Games before the END of the Apocalypse

[David]

Howdy folks,

I was thinking about it today (I do so hate being home sick) and I realized there are AT LEAST seven different games which I'd REALLY like to do before the end of the Apocalypse. Heck, for several of these games, they're important story elements. So, I'd like to hear what peoples' interest with each are:

The New Heroes -- duh, without this, the Apocalypse doesn't end

The Shattered Circle -- this game will figure prominently into the future plot-line

The Temple of Ghaunadaur -- Daisy and Fawn found roughly where the temple is, now a group of high-level characters needs to go take it out...

Kidnappings -- this game didn't quite finish and there are still five missing children and a like number of adults who are being spirited away to the Underdark

The Forces of Iuz -- hey, Furyondy is still half-conquered, even if Amberwood is safe. And the capitol, Chendl, is surrounded on all sides. While Grabford was liberated, it still could fall to a small band of kobolds and Crockport (and most of what's north of the Veng) is still completely in orcish hands. C'mon Knight of the Hart, are you pussies?

The Highlands -- check recent events for more details, but I definitely have a couple of plot lines I would REALLY like to work through up in the North Province and the Bone March.

Apocalypse Prime -- there are still many events that I haven't had a chance to completely play out. Some are date based and others have long (fore-)shadows than the Empire State Building. And again, they all fit prominently into the plot...

So, interests?

[David]

Howdy folks,

No one ever responded to this. So, I'm going to ask again WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING GAMES DO YOU WANT TO DO? It would be nice if you could prioritize the list, so I know who wants to do what. Here's a new, updated list:

1) the New Heroes -- they still need to ride out the end of the Apocalypse and keep Trillian safe. As DM, this is my #1

2) the Shattered Circle -- the other half of the reincarnated heroes are here and ready to accomplish the missions of Autumn and Mikos (Sage and Raitan). They are at the same point in time as the New Heroes. As DM, this is my #2

3) the Temple of Ghaunadaur -- Daisy and Fawn found roughly where a temple to the EEG is, but need the help of a group of high-level heroes to help them take it out.

4) the Lost Shrine of Bundashatur -- I've wanted to play this one for a WHILE. It totally ties into the whole Apocalypse storyline. It's a fairly straight dungeon-crawl and quite cool. Levels 7th - 9th.

5) Attack on Amberwood -- a one night game, probably. Thanks to Jellie (and Mandar) Ghaunadaur is aware that at least one of the New Heroes was in Dragondale. What better reason to attack? As DM, this is #4

6) Chendl and Iuz -- war, battle, carnage, and slaughter anyone? Iuz should logically retake the city unless some PCs do something to stop it. What a great chance to pull out the powerful Knights of the Hart and go on a rampage against orcs, ogres, trolls, giants, and demons! And there's also Grabford that's barely holding out as well as Crockport which fell months ago. This is one of those games that can go as long as people want. As DM, this is #3.

7) the Elf Game aka Liberation of Fangoria and the Vesve Forest -- Paul's really itching to do this game. The idea is for the elves from around the continent to come to the rescue of the oldest living elf on the planet, a man who happens to be one of the most powerful druids, as well as fantastically wise and powerful. His woods were invaded by Iuz's forces on the way to their attacks on Furyondy, so clearly, the wood elves are in trouble.

8) Kidnappings -- a lower level game that never really was finished. Daj and Lucky discovered kidnappers were bringing innocent folk into the Underdark and there are still nearly two dozen to save...even though one was already sacrificed to the EEG...!

9) Kids' Game -- another one-nighter set in Amberwood. Only relatively innoculous APPEARING PCs that would be found with the children of Amberwood should apply.

10) the Highlands -- at the very least, I want to do some foreshadowing of some of the adventures I have in store AFTER the Apocalypse is over. And I know several players were really itching to trot out their Scottish PCs again.

I would say games in yellow need to be done from a campaign-perspective.

[Admin]

My preferences are:

1) New Heroes....just where will get ourselvest too ??

2) Shattered Circle -- although not sure who I would play at this point...

