OOC

Not just OOC, but basically anything. For example if you have any questions about still locked threads

Game started here I would suggest to concentrate on story in the game thread. If you want to introduce your PC to other players - user session 0 instead.

As a DM I expect player to describe action his PC does and optionally add skill check roll, though I may be asking for a different skill or may grand advantage/disadvantage to that roll based on context. While your PCs just discuss best course of actions I'm ignoring your posts as DM.

I may also ask player to confirm action describing that that action would require certain risky things, such as moving closer or touching object of your investigation; spending significant time to perform perception check for an area bigger than few inches, etc.

As I'm new to 5th ed I have to ask:
Is there a reason for Zean not to have Resistance casted on him all the time outside of combat, during dungeon crawl? As I understand there is no mechanical cost for using it? Is there? Maybe some other things connected to that?

d4 maybe isn't much... but sometimes it can provide just the necessary amount... :-)

No reason to not cast it. You can assume it is always on and just add 1d4 when it applies.

Just sort of hit me how useful resistance might be in a big traps/puzzles game. Guidance is usually my choice there but for a game as describes could cone in clutch

That is the main reason for how I built Vatoris.
I should be able to spot and or trigger most traps.
16 passive Perception
17 passive investigation
+12 stealth with adv.

perception only help with mechanical traps. While your high perception will be of a use here and there, be prepared that scenario for lvl 9 PCs will mostly contain magical traps.

That is what detect magic is for.
I can cast it as a ritual but we have to wait 10mins to do it.

Can I just say I had one of those "wait was that a homebrew/Dm specific thing I have always done" moments.

Readying an action out of combat is a regular thing in my home games, most PbP games I just haven't had the need to try and do it. Looked it up, yeah not a thing in most games. Complicated game you learn something new every time.

I think RAW readying an action can only be done in combat.
It is not an outside of combat thing.

That is what I am saying, just one of those. Played it a certain way for so long without realizing it wasn't RAW. Though that DM is so stingy on certain RAW things surprised he allows it then.

Not just RAW but logically - if your opponent expects a fight - they would also be "ready" for an action. So who goes first if everyone is ready to ? That's the whole purpose of initiative roll and action order based on dice roll.

That totally makes sense, no argument here just thought it was one of those moments where you just go "I guess I have been doing this wrong for a long time"

My IRL DM, basically makes it so the only way to get a surprise attack is a readied action regardless of anything else. Most cases this would be used for setting ambushes, though the method has been used for instances like I was going for as well (basically anti-Surprise).

Reading the arguments for/against this, I do think I am leaning on the side of the RAW side of it. Though, if my IRL DM wants to run it that way, can only help me in that game. Just have to remember it isn't standard operating procedure in most instances

Great! So I started to work on some snippet/template for my PCs status - that I intend to use when something will change. Right now it looks something like this:But maybe it would be better to have it always displayed at the end of my posts - as:



What do you think guys? Would be useful? I plan to use it only when something will change about my PC?

City? So the tomb is in the borders/perimeters of some city? I didn't catch that if it was mentioned earlier (sorry in that case! ).

Besiedes: its interesting... so if it is a tomb of gods that represents those spices , and there are no spices of the said animals that are treated here as gods... so maybe we will help to free them from some kind of prison or something... hmm... and introduce to the environment... we will see:) Excited to see what will be next! :)

I was trying to sketch stone slab but result is so ugly that I'm not putting it into the story, but this is what I've managed

Looks good to me. Thanks!

Thanks for putting effort in our game! I helps visualize how this looks.

Due to vacation by the end of the week I may be posting less frequent or less detailed. Please be also prepared I may not post at all. Thanks for patience.

Have a great time! Thanks for heads up.

I keep telling my players that most of the WotC content, including puzzles are created for 12 years old kid to be able to solve. You may need to think simpler rather than harder. You solve no math equations, apply geometry formulas or use laws of physics to solve these puzzles.

P.S. I believe puzzles in 5e in particular and RPG in general are for players not for PCs. At the table I play ToA with we had a puzzles that took hours and one even weeks of offline time to finally get solved. When I see all 6 players struggle to find solution I will be providing hints, but so for you made a great progress with no hits yet. You are doing great as a team

So far, I'm quite pleased with your DM activities.

Appreciated.

Voted later buy I feel a middle ground.

In this case wemaybe "when you wear the pendant near the obelisk it will start pulling you into a new direction."

I mean...that could be a trap for all we know. You don't know if it is a good pull or bad pull. Etc

Sorry for the absence. My cat died and I'm now catching up with my games.

I like OSR style/approach a lot, so for me obviously the second option: more by experience and experimentation, than by roll of a die. But I understand that in PbP format it can be hard - the rest of the players probably will not want to wait, while one or two of them will experiment with the item. So I like you took some kind of middle approach.

Only, I would change this description:
For something that is happening in-game, to not loose "immersion". Maybe something like this: "When Vatoris ended his detailed identification ritual, happy that the amulet is not cursed he tried it on, knowing that it has some direction indication properties. Standing near the obelisk, as soon as amulet has fallen on his chest he started to feel sudden urge to go west." (I know that description isn't any good, but I have very little time now).

Just wanted to show my ideas/view on this. No big deal in general for me:)
Peace is very ok with me. I must say I was much more excited about the puzzles than I expected:) I hope that other players are fan of them too, as sometimes it felt that only Tinkara and Vatoris were active in solving them? But maybe it was due the fact that we were able to post more frequently? So I would like to ask if I i.e. should wait for others some more next time? Or they are more exited about coming battles, than puzzles or something like that?

