StickFig

Heh, I was going to say that if no one else bought that, Matthias would certainly pay more than 50 gold for it in the hall... if anyone loots it from Diana, the offer stands. Aside from that, he wouldn't mind having a Sanctified Rito Crossbow, but don't expect as much gold as for a Precision weapon. Heweyrt: An NPC who gets it.

Matthias, loading the Peashooter for another shot, is terribly confused as a pink envelope appears in front of him. He notices that similar envelopes have appeared in front of Fenral and Calmcacil. Following the paladin's lead, he plucks his envelope from the air - Time seems to be passing very slowly, he thinks to himself - and reads the invitation. Excited by the prospect of having his pockets a little less empty, he quickly signs his name on the reply slip with the included quill and the whole apparatus vanishes in a tiny puff. The moment passes, and the gnome thinks no more of the strange envelope or its contents as he finishes loading and goes back to the fight.

Matthias is Encouraged and has a power bonus. "Heh, most of the time we start by protecting those who protect us, and fighting those who attack us." Matthias winks darkly at the Red Assassin, his confidence raised by the powerful being guarding the party. "Although we're open to hearing your claims... but you'd better speak up fast." To punctuate his point, the ranger fires twice and waves the others forward to do the same. Suggested Battle Order Nerwen: Sword vs. Avery Alexis: Fan vs. Avery Midge: Axe vs. Avery Samuel: Sword vs. Avery Matthias: Peashooter vs. Avery Matthias: Peashooter vs. Avery Bert: Halberd vs. Avery Thistlethorp: Heal vs. Bert Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Avery Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Avery I'm good with auto-rolling until the Guardian Angel goes away... unless Avery has some really interesting things to say.

As Crowley expires, Matthias makes the sign of Orrik, and the movement turns into an arm-thrust as Calmcacil's angel appears. "Everyone, attack!" As he fires the Peashooter, the gnome adds to Samuel, "Paladin, would you assist Lady Alexis? We need her back in this fight quick." Matthias: Peashooter vs. Assassin Matthias: Peashooter vs. Assassin Rules question: is Alexis not Hastened any more because she was KO'd? Suggested Battle Order Nerwen: Sword vs. Assassin Samuel: Phoenix Essence vs. Alexis Alexis: Fan vs. Assassin (twice if she's still Hastened) Midge: Axe vs. Assassin Matthias: Peashooter vs. Assassin Matthias: Peashooter vs. Assassin Bert: Halberd vs. Assassin Thistlethorp: Heal vs. Bert Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Assassin Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Assassin P.S. - It still doesn't say that Matthias is Encouraged....

Suggested order above modified accordingly. The only other suggestion I have is that Alexis needs to use a Nostrum on Nerwen prior to Nerwen's attack, but we really need her to attack too... anyone else have any ideas? "I'm glad you don't think your drinks or your dislike of the law worth dying for," the ranger winks to the battle mage "and I'll give you one to make up for it later." Suggested Battle Order V2.0 Matthias: Switch Dapper Hat for Quickdraw Quiver Matthias: Smelling Salts vs. Alexis Alexis: Nostrum vs. Nerwen Ruffers & Pigley: Mead vs. Alexis Midge: Mead vs. Bert Nerwen: Sword vs. Assassin Alexis: Fan vs. Assassin > Bert: Halberd vs. Assassin Samuel: Heal vs. anyone who gets hit Thistlethorp: Heal vs. anyone who gets hit Ruffers & Pigley: Phoenix Essence vs. anyone who dies (or Crowley?) Matthias re-corks the Mead and uses a Smelling Salts on Fenral instead. "Another change of plans, Master Russel - could you feed a Mead to Lady Alexis?"

