Chapter 1 - In Without Knocking

[jemmus]

From the descriptions of the skills, it seems like Public Speaking is all about persuading people to do or not do something. Where Preaching is more about capturing people's attention and keeping them enthralled. Preacher John had a very tough crowd. They're drunk, they're not very pious, and they've been dreaming about getting to a bar since their last payday a month ago.

[jemmus]

Paladin eyed the rowdy cowboys’ dramatic entrance. In the opening seconds he observed their firearms, number, and if they had an obvious leader.

I missed responding to this. The cowboys have single or double action revolvers (one per person) and rifles (breach loading or lever action) in leather sheaths on their horses. Of the two cowboys Paladin as seen at this stage, neither seems to be a leader. They both just seem very drunk.

[jemmus]

Turn 2
Initiative
Initiative: Party - [1d6]=5 Cowboys - [1d6]=1 Hoffmans [1d6]=5
Tie
Paladin's Tactics roll [1d20]=5
Party, Hoffmans, then Cowboys.

The PCs know that Texas cowboys love to fistfight. It's like a sport to them. And they always want to test themselves and their opponents to find out who's the "better man." But they're a honorable about. It's a man-to-man duel, no ganging up on someone. Generally. It depends on the specific cowboys. And nothing is ever very certain in Texas anyway.

Cowboy 1 will not move or fire. But he will swing a fist at Sebastian.
Cowboy 2 will not move or fire. But he will aim a jab at Jonathan.
Mounted Cowboys 3-8 move at the equivalent of a trot.

I drafted but somehow missed posting the Hoffmans' actions for the Turn 1.
When the horsemen burst in, Hoffman behind the bar yells to the kitchen, Bleib in der Küche! Rolf, nimm deine Waffe und komm zur Tür, aber bleib in der Küche! He bends behind the bar and stands holding a sawed-off shotgun, muzzle toward the ceiling.
Turn 2, he will calmly but very firmly order the cowboys to get the horses out of his saloon. He will not move or fire. His teenage son will move but not fire.

It' noontime in San Marcos. A time when things would normally be quiet, because the Sun is directly overhead and it hot. But today, it's not quiet at all at the town's hotel and saloon. A group of rough cowboys have come in from the prairie for some recreational time. Some sagacious cattle handler among them must have used some foresight and used some of his pay to buy whiskey for them the last time the herd was near a town, and the boss gave these particular fellows a night or two in town. They are already all liquored up, while on horseback. They have come into town whooping and hollering, discharging pistols, and riding their horses right into Dutch Hoffman's. And it seems that if at least the first two of the inebriated gentlemen are spoiling for a fight. T

The party is up for first actions this round. Since they go first, they don't have to state actions before acting-- they just act, based on the other characters pre-stated actions.

[cybersavant]

Andreas Larson slowly inches along the wall toward the back [ bar/kitchen ] keeping his gaze on the drunk cattlemen.

[Rex]

Charlie

Charlie remains steady, rifle in hand muzzle angled to the floor so he can bring it up quickly. He will only use the rifle if one of the cowboys tries to use a weapon.

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

I have to admit being confused in regard to actions.

After rescuing my beefstake and hitting the cowboy with a coffee pot, I understand he then dismounts, mouths off and swings a punch at me.

In the meantime I posted this:

Sebastian

Sebastian: Fast Draw vs 13 [1d20]=13

Sebastian: Coordination vs 18 [1d20]=12

still learning this game.

So if I didn't throw the coffee mug to bounce off the cowboy's head, I will drop it now and Fast Draw my revolver, I want to shoot the whiskey bottle from the drunk man's hand.

"Get on your horse and drink your milk." he will try a little flashy shot and intimidation, trying to 'not so politely' encourage them to leave. He then takes a bite of steak from his skewered fillets still hanging on his dagger blade in his other hand.

Which does not now seem to have happened at all.

So if it is okay. For my actions I will fend off the cowboy trying to brawl me with the knife I already have drawn in my hand. Can I use the above roll? ( according to page 45, this handicaps the brawler has he has to find an opening to punch me or get stabbed).

[jemmus]

Mounted Cowboys 3-8 move at the equivalent of a trot.
Mounted Cowboys 3-7 move at the equivalent of a trot.
Cowboy 8, young Dan Rucker, will remain outside and hope to hear some more preaching.

[jemmus]

Sebastian

I have to admit being confused in regard to actions.

After rescuing my beefstake and hitting the cowboy with a coffee pot, I understand he then dismounts, mouths off and swings a punch at me.

