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Post by venger on Nov 9, 2008 20:44:03 GMT -5
How goes things in the Valley of the Jarls? We made it to the Valley. Along the way we saw some beastmen down the mountainside, but opted not to backtrack several hours down the trail to find a way to reach them. In some overturned carts we found a small orange kitten. Morvan adopted it. Some weird fog rolled in along the trail and we were attacked by an illusionary wooly rhinocerous. Morvan was poisoned by a giant spider which fled. The "illusionist" made itself invisible and disappeared before anyone got a look at it. Morvan required a Slow Poison every couple hours to keep him alive. In the Valley there are tombs lining both sides. We took it systematically from the left hand side (where we came in). The first tomb was Yorke the Red. Four zombies were easily dusted by Zinc. The second tomb was Vilfred the Tall. Two weird undead that polymorphed and were immune to normal weapons took a while to kill. Zinc managed to turn them and we fought for many rounds. Tomb three was Indabulg(sp?) the Sun-Hero. Weird par-boiled zombies came out of bubbling cauldrons, a strange golem made of root vegetables and an evil cleric in magic platemail attacked us. Gregger took it hard, going to 0. Basil, Zinc and Morvan were held. Basil went to -8. Kazan was at 6hp. Cullen was at some extreme low number of hit points. Fortunately Kimball took out the cleric, most of the zombies and the golem - making a clutch save vs. poison or die after being struck by the cleric's deadly serpent staff. It was touch and go for a while there, with all opponents going after Kimball and his AC 8. In the cleric's strange lab we found a magic book, a magic ring, magic platemail, a serpent staff and a couple potions. We've retreated to a sacred cave a couple hours outside the Valley to rest and recooperate. Probably for 8 days. Gregger discovered some "royal gelee" in the cleric's stuff which should cure disease and more importantly Morvan's poison. Kimball is like Raven 2.0. 90% resistant to charm! |
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Post by Ginger on Nov 9, 2008 21:02:10 GMT -5
Kimball is like Raven 2.0. 90% resistant to charm! Ha! It was brutal, and Eddie is being uncharacteristically modest, since Kimball single-handedly killed the evil cleric and half of the zombies. The cleric had one hold person, which managed to stop Morvan, Zinc and Basil. After that, I thought we were done for. |
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 9, 2008 22:17:49 GMT -5
How goes things in the Valley of the Jarls? We made it to the Valley. Along the way we saw some beastmen down the mountainside, but opted not to backtrack several hours down the trail to find a way to reach them. In some overturned carts we found a small orange kitten. Morvan adopted it. Some weird fog rolled in along the trail and we were attacked by an illusionary wooly rhinocerous. Morvan was poisoned by a giant spider which fled. The "illusionist" made itself invisible and disappeared before anyone got a look at it. Morvan required a Slow Poison every couple hours to keep him alive. In the Valley there are tombs lining both sides. We took it systematically from the left hand side (where we came in). The first tomb was Yorke the Red. Four zombies were easily dusted by Zinc. The second tomb was Vilfred the Tall. Two weird undead that polymorphed and were immune to normal weapons took a while to kill. Zinc managed to turn them and we fought for many rounds. Tomb three was Indabulg(sp?) the Sun-Hero. Weird par-boiled zombies came out of bubbling cauldrons, a strange golem made of root vegetables and an evil cleric in magic platemail attacked us. Gregger took it hard, going to 0. Basil, Zinc and Morvan were held. Basil went to -8. Kazan was at 6hp. Cullen was at some extreme low number of hit points. Fortunately Kimball took out the cleric, most of the zombies and the golem - making a clutch save vs. poison or die after being struck by the cleric's deadly serpent staff. It was touch and go for a while there, with all opponents going after Kimball and his AC 8. In the cleric's strange lab we found a magic book, a magic ring, magic platemail, a serpent staff and a couple potions. We've retreated to a sacred cave a couple hours outside the Valley to rest and recooperate. Probably for 8 days. Gregger discovered some "royal gelee" in the cleric's stuff which should cure disease and more importantly Morvan's poison. Kimball is like Raven 2.0. 