Surprise, round 1 actions
Subject Surprise
OOC: Guys, I am not sure, but I am going to make some assumptions here. I think we will get the surprise round in this encounter. We will get one standard action or one move action before the initiative count is done. In this case, they will be move actions once we open the door and move into the room. My assumption is that on the surprise round move action, we will all move into the room, albeit to different locations. On the first regular round, assuming the evil guys dont totally smoke us on initiative (remember, Mark will be giving us a +4 bonus on initiative since we had surprise) our special people can do their special things and then close if needed while the fighter types can close first and then take a standard action attack.
I do not mean to be writing for your characters. If there is something you want to change, add, delete, please do so.
IC:
How many more of these abominations were they going to have to endure. Adults could look after themselves, but small children?? This he could not allow.
Looking at the group, Salix says "We can't let this happen, agreed? Harp, what would be the best way to do this quickly?"
Harp thinks for just a few seconds. "Mund, Ran, Ragnar and me take the bloodhulk. You, Allistair and Kal go after the cleric. Surin heads down toward that far door in case he tries to run out that way. If Ragnar can turn the bloodhulk, then he and one of us can come help you while the other two finish that thing off. If Kal and Allistair shoot those mage arrows of theirs at the cleric while you close, you may be able to keep him from starting some type of evil prayer.
Good enough??"
Harp looks to Salix, who takes a quick look at the rest of the group looking for agreement
If they give consent, as they move toward the door Harp will cast Bless on the group.
OOC: Mark, Salix will have his scimitar out, Surin will have his throwing axe and as me moves into the room will move down the wall (I4 to I10 so he will be be ready in case the cleric tried to leave that way. Harp's group will move across the room toward the bloodhulk, with ragnar hopefully turning the bloodhulk when he gets in range. Salix's group will head toward the cleric, hopefully with Kal and Ally casting magic missle at the cleric until Salix and Kal can start skewering him.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise
A comment on the movement.
Surin only moves 20 per round. Also, the can not move in a straight line down the wall, since the braziers are in the way. He can move behind them but at half speed, so each square with a brazier counts as 10 feet. Only Surin, who is small, can move behind a brazier.
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
Ok, since I am still Surin, I see him going J3, I3, H4, H5 in the surprise round. 1st normal round, H6, H7, I8, I9 and then hide behind the brazier at I10
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
Surin pipes up as Harp tells of his plan "Let me sneak in first and get close. I can throw my axe at that guys back and give you a distraction while you come in."
OOC: Mark, I estimate it will take Surin 6 turns to get to I10, trying to move silently, right? If you agree, he will tell the others to give him a minute and enter the room.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise
No I show it should take 5 rounds. He can move 10 feet per round when moving silent. So he can make I3 round 1, I4 round 2, I6 round 3, I7 round 4, I9 round 5. That puts him with in 30 feet of the guy at the alter.
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
I was pretty close. Let's make that happen. Surin can watch for when the others enter the room and will use his action on the surprise round to sneak attack Mr. Cleric.
From: Jason
Subject Surprise
Ragnar is ok with that. He'll plan to follow Harp in and turn the bloodhulk.
From: Josh
Subject Surprise
Kal nods in consent, ready to move.
From: Josh
Subject Surprise
OOC: Now that I think about it, it might be a better idea for us all to team up on the cleric while someone (Mund or Harp, maybe Kal with his high AC dance) tanks the bloodhulk. The bloodhulk's going to be difficult to kill, but it won't be very tricksy. Who knows what the cleric's going to do.
From: Jason
Subject Surprise
Well hopefully Ragnar is going to be doing that with his turn attempt.
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
My thoughts were: if Ragnar can turn the bloodhulk, then Ragnar and one of the fighter types can go help Salix and Kal. If Surin can get a good sneak attack in (the guy will have no dex bonus and does not appear to be wearing armor) and then Kal and Allistair get a couple of good MM attacks on him the round they close we can do some damage pretty quickly and make it hard for this guy to cast any spells. If we want, we can have Harp go with Salix, Kal and Allistair - Ragnar can try turning every round until he gets it. Once he does turn it, so long as Ragnar does not attack it, it will cower until the two beat the hell out of it. A defenseless unarmored opponent will not last long against Mund and Ran using full attacks. I doubt it will last 4 rounds against them in that position.
You are probably right, I will have Harp go with Salix, Kal and Allistair, just so we have some muscle over there.
Mark, would you adjust accordingly. Harp will cast bless on the group BEFORE Surin enters. He will then go with Salix's group toward the cleric.
Ragnar, Mund and Ran will go after the bloodhulk.
