Posts made by Bananerz

Affinity
I’ve been working on a few things with Aesca, specifically around two affinities which the Aescan elves theorize to be linked to ancient mythological powerful creatures. It splits the elves so no one can do everything, and requires teamwork if great things are to be accomplished.

***Affinity Foo***

The Chapter and Story Progress System (CSPS)
The CSPS is designed with the following in mind:

• Players are in control of pacing.
• Players are responsible for creating and impacting the game.

***CSPS foo***

I love 5e.

Longest small party combat I was involved in with 5e took 3 sessions at 5 hours each for a party of six against multiple baddies and a Big Bad. Conversely, I’ve been in a single 10+ hour combat with 25+ players on a MUSH.

With grid map combat, you can as a DM engage with the players who want to use interesting solutions based on what they can see and interact with on that map. It’s sometimes hard to do in the mind. It also makes it easier to remind players such things as fireball can hit your flying character if you’re within the sphere of damage as it isn’t a 2D game, it’s a +3D (multiple dimensions/planes) game. Grid maps help identify where the player is in the world and the threats and such are at.

For this, I’d make a grid on the MUSH for normal moving around, but then for a specific battle or encounter, have it on a specific point in the grid map like a battlefield and run it simultaneously on Fantasy Grounds or Roll20 so my cohort of players can focus on strategic decisions which can be helped via visual cues they’re picking up on the grid map. But there's a bit of a learning curve on FG or R20, not to mention making accounts and whatnot.

For anything larger than 6 players and preferably at 40 players, I'd probably want 5-6 players per DM, and an overall DM coordinating and reporting to the overseer on something like an Epics event on a MUSH so things aren't clogged up and folks can see how their group and others are impacting the world. The overseer would emit on the main grid room of the battle, while I'd have players and their DM's TT in that room once combat started.

Sorry I've been not active on Aesca, I've been dealing with one of my properties being affected by stupid fires. Thankfully no loss to life, but it's gone and the workload for dealing with that has taken up all play time.

I'll get back to Aesca though as I want to see it bloom.

The one shots I've been a part of where we're maxed fighting some legendary level enemies goes for about 6-8 hours. Usually closer to 8.

@bored So there's hope for us yet!!

@bored We've obtained one +1 AC ring so far. I recall when we wanted to buy a health potion, it was about 150 gold and we had among ourselves about 70. I believe from the tarot deck that we're supposed to find a weapon that is required (or will make our lives easier) to deal with Strahd but we haven't found that yet. Still, there's about half the map still to uncover I think, but that group doesn't link up until mid January.

@bored I went to Castle Ravenloft at level 6 and the cold the DM had us roll against nearly wiped us entirely out due to one character forcing his way, thankfully we departed back with the entire party. He's a very hardcore tough DM and I feel sometimes he pumps up the difficulty of the enemies to see how close to death we can get. The house of death and bonegrinder were crazy fun and the Drow we encountered we were able to spend a few hours setting up traps on the map to prepare for which I've never been able to do before.

I want to go back to Barovia with my party as:

• Kobold Swashbuckler Rogue
• Lizardfolk Circle of the Moon Druid
• Tortle Circle of Spores Druid
• Aasimar College of Lore Bard
• Warforged Life Cleric
• Yaun-ti Fiend Warlock

It's a big concern and I think every single TT or MU has had this where one player hogs the spotlight while the rest get sidelined.

In a TT, it's a bit easier for the DM because you can see physically that Player A is dominating and you can read the face/body of the other players to see their discomfort or frustration. I adopt a rotation basis for first actions (not dependent on initiative), no matter if the character is proficient or not. Once the player has had their turn being the first action, the token is passed to their player on the left and it keeps going that way everyone can see who is next up and it doesn't get lost. The goal is that everyone has an opportunity to lead, and it gives them more experience to lead in other situations and adventures. It also pulls the reins on those who just constantly want to do everything (whether out of a conscious or unconscious desire).

For MUs, I try to do the same thing with my 5DR methodology in making sure I've built situations to focus on each player to shine and I'll pose directly to those players first. Those usually go into my notes specifically calling out a player on my plot map so I can quickly see that I've made sure to give each player a spotlight session. I also put that in my general guidelines/house rules at the beginning of the session so folks know that if I pose without a player's name first, then they're free to pose order as they want but if I pose a name, then that one gets to go first.

By the way, a few people have asked: I don't care if someone wants to use all or parts of the Aesca game for a game idea they have. I'm pretty slow to respond on DM's but I'm more quick on Discord.

You should send me an invite to play on your game though!

@bored I am nearly finished with Curse of Strahd with one TT group and it has been brutal. In that campaign, I really really want my Aasimar Paladin to die. They keep going unconscious (and I've scored that nat 20 death save) every single session to the point it's getting to be the norm. Without spoiling, it's definitely a horror game when people think they can split party and not very newbie friendly.

I am looking forward to the conclusion, but I'm afraid we're only level 7 right now and probably halfway in the big map. I think now that i know how the campaign goes, I'd like it more with a second play through with experienced players.

@Pyrephox It'd be great to get you onboard to help on the resources/exploration section. You know, in your copious free time.

