Acquisitions Inc. D&D Podcast Season 3 - Episode 8

Chris Perkins as the Dungeon Master
Jerry Holkins as Omin Dran
Mike Krahulik as Jim Darkmagic
Scott Kurtz as Binwin Bronzebottom
Wil Wheaton as Aeofel Elhromane
This is the final episode for the Acquisitions Incorporated campaign before it became a live on stage event for PAX.
Season 3 Playlist
• Acquisitions Inc. Seas...
These podcasts are freely available from the Acquisitions Inc. website - www.acq-inc.com...
#DnD #ChrisPerkins #PennyArcade

[@enoesiw]

All of a sudden, Aeofel's (Wil Wheaton's) intense hate of acid pits became clear.

[@UnusualTastes]

That's Aeofel as in "Eh I fell! -Into an acid pit!"

[@itthumyir4569]

DAMN

[@Chase0420]

CosmicPentastar Well played

[@deathocats]

Elhromane = "the roaming one" = wandered off from the party Aeofel = "he who fell" = into acid HE DOOMED HIMSELF WITH THAT NAME!

[@GeneralAceTheAwesome]

"Let this be a lesson to you kids: When you have a choice between roleplaying, and munchkining, always meta-game and munchkin, because roleplaying leads to a horrible and irreparable death in a pit of acid." -Wil Wheaton

[@Novous]

"Let this be a lesson to you kids: Be a whiny bitch" - Wil Wheaton

[@runningray]

"Never split the party."

[@asdfghjkl3669]

@@Novous I think that represents you best tho.

[@MrShazam27]

Thanks for putting these podcasts up, Vital. These bring back my own memories of playing D&D as a "kid". I can't stop grinning like a loon while I listen to them.

[@VitalBlursDnD]

The next part of this campaign is the PAX 2010 live show. It's probably over the right side of screen somewhere.

[@VitalBlursDnD]

Season 4 is the Dark Sun campaign which isn't actually Acquisitions Inc. and this was recorded in 2009 but only recently uploaded to KZbin in 2013. I know, it's all a bit confusing : )

[@ericpilgrim3929]

The Wheaton salt is real

[@seriouslyigiveup]

Ha I'm rewatching these after a year or so and see all the comments on the acid pit...but it's great to see the replies to those comments from hardcore dnd fans that explain how it does make sense and the complicated logistics of Chris Perkins' mind! Awesome...

[@Onixior]

Lol. In one of the top recommended videos is the "Never Split the Party" song.

[@FF3LockeZ]

"Scott Kurtz just wrote a note saying Aeofel is now exploring the universe with the Traveller." Oh my fucking God I can't breathe.

[@lunazephyr5560]

Aeofel becomes the new -elf- eldarin ghost haunting the area who offers to possess adventurers to give them knowledge. Only he won't shut up about how much he hates dwarfs and screams loudly at any mention of acid pits or splitting up the party. I know what happens later, but I still find this thought amusing. Also dammit I wanted to hear the rest of the super awesome story version at the end. D:

[@Falcon2Dragon]

FINALLY I've heard about Aeofel's death and seen his rebirth. NOW I have seen his death.

[@GeneralAceTheAwesome]

8:55 I'm adding that to my list of insults: "You Tomb of Horrors Recreating Horror Tomb-er!"

[@polaris30000]

Fare thee well Al. You shall be remembered.

[@Eon2641]

21:00 Oh my god I fucking died laughing!

[@flagrantyeti]

+Eon2641 he was sooooo mad....

[@Zathamiel]

never split the party.

[@MsRandomPro]

Ohh.. so it's here it all begins, with the acid pits and all that hahaha awesome!! aww poor Wil.. but hey.. Ale-Ofel is pretty awesome anyways =) I know i know.. it's Aeofel.

[@onarollof4]

AHA i finally heard it, Binwin didn't split the party! he said to get the guy yes that's true but when he got too far Binwin said to come back and Aeofel refused because of an oaf of enmity sworn against the target so Aeofel split the party! not Binwin!

