tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post6856894265240610253..comments2023-06-03T01:36:58.595-07:00Comments on Campaign Juvenis: The Landing ChamberAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-58056076375311871062017-03-14T15:54:31.650-07:002017-03-14T15:54:31.650-07:00[I won't let slide that your venting seems dir...[I won't let slide that your venting seems directed less at the situation and more at how you view my motives, Engelhart. I'm getting tired of going around and around with you]<br /><br />I have put up a new post.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-18689582484824567952017-03-14T15:40:17.456-07:002017-03-14T15:40:17.456-07:00Lothar: I get where you're coming from. I don&...Lothar: I get where you're coming from. I don't at all mind opening just the chest. I was willing to risk a bit in an effort to get more mileage out of our setup, you're not 100%, that's more than fair, let's not do it.<br /><br />In fact, I declare action: I help you re-bar the door and hammer the pins back into place.<br /><br />[Alexis, understand that I'm not bedgrudging you, just venting my feelings.<br />I mean, it's not even the way you portray a retainer's hesitation, which is on all counts pretty realistic and not at all out of place. No, what irks is more the fact that, they unavoidably being a DM-mouthpiece, means that even casual kvetching by one who fails a morale check is always to be taken by party mates as prophetic wisdom.<br /><br />I'll tell you what, your being pretty open and honest about them being "manipulation" (along with everything else, granted) is pretty much all the point I wanted to make, and I attach to that no moral or value judgments <i>at all</i>. Let's move on with the game].<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-82372523722981707882017-03-14T15:38:28.387-07:002017-03-14T15:38:28.387-07:00Talk is cheap, and treasure is how we pay for it.
...Talk is cheap, and treasure is how we pay for it.<br /><br />Let's crack it open already. Bergthora can sit in the elevator with my crossbow if she's afraid.<br /><br />I'll be hanging a few yards off to the side with my shield and throwing axe unless Engelhart specifically requests my help opening the chest, in which case I will offer my shield to someone else, and keep my battleaxe in easy reach.<br /><br />If anyone suggests we do the door first, Pandred will be a mule about the chest being first. We've barely made enough from this expedition to pay for trying to make this expedition.Pandredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03917809464727878157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-84984091261000468102017-03-14T15:23:00.794-07:002017-03-14T15:23:00.794-07:00Lothar,
On the other hand, if someone gets mauled...Lothar,<br /><br />On the other hand, if someone gets mauled and chewed to pieces in the first couple of rounds, the cage won't need to make two trips . . .Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-66743088235863720382017-03-14T15:21:09.057-07:002017-03-14T15:21:09.057-07:00She missed morale by 1. But it is a 15 in 36 chan...She missed morale by 1. But it is a 15 in 36 chance that she would fail morale.<br /><br />[Okay, about the retainers. If I give descriptions of the room, the dungeon, the wilderness, the city and the residents in it, all with the understanding that it is okay to be misleading in my description of those things, because I am a DM, why am I suddenly not permitted to be either honest or misleading with a real live person who is in your company?<br /><br />Note that she does not say don't do it. She doesn't threaten you, or try to force you. If you feel doubtful because she's said something that could potentially make sense, GOOD. If she puts you off your game, GOOD. If the creepy things hanging in the room put you off your game, if the statues put you off your game, if the chest puts you off your game, what's the difference?<br /><br />Welcome to the reality of the setting. Bergthora is part of that setting. If you think that she's a special DM plant in the game, then you're missing the point. The very stones you're walking on are DM plants, the air you're breathing is a DM plant, the hammer in your hand is a DM plant. This is my universe, Engelhart. NOTHING is exempt from my manipulation.<br /><br />Are you being manipulated? Yes. Yes you are. Are you being led by the nose by the construction of the dungeon and the placement of the treasure? Yes. Absolutely.<br /><br />You've got to stop trying to play the DM and start trying to play the game. Bergthora is either a friend or an enemy. If an enemy, kill her. If a friend, learn to trust her. It is up to you. She isn't leading you by the nose. Your prejudices about OTHER DMs is what's leading you by the nose, because you're feeling that, like most, I'm out to fuck you somehow.