Iron Kingdoms Game

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-24 12:41pm

I may be a bit lost, but why mention a cache of supplies? I have no memory of such a thing earlier in the thread. If this is a ruse, I can scarcely see the point either.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-01-24 12:51pm

It's a total ruse. The main reason I'm giving false info is I don't want anyone knowing what route we are taking. Our host could relay to some buddies of his that we are going to be taking the road back to the city, and we could get ambushed. They would have the time and the place where we would be. By spinning a yarn about a supply cache, I'm obscuring our true route plans and timetable, if not the final destination.
Hopefully telling a bit of a tall tale is better than just saying
"Sorry, I don't trust you, so I'm going to keep that information to myself."

EDIT: because I suck at spelling.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-24 01:05pm

My initial guess was not that far off, though shorter term : I thought that if he planned to have us killed, it would be simpler to follow us and wait till we got to the cache, rather than kill or torture us during the night, thus giving us the opportunity to spot them and kill them in the open.

Damn, I really shouldn't have read "Necessary Acts". Good fic, but had I known it would cause me to suspect my own shadow (or rather, my character's), I would have abstained till the end of the game

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Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-01-24 01:07pm

I just like playing a slightly paranoid bastard. It's been awhile, and it's pretty fun

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-24 01:12pm

I took "suspicious" as a charactrait trait, but I think it's contaminating me

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Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-01-25 12:33am

Well, I think it's safe to say they're what they seem to be. And on the very off chance they're not, I can at least assure us that we'll have notice if they try anything. So I think we can drop the paranoia for now.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-01-28 04:13pm

Imperial Overlord,

I know I've given you some of the backstory. Right now I'm assuming that Auric was a Kaptain in terms of rank with in the company. A relatively senior position, if a junior man. Would that jive alright?

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-01-28 04:32pm

Stormbringer wrote:Imperial Overlord,

I know I've given you some of the backstory. Right now I'm assuming that Auric was a Kaptain in terms of rank with in the company. A relatively senior position, if a junior man. Would that jive alright?

Yeah, that'll fit. By the way, you guys need to tell me what route you are taking.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-01-28 05:01pm

I think we are just taking the quickest route back to the city,all of my subterfuge aside. Don't hesitate to correct me if wrong though.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2007-01-28 05:05pm

Imperial Overlord wrote:
Stormbringer wrote:Imperial Overlord,

I know I've given you some of the backstory. Right now I'm assuming that Auric was a Kaptain in terms of rank with in the company. A relatively senior position, if a junior man. Would that jive alright?
Yeah, that'll fit. By the way, you guys need to tell me what route you are taking.

The normal, direct route. I think Raj was just playing in character when he was talking about going a different way.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-01-29 04:53am

Trolls! Trolls on the trail!

Obviously, this means combat, but I was wondering how this works exactly, in this mechanics light situation.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 05:22am

Personally, I told that I cast a protective spell, and indicated another buff I would cast if the trolls got too close.

Then I reviewed possible strategies depending on whether the trolls would rush at us in a single wave (excepting the one with the spear which would perhaps start with throwing some of his spears at us) or have the wits to disperse in order to avoid the worst of my area-spells, and I subtly indicated my fellow players an attitude compatible with my strategy (nevermind the wisdom of staying away from melee with giants, most of my spells are area-of-effect so you may want to avoid being caught in them

) .

And finally I announced my offensive action ( I assume that they're not too close, so that I have at least a round to cast a protective spell and another to initiate a Fireball from my staff).

I think that in a mechanics light game, you check the data to get a rough idea of your capabilities (like how a Grease spell would cover an area much smaller than I initially thought, which is why I then considered the possibility that they might be too far away for me to get them all), and more importantly you explain the reason why you want to do something in 'real' terms (eg I initially wanted to entangle them with Black Tentacles, but I realized that as giants they would have an advantage with the grapple check, but since they have low Reflex save they would be vulnerable to Grease. Then I explained it without game mechanics).

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-01-29 05:26am

You post your actions and then see what happens is how it works. Now, if you over reach, like say Nomad here with three spells in one posting under combat conditions, one of them a necromantic one to boot, expect unpleasant things to happen.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 05:29am

Imperial Overlord wrote:one of them a necromantic one to boot,

I didn't cast it. I announced that I would cast it if the trolls decided they would test the resistance of my skeleton with some crushing blows.

If two spells is too much, then please consider I only posted the Displacement, and readied my staff for the next round.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-01-29 05:33am

The Nomad wrote:
Imperial Overlord wrote:one of them a necromantic one to boot,
I didn't cast it. I announced that I would cast it if the trolls decided they would test the resistance of my skeleton with some crushing blows.

If two spells is too much, then please consider I only posted the Displacement, and readied my staff for the next round.

It's not a spell you cast in combat, its one you cast before combat. Actually, you cast it way before combat rears its ugly head.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 05:34am

Imperial Overlord wrote:
The Nomad wrote:
Imperial Overlord wrote:one of them a necromantic one to boot,
I didn't cast it. I announced that I would cast it if the trolls decided they would test the resistance of my skeleton with some crushing blows.

If two spells is too much, then please consider I only posted the Displacement, and readied my staff for the next round.
It's not a spell you cast in combat, its one you cast before combat. Actually, you cast it way before combat rears its ugly head.

Oh. I guess I was fooled by the casting time (1 standard action)

.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-01-29 05:37am

Check the duration.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 05:39am

I suppose I had missed that. I was expecting rounds/level, so I delayed the casting as long as possible.

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 05:45am

While we are at it, what distance are the whelplings ? I can't picture the battlefield too well, and I guess that after the false life thing, if I send them a fireball your next answer will be : "The whelplings rushed at Arkady, whose staff erupted a small sphere of flame which detonated against his foes. Helas, he was way too close and the spell ignited his hairy ass". I guess I'll have to settle for a Burning Hands spell.

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2007-01-29 05:49am

Range is not too far and getting closer. You're in an unfamiliar forest remember? Started about 120ft, but a lot closer than that now.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-01-29 07:57am

Ah, combat. At least I'm posting early enough that I'm not missing the fight. Hopefully my guy won't have to do too much in this fight, as he is mainly good for back alley brawls, ambushes, and killing spellcasters. Our wizard with a fire staff ought to make short work of these trolls

(If we can keep him alive and out of mellee that is)

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 08:32am

It sure doesn't look bright for my wizard. It might seem a bit late to ask, but I presumed the reason IO mentionned that the troll was running parallel to the trail was because it wanted to use the trees as cover. If it isn't covered though, my next action will be to lightning-bolt its ass (provided none of the other PCs stand in the way), so you may want to concentrate on the whelplings in this case ( I don't want them to fumble my only heavy attack spell).

The Nomad · Post by **The Nomad** » 2007-01-29 08:42am

And since my thought processes are slowed down by sickness and unrestful sleep, only now do I wonder : what of the two other trolls? I'd feel pretty idiot if I stood before the charred remains of my opponent in "HA-HA" mode, only to notice the shadow of a big ass axe poised over my head.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » 2007-01-29 06:34pm

Well, we've competely forgotten the female.

Raj Ahten · Post by **Raj Ahten** » 2007-01-29 06:42pm

Ford Prefect wrote:Well, we've competely forgotten the female.

Pretty much. I really don't want to engage a troll hand to hand though, so I'm concentrating my fire on the fast, lean one who is moving up on us. I'm kind of wishing I had one of those fancy techno magic weapons right about now! Trying to kill a troll with a handaxe and a dagger doesn't seem like a good way to reach old age.