OOTS #1075 - The Discussion Thread

[T.G. Oskar]

Nice! Out of curiosity, if you were to put a number on it, what would you put as the circumstance modifier Roy got to bull rush that giant?

(I will accept 'just enough' as an answer )

3.5 Mentality: "Well, a frost giant is Large, with Str 29 as a base, so that's a +9 raw bonus to Strength, and Roy is one size category smaller so there's a –4 penalty on the bull rush attempt. Assuming Roy has a Strength of 20 (just as a fair measure), the bonus has to be at least of +9 to make things even. Since Roy was charging for his bull rush, that accounts for a +4 bonus already, so that means at least a +5 – meaning a +2 circumstance bonus and an additional +3 morale or competence bonus from Bandana. Or, that can help as Aid Another. That makes the Strength bonuses relatively fair, so..."

5th Ed. Mentality: "Bandana used Help on Roy. Advantage on Strength checks. Roy rolls twice and takes the better result."

...Take your pick, but the latter one is so much easier to explain.

[Jasdoif]

But they can't afford to resurrect Durkon anymore.

True, depending I guess on how much treasure the giant casters had on hand; but the Order being down 5,000gp or more, and Roy being down a level, are going to make it harder to deal with HPoH (and subsequently to resurrect Durkon) and Xykon.

[Samzat]

Take notes, Andi, THAT is how you captain!

[skaddix]

Glad to see Elan is still Elan.

[Forikroder]

Well, I guess if they can afford to resurrect Durkon, they can afford to raise Roy. I think Roy might have a problem with that though.

who said anything about ressurection? he can survive the fall just fine and then haley or V can grab him later

[Grey Watcher]

Roy fights with such wit and charm. It's truly disarming.

[Shining Wrath]

Roy fights with such wit and charm. It's truly disarming.

Furkini Menace lost her weapon, too, so maybe it's just something that happens in OotS-verse when falling; your weapon falls at a different speed than you do.

[Riftwolf]

I dunno; the last time a chaotic evil forum favourite dropped into a ravine with a river at the bottom, I remember them just climbing back out again.

[Riftwolf]

Roy fights with such wit and charm. It's truly disarming.

You've got to hand it to him. Because he'd provoke an AOO if he tried to pick it up himself.

[ChillerInstinct]

Well, that's that taken care of, at least for the moment.

Zero points for guessing that Frostie survives the fall, but the question will be, will she make it back to her clan (giving us at home an excuse to see the inner workings of Frost Giant society, as well as possibly Thrym's reasons for siding with Hel), or be picked off by the other three as they catch up?

I'm hoping for the former.

[Peelee]

One comic with Bandana back as Captain and the situation immediately improves bigly.

She'll do so much winning, believe me.

[happycrow]

Somebody took the Leadership Feat, I see.

::claps::

[daemonvatis]

Nice! Out of curiosity, if you were to put a number on it, what would you put as the circumstance modifier Roy got to bull rush that giant?

(I will accept 'just enough' as an answer )

As a 3.5 DM, I would say +4. Ship turning feels like it's worth more than +2 (the usual standard), so the next standard is +4.

[Anarion]

Ah, sweet, sweet competence. So beautiful. So rare.

[St Fan]

3.5 Mentality: "Well, a frost giant is Large, with Str 29 as a base, so that's a +9 raw bonus to Strength, and Roy is one size category smaller so there's a –4 penalty on the bull rush attempt. Assuming Roy has a Strength of 20 (just as a fair measure), the bonus has to be at least of +9 to make things even. Since Roy was charging for his bull rush, that accounts for a +4 bonus already, so that means at least a +5 – meaning a +2 circumstance bonus and an additional +3 morale or competence bonus from Bandana. Or, that can help as Aid Another. That makes the Strength bonuses relatively fair, so..."

5th Ed. Mentality: "Bandana used Help on Roy. Advantage on Strength checks. Roy rolls twice and takes the better result."

...Take your pick, but the latter one is so much easier to explain.

Except that Roy has a Belt of Giant Strength. As he says, his Strength is comparable to that of the giantess, she just has the advantage on mass.

