Bringing Down the House: A Commentary Thread

[Chaotic Void]

Here's a commentary thread for you all.

In other news, I'm slightly nervous about doing this. First time doing a campaign online, after all.

[Meta Knight]

I don't think this campaign is going to be serious, whether you want it to be or not.

[Chaotic Void]

I don't think this campaign is going to be serious, whether you want it to be or not.

I honestly suspect that the campaign will wind up resembling one of Doug Tennapel's graphic novels.

[Meta Knight]

I've heard the name, never read him though.

Also, I have to say, I'm liking the change of pace of playing an outgoing, friendly guy instead of an anti-social tech nerd or his angry, glowing grandfather.

[Chaotic Void]

I've heard the name, never read him though.

Well, to give you an idea of what his stuff is like, he also created Earthworm Jim. If that doesn't help you any it's basically, "Crazy-Awesome with a mix of serious business."

Also, I have to say, I'm liking the change of pace of playing an outgoing, friendly guy instead of an anti-social tech nerd or his angry, glowing grandfather.

Yeah, you seem to be doing good so far.

[Meta Knight]

I like how I totally just dropped a spoiler bomb about my characters and you didn't even react.

[Tanakh Keeper]

Here's a commentary thread for you all.

In other news, I'm slightly nervous about doing this. First time doing a campaign online, after all.

It can't be any harder than mine. I started mine just to run a mini-adventure of Ben, not intending to do it more than a month. Two years later and it's going strong.

[Thersites]

I like how I totally just dropped a spoiler bomb about my characters and you didn't even react.

Oh. Right. Glow is a granddaddy. How nice for you.

In other news, the examiners had better not ask you to "show me your moves"

[Meta Knight]

Oh. Right. Glow is a granddaddy. How nice for you.

Not 'a' granddaddy, 'Dynamo's' granddaddy. You know, like the robot who's murdering everyone he fights?

The second bit is all up to our fearless GM though.

[Chaotic Void]

Aaaaaand already there's group infighting.

This is gonna be awesome.

[Tanakh Keeper]

See? No problem. All you have to do is present the situation and circumstances. The players will do the rest. Then its just act and react.

[Chaotic Void]

Allrighty... as I just mentioned in the game thread, I'm going to be doing a few things:

1. Starting next battle, I'll provide maps for combat/adventure-related areas to keep the confusion to a minimum (I honestly don't know why I didn't do this from the start. It's not that difficult to do ).

2. Since I've come to the conclusion that the manual's rule regarding Coup De Grace is poorly worded ('adjacent' can also mean 'facing' and you don't have to be right next to someone in order to be facing them), I'm going to make an Official House Ruling(TM): By default, you have to be in the square next to the opponent to do a Coup de Grace. To compensate, however, I'm going to provide a couple of new optional feats for people to next time they level up (aka right after the next battle). However- for restriction purposes- you may only take one or the other.

-Ranged Coup de Grace (enables you to make a Coup De Grace at range provided nothing is blocking your path)
-Finishing Attack (enables you to make a Coup De Grace as a Standard Action)

[Chaotic Void]

Another GM Ruling:

Since there's nothing in the Handbook on calling shots, I've taken the liberty of making my own rules regarding that. They're not perfect, but they'll do for now.

***CALLED SHOTS***

Basics:
-You take a -4 to hit Roll.
--This can be used in Tandem with Accurate Attack/Power Attack/All-out Attack/Defensive Attack, etc

-If they make the primary toughness save, no additional effects.
-If they fail the Toughness save, they must make an additional FORT save (DC 10 + *Half the Original Attack's DC) or the body part that was hit will be considered 'crippled'.
Effects:
-General: -1 to Attack/Defense/Reflex for Every Crippled limb (since you have to take extra care not to, y'know, hurt yourself even more)

-Head: Can't Aim, -2 to Intelligence/Wisdom checks.
-Throat: Roll d20 anytime they wish to speak (11-20 success). -3 to Charisma Checks
-Torso: -4 to Constitution Checks.
-Arms/Hands/Elbows/Shoulders: Automatically disarmed, -2 to Strength/Dexterity-based Checks
-Legs/Knees/Feet: Move at half-speed/Movement Powers Disabled, -4 to Trip Attempts

Recovery:
-Rest (Standard recovery Check)
-Medicine (DC 15): Standard Action Check to Treat Crippled limb (Negates one Penalty of choice till you can make your usual recovery check)
-Healing/Regeneration

Related Feats:
-Improved Called Shot: You can make Called Shots at a -2 Penalty to hit rather than -4
-High Threshold: +2 to FORT checks to resist Limb Crippling

Related Flaws:
-Fragile Limbs (You lose -2 to Attack, Defense and Reflex every time you get a Crippled Limb)

And yes, I know that following these rules would make Wild's recent hit be a miss... but I didn't have official rulings until now, so that's gonna be the only exception. From now on, this is what I'll be referring to for Called Shots, and any updates will be made known (WIP, after all).

*ETA: Thanks to Chrs for this particular suggestion.

[Tanakh Keeper]

Every online DM has to make a decision about treatment of MIA players. Permanently holding the game isn't fair to everyone else. But daily problems can arise (like medical emergencies or crippled computers). It is a judgment call.

[Ben Zwycky]

Judging by how your fight with Gander went and what Carrik had Forgàs do last time, I can't see him objecting to you having Forgàs using a mental blast on one of the thugs again, should you decide to move things along without Carrik, since she seems to default to repeatedly doing that towards the end of a fight.