Having the buddy system is great. I really enjoy the chance at character interaction and development, though we as a group seem to be pretty good with that already.
a single person shift would work out to 10.5 hours and have no interaction. But the nights would pass quicker as it would just be a series of rolls.
It is a nice character developing possibility but i agree next time we just take singel watch. (one of the FUN things was wake up duing a interuption/random encounter and have no armor on :) )
I agree. 😓 But peaceful night options are on my encounter list, and Sharn and Merkas got a peaceful night. The late night random encounters are low-risk. A jackal is a good example of what you might've encountered. The last party got 4 Death Dogs and it nearly killed half the party. Luckily they brought a small army of NPCs with them to help deal out some damage, or it would've been a TPK. Maybe Sera and Hastos will get some pre-dawn action... the fighty-kind.
4 death dogs at level 2 is a hairy challenge .....
Yes, but so is 4 thugs against one monk. I weakened them (lowered their HP to represent their near starvation in the drought) and kept reminding them of special combat abilities (like terrain advantages, skill checks that provide advantage, and feats that they could borrow), plus they had, like, 7 NPCs with them. Four were trained warriors, and one was a spellcaster. And one of them was using the scythe. The battle was, indeed, quite rough. But they all made it home alive, if battered, and got some pretty cool alchemical/magic ingredients from the death dogs... enough to outfit the whole party with magical gear. It popped them right up to level three too.
I don't really fight using the best strategies... intentionally. I fight based on the NPC notes about their fluff. The thugs were a bit of an exception, because their fluff states that they fight side-by-side (gaining advantage from their combat formation), and if the party had just charged in and started whacking at them, they would've and the battle would've got much worse. But y'all did a good job keeping them split up, scared, and used their weaknesses against them to win the day! Good job!
Of course, especially at low-levels, sometimes encounters won't be fairly balanced. And fighting isn't always the most effective option. The previous party took mostly pacifist routes, and resolved conflicts by rolling persuasion checks, and relying on NPCs to aid in de-escalation. Which is another strategy, but not terribly effective against death dogs. 😅
And while the aim is not to kill the party, death isn't the end. I have whole sublots planned in case the party wants to fight their way back from the afterlife. I got the inspiration from The Order of the Stick when Roy Greenhilt was killed in a premature battle with the BBEG and went on his own adventures in... heaven? I guess? while the rest of the party quested to drag his carcass all through a sub-plot to bring him back to life. He even learned a special ability that was designed to defeat the BBEG later. That's not exactly what I have in mind, and the story will change based on the nature of the player/or parties death (should that occur) and could be a terrifying underworld romp through demons and devils in a hellish landscape. And of course, if death is something you don't want to play through, roll insight against pretty big monsters (I have been known to use epic level monsters as backdrops... not to be engaged with, but simply to remind the party that the world is still going on and other adventurers out there, with presumably higher levels, are probably handling those bigger issues) to gauge whether or not this is a battle you should get involved with, or a threat you should warn the nearby town is coming, and they need to evacuate.
Also, it's not freezing outside (IC) but it is damn cold. Reptiles are not the best at handling this kind of weather. The fur from the jackal is keeping Kasi from fully hibernating, but she's hardly suitable for guard duty unless someone can provide her some heat.
Well... random encounters are fun.😉I didn't even know about firenewt warriors until today. Looks like some extra heat is coming this way. I wonder if I can built some side-plot out of these cute lil guys. Desert wanderers stranded from their homeland of the Elemental Plane of fire... I'm going to do some research.
Having the buddy system is great. I really enjoy the chance at character interaction and development, though we as a group seem to be pretty good with that already.
a single person shift would work out to 10.5 hours and have no interaction. But the nights would pass quicker as it would just be a series of rolls.
Loyalty Begets Honour
InexorableTruth - feel free to push the scene past Merkas/Kasi unless there is some info you want to share from our Kobold Guide
Loyalty Begets Honour
Uh-oh, what is Sera’s subconscious trying to tell her!!? 🤣
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Nothing!!!....ehem....
