Charn is able to take up a defensive position near Eryndir during the violence (or attempted violence) in the river bed. The next roll, for good or ill, ends the skill challenge.
Question 1: Is Able going to try to assault Caleb?
Question 2: Does anyone have a roll to try to resolve the encounter in a non-violent fashion?
Question 3: Does anyone intend to help 2?
Has everyone gone this round? If possible, I want to use Deception when Able hits me using the HELP action to make it seem like I really am trying to attack him with my mace. But to sell it, I want Able to believe it, too.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
I was hoping either to give the druid time to do whatever it is he is going to do to save himself, THEN the fight can start. Failing that, maybe the Communists will try to intervene, further distracting them from Eryndir and Charn's movement.
If Able is going to slap Caleb, he thought it would be a good idea to strike back, but miss on purpose. But that means making it look like I really tried to hit him, so I figured Deception was the best option.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Please note that this is the FIRST slap. I didn't try a SECOND slap. It appeared your action was predicated on me repeating the action. When I initially declared it, I had already acted in the current round. I just confirmed that I still intended to do my originally stated action.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
If you would like the fight to start, it does. If you get one more success, then you can avert the fight. A success can only happen on a challenge that defuses the situation.
OK. Well, in that case, on the third round of the skill challenge Caleb would like to try Intimidation to cow the Communists into releasing their captive.
He means to use Able's slap as the impetus for dropping the facade that he is here to cooperate with them.
In that scenario, I imagine the difficulty is "Hard," but would I benefit from the help action?
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
I mean, it seems to me like getting slapped while trying to intimidate someone would put you at disadvantage. Intimidation will be hard either way.
If Able went to slap you, and you clubbed him into unconsciousness, I would give advantage for that.
I'm a huge fan of collaboration in the story telling though, and I don't view it as metagaming if folks want to discuss what approach makes for the best story then just have the characters do that thing.
OK, we can go with that. Able strikes Caleb, Caleb feigns submission using the help action, and then at the top of Round 3 Able makes the Intimidate check. Only one of us gets to roll no matter what happens because after the check, the challenge will either be passed or failed.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Question about movement in the river. I understand the Athletics checks for moving upstream and downstream. Is there any check for moving directly across, from east to west?
He's probably waiting for someone else to take an action so he can seize 50% of it.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
He goes down. Eryndir can see him bleeding out, but his chest is still frantically pumping air into his now punctured lungs. If he doesn't get universal health care soon, he will die.
Depending on how the universal health care is implemented, he may die anyway.
"Now that's just not fair - the undead will do all the work for no pay. You're just a capitalist pig trying to own the meabs of production. We'll stop you."
Caleb has seen people disrespecting the flag. He can handle anything.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Alright - ranged attacks and spellcasting when you're threatened doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity like it does in other editions. It does, however, force you to roll at disadvantage. Give me a second d20 roll.
Able does have a modifier - he gets to add his Proficiency Bonus and his CHA mod to those rolls. Even with disadvantage, he is able to score a shot on Marx, so he deals his damage - his 5 damage matches the 5 damage dealt to Caleb.
Caleb will cast [i]bless[/i] on Able, the druid and himself.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Sure. I'll go SW, S to counterflank the flanker with Able.
Athletics
I rolled 1d20, the result is 2 = 2.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Or you know, wherever the hell I end up. Probably provoking an attack of opportunity then I guess I'll drop into negatives and drown in the damn river
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
This is a great time to talk about attacks of opportunity. Attacks of opportunity only occur for voluntary movement - so someone being moved not of their own volition will not provoke. Also, you only provoke when you're in a threatened square and move into a square that is not threatened by that same person. That means you should feel free to move around folks if nobody else threatens you.
Oh, awesome. So Caleb tries to move around the zombie but gets swept downstream a little further than he intended; but because he didn't mean to, there's no AoO. AND I'm not being threatened by anyone at the end of my turn!
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Charn will use the distraction of his compatriots' slapping one another to sprint ahead to a better vantage point.
8 successes, 2 failures.
Charn is able to take up a defensive position near Eryndir during the violence (or attempted violence) in the river bed. The next roll, for good or ill, ends the skill challenge.
Question 1: Is Able going to try to assault Caleb?
Question 2: Does anyone have a roll to try to resolve the encounter in a non-violent fashion?
Question 3: Does anyone intend to help 2?
Has everyone gone this round? If possible, I want to use Deception when Able hits me using the HELP action to make it seem like I really am trying to attack him with my mace. But to sell it, I want Able to believe it, too.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Is the intention to parlay the scuffle into violence against the Thousandfold Men of Industry, or is it to do something else?
I was hoping either to give the druid time to do whatever it is he is going to do to save himself, THEN the fight can start. Failing that, maybe the Communists will try to intervene, further distracting them from Eryndir and Charn's movement.
If Able is going to slap Caleb, he thought it would be a good idea to strike back, but miss on purpose. But that means making it look like I really tried to hit him, so I figured Deception was the best option.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Please note that this is the FIRST slap. I didn't try a SECOND slap. It appeared your action was predicated on me repeating the action. When I initially declared it, I had already acted in the current round. I just confirmed that I still intended to do my originally stated action.
