The Reconquista OOC

[Hypersmurf]

If things got bloody, or distracting, he'd be more likely to Hold Monster the damned thing and let everyone finish it off.

No, he wouldn't

Hold Monster
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
This spell functions like hold person, except that it affects any living creature that fails its Will save.

Hold Person
Enchantment (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
The subject becomes paralyzed and freezes in place.

Elemental Type: An elemental is a being composed of one of the four classical elements: air, earth, fire, or water.
An elemental possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

• Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, and stunning.

That's why I suggested Tasha's... Hold Monster works on giants just fine, but doesn't do a damned thing against an elemental

And it's not 'bloody' or 'distracting' that worries me. It's 'elemental escapes down the shaft with a Fly speed of 100 ft (perfect) to warn everyone we're coming'. Magic Missiles don't stop that from happening

-Hyp.

 

[James Heard]

And it's not 'bloody' or 'distracting' that worries me. It's 'elemental escapes down the shaft with a Fly speed of 100 ft (perfect) to warn everyone we're coming'. Magic Missiles don't stop that from happening

Mavic's not likely to be particularly concerned with that, since the worst/best outcome for that is that the monsters come out to fight instead of waiting inside to be slaughtered. We're intent on taking a location right? If they're going to run then we still win. If they prep beforehand then we can wait it out. If they make more traps then we can bypass them. Basically the overall strategy doesn't change, and their preparations in the event of a lack of surprise aren't tremendously troubling to someone like Mavic. If it were incredibly important ("Wait till I tell my Master Iuz that you're here!") then Mavic would just seal up the tunnel completely with Fabricate. Or kick a random party member wearing better armor down the hole to slay the thing before it started yammering. It's an unimportant encounter- because there are no giants involved, nor anything remotely suggesting that the thing is anything more than a sentient mobile trap. It's probably more annoying than anything else to Mavic, whose not going to "waste" anything that he'd rather be using on giants and giants' minions on "some dumb elemental".

Seriously, given a choice of targets between a couple of runty hill giants in rags and a decent-sized dragon Mavic would probably kill the hill giants first - even if one of the other characters was getting eaten. The dragon would just be a distraction, and obstacle to dispatch after killing the giants so he could get back to the business of killing more giants. Killing giants is how Mavic feels good about himself for being such a jerk, probably the only way besides keeping his strays that he's collected clothed and fed. Yes, he's smart enough to know better. But he's more than a little bit nihilistic too. *shrug* Magic Missiles are easy to justify on just about anything though, so MM is probably what everyone's going to get from Mavic on distractions. That's the reason he's got two wands, he's probably blown through many more MM wands than that too.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Mavic's not likely to be particularly concerned with that, since the worst/best outcome for that is that the monsters come out to fight instead of waiting inside to be slaughtered. We're intent on taking a location right? If they're going to run then we still win. If they prep beforehand then we can wait it out. If they make more traps then we can bypass them. Basically the overall strategy doesn't change, and their preparations in the event of a lack of surprise aren't tremendously troubling to someone like Mavic.

[blink]

Knowledge (Arcana)
Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering)
Knowledge (Geography)
Knowledge (History)
Knowledge (Local)
Knowledge (Nature)
Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty)
Knowledge (Religion)
Knowledge (The Planes)

... well, okay, Knowledge (Tactics) doesn't feature.

But the synopsis notes "The next day you make your way to the top of the mountain, employing some stealth." Why are we employing stealth, if he's of the opinion that if we let them know we're coming, it just makes it easier to find them?

If the guardian was a flying invisible giant, Mavic would take him out fast before he could give an alert, but since it's an elemental, it's allowed to go tell all the other giants to get ready for us?

Letting the elemental get away makes it less likely he gets to kill giants. Stopping the elemental from giving an alert means more giants get killed. If killing giants is all that has meaning, then preventing that alert is a high priority!

-Hyp.

