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Author
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 Siobharek 
A guitar
(6/10/03 10:42 pm)
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ezSupporter
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Re: PC Interactions
FIne session, I must say.
And yeah, it looks like the Fanes oughta be if not next stop then moving up on their to-do list.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
HeresDaryl
A song from the sixties
(6/11/03 6:32 am)
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Re: PC Interactions
Thanks Offgall, always nice to know that folks are still reading. Nice to know you're still keeping tabs Siobh.
It looks like they've got it in their heads to clear out the CRM completely before hitting the fanes, especially since they got so much intel on the fire temple from Kelashein. They like the idea of having clear escape routes if they need them (and are also very XP greedy). I'm tempted to add a nasty surprise in the Fire Temple... a Fire Wrack from the creature collection, dwelling in the pit in the temple chamber. I'll see what levels they are when they get there.
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DestyNova1
Human
(6/11/03 9:05 pm)
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Hmmm
Might be a good idea to prod them into the fanes by giving the clerical types visions from their gods about the danger of Tharzidun getting free. Lareth has no doubt been brought back and is at the ToEE. Wouldn't
surprise me if the temple forces have been told to step up digging out the nodes.
At this point, even if there is a TPK, theres been enough of an alert raised to prevent Tharzidun's release. If the party doesn't seem inclined to go to the temple, another band could of cleared it out.
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(6/12/03 3:05 am)
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Hints from within
Yep, I've got 3 clerics, a druid and a paladin in the group, so maybe a bad nights sleep all round might hurry them up... and perhaps a note from Varachan...
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(6/26/03 5:21 am)
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Death of the Water Temple
The party finally shattered the altar in the Water Temple and quickly fled once the cavern started to collapse. The collapse caused the lizardmen to break ranks and flee aswell, so Kadiss and Nilbool decided to withdraw further into the temple complex and set up their ambush there. The PC's however opted to return to Dwarf held territory. The Dwarves had been further reinforced by their own kin and now occupied both gates and everything in between. The party got back to the West Gate and rested. There was also a change of personnel... Jenser decided to return to Waterdeep to trade items for the party and do some recruiting for the Dwarves. Since he was leaving, one of the mercenaries volunteered to take his place - Davos of Thentia, aka Mort (in disguise, of course). Mylan also took some time out to perform a ritual on Rage, his Dire Wolverine companion, to bolster him. Templar Darkblade had to attend to funerary rites for the fallen among the Dwarf garrison, which left Beornegar, Imzel, Nicos, Finn & Davos to venture back to the Water Temple after resting.
They made their way along the northern passage, towards the area of Kelashien's chamber. It was here that Nilbool and Kadiss had their ambush - 10 lizardmen warriors in the side corridor with Kadiss, his bodyguards (all of whom are Fey'ri along with Kadiss, remember), Nilbool & Urlurg in the larger chamber beyond the junction. Imzel was leading the party, and due to his 50+ levels of stored spellfire, was glowing equivalent to a torch. This gave the ambushers plenty of warning. As Imzel entered to junction room one of the Fey'ri bodyguards dropped a globe of darkness on the room. Imzel reacted quick and tumbled back out of it. He then fired 10 levels of spellfire blindly into the blackness. I decided that this caught a couple of the onrushing lizardmen.
Nicos immediately cast dispel on the darkness and when the Lizardmen were revealed Beornegar & Davos rushed up to engage. Finn, Nicos & Imzel provided Spell(fire) support and the lizardmen were down to only two alive after a couple of rounds. At this point a couple of the Fey'ri guards popped around the corner on the far side of the room and fired a few arrows, before dropping another Darkness on proceedings. Davos, Finn & Nicos finished off the last two lizardmen while Beornegar & Imzel made their way across the darkened room. They emerged into the light... and a hail of arrows. This didn't deter them much though. Beornegar simply went into rage, activated his boots of speed and laid into the nearest enemies. Imzel readied to absorb the first spell fired his way. Kadiss blasted a Sonic Orb at him, and was less than pleased to see it dissipate with no apparent damage. Urlurg tumbled through the melee to engage Imzel, while the Fey'ri tried to swarm Beornegar. Nilbool started boosting himself.
