Harthar's Kingmaker Part One: The Stolen Lands OOC

[North_Ranger]

I think you're doing a grand job with your character, Phil. Me, I'm trying not to go to cheesy or Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds with Vasili here. He hates bandits for what they did to his family, but it's not something he's going to start spilling at every opportunity.

[PhilMeyer]

Thanks man.

[Mari01]

I glossed right over the three things lol. Had to work a double shift!

1) High respect for those that can survive in harsh conditions (including deserts!)

2) Detests natural born spellcasters as lazy and unmotivated unless their powers have a cold theme. Then they are only slightly less lazy and unmotivated.

3) Would like to befriend a fae creature in her lifetime and understand more about why they dislike cold iron.

[Harthar]

So, how are you all gonna play this? How do you want to ambush what may well be a larger force of bandits?

[Mari01]

Convincing all the bandits to come inside should be first. We could shut the gate behind them and not worry about escapes.

[North_Ranger]

Personally I would suggest that Vasili and Dhovanu pick up elevated positions from which to fire without having to fear melee reprisals. The walkway around the perimeter is unfortunately somewhat open, so there's no cover to get behind in case of return fire. Otherwise that would be an ideal location, so the two of them could pick off anyone trying to make a run for it.

What are the rooftops like? Thatched or shingled or what? I wonder because they would serve as well if need be, and Vasili could use being within twenty feet of the people he shoots; firearms attack against touch AC until the end of the first range increment, and within twenty feet there's the Pistolero grit deed that essentially grants 1d6 extra damage on close range.

[PhilMeyer]

With each square representing five feat, I was actually thinking there'd be plenty of room on the catwalk to make a barrier to shoot from behind. We could draw it on the map as a thin line.

I'd have to ask the DM's judgement in whether such a thing is practical, and can be done in a way that wouldn't draw casual suspicion from those entering the fort.

I don't care as much about range as a gunslinger, so I could actually set up shop near the catapults, if that's high enough above the buildings to still give a clear shot at the open square.

[Frivolous]

I guess no one has caltrops?

I would have gotten some for Ela, but it would be grossly out of character for her to have them. At least so far. She doesn't think like a tactician yet.

If you're going to put missile-users at an elevated position, better hang a rope near that position, so the missile-user can easily get down to the ground if necessary.

[PhilMeyer]

Good thinking. I was counting on my decent acrobatics skill if it came to that, but if these are really high up then that could be very dumb.

And actually I think I'd tie the rope such that she could also use it to repel down the outside of the fort if there is need to pursue or to escape if things go south. Dhovanu isn't going to fight to the death if she can avoid it.

[Harthar]

Some food for thought.

[Frivolous]

If the sun is setting, does that mean they come at dawn or after dawn in 10 hours?

I ask because I live near the equator. I'm aware, though, that the sun can set quite late north or south of here.

Also, Ela asked earlier if they come on horse or on foot. I don't think anyone answered that yet.

Note: If they do arrive precisely at dawn, it might screw up everything for Ela's ability to cast during the battle. She prays for spells at dawn, and it takes an hour.

[Harthar]

Woops, I didn't answer that. I just editted in the change to answer that question.

Also, from dusk to dawn is between 10 - 12 hours, and since the sun is almost set and the bandits arrive at sunrise (dawn) 10 hours is a good rough estimate.

Yeah so the bandits arrive at sunrise, which means Elanore won't have time to pray for her spells.

[Frivolous]

Well, drat.

Edit: She'll try to pray for at least one spell. It takes an hour to get all her spells, but if she starts to pray at dawn, maybe she can get one or two spells in her head before they arrive.

She'll go for Bless first, then Shield of Faith second.

[Frivolous]

I really should learn to get all my ideas BEFORE I type submit, rather than just moments after.

I worry that someone or everyone will not see the stuff I edit in after. But my inspirations usually arrive just a little too late.

[Harthar]

It doesn't matter so much in here, and as long as your adding to the story in the IC thread I don't really mind multiple postings.

I'll try and reply as quickly as I can with these questions so that we can move along at a nice pace. But obviously work in a few hours will hinder that. :)

[PhilMeyer]

I'm actually feeling a bit awkward in how to interplay with a DMPC that is also the de facto leader of the group.

It seems like next time there's a planning situation I'm more than likely just going to defer to Gedriwyn and say "where do you want me, boss?".

Most of my characters have been followers like that, so its not like its the end of the world. I just am a little nervous that with the leader also being the DM that the rest of us are maybe going to end up more like the supporting characters.

This so far has been a really promising start to the campaign, don't get me wrong, just wanted to express my thoughts here, for whatever they are worth. I'm sure we'll find a dynamic that works.

[Harthar]

I can understand where your coming from, though I can honestly say that I don't intend for Gedriwyn to be seen as the leader, or to even end up as that. The way I'm using him at the moment is to make the final suggestion, the final additions to ideas, plans and stuff that everyone else comes up with to begin with. The wagon idea only came to me because of the fact that we have one and where else is it going to go inside that cramped space?

At the moment I'm just trying to play him as the charismatic type, since he is the one with the most charisma out of the companions; that may well be the reason why he is coming across as more of a leader. There is also the fact that he is like nearly 70 years old and has been a cavalier for 40 of those years, so he is more militarily inclined.

If it is a concern then I'll try and scale him back a bit but so far I think he's pretty much just been adding on to everyone else's ideas.

[Frivolous]

Originally Posted by PhilMeyer

I'm actually feeling a bit awkward in how to interplay with a DMPC that is also the de facto leader of the group.

It seems like next time there's a planning situation I'm more than likely just going to defer to Gedriwyn and say "where do you want me, boss?".

