The captives, nothing but a myth --- all female groups are a myth, they don't really exist
Grenadine's player was unable to make it. A new woman joined us, and has taken over our Wilbur Fernleaf rogue character. She has played and DM'd D&D 3.5 and 4e. Women finding women really is a myth, as none of us had met her and vice versa. It is something of an adventure, our willingness to play with women we don't know. I think the lure of a play test with a definitive end point, and the idea of playing with an all women group is hard to pass up. We're all taking a risk playing with women we haven't played with before. Best way to live life, taking risks. all female groups don't really exist
We had a great time, as the party executed a snatch, successfully taking several captives from the orcs. I'm sad, as the orcs failed to snatch the wizard.
As they prepared to sneak in, Willow wrapped some small rocks in her “dainty things” to have something she could cast light on at the appropriate moment. As she stood on the slope above the orcs and their captives, she forgot that casting her spell could be clearly heard and seen by the orcs.
In the heat of the battle, Gregory attempts to free a dwarf whose feet are manacled. “Spread your legs” she tells him. The party burst into laughter as they realized they hadn't explained at all why that was necessary. She swung at the chain, and weakened the links, but it didn't break. Dironj grabbed the spear and battleax from a dead orc to hand to two manacled humans. She had time to smash the chain on one of them. The other in spite of repeated attempts could not break her companion's.
The orcs surround Willow and drag her into their cave. She calls for help to her companions, aware that she has been disagreeable to them, they might have no reason to assist her. She attempts to kick the orc in the nuts, but fails. She can't cast spells, she struggles to escape. Her companions do come to her aid.
Wilbur is not losing this brief opportunity and searches the orc bodies, and catches up as they head off into the night.
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I had a conversation with a DM friend of mine in the U.S. We talked about the women's play test and how it is different. There is less competition for attention, it is easier for each player to develop their turn, there is a sense of supporting another players' actions. I'm hoping she'll be interested in trying to run a women's only game, maybe even the play test. all female groups are a myth She knows of a few women scattered in other games, perhaps separated by relationship barriers. I've encountered that too, and suggest she just reach out.
I'm enjoying that I can just invent rules and make decisions. No grapple rules, oh well, you and the orc are going to make opposed strength checks. You can't cast any spells, you can't make the necessary hand motions. You can attempt to escape by breaking free, or wriggling out of the orc's grasp. It is all intuitive, having played so many other D&D versions. And now a companion holds onto your belt so you aren't dragged away...
...they don't really exist ---
