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Post by pericles on Jun 25, 2019 19:56:45 GMT
OK – here’s an idea I have had to try and simulate the gritty harshness of cyberpunk… In D&D you only get the benefits of a “long rest” if you get a full 8 uninterrupted hours of rest. So… - that’s what I will rule. On guard duty overnight for a couple of hours? – that’s not a long rest. Have your sleep interrupted by a sneak attack? – no 8 hours for you. I will also rule however, that your clanmark can give you the benefits of a long rest if you drain it of all 4 stored HP.
How often can we drain the clan mark for the benefits of a long rest? At slightly higher levels take a short 1 hour rest and charge the clan mark using hit dice, then immediately spend it to gain the benefit of a long rest (All hit poits, half hit dice spent, all spell slots). The dodge kicks in at level 2. Even if we are limited to one use of the clan mark in a 24 hour period we are still ahead of the game by swapping out a long rest for a short rest. Use of the clan mark in lieu of a long rest makes things less gritty.
In the interests of accuracy. Page 186 players handbook.
A long rest is a period of extended downtime, at least 8 hours long, duringwhich a character sleeps or performs light activity: talking eating, or standing watch for no more than 2 hours. If the rest is interrupted by a period of strenuous activity - at least 1 hour walking, fighting, casting spells, or similar adventuring activity - the characters must begin the rest again to gain any benefit from it.
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. For example, if a character has eight hit dice, he or she can regain four spent hit dice upon finishing a long rest.
A character can't benefit from more than one long rest in a 24-hour period, and a character must have at least 1 hit point at the start of the rest to gain its benefits.
Some other thoughts
Elves only require a 4 hour Trance, Warforged require 6 hours of waking stillness.
Fighter, Monk and Warlock abilites refresh on a short rest. Rogue abilities are always on. Everyone else refreshes on a long rest. Fighters are particularly good at stretching themselves on short rests, every short rest they can use second wind to regain hits.
Note: Under standard rules Elvish magic users refresh after a 4 hour trance once every 24 hours. With the exception of Warlocks and Monk Ki abilites, all other magic users require an 8 hour long rest of which six are spent sleeping unaware of thier surroundings.
Being chased by Elves will keep the party low on resources and hit points whilst the Elvish party remains fresh. A low level hit and run Elvish raiding party can take down a high level party if given enough time.
Magical help with watches and resting: Familiars can stand watch. Magic mouths (2nd level ritual) can be set on a perimeter as guards. Leomunds tiny hut (3rd level ritual).
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Post by brumguvnor on Jun 26, 2019 7:38:58 GMT
How often? - as often as you want - and as often as it has enough HP loaded into to it to pay for it.
I'm not sure yet about the relationship between draining the clanmark and hit dice: at the moment I see it more as a mental refresh than a physical one - so that you can recharge spell slots and so on.
And as for other races - if the rules say you don't need 8 full hours then what the rules say is what happens: RAW as much as possible.
And: this type of planning and plotting is exactly what I want to engender!
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Post by Kristian on Jul 14, 2019 11:52:24 GMT
Something I keep forgetting to ask...
I've taken the 'soldier' background (as it makes the most sense) ...but that gives me proficiency in one type of gaming set ...which doesn't really fit with the idea (i.e. it makes sense for 'regular soldiers' to gamble ...but not for something that was constructed especially for battle).
So, could I swap that out for something else ...like perhaps a language proficiency (maybe an old Warforged language that consists pops, clicks, and whistles) or something else that's equally useless?
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Post by brumguvnor on Jul 14, 2019 11:59:16 GMT
sounds good! Write it up and let me know. I still think you will be able to wring some unintended in-game advantage from it though..
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Post by pericles on Jul 16, 2019 16:49:35 GMT
sounds good! Write it up and let me know. I still think you will be able to wring some unintended in-game advantage from it though..
Tool proficiencies allow characters to earn money without hitting someone or something. Granted the take may be small.
