Another Gaming Comic - latest additions

Another Gaming Comic - latest additions http://agc.deskslave.org The latest transcribed Another Gaming Comic comics, powered by OhNoRobot.com en-us Tue, 31 May 2011 18:12:02 -0000 60 AGC #266 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=266 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=266 Tue, 31 May 2011 17:59:23 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=266">AGC #266</a> Jill: Should we look for a place to rest, now that we used our... Dan: Our DEATH STAR attack! Jill: ...cleric team-Flame-Strike maneuver? Joe: I don't think we have to worry about that...we all still have lots of spells left, and Dan has tons more "nuke" spells, even if the rest of us don't have as many. Plus, the stuff down here doesn't seem all that dangerous...for a module adventure. Steele: Look, I admit that you breezed through the encounters so far, but there's no way you can keep that up. The fights only get harder...you should NOT take them lightly. [[Next fight...]] Steele: ...a pale-skinned human in fine clothes, and a towering 8-foot mummy with a large jeweled headdress and heavy armor. Jill: So a Vampire and a Mummy-Lord... Steele: I didn't say that! Jill: No, but you aren't denying it either. Joe: This time, we are actually high-level clerics; if anything, our characters knowledge of the Undead should be greater than our player knowledge. Steele: NO character could have more player-knowledge that YOU! They haven't read all the books! Joe: I'm honored that you think so Steele. Dang: Dan, could you blow up the vampire? They... Steele: Hey! If you want to give him advice, give it in character! [[In-character pics of Dan and Dang's clerics face each other, each looking a little bit like their respective players]] Dang: Sorry. "Rashar: if the pale one truly is a vampire, as Gull Tarak suggests, then it is vulnerable to sunlight." Dan: "I know that, uh..." Dang: Barrin Crook-Nose. Dan: "I know that, Boring!" Dang: Barrin. Dan: Whatever. I activate my Lesser Metamagic Rod of 'Maximize Spell' and cast Searing Light on the vampire-looking dude. Take 60 damage with no save if he is undead, or 80 if he is vulnerable to sunlight. "DIE, NIGHT-SUCKER!" Steele: I would be horrified by your crazy damage (and I think I am horrified by that inexpensive magic item that lets you maximize your level 3 spells for free), except that Searing Light is a ranged-touch spell, which means you have to make a to-hit roll. His touch AC is 18. Dan: I roll a 16 plus bonuses, suck-it! Steele: -10 for your non-proficiency with your Tower Shield. Dan: DAMMIT! Dang: Dan, why didn't you just take that Feat... Dan: NEVER! I'm not paying for my FREE AC! Joe: Dan, how many missed spells will it have to cost you before it's not "free" anymore? Dan: FREE AC! AGC #266

Jill: Should we look for a place to rest, now that we used our...
Dan: Our DEATH STAR attack!
Jill: ...cleric team-Flame-Strike maneuver?
Joe: I don't think we have to worry about that...we all still have lots of spells left, and Dan has tons more "nuke" spells, even if the rest of us don't have as many. Plus, the stuff down here doesn't seem all that dangerous...for a module adventure.
Steele: Look, I admit that you breezed through the encounters so far, but there's no way you can keep that up. The fights only get harder...you should NOT take them lightly.

[[Next fight...]]
Steele: ...a pale-skinned human in fine clothes, and a towering 8-foot mummy with a large jeweled headdress and heavy armor.
Jill: So a Vampire and a Mummy-Lord...
Steele: I didn't say that!
Jill: No, but you aren't denying it either.
Joe: This time, we are actually high-level clerics; if anything, our characters knowledge of the Undead should be greater than our player knowledge.
Steele: NO character could have more player-knowledge that YOU! They haven't read all the books!
Joe: I'm honored that you think so Steele.
Dang: Dan, could you blow up the vampire? They...
Steele: Hey! If you want to give him advice, give it in character!

[[In-character pics of Dan and Dang's clerics face each other, each looking a little bit like their respective players]]
Dang: Sorry. "Rashar: if the pale one truly is a vampire, as Gull Tarak suggests, then it is vulnerable to sunlight."
Dan: "I know that, uh..."
Dang: Barrin Crook-Nose.
Dan: "I know that, Boring!"
Dang: Barrin.
Dan: Whatever. I activate my Lesser Metamagic Rod of 'Maximize Spell' and cast Searing Light on the vampire-looking dude. Take 60 damage with no save if he is undead, or 80 if he is vulnerable to sunlight. "DIE, NIGHT-SUCKER!"

Steele: I would be horrified by your crazy damage (and I think I am horrified by that inexpensive magic item that lets you maximize your level 3 spells for free), except that Searing Light is a ranged-touch spell, which means you have to make a to-hit roll. His touch AC is 18.
Dan: I roll a 16 plus bonuses, suck-it!
Steele: -10 for your non-proficiency with your Tower Shield.
Dan: DAMMIT!
Dang: Dan, why didn't you just take that Feat...
Dan: NEVER! I'm not paying for my FREE AC!
Joe: Dan, how many missed spells will it have to cost you before it's not "free" anymore?
Dan: FREE AC!]]> AGC #265 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=265 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=265 Tue, 31 May 2011 17:53:51 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=265">AGC #265</a> [[Some time later...]] Steele: The passage opens out into a massive natural cavern, full of long thin stalagmites and stalagtites. Fifty feet away, a huge giant with light glue skin and trim white hair and beard, rises to his feet, towering over you in fine Full Plate armor. Steele: "I had heard that some little ones were on the way. I have crushed many skulls, most much larger than yours, and so I will give you a sporting chan-" Dan: I interrupt his flavor text by casting Flame Strike! Steele: *SIGH* If you want to interrupt him, I will give you a surprise round, but I'm warning you: he is a very powerful opponent, and right now he seems determined to put himself at a disadvantage for honor's sake. If you attack him now, he'll show you no mercy... Jill: I'll take a surprise-round over honor any day. Go ahead Dan. Dan: 13, 14...here we go, 15 dice... Steele: I'm serious; this guy's Challenge-Rating is 2 points above you. Maybe you should at least hear what kind of concession he was going to... Dan: "Take 55 damage, with regards from Rashar Burnison...loser!" Steele: Okay, if that's the way you want it. What's the save DC for your Flamestrike? Dan: Reflex twenty-seven. Steele: Ow! Well, despite the saving throw bonuses from his Blackguard levels, the Frost Giant Jarl fails. Joe: And takes double damage from the fire. Stelee: ...And takes double damage from the fire. Although Flame Strike is only half fire and half divine damage, and the divine part is not doubled. Steele: Okay, Jill: what do you do in your surprise round? Remember, you only get 1 standard action. Jill: I know that! My character, Gull Tarak, will call upon the power of Hextor to cast his own Flame Strike. Dan: Commence Primary Ignition! Steele: Ow again. Well, at least he saved for half damage, against this this one. Dang? Dang: Barrin Crook-nose casts a Flame Strike. Uh.. of Farlanghn...yeah. Steele: Joy. Let me guess, Joe... Joe: Ironbeard Blue-Axe, seeing the success of his fellow clerics, demonstrates that the wrath of Pelor is as swift and sure as that of the other deities. He waves his axe and curls the fingers of his shield hand, chanting the mystic prayer to unleash the power that Pelor granted him this morn' to shock and awe the evil and the unbelievers, to deliver them in flame and fury, to... Steele: To Flame Strike my Frost Giant. I get it already. Joe: Oh sure, take the fun out of it. DC 19. Steele: D'oh! I rolled a 2 for my save. *SIGH* It dies. My +2 CR mob dies without taking an action. Dang: And you thought we needed a wizard. Dan: Fear will keep them in line; Fear of this battlestation! Jill: "XP" us Steele. AGC #265

