OOC Discussion

Ybus will move into the room with the portal, closer to the Rat God, and move out of the way if we actually try to move Aplu to the well.

That puts Ybus somewhere near the middle of the main hall. Got it.

Heading into another 48hrs of round-the-clock weekend work shift at the cake works. Will post baddies' actions then.

I looked up the post, he only said "Master"...

Hmmm...

I am interested to put the pieces together but must admit that hasn't been my mindset through this game. I've played a "take me where the wind blows" kind of character with an inward focus. I'm starting to see Ive missed out a bit on plot elements while working on character development. No reason I can't do both.

The puzzle is there if you enjoy that sort of thing. But if no one takes the bait on these hooks I will not be upset nor disappointed. It has been, and will continue to be immensely fun for me just watching your characters develop, and interact with the world and each other!

Okay. Sardo Numspa is a name from the movie "The Golden Child". Sound like a familiar little girl we met recently? I think so. In the movie, Numsy's goal was to kill the Golden Child. Sound familiar again? Oh, did I mention he is also leader of a cult, a sorcerer and can shapeshift? What? That sounds familiar too?

And who did he worship, serve, or...who was his master? The Devil.

Puzzle
Hacked
Under
Long
Ehmagination
Storm

Baracus can also use his flurry of blows without ki before my next turn. Which is until I post my actions, correct? If that is the case, our most favorable "initiative order" would be something like:
Baracus
Urban
Rydler

Baracus and Urban are interchangeable, Ybus can go whenever.
I think we should plan ahead and start discussing our course in case throwing stinky down the well doesn't stop smelly from coming up and only delays it. I only have one use of inspiration left and would like the input of who'd be the best bang for its buck.

Baracus for another free FoB? (Tempting.)
Urban for a free smite? (Unlikely due the the new sickened.)
Ybus for a free heal? (I think damage output is more needed atm.)
Erden for an auto-arcane recovery? (Again, tempting.)
Update: just saw Erden is under the weather too! I think Baracus wins my vote, still would like too get other opinions.

In my opinion, in our current situation, I think my best bet is pumping it to Baracus or Erden but would like to see other inputs. This will likely be after resolving Aplu vs. well so things may change depending on that so keep that in mind. Lots of poison, sickness, and disadvantage going around. Scary stuff with the potential of the mouther emerging.

I fully approve of OOC planning/coordination of actions. I'm sorry I've failed to include a few buffs in the tracker.

Urban is Sickened (disadvantage on all checks and attacks until either he saves or Aplu's concentration is broken) but also advantage on 1 attack or check from Rydler's Help action (really should specify which, I think, but I'll allow it this time).

I'm leaning towards Baracus receiving the blessing/inspiration.

I also vote Baracus!

I've actually been meaning to ask you about that Jabes. I wasn't sure if I needed to specify it or not, good to know, I'll plan accordingly now.

So, new terms; thanks to an interupting shield bash to the rat God's cranial region, Urban is no longer sickened. Thoughts?

I also thought we were a lot closer to the well. Do we have time to get to the well to throw the Rat God in before the mouther appears or would are efforts be better placed elsewhere?

Jabes, is there anything else to this well or is it a hole in the ground with some rock around it? In the picture, it looks more like the latter.

Definitely the latter.

As for specifying whether you are applying the Help action to an upcoming attack or an ability check, I'm open to discussing it. As you know, I allow you to post bonus actions or reactions first, and actions later, as long as I haven't closed the round yet. Couldn't Rydler wait til Urban acts before Helping? He certainly could, so why can't HyoCo say "Rydler helps Urban with whatever he decides to do"?

Is there any conceivable drawback to adopting this system?

Okay, per PHB:

"You can lend your aid to another creature in the completion of a task. When you take the Help action, the creature you aid gains advantage on the next ability check it makes to perform the task your are helping with, provided that it makes the check before the start of your next turn.

Alternatively, you can aid a friendly creature in attacking a creature within 5 feet of you. You feint, distract, or in some other way team up to make your ally's attack more effective. If your ally attacks the target before your next turn, the first attack is made with advantage."

It would seem it isn't a choice matter but instead it works as such:
The first part: I pick Creature A, Creature A now has an advantage on an ability check.
The second part: I pick Creature A, the next ally who attacks Creature A has advantage on the first attack.
Sage backup.

I'm fine with using whichever but I think the way I initially thought it worked is a better fit for PbP. In a table game, on my turn, I could easily say "Yo, J-Man, what's Urban planning on doing next round? Attack? Cool. Rydler runs up next to the creature Urban is with and uses the help action on it."

In PbP, receiving an answer to that initial question could take a day, maybe more depending on J's availability, then I have to respond with my turn after seeing the answer to the initial question, which could take another day or more depending on my availability. The way I was doing it, kind of eliminates that time kill. I don't see it breaking anything in any sort of major way. Either, by the book or the PbP-Friend, I'm still sacrificing my action to make my ally's better. I'm open to any tweaks, reverts, or book slaps as you see fit though, DM J.

Yo, fellas. That makes sense to me, but I’m good with anything.

I'm pretty convinced that it works narratively (and, as you've pointed out, it sure makes for way better PbP!) I'm not really seeing any mechanical drawbacks either. I guess all I'm looking for is a description of how one is helping. Of course, you can't describe it until the recipient of the Help action decides how they're using it. So is it okay if I put the burden of description on the recipient player?

I do try to give some sort of hint that I was "Helping", since the very beginning.
First post: I've played him as an embodiment of help basically; his touch feels good, inspiringly so. Also, words of encouragement. Also, within 5 feet.
His riddles confuse, quite distracting.
Sometime, he just distract with pointy stick.

Most recent post: Getting handsy again. Also, major dirt thrown at the Rat God; temporary demoralization. Also, Phules name drop; cheers at the final stretch of the race.

I know at one point I "used" the light cantrip as flavor to give the effects of the Help action.

Distract, inspire, lead astray; all are a part of Rydler's game.

I have noticed this about Rydler from the very beginning, and you've been pretty consistent about it. The homebrew magic item is designed to help him help his friends. Yeah I'm good with you guys making multi-purpose Help actions.

Just a heads up, I'm going to be extremely busy again this weekend.

I was the one who missed something: I saw you providing Holy Inspiration + Kato but forgot the Help action, and of course your description had you striding towards the well and coming face to face with Aplu.

Yes, you would have had to save against all those effects, with the exception of the well vapors, unless you step into the well room this round.