Barbarian, Cleric, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard - No Tools but see backgrounds
Bard - Musical instruments Druid - Herbalism Monk - Artisan or Music instrument
Rogue - Thieves tools
Acolyte, Hermit
Charlatan - Disguise, Forgery Criminal - Gaming set, Thieves tools Entertainer - Music Instrument Folk hero - Artisan Guild Artisan - Artisan Noble - Gaming Outlander - Music Instrument Sailor - Navigation Soldier - Gaming Urchin - Disguise, Thieves
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gilbo
2019 Group
Posts: 1,446
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Post by gilbo on Aug 4, 2019 22:29:07 GMT
Nicodemus Brambleditch had a happy childhood. He was a cheerful little gnome, with a slightly comical appearance due to his sticking-out ears, and he got on well with others. Living in the forest, the gnomes had a close association with the Druids, and Nic would play happily with the elvish and human children of the Druid Circle. He was particular friends with Hazel, a young half elf, and they would spend hours in the woods together, learning the ways of the small animals that dwelt there.
Everything changed the day that a marauding band of orcs rampaged through the forest when Nic was ten years old. Led by a cruel young orc called Skargad, they were known as the Orcs of the Burning Blade, recognisable by the self-inflicted scar on their left cheek. The small gnome community stood no chance against the brutes, and Nicodemus witnessed his whole family being hacked to pieces. Skargad grabbed Nic and (showing off to his band) scored a jagged hot knife down the little gnome's cheek, burning out his eye in the process. The last thing Nic saw, before he passed out, was Hazel and the other Druids watching silently from the trees - they had not intervened to save the gnomes. When he awoke the next morning, the orcs had gone, and Nicodemus swore to himself that he would never trust anyone as a friend again.
Half-blinded, he stumbled through the forest, and was discovered by a Clan hunting party on the trail of the orcs. The leader, Tharis, an up-and-coming spymaster in the employ of the Archmage, took pity on the wounded gnome, and decided to adopt him as a kind of pet. He took him back to Spyre and presented him to the Archmage himself, who was also rather taken with the little chap. He bestowed upon him a rare gift - a magical eye to replace the one taken from him by the evil Skargad. Thus the Archmage gained Nicodemus’ loyalty forever.
Tharis taught Nic about the ways of the Clan, and the value of knowledge and secrets. Due to his small size and ability to go unnoticed by larger folk, Nic soon proved a useful spy, and he was able to help Tharis further his own standing within the Clan by the gathering of useful information, some of which could be used against others.
So for a few years Nicodemus has lived in Spyre, friends with many and known by most, although never really part of any group, as even the other gnomes have never fully accepted him as their own. He dreams of more independence, and a chance to explore the world outside. His outwardly cheerful demeanor hides a bitter heart of darkness…
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Post by brumguvnor on Aug 5, 2019 9:01:53 GMT
Damn but that's a nice background! - a lot of names and plot-hooks left scattered around to be picked up at a later date...
So: Tharis is obviously a lieutenant in the Special Circumstances tower, reporting into Tannhauser. I see him as a half-elf, good with a bow and in the ways of the Wild, but also no slouch when it comes to the ways of the city.
By my reckoning, that should give you 3 inspirations: 1 for the overall background, 1 for an amazing plothook and 1 for collaborative storytelling in creating a lieutenant in Special Circumstances.
And, I know that the rules so you can only have one inspiration at a time, but [GM Handwaving!] [look! - over there! - a were-wombat!] sod that: rule of cool over-rides that, and people wot write such useful backgrounds get rewards!
Now - I will have to go back and remind myself what everyone else wrote to make sure they are rewarded accordingly. Was it just Dave and Kris who had already written a background? - I'll go check.
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Post by brumguvnor on Aug 5, 2019 11:28:51 GMT
Right then: going through the previous posts, and Dave wrote:
Is this the most up to date background for you Dave?
And Kris: is this yours?
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Post by pericles on Aug 20, 2019 21:17:52 GMT
Here are the two documents someone will need for playing Llandree on Thursday.
Llandree has used 1PP from 4 and taken 4Hp from 10.
Tactics - Use darkness sparingly to eak out PP. Attack from within Darkness.