Most of my characters have been followers like that, so its not like its the end of the world. I just am a little nervous that with the leader also being the DM that the rest of us are maybe going to end up more like the supporting characters.

This so far has been a really promising start to the campaign, don't get me wrong, just wanted to express my thoughts here, for whatever they are worth. I'm sure we'll find a dynamic that works.

I had the same thoughts PhilMeyer did, but I didn't mention because I didn't want to wreck the game by being too negative.

Speaking of being negative, does anyone think I was stupid for making Elanore so much of a healbot? She's terrible at combat, I think.

I've been having second thoughts about the Feat I chose for her (Improved Initiative) and one of her Domains (Restoration). And second thoughts about playing her in general.

I felt stupid earlier at work for making her so poor at combat and also because I had almost picked Scribe Scroll for her instead of Improved Initiative. It's not like she'll ever be that good at combat with her stats.

Harthar: Would you permit changes to those, since I haven't actually used any of them yet?

I could pick Scribe Scroll and the domain of Fire instead of Restoration. It'll make her more damagey.

Would anyone care to tell me what they think of my ideas? Am I being silly?

Also: Am I the only one bothered by the fact that aside from Gedriwyn, we have no tanks at all? Every single one of us is better at ranged than at melee.

Given that we're so much better at ranged, why do we plan to have anyone on the ground at all when we can pepper the bandits from above?

[PhilMeyer]

I had the same thoughts PhilMeyer did, but I didn't mention because I didn't want to wreck the game by being too negative.

Well I certainly wasn't trying to wreck the game with my statements . I think Harthar's contributions as a DM have been tremendous, and likewise his posts as Gedriwyn have been great. It's just that the two together have been somewhat stifling, if that's the right word.

Thanks for your post in response Harthar. I'll try to keep that in mind in my posts. I think it's going to be a bit of a tightrope for you to walk, but not impossible.

Currently I'm not sure how to respond as the very first thing Dhovanu proclaimed is:

I will be positioned somewhere elevated.

Then Gedriwyn's plan has Vasili up high and Dhovanu on the ground. Since gunslingers (at least those who use pistols) need to be up close for their full effectiveness and archers don't, I'm thinking that the reverse is probably a better idea.

But I'm not sure if its worth arguing about in-character or not. I thought I'd ask OOC if there was a reason for not having Vasili in the wagon and Dhovanu up top.

[PhilMeyer]

Also: Am I the only one bothered by the fact that aside from Gedriwyn, we have no tanks at all? Every single one of us is better at ranged than at melee.

I've got a few melee builds that I have been very much wanting to try out. Probably the one that'd fit the party best is a Half-Elf "reach/trip" fighter. He has a 16 in both STR and DEX and starts with a Fauchard. (Edit: sheet is here if curious)

I'd suggest switching my character to him, but I have been really digging Dhovanu so far .

[Mari01]

A primary ranged group means we really need to use tactics. If the enemy closes to melee we need a plan for that. We get to use terrain to our advantage.


As far as making a healbot, I've always been of the opinion that healing is best done out of combat, unless someone is literally going to die without it. The CLW spent healing someone could be an Enlarge Person so that something dies sooner.

[Frivolous]

Can't cast Enlarge Person.

I meant by the word healbot that Elanore doesn't really have much in the way of offensive power.

Her strongest combat spell is Bless, which is pretty strong, actually, but not that remarkable.

[North_Ranger]

Personally I see nothing wrong with a dedicated healer. But if you do feel like you're lacking in damage output, there's always ways to amend that. If memory serves, there's some ioun stones and other magic items that boost, for instance, Strength scores.

Phil, I'm more than okay of taking the ground if you feel that is more appropriate. I am admittedly a little skittish when it comes to taking damage, as some of the GMs I've had before were more than willing to use the characters of yours truly as their whipping boy ;) I've statted Vasili as a ranged damage dealer, but he oughta be okay on the ground as long as he doesn't get swarmed. Hence my IC suggestion of barricading those narrow passages between houses, to make a nice clean killing field to bunch up the bandits.

[PhilMeyer]

Phil, I'm more than okay of taking the ground if you feel that is more appropriate.

Sure, but my question was more: "Dhovanu and Visili both planned on being up high, was there a reason that your plan picked Dhovanu as the one move down to the wagon?"

If there was, like that he thought Dhovanu would fill that role more effectively, then I wasn't going to object in-character.

It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, and honestly I'm pretty much okay with just about any plan, I just want to shoot some arrows . Really for our very first encounter we may want to go easy on obsessing over the details.

[North_Ranger]

True. My primary concern is keeping Vasili out of melee as long as possible, because until he gets the money necessary to craft alchemical cartridges (6gp a shot when crafted himself), he'll have to spend his move actions loading the pistol. But that's a minor quibble that can as easily be rectified by taking up positions where he can't easily be flanked - such as taking positions between the storage shed and the main house, for instance.

[PhilMeyer]

I just noticed that your avatar has a bow and mine has a gun...

Maybe I'll switch mine back to my Dhovanu drawing sometime today.

[North_Ranger]

Originally Posted by PhilMeyer

I just noticed that your avatar has a bow and mine has a gun...

Maybe I'll switch mine back to my Dhovanu drawing sometime today.

Hee hee hee, funny how these coincidences go, isn't it? Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln, Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy...

[PhilMeyer]

Have done so, but now perhaps they look too similar...

[North_Ranger]

Don't worry about it, mate.

[PhilMeyer]

I hope no one minds me inventing elven words as we go. I don't have a dictionary to reference :).

For anyone who is curious, I take a similar word and translate it to Hungarian and then change a few letters around. Seems to work okay.