[Hourglass of Zihaja D&D 4e] Heroes on a Sea of Swords OOC

[Shadow_Elf]

Okay, enemy phase is done, as near as I can tell. I just need to give you all your well-deserved map update - that should be forthcoming soon. I will wait a day or so to see if anyone wants to use any Immediate Actions, and then I will declare the start of the player phase. Apologies again everybody for my delays.

EDIT: Maps are now up! Enjoy. I will wait 'till tomorrow for immediate actions, and then you guys can proceed with the Player Phase.

[Scylfing]

Does the yellow area represent the holes that were blow open by the explosion?

[Reverent-One]

One question for the future, does the rider count as adjacent to me or what?

[Shadow_Elf]

@ Scylfing: Yes, the yellow is the area blow away by the explosion. You can see up and down through it. All you can see above is the rear end of a scaly flying creature, and below, the corpse you saw fall from above. Sorry, I forgot to add that.

@ Reverent-One: Yes, the rider is considered adjacent. That is how mounted combat works.

[Shadow_Elf]

Hakhpur's interrupt allows him to escape the explosion unscathed, so no damage or ongoing damage. You also learn this about the flying beast above:

Spoiler

Resistances: None
Lowest Defense: Will

[Shadow_Elf]

Sorry for the triple post. I just wanted to add that I would really prefer if everyone used the format I listed in the first post for their battle posts. It really helps me understand what's going on in everyone's turn.

[Belthasar]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Sorry for the triple post. I just wanted to add that I would really prefer if everyone used the format I listed in the first post for their battle posts. It really helps me understand what's going on in everyone's turn.

No problem. I should have missed that, sorry.

[ninja_penguin]

I forget, does forced movement on a rider/his mount separate the two?

[Shadow_Elf]

Okay, you guys need to learn to coordinate better. Teshiq's Command spell moved the Wyvern out of that space. HOWEVER. Since his intent (to, I believe, drown it) is impossible (since the slide is insufficient to actually get it into the water), I will assume that he instead uses the power's other (in this case, more tactically viable) option of knocking the target prone. Further, his post forgot to mention that Command also Dazed the Wyvern, so Rahman and Hakhpur both had CA (though Hakhpur's CA is negated by the fact that it is also prone, giving it +2 vs. Ranged).

Also, ninja_penguin, you will need to run (because you cannot diagonal across corners) to reach. However, a run is only speed+2, and that gives you 7 squares of movement. It also means that a) you must go through the trapped hallway to make it, b) you grant CA UENT and c) you take a -5 penalty to attack rolls. You may be better off with a different course of action.

Also, out of curiosity, how does Hakkpur's Storm Step make him Insubstantial?

[Belthasar]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Also, out of curiosity, how does Hakkpur's Storm Step make him Insubstantial?

Cosmic Spellfury paragon feat.

I get an additional benefit after hitting with an at-will sorcerer power, depending on my phase:

-Phase of the Sun (Dhuqa): I can roll a saving throw.
-Phase of the Moon (Qamar): I get concealment until the end of my next turn.
-Phase of the Stars (The Falaqui): I become insubstantial until the end of my next turn or until I'm hit by an attack.

Pretty useful if you ask me.

[Scylfing]

Before I post my action, I'd like to ask if I can make a jump as part of a charge?

[ninja_penguin]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

c) you take a -5 penalty to attack rolls. You may be better off with a different course of action.

*slaps forehead*

I knew there was some reason my players don't use the run action. For some reason I thought it was to ranged attack rolls only. Off to go change that.

[Belthasar]

Ooooh! A trap!

Question: Is a trap attack considered an enemy attack?

[Reverent-One]

I do assume that Rahman is adjacent to the riding beast as well in the damage calculations for my oath of unity damage boost, if that changes, then I do 2 less damage.

[Shadow_Elf]

Kihtsah's attack is a success, though since NP is redoing his turn, I'm going to say that Rahman was not adjacent for that. Man, do you guys ever do a hell of a lot of damage!

