The Fancy Bastard Forum

The server is live! Use the following link to start MapTool: Web Start

Server name: Fancy Bastards
Password: godspeed

Feel free to play around. You shouldn't be able to see anything that I don't want you to. You might need to change maps to be able to see anything though. Click on the planet icon in the upper right to change maps. I'll be away for brunch, but I'll be back before it's time to start.

Oh and Min: for AC when wearing light or no armor you can use the higher of DEX or INT, so your AC should be 14.

I'll go ahead and join this table, but I won't be able to make today's (2008-07-19) session. I've got some chores to do that I've been putting off, and I'm actually motivated to do them for once.

Since we still need a leader character, say hello to Quiro, the halfling cleric.

I thought my AC was low...correcting now

I have a few things to do between now and game time, but I should be on by about 1:30. A few quick questions, one on my character, and two on how the game will be run.
1 - My Sly Flourish and Deft Strike powers both add my DEX mod to damage. I plan on relying on my hand crossbow for most of the game, which already adds DEX mod to damage. Does it get added twice, or do the powers take it into account already?
2 - How much planning and discussion will be allowed? Keep in mind that my entire exposure to actual D&D games is made up of the PA/PvP podcast, so I don';t know if that's the way it usually goes, or if the only game-related communication allowed is "in-character".
3 - An estimate on how long we'll be playing today/normally? Not that I really care about today, just curious.

And for anybody having trouble connecting (as I did), make sure you are using Mike's link above. I downloaded the release version yesterday from the MapTool website, and it doesn't like our game. Mike's link is to the new pre-release version, which found the game just fine.

anybody else having trouble connecting? I put my username in, and the server pass, select the FB server and hit the connect button...Im still on the "connecting" screen for about 10 mins so far.

I just tried it and I'm getting the same thing.

From watching the tutorial videos linked in the other thread, you need to be using the exact same version of the MapTool client to connect.

@Sean - My understanding is that you don't stack similar damage for "no reason", meaning unless you have something special going on. Looking at pg 276 in the PHB leads me to believe that damage is solely multiples of damage dice + mods. For instance, your Sly Flourish damage with a hand crossbow on a hit would be 1d6+DEX(mod)+CHA(mod), not 1d6+Dex+Dex+Cha.

While you're correct to think that you ranged attacks for the most part have their damage increased by your Dex mod, that is supposed to be implicitly stated in the power block so as to avoid confusion. Ergo, any power that you can apply your Dex mod to damage should have it stated.

Those other two questions seem like DM discretion.

Im using the same version the server is on, I've even tried direct connecting...is there a port I need to forward on my router?

edit: got an error,

IO Error: java.net.SocketException: Connection reset

Trying to connect as I type. We'll see.

Posted By: FrackTruckanybody else having trouble connecting? I put my username in, and the server pass, select the FB server and hit the connect button...Im still on the "connecting" screen for about 10 mins so far.

Posted By: DrPepperMDI just tried it and I'm getting the same thing.

From the FAQs page for MapTool.
"A good rule of thumb is this: If all the players cannot connect, it is probably the GM that needs to fix something; if some of the players cannot connect but others can, it is probably the players PC that needs some addressing. "

Posted By: Flanked@Sean - My understanding is that you don't stack similar damage for "no reason", meaning unless you have something special going on. Looking at pg 276 in the PHB leads me to believe that damage is solely multiples of damage dice + mods. For instance, your Sly Flourish damage with a hand crossbow on a hit would be 1d6+DEX(mod)+CHA(mod), not 1d6+Dex+Dex+Cha.

While you're correct to think that you ranged attacks for the most part have their damage increased by your Dex mod, that is supposed to be implicitly stated in the power block so as to avoid confusion. Ergo, any power that you can apply your Dex mod to damage should have it stated.

I'm going to shut down the server for a bit and restart it with my computer hard-wired. For some reason my computer has issues with wireless when I'm using memory-intensive applications. I think that's the issue anyway. My wireless throughput seems to degrade the longer I have the computer on - if anyone has an idea of why that might be I'd be grateful. Regardless, this should hopefully resolve any lingering connection issues. All the connection information should remain the same.

Sean:
1. Your crossbow adds the DEX bonus to damage on a "basic ranged attack". That's a specific type of attack, not an inherent property of the crossbow. [W] always refers to the base damage die of the weapon: 1d6 for the hand crossbow. So if the damage roll is 2[W] + Dex modifier and your Dex modifier is 3 it would be 2d6 + 3. That being said, some feats and class features add a bonus to damage rolls. That bonus is always applied when you are using the weapon, so in the previous example if you had +1 to damage with crossbows the damage roll would be 2d6+4. Even if the description was 2[W] (without a dex modifier) the resulting roll would be 2d6+1. Does that make sense?
2. I'm pretty lenient on table talk. I consider D&D to be a social game so I don't like to put hard limits on what you can say to fellow players. Especially when we're getting used to new rules.
3. I'm shooting for around 3 hours. Normally I'd say closer to 4, but I think we'll be trying to absorb a lot of information this time. I also have a 6-day old newborn here so my wife will appreciate the shorter session. :)

Oh right, Port Forwarding. You might be having an issue with that. I thought I was the only one that would have to worry about it, but now that I think about it this is probably a peer-to-peer connection that doesn't bypass firewalls. Make sure you have uPnP checked - that should solve the problem if you have a recent router. I'll get back to you on the rest after I fix my connection on this end.

