Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BloodDragon 01-17-08, 11:10 AM	So the City Guard of Salt-Marsh arrested my assets last night. Semi-Background: I may have or may have not dug up some Druidic Standing Stones within the city limits and got myself arrested. Now there was ALOT of DM rail roading going on as well, but I’m not ducking out of blame. I dug up a Religious site for buried treasure; my mother always said the chaotic alignment in me would eventually do me in. I was charged with Assault, Defilement of a Holy Site, Fleeing the Scene, Resisting Arrest, and Murder of religious creature (Treeant). Now TWO of these are true, the rest are pure DM rail roading (and my party will back me up on that, it’s a semi-long story). I suppose he was pretty mad I dug up those rocks. Since rolls weren’t being asked for I have to Role-Play my own case and managed to drop all the “false” charges. Duck out of “Fleeing the scene” (which was true) and made myself look like a partial saint in the process, but the Defilement charge was a little hard to get around. And it got me Life.I’m a Factotum 1/ Archivist 8. My Possessions are gone. My arms are chained. My mouth is gagged. I’m in a windowless cell, except for the Iron bars for a door- which I can see throw into the interior of the jail. I don’t know the exacted dimensions but I’ll assume 10 x10. Two guards are moderately keeping an eye on me. I’m unconscious for the next 48 hours (Plot device which is a minor inconvenience). Now assuming my party doesn’t spring me (some how) before then:.. How do I escape? As far as I know what I have at my disposal is: Chaotic Neutral Alignment, Previously Chaotic Good, and I'd like gain my Good alignment again if possible, but something tells me I'll develop a hatred for Druids soon. The Church of Boccob SHOULD be paying me a visit... as I’m a semi-member of the church, but I wouldn’t bank any money on this option. My party… Another option I would not bet on it. They consist of: A Ninja/Assassin An arcane gish of some sort with Far realm stuff Druid Storm Lord Swordsage Troll blooded Cleric of Herorious(sp) who quickly points out when any of us are lying. Averaging an 8th party level. Hopefully they’ll pay me a visit some time soon. I am trained in ALL (yes ALL of them) skills, including Open lock and escape artist, however my Dex is only 12, and most of my ranks go into knowledges. So he’s hoping the check isn't too high. I have a Divine version of Alacritous Cogitation (Complete Mage), so even though I lack my pray book. I can cast any spell from it, or that I know, once per day as a full round action. (It has been used that way in the past, so no arguments about how it works. Thank you) D.Door? Suggestion? I found Bigby's Tomb so I may use Slapping Hand 1/day as a Supernatural (Stilled and Silenced) abilitiy. Which I'm not sure is very usefully right now. In hind-sight I should have slapped that judge right in the face. Scrap my character and continue with a Binder of 8th level. I'm still a little furious over how things were handled. So a clear head and out-look on the situation would do me good. Suggestions are very much appreciated as please & thank you. ~BD
Dog_O_War 01-17-08, 12:02 PM	PC rail-road the plot line. Have all the other players completely and adamantly agree that you broke out, stole your stuff back, and left a note saying, "Kilroy wuz here" with a funny little bit of graffiti of a man with his large nose peering over a wall, on the wall.;) You explained your escape in great and forgettable detail while on the road to a town far, far away. While this probably will not work, it can allow you a re-examination of how his rail-roaded bit was just as blatantly bad in taste. Or you can do the following... 1st up, escape the manicles. If you cannot do that then you are completely and utterly screwed. If your own skills will not allow you to do it, then you will have to make some excuse to the guards on why they need to come into the room. From here if they let you down, draw one of their weapons (normally an attack of opportunity, but sinse they will be unarmed, I doubt they will be allowed it) and beat them, and tie them up. Take a uniform and walk out. If you can escape the manicles, hide just behind the door-frame for when they notice you're missing. When they see that, they'll enter the room. Slip out Jackie Chan style and shut the door behind them. Don't forget to slight-of-hand the keys away first (you'll need them for the other invariably locked doors that you'll run into). These are what I've got for suggestions (right now). Also, do not forget to steal everything you can on the way out!
