Insight's "In the Shadow of Giants" [OOC]

[KarinsDad]

You need to just drop it. Personal insults are what's not cool and I'd appreciate it if you don't post in this thread again. I don't want to have to get the mods involved.

Threats are not cool either. If the mods kick me out of the thread, they do. Sorry you are taking this so personally. Character flaw of mine. Sticking up for other people like Vertexx99.

Like I said before, have fun with your game. Don't worry, I won't be back. I prefer different DM characteristics.

 

[Insight]

In the interest of full disclosure and because I made an error in the initial list of characters, I am going to reveal in some detail how I made the final decisions. This is going to be the LAST word on this subject and I will not tolerate any further interference.

In order to handle the submissions and to decide which characters to select, I created a spreadsheet. This spreadsheet had five tabs: one for 'All', meaning all of the submissions, one each for Controllers, Leaders, and Strikers/Defenders, and one for 'Teams', in which I would create two different teams and then decide which one was more balanced and made more sense.

I scored each submission in four areas: Participation, Completion, Concept, and Backstory. Each area received between 1 and 5 stars and I totalled them to get a final score for each submission. The highest score was a 17, there was one 16, three 13s, a 12, an 11, three 10s, three 9s, and a 7. I'm NOT going to reveal who got what score, so don't even ask.

Obviously, I can't just take the top 6 scores because some of those were the same role. As I noted previously, the decision for the final team would be 1 Controller, 1 Leader, and 4 Defenders or Strikers. I also looked at the balance between melee characters and ranged characters. I created 2 teams, weighed the pros and cons of both, and chose one of the teams.

What happened was that I inadvertently left Sparky's submission off the Defenders/Strikers tab. I used the individual tabs (not the 'All' tab) to create the final teams and thus, Sparky's submission was missed. This might not have been a big deal if Sparky had scored a 10, as he would have been in with a lot of other people. The fact is that Sparky had the second highest score amongst all of the submissions and it would have been wrong to leave him off just because I made an error in copying and pasting.

The fact is that I am under NO obligation to disclose any of this. I am doing this because obviously, at least one person has sour grapes and is accusing me of lying about my process. The above is the process I used and I stand by it. I will absolutely reserve my right as the DM to pick the best and most suitable players for my game. Anyone who doesn't like it, well, you are free to run your own game and make decisions in other ways.

Please do not post anything else about my decisions or the process itself. I'd really like to get on with the game.

 

[Walking Dad]

Odd that you should say that, since you made the selection.

I am disappointed, I'll admit -- I'd thought I'd been prompt, clear, enthusiastic, and genuinely believed I had a shot to be selected for a game that would continue for a while. I was very impressed with your ambitions for a 2- or 3-level pregame leading up to the larger campaign.

While I don't feel my contributions are obviously substandard, it's clear they are seen that way by others. If you have the time to PM me as to why I didn't make the cut at all, I'd appreciate the advice. Getting into these games is very difficult I find, though it's clear that some have the knack.

Thanks --

Kobold Stew.

Happy gaming. Could I get the PM, too? I'm no native speaker and some helpful criticism would be nice

 

[ShaggySpellsword]

I'll use red text, if that's okay.

Also, I rethought some powers.

[sblock=Revised Stats]====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Gregor Stonehelm, level 10
Dwarf, Fighter
Fighter Talents: One-handed Weapon Talent
Pact Initiate: Pact Initiate (infernal pact)
Background: East Rift, Arcane Tracker (Dungeoneering class skill)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 18, Dex 8, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 13.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 14, Dex 8, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 13.


AC: 28 Fort: 23 Reflex: 20 Will: 19
HP: 87 Surges: 13 Surge Value: 21

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +10, Endurance +14, Dungeoneering +14, Arcana +11

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Heal +7, History +6, Insight +7, Intimidate +6, Nature +7, Perception +7, Religion +6, Stealth, Streetwise +6, Thievery

FEATS
Level 1: Pact Initiate
Level 2: Dwarven Weapon Training
Level 4: Armor Proficiency (Plate)
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Hammer)
Level 8: Novice Power
Level 10: Adept Power

