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[Tawmis]

Off Week Game - Session 19!
(Trying to use the long weekend to catch up on 20 sessions worth of notes/recordings!)

The party heads into the cave to look for iron and ore (although I kept saying steel, which is impossible as steel is made not mined)... and they find pages to a diary and encounter a living doll with a secret....
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... -wizard-19

[Tawmis]

Off Week - Session 20!
The party heads into the caves and discovers yet another type of Lycanthrope and encounters "The Mist."
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... -wizard-20

[Tawmis]

And for fun here's some fun audio snippits from the recordings...

[Tawmis]

Session Notes for Off Week - Session 21!
Lord Brenmoon's men come calling to Greenhaven and the party almost kills Aros...
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... -wizard-21

[Tawmis]

A few more funny clips...

[Rath Darkblade]

Miscellaneous D&D question: how would you treat a high-Int, low-Wis character? (Or vice versa: high-Wis, low-Int?)

Yes, INT controls how "book-smart" a character is, and WIS is how "philosophical" or "street-smart" he is. So ...

1. High-Int, low-Wis means that the character speaks formally (even stilted, perhaps) but is hopeless on the street (or creates philosophies that are all wrong, like "Why should I give a crap about other people? They don't give a crap about me!" etc. Is that right?)

2. Conversely ... a low-Int, high-Wis person might express themselves badly (e.g. using expressions that aren't usual), but they'd be good on the street and/or good at philosophy.

For instance, Oona (the brown, yellow-eyed hobgoblin, shown in this OOTS comic) is low-Int, high-Wis.

It's not particularly easy to write Low-Int/High-Wis -- at least for me -- but High-Int/Low-Wis is much easier. Just picture a well-educated sociopath, who - for the purpose of the story - learns to re-adjust his/her worldview. (Or not. If they don't, then you have a Batman villain. If they do, they you have a Batman villain who does a Heel Face Turn. (Warning: link to TV Tropes)).

Have I got it right, more or less? What do you think, Tawm?

[Tawmis]

Easiest way to remember is...

High INT is typically a Wizard stat - meaning book smart (knows formulas, engineer type) - may not have a great understanding of "the world outside" (because they're so book smart)
High WIS is a Cleric stat - meaning it's more knowing things outside of books (knowing who an artist is from a painting), more inclined to be wiser (and recognizing what might be a dangerous situation)

[Rath Darkblade]

Hmm. I knew that a high INT is a Wizard stat and high WIS is a Cleric stat, but I'm not sure why Clerics in particular should be so wise, or more inclined to recognize dangerous situation. Is there a reason for this?

I know that Clerics, in particular, are very effective against undead. But when it comes to recognizing dangerous situations, I thought rogues would be the ones (since they usually have a good Perception score, they can Hide in Shadows and spy on the enemy, etc.)

Are there any other classes that should have a high WIS score? Of all the six attributes, WIS is the one that's giving me the most trouble. Here's why:

1. STR is obviously important for Fighters, Barbarians, and other warrior-types.
2. DEX is important for Rogues, Archers, and Assassins.
3. CON is important for everyone - more HP!
4. INT is for any book-smart types, especially Wizards.
5. CHA is for Bards and Paladins - more charisma, better interaction with audience; more charisma, more Paladin-y spells.

But how is WIS defined? If a person looks at some broken mechanical thing, and has an intuition about how it works and how to fix it, is that high WIS?

Also, how does a good WIS enable someone to communicate with a god? I'm confused.

[Tawmis]

Hmm. I knew that a high INT is a Wizard stat and high WIS is a Cleric stat, but I'm not sure why Clerics in particular should be so wise, or more inclined to recognize dangerous situation. Is there a reason for this?

I think the idea is Wizards spend their times squirreled away in far away towers or libraries, where Clerics out out there - actually healing people who have been attacked, or spreading the word of their deity, so they're world travelers, and see the bad things that happen in the world.

I know that Clerics, in particular, are very effective against undead. But when it comes to recognizing dangerous situations, I thought rogues would be the ones (since they usually have a good Perception score, they can Hide in Shadows and spy on the enemy, etc.)

In the most recent version of D&D (5e) - Perception is based off your WISDOM score.
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/5e_SRD:Perception_Skill

Most Rogues focus on Dexterity first - then whatever they want after that (depending on if they plan to melee, they will want to dip into strength) or if they wanna con, they dip into Charisma.

