D&D 4E Running Commentary on Rel's 4e Campaign (Complete 8/2/10)

[stobil]

A good conclusion to a well run campaign - good on Rel and my fellow players. The story wrapped up nicely and lots of fulfillment all around.

Stobil's post here contains some info about forthcoming events so I'm taking the liberty of sblocking it for those who don't want any spoilers. - Rel

[sblock]I have to admit that my frustration with the dice rolls built to a climax last night, as one of my dice paid the ultimate price for coming up with a 1 on a roll for the Harrowstorm power. It seems the last six weeks or so, I rarely rolled well, especially with the skill checks. Very few exploding 6's, and rarely broke 25 on 5d6 plus 5 arcana or history checks. My two best powers don't require attack rolls (Armor of Agathys and Stinking Cloud), but when I did get ready to throw a cool encounter power or the Summons of Khirad at an enemy, an amazing number of d20 rolls came up with a 1 or at least less than a 5. So, last night, when I had the chance to screw with the big bad dracolich and slide him 10 spaces into another damaging effect and mess up his ritual, a 1 comes up yet again. Needless to say, the frustration of many nights bubbled up and the die was thrown at the brick wall above the fireplace. Alas, that die will not be rolled again.[/sblock]

But back to the campaign - I enjoyed the warlock immensely and would recommend it to anyone that has not played a 4E warlock. Despite my poor rolling late in the campaign, my character still managed to be at least somewhat effective most nights.

 

[Ba11zooka]

Lemme join in on the praise--Rel has done a great job of providing us nail-biting (and die-shattering!) fights, a compelling plot, and a great setting full of history and character. The non-traditional and ongoing skill challenges were a clever improvement over the prescribed simple roll solution, and while there were one or two that didn't fall as Rel expected, they added a cooperative element that I'd recommend everyone try at least once.

That aside, he's still a rat bastard who rolls with the luck of the unholy.

 

[Riggs]

I also had a great time playing in this campaign. I wasn't sure at times where he was going with my pantheon, but he always kept it interesting and I was happy with the outcomes of different arcs and revelations. Very creative and cool.

I liked all the characters and plot stories and have to once again hand it to Rel for knowing (or good guessing) how to put us neck deep in the poo but with the tiniest window of escape. We nearly TPK'd several times and not just because of bad rolling from "Team Woe-fa". I think he plans for a close call and then forgets that he rolls 18+ way too often.

So yeah, it was a very good campaign as usual and I had tons of fun.

A+++ would play again!

 

[Rel]

First up, my apologies for not having updated lately. The holidays were a busy time here at the Rel household. My daughter is finally back in school, having been out since Thanksgiving! Work is busy this week but after that I should have some time to start posting a few updates.

I also had a great time playing in this campaign. I wasn't sure at times where he was going with my pantheon, but he always kept it interesting and I was happy with the outcomes of different arcs and revelations. Very creative and cool.

I liked all the characters and plot stories and have to once again hand it to Rel for knowing (or good guessing) how to put us neck deep in the poo but with the tiniest window of escape. We nearly TPK'd several times and not just because of bad rolling from "Team Woe-fa". I think he plans for a close call and then forgets that he rolls 18+ way too often.

So yeah, it was a very good campaign as usual and I had tons of fun.

A+++ would play again!

Now post pics of the shirt!

 

[Rel]

*tap tap* Is this thing still on?... Ahem...

Astavian went immediately outside and began striding toward the barricade with the rest of the party following. When he arrived where some of the faithful Dragonborn were piling whatever they could find in the gaps between buildings, he told them to halt a moment. He climbed atop the pile and then over the other side.

The PC's emerged from the alley and into a broad avenue beyond where a mob was gathered. Flaming building and other debris lit the night around them. The mob approached angrily, waving weapons and torches, but they were held at bay by Astavian's admonishments for what they had done. He spoke of the evils of the Dracolich and the fact that they were in danger of the gate he had opened to the plane of fire. The seemed on the verge of some understanding.