Oh, ok. Nevermind then.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
If you would like the fight to start, it does. If you get one more success, then you can avert the fight. A success can only happen on a challenge that defuses the situation.
OK. Well, in that case, on the third round of the skill challenge Caleb would like to try Intimidation to cow the Communists into releasing their captive.
He means to use Able's slap as the impetus for dropping the facade that he is here to cooperate with them.
In that scenario, I imagine the difficulty is "Hard," but would I benefit from the help action?
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
I mean, it seems to me like getting slapped while trying to intimidate someone would put you at disadvantage. Intimidation will be hard either way.
If Able went to slap you, and you clubbed him into unconsciousness, I would give advantage for that.
I'm a huge fan of collaboration in the story telling though, and I don't view it as metagaming if folks want to discuss what approach makes for the best story then just have the characters do that thing.
I think of you act subservient it will give me advantage gor intimidate next round.
OK, we can go with that. Able strikes Caleb, Caleb feigns submission using the help action, and then at the top of Round 3 Able makes the Intimidate check. Only one of us gets to roll no matter what happens because after the check, the challenge will either be passed or failed.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
That sounds like a solid plan to me. Roll it, sir, and let's see if we fight!
I guess this is the Intimidate (rolling it twice for advantage). I'll check my bonus post roll.
The bonus is +3, I think. So, probably not good.
That's right. Not good. You almost averted combat though, but almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
I'll post the map this afternoon.
Hey, I like that we made an attempt to approach this in a creative way and I love that it came down to the last roll. That's awesome!
I also like combat, so this was a win-win.
Here's my Init.
Please roll Init.
Probably 1d20+1 (Dex).
Flat roll for Caleb.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Question about movement in the river. I understand the Athletics checks for moving upstream and downstream. Is there any check for moving directly across, from east to west?
Nope
Are we still waiting on someone to roll initiative? If not, who acts first?
Charn still needs to roll Init.
Handling Charn for the moment:
Init!
NPC Init
What did Marx do on 20?
He's probably waiting for someone else to take an action so he can seize 50% of it.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
He didn't appear to do anything at all. That's likely not what he did, but that's what he appeared to so.
Eryndir looses an arrow at Commie 4, with advantage based on stealth.
Rolling Damage on the assumption a 21 hits.
He goes down. Eryndir can see him bleeding out, but his chest is still frantically pumping air into his now punctured lungs. If he doesn't get universal health care soon, he will die.
Depending on how the universal health care is implemented, he may die anyway.
Marx takes his turn. He points at the corpse of Commie Four and utters a horrible curse. Commie Four begins to stand - but no longer breathes.
Charn readies an action to attack the next enemy in melee.
Commie One swings on Caleb with a large scimitar. The blade is curved overly much, vaguely in the style of a large (and stylized) C.
Five damage to the cleric. It is now Able's turn.
One modification. Commie One moves S, SW. He now flanks with Commie 4.
"Now that's just not fair - the undead will do all the work for no pay. You're just a capitalist pig trying to own the meabs of production. We'll stop you."
Able unleashes an eldritch blast.
The good news is that you didn't declare a target, so I'm forcing a re-roll.
The bad news is that this should be a horrific thing to watch happen to someone standing right next to you.
Caleb has seen people disrespecting the flag. He can handle anything.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Able never liked the guy before he died.
Targeting Marx.
Alright - ranged attacks and spellcasting when you're threatened doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity like it does in other editions. It does, however, force you to roll at disadvantage. Give me a second d20 roll.
Disadvantage
Able does have a modifier - he gets to add his Proficiency Bonus and his CHA mod to those rolls. Even with disadvantage, he is able to score a shot on Marx, so he deals his damage - his 5 damage matches the 5 damage dealt to Caleb.
Commie Two moves two squares north, to square M10. He attacks "Druid, Maybe?" with his stylized C scimitar. He has advantage due to flanking.
The druid takes a mighty blow, enough to drop even a hearty man.
His rocklike exterior prevents him from taking the worst of it.
It is Caleb's turn.
Caleb will cast [i]bless[/i] on Able, the druid and himself.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Bless is such a good spell.
Moving?
Sure. I'll go SW, S to counterflank the flanker with Able.
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Or you know, wherever the hell I end up. Probably provoking an attack of opportunity then I guess I'll drop into negatives and drown in the damn river
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
This is a great time to talk about attacks of opportunity. Attacks of opportunity only occur for voluntary movement - so someone being moved not of their own volition will not provoke. Also, you only provoke when you're in a threatened square and move into a square that is not threatened by that same person. That means you should feel free to move around folks if nobody else threatens you.
Oh, awesome. So Caleb tries to move around the zombie but gets swept downstream a little further than he intended; but because he didn't mean to, there's no AoO. AND I'm not being threatened by anyone at the end of my turn!
"Men are the only animals that devote themselves, day in and day out, to making one another unhappy. It is an art like any other. Its virtuosi are called altruists." - H.L. Mencken
Pages