[D&D] The Lost Mines of Phandelver

[Scepticalscribe]

that you can move 30 feet

per turn. 🙂

So, in one turn (somewhere someone explained the arcane difference between turns and rounds) I can arrive at where the goblin currently entangled with Portia in mortal combat can be found?

 

[Don't panic]

So, in one turn (somewhere someone explained the arcane difference between turns and rounds) I can arrive at where the goblin currently entangled with Portia in mortal combat can be found?

correct, and then you can use an action, which can be an attack (by magic or with the sword you carry) or some other sorts of actions.

if you decide to use magic, it would be not a great idea to use up one of your slots, since we are ganging up on this poor fellow 5 on 1, and ha has a very slim chance to escape alive.

you can use a cantrip, for example Shocking Grasp, for 1d8 damage, or you can use your sword, for 1d6+2 damage (if you hit the goblin).
your odds of hitting the goblin are slightly better with the cantrip (+5) than with the sword (+4), but on a hit the swords makes more damage on average (5.5 vs 4.5). with both you could kill the goblin right away. if the goblin is wearing metal, your Shock-attack has advantage

 

[Plutonius]

>>> @Scepticalscribe it's your turn. You know what to do 🙂 You have a 30 feet walking speed, so you can easily reach the remaining goblin across the stream.

@ravenvii, Based on your re-roll of initiative, I believe Portia (@Moyank24) is next.

Portia, you can hit that Goblin. Veit is chanting a remove cursed dice spell 🙂.

 

[ravenvii]

@ravenvii, Based on your re-roll of initiative, I believe Portia (@Moyank24) is next.

Portia, you can hit that Goblin. Veit is chanting a remove cursed dice spell 🙂.

No, the turn order is Claus, Syllin, Bartholomeus, Portia, Veit and finally the Goblins. The re-roll is because three rollers came up equal. The re-roll is to determine their order amongst themselves, not in relation to the whole group.

 

[Plutonius]

No, the turn order is Claus, Syllin, Bartholomeus, Portia, Veit and finally the Goblins. The re-roll is because three rollers came up equal. The re-roll is to determine their order amongst themselves, not in relation to the whole group.

Okay 🙂. Sorry for the confusion.

For Syllin,
1) Could she cast a ray of frost cantrip at the goblin from where she is currently standing and what chance would she have of hitting the goblin ? Would she get a disadvantage ?
2) Instead, if she crossed the stream before casting the shocking grasp cantrip at the goblin, what chance would she have of hitting and does she have any penalty casting at melee range (i.e. any disadvantage) ?

 

[Don't panic]

Okay 🙂. Sorry for the confusion.

For Syllin,
1) Could she cast a ray of frost cantrip at the goblin from where she is currently standing and what chance would she have of hitting the goblin ? Would she get a disadvantage ?
2) Instead, if she crossed the stream before casting the shocking grasp cantrip at the goblin, what chance would she have of hitting and does she have any penalty casting at melee range (i.e. any disadvantage) ?

Shocking grasp is a melee cantrip, so there would be no disadvantages

 

[Plutonius]

Shocking grasp is a melee cantrip, so there would be no disadvantages

Thank you for the answer.

So it sounds like @Scepticalscribe best options might be to run to the goblin and use shocking grasp or hit it with her sword.

She will probably miss anyways the way the dice hate her 😀.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, I think we can take and place bets - as to probabilities and likelihood of missing the target completely, blade skating harmlessly off him at an awkward angle, or tangent, tripping, skidding, or generally slipping and screwing up. According to the dice, that is……(are there any spells a recently qualified wizard, Level One, formerly an Acolyte of Great Academic Promise, can cast to alter those damned dice? I know, I know; in another universe, Granny Weatherwax, the doyenne of witches, had some interesting things to say - mostly negative - about attempting to influence fate by the use of magic).

Guys, before I contemplate a run (I am shockingly out of practice at such things, seats of learning call for a dignified stroll adjusting your gown, at most an ambling trot, rather than a panting pell mell sprint), any advice on whether shocking grasp, or my shortsword (at which I appear to have some small proficiency) would be a better choice to use in this context?

