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Post by noble on Mar 18, 2019 18:12:08 GMT
I think it is time to go through the books again. Maybe I'll get to play the Grand Master series this time...
I have a couple of house rules, refined from what I used years back. I will elaborate later...
I will try a go through with a strong roleplaying twist. I will not take the Sommerswerd with me, unless I know I may meet some Darklords, and only use it when asked to. Kai have mercy on my soul...
I am the son of a Sommerlund Fryeman, wealthy enough to spend time hunting and being trained in the craft of war. I will act directly and with little finesse, preferring my sword to other solutions...
Showing a supernatural sense for my surroundings, I was sent to the Monastery where the Kai expanded on my childhood training...
Combat Skill 17 Endurance Points 25
not bad, but I expect to die a lot
Sixth Sense Hunting Animal Kinship Weaponskill : Sword Mindblast
it's a roleplaying angle
With six Gold Crowns to my name and a Helmet I grabbed from a broken shelf in the smoldering armoury, I am making my way down the hill towards the forest...
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Post by noble on Mar 18, 2019 18:25:25 GMT
I have an excel action sheet, with a simple VBA D10 roller upper left and a less than simple combat interface lower right. I hope I remembered all possible combat options... The sheet is showing traces of my house rules...
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Post by noble on Mar 19, 2019 21:17:18 GMT
I died against the Gourgaz - three times (one draw), and only got him the fourth try...
Then died while trying to bash my way through a throng of Giak Wolfriders (four times - I only repeated the combats I lost)...
Been eaten by Doomwolves. Five times. Bad luck...
And been beaten to death by some soldiers. Thirteen times (three draws)...
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Post by noble on Mar 19, 2019 21:19:51 GMT
So well, the Gourgaz left me with 5 EP. Going through eight opponents with that number would need pure luck...
I will rethink my strategy, nurture my EP and not take on every opponent I see. I could maybe try that with a CS of 19, but not 17...
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Post by noble on Mar 19, 2019 21:43:37 GMT
I formulate a new persona less headstrong with more wisdom, knowing that getting the message through is more important than, say, saving civilians, though it will cost him, morally. Knowing he would not have to take on the enemy all by himself.
I will put more emphasis on the hunter aspect, more cunning, working out advantages, a middle way...
And being evasive once the EP begin to fade...
Let me see how I fare with that...
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Post by Ofecks on Mar 23, 2019 20:19:32 GMT
You don't have to fight the Gourgaz, you know. If your LW is lacking in combat skill/disciplines, there's another route you can take.
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Post by noble on Mar 24, 2019 14:03:57 GMT
I know, but I want the prince's sword It is not single combats I fear, but attrition. I realize that my fighting prowess is good enough to win even the more diffcult combats, but taking on too many opponents may yield too many bad rolls and the ensuing EP loss will whittle me down. The story so far... Flight from the Dark I only fought the Burrowcrawler and the Gourgaz, then took the river route to the outer defenses. This story saw me hide and evade, as well as leaving helpless children to die, with tears and the grim realization of duty... Fire on the Water I managed to do this in one go. I was robbed by fishermen and had quite an adventure in Ragadorn to recover the signet ring and get enough cash for the coach ride to Port Bax. I never went the fishermen route before and it was quite entertaining. I misread the cartwheel rules and realized that a book later, but replayed that gambling scene using the correct rules, leaving with five Gold Crowns more (not that it mattered, as the Noodniks will steal all my gold anyway...). In realization of my duty (and quite bruised), I skipped the Magic Spear and managed the Tarnalin thanks to Animal Kinship (a "pretty female Noodnik"? - we have to talk, young man...). Smashing my way with the Sommerswerd through the zombie fleet was a quite entertaining action drive. The Caverns of Kalte This is where things started to get tricky, with me leaving the Sommerswerd at Holmgard... I had to run this three times until my luck held, especially when needing to beat that "Kalkoth Blue Triangle" bringer - I have to take that route, as my playstyle would make me miss the Silver Key otherwise. In a second chance fight (houserule), I dispatched the Kalkoth with a quick swing and a follow up jab of my short sword. I plundered the basements of Ikaya and beat the Cthulhu monster with the Effigy. In my first try I tried to do this mano a mano, but no chance... Not taking the Sommerswerd means that I will need to use the book specific method of making the final boss fight winnable. Oh, and I did not forget to pick up the diamond to give to Altan for his horse in Book 6. I like fair trades... The Chasm of Doom WTF the battle of Ruanon! It took several approaches trying to reach Ruanon with a sufficient EP balance (I say 20 after Laumspur). Again, I needed three tries, but was also lucky to pick up some Holy Water on the way... I got a bit dishearted after my first two tries, but the third had me waltzing through on a wave of zeros. Actually I am having so much Laumspur at the moment, that I could open an apothecary... Anyway, the Holy Water took care of Barraka. I am sorting my substantial safekeeping stores at Holmgard and contemplating how to outfit for my trip to Barrakeesh...
