The Closed Eye (DM: Halford, Judge: garyh)

[hafrogman]

Tristan's eyes wander about the shop as the group files in. He idly runs a finger along one shelf, finding the shop rather too aptly named for his tastes. He nods a minor greeting to the proprietor, but forgoes introducing himself. Woe's request for privacy strikes him as slightly unneccesary, but he waits for Marco to pull the shade before proceeding.

"We are looking for a copy of the final issue of the 'The Screamer'. You sell reproductions?"

 

[Dunamin]

“As my pointy-eared associate so bluntly puts it, that’s our main business...”

“Furthermore, we’re interested in hearing about what clientele has shown noteworthy interest in the Screamer as of late - particularly within the last few months or so. Might any of your regular customers that purchase the paper perchance feature some of noble heritage? Or perhaps a few characters of the more… unsavory sort?”

Woe maintains a friendly and unassuming demeanor throughout, on the off chance that his questions should seem to make Marco uneasy or hesitant.

“Don’t worry, sir, our queries will cause you no trouble. On the contrary, we are looking into matters that might help restore business within this brand of media to standards.”

Diplomacy = 9

[sblock=More Diplomacy checks]Humbly requesting my fellow party members to retry my miserable attempt and aid each other. We might be able to learn a bit about Arnest and/or possible suspects.[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

“Don’t worry, sir, our queries will cause you no trouble. On the contrary, we are looking into matters that might help restore business within this brand of media to standards.”

"Indeed," Tander adds, "you seem to be a sensible businessman. We do not want to see the Screamer's reputation put any lower than its currently carefully calculated level of disrepute." Tander pauses, considering his unintended alliteration with a slight frown. "Anything you can tell us would be most appreciated."

[sblock=Skill check]
Diplomacy 15
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

Flashback...

Marco's shop is closed, and despite some efforts you have difficulty finding Marco before noon; when he strolls up to open his shop.
[/COLOR]

[OOC: And here's the reason for the poor rolls...]

“The depths of philosophical insight provided by wizards today are truly spectacular to behold,” he comments on their way out the door with a grin. “Rarely have I seen such verbosity wasted on saying so little, though it did spark my appetite. I’ll make a note of asking for refreshments at the Glasstons.”

Palindrome glares at Woe. The young wizard's face spasms. His teeth grind, spitting actual sparks. With a snarl, he stomps away from the party, down the street, hurling invective and stabbing the air with his fist to emphasize his point. One moment he mutters, the next he yells. You hear "SWINE!" and "PEARLS!" This is followed by a stream of draconic cursing so vile that a hardened kobold mercenary is dumbstruck, aghast.

The fit continues for the entire morning. Pedestrians are shoved aside. Ghost Sounds cause lovers to break into spats. Unattended objects catch flame.

Arriving at the halfling's shop, Palindrome attempts to reign his temper with a heroic effort. Only when he filches a lollipop from a child (unawares of course) and hurls it (the lollipop, not the child) into the gutter, does he feel better.

He joins the party, who have already engaged the halfling in conversation.

 

[KenHood]

Palindrome...

Palindrome enters the shop.

"Hello, Marco, old friend. I see you've already met my comrades. I'm sure my master would be most grateful if you would assist them."

[sblock=Diplomacy Check]1d20+7 → [9,7] = (16) [/sblock]
[OOC: I was going to try Bluff, but I don't think I've had that approved yet.]

[sblock=For GM's Eyes Only]Palindrome cases the joint to see if there is anything worth stealing, that won't necessarily be missed.

[OOC: BOO-FRICKIN'-YA! --> Perception 19, Thievery 27]
[/sblock]

 

[Graf]

ooc: bluff's approved and linked (more DM post coming)

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=Bluff and Invisible Castle]

ooc: bluff's approved and linked (more DM post coming)

OOC: Cool!

I'm starting to figure out how that Invisible Castle works, too.