90% resistant to charm! Kazan saw the illusionist, who looked like a withered, shrunken gnomes with small wings sitting up in a pine tree. Kazan ran over to the tree and tried to shake the gnome loose, but failed bend bars by 1%. The thing turned invisible and when Kazan climbed up the tree, poking at the branches with his spear, he didn't hit anything. Yorke the Red ==> Jorck the Red Hand Indabulg(sp?) the Sun-Hero ==> Ingebolg the Sun Hero Gregers got smashed by a thrown boiling cauldron by the vegetable golem. His backpack and the two big jugs in it were flattened. He was scalded by the cauldron's contents and torn by two boiled dead and still had full HP afterwards from the healing effects of the honeyed mead in the jugs. The next round he was fascinated by the vegetable golem's potato gaze. He was knocked into unconsciousness (6 HP + 8 HP + 8 HP = Unconscious) the next round. Kazan bravely turned from battle with zombies to go bind Basil. After the battle was over, Kimball shot arrows into the still writhing snake-headed staff until it shattered. The cave of purification is a 20 foot cave hidden behind cleft rocks. With a screen of pine boughs in front of it, you imagine yourself almost impossible to find. After collecting all of the items left back at the original base camp, you settle in at the cave. The only downfall is that a cooking fire is likely to provide telltale smoke, so it's a cold place. The metal-banded, unlocked chest dragged back from the strangely modified tomb contains 41 small ceramic pots. The majority are filled with mundane items: pumpkin seeds, spider silk, human teeth, etc. One contains three combs of giant bee royal jelly, which Gregers claims heals wounds, cures diseases and poisons, and restores youth and vigor! Another pot contains a powerful acid. One pot contains a rancid liquid that radiates magic. Two wax-sealed crocks carried by the cleric radiated magic as did a clerical scroll to the Iron Lord. Also within the chest was a locked strongbox; the key was worn by the priest. The strongbox contains a book made from plant fibers and protected with a bark-like cover. The book, but not the strongbox, radiated magic. Basil makes 5th level. | Character | XP | | Morvin | 8407/8407 | | Zinc | 19600 | | Basil | 20227 | | Kazan | 18106 | | Kimball | 7908 |
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Post by venger on Nov 10, 2008 8:11:35 GMT -5
One contains three combs of giant bee royal jelly, which Gregers claims heals wounds, cures diseases and poisons, and restores youth and vigor! I wonder if this bee jelly will speed Basil's recovery... 8 days is a long time, but I'd hate to waste a poison/disease cure. Basil makes 5th level. | Character | XP | | Morvin | 8407/8407 | | Zinc | 19600 | | Basil | 20227 | | Kazan | 18106 | | Kimball | 7908 |
You made 5th- you switching over to thief?? |
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Nov 10, 2008 9:13:05 GMT -5
That is the current plan. It could change if I roll very poorly on the percentage. Though I only need 9% to max my strength as a half-elf.
There is the negotiation for the cost of being trained by Cullen.
Considering the oddness and difficulty of some of the undead so far I also wonder that if it is better for the party to wait until sixth level to make the switch. That way Kimball would be 5th level and Kazan 4th level. I imagine there will be even more difficult undead baddies ahead. Any opinions?
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Post by Dell on Nov 10, 2008 10:08:25 GMT -5
Judging from the last fight, if you switched now you would end up using your fighter skills anyway, and get no experience for your trouble. I'd stay a fighter all the way to 7th to pick up the extra attack, or at least until we get another meat shield to stand in front and get beaten on.
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Post by venger on Nov 10, 2008 15:50:46 GMT -5
Considering the oddness and difficulty of some of the undead so far I also wonder that if it is better for the party to wait until sixth level to make the switch. That way Kimball would be 5th level and Kazan 4th level. I imagine there will be even more difficult undead baddies ahead. Any opinions? Speaking from experience, go for the dual-class before you regret it. A 5th level fighter is always going to be more useful than a 1st level thief. But the sooner you make the switch, the sooner you'll be back to fighting form. Considering all we have is a +1 broadsword, right now Basil is pretty much as ineffective as everyone else when it comes to fighting nastier types of undead. Skeletons, Zombies, Ghouls, Shadows- Zinc automatically turns, everything else a non-magic bastard sword isn't going to be all that useful against, even with specialization. Can Morvan tame a powerful animal friend with enough hit dice to affect non-corporeal undead? I laughed at Spiritual Hammer but maybe Zinc should have a couple. Magic Stone? Shillelagh? |
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Post by Ginger on Nov 11, 2008 15:09:10 GMT -5
Comparing this week's table with last week's, I hate to admit that I have too many XP. Priests of Jascar suffer a 5% penalty after the 4th level. :(
I think Basil should not rely too much on our current situation to determine when to dual-class. Even if he is a thief and has a crappy THAC0, he'll still have 50+ HP and an AC of 5, which will make him quite tough in a fight. He'll also have the +1/+2 strength bonus.
If Zinc gets the magic platemail, he'll have an AC of 0, 30 HP and a magic broadsword. That'll let him stand up-front pretty well. Especially if Kimball, Cullen and Basil are covering with arrows.
