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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 22, 2011 7:18:55 GMT -6
All,
FYI -- I will be interstate for a few days (until Tuesday), so my internet access might be a bit patchy until then. I'm hoping it won't interrupt proceedings too much, but just so you know.
I'm also hoping to resolve the next combat round on paper while I'm away. It's huge! 13 PCs, 20 NPCs, a herd of animals, and who knows how many Orcs?!
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Post by ehiker133 on Oct 22, 2011 22:40:51 GMT -6
Like 5 or 7, wasn't it?
;D
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 25, 2011 3:39:44 GMT -6
I'm back
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 25, 2011 3:40:47 GMT -6
FYI -- two players who were going to join as Oin and Hrok (two of the recently arrived five Dwarves) have pulled out, so I've decided to run all five of the new Dwarves as mercenary fighters.
Their starting hit points shall be...
Hrok 1+4 : 4+4 = 8 Oin 1+4 : 6+4 =10 Glorban 1+4 : 5+4 = 9 Yori 1+4 : 3+4 = 7 Ugrik 1+4 : 2+4 = 6
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 25, 2011 10:24:20 GMT -6
FYI -- two players who were going to join as Oin and Hrok (two of the recently arrived five Dwarves) have pulled out, so I've decided to run all five of the new Dwarves as mercenary fighters. Are they wearing red shirts, by chance?
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 25, 2011 15:40:05 GMT -6
I think the poor Dwarves did suffer unfairly in the Orcish assault... the dice must know of the unenviable hatred that the Orcs still harbour for the Dwarf-kind.
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Post by doctorx on Oct 31, 2011 9:04:15 GMT -6
Happy birthday, Calithena!
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heartless
Level 1 Medium
Kill monsters, take the treasure
Posts: 12
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Post by heartless on Nov 5, 2011 16:43:39 GMT -6
Oh man, an other Orcish assault. What fun! This game is always interesting and keeping us on our toes, less we die!
I hope you enjoyed your holiday waysoftheearth, you deserve it.
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Post by doctorx on Nov 6, 2011 13:24:16 GMT -6
Welcome to all new players! Good to have you with us! Now all we need's a small army of Rohirrim or similar to come galloping up the hill...
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Post by mgtremaine on Nov 6, 2011 15:41:20 GMT -6
Thanks... Now we'll probably all die. hahaha -Mike
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rleduc
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 75
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Post by rleduc on Nov 6, 2011 20:12:28 GMT -6
Thanks ... Getting my act together in time to be of some use, I hope.
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Post by mgtremaine on Nov 7, 2011 12:42:56 GMT -6
So whose actions are we still waiting on before the turn can get run? Not to shame then or anything just curious, this particular turn is rather critical to see how badly this combat is going to go. If we manage to drop a few and get into a proper defense we might pull through, if they drop a bunch more of the good guys then, well it might be time to head for the gates of Moria and lock the doors. At least a slow death is better then being eaten by Orcs. -Mike
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Post by ehiker133 on Nov 7, 2011 15:15:13 GMT -6
Just don't forget the party members currently out of commission per the poisoned orc swords if everyone bails to the mines!
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Post by waysoftheearth on Nov 7, 2011 15:52:10 GMT -6
I'm going to resolve the next round of combat tonight with whatever orders are in. Yes, it is going to be an important round for the PCs... but aren't they all? ;D
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Post by waysoftheearth on Nov 8, 2011 6:05:51 GMT -6
I've done the resolution, but I won't have time to report back on it tonight. You'll have to wait until tomorrow night... it took me 2 hours just to roll all the dice and note the results!
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Post by mgtremaine on Nov 8, 2011 9:39:18 GMT -6
Yikes.. The suspense is killing me! Or is that the Orcish swords?
-Mike
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rleduc
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 75
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Post by rleduc on Nov 21, 2011 8:11:08 GMT -6
If the orcs had 20 "to hit" rolls and lost 7 in round 5, we should now have roughly equal numbers, albeit our side is the more battered, at least by my reckoning. Another round like that may turn the tide.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Nov 22, 2011 3:54:57 GMT -6
If the orcs had 20 "to hit" rolls and lost 7 in round 5, we should now have roughly equal numbers, albeit our side is the more battered, at least by my reckoning. Another round like that may turn the tide. Yesssss, but do please remember that in no round thus far have all of the Orcs been in a position to attack. Some have been looting the camp, others have been stuck in rearward ranks, and so on...
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rleduc
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 75
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Post by rleduc on Nov 22, 2011 5:12:25 GMT -6
Ah, right. Well perhaps finally having a line in place and none in camp will still make it hard for them to engage all at once.
Understandably all is chaos, but is there some sort of crude summary the characters can perceive about how many orcs are left? An updated map would be ideal although I would understand if the ruling was that there was too much confusion for us to know that level of detail.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Nov 22, 2011 5:33:01 GMT -6
There are approximately a score remaining. The battle hangs on a knife edge. Two of the three Orc prongs will make morale rolls to determine their temper next round. A failed check might be just the reprieve the company needs to pull through...
