Iron Delving - 10/10/10 8PM

I'm interested in A Little Iron on the Side. I have a concept for a dwarven minstrel character (very) roughly built in the character builder, but until that update comes at some point in the next few weeks, things won't be very pleasant. Could we start planning logistics to arrange things now, with an actual date set a few days or so after the update?

I'm more likely available on weeknights than weekends, but aside from the weekend after next I could make most dates work.

I, too, have been rediscovering the pleasures of hand-building characters (need pregens for the event I'm running on 10/9), so feel your pain.

I'm available to DM weeknights pretty regularly, except for alternate Tuesdays (9/28 is the next one) (and I kinda prefer not to run *right* after), when I run my Apocalypse World game. Or, if Angela wants to run, I'd be happy to show up with my vicious Gnoll rogue, or my ex-Gulgan Templar, or my ambitious Thri-Kreen Seeker or...........

Since there hasn't been a *lot* of activity, you and Chris might want to consider consolidating your expeditions (though you certainly need not) - if you do the Gulgan spies one time you can always check out the iron mines the other, or vice versa.

Yeah, I considered having my guy be more of a tentative veiled alliance dude rather than being wholly self-interested. Still could. I had wanted to do this mining quest first, but VA task wouldn't be bad, either. And actually, with the help of the Campaign guide and a bunch of houseruled stuff in the CB, I've managed to pound the sheet into some kind of shape.

So, what do you say, other Chris? I guess you'd prefer the Gulg scenario first? I could do next Thursday the 30th, but not that Friday or Saturday.

The Gulg Spies quest is Templar-backed, but it doesn't actually hurt your VA rating - it's the sort of thing that the Templars like but the VA doesn't necessarily *not* like... still, I could your idea being that your character wouldn't help the Templars, no way, no how.

Well, I'm still good for the 30th; just please let me know what folks want to do, if there's consensus, by the weekend so I can prep. Do you guys have other players waiting in the wings, or is it currently just the two of you?

Also, Fuchsia 'tude - have we met? Were you at the launch? Just curious to put a face with the screen name.

That's right, I was the Chris who played the Warlock Ba'atar.

I'm interested in that as well. And I played the H-elf Fighter. In fact, I was wondering if anything was happening for tomorrow? Sorta last minute but I'd love to play on saturdays again.

I don't have anything in general against Saturdays, but there's no way I can do tomorrow - no time to prep (and I'm giving a talk next Sat).

Unfortunately, Tues and Wed of the coming week are both out for me. I'd be happy to run on Thurs and pick up Chris next time, or to run the 5th or 6th. Or, of course, if Angela can run on 9/29, go for it!

Wednesdays are always out for me unfortunately. Sorry guys.

I've got a pretty full week, and Thursday is rushing up on us (and I still need to prep). How would folks feel about scheduling this for 10/5, next Tuesday?

DMs, I'm going to start two Google Docs with scenario notes on the Gulgans and the Iron Mine so that whoever runs this isn't starting from a dead stop on this.

Should be doable for me, thanks!

OK, let's tentatively schedule this for 10/5, then, 8PM at my place, to hit the Iron Mines (Chris P, I like the Gulgans too! We'll get there...). If you're interested, please RSVP here (Fuschia 'tude, I assume you're in) - I think a reasonable minimum is 3 players, and I can't really handle more than 6.

If folks are still working on characters, you might want to mention what you've got, so people can plan (and ::poke:: post a blurb to the Rogue's Gallery). I'm happy to help people with themes and/or wild talents if you don't own the DSCS and the Character Builder *still* hasn't updated by next week (don't hold your breath).

Sadly, tuesday is the night for my offline d&D game. My schedule is pretty much packed monday-thursday, though friday-sunday are currently always free in the evenings and the days (saturday/sunday).

Also, I made a Minotaur Warlord for the next game. Who is, of course, cross-classed to barbarian! RAWR!

Unfortunately, Fri-Sun can be iffy for me (I could do Mon or Thurs). I definitely can't do any of them next week. Again, though, if Angela or Chris want to DM one of those days, and it works better for everyone else, go for it.

Friday through Sunday can work for me but I need to have sufficient notice as my weekends tend to fill up quickly. If everyone decides they would rather play on the weekend pick a date and I'll try to keep an open schedule.