I always wonder how to achieve good balance of being active enough to move game further, and not being TOO active and not stealing the spotlight in PbP format. It's not good when all players wait for others and games start to stall...

I am having fun with the style as is. As for experiments, if I had multiple ones I might say "I look at it from the back, Put it on, throw it away to see what happens." If you go in that order before and stopping or narrating through at specific points. I am cool with it

I am okay with you advancing the story if people (self included) are not responding in a timely fashion. I do this with my IRL games as well... I'm not sidetracking the story if 1 person is missing. Into the background and on with the story.

What class is Tinkara?

Just thought of a way to get through some possible traps.
Fly into the bag of holding. Then we get you pass to see if there is an off switch on the other side.

Tinkara is a sorceror.

Completely valid points! Was just sharing my ideas. Not claiming that they are any/always good:)

Didn't expect anything "colorful", just suggested maybe we could keep the descriptions in-fiction, but... as written earlier: not big deal for me. I was good as it was handled too:)

Thanks for the tip! Very balanced one.

But I would like to ask about something else: since it look like probably we are getting close to enter the tomb, I would like to ask you how we will handle food rations? I'm asking, because maybe we should do some hunting or something like that first, before entering the tomb... especially as it seams that the outer doors could close after us... :)

I don't want ration management in a LVL 9 game
We ignore food/water need. Let's assume you have a magic item that provide you with water and nourishment.

Besides what are the reasons for our PCs to go into the tomb - I presume it was established in earlier events?
Why we do it? What we know about it? Or we are there rather for treasures mentioned by Acererak?

Ok, cool with me:)

I read this post as basically we are after the Bad Guy:) I wondered if there is something more to it. At it seams to be:) So we also are trying to save some undead person/creature? Or she was "simply" raised from death? Otherwise why the curse would be effecting her?

If those question bothers you, just say so and ignore them:) Just wanted to know how strong motivation our PC have. If it is "only" the money and power:)

We skipped 4 chapters - I was more surprised you had no questions before :)

NPC hired you is retired adventurer. She were killed at lest once in her career but cleric in her party cast Revivify after the battle.

P.S. You were probably confused by "raising of the dead" term. That has nothing to do with undead. It refers to all types of resurrection spells that returns a dead character to normal life. In 5e all resurrection type spells ar of school Necromancy.

Great! Thanks. Interesting. But we do it for money that she will pay us, or some other motivations are in too?

Oh... saving the world! It's quite meaningful motivation I must say! :) (and having backup plan of getting back from death possibility, is not back too). All clear now! Thanks. With this info, probably I will be able to incorporate this in future RPs:)

Will there be some way to communicate between those in the tunnel and those outside of it, when the door will close? Vatoris has something like telepaty? Or maybe Tinks?

I do have Message not sure how thick the stone is to use it.

Looks cool! I hope we will be able to use it:)

Tinks has no such spells.

Thanks for that! It will be very handy. I noted those piton in my sheet too. So now I will erase it :)

How does it work in 5e? Will Tinkara get some more damage over time? Should I cast Lesser restoration on her?

Ok, thanks a lot for explanations! It's a little strange that there is not damage over time - but putting the "state" into the condition also have some sense. And definitely simplify things - so you don't have to remember to add the damage i.e. each round:)

So Tinkara don't have Poisoned condition right now? Or does she?

That's nasty, but interesting poison! :)

I don't want to roll for healing until I'm sure Ixion doesn't get accidentally dropped onto the spikes below. :P

might be slow to post next few days, going on a mid-week vacation with the family. Will try and at least check once a day :)

Have a great time with family !

Let me disagree here.

Spell say the wind is able to blow object 15 feed per 6 seconds, i.e. less than 3 feet per second. And that's sport shooting where speed is not important, so I guess if you want to inflict damage you would throw it even faster.
I just searched interned and first numbers I found say humans who practice the sport throw darts at a speed of 15-20 km/h, which is about 15 feet per second.

P.S. This is not withing 5e rules, it is my as DM's approach to limit all spells to not allow spell caster do more than they are already able to achieve with their spells. It simply feel pity for those martial class PCs when spell casters are able to achieve anything simply altering their spell to suit their needs.

Ok. It looks that you were right and I was wrong:) Thanks for clarification.
Very good approach in my opinion. And I'm glad you take this into consideration. It looks like it's even more required for 5e.

And - outside this game - it looks like another pro for OSR style - where spell casters have much less spells (slots) available (like 0 or 1 on 1st level!) - so it makes much more sense to allow them get creative when they have this "rare" occasion to use their spells in game session.

From other side it looks that it is true that (sometimes? ) 5e is indeed restricting player creativity and thinking out of the box, making them look constantly on the rules and sheets - I was always curious if that was true, or it was only some "OSR lovers bias" :) At least in this instance it looks that way.

But I'm starting too see why some people like 5e so much:)

All this: it's nothing against your GMing style! I like it a lot. Just commenting on how 5e feels to newbie and how it's rules seem to shape the kind of game players (including GMs of course ) are playing :)

This devil face is somehow connected with the gargoyles we were encountering earlier? Do we know anything about the masks in the context of earlier adventures in this lands?

Friends, I am very sorry, but I must withdraw. RL has gotten busy for me, and pulling me away from PbP. I hope everyone is well, and I’m sorry for any inconvenience this causes. Take care.