[Reverent-One]

That's my job. Painful Oath helps, + my main stat damage first time I hit my oath target each turn? I almost feel bad taking it.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Scylfing, your bonus to hit is more than +22. Remember that the enemy is prone from my attack, so it grants combat advantage (+2). If I'm doing my job properly, most of the enemies around Amirah will be granting combat advantage, one way or another.

Grey Wolf

[Belthasar]

...And this is the part where players discover the amazing Paragon Path teamwork.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Belthasar

...And this is the part where players discover the amazing Paragon Path teamwork.

Well, ideally each player lets the others know how it helps them; I myself built my character around a very basic principle: combat advantages. Amirah is mainly a controller, with tank-like resistance to damage (but no stickiness), and a bit of striker extra damage (for that extra pizzaz, but nowhere near the damage output of a real striker). In the healing department, she can take care of herself in a regular battle, which is good in this group since our only leader is going to be overworked with 6 characters to try and keep healthy. Finally, Amirah is also probably the only character that can deal with the rabble consistently, although I haven't checked all of your sheets for area attacks.

Grey Wolf

[Belthasar]

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c

Well, ideally each player lets the others know how it helps them; I myself built my character around a very basic principle: combat advantages. Amirah is mainly a controller, with tank-like resistance to damage (but no stickiness), and a bit of striker extra damage (for that extra pizzaz, but nowhere near the damage output of a real striker). In the healing department, she can take care of herself in a regular battle, which is good in this group since our only leader is going to be overworked with 6 characters to try and keep healthy. Finally, Amirah is also probably the only character that can deal with the rabble consistently, although I haven't checked all of your sheets for area attacks.

Grey Wolf

Me neither, but now as the combat started, I'm figuring out how the characters interact. For instance, I found pretty cool that Medinah managed to curse the ghost and then leaped to charge, and Amirah showed a very resourceful ability to enhance the Hunters' attacks, and so on.

Hakhpur is just a striker who becomes more powerful as the battle goes. He has many area and ranged attacks (one of his at-will powers deal 1d4+1d6+20 damage (more if it has allies close to him) and affects an area burst 1 zone), and leans to controller as his secondary role. Summing up, you can think of him as the heavy arthillery (with some suprises).

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Belthasar

Hakhpur is just a striker who becomes more powerful as the battle goes. He has many area and ranged attacks (one of his at-will powers deal 1d4+1d6+20 damage (more if it has allies close to him) and affects an area burst 1 zone), and leans to controller as his secondary role. Summing up, you can think of him as the heavy arthillery (with some suprises).

If I may ask, how do you get from 1d4+CHA to that savagery? I'm afraid I have no idea what half of your feats do. I think it may have to do with piling on bonuses to damage due to damage types, but I'm not sure, for example, where the 1d6 comes from.

Grey Wolf

[Belthasar]

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c

If I may ask, how do you get from 1d4+CHA to that savagery? I'm afraid I have no idea what half of your feats do. I think it may have to do with piling on bonuses to damage due to damage types, but I'm not sure, for example, where the 1d6 comes from.

Grey Wolf

Of course, it's very simple:

1) Base power damage for Blazing Starfall (at-will power): 1d4 + Charisma mod (+6)
2) Implement bonus: +4
3) Cosmic Power class feature adds my Strength modifier (+6) plus 2 to the damage rolls (+8 total)
4) Raging Storm feat grants me a +2 bonus to damage rolls with thunder or lightning powers.
5) Energy Essence paragon path class feature grants me +1d6 damage with a power that deals two types of energy damage. Blazing Starfall only deals radiant damage, but, with Arcane Admixture feat I added a second type of energy to it (lightning).

Summing up: 1d4 (base) +1d6 (Energy Essence) +6 (Cha) +8 (Str plus 2) +2 (Raging Storm) +4 (Implement). 1d4+1d6+20 lightning and radiant damage total.

