[OOC] Constables of the 14th Ward

[Lou]

We could have a tentative move page on the wiki for each character where the DMs can look for standard moves in different situations. It could be private or public, as the DMs and characters want.

Probably easier and faster to just post tentative, alternative moves in an sblock after each post. Then if the game can be moved forward by the DMs, each character's move is already posted.

[Example]

Raul maintains the rear guard.

[sblock=next normal move]So long as the party is moving forward, Raul will maintain his rear guard, occasionally looking behind, left and right as the party moves forward, picking his nose as he looks backwards with his face away from the othres.[/sblock]
[/Example]

If the party is moving forward or opening a door, why wait for each character to post if the action is whether the muscle in the front can open the door? If you want to change a tentative move, you can post the change.

Everyone has to roll initiative for combat to start, spot checks, etc., but many moves are just moves.

Another idea is just to enforce a one move a RT day and you post for your character if you want to do something other than move with the group. You can post tentative moves in sblocks so if you cannot post one day, the DMs know what your character is doing, or you could post on the wiki.....

 

[Leif]

Yeah, But It Just Ain't That Simple, Sometimes

example: The Rear Guard often goes unnoticed and neglected. The reason is simple -- the party will not often be attacked from behind. Having a standard, fallback action cover this, and just assuming that its being done, is not realistic. If you forget to check, and state that you're checking, the law of averages says that sooner or later, you're going to pay for it. So I'm against that idea for this reason. You must tell us what you are doing, every time you do it. Period. The only exception to this rule that I can think of is dealing with bodily functions. But you could also tell us about that, if you feel compelled to do so.

And we're not going to enforce a one move per RT day, either. There will be times when the unexpected crisis arises and must be dealt with in each of our lives. I'm not willing to penalize someone, even just for one move, for having a life. And conversely, there will be times, doubtless this will eventually happen even for us, when everyone is on the same page, and we can complete two or even three moves apiece. Well, let's keep hope alive, anyway. No, let's just keep it the way it is now, ok?

 

[Scotley]

We will also strive not to belabor pointless wandering. You'll note that we didn't bother with giving you a map of the 13th until you got into encounter areas. We could have spent weeks with each turn and stair, but just focused on the interesting bits. This will be the norm. It may mean that occasionally you'll have a hint that something is about to happen because the DM's are posting maps. However, I think that will only add to the excitement. I am in favor of you putting alternate actions in stat blocks to keep the game moving when your action could be superseded by another. We do plan to continue to move the action forward when somebody has not posted for a couple of days if we have actions for the vast majority of the characters. My unofficial rule is to go ahead when only one or two characters haven't posted after 48 hours. Subject to my own sometimes hectic schedule. I would of course like to see posts daily or even a couple of times a day when the actions is really moving.

 

[Leif]

Speaking Of...

Speaking of Keeping the Action Going, is anyone going to do anything else in the current room? Are there more interesting things here to investigate further? If so, please speak up! Your DMs wait with baited breath to advance the gripping tale of Krado Lyman and his Heroic Rescue by the Eminently Valiant Constables of the 14th Ward!

 

[xedr]

Leif - that's not a problem - not knowing if the arrow is effective is what I expected. I just don't want to hit Alarion.

Guys - Let's finish with this place and get back to the mission! The elemental is unlikely to stray far from his pool.

 

[Leif]

Excellent idea!

 

[Leif]

Oyez! Oyez!

All those having business with these honorable Dungeon Masters, draw near and ye shall be heard!

FYI: Scotley and I will be heading off to the lake this weekend. I'll be leaving tomorrow after work, but Scotley should still be in full-player-torture mode until sometime Saturday morning. We'll both be returning on Sunday evening, but we may not get a chance to post until Monday. If you have any gripes because of this absence, you can take them up with SoulFetter/Mowgli -- it's all his fault!

In the meantime, my recommendation is that you continue posting in the OOC thread while we're gone, in order to discuss the situation among yourselves. Use this time to devise some cunning plan for what your next move(s) will be and how your investigation will proceed that will totally knock our socks off when we come back. And Moru, let Retbi have a snack now and then!

We might even get a chance to post now and then while we're gone, but you probably shouldn't count on it.

 

[Leif]

OOC: yep, it's me again

I was just reading way too much of the deal on here about what may or may not be coming for 4E. Scotley and I said that we plan to continue this game in 3.5E as long as we still have interested players. But, even more than that, the article here about what they have in mind to do to characters just sounds criminal to me! Perhaps someone should sit these brainiacs down, smack them around a bt, and tell them:

HEY!!! IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!!!

 

[Scotley]

Yeah, this 4e thing is hard to judge from the bits and pieces we are getting. I'm trying to keep an open mind until the new books are in my hot little hands, but its tough. One day I hate it and the next I love it. I'm still having great fun with 3.5e for now. That's all that matters to me. So post while I'm in a good mood. ;-)

 

[Lou]

Yeah, this 4e thing is hard to judge from the bits and pieces we are getting.

A agree. But it looks to me that 4e is not D&D as we knew it in the 1980s in most respects. My reading of the snippets is that the powers that be think that other games have better ideas and should be copied, replacing D&D ideas with others' ideas.

You guys have to see this: 4E sellout character

It gets better! Click through the link to YouTube and watch the official video....

[bad French accent]
"D&D will remain the same! It will remain the same!"
[/bad French accent]