Excior

"We saved a lot of time by traveling cross country to get here." the wood elf motions for them to head out. "We can discuss this on the way out of the tomb."

Once the group has started making for the entrance to the tomb he continues "It might be in our best interests to visit Lelo and inform him of what has transported, perhaps he can provide a little more insight and help us understand what we just witnessed." He turns to regard Mondon "I do not believe Randal Morn wrote the note, I believe that what ever was watching us wrote the note to what ends remains unclear."

"I agree with you Mondon." The grey elf gently glides the sword's blade along his right forearm using the sleeve of his shirt to get any debris off the blade. "Did you notice that the feeling of being watched and in the presence of some malevolent being ceased about the same time that undead ceased to be animated?"

33 minutes ago, Sellsword said:

We should be able to limit the extent to which the door opens--whether it's holding it with a shoulder or using a crowbar or some other kind of wedge. So while it might not be perfect, we can hopefully restrict it to 1-2 rats at a time at most. I like the idea of slamming the door in the face of evil, definitely a tactic I plan to use going forward. I'm not sure how heavy on traps Barrowmaze might be, but I'm assuming they're a real threat, so I'm not thrilled about rushing into rooms.

Assuming we survive the encounter and whatever happens after, it's probably worth discussing--now that we've found an entrance to Barrowmaze, are we ready to explore it? Or should we stick to barrow-looting for a while? It's worked out pretty well for us so far. I would love to be able to afford some upgraded equipment and gain a level before we really try to tackle the dungeon, what do you guys think?

A couple retainers and a trained dog wouldn't be a bad idea either. Thoughts?

if Barrowmaze follows the normal Dungeon mega or otherwise the deeper we go the more valuable loot we get, yes the monsters will increase. Still, a 3 HD monster that is attacked by all of us will go down just as quickly as several 1 HD monsters I have read that this is a mega-dungeon spread out over 1 level whereas the deeper you would go in Castle Greyhawk indicates the difficulty of monsters you would encounter, this dungeon will have higher Hit Die areas than others.

The initial description of the entry indicates that this is the low-level area so I figure we will do better treasure-wise here than up there.

Valandil continues to attack the flying skeleton, bat-like creatures. he tries to also keep an eye on his companions helping out where he can.

Modred rises early the next morning, his figure swathed in purple wizard robes trimmed in gold, the fabric flowing gracefully as he moves. A bandolier forms an X across his chest, each side adorned with six daggers meticulously positioned.  A silver dagger is strapped to his belt at his waist. His wizard's staff is held firmly in one hand, not as a weapon, but as a tool for balance and focus. The hood of a cloak, acquired from the wizard's tower the previous day, is drawn up over his pale features, lending an air of mystery to his demeanor.

As the others filter into the taproom, the faint scent of black root tea fills the air, emanating from the steaming pot on Modred's table. He sits there, already sipping his tea, a small smile playing on his lips as he awaits the arrival of his companions. The Magician had already partially eaten a meal of cheese and day-old bread  His bodyguard Joined the group as they were about to leave.

"Here," Modred says, handing Allen a hunk of bread and a wedge of cheese. He chuckles lightly as he reassures his companion, "One would think it would be me late to the party and not one that went to bed before everybody else." With a friendly pat on the back, he adds, "Perhaps we should get you a better sword for the journey to the island. Let's look for a shop along the way."

As they make their way to the Sea Wench, Modred lets Sheela take the lead in conversing with the barmaid. When the barmaid indicates their reserved table, Modred moves over and takes a seat, with Allen positioned nearby in case of trouble, as they await the arrival of the rest of their group.

OOC: Modred will look to see if anybody is selling weapons on the street in a stall on their way to their meeting.

40 minutes ago, Lando The Archmagi said:

No expedited experience tracks, but I might permit him to level if he survives some encounters on the main adventure.

Roger that

On 1/16/2024 at 7:46 PM, Lando The Archmagi said:

Beastmaster is a class I permitted from a 3rd party source after reviewing it. It's more like the Beastmaster movie character and they aren't really tank pcs, but they can fight a bit. They are more primitive though and don't wear armor and have limited weapon options. There is a fighter in the party. You may have a zero level henchman.

can my 0-level henchman get to level 1 fighter on an expedited experience track? something like surviving x amount of encounters to pick up level 1 or something similar?