Ok with me.

Sad to see WhiteDwarf, but it's only an entertainment so the real life is always more important :) Best of luck to you WhiteDwarf!

I'm ok, with continuing with 5 :) But also wondering if there will be a possibility to hire/convince some help in the tomb to join us - probably highly unlikely, but you never know with "those tombs" ;) (and no... I don't want any spoilers - unless we had any info about this subject from ours earlier adventures ? )

Level 9, I presume?

I don't think we can see DMPc

I can't locate/see it either.

---

I would want to be sure: does it mean there is another tunnel on the other side of chamber with sarcophagus ? As it is not visible on the map?

Ups that's a mistake. It is a view from tunnel into the chamber. Please read it as
"An arched crystal window at the west end of the tunnel offers a view into the chamber."
I will update thread later

I did not know you could do that!!!
That is awesome. Thank you!

for the record, me the player thinks what I just did was a terrible idea but meh roleplay

I think I and Zean would like to try to knock off a mask from one of the undead's heads? Can I? With, let's say: long sword. How would it work from mechanics point of view? Would be perfect if in the same process I would be able to deal some damage too:) Maybe I will leave it after the first zombie will be down, but would like to know what options are available?

That felt like a fistful of dice turn

Question...do I still get the Reach benefits without being able to grow? I don't think so but thought I would ask

Hey, you are high lvl PCs, that's expected. Please expect also quite some rules clarifications as I want in a game strictly based on WotC module follow the rules as WotC intend. More in rules clarification

That is hilarious!

I will make my move in about 3-4h from now. Sorry, busy week and a lot have happened in this game and I'm still new in this game, so it will take me some time to decide and describe what I'm doing. The good thing is: it will be faster with each consecutive move:)

wouldn't it actually be a straight roll...I used Reckless Attack so they get advantage from that.

yeah, the thought was "Hit me, not anyone else" barbarian resistances. Sort of "soft tank"

talking of 6 second rounds. Please don't treat this as criticism. But I challenge you to quote aloud
"In the name of Brightest of the all Lightnings... that is always hidden in the very center of the Greatest Storm... I COMMAND YOU... BOW before... and RUN from... the purest FORCE!"
In the tone you intended and proper stops where ... stated. How much time would this take for you? For my brain to not blow up I'll assume either PC continue this through the next round or two or perhaps that was what PC intended to say but we only hear a part of it.

P.S. I will not limit your talking as a DM. As a play I recommend to imagine yourself in your PC shoes wearing the heaver armor, variety of weapons and trying to block enemy blades during the combat. You may discover new level of game play experience

Thanks for this explanation. Looked completely fair and logical. I like your interpretation, but during the fight I was thinking that they are quite strong so I focused on killing them.

If it will not spoil anything for the future events: would knocking off the mask had some effect not the undead? :) I'm - as usual - curious:)

Hmmm... ! That is interesting on many levels! But I will try keep it short - so please remember that I'm still new to 5e and try to figure out "what kind of game those rules encourage and how do people play it" - so as I usually use sentences in "claiming mode"(somehow it's my nature - to challenge people to not agree with some of my claims - if they think so :) - I'm fully aware that I may be very wrong in many places:)

1. So you think/see 5e combat as very "realistic"?? It's surprising for me... As so far I have seen/perceived it as very abstract/boardgame'y combat rules? Where people think more about what abilities/powers to use from their PC sheets, rather then how it will look and what will be an effect in fiction(apart from chopping some HP)? So I have seen my (probably poor) attempts to RP my combat actions as quite separate from the combat rules. Like narration is only for flavor...

Don't get me wrong I love abstract games and have probably much to many boardgames(most euro) + like me same skirmish games, so generally it's nothing wrong to me and probably it is one of those reasons why DnD 5ed is so popular - players don't "have to" RP too much, at least in combat + they can tinker with their PC stats and powers to their hearts content:)

But generally from RPGs I expect something different... more visual, more in imagination, more free-form, in-book-like with much more granular interaction with the in fiction world:) Probably it's the reason I will stick with OSR-style in the future.

So: you see 5e combat as very "realistic" and good for making it inline with PC actions in fiction? Good for RPing it ? That would be very interesting as I didn't see that too much in games I have read here on GP so far? (I have not IRL experiences with 5e). If the answer is: yes -> I'm willing to reconsider my view on this subject.

It's also not a criticism in any way, just want to establish what is expected from me in 5e game - and adjust to that. At least for the duration of this game:)

2. You are completely right - no way to say it in proper way in 6 seconds! :) So for this instance I see it as: Zean started his "invocation" in this particular round - the powers started to take effect on undead, because the power is more about force of will and faith of Zean, rather than the words alone. The words only seal the power that was invoked by Zean dedication and he was continuing to say them during the next round. As far as I know saying something is incidental/free action - so they shouldn't have impact on Zean drawing his maul and attacking the undead in the same time? And to make it more logical - there was not a singel flash from Zean's focus( Eye of the storm) but few separated by exactly 1 second each - like making a rentgen photos, but with lightening flash:) And they left the stronger mark with each flash on the under guards.

3. Thanks for all your comments and sharing your perspective - I like to learn how people see their games and systems:)

I do not say 5e IS anything. I don't see it being strictly something but a framework for playing any style of a game you want to play. Have you seen critical role? I enjoy that show, but I don't play 5e the way they do. I only wanted to suggest try play realistic. You may not like it (not everyone does), but you can't know until you try, can you?

