OOC Discussion for A Kingdom of Ashes (The Battle of the Alder's Forest, and Beyond)

[The_Universe]

At leat no one can say our characters run from a fight

You're right--no one could possibly say *that!*

 

[Laurel]

And that's assuming that I let you make another initiative roll...

hmmm.... yes them having the partial and then getting to go first was fun- we killed the ones right in front of us then the next group got to run into place on thier partial then hit, hit, hit as actual turn and then we got to go.... but it is the DM's ruling
Do we want to start setting up a time for this Saturday's game via e-mail? Sorry, already trying to set up appointments, and since greg and I have been the issue recently I want to give you guys first priority this weekend.

 

[Xath]

That is insane. We might have to kick that down a notch--maybe half of the Worldsinger's charisma bonus, rounding up? It's rare to see anything that breaks even fast healing/5...but I'll think about it.

Well, normally it would only be a +6. We're just Eagle's Splendored right now.

But if we don't reroll initiative, this is most likely just a philosophical debate.

 

[The_Universe]

hmmm.... yes them having the partial and then getting to go first was fun- we killed the ones right in front of us then the next group got to run into place on thier partial then hit, hit, hit as actual turn and then we got to go.... but it is the DM's ruling
Do we want to start setting up a time for this Saturday's game via e-mail? Sorry, already trying to set up appointments, and since greg and I have been the issue recently I want to give you guys first priority this weekend.

I can send out a scheduling e-mail later, today.

As for other administrative issues, rather than rolling for the battle at large every hour, we're going to start rolling every half-hour in game. As a result, the next army calculation will happen at the beginning of next session.

And, as for initiative--I realize that having the Reptus go 2x in a row sucks, but thems the breaks. If we were beginning a new combat, there'd be no question about initiative--you'd roll. But, because we stopped in media res, I'm a little hesitant to give you a free re-roll. I'll think about it, but it's not like it's unfair to let you keep your initiatives--it was no less important at the beginning of the battle then it is, now.

I'm not going to go out of my way to make sure a character dies in this fight, but nor do I want to minimize the risk, especially after it was strenuously suggested that you pause a bit between this combat and the last when we were playing last thursday.

Lastly on the subject of the current combat, the extra action is not a result of the nat. 20 on initiative, it is a special ability of the monster that they could (and would) employ, regardless of when they happened to come in the initiative order. On the upside, I haven't been letting them roll hero points. Consider yourselves lucky, about that.

 

[The_Universe]

Well, normally it would only be a +6. We're just Eagle's Splendored right now.

But if we don't reroll initiative, this is most likely just a philosophical debate.

Well, that does make it slightly more acceptable. However, if you think about what fast healing does, even fast healing/1 makes you effectively *unkillable* unless you are immediately reduced to negative CON.

Coup de Grace's are almost impossible with fast healing, as you'd automatically stabilize one round, and be awake the next--barring single combat, you can't even be coup de grace'd, because you're not helpless for long enough...

Bear that in mind, but as with initiative, I'll think about it.

 

[Laurel]

Lastly on the subject of the current combat, the extra action is not a result of the nat. 20 on initiative, it is a special ability of the monster that they could (and would) employ, regardless of when they happened to come in the initiative order. On the upside, I haven't been letting them roll hero points. Consider yourselves lucky, about that.

I think we all get this, and it was stated multiple times on Thursday. All I knew to call it though is an extra partial. And I was just stating what it looked like. We kill the ones in front then they move in and attack. I know that they get the extra partial as a creature thing, just with them going first they got to move and attack before anyone could react in any manner. This just adds to their super speed which I assume is how they get the extra partial/action in the first place.
It was just a statment of what was happening- not a complaint or an 'it's not fair' comment.
I shall start calling it an extra action instead of partial if that is what it is.

I had assumed that we were staying in the same order, then someone brought it up and your response sounded like you were thinking of letting us re-roll. Only reason I said anything, and I did add in that it was up to you no matter what anyways.

 

[The_Universe]

Sorry if I came off upset, or annoyed. As we all have lamented from time to time, text is a poor medium for transferring vocal tone, unless one is writing prose.

Your post was fine, and you shouldn't feel like you have to apologize for calling an extra action an extra partial action, as even I call them that, sometimes.

It may be that my stream-of-consciousness is simply more acerbic than I generally intend.

So, in short, I am sorry--I didn't percieve a complaint, and there's certainly nothing wrong with restating an issue for easier understanding.

I hope that came off better than the post in question did.

 

[AIM-54]

Well, that does make it slightly more acceptable. However, if you think about what fast healing does, even fast healing/1 makes you effectively *unkillable* unless you are immediately reduced to negative CON.

Coup De Gras are almost impossible with fast healing, as you'd automatically stabilize one round, and be awake the next--barring single combat, you can't even be coup de grased, because you're not helpless for long enough...

Bear that in mind, but as with initiative, I'll think about it.

Coup de Grace, Coup de Grace!

That said, I will be very disappointed if we have another round of DM mercy. We all knew what we were going into with this and what the consequences would be. We all knew it and we all accepted it. It's about time we stopped pussyfooting around the consequences of our actions and allowed things to take their course, for better or for worse. (I should note that this isn't a broad criticism of every aspect of the game, but primarily a problem I've had with various combat scenarios). While the desire to keep PCs alive is certainly commendable, we are no longer useless 1st level characters in need of very small challenges and lots of healing. Like I said, we all knew what we were getting into and must accept the inherent consequences. Otherwise we're not playing a game or role-playing, we're just following a script. Sometimes characters die and it's not heroic or noble, it's unfortunate or tragic or senseless. That to me is far more interesting than constant DM intervention until a "cinematically appropriate" occasion for death comes up. Last I checked we're not making a movie, we're playing a game.

Finally, because this text stuff is a really poor medium of communication: I am not terribly upset, nor unhappy with the game. There are things that have annoyed me on occasion, but it appears I'm the minority there and that's fine. Nevertheless, it is cathartic to vent this every now and again.

 

[Xath]

Yeah, and sometimes PC's get killed by toddler ghouls.

So if Xath dies this time, we shall have to weigh the question...

Which is more embarrasing? Death by toddler ghoul? or Death by Christmas Reptus?

 

[The_Universe]

It was an adult, thank you very much!

And *&%*#%*#, they AREN'T Christmas Reptus!