6 minutes ago, Gregorotto said:

At my old site, I developed a philosophy.

If no one is running the game, the style, the thing you want to be run: be that DM. Try, experiment, and figure out how to do it. Voice this to your players, and you will inevitably have players. Maybe not the first time you run your ad, but you will eventually.

Be the DM you want to see in the world.

the only problem with that is not knowing how to run a game, yes I know read the rules but sometimes they are very confusing, or more likely I am just dumb. playing in a system you have no clue how to play helps to learn the system. FATE: Core is a game I would love to run but I have a lot of trouble with the rules and can't figure out how to set up an adventure for it. seeing as it's not keyed to specific locations like a D&D Module would be.

looks like the adventure is about to get started. If we can avoid the big sea monsters or sea dragons on the trip we should be in a good situation to get some good loot

"Hells bells boy!, yer suppose to killem first" the dwarf says gruffly to Lionel as he slays the sleeping hobgoblin before him.

Having caught only a brief glimpse of the glowing red eyes before Black Dougal slammed the door shut, Allen wasted no time in drawing his scimitar. With a tense grip on his weapon, he positioned himself to the side of the lone door, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. His senses heightened, Allen remained vigilant, his eyes trained on the closed door before him. With muscles coiled and adrenaline coursing through his veins, he stood poised to strike.

This story will take place at the very end of the Empire's reign over the galaxy & you will have the opportunity to visit multiple planets. With 3-4 players, this campaign should take about 10 sessions of 2 hours to complete,

You know that this is a Play by Post site correct? (pbp)

Internet has been down all morning, will try and get a post up after lunch I was right behind BD when all this went down so if you need to post before I can GM Allen will take up a position beside the door to help slay the rats when they come though

With everyone in agreement and their plans set for the evening, the pale and frail magician pours himself one last cup of blackroot tea. After bidding everybody a good evening, he gracefully moves into the common room to listen to Yolanda play, finding solace in the soothing melodies that fill the air.

Modred remains in the common room, captivated by the music until Yolanda finishes her performance for the evening. As the last notes fade away, he approaches her with a smile, engaging her in small talk to prolong their time together.

In the most tactful and clever way he can muster, Modred eventually broaches the topic of spending the night together, delicately expressing his desire to share their company before he embarks on his voyage.

21 minutes ago, Sellsword said:

This tactic worked in a convention game I was part of once. Close the door!

Then we can douse the floor outside the door with lamp oil, open the door and ignite the pool. Rats can run through flame to get us while someone can shoot into the room. Thoughts?

Or we can just rig one of these up outside the door...

I believe they won't run through the flames; instead, they'll likely wait until the flames die out before attempting to exit. My suggestion is for him to close the door, step to the side, and then, once we're all in position, open the door. This way, we can take advantage of the bottleneck provided by the door way and attack them as they enter the hall.

1 hour ago, cailano said:

Ah, the Lerory Jenkins approach.

https://youtu.be/mLyOj_QD4a4?si=mOfRgJmhEllh61S5

LoL,

I played in a battle tech game on here a few years ago and one of the NPC Mech Warriors was Leroy Jenkins

2 hours ago, Sellsword said:

Black Dougal is flattered.

When posting actions, certainly when posting actions that are potentially dangerous, I try to make sure there's either party consensus or make it so that I'm the only one at serious risk--and that's usually just to gather more information (such as checking for traps or scouting ahead with backup that has a torch). I also generally include "unless someone has a better suggestion" or "unless someone is seriously against it" in my posts, giving people a chance to speak up before I open the proverbial coffin. 🙃 I try not to be reckless to the detriment of the group, but I also try to keep the game moving since I definitely understand @cailano's comments about parties getting bogged down by analysis paralysis.

That said, I'm also on board with @LarsWester's comment. Some of the best moments at a gaming table have been when a party member goes rogue, and I'd never want to take away a player's ability to play their character.

For dungeon exploration, I think generally the intention should be to check things as we go in the order we find them--so clear the doors closest to the exit, for example. Right or left really doesn't matter (assuming we don't have any inside knowledge that would instruct the decision.