[[Some time later...]]
Steele: The passage opens out into a massive natural cavern, full of long thin stalagmites and stalagtites. Fifty feet away, a huge giant with light glue skin and trim white hair and beard, rises to his feet, towering over you in fine Full Plate armor.
Steele: "I had heard that some little ones were on the way. I have crushed many skulls, most much larger than yours, and so I will give you a sporting chan-"
Dan: I interrupt his flavor text by casting Flame Strike!
Steele: *SIGH* If you want to interrupt him, I will give you a surprise round, but I'm warning you: he is a very powerful opponent, and right now he seems determined to put himself at a disadvantage for honor's sake. If you attack him now, he'll show you no mercy...
Jill: I'll take a surprise-round over honor any day. Go ahead Dan.

Dan: 13, 14...here we go, 15 dice...
Steele: I'm serious; this guy's Challenge-Rating is 2 points above you. Maybe you should at least hear what kind of concession he was going to...
Dan: "Take 55 damage, with regards from Rashar Burnison...loser!"
Steele: Okay, if that's the way you want it. What's the save DC for your Flamestrike?
Dan: Reflex twenty-seven.
Steele: Ow! Well, despite the saving throw bonuses from his Blackguard levels, the Frost Giant Jarl fails.
Joe: And takes double damage from the fire.
Stelee: ...And takes double damage from the fire. Although Flame Strike is only half fire and half divine damage, and the divine part is not doubled.

Steele: Okay, Jill: what do you do in your surprise round? Remember, you only get 1 standard action.
Jill: I know that! My character, Gull Tarak, will call upon the power of Hextor to cast his own Flame Strike.
Dan: Commence Primary Ignition!
Steele: Ow again. Well, at least he saved for half damage, against this this one. Dang?
Dang: Barrin Crook-nose casts a Flame Strike. Uh.. of Farlanghn...yeah.
Steele: Joy. Let me guess, Joe...

Joe: Ironbeard Blue-Axe, seeing the success of his fellow clerics, demonstrates that the wrath of Pelor is as swift and sure as that of the other deities. He waves his axe and curls the fingers of his shield hand, chanting the mystic prayer to unleash the power that Pelor granted him this morn' to shock and awe the evil and the unbelievers, to deliver them in flame and fury, to...
Steele: To Flame Strike my Frost Giant. I get it already.
Joe: Oh sure, take the fun out of it. DC 19.
Steele: D'oh! I rolled a 2 for my save. *SIGH* It dies. My +2 CR mob dies without taking an action.
Dang: And you thought we needed a wizard.
Dan: Fear will keep them in line; Fear of this battlestation!
Jill: "XP" us Steele.]]> AGC #535 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=535 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=535 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:46:51 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=535">AGC #535</a> Dang: You all need to make a DC 23 Fort save or be nauseated. Bateman: I failed. Stinking cloud? Joe: Maybe, but I would use Cloud of Bewilderment. Same effect, one spell level lower, and in this case Sculpted into a 120-foot line to fill the hallway. I save. Jill: I saved, naturally. Dan: Saved. Joe: I just had a bad thought..."Get down!" I drop prone. Dang: What's everyone else doing? Dan: Um...I'll get down, I guess. Bateman: Can I fall prone if I'm nauseated? Dang: Sure, I don't see why not. Getting up takes a move action though, and all you can do is one move action per round. Bateman: I think that's okay. Dan: I liked the cloud a lot better in the Warforged campaign. Jill: Pfft. I'm going to keep moving, cause this cloud interrupted my movement. Joe: One thing to note Jill... All the other traps, even the wussy low CR ones designed to make us more confident...every single one was designed to wear us down through hp or ability damage. Jill: So? Joe: This spell inflicts no damage. We could just wait it out and move on...But since it disables victims and prevents us from seeing what's coming, it's the perfect spot for an ambush. Jill: I realize that! I just don't care. I'm going to get to the end of the hall and rip their heads off. Dang: With a loud crackle, a readied Lightning Bolt courses down the hall. Make a reflex save, Jill. Jill: Whatever, I'll just roll my save naturally. I get 19. Dang: You fail, and take 25. Then save again, as the lightning bolt bounces back through you. Jill: What? How the hell, it's a long narrow corridor! Dan: Why do you make such a big deal about your saves? Joe: To convince us that we can't challenge her. Jill: You can't. Dang: The electricity started bouncing side-to-side, passing twice through every square. Jill: Arg. I don't want to spend my immediate action just to prevent half of 25...I have a feeling worse is coming. I roll 22. Dang: You pass anyway. Everyone else has to save twice, but they get +4 for being prone. Jill: Seriously? DC 21 or lower? That can't have been cast by the Baron. Bateman: That doesn't sound so wrong to me; you figure he's level 12-14. If he started with Int 16, add a +6 item and +3 from level, that's still only Int 25, so DC 20 level 3 spells, right? Unless he has Spell Focus. Jill: The Baron wouldn't spend money on golems if he hadn't bought a +5 tome first... Bateman: I guess... AGC #535

Dang: You all need to make a DC 23 Fort save or be nauseated.
Bateman: I failed. Stinking cloud?
Joe: Maybe, but I would use Cloud of Bewilderment. Same effect, one spell level lower, and in this case Sculpted into a 120-foot line to fill the hallway. I save.
Jill: I saved, naturally.
Dan: Saved.
Joe: I just had a bad thought..."Get down!" I drop prone.
Dang: What's everyone else doing?
Dan: Um...I'll get down, I guess.
Bateman: Can I fall prone if I'm nauseated?

