The Tavern (OOC Discussion Thread):

Your dog looks like a total sweetheart. :)For the marlin (is it supposed to be "striped" as in having stripes, as opposed to "stripped" as in having removed its clothing?), I'd say it's probably about the right level but it has the potential to be very swingy. It's got very low HP and very high damage, which makes the difference between a walkover and a TPK quite a small number of lucky rolls in one direction or the other. For 3rd-level characters, dealing 23 hp of damage should be almost trivial in a round or two, but suffering 10d6+3 damage has a good chance to just kill them instantly.

As long as you're going for a "quick and deadly" sort of encounter with a very uncertain outcome, then I'd say it's pretty much good to go.

Well it is an aggressive marlin so the fight certainly should be fast one way or the other... it’s a striker type enemy

Yeah, that was pretty much what I was going for. A tanky level three would have a maximum of 32HP at level three right? Also thanks for the catch, I swear my brain doesn't work right if I dont have enough coffee. Also, your dog is absolutely gorgeous, Greyhound? Okay good to know that I seem to have some idea what I am doing with the homebrew! Now onto making something a little more...immediate for you guys to have some fun with. Assuming I don't find anything in the DMG that will serve.

Yeah, she's a greyhound. They make awesome pets. :)
A tanky PC (e.g. a Barbarian with high Con) would be expected to have about 35 hp, but could potentially have as much as 51. Even at that level of tankiness, if the Marlin hits on the charge, there's a good chance they'll drop to unconsciousness immediately unless they're already raging. With a +5, whether or not the Marlin hits is quite an 'if' - probably close to a 50/50.

A fragile PC (e.g. a Wizard) would be expected to have about 15-18 hp, and the likely outcome of being hit by a Marlin charge is instant death.

Basically, if the characters aren't prepared for the fight and they get unlucky, ouch.

Okay, so some tweaking needed then since I don't want to kill anyone outright, that seems kind of like a dick move. I believe the charge attack has made it somewhat unbalanced, even if it makes sense for the animal. I kind of envisioned it swimming in striking and swimming back out, using its speed to hit and fade.

I think the idea of the hit-and-run attacks is a good one. The skewer attack is already really good, so I don't think it needs to be made more deadly on a charge.

What about something like: when the Marlin makes a charge attack (i.e. moves 20+ feet before attacking), it doesn't provoke opportunity attacks for moving out of the target's reach? That should give you that hit-and-run feel, and also help the poor fish stay alive for more than a turn.

Alternatively, attach a debilitating 'rider' condition, like a successful charge attack also causes the target to be Stunned for a turn. (Or Prone... does Prone have its usual effects underwater?)

All good ideas, thanks for that! At least I ended up in the ballpark of what I was going for, so that is good.

Just given Connor and everyone with the guards a chance to post.

I'm really just waiting for something to happen. I won't be posting again until we either move from where we're standing or something amazing happens that gives El a chance to flee without getting skewered.

Okay no worries, in the event that you aren't posting, just let me know otherwise I will wait for a few days to give everyone a chance to post before we move on.

Gotcha. I just would have felt silly posting once a day to the effect of, "Welp, here we are, still planning to go to see the magistrate." :D

Wynn is also just patiently waiting to get to the Magistrate. He's already promised not to put up a fight or try to run off.

No worries, I will post an update this evening after dinner.

EDIT: Sorry guys, doesn't look like I will get to it tonight, my girlfriend called so I am spending a bit of time on the phone tonight.

Just checking to see if this game is still a thing.

Yeah, I have just posted, I have been getting smashed by work and I have been unwell physically and mentally recently but I am turning a corner. I have no intention to abandon this game, trust me!

Good to know, and sorry to hear that you've been unwell. Glad you're feeling better!

Sorry to hear that mate, but glad that things are starting to turn. All the best!

Just giving everyone a chance to post before we move forward!

Go for it!