The range on a thrown spear is 20/60, so unless throwing from relatively short range, they are at disadvantage. Also, I believe someone had a 15 or higher nature check? If so they have appraised the Basic Harpy stat block from the prior encounter:
OOC: I think that is all the questions/responses, let me know if I missed any. Once tactics and actions are confirmed, go ahead and announce them.
Yes, picks and crowbars can work as a substitute for a portable ram or block and tackle. Closer to the noise level of the portable ram, but less effective, I would allow the same mechanics, however.
Evan making himself a target with Dodge is a relatively good bet: AC 21 with disadvantage on the attackers. He can keep a spell slot in reserve for renewing silence as well.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
1. Question about 'surprise' round. If we are hiding behing rocks now, poke our heads out and fire ranged weapons...is that a stealth check...or is it an unseen attack from cover? Under what circumstances does it get advantage?
2. Next question: If after firing from cover as above, one hides behind the rock, then tries to sneak to another rock (assuming stealth succeeds for those in line of sight), can the same tactic be used next round...or is the possible Advantage a one-off thing?
3. Can you describe the full extend (and size) of the area we have to work in? I know the nest is 20x20...
Terrain: a wider expanse of 50 by 40 feet with frequent cover, at the end of which the cliff top narrows to an area of 20 feet by 20 feet, the nest. You are coming from a wall that is 40 feet across, 50 feet, still 40 feet wide, separate the group from the nest, thus there is a 10 square by 8 square area you are approaching from, the wall you just climbed is 8 squares across, the approach to the harpies is 10 squares, and the nest is a 4 by 4 square area at the end, if Squares are easier to conceive.
1. Question about 'surprise' round. If we are hiding behing rocks now, poke our heads out and fire ranged weapons...is that a stealth check...or is it an unseen attack from cover? Under what circumstances does it get advantage?
2. Next question: If after firing from cover as above, one hides behind the rock, then tries to sneak to another rock (assuming stealth succeeds for those in line of sight), can the same tactic be used next round...or is the possible Advan
3. Can you describe the full extend (and size) of the area we have to work in? I know the nest is 20x20...
As noted, and now revised, there are 2 ways to get advantage on the first round: 1 - beat the 10 passive perception of the harpy’s by 5 on a Stealth check, with a 15+, or 2 - Beat it at all but announce firing and then moving behind cover and going prone to be fully out of sight. This would make you “unseen” and grant advantage although future stealth checks are needed to maintain it, along with repositioning from cover to cover.
The latter is only an option for ranged characters, but note with a 15+ stealth melee characters would also have advantage for their attacks, all, during the first round
With N being the nest, and all edges being steep drops down?
The Nest side is a sheer drop as it actually hangs over the edge of the cliff. The horizontal sides on this map are steep slides down, both, but not sheer drops. Mechanically falling off of the nest side without feather fall would likely be fatal, the other sides would be handled as a 10 foot fall, followed by another saving throw, another 10 ft fall, followed by another saving throw, followed by a 40 foot fall. Multiple opportunities to grab and halt movement falling down the sides, but still deadly, and note any falling damage does leave you Prone, and climbing back up would be uphill, difficult terrain.
OOC: Something else to consider: If we do the silence spell over us and not the nest, the harpies may have no idea we can’t hear their song and waste a round trying to lure us over the edge. If we hang out and fire from behind cover, I would say we have the advantage in ranged combat. If they close to melee, we should have a pretty good damage output even without spells.
We just need to stay within the Silence spell and wear them down. Especially if we can defeat the leader, hopefully the others will scatter and go somewhere far away.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
OOC: I am going to get this mechanically set up so people can post and we can resolve the battle on the others' return. I have, I think, clarified all the salient points regarding the encounter.
24 - Heroes
10 - Harpies
This will be the initiative. Note that as many characters may act in a Surprise Round if they succeed at stealth many PCs may act twice before any enemies. Any pre-battle buffs, including silence, could have been cast in advance.
It is true that if the Harpy are not in the area of silence many of them will waste turns trying to fly beyond the edge and "sing." Even those within the silence may try it once before they realize the issue.
We will proceed with combat resolution, per whatever final plan you have all enacted.
A DC 10 or better Stealth allows a first-round action, 15+ Stealth means advantage on attacks for that round, and then the second round begins where all PCs act, then all enemies.
Once people are on and can post, fire away with Stealth rolls, actions, and attack rolls.
Ilcerys will have 2 full rounds of actions prior to the enemies. Note you are the ones dictating the "start" of battle, so if you wish the Monk could already be positioned near the lead Harpy prior to the initiation of the surprise round, meaning he would have 1 round of attacks, with Advantage from the 15+ stealth, a good time to go all out with flurries and whatnot, followed by another round, without advantage, both before any enemy turns.
Note the leader is in half plate, thus considerably harder to hit than the other harpies. Advantage will help with that.
[[Going to go ahead and get this in, what happens the next round depends on how surprise goes for everyone else]]
Quietly creeping forward behind cover of rocks, Ilecerys leaps from cover and nimbly charges, catching the armored Harpy by surprise.
