Play-by-Post D&D: The Lounge

[BentonGrey]

Haha, sorry for the silence, I just didn't have anything to contribute! 

LOL, I love Og's skill set!

[Uncle Yuan]

Look!  Og's a STAR!  Not quite the way I pictured him, but you must admit, the characterization is dead on!

http://www.studiofoglio.com/cgi/growf.cgi?date=20070318

[Glitch Girl]

I haven't read Phil & Dixine in forever.  Thanks for the find.

Holding off a little bit on the next post just to see what everyone else is doing. 

[Viking]

I think everyone else is pretty much quietly waiting to see if Whisper successfully concludes negotiations with the bear.

I mean, Starbuck could start singing an adaptation of "Look For The Bear Necessities" in Sylvan, with alternate refrains in Elven and Common, but he really is trying to be respectful of Whisper's desire for quiet right now.

[Glitch Girl]

Good point.  Starbuck ain't Elan thankfully. 

[Viking]

On a side note, I am incredibly amused that Starbuck has been noticing as much as he has.  It's not like he's dedicated any skill points to Spot, which in turn works off of the Wisdom skill modifier, which is the traditional dump stat for bards.

Maybe I should have named him Bucky Lastard.

[Glitch Girl]

Seriously Viking, I've been rolling nothing less than a 16 for you on the last few spot checks. 

Still when you least need it, that one's gonna hit you.  It alwasy does.

Was out a little more than expected today.  Short version: started getting sharp abdominal pains on my right side, called my doctor, she was out for the day, talked to an assistant, she said go to the emergency room, went, four hours later I found out it wasn't Appendicitis , but a kidney infection (loverly) and to get rest, antibiotics, and lots of fluids.

[sigh] It's been a long day.

sidenote: the last time I heard "Talk to the animals", it was being sung by Roger Moore on the Muppet show while fighting muppet spies dressed as cute fuzzy animals.  There's a mental image for you.  :)

[Uncle Yuan]

Man I miss that show!

[Viking]

I also remembered that episode of the Muppets when referencing that song.  Of course, I've also seen the movie musical from which the song came.

And as for UY's wonderful snippet:

"I don't know.  I think it must be a large cat, like a tiger"

Was anyone else reminded of this scene from Babylon 5?

Londo: But this... this, this, this is like... being nibbled to death by, uh... Pah! What are those Earth creatures called? Feathers, long bill, webbed feet... go "quack".

Vir: Cats.

Londo: Cats! I'm being nibbled to death by cats.

[Glitch Girl]

That was a great scene.

And I remember the Pushme-pullyou too. It's been a long time, but I do remember Dolittle.  Fun movie I think (it's been over 20 years, and memory's not so hot after that long)

[Glitch Girl]

Okay guys, I was hoping for some feedback.

Do you like the pace the story is going?  Do you want more action, more charactes stuff, leave it as is... anything you want to change? 

I've been trying not to favor any characters too much, but the more you post, the more I have to work with. If you don't post I can't do much.

[BentonGrey]

Understandable, and my lack of posting quantity has had a bit to do with the pace.  I haven't felt like there was much of a need to post the last few days.  I feel like we may be moving a little slow, but I'm hoping that our arrival at the cabin will lead to some action! ^_^  Still, don't take this as criticism, I'm definitely enjoying myself.

[Panther_Gunn]

Admittedly, Og is a bit more useful when the action is going, and he's not exactly the chatty type (if he starts to wax philosophical, then it's a good chance the Elder Gods have returned!).  Being a mercenary, he knows he's not getting paid to think, which is a bit of a burden off his mind.  :lol:

That being said, I do try to look for opportunities for him to pipe up, in his own, loveable way.  And whether or not *I* think he should react to something has nothing at all to do with what he actually does.  I *do* get into character when it's time to post for Og.  I've found it's the best way to keep him from seeming more intelligent than he is.  "Og only pawn in game of life."  :lol:

[Viking]

Game pacing always makes for an interesting question, as it very much depends on the dynamic of the players, as well as the setting.

The current situation is somewhat odd in that there is clearly one character who is most in his element in the present scene - Whisper.  Just as I'd expect Nathan and Orloid to be more in their element if we were talking to priests in a Temple of Pelor, for example.  Or Dakkon if we were on the high seas.

What I'm getting at, is that in clear situations like these, my natural inclination is to respectfully take cues from the character who is most familiar with the particular surroundings.  Starbuck would not casually go up and rap on the door, because the druid is Whisper's friend.  Just like he wouldn't bust out into a chorus of "Beer, Beer, Beer" in the forest unless Whisper specifically asked for it.

