This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(OOC tactics: Might I suggest, gentlemen, to use your action to disengage and fight on more favorable ground abovedeck, rather than tough it out like real warriors in the field of the bandits' choosing! Ritha's readied reaction was to dodge, so any attacks against her this round should have disadvantage no matter what her initiative order is.)
Ritha Initiative: 16 + Guidance 2
Ritha holds her sold up and bares her pointed teeth, not at all surprised.
(OOC tactics: Might I suggest, gentlemen, to use your action to disengage and fight on more favorable ground abovedeck, rather than tough it out like real warriors in the field of the bandits' choosing! Ritha's readied reaction was to dodge, so any attacks against her this round should have disadvantage no matter what her initiative order is.)
Ritha Initiative: 16 + Guidance 2
ooc: Does Initiative count as an Ability check for purposes of Guidance?
OOC: Initiative is a dexterity check, guidance boosts ability checks, so technically, yes. Not so technically, did you have time to cast it before a battle begun? In this case I would argue clearly, yes, since we knew we were walking into a trap. Normally, no, you don't react that fast to surprise combat.
OOC: Initiative is a dexterity check, guidance boosts ability checks, so technically, yes. Not so technically, did you have time to cast it before a battle begun? In this case I would argue clearly, yes, since we knew we were walking into a trap. Normally, no, you don't react that fast to surprise combat.
ooc: Not that I disagree but I do like a good discussion so could you make the same argument for attacks? They are clearly either Strength or Dexterity checks: d20 + Ability Bonus + Proficiency Level (if applicable)? How far can it be stretched?
OOC: Initiative is a dexterity check, guidance boosts ability checks, so technically, yes. Not so technically, did you have time to cast it before a battle begun? In this case I would argue clearly, yes, since we knew we were walking into a trap. Normally, no, you don't react that fast to surprise combat.
ooc: Not that I disagree but I do like a good discussion so could you make the same argument for attacks? They are clearly either Strength or Dexterity checks: d20 + Ability Bonus + Proficiency Level (if applicable)? How far can it be stretched?
No because even though they are checks made with STR or DEX, the rules don't call them ability checks. For initiative they state in the PHB :
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant makes a Dexterity check to determine their place in the initiative order. The DM makes one roll for an entire group of identical creatures, so each member of the group acts at the same time.
However attack rolls aren't called checks in this way. It's like how saving throws are technically checks made with a stat but at no point are they called "an ability check". So things that let you add stuff to Dexterity Checks also include the initiative but it does not work with saving throws or attack rolls.
Also would like to add in the same vein that anything that involves making an attack roll is an attack. Hypothetically, if there was a weapon that would heal whoever was hit by it instead of harming them, the healing would still be considered an attack even though I'm using it on my allies to fix their wounds. The rogue would still be able to halve the healing with uncanny dodge if they wanted to.
(OOC: this also becomes a really interesting discussion for bards who pick up Jack of All Trades. You have to carefully read which spells make "spell ability checks", because Jack of All Trades will generally increase your spell DC by quite a bit more than what your character sheet tells you your spell DC is as you level up - but only for the spells with the correct wording. Counterspell and Dispel magic being the most famous of them, of course!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Treachery!" Ritha yells as she points her sword at the pirate behind the ladder, marking the first mate as her prey. Then she grabs Io by the arm, hissing to him, "Don't resist! This battleground is unfavorable for us!" before attempting to drag him up the ladder with her.
Bonus Action: Hunter's Mark on P1 Action: Grapple Io. (Please don't contest? LOL.) Athletics: 3 Movement: D10 and up the ladder, onto the main deck
Spyro, Xerronios and Kassiopeia are currently positioned around the hatch to the cargo hold. Kassiopeia did in her little dance attempt to move between the Merchant and hatch. Did that succeed?
How far away is the merchant from the hatch/group?
How is the upper deck looking? clear of any obstructions or are there barrels/crates/baskets stored on deck?
Are there any other hatches to the cargo hold or is this the only entrance/exit?
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Spyro would play his flute and help the leonin perform.
map
Xerronios initiative 8
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Spyro initiative 12
(OOC tactics: Might I suggest, gentlemen, to use your action to disengage and fight on more favorable ground abovedeck, rather than tough it out like real warriors in the field of the bandits' choosing! Ritha's readied reaction was to dodge, so any attacks against her this round should have disadvantage no matter what her initiative order is.)
Ritha Initiative: 16 + Guidance 2
Ritha holds her sold up and bares her pointed teeth, not at all surprised.
(OOC: When we take over this ship, who wants to be the new captain?)
Io's initiative: 7
Kanlos initiative: 13
Kassiopeia softly sings in leonin as she dances around the hatch: "We . should . rush . the . pirate . captain . and . disable . him!"
Initiative: 15
ooc: Does Initiative count as an Ability check for purposes of Guidance?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
OOC: I mean... it is an ability check and I think Remarkable Athlete lets you add half proficiency to initiative so I think Guidance should count too?
OOC: Initiative is a dexterity check, guidance boosts ability checks, so technically, yes. Not so technically, did you have time to cast it before a battle begun? In this case I would argue clearly, yes, since we knew we were walking into a trap. Normally, no, you don't react that fast to surprise combat.
ooc: Not that I disagree but I do like a good discussion so could you make the same argument for attacks? They are clearly either Strength or Dexterity checks: d20 + Ability Bonus + Proficiency Level (if applicable)? How far can it be stretched?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
No because even though they are checks made with STR or DEX, the rules don't call them ability checks. For initiative they state in the PHB :
However attack rolls aren't called checks in this way. It's like how saving throws are technically checks made with a stat but at no point are they called "an ability check". So things that let you add stuff to Dexterity Checks also include the initiative but it does not work with saving throws or attack rolls.
Also would like to add in the same vein that anything that involves making an attack roll is an attack. Hypothetically, if there was a weapon that would heal whoever was hit by it instead of harming them, the healing would still be considered an attack even though I'm using it on my allies to fix their wounds. The rogue would still be able to halve the healing with uncanny dodge if they wanted to.
(OOC: this also becomes a really interesting discussion for bards who pick up Jack of All Trades. You have to carefully read which spells make "spell ability checks", because Jack of All Trades will generally increase your spell DC by quite a bit more than what your character sheet tells you your spell DC is as you level up - but only for the spells with the correct wording. Counterspell and Dispel magic being the most famous of them, of course!)
Initiative order is:
Ritha
Kassiopeia
first mate
Kanlos
Spyro
bandits
captain
Xerronios
Io
Ritha and Kassiopeia can post now.
"Treachery!" Ritha yells as she points her sword at the pirate behind the ladder, marking the first mate as her prey. Then she grabs Io by the arm, hissing to him, "Don't resist! This battleground is unfavorable for us!" before attempting to drag him up the ladder with her.
Bonus Action: Hunter's Mark on P1
Action: Grapple Io. (Please don't contest? LOL.) Athletics: 3
Movement: D10 and up the ladder, onto the main deck
Io was having the same idea so if possible, I would like to purposely fail the grapple check.
Just a few questions for the upper deck:
Spyro, Xerronios and Kassiopeia are currently positioned around the hatch to the cargo hold.
Kassiopeia did in her little dance attempt to move between the Merchant and hatch. Did that succeed?
How far away is the merchant from the hatch/group?
How is the upper deck looking? clear of any obstructions or are there barrels/crates/baskets stored on deck?
Are there any other hatches to the cargo hold or is this the only entrance/exit?