Then, pushing their way through the crowd, came a trio of leaders who strengthened the mob's resolve. It was Kava Scaleshield, the Dragonborn Warlord the party had met when she aided the Elves of Enmurinon, one time adherent to Gorunaga who had helped to strike down her own god. She burst from the crowd and shouted, "We have listened to the lies of the impostors for too long! Don't listen to this fool now!"

Astavian hissed and stepped forward, "Betrayer!" Kava hissed back, "Sheep!" There was no question as to how this would end. Blades sang from their sheaths and began to clash.

Kava's two lieutenants were quick to her aid, one hurling elemental magic and the other seemingly gifted with powerful dragonbreath. Astavian was hard pressed for a moment but his allies quickly came to his aid. As he struck blow after angry blow the mob was far too intimidated to get involved and continued to shrink back from the battle. The PC's were fresh, angry and unrelenting.

In a few moments it was over and the three leaders lay dead in the street. The mob stood in stunned silence. Astavian told them to go to their homes and lay hands upon their tools. There would be much rebuilding to be done when the threat of the renegade Gate of fire was dealt with.

They returned back to the other side of the barricade to an equally stunned crowd of the faithful. There they patched their wounds and rested before returning to the Temple of Ryukaar.

Ryukaar had prepared a pair of crystals that pulsed with an inner heat. These, he explained, were powerful ritual components, attuned to the plane of fire, and should allow them to close the gate more quickly. He spoke of this arcana to Zanne until he was sure she understood what must be done. Then they all repaired to the courtyard.

"Time is short," proclaimed Ryukaar, "I hope you do not mind this means of travel." A look of brief concentration crossed his face and he grew into an enormous dragon, scales of gold gleaming in the flickering firelight. "Climb on and hold tight!" The awed party recovered themselves and found places on Ryukaar's great back. In moments they were spiraling down into the Mist toward the cave that held the Gate...

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

Just have to say I've read the whole thread while at work over the course of a week and was very impressed by the story, roleplaying, gm'ing, and mechanics. Sounds like a truly epic campaign and kudos to you Rel for running it very well and thanks a million for scribing it all down for the rest of us. It's given me a lot of ideas for my campaigns and makes me wish as well that I could have played in yours!

 

[Rel]

Just have to say I've read the whole thread while at work over the course of a week and was very impressed by the story, roleplaying, gm'ing, and mechanics. Sounds like a truly epic campaign and kudos to you Rel for running it very well and thanks a million for scribing it all down for the rest of us. It's given me a lot of ideas for my campaigns and makes me wish as well that I could have played in yours!

Thanks for the compliment. I'm only sorry that I've not done a better job of staying current with it. Many of the details I can no longer recall but I'm hoping to finish it out and relate things as best I can in terms of how the game was planned.

 

[Derulbaskul]

Just have to say I've read the whole thread while at work over the course of a week and was very impressed by the story, roleplaying, gm'ing, and mechanics. Sounds like a truly epic campaign and kudos to you Rel for running it very well and thanks a million for scribing it all down for the rest of us. It's given me a lot of ideas for my campaigns and makes me wish as well that I could have played in yours!

I would echo those remarks. This thread is one of the ones that convinced me to give 4E a good go and I am happy that I did.

It's funny but, for me at least, actual play/story hour/campaign journals are the best form of advertising or marketing of any game or game product (it was the uniformly high quality of the Midnight story hours that got me hooked on the campaign world after I had initially decided to give it a miss- that's another example of the point I am making). I wonder if others feel the same way? (And, sorry, that is more rightly another topic.)

Thanks for posting your experiences. I hope to see you post again soon.

 

[Rel]

Thanks for posting your experiences. I hope to see you post again soon.

Thank you as well and I will be posting again soon. Life's been a bit hectic lately (not all in a bad way) but the next week or so should see me with a bit of time to get a few more posts up.

 

[Traveon Wyvernspur]

I look forward to reading the conclusion of what happened in the campaign.