Chapter 9: Q&A / Discussions

[Darren]

Jeff, I tried searching for it, but couldn't find it. What's the rule on using fire powers underwater?

Also, I guess I never actually stated again that Kal would use Dragonflame Mantle if he got hit by lacedon #2. I had said it earlier. Can it still be applied?

[Ken]

Oh, Darren, you're incorrigible. Rules on underwater combat here:
ashlock.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=gameplay&thread=217&page=4#16324

[Jeff]

Thanks for linking to that, Ken.

Oct 25, 2011 11:37:17 GMT -4 Darren said:

Also, I guess I never actually stated again that Kal would use Dragonflame Mantle if he got hit by lacedon #2. I had said it earlier. Can it still be applied?

Reminders help, definitely. I've applied it now. A shame the +1 defense didn't prevent the hit altogether, which this power can at times.

[Brian]

Oh oh oh, can I be commanded by Belarin? Please, now that I'm partly dead, maybe he can give me a part-order? ;D

Sometimes I'm so funny I forget to laugh at myself.

[Ken]

I have stats for a tiefling skeleton, Brian. Just say the word! ;D

[Ken]

In the interest of fairness, I guess I should point out that more of us should be taking necrotic damage from being in the death area.

[Ken]

This is damn cool stuff, Jeff.

Hey, can Belarin attempt again to control #3? Or is essentially a one-attempt deal? That's fine if so; I just want to manage Belarin's next actions correctly.

[Jeff]

Thanks, Ken.

And as I mentioned to you, I wanted to mention to all of you: Sometimes it's okay to just get out of Dodge. Not every encounter is about killing the monster, especially a very tough solo monster that's being fought not solo. Plus, this battle has obviously been harder because of your earlier fight. (But dealing with Sarquaa so definitively now means you won't be dealing with him later, as you would have. )

Belarin can't make successive attempts to control the lacedons, nope. Not now, anyway. Only that one is still under his influence.

[Dave B.]

Doesn't Kal have Unseen Servant? If so, could it help in rescuing Adamant or maybe even some of the fallen treasure?

[Darren]

I thought about that, but the one from earlier is gone, and Kal wouldn't have the time to create a new one. Plus, he doesn't have the components or focus for it.

[Ken]

/tossing coins on the poker table

Belarin will see Kal's Unseen Servant... and raise him one Smelly Undead Servant.

[Ken]

I just re-read the Heal description in the PHB. Holy crap... this skill is more useful in combat than I thought! I had only been thinking in terms of stabilizing a dying character, but it can also:

• Allow an adjacent character to use his or her second wind without spending an action. DC 10. (The PC wouldn't get the +2 to defenses, but still, not bad.)
  
• Allow an adjacent character to immediately make a saving throw or get a +2 bonus to the next saving throw before the end of that character's turn. DC 15.

I can even picture a couple of occasions in this fight where it might have been handy. So if your PC is ever weakened or otherwise unable to help much in a fight... walk up to a buddy and slap a 4E band-aid on 'em!

[Ken]

Oct 26, 2011 16:12:46 GMT -4 Darren said:

Guys, if the kraken doesn't accept H'raska's sacrifice, I think it's time to go. I suggest full retreat back towards the bubble and then we move as fast as we can out of here.

Abso-LUTE-ly. Time to leave.

There's still one lacedon (the one who just came back) that's not even close to going down. Once Adamant is safe, Belarin will likely command his ghoul to attack its disobedient buddy, but it'll still be on the loose for a couple of rounds until then.

[Jeff]

Darren, I haven't forgot about your character sheet's formatting. I may use the opportunity to experiment with new arrangements. (Suggestions welcome. What would make it easier for you to know wh at the rules are for your character?)

Just bear with me.

[Brian]

Joe:

Streko will move to Kal and place Therendor agaisnt the Kraken's tentacle.

I swear, Joe. When I first read this sentence, I thought you'd written "the Kraken's testicle."

I was going to give you props for being bold and daring.

[Jeff]

Oct 26, 2011 21:08:56 GMT -4 Brian said:

Joe:

Streko will move to Kal and place Therendor agaisnt the Kraken's tentacle.

I swear, Joe. When I first read this sentence, I thought you'd written "the Kraken's testicle."

I was going to give you props for being bold and daring.

Hey, if you can find that, more power to you.

[Dave W.]

I'm all in for bugging out...

[Dave B.]

Condign's stabilized. Let's get the hell out of here. But, someone please grab some of the dropped treasure or Shorak may have to cry.

[Darren]

I agree with that, Dave. Assuming we can actually get to it. Didn't most of it go over the edge?

[Ken]

Jeff's post suggests that there might be a couple of goodies stuck in the seaweed near the edge. Perhaps Belarin's new friend can look for stuff after Adamant is safe.

Whoa, rough combat! But we survived! Barely. Well done, Jeff. Well done, everyone. We persevered despite the biggest group collection of bad rolls I've ever seen in this campaign.

[Mike]

Oct 27, 2011 9:40:02 GMT -4 Ken said:

We persevered despite the biggest group collection of bad rolls I've ever seen in this campaign.

And that's saying something!

For awhile there, I wasn't sure I was going to have a group to come back to!

[Darren]

Seriously. I kind of thought we were toast. We really have to thank Jeff for giving us the out. A lot of other DM's probably would have just killed us.

Good to see you posting again, Mike. Does this mean you might be coming back soon?

EDIT: This is what happens when I post before reading all of the new posts again, first. Well, congratulations on everything!

[Jeff]

Well, I didn't just give you an out. Certain aspects of this encounter were built in. You're not supposed to be able to just kill this kraken. But it can still kill you if you make consecutive bad calls....

[Brian]

I thought that was one of our best combat encounters. Much like the otyugh battle. Well done, all!

[Jeff]

Nov 2, 2011 13:51:29 GMT -4 Darren said:

"My friends," Kal says quickly, "we do not have another fight in us. Gather close to the center of the bubble. I do not imagine sharks are keen to come out of the water. I'm moving it up, so be prepared to swim up with it....."

With that, Kal begins to slowly cause the Sphere of Life to ascend, watching to make sure that everyone can safely stay inside of it.

Do bear in mind that when the bubble isn't on the ground, you have to tread water to keep up with it by clustering up at the bottom. You don't just float in the middle. Gravity is still involved. So even if you "stand still" during your road, you have to use a move action to try and stay with the bubble or be left behind. And you can bet the sharks will get their +2 aquatic bonus against you if you're fighting this way.

Like this.

[Darren]

Yeah, that's sort of what I figured. Not sure what else to do, though. Unless you guys want to try fighting the sharks before heading for the surface? Maybe if we bloody one of them, it'll drive the others to attack that one, instead. Not sure how D&D sharks work compared with real sharks.

[Jeff]

D&D sharks can shoot frickin' spells from their heads.

[Darren]

Well, thank god we haven't encountered any ill-tempered sea bass.

;D

[Brian]

These are just regular sharks. They swim, eat and make little sharks. Can't someone just stick an arrow in them. If they behave like normal, non-Jeff-wants-to-kill-us sharks, that should drive them off.

Most wild animals will avoid anything that they think will be dangerous or cause pain.

[Darren]

We could try it, but one of the sharks is "four times Adamant's size".