DM themed play-by-post D&D game : OOC thread

[beowuuf]

You know that right (as per the map) leads eventually back to where the grak-graks and Trolins were. There is certainly a way out of the cavern and back to the dungeon that way. And perhaps even pick up again with your 'guides'.

Left, you have no clue - I need to consult the map to see if you can spot a similar crack/cave opening as Haynuus can from where you are. Certainly one exists as the top and bottom ledge join with a common outer wall.

Basically, to detect Haynuus, Ameena's hearing and smell are probably best. With a good perception roll, Ameena might hear the general yells and stuff from the left, and there's an outside chance of scenting Haynuus on the air. She'd need to be uninterrupted, and certainly away from strong sounds and smells.

So yeah, if Westian can keep the undead and wasp focused on him (and away from Ameena and her nose), and as long as Ameena stays relatively close to the edge (and doens't go too far back into the cavern wall, nor go too close to the cascade) you might be able to spot where Haynuus is.

Or, you know, if Haynuus falls off the ledge and plummets to the cavern floor, you might just spot that

[oh_brother]

"We can leave the rope, I have some more...."

*Waits for beo to laugh in his face when he produces a puzzle that can only be solved with two pieces of rope*

[beowuuf]

I would never do that. I'd make sure the drop was 150 foot anyway. You an survive 10d6 damage instead of 5d6, right?

[beowuuf]

Just to warn you guys, I'll be taking my birthday off, and the previous day (26th - 27th July). I might not be aroudn to update at the start of the week, will see how I feel


Anyway, while the cavern area does not necessarily have to be coming to an end, at least we can probably say the protracted encounter started in it had finished. Umm, except for the lingering undead.

Everyone still remember who they are (as players, forget characters!) and what the whole purpose of this trip was? I haven't even checked how long that last section actually took. From my end, it's been fun to attempt to kill you all with lots of nasty critters. And, as expected, failing *sigh* Everything ok your end with it?

[ian_scho]

HEh, enjoy your birthday!
Do you go for the intravenous drip for continuous alcohol consumption over the 24 hours?

[beowuuf]

Nah, probably cherry coke intravenous drip

[Ameena]

I'm a little vague on how these ledges go, with this crack and everything - do the upper and lower ledges actually converge together somehow, and where is the crack? I mean, do the ledges run into a wall and there's a crack in it, or do the ledges follow along the wall and continue past the crack? Or erm...do the ledges follow their own courses into the crack and so it becomes a two-level tunnel with each path having no direct access to the other? Can we get a picture?

[oh_brother]

Everyone still remember who they are (as players, forget characters!) and what the whole purpose of this trip was? I haven't even checked how long that last section actually took. From my end, it's been fun to attempt to kill you all with lots of nasty critters. And, as expected, failing *sigh* Everything ok your end with it?

I remember who my character is and what he is doing. His name is Westian Dallomain. His name is Westian Dallomain.

And I really enjoyed the encounter. Good fights - not too tough (so you had the satisfaction of making a difference) but too easy.

And you certainly deserve a break, I must say that you are putting a lot of effort into the game, especially when you count all the side threads. It is appreciated!

[beowuuf]

Sadly the side threads are a little easier right now because money is still absent Glad you are enjoying it though! Fights are tricky, I think it worked out well that a good hit to you guys would have been felt in your ability scores (Like Hyanuus still feels!) but that the monsters were weaker otherwise to you guys (one to one, at least) so there were something you can take down.

And woohoo! Early finish at work! Just putting last touches to a few things, then I can catch the earlier showing of inception. So yeah, update later in the evening...sprry I missed a lunchtime update.


@Ameena: Hard to draw, I have no talent (especially not with a mouse and drawing package) and no scanner for hand drawn stuff.

Basically, imagine the bottom level where Ameena and Westian is has the 'proper' outer wall. Much of the bottom area is a set of caverns though, so they have an individual roof that then terminates much closer to the water's edge.

The further 'wall' that forms the wall for Haynuus's ledge is therefore much closer to the water's edge. Obviously, the upper ledge they goes out further still.

