CMP

I look the look, but the bright green and the bright orange on the pants is eye-watering.

Atramor examined the lock thoroughly and grumbled. "Double cylinder lock. You need a key on both sides. Unless they locked the guards in, there's a key in here, and a key out there. Or maybe just in here." With little other options, Atramor tried to pick the lock.

"Yeah, Doc U'Reeka. He was trying to figure out some way to replicate three dimensional objects from images. The initial experiment was just supposed to be an apple..." "We weren't trying to copy the elves' techniques, we just, you know, adapted them." "Not very well."

I'm pointing out that it's unlikely Karie knows what Heckz's party ran into.

"Uh....well-" Posco grabbed Wally by the collar. "You're responsible for all this, kid? You put your family and friends all in danger to fulfill the curiosity of some insane scientist?" Eva grabbed the back of Wally's shirt and tugged him away from Posco with surprising strength, shooting daggers at the assassin. Wally nervous brushed her off. "It's - it's fine, I, I just...well, Doc was looking into...you know, moon elf stuff. See....the window you came in through? The Wolfgangers didn't dig it out, I did. But this....was years ago, before they were even there. I never did go inside, but when Doc started telling me about Nu Mercution, I connected the dots. I told him I might know of a way into the city. I didn't think the Baron would approve so I snuck him, me, and our equipment in there. He realized we would need more, so I figured I could trust Shelby to trade supplies with me while keeping quiet about it..." "Sorry, Mag." Maggie watched Wally asipll the beans quite disapprovingly. The young gnome rubbed his neck and continued. "...I wasn't there when Doc did the experiment. When I got back to the observation room...which those trapdoors in the dormitory and dining hall lead to, by the way....the AIUPIIUP was spitting out those shades like nobody's business. The Doc, he...they took him, down into the forge. Opened the door somehow and closed it behind them. The only way I know of is to try and redirect the beam of light into the mechanism on the diagram there. First we'd need to get to the AIUPIIUP and stop those shades from coming. Then we'd need to set up the extra mirror Em has, and get the beam to hit the sphere on the lower left."

That is a weirdly specific message.

