Inactive [LP CYOA] Overlord

[Nevill]

Which will be of no help if they are targeting the area we are in or can see through it somehow.

Depends on the area of effect. They would shift the area of effect along with the image, and it might make a difference. Why not try it?

Maybe. But if I were them, I'd go for the one that's casting a spell.

Ever played a game of cups?

If it's dodgeable and if we have a countermeasure.

Teleport is always an option, and I do not believe for a second that these schmucks know something that can not be dodged, can not be countered and is lethal.

And what makes you thing that the spell is E ranked and lower?

Nothing. What makes you think I said anything like that?

Now, if they are all combining their efforts to cast a spell of B rank and we just can't detect it because the mana is split across 7 casters, we'd have no chance of stopping it.

There is always dodging.

You seem to think that I suggest closing our eyes, shutting our ears, and sticking to some Plan instead of preparing for eventualities through a set of complex measures. Each spell has a counter, they are not WQS the Win button. But a combination of spells paves the road to a winning strategy if you pick the right ones.

By being prepared we should avoid being caught off-guard by most of the stuff they could muster.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Depends on the area of effect. They would shift the area of effect along with the image, and it might make a difference. Why not try it?

I'm not against it, I'm just saying it won't offer much protection if it doesn't work.

Ever played a game of cups?

You kind of need cups for that. Again, they can see us.

Teleport is always an option, and I do not believe for a second that these schmucks know something that can not be dodged, can not be countered and is lethal.

Cannot be countered by us, not cannot be countered period. Perhaps we could teleport out. Or perhaps we won't want to teleport because that would leave the kids defenseless. Or perhaps we won't have time - I don't recall us teleporting away from Rin's axe at the start of the chapter for example.

You seem to think that I suggest closing our eyes, shutting our ears, and sticking to some Plan instead of preparing for eventualities through a set of complex measures.

Ffs, here we go again. No, I'm not saying such an extreme thing.

Each spell has a counter

My point is that we only know certain kinds of counters. Go even slightly above what those counters can block and that's the end - maybe it wouldn't kill us, but it could wound us or just manage to kill the prince.

edit:
Also, yes, there are certain things that cannot be blocked or countered: an earthquake that opens a fissure right where we are standing for example. They know earth magic after all. And our protection spells wouldn't have an effect as it would affect the ground, not us.

By being prepared we should avoid being caught off-guard by most of the stuff they could muster.

Again, I'm not against being prepared, but I worry that we have no idea of what it is they can really muster. Like the update says, it's probably a low level spell, but we don't know that. Thus far we've only seen a handful of their spells and we do know they are adapting to our tactics and spells, which would suggest some versatility. Also, there is a chance they've been holding back too in order to avoid revealing spells that are unique and identifiable as spells of the Barzam kingdom.

My point in saying all this, is that it'd be best to have to the prince surprise attack them and interrupt their spell. It'd be the last thing they'd expect as up until now we've been trying to help him flee.

 

[Nevill]

Also, yes, there are certain things that cannot be blocked or countered: an earthquake that opens a fissure right where we are standing for example.

Our Gigadyne grants us flight in lightning form.

My point in saying all this, is that it'd be best to have to the prince surprise attack them and interrupt their spell.

Maybe. I am unsure about it myself. Still, I do not think we are the ones in danger.

 

[lightbane]

Honestly, the only ones I am worried about here are the kids. Seriously, how did we think they would prove their worth in a mage duel?

To show off the superiority of magic classes over martial ones, of course

Besides, chances are they're safer here with us by being distracted looking at the shiny lights, than waiting at the woods (which wouldn't last long until they get into trouble by disobeying our orders). Of course, there's the chance that an AoE spell obliterates them completely, but should that happen... Then we'll have to start learning resurrection spells as soon as possible

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Our Gigadyne grants us flight in lightning form.

Will we ahve enoguh time and concentration to cast it? It takes all of 1 second to fall 15 feet. They don't need to open a pit into hell, just far enough to get us out of the way while they kill the prince.

Maybe. I am unsure about it myself. Still, I do not think we are the ones in danger.

So? I'm not saying that we are the only ones that could be affected.

 

[treave]

Re: disrupting the mages with your spells while the prince retreats, if you would like to take that course of action, vote A anyways.

