Game strategy

If you want to exchange strategy ideas without clogging the thread, post them here.

So did Szent receive Feylinde's physic message? (Not sure how that works)

It's telephaty ... i can see you, you're within 30 feet from me. So you just hear my voice inside your mind telling what i wrote in the post ... well of course if DM has something to say about it, he has always the last word ^_^

About what my character can do in the next round ... I need to know if I get close enough to cast eldritch blast on one of the thugs (120 feet) ^_^

Don't forget- Rufio has a 1d6 inspiration if you choose to use it for your attack roll.

The 1d6 from Bardic Inspiration applies to the attack roll, not the damage roll

Jinx!

Oops sorry! So the attack roll is 13 then, and if that hits the damage is 8. :-)

Also, if you're raging then you get advantage on any strength checks, which includes grappling (athletics)

Oh you're right, I forgot about that! Thanks! What are the chances I'll roll higher than 23 though? :-)

Rolled again, forgot to add proficiency. Doesn't matter, rolled low anyway.

Damn, Rufio can't hit this guy! Next round I'm just going to grapple the crap out of him and somebody else can tear into him!

Maybe, though Weylan couldn't hit him either, even with inspiration!

I thought Rufio's man was Thug 1?

You're right; I've corrected the post.

Weylan didn't horribly miss thug 3 (the one down the alley, fighting the other halfling). Instead, Weylan horribly missed thug 1, who is fighting Rufio.

LOL! Well Weylan and Rufio have both been horribly missing! :-D

Thankfully you have a badass cleric backing you up ;)

YES! :-)

Lost in the action here. Where is Szent right now? Still moving towards the others?

Still at the Market, away from the action. Seneia has a hold of his sleeve and is pushing them both through the crowds towards the confrontation.

Wow I am the worst. What a roll to fail on.

I'm playing a drummer in another D&D5 game, and he fulfilled a tavern request to play "Inclined Pathway to Heaven." I spent a good part of that day composing and singing alternative lyrics, trying to get the meter right and keep as much of the rhyme structure...after all that, in the end I discarded it, because it felt like I was belaboring the joke. But I recognize the impulse to compose, and respect it - even if there's no good reaction in the game.

I added "But here's what I know" to my post because I figured with a roll result of 18 Rufio probably knows something hehe! Let me know if I'm wrong so I can edit my post :-)

Not that I'm complaining, but since I rolled a 1 isn't that technically an automatic failure?

Yes you are complaining, and yes it is an automatic failure... Thanks for heads up. Post modified shortly...

What do we want do with the marching order? Do we have everyone with us, still, or has someone vanished from the original character count? We were so many I've lost track :-)

Seneia could be somewhere near the front, in case stealthiness or acrobatics is needed, but probably not up front.

I picture Szent taking up rear guard in most of the time. He can soak up some damage up front, which might be good, but he's not stealthy at all in his chain mail.

The marching order seems to be:

Rufio, Weylan, Alanya, Seneia, Elden, Feylinde, Szent

Samej is officially withdrawing. If grandmaster doesn't post I will for him.

it's ok to me

I think Seneia taking point would be a good idea. Rufio can take position right behind her to keep an eye on... er, things.

Wow only high or low initiative rolls huh?

Normal is boring... :-)

I only accept astounding victory or hilarious failures!

I'm waiting for the rats to go before I roll my hilarious failure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFXCEe3Aos8

I hope i've advantage on attack roll, cause that should be a critical hit :D

Being that it was the first roll it's a critical hit anyway :)

I made a mistake: Rufio is not raging, so he only dealt 4 damage to the rat, not 6. My apologies!

Rufio can't hit anything and can't dodge anything! :-P

Rufio is moving onward, towards the flickering light.

Hooray, single digit initiative rolls! This will be fun. XD

Yeeeeeeeah... a lot of fun ^_^

At this rate the tunnel will go before we do!

What does Szent need to do in order to get across the stream and into the tunnel?

Either jump or wade across.

