These are the moments in forum-based role-playing games where I wish we were around the table.

The battle before us seems to require some tactical positioning and working together in order to succeed. If we we're around the table, the out of character (and maybe in character) conversation would go something like this:

Kadrin: "We need to be level this battle field, starting with getting rid of that cover of darkness. I hate not being able to see."

Some Cleric: "I shall call on ~~name here~~ to light our way. My lord will give us aid."

Arien: "I think Max, you (Kadrin), and I should rush around and cut the filth down."

Some Mage: "Perhaps I can help give you the element of surprise. A little pinch of diamon dust, and poof, they won't even see you until your blade is in their gizzards."

Arien: "Hrmm... sounds cowardly to me."

Max, nudging the Knight: "Don't worry, brave sir. They might not see you, but they'll still hear you clanking around. Be thankful for the help... might mean one less dent in your shiny armour."

Arien: "Fair enough."

Kadrin: "While the three of us make our way around the hill, anyway the rest of you might thin their numbers? The fireball was great... but I'd rather not have the whole place cave in."

Mage: "Would a cloud of poisonous gas be more suitable to your needs?"

Ranger: "And I'll put an arrow through any that pop their heads out from cover."

Kadrin: "Why are we sitting around then... let's go."

Clearer direction would help me a great deal. Otherwise i have to assume.

Post play does indeed limit the ability to quickly hash out a plan. That I do miss about tabletop play. But, in the end it all works out once we or the creatures are all dead.

It might take a little longer.....BUT, the Q&A and PM are our table top. Just start tossing out ideas. To tell the truth I've been a little more quiet here with all the great talent at play. Thought I'd just follow along and learn a little.

BUT if this how it needs to be I'll start tossing out MY ideas.

What if Ody cast faerie fire on the rat men so the rest of the party can pick them off. With them having four arms to throw spears we need to stay back. And what if our mage casts forked lightening on the glowing rat men?

Ody can cast a Ray of Sunlight into the dark over the mound and blind most of the Ratmen, but that bright light might effect some of party too.

If light on the dark is key Ody could cast a Moonbeam down on the dark. It seems to cover a smaller area but won't blind the party.

With all the ick that could be in this cave Ody could cast Creeping Doom and call out a bunch of about 1000 little critters to form a moving carpet of bitey stingy bugs and such to move up the mound and swarm the Ratmen inflicking 1hp damage per bite. That would distract the Ratmen from tossing the spears.

We should watch the Ratmen if the try to escape through one of the three passages to help tell us which one is the safe passage.

Ok now your turn for ideas!

You are facing a large number of opponents. The most basic of plans here would be charge in, missile weapon user flank out, spell users go for mass effect and damage and let the armoured sword and axe users go up the centre. Using Invisibility could get you a round of attacks for free but that would be about it.

If this was my usual group, Gallirian would charge in loudly drawing all attention. Rune would start with Lightning and then Ice Storm, and Vanadia would sneak into the cavern and use the darkness to her advantage.

Well if no one else jumps in I'll keep tossing out stuff.

I've been wildly successful in my tactics in Roc, Asher only been blown up and shot in the back (by girls) a couple of times. Capt'n Jon only lost his ship in Destiny once and Ulthok in Trilogy has only died once (so far and he's only had his face burned off a couple of times).

So if no one else starts tossing out ideas or plans the Hairy Bear may shake things up.

What Fin is doing has already been posted

Charge, magic either or both is good but Sparrow will still be keeping at ranged distance.

He can do missile, charge or sneaky just let me know.

We need to drive the Ratmen out of the dark so we can see them to hit them. A good old Flame Strike from Ody right in the middle of the dark at the top of the mount will toast a few of them and maybe get them to charge out away from the flame. Then those with bows start picking off the one that run out. If they continue to charge then the melee fighters hack and slash. I still like the idea of the forked lightening into the pack from our mage.

Some may just try to escape so we need to note which tunnel they run down.

I plan to post one these 5 ideas so if any of you seems to like one over the others let me know.

#5 sounds good enough for me.