Chat & Questions

Thanks for having me here ^^ now to roll a character but first: how long does this game gonna run?

Hey mormegil! We will be for sure running at least 3 episodic adventures for level 1, 2, and 3 with some downtime sessions in between. At that point, we'll chat and see where we take the game!

That's a lot of threads and a lot of information; borderline stressful. I'll take it in stride and read as I need. When there's too much I HAVE to read, it begins to feel like work, or homework, and I left that behind 30 years ago.

So, the plan is to create a ranger; a tracker by trade, a hunter by need (furs, skins, pelts tend to fetch good income).

Hi, Demagor! The resources, videos, and setting-specific information posted are meant to help you but are by no means required material. Let's talk about your character idea in the character creation thread. I'll post there now.

"Read as you need" sounds like a fine plan. We won't be starting for at least a week so there is plenty of time. We still have to find 2-3 more players.

Text size is easy with the size tag: [ size=x (where x is percent value of normal-sized text) ]

With the color tag you can change the font, size, and color:
[ color="#b00; font-family: AgencyFB; font-size: 1.5em; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.05em;" ]

You would not put spaces after the open bracket and before the closed bracket; I put those in so the site would read the above as regular text rather than as code.

And by clicking quote under any post you can see any other BBCode tricks that were employed. ;-)

Very very very very nice.

Thank you!

It's like finding out that your favorite restaurant has a secret menu...

Testing the color

Testing it again with new font and color

If you're only changing the color, it's easier to just use the color tag. It's the eyedropper button on the toolbar. It only offers red, blue, and green but you can easily change those to any web-safe color.

Let's not get too crazy with the colors though. Some aren't easy on the eyes, and bear in mind that some of us have dark mode enabled.

I have dark mode enabled so of course I'm gonna use colors that are still readable ^^

What I've been doing here is put proper names in bold and color all spoken text red.

Would that fly for everyone?

I have no problem with that. Personally, I like to use bold for spoken dialogue and italics inner dialogue. I find this is the most common style used on Gamers Plane. I might use colors when organize complex information like what's happening in combat.

Feel free to use a distinctive color for your character if you wish.

To avoid confusion, I suggest we all agree on the use of bold and italics (bold for spoken dialogue and italics for thoughts and inner monologue). You can personalize with judicious use of colors, fonts, and size.

works for me :)

Again, don't go too crazy. ;-) A good description of your character's voice, tone, and manner are far more effective than messing about with fonts and stuff.

When you write half of your background and the page reloads deleting 75% of what you wrote.... -_-...

I feel for you. :-(

That used to happen to me A LOT, whether by the whims of the technology gods or through my own stupidity humanity. Recent improvements to the site lessened the risk by making it so you get a warning if you're about to close a browser window. Still, the best safeguard is to draft your post in a separate text editor.

Am I the last to finish their character or the rest of you lack any details?

I just finished my character now so you are not the last lol

Well, after taking a look at your's I see that mine still needs some work :)

Should be ok now. Tell me if I forgot anything. Shared it in the character creation forum

I've barely begun. For people who don't know 5E, you guys are just burning through.

No rush Demagor! It's a learning process so I think take as long as you need.

I have DMed a couple of games few years ago. So I'm not completely in blind. I'm just VERY rusty :)

If any of you are finished or nearly-finished please submit them to the game so Len and I can look them over. If anyone needs help with anything please don't hesitate to ask! Learning is the whole point of this. :-)

Oops sorry, I missed an entire page of the character generation thread! Getting caught up now!

I think you missed a setting, the "you cannot submit a character to this game" notification is on the game page

How's everyone doing this weekend? :-)

Lazy, resting, bored :)

Fixed, thanks for noticing :)

Fighting the good fight! Rested well in my own bed after 3 nights in the woods, and having a busy but fun Saturday. Making a lentil stew for supper, maybe watch a movie with the kids. How about you, Jabes?

Sniffles and itchy throat but otherwise okay. Making asian pork sliders with sriracha slaw and kimchi and ice-cold beer. Cheers!

Damn! Can I trade you my lentil stew?

Lentil stew sounds great! Yum!

Ummm... Sorry, but the thread of chapter 1 is locked, so, yea ^^; can't really post. Also how did we get from the inn with the unconscious Norran and Jasera, whom Tilma barely spoke to, to a group hunt in the sewers. Besides didn't Demagor say that Jasera wouldn't go in the sewers for money or any other minor reason?
Sorry for bothering you with this. And if others can simply ignore what I mentioned and move on then I can too. Just thought that it was worth noting.

The prologue on how we got there, or why Jasera specifically would be there, is definitely something to address, but we can certainly proceed with the game even before that's done.

However, the inability to post which @Peindora pointed out will definitely be an obstacle.

I guess the GM's were too excited to start the show on the road ^^ or maybe it has already been assumed that we already knew each other (characterwise)

Sorry, thread has been unlocked 😁.

As for the meeting of the characters, I wasn't planning on role-playing out the entire scene but just sketching out the details.

Do people want to roleplay out that scene? We could create a "Chapter Zero" thread for you to do so. I find that the specific details are less important than the broader ones, and these scenes can sometimes be awkward / slow. I'd rather start with a bang. If we did want to rp the meeting Is rather do a flashback scene about how the characters met. Gives players a chance to feel out how their characters will behave and act in practice, which can make for a smoother scene.

