Monday Night Static Group - Lite RP - Sarlona

[Postumus]

Can't wait to practice again... :P

[Rig_O_Mortis]

101915 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	15
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	15
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	15
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	15
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	12/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	15

We held our Second Annual Crucible Practice last night. In a few years, we’ll have it down, and we’ll actually finish the quest. We entered The Crucible on Elite.

We did all right through the Maze (Test of Cunning) because Nacolito was directing us through.

Naco: K

Us: Okay

Naco: K

Us: Um…okay

Naco: K, K, turn the K valve!!!

Us: Oh

Naco: Arrrggg—there is no O valve!


Bruggs got the Test of Agility on the third try and grabbed the horn.

Zanbaur carefully maneuvered down the collapsible path and made it pretty far, but one by one, he and the rest of us fell through to the water below—except Twizzix . She managed to land on some brickwork arch and jumped high enough to grab the edge of the floor with her fingernails. She then hauled herself up and over the edge. She wore her smug face after that. On to the Test of Instinct.

Risarr read the book to figure out which door to open. The prize was behind door #3.

After running across the upper area of the maze, there it was: the Test of Endurance. Our nemesis.

Bruggs went into the water armed with pots, wands, and cakes.


Bruggs: Uh oh, wands don’t work underwater.

Naco: Nope, but you should have about 100 pots on you.

Bruggs: @#%!


He tried. Ding! Risarr tried. Ding! Xerxax tried. Ding! Bruggs recalled and came back to try it again. The cycle repeated itself. They got quite a bit farther the second time though. Nacolito quit manning the valve and jumped in for a go at it. Ding! Twizzix thought, “What the heck?” and jumped in. Ding! Zanbaur was the last machine standing in the end. That was our final quest of the evening.

We ran two other quests earlier in the night--both on Elite: The Prison of the Planes and A Cabal for One. Neither gave us much trouble.

Highlights:

· Bruggs could define “cabal”
· Nacolito, unusually quiet for the first two quests, broke into song during The Crucible
· We found out Xerxax speaks Spanish
· Risarr can read
· Zanbaur guiding Bruggs through the Maze after his first attempt through the Test of Endurance
· Xerxax and Risarr cheering Bruggs on through the Ronco Rogue-O-Matic (It slices and dices!)

Thanks to Nacolito for posting a video study guide for the Crucible’s underwater swim:

We’ll study, we’ll practice, and we’ll try it again…maybe even this year.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

102615 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	15
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	15
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	15
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	15
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	12/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	15

A mostly silent group ran through Gianthold, felling the big guys right and left. We polished off Trial by Fire, The Maze of Madness, Feast or Famine, A Cry for Help, Foundation of Discord, Gianthold Tor/Return to Gianthold Tor. We ran all quests on Elite and had just a sprinkling of deaths over the course of the evening.

We got nostalgic as we went through A Cry for Help. Jorotte used to nail the cry. (“Somebody! Anybody! Please help me!”) Jorotte, may your tusks grow long and your enemies short wherever you are.

A little bit of life crept in with Naco singing “Guantanamera,” and Zanbaur throwing down grease for us to slip and slide through while Bruggs disabled a trap, but we had no fire.

We’ve been together for over two years (except for Risarr, but he’s one of us now). We’re on our second lives (except for Nacolito—3^rd? 4^th?). And…I think we’re in a rut.

What are other groups doing to maintain the fun and keep the excitement going? Suggestions welcome unless they involve gels or hand-held motorized devices. (Do you have wagers to see who lives the longest? Do you roll for treasure? Do you limit your weapons, spells, etc. for a night’s run? Do you have death penalties?)

Here’s a tacky yet lively version of Guantanamera with a mariachi band:



Next week: We quest at level 16—woot!

[Nesis]

We are not currently doing this and I don't know if it would fit into your play style. I have seen a post about a group that roles for their race, and class I think they also role for sex and alignment but those do not play that big a role in the game. The first role determines if you are a single class or a multi-class. The next is what your first class will be and so on.

Hope you find what you are looking for 2 years is a long time keep up the good work

[Rig_O_Mortis]

We are not currently doing this and I don't know if it would fit into your play style. I have seen a post about a group that roles for their race, and class I think they also role for sex and alignment but those do not play that big a role in the game. The first role determines if you are a single class or a multi-class. The next is what your first class will be and so on.

