Post/Author/DateTime	Post
celloshane 08-13-04, 06:07 AM	I just wanted to share this with everyone. I joined a new group last month for a fairly standard FR campaign. When the DM said we'd be using Action Points, I didn't pay much attention to it since I haven't used them before. The first session we briefly discussed them, so I knew that I could "auto-stabilize" or add to a D20 roll. Since my Dwarven Barbarian (on his way to Battlerager!) doesn't need much help to do what he does best, I largely ignored my APs aside from some stabilizing (my character does seem a bit suicidal). Well after progressing through 3rd level recently I was left with quite a wealth of APs, so I decided to read the whole section before our last session; Boy was I glad I did! Let me explain what happened last session..... At first we didn't think things would go well, since the Cleric and the Ranger failed to make it to the session. However, the Rogue and I refused to let this stop us and we picked up our comrades sheets to run as secondary characters. After casting about town for something to do, we found ourselves on the North Road hunting bandits. The Ranger spots a wagon pulled off the road and hidden behind it, is a untended wagon trail. Since we hadn't heard of this trail before, it seemed worth investigating. So after a short hike we find ourselves looking at a nice cottage surrounded by a large metal fence with two guards at the gate. Something about the situation didn't set right and the guards looked to be pretty nasty fellows, so we figured we'd found our bandits. Now as a dwarf I wasn't going to fit between the bars of the fence and our plate-wearing cleric wasn't going to go over, so the gate seemed our only way in. My allies hid in the woods just within bowshot and I walked on up the path to have a chat with the guards. I saunter up to about 15' from the gate as one of the guards hurries into the house. I'm pretty sure he's going to get his buddies, but I strike up a conversation with the other guard anyway asking to step inside "for a drink of water";). After a diplomacy check (Cha of 8 :rolleyes:) I can tell he's not going to open the gate so I turn to leave and come up with a plan B; at that exact moment the other guard bursts out of the house with 8 more! Well at that point, my dwarf had to revert to instinct- charge into overwhelming odds screaming bloody murder! Of course that pesky gate is still in my way; I Rage, lower my head, and charge the gate smashing into it with an admirable Str check of 22. I know that's not enough to burst the gate, so- Action Point! puts me up to 27 and I bowl through the gate into a column of amazed bandits. Since my dwarf is as good as 10 men and I had archer support, I made quick work of the louts. Well, the cleric had to heal me a little. A speedy search of the house turns up the mistreated waif who'd been living there. Thinking we've won the day and rescued the girl, we parade her out the door to present her defeated captors. To our suprise she reveals that we haven't beaten them all; there's a lot more and they should be back any minute. Sure enough, we can hear something coming down the trail. The girl runs back into the house to cower, but we spring into action. I flip over a table to barricade the main hall and set the Cleric to guard it. The Cleric readies a Tanglefoot bag and starts casting Obscuring Mist. The Rogue and the Ranger bust out the two front windows and ready their bows. Meanwhile my dwarf comes up with an ingenious little plan, I begin fashioning a Molotov Cocktail with a quart of lamp oil , an empty wine bottle, and a whiskey soaked rag. Using Ad Hoc rules, my firebomb takes longer than I planned to create (5 rounds)- I wonder if I should have asked about using an Action Point to speed up the process? In the meantime, the bad pull up and begin storming the cottage. There's 20-25 of them, they have wagon full of loot and a war-wagon complete with ballista crew. This is a well organized band with a tough leader, a skillful archer, and a mage. Fortunately, the Obscuring Mist works better than I had hoped; not one of our band is hit and we pick off a couple of theirs. The Cleric's Tanglefoot bag goes awry, but between the table barricade and his high AC he keeps them jammed up in the main hallway. Then the Ranger has to break off from his post to cover the side window, just when I get my "project" lighted. I run to the window and shout "I'm the angry dwarf that killed all your buddies and if you want me, come and get me!" With that I toss my makeshift bomb at the ballista wagon and it explodes right on target. We mow down all the rest of the band while the ballista crew puts out my fire, and I get a little cut up in the process. The bandits are now down to 3 men, the ballista crew (2 men), the archer (mounted), the mage (mounted), and the "Captain" (mounted) who calls retreat. Two men hop in the loot wagon, the third jumps into the recently extinquished ballista wagon and they start pulling out. I told you my dwarf was suicidal right? Well, he jumps out the window and chases down the ballista wagon before it can get away. So, I've got about 20hp left and I'm climbing into a wagon that's speeding away from my allies. I manage to climb in and my pals start chasing on foot. Action Point!