As for Jasera's reasoning for being in the sewers, I was going to leave it up to Demagor to come up with that one. We talked a bit about the importance of the sewers in the criminal underworld and how that might interest him, or at least necessitate him exploring it.

Honestly, I don't think RPing our way from "You Meet At a Tavern" over to the sewers is necessary. A summarized Prologue could help set the scene, but RPing it may be a bit much... and a further delay before getting to the meat of the game.

I'll think of something, but in keeping with the mood, I'll have her discuss it in-character, in-game.

I agree. I didn't mean that I want to RP it out. Just have somewhat of a prologue, as Demagor said. The DMs could just write in a couple of paragraphs about what happened. I'll be happy with however they turn it. Also, for the actual game. Who starts? Not me. I have the Least experience on this site. I want to see how it's done (aside from the GM's examples)

We roll a d4 to determine who starts first lol

Here ya go

I'm good with foregoing any kind of episode zero. Sometimes a hot start works well and we can fill the blanks with our own narration and improv as we go if necessary.

hey folks, mormegil posted that he is dealing with an urgent health situation and is going to sit out for a few weeks. We will continue on for chapter 1 without him and hopefully meet up with him in chapter 2 (or sooner if things work out better than expected).

Best of luck to you, mormegil!

I hope things improve soon, mormegil!


@len/@jabes:

Do you have a preference on posting? By this I mean... do you care how we format the post? So far I tend to only use bold for proper names and I color my spoken text. Are you good with that or is there a particular preference you have in regards to post formatting?

We aren't picky, and you can see some examples of how we format things in the Examples of Play forum. But feel free to use your style and if it causes any problems we'll let you know.

Knives, is the fact that your crossbow isn't among your weapons and that you don't have any bolts intentional or an accident?

Also I wish the best for mormegil!

I thought we discussed this before. But yes, what Len said.

This is how I like to do it as well although it's by no means the ONLY way to do it.

For example, Alner and Fahlasi have an established bond and shared history but Len and I never discussed it, choosing to tease that out little by little if opportunity or necessity presents itself. At any point I could have posted something like:
But yeah if the vote is for a short prologue written by the DMs I suppose we can make a separate, one-paragraph thread. Another option is to squeeze an extra paragraph into the beginning of Len's already awesome first post but honestly I'd hate to do that because it would ruin the "hot start" as KEG called it.

Ok, then lets just start. :) I just want to know about the crossbow of Bary's

Great! Looking forward to Peindora's and Demagor's first posts, and hoping for mormegil's speedy recovery!

Okay, posted.

(finally)

For the sake of simplicity, I just incorporated her prologue into the post.

Damn those are some great intro posts! Bravo to everyone! KEG, thanks for leading the charge. Demagor, I loved the backstory integration, and Nabbo of the Rat Catcher's Guild is definitely an NPC now in Iskandar. Peindora, Tilma's personality really shined through in your post!

Everyone is awarded INSPIRATION! Inspiration is a mechanic that DMs can use to reward great roleplaying. A character with inspiration can reroll any d20 once. Miss a hit? Try again. Roll poorly on that skill check? Try again! Once you have used your inspiration, it's gone until you get it again. You either have inspiration or you don’t—you can’t stockpile multiple "inspirations" for later use. It would normally expire by the end of the "session" if we were playing at a real-life table, but we'll make it expire at the end of the chapter.

Awesome. Thanks GM!

Yes, that's some great stuff, everybody! We're off to a lovely start!

Thanks :)

So.. if we have questions do we ask them here or in the game thread?
Where exactly is the entrance of the next tunnel below? Is it above water level or partially submerged? Is there a balcony/space to walk all around the hole? Are there railings? If there are, how sturdy are they? Is there another tunnel at our level on the other side of the drop-down?
Would I see something interesting if I looked at the map for a way around instead of getting straight down? Ps. It's an outdated map.

And do we have to roll a perception check or something for any of those?

This is a good place to ask questions.These are great!

The drop shaft is just a big, round opening in the floor with no railings around it. The chains that dangle from the ceiling are mounting on sturdy iron rings that are solidly mounted to the stone tunnel above.

The "Dead Zone" is at the bottom of the drop zone, so presumably Tilma has been down there before. At the bottom of the drop shaft is a fairly large pool, but there are other older tunnels that branch off from it. Despite the water source, there was no life to be found in any of these tunnels. The map only shows this as an outflow vent and doesn't map the space below any further.

Don't worry about the perception checks, this information is all self-evident stuff that your characters have no chance of missing.

Ok, so there is no where to attach a rope to. And there is no way to avoid getting wet (was thinking of swinging into a tunnel if it wasn't half flooded. )
Do chains go into water or stop above it?

I just want to add that it's okay to include a skill check in your post if you feel it's appropriate. If the roll/s are unwarranted or unnecessary then we just ignore them and move on. Play-by-post tends to run smoother that way.

I think I saw a Climber's Kit in someone's inventory.
Len?

I have climber's kit, for places like this. (Where there aren't convenient chains)

Chains dangle into the water about a foot but aren't anchored at the bottom or anything.

While they haven't been formally inspected, from casual observation, do the chains appear to be in good shape? Having been exposed/submerged in water for nearly their entire existence tends to wear away at their fortitude.