Dang: Sure, I don't see why not. Getting up takes a move action though, and all you can do is one move action per round.
Bateman: I think that's okay.
Dan: I liked the cloud a lot better in the Warforged campaign.
Jill: Pfft. I'm going to keep moving, cause this cloud interrupted my movement.
Joe: One thing to note Jill... All the other traps, even the wussy low CR ones designed to make us more confident...every single one was designed to wear us down through hp or ability damage.
Jill: So?

Joe: This spell inflicts no damage. We could just wait it out and move on...But since it disables victims and prevents us from seeing what's coming, it's the perfect spot for an ambush.
Jill: I realize that! I just don't care. I'm going to get to the end of the hall and rip their heads off.
Dang: With a loud crackle, a readied Lightning Bolt courses down the hall. Make a reflex save, Jill.
Jill: Whatever, I'll just roll my save naturally. I get 19.
Dang: You fail, and take 25. Then save again, as the lightning bolt bounces back through you.
Jill: What? How the hell, it's a long narrow corridor!
Dan: Why do you make such a big deal about your saves?
Joe: To convince us that we can't challenge her.
Jill: You can't.

Dang: The electricity started bouncing side-to-side, passing twice through every square.
Jill: Arg. I don't want to spend my immediate action just to prevent half of 25...I have a feeling worse is coming. I roll 22.
Dang: You pass anyway. Everyone else has to save twice, but they get +4 for being prone.
Jill: Seriously? DC 21 or lower? That can't have been cast by the Baron.
Bateman: That doesn't sound so wrong to me; you figure he's level 12-14. If he started with Int 16, add a +6 item and +3 from level, that's still only Int 25, so DC 20 level 3 spells, right? Unless he has Spell Focus.
Jill: The Baron wouldn't spend money on golems if he hadn't bought a +5 tome first...
Bateman: I guess...]]> AGC #534 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=534 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=534 Sat, 14 May 2011 14:42:37 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=534">AGC #534</a> Joe: Somebody doesn't like two saves in a row. A little too reliant on Diamond Mind? Dang: You fall 30 feet onto poisoned spikes. Jill: Thirty feet? You call that a pit? What was there, a shortage of underground real-estate? Dang: Take 9 falling damage, 15 damage from the spikes, and make a DC 24 Fort save. Joe: Ah, the old Purple Worm. A fine vintage. Jill: Pfft. Don't care, don't care, and I save. Just to save time, I'll roll my secondary save too. Made it. I'll rest a couple rounds to T1000 and recover maneuvers, just in case, then I take a '10' to jump out of the pit. Dang: Even if you can get a 20 foot run somehow without hurting yourself on the spikes, you're going to be a little short. Jill: I'll grab my animated shield and use it to break a path through the spikes for me to run down. Don't forget, in addition to my 16-foot vertical reach as a large creature, my stretching lets me attack 5-feet further, so it must let me reach 5-feet higher as well. Dang: Hmm. So if the pit had been thirty-TWO feet deep, you'd have faced the embarrassment of using a rope or something. Jill: Come on, let's keep moving. Rugaru will "find" the traps, and you guys just stay close enough to back me up when we find serious enemies. Bateman: I forgot his shield again... [[Seven traps later and a 50-foot staircase down...]] Dang: You round the bend into a 5-foot wide, 130 foot hall. Jill: Dammit, I'll have to shrink to Medium size. I'll let the others catch up this time, just to keep line-of-sight. Once they do, I'll double-move forward again. Dang: You move 80-feet. Nothing happens. Bateman: I guess we'll keep following. Dan: I'm staying back at least 40 feel at all times. I don't want to get hit by any of the stuff he's setting off. Jill: I advance again... Dang: You only get 5 feet when you set off a gas cloud. The noxious fumes block sight, so you can't see how far they go, but you're all enveloped. Dan: Dammit! [[Four individuals whose faces and clothing all look like Baron Von Schtandholdt stand in a hallway, facing each other. One appears to be a large creature, another is surrounded my 5 MirrorImages, the third looks exactly like previous depictions of The Baron, and the fourth hovers just off the ground, his hands glowing white while his entire body is tinted in blue colors, as though it were made of some other substance]] BigBaron: THEY ARE COMING. MirrorImageBaron: I'd say we've given the intruders free reign long enough. RegularBaron and BlueBaron in unison: Agreed. Destroy them. AGC #534

Joe: Somebody doesn't like two saves in a row. A little too reliant on Diamond Mind?
Dang: You fall 30 feet onto poisoned spikes.
Jill: Thirty feet? You call that a pit? What was there, a shortage of underground real-estate?
Dang: Take 9 falling damage, 15 damage from the spikes, and make a DC 24 Fort save.
Joe: Ah, the old Purple Worm. A fine vintage.
Jill: Pfft. Don't care, don't care, and I save. Just to save time, I'll roll my secondary save too. Made it. I'll rest a couple rounds to T1000 and recover maneuvers, just in case, then I take a '10' to jump out of the pit.

Dang: Even if you can get a 20 foot run somehow without hurting yourself on the spikes, you're going to be a little short.
Jill: I'll grab my animated shield and use it to break a path through the spikes for me to run down. Don't forget, in addition to my 16-foot vertical reach as a large creature, my stretching lets me attack 5-feet further, so it must let me reach 5-feet higher as well.
Dang: Hmm. So if the pit had been thirty-TWO feet deep, you'd have faced the embarrassment of using a rope or something.
Jill: Come on, let's keep moving. Rugaru will "find" the traps, and you guys just stay close enough to back me up when we find serious enemies.
Bateman: I forgot his shield again...

[[Seven traps later and a 50-foot staircase down...]]
Dang: You round the bend into a 5-foot wide, 130 foot hall.
Jill: Dammit, I'll have to shrink to Medium size. I'll let the others catch up this time, just to keep line-of-sight. Once they do, I'll double-move forward again.
Dang: You move 80-feet. Nothing happens.
Bateman: I guess we'll keep following.
Dan: I'm staying back at least 40 feel at all times. I don't want to get hit by any of the stuff he's setting off.
Jill: I advance again...
Dang: You only get 5 feet when you set off a gas cloud. The noxious fumes block sight, so you can't see how far they go, but you're all enveloped.
Dan: Dammit!

