A scuffle, darkness rules, a fight in the dark
Subject A scuffle breaks out
OOC: Mark: The light from the hallway doesn't give us enough to see a target with?
From: Josh
Subject A scuffle breaks out
What about "Goro" who's blocking the door?
From: Mark
Subect: A scuffle breaks out
There is no light from the hallway becuase the door is closed.
What about Goro? Kal can not see him. Kal is in the dark.
From: Kevin
Subject A scuffle breaks out
OOC: if that big dunderhead 1/2 Orc Harp and the stumpy dwarf Ragnar can push the door open a little way, then Kal might have enough light to do his little twirly dance. Until then, I hope your spider sense is working.
From: Karl
Subject A scuffle breaks out
And I hope Mund has the presence of mind to DUCK before the blade goes whirling.
From: Mark
Subject Darkness rules
I will be writing up the first round of combat tonight.
Jason and Porter, I need you to tell me specifically what you are going to do.
Here are some of the drawbacks to being blind.
Blinded: The character cannot see. He takes a --2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed, and takes a --4 penalty on Search checks and on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Spot checks) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) to the blinded character. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them.
Here is more about fighting in the dark:
Darkvision allows many characters and monsters to see perfectly well without any light at all, but characters with normal vision (or low-light vision, for that matter) can be rendered completely blind by putting out the lights. Torches or lanterns can be blown out by sudden gusts of subterranean wind, magical light sources can be dispelled or countered, or magical traps might create fields of impenetrable darkness.
In many cases, some characters or monsters might be able to see, while others are blinded. For purposes of the following points, a blinded creature is one who simply can't see through the surrounding darkness.
--Creatures blinded by darkness lose the ability to deal extra damage due to precision (for example, a sneak attack).
--Blinded creatures are hampered in their movement, and pay 2 squares of movement per square moved into (double normal cost). Blinded creatures can't run or charge.
--All opponents have total concealment from a blinded creature, so the blinded creature has a 50% miss chance in combat. A blinded creature must first pinpoint the location of an opponent in order to attack the right square; if the blinded creature launches an attack without pinpointing its foe, it attacks a random square within its reach. For ranged attacks or spells against a foe whose location is not pinpointed, roll to determine which adjacent square the blinded creature is facing; its attack is directed at the closest target that lies in that direction.
--A blinded creature loses its Dexterity adjustment to AC and takes a --2 penalty to AC.
--A blinded creature takes a --4 penalty on Search checks and most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks, including any with an armor check penalty. A creature blinded by darkness automatically fails any skill check relying on vision.
--Creatures blinded by darkness cannot use gaze attacks and are immune to gaze attacks.
A creature blinded by darkness can make a Listen check as a free action each round in order to locate foes (DC equal to opponents' Move Silently checks). A successful check lets a blinded character hear an unseen creature "over there somewhere." It's almost impossible to pinpoint the location of an unseen creature. A Listen check that beats the DC by 20 reveals the unseen creature's square (but the unseen creature still has total concealment from the blinded creature).
--A blinded creature can grope about to find unseen creatures. A character can make a touch attack with his hands or a weapon into two adjacent squares using a standard action. If an unseen target is in the designated square, there is a 50% miss chance on the touch attack. If successful, the groping character deals no damage but has pinpointed the unseen creature's current location. (If the unseen creature moves, its location is once again unknown.)
--If a blinded creature is struck by an unseen foe, the blinded character pinpoints the location of the creature that struck him (until the unseen creature moves, of course). The only exception is if the unseen creature has a reach greater than 5 feet (in which case the blinded character knows the location of the unseen opponent, but has not pinpointed him) or uses a ranged attack (in which case, the blinded character knows the general direction of the foe, but not his location).
--A creature with the scent ability automatically pinpoints unseen creatures within 5 feet of its location.
Please note the part about pinpointing a foe so that you can attack. I will have a map that shows all the locations, you will not.
