Winthrop's location would possibly depend on the environment.  In the wilderness, he will almost certainly be out front, as the local and tracker.  He would possibly range ahead of the group, scouting, marking the trail, etc.  Also, with his speed of 40 he should be able to make survival checks at no penalty to provide food for the party if it's an extended overland trip to the ravine.  Of course, if we're riding our horses he moves no faster than anybody else.

Within a "dungeon" I'm not actually sure where he'd be.  It probably makes some sense to put him middlish, as one of the only ranged characters, behind the big meat shields.  But I'd be happy to stick him out front again if that's easier. He would certainly be interested in keeping the level one followers safe.

As the local, with fairly sizable perception and stealth scores, Winthrop would make sense as the navigator. From a story perspective, I could also see the Lady or the Seargent, as both of them are the driving forces behind the expedition. I'm happy with any option.

Regarding watches, Winthrop is happy taking any watch.  He would be most interested in taking watch with someone with whom he can swap stories - Gileus or Jastian perhaps, or maybe his young friend Hasor.

Also, I'm sure Sharwyn will be delighted to know that the entire town thinks she's a boy.  I'm sure that's going to interfere with her dating future!

It depends too much on locale and gear to give an all-purpose default. I can switch from back row horse archer on the plains to front tower shield heavy in the dungeon. At best I'll give a gear and battle macro soon after engaging a new locale.

Oh yes, I'm bringing a cart, camp guard hirelings, and different gear-sets depending on where we plan to go.

I suspect that Lady Jastian isn't quite so impetuous when she's sober, but she seems determined to surprise me.  

So far, Lady Jastian seems an uncompromising sort, someone who boldly speaks harsh truths (as she sees them):  We'll see whether that's true of her when she's sober, or if she was just "in her cups".  

She is capable of being diplomatic when she feels a more gentle approach is needed, but right now she thinks the townsfolk have already waited too long to reconnoiter the area and discover some sign of the goblins' current activities.  

Jastian has apparently had some hostile encounters with goblins, which color her perceptions.  She thinks the townsfolk were foolish to trade with them.  

Warclam:  Yep, Lady Jastian was a bit high-handed.  She'll doubtlessly be more reasonable tomorrow morning.

Quick note, I've made what should be my final pass on Winthrop.  I traded in his magic armor for masterwork, bought a few potions and made his horse a warhorse again, and I dropped Leadership for Precise Shot.

Nah, I think Lady Jastian is the right sort of catalyst to keep things moving. It was an inspired little bit and obviously moved things along. Look how little Justin has to post in IC and yet it merrily carries on, it's like a GM vacation! Healthy fleshed out personalities only make IC decisions easier, and that's a good thing to keep things from stalling out.

Gileus will hang out in the middle of the marching order.  And if there's any sign of combat, he'll hang back and cover the more experienced combatants with his crossbow.

With 4 watches, it seems we should have one of the more combat ready characters (that is, the 7th level ones) on each watch.  Gileus would probably take watch with Lady Jastian or Winthrop.

Quote from: Opaopajr;600454Look how little Justin has to post in IC and yet it merrily carries on, it's like a GM vacation!

I'm loving it.

It's feeling a lot like my home campaign. I'll frequently be able to sit back and just let the players keep the ball rolling. And you're right, it builds stronger relationships between the PCs.

Current MARCHING ORDER:

Rank 1: Ashur
Rank 2: Haddon
Middlish: Winthrop - Gileus

Current WATCH LIST:

Watch 1:
Watch 2:
Watch 3:
Watch 4: Ashur/Haddon

Quote from: Josh;600273Also, I'm sure Sharwyn will be delighted to know that the entire town thinks she's a boy.  I'm sure that's going to interfere with her dating future!

I think we run with it: It's a lesbian relationship and they're planning to get married. Some of the priests of Norse gods murmur imprecations against that sort of thing, but in reality nobody in the 4th century wanted to piss off the priestesses of the Isle of Lesbos and it's been pretty much accepted practice ever since.

EVERYBODY: I'm going to be out of town for a large chunk of tomorrow, so I may not be able to post until Sunday. Keep working on hashing out the dungeon marching order and watch list. Once those are in hand, we should be able to get the adventure rolling.

While tracing the previous party's movement, Lady Jastian will want the party's skilled trackers in front, lest her tracks interfere with their efforts.

At other times, Lady Jastian would prefer to be in the party's front rank.  In open country, she'll often ride her heavy warhorse, Paladin.  This will allow her the best possible view of potential ambushes or other dangers.  

While she respects her fellow adventurers' experience, she regards herself and Sergeant Llewellyn as the party members most likely to survive initial contact with enemies or monsters.  She is certainly going to underestimate Cudberct's abilities until she sees him in action.

If enemies or other threats are believed to be nearby, Jastian will dismount.  She will try to interpose herself between her allies and any foes, using her polearm's reach to keep enemies away from her allies.  With Combat Reflexes and Improved Trip, she hopes to keep foes from even reachng her allies, much less engaging them in battle.

Winthrop can take watch two.  Since Gileus seems amiable to join him, would you care the share it with him?  He would likely spend watch one hunting or storytelling, actively watch for the second watch, and then have a nice sleep.

If he's going to be the party navigator, stick him in row one, otherwise I think let's say row three.

Edit: Just saw Sir Wulf's post.  I nominate him for navigator while inside dungeons, and maybe I'll do it while outside?  In which case rank 3 seems fine by me.

Sir Wulf's Analysis seems much more apt than my own. In-dungeon, Haddon and Ashur should probably stay middle-ish.

Quote from: Josh;600556Edit: Just saw Sir Wulf's post.  I nominate him for navigator while inside dungeons, and maybe I'll do it while outside?  In which case rank 3 seems fine by me.

Makes sense.

Hasor doesn't have any preference for watches, so he'll pair up with whoever wants company. As far as the marching order goes, he's got basically no actual combat skill, and couldn't survive much of a beating either. He'll go in the far back, right in front of any rear guards we have.

QuoteIt soon becomes apparent that he is obviously confusing parts of the story with the epic Tragedy of Darien and Julianne, especially around the point that Kerowyn Hucrele (known by the town to be quite alive) dies from a horrific infection obtained from a werebadger bite.

The HORROR of the WEREBADGER claims another victim...

Quote from: Josh;600556Winthrop can take watch two.  Since Gileus seems amiable to join him, would you care the share it with him?

Sounds good to me.