[[Four individuals whose faces and clothing all look like Baron Von Schtandholdt stand in a hallway, facing each other. One appears to be a large creature, another is surrounded my 5 MirrorImages, the third looks exactly like previous depictions of The Baron, and the fourth hovers just off the ground, his hands glowing white while his entire body is tinted in blue colors, as though it were made of some other substance]]
BigBaron: THEY ARE COMING.
MirrorImageBaron: I'd say we've given the intruders free reign long enough.
RegularBaron and BlueBaron in unison: Agreed. Destroy them.]]> AGC #530 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=530 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=530 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:52:46 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=530">AGC #530</a> [[Pyrov the Faceburner escaped assassination by Domovoi]] Joe: I'm getting the hell out of here to join up with the others, before the Baron shows up or sends his best henchmen... Jill: Well you succeeded in killing a caster 4 levels below you, alerting the Baron to your presence... Dan: And pissing off the Faceburner. You'd better sleep with your eyes open. Joe: The Baron knew we were here anyway. He knew all of us by name... Bateman: You guys did say he'd use a lot of divinations. Dang: Anyhow, back up in the tower (and at least a couple minutes earlier), what are the rest of you doing? Jill: After the "disguise" debacle? Bateman: Did any of the guards in this tower have a key ring? Dang: One of the non-hooded ones was a human, who did have several keys on his belt. Jill: I'll take that, and just for the hell of it, I'll shrink back to puny medium size and shapeshift to look as much like that guy as I can. My clothes change to match his uniform as well, only adding a cloak that I can use to conceal my glowing claws. {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: Thanks to my glamored full plate.}} Bateman: Then you can lead the way, and possibly avoid some encounters. Jill: "Avoid" my ass, Rugaru's not into all that sneaking around bluff/disguise BS. I just want enough confusion to autowin the initiative. Dan: Who cares about that. We need to find the Baron, or at least his stupid library. [[An hour of real-time (and several guard patrols) later, the villains had fought their way into the Baron's throneroom. Bateman: No golems, no elite guards? That was way too easy. Jill: That's because he isn't here. He probably didn't want to sacrifice too many guards who had no chance of defeating us. Joe: Those anti-air ballistas we saw on the inner keep battlements are just further proof that he has other plans for us. Dang: The Count's elven senses easily detect a hidden door behind the grand throne. Jill: Start searching for traps; both of you. Joe: This is where it gets serious... [[Domovoi's Detect Magic cuts short the search for traps...]] Bateman: Can't I disarm magic traps though? It says so in the Rogue description. Joe: He said the area was all magical. Technically, it doesn't count as a trap if it's an active area spell. Bateman: Alright, I'll keep searching for traps, and continue through the door once I'm sure I can't find any. Dang: Nothing happens. Joe: No saving throw at all? Alright, I'll advance too, since my Search is at least as good as the Count's. Dang: Nothing happens. Dan: Well, after a minute if they haven't exploded, my minions and I get impatient and head in. Dang: Start making Will saves, Dan. Dan: Dammit! Jill: Ha! AGC #530

[[Pyrov the Faceburner escaped assassination by Domovoi]]
Joe: I'm getting the hell out of here to join up with the others, before the Baron shows up or sends his best henchmen...
Jill: Well you succeeded in killing a caster 4 levels below you, alerting the Baron to your presence...
Dan: And pissing off the Faceburner. You'd better sleep with your eyes open.
Joe: The Baron knew we were here anyway. He knew all of us by name...
Bateman: You guys did say he'd use a lot of divinations.
Dang: Anyhow, back up in the tower (and at least a couple minutes earlier), what are the rest of you doing?
Jill: After the "disguise" debacle?

Bateman: Did any of the guards in this tower have a key ring?
Dang: One of the non-hooded ones was a human, who did have several keys on his belt.
Jill: I'll take that, and just for the hell of it, I'll shrink back to puny medium size and shapeshift to look as much like that guy as I can. My clothes change to match his uniform as well, only adding a cloak that I can use to conceal my glowing claws.
{{SECRET NOTE TO GM: Thanks to my glamored full plate.}}
Bateman: Then you can lead the way, and possibly avoid some encounters.
Jill: "Avoid" my ass, Rugaru's not into all that sneaking around bluff/disguise BS. I just want enough confusion to autowin the initiative.
Dan: Who cares about that. We need to find the Baron, or at least his stupid library.

[[An hour of real-time (and several guard patrols) later, the villains had fought their way into the Baron's throneroom.
Bateman: No golems, no elite guards? That was way too easy.
Jill: That's because he isn't here. He probably didn't want to sacrifice too many guards who had no chance of defeating us.
Joe: Those anti-air ballistas we saw on the inner keep battlements are just further proof that he has other plans for us.
Dang: The Count's elven senses easily detect a hidden door behind the grand throne.
Jill: Start searching for traps; both of you.
Joe: This is where it gets serious...