This was a one-sided fight. They Fey'ri guards were dropped like a bad habit. Urlurg and Imzel couldn't land a telling blow on one another, and when Davos came to Imzel's aid Urlurg fled (making his way to the boat landing area far to the south until Hedrack thinks of something else for him to do). The two buffed clerics were pressing Kadiss and Beornegar had crashed through the rest of the fight to engage Nilbool. Nilbool was forced into defensive action and levitated to the ceiling invisibly. This left Beornegar to join in the beating on Kadiss, who didn't last beyond another round. Finn cast fly on Beornegar (becoming a popular trick) and even though Nilbool used Web and mirror image to confound the PCs, it simply delayed the inevitable. Nilbools magic missles were absorbed by Nicos brooch of shielding and Beornegar kept saving against slow. Eventually the images ran out and Beornegar made short work of a desperate Nilbool.
We left it there last night. Hopefully I'll get a run of a few sessions back-to-back. The party as of last night is:
Beornegar - Human ftr4/bbn6
Nicos - Human clr10
Finn - Aasimar clr8
Darkblade - Aasimar pal6/templar3/divine champion2
Davos - Human ftr8
Imzel - Human rog4/clr1/spellfire channeler4
Mylan - Moon Elf drd8
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(6/27/03 5:04 am)
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Opinions please...
Okay, I've been trying to think ahead and also think like Hedrack would with regard to defending the fanes. As far as I can make out, from Hedrack's point of view the mines are just a buffer zone to keep pesky do-gooders at arms length from the heart of the cult. Now this group of adventurers are ploughing through the mines and appear to be close to unstoppable by the mine forces.
I've decided that the Doomdreamers plans are well advanced, they have determined that Lareth is the champion and have an expedition en route to Nulb to find him (or his corpse as it happens). I will have them start work on the recovered temple very soon. This means that Hedrack knows he doesn't have to hold out for long. Keep in mind that he has lost some of the outer fane forces (Ukemil & his lions and both assassins) and the PC party has annihilated three elemental temples, two gate complexes and two bridge complexes in the mines.
My question is: Does it seem reasonable that Hedrack would withdraw all of the named personnel from the eastern bridge and the fire temple, bring them into the outer fane, and instruct Eeridik to release the Bebilith into the mines at large? He would be happy to leave the crater ridge mines to the freebooters and the various monsters, and just make the outer & inner an impregnable fortress until the nameless one is freed...
The one pro-active step he may take would be to send a strike force, consisting of Thrommel and maybe Eeridik and a few others to capture the spellfire wielder (Imzel). such an individual would make a very appropriate sacrafice to Imix!
Varachan would attempt to discretely warn the PCs should any of this actually come to pass.
Part of my reasoning for this is also that the CRM is becoming a cakewalk for the party... and I need to throw them against the fanes before things bog down in relatively unimportant, and not very difficult fights. As mentioned above, I think I'll give the religious types some ominous dreams and omens etc. to get them moving.
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Infiniti2000
Verrik
(6/27/03 5:42 am)
Reply
ezSupporter
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Re: Opinions please...
That's a very reasonable approach, except for sending in Thrommel. Hedrack would not send in his ace-in-the-hole, especially when it is also such a wildcard. Also, you seem to have a contradiction. In one sentence, you state that Hedrack plans to vacate the Outer Fane ("...he doesn't have to hold out for long"), then he wants to make it an impregnable fortress. Which is it? If it's the former, he would not pull in the forces.
"Part of my reasoning for this is also that the CRM is becoming a cakewalk for the party."
Is that really a bad thing, though? Let them have their cake now, just smack it upside their face when they reach a very well prepared and defended Outer Fane.
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(6/27/03 5:59 am)
Reply
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Re: Opinions please...
Thanks for the quick response!
