[Meta thread] Iron's PokeRole Adventure: The Skull Ruins

[Dragonstrike]

Welp, trying to identify and differentiate the Kadabra based on any humanity in them was a bust, unhappy as I am to say this. Either that means Marco is down there, but practically dead in a metaphorical sense, or he/his Pokemon are not among the spoon wielding lot down in that chamber. Iron and other characters did allude to the fact their were more than just one of those mystical mires, so pops could be trapped/Kadabraed in one of them.

Do I have your okay that Terra starts smashing the other containee's Capture Nets up now? Or do you have any other ideas you want to share/try out?

I don't have any other big ideas atm, unfortunately.

[Lord Windos]

Welp, trying to identify and differentiate the Kadabra based on any humanity in them was a bust, unhappy as I am to say this. Either that means Marco is down there, but practically dead in a metaphorical sense, or he/his Pokemon are not among the spoon wielding lot down in that chamber. Iron and other characters did allude to the fact their were more than just one of those mystical mires, so pops could be trapped/Kadabraed in one of them.

Do I have your okay that Terra starts smashing the other containee's Capture Nets up now? Or do you have any other ideas you want to share/try out?

I don't have any other big ideas atm, unfortunately.

I have a few myself, but....well, they're not exactly A-Grade Material. Idea one is to just ask the Kadabra down their if they've seen/Encountered any humans that have a similar 'Psychic Aura' as Nathan, but that obviously could go bust if they are too Magicked to want to speak with humans, or just decide to attack the group. Idea one point five is to also inform them about The Millienium Comet is coming, and ask if they could offer any assistance too, but that holds the same problems as I1, but potentially worse. Shiva, Solomon, and Oinari maybe be able to smooth things out with that, though, and could possibly find out a safe way to release Angie from the Kadabra.

Idea Two is to bring out the Adamant Sphere, and try to use that in some manner to affect some change in the Chamber (And perhaps free Angie). Could work, but it also could not, or could cause more problems than not. Idea two point five is Terra bringing out his own Weird MSC Chuck, and see what that could do, but that could cause even more problems.

Idea Three is simply have the Scimitars and anyone with particularly destructive Long Range attacks start mortaring the Kadabra Chamber. The consequences of that are obvious, so not going to elaborate on it. If anybody has Pokemon that can generate gas or foul substances, then we could also chock out the Kadabra too, if we want to be especially mean about it.

Idea Four is my original one: Terra and Cosh starts smashing Capture Nets, and see what happens, while everyone else prepares for battle. We've discussed the consequences of this already, so....yeah.

Idea Five is just abandoning Angie and the Kadabra Chambers altogether (Along with Marco), and get back to the mission at hand. Obviously this is an option nobody wants to entertain (Least of all me or you), but.....well, sometimes, you just have to know when to fold them.

That's pretty much all I have, mate. I want to get Angie out ASAP, but.....well, we need to explore our options and ideas carefully. Especially since entering the Kadabra Chamber itself is a potential Hazard, let alone whatever else its inhabitants can do....

[Dragonstrike]

Man, it's times like these where I'm reminded about something I heard on one of the High Rollers streams. To paraphrase it a little:

'Want to challenge your players? Give them a closed door to open.'

Nothing like a non-combat problem where anything could happen to really slow things down and cause players to sweat a lot more...

[Lord Windos]

Man, it's times like these where I'm reminded about something I heard on one of the High Rollers streams.  To paraphrase it a little:

'Want to challenge your players?  Give them a closed door to open.'

Nothing like a non-combat problem where anything could happen to really slow things down and cause players to sweat a lot more...

Which is why I typically dislike having to do puzzles or brew up complicated plans for equally complicated problems, as they ram the brakes on the pacing of a game and lock everyone into hesitant indecision and aimless ruminations until they can commit to an idea they think won't blow up too badly in their faces. Granted, I do like doing some think via Non-Combat or more heavy roleplaying/puzzley, and such conflict can add some much needed spice and drama to an otherwise plan adventure, but not so much when things are this high stakes, a given adventure is already interesting enough on its own, or I just want to fully explore and discover the mysteries/dangers/secrets of a given local.

