[OOC] Chat Area

[jm935]

Round 1 was confusing with all the out-of-order posting. Glad we've cleared that up. @IW2RP: it does look like Nicholas should be at P11, though, and I know Zalmoxis should be at J10. I'm going to go ahead and act from J10.

[zevonian]

Most games I've been in, people post when they can, regardless of initative, then the DM sorts it all out.
"Out of order" posting is common.

Oh, and I dont know low level bandit stats off hand, but I think you might have hit with that dart, jm.

[jm935]

Originally Posted by zevonian

Most games I've been in, people post when they can, regardless of initative, then the DM sorts it all out. "Out of order" posting is common.

Oh, and I dont know low level bandit stats off hand, but I think you might have hit with that dart, jm.

Really? Hm. I'd need to see it in practice. The way I'm envisioning it, you have all the enemies go at the same time so you get party-enemy-party-enemy, at least some order. (So those above the enemy in order take their turn, then the DM writes for the enemies, then the party posts when they can, then the DM writes for the enemies, and so on.)

I checked the stats. I missed by 1.

[IW2RP]

Originally Posted by jm935

Round 1 was confusing with all the out-of-order posting. Glad we've cleared that up. @IW2RP: it does look like Nicholas should be at P11, though, and I know Zalmoxis should be at J10. I'm going to go ahead and act from J10.

That's fine if I placed you in the wrong place just adjust it for me, eventually I'll get it lined out.

Oh, I am going out for Halloween, I'll post in game when I get back.

[Alex M]

Originally Posted by zevonian

Most games I've been in, people post when they can, regardless of initative, then the DM sorts it all out.
"Out of order" posting is common.

I've been trying to imagine a better system than this. This here's pretty much my first combat on the boards (there's been a *lot* of RP, not much action, in my brief tenure here), so I don't have much to go on, but what do yall think of this idea?

Initiative by Group Roll initiative at the start of combat, but disregard individual results, only using Average PC Initiative v. Average NPC Initiative to determine which group acts first. In the PC's turn actions resolve as posted rather than by initiative. I'm unsure of the wisdom of throwing out a true initiative order but I think the block turns and chronological resolution may be significant advantages in the PbP format.

[zevonian]

Alex: That system would slight folks with High Dex and who may have chosen Traits and Feats that add to Initative. Say we have a 2 man party.

PC A, Rogue. He has Improved Initative, Bullied, and a 20 DEX.
PC B, Cleric. He has Power Attack, Caretaker, and an 8 DEX.

That's d20+11 compared to d20-1.
If the DM just rolls an average of d20+5...Player B could go before Player A every round just by posting first. Would you want to play a speed based character if the clumsy cleric swings every round before you do, and thus appears faster in narrative form, just because he's able to check the site for DM updates more often than you?

[Alex M]

Fair point. Do you have any better solution to streamline PbP combat, or is it doomed to be messy?

[IW2RP]

Would you guys be against just moving in the order from highest initiative to lowest? Whichever side decides to jump into combat first is the side that starts.

Oh and just a quick side note, help me to remember to tell Darth to put his character sheet link with his description in the roster.

[zevonian]

@alex: I don't consider pbp combat to be messy though. Just something you get used to and generally accept because we aren't sitting around a tabletop waiting for a DM to count down from 20 each round.

@DM: just send Darth a PM now about that sheet. Oh and if you're asking me to refrain from posting until everyone ahead of me in initative has posted in a round...just know that the last time I was in a game that was suggested, the guy that rolled highest and went first...he vanished from the game mid combat. Every round took an extra day or two waiting to see if he would show up.
I'll accept it for future combats, just know that it's been my experience that combat can be delayed.

@Smack talking bandit: Try to get my ogre head and triple team me? Take 36 damage to your own self. If I survive, I'm putting your skull on my belt next.

[Alex M]

Way to make that Orc Ferocity count, Zev! That's two natural-20 crits in as many fights. I'll have whatever it is you're feeding Jamuss.

[zevonian]

If only I'd had that a 20 round earlier, I'd have a better time of scaring these bandit lackeys into submission.

Funny thing, amongst the reasons I picked a falchion was that I rarely roll 20s, and thought I'd maybe score some crits with rolling 18s and 19s.

And hey, you know exactly what Jamuss has been eating, and how it was prepared.

[Alex M]

Truth. Maybe I *don't* want any of that. Gross.

[IW2RP]

I'm not suggesting we establish a posting order, but the way I suggested would keep you guy from wasting moves when people would move to you anyway. The post by initiative score thing wouldn't help much, but the taking turns by whichever team attacks first would be good.

[jm935]

Clearly, some form of turns by teams is the way to go. I think what we've settled into is about the best to be hoped for: players post when they can, DM summarizes & moves enemies, players, DM, players ...

Two downsides: (1, minor) enemies all have to act at the same point in the round; (2, more serious) the first round of combat requires some management. It's the second we failed in this time. Once you've sorted out the first round it can go ahead by teams. But in a situation like ours, in which we have PlayerA-NPCs-PlayerB, then in the first round PlayerB (i.e. anyone who falls after the enemy in initiative order) just needs to wait for PlayerA and NPCs before posting in the first round: after the first NPC post, then it's all by teams. This is trickier in a situation in which initiative rolls aren't made ahead of time, but still settles out once the DM has adjudicated the first round mess.

IW2RP, is that what you had in mind?

[IW2RP]

Originally Posted by jm935

Clearly, some form of turns by teams is the way to go. I think what we've settled into is about the best to be hoped for: players post when they can, DM summarizes & moves enemies, players, DM, players ...

Two downsides: (1, minor) enemies all have to act at the same point in the round; (2, more serious) the first round of combat requires some management. It's the second we failed in this time. Once you've sorted out the first round it can go ahead by teams. But in a situation like ours, in which we have PlayerA-NPCs-PlayerB, then in the first round PlayerB (i.e. anyone who falls after the enemy in initiative order) just needs to wait for PlayerA and NPCs before posting in the first round: after the first NPC post, then it's all by teams. This is trickier in a situation in which initiative rolls aren't made ahead of time, but still settles out once the DM has adjudicated the first round mess.

IW2RP, is that what you had in mind?

Yeah it would work out just the same, as it has now. The only problem, as Zevonian mentioned, is when people go missing. Everyone else is left twiddling their thumbs.

Oh, and I know none of us really know each other, but I feel like sharing. I got engaged last night!