I figured he would regard sending Thrommel as worthwhile, considering the status accorded to spellfire wielders in the Realms. I guess I wasn't clear about my view of Hedracks thoughts. He's thinking of vacating the mines entirely, never about vacating the Outer Fane. He knows that the fane will be assaulted by the PCs, but if he fortifies it as much as possible, he knows he doesn't have to hold the party at bay for long before his masters plans are fulfilled.
The problem with the mines being a cakewalk is that they have been for some time, and I think the guys are starting to get bored - and so am I for that matter... thats why I want to give them that smack upside the head sooner rather than later.
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Offgall Fizziwigg
Faen
(6/27/03 8:05 am)
Reply
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Re: Opinions please...
The PCs haven't wiped out the Fire Temple yet, right? The PCs have keys to get into the Outer Fane. You could fake an evacuation of the Fire Temple, but leave them farther down the CRM. Have Hedrak scry on them. Have the Fire Temple follow them. When they get on a bridge over the Stalagos, have the Fire Temple trap them on the bridge between them and the Outer Fane defences. Just an idea. I have no idea how it all would work.
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(6/30/03 5:40 am)
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pressing ever onwards
We picked up last nights session immediately after the end of the previous one... with Finn, Nicos, Imzel, Beornegar & Davos standing over the rapidly cooling corpses of Nilbool, Kadiss and their lackeys. Though it was only a few hours since they had rested, Brother Finn had used most of his battle magics during that fight and decided to return to the Dwarven enclave. As the rest of the group were looting the bodies they were joined by Mylan the druid & Rage (who had simply followed the smell of death to find them). Mylan had just returned from the hills outside the crater, where he had performed a ritual upon Rage, making him even tougher and more capable. So Nicos, Davos, Beornegar, Imzel & Mylan backtracked through the water temple to investigate the lower passage leading to 193. They tentatively tested the pool and jumped back when they spotted a shadowy silhouette rising up towards them. I had planned out exactly what information Zeityan would share with the party... but Beornegar attacked as soon as she appeared and the others followed suit once they saw him swing his axe.
Her magic defences held out against all of the weapon attacks and she managed to poison Mylan as he tried to cast 'infestation of maggots' on her, but Nicos slipped through with a 'slay living' and she was out of luck with her save. Beornegar swam to the bottom of the well and searched around the dead Naga, recovering the little loot that was there. They moved on and discovered the exit out onto the slopes of the mountain. They decided to sit in the sun for an hour and partake of some rations and water and fresh air. Feeling much better, and it only being early afternoon and some 6 hours since they woke, they determined to carry on through the complex and beyond if possible. The rest of the water temple complex was swept through and then they got to the start of the ore cart tracks. I was really hoping they would choose to travel by cart, but instead they simply rolled a cart along each track until the slope caught them... hoping to confuse and draw out any would be attackers. As it turns out it simply ensured that all of the bugbears were alerted and ready when the party got there.
The ambush finally happened between the X junction in the middle of the map and the entrance to Urolax's chambers. It didn't take long before the bugbears were routed and were butchered as they fled. Only Steeran & Fesad put up much of a fight but eventually they fell too. Yet another too-easy fight. We left it there last night, with the party desperately in need of rest. I think its about time there were paid a visit by Thrommel, and they'll probably have some disturbingly vivid dreams of all consuming flames and inky nothingness too! I also intend that Eeridik (with the aid of maybe Naquent) will release the Bebilith, but by using wards & barriers direct it north...towards our heroes of course.
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Infiniti2000
Verrik
(6/30/03 5:46 am)
Reply
ezSupporter
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Re: pressing ever onwards
How about having Eeridik put out 5 "volunteer" mooks in front of the bebelith, as bait. Of course, they will run, but put them in such a location that they run towards the party. It's unlikely they will make it, but it should get the bebelith off into the right direction.
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(7/7/03 10:53 am)
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Organized Resistance
After looting the bodies of the dead bugbears, the guys needed to rest up to recover spells. They were searching around for a suitable spot when several of them noticed that they were being scried. This put them on edge but they continued looking for a spot to camp. Several minutes later they heard a bass bellow...which almost seemed to be calling 'hello' in common! They cautiously investigated and were confronted with a Minotaur, wielding a huge axe, and a scroll case?? He had been flown across the lake on a spider-eater and instructed by one of the high priests in the fanes (Varachan of course) to deliver a message and wait for a reply.
