[dungeoncrawl] Re: the Two Towers
- From: "Grogan, Keith" <Keith_Grogan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 14:01:33 -0500
I would like to come. Can someone please pick up a ticket for me when they
go?
> ----------
> From: Johnathan Detrick
> Reply To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:31 AM
> To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: the Two Towers
>
>
> I'm also curious if Keith is coming. I know Tim has appointments, but
> I
> also know that Keith sometimes goes with us, and then goes again with Tim.
> What
> about it Keith?
>
> Damon Kline wrote:
>
> > The only detriment at this point is that Ethan is currently sick. Lori
> may
> > have to take off to go home and take Ethan to the doctor. If she does,
> > she'll have to work Saturday morning and then Cyndi offered to stay home
> and
> > watch Ethan so Matt could go to the movie with Ryan. However, I really
> > wanted to see the movie with Cyndi, so I might wait until she can go.
> > Either that, or I'll go Saturday and then go again with her at some
> other
> > time. I guess it depends on how things work out, but it's just
> something
> > I'm thinking about. I'll talk with Cyndi tonight and decide, so that if
> I
> > am going to go to the movie, I can buy my ticket tomorrow.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Johnathan Detrick [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 10:56 AM
> > To: dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: the Two Towers
> >
> > I'm going up on Thursday. Thanks so much for checking this Matt!
> Above
> > and
> > beyond...
> >
> > Matt McKeehan wrote:
> >
> > > OK I called and talked to Hoyt's. I asked the lady when was the
> earliest
> > we
> > > could purchase tickets to the Saturday morning showing of the movie.
> She
> > > said we could now. I then ask if this applied to people using the
> free
> > > ticket that comes with the LOTR box set, she said yes. It looks like
> it
> > is
> > > a go. I think we will head up tomorrow to get the tickets...
> > >
> > > Matt Mckeehan
> > > Citrix LAN Supervisor
> > > Admin Office of The PA Courts
> > > PA Supreme Court
> > > (717)795-2063
> > > (717)514-9446 mobile
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Damon Kline [mailto:damon.kline@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 10:25 AM
> > > To: 'dungeoncrawl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx'
> > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Re: Tuesday morning review
> > >
> > > Thank you John for the review. I'm going to get in the habit of
> posting
> > the
> > > latest review on the web site and keeping an archive of past reviews
> there
> > > as well.
> > >
> > > As for the campaign, I have to admit that I have been struggling
> lately
> > with
> > > the fights. I don't know why, but I can't seem to come up with a good
> > > balance of villains that will give the party a challenge, without
> > > overwhelming them. One thing that helped me in the past was that I
> had a
> > > boxed set to base things off of. While I didn't adhere completely to
> > their
> > > specifications, it gave me a good base from witch to plan my
> encounters.
> > >
> > > With that in mind, I have been doing my own thing for a long while now
> > with
> > > the campaign and it has really been lacking in the combat department.
> > With
> > > these guys, role-playing is never a problem. It comes so naturally to
> > this
> > > group, it's like breathing. But for me, when I am planning out the
> combat
> > > that I want to use for the evening, I just can't seem to get the
> balance
> > > right.
> > >
> > > On top of that, I have not been having the villains use strategy. I
> don't
> > > know why, but I'm having a mental block on this stuff lately. I'm not
> > > burned out on the campaign at all, I'm very excited about it. I'm not
> > > overwhelmed with other things, I have plenty of time to get things
> > prepared
> > > for each week and I feel good about where I want to take the group.
> > >
> > > But when I get to the combat situations, no amount of planning seems
> to be
> > > able to give me enough "umph" to make it have tension. Now, last
> night I
> > > had planned to throw a few more things at the group, but I changed my
> mind
> > > because your were down by two characters. So, my thought is now I
> think
> > > going to be to throw a lot at the group and if they are being
> overwhelmed,
> > > then it is their responsibility to run if they have to. I'm not going
> to
> > > intentionally try to overwhelm the group at all, although I think I
> would
> > be
> > > pretty hard pressed to do that with these guys anyway. But as I work
> on
> > my
> > > balancing act to feel out how well the party can handle things, I just
> ask
> > > that you bear with me.