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Post by noble on Mar 24, 2019 14:25:09 GMT
Some of my houserules, personal rules and rule clarifications:
Character Creation (personal rule) Combat Skill (CS) and Endurance Points (EP) are decided as best of three rolls.
(For Endurance, I am using an EP base, an EP max and an EP current stat - see below.)
Equipment selection (houserules)
Each single item taken from the Equipment section counts against the maximum number of items that can be taken. Meals may not be able to be taken from one book to another and not be put into Safekeeping. Safekeeping will be possible from Book 2 onwards (at the Royal Armoury at Holmgard).
Armour (houserules)
Armour EP are added to EP max and to EP current when put on. Armour EP are deducted from EP max only when taken off..
Weapons and Weaponlike Special Items (houserules)
You can carry up to four Weapons and/or Weaponlike Special Items: Hand (Spear, Quarterstaff) Belt (Dagger, Short Sword, Sword, Axe, Mace, Warhammer) Belt (Dagger, Short Sword, Sword, Axe, Mace, Warhammer) Back (Sword, Broadsword, Axe, Warhammer) (These slots are more of a rough idea for roleplaying purposes.)
Weaponlike Special Items (clarification)
Weaponlike Special Items can be chosen to be affected whenever Weapons are affected. Weaponlike Special Items can be chosen to be affected whenever Special Items are affected. Weaponlike Special Items are affected whenever all Weapons are affected. Weaponlike Special Items are affected whenever all Special Items are affected.
Sommerswerd (personal rules)
The Sommerwerd is kept in safekeeping, unless a Darklord is said to be present. The Sommerwerd is only used, when prompted to in the text.
Starvation pool (houserule)
The Starvation Pool begins as EP base. EP loss due to starvation is not deducted from EP current, but deducted from the starvation pool. The Starvation Pool pool forms the base for EP max. The starvation pool is reset after consuming an extra meal, a narrative feast, or between books. The extra meal has to be consumed with the next regular meal, if available (Hunting counts).
Combat
I have some distinct rules on One and Two Handed Wielding, using Shields, Mounted Combat and Dual Wielding, which I will elaborate on later.
Gameplay (personal rules)
To make all this possible and to minimize the number of replays, I am using the following rules:
Allow second chances for instant death random number rolls. Allow second choices for crucial game decisions. Allow three chances for difficult combats.
I do not want to neccessarily replay the book, just because I, say, botch the button sequence in The Caverns of Kalte - I could, but I would chose the same path anyway.
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Post by noble on Mar 24, 2019 17:01:08 GMT
My role and my choice of armour and weapons (from a roleplaying angle) Flight from the Dark: Young Ranger (obviously) Fire on the Water: Simple Traveller, Short Sword and Dagger The Caverns of Kalte: Arctic Explorer, Padded Leather Waistcoat, Short Sword and Axe The Chasm of Doom: Light Cavalryman, Chainmail Waistcoat, Spear, Sword and Dagger Shadow on the Sand: Warrior Lord, Chainmail Waistcoat, Silver Helm, Sword and Mace My current Action Sheetand what I have stashed awayyet to comeThe Kingdoms of Terror: Wealthy Traveller, Chainmail Waistcoat, Sword, Dagger and Bow
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Post by Ofecks on Mar 24, 2019 17:51:58 GMT
I had to run this three times until my luck held, especially when needing to beat that "Kalkoth Blue Triangle" bringer - I have to take that route, as my playstyle would make me miss the Silver Key otherwise. So are you RP-ing this run as Lawful-good? Otherwise you can kill the old barbarians in the Firesphere room for a Triangle on that same route, or find a free one lying on the ground in another part of the caverns and jimmy the chest lock with a dagger (or bone sword) or Mind Over Matter. The Chasm of Doom WTF the battle of Ruanon! It took several approaches trying to reach Ruanon with a sufficient EP balance (I say 20 after Laumspur). Again, I needed three tries, but was also lucky to pick up some Holy Water on the way... I got a bit dishearted after my first two tries, but the third had me waltzing through on a wave of zeros. Having recently done a low-combat run of 1-12 for the Seventh Sense achievement, there's a way through the battle with only two combats (3 if you have the worst roll on the 2nd bow shot).