[[Domovoi's Detect Magic cuts short the search for traps...]]
Bateman: Can't I disarm magic traps though? It says so in the Rogue description.
Joe: He said the area was all magical. Technically, it doesn't count as a trap if it's an active area spell.
Bateman: Alright, I'll keep searching for traps, and continue through the door once I'm sure I can't find any.
Dang: Nothing happens.
Joe: No saving throw at all? Alright, I'll advance too, since my Search is at least as good as the Count's.
Dang: Nothing happens.
Dan: Well, after a minute if they haven't exploded, my minions and I get impatient and head in.
Dang: Start making Will saves, Dan.
Dan: Dammit!
Jill: Ha!]]> AGC #520 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=520 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=520 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:46:21 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=520">AGC #520</a> NuclearDan: Hey, AG, long time no see! I thought we were going to level up our new alts through Cataclysm together... AtomicGestalt: I've been busy unpacking. Did you and Agent Elrond get too far ahead of me? What level are you guys now? NuclearDan: Bah, he barely even logged on this week. He's all busy with RL stuff, starting a new job, something about 'vivisecting his circadian rhythms', whatever that means. AtomicGestalt: Ahh, sounds like he's working a night shift. NuclearDan: Really? I thought he joined a band or something. How about you, what have you been up to? Unpacking you said? Did you like move or something? AtomicGestalt: Something like that. I had a lot of choices for starting my career, but rather than go with a major firm, where I'd most likely have to specialize early on, I went with a small private company where I'll be able to get experience in all facets of corporate law. NuclearDan: That's cool, that someone would hire you straight out of school to handle all that stuff. So you're like their only lawyer? AtomicGestalt: Ha! No, my marks were high, but nobody's that crazy. My employer has a very experienced legal counsel already, but since they've expanded rapidly in the last year, there'll be plenty for me to do as I get my feet wet. NuclearDan: Cool. So where did you end up moving? New York or something? AtomicGestalt: Not quite...I'm moving to your city. AtomicGestalt: I'm going to work for Doctor Billings. NuclearDan: Dr. STAN Billings? Don't do it! I thought I told you my brother is evil! Sure you get all your gaming stuff at cost, but he pays all his staff minimum wage! AtomicGestalt: Not his legal staff. He's too smart to shaft people who he's counting on to protect his interests. His starting salary was pretty competitive, plus real benefits. Though the cheap comic store stuff is a fun bonus. NuclearDan: But he's EVIL. And I've met his legal-dude: that guy's like Lord Freakin' Voldemort! AtomicGestalt: What does Stan actually DO that's so bad? NuclearDan: He dropped a bowling ball on my Millennium Falcon! He sponsors those three arcade-guys that I hate, and he thinks that just because he's smarter than everyone else it gives him the right to force stores out of business and generally manipulate people... NuclearDan: He hacked Jill's email making her think her daughter's plane had crashed just to beat her in D&D! AtomicGestalt: I thought you'd be happy I was coming to town. I liked the idea that I'd have at least one friend here. NuclearDan: Don't get me wrong, that part is spect-awesome-tacular! I just don't want you sucked into Stan's evil conspiracy to...to... AtomicGestalt: To what? NuclearDan: I don't know, okay? But whatever it is I'm sure it's evil! AtomicGestalt: IRL, "evil" is usually a relative term. NuclearDan: Not when it's MY relative! AGC #520

NuclearDan: Hey, AG, long time no see! I thought we were going to level up our new alts through Cataclysm together...
AtomicGestalt: I've been busy unpacking. Did you and Agent Elrond get too far ahead of me? What level are you guys now?
NuclearDan: Bah, he barely even logged on this week. He's all busy with RL stuff, starting a new job, something about 'vivisecting his circadian rhythms', whatever that means.
AtomicGestalt: Ahh, sounds like he's working a night shift.
NuclearDan: Really? I thought he joined a band or something. How about you, what have you been up to? Unpacking you said? Did you like move or something?

AtomicGestalt: Something like that. I had a lot of choices for starting my career, but rather than go with a major firm, where I'd most likely have to specialize early on, I went with a small private company where I'll be able to get experience in all facets of corporate law.
NuclearDan: That's cool, that someone would hire you straight out of school to handle all that stuff. So you're like their only lawyer?
AtomicGestalt: Ha! No, my marks were high, but nobody's that crazy. My employer has a very experienced legal counsel already, but since they've expanded rapidly in the last year, there'll be plenty for me to do as I get my feet wet.
NuclearDan: Cool. So where did you end up moving? New York or something?
AtomicGestalt: Not quite...I'm moving to your city.

AtomicGestalt: I'm going to work for Doctor Billings.
NuclearDan: Dr. STAN Billings? Don't do it! I thought I told you my brother is evil! Sure you get all your gaming stuff at cost, but he pays all his staff minimum wage!
AtomicGestalt: Not his legal staff. He's too smart to shaft people who he's counting on to protect his interests. His starting salary was pretty competitive, plus real benefits. Though the cheap comic store stuff is a fun bonus.
NuclearDan: But he's EVIL. And I've met his legal-dude: that guy's like Lord Freakin' Voldemort!
AtomicGestalt: What does Stan actually DO that's so bad?
NuclearDan: He dropped a bowling ball on my Millennium Falcon! He sponsors those three arcade-guys that I hate, and he thinks that just because he's smarter than everyone else it gives him the right to force stores out of business and generally manipulate people...

NuclearDan: He hacked Jill's email making her think her daughter's plane had crashed just to beat her in D&D!
AtomicGestalt: I thought you'd be happy I was coming to town. I liked the idea that I'd have at least one friend here.
NuclearDan: Don't get me wrong, that part is spect-awesome-tacular! I just don't want you sucked into Stan's evil conspiracy to...to...
AtomicGestalt: To what?
NuclearDan: I don't know, okay? But whatever it is I'm sure it's evil!
AtomicGestalt: IRL, "evil" is usually a relative term.
NuclearDan: Not when it's MY relative!]]> AGC #519 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=519 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=519 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:42:05 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=519">AGC #519</a> steele: Wow, that was a balsy plot twist. How did Jill react? davros: Well, her eyes kind of bugged out like she was going to murder everyone in a five-block radius, but Joe reminded her that I had all your campaign notes, and I mentioned that I discussed things with you. So she turned her focus more to how hard she was going to kill The Baron. steele: What about the other guys? davros: Joe was very surprised, but he's up for the challenge. Dan will kill anyone, he doesn't much care. steele: And Bateman? He probably doesn't know anything about The Baron or the Old Evil Campaign. davros: Once the others caught him up - you know, how The Baron was the last character of the guy who forced him out of business - Bateman was quite enthusiastic about their new quest. davros: So what do you think about pitting them against The Baron? steele: It could definitely be cathartic, even for Jill. But you have to be careful...if Baron Von Schtandholdt actually beats them, it could crush group morale. davros: That's true. Definitely something to avoid. steele: Right, but the trick is...he can NOT go down easy. If he isn't about the toughest thing they've ever fought, they'll feel cheated. Their victory will be hollow. davros: Well I've been trying to put together a couple good traps, and give him a good 3.5 guild with a strong spell list. steele: It has to more than "a couple traps"...he's had over a decade of in-game time with the full resources of his fiefdom at his disposal. It'll be like attacking Doctor Doom in Latveria. davros: Okay, I think I get the picture. It's not just that his whole castle is full of traps, but he'll have multiple 'meta' traps as well. He sets up strong defenses, then tries to anticipate how you would get through them and plans for that as well. steele: He's an arcane caster too. Don't think of his spell list as just "what he's memorized today". By now he's researched every common spell and as many rare or or off-list ones as he can find. He probably rotates memorizations on a multiday cycle, abuses permanent spells or ones with multi-day durations. At any given time he has at least 2 enemies dominated, but probably not much more than that because he will want multiple days' overlap within which to recast the mind control if his victims start passing saves. davros: I knew I had to work hard, but you're making me think I'll need a whole binder to keep track of his activities. steele: You should. He will feign weakness where he is strong, feign strength where he is weak, and then anticipate when people might see through that and mix it up further. davros: I'm sure he's a smart player, but he's not psychic... steele: Not IRL, maybe, but this is D&D. In addition to his own castings he'll have hired and/or dominated lower level divine casters, bards, whatever would give him more and better divinations per day, asking general questions that will alert him when somebody moves against him. Any red flags, and he'll shift his questions to zero-in on the threat and he'll tailor his defenses accordingly. If the guys take too long to prepare, he'll know everything about them...and you can't cheat it (unless you're a lot better at bluffing than I am), because after the fact Jill and Joe are liable to grill you on how he knew each detail. davros: I should have just made them fight a dragon. steele: It's not too late. Maybe he left a shapeshifted dragon in charge while he's busy on another plane. AGC #519

