"The piling of bones and preserving is not to do with any necromancy I have seen." Destin points out the parts of the ravaged bodies. "The tearing of the flesh here? This looks like the consuming of a hungry undead. Perhaps a ghoul or something similar has tried to satiate its hunger." He keeps his axes primed while talking. "I think there will be more than your mere zombie or skeleton waiting for us."
Marrow has moved to stand at the entrance to the room with the piles of bodies, but doesn't enter. He calls back to following group There seems to be no immediate danger, but signs that something dangerous has passed this way. Ms. Cassyt, would you be so good as to come and give us your expertise on this? Please ready yourself, though - it's a horrible sight.
As if on cue, when Destin mentions Ghouls, two of those very creatures burst out, intent upon the axe-wielding human who somehow guessed their presence. I need everybody to roll initiative.
This is my first attempt as a PbP DM, but I thought we might try some more detailed maps when combat would benefit from them. Each of you has a token with your character portrait on it except Kelvin and Casmenos. Your characters did not have portraits, so I just took a grey/sepia token matching your race. If you add a character portrait, I will change your tokens to match. The two top-down creatures in the room are the ghouls, and Cassyt is in the back hallway with Keksi.
I have marked all the grey lined squares with letter/numbers, so you can refer to positions when moving or attacking. For example, one ghoul is at D-13, and the other is at E-12.
All characters, regardless of position, need to roll initiative; the ghouls bursting out of the pile was more than enough to alert even those in the back. To this point, however, they did evade your detection, so there may be some surprise at play here in the first round, as well.
Again, haunted by the past Destin thinks as he brings his axes up to engage the ghouls.
Initiative:7
(Also assuming Passive Perception of 14 didn't help.)
When I run my campaigns in PbP, I usually do the following for initiative:
Roll initiative for everyone, including players, when initiative starts. That way you aren't waiting a day for everyone to just roll for turn order.
Once you have a turn order, all players that are before the next monster can just post their turn in any order they want, so you aren't waiting a day for one person to post their turn, while the player after them then has to go to bed before they post.
If things are initiative-sensitive, like death saving throws, then enforce those saves etc. even if the person who would be after them in initiative may've thrown a healing spell at them.
Keep an initiative tracker every few posts so people don't have to delve back several pages to find whose turn it is.
One way to keep things moving is some DMs choose to roll initiative for the players. That can save a lot of time — I've never known a player to complain — but it isn't necessary. By the way, the map is great. :) Also, something that should be established is if it's up to the players to update their own character sheets or if you will. Most DMs leave it up to the players, but I have a DM that updates them himself because sometimes players forget to update their sheets like they're supposed to. At the very least, you should keep track of health and spell slots in case a player isn't doing it correctly, and you can keep them in check.
@pokepaladdy, @DirtyDogP - I appreciate the advice. Please, anybody and everybody, keep it coming, in thread or in PMs -- its the best way to learn.
It is too late for this battle, but afterwards, we can assess and if players are ok with it, for expedience's sake, I will establish initiative orders.
We will be doing the turn system pokepaladdy mentioned during combat, as I have seen that work well in games where I have been a player, with the only issue being when players coordinate efforts, e.g. holding actions, bless/bardic inspiration, combination of spell effects, but players have to work out that coordination amongst themselves.
Every time I post an update during combat I will include current initiative status in a spoiler block
I had been planning on leaving character sheet updating up to individual players, but I definitely am going to keep track of the things you mentioned separately, as well. (Shameless self-promotion - when I am not on mobile, I use the BeyondHelp chrome extension, in part because I contributed the module to keep notes inside the forum thread page.)
In the interests of expedience, as the only person currently with an initiative higher than that of the Ghouls, Keksi, you may go now. We will slot Kelvin in when ready.
Since several people post overnight, I am taking the liberty of slotting Kelvin into initiative order, and for future combats, I will take the above advice of setting up initiative as fights begin. It is not a criticism - life happens - but it should keep things flowing.
Blinking at the radiant light that had bathed it, the Ghoul steps forward. Sniffing the air, it turns up its nose at the elf in front of it, and runs to the next nearest target, and rakes its claws over Casmenos.