The note basically urged the party to speed up their efforts, warnd them of the Bebilith and that Imzel the spellfire wielder was attracting even more undue attention than the others... and finally that they should kill the messenger. So they did.
They proceeded to settle down in 167, and were rejoined by Brother Finn, freshly arrived from the Dwarven enclave with another former mercenary, Aramil, a Sun Elf Fighter/Mage. Mylan and Rage took the first watch, which saved the party... as Mylan was oblivious to the coming attack, but Rage caught scent a split second before it happened. The attackers were Tac, Zert & Skassik, all withdrawn from their previous posts to serve the outer fane directly. Varachan had to tell Hedrack the party's location to keep his cover, so Hedrack dispatched these three to take out the group. Failing that they were to capture Imzel, as a particularly auspicious sacrafice to Imix.
This was a very nasty fight, which resulted in the death of Rage, the dire wolverine and could have resulted in PC deaths except that beornegar scored a timely crit on Zert, dealing 45 damage as he was about to unload on Mylan. This change in momentum swayed the battle, though Skassik did alot of damage before he eventually succumbed.
Beornegar raced out of the chamber to make sure there were no others and came face to face with Thrommel, 25 feet up the corridor.Thrommel had followed the others, expecting them to be defeated, and hoping to cut a deal with the party. he managed to dominate Beornegar & Aramil, though he failed on Nicos and Mylan, who flatly refused to even parley with him and started using spell and wands to attack. I'm sure he could have kicked all their asses, especially with the two dominated PCs, but that wouldn't help him get his coffin, so he retreated, leaving the two 'sleepers' with a telepathic 'I will call you when it is time'...
Next session should be Wednesday night.
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(7/10/03 6:46 am)
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stupid half finished post
Edit: deleted the incomplete half-a-post that I accidentally put up!
Edited by: HeresDaryl at: 7/10/03 7:04 am
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(7/10/03 7:01 am)
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a sense of urgency
The party finished out their nights sleep, though it was disturbed by vivid nightmares of roaring flames and encroaching darkness. When they woke they decided to make their way back to the temple of Moradin and the priestess Sharaela. The party were all still suspicious of Aramil & Beornegar, and wanted to question and observe them, as well as casting several dispel magics on them. However, both of the affected characters seemed fine and normal, so the group decided that the effect had been temporary and had worn off over the night. Mylan did not accompany the rest, instead he exited the mines through the small passage at 193 to wander the hills, mourn for rage and eventually find a new companion.
Aramil decided that it was far too dangerous travelling with the party and that he was better suited to garrison duty. He was played by a very occasional player - same guy who had played Lucan the Paladin - but he had to return to college even earlier than expected. I intend to have him desert his post while still dominated, and then be transformed into a spawn of Thrommel - might make a useful lackey at some stage.
The group spent the remainder of that day identifying booty. Mergeld and Nicos between them could identify 17 items a day! After the castings the PCs made themselves comfortable in the Barbican of the main gate complex... which was the farthest north the dwarves had fortified. They all sat down to their supper and the hard task of dividing up their loot. They were about half way through this when they heard a series of bellows and screeches from beyond the doors in the entry hall. They all scrambled to their feet and ran to the doors. Though Brother Finn tried to delay them swinging the doors while he cast dtetct thoughts, Davos & Beornegar ignored him and heaved them open. Outside, they same half a dozen Dwarves, two already downed, facing off against a huge, mottled, demonic spider. A Bebilith, of course.
Beornegar reacted quickest, and raced to attack, with his boots of speed active. He got cought with a claw on the way in, but his armour survived. Both of his attackes bounced off of the beast however! Meanwhile the others were preparing with buffing spells or readying actions. All except for Finn, who had Dismissal learned and tried it straight away. The Bebilith made its save by 2, but it may aswell have been 20... The the monster acted... it shot a web over the doorway into the barbican, where all of the PCs except Beornegar were trapped. Nicos opened up with his wands of magic missile and sonic orb, and the rest of the group tried to get through the web.