Battle Premonition only gives you up to 2 seconds of foresight so if you want to wait till literally the last 2 seconds to decide whether to send him away, you can choose B or C to keep the prince around first.

Anyway, don't forget I cut the original update in two.

 

[Nevill]

The doppleganger spell is slightly less useful when you enemy sees you casting it and if our doppleganger runs off out from under our Globe of Invulnerability he can be killed by a mere arrow or a low level spell.

Just to argue with you a little longer.

Doppelganger works, from what I understand, similarly to Simulacrum in BG - it is a copy of a caster, only a few 'levels' lower. In our case, with lower stats.

Meaning that our Doppel might be able to cast a Globe of Invulnerability (Rank C) or Mage's Armor (Rank D) all by itself.

Or perhaps we won't want to teleport because that would leave the kids defenseless.

I think Lobelia transported us to the Demon Castle with her spell as a group, but I am not sure if it is because the spell affects a certain area or because her version was stronger/different.

It would be highly unfortunate if we could teleport, but Rin couldn't.

Will we ahve enoguh time and concentration to cast it? It takes all of 1 second to fall 15 feet.

So? Everyone knows that you only take 1d6 damage for 10 feet fall.

Look, you have pictured your worst scenario, ok? Yes, they are casting an unknown spell, I get it. I think we can try and solve it on our own.

 

[Nevill]

Anyway, don't forget I cut the original update in two.

Are you suggesting we should try and guess the way the events were supposed to develop on their own?

In which case B has a few things going for it.

 

[archaen]

C > A

 

[treave]

Are you suggesting we should try and guess the way the events were supposed to develop on their own?

It depends on what you think would be the worst outcome.

Anyway, regarding teleportation, Lobelia has a better spell, and is better skilled at using it, and can do group teleportation. You, on the other hand, can use it to get yourself from point A to point B. Tactical teleporting like Nightcrawler, not so much.

As for Doppleganger, it can theoretically cast most basic spells that you know of (spells that require more mental concentration like Gigadyne or teleportation are out), but the limitation is that since it is a creature formed of mana, it behaves much like a summon and if it drains its own mana too much it will weaken very rapidly and disappear.

 

[Tigranes]

A > b.

Absinthe is right. We arent faggy chaotic good fairy helpers, we are evil overlord. Prince can take care of himself. We arent a nanny. And theres zero reason to reveal who we are again. Fucking codex wants to spill all the beans as soon as some theseus says a single nice thing.

Nevills theory on Rin is probably correct. Domt worry about her. Again, she can handle herself.

 

[Kipeci]

Whether we send him away or have him attack, it'll take time and they'll be able to cast the spell. If we just give a good show of power it eliminates the threat beforehand given our OP skills and we can probably manage to murder everyone on the opposing side to keep that precious secrecy, at least among folks who won't owe us their lives.

I don't get the hang-up about revealing ourselves. No one knows us anyway in this world, no one can recognize our spells. They will see that we're clearly badass, and when that's established we can get a lot more opportunities in terms of followers than a jerk yukking it up as the God-Emperor of a tiny goblin village. Even in worst case scenario we're revealed as an angel and all kingdoms drop everything specifically to murder us, that's an opportunity to build up a legend on a Long March fighting our way out to the east and attracting enemies of the kingdoms to our service.

We're an overlord. Why should we be so afraid of others recognizing that so that we intentionally hamper ourselves over that small chance?

 

[Baltika9]

that's an opportunity to build up a legend on a Long March fighting our way out to the east and attracting enemies of the kingdoms to our service.

Because we're a lazy bastard and that is too much work for no reason whatsoever, and there's the fact that all of the Kingdoms' enemies are non-humans who were almost totally driven East. I can't see us surviving long with the attention of all the human realms on us without some serious support.

 

[profreshinal]

B

As it's the option closest resembling what we voted for in the previous update.

 

[Elfberserker]

A

 

[Nevill]

It depends on what you think would be the worst outcome.

What do you mean? Surely, the worst outcome is hands down the one where she mistakes the Prince's signet ring for an engagement one.

Wait.

Spoiler

 

[Elfberserker]

What do you mean? Surely, the worst outcome is hands down the one where she mistakes the Prince's signet ring for an engagement one.

Wait.

Spoiler

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

The worst outcome would be discovering that the prince really is gay for us and then Rin holds us down for him because she thinks it's what we truly want.

