Arena Tournament, Round 40: The Akhond Vs Thock

[chilepepper]

ref chilepepper

Yeah, I hate this map even more.

talic

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I see, you're getting me back for all my rules lawyering by breaking the movement rules. Now I've got the head ache.

Okay, so you're going from the middle of one color to the middle of another color, that's 9' vertical difference. Whether that rounds to 5' or 10', the cliff is a hard corner so you can't move diagonally down and forward. So you either climb or fall. The next issue is that you're not really carrying your boat, it's moving because it's on top of you. You have to be dragging it for full cover, so it's touching the ground. I see the boat being in P11/12 before it tips over the edge with you. Once it's leaned up against the wall mostly verticle, I don't think it can grant full cover to the west. It's going to act more like a tower shield facing south at that point.

So, change it up, give me a rebuttal, or call for a higher ref. (and keep on fighting the system! Power to the people)

Still Talic's(Thok) turn.

[Talic]

@Chile, refs:

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Provided your distance is correct, falling is fine. It's less than 10 feet, so no damage. Would a modification to O11, N11, M10 cover to the west, then? If so, that will be the path I take.

[chilepepper]

Thok, refs

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The map is a bit ambiguous, with the elevation ranges. The best I can do is base the math off of even slope, figuring squares based on it's average elevation. It's certainly debatable. However, I feel safe in saying you new proposed path satisfies my qualms. Moving to O11 would give you the "tower shield facing west" like effect from the boat. Moving to N11 drops it flat again, giving you full cover. Moving to M10 puts the boat in N11/M10. If you're okay with that, lock it in and let Akhond know he can look in the following spoiler.

*section edited out

[Talic]

Seems good to me. Go ahead.

[chilepepper]

Weeellllll since I'm still here...

Akhond

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You see the boat move off the ledge and tip down into O11 (leaning up against the wall), then it slides forward into N11 (laying upside down still, flat against the ground), then it slides to M10 (occupying M10 and N11, upside down)

Akhond's turn.

[FlyMolo]

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I move to k16, prepare a readied action same as before. Magic missile on LoE.

All done.

[Talic]

Thock, Turn 5:

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Hmm. The water to the northeast has cut me off. Darn my moving too slowly here, and making a bad guess on what he was doing at the beginning of the match. I could hope that he forgot I have enlarge, and is standing right near the ledge at K9 (the square that gives the best LOS to me from the highest altitude), but winning isn't usually based on hoping.

He wants to be out of the water, and he wants to have good LOS on me. He could do that easiest from the red area to the south... I give it 50/50, for high ground to my west, and slightly less high ground to my south.

That water is gonna get me if I'm not careful. I need to make a play soon. Time to stand up and hope I point this thing in the right direction. All that remains is figuring out which way to face the boat wall, south or west.

Action:
Swift: crawl to L10.
Move: Stand up, propping boat against me to provide cover, either south or west, depending on roll.
Hide check if needed: (1d20)[7]

Facing of cover:
1=West
(1d2)[2]

Standard: (subject to change if I get zinged by another spell) Ready an Action: Move if opponent performs any action with LOS.

[Talic]

@Refs:

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So, cover south.

Done.

stats:

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Location: L10, taking cover behind boat (held, facing south)
HP: 1/11
Status Effects: - Travel Devotion - 5/10, Stonefist 4/10

[chilepepper]

ref chilepepper

@refs

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Anti-metagame, pointless spoiler

@Akhond

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The boat moves to L10 and then is stood up with the bottom of the boat facing south. So the boat is pointing straight up and all you can see is the bottom of the boat.

@Thok

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After standing up, you don't see him.

Akhond's turn.

[FlyMolo]

Top of round 6.

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I'm going to try something radical here. I jump down and move to O18, then hook my grappling hook over the edge. I can't see the roll, but the DC is 10

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(1d20+3)[18] Even on a failure, it'll stay up for (1d4)[1] rounds before falling.

