DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder OOC thread

OOC: Nope! It's just part of the standard action economy. You sacrifice using the action for something else.

(OOC - Yes, every round you get the following:

Standard Action
Move Action
Bonus Action

By using Dash you swap your standard action for another move action. Note that you can't swap your move action for a second standard action. So, when you use Dash you still have a Bonus Action left to use. I mention that as I believe there are some spells available to several pcs that are Bonus Actions.)

Cool spell Nem!

Literally! This is definitely an edge case for Armour of Agathys but simply put, I haven't had a chance to use it yet so here goes!

Cast as a 2nd level spell, it only lasts as long as the 10 temp hit points last and does 10 damage in return. So it's perfect for melee mobs with good attack bonuses but low damage. Trolls aren't low damage but I figured there's about a 33% chance I'll get two bursts out of it, for 20 damage. Otherwise just 10 damage.

If I used the 2nd level spell slot for a Divine Smite instead, that'd be +3d8 radiant damage for an average of 15. So this isn't the perfect situation for Armour of Agathys but it's not a terrible choice either, and it might be the only chance I get where it's even remotely feasible.

OOC: Sorry for being absent over the weekend. I over-Disneyed. Flying home tomorrow and will pick up then. To answer some questions:
- yes, squares are 5 feet
- when moving, every other diagonal counts as 2 (so 4 squares along a diagonal would count as 6, or 30 feet). This may be why some people have moved further; the "ruler" on roll20 doesn't count diagonal movement. I have let that slide for ranged weapons in combat since it's hard to count squares to every foe, but for movement let's stick to the official rules.
- you can assume you learned basic knowledge about the denizens of the Evermoors (mostly "giants" which includes "trolls") from Vordana while she was with you, particularly after the Giant encounter that took Glork away. Some lore drops have occurred in RP as well that you may have missed.
- at least one of you has mentioned fire as important in combat. For outdoors that's probably not a concern. Inside the stables, do note there's a lot of straw around.

Old man gripe here:

Quote:
- when moving, every other diagonal counts as 2 (so 4 squares along a diagonal would count as 6, or 30 feet). This may be why some people have moved further; the "ruler" on roll20 doesn't count diagonal movement. I have let that slide for ranged weapons in combat since it's hard to count squares to every foe, but for movement let's stick to the official rules.
--------
That is why hexes are so much freaking better for actual simulations. I still don't get why they fell into disuse.

-End old man gripe here.

Yes, agree. Hexes were much better. Just have spell AOE's all be based on radii and get rid of squares, rectangles, and such shapes completely. Much better for Cone shapes too. No more 1/2 squares.

Sometimes Alice is Wonderful

https://imgur.com/fy8B8uZ

This would make a quick and dirty conversion pretty straight forward.

Hexes, squares, triangles, zig-zag one foot at a time? It really doesn't matter. Try adding altitude to the mix! (I move 15 feet towards the 2 on a clock dial (with north as 12), then 8 feet to wards the 4 on the clock and 7 feet in the air. That's my move.... Uuuuuggggghhhh! If I cast a 20' radius fireball into a 20x20x10 room with one entrance, how much of the fireball will spill out into the corridor beyond? <groan>

OK, so I actually never saw that bit that the "default" movement doesn't penalize diagonals. Further down from that same link it says "(The rule for diagonal movement sacrifices realism for the sake of smooth play. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides guidance on using a more realistic approach.)" and the DMG says "The Player’s Handbook presents a simple method for counting movement and measuring range on a grid: count every square as 5 feet, even if you’re moving diagonally. Though this is fast in play, it breaks the laws of geometry and is inaccurate over long distances. This optional rule provides more realism..." going on to describe the 5-10-5-10.

Given Nep's preference to use the "default" vs. the "pathfinder" rules, I hereby state we can use those rules. I don't think we've ever really clarified it and in reality it's not made that much difference in combat.

So use the roll20 ruler. A square is 5 feet in any direction. Physics be damned.

Except for spell AOEs. Draw circles on the map when relevant. Consistency be damned.

soooo ... you don't like it when someone comes up with a better plan than yours. Good ta know!! <weg>

Hey kids! Smokey the Werebear here with a note of caution.

If your spell includes words to the effect of "A flammable object hit by this spell ignites if it isn’t being worn or carried" you should also note that if you miss your target, you are likely to hit something. Stone walls aren't flammable. Wooden doors are. Piles of hay/straw are very flammable.

Your friendly neighborhood DM will use some DMG guidance as well as suggestions from around the interwebs to adjudicate what happens to the miss.

If you're playing with fire, may the odds be ever in your favor.

One of the reasons Zhu didn't cast a fire spell on her turn.

Sindar's is Force, though he missed completely.

And a good thing it wasn't fire!

Don't burn my horse - only just got one!

(OOC - Aqua - As I understand Trolls if they take any Fire/Acid Damage they don't regenerate any damage that following round, regardless of the damage type. Wasn't the fire damage last round, or was that two rounds ago?)

OOC: Two! Kriv’s first shot was in round 1, that troll (3) went inside and everyone has been targeting the other (4) in the last two rounds (one without the door shield, one with). We just finished round 3.

Hey all! It's been a fun weekend and I've learned a ton!

I'd like to take a quick moment for some acknowledgements and general playstyle stuffs that probably would be in a "Session 0" in a F2F game.

First: The goal of this whole game is fun for everyone. I'm trying to do that, and if I'm running this game in a way that's not fun for you, please let me know so I can adjust appropriately.

Second: I'm new to DnD 5e, and am learning as I go (as are most of you). You all just have to learn your characters; I have to learn all of them and all the monsters too. It's likely I'm going to make mistakes. Feel free to call me out when (not if) I do.

Third: As a newbie to DMing, I'm going to default to RAW (Rules as Written) or RAI (Rules as Intended). One of the rules, however, is that the DM is allowed to change the rules! I recognize and appreciate the decades of experience of Neptune and Zeim, and they know much better when and why "house rules" are better for RAF (Rules as Fun). One day I'll be bending as many rules as they do for the right reasons. For now, I'm using training wheels.

Fourth: A lot of the game balance is intended for party sizes of 4-6. It's really really really hard to try to balance combat for 10 players (and also hard to be both an active player and DM in the same combat scene). That's one of the (OOC) reasons we're temporarily splitting parties, along with some good IC reasons. Another part of the balance is that I may be "buffing" monsters in ways that you might say "hey, that's not what that monster does". Surprise, surprise. Did you know there's a variant of a troll who when you chop its arm off, the arm can independently attack you (while the troll regrows its arm)? Not saying any of the current trolls in battle are that variant.

Fifth: I'm having an absolute blast running this. Combat, and even RP, never goes as I planned and I'm continually amazed by your creativity. Thank you for being the wonderfully creative people that you are.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled "fight creatures whose only weakness is fire inside a stables filled with flammable hay" program.

IMO you are doing an excellent job! And I have 45 years of player experience to help me judge that!

I agree with Gypsy <g>

Yes, great job Aqua. You are a bit more stringent than Nep or I tend to be, but there is nothing wrong with that and it can often avoid confusion so move ahead! I love the Trolls in a hay filled barn situation. It has negated many of Zhu's normal options. I have found one Fire Spell on her sheet that doesn't say it ignites flammable objects so will be trying that one shortly.

You are doing well!

Though I am relatively new to 5e, I have played a lot of other iterations of many games, including this one. I started with a little silver book called Chainmail back in 1976, so I can offer that you are doing things right!

The rule of cool, rule of fun, is always first, IMHO. You are doing great with that, and that is all that matters. Having fun is the entire point of the game.

Happy to be a part of this little adventure.