Do you guy have any advice on how to use familiars? Playing my first wizard, and I'm thinking about getting an owl to deliver a touch attack every now and then, plus letting it take 20 on listening in on people talking through walls. But is it too dangerous to send it out to do these things?
[QUOTE=Codename 47;40071843]Do you guy have any advice on how to use familiars? Playing my first wizard, and I'm thinking about getting an owl to deliver a touch attack every now and then, plus letting it take 20 on listening in on people talking through walls. But is it too dangerous to send it out to do these things?[/QUOTE]
as far as i know nobody is going to care if a random owl is flying about.
unless it's in a really conspicuous place, or somebody knows it's your familiar is it going to be attacked.
[QUOTE=da_maul;40073727]as far as i know nobody is going to care if a random owl is flying about.
unless it's in a really conspicuous place, or somebody knows it's your familiar is it going to be attacked.[/QUOTE]
unfortunately, a really conspicuous place includes any dungeon you will ever enter.
i guess it depends on the dm and how much hes willing to put up with. me and the wizard in the robot campaign have a little jive ass repair bot and a bird respectively and wed send em out to scout out areas but he said if we keep that up too much theyll get shot down and die
[QUOTE=Codename 47;40071843]Do you guy have any advice on how to use familiars? Playing my first wizard, and I'm thinking about getting an owl to deliver a touch attack every now and then, plus letting it take 20 on listening in on people talking through walls. But is it too dangerous to send it out to do these things?[/QUOTE]
As I understand many DM's play it, enemies won't attack your familiar unless it's doing something to aid you in combat or it gets caught in a crossfire/area of effect. Killing the familiar doesn't make the wizard any less effective, so it would make sense for a spiteful enemy to do it as they retreat, but not for an enemy who's fighting to stay alive or steal your gear or something.
That said, I try not to use mine at all. My witch keeps her scorpion familiar inside her cooking cauldron, which is then tucked into her backpack. Losing the familiar sucks pretty badly for a witch, and he lacks the hitpoints to survive a stray fireball or anything like that.
We're playing a social campagin, where we all have to be spell casters, so for my spying needs I need something with actual skills for when my clairvoyance fails. So if I watch out for it in dungeons, I think I'll be safe - it would be harsh of the DM to kill it off just because I sent it spying!
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
By the way, I wanted to ask you guys about this:
My group had succeeded in translating a mysterious note, which turned out to be a prophecy. However, translating it on paper called a demonic attention to us, and we deemed the translation too dangerous to keep. Our necromancer said he'd take care of it, but I didn't trust him, and so our Paladin tore the letter into tiny pieces, and I said to the DM that we destroyed it. We didn't specify how, while discussing burning it we got distracted, and the game went on.
Later, it turns out the necromancer took the pieces of paper and mended them, showing the translation to some demonologist. Now, it's completely okay that you make those kinds of covert plays, but I thought I had made it pretty clear that the letter was completely destroyed. There is no way my character would have just ripped it in pieces and left it on the table, and there is absolutely no way I would not have noticed that it was gone when I left the room.
Anyway, the deed was done. We then discussed it a bit. The necromancer said it was good for the game, and since we didn't specify anything other than tearing the paper in pieces, that's all that could be presumed we had done. I, however, think it puts an immense burden on the players and how much they should specify things - imagine going "I step into the room with my right foot first, putting my weight forward, holding my left hand on my robe and my right on the hilt of my dagger, looking straight forward and breathing in." Shit would be so tedious.
What do you guys think? Have you encountered things like this, and how have you solved it?
Anyone willing to run a campaign of [Url=http://lawfulnice.blogspot.co.uk/]Dungeons the Dragoning 40,000[/Url]? I want to play that.
Would anyone be interested in joining this thing I made?
It's like, a simplified version of D&D, has weapons and armour from past, present, and future, and is set on some huge island somewhere (may or may not include dinosaurs). I'm still working on it, but if anyone would like to join, I have character sheet templates for you. Add me on steam if you're up for it.
Well I am extremely interested in D&D but I have no RL friends that would join me, how can I go about playing online with you guys?
Skype+MapTool or Roll20
or probably some other thing that I'm not aware of but those are the only 2 things I've used.
Well I signed up on roll20, any games being made soon?
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
Something newbie friendly of course.
[QUOTE=Fausty;40075065]Well I signed up on roll20, any games being made soon?
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
Something newbie friendly of course.[/QUOTE]
If there's nothing here, you could try [URL="https://app.roll20.net/lfg/search"]Looking For Group[/URL] on Roll20
[QUOTE=DiscoInferno;40075282]If there's nothing here, you could try [URL="https://app.roll20.net/lfg/search"]Looking For Group[/URL] on Roll20[/QUOTE]
Yeah, trying now. Found one that starts in 1 hour and is looking for new players and experienced ones to teach.
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
One question though, how do I go about creating my character? Is there a thing on roll20 for that?