From: Jason
Subject Darkness rules
Sure, leave the characters with darkvision out in the hall why don't you.
I assume you meant Josh and Porter, rather than Jason.
But since you asked, Ragnar will be moving up and opening the door. Since I expect Harp will get there first and find that its blocked, Ragnar will help him bash it open if he can.
From: Mark
Subject Darkeness rules
Yes I meant Josh. I didn't plan this encounter this way. Count on the players to screw up a perfectly good dungeon crawl. :)
From: Kevin
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: if the creatures in this room dont kill Kal and Mund, it is possible that Harp will when he finds out what they were fighting about.
Mark, and I correct in thinking that if we can get the door propped open even a little, there would be enough light for Kal to see a bit? Mund will still have his work cut out for him, but Kal would be in better shape.
You know, we still do not KNOW what these things are. Kal was just assuming they were goblins. They could be Hobgoblins, Bugbears, who know whal else.
From: Kevin
Subject Darkness rules
Is there an equivalent of Prozac on this world? I may want to give some to Kal and Mund when this is over. Like 5 bottles each.
From: Mark
Subject Darkness rules
Correct, just a little light would allow Kal's low light vision to work. Of course Harp and Ragnar would be fine. The only other thing that would help is Blindsight.
That is right, no one knows what these things are yet.
From: Porter
Subject Darkness rules
Huh. I thought that low-light vision merely doubled the visual range, so for low-light vision to work, there has to be a visual range to be doubled.
From: Mark
Subject Darkness rules
Low light vision just needs a little light. The book even states that a full moon will make night time seem like day to a low light vision person. So if the door is open, even a crack, enough light would get in for Kal's low light vision to work. The room is not so big that there is going to be a problem for distance.
Darkvision requires no light at all. It is what was called Infravision back in 1st Ed.
From: Porter
Subject Darkness rules
Mund curses under his breath. No goblin he's ever know would ever do something as stupid as this elf just did.
Now he's stuck in a pitch-black room with an unknown number of enemies, with no weapon drawn. Krunlan. He should have drawn blade on this murderous elf.
Mund raises his hands, showing that he has no weapon drawn, while he tries to put his back to a wall. "I'm not here to fight you guys. This jackass elf came in here to murder you all, and I was trying to stop him."
If Mund is attacked, he'll draw his axe and return the favor, but otherwise he'll just try to put his back to the wall and keep things as unexciting as possible.
From: Josh
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: If Kal targetted a torch with scorching ray, would the torch stay lit?
From: Mark
Subject Darkness rules
He would have to make a ranged touch attack, which probably would not be to tough.
IF HE KNEW WHERE A TORCH WAS. Remember AOO and casting spells. :)
From: Josh
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: He's got a bunch in his backpack. How much would it take to get one out, and cast at it?
From: Mark
Subject Darkness rules
It is at least a full round action to get something out of your back pack, plus you would have to drop your rapier. Any enemy within 5 feet would get an AOO. Then you would have to cast the spell, again a standard action, which would also provoke an AOO from any enemy with in 5 feet. Then he would have to pass his spell failure, which is likely as his SF chance is so low. He would also have to pass a CON check to deal with all the damage he took from the AOO.
From: Kevin
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: Basically, longer than you have to live if you try it. Kal wanted in the room, now he is going to have to live with it (until our big old lovable 1/2 orc, cracks the door to let a little light in on the subject.
From: Josh
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: Pshh.. If that doofus Mund didn't try to tackle me from behind I'd be happily standing somewhere where I could control the door. He got us into this mess.
From: Kevin
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: both these characters need to be put over someone's knee and given a spanking. Harp wants to make sure he is the one to do it, not some unknown creature. LOL.
Hope this does not total fall apart.