Hope you find what you are looking for 2 years is a long time keep up the good work

That’s an interesting approach, , Nesis—more like being born, as it were. That could work when we TR again.

After reading your post, I realized I was having a whine and cheese party. Our group is great in all kinds of ways:

· We show up…unless technology fails us, or we let others know we won’t be available
· We show up on time
· We’re ready to go
· We support each other
· We stay in the fight even when it gets long or rough (The Twilight Forge, The Crucible)

Change is inevitable, I suppose. We change as we get more familiar with each other; we change as we get to know the quests better; we change as we get to be better players.

Enough with the pensive musings—time to play!

[Postumus]

102615 Monday Night Roster


What are other groups doing to maintain the fun and keep the excitement going?

Lately I've been watching episodes of Critical Role while playing, so that helps for the more boring quests.


In The Flesh last night was pretty fun though. Had a little adrenaline rush going at the end fight.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

110215 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	16
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	16
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	16
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	13/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	16

Last night we headed to the Harbor sans our barbarian, who had no doubt partaken in Night Revels a bit too heartily (particularly those held in The Open Palm Inn). We had heard about strange disappearances occurring in Stormreach and decided to investigate what was going on. We spoke to Tessa Aster and she sent us to Godwick Spurge, who in turn sent us to the Saltire District to tackle the Missing quest. We defeated a warforged in a silly hat who looked remarkably like a Chaos Beholder—or the other way around—or something. No major issues.

We finished off Sinister Storage and Fear Factory in much the same way as Missing—fairly cleanly, doing optionals, not hurrying, but wasting no time. All quests were run on Elite. We had two deaths over the course of the three quests.

Good news/bad news:

The bad--we ran In the Flesh and had nine deaths in the final fight (four of those were by Bruggs alone)

The good—Nacolito did not die once, and no one had to reenter the final fight

Highlights:

· Zanbaur in his new Delighter’s Docent (even though Naco called them pajamas)

· Zanbaur getting back at Naco by climbing up a ladder right after him with his horned helm on—that had to have hurt

· Xerxax enthusiastically talking about going to cap

· Bruggs solving the optional puzzle wheels in In the Flesh

· Twizzix finally learning how to use Smite Evil (“Wow—that works pretty well!”)

· Naco stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive

[Postumus]

· Twizzix finally learning how to use Smite Evil (“Wow—that works pretty well!”)

Only took until level 16? Lol.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

Only took until level 16? Lol.

She says she thought it was a toggle-on attack; she didn't realize it was directional until recently--uh...Monday night. Hey, she has high Strength and Charisma. Intelligence and Wisdom? Not so much.

[Postumus]

She says she thought it was a toggle-on attack; she didn't realize it was directional until recently--uh...Monday night. Hey, she has high Strength and Charisma. Intelligence and Wisdom? Not so much.

Did you know if you have zeal running you can get double smites too? Zeal + Divine Might + Smite and you will be dealing a LOT more damage.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

Did you know if you have zeal running you can get double smites too? Zeal + Divine Might + Smite and you will be dealing a LOT more damage.

Why, no, I did not. I told Bruggs I didn't know why my DPS was so low; he said I needed to use my Paladin "stuff" like Smite and Holy Sword. That's when I looked at Smite more closely. I have Restoration right now, but I'll change it to Zeal for next week. Thanks!

[Postumus]

Why, no, I did not. I told Bruggs I didn't know why my DPS was so low; he said I needed to use my Paladin "stuff" like Smite and Holy Sword. That's when I looked at Smite more closely. I have Restoration right now, but I'll change it to Zeal for next week. Thanks!

Use scrolls for restoration. Even Naco does that. You want to be running holy sword, zeal, and divine might (max ranks) constantly, then smiting the heck out of stuff.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

110915 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	16
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	16
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	16
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	16
Xerxax	Bard/ROGUE/Fighter	Drow	13/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	16

We went flying across the rooftops of Wheloon Prison Monday night to accomplish Friends in Low Places and A Lesson in Deception. We also completed the three quests in the Disciples of Shadow story arc (Diciples of Shar, Escape Plan, and Shadow of a Doubt). All quests were run on Elite.

We had only two deaths in five quests; Xerxax experienced them both. He has two levels of Rogue, so he likes to “help” Bruggs find traps. It's not working out too well.

