Puppy-Kicking PCs, OOC, part 2

[Goddess FallenAngel]

I'm fine with leveling (of course ) - and fine with Alicia being a level higher as well. 1 level doesn't matter to me, and, well, I have issues with ECL as they are that I am not going to get into at the moment because it would be a long discussion. So I say give her the level, she earned it.

And I am highly, highly enjoying the game and the RPing. In fact, I was just chortling to my roommates last night about T'aria.

Suggestions.... Offhand, I can't think of anything, really. Except possibly getting the timelines back into the same one, 'cause it's a bit more confusing than I thought - but it seems about impossible with the number of PCs in the number of groups we have right now. Maybe periodically post a timeline update? I think that would do it. Please keep in mind that the only reason I bring it up is because you really seem to want feedback. Otherwise, I would never have mentioned it. This is my favorite PBP game right now.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Straight leveling is fine by me, as well, and I look forward to getting back in the game. (Alev is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters.)

I'd like to give some constructive criticism, if I can think of any... I like that you've finally started breaking up the posts a bit more to reflect the different situations. I think I've come to like how often the group splits off as well, even though it initially bugged me a little... But it still gets to be hard to follow. (maybe we actually need sub-threads for this game?)

One "complaint," is that the game is a bit too combat-heavy... Not that combat is inherently bad or anything, nor am I calling this game hack-n-slash, I just find that it makes PbP really draggingly slow. IME, it's best to prune off everything but the most significant encounters that you'd find in a regular game. Not sure how anyone else feels about this, and it's by no means a gamebreaker for me, but it's worth considering.

Also, re: Alicia's power level, I'd like to say that it doesn't bother me one way or the other if she doesn't balance well with the rest of the group -- Alev is someone I'd like to play as more of a supporting character, with occasional bouts of utility (you know, a rogue), anyway. However, I think it really falls onto the more battle-oriented characters' players to determine if she's "overpowered".

Anyway, great to get back into the game, and don't worry about the lack of stuff to do for a while -- like I said, this game can get a bit overwhelming, so the break wasn't entirely unwelcome And if it wasn't clear already from the subtext: I'm very impressed at how well you're running this game, especially (but not only) in light of the difficulties involved: A big party, a party that splits off frequently, a verbose group of players (great to have, as a DM, but hard to keep up with), and a combat-heavy storyline, all things that are difficult to manage, have been managed exceedingly well. Hats off.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I'm reading this first... So some of this could be old in replies.

Should I assume Lydia and Accalon have no interest in the whores and guards, and just skip ahead to you guys going to the camp in the forest?

Nonsense! Accalon is always interested in whores... Of course he needs Lydia to say something for him to see them... (I guess Lydia’s assets have distracted him.)

That’s probably best since the Alicia thing has gotten so far ahead time-wise (I was trying to give you guys an opportunity to help her). But is that what you two are doing, or are there other plans?

Accalon has little planned... He would still like to rescue Loni and the others but he can't do Brie's chores by himself... So who knows what he has planed... Well after Lydia.

Accalon, was there anything else you wanted to do in flashback?

For the sake of sanity.... no. The to times where just two different they would never mesh if Accalon continued down the other path much longer... (He would probably have bought some supplies but that's about it.)

And we’ve been running this for almost 4 months now, so I want to ask… is there anything I could be doing differently, to make the game more enjoyable?

Nope, I have no complaints, you're doing a wonderful job!

My absenace and slowness on the board has been cause by other things.

And I don’t really give XP, but 4 months seems a reasonable amount of time for everyone to go up a level, even if we’ve only gone through, yeesh, 2 days game time. What do you guys think, ready to advance a level?

Sure am!

 

[Telsar]

So if Alicia and Sunedilar come back, she'll have an explanation, but she doesn't expect them to be back for a while, if at all.

If I remember correctly, Lydia left camp before Alicia left. Not that it makes any difference to anything, but I don't think Lydia knows Alicia's not still there with Gwyn and Alev.