Of course - and I only point this out b/c I'm itching to run something - we could do both. If we have at least 4 for Tuesday, Angela could run something over the weekend (either the Gulgans or deeper into the iron mines if you don't clear it), with anyone who was interested in either playing both times, or who couldn't make it Tuesday.

Looking at my calendar, I think I can also do *this* Sunday, 10/3.

Here, let's try this. I've created a Doodle scheduler; if you're interested in this game, please go and note your availability, on the assumption that if we play the 3, 4, 5, or 7, I'll run, and if it's the 8, 9, or 10, Angela will. If we get at least 4 people available for a date, we'll go with that (and maybe 2 games if we get 4 for a me day and 4 for an Angela day) - within that, with whatever date has the most availability. If we do end up with enough interest for 2 games, I'll split this thread.

http://www.doodle.com/7hmppm8ek48kvrzk

Well sounds good. I know a guy who would like to jump and join in. Do you mind if I send him this way?

Bigeshu, the whole point is that this is an open game! No need to ask. Anyone who wants to join, can.

Also, I forgot to mention - if I ever get to *play* I'm itching to try out my Half-Giant Ardent. Along with your Minotaur Warlord - brutish leader powers: activate! We should be able to mow through some stuff.

Okie doke, then I'll send him this way. thanks! And looking forward to posting Horus the Minotaur's info. On a sidenote, the idea of brutish powers activating demands the picture of the shark and gorilla high fiving. Sadly I'm at work so...

[insert awesome here]

Hey guys, per the scheduler, are we looking at an 8:00 pm game time for 10/3? Thanks!

Well, nothing's set yet b/c we haven't yet gotten quorum for any day. But 10/3 is now out for me, and 10/5 is still my *preference.*

In other words, if you're interested, sign up, people!

dhlevine wrote:If folks are still working on characters, you might want to mention what you've got, so people can plan (and ::poke:: post a blurb to the Rogue's Gallery). I'm happy to help people with themes and/or wild talents if you don't own the DSCS and the Character Builder *still* hasn't updated by next week (don't hold your breath).

Oh yeah, since Daniel asked nicely.

My guy is Olo, a Dwarf Valorous Bard (Athasian Minstrel). That makes him a leader, and I tried to take as many party healing powers as possible, since I know that's at a premium. However, his theme also tends to push him in the Striker direction.

Are bards unchanged in this campaign? Arcane bards -- and, hence, potential defilers -- don't seem quite right in DS, hence why I took the Minstrel theme. I understand Bards in old-school DS were much more like assassins than magical performers.

First, re: scheduling. Yes, Chris is right. If folks don't sign up, then DMs can't prep, and there won't be a game. Sad face. We need probably 4 players for a viable game, so that's 5 people (one is the DM). Remember also that this is an open game - you can invite friends along. We really need an engaged player base if this is going to work properly.

Re: Bards.

It depends on what you mean by "unchanged." Yes, in 2E, the *only* people with arcane magic in DS were Preserver and Defiler wizards. That doesn't fit as well with the multiple way that arcane magic is expressed in 4E. The Athasian Minstrel theme is an evolution of the 2E Bards, who were masters of poisons and deceit. But it's expanded - e.g., Jarrol, my Ardent, is an Athasian Minstrel - he's a showman, and good at charming his way into places that he really shouldn't be and then doing what he needs to do.

Bards are still arcane magic users in DS4E, so they still take the power of life to manipulate emotions. Here are some ways you might think about it, if you can't see a Bard Defiler...

- Bards are travelers, loyal to no one, but by custom welcome everywhere. Who knows where they go? Who knows what they do to survive in the wastes? They are consummate actors - what are they hiding?
- Bards are storytellers and collectors of lost tales. What secrets do they know? Have they delved where they oughtn't? Remember that fiction and acting, in our world, were once considered tools of the Devil, because they were acts of creation and that was G-d's province.
- Bards toy with the emotions, but unlike Psions or Ardents, they do not do this through the power of the human mind - rather, they draw their power from the more primordial forces of the broken land, and open the mind and the heart to that raw power. Who would dare do such a thing?
- Or maybe Olo is just a happy-go-lucky Bard. He can feel the power of life that he gently coaxes from the land through his beautiful words and melodies, and he knows that true courage is to treat a fragile thing carefully, even when you have it in your power. The very fact that he *could* defile is what keeps him from ever doing it...

