[Ptolus/AD&D] OOC Thread #1

Benoist · December 22, 2010, 02:01:35 PM

No. At this point I don't think he's going to die either, unless the group is completely careless and leaves him right in front of some damage source or another. It was very, very, very close though!

Quote from: Drohem;427917I really like my character Rissthil and, maybe unwisely, have grown fond of him and the story and the relationships of the elven sailors, so I would like to see him survive if possible to play again.

It's up to the group at this point. Most of you guys know me well by now: I'm not going out of my way to kill your characters. The environment however is challenging. And it might become a lot more challenging soon. For the moment, by my reckoning, you are managing the situation very, very well.

It's tempting to think of your character as a cherished persona that you don't want to see die. As a matter of fact, I don't see it as something unwise, but something good for the game. Be aware that I am *not* going to make it any easier on you though because you like your character(s). That means it's up to you to stay alive!

Also, the notion that there are retainers, henchmen, hirelings and on is part and parcel of the AD&D experience. These NPCs, when following the right commands from capable leaders, increase your character's survivability TREMENDOUSLY. If you lead well, you'll attract more people who'll want to go down with you. If you do not lead well, mercenaries will shun you.

Retinues also allow you to switch characters, play several at the same time, retire one to take on another, back and forth, playing at different levels of play, facing different types of challenges, mixing and mashing as you see fit. This is another way to look at the campaign, where the character is not a "protagonist" in the strictest literary sense, i.e. the center of attention of the campaign, but the environment is. If you want your character to survive, to be a hero, it's not predetermined by the rules or the campaign setup itself. It's up to you, your wits, and your ability to understand the environment and get the most out of it.

It's a different way to look at it, and it's very, very fun to play when you look at it the right way (i.e. something like a character incapacitated is an opportunity, not an end to a "storyline." It's an occasion to take the game in new directions. It's a moment that makes you value the game as a real challenge - victory's not a given. You EARN it. And so on).

My role is to be impartial in this. I hope it works out for you guys, really do. I'm cheering for you, but at the same time, I'm role playing the enemies, and when they want your head, well. They'll go for it.

Quote from: Drohem;427917Sorry Ramon, but it's just a bit meta-gamey on my part. It's always wise to have more than one thief in a party, and if you're going to play a non-human it's just so tempting to make it a multi-class character. Besides, I rolled so good that it was hard not to take advantage of that and make him a multi-classed character.

I'm glad to see fighter/thieves get some love in this game, personally!

Oh also, a heads up for anyone wanting to play Rangers and Druids: think of Ptolus as a complete AD&D sandbox. Just think of the city and surrounding areas as one part of the setting, with the Dungeon ALSO being the actual Wilderness. So there are occasions for Rangers and Druids to be useful as well. It's just that hexes are not on the surface, away from town, but below... down below.

Drohem · December 22, 2010, 03:14:35 PM

Quote from: Benoist;427930It's up to the group at this point. Most of you guys know me well by now: I'm not going out of my way to kill your characters. The environment however is challenging. And it might become a lot more challenging soon. For the moment, by my reckoning, you are managing the situation very, very well.

It's tempting to think of your character as a cherished persona that you don't want to see die. As a matter of fact, I don't see it as something unwise, but something good for the game. Be aware that I am *not* going to make it any easier on you though because you like your character(s). That means it's up to you to stay alive!

Yes, my statement was for the benefit of my fellow players since it's up to them to let Rissthil live or die at this point, and it is out of my hands. I was just being honest about my desires in this situation. I'm well aware of the nature of AD&D game play.

Benoist · December 22, 2010, 04:09:59 PM

Cool. For my part, I'm sharing for everyone to get where I'm coming from on this.

Imperator · December 22, 2010, 04:28:24 PM

Quote from: Drohem;427917Sorry Ramon, but it's just a bit meta-gamey on my part. It's always wise to have more than one thief in a party, and if you're going to play a non-human it's just so tempting to make it a multi-class character. Besides, I rolled so good that it was hard not to take advantage of that and make him a multi-classed character.

It's totally cool, mate. My niche is giant-killin' after all

Drohem · December 22, 2010, 10:53:41 PM

Quote from: Benoist;427960Cool. For my part, I'm sharing for everyone to get where I'm coming from on this.

Cool.

Quote from: Imperator;427964It's totally cool, mate. My niche is giant-killin' after all

Indeed.

Lilaxe · December 23, 2010, 11:22:35 AM

We have a lift for the moment. We can send those who need rest up top.

winkingbishop · December 23, 2010, 11:37:09 AM

Travelling today to begin my holiday fiasco. I will try to check in this evening.

enjoy!

Lilaxe · December 23, 2010, 05:43:49 PM

dont have my PF book with me. whats damage for a sling bullet?

thedungeondelver · December 23, 2010, 07:26:46 PM

Quote from: Lilaxe;428238dont have my PF book with me. whats damage for a sling bullet?

1d4, iirc
I am sick and I'm not going out into drafty office to get a phb, sorry

Cole · December 23, 2010, 07:42:30 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;4282551d4, iirc
I am sick and I'm not going out into drafty office to get a phb, sorry

d4+1 (d4 for just a stone)

(per the Osric pdf)

Lilaxe · December 23, 2010, 09:09:35 PM

OOPS Osric, not PF, no wonder I couldnt find the pdf!

Cole · December 23, 2010, 09:16:50 PM

Quote from: Lilaxe;428261OOPS Osric, not PF, no wonder I couldnt find the pdf!

http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric/download.html

Benoist · December 23, 2010, 09:56:23 PM

Quote from: Lilaxe;428261OOPS Osric, not PF, no wonder I couldnt find the pdf!

That'll be minus 500 XP for that fatal mistake...
... not.

Let's go with 1d4+1 for the damage (p. 29).

Lilaxe · December 24, 2010, 08:49:59 AM

I have the OSRIC PDF both at work and home, but I think as I was reading PF book my mind just went blank when I went to look for the damage table.
Funny thing is i've never played PF just AD&D and 3.5.

Benoist · December 24, 2010, 04:08:00 PM

Rolling a natural 20 is basically a hit. Max damage if you hit with this result, or rolling normally if you wouldn't have hit otherwise. That's my baseline on critical hits.

Now, fumbles are a whole different matter. Part of me likes the idea of fumbles with all sorts of horrible results happening. But part of me just doesn't want these types of occurences to kill characters and wreck a whole combat because of a bad roll.

My basic attitude is a natural 1 is an auto-miss.

Now, do you want fumbles to do more damage than that to the events of the game? We could have saving throws and a table of horrible things happening to your weapon, friendlies or yourself on a failed saving throw for instance. Nothing "wrong" with that, though it just adds rolls to the game, while maybe not adding that much to the action in the game itself. Besides, looks to me like you're busy enough as it is in the game.

What are your feelings about it? Keep "1 = auto-fail" and be done with it, or add more (and potentially, more harmful) depth to fumbles?