Hey Moofsalot, Merlin hasn't announced Round 3 yet so I don't know if we can act again. I posted Rufio yelling, so that might have caused some confusion (apologies, if that's the case) but I'm accustomed to interjections and yelling out short warnings being allowable out-of-turn. Merlin, if that's not the case here please let me know so I don't repeat the mistake. :-)

I was going off Merlin's last post that said the three of is had time to act before the other arrive. Not sure if that's round 2.5?

That would be great if that's the case! :-) If I could only get decent rolls! :-P

Moof is correct. We are on round 2 and I was waiting on Moof to post to wrap up round 2.

Ah! My bad then! Am glad Alanya's got Rufio's back! :-)

How far off is Szent from getting to the others?

Everyone arrives Round 4. It takes 3 rounds to travel tunnel, except Weylan who could run.

Sorry for the silence...been incredibly busy...will post later today.
Rufio is wounded.

For the record I don't want to split the party but I just couldn't come up with a true-to-character reaction to Alanya's histrionics and Seneia's doubling down on Rufio that doesn't involve him walking out in disgust.

Oh, and for the record, Rufio volunteered to enter the tunnel, and did so with several party members' consent/assistance, and no objections from the rest. (see for yourself) Nope, he didn't rush in alone. ;-)

So we'll see how he does alone in the sewers. Good thing he's in his element. :-D

That may be true, but it doesn't mean that's how we'll remember it. :-p

That's so true! Just like real life! :-)

How wide is this cavern? Can we see both sides but not the end, or is it a completely open space where we can't see the walls?

The info I gave was based on Rufio standing at the entrance. You will see more now you are entering but I haven't heard from everyone yet.

Not everyone has perceived the threat (if there is one) but Merlin has posted initiative order...so are we to post in initiative order now?

I simply do not believe it is practical to post in initiative order. You will act in initiative order, so when you post try not to be dependent on other actions unless actions of others are posted and fit initiative order.

We aren't in combat. Just thinking ahead with the initiative.

Roger that! :-)

Good throw, Szent! You have another 1d6 to roll for damage, because of the crit.

Good catch, thanks! Now I just hope he saw something to throw at. :-)

Invisible attacker? Faerie Fire, anyone? :-)

I know, I'm considering it if I can actually see anything...

Yer, well... If you think about it he isn't really invisible because Rufio can see him.

What a great set of attack rolls for Seneia!

I'm envious.

Hopefully someone else will hit this rogue, too, before he fillets all of us like Feylinde.

Let's see - 6 attacks rolls so far, with three 1s and two 2s. Gamersplane may have something against this group.

If Alanya has managed to Faerie Fire it then it can't stealth us at all anymore, right?

Nice shot, Feylinde!

Wow, it sucks to be this guy now. We're all hitting him.

What's everyone's HP at now, and what's your max? I need to know what I can heal

Only reply if you're injured.

Seneia: 9/15.

Rufio 12/24

The only healing ability that I have left only works if you're below half health, and it can't take you above half :(

OK I'll hav to do something about that. Muhahahahaha

I was gonna say "need me to slap or stab anyone?"

11/17 here ... so no healing available :P

good to know, maybe it's time to waste the last slot for the armor spell ^^

Szent offered some help to Senia and Rufio giving 5HP and 8HP respectively.

Once we rest, Alanya will sing a happy healing song.

I will need some guidance in thread on what you plan to do.

I guess my search of the rogue's body turned up nothing?

Gee, you guys are so demanding.

Yeah, that's me all over.

What I'd like to do is have the unhurt people with darkvision scout around the rest of this cavern while those of us brutes who are unhurt can watch over the spellcasters who need to rest, but I've kind of role-played myself into a corner with how I've been playing Weylan, and I don't see him directing people or even offering up his opinion on what the group should do, with all the shame he's feeling.

Szent won't have any issue watching over the others. He hasn't been touched and at this point is feeling a little guilty that he hasn't been able to protect some of the others from harm.

Elden is unharmed too

Not rushing the resolution, but just in case you missed it:

I plan to use this pause to cast Find Familiar spell (a black cat) [ritual 10 minutes] and then take a rest ... dunno how we should turn on guard time ^_^

Little Weylan continues to be in awe of Rufio; he's such a smooth operator!

I love all the awkward teen horomones!

Are we taking a short rest?

