[FR][PBP] Against the Storm Game Thread

[Elric]

"My thanks for saving our lives, Rufus. We should have done better in defending ourselves while you retrieved the weapon, but we will know better in the future."

Turning to the treasure:

"I do not want much of this. A couple of potions (one of Endurance and one of CSW) will suffice for me. Elone, please instruct me in the study of that poison. I do not want to keep any of it myself. A true warrior fights with his blade and skill."

To Ubaar:
"You are a fearsome and courageous fighter. I would not have had the courage to engage the enemy leader, nor the strength to remain standing while under such a ferocious attack."

 

[garyh]

"Indeed, Ubaar," Akharos agrees. "Even I did not have the strength to withstand the attacks of the foul dark elves."

 

[reapersaurus]

Then again, the leader was hasted and thus could have gotten off more attacks anyway. You might also note that considering that he dealt you 32 dmg with an unarmed strike, he might not exactly be an easy grapple. At full hp, perhaps you could have taken him, but where you were, with him having a full-attack action readied if you moved to attack him, there wasnt really anything you could do.

...but the leader, who as I said, had plenty of actions and a better init, smacked him once and jumped overboard

OOC: I'll stop talking about this battle after this post, probably. But since feedback is an important part to PbP adventures to keeping the interest up IMO, I'll give a bit more. The leader readied an action, for no apparent benefit unless Ubaar charged him?! Boy, that sounds pretty wobbly, especially considering I posted that Ubaar would take cover and heal up - he's enraged, not suicidal. But Alex up and frees Ubaar, so he attacked? (I got this picture of a car peeling out with the brakes on, then accelerating once the net was pulled off) BTW: You should really check the rules you are using, because as far as I'm aware, once you ready an action, than you're stuck with a partial action. (pg 134, PHB "Only partial actions can be readied") Either you should have gone thru with the TPK, or let our PC's have a bit more control over the battle. I can only imagine how frustrating (or worse, boring) it was for some of the guys whose PC's were rendering unconscious early on. What, am I the only one that has opinions of this battle? (that unfortunately got started by all of us sleeping for 2 or 3 days before joining it ) Anyway, I'm glad you are open to discussion about the game, and glad you want me to stay on. Maps would be great - it would have alleviated many issues in this battle, methinks - I know they take time and effort, but hey - that's why we're playing, right?

As for the encounter, since Ubaar didn't go unconscious, and the bad guys were vanquished that same turn, Ubaar's first action would have been to heal one of the mages with magic that can strike at a distance (either Calain or Alcar) to hopefully nail that sucker as he ran away. "Bad guy gettin' away."
Ubaar wouldn't turn his cheek as the leader ran off, if he or they could do anything about it.
Then he'd heal himself, turning inward to the powers of Uthgar for strength of healing as he eased down off the combat high.

edit: P.S. upon reading it back, I retract and apologize for saying it was the worst fight I've witnessed.
That was harsh, and too extreme of wording.
There were mistakes, i think, in mechanics and approach, but nothing that can't be improved to be quite fun for all concerned.

Sometimes I'm overly critical, holding other to too high of standard, but you can ask other DM's, I'm the first to give praise when I see something done well, because DM'ing is a mostly thankless task.

and guys - you don't need to pump up Ubaar's ego - he knows he kicks ass.
It's me that didn't like the way it played out, not Ubaar - as long as he's not dead, he's happy if there's a fight.

 

[garyh]

OOC: What, am I the only one that has opinions of this battle? (that unfortunately got started by all of us sleeping for 2 or 3 days before joining it )

OOC: Well, I am disappointed with Akharos' role in the battle (getting completely thrashed before he could do, well... anything). That kinda sucked. But as long as my character doesn't get taken out before he even gets off a single attack every battle, I'll be fine.

 

[reapersaurus]

OOC: eek! So much time glossed by immediately after battle. I'll fit these in here...

After making sure Calain got out of the net and being imprisoned ("Trapped BAD!"), Ubaar groans a bit from the wounds of the battle, makes sure everything's in one place and anyone else needs healing, then saunters over to Alex and says with Intimidation "Where was that backup you promised?"

He waits a bit for the reaction, then smiles and says "Just kidding.
We got thru that scrape by skin of teeth!
We maybe not get so lucky next time - we should practice.
It takes time to get used to what other people can do..."

After sitting down at the fire with everyone, Ubaar asks the captain "So have your sailors used the drow boats before?
Do they go underwater, or just used to float to surface?

Hey - if noone wants this, and that, and those, Ubaar'll take 'em."
Ubaar points to the +1 breastplate, +1 longsword, a handful of drow posion and a CMW potion.

"Unless someone wants to arm-wrestle me for 'em."

 

[DM_Matt]

Rufus: "Those silly contraptions are not fit for the noble name of ship, or even boat for that matter. They are airtight boxes that have weights to keep them under. They go with the flow until one of the Saugs that swims with them cuts the weights off and causes them to surface. Then the drow take out a crossbow-like contraption that helps shoot the lines of hooked netting to attach it to the ship."

 

[dead_radish]

Elone looks at Alex. "I know no more than you. I wish only to study."

She addresses the group as a whole. "Are there any among us familiar with the applications of poison?"

OOC: From now only, Elone will memorize Delay Poison instead of Summon Monster II. She'll cast it every morning after all the prep work is done.

 

[reapersaurus]

She addresses the group as a whole. "Are there any among us familiar with the applications of poison?"

"Not too familiar - but all you do is put some on the end of an arrow, and if you hit, and if they Weak enough to go to sleep, than that's their fault for not being Strong enough.

Ubaar will use some if enemy Weak, and not worthy of hand-to-hand combat."

 

[dead_radish]

Elone narrows her eyes slightly, and stares at Ubaar for a moment, trying to discern if that was veiled slap. Looking at his face for a moment, she laughs softly, and nods. "Poor weak elves, eh Ubaar? Not strong like the Thunderbeast. But Solonor has his ways." She winks a bit at him and seems genuinely amused.

 

[reapersaurus]

Elone narrows her eyes slightly, and stares at Ubaar for a moment, trying to discern if that was veiled slap. Looking at his face for a moment, she laughs softly, and nods. "Poor weak elves, eh Ubaar? Not strong like the Thunderbeast. But Solonor has his ways." She winks a bit at him and seems genuinely amused.

"Hey, no offense, pointy-ears..

Ubaar just saying that everybody (if they worth anything) has different Strengths.

Ands different Weaknesses.

Ubaar Strong.
In combat, Spirit, and fun.

But Ubaar not sneaky - not quiet.
not smart.
not too quick.

You quick!
And good at long-distance attacks.
Ubaar got long arms, but can't reach THAT far.
You strong in Spirit, too, which is Good.
Too many people live only for themselves, not something greater than them. There lots of religions on Faerun, and Ubaar's seen enough $hit go down in life to know you should be down with SOMEone Strong.

Everyone can find their own inner Thunderbeast, even if they not a holy person, and even if they not Strong enough to follow Uthgar.

Ubaar jumps down off his virtual bully-pulpit, done with his sermon for the day.

OOC: He's a Cleric, for cripes sake! LOL It's his chosen duty to try to convince those that are lost to find Strength they didn't know they had - if that brings followers to Uthgar, more the better - Ubaar doesn't get these powers for nothin'!