[4E] Snowbody's Keep on the Shadowfell OOC

[Snowbody]

This thread is for all out of character questions, discussions, and such.
The game thread can be found here.

Main Party:
Shadow_elf	Alessa	"Water Elemental" (Dwarf Druid, Watershaper theme)	Controller	Teal
tedthehunter	Arjhan	Dragonborn Paladin	Defender	DarkOrange
Dekkah	Mertes	Goliath Barbarian, MC into Avenger, Iron Wolf theme	Striker	Red
Lycan 01	Zimelda	Drow Cleric, Yakuza theme	Leader	Purple
Inactive:
kon lesh	Mukesh	Minotaur Warden, Earth Forger theme	Defender	SeaGreen
Waiting list:
Mystral	Jennaia	Human Wizard	Leader

Withdrawn:
SemiteLock with Jarvis.

[tedthehunter]

Wow I can't believe you've been our DM for an entire year! It really hasn't felt that long to be honest. Congratulations on making it this far and a thousand thank yous!

[Dekkah]

a year already eh? sure doesnt feel like that long lol.

Well done buddy, keep the good work

[Shadow_Elf]

Checking into the new thread. Its so shiny and empty so far . Congrats on the one year milestone!

[Kon Lesh]

I give you my congratulation. Even though I have only been here for a short while, you run a fun game. Let's see how fast we can fill up this thread.

[Snowbody]

My 2-year-old tried cucumbers for the first time yesterday. His verdict: "Water taste like cu'umber!" He liked it, even if he still hasn't gotten subject and object figured out.

[Lycan 01]

Oops, didn't mean to piss off the big boss.


Anyway, I've got my books back, but I'm working on 2 papers today. Zimelda will be all leveled up and stuff tomorrow, probably. And the last year has been GREAT.


Also, adorable story.

[Snowbody]

The good thing for Zimelda is that Padraig knows it was unintentional.

Glad you've been enjoying it! You're all very welcome!

[Lycan 01]

I'll abstain from reacting. Zimelda flaunting it in his face will just make things worse, as much as I'd like to do it.

[Dekkah]

I forgot to post it Ic, but nMErtes try to discern the man religion.
(1D20+6)[16]


I update my myth sheet.

I change my mind on the utility (took Agile recovery) but I am still unsure about it lol. Getting prone is bad for my mobility, so the utility power is nice. On the other hand , I have an attack power that give me a shift 2 built in... soI am not so screwed when I get knocked prone... I still might return to nomad rush (will take my final decision before we are done with the trial and discussion with the lord.

I also forgot to add up the feat bonus to my to hit calculation on the sheet - will correct it at the same time..

[Snowbody]

Also, don't forget you should be getting some magic items soon-- acrobat boots seem like they'd be a good fit for you (stand up as minor).

[Dekkah]

Yeah I know. I'am considering this too.
A simple quesiotn, how acessible are magic items in your game? Lets say I got the money, can I simply buy low level items (when in a place where it is logical - in the city)or have I to find them or a special merchant.

[Snowbody]

I was just thinking about that. According to the module, the town store only has Level 1 Common magical items for sale, with the exception of healing potions which it only has "occasionally". Even if I make the traveling merchants who set up shop on Market Day have magic stuff, I consider this to be Not Fun Enough.

My original intent was for the PCs to come across appropriate magic items (like the rager belt for Mertes), but since I don't own any of the books that idea won't really work unless I buy some or subscribe to D&DI. So I think I'm going to have rely on you guys for magic item selection. But I'm not sure how I'm going to do it.

My goal is to make magic items available but not trivial to find -- they shouldn't just be lying on the ground or in any corner store, but doing great deeds should make it possible to get them. (e.g. You rescue the store owner from a kidnapping, he says "let me show you the back room with the good stuff")

I stumbled across this website and found the proposed idea of "wealth tokens" interesting:
http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/?s=penniless+powerless

Summary:
-winning (some) encounters, completing quests, and generally being awesome gives each PC "wealth tokens" representing a combination of gold (and other wealth), fame/reputation, and good luck (the gods/the primal spirits are grateful for you setting things right), up to 20 wealth tokens per level
-you buy things with wealth tokens instead of gold (magic equipment costs 5, 10, or 20 tokens depending on how close its level is to your level, magic consumables cost 1, 2, or 4)
-you don't have to go to a shop, you spend wealth tokens when you need something, and I write it into the story!

What do you think?

[Lycan 01]

I not only like the idea of Wealth Tokens, but I think I'll be stealing them for use in my own games.

Actually, Black Crusade uses a similar system based on Infamy, and its quite successful.

[Kon Lesh]

I like the idea. It allows us (PCs) to get the items that they think will work really well. While not forcing you to buy a ton of other books. And like Lycan said, Dark Crusade does a similar system really well. It has made my life so much easier from actually having to come up with stuff for my PCs.

[Lycan 01]

By the way, would anybody be interested in a low-level, low-magic Viking-themed 3.5e game? I need 1 or 2 players.

