(I guess the ascii map is nice, on desktop, but I'm on mobile at the moment and for some reason it is rendered horribly on it - that's because I keep asking things that, maybe, should be clear looking at the map)
So since they are all at the house door/inside the house somewhat, can you describe to me exactly where they are standing? Just so I know for sure. I imagine someone is at the door? Or is the door being closed? Are people going to be on the windows? There hasn't been enough time to board the windows up, which I think any character bent on survival would notice could be a point of entry.
You can place your group as you wish inside the living room of the home. If you want to send them further back, you can. The peasants will be added to initiative after the round is over with an initiative of 20 and will be piloted by me -- suffice to say, they will not deal a lot of damage, but their to hit is 0 instead of a - so that is good at least.
The disposition I have in mind is:
- the door open
- the theshold space free, to allow the attackers to come (one at a time)
- Khessa, Aster, Song just behind the theshold, to fight incoming enemies
- Clara behind them, to bonfire enrmies from safety
Hoping that, at least at the start, enemies will go for the open door, instead of using a window. And three against one, I hope we can take down consistently every round the invader that comes in the theshold space. So enemies might continue coming for the theshold for a while (the space should be every round available) before thinking of the windows. When they will start attacking also there... we might have to change tactic. Depends on how many windows the building has and where them are located. Khessa might order the paesants to barricade windows, if enough material is available (a table might block one, for example, with some people behind applying their weight). There will be peaces of forniture enough to barricade other windows (still assuming some people can apply their weight on them)?
Anyway, my first doubt is whether Khessa can easily join the defenders or not...
Yeah, I figured it looks awful on mobile. So sorry! I'll try to do a better job describing next time!
What you describe is possible and I will take that as where everyone is standing for when the assault continues. I just want to point out, the enemies will 100% go for the windows. Khessa can tell some of them will split off and not try to line up. Probably 2-4 will mob the front door, but the rest will try to be sneaky and go through the windows. I just want to be upfront with you about that!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
OK, so as soon as Khessa is Inside, she will try to do something about the windows. How many to take care of? There is enough pieces of furniture to barricade them all? 2-3 people (even unarmed and unarmored) for each window should suffice... if they can simply apply their weight to a big wooden table or piece of furniture placed in a way to block the window. They will be behind the table, safe from attacks. And those wishing to enter will have either to take the time to break the table to pieces or to try to push the table away... but if there are 2-3 people appying their weight to them, pushing them back should not be easy!
If no enough furniture, Khessa qill have to think about a different solution... Like barricading only the windows in the room with the door under attack (bring all people in that only room and defend that only room, barricanding windows and doors (except the defended one).
Would this be possible?
Else, Khessa would be very worried, but, lacking better solutions, she will assign some of the unarmored to the windows, recomending them to take maximal cover possible (ideally three quarters cover, in game terms, to get +5 AC) and to simply defend, without trying to retaliate (dodge action - attacks against them at disvantage).
Anyway, Khessa, as soon as she join the defenders, wounded as she is, will use a bonus action to get her Second Wind (heals 1d10+1 HP to herself - she can not risk to be taken down by the next lucky blow).
Yeah, I figured it looks awful on mobile. So sorry! I'll try to do a better job describing next time!
Oh, don't worry, ascii map was a clever trick to give a better idea of the battlefield. The point is, there are times of day when I'm not near my faithful desktop and I have to check things on mobile - and there some unwanted line wrap was wasting the effect and compromising readability. But you are not expected to foresee everything. You are doing a great job trying to describe such a complex scene; a swarm of enemies attacking not only a group of heroes, but also a bunch of refugees... This was a really ambitious scene to start the story with. Undoubtedly full of tension and emotions, but on the other hand definitely not easy to describe it without visual helps (and even less easy to direct it - determine with precision where is who and what is doing). If something is not always perfectly understood, I'd ascibe it to the inherent complexity of the situation, not to a lack of capabilities by anyone.