 

[Branding Opportunity]

Mavic's not likely to be particularly concerned with that, since the worst/best outcome for that is that the monsters come out to fight instead of waiting inside to be slaughtered. We're intent on taking a location right? If they're going to run then we still win. If they prep beforehand then we can wait it out. If they make more traps then we can bypass them. Basically the overall strategy doesn't change, and their preparations in the event of a lack of surprise aren't tremendously troubling to someone like Mavic. If it were incredibly important ("Wait till I tell my Master Iuz that you're here!") then Mavic would just seal up the tunnel completely with Fabricate. Or kick a random party member wearing better armor down the hole to slay the thing before it started yammering. It's an unimportant encounter- because there are no giants involved, nor anything remotely suggesting that the thing is anything more than a sentient mobile trap. It's probably more annoying than anything else to Mavic, whose not going to "waste" anything that he'd rather be using on giants and giants' minions on "some dumb elemental".

I'll just quickly put in my $.02 here to note that in IC-terms you are quite aware that one fire giant by itself is a CR 10 monster. The idea that you'd be taking on more than a dozen (say CR 18), which you knew were there because of the escaped dwarven slave, in addition to any other minions they had around, might give you some pause. Because of the ongoing war, more than a few giants you've had to deal with in the last five years have had class levels as well. You definitely might think that a standard, frontal hack and slash might lead you to a quick and shallow grave in the foothills of the Crystalmists considering that at this point you're still 10th level.

Note that I have no truck with your characterization of this PC, just providing some extra information that would have crossed your mind.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Let me add my $.02. I assume the employer would give us some intel/help. Common sense says to gather scrolls to use.

Drow - To parlay or not to. With my LN status, helping Drow directly/indirectly for a common goal is not a problem. I realize using diplomancy/bluff (currently+18/+12) skill is not for other PCs, but George would use his skills to help to convince Anastasia and Layta to let the Drow go.

Air elemental - George does have a "hand of glory" and being cautious and having 20/20 hindsight, he would activate see invisibility. Therefore, with a spot (something less than his current +17) he should be able to notice just about everything and help assist the others who use "see invisibility"/"true seeing" to notice everything as well.

Enemy Mage - Sneak attack and invisibility ring and haste (boots of speed or scroll spell) should allow me to help incapacitate the mage. Maybe back then I had a giant killer weapon which I no longer have and that would have assisted in the mage dispatch.

Enslaved Dwarves - Again using the diplomancy/bluff (currently+18/+12) skill, George would convince them to live and fight and have them leave with a favorable view of our party

 

[Scotley]

A couple of thoughts on how Morley could contribute to this latest story--he would be in favor of the parley with the Drow, knowing little of Elves he would not immediately assume that the darkskinned variety are evil and they are not related to the current mission and thus avoiding a confrontation is logical. Having worked with Dragons and Harpies, a dark skinned elf is not a stretch for Morley. He has little in the way of specialized magic to deal with the elemental, but his winged boots would make it easier for him to engage the creature in melee, which is how he would be most valuable. I think that during his career Morley faced a lot of presure to continue the glory of his first battle. That amazing shot would be hard to live up to. He might well have experimented with alchemist's fire and alchemist's frost arrows. The later could have been employeed against the mold while safely passing over using the boots. Morley has focused his favored enemy ability on giants and thus, is pretty effective against them--especially when using his bow. He would likely have strongly encouraged the modified dwarves to go on with life despite changes to their bodies. He would likely have told stories of those who were successful survivers of the war despite losses and injury. Among those would be the story of a simple farm boy refugee who arose to glory because he refused to accept defeat.

 

[Scotley]

On games--as you said the disappearing DM or player syndrome is an issue, one which we'll just have to trust one another to resolve. I wish there were some sort of relibility rating system to help avoid this. Of course a total party kill sorta takes its toll on the game too. Next up I would say that player and character conflict is an issue. Sometimes players or their characters just can't get along. I am dealing with this in a game I am running right now. Also, the same sorts of things that lead to bordom or dissatisfaction with face to face games apply here. The DM should encouage the group to stay together or at least make sure everyone has something to do when there is a split. Make sure everyone has a chance to contribute when building adventures. Based on the synopses so far I'd say you have a good handle on this one. Posting schedules can be an issue too. Some players are only able to post week days while others are weekend posters. The players who can post all the time can be a problem too, because they tend to steal the spotlight from the less regular posters. Sucessful groups seem to be the ones that can find a balance that is satisfying for all the players.