[Akal Saris]

3.5 Mentality: "Well, a frost giant is Large, with Str 29 as a base, so that's a +9 raw bonus to Strength, and Roy is one size category smaller so there's a –4 penalty on the bull rush attempt. Assuming Roy has a Strength of 20 (just as a fair measure), the bonus has to be at least of +9 to make things even. Since Roy was charging for his bull rush, that accounts for a +4 bonus already, so that means at least a +5 – meaning a +2 circumstance bonus and an additional +3 morale or competence bonus from Bandana. Or, that can help as Aid Another. That makes the Strength bonuses relatively fair, so..."

5th Ed. Mentality: "Bandana used Help on Roy. Advantage on Strength checks. Roy rolls twice and takes the better result."

...Take your pick, but the latter one is so much easier to explain.

Also, if it were 3.5, Roy would take 2 AOO's for moving out of and into a large creature's threatened squares :P (I'll assume he has improved bull rush and doesn't provoke a 3rd one for doing so untrained)

[Jasdoif]

he can survive the fall just fine

Somewhere between falling damage and still having the frost giantess to deal with, I think a dead Roy would be far more likely.

[denthor]

well I think we found Rich's favorite NPC right here

[danielxcutter]

Oh come on Bandanna, as the current captain of the Mechane you should know that dropping antagonists from high places is never permanent!

Just joking of course; the most urgent problem is getting Furkini off. Even a temporary solution is good enough for now.

[ti'esar]

...man, Andi got owned.

[Gift Jeraff]

I hope the frost giantess survives, finds the Greenhilt sword, claims it as her own, and swears a Blood Oath of Vengeance against Roy.

[Lethologica]

Excellent illustration of the power of vehicles, even over those inside them. Reminds me of the Larry Niven short story, "The Deadlier Weapon."

[Jaxzan Proditor]

Looks like Andi's days of taking Bandana seriously are coming to a beginning. I can't believe that Roy managed to lose another sword. Those things don't just grow on trees, you know! I guess that last remaining concerns are where the heck the rest of the party managed to get to.

[Lord_Drayakir]

Okay, now this is **** writing. A fighter who went to fighter college is taking tactical advice from a Literal Who NPC who is suddenly more competent than him?

[JumboWheat01]

Roy was taught tactics on solid surfaces, and put points in Knowledge (Architecture). The momentum of a flying ship is something he never trained for or studied.

[Going Hereward]

Okay, now this is **** writing. A fighter who went to fighter college is taking tactical advice from a Literal Who NPC who is suddenly more competent than him?

Rather than think in terms of game rules, I'd rather point out Roy was probably overloaded on credits and didn't bother with all those ship combat feats I usually gloss over.

He also had to squeeze an MBA in there.

[Shining Wrath]

Okay, now this is **** writing. A fighter who went to fighter college is taking tactical advice from a Literal Who NPC who is suddenly more competent than him?

First, we have observed Bandana fighting competently alongside Haley against Crystal. Bandana has levels (probably 10+) in something, quite likely Rogue. Rogues know about sneak attacks.
Secondly, what Roy does not know and could not know is the turning radius of the Mechane when the tiller is spun, and the probable centrifugal force applied to the giantess from that action. We aren't even clear where Roy and Furkini were relative to the center of mass of the vehicle, nor whether or not a flying airship carried by a helium bag heels over when making a sharp maneuver in the manner of an airplane.
Thirdly, someone with 52 appearances per this is hardly "Literal Who NPC".

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Okay, now this is **** writing. A fighter who went to fighter college is taking tactical advice from a Literal Who NPC who is suddenly more competent than him?

You are seriously asking how a person that has spent her entire life on a flying pirate ship can know more tactical options in such a fight than a guy whose never before had to fight in one?

Do tell what books/comics/etc. you have written to your non-**** standards, so I can avoid them in the future. You clearly have no writing ability.

GW

[Skelechicken]

Okay, now this is **** writing. A fighter who went to fighter college is taking tactical advice from a Literal Who NPC who is suddenly more competent than him?

It helps to look at it less as Bandanna telling Roy what to do and more as Bandanna informing Roy that the tactical situation has changed. She is telling Roy that if he prioritizes shoving the giant she will be able to provide a tactical edge that she was unable to before. She's just doing it in the Cool Pirate Adventure™ way where she gets to be kinda snarky about it.

[WindStruck]

I love Elan's last line!

Xykon can fly up to the ship, sure! But magic can be neutralized....