I think we aim the two front ballistae onto the middle of where the gangplank will be, and the middle and two rear ballistae on where the gangplank meets the ship. It's a guess, and I expect we'll be aiming anyway, but that will do for starters. No other preparations except to give Pip a pep talk laced with vaguely intimidating statements that he'd better not die or he''ll be in real trouble.
Burik will agree with the others, trying to conceal himself as well while still trying to be on aim. He'll also use a cloak to hide his armour and face, making his dwarven figure harder to distinguish. "I'll fire on your signal Effort"
The ship slows down even further as the older man steers it toward one of the larger docks. There's hustle and bustle throughout the immediate area. People screaming orders, arguing about trades, and unloading boats. A few poor-looking dock hands help tie the ship up to the dock and wander off. Pip lowers the plank and surveys the area quickly. Someone waves to him and then rushes off in the opposite direction.
Pip and Effort man the ballistas that will be visible by anyone climbing the plank first. Brask next, and Murmur and Burik in the furthest from the docked side of the ship. As you all stand around, anxiously awaiting whatever is to arrive, Cadmael calls out to Effort from the corner of a building across the river. I think we have company, he quips.
Approaching the ship is a group of six. Three men out front with scimitars at their sides. They wear brown clothes with bits of leather armor - nothing too impressive. Behind them is another trio. A slender gentlemen with a longbow, dressed mostly in black. He sports a dark beard and long hair. Pip and Effort can see him turning around a few times to check behind the group. The next man is bigger and significantly more brutish. He carries a mace over his shoulder and looks down any commoners that dare cross his path. He has a shaved head and a shorter beard. His leather armor is cut off at the shoulders to reveal his sizable biceps. Finally, next to him appears to be the leader of the small group. A tall, well-built man donning chain mail and carrying his helm under his arm smiles at the dock hands as he walks by. He is clean shaven with shoulder-length blonde hair. His blue eyes peer ahead at the ship, and he pauses for a moment. From this distance, Effort and Pip can see the gorgeously made shield on his back, and the sparkling hilt of the longsword at his side. As he begins walking again, there is a calm confidence about his stride that is both comforting and alarming.
He nods to Pip, who nods back. The three front men start to climb the plank first, followed by the others.
Here are your options, Effort (since you have the best vantage point right now):
1. Fire now at the three men at mid-plank. No need to aim, and you will gain advantage.
2. Wait until those three reach the ship. The others can fire on them and you can fire on the three men in the back. No need to aim, but Brask/Burik will need to roll deception checks. If they fail, you won't have a surprise round and will not gain advantage. If they succeed, you get both.
3. Wait until everyone reaches the ship. Effort and Pip won't be able to fire without aiming. Brask/Burik will need to roll deception checks (with a higher DC). If they fail, you won't have a surprise round and will not gain advantage. If they succeed, you get both.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Sorry guys… I got sick for a few days! I should be back now though…)
Cadmael makes himself ready to flyby the three on the ground and give advantage to whomever next makes an attack on one them once the battle starts.
"Six," Effort takes the time to say or message to the others not close enough to hear her. "One has a longbow. The leader is the clean-shaven blonde in the chain mail. The three in the front look like grunts. I'm going to try to deliver them a nice surprise."
Seeing the men beginning to board the boat, Effort smiles and takes aim. She is aiming at the three men… but she's also aiming at the plank they're climbing, hoping to splinter it, or at least make it difficult (terrain) for the three men behind the grunts to climb on board.
Bonus action: Hex one of the grunts Ballista Attack: 25 Ballista Damage: 11 + 5 extra necrotic on one of them
You would only be able to hit one of the grunts OR the plank...but you could certainly focus on the plank if you want to. Pip will also get a surprise round before things get going.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Effort releases the ballista trigger as the huge arrow zips between two of the men in front. It plunges deeply into the wood of the plank, splintering it as the group are all taken by surprise.
Pip releases his arrow as well, aiming at one of the men. Attack: 23 Damage: 13
It slides fully through one of their chests. He doesn't even have time to call out as his body is jerked back, slamming him down onto the plank. It splinters even more, and a second later, you hear a loud crack as the bottom half of the plank snaps off. The two remaining men standing on it plunge down twenty or thirty feet into the water below, screaming as they crash into the water. The three in the back are just able to avoid falling in, and they're left standing on the dock, looking up at the ship, wondering what the hell just happened.
"Are you mad?" The blonde swordsman calls out. They draw their weapons.
The brute is less diplomatic. "You're all f*cking dead."
Effort grins as Pip kills the grunt she'd targeted, and uses her concentration to switch her hex onto the next greatest immediate threat - that fellow with the longbow. She takes enough time to try and aim at him, hoping she'll get off a good shot before he can put the weapon to any productive use.
BA: Hex to Archer Eldritch Blast: 18 Damage: 5 force + 3 necrotic
Cadmael will swoop by and give advantage to the next person to attack the archer.
