Just to let you guys know... I've been lurking and reading and really enjoying this group. Love the setting and how grim and gritty it can feel, and the political intrigue is great mixed in with the grass root problems of our heroes and their companions. If everyone would be so kind as to post so I can continue reading this great story, that would be awesome!

Second update of the week! And combat is now over. You guys did well. So did the bandits. I hope everything was clear.. This was the first combat I've run in a while, so if anybody had any difficulties following, please let me know and I'll take it into account for the next time around.

For now, though... Let's try to keep this momentum rolling. We've got the works for something good going here!

You'll have noticed that my combat system is a little...different. Much more graphic. The way I look at it is that if you decide to play with weapons, you don't just sleep it off when you're stabbed in the stomach or struck in the head with a mace. It takes time to recover from injuries.

Minor ones, like cuts, grazes, bruises, etc, are largely just for interests sake.

Major ones, like muscle damage, breaks, and concussions, don't go away after a night's rest, though you can recover all your hit points. Penalties do get imposed upon random things, be it skills, movement, etc. These typically come from critical hits, or very large amounts of damage.

ex. Kresimir isn't impaired much by being shot in the side with a crossbow, though if he left it untreated, it may infect. Tobias, however, was nearly hamstrung, and consequently won't be moving in leaps and bounds anytime soon.

I use this system largely for the sake of realism, as well as being able to somewhat speed battles along as you get fatigued by the beatings you take. I never did much care for the seeming endless stamina to keep on fighting...

Don't worry, these same things apply to when you lay out an enemy, as well

And... this helps me keep a little in touch with my love of 2e

I love the idea! but quick question, is there a system on how you decide whether someone is for example either hamstrung or slashed muscle? or is it just up to DM ingeniousness?

Largely, its just up to me. I do have my own methods, but those are not for my players to know. The one thing that I CAN tell you, though, is that a called shot greatly increased the window for injury, as its directed solely at a single target, rather than randomly dealt around the body.

Rolling a one for damage might graze the arm, but critically hitting it may need a saving throw or else its ruined. You get the idea

Sounds fantastical! i might incorporate it : p

Regarding injuries and magical healing, What effect if any does healing magic bear on the wounds? Like would a Cure spell help with the movement penalty imposed by the near ham-stringing, or the ac penalty I imagine (and largely assume) is imposed by the slice to Nick's shield arm? Or do these effects only help with the HP damage and not the more serious wounds that are inflicted?

Healing spells are the most rapid means of repairing damage done in this fashion. But, a lower level spell does not undo all the harm at once. Cure Minor Wounds does not heal and form of injury, Cure Light Wounds heals one, Cure Medium heals two, and so on.

Thus, if somebody had a broken leg, a shattered shoulder, and a concussion, all three injuries could be fixed by three castings of Cure Light Wounds, or one Cure Serious Wounds. As he IS the one applying care, the healer selects which injuries are remedied.

Ideally, I'll be able to update on Monday. Sunday is my all-day shift, so that's out of the question (Unless we close early, in which case, I'll be able to do so when I get home), but, we'll see. I want to get this moving along again. Thus far, I'm quite pleased with things.

And that doesn't happen often with my own games, so embrace the compliment, you punks!

Yes, please more!

How is the vial secured (if it is) to the barrel?
How big is the rock?
Is the rock in easy reach? (How high up is it and is it accessible?)

Is there any way to get to the barrel without triggering the trap?

I think that's a start. I might have more questions once the answers tothese become apparent.

The stone is small, but heavy enough to crush a glass vial. Maybe fist-sized. Its poised about four inches directly above the vial, which itself is held in place by a length of thread anchored to opposite ends of the barrel.

All you have to do is follow the line to reach it, on the other side of the fallen tree. Its easily within reach, though well-disguised. Considering you've already spotted it, its concealment is useless.

Does the cord I found only run to this one trap or does it run the opposite direction to another? I'm assuming I haven't found any secondary traps correct?

The other end of the line is anchored to a tree trunk off to your right.

Sorry if I missed it.

So... out of curiosity... Does my detailed description of just how I intend to disarm the trap give me any bonuses or is it more for the purposes of story (and how it'll affect me when the trap blows up in my face...)?