The Retaking of Forgehold OOC-4E (Full)

[Mal Malenkirk]

It can work, but the problem with this is that it put the onus of telling the story of the combat entirely on the DM.

In a big Melee where Mal acts after most of his allies, I'd end up having to type something like this :

• Mal uses cleave on minions in front of him, +8, 1D10+4, splash 4 damage adjacent.
• Unless there is only one minion left. Then he uses Sure Strike +10, 1D10
• If all the minions have been wiped out, he delays after Aelek.
• If Aelek fails to kill the Dragonshield attacking him, Mal moves 3 square, uses covering strike; +8, 2D10+4, Hit : Aelek shifts two square toward me.
• If Aelek is no longer in danger, Mal attacks the Dragonshield flanking Telsay, Tide of Iron, +8 !d10+4, Push the target in the NW sqauare and Mal slip in the vacated square.
• If Telsayn is no longer flanked, Mal charges the Wyrmpriest. +9 1D10+4

It can get complex. I'm fine with it, you just have to be aware of the consequene. It's more tactical, on the plus side.

In this case, though, it's easy :

1 - Mal throws his axe if the kobold is still standing. (We already know how that would turn out)

2 - If it's been killed, he moves forward and jumps above the pool.
Jump (1d20+7=23)

 

[Atanatotatos]

I think most of the problem can be solved if Gene rolls initiative for everyone like Shalimar said. In this case, Angel was first, not mira. Did she hit? Did she kill? What would mira do if not? I would be third. And I have absolutely no idea what to do since nor my allies nor anything else has actually acted. Thinking twice, I actually think Mal's suggestion can be useful too. But we need the initiative order at the beginning for that to work anyway.

If we don't want to "cheat" and metagame, we can follow Gene's direction on passive knowledge check and try to act like the characters would with what they know. (Hard I know...)

 

[Shalimar]

I know that Angel goes first, Mira moving forward and attacking is only an 'intended' action. If the kobold is already dead when it gets to her turn Gene will say that and the intended action wont go off. In this case, since everyones intended actions would be to attack the thing, we we just pick up on the turn of the person who is first after it was killed.

This is how combat is handled in most PBP games on the board. Post intended actions, then the GM says how things actually work out. Doing things the other way is not fair for those who cannot always be on the boards, thats why respecting initiative is important.

 

[Atanatotatos]

I know it isn't fair. That's why i said gene should handle the initiative. Intended action are alright, but you can't alays predict situations to come.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Shipping estimate: June 9, 2008 - June 12, 2008

Grumble.

Okay, I really was hoping to have the books open in front of me. I'll be spending a lot of time in Borders.

Basically I jumped into combat without a clear picture of how to manage the complexity. Heh. My bad, but this is why I wanted to get to combat quickly. I am listening and thinking and trying to wrap my head around this. I tend to get confused (Like I am now) and then boom, I got it reaaly solid. Gimme a few hours.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Never Mind

 

[Vargo]

Also never mind.

 

[SarahRequiem]

Gene. I DMed that adventure with my friends (twice actually) already, so if you need advices or help with anything, feel free to ask me about it =)

But I also agree that Gene rolling initiative would solve a problem.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I'm really okay. I've got my pdf's. Amazon is whining at me about my crediot card now.

 

[SarahRequiem]

same for me, a few days ago. I just resent my credit card info and my thing was shipped the next day.