We're leveling and recovering HP, not spells, correct?

You have to decide if short or long.

What does everybody think? Can Milly wait for a long rest? I could really use getting my spells back (and I'm sure you'd all be happy with more Cure Wounds!)

I figured short for now, then make sure we are safe and do a long rest and set up guards, depending on what Rufio & Seneia find.

I think a long rest would do us all good - won't be much use to Milly if we can't make it there.

Ok wellll I can wake up and do a song of rest then if anyone needs extra healing?

just took this with level up "Spare the Dying" ^_^

Not that this is in any way related to the gif above or my splendid dice rolls, but should Seneia be levelled up already or would that happen after the hypothetical rest?

For ease of administration everyone should level up.

I love the comic interactions between each of the characters!

The duo of Seneia and Rufio is particularly hilarious. She's tiptoeing along in the dark, and he, wanting to appear competent and tough, fumbling along in complete blackness, stifling his yelps when he stubs his toe or hits his head. She, coming back to him, telling him to "Go back and tell the others..."

I just imagine him jumping in fright, and then starting to feel his way blindly in the wrong direction, with Seneia wondering what his problem is...and then finally realizing, with a roll of her eyes, that he's totally helpless in the dark.

"Oh, Rufio!" (cue laughtrack)

Haha it's like a teen sitcom :-D

I've forgotten, does the party still have lit torches and whatnot? Back at "camp" I mean?

Did we accidentally de-sync Seneia and Rufio with near-simultaneous posts, by the way? Their last posts don't quite match up.

EDIT: Ah, never mind. I only now noticed the edit to the original post.

Yeah, there's the light rock, and Weylan's succession of lit torches (how many torches would be expended in a long rest?).

Rufio has the light rock in his pocket. I just remembered, doesn't someone have active Dancing Lights? Or am I thinking of another game? LOL!

They probably snuffed out when Alanya fell asleep...

Can someone state exactly what you plan to do?
Long or short rest?
Stick together, or sentries at entrances?
For long rest watch order?
Thanks.

There seems to be no consensus yet. I could eliminate all choice by roleplaying Rufio wanting to continue but flops down in exhaustion, with the others unable to wake him for 8hrs (LOL!) but I'll be nice: how about a vote? :-)

Rufio doesn't want to rest. He wants to go charging after Milly. It would be out of character for him to vote this. As a player though, I vote long rest.

I vote for long rest

Fine with either. I'll definitely need a long rest soon.
I plan on sticking with everyone when I wake up and will volunteer to take the first watch since I have darkvision.

Long rest.

I'd be fine with short one, but most seem to be needing the long one, so I think we should go with that.

Szent is in good shape but would be willing to long rest along with the group.

I make that 6/7 for long rest, so far, so next question is watch order.

Seneia is up, about and active, so she might as well be the first. She'll also spend the first watch by someone else making her Kata practice, so technically she'll be awake, although not very aware of her surroundings.

feylinde can take the second one. she looks in a direction while the cat looks the opposite way.

I would have volunteered for watch, but I don't have darkvision, so I'm a lot less useful.

Hey all. I'm taking a break for a couple of days. Have a great Thanksgiving!!! Been a pleasure getting to know you all.

Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Sorry, I missed that there had been an update in the game thread.

I'm not sure I'm picturing the situation correctly. Where are the voices coming from? Behind the locked gate we found earlier? If so, wouldn't they run into our little camp before stumbling upon the dead guards anyway?

If you recall, you passed through a guard room and descended stairs into the cavern while heading west. You are camped in a passage leading north. The sounds come from the guard room at the top of the stairs.

Ah, I didn't remember there were also stairs in that end. I was thinking about the stairs leading to the locked gate we found.

Did we keep any fire or the light rock visible while we slept? It could have gone either way, but I guess I'm assuming there is light, since Seneia was on first watch and she explicitly left camp to get out of the light...

I assumed there is some small light, so that anyone waking up wouldn't find themselves in total darkness. That might freak you out. Of course, none are needed for Seneia's sake.

