The Thick of It | DesiQuest Episode 4

[@RekhaShankar]

thank you all for your support of the show! what has been your favorite moment so far? mine is probably the first time the tea kettle was used

[@SvenTSexgore]

All Baccha all the time

[@williemorris5383]

Laddoo auntie and this beautiful talented cast!

[@cheekydamunky]

Baccha is pretty great but i think any time Ash talks about Bretzels, and bretzel trees, i laugh till i ache.

[@kristyl933]

Enjoying this exquisite fantasy show as a vehicle to learn about cultures half a world away! Auntie's moment of existential introspection in this episode was lovely.

[@nandik.327]

Ladoo Auntie whenever she shades another person, which is most new people she meets 💜

[@nerdybard3762]

"Chhotu!" "Where did you put him last?" "Shut up! CHHOTU!" *audible gasps* "....okay, ONCE."

[@luckysocks6988]

Truly shows how much she loves sitara

[@mach6794]

Omar's capacity to throw out good dialogue and verbose fantasy jargon off the top of his head is rivaled by very few in the tabletop sphere.

[@glasnt]

I love how the titles keep changing to show the players who appear in later episodes where there *the whole time*!

[@GT3443]

Persephone heel turn was the highlight of the episode, when the guest star you bring in to help your PC against the BBEG turns on the group that's when you know the fun begins 😜

[@sheriffboss6544]

this show is such a comfort , its so bloody nice seeing brown culture on screen. do you know how loud i gasped when sitara was called auntie emotional damage right there and the GRANDMAAA daaaaaamn . also this is very specific but rekha is so good at laddu auntie so so on point. the uses of tamil elevate it all (its nice seeing my language in a show like this its not very often you hear it around)

[@shadowpsykie]

“You’re our GUEST!” Was the best line.

[@courtneyyovich5671]

I love this show so much. And now with bonus Sephie? WE KEEP WINNING

[@Bosleybird]

There's nothing better than a fully unexpected heel turn, well done everyone

[@lowkeylinguist]

The visible joy in Rekha and Sephie's eyes during the Crown of Madness scenario, so much fun to watch actors have fun with a moment. Rekha's acting chops in this were off the charts!

[@boppingfairyLaD]

"Glitch hurts papa....." Oh man, I teared up 😭😭 baccha is so pureeeeeee

[@ddubmomo]

“Now, they hijacked the airship which was supposed to go in a different direction” Seph: Like you do Hold up, hold the fricken heck up, ya fricks - Didn’t The Seven hijack an airship?! ha…awesome

[@Persephiroth]

I'm happy anytime I get to raptor shriek

[@YousaJoke]

Everything about this show is so aesthetically beautiful! Im so excited to see where the story is going to go!

[@YousaJoke]

Ok, i just finished the episode, and the second half is so spicy! Super great watch!

[@nataliebland3078]

“I don’t need them to help me. I want to help them.” *screaming, crying, taking notes for my mental health*

[@hjiftdy12]

That ancient way of cooling the Indian forts is so cool to me because that’s very similar to Roman frigigidarium and other European bath houses. I wonder if one influenced the other because of trade or if it’s a case of different cultures developing similar architecture like Egyptian and Aztec pyramids

[@totaltotal8481]

I love the atmosphere and storytelling of this! I have no personal contact with Indian culture (funnily I'm German xD), but I love the insights into parts of the culture, even if it's through the fantasy lense. Everyone has been fantastic so far, really fun and heartwarming

[@Vaidin]

Every episode of DesiQuest has been awesome! Also, I'm glad I can watch the live stream of it today.

[@translucentlyopaque]

These episodes just keep getting better and better, amazing! with special thank you Persephone Valentine for brilliant choices here! that "get out" got me

[@erikandchristine102]

Everything about this show is such a breath of fresh air! Loved seeing Persephone guest 💕

[@daganlove8536]

Yesss I loved persephone on d20. So excited to see more of her skills

[@snoopynwoodstock99]

I audibly gasped when i saw Sephie, she's so prettttyyyyyyy

[@cryptocorner2253]

The premier is just going to taunt me for the next 35 hours.