Are there any other classes that should have a high WIS score? Of all the six attributes, WIS is the one that's giving me the most trouble. Here's why:
1. STR is obviously important for Fighters, Barbarians, and other warrior-types.
2. DEX is important for Rogues, Archers, and Assassins.
3. CON is important for everyone - more HP!
4. INT is for any book-smart types, especially Wizards.
5. CHA is for Bards and Paladins - more charisma, better interaction with audience; more charisma, more Paladin-y spells.
But how is WIS defined? If a person looks at some broken mechanical thing, and has an intuition about how it works and how to fix it, is that high WIS?
Also, how does a good WIS enable someone to communicate with a god? I'm confused.

Druids are also a class that focus on Wisdom.
Paladins also focus on Wisdom - but typically dip Charisma first, since this is where most of their specialty attacks lie.
(This is why in 5e, a lot of people multiclass a Warlock and Paladin - because CHARISMA is the primary thing to pick to be effective).

So for Wisdom - it's defined in 5e as:
Wisdom reflects how attuned you are to the world around you and represents perceptiveness and intuition.

This goes into those skill checks -
https://5thsrd.org/rules/abilities/wisdom/

[Tawmis]

And for the off week game...!
Battle against the Ankhegs! Session 22 is done!
http://tawmis.com/kneurth/adventure-not ... -wizard-22

[Rath Darkblade]

Thoughts on the off-week game ...

- Does Galiena do anything except sigh?

- Who is Darko, and why would they be accused of necromancy if he's discovered? Is he a wise-cracking skull, aka Murray from the Monkey Island games? "If I could just get my hands on that gunner ... if I could just get my hands, period!"

- Um. "...the remaining employees are terrified of going out into the orchid..." An orchid is a flower. I think you mean an "orchard". (This orchid/orchard confusion happens more than once. I suggest search & replace).

- What is an ankheg? Is it like an ancient Egyptian chicken - ankh-egg?

- "Dean itches his head..." I think you mean he *scratches* his head. An itch is what you get if you don't scratch it.



- Kaitlyn has no weapons other than a kitchen knife? What about her claws? She IS a wererat, right?

- The ankheg queen looks a bit like a Chaurus, a nasty monster from Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. See here.

[Rath Darkblade]

So for Wisdom - it's defined in 5e as:
Wisdom reflects how attuned you are to the world around you and represents perceptiveness and intuition.

This goes into those skill checks -
https://5thsrd.org/rules/abilities/wisdom/

That makes sense. I'm asking because I created a D&D Sphinx for my story (still writing it, a year or so after drawing up plans!). She is the Last Sphinx(TM), released from her vows, and all she's wanted to do for the past 1,000-odd years is to die, so that she can be united with the only other Sphinx she knows. (Aww). Of course, it's not that easy -- immortal spirit and all that.

The only person who can release her is a former blacksmith, now a gladiator, who she busts out of the gladiator school. But with him, come complications! He's very scared of her, as he should be, and he misses his old life with its certainties (food, shelter etc.) The gladiator school's owner is after him - a gladiator who escapes is bad news. And a former enemy is after him too. Not to mention, the city of Rome wanted all those gladiators to come to the city and fight to the death etc. -- for the glory of Rome!

Does he have help? Yes. The Sphinx is quite powerful (D&D Sphinxes tend to be), and he also has his former cellmate, a somewhat-naive but kind young gladiator. But is that enough? How can they get food? Shelter? How can they save their friends? How will they avoid the Romans - and especially the Roman centurion, whom even the Sphinx is wary of?

Anyway, that's all by the by. I was asking about WIS and INT, because I drew up my Sphinx as a high-INT, low-WIS character. She's very intelligent, can cast spells etc (especially illusion), but she's trying to understand humans and how they work. (After all, she'll be living with one soon). To illustrate that, I created a scene in Rome, where my Sphinx disguises herself as a human (Illusion FTW!) and walks around Rome. She finds a temple, enters, finds two newlyweds, and asks them "What do humans -- er, other humans want?" (What a question).

Anyway, the male grins and comes on strong. He wants a house, good food, and a good f--- -- and then his newlywed wife intervenes: "Honestly, Marcus! Can't take you anywhere!"

The Sphinx pretends to be a Vestal Virgin, to embarrass Marcus even more. It doesn't work. So she asks: "Is that all? Shelter, sustenance, and ... making smaller humans? How does that work?"

Cue a scene where the blushing bride tries to explain to an uncomprehending Sphinx ... without being explicit at all .. how sex works. "You mean he ... and she ... and then ... oh my!" Blushes all round. "Well, I don't know how anyone can't stop laughing long enough to do it. It sounds ... enjoyable?"

