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Gears of Revolution: Notes on my campaign
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<blockquote data-quote="Colmarr" data-source="post: 5890271" data-attributes="member: 59182"><p><strong>Session 15: Old Faith</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="color: darkorange">Session Summary:</span></p><p> </p><p>[sblock]One of the attackers gestured with his wooden orb, and the sunrod Wilheim held aloft instantly filled with darkness, then exploded in a flash of searing cold. In the sudden confusion, Tok stuffed the recovered documents into his clothing and Erik snatched the golden canary pendant from around Dr Recklinghausen’s neck.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Another nethermancer gestured at a torch burning on the wall, and it too fell dark. The attackers moved in, taking advantage of their ability to see in the suddenly darkened room. While his companions struck out ineffectually against the attackers, Thornt sought to even the score. Calling on the primal spirits of nature, the shifter coaxed the weeds and lichen that covered the floor into a burst of life. Plants surged up, filling the main chamber with brambles so thick that finding targets within was almost impossible. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Fortunately for RT3, the attackers seemed more interested in Dr Recklinghausen than in the constables themselves. A dagger-wielding assailant moved in to attack the doctor, and the shadowy figure followed suit. The dark man fired a chrome pistol, then began slashing with shadowy claws. Dr Recklinghausen and his defenders fought back as best they could, but the dark man seemed to exist only partly in the world, and RT3 struggled to land a telling blow against him.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Two dagger-wielding assailants eventually fell, but not before Dr Recklinghausen had been sorely pressed. Even through the pressing vegetation and despite a continuous barrage of shots, blows and spells from RT3, the shadowy figure managed to land blow after blow on the surgeon. Finally, the figure retrieved a chrome syringe from somewhere within its form and sank the instrument into Dr Recklinghausen’s neck. The Arrovian’e eyes rolled up in his head and he sank to the floor. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In the confusion that followed, Tok called on ancient magic. His chant evoked the energy of a dawning sun, and when the blast struck the shadowy figure, it burned away his matte black skin. For the few seconds before the cloak of shadowy flesh returned, the light of Thornt’s hastily-lit sunrod revealed raw muscle and sinew weeping rivulets of blood. The figure snarled in anger, before bending to scoop up the unconscious Dr Recklinghausen. Erik was ready. As the dark man turned to carry off his victim, RT3’s sergeant lunged forward and cracked the figure across the back of the skull with the butt of his pistol, sending him sprawling unconscious on the floor of the church.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The two remaining nethermancers desperately extinguished the room’s lights and tried to extract Dr Recklinghausen from his protectors, but could not prevail. As the first fell, the other turned and fled for the entrance, shouting briefly in a tongue that none of the constables recognised. He stood no chance of outrunning Wilheim. The deva quickly chased him down, and a flying kick sent the nethermancer flying head-first into a wall. He did not stir. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Looking up from his fallen foe, Wilheim could see the lights of Flint, glittering on buildings and reflected from the clouds above Parity Lake, framed in the church’s narrow entrance. A dozen steel bars now blocked that entrance, somehow embedded in the stone of the doorway. Beyond, a carriage sat in the plaza fronting the church, and a dozen figures milled around it. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Wilheim called his companions to see, and as Erik and Tok moved forward, one of the figures brought a chair from the carriage and placed it on the ground. A bearded man calmly took a seat in the chair, and a metal tray bearing cheese and expensive-looking wine floated to his side. The man spoke to his companions and they hurried away, boarding two other carriages, which moved away towards the Nettles. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The figure waited calmly for a minute, then called for Tok by name.