Ranged Mind Thrust DC13 Int D10 Psychic damage (cantrip equivalent) Melee benefits from being effectively invisible
- Although Llandree carries a staff (cause the Archmage has one) she will drop it in Melee opting for dual daggers Main hand +4Attack D4+2 Damage, Bonus attack off hand +4Attack D4 Damage - If desperate (and PP remaining) can push 2PP into Psionic Blast for an autohit 2d8 Psychic damage.
If you get a 10 minute reprieve Llandree will ritual cast an unseen servant to carry a hooded lantern
A hooded lantern casts bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. Once lit, it burns for 6 hours on a flask (1 pint) of oil. As an action, you can lower the hood, reducing the light to dim light in a 5-foot radius If using the lantern consider changing Llandree's Psychic focus to Psychic Assault losing vision benefits but gaining +2 damage on Mind Thrust i.e. D10+2
The clan mark spell is Hideous laughter. DC13 Wis. Will incapacitate an NPC if they fail thier save.
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Post by zaphodbeebledoc on Aug 21, 2019 22:07:16 GMT
Mostly finished creaating Masvo on D&D Beyond. The bag of holding, without the spare armour/weapons for each party member is about half full. For further missions I recommend more than one bag. 1 each if we can get them. I can't see if there is a way to put items *in* the bag online. There probably is... The only other thing I need to do is change the starting HP. Managed to change it from 1 to 10, but can't remember how. It isn't very intuitive...
Almost finished with the background. Will have done that well before the game tomorrow.
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Post by zaphodbeebledoc on Aug 21, 2019 22:19:30 GMT
Ok, HP sorted. Background is being worked on.
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Post by zaphodbeebledoc on Aug 22, 2019 16:31:17 GMT
(Internal Records of Warforged Unit Una-Vez-Tren-Teh, subsequently known as Masvo, last of the Tuvarr.)
+++Time Since Start+++ +++Internal Chronometer Indicates That Eight Hundred And Seventeen Billion, Three Hundred And Fourteen Million, One Hundred And Thirteen Thousand, Eight Hundred And Forty Two Ticks Have Occurred Since Recording Started+++
+++Darkness+++
+++Still Darkness+++
+++Darkness Is Still Occurring+++
+++Faint Sounds Occasionally Intrude Into My Solitude+++ +++I Cannot Decipher Their Meanings+++ +++Very Occasionally I Feel Sensations In My Extremities+++ +++Until They Occurred I Had No Memory Of My Appendages+++
+++Darkness Is Still Happening+++ +++I Am Unsure How I Know What Darkness Is, But It Is Still There+++
+++More Sounds+++ +++Voices+++
+++Voices!+++
+++I Call Out+++ +++I Do Not Understand What Is Being Said+++ +++I Shout My Name+++ +++No Discernable Response+++
+++I Feel A Weight Upon Me Being Lifted+++ +++I Had Not Been Truly Aware Of The Weight Until Now, It Had Just Been Part Of My Existence+++
+++Still Darkness And Voices+++ +++Continue To Call Out My Name+++ +++I Feel Things Upon Me, Lifting Me, Moving Me+++ +++Not Gently+++
+++Light!+++ +++Too Much Light!+++ +++Pain+++ +++My First Pain+++ +++All Along My Left Arm+++
+++Darkness Again...+++
+++The Light Returns, But Not Blinding+++ +++Slowly I Start To See Blurred Shapes Moving Around Me And I Begin To Be Able To Discern Different Voices+++ +++Two Gruff And Deep+++ +++One High Pitched And Behind Me+++ +++I Hear A Sing-Song Voice Immediately In Front Of Me+++ +++It Is Soft+++ +++Nice+++ +++Welcoming+++ +++I Do Not Understand How I Know These Things+++ +++All The Time I Am Saying My Name+++
+++The Shapes Slowly Resolve Into Beings Of Flesh And Blood+++ +++I Look Around In Wonder+++
+++The Voices Slowly Take On Meaning+++ +++The Flesh Being In Front Of Me Talks To Me+++
+++I Notice Some Dust And Minor Damage To My Left Hand+++ +++My Arm Has Come Loose+++ +++I Look At It Closer+++ +++My Left Arm Is Dangling My Two Cords+++ +++I Had Not Realized It Was Loose+++ +++I Try To Reattach It, But Cannot+++