So, in other words, if a scene clearly lends itself to one or two characters being in the drivers' seats, I'd suggest updating the action more frequently based on their posts.  If said one or two characters take the opportunity to interact with the other party members or give directions, then give a little more leeway for interactive posting.

So, for example, let's take the situation of the party arriving at a cabin.  Whisper has said how he's trying to signal for the druid's attention.  This pretty much invites an immediate update from the GM.

But let's say, for example, the party has been adventuring a while, and has come across an old abandoned tavern.  The GM asks the players what they do.  I'd normally expect one of the characters to either take direct action, or suggest a course of action.  E.g., "Whisper - can your falcon friend peek through the windows and see if anyone is there?"  If Whisper, in response, agreed to do this, that would call for an appropriate update.

I feel like the scene with the bear went just a little slower than I would have otherwise liked.  This was because I saw it primarily as a scene for Whisper and Dakkon to resolve.

Apart from that, I'm fine with things progressing as they are.

[Glitch Girl]

In that case I'll see if I can pick things up a bit.  It's sometimes hard to transition from face to face tabletop to this simply because of the lag.  Not everyone can post immediately, including myself, and sometimes stuff that, in my head goes a lot faster, in actual practice drags like a lead weight. 

Thanks for the feedback. 

[Viking]

Starbuck maintains a bright, friendly smile, while doing his best silent impression of "Why yes, we're all friends here!  Pay no attention to the large, menacing half-ogre carrying the wounded scared man."

The man looks at all of you, especially the half ogre and the blue elf, and then gives Whisper a look that says "this better be one heck of an explanation".

Dang.  Performing mute must have given me too much of a negative Circumstance penalty on my Perform check...

[Glitch Girl]

Sorry Starbuck, you may have a song in your heart and a swing in your step, but that's not enough to hide the big ol' half-ogre on your right.  ;)

[Viking]

Clearly, I need a bigger song...

[Glitch Girl]

Clearly you need 76 trombones and the Rockettes. ;)

[Viking]

Yes!  Starbuck has his new personal quest!  Of course, he'd also want to get 110 coronets right behind... over 1,000 reeds springing up like weeds, horns of every shape and kind, copper-bottom timpani and horse platoons (*thundering, thundering, all along the way*), double-bell euphoniums, and big bassoons (each bassoon having its big fat say)...

Ahem.  Sorry.  Musical geeking out there.  :)

[Panther_Gunn]

*drops Rogers & Hammerstien on Viking*

*drops Pavarotti on the lot of them*

There, that oughtta take care of that.  ;)

[Panther_Gunn]

quick note:  not a lot of time right now.  I'll post later tonight in-game, probably sometime after midnight, Pacific time.  Hope no one is inconvenienced.





Edit:  and yes, I *did* do a little bit of cut & paste.  It was so good the first time around, I might as well use it again.  :D

[Glitch Girl]

running a little slow today guys, sorry - busy at work.  Next post should be up soon.

[Viking]

Good pacing going on here, GG.  I realize that I've kinda painted myself into a corner with my current action, which is why I'm not currently posting.  Starbuck pretty much is standing still, and staying quiet.  Doing anything to break out of that would likely shatter the negotiating leverage that we currently have.

[BentonGrey]

Yeah, haha, I love that Dakkon has sort of befuddled the guard, but I think that's about all I've got to add for the moment.

[Glitch Girl]

Oh it's not just Dakkon, Og and Whisper have gotten him pretty unnerved as well. 

And thanks Viking.  I understand about the whole invisibilty thing - I've done that in a few sessions - but this should be winding up soon.

[BlueBard]

I do my best. :)

I'm pretty sure this band won't have any evidence to show, in which case I can either send them packing long enough to interrogate Daniel more thoroughly or get my own engraved invitation into the domain of this human Lord to do a bit of investigating -- which I'm sure won't be happening.  I suspect they won't want an independent investigation of the facts.

;)

[Uncle Yuan]

For my part, I have little intention of serving as guide myself unless absolutely required.  I might prevail upon Ambrose to suggest someone, unless someone else comes readily to mind...

Or you could always just say . . . you know . . . "no."  ;)

[BlueBard]

For my part, I have little intention of serving as guide myself unless absolutely required.  I might prevail upon Ambrose to suggest someone, unless someone else comes readily to mind...

Or you could always just say . . . you know . . . "no."  ;)

Where's the fun in that?

[Viking]

Indeed!  Clearly, Whisper has studied under the Starbuck School of Diplomacy!  If it works well with one word, just think how much better it will work with sixty-four!