OOC I: The Sunless Citadel

[dmw71]

I made some significant changes to my footer information (most of the work was done on spells). I'm definitely going to keep it all (it was a lot of work to add!), but I can easily add spoilers to hide some of the details if you think the section is now too long.

Everything looks good, but I do have two questions:

1. Monsieur Rose, 'cutting words' will work a bit janky given the play-by-post format, and given that I show all my rolls (and usually the DC), so feel free to just use it whenever (well, as long as you have inspiration points to spend);
2. Scott308, did you roll a 1 for hit points? I see Klilxuac has 15 hp, and I previously had him with 14.

3rd Level
Stuff will go here.


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Actions?

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Date: 14 Flamerule 1489
Time: 06:20 (Sunrise: 05:54, Sunset: 20:09)
Temp: 57°F
Conditions: Cool.
Light Sources:

• Klilxuac: 'Light' spell (purple; 20' radius + 20' dim) on small pebble (Extinguished: 14 Flamerule @ 7:20)

Known Conditions/Spells in Effect:

• Klilxuac: 'Light' spell (Cantrip) (Detailed in 'Light Sources' section, above.) (Detailed in 'Light Sources' section, above.)
• Klilxuac: 'Mage Armor' spell (1st-level) (Ends: 14 Flamerule @ 14:20)

Character Status

• GreyWolfVT | Kelben | Rock Gnome | Rogue (3) | NG | HD (1d8): 3 | HP: 24 | AC: 13 | SP: 25' | Initiative: +2 | Perception: 11 | Darkvision: Yes | Inspiration: Yes
  • Languages: Common, Gnomish, Thieves’ Cant
    Spell Slots: None
    Features:
    • 1st: Sneak Attack (2d6)
      2nd: Cunning Action
      3rd: Roguish Archetype: Scout
      • Skirmisher
      • Survivalist
• Monsieur Rose | Sky | Tabaxi | Bard (3) | CN | HD (1d8): 3 | HP: 21 | AC: 14 | SP: 30' | Initiative: +4 | Perception: 13 | Darkvision: Yes | Inspiration: Yes
  • Languages: Common, Infernal
    Spell Slots: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2
    Spells Known: 6
    • 1st: Charm Person, Dissonant Whispers, Healing Word, Sleep, Unseen Servant
    • 2nd: Phantasmal Force
    Cantrips Known: 2 (Minor Illusion, Vicious Mockery)
    Features:
    • 1st: Bardic Inspiration: 3 (Rest: Long)
      2nd: Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest
      3rd: Expertise (Deception, Persuasion), Bard College: College of Lore
      • Cutting Words
• Scott308 | Klilxuac | Dragonborn (Red) | Sorcerer (3) | CG | HD (1d6): 3 | HP: 19 | AC: 12 | SP: 30' | Initiative: +2 | Perception: 12 | Darkvision: No | Inspiration: Yes
  • Languages: Common, Draconic, Elvish, Abyssal
    Spell Slots: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2
    Spells Known: 4
    • 1st: Detect Magic, Mage Armor, Magic Missile
    • 2nd: Scorching Ray
    Cantrips Known: 4 (Fire Bolt, Light, Poison Spray, Prestidigitation)
    Breath Weapon: 1 (DC: 11 | Damage 2d6; save for half) (Rest: Short)
    Features:
    • 1st: Sorcerous Origin: Wild Magic
      • 1st: Wild Magic Surge, Tides of Chaos (Rest: Long)
      2nd: Font of Magic (Rest: Long): Sorcery Points: 3
      3rd: Metamagic
      • Careful Spell
      • Twinned Spell
• Shaede | Hargrem | Human (Variant) | Cleric (3) | NG | HD (1d8): 3 | HP: 24 | AC: 18 | SP: 30' | Initiative: +2 | Perception: 15 | Darkvision: No | Inspiration: Yes
  • Languages: Gnomish, Common, Celestial
    Spell Slots: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2
    Spells Known: 6
    • 1st: Bane, Healing Word, Inflict Wounds, Sanctuary, Shield of Faith
    • 2nd: Aid
    • Life Domain Spells (Automatically Prepared)
      • 1st: Bless, Cure Wounds
      • 2nd: Lesser Restoration, Spiritual Weapon
    Cantrips Known: 3 (Guidance, Sacred Flame, Spare the Dying)
    Features:
    • 1st: Divine Domain: Disciple of Life
      2nd: Channel Divinity (Rest: Short) (Turn Undead: 1, Preserve Life: 1)
      3rd: None

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Marching Orders
Scout

• Kelben

5-foot

• Hargrem
  Kelben
  Sky
  Klilxuac
  Erky

10-foot

• Kelben | Hargrem
  Erky
  Klilxuac | Sky

Rolls

• None

[Scott308]

I hadn't done anything with HP. I'm assuming it went to 15 because he has +1 from CON. I just rolled, and my HP goes to 19.

