Our Future Plans

[awayfarer]

We're about three months out from Merk's due date. Seems like a good time to discuss what we want to do with the group in the not-too-distant future.

Ideally I'd like to finish up the Nibenay arc in the Dark Sun campaign before mid-September, and we should have enough time to do that. I'll definitely be taking some time off after the baby is born. I was originally thinking that it'd be somewhere along the line of three months, but that'd mean coming back to Dark Sun only to (probably) take a couple of weeks off for the holidays. I'm not ruling out a session or two between September and December, if only to keep the game from fading away completely, but I can't see picking up the DM duties full time again until January.

A couple of you have already said that you have some stuff in the works, and I'm curious to hear what you were thinking of.

[raunalyn]

I have a few ideas, but want to make sure we have enough players who will be willing to play. I wouldn't want to run 4e since it's no longer supported, and converting to an out-dated game system is problematic.

I know I would get a resounding "YES" from Darrell, but I'm thinking Dragonlance 5e.

[salmonmax]

I could go for that. But I'm pretty easy to please, RPGwise.

[Hussar]

I do have a dungeon crawl I'd like to run before we close the books on 4e. Nothing too long lasting. Maybe about 6-8 sessions I'm thinking. Maybe shorter.

[raunalyn]

That works for me, too. My D-lance campaign tends to be a long term campaign.

What level?

[Hussar]

Thinking 15th. Wanna have some big booms.

[salmonmax]

Big badda boom!

Sounds good to me.

[awayfarer]

Jun 7, 2014 3:43:35 GMT -5 Hussar said:

I do have a dungeon crawl I'd like to run before we close the books on 4e. Nothing too long lasting. Maybe about 6-8 sessions I'm thinking. Maybe shorter.

That'll work. My only concern with Raunalyn's 5E campaign is is there a framework to support that edition yet?

[Hussar]

To be fair, from what I've seen of 5e, you don't need one. Notepad and cut and paste and your done.

[salmonmax]

Pretty much...that's what I'm doing with the current game I'm in.

[awayfarer]

Jun 8, 2014 9:11:01 GMT -5 Hussar said:

To be fair, from what I've seen of 5e, you don't need one. Notepad and cut and paste and your done.

Alright. If everyone else is fine with that I can live with it. Given that Hussar's game looks to be a short campaign and Raunalyn's got something longer in mind, maybe we would start with former and move on the latter?

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

I'm stoked for 5e, and I've never done Dragonlance, so that's pretty exciting. Before that, we'll leave 4e with some big booms, sounds good to me.

[Merkuri]

I'm good with both of those (5e Dragonlance and 4e dungeon crawl) but I honestly do not know how much I'll be able to take part with a newborn to take care of.

[awayfarer]

Assuming we're going ahead with Hussar's 4E dungeon crawl in the near future, I've leveled Wynch to 15. For those who weren't here back then, Wynch is a warforged barbarian. I've built him around getting extra melee basic and charge attacks.

He's kinda evil and a bit sadistic but I'm thinking of having him turn over a new leaf.*












*_{Ever turn over the top leaf in a big pile and find a lot horrible dark things squirming underneath it? I never understood that expression.}

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

I believe I'm also going the route of awakening old characters.

I think I'd love to bring back Chuka-tet, Thri-Kreen Ranger for a round or two of "lots and lots of attack rolls," because that was a concept I had wanted to play since 2e and I still don't think it's out of my system.

I've also got Anastra, Eladrin Assassin who only hinted at her one-shot awesomeness.

Zavatto, Gnome Assassin, also didn't get to flirt with the insane stealthy stabby he was always capable of. And Izzusan, the Githyanki Pyromancer, unable to realize his dream of flying aboard a red dragon. And, I've got a soft spot for, Elvira, the "triple vampire" (that is Vryloka (race) Vampire (class) with the Vampirism feats), for the ludicrousness...though not sure she'd be great in a dungeon crawl where rests are highly regulated.

Bringing up the rear, Zedaith, Mul Bladesinger (with a mace)...though I don't know if he'd work as well outside of his Dark Sun context as Anasra and Chuka-tet. And similarly campaign-bound Sindri, a Gnome Artificer from Eberron that I had a ball playing once upon a time, but mostly because she was a dragonmarked gnome in Eberron where Artifice has a natural campaign role. There's also Celindra, Hamadryad Swordmage, as more of a story-based character ("a magic sword stuck in an enchanted wood" and no real ability to explore that...meh.) Those folks are probably too bound to their campaigns to work as well in a straight dungeon crawl.

Not really interested in bringing back Talib the Rapping Dwarf Bard, either....

