Roughtrade

It isn't that you took a thing. It is that you did NOTHING with it. You didn't study it, you didn't appraise it for value, you did nothing. You did it specifically to prevent someone else from studying it and finding out if it had a purpose. I would gladly let Molly study things we find, he has much better skill, but so far Molly has done NOTHING with anything. He has not contributed to moving forward or gaining or really anything at all. The only thing Molly contributes is argument and being contrary. It's unreasonable to conclude he has a plan when Molly continually says he has a plan but does not have a plan. Just like Molly insisted he was going to shoot electricity at Carmine for head pats but he did not. Molly has not once produced anything he said he was going to. Molly gets head pats. Until Molly actually produces something of value, then he hasn't got a plan. My plan is to finish examining things for ourselves instead of going back. These things seem to be important and powerful to others. Maybe we can use them if we figure out what they are. This plan has been said in character and out of character. You had time to post multiple times during the combat actions. Not asking you to be anyone's bodyguard. But this is just one more example out of many in which your character is not contributing to the success of the group. Not sure why you would highlight one of the most egregious examples of how little Molly contributes.

And then there is this, from the game forward. This article by Poul Anderson Very worth the read. It is part of my House Rules, suggested reading.

Even when I was younger and had time and energy to devote to complete world building, my games had a story arc/plotline. These days, I prefer APs because the fun for me is in voicing NPCs and APs let me dispense with most of the plotting. PCs go off book sometimes, and it can be fun to deal with the eddies and make some stuff up. I also like modifying the APs, since most of them are half a decade old or more, depending on system. Subverting some encounters or building up others to surprise the jaded is always fun. In Play by Post format, I believe that having a structure is helpful. PbP games have enough issues with dragging. Adding the complication of five Players with their own agendas, or more often, everyone waits for someone else to do something because they don't want to be thought of as pushy - It can make things even slower. Even in an AP, this can be an issue. As a GM, the only thing I can do is describe the ten foot wide corridor going into the distance with two doors. Someone's gotta walk down the lane and pick a door.

Not really Andre Norton's best writing, but the first novel with 'being sucked into an RPG' for setting and plot. Aimed at tween readers, it is a bit simple and direct. There are elements of the storyline which have been repeated by others, but this was the first and set up tropes which are still used. An insight to 'old school' D&D as well as a look at how an author handles RPG concepts.

Snakes on a Plane Guessing Movies with “Plane” in the title.

Big Picture Meta Planning Most of these I have said in several places In Character. We need to find out more about this prophecy so that we can control the narrative of it instead of having to rely on a conclave of mortals who are split on how they feel about it. The cocoon stage leaves us helpless. Getting control over the mortals watching over our eggs seems like priority one to me. Discovering what the stone does before handing it over seems like a very good idea to me. Discovering what the scepter does before handing it over seems like a very good idea to me. Finding our own exit out of this place so that we have options over returning to the Mortal Conclave seems like a very good idea to me. Maybe the Frozen Lich is a separate path of returning to power. I don't trust him any more than the Mortals. If this place is his prison, then going through it might give us more information about him, and the things that jailed him here. Our Fiends were dropped here by some means they do not know. Our powers were stripped away and we are rather helpless compared to our previous positions. All of the above priorities fall by the wayside if we can find another path that returns us to our former power. For all we know, there isn't a Hell here. Or there is, but no other demons and it's just waiting for us to take over. Won't know until we learn more about where we are. Maybe that is by going back. Maybe not. I would prefer to explore and find out what is here and if it can help us.

Making long posts saying you have a plan is not the same as having a plan. Purposefully dragging your heels when PCs are in combat and nearly dying, in his posts while you fiddle with not doing anything with the stone anyways until combat was completed is not contributing to the success of our group. Petty grabbing things out of players hands which might be clues or part of something which could assist us is not contributing to the success of our group. It's perfectly fair to say you are not contributing to the success of the group. Half the time you seem to be working against the rest of us. Once in a while is fine. Every post is a drag. I would like to have some conversations not be like pulling teeth just to get to a point.

"Much like the Mortal Conclave, I would prefer not yet returning to the King. Not until we know what this scepter is and what it can do." Carmine counter offers. "There are things here which we do not yet understand. I would like to know more about them before handing them off to either the Frozen King or the mortals who sent us here." "We have barely stepped ten paces within this complex. Is it unreasonable to examine further? I will not insist, if the general consensus is to make the exchange. But my preference is to look for more options and perhaps other opportunities than we have now." "We may return to those odd mortals and their prophecy. It is certainly useful to have some sort of guardian during these odd cocooning stages we are experiencing. I would prefer going back with more information and less dependency on what they choose to tell us." If there are only four of us posting regularly, then I will go with what the three of you decide. Carmine/Shillereese would like to explore more. At least enough to find an exit other than jumping back through the portal. I would like to find out more about this prophecy and what it is about as well, but that may be a dead end. Or, not available here.

Gona Guess Die Hard 2 just because airport. But probably should be some snow.

Carmine AC 14 | Init +3 | Fort 06 - Reflex 05 - Will 10 | Claw +3 (1d3+1) | Eldritch Blast +5 (1d6) | 11/19 Carmine sighs and rolls his eyes. "I suppose your blind focus on retrieving the gem from the Frozen King must have given me the wrong impression. Perhaps if you had provided even the slightest effort on our common goals instead of actively obstructing them I would not misunderstand your activities." He gives another weary sigh. "Really, I am quite done. The great experiment failed, we are all bereft of the power and control which once was our own. If you insist on posturing any longer then you will be ignored." Carmine goes back to studying the rod/scepter. OOC Dark One's Own Luck = +2 Bonus to a single save. Changeable as Standard Action. Currently on Fortitude Continue to examine the rod/scepter. Seriously, I am just tired. Constantly having to exchange insults and dealing with Molly is sucking all of the fun out of the game for me. Could you please find some way to cooperate and actually help with moving the plot forward instead of whatever it is you are doing? I know this is a 'fiend' game, but evil doesn't mean being an asshat all of the time.

Carmine AC 14 | Init +3 | Fort 06 - Reflex 05 - Will 10 | Claw +3 (1d3+1) | Eldritch Blast +5 (1d6) | 11/19 While his attention remains on what study might be made upon the scepter, Carmine will join the conversation. "Really, Kerapsis, it isn't his fault. Don't blame Molly for being of limited capacity for original thought." Carmine makes a dismissive gesture towards Molgrug. "Small, banal and petty is the best sort of evil he is capable of." "Having been issued orders from the mortals, he cannot help but run back to them as swiftly as possible so that he might kiss their feet and beg for more directions." Carmine shakes his head with a slight pout of pity. "It is my hopes that we continue to explore this venue. The interlude with our Frozen King proves that there are greater things out there in this world to explore. Powerful beings which are neither demons nor angels. This stone itself and the prophecies considering it and ourselves. Discovering these secrets and gaining power in our own right is the goal. Not returning to the mortals." Carmine shrugs. "Perhaps we may. They do have some power in this realm and there were obvious differences in their opinions which will be very exploitable. But I prefer options over obeisance. So I will continue to urge our investigations here to be full and complete." OOC Dark One's Own Luck = +2 Bonus to a single save. Changeable as Standard Action. Currently on Fortitude Continue to examine the rod/scepter.

Dammmit. Pretty sure he's got it. I recognize the... uh... Costume on Carrie Fisher. Yanno, I think this is one of the few films where if he had posted almost any of the supporting cast, I would have got it. The blonde threw me.

Bachelor Party

Joe vs Volcano?

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