Discussion (out of character thread)

[CarrieVS]

I've been sick for nearly a week.

Feel better soon.

[scarik]

Who needs anything before we push forward with Dragon season?

[CarrieVS]

Who needs anything before we push forward with Dragon season?

I believe I’m good, (unless you’re insistent upon anything further on the contact network front.)

[Leitz]

I've been sick for nearly a week.

Feel better soon.

Thank you! I'm finally getting around to doing so, and it feels so much better.

Who needs anything before we push forward with Dragon season?

That depends, are we preparing for the preparation phase, or preparing for the "git-r-done" phase? I'm not sure anyone except Morwen has any clue about dragons; we actually don't even know if this is doable or not. Can they be killed with normal weapons? What history of them actually being killed is there, to give us a relative understanding of how many HD it might be? Do they cast spells, or resist them? What happens if their munchkins are killed, will they notice? What record of wyrms might suggest how long this one has been there, its name, and such?

Were any of the Dawi thunderers recoverable, and are they useful for this? Or are crossbows better since they are a lot quieter? How much, if any, firesand is still available? Can more be made?

Metagame, we've agreed to redo the compact, so that needs to be worked out. Magarra may have significant input, so we need her involved. The group dynamics may change, or they may not, but we don't know.

My notes from elsewhere:

Things we need before moving on the dragon:
- [done] resolve the goblins since they are on the main route.
- info on what type it might be; it'd be embarassing to go in and kill a Lawful Good dragon.
- what a dragonborn is, and what they are like.
- a way to kill 150 kobolds, especially without being surrounded and surprised.
- - might be a place to cross-train with the goblins
- - maybe a place to start trying out the mass combat rules that haven't been shared yet?
- have Magarra in place.
- ideas on what, if anything, dragon parts can be used for. Armor, potions, weapons, etc...etc...etc...

[scarik]

My PC has decided to be difficult by forgetting how to boot up properly and then locking up when it does decide to work.

I am performing the Rites of Maintenance and invoking the Omnissiah. I'll see what I can get done on my phone while this is ongoing.

[Leitz]

My PC has decided to be difficult by forgetting how to boot up properly and then locking up when it does decide to work.

I am performing the Rites of Maintenance and invoking the Omnissiah. I'll see what I can get done on my phone while this is ongoing.

I'll be honest, sometimes your posts are the highlight of my day. Learning more about the world, and having a new challenge/opportunity, is a good thing. I'd rather wait for one of your usual posts than have something quick but harder to type because of the phone. Unless, of course, you have a honking big phone...

[tibbius]

My PC has decided to be difficult by forgetting how to boot up properly and then locking up when it does decide to work.

I am performing the Rites of Maintenance and invoking the Omnissiah. I'll see what I can get done on my phone while this is ongoing.

I'll be honest, sometimes your posts are the highlight of my day. Learning more about the world, and having a new challenge/opportunity, is a good thing. I'd rather wait for one of your usual posts than have something quick but harder to type because of the phone. Unless, of course, you have a honking big phone...

²d

[scarik]

Thanks.

It looks like a failed hard drive. Luckily all the boot drive does is hold the OS so once I get that fixed I'll be back online.

Until then, my phone is always one of the smaller ones on offer so not terribly honking. I do have an iPad though and I think that will be sufficient to make a post about this setting's dragons.

[scarik]

That depends, are we preparing for the preparation phase, or preparing for the "git-r-done" phase? I'm not sure anyone except Morwen has any clue about dragons; we actually don't even know if this is doable or not. Can they be killed with normal weapons? What history of them actually being killed is there, to give us a relative understanding of how many HD it might be? Do they cast spells, or resist them? What happens if their munchkins are killed, will they notice? What record of wyrms might suggest how long this one has been there, its name, and such?

This will be covered in the post on dragons.

Were any of the Dawi thunderers recoverable, and are they useful for this? Or are crossbows better since they are a lot quieter? How much, if any, firesand is still available? Can more be made?

Metagame, we've agreed to redo the compact, so that needs to be worked out. Magarra may have significant input, so we need her involved. The group dynamics may change, or they may not, but we don't know.

Plenty of weapons are recoverable. To do that you I’ll need Dawi, or similarly skilled weaponsmiths. For firesand I believe there are two barrels. For more you need Dawi someone who knows its secrets. Usually that means more Dawi or at least an Imperial Siegemaster. But Darfilla has a talent for flame so she can try and learn. It takes access to special ingredients since in a world with Magic simple chemistry isn’t always so simple. The Brew Potions secret definitely helps.

For the compact Word of DM will keep it basically the same but the Dwarves get full shares and you have to deal with provisions.