Claw Attack: 14
but the claws slide harmlessly off his armor.
Hearing the commotion, Cassyt steps forward. Curling her lips in disgust, she calls down Kelemvor's light against the Ghoul. Sacred Flame Damage: 6
Ghoul dex save: 16
But the ghoul is no more affected by Cassyt's light than it was by Keksi's just moments before.
Initiative order: Any bolded people may now take their turns. Coordinate amongst yourselves for combination manuvers
Keksi: 16 Ghoul1: 16 (the one in between Casmenos, Tumal, and Destin) Cassyt: 12 Bastian: 9 Marrow: 9 Casmenos: 8 Tumal: 7 Destin: 7 Kelvin: 5 Ghoul2: 4 (the one in the rear)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Though a little nervous, as he's never seen or faced this type of creature before, Marrow nevertheless moves up to the spot just vacated by Destin, and jabs his (still glowing?) sword at the ghoul in E11: Attack: 17 Damage: 10.
@DM: How do I use my 'protection' fighting style? Should I wait until after the enemy makes an attack, or declare it in advance?
@Marrow - something that creates advantage or disadvantage has to be declared before the roll. Admittedly, this is going to cause some weird timing issues in a play by post game. We can work out something to avoid reactions slowing down the game -- I'll PM you some suggestions.
@All sheesh, damage rolls have not been friendly to you so far this round
Destin deftly sinks two quick jabs into the ghoul in front, and steps forward. As the ghoul snarls and swivels its head to follow, Marrow steps into the gap in formation and thrusts his own sword up into the ghoul's belly. It snaps its head back to glare at the halfling, only to have Casmenos' morningstar greet the head on its return trip rather rudely.
The ghoul is still on its feet, but it appears drastically worse for wear at this point.
"The piling of bones and preserving is not to do with any necromancy I have seen." Destin points out the parts of the ravaged bodies. "The tearing of the flesh here? This looks like the consuming of a hungry undead. Perhaps a ghoul or something similar has tried to satiate its hunger." He keeps his axes primed while talking. "I think there will be more than your mere zombie or skeleton waiting for us."
Marrow has moved to stand at the entrance to the room with the piles of bodies, but doesn't enter. He calls back to following group There seems to be no immediate danger, but signs that something dangerous has passed this way. Ms. Cassyt, would you be so good as to come and give us your expertise on this? Please ready yourself, though - it's a horrible sight.
As if on cue, when Destin mentions Ghouls, two of those very creatures burst out, intent upon the axe-wielding human who somehow guessed their presence. I need everybody to roll initiative.
This is my first attempt as a PbP DM, but I thought we might try some more detailed maps when combat would benefit from them. Each of you has a token with your character portrait on it except Kelvin and Casmenos. Your characters did not have portraits, so I just took a grey/sepia token matching your race. If you add a character portrait, I will change your tokens to match. The two top-down creatures in the room are the ghouls, and Cassyt is in the back hallway with Keksi.
I have marked all the grey lined squares with letter/numbers, so you can refer to positions when moving or attacking. For example, one ghoul is at D-13, and the other is at E-12.
All characters, regardless of position, need to roll initiative; the ghouls bursting out of the pile was more than enough to alert even those in the back. To this point, however, they did evade your detection, so there may be some surprise at play here in the first round, as well.
Casmenos initiative: 8
Again, haunted by the past Destin thinks as he brings his axes up to engage the ghouls.
Initiative: 7
(Also assuming Passive Perception of 14 didn't help.)
When I run my campaigns in PbP, I usually do the following for initiative:
Tumal's initiative: 7
One way to keep things moving is some DMs choose to roll initiative for the players. That can save a lot of time — I've never known a player to complain — but it isn't necessary. By the way, the map is great. :) Also, something that should be established is if it's up to the players to update their own character sheets or if you will. Most DMs leave it up to the players, but I have a DM that updates them himself because sometimes players forget to update their sheets like they're supposed to. At the very least, you should keep track of health and spell slots in case a player isn't doing it correctly, and you can keep them in check.
NPC initiatives:
Cassyt: 12
Ghoul 1: 16
Ghoul 2: 4
@pokepaladdy, @DirtyDogP - I appreciate the advice. Please, anybody and everybody, keep it coming, in thread or in PMs -- its the best way to learn.
