Crossrealms Arena

[DragonFriend]

The Crossrealms Arena

(Image Credit: Ross McConnell, Two-Minute Tabletop, published July 25, 2020, The Greybanner City Map, accessed 4/20/2024, <Source URL>)

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This is the Crossrealms Arena. It is a holy ground for all those whom fight and appreciate and honor the ways of battle, and is where they test their mettle and prove themselves strong and are rewarded for doing so. These challenges are not for the weak in either mind or body. They will push you to the limit, they will break your bones, and burn your flesh.
You may not beat every challenge on the first try, if you can at all.

**** Spectators and Participants Please Note: No creatures are permanently harmed in the hosting of these events. ****

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This is a re-release of Ares' Arena from the OGMW RFT, reflavored and tuned for the new RFT. As the original Ares' Arena, this will be an ongoing mission that anyone can host and play in, and other DMs are welcome to use the setting for their missions if any want to do that. There will be some changes to how the Arena works which will be discussed later in this post. For instance, instead of individual character threads, there will just be "Crossrealms Arena: Stage One/Two/etc." threads in Active Missions - IC Threads. Players and DMs participating will use an unoccupied stage thread for their encounter. That way the GMs do not have to constantly shuffle match threads between active and inactive folders and the arena won't need its own dedicated folder. I think, should anyone want to do in character commentary, making a thread titled "Crossrealms Arena - The Stands" or something along those lines in Tavern IC might be appropriate. Most of this paragraph after the first two sentences will probably be deleted at a later date.

The Basics

This thread will serve as the signup thread.

The Arena is designed as a place to test character(s)' combat capabilities and strategies while also giving characters a chance to earn a bit of experience points and gold between missions if they find themselves a bit short on those.

The basic idea behind the Arena is for a player to post in this thread that they want to run one of their characters, same as a normal mission. The difference, is that another interested player will then offer to host the encounter as the DM, ideally exchanging the hosting encounters between the two players. The player and DM will then use an unoccupied Active Missions - IC Threads>Crossrealms Arena: Stage One/Two/etc. thread to host the match.

The default appearance of the Arena is a circular, soil or sand stage with a diameter of 200 feet, with the challenging characters and opponents being 50 feet away from the each other in the center of the Arena, but DMs can change the appearance of the Arena to fit the encounter.

The Rules

I - Experience Points and Gold rewards are half the amount given for the character(s)' ECL verses the encounter EL using the d20srd.org d20 Encounter Calculator, with the Gold reward being the given Treasure Value. It is halved because Arena matches are a single encounter with more or less known variables with little role play built into them. Please remember to check your Wealth by Level for your character if you level up from the Arena and make adjustment claims in The Market>Rewards and Claims>Wealth-by-Level Claims as normal if this somehow leaves you with less wealth than appropriate for a character of that level.

II - Standard monsters only, preferably from the SRD. All monsters have max hit points. The challengers can ask for a combat encounter of any Encounter Level as long as their character(s) would gain Experience Points from an encounter of that EL, as long as the DM is willing to host such an encounter. A player can ask for an encounter based around a specific theme. Sample encounters can be found in the OGMW RFT thread Ares' Arena: New Encounters post. There are sample encounters up to EL 10, if you want to be random just roll a dice on which encounter to run.

III - You can only challenge the Arena once per day in character. Your characters are completely healed, rested, and restored at the end and beginning of every encounter.

IV - While the Arena is geared towards single characters, groups of players may challenge the Arena as a party with one character each but the reduced XP and Gold will be divided among the characters as normal, and that includes cohorts and similar gaining experience using the system that granted the character a cohort or similar.

V - The challenger(s) have two combat rounds worth of actions to prepare by casting spells, activating combat maneuvers, drinking a potion, apply poison or anything else a character might do to prepare for combat.

VI - Before the preparation time no none permanent effects should be active. For example, Permanent Enlarge Person is okay, all day or most of the day buff effects like Mage Armor, Longstrider, Greater Mighty Wallop, and any kind of Wildshape or alternate form abilities that take an action to use are not.

VII - The encounter is over if either side can establish control over the other or render them incapable of fighting for at least five combat rounds. Roll play and skill checks to stop the fight may be used to end the encounter and count as a victory for the challenger as bypassing a combat encounter is as valid as defeating a combat encounter.

VIII - Be reasonable about the number of companions and NPCs you bring into the Arena. No hirelings, no Leadership followers.

IX - There are no penalties for forfeiting a match, except for the loss of any consumables used in the forfeited match.

