Admin, OOC, and Launch Discussion

OK. With some anxiety, releasing capture of Start Round X3...



Some anxiety I say because I can see now that I might have botched some of the Opportunity Attack options.
Doirind's Movement, I think now, may have not provoked OA from U1, but it may have from G7. Screwed up there maybe. Fuck it. I'm leaving it as it was played.
Also, G8 provoked OA during Round X2 from Maeriks. I'll say swing away at that if you want, CB. Maeriks can strike the Glaak that sailed past him trying to get to Rhone.

First time I'm drawing in visibility on the doors. They are the lines on top left and right side. Not to scale because of grid layout. They are first seen clearly now because of new lighting (to be updated later in narrative). Also that means that new opponents are seen, just outside of the great double door that leads to the hallway, one side of which is open!

Also new gray shaded area to represent the arc of the outermost circle, into which Rhone just stepped and is calling for everyone to rally within (after killing the fuck out of as many Glaaks as possible en route!)

But anyway, with all of its mistakes and short comings- that is how Round X3 starts.

IMPORTANT: Bryn still has Action available in R X2. Ox, I will retro insert it into the mix if you are game for throwing the numbers.

I think yes. There are some Disarm optional Combat Rules in DMG. Something like an Ability Check compared to an Attack attempt to determine results. Let's read that and work it out somehow. Also, not sure if you have the Disarm Combat Maneuver (or if you want to spend it either) - that could be an option.

OAs may be a danger, but would have to think it out. But on the bright side, several of these guys are staged up for capture rather than kill. Using nets, clubs, maybe small knives. And out of the water, these guys are kind of punk bitches on attacks and checks.

But I think this is an important effort if there is any hope to save Boann. She is right there at the door with reserve Ulathi waiting. If she isn't moved away from that position during the PC Top of Round X3, she is likely going to be wrapped up in multiple nets/grapple attempts. And Doirind may be at risk also - may need to get a shove/carry assist from Ivor in travel too.

Jabes, thinking this over, let's make it more simple. If big Ivor just wants to throw it out there, barrel through, grab up Boann (even if she is in a net) and carry her back as far as he can, with Doirind striving to help all the while - I think that is pretty possible as long as he is focusing on that an not a bunch of other Bonus Actions, Reaction Opportunities, etc.

If you want to follow through with the plan, do this: Map out what the Movement would be, describe which square you suggest that he ends up at after normal 30 Move.
Then send a STR Athletics at Advantage.

Might have been an error. I think earlier you specified the Stunned condition. ;-)

Yeah Ivor's going for the Boann/Doirind assist. No, I don't have the Disarm maneuver. Just going by the DMG. Opposed Athletics checks, IIRC.

True. Corrected. Thanks for the sharp eye catch.

So I looked it up, and it's a weapon attack contested by an Athletics or Acrobatics check (defender's choice). In this case Ivor is attacking with his bare hand. Maybe he has advantage on it if he and Doirind are both pulling on the net? I don't whether the Ulathi is gripping it with two hands or not. Then it's haul ass with the two girls back to where Rhone is.

Yo, Jabes. That is good research and appreciated.
This is going to be pretty streamlined. Here is the way I see the formula:

The circumstance of the story as it is + your descriptive you have sent on Admin and Ep 1 + those dominating rolls you posted = Ivor is going to run roughshod over the Rules as Written (RAW) and pretty much going to get what he wants in this gray area.

I'll write it up, either later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Whoa. You're so right. It's THORNTRON!

I know this is time-stamped, only useful and updated for the moment right now, but below is a layout of positions as I see them at "Middle of Top of Round X3".



As mentioned in the pic, this is after Action by Ivor, Thorn, Boann, Doirind.
PCs/NPC who can still take Action are Kray, Maeriks, Brynn, Rhone.
Note: Also, may be some more transitions red to purple on the grid, depending on X's clarification of the Action Surge to see if Thorn was just bobbing and weaving during Movement or if he was mowing the grass along the way.

Sorry have been akf mostly past few days. Will get caught up today.

Can Ivor's Reaction be used to break U2's grapple on hot MILF Doirind?