Check out my crummy Bluff check: [+6 Bluff, +1 w/in 24 hours] Palindrome bluffs Marco. (1d20+7=8)

That would have been depressing after all that work.

Ugh! Here's another lame one: Another swing with Bluff. (1d20+7=14)

Is there any way to cheat with Invisible Castle?

Uh...

Not that I would.[/sblock]

[sblock=Group Diplomacy Checks]Case in point: When we helped Woe with his Diplomacy check.

Do we need to do that or can Woe just go ahead and apply the +12 modifier, under the assumption that we're going to help out anyway?[/sblock]

 

[Dunamin]

[sblock=OOC]

I'm starting to figure out how that Invisible Castle works, too.

Check out my crummy Bluff check: [+6 Bluff, +1 w/in 24 hours] Palindrome bluffs Marco. (1d20+7=8)

That would have been depressing after all that work.

Ugh! Here's another lame one: Another swing with Bluff. (1d20+7=14)

Is there any way to cheat with Invisible Castle?

Uh...

Not that I would.

I'm also new to it (only played on sites with a built-in dice roller before), but I think the basic idea is that a history of rolls under a registered user can be looked up. So if a DM suspects something fishy is going on, and checks that a player has made 37 "Diplomacy (make Santa give extra presents)" checks within the last two hours, he/she will know something's up.

Case in point: When we helped Woe with his Diplomacy check.

Do we need to do that or can Woe just go ahead and apply the +12 modifier, under the assumption that we're going to help out anyway?

Technically I think you need to beat a DC 10 to Aid on another check (hence why I didn't mention using my own roll at all in this case). Note to self: Must sacrifice more babies to the Dice Gods.[/sblock]

 

[Graf]

[sblock=OOC:Rolls]
I don't like skill challenges where you wind up "fishing" for rolls.
So somebody makes a good argument, but they get a 3, so that's now "bad argument".

Then their third argument; which is obviously the third best idea (which is usually not very good), they get a 19. So the lord decides to give you the magical gloves of opening because... it doesn't go with his suit...

It's just not a really good story thing.

That's what the +12 is about. I'd prefer to see people roll a couple of times, and do well, rather than have people make 15 posts with +5s and +6s.
And then someone aids another and gets a 19 but the original skill total is only a 14 and you "lose" the good roll.

It may be OK in real life. But it's bleh in PbP where every roll is a post.

I'm not going to say that you-must-make-group rolls. I'm happy with whatever play style organically develops from people's choices.

This group posts a lot, so it may go quickly. And the autosuccess rule should pick up the slack.

But using the +12 it is a possibility you may want to consider, especially for relatively minor interactions, or ones with a binary result (i.e. the guard lets you in, or they don't).

[/sblock]
[sblock=Multiple Rolls on IC ~ cheating]Personally, I don't think people actually try to cheat in PbP. People always use IC (occassionally some DMs insist on rolling privately which is... well.... basically you're just playing a story game, which is fun too.)

In general people are fastidious about rolling once and using the roll. It's really the best way to go; the unspoken expectation is that, even if you have to radically change your action (confusion about maps, whatever) you keep the roll.

I -have- actually seen one situation where somebody was rolling multiple times (like 20 times). Another player caught it almost instantly and was not gentle in their assessment of the activity.

It was an internet worthy argument (the accused , sort of, had a justification and I think they were someone who played a lot and was known to be a good person); the DM had to get involved.

It was messy.

Most people who play PbP for any length of time are smart enough to know that it's impossible to really get away with. The roll archive goes back years and can be searched in almost no time.

I therefore, honestly, don't even look at IC under normal circumstances. (I probably shouldn't say that but it's true...)
[/sblock]

 

[KenHood]

Totally off topic, but I'm fascinated with IC...

[sblock=Just thinking]

The roll archive goes back years and can be searched in almost no time.

That's kind of cool that someone would provide a service like that for free and store the information for a long time.[/sblock]