Highlights:

· On Xerxax’s low health/deaths

-Naco: Do you have a heal spell, buddy? It’s the one with the big red cross.
-Xerxax: Well, I was using it, and right in the middle I died, so now I’m afraid to use it.

· On Twizzix using Holy Smite

-Twizzix: That’s so cool the way their heads explode, and light rays come out of the top.
-Risarr: Wait a minute! I expect that from a Barbarian but from a Paladin? What’s your alignment again? That’s just sick and wrong!
-Twizzix: Ooooo, it happened again!

· Friends in Low Places went surprisingly well.

· We leveled up to 17.

Here’s a video showing four of us in Wheloon. The lighting has been adjusted so you can see through the murky atmosphere. Even though it looks like Paris, it isn’t. Even though it looks like live-action Assassin’s Creed, it isn’t.

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/7174388

[Rig_O_Mortis]

111615 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	17
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	17
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	17
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	17
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	14/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	17

Oh, yeah, you betcha! Ever had Newfoundland steak? How aboot scrunchions, eh? Washed it all down with some screech? Then you might be from North Eberron, ya know. Both Risarr and Zanbaur hail from the North and fed us gastronomic information on their favorite dishes as we ran Delirium. Xerxax thought they were both full of bologna, but they said no, they hadn’t had Newfie steaks since coming to Stormreach.

While discussing Northern cuisine, we quaffed our own form of screech in a drinking game with Quixxellops the beholder and his buds. We handily drank them under the table. We do our best to practice this skill on a regular basis, as you never know when it may come in handy—case in point. We went on to rescue the servants and guests, kill a key, fight flesh renders, young beholders, and zombies with ham heads, solve some puzzles with flying tiles, and defeat Knizzlenak. Gotta love Xoriat quests!

From Xoriat’s haven in the Sleeping Spell Inn, we headed to the Vale of Twilight. We completed Rainbow in the Dark where Twizzix had a ton of difficulty crossing the spike pit. Nacolito patiently talked her across with lots of healing and a few raises, and Zanbaur gave her helpful visual aids. After completing the quest, everyone took off for Let Sleepng Dust Lie in the Crimson Foot Hive…except for Twizzix. She ended up completely lost until Bruggs guided her to the quest entrance. Maybe Twizz needs more practice holding her liquor. Let Sleeping Dust Lie took the rest of the evening for us to complete.

All quests were run on Elite.

Next week: Back to the Vale

[Rig_O_Mortis]

Venimus ! Vidimus! Vicimus! We finished the Vale quests.

We are now level 18.

[Rig_O_Mortis]

113015 Monday Night Group Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	18
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	18
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	15/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	18

The times, they are a changin’. Risarr the Barbarian has left our group due to technical issues. Thanks for running with us, Risarr. Good fortune wherever your adventures lead you.

Nacolito was missing last night. None of us could find him on the ship or in town. Naco, we are hoping nothing more than wine, women, and song took you for the evening, and we hope to see you next week.

Since we were short-manned last night, we decided to employ two hirelings to pick up the slack. Unfortunately, slack is what they both excelled at. Nice guys and all, but…meh.

We had recently heard about a mysterious crack in the Harbor wall. The Church of the Silver Flame thought cultist followers of the Lords of Dust were behind this issue. We figured the best way to find out was to investigate the Web of Chaos for ourselves. We completed all three quests in this story arc on Elite.

First, we tackled The Lords of Dust only to find that Inquisitor Gnomon is not the good guy he makes himself out to be. We did okay in this quest, so we figured we might as well keep going.

Next, we took the Road to Tarath Marad in the Servants of the Overlord. We had more than a few deaths in this adventure, but managed to keep going to the end. Xerxax pulled a Silver Slinger, and then, graciously, offered it to Bruggs.

Spinner of Shadows. Should we? Shouldn’t we? Of course we should.

Us: Zanbaur, what’s the plan?
Zanbaur: Just outlast her.

Outlast her we did, but it wasn’t pretty. We suffered heavy casualties and a party wipe, but we prevailed.*

Next week: Xerxax is traveling for his day job, so he won't be available.


*Special thanks to the bakers of Spirit Cakes—um…who are they anyway?

[Rig_O_Mortis]

120715 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	18
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	18
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	18
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	18

Okay, the times aren’t changing that much. Risarr, thankfully, took her technology issues to House Cannith. They went, “Ohooo, well, we’ll do this, this, and that, and you just flip this switch here, and press this button.” Whir, hum—Risarr was back in business and ready to wreak havoc.

