Getting ready for room 5
Subject Getting ready
You are unable to fight any closer than that. Each person takes up a 5 foot square. Now if you were really small that might change.
From: Mark
Subject Getting ready
There is no discussion about backpack hindering people in combat, as long as the weight does not go over the max the person can carry. In fact getting into and things out of a back pack while in combat are mentioned.
So you can leave your back pack back in the main room. Since the party is not in combat it does not matter. Ragnar, if he wants to run, can move 80 feet in a 6 second time period, so he can be back to the main room in 2 seconds, spend 6 seconds grabbing the back pack and another 12 seconds running back to the party.
From: Karl
Subject What are they?
Did Salix ever get his knowledge check about what, exactly, these things are? I didn't see an email.
From: Mark
Subject What are they?
Yes Here is what I wrote. It is up in the Nov 29 archives.
When the two get back to the party they describe what they saw. Most of the party has no idea what the creatures are and neither do Harp or Ragnar (Knowledge Nature, DC15, 12+0=12, Harp fail, 13+0=13, Ragnar fail). Salix listens to what the two have to say and then asks them some questions. "Did it have a large horn type thing on top in the front?" Harp nods. "What color were they?" Both Harp and Ragnar give the same response "We couldn't tell. Our vision is only black and white when there is no light." Salix thinks some more before responding.
"I think that they are giant stag beetles (DC15 KNowledge Nature, 7+9=16, success). They are simple vermin with no intelligence to speak of. However, they are fairly well armored, for beetles, and can take a fair amount of punishment before dying. They also have a vicious bite and in the open can trample people. I would not take one lightly and if there are two this would be our hardest challenge yet."
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Ok I will try and get a turn out at lunch today.
I just want to be clear. Harp and Ragnar will be on either side of the door incase the thing(s) get through the door. Mund and Ran will stand back 10 feet from the door, on the opposite wall, and shoot bolts and arrows at the creatures. Allistair will shot magic missles at them and maybe, if it works out, a fireball. Kal will be ready to trade places in the retreat up the hallway if needed. Surin is keeping an eye out for anything maybe trying to sneak up on them. Salix is the reserve.
Is this off any?
From: Kevin
Subject Getting ready
OOC: If my understanding is we have 4 squares to work with in front of the door, *I* would prefer that Ran and Mund stand in the 2 closer to the door, and have Allistair and Salix behind them. Allistair and Salix can cast spells over/through/around/ the guys up front. If we can put Ragnar and Harp on either side great. Kal can be waiting just to the side to help out either the fighter types or the magic types, depending on what happens.
Do those controlling the characters agree? If you envision something else, nows the time to speak up.
From: Porter
Subject Getting ready
I really don't know what you're saying. Are you abandoning the idea of avoiding melee at all?
A map with the plan would help.
From: Mark
Subject Map
Ok I have attached an Excel file with a detail of the door. I hope it comes out. Place yourselves where you want to be.
From: Randy
Subject Getting ready
OOC: Based on this map, we only have one square in front of the door but in the excel file you sent it looks like we have two. So is the hallway 10 or 20 feet across?
If 10, then Ran will want his back against the wall, directly opposite the door, otherwise he will go along with Harps suggestion and position himself on one knee in front of the spellcasters.
From: Mark
Subject Getting ready
Since this is a combat map squares are 5 feet across. The usual full dungeon map is 10 feet/square.
Remember all of this was designed back in 1st edition. I did not have the 5 foot stuff to worry about then. :)
From: Kevin
Subject Getting ready
OOC: My thought was to have Ran and Mund in A1 and A2 - supposedly the creature cannot easily fit thorugh the door, so these two should be able to fire at almost point blank range. Salix and Allistair in B1 and B2, throwing spells over/around/through the guys in A1/A2. The question is will the creature be able to hit the guys in A1/A2. I was going to have Harp and Ragnar is A3/A4 and Kal in B3.
Mark, if the creature can hit A1 and A2, then I agree with Porter on having Mund and Ran in the B squares and occaisionally moving Allistair/Kal/Salix in to throw a spell.
Sorry guys, I forgot that the creature, while not being able to get through the door, might still be able to attack those 2 spaces right by the door.
Lets see what Mark says.
From: Mark
Subject Getting ready
All creatures have a reach of some sort. For M sized creatures it is 5 feet. Most L sized creatures are a 10 foot reach, however, some L creatures, such as some large vermin such as scorpions and other insect like creatures, only have a 5 foot reach.
From: Porter
Subject Getting ready
First of all -- which direction does the door open, and which side is the hinge on?