So Angie getting caught up in the Capture Net....well, it makes me scared that I'll end up losing her (or turning into a Kadabra, which is arguably worse from a gameplay/story perspective) , but also just plain frustrated that we can't simply go straight to Diplomacy/First Contact, Battle, or just moving on to the next Chamber to try and find Marco. The fact that their is no obvious way to free Angie safely or even to narrow down the search for Marco makes it all the more hair and hackle raising...

Point being, I'm not liking this bind the group is in now, which I guess is sort of the point and consequence of dodging out of fighting The Maybe Legendary Spiritomb. I'll grin and bear it while trying to find some way to solve this situation and have fun, but it's going to be harder than usual for me personally.

[Iron]

Another strategy is not to OVER worry about consequences. After all, your characters only have a few seconds to think, so the most realistic thing to do is to act on one of your first few ideas. Sometimes you receive negative consequences and that's just part of the game and the story.

[Dragonstrike]

Another strategy is not to OVER worry about consequences. After all, your characters only have a few seconds to think, so the most realistic thing to do is to act on one of your first few ideas. Sometimes you receive negative consequences and that's just part of the game and the story.

Yeah, I think that's been a consistent problem throughout these forum games, mostly due to the nature of play-by-post games. 

Around a table, you've got the GM physically present (along with all the players as well) and pushing things forward when necessary to keep things moving in a timely manner (depending on the GM, anyways), so it's not as much of a problem in that scenario.

It's definitely harder to enforce that in a play-by-post.  It's something that all of us players on the forum could probably stand to improve on to some degree (I know that I've certainly thought about how to go about certain things for waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy too long at times during the course of Celadon City)

[Lord Windos]

Another strategy is not to OVER worry about consequences. After all, your characters only have a few seconds to think, so the most realistic thing to do is to act on one of your first few ideas. Sometimes you receive negative consequences and that's just part of the game and the story.

You have a good point, but I argue that using realistic logic/acting realistically in a roleplaying game is not always a good thing. Especially if creative thinking and creating plans have more than a high potential of rewarding a player if they can find the most 'right' solution, while just going with your gut and/or being quickly reactionary to events is more likely to end poorly unless telegraphed otherwise. Which, concerning the present situation.....yeah, I'm not getting signals to bum rush a solution there, unless everyone is okay and ready to suffer the consequences thereof. Heck, beyond Ruin Maniac Kadabra trying to communicate with the group, I'm not getting any clues as to what to do, other than either just start smashing the Capture Nets and/or declaring WAAARGH! on the Kadabra.

I'll accept negative consequences and roll with the punches, but only if I have to or can't find a way to dodge out of them, you know?

@Dragonstrike

Eh, I'll keep on deliberating my decisions as needed, even if it drags out the game. I rather spend a few days brainstorming with everyone and coming together on an agreed plan/course of action on BIG matters than possibly make a 'Haste is waste' action. So far that mode of action has paid off rather well, with one particularly big highlight being Ven's Plan to cripple/distract Seikamater while the group rescued their Pokemon, so I don't see much a reason to fix what isn't broken, unless Iron suddenly decides to start rushing us along and/or punishing us for taking our time/worrying too much. In which case, I'll start playing much more fast and loose, throwing most caution to the wind, dang everything but the group!

[Dragonstrike]

Fair enough.  I was mostly just pointing out a key difference between PbP and Table based games.

[PhantomUnderYourDesk]

Another strategy is not to OVER worry about consequences. After all, your characters only have a few seconds to think, so the most realistic thing to do is to act on one of your first few ideas. Sometimes you receive negative consequences and that's just part of the game and the story.

I'm finding it pretty interesting (honestly, not sarcastically) that while the other charas were watching and reacting to the situation, I had Shiva immediately and actively do something by collecting these crystals and trying to find out more about that metal tube without really thinking what would happen if she does.

[Iron]

You can take your time as long as new things are being discussed - to me, in this campaign, that counts as the game moving forward. I wouldn't allow it at my table, like DS said.