Off to War (always recruiting) OCC Year 2:

[Dragonwriter]

There's always less XP handed out during a combat. Less posts all around and less RP happening.

Anyways, concerning my 6th level... I brought this up a little while back and didn't get a response at the time, so here it is again: I'd like to trade out Spell Power +2 for a feat. Whirlwind Attack perhaps, since my other trade-feats have been in the same tree, or Power Attack, since Jareth's style is about getting in fast, hitting hard and getting back out.

If you think Spell Power +2 isn't quite worth either of those feats, perhaps trading it for some other kind of bonus (or a weaker feat, like Weapon Focus) would work. Frankly, I'm looking to trade out all the Spell Power business, so perhaps an increasing bonus on something else would do the trick.

 

[HolyMan]

DW has it right. I think it is do to waiting your turn and waiting on me, etc.

Between March 16th and March 31 there was 72 posts in K2V but,

April 1st - April 15th only 23 total posts.

I'm thinking of maybe upping the multiplier I use by 1.5 for posts during combat. But then again this would (and should) add to the reason the group should try to forgo combat (a lucky crit killing him should be another).

__________________________________________________

Spell Power is a little weak as you need to...

a) be fighting a creature with SR and

b) hit first while channeling

So I am ok with a switch out but you already get a feat at 6th lvl so it could be a combat feat. Are you saying you don't yet qualify for Whirlwind Attack?

A swap need not only be a feat but if it is it should try and match the "power level" of the ability in question. I'm glad you see it this way as well. So how about you take a non combat feat (one not marked as a fighter bonus feat) for swapping out Spell Power as it seems on the weaker side as abilities go.

HM

 

[Dragonwriter]

DW has it right. I think it is do to waiting your turn and waiting on me, etc.

Between March 16th and March 31 there was 72 posts in K2V but,

April 1st - April 15th only 23 total posts.

I'm thinking of maybe upping the multiplier I use by 1.5 for posts during combat. But then again this would (and should) add to the reason the group should try to forgo combat (a lucky crit killing him should be another).

From what I can see, we haven't really had a choice about avoiding combats... Looking back since my involvement, the Ettercap, the gnolls, the hydra rant, the battlefield, the zombies, the Reavers; all more-or-less scripted encounters. Possibly delay-able in a few cases (the Reavers in particular), but all would've happened with or without player choice. Or at least it appears that way.

So as I see it, we really haven't had a choice when it comes to picking our battles. And we get reduced XP for it, when the normal system rewards combat. Just food for thought.

On to other matters...

Spell Power is a little weak as you need to...

a) be fighting a creature with SR and

b) hit first while channeling

So I am ok with a switch out but you already get a feat at 6th lvl so it could be a combat feat. Are you saying you don't yet qualify for Whirlwind Attack?

A swap need not only be a feat but if it is it should try and match the "power level" of the ability in question. I'm glad you see it this way as well. So how about you take a non combat feat (one not marked as a fighter bonus feat) for swapping out Spell Power as it seems on the weaker side as abilities go.

HM

Actually, I don't need to hit while Channeling. I just need to hit the target in melee. But the target needs to have SR in order for the ability to have any effect, and SR doesn't look like a common thing in this campaign.

I do qualify for Whirlwind Attack. I was just asking about it concerning possibilities. Then again, there is also next level's "Armored Mage (Heavy Shield)" ability, which we have been trading out for combat-oriented feats. Anyways, here is a list of a few low-power, non-Fighter feats I dug up as possible swaps for Spell Power:
[sblock=Feats]
Core:
The save –boosting feats (Great Fort, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes).
Improved Initiative.

There are non-Core. One is in the Psionics section of the SRD, but is not a Psionic feat. The others I can type up in full and send you the info.
Sidestep Charge (SRD/Expanded Psionics Handbook) - +4 Dodge AC against charges, foe who misses on a charge attack provokes AoO. Not a Fighter feat.
Dash (Complete Warrior) - +5 ft of speed when wearing light or no armor. Not a Fighter feat.
Touch Spell Specialization (Complete Arcane) - +2 damage bonus on Touch spells. Not a Fighter feat.
[/sblock]

I'm looking at Power Attack for my 6th-level feat... And then trading "Armored Mage (Heavy Shield)" for Whirlwind Attack next level. Since the various Armored Mage abilities are rather potent, I think it would be a fairer trade.

 

[jackslate45]

teasing is part of the fun of random XP like this. you think your gonna level then suddenly BLAM! wait 15+ more days.

At the same time, I don't think anyone is going to die. we just get out of cross bolt range, and it becomes a stand off.

