[OOC] Strange maps

[delpinator]

The thorp shows a ship in a bottle possibly showing it may be on a coastline. Silver dragons like to purchase on peaks perhaps indicating a mountainous location.

[Mindsiege]

Is Cha-kra aware of how to come about the pirate that his previous party turned over to the authorities? Maybe he could explain to us the symbology. Actually, I imagine that even the previous party would have probably interrogated Fen about these maps, as adventurers are wont to do.

[delpinator]

Though low in rank he knows it's an island somewhere near the west marches. Theres a temple to an old sea god, or cult. The man with the shining blue eye talked about.

[bootblack]

Hey folks, glad to be in the group! I’m kind of swamped today but will check in tomorrow.

One quick thought, maybe we put Briggs ahead of Rhazor in the marching order. Now that Briggs has a level in fighter he’s notably less squishy than in adventures past.

Happy Memorial Day to those who celebrate!

[Mindsiege]

Originally Posted by bootblack

One quick thought, maybe we put Briggs ahead of Rhazor in the marching order. Now that Briggs has a level in fighter he’s notably less squishy than in adventures past.

The intent behind my initial idea was to put the most observant character as close to the front as possible while keeping Arrogaio as the vanguard. But I'm always unsure how much difference 5' make in that kind of marching order. Feel free to flip it up how you wish, I'm not particular about doing it any which way.

Personally, I consider the single file combat engagement as highly unlikely in most scenarios anyways. That seems only relevant for situations in which the party gets ambushed on the road without any situational awareness on our side. So how often would that happen?

@edit:
More generally, I feel like only the first, second (only rarely) and last position in the marching order impact something, aside from putting characters with more movement and more range in the back being smarter.
Otherwise, I haven't really figured out what to do with marching orders.

[secretID]

Originally Posted by Mindsiege

For what it's worth, with Big Logan's Hat Arrogaio would definitely have all eyes on him, even without the need for his background feature.

 

Originally Posted by Solitaire64

I think I’ll deploy the invisible imp on a case-by-case basis. Confor spoiled some of the fun in his previous outing by abusing the infinite illusion ability, so I want to avoid spoiling anything by abusing perpetual invisibility.

FWIW, my thoughts mirror Mindsiege's on this. If Confor ends up outshining others a little, so be it.

Marching/combat:
We have a clear Arrobrick, two relatively squishy Briggs and Snap Kickbig melee-ers, two Rhazor and Conforranged attackers…and Cha-kra.

I won’t guess at where CK should go, but otherwise I propose:
Imp (if invisible)
30’
Owl (or Rhazor if he prefers)
20’
Arro
Briggs & Snap Kick
Rhazor & Confor

[secretID]

BTW, a little late for this offer, but I could swap in my super-healer for Arro, since the team has a lot of melee. I didn't originally introduce her b/c she's also a Chainlock with an imp.

[Mindsiege]

Originally Posted by secretID

BTW, a little late for this offer, but I could swap in my super-healer for Arro, since the team has a lot of melee. I didn't originally introduce her b/c she's also a Chainlock with an imp.

IMO, Arro suits the party perfectly, already has RP going for him, and also is a pretty cool character. On another sidenote, his previous picture with the greatsword was pretty rad and I hope you've kept it around for the future. Maybe you could put it as his pic at least in the character sheet?

About your marching order proposal though, you're missing Cha-kra.

In theory, you could put him anywhere. He's certainly a hybrid build of sorts and also a gimmick. He's not blessed with CON so he'll always look a bit thin as a frontliner. He's certainly intended to go be a melee skirmisher, but he's perfectly range capable. Because of Parry his effective HP is a bit bigger than it looks on paper, but although he also plays like a Gish, he's supposed to play very differently from Arrogaio. Cha-kra would be more of a mobile flanker and ambusher, and the idea is that he'll be very terrifying in a single burst of 1 minute, and that only a few times a day. On paper, he'll be working quite a bit better once he got a few more levels, but there'll always be a question if he's more than a gimmick.

[secretID]

Originally Posted by Mindsiege

About your marching order proposal though, you're missing Cha-kra.

