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

[beowuuf]

Regarding skill points, in your character sheets you will see a few things in brackets around your skill. The number in brackets is the number of ranks you possess. Sometimes, some of you get bonuses to skills you don't have ranks in, so sometimes you will see (0) even if you have that skill listed.

If a skill has (CC) beside it, it means it's a 'cross class' skill. You need to put two points into it to gain a rank. At 2nd level, you may only have 2.5 ranks in cross class skills (ie, you could 'store' a point for now, and add another point later. You get no additional bonus for .5 ranks)!

Otherwise, one skill point buys one rank. You may have up to 5 ranks in a skill at 2nd level. Some skills start generating cool bonuses to other skills/abilities if you have 5 ranks in them. Ask me about a skill if you like, or I cna let you know if you have any new bonuses if you are assigning them based on RP.

Incase you forget, each rank in a skill gives you a +1 bonus. Adjust your final skill bonus accordingly after you've added your skill points.

[beowuuf]

Sorry for all the posts, last one, I promis (for now...)

@ Beowuuf, I have been thinking about the RP aspect, and agree that we could easily spend a week chatting to each other (since it is one post per day). So you are saying we summarise our discussions in the OOC thread?

I don't want to be too harsh one way or the other, especially if you have a good RP session going. Certainly if the whole group wants to chat, you'd need to slow the pace down to one main post each day so no one gets left behind, but otherwise I'd let the game time slow down for that week (just like your introductions). I think everyone can agree you will naturally feel restless if it goes on too long anyway. If you split off into smaller groups, you can probably post a bit more if two of you are around bouncing chat between you, as long as you summarise it in the OOC for those who find a wall of text the next day!

In general, the best way to handle this would be to directly post a narrative summary in the story thread, but include any conversational hooks. The best of both worlds.

Eg: Westian followed Falkor around like a lost dog. The cleric spoke at length about his attempts to remember the basic building blocks of magic, telling the wizard - when the wizard wanted to listen - of the runes he had already recalled.

"My school teachers were very harsh, how were yours?" asked Westian to Faklor during the deluge of words.



That way, you still get some RP and give money some hooks to RP against so it is not all dry narrative, but you can also cover the ground you want to that would otherwise take a week of roleplaying, that isn't actually essential to anything except furthering the plot/game mechanics.

Someone like Ameena, who would want to tailor the conversation to what is happening with others, could post several versions of the narrative story in the OOC thread, with some conversational hooks, and that would allow the players to know the possible interractiosn there.

As DM, I'll certainly include any summaries like in the story thread when I do an update if they haven't been done already.

Wow, I really love to see myself type, don't I?

[oh_brother]

Westian got 7+1 = 8 hit points.
Skills: 2 points in bluff (= 1 rank because it is CC), 1 point in diplomacy. These were the main skills Westian used so far.

I rolled a d20 for the next check that needs to be made, got an 18. Really, if I was rolling these dice myself I would feel bad with such good rolls - I would probably re-roll some of them in case people thought I was cheating! But honestly, I don't think you can cheat with invisible castle.

[beowuuf]

Well, you can, it's just very traceable if anyone cares to look. Another GM said something interesting about not being able to trace cheating. If you cheat, it's too easy, it would get boring, the person would leave, end of story

Nice roll, don't worry about it, I love making you waste them on stuff like this so my next critter will be safe!

[oh_brother]

Actually I just calculated my average d20 roll, on invisible castle it is 11.9, so not that much above the expectation of 10.5. If you count the 4 I rolled on the non-invisible castle site it goes down to 11.1.... And that is only with 9 (or 10) rolls, I am sure when I reach a more statistically significant number of rolls it will get down to about 10.5!

Edit: Sorry, mis-calculated. My average (invisible castle) is 14, my average (total) is 13. Clearly I can't count, even with a calculator!

[beowuuf]

Don't worry, you guys have rolled some stinkers too, just they seemed to have co-incided with my stinkers! Let's look to Haynuus's intimidation and my 1 shall we

[beowuuf]

Apologies to Ian for the wall of text he will have to read!