 

[HolyMan]

Actually DW if I was rewarding XP based on combat encounters I think you would have about the same XP (15,000) don't you?

Hmmm... I think your may have something here. I have tried to have a combat every now and then as it is what most players are looking to get into. But I have yet to give a combat you could sneak past, bribe, or talk your way out of. Looks like I need to work on that. My bad.

The feat choices you suggest look alright to me for a swap of Spell Power. Let me know when your lvl up is complete.

_____________________________________

Not random I have a system (somewhat) It just has never been used before. I feel giving out XP twice a month is one of the better aspects of Off to War. I have been in games that have gone a year and then you just lvl up. Or they don't even get that far.

I think it is working if you truly break it down...

Axel - his character is lvl 1 and he received almost 25% of the XP needed for his next LvL ( 8 posts). would need 32 posts to lvl up.

ghostcat - his character is LvL 6, he posted 5 times and got nearly 10% the XP needed to reach LvL 7. Would need 50 posts to LvL up which is only 18 more posts even though the XP he needs is 6 times higher than the LvL 1 character.

And I get to tease with it so it is win/win.

HM

 

[Dragonwriter]

Actually DW if I was rewarding XP based on combat encounters I think you would have about the same XP (15,000) don't you?

It's entirely possible. It's even possible we would be lower level if you were just doing by-the-book combat-based XP.
My point, however, was pertaining to state of affairs we often reach during a fight - particularly the reduced posts and therefore XP. I also know you tend to give a little bonus after the completion of a big fight and a more-significant bonus at the conclusion of a story arc, so it may well balance out. It just doesn't balance that little twinge of disappointment we sometimes feel after getting a nice load of XP during the RP segments, then something roughly half of what we had before (as pointed out by Fangor above). And as I said before, just food for thought.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the actual advancement of my character. PbPs are notoriously slow when it comes to gaining levels.

Hmmm... I think your may have something here. I have tried to have a combat every now and then as it is what most players are looking to get into. But I have yet to give a combat you could sneak past, bribe, or talk your way out of. Looks like I need to work on that. My bad.

No guarantees we'd really take that option, seeing as we've got some very thick-headed party members (Jareth included, naturally ), but it would add to the player choice aspect. And it would help emphasize the face-man style characters if/when they join the others.
(Assuming they survive to do so and survive the meeting - I foresee trouble between Jareth and Alexander.)

The feat choices you suggest look alright to me for a swap of Spell Power. Let me know when your lvl up is complete.

Excellent. I settled on Sidestep Charge. And we'll just keep the others in mind for when I get the next Spell Power iteration, yes? Anyways, here is Jareth's level-up info for your approval.

[sblock=Jareth Level 6 Changes]
Jareth Level-up.

HP increase in attached die roll (d8+2).
BAB increases to +6/+1. AC bonus increases to +3, according to HR.
Learn 1 2nd-level spell (Touch of Idiocy) and gain 1 extra 1st-level and 1 extra 2nd-level spell slot.
Gain Spell Power +2, trade for Sidestep Charge feat.
Gain Power Attack as 6th-level feat.
Gain 8 skill points (2 base +2 house rule +3 INT +1 human): Climb +2 (total 9), Concentration +1 (total 11), Knowledge (arcana) +1 (total 12), Ride +1 (total 11), Sense Motive +1 (total 9), Spellcraft +1 (total 16), Tumble +1 (total 12)
[/sblock]

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I was quite content with staying at this level for 15 more days. Gives me time to 'acquire' my new abilities for the next level with a little more roleplaying. I wasn't meant to come off as complaining, but I can see where that could be taken that way. In a sense, I was teasing HM about the 'so close, yet so far away' theme he has us on.

GAME ON!

 

[HolyMan]

Don't see your new saves listed(+5/+2/+5) but I'm sure you will remember to change them also. Looks ok to me. Soon as Jareth gets out of his latest perdicament you can be LvL 6 - Congrats again.

HM

 

[HolyMan]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I was quite content with staying at this level for 15 more days. Gives me time to 'acquire' my new abilities for the next level with a little more roleplaying. I wasn't meant to come off as complaining, but I can see where that could be taken that way. In a sense, I was teasing HM about the 'so close, yet so far away' theme he has us on.

GAME ON!

I didn't take it as complaining. I would like for some way to get the combat posting and the RP posting about the same, but for now have no idea. Like I said I may up the multiplier.

Glad you wish to RP more because as soon as we get into the elven city there will be plenty of that.

And yes game on.

HM

 

[jackslate45]

I get the sudden fear that Ern might be arrested once we get to the city...


Granted she DOES deserve it, being a criminal and all...