Discussion for a Kingdom of ashes OOC II

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

For the weekend-- I think it would be best if we played on Sunday... however, at this point, doesn't look like that'll work...

Kennon and I did have plans for Sunday with friends from MD... but-- if that's the only day that will work for the group (save Kat and Greg) so be it, we'll have to rearrange some plans...

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Also, we should try to work out any problems that people have with the message boards-- I like this system A LOT.

 

[Xath]

This weekend?

Sunday would be convenient for me, but if that doesn't work for you guys...aww I have no life. Just let me know when we're playing.

 

[AIM-54]

I'm good for pretty much anytime this weekend, so Sunday's not a problem. I'm terribly flexible in these matters.

That said, I agree with Ju--Liz on this format, I think it's pretty cool, pretty convenient and conducive to discussion, if we can get everyone on board.

I've also done what I can for this point in the campaign, just anxiously awaiting feedback (there are decisions/discussion that can occur without having a map, as terribly useful as that will be for more nitty gritty planning). I guess maybe I was too wordy so that people don't have the inclination to read that crap, but I think it has outlined our overarching options pretty well. It's really more at the operational level, where decisions can be made, while the map is required for more tactical level decisions. Liz also brought up some good strategic level considerations, which I also threw some ideas out about. So, there's plenty that can be decided before we get the map.

Jeremiah
aka military nerd extraordinaire

 

[The_Universe]

I agree that you have most of the options out there at this point. All the questions that NEED to be asked have been asked. What is often the problem at this poitn is that nobody wants to come up with any answers. But it still has to be done. I don't care WHO takes charge, but at this point, you either need to vote as a group on all of the above questions, or somebody has to start dictating.

To be quite frank, if you guys don't have answers to those questions (and remember that in-game, you had very little time to consider all this--asking for more time will get you little sympathy here) by the time we start playing again, the Universe HIGHLY doubts that a majority of the group will get out of the city alive. You CANNOT afford to "coast" here. Either make a plan as a group, have a single character take charge (or both), or you are quite probably dead.

Anyway--your characters are in a tight spot. Can you make it!?!

I'll attach that map shortly.

 

[The_Universe]

The map!

I have attached a map of the main part of the city, below.

The big arrow is pointing North. That should help you get your bearings. You're standign near the navy base, right by the cliff's edge, near the docks.

There's no defensive wall around the city....it stretches for a significant distance in all directions beyond the map, but it is a very well-organized city, with wide streets at regular intervals as shown in the picture.

If you have any questions, let me know!

--Kennon

 

[AIM-54]

I agree that you have most of the options out there at this point. All the questions that NEED to be asked have been asked. What is often the problem at this poitn is that nobody wants to come up with any answers. But it still has to be done. I don't care WHO takes charge, but at this point, you either need to vote as a group on all of the above questions, or somebody has to start dictating.

To be quite frank, if you guys don't have answers to those questions (and remember that in-game, you had very little time to consider all this--asking for more time will get you little sympathy here) by the time we start playing again, the Universe HIGHLY doubts that a majority of the group will get out of the city alive. You CANNOT afford to "coast" here. Either make a plan as a group, have a single character take charge (or both), or you are quite probably dead.

Anyway--your characters are in a tight spot. Can you make it!?!

I'll attach that map shortly.

I have answers, but I have a hard time envisioning my character as communicating this effectively on a continuous basis. Thus, my view of him as an advisor type with other characters performing the actual communicating. In any event, because this seems to be my show and no one else has done anything really and time is short, I present my plan:

