Well week two was a whirlwind of "we almost died"
after our first week, we returned to our small little table at the game shop. Myself, the DM and four other gamers. our group when last we left had just been sealed in a cave full of Svirfniblin.
So we sit down get out our mini's place them on the designated space and start the session.
being a Hunter I set myself as far in the back as I could.
after a brief DM intro we all make our Initiative rolls. My roll lands me in about the middle of the action.
Our Dwarf slave is the first to attack. He sets up a charge attack and does a little bit of damage but soon get overwhelmed and falls to a failed save. but not before taxing our Paladin for as much healing as she could offer him.
Soon the rest of the party followed suit. either running in to be overwhelmed and bloodied or by using to many of their resources such as dailies, second winds and action points. leaving me to try to fire arrows from the shadows. (which was a lot of fun) we did win the day but not before losing the Dwarf. But since the rest of the group are Drow three of which are mercenaries and one of house Melarn, we could care less. we then follow the cavern to an opening. take a short rest and add up our XP, worth and Renown.
I must say my second session was a lot better. There was more of a family style feel to the group. One thing that both helped and sort of hinderd the game was the addtion of a new face to our table. He was very knowledgable and it was quite clear he was and has DM'd his own table, as he was constantly stepping on the DM's toes by marking things, moving things, and "suggesting" what everyone should do on their turns. Nevertheless, we pushed on and and he was helpful. He just needs to step back and let the DM run the game and focus on playing his character. So there were times, and not to any fault of anyone that this new face made me feel like "I was doing everything wrong" because if I said I am going to fire my bow at target "A" he would immediately sound off with "Are you sure you wanna do that?" or "Why not do this....instead?"
It was helpful in that it helped me to see the bigger picture set forth by my actions.
i.e. If I fire with this shot that carries this effect, then character A,B, and C get this boon.
But it was distracting at the same time in that it made me feel coerced into a move. or more so that he was playing my character for me.
But all in all I had some good dice rolls and the session was much more fun, even if we almost suffered the dreaded TPK.
One wish I have is for the tables DM to be more descriptive of the adventure and less a text reader. I really want him to bring the paragraphs from the module to life in our imaginations.
Other than that this session was ten fold better than session one.
Jobin Smith
