4.0 A new beginning

[at]

Nov 1, 2013 11:23:10 GMT -5 harknail said:

The sentries are standing on the ground

No blowing them out of trees then
More straightforward though.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

ghost sound is a great distraction too, if i was playing a less wise character ya he is all for blowing them up, yet he goes about things a bit more methodical.

Are chances of hitting them and killing them in one shot is not likely if they are anything like the ones we meet before. jumping so close does not seam like a winning strategy. What we need is.. I got it, simple but it can work. Send an note by drop it off using Mage hand showing with an X showing lots of loot there and to not to tell anyone for it goes to the first person that gets there alive. them being greedy leave the post or try and kill each other, one or both get into our kill zone, we jump them there. They are out of cover, they are far away, it is silent, and effective. then we take their place in cover. After that we go to step B.

[rhinobullet]

Vetch looks at the elf and says "As you wish. I will find a suitable place nearby for you to mark on your map. I will then wait in ambush, hidden. I will strike one of them to initiate the ambush, and then the rest of you will know that is the signal to strike.. If they don't fall for this ruse though, they will likely be alerted."

[at]

Barbatos scratches his head, "I don't know how to write the Gnoll language. Perhaps we are overthinking this, the stone doors are thick and there are only two Gnolls. We can pair up on them and dispatch them quickly, if they hear us inside it would at least solve the problem of opening the doors"

[harknail]

Harknail answered, "I concur with Barbatos."

OOC: I'll try to have a map made and posted today. L

[rhinobullet]

Vetch shrugs and says "I am at your service. Let's get a move on though, as the longer we stand here, the more likely we are to be discovered. I will take the gnoll on the right side, and will take Zem with me, Harknail and Barbatos can focus on the other gnoll if that is agreeable to you all."

[harknail]

I will need a stealth roll from everyone to get into position without being seen. Remember, 1 bad roll doesn't mean that the group is discovered.

Harknail Stealth [dice=20]-1 = 16[rand=8486461890861392202157440129667521176534043624997117881748219951987]

[rhinobullet]

Vetch Stealth:

[dice=20]
+12, total: 27[rand=7809359971955245158536620794108574505071469497343704895100309526279]

[harknail]

Here's a map showing the entrance and where the gnolls are hiding. Where are you trying to sneak up to before making an attack?

Map (updates as positions change)

SPOILER: Click to show

[at]

Barbatos holds Harknail back for a moment, it would be best that the skilled hunter Vetch get into position to bring down the Gnoll closest to the door before they moved forward to flank the other - neither were skilled at this so it would be best that any mistake on their part did not compromise the others.

[dice=20]+2=10

Edit: Added Barbatos stealth modifier [rand=36855924838218734895859201611611652200921751801774422786014778767]

[rhinobullet]

Since the gnolls are conversing with each other, Vetch and Zem will creep up on the gnoll at F6. They will attempt to use cover to creep up to B8. They will wait there for the gnoll to start talking again and cross the opening and move to C6 and prepare to strike the gnoll. Vetch will try to get as close as possible before striking. If the gnoll is alerted, he will charge it, if not, he will attempt to move up to it quietly and strike it from behind. Vetch will also go ahead and mark the Gnoll with Hunter's Quarry.

[harknail]

Rolling for Zem:[dice=20]+1=13

Gnoll perception: [dice=20]+3-5=15

Only Harknail and Vetch succeeded in beating the Gnoll's perception, but that is enough for the group stealth to be successful.

Harknail helps Barbatos while Vetch helps Zem sneak up on the Gnolls.

Not pushing his luck, Harknail gets close enough to charge, but waits for the signal from Vetch.

Vetch leads Zem to a nearby tree, then leaves Zem there as Vetch sneaks into the same tree as the Gnoll. Then he very carefully moves adjacent to the Gnoll and prepares to strike…

The group is going to get a surprise round, one standard action to attack before the Gnolls can do anything, then we will go to normal initiative which may result in additional attacks before the Gnolls get to move.

If you are not already adjacent to your target, this means either a charge or a ranged attack. Since D 6 is to close to charge, I moved to Vetch to E 6 so that he can make maximum use of the surprise round. He can use any of his normal attacks now.

Also, being in a tree provides cover from melee attacks because the branches get in the way (-2 to hit) and concealment from ranged attacks because the leaves make the target harder to see (-2 to hit). There is no modifier for burst attacks.[rand=5842110405210406660434177611023268038184754550466512608255725354]

[harknail]

Tag Vetch to start off the surprise round. Please include an init roll with your attack to determine order for the normal rounds.

[rhinobullet]

Vetch creeps up to the gnoll, silently drawing his bastard swords and preparing to strike the Gnoll, which has no idea that the half-orc is behind him. Vetch will strike and then signal the others after he has landed the blow.

Swiftly he targets the quarry, and then strikes.

Vetch Will attack with Twin Strike:

Attack #1
[dice=20]
+11 for a total of 28

Attack #2
[dice=20]
+11 for a total of 25

Damage #1
[dice=10]
+2 for a total of:10

Damage #2
[dice=10]
+2 for a total of:5

Plus damage for Hunter's Quarry:
[dice=6]

Initiative Roll:
[dice=20]
+6 for a total of:18
OOC I didn't account for the +/- you posted about trees etc. Figured I would let you apply accordingly
[rand=86822590792007633275341238100661748926736312730417041248854450397]

[harknail]

Both swords struck true, leaving a Gnoll wondering why his left side and right arm are suddenly hurting. The battle cry that followed let him know that he was under attack, an attack he had never seen coming…

<tag everyone else, remember only a standard action for surprise round, and I also need an Init roll>

[harknail]

Once the signal was given, Harknail charged forth and slashed at the other Gnoll. Unfortunately the blow was stopped by the branches before it reached the Gnoll.

Harknail would have barely hit, except for the -2 cover. So he missed

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

I will use lance of faith on the Gnoll in F6.
if i do hit i will give a +2 to hit to the wizard on his hit to hit roll this round

[dice=20]+5= CRIT!
to hit (because of the -2 already added in to this)
damage [dice=8]+4= 12 do to a cit and a extra d6 do to my item damage[dice=6]= 14 more to him.

A bright lighting bolt flashes form his holy symbol and strikes the Gnoll smacking into him at the exact spot Zem was aiming for.

Cover ha my god laughs at the though u can't hid form his rath [rand=98212423454970128615828179754317127691776724532257412077316548675]

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

O my Init is [dice=20]+2= 11[rand=397613573586568243798298945184797065376981161534796570315854623914]

[at]

Seeing Harknail struggling to reach the Gnoll through the undergrowth Barbatos quickly moves to stun their foe with a bright flash of colour.

[dice=20]+9 vs will (blast) and dazed
[dice=6]+6 radiant damage
[dice=20]+3 init (can Barbatos will delay his to keep the Gnoll dazed until Harknail gets to him?)[rand=5174511273231331419282481488563352163787990629227710624683571305]

[harknail]

Zem's Lance of Faith left the Gnoll bloodied. Meanwhile Barbatos dazed the other Gnoll.

No one rolled higher than the Gnolls initiative, so they will go next. And Harknail will benefit from the Dazed effect during his turn even if Barbatos acts first in the next round, Changing order doesn't loose a bonus or grant it twice. Though I may need help occasionally to remember that