We still only managed four group members last night. Zanbaur evidently had some Warforged things to take care of, and XXX was out of Stormreach on Bard business.

The remaining crew took on the Reign of Madness quests with varying degrees of success.

Acute Delirium—We got off our airship in the Twelve and found Rorry Malcanus crying his eyes out. Apparently he had “borrowed” the Scepter of Belashyrra to gain points with his gf. He showed it to her during their lunch in the Sleeping Spell Inn a few days ago. She was impressed, but a portal to Xoriat opened up which ended any hope he had of dessert (wink, wink). We took pity on the silly boy and headed into the Inn on Elite to retrieve the scepter. The beholders and other critters made short work of us before any dancing beds could be assembled. We decided Hard would be a smarter choice without a full group and tried again. We had success assembling the ship, getting swallowed by a beholder, and then getting regurgitated when we gave the beholder severe heartburn. We wrapped the quest up neatly and let Rorry off the hook although his gf still isn’t speaking to him.

The Sane Asylum--"Run! It's casting something nasty!" Bruggs and Naco worked the puzzle, and we all worked Nurse Ratchet. Success on Elite.

The Lord of Stone--Bruggs cast invisibility on us and we made a speed run to Orlassk, the Lord of Stone. More success on Elite.

The Lord of Eyes–Belashyrra got the better of us. We made it to the final fight and got overwhelmed by the bad guys three times. We decided to call it a night after the third party wipe.

Highlights:

· Bruggs learned the term “meme”
· Belashyrra’s reclining pose

Two questions:

· Where is a beholder’s stomach? (Risarr thinks it is behind his right ear.)

· Who makes the better recliner? (No, La-Z-Boy isn’t one of your choices.)

A.





B.





C.





D.




Twizz is a Deadpool fan, so she votes for B. Belashyrra is entirely too sure of himself, she can’t tell where the person begins, and the rug ends in C, and sugar gives her a headache. What do you think?

[Rig_O_Mortis]

121415 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	18
Nacolito	Cleric	Human	18
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	18
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	18
Xerxax	Bard/Rogue/Fighter	Drow	15/2/1
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	18

The whole group was together again-- a twangy welcome back to all.

Bruggs wanted to see Reaver’s Refuge. He’d heard stories about the calm, spa-like atmosphere along with a tavern to weep over. We looked at him skeptically.

Us: Who the heck have you been talking to, Shortstop?
Bruggs: Just, you know, other Halfling friends.
Us: Ahhh (rolled eyes). Sure. Why not? We haven’t crushed any delusions lately.

The trick, of course, is finding your way out there. Once we all managed that, we headed to Pray on the Hunter. Zanbaur took us to the quest entrance without a hitch.

Bruggs: Brrr, this isn’t much of a spa-like atmosphere. Where’s my drink with the little umbrella?
Us: You, seriously, need new friends.

Giants and more giants ganged up on us. Rudolph wolves were plentiful. We were without Nacolito at first, as he had to finish his evening prayers, (praying for something, praying on something—not sure) so we were glad when he joined us to fight. Bruggs, the little trickster, was pretty flip when Nacolito showed up.

Bruggs: You just got here, and there you go, running off not knowing where you’re going.
Twizz: Psst, Bruggs, he DOES know where he’s going.
Bruggs: I know, I know--just yankin’ his chain.
Naco: Hey, Squishy, want heals?

Yup, together again.

After several yellow alerts, we made it to the maze. Right hand rule for the win! We eventually got the upper hand, but it was quite a fight. FUN!!! It was also good to see Aussircaex again. We just don’t see enough of her now that we’re done with Korthos.

After a brief respite in the tavern Bruggs said was supposed to be THE tavern to end all taverns (it wasn’t), we headed out to Mount Reysalon to take on Enter the Kobold. Even when they’re trying to kill you, kobolds can be sort of...endearing. The puzzle was challenging, but Naco, Zanbaur, and Xerxax took care of it. Risarr and Twizzix, scouting ahead of the group, both fell into the spike trap.

Naco: Watch out for the...DING, DING...spike trap! *Sigh*

The end fight was…tough. Nice team work, everyone! Kudos to Xerxax, who remained outside the flame barrier by the last shrine to help anyone needing succor. Everyone else went in to fight.