Ok, fair enough. So I will precise my question: how do you see our game of 5e? What do you expect to see?

There was very interesting video about similar subject recently by Ben Milton:
"You shouldn't use DnD for narrative campaigns."

My opinion on the subject: some systems encourage some styles of play by the way rules are constructed:) And I see 5e rules as one of example of this. But it doesn't mean you can't play with those rules in other way.
Yes... I have seen some longer fragments of their show, but I completely NOT dig them.
The style I like the most - to watch, but probably play too (but you have to have a proper group for this) - is that represented by Glass Cannon Network.
Hmmm... but it definitely dictates how crunchy(and long) the combat have to/is... Plus - so far - I don't see how rules would help making it cinematic. So far I don't see things like (amazing) rule from Dungeon Crawl Classic: Mighty Deeds of Arms. Video on the subject from 5e perspective. Or providing every character with similar possibilities in combat like with Exploits in recent Tales Of Argosa. So far I don't see how rules would help games of 5e be more cinematic.

Personally I started to think 5e is so popular because it is very board-gamy, so good for min-maxers, provides a power fantasy for players (a lot of power, no responsibility/consequences) and crunchy combat rules makes RPing unnecessary, but possible. And I think most players are not so comfortable with too much roleplaying - especially those newer to the hobby. More like Diablo, than point-and-adventure game. But I know that many groups play it differently.

And there is nothing bad with it. It just looks that way to me. And I see when and how it can be exciting:)
Exactly! Coming from OSR mindset I like it to be more "realistic". Thanks for this suggestion! I will try it. :)

I would just like to apologize.
My energy level, motivation, and mental focus have completely dropped.
I have had no energy to post or do anything on any of the games I am currently playing in.
It has nothing to do with you as DM, the game, or the players.
I have just lost all motivation to type up anything.

I will try and work to fix this but IDK what to do.
It might just be from added stress or other BS reason.

Once again I am sorry. Give me a little bit.

@Smiley feel better soon! We all have these times. It will get better.

Take care Smiley!

Hi I'm traveling right now for holiday purposes with my family(holiday season in my country), so until end of the week I will probably be not able to make any posts. And as I usually don't play at weekends and Monday will be quite hard at work for me, effectively I will be able to post at Monday evening. But will try to do so earlier. Until then: Zean will fallow along, try to protect his friends and heal them if they will be low on HP.

That seems entirely appropriate to me.

sorry for the delay, things have been a little weird with family stuff

My other "wondering" about recent and current situation:
- would "Freedom of Movement" when Throign was attracted by "magnetic" armor ?
- assuming that: after pressing the plates on the floor in the current corridor the propeller will start to rotate and by this it will make a air pull towards it - as this is what I think will happen, but one can't be sure of course :) - but, assuming that: would Freedom of Movement spell work to go freely in the air current ?

Other question:
- doeas propeller look like one that could be broken by force ? i.e. Thorgin hammer and strength ? :)

Ok, thanks for clarifications! They sound very sound and fair! :)

I think I am going to have to drop out.
My wife and I have been sick for like 3+ weeks now.
High Fevers, Lethergy, Coughing, sore thoat and such.
We have been to the doctor and it is not Covid nor a Flu they don't know what it is.

I have had no energy to do anything. Barely any energy to check the game I am running.

I am sorry. I did enjoy this while I was able....

I think we need someone good with sensing magic in this dungeon. So loosing Vatoris could be disastrous to our expedition. I'm for keeping him as NPC (hopefully Smiley will feel better soon, and maybe even will be able to get back to the game someday) in our game. He will provide us this important info about magical nature of things and could be used to give hints "in fiction" as you already do GM.

Thanks for that! That means "only" +5 and probably test wasn't passed? And my dispel magic spell didn't worked? That was the cause of skull breaking out of the box?

Oh, damn. "Speak no truth to the doomed child". My fault. Sigh.

Throgin was so worried he decided....nah I will just ho last

Next to last. LOL!

Well, speaking as a DM I totally agree with you. Of course it's hard to relate those things sometimes, as a player. This was a pretty straightforward clue, though, and I feel a teeny bit stupid that the light bulb didn't come on.

We'll see if Tinkara survives to initiative 6, I guess. LOL!

No problem Thorsman! I didn't expect it to be relevant to this chamber either:) Now we have to survive it together :)

Dear GM, two things:
1. I think Zean would know that - is this flying skull susceptible to Turn Undead ?
2. Channel Divinity charges - I think we had made a short rest after fighting the first 6 undead in masks, hadn't we? If I remember it correctly it would mean I should have full/2 Channel Divinity charges, not 1 as noted in my sheet? Or I forgot some use of if after that? Or there was no official rest?

Thanks for answers! Noted 2 CD on my sheet then - before maybe using one of it (just thinking what to do).

I think we PCs should explicitly state our actions, especially in such a deadly, trap-ridden place of evil.

I'm fine with your current approach. If you feel like we have stalled, please let us know.

+1 +1.

yep I am good with that. I think Throgin is ready to leave and will go last.

As DM, it's your game and whatever you decide I will play by. In my own games, I make use of the passive perception scores for the players to notice "something feels off here", and then use investigation to find the mechanism. Another DM I know plays such that any check below your passive comes out as your passive, thus making the passive score a "floor" for checks. Not saying either of these are superior, just relating how I play and some alternatives that I've seen played.

@thorsman99 thanks for sharing I am already using passive perception in this game the same as you do. My question is about things no PC Passive Perception is good enough. And yes I've just given away that spotting secret doors has DC of at least 20 because you have a PC with Passive Perception: 19.