Marrow sighs, and thinks: Spoke too soon. Initiative: 9
All of the maps have been great! I'm really enjoying them.
Bastian's Initiative: 9
Keksi's initiative: 5
In the interests of expedience, as the only person currently with an initiative higher than that of the Ghouls, Keksi, you may go now. We will slot Kelvin in when ready.
Keksi will move to F6 and cast sacred flame at Ghoul 1. Damage if it fails a 12 Dex check: 8
A holy light shines down upon from above, enveloping the Ghoul on the left.
Dex Save: 19
It winces, but seems otherwise unaffected.
Initiative (Kelvin may be next, so holding up for now.)
Keksi: 16
Kelvin: ???
Ghoul1: 16
Cassyt: 12
Bastian: 9
Marrow: 9
Casmenos: 8
Tumal: 7
Destin: 7
Ghoul2: 4
Since several people post overnight, I am taking the liberty of slotting Kelvin into initiative order, and for future combats, I will take the above advice of setting up initiative as fights begin. It is not a criticism - life happens - but it should keep things flowing.
Initiative: 5
Blinking at the radiant light that had bathed it, the Ghoul steps forward. Sniffing the air, it turns up its nose at the elf in front of it, and runs to the next nearest target, and rakes its claws over Casmenos.
Claw Attack: 14
but the claws slide harmlessly off his armor.
Hearing the commotion, Cassyt steps forward. Curling her lips in disgust, she calls down Kelemvor's light against the Ghoul. Sacred Flame Damage: 6
Ghoul dex save: 16
But the ghoul is no more affected by Cassyt's light than it was by Keksi's just moments before.
Initiative order: Any bolded people may now take their turns. Coordinate amongst yourselves for combination manuvers
Keksi: 16
Ghoul1: 16 (the one in between Casmenos, Tumal, and Destin)
Cassyt: 12
Bastian: 9
Marrow: 9
Casmenos: 8
Tumal: 7
Destin: 7
Kelvin: 5
Ghoul2: 4 (the one in the rear)
I'm assuming AL adventures don't use the flanking optional rule, as it is indeed optional.
Destin takes both of his axes and swings them at the side of the ghoul between the three front liners (Ghoul at E-11)
Handaxe (main hand) vs. Ghoul: 21 vs. AC. Hit: 4 slashing damage.
Handaxe (off hand) vs. Ghoul: 17 vs. AC. Hit: 1 slashing damage.
He then sidesteps to help divert the attention of the ghouls (F-11 -> F-12)
(Wow, those damage rolls...)
Though a little nervous, as he's never seen or faced this type of creature before, Marrow nevertheless moves up to the spot just vacated by Destin, and jabs his (still glowing?) sword at the ghoul in E11: Attack: 17 Damage: 10.
@DM: How do I use my 'protection' fighting style? Should I wait until after the enemy makes an attack, or declare it in advance?
Casmenos will clobber the ghoul at E11.
Morningstar (Piercing): Attack: 10 Damage: 10
If the ghoul dies, Casmenos will step forward into square E11.
@Destin - yes, no flanking rules in AL
@Marrow - something that creates advantage or disadvantage has to be declared before the roll. Admittedly, this is going to cause some weird timing issues in a play by post game. We can work out something to avoid reactions slowing down the game -- I'll PM you some suggestions.
@All sheesh, damage rolls have not been friendly to you so far this round
Destin deftly sinks two quick jabs into the ghoul in front, and steps forward. As the ghoul snarls and swivels its head to follow, Marrow steps into the gap in formation and thrusts his own sword up into the ghoul's belly. It snaps its head back to glare at the halfling, only to have Casmenos' morningstar greet the head on its return trip rather rudely.
The ghoul is still on its feet, but it appears drastically worse for wear at this point.
Current situation:
Keksi: 16
Ghoul1: 16
Cassyt: 12
Bastian: 9
Marrow: 9
Casmenos: 8
Tumal: 7
Destin: 7
Kelvin: 5
Ghoul2: 4
Three to go, then the ghoul in back, followed by a new round, starting with Keksi