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Whirtlestaff's Wizards' Academy Revisited, OOC01
- Thread starter Leif
- Start date
Scott DeWar
Prof. Emeritus-Supernatural Events/Countermeasure
leif,
I have had an increase in work and i am in need of dropping a few games and i regret to inform you that of the two en world games that i am losing this is one of them. (I used invisible castle and assigned each game a number) <y table top game has suffered tremendoulsy as well and i need to do something drastic.
Perhaps capizzio sees someone from his past and later that night he is seen going to his room, but not coming out...not seen any where, not seen leaving...you know how rogues can be.
I have had an increase in work and i am in need of dropping a few games and i regret to inform you that of the two en world games that i am losing this is one of them. (I used invisible castle and assigned each game a number) <y table top game has suffered tremendoulsy as well and i need to do something drastic.
Perhaps capizzio sees someone from his past and later that night he is seen going to his room, but not coming out...not seen any where, not seen leaving...you know how rogues can be.
Leif
Adventurer
Scott DeWar,
I have a better idea. (Just in case you are able to return at some point, and you will be very welcome to do so!) Capizzio has been called back to Whirtlestaff's to take over immediately as assistant for a professor there. He must leave at once! Times a-wastin'! No time for goodbyes or anything. (We can make up something appropriate to explain his absence and later return if you decide to rejoin the game.)
It's been great having you, man, and we all wish you the best!
Cheers,
Leif
ps-Honestly, though, any wizard worth his salt would have just whipped out a cantrip to affect the die roll on IC!
I have a better idea. (Just in case you are able to return at some point, and you will be very welcome to do so!) Capizzio has been called back to Whirtlestaff's to take over immediately as assistant for a professor there. He must leave at once! Times a-wastin'! No time for goodbyes or anything. (We can make up something appropriate to explain his absence and later return if you decide to rejoin the game.)
It's been great having you, man, and we all wish you the best!
Cheers,
Leif
ps-Honestly, though, any wizard worth his salt would have just whipped out a cantrip to affect the die roll on IC!
Last edited:
Leif
Adventurer
Yeah, that's it. We'll all blame Tylara for this Wizard Attrition!Tylara is going to feel bad thinking it was the threat to Capizzio's toes that ran him off.
Leif
Adventurer
ABSOLUTELY!! What's your verdict?
renau1g
First Post
Ok... so in a 2.5 hr. session we got through three encounters (keep in mind this is our first combat, outside of my limited experience here) I'll make 2 posts, 1 detailing the combats, and 2 with my thoughts.
Combat #1: Attempted ambush by a group of kobolds, including two dragonshields (fighter-types), 1 artillery, 1 leader (shaman), and 4 minions (1 hp each)
The elven ranger managed to roll a Natural 20 (this becomes a theme with him...) on his Perception rolls (which I like more than spot & listen as it speeds up the game slightly, I require each player roll one at a time, as I had some incidences of dice nudging, fudging by one of the players...
).
The group (a ranger, warlock, and paladin) weren't surprised and the two strikers began lobbing ranged attacks at the enemies. The paladin charged forward to provide cover. They started off blowing out their encounter powers and destroyed the artillery kobold and damaging the shaman. The paladin was wielding a glaive, giving her reach and she used it to great effect (even though it doesn't threaten). The Paladin player struggled with why the at-will attacks were better than her basic attack, despite offering a minor bonus (in this case a -3 to foes attack rolls), but she quickly got the hang of things. They mowed through them pretty quick, despite the supposedly challenging battle.
We took a break, while I put the boys to bed, and they said that they found it interesting so far, but the warlock was upset because he kept missing...I recommended he try the powers that attack different defences (he kept using a power that hit against the kobolds Reflex)
Combat #2:
This combat was just outside the kobold lair, behind a waterfall (and on a cliff) so the group was stealthy (except the Paladin) and they snuck to within striking distance. Again, they opened up with their encounter powers (and 2 Natural 20's in a row by the ranger) taking out the lookouts right next to the entrance.
The ranger then decided to try his blades out and the Warlock used his daily power during this encounter (to great effect) and used his ability to curse more often, gaining extra damage and temp. HP as a result. As well the Paladin fell more into her role and began marking the enemies, causing them to take damage if they avoided her.
***This point I was nervous about bookkeeping enemy statuses, in this case there were marked, cursed, on fire, and one was the ranger's quarry, but it was pretty easy, I keep track of enemy hp using Excel, so I just put a note next to them ***
Again, they were working pretty well together, but then the strikers stopped moving and were just hitting.... that's when things got bad... the ranger got ganged up on by a trio of kobolds (2 minions and 1 rogue) and very quickly fell unconscious (I also rolled 18's pretty consistenly for a while). Eventually he made his death save (Nat 20 again...
... this time I checked the dice...just in case it was one of those cheating dice... but it was good), but it was tense as he failed it twice first and once more would've led to his death.
