Martials vs. Casters LIVESTREAM OPEN ARENA BATTLE! (The Rules Lawyer) (see time stamps)
128This probably doesnt make for very interesting watch because this is the first time we've tried this. Next time we will have all participants on voice chat and display participants' chat. (My priority was to first figure out a smooth play experience for the participants, and also I was concerned some might not participate if they found out their audio would be recorded.) The most interesting part is probably the wrap-up at the end starting 3:08:45 where we all share thoughts about the battle.
And we will try other formats. We are talking about ideas future live play events! Join us on the discord to join the discussion. Currently there is talk about bestiary-summoning battles, and possibly a bracket structure.
1:00:04 - Combat begins
1:31:25 - #PantsGate
3:08:45 - Post-fight discussion
Arena Map from Tale Maps
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JOIN THE DISCORD for more info and to be part of the discussion and planning for this historic event! https://discord.gg/bpyqxhwe8X
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PROPOSED RULES (subject to change):
I will share a livestream of my screen which will be running Foundry Virtual Tabletop.
Initial DRAFTING phase:
1. People sign up to be a "Martial" or a "Caster" on the Discord (for people joining in on the Stream, they need to be in Discord so they can DM me or the Paralegals ("the Judges"))
2. One list for each side will be maintained, in order of sign-up (people who DECLARE A SIDE on this channel are signing up and lock themselves into the order by doing so, ahead of people who sign up during the stream)
3. The 1st person on each list is admitted as a pair.
4. They each declare which pregen they take. We are using the Level 1 pregens of the iconic characters. There only pregens for the Core Rulebook and Advanced Player's Guide. (The alchemist is not allowed.)*
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-nRZlewTTKxYAZpW_wQowSsqkcWEAOLO?usp=sharing
(NOTE: There can't be taking a 2nd of a pregen, until ALL of the pregens for that side are chosen). They do this by sending a DM to the Judges (there will be a special server Role for the Judges) WITHIN A TIME LIMIT (15 sec?). If time runs out, the Judges randomly roll that player's pregen.
5. I'll try to make the map have a chess-like grid (with coordinates) to facilitate play. Those 2 players also DM the Judges their starting square within a TIME LIMIT.
6. If there no longer is at least one player in both lists, TRL announces "last call" for people to sign up.
7. Return to #3.
COMBAT
(NOTE: There won't be any invisible tokens on the map (the Undetected condition won't exist). We have only a single stream.)
0a. Any long-duration effects may be started up until T minus 1 minute. People also declare what they hold in their hands. (Answer all questions on what actions it takes to retrieve/use items now.) Then 1 minute passes where every character must do nothing for 10 turns.
0b. People who want to Avoid Notice for initiative may declare they are. Otherwise Perception will be used for initiative.
0c. Roll Initiative. All ties go to the one with the higher modifier. Remaining ties are resolved by a roll-off.
1. TRL declares someone's turn has begun. The Combat Ready! module will be onscreen to visualize the time limit (30 sec?). NOTE: I have noticed that there is a delay between what happens on my screen and when people see it, maybe 10 sec. So I need a moderator who is viewing things on the watchers' end to be the one who actually declares their time has run out
2. Within that time limit, someone must already declare their first action/activity. After resolving that, TRL will act in their discretion and may "call time" (and may hold a sandtimer to up to the camera!) as a time limit on their next action/activity. (NOTE: In my experience, imposing a time limit for someone's whole turn sometimes lead to unfair situations, such as if someone were to cast Burning Hands and more time is needed to resolve Saving Throws and damage, etc.)
3. When someone's turn is done, TRL advances the turn and the timer starts for the next character in initiative.
Miscellaneous Rules
- TRL will not prompt players about whether to use their Reaction. Depending on the stream delay, TRL will have to sloooow down within reason (e.g., walking past a Fighter).
- Victory is declared when a majority of the still-alive characters on one side resigns, or all characters on one side are dead.
The ARENA MAP and rules for arena features are in the Discord!
https://discord.gg/bpyqxhwe8X
*I have experience running tournaments and am keeping limited in terms of what characters you can have, because (1) we don't know how much participation there'll be, (2) people can sign up last-minute (this first event at least), and (3) this is the first event of its kind! (Who knows how long this will take?) Spellcasters are limited to the spells that are known/prepared on the pregens.