Yeah, yeah - I noted that I don't know where to put him. Your preference?

 

...you didn't just make a frontline cleric with those rolls, or just a straight ranged combatant.

Originally Posted by Mindsiege

On another sidenote, his previous picture with the greatsword was pretty rad and I hope you've kept it around for the future. Maybe you could put it as his pic at least in the character sheet?

 

I lucked out with that great pair of pics. But now he has the +1 longsword, and Silvery Barbs (no hands needed!), so he's sword & board now. The person who did the face pic has a bunch of pics of this same character, including a one-handed sword one, but without even armor. That collection also moves into racy stuff, which arguably is even more appropriate for him.

BTW, let me know if you pick up on my inspiration for him, a character from a very popular TV show.

[Mindsiege]

Originally Posted by secretID

BTW, let me know if you pick up on my inspiration for him, a character from a very popular TV show.

Aww, I'm not good at getting references. Let's see, I've already seen Arrogaio in a few posts but maybe I can figure it out.

Originally Posted by secretID

I'm surprised...you didn't just make a frontline cleric with those rolls, or just a straight ranged combatant.

Ah, you know how it is. In the end, for me optimization comes secondary to the fantasy of a character. When I got Cha-kra's rolls I saw an opportunity and with the inspiration from the monster manual, I took it.

He's far more intelligent than your typical Thri-kreen and the Wizard class isn't the best to reflavour psionics, but I have a very clear path ahead of me what I want Cha-kra to be. Once I Action Surge him into Haste, Bladesong and Two Booming Blades per turn, the monsters better don't rely on attacks to do their fighting to keep up with him. He'll still be a bit of a glass cannon, but to play him will be interesting and fun.

Ultimately, there was a unique concept to enjoy and a unique story to tell, so I didn't even linger on the idea to make a cleric instead. Even Cha-kra's weaknesses suit his flavour and though he's currently in his weakest level range, he should still be flexible enough to not struggle mechanically. When I created my harpy character for the WM I was making the choice between her or another Hexblade that would get 18 instead of her 13 AC. Sometimes it's just more fun to do the flavourful thing. (Mind you, that Hexblade would have been fun too, but he wasn't a harpy).

[Yoshimi]

Confor's illusion was very powerful in our last game, but then again we were entirely facing very low Int kobolds so that might not do the trick every time. But it fit well and made it even more fun because it supported part of the humorous element of that particular adventure.

As for the marching order etc. the most relaxing part of playing a Volo's-era kenku that has no creative spark is...I don't have to do any planning (tongue-in-cheek...I will offer ideas OOC). IC he'll take his cues from Confor. Unless he starts to gravitate toward the swaggering Arrogaio, who Confor apparently can't stand...such dramatic potential! Add in the aloof, self-important insectoid and this party could end up as "Real World: Westhaven."

[Solitaire64]

Originally Posted by Yoshimi

Unless he starts to gravitate toward the swaggering Arrogaio, who Confor apparently can't stand...such dramatic potential! Add in the aloof, self-important insectoid and this party could end up as "Real World: Westhaven."

Yes, if SID is interested we can play the high school triangle of friendship game. The middle friend (Snapkick) either is or pretends to be unconcerned with the drama, while one or both (one in this case, Confor) of the others is stupidly jealous of the third friend.

[secretID]

Sure. I have no trouble with Arrogaio drawing ire. I like playing his obliviousness to it.

Re my proposed order, we need LeDragon's opinion on whether Rhazor is further in the lead, Mindsiege's placement of CK, and any objections, including any entirely different proposal.

FYI, I also posted IC, including a 19 History roll to identify the island on we need to find. (I may have misunderstood, but it seemed like basically all we know is that these locations, or at least the first one, are on some island that has yet to be identified.)

[LeDragon]

Rhazor is fine with walking in the middle.

[Mindsiege]

Regarding placement of Cha-kra, I think he'd probably do best with a longbow at the back of the formation, at least for the sake of getting ambushed during a march. But if there is no RP that will suggest to him that he should do that, he'd naturally want to walk next to the first person in the front, so in this case Rhazor if I understood correctly.