[@NathanWubs]

Umm no. How could Al hear him, when they were in completely different floors because of the teleporter? That is why Will makes the comment about meta gaming.

[@onarollof4]

his name is AOEFEL!

[@NathanWubs]

Strud :)

[@tazzeightsixfour9721]

Wil rolls an 18 not 19, his "catchphrase" was conceived before season 2 in fact... He mentioned it in one of those episodes...

[@pinkCEO]

When Will "jokes" about what happened.. it doesn't sound so much like a joke.

[@TehFrenchy29]

And then there's just one automaton sitting there most of the fight thinking "Ain't nothing going to break my grab, ain't nothing going to let him go. Oh no. I've got to keep on holding!"

[@EmmaBonn96]

And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind.

[@taco899]

An acid pit in the foyer of a mansion makes no sense. I'm with Wil.

[@1Kinslayer]

Duke of Pants Don't forget, it was originally a mausoleum. The main foyer was likely the main entrance, and the acid pit to kill trespassers.

[@KamenRiderHellhound]

+InsaneCanadian and if you WANTED TO mourn your dead... that STILL doesn't make sense.

[@1Kinslayer]

makes sense to oover it. An open acid pit is pushing it, but having a concealed one makes sense. They're dwarves, why wouldn't they protect the resting places of their dead?

[@MsRandomPro]

Well, i think it was all staged from the beginning, so that they would have a "good" "reason" not to play with him anymore... no?? I mean, call me stupid or what ever but, doesn't this smell a bit as a set up??

[@xSintex]

Yes, it was such a set up that they went back to Hell to save him in 2010. Huge conspiracy. (This happened a long time before this video was uploaded).

[@antaran5534]

The single most important lesson isn't Munchkin vs Role-playing....its Don't Split the Party!!!

[@XainMexi]

8:10 When Meta sends the player into a Barbarian Rage (And, was I the only one that heard Chris giggle when Will figured it out?)

[@polofiend]

18:35 .... when it happens.

[@TheKarmak]

He used Fey step earlier during the fight before he ran out chasing the dwarf. I don't know how fey step works but I am assuming it can only be used once per encounter.

[@anthonyborg1990]

Also have ton understand feystep only works when you can see where you are going. Though an out of the box idea would be an acrobatic roll to jump as a move and as a secondary move fey step to the farthest visible point on the ceiling. Yes he would take fall dmg but atleast be revivable.

[@xeltanni8999]

+Anthony Borg I like that you're thinking, but I assume it isn't a teleport that will send you in the direction of what you can see; you probably have to be able to reach it. I doubt, at his level, he could jump 10 ft as a standing high jump (in fact I know he couldn't) and that's assuming the ceiling in the ornate mausoleum was only 10 ft high. So that wouldn't have worked. ... on the other hand, why couldn't he teleport to the edge of the pit trap and then pull himself up?

[@Blitzwaffen]

+Anthony Borg The Feystep is an encounter ability. Wil already used it before in the encounter earlier. There was no means for him to use it again unless the encounter ended.

[@mbalazs3544]

20:40 the best part :D I was expecting speech on humanity to save the elf XD

[@milesmatheson1142]

*Eladrin

[@FancyRPGCanada]

@22:00 Wil Wheaton: "I hope you choke on your t-shirts" - man I miss him

[@anthonyborg1990]

Though even if they remembered as well on every other question of fey step, chris perkins always stated he must see where he is going, technically at ten feet only having the ability to fey step to the ceiling and fall back into the pit.

[@Davidlee37101]

Looks like the partnership with the intern has dissolved

[@VitalBlursDnD]

Blackfoot Ferret's FULL PAX 2011 would be the one to watch after that. It's labeled as Season 6.

[@TundraWolfe]

It is really interesting to hear how the party becomes subdued when one of their party is dying. Normally these guys are always on but as soon as Aeofel falls unconscious they are all really quiet. Interesting dynamic change, sadness to follow.

