StickFig

Matthias has hardly opened his mouth to reply to Rone as Holla considers the axe when Calmcacil enters, turning every head at the table. The gnome lets out a low, appreciative whistle, and accepts the bag of gold, then turns back to Rone. "I am well, Master Dyric," the gnome says, "but I am weary of humanity - of our layered morality, good and evil overshadowed by friendship, kinship, alliance, and duty." Looking towards the bar, he shakes his head. "That talk is too heavy - can I get you something to drink, and savor the good that is fellowship for now?"

Matthias finishes his cider and gets up to check the quest board. He's not terribly surprised to see that he wasn't chosen for a quest; with each party only needing three and the abundance of Heroicans in the room, his chances were slim. He does notice a note from Holla, seeking an axe, which the alchemist has tacked right on top of Matthias' own For Sale ad, so he glances around the room. Spotting his target, he marches up to the table and attempts to slam Magnar's Unreasonably Cruel Axe (WP:12, deals Bleeding -3, axe) into the table. Unfortunately, it's too big for him, and he drops it rather unceremoniously onto the floor, but picks it up undeterred and sets it more carefully in front of Holla. "Master Guts, I believe you might be interested in this axe. 150 gold is my price. What do you say?"

And there's a WP:12 + Bleeding -3 axe for sale in the Hall right now if anyone wanted to make a matched set

I will concur with these two points up front. More to follow, but it is a busy week at work for me and I have a lot to think about with this quest before I say too much.

Returning to the Hall deep in thought, Matthias orders a drink - "Cider" - and takes a seat without really looking to see who he's sitting next to.

Red background one. Definitely. Not even close.

Matthias walks through the door and finds himself at the end of an unfamiliar hallway. At the other end is another door, so he follows through that one as well, and emerges in a well-lit room with a high ceiling and racks of weapons along the walls. A voice from the shadows under a staircase nearly startles the gnome as he inspects a rudimentary crossbow on one rack. "May I help you with something, halfling?" "I'm not a halfling," Matthias mutters under his breath, but not wanting to be caught out somewhere he's not supposed to be, he bites back anything further. "No, I don't think so," he says out loud, "I was just wondering what I might find down this hall." "And what did you find?" "You, I suppose." The gnome finally looks up at his questioner, and remembers his manners. "I am Matthias, the Gnome," he says with some emphasis, extending his hand. "Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" The man shakes Matthias' hand firmly, but quickly and without feeling. "I am the Copper Fox, trainer to Heroica. These halls are the Training Room, wherein new skills are learned and new professions joined. I can teach you many things, if you dedicate yourself." Matthias mind turns at once to the battles of Baltarok, and to the forest outside Ve'er. "Healing. I would learn healing, that I might ease the pain of those around me. And..." he trails off, wondering for a moment, then decides on boldness. "I have seen necromancers bring beings back from death, turned to ...not themselves. I would learn to bring men and women back fully, to themselves and not to thralldom, if you can teach me." "If you can? I can, Matthias, Ranger, Carnival Crusader. I can train you as a Druid, if you agree." Matthias gasps a little as the man adds his titles, and nods agreement. The Copper Fox shakes Matthias' hand once again, then walks away. "Where are you going?" the gnome asks. "I have other matters that need attending," the man replies as he opens another door. He turns to Matthias one more time. "You have all the training you need from me; you will call on the name of your God and creation will answer. Feel the elements around you, and you will know what to do." The door closes, and the Copper Fox is gone, leaving Matthias as confused as ever, but with a strange sense of purpose. Matthias the Carnival Crusader (StickFig) Level 16 Druid *⅙ chance to be Encouraged at the start of battle* *Immune to Bound, Slowed* Power Bonus: 10 Defense: 0 Health: 26/26 Ether: 16/16 Gold: 111 Equipment: Restored Fireball Extraordinaire (WP:9, also hits enemies listed above and below the target, user is Slowed, hand cannon), Dapper Hat (This amazingly dapper hat gives the wearer a ⅙ chance of being Encouraged at the start of any battle, headwear), Winged Sandals (Protects from Bound and Slowed effects, footwear) Inventory: Magnar’s Unreasonably Cruel Axe (WP:12, deals Bleeding -3, axe), Peashooter (WP:2, deals Burning -2, hand cannon), Grimmau's Clothespin (Prevents the first negative effect inflicted on the wearer during a battle, headwear), Helmet (SP:1, headwear), Amethyst (Darkness), Ruby (Fire), Topaz (Lightning), Elixir, Grating Stone, 2x Red Death Blood, 3x Remedy, 2x Smoke Bomb, Bedroll, Magic Compass