 

[twietee]

Ok, I'll give it a try (mostly to be corrected 🙂):

Using your sword would mean "you" will need to throw a 10 or above on a D20 (Goblin has an armor class of 14 but since you have an attack bonus with your sword of +4 it's 10 (not sure how to handle "ties" so whether you have to roll a 11 or 10..)). By the description of your sword I'd say you deal 3 points of damage at minimum (2 by piercing and then one additional roll of a dice with six sides (D6). So basically between 3-8 points of damage. The goblin will most likely have about 8 hitpoints.

Using your spell Shocking Grasp would mean you still have to overcome the AC 14 of the goblin. I believe you have to accumulate the modifiers of intelligence (+3) and Proficiency (+2) and add to that one roll of a D20. So you'd basically have to roll a 9 or above to succeed. In case the Goblin wears an armor made out of metal you get an additional bonus but I don't know if the goblin does. Once succeeded, you would inflict 1-8 points of damage but also forcing the goblin to wait one turn (if I read that right).

I would do two things if I were you:
1) cast your spell since we all want to see some magic in action!! and
2) wait for a more experienced advise before doing 1).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Ok, I'll give it a try (mostly to be corrected 🙂):

Using your sword would mean "you" will need to throw a 10 or above on a D20 (Goblin has an armor class of 14 but since you have an attack bonus with your sword of +4 it's 10 (not sure how to handle "ties" so whether you have to roll a 11 or 10..)). By the description of your sword I'd say you deal 3 points of damage at minimum (2 by piercing and then one additional roll of a dice with six sides (D6). So basically between 3-8 points of damage. The goblin will most likely have about 8 hitpoints.

Using your spell Shocking Grasp would mean you still have to overcome the AC 14 of the goblin. I believe you have to accumulate the modifiers of intelligence (+3) and Proficiency (+2) and add to that one roll of a D20. So you'd basically have to roll a 9 or above to succeed. In case the Goblin wears an armor made out of metal you get an additional bonus but I don't know if the goblin does. Once succeeded, you would inflict 1-8 points of damage but also forcing the goblin to wait one turn (if I read that right).

I would do two things if I were you:
1) cast your spell since we all want to see some magic in action!! and
2) wait for a more experienced advise before doing 1).

That sounds as though it is both good advice and a good plan.

And thank you for explaining the possible implications of either action in terms of how it might work - both on the goblin and in the game.

 

[Don't panic]

Guys, before I contemplate a run (I am shockingly out of practice at such things, seats of learning call for a dignified stroll adjusting your gown, at most an ambling trot, rather than a panting pell mell sprint), any advice on whether shocking grasp, or my shortsword (at which I appear to have some small proficiency) would be a better choice to use in this context?

See post 652 above.

Or, you could use mage hand and show it in front of the goblin's face with the other fingers folded to emphasize the third finger alone extended.
Then we finish him....
😉 😀

Ok, I'll give it a try (mostly to be corrected 🙂):

Using your sword would mean "you" will need to throw a 10 or above on a D20 (Goblin has an armor class of 14 but since you have an attack bonus with your sword of +4 it's 10 (not sure how to handle "ties" so whether you have to roll a 11 or 10..)). By the description of your sword I'd say you deal 3 points of damage at minimum (2 by piercing and then one additional roll of a dice with six sides (D6). So basically between 3-8 points of damage. The goblin will most likely have about 8 hitpoints.

Using your spell Shocking Grasp would mean you still have to overcome the AC 14 of the goblin. I believe you have to accumulate the modifiers of intelligence (+3) and Proficiency (+2) and add to that one roll of a D20. So you'd basically have to roll a 9 or above to succeed. In case the Goblin wears an armor made out of metal you get an additional bonus but I don't know if the goblin does. Once succeeded, you would inflict 1-8 points of damage but also forcing the goblin to wait one turn (if I read that right).

I would do two things if I were you:
1) cast your spell since we all want to see some magic in action!! and
2) wait for a more experienced advise before doing 1).

pretty much, except with shocking grasp the goblin would not lose his next action, but only his reactions (like an opportunity attack).
Also in principle you can use the blade but not the spell to knock out the goblin (if we want him alive)

 

[twietee]

See post 652 above.