[@S0up3rD0up3r99]

RIP in pepperonis Aeofel

[@porkrot]

S0up3rD0up3r You are aware that saying RIP in pepperonis is like saying PIN number or ATM machine. Its and acronym Rest in pepperonis.

[@Polaf3456]

porkrot Pepperonis makes 10/10 bedding material

[@porkrot]

LOL out loud i feel as if you missed my point.

[@Polaf3456]

porkrot Your point missed me, but it hit my pepperoni mattress.

[@ryansabo6044]

im currently going over my 4th time with A Inc. and it never gets old listening to Wheaton lose his sh*t and go off on Scott. at around the 22:47-48 mark when he wasn't letting go, u could sense the other guys were really wanting to tell him to shut up, but he just died so latitude was given. i know i would've.

[@ctrtcfog]

AND it was his fault! he split away from the party in a map that clearly the DM had considered imposible to do without a thief. Chris went as far as actually giving them thief skills and a ghost that knew the place inside out. They should've been checking everywhere for traps. CHRIS EVEN ANOUNCED IT FOR THEM, THE HITTING OF THE GONG ACTIVATES THE TRAPS.

[@iamatoaster2693]

Every time I listen to this I hear how obnoxious Will is. Scott isn't perfect but he doesn't make the game all about himself. Will talks over Jerry the adult of the group, is condescending to Mike and tries to overshadow Scott.

[@Jshaw71]

Thanks for uploading all these, I spent a majority of the day 'watching' these, and finished today, I am glad someone finally got around to doing this, the art you put with these paerts, is pretty cool, I loved the pic of what looks like a HUGE stone tavern, Also Did they cast the module where the ambershards caused Binwin's dad to stop drinking? or is that backstory?

[@callsta96]

What if when Aoefell (Hope thats right) died he bacame a revenant and thats the figure that they saw on top of the Inn at the very start?

[@NeithDollhouse]

Binwin: Dungeon Master! What does it mean?! Chris Perkins: Ya, he's dead ~Barely contains snickers~

[@damianfarrer3992]

what is the next vid after FULL PAX 2010 Penny Arcade DND Celebrity Game Aquisitions Inc Season 5?

[@TheGangofwolves]

Ahh, but if he fey stepped to the top of the pit, he could've had a chance to catch the edge on the way down. Either way though, I'm almost certain that he used his fey step early in the encounter, although I listen to this is the background, so i may be mistaken.

[@damianfarrer3992]

why dose it go from season 3 straight to season 5,what happened to season 4? AND why is this recorded during 2013 but the "next one" was FILMED in 2010?

[@joerussell1732]

Part of the problem is that Wil mistook his Bloodied value. Not sure what level they were here, I am assuming it was level 5. Anyway, he says "I'm at -19, my bloodied is 13" He has more than 26hp. Using the sample of the character in the wotc character builder, at level 3, he had 43hp, which -22 would be needed to die. I am assuming level 5, because he would have a Surge value of 13 in this case, and he should have been alive up till -26hp or so. Anyway, still entertaining to listen to.

[@NathanWubs]

He still would have died anyways, an 18 was not good enough to get out of it after all. So a Crit was probably needed to get out. Or his fay walk would need to be ready to go again.

[@swatman214]

***** but that was a 18 with mods not a natural 18

[@xeltanni8999]

+swatman214 Yeah, Perkins said something to the effect that the 18 just barely missed it, so he probably just needed a 20. And that would be an Athletics DC 20, not a natural 20. Which, for a pit made out of stone and worn smooth as glass by acid, is pretty reasonable.

[@KirbyCisntNT]

Heh, I initially misread the first sentence as "Will mistook his bloody value", whoch also wouldn't have been wrong xD

[@HotaruZoku]

Exploring the universe with..the what? The trapper? 24:35?

