Pt. 6: Mountain of Doom

whit10 wrote:...or it just doesn't work that well.  Just sayin'

Robyo wrote:

Oli is up.

Chirs2 wrote:I don't see how my attack is any more boring than JH swinging a hammer every round.... or more boring than Neraka using the same claws\bite every round.... or more boring than Monk using the same flurry of blows, with divine fire (or whatever his 'every attack' special ability is called) every single round.

Virgil has to use a move action and spend -2 vitality to make that attack - unlike the above examples, who can just keep attacking 'ad nauseum'

This ability, for Gunslingers, seems to be intended for a small group of spells - Shocking Grasp (Daze), Fire Bolt (burning in 2nd round, instead of Daze), Animate Rope (which Virgil has and has tried to use once but has no effect vs a rifle or melee wpn), Pain Weapon (Daze, but less damage), Force Push (push back or knock prone, which I considered but it lacked any additional damage), Scare (only vs really low level), and Grease (which is just weak).  

Of those, Shocking Grasp is clearly the best, with Fire Bolt, Force Push and Animate Rope coming in 2nd. The rest are pretty lame in comparison.  

In order to do this combo, I had to buy Gun Magic (basic) + Gun Mage (Int.) + use 2 of my Theme abilities.   Gunslingers also have a built-in ability to learn any magical ability from any other class, which they can take up to twice.  They can also pull magical abilities via Arcanist and Dilettante themes, which is what I did.  They need the minimum Int to use the spell, but it doesn't say they use that classes Prime, they become GS abilities.  It seems this was clearly the intention of the class, to be something of an "arcane archer" with a gun.

If you decide to nerf it, which is entirely your call, then I will just reallocate all those abilities, since it isn't worth it for a 1\fight\day ability.

I will just use my Adv Tier ability every round instead:

Killing Shot: As a move action, the next foe struck by your
firearm that round must resist using Reflex or be reduced to -1
wounds and begins dying. Even if it successfully resists, it suffers the
weapon’s normal damage. Costs 5 vitality.

again, tied directly to my firearm shot, vs Ref, costs a Move action + some vitality, usable every round

I don't mean that to sound like a bully or a threat, but just as an example that there are other Gunslinger options, that do far worse and are spammable.  GS, imo, are meant to be a "killer" class.  They lack any melee ability, are limited in magic, have only 1 good defense and limited skills (unless you multi-class, which I did).

whit10 wrote:...or it just doesn't work that well.  Just sayin'

whit10 wrote:Radiance has many flaws that have not been addressed.  Not Rob's or anyone else's fault.

navyik wrote:"Ray, if the water wont damage you, then please help storm crow.  Candy, please ready yourself to fire... Try to just contain them," though oli isnt sure how that works..

Robyo wrote:
Virgil should also be paying the 1 Vitality cost for Shocking Grasp. Total of 3 Vit.
Virgil did use Animate Rope successfully against one of the warden archers. Again, it costs an additional 1 Vit, besides the 2 Vit for Gun Mage.

We'll call it fine for now, but part of the reason I chose using Radiance system was because of the plethera of abilities and options available to PC's. I just want you guys to be as creative as possible. If characters do the same thing every round, y'all might as well be playing AD&D fighters: “I swing... I swing... I swing...”

It tends to feel like we're just going through the motions, ticking off rolls and familiar attacks. I'd also like to see more RP and descriptions of actions. There was a lot more RP at the beginning of the adventure. I could choose to reward XP for doing so, but it seems more fair to keep everyone at the same level.

Also thinking of granting +2 or +4 bonus to skill checks that are described with some detail. Rather than a lazy "I check for traps," or something. Like, how do you check for traps? What does your character do? Get out the 10' pole and poke around the floor? Does anyone know what I'm saying?  

Robyo wrote:

whit10 wrote:...or it just doesn't work that well.  Just sayin'

whit10 wrote:Radiance has many flaws that have not been addressed.  Not Rob's or anyone else's fault.

Aspersions anyone?
Making passive aggressive comments helps not at all.

I'm sorry we're not playing PF or whatever it is you want to play. PF has been a nonstarter on this forum, as you know.

Robyo wrote:[

Not sure what you mean by contain them?

Chirs2 wrote:

Robyo wrote:
Virgil should also be paying the 1 Vitality cost for Shocking Grasp. Total of 3 Vit.
Virgil did use Animate Rope successfully against one of the warden archers. Again, it costs an additional 1 Vit, besides the 2 Vit for Gun Mage.

We'll call it fine for now, but part of the reason I chose using Radiance system was because of the plethera of abilities and options available to PC's. I just want you guys to be as creative as possible. If characters do the same thing every round, y'all might as well be playing AD&D fighters: “I swing... I swing... I swing...”

It tends to feel like we're just going through the motions, ticking off rolls and familiar attacks. I'd also like to see more RP and descriptions of actions. There was a lot more RP at the beginning of the adventure. I could choose to reward XP for doing so, but it seems more fair to keep everyone at the same level.