A cursory inspection shows the rust is surface only. A good tug will indicate the chains will bear loads heavier than a man by far.

Good work everyone. Jasera can safely handle Berry's weight, so dropping him down the hole will negate the need to roll the skill check. The climber's kit can be anchored to an iron ring that supports one of the chains and should negate any danger from falling, so even if you descend ungracefully you'll be safe. You can leave the grapple in place from the climber's kit so you can make it up the shaft fairly easily in the future, if you wish.

I think we'll call this challenge sufficiently solved through a combination of well-preparedness and clever thinking!

Good work everyone. Jasera can safely handle Berry's weight, so dropping him down the hole will negate the need to roll the skill check. The climber's kit can be anchored to an iron ring that supports one of the chains and should negate any danger from falling, so even if you descend ungracefully you'll be safe. You can leave the grapple in place from the climber's kit so you can make it up the shaft fairly easily in the future, if you wish.

I think we'll call this challenge sufficiently solved through a combination of well-preparedness and clever thinking!

Okay party, your characters have performed the actions they set forth to do. I did end up rolling the athletics checks for Tilma and Jasera, but there was no real risk for failure because of the climbing kit. I did it mostly just for effect.

Wow... Tilma's rolls suck...

Yes, those are some unfortunate rolls. Sometimes those make for the most memorable moments, but sometimes no. Don't forget that you have Inspiration.

Oh, don't worry. I'm not bothered by bad rolls. Just mentioned it. :)

I love that Tilma is nicknaming everyone. Quirks help make characters interesting!

Jasera's Wisdom bonus is +3, but you're correct to include the proficiency bonus as she is proficient in the Survival skill. Your 5e character sheets have already calculated the correct bonuses for all your skill checks.

Forgive me, I forgot about Deft Explorer:
So then:
Survival - Tracking WIS (+3) + Double Prof (+4) = 1d20+7

Ahhh... so the end-result bonus of +7 was correct, but the breakdown was not. Got it.

I see that the +5 on the sheet came from her +3 WIS mod and the +2 Prof bonus. I ended up double-adding it.

Remind me again about the reason for the double-prof bonus?

Nevermind.

Hey, I thought I'd write a bit about darkvision in fifth edition! Contrary to how some DMs run it, darkvision does not mean you can just see perfectly in the dark. Here's exactly what darkvision is:
So characters with darkvision can see in total darkness, but not well. Darkvision lets a character see in pitch black darkness as well as normal characters see in dim light (think: the soft light of twilight and dawn) which means they have disadvantage to wisdom (perception) checks and have a -5 penalty to your passive perception. You also cannot see colors.

So, if you want to have normal vision in the dark and have a good chance at spotting hidden things with no penalties, you will still want to have a source of light like a lantern, torch, or spell. However, If you're trying to be sneaky, you might still choose to rely solely on darkvision, even if it means you're not seeing as well.

Honestly, the rules about light in 5e are a bit messy and not particularly well explained in the PHB. Some DMs skip it altogether. I think they add something fun to the game, and I'll try to use them without making it onerous on you.

Lol, I don't know why, I presumed that we were already using lanterns, since we have them. I'll mention it in my next post.
I'll light it up then so if anyone wants to stop me from doing it can do it in their post

Ok, I'll remove a bolt from my stock once you fire it ;) I have a good stock so no worries there.

It’s ok, I have 20

I'll wait for Jasera to post. Don't want to leave her too far behind

GM Question, how did you achieve the enlarged image? It's something I'm always trying to figure out!

Which image do you mean?

Hey Knife! If you're referring to the map, i used this code:

[url=https://i.imgur.com/eA3o1kw.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/eA3o1kw.png[/img][/url]

Looks like it doesn't 'enlarge' on mobile because of the way imgur shows up by default on mobile devices (at least mine).

Oh you meant how to make it clickable to see the full image? How Len did it (combo of url and img tags) is one way. Another way to do it is to use the map tag.

[map]https://i.imgur.com/eA3o1kw.png[/map]

Either way works fine on my mobile device. It's on my laptop that it opens the imgur site rather than show just the image.

Hi guys...just back from the hospital due to COVID-19...sorry for not posting this past week but now that I am back I'm sure to contribute to the game now ^^

Edit: Can I still catch up in the sewers with you guys or will I be introduced instead in the next chapter?

Welcome back mormegil! No problem, feel free to catch up and join the crew right now in the cave.

Welcome back, mormegil! Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery!

Welcome back!

Any questions about the current situation, folks?

None so far...there are still many parts of the area to explore though...

That was a hilarious intro that really illustrates your character mormegil! you can have Inspiration too!

What's Inspiration again?

Oops I linked to the Darkvision post haha! Well, the darkvision post is useful, but what I really meant to link you to was this:

Sorry, all. Illness, combined with a hectic RL, work issues, and overall holiday stress led me to turn my attention and effort over to everything but the fun stuff. I hope to catch up and resume by this weekend, hopefully, sooner- you have not lost me!!

Glad to hear we haven't lost you Demagor! You have my sympathy for all the stuff that you're wrestling with - hope it smooths out quickly.

Hang in tight Demagor!

Thanks, all! Your support and kind words are truly appreciated!

