deadestdai said:
Edited my post as I just remembered that my boy needs to be a little more on the ball than your "other lot"

in the "searching kills dept."! Hope this is okay?
Sure. Remember your abilities as well. You could have dispatched that panzy all the faster with a power attack etc...They (as elves) are not going to have 20 Con scores (usually),and I'm pretty fair about them not being 'bricks'. However, their strength lies in being quick.
Every NPC fighter worth his salt has Improved Initiative, from centuries of fighting against things like Durgo and Bargo. They know that they need to get in there and stick,stick,stick as fast as they can befiore they become pate (wishes he had that poofy little French squiggle for my pate).
Basic rundown of my Elf Aruthians.
The basic legionarre is going to be 2nd or 3rd level. A nussiance, really, but capable of hurting you with a gladius.
BTW the gladius is from Quintessential Fighter, it's a short sword with a crit range of 18-20.
Their officers are going to be 4th,5th or 6th level.
Other elves are from 6th-12th' level for the most part.
The Elf that Vespazian fought was a 10th Level fighter, more finesse than strength, Str 14 Dex 18 Con 14 Int 13 Wis 15 Cha 16 if you care.
High threat range with Improved crit etc... Others have been Weapon masters, which is a really ugly prestige class for the DM.
The owl-riding Mage that Wekerak fought was a 6th Level Wizard (with the accompanying crappy HPs), although the poor bastard got messed up with
bane[/I[ arrows...
The guy who snuffed Captain Varn (and Varn's Father, and his Grandfather)was a 15th level Weapon Master (thumbs his nose at Durgo).
Of course, you are heading away from the elves (sort of), abck to Castle Zuregath, wher all sorts of other enemies lie (see Wekerak's Quiver...)
A note on XP. OK, this is a combat heavy game. Actually, I have seen a lot of folks bag combat in PbPs as slow,tedious,detracting. I personally think that this game moves along at a fair clip with combat.So, they can kiss my butt (or Bargo's Butt....ugh). As far as XP, I have been awarding it as a group thing.
I do use an option in RL games for Duels, however (ferretguy would know that, but I had a secret XP policy in our RL game, so as not to upset the more sedentary players when it came to handing out XPs for good roleplaying).
Simply put: if you accept a Duel with an opponent, all of the XP are yours (or his) so long as you fight a fair Duel. By fair I mean that it's you and him/her/it. You can throw sand in their eyes or whatever, but the other PCs stay out of it.
I would think that even the most evil Deities want their minions to look good, so they frown on your buddy sneaking up and shooting your opponent in the back right as you and he are exchanging the final blows of a Deathmatch.
By Duel, I don't mean Bargo running up and hacking my frost giant in half.(Grumble,grumble)
You Challenge (or are challenged) and we fight it out (well, I do, but I don't fudge the dice...).
Let me know what you think
-Ron
PS:Ferretguy is coming over today to watch a movie etc (he drives 90 miles or so), so he might post from my house. I'm going to try and get him to Identify some things for you folks, Bargo's helm, Durgo's Bag etc...in the interest of clearing things up.