We are on the docks, approximately where the arrow is pointing towards, on one of those docks there. From here we move into the city somewhat, establish a position on the edge, preferably having accumulated some guardsmen, soldiers, etc, as well as having started other people to spread the word to evacuate the city. This is a task we cannot take upon ourselves, because our combat power is too important to be wasted on that task. Thus, we delegate. I'm sure there will be plenty of people running around that we can conscript (heck Freckles might be useful in this regard, despite his stature). This position might start off by the Amistacian Temple, I can't be specific not being precisely sure where we are. From there we retreat back as necessary, using all available cover and relying on ranged weapons as much as possible. After the Amistacian Temple, our next objective will be the City Watch, where I imagine more troops will be mustering or milling about smartly. There we can form some other teams to a)spread the word and help out with the evacuation and b)fight similar guerrilla style delaying actions. From there we retreat to the Duke's palace and take up positions there. The forest is also a possibility depending on how thick it is, but for now I'm saying the palace, which provides certain defenses. From there, we go to the barracks, assemble further teams depending on the situation there (this will require us to take charge and be cool and in control no matter the situation in order to get them to work with us and to our mutual advantage). At this point, I'm not sure what exactly is beyond the city out West, but that will be the direction of evacuation, because that is the fastest way away from the invaders. I imagine most will flee northwest to Crisoth or west to Lial. Because of the large numbers, it might be best that some refugees head for each city, but this will be beyond our control for the most part, so we should not worry too much about it. As for us, I think we should from there head west-northwest to the Southern Hills, where we can hopefully acquire some aid, establish some sort of headquarters and prepare a resistance. Whether we stay for the duration or not remains to be seen, but I think we have a duty to help the local people who are willing to fight organize and begin to operate against the invaders. I would also counsel an envoy to try and obtain aid from the Orcs, at least, in the bogs. All people of this continent/island have an interest in seeing the defeat of these invaders and Orcish combat power is not something we should look down upon. This is a little farther down the road, however. These are all relatively risky plans, but I think they are the best we have that allow us to do the most good and the most damage against this invading horde.

This makes it seem like mostly my project, but again I invite criticism, alternatives and thoughts on everything I've said, here and earlier. But if no one else steps up, I have no problem taking over, for this segment at the very least. Again, thoughts, criticism, alternatives ARE WELCOME! I feel kind of bad having usurped this, but Kennon's comments have put everything into black and white. So I'm rarin' to go. Who's with me?

 

[Xath]

The Beginings of a Plan...?

Alright, so my biggest fear has been somewhat appeased, that there would only be one or two main gates and we'd have a crowd of people ready for slaughter. There seem to be enough roads that the people, properly cowed and organized, will be able to at least get out of the city.

That being said, the wide lanes that will help people escape will also hinder us in one of the more convenient tactics of inner city defense, Barricades. There are simply too many roads for us to barricade properly to slow the oncoming tides of undead and dragonish spawn.

It looks as though if we're going to make a stand, the best place to do it would be at Centurion's Forest. It is walled with six points of entry. If we could collapse all but the rear back entrance, we could hold it for quite a while (depending on the walls i guess)

Anyway, I think our direction, if and once we get out of the city, should be north west. Traveling through the hills may be dangerous, but it seems that Khaz Modan is our best chance. Since it's such an old stronghold, it should have a good defense system, as there are local threats. It should also be able to hold a fair number of people.

Anyway, I have a midterm tomorrow which I should probably study for...

 

[The_Universe]

We are on the docks, approximately where the arrow is pointing towards, on one of those docks there.

Actually, you're already off the docks. I'll attach an image with a big red dot representing where you guys were at the end of the last session, according to my notes. (see below)

From here we move into the city somewhat, establish a position on the edge, preferably having accumulated some guardsmen, soldiers, etc, as well as having started other people to spread the word to evacuate the city.

There's no more than a dozen watchmen that you can see in the area (in this case, the area is within visible range), and very few soldiers (no more than 20 not directly engaged in combat. Those soldiers that are on or near the docks have either already been disemboweled (like the watchman that was killed by the Vilewight last time) or are locked in pitched battle north of you, in and around the navy base.

There either hasn't been enough time for the army personnel to muster and head down to the docks, or something has already gotten into the city that far, and is keeping them away...

Also, you have about 30 crewmen from the HMS Maelwys, under command of Captain Darin Seaborne (formerly Darin McShippy--McShippy is just TOO dumb of a name for a recurring NPC). They're not trained as warriors, but they exist, and by now they are off the ship and running toward the cliff face (which is far less likely to collapse).