[QUOTE=Fausty;40075297]Yeah, trying now. Found one that starts in 1 hour and is looking for new players and experienced ones to teach.
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
One question though, how do I go about creating my character? Is there a thing on roll20 for that?[/QUOTE]
Technically yes, but it's a pain in the ass to use.
Most people I know, myself included, use myth-weavers for character sheets.
Can't believe I didn't come here yet. Haven't D&D'd in a long while since I moved.
What level do I start my guy at? No specific rules in the game except it's D&D 4e
Then you probably start at level 1.
[QUOTE=Fausty;40075297]Yeah, trying now. Found one that starts in 1 hour and is looking for new players and experienced ones to teach.
[editline]28th March 2013[/editline]
One question though, how do I go about creating my character? Is there a thing on roll20 for that?[/QUOTE]
with 4e you'd need access to a player's handbook or a D&D insider account that has access to the character builder (which requires a subscription fee)
[QUOTE=Fausty;40075443]What level do I start my guy at? No specific rules in the game except it's D&D 4e[/QUOTE]
in most cases games designated for new players will start at level 1
So I just got back into DnD since my last group disbanded. My first game I was brought in as a goblin captive and the party freed me. After a bit of interaction and resting up, we went further into this goblin dungeon. First action I attempt to kick a door open, failed. The half-elf tried to be Mr. Calm and simply opened the door to a flying javelin that stuck into his leg. Our dwarf tried to rush down the hall but rolled 1 trying to make a short jump over a small wall and smashed into it. I than attempted to use the dwarf as a jump board, DM had us roll, the Dwarf tried to stand as I step on him and I ended up standing on him.
Usual comabt ensued and the last goblin was beheaded. Took the head and ran down the hall and tossed it into the next room. Got a few javelins tossed at me, one slightly grazed me. We butchered all but 1 that ran. Chased him to room, used some fire breath potion, rushed in and managed to grab a goblin. Than I basically screamed his face off with fire. Other goblins scared shitless, gave up.
Made some Goblin paste out of the rest and continued on to the next objective.
Pretty good way to return to DnD, except the 4 times I rolled a 4 on my d20, consecutively.
[QUOTE=elowin;40069826]Well maybe it's just me, but after the first few sessions that came pretty naturally for me.
Premades on the other hand, you gotta pretty much memorize the whole thing if you don't want to be paging through it all the time, and atleast with the ones I have tried, information is always spread all over the damn place which makes things way harder than they need to be.[/QUOTE]
The problem I am having right now is that I have no idea how to make balanced encounters. There's those CR recommendations, but I have no idea what the CR of the encounter would be once I start adding multiple enemies with varied CR. I'd rather not just guess at how many they can take and see how it goes, I don't want to wipe the party because I have no idea what I'm doing.
Like, if I wanted to make some sort of an Orc leader and like 2 minions that would challenge a group of 4 level 3 people as a boss fight, I have no idea how much to buff the leader and minions, since my Pathfinder book says they are by default a CR of 1/3 each.
[QUOTE=Newbienice99;40078320]The problem I am having right now is that I have no idea how to make balanced encounters. There's those CR recommendations, but I have no idea what the CR of the encounter would be once I start adding multiple enemies with varied CR. I'd rather not just guess at how many they can take and see how it goes, I don't want to wipe the party because I have no idea what I'm doing.
Like, if I wanted to make some sort of an Orc leader and like 2 minions that would challenge a group of 4 level 3 people as a boss fight, I have no idea how much to buff the leader and minions, since my Pathfinder book says they are by default a CR of 1/3 each.[/QUOTE]
With multiple creatures, I think you just add the CR's together and there's your overall encounter CR. The SRD has a little info on the subject, especially if you like the idea of designing around an XP budget.
[URL]http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering#TOC-Table-Encounter-Design[/URL]
If all else fails, just play it safe and slowly up the ante until you find a happy medium. I nearly TPK'd my players with some ogres once, and while it was a little humbling to admit I'd fucked up and make sure the players didn't have to pay for it, I learned a lot about what the party could handle and what makes certain monsters more or less dangerous than their CR might suggest.
And I'd go Orc leader CR 2 (Or 3 if the party can handle it) with 3-4 regular orcs floating around as support.
[QUOTE=Newbienice99;40078320]The problem I am having right now is that I have no idea how to make balanced encounters. There's those CR recommendations, but I have no idea what the CR of the encounter would be once I start adding multiple enemies with varied CR. I'd rather not just guess at how many they can take and see how it goes, I don't want to wipe the party because I have no idea what I'm doing.
Like, if I wanted to make some sort of an Orc leader and like 2 minions that would challenge a group of 4 level 3 people as a boss fight, I have no idea how much to buff the leader and minions, since my Pathfinder book says they are by default a CR of 1/3 each.[/QUOTE]
You're the DM, if something isn't going the way you want just change it. I've had my group face encounters that they were no match for, and I wasn't aware of that until after the fighting started; I simply fudged rolls and adjusted the monsters stats behind the scenes until things were where they needed to be. If all else fails I'll just tell them I underestimated the encounter and need to trim it down or risk wiping the party needlessly -- they're usually pretty a-ok with that. You'll get encounter experience as a DM either way, getting a feel for what encounters are inherently designed for through the process of using them.
