Review of Second Session of Demo Game

[khunkwai]

So we completed the demo on Sunday. I'd seen a few comments about how combat could be a bit slow (but not slow compared to what exactly) so
we were looking forward to a major battle.

Note we were using the sample characters from the back of DoN because I decided they were much easier to use and understand than those
presented in Fafnir's Treasure.

After wrapping up tasks and meetings in the town the players decided to accept the task on behalf of the Jotun. Two players had professed worship
of the Aesir, one the Jotun and we'd decided the Druid was Welsh and worshiped trees and shrubberies.

On the way I had intercepted by a group of fanatics lead by an aggrieved fellow from the town. This was the first chance for the players
to really go to town and see what their powers did. The piercing effect of the bowman was put to good use but the real scary guy was the
Berserker ...the Bear was scary as hell! Assuming we had it all working right, in one round he managed to bang off an attack with reach 3, 8 Base
Damage and a amplify for 16 Damage with a Multi that took out 3 fanatics in one blow...i think my players were sold on the game right then! Though
I did point out that the conditions in the demo are not the same as the full rules (i.e. the Berserker on getting 4 rage and hitting bear form would have
attacked the nearest thing that that point...which wasn't a Fanatic !!!)

The blacksmith showed himself to be a tank and easily shrugged off hits. The Druid, did some healing but had a quiet battle

It was all over in 3 rounds. 2 if you ignore the initial round of closing. Learning the sequence of upkeeps and remembering
that there are upkeeps to keep an eye on was the only real item of confusion.

Onward through the groaning forest, the Trolls were warned off with the help of Surt's blessing and into the cave

4 players vs 3 Rusalki . I expected this to be a big battle...and it started off well (for me) Taunt was in action, healing was going
well and I had the players worried. Then the bear kicked in, however he'd lost a rune to an early spiritual hit and couldn't get his
hits anywhere near the strength he'd done before, and the water shield, healing combos were laughing off the damage....

Then one of the Rusalki got hit by the Bowman who had stayed out of the Taunt range, causing some issues BUT then the
REAL beast stepped in...the Druid...who had just checked on Mental damage. Sent off an Alka of (i think) Thorny growth that
hit two of the Rusalki, then he slammed all his focus into the Mental damage and down came the water shield, and the
Taunting Rusalki got nailed on top of that too...then the bear cleaned up!

It was over far faster than expected once the players saw the combos coming together and got their heads around the
fact that going first isn't always the best thing

I think the only real questions that came up were

1. Does an Amplify cause both mental and physical damage to increase (when both are present) or just one - we assumed the later

2. The ability to reduce a condition (such as degenerate) during upkeep is done before of after it takes effect - we assumed before

3. If the Berseker lowers their rage during an attack (which results in zero rage) do they drop from Bear form immediately or after the attack - we assumed the later

4. After runes are wyrded are they kept concealed or revealed - we started with the former but changed to the later as it was easier to manage

5. When playing Runes, should a player declare all actions at one time or do them one at a time - we started with the former but changed to the later as it was easier to manage

6. When a attack does multiple types of damage , is there a specific order to resolve them, or can the player choose?

7. If multiple targets are hit by an action (Such as an Alka) who decides the order in which the targets are hit.

Anyway all in all everyone had a blast, and the combat was no where near as long as we'd expected. Ran very smoothly once players
work out the combos of active powers !

Reviewing the game and core rules afterwards all the players were excited about kicking off a full campaign!

[raleel]

1. Does an Amplify cause both mental and physical damage to increase (when both are present) or just one - we assumed the later

that is the conservative approach. I think the rules support the former.

2. The ability to reduce a condition (such as degenerate) during upkeep is done before of after it takes effect - we assumed before

upkeep actions can be performed in any order, so totally will work. there are reasons you might want to do the latter.

3. If the Berseker lowers their rage during an attack (which results in zero rage) do they drop from Bear form immediately or after the attack - we assumed the later

Things like that generally happen when the effect takes place. But no harm in doing it your way (outside of what the berserker might want )

4. After runes are wyrded are they kept concealed or revealed - we started with the former but changed to the later as it was easier to manage

I don't know that it says, but I always do the latter. In fact, I make my players and myself play everything in the open. Note - the app supports the latter as well.

5. When playing Runes, should a player declare all actions at one time or do them one at a time - we started with the former but changed to the later as it was easier to manage

the latter is what I've always done.

6. When a attack does multiple types of damage , is there a specific order to resolve them, or can the player choose?

I think the defender gets to choose this IIRC. The whole effect gets applied, but the defender gets to pick order.

7. If multiple targets are hit by an action (Such as an Alka) who decides the order in which the targets are hit.

I would say the Alka caster gets that one. Once they've decided to lay the effect of the power on the target, the target then gets to choose order of things affecting him at that point.

Anyway all in all everyone had a blast, and the combat was no where near as long as we'd expected. Ran very smoothly once players
work out the combos of active powers !

Reviewing the game and core rules afterwards all the players were excited about kicking off a full campaign!

sounds like everyone had a great time.

[khunkwai]

Thanks for the feedback. Seems we're heading in the right direction