This is a task we cannot take upon ourselves, because our combat power is too important to be wasted on that task. Thus, we delegate. I'm sure there will be plenty of people running around that we can conscript (heck Freckles might be useful in this regard, despite his stature).

Yes, Freckles might be useful. Heheh. He needs a last name! Or maybe Freckles IS his last name! I wonder what his first name would be? HMMMMM...

From there we retreat to the Duke's palace and take up positions there. The forest is also a possibility depending on how thick it is, but for now I'm saying the palace, which provides certain defenses. From there, we go to the barracks, assemble further teams depending on the situation there (this will require us to take charge and be cool and in control no matter the situation in order to get them to work with us and to our mutual advantage)

Don't count on the use of the Duke's palace (you'll see why when we play again). Also, the forest is a well-kept public park. The Forest is not jungle-thick, and there just isn't enough of it for you to hide in for long. However, it's better than standing in the middle of the street! It's surrounded by a 12 foot high decorative brick wall, with gates at regular intervals.

As a general rule, you may want to go gather some help at any of the above places BEFORE you start your stand, rather than trying to gather them along the way (may is the operative word here--it is YOUR plan). There are sufficient numbers of enemies present that it is unlikely that even your relatively strong characters will last long against the onslaught. Anybody with a decent wisdom in the group will see that you'll probably need more people before you stand...

but this will be beyond our control for the most part, so we should not worry too much about it.

It's only out of your control if you choose for it to be. You can spend all of your resources organizing an evacuation, rather than fighting---then you can do whatever you want with the gathered refugees (rather than just letting them scatter) as long as they don't know that you're wanted for murder and treason. Remember that I'm not trying to railroad you into fighting (or not fighting) here. But your choices will have an effect on what happens in the future...

I would also counsel an envoy to try and obtain aid from the Orcs, at least, in the bogs. All people of this continent/island have an interest in seeing the defeat of these invaders and Orcish combat power is not something we should look down upon.

While there are friendly tribes and villages of Orcs in the area, the Black Orcs that have taken up residence in the bogs of the Southern Hills and the craggy peaks of the Goblin Mountains are clanless, honorless rogues, thieves, murderers, and worse. These are the orcs whose clans have banished them, orcs whose spirits are tainted with something that make them unfit for even the rough-and-tumble life spent with other orcs. When they are banished from the clan, Orcish shamans (and sometimes human priests, if the population of orcs lives close to humans) blackens the skin of the offending Orc to let the world know that THIS orc is not to be trusted...

but Kennon's comments have put everything into black and white. So I'm rarin' to go. Who's with me?

I may have overstated a bit, above. But fighting a force of thousands without a plan (as has been your particular idiom thus far) is VERY likely to kill you all. If you're going to run, having a plan is a lot less important. You just RUN.

I never go out of my way to kill characters, but I wanted you all to understand that THIS was going to take some thought, unless you don't want to be in charge. If so, run to a living authority figure elsewhere in the city, and offer your services. They'll probably take you.

Above all, don't metagame and assume that you can win this fight (or that I have deliberately set it up so you can't)--I won't fudge the dice for or against you, but sometimes, the challenges are just too big to take on alone, or too big to take on right now.

 

[The_Universe]

Out-of-game administration stuff

Any consensus yet on when we're playing? I prefer friday night or saturday, but I am technically free sunday. But, I need to know when we're going to play soon so I can tell my MD friends what the deal is.

Also, I think Liz and I are going to try to go see Starsky and Hutch or Hidalgo this weekend...probably friday night. If the rest of the gang wants to come, you're welcome to tag along. Then, afterwards (depending on how late it is) we could maybe do something that ISN'T D&D for a while! :O

Also, the rules I plan to use for any mass combat that the PCs participate in/lead are contained in CRY HAVOC, a book published through Sword and Sorcery Studios by Malhavoc Press. Monte Cook and Skip Williams wrote the book. It's available at the RPG shop here at ENWorld, and at amazon. I recommend it for those of you interested in the subject.