Greyhawk Armageddon

[ROB G]

To the Heroes of Greyhawk,

Last weeks module was the sideffect of a failed module which occured 3 weeks.

That original module was a "Bringing it all together" module. All the little tidbits of the campaign. Sowing up any mysteries that were still out there. I needed to get that out of the way to embark on this FINAL CONFRONTATION.

I felt I should sufficiently warn you of what is to come.
In your last adventure you faced Sith Theigis. A powerful socerer. It occured to me that if Theigis was a little more agressive or prepared he would have killed all of you easily.

One wonders if you men lack the skills to play this game at this advanced level. Or is it simply lack of interest. Either way the efforts of the past few weeks were futile. Not the stuff of heroes.
You characters possess a staggering array of spells. Yet so few are employed.
The lack of protection spells is what concerns me most.

Now most of the time this dungeon master is content to let you warthog faced buffons bumble your way through adventures. It grieves me to watch you all rejoice at the Gold, Magic items, and XP you've "EARNED?".

The coming danger is serious and permanent. Failure will result in the death of all your pathetic characters and everything they know. THERE WILL BE NO DO-OVER MODULES. Booths half ass mode of play will not continure to be rewarded.

So the gauntlet has been tossed. The warning has been made. Prepare yourself, anticipate your enemies actions. Utilise your abilites. Prove that your not just bunch of jackasses rolling dice but a monster stomping legion of steel wielding the wrath of ruin upon those who trespass against you. Do this Or I'll kill every last one of you mother fuckers as the world comes crashing down arround you.

["The Beast"]

Well having read that I am hurt and insulted. If we must be scolded why in a public place like our favorite message board? I will not make excuses or point fingers here. You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. Yes, we lack cohesion more now than ever I believe. In this players opinion we never really had any cohesion, save that of Drayo and Caldwell. We just attempted to muscle our way through everything hoping it would be ok. Anytime thought is put into anything it only causes more doubt and inaction leading to greater dissapointment, malcontent, and disineterest. The party has been warned by a power beyond any of their comprehension. The question then is.....will it make any difference? This player thinks not. I have felt for a long time that I should express my feelings but instead I avoid the issues at hand and I will continue to do so. As I do feel lucky to be involved with the best gaming community I have ever known, I do also know we all have faults. I don't know about every one else but I take gaming very seriously and to that end it becomes personal. I will end this post feeling insulted, dejected, and inadequate.

[zarion]

I was not much offended. Nor much motivated. I suffer from the lack of interest Rob mentioned. I would like to think that I am still an asset to the party despite of it.

As to the adventure at hand. The party still does not have any further idea of what to do than it did when it played the adventure a month ago. This module could continue indefinitely at that rate, save for the threat that next time could be the final week. So the misery will end one way or another. So will the joy and entertainment. I hope it is fun either way. If not, fantasy football starts in a couple weeks.

[zarion]

Also, my apologies to Fred for asking him to return to play. I thought the group needed his everpresent desire for immediate action. Sorry for sucking you back into our vortex of malaise Fred.

[Rob G]

This is not a public place. Your thinking of the movie message board. This is the D&D message board that no one visits. Normally i consider this place a private discussion area for me and Dave Buckley.

I just dont know if you guys are uninspirable or simply uninspired. I must take responsibility if it is the latter.

Where is Booth and Papo?

["The Beast"]

I withdraw my statement about public humiliation. You are right nobody ever visits save Dave Buckley. But I do visit everyday when I work. As for unispirable that may be the case for some. In my case I can be inspired but it takes alot like a call from Dave Buckley and not a "you have not been here for three weeks and then start barking orders. "I also feel the characters could do much better but I do not want to tell them how to play and if I did they would not listen anyway. So that leaves me and what I can bring ,well short of teleports, nothing. Like most of my characters Cauldwell is quick to action but that is never an option when it comes to our players. I feel I waste my breath with every suggestion so I just don't play. Aside form that My character is of average intelligence and I try to play that too. I do not know what to do seemingly because no matter what you do somebody thinks its wrong.

[you already know]

i didnt notice until now but it seems that the result in our failure(the destruction of the d&d world) will be the very same event i have been asking the d.m. to invoke for the past 2 years.strange.as far as half-assed game play if their was any real serious play anywhere i must have been pissing when it happened.not to blame anyone but i find it hard to be totaly inspired while playing multiple campaings.it makes party history and facts difficult to recall or sometimes even care about.that is why i wanted the world to end and loose campaings to disapear just to have more focus.its not that the campaigns dont inspire me its that im only inspired to play one at a time.im sorry but in greyhawk i like my charicter but the campaign chain of events is spread out over years and broken-up by other campaigns.regadless i still have fun.if we loose we loose if we win we win aslong as its fun i will play.and i will always play my charicters the way i like to the full potential or not but the way i like.i dont belive in the cleric must cast or be able to cast a certin spell always or the fighter must do x damage and take x as his role in the party.in any event none of the above posts were taken personally but did remind me of forgotten opinions.but if its not fun why play?and if i make it not fun for someone i expect to be told so i can acomadate you in one way or the other.that is how i see it and how i will do it.(thank you for struggling through my post and considering these opinions)

[zarion]

fred said:

I feel I waste my breath with every suggestion... I do not know what to do seemingly because no matter what you do somebody thinks its wrong.

