[OOC] High Command

[TheMystic]

The GM Mimerifle instituted a system of two OOC threads in his latest game that I thought was quite astute. I am replicating that here.

This thread is out of character, but for events pertaining to the campaign progress.

Here you can engage in ooc planning (For when letting it play out IC would take long enough to lose it's fun, not for metagaming) and make inquiries ("Can X see anybody wearing a purple scarf with six fingers on their right hand") if such questions would be out of place (or worse, ruin any dramatic tension) in thread.

[TheMystic]

I will also occasionally make requests of you here. For example, the moment your character has an initiative score I would ask you to roll initiative in the dice roller thread.

My PBP initiative solution: I assign and roll a group initiative score for all NPC's involved in any combat. Players who beat this score act before them. Then the NPC's act, then every PC gets a go, then the NPC's act, then every PC gets a go... and so on. Basically combining the end of the first turn with the beginning of the second. PC actions are resolved in the order most beneficial to the PC's (i.e. if you were next to a healer at either the start or end of the turn, that healer can heal you [with their touch range spell] whether they posted before or after you and regardless of your initiative.

At the end of each combat, roll initiative in preparation for the combat to come, to save time when it arrives.

[TheMystic]

Reposting a relevant piece of information from a private thread.

You'll need to buy them as standard, wands are one of the few things outside of Sensen's purview. As for charges, part of what balances the low cost per charge is the need to bulk buy. But I recognise that it also turns most wands into something overpriced that will never be fully expended. Wands are still produced at 50 charges, but you can find used wands with as few as 25 if you wish.

[GeoAvanti]

I do have a couple questions pertaining to the setting itself, particularly as a higher-level caster in a lower-level setting.

Primarily, I'm assuming that there is no traditional "magic-mart", and so there is also likely to be limited access to most spells over level 2 (especially Witch spells and other spells that wouldn't show up on Sensen's Wizard list). Will this make it more difficult for me to be able to add spells to my spellbook/familiar/maskofscariness from sources not directly tied to leveling, or will we be using some version of the "spell research and design" rules, or just hand-waving it to make it work how we want it to?

Secondly, for my own (more specifically Kiril's) curiosity, what was the manner of execution and interment for Princess Amelia? Similarly, what are the funerary practices of the Arulien ruling family or other nobles? I ask, specifically, because Kiril is the kind of individual who would take it upon himself to provide a Gentle Repose spell on any such royalty, if the corpse is both in a state where it can be preserved and if the funerary practices allow for such things.

[TheMystic]

Spell research is available. One of the balancing factors of your constitution based casting is that you have less effective spellcraft than an INT based witch.

You could have learned much from the wise women of Arulien, treat any spells that you have learned pre-game as scrolls (including rolling spellcraft to learn it properly) if only for balance reasons. You may learn up to second level spells from your average wise woman.

Guess you can't dump Int straight down to 7 as a SWD. But leaving it at 12-13 is better than needing to pump it up significantly. Also, you can still "teach" your mask new spells, supposedly by painting it with ashes of a scroll or letting it have some "alone" time with another witch's familiar. Which, of course, leads to some hilarious scenes:

 

Scarred Witch Doctor: That would be a handy spell to have. Would you mind teaching it to me?
Other Witch: Sure, hey Fluffy!
Black Cat: Don't call me that... you know damn well that's not my name.
Other Witch: Oh don't be such a drama queen. Here, I want you to teach a spell to another witch.
Black Cat: *sigh* fine... where's his familiar.
SWD: *produces wooden mask*
Black Cat: ^O.o^
SWD: *hangs mask on a bush branch* Alright, now you two have fun.
Black Cat: ^-.-^ you can't be serious...
Other Witch: Alright, we're going off to the tavern for a drink. You'll be done by the time we get back, right?
Black Cat: ^O.O^ WHAT‽‽‽
SWD: Bye Fluffy.
Black Cat: ffs they ARE serious...
*the two witches walk off*
Black Cat: ^ಠ_ಠ^

Secondly: Her execution was private, her funeral was public, but respectful. Whatever your intentions, they did not let you touch her with your blood magics.

[Squeak]

Here are my thoughts. Bait would camouflage himself and attack when the horses hit the punji traps.

The goal is to make a quick attack -- hopefully at the leader/captain, if he can identify him. He would then flee and try to get them to chase him. Once they hit the bear traps, everyone else would open up their attacks, since their forces would be split.

Completely open on thoughts. Let me know.

[TheMystic]

Those were some poor rolls. I won't bother with the bear trap ones, if you already have them, setting them is relatively simple if you know what you're doing (I would consider trained in craft (Traps) or Disable device as knowing what you're doing and you are both I believe).

The Punji traps though are a different story. There's technically no crafting DC listed for CR 1/2 traps but I can infer DC 15 for them.

That means you succeeded at one of the checks. Each CR 1/2 trap costs 500gp by default, but traps and poisons have always been ridiculously overpriced so I'm going to charge 125 gp per trap instead, even that seems rather expensive for what it is because digging a hole in the ground and inserting spikes is not that expensive.

Crafting makes the trap cost 1/3 sale price, so 41 gp...

---

You know what, bugger that.

You could build this trap with a bag full of caltrops and a shovel. Any price over 1 gp is ridiculous. Consider the cost of the trap negligible, and take

Dice Damage:

1d4

4

(4) damage for scratching yourself as you installed the trap on your natural 1.

All traps are now considered set. I'll get started on the ambush itself unless anybody has anything left to bring up.

[TheMystic]

Can I ask for a stealth check from everybody (Bait's is already done) to see if any of you are noticed as the group approaches? I will be assigning you bonuses for having concealed yourself properly in advance, this is mostly to see if anybody knocks over a few pebbles at just the wrong time (Because that always seems to happen in fiction) or something, so don't stress too much if you're not trained in stealth.

Also, where do you want Mahtan standing? I currently having him concealing himself near Strider, to give Strider a melee capable backup to keep heat off him while he shoots and keep everyone in telepathic contact range (160 ft).

[TeufelHeunden]

Rolls: I will incorporate these into a post tomorrow if I get it up before you post yours. If we do find have time between detecting them and them arriving, then Strider will cast gravity bow and Aspect of the Falcon on himself before we spring the ambush. If my post goes up before that then I will not incorporate those in my post (I will let you tell me or put them in your post depending on how you decide) it will only be getting set and waiting.

Stealth Strider: (28)
Stealth Roheryn: (17)
Staelth aid another if needed and can be applied: (30)
Perception Strider: (14)
Initiative: (8) [natural 1]

[TheMystic]

You'll probably have time to get off a spell or two before they hit the traps, though you would risk sharp ears if you use verbal components.

[GeoAvanti]

Originally Posted by TheMystic

(Because that always seems to happen in fiction)

This is why spellcasters don't like the great outdoors...

[TeufelHeunden]

Originally Posted by TheMystic

You'll probably have time to get off a spell or two before they hit the traps, though you would risk sharp ears if you use verbal components.

I will let you make the call if he does them or not based on the rolls, he would be smart enough to only do them if he heard or saw them approaching from some distance before they were right on top of the group.

[TeufelHeunden]

In the original map you had two wagons close together, are the other wagon and enemies still there, just off the map?

[TheMystic]

Indeed, sorry, I don't have more map to use.

[TeufelHeunden]

Awesome, just making sure.