The search - part 1

[tomcat]

All right guys, here is how I am running this thing. We will do each step of the search for Ruithel by mechanics first, narrative/dialogue second, and then any mechanics to deal with an encounter, melee, or hazard.

Here are the rules I put together. If you guys see a problem with anything, do not hesitate to chime in and provide some input.

Search for Ruithel

1) Each part will involve each PC needing to roll a Hunting test, Travel test, and an Explore test (TN by region of Upper Vales). If you add another test in to add to story, that is fine with me, but these three tests will drive the search.

2) Hunting tests will work two-fold. Each PC will roll against the TN and must succeed to provide any benefit, BUT the aggregate of everyone's rolls will also apply. I do this because I want more than one player throwing a Feat die - the more Feat die, the more opportunity for grand successes and potential threats.

3) The aggregate of the Hunting rolls must exceed 45+ score. This secures that the companions are on the right path towards Ruithel and thus move the party 1 step closer to her rescue. She is a number of steps away known only to me, of course.  

4) If a PC also achieves the area TN on the Hunting test, you will gain 1 additional step closer (2 steps for great success; 3 steps for extraordinary)

5) An result has a negative effect by reducing the progression towards Ruithel by 2 steps and determines a hazard or encounter.

6) If the aggregate of the Hunting roll is less than 48, the company might be moving closer, but not necessarily on the right path. An encounter, hazard, or other narrative will occur.

7) Each group Hunting roll is considered a day's worth of searching and traveling. A Travel test is required against the TN of the region the PC's are within. A failed test will increase the PC's individual fatigue and an can produce a hazard.

8) Finally, an Explore test is needed for each PC, again with a TN based on the region. If successful, the PC has made themselves a comfortable camp to get solid rest each night.

9) If successful, END is restored at the normal rate (based on wounded or non-) and the PC loses 1 level of Fatigue for that night's sleep.

10) If failed, neither END or FATIGUE is restored.

I can roll all the rolls at once for everyone to expedite that portion of our search, if you guys want me to. Otherwise, we can each roll and then I will sum up the results and we do some narrative and dialogue. If we go into encounters or melee, we will break out into rounds as normal, between each of these parts of the search.

I have attached a map of the territory below. The company is at the end of the first line that leads from Argil's farm. This is where Grimbeorn's first successful (individual) hunt led you all to start. I also have the roll from Arbogast to bring into play, but I will let you all know when that happens.  

I hope this turns out to be fun and makes the Upper Vale adventure a little random, instead of a railroad type of story arc. Remember...the orcs could possibly get away!

It is here that our search shall begin...

[tomcat]

Their path had led them away north and west from the Argil clan. The land around them rolled - small hills topped with sparse growths of trees and scrub. Further north, the same hills became more rocky, looking white...or grey, depending on the light. That was where the Narrows began - the long, hard stretch of land between the northern forest and the Grey Mountains.

Grimbeorn was sure that the raiding orcs had not gone that way. The large man stooped close to the ground, as he searched, only to stand again and move off at a pace his wound allowed. Behind him, the others joined in - it served no good for anyone to not participate. The Elf's life depended on them all.

Just for this introductory phase of the search, I will make all the rolls here and we shall work through them. If you guys prefer, like I said above, I have no problem if you want to make your own rolls in the remaining series of the search.

But for expediency, here goes...

[tomcat]

ROLLS

TN 16 hunting by PC

Arbogast 2d 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 1, total 2

Bandy 0d 1d12 : 12, total 12

Esgalwen 1d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 1d6 : 4, total 4

Grimbeorn 3d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 2, 1, total 5

Rorin 0d 1d12 : 1, total 1

TN 16 travel by PC

Arbogast 2d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 4, total 8

Bandy 2d 1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 3, 5, total 8

Esgalwen 3d 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 3d6 : 2, 4, 4, total 10

Grimbeorn 3d 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 3, 2, total 9

Rorin 3d 1d12 : 10, total 10
Rolled 3d6 : 4, 5, 6, total 15

TN 16 explore by PC

Arbogast 3d 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 1, 2, total 8

Bandy 2d 1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 2, total 6

Esgalwen 2d 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 3, total 5

Grimbeorn 0d 1d12 : 2, total 2

Rorin 2d 1d12 : 12, total 12
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 1, total 5

[tomcat]

Okay...that is done.

It is 1:00AM so I am going to tally the results on paper and continue this tomorrow.

I will also give the new narrative based on the results. I may also tweak our rules based on our first official roll to make sure things will scale fairly.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  Yup its confirmed, the GM has it out for Grimbeorn. 

[Eclecticon]

By my count, the total for our collective Hunting is 40 - well off what we need to be on exactly the right track.  I'm a little confused as to whether everyone counts, though, or just the people who beat the area TN? 

Arbogast and Bandy both succeeded on their rolls - my understanding is that this brings us two steps closer to catching the quarry, despite the collective failure. 

Everyone except Esgalwen and Rorin gains two points of fatigue from the first day's hard slog, but Arbogast and Rorin both lose a point for a decent night's sleep, and Rorin regains a point of Endurance. 

based on the above - let me know if I've got it wrong and I'll adjust. 

[Telcontar]

  i would say due to time lag and player posting ability that you do all the three rolls for us in bulk and we can add to the narrative of it as we did in the last thread. It maybe less suspensefull but it will keep the game from getting overly bogged down waiting on people to roll.