While the demon finished off the dwarves, Beornegar ran to the doorway and screamed for someone to pass him the sword of fire. However, they were too busy trying to get through the web or cast their own spells to fetch it. Between Nicos' wands and a Searing Light from Finn they had actually done considerable damage (down to 26 hits) when Beornegar finally decided to just sming at it and hope for the best. Again, he was struck by a claw as he closed on it, and again his adamantine breastplate survived. However, his attacks once more bounced off its hide. Then it made its attacks, hoping to fell the axeman and have the option to plane shift out on its next action.
It struck with its bite, but missed with both claws. Beornegar resisted the poison and swung again, his two normal attacks plus an extra one at full bonus for haste. The first two bounced off, but he rolled a 20 on the last and confirmed the crit. He rolled his damage, 1d12+13 (including rage & prayer) and got 24. Tripled for the crit was 72, so even minus 30 DR he still buried the axe in its skull, killing it instantly!
Eventually more dwarves arrived from the temple, and the party got free of the web. The demon corpse was hauled to fire bridge by a work crew and dumped in the lake. The guard was reinforced at the main gate complex and the party went back to catalguing their loot. They rested that night and next morning offered a cut of their spoils to Mergeld if she would take items in her bag of holding and fly back to Waterdeep. There she could meet Jenser and give him the extra gear to trade on their behalf, before she flew back with their newly purchased goods. All told, they expected to have her and their items back in four days.
In the meantime, after a lengthy debate and finally a vote, they decided to change direction and explore counter clockwise, from the south gate towards the northeast. The Dwarves were able to inform them that the gargoyles had been driven out months ago, and they had seen no sign of frogmen around the boat landing for days (I decided to withdraw Urlurg to the water door). The PCs moved carefully down the main corridor, checking for traps, and keeping as quiet as they could. They got to the large hall, area 93, and were subjected to the moan attacks of the cloakers. Only Imzel failed a save (in fact he failed two... the hold and unnerve). Darkblade & Beornegar slew the beast who tried to attack the helpless Imzel, while Finn, Davos and Nicos despatched the other one with ranged attacks.
They moved on into the boat landing area and found it damp and deserted. They had a look out on the jetty and saw two small boats, mostly submerged (scuttled by the retreating Urlurg). Darkblade attempted to haul one onto the dock when the Chuul struck. It did substantial damage to the Templar but failed to grab or paralyze him. Eventually Darkblade, aided by Davos & Finn finished it off and then examined the boats. They trudged back out into room 93 and pondered which route to take. They settled on checking the right passage first and so made their way into the forge. Immediately they were attacked by the Blade Spirit, but they managed to damage it badly before Finn turned it, forcing it to flee.
Since some of the guys were falling asleep at this stage we wrapped it up there last night, so we should pick up again on Sunday. Stay tuned!
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HeresDaryl
Faen
(7/14/03 1:32 pm)
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an unexpected setback
After successfully turning the bladespirit the group set off in pursuit. They still went cautiously though, and ten rounds had long passed before they caught up to it again. Once more it assaulted them with its dancing weapons but again Finn turned it, forcing it to flee towards the destrachan pit area. I like the idea that ghosts are tied to certain places or things (as noted with Wat in Nulb) so I decided that the Bladespirit would dissipate for 24 hours once it was driven from the forge. The party did not know this of course and agin followed the spirit towards the destrachan.
The pair of destrachan opened up with their subdual attacks as suggested, but the saves among the party meant that no one was ever in serious danger. A flying Beornegar and a spider-climbing Davos closed to engage them in melee quickly and with a few magic missiles from Nicos it was all over quickly. They had a search around, including Beornegar & Imzel checking the pit and have a brief problem with the quicksand before being hauled free. They then backtracked and started down the passage towards the destrachan sphere.