Kazan is also only 4000 XP away from 5th level, at which point he'll become a fighter.
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Post by venger on Nov 11, 2008 17:22:50 GMT -5
I think Basil should not rely too much on our current situation to determine when to dual-class. Even if he is a thief and has a crappy THAC0, he'll still have 50+ HP and an AC of 5, which will make him quite tough in a fight. He'll also have the +1/+2 strength bonus. If Zinc gets the magic platemail, he'll have an AC of 0, 30 HP and a magic broadsword. That'll let him stand up-front pretty well. Especially if Kimball, Cullen and Basil are covering with arrows. There is the slight issue of him not having any weapons to use as a thief. Thieves can't use bastard swords or longbows. Maybe if he uses the bastard sword as a longsword, that would be okay- but the longbow is a no-no. Also he'll lose his extraordinary carrying capacity. Not sure how much junk he's got on him that he needs, but that could be another factor to consider. |
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 11, 2008 19:18:40 GMT -5
Comparing this week's table with last week's, I hate to admit that I have too many XP. Priests of Jascar suffer a 5% penalty after the 4th level. :( Not seeing it. You had 16652 last week. Everyone gained 3103 XP this week. You gained 2948 XP. 2948/3103 is 95%. Basil is a good comparison value. Last week he had 16815. This week he has 20227, for a difference of 3412. 10/11 of 3412 is 3102 XP. |
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 11, 2008 19:20:11 GMT -5
I think Basil should not rely too much on our current situation to determine when to dual-class. Even if he is a thief and has a crappy THAC0, he'll still have 50+ HP and an AC of 5, which will make him quite tough in a fight. He'll also have the +1/+2 strength bonus. If Zinc gets the magic platemail, he'll have an AC of 0, 30 HP and a magic broadsword. That'll let him stand up-front pretty well. Especially if Kimball, Cullen and Basil are covering with arrows. There is the slight issue of him not having any weapons to use as a thief. Thieves can't use bastard swords or longbows. Maybe if he uses the bastard sword as a longsword, that would be okay- but the longbow is a no-no. Also he'll lose his extraordinary carrying capacity. Not sure how much junk he's got on him that he needs, but that could be another factor to consider. Nice catch on the bastard sword. Basil is not proficient in longsword and thieves cannot be proficient in bastard sword. Hence, using his bastard sword proficiency to wield a longsword would be a class violation. |
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Post by Wolfgar on Nov 11, 2008 22:40:20 GMT -5
I think Basil should not rely too much on our current situation to determine when to dual-class. Even if he is a thief and has a crappy THAC0, he'll still have 50+ HP and an AC of 5, which will make him quite tough in a fight. He'll also have the +1/+2 strength bonus. There is the slight issue of him not having any weapons to use as a thief. Thieves can't use bastard swords or longbows. Maybe if he uses the bastard sword as a longsword, that would be okay- but the longbow is a no-no. Kazan is carrying a falchion and several daggers that Basil can use as a thief. |
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Nov 12, 2008 10:53:26 GMT -5
My current encumbrance is 1,577. If I make the switch I will drop a shield, long bow, chain mail and bastard sword. I've been carrying leather armor so I would need to get a sword (a falchion works) and a short bow. My encumbrance goes down around 1,200 which is a movement of nine with an 18 strength. Some items items can be moved to get me to a movement of 12.
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Post by Ginger on Nov 12, 2008 11:54:39 GMT -5
Well, we'll eat 8 days of food waiting for Basil, which is about 85 GP of encumberance for everyone. If Zinc takes the platemail, I'll have to leave behind all of my food and most of my bolts to be able to take advantage of the 12" movement rate. We'll definitely have trouble with encumberance until Kazan makes the switch to fighter and gets percentile strength.
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Post by Ginger on Nov 12, 2008 12:03:02 GMT -5
Not seeing it. You had 16652 last week. Everyone gained 3103 XP this week. You gained 2948 XP. 2948/3103 is 95%. Basil is a good comparison value. Last week he had 16815. This week he has 20227, for a difference of 3412. 10/11 of 3412 is 3102 XP. I was using Kimball as my base, since I thought he was the only character who was present and didn't get any bonus. His XP was 2975 (7908-4933). Zinc's was 2947 (19600-16553). If the base is 3103, then I see that you're right. |
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Post by Wolfgar on Nov 12, 2008 12:57:30 GMT -5
If we are going to wait 8 days we could send Gregers and someone else back to town to get supplies and give Ingvar a status report. Though how you would explain Basil becoming a thief would be hard.