3) Elf Game -- I could play Darya...although if Slee and Gamoth are going, I'm probably not tall enough for the ride.

4) Kid game -- I don't really have any kid PC's in Amberwood, Ray has one though

5) Highlands -- would be MUCH higher, but i'm not looking forward to yet another war in the highlands...

6) Chendl -- It's so low on my list because I get a little overwhelmed by the 'WAR' scenarios...

7) Any of the others...but I'm pretty flexible overall...

[Artec]

1) New Heroes
2) Shattered Femur ahh... circle
3 Chendl---let the knights unite
4) elf--Zevi wants to save the forest, cliffy wants air time and save the wise one
5)Highlands--Boodan maybe a coward but he is our coward, and willing to save the Highlands
6)Kids game--- Stalking wolf is 3 yrs old i think
7) all others
Ray

[Andy]

I'm toootally up for NH, obviously, and SC if that's what's happening. I'd loooove to send someone along into the T of G, but those seem the highest priority to me.

I'll state this from a player standpoint - defending Chendil to the death only accomplishes killing all the characters involved. IMHO, it is NOT a stragetic point, only a symbolic one. Fully agreed with the DM, even with the Heros in the city, Iuz's forces cannot possibly be held off for much longer. The pure might of numbers will eventually bring them down, figure that anyone that's been defending the city has probably been fighting, bleeding and dying and past exhaustion for weeks now. If a significant number of giants arrive at the city, that'll make things much much worse.

Now, this is a purely tactical assessment, perhaps the king and other nobles of Furyondi are willing to sacrifice their lives and the lives of the city's people (if there are any left!) and go down in glory defending their used-to-be-glorious city, nobles do that kind of thing. They may not be able to see that winning the war may involve walking away from this battle.

I'd suggest something else, though:

1. Parley with the forces of Iuz. Make an agreement to vacate the city and safely evacuate its inhabitants to the south. Perhaps add in a 1 month cease-fire.
2. Evacuate, heros escort the populace south, regroup.
3. Once regrouped, lead a glorious host to recover all of Furyondi from the heathen Orcs and forces of Iuz.
4. In addition, once the retaking begins, we get more mobile groups of heros to attack those in Vesve, other outlying areas, heck, why not start making some serious problems for actual towns in Iuz, and burn some of them down too.

Anyway, the key point, from a strategic point of view, Chendil is a complete dead-end. Feel free to debate this point, if you like.

Now, IIRC, I have two characters in Chendil right now:

Solinane: He's been in the thick of fighting for quite some time, and he's experienced to see that things aren't going well, but his loyalty to Damillia, on the one hand, and Rhom and Anni on the other hand woudln't let him just leave. If the city fell, he'd try to escape with them even more than just leave.

Jellie: She's not a warrior, but due to her Jelliness she would have the perspective to see the writing on the wall. She's also brash enough to suggest this to anyone that would listen, not in an unkindly way, though. She'd say something like, "You guys should really evacuate this city...there are a lot more of Iuz forces on their way, and I wouldn't want to see you guys get smushed."

So, what do you guys think?

[adam]

My preferences

1) the Lost Shrine of Bundashatur
2) the Temple of Ghaunadaur

Though I do not have a character that could survive for either.

3) Shattered Circle (some of the same problem)
4) Highlands

New Heroes - No interest (no character with traction to the story)

Attack on Amberwood (ehh, no real interest)

Chendl and Iuz (minimal interest, not particularly fond of war adventures unless it is special missions kinds of things.

The Elf Game (same as above)

Kidnappings (little interest due to no feel for kind of adventure)

Kids game - No interest


More interest for me in the Post Apocalypse games

Adam

[David]

Howdy Adam,

If you want, I could give you an NPC for your top two choices (7th lvl or so), but a newbie would possibly work on the other two (there are other 1st levelers there).

