StickFig

Cobblestone floors....

Excellent build. The maps are pretty cool, and the architecture is clean and yet detailed and interesting. +1 UoP DoH all claims!

I imagine that makes the arrows quite expensive!!!

UoP DoH +1 Nifty little scene.

Matthias slumps in his chair, exhausted and trying to relax but bombarded by doubts and fears. "I'm not a murderer. The orc was a kidnapper and a wanted man - I don't understand why the Watchmen didn't recognize him - and I'm sure his dwarf friend wasn't much better," he whispers, wondering whether he's trying to convince Midge or himself. "And I didn't steal anything. Ask Mr. Wet-His-Pants behind the bar." As he listens to his own words, a thought strikes him. "Thistlethorp, haven't you seen that man," he indicates Bors' form, "on wanted posters before? He assaulted us a couple of days back, and one of the Watchmen - maybe his name was Crowley? Or Morrison? - said he'd seen the ruffian's likeness. We were simply approaching him about his criminal activity and he decided he'd rather attack nine heavily armed opponents than come quietly." It's a stretch, but Matthias convinces himself that Purpearl's demeanor wasn't the cause of the fight.

I didn't figure the Smoke Bomb would work... oh well, if Alexis hadn't tried it, Matthias might have. Matthias is incredulous. "The previous charges were inconsequential from the start," he says, "and I'm not about to help you attack my friends, who have committed no crime." Ignoring the puffing guardsman, the gnome stares at the stairs for a moment, then climbs into the nearest chair. Looking at Midge, Matthias says, "Grab a chair - on the one hand, I'm sure the ladies can handle themselves, and on the other, this can only get worse." The ranger then says the same to his animal comrades, adding, "I never thought heroing would get me in trouble with the law!"

Matthias, struck dumb at Berthadhiell's continued belligerence, can hardly believe his eyes when she slashes at the Watchman. "What are you doing?!" he cries. Taking the Fang Dagger from his waist, he slams it point-first into the table in front of him, then does likewise with the Steel Cutlass and Ball and Chain, finally laying his borrowed Peashooter carefully alongside. His anger and his energy drained, the gnome realizes that he's seriously damaged the furniture, so he places the Soma on the bar behind him, muttering to Featherhead, "You can't say I stole this - you didn't have Soma for sale in the first place - but you can sell it and buy a new table, I'm sure. Coward." Facing Thistlethorp, Matthias holds out his hands for the cuffs. "Take me in, Watchman. The sooner we get this sorted out, the better. Ladies, 'XX', Master Russel and Sir Pigley, I think we should just go with them." Matthias doesn't translate the last bit for the animals, but he's sure they take his meaning.

Ummmm, can Matthias drop his current quest and take the 1000 gold offer? One principle being kill all the dwarves, apparently. It has surprised me how hard it has been to play Matthias lately - he's definitely a "moral" character - lawful good necktie, if you will - but he doesn't have a basis of laws to act from, since there is no centralized authority in Eubric/Uland, at least that he's encountered. He's a king's man gnome, for sure, but without an anointed-by-Orrik king to back up, he's a little lost. The meetup with the Watch will be especially difficult, I think, because in Matthias' mind they are the closest thing to an authority that exists.

Matthias shakes his head sadly at Thistlethorp. What has happened? he wonders. "I don't think the lieutenant is going to listen and acquiesce any more than the villains we've run into thus far," he comments to Calmcacil. "I have no idea what to do, but Private Thistlethorp and I know each other and I don't think he will be violent." Focusing again on his acquaintance from the Watch, Matthias says, "They were kidnappers and thieves, who meant to do us and others violence. I am a good shot."

Matthias, not terribly surprised that Berthadhiell brushed his suggestion for placating Featherhead aside, pockets the soma and gold and adds the Ball and Chain to his collection of melee implements. Taking inventory of his belongings after the sneezy battle, the gnome looks from 'XX' to the man's shorter friend and asks, "Midge, thanks for the help. Will you be joining our party? And Samuel, what about you?" he adds.

Matthias finishes shrugging back into his gear and rolls his eyes as Fenral babies the bartender. "Why don't you just shut up?" he asks the man, not really hoping for a response. He eyes the pile of loot 'XX' throws at Purpearl's feet, but his morals get the better of his greed. "Lady Purpearl, I think most of these belong to the noisy one behind the counter," he says, indicating Featherhead. "Maybe if we put them back and head quietly to our beds he'll shut up."

I don't know what you're talking about. P.S. - Marchlands is actually a thing....

Matthias picks himself up off the floor after Sneezy's nasal explosion, pulls the Quickdraw Quiver back onto his back, and re-slings the Blood Oath Medallion around his neck. "Master Russel says we should spare the dwarf," he translates belatedly, "and I'm beginning to believe his story myself." The artifact still hangs in Matthias' mind, but it seems they won't get much more from Sneezy.

Matthias isn't quite sure he's heard what he thinks Calmcacil just said... but not for the first time, he wonders where the writers at Gnome Informer magazine got the idea that elves are all pacifist do-gooders. The little gnome is surprised to find that he's all but forgotten what their real errand was... he grits his teeth, determined to finish Sneezy off if the dwarf isn't completely forthcoming.