[/sblock]</p><p> </p><p><span style="color: darkorange">Commentary:</span></p><p> </p><p>This session was dominated almost entirely by the combat with Creed and his shadow operatives. Between the nethermancers putting out the lights in the church and the party druid filling the space with briars, I don't think there were many attacks made during the combat that didn't have an attack penalty involved. It slowed the combat down significantly, but was a sound tactical choice. </p><p> </p><p>The other notable aspect of the encounter was that the party - having paid Kell for Dr Recklinghausen's location - had a full-strength doctor on their side for the combat. Even though there are currently only 4 PCs, Recklinghausen drew so much fire that the PCs never really looked like losing. It was really just a question of whether the doctor would go down or not and whether Creed & Co would successfully retreat or not. </p><p> </p><p>As it turned out, the attackers were close to taking Wolfgang down, so hung around probably one round too long. The PCs thus prevented any from escaping and therefore have access to 6 amulets that will let them bypass Leone's metal bars. They don't know that yet, of course...</p><p> </p><p>After the session, we had an extensive exchange of emails in which 3 of the 4 players expressed concern about the tone of the campaign. Specifically, they feel powerless and clueless. </p><p> </p><p>On reflection, the first complaint is justified in context. The PCs' last 3 NPC encounters were with Wilfredo Zinger (who refused to deal with them and taunted Erik over their personal dislike for each other), Lorcan Kell (who blackmailed them into handing over 1000gp) and now Leone Quital (who has them trapped in a church). That unfortunate sequence of events, playing out over 2 sessions, has left the players feeling like extremely small fish in a big pond.</p><p> </p><p>I've been relatively up-front about the issue, informing them that they've encountered the last of the "don't mess with this guy" moments in the adventure. </p><p> </p><p>As for feeling clueless, they feel like they have so many clues and leads, but don't actually know how any of them connect or what to do with them. I initially assured them that they were close to having answers (they are!), but on further thought I had them overhear Leone tell an accomplice "Tell your boss that Creed failed to recover the documents, but the situation is under control". Having met Creed and been introduced by name at MacBannin's manor before ascending Cauldron Hill , at least one of the players now has a strong suspicion that MacBannin is involved. I think that insight will relieve the confusion and feeling of helplessness.</p><p> </p><p>In part this problem may be at their end - they're not doing any actual work to think about how various facts might connect up (they are convinced that the witchoil stashed in the factories is intended as accelerant in a plot to burn Flint to the ground) - but it's equally my job to keep the adventure moving and the players entertained. </p><p> </p><p>I think things are back on track now, so most of the above is intended just as a heads up to other DMs!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Colmarr, post: 5890271, member: 59182"] [b]Session 15: Old Faith[/b] [COLOR=darkorange]Session Summary:[/COLOR] [sblock]One of the attackers gestured with his wooden orb, and the sunrod Wilheim held aloft instantly filled with darkness, then exploded in a flash of searing cold. In the sudden confusion, Tok stuffed the recovered documents into his clothing and Erik snatched the golden canary pendant from around Dr Recklinghausen’s neck. Another nethermancer gestured at a torch burning on the wall, and it too fell dark. The attackers moved in, taking advantage of their ability to see in the suddenly darkened room. While his companions struck out ineffectually against the attackers, Thornt sought to even the score. Calling on the primal spirits of nature, the shifter coaxed the weeds and lichen that covered the floor into a burst of life. Plants surged up, filling the main chamber with brambles so thick that finding targets within was almost impossible. Fortunately for RT3, the attackers seemed more interested in Dr Recklinghausen than in the constables themselves. A dagger-wielding assailant moved in to attack the doctor, and the shadowy figure followed suit. The dark man fired a chrome pistol, then began slashing with shadowy claws. Dr Recklinghausen and his defenders fought back as best they could, but the dark man seemed to exist only partly in the world, and RT3 struggled to land a telling blow against him. Two dagger-wielding assailants eventually fell, but not before Dr Recklinghausen had been sorely pressed. Even through the pressing vegetation and despite a continuous barrage of shots, blows and spells from RT3, the shadowy figure managed to land blow after blow on the surgeon. Finally, the figure retrieved a chrome syringe from somewhere within its form and sank the instrument into Dr Recklinghausen’s neck. The Arrovian’e eyes rolled up in his head and he sank to the floor. In the confusion that followed, Tok called on ancient magic. His chant evoked the energy of a dawning sun, and when the blast struck the