> > >
> > > The other advantage that I had before with the Sigil, is that I had
> been
> > > DMing them straight through from first level on up and I was well
> aware of
> > > what everyone could do, what items they had, etc. Since we've taken
> > several
> > > extended breaks, we've added three new characters and the levels are
> up
> > > there, it is very hard for me to keep track of what everyone can do
> and
> > what
> > > they can take.
> > >
> > > However, I know I've said this before, but the next time we play, I
> hope,
> > > should prove to get things rolling for these guys and hopefully bring
> the
> > > campaign back up to the level that it had previously been. I firmly
> > believe
> > > that the combats will have that tension to them again and the group
> will
> > be
> > > focused, at least towards a common goal, if not internally between the
> > > characters.
> > >
> > > Please feel free to comment and discuss, as I should be at my desk
> working
> > > on some things for a while.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Johnathan Detrick [mailto:jdetrick@xxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 9:48 AM
> > > To: Riders II
> > > Subject: [dungeoncrawl] Tuesday morning review
> > >
> > > Last night, the Sigil reunited on the battlefield where the scouts
> > > had recently fought evil's minions. They were unable to accomplish
> > > much, as the beholder attacked from above, a trio of minions attacked
> > > from the passageway outside, and a mind flayer appeared to attack them
> > > as well. The group beat their foes, but Tori and Elizabeth were
> knocked
> > > out and the party could not revive them. The made their way to the
> > > beholder's former lair, where they were attacked by a sentient table.
> > > Defeating it, they discussed the need for a leader, and Sir Ivan was
> > > elected to that position. They then set watches and rested. During
> the
> > > watch of Kage and Whilce, Whilce heard six creatures approaching them
> > > (and saw their shadows), and that's where we ended.
> > >
> > > Last night was fun. Bobby was missed, and the mystery of why his
> > > character's won't awaken is nowhere near as interesting as what the
> > > group will do with them. How do you handle lugging their insensate
> > > bodies through the Underdark? It's an interesting moral dilemma.
> > > Last night was full of distractions, and that took away from the
> > > role-playing to an extent. While the players were a little unfocused
> to
> > > begin with, the distractions just exacerbated the situation. By the
> end
> > > of the evening, we all came together and had quite a bit of fun. The
> > > role-playing began to gel (although it wasn't horrible in the
> beginning
> > > of the evening, and there were some good bits even then), and we ended
> > > on a great note.
> > > I think that another reason we may have been somewhat distracted
> > > last night was because the fight, again, had no real tension. In the
> > > end, I think it's because the party was too powerful for the villains
> > > that they faced. I hate to say this, as I feel that the group will be
> > > pelted by 20 ilithid the next time we play, but I think Damon has been
> > > too easy on the Sigil for some time. To illustrate my point, cast
> your
> > > minds back to the last time the Sigil were stuck in the Underdark,
> > > before we ended the first part of the campaign. Does everyone
> remember
> > > how difficult those fights were? Does everyone remember the time
> spent
> > > detailing strategy and figuring out how to best foes that were too
> > > powerful for the group? I remember setting traps for trolls, and
> > > actually using group plans. We did that, because if we didn't, the
> > > Sigil would have had their butts handed to them. While the group is
> > > more powerful than they were then, they are still not strong enough
> that
> > > the Underdark could not provide a strong challenge for them. Besides
> > > the mind flayers, the beholders, drow and duergar (while not as
> > > powerful) know the terrain. They should be able to have strategies
> and
> > > traps and such set up to tip the odds in their favor. Just a thought.
> > > In the end, last night was a blast, and I can't wait to see what
> > > happens with Ivan as leader.
>
>
>
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