Howdy Elf,

You are, from the perspective of David-the-DM, completely correct. Chendl HAS no native population any longer; those that weren't raped-to-death by orcs, mashed by ogres, or slaughtered by undead were turned to vampires. The heroes and a skeleton crew of men-at-arms is all the city has. True, those heroes are the Knights of the Hart, including Rhom, Anastasia, Solinane, Mina, Tony, Amanda, Xena, and Chastity plus Corvin, Ian, Kiro, and Kee'O(Caeleia needs to cover her own fief and Garlok's in charge of Grabford), but they're no match for days-on-end assaults from thousands of orcs. This is Helm's Deep all over again.

Moreover, tactically, Chendl is screwed. Everything north, west, and east is in Iuz's hands while there is a 30 mile band seperating Chendl from "Free Furyondy" to the south. The only way people have even been able to come in is via flying mages and the like.

Now, Rhom (as you know) is a stoic, stalwart warrior, but there's no way Anni would let him make a stand here; Nathan isn't even his king! So, reason and tactics do say "let the city fall" and (maybe) "return with greater forces to take it back later".

But, as for giants, all I can say is, it's their funeral if they show. I mean come-friggin'-on! 3/5 of the Fab Five! Giants? No, they'd die QUICKER than ogres and trolls...*thwip*, *thwip*, *thwip*...left-sword, right-sword, left-sword, right-sword (now what were my ranger bonuses...?)....and..."HROLSTOV!"

[Andy]

That is true, giants would fall faster, but overwhelming numbers would easily spell the writing on the wall. Solo's only AC -4, and ~58hp, and Rhom's armor is tough, but history would suggest a jaw glassier than Raitan's. And recall that while Nightsplitter returns, Hrolstov does NOT. Kenya would make a huuuge difference, but unless we get a christmas miracle and Santa delivers her (I'd take Taarna too!) I think the battle would be

1. Giants shot up everywhere, but running in
2. huge blast goes off, many more fall
3. the next wave comes in, get shot some more
4. several more die as they approach
5. we either retreat or get surrounded
6. giants trash whatever structure we're hiding in
7. repeat

Sooner or later Hrolstov would be lost, a giant would get a x3 damage crit on Rhom, Solo's Mirror Images would get used up and that would be that. Honestly, I'd be surprised if they weren't operating at minuses from the extended activity, and even without constant attack, we're probably low on arrows or raw materials to make 'em anyhow.

So, it would be a glorious last stand, but I'd still put money on the combined forces.

Also, from RTS games that use regenerating creatures, Trolls are incredibly effective seige troops. A smart general can use them to bear the brunt of several harrassment attacks per day, each time swapping them with new supporting troops each time.

Anyhow, Jellie would make the suggestion to parley a retreat (An' Jelliciles ask, 'cause Jellicles dare). Solinane would, (only to Rhom and Anni, definitely nowhere Damillia or Chastity could hear) say to them, you know...she's right.

[David]

You're probably right, Elf. I think many giants, if not all, would fall, but then the trolls would come charging in. Honestly, the Fab Five rock at giants, but without Bart, we suck against trolls. As someone who plays a naturally regenerating creature (Kiro the ogre magi), I'm FULLY aware what a HUGE tactical advantage that is. One of my reasons from trying to get him on the Underdark and Abyss parties, even though he was grossly under-level, was that Kiro would have been at full hits for just about EVERY encounter without ever having to need a cleric...

[Admin]

So who is "in charge" of the forces in Chendl? I think we need to find Damelia and get her involved in this (even if as an NPC only). Basically, the people serving as Knights are not going to "buck" the system....they will stay and die. But who are the King's advisors?? What are the King's thoughts to the overwhelming odds?

Honestly, once the demons and devils are able to again leave the plane, I think MANY of them will "bug out"...saying screw this world! For those that remain behind, they will again become brave once they realize the worst is that they will be banished, not killed forever. This will certainly weaken the forces of Iuz at that time...Perhaps we could use this knowledge to our advantage?? Not sure how at this point....but worth thinking about.

I'm wondering if this change in the world will affect their ability to "Gate" in more friends once the apocalypse is over, that is...

[David]

Howdy Kari,

Very good thoughts. I'm going to post an answer in the Current Oerdian Events, forum under
oerdian.proboards42.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=events&thread=1134523737