Chapter 8: Q&A / Discussions

[Jeff]

Jeff, can Kal see the Emerald Claw soldier NE of Condign? In other words, could Kal target him from his current position?

Nope.

[Ken]

Mar 23, 2011 21:49:34 GMT -4 Joe said:

Lots of assumptions here. First, that Belarin will give Lerrhana over, second the Streko can CARRY the elf, third that he can avoid getting attacked by anyone, fourth that he can make it to the edge without dying, fifth that he can hold the elf while climbing the railing and, last but not least, that Kal will assist him.

Sorry, Joe, won't happen. Belarin would need to take one action to GET to Streko, and other one to hand Lerrhana to Streko. Which would leave Belarin pretty much right where he is. The better option is to take one move and get out.

[Joe]

Well then...what are you waiting for you fey SOB? :-)

[Darren]

GAH! Ken's use of that wand makes me feel really, really stupid. Kal has a Wand of Magic Missiles that he could have been using to push people around!

Grrrr....stupid not looking at my character sheet dumb me.....

[Dave W.]

Thanks jeff, I think the movement was just right.

Okay, let's keep it simple, Condign and I go together on the same initiative (condign will have to delay). Everyone else needs to just bolt. Condign and Adamant take a move action to shift 1 sq up the stairs so we're not in melee then we use our standard action to run and jump over the side.

That sound right?

[Brian]

Works for me.

[Darren]

Definitely sounds right.

I probably would have had Kal wait a turn to jump overboard, but I thought Belarin and Streko would make it out last round.

[Dave W.]

Just want to echo Ken's comment in the main thread... That was exciiting and tense. Thanks Jeff and everyone... Well done... And we saved the damsel... And we're all mostly alive!!

And though Adamant might disagree, I'm sort of glad we didn't kill Krez. This way we can have another thrilling story with him later. Narratively, it works better.

[Jeff]

I'll be honest with you guys: that was the nastiest fight ever, and in many ways the most complicated. (Sorry, Dave B., that your first combat in this game was such a complex one and so filled with low dice rolls!)

It was deliberately hard, absolutely. Krez is the first elite foe you've faced. Elite enemies are twice as tough to beat than a normal monster of the same level, with literally twice the hit points...and even action points, as you've seen. It was also hard because this wasn't just some ambush...this was a fight you had to decide to approach on your own. It was on the enemy's own turf, but with the advantage of daylight: if the vampires could move freely outside that room, there would have been a different outcome!

Speaking of outcomes, I was also pleased with the way things played out because I absolutely was ready to let the chips fall as they may. I figured Krez would probably survive (for a few reasons), but was prepared for him to be bested if it really unfolded that way. It made it a challenge for me to see if I could keep him going. You guys and your use of dazes! It made for a different outcome indeed.

And Lerrhana...well, her final fate is not yet determined, but she's got a chance now. If you had opted not to take this fight to Krez and his gang, you would have eventually faced her on different terms.

So yeah, I'm happy with the unpredictability of it all, and you guys faired well. It's kind of exciting to watch daily and encounters powers start to burn out and to see all action points used.

[Ken]

Jeff, thanks for the info and the insight! Yep, that was an Elite m'f-er, all right!

Wow, we were tapped out. Not only were the daily powers and Action Points used up, we were out of healing near the end, except for two Lay On Hands, and everyone but Belarin & Adamant had used Second Wind in the main fight, and those two PCs joined the crowd at the end.

Considering how we whiffed a lot, on our daily powers especially, two things seemed to keep us out of the fanged jaws of defeat: the light-show daze on Krez for 4 rounds, I think, severely limiting his actions; and Adamant's Divine Bodyguard. BY ODIN'S BEARD! I told Dave W yesterday that that utility saved at least two lives, because if Condign dropped (as he would have otherwise), at least one more PC would have been taken down, too. Superb move, Dave! And Jeff, I loved the way you described the efects on that in your recap! Damn cool visuals.