shadowy figure, it burned away his matte black skin. For the few seconds before the cloak of shadowy flesh returned, the light of Thornt’s hastily-lit sunrod revealed raw muscle and sinew weeping rivulets of blood. The figure snarled in anger, before bending to scoop up the unconscious Dr Recklinghausen. Erik was ready. As the dark man turned to carry off his victim, RT3’s sergeant lunged forward and cracked the figure across the back of the skull with the butt of his pistol, sending him sprawling unconscious on the floor of the church. The two remaining nethermancers desperately extinguished the room’s lights and tried to extract Dr Recklinghausen from his protectors, but could not prevail. As the first fell, the other turned and fled for the entrance, shouting briefly in a tongue that none of the constables recognised. He stood no chance of outrunning Wilheim. The deva quickly chased him down, and a flying kick sent the nethermancer flying head-first into a wall. He did not stir. Looking up from his fallen foe, Wilheim could see the lights of Flint, glittering on buildings and reflected from the clouds above Parity Lake, framed in the church’s narrow entrance. A dozen steel bars now blocked that entrance, somehow embedded in the stone of the doorway. Beyond, a carriage sat in the plaza fronting the church, and a dozen figures milled around it. Wilheim called his companions to see, and as Erik and Tok moved forward, one of the figures brought a chair from the carriage and placed it on the ground. A bearded man calmly took a seat in the chair, and a metal tray bearing cheese and expensive-looking wine floated to his side. The man spoke to his companions and they hurried away, boarding two other carriages, which moved away towards the Nettles. The figure waited calmly for a minute, then called for Tok by name.[/sblock] [COLOR=darkorange]Commentary:[/COLOR] This session was dominated almost entirely by the combat with Creed and his shadow operatives. Between the nethermancers putting out the lights in the church and the party druid filling the space with briars, I don't think there were many attacks made during the combat that didn't have an attack penalty involved. It slowed the combat down significantly, but was a sound tactical choice. The other notable aspect of the encounter was that the party - having paid Kell for Dr Recklinghausen's location - had a full-strength doctor on their side for the combat. Even though there are currently only 4 PCs, Recklinghausen drew so much fire that the PCs never really looked like losing. It was really just a question of whether the doctor would go down or not and whether Creed & Co would successfully retreat or not. As it turned out, the attackers were close to taking Wolfgang down, so hung around probably one round too long. The PCs thus prevented any from escaping and therefore have access to 6 amulets that will let them bypass Leone's metal bars. They don't know that yet, of course... After the session, we had an extensive exchange of emails in which 3 of the 4 players expressed concern about the tone of the campaign. Specifically, they feel powerless and clueless. On reflection, the first complaint is justified in context. The PCs' last 3 NPC encounters were with Wilfredo Zinger (who refused to deal with them and taunted Erik over their personal dislike for each other), Lorcan Kell (who blackmailed them into handing over 1000gp) and now Leone Quital (who has them trapped in a church). That unfortunate sequence of events, playing out over 2 sessions, has left the players feeling like extremely small fish in a big pond. I've been relatively up-front about the issue, informing them that they've encountered the last of the "don't mess with this guy" moments in the adventure. As for feeling clueless, they feel like they have so many clues and leads, but don't actually know how any of them connect or what to do with them. I initially assured them that they were close to having answers (they are!), but on further thought I had them overhear Leone tell an accomplice "Tell your boss that Creed failed to recover the documents, but the situation is under control". Having met Creed and been introduced by name at MacBannin's manor before ascending Cauldron Hill , at least one of the players now has a strong suspicion that MacBannin is involved. I think that insight will relieve the confusion and feeling of helplessness. In part this problem may be at their end - they're not doing any actual work to think about how various facts might connect up (they are convinced that the witchoil stashed in the factories is intended as accelerant in a plot to burn Flint to the ground) - but it's equally my job to keep the adventure moving and the players entertained. I think things are back on track now, so most of the above is intended just as a heads up to other DMs! [/QUOTE]
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