(Ah, Effort ducks for cover behind the ballista. I can't visualize if the melee combatants are going to be able to board the ship this round, but if they aren't, she will actually literally go prone for more AC. If they can, she's just going for object cover, no prone.)
Effort's blast connects with the archer, burning into his mid-section as he grunts and grabs the wound. He sneers up at Effort as his large companion quickly scans the side of the ship. He takes a step back, and then leaps off the dock, attempting to grab onto one of the windows of the steerage deck. Dex check: 13
One of his big hands slips off the side, but the other grips the firmly to the window. He regains his grip and gets his footing against the side of the ship. He looks up, and reaches for one of the windows of the cargo level, pulling himself up even further.
Burik, you're up. The two remaining grunts spend their movement swimming out of the river and back up onto the dock.
Effort fired and the plank broke before they could get in range of your back ballistas. So you can use your movement to get to the railing and do a ranged attack if you like - or you can wait until they get closer. Your ballista (and Murmur's) are aimed at the railing, so once they get on the ship you could fire at them.
Murmur will abandon her post at the ballista and travel to the railing overlooking the dock. She'll see the injured archer, and aim her palm at him. As a flame erupts in her grasp, the leader will react quickly and aim his shield at the sun, sending a blast of bright light into Effort's eyes. Her aim is off. Attack: 17 Damage: 8
The leader will look cautiously at the ship. Pulling out his longsword, he swings it at the wood of the ship where the open window of the steerage deck seems weakest. Attack: 15 Damage: 14 It barely chips away a few splinters.
The archer, starting to recover from the earlier blast, fires an arrow at Effort. Attack: 13 Damage: 5
Before she can react, he has another arrow nocked and fires it. Attack: 8 Damage: 9
Having already fired his ballista, Pip will use his movement to join the others fighting at the railing.
Nope. Wouldn't be able to hit anyone until they got up onto the ship. You can continue to man it, waiting, or you can head to the railing to get a better line-of-sight on the enemies. If you do the latter, please roll a perception or history check with advantage.
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DM - Above & Below
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I think we aim the two front ballistae onto the middle of where the gangplank will be, and the middle and two rear ballistae on where the gangplank meets the ship. It's a guess, and I expect we'll be aiming anyway, but that will do for starters. No other preparations except to give Pip a pep talk laced with vaguely intimidating statements that he'd better not die or he''ll be in real trouble.
Burik will agree with the others, trying to conceal himself as well while still trying to be on aim. He'll also use a cloak to hide his armour and face, making his dwarven figure harder to distinguish. "I'll fire on your signal Effort"
Brask, roll a persuasion or intimidation check...whichever you think applies more to Pip.
DM - Above & Below
Intimidation, because Brask is a jerk: 12
The ship slows down even further as the older man steers it toward one of the larger docks. There's hustle and bustle throughout the immediate area. People screaming orders, arguing about trades, and unloading boats. A few poor-looking dock hands help tie the ship up to the dock and wander off. Pip lowers the plank and surveys the area quickly. Someone waves to him and then rushes off in the opposite direction.
Pip and Effort man the ballistas that will be visible by anyone climbing the plank first. Brask next, and Murmur and Burik in the furthest from the docked side of the ship. As you all stand around, anxiously awaiting whatever is to arrive, Cadmael calls out to Effort from the corner of a building across the river. I think we have company, he quips.
Approaching the ship is a group of six. Three men out front with scimitars at their sides. They wear brown clothes with bits of leather armor - nothing too impressive. Behind them is another trio. A slender gentlemen with a longbow, dressed mostly in black. He sports a dark beard and long hair. Pip and Effort can see him turning around a few times to check behind the group. The next man is bigger and significantly more brutish. He carries a mace over his shoulder and looks down any commoners that dare cross his path. He has a shaved head and a shorter beard. His leather armor is cut off at the shoulders to reveal his sizable biceps. Finally, next to him appears to be the leader of the small group. A tall, well-built man donning chain mail and carrying his helm under his arm smiles at the dock hands as he walks by. He is clean shaven with shoulder-length blonde hair. His blue eyes peer ahead at the ship, and he pauses for a moment. From this distance, Effort and Pip can see the gorgeously made shield on his back, and the sparkling hilt of the longsword at his side. As he begins walking again, there is a calm confidence about his stride that is both comforting and alarming.
He nods to Pip, who nods back. The three front men start to climb the plank first, followed by the others.
Here are your options, Effort (since you have the best vantage point right now):
1. Fire now at the three men at mid-plank. No need to aim, and you will gain advantage.
2. Wait until those three reach the ship. The others can fire on them and you can fire on the three men in the back. No need to aim, but Brask/Burik will need to roll deception checks. If they fail, you won't have a surprise round and will not gain advantage. If they succeed, you get both.
3. Wait until everyone reaches the ship. Effort and Pip won't be able to fire without aiming. Brask/Burik will need to roll deception checks (with a higher DC). If they fail, you won't have a surprise round and will not gain advantage. If they succeed, you get both.