Or, you could use mage hand and show it in front of the goblin's face with the other fingers folded to emphasize the third finger alone extended.
Then we finish him....
😉 😀

Hmm, I didn't read that one 😉 (no, really didn't)

Seems like I wasn't that far off with my begginers calculations...anyway, quick question: let's say she uses her sword so would she need to throw an 11 or better or a 10+. I believe 11+ since she has to overcome the AC-attack bonus but that would be helpful to know (it will inevitable be posted somewhere already but that would be supre time consuming).

Also you missed the part about the gobling having to wait one turn if the spell succeedes 😉 That is if he really has to wait one turn, I find the wording to be lacking a bit for my basic understanding.

Thanks!

Ok, ninja'd.

 

[Don't panic]

Hmm, I didn't read that one 😉 (no, really didn't)

Seems like I wasn't that far off with my begginers calculations...anyway, quick question: let's say she uses her sword so would she need to throw an 11 or better or a 10+. I believe 11+ since she has to overcome the AC-attack bonus but that would be helpful to know (it will inevitable be posted somewhere already but that would be supre time consuming).

Also you missed the part about the gobling having to wait one turn if the spell succeedes 😉 That is if he really has to wait one turn, I find the wording to be lacking a bit for my basic understanding.

Thanks!

Ok, ninja'd.

You match, you catch
A tie is good enough

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Given the way those damned dice have been rolling, the less left to chance the better. That means no Mage Hand. That means Shocking Grasp over a flailing shortsword.

(Please desist from taking an improper degree of delight in adding to my already considerable confusion.)

So, to @ravenvii, then, it would seem that a brisk trot is in order.

All out sprints are taxing, and, besides, I'm not one of those preternaturally effortlessly elegant Elves, although I have enough of the grace of my race to make a trot effective, balanced and fast: Hence, a brisk loping trot to the other Goblin (30 feet?) and will then proceed to employ the cantrip (yes, @twietee, you wanted some magic, let us see what this does) Shocking Grasp on the aforementioned goblin.

(Given the way those damned dice roll, and have rolled thus far, I'm more than afraid that the dice will ensure that my shortsword slips, misses, merely scratches the goblin after bouncing off, or stabs myself by mistake instead. Yes, it might indeed cause somewhat less lasting harm to our Goblin, but the cantrip stands a slightly better initial chance of some success. I hope.)

 

[Plutonius]

(Given the way those damned dice roll, and have rolled thus far, I'm more than afraid that the dice will ensure that my shortsword slips, misses, merely scratches the goblin after bouncing off, or stabs myself by mistake instead.

Knowing your luck, I can see the shocking grasp going off on you while you are still standing in the water before you get to the goblin 😀 (It can't really happen) .

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Knowing your luck, I can see the shocking grasp going off on you while you are still standing in the water before you get to the goblin 😀 (It can't really happen) .

You may well have a point. What sort of roll of those accursed dice would be needed to produce this outcome? As things stand, are these dice equally malevolent in their inexplicable rolls to one and all in our party?

In the unsought event of outright failure here, I will concede that the lure of warmth of the wagon and a nice book to read - if only revision of my spells - grows apace.

 

[twietee]

You may well have a point. What sort of roll of those accursed dice would be needed to produce this outcome?

I think you'd have to roll a 0 or below to let that happen.

*looks at metal chain armor and jumps behind cover*

 

[Plutonius]

You may well have a point. What sort of roll of those accursed dice would be needed to produce this outcome? As things stand, are these dice equally malevolent in their inexplicable rolls to one and all in our party?

In the unsought event of outright failure here, I will concede that the lure of warmth of the wagon and a nice book to read - if only revision of my spells - grows apace.

One thing to look forward to is that your magic missile spell always hits (no to hit roll required). You only have two first level slots / day so there was no reason to waste it on this single goblin.
[doublepost=1457364692][/doublepost]

I think you'd have to roll a 0 or below to let that happen.