Like for example through the process of melting our fighters tower shield and nearly wiping the party in a narrow dead-end hallway -- I have discovered that a party of level 1-2's can not in fact fight a Black Pudding straight on. Live and learn. :v:
[QUOTE=Axznma;40079632]I have discovered that a party of level 1-2's can not in fact fight a Black Pudding straight on. Live and learn. :v:[/QUOTE]
Yes they can. :v: One level one with a bow outfitted with blunted arrows can take on a Black Pudding alone.
has anyone ever tried to run a competitive game of dnd? or any other role playing game?
I'm planning on doing one with my friends using GURPS. They are both going to make their characters in secret and then adventure separately and start in completely different areas of the continent so it will take some time before they will come across each other. Or they might hear of the triumphs of the other and track them down. They can decide that they want to work together for some common goal, but because they make their characters separately their characters mindset and goals are probably going to conflict. So hopefully they will end up either tricking each other or attempting to murder each other or something fun like that.
I realise there will probably be some issues cropping up, but has anyone ever tried a competitive type campaign with characters pursuing their own individual goals and trying to be better than the other characters? If so what issues have you faced?
The main thing i can think of is probably the issue of having to play with one person out of the room, but because they already know that they are taking it in turns this shouldnt be too much of a problem. Also we were considering all having our laptops so we can stay in the same room and just use skype chat if they don't want certain things to be revealed.
[QUOTE=hobothehero;40080260]has anyone ever tried to run a competitive game of dnd? or any other role playing game?
I'm planning on doing one with my friends using GURPS. They are both going to make their characters in secret and then adventure separately and start in completely different areas of the continent so it will take some time before they will come across each other. Or they might hear of the triumphs of the other and track them down. They can decide that they want to work together for some common goal, but because they make their characters separately their characters mindset and goals are probably going to conflict. So hopefully they will end up either tricking each other or attempting to murder each other or something fun like that.
I realise there will probably be some issues cropping up, but has anyone ever tried a competitive type campaign with characters pursuing their own individual goals and trying to be better than the other characters? If so what issues have you faced?
The main thing i can think of is probably the issue of having to play with one person out of the room, but because they already know that they are taking it in turns this shouldnt be too much of a problem. Also we were considering all having our laptops so we can stay in the same room and just use skype chat if they don't want certain things to be revealed.[/QUOTE]
This can only go badly if you ask me.
[QUOTE=hobothehero;40080260]has anyone ever tried to run a competitive game of dnd? or any other role playing game?
I'm planning on doing one with my friends using GURPS. They are both going to make their characters in secret and then adventure separately and start in completely different areas of the continent so it will take some time before they will come across each other. Or they might hear of the triumphs of the other and track them down. They can decide that they want to work together for some common goal, but because they make their characters separately their characters mindset and goals are probably going to conflict. So hopefully they will end up either tricking each other or attempting to murder each other or something fun like that.
I realise there will probably be some issues cropping up, but has anyone ever tried a competitive type campaign with characters pursuing their own individual goals and trying to be better than the other characters? If so what issues have you faced?
The main thing i can think of is probably the issue of having to play with one person out of the room, but because they already know that they are taking it in turns this shouldnt be too much of a problem. Also we were considering all having our laptops so we can stay in the same room and just use skype chat if they don't want certain things to be revealed.[/QUOTE]
Hold them on separate days.
[QUOTE=Oliolio;40080123]Yes they can. :v: One level one with a bow outfitted with blunted arrows can take on a Black Pudding alone.[/QUOTE]
That's not fighting it straight on; that involves kiting, if you're that low of a level anyway and especially in cramped close quarters.
Originally our bow-only Ranger steam rolled the Black Pudding (it chased them through a very long dungeon, and he elected to remain behind the party and attack it every round, staying just out of its reach) and was about to kill it, until I realized slashing and piercing damage doesn't work on it, and that it is coated in acid. [I]A metal or wooden weapon that strikes a black pudding also dissolves immediately unless it succeeds on a DC 21 Reflex save[/I]. Due to our D&D taking a more realistic approach the logical conclusion was that standard arrows weren't going to suddenly be immune to melting and thus I rectified my mistake.
Luckily for them they realized the dead-end hallway wasn't actually a dead-end. It did cost our fighter his tower shield through to buy the party enough time to escape. It's alright though, he died against the Lich in the next room anyway. :v:
Help, I tried to jump over a river chasm, barely failed the athletics check, used Feyleaf Sandals to try to make the jump, lost my balance after the teleport and fell back in :I
We just spent about an hour dealing with a huge metal dragon before it tried to attack one of us and we realized it was an illusion.
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