No stairs leading to locked gate. Just 30' passage.

woah it's been updated lol .... i'll read all ...sorry for delaing ^^

Ok, I think I'm in ninja mode :D

Is Seneia able to rush at the elf? She can spend a ki point for bonus dash action, so she can move very quickly and still attack, if need be.

I'll be attacking the one I can reach, of course :-)

Couple questions: is Seneia considered engaged with the half-orc? And how far away is the elf?

Elf is about 60' from melee. Seneia was engaged with halfling, who is now dead.

Ah, OK. Then if the chainmail guy is down by the time it's Weylan's turn, he'll just double-move towards the elf, since he can't move 60', only 50'.

Just to recap to make sure I understood this correctly. The started 60' away from us. Expeditious Retreat gives him a Dash bonus action (30'+30') each turn. And he used is movement action (30') and normal action (30') to move further. He started 60' away from us, so he'd be at 180' at this point?

Actually you are correct. I originally intended to cast a spell then run, but remembered elf is silenced so just ran with spell cast previous round.

Moofsalot, sanctuary works with any attacks on individual (except area of effect) but I believe even area of effect is only effective if it's not deliberate to target someone in sanctuary.

Internet's been wonky so I may pop up now and then but most likely not. DMPC Rufio if necessary. Thanks!

Just to clarify- does that mean my spell fails? Not sure what Alanya is seeing.

You are sort of repelled from attacking cleric, so you wouldn't cast spell at him. So spell wouldn't be cast.

I have a related question about whatever charm or charm-like effect we're experiencing. Is he our buddy now, until the spell ends or he attacks us? This will effect whether we run off after the elf, invite the cleric to dinner, or try another save or something.

It is Sanctuary, a classic DnD spell. It isn't charm but protection where the cleric is in a pocket of safety. I am simply adding flavor text to explain why you aren't attacking him. You have no desire to attack him. The spell is broken if he attacks you. I have to say this is the most effective use of the spell I've ever seen because usually someone makes the save. Haha.

I'm not sure what we're looking at anymore as far as the battlefield goes, and I apologize, I had thought I'd already given my action for Round 2, that's why I didn't do anything.

I'm trying to describe the battlefield because drawing maps is impractical for me. The status is the human cleric is right there with you all but protected by sanctuary. The elf has high tailed it and is about 180' away heading back to the stairs with Seneia in hot pursuit. The halfling and half orc are dead.

I'm sure hoping that Elden succeeded with his wisdom save. Even though both of his attacks missed, it'll be good for somebody to stay back and engaged with the cleric while the rest of us run on or inspect the bodies.

I think it was DC 15, so maybe he'll drop the sanctuary since its not working? lol, wishful thinking

OK I'm going to make a ruling right now on spiritual weapon. The weapon has no wisdom, it is under clerics command. An attack by weapon is a cleric attack. Hence the cleric must save to bypass sanctuary, not the weapon. It's all or nothing. As both of your rolls are 15 or over it looks like you got away with it, otherwise I'll be rolling for you.

Merlin, is it okay if you just move my post up there to the game thread? Or do you want me to repost/reroll? If I do I might fail the save hehe!

Yes it is ok but you failed... DC is 15!

Oh ok haha!

Where are the baddies in relation to Szent? I have the feeling that they're quite a distance away at this point.

Just realised that I missed the round 4 post. Will post asap, but the game thread is currently locked for me.

Is it locked now?

Yes, still locked.

The padlock at top is open. I'll close it to see if that changes anything. Is it locked now?

Now it's open. How far away from Seneia is the elf at the moment?

That's weird. Padlock closed = thread open, padlock open = thread closed.
Reading round 3 and 4 you are now 90' away. Am I the only one who reads the posts?

I could tell how far the elf moved during round 4, but I couldn't figure out how far he had moved during round 3. There have been enough misunderstandings as it is, so I was just trying to make sure I'm not making any false assumptions.

