#Man of Vengeance

[blorbologist]

Y'know, I think I figured out why the Hells still feel like a new low-level party to me, even though they're level 13 and almost 100 episodes in.

I don't quite think it's the lack of conversations, or the fact half the party's plot hooks are big ties to past campaigns - though that definitely plays a part.

... Bell's Hells still primarily rely on quest givers.

Most of their goals are given to them and do not feel organic to the party, and constantly remind us that the Hells are pretty much never the most powerful people in the room. Which is usually something you see with a low-level party.

NPCs offering jobs is not a bad thing; it's a very common plot hook. Matt has been extremely skilled with using NPC quest givers in those two campaigns. Not only do they provide an obvious plot thread, but they can put the party in the path of others (say, the Nein running into the Iron Shepherds while doing a job for the Gentleman and everything that came of that). And the Hells had a solid start with it too - Eshteross was an excellent quest giver!

The problem is that Bell's Hells have never really not had a quest giver.

Maybe it's a byproduct of the more plot-heavy structure of this campaign? But while prior parties have felt like they decided on their course of action and what they prioritized, Bell's Hells feels less like level 13 (13! Level 13!) experienced adventurers and more like an MMO group clicking on the exclamation point over an NPC's head. Where does the plot demand we go next? Who do we report back to?

They're level 13.

At level 13, Vox Machina had just defeated a necromantic city-state to clear their name and Percy's conscience. And, you know, the Conclave just destroyed Emon. No one was explicitly telling the group to gather Vestiges and save the world (though Matt guided them there), and they were usually among the most powerful people in the room. They chose which Vestiges to prioritize, which dragons to tackle when, even if the over-all plot was pretty clear.

At level 13, the Mighty Nein were celebrating Traveler Con (another PC goal, I'll note) after brokering peace between two nations, accidentally becoming pirates and heroes of the Dynasty. The Nein regularly chose what to do based on personal goals, not grand ones. Though definitely smaller fish than Vox Machina at this level, they were very independent and gaining solid political clout.

While we're at it: level 13 is one level lower than the Ring of Brass, who had a huge amount of sway over Avalir. They ended the world, and also saved it, while in the grand scheme of things being only a smidge more powerful than Bell's Hells are now.

Can you really see the Hells wielding that amount of influence, when they're constantly being told what to do next?

The god-eater might be unleashed, so Bell's Hells have no time to do anything but what is asked of them. No time for therapy unless stolen from Feywild time, no travel on foot and late-night watches. They haven't even had time to grieve FCG. Percy was grieved in the middle of the Conclave arc. Molly was grieved when half the party was still in irons.

Matt is in the very unfortunate spot of not being able to give the Hells the same agency as the other two parties. Not only because of the world-ending plot introduced so early on; they are surrounded by characters they know (and the cast knows) are stronger and wiser than them - the familiarity of the past PCs and NPCs is to their disadvantage.

Why would the party reasonably ignore Keyleth's task that will help save the world and go off on a romp? Why would the cast when they know well Keyleth has to be sensible and with the best intentions in mind? The stakes are just too high.

It means that the Hells still feel like they're running errands instead of pursuing their own destiny. Their accomplishments are diminished as just being parts of a to-do list, and any stakes feel padded by several level 20 PCs/NPCs standing 5 steps away ready to catch them.

This isn't Bell's Hell's fault, nor is it Matt's. It could be amended, I think, if the Hells are really left to their own devices for a long period of time without support and shortcuts (like during the party split)... which would be really tricky to pull off at this point in the campaign.

They're level 13. They're big fish, but they're stuck in a pond full of friendly sharks, so they don't feel big at all.

[pixiesnooze]

[lunarwednesday]

[ The Living Flame ]

[rashidartt]

When I tell you I laughed so hard

[ghost-bxrd]

You guys ever think about an AU where Jason goes to hound Tim through Titans Tower, and, mid pursuit—while Tim is screaming at him about the second Robin being his hero, tryin to crawl away in a trail of blood—realizes he’s become an even worse version of his own mother, who sold him out to the Joker?

Because I do.

[crimsonclad]

now having watched the entirety of OFMD S1 and S2 multiple times, one place that never fails to take me out at the knees is the audience finding out that Ed’s mother was in service in the very same episode that he goes to a fancy rich person party where Stede—who is himself impossibly wealthy landed gentry—intentionally sides with the servants and his lowborn crew.

Stede slipping away from all the posturing and sniping to hang out with Frenchie “who was in service for a minute”. Stede who is more excited to meet and collude with Abshire than to talk to a single rich person from his own world. Yes, Stede burns all the rich people alive for being cruel to Ed and that’s very charming of him! But every rewatch, the thought of baby Ed growing up to find the kind of gentleman he always hated and envied embodied in someone who would take his side every time just knocks me flat. Ed sought out an avatar of everything he longed for (yet wanted to destroy) and accidentally discovered a lonely oddball who wanted him more than any of the rest of it. “I found the kind of person I envisioned as my bitterest rival and he smiled in recognition of a kindred soul only to swear he’d make all my most ridiculous and insignificant fantasies come true” is just so!!!!!!!!!

“the crew is my family now” and “peasants marry for love” and marmalade with a flourish of twine and Ed on the verge of tears finding Stede hiding outside the party agreeing with Frenchie about the absurdity of spoon politics. my god my god my GOD!

[frooogscream]

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Nooooo Bestie, don't go to mad at me island

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[andi-o-geyser]

all my favourite characters are just me seeing them and going "damn you sure do clean up well but I'd much rather see you grinning with blood between your teeth"

[abgemeldet]

PLS DON'T ASK ME! 😅🤡

[deyostra-walos]

So I was watching a Ninjago out of context video and saw Zane jumping in front of Master Wu to protect him from Garmadon in Season 1.

But it instantly reminded me of when he does the SAME THING in Season 11 to protect Wu from Aspheera.

10 seasons and later and he's still jumping in front of potential danger to protect Master Wu.

[kaelidascope]

Yang lets the rain fall over her for a little while longer. It’s cold, and it sinks into her bones leaving her chilled in ways no amount of blankets could comfort. She rolls her shoulder as a sharp ache begins to creep out of her muscle like an embedded knife she was never able to get rid of. She probably should get out of this rain. She should also probably stop pretending that the car that took Blake away might turn around and drop her back off and return her to Yang from the night.

~~~

If you're not caught up on Midnight Menagerie, you're gonna wanna be <3 chapter 20 is coming

[whaliiwatching]

he is so. to me

closeups of my favorites <3

[pirpintine]

I was not immune to this vintage chocolate ad... and by golly these elves sure are still in my brain.

inspiration ref under the cut!

[xero5x]

a twitter user requested some lilim and i got reminded of a funny subquest

[doodlesdreaming]

Protective Aogami gives me life.