To the group: I also vote b) using Veit's rope.
I help secure the goblin to a tree if that's what we decide.
I help secure the goblin to a tree if that's what we decide.
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[D&D] The Lost Mines of Phandelver
- Thread starter ravenvii
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
out of sheer curiosity, are you actually rolling physical dice? i know i would
> I am hardly convinced that he 'forgot' about a trap he has to navigate everyday on his way in and out.
I daresay If Master Veit hadn't noticed the trap, he would be in it now, likely hurt.
The bugger got his more than fair chance.
He hasn't offered anything of value except that obvious snare, and tried to trick us here.
Off with him, i say.
I daresay If Master Veit hadn't noticed the trap, he would be in it now, likely hurt.
The bugger got his more than fair chance.
He hasn't offered anything of value except that obvious snare, and tried to trick us here.
Off with him, i say.
Ah, @ravenvii, do those dice ever work in our favour? To be honest, my private bet with myself was that this was destined to fail, and - when you raised it, I was surprised, as I assumed that it was something of a waste of time. Let us just say that I would have been exceedingly surprised if any of us won an insight check.
[doublepost=1457117966][/doublepost]Hm. I wonder are we being shepherded into tying this fellow to a tree, and thereby giving his companions a perfect excuse to attack us - as they inevitably will.
I will vote a).
We may be able to negotiate with them if we hold a hostage if and when we trip over their hideout containing blood thirsty goblins - they do place some value on goblin fellowship after all, - and his presence among us might persuade them to hold off shooting arrows at us long enough to allow us to ask a few questions and possibly trade him for information.
Moreover, we ought to keep in mind our main aim here - which is to obtain information about our missing companions (and would be employer) Veit's cousin - and not get distracted with dreams of glory or revenge.
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If you rolled a 5 or better on a D20, it would have worked. Our die rolls have been terrible to this point but it will average out in the end. I have been playing in a Star Wars RPG (Similar to our current game but with a Star Wars environment) for the last three years or so and still get the bad rolls (even when we roll them ourselves). The only difference is that our characters are high enough level such that even really low rolls usually succeed on a skill check
.b) is tie him up.
c) is string him up (hang him).
Which do you want ?
best roll low now on easy/relatively unimportant points, and roll high when things inevitably get more dicey
[doublepost=1457118550][/doublepost]
i think the "i vote b" part might contain a clue to that effect...
[doublepost=1457118550][/doublepost]
i think the "i vote b" part might contain a clue to that effect...
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My argument against b) is based less on a humanitarian (goblinatarian?) ideal, attractive though that may be, than on practical considerations.
A disposed of goblin will undoubtedly ensure a frigid welcome, and possibly a violent one, upon our arrival, whereas a trussed one may allow for some exchange of views, and possibly facilitate an exchange of trussed up goblin for some worthwhile information.
A disposed of goblin will undoubtedly ensure a frigid welcome, and possibly a violent one, upon our arrival, whereas a trussed one may allow for some exchange of views, and possibly facilitate an exchange of trussed up goblin for some worthwhile information.
best roll low now on easy/relatively unimportant points, and roll high when things inevitably get more dicey
[doublepost=1457118550][/doublepost]
i think the "i vote b" part might contain a clue to that effect...
Yes, exactly!
I applaud your diplomatic approach but my belly and many adventures I witnessed say that the goblin tribes don't care much about an exchange of views - or hostages. Especially since ours isn't, well, the sharpest knife in the drawer so to say.
[doublepost=1457121943][/doublepost]
There you go! It's Pluto's fault (I knew it!)
Sigh - I guess every party needs its bad luck charm. Except that ours has the size of a little giant..
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I applaud your diplomatic approach but my belly and many adventures I witnessed say that the goblin tribes don't care much about an exchange of views - or hostages. Especially since ours isn't, well, the sharpest knife in the drawer so to say.
[doublepost=1457121943][/doublepost]
There you go! It's Pluto's fault (I knew it!)
Sigh - I guess every party needs its bad luck charm. Except that ours has the size of a little giant..
Hm.