[@VitalBlursDnD]

"The Traveler" - I think they're referring to Wil Wheaton's character in Star Trek and how Wesley Crusher's storyline ended.

[@HotaruZoku]

AAHHhhhhhh. Thanks

[@swatman214]

Vital Blurs DnD or the DnD god

[@TheLikkittysplitt]

39:20 is good part that I like

[@squattingheads]

24:43 is my favorite

[@SgtRock-et7zl]

I once played through the Tomb of Horrors, and I might of basically shoved our big tank warrior forward to tank it.

[@blergclerg8107]

wait where is season 4 lol

[@veng3r663]

Beauregard came SOOOOO close to suffering a similar & gruesome fate in C2E21...

[@WarGarbel]

Will got a little dark back there

[@greenishmaitai]

Why didn't Wil Fey step out? I've always wondered.... did he just forget? Our was it part of the rules?

[@VitalBlursDnD]

greenishmaitai As Anthony Borg commented below. You must be able to see where you are Fey Stepping to.

[@mikegould6590]

+Vital Blurs DnD I honestly don't see that as an issue. Unless the pit is a thin and very deep tube, you could still see enough horizontal distance along a ceiling to misty step to. You would still fall from that height, but you'd be out of the pit. I do not have the 4E rules, but I do not know of any "solid surface to solid surface" rule. Is that correct?

[@VitalBlursDnD]

+Mike Gould Well, I imagine a pool of acid to be a translucent green sludge, not the crystal clear waters of a swimming pool. At least that's the impression I got from Chris's diorama on the live show.

[@mikegould6590]

Vital Blurs DnD Consider this: There was enough visual considerations for "throw me the Coat of Invulnerable Arms". If there's enough line of sight to throw an object. there's enough sight for Fey Step.

[@DeanoD34]

+greenishmaitai He already Fey-Stepped earlier in this encounter and Fey-Step 'tis an encounter power

[@Skrimpish]

Did they not like will or something?

[@milesmatheson1142]

Does anybody like Wil?

[@ghouljoex8744]

i know its too late but AFL should have been inhabited by the ghost because what elf ghost would want to inhabit and dwarf

[@veng3r663]

So was Aeofel dead & gone FOR good..??

[@Chase0420]

If only it was for good. If only. All we need us an acid pit for Viari

[@Skrimpish]

@@Chase0420 viari the bard guy with the beard?

[@Chase0420]

@@Skrimpish Yes. May he never return

[@Chronos371]

I've seen it, but they cut Jerry off.

[@mediumvillain]

After listening to all of the early stuff it's sorta funny how mad ppl got at the guy who DM'd for a few episodes (an industry veteran) for making things too hard or whatever when this party ate shit throughout all of their early adventures up until they started doing live shows when it was more about entertainment and rule of cool.

[@SuperToddfather]

Baby Jesus is sobbing LMAO!!! I wish I could play with these guys!!

[@johnwyp]

I have no idea why Binwin is blamed for Aeofel's death. Will RP'd his way in to a trap...it happens. lol.

[@Chronos371]

No number nine?

[@ZetHololo]

fey step is 1 per encounter, and he already used it earlier(

[@ithewanderer830]

Listening at 1/2 speed rofl

[@XainMexi]

11:12 Didn't Al have phase step? Shouldn't that have sparked his memory?

[@alexanderkollasch4418]

Pretty sure he used it to get to the pad chasing the dude in the last episode. Wil Wheaton is an experienced gamer and an Eladrin never forgets he has Fey Step. I can say this from experience.

[@XainMexi]

Alexander Kollasch I wouldn't mark any D&Der's memory as perfect, even the mighty Wil. There have been a few times during the live PAX sessions when the crowd "reminded" the players about a game mechanic or PC ability The previous use of Fey Step would make more sense. The 4th ed's "once per encounter/round/day/forte-night/etc" mechanic isn't something I've used a lot, so its not a default "Oh, that's why [not]" Thanks for the reminder

[@alexanderkollasch4418]

I understand you not knowing it's timing but Wil loved the Fey step and it's always something he has unlike combat powers which change over levels. He lives to Fey step, it's the only thing he won't forget....... Other than to correct people when they call him Al.

