[ooc] dnd - the nameless [thread closed]

[doghead]

thoughts from the dog house

About half way through Round 2 with the goblins, I realised that this was my first PbP combat as a DM.

My goal was to try and write in in a descriptive rather than mechanical manner. I tried to keep the character's actions and responces true to your posts, but did adapt then somewhat to allow for the character's better grasp of the picture than the players. Did I step on anyones toes?

Which brings me to the map. I will try to have one available for scenes in the future. But its late appearance does allow me the opportunity to get some feedback.

How big a surprise was the layout? Or in other words, how successful were the posts in conveying the lay of the land and locations of the characters. What, if anything, worked in helping you to visualise it?

Let me know any thoughts, ideas and suggestions on the above or anything that has happened so far.

One more thing. I find the quarterstaff +1 melee (1d6+1, x2) or
small javlin +1 ranged (1d4-1, x2, 30ft) format with the easiest to read.
I'm not great at record keeping (though I do try ) so it's probably best use your current total attack bonus rather than your BAB here.

cheers

the head of the dog

 

[DrZombie]

About half way through Round 2 with the goblins, I realised that this was my first PbP combat as a DM.

My goal was to try and write in in a descriptive rather than mechanical manner. I tried to keep the character's actions and responces true to your posts, but did adapt then somewhat to allow for the character's better grasp of the picture than the players. Did I step on anyones toes?

Which brings me to the map. I will try to have one available for scenes in the future. But its late appearance does allow me the opportunity to get some feedback.

How big a surprise was the layout? Or in other words, how successful were the posts in conveying the lay of the land and locations of the characters. What, if anything, worked in helping you to visualise it?

Let me know any thoughts, ideas and suggestions on the above or anything that has happened so far.

One more thing. I find the quarterstaff +1 melee (1d6+1, x2) or
small javlin +1 ranged (1d4-1, x2, 30ft) format with the easiest to read.
I'm not great at record keeping (though I do try ) so it's probably best use your current total attack bonus rather than your BAB here.

cheers

the head of the dog

I liked the way the combat flowed, but the placing of the different combatants was hard to follow without the map. A map before combat might have been a bit more clear.

As for the squireship : you just take a pick. I really don't care, it might depend on wether we gain a level. You're the DM, it's your problem .

 

[doghead]

An Option

I'm going to be away from tomorrow til saturday. Might get one more post in before I go, but not sure. Here's something to think about while I'm away.

::::::::::::::::::::::::​

When I strated this game, the intention was to create the feel by having the characters start a little lower (using NPC classes), and and making it harder to reach the higher levels, but without significantly changing rules. But at the suggestion of a couple of people I laid my hands on a rules variant called Grim and Gritty just to have look. It took about 30 minutes to read.

I quite like it. It has a number of advantages, but also some disadvantages. Please give it a read and let me know what you think about adopting it. Below is a quick summary of the basics.

1 :: Your base hit points is your Con score. There is a small increase as you increase in level. Size is a significant modifier - small creature modify the Base + Level bonus by half, Large creatures by 2, Huge creatures by 4!
2 :: Defence is used to avoid attacks. Armour provides Protection, reducing the damage done from attacks that you don't defend. Defense based on things like your Class&Level, Dex and Size.
3 :: Damage has effects beyond the loss of hit points.
4 :: Specific locations can be targeted to disable the opponent.
5 :: Battle Magic is quite a fearsome thing according to the authour Please read Appendix 2 and let me know which option you would opt for if we go this way.

If we do adopt it, you would all be able to modify your characters to take into account the rules changes - swap around stats or modify them keeping the point total the same, change feats, skills, etc.

Some thoughts on adopting it from this end.
1 :: Use the HP, Defense, Protection, Effects of Damage and Called Shot rules as is.
2 :: Don't use Penetration.
3 :: Don't use Advanced Bleeding or Advanced Wound Trauma.
4 :: Use the "Odds=1" magic adjustment. Possibly the "Reduce Damage Dice" (3d8->3d6) also. You are more likely to run into fireball throwing spellcasters than become one.

A sample character comparison

Lisa Expert 1 (std d20)
HP 9 (5 +3 con)
AC 13 ( +3 dex)
BAB/Grapple +0/+3
Attack melee stoutstick (club) +3 (1d6+3, x2)

Lisa Expert 1 (gng d20)
HP 16 (16 Con, +0 class)
BAB/Grapple +0/+3
Defense +3 (+3 dex, +0 class)
Protection 0 (no armour)
Attack melee stoutstick (club) +3 (1d6+3, x2)

Fighter 5
HP 21 (16 Con, +5 class)
Defense +2 (+4 class, +2 lrg steel shield, -4 Hvy Armour)
Protection 8 (+8 full plate armour)
Attack melee Bastard Sword +9 (1d10+4)

One down side is that there is a little more dice rolling, though thats mainly my problem. An up side is that higher level characters are not the "uberhumans" that they once were (see fighter 5), so I would be inclined to let your characters level at the normal rate.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Interesting. I'll have to give it some thought.

 

[DrZombie]

I don't really care about the numbercrunching, it's the roleplaying that counts.

 

[Velmont]

Not bad, but for system, I definitely prefer the Spycraft system. If you are not familiar with it forget it.

 

[Greegan]

I don't really care about the numbercrunching, it's the roleplaying that counts.

Here! Here! I'd certainly entertain it.

 

[Thomas Hobbes]

One notable change is that smaller creatures get 1/2 hitpoints, as you write. This means that small races need to be increased in power proportionately, since they have a mjor disadvatage in that regard.

I really like Grim n' Gritty, but my vote is to keep this game as is- we've already started, and retrofitting would be a pain.

 

[NeuroZombie]

I am not a big fan of the grim & gritty system, so I will prolly call it quits if we switch to it. Majority rules, of course, so I won't be upset if everyone else likes it and wants to switch

 

[Velmont]

As I am not familiar with that system, and as other said, we already start with the basic system, I think it would be better to stay with it. I don't say that because I am playing a small guys and they get 1/2 HP, well, maybe a bit