The Hunted (DM: IronSky, Judge: ???)

[DMDanW]

"Haste may prove our undoing if we do not prepare ourselves for future battles" Xander states very bluntly as the others begin their talk of rushing off to their next destination. "I would strongly suggest that you allow me the time to ensure that we emerge from our next conflict victorious. Maros does not smile upon the impatient and foolish during battle"

[sblock=OOC]
I suggest that we use every surge to its fullest capability. As well even at the cost of a half wasted surge, be sure we are at full hit points for the next, and possibly final fight.

If the fights have seemed tough it is probably due to the fact that a group of 1st level characters are tagging along with a 7th level powerhouse defender, and Ironsky has to compensate the encounters to challenge all of us. Unfortunately a challenge for a 7th level character is a death sentence for a 1st level character.
[/sblock]

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: uh,oh, [MENTION=86793]pacdidj[/MENTION], I said who has surges to spare. It wouldn't do to have you drop at one series of attacks and then you cannot help anymore. Save those surges.

While the party rests, Illarion looks over all other rooms trying to find whatever might be important.

Here are the rolls per room, starting at the far right on the map and going counter clockise


Perception; 1d20+0=12; 1d20+0=12, 1d20+0=1; 1d20+0=10
Arcana; 1d20+4=14; 1d20+4=18; 1d20+4=7; 1d20+4=22
Thievery 1d20+3= 5; 1d20+3=22; 1d20+3=13; 1d20+3=4)

EDIT: What a terrible set of rolls Illarion isn't a skill man

 

[Iron Sky]

If the fights have seemed tough it is probably due to the fact that a group of 1st level characters are tagging along with a 7th level powerhouse defender, and Ironsky has to compensate the encounters to challenge all of us. Unfortunately a challenge for a 7th level character is a death sentence for a 1st level character.

GM: Actually, I'm running this as a level 2 adventure since I figure you'll all be at least level 2 by the time you get to the end of it. The specific modifications I made because Earth was level 7: add 1 more monster in the first fight, raise the Ogre's level by 2 in the 2nd. Had Earth been level 1 or 2, that would have been the difference, just FYI. It probably has something more to do with me using only custom monsters with MM3 damage expressions and the tone of the adventure actually. It's supposed to be hard. I tend to run intelligent monsters as optimally as I can - I set rough heuristics that they follow based on intelligence level, attitude, aggressiveness, and the like and assume they'll use every advantage they can get.

 

[pacdidj]

OOC: Well, for Auntie Mab it's the difference between having only 2 surges left, if I use the healing word bonuses, versus having none if I don't. If she gets stuck in the fray in another encounter like the one we've just been through, she's likely going down regardless. I'm happy to take the risk if we feel like time is of the essence. Otherwise I'll retcon to take advantage of the healing bonuses. I suppose it comes down to whether or not we think the next encounter is likely to be the final. If not, we're all going to need an extended rest in any event.

 

[jkason]

GM: It probably has something more to do with me using only custom monsters with MM3 damage expressions and the tone of the adventure actually. It's supposed to be hard. I tend to run intelligent monsters as optimally as I can - I set rough heuristics that they follow based on intelligence level, attitude, aggressiveness, and the like and assume they'll use every advantage they can get.

OOC: So this isn't intensely more difficult than what I can expect from a non-split level 4e game? Hrm. Mayhap my natural inability to properly optimize doesn't fit so well with 4e...

 

[Iron Sky]

So this isn't intensely more difficult than what I can expect from a non-split level 4e game? Hrm. Mayhap my natural inability to properly optimize doesn't fit so well with 4e...

GM: As challenging as my games can be, I haven't actually killed anyone yet. That's not true of all the other DMs *cough* renau1g *cough* For games I run, I figure I've done my job right if a PC or two drops and/or the majority are bloodied at some point in the combat but the party wins the fight. Occasionally I'll have a fight that's purposely easier, but that's my general guideline. DMs are encouraged to make PbP combats challenging for a number of reasons: 1) Because of how long a combat takes in real time (weeks to months), there won't be too many in an adventure. 2) Players are assumed to have plenty of time to optimize their actions for a turn since there's no hard-and-fast time limit (unlike RL where everyone is sitting there waiting for you to finish). 3) In general, people who are into D&D enough to hang out at a forum dedicated to it are generally more mechanically knowledgeable than your common player and thus can make more informed decisions on what makes a good build (or they just look at the CharOp boards and borrow liberally from them). The majority of PCs I look at on L4W are fairly optimized. If you want help with a character, the General Discussion thread here or the 4e Discussion forum on EnWorld are good places to ask for help.

 

[johnmeier1]

After the short rest, Raijin looks at Auntie Mab and sees that she has fared at least as well as he has. You are no charlatan I am sorry for my earlier words. I see you are of a different kind than myself, but that makes you no less deserving of respect. He walks towards the door. We were headed to the home of the family, correct?

[sblock=OOC] I think I only need 1 Healing Word helped healing surge, so if we are counting those I only take up 1 of them. I can see how Song of Rest is different now. Raijin's stats are below, he is down to 2 surges as well, so I only have about 1 encounter left at his pace.
[/sblock]

[sblock=ministats]
Status:
Passive Perception 11, Passive Insight 17
AC 15, Fort 17, Reflex 12, Will 18
HP: 27/27, Bloodied 13, Surge Value 6, Surges 2/6
Resist Force 10, Resist Lightning 5, Resist Thunder 5
Speed 6, Initiative +1
Action Points: 1, Second Wind
At-Will Powers: Blazing Starfall, Storm Walk
Encounter Powers: Dragonflame Mettle, Promise of Storm, Thundering Roar
Daily Powers: Lightning Breath, Brooch of Shielding
[/sblock]

 

[Iron Sky]

GM: So, I'm not sure what the revised set of surge expenditures is. To keep things moving, I propose: Healer's Mercy to heal Devinihm, Raijin, and Mab for surge + 11 each from their 1 hp just-conscious states. Then one Healing Word for each of them and 1 for Earth for a total of 4 short rests(1 for Xander to recover his powers, two to do the healing, 1 to recover his powers again, 20 minutes. This should have everyone at or close to full with minimum surge expenditure. What say ye?

 

[pacdidj]

"Aw, there, there. No hard feelings dearie," Auntie Mab says, patting Raijin on the arm. "Auntie Mab is never one to hold a grudge. And besides," she adds with a wink, "sometimes the greatest powers are those best concealed. Luran taught me that one, he did."

"Well," the old woman says, motioning toward the door, "Shall we be off then?"

GM: What say ye?

OOC: Works for me.

 

[johnmeier1]

OOC: I am good to go