Club Attack: 11 Damage: 5
Flurry of Blows 1: 21 Damage: 7
Flurry of Blows 2: 24 Damage: 6
[[DC 12 Dex save for each Flurry of Blows hit or target knocked prone]]
edit- If both fail, can I use the second to push it 15 feet and off the cliff? Assuming it'd hit the ground before it could recover from prone its next turn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
9
3
The Harpy falls prone from the 3rd attack, meaning you would also have advantage for your second round attacks, before the enemies act, , due to Prone. The first hit misses altogether, the leader has now taken 13 damage and is prone.
[[Going to go ahead and get this in, what happens the next round depends on how surprise goes for everyone else]]
Quietly creeping forward behind cover of rocks, Ilecerys leaps from cover and nimbly charges, catching the armored Harpy by surprise.
Club Attack: 11 Damage: 5
Flurry of Blows 1: 21 Damage: 7
Flurry of Blows 2: 24 Damage: 6
[[DC 12 Dex save for each Flurry of Blows hit or target knocked prone]]
edit- If both fail, can I use the second to push it 15 feet and off the cliff? Assuming it'd hit the ground before it could recover from prone its next turn.
As it remains prone for your next round, the first due to surprise, the second due to winning initiative, if you have push abilities you could use them, and this second set of attacks does have advantage due to the enemy being prone. If you would like to roll your next batch of attacks now, with advantage, feel free, others can do their first and second turns as needed but yours is fairly straightforward - beating up the leader with melee, from surprise.
It had only one Dex failure the first round, not two.
Unwilling to risk the Harpy song or his precious second level spell slots (to cast Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action, for example), Evan puts the silence spell so it extends to cover the party (in their sniping positions with cover), extending it as far as possible towards the nest. He moves up into the silence after the snipers take their first shots (not even trying to be stealthy in his plate armor) and stands behind the cover closest to the nest (but still in the range of the silence spell), taking the dodge action. His intent is to be a visible target in the silent area, but very hard to hit (with the cover and Dodge) going, while all the rest of the party follows the plan to shoot from cover within the range of the silence spell.
OOC: From the earlier post, it seems the Monk has decided to run up into the nest and attack the leader in melee. Did I miss something, or did Ilecerys just charge through this carefully laid ambush and Leroy Jenkins the Harpies?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
The range on a thrown spear is 20/60, so unless throwing from relatively short range, they are at disadvantage. Also, I believe someone had a 15 or higher nature check? If so they have appraised the Basic Harpy stat block from the prior encounter:
AC: 11, Init: +1, Saves: Str +1, Con +1, Dex +1, Int/Wis/Cha ? (not enough data), Passive Perception 10,
Attacks: Either 2x Melee both at +3 to hit, one for 2d4+1, one for 1d4+1, or one ranged +3 for 1d6+1
Luring Song: DC 11 Wisdom Save
HP: Varies, 14-63, avg 38
Move Speed: 20, Fly Speed: 40
There is no way to make judgments regarding the leader as she clearly is differently developed in her skill set.
One Harpy, H1 for a designation, did suffer 4 damage while the party watched from the backhand she took from the leader.
OOC: I think that is all the questions/responses, let me know if I missed any. Once tactics and actions are confirmed, go ahead and announce them.
Yes, picks and crowbars can work as a substitute for a portable ram or block and tackle. Closer to the noise level of the portable ram, but less effective, I would allow the same mechanics, however.
Evan making himself a target with Dodge is a relatively good bet: AC 21 with disadvantage on the attackers. He can keep a spell slot in reserve for renewing silence as well.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
1. Question about 'surprise' round. If we are hiding behing rocks now, poke our heads out and fire ranged weapons...is that a stealth check...or is it an unseen attack from cover? Under what circumstances does it get advantage?
2. Next question: If after firing from cover as above, one hides behind the rock, then tries to sneak to another rock (assuming stealth succeeds for those in line of sight), can the same tactic be used next round...or is the possible Advantage a one-off thing?
3. Can you describe the full extend (and size) of the area we have to work in? I know the nest is 20x20...
Terrain: a wider expanse of 50 by 40 feet with frequent cover, at the end of which the cliff top narrows to an area of 20 feet by 20 feet, the nest. You are coming from a wall that is 40 feet across, 50 feet, still 40 feet wide, separate the group from the nest, thus there is a 10 square by 8 square area you are approaching from, the wall you just climbed is 8 squares across, the approach to the harpies is 10 squares, and the nest is a 4 by 4 square area at the end, if Squares are easier to conceive.
What defines the margins of the 40x50 area? Falls on either side, or is one side more cliff upwards?
Is this a very rough correct sketch (NOT TO SCALE!):
With N being the nest, and all edges being steep drops down?
As noted, and now revised, there are 2 ways to get advantage on the first round: 1 - beat the 10 passive perception of the harpy’s by 5 on a Stealth check, with a 15+, or 2 - Beat it at all but announce firing and then moving behind cover and going prone to be fully out of sight. This would make you “unseen” and grant advantage although future stealth checks are needed to maintain it, along with repositioning from cover to cover.