[Scylfing]

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf_c

Scylfing, your bonus to hit is more than +22. Remember that the enemy is prone from my attack, so it grants combat advantage (+2). If I'm doing my job properly, most of the enemies around Amirah will be granting combat advantage, one way or another.

Grey Wolf

Ah right, thanks, I forgot it was prone. I'll have to keep an eye on that since I do have ranged attacks as well, although since I'll often be using them in melee range (yay Avernian Knight) I wonder if that would matter.

And for my part, Medinah is basically a tank but one that hits hard (and can do so even at range) and makes it harder for enemies to hit.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Scylfing

Ah right, thanks, I forgot it was prone. I'll have to keep an eye on that since I do have ranged attacks as well, although since I'll often be using them in melee range (yay Avernian Knight) I wonder if that would matter.

By RAW, yes, it would still matter, unless Avernian Knights says differently (which I'm guessing not).

That said, prone is not the most common form of CA granting I'll do. My main system (an at-will), actually grants CA without any other conditions, so even ranged attacks will be able to use it.

Grey Wolf

[Shadow_Elf]

Ninja_Penguin, have you decided how you want to change Rahman's turn? That's all that's left of this Player Phase to do.

[ninja_penguin]

I edited it yesterday. Double moved instead to get to that same space, and then marked the rider and the beast with a minor action.

[Shadow_Elf]

Alright then! That means that Kihtsah did indeed get his extra +2 from Unity. I will plan my turn tonight and post sometime tomorrow.

[Reverent-One]

Assuming that the riding lizard is airborn and so I shift under the beast after making the AO, I shift to E13, else I'll just stand in place.

[Shadow_Elf]

Second half of the Enemy Phase is done. Now that these monsters have mopped up the unfortunate sailors who stayed behind to hold them off, save a few who are now too terrified to do much of anything, they can focus their full attentions on you guys. Which is going to end up hurting . You guys have 24-48 hours to do interrupts and plan next turn, and then 48 hours to execute the Player Phase. Maps will be up really, really soon.

EDIT: Also, I must note - the She-da-zhong archers seem to be employing some manner of cloaking magic - from more than 15 ft away, their forms are less distinct (they gain concealment against attacks that originate from 3+ squares away).

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Originally Posted by Shadow_Elf

Second half of the Enemy Phase is done. Now that these monsters have mopped up the unfortunate sailors who stayed behind to hold them off, save a few who are now too terrified to do much of anything, they can focus their full attentions on you guys. Which is going to end up hurting . You guys have 24-48 hours to do interrupts and plan next turn, and then 48 hours to execute the Player Phase. Maps will be up really, really soon.

My reaction to the Banshee attack is, if it works as I think it does, Amirah's swarm swap power:

Encounter ✦ Beast Form, Primal
Immediate Interrupt Melee 1
Trigger: You are targeted by an area or a close attack Target: One creature
Effect: You swap places with the target.

Since it is an immediate interrupt, I believe it happens before the effect takes place, but after targeting. The practical consequence would be that the banshee hits herself and Amirah doesn't get hit, since they switch places and Amirah ends in the safe middle square of the attack, while the banshee takes Amirah's damage.

However, I'm not 100% sure that the immediate interrupt happens that way - if the swap happens before targeting, then Amirah gets hit anyway, and the banshee doesn't get hit at all. If that is the case, I wouldn't use it (and would retrain the power as soon as I could, since it wouldn't be anywhere near as useful).

Now, reading the PHB 268, I believe that the correct interpretation is the first one, since the interrupt happens as soon as Amirah is targeted, and thus before the damage can be applied, but after the targeting has been declared. To make the example simpler: if it was in response to a normal melee attack, the interrupt would happen before Amirah got hit, but after the attack has been declared, and so wasted. Thus why I believe my interpretation to be correct.

Shadow elf, if you could let me know what your view is, I'll post my IC fluff/modify my char sheet.

Grey Wolf