Please do your vote assuming that Passive Perception can't help you

Oh mam I totally didn't see the poll

Sorry for delay. I like your option the most from proposed. Certainly. But I think it is - in general - good idea to provide some consequences of staying in one place and repeating the same things all the time for players. So I would extend your option with this addition(as I like the idea of "step dice" very much):
- with each attempt of searching, after the first one - player also roll d20 -> rolling 1 on this, makes something bad happen to him/her. The next attempt would with d12 and also 1 mean bad luck. Next d10 and so on until d4.

Or alternative without step dice (probably even more handy and elegant) :
- with each rise of DC by 1, Critical Failure threshold rises also. So with the first roll searching, DC is normal and only rolling 1 is bad lack. Second roll its: DC+1 and on 1-2 on D20 you get Critical Failure, third it is DC+2 and 1-3 threshold for CF, and so on...

So it's like a mix of 1st option and 2nd, but with nice progression of risk and push your luck aspect:) And the PC should not be afraid to roll - the first time:) (as many would be with clean 2nd option)

for the record, I don't know for certain but my meta-theory is this is an immovable rod. Which could stop the fans from moving and allow everyone in.

In roleplay, Throgin is reckless and dumb

told you Throgin was dumb

Yipes! Fingers crossed for Throgin's roll.

That +7 constitution save tells me I was the right person to do this

Should have just hit him twice while raged...minimum damage with GWM and rage would have been 19 thunder damage.

@Pedrop as much as I remember you are new to 5e. My as experienced player opinion:
using spell slots for healing is a waste of a spell slot. Only cast those spells in critical situations (PC get to 0 HP). PCs are expected to heal using hit dice during a short rest.
Exceptions exist. There some sub-classes with boosted healing spells, such as Life Domain Cleric. And there are some "slow but powerful healing spells".

I wasn't even 100% sure we would level up so that is nice

As for healing...yeah it isn't great in 5e. "Yo-yo" healing is the obvious play for this. I know GreyWord and I are in another game where he basically healed my paladin every turn from 0, and I dealt so much more damage that way than small heals while still alive.

I think the thing I struggle with most as a DM in 5e is the long rest healing thing. Just offends my sensibilities.

just that it heals everything?

Yes, exactly.

Aw shucks, don't do anything special because of me.

Ok, thanks Gray for advices.

So no healing folks... until you die! :)
I hate it too.

Hi. I will be on my vacation from 12th until 21st. With no possibility to post. And as I will have increased workload before and after this period IRL I will be much slower(or not at all) with my posting from 10th and until 23th. Just wanted to let you all know beforehand. So hopefully my PC could stay in background or GM: please bot him:)

No vacation here but I do have a broken right shoulder, so what posts I do make will probably be a bit more terse than usual.

What happened?!

Fall on stairs at work. Landed on cement floor. Failed both Dex and Con saves.

At least it's not worse, and I'm glad you had good healers available.

Agreed. I was pretty fortunate. Didn't hit my head or anything. Didn't even damage the floor. Lol! ;)

didn't damage the floor because you didn't hit your head?

Precisely. My head is really hard. Just ask my wife. Lol!

Must be more active.
After the time tunnel, let's explore 3/the tomb.

Perfect

Posting as player, not as DM and only trying to be helpful, not criticize, but I know my as person persuasion skill is very low, so please bear with me if it doesn't sound helpful at all. I only try to be

Do you fear of making mistakes ? Fear of regret?
This may have been a geniality of module designer or coincidence, but I believe that the idea is following: all the hints that designer of this dungeon put there are not designed to help you, but to fear. To fear the mistake.

So trying to be helpful I'm reading some articles on overcoming this paralysis. Option to base decision on data is not your option - this module is designed to force you go train and error path. But other ides such as "accept that mistakes will happen", "use deadlines" and "Don’t consider too many options".

Your DM could try to help implementing last two if you ask him, but yet again - I'm posting this only as a person trying to be helpful. As a DM I will be waiting for your decision as long as it takes (well probably not longer than 2 weeks).

I find it helpful what you write. I'm only back from vacation so didn't want to make any decisions, being away for some time and maybe not realizing everything:) But soon Zean will be full in his "curious mode":)

I think I'm novice GM, but when I have read about "use deadlines" - understood by me as 'always considering that not making a decision is a decision, and the time flows so something bad can happen if you will think/debate too long, so there is a time pressure' (mainly from [liked by me] OSR style approach) - it made a lot of sense. If there is not time pressure why not play it the most safe way? :)

From my side: I think I will be more proactive and risky from now on - thanks for pointing all of this out:)

I have a one minute "hour glass" timer behind my GM screen. When my players are dithering endlessly I put it out on the table. They get the idea very quickly. ;)

honestly, I think one of the issues I am running into is generally how I figured Throgin would follow more during exploration encounters, unless being a bumbling fool. I think the "stakes" of the exploration have "froze" me (the player) a bit into falling back into this instead of working on the "run into it like a dope" method more.

Throgin is VERY quick to act in combat and breaking stuff, slow in exploration. Hindsight/learning might need to be a bit less focused on this to help the group as a whole.

A bit busy atm. I'll catch up over the weekend.

Love this art! Can I print it and hang in my living room? ;)

Seriously: you caught the epic'ness of the situation perfectly:)

Tinks' wings are almost as perfect as my legs!P.S. This time completely serious: thanks for your efforts to explain the situation so well!

