Chapter 4 / Interlude 1: Discussion

[Jeff]

Gargoyle!?? You mean imp?

Hmmm. Just to clear up some confusion (and maybe time), just from the PCs' memory alone, I will tell you that there are no protrusions on the side of the book in the PCs' possession, not like the holes in hidden bookshelf niche would require.

Also, the imp said, in regards to the bookshelf "door": "There is another door in this room, but it is not a way out."

[Ken]

Okey doke. I've amended Belarin's comments from yesterday.

[Darren]

Not to be an XP obsessed person or anything, but Kal DID single-handedly take out an imp back there a few pages ago..... ;D


_____________
I originally typed XP w-h-o-r-e (without the hyphens), but the site changed the word to "sleeper". Weird.

[Jeff]

Ah, the upstart Mr. Sussman again.

I haven't forgotten. But I'm thinking I'm prefering to bundle up XP after a few encounters rather than doling it out per encounter. You'll get what's coming to you, Darren.

[Darren]

I always do.

[Marcy]

Jeff,

Can Charis tell if the prisoner is chained to the wall or if it is just whatever may be wrong with her legs that is keeping her from moving?

[Jeff]

Charis's best guess would be the latter, since she sees no actual shackles or chains within view. But then shackles could also be behind her, low on the wall.

[Ken]

Mike or Jeff:

I'm curious: What's avalanche strike? It sounds nasty, and it certainly came in handy just now.

[mike]

We 'upgraded' Torhak to the 4E Barbarian class that's currently in beta playtesting on the Wizards site (and is supposed to be in the forthcoming Player's Handbook 2). Avalanche Strike is an encounter power for the Barbarian class.

Avalanche Strike - Barbarian Attack 1
You drop your guard and put all your strength into a devastating overhead swing.
Encounter ♦ Primal, Weapon
Standard Action / Melee weapon
Target: One creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage.
Rageblood Vigor: The attack deals extra damage equal to your Constitution modifier.
Effect: Until the start of your next turn, any attacker gains a + 4 bonus to attack rolls against you.

[Jeff]

Which reminds me, Mike. I just updated your signature links to go to Torhak's updated character sheet.

[Marcy]

Jeff,

Is it possible to re-lock the cell door from the inside? Or to jam it/break the lock so that it can't be opened?

[Jeff]

She can lock it again, easily, having defeated it easily in the first place.

[Jeff]

So I could use some map feedback from you guys. I've been kind of just doing it my own way, but I need know: what works and what doesn't?

For example, in the past, when an enemy has fallen, I faded out their icon on the map for a round or two, then removed them completely. For this zombie fight, I took them out altogether so they don't clutter up the screen. But..does that make it hard to picture what's going on? Do you want to be able to see where fallen foes were?

That, or any other thoughts, are very welcome.

[Darren]

I think what you've been doing works great. I agree that this current fight would be too crazy with faded icons, and I haven't missed it, but normally it does help to see the faded ones.

[Ken]

What Darren said.

I too like seeing the "dead" icons, but there comes a point of diminishing returns in bigger battles like this one, so you made the right call here.

[Marcy]

Yeah, I think we can all imagine the zombie carpet with no problems.

I do have to say, though, that your turkey icon is creeping me out!

[Jeff]

By the way, I'll be rolling up the XP for the last couple fights after this one concludes. There you go, Darren.

[Darren]

Hooray!

I hope, once these zombies are gone, you don't feel the need to change your icon, because, well....that's just awesome.

[Darren]

Jeff, I apologize if this is a pain, but would it be possible for you to put up a larger map of the entire area of the current level that we have discovered? I'm slightly confused, because I had thought that the cell block corridor bent to the north, and now it's going south, so it would help to see the larger picture in order to clarify it for myself. Thanks!

[Marcy]

Dec 7, 2008 15:34:57 GMT -4 Darren said:

Jeff, I apologize if this is a pain, but would it be possible for you to put up a larger map of the entire area of the current level that we have discovered? I'm slightly confused, because I had thought that the cell block corridor bent to the north, and now it's going south, so it would help to see the larger picture in order to clarify it for myself. Thanks!

The corridor DOES bend north. The southern cells are those we just cleared out (hence the open door) and have since left behind. We are moving north to another hallway lined with cells with closed doors, behind which are more zombies, by the sound of it.

Does that help?

[Darren]

Ohhhh.....yes. That does help. I'm stupid. Thanks!

[Jeff]

Check the map again. I've expanded to show you where you've been, if it helps.

[Darren]

Yeah, it makes sense now. For some reason I just didn't get it. I was looking at it wrong. Stupid lack of spatial reasoning.

[mike]

Hey Jeff,

Check your PMs when you get a chance ... but the actions Torhak took is not exactly what I intended.

I wanted to set up for a charge next round, not get in Alvek's face this round.

C'est la vie. I know better for next time.

[Jeff]

Mike, no, it's not too late. It would have been more complicated if I'd calculated an attack this round, but this is just about Torhak's placement. I will remedy that.

Usually I do my best to interpret based on what's given me. I wasn't sure if "preparing to charge Alvek" meant this round or next. Anyway, that's exactly what this thread is for: setting me straight or getting clarity.

Also remember, if you charge you can only do a basic attack. No fancy powers!

[Jeff]

So Mike, what's Torhak going to do this next round? Charge = basic attack? I don't want to assume anything or make decisions for you guys.

[mike]

[quote}To Torhak (and Kal, if he can hear her), she yells, "The password for the gate is 'Evlorak!' Don't let ir'Turian escape!"[/quote]

Just so I'm clear, what's the timing on this?

Meaning, if Torhak hears this before taking his action, he'd yell out "Evlorak", hit rage mode, and then go after Alvek. Since Charis dropped below Torhak in initiative mode, though, I'm guessing he might not hear that (which means he's going after the ogre this round).

[Jeff]

Correct: since Charis is now after Torhak, he won't hear it until after he's attacked Gruus. But he will hear it.

[mike]

Cool. That's what I thought, but I wanted to confirm that.

[mike]

(a)nd finally he decides that his friends can handle the ogre, but the dwarf will need the assistance of his magic against ir'Turian ...

Darren, just to give you a heads-up - given a choice between "normal" ogre and Alvek, Torhak would've gone after Alvek. (He would've gone after the demonic creature originally, except the winds kept him from doing so.)

However, given the description of our now-demonically infused ogre ... there's no way that Torhak would leave his friends with such a creature. Alvek's already hurt. The ogre = big trouble.

I didn't want you to base your actions on the assumption that Torhak's still going after Alvek.