Against the Giants 5e PBP (Full)

[Steve Gorak]

My only issue with this is, ask yourself:

Is it going to be fun for the other players? (This sounds like you might be able to derail the entire adventure using it - maybe. Is it going to make everyone else (in particular players that made characters that want to bash giant heads) stand around while you end combats peacefully? (I mean, I love RPing monsters and writing dialogue, so it'll probably be okay for me). OR... is it going to make you a fun and useful part of the group?

No worries, I'm self censoring ;-)

I've posted my character, and have stuck with spells that fit a psion (I'm flavouring the the elemental cantrips as a form of telekinesis/molecular agitation for the fire - ditto for prestidigitation). I've skipped the all powerful polymorph because it didn't fit the psionic feel. Still thinking of a way to get banishment (a form of forced teleportation) though and swapping out another spell, but that may not happen - I think he'll be effective enough already.

My level 6 Aberrant mind sorcerer/Eloquence bard 3 will be for another time (what's interesting about psionic spells from aberrant mind sorc (level 6), is that you can still swap the higher level slots when multiclassing with a caster for spell points - that's A LOT of undetectable mind control spells!). I even resisted taking 2 level of war mage for the +4 reaction bonus to saves, available EACH ROUND! Damn my optimizing mind.

I'm still going through the equipment. @FitzTheRuke, Do you use any specific pricing list for common magical items & potions? For example, something like the Cast off armor property, and other common magic items. I'm having a hard time getting to 500 gp (actually, 525 gp because of noble).

Story concept: the Dwarves were asked for help. They've up to now been removed from the surface realms, but Gimlak answered that call at his father's request, for glory, his clan's name, and to reclaim Dwarven lands to create his own stronghold. Please feel free to add fluff and hooks.
Cheers,

SG

 

[FitzTheRuke]

No worries, I'm self censoring ;-)

I've posted my character, and have stuck with spells that fit a psion (I'm flavouring the the elemental cantrips as a form of telekinesis/molecular agitation for the fire - ditto for prestidigitation). I've skipped the all powerful polymorph because it didn't fit the psionic feel. Still thinking of a way to get banishment (a form of forced teleportation) though and swapping out another spell, but that may not happen - I think he'll be effective enough already.

My level 6 Aberrant mind sorcerer/Eloquence bard 3 will be for another time (what's interesting about psionic spells from aberrant mind sorc (level 6), is that you can still swap the higher level slots when multiclassing with a caster for spell points - that's A LOT of undetectable mind control spells!). I even resisted taking 2 level of war mage for the +4 reaction bonus to saves, available EACH ROUND! Damn my optimizing mind.

I'm still going through the equipment. @FitzTheRuke, Do you use any specific pricing list for common magical items & potions? For example, something like the Cast off armor property, and other common magic items. I'm having a hard time getting to 500 gp (actually, 525 gp because of noble).

Story concept: the Dwarves were asked for help. They've up to now been removed from the surface realms, but Gimlak answered that call at his father's request, for glory, his clan's name, and to reclaim Dwarven lands to create his own stronghold. Please feel free to add fluff and hooks.
Cheers,

SG

You can grab common potions (or other consumables) for 100gp. Healing potions are 50gp, but I've offered to make them the Greater kind. Otherwise, let's leave off buying magic items.

EDIT: Get me a picture of your character, and if you don't mind, when you're getting him done, drop parts of his RG under spoiler tags to stop the post from being too big (not that anyone comes after you, though there theoretically could be replacement characters...)

 

[Steve Gorak]

You can grab common potions (or other consumables) for 100gp. Healing potions are 50gp, but I've offered to make them the Greater kind. Otherwise, let's leave off buying magic items.

EDIT: Get me a picture of your character, and if you don't mind, when you're getting him done, drop parts of his RG under spoiler tags to stop the post from being too big (not that anyone comes after you, though there theoretically could be replacement characters...)

Will do for the spoiler tags.
I'll grab a few greater healing potions (for 50gp?)
Cheers,

SG

 

[FitzTheRuke]

So... I started to work on creating a "pure" Tales from the Yawning Portal version to run one of the groups through (I was thinking G1) and... I can't do it.

Not because it's too much work, but because... I think it wouldn't be as good.

I've started a thread to discuss WHY, but I'm afraid you all should avoid it (spoilers).

You'll just have to trust me for now (even those of you who might have a negative opinion of 4e and wonder why I could possibly find something worthwhile hidden therein - trust me, it is not about anything that has anything to do with that edition but about my experience (36 years of regular play!) on what makes a good adventure.

Rest assured, we will be playing 5e. And what I present to you will be better this way.

 

[Maxperson]

So... I started to work on creating a "pure" Tales from the Yawning Portal version to run one of the groups through (I was thinking G1) and... I can't do it.

Not because it's too much work, but because... I think it wouldn't be as good.

I've started a thread to discuss WHY, but I'm afraid you all should avoid it (spoilers).

You'll just have to trust me for now (even those of you who might have a negative opinion of 4e and wonder why I could possibly find something worthwhile hidden therein - trust me, it is not about anything that has anything to do with that edition but about my experience (36 years of regular play!) on what makes a good adventure.

Rest assured, we will be playing 5e. And what I present to you will be better this way.

Heh. My issues with 4e were some of the mechanics that I couldn't look past, not the stories. I have no issue with using the 4e version in part or in whole.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Heh. My issues with 4e were some of the mechanics that I couldn't look past, not the stories. I have no issue with using the 4e version in part or in whole.

Funny thing for me is, while I agree with some of the criticisms of 4e, I liked much of it - but generally NOT the adventures (I mean, I ran all of them, just like I have nearly all of the 5e ones - I just thought most of them were terrible). Late 4e adventures were getting much better (IIRC, this version of AtG was "late" in 4e's run. Either way, it was by Perkins, who is IMO pretty good.)

For the record, they're only different by some of the details. It would probably be a bigger difference between the two if you had a different DM for the same one, than it would if you had me running both of them, if that makes sense.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Looks like Group 1 is ready to go. (I know I still need to give Quinn a personal mission... I'll ponder it.) Feel free to ask more questions before you leave, but we'll head to the steading soon.

Group 2... still need @Steve Gorak 's dwarf to appear and @JustinCase 's yuan-ti. I'm sure Lord Falldur would like more adventurer's to appear... but he's going to have to be content with six, poor fellow.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Looks like Group 1 is ready to go. (I know I still need to give Quinn a personal mission... I'll ponder it.) Feel free to ask more questions before you leave, but we'll head to the steading soon.

Group 2... still need @Steve Gorak 's dwarf to appear and @JustinCase 's yuan-ti. I'm sure Lord Falldur would like more adventurer's to appear... but he's going to have to be content with six, poor fellow.

Little Lord Fauntleroy…. erm, Falldur can certainly give Doc a personal mission.

Unless Doc scared the words right out of him ….

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Little Lord Fauntleroy…. erm, Falldur can certainly give Doc a personal mission.

Unless Doc scared the words right out of him ….

I was thinking Doc already had a personal mission. The reason he's here. I just haven't figured out what that IS yet. (But it's probably enough side-story for him). So yeah, I think Falldur's too intimidated by him to ask him for anything (other than "go kill some giants and find out what they're up to" (which is EVERYONE's primary mission.)

EDIT: In other words, Doc's Quest: Figure out why he's here in this strange new world.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Note to self: I have to remember to make sure that both groups are given the same information... for the most part.