Flipz

So hey, popped in for five minutes, the Master should be Jinxed, so Arthur and Rone should be at the top of the Order, both targetting the Master; yes, the Master can't be Assassinated, but Dyric and I get 4 rolls, so my Mojo can Stun and Dyric's Gold Reaper can attempt to Assassinate all of the enemies at once. Arthur again casts Light on the Master Chaos Beast from the Back Row.

To that end, I've posted one last action summary. I'll see you after Christmas is over!

Battle actions are in Pie's hands, I'll leave RP to Zeph. Sorry, folks, I'm just not feeling it, and I'll be gone all day tomorrow anyway, so... I'll do one last summary before I go, zeph. Action Summary (WBD, you forgot Triad and Haldor, so I added Triad before Bennetton and Haldor at the end in case he rolls SHIELD. ) : >Dyric (Briar Bow) v. Chaos Beast D (Back Row) Atramor (Heavy Flail) v. Master Chaos Beast (Front Row) >Hoke (Light, Vintul) v. Chaos Beast A (Back Row) Nyx (Light, Book of a Thousand Creatures) v. Master Chaos Beast (Front Row) >Arthur (Light, Sir Roderick's Sword) v. Master Chaos Beast (Back Row), or if dead, v. Chaos Beast D (Back Row) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) Cronk (Zoot's Bane) v. Master Chaos Beast (Front Row) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) >Skrall (Hunter's Crossbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) Hans (Sword of Dastan) v. Chaos Beast D (Front Row) Thothwick (Sabre) v. Chaos Beast E (Front Row) Triad (Acerpusculum Blade) v Chaos Beast E (Front Row) Captain Bennetton (Captain's Sword of Distinction) v. Chaos Beast E (Front Row) Poletad v. heal Dyric, or if Dyric healed, heal most injured party member. Haldor v. Heal Self McColt encourages Hoke

Well said, Oky. I'm a sucker for a good spy movie, and Cars 2 was a lot of fun. For me, that's all that really matters: is the movie enjoyable to watch. Cars 2 was fun to watch. Brave wasn't. (Well, that, and I have serious issues with the plot structure, but I'd best not start arguing in my current mood.)

Hey, I didn't want to bring it up! ...sorry, you probably didn't mean that personally. I'm...really not at the top of my game right now. Like, at all. Heroica's always been an escape for me, but it's just not working at the moment. The holidays have always been hard on me for the past five years or so, but especially these past two it's become more and more difficult for me to have to spend time with my family. As we reach Christmas, that pressure reaches its peak, and it's really hitting me hard this year. I apologize that I'm not my usual self, and that my contributions at this time are...well, nonexistent, actually. Sorry gang.

>_< Guys, I specifically said as long as it's not specifically biting me in the butt. This is not "not specifically biting me in the butt." Y'all owe me for bringing this up. This is a BIG nerf to Sorcerer, since it directly affects their role in the party. That said, I'm...actually more in favor of the way Sandy put it. Gives the party more of a reason to put Sorcerers high up in the Battle Order, which I still think is where they belong. Then again... Gimme some time to think about this, (although I admit it's not really my decision). It is definitely a big nerf, though, I'm trying to think of ways I can salvage my build.

..which is why I so wanted to borrow De'kra's cloak.

The difference is, with me, the QMs will actually want me, too. No, Skrall has a 0/0 chance since he's not using it. If he was using it, I wouldn't have asked.

Battle description? Also, remember that I deal Jinxed this Round! Arthur nods, firing another Light Spell at the Master from the Back Row, but if it's dead he'll take D instead. "Any reason I'm towards the middle of the order? Just curious."

I wonder what would happen if someone closed themself inside one... I don't mind, long as Alexis is with me Arthur'll do fine. Oh, and to answer Atramor's comment about Arthur not needing the Lucky Doubloon if he himself is Lucky: I seem to recall a certain Quest in which a Lucky Sorcerer had to not roll Special Damage. He was about 20 HP from winning when the dice turned on him... With the Doubloon, Arthur, Alexis, and Hoke alone make a balanced party, though I'd like to bring Poletad as well for Ether support. (If Arthur were Level 20 and could equip the Cloak of Deception in addition to his primary items and if he had his Scrolls and Lens on him, he'd be an almost-balanced party on his own; my goal is to be capable of completing the average Quest solo, even though that would never happen. Why? Because if he can do a little of everything, everybody will want him, sort of how Clerics are in high demand among all parties. )

Long as it's not specifically biting me in the butt, I'm fine either way.