I'm seeing a definite trend toward strikeryness here. And I am fond of the idea of bringing back Chuka-tet for one last hurrah and exploring her character in a less harsh environment. But I do have a lot of Plan B.


...here's C-T, level 15. I kept the Inherent Bonuses and didn't give her higher level magic items, but I could do that, too:
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chuka-tet, level 15
Thri-Kreen, Ranger, Thri-kreen Predator
Fighting Style Option: Marauder Fighting Style
Ranger Option: Running Attack
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Unarmed)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Dark Sun, Inherent Bonuses
Gulg - Judaga (+2 to Stealth)
Theme: Sohei

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 22, CON 12, DEX 22, INT 12, WIS 13, CHA 9

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 16, CON 11, DEX 16, INT 11, WIS 12, CHA 8


AC: 29 Fort: 29 Ref: 30 Will: 23
HP: 94 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 23

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +18, Athletics +20, Endurance +13, Heal +13, Nature +15, Perception +15, Stealth +20, Thievery +18

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +8, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +8, History +8, Insight +10, Intimidate +6, Religion +8, Streetwise +6

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sohei Attack: Sohei Flurry
Thri-Kreen Racial Power: Thri-kreen Claws
Hunter's Quarry Power: Hunter's Quarry
Monk Feature: Stone Fist Flurry of Blows
Wild Talent Cantrip: Body Equilibrium
Ranger Attack 1: Throw and Stab
Ranger Attack 1: Twin Strike
Monk Attack 1: Five Storms
Monk Attack 1: Spinning Leopard Maneuver
Monk Utility 2: Fighting Fury
Ranger Attack 3: Ruffling Sting
Ranger Attack 5: Frenzied Skirmish
Acrobatics Utility 6: Timely Dodge
Thri-Kreen Utility 6: Mantis Dodge
Monk Attack 7: Brilliant Counterstrike
Thri-kreen Predator Attack 11: Capturing Claws
Thri-kreen Predator Utility 12: Insect's Spring
Ranger Attack 13: Off-Hand Diversion
Ranger Attack 15: Steeling Flurry

FEATS
Two-Weapon Defense
Level 1: Monastic Disciple
Level 2: Master of the Fist
Level 4: Improved Monk Unarmed Strike
Level 6: Versatile Expertise
Level 8: Acolyte Power
Level 10: Novice Power
Level 11: Monastic Adept
Level 12: Adept Power
Level 14: Improved Defenses

ITEMS
Chatkcha
Adventurer's Kit
Stanching Leather Armor +1 x1
Amulet of Life +1 x1
Monk unarmed strike
Quick Monk unarmed strike +1 x2
Quick Strike Ki Focus +1
====== End ======

[salmonmax]

Is this dungeon crawl set in Dark Sun?

[Merkuri]

I didn't think it was set in Dark Sun...

Will there be any charge monkeys in the party? I'm pondering a utility that'll buff allied charges.

We will have a lot of melee in the party, right?

[awayfarer]

Jun 24, 2014 20:51:21 GMT -5 Merkuri said:

I didn't think it was set in Dark Sun...

Will there be any charge monkeys in the party? I'm pondering a utility that'll buff allied charges.

We will have a lot of melee in the party, right?

I plan on doing some charging. I've got en encounter power that lets me charge as a free action after reducing an enemy to 0 HP , and a power/feat combo that lets me charge if I score a critical hit.

[Wonder Waffles!!!]

Ah, yeah, since no Dark Sun she won't have that little psionic cantrip either, but that's pretty minor. Gnarf.

[awayfarer]

((I was working on posting Wynch's stats here, but I accidentally hit the back button on my browser while trying to delete some text. Have this instead.))



Wynch's Return to the Material Plane CH. 1

Jed passed the bottle back to Obie, who took a swig and passed it to Ulrich, who downed the last of it. The three men were crouched behind a rock a few yards deep into the woods outside the late Ben Yarvish's place.

Jed'd told them three days ago: "By the Nameless God, a man made of metal fell outta the sky by the old Yarvish place! He's carrying a hammer with a blond wig on top!"

Nobody believed him.

Two days ago, he said "It's weeding the field! By the Nameless God, it's weeding Ben's old potato field!" But everyone in the village just shook their heads and told him "You're drinkin' too much outta that still o' yours, Jed."

Yesterday he said "It put on old Ben's clothes! By the Nameless God it put on old Ben's Clothes and it's tilling the fields! With a hammer!" But everyone just just shook their heads and snickered.

That morning, he wandered into town and announced "I got a bottle of potato vodka for anyone brave enough to come and witness this."