Another_Poet 01-17-08, 12:12 PM	I don't know how you got out of the "Fleeing the scene" charge or why you would say you are innocent of the crimes you were railroaded into, but I'll leave the critique to the next 10,000 posters who want to share a piece of their mind. Practical thoughts: +Don't count on the church of Boccob. Even if you were a member they're not going to try to spring you, as a "semi-member" you'll be lucky if they even stop by to say a prayer at you through the cell bars. If you have pull with someone higher up in the church they might be able to get you a good lawyer who can get you unshackled within your cell. I mean, there must be some type of official who cares about how prisoners are treated, and you were sentenced to life in prison, not torture, so they need to unchain you. Or at least, that's what his deposition will say. +If anyone from your party tries to spring you, you can bet it won't be the whole party. The cleric of heironeous doesn't sound like the type, and if the druid willingly springs you after what you did I'll punch him in the face myself. (Unless you owe him money or something, there's just really no reason.) However if a ninja, gish, and swordsage can't break in you've got real troubles. +Probably your best bet if you want to save thsi character is to coodinate your one spell with some kind of distraction tactic. Preferably when you are unchained, maybe to talk to your lawyer or priest. Playing sick is pretty cliche, but I like the old whisper-something-so-soft-they-lean-in trick. +Dimension door definitely seems like a good idea at first, but remember: it doesn't get you any weapons and you probably don't know the layout of the prison well enough to choose a good destination. I'd cast an offensive spell, something you can hold the charge on like Call Lightning or an Inflict spell. Then when a guard comes in let 'em have it and take their weapon. At least that way you are armed as you try to escape. Also, dress as the guard (and shackle the real guard, wearing yoru clothes, in the cell). Your meagre ranks are probably not enough to Open Lock on a serious prison, but they might be enough to Disguise you as you waltz out. Mke sure the guard is dead and his head is hanging down a bit as if he is sleeping. You want it to take a long time for another guard to notice it isn't really you in that cell. Good luck! ap
Firaeki 01-17-08, 12:13 PM	Well, if you have Still Spell and Silent Spell, see if you can apply them to some sort of spell to let you GTFO. Dimension Door perhaps. Just port yourself out of the compound, get free under the cover of not being tracked, and run like a demon late for the innocent souls giveaway.
Turin 01-17-08, 01:24 PM	How is this even a challenge? You're in for life, right, not execution? Well they have to feed you sometime. You cast dimension door when they take your gag off to eat. Just go the maximum possible distance in one direction; chances are it will put you outside the complex. Zzz. As for "railroading," your character apparently went through a kangaroo court of some kind and got hit with trumped up charges. How is that railroading? Because you don't like it? That's just plain old "plot," son. And a good one too. Prison breaks are entertaining scenarios. What are you so bent out of shape over?
HermitIX 01-17-08, 01:39 PM	If you can’t get out of the 10x10 by yourself you will want to try to get some one to take you out of the room. Because you are very bound, you couldn’t scream “Oh my stomach the pain.” But, you could fake convulsions. If you make your bluff and a guard sees you they might be concerned enough to take you to a medical facility. (Temple?) If no one comes to help you I would just lay where you stopped convulsing for as long as you can stand it. (If I was the DM I would have you make Con checks) Eventually some one will (we hope) get concerned enough to move you. Someone in the medical facility you might have an easier time escaping. Depending on where they take you, you might be able to bribe a healer to help you. The trick would be figuring out what you have to offer he might want. (Gather information/sense motive?) Or if he won’t help you escape you might get him to take a message to your party members. If you have life in a cell I guess you have enough time to take a 20 on escape artists checks.
nowiwantmydmg 01-17-08, 02:29 PM	How strong is the Bigby spell, most of the hands have rediculous strength stats----Is it strong enough to bust up your shackles? Suggest the guard takes off his uniform after you're unshackled and he comes to check on/feed you. Take Uniform, waltz out or close enough to D.Door and run like a b****.
Ayra 01-18-08, 07:15 AM	Keep the intentions of your DM in mind. Does he want you to quit your character and roll a new one? If that is the case, check how much he wants that. If he really hates what you have done and has made clear escape will be impossible, believe me it will be impossible. No matter what you come up with, the DM will come up with something to counter it. He may even have chosen to imprison you, so that your party can't resurrect you. If he doesn't mind you escaping, then I'd suggest outwitting him. Think of an approach that your DM is unlikely to have thought of. Hence trying to kill a guardsman will be hard, if not impossible. With a dex of 12, your AC will be 11. You can safely assume that the guards are aware of your lack of defense, and will (if they have to) use power attack accordingly. If all's fair, you can expect the guards to be around level 5 to 8 (maybe 9 for a captain). Lets assume the best case scenario: There is only 1 fighter guard of level 5. He'll have a BAB of +5. He won't even have a masterwork weapon, and he took no weapon focus or other feats granting him bonuses to his attack rolls. With a strength of 14 (which is low for a level 5 fighter), he'll have an attack roll of +7. That means with your 11 AC, he needs to roll a 4 or higher. If he fully power attacks, he'll need to roll a 9 or higher. Let's assume the most probably case scenario: There is a level 5 fighter (let's just stick with level 5 for now). He will have at least a masterwork weapon, because come on... he's level 5. He took weapon focus on his weapon and strength, being his main stat, is 16. Now his bab is +5, his strength bonus is +3, his MW bonus is +1 and his weapon focus bonus is another +1. That's a grand total of +10 on his attack roll. Only a 1 means he'll miss. Fighting a guard is hard, unless you can take them out in one hit which seems rather hard to do. Anyway. I suggest getting to know the prison a bit more before you try to escape. Try to figure out who the stronger guards are, what guards don't pose harm and if you have dimension door in your arsenal: Where to use it best. Additionally, remember the times guards come to check up on you, so that when you D.Door out, guards won't immediately be following your trail. Unfortunately since druids are involved, it's safe to assume that you need something to prevent you from being tracked. I'm afraid to say that you can only try and most likely will fail and from the way you described, failure probably equals your death and your party won't resurrect you. Tough luck I suppose...
