Into the Breach: OOC

[Bender]

Where do the ogres get their big logs? Do they have to go near/into a forest? Is there undergrowth?

And what do we put in the message for Hummy to carry to the keep?
Explain our mission and findings, with reference to Boomgren and. And ask for a return message with their situation and the whereabouts of the general.

[Darius]

Shep's best spell is still entangle vs. hobbos. He can take out the two catapults with warp wood.

It says this: Warped ranged weapons are useless and a large object counts as four small objects.

So, my question is are these large or bigger? If they are bigger, Shep can only take out one.

Also, would this count as an attack? Meaning - if Shep were invisible and then cast warp wood, would he turn visible? Shep would have to be close to cast it - getting there will be tough but doable. Maybe that alter self potion and the invisibility potion would help?

They are considered gargantuan (light trebuchet p.67 from Heroes of Battle) - but I will rule that two warp woods will be enought to disable one catapult.

Yes, Shep would turn visible since this is an attack on the object.

Jaeur knows this:
A trebuchet uses a heavy counterweight to fire heavy projectiles an extraordinary distance. The light trebuchet, by contrast, uses a bulb-shaped counterweight built into the swing arm. This arrangement makes the light trebuchet significantly easier to use than the heavy trebuchet but limits its range and can make the engine unstable if it’s not winched or loaded properly.

Loads of shot launched by a heavy trebuchet deal damage to all creatures within 10' (2 squares) of the target square. Loading a light trebuchet requires three full-round actions. Loading a heavy trebuchet requires six full-round actions. Reaiming a trebuchet requires four times as long as loading
it, and the weapon cannot be reaimed while it is loaded. If the check to load a light trebuchet fails drastically (by 5 or more) the weapon tips over and harms crew members (as well as any other creatures adjacent to it). Righting a fallen trebuchet requires an hour of work by its crew.

A light trebuchet takes up a 20-foot-by-20-foot space. It weighs a ton plus the counter weight (which weighs 3 tons). The minimum range is 125' (so being inside of this makes one safe) and the maximum range is 1250'.

I am not sure how to put this in game terms, but it has a hardness of 5 and 3200 HP.

They are constructing the devices now, so they will not be ready for the next day.

[Maryring]

Yeah, but my point remains that it incapitates one enemy for 1d4 rounds, or makes them shaken for 1 round, which means there needs to be cast another spell to take advantage of the hit on saving throws. Will that be more worth than... say another grease spell? That's what we should make sure before you ask her to prepare cause fear. She can't cast an unlimited amount of spells, so we need to make sure that each spells has as much effect as we can hope for.

Alter self and Detect thoughts can work though.

[Darius]

Where do the ogres get their big logs? Do they have to go near/into a forest? Is there undergrowth?

And what do we put in the message for Hummy to carry to the keep?
Explain our mission and findings, with reference to Boomgren and. And ask for a return message with their situation and the whereabouts of the general.

Ogres and hobgoblins have hauled some of the materials with them, but they will need to get more from the forest area beneath the hills (where you are hiding now). Rocks and weights were collected from Flinty Hills (near the fort).

[Bender]

Ok, so ambushing the ogres in the forest is an option. I'm afraid I'm leaving in a few moment. I should be able to post on monday.
Too bad I won't be around for this . Mellavin will gladly part with any supplies or scrolls he might have, and charge bravely into battle if that's the course of action.

do your best!

Cheers,
Bender

[Maryring]

Take care, and don't worry. We will take good care of Mellavin. See you again soon, and wish us luck.

Now to figure out a plan...

[Darius]

Sorry for the short notice - we had some major storms here this weekend and power outages (you probably heard about them if you are in the States).

Anyway, I am going to be off the grid until Thursday.

In game wise, plan how you wish to do things with the information that there is a small ground force of infantry and short range catapults and scorpions (spear throwing devices - pretty nasty) in the keep. Tracking by Jomei will reveal that the General is headed towards the last of the arrow attacks on the map (the other city), so getting cavalry may not happen (it may just be you). Two warp woods will take out one trebuchet. Taking out the ogres may be a good idea since they are the grunt force.

Communication between the keep and Hummy will work, and the keep is open to whatever help it can get since Gen. is off on other matters.

[LatemYvaeh]

Ok while taking the long search around the encampment I came up with a few ideas

1) with the information about where the general is heading we need to help the fort with out thought of reinforcements
2) The large siege engines are not completed therefore we can attack the ogres when they go to get more material
3) The worgs not the riders are key to the cavalry we need to kill them and worry about the riders second
4) Cutting part way through the ropes and bindings on the siege weapons may be more effective way of disabling them as what should happen is the first time they are fired they should fail with catastrophic results to those operating them

Darius when I made my scout did I find where the ogres are gathering the supplies and can we set up an ambush there?

[Maryring]

What about "fixing" the catapults. What kind of check would that require?