What is our aim when we arrive at the goblin hideout? Attack? revenge? Satisfying slaughter? Or, are we seeking further information as to the whereabouts and condition of Master Veit's kinsman?
If we leave the goblin tied to a tree - where his chances of survival will be minimal - we have nothing with which to negotiate when we arrive at the goblin encampment. Whereas, if we arrive with a captive, we can argue that we will exchange him if he and his fellows prove helpful.
What we do once we've arrived? We Improvise!
well, the majority opted for b) but a compromise could be that we do take him with us - all tied up - but I go first. We found the trail and I rather fall in a pit by myself than trusting a goblin once too much.
I somewhat object to knocking on their doors trying to set up a bargain / trade though! But we can figure that out once we found the hide-out and scouted the perimeter.
well, the majority opted for b) but a compromise could be that we do take him with us - all tied up - but I go first. We found the trail and I rather fall in a pit by myself than trusting a goblin once too much.
I somewhat object to knocking on their doors trying to set up a bargain / trade though! But we can figure that out once we found the hide-out and scouted the perimeter.
What we do once we've arrived? We Improvise!
well, the majority opted for b) but a compromise could be that we do take him with us - all tied up - but I go first. We found the trail and I rather fall in a pit by myself than trusting a goblin once too much.
I somewhat object to knocking on their doors trying to set up a bargain / trade though! But we can figure that out once we found the hide-out and scouted the perimeter.
If I am outvoted by the band, I am outvoted.
However, once we arrive, I much doubt that we will 'be knocking on doors'. Rather, if anything, we may run the risk of encountering a welcome that might be described as fervently and enthusiastically warm. Of the roasting and scalding hot warm variety.
Reply to Syllin: The main goal is rescuing the prisoners in the goblin hideout. Without surprise on our side, that task will be very difficult to accomplish before the goblins kill the prisoners. This goblin can't be trusted and, if he warns the other goblins, the prisoners will be killed. We took a vote with myself, Veit, and Portia voting to tie up the goblin, Bartholomeus voting to kill the goblin, and you voting to take the goblin along. I suggest that we tie up the goblin now and immediately head to the goblin hideout before we are discovered by the goblins.
As far as this goblin's health, we are tying it up with Veit's rope and I can guarantee that Veit will be back here as soon as possible after raiding the goblin hideout in order to retrieve his rope
.
Well, I strongly suspect that the prisoners may not be in the hideout.
Indeed, our untrustworthy goblin captive himself suggested that they may have been taken elsewhere - a castle was mentioned - and that while goblins have been given the task of holding them, they were not the instigators of this………situation, but rather, were hired - or persuaded, or coerced - or enthusiastic - hands in implementing it.
I doubt we will find our fellows in the hideout. We may, however, learn something of use to the group.
Indeed, our untrustworthy goblin captive himself suggested that they may have been taken elsewhere - a castle was mentioned - and that while goblins have been given the task of holding them, they were not the instigators of this………situation, but rather, were hired - or persuaded, or coerced - or enthusiastic - hands in implementing it.
I doubt we will find our fellows in the hideout. We may, however, learn something of use to the group.
> what about the poor sap waiting in the 'eating room'? a fellow knight nonetheless!
Should we just hang around here, hugging goblins until his bones are tossed out with the cabbage scraps?
i think not!
i understand the tactical value of prisoners, and hostages, but i fear, Kai'Syllin, that you vastly overestimate the value of this vile traitor to his brethren, and his usefulness to our cause.
You ask, what we negotiate with when we get there?
Well, Syllin, i present you with with Master Frostbeard's mighty warhammer, Portia's swift daggers, Master Fletcher's famed bow and my named greataxe, and, not least, you own magic fire.
let's press on as we have the advantage of surprise.
tis now scarcely the first hour of the morning. with Tymora's assistance, we might catch them all asleep.
Should we just hang around here, hugging goblins until his bones are tossed out with the cabbage scraps?
i think not!
i understand the tactical value of prisoners, and hostages, but i fear, Kai'Syllin, that you vastly overestimate the value of this vile traitor to his brethren, and his usefulness to our cause.