I agree. 😓 But peaceful night options are on my encounter list, and Sharn and Merkas got a peaceful night. The late night random encounters are low-risk. A jackal is a good example of what you might've encountered. The last party got 4 Death Dogs and it nearly killed half the party. Luckily they brought a small army of NPCs with them to help deal out some damage, or it would've been a TPK. Maybe Sera and Hastos will get some pre-dawn action... the fighty-kind.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Hastos and Sera sitting in a tree...
k-i-s-s-i-n-g 😄
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
The Long Rest Calculator has been added to the Campaign Specific House Rules sub-section in Campaign Notes.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
4 death dogs at level 2 is a hairy challenge .....
Yes, but so is 4 thugs against one monk. I weakened them (lowered their HP to represent their near starvation in the drought) and kept reminding them of special combat abilities (like terrain advantages, skill checks that provide advantage, and feats that they could borrow), plus they had, like, 7 NPCs with them. Four were trained warriors, and one was a spellcaster. And one of them was using the scythe. The battle was, indeed, quite rough. But they all made it home alive, if battered, and got some pretty cool alchemical/magic ingredients from the death dogs... enough to outfit the whole party with magical gear. It popped them right up to level three too.
I don't really fight using the best strategies... intentionally. I fight based on the NPC notes about their fluff. The thugs were a bit of an exception, because their fluff states that they fight side-by-side (gaining advantage from their combat formation), and if the party had just charged in and started whacking at them, they would've and the battle would've got much worse. But y'all did a good job keeping them split up, scared, and used their weaknesses against them to win the day! Good job!
Of course, especially at low-levels, sometimes encounters won't be fairly balanced. And fighting isn't always the most effective option. The previous party took mostly pacifist routes, and resolved conflicts by rolling persuasion checks, and relying on NPCs to aid in de-escalation. Which is another strategy, but not terribly effective against death dogs. 😅
And while the aim is not to kill the party, death isn't the end. I have whole sublots planned in case the party wants to fight their way back from the afterlife. I got the inspiration from The Order of the Stick when Roy Greenhilt was killed in a premature battle with the BBEG and went on his own adventures in... heaven? I guess? while the rest of the party quested to drag his carcass all through a sub-plot to bring him back to life. He even learned a special ability that was designed to defeat the BBEG later. That's not exactly what I have in mind, and the story will change based on the nature of the player/or parties death (should that occur) and could be a terrifying underworld romp through demons and devils in a hellish landscape. And of course, if death is something you don't want to play through, roll insight against pretty big monsters (I have been known to use epic level monsters as backdrops... not to be engaged with, but simply to remind the party that the world is still going on and other adventurers out there, with presumably higher levels, are probably handling those bigger issues) to gauge whether or not this is a battle you should get involved with, or a threat you should warn the nearby town is coming, and they need to evacuate.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Also, it's not freezing outside (IC) but it is damn cold. Reptiles are not the best at handling this kind of weather. The fur from the jackal is keeping Kasi from fully hibernating, but she's hardly suitable for guard duty unless someone can provide her some heat.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Well... random encounters are fun.😉I didn't even know about firenewt warriors until today. Looks like some extra heat is coming this way. I wonder if I can built some side-plot out of these cute lil guys. Desert wanderers stranded from their homeland of the Elemental Plane of fire... I'm going to do some research.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
Dragonlance always loved portals. Even in the lates Shadow of the Dragon queen module it was a few around...
ROFL!
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Portals are available in this campaign. I struggle to make a campaign without them. 😉
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
When we wake up now...are we still 1st or second level? Did we get any rest that counts for anything?
I defer to our wonderful Dm but by RAW you have had a short rest. Not quite a long rest for anyone yet.
Loyalty Begets Honour
Sorry if I blew our cover. But figured having Sera and myself able to see properly would be of more use than hiding from wild critters
Loyalty Begets Honour
Who knows, it might scare ‘em off!
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Yeah, so far, short rest.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin
If you wish to have your characters know the stat blocks for either of these creatures, please roll an Insight check.
DC for Firenewt Warrior: 10
DC for Giant Strider: 9
Because they are extraplanar, you may also roll Arcana, or Religion. You may also roll History (with Disadvantage) or Nature (with Disadvantage)
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord); Lost Mine of Phendelver (tabletop)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk; Mme Cragmaw, Goblin Artificer; River Kuthraeann, Wood Elf Paladin