And so they traipsed through the woods, and what they saw was a metal man wearing torn overalls. It walked back and forth through old Ben's field, and now and then would raise up the hammer and, in a streak of blonde, wham pound the ground flat. Sometimes it would stop and say something, as if having a conversation with somebody none of them could see.

Jed looked at the metal man, then to Obie. Obie bit his lip, shook his head and looked at Ulrich. Ulrich twisted his hat in his hands and shook his head rapidly. They looked at one another, then put their hands behind their backs. Jed threw out his hand.

"Evens," Jed whispered.
"Evens," Obie repeated.
"...odds," Ulrich eventually replied.

They watched as Ulrich put his hat on his head, brushed off some dust and walked into the field. "Heard something about those," the Ulrich'd said earlier. "Golems made to fight a war a long time ago, according to my grandpa. Long before his time too. War's long over o' course. Almost none of them around anymore."

Jed remembered his own grandfather, a lean, wooden man with steel grey hair, who drank cloudy brown whiskey from a wooden mug. He liked shooting rabbits more than anything. "Sometimes," he'd told Jed, "sometimes you get a rabbit sighted down the crossbow and they just sit stone still. Most rabbits run, but sometimes, just stone still. Like they know the hunts over, and they know they dead, but maybe if they make you think they don't know that, maybe they could convince you you ain't about to shoot em'. Like maybe you'll feel friendly and forgive em' that day. But naw, they dead."

The metal man looked up as Ulrich walked out into the field, and Ulrich stopped dead. "Stone still," grandpa's phantom whispered into Jed's ear. "Like they know they dead." Sunlight glinted off the metal man's forehead, leaving a greenish purple spot in Jed's vision. Ulrich didn't move a muscle. He must've said something because the metal man said something to him that sounded like a reply.

A minute passed. Two. There was a conversation going on. The metal man's voice was happy and... was that a laugh?

Jed saw Ulrich nod. The metal man turned back to the field, and then WHAM smashed the hammer into the dirt again. Slowly, Ulrich turned his back and walked back to them as if in a trance. He just stood there for a moment, still, like he was dead but hadn't been told.

"Well?" said Obie.

"Yeah, what's it doing out there?" asked Jed.

"It said..." Ulrich started.

"Yeah, what?"

Ulrich got a twisted look in his eye. "It said it's trying to grow mashed potatoes."

[Merkuri]

Hahaha.... Nice story, but what does "sblack personed" mean? (End of the 5th paragraph.)

[awayfarer]

Jun 26, 2014 5:27:52 GMT -5 Merkuri said:

Hahaha.... Nice story, but what does "sblack personed" mean? (End of the 5th paragraph.)

Ugh, Proboards overzealous censorship is what it is. Replace the c and k in "snickered" with two g's for the original word.

[salmonmax]

Hehe

Well I'm toying with a few builds right now.

A vryloka knight, which seems pretty solid. An eladrin swordmage who's all teleporty and stuff.

Looking at ideas for a warden too. Less sure on that point.

The knight seems like a better straight-up defender, and has some fairly decent damage going as well since most of his attacks use the easily-buffed MBA. Moreover, because he uses a hammer and World Serpent Grasp, he tends to slam people to the ground a lot, and has a fairly nasty encounter Stun power.

The swordmage has two things going for him. One is supreme, unparalleled mobility...and the other is the ability to block 19 points of damage on marked attacks. It's not a 'hard' mark in the sense that it punishes...but it seems like someone trying to ignore the mark is dooming themselves to hitting with all the force of a flimsy minion, which ain't bad. He also has the ability to reduce the movement of enemies he hits...so he's not as good at Control as the knight, but he's not without some ability there.

The warden I'm developing is a Longtooth Shifter, with the Werewolf (or possibly bear) theme, and as such will have some off-striking capacity as well. How much depends on the build. We'll see.

[Merkuri]

I'm building an ardent right now... my first character with power points, so we'll see how well that will go. I have no idea how she's going to play. Building a level 15 character from scratch is difficult in that sense.

Are we using the standard item rules? What is it, level+1, level, and level-1? Are we doing inherent bonuses or relying on items?

[raunalyn]

I'll stick with the mage. Going with an enchanter-type orbizard.

What are our options for magic items? Standard?