You ask, what we negotiate with when we get there?
Well, Syllin, i present you with with Master Frostbeard's mighty warhammer, Portia's swift daggers, Master Fletcher's famed bow and my named greataxe, and, not least, you own magic fire.
let's press on as we have the advantage of surprise.
tis now scarcely the first hour of the morning. with Tymora's assistance, we might catch them all asleep.
Have we only one rope? Can our intrepid travellers not have thought to equip themselves with a few coiled ropes around their waists?
I trust that we may have other coils of rope conveniently stowed away in the wagon we left behind………..else, we may have to consider purchasing one when we find someplace that may be termed civilised…..
I trust that we may have other coils of rope conveniently stowed away in the wagon we left behind………..else, we may have to consider purchasing one when we find someplace that may be termed civilised…..
yes, and gagged, obviously
note to everyone for the future: just a reminder that, not everything has to be decided by committee. characters can also make choice that others do not agree upon, with whatever consequences. nor we have necessarily to move all together (although it is typically a good idea)
for example in a situation like this one a character might have decided to 'end the discussion' by slitting the goblin's throat, or even try to persuade the rest of the group to do as they suggest (this would needs check by the DM to see if it was successful). however, it would may not be sufficient to say "i try to persuade everyone to do as I say". This is very dependent on the DM, but the way i do it is that i weigh the difficulty of the check on the actual argument made.
for example in this case if i really wanted to kill the goblin i could have just killed him. i might have to deal with the ripercussions within the group, but the goblin would be dead. or i could have tried to persuade enough people that to kill him was the best option. for that i would have to do a persuasion check, with my modifier. the DC would take into account the actual argument i used, and the prior position of the other people (e.g. syllinn harder to convince than portia). the value would have been at the discretion of the DM, but they should be fair and reflect the game
[doublepost=1457138172][/doublepost]
portia has another 50ft of rope. buying more (and other equipment) is definitively a good idea for when we get into town.
whatever is in our inventory, it is assumed we always carry around unless specified otherwise.
Veit slams the treacherous goblin to a nearby tree while Bartolomeus wrapped the rope around, with one loop going over his mouth. Kicking the thrashing goblin -- you're lucky to be alive, he thinks -- Veit continues following the trail, being careful to walk around the pit trap. The party continues down the winding trail, leaving behind the struggling goblin to the mercy of the woods.
There were no further incidents as the narrow trail winded roughly northwest. The trail would sometimes narrow until it disappears into the foliage, but the next section was easily found by Veit who was still leading the party. There was some grumbling as a hour passed by. The eerie lights slowly shifted as the moon travelled across the sky, giving an illusion of hidden goblins -- or worse -- among the woods waiting for a moment to strike. Slowly, the party came to realize that it was not simply the light -- the feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching is palpable in the air. A black figure flashed in the edges of the party's vision from deep within the dark and eerily moonlight-bathed woods. But when one turns to look, there is nothing. The grumbling deadened to a silence as the party pressed on, paranoid rising in contrast to the slowly falling moon.
Suddenly, the trail opened up. Indeed, they have arrived at the entrance of what they've been searching for --
THE CRAGMAW HIDEOUT
*** *** ***
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen! You've reached the Cragmaw hideout, and hence have completed a story milestone! 75 experience points can now be added to your character sheets! You are all now 75 points closer to becoming level 2!
Let's pause briefly here -- I'm looking for feedback and thoughts. Are you enjoying it so far? Any major mis-steps by myself as DM you'd like to address (or glowing achievements you'd like to praise, perhaps)?
Also, while we are paused, please do me a favor -- do an inventory. Please write down what you are carrying (everyone is with their starting equipment, except for @twietee who lost the rope, and @Don't panic who has a shield, a longbow and a scimitar from that goblin), how many experience points you have (75) and the spells you have prepared (@twietee and @Scepticalscribe), as well as the HP you may have (all maximum HP right now) and spell slots you've used up (none right now). Finally, please write down how many GP you have -- @twietee you have 11 gold pieces, while everyone else has 10.