We will need to do a pass on how shares are calculated since the level ranges are expanding now.

[Leitz]

One of my big concerns on this is that we can't retreat. If we go in, upset the dragon, and then try to leave, then it'll just go torch Goblin Hill, Eastfort, and maybe even Borderton. That's not an acceptable outcome, so we have to figure out what we need, and take a lot more than that since there will be challenges and issues we don't know about.

[Leitz]

For the compact Word of DM will keep it basically the same but the Dwarves get full shares and you have to deal with provisions.

We will need to do a pass on how shares are calculated since the level ranges are expanding now.

I can update the code and send it to you for review, not sure that we care to get overly complex with level ranges, etc. I'm happy for JJh to get more since he does a lot of the planning and orchestration, and is usually first into combat and last out, but then there's a lot of weighting for X, or Y, or sassafras. Keep it simple, if everyone brings their best then they get the proper amount.

Changing the group dynamic makes sense; I'm just trying to understand it because it means a significant change for my PC. So far, the group was hired by JJh who was under contract to Gurav, who agreed to obey JJh's orders in times of combat. Everyone agreed to that, and with a clear line of authority we got a lot done. I've done my best to play JJh as a leader who listens to, and encourages, everyone. But at the end of each discussion he bore the responsibility to achieve the mission and get everyone home safely.

Much of the way I play JJh is based on the good leaders I've had in military and civilian life. With a goal, and a team committed to the goal, we've gotten some big things done. People made sacrifices, got recognition, and those who didn't want to commit were encouraged to find some place they enjoyed more. A working organization is a beautiful and powerful thing.

Of course, you might guess I tend toward "Lawful" in my thinking.

Who's in charge? Who decides if there's no group consensus? What percentage is needed for consensus? Does anyone else want the role I've been playing with JJh?

[scarik]

My computer is largely alive once more, though many of my documents have been corrupted. Luckily all the important ones are backed up so I just need to find them.

One of my big concerns on this is that we can't retreat. If we go in, upset the dragon, and then try to leave, then it'll just go torch Goblin Hill, Eastfort, and maybe even Borderton. That's not an acceptable outcome, so we have to figure out what we need, and take a lot more than that since there will be challenges and issues we don't know about.

There is no surefire way to know what it will do until it wakes up and does it. In-character everyone will be very uncertain, but when I finally get that post On Dragons made the Player side should have enough info to be informed as to the actual risk of each option.

Who's in charge? Who decides if there's no group consensus? What percentage is needed for consensus? Does anyone else want the role I've been playing with JJh?

The short answer, of course, is I am.

I encourage you to be as unanimous as you can about your adventures. The threshold for a consensus will be whatever makes sense to me in that situation. The first rule of the game is making an adventurer who wants to be here doing adventures.

The Watsonian explanations will follow according to the needs of the story.

[scarik]

Happy New Year! (early EST because I will probably be asleep at midnight)

[Leitz]

Happy New Year! (early EST because I will probably be asleep at midnight)

Same to ya! I only get up to hold the furry kids while neighbors make noise.

[tibbius]

Happy new year! I was in bed by 10 pm. … my wife and kids made fun of me

[Leitz]

Hey all, I'd like to get the discussion going on the dragon adventure. We all know that conveying ideas via written text seldom carries the full intent well, and I've been clear about my own lack of social grace. So please, take my notes as ideas to get us talking. If something I write bothers you, please let me know. I promise it is not intentional.

I'll number the topics so they are easier to refer to. If/when you see another topic that needs discussing, please add it on. I'd like to see us all, and that include Ladki/Magarra, improve upon or affirm support of each idea before we move forward.

1. As a change to the current agreement, the cost of healing, potions, spell components, etc, comes out of the group funds before shares are divided. None of the spell casters have hesitated to use their magic, but they shouldn't bear a personal cost for the group's success. We've paid a lot for healing from undead, and I have no idea what a dragon or dragon-born might do to any of us.

2. It hasn't been needed yet, but our fights keep getting harder even as we go up on levels. I recommend that each PC have a will, and that a portion, say half their usual, goes to a person or entity of their choice. Dramm might want to give it to the church, JJh would give his to Si-woo as his heir, etc.

3. We need to raise our level of communication. That means in planning sessions and in battle. Scarik and Roobeastie speak highly of Ladki's gaming, and the rest of you I've gamed with enough to be well impressed. Fighting a dragon needs our best: ideas, communication, and teamwork. I've waited several years for scarik to run a game I could play JJh in, and I've spent a year building the character's story. I'm hoping he gets to go home with his snuggle-bunny-to-be.