Again, several party members were able to engage the creature in melee, despite its location, so they had little trouble disposing of it. The commotion did, however, alert Tarren to their approach. This gave him time to cast Greater Magic Fang on Kilbo aswell as Barkskin on himself. Once the party crossed the sphere room Darkblade started detecting magic ahead of the group. As they advanced he detected Tarren's aura and the party arrayed themselves in the corridor. Darkblade & Davos called for whoever was within to surrender themselves while Imzel tried to sneak into the cave.
Unfortunately for him, Kilbo picked up hissent and attacked. This sent everyone into action. Tarren was quickly overpowered and knocked unconscious by Darkblade though Kilbo proved more dangerous. Imzel had taken close to 50 damage and several others had also been badly wounded before Davos, Finn & Beornegar slew the monster. They looted Tarren's belongings and then sent him back with Brother Finn to the Dwarven enclave for holding (Finn's player had to leave early).
They pressed on to the north-east (where I had ditched the giant ants in favour of a Formian expedition party). In the first cave they spotted a half dozen workers and tried to hail them. The workers telepathically notified the 4 soldiers and the taskmaster in the next chamber. They immediately moved to attack the PCs. The taskmaster got a good initiative, and before much of anything had happened managed to successfully dominate Nicos, instructing him to slay the other humanoids. Beornegar rushed to engage the warriors, who surrounded him and tried to disable him with their venom.
Then Nicos acted and I determined that Darkblade was closest. Nicos reached out and cast Slay Living, Fot save DC 21. But Darkblade's Fort bonus was... 21, so should be ok. So he rolled, a 1!!! Darkblade dropped, dead. We were all pretty shocked, and Nicos' player just kept apologising, but the battle still raged. The Taskmaster managed to dominate Davos aswell, but Imzel tumbled through the melee in the middle of the chamber to unload 15 levels of spellfire into it. Beornegar made pretty short work of the 4 warriors, resisting poisoning though he was stung and clawed a few times. In a state of shock, the party picked up Darkblades body and started back to the Dwarven enclave, where Nicos will attempt to raise dead the next day.
We'll see what happens either Wednesday or Sunday...
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Siobharek
Verrik
(7/14/03 10:56 pm)
Reply
ezSupporter
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Re: an unexpected setback
Does a natural 1 on a save result in an auto miss? I've checked my DMG, and the only place it uses nat. 20s and 1s is in connection with the attack roll.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
HeresDaryl
Faen
(7/15/03 12:58 am)
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Re: an unexpected setback
I can't remember exactly where, but I know its come up on the boards before and I believe it is stated somewhere among thwe core books that a 1 is an automatic fail on a save, with a 20 being an automatic success. Even if it wasn't, I'd house rule it so that it was... there's always a chance!
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Cordo Crowfoot
Litorian
(7/15/03 2:29 am)
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Re: an unexpected setback
I've seen Infiniti2000 involved in an discussion of that exact point. I believe this is the summary of the situation (correct me if I am wrong, I2K):
1) In the 3e books there is no mention of 1/20 being an automatic failure/success on saving throws.
2) The D&D FAQ on www.wizards.com does say that 1/20 is an automatic failure/successm, however some have pointed out that the faq is not "core rules" so refuse to recognize this.
3) In 3.5e, 1/20 is clearly defined as auto-failure/success on saving throws.
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Infiniti2000
Verrik
(7/15/03 6:08 am)
Reply
ezSupporter
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Re: an unexpected setback
That's absolutely correct, Cordo! Atm, I don't use 3.5 so a natural 1 is not auto-failure for our group. It's not so much as refuse to recognize the FAQ as it is that I think natural 1's mean bogus failures (and death) more often than natural 20's will save a life when otherwise it wouldn't. Almost anyone rolling a natural 20 saves anyway, so the auto success/failure thing only applies to the auto failure, which SUCKS for the players. YMMV.
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DestyNova1
Faen
(7/15/03 8:19 am)
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Saves..
Good points. But then the very high DC saves become more and more unrollable. If a save has DC 28, and someone just has a bonus of +6, then the save becomes impossible.
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