D&D 5E [OOC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[Uller]

Quick question while I'm writing my longer post: can we negate the disadvantage to navigation rolls on fast-paced travel days by having any character aid Shuushar as their action? Would it help (or matter at all) if that character had a high bonus to navigation/survival rolls?

Don't write any IC stuff just yet except maybe RP stuff while resting/leveling. I want to open the chapter formally and probably with a new IC thread. Probably not until Saturday at the earliest.

If you are aiding another in a skill you are proficient in (or good at) we'll use the higher bonus of the two characters (as well as negate disadv or give advantage).

 

[SunGold]

I'm not writing anything IC. Was talking about the post here with thoughts on travel pace, tasks, etc.

 

[SunGold]

Ok, I'm assuming we'll be tweaking our plans every day depending on how we're doing in terms of food gathered, injuries sustained, etc., so this post is just my thoughts on the first day.

Pace: Fast.

A general note about fast days: I don't think there should be scouts at this pace. Stealth is impossible and perception is at disadvantage, which leaves the scout with very good chances of both becoming lost/isolated and bumbling into enemies all alone. Unless we feel like writing people off or spending time tracking down lost party members, it just seems too risky. Since stealth is impossible at this pace anyway, I think we ought to bumble into enemies as a team. We can put extra people on Lookout duty (maybe 2 up front and 2 behind?) to lower our chances of being surprised, at least.

Tasks:
Erevan: I think you're right about using that princely charisma. Maybe try talking to Topsy and Turvy about what's up with them? Surana has noticed something's off, but her 10 cha probably isn't going to get much info out of them.
Ezraen: Lookout*
Surana: Covering tracks

Bertram: Lookout* in the back. He's got a bonkers +6 to perception down here.
Orsik: Guarding
Klep: Guarding

Derendil: Foraging
Sarith: Lookout*
Eldeth: Aiding Shuushar's navigation. If she was a scout, she should be pretty good at navigation.
JimJar: Mapping
Topsy: Foraging or lookout* if we want a fourth one of those.
Turvy: Foraging
Drum: Chillin' (seriously can he even do anything but hang out and be cute?)
Shushar: Navigating
Buppido: Foraging

*I think we ought to have at least one of the lookouts in front of Shuushar and whoever's helping him. Not far, maybe just 10 feet or so. He's not exactly battle-worthy, and if anything happens to him we're in big trouble, since only he knows where we're going.

There should probably be a lookout or two in the back as well. I'll have to have a torch back there while I'm covering tracks, so maybe Bertram can be our back lookout, since he needs light too.

 

[DMAesh]

I would expect so, but that should be DM's call.

 

[SunGold]

I would expect so, but that should be DM's call.

Yeah he replied to that above, we're good.

 

[DMAesh]

So weird. I swear that neither of the previous posts was there when I posted this. Though I have been having some connectivity problems.

I like it, and BTW, I think that Drum's big contribution is allowing communication between all of us without a common language.

 

[SunGold]

Haha yeah I was trying to think of a way to use Drum so I could see without light. Like if he sat on my shoulder or something and I just looked at what he was seeing...but even the difference in field of vision of about 6" or so would seem like enough to throw off my balance/confuse where I'm trying to step.

It seems like a damn shame not to be up front because I have the most hp and got Danger Sense (advantage on saving throws against effects like traps/spells that you can see) at level 2, so I'd prefer to be the mouse that triggers any traps. But if I have to carry a torch, that's basically putting a big blinking "ATTACK HERE" sign at the front of the party. Ugh ugh ugh.

 

[DMAesh]

Haha, I guess we will try to get you some magic item that can give you darkvision!

 

[SunGold]

You know, I was just looking at the torch info in the PHB--bright light in a 20 foot radius, dim light a further 20 feet. Even if I'm at the back of the party, that's still going to cast light on pretty much everyone. Maybe I should just go up front? We won't be even vaguely stealthy anyway. Plus Bertram could walk with me with his crazy perception bonus, giving us a better chance of spotting whatever surely lies in wait. What do you guys think? Too crazy? Has the barbarian lost her mind already?

 

[DMAesh]

No, that sounds fine, especially if we are eschewing the stealth. But we need someone with Survival (unless DM Uller will allow someone to, with pointers from the Survivalists, to do that) at the back to cover our tracks. Especially if we are travelling quickly.