Jeaux, Hybros, Em, and their troupe of citizens come down Pretzel's passageway, coming upon a small, ancient library. The monk and Wally stand next to a rockling and another gnome. "Eva!! And, uh, mom!" Posco does a quick headcount. "That's everyone, I think. All the citizens plus the visitor." He points lazily at Melvin, who just shrugs. "And Wally. Who I was not aware was among us." "That bein' the case, how about someone shed some light on just what the hell is going on here, and if we're seriously going to be dragging everyone along with us." Party Jeaux Elmfyre (joeshmoe554) *Blessed* *Transcended* *Immune to Sealing, Bleeding, and Confused* *Party Leader* Unknown age automaton male Evoker Level 17.5 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 21/25 Ether: 18/18 Gold: 615 Equipment: Divine Cannonade (WP:11; gives blessed- and transcended-effects to user; hollow; handcannon), Enchanted Bracelet (protects from sealing; accessory), Automaton Armor (SP:2, immune to bleeding and confused; suitable to automata only; bodywear) Inventory: Eminus (WP: 5; bow), Ranger's Quiver (WP+1; backwear), Topaz, Soma, Smelling Salts, Tonic, Grand Tonic x2, Grand Potion x6, Remedy x4, Venom x2, Volatile Venom x4, Jinxy Juice, Smoke Bomb, Water Bomb, Bedroll, Bone x6, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory), Amethyst, Experienced Turdwing (Deals the confused and poisoned by 1 effects on an opponent when used, fly familiar), 3 Health Cores, Phoenix Essence Summons: Thunder Mode Soryx Dourskull (NPC, controlled by Palathadric) *Favors Dark* *Counterstriking* *Immune to Darkness, Ice, Hexed, and Confused* 43 years old male wereviper Hunter Level 22.66 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 16 Health: 37/37 Gold: 26 Equipment: Vanquisher (WP: 23, light, ice, and lightning elemental, greatsword), Darksteel Armor (Suitable for anyone, SP: 6, max health +3, immune to darkness, hexed, and confused, bodywear), Counterstrike Gauntlets (Suitable for Soryx, SP: 7, if the wearer is damaged by a Free Hit, they counter with strength equal to their level), Frost Helmet (SP: 3, ice immune) Inventory: Dastan Dual Axes (WP: 7, 1/6 chance to seal dragons, dual-strike, axes), Cracked Starbeam Dagger (WP: 10, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, throwing weapon) Erveka "Eva" (NPC, controlled by joeshmoe554) 19 years old female kobold Chi Monk Level 17 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 36/36 Ether: 20/20 Equipment: Pointy Teeth (Suitable for kobolds, martial hits deal the bleeding effect, accessory) Inventory: None Hybros (JimButcher)*Hastened* *Lucky* *Immune to Cursed, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Fragile, Weakened* *Immune to all elements* 53-year-old male imp Assassin Level: 30.25 Power Bonus: +1 Defense: 0 Health: 45/45 Gold: 1224 Equipment: Sword of Ancestral Hatred (WP: 45, gains 1/4 WP every kill made with it, light-, darkness-, fire-, ice-, and wind-elemental; longsword, poisoned by 10), Golden Armor (user is permanently hastened and cursed, fire-, water-, earth-, wind-, wood-, ice-, lightning-, darkness-, light-elemental, grants immunity to Sleep, Blindness, Confusion, Frailty, and Weakening; bodywear), Cloak of the Red Assassin (Chance of Assassination is 1/3, suitable for Assassins; backwear), The Black Hat (Suitable for anyone, grants Intimidation, immune to darkness and cursed, headwear) Baron's Epaulets (Suitable for short heroes, grants Command over short NPCs) Inventory: Zoot's Reaper (WP:15, earth-elemental; scythe), Clock Cog (WP:14, retrievable), Banana Bladerang (WP:9, damage all, retrievable), Justice (WP:8, causes blinded-effect, dagger), Twin Kunai (WP:6, dual strike, daggers), Spinning Bolas (WP: 5, deals the Slowed effect, but the effect is removed when retrieved; retrievable), Wrench (WP:3, decreases the target’s level by 1, retrievable), Cloak of the Blue Assassin (SP:1, suitable to Rogues; backwear), Sterile Gloves (grants immunity to poisoned- and bleeding-effects, handwear), Minuet of the Forest (Causes Wood damage equal to the minstrel's level to all enemies per round for as long as the song is sung. Costs 10 ether per round. Minstrel Song), 8 Potions, Grand Potion, 6 Health Cores, Tiger Balm, 12 Remedies, 2 Neutralizers, 3 Elixirs, 2 Phoenix Essences, 2 Deadly Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, 3 Holy Bombs, 4 Nostrums, 3 Meads, 3 Mulled Wines, Minimizing Dust, Bedroll, Shovel, Skeleton Decoy, Bone, 4 Mythril Shards, 3 Pumpkin Bombs (causes stunned-, poisoned-, asleep-, blinded-, sealed- and confused-effects to all opponents when used), x2 Gold Rings (Worth 15 gold; can be given to someone to make them enamored with the giver), Pauldrons (suitable for knights, dragoons, and skirmishers, SP: 2, accessory), Fenghuang Essence (After being consumed, automatically revives the target with full health once when knocked out; cannot revive targets that are already knocked out), Ancient Starbeam Dagger (WP: 12, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, throwing weapon), x3 Crescent Shields (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Sticky Gloves (gains 50% more gold, suitable for Rogues, handwear) Em (emjajoas) *Lucky* *Slowed* Unknown age human male Warden Level 16.5 Power Bonus: 2 Defense: 17 Health: 15/32 Gold: 56 Equipment: Aquabow (WP: 7, Water-elemental, poisoned by 10), Spare Mirror (Suitable for anyone, carrier is slowed, accessory), Iron Knuckle Armour (Body, foot, and hand wear. Counts as one artefact. Usable by knights and dragoons. SP: 10. Cannot be removed by enemies), Fashionable Shield (SP:7) Inventory: Consumables: Smoke bomb, Grating Stone x2, Nostrum x2, Potion x3, Remedy x2, Venom, Grand Potion x3, Mead x2, Ambrosia Weapons: Quality Cutlass (WP:6, Dagger), Bow(WP:5), Aging Starbeam Blade (WP: 9, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, longsword) Tools: Bedroll, Shovel, Pickaxe, Equipment: White Marksman's Hat (⅙ chance of Assassination vs. Flying monsters; Headwear), Gentleman's Hat (SP: 1, suitable for men, headgear. The wearer has a 1/2 chance to not be affected by (Asleep), Ranger's Quiver (+1 WP to all Bows/Crossbows), x2 Crescent Shields (SP: 5, halved damage from elemental attacks, shield), Anniversary Medal (Artefact/Accessory) (Power +2, SP +2, Max. Health +2, Max. Ether +2. The values will increase by 1 with each passing year) Posco Padfoot (NPC, controlled by emjajoas) *Immune to blinded* *Explodes when knocked out* *Lucky* 111 year old male halfling Assassin Level 75.2 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 10 Health: 90/90 Gold: 29082 Equipment: Hellfire and Damnation (WP: 50, dual strike, deals damage to undead, deals poisoned by 250, daggers), Cloak of the Ex-Blue Assassin (Suitable for former blue assassins, immune to blinded SP: 10, backwear), Tattered Hood (Suitable for Posco, attacks deal the fragile effect if assassination fails, headwear), Peasant’s Robe (Suitable for anyone, +4 maximum health, bodywear), Talisman of the Last Resort (Suitable for suicidal old men, wearer explodes on being knocked out, dealing 200 damage to all enemies, accessory) Inventory: 83 Spoiled Nostrums (Deals the doomed and lucky effects), 86 Spoiled Smelling Salts (Deals the bleeding and hastened effects), 89 Spoiled Meads (Deals the poisoned by 25 and encouraged effects), 55 Deadly Venoms, 45 Venoms Maggie McFry (NPC, controlled by emjajoas) *Civilian* 37 years old female gnome Artisan Level 1 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 20/20 Gold: 0 Equipment: Hammer (WP: 1, hammer) Note: As a civilian, the NPC dies when knocked out at the end of battle. Melvin (NPC, controlled by JimButcher) *Civilian* 82 years old male dwarf Minstrel Level 1 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 16/16 Ether: 9/9 Gold: 0 Equipment: Out of Tune Slidewhistle (WP: 1, instrument) Note: As a civilian, the NPC dies when knocked out at the end of battle. Shelby (NPC, controlled by joeshmoe554) *Civilian* 22 years old female gnome Cleric Level 1 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 9/9 Gold: 0 Equipment: Rigid Stick (WP: 1, staff) Note: As a civilian, the NPC dies when knocked out at the end of battle. Vinum (NPC, controlled by joeshmoe554) *Civilian* 104 years old male dwarf Alchemist Level 1 Power Bonus: 0 Health: 18/18 Gold: 0 Equipment: Rigid Stick (WP: 1, staff) Note: As a civilian, the NPC dies when knocked out at the end of battle. Monk Pretzel (Played by Palathadric) *Immune to Fragile* 463-year-old male "hermit" Paladin Level 28.33 Power Bonus: 5 in front Defense: 10 (15 in back) Health: 49/49 Ether: 28/37 Gold: 936 Equipment: Dual Staff (WP:8, Ice, Lightning, Fire, Wind, Light; dual strike; staff), Counterstrike Gloves (handwear), Heavy Armour (SP:5, Immune to Fragile, Strategist's Shako (+5 power while in the front row, +5 SP while in the back; headwear) Inventory: Heavy Flail (WP:5, causes fragile; mace), Mythril Shield (SP:20), Flying Cross (WP:6; Darkness; broomstick), Ethereal Cloak (SP:2, Max Ether +4; backwear), Steak (WP: 1; instantly kills vampires on successful hits; suitable for all), Impervious Shield (SP: 5; grants immunity to Fire), ), Duplovian Helmet (SP: 2; Immune to Magic and Healing; headwear), Bumble Fanshirt (SP: 1; Vermin with level less than half of the wearers are scared and won't directly attack the wearer; bodywear), Soothing Slippers (meditation restores 5 ether; footwear), Magic Viper Skin (heals 1 health to wearer each round of battle unless knocked out; accessory), Shackles of War (accessory), Amethyst, Scroll of Sealing, Scroll of Blinding, Scroll of Arc Sleep, 3 Potions, 7 Grand Potions, 5 Tonics, 2 Ether Cores, 7 Remedies, Neutralizer, Grand Elixir (Restores full health and ether to target and remedies all negative effects), 3 Phoenix Incenses, 2 Smelling Salts, 5 Venoms, 5 Deadly Venoms, 2 Paralyzing Venoms, 3 Smoke Bombs, Fire Bomb, Holy Bomb, Military Grade Fire Bomb, Bedroll, Magnifying Glass, Telescope, Magic Shovel (will always find something when used, limited to three uses per quest), 10 Bones, Raw Meat (+5 max. health upon consumption), Archaic Starbeam Blade (WP: 15, damages undead, double WP from dusk until dawn, breaks after one use, longsword), 2 Health Cores, Bunch of Cherries (A bunch of 10 cherries that each restore 1 ether when eaten; it is up to the user to choose how many they eat at a time), Soul Link Chain (Allows the user to pair up with another party member, each of them gaining all the effects that the other has. The partner has to equip the chain as well (ie. one chain can be shared by two people); accessory) Shovel, Pickaxe, Rock Gauntlets (Suitable for anyone, grants the wearer Iron Fist at no ether cost, handwear) Wally (NPC, controlled by Palathadric) 11 years old male gnomish Artisan *Immune to Blinded, Doomed, Fire, and Light* Level 15.5 Power Bonus: 0 Defense: 2 Health: 29/35 Gold: 0 Equipment: All-Purpose Wrench (WP: 17, damages undead, hammer), Neat-o Goggles (Immune to blinded, light, and fire, accessory, suitable for Wally), Syndicate Cowl (SP: 2, Immune to Doomed effect) Inventory: Telescope, Magnifying Glass, Bedroll, Pickaxe, Shovel, 4 Potions, 4 Grand Potions, 5 Health Cores, Handy Suitcase (SP-2, use 2 Items; accessory)