Let's say YES.
That might unleash a huge tidal wave of debate, but the answer right now for this circumstance, is YES.

Alright. New snap shot.
Wrap up view, winding down Round X3.

As posted in the Absences thread:

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Playerz Club,

My thoughts plus your response by PM brings us a mandate: we collectively need to take some time off for IRL demands.

I think it will be good to have a chance to enjoy the end of summer, catch up on work, and whatever else we need to do to get the regular schedj back to normal (or close enough to normal to game).

BUT...please COME BACK!
It's really important to me to keep this game going. Even more important to keep this team together. I don't want our goofy project to fizzle out by attrition.
(Do I sound like Sorcha Rhone right now? little girl voice, "Come back. Don't fall away! Hold to my voice." haha)

Hopefully time away will let us get back into the game even stronger too. I know this Throne Room scene is a monster (and I don't mean Glaaki), plus Ep 1 has been a long tough slog overall. But the conclusion is close, for better or for worse, and hopefully everyone, myself included, can be refreshed to have the PCs/NPCs at the proverbial (and literal I guess) "top of their game."

AND REMEMBER: if you BRING IT and lay it out on the table (message board?) for this last scene....+1 LEVEL, immediate delivery.

Here's my schedule proposal then:

I have a HUGE work project that is going to be an albatross around my neck until Tuesday, 12 September. Hoping ideally that we could do a Kick-Off Relaunch party on that afternoon/evening. I will send beer to your house if you request it and provide address.

Yes, that is a game close-down of nearly 2 weeks. A little long, but I am hoping that it is endurable so that I can get completely free and hopefully everyone else can too.

If there is ANY concern that that is too long and puts us at risk of breaking up the boy band, I will shift left and could come in to write some entries on that previous week, starting on Wednesday 6 September.

So that's it. Let me know your thoughts if you have any. If no one responds, I'll assume that silence is acceptance and will target 12 September, Tuesday evening US EST as our hit time for what I like to refer to as...The Return.

In the meantime, the boards aren't really closed. Feel free to send any updates, questions, comments, rolls, jokes, "thinking of you"-type gayness, or my definite new favorite: short-loop video memes.

In all seriousness: stay cool, bros.
Hope the last gasps of summer are fun. Hope work tidal waves don't drown you.
I look forward to reloading fresh mags and blasting Two-Handgun Firing Style in a couple weeks.

J

Sounds like a dope ass plan to me. Great time for a break. Love the he'll out of summer and always hate to see it go.

I'm all for the occasion bounce onto the boards and chatter in the meantime, easy and relaxed-like.

Updated Grid Map for Positioning

This is the wrap up that we can sit and speculate on during break.
Round X3 is complete, EXCEPT FOR...last Actor Bryn.
Ox, you are up very first on 12 September 2017. Two weeks to prepare your briefing to the board.



To think about in advance, you can see some suspension of normal grid rules of only 1 person per square. I think that is a rule made to be broken depending on circumstance, rotating blended movement, size of occupants, and just how packed people are willing to get to one another. That rule will continue to be fluid, and no apologies forthcoming about it.

Also I think some of the OA rules are debatable in certain circumstances, especially when groups come up with strategies to block or control opponent targeting by aggressive positioning. What I mean is that I think real word tactics in the military and sports can actually work. I'm thinking of classic Set a Screen, the Pick and Roll plays in basketball. Break Contact Drills in small unit military tactics. I think they are things that can be applied to the game and can work in some circumstances.

So if you think something can happen that is a little out of hyper-rigid grid flip-map Pathfinder/4e type psycho board game rules, feel free to pitch it. If you make a good case for something that you want, the answer is probably going to be yes if it make sense. I will be open-minded to suggestions and discussion on squad tactics and realistic plans of fighting and defending as a group while moving.

And one last teaser: the Glaakieou STUNNED condition was a 1 round condition.
Those guys are already showing signs of regaining their senses. They may not be 100% during Round X4, but don't expect them to be reeling and completely blown out any longer.

Mark Your Calendars!

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

The Return

Yo, Players.

Have you heard about The Return?

One week from today: Tuesday 12 Sept 2017.

Starting off right in the middle of combat, full mayhem!