steele: Wow, that was a balsy plot twist. How did Jill react?
davros: Well, her eyes kind of bugged out like she was going to murder everyone in a five-block radius, but Joe reminded her that I had all your campaign notes, and I mentioned that I discussed things with you. So she turned her focus more to how hard she was going to kill The Baron.
steele: What about the other guys?
davros: Joe was very surprised, but he's up for the challenge. Dan will kill anyone, he doesn't much care.
steele: And Bateman? He probably doesn't know anything about The Baron or the Old Evil Campaign.
davros: Once the others caught him up - you know, how The Baron was the last character of the guy who forced him out of business - Bateman was quite enthusiastic about their new quest.

davros: So what do you think about pitting them against The Baron?
steele: It could definitely be cathartic, even for Jill. But you have to be careful...if Baron Von Schtandholdt actually beats them, it could crush group morale.
davros: That's true. Definitely something to avoid.
steele: Right, but the trick is...he can NOT go down easy. If he isn't about the toughest thing they've ever fought, they'll feel cheated. Their victory will be hollow.
davros: Well I've been trying to put together a couple good traps, and give him a good 3.5 guild with a strong spell list.
steele: It has to more than "a couple traps"...he's had over a decade of in-game time with the full resources of his fiefdom at his disposal. It'll be like attacking Doctor Doom in Latveria.

davros: Okay, I think I get the picture. It's not just that his whole castle is full of traps, but he'll have multiple 'meta' traps as well. He sets up strong defenses, then tries to anticipate how you would get through them and plans for that as well.
steele: He's an arcane caster too. Don't think of his spell list as just "what he's memorized today". By now he's researched every common spell and as many rare or or off-list ones as he can find. He probably rotates memorizations on a multiday cycle, abuses permanent spells or ones with multi-day durations. At any given time he has at least 2 enemies dominated, but probably not much more than that because he will want multiple days' overlap within which to recast the mind control if his victims start passing saves.
davros: I knew I had to work hard, but you're making me think I'll need a whole binder to keep track of his activities.

steele: You should. He will feign weakness where he is strong, feign strength where he is weak, and then anticipate when people might see through that and mix it up further.
davros: I'm sure he's a smart player, but he's not psychic...
steele: Not IRL, maybe, but this is D&D. In addition to his own castings he'll have hired and/or dominated lower level divine casters, bards, whatever would give him more and better divinations per day, asking general questions that will alert him when somebody moves against him. Any red flags, and he'll shift his questions to zero-in on the threat and he'll tailor his defenses accordingly. If the guys take too long to prepare, he'll know everything about them...and you can't cheat it (unless you're a lot better at bluffing than I am), because after the fact Jill and Joe are liable to grill you on how he knew each detail.
davros: I should have just made them fight a dragon.
steele: It's not too late. Maybe he left a shapeshifted dragon in charge while he's busy on another plane.]]> AGC #540 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=540 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=540 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:30:14 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=540">AGC #540</a> Joe: I'll blast the Big Baron with for 10. Jill: TEN damage? Have you gotten even weaker somehow or... oh... my... god... Domovoi dumped an Acid Orb in that failed assassination of Pyrov. That must have been your highest level acid spell, which means your feeble Acid Splash feat is now being powered by some lower level spell you memorized as a backup! Like an Acid Breath or... don't tell me you're running it off Melf's? Joe: Let's not be silly now... Jill: Sillier than using a Reserve Feat as your primary source of damage when you don't even have maxxed spellcasting? Joe: At least I killed a priest. Bateman: Um, I'll just sit out my turn, hoping for a low roll on my nausea duration. B) [Big Baron overruns Rogue, knocking her prone and continuing past her. Little Baron feeds her a two-hit Scorching Ray from a wand, then moves away as well] Dan: Ha! She takes almost nothing through her fire resist. Bateman: They're retreating... we may have time to recover. Dan: Recover? They're hurting too! Don't let the run away! Joe: They're going at single-move speed, so technically they're walking away. If you haven't noticed, the Count and yourself are out of it for another round or two minimum, and if Rugaru stopped attacking, you know there's a damned good reason. Dan: But they'll heal and crap! Jill: So will I. [Just under 3 minutes of in-game time later...] Jill: "Alright, I'm fully healed and ready to trap search some more..." Joe: "I strongly advise against starting that again. They've had ample time to prepare obnoxious extra traps, and drop nasty medium-duration effects ahead of us. Not to mention the real Baron could show at any time." Dan: "Well it was your idea to wait for them to set traps, so you guys can all go first." I become blurry. {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I'm activating my GreaterBlurring armor every time it wears off unless it's mid combat. Next round, I cast Vigor for 1 power point, WildSurge +4}} Davros: It takes a few rounds, but in the first 40 feet of hall you find nothing, and the next bend is only 20-feet away. Jill: I'll move up behind them to cover them while they search. Davros: Make a DC 19 Will save, Jill. Jill: Only 19? I think I'll just roll it... nope, failed. Davros: Take 17. Joe: Hmm. Sounds like we left the Forbiddance, then re-entered it. Bateman: Don't the cubes of a spell area like that have to be connected? Joe: The Baron must have used a Leon's Teeth arrangement. Bateman: You mean Lion's teeth? Jill: No! It's named after Leon. Dan: Can we resume this conversation in Common? AGC #540

Joe: I'll blast the Big Baron with for 10.
Jill: TEN damage? Have you gotten even weaker somehow or... oh... my... god... Domovoi dumped an Acid Orb in that failed assassination of Pyrov. That must have been your highest level acid spell, which means your feeble Acid Splash feat is now being powered by some lower level spell you memorized as a backup! Like an Acid Breath or... don't tell me you're running it off Melf's?
Joe: Let's not be silly now...
Jill: Sillier than using a Reserve Feat as your primary source of damage when you don't even have maxxed spellcasting?
Joe: At least I killed a priest.
Bateman: Um, I'll just sit out my turn, hoping for a low roll on my nausea duration.