@Testament Yeah, I can understand not rocking the boat but good golly, it could be frustrating not being able to play and help while you're listening in another room.

Maybe you could find something on Roll20, and then have some fun while they're dungeoning. There's quite a few pickup groups if you're watching it actively that are free.

Or......hmm. Maybe the DM would let you be an NPC to pop in from time to time!

@Testament That's annoying both the restriction on the game that is being played in front of you and their party has no cleric. Would it really crack the party makeup if you joined? I mean, you are there physically present already.

I've an Aarakocra monk who has paid and silvered their talons. I've been thinking though, would it be good to put forward that I believe I should have to re-silver talons every six months? I'm using them with my attack actions, fighting against a few nasties that can only be harmed by silver or magic weapons.

#5e

As I can't find any other thread for MU folks who do play D&D, I've made my own. For conversation in all things D&D, no matter the edition.

Adventures, classes, races, crazy dice, etc.

It's been a busy time in the land of Aesca building. A few updates that have happened:

Domain System: I’ve been working on the specific mechanics around the Great Legions of the March Elves. While the Winter Court does deal with the direction and management of the Great Legions, every domain leader does have their own armies, militia, troops too as it ties back to being able to protect your own stronghold from others. This is tied into the larger your domain and vassals then the larger your ability to raise an army and support them. Worked out the time required, how conscripting peasants works and potential mercenary companies or local militia. The randomness component that will create uncertainty such as betrayals by officers, morale, costs, etc. Worked on siege mechanics. I have the unit types and costs. And of course, how PC’s can impact armies and army battles if they choose to do so.

Exploration: Have been working on this, and the map below I think is most likely how things are going to roll out. Each quarter, exploration/adventuring parties/companies/domains can submit a request in where they’d like to go. It costs resources and time, and the further away you go the higher risk rating it has where the expedition might not come back. However if they do, you can immediately see a section of the map revealed. As you explore, domains can be claimed and made with strongholds built and successfully defended too although the dangers of being further away from the main overlord’s power could mean you end up in a similar situation like Roanoke Colony, the American Colonies separating, or enlarging successfully your domain and court power. Exploration can also be done on already revealed areas to search for hidden spots (caves, etc) leading to other adventures. For exploration in already revealed locations, it's a higher probability you'll find a hidden spot successfully. For exploration that requires ships, ships are extremely rare due to the rarity of wood to be used. That could change though in the future, depending on portals to Gaia!

I like the above!

In the MU community: I'd say that out of the MU things I've interacted with, Ares seems to be close to what you're describing. @faraday has really done well, and the website, forum and discord really build on that hub and spoke feel. You're a player who can float across multiple games.

Outside the MU community: This reminds me of Fantasy Groups and Roll20 except for the Modules, Code. They're generally game system agnostic, in that multiple different types of systems can be incorporated on the core service and repository. They provide (again generally) support for Windows, Mac, Linux and/or online.

Today I've been working inside the Domain system, specifically around player armies and the battle mechanics for wars, how leaders interface and how PC heroes also can impact on grand scale battles involving potentially thousands of units.

• Raising and Maintaining Mechanic.
• Movement: Daily and weekly short and long-distances, impact of terrain modifiers.
• Supply: creating supply chains, breaking supply chains, impacts on battle and army.
• Pre-Combat: Reconnaissance, counter-intelligence, movement and maneuver.
• Combat: Rolls, sequence of events, PC heroic influence, completion of battle.

@WildBaboons

TL;DR I haven't decided yet, but will be listening here.

Why I’d limit to March Elves at the beginning:
I’d say yes at the beginning so people can be comfortable with the theme and the world of Aesca. Then, those with Vision will be able to start perceiving and later on opening portals (however they can’t use those portals) so that those with Power affinity can use portals. The goal here is it takes trust and collaboration to do great things instead of just one side or person being able to do everything. Once those with Vision recognize what is there, and those with Power choose to go through portals to step into Gaia, then that gives a great opportunity to introduce Gaia’s humans.

Why I can see humans from the beginning:
Gaia is its own world, and that world is experiencing events very similar to Stranger Things as humanity would struggle to understand just what magic and Aesca are. The humans there are more going to be like the technocracy. Running those types of scenes as portals are starting to open, abominations spilling into the streets and needing to be dealt with could really be a lot of fun. And then when portals are more permanently opened and the humans perhaps decide to explore into those portals, I can see some fun naturally happening.

When the dice go your way in an epic battle.

Last night was tough as we were fighting off a huge encounter of Sahuagin attacking in waves while we were protecting a town from basically getting taken away as slaves (or food). A huge Sahuagin Baron was giving orders and generally being a real pest as he had blood frenzy and three attacks doing a lot of damage to our fighters and barbs. After we finished the first two waves of fishy folk, the Baron was talking about how we were going to be fed to their god Sekolah, etc. We prepped up, and a new round of combat began with another waves. My Kenku level 7 ranger hunter marked and did dread ambusher, rolling a crit and scored 30 for damage. The DM with a smile pulled out a deck and chose a card for my crit, resulting in quadrupling my damage. 120 to the Baron, and down he went.

Blood for their blood god.