Guys, I'll be away till January 7th ... Happy new year to everyone ^_^

I think we established as early as the encounter in the alley that Elden doesn't like killing. And then in the aftermath of the encounter versus the slaver guards, when Alanya lost her shit and slapped Weylan, it was established that most of the orphans are of the same mind: sick to the stomach because of the killing. Yes, even when their own lives are threatened. Some are a little more ambivalent. For example, Rufio, while not bloodthirsty, isn't as bothered by it as the others. He had a rough childhood, had to kill or be killed on several occasions long before he hit his teens. But like I said, he doesn't seek out killing, doesn't enjoy it (but he does love fighting). Weylan killed a wolf when he was 8! He’s sympathetic towards Elden but mostly the young halfling just wants everyone's acceptance and approval.

Next, the orphans kill the ninja rogue, and during the brief rest afterwards there are no more guilt pangs or remorse, no more arguments. Nothing. Have the orphans, having lost their innocence, been desensitized to the horror of killing?

Then this new group shows up and battle ensues again. For the record, the orphans struck first. Seneia beats the halfling dead. The orphans then rush to Feylinde's aid and gang up on the half-orc. Elden takes care to make his hammer blows non-lethal but the others don’t care and soon the half-orc is dead. Elden hammers the fleeing cleric with non-lethal blows and Alanya blasts him with Vicious Mockery. In the end Alanya knocks the cleric out with the flat of her blade, and Seneia captures the elf.

Now it looks like the kills have upset some of the orphans again, particularly Elden and Alanya. For the rest of us, did we all intend to pull our punches and deal non-lethal blows but simply forgot to specify? Or is the intent to just carry on as before (at least for now)? I confess that I haven’t had Rufio give it much thought. In any case, it’s interesting. Each player is telling their PC’s own emotional journey and personal story arc, and I think that’s the way RPG should be. :-)

I really like your synopsis of the emotional journey so far. I'd say that killing the hidden rogue was more of a sudden and brutal encounter that was such a shock we didn't really register the emotional impact as much. There was no choice but to kill him since he was very clearly trying to kill us and obviously good at his job. This, in combination with the fact that the feelings were already so raw left us to weary to feel much of anything.

I've intentionally made the distinction that Seneia, due to her background, isn't nearly as shocked by death and killing as some of the other orphans. However, as her focus was on getting to the elf all the time, she may not even realise yet that she actually killed the rogue, instead of just knocking her way through him.

To answer Elden's question of anyone being hurt: Seneia is at 17/21. Slightly singed, but nothing serious.

For the record, as DM I appreciate your synopsis. The point I'm trying to get across is the perspective of those you attacked. They were just passing through when, wham, full on attack. It's common in D&D, but interesting to explore in these slower paced online games.

I agree! We've all gotten so used to just attacking stuff. Granted, some PC's are intended to behave this way, but I'm talking about us as players. So yes, it's a very interesting perspective to explore and certainly a story twist I for one appreciate. Kudos! :-)

Well, Elden saw Feylinde attack and followed her lead. He just assumed that she saw some sort of reason to attack and trusted her. If he finds out she attacked with no real provocation he is gonna be livid!

Well, after what the orphans just went through with the guards and then the rogue (and being teenagers) I wouldn't blame anyone for jumping the gun. It was a mistake, sure, but a mistake anyone would have made.

If Elden gets mad are we going to see some more face slapping? :-D

Probably not slapping, but a very angry cleric indeed! I definitely think it was in character for Feylinde to jump the gun on it, but will that really matter to Elden? Only one way to find out!

The way I've been playing it, Weylan is see-sawing between horror at his own capacity for murder (and a desire to do better) and an indifference to violence (that arises from the self-loathing of "I can't do better than that. I'm no better than an animal, deserving of being slapped and worse"). So his reactions have been different.

Alanya only uses violence when she's pissed or someone is in real danger of getting killed. Otherwise, she'd really prefer not to...

Feylinde is not a cold killer, but murder is not so shocking when you deal almost on a daily basis with a Great Old One Entity...there are so many worse thing not even imaginable out there ...

The character started the attack on the last NPC party just because was what made the most sense in her mind. The orphans were lead into the sewers in seach of a friend, they know she'd be taken down there. They met very unfriendly "guards" ... suddenly how many chance are there that someone totally randomly would go down in the sewers of a town ... in the same section where the PCs have had a fight ... and through the same door they just passed few minutes ago? ...come on! random people? They must be linked in some way to the enemies we're after!

