Status of this week and some discussion.

[Therrian]

Just wondering if there is an update whether or not we are playing this week?

1 - Cam might be babysitting

2- Kiel might have Strata

FYI, Jacob has broncitis, so regardless of the above, if he is still feeling horrible on Tuesday then I will need to cancel for this week.

[harthag]

i'm able to play on tuesday

[Therrian]

At the moment, I don't know if this week is going to work as Jacob is still pretty sick with bronchitis (likely contageous) and we can't send him to the grandparents for babysitting as we can't risk getting them sick. Will update tomorrow with the final decision once I know it.

That being said, with a week potentially off I think it's a good opportunity to discuss a couple of things over the boards this week. I, along with a few others in the group I have talked with over the past week or so, have the following observations, comments, requests, suggestions, etc to put forward.

#1 - This was my fault, as I didn't explain this properly at the start, but the trip from Sasserine to Cauldron would have taken quite a while as the road between the two is about 150 miles. Subtract a few days off the end, as we actually played those parts, but by this point, your characters have spent many a number days (at least a week, likely longer) on the road together and should have a decent understanding of each other, your personalities and goals...unless you intentionally hid them from the group during your travels.

#2 - Group Communication. So I know I have attempted to convey that kicking down the door and killing everything isn't the best approach to combat in this campaign. That being said, using that approach for talking, diplomacy and what not is not the best plan either. I could see some frustration building at the end of the session last week, so I just wanted to suggest that before you guys go running into conversations and what not, you spend a few minutes as a group coming up with a plan. For example, discussing a good cop/bad cop approach to the Keygan discussion would have given you guys a plan going in, as opposed to the badgering approach that you took, which I am fairly sure wasn't the intention of anyone when starting that encounter.

#3 - Stating intentions as opposed to RPing them. As you all are (to a varying degree I would hope) playing characters that are not carbon copies of yourselves, it is not always going to be easy to speak the words that you are trying to get your character to speak. Ditto for me as the DM with the myriad of NPCs I have to attempt to play. As such, don't feel that you always have to actually 'say' what you want to say. If the Paladin wants to sweet talk someone for a diplomacy check, just explain how you are approaching the conversation and in most cases, that is sufficient and will likely be more believable then attempting to muddle our way through intricate conversations. Obviously there will be some instances where we want to have the full conversations, but it isn't 'required' at all times. I am going to try to do this more often so every characters isn't 'british asshole 001'.

#4 - This is more of a question, but I would like to know the actual interest level of the group in regards to using the forums and the wiki. I have put alot of work into the wiki, and I was planning on continuing to use it...but if the majority of the group has no intention of using it during the week, nor of posting in the forums during the week, then I am not going to bother putting my time into it. I enjoy doing it, but I don't enjoy doing it and then not seeing it get used. I know everyone is busy, hence why I am asking.

#5 - Related to the above, but if folks are willing to put a little time during the week on the forums, then I think it might be beneficial for you guys (and as a result, to the game as a whole) if you guys reviewed the previous week as a group to see where things went right/wrong and discuss your characters view of what is currently going on. Sessions have so far been Kevin and Kiel leading the charge vocally (and then bickering about it ) while the rest of the group has been fairly quiet. As such, I am not sure I (or the rest of the group) understands how the other characters are feeling about the situations at hand. Having this information would both help me run the game, as well as include interesting RP situations that might be targetted specically at certain characters, but it would also help you guys as a group understand what the other characters are feeling, what actions they want to take, what their intentions are, etc. I think this would make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

#6 - Joking around. We all do it, it's half the fun of the game, and by no means do I want it to stop. That being said, I would appreciate it if you guys quiet down when I am trying to read flavor text or describe a situations, converstaion, etc. It slows the game down considerably when I have to repeat things that I just said because people were joking about something when I was describing the dragon that just ate Harthag. Trying to limit the jokes during the more tense RP situations as well will also help the group get drawn into the tension of the situation a little better, making for more enjoyable RP I would think. I need to work on this as well, and I will try to limit my 1cp blowjob jokes to no more then 15 per session.

I think that covers most of it. My primary goal with you guys in this group is to both have a fun night with my friends on a weekly basis (which I think we are), but to also get to enjoy the ins and outs of a fairly epic campaign. I am not a master DM by any means, so it's not cakework for me to pull that off, hence why I am (now) asking for your help by doing things like syncing up on the boards and keeping refreshed of the info on the wiki.

Discuss away here as you wish.

Thanks guys

[odin]

Nothing out of line there at all Joel. Sounds reasonable.

Yeah, I found out today that Strata has upped the meeting back to second Tuesday of the month, which is tomorrow. I am unavailable, but it sounds like Jacob has already made the decision for us.