<br /><br />Get over that feeling. I don't play that way]Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-70613922739240700142017-03-14T15:11:37.201-07:002017-03-14T15:11:37.201-07:00For the record, I'm pretty nervous about openi...For the record, I'm pretty nervous about opening the door and the chest all at once as well. And Bergthora's reaction seems pretty reasonable for someone in a very strange environment that has been known to kill people, especially since she doesn't get to roll up a new character if things go banana-shaped.<br /><br />I don't feel like in-character speech accompanying a failed check is out of line by any means. Having a non-player opinion around (especially considering out relative newness in Alexis' world) is to my mind a good thing, and helpful, not any attempt to domineer our path. This is a dangerous game, and sloppy play will get a character killed, as we've seen. I'd prefer to have my lack pointed out to me before it gets out of control.<br /><br />After all, we are/were proposing opening a mysterious stone chest surrounded by some form of ghost, and immediately after opening a BIG, barred, chained door. Out of the frying pan and into the fire is one thing, but if you pour all the grease from the pan onto the fire as well...<br /><br />Long story short, perhaps we send Bergthora up in the cage and get it lowered again before we open up two cans of purple worms, eh? Escape routes might be a critical utility here.Lothar Svenssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03195099273437009840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-80846384333194604132017-03-14T14:52:54.238-07:002017-03-14T14:52:54.238-07:00[does she fail the morale roll even with Bless'...[does she fail the morale roll even with Bless's bonus?]<br /><br />Sure, let's just do the chest. <br /><br />But I won't let slide that I'm feeling more and more led by the nose by the "retainers" with every passing room. Food for thought.Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-55906457221997401482017-03-14T14:47:31.542-07:002017-03-14T14:47:31.542-07:00[does she fail her morale check even with my bonus...[does she fail her morale check even with my bonus?]<br /><br />"Bergthora, it's all right. Why don't you wait behind us? Could I borrow your pick for this task?"<br /><br />Engelhart, let's just do the chest for now - if all goes well, we'll try the door, but I'd rather not bite off more than we can chew.Embla Strandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07637213677781541500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-91804140998949794412017-03-14T14:34:00.557-07:002017-03-14T14:34:00.557-07:00Bergthora rolls her morale and fails the check.
&...Bergthora rolls her morale and fails the check.<br /><br />"What are we doing?" she asks. "We don't know what's behind that door. We don't know what these creepy floating things are, or what they might do. We don't even know what's in the box. Do I need to remind you four that lighting a lamp opened a door in this place? What will opening a box do?"Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-14007267116914186012017-03-14T14:22:33.566-07:002017-03-14T14:22:33.566-07:00I advise that you stand well back, Embla, away fro...I advise that you stand well back, Embla, away from the Light's radius, it is the safest.<br /><br />I'll ask for the lanterns to be positioned on the floor of the chamber, facing the barred door, as per my previous post. <br /><br />Only Pandred to go.<br />Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-18438122587998946802017-03-14T14:13:02.396-07:002017-03-14T14:13:02.396-07:00After assisting Engelhart with the door, I keep my...After assisting Engelhart with the door, I keep my eyes upon it, javelin at the ready.Embla Strandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07637213677781541500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-76019834770851088182017-03-14T14:11:49.070-07:002017-03-14T14:11:49.070-07:00I ask Bergthora that she insert her pickaxe into t...I ask Bergthora that she insert her pickaxe into the gap in the stone chest, facing the barred door, that it'll take me less movement to reach the bolts after opening it.<br /><br />I loosen the bolts to the point of near completion with my hammer and unbar the door with the party's help.Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-14210228943126494012017-03-14T14:07:38.588-07:002017-03-14T14:07:38.588-07:00I put down my backpack and quarterstaff, strap on ...I put down my backpack and quarterstaff, strap on my shield, and draw my longsword. I stand in the hallway, 10 feet from the doorway into the room.Lothar Svenssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03195099273437009840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-90346300719940347792017-03-14T14:02:55.635-07:002017-03-14T14:02:55.635-07:00Well then, we've the means and the method. Any...Well then, we've the means and the method. Anything anyone wishes to add or let's do this?Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-42836246733008142682017-03-14T13:14:54.583-07:002017-03-14T13:14:54.583-07:00Yes, the pick will do.Yes, the pick will do.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-51310086600703392992017-03-14T12:54:30.654-07:002017-03-14T12:54:30.654-07:00Sorry, Alexis.