The Hall doors creak as Matthias pushes his way in, the newly-restored Fireball Extraordinaire gleaming brightly but still weighing him down. Looking around, he notes the elf harlot sitting at the bar, as well as Lady Purpearl - now heavily armored - sitting near a man in a bat helm. Crossing to the Quest Board, he signs his name to the lists for Quest 119 and Quest 120, though the 300 gold reward for 119 seems a much better deal to his mind. That done, he pulls a small parchment from his pocket and attaches it to the board as well. As the ranger makes his way to the bar, he notices a doorway he doesn't remember. Curious, he walks through and leaves the Hall behind him.

Matthias wanders into the Market, wondering how his coin purse never seems to have anything in it and nursing tiny muscles sore from lugging around a collection of heavy blades. Remembering Calmcacil’s advice about an “‘amerspase bag” to contain all his items, he heads first to Gnomeo’s, but the mean little gnome - he’s shorter than Matthias, even, so he IS little - doesn’t seem to know what Matthias is talking about. Maybe some of the other Heroes in the Hall can tell me, the ranger thinks to himself, and he sets about perusing the other shops. He peeks his head into Smokebeard’s smithy, and the smith promptly offers to buy up the set of weapons Matthias is hauling around on his back. Glad to trade some of his stash for a little more coin, the gnome sells Smokebeard his Ball and Chain, Fang Dagger, and Staff for twenty gold apiece and his Steel Cutlass for another twenty-five, but he can’t bring himself to part with Magnar’s axe or the Red Lizard sword. After some discussion, gnome and “dwarf” agree that Smokebeard can keep the sword, but only if he removes the Ruby for Matthias, so the smith puts his forge to work and soon has the gem removed and back in Matthias’ hands. As a last thought strikes, Matthias pays 50 gold to have the Topaz removed from his Conductor’s Helmet. - Ball and Chain (WP:4, chain) + 20 gold - Fang Dagger (WP:4, dagger) + 20 gold - Staff (WP:4, staff) + 20 gold - Steel Cutlass (WP:5, longsword) + 25 gold - Sword of the Red Lizard (WP:10, Fire-elemental, longsword) + Ruby - Conductor’s Helmet (SP:1, protects from Lightning, headwear) -50 gold + Topaz + Helmet (SP:1, headwear) The gnome leaves Anwyl's shop and continues browsing. His eyes alight on a Gentleman’s Hat in Fabian’s boutique, and when he picks it up, it’s a little heavier than it looks, due to a secrete beneath the felt. He considers it for a moment, but the weight of gold in his pouch is too nice to give up so soon, so he heads back to the Hall.

Thanks Zeph, for everything - thanks to Kint and Flipz for sitting in too! - all things aside, I had a great time.

Matthias should have an amethyst; Nerwen should have the ruby. Sweet! :thumbup: The gnome silently holds the big gun for a moment, rolling it in his hands and feeling the shiny metal. "Thank you, thank you very much" he squeaks, then composes himself and returns his voice to its usual bass. "It's beautiful." Making an effort to look around while still enjoying running his hands over the remade firing mechanism's intricate parts, Matthias adds wistfully, "This workshop is incredible. I wonder if you ever hire Heroicans to assist you in your tinkering here?" He gives a small chuckle. Looking at the Fireball again, he says, "I think I probably owe you one - if you are in need of Heroican assistance in the future, I'll be the first to sign up." The ranger motions to his animal friends, "Isn't this a beauty? It was given to me by some ...noble friends." With that, the three of the them exit the workshop, Matthias on his way to the Marketplace, glad of the company of the solemn pig and his gallant crab. Matthias only has 19 health now, I think... 6+15=21, *.1=2, 21-2=19. One more question - I assume that the Conductor helmet protects from Lightning? I lied, another one: Matthias has his Sword of the Red Lizard back (he had lent it to Samuel and somehow it ended up in Nerwen's inventory)?

