Need some ideas for low level characters to instantaneously travel long distances...

[Gaiden]

But it does happen though. If it makes sense for story purposes, and you can envision that is how your characters would act in that situation (agreeing to split up in order to save as many people as possible), then this is what you are stuck with. It is just MHO, but I don't think the story elements should suffer just because the DM doesn't want the hassel of micromanaging 2 seperate groups. I guess ya just can't have it both ways, huh?



Absolutely. We are highly against metagaming, and we generally don't allow your character to speak on other's turns. So no mid-combat strategery going on. If you want your buddy to help flank, tell him on your turn, not his.

Anyway, my character is Mindlinked with some of the other characters, so I am in constant communication w/ them. I know basically how far along the road they are and what direction to head, and roughly the distance.

I was wrong on the math - your phantom steed w/expeditious retreat has the same speed as a windwalked character meaning you could get there in 9 rounds (rather than 30) if anyone shows up with expeditious retreat capabilities. I read your previous post that said 9 rds is a long time and also what you said about your other NPCs, but seriously, if you want tension and drama and to not do something that is like the hand of god (because even a scroll of teleport is sort of like that - just to a lesser degree than the gandolf save because the players are doing it rather than the DM), go for a sprinting phantom steed. Leave your NPC's behind if the whole levitation thing is a problem and just return to them in 2 minutes. Your round trip should take maybe 21 rounds. It sounds like you being there won't matter except to facilutate their escape anyway - so you'd have to have several teleport scrolls to get there and out (including an extra or so for failures).

 

[werk]

Let them die, spend your money on something useful for the new character.

Stop using player knowledge in game and try roleplaying.

 

[Mistwell]

9 rounds might be doable, but the problem is, they have 2 enemies right on them that is hampering their movement and slowing their retreat. In a few rounds the evil army will show up and they are as good as dead anyway.

So nobody in the party even has a spell like Silent Image to throw up an illusionary wall of stone? Nobody has grease? Nobody has web? Nobody has any low level battlefield control spells left?

 

[RigaMortus2]

So nobody in the party even has a spell like Silent Image to throw up an illusionary wall of stone? Nobody has grease? Nobody has web? Nobody has any low level battlefield control spells left?

Nope. The spellcasters are the ones that died. The ones fleeing are a monk, a favored soul (low on spells) a rogue/wizard (also low on spells).

 

[RigaMortus2]

Let them die, spend your money on something useful for the new character.

Stop using player knowledge in game and try roleplaying.

I'm sorry, but what purpose does this response serve other than trying to provoke me into getting involved in a juvenile arguement? It certainly doesn't answer the question I asked. Do you honestly care if me or my friends create a new character using a little in-game knowledge? How does the way we choose to play and create characters have any affect on you?

Man, there sure are some ignorant people on this message board, but I guess that's what internet anonimity gets you. These kind of people are precisely why I don't like discussing what specifically happens in campaigns I am involved in. Everyone has to throw in their two cents and feels that their way of playing D&D is the only right way to play, and people who don't play their way are "doing it wrong". Kind of elitist, don't ya think?

 

[Mistwell]

Nope. The spellcasters are the ones that died. The ones fleeing are a monk, a favored soul (low on spells) a rogue/wizard (also low on spells).

This is one of those desperate situations that, in my experience, tend to bring out very creative responses from the players. There is likely a single-use item on one character that, when creatively used, will delay the situation long enough for rescue to arrive in 9 rounds. Or a skill. Or a feat. Or a spell. Or a multi-use magic item. SOMETHING is probably available to the characters to allow them to survive for 9 rounds.

Maybe it would be best to start from there. What spells are currently available to the players? Any scrolls? Any wands? Does anyone have a high bonus in skills like diplomacy or intimidate? Is there any item available to allow the party to hide? A room to baricade in? Concealment? Difficult terrain?

 

[Gaiden]

This is one of those desperate situations that, in my experience, tend to bring out very creative responses from the players. There is likely a single-use item on one character that, when creatively used, will delay the situation long enough for rescue to arrive in 9 rounds. Or a skill. Or a feat. Or a spell. Or a multi-use magic item. SOMETHING is probably available to the characters to allow them to survive for 9 rounds.

Maybe it would be best to start from there. What spells are currently available to the players? Any scrolls? Any wands? Does anyone have a high bonus in skills like diplomacy or intimidate? Is there any item available to allow the party to hide? A room to baricade in? Concealment? Difficult terrain?

Maybe, too, this is one of those times for the heroic character death, like in King Arthur when the knight who befriended the kid cracks the ice covering the lake even though that brings him into arrow range of his enemies. Maybe if one of the three hangs back to occupy the enemy it will give the other two PC's just enough time to get far enough to last for 9 rounds... Sounds like good solid storytelling to me.

 

[Nail]

These kind of people are precisely why I don't like discussing what specifically happens in campaigns I am involved in. Everyone has to throw in their two cents and feels that their way of playing D&D is the only right way to play, and people who don't play their way are "doing it wrong".

It all depends on the manner of the OP's initial post and his replies. You started by asking a simple question - a simple, but intriguing question. Many people (including myself) wanted to know why you asked such a question. And you responded.

Is it any wonder that people are curious? Is it strange that some are "armchair quarterbacking"?


....and now for my "2 cents". (Sorry buddy, but your post is just too interesting. Besides, "armchair quarterbacking" is fun!)

It looks like you are trying to have your cake and eat it too. You say you like "Story Continuity", and yet you don't like the mechanical effects of such a gaming stance => There will be times certain players have to sit on the side-lines. Your solution is to create a solution deus ex machina....and yet this is exactly the sort of thing that those that strive for continuity would NOT do. Don't you see the inherent conflict?

Me, I find it facinating.

For your character, bumping into someone that just happens to have a teleport, and then persuading that person that such an expensive option must be used RIGHT NOW seems amazingly.....errr.....coincidental. Not to mention the fact that such introductions and discussion often take far longer than a few melee rounds. While you are spoting, approaching, and introducing yourself to the (potential) teleport-specialist, your friends have gone through many rounds of combat at a minimum.

Then again, perhaps your DM will "hand-wave" this initial meeting time, and say it took less than 6 seconds........

 

[Nail]

As another aside:

Perhaps your friend can create a character that just happens to be closer to the action, and comes to the party's aid? The PCs are getting chased by the Forces of Evil, you know; some might feel compelled to help if they could.

It wouldn't do butkis for you, but it might save the party....and won't require as vast a suspension of disbelief as your initial proposal.

YMMV.

 

[darthkilmor]

As another aside:

Perhaps your friend can create a character that just happens to be closer to the action, and comes to the party's aid? The PCs are getting chased by the Forces of Evil, you know; some might feel compelled to help if they could.

It wouldn't do butkis for you, but it might save the party....and won't require as vast a suspension of disbelief as your initial proposal.

YMMV.

Indeed, an entangle or two would probably slow down any pursuers. plus its got a huge range.