I have noticed this as a very real phenomenon before. Across campaigns and characters, no matter the party or the players, this continually happens. I wonder if this is why original DND had a party caller. Like regardless the party debates, the course of action will be set by one guy. I kind of thought rotating that roll from group to group - or even just week to week really, would be the answer but really I don't believe in all honesty that it will ever come to pass. I have no doubts many situations will work great with independent character actions. But I also think coordination makes a party work better and more effectively. Case in point: the supposed enemy next week is a deity. That requires some forethought and hardcore cooperation for any chance in the world to succeed.

booth said:

i didnt notice until now but it seems that the result in our failure(the destruction of the d&d world) will be the very same event i have been asking the d.m. to invoke for the past 2 years

Interesting. I am likely to drop out of virtual gameplay and actually keep on playing because I am engaged in the actual mission at hand. Greyhawk is like the heart of DnD from which all things have flowed, being the default world of the 3E PHB. That is not a threat to just the Greyhawk campaigns, but all campaigns in the multiverse - as we have all been told. I would not expect a Neverending Story resolution where we get to re-create DnD all over again. And I like DnD too much to accept never being able to play with you guys in NY ever again. Even if I go offline and even if I don't play again for mad long. I am a DnD lifer and cannot bear the thought of DnD coming to a terminal end in NY. At least not without a fight. ;D


Anyhow, Rob's original post sounded like a bold-faced challenge to step up our game. I doubt this entire conversation is leading to that or anything close to it. I always thought planning and debating could occur outside gametime, but instead we have here a shit list from all angles. To where from here? I will keep on trying to do my best with my character while drinking Red Stripes (Hurray Beer!). I rely on you guys much, by virtue of the virtual presence I tend to take a back seat with planning while we are playing. So put NPC Buckley in a position to do something good and restore the potential for in-person Buckley returning in a reign of terror to the gaming table "someday".

["The Beast"]

True, and I do believe Rob's first post was a challenge to step it up,which we will have to do if there is going to be any chance for survival. I don't think any players take the fun out of it but there is something elsewhere ,elusive, that has taken the starch out of my gaming. I have skipped many sessions for this reason because the only thing I enjoy is the company of my friends and not the company of the characters. I would not ask or expect anyone to change to accomidate me, perhaps at the expense of ruining their time. I guess I what i would like to see is a little more cohesion, teamwork and decisiveness. Maybe just a little positive reinforcement as opposed criticism.

The bottom line is I am a spoiled child used to getting my own way and when I don't I pout. So I am going to go throw a tantrum now and then return later.

I will end on this note..............The party has always been animate about bringing every home alive and for that I am greatfull. Thank you pentagon!!!!

[Rob G]

Dave Buckley speaks of "The Caller"

You really are D&D.

I'd long forgotten about "The Caller" until just recently as I perused the original 1977 D&D rulebook.

In there it states that one player should be The Mapper, taking on responsibility of mapping and notes and so fourth. And another player should be "The Caller". The Caller is responisible for telling the DM what the group will do. The caller "Calls" upon the other players to see what need be done. Then explains it to the DM.

I actually think this idea of note keeper and caller would facilitate better gameplay and more progress for the players.

I suppose in my fantasy D&D group there could a mapper, a caller, and the battle board manager. Everyone helping to run the game.

Hey Buck,

Did you say you dont plan to play virtually anymore. What do you mean. No more Dave Buckley. Has the end of the multiverse all already hit north carolina?

["The Beast"]

I think the DM should just repeat everything he said whenever the players ask. I also feel the DM should take care of the battle board and tell the players where the move and then just move them.

[Rob G]

The DM is not fucking secretary fred.

Oh hey, I leveled up your character and updated him on computer. I will have him printed out next time you come over. I have pencils for you too.

What you guys dont know is that you actually all pay the DM 5 dollars an hour. I will be sending out the first bills this month. Some of you guys have some serious back payments.

["The Beast"]

Very serious...........

[zarion]

I had a blast playing in person. Infinitely better.

Among the Highlights: pulling out the spellcraft check when the DM asked what spell I cast. Pulling a bluff on Caldwell to make him think I cast a heal spell. Papo's face after reading my character sheet and exclaiming that I was not actually a bard. Sending a lunatic through a portal as our embassador (The Cube anyone?). Making a coup de grace as a sneak attack, rolling natural 20 to hit (though not even needed), rolling max regular damage and three of four sneak dice as max damage. The slaad and his cowboy hat.

["The Beast"]

Slaads are bad business.........