[raunalyn]

Nassiir, level 15
Eladrin, Wizard (Arcanist), Entrancing Mystic
Arcane Implement Mastery Option: Orb of Imposition
Pact Initiate Option: Pact Initiate (vestige pact)
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Beguiler

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 9, CON 11, DEX 12, INT 22, WIS 20, CHA 16

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 8, CON 10, DEX 11, INT 16, WIS 16, CHA 13


AC: 26 Fort: 22 Ref: 28 Will: 30
HP: 88 Surges: 6 Surge Value: 22

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +22, Bluff +15, Diplomacy +18, Dungeoneering +17, History +20, Perception +17

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +8, Athletics +6, Endurance +7, Heal +12, Insight +12, Intimidate +13, Nature +12, Religion +13, Stealth +10, Streetwise +10, Thievery +8

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Beguiler Attack: Beguiling Flash
Eladrin Racial Power: Fey Step
Wizard Utility: Suggestion
Wizard Utility: Mage Hand
Wizard Utility: Light
Wizard Utility: Prestidigitation
Wizard Attack 1: Beguiling Strands
Wizard Attack 1: Hypnotism
Wizard Attack 1: Charm of Misplaced Wrath
Warlock Attack 1: Eyes of the Vestige
Wizard Utility 2: Charm of Protection
Wizard Utility 2: Shield
Wizard Attack 5: Tasha's Forcible Conscription
Wizard Attack 5: Visions of Avarice
Wizard Utility 6: Wizard's Escape
Wizard Utility 6: Emerald Eye
Wizard Attack 7: Charm of the Defender
Wizard Attack 9: Visions of Ruin
Wizard Attack 9: Mirage Arcana
Wizard Utility 10: Illusory Wall
Wizard Utility 10: Repelling Shield
Entrancing Mystic Attack 11: Hekiah's Trance
Entrancing Mystic Utility 12: Shroud of Adeptus
Wizard Attack 13: Dark Gathering
Wizard Attack 15: Mental Maelstrom
Wizard Attack 15: Slumber of the Winter Court

FEATS
Level 1: Ritual Caster
Level 1: Orb Expertise
Level 2: Superior Implement Training (Crystal orb)
Level 4: Improved Defenses
Level 6: Improved Initiative
Level 8: Pact Initiate
Level 10: Beguiling Enchantment
Level 11: Spell Focus
Level 12: Psychic Lock
Level 14: Danger Sense

ITEMS
Spellbook
Comprehend Language
Unseen Servant
Brew Potion
Enchant Magic Item
Knock
History Revealed
Chameleon's Cloak
Telepathic Bond
Waterborn
Crystal orb of Mental Dominion +4 x1
Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) of Scintillating Colors +3 x1
Torc of Power Preservation +3 x1
Bracers of Escape (heroic tier) x1
Boots of Leaping x1
Antipathy Gloves x1
Phrenic Crown (heroic tier) x1
Shielding Girdle x1
Transfer Enchantment
Shrink
Disenchant Magic Item
Leomund's Tiny Hut

[awayfarer]

I haven't put Wynch into the character builder because I'd built him in a token to begin with, and it was easier just to level him from 8 to 15. Suffice it to say he's a straight up warforged barbarian (though I did take a fighter multiclass feat if you want to get picky) and I've focused on powers that grant extra melee basic and charge attacks depending on the circumstances. I intend to play him a little recklessly so uh, I hope our healer is really on the ball.

[silverbusa]

So I've been creating and modifying a slew of characters over the past week and coming up some decent toons but nothing that got me excited until I made a hybrid Avenger/Barbarian. All was going well until I reread the Hybrid Oath option and it sent me back to the drawing board.

Today I came up with a PMC Ranger/Barbarian and I liked it. Coming here to see what was up with what everyone chose and noticed a similar character with what Waffles drafted up. I have no problem running a similar character but if we need some diversity, I have a few essentials characters ready to go.

Without further ado, Lord Fawker

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
(Lord) Fawker, level 15
Bugbear, Ranger, Paragon Multiclassing
Build: Two-Blade Ranger
Fighting Style Option: Two-Blade Fighting Style
Ranger Option: Prime Shot
Auspicious Birth (Auspicious Birth Benefit)
Theme: Masked Lord

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 24, CON 11, DEX 20, INT 9, WIS 12, CHA 11

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 18, CON 10, DEX 14, INT 8, WIS 11, CHA 10


AC: 30 Fort: 32 Ref: 29 Will: 24
HP: 116 Surges: 6 Surge Value: 29

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +16, Athletics +18, Dungeoneering +13, Endurance +11, Perception +13, Stealth +18

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +6, Bluff +7, Diplomacy +7, Heal +8, History +6, Insight +8, Intimidate +9, Nature +8, Religion +6, Streetwise +7, Thievery +11