That's the reasoning behind the attack ^_^

I totally agree with the way you played it. The question is whether gentle Elden will see it that way?

Oh man, there's no way that this elf will not end up getting killed or escaping to become a recurring villain...

...Okay, actually I guess I see a third (albeit unlikely) option: the game turns into a courtroom drama. But other than that, this elf is gonna get it. I totally love this conflict between the PCs' self-doubt that what they did was just ("are they bad guys? Or just other people in the wrong place, like us?") and the hatred of the elf ("You just killed my friends; I don't care what you say, there's no way I'm going to help you!"). Both sides make sense, but put together I don't see a happy ending. It's really got me wondering what will happen next, and gives some great role-playing opportunities.

Lol. Well, if it's any consolation, I can see the future to some degree. But your decisions and die rolls may change the outcome.

For clarity, and to avoid too much doubt, I am assuming you searched the bodies and the survivors thoroughly. You didn't find a key on them. But one of you have a key...

But it is odd the elf and his group don't have a key...

Hmmmm....

Yeah, there's probably some other way of getting through, but the elf is being unresponsive. Maybe the key that Weylan gave Seneia will do the trick.

I initially left my Initiative post blank because I wanted Rufio to grab the elf and hold him, but wasn't sure if I can make a grapple check before initiative kicks in. If it's possible then I'll add a roll if not, let's just make that more of a narrative arm grab and not an actual grapple.

No, elf will be rolling initiative too, and you definitively don't have surprise.

Makes sense. :-)

Well it looks like the elf gets to act first. I don't recall setting a marching order this time around but I do think the elf is out front. Surely somebody gets OA on him if he bolts? At the very least Rufio is right next to him, having grabbed his arm.

See my post. The exact order is difficult because you can't all be next to him, so I am taking the posts in order. Although Rufio may have wanted to grab his arm he was actually near the back. You are welcome to read posts and let me know if you disagree.

No disagreement here. :-)

What do we see ahead in the corridor? Is there anything catching our attention? Light sources, something else within the range of Seneia's dark vision?

No, not within 60' of where Seneia is standing.

Is it alright if I wait declaring my actions until the guard has acted? Where he will be after his action has a rather big impact on what Seneia is able to do.

Sure

Uh... so I missed my chance to act, after all?

I wouldn't assume so; I was jumping the gun by posting what I'll be doing next round. Merlin hasn't said that round 2 is over.

This is tricky and it's my fault but it's impossible for everyone to get to the guard through a 5' corridor.

Merlin, do the guard wear metal armor? :D

Rufio can now enter the room and attack? or is Szent still in the way?

You can pass through an allies square.

No matter what happens, I will not laugh louder today than I did at this.

I'm going to have to break protocol and draw a map. Bear with me...

Damn. How do I upload an image?

It has to be hosted elsewhere, and then you can reference the link.

Here's my step-by-step example of how I do it.

Thanks! I can honestly say I would never have worked that out on my own.

Are those squares on the latest map 5-ft squares? It's not clear to me whether Rufio can get to Matilda or not, assuming he has to take another aisle over to go around Alanya, Feylinde and Seneia.

Yes I have a little key saying they are 5' squares.

Oops! Yeah, I see the key now. Sorry 'bout that! And it's my monitor's fault: I was only seeing the big squares and not the small ones, which made me wonder how F,A, and S2 were all sharing the same space.

SO now that that's cleared up it looks like there's nothing Rufio can do but Dash.

Going back through the 1.0 Introduction thread, I'm wondering: are Miranda and Matilda the same person (female elf caster)?

Ok, I completely remembered wrong and thought Matilda was the name of our "orphanage mistress"! So now I'm confused.

If you go back to Intro you'll see she's intermittently called both. I went back to correct this but missed a couple. I'll do it again.

Name is and always should have been Matilda. My memory gets fogged too when playing over several months.

No worries! Happens to the best of us. Thanks for clarifying. :-)

Hey, I do this in live games. It's why I asked. Thanks!

Unless I am utterly mistaken, this post was Rufio's move for round one. Is this correct or have I got it wrong?? Thanks!