X - Non-consumable items cannot be lost in the Arena. Any equipment sundered or damaged during the encounter is completely and totally restored. The same is true for limbs lost or other would-be permanent/long lasting damage to the character, and any animal companions/special mounts/familiars/homunculi/cohorts/golems/etc. killed or destroyed during the match.

 

 

[Rudolf]

“This one is ready to train.”

 

Link to sheet:

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/?id=2894084

 

Description

 

Archon 2-6 speaks with a self-assured metallic voice, confident when dealing with issues foreseen by past orders. Truly new situations are puzzling, and Archon 2-6 prefers when there is time for analysis and study.

 

Background

A shining metal exterior encloses a magicially animated humanoid construct, designed to guard valuable places and personnel. Archon 2 - 6 was animated as part of the second group of special purpose warforged and given abilities beyond those of many of its peers.

 

Archon 2-6 is accustomed to life as a soldier; following orders comes easily. It is less accustomed to leadership roles or taking bold steps. Physically accustomed to danger, Archon 2-6 will not hesitate to defend companions, despite personal risk.

 

At the Battle of Wyvern Ridge, Archon 2-6’s unit was assigned to defend a siege arcane position. It was prepared for foes both mundane and monstrous, but the enemy forces elected to shift reality itself. It found itself adrift, wandering through strange realms until it found refuge at a nearby tavern…

[DragonFriend]

What EL are you looking to challenge?

[Rudolf]

I’m currently level 3.

[DragonFriend]

So EL 3?

[Grudge]

@DragonFriend Just to check I understood, if I want to test spellcaster I can bring a generic NPC fighter to "tank" for me? And encounters difficulty will be adjusted accordingly?

Edited April 22 by Grudge (see edit history)

[Faeryl_]

I don't think so; I believe that would count as a hireling unless your caster is level 7 and that's their cohort.

Quote

Be reasonable about the number of companions and NPCs you bring into the Arena. No hirelings, no Leadership followers.

 

Edited April 22 by Faeryl_ (see edit history)

[DragonFriend]

Yeah, no hirelings. Summons, cohorts, animal companions, familiars, and constructs are okay, or you could wait for another player with a melee character who wants to try. But you could win with a Sleep spell if the opponent fails their save. As long as you can control the opponent or render them incapable of continuing combat for at least 5 turns you win.

Edited April 22 by DragonFriend (see edit history)

[Rudolf]

Yes, EL3

[Grudge]

1 hour ago, DragonFriend said:

Yeah, no hirelings. Summons, cohorts, animal companions, familiars, and constructs are okay, or you could wait for another player with a melee character who wants to try. But you could win with a Sleep spell if the opponent fails their save. As long as you can control the opponent or render them incapable of continuing combat for at least 5 turns you win.

Or my opponent could succeed in their save and come and say "Hey I notice you have 8 AC and 12 HP. What do you think about my Greatsword?" *whack* OK until they level up a bit, certain casters better wait and go as duos at least.

[DragonFriend]

There is a reason you have 2 combat rounds to prepare and the matches start with opponents 50' apart. That is enough time to cast buff spells, use abilities, and/or summon creatures. There is also no penalty for losing a match other than losing any consumables you used. Also characters generally start at level 3 and can challenge EL 1 encounters if they want.

Edited April 22 by DragonFriend (see edit history)

[Grudge]

I said certain types of casters, I know a garden variety almost anything could hold its own, but if you experiment with a build and fail. It could hurt.

[Garol]

Aloiene is looking for a fight too. Only EL 1 though, so maybe they could join someone if that makes it easier to prepare an encounter?

They'll be happy to get on the arena either way.

[Blue Jay]

@Garol, we're somewhat accommodating with time at the Tavern, but a character is still only allowed to be in one place at a time (with a few exceptions), so you can't participate in the Arena and participate in another mission at the same time. Arena runs are pretty short, so you might be able to complete your Arena encounter before the mission you applied to starts; but if the mission starts before your Arena run is completed, you'll be asked to wrap up your Arena run quickly so as to avoid timing conflicts.

[Garol]

4 hours ago, Blue Jay said:

@Garol, we're somewhat accommodating with time at the Tavern, but a character is still only allowed to be in one place at a time (with a few exceptions), so you can't participate in the Arena and participate in another mission at the same time. Arena runs are pretty short, so you might be able to complete your Arena encounter before the mission you applied to starts; but if the mission starts before your Arena run is completed, you'll be asked to wrap up your Arena run quickly so as to avoid timing conflicts.

Gotcha! Just put myself out here in case the party for the other mission was full, that's all.