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heartless
Level 1 Medium
Kill monsters, take the treasure
Posts: 12
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Post by heartless on Nov 28, 2011 5:40:48 GMT -6
For the love of Man and Elves and Hobbits and Dwarfs! What a battle, it even more scarey for Éohild who can't move from her injuries from the last battle. Lying helpless! Come on kill the orcs... After the battle we should think about how to fortify the camp better for next time.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Nov 28, 2011 5:53:55 GMT -6
What a battle indeed! When it is resolved I will share a few of the meta-gaming details with the survivors
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rleduc
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 75
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Post by rleduc on Dec 4, 2011 3:44:07 GMT -6
After round 7, how many still stand? You said a half dozen orcs, but were there not 10 at round 6, with three slain? Perhaps you were speaking in round figures. And how many now stand against them? Can we see how things stand any more clearly now? Hrok may only have 1 more round left in him (if that), and may need to think about other options, like whether he can disengage and find another shield.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Dec 4, 2011 16:12:03 GMT -6
After round 7, how many still stand? You said a half dozen orcs, but were there not 10 at round 6, with three slain? Perhaps you were speaking in round figures. And how many now stand against them? Can we see how things stand any more clearly now? Hrok may only have 1 more round left in him (if that), and may need to think about other options, like whether he can disengage and find another shield. Yes, I am intentionally using vague numbers of Orcs, as it is a furious melee in the dark, and nobody has specifically stopped fighting to do a head-count. However, it is clear now that victory is at hand. There are, perhaps, half a dozen enemy still in the fight, and most of these are sorely wounded. It will be sheer heroism if they continue to fight on with the odds stacked against them as they as.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Dec 4, 2011 16:16:33 GMT -6
Also, once the fighting subsides, I will roll saving throws versus death for Eremin Sulk and Elindir Half-Elven to determine whether their injuries are fatal...
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Post by waysoftheearth on Dec 10, 2011 0:58:12 GMT -6
For those that are interested in a bit of meta-gaming information...
Our bold company of adventurers have just had a run in with a modestly sized lair of 80 Orcs. The 80 were rolled up fair and square according to Monsters & Treasure with 3d10 x10... it could easily have been so many more!
Only 20 of them were initially encountered inside the mines, but seeing as 6 survived that encounter and passed word back to the lair, a further 50 (the bulk of their strength) sought the company by night... and it was well for the company that they did not have any additional Ogres or Trolls to use.
Considering the situation, the company was rather blase about how they set up their camp... perhaps thinking the Orcs would not come?
However, come they did, and they won a surprise round too, which very nearly dispatched Soval before it had even begun (that would have been very bad).
Most of the company was disadvantaged by not wearing their regular armour, and many of them (the Men) were also penalised for fighting in the dark.
The Orcs initially had the greater numbers, but I (perhaps too generously?) randomised how many of them could come to blows in the first few rounds.
From there it was a slug-fest, with each side trading blow for blow, until at last the Orcs were beaten off.
By the time it was over, 36 Orcs were slain and the remaining 14 routed.
On the players' side, 2 PCs, 11 NPCs and a dog, a mule and a horse were slain.
In all, it were a rather brutal affair ~!
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Post by mgtremaine on Dec 10, 2011 12:24:12 GMT -6
Epic to say the least ways! I'm glad we mostly survived, it had the touch go excitement of a TPK in the making. Hopefully we have learned our lesson about base camp. Now we need to figure out how to recover...
-Mike
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Post by waysoftheearth on Dec 11, 2011 4:58:41 GMT -6
It seems likely that the company might (if they are wise) be looking to heal some of their hurts before pressing on. A return trip to Edhil, where additional strength can be gathered and further supplies secured, might be a good option. Back in real life, some of you may know that I have taken on the (rather hefty) task of editing Delving Deeper. In order to see it done properly and in a timely fashion I'd like to take a break from Moria for a while. The best option for everyone (including me) would be to slot in a replacement referee... so, if anybody reading this is keen to have a shot at ref'ing, I'll be happy to pass over the reins. Just let me know If not, we'll have to take a hiatus until Delving Deeper is locked and loaded. In either case, I'll let everybody know what is happen with Moria shortly. Thanks everyone for your participation so far -- it been awesome, and it was great to be able to play out that huge battle ;D
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Post by mgtremaine on Dec 11, 2011 9:24:28 GMT -6
Since I've invested in Delving Deeper I have to approve of this .... I think a break is fine, I also think returning to Edhil is a great idea. That is what I was sort of hoping because my equipment is not good enough. (I'm looking with jealous eyes at Largo's Elven Chain). I think I'd rather have a break and wait for you Ways to come back then to have someone else step in just for continuity of vision. That's just my opinion. -Mike
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Post by Mushgnome on Dec 11, 2011 11:26:23 GMT -6
My vote is, let's take a break from the game. When Ways is done with the project then maybe we can flash-forward a few weeks: The survivors have returned to town, healed, purchased supplies, recruited new allies (replacing those slain), and returned to the gates of Moria. The only flaw with this plan is that we haven't really found much treasure.
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