OK, looks like everyone's ready to level, so have at it. (Including Alicia; no major objections from anyone, and I'm curious how many more people she can kill with a few more hit points in her ). The Rogues's Gallery thread was here , so adjust as you will. If anyone wants to add an entirely new class, like if Aligor wants to add a level of Wizard, I'd like to find some justification for it in-character (a very instructive cellmate, perhaps ), but anyone just raising an existing class won't need any explanations. If anyone is striving for a particular prestige class, I'd ask that you tell me in advance; I'd probably OK most unless it was terribly unbalanced, but if you start taking skills and feats in order to get one, make sure I'll be approving it first.

When raising a level, HPs are 3/4 max HPs for the die, so D4=+3, D6=+5, D8=+6, D10=+8, and D12=+9. Plus your Con bonus of course.

With the new level, Alev is now 5th level, with a -1 Level adjustment, and so gains no feat or ability score. Accalon, Aligor, Lydia, and Sunedilar are now 4th level, with no adjustment, giving them a +1 bonus to one ability score. Alicia is now 3rd level, with a +2 level adjustment, and so gains a feat. Gwyn and T'aria have a choice: become a stronger "half-demon", gaining the benefits of a +2 level adjustment instead of +1, with no change in hit dice (or anything that HD affects, like feats, ability scores, skill points, hit points, etc.), or stay with their current half-demon abilities and become 3rd level, with the same +1 level adjustment, and gain a feat.

Hope that wasn't all too confusing.

Since Serpenteye seemed disappointed about no XP, I'd like to explain my reasoning for it, but anyone who isn't interested in a long rant can skip the next paragraph:

I don't give out XP because I generally run my games based on players' motivations for their characters. The PCs chooses the goals for what they want to do, and I can't reward or penalize anyone for how they play their character. For example, in the Boone fight, Aligor went on a solo-quest to kill Hex, Sunedilar decided it was honorable to help the dwarf survive, and T'aria, Lydia, and Accalon all decided avoiding the guards was a priority. They all played by their character's motivations; I couldn't give one or another more XP, unless I want to encourage players to play their characters a certain way, and that's just not my style. Events and consequences in the game might encourage certain behaviors, but XP won't. Anyway, that's my rant... hopefully everyone ignored it.

Any questions about adding a level to your character, you can put here. And I'd ask that when you're done (no hurry at all though), tell me here so I can check it over and then update my own copy of your character sheets.

 

[Serpenteye]

OK, looks like everyone's ready to level, so have at it. (Including Alicia; no major objections from anyone, and I'm curious how many more people she can kill with a few more hit points in her ).

Since Serpenteye seemed disappointed about no XP, I'd like to explain my reasoning for it, but anyone who isn't interested in a long rant can skip the next paragraph:

I don't give out XP because I generally run my games based on players' motivations for their characters. The PCs chooses the goals for what they want to do, and I can't reward or penalize anyone for how they play their character. For example, in the Boone fight, Aligor went on a solo-quest to kill Hex, Sunedilar decided it was honorable to help the dwarf survive, and T'aria, Lydia, and Accalon all decided avoiding the guards was a priority. They all played by their character's motivations; I couldn't give one or another more XP, unless I want to encourage players to play their characters a certain way, and that's just not my style. Events and consequences in the game might encourage certain behaviors, but XP won't. Anyway, that's my rant... hopefully everyone ignored it.

I'm sorry about my last post, I realise I was a bit rude to you and I apologize for that. I really don't have any reason to complain about this game. It has been, and continues to be, a lot of fun. You are the DM and I will respect that in the future. Your reasoning is sound.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Ok Lydia is leveled up and ready to get back to camp.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Alev is updated. And back at camp. He and Gwyn are having a tickling contest, I'm sure.

 

[Serpenteye]

Alicia is updated, and obcenely powerful . I think next time it's time to gain a level Alicia will stay behind and let the others catch up. Her HPs are pretty decent now, anyway, and will remain competitive even while the other characters level up.

 

[Paxus Asclepius]

Gwyn is updated, and not much scarier.

 

[Cepter]

Sorry, haven't checked OOC in awhile, new school year and new house taking up far too much time.

Leveling is good. If there's a length to the Rogue's gallery around, I'll make the changes tonight after painting at the new house. Gotta look at my 3.5 book and figure out all the available options.

And now, to escape, if I can.

Update: Leveling is done, a point added to Dex. Hopefully that'll help me start hitting a bit more often.

And I am totally fine with the any and all leveling, and the game itself. It's fun to be evil, even when you have that pesky "honor" to deal with.