Fortunately, I was able to carve out a few moments to create a backpost, then a current post.

Btw, Demagor, Tilma really has a metal pot in her bag. Lol
She has the Cook's utensils

HA!!!!

I was just trying to portray her as a sardonic and sarcastic woman, who knew!?

I love Angry Jon! LOL!

Just to confirm, initiative is d20 + dex bonus? In that case mine is +3

Yes, initiative is 1d20+DEX bonus.

There are special features and magic items that can boost this further but none of the PCs have any of that stuff (yet?).

So Berry's initiative in this battle is actually 17 rather than 14.

And Tilma's should be 7, not 3. But I believe the initiative order for this fight basically stays the same.

Yep, thanks for the corrections everyone - noted for next time. As Jabes says, it won't change the outcome this time as the Partridge Family is going on initiative 11.

Combat Primer

Our first combat!

On your turn, you can move a distance up to your speed and take one action.

You decide whether to move first or take your action first. Your speed —also called your walking speed— is noted on your character sheet.

Some of the most common Actions are shown in the graphic below. Many Class Features and other Abilities provide additional options for your action.

You can forgo moving, taking an action, or doing anything at all on your turn. If you can't decide what to do on your turn, consider taking the Dodge action, Ready action, or the often underutilized Help action.

Like Len said, you can read the example combat he and I played through here. And you can learn more at the links below. As always, please don't hesitate to ask questions!

• Handbooker Helper: Combat Actions (video)
• D&D 5E Basic Rules: Combat - Your Turn

Allow me a few moments to process the "action timeline" if you will. I'm still aligned to the 3.5 version of how events transpire in a turn.

I did want to seek some clarification however- the Bonus Action states it's available "when granted"; I take it that if/when it's been granted, it would be obvious to us? Or, is there a factor/condition/signal that lets us know automatically that we DO have it (or don't)?

Certain class abilities grant a bonus action; exactly how is detailed in the descriptions of those abilities. Certain spells have a casting time of 1 bonus action. Most, if not all of you, will gain these as you level up. Tilma already has the Fighter ability, Second Wind, which allows her to use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10+fighter level.

Off the top of my head, the only sort of bonus action that's available to all characters regardless of class and level when wielding two weapons. Anyone can wield two weapons and attack twice on their turn as long as both weapons are light, one-handed melee weapons. You use your Action for the main attack, and a Bonus Action for the "off-hand" attack. It's a little more involved than that; we can get into it if you're interested.

Lol, since we're diving straight to combat...

Our first crit! Awesome!
In this particular case, roll another d8 of damage for Jasera's shot!

Source: PHB page 194 and 196.
Or https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Rolling1or20 and https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#CriticalHits

Oh and feel free to add to your post a description of just how awesome that shot is!

Challenge accepted!

And Tilma's horrible rolls are back ... +8 attack bonus and I still miss...

Also sorry for taking so long. You should have given me a kick in the ass to tell me that you were waiting on me.

Demagor, regarding your questions about 5 foot steps and weapon swapping:

Rules as written, is no similar mechanic to 3.5's five foot step for all characters in 5e. Some classes have built-in abilities to do something like this, however. For example, rogues have the "Cunning Action" class ability that allows them to take the Disengage action, but it uses up their bonus action. Monks eventually can spend ki points to do this. Rangers can select the Escape the Hoard feature at level 7 as a defensive tactic, which makes all opportunity attacks against be made with Disadvantage.

I think the five foot step was deliberately omitted from 5e. If you can take a five foot step, it is almost always the right thing to do for an archer in that situation. Without the five foot step, you have a more tense decision to make: Do you fire at point blank range but with disadvantage? Do you pull back and risk the opportunity attack? Or do you switch to a melee weapon that is probably not your specialty? Maybe you are incentivized to design your character to excel at one of these backup options through class features, feats, multiclassing, magic items, etc.

As far as swapping weapons, I usually house rules it as okay. Rules as written, you'd have to drop your bow (costs no action) and then draw your melee weapon with a free action. But, on your next turn you could just drop your melee weapon and pick up your bow as a free action, so unless you are moving around a lot, there is a goofy-looking weapon swap within the rules. For me that interferes with the fiction of competent martial heroes to drop weapons and pick them up again, whereas it sounds pretty cool to switch weapons with a cool flourish. That's my reasoning anyway.

I recommend checking the game forum daily, or at least five days a week, which are the stated expectations of the game. I will give you kick in the ass if necessary, but I'd rather you spare my foot the trouble 😁.

Knife, here is the sneak attack rule. I've bolded the important part that grants it to you in this situation, even though you didn't have advantage:
Jasera was within 5 feet :)

Do you want to narrate the killing blow?

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

waiting all on the orhers too...

Nobody should be waiting on Jasera. As indicated, all players may act. Knife, thank you for already taking your turn.

My bad.

Mormegil, just to be clear, are waiting on you.

Does Tilma know the guy he's talking about? Do I roll something to have any info?

Can I roll it here? not to crowd the game thread.

Lol, I guess, I'm clueless 😁

That's fine. I'd probably tack it onto a post in the game thread that says something like "Tilma considers all her conversations she's made so far for any mention of the name Bartoz," but this is fine too.

Yeah, Tilma hasn't heard of the name.

