This is the Q&A page to answer Logistical Problems for the Red Dragon Arena Battlegrounds.

MAIN RULES:
Characters Characters start at level 1
Characters may only be standard races and use spells and abilities from the PHP in order to make it fair to everyone so all have the same materials at hand
Only one character per person
Character information must be posted on the battle participants thread under the correct format (see that thread for more details)
No Prestige Classes : Trying To Keep It As Simple As Possible

Experience Every player your team defeats in the battlegrounds will give you experience. Experience is also given for winning teams. You will even get some experience if you die during the session .. so don't give up and lose heart.

Battle Sessions Each battle session will last for 10 rounds. Each round will last for 24 hours. If you do not post during that 24 hour period .. it is assumed your guy stays in the same spot and
At the end of 10 rounds each character (dead or otherwise) will be raised, heal up fully, and gain any treasure earned.

Treasure Treasure cash and specific prizes will be rewarded at the end of each battle session. Treasure is based on performance and number of kills you gain.

Teams You will be teamed up with other players. These players will be my choice and will change with each battle. You will only know what is posted about your player but you may yell to each other or communicate during the battle in many ways. You are not, under any circumstances to kill your teammates.

Points You will gain points based on your teams position at the end of the Battle Session
Since you will be switching up teams, the winners will begin to be distinguished as the game progresses.

Alliances You may form alliances (PM amongst yourselves) but remember that there can be only one champion team.

Battle Map The battle map will be updated every 24 hours. It is a grid map and so you need to tell where you move using the grid system. Each square is 5ft .. just like normal. The battlemap thread is NOT to be posted in.

Schedule Registration begins today. It will end next Monday at 9:00 AM EST or when all slots have been filled. Once A Battle Session Begins, Synopsis Will Be Given Every 24 Hours and A New post can be put up.

PLAYER POSTS Each Day You Are Allowed To Make One Post
You Should Not Make More Than One Post In The Main Arena Thread. Player Posts will be done as follows:

Character Name > Action > Action > Action

Action An Action May be a full round action, two move actions, a move action and a standard action. You are also allowed a swift action and up to 3 free actions per round. You may also say up to 6 words as a free action in speech.
Example:
Devalero > Move To B6 > Drop Crossbow > Draw Sword While Moving > Attack Arafen
Attack Roll 16; Damage 8 (Witnessed By Fynor)
THE SYNOPSIS After Each Round I Will Post A Synopsis Giving A Status For Each Character For Everyone To See. This Will Look Like The Following:

Character Name > Health Status > Other Information
Example:
Devalero > Hurt > Invisible ATM
Health Status This will be given based on a % showing other players what you would observe. It does not give an exact HP Amount. Specific HP can only be figured out using a Heal Check (Standard Action)
< 10 = DEAD
< 0 = UNCONSCIOUS
< 10% HP = CRITICAL
< 50% HP = HURT
< 75% HP = WOUNDED
< 100 % HP = SCRATCHED
100% = PERFECT

Other Information This may tell other players some bit of information that they might be able to notice during the battle. This could be the aura of a magical spell or some status effect that can be seen .. etc


ROLLING ATTACKS AND SKILL CHECKS When Rolling an attack or a skill check you should do the following:

1. Log Into DRAGONCHAT here at the INN
2. Get a WITNESS (Must NOT Be On Your Current Team or Relative or BFF)
3. Roll In Dragonchat and Edit your roll into your post.
4. At the end of your roll you should put in parenthesis the name of the person or persons who witnessed your roll)

Make sure to give the name for the skillcheck and give the damage for the roll should your roll hit successfully (Only I will know if the hit was successful or not and I will keep track of all players HP where they cannot be known by anyone (Not even the player unless they PM me)

These rolls may be posted in the Arena Post or they may be sent to me as a PM to keep it a secret what you roll

When you cast a spell or make an attack in the arena, add flavor underneath your post. Describe the spell you are casting and then PM the spell to me for secrecy. Describe your attack and then PM me the feats used for extra surprise .. etc. Make them figure out what you are doing.

Weak Example: Devalero > Moves B6 > Draws Weapon While Moving > Draws Sword > Power Attacks Arafen (5 Power Attack)
Attack Roll 16; Dmg 8 (Witnessed By Fynor)

This is my turn


Strong Example: Devalero > Moves B6 > Draws Weapon While Moving > Draws Sword > Attacks Arafen

Devalero moves across the battlefield with great speed. Drawing his weapon as he approaches Arafen with a shout. You will die, Arafen! Devalero swings his blade down on Arafen putting extra power into the attack with skill and speed.

(Sends me a PM to say that attack was a Power Attack for 5 and the details for the attack and dmg done)

Do those classes with animal companions/ familiars get to have them in the arena?

Can I spend part of my money purchasing a trained attack dog (or other animal) to take into the arena with me?

Is drawing a weapon a free action in this game? Or does your above example assume the character has the "Quick Draw" feat?

Animal Companions, Familiars etc are all allowed at the arena. If it is a part of that class under normal rules .. it is allowed.

As far as drawing a weapon. Drawing is a move action .. but if done in conjunction with moving it can be a free part of a move action already in progress. So .. you don't get a full round attack if you draw a weapon and stand there and attack . .. but if you move your normal movement you can draw the weapon while in transition to the new location. I hope that makes sense.

If you can buy something in the PHP or DMG then you can buy it using any money you start with or win during the arena battle. You have time between each battle to heal up and buy items. Then you return for the next round.