"I was not intending to use it for offense, but defense," the ranger says as they trade gems, "but that is a very good point." Matthias looks pained and pensive,though it's not clear whether it's the headache or the realities of hero life that have gotten to him. This!

Going out for the evenin', and the night, and well into the mornin' I shouldn't wonder. Happy Birthday Zeph! Matthias holds the Ruby in his hands for a second, then looks at Calmcacil, his headache beginning to dull. "Lady Nerwen, I have another ruby among my things; perhaps you'd consider trading me the Amethyst for this Ruby instead?"

I think this needs to be said over here: Congratulations! And this! Happy Birthday!

"Well I wouldn't turn any of it down," Matthias replies.

Is Ball and Chain (Chain, WP: 4) a whip? Or a mace? Matthias hears Calmcacil mention borrowed items and pulls off the Quickdraw Quiver. Settling the Dapper Hat on his aching head just so, he cautiously approaches the lady of negotiable affection. "Thanks for loaning me the Quiver," is all he can manage.

Concur on both counts - Matthias would have drooled all over that XX Cannon (pierces SP!) if it had come up. And he still will if it drops in the future. And I drooled all over it from the minute I saw it hahahaha. For now, Nerwen might be able to 'persuade' Matthias into lending her the Peashooter, but I doubt it; that poor gnome has gone to too many (gun)fights with a knife. I think this is the best reason to use *10 in a PvP battle.

"I'll hold you to that, 'XX'," Matthias says. Holding the items in his hand, Matthias wonders whether the Magic Compass will help him to chose the right paths in the future.... Sensing Purpearl's intent with the shovel, the gnome speaks. "Fire is a more fitting end, Lady Purpearl. It is better that his body be returned to the stuff of creation quickly, than that he might rot or be disturbed by yet another who practices his dark art."

Welcome to Eurobricks! Sounds like you have a lot of LEGO experience - hope you will share your models here!

As the blush rising up his ears adds to the ache pounding in Matthias' temples, he remembers again that elves have excellent hearing. "Perhaps we should simply speak in the animals' language from now on, and leave Lady Purpearl out?" he says, only half-joking. Seeing the pig and his crab, he continues, "I think some healing magic might not go amiss with these two, Lady Nerwen, if you have the strength." Missed it earlier! My bad.

Exactly.

Some raw numbers, that perhaps only Flipz will be able to interpret for any sort of useful knowledge: /7 System Chauncey: Level 70, 205 Health, 4 SP Matthias: Level 16, 21 Health Matthias deals (16-4)/7=1.71 damage, call it 2, plus 2 Burning per turn. 13 turns (due to compounding Burning) until Chauncey dies. 103 turns without Burning. Chauncey deals (70-0)/7/2=5 damage. 11 turns (including *Blessed*) until Matthias dies. 5 without *Blessed*. *10 System Chauncey: Level 70, 2050 Health, 4 SP Matthias: Level 16, 210 Health Matthias deals 16-4=12 damage, plus 2 Burning per turn. 54 turns (compounding Burning) until Chauncey dies. 129 without Burning. Chauncey deals (70-0)/2=35 damage. 7 turns (including *Blessed*) until Matthias dies. 6 without *Blessed*. <disclaimer>I am not a QM.</disclaimer> First observation is that effects (Burning and Blessed in this example) have much more effect in a /7 system than a *10 system, as @Myrddyn pointed out above. I think that based on this math, Chauncey simply had too much health. If it's to be a PVP fight, then the characters on both sides need to have PC-style stats. Aventine and Chauncey didn't; Aventine had ~2x Alexis' health (using Alexis as a measuring stick because she had 1.5x the next-highest character's health) and Chauncey had ~3x. For reference, Aventine's party had 310 health and 19 SP between 5 characters (average: 62/4.8); Chauncey's party had 358 and 9 between 4 (average: 89.5/2.25). Conclusion: It was the drugs. Nerwen was right.

No, I would have preferred the health*10 system. It's pretty normal (as far as I can tell) for heroes to face enemies a few levels higher than them with 700-800 hp....

"You mean like a certain very experienced Hero you were busy sucking up to just now?" Matthias mumbles while rubbing his eyes.

Yeah, and Matthias would have gotten a way better cannon than the Peashooter hahahaha Me too.