Also thinking of granting +2 or +4 bonus to skill checks that are described with some detail. Rather than a lazy "I check for traps," or something. Like, how do you check for traps? What does your character do? Get out the 10' pole and poke around the floor? Does anyone know what I'm saying?  

Ah, my bad, you are right.   I think I was paying -3 in the past, now that you mention it.

Virgil is -2 more vitality than listed

I agree about the lack of descriptiveness, but it isn't just this game.  It happened in SW all the time.  Usually in the beginning, everyone is keen to talk about their characters and how they act.  Then over time (3-4 months) the shininess wears off the new toy.  I recall asking for the same thing at least twice during the 9 month SW bender.  I will try to be more descriptive.

Robyo wrote:

whit10 wrote:...or it just doesn't work that well.  Just sayin'

whit10 wrote:Radiance has many flaws that have not been addressed.  Not Rob's or anyone else's fault.

Aspersions anyone?
Making passive aggressive comments helps not at all.

I'm sorry we're not playing PF or whatever it is you want to play. PF has been a nonstarter on this forum, as you know.

PF being a non-starter is not a flaw of the system.

I would disagree about Radiance offering a plethora of abilities, that is PF's strength.  Radiance, imo, has other strengths like it is fast, it has reduced the number of dice rolls and character\NPC generation is quick and easy.  It has far fewer options for abilities and skills than PF\d20, that is one of the trade-offs for a faster system.

Look at Oli compared to a 9th level caster in PF\d20

Until 9th, I literally had 1 basic pew-pew attack and Gun Mage (which cost me 3 feats + a move + 3 vit each round) for combat options.  Now I have 2 and the 2nd is an instant-death spammer.  Like Alan said, we only get 1-2 tricks, we should use our best one.

Radiance also tends to be brutally deadly in combat - low vitality and full of insta-nuke abilities (Disintegrate, high damage, etc).  If you don't use your insta-nuke abilities and take out (or daze) enemies very quickly, you could die in almost any round.  I feel like, for survivability, I have no choice but to use my strongest ability or I might be dead the next round.  That dark mage, depending on his rolls, could have killed any one of us in 1 shot.  I was compelled to stun-lock him.  Bluetwig\Mimic did so much damage, you can't soak it.  

Anyways.... Radiance is fast and fun, but I feel like I have to play it more like checkers than chess  

Robyo wrote:
Okay, I wasn't trying to incite an argument comparing the two systems. As I've always said, I'm happy to be a player in PF, but I don't care to GM it. It's a nonstarter, meaning, no one who has volunteered to GM it has carried through. Matt ran a module for a couple encounters, but I came in late on that one.

Frankly, I'm tired of the complaining! If you guys don't want to play this game, that's fine! It's your prerogative. I've got a ton of things I can do besides try to run something no one wants to play. And we all have lives besides. I thought we might at least finish this encounter. But I really don't give a shit anymore. Sheesh.

MAS wrote:Am I correct that the only bad guys left are at d4 and L1?

MAS wrote:To my understanding -

We have allies that are still in the water? Does JH have a general idea where they are/ may be?

He can still swim and rescue while raged!

whit10 wrote:yeah, I wasn't complaining about you at all dude.  I think you've done a good job with a flawed game (I've been consistent on this one).  I'm enjoying it but I don't think that pointing out the flaws in the mechanics is a knock against you in any way.

navyik wrote:"Bagwrongfun" is like "thoughtcrime."  Gary Gygax is watching!  

whit10 wrote:none of those Indians are Comanches right?  Neraka wouldn't care that much unless they were (historical accuracy.... who knew?)

Robyo wrote:
Virgil is up.

Robyo wrote:Virgil propels through the air and lands on the big rocks across the river. His keen eye vaguely sees the bad guy crouching down at D-4. The boulder and brush gives the guy cover. Virgil has LOS, but 90% miss chance.

Does Virgil have anything else?

Arcturus2 wrote:Monk looks at the unconscious bandit laying at his feet. He hears the last bandit call out his surrender over the sound of the rushing waters...

What kind of weapon(s) is the unconscious bandit carrying? Presumably a rifle and/or pistol? Dynamite?

Confident that the fight is over, Monk quickly unloops one of the flowing sashes on his robe. Unwrapped it is about 8 inches wide and 8 feet in length. It is made of sturdy silk from his home in the east amd is quite strong. He hears the mechanical noises of Oli's toy approaching him, so he drops the sash by the bandit and says to the ergo..

"Please use this to tie his hands behind him. Do it securely but do not injure him further. Then confiscate his weapons".

Monk then carefully wades into the river at K-3 to begin looking for Stormcrow..

Any perception roll or anything that might help him spot her in the river?

MAS wrote:Assuming that is JH at S 18 ish?

John Henry dives into the river to start hauling out drowning Indians.

Athletics check -

Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +15" :

17 + 15 = 32

MAS wrote:Spend the FP!

Need a roll ?