B)
[Big Baron overruns Rogue, knocking her prone and continuing past her. Little Baron feeds her a two-hit Scorching Ray from a wand, then moves away as well]
Dan: Ha! She takes almost nothing through her fire resist.
Bateman: They're retreating... we may have time to recover.
Dan: Recover? They're hurting too! Don't let the run away!
Joe: They're going at single-move speed, so technically they're walking away. If you haven't noticed, the Count and yourself are out of it for another round or two minimum, and if Rugaru stopped attacking, you know there's a damned good reason.
Dan: But they'll heal and crap!
Jill: So will I.

[Just under 3 minutes of in-game time later...]
Jill: "Alright, I'm fully healed and ready to trap search some more..."
Joe: "I strongly advise against starting that again. They've had ample time to prepare obnoxious extra traps, and drop nasty medium-duration effects ahead of us. Not to mention the real Baron could show at any time."
Dan: "Well it was your idea to wait for them to set traps, so you guys can all go first." I become blurry. {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I'm activating my GreaterBlurring armor every time it wears off unless it's mid combat. Next round, I cast Vigor for 1 power point, WildSurge +4}}
Davros: It takes a few rounds, but in the first 40 feet of hall you find nothing, and the next bend is only 20-feet away.
Jill: I'll move up behind them to cover them while they search.

Davros: Make a DC 19 Will save, Jill.
Jill: Only 19? I think I'll just roll it... nope, failed.
Davros: Take 17.
Joe: Hmm. Sounds like we left the Forbiddance, then re-entered it.
Bateman: Don't the cubes of a spell area like that have to be connected?
Joe: The Baron must have used a Leon's Teeth arrangement.
Bateman: You mean Lion's teeth?
Jill: No! It's named after Leon.
Dan: Can we resume this conversation in Common?]]> AGC #539 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=539 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=539 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:30:08 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=539">AGC #539</a> Davros: Back to your turn, Jill. Dan: They're running away, finish them off! Jill: I can't get them right now, I got knocked down! {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I fast heal 2, stand up, and heal another 9 using one charge from my healing belt. I'm still invisible, so I'll also 5-foot towards them, as if it matters.}} Dan: Well, I can safely move out of the cloud now, but I'm nauseated, so that's my turn. Rogue will use a skill trick to stand up as an immediate action, then she'll move to the end of the hall... Davros: Big Baron's blocking the way. Dan: Whatever, she tumbles past and attacks Baron Jr there with the Count's greatspoon, activating whatever sword-thingy he said to use. Bateman: It's not actually a spoon. I was just repeating the insult that Jill- Dan: Ya, ya, what's it do? Bateman: My Illusion-bane greatsword ignores any % miss chance from illusion spells. That doesn't work on mirror images, but the activated power makes a dispel check at CL 10 against any illusion you hit with it. Dan: Well she hits AC 19, how many images are there? Davros: Four... but she got lucky and hit the real one. {{THINKING: Gah! It's a good think Baron bought that ring that gives +4 against dispel on his castings, or there would be a chance she could one-shot his Simulacrum with that thing}} Dan: Take 10 damage, and she gets 18 on the Dispel check. Jill: Lovely, you wasted it. Davros: Actually, the sword glows and all the images shatter. Bateman: Good! I'm glad I helped do something, since I'm too nauseated to act. Jill: That doesn't make any damned sense! The Baron's caster level was higher than that in the OLD campaign. Bateman: Hmm, that is weird... didn't this guy just fire off a spread of five Magic Missiles? Jill: That's right, that's minimum CL 9, which would make dispelling him DC 20! Joe: Just approach this logically. An 18 dispelled his casting. That's CL 7 or lower. We saw him cast it, so we know the Greater Mirror Image was his own spell, which takes minimum level 7 to cast. Ergo, that guy IS CL 7. Jill: But... Joe: The higher Magic Missile level could be any of a number of things. My bet would be Arcanist's Gloves, a 500gp 2 use/day item. Also, what level did we guess the Baron was (on admittedly scant evidence)? Bateman: About 14? Joe: Exactly. Half of 14 is 7. So we can logically assume... Jill: That's a damned Simulacrum! You're right, it would look like him and have half his caster level, rounded down. Dan: So it was The Baron in the Conservatory with the Simulator or whatever. You win at Clue, but you fail at murder. Finish him! Jill: I wish. All that's left is Joe... AGC #539

Davros: Back to your turn, Jill.
Dan: They're running away, finish them off!
Jill: I can't get them right now, I got knocked down! {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I fast heal 2, stand up, and heal another 9 using one charge from my healing belt. I'm still invisible, so I'll also 5-foot towards them, as if it matters.}}
Dan: Well, I can safely move out of the cloud now, but I'm nauseated, so that's my turn. Rogue will use a skill trick to stand up as an immediate action, then she'll move to the end of the hall...
Davros: Big Baron's blocking the way.
Dan: Whatever, she tumbles past and attacks Baron Jr there with the Count's greatspoon, activating whatever sword-thingy he said to use.

Bateman: It's not actually a spoon. I was just repeating the insult that Jill-
Dan: Ya, ya, what's it do?
Bateman: My Illusion-bane greatsword ignores any % miss chance from illusion spells. That doesn't work on mirror images, but the activated power makes a dispel check at CL 10 against any illusion you hit with it.
Dan: Well she hits AC 19, how many images are there?
Davros: Four... but she got lucky and hit the real one. {{THINKING: Gah! It's a good think Baron bought that ring that gives +4 against dispel on his castings, or there would be a chance she could one-shot his Simulacrum with that thing}}
Dan: Take 10 damage, and she gets 18 on the Dispel check.
Jill: Lovely, you wasted it.