As for good IC threads, I'll list a couple of games that I enjoyed very much with the unfortunate report that both games ended due to the disappearing DM.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=105607

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=92996

Just for fun I'll list my current game as well as it might be instructive given that I am a first time play by post DM though I have many many years of gaming and DM'ing experience and have played in several online games. The players in this game were all new to play by post and a couple are new to the current edition of the game. I've made some mistakes and we've hit a few bumps along the way, but overall it has been fun.

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=123248

 

[Thanee]

Hmm... what rhymes with 'half-illithid'?

Half-derro, half-illithid,
with a twitching eye-lid?



Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

Some quick comments:

Latayla's Sword - Somewhere between the last and this synopsis, Latalya will have received her sword. Not entirely sure where. Maybe a cooperation between dwarven metalworkers and an elven enchanter. I suppose, it could have been put to good use here.

Drow - Latalya will actually urge the party to accept the offer of diplomacy. Her reasoning is, that drow that wish to parlay are a rare breed, which should be kept inside the cycle.

Air Elemental - Noctra can blindsense it, that would probably have let to some See Invisibility to be turned on or a Glitterdust to then dispatch the guardian.

Bye
Thanee

 

[James Heard]

But the synopsis notes "The next day you make your way to the top of the mountain, employing some stealth." Why are we employing stealth, if he's of the opinion that if we let them know we're coming, it just makes it easier to find them?

Mavic wouldn't particularly be happy about the stealth thing either, but since it's written into the script I suppose someone must have convinced him. Mavic is probably more ok with hit and run raiding than sneaking. He's not particularly honorable, but I figure his tactics of choice probably owe more to holier-than-thou paladin brothers than rogues. He's just too bloodthirsty and too morally flexible to actually employ those tactics as they were intended. He probably considers himself as "better" than actual paladins, because when he employs LG tactics he "gets what needs doing done" rather than shying away at the last moment because it wouldn't be fair.

If the guardian was a flying invisible giant, Mavic would take him out fast before he could give an alert, but since it's an elemental, it's allowed to go tell all the other giants to get ready for us?

It's not "allowed", but Mavic's not likely to consider it a credible threat or target right from the start. If he were overruled in the matter of stealth, there's likely to be some fair bit of pouting involved too.

Letting the elemental get away makes it less likely he gets to kill giants. Stopping the elemental from giving an alert means more giants get killed. If killing giants is all that has meaning, then preventing that alert is a high priority!

Mavic's doesn't give giants that sort of credit really. They're dumb, brutish creatures that rely on their strength rather than their wits. When you kick them, they kick back. They lack willpower and mental fortitude, and they're lesser creatures. He recognizes that they're dangerous, but in the same way wild dogs are dangerous. That is, even if they've got alerts going on they're not likely to respond in an appropriate or credible fashion to Mavic. Yes, I know it doesn't make a lot of logical sense. Mavic's beyond "normal" logic though, he's a hate and spite-filled racist. The only way he thinks he's ever going to prove those qualities as not inappropriate is to kill giants and become a hero, which he knows deep inside he isn't.

If giants are the only real evil you focus on, to keep yourself from feeling dirty and evil yourself, then every other evil is merely an obstacle that you're not going to pay much attention to.

You definitely might think that a standard, frontal hack and slash might lead you to a quick and shallow grave in the foothills of the Crystalmists considering that at this point you're still 10th level.

But if he thought that would be the best way to kill the most giants then Mavic would all for it...

Seriously, I think Anastasia and Latalya are just going to have to provide morality and reason to Mavic a lot of times. They're the only people around that are likely to prompt any natural respect from Mavic. I should have made a more reasonable cohort. :\