JollyDoc's Shackled City

[gfunk]

Do you think there's any underlying reason for the problems? A lack of a destructive arcane caster, maybe? Or perhaps a focussed archer, or a larger variety on the magical weapons? How do you handle magic items, anyway? Is it based on the book standard per level, and what do you start out new PCs with?

It is difficult to say, but the latest addition to the party is a destructive arcanist, so we'll see if it become easier. Wealth guidelines are not really a problem, new PCs come in with standard DMG wealth for their level.

Also, would it be possible for you to give me some advice. I have been getting very few views of my own story hour comparatively, and no comments or criticisms of it, and I was wondering if I needed to improve my writing somewhat.

When I started my original SH, I had to post like six lengthy updates before anyone uttered a peep. Thanks Krellic! Anyway, I don't know if it is your writing style or material. Personally, I don't like read hombrew material (Sep's being a notable exception) b/c I sometimes read Story Hours from the middle and this is easy with established modules.

Also, I am more interested in a play by play in prose form than a real story. I don't want a TPK squelched, for example, for the sake of the plot. Also, a lot of our most loyal fans have carried over from my own Story Hour.

But I suppose Lela could give you the best advice since she reads 'em all.

 

[gfunk]

Great post by the way, rough battle on top of all the others. If Grimm is 11 level are the rest of the guys around 12 ?

Grimm just turned level 11, the others are as follows:

Caine (9/2+1 ECL=12)
Rusty (12)
Tilly (10)
Wathros (10)
Kiko (11)
New Guy (10)

Which is why we needed a linker module before Soul Pillars. But it seems to have had the opposite effect.:\

 

[Neverwinter Knight]

Sort of Caine's polar opposite, no?

Well, Grimm & Caine seem to complement each other quite nicely. First of all, Caine has lots of useful spells for buffing Grimm, and second, it's much easier for Caine to spread piece, when he has a half-ogre friend with massice spiked chains with him.


Joachim, that was no stupidity on your part. I don't know how you played that scene with Caine's resurrection at the table, but I would also have tried to reproduce the effect. I'm surprised you survived the initial plasma damage.

gfunk, thanks for writing the conclusion to the adventure already! I think that you three taking turns with the writing is the best thing that can happen to us readers! Oh, there is that one little thing about your prisoner: Are you going to let him live? If so, he will spend the rest of his long life trying to kill Caine in order to reset the test or might become a reoccuring nightmare in other regards. Seriously, not every creature can be saved - or maybe Caine has a plan?


Keep it up!

 

[Neverwinter Knight]

Speaking of which, you've stopped the other campaign, right? I may have missed mention of that. In any case, it's nice to get to know an Exalted group. Especially after one that was vile in every sense except the one that counts.

Well, if I remember correctly, there was still one last update to go at gfunk's SH. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking... Maybe we will see that party-party showdown after all when the current party has leveled up accordingly.


PS: Only sad thing is that gfunk's SH thread is at the bottom of the SH forum...

 

[Lela]

Most people don't read SHs until there's a page two of updates. Too many (mine included) drop off without warning and it just isn't worth the time. That said, I bet we lose several authors who otherwise would have stayed due to lack of readers. Step one is to give it a little time.

Step two is grammar. I can't tell you how hard it is to read something that is filled with grammar mistakes. That includes commas. If I'm forced to reread lines often due to grammar errors (not my own dyslexia) I generally stop reading.

Step three is variation. While your game my focus mainly on combat that's not what's going to grab readers. I'm not saying to violate the sanctity of your game (far from it) but don't be afraid to add dialog. At night, before everyone settles down, is a great time to include a conversation you simply implied during the game. You have a good idea how the characters would approach something like that and it builds interest among your readers. If we don't care about the characters we probably won't stick around.

If you don't know the characters well enough to do that, get to know them! It's essential. You can't write a good story without it. If your players don't have personalities (for their characters) then ask them to give you an idea what they're like. Or make them up yourself. Maybe your players will adopt them. Maybe not. But you need personalities for a story. It's essential.

Edit: Obviously, that isn't everything (not that I could name everything). But there was a class coming into the lab I was in and I had one of my own to run to.

 

[Neverwinter Knight]

my 2cents on SHs

What I look for in SHs is more than just a story. For instance, gfunk, JollyDoc, Joachim and co. give us lot's of input. They share many details and behind the scenes information with us. They post their character sheets, which I find to be VERY interesting.
Basically, a SH that gives a lot get's a lot. Just have your other players join the fray to reduce your amount of work.

 

[htetickrt]

Cool, ending, guys. Makes me want to run the test for my group. Maybe after I finish with the RttToEE. Assuming any characters survive that.

Question for you all: How do you play the weapon breaking power of the apostle of peace? Is it always a straight fort save based on the wielder's save, or do you modify it based on magic weapon plusses?

Also, have you had any difficulty in game with the calming radius? My peaceful monk barely manages not to be a nuisance to the rest of the party by virtue of his speed and NPCness, but I wonder how Caine's been doing. I only noticed a bad effect once, with Grimm recently. I'm sure that high DC would trip up Tilly, at least, as well.

Finally, to Lela and Neverwinter Night: Is there a limit to the length of a story hour that people are willing to read, do you think? I'm trying to hold out for the bump in readership after hitting page 2, but I'm worried that it'll be too long by then, and no one will read anyway.

 

[Joachim]

Which is why we needed a linker module before Soul Pillars. But it seems to have had the opposite effect.:\

Yeah, but you had to admit the deaths (and the circumstances surrounding them) were moderately entertaining. (EDIT: Tragic, but entertaining)

Now to start preparing the next installment:

The Lucky Monkey...Not So Lucky

 

[Joachim]

Just noted this...over 1k replies. WOO HOO! GFUNK AND I TALK TOO MUCH!!

 

[gfunk]

Oh, there is that one little thing about your prisoner: Are you going to let him live? If so, he will spend the rest of his long life trying to kill Caine in order to reset the test or might become a reoccuring nightmare in other regards. Seriously, not every creature can be saved - or maybe Caine has a plan?

Don't worry, I have a mini-update to go as there is quite a bit of resolution. You will soon learn Kaurophon's fate -- it is quite appropriate.