Once Ian and Ameena have outlined their actions, or have started an RP conversation (either way) I think we can move on with an update tomorrow. Money, you have some flavour text for your own action. As you might spot, you will need to keep checking alcoves to get something useful.

Oh_brother, if, for the sake of argument, Falkor was ignoring Westian, would Westian keep following him and talking in the hope that one of them would still get reminded, would Westian also check out the alcoves or art (or both) or would he try a different action like check the tunnel onwards?

As a reminder, the tunnels onwards seem to have their own illumination, so the torch can stay in the current room without worry for now.

[oh_brother]

Just up-dated the story thread. Westian is following Falkor around, if Falkor does not pay any attention he will focus on the alcoves Falkor is looking at.

[Ameena]

Right, so, going by how I think I'm supposed to do this...rolling a 1d6 for my hp is a...HA! A rather pathetic 1, lol. Umm...I can't really subtract two from that...
Nine extra skill points, you say? I get that the 1 comes from my Int skill but what about the 8? Anyway, nine skill points...what are my skills...yes I am doing this as I type. Let me check my profile...erm, actually, I can't remember how many skill points I'm allowed to put into something. Bugger. Am I allowed to increase stuff that I already put four points into? Sorry, it's gone midnight and I should be going to bed, lol. Especially as I have work on Tuesday and should really be trying to get my sleep patterns back in that direction .
And then the +1 to attack bonuses (boni?) and one +1 to reflex. Just writing that in here so I have it summarised alongside the rest. I'm not editing my profile in the actual Word file till I know I've done it right, otherwise I'll just mess it up. Although considering I just copied and pasted it from the post Wuffy made in the characters thread, that's probably not too much of a disaster at this stage .
So...wtf am I doing with my skills? I mean, how far can I increase them/ I seem to recall there was some formula involving half my level, but I can't remember. And how does my hp thing work since I rolled a one?

[beowuuf]

If you look at the class descripton, you'll see that:

Skill Points at Each Additional Level
8 + Int modifier.

For hp and skill points, you get a minimum of one point no matter the penalty. As said, I'm giving you a minimum of 4 hit points on your hit die rolls as a house rule, so your bad roll gets rounded up to 4hp, then the -2 is deducted so you gain 2hp!

You can increase your normal skills to 5 ranks (5), where each point gives you a rank. Anything with a (CC) you can only increase to (2.5), and each skill point gives you .5 ranks

[Ameena]

Ahh okay...right so...my hp increases to 6 then. +1 to attack bonuses and reflexes...and my skills will be erm... +1 to Acrobatics (making it 5), Thievery (also 5), Escape Artist (3), Stealth (another 5), and Perception (5 again), and then +2 to Sense Motive (makes that 5 too) and Sleight of Hand (makes it 3).
That alright?
Oh, and just because it's bugging me, what is the thing that decides the cap for a skill at a certain level? I mean, how do you get 5 as the max for my skills at level 2?

[beowuuf]

Class skills cap at 3+level, cross class skills cap at (3+level)/2.

Sounds good to me. Your 5 ranks in acrobatics gives you a bonus to AC if you fight defensively, which could be handy. I'll detail that more exactly later. I don't recall any other bonuses off the top of my head, I'll let you know if any exist! Remember to add the 'Evasion' ability Oh_brother mentioned. If you succeed in certain reflexes checks, you take no damage instead of half damage, which is cool

Anyway, get some sleep! I know I need it

[Ameena]

Yeah, I'll just make those changes to my profile. Oops yes, I forgot about Evasion. That was a Feat, wasn't it...

Edit - Where does it say what the bonuses are for what the skills are? Erm, I mean, my Perception was 4 so that gave a +5 to rolls. Has that gone up now I've put a point into it? Where do I look to see, or how do I work out, what the plus-to-roll bonus thingys are for various skill values?

[beowuuf]

Evasion is an ability (given by your rogue level).

There are a few things that add to your skills bonus (like your ability score bonuses). I left out the construction of the ultimate bonuses to make it easier to read. Anything you added ranks in, increase the bonuses by that amount too. As long as you increase the number in brackets aswell so I know how many ranks you have, it's easy to check the construction later

[beowuuf]

So, Falkor has an alcove plan! Do you all indulge?