Hey folks, we're coming to the end of our level 1 adventure. The game has suffered some major slow down. Demagor has gone inactive on the site with no mention of when he will return.

So, we are at a crossroads. If you'd like to get off here, this would be a good time. Thanks for playing!

If you would like to continue, I ask you to renew your commitment to posting about 5 times a week. We all need to pull our weight to make this a story worth telling.

I don't mind continuing. But yeah, this seems to have slowed down quite a lot. So if others wish to stop here it works for me as well

I'm in, wherever this takes us.

So do we explore the rest of the caves or do we get out?

You decided to continue your own exploration?
Lets get out of the sewers... otherwise I feel like we'll never get anywhere :)

Anybody need help with bringing their characters to level 2? Let me know!

Health roll
And I'm done

How do you lvl up again? I usually lvl up my characters by using an online character builder but I want to do it myself manually...how do you calculate your new HP?

In your class page it's written which dice you roll+constitution modifier. And you add the result to your current hp

Yep, not too much to do for gaining a second level of fighter :) Although action surge is an amazing ability, and it just gets stronger as you gain more things to do with your action.

Yup. I don't mind :) I find my +8 on Attack rolls with crossbow pretty good.

Definitely. Tilma is a beast.

Thanks Peindora and Knife for levelling your characters. Unfortunately it seems we have lost Demagor and I'm not sure if mormegil is reading these forums or not. He hasn't leveled up his character, made a post, or been in touch with me for a week.

So we are effectively down to two players which is insufficient to carry forward. I think it is probably best to put things on hold and get some fresh players in the game. You're under no obligation to continue, but if you choose to then you will have a spot reserved when we start up again.

Ok, I was feeling like this had died down too. Let the new blood in and teach them to play. ;)

well I asked how to level up and I didn't see any replies...so I thought we are moving on..

Hi mormegil. Peindora had answered your question about leveling up your hp within an hour of you posting it, but there has been no progress since. It's not all your fault; I admit I could have been more proactive with communication.

I hope there are no hard feelings. I enjoyed Norran's internal monologue with the spirits. It was well written and quite funny. Hopefully you learned a bit about 5e in this short adventure, and good luck finding a game that better matches your posting speed preferences.

Okay Peindora and Knife, let's talk about how to move forward.

First, when is a good time to get back into a full-swing, 5 posts per day game?

Second, I wasn't great at proactively prompting players when things got slow. I think I was a bit demoralized by certain players who just never seemed to keep up from the start. But, I'd like to improve on that. First thing I'd like to do is start a separate discord server for this game's OOC channel. It seems a bit easier to ask quick questions there, plus the notifications are helpful. This OOC channel will remain open and active, but if discord is easier then please feel free to post there, or @ me to get my attention. Here is the link to the server.

Third: this game hasn't much resembled the gritty urban game we advertised, so I'd like to shift the focus to the mean streets of Iskandar. This wasn't intentional; I expected this underground scene to be a short intro to the rules that felt similar to traditional D&D. But we'd like to shift things toward the original premise. You may wish to give the setting thread a read over to refresh your memory, but it's not strictly necessary.

Fourth: are there any players that come to mind that you think would fit in well in this game and with yourselves? They don't have to be beginners.

Lastly, any questions, comments, or concern anybody would like to address?

Thanks everyone.

I’m ready when you are. Players I currently have in my Cthulhu games that are especially active are C1nder and Edmund_Balworth but not sure how interested they’d be in a 5e game.

I like the idea of gritty urban, though it’s not the setting that attracted me, so I’m happy wherever. I’m sure Berry feels more at home on the streets though and is keen get to the library to research that gate.

Thanks Knife.

I have moved the Chapter 1 game thread to a new subforum: Retired Game Threads.

I'll start posting the rules for a downtown session... lots to copy and paste, so stay tuned!

Thanks Len. As a GM, how do you move threads to new subforums?

If you are the GM you can see the buttons for pinning and locking a thread under the "<< first < 1 2 3" menu for navigating pages in a thread. The button the far right of that looks like a curved arrow, and it is for moving a thread to a subforum. The subforum must already be created.

Ooo that’s awesome, thanks

no problem 😊

Question. is acrobatics a feasible way to scale buildings? I'm thinking parkour style, jumping on various surfaces, between alley walls etc? Berry is clearly not strong which makes his athletics and ability to straight-up climb tough, somewhat of a disadvantage for a thief.

Fuck. Now Laurent is in trouble, My plan backfired on us. if it wasn't for this we could have just left... we are no guards.
So if I get it right there's 5 of them? 2 at the floor with Laurent and 3 where I am. Is tht right?
What are my chances of success if I decided that I want to shoot him in the head the moment he gets up and takes his bow? Would that suffice to instant kill him? Or perhaps through the throat?
Then again I might be jumping the gun... I might have another idea. Could I possibly reach Laurent before he goes in if I run back outside and around the corner?

Good questions Peindora!

Yep there are 5 of them.

There is no "called shot" mechanic in 5e D&D so you're not going to one-shot him with a single ranged attack.

You could try to make a sprint for it around the corner. Since Laurent detects a trap, he isn't likely going to walk straight in without a plan, and Berry is on the roof with advanced to knowledge to tip him off too. Probably buys you the time you need.