In the meantime I posted this:

Sebastian

Sebastian: Fast Draw vs 13 [1d20]=13

Sebastian: Coordination vs 18 [1d20]=12

still learning this game.

So if I didn't throw the coffee mug to bounce off the cowboy's head, I will drop it now and Fast Draw my revolver, I want to shoot the whiskey bottle from the drunk man's hand.

"Get on your horse and drink your milk." he will try a little flashy shot and intimidation, trying to 'not so politely' encourage them to leave. He then takes a bite of steak from his skewered fillets still hanging on his dagger blade in his other hand.

Which does not now seem to have happened at all.

So if it is okay. For my actions I will fend off the cowboy trying to brawl me with the knife I already have drawn in my hand. Can I use the above roll? ( according to page 45, this handicaps the brawler has he has to find an opening to punch me or get stabbed).

Sebastian did throw the mug in Turn 1. It hit and caused 2 damage to the cowboy's Strength. Do you want to do the fastdraw and shoot at the bottle in Turn 2? The rules on p. 45 would apply for the Brawling, as you said.

[Bluetongue]

Sure, let's keep to actions posted.

[jemmus]

Cowboy 1 moved to eyeball-to-eyeball range of Sebastian last turn. If you decide to shoot his whiskey bottle, here's how you would roll.
Quickdraw to hit - Coordination/4, round down
Point Blank range, pistol - +4
Target Size Small - -2
I should mention that the cowboys' Coordination and Observation scores are down because of the rules on drunkenness. (-1 in each attribute per 3 drinks). Their Strength scores may be at +1 because of liquor (+1 per 6 drinks). And I should mention that the situation is already a little tense....)

[Bluetongue]

Sebastian

I have Fast Draw as a Skill and Pistol rank 2.

Sebastian: Fast Draw vs 13 [1d20]=6

And normal Coordination check.

Sebastian: Coordination vs 18 [1d20]=11

[Enoch]

Jake pushes back up to his feet with the aid of an overturned chair. "You boys had better take these horses back outside before they cause any more damage. You'll be losing enough of your paychecks already to pay for this damage; don't make it any worse. And then we'll wait for the sheriff. I'm sure you'll be spending the night in jail to sleep this off."

He turns to the saloon-keeper. "Have you sent for the sheriff yet?"

Public Speaking (13): [1d20]=10

[jemmus]

I had fast draw and hipshot confused. Sebastian's successful fast draw means his pistol clears the holster. We're in Combat (not Shootout) turn, so his shot is automatically a Careful one. He has to roll under is full Coordination score to hit. It's a hit. (I just posted about all of this stuff in the Rules Discussion thread).

[ateno]

After seeing there is no advantage for dodging in the books I could find yesterday, I changed my action and seemed it did not post then.

Joos sees the cowboy pull back to punch, he ducks down and sweeps his legs. ‘Son, you don’t want to punch a judge."



Which appears to be a throw and -2 to his action

[Marullus]

Preacher John looks on with a disappointed expression as the mocking cowboys all disregard his advice and ride in to the hotel on their horses. "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness," he solemnly quotes the Proverbs, "I tell you, the Good Book does have a scripture for most any occasion."

He smiles warmly at young Dan Rucker introducing himself in turn to the boy, "Pleasureto meet you Dan, I am John Carry, missionary here to those that need a good word," He pats Dan's horse, helping him tie it up if the boy allows, "You stay out here and away from their trouble with me for a moment and I will make sure the Sheriff doesn't include you with them in the drunken cell or cost you all your hard earned wages for their damages."

"So what's your story, Dan?" he asks, nodding between him and the rowdy destructive cowpokes.

[jemmus]

Just need Paladin's action and we'll resolve Turn 2. No pressure...

[Grognardsw]

Paladin, seeing the drunk cowboys oblivious to words of reason, realized the barrom brawl was inevitable.

Hoping it would be contained to just the two cowboys and not the rest, Paladin waited. If the other cowboys saw their fighting comrades outnumbered, they'd join. But it was just man-on-man, the whole situation may defuse quicker.

I'd like to hold my action to the end if things get worse quick.

[jemmus]

Paladin can delay his action until the other sides have done theirs. He can't shoot or brawl, but he can move (p. 28).

[jemmus]

Turn 2 - PCs

Charlie stands ready, rifle muzzle angled to the ground, ready to bring it up if a cowhand draws a firearm.
If a cowboy draws, Charlie's shot would happen next turn.

