The Retaking of Forgehold OOC-4E (Full)

[SarahRequiem]

Vargo;

when using area attacks, you're supposed to roll the attack roll once per target, but roll the damage only once.

 

[Vargo]

My bad - if you want, I'll reroll a single roll, but you can just use the first roll, whatever it was.

 

[SarahRequiem]

im not the dm, so I dont care

 

[Charwoman Gene]

In Future Combats, I will roll initiatives. I will average the monster initiative. All those that beat the monsters get to go before the monsters. Then the monsters will go, then everyone acts in posting order.

I am considering switching to less picture based to more letter/number/color for the tokens. If you like the tokens as they are I'll keep up with them.

I will at least give you Defense numbers,

 

[Charwoman Gene]

I now at least have a physical PHB.

And I got maptool to run off my usb drive.

 

[SarahRequiem]

sweet. I should be getting my books within a week now =)

 

[Velmont]

Having letter and number would help greatly to tell hwo we move around.

 

[Shalimar]

I really don't like the idea of our actions taking effect by post order. I am not able to be on at all hours and it penalizes my otherwise really fast character (init +6) if thats how it is done . Timing in 4th edition is just as important as tactical movement is with all of the conditions (or most of them) ending at the beginning or end of the characters next turn based on where in the initiative order they occurred, if we keep moving around when the characters next turn is based on the order of who posts when, it is going to be a mess. It also becomes a problem because as a Rogue, Mira's sneak attack damage is very dependent on the tactical situation, and what conditions the enemy is suffering at the time of her attack.

The standard way it is resolved in PBP games is that people post their intended actions, and then those actions take effect as the GM walks down the initiative order. People pst whenever they get the chance to, but their actions take place at the appropriate spot in the initiative order. I think with how dependent on timing, and how dependent special actions are with where everyone and everything is this is the only way that it can be handled without creating a major headache.

Here is an example of why there would be a problem if done in post order: Mal is face to face with an Ogre, Aelek steps up and lets loose with a daily power that boosts an adjacent allies next attack. Aelek rolled a 20 for his initiative and Mal got a 5. If while Aelek was calculating all of this out Mal decides to move it could make the Daily power completely wasted, even though by the rules for 4th edition the daily would have gone off before Mal could take the action. This will really hurt our ability to Teamwork and to plan actions because while your planning someone who is ostensibly much slower could do something before you would have the chance to act negating your actions.

 

[Atanatotatos]

It makes the job of the controller much harder too, I have to say...

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

I really don't like the idea of our actions taking effect by post order. I am not able to be on at all hours and it penalizes my otherwise really fast character (init +6) if thats how it is done .

The advantage of being really fast is 90% in being able to act before the monsters on round 1. And we don't lose that with the current system.

After that? If all monsters act on the same count, it doesn't matter one bit.

Tabletop, we'd act in the most tactically sound order, nevermind the initiative. The option 'Delay' translates to 'The party acts in whatever order it wishes' In my experience, the rogue often act last at that point, never mind his initiative. Looking for flanking opportunity, of course.

This is internet and thus it is most expedient to act when you are online and resolve your actions immediately so that the next posters has a stable situtation to work with instead of lots of maybes.

Do we lose tactical opportunities? Yes, but it cuts both way.

You gave an exemple of losing an opportunity if Mal acts before Aelek. Fine and dandy. But what if Mal had won the intiative? Still a wasted opportunity except this time we are following the initiative order. Smilarlry, what if Mira goes first because of initiative but misses a shot at an easy sneak attack because of it (someone used a stunning power after she had moved)?

So how does the order helps tactics? It doesn't.

If push come to shove, I can just delay. I mean, I'm not going to charge without waiting for an inspiring word if I am low on hp, for example. I'm not gonna charge a horde of minion when I know Arden hasn't acted yet either (don't like to get killed, you know).

Best thing would simply using this thread as a heads up for your tactical intent.

You know, like, giving heads up when you would like to set up a daily, or you want to to something dangerous and want some cover. Things like that.