My plan supposed that either no one would answer, or that someone hoping to dissimulate any illicit activities would show up. Basically I gambled on getting a social encounter. I assume that Laurent isn't aware of the bloodied corpse laying a couple of dozen feet away. So although he's definitely noticed the threatening edge in the 'invitation', he's not quite sure how to proceed. His improvisational gears are turning in his head.

Hey Len, Jabes, would you happen to have any reading on the faiths in Iskandar, and in particular Niveral, God of Secrets?

So, there are two grey cloak corpses in the warehourse? I thought we'd only found the one on the upper floor, but perhaps I am misremembering or misreading something. Is it obvious how the dead black cloak met his end? Does he have a dagger sticking out of his chest, and a missing handrail above suggesting that he struggled with an assailant, got stabbed and pushed over the railing, and met a grisly death on impact on the lower level? What can be ascertained about the third body, if one is to be found?

I'm asking these questions, but Laurent isn't ready to undertake a thorough examination of the warehouse and or the bodies, since he is now concerned about someone showing up. He's also noticed Tilma heading for the shaft, so he knows we'd all better stick together. It's just that if anything can be discerned immediately, that is the information I am seeking. If there seem to be hints needing further examination, and if you call for any rolls, then I'll decide if it is worth it, in this time-constrained scenario.

Also, and I promise this is my last question, back here I had stated Laurent's intention of checking the stove for evidence of incinerated documents and such. Can we assume that when he did his magic detection tour of the building, he opened the stove and had a glimpse inside? If so, is it safe to assume, that nothing relevant was found?

@Knifesedgegames the group is wondering Berry's opinion on the current situation.

Sorry folks, been a bit bogged down.

So my lvl is: 14 :) though my kobold was a shopkeeper.

I've done them all

Good job 👍

Actually 15. Just realized that with Dungeonmania I've done the 14.

Ok. So it's not a gate. Just a seal. Roger that

In my mind, I conflated the original description to imagine a gate surrounded by the seal. Maybe we should get the heck out of Dodge

First a response,
I was under the assumption that the green orb was still lashing out deadly arcs of electrical energy making its handling too dangerous. I had thought of trying to cover it in a cloak or something but my XXIst century brain told me that it would probably not work. In any case, Laurent would definitely want to carry out the purple stone, despite it weighing 40 or so pounds. He would try to place it in his bag, if possible, or in a sack or something, to facilitate carrying it out.

A couple of further questions:
- does the crane overlooking the warehouse area have any load currently on it, so that if, say, a mage hand pulled a lever, that load might be lowered or — even better — fall on, or near, the Bartoz strike team?
- would it be possible to discern if the door is merely barred or if it is locked/padlocked from Tilma's position at F7? Depending on the answer to that question, a further distraction may be needed to gain us some time.

Dang, things just got a lot more complicated:
- Is the access through the skylights reachable from the upper floor (we lowered through those, right?

With a deadbolt, so it would suffice for one of us to open the deadbolt (or is it padlocked)? In any case, with folks banging on the other side, I think that path is blocked.
The hand lasts one minute, no? That being said, I've moved out of the thirty foot range it has, I believe. How would we handle casting discretely? With a slight of hand check?

How about hiding, maybe under the beds? or those windows on the south wall?

I realize the entrance hall in my map ended up shorter than how Len described it:
Let's say those access points are above B10 and E10 (marked here with yellow squares). They are about 10 feet up.

I had asked some OOC questions on Discord but perhaps I should just repost them here:
- is it possible to rappel down from the rear side of the warehouse and into the alleyway (assuming there is no one there keeping watch)?
- if so, is the descent smaller than 30 ft? That would allow Laurent to use his mage hand to untie the rope and lower it gracefully.

If the answer to either questions is negative, I'd say we just move through the orphanage with all haste.

Hey matmaisan! I think your characters will notice quickly the back alley is a difficult option for escape. The warehouse double doors are wide open and the bay has a lot of folks searching and watching. Would require some high stealth rolls, mechanically speaking.

The orphanage is a better option. It has sustained some damage in the earthquake, but the large crack in the side of the stone wall will provide easy purchase to scale and the windows are shattered so no worry about them being locked.

Just dropping by to let you know I've had one of the busiest two weeks in recent memory, and could barely connect to GP. Covid again, absurd workload, kid at home, etc. Things are smoothing out now so I'll try to catch up on my IC posts soon. My apologies for holding back the game.

Posting Laurent’s action plan here, since KnifesEdge might not be checking the discord channel:

Thanks Mat, you’re spot on, wasn’t checking Discord

Sounds good to me

Thank you for the updates here and on Discord.

I apologize for my own recent absence.

Loved that chapter ending! ❤️ I'm glad that we are continuing.

7 years! Wheeeeeee! 🥳 I want to thank each one of you for being part of why I love this community!

Congrats!

For me it hasn't even been a year.

rolling for hit points

Laurent is taking a second level as wizard, taking the divination tradition. He's learning Find familiar and witch bolt as spells at 2nd level. So now he has second level slots but no 2nd level spells, it's going to be interesting. I would like for Laurent to summon his familiar during the week, but I'm not sure he has the necessary resources. I assumed we were using average HP, though I personally prefer to roll hp.

We have been given the option to take the average or roll, Matmaisan

Yes, you may use either method for your hit points.