Anyway, we seem to be in some sort of bind. There aren't any leader characters posting, so Kirke won't be able to be used. What're you waiting for? Kirke is at your command. Give the message and she'll be throwing spells left and right while Hummy delivers that message.

[Darius]

Darius when I made my scout did I find where the ogres are gathering the supplies and can we set up an ambush there?

Yes - it is in a "secluded" spot where even if an alarm were raised, the group could hide and potentially lose those who tried to find the party.

What about "fixing" the catapults. What kind of check would that require?

This is the bind since the skill set to do that would be Disable Device (this encounter had insert Jaxal's moment to shine here).

However, you guys have come up with some viable solutions thus far. A marshal like Jaeur could do something untrained and a skill like Knowledge: Engineering would also be useful.

[Maryring]

I will be studying for an exam from tomorrow until Wedensday and I can't promise I will play, so NPC me if neccessary.

[Darius]

Thanks for the update, Maryring. Good luck and good studying to you.

[Maryring]

And as luck would have it, I'm being drafted of for a week (or more) of training in the military. Sorry about this. Feel free to NPC Kirke. Now our resident dwarf should return soon, so things should pick up. Sorry about this. The game is good, it is.

[Darius]

It looks like this game is dying. Who is still here?

[Vazzaroth]

I'm here. Griff doesn't have much of a mind for strategy on such a macro level...

[LatemYvaeh]

I am here was waiting on Jaeur the Marshall to make a post.

[GimliFett]

I am here was waiting on Jaeur the Marshall to make a post.

Agh. Sorry. I'll TRY to do one tonight (I'm at work and trying to walk out the door right now), but I'll promise one sometime before lunch (noon EST)!

[Margrave]

I am still here, too. See ooc note in the IC thread. Darius, I think you understand This weather has been terrible. I don't know what is going to happen with the prices of everything because of it. sigh

[Darius]

okay - glad to hear it (except for the water in the basement stuff). I know you are in the Midwest, Margrave, but we haven't been hit that hard. The lake by where I live is really high, and the rivers are flooding over, too. I live on an island, so it is pretty scary.

What I am going to do is recruit two or three more players in the mean time. They can be in the fort. However, we need a sneaky and a second arcane, I think. I will still be NPCing Kirke and Mellavin, but those two types of characters are crucial. We could take on a straight cleric, but Mel and Shep are doing fine.

Finally, family trip #2 (of 3) will be happening this Thursday to Thursday. I wanted to give you all a heads up.

[GimliFett]

okay - glad to hear it (except for the water in the basement stuff). I know you are in the Midwest, Margrave, but we haven't been hit that hard. The lake by where I live is really high, and the rivers are flooding over, too. I live on an island, so it is pretty scary.

What I am going to do is recruit two or three more players in the mean time. They can be in the fort. However, we need a sneaky and a second arcane, I think. I will still be NPCing Kirke and Mellavin, but those two types of characters are crucial. We could take on a straight cleric, but Mel and Shep are doing fine.

Finally, family trip #2 (of 3) will be happening this Thursday to Thursday. I wanted to give you all a heads up.

Sounds good.

To where are y'all headed this time, if I'm not prying overmuch?

[Bender]

Hi, just to say I'm finally back. I had almost no chance to access internet (absorbed by girlfriend, work and time-restriction). I'll read everything as fast as I can and resume posting.

cheers,
Bender

[Darius]

To where are y'all headed this time, if I'm not prying overmuch?

Just jumping on quickly to say the vacation looks to be extended a couple more days, so I may not be getting back on Thurs. More likely it will be the weekend.

Just got out of Atlanta and Charlotte - now at Nags Head and will be going up to DC - fires are post-poning the trip.

Good to have you back, Bender.

[Darius]

I am back...thanks for the patience. Still tired, but had a great time. Posting up very soon.

[Bender]

Just wondering: who's still in this game?

I was rather buzzy finishing something this week and more or less waiting for something to happen, but nothing is happening...
And Mellavin still has to try out his new greatsword

I have a free day tomorrow, and I was planning to try to come up with a big master plan to continue based on the ideas presented earlier. But I first want to know if it's any use and who is still here.

cheers,
Bender

[LatemYvaeh]

Still here kinda waiting on everyone to get back from their vacations and what not

[Maryring]

I'm still around in the game.

[LatemYvaeh]

Is everyone back now that the servers are up again?

[Bender]

This is the first time I'm able to reach the forum again. Now I can't reach it from work, nor from my appartment. I'm just trying now from my parents's home, but my attendence will be eratic at best as long as I can't reach it from my usual places.

In two weeks we'll move to a new appartment. I hope to be able to get my posting up again once we've got internet there...

[LatemYvaeh]

OK good to hear I will continue to hold till everyone gets back

[LatemYvaeh]

I am going to a NERO (LARP) Event this weekend so will be away from my computer from Friday after noon till Monday just want to give everyone a heads up