Since I sometimes use my work computer to check the forum and wiki, I have set it to not auto-login. I check the wiki and forum without logging in, so my trace may not be seen...I am a rogue after all. I enjoy both, and plan to continue using them, but temper that with a dose of reality. After 2 hours planning my lessons and marking, I'm not always in a place to post. At the end of the day I can only use it as much as life dictates, but I will be an active user.

One suggestion - for the local inkeeper/meal and drink situations, is it always necessary to role-play those? I mean, the transaction is straightforward enough in all of our minds, and unless we want to ask specific questions, can we not get by stating our intentions in those scenarios? I can understand if we're in a place where our kind is not welcome, or if the place is deserted, but a location where our presence does not set off alarm bells, can we not just gloss over those parts, pay our silvers, and get the story moving along? I am a fan of rp'ing, but is it really necessary for everyone to hear me order my three ales and dinner special IC?

As for character interaction, do we actually want to set a default random-NPC speaker, be it whomever? Obviously I'll be talking to the whores and random tavern dwellers, and Danny the little orphan boys, but I mean like the situation with the locksmith. It's fine enough to RP a character and go from there, but no need to shoot ourselves in the foot unnecessarily. Should we just say, "Let the 'Paladin' do the talking" or just try to work out a strategy beforehand?

[Therrian]

For sure Kiel. The first time in an inn makes sense (if it's an important place) to meet some folks and what not, but unless there is a specific reason for doing so, I would agree that we should try to move though that stuff much quicker. Part of it is getting re-familiarized with all the rules and such again...something I am working on, and I know most of the group has been as well.

As for converstations, whatever works for you guys. I was just wanting to put forward that reminder that having a plan going into an important converstaion is just as important as having a plan going into a big battle. If both go wrong, they can leave everyone dead, heh. I think a little more explaining of what the characters are trying to do versus actually trying to do it will help. Lets face it, no one in this group has an IRL 17 charisma

[Kevin]

Thanks for posting this Joel. I think it is a good start for opening the door to better group communication.

#1 - I think if we all post our character bios and read each others it should give us a better understanding of each character's motivations and personality that we would have learned over the week or more travelling together. We can also add to the bio as our characters grow and develop (which hopefully they will).

#2 - Yeah, that makes sense. I went into that conversation without any plan for what i was going to say, or even what I was trying to communicate, so it is no surprise that it turned out so poorly.

#3 - What, you don't think I am capable of sweet talking anyone? You make a good point though. Stating our intentions first and what our character is trying to do before acting it out should work a lot better than trying to make all of the social interactions based on our own ooc abilities. It's not like we all take turns trying to hit the dm in combat (although that might be fun some time!). But I think we want to make sure we are still trying to do the conversations, rather than just rolling a d20 and getting a result.

#4 - I think the wiki and forums are great, and am really enjoying having the adventure log recaps, so I don't have to try and remember everything or take extremely detailed notes. I check the forums pretty regularly, but do not see much discussion, and am not interested in getting in long debates, so I haven't posted much.

#5 - Sounds like a good idea, and I am on board. I don't mind taking on a leadership roll in the party, but I don't want it to feel like I'm playing a CRPG with 4 people watching over my shoulder. Maybe we should spend more time each stating what our character wants to do, and go from there. If there are some drastically different plans that characters have we can take that into account rather than just going along with the first idea that is suggested.

#6 - This is something I am going to work on. Joking around is one of the best parts of DnD, but I will do my best to pick my spots and not be disruptive.

[huggles]

Sounds like with Kiel off for strata meeting and Jacob still sick with bronchittis that tomorrow game night is canceled. Please respond if that is correct or not. Asfor Joels comments, All good points I will definetly try and keep up with what is being posted on these forums and on the main adventure site.

[Therrian]

Ya, tomorrow night is cancelled unfortunately, but we are good to go for the week after.

[odin]

I think Kev and I deserve some extra stars next to our name. ;D

C'mon invisible Bard, make it happen!

[Kevin]

Feb 8, 2011 11:18:39 GMT -5 odin said:

I think Kev and I deserve some extra stars next to our name. ;D

C'mon invisible Bard, make it happen!

Agreed!

[drezek]

I look at the wiki and appreciate the work you are putting into it. I will update more of my bio now that I am aware we've already been together for a few weeks.

I agree with stating of intentions as I have a really high diplomacy roll and can do more talking that way. OOC I got no diplo skillo! Others can take the lead of the group, my char is chaotic, so he doesn't really follow an order. He'll step in when he feels he needs to. So go ahead and take the reigns Kev and Kiel.

I can read the forums on my blackberry at work, but the site is blocked from my work. So have to wait till I get home to write stuff on here. I'll do a better job of reading and participating here regularly.

Keep up the good work Joel. The recaps are great