ALL: I am going to consolidate and edit the whole combat for everyone's clarity, because it seems people are trying to take turns when it isn't their turn, and not only am I confused, but it seems players are too. Hopefully I can tidy things up.

Yes, please. Thanks!

OK, I've deleted posts that are round 3 because round 3 hasn't started.

I have clarified that Round 1 was a bit like a surprise round... there was alot of battleground manoevering but no actions.

I have titled every player post in Round 2 with "round 2 action".

Now hopefully everything should make sense.

I just need Alanya to post so I can close out Round 2.

OK. Sorry for posting out of turn!

From now on, I'll wait to act in turn, though I suspect nothing that Moofsalot, Matilda, or anyone else does is going to modify Weylan's next action, given how separated he and the half-orc are from everyone else.

Fair enough. But just tidying up to avoid confusion.

Did Rufio see (through the cages) what Matilda just did to his friends and in what direction she ran?

Unlikely. If you roll a decent perception you might have heard what she said though.

Can Rufio see (again, through the cages) B1 attacking Seneia & Feylinde?

You need to roll perception to determine what you might see or hear. Btw Seneia is not in that aisle. Feylinde and Alanya are. See map.

Got it. Thanks. So I posted a perception check but haven't taken an actual action. I'm trying to feel what Rufio's grasp of the situation is and act accordingly. He's not just going to keep taking the Dash action to and fro. If he spots a baddie in the next aisle he's more likely to try and topple cages and shit down on its head. Or climb up and jump down. Something wild and reckless and inexpected. Not run around like a headless chicken, which is all he's been doing the past two or three rounds.

Action was revised now

Anyway Merlin, since B1 failed the save vs my Dissonant whisper, using his reaction, the bad guy should have moved away from me at his speed ... and so it should be at least 30 feet away from Feylinde (assuming his speed is 30 feet), not in melee for this round (unless he uses Dash action).

While I should be behind Alanya position on the map, since I said I moved after casting the spell ... ^_^

Noted. I think I caught that 1st time and changed it when trying to clarify.

hehehe

Did my action get resolved? I cast Sacred Flame on B4

Yer, done. Alanya went out of turn and I counted three players... enough excuses...

I apologize for the out-of-turn post. I stupidly thought we'd started a new round. :-P

I read it that you still had an action for round three, having used your movement to climb atop the crates. So I thought it was still part of the same round and not out of turn...

Well, Merlin ruled that Rufio had used up his movement climbing the cages. I guess he could have thrown something down at the baddie but it's ok, I'll stick with the drop kick next round. :-)

I thought I was clear up was one move, down was another move.

Yup, I got that. So climbing up is it for him this round. Correct?

My misunderstanding then; sorry.

No, I figured you'd move twice.

Ok. Sorry. In that case, let's say in this turn Rufio climbed up and dropped down next to B1. So now when he runs away doesn't Rufio get an opportunity attack?

No because he should have moved as a reaction the previous round but I gave you all benefit of him wasting a round.

Ok, it's fine. So Rufio has dropped down but won't get to attack til next round (round 4).

Final question: When Rufio's next turn comes around can I go ahead and use these unused rolls or do I have to roll again?

Thanks!

Up to you. Just label top of post as round 4 or delete it and post when it's your turn.

I might as well just keep it. Will edit the description when it's actually my turn. Thanks again!

Enormity? I'll say so! This guy is an enormous sack of hit points! Either that, or he's illusory. Either way, the little halfling can continue to rage! I was beginning to worry that it would expire and he'd be exhausted before next round.

Jabes, please clarify why you get a bonus grapple.

Tavern Brawler feat. When he hits with a unarmed strike or improvised weapon he can grapple as a bonus action

I just had to look this up myself in my D&D5 game here on GP. A grappled creature can use an action to try to break free: it's an opposed check, with the grappled creature doing either Athletics or Acrobatics against the grappler's Athletics. PHB, page 195.

Yes, but I thought that happens when the grapple occurs. So the opposed check took place when Rufio grappled Bad 1. Does Bad 1 get another one on his turn too?

He gets a free attempt to resist the grapple (which he already took) and if he wants to, he can attempt to escape again, but it uses his action

Yes.