Thank you so much for that, I appreciate it! So here is the scene -- The refugees take a table and a cabinet and board up two of the three potential windows. One window on the front of the building is unboarded, but for now it seems like the points of entry are at least within 10-15 ft of each other. Think of the refugees as a huge swarm -- they are acting as one and with multiattack. Each 2 HP they lose will be 1 slain refugee. So they are able to cover all the windows, the uncovered one and the ones that you have boarded up just in case something makes it through.
20 - Aster (-3) & Clara 20 - Refugees (controlled by me) 19 - Mini Demon B (-1) 16 - Khessa & Song (-4) 0 - Mini Demon C (-2), D (-2), E (-2), F (-2), G (-2)
Demons B, C, and D will mob the door. Demon C and D dashed and are flanking Demon B, who was close enough this was normal movement. It will attack Khessa who stands in the doorway. (16 vs Khessa's 17 AC, 3 damage)
Demons E, F, G dash to the uncovered window. They don't make any moves yet.
Aster and Clara, what will they do? Aster is adjacent to Khessa inside the doorway and Clara is behind Khessa.
Aster and Song have half-cover being behind walls. Demons C and D also have half-cover for similar reasons. Demon B and Khessa have no cover.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
Seeing some of the demons run to the uncovered window, Khessa quickly directs Clara: "Block their way! Defend and don't le them pass!"
So Clara runs to the only undefended window, cast a Create Bonfire just outside that window, keeping concentration on the spell, this time (so the bonfire will last - and those eager to come through the window will have to expose to its fire). She takes the best cover she can from the windo she is defending (3/4, if possible, else 1/2).
Aster, in the meantime, knows what he is supposed to do: kill the attacker in the threshold - and so he tries to do.
You're welcome! I usually take the role of dungeon mistress, so I know how much work and responsibility it takes. It is only in this last 5th edition of D&D, where I'm still learning and practicing, that I have choosen the role of player.
20 - Aster (-3) & Clara 20 - Refugees (controlled by me) 19 - Mini Demon B (-7) 16 - Khessa & Song (-4) 0 - Mini Demon C (-2), D (-2), E (-2), F (-2), G (-2)
The refugees by the windows have those planks of wood from the bed you destroyed and are ready to attack any demons by the windows, but there don't seem to be any there just yet. The mob readies an action to hit any demon that successfully crosses the threshold of the window into the house. (2 atk 1, 4 atk 2, 5 damage 1, 5 damage 2)
Mini Demon B indeed lives and seems to not care for self-preservation. Instead it lashes out at Khessa! (3 attack, 4 damage vs Khessa's 17 AC)
Khessa and Song, what will you do?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
(It looks like the peasants will miss both attacks, but you can use this knowledge to your advantage as needed.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
(OOC: OK, of course Song missed. Khessa will try to make up for it)
Khessa brings down her greatsword on the demon while it is distracted by the tiefling's attack, hoping to finally get rid of it.
'We need to bring down the number of these monsters quickly...' thinks the blonde warrior, between clenched teeth 'or the sheer number of their attacks will crush us!'
(OOC: This should suffice! Mini Demon B is finally out of combat, right? Now the Mini Demon horde is up... Only one thing: you wrote of refugees by the windows readying attacks... but we agreed that only the Clara-defended-and-bonfired windows is open, right? The other two windows are boarded, if I well understand post 67 '...The refugees take a table and a cabinet and board up two of the three potential windows...')
Clara has placed a fire outside right beneath the window and is concentrating on it. Peasants are ready to attack demons who still come in through the window which couldn't be boarded up. Creatures can STILL move through the fire. They just take damage, which I believe is guaranteed, so I will probably roll each time one of them moves through the fire since its a new instance of damage, but we will use the damage you rolled on the first demon that tries.
So essentially here is what will likely happen:
Some demons mob the door, some will take their chances with the fire. They are not very smart, but they like to attack in mobs and swarming is their preferred method of attack.