Rin: "Hold still, Erdrick! I won't let you deny your passions any longer!"
Prince: "Squeal like a pig, boy! Squeal!"
Erdrick:

 

[lightbane]

Fuck it. Flipping my vote to A>C to go full retard if all else fails. If the Prince is accidentally atomized by us, then we can still call it a victory. That guy is too lawful good to be true. He totally has to be a heartless, cartoonishly evil psychopathic scheming bastard like the average GoT character. If he isn't, then he might drop the whole Carnage Pigeon thing for saving his life (at least until he has his branding iron and anti-magic manacles ready for us).

 

[Baltika9]

On second thought, I'll flop to B.
It's been shown numerous times that Farland and his crew are extremely good at what they do and nothing throws mages off their game like a good cavalry charge. And, yeah, Lambchop is right:

Which will be of no help if they are targeting the area we are in or can see through it somehow.

Maybe. But if I were them, I'd go for the one that's casting a spell. The doppleganger spell is slightly less useful when you enemy sees you casting it and if our doppleganger runs off out from under our Globe of Invulnerability he can be killed by a mere arrow or a low level spell.

If it's dodgeable and if we have a countermeasure.

And what makes you thing that the spell is E ranked and lower? This is our most powerful defensive spell:

And remember that:

and then:

Now, if they are all combining their efforts to cast a spell of B rank and we just can't detect it because the mana is split across 7 casters, we'd have no chance of stopping it because Greater Spellshield only stops spells of C rank and lower.

Why risk tangling with their spell when it can be avoided altogether? I think B will work, anyone else want to flop to it/vote for it?

 

[treave]

You are already trying to avoid the spell altogether in all the choices.

Current tally:
A - 7
B - 6
C - 4

Post-flop:
A - 9
B - 6
C - 2

 

[Elfberserker]

I flop to B

 

[lightbane]

You know, perhaps the earthquake idea is not too far-fetched. Do you remember that Stone Coffin spell from several updates ago? Perhaps the enemy is preparing a supercharged variation of that in order to both restrain and crush us at the same time, so that they can deal with the Prince without more interruptions. No idea how would Erd survive/avoid that, except by Gygadine transformation or a quick intervention by Rin.

 

[Nevill]

I think B will work, anyone else want to flop to it/vote for it?

I am fine with B, but I want it on the record that 'continuing doing what you are doing' when it does not quite work is rarely the best strategy.

I don't think the Prince is in danger of dying, thought it might be possible that we would have to expend a healing potion on him if he takes it on the chin.

More than that, I'd like to receive that signet ring. That thing is worth more than it might look like. The one wearing it can get away with all sorts of shenanigans.

But I guess there is nothing to prevent us from postponing the choice of favor in any of the choices.

Tally

Storyfag A
TOME B
asxetos A>B
Nevill A
Esquilax C>A
Kz3r0 C
Jester A
Lambchop19 B>A
Azira A
Absinthe A
Grimgravy B>A
archaen C>A
Tigranes A>B
profreshinal B
Elfberserker B
lightbane A>C
Baltika9 B
Rex Feral A>C
Smashing Axe B

A - 9 (11)
B - 7
C - 3 (1)

 

[Baltika9]

I am fine with B, but I want it on the record that 'continuing doing what you are doing' when it does not quite work is rarely the best strategy.

True, but that's not the case here. The plan was going fine up to the point where Rin didn't show up.

The third pack continues to harass the enemy, forcing them to move closer together while giving the mages no time to bombard you with spells. However, they seem to have strengthened their barrier against mental attacks after seeing what you did to the first group: your spells of sleep and fear no longer work on them. You wonder where Rin is. If she wants to jump in, now is the perfect time. In fact, you thought she would have arrived by now. She couldn’t have run into trouble, could she?

You shake your head, dispelling the silly idea. Rin is strong enough. And anything that could give her trouble would probably attract attention instantly… something like a dragon the size of a mountain, or perhaps a good-looking, popular hero with very flashy lightning magic.

Since our designated wrecking ball is too busy sitting in the bushes with a camera to record some hawt farewell kisses, we need a stand-in. I think the prince's crew is perfect for the job.
By the way, he's offering the ring as a reward token, we don't know how much influence it will grant us besides that.