Marcus bursts in. "It can be, if it's done right!" Cue more rebukes from his new wife, and they argue all the way home. Sphinx can't imagine why.

I'm in two minds about this scene. I've carefully kept it M-rated or lower (nothing explicit), because my audience is 14-year-olds and younger. But I'm sure someone, somewhere, will take offence, and I don't want that. What do you think?

Also, does that scene sound right for a high-INT, low-WIS character?

[Tawmis]

Thoughts on the off-week game ...
- Does Galiena do anything except sigh?

When it comes to dealing with Baldur, no.
Those two RP so well, like brother and sister.

- Who is Darko, and why would they be accused of necromancy if he's discovered? Is he a wise-cracking skull, aka Murray from the Monkey Island games? "If I could just get my hands on that gunner ... if I could just get my hands, period!"

He is, to some degree, a wise cracking skull.
There is a monster in D&D called a "Flaming Skull" (https://www.dndbeyond.com/monsters/17091-flameskull)
I used that same image to create an NPC of a wizard - who'd been murdered (shot in the back with magic, then an immovable rod (https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/4 ... ovable-rod) shoved through his head, so that he was cursed to stare at the ground).
In my world, anything that does with the undead, is considered "dark necromancy" and people will kill you if they suspect you of it (think, Salem Witch Trials - they don't even need proof - that's how deep the fear runs).
So if they would have had him floating around next to them in a town - the town would quickly turn on them - and hang them for Necromancy.
Technically, they're dealing with an undead creature which would get them in trouble...
But this undead wizard, was an ally to both the evil wizard and the evil lord (who are at war with each other) and can provide the party information...
In exchange for finding a (living) body of a human(oid) he can possess.
The party so far has no intention of letting him do that, but they're biding their time...

- Um. "...the remaining employees are terrified of going out into the orchid..." An orchid is a flower. I think you mean an "orchard". (This orchid/orchard confusion happens more than once. I suggest search & replace).

I am pretty sure I misspelled that EVERY single time in all the posts.

- What is an ankheg? Is it like an ancient Egyptian chicken - ankh-egg?
- The ankheg queen looks a bit like a Chaurus, a nasty monster from Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. See here.

Looks very similar. Ankhegs in D&D are basically praying mantis looking creatures that burrow through the ground and pop up whatever they sense (tremorsense) above them.
dndbeyond.com/monsters/16787-ankheg

- "Dean itches his head..." I think you mean he *scratches* his head. An itch is what you get if you don't scratch it.

Quite correct!

- Kaitlyn has no weapons other than a kitchen knife? What about her claws? She IS a wererat, right?

Yes, but she needs to shift to wererat form. And she doesn't enjoy doing so. She is desperately looking for a cure to her lycanthropy.

[Rath Darkblade]

Oh, yes - one other question about D&D spells: I know all about how a wizard (or whoever), when casting a spell, must do or have one of the VSMs - Verbal/Somatic/Material components. That's fair enough.

So, if a wizard is captured, and he is bound and gagged, then he can't cast any spells. Is that right? After all, he can't move his hands or say any words, so no V and no S. And since he can't move his hands, he can't manipulate any Material components ... so no M, either. Therefore, no spells! Right?

I'm just asking because it's got to that point in my story. While my Sphinx is in human guise, she is captured, bound and gagged ... so she can't cast any spells. *shrug* I just wanted to make sure I was portraying this correctly.

[Tawmis]

Oh, yes - one other question about D&D spells: I know all about how a wizard (or whoever), when casting a spell, must do or have one of the VSMs - Verbal/Somatic/Material components. That's fair enough.
So, if a wizard is captured, and he is bound and gagged, then he can't cast any spells. Is that right? After all, he can't move his hands or say any words, so no V and no S. And since he can't move his hands, he can't manipulate any Material components ... so no M, either. Therefore, no spells! Right?
I'm just asking because it's got to that point in my story. While my Sphinx is in human guise, she is captured, bound and gagged ... so she can't cast any spells. *shrug* I just wanted to make sure I was portraying this correctly.

Correct.




In case the tweet doesn't auto populate for you - click here.

However, if said creature (Sphinx) used the POLYMORPH (https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Polymorph#content) spell on itself to assume the human form - it's a Concentration spell, so all they'd need to do is mentally stop the spell, and the spell effect ends.

https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions ... ,%5B...%5D