Please keep this document updated as the game goes on. It'll be ideal if we can all see it -- does everyone have a Google account? I can start a Google Doc that we can all edit, would that work for everyone?
There were no further incidents as the narrow trail winded roughly northwest. The trail would sometimes narrow until it disappears into the foliage, but the next section was easily found by Veit who was still leading the party. There was some grumbling as a hour passed by. The eerie lights slowly shifted as the moon travelled across the sky, giving an illusion of hidden goblins -- or worse -- among the woods waiting for a moment to strike. Slowly, the party came to realize that it was not simply the light -- the feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching is palpable in the air. A black figure flashed in the edges of the party's vision from deep within the dark and eerily moonlight-bathed woods. But when one turns to look, there is nothing. The grumbling deadened to a silence as the party pressed on, paranoid rising in contrast to the slowly falling moon.
Suddenly, the trail opened up. Indeed, they have arrived at the entrance of what they've been searching for --
THE CRAGMAW HIDEOUT
*** *** ***
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen! You've reached the Cragmaw hideout, and hence have completed a story milestone! 75 experience points can now be added to your character sheets! You are all now 75 points closer to becoming level 2!
Let's pause briefly here -- I'm looking for feedback and thoughts. Are you enjoying it so far? Any major mis-steps by myself as DM you'd like to address (or glowing achievements you'd like to praise, perhaps
)?Also, while we are paused, please do me a favor -- do an inventory. Please write down what you are carrying (everyone is with their starting equipment, except for @twietee who lost the rope, and @Don't panic who has a shield, a longbow and a scimitar from that goblin), how many experience points you have (75) and the spells you have prepared (@twietee and @Scepticalscribe), as well as the HP you may have (all maximum HP right now) and spell slots you've used up (none right now). Finally, please write down how many GP you have -- @twietee you have 11 gold pieces, while everyone else has 10.
Please keep this document updated as the game goes on. It'll be ideal if we can all see it -- does everyone have a Google account? I can start a Google Doc that we can all edit, would that work for everyone?
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Veit slams the treacherous goblin to a nearby tree while Bartolomeus wrapped the rope around, with one loop going over his mouth. Kicking the thrashing goblin -- you're lucky to be alive, he thinks -- Veit continues following the trail, being careful to walk around the pit trap. The party continues down the winding trail, leaving behind the struggling goblin to the mercy of the woods.
There were no further incidents as the narrow trail winded roughly northwest. The trail would sometimes narrow until it disappears into the foliage, but the next section was easily found by Veit who was still leading the party. There was some grumbling as a hour passed by. The eerie lights slowly shifted as the moon travelled across the sky, giving an illusion of hidden goblins -- or worse -- among the woods waiting for a moment to strike. Slowly, the party came to realize that it was not simply the light -- the feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching is palpable in the air. A black figure flashed in the edges of the party's vision from deep within the dark and eerily moonlight-bathed woods. But when one turns to look, there is nothing. The grumbling deadened to a silence as the party pressed on, paranoid rising in contrast to the slowly falling moon.
Suddenly, the trail opened up. Indeed, they have arrived at the entrance of what they've been searching for --
THE CRAGMAW HIDEOUT
*** *** ***
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen! You've reached the Cragmaw hideout, and hence have completed a story milestone! 75 experience points can now be added to your character sheets! You are all now 75 points closer to becoming level 2!
Let's pause briefly here -- I'm looking for feedback and thoughts. Are you enjoying it so far? Any major mis-steps by myself as DM you'd like to address (or glowing achievements you'd like to praise, perhaps
Also, while we are paused, please do me a favor -- do an inventory. Please write down what you are carrying (everyone is with their starting equipment, except for @twietee who lost the rope, and @Don't panic who has a shield, a longbow and a scimitar from that goblin), how many experience points you have (75) and the spells you have prepared (@twietee and @Scepticalscribe), as well as the HP you may have (all maximum HP right now) and spell slots you've used up (none right now). Finally, please write down how many GP you have -- @twietee you have 11 gold pieces, while everyone else has 10.
