I'll assume you're going to chase the shadow, because otherwise we'll probably be sitting here for another week.
Your abundance of caution when dealing with the kobolds didn't work out too well, so this time the four of you decide to be quick about things. You run after the figure, turning the corner to find a large room with a pit in the middle. Two fires on the opposite side of the room cast shifting shadows on the walls, and you quickly realize that the person you were chasing is one of the goblins that is for some bizarre reason hanging around in an ancient dwarven barrow. He and his allies draw their weapons upon seeing you, and start yelling angrily in goblin.
The goblins stand with their weapons ready, still yelling what you assume are insults and challenges. They're standing in front of a large wall that is mostly featureless except for a series of levers. But that can wait. Fighting first, puzzles second.
The pit is 20 feet deep. You probably don't want to fall into it.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 9/9; AC 18
Loc: B5; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: D17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 1 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: B14; Status: Normal.
Goblin 2 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: G16; Status: Normal.
??? - ???
Loc: ???; Status: Hidden.
Sophia - HP 8/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Normal.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: D5; Status: Normal.
Whoops, mixed up strength and wisdom somehow. that should all be +2, not that it really matters, -5 is just as dead as -6.
Either way @Denada it is goblin boss time.
Pulling his crossbow, Geoffrey takes a shot at the other goblin flanking the boss, hoping the obviously superior numbers will give the team an advantage.
Geth roll 1d20+4 for crossbow attack
Geth roll 1d8+3 for crossbow damage
After the goblin goes down, Geoffrey advances on the boss, skirting the pit to verify it's depth, hoping to find it empty, except perhaps a prisoner or two. Move: D5-D7; D7-B9; B9-B10
The goblin boss fires back with his own bow, taking Sophia down with a single shot. He then moves toward one of the fires, trying to keep his distance from you.
GB attacks Sophia with his shortbow (with advantage), critically hitting for 11 damage. GB then moves to J17.
A moment later another goblin steps out of the shadows and smoke, firing an arrow at Geoffrey. If Geoffrey was two feet taller he would probably be dead, but instead he just hears the clatter of an arrow striking the wall.
G3 attacks Geoffrey with his shortbow (with advantage), but misses. G3 then moves to L12.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: D5; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 9/9; AC 18
Loc: B9; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 3 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: L12; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP -3/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Dying (0/0).
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
I do just want to say that it actually bothers me how often you players are being taken out of the action before you get a chance to do anything. It seems to me like your initiative roll is the single most important roll of any combat encounter, at least at early levels.
If I lose a goblin in one hit, that's no big deal. I have more. But when you have to spend most (if not all) of an encounter doing nothing and a significant portion of your resources getting back to the point you were at before you didn't do anything, that bugs me. And these aren't even hard encounters. I'm pretty sure if I gave you a Hard encounter it would be a TPK in three rounds at the most.
I do just want to say that it actually bothers me how often you players are being taken out of the action before you get a chance to do anything. It seems to me like your initiative roll is the single most important roll of any combat encounter, at least at early levels.
If I lose a goblin in one hit, that's no big deal. I have more. But when you have to spend most (if not all) of an encounter doing nothing and a significant portion of your resources getting back to the point you were at before you didn't do anything, that bugs me. And these aren't even hard encounters. I'm pretty sure if I gave you a Hard encounter it would be a TPK in three rounds at the most.
We already nearly had a TPK with those blasted kobolds.
Yeah I don't feel like we had these sorts of problems when my group played it, but we only played one session at 1st level, then promptly bumped up to higher stuff. This is kind of nuts (not you Denada, the system in general).
Also I will take my turn tomorrow. I just got home and need sleep.
I do just want to say that it actually bothers me how often you players are being taken out of the action before you get a chance to do anything. It seems to me like your initiative roll is the single most important roll of any combat encounter, at least at early levels.
If I lose a goblin in one hit, that's no big deal. I have more. But when you have to spend most (if not all) of an encounter doing nothing and a significant portion of your resources getting back to the point you were at before you didn't do anything, that bugs me. And these aren't even hard encounters. I'm pretty sure if I gave you a Hard encounter it would be a TPK in three rounds at the most.
This is one thing I think 4E did very right; it essentially boosted Level 1 characters to what other editions called Level 3, so that while the big baddies had more HP, too, you could at least get a few rounds in before things started falling.
The goblins focus their attention on Theresa, but only one of their arrows actually does anything effective.
GB shoots an arrow at Theresa, but misses.
G3 shoots an arrow at Theresa, hitting for 3 piercing damage.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: B10; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 6/9; AC 18
Loc: D7; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 3 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: L12; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP 1/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Prone.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
Sorry for the long wait. I was on vacation. I'm back now.
For some reason the goblin boss doesn't seem the least bit put off by the death of his allies. He simply fires another arrow, taking Theresa down just like he had done with Sophia moments before.
GB attacks Theresa with his short bow, hitting for 7 damage.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: B10; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 0/9; AC 18
Loc: I7; Status: Dying (0/0).
Goblin Boss - HP 11/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP 1/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Normal.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: C10; Status: Normal.
Posts
Your abundance of caution when dealing with the kobolds didn't work out too well, so this time the four of you decide to be quick about things. You run after the figure, turning the corner to find a large room with a pit in the middle. Two fires on the opposite side of the room cast shifting shadows on the walls, and you quickly realize that the person you were chasing is one of the goblins that is for some bizarre reason hanging around in an ancient dwarven barrow. He and his allies draw their weapons upon seeing you, and start yelling angrily in goblin.
Roll Initiative!
