Catastrophe!

[jbear]

[sblock=OOC] okay, lets try and get things moving a little in any case. Perhaps a bit of action will get us back some momentum. Re: Losing a character: I'd be inclined to rerecruit and build meeting them into the story. Otherwise the prophecy is all wrong! Jokes, I'm easy. [/sblock]

Shouting a fiery curse,the Cursed One lashes out at the large kruthik next to him with his massive blade. "Your eyes will bleed puss, dirt scavenger!"

[sblock=Actions] Minor: Curse on green Kruthik 12
Standard: Eldritch Strike at same Kruthik 12 Hit: Slide to H3 for Druid explosion set up and so Artificer can take a step back at end of his turn to 'safe square.
Minor: Divine Challenge on Kruthik 12: Marked
I take 2 dmg as I have 1 Kruthik still next to me: Defensive weapon reduces this to 1 dmg

Will repost mini stat block later ( I was tempted to use AP, but I think we have this under control and CFW did an evil laugh ...[/sblock]

OOC: Edit: Final Note: I really have no issue whatsoever. Consider me in the "I support whatever you decide 100%" category. My suggestions are only meant for your consideration and are offered with humility and respect I sympathise with your frustration. I think Faraque has been totally unfair.

 

[CrimsonFlameWielder]

OOC: I respect his choice, though I'm sorry to see that he wasn't even willing to discuss this with me in a PM. However, it is his choice and I'm sad to see him go. I have played and DM'd in many 4e games (just not here at enworld) both electronic and in person. I find that I have enough time to update my players, and since I have only asked for 1 post per player per day, I don't think it's too much to ask that my players be patient if it takes me 3 or 4 hours to resolve a round of combat. That being said, the REAL solution to the issue at hand is that no-one here is using a very basic programming command: The IF/THEN statement. In my own PBP and electronic games where I am unsure of particular defenses or attributes of something I have encountered, it's easy enough to say "I do this...IF THIS is the outcome...then I will do this. If THAT is the outcome, I will do this instead..." etc. This gives you control of what you want to have happen with your character in multiple situations, and while it does take a little extra time on YOUR turn to set it up... it saves all of the back and forth between you and the DM, and the unnecessary questioning and banter of anyone else. However, seeing that you all have posted some further suggestions to the defenses issue, I will concede and list a creature's stat once it has been hit. I just don't like players using player knowledge as opposed to characters using what THEY would know to best attack a creature. To me its no different that a character in the isles who has NEVER seen or heard of a troll before, yet the player immediately has their character pull out a vile of alchemists fire. The PLAYER knows the troll is vulnerable to the fire, but how would the character know this? Forgive my ranting (Faraque has me a bit frustrated here). Let us please continue on. However, before we do so, I would like a consensus of the remaining players as to whether I should alter the remaining combats to take into account only 5 players or not. And as a note to this...and for what its worth...you guys are actually blowing through this combat like a hot knife through butter... I certainly was not expecting the Dina/Ignatz explosion!! Please let me know what the collective decision is and we'll move on. EDIT: OH, and on a side note, jbear is correct. I purposefully placed the colored token borders on the appropriate level of monster for a reason. I figured that once you killed a few minions, it wouldn't be difficult to figure out which was which.

 

[VanderLegion]

Sha'kar points a hand at Ignatz and the half-orcs armor blazes with magical runes, shooting a burst of lightning at one of the creatures, but the bolt goes wide. Sha'kar looks around at the creatures surrounding the group, then, with no warning, ceases to exist.
[sblock="actions"]Standard: Thundering Armor on ignatz, he gets +1 ac, 9vs fort against KW2 for attack, assuming miss. If KW2 died from Ignatz attack, instead use magic weapon against KW11, ignatz doesn't get the bonus, and use my weapon's encounter power to not provoke oppurtunity attacks.
Minor: Void Assumption, cease to exist until start of my next turn, no line of site or effect on anything else and nothing has line of sight/effect on me. Next turn I reappear within 3 squares of my starting square.[/sblock][sblock="Stats"]Sha'kar Menoth Male Genasi Artificer
Initiative: +1, Passive perception: 19, Passive Insight: 13, Senses: Normal

Defenses:
AC: 18, Fort: 16, Reflex: 15, Will: 15
Resist 5 Psychic

Vitality
HP: 30/40, Bloodied: 20, Surge Value: 10, Surges Left: 10/10
Action Points: 1/1, Second Wind: unused

Languages:
Allarian, Tsugo

Basic Attacks:
Melee Basic Attack: +3 vs AC - Quarterstaff 1d8
Ranged Basic Attack: +4 vs AC - Point Blank Repeating Crossbow +1: 1d8+1

Powers:
At-Will: Magic Weapon, Thundering Armor
Encounter: Burning Weapons, Shocking Feedback, Healing Infusion: Curative Admixture, Healing Infusion: Resistive Formula, [-]Void Assumption[/-]
Daily: Icebound Sigil, Restorative Infusion
Item: Point Blank Repeating Crossbow +1 (Encounter), Warmage's Uniform Leather Armor +1 (Daily), Alchemist's Fire (0/0), Tethercord (1/1)