Currently, Westian and Falkor's initial talk and investigation of the fifth alcove's engraving will take around 1- 2 minutes, allowing for Ameena and Haynuus's conversation. Obviously, Haynuus and Westian have already looked at the first alcove, and Falkor the sixth previously.

So, Falkor's investigation of the remaining alcoves will take @10 minutes if he finishes, or at least another 2 - 3 minutes as he checks out the most important one too him (the fourth).

Will Westian help look? Will Ameena and Haynuus?

Anyone not helping to look, please givea general idea of what you'd like to do in the next five - ten minutes. If it's just chatting and not looking at Alcoves, you'll get a perception check in a direction of your choosing (towards the alcoves, towards the old door, towards the new corridor, etc)

Summarising update tonight! For now keep RPing

[ian_scho]

Mr. Haynuus will probably continue chatting to Ameena, club in hand, while keeping an eye on the two entrances. He'll position himself so he can look down each one. This will enable others to do investigate more interesting things!

[beowuuf]

You may add the 'Security Guard' badge to your inventory, and gain +5 to knowledge checks about where things are in the mall.

Ok, I'll actually count you as taking 10 on perception checks due to being distracted by Ameena but generally aware. If I need a check for something specific, I'll probably make it in the background so you won't know if you failed. WAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!

I mean...as you were

[ian_scho]

Just as long as it isn't a test of intelligence...

[beowuuf]

I am sure before this game has finished, Haynuus's low intelligence will have saved the day

Money, oh_brother, as you may guess you have both already received roughly the same info on the alcove, so you can both comment on it without confusing the other

[beowuuf]

Ok, so just to give to framework to what's happened:

Immediately after combat (update given as needed in IC and OOC posts):
Westian suggested grabbing clubs and checking onwards, then went over to check the fifth aclove with Falkor
Falkor checked out the fifth alcove
Haynuus offered the club then torch to Ameena and chatted to Ameena
Ameena tried to chat to people, and ended up chatting to Haynuus

Next actions (update tonight)
Falkor will check the fourth alcove
Westian will check an alcove
Haynuus will stand guard and chat
Ameena chatting to Haynuus?

So, the questions for my next update are:
Ameena - will you be chatting with Haynuus or with Westian/Falkor (go ahead and make an IC post). Or something else? If you aren't doing anything major, I am already assuming you will be taking 10 sniffing the room further for clues.

Haynuus - did you keep a club?

Westian - which alcove will you check out? The same as Falkor (fourth), the next one along (the third against the right hand wall, bottom coner), or will you start going clockwise in opposition to Falkor, with the second (in the right wall, top corner)? And did you also pick up a club? Your 18 will stand for a knowledge (regilion) check once the alcoves have been checked.

Falkor seems to have his actions in hand, no more rolls are needed (assuming take 20 here, your previous roll will stand for knowledge (arcana) check will stand once all the alcoves are checked for further information).

[ian_scho]

Haynuus has the club.

[Ameena]

Just so you know, I've come to this thread after having already read and posted to the IC one. Woo, of all the characters, I thought it was least likely that Ameena would end up chatting to Haynuus - he just didn't seem like the conversational type. Well, though it's clear Ameena doesn't much like fighting, since she's now started to get to know at least one of the other members of the group, that will give her a reason to leap into action later, especially if it's Haynuus who comes under attack. Well, you know, unless he brought trouble on himself, in which case she might be a bit more wary .
There is another club, btw - of the three trolls, one legged it, one poofed for an unknown reason, and the other got ganked by Haynuus with the torch - so both of the latter trolls' clubs will be there. Haynuus grabbed one, we know. So maybe Westian can take the other? It's too big for Ameena and presumably Falkor too. And Ameena has already declined the torch for the same reason, and also because she doesn't really fancy carrying a flame about with her. She doesn't mind sitting round a campfire or something, but fire that you can carry and wave about and possibly accidentally hit someone with in the process she's a bit more wary of.
Since there is nothing else going on, no particular distractions, she maintains her constant listening and smelling for anything that might need her attention - her sort of automatic murafu instincts putting most of her senses on autopilot, like any wild creature needing to keep an ear out for predators, for example. So if something makes a noise in the next room, she's likely to notice it. Unless she gets another bloody crap Perception roll, I suppose. Do you need me to make another one anyway, for noticing stuff? I'll make one, just in case, and you can just use the number for whatever needs it next...now please, d20, give me a decent number...hrmm, 11...well that's better than average, I suppose, plus the whatever bonus I now get for Perception...