+++I Look Around Again, At The Beings Of Flesh+++ +++Beings Made Of Flesh And Blood!+++ +++I Remember For The First Time That I Am Not Like Them+++ +++Quite How I Know That I Do Not Know+++
+++The Being In Front Of Me Tells Me Her That Its Name Is Masvo Tuvarr+++ +++It Asks Me What "Una-Vez-Tren-Teh" Means. I Tell Masvo That It Is My Name+++ +++She Calls Me Una+++ +++I Like That+++
+++Masvo Is Nice To Me+++ +++I Recall That Beings Of Flesh And Blood Are Made Differently To My Kind+++ +++Soft In Body, Yet They Can Be Very Strong+++ +++Most Of The Others Are Not Particularly Hostile, But Seem Wary+++ +++Tall, Bulky One, In Dull Armour, Will Not Look At Me+++ +++I Am Not Aware Why+++ +++I Try To Talk To The Others, But They Do Not Talk To Me Like Masvo+++ +++The One In Armour Walks Away When I Try To Talk To Her+++
+++Masvo Talks Of Tahn-Hussey And The Arachnid-Maze+++ +++I Do Not Understand+++
+++Masvo Tells Me That They Are Going To Try To Reattach My Arm+++ +++One Of The Group, An Artificer Called Bollium, Eventually Manages To It, Fitting Different Cords Until They Fit And The Arm Works+++ +++When It Is Finally Fitted Back Into The Socket However, There Is Pain, Which Dissipates Swiftly+++
- - - - - - - - - -
Reports of party retrieved from the Warforged.
Report of Partick Sovaane.
Taking shelter in a small cave we came across what looked like a hand jutting out from underneath a rock fall. Bollium estimates that it happened at least several years ago. If not decades ago. The dwarves, of course, had to check for themselves. After much discussion, they concourred.
The hand was not decayed, but a little gnawed, so we uncovered it, slowly.
Eventually we unearthed a Warforged! It looked a bit like a Gobbo!
It’s arm was dislodged, and a panel was open in its back. Several cords were loose. Vistra wanted nothing to do with it, nor did Neega, who wanted to smash it, But Masvo stopped her. Bollium couldn’t restrain himself had worked on the thing, especially with encouragement from Masvo, which started to work again.
Bollium Bollium.
The subject was covered in a rockfall composed of several types of local stone, which I have recorded in Appendix Five. After an analysis which was regrettably cut short by circumstances, I had to try several methods of connection, to re-enable the Warforged. These are recorded in Appendix Six. Obviously I succeeded. The contraption came online. I also reattached it’s left arm, details of which are in Appendix Seven. The visual apparatus appears to be a rare crystal. It alternates between a sapphire colour and Ruby. Details of that are in Appendix Eight.
Grag Graggsson, daughter of Grag Graggsson.
Vistra and I argued all though the night about how long that warforged thingy had been buried. We tussled and tossed for half the night! It kept us warm. Eventually, after a black eye, Vistra agreed with me! Several decades. I had just got my clan mark I think.
Vistra Goldsmith.
Grag is wrong. But she won’t listen. At least 70 year ago, it were! Just to shut ‘er up I ‘appened to to agree wi’er. But she’s a wrong’un!
Masvo Tuvarr. Female Elven Ranger
We found Una buried under a rockfall as we sheltered for the night. Bollium was intrigued, and I persuaded him to get it working. Even though Una was made in the style of a Goblinoid, she is clearly not. Her eyes were a very deep red before she was reactivated. The others would have thought they were just black. I saw a sparkle of life in them, which is why I got Bollium to work on her. The dwarves were more content to argue about how long ago the rockfall happened than help. They disapeared down a side tunnel for an hour, arguing as they went. At least it appeared like they were trying to look like they were arguing… In common with some of the Warforged I‘ve read reports on, Una’s mouth hinged open when she spoke. She sounded very young. Which is weird. I like Una!