*looks at metal chain armor and jumps behind cover*

Have you ever heard of the hand joy buzzer joke ? In your case, I would never shake hands with her 🙂.

But then again, I think a Chinese finger trap would be more deadly to a dwarf such as yourself 😀.

 

[twietee]

Of course I have! For a long time I thought that was one of mankinds most impressive innovations.

 

[Don't panic]

after all this prepping for disaster, i fully expect Syllin rolling a natural 20 and frying the little bugger's brains out.

On a semi-related note, it is customary that a wizard/cleric can choose and personalize the "look" of her/his spells (colors/shape/appearance etc.) as well as the arcane words used if the spell has a Verbal component (the little V in the spell description), and the arcane gestures performed (the S -somatic-).
So you two could decide to do that and use them in your post, or PM them to Ravenvii so he can incorporate them in his description of the usage.
Magic Missiles are especially prone to that, as they can literally be anything you want them to (in appearance) from an energy bolt to a fiery cat-shape, to a plucked chicken. it works best when it fits the wizard (thus, a flying plucked chicken would not seem to be a fit selection for Syllin, but would be excellent for a jockster sort of wizard)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

after all this prepping for disaster, i fully expect Syllin rolling a natural 20 and frying the little bugger's brains out.

On a semi-related note, it is customary that a wizard/cleric can choose and personalize the "look" of her/his spells (colors/shape/appearance etc.) as well as the arcane words used if the spell has a Verbal component (the little V in the spell description), and the arcane gestures performed (the S -somatic-).
So you two could decide to do that and use them in your post, or PM them to Ravenvii so he can incorporate them in his description of the usage.
Magic Missiles are especially prone to that, as they can literally be anything you want them to (in appearance) from an energy bolt to a fiery cat-shape, to a plucked chicken. it works best when it fits the wizard (thus, a flying plucked chicken would not seem to be a fit selection for Syllin, but would be excellent for a jockster sort of wizard)

I see. Fascinating. I agree that a plucked flying chicken would not be an appropriate fit for Syllin - though it might, come to think of it, better fit a certain nobleman who has recently brushed up on his culinary skills in a perhaps vain attempt to impress and woo ladies of rank.

And what sort of visual aide memoir or signature would best, or better, suit Syllin, do you think?

The aggression of the biting attacking flapping book we saw in HP3 'Monster Book Of Monsters' doesn't strike me as quite the look we are after, either. And, for that matter, I'm not sure that ominous optics, are what we want. Hm.

 

[twietee]

I imagine a sparkling silver fountain pen extremely elegantly beheading the opponent while leaving a scent of cappucino.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I imagine a sparkling silver fountain pen extremely elegantly beheading the opponent while leaving a scent of cappucino.

I must say, @twietee, I like the way your mind works on such things Clearly, Veit is a most accomplished individual.

Ah, yes. Hm. Yes, that could well have some merit. Considerable merit, actually.

But perhaps, scent of espresso, for beheadings, of Ripasso for throat cutting, and perhaps, scent of fresh parchment for skewering……..I hadn't given any thought of to the replication of senses in such a setting, least of all that of scent…...

Visually, a silver fountain pen, or…….something more akin to a quill?

 

[Don't panic]

I see. Fascinating. I agree that a plucked flying chicken would not be an appropriate fit for Syllin - though it might, come to think of it, better fit a certain nobleman who has recently brushed up on his culinary skills in a perhaps vain attempt to impress and woo ladies of rank.

And what sort of visual aide memoir or signature would best, or better, suit Syllin, do you think?

The aggression of the biting attacking flapping book we saw in HP3 'Monster Book Of Monsters' doesn't strike me as quite the look we are after, either. And, for that matter, I'm not sure that ominous optics, are what we want. Hm.

that is entirely for you to decide.
[doublepost=1457368183][/doublepost]

snip
…….something more akin to a quill?

"The quill is mightier than the sword"?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

...

"The quill is mightier than the sword"?

Hm. The quill - a spelled silver quill - (not vulgar ostentatious, bling, bling, gold, least of all ominous rose gold, or dull unimaginative bronze…) is mightier than the sword? Must say that has a rather nice ring to it…..