The basic and expert class lists, I think, are almost all written like that. It's only weapon types that are specifically listed.

I like the idea. A dedicated, consistent tank is something Heroica really needs. I still think the Marks system is still kind of complex. Maybe the Vanguard can spend one turn to take a Stance that activates the first time an enemy deals Damage or a Free Hit in a round?

"Best I can do so far... 1. Rio, 40, spear, common room 2. York, chiman, sword 3. Carson, 35, gnome, mace, roof 4. Milan, 25, man, axe, kitchen 5. Diego, 15, zombie, dagger, jail 6. Austin, 30, ogre, halberd, bathhouse "

Winged Warrior already does that first thing. I don't really get the tank idea. It just sounds kind of a needlessly complex way to deal damage.

We ought to start digging through these trash cans, then. They're an integral part of BioShock's economic system.

The Circus of Values. Or the Gene Bank or Gardner's Garden. A lot of vending machines in that game.

The Broken Tribes are the warring remnants of old Baltarok that kept to the old ways rather than having to consolidate in order to survive. Me and Kint already talked about it a bit.

I think I'd like to do one more short shot quest at some point soon. Then next up is the moderately large one that offers Marauder.

Maybe the Regulator could choose to sacrifice a certain amount of health in order to change battle styles?

Atramor glances at the door, ignoring it, and and searching for any loose floorboards or passages in the walls.

It's interesting, but the random factor that the class is based around combined with the nerfed Pheles Rod makes Atramor more of a wild card than a super tank with plenty of damage to dish out. I stress wild card more than jack-of-all trades because as witch the role you fulfilled wasn't dependent on your roll, it depended on what you chose to do. Basically, I can't twist it to my hilariously overpowered advantage as much as I thought I would. But it's still a well-balanced and fun class.

Hold on, let me delve into the infinite labyrinth of gibberish that comprises my expert class ideas. I had sort of a warrior monk class idea called the Ascetic that would channel one of four spirits at the cost of 5 ether, and gain buffs when they attack. One was based on defense, another on outright offense, one on marking a specific enemy, and one that granted multiple positive effects but degraded health and ether. I kind of like Chi Monk how it is, but the changing battle style idea is ripe to be used in another expert class.

I tried giving you a cool artifact.

It's from one of the sidequest battles going on right now and I found the contrast between the two hilarious for some reason.

Hellfire and Damnation (WP: 50, dual strike, deals damage to undead, daggers) Out of Tune Slidewhistle (WP: 1, instrument) Two different NPCs, same battle. I love how unexpected they can get.

Well, I meant the random enemies are FROM other Quests, but they don't get removed from active Quests.

Wren had a special that brought random enemies into battle, but it didn't steal them from another Quest, that'd be just bizarre.

"It tells us there's only one guard left. And that this place is bigger than it looks like." Atramor heads back into the hall and opens the chest.