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Masked Lord Utility: Create Lord's Armor
Bugbear Racial Power: Predatory Eye
Hunter's Quarry Power: Hunter's Quarry
Ranger Attack 1: Twin Strike
Barbarian Attack 1: Howling Strike
Acrobatics Utility 2: Agile Recovery
Ranger Attack 3: Disruptive Strike
Ranger Attack 5: Two-Wolf Pounce
Barbarian Utility 6: Primal Charge
Barbarian Utility 6: Wilderness Step
Ranger Attack 7: Claws of the Griffon
Barbarian Attack 7: Curtain of Steel
Ranger Attack 9: Attacks on the Run
Ranger Utility 10: Agile Escape
Barbarian Attack 13: Blood for Strength
Barbarian Attack 15: Bloodletting Assault

FEATS
Toughness
Level 1: Battle Berserker
Level 2: Heavy Blade Expertise
Level 4: Novice Power
Level 6: Improved Defenses
Level 8: Acolyte Power
Level 10: Adept Power
Level 11: Two-Weapon Fighting
Level 12: Two-Weapon Defense
Level 14: Weapon Proficiency (Bastard sword)

ITEMS
Summoned Tembo Hide Armor +3 x1
Elven Chain Shirt (heroic tier)
Amulet of Life +3 x1
Iron Armbands of Power (paragon tier) x1
Boots of Striding x1
Gauntlets of Blood (heroic tier) x1
Belt of Vim (heroic tier) x1
Circlet of Indomitability (heroic tier) x1
Paired Bastard sword (Large) +3 x2
====== End ======

Note: 2 Paired bastards swords to get character builder to recognize me dual-wielding the split version.

[salmonmax]

Okay, so here's the build I'm leaning towards right now. An eladrin swordmage with the Aegis of Shielding, my general tactic will be to tag the most dangerous guy in the fight and then go fight other people. That enables me to pretty much neuter his damage and do other nasty things to him as well. High defenses, mediocre DPR, lots of mobility.

Craig, I was thinking since we're both eladrin arcanists, it'd be fun if our characters had some relationship. I was thinking siblings...perhaps even twins. Let me know if you're up for that. It won't make a lot of difference in a short dungeon crawl, but it might be fun.

STATS
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Some Name I Haven't Thought of Yet, level 15
Eladrin, Swordmage, Coronal Guard
Swordmage Aegis Option: Aegis of Shielding
Proficiency: Implement Proficiency (Wand)
Athlete (+2 to Athletics)
Theme: Earthforger

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 18, DEX 14, INT 22, WIS 16, CHA 9

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 15, DEX 11, INT 16, WIS 14, CHA 8


AC: 33 Fort: 27 Ref: 30 Will: 30
HP: 117 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 29

TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +20, Athletics +14, Endurance +18, Insight +15, Perception +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +9, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +10, Heal +10, History +15, Intimidate +6, Nature +10, Religion +13, Stealth +9, Streetwise +6, Thievery +9

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Earthforger Attack: Stone Panoply
Eladrin Racial Power: Fey Step
Swordmage Feature: Aegis of Shielding
Swordmage Attack 1: Frigid Blade
Swordmage Attack 1: Sword Burst
Swordmage Utility 2: Host of Shields
Swordmage Attack 3: Transposing Lunge
Swordmage Attack 5: Swordmage Shielding Fire
Swordmage Utility 6: Armathor's Step
Swordmage Attack 7: Echoes of Sword Magic
Swordmage Attack 9: Hellspike Assault
Swordmage Utility 10: Impenetrable Warding
Coronal Guard Attack 11: Countering Thunderclap
Coronal Guard Utility 12: Dragon Scales
Swordmage Attack 13: Dimensional Slash
Swordmage Attack 15: Rubicant's Assault

FEATS
Level 1: Intelligent Blademaster
Level 2: White Lotus Dueling Expertise
Level 4: Improved Defenses
Level 6: Eladrin Swordmage Advance
Level 8: White Lotus Riposte
Level 10: Improved Swordmage Warding
Level 11: Double Aegis
Level 12: Greater Aegis of Shielding
Level 14: Feywild Protection

ITEMS
Radiant Longsword +3 x1
Battle Harness Drowmesh +3 x1
Amulet of Protection +4 x1
Circlet of Mental Onslaught x1
Boots of Striding x1
Bag of Holding
Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier) x1
Elven Chain Shirt (heroic tier)
====== End ======

[Hussar]

Heh, I hope you guys are gentle with me.

It's been a while since I've run anything, so I'm rusty as heck and nowhere near as prepped as I probably should be. But, if you can forgive my stumbling over my tongue, we should be okay.