[@scorpiusjones5436]

Natasha is freaking hilarious 😂 I love that character

[@keithjohnson5907]

I'll say it again, I'm glad this is my first DND quest experience ❤❤❤

[@Banthagami]

So hype for the show to continue! I'll catch it tomorrow night after the Livestream but enjoy everyone! ❤

[@alysonmarie]

Omar going confidently “Well. I got a 10” caught me off guard, I burst out laughing.

[@sarcasm6669]

Yay so glad for the episode tonight! Need the pick-me-up from this incredible crew!🎉🎉🎉

[@SDSkuld]

This episode is even better than the cool moth contained within!

[@vee_tinymoose]

My daughter & my husband play DnD and my daughter has been nagging me for years to listen to Crit Role and I’m just not able to get into it. I wanted to give this a shot because I enjoy Omar and Sandeep’s podcast so much and I’m so excited by how enthralling I’ve found it! Thank you for making a DnD play that is accessible and fun for me to listen to

[@effinfunny]

OMG thank you so much!!! So thrilled you love the show

[@vee_tinymoose]

@@effinfunny you’re very welcome! I can’t wait for the next episode, every time

[@vee_tinymoose]

@@effinfunny who made the DM screen and player cards please?

[@da31133]

Looking forward to next episode! Iman was so cool ❤

[@nataliebland3078]

I thought for a second Natasha would have a transformation sequence like a magical girl and I was shook; so relieved that was not where it was going 😂

[@seafridge]

Everyone is so good, but I am especially loving Rekha this campaign! She is hilarious!

[@nicolascuccimarri8981]

Great job Persephone! You really dug into the character! :D :D :D

[@Tarplippy]

This is the best episode thus far, the show keeps increasing with merit and quality each episode

[@Beds98]

Absolutely love this campaign- subscribed because of it- better see much more Desiquest!!! All my fave D&D content creators!!

[@rawwr9999]

Such a banger of an episode! I cant wait for the next

[@ajmalaika1287]

1:38:30 So great audio editing and such a great monologue. Taulvy better leave our beloved robot boy alone

[@marenjohansen2671]

Love the series and the set is so beautiful, it strikes me every episode✨

[@nikoblack1272]

Persephone's here!!! how exciting!

[@jamycastsguidance]

Making a ritual to eat Indian food watching these episodes lol love this campaign!

[@Ironfist786]

As much as i love Anjali, i need to say that guidance only affect skill checks and not saving throws. Also as a side note, as a DM i would probably rule it that she cannot use it as a reaction when a Jas ask for a check. It needs to be prepared prior. Just me being nitpicky to what is otherwise an amazing actual play with fun cast!

[@claclarolo1]

critroles effect on guidance 😂

[@marenjohansen2671]

Omg poor baby Baccha😭

[@czulus3498]

Every episode just keeps getting better and better. I love it!

[@mmk_363]

This show rules!

[@madeline569]

So greatful for you all putting this together. I hope there is more and more DesiQuest content to come ❤

[@ASwedishTigress]

Second time watching this and the show is as wonderful if not more to watch the second time around!

[@dessym9942]

What a ride! The surprise betrayal took me out at the knees and kind of broke my heart... Amazing episode as always, can't wait for the next one!

[@sarcasm6669]

Can't wait till next week!

[@kuiin96]

the twists this sessions, the spice! the emotional turmoil! YYYESSSSSSS

[@Cabbage-dk6nu]

Baccha crimes! Baccha crimes!

[@mrminerva2]

"Being lonely is not the same as being alone." Damn, that line got me.

[@snakes2622]

Man, that moth was super cool

[@Sidsidsids]

Omg persephone! Loving this!

[@benwarzeski7227]

And now we get Sