Fall of the Empire - OOC

[Jael_Darkwood]

(1d20+5)[25] confirm critical, (1d6+1)[5] extra crit damage,

not sure if you have houserules for crits including more than just wpn damage, so i'll leave it at wpn damage. besides, i just wanna knock him down, not kill him outright :)

edit : *blink* wow, i am so keeping these dice for later :p

[Unholier_Than_Thou]

Quick note concerning Pedram holding his action. His 2nd round action was to hold a smite on the condition that the young man begins to cast. Essentially, he does nothing in the 2nd round, but his initiative rises to 12+ (effectively 13), such that he acts first in the 3rd round, potentially interrupting the younger man's action if he decides to cast another spell.

Either way, Pedram shouldn't be able to act again until the 4th round, though he'll get to go first again.

Does that make sense?

~Unholier

[CGCL_Andy]

Are you looting him? as in strip him down to his underwear and strap him to a horse naked?

[Jael_Darkwood]

i think it'll end up being more like someone casts detect magic and we search him.

[Unholier_Than_Thou]

Just had another really bad spell of inability to connect to giantitp. Sorry again for being absent.. this appears to be a fairly regular thing. -_-'

~Unholier

[IAmNotJeff]

I'm going on holiday for the weekend, and probably won't have internet access until Sunday.

I think Sxoa/Jiyanti has things well in hand. I expect we'll be able to get passed these guys, pretty easily, and will be continuing our travel. I expect Jiyanti should be able to handle any encounters and Matias can handle the travel. I think I've explained what Ista will do in combat previously. I trust the party will make good decisions in my absence. If no one else is keen to do so, Ista will take care of managing the supplies. He and Remo can also take care of most of the cooking and setting up of camps at night.

[Unholier_Than_Thou]

Okay, I'm getting seriously annoyed with the inability to log in. It has been DAYS. Is this happening to other people or is it just me? I can read the comics and stuff, but accessing the forums just doesn't work, the page just never loads. I don't get a "can't connect" message, it just tries to load for hours and nothing happens. I hope this posts.

If this keeps up much longer, I don't think I'll be able to continue. U_U'

~Unholier

[IAmNotJeff]

I also have trouble loading the forum pages frequently, but not always.

When I have trouble, I usually try letting it load forever in one window and try reloading frequently in another.

[Bandededed]

Whenever I have any trouble loading, I just leave for an hour or three and it comes up fine.

[CGCL_Andy]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble Unholier_Than_Thou. I hope your connection troubles get better soon, I like your character and would like to see him stay around.

One thing I can think of in terms of making the game run smoother, and Pedram staying in character, even if you miss a day or two because of connection problems:
You can leave instructions for me to act on your behalf in case Pedram's actions are important and you are having connection troubles.

Personally I have trouble loading the page from time to time, but never with the login portion. Possibly because I ask the forum to remember me on my personal computer and don't need to go trough a couple of pages to log on. I'd suggest you do the same if it is possible in your case.

[Bandededed]

So, I'm not sure how many of us actually speak Arabian - I know I don't - but I can't do anything besides smile and nod ATM

Edit: Only Pedram and I seem to have this problem though. Practice with me! Smile : yes, yes, yes, NO, NO!
Now, just nod. Faster. Slower. Up more, no, no that's not right. NO! Not to the right, geez...

[CGCL_Andy]

Map descriptions:

Enemy:
A: Arab Soldier; they are wearing chain-shirts and carrying scimitars. You can see bows on their back and arrows in their quivers.
B: Bakr their commander; Also a wearing fine clothing with no visible armor but carrying a scimitar. Just the quality of his clothing and the barding on his very nice strong horse tells you that this is an important man.

Both sides:
H: Half of a horse (the other half is under the rider!)

Friends:
J: Jayanti


..00000000001111111111
..01234567890123456789
00....................
01....................
02....................
03....................
04....................
05....................
06....................
07.......HA...........
08......HA............
09.....HA.............
10....HA.HBJH.........
11.....HA.............
12......HA............
13.......HA...........
14....................
15....................
16....................
17....................
18....................
19....................

[Jael_Darkwood]

i think before jayanti went forward on her own we would have been in a sort of wing -like formation...

--P
J---
--s
---M

then jayanti would have ridden forward a little bit to talk to the leader.

we'd still be in our < shaped formation, missing the furthest forward member.

I've dismounted, and started studying the leader of the arab patrol. I speak arabic, so I'm doing my best to eavesdrop with my listen check. If my sense motive tells me that I think they'll be fighting us, I move forward 30ft to melee range and given him a nice little death attack between the eyes.

[IAmNotJeff]

I'm happy with Seth's suggestion, other than that Ista and Remo aren't included! If we're in a V, Ista can be behind guarding the other horses. If others prefer, he'd be willing to be on the side.

--P---
J---I-
--S-R-
---M--

Spoiler

Show

How do you get those nice maps?

[Sxoa]

Same on Seth's. As a point of interest my "H" is actually a "C" since I'm riding a camel. That might force a 5 foot gap between the animals since as we all know horses don't like our humped friends. But it might not...

[CGCL_Andy]

Spoiler

Show

I didn't get the part with Jayanti riding forward alone. I think you all rode together. I'm following Jael_Darkwood's suggestion and placing everyone on the map. If you are unhappy with Pedram or Matias's locations please write me soon and I'll move things to fix it.

How are the connection problems Unholier? I am still hoping to hear from you. Your spot is definitely still reserved here.

As for making the map you can quote me and see the code. It's basically three tags: [.font=courier.][.b.][.size=5.] (and of course the matching closed tags!)

Map descriptions:

Enemy:
A: Arab Soldier; they are wearing chain-shirts and carrying scimitars. You can see bows on their back and arrows in their quivers.
B: Bakr their commander; Also a wearing fine clothing with no visible armor but carrying a scimitar. Just the quality of his clothing and the barding on his very nice strong horse tells you that this is an important man.

Both sides:
H: Half of a horse (the other half is under the rider!)
C: Half of a Camel

Friends:
Everyone at their initial colored by they speech color. R is a very nervous Remo (Ista's hired hand.)



..00000000001111111111
..01234567890123456789
00....................
01....................
02....................
03....................
04....................
05....................
06....................
07.......HA...........
08......HA..HB........
09.....HA.....PH.....
10....HA....JC...IH...
11.....HA.....SH.RH...
12......HA......MH....
13.......HA...........
14....................
15....................
16....................
17....................
18....................
19....................

[Bandededed]

Just dandy with my placement, Cap'n.

[Bandededed]

I don't like where this social interaction is going....

If you would like to know how I'd handle it, Unholier

Spoiler

Show

I'd pretend to be mute. Good luck on the bluff check if you do

I have a feeling that this is going to get dirty real fast.

[Jael_Darkwood]

just yammer like you have a speech impediment, and we'll call you tribal auxiliaries :)

[Sxoa]

oh man. This is going to get ugly!

[CGCL_Andy]

Seems like Unholier is not around anymore. I will give him till tomorrow morning and post then.

[Bandededed]

Here are those rolls I forgot, if I need them:

Attack - (1d20+10)[11]
Damage - (1d8+2)[5]
S.A. - (2d6)[3]
Total = 8, cuz that crap totally hits

I think I need a shirt that says "I roll 1's" with a picture of a d20 that only has 1's on it.

[CGCL_Andy]

Map descriptions:

Enemy:
A: Arab Soldier; they are wearing chain-shirts and carrying scimitars. You can see bows on their back and arrows in their quivers.
B: Bakr their commander; Also a wearing fine clothing with no visible armor but carrying a scimitar. Just the quality of his clothing and the barding on his very nice strong horse tells you that this is an important man.