BTW the 'pour' was about possibility of water getting into the closed sarcophagus/stone coffin after it is closed, not the gargoyles heads:)

Thanks for Rules clarification - I get what you meant, and fully submit to your decision here:)

Actually surprise round is the only mechanic in 5e I'm not convinced with. Given turn is 6 seconds surprise means some characters or some enemy is unable to act for whole 6 seconds of the combat...
In my whole 5e career there were single moment when I was happy to give surprise round:I will seldom be doing this "unaware" instead of "surprised" when you expect but just don't see enemy before it attacks and simply bypass initiative roll announcing one party auto failed initiative

Waiting to see what effects will have Tinks spell. But wondering in the mean time:
- I presume Sleet Storm would not freeze the wine elemental as the spell is only about creating slippery surface - and 5E rules are very strict? :)
- Can I call in that room:?? Or the room is too small? Not outside air?

This is exactly what I meant! ;-D

You know... I'm "this bad person, that likes to mock DnD 5E of trying to be a war-game disguised as RPG"... but I'm hope that you already learned that I'm harmless ;)
Hmmm... I don't want to argue here... but too me it seams that "When you cast the spell, choose a point you can see under the cloud." refers to the cloud you have (just) created "in previous paragraph"? And "Cast the spell" - in this sentence - refer to the first and next rounds while you are maintaining concentration? And the main question is if I can create this magic cloud at all in this room?

"A storm cloud appears in the shape of a cylinder that is 10 feet tall with a 60-foot radius, centered on a point you can see within range directly above you. The spell fails if you can’t see a point in the air where the storm cloud could appear (for example, if you are in a room that can’t accommodate the cloud)."

SO I read it that way: I have to have at least 10 feet above Zean head so the cloud could be accommodate and appear in the first place.

And I must say it's quite logical and thematic(few points for designers :) : it's hard to imaging making such cloud in low corridor - as you would be in the cloud itself. But if you have a high cave - why couldn't there appear a magical cloud at its celling? :)

---

Ok... stepping a few steps back.... I think... I just wanted to experience how it is to argue about the rules in 5E, as I heard this is significant part of time you spend playing it... :-P (I know I'm bad! :-P )

But... let's not waste any more time on it: I fully accept decision of my GM -> I can't cast Call Lightning in this room. End of discussion:)

Sorry, I'm not really good at explaining things please read this forum post for a better explanation

Thanks. I will read it at later time. I trust your judgment so no need to do it now:)

@annex just to let you know we are waiting for your combat turn post.

Update: I'm going to autopilot Ixion until @annex is able to take it over. Will do my best to utilize it's abilities and will assume he is at least somewhat team player

You've utilized him well. I'm really sorry about the delays in responding. I'm trying to get Life to stop Lifing quite so hard.

@thorsman99 ok some met info to better explain enemy movement/attack (which I admit I don't have the enough vocabulary skills to explain nice) or if case it seems like DM is cheating on you:
1) Your enemy has following attack:
Reach 10 ft., one creature
If the target is Medium or smaller, it is grappled and pulled 5 feet toward the __creature name__....


2) As you just figured out this creature do see you through the wine. If I were you I would probably guess it has blindsight (which is most reasonable for a creature that experience no ayes and live in wine)

3) What you should't know is if this creature has more than 30 feet of movement because 30 would be enough to move 10 -> attack you and pull 5 due to attack feature -> move 10 back at cost of 20 (because grappling)


But I can spoil that I wouldn't be moving enemy so "optimally", I only did this because creature has much more that 30 feet of movement speed

P.S. I did only one "hack" however. In technical terms this creature is large, so it was supposed to occupy 10x10x10 feet square, but based on fact that it was able to freely move through 2 feet wide mouth and due to a few other reasons I decided that in this combat creature is able to maintain itself in 2x10x10 feet and does that because feels like you are taking upper hand.

Ok, just getting clarity. Thanks!

Ok, that clear the situation. If it's not strong enough to force its way by demolishing the stone structure of those tunnels or the entrance door to the chamber -> it solves the case. There was no point for Zean to do what I have described in the post, so probably we will delete it in the future, but for now I don't have other ideas what to do, so I will be waiting for others suggestions. Not stopping to thinking in the meantime:)

You certainly helped me not to be stuck.

I have a confession to make... ;)

I was so immensely disappointed that the "solution" for the "wine room" was "just run fast enough for the descending stone door", that I opened the module and checked how this room was designed by authors. Another disappointment: as it turned out that the solution is to use one specific ability (spell to be precise) from one of our PCs sheet... is it a standard approach in WotC's (design) modules? No way for character to solve the puzzle "in world, by using current environment" - instead only by using class abilities???

Just opinion: action movies quite often are about "run fast enough" not sure why it should be disappointing in a game. Perhaps I made it such as a DM, sorry for that. It must have been described as fantastic performance by your barbarian.

Facts: Tomb of 9 gods is not a puzzle. It is a place full of traps. Traps that are not designed in a way that "people who know the trap could pass it safely". Acererak don't need safety.
If you are looking for puzzles with "the solution", you should try chapter 3, but I'm rather disappointed about experience puzzle solving RPGs provide over PBP. I'm not running that chapter any time soon again (I did start once, but gave up).

Update: I mean it is not typical for WotC but typical for this chapter in this module that it was expected that you trigger all of the traps.
Because this is evil tomb. Hints written on walls are not to help your PCs but have fun of them.
And still you are going to make it... well maybe at a cost of some dead PCs replaced by other PCs, but you will prevail despite Acererak's evil genius and effort.