I've been, as per your reques...Sorry, Alexis. <br /><br />I've been, as per your request, quite more stringent about saying that I cast things since our little falling-out. I was merely pointing out the newly extended effect for the spell, and it was, as context proves, all a plan formulation.<br /><br />Guess I should have used the future tense, I'll endeavour more care in the future.<br /><br />Now, about Bergthora's Pick or Shovel, will that do?<br /> Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-41541353228842696902017-03-14T12:27:53.223-07:002017-03-14T12:27:53.223-07:00Hm. Damn this way of speaking you have. You wrot...Hm. Damn this way of speaking you have. You wrote, "Yours truly casts Sanctuary (6 rounds, now)" ~ which I took as, "I am casting the spell now."<br /><br />But I think you meant, with 2nd level the spell now lasts 6 rounds.<br /><br />I'll take that second meaning and presume that you haven't cast the spell. But damn, please be more precise.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-18041644193130366452017-03-14T12:25:22.518-07:002017-03-14T12:25:22.518-07:00So I guess that Engelhart, you can't have assu...So I guess that Engelhart, you can't have assured Pandred about the frogs: unless you did that when you were first exploring the room (I can be flexible about that).Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-69436145778844793612017-03-14T12:24:17.932-07:002017-03-14T12:24:17.932-07:00The end of the quarterstaff would be too thick to ...The end of the quarterstaff would be too thick to fit into the slot between lid and chest.<br /><br />There is rust on the pins, but the room is quite dry. A knock or two would likely free the pins, making them loose enough to pull.<br /><br />At this point, Engelhart, no one knows you exist. You cast sanctuary: that effects the party as well as anything else. You can't give the directions you've been giving.<br /><br />Moreover, six rounds is only 72 seconds. In the discussion about what can be used to open the lid, the sanctuary will have quickly run out.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-59766542690654777962017-03-14T08:31:12.366-07:002017-03-14T08:31:12.366-07:00It's all in what I posted above: I'm gunni...It's all in what I posted above: I'm gunning for opening both, under the cover of <i>Sanctuary</i>, chest first, door second. <br /><br />The thing is, to work with the spell's very limited duration, we have to leave both things right on the cusp of being opened, so that I can open both and still have some time left to ascertain consequences (like traps or even the frogmen animating) while still under the spell's cover. <br />Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-11001954192349418862017-03-14T08:08:12.122-07:002017-03-14T08:08:12.122-07:00I thought we were opening the chest first?I thought we were opening the chest first?Lothar Svenssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03195099273437009840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-36851030435363206072017-03-14T07:03:58.558-07:002017-03-14T07:03:58.558-07:00Since everyone seems in agreement, I set about lif...Since everyone seems in agreement, I set about lifting the bar, with help from you. <br /><br />Alexis: the pins, are they rusted stuck that they'd need a hammering? Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-2507030821751608572017-03-14T05:55:17.396-07:002017-03-14T05:55:17.396-07:00Would my quarterstaff be stout enough to lever the...Would my quarterstaff be stout enough to lever the top off?Lothar Svenssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03195099273437009840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-17815650262209393182017-03-14T05:39:17.512-07:002017-03-14T05:39:17.512-07:00Well then, I'll just wait on Lothar for his in...Well then, I'll just wait on Lothar for his input on the situation and for someone to volunteer a leverage device (maybe a pick or shovel from Bergthora?). <br /><br />You can keep that crossbow handy, Pandred, and Lothar can also send for his bow, if you position yourselves as I'm suggesting you'll get plenty of chance to use them still. Engelhart Askjellsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12717990998654139122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8556948024548592122.post-744559523363669142017-03-13T21:42:51.182-07:002017-03-13T21:42:51.182-07:00Engelhart will assure you that no, they're not...Engelhart will assure you that no, they're not. The floating figures are humanoids; the statues are plainly toad shapes. The ice toads have beards, which give the statues away as not ordinary toads. Engelhart's beast skill tells him these things.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.com