Weapons:
Quarterstaff - 1d8
Point Blank Repeating Crossbow +1 - 1d8+1 (Equipped)
Current magazine: 10 bolts
Full Magazines Remaining: 13

Conditions:

Crossbow Caster - Use Crossbow as implement for implement attacks
Voidsoul - Resist 5 Psychic damage
Arcane Empowerment - Empower magic item once per day + once per milestone (Augment Energy or Impart Energy)
Augment Energy - A weapon gains a +2 bonus as a free action once. A weapon can't be infused twice (lasts until next extended rest or until used)
Impart Energy - Recharge a daily magic item. An item can't be recharged twice in a day.
Arcane Rejuvenation - When an ally uses a daily magic item they gain 4 temporary hit points.[/sblock]

OOC: As for remaining combats, I'm okay with seeing how it goes here and deciding from there

 

[Medina]

OOC: Using previous rolls as requested

Corragan recoils from the attack of the Kruthik, reverting back into elven form to better deal with the unexpected horde of creatures. He summons a strong gale which lifts stones and rocks to hurl at the creatures.

[sblock=Actions]Minor: Wild Shape. Shift to E1
Standard: Thorn Spray targeting F2 through J6. (I assume 6 and 14 are both dead by the funnny red symbol on them)

Attacks vs. Fort:
Worker 4: 8
Worker 5: 11
Worker 8: 22
Worker 10: 25
Worker 12: 20
Worker 13: 11

Elven Accuracy on Worker 4: 26

If there are still minimum 3 Kruthik alive (workers 4, 5 and 12 probably), within G2 to I4, and if Worker 10 is dead, so Corragan will not provoke an opportunity attack, then use an Action Point and Grasping Tide centred on H3. In this case, please make the rolls on my behalf, since I don't know how many rolls I should be making. Bear in mind, potential -4 to defences from Grasping Tide, +5 to damage from Dina's buff.

If Kruthik Worker 10 is not dead, use Move Action: Shift back to E1[/sblock]

[sblock=Thorn Spray Effect]Those hit takes a –4 penalty to all defenses until the end of Corragan's next turn[/sblock]

 

[Son of Meepo]

OOC: That being said, the REAL solution to the issue at hand is that no-one here is using a very basic programming command: The IF/THEN statement. Forgive my ranting (Faraque has me a bit frustrated here). Let us please continue on. However, before we do so, I would like a consensus of the remaining players as to whether I should alter the remaining combats to take into account only 5 players or not. And as a note to this...and for what its worth...you guys are actually blowing through this combat like a hot knife through butter... I certainly was not expecting the Dina/Ignatz explosion!!

OOC: Personally I hate listing a long list of contingencies in my post. I think it goes back to dice superstitions at the table, where you don't roll dice unless you need to because you might "waste" some of the good rolls (Yes, I'm a mathematician, I understand how random dice and probability works, but superstitions die hard). I can even think of a few problematic situations. Let's take Corragan's action as an example. He uses thorn spray to take out a bunch in the middle, but he wants to put in a contingency to use his AP. "I'll use my AP if I can include at least 3 creatures in an area burst 1. I'll put the burst where I can get most enemies, only including allies if they don't object." So now he rolls that AP attack, but how many attack rolls does he make? He stated a minimum number of targets, but there could be more? And where would it be placed? Would he be attacking allies. What order would they be attacked in. If one of my allies can see the numbers I roll, would they object if they saw the attack roll meant for them would hit, but not object otherwise?

OOC: As far as the future combats, I'll ask when you plan to award xp, and will you allow us to level up during the adventure should we earn enough xp. If we're going to remain level 3 throughout the entire adventure, then maybe adjusting for fewer players is in order, but if we do gain xp during, then we'll level faster and the adjustment will not make that much of a difference. But honestly I'm less concerned with them as I am with the current fight. What is going to happen to Rilissa and the kruthik she was engaged with? I probably would not have spent the AP to take the attack, since buffing Rilissa wouldn't do anything if she is simply removed from the combat. Additionally, if no adjustments are made to the monsters and Rilissa is simply removed, then Dina has just put herself in a really bad spot where she is open to attacks by up to 5 of the enemy monsters.

 

[jbear]

OOC: What if CFW NPC's Rilassa til the end of this fight? Seems like a simple and good solution

 

[WEContact]

[sblock=OOC]I think NPCing Rilissa until the end of the encounter and then bringing in a portal to the shadowfell or something through which her shadar-kai brethren whisk her away for some important errand. Something like that.

I don't think we should be too quick to paint Faraque as the bad guy here. This is a forum, remember, and there's tons of room for misunderstandings and miscommunications, and some people get frustrated more easily or frustrated by things that don't bother most people. For those people, excusing themselves from situations that cause them stress (especially something that's supposed to be recreational) is a totally acceptable reaction.