Davros: Actually, the sword glows and all the images shatter.
Bateman: Good! I'm glad I helped do something, since I'm too nauseated to act.
Jill: That doesn't make any damned sense! The Baron's caster level was higher than that in the OLD campaign.
Bateman: Hmm, that is weird... didn't this guy just fire off a spread of five Magic Missiles?
Jill: That's right, that's minimum CL 9, which would make dispelling him DC 20!
Joe: Just approach this logically. An 18 dispelled his casting. That's CL 7 or lower. We saw him cast it, so we know the Greater Mirror Image was his own spell, which takes minimum level 7 to cast. Ergo, that guy IS CL 7.

Jill: But...
Joe: The higher Magic Missile level could be any of a number of things. My bet would be Arcanist's Gloves, a 500gp 2 use/day item. Also, what level did we guess the Baron was (on admittedly scant evidence)?
Bateman: About 14?
Joe: Exactly. Half of 14 is 7. So we can logically assume...
Jill: That's a damned Simulacrum! You're right, it would look like him and have half his caster level, rounded down.
Dan: So it was The Baron in the Conservatory with the Simulator or whatever. You win at Clue, but you fail at murder. Finish him!
Jill: I wish. All that's left is Joe...]]> AGC #538 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=538 http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=538 Sat, 14 May 2011 04:30:03 -0000 <a href="http://agc.deskslave.org/comic_viewer.html?goNumber=538">AGC #538</a> Davros: You don't actually have to save until Jill's turn, when the trap set off the cloud, but we might as well keep that result. So Tetsuo's going to be out of it, along with The Count... Bateman: I can still move this turn though. Next turn I'll be close enough to move out of the Stinking Cloud. Jill: Hooray. You'll be able to act again in no more than 1d4+2 turns. Joe: Well, I take my turn. My best option is to double-move so that I'm out of the cloud. If Big Baron has both Combat Reflexes and a way to see invis, he gets a swipe at me. {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I'll fly past him and stick near the ceiling in a square with clean air}} Davros: He doesn't attack as you pass by. Jill: Obviously. Davros: That makes it Team Baron's turn, since they reacted just before Rugaru. The normal-sized elf with the Mirror Images casts Magic Missile on the defensive. Five missiles streak out and disappear around where Rugaru vanished last round. Take 19 damage. Jill: Ya, ya, whatever. {{THINKING: Dammit, if the big one hits me like last round I'm toast!}} Davros: Then he retreats down the 10'-wide hall, and has just enough movement to round the bend to the left. Is Rugaru taking his attack of opportunity? Jill: Hm, let's see... break my invis to destroy one image, which will respawn on his turn because it's Greater MI? Pass. Davros: Alright then, Big Baron's turn... Dan: Are we winning yet? Davros: He initiates another Bull Rush, this time against Rogue... and she can't possibly beat that roll, but roll her strength check just to see how far he can push her. Dan: Uh... like 12? Davros: Okay, he barrels into her, pushing her back into this square. Rogue and Rugaru (who she just collided with) need to make defensive trip checks. Joe: You've just been Dominoed. Dan: Whatever he rolls, Rogue failed. Jill? Jill: I get 21! Davros: You're both knocked prone. Jill: Dammit! I hate being small! Bateman: And by 'small' you mean 'medium'? Davros: Also, Rogue takes 11 damage from the Bull Rush. Then Big Baron moves almost to the end of the hall. Joe: So much for my plan of stunning him this round. Bateman: What do you mean? Joe: Big Baron is immune to crits and stunning. Also Stinking Clouds, or breathing of any kind, really. He's a warforged juggernaut. Apparently Davros wasn't satisfied with the pummeling his juggernaut NPC gave us in the Deep Sky One campaign. Davros: Well, to be fair, that version didn't have Dungeon Crasher. It would have been a little rough for level 5 characters. Big Baron intones, in a more-or-less robotic voice: "YOU HAVE BEEN BULL RUSHED." Dan: How about now? Are we winning now? AGC #538

Davros: You don't actually have to save until Jill's turn, when the trap set off the cloud, but we might as well keep that result. So Tetsuo's going to be out of it, along with The Count...
Bateman: I can still move this turn though. Next turn I'll be close enough to move out of the Stinking Cloud.
Jill: Hooray. You'll be able to act again in no more than 1d4+2 turns.
Joe: Well, I take my turn. My best option is to double-move so that I'm out of the cloud. If Big Baron has both Combat Reflexes and a way to see invis, he gets a swipe at me. {{SECRET NOTE TO GM: I'll fly past him and stick near the ceiling in a square with clean air}}
Davros: He doesn't attack as you pass by.
Jill: Obviously.

Davros: That makes it Team Baron's turn, since they reacted just before Rugaru. The normal-sized elf with the Mirror Images casts Magic Missile on the defensive. Five missiles streak out and disappear around where Rugaru vanished last round. Take 19 damage.
Jill: Ya, ya, whatever. {{THINKING: Dammit, if the big one hits me like last round I'm toast!}}
Davros: Then he retreats down the 10'-wide hall, and has just enough movement to round the bend to the left. Is Rugaru taking his attack of opportunity?
Jill: Hm, let's see... break my invis to destroy one image, which will respawn on his turn because it's Greater MI? Pass.
Davros: Alright then, Big Baron's turn...
Dan: Are we winning yet?

Davros: He initiates another Bull Rush, this time against Rogue... and she can't possibly beat that roll, but roll her strength check just to see how far he can push her.
Dan: Uh... like 12?
Davros: Okay, he barrels into her, pushing her back into this square. Rogue and Rugaru (who she just collided with) need to make defensive trip checks.
Joe: You've just been Dominoed.
Dan: Whatever he rolls, Rogue failed. Jill?
Jill: I get 21!
Davros: You're both knocked prone.
Jill: Dammit! I hate being small!
Bateman: And by 'small' you mean 'medium'?

Davros: Also, Rogue takes 11 damage from the Bull Rush. Then Big Baron moves almost to the end of the hall.
Joe: So much for my plan of stunning him this round.
Bateman: What do you mean?
Joe: Big Baron is immune to crits and stunning. Also Stinking Clouds, or breathing of any kind, really. He's a warforged juggernaut. Apparently Davros wasn't satisfied with the pummeling his juggernaut NPC gave us in the Deep Sky One campaign.
Davros: Well, to be fair, that version didn't have Dungeon Crasher. It would have been a little rough for level 5 characters. Big Baron intones, in a more-or-less robotic voice: "YOU HAVE BEEN BULL RUSHED."
Dan: How about now? Are we winning now?]]>