Please keep this document updated as the game goes on. It'll be ideal if we can all see it -- does everyone have a Google account? I can start a Google Doc that we can all edit, would that work for everyone?
Well I'm amused, and I'm only watching.
Veit slams the treacherous goblin to a nearby tree while Bartolomeus wrapped the rope around, with one loop going over his mouth. Kicking the thrashing goblin -- you're lucky to be alive, he thinks -- Veit continues following the trail, being careful to walk around the pit trap. The party continues down the winding trail, leaving behind the struggling goblin to the mercy of the woods.
There were no further incidents as the narrow trail winded roughly northwest. The trail would sometimes narrow until it disappears into the foliage, but the next section was easily found by Veit who was still leading the party. There was some grumbling as a hour passed by. The eerie lights slowly shifted as the moon travelled across the sky, giving an illusion of hidden goblins -- or worse -- among the woods waiting for a moment to strike. Slowly, the party came to realize that it was not simply the light -- the feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching is palpable in the air. A black figure flashed in the edges of the party's vision from deep within the dark and eerily moonlight-bathed woods. But when one turns to look, there is nothing. The grumbling deadened to a silence as the party pressed on, paranoid rising in contrast to the slowly falling moon.
Suddenly, the trail opened up. Indeed, they have arrived at the entrance of what they've been searching for --
THE CRAGMAW HIDEOUT
*** *** ***
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen! You've reached the Cragmaw hideout, and hence have completed a story milestone! 75 experience points can now be added to your character sheets! You are all now 75 points closer to becoming level 2!
Let's pause briefly here -- I'm looking for feedback and thoughts. Are you enjoying it so far? Any major mis-steps by myself as DM you'd like to address (or glowing achievements you'd like to praise, perhaps
Also, while we are paused, please do me a favor -- do an inventory. Please write down what you are carrying (everyone is with their starting equipment, except for @twietee who lost the rope, and @Don't panic who has a shield, a longbow and a scimitar from that goblin), how many experience points you have (75) and the spells you have prepared (@twietee and @Scepticalscribe), as well as the HP you may have (all maximum HP right now) and spell slots you've used up (none right now). Finally, please write down how many GP you have -- @twietee you have 11 gold pieces, while everyone else has 10.
Please keep this document updated as the game goes on. It'll be ideal if we can all see it -- does everyone have a Google account? I can start a Google Doc that we can all edit, would that work for everyone?
No, I don't have a Google account. My online existence is relatively discreet.
What about something along the lines of @Don't panic's table for the WW games (and goodness knows, I found that very difficult to actually access if I wished to add something, but I could read it easily enough).
What about some sort of document on the first page that you can add to, and that the DM keeps up to date. Actually, checking back, as we do have the character sheets to hand at the beginning of the tale, @ravenvii, is there any way of adapting the character sheets on page one so that they are not pdf files, and can be added to as a sort of wiki?
On the WW games I used actual pen and paper, one notebook and a pen and a few consecutive pages. Already, my notes for this game - because it is going on for so long - are all over the place, rather than tidily kept in one core book.
Actually, I find that I keep having to minimise pages here in order to double check information and confirm stuff that had happened before. With a real book, in order to be able to double-check stuff - I'd have simply used book-marks, or marked the top of a page with a dog eared page turn; my own books - especially if I used them as texts often resembled concertinas. But I knew where to find what I wanted.
So, it seems that I may have to use an actual notebook solely for this adventure.....
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Veit slams the treacherous goblin to a nearby tree while Bartolomeus wrapped the rope around, with one loop going over his mouth. Kicking the thrashing goblin -- you're lucky to be alive, he thinks -- Veit continues following the trail, being careful to walk around the pit trap. The party continues down the winding trail, leaving behind the struggling goblin to the mercy of the woods.
There were no further incidents as the narrow trail winded roughly northwest. The trail would sometimes narrow until it disappears into the foliage, but the next section was easily found by Veit who was still leading the party. There was some grumbling as a hour passed by. The eerie lights slowly shifted as the moon travelled across the sky, giving an illusion of hidden goblins -- or worse -- among the woods waiting for a moment to strike. Slowly, the party came to realize that it was not simply the light -- the feeling that someone -- or something -- is watching is palpable in the air. A black figure flashed in the edges of the party's vision from deep within the dark and eerily moonlight-bathed woods. But when one turns to look, there is nothing. The grumbling deadened to a silence as the party pressed on, paranoid rising in contrast to the slowly falling moon.