At the point where you are almost at, these mini-caverns end for a moment, so the common wall of the lower area and higher area is the same. Therefore, all you have is a ledge above you slowly sloping outwards, not a ceiling.

I doubt you could actually see Haynuus and friends unless they actually stood on the edge while you were on the water's edge, but that is why its much easier to hear him and his companions now.

Sorry, it's probably still confusing - I will try and find a good picture, or draw something reasonable, to let you get the idea for it. Thank goodness we didn't end up having you lot spread about the three levels!

[Ameena]

Umm, yeah, that's still kinda confusing, but I'll just sort of muddle it along for now. So basically does the lower wall sort of arc overhead (above Ameena and Westy), forming a sort of ceiling but it's actually the ledge with all the Screamers and weird tentacle thingys and Haynuus and the Trolls and stuff?
Anyway, I'll just post an IC to respond to Westy...

[beowuuf]

The ceiling above Ameena and Westian previously is mostly solid rock. The solid rock ends, and then the ledge Haynuus is on forms a further peak. Because it is a ledge, it would look different to Ameenas and Westian, and be obviously slopping upwards. If I can figure a way to draw it or find it, I will. Like I said, using the mouse combined with my poor drawing skills anyway is not a good combination for trying ot draw a 'realistic' version to show you. I'll look for piccies.

[ian_scho]

I really enjoyed the mini-critter section... Although Haynuus appears to be surrounded by big critters now! With the smaller critters you had a bit more leeway to play around with your character more, if you see what I mean. Haynuus is going to try to fish out Aurek if at all possible though!
Love the maps.

[beowuuf]

Lol, well, do remember that even though Haynuus is surrounded by 'big' critters, Haynuus is still no slouch. A clue might be that he's just done a run successfully that the Trolins seem in awe of

[beowuuf]

Cool, I managed to get a hold of a phot-realistic drawing that represents what the cavern wall looks like most of the time.



The ledge slope isn't maybe quite that severe (remember there's 30 - 50 feet of height to play with there) but that's the basic idea. Obviously, the area you are actually at now has the outer cavern wall and the ledge wall the same, so all you have is a section of wall, and then the gentle slope of the ledge eventually forming higher up. It's open enough not to feel like a ceiling in this case.

The crack itself is simply a set of cracks going up the outer wall.


Anyway, I think I might post a further IC update perhaps just clarifying all the stuff and everyone's options a little

[Ameena]

Ahhh, now it makes sense, lol. Okay, now I get it . So basically, the bit where Ameena and Westy are atm doesn't have the "mini-cavern ceiling" as such, just the outer wall curves all the way around to eventually form the ledge as well (from their PoV down below, that is). Well, meanwhile we have an undead thingy to gank...and this time without the bonus of my BS damage, so we'd better get some good rolls (hey, I can do a whole three damage! ).

[beowuuf]

Exactly

[raixel]

I hereby title that drawing 'Beo's Picasso Caves'

actually, its amazing what you can do with a paint prog and a few lines.

[Ameena]

Hehe, reminds me of the avatar I made myself for another forum a few years ago - it was just a black background with a few grey lines (and a couple of green ones) drawn on and then smudged, and someone told me it looked really cool.

[beowuuf]

Lol, remember when everyone had Ameena made avatars for a while? Infact, doens't Trantor still use his? I think I lost mine back when we were doing....something... and I since swapped back to the boring original one.

Actually...maybe that 'cave' picture was my own attempt at an avatar, and your cave picture is elsewhere... so hard to tell with my wonderful art

[Ameena]

Hehe...yeah, I remember randomly drawing pics of everyone based on their avatars...I did you, Cows, Trant, Gambit, Zyx, Sera, PaulH erm...Selie...umm, and maybe one or two others...I can't remember now. I've still got 'em all on my comp, anyway.

[raixel]

@beo LOL

@Ameena If I ask real nicely, can you show me how to make a custom avatar?