Does this make sense? Just making sure its clear before I proceed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd[Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player] Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale Ru's Current Status
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(I guess the ascii map is nice, on desktop, but I'm on mobile at the moment and for some reason it is rendered horribly on it - that's because I keep asking things that, maybe, should be clear looking at the map)
The disposition I have in mind is:
- the door open
- the theshold space free, to allow the attackers to come (one at a time)
- Khessa, Aster, Song just behind the theshold, to fight incoming enemies
- Clara behind them, to bonfire enrmies from safety
Hoping that, at least at the start, enemies will go for the open door, instead of using a window. And three against one, I hope we can take down consistently every round the invader that comes in the theshold space. So enemies might continue coming for the theshold for a while (the space should be every round available) before thinking of the windows. When they will start attacking also there... we might have to change tactic. Depends on how many windows the building has and where them are located. Khessa might order the paesants to barricade windows, if enough material is available (a table might block one, for example, with some people behind applying their weight). There will be peaces of forniture enough to barricade other windows (still assuming some people can apply their weight on them)?
Anyway, my first doubt is whether Khessa can easily join the defenders or not...
Yeah, I figured it looks awful on mobile. So sorry! I'll try to do a better job describing next time!
What you describe is possible and I will take that as where everyone is standing for when the assault continues. I just want to point out, the enemies will 100% go for the windows. Khessa can tell some of them will split off and not try to line up. Probably 2-4 will mob the front door, but the rest will try to be sneaky and go through the windows. I just want to be upfront with you about that!
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
OK, so as soon as Khessa is Inside, she will try to do something about the windows. How many to take care of? There is enough pieces of furniture to barricade them all? 2-3 people (even unarmed and unarmored) for each window should suffice... if they can simply apply their weight to a big wooden table or piece of furniture placed in a way to block the window. They will be behind the table, safe from attacks. And those wishing to enter will have either to take the time to break the table to pieces or to try to push the table away... but if there are 2-3 people appying their weight to them, pushing them back should not be easy!
If no enough furniture, Khessa qill have to think about a different solution... Like barricading only the windows in the room with the door under attack (bring all people in that only room and defend that only room, barricanding windows and doors (except the defended one).
Would this be possible?
Else, Khessa would be very worried, but, lacking better solutions, she will assign some of the unarmored to the windows, recomending them to take maximal cover possible (ideally three quarters cover, in game terms, to get +5 AC) and to simply defend, without trying to retaliate (dodge action - attacks against them at disvantage).
Anyway, Khessa, as soon as she join the defenders, wounded as she is, will use a bonus action to get her Second Wind (heals 1d10+1 HP to herself - she can not risk to be taken down by the next lucky blow).
Khessa's Second Wind: 4
Oh, don't worry, ascii map was a clever trick to give a better idea of the battlefield. The point is, there are times of day when I'm not near my faithful desktop and I have to check things on mobile - and there some unwanted line wrap was wasting the effect and compromising readability. But you are not expected to foresee everything. You are doing a great job trying to describe such a complex scene; a swarm of enemies attacking not only a group of heroes, but also a bunch of refugees... This was a really ambitious scene to start the story with. Undoubtedly full of tension and emotions, but on the other hand definitely not easy to describe it without visual helps (and even less easy to direct it - determine with precision where is who and what is doing). If something is not always perfectly understood, I'd ascibe it to the inherent complexity of the situation, not to a lack of capabilities by anyone.
Thank you so much for that, I appreciate it! So here is the scene -- The refugees take a table and a cabinet and board up two of the three potential windows. One window on the front of the building is unboarded, but for now it seems like the points of entry are at least within 10-15 ft of each other. Think of the refugees as a huge swarm -- they are acting as one and with multiattack. Each 2 HP they lose will be 1 slain refugee. So they are able to cover all the windows, the uncovered one and the ones that you have boarded up just in case something makes it through.