DM - Above & Below
(Sorry guys… I got sick for a few days! I should be back now though…)
Cadmael makes himself ready to flyby the three on the ground and give advantage to whomever next makes an attack on one them once the battle starts.
"Six," Effort takes the time to say or message to the others not close enough to hear her. "One has a longbow. The leader is the clean-shaven blonde in the chain mail. The three in the front look like grunts. I'm going to try to deliver them a nice surprise."
Seeing the men beginning to board the boat, Effort smiles and takes aim. She is aiming at the three men… but she's also aiming at the plank they're climbing, hoping to splinter it, or at least make it difficult (terrain) for the three men behind the grunts to climb on board.
Bonus action: Hex one of the grunts
Ballista Attack: 25
Ballista Damage: 11 + 5 extra necrotic on one of them
You would only be able to hit one of the grunts OR the plank...but you could certainly focus on the plank if you want to. Pip will also get a surprise round before things get going.
DM - Above & Below
Let‘s go for the plank and try to destroy it ;)
Effort releases the ballista trigger as the huge arrow zips between two of the men in front. It plunges deeply into the wood of the plank, splintering it as the group are all taken by surprise.
Pip releases his arrow as well, aiming at one of the men. Attack: 23 Damage: 13
It slides fully through one of their chests. He doesn't even have time to call out as his body is jerked back, slamming him down onto the plank. It splinters even more, and a second later, you hear a loud crack as the bottom half of the plank snaps off. The two remaining men standing on it plunge down twenty or thirty feet into the water below, screaming as they crash into the water. The three in the back are just able to avoid falling in, and they're left standing on the dock, looking up at the ship, wondering what the hell just happened.
"Are you mad?" The blonde swordsman calls out. They draw their weapons.
The brute is less diplomatic. "You're all f*cking dead."
Everyone, roll initiative.
Murmur: 9
Pip: 20
Grunts: 12
Brute: 3
Blonde swordsman: 3
Archer: 7
DM - Above & Below
Brask's initiative: 2
Effort: 22
cadmael 20
6
(Looks like I'm up first?)
Effort grins as Pip kills the grunt she'd targeted, and uses her concentration to switch her hex onto the next greatest immediate threat - that fellow with the longbow. She takes enough time to try and aim at him, hoping she'll get off a good shot before he can put the weapon to any productive use.
BA: Hex to Archer
Eldritch Blast: 18
Damage: 5 force + 3 necrotic
Cadmael will swoop by and give advantage to the next person to attack the archer.
(Ah, Effort ducks for cover behind the ballista. I can't visualize if the melee combatants are going to be able to board the ship this round, but if they aren't, she will actually literally go prone for more AC. If they can, she's just going for object cover, no prone.)
Round 1: Effort > Grunts > Cadmael > Brute > Burik > Murmur > Leader > Archer > Pip > Brask
Effort's blast connects with the archer, burning into his mid-section as he grunts and grabs the wound. He sneers up at Effort as his large companion quickly scans the side of the ship. He takes a step back, and then leaps off the dock, attempting to grab onto one of the windows of the steerage deck. Dex check: 13
One of his big hands slips off the side, but the other grips the firmly to the window. He regains his grip and gets his footing against the side of the ship. He looks up, and reaches for one of the windows of the cargo level, pulling himself up even further.
Burik, you're up. The two remaining grunts spend their movement swimming out of the river and back up onto the dock.
DM - Above & Below
At the leader: 14 (+2 to hit if proficiency to it) : 21
Burik will then jump down to the main deck, ready to fend them off.
Effort fired and the plank broke before they could get in range of your back ballistas. So you can use your movement to get to the railing and do a ranged attack if you like - or you can wait until they get closer. Your ballista (and Murmur's) are aimed at the railing, so once they get on the ship you could fire at them.
DM - Above & Below
okay yeah, hold at the ballista for someone to appear
Murmur will abandon her post at the ballista and travel to the railing overlooking the dock. She'll see the injured archer, and aim her palm at him. As a flame erupts in her grasp, the leader will react quickly and aim his shield at the sun, sending a blast of bright light into Effort's eyes. Her aim is off. Attack: 17 Damage: 8
The leader will look cautiously at the ship. Pulling out his longsword, he swings it at the wood of the ship where the open window of the steerage deck seems weakest. Attack: 15 Damage: 14 It barely chips away a few splinters.
The archer, starting to recover from the earlier blast, fires an arrow at Effort. Attack: 13 Damage: 5
Before she can react, he has another arrow nocked and fires it. Attack: 8 Damage: 9
Having already fired his ballista, Pip will use his movement to join the others fighting at the railing.
Brask, you're up.
DM - Above & Below
Is Brask's ballista currently aimed at anyone?
Nope. Wouldn't be able to hit anyone until they got up onto the ship. You can continue to man it, waiting, or you can head to the railing to get a better line-of-sight on the enemies. If you do the latter, please roll a perception or history check with advantage.
DM - Above & Below