The summoning of the familiar could be an interesting mini quest in and of itself!

Many of your spells (such as Toll the Dead, Ray of Frost, Shocking Grasp) scale up in damage output as you reach certain levels.

Others (such as Witch Bolt, Cure Wounds, Magic Missile, Thunderwave, Bless) can be "up-cast" using a higher level spell slot for additional damage or to affect additional creatures.

I highly recommend using the Notes function in the spells section of the character sheet. It gives both you and the DMs a handy reference right there without having to consult your books or other sites.

Also please set the appropriate spellcasting stat (INT for your Wizard spells, WIS for your cleric spells). This allows your character sheet to correctly compute your spell attack bonus (if the spell requires an attack roll) and also the Save DC to resist it (if the spell can be saved against).

Hope you are all well.

I believe this has been the longest I've ever been without even checking in. Work, family, ordinary troubles consumed the last two weeks. Couldn't manage to check in, much less post. I apologize for dropping out of the face of the earth like this.

I honestly believe I'll be able to post regularly again, though I'll have a lot of catching up to do in this and other games. I'm very sorry for this long absence.

Summoning the familiar through a side quest or part of downtime could be great, indeed.

I believe I've set up the correct attributes on the spells; I had stopped updating the GP sheet since I've been managing Laurent through DnD Beyond. Here he is.

Glad to see you back

Friends, we apologize for the lack of posts. Len and I have both been pretty preoccupied.

Now that you're exploring what (for now) appears to be an empty location, you might want to start going over your plan again. I believe this was where you left it.

Once more, I'd like to apologize for the pacing of my posts. I'm still hoping that a more regular flow should be possible in the next few weeks.

It's all good, matmaisan. We'd all like to be more regular but understandably life often gets in the way. I look forward to each and every post from you folks!

There's no need to roll. Proceed as if you rolled 20 and add your Dexterity modifier. Berry, who is the only one proficient in that skill, also gets to add his Proficiency Bonus. 1.5 times thanks to Expertise, I might add!

Well, basically we roll a stealth check, right?

My bad 😅I misread it every time.

No problem, buddy. You're doing great!

Hey how's everybody? Both IC & OOC?

IC all good. Passing time talking while waiting for the guests to arrive.
OOC all good. Trying to manage the time I have between everything that I want to and have to do.

IC = apprehensive.
OOC = still struggling to post more regularly.

I'm not completely satisfied with the plan, and not sure we can pull it off, but we seem committed to it, so Laurent is ready to go.

IC - excited to see where this goes
OOC - manic, after a week off, catching up with my games has been an uphill battle but I'm just about there.

Hi! Sorry for my sudden and unannounced absence. Hit a road bump IRL. Posted.

As posted on the Absences thread:

Have fun Jabes!

Hey everyone! Welcome back @matmaisan !
Hey, no worries buddy. Taking care of yourself and your family comes first, no question. Personally, I'd rather move forward slowly or take a temporary break rather than move forward without you. How does everyone else feel?

All good here. I'm more than happy with an intermittent pace, I have plenty of games going on that keep me busy.

Same here :)

I'm so sorry about my recent absence. I've been dealing with crises on multiple fronts.

Thank you all for your understanding. This is an exceptional game, and I’m really lucky to be gaming with you all.

All the PCs are great, and though our pace is a little slow and sometimes erratic, I think we're spinning a good story together. Len & I really appreciate everyone sticking around!

Okay, so what's the final plan? What we're hearing is you want to beat the mercs to the stones rather than just follow them. Proactive rather than reactive. Which site do you go for, then?

Sorry about the delay! Water company suddenly announced a 36-hour service outage so we had to scramble to stock up, and now I'm just physically and emotionally exhausted! I should have the next post up later tonight. Thanks!

My next post is ready but I'd love to see what Berry and/or Tilma have to say to Laurent's question first.

I didn't wait for @Knifesedgegames because @Peindora's post (in addition to her thieving earlier) just begged for the next bit of narration. But if Berry had something to do, or say to Tilma and Laurent before the urchins show up, please don't hesitate to describe it!

Sorry for my absence, it will probably last a little longer. My work is keeping me busy. Just put Tilma on Auto. (Busy eating chestnuts)

Thanks for the heads up! I've had a busy weekend so far, but hope to post the kids' reply to Laurent tomorrow.

How's everyone doing? 🙂

Depending on what specific equipment the PCs want to purchase or obtain by some other means, we may or may not roleplay the acquisition.

Safe travels, matmaisan! Enjoy your family time.

same :)

It's a work in progress, but I gave our List of Nouns a bit of an update. 🙂

So about that flammable gas... Tilma has a hooded lantern. Do those also risk igniting the gas or are they isolated enough? I'm not very knowledgeable in the subject

A hooded lantern isn't sealed, though it's reasonable to assume the protective housing would delay contact between the flame and any flammable gasses you might stumble into. Safer than torches. Delays, but doesn't eliminate, the danger.

would it be possible for Tilma to know this with a good enough Inteligence or Wisdom check? And would it be possible to seal it properly using on hand (or easy to find) materials? With an inteligence or perhaps tinkering check?

I'd say the PCs are smart enough to realize this without a check.

Sealing the lamp would cut off its air supply, smothering and snuffing out the flame.