Well now that I'm hard-wired the port forwarding doesn't seem to be working right. I have the server up again but when I tested the connection it said that it wasn't visible. Oy.

When I do port forwarding on my router it only works for a certain IP address. If your IP address changed, you might have to change those settings again.

Yeah I changed the IP to match my ethernet connection. If nobody can connect still I'll try... something.

I'm at a loss. I'm going to try power-cycling the router and maybe my computer too.

I tried your IP direct with the password godspeed and got this error:

IOError: java.net.Connect Exception: Connection timed out: connect

huh?

Fancy Bastards isn't showing up on the RPTools list.

well, can we try connecting in some other way to make sure it's just a maptool problem? like, IM or skype or something? my Skype name is theppb if you want to try.

OK, MapTool is now reporting that it can find my computer. The power-cycle voodoo gods are happy. You should theoretically be able to connect now.

I am connected now

Yep, working.

I can be a paladin for you guys. I've only played D&D for maybe 30 hours, so I'm quite new. I've also never RP'ed a paladin. I'd still like to join though!

*I also have all the 4.0 books..., including keep on the shadowfell.

Sounds like fun! I'll pencil you in.

I just remembered an article I saw.
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/alttext/2008/06/alttext_0618.

I'm very glad our DM hasn't made us eat infinite oregano.

woot full group!

Posted By: DrPepperMDI'm very glad our DM hasn't made us eat infinite oregano.

And Baum, when you have your paladin put together send it over to me so I can know exactly how to cripple your character during the coming boss battle (mikebrady@ieee.org).

Ah yes, thanks for that. :)

Actually it's mostly so I know what magic items to sprinkle in (I'm not a big fan of "wish lists", but I do like to include things that you'll actually find useful) and partly to keep you honest. :) Also to see if I can spot any glaring problems - we've had a couple minor ones come up.

Incidentally, I love picking out magic items to give out. Makes me feel like Santa.

Posted By: Mike BradyIncidentally, I love picking out magic items to give out. Makes me feel like Santa.In Soviet Russia, Hoop-Dee-Doo reviews you!

Wow.


Also, wow.

I feel awful.
I may have to pull out.

I just got my class schedule and it looks grim. I'm not sure I can devote time to this. I feel guilty for getting hopes up.

It's alright. I was looking forward to a cleric or paladin just because I need the healing.

Posted By: baumgcI feel awful.
I may have to pull out.

I just got my class schedule and it looks grim. I'm not sure I can devote time to this. I feel guilty for getting hopes up.

Class comes first. No worries. If you'd like I'll hang on to you as an alternate, and you can fill in if we have a seat open and you have the time. Thanks for being up-front about it, and I hope to still see you around the forums!

...and then there are those of us who don't have any class. Wait a second...

Posted By: Sean...and then there are those of us who don't have any class. Wait a second...I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

OK, we're live. Make sure and grab the latest build (1.3.37) before you try and connect. WebStart link is here. As usual, the server name is Fancy Bastards and the password is godspeed. I've changed a few things this time that should improve map loading times considerably. See you there!

DLing the new client now, be in soon. Bill says he'll be late due to some unforeseen grocery needs, but to carry on without him.

Be there in 5-10 mins!

Can whoever made the macros for their character give a sample of what one of those macros look like? I'm trying to do it, and I'm not sure if I'm doing it right.

Go here ( http://www.rptoolstutorials.net/maptool.htm ) and watch the Chat Window and Macros screencast.

My character and stuff is on Windows, so I'll get around to posting how my macros are set up after a while. That video showed me how to do it though, so it should work for you. You ARE a fighter, though... I'll put an example up soon ;P

Just a quick reminder that I will be coming back from a wedding on Sunday. Hotel check-out is at 11, and it's just over an hour away, so I *should* be back in plenty of time. If something happens though, I'll throw it on Twitter.

I finally got around to putting Skype on this computer. Just call Bradymikep for all your GM needs. See you guys on Sunday.

I'd watched the video, but it didn't really help me at all.
On the RP Tools forum, I see someone has created macros for every 4E feat.
http://forums.rptools.net/viewtopic.php?t=4476&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
It'd be awesome to use those, but as you might expect they require a bunch of properties, and properties are currently defined on the campaign level. So I have no idea what properties we're using. And I imagine that sending the campaign file to me would include all the maps and such. But if we have all these properties (I seem to remember a lot of them), I might set up a bunch of these macros before we start tomorrow.

I used the properties from one of the forums, and those can be saved separately from the campaign. I'll upload them presently.

Edit: They're here.