Second -- I think that B1 and B2 still might be close enought that the creatures might be able to reach us. If we can get away with it, we can put a lone person at B4 and have him fire ate the critter.
Actually, we can have a lot more than that, having each person do a free 5-foot step before and after they fire.
Several of us can be in 5A or 5B (while we can't fight while in such close quarters, we *can* squeeze in there).
From: Ashley
Subject Getting ready
Was Surin able to light his bullseye lamp? If so he'll hold it in his off hand aimed at the doorway.
From: Mark
Subject Getting ready
Sure he can light his lamp.
From: Karl
Subject Getting ready
Salix will stand wherever Harp wants him. He will cast Call Lightening to attack the beetles.
From: Kevin
Subject Getting ready
Ok Guys, executive decision time.
IC: Harp looks at the group as the edge closer to the door. As he surveys the hallway, he realizes that there is a small gap in his plan - the folks that he was going to have stand by the door would most likely be able to get hit by the beetle, and they were trying to avoid that.
"Change of plans. Ran, you and Mund stand with your backs to the wall. Ragnar and I will stand on this side of the door in case it breaks through (OOC:Mark, A3 and A4). Fire at will. If you start to run low on ammunition, let us know and we can hand you some from our stores or we can let Allistair or Salix step up. Kal, will you take Mund's torch,and keep next to Ragnar in case we need to move in. Surin, stay with your plan to keep an eye on the hallway using your lantern."
OOC: Mark, Ran and Mund in B1 and B2, Harp and Ragnar as above ready for an AOO if one presents it self, Salix and Allistair in B3 and B4 with Kal close by, Surin 1 square away, shining his lantern down the way we came.
This OK everyone?
From: Porter
Subject Getting ready
"If those things can reach us even with our backs to the wall, do you want us to back off or press forward?"
From: Josh
Subject Getting ready
Yup.
From: Karl
Subject Getting ready
Sounds good to me.
From: Kevin
Subject Getting ready
IC: "I don't want to fight them on their terms. I would drop you bow, get your axe, and start dropping back. We have enough of us that we can swap out front line fighters while withdrawing back up the hallway. Then your brother will have a fun time using his magic on this thing"
From: Porter
Subject Getting ready
It's not possible to move before and after your turn?
Well, it doesn't really matter. So it takes longer. We still might be able to pick it off from 4B with minimal risk to us.
Bear in mind that while this would take more time IRL, and it would take more combat time, combat time is pretty inconsequential compared to everything else we've been doing. In this entire campaign, there has not been a single battle that lasted even two minutes. The vast majority have been less than one minute. Even if the combat took ten times as long, that's not going to really make a difference in game time with how long it takes us to finish this entire dungeon.
From: Jason
Subject Getting ready
Ragnar's fine with that.
From: Mark
Subject Door
Per the door, it opens to the north.
From: Randy
Subject Getting ready
Ranthir takes his position, waiting for the moment someone opens the door. He will fire as soon as the Beetles are in sight.
From: Ashley
Subject Getting ready
Great! Surin will set it against the far wall (or, if that won't work, farther down the wall at an angle) so that it will illuminate the entire doorway, hopefully facilitating sneak attacks. Hopefully. :)
From: Mark
Subject Getting ready
The doors open into the room.
You can not take two "free" 5 foot steps in one round. You can either take a standard action which does not include any movement or you can take a 5 foot step. The 5 foot step is basically a way to show the small manuevering even an involved fighter can do. However, if you do any move action you can not also take a 5 foot step.
So you can take a 5 foot step and shoot, OR shoot and take a 5 foot step, but not take a 5 foot step, shot and take another 5 foot step, all in the same round.
From: Porter
Subject Getting ready
That actually seems to be fighting them on their own terms, but whatever."
From: Ashley
Subject Getting ready
I changed my mind about holding the lantern--I'm gonna set it down on the floor at the best angle to light the doorway and immediate area without being blocked or knocked down by people. Hopefully such a place exists, even if it has to be placed at an angle a few feet away from the formation. If this works Rand might not need the torch, so people can keep their hands free.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
I will write up a turn tonight after I get home from running some errands.
From: Josh
Subject Getting ready
If it looks like the things are gonna get free (that is, we're under time pressure to kill them), Kal's gonna cast Scorching Ray at them. If we're not under time pressure, he'll just hang back and let the rest of the party handle it.
OOC: I've updated my sheet Mark. I put my BaB and my saves under "misc" modifiers. All the totals are correct.