Chapter 8: Q&A / Discussions

[Brian]

Anyway is fine with me. I can just make the basic roll and let Jeff add the positional and circumstantial modifiers. That's easier for me, in fact.

[Brian]

Belarin's called for a retreat, and I'm all for it. I will, however, stay with Syrdan to make sure he gets out. Even if I have to carry him. Which I suspect I will have to do. Since Condign goes near the end of the round, I will wait and see what few of you do before I post.

Oh, and I'm out of all healing powers.

[Darren]

I was just going to bring up that conversation, Brian. I think we should gather up and Belarin and Kal should start blasting the walls to try and blow a hole out of the side of the ship. I think that's our best exit at this point. If anyone else can help in that process to get us out faster, it'd be a good idea. What do you guys think?

[Brian]

One word: this is a battleship. (Okay, that's four, but you get my drift.) I would be surprised if the hulls were not reinforced or well-made, meaning several rounds of hitting wood to make a hole large enough for us to get through. All the while, we are fending off vamp kisses in the dark.

As much as I don't like it, a rush out the door and over the side may be best. Adamant in front may "pave the way" for the rest. Remember, Krez and his homies (probably) can not follow us outside that room. If we can get clear, I think we can get out.

[Ken]

Yeah, I have to agree with Brian. Let's say it takes 50 points of damage to make a man- (or warforged-) sized hole. That'll take a while to create, even with Belarin and Kal blasting. Then it's one person, maybe two, squeezing through per round while everyone else plays defense -- in the dark, against multiple opponents, while we're out of major healing. Our best option seems to running up, bull rushing anyone in our way, and jumping over the edge of the ship.

[Darren]

Fair enough, guys. I can see your point.

Does anyone mind if Kal tries to set fire to the room on the way out?

Jeff, mechanically, what would be involved in that?

[Jeff]

Think this one out realistically. Fire spells would only have a chance if they lasted more than a single attack during your turn. Everything around would have to be pretty flammable.

So magic aside, if you can produce a flame and hold it to something, you'd need to be doing that for one round for it to try to catch. But the only thing that would probably catch that quickly is the black cloth covering up the capped portholes. You could try those, certainly, but if one burns it doesn't mean they'll catch. Then it's just a question of how long it takes for the actual wood to catch fire. This is a sturdy ship and the hull is quite strong; this is Eberron, a world where magewrights strength regular materials so that towers can be built high into the sky. So it's anyone's guess.

I can't scope it out for you, but you're welcome to try anything if you think you've got the time.

[Jeff]

Dave B., I just did a bunch of test rolls for Shorak, which is using the same account you use, and I got a pretty even spread, as you can see. It really likes highs and lows for you, doesn't it?

I expect Shorak'll have an adventuring career full of fabulous misses and devastating strikes. No in-betweens. ;D

[Dave W.]

A) in terms of healing I have two lay on hands left but we need to be adjacent. If syrdan can movemmy way (and I did yell to make it obvious), I can prop him up a bit.

B) wrt dicing mods, I'm fine either way but how about we list out the various mods. Like if Addys normal attack is +13 and he's getting +2 for flanking and a +3 for some other reason and a -5 for darkness, we'll put it in the roller (and therefore the pelts) as:

1d20+13+2+3-5

That way even though it nets out as +13 either way, it should be figure-outable what mods were considered.

[Jeff]

I think it may be easiest to calculate and process the regular rolls via the dice roller, then manually add any modifiers. That way the dice roller formulas are always consistent. Just a thought.

[Mike]

Hmm. An elven fanatic, sworn to destroy the undead at all costs, faced with fighting an evil vampire lord or retreating ...

This might be Syrdan's Butch and Sundance moment.

[Brian]

Hah, that's funny Mike. ;D

I'm still going to wait for Syrdan's move. I'm not leaving him behind, so I need to know what he's going to do.

[Ken]

Yeah, Mike, Syrdan won't find the martyr's path an easy one to pull off with this group, no matter how fitting it might be!

Jeff: Dave's latest post just made realize that we're not the only ones with penalties here. Wouldn't the Emerald Claw guys also be granting combat advantage to us? I figure you've already factored that in; I mostly wanted to point out to everyone that a presumed miss on a Claw guy might actually be a hit. Of course, the vampires are far more dangerous right now...!

[Dave B.]

Mar 17, 2011 15:30:06 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Dave B., I just did a bunch of test rolls for Shorak, which is using the same account you use, and I got a pretty even spread, as you can see. It really likes highs and lows for you, doesn't it?

I expect Shorak'll have an adventuring career full of fabulous misses and devastating strikes. No in-betweens. ;D

Well I'm definitely looking forward to the highs and devastating strikes.

As for the bonus/penalty question. I don't think I would be able do that myself yet. So I need the Dm's assist on that.

[Brian]

Jeff, once Shorak opens the door, how dark is it??

[Jeff]

The hallway is still lit by natural sunlight (if dim and filtered), so a tiny bit of that light will shine into the room.

[Brian]

So, would that qualify as dim light?

[Jeff]

Yup, basically. It goes from total darkness (the room), to dim light in the hall, to brighter light where it reaches the stairs.

[Ken]

Just a reminder: If you want to back out while protecting yourself, and you've already used Second Wind, you can use a standard action for Total Defense, which adds +2 to all defenses for the round (essentially, Second Wind without the healing). At the very least, it'll counteract the -2 penalty to defenses from granting combat advantage.

Oh, to answer your earlier question, Jeff: Sure, it makes sense to leave the environmental/conditional modifiers to you. If I feel like being proactive in situations like Stealth (which, as you and I have discussed, can be a lot to manage), I'll be specific about whatever modifiers are applied, as in my last IC post.

[Ken]

Hey, Dave Bean, just want to give you a tip about charging (an option you may consider this round) since it works differently in 4E than in does in v3.5. It's actually more player friendly. You don't have to move in a perfectly straight line -- just the most directly route from your position to the target. Still, the first square in front of you can't be occupied. Bonus: You get a +1 to the attack. Minus: None! No negatives to AC in 4E's charge.

So, IF Shorak wants to charge the crossbowman, you could shift as a move action (so the crewman isn't in your path), then charge as your standard action (with movement included as part of the attack).

[Jeff]

But...if you charge you can only make a basic melee attack (or a Strength-based bull rush). You wouldn't be able to use a rogue power that could, say, slide an enemy where you want him.

[Ken]

Oh, duh, right... yeah, I should've mentioned that, as it's frigging important. There are some powers that DO specifically say that they can be used when making a basic attack, however.

[Ken]

This is what Belarin is hearing from the voices in his head as we blast our way out of here:




;D

[Joe]

A veritible classic of action film scoring!!!

[Brian]

Mike:

*As in, acting completely out of character, which is damn frustrating, but acting in (hopefully) the good of the game.

I know what you mean, Mike. But, since we are all headed toward the same destination after the same object, I suspect Syrdan will have his chance again. And that success, for it will be one, will be all the sweeter.

[Dave W.]

If Syrdan would delay his turn until after Adamant's then your friendly neighborhood paladin would have a chance to touch the elf (not in a bad way) and get Syrdan some healing.

[Dave W.]

Oh, hey! This just occurred to me but even assuming inlay hands on Syrdan I have one left. What's the group thought on using it on The dying elfmaid? Adamant probably would want to do that ... He probably would have thought of that before I did?

[Mike]

Use it on Lerrhana. Makes sense.

[Dave W.]

But what about the other question? Will Syrdan delay so adamant can use 1 of the 2 lay on hands on him?

[Darren]

Dave, what do you want to do? Should Adamant grab Syrdan, or should Kal do it?