POWERS
Fighter at-will 1: Knockdown Assault
Fighter at-will 1: Tide of Iron
Fighter encounter 1: Passing Attack
Fighter daily 1: Lasting Threat (retrained to Armor of Agathys at Adept Power)
Fighter utility 2: Defensive Stance
Fighter encounter 3: Shield Slam
Fighter daily 5: Rain of Steel
Fighter utility 6: Vigilant Protector
Fighter encounter 7: Come and Get It (retrained to Howl of Doom at Novice Power)
Fighter daily 9: Victorious Surge
Fighter utility 10: Stalwart Guard

ITEMS
Bashing Shield Heavy Shield (heroic tier), Adventurer's Kit, Pact Hammer Craghammer +2, Tactician's Layered Plate Armor +2, Backbone Belt (paragon tier), Cloak of Survival +2, Climber's Kit, Everburning Torch
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======[/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

I don't have a bad attitude. You just got the BS flag thrown at you and you don't like it.

You put me as first alternate and even though I didn't make the cut, I didn't say a word. I could have not made the alternate cut either and I still wouldn't have said a word (unlike KS and Sparky who did whine right away). Everyone who does not make the cut is disappointed. That's life.


I personally thought renau1g's super optimized Orb Wizard with a M/C of Cleric and a background practically out of PHB II pretty darn unoriginal and typically min/maxed, but I didn't say a word. Have fun when he locks down the Elite or Solo most of the time and your BBEG is just sitting there.

Orb Wizards with a M/C of Cleric are a dime a dozen. Every min/maxer wants to play one of those. Tomb Wizards with a M/C of Shaman are unique. So although I thought your selection system was sub-par, I didn't say a word.

I wasn't crying sour grapes. You're DM. Your choice.

It was when you brought two players up in the list and kicked two players down, that's when I called BS.

You consider that fair? Whatever dude.

I had no problem with your selection process until you started monkeying with it. If you made a scoring mistake, you should have just sucked it up and not told anyone.

Learn from your mistakes and stand by your rulings. You'll piss fewer people off. And grow a thicker skin while you're at it.

Personally, I think you owe Vertexx99 a major apology. You screwed him over royally.

Have fun with your game.

Dude...seriously I was going to offer you a place in one of my games when I saw you didn't make the cut in order to see if you liked PbP, but most assuredly one who goes about attacking others personally is definitely not one that I will allow into my games. As for race/class/mc selection, I chose mine based on an RP scenario, OMG I followed the fluff from the PHB2 that mentions how/why Devas are re-created. They are a relatively new race with a fairly narrow background, unlike the very established races (human, elf, etc.). Would you call it unoriginal if a dwarf came from the *gasp* mountains, or an elf from the forest?. I've played 3 wizards in 4e so far, 2 were staff wizards the other one was a wand wizard, so I thought I'd try an orb wizard. I understand that I'm the lightning rod for your displeasure (besides Insight) as I was the controller selected and I do have a thick skin, especially when it comes to anonymous posters on the interweb, but at the same time I also have a character flaw (as you called it) where I don't like it when people try to bully/belittle others in such a childish way, nor will I allow myself to be so obviously attacked.

If you have a specific critique of a players BG/fluff then take it up directly with them, this on the other hand is the sour grapes, and if you aren't happy with Insight's selection process then take it up directly with him, rather than dropping these bombs and generally be a nuisance to a fairly decent PbP community. I've gamed with just about every other applicant and can say that they are all excellent RP'ers and players, so don't disparage others because you weren't chosen. I'd be more than happy to continue discussions off-line so we don't further clog up this thread. You can send me a PM and I'll reply, as long as the tone is civil.

 

[Sparky]

I forked this to here. Not for a continuation of the bitterness, but for a reset. I encourage you all to stop by and put this nasty business behind us.

 

[Insight]

Sparky, I need images for Amos and his wolf (separate, please).

 

[Sparky]

Sorry, forgot to get those put up.

Here.

[sblock=Amos]

[/sblock]

[sblock=Olcan]

[/sblock]

 

[Insight]

The reason I'm asking for these portraits is two-fold. First, I want to use them for your Character Builder entries. Second, I'm creating combat icons from these portraits (re-sized, obviously).

Also, please post the final version of your character asap. If you don't have any updates from the last time you posted the character, please say so.

 

[hafrogman]

If you don't have any updates from the last time you posted the character, please say so.

So.

Actually, I edited slightly yesterday (bought a healing potion). But Brant is complete.