[Scott308]

Also, Klilxuac (and Sandro from your other 5e game) is now an official AL character. I put them (1st level versions, anyway) on paper and am going to bring them to my game tomorrow. Don't know what I'll end up playing, but it could be one of them.

[dmw71]

Also, Klilxuac (and Sandro from your other 5e game) is now an official AL character. I put them (1st level versions, anyway) on paper and am going to bring them to my game tomorrow. Don't know what I'll end up playing, but it could be one of them.

Cool. Let us know how it goes.

[Monsieur Rose]

Thanks for the heads up. Yeah, I had that concern with cutting words and PbP. Let's try it out and see what happens. Unless, of course, you think I should try another bard college.

[dmw71]

Nope, I have no problem with giving the player a bit of an advantage, and there may still come a situation where a monster hits by 2-3 more than needed and you'll be forced with a decision.

It'll be fine.

[Scott308]

Also, Klilxuac (and Sandro from your other 5e game) is now an official AL character. I put them (1st level versions, anyway) on paper and am going to bring them to my game tomorrow. Don't know what I'll end up playing, but it could be one of them.

Cool. Let us know how it goes.

Didn't end up using either one. My fighter (that I also made with Sandro) was more important to the makeup of the team in the first game, and the second was Tier 2. I'm playing one Tier 1 AL game each day at Gamehole in November, so I may be able to use them then. Although, I have DM experience to apply still, and I'm going to need a 5th level character for my Extra Life marathon game the weekend prior. Haven't decided who I'll advance. May just work on each Tier 1 character, advancing them to 5th and making my decision when I'm at the table.

[dmw71]

I've only played once since the new AL rules kicked in, and I'm honestly not sure how I feel about them?

I understand, for organized play, that you want to be as accommodating to different playing styles, but the whole experience checkpoints and treasure point system is really kind of crazy. At least as I understand them.

[Scott308]

I don't know if you are on any of the AL Facebook groups, but I know the AL DM's group is just destroying the new rules. There are plenty of people that are pissed and claim to be leaving AL. I didn't play or DM a lot of AL, so I am not as bothered by the changes as some, mainly because I don't necessarily realize how it affects things. I know people are upset with the DM Quests, which give out rewards for accomplishing different tasks when running games. That's how I was able to create a 6th level Ranger with Red Dragon Scale Mail, giving him resistance to fire, among other things. Many of the quests I had no hope of ever completing, because I only run a handful of games, but some of the quests gave out pretty impressive rewards- with a pretty hefty investment of time and effort on the DM's part.

It is definitely weird to complete an adventure, and not have any way to get treasure - magic items, coins, gems, mundane items, etc.- for it. With the old rules, I didn't grab treasures if I didn't have a need for the specific item, I'd let someone that actually was interested in it have it. As a result, I have a third level character that has no magic items, but he won't earn enough Treasure Points to buy anything (other than common items) until 5th level, which puts him into Tier 2. But since the TPs are all Tier 1, he will only be able to buy from the Tier 1 list, and be unable to buy any Tier 2 items until level 7. If I would have at least picked up something, I could have traded at least, but I didn't want to take something I didn't really want because with 0 magic items I would get first shot at anything we found. My 7th level Rogue will be 9th level before she has enough TPs to buy either of the items she unlocked in the Epic last night, and one of them she can't even use unless she takes a level of Cleric, Druid, or Paladin. I'm glad that I was able to raise enough money for playing in the Extra Life game last year to earn two magic items for her, because magic items are few and far between in Tomb of Annihilation. The two she started with are the only two she has. If I had been playing that adventure and did not get the two magic weapons that way, she'd likely end up at 9th level with no magic items unless she used Tier 2 TPs to buy a Tier 1 item, but even that would have to wait until she's level 8 because she won't have earned enough until then. The one nice thing is that if you play an adventure that has an item that multiple people really want, they will all have the opportunity to buy it, instead of one person grabbing it as trade bait because they had the fewest magic items even though a number of people would have really liked to use it with that character.

Gold is another issue. My 1st level fighter ended up failing a save after being bitten by a werewolf, so he contracted lycanthropy, which removes a character from AL play until the curse is able to be removed. It costs 90 GP to have an NPC Cleric cast Cure Disease. We earned 4 ACP and 4 TP for the adventure, so he leveled up. This gave him another 75 GP (bonus for leveling and the only time you earn actual gold now until you max out at level 20). Fortunately, he had earned some gold from an adventure I played with a pregen, which I rebuilt into this character. If not, he would have had to cash in a TP for gold in order to afford to have the spell cast, which then would have put him behind the curve on being able to afford to purchase magic items. Fortunately, I was playing with a friend, who had played his character and accrued plenty of gold in the past, so he paid for the spell.

I will say that I like the ACP system. It makes it easier to figure out when you level. It also means you should level through higher levels more quickly, as the amount needed to go from level 5 to 6 is exactly the same as the amount needed to go from 15 to 16. I also like the standard for earning Down Time and Renown. Makes it really easy. I'm not a big fan of getting rid of factions, although you can keep your faction if you want, just need to change your background feature. I did keep my faction with my Rogue, but dropped it for my other characters. We'll see how I feel about the changes overall as I play it a bit more.

