Post by Dmitri on Sept 7, 2008 15:17:04 GMT -5
I understand what you are saying, Rince, but the inability to do anything of substance is not of the DMs making. Sure you don't speak their language (yet at any rate), but you have two characters who can at least make themselves understood in reasonable ways to the people you are with. They can act as rudimentary translators, at least for the time being, and given that you all only made it to the first night's camp, there may be surprises in store that will make life a little easier.
As for loot, all I can say is this - if you have so little faith in me as a DM that you think I would rush you to level 3, then transport you to a place where you will most likely need decent gear, then strip you of it and laugh as you die... well, why are we even playing?
(Just in case it is not perfectly clear, this is intended to be read in a humorous voice).
But really, metagaming, I know what losing a spell book means to a caster - especially a wiz spec'ed the way you are. I wouldn't "take it" without having a plan to either give it back or replace it with something comparable. There is a plot reason for what is going on - it ought to become clear as time goes on. Think of it much like Nazi Germany in LGG3 - a temporary inconvenience, not a permanent situation. I know what I am doing, I promise!
As far as doing stuff like last night on the boards, I have to say "No" to that. Grond is not on the boards often. Ditto with Qui or Ashory. Even my own boards time is limited right now by the course load that I have going on - 18 credits, including a 25-30 page publishable paper of original research. So for now, online play will be very limited for LGG5.
I also have to reiterate that the "language barrier" part of last night was only an hour to an hour and a half - actually I think it was far less since we only went through the gate around 8pm and ended a few minutes before 9pm. Everyone had an active part to play in most of the night's gaming. Everyone walked through the tunnels, explored the ruins, got into the city. Then you did split up some, with Freas going off to fight fires and everyone else going off to talk to Gauss. Then the group minus Freas went to the warehouse district and Freas followed along at a distance only arriving near the end. (Just as an aside, the railroad would not have needed to be nearly so drastic had Freas been there from the beginning, and if our bard and swashbuckler hadn't chickened out... sorry about that). On the hilltop after the sword-bridge episodes everyone was still together and could play an active part in the game. Really, it was only the negotiation and the camp scene that were focused on the cleric and bard, with other members of the party free to contribute and work through translation. I try to let everyone shine in different ways at different times - Brand and Freas often seem to be of most use in combat, with Freas having some extra knowledge kinda stuff and utility spells, and Brand a little more social. Ayvlan is good in combat as well, and a little decent with social skills. Balla the bard is nice to have in combat, really only for the buffs since her combat is weak and her spells are more utility, but really has the most fun outside of combat in the social and puzzle solving aspects of the game. Paden is our Jack of all Trades, with a bit of combat and knowledge, and obviously the healer. Valel is another great 2nd fighter and a nice RP element, as well as good support and buffing. I guess my point is that if I don't allow time for everyone to shine, then I am not doing my job correctly.
So, on to next session and a new day in what looks like a new world!759
As for loot, all I can say is this - if you have so little faith in me as a DM that you think I would rush you to level 3, then transport you to a place where you will most likely need decent gear, then strip you of it and laugh as you die... well, why are we even playing?
(Just in case it is not perfectly clear, this is intended to be read in a humorous voice).
But really, metagaming, I know what losing a spell book means to a caster - especially a wiz spec'ed the way you are. I wouldn't "take it" without having a plan to either give it back or replace it with something comparable. There is a plot reason for what is going on - it ought to become clear as time goes on. Think of it much like Nazi Germany in LGG3 - a temporary inconvenience, not a permanent situation. I know what I am doing, I promise!
As far as doing stuff like last night on the boards, I have to say "No" to that. Grond is not on the boards often. Ditto with Qui or Ashory. Even my own boards time is limited right now by the course load that I have going on - 18 credits, including a 25-30 page publishable paper of original research. So for now, online play will be very limited for LGG5.
I also have to reiterate that the "language barrier" part of last night was only an hour to an hour and a half - actually I think it was far less since we only went through the gate around 8pm and ended a few minutes before 9pm. Everyone had an active part to play in most of the night's gaming. Everyone walked through the tunnels, explored the ruins, got into the city. Then you did split up some, with Freas going off to fight fires and everyone else going off to talk to Gauss. Then the group minus Freas went to the warehouse district and Freas followed along at a distance only arriving near the end. (Just as an aside, the railroad would not have needed to be nearly so drastic had Freas been there from the beginning, and if our bard and swashbuckler hadn't chickened out... sorry about that). On the hilltop after the sword-bridge episodes everyone was still together and could play an active part in the game. Really, it was only the negotiation and the camp scene that were focused on the cleric and bard, with other members of the party free to contribute and work through translation. I try to let everyone shine in different ways at different times - Brand and Freas often seem to be of most use in combat, with Freas having some extra knowledge kinda stuff and utility spells, and Brand a little more social. Ayvlan is good in combat as well, and a little decent with social skills. Balla the bard is nice to have in combat, really only for the buffs since her combat is weak and her spells are more utility, but really has the most fun outside of combat in the social and puzzle solving aspects of the game. Paden is our Jack of all Trades, with a bit of combat and knowledge, and obviously the healer. Valel is another great 2nd fighter and a nice RP element, as well as good support and buffing. I guess my point is that if I don't allow time for everyone to shine, then I am not doing my job correctly.
So, on to next session and a new day in what looks like a new world!759
