Critical Role: Hunter and Hunted

April 12, 2021 12:06 PM - Season 2, Episode 133

As the Mighty Nein tentatively explore the edges of Aeor, they debate whether to delve further into mystery or hold the line and set traps for their rapidly approaching enemies...
posted by nubs (9 comments total)

That went surprisingly well!
posted by coriolisdave at 6:51 PM on April 12, 2021

I felt Laura's double 1s roll for the feast HP in my soul... I also really understand the struggle of trying and failing to get in a long rest. It mostly worked out with the traps but they are running on fumes to face Lucien.
posted by slimepuppy at 8:18 AM on April 13, 2021

When Lucien sent the message, Matt said it was targeted to two people. I didn't catch who. Caleb and Beau?
posted by bleary at 12:19 PM on April 13, 2021

Yes, it was red eye to eye communication
posted by coriolisdave at 1:26 PM on April 13, 2021

I appreciate a DM who lets a good plan come to fruition. Wasn't everything they wanted, but they've moved the action economy in their favor, and with Luciens anti-magic abilities, having some of the casters on fumes might not matter as much. Essik is still full, and Caleb's staff has charges, not sure what Fjord and Cad have...so who knows? Kree is hurt as well. And if the M9 fall in the ruins, the next campaign could be very interesting with the Somnoven back.

Fjord was pretty darn ruthless. And how he killed that Tombtaker was reminiscent of how Molly died
posted by nubs at 8:30 AM on April 14, 2021

Yeah, eight against two isn't bad, even if some of the eight are tapped (honestly, I think only Jester and Caleb are probably hurting - Cad didn't use too many spells). If Lucien can turn Caleb and Beau against the rest of the group, it's not great - but it is still 6 against 4, and Beau has a pretty good chance of making that wisdom save, especially with Hero's Feast.

They can also get a full long rest in just a couple hours, unless Matt's ruling differently. I don't think they necessarily need one, but two-three hours vs eight is a big difference.

Not sure if Dagen is dead, but he's certainly out of the campaign - he's got no reason to stick around if he did disobey orders. I don't think it was necessarily a bad Fjord decision, but it was certainly the most fatalistic he's ever been - you don't sacrifice people who have the potential to be helpful later unless you think there is a real possibility of there not being a later.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:47 AM on April 14, 2021

I think Travis/Fjord's thinking was that the attack by the rangers had a slim possibility to slow the TT down enough (or make them take a short rest) to allow a long rest to finish, and a larger possibility of shaving a few hitpoints/spell slots/consumables off the TT to maybe make the job a little easier.

Travis certainly seemed to think that the fight in that chamber was going to be it, one way or another, so he didn't want to leave any possible advantage unused.
posted by nubs at 2:02 PM on April 14, 2021

Yeah, eight against two isn't bad, even if some of the eight are tapped (honestly, I think only Jester and Caleb are probably hurting - Cad didn't use too many spells).

I think Cad is pretty fresh. Jester is definitely tapped, but apart from a couple of low-level slots and the Mansion, I'm pretty sure Caleb is packing a bunch of slots still.

Mind you, he hasn't rested, so should start picking up points of exhaustion (a rule Matt seems to ignore). See also: Fjord & Beau, who watched and didn't rest.

They can also get a full long rest in just a couple hours, unless Matt's ruling differently. I don't think they necessarily need one, but two-three hours vs eight is a big difference.

Actually, there's an argument that they should be pretty close to having a LR anyway - the pre-sleep quiet time counts, so they'd pickup an hour from eating the Feast.
posted by coriolisdave at 3:19 PM on April 14, 2021

I think Travis/Fjord's thinking was that the attack by the rangers had a slim possibility to slow the TT down enough (or make them take a short rest) to allow a long rest to finish, and a larger possibility of shaving a few hitpoints/spell slots/consumables off the TT to maybe make the job a little easier.

Oh yeah, I totally get the reasoning - it's just that the chances of that happening vs. the chances that the tomb takers barely slow down but the rangers take substantial losses (possible tpk) is balanced such that you'd only risk it if you really thought that having a lookout and folks who are great at spotting people in this environment wasn't worthwhile - the chances that they might be helpful later is less than the possibility that they'll be helpful now. Which, a, it's totally in character for Fjord to only be thinking one step ahead anyway, but it definitely came off as the idea that this was the Fight to End All Fights, like, for the campaign.

I'm pretty sure Caleb is packing a bunch of slots still.

Caleb was fairly fresh, but then he expended a bunch in prep for the overnight lookout - I don't know if it was on purpose (in case he gets turned) or not. Critrole stats did an analysis, and I personally would put Caleb in slightly higher than 'Yikes' territory (that staff is pretty clutch), but he only has 50% of his total spell slots left, and they're all lower level.
posted by dinty_moore at 8:17 PM on April 19, 2021 [1 favorite]