Sweet, got encouraged, not that it will help hahahaha. So, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and it's been a long time since my last statistics course, but I don't thinking having all of us attack is the best option, even given Passive Special IV. It comes down to expected value. Current Battle Order Alexis: 2/9 chance to die = 0.22 Total Expected Deaths Nerwen: 2/9 chance to die = 0.44 Total Expected Deaths Midge: 1/3 chance to die = 0.77 Total Expected Deaths Matthias: 1/3 chance to die = 1.11 Total Expected Deaths > Bert: 2/9 chance to die = 1.33 Total Expected Deaths Thistlethorp: 1/3 chance to die = 1.67 Total Expected Deaths Samuel: 1/3 chance to die = 2 Total Expected Deaths Russel & Pigley: 1/3 chance to die = 2.33 Total Expected Deaths Passive Special IV: 1/8 chance to kill = 2.46 DEATHS EXPECTED THIS ROUND Suggested Battle Order Nerwen: 2/9 chance to die = 0.22 Total Expected Deaths Alexis: 2/9 chance to die = 0.44 Total Expected Deaths > Bert: 2/9 chance to die = 0.67 Total Expected Deaths Passive Special IV: 1/3 chance to kill = 1 DEATH EXPECTED THIS ROUND TL;DR: If we tone down the number of players attacking, we lose fewer party members. There are only two essences available, so at no point should Samuel or CrabPig ever attack. Zeph - More questions: Does Guardian Angel stop the Passive Specials? Matthias readies his weapon but the Assassin's easily apparent speed and skill shocks him back to reality. This is a foe that is very likely to take his life. The gnome steps back from the fight and motions several of the others to do likewise. "Watch out - if you get nicked you're dead!" Standing against the wall, he pops open a Mead and slings the liquid into Fenral's mouth as best he can - she's going to need it. "Sir Pigley, could you two give Nerwen a Mead?" "Midge, I'm sure Bert could use a little liquid courage as well!" Suggested Battle Order - See V2.0 below. Matthias: Switch Dapper Hat for Quickdraw Quiver Matthias: Mead vs. Alexis Ruffers & Pigley: Mead vs. Nerwen Midge: Mead vs. Bert Nerwen: Sword vs. Assassin Alexis: Fan vs. Assassin > Bert: Halberd vs. Assassin Samuel: Heal vs. anyone who gets hit Thistlethorp: Heal vs. anyone who gets hit Ruffers & Pigley: Phoenix Essence vs. anyone who dies (or Crowley? Can we even try to save him? I think it's not a good move strategically but....) "I want to save him too," Matthias replies to the crab, "but we may need that essence for others later." "Good thinking!"

Zepher casts Understatement. It's super effective! Also, Midge put his stuff on so he should have 8 SP, not that it helps him in this fight. Last thing - is Matthias *Encouraged*? There's no point in anyone but Nerwen* and Bert fighting from the back row. In the Front Row: Nerwen*, Midge, Samuel, Matthias, Ruffers, Bert, and Thistlethorp will get killed on any bad roll. In the Back Row: Midge, Samuel, Matthias, Ruffers, and Thistlethorp will get killed on any bad roll. *On EVEN rounds Matthias comes awake at Midge's shouts and is horrified at the instant carnage around them. Without any potions or essences in his pack, he's useless to help Morrison or Crowley, but he does see that Bert is too close for comfort. "Bert, step back! You're too close!" he yells as he pulls on the Quickdraw Quiver. To the crab and the pig he adds, "Morrison is beyond our help and Crowley is in a bad way, but he will have to wait. Can you two hit the assassin just once? I'll do the same." With that, the gnome puts a an expression of grim determination on his face and fires the Peashooter at the assassin, jumping up right in front. > Matthias: Switch Dapper Hat for Quickdraw Quiver Matthias: Peashooter vs. Assassin RuffPig: Crabspirator vs. Assassin

Flipz, half the time when you post here I'm lost because I haven't read every single other thread that's ongoing... when are you going to learn to quote so that people know what you're talking about?

I feel like this seems really, really overpowered. "Hi, I'm ENEMY_BIG_BOSS and I have 10000000000 health!" "Hi, we're the heroes and we cast PETRIFIED on you!" "I'm dead."

Wait, did the rules change, or have I been doing it wrong the whole time?! It happens to me on a daily basis. That's part of the interesting-ness of Heroica: you never know what order things will happen in or who might post next.

I can't speak from experience to any of your questions, but I can imagine this one well enough: No.

Matthias' disappointment at not going exploring in the tunnels is tempered by his exhaustion. The gnome shoves his bedroll against a wall, leans back against it to rest, and begins to snore quietly within seconds.

"Well, I'm not too smart about magic and spells," Matthias admits, "but once upon a time I saw some mages make an ice bridge over a river, so I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. We'll have to find another way to block the trapdoor, or just keep a close watch down there. Say, could you at least cast a little light down into the gloom so we can see if there's anything there? Not too much that it can be seen outside our little hut here, but..." The ranger puts his hand on his bedroll, but waits for Midge's answer - he wants to see whatever is below them. To the Pig, Matthias says, "You two are closer to eye level for me, and since no one else but Lady Nerwen can understand you, I figured we probably make the best pair. And speaking of some mages, I wonder what is happening with Lady Purpearl? I thought we were friends after our travels with the circus, but recently I'm not sure I know her...."