If it comes to it I will be that guy weather it a door or a monster or a pile of treasure, by that guy I meant that scene in Conan the Destroyer after they get to the tomb and get the Horn when they are on the way out they encounter the cultists there is a long line of banter and Conan finally says " Enough talk!" and throws his dagger. I vote for BD to be the leader but if the game starts to bog down I will open a door or what not. FYI

Allen followed closely behind Black Dougal as they returned to the first door. The underground environment seemed to weigh heavily on the fighter, visible in his tense demeanor and the apprehensive look in his eyes. He remained on edge, his senses sharp and alert to potential threats lurking in the darkness.

In a harsh whisper tinged with a hint of fear, Allen spoke up. "I got your back, BD," he assured his companion, his voice barely audible in the eerie silence of the underground. "When you enter the room, be mindful of me and try to allow me to enter as soon as possible to help fight if needed." His words were a testament to his loyalty and determination, despite the palpable unease that permeated the underground

OOC: If his current opponent is destroyed he will attack something else.

As Valandil wields the Sword of the Dales in battle, he feels a powerful connection to the ancient blade. Its steel seems to resonate with his own essence, glowing with a brilliant blue light as he engages the undead horde within the room.

With each swing of the sword, the blue light dances and flickers, illuminating the darkness with an ethereal radiance. The weapon moves effortlessly in Valandil's hands, as if it were an extension of his own being, empowering him to strike with unmatched precision and strength.

As the winged skeletal horrors descend from above, Valandil's senses sharpen, and he shouts a warning to his companions. "WATCH OUT! TERROR FROM ABOVE!" His voice cuts through the chaos of battle, alerting his allies to the impending danger.

OOC: Valandil will try and attack one of the winged horrors

2 minutes ago, cailano said:

Sure, but I'm thinking of a general strategy for speedy group decision making.

I think Black Dougal should be the party leader.

3 minutes ago, cailano said:

You guys are doing great so far, but this isn't my first rodeo, and one place I've seen groups bog down is at decision points in a dungeon. Left or right? Door or stairs?

And this place is the Winchester Mystery House of dungeons. There are so many different ways to go.

And I don't know the answer here, but what are some thoughts you guys have for making quick decisions? Maybe assign an expedition leader on a per-expedition basis? Or even a permanent party leader?

Of course, I'm just the GM, so I don't get a vote. But I'm sure we all want to see the game moving forward efficiently.

My suggestion is we search all the areas on the right side 1 at a time and work our way around the current area we are in.

28 minutes ago, cailano said:

That's a good question. The standard door in Barrowmaze is made of thick wood, swollen with moisture. Many will be stuck—most open inward (better for kicking).

standard hall size unless other wise noted is 10 feet?

11 minutes ago, cailano said:

I think we have two potential solutions.

The first is to use the Labyrinth Lord system rather than the BFRPG system to turn undead. Converting 2D6 to 1d20 involves a different probability distribution, and a -1 in that paradigm isn't equivalent to that on a D20 roll.

Alternatively, we can use the BFRPG table and change the -1 to a -2. That still works out slightly in your favor, but it's a slight difference that preserves the intent of the original module.

I'm leaning toward the second option, but I'll open it up for a quick discussion.

2nd option

"I voted 'other'; however, not having the time could also be a factor. I find that it is very hard to implement a good game and keep it going, with providing enough visual aids to keep the players in the loop as to what is going on, to the bookkeeping side of things. I can do the required bookkeeping in a face-to-face game, so it should be easier in PBP format, but I think it's the time between a GM post and all the players' posts that creates havoc for me."

With the Sword of the Dales firmly in hand, Valandil wastes no time pressing his attack on the zombie he had just engaged. Stepping forward with swift and calculated movements, he closes the distance between himself and the undead creature.

His grip on the ancient blade is steady as he swings it with precision, aiming to strike a decisive blow against his assailant. With each strike, he uses all the strength and skill at his command.

Valandil's movements are fluid and controlled, his combat prowess evident as he maneuvers around the zombie, seeking out its vulnerabilities and exploiting them with each calculated strike.