FrostWolf 01-19-08, 01:38 AM	I'm not familiar with your class, are you an Arcane spell caster? if so then charm person the guard. Or wait for them to set down a set of swords and use Steel Dance. you mentioned slapping hand. Use it to get the guards to pick a fight with each other and see if you can get the keys as they tussel. If not, then pray one kills the other and say you'll take the rap, but he'll need to let you escape so it looks real.
Ikyotojin 01-19-08, 04:52 PM	Folding chair to Steve's head. Gets your character out and teaches him to not rail road. Win-win. And in the future... do! not! touch! the! religious! stuff! ;)
Etarnon 01-20-08, 02:41 AM	Oh this is so simple. Turn it on it's head. You are not imprisoned, trying to escape. You are in a place, where they are taking care of you. Don't rile against the DM, who chuckles gleefully... Say, "Fine." Demand writing materials, and a chalk. Do drawings in game. Write letters. Demand that your character's missives be reviewed and heard as part of "Playing your character." Become so freaking annoying that they take pity / are disgusted by you, and commute your sentence. Beg to be visited by, and roleplay with a cleric of your faith. Write to and demand visits by long lost relatives. The DM seems to want this to be a lock him, up throw away the key type deal... Lucky you, it's life imprisonment. That PC still has a life. Every episode for the next .. however many years you all play. If you really don't want a new character, say, "I'll play this one." It will eventually come to a showdown, where you can say "Look I am stuck here, I have been roleplaying being a model prisoner to the hilt. My prison is so well set up, I cannot effectively escape and rejoin the party. If you are saying I need to rejoin the party as a new character, then wither execute my character, or tell me to my face, I need a new PC." If he in fact does say you need a new one, and you feel pushed and railroaded, at that point quit the group. The other players (if they are worth anything) will or should admire you for your never say die spirit, and roleplay in the prison. If the DM forces you to quit, they might bail too, after seeing it. ON THE OTHER HAND: You did the crime. A spy in your situation is advised to take the bitter pill, and go out with honor intact. Your choice. I'd take it as a learning experience. Be glad this is not you in real life, for life. I've had 3 member of my RL extended family imprisoned for both short and lengthy terms. No picnic. If and when you do get out, don't go after the druids and be a recidivist two -time loser. Good luck.
remoray 01-20-08, 11:18 PM	I'm curious to know the opposite. How do you effectively imprison/disarm a spellcaster? remoray
Etarnon 01-20-08, 11:40 PM	Knock him unconscious, and then kill him.
Master_of_Rouges 01-21-08, 12:01 AM	Well this sounds like a Rogue situation my advice might not be perfect but its what i got for you. Heres your coices 1.Bluff the guards as if your having a seizure/heart attack etc. and when they take you down ecapse artist out of their grasp or opposed grapple check. Then tumble out the doorway and find a spare set of keys. 2.Bluff the guards by saying you of some royalty and this will cause bad relations between the nations and they better let you go before backup arrives. 3.Roll escape artist check to get out of the manacles. And when they open the door tumble pass them and run for dear life. 4.If you dont have any ranks in bluff,tumble,or escape artist you might just be screwed. sincerley Master_of_Rogues
Wih 01-21-08, 08:54 PM	Wait a week. You've got a good INT, so learn the patterns the guards patrol in. There will be certain times they untie your gag to feed you. Learn a set time. Arrange with one of your associates (whoever you trust the most) to wait at a set spot 500 feet away on a set day. When they ungag you, Dimension Door there, your associate unties you, and you run off. Make sure that your equipment is picked up by your associates first - I believe there's a legal right that the belongings of someone gets given to next of kin (which in this case probably will be your closest friend).
Lincoln Hills 01-23-08, 04:38 PM	I like Etarnon's answer. Totally unexpected. The one thing the DM does not count on you doing: nothing. 1. From a meta-game perspective, doing nothing puts the ball in the DM's court. I'd be willing to bet that the DM already has put events in motion that will result in your character not having to serve his life sentence. Oh, maybe you'll have to do a service to the local druids to help make up for your crime, but you'll be back in play. 2. From an in-character perspective, there is no hurry. Constant guard alert and massive manacle-and-gag operations are laborious and time-consuming. Keep reminding the DM of this. Sooner or later the town guard will decide that you are not an immediate risk: once a mass-murderer mage or cannibal priest requires confinement, you'll be shunted to a lower-security area. You're lucky enough to have done your desecrating in a good-aligned society: be a model prisoner. Leave the escape plotting to your buddies on the outside.