Keep in mind those turquiose squares are shallow water now, and prevent charging. I'm safe.

All done.

[chilepepper]

ref chilepepper

Thok

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No LoS

Akhond

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Grappling hook check noted. You still just see the boat.

Thok's turn.

[Talic]

Thok Turn, round 6:

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I'm surprised he didn't establish LOS, to be honest. Hmm. No matter, if my calculations are correct, with my speed boost from Travel devotion, I can reach anywhere up on the upper level this round. Here's my gamble.

Free: Drop boat in adjacent square (L9-M9). Need LOS for remainder of turn.

[chilepepper]

ref chilepepper

As the boat falls to the ground in L/M9, LoS is established.

Akhond is in O18 with a grappling hook over the edge next to him.

Thok is in L10.

Thok may finish his turn.

[Talic]

Round 6 continued:

Swift: Move to M15. (Using Travel Devotion)
Move: to M18.
Standard: Cast Enlarge Person, Expand, covering M18-N19

Done.

Stats:

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Location:M18-N19
HP: 1/11
AC: 9 (-1 size)
Effects active: Travel Devotion: 6/10
Stonefist: 5/10
Enlarge Person: 1/10

[FlyMolo]

Argh. I hate Travel Devotion. I thought I had it worked out so you couldn't hit me.

If I climb up, you kill me. If I stay put, you kill me and then the sharks kill me and maybe you.

Just a question, what is your actual AB and damage ATM? Silly, I bet, but I'm curious.

I accelerated climb up the rope. (1d20-1)[17] DC 5. Let's see how that works out... With my 40' land speed, that puts me up high if it works. 20' of climb and a 15 foot cliff. Okay, that works out great.

[FlyMolo]

Go ahead and take your AoO.

We'll see how bad I'm hurt/dead.

ref question:

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Kicking the hook off the cliff would be a free action, right?

Also, can you make AoOs while swimming? Surely that would restrict your movement.

[Talic]

AoO:

Attack with Stonefist, Enlarged:

Attack:(1d20+9)[28]
If Hit:(1d6+15)[20]
If threat: (1d20+9)[14]
If Crit: (1d6+15)[16]

[Talic]

For stats:

22 str (base) +6 (Stonefist) +2 (enlarge) = 30, for a +10 to hit, -1 (size) = +9 to hit

Per stonefist damage for slam is 1d6 + 1.5 Str, or 1d6+15.

[FlyMolo]

Wow, I got destroyed. I'm at -15.

Damn you travel devotion!

I'm sure I read a rule somewhere that you can't take AoOs while swimming, but I can't remember where. I'm probably hallucinating.

Impressive gish build, btw.

[SamTheCleric]

High Ref Sam

He isn't technically swimming yet. The water just rose at the beginning of round 6, so (per the map) you can move through it at half speed.

Thock is the Winner by way of Big Fist to the Little Face!

[Talic]

I was sweating there for a minute. I expected to get plinked from up top the moment I dropped the shield. 2 more missiles, and I was almost certainly a goner.

Incidentally, for future reference... You were at 100% life, and would have had a 40% chance of getting a shark attack.

I was under 25% life (1/11), and thus, had an 80% chance.

A "cast on the defensive" magic missile would have likely given you the match there.

Not to mention... I'm 10 feet tall, by virtue of enlarge. I think there's a good chance I'm still standing.

[SamTheCleric]

Crap, that means that -I- have to fight Thock. With Unstoppable Force...

[Talic]

It was a good match, Fly. You're one of the opponents I like facing most, win or lose. :)

[FlyMolo]

What I really should have done is headed into deeper water, or crossed the round before, when you were still sliding across under the boat. Then you'd be in trouble.

And I'd still have to make a DC 15 concentration check. 11 or higher. 50% of death and dealing with sharks vs 75% chance of death, but no sharks? Ho hum.

Good game, though.