Chat & Questions

Ok that’s cool. Thanks for the clarification

Oh btw Peindora, in case you don't know there is a link on the front page that shows you all the unread posts in any forum of a game you're in (GM or player). I just scan this to keep up with my games. https://gamersplane.com/forums/search/?search=latestGamePosts

You're a GOD! Thanks!

Thank you! This all made perfect sense. I admit that the 5-foot feature of 3.5 was convenient for players but frustrating and broken to deal with as the DM. I'm glad 5E has an alternative in place.

On the matter of dropping/picking-up weapons, I agree. Seeing someone drop a weapon to draw another, then drop that to pick up the one previously dropped- to then drop that one again and grab the other... it seems disorganized, sloppy, butter-fingery and really quite comical. However, a bow-drop followed by a sleek drawing of blades... has a cinematic mental image- like the warrior discarding an item of no use to them (a bow in melee) and readying swords in a smooth, fluid blur. We're not all Legolas, after all. Extending it into a drop/pick-up/drop/pick-up/drop/pick-up/drop/pick-up etc... is borderline moronic. One time though... adds a flair of action.

Demagor, that's a fair point. Certainly you are welcome drop your weapon rather than swap.

The game will definitely continue. If you decided to leave, you can always come back. The space may become inhabited by other denizens in the meantime - nature abhors a vacuum.

Once you have decided you've investigated the area to your heart's content, we'll switch to a the "downtime" time scale for a week or so where we won't roleplay each individual scene but decide how you're each individually spending your time and roll on appropriate tables. We'll dive into those rules in more detail when we get there. These activities might include working a job, research information, or drinking and partying. Whatever you choose could create plot hooks for you to explore. You can also handle buying new gear and selling loot during this time.

When we are done the downtime activities, the party can decide what you'd like to do when we get the party back together for your next group scene. It might be related to the plot hooks that drop, or it might be self-directed. It's fairly open world that way. But you the players can decide what you want to pursue. We might have a couple smaller scenes or a larger one, time will tell.

Also, after the week of downtime is complete, we'll level up to Level 2!

If anyone feels satisfied with the experience as it is and wants to exit the game, then either before or after the downtime session could be good opportunities for you to do so. But, you are welcome to stay and see how downtime works and how Level 2 feels :) Jabes and I might also bring in new players at that point, but we'll keep the game at 4 so we can focus on your questions.

Some things to highlight in the current caves that you might be interested in exploring:

* There are unexplored tunnels to the south and west and north, as well as the vertical shaft that leads up above the podium.
* The unusual draft in the first cavern implies some kind of secret door you might investigate.
* The glowing violet and green crystals are unusual and possibly valuable and/or dangerous.
* The gateway with the Seal of Astaroth stands out.
* Three of the statues are in mint condition and will probably unpetrify sometime in the next 24 hours.

I think that Tilma would want to finish exploring. Leaving the job half done isn't her style.

For what it's worth, Jasera had no intention of selling the eggs and calling it a day. Just as she had no intention of spelunking through these caverns with five basketballs in her knapsack. She was expecting to return to the surface, sell the eggs, find out about Astaroth, then return here with the lot of you and keep exploring.

Still, pushing on is something she can easily be convinced to do (and has been, as stated in my last post).

Also, please note that her behavior is not me trying to be difficult or rude to anyone. I'm just playing her how she is and while she can be loyal and reliable, that doesn't mean she's always nice. Her priorities are always her priorities and saving her father, or getting any information that could expedite that goal will beat out... well... just about anything, even the need to be courteous. I just didn't want anyone overthinking things and wondering why I'm being short with the other characters. I'm not. She is.

Thanks for that clear communication, Demagor.

It's all good Demagor :)

I think that they should have reached the tunnel while talking like that.

Yep, south tunnel revealed! Not much to see, unless you want more feathers. Had you gone this way originally, the molted feathers might have given you a better clue of what you were dealing with. As it is now, the clue is less interesting.

Loving the character dialogue, by the way. Really punctuates the dungeon crawl with character development.

Where to next?

So uh, do we have a consensus on where to go next? or is it a matter of vote?

Great question mormegil. Open exploration can be a bit of challenge in PbP. Rather than worry about consensus, feel free to post a direction you'd like to investigate. Concerns about splitting the party are reasonable given there might still be dangers lurking, but I promise I'm not trying to isolate you and pick you off one by one. You are a reasonably competent adventuring crew even at level 1. If somebody goes and investigates a side passage, I'm assuming the team is there to support. Maintaining exact geographic locations for all characters could get tedious and hamper the flow of the game.

That said, if you DO want to isolate yourself from the group for whatever reason, just let me know. You can use a private note if you think secrecy is important.

is I4 the dwarf statue that just came alive?

B13, I believe.

Two-weapon Fighting in D&D 5e

ANYONE can wield two weapons and attack twice as long as both weapons are light, one-handed melee weapons. You spend your Action for the main attack, and your Bonus Action for the "off-hand" attack. This assumes you have not already used your Bonus Action this round for something else. You still add your attack bonus (ability modifier+proficiency bonus) to the off-hand attack roll, but you do NOT add your ability modifier to the off-hand attack's damage.

With the Two-Weapon Fighting Style, you get to add your ability modifier to the off-hand attack.

With an Action Surge, a Fighter can take an extra Action, which they can use to attack once more. This is considered a "main-hand" attack, so the ability modifier is added to the damage.

At 4th level, you get access to feats. With the Dual Wielder feat, you are no longer restricted to light weapons. And you can draw or stow two one-handed weapons when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one.

At 5th level, some classes gain the Extra Attack feature. With a single Action, you can attack twice (both considered main-hand attack)! So a dual-wielding fighter can main-hand attack twice with their Action, main-hand attack another two times with an Action Surge, and off-hand attack once with their Bonus action!

Read more about TWF here and here.

Dual-wielding with one or both weapons non-light.

First of all, it is perfectly legal to wield that combo as long as you don't actually attempt to attack with both weapons in a turn. You can attack with the longsword this turn, then attack with the handaxe next turn. When you get the Extra Attack feature, it doesn't matter which weapon you choose to attack with for your Attack Action. It only matters when you try to use the Bonus Action to get an extra off-hand attack.

Okay, so you want to use the Bonus action to get an extra off-hand attack. If we follow RAW (Rules As Written), in other words, follow the rules to the letter, the answer is, "You can't. Unless you learn the Dual Wielder feat." but many DMs will have their own houserules for this. I'll leave it up to Len to say what goes here in this particular game.

Everyone ok? It's all gone very quiet

I'm ok, waiting for Jasera