#giggs

Thanks for reading the short teaser for Definitely a Real AI chapter 6: This Is a Terrible Idea!!

Sorry for the long wait! Had to deal with life but don’t ya worry, I did not forget this. This chapter is definitely a more difficult chapter but that’s partially due to the amount of action I have packed into chapter 6.

If you are interested to read more of Definitely A Real Ai, just click here or the link below!

I’m honestly kinda surprised that the others were so quick to support Max in his disguise. From Ruby helping with the makeup to Broghini straight up dadding him—“Max, do…do you need someone to go with you? Are you in danger?”—they were immediately so concerned and supportive. (And Mr. Wizard was Mr. Wizard but then again what else did we expect.)

Three Bird was INSPIRED

“Turkey duck and chicken??” “IT IS TURKEY DUCK AND CHICKEN”

I am disappointed that the word terducken was not actually utilized but cest la vie

I’m just gonna say it. Langley Ridgemont is my new favorite NPC in this campaign. She highkey gives me vibes like Mavis if Mavis was a circus ringleader. She’s so blunt and snarky and intelligent and a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield and such a dominant personality and I love her.

Also the Nat 20 she got on spotting Max was SO GOOD and tells me so much about the character. “Sorry, I’ve just been distracted by something—BLUNDER!”

“How do we take care of a Lich?” “With knives!”

Grian’s acting. Oh my word. The vulnerability in his voice when Max asked about his parents was. Gosh dang.

(Also “the taller the hat, the more important the person” was an inspired bit of improv on Grian’s part)

(And Scar poking the hat with his wand to tip it was equally inspired)

The entire segment with Rufus’ portrait was done with so much love. I never expected that a side character that appeared in one flashback months ago would lead to such a truly sincere and heartfelt moment for everyone. Impulse said at the end of the session that he was actually tearing up here, and I feel him there. This is the reason I love D&D. The mechanics of the combat is fun, absolutely. But this is where the storytelling medium truly shines.

The way Pix integrated the different things each character was looking for in the painting was absolutely masterful. Never thought I’d be so moved by the words “and it is the shadow…in the form…of a duck.”

“Did he like Three Chicken?” “He MADE Three Chicken.” “Wow. Legend.”

I had to duck (heehee) in and out for the final battle, so I missed some parts, but if I’m not mistaken, Max was absolutely MVP in this fight. Blessing the team, turning the undead, crushing his Concentration checks, using his new Cloud Step ability, cinching two Level Two casts of Guiding Bolt to save Langley, and protecting Bro Dude and Mr. Wizard from the Wight—the dice were in his favor today and BOY did he deliver. All aboard the Blunderbus indeed.

Langley using Tasha’s Hideous Laughter! I know that spell! What a cool spell for a stern ringmaster type to have.

(“Close one eye, it helps you aim better” is actually not true btw. I’ve only been to the gun range once but they told us it’s better to aim with both eyes open.)

Max/Grian’s concern for Langley’s life the entire time was so nice to see. I got the feeling that it was about more than just how important she was to the plot. I think he was genuinely concerned for her. Especially since Max had just found out he lost Rufus. He just got to reconnect with his past, and he didn’t want to lose another person.

Scar using the Nat 1 portent roll on the Bone Naga’s saving throw against Turn Undead was SO FREAKING GOOD MAN that was EXCELLENT gaming on Scar’s part

Best description of Turn Undead ever. “The way I picture this is that Max is just holding up the symbol of a duck and there’s just an almighty reverberating QUAAAAAAAACK like a holy QUACK”

Pix interpreting the Wight’s critical fail as “the holy radiance of Max’s Turn Undead snapped Langley out of the Bone Naga’s hypnosis and allowed her to parry the sword and whack it out of the Wight’s hand” is just. Epic on levels I cannot describe.

Bro actually got some good damage in!! He missed some swings, but when his hits connected he did really well!

“We’ve got to save Langley.” Grian sounded so utterly serious here. Tasty tasty stuff.

Langley dueling the Wight with a rapier gosh dang this woman is a beast

Max hitting the Wight for 30 points of radiant damage (doubled from 15!!) and blasting it off the face of the earth with finger guns to save Langley is EPIC on levels I cannot DESCRIBE—

“Langley turns around and breaks into spontaneous applause. Right after that, a skeleton shoots Max with a shortbow.”

Okay, first of all. Langley praising Max. Langley, this stern no-nonsense woman who was berating Max earlier for being a flighty, selfish, hedonistic twit turns around and applauds him for his shot because she is not so prideful that she can’t give credit where it’s due. I love it. Game recognizes game.

Secondly. WHIPLASH. BATHOS. The most epic moment followed by the most “and then you got hit in the head with a brick”.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wizard got knocked down to death saves. Fortunately, that meant that Scar got to play around with the reverb effect on his microphone LOL

Bro resisting the Life Drain!! Let’s go!

Max resisting the Bone Naga’s death stare and staring back like NUH-UH is aura farming on a whole ‘nother LEVEL—

I love Impulse. So much. He’s such a dad. His first concern was to ignore the Wight that was right in front of him and revive Mr. Wizard because “oh no my kid” and it’s so sweet and I love him for it.

“We loosened the mayonnaise jar!! Don’t you take credit for this!”

Langley killing the skeleton that shot Max is ALSO very good

Grett’s Nat 1 is SO FUNNY

Max saving Bro and Mr. Wizard by finishing off the Wight by a margin of one hit point and whispering “all aboard the blunderbus”. I’m just gonna let him have it. He earned that.

Bro’s Healer’s Kit coming in clutch to stabilize Mr. Wizard after one failed death save. I am a sucker for hurt/comfort. This is great for me specifically.

The goofy sleeve fistbump lol

Langley chasing after the Bone Naga after everything she’s been through this woman is a BEAST

And Max finishing it off. Aura. Freaking. Farming.

“Aaaaaall aboard the BLUNDERBUS!!!”

Also Scar was apparently saving all of his god-tier one-liners for the end

“Have you ever seen a wacky inflatable man get re-inflated?” [EVERYONE BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER]

“How do your bones work?” “Who said I have bones?”

Max throwing the orb onto the ground in an effort to break it is giving Gimli taking an axe to the Ring in the LotR movies. Sure, this is an indestructible magical item and blunt force damage was unlikely to work, but they all would’ve felt pretty stupid if they went all that way to destroy the thing and it turns out you could’ve just smashed it with a hammer.

“Grett-axe” is a LEGENDARY pun from Pix that went severely under-appreciated. I see it tho, Pix. I see it.

This. Was. A fantastic session. For me, it’s right up there with the one-shot episode in terms of both excellent gameplay and moving character work. I love the little self-contained stories and the small, human stakes, and this was a stellar example of both.

The fraught relationship between Max and Langley turning into one of mutual respect and alliance. The team genuinely bonding with Max, from helping him with his disguise to offering comfort for the loss of his mentor. The stark examples of not only how cringefail and loud and abrasive Max is at his worst, but also how selfless and intelligent and powerful he is at his best. Pix and Grian absolutely knocked this one out of the park and into a whole other STADIUM this was so good.

The bar is set. It’s gonna be hard to top. I’m hoping Impulse does enough prep work that he can go into Bro Dude’s backstory episode with confidence and just relax and enjoy where the roleplay takes him. It sounds like we’ve got some “unfinished business with Stonrick,” as Pix put it, and I’m excited to see that explored.