We fought. We died. We resurrected. We fought some more.

Naco: Go slice ‘em up, Twizzix. I’ve got you.
Twizz, on noticing her heath bar going down, down, down: Uh, Naco…HELP!!! NACO?! Oh...you’re dead.

Twizz retreated and healed up. Naco was raised. All was well again. Whew!

Tough fights, great night!

Next Week: Take level 19! Monastery of the Scorpion and Stealer of the Souls.

Of musical note, and just because it’s cool--The Shadowfell Conspiracy music, link courtesy of Steelstar:

https://soundcloud.com/turbinegames/sets/dungeons-and-dragons-online

[Rig_O_Mortis]

122115 Monday Night Roster

NAME	CLASS	RACE	LEVEL
Bruggs	Rogue	Halfling	19
Klin Stegen	Cleric (Hireling)	Halfling	19
Lag O' Plenty	Spell Caster	Imp/Devil	Legendary
Risarr	Barbarian	Human	19
Twizzix	Paladin	Human	19
Zanbaur	Wizard	WF	19

Xerxax and Nacolito were unavailable last night.

We continued our exploration of the areas in Reaver’s Refuge. Since we were short a full party, we picked up two additional players: Klin Stegen, hireling cleric, and Lag O’ Plenty.

Now, Klin is a decent enough hireling for healing, but he has the trap sense of a turnip. We raised him; he raised us. Quid pro quo. After Risarr healed himself with an Eternal Wand of Cure Light Wounds, Klin would provide those vital last few hit points the barbarian needed. He was a valuable addition to the group.

Valuable additions, however, do not come any finer than Lag, our new best friend. He was there throughout the evening without complaint. He NEVER failed us once. If there was a bad guy, particularly a boss, we could count on Lag to be right there with us every step of the way. If we got held, Lag would finish the job; if we tried jumping onto precarious places, Lag would keep a firm grip on us. He even made sure we didn’t make any bad loot choices and worked it so that we had plenty of time to make our selections. He was there after Klin had left—even after most of US had left. What a guy!

We started the evening by picking up all explorer points in the three wilderness areas of Reaver’s Refuge. We ended in Soami Gardens where we found explorer points along with the entrance to the Monastery of the Scorpion quest. We decided to give it a try on Elite. As Risarr said, “What could go wrong?”

Some things did go wrong, of course—some of us died, and we didn’t figure the puzzles out right away. Mostly, though, things went right, and we had a lot of fun. Zanbaur provided superior leadership, and Bruggs did a slick job finding and disabling all the traps. Risarr and Twiz provided the brawn. In the end, Zanbaur said he had never seen this quest go so smoothly. Awww!

To all the DDO community, I wish you peace and good fortune.

--Twizz

[Oilfan73]

Thumbs through my mountainous pile of papers looking for my hidden code for the forums.

"I found it!" (queue spotlight from the heavens - aaaaaaaaah)

I'm back on here baby!

Just gonna make this post like a Bruggs. Short and sweet. Risarr was my new "main" character since returning from my hiatus from the game. Although I joined the group recently, I've been enjoying getting back to the static groups and playing one of my favorite classes to boot!

Last Monday's run went very well all things considered. Zanbaur stepped up and took up the leadership role and did an excellent job at it. Bruggs also did a spectacular job at taking down all those traps too. (On a side note, Risarr needs to have a talk with that little guy. Between Bruggs' "pew pew pew" of his repeater, Zanbaur's magic shooting past Risarr's ears and Nacolito's implosions, it's a wonder that Risarr manages ANY kills. They're usually dead before he gets to them. This tends to extend Risarr's rage. Sure, sure..."look at the money you are saving with less equipment repairs" Blah, blah, blah! :P). Twizzix has been Risarr's melee buddy all throughout...even though she's poppin' heads like she's Orville Redenbacher with that smite (and they say I'm the barbaric one. Pfft!) The run went well and the end fight with the puzzle went really smooth. With the help of some heals, Risarr managed to keep the Guardian's aggro whilst the smart people did the puzzle. We didn't get through a lot, but the run had a nice casual pace to it.

FYI - Risarr has already maxed out on heroic XP so she'll be running "with a full belly" until we level to 20 (when Nacolito earns the 8,579,650 XP needed to get through lvl 19).