- I Rage and take out one of the guys in the wagon. Now I have to fend off the ballista gunner, the mage, and the captain; the archer prefers to shoot at the rest of the group. The mage can't hit me no matter how hard he tries, but the captain is pretty wicked with his bastard sword and the gunner lands a glancing blow before I kill him; I'm down to 12hp. I struggle my way up to the driver and take another blow from the captain; down to 7hp. I grab the reins with an awesome Dex check and bring the horses to halt, amazingly the wagon provides enough cover that the captain misses his attack. I climb back up into the drivers seat and pull out my axe, confident I can finish them off. Then it happens- "His flashing sword strikes you, 9 damage." "Uh oh, that puts me at negative 2." "Ok, so Shane is unconcious, what do-" "Wait, let me see Unearthed Arcana.....:smirk: Tom, I would like to emulate a feat." "You can't emulate Toughness so don't-" "No Tim, I took Endurance as my 3rd level feat... I would like to emulate Diehard." So I spend my Action Point, and put everything I've got into the blow, Power Attacking for my full 3- I hit, and deal 18 damage! It doesn't kill him :eek:. My companions finally catch up and with lucky shots, take out the mage and the archer. The captain hits me again- 5 damage, I'm at -8. Last chance, I get a 19 to hit. "Shane, do you want to use an action point to add to that?" :cool: "Nope, let it ride." "Your axe, connects. Roll damage -- you kill him." Whew!! "Tom, I would like to collapse and use my Action Point to stabilize." What can I say? Action points are AWESOME! :D
Ao 08-13-04, 03:49 PM	Originally posted by celloshane Well after progressing through 3rd level recently I was left with quite a wealth of APs, so I decided to read the whole section before our last session; :D Though the UA is vague on this point, the Eberron setting states that each time you gain a new level, you gain a fresh supply of action points equal to 5+1/2 your character level, rounded down. Any action points you didn't spend at your previous level are lost. I introduced action points in my latest campaign, my new players love em', and like you have learned how to make the most of them. My veteran campaign players want them included in their game now too, after hearing stories of heroic exploits similar to your own. As a DM, I am pro action points, however I am also glad that they are somewhat limited in that they are finite. It only adds to the game when a player has to make the tough decision to use them or not to use them.
Ranger REG 08-13-04, 05:35 PM	Though the UA is vague on this point, the Eberron setting states that each time you gain a new level, you gain a fresh supply of action points equal to 5+1/2 your character level, rounded down. Any action points you didn't spend at your previous level are lost. Well, if the above is true, that sucks. I'd rather go with the d20 Modern method and keep unspent AP.
Ao 08-13-04, 06:33 PM	It is true. Eberron campiagn setting, Chapter 3: Heroic Characteristics, pg 45. Actually, in my experience, it works out pretty well. Players aren't as concerned about rationing their action points or saving them up for a "final battle" that may or may not happen. They use their points when they decide that the need is genuine. If you don't survive today, what's the point of saving something for tomorrow?
celloshane 08-13-04, 07:11 PM	Originally posted by Ao Though the UA is vague on this point, the Eberron setting states that each time you gain a new level, you gain a fresh supply of action points equal to 5+1/2 your character level, rounded down. Any action points you didn't spend at your previous level are lost. Interesting, the way we do it is to roll a d6 every time you gain a level, and additional APs can be earned through good roleplay. Of course, we don't lose the ones we had when a level is gained. We're considering allowing a large amount to be cashed in for a lasting benefit, via a Reward table. That's the same table we roll on for providing a backstory or a personal miniature.
dnryan 08-15-04, 01:30 PM	hey celloshane, i just thought id share that our fighter in the group last session, (not the group with my ranger) spent the whole combat trying to fashion a makeshift molotov. I just found it very amusing that other people are doing this same thing. Long live molotovs!!!!! Anyways great story and this action point thing is very intrigueing (sp?). Ill have to look into that, sounds like a lot of fun. Anyways, best of luck to your suicidal dwarf. Dan
Jaerom Darkwind 09-01-04, 03:07 AM	Next time get Raging Luck-- it grants a temporary action point each time you rage.
Lina_Inverse 09-01-04, 04:01 AM	UA you simply gain more.action points in UA are more powerful since ye dont need feats to do some of the stuff.