The way I see it, the attacker uses its action to attempt a grapple. That's an opposed check. If successful, the target is grappled.

On every turn thereafter, the target remains grappled until it succeeds at an opposed check to escape (or the attacker decides to let it go). The grappled creature could choose to not escape and use its action to attack (or anything other than move), of course, but that won't break the grapple (unless the attacker is killed, perhaps).

So the benefit of grapple is only to stop movement?

Hi guy! Sorry for the late response.

1) Naatkinson is correct: Tavern Brawler grants a free (opposed) grapple attempt as a bonus action when Rufio hits with an unarmed strike or improv. weapon strike.

2) In 5e, the grappler himself is not subject to the grappled condition (unlike in 3e).

3) A grappled creature can use his action to attempt to escape the grapple. But yeah, it would take his action. As noted by Spaceseeker, the grappled creature could use his action to attack instead (but he would remain grappled).

3) A grappled creature's movement is zero. But the grappler can move him. (push him into a fire or a vat of acid, off a cliff, fly up and drop him, etc)

4) A grapple doesn't automatically wrestle the target onto the ground. Rufio would have to use another attack for an opposed Shove Prone attempt. If a creature is both grappled and prone he can't get up (getting up uses half your movement, but his movement while grappled is zero).

So the elf dashed and surpassed me.... I thought he was just moving, otherwise I'd have done different things ...
well, what it's done it's done ... anyway, since the map doesn't update during the round, Merlin, can you please tell us what NPCs do with their movement? where they end up at least? please ^_^

I am overseas on business again, so trying to keep things moving. Don't have access to scanner etc.

No... Elf moved before you. You can't intercept someone when it's not your turn. And to intercept the elf would take 3 moves. And to cast spell would take an action. Which is why I only allowed you two moves.

B1 is exactly as shown on map with Rufio grappling him.
B2 is in the bottom horizontal aisle in the 3rd square from the bottom left corner.
B3 is in the square to the west of Elden
B4 is where shown.
Matilda has moved 30' south of shown.

I need clarification on this. If you do that with a double move you'll bump into the elf (B2). So do you intend to attack the elf?

Oh, I had pictured the situation differently. But in this case, I'm more than happy to attack the elf. In fact, if it's all right for me to change my action a bit, I'd use a Ki point to gain a bonus Dash action and then make an actual attack?

DM: sure

Gargoyle, are you going to modify your post?

Ack, I keep forgetting about the ability to comment directly into posts, and that it does not trigger email notifications. Done, now.

Elden's position isn't updated on the map, should I assume that he is in the spot to the very right of B3?

The map is end of round 6. So yes.

Alanya might as well be a statue.

And she does it so well. You are welcome to add your +5 DM boon any time you like.

Just to clarify this point:
The elf (Bad 2) hits me for 9 damage ... since I had 10 temp HP from Armor of Agathys, he does me no damage at all and I've still 1 temp HP left ... ^_^

Yes, the damage noted is against the elf.

It appears I'm incapable of rolling double digits. I might as well be rolling a d6. *cries*

I've released you... Call it pity.

Thanks! Meanwhile, in another game I haven't rolled less than 17 for the past 4 rounds. Go figure.

Depending on what Alanya sees after moving, she will inspire someone and/or heal Seneia.

As this is the big final battle there seems to be a lot of apathy. I realize playing with 7 players was too ambitious, but the condition of participation was to post everyday and to notify me if that's not possible.

Weylan has disappeared and I am waiting on Feylinde.

I don't know about everyone else but I'm on the edge of my seat here. As for Weylan, I think Spaceseeker is busy with real life - he has disappeared from all the games he's participating in.

Yeah spaceseeker is dealing with family and work stress it sounds like.

Understood. If I don't hear from Feylinde I will move things along tonight.

Sorry guys for the delay ... I am just too busy at this moment of my life to regulary check the posts...
So, since i don't want to waste your time, I sadly resign from the game.
Feel free to use my PC as You please Merlin...

Thank you all for the funny moments. See ya.

see ya

We both rolled nat 20's? What are the chances?! Damn.

Yes, I felt sure you had him.