20 - Aster (-3) & Clara
20 - Refugees (controlled by me)
19 - Mini Demon B (-1)
16 - Khessa & Song (-4)
0 - Mini Demon C (-2), D (-2), E (-2), F (-2), G (-2)
Demons B, C, and D will mob the door. Demon C and D dashed and are flanking Demon B, who was close enough this was normal movement. It will attack Khessa who stands in the doorway. (16 vs Khessa's 17 AC, 3 damage)
Demons E, F, G dash to the uncovered window. They don't make any moves yet.
Aster and Clara, what will they do? Aster is adjacent to Khessa inside the doorway and Clara is behind Khessa.
Aster and Song have half-cover being behind walls. Demons C and D also have half-cover for similar reasons. Demon B and Khessa have no cover.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Seeing some of the demons run to the uncovered window, Khessa quickly directs Clara: "Block their way! Defend and don't le them pass!"
So Clara runs to the only undefended window, cast a Create Bonfire just outside that window, keeping concentration on the spell, this time (so the bonfire will last - and those eager to come through the window will have to expose to its fire). She takes the best cover she can from the windo she is defending (3/4, if possible, else 1/2).
Aster, in the meantime, knows what he is supposed to do: kill the attacker in the threshold - and so he tries to do.
Clara's bonfire (if someone wants to risk the flames to attack Clara and free the window): 2
Aster's attack against Mini Demon B: Attack: 15 Damage: 6
So now refugees... and Mini Demon B (if it still lives)
You're welcome! I usually take the role of dungeon mistress, so I know how much work and responsibility it takes. It is only in this last 5th edition of D&D, where I'm still learning and practicing, that I have choosen the role of player.
20 - Aster (-3) & Clara
20 - Refugees (controlled by me)
19 - Mini Demon B (-7)
16 - Khessa & Song (-4)
0 - Mini Demon C (-2), D (-2), E (-2), F (-2), G (-2)
The refugees by the windows have those planks of wood from the bed you destroyed and are ready to attack any demons by the windows, but there don't seem to be any there just yet. The mob readies an action to hit any demon that successfully crosses the threshold of the window into the house. (2 atk 1, 4 atk 2, 5 damage 1, 5 damage 2)
Mini Demon B indeed lives and seems to not care for self-preservation. Instead it lashes out at Khessa! (3 attack, 4 damage vs Khessa's 17 AC)
Khessa and Song, what will you do?
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
(It looks like the peasants will miss both attacks, but you can use this knowledge to your advantage as needed.)
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status
Khessa prepares a powerful blow from her greatsword, but Song is quicker with her longsword and tries to slash the demon in the doorway.
Song Attack: 23 Damage: 6
(OOC: OK, of course Song missed. Khessa will try to make up for it)
Khessa brings down her greatsword on the demon while it is distracted by the tiefling's attack, hoping to finally get rid of it.
'We need to bring down the number of these monsters quickly...' thinks the blonde warrior, between clenched teeth 'or the sheer number of their attacks will crush us!'
Khessa Attack: 11 Damage: 10
(OOC: This should suffice! Mini Demon B is finally out of combat, right? Now the Mini Demon horde is up... Only one thing: you wrote of refugees by the windows readying attacks... but we agreed that only the Clara-defended-and-bonfired windows is open, right? The other two windows are boarded, if I well understand post 67 '...The refugees take a table and a cabinet and board up two of the three potential windows...')
My understanding is this:
Clara has placed a fire outside right beneath the window and is concentrating on it. Peasants are ready to attack demons who still come in through the window which couldn't be boarded up. Creatures can STILL move through the fire. They just take damage, which I believe is guaranteed, so I will probably roll each time one of them moves through the fire since its a new instance of damage, but we will use the damage you rolled on the first demon that tries.
So essentially here is what will likely happen:
Some demons mob the door, some will take their chances with the fire. They are not very smart, but they like to attack in mobs and swarming is their preferred method of attack.
Does this make sense? Just making sure its clear before I proceed.
DM: Adventures in Phandalin [Khessa], The Dread of Strahd [Darya], Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [Rook], Baldur's Gate Mysteries [4-Player]
Player: Oona in MO's Icewind Dale
Ru's Current Status