On the bright side, I played in a charity event yesterday, and we raised almost $1600 for a local animal rescue. This'll help with needed medical care and adoption fees for three dogs, as well as helping out with the day to day expenses. And, I earned a cert for a Batiri Goblin, so I can play a goblin character without using Volo's as my +1!

[dmw71]

I don't know if you are on any of the AL Facebook groups, but I know the AL DM's group is just destroying the new rules. There are plenty of people that are pissed and claim to be leaving AL. I didn't play or DM a lot of AL, so I am not as bothered by the changes as some, mainly because I don't necessarily realize how it affects things.

My DM creates a lot of D&D groups in Facebook for his different games, and D&D in general, but I'm not in any AL Facebook groups. It's probably just as well. It's still so new, but I don't think I'm going to like the changes, but have a feeling I might prefer homebrew games.

It is definitely weird to complete an adventure, and not have any way to get treasure - magic items, coins, gems, mundane items, etc.- for it.

No kidding. I walked into a room that, in the room description, had quite a bit of treasure in it... and nothing. What is that? I can't understand the logic behind that rule at all.

I will say that I like the ACP system. It makes it easier to figure out when you level. It also means you should level through higher levels more quickly, as the amount needed to go from level 5 to 6 is exactly the same as the amount needed to go from 15 to 16.

This might not be terrible... but progression feels like it is very, very fast. I don't feel like you're given enough time to get to really use your character before they're leveling up and stacking new abilities and skills.

On the bright side, I played in a charity event yesterday, and we raised almost $1600 for a local animal rescue.

That's awesome. I see quite a few charity events springing up on Facebook, and think it's great. Maybe one of these days I'll actually participate in one of them.

[dmw71]

Kelben"... i guess we keep searching for the goblin leader."

Okay, scout, which way are you going?

[GreyWolfVT]

Did we ever check any other doors in that pillar room? If not then that is where i am going with everyone not far behind I hope because I am not planning to scout around with out backup not far behind this time.

[Scott308]

This might not be terrible... but progression feels like it is very, very fast. I don't feel like you're given enough time to get to really use your character before they're leveling up and stacking new abilities and skills.

Remember, you do have the option to use slow progression, taking half as much ACP and TP, allowing you to play twice as much before leveling. Otherwise, Tier 1 especially is quick. If you play a 4 hour adventure and complete two objectives, which I'm assuming will be the normal number available, you will level up each game. If you play a hardcover, you'll level up every 4 hours, plus have the opportunity to gain extra for accomplishing certain goals.

[Scott308]

That's awesome. I see quite a few charity events springing up on Facebook, and think it's great. Maybe one of these days I'll actually participate in one of them.

We're going to be doing our 2nd annual 24 hour marathon game for Extra Life November 3-4 in Madison. It'll actually be 25 hours because of the time change occurring during the game. It's lots of fun, and only costs $20 to hold your place. https://www.meetup.com/MadDnD/events/253399982/ is the link if you want to check it out. There are plenty of seats available now, but I would expect them to fill as it gets closer. We're going to be running the new hardcover that comes out, Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Our DMs will get it early. I know it's a bit of a drive for you, but thought I'd throw it out there.

[dmw71]

If you play a hardcover, you'll level up every 4 hours, plus have the opportunity to gain extra for accomplishing certain goals.

We are. There's also the 'catch-up' rule in AL allowing you to spend downtime to skip the last level in your tier (e.g. 4th to 5th).

After my first character died, and I rejoined as a brand new 1st level character (in a party of mostly 5th level characters), I caught up to them after two sessions. That was before the current changes, and due to experience points earned, but I feel like I had zero time to enjoy or get to know my new character (a bard, which I switched to a wizard) and he's already 5th level (and able to cast 3rd level spells -- hello, Fireball).

That might be a 5e thing, and not really a complaint leveled against the new changes... but, as we play 4 hours at a time, he'll be 6th level after two sessions. It feels insane.

[dmw71]

I know it's a bit of a drive for you, but thought I'd throw it out there.

I appreciate the invite. My wife has plans that day (meaning I'm on full time dad duty), so that date won't work. I'm not sure I would have been able to be away for that long, that far away.

If you're going, though, have fun!

[dmw71]

I didn't have any free time today at work, and tonight I will be flipping between the Bears and Cubs games, so there most likely won't be any updates until tomorrow.

[GreyWolfVT]

Sorry I haven't been my "typical self" the last week had some news that my grandmother passed away on the 12th (via text message @ 6am) my head hasn't entirely been right but she was 96 and lived a good long life. So at any rate that is my explaining my lack of posting enthusiasm as of late.

[dmw71]

Sorry to hear, man. Even when someone lives a full life, it's still not easy. No one will fault you for taking some time if you need it.

[GreyWolfVT]

NPC me Dave if you need to. The current situation has Kelben just about crapping himself.