EDIT: NM, I figured it out. Check me out! Still wish i had a custom Petal, or I could upload a drawing I did of Mini-Chaos. (I have no webspace)

[Ameena]

You can e-mail your pic to someone who does have a hosting space, though - I think it was either Wuffy or Gambit who sorted mine. The avatars I did of some people were just crappy pics I did in Paintbrush and then put up on Photoshop and linked in a thread on here somewhere - those people who decided they wanted to make avatars out of them then did so .

[beowuuf]

Indeed, if you e-mail me at beowuuf at yahoo, I can host it for you. Wee, mini-Chaos!

[beowuuf]

Lol, this should be an easy update, but will get interrupted by the phone, plus have a new map to do. So yeah - sorry to leave Haynuus in bullet time saying 'coo-eeeey' expectantly I'll try to make this wonderfully short and brutal for you all!

[beowuuf]

I hope the maps are readable enough. I'm making the two maps co-exist, and simply adjusting the transparency of the top to let you see where you are but also where everyone else is. It might help if you guys start going top and bottom. Or if something else does

I haven't added grid references, etc. Yell if you think you'll need them (the map is larger than seen, to account for you guys perhaps moving off one way or the other). Also, I haven't listed the stats of the combattants. Ian, yell if you would liek that information, or if you are happier to go back to the narrative only desacriptions again.

Still, for reference:

T1 = Trolin leader
T2 = Trolin gurgling laugher
T3 = injured Trolin coward
T4 = male crossbow wielder
T5 = female crossbow wielder

U1 = undead facing Westian/Ameena
U2 - 4 = undead facing Trolins and Haynuus.

The crack is visible on both maps, the bottom crack seems longer than the top crack.

[Ameena]

Hehe, you're doing what the main GM bloke does at the club I go to - let people give their characters all kinds of funky stuff, then put them a situation where they can't use it .
Give us more living mobs with vulnerable spots, dammit, lol.

[beowuuf]

Oh yeah, I'm gunna give the rogue automatic 3d6 damage all the time. Then again, if the critters are gunna do 10 hp damage in return, that might be a fair exchange! I gave you leeches (well, not you, OB got those), just have patience.

Anyway, let's list the foes Ameena has had to face - Trolins (vulnerable), mummy (not), soldiers (vulnerable), more soldiers (vulnerable), oitu (vulnerable), grak-grak (not), wasp (vulnerable), leeches (super-vulnerable), hooting things (not). I think I've done ok by you can I help it if you like to befriend and run away from stuff more than stab it?

[Ameena]

Lol hey, not all DnD characters are ones who like to delve into combat .
And ouch, btw, Ameena is now on 13/23hp (with one point of non-lethal damage on top of that, I think from when she half-fell off the rock face in climbing down to help Westian after he slipped).
If Ameena decides to use her healing potion at some point during combat, what kind of action would that be? Do you have Minor actions in 3.5? Actually, for her, I think drinking a potion would probably (at least, in terms of realistic character movement) be something longer than a standard action, since she has to prise the cork out, lift up the flask with both hands, tip it up, and then carefully lap up the potion as it trickles out - she physically can't just hoik it back and swig it all in one go (though I imagine in this case the mechanics will technically work in her favour) .

[ian_scho]

Apparently the rogues were a bit too powerful in 3.5? That and a shape-shifting druid with 10 hit dice -> Hydra.
No problems with the lack of hp scores. Maybe a visual indication that the creature is 'bloodied'? But not important.
Screamers aren't vulnerable to bs are they?

[beowuuf]

The sneak attack is pretty powerful, though can be bypassed by certain critters. But yeah, rogues in certain situations could be overpowered. I think wildshape in 3.0 was overpowered to being ridiculopus, but might still have been a problem in 3.5. Clerics are also regarded as being overpowered too.

Screamers, as plants, are immune to critical hits (and so sneak attacking).


Swigging a potion is a move action that draws an AoO. Remember part of the narrative for this game is that you are supposed to be splash the potion your wounds aswell as drink it, and there isn't actually that much liquid at all.