Neega The Terrible, Amazing and Stunning Half Orc Fighter. (Me very amazing! Other Half Orcs call me girl. They tink it insult me, but I smash their heads in! Me Pretty. Me see Partick lookin’. And Vistra. Me bash their heads with me big enourmous Orc Boobs to show me intrested)
Others needed to shelter from snowstorm in cave. Wimps. They found statue thing while Me was making drawings in snow with wee. Me don’t like it. It looks like Gobbo. Filthy gobbos!! Me want to smash it. Bollium make it alive! Stupid Bollium. Me want to smash it more!
Partick Sovaane, Male Human Rogue Masvo Tuvarr. Female Elven Ranger Bollium Bollium, Male Gnome Artificer Grag Graggsson, Female Dwarven Fighter Vistra Goldsmith, Male Dwarven Artificer Neega The Terrible, Female Half Orc Fighter
- - - - - - - - - -
+++My Friend Masvo Is Gone+++ +++I Feel A Deep Sadness+++
+++I Will Use The Stone She Gave Me To Contact Her Clan+++ +++I Will Be More Like Her+++ +++If I Had Been More Like Her And Her Compatriots, Masvo Would Still Be Here...+++
+++I Will Train Hard And Remake Myself In Her Image+++
+++I Will Find The Small Reptilian Beings Responsible For Her Death+++
Entire Special Recovery Unit believed killed on duty. Send usual condolences to families and friends. Package has been lost. Refer to Archmage for analysis of Warforged Unit.
(Additional: Masvo ran into a room and got hit with several arrows as she did so. Masvo stumbled over to and fell in Una's arms. They both collapsed into a heap. Masvo died in Una's arms. Masvo, as she died, told Una that the rest of the group had been ambushed. Una played dead as three Kobolds came into the room and made sure Masvo was dead...)
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Post by pericles on Jun 14, 2020 11:47:58 GMT
Felice Llandree: Hi my family has been with the archmage from the beginning. Grandfather (several greats removed) helped the archmage forge his ring. The ritual went wrong locking grandfather's mind behind impenetrable barriers and leaving his body a mindless husk. We owe everything to the archmage and are in his eternal debt for his compassionate care of grandfather. My personal debt to the archmage is even greater. My magic is different from that of most mages and it is only the foresight of the archmage in founding the college of Mystic arts that has allowed me to prosper and discharge a small portion of the debt we all owe to the archmage.
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Post by Karrgos on Jun 14, 2020 12:06:08 GMT
*Tou'Ka* I was born into the clan. I'm a reserved but inquisitive and happy youngster. My mother is a permanent crew member of a Battleship and my father was killed before I hatched. Not holding a talent for the arcane or being the strongest, I focused on speed and using my mind to finding efficient solutions, solve problems, decipher meanings or read the inner thoughts a potential foes.
When not practicing fencing/marksmanship, I spened a lot of time tinkering in a workshop or talking to gnomes about ideas to improve life on board an Airship. I've also begun to embrace his farther's hobby of Skrimshaw.
During the year long training, I was wounded by an instructor and became mute. I deppend on the Clan handsigns language to communicate and a series of taps to signal danger during the last mission. My voice has started to return. Whether that's linked to the Clan Mark or just given time to heal, I don't know. But I'm curious to find out.
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Post by kurgamemnon on Jun 14, 2020 12:21:24 GMT
*Dravid* of House D'Varin, first son of Matron Mother Vee'Ra. House D'Varin was ousted from power unfairly and we had to flee the Underdark. We found shelter with the Archmage, his only request was that we kill all of our clerics, which we did gladly, buying us time to rebuild. I aim to make my house a powerful house again, unfortunately as a male I myself will never hold personal power but I can support a powerful female. Sadly I am forced to work with lesser races but you have your uses. I am making the best of a bad situation and seek my pleasures where I can find them.
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