me and my allies 8 temp hp. So Tanget has that going for him.

D'oh! I knew I forgot something. Fixed it.

[Dave W.]

I hate to quibble but though Righteous Smite's attack is Charisma based, the temp hp are 5 + Wisdom. That would make it 8 not 9.

[Jeff]

Right. Adamant has an 18 Charisma, which means he's got a +4 modifier. 5 + 4 = 9

No?

[Dave W.]

Nov 3, 2010 7:42:05 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Right. Adamant has an 18 Charisma, which means he's got a +4 modifier. 5 + 4 = 9

No?

no, sorry. The to-hit and damage are Charisma based but the temp hp are not. The temp hp are 5+Wisdom. Adamant's Wisdom is only +3.

[Jeff]

Yup, you're right. Even double-checking, I missed that. Dang it.

I'm going to go ahead and blame the fact that for the last 2-3 days I've been battling a serious plumbing/sewer problem in my apartment, and losing. And it's got me rattled. Give me an otyugh any day than crappy pipes.

[Darren]

Adamant is surprised when Kal does his spell and leaps away. "I thought", Adamant calls to Kal when the dust settles, "I was to stay at your side. You're making that exceedingly difficult. You are aware," the warforged grunts blocking a blow, "that I am incapable of duplicating that leap?"

HA! Sorry, Dave. I had to do something. None of Kal's spells are going as I had hoped.....

[Dave W.]

Nov 3, 2010 23:02:57 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Yup, you're right. Even double-checking, I missed that. Dang it.

I'm going to go ahead and blame the fact that for the last 2-3 days I've been battling a serious plumbing/sewer problem in my apartment, and losing. And it's got me rattled. Give me an otyugh any day than crappy pipes.

Oh. Plumbing is the worst... We had a flooded basement once... It's a nightmare!

[Dave W.]

Nov 3, 2010 23:24:37 GMT -4 Darren said:

HA!  Sorry, Dave.  I had to do something.  None of Kal's spells are going as I had hoped.....

Hey, as long as I keep getting great material to play off, I'm happy! 

[Jeff]

Dave:

PS: sorry if the move part of this is complicated but it's hard being last in the order.

I know it's complicated. You don't get the tabletop benefit of improving with movement. Hence I generally give you guys the benefit of the doubt on these things anyway.

[Jeff]

By the way, Darren, I'm impressed with how many rolls and links to rolls you made in your last post. You've come along way.

[Darren]

Quiet, you.

[Darren]

Minor Action: Lay on Hands on Kal, unless he doesn't want/need it. Kal gets back a healing surge +4 hp but doesn't spend a surge; Adamant spends the surge.

Yes, yes, and yes. Hopefully Kal isn't already lying unconscious on the ground by that point, but I don't have very high hopes for that not happening.

[Dave W.]

The other sighs, still pointing the wand at Belarin. "Get Management."

See, now you guys are getting somewhere... Well done.

[Dave W.]

Btw, I don't think the die roller is out to get me; it's just fun to fuel Darren's paranoia. It's like finding a cranky bear, how can you resist poking it with a stick?

[Jeff]

Bluff check (1d20+10=13) -- not a great roll. But perhaps a circumstance bonus for the clever use of props? I wasn't sure if Belarin would ever have an opportunity to use those elbow blades he's had since Day One! And if Condign can aid, an additional +2 bonus would certainly help.

My thought exactly, Ken, as I was reading it. It's a gutsy add-on. I'll add the +2.

Brian, if Condign corroborates in some way—I'll allow him an Aid Another check on Belarin's roll. Which is just a regular Bluff check for Condign. With Condign's successful save, he can start to move again.

[Darren]

Dear lord...given Kal's character traits, the dice roller is going to cause him to go into a serious shame spiral after this fight is over......

[Jeff]

FYI:

Minor Action: Unless Kal objects, how about one more Lay on Hands? Same as last round.

Does Kal want another dose?