4. More people means less coin and XP per share, but more chance of survival. JJh is in a political game, and it would be useful to him to invite a few others. I think, but will let scarik confirm/correct, that they would get a standard NPC share as they would be temporarily acting as JJh's henchpeep. I have three in mind, but have not "discussed" it with them yet. How do you feel about more people being in on the adventure? In the interest of full transparency, I'll confess that I tend to build as many connections as possible in the game.


There's probably a dozen things I've missed, what comes to mind?

[tibbius]

Dramm's Quest requires that he take part in defeating an Evil. He can share the risk with any number of others so long as he does not take a lesser part.

Barnaby's sense of noblesse oblige urges him to aid Dramm, and Jing Ji-ho, whom he looks toward as a potential liege.

[CarrieVS]

Earnan has no particular quest or reason for being involved other than, this seems interesting, he's gotten somewhat attached to you all, and having said he'll do this he intends to see it through. That's plenty to keep him here, but he has no more desire to lead or organise us all IC than I have competence to do so OOC. He respects JJh as a leader, but would also follow one of the others.

1. As a change to the current agreement, the cost of healing, potions, spell components, etc, comes out of the group funds before shares are divided. None of the spell casters have hesitated to use their magic, but they shouldn't bear a personal cost for the group's success. We've paid a lot for healing from undead, and I have no idea what a dragon or dragon-born might do to any of us.

2. It hasn't been needed yet, but our fights keep getting harder even as we go up on levels. I recommend that each PC have a will, and that a portion, say half their usual, goes to a person or entity of their choice. Dramm might want to give it to the church, JJh would give his to Si-woo as his heir, etc.

3. We need to raise our level of communication. That means in planning sessions and in battle. Scarik and Roobeastie speak highly of Ladki's gaming, and the rest of you I've gamed with enough to be well impressed. Fighting a dragon needs our best: ideas, communication, and teamwork. I've waited several years for scarik to run a game I could play JJh in, and I've spent a year building the character's story. I'm hoping he gets to go home with his snuggle-bunny-to-be.

4. More people means less coin and XP per share, but more chance of survival. JJh is in a political game, and it would be useful to him to invite a few others. I think, but will let scarik confirm/correct, that they would get a standard NPC share as they would be temporarily acting as JJh's henchpeep. I have three in mind, but have not "discussed" it with them yet. How do you feel about more people being in on the adventure? In the interest of full transparency, I'll confess that I tend to build as many connections as possible in the game.

1. Sounds fair.
2. Seems like a good idea in general (in specifics, Earnan doesn't really have anyone to leave anything to this side of the Southern Sea.)
3. I'll do my best, but I have not been doing less than that hereto.
4. Within reason I have no objection to more peeps. I'd prefer to stay vaguely near the realms of an adventuring party rather than a full-blown army, if possible.

There's probably a dozen things I've missed, what comes to mind?

Nothing immediately, but I'll keep thinking on it.

[Leitz]

Dramm's Quest requires that he take part in defeating an Evil. He can share the risk with any number of others so long as he does not take a lesser part.

Can you look at Dramm in the "Current Roster" thread? He seems short of Feats, unless the change to Paladin altered his Feat count. Dramm is as good a fighter as, if not better than, JJh; there is zero chance of him getting a secondary role.

Barnaby's sense of noblesse oblige urges him to aid Dramm, and Jing Ji-ho, whom he looks toward as a potential liege.

Have we given Barnaby the opportunity to do his best? I'm still learning the rules on some of the classes, and I'm not really sure how Bards work. How can we set him up to excel?

[Leitz]

3. We need to raise our level of communication. That means in planning sessions and in battle. Scarik and Roobeastie speak highly of Ladki's gaming, and the rest of you I've gamed with enough to be well impressed. Fighting a dragon needs our best: ideas, communication, and teamwork. I've waited several years for scarik to run a game I could play JJh in, and I've spent a year building the character's story. I'm hoping he gets to go home with his snuggle-bunny-to-be.

3. I'll do my best, but I have not been doing less than that hereto.

You're doing great, but the next phase will push all of the characters (PC and NPC) further than we've gone before. Earnan needs to scout, find us a route, and find out anything he can without waking the dragon or alerting the kobolds and dragon-wannabes.

The rest of us need to figure out our parts, both for our PCs and our NPCs. The only class I'm any good with is a fighter, and I have a cleric and mage to put to good use.

4. Within reason I have no objection to more peeps. I'd prefer to stay vaguely near the realms of an adventuring party rather than a full-blown army, if possible.

Understood. We need to deal with 150 kobolds and the dragon-thingies; that may need a mass combat test. Either the goblins or Magarra's crew. I'm very open for suggestions, are there other options?