Did we decide how many points Basil will get for thief skills while in training? Can't he wear chain with some negatives to his rolls? Why give up the better armor when his thief abilities are least needed?
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Post by Ginger on Nov 12, 2008 13:42:01 GMT -5
I'm wary about going back to town for anything because some of the clans who want us dead might think this is a good opportunity to attack us while we're weak.
As an apprentice thief, you get the base thief skills without applying any points. You get to apply your points when you reach 1st level. I think the bulkiest armor he can wear is studded leather, which is only one point better than leather, and he loses his +2 reaction adjustment, which doesn't seem worth it.
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Post by venger on Nov 12, 2008 15:50:26 GMT -5
If Zinc takes the platemail, I'll have to leave behind all of my food and most of my bolts to be able to take advantage of the 12" movement rate. Does it actually make more sense for Kimball to wear the magical plate? He'd get the +2 dexterity reaction adj. whereas Zinc wouldn't. When flat-footed (which seems to happen in like every combat round) he'd have AC 2 (assuming +1 plate) as opposed to AC 8 in leather. Can't he wear chain with some negatives to his rolls? Why give up the better armor when his thief abilities are least needed? A fighter/thief could wear chain and take the penalty to his thieving skills. Straight thief would earn no experience for the week. |
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Post by Ginger on Nov 12, 2008 15:55:39 GMT -5
If you want to stand in front, you can have the plate. :)
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Post by venger on Nov 12, 2008 15:59:56 GMT -5
It's a given that whoever wears the magic platemail has to stand up front.
If Basil remains a fighter, he should wear it. And both he and Zinc should be in the front line.
If Basil becomes a thief (and has what 50 hit points?) then I'm not exactly sure where he should go in the marching order.
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Post by Ginger on Nov 12, 2008 16:34:49 GMT -5
Thief-Basil would have twice the HP and a slightly better AC than Kazan, who's a 2nd rank fighter. Right now, it looks like Zinc, Greggors and Kimball will be in front, and Kazan, Basil, Cullen and Morvan are in the back.
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Post by Wolfgar on Nov 12, 2008 17:04:15 GMT -5
Isn't the plate mail human sized; disqualifying elves but not half-elves?
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 12, 2008 19:43:58 GMT -5
Not seeing it. You had 16652 last week. Everyone gained 3103 XP this week. You gained 2948 XP. 2948/3103 is 95%. Basil is a good comparison value. Last week he had 16815. This week he has 20227, for a difference of 3412. 10/11 of 3412 is 3102 XP. I was using Kimball as my base, since I thought he was the only character who was present and didn't get any bonus. His XP was 2975 (7908-4933). Zinc's was 2947 (19600-16553). If the base is 3103, then I see that you're right. Kimball had a fortuitous math error where I had been giving him 10% erroneously. His XP total is now correct and corrected. |
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Post by venger on Nov 12, 2008 20:44:41 GMT -5
Kimball gets a 10% bonus now, having raised his intelligence to 15. : )
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 13, 2008 7:21:33 GMT -5
Isn't the plate mail human sized; disqualifying elves but not half-elves? Another good catch. It is. Morvan and Kimball would find the plate mail too roomy for them. |
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Post by Ginger on Nov 13, 2008 9:55:15 GMT -5
New plate mail for Zinc then!
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Post by venger on Nov 13, 2008 10:24:24 GMT -5
Yeah, that solves that.
Unless Basil remains a fighter. In which case he should definitely wear it.
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Post by Mr. Trommer on Nov 13, 2008 10:33:22 GMT -5
Could Kimball use Basil's chain mail?
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Post by venger on Nov 13, 2008 10:45:14 GMT -5
I'd prefer to keep the dexterity reaction bonus and the 12" movement rate.
Seems like it probably wouldn't fit so well either...?
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Post by Dead Greyhawk on Nov 13, 2008 19:45:39 GMT -5
According to the DMG, "65% of all armor is man-sized, 20% is elf-sized, 10% is dwarf-sized, and but
5% gnome or halfling sized."
Half-elves have the advantage of being able to fit in both elf and man-sized armor. Everyone else is basically stuck in their armor type. If you want to take armor from humanoids, I'll assume you can find a humanoid of your size, but generally humanoid armor is pretty suckier than its human equivalent. (Gregers is wearing bone, horn and leather armor from the gnolls and its got a movement rate of 9, the AC of chain and weighs as splint (100 cn heavier than chain.)
You can use an armorer or blacksmith to resize armor downwards (human to elf, elf to dwarf, dwarf to halfling) at a cost of 1/3 the price of the armor. You'd need a forge though.
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