Suddenly, the trail opened up. Indeed, they have arrived at the entrance of what they've been searching for --
THE CRAGMAW HIDEOUT
*** *** ***
Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen! You've reached the Cragmaw hideout, and hence have completed a story milestone! 75 experience points can now be added to your character sheets! You are all now 75 points closer to becoming level 2!
Let's pause briefly here -- I'm looking for feedback and thoughts. Are you enjoying it so far? Any major mis-steps by myself as DM you'd like to address (or glowing achievements you'd like to praise, perhaps
Also, while we are paused, please do me a favor -- do an inventory. Please write down what you are carrying (everyone is with their starting equipment, except for @twietee who lost the rope, and @Don't panic who has a shield, a longbow and a scimitar from that goblin), how many experience points you have (75) and the spells you have prepared (@twietee and @Scepticalscribe), as well as the HP you may have (all maximum HP right now) and spell slots you've used up (none right now). Finally, please write down how many GP you have -- @twietee you have 11 gold pieces, while everyone else has 10.
Please keep this document updated as the game goes on. It'll be ideal if we can all see it -- does everyone have a Google account? I can start a Google Doc that we can all edit, would that work for everyone?
I think it is going very well so far
Obviously there are some hiccups and teething issues, with several beginners and the adaptation to a play-by-post format, but i am sure these will be easily solved soon.
Everyone is doing a good job with the role-playing aspect, which eventually is what 'makes' a good game. Thr mechanics and technical parts is just a matter of practice, and it is not exactly rocket science, especially considering the cornucopia of online resources available ( if in doubt, just google "dnd"+"5e"+"your query" to get the answer you seek).
The idea of an updated stat sheet ( like that for the ww game) is good, if noone else does, i can.
also a good idea is to consolidate resources and links in the OP, and from the next encounter the "status" info block as dicussed earlier, at the end of every 'activity' post by the DM.
Ravenvii you are doing a fine job. The RP for the goblin was great.
Other things i would have DMed a bit different, but it is just a matter of preferences, not right-wrong
Oh, and i most definitively have 25 gold pieces, i just counted them.
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@ravenvii and all the players are doing a great job. Kudos especially for @Scepticalscribe who was very nervous at the start but looks like she is enjoying herself now.
Like SS, I don't have a google account (no gmail for me) and I don't use Facebook or Twitter. My recommendation is that everyone edit their post at the beginning of this thread where they said that they would play and add all the character info there. That way, it's in the start of this thread for everyone (including the people that are not playing).
As far as changes, we have already suggested putting a status line in combat to keep track of everything. The only issue that I have that hasn't been addressed is better communication between the DM and players as far as if @ravenvii is still waiting on a response from the players. As an example, @ravenvii was waiting on a response from @twietee on spell selection and we thought we were all set and that @ravenvii was busy. I would like to make a suggestion that @ravenvii put a task line after his description so it's clear on what he's waiting on and that the players put a task complete line after their responses.
Since @Huntn is going to play, he should also give his suggestions.
Like SS, I don't have a google account (no gmail for me) and I don't use Facebook or Twitter
. My recommendation is that everyone edit their post at the beginning of this thread where they said that they would play and add all the character info there. That way, it's in the start of this thread for everyone (including the people that are not playing).As far as changes, we have already suggested putting a status line in combat to keep track of everything. The only issue that I have that hasn't been addressed is better communication between the DM and players as far as if @ravenvii is still waiting on a response from the players. As an example, @ravenvii was waiting on a response from @twietee on spell selection and we thought we were all set and that @ravenvii was busy. I would like to make a suggestion that @ravenvii put a task line after his description so it's clear on what he's waiting on and that the players put a task complete line after their responses.
Since @Huntn is going to play, he should also give his suggestions.