Andreas Larson eases back to the wall behind him.
Movement, of course.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Jake McCall regains his feet and says, You boys had better take these horses back outside before they cause any more damage. You'll be losing enough of your paychecks already to pay for this damage; don't make it any worse. And then we'll wait for the sheriff. I'm sure you'll be spending the night in jail to sleep this off. He turns to the saloon-keeper.  Have you sent for the sheriff yet?
Public Speaking succeeds, “depending on the initial mood of the audience.” The cowboys are three sheets to the wind and temporarily cognitively impaired, they get Observation rolls to see whether they hear and comprehend the persuasive oratory. Results announced next turn. All of the cowboys still have to do their declared actions this turn. Actions can only be changed if a fast draw roll fails or a character is mortally wounded.

Cowboy 1's face is so close to Sebastian's that he can smell the low quality liquor on his breath. Which is a good thing, because it kind of covers some of the even more unpleasant fragances on it. Sebastian quick draws his pistol and Bang!, the whiskey bottle in the cowboy's hand explodes and another hole appears in Hoffman's floor.
We already plotted this shot.

Joos sees the cowboy pull back to punch and ducks down and sweeps his legs. Son, you don’t want to punch a judge.
Doos and Cowboy 2 have the same Strength. No modifiers. Cowboy 2 has Brawling 1, Joos no Brawling. Doos roll -1 modifier. Grappling Table (p. 45) – Throw (and break free). (Doos would break free if in a hold). 1 damage, -2 to Cowboy 2's upcoming roll this turn.

Preacher John is disappointed that the heathen cowboys mock him and ignore his advice. As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.  I tell you, the Good Book does have a scripture for most any occasion. Pleasure to meet you Dan, I am John Carry, missionary here to those that need a good word. You stay out here and away from their trouble with me for a moment and I will make sure the Sheriff doesn't include you with them in the drunken cell or cost you all your hard earned wages for their damages. So what's your story, Dan?

Paladin observes the room, ready to move in an instant.
He delayed his action. He can do movement after the Hoffmans or cowboys, but he can't shoot or brawl. (p.28)

Hoffmans and Cowboys' actions coming up.

[jemmus]

Turn 2 – Hoffmans
Hoffman stands behind his bar with his sawed-off shotgun up to the ceiling. He says evenly in a pretty thick Bavarian (but loaded with the lazy, long diphthong vowels of Texan English) accent, You kuhboys will now take your horses out oof the dining and pool room. Or there will be no servin of the whiskey, the beer, or the steaks for you. He says it as if he might be speaking to naughty young children, firmly, where no reply is called for. He answers Jake, Not yet, sir. There is no one to send while it is this... disturbed. His free hand gestures toward the kitchen doorway like a conductor with a baton saying to a section of an orchestra, "Softly. Softly, now...."

His son stands in the kitchen doorway holding a Long Tom fowling shotgun, most of his body behind the doorframe. He half of his face that's showing looks pretty nervous and intense.

Turn 2 - Cowboys
Cowboy 1's jaw drops and he looks down at his exploded bottle. There's not much left of it but the neck that he's still holding. He drops that, narrows his bloodshot eyes, and hisses at Sebastian, You little bastart! Drop yer pig sticker and yer steak and fite! He takes a wild swing. Sebastian leans back and evades it.
Not stronger than Sebastian, no modifier. Brawl 1, +1. [1d20+1]=2+1=3 Miss. Sebastian temporarily gets +2 Strength.

Cowboy 2 gets up from being tripped. He's mad as a hornet. Old man, I don't care if you're a judge or Lucifer hisself! He punches at Doos and connects with a glancing blow to the judge's cheekbone.
Even strength, no modifier. 1 Brawl, +1. Thrown, -2. [1d20-1]=13-1=12 Glancing blow, 1 damage. Doos's next roll at -1. (Not a knife fight, Wound Severity column on p. 45 doesn't apply).

Cowboys 3 – 7 ride in and dismount, with various degrees of drunken coordination. They either see or hear the gunshot and that a couple of fights are breaking out, which pleases them. It looks like it's going to be a good day and night in town. They all still have pistols in their hands, hot from their shooting up the street and the air on the way in.

Three of the horses in the saloon, as horses are wont to do in when in human company, raise their tails and drop horse droppings onto Hoffman's floor.

Cowboy 8 - Dan seems a little shy and soft-spoken, even for a boy of around 15 years old or so. Thank you for the help, Reverend Carry.  Yes sir, I have seen dogs do that. I'm just boy who is a fair hand with cattle and horses. My dad was kilt in the War and my brother never come back, everybody guesses he was kilt too. I got work with a herd as soon anybody would have me. I send money to my mama and sister. We're all Methodists.

Paladin is up. Can do movement after the Hoffmans' actions or cowboys' actions.