OOC II

[OGRE MAGE]

Here is a new OOC thread we can use.

(it's my understanding that some of the mods prefer these threads to be 20 pages or fewer)

We left off at Happy New Year.

[Scott308]

Well, now that this year is getting older, Happy Day 2!

[Edeldhur]

Happy day 3!

[Rex]

I found it (the new thread LOL).

[Edeldhur]

Been really busy with family visiting from abroad. Normality should hopefully resume tomorrow.

I do have a question, since I never played AD&D until very recently - how hard or feasible it is to climb down a chute with a rope, if you are armored? What about if you are unarmored?

In any case it seems the vent is a tight one right? So not many of us would be able to access through it.

I still think it is a good idea to do some scouting that way, as far as possible.

As for the main entrance, we could also probably use some scouting first? And then decide on tactics. A possibility could be a small, mobile, ranged hit-and-run team, drag them out (or a few of them) as undead might be straightforwardly ‘programmed’ to attack. And when they come out, we ambush them.

Just an idea/example. Scouting would give us more intel of course.

[OGRE MAGE]

I don't think there are specific rules for such a thing in the books, but I would say that shimmying down a chimney would be possible in armor for someone small. Where as someone who is a little larger, like a skinny elf maybe, could wiggle through sans armor.

Rope could be used to repel as well, if it were tied around the waist/chest or something similar, with someone lowering from the top.

[Edeldhur]

I don't think there are specific rules for such a thing in the books, but I would say that shimmying down a chimney would be possible in armor for someone small. Where as someone who is a little larger, like a skinny elf maybe, could wiggle through sans armor.

Rope could be used to repel as well, if it were tied around the waist/chest or something similar, with someone lowering from the top.

Sans armor heh... Tempting, but I might have to pass

[Edeldhur]

@everyone: I feel like we are all giving separate suggestions/ideas, but we need someone to aggregate them, make a decision, and go with it. Or we will never be able to move forward. Who is the caller?

[Quonundrum]

At the moment, I believe it's Tammuz.

[Edeldhur]

I usually see NPCs as more of an 'aide' - feel like we should be making the 'main' decisions, no?

[Quonundrum]

I agree. I was responding tongue in cheek, but it sounds like as yet we have Pimlan and Bugs to infiltrate via the chimney, and Meinhardt is looking for volunteers to rescue Rida and Haldric, that leaves the bulk for the front assault. Tammuz is leading the final climb to the cave, so there is a bit of time to decide.

[Edeldhur]

I agree. I was responding tongue in cheek, but it sounds like as yet we have Pimlan and Bugs to infiltrate via the chimney, and Meinhardt is looking for volunteers to rescue Rida and Haldric, that leaves the bulk for the front assault. Tammuz is leading the final climb to the cave, so there is a bit of time to decide.

I suspected you were

I am not very keen on a frontal assault - would rather we drew them out and ambush them with ranged weapons. But since that idea did not seem to get any traction or responses, I will go with what the group decides, so we don't stall anymore.

"I'm a fair bit of a climber but a better scout," she runs her hand through her long red locks, "And a few well-placed arrows tend to be a good distraction if needed to hide what's going on above. I'm decent with a blade too for when distractions aren't needed."

In any case, could Magdal (or another) scout the entrance area of the cave, so we don't just go in blindly?

[Quonundrum]

If they behave like the skeletons in the Caves of the Unknown, then they will probably not pursue attackers outside of their assigned post.

Of course, if any death priests are inside, all bets are off, especially if they use a hidden route to alert those in cave K. They have used zombies to ring bells for an alarm, so a scout to see whether such is in place would be helpful.

[Karaunios]

(not sure how you want to run the interaction between Daliedhur and Cinder OGRE MAGE, so I will improvise. PHB says 'A familiar is of certain benefit to a magic-user, as the creature adds to the spell caster's hit points, it conveys its sensory powers to its master, and it con converse with and will serve as a guard/scout/spy as well', but a talking cat feels weird as heck to me. I am basing my interaction on assuming we can communicate pretty freely, since 'Each is abnormally intelligent and totally faithful to the magic-user whose familiar it becomes' but say for example I speak to Cinder but he replies with cat sounds Daliedhur has learned to interpret to a certain extent. Hope that makes sense )

"Cinder, go check on the bird inside the cave - you don't go inside yourself and make sure to be careful, the creature is very dangerous. I want you to draw it outside in the open - meow and poke around at the entrance until you get its attention. If he makes a move toward you, return to me immediately" - he smiled and pat his loyal friend - "Be careful" - he added, knowing the cat tend to be too adventurous at times.[/ooc]

You could have Daliedhur say to Cinder "Meow meow meow meow." And then add the translation as a spoiler

like this.

That reminds me of something

Screenshot_20250111_145506_Chrome.jpg (740.21 KiB) Viewed 794 times

[Rex]

Looks like a pretty easy ready, LOL.

[Edeldhur]

Hahaha, nice!

[GreyWolfVT]

A shame I can't read cat. I only speak English and Dog.

[OGRE MAGE]

(not sure how you want to run the interaction between Daliedhur and Cinder OGRE MAGE, so I will improvise. PHB says 'A familiar is of certain benefit to a magic-user, as the creature adds to the spell caster's hit points, it conveys its sensory powers to its master, and it con converse with and will serve as a guard/scout/spy as well', but a talking cat feels weird as heck to me. I am basing my interaction on assuming we can communicate pretty freely, since 'Each is abnormally intelligent and totally faithful to the magic-user whose familiar it becomes' but say for example I speak to Cinder but he replies with cat sounds Daliedhur has learned to interpret to a certain extent. Hope that makes sense )[/ooc]

Familiars cannot speak. At least not in my games.

The “conversation” is part of the mental link, similar to the other sensory perceptions.

So consider it a telepathic communication of understanding each others thoughts, and not an actual “conversation”.

[Karaunios]

So no meow meow. Oh...

[Jernau35]

So, a little something like this then?

https://youtu.be/HMCx7RmOb0w?si=CQ4jPtZ3rMtMOcJX