I think we should have the decency to accept Faraque's decisions gracefully, so that he continues to feel welcome to play with everybody here in L4W.

Oh, and I don't think CFW should dial back the encounters to account for Rilissa's absence- I think we can handle it, and I'd like the extra xp. [/sblock]

 

[jbear]

[sblock=OOC] I don't think anyone is painting Faraque to be the bad guy. What gave you that impression? I said I thought his reaction was harsh and impatient, which it was. CrimsonFlameWielder said he was disappointed and frustrated because he wouldn't discuss the issue with him, which is totally understandable. Son of Meepo only brought up the issue of what his withdrawal meant for this immeadiate fight. I don't hold anything against him whatsoever. However, if the opportunity arose to game with him either as a DM or player, I'd choose not to, which is also a perfectly reasonable decision.

Also, maybe we could use "sblocks" for long OOC posts as the thread is getting cluttered with non-game discussion.

The Cursed One gulps a little at the thought of not dialling back encounters designed for 6 PCs. With no Rilassa I'm all you got in so far as a defender ... and being lvl 1 ... Oo' That said we do have 2 leaders, and I've never been called a coward ... at least not by anyone who still has two front teeth!! Hehehe, jokes. Again, I'm easy [/sblock]

[sblock=The Cursed One]
PC:The Cursed One
Human Hybrid Paladin | Warlock 1
Passive Perception/Insight 9
AC:18, Fort:15, Reflex:14, Will:15, Speed:5
HP:28/29, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges left:11/11
Initiative +2
Action Points: 1 (encounter):

Conditions

Powers
MBA: Eldritch Strike +8 vs AC, 1d12+5 damage

Divine Challenge: KW12
Warlock's Curse: KW12
Eldritch Strike, Ardent Strike, Dire Radiance
Blade of Crimson:
Valorous Smite:
Second Wind
Crown of Stars:
Fullblade of Defense:


Combat notes: Fullblade of Defense: Resist 1 vs All dmg
[/sblock]

 

[WEContact]

[sblock=ooc]I don't think anyone here was out of line, I just wanted to remind everyone to be charitable and give people the benefit of the doubt where possible. I didn't mean to sound accusatory.

Oh, and I think NPCing Rilissa until the end of the encounter is the way to go.[/sblock]

 

[CrimsonFlameWielder]

[sblock=OOC] I don't think anyone is painting Faraque to be the bad guy. What gave you that impression? I said I thought his reaction was harsh and impatient, which it was. CrimsonFlameWielder said he was disappointed and frustrated because he wouldn't discuss the issue with him, which is totally understandable. Son of Meepo only brought up the issue of what his withdrawal meant for this immeadiate fight. I don't hold anything against him whatsoever. However, if the opportunity arose to game with him either as a DM or player, I'd choose not to, which is also a perfectly reasonable decision.

Also, maybe we could use "sblocks" for long OOC posts as the thread is getting cluttered with non-game discussion.

The Cursed One gulps a little at the thought of not dialling back encounters designed for 6 PCs. With no Rilassa I'm all you got in so far as a defender ... and being lvl 1 ... Oo' That said we do have 2 leaders, and I've never been called a coward ... at least not by anyone who still has two front teeth!! Hehehe, jokes. Again, I'm easy [/sblock]

[sblock=The Cursed One]
PC:The Cursed One
Human Hybrid Paladin | Warlock 1
Passive Perception/Insight 9
AC:18, Fort:15, Reflex:14, Will:15, Speed:5
HP:28/29, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges left:11/11
Initiative +2
Action Points: 1 (encounter):

Conditions

Powers
MBA: Eldritch Strike +8 vs AC, 1d12+5 damage

Divine Challenge: KW12
Warlock's Curse: KW12
Eldritch Strike, Ardent Strike, Dire Radiance
Blade of Crimson:
Valorous Smite:
Second Wind
Crown of Stars:
Fullblade of Defense:


Combat notes: Fullblade of Defense: Resist 1 vs All dmg
[/sblock]

[sblock=Yet More OOC...]

Sorry for not getting a chance to get back on this weekend and give you guys and update. Stick with me for just a few more hours, and I promise we will get things moving!

[MENTION=75065]jbear[/MENTION]: I was actually thinking about the current situation with you being only lvl 1. I'd really like to keep the encounters where they are at, and I think you guys will be able to handle them, however, I would feel better if you were level three along with them...

So with the permission of yourself and the rest of your team-mates (and as a total exception to most of the rules here, but it will only apply to this adventure and only as long as you are IN this adventure and nowhere else with TCO), I would like to grant you 3rd level, putting you at the minimum XP for that level (2250 xp) and put you into an XP debt of 2250, to be paid off with the comming encounters (which actually should not take you too long with what I have planned). Of course, you will always be behind your other team-mates XP wise, and eventually they will be leveling to 4 and 5, while you may max out at level 4 with this adventure, but it's up to you.

Let me know the consensus, and then I promise I will get you guys the update you deserve. Thanks for sticking it out with me! [/sblock]