PS There's a whole Rogue's Gallery sub-forum, so that this doesn't get lost in the mix of scheduling.

AIGHT. 10/10/10 has won the quorum fight, so we'll be playing at my place at 8. PM me if you need directions. We currently have 4 players (including, it seems, 2 leaders - I'll have to work hard to kill y'all), so there are two slots left if people are interested.

Anyone interested in a different date or expedition, feel free to start a new thread!

Hey this is Alex i was the Psion from the last game, I'm interested in playing on sunday but is there any way we can have the game earlier than 8pm?

Alex,

Hey, good to "see" you again!

Starting at 8 lets me be pretty sure I can be done getting my daughter to bed before people show up. Some other time, I might consider starting earlier - but it means my very lovely non-gaming wife needs to take point on childcare, and right before bedtime is prime fussytime - and this week I'm down running at DC Game Day on Saturday all day, so I can't really ask her to do that the very next day.

So, tl;dr - in the future maybe, but this game can't start before 8PM.

Also: Angela - can you confirm whether or not Gavin is coming? If he is, we're at 6 (with you Alex, don't worry), and this table is closed. Huzzah!

Daniel

Gavin is confirmed. I guess he's being too lazy to post this himself...

God forbid I get my college application wrapped up before I post on here...

Yes, I'll becoming with either a Striker or Controller archetype.

Oh, c'mon, in the current economy the return on investment of a college education is waning every day. Granted, going to school is a time-honored way of riding out a bad economy (says the guy who spent most of the go-go 90s and early 2000s in grad school, only to go on the market in 2005...).

SO... THIS TABLE IS NOW CLOSED. That means a couple things:

1. My current roster of players is Chris (Olo the Bard), Will (Horus the Warlord), Angela, Gavin (striker/controller), Alex, and Mark (who I don't *think* has posted here). If you are on that list and find out you can't make it, please let me know ASAP in case there was someone who wanted in but couldn't make it.

2. If you wanted in, or are just finding it, please let me know if you'd like to be on my list as an alternate - I'll let you know if someone drops. However, your better bet is to just start a new thread advertising for a different day! Also, the Spies from Gulg thread is still technically open, if you're interested in that hook. Personally, I really like how Doodle let us streamline the planning, so I'd suggest using that to find a time. Technically, there's no absolute quorum rule, but I think 3 is a good absolute minimum, with 4 being more realistic.

3. If you don't know where I live, please PM me for directions and my phone number.

Just found out from my ride, Mark, that he may not be able to make it, which means that we may not have a ride. Alex and I, I mean. I'm sorry for the late notice but I just found out a moment ago.

Bigeshu, you're killin' me.

So... is this "we may not have a ride" or "we don't have a ride?" I need to know so that either a) we can try to get you a carpool (where are you?) or b) we can see if we can get folks to take your place so that we don't have to scrap the game.

Or, I mean, I guess Chris, Angela, and Gavin can try to do a run with three, if they're feeling brave and willing to PREPARE FOR GLORY.

Well, we do not have a ride. At least at the moment. We're on 33rd not too far from the lake montebello.

Dude, that's like a mile from here. I could *walk* there.

More productively,if you don't care to walk or take the 3 (which will take you right here), I can come pick you up after Ruth goes to bed.

Well email me some directions then and alex and I can figure it out. Thanks!

PMed.

Thanks everyone for coming out, even if you did nearly get PWNED by my lizard-bulldogs! Alex, hope you made it home OK.

Sorry this took me a couple days to get around to, but I finally have the break down of loot for everyone. After selling all of the scavenged gear for 20% of original cost, each of the four players who went on this expedition get 21gp 5sp. I hope to see everyone out at another game soon!

Should I start a new thread when I want to make another arrangement to return?

There is already a thread for going back but as hired guards instead (see Bandits in the Mountains under Party Formation and Scheduling). If you want to arrange something for going back to raid the place then you should start a new thread specifying that.

Plus 30gp each for selling the iron ore.

We gave that out before we left on Sunday. So in total from that delve we all got 50gp 5sp. 30 from the iron ore, 21.5 from the looted equipment.