[@charlesgoodwin4350]

Alexander Kollasch He did forget about his repulsive armor twice.

[@Blitzwaffen]

+XainMexi Phase Step is an encounter ability. he already used the ability during the encounter. Son unless the encounter ended he would be unable to use it again.

[@FVanth]

They killed Aeofel! You bastards!

[@Knightsabez]

Aeo fell

[@dnlring]

Odds are, he simply forgot he could. Seems to me Chris said something along the lines of the pit was deep enough that, had either of them thought of Fey Step, it would not have reached far enough to get Aeofel out, anyway. I can't find it now, so I may be remembering wrong.

[@JustinBorowski13]

They could have lowered a rope and readied an action for him to fey step and grab it or something, I'm sure Chris would've allowed it if it was cool enough and they passed the checks. They simply didn't try to save him.

[@HoshinoRei]

You'd be pissed too if your character died while pursuing a foe of your friend's character. And then nobody helped you out of aforementioned death fate to avoid metagaming (despite it being a group a little heavy on the metagaming). Just saying.

[@jonanderson5137]

A little heavy?

[@1Kinslayer]

7:50 XD

[@flagrantyeti]

exploring the universe with that what now?

[@zebrakiss2000]

Sounds more like a bunch of children acting like cartoon characters in a blinder.

[@sisifromthefuture]

Wil needs to calm the fuck down xD

[@SaintRawman]

That's how all traps should work. I'm so sick of DM's who make traps that wound or are easily escaped. A defender should be played right, and traps should have a decent chance to kill or immobilize.

[@SeekingKnight]

I would love to play a D&D or any table top RPG with you St. Rawman. You have a great sense of the game.

[@SaintRawman]

I actually play with a group using roll20.net when I can. We play a game one of them created. Its pretty much like d&d. Only with the job I have I can't join in as often as I'd like.

[@SeekingKnight]

*nod* Still cool St. Rawman!

[@IrishAndroid]

I can't say I agree here. The fact that an 18 couldn't get him out was a bit much. No trap should require a near critical or critical to escape. This is more than a "decent chance", it's hedging on impossible.

[@SaintRawman]

IrishAndroid he made mistakes that got himself in the trap. Traps are to be avoided, not survived and escaped.

[@DaphnyTheHumanSaysHi]

Listening again you can see how little Kurtz cares as Wheaton is shitting himself on failed roles. I can see why they started hating each other.

[@adrenalineunlimited]

The oath of enmity was declared

[@nordknotwork]

could have been worse. I had a Hunter the Reckoning character get captured by werewolves and sodomised for an entire 2 hour game session once. would have LOVED to have only died in acid that game.

[@oldchan4092]

Hahahaushahsuahdusahdigiawbewagdisabfa OMG, tha's though, mate.

[@zabbkorn]

Wtf kind of DM do you have?

[@krowodom5719]

nord knotwork that's some serious bull crap. Doubt if join that DM again afterwards

[@Idziemel1]

Dickwolves?

[@Idziemel1]

Dickwolves?

[@marshallsmells]

DM WHAT DOSE IT MEAN! XD

[@jamesmahr3036]

Dungeon master

[@Zephyrial2]

Aeofel. :( I'm sorry, Wil. I finally understand.

[@hank7281]

"I am literally paralyzed with rage." No you're not. If you were, you wouldn't be flapping your mouth incessantly. If only you were actually paralyzed with rage.

[@Chase0420]

If only

[@MaulMachine]

My skin crawled at "Bear-skin Rug Trap." That's not good or cool, Chris Perkins.

[@callsta96]

Are you triggered by those words? Has a bad experience of "Bear-skin Rug Traps" perverted your sense of humour?

[@MaulMachine]

Clearly, you've never played DnD with somebody who makes traps properly. If it doesn't scare the player, it's not made properly.