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Post by noble on Mar 24, 2019 21:27:03 GMT
So are you RP-ing this run as Lawful-good? Otherwise you can kill the old barbarians in the Firesphere room for a Triangle on that same route, or find a free one lying on the ground in another part of the caverns and jimmy the chest lock with a dagger (or bone sword) or Mind Over Matter. You can open the chest without the key? Should've known... I thought you definitely needed the Silver Key, which comes with the Frostwyrm. Now if I would have the chance to avoid the Frostwyrm, by coming to the fortress door with a Triangle equipped, I would use it - and miss the key. Well, so no Kalkoth next time, and I will get to use Mind over Matter another time. Having recently done a low-combat run of 1-12 for the Seventh Sense achievement, there's a way through the battle with only two combats (3 if you have the worst roll on the 2nd bow shot). I got into three fights - the warrior that jumps on the wagon, and the cavalryman, twice. Incidentially I was a bit miffed when I knocked him off his horse and had to fight him afoot again and he suddenly had more EP than after I knocked him down before... But I came to Ruanon with 9 EP on the first try, after a long way through the mines from Eshnar - with a whole lot of fights. I panicked and ran back to the Tower, which took me to the somewhat boss fight on the roof which did me in in the first round. I became a little paranoid about Ruanon after that...
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Post by noble on Apr 9, 2019 16:27:25 GMT
Work caught up with me, but I finally managed to do book 5. Adventuring without the Sommerswerd is an interesting experience. You get kicked around quite a lot, actually hoping for good numbers and quick fights. You also get offered some interesting ways to manage the final boss fights. Those last fights build up a tension of their own, which is very enjoyable. It also makes you realize that indeed the books are doable by a beginning character. I can only encourage anyone to try it (ask me again after the Magnakai series). I am about to start the Magnakai books, and had to change my action sheet accordingly: I think I added all the needed Magnakai combat options. I also added an Edurance Point slider. With Healing now, I do not want to edit my sheet manually. I amassed quite a collection of items: and am about to delve into the Book of the Magnakai... I guess I will roll for my Magnakai Disciplines randomly. I imagine the book fading away means I cannot rely on those sections I want to learn from to be those that are still readable. I would also think of the Lorestones containing one discipline each. I will think a little longer about that...
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Post by noble on Apr 9, 2019 16:39:01 GMT
I'll go in with Chainmail, Sword and Dagger, two Laumspur Potions for the Magnakai books. One Alether Potion, hoping this will give me a fitting excuse to save the good one through Castle Death...
I am not quite Lone Pack Rat, except where weapons and potions are concerned. I have been going for potions over the books specifically and am planning to build up a large armoury for the Monastery...
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Post by noble on Apr 12, 2019 18:28:36 GMT
No Silver Bow for me!
I had the chance, I entered at -7 (21 with Circle of Fire and Weaponmastery Bow), we took maybe ten shots and I lay ahead then and now. In the end it came down to a last shot at 2 target points for me, and 8 for him. That put him in range of me winning on a 9 or a 0, loosing on any other number.
Tension!
And lost...
But closer than I thought it would be. It was a good tournament.
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Post by noble on Apr 13, 2019 15:34:28 GMT
It took me three tries again to get used to Magnakai play (I only rolled archer tournament during the first try and considered it lost, to be fair).
Book 6 without the Sommerswerd is manageable, but you do feel that the combats are harder. Having Healing now (the last of the Kai disciplines I chose), was needed dearly.
What is to note?
I lived like a king and spent fistfulls of gold crowns...
I stole the horse (in Kai Lord pursuit...)
I have even more healing potions at home now...
Books 7 onwards I know less by heart, as I only had access to 1 through 6 in my youth. Especially Castle Death is one I hate, due to the confusing setting, the death traps and combat ratios.
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