The latter is only an option for ranged characters, but note with a 15+ stealth melee characters would also have advantage for their attacks, all, during the first round
The Nest side is a sheer drop as it actually hangs over the edge of the cliff. The horizontal sides on this map are steep slides down, both, but not sheer drops. Mechanically falling off of the nest side without feather fall would likely be fatal, the other sides would be handled as a 10 foot fall, followed by another saving throw, another 10 ft fall, followed by another saving throw, followed by a 40 foot fall. Multiple opportunities to grab and halt movement falling down the sides, but still deadly, and note any falling damage does leave you Prone, and climbing back up would be uphill, difficult terrain.
The area defined as the combat “grid” I described, a bit tough with theater of the mind, is all standard terrain. Not difficult.
((ooc: If Nanoc is still around (it's after 1am)...how does this affect your thinking? ))
Silence is 20' radius...it will almost fill the central area...so if we move a bit forward, we can also his the cliffs near the nest.
[[ ooc: I'm guessing it's too late for Nanoc (and I'm tired). ]]
Evan:
OOC: Something else to consider: If we do the silence spell over us and not the nest, the harpies may have no idea we can’t hear their song and waste a round trying to lure us over the edge. If we hang out and fire from behind cover, I would say we have the advantage in ranged combat. If they close to melee, we should have a pretty good damage output even without spells.
We just need to stay within the Silence spell and wear them down. Especially if we can defeat the leader, hopefully the others will scatter and go somewhere far away.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
OOC: I am going to get this mechanically set up so people can post and we can resolve the battle on the others' return. I have, I think, clarified all the salient points regarding the encounter.
24 - Heroes
10 - Harpies
This will be the initiative. Note that as many characters may act in a Surprise Round if they succeed at stealth many PCs may act twice before any enemies. Any pre-battle buffs, including silence, could have been cast in advance.
It is true that if the Harpy are not in the area of silence many of them will waste turns trying to fly beyond the edge and "sing." Even those within the silence may try it once before they realize the issue.
We will proceed with combat resolution, per whatever final plan you have all enacted.
A DC 10 or better Stealth allows a first-round action, 15+ Stealth means advantage on attacks for that round, and then the second round begins where all PCs act, then all enemies.
Once people are on and can post, fire away with Stealth rolls, actions, and attack rolls.
OOC: I handled the Harpy initiative as a flat 1d20, the PCs as 1d20+5 based on the general scenario of you getting the jump on them.
Stealth for Ilecerys: 22
Ilcerys will have 2 full rounds of actions prior to the enemies. Note you are the ones dictating the "start" of battle, so if you wish the Monk could already be positioned near the lead Harpy prior to the initiation of the surprise round, meaning he would have 1 round of attacks, with Advantage from the 15+ stealth, a good time to go all out with flurries and whatnot, followed by another round, without advantage, both before any enemy turns.
Note the leader is in half plate, thus considerably harder to hit than the other harpies. Advantage will help with that.
[[Going to go ahead and get this in, what happens the next round depends on how surprise goes for everyone else]]
Quietly creeping forward behind cover of rocks, Ilecerys leaps from cover and nimbly charges, catching the armored Harpy by surprise.
Club Attack: 11 Damage: 5
Flurry of Blows 1: 21 Damage: 7
Flurry of Blows 2: 24 Damage: 6
[[DC 12 Dex save for each Flurry of Blows hit or target knocked prone]]
edit- If both fail, can I use the second to push it 15 feet and off the cliff? Assuming it'd hit the ground before it could recover from prone its next turn.
9
3
The Harpy falls prone from the 3rd attack, meaning you would also have advantage for your second round attacks, before the enemies act, , due to Prone. The first hit misses altogether, the leader has now taken 13 damage and is prone.
As it remains prone for your next round, the first due to surprise, the second due to winning initiative, if you have push abilities you could use them, and this second set of attacks does have advantage due to the enemy being prone. If you would like to roll your next batch of attacks now, with advantage, feel free, others can do their first and second turns as needed but yours is fairly straightforward - beating up the leader with melee, from surprise.
It had only one Dex failure the first round, not two.
Evan:
Unwilling to risk the Harpy song or his precious second level spell slots (to cast Spiritual Weapon as a bonus action, for example), Evan puts the silence spell so it extends to cover the party (in their sniping positions with cover), extending it as far as possible towards the nest. He moves up into the silence after the snipers take their first shots (not even trying to be stealthy in his plate armor) and stands behind the cover closest to the nest (but still in the range of the silence spell), taking the dodge action. His intent is to be a visible target in the silent area, but very hard to hit (with the cover and Dodge) going, while all the rest of the party follows the plan to shoot from cover within the range of the silence spell.
OOC: From the earlier post, it seems the Monk has decided to run up into the nest and attack the leader in melee. Did I miss something, or did Ilecerys just charge through this carefully laid ambush and Leroy Jenkins the Harpies?
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"