[@callsta96]

The bear skin rug trap was a joke, he said that to make them think everything was a trap but he said "No not really". Chris Perkins joined Wizards of the Coast, the people who publish games like Magic the Gathering, and rpg games like DND in 1997, Chris is on the team that designs, develops and edits DnD, he was the story manager for the upcoming 4e in 2007, he was on the team that updated the setting and cosmology, he writes a blog called "The Dungeon Master Experience" which he shares his insight on how to be a good dungeon master, and he regularly DM's groups so I'm fairly sure he knows how to make cool and horrifying traps

[@22tradon]

Why Oh why does aeofel fey step out of the acid?!?!?!

[@concertostrife]

I'm sorry... but I'm glad Aeofel is gone. I don't like his personality at all. He comes off as being a real ass. Just my opinion...

[@NathanWubs]

Yeah which is wrong. Most people like Aeofel and Will. But something changed somewhere in 2014. So if you are one of the people that does not like Will. Tell me what happened in 2014, that swayed a set of people their opinion?

[@concertostrife]

***** To me he comes off as being rude to everyone else who doesn't think the same way he does, or doesn't want the same outcome that he does. I'd be sad about my characters death as well, but he takes offense to it, and takes it out on others.

[@NathanWubs]

concertostrife He is not like that at all. He was mad at his friend for a moment. After his friend put some salt on the wounds. Which was completely understandable. But even then its done in humor as all of them are good friends. Heck The whole team including Chris has said at one point or another that they have missed having will at the table. Once again I think this is simpler. When did you start thinking that will is rude to everyone else that does not think like he does? As you would not get that from these podcasts.

[@concertostrife]

***** That's what I meant by my first comment. It's just 'my' opinion that his personality clashes with mine. I just don't like him, or the way he acts. That's all.

[@NathanWubs]

concertostrife I see. Ok. I was hoping for a reason. If its just your opinion that is fine. But similar to your opinion in great number arose mid 2014. Before that all these podcast and all the DnD games had none to few comments that were negative of will. And I just have seen a trend that has increased. In reality I know that will is not rude of other people their opinion unless its a certain opinion. Which is if they are creationist, or bring up god quite a bit. But that is about the scope of that Cannot say I am blame him for that either. .

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

Will is so mad. Like holy crap you can make another character or downright just reuse Al in a different universe. How many times did he tell Scott "Fuck you?" He kept harping on about it. Jesus Christ, Al came back in PAX anyways. Glad he is gone in the new Acquisitions Inc series.

[@MrDMSir]

Amen

[@jrbuschief]

You haven't seen episode 12, have you?

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

Michael DeLage I want to believe Chris was pranking all of us.

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

***** Scott wasn't mad at all. If Wil is getting upset first he clearly is not very strong.

[@chadmcmillan1907]

I would totally play with Scott Kurtz anytime! He sounds very fun to play with!

[@crispychicken2260]

well, the DM did deffinitely not act as 'on the side of the players' ... i was raised as DM that you should make traps the more obvious the deadlier they are ...and if you make the deadly ones unavoidable you should make it possible to get out, even if barely alife ... would not keep going to a professional DM if he was letting players die like that ... seriously ... he could at least let them have a chance at resurrecting him by finding a bone or something ... plus he keeps forgetting quite a few statuses and stuff, including stuff that would help players (well, ok the players forgtet them too, e.g. Jim had in one fight an effect that did allow him an additional magic missle attack as minor each turn and he did only use it once) and yes, I DID DMfor several years, I marked down stuff like that for each fight so it was not that easy to overlook them ...again talking about 'professional' here ...

[@veng3r663]

Even after all this I would still vastly prefer Chris Perkins over 'Killer DM' Adam Koebel ANY day...

[@milesmatheson1142]

Chris even anounced the existance of traps...

[@scooby45247]

friday night on geek and sundy?????????????????????????????? REPLY