From: Porter
Subject Darkness rules
Harp absolutely doesn't see what he did wrong. :p
From: Kevin
Subject Darkness rules
OOC: Harp did not think the two would go at each other while there are possible enemies on the other side of the door. Harp, given his background, feels that the good races should be able to work together when their is a task at hand. He has learned this the hard way from the Order. Harp would very often have to work with others who did not like him, but while they were working toward a common goal, he (and they) could learn to put their other difference aside. All he was looking for here was for some member of the group to try and find out who (or what) was on the other side of that door. He is not dead set for killing everything, but is not squeamish about doing so if it will move their task forward. He still does not know that much about Mund's upbrining to realize the depth of his feeling toward orcs/goblins/etc. or his negative feelings about some uppity elves.
From: Mark
Subject Map
Ok the turn may have to wait a bit since my boys are using my books right now for thier every other weekly game with their cousin.
However I think I have been able to make a map of the room, at least showing the door and where Kal and Mund are. They are facing north. I need Porter and Josh to tell me what they want to do?
From what I remember Porter is going to try and back towards the door, unless he gets attacked, in which case he will pull his axe and try and fight back.
Let me know how the map works. I did it differently than usuall.
From: Josh
Subjec: A fight in the dark
Kal will turn his back to where Mund was standing when the door closed. He'll take his 5 foot step to his left (toward the door). He'll do whatever fancy sword work he can in that direction in case anyone is standing there. (That's just his 5 foot step).
Once he gets next to the door he'll put his back to it and cast shield on himself, using defensive casting.
From: Porter
Subject A fight in the dark
The most important thing that Mund is doing is trying to convince these people to not attack him.
But other than that, yeah, Mund is trying to put his back to a wall and backup toward the door.
From: Mark
Subject A fight in the dark
As he breaks Mund attempted tackle, Kal sees, or rather does not see, all of the lights go out. He is suddenly in a situation he is not overly familiar with. He is blind. His rapier is invisible before his face. He hears a voice say "Goro, block the door." Kal knows that Mund is right next to him and that the door should be right behind him. He also knows that he needs to get his back to a wall. Kal decides to try and back up, but first thinks maybe he ought to make sure the way is clear. He makes a deft move with his sword, hoping he is striking back the way he came. Kal feels his rapier meet resistance and bury itself in something that grunts at the contact. (AC15, 17+10=27, concealment 42, miss). Now he is not able to move towards the door and his back is exposed.
In the darkness the two can hear foot steps and commands being barked in an unknown language. Something sharp crashes down on Kal's left shoulder,(AC11, 17+4=21, hit, damage 6)(Kal can now pinpoint this attacker unless it moves). A second blow whistles past Kal's face so close he feels the breeze it makes as it passes. (AC11, 5+4=9,miss).
As Mund tries to back up saying "
"I'm not here to fight you guys. This jackass elf came in here to murder you all, and I was trying to stop him."
His comments are greeted with howling laughter and he feels something clank off the back of his breastplate. (AC15, 6+6=12, miss). As Mund turns in response, another blow catches him upside his head. (AC 15, 15+4=19, hit, damage 10) His head rings and his eyes waters for a second and then his rage comes back as he pulls his axe. "Dammit," he yells "don't make the elf right."
Knowing that there is a foe directly in front of him, Mund takes a mighty swing with his axe(Concealment, 76, AC 15, 8+11=19, hit, damage 7) Mund feels his axe crash into whatever is in front of him with a satisfying crunch. Mund then takes a step back and feels something solid at his back.
Out in the hallway Ragnar, Ranthir and Harp show up at the door. Harp shouts "Ragnar, you push low, I'll push high, let's get this door open." And with that they give a great shove at the door.(Ragnar aides Harp)(Opposed STR check, DC?, 1+6=7, fail) The two do not have their feet set quite right and are unable to move the door.
OODM: I need round 2 actions.
From: Kevin
Subject A fight in the dark
Harp grunts at Ragnar " Again!!!!" and pushes at the door with his shoulder.