[tomcat]

REPLIES

Yup its confirmed, the GM has it out for Grimbeorn.  

It is funny you say that, Matt, because the test numbers I built were based on Grimbeorn. So, I spent the last three days making rolls of 1d12 and 3d6 to see what my expectations could be for a series of 12 to 15 tests and the dice roller I used in my phone was killing it...16+ to low-to-mid 20's! I was thinking, there is no way I am going to get a fun result if Grimbeorn just overcomes everything.

And then, I put it all in play and rolled for your character! Who knew?

By my count, the total for our collective Hunting is 40 - well off what we need to be on exactly the right track.  I'm a little confused as to whether everyone counts, though, or just the people who beat the area TN?  

Arbogast and Bandy both succeeded on their rolls - my understanding is that this brings us two steps closer to catching the quarry, despite the collective failure.  

Everyone except Esgalwen and Rorin gains two points of fatigue from the first day's hard slog, but Arbogast and Rorin both lose a point for a decent night's sleep, and Rorin regains a point of Endurance.  

based on the above - let me know if I've got it wrong and I'll adjust.

You have it all correct, Paul. To answer your question though, yes. The aggregate sum takes in everyone's roll no matter if they made it successfully, or not. I am attaching a simple idea of what the search web looks like so you guys understand how I am handling it.

Essentially, the aggregate determines the path you guys are following. Obviously the orcs are racing towards Gundabad, but are you on their direct path, or off course? Once determined which path, the individual successes and   's determine how fast you are heading down the path. If you hit the path's number, you catch up to the orcs. But will you guys find her right across the river, or on the feet of Mount Gundabad?

There are a total number of tests I will allow before the orcs escape with her.

Finally, you guys will move from one path to the other (if the aggregate equals the paths value) - simulating finding correct lead, or better traces of their passing. All forward progression down the paths are cumulative, though, so even if you are on a long trail for a while, something happens (Grimbeorn finds a elven broach) and you move to a short path. If you have accrued the necessary forward steps, you find them.

Make sense? I hope so. I have been wracking my brain to make a fun chase model. As always, if you guys see fault in my logic, let me know. I can always make changes. If it works well as a tool, we can use the concept for future stuff.

i would say due to time lag and player posting ability that you do all the three rolls for us in bulk and we can add to the narrative of it as we did in the last thread. It maybe less suspensefull but it will keep the game from getting overly bogged down waiting on people to roll.

I was thinking the same, Tom, but didn't want to assume and take away all of the fun from you guys. I will make the rolls from here on out.

I will have a narrative post up a little later tonight.

[Eclecticon]

Okay, cool.  This is going to be fun!

[tomcat]

It was Arbogast and Bandy who led the group during the next leg, as Grimbeorn's wound made a challenge for the man to keep stooping to the ground. The Fire-watcher's eyes were keen, though, and he had listened to the Beorning as to what to look for. Bandy, too, though not a Hobbit of field and hunt, maintained an even vigil alongside Arbogast. It was the man's gait that caused the Hobbit to tire, as Bandy tried to keep apace.

Behind them both, the remaining three companions marched in silence. Above them, Magrac hung on the swells of warm air that came up off the land. The raven's keen eyes looking off far into the distance, which it would then swoop down to Rorin's shoulder to advise.

There was a flutter of wings and then the Dwarf felt the clawed feet dig into his heavy tunic. Magrac pecked down at Rorin's armored shoulder, and then it squawked, "RIIVER! RIIVER!"

The companions all looked to one another to try and understand the raven's cryptic word, beyond the fact that there would soon be a river. In fact, Grimbeorn had mentioned it. It would have to be the Greylin that flowed out of the Grey Mountains to the north. Another river, the Langwell, fell from the Misty Mountains and together they combined to form Anduin the great. Grimbeorn knew that the river would show up soon to be their first obstacle. Maybe the orcs would be held up by it, too?

They all began to move again and the rocky, hilly, terrain began to slowly echo a sound...the roar of water.

Arbogast pushed forward at a quick pace, urgent to make it out of the hills and to the Greylin before the setting of the sun. He led Bandy up a rise that broke into large, wide steppes of rock on its opposite side that made for a harder march for the Hobbit. And then the river was there, cold and grey in the dusk of day. It frothed white with rapids and sharp jagged rocks and a current that would kill any that dared.

Arbogast's heart fell when he saw the non-fordable expanse of water and knew they had slogged through hill and bramble too far south, away from what Argil had called the Gundabad road.

[tomcat]

To recount Paul's post:

• You all have moved 2 steps closer to the goal.  TOTAL progression is 2 steps.

• Arbogast, Bandy and Grimbeorn gain a level of Fatigue (2 points)

• Arbogast and Rorin gain the only comfort out of their rest and reduce their Fatigue by one leve (2 points)

That is all that really needs done for this part of the search, but feel free to add any dialogue or narrative that you would like. I am going to open the next part of our search and make the next set of rolls.

Again I will post here, I have one to work with thus far. I will bring it into play when I am ready, but it will not be to stack on other failures.

[Telcontar]

  well you didnt use the forum roller in your calculations. The forum roller hates PCs. 

[tomcat]

I was thinking that, too, Tom - especially after the next set of rolls.