"You may not live long with your weapons," Matthias notes. "What was the artifact you and Manboobs over there were working on? Who gave it to you? What were your plans for it? Tell us that!"

Matthias, immensely gratified to see Samuel up and fighting again, readies the Peashooter to continue attacking Sneezy, but the dwarf's plea moves him to wait for Berthadhiell's instructions. The gnome calls to their adversary, "Not so bold once your big protector is out of the picture, ehh? You could try handing over your weapon, leaving all those bottles on the bar, and telling us everything you know about whatever job you were doing, but it's not me you have to convince, it's her." He points at the elf mage. "I'd make it a pretty good offer - and quickly! - because I don't think she's in a merciful mood." > Matthias: Peashooter vs. Sneezy unless Purpearl decides to talk

I think a lot of the frustration with the bridge battle had to do with having to use a turn to move between sections and an ambiguous set of rules - did it take one turn per section, or one turn to move no matter how far? I still don't know - rather than having to maintain a front row. If no other mechanics are changed - moving between rows is still a free action, etc - I think it would add a lot of interest to battles. I think that sounds cool, and it's actually only a little more complicated that what we use now. It's still probably a bridge too far, and I think that the idea of a "free hit" is that every PC is occupied, so no one can handle the remaining enemies, so they are free to hit whomever they like (ie whoever is first in the battle order ). Both of these are still just as interesting - or more so! - with a requirement of at least one hero in the front row. For instance, if a lower level or generally ranged (back row) character becomes *Enraged*, the party has to decide whether to stack the front row with healthier, shieldier (is that a word?) heroes or gamble and let the Enraged guy take a hit....

Has it ever been discussed whether there is required to be at least one character in the front row of a battle? I'm wondering if that might be an interesting mechanic... QMs could provide situations where an obstacle (the counter in a bar, a fence in a pasture, a cart in the road) allow all heroes to fight from the back row, but I've been wondering: when they're all in the back row, who are they behind?

Just want to emphasize this so it doesn't get overlooked in my earlier wall of text.... Matthias hears Berthadhiell calling out directions and bites his lip in frustration as Samuel's body weighs on the floor and the ranger's lack of healing power weighs on his mind. "I've got a Phoenix Essence I'll use on Master Samuel if no one else does." > Matthias: Peashooter vs. Sneezy > Matthias: Phoenix Essence vs. Samuel if he is still down, next Peashooter vs. Sneezy, last do nothing

I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a surprise or something but then I saw this:

Here's the link to infoboxes that tells you how to create them. And yet you didn't post the link here? Wow, so many quests going up... it's great! Also, Quest #108 doesn't list a QuestMaster in the Hall topic post.

It was out of character because I just couldn't figure out a way to say all of it in-character. I've got to work on my in-character stragetizing; I don't want Matthias to be as ...strategically vocal as, say, Arthur Justus Regulus VII, but I do want him to become better at it as he becomes more experienced. Wow, that'll never happen again. How I wish Matthias had the Fireball for that round... would have done a total of 108 damage to each, meaning Bors would be dead.... The battle commences and Matthias is horrified to see the young paladin go down. He channels his bursting rage into a display of incredible marksmanship. He is satisfied with the results and even feels a glimmer of pride as he sees 'XX' grinning. He shoves it down though, as Samuel continues to lie inert on the floor. "Can someone help him?" the gnome cries out to the others as he readies the Peashooter for two more shots at Sneezy. > Matthias: Peashooter vs. Sneezy > Matthias: Phoenix Essence vs. Samuel if he is still down, next Peashooter vs. Sneezy, last do nothing EDIT: Just caught this - Matthias has power 15 (power bonus +1) (not that it matters a lot, but every little bit helps):

Good point, I knew there was something I wasn't seeing. This is why I ask questions! This is something else I hadn't thought of. I've left it out of the calculations below because with it in, Russel, Samuel, and Matthias are all at risk of KO. Revised Recommended Battle Order Purpearl: Scroll of Confusion vs. Bors (Max damage 0) > Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Bors (Max damage 25, 7 health remaining) Nerwen: Mourning Star vs. Bors Sneezy (To maximize our chance of killing Sneezy this round) > Russel & Pigley: Crabspirator vs. Sneezy (Max damage 4, min 3 health remaining) Samuel: Lizard Sword vs. Sneezy (Max damage 15, 7 health remaining) Midge: Magnar's Axe vs. Sneezy (Max damage 16, 5 health remaining) > Matthias: Peashooter vs. Sneezy (Max damage 8, 9 health remaining) > Matthias: Peashooter vs. Sneezy (Max damage 8, min 1 health remaining) Alexis: Steel Fan vs. Sneezy (or Bors if Sneezy's dead) (Max damage 62, 11 health remaining) > XX: XX Hand Cannon vs. Sneezy (or Bors if Sneezy's dead) (Max damage 27, 22 health remaining)

LEGO bricks are made of ABS plastic; one of the three main ingredients in ABS plastic is a petroleum product. I don't think it's likely that ABS will be made without petrol any time soon, and if it is, I doubt a toy maker like LEGO has that at the top of their research budget. I would guess it's about having anything related to oil/petroleum/greenhouse gases in the toys - so gas stations, Shell flags, etc... they're mad about the marketing partnership where LEGO uses Shell's logo on bricks.

Bigger is better.