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Message: <blockquote data-quote="limeskeleton" data-source="post: 9506326" data-attributes="member: 7047820">We just had our 2nd game session last night!  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />First, we concluded the battle that capped off the previous session. The dwarven ghosts exploded into burst 1 damage when defeated, so they added some fun tactics to the fight. The kruthiks mostly targeted the other humanoid enemies, like Mr. Beef and the security officers, but I was rolling randomly with a low probability of them attacking whoever was closest as well. This led to some fun movement management from the party's warlord, as well as some risky opp attack provoking from almost everyone. Since we're using Roll20, I was able to use some scripting & Macros to auto-output text from certain environmental features to encourage the players to engage with them beyond just hiding behind blocking terrain or avoiding difficult terrain. The ever-useful pg. 42 of the 4e DMG was invaluable for this. Here's an example for shattering a Residuum Crystal: [SPOILER="Stunt Output"][ATTACH=full]385826[/ATTACH][/SPOILER]This combat encounter definitely dragged somewhat, which I'll blame partially on the players learning a new system (only one of them had any real 4e experience) and partially on the large number of combatants (5 PCs, 1 NPC ally, 12ish monsters). Something I'll be keeping an eye on moving forward.In the aftermath, once they were finished looting and getting a Short Rest, the party spent some time managing Mr. Beef's EverNet accounts via his Wyrdstreamer, basically ruining his name before handing him over to the Primal Spirit Venomcoil and consigning him to his fate. In exchange, they got valuable information on the layout of the Dungeon (which translated to giving some bonuses throughout the subsequent skill challenge). There was also a funny moment where the dwarf, not being very tech savvy, clicked on a suspicious product link on the Wydstreamer he looted and blasted everyone with psionic ads.Next was a Complexity 3 Skill Challenge, which was very well-received. They set their goal as moving through the Dungeon, trying both to save the civilians bumbling in it and also to minimize the PR damage being done by those same civilians. I had pre-prepped a handful of potential obstacles and threats in the dungeon, which was useful to refer to throughout. Some fun examples:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The dwarf berserker crushing horrific dwarf-bird-construct hybrids with a massive chunk of stone</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The swordmage disarming residuum mining explosives and then using magical wards to contain blasts from those he couldn't disarm</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The druid creating "nutrient goop" to lure the Kruthik Hive Lord away from a trapped civilian</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Warlord stopping an EverNet post (would've revealed the party's misdeeds in the dungeon) at the last second by hacking the account</li> </ul>Finally, after succeeding the skill challenge, the party rode a steep incline down to the Dungeon Core, where they will be starting next session off with a boss battle against Orthos the Devourer and the dwarven spirits stuck in its orbit. They're still in pretty good shape after mopping the floor with their first encounter, so we'll see if this one provides more challenge without dragging as much. Some fun complexities:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Acid Pits deal high damage and require a skill check to escape them if you fall in</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The 'Filth Vortex' in the center of the battlemap pulls you toward it and can deal necrotic damage if you're not undead (the vampire pc can navigate this with impunity!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Orthos has 3 'phases' based on hp total, each with different attacks and stats. Second phase makes it enraged and faster, with lower defenses, while the third phase sheds its physical body and makes it a flying incorporeal creature. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The 'Dungeon Core' (at the top of the map, cut off from screenshot) has a small hp pool which can be depleted with skill checks or attacks. Doing so deals high damage to Orthos, but also summons Blazing Skeletons to the fight as the Core reacts to being attacked. </li> </ul>[SPOILER="Battlemap Screenshot"][ATTACH=full]385827[/ATTACH][/SPOILER]Tried to take [USER=6696971]@Manbearcat[/USER]'s advice regarding terrain to heart! As before, I welcome reactions, feedback, questions, advice, etc from any who care to share them.</blockquote>

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