Overall, great fight!

[Darren]

Don't worry, guys. This fight was our Rocky moment. We got the crap kicked out of us in round 1, but in round 10, when it looks like we're about to be KO'ed, we'll come back and hit Krez really hard and then, covered in his own blood, Belarin will call out, "Histra!" in a somewhat unintelligible voice, and she'll run to his side, and we'll all live happily ever after (until the next movie).

[Ken]

Ha! Or more likely, just as the group defeats Krez after a brutal fight, a dying Belarin calls out "Histra..." with his last breath. Histra kneels beside his body, says "Arise, my zombie slave," and THEN everybody lives (or unlives) happily ever after.

[Jeff]

Belarin stars in Tim Burton's next film, Corpse Groom.

[Brian]

One minor point: Condign never used Second Wind. And I had one daily power left. I didn't use it because it did no damage and some specific circumstances rendered it ineffective. (i.e. It wouldn't stack with a power that another of us had already used.)

I would have to agree. A damn fine fight by all.

[Dave W.]

Yes, great encounter...

On the daily with all the conditions, you can at every level swap out a power for a different one. If it's not working for you, dump it.

[Jeff]

So did someone stick a DON'T POST IN ME sign on the main gameplay thread's back or something?

[Jeff]

Dave:

The Merrow's wave lifts them up.

My, my, aren't we presumptuous...

[Dave W.]

Mar 26, 2011 20:42:56 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Dave:

The Merrow's wave lifts them up.

My, my, aren't we presumptuous...

Well, I can't say for you but I sure as hell am!!!

And Ken said it first!!!

[Dave B.]

Shorak didn't use his second wind, still had a few powers left and is at full HP. Obviously, he was not considered much of a threat. Lucky him.

[Darren]

Do you remember when swimming used to be a skill you had to put points into? Thank god that's changed.

[Jeff]

Don't get too comfortable, Darren. Swim checks still exist in the form of Athletics checks. But only when mechanics are really needed, like swimming in combat.

[Ken]

Jeff: If you think a Diplomacy check is called for here -- or would perhaps be helpful -- I'll certainly make one for Belarin's last post.

[Jeff]

I'm done until after an extended rest.

99% of the time, an extended rest means "when you go to sleep at night." It's still mid-day. Is Kal opting out of all conversations and activities until the next day, even if the ship is attacked at night by Krez and his vengeful army?

[Darren]

Damn you and your technicalities, Jeff!

Seriously, though, Kal's basically useless until we get some hit points and powers back, so beyond talking, I've got nothing to do.

[Jeff]

Weird. I was under the impression D&D was about more than just hit points.

[Ken]

Don't worry, Belarin will protect Kal from the Bad People. ;D And don't mock "beyond talking," Darren -- that's Belarin's forte!

[Darren]

Sorry. I guess I'm just not sure what else there is for us to do right now. I can't see badgering Larest any further, and practically speaking, Kal is half dead, meaning he's probably not going to pursue studying rituals with Sem right now.

Add to that the fact that I haven't been doing much other than working lately and I guess it adds up to uninteresting role playing right now.

[Jeff]

That's fine. Those who wish to interact can interact. And when they're not...time will shoot on by. I'm just trying to dispel the ridiculous notion that when there's no combat or resting-for-combat, there's nothing going on.

[Dave W.]

We should take a short rest and burn off some healing surges so we're not half dead if something happens (plus we get our encounter powers back). Then we can talk about what to do next.

Technically you can get more than one long rest in per day but they are supposed to be separated by at least 12 hours.

[Jeff]

Actually, you do make a good point, Dave.

If you guys want, you can take an extended rest now: hole up in your cabin for 6 hours. It doesn't have to mean sleep, just total inactivity except for talk (if you want). Then you it'd be like 6pm and you'd be fully recovered, mechanically speaking. So you could have your powers back by evening.

But then you couldn't do an extended rest against until noon the following day. Your call.