Gah! Meant B! But apparently Dyric's got that one, too, so... Seeing as he didn't feel like dredging up Haldor's entire past in the first fight of the Quest again ( ), Arthur switched to target Chaos Beast A with the others.

"Excellent plan, Atramor, I'll take C from the Back Row with Light. Everyone else should target Beast A until it's dead, at which point if they switch they should take on E."

Hmm...fair enough. I still say we're better off with the Explosive Staff in Atter's hands and the Cat O'Nine Tails in Dyric's, though. Adam has SP:7 now, so the Free Hit does no damage; thus, Adam should be at 31 Health.

Action Summary (Zeph, note that your NPCs have recieved conflicting suggestions from Arthur and Skrall, if that affects anything for you): >Arthur (Light, Sir Roderick's Sword) v. Master Chaos Beast (Back Row) Dyric (Briar Bow) v. Chaos Beast D (Back Row) Hans (Sword of Dastan) v. Chaos Beast E (Front Row) >Triad (Acerpusculum Shuriken(?)) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) (Zeph: note that Alexis has equipped her Quiver, the Monkey Bar, and her Lieutenant's Helmet ) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) >Hoke (Light, Vintul) v. Chaos Beast A (back) (Zeph: note that, since Hoke can only equip two Artifacts, he has chosen his Warrior's Treads and the Cloak of Deception) >Nyx (Light, Book of a Thousand Creatures) v. Chaos Beast D (back) (if D is already defeated, same attack on A) Atramor (Cat O' Nine Tails) v. Chaos Beast A (Front Row) >Skrall (Hunter's Crossbow) v. Chaos Beast B (Back Row) Bennetton (Captain's Sword of Distinction) v. Chaos Beast D (front) Gnash (City Watch Halberd) v. Chaos Beast D (front) >Thothwick (Shuriken) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row)Cronk (Zoot's Bane) v. Chaos Beast E (Front Row) Haldor (Zoot er Isen) v. Chaos Beast C (Front Row) >Poletad v. heal the first Hero to take damage (back) McColt Encourages Alexis

OK, so since people don't seem to understand my strategy, here's a long rant on general battle strategies. No matter how you slice it, the fewer enemies there are in battle, the better off your party will be. Thus, when a party outnumbers their enemies, they should have one party member on each enemy (to prevent Free Hits), preferably their weakest Power-wise, and then focus their heaviest hitters on a single target, so that there's a high likelihood of taking the enemy down. If we focus our fire properly, there's a good chance we could take down one of the Chaos Beasts this Round.

As if they're not already? It's inherent in the system, SP has no direct downsides and is useful to everyone. Of course, smart QMs can use SP against the Heroes (I seem to recall a certain dragon that flamed Heroes' SP-granting items, making them burn the Hero for damage equal to the SP, ignoring row and SP. Or was that Endgame's Phoenix from 46? I forget. ), so it's all good.

Why are you scared about it? Planning to try to take him on in the Arena or something? Actually it's the other way around; you'll take half damage from Red and double from Blue.

The deal is, it's an effect, and an effect is a lot more helpful than +1 Health, especially if we can get it on all enemies. Mostly, though, it's just because Arthur's build isn't suited for it, since he doesn't deal AoE damage on any roll; in PvP, perhaps it would work, but it's become transparently clear that PvP just isn't going to happen here, we'll be too busy trying to survive. You do make a good point about Curesd, though. IMO, Cursed would be a lot more effective if it were tied to the WP of the weapon that deals it; when enemies attack Heroes, of course, 3 max damage per turn is devastating; when Heroes attack enemies, on the other hand, it's overshadowed by the damage output of a Level 1 Hero. Even among venoms and poison-like effects, there are PLENTY of effects that deal more damage per turn (i.e. Bleeding, which is very well used, and Deadly Poison, which for some reason never gets used on enemies in the HP range where it would really speed up the fight). Add to it the fact that it affects MAX HP instead of current and max HP, and it becomes a lot less threatening than it should be.