No, no! Please don't take it personally! To be honest I have NO idea what/how you could GMed recent events differently/better. It's only a WotC designers mindsets that still "amazes" me. In many places it seams as they are "requiring" players to "think trough their PC's sheets/rules", rather trough what their PC are experiencing in fiction...

Good point about just running in the movies! And it was exciting and interesting to be left alone while others were simply faster running towards exit. Seeing what was happening next. For the first time. :) But using it as "solution/bypassing" this trap didn't felt good to me, considering interesting environment and those hints from the lore.

No, I was thinking about "solution" - meant as ways to disarm this trap. And it turns out that designers planned it also. But in this room it is lame.

I also think that puzzles in PbP are very hard to do in proper way:)

Ok! So there is hope! :) Thanks for this explanation. It makes a lot of sense now!

No feedback from me. I agree we need more active players.

Nothing to add to. Unfortunately valdattaMadun indeed looks like inactive user, but Annex seam to log from time to time, so hoping will be back with us.

Well, I am glad to be part of this glorious story and hope my character survives long enough for us to all get to know each other better :)

Hello Psybermagi! Glad to have you with us!

Greetings!

Hi, looking forward to meeting y'all too. Not dying would also be good.

Hello Badbaron! Also looking forward to meeting you and seeing how the "new life" in our group will ignite some new ideas, views and approaches:) But most of all: new stories:)

Ah, Pedrop. When we finish this, I will sit down and tell stories by the hour. But for now, we are living one.

On an OOC note, I was choosing half feats to bring my Wisdom up and it seemed from in game comments by GM that you had a great Perception skill and probably the Skilled feat. If not, I can put my half feat into Skilled but don't want duplicate your skillset as we are already both Clerics, otherwise probably Telekinesis.

heightened insight might not be bad? I only got a couple chapters into the story last time I played but there were other NPC groups/factions in the area

From what I read in the thread, seems to be a trap heavy environment. Extremely trap heavy from what the GM has told us. That's why I'm look at either heightened perception to spot them or mage hand to mess with them.

I've got mage hand but plan to spend much of my time in my wild shape beast forms for heightened senses and/or combat ability

Did you take Telepathic as a half feat? It's nice to be able to participate in conversation while Wild Shaped and if you spot a trap, you can warn the rest of us though there are ways around that (pantomine bear strikes again).

Good idea. I had not. Will look into it

The big area you are in right now is more than 100 feet tall room and you are now at a balcony . "Roof" if about 30 feet above you, though 25 foot above you is the balcony of previous level.
Look at this sketch - brown as syairs and balcony, black - walls, ceilings and floor of the levels.


Hope this is helpful

For my part assume anything listed to Nyx is shared with the group. If I want to keep anything private I will let Grey know

Yeah I was unsure if they were in the doors holes due to trying to reach us or bring replied by the chariot.

I enjoy puzzles with IRL games but am finding it harder in PbP

The question and the poll above is only about following: do you as players want to tell me "I have a feeling there might be a hidden door right here" or you don't.

@badbaron your PC noticed everything that was possible to notice at a distance.
Hidden things made by semi-god in this dungeon are hidden so well that you need to do more that just take a look at it.

I suggest imagine for example: you are carefully scanning every inch of the wall, touching it to see if there is any tiny difference in the structure until you finally realize there are 3 tiny dots on the wall and pressing them all while simultaneously putting all your effort to try to move the wall sideways allows you to open the secret door.

I'm good with you telling us all the obvious things we can see from 10+ feet away but our having to declare and look for the detail work.

Same here.

Hi, all. My heart hasn't been in this game for a while, and I'm just holding it up unnecessarily. For everyone's sake, I'll just drop out now. Thanks for the effort, GreyWord, and I hope the game continues from strength to strength.

Fair. I will run Ixion as NPC for a little while and later recruit another player.

Just saw this in Games Tavern:

@Psybermagi I've decided to stop being a rules enforcer. Tired of being the bad guy. You make you own decision. I'm fine even if you decide you can throw your spider mouth to bite and reappear in it's chest, LOL


If you ask my opinion/suggestion - here are my opinion:
1) If it say "weapon of your choice that you are holding" then I read that you need to be holding a weapon in your hand and spider has no hands and not holding anything in them
2) Your rage "When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain ..."

I'm looking at Giant Spider bite and trying to guess if it is using Strength. Facts:
1. Giant spider has +2 Str and +3 Dex. It has Proficiency Bonus +2
2. Bite damage is 1d8+3
3. Bit to hit is +5 (which is PB+3)
I have an impression that Spider bite is dex based

yeah, I forgot the rage was STR only damage and dont think the wild magic helps right now, but the damage resistance will help

@Pedrop it's been 5 days (3 working days) since my last post. I know your situation changed and your posting rate is to be reduced. I still hope you will be able to post at least few times a week. I want this game to run at least 2-3 posts per week to get me engaged.

Meanwhile to get game delay game moving I will auto pilot Zean casting cantrip (Sacred flame) just before I'm going to post enemy turn. But please feel free to jump in at any time taking Zead back over.

@Psybermagi I suggest you to revisit spell "Vortex Warp" description. Is specifically say that you can only target another creature, not yourself. That's how the spell is intended to differ from other teleportation spells.