Geth roll 1d20+3 for Intiative
Geth roll 1d20-1 for Intiative
Geth roll 1d20+3 for Initiative
Geth roll 1d20+3 for Initiative
Geth roll 1d20+3 for initiative.
EDIT: Geth, you asshole.
Geth roll 1d20-1 for initiative
The goblins stand with their weapons ready, still yelling what you assume are insults and challenges. They're standing in front of a large wall that is mostly featureless except for a series of levers. But that can wait. Fighting first, puzzles second.
The pit is 20 feet deep. You probably don't want to fall into it.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 9/9; AC 18
Loc: B5; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: D17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 1 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: B14; Status: Normal.
Goblin 2 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: G16; Status: Normal.
??? - ???
Loc: ???; Status: Hidden.
Sophia - HP 8/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Normal.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: D5; Status: Normal.
Up First: @Nealneal
Geth roll 1d20+4 for To Hit vs Goblin Boss
Geth roll 1d8+3 for Damage
Move To: B9
Geth roll 1d20+3 for To Hit Goblin 1
Geth roll 1d6+3 for Hopefully Damage
Either way @Denada it is goblin boss time.
Edit: Oh I see what happened. Your initiative and Halath's initiative got switched around. Sorry about that.
Geth roll 1d20+4 for crossbow attack
Geth roll 1d8+3 for crossbow damage
After the goblin goes down, Geoffrey advances on the boss, skirting the pit to verify it's depth, hoping to find it empty, except perhaps a prisoner or two.
Move: D5-D7; D7-B9; B9-B10
GB attacks Sophia with his shortbow (with advantage), critically hitting for 11 damage. GB then moves to J17.
A moment later another goblin steps out of the shadows and smoke, firing an arrow at Geoffrey. If Geoffrey was two feet taller he would probably be dead, but instead he just hears the clatter of an arrow striking the wall.
G3 attacks Geoffrey with his shortbow (with advantage), but misses. G3 then moves to L12.
@Stilts, please make a death roll for Sophia.
Round 2
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: D5; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 9/9; AC 18
Loc: B9; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 3 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: L12; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP -3/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Dying (0/0).
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
Up Next: @Tox
Oh.
Nevermind.
Geth roll 1d20 for death save
If I lose a goblin in one hit, that's no big deal. I have more. But when you have to spend most (if not all) of an encounter doing nothing and a significant portion of your resources getting back to the point you were at before you didn't do anything, that bugs me. And these aren't even hard encounters. I'm pretty sure if I gave you a Hard encounter it would be a TPK in three rounds at the most.
We already nearly had a TPK with those blasted kobolds.
Also I will take my turn tomorrow. I just got home and need sleep.
Geth roll 1d20+4 for crossbow attack
Geth roll 1d8+3 for crossbow damage
This is one thing I think 4E did very right; it essentially boosted Level 1 characters to what other editions called Level 3, so that while the big baddies had more HP, too, you could at least get a few rounds in before things started falling.
"I thought we agreed we wouldn't be doing that today."
Move to C6 cast Spare the Dying to get Sophia back to one hp. then finish moving to D7, where i then draw and throw a javelin at G3
Geth roll2d20l1+2 For Ranged Attack at Disadvantage against D3
Geth roll 1d6+2 for Miracles coming true and damage happening.
@Denada
Geth roll 2d20l1+2 For Ranged Attack at Disadvantage against D3
GB shoots an arrow at Theresa, but misses.
G3 shoots an arrow at Theresa, hitting for 3 piercing damage.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: B10; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 6/9; AC 18
Loc: D7; Status: Normal.
Goblin Boss - HP 18/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Goblin 3 - HP 3/3; AC 13
Loc: L12; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP 1/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Prone.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: A5; Status: Normal.
Up Next: @Stilts
"Yes, well, projectiles seem to just be very attracted to me today."
She uses the wall as a support as she gets back up, then takes out her bow and fires a shot at the remaining goblin minion.
Geth roll 1d20+4 for ranged attack against D3
Geth roll 1d6+3 for damage
EDIT: I FINALLY DO SOMETHING USEFUL IN COMBAT!
"I hate goblins."
Move to C10
Geth roll 1d20+4 for To Hit Goblin Boss
Geth roll 1d8+3 for Damage
Geth roll 1d20+4 for crossbow attack
Geth roll 1d8+3 for crossbow damage
Move to: I7
Geth roll 2d20l1+2 For Ranged Attack at Disadvantage against GB
Geth roll 1d6+2 for Damage
For some reason the goblin boss doesn't seem the least bit put off by the death of his allies. He simply fires another arrow, taking Theresa down just like he had done with Sophia moments before.
GB attacks Theresa with his short bow, hitting for 7 damage.
Geoffrey - HP 7/7; AC 15
Loc: B10; Status: Normal.
Theresa - HP 0/9; AC 18
Loc: I7; Status: Dying (0/0).
Goblin Boss - HP 11/18; AC 14
Loc: J17; Status: Normal.
Sophia - HP 1/8; AC 14
Loc: C5; Status: Normal.
Halath - HP 12/12; AC 14
Loc: C10; Status: Normal.
Up Next: @Stilts
"Oh, crap, there goes our lifeline," Sophia says. "We better wrap this up quick."
She runs over to Theresa's side, then fires an arrow at the leader.
Move to H6
Geth roll 1d20+4 for attack on goblin leader
Geth roll 1d6+3 for damage
Move to D15
Geth roll 1d20+4 for To Hit Goblin Boss
Geth roll 1d8+3 for Damage