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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 12:12AM
#31
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Date Joined:
Jun 30, 2006
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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 11:48AM
#32
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Pukunui, you are right on the fact that the 3.5 version promotes low-level PCs. They quickly close in on their high-level friends, especially when the opposition have challenge ratings that supersede their own class levels. But I must also admit that my houserule rise a few eyebrows...The point with the houserule is to promote character building. Making the player live with his PC from day 1. Nothing is more satisfying than a 20th level hero that the player managed all the way on his own. That is what I want to achieve. A sense of bound between the player and his PC. Most DMs would probably let a new player in RHoD roll up a 6th level PC. I realize that. But I want my players to start from scratch, living day and night with their PC. It is ofcourse sad when a PC dies, but that is reality. The D&D game and indeed the Forgotten Realms world where our adventures take place, is a deadly world. To compensate for the fact that it is tough for a 1st level PC to join 5th or 6th level heroes on their adventure, I use the " Hireling-rules" DMG p.105. That is, we introduce the new player and his PC as a hireling for the other guys. That way he can learn his trade as an adventurer and still be safe under the protection from his masters. The rules regarding hirelings clearly state that a hireling must be well-treated and respected by his masters, or he might leave or even turn on them. This suggests a relationship that promotes my houserule and system. At least I hope so...I must say that we have had really good experiences with this system. Everyone seems to enjoy it and they are exceptionally proud as their PC gains levels and take more initiative and responsibility within the group. Some of the new PCs that started out less than a year ago are today key members of our adventure group. In Sons of Gruumsh, the Half-Orc Cleric/Fighter Durth saved his friends with a suicide attack on the Warlord Thrull. Durth only joined the group 10 months ago. To your second question regarding 2 new PCs for our new player....Well, he really liked playing with us! Even though Tatanka died last night. So he will roll up 2 new PCs and use one of them during the RHoD campaign. The other will be in reserve, or perhaps join in on a later adventure. We play every tuesday all year round so we play a lot of adventures. Each player has atleast 2 PCs at all times. Actually, my cousin who I have played with for about 20 years, has 10 PCs currently...  I´m down in the countryside now and we have record-breaking weather with heatwaves and lots of sunshine. Not that often we see that in Sweden, so we might postpone the session on Sunday and Tuesday. But do not despair! The saga of the war against the Red Hand of Doom will continue soon!
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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 11:54AM
#33
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Im the player who runs Ilzzt. Note to Caligula (our DM), remember what you as DM knows and what Koth knows. The scroll of fireball was readied just before I turned invisible.
Koth and his manticore are soon dust (i hope). They are, as far as we know, pretty alone now in the keep and we have the initiative. Koth's manticore is severly damaged, and only has one more round of it's spikes, it has already fired 18.
A well placed fireball, a few magical arrows from our ranger and finally a volley of scimitars should put Koth to his knees.
The map must be retrieved and rescued.
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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 12:04PM
#34
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Im the player who runs Ilzzt. Note to Caligula (our DM), remember what you as DM knows and what Koth knows. The scroll of fireball was readied just before I turned invisible.
Koth and his manticore are soon dust (i hope). They are, as far as we know, pretty alone now in the keep and we have the initiative. Koth's manticore is severly damaged, and only has one more round of it's spikes, it has already fired 18.
A well placed fireball, a few magical arrows from our ranger and finally a volley of scimitars should put Koth to his knees.
The map must be retrieved and rescued.[/quote]
We shall see. The mighty Red Hand of Doom will kill you all insignificant worms!!! :evillaugh
Seriously, Ilzzt is indeed invisible and as far as he knows neither Wyrmlord Koth nor the manticore seemed to react when he dashed out to have a peep about. Ilzzt is carrying his scroll of Fireball in his hand. That´s correct. Koth and the manticore are about 60 ft above flying in the air outside the barracks.
The map seems to be very important as Koth ran so desperately to gather it from his conference-room.
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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 12:09PM
#35
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Actually, my cousin who I have played with for about 20 years, has 10 PCs currently... [/quote]
This is mainly because we started out playing a series of adventures with a few guys who dont play with us anymore, and I had to pause those characters at about level 10.
The new players that came in had to start from level 1, and could not join the other level 10 characters in whatever adventure we were to play.
I was (am) also missing a key character class, namely a good cleric. So I could not play with my high level characters by myself. But now Eluard is 6th, soon 7th and at the end of Red Hand of Doom, he should be ready to join the other high level characters in City of the Spiderqueen!
A good thing with "starting from scratch" with new characters is that there are constantly coming new classes and feats, so even though its boring to start from level 1, its nice to build something totally different that might prove to be really awesome in later levels. Like Geth Helder for instance, Swashbuckler to begin with and then a few Fighter levels and now Dervish. When he reaches about 10th level, he will become a Tempest to truly master two weapon fighting. Will be interesting to see if he can match the raw power of my Half-orc Barbarian Thokk who single handedly (almost) struck down a young adult red dragon in 3 rounds! 
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7 years ago ::
Jul 26, 2006 - 12:18PM
#36
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Exactly. RHoD should finish with PCs at 10th level or slightly below depending on the outcome ofcourse. The campaign will continue with the epic campaign-adventure City of the Spiderqueen which is written for 4 PCs of 10th level.
Currently we have 2-3 PCs ready to go, but we need atleast 2 more to start the CotSQ campaign. I am sure we will be able to do that directly after RHoD.
Personally I am also looking forward to play the adventure campaign Return to the Tomb of Horrors. It is well-written, exciting and like nothing else! Acererak is a magnificent foe indeed.
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7 years ago ::
Aug 01, 2006 - 5:58AM
#37
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The time for the next session has been cut in stone: Sunday 11:00 am! I hope to get atleast a good 9-10 hours from that session. 3 players have reported for duty and I hope a 4th one will be back in Stockholm from his vacation in the south... We will finish the battle against Wyrmlord Koth at Vraath Keep, and then set the other events in motion. My players now understand the pressing danger that threatens the valley. I also think they have realized the urgence of acting with great speed! (Cant give anymore details beforehand as I suspect my players are reading this thread...)  I will post my recaps late Sunday night! Caligula
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7 years ago ::
Aug 05, 2006 - 5:24AM
#38
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I swear eternal allegiance to the dragon, Tiamat. My life as a servant is for thee and thy course. I am now Wyrmlord and I shall conquor the valley of the inferior humans. I am yours. Yours forever.
-Wyrmlord Koth
Tomorrow we will have a 10-hour session. I have planned everything meticulously. The players will have to be at their peak tomorrow. I know the RHoD guys will.... :evillaugh
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7 years ago ::
Aug 05, 2006 - 5:42AM
#39
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Wyrmlord Koth has a few more hours to live, before he bites the dust. Atleast that is the plan hehe. We'll see. War plans are being worked out, plans studied and moves compared.
Be prepared for defeat!
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7 years ago ::
Aug 05, 2006 - 9:47AM
#40
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Any kind of attack on a Wyrmlord will be punished fiercely by the higher ranking officers of the Red Hand of Doom!
Civilians will be executed, farms burned, all in the name of Tiamat, the mighty Dragon!
Elsir Vale will suffer for its failure to obey the mighty Wyrmlords!
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