Admin, OOC, and Launch Discussion

Ahh. Thanks, CB. How sweet. But you know I'm not good at getting compliments. FAG!

Plus, not sure if the crowd agrees given all of the psycho danger for the characters. I do know this: the way to every Player's good favor: promise LEVELS! MUHAHAHAHAHA

Lol. Even if I bought the above... I'm not capable of the suck up.

But g oddammit J... Love Dark Thrones!

So I'm trying to establish an anti Glaakieou tactic for Ivor: grab the bone spine (athletics) + axe chop. Maybe the grab is a grapple attempt? I hope that's a reasonable action sequence for a round. That means a free hand, so I'm not using my bonus action for a dagger attack or anything.

Careful there. That's entering the world of called shots. If we can do that, next up is targeting the neck, which would be easier than their neck spine for sure.

Targeted shots creates a slippery slope that works both ways.

I get what you're thinking though.

Fellas,

Burned up all of my free time earlier today, so will have to check in again in the morning and compile what you guys send.

Jabes, I'll think it over what you said. It's an awesome imagery (which I know I have promulgated through the story by describing how effective it is when the Glaaks are down and Ivor manually chops out their fucking Bio Control Module in sickening but flawless manner).

BUT... (a frustrating "but" I'm sure) I do have some concerns about making a game ruling on a focused attack to target a "kill switch" weakness point on opponents. That has always been one of the obvious things that all of us D7D have craved over the years, but the rules and the abstractions of combat always seem to throw up obstacles and risk of "we'll just aim for the head, neck, heart, spine barb every time".

Let me think it through though, and see if any of the DMG optional combat rules suggest anything similar.

On Glaakieou Spine-Barb Killswitch Attack

Jabes, I'm going to disappoint you, bro. I can't put together a specialized Attack or Ability Check that allows for a one-shot kill or one-shot cripple for these crazies.

I read through optional rules and also sifted through some online commentary to think it over. In the end, I just have to, reluctantly in many ways, stick to the idea the HPs represent not just hits and the endurance of hits, but the overall ability for PCs and NPCs to avoid getting hurt and killed. That assumes that everyone is working, shifting, striving to protect themselves, including defending their own weak spots and vulnerabilities. So in the end, the way to put people down is still the old-fashioned way of whittling down their HPs so that you can eventually get that kill-shot in the end, whatever it may be.

BUT I have decided to make a slight adjustment for the Glaaks, in a way. If you read between the lines on Thorn's recent Attack, which turned out to be a Critical. The narrative shows that Criticals against the Spine-Barb Psychos are EXTRA illustrious and effective. (hint-hint)

Overall though, the Called Shot debate remains controversial. I'm never exactly satisfied with any call on this, but have to move forward like this to keep things simple and avoid what I think would be more questions and challenges for future rulings on combat rules.

For TR X1, I used that Athletics Attempt you posted as a possible Grapple. Unsuccessful unfortunately. Oh well, there should be some extra weapons on the ground soon if you want to convert to 2 Weapon Fighting.

(Wow. Thanks, DM Asshole).

On post time-saving and DM narratives in Throne Room battle

Y'all, I want to keep the flow of the battle going and also I need to avoid getting bogged down in long posts on every PC and NPC for every round. It's not that I don't care, but just facing time limitations.

So, I may not be calling out every Attack as a declared Hit or Miss in blue game mechanics text.

Also may be short on narrative, may even skip it sometimes.

But here's the numbers, so everyone knows what is a hit:

Glaakieou Masked Madman AC: 14
Deep One (Ulathi) AC: 11

Even if I describe something that sounds lackluster or less than a hit, it is still a hit if it is on the numbers. I have a spreadsheet tracking the battle numbers (HPs of good and bad NPCs/Monsters).

Also, no blue text to declare "This numbered guy is DEAD. Don't worry about him ever again because his HPs are below his Max Negative." Descriptions will be in narrative. Guy goes down motionless with head chopped in half - he's probably dead. But then again, only way to be sure is to watch him for a while, check vitals, check responsiveness, chop him to pieces after he's down, etc.

Lastly, I'm posting opponent rolls openly so that you guys can manage incoming info directly. I will be paying minimal attention to PC conditions and status until you report effects to the crowd, so post out anything pertinent that would change effects in performance or manifest in different visuals for those around you ("J, I'm now Paralyzed, Unconscious, and making Death Saves." or "Watch out, y'all, I just picked up Invulnerable Condition. Respect that. You also see me flying at Movement Rate Fly 40.")

Cool. Let's keep it rollin'.

Hey, I have no problem with the Spine-barb Special getting shut down. Ivor's got an Ulathi dagger in his belt, will bring that onto play next round. Also hoping for some Sentinel action against Maeriks' attacker next round. IF the dice-roller would just STOP FUCKING WITH ME! Grrrrrr.... :-D

Jabes, btw, I'm all for a called shot system. Love the idea of trying to cut off arms and heads. I think that would require an all new combat system though.

Of course, I love that idea as well. A system with some teeth. Don't get me wrong, the D&D system suffices, but some,additional options would be pretty sweet.

Yeah, same here. I think it would be fun as hell but also concede that it will need a whole subset of mechanics, which could end up bogging down combat and then it'll be like 3rd Edition all over again! I'll pass. :-P

Don't get me wrong, I loved 3rd Ed during its time. But now that we have 5th Ed I just don't want to go back to that. I tested it: joined a couple of Pathfinder games on here. Combat just gets grindy as fuck.

-33 HP is never good. The assault seems overwhelming.

I have such a hard-on for Doirind right now. That shit is hot!

Whoa, Jabes. Do you know how PISSED OFF Bear is going to be if he finds out that Ivor has been banging his wife while he is away on slug slavery business trips?!
He might try to kill Ivor or something.

Slug slavery business trips. Hopefully he's got a company boat.

Fellas,
I've hesitated to put forward the spreadsheet images I have been using to visualize and track the battle.
Reasons why:
1) can't create a habit of doing it every time. It's a big time killer.
2) don't want to crush the proverbial "theater of the mind" and become dependent on grid maps (get time portalled as a group back to 2012 playing Pathfinder)
3) don't want to invite more questions, controversy, or bottomless debate pits about grid spacing and positional rules
4) this battle is not going well and the imagery is rather concerning

BUT...this is a confusing freaking scene and I feel like my writing and narrative description is reaching its limits and crossing over into the realm of annoying.
AND...even if the scene is terrifying, the gritty and relentless mercenaries must fight on, they are not the type to throw up their hands and admit defeat. Better for them to face the situation as it is.
AND...I want to maintain transparency
SO... see below, snap shots of the BEGINNINGS of Rounds X1 and then X2. There has been/will be some Movement that changes things currently, but I'll try to stage up a new shot after we transition to R X3.


Start Round 1


Start Round 2



PCs are blue.
NPC allies green.
Enemies Red.
Fallen Enemies Purple.
Gs are Glaakieou masked maniacs.
Us are Ulathi Deep Ones

Appreciate the grid. Actually brings more weight to how grim things are.

Pretty sure there is supposed to be lots more purple there. Someone messed up... Oh wait, Maeriks again...

Thanks for the grid, J. Super helpful and aw-shit all at once.

Would it be possible steal Boann away from the ulathi? Basically drop the net I'm holding, grab the net that has her and fall back with Doirind? Basically, a Disarm attempt. Risky, I know. Ivor will probably eat a couple of OA's from U1-U4