Group 1: OOC I

[Gerrin]

Tannaris Vethykos

Fixed the XP

[dmw71]

Great role-playing, guys. Definitely feel free to keep chatting it up; that time won't interfere with you all still getting a full rest.

I had a super busy day today and, while I was able to check on occasion, and get a little more behind the scenes maintenance done for the game, I didn't have a chance to even start my next update in any of my games.

I'll try to still move everyone tonight... but, feel free to prolong the introduction, just in case.

[dmw71]

Would the nights rest be a short/long rest? Bren would recover his breath weapon ability if so.

Long, so he would recover it. I actually forgot he had used it, so I will make the update to my footer information as well.

I'd like to purchase a daggar. Do we do that via rp, or just through notes?

It's enough that you simply let me know what you want, and I can let you know the pricing and availability of whatever you're seeking.

[dmw71]

I have created a new 'Buying and Selling' topic.

You should still share what your character will be doing in the main action thread, but we'll actually role-play and work out the actual details of the transaction in this new thread.


Thanks!

[Rex]

I clicked the long rest button on Strega and I luckely noticed it changed my max HP's (to 8 from 19). Not sure why, but do I have something set up wrong?
Thanks

[dmw71]

I clicked the long rest button on Strega and I luckely noticed it changed my max HP's (to 8 from 19). Not sure why, but do I have something set up wrong?

I hate to admit it, but I don't use the D&D Beyond character sheet builder to manage gameplay situations (e.g. resting), but... I believe what you're seeing is correct. A long rest is very generous:

"At the end of a long rest, a character regains all lost hit points. The character also regains spent Hit Dice, up to a number of dice equal to half of the character's total number of them (minimum of one die)."

So, Strega should have her full 19 hit points at the end of the long rest she just had.

[Rex]

Thanks. I will probably never hit that button again.

[dmw71]

Thanks. I will probably never hit that button again.

I think those buttons will actually be quite useful. I expect this to be a long game, and there will be a LOT of resting. They automatically refresh everything applicable on your sheet (e.g. spells, abilities, hit points, etc...) so they're quite useful.

D&D Beyond has a public roadmap of projects they're working on, and many of them involve the character builder/sheets. Including adding the character sheets to their mobile app. Once that happens, and I can maintain my character from my phone, I will almost certainly switch from paper sheets to it (and will actually need to learn how to use the restorative buttons myself.

[dmw71]

I'm still waiting to here from Rumble and Quallxor regarding their offers, but I won't let that hold up the game.

With tomorrow being Friday, and the group transitioning into the next phase of the adventure, I will probably wait to publish the the next update until later this weekend, or even Monday.


I'm still performing a lot of behind-the-scenes maintenance in my private DM forum (for both groups), and have a lot to prepare for in advance of your arrival in Greenest, so I'm planning to use this weekend to get ahead of things which will really help.

[dmw71]

Everyone, please make sure you update your character sheets to reflect any items added as well as any money spent, as needed.

[dmw71]

Please see and vote in the newly created 'Poll' when you get a chance.

As the result affects how I prepare the game going forward, I need to decide on this quicky and will only be leaving it up for a very short time.


Thanks!

[dmw71]

This was posted in the other group. Plus my response.

I voted Yes on the poll, but, just to be clear, that is based on the condition, "this won't make the DM's life miserable." If any part of you is dreading the technical headache of orchestrating such a cross-over, Dave, then I'm just as happy staying separate.

I appreciate this.

I have to admit, the group crossover possibility is really cool. But...

After raising the question last night, it occurred to me that I've really only been considering the implications of allowing this with just the first (of eight) "episodes" of the module in mind. Managing two groups in the same place and at the same time during this first episode will be very manageable. However, I can see where having two groups working towards the same tasks will cause significant issues for probably half of the other episodes.

For example, say the goal of a particular episode is to find something. Or kill something.

One group finishes an episode a lot earlier than the other group, and they kill (or find) the thing in the next episode. What is this next group supposed to do when the challenge has already been completed? Essentially, it's almost going to require me to create alternative episodes for whichever group is behind. Or, if there are episodes where the two groups are together, it will require some tinkering to make the encounters or challenges more difficult (as they're written for four characters, and the two groups combined would be three times that number).

I can do do this, but it will be a lot of work (since I can only plan so far ahead), and will almost certainly slow all my games down since at least some of the time I would normally spend on drafting the next update will need to be allocated towards creating these new episodes.



If I had to vote, I'd probably choose to keep the two groups separate. In fact, I just did. But, the votes are at least leaning the other direction, so....

Polls.jpg (272.51 KiB) Viewed 733 times

Either way, I will keep the game moving (I've been planning the beginning for a while now, and have ideas on how to launch both groups in the same place/time simultaneously), but I will keep the poll (and this discussion) open for a while yet to see where everyone stands as far as episode two (and beyond) is concerned.[/ooc]

[Rex]

I voted yes, but agree with the sentiment that it shouldn't make your life as DM to difficult. If it ends up yes, why not just for the first episode?

[ravenn4544]

Fully agree- this should be fun and not a headache . If it is easier to keep the two separate (for any reason, really) go for it. it's your show!

[Monsieur Rose]

I think the intriguing possibilities of having two groups trying for the same goal is why many are voting yes. Yes in this case to allow crossover and interacting with the other group. I, for one, have always wanted to run two groups concurrently.

But I'm not running this. You should only do this as long as it's fun for you and everyone else. How about we see how it goes? As soon as it's too unwieldy, scrap it.

[dmw71]

I think the intriguing possibilities of having two groups trying for the same goal is why many are voting yes. Yes in this case to allow crossover and interacting with the other group. I, for one, have always wanted to run two groups concurrently.

But I'm not running this. You should only do this as long as it's fun for you and everyone else. How about we see how it goes? As soon as it's too unwieldy, scrap it.

I totally get it, and I think I might go for it.

I just explained in the other group how, I did read the entire hardcover once I finally decided it was what I was going to run, but that was already two months ago (and my memory isn't what it once was; hence my "obsession" with documenting and linking things). Also, my "reading" was more like skimming, to capture the high-level story and narrative flow... I wasn't really focusing on details, per se.

I spent some time today over lunch going over the episode summaries, and while it will take a closer look, I feel like I can make most of them work.

The end, though.

That will be a problem.

That, though, is a loooooooooooooooong way off. I didn't spoil anything for the other group, but did share that they're about to real grind, and it will potentially (if not likely) take months before you're ready for episode 2. Episode 1 is going to be super busy for me, too, but having a month or more to try to plan ahead a bit will only help.


Ha! The module is written for parties of four, and we do have twelve characters.

Do we dare break into three groups? Lol

But, seriously though. If we are going to all run concurrently, it might actually help me to have three groups of four instead of two groups of six (so I don't also have to worry about ratcheting up the encounter strength to reflect the extra two characters).

[dmw71]

Here we go!

And stop.

I will try to push things again later tonight.

[dmw71]

The new post is up:

Group 1, Episode 1: Greenest in Flames

[dmw71]

He calls out "Scatter them!" as he rushes around...

Yelling as he goes "Death to the small dragon friends".

Good to know that stealth isn't a factor.

[dmw71]

I have a meeting at my youngest's school tonight, so the next update (assuming we have all thre necessary responses) probably won't be until later tonight.