[Shadow_Elf]

I like the idea of new magic items being woven into the story, and having currency basically cover living expenses and such. It always was an issue for me that after level 3 or 4, food, room and board and other such expenses are trivialized. There's magic items which make your campsite or cook your food, but since the DM typically just handwaves those things anyway, what good are they? I think it would make sense to give us less spending money and have magic items and new rituals and other such goodies purveyed by a separate system from wealth in currency.

EDIT RE: Lycan; what level is the game at? I would like to give 3.5e a shot, but a lot of the fun stuff I find starts at mid levels (like 8 and 9), though I've never really played it much to verify that. Would a Factotum be totally out of place? It is my favourite 3.5e class.

[Lycan 01]

Level 1, and core classes from the 3.5e SRD, but minus the wizard and sorcerer. This is a roleplay and skill heavy game; combat will be brutal and gritty, but rewarding.

Plus, I've never run 3.5e before, so I'd really like to start small...

[Shadow_Elf]

Oh... y'see, a while ago, I downloaded a lot of 3.5e books on PDF and have been tinkering with the system a lot, so I have this tendency to overlook the SRD when I'm making these wild character concepts. Level 1 isn't a huge draw for me, because 3.5e level 1 chars are a lot less interesting than level 1 4e chars (half the classes just amount to "attack and/or move" each turn in combat). If you can't find any other takers, I'd happily fill a spot for ya, though, since RP-heavy is something I do enjoy.

[Dekkah]

I have no trouble with an alternate way of dewaling with rewards. As long as it is clear ;).

Also, I changed back ot Nomad rush as utility. NOw my sheet is updated and final for level 2 .

Lycan : thanks for offering me a spot. I kinda switched to 4.0 now and I have less time than before (having kids change your life lol). So I'll pass up, but like Shadow_elf, if you cannot find other players (I doubt it) tell me and I'll whip up some character (I still know how to play 3.5 ;))

[Lycan 01]

Zimelda is now leveled up.


Btw, who's got the Orcus holy symbol? If nobody specific has it, can Zimelda have it?

[Snowbody]

Zimelda was examining it last, so sure. It's made of obsidian, so it it might be worth something to a collector silver, so you could definitely get some money if you sold it.

[Shadow_Elf]

I have been planning that scene for a while. Let's say that if Zimelda hates Orcus, then Alessa despises him with every fiber of her elemental body and every piece of her mortal soul. There is nothing in all of creation she hates more than Orcus.

EDIT: This isn't a very high-op game, so it doesn't really matter either way, but is there any reason, Lycan, why you picked Skill Training (intimidate) over a multiclass feat that would give intimidate?

[Lycan 01]

Because I didn't know of any such feats?

[Snowbody]

Shadow_elf: That. Was. Cool.

BTW Lycan 01, yeah I was also wondering why you picked Skill Training rather than a feat that gives you that as well as something else.

Also Lycan -- just to confirm -- when you say "holy symbol" you're talking about the amulet you got off the berserker:

Originally Posted by Snowbody

Around the berserker's neck is an amulet in the shape of a ram's or goat's skull made out of silver. He also has a tattoo of similar design on the back of his neck.

Zimelda has not yet pulled out the holy symbol from the kobold, which seems to be polytheistic:

Originally Posted by snowbody

the Wyrmpriest has a necklace upon which dangles a dragon figurine carved of obsidian, on a circular base, with a figure of a skull with ram's horns etched on the bottom. Looks like that might be worth something too.

[Shadow_Elf]

Originally Posted by Snowbody

Shadow_elf: That. Was. Cool.

Glad you thought so. I hope it doesn't jeopardize much with Padraig to learn that the polite young blonde is made of water.

Also, Lycan, I gave a rundown of feats you'd qualify for that give intimidate in the old thread. I can dig it up and repost it if you can't find it.

[Lycan 01]

Oops, I forgot about those!


Also, yeah, she used the holy symbol from the brute, not the kobold. I don't think she looked at the one from the kobold, did she?


Is it okay if I take the Practiced Killer feat that Shadow_Elf listed?

Practiced Killer, Multiclass Executioner; Training in an assassin skill and +1d8 damage 1/encounter.

[Snowbody]

The only other PC who can understand Primordial is Mukesh.

Also it seems that tedthehunter has run into some kind of difficulties; he's still logging in but hasn't posted anything IC in two weeks. He hasn't reacted to my broadcast PMs either. Fortunately we're at a part in the story where Arjhan does not need to actively participate so I'm not going to count him out yet.

MC Executioner is fine. Of course, making Zimelda think she's a striker fits right into my evil plans!

I do have a slight concern that the executioner "practiced killer" damage may make it too easy to trigger the yakuza "ruthless demonstration"; if that combo becomes too overpowering I may nerf it (though not the pieces separately).

[Lycan 01]

Well that depends, do I add my +1d8 before or after I make the attack? Like, can I wait and see if the attack hits before I add it? Or do I have to use and potentially waste it before I swing? I assume the latter.


And sure, do whatever you need to do for balance. I mean, I don't expect to be able to smack a dragon and then talk it into submission. At least, not without a damn good monologue or some epic roleplaying.

[Snowbody]

True, even with the free Intimidate, the DC to make it surrender is quite high (its will score plus 5). I'm more wondering what the effect of the "-2 to all attacks on you until somebody manages to hit" will be. Will lead to a good story in any event.