Would be an easy problem to solve if Laurent had the light cantrip, since it gives off light without burning. He could switch cantrips when levelling but I forgot to do so...

The problem with the gas is also suffocation/poisoning... we could have an early warning with a bird... but we'd have to procure one.

Good thing you're in a market that sells anything and everything! 😉

I should have a new post for you folks tonight. Thanks!

Will post today. For realz this time!

Several new posts are up. 😃

Unless you folks (especially @matmaisan) have any more shopping or interacting to do, I'll get us going on the descent to the lower levels. Will wait 24 hours. 🙂

Shouldn't tilma bring the light orb to sewers first? Or is it on our way?

Tilma figures Maude probably ended up where you're headed.

Ok. Ps. She would have "Borrowed" the orb for the expedition anyway.

Ok. Ps. She would have "Borrowed" the orb for the expedition anyway.

Once again, got bogged down with real life. My apologies. Should be able to post regularly.

No worries! Glad to have you back! 😃

I’m still in Sunny Crete. Back tomorrow

Safe travels!

Enjoy!

Ghostly voice from beyond: yes... What do you want us to do...? Master ...

It's @matmaisan's scene, but we can come back to that later.

I just need consensus (IC or OOC) whether you're descending now or after a Long Rest.

None of you've spent any spell slots or other resources today, but when you go too long without resting you risk Exhaustion.It's around 8:00 in the evening. You've been out and about roughly 13 hours so you're still okay.

---

Oops matmaisan just posted. Cool! Will respond shortly.

Sorry for holding things back. Laurent is ok to go now if the trio agree we are prepared.

Berry's all for moving as quickly as possible.

Tilma votes for going. We need to get those orbs before the others.

Let’s go!

Excellent! Will post later today.

Ha ha :D Luckily for them I wasn't able to find time to post. Tilma would have spilled every secret that she knows of, and possibly for free. :D But she was too distracted looking at Berry who seem like he's taken something (I imagine that his eyes look weird from observer's perspective)

It sure does! In fact, it says it must be a ranged or finesse weapon. Yup, just add a 2d6 roll to your existing post.

Just waiting on Tilma now @Peindora. 🙂

Another 7 damage!

Which is why I made her back step. 😉

Ps. If possible I would like her to distance herself as much as possible.

Ooh I missed the back step!

Moving away would provoke an Opportunity Attack if you don’t have some rogue-like ability to Disengage as a bonus action.

Do you want to just take the disadvantage? The lower roll hits anyway.

I don't mind her provoking OA. She is a ranged character that always keeps her distance so there is no reason for her to stay close and all the reasons for her to back away.

Ok, it's your call.

Oof, the croc hits with the OA! But it's hit with 2 crossbow bolts and a ray of frost!

Updating...

The thread is locked. Normal?

A mistake. Fixed now. Sorry about that! 🙂

Remind me, what do we know about that gas?

Reportedly highly flammable🔥 and reportedly dangerous if inhaled 🤢.

Also reportedly smells like fart. 😆💨

Ok, ty

Did the kids come with us?

Nope, you instructed them to keep searching the market levels.

Is Maude hanging around with us?

I have a mind to send a lit torch down the hole. Would rid us of Bartoz' men, or signal our arrival to them, in case they've survived and are further ahead.

Yes, Maude is with you. Her airspeed is 5 feet but you can nudge her sround like a balloon so she doesn't slow you down. Her water speed is 30 feet.

Is she safe, out of water like this, or do we have a bowl in which to keep her?

I refer you to this post.

No fishbowl. Sorry. I asked her to go in the water a little before we continue on. Murky water is better than no water. I presume Laurent doesn't have any water spells or containers to fill with water?

Does she fit in the canary cage?

She's too big for the canary cage. Don't worry about it too much; she'll follow you and take to the water when she needs it.

No water spells, unfortunately.

The mask delayed the effects.

How far was Berry from the bottom when he felt the effects of the noxious air? Trying to get a better idea of how long one would have to hold one’s breath to reach the bottom…

The shaft is 60 feet deep, but the bottom is filled with rubble, so actually 55-ish. Berry is 45 feet down, so he's very nearly there.

If it's just a layer of gas in the shaft, then you won't have to hold your breath for very long. Anyone could manage it without any rolls.

If the entire level is filled with the gas though, that'd be another matter. As no one has explored the bottom and the tunnel(s?), you don't know yet.

I think we can try it again once Timbers has recovered. If he can hold his breath on the last stretch, he might be able to get across a bubble of noxious gas, assuming that's what we're dealing with.

After you pull him up Berry recovers in 1d4 minutes. More prolonged exposure might result in longer-lasting effects.

Dang, we have to find away around this obstacle...

Laurent has two tricks down his sleeves:
- he can bless the three characters, granting a d4 on the CON save; or,
- he can use the portent feature, a diviner power, and make sure that one person he sees can take a high roll for his save.

Is the canary dead, or unconscious?

Sorry for being absent, quite busy lately, don't know when exactly I'll be able to post.

Hope everything is okay, Peindora. Take your time, we'll be here when you have more time!

Thanks for reaching out to us Peindora. Hoping things get back to a more relaxed pace for you soon. Take care of yourself in the meantime!

Don't worry, nothing catastrophic happening here 😆 simply between work and family I don't get much time for personal hobbies ;)