Yes, it does, that's one of the nice perks we Mages get. "Good point, Atramor, if we're in a decent spot next Round we could even swap then. Also, remind me to loan Miss Nyx my crown, she'll make better use of it than I could, and she could probably wear the thing without lookin' too silly, either. Skrall, after this battle's over, I'd like to borrow that shiny-looking coin of yours, I think it'd serve me well." When CM and Pandora get back, we'll totally min-max the party.

Look, have you ever seen an old, abandoned, dirt-covered and weed-choked football field in the rain? That's how I'm picturing the battle. Eh, Zeph, just go to "Adjust Color" and drag the saturation slider down about 20-40 points, then decrease Lightness by about 10; easy thunderstorm, no rain editing needed. Plus it's a good excuse for taking photos in bad lighting.

Already stated actions (in order of submission): Atramor (Cat O' Nine Tails) v. Chaos Beast A (Front Row) >Skrall (Hunter's Crossbow) v. Chaos Beast B (Back Row) Haldor (Zoot er Isen) v. Chaos Beast C (Front Row) >Arthur (Light, Sir Roderick's Sword) v. Master Chaos Beast (Back Row) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) >Alexis (Light, Mockthril Longbow) v. Chaos Beast E (Back Row) Dyric (Briar Bow) v. Chaos Beast D (Back Row) Suggested Battle Order: Dyric Arthur Hans (since his Shield has a shot at halving Health, he always needs to go early in the Round) Hoke Nyx Triad Bennetton Gnash Alexis Thothwick Cronk Alexis Atramor Haldor Poletad Arthur continues to strategise. "If one of the Guard takes Chaos Beast C, Haldor and Cronk can be on healing guard in case someone gets hurt--this is particularly important for Alexis since she's acting twice each round. Keep that in mind--we ALWAYS need some sort of healer in between a Hastened Hero's two actions. Atramor obviously needs to keep attacking until all of the enemies are poisoned, but once that's done he can remain on healing guard as well."

Normally I feel like apologizing for being over-paranoid in the initial battle of every Quest I'm in. This time, I feel as if I'm not being paranoid enough... ... Damn it! I forgot to borrow De'kra's cloak before I left. Anyhow, I'll be doing this sort of tactical analysis at the start of evey battle Arthur is in, though rest assured I will continue to summarize the already stated actions as usual whenever there is a working Battle Order in place.

I don't know why I keep getting the mental imagery of a raging thunderstorm for this battle, but I'm rolling with it. "Cronk, Atramor, Harkenshire, and I faced down three in the Battle of Drakencourt as well, if you'll recall. And apologies, Master Rone, it appears my initial assessment was incorrect. The other Beasts are likely to fall to your Assassination, however." As rain starts to pour down upon the battlefield, transforming the grass and dirt of the park to slick mud, Arthur shouts out his tactical analysis to the other Heroes. General Battle Strategy: "All right, here's my analysis of the battle:" "In terms of actions and abilities, we outnumber these Beasts almost three to one; however, that's no excuse for us to let down our guard. If you can attack at full strength from the Back Row, do it, no excuses. I think we can do just fine this battle in terms of damage, so Hans doesn't need to drink a mead this round, he can simply attack. Sir Poletad, I think you'd be best served staying on healing guard. Triad, I feel you ought to join me in attacking the Master, as you have no chance of Bleeding out if you are struck." "So far as avoiding Free Hits, we're more than covered, just make sure to pay attention so none of them get a Free Hit through our carelessness. I would suggest that as many Light-weilding Heroes attack the same target as possible, let's focus fire as we can to take the beasts out quickly; that means Hoke, Cronk, Hans, Miss Nyx, I suggest all of you join Haldor, Alexis, or myself in our attack; I, personally, would prefer you take Beast E with Alexis, so as to have maximum firepower concentrated on that target." "Remember to make conditional actions, especially if you are fighting alongside Master Rone here; if youe target falls before you engage it, make sure you have a backup in mind! For those who I asked to target Beast E, I suggest you attack Beast C if E falls. Master Skrall, I would suggest putting myself and Master Rone at the top of the Battle Order, so that my Stunning and his chances of Assassination are poised to provide the most benefeit to the rest of the party. As far as Captain McColt's actions go, I'd recommend Hastening Master Rone, followed by Sir Cronk and then myself, assuming no one takes serious damage this Round."

"I'll take the Master, with Light, Back Row. Rone, I suggest you join me, all of these seem vulnerable to Assassination, and if any of 'em need to go, it's their leader."