Both sides:
H: Half of a horse (the other half is under the rider!)
C: Half of a Camel

Friends:
Everyone at their initial colored by they speech color. R is a very nervous Remo (Ista's hired hand.)



..00000000001111111111
..01234567890123456789
00....................
01....................
02....................
03....................
04....................
05....................
06.CC.................
07...........HA.......
08..........HASH......
09.....HAPH..........
10........HAJ....IH...
11.........HA.HAMRH...
12..............HH....
13....................
14....................
15....................
16....................
17....................
18....................
19....................

[Sxoa]

On the subject of encounter level (you mentioned it in the main thread):
Seth is a trained assassin, and he's paid for the class feature of death attack in levels spent on that class. I think its reasonable that he takes down someone tough in such a fashion. The ability takes a while to "charge up" so to speak and is further restricted by normal sneak attack rules so its fairly specific in its utilization.

That said I agree that "level appropriate" are almost universally too low. Well played (and designed) characters will in general not find an encounter equal to their CR challenging. For example a single level 6 fighter has a CR of 6. Our merry band (admittedly over sized) could destroy him quite possibly in a single round, meaning he could potentially get off a single (maybe two with an iterative) attack before being reduced to so much flaming gore. Alone, the fighter is supposed to represent a "challenging" difficulty for the players to overcome but very clearly does not live up to this standard.

Bring on the big guns!

[Jael_Darkwood]

just because I killed the capt. in one round... doesnt mean the fight is over. I've got crappy combat stats unless im flanking with someone, and I face two (presumbably) fighter-types. aand I'm pondering soaking a few Aoo's to chase down the guy who fled...

btw... command "dismount" seems like a likely choice for our cleric (on the fleeing guy)

and a lvl 6 barbarian would last a little longer than a fighter.... and the fighter's two attacks are nothing to sneeze at... lvl 6 with 2-hw, power attacks for 6, probly has about +5 to hit, does about 2d4+19 damage if he hits... that'd knock any of us down :) it all depends on what we encounter.

barb with 16 str and 2-h adamantium axe = +7 to hit, 1d12+20 damage.. i have 23 hp... he could take me to -9 in one hit.

the point is, an encounter at our level isn't supposed to be an even fight... its supposed to be challenging. if you want to have an even fight, its above our ecl easily.

[CGCL_Andy]

the point is, an encounter at our level isn't supposed to be an even fight... its supposed to be challenging. if you want to have an even fight, its above our ecl easily.

I know what you are saying. But your party has been having great luck so far! The leader wasn't a 6th level fighter and I think would've made this a very challenging fight had he stayed alive.

[CGCL_Andy]

Map descriptions:

Enemy:
A: Arab Soldier; they are wearing chain-shirts and carrying scimitars. You can see bows on their back and arrows in their quivers.
B: Bakr their commander; Also a wearing fine clothing with no visible armor but carrying a scimitar. Just the quality of his clothing and the barding on his very nice strong horse tells you that this is an important man.

Both sides:
H: Half of a horse (the other half is under the rider!)
C: Half of a Camel

Friends:
Everyone at their initial colored by they speech color. R is a very nervous Remo (Ista's hired hand.)



..00000000001111111111
..01234567890123456789
00....................
01....................
02....................
03....................
04....................
05....................
06....................
07.............SH.....
08..........HA........
09.....HAPH..........
10........HAJ...MIH...
11.........HA.HA..RH...
12....................
13....................
14....................
15....................
16....................
17....................
18....................
19....................

[Bandededed]

sigh...

I feel dumb. I thought that the CC (the camel) was the fleeing enemy....

[Bandededed]

Spaced double post!

Crit confirm - (1d20+8)[25]

Extra damage - (2d8+4)[10]

[IAmNotJeff]

I'm getting a bit lost with the number of enemies and their location. Could you post a map in the main thread with each turn's description?