[OOC] Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden [closed but waitlist is available]

[VLAD the Destroyer]

I didn't think we were dealing with the cultists right now. We are on a time crunch to catch a killer. That is why we haven't rested yet.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I didn't think we were dealing with the cultists right now. We are on a time crunch to catch a killer. That is why we haven't rested yet.

I meant once we sneak past the cultists, we can find a safe place for a short rest. Sorry.

I guess I wanted to say “get clear of the cultists” not “clear the cultists”

 

[Quickleaf]

ok, fair enough. Aric can revert to Goblin form, and worst comes to worst, go back to a spider. Then we short rest.
Cheers,

SG

@Aethmud @happylace @Neurotic @VLAD the Destroyer @TaranTheWanderer
Sounds like your plan is to “ferry” the party (sans Jack who flies) - and the kobold leader Trex? - across to the narrow waterfall passage. The waterfall sound should automatically conceal sounds of your sneaking from cultists who are also engaged in conversation.

Then everyone moves single file - Medium folks squeezing - and end your Wildshape returning to your normal size and taking up the rear (no need for fancy ropes/check to make that happen, Aric can just jump and change midair without risk or something along those lines).

And then as soon as possible get a short rest (10 minutes in my house rules; short rest powers recharge, death saves reset, can spend #HD = proficiency bonus to heal) - if not in the mines then somewhere outside of Termalaine town before facing the killer.

If that sounds good to everyone, then anyone can make a post in IC and I can advance you from there?

EDIT: I posted in the IC just to keep it moving: (IC) Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I think that works and don’t have anything to add IC. If anyone is injured below half HP, I can use a channel divinity to heal the group before the short rest. I’m not sure what peoples HPs are at. Or I could top someone off with a CLW.

 

[Quickleaf]

I posted in the IC just to keep it moving: (IC) Quickleaf's Rime of the Frostmaiden

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

@Quickleaf I don't see my character on the map. How are we doing initiative? Is it just first post is the first to go or should I roll?

 

[Quickleaf]

@Quickleaf I don't see my character on the map. How are we doing initiative? Is it just first post is the first to go or should I roll?

My mistake. Will correct when next posting map and have time.

If it’s “want to kill rats”, no need initiative.
If it’s “want to attack cultists”, yeah we’d do initiative.

Initiative is set for the PCs (you don’t roll). I roll for monsters (using a tighter bandwidth). Details in house rule document. Can explain more if need

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

My mistake. Will correct when next posting map and have time.

If it’s “want to kill rats”, no need initiative.
If it’s “want to attack cultists”, yeah we’d do initiative.

Initiative is set for the PCs (you don’t roll). I roll for monsters (using a tighter bandwidth). Details in house rule document. Can explain more if need

This seems like a “kill rats” situation. From the IC post, we don’t have a choice since we are being attacked?

I read the document and it seems like a “snap scene” but we aren’t going that? Sorry for all the questions. I imagine this was all covered earlier in the campaign.

 

[Quickleaf]

This seems like a “kill rats” situation. From the IC post, we don’t have a choice since we are being attacked?

I read the document and it seems like a “snap scene” but we aren’t going that? Sorry for all the questions. I imagine this was all covered earlier in the campaign.

No problem.

The giants rats are not attacking. They're responding like wild animals usually do to people...dashing away a safe distance (west toward the split-T passage) and then watching to see what you do next.

Generally here's how I do initiative for PbP...

There may be an "inciting event" that occurs outside of initiative – this is usually not an attack/harmful thing, but sometimes the scene only makes sense if that's what happens (typically a surprise situation). Sometimes, when it makes sense – such as when we used running/ongoing initiative in the dwarven temple – a scene might start at the last initiative we left off at.

PCs have set/passive initiative scores to speed up posting/play, and are organized into groups. Within a group, players can go in any order & player groups without monsters going between them can go in any order.

Players ALWAYS win initiative ties.

Here are the player initiative groups (copy/pasted from IC thread)...

+3 initiative group
Aric Thornbloom @Steve Gorak AC 17 (dark)
Lumrolur Bafflestone @Neurotic AC 14 (dark 120')
Russet Ghostfur @domminniti AC 17 (blindsight 10')
Zeth Venagelida @Necropolitan AC 15 (devil's sight 120')

+2 initiative group
Alma Ostergaard @happylace AC 12 (dark)
Logrim Romwold @VLAD the Destroyer AC 17 (dark)
__Logrim's Steel Defender "Ludo" AC 15 (dark) >can't be surprised<

+0 initiative group
Jack Everfrost @Aethmud AC 10

-1 initiative group
Oskar Stoneshaper @TaranTheWanderer AC 16 (or 18 shield)

...

For monsters, I take its Dex modifier, then adjust with a d8 roll interpreted thus:
8 = +3
7 = +2
6 = +1
4/5 = +0
3 = -1
2 = -2
1 = -3

For example, if facing a single yeti (Dex +1) and I rolled 7 on its initiative, indicating +2, the yet's initiative group is +3.

The yeti is tied to the group with Aric, Lumrolur, and the two retired PCs (who are still with party for now under GM control); thus, Aric and Lumrolur would go first (in the order they like / whoevers schedule allows posting first), then the yeti goes, then the rest of the party (Alma, Logrim, Jack, and Oskar) goes in any order they like/schedules allow because there are no more monsters in between their initiatives.

EDIT: There are also "snap" scenes where it's not worth it to bog things down with initiative. For example, "can I throw a knife before a giant rat skitters away?" isn't something we need to break out initiative for, as that tends to break us out of the IMPORTANT part of this scene – you're sneaking. Much better to let it be a creative exercise for how you want to deal with it, resolve that, and carry on.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

No problem.

The giants rats are not attacking. They're responding like wild animals usually do to people...dashing away a safe distance (west toward the split-T passage) and then watching to see what you do next.

sorry, I misunderstood. I read this in your post:

Between you and the river are two halfling-sized gray rodents with long tails and beady eyes. They rush to attack as soon as you notice them

If they aren’t attacking, I’ll cast guidance on anyone attempting to shoo them away. I’ll make a post IC once I see what others are doing.