Combat 3: Inside the lair
This was the most difficult encounter and the group felt it as terrain came into great effect, with some pits, side entrances only small creatures could fit into. The group lacked any powers that could push enemies, so the terrain was pretty ineffectual and the last enemy had over 100hp. The Paladin hit him with his daily power and took out 1/4 of his hp, but after that and the encounter powers were done it fell into their at wills.
The ranger continued his two attacks, the warlock used the same at-will, and the paladin the same...they won the day after a bit, and the paladin going unconscious.
Combat #1: Attempted ambush by a group of kobolds, including two dragonshields (fighter-types), 1 artillery, 1 leader (shaman), and 4 minions (1 hp each)
The elven ranger managed to roll a Natural 20 (this becomes a theme with him...) on his Perception rolls (which I like more than spot & listen as it speeds up the game slightly, I require each player roll one at a time, as I had some incidences of dice nudging, fudging by one of the players...
).The group (a ranger, warlock, and paladin) weren't surprised and the two strikers began lobbing ranged attacks at the enemies. The paladin charged forward to provide cover. They started off blowing out their encounter powers and destroyed the artillery kobold and damaging the shaman. The paladin was wielding a glaive, giving her reach and she used it to great effect (even though it doesn't threaten). The Paladin player struggled with why the at-will attacks were better than her basic attack, despite offering a minor bonus (in this case a -3 to foes attack rolls), but she quickly got the hang of things. They mowed through them pretty quick, despite the supposedly challenging battle.
We took a break, while I put the boys to bed, and they said that they found it interesting so far, but the warlock was upset because he kept missing...I recommended he try the powers that attack different defences (he kept using a power that hit against the kobolds Reflex)
Combat #2:
This combat was just outside the kobold lair, behind a waterfall (and on a cliff) so the group was stealthy (except the Paladin) and they snuck to within striking distance. Again, they opened up with their encounter powers (and 2 Natural 20's in a row by the ranger) taking out the lookouts right next to the entrance.
The ranger then decided to try his blades out and the Warlock used his daily power during this encounter (to great effect) and used his ability to curse more often, gaining extra damage and temp. HP as a result. As well the Paladin fell more into her role and began marking the enemies, causing them to take damage if they avoided her.
***This point I was nervous about bookkeeping enemy statuses, in this case there were marked, cursed, on fire, and one was the ranger's quarry, but it was pretty easy, I keep track of enemy hp using Excel, so I just put a note next to them ***
Again, they were working pretty well together, but then the strikers stopped moving and were just hitting.... that's when things got bad... the ranger got ganged up on by a trio of kobolds (2 minions and 1 rogue) and very quickly fell unconscious (I also rolled 18's pretty consistenly for a while). Eventually he made his death save (Nat 20 again...
... this time I checked the dice...just in case it was one of those cheating dice... but it was good), but it was tense as he failed it twice first and once more would've led to his death.Combat 3: Inside the lair
This was the most difficult encounter and the group felt it as terrain came into great effect, with some pits, side entrances only small creatures could fit into. The group lacked any powers that could push enemies, so the terrain was pretty ineffectual and the last enemy had over 100hp. The Paladin hit him with his daily power and took out 1/4 of his hp, but after that and the encounter powers were done it fell into their at wills.
The ranger continued his two attacks, the warlock used the same at-will, and the paladin the same...they won the day after a bit, and the paladin going unconscious.
renau1g
First Post
So in general, I like 4e, it's a nice change of pace and having those dailies in your back pocket to break out against a challenging foe is pretty nice. However, after using your encounter power (and action point to get a second attack) it quickly becomes an at-will battle, although the characters had 2 each, they leaned towards 1 more than the other.
I noted that movement is very important for the strikers to avoid getting surrounded and then pounded on. Minions are great fun because you can take on a dozen enemies so you feel more heroic, but it doesn't overwhelm them.
After the session the players & I spoke and we agreed that it was a good second adventure, but we wanted more time before we decided fully in support of it. They enjoyed that no one character seemed better than the other (as in 3e I found that the 1st level barbarian was more effective than the 1st level wizard in the average encounter)... as balance was a factor we were most looking forward to, it worked out.
I noted that movement is very important for the strikers to avoid getting surrounded and then pounded on. Minions are great fun because you can take on a dozen enemies so you feel more heroic, but it doesn't overwhelm them.
After the session the players & I spoke and we agreed that it was a good second adventure, but we wanted more time before we decided fully in support of it. They enjoyed that no one character seemed better than the other (as in 3e I found that the 1st level barbarian was more effective than the 1st level wizard in the average encounter)... as balance was a factor we were most looking forward to, it worked out.
KerlanRayne
Explorer
Hey, are you still using Sylvanoptera? I know you talked about it the first game but I haven't seen anything after the restart. If not I need to add another language.
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