@badbaron did you just cast two level spells on the same turn - one as action and another as bonus action? In 5e You can't do that:
To help you with the situation I could make Zean do turn undead this round before Nyx turn, that will most probably give him a way for retreat. He has the last use left. What does everyone think? I need at least two votes for.

removed post and will wait for the effects of Zean's turn before acting

Sorry, screwed up, will remove Spiritual Hammer and fix the post.

Hi, sorry for delays on my side... :( I have a little epidemic in my house, with some nasty virus, still lurking from previous week :( My youngest one is currently in hospital, but everything should end good. Realistically I will be able to post the soonest on Friday... But will try earlier. Please continue to bot Zean, yes he would gladly use Turn Undead for the benefit of the party:)

Fumble! I think I actually missed trying to hit a pot. Seems unlikely, but maybe it jarred the hammer out of my hands or it slipped and hit myself in the foot or something. Them pots is tricksy you know.

Announcement 1: I've decided to start rolling physical dice instead of always typing things in gamersplane. lvl 9 combat with DM-led-NPCs is sometimes is overwhelming...

Announcement 2: as a rule of thumb I post NPC round actions last - after PCs have done their job. NPCs will try to replicate team strategy, i.e. if I see team attacking cauldrons, so will NPCs do.
If you ever want to go after NPC - please write OOC note for me with suggested NPC strategy for the turn. Thanks.

now as cauldron room is cleared anyone want me to spoil what was the way to avoid combat and which hint were supposed to probably help you with that?

smash cauldrons was suggested and seems like it would have worked. I am interested in the official solution and clues that would have lead to that.

That is fun. I'm terrible with puzzles, so I appreciate the spoiler here.

I'm the one who said to bow to the faceless god, but just getting feet under me so didn't follow through. Dungeon is designed to be tricky but hardest thing is getting into the head/powers of the character starting this high and in this type of situation. Should either get better or get killed soon.

so we just need to try all the ideas and/or smash more stuff. Sounds like a plan :)

As much as I remember in this story:
- PCs managed to smash things made of crystal and glass . And a thin object made of wood
- Damaging an object of adamantine was impossible.
- A 5x5x5 feet block pf stone were also not supposed to take any damage (don't remember if PCs tried to destroy it)

Merry Christmas! Okay if I take average HP?

Statutes may look like this (ignore base)

I know how to narrate PC searching an amulet in the pile of bones, searching through the rubble, etc. but I fail to narrate "searching empty room corner". Could anyone suggest me how to do that?

P.S. This is perhaps DMing style question. Some DMs would probably be hiding from players environment details until players directly ask for them. I never intentionally hide environment details from players (unless there are well hidden/invisible objects). If there are symbols, runes or mechanisms in the room I will describe them the first time you enter the room.

Status update:
I'm waiting for @Pedrop and @Psybermagi initiative rolls.

I've done LR for Zean and will both him through the fight.
@Pedrop please reconsider your ability to contribute to this story in future. The game is public so should you want to keep observing the game you can always do so, but I would prefer to have 5 active players contributing to the game progress. No rush on the decision, if you need weeks of a month do the decision, take your time.

I've done LR for Zean and will both him through the fight.
@Pedrop please reconsider your ability to contribute to this story in future. The game is public so should you want to keep observing the game you can always do so, but I would prefer to have 5 active players contributing to the game progress. No rush on the decision, if you need weeks of a month do the decision, take your time.

I've done LR for Zean and will both him through the fight.
@Pedrop please reconsider your ability to contribute to this story in future. The game is public so should you want to keep observing the game you can always do so, but I would prefer to have 5 active players contributing to the game progress. No rush on the decision, if you need weeks of a month do the decision, take your time.

@badbaron @thorsman99 @Psybermagi please suggest course of actions I should follow playing Ixion and Zean. Most importantly if they should enter the pentagram - doing so would allow to engage invisible creature in melee combat or try to use the ranged options that do not require to see the target (i.e. eldritch blast is such a feature, though rolls are still with disadvantage).

Surrounding/flanking the enemy would be a good option

I'm not using this optional rule from DMG. Try to keep close to PHB these days.
If anyone interested on the rule and discussion around it - read this

understood but still surrounding them will limit their mobility

@badbaron enemy failed str but saved another faerie fire save, where do you want to move it? away of toward you?
i.e. C-7 or I-5

so @Psybermagi suggests Ixion and Zean move into melee.
@badbaron @thorsman99 if I hear at least one agree with that - that's what they will do both do.

I agree. We have to defeat this thing somehow.

@badbaron I would much appreciate if you can give me exact map location where you want your PC to end her turn and and where you want enemy to be moved. That would save my time and avoid misreading.

in 5e "when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses".
The creature attacked Tinkara giving away it's exact location.

Noted!
As a matter of fact I was sure I wrote something like that after "You can clearly see Nyx's Shillelagh hits something"...

Well actually. Question! Would you prefer I always tell you weather attacks hit or miss even if target is invisible? I feel like I keep making wrong assumptions about how to make this game properly hard.

I think letting up know, possibly in descriptor, when we hit is useful. and/or occasional vague level of health, like uninjured 81-100% HP, injured lightly 61-80%, moderately 41-60%, severely 21-40%, critically 1-20%. It gives us a sense of how hard a fight is.

Though the general descriptor would be only if visible. But even invisible, you feel the hit.

I think it is fine that we can't tell under some circumstances, but an indication that the DM has taken note of your actions is useful. I agree that we would not know, unless the spell has some visible effect.