As far as a guard dog .. I see you could purchase it . . so .. yes .. that would be allowed .. and as far as stats .. It really should do a better job giving those shouldn't it ... I would think it would be riding dog stats as a dog trained for war .. but that can't be ridden. So .. I guess you pay the extra 125 gold for a dog that is trained to be ridden also .. either that or the regular dog stats but that dog has been trained for war? Not sure .. what do you think makes sense? Actually considering the cost .. it probably makse sense that it is a regular dog but one that is trained for war/fighting so obeys commands well.

Thanks Devalero for your quick response. Your rules regarding animal companions and familiars makes sense. As does your rules regarding drawing a weapon as part of a move action.

Still uncertain about your rules regarding animals purchased and brought into the arena... can I buy a guard dog (25 gp) or two and bring it into the arena with me? If yes, where can I find the statistical block for a guard dog? I noticed that the Monster Manual only has entries for "Dog" and "Riding Dog".

Anyway... thanks!

Good question what 25 gp gets you in a dog... I'dhave to think about it for a bit.

Thanks for the answers!

Devalero, I of course submit to your rule of this particular game, but I have to say this in good conscience.

I cannot see how a "riding dog" is the statistic block for a "guard dog". A riding dog that is given the skill set "guarding" would still cost the same as a riding dog given the skill set "riding". Think of it this way. The DC for Guarding is a 20 Handle animal, whereas the DC for Riding is 15. It takes 4 weeks to train for guarding and only 3 weeks for riding. Now, granted, Combat riding takes six weeks, but the DC is still only 20, and this is considered an "upgrade" to the riding skill set.

The difference in skill for riding and guarding would actually make guarding MORE expensive than riding because of the extra week of training, food, and etc. Thus the only logical conclusion is that the guard dog is a regular small dog with 1HD.

There is a severe repercussion to the allowance of a riding dog with war abilities to come onto the field for 25gp, even if it can't be ridden. You are giving a character a 2HD creature with decent stats and multiple attacks. PLUS, if any attack hits, that dog can make a free trip attack attempt WITHOUT causing an attack of opportunity against themselves, and without the chance of the opponent trying to counter that said trip.

All that being said, I think it is an unwise choice. The normal dog still provides a flank, a distraction, and a decent attacker that acts like another 1d4+1 damage. It's like a rogue having a magic missile that allows it to get a sneak attack as well. That is unbalanced as is.

I hope you reconsider.

(P.S. Drawing a weapon as a part of a move action is only considered free if the character has a base attack bonus of +1 or more. So at first level, only fighters, rangers, paladins, and barbarians are allowed to do so.)

yeah .. thats the conclusion I came too .. but i should have been more clear. If you read the last line of my post it says that considering the cost I would think it would be a regular dog with training for combat. I think this makes the most sense. Although the PHB should be more clear about it in any case. So .. we WILL be using regular dog stats for a guard dog. Philosopher's point is duly noted and I agree that this is the best way to do it.

Anyway... I thought about it a bit more too.

In my mind's eye, a guard dog to me would seem to be a big dog like a german shephard. The big dogs seem to be covered under the "Riding Dog" entry of the MM.

However, since the PHB only charges 25 gp for a guard dog, I would lean towards using the regular "Dog" entry and giving the canine some known tricks. These tricks would be:

Attack
Come
Defend
Down
Guard
Heel

The dog would obey it's master, though a charm animal spell to turn the creature on it's owner.

I agree with Philosopher that adding animals to the arena adds a different level of play... but if they are available to everyone to purchase, then the playing field should still be level, right? (Everyone is going to get a guard dog now ) As players we have choices to make with regards to how we will spend our resources, right? ("Do I get two vials of acid or one flask of alchemist fire?" "Do I get a shield and pick up power attack, or do I wield two weapons and get Two-Weapon Fighting?")

My understanding of this game is that its pretty much hack n' slash. You get 10 rounds to kill off as many opponents as possible. So the idea is to either try out character classes and see how they'll stand up in combat, or look to build the most powerful character possible and try to dominate!


ON A DIFFERENT NOTE: Devalero, you haven't spoken much about the environment we'll be fighting in. Will each fight be in the same location? Are there natural hazards within the arena? Will there be natural cover or concealment in the arena? Will all the areas in the arena be lit? Will there be NPC creatures also looking to do battle with us?

Just curious?

Also, do characters have a round or two prior to the fight match beginning to cast buff spells on themselves? (i.e. Mage Armor)

Thanks!

Each Battle Session will feature a variation on a main arena. The first arena will be kept fairly simple with not much modification. As the game goes on the Arena will change and offer more for you to do.

As far as a dog goes .. it dies it dies .. so you lose your money .. same as if you had a potion and drank it. Its a CR 1/3 .. so .. i doubt many people will want to buy a lot of dogs after the first battle .. but I guess we will see.

There will be a certain amount of time for buffs .. it will be explained when the first battle begins. Basically things that last hours or minutes per level can be cast ahead of time since they will last the entire battle. Things that last rounds / level will not be cast ahead of time.

Are we using the standard point buy system?

It Is 78 Points to be spent on 6 stats. Stats add up to 78 points .. not the DMG point buy system. All stats before racial will add up to 78 .. and you cannot have more than one 8 and more than one 18 before racial adjustments

I know that the concept is often neglected in our forum frenzy, but I was just wondering if Initiative will have its role?