Matthias rubs his eyes against the darkness and is disappointed that there's simply not enough light to see, then laughs at Midge's career description. "Say, could you do some magic to seal up this trapdoor without drawing too much attention?" Turning to Fenral, the ranger continues, "I'm exhausted. Do you think we might all take turns to watch through the night? Probably at least two of us should be up at any given time, but there are 10 of us, so that shouldn't be difficult. I'll take a later watch with Master Russel and Sir Pigley since we get along well" - the gnome winks at the animals - "but I'd appreciate it if we didn't have the first watch."

Matthias hears Midge shut Fenral down... Ouch! he thinks. He peers into the darkness, looking for any occupants, usable items, or sewer connections that are visible, as well as anything that might help them block the trapdoor. "Anyone have any bright ideas on how to secure this door?" he says to the whole group. "Maybe we could have a few of us stand on the door to keep it closed, but if the Crimson Crown sends mages or explosives that might be a bad idea." Yes, I know that the Crimson Crown doesn't have mages, but Matthias doesn't. Happening to glance up for a second, Matthias realizes Midge isn't wearing his armor. "Midge, you might want to throw on your mail, and your helmet. Who know's what's coming."

Rats, Sandy, you beat me to it. This is a good change.

Matthias smiles quietly at Midge's indignant confusion. Once upon a time the ranger would have thought it impossible to sleep before a battle, but now, fifteen battles into his career, sleep seemed pretty high up on the pre-battle priority list. The gnome continues to investigate his surroundings, taking a peek through the wall where possible and then focusing on what appeared to be a trap door in the floor. At this Matthias can't help but laugh, if grimly. "Lady Alexis is right, Midge - it is a fairly normal occurrence for us, except stabbing the Lieutenant. I don't know what's gotten into Lady Purpearl lately...." The gnome trails off, but as Midge continues to question the party's methods and choices, he speaks up again. "We do our best, usually, to work for good, though I do know a few 'heroes' who would just as soon loot you as look at you. The orc we killed earlier was wanted for a long list of crimes - not least of which in our minds was that he and some others attacked us and kidnapped our charge a few days ago." Matthias wonders what else he could say truthfully in defense of his organization, and realizes that's about it. "On the whole, we hope we can do more good than harm, but it's not wise to cross Heroes." I'm having trouble keeping up with who has what and who's wearing what - can we get a full party stats update? Thanks.

Are these whips? Clubs? Maces (Maci?)? I know it's not that important, I'm just wondering.

Congratulations! Down with Windoze!

Matthias, once again keenly aware of his empty pockets, agrees with the sentiment but is pretty sure he understands the reason: cost. After his earlier run-in with the Crimson Crown, he's not overly worried about the attack, but he takes off the Quickdraw Quiver and puts on his Dapper Hat instead. The ranger moves slowly around the room, pushing and tapping at the walls and dirt floor, looking for loose boards or stones in the walls, or diggings under the floor. "Master Russel, Sir Pigley, do your animal eyes and instincts see anything here that mine don't?" he queries.

"I'm not sure - and I don't think he knows either." Matthias replies. Looking to Thistlethorp, he adds, "We were accosted by a Crimson Crown assassin, who only said that the Private had 'dealt with nefarious men,' I think."

Hmmmmmm.... I mentioned Robe of the Archmagi precisely because it doesn't seem to have fallen into that category for a lot of players - even very, very high level ones. For instance, right now it's being used by Nyx, Namyrra, Ellaria, Heckz, Thalion, Amorith, Amma, and Sylph. The only character who has one and isn't wearing it is Nerwen. Perhaps what you're saying is true, but there aren't a lot of caster artefacts (with SP especially)? Hooray! Welcome back, Zeph - eagerly awaiting in #102!

So, like, Robe of the Archmagi?

Who isn't?!

Matthias explains the events to Ruffers and Pigley, leaving off the bit where Andrew referred to them as 'pets'. He's unsure who to be angriest at - Berthadhiell, for her unexplained violent streak; Featherhead, for his overly loud cowardice; or the Lieutenant, for being a jerk in general. "Lady Alexis, I'm fine with you leading," he says as they follow the Watchmen. Walking at the back of the group with Thistlethorp, Matthias questions his friend. "When was Sergeant Andrew promoted to Lieutenant? And I don't suppose there's any chance now of collecting the bounty on Bors...."