Shadow :
In the last post with Ace part, I noticed an mistake in my last sentence said by the cleric.
I replaced an "I" per "she". It should make more sense that way lol.
I'm going to hold off on saying so in-character for the time being, but if these werewolves know the area well, they may be able to get us to Fort-du-Col and renegotiate with the military officers there.
I just added 2 lines in my last IC post making Trovek adn his mens leave.
You still can talk with him if you want in your next post... or if you are done you can start talking among yourselves (letting them go to get some privacy).
Ok, I am pretty sure this Skill chalenge is completed (unless you have some other idea to do before you rest and seee how the seige/attack turn out)
I'd like some feedback from you all about the way I handled thing in the last skill challenge (be it good or bad).
I wanna know if you enjoyed it or not, and what was good/bad in this new format I tried. Note that the reason I am working on SC format is mostly becasue I beleive SC as written are way too cluncky .
Personnaly, I am quite happy of the way it all turned/played out.
-We have been able to keep a good rythm and have everyone participate in an way or an other.
-I have a feeling it may have been a little bit too easy, but there was still some risk and I beleive you got some good rolls which might explain this feeling.
-We saved a lot of game time too by not doing all those fight, which was one of the main goal here... becasue you are a bit strong for the common goblins now - would not have made fun/challenging fights(we probably still would be at the second guard group still if we had done full fight there).
- I hope it didnt not feel too much "railroady" - it does a little to my eyes (my usual style is more open) - but I found out in PBP that you need to be a bit more pushy and lay out more clearly the options of the players get lost and loose interest. I think I stil lmanaged to include most of your ideas, I just kinda develloped them for you choosing the skills and all.
-I also realise that sometimes, some player have to choose between bad to worst skills in group skill checks. But as I said in Shadow_elf game (he is trying this SC format too), it does reflect more reality. Beside, if you always let only the character with the best skill take the roll, SC are no challenge with the regular DCs (you have to crack them up)
Last but not least, I think we did a little bit too much OOC discussion/planing (compared to IC actual roleplay). That is kinda my fault, I should had insisted more on you roleplaying this IC (doing your discusssion in character), but I was still working out how to build this kind of skill challenge. The next time, I'll insist more on actual roleplay.
NOTE : I am speaking of the last SC (Disrupt and delay the assault) - we had an other SC before (to warn the fort), while you can comment on it, I am looking more for feedback on the last one.
I really enjoyed it . I think it was a good way to handle some rather insignificant combats quickly, it gave the challenge an epic feel to take on so many goblins at once. The real test of if it worked will be how our skill challenge affects the battle at Fort-du-col, I think, but it was definitely a fun way to handle the scene.
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Currently DMing: Heroes on a Sea of Swords - IC - OOC - OOC II
Thanks to Arokh for all the wonderful avatars! May his computer never crash and his mouse arm never cramp!
I think it worked fairly well. I've had table games that devolved into 'I dunno, what do you wanna do?' so that is definitely an obstacle for skill challenges.
My character's two main strengths are talking and knowing things, and those won't always come up in every challenge, which is fine.
So, yeah, I think it worked well. The combat was an effective way of glossing over potentially boring parts.
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Skill challenges are a decent alternative. As you yourself concluded, the target numbers for attacks work well for accurate attackers, but not for PCs with multiple attacks or high amounts of damage.
I'd suggest the following:
Spoiler
PCs make attack rolls against a set DC. Bonuses may be granted for powers and abilities that grant attack bonus/AC or so on. Burst/blast/multi-target powers have an upper limit on targets based on the challenge. The contest would use an at-will or encounter power of the player's choice. At the player's option, an Action Point could be spent to allow the use of a standard action daily power.
Damage rolls would be added up based on successful attacks. The DM would set a threshold for success. Based on that threshold, the challenge is won or lost, and other consequences arise.
Example
< 51 damage: Failure, each PC uses three Healing Surges; PCs enter flight challenge.
51 -100 damage: Partial Success, each PC uses two Healing Surges.
101+ damage: Success, each PC uses one Healing Surge.
The reasoning behind this is to add weight to PCs which deal damage using multiple attacks, as well as high-damage strikers such as Ung. At the DM's option, powers that grant THP may negate 1HS for every 10hp healed.
Generally speaking, I'm still having fun in the game, and have a good deal of respect for Dekkah and his commitment to keeping the game fresh and interesting.
Moving ahead from here, we'll want to contact Narth and share intelligence if possible. Specifically, we'll want to inform him of the werewolves so he has a chance to sabotage Snake Clan's diplomatic overtures. Jieung apparently has access to Fort-du-Col.
Gramliz will be attacking the fort soon. Maybe we have time to frame some of his allies for scheming against him.
Bolerum : I'll try your idea next time I have a battle to skip during a SC. It is a good idea.
I moved thing on after your rest (assuming that Ashe also turn in for the night).
What do you guys wanna do next.
I see many options :
Stay there and watch
Move closer and watch, waiting for some opportunity to present itself
Try to get to Fort-Du-Col to help defend it (or give them more intelligence)
Leave them now that you have done what you could.
I like the idea of heading to Fort-du-Col, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't let Ung anywhere near the place. That being the case, let's hang back and see if we get the chance to wreck the remaining siege engines.
Jieung may be able to sneak into the enemy camp with a note in goblin saying something like "Wait until the attack is about to start, then act." He can then "botch" this message delivery, fleeing the area of an allied clan in bird form and dropping the note.
Another option would be to move past Fort-du-Col and attack the other army's siege. Since they're not apparently coordinating, the other army may well be unaware of our skirmishes.
Your probably right, walking in Fort-Du-Col withUng might require some good diplomacy.
The note idea can be attempted too... I'll need a bit more details on the exact way you'd try it if you go that way.
Getting on the other side of the fort (without going in) is quite hard (you need to climb quite high in the mountainside (hard climb checks), but probably doable.
Well it sure would affect him a lot.
First, to me, being daze make youre reflex and impede youreaction time (it is like being dizy).
Also, from the look of it, Gramliz will not only stand back on his base (sure he wont place himself directly in the most dangerous place the whole time) but once his mens have breached the fort gate in, you can assume he will go in the fort as well.
Well it sure would affect him a lot.
First, to me, being daze make youre reflex and impede youreaction time (it is like being dizy).
Also, from the look of it, Gramliz will not only stand back on his base (sure he wont place himself directly in the most dangerous place the whole time) but once his mens have breached the fort gate in, you can assume he will go in the fort as well.
Does your poison work for a long period?
If I can get it into his food or drink, it lasts until he takes an extended rest .
__________________ My Homebrew
Currently DMing: Heroes on a Sea of Swords - IC - OOC - OOC II
Thanks to Arokh for all the wonderful avatars! May his computer never crash and his mouse arm never cramp!
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Re: [4E] Grandpre Academy (OOC)
. I think it was a good way to handle some rather insignificant combats quickly, it gave the challenge an epic feel to take on so many goblins at once. The real test of if it worked will be how our skill challenge affects the battle at Fort-du-col, I think, but it was definitely a fun way to handle the scene.