From: Jason
Subject Surprise
Isn't it possible he'll hear the bless being cast? Spellcasting isn't quiet. Personally I think bless is overkill on a surprise attack, 7v1 if Ragnar can get the turn sucessfully.
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
We are over 60' away, in another room, with the door mostly closed, while he is moving chains and shackles around. He isn't going to hear us. If I can get an extra point on to hit and damage rolls for the cost of a 3rd level clerics 1st level spell, its worth it. We can save Ragnar's stuff for when we meet the BBEG.
From: Randy
Subject Surprise
Ran, already hearing the screaming, charges through the door at the mention of a little girl being set up for a sacrifice. He vaguely hears some of the others start talking as he moves but he does not stop. A child's life is in danger and so he moves to make sure she is not harmed.
OOC: I know this is going to screw up all of the meta-gaming but Ran would not wait to strategise in this situation. I'm not sure how far he can get, but he is going for the Cleric unless the blood hulk forces him to stop.
From: Kevin
Subject Surprise
Well that shit-cans everything else. Harp will run in after Ran, heading toward the bloodhulk. Guys, make your actions as best you can.
Salix will also follow Ran, heading for the cleric. Surin will move a little more cautiously, trying to get to where we had planned before (I9 or I10) so he can get a throw off at the cleric.
From: Jason
Subject Surprise
Ragnar will still try to turn the blood hulk.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise
Ok lets hold off a bit more until we have heard from Porter and Derek.
I will be writing this up tonight. There is too much going on for me to do it at work.
From: Derek
Subject Surprise
Allistair is right behind Salix. They don't have time to plan if they want to save this girl from a terrible fate. As soon as Ally is in range and has line-of-sight, he will fire a MM at the evil priest.
From: Josh
Subject Surprise
Kal's going to run toward the Cleric and cast MM at him.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise
I just want to be clear on some terms.
Running is a full round action where you move 4 times your speed, loose your DEX bonus to AC and can do nothing else.
Now if you want to make a move action and then a standard action to cast MM that is fine. But running and casting are out of the question.
Josh, I am fairly sure I know what you really want to do. I just need everyone to be careful. In the IC write up you can use whatever colorful language you want. However, in the OCC instructions, please let me know exactly what actions you want your character to take.
From: Derek
Subject Surprise
Thanks for being clear. OOC, Allistair will just take a move action and then fire a MM. IC the write-up will stay as it is.
From: Josh
Subject Surprise
Ditto for Kal.
From: Mark
Subject Surprise
Surin takes another step into the room as the others in the party close around. The halfling gasps out what he had just seen. Salix and Harp start figuring out how they want to make their attack when the terrified screams of the little girl waft into the room like a rising whisper on the wind. Before anyone can stop him Ranthir, who had positioned himself in front of the door, pulls the door all the way open and bolts through the door, sword and shield drawn and ready. "Gods" Harp says " so much for a plan" and turns to follow after his friend. "I'll handle the bloodhulk" comes Ragnar's voice as the others follow Ranthir's charge.
OODM: Surprise round, people have moved into positions shown on the map. Give me your actions based on map location and Init order for round 1. If you do not like where you are let me know where you want to be but remember the movement rules.
Init for round 1.
Allistair, Surin, Kal, Harp, Ranthir, Mund, Salix, Ragnar, Man, Bloodhulk
From: Josh
Subject Round 1 actions
Kal will keep pace with Ran, and then cast MM when he's in range.
From: Mark
Subject Round 1 actions
He is in range now. MM is a long range spell. Remember you provoke AOO if you cast in a threatened square. Of course you can cast and then move.
From; Derek
Subject Round 1 actions
Assuming he's in range now, Allistair will immediately fire his MM and then stay where he is. (He'd just get in the way, most likely...)
From: Jason
Subject Round 1 actions
Man Ragnar is slow. Fortunately the room is pretty small. He'll advance on the bloodhulk and turn it (aiming to end up where Kal is now more or less, its not particularly important.)
IC: Ragnar is chagrined to see the others quickly pass him, even the halfling (who does have a head start.) Well all he really had to do was get into the room. As he rounds the corner, he takes in the scene that Surin had described to them. Even never having seen one before, he immediately recognizes the bloodhulk for what it is, and pauses before advancing more deliberately. Holding his shield boldly in front of him in both hands (his sword is sheathed), he says "Foul spawn of evil, in the name of my master I rebuke you! Hide your face lest he smite you to dust!"
From: Mark
Subject Round 1 actions
He is well with in range. MM is at least a 100 feet plus 10 per level, so both Kal and Ally have a range of 170 feet.