Edit - Oh, and I'll copy and paste my altered character thingy into the Characters thread, so you can see if I fooked it up or not .

[oh_brother]

Westian - which alcove will you check out? The same as Falkor (fourth), the next one along (the third against the right hand wall, bottom coner), or will you start going clockwise in opposition to Falkor, with the second (in the right wall, top corner)? And did you also pick up a club? Your 18 will stand for a knowledge (regilion) check once the alcoves have been checked.

Westian will pick up the spare club after examining the alcoves. He will go the opposite direction to Falkor around the alcoves, and before he starts will pray to Corellon Larethian to "open his mind to the mysteries before him", i.e. praying for guidance. I don't know how time is worked out out of combat, so maybe that is a full action? Don't know.

[ian_scho]

Haynuus has the torch

[beowuuf]

@Westain - it's a standard action, so out of combat it's negligable compared to your main activity. You still only get a few petitions per period of time (this is classed as a new encounter). You can frontload the same petition to use up all your available uses/encounter (so you could get +1 to four checks) or you can use them as and when. What you are doing is both easy and unhurried out of combat, so asking for guidance is essentially just an ability. In combat, or if you are seeking guidance on something questionable/difficult, I will get you to roll a check against knowledge (religeon)

Similarly to money, so of his abilties need rolls in combat because of 'attacking' an opponent and the fast pace of combat. Outside, more wizard effects will simply be automatically successful.

[Ameena]

I'm not really sure of the exact extent to which Ameena's memories are missing, but do I get to decide when she remembers something, or is that down to dice rolls? I didn't really decide exactly what it is she's forgotten, apart from details of past friends and other people she's been on good terms with - it's all just vague to her and she can't remember anything specific like names or places right now. Or maybe that is all she's forgotten, which is plenty enough for a social murafu. Or errm, mura-fooh or whatever Haynuus just called her .

[beowuuf]

Memory gaps are weird for the characters. They will remember all their old memories, except (in the spellcaster's case) the runes and magics they used to possess.

In Ameena's case, for some reason she doesn't really remember the faces of people who would have been 'current' companions. You can start relaxing older companions she may have had.

So Ameena's temporary amnesia of old places can fade, but as the DM I'll maybe let you know some specific memories from very recent events. As you may get from hints coming up today, Ameena can start getting the odd feeling she isn't among strangers after all.

[beowuuf]

Update done!

Ameena, your character post thingie looks fine, I've added the details of Evasion, and I also put back in your character bio for now since it's cool. If everyone else has seen it, and you want to take it out again, go ahead (it's your post now!).

Right, time for some food, etc although I'm around for questions, etc

[beowuuf]

Ian - your character sheet looked fine, I put notes just under it about your skill points. Haynuus is starting to look bad-ass from a hit point and attack skills perspective And of course he's just pretty funny outside of combat!

[Ameena]

I hadnt had any specific plans for anyone Ameena might have known. She wouldn't have been part of a travelling troupe of adventurers or anything like that - just a lone wanderer who'd occasionally bump into a fellow murafu, walk with them for a bit, eat, sleep, chat, that kind of thing. And sometimes she'd find an Other Race creature (human, elf, whatever) who didn't think she was some kind of vermin and she'd chat with them too. She was strictly in the "Meet people, learn stuff, eat food, have fun, resort to yoinking stuff if situation gets desperate" sort of department - combat only came into it, really, if there was no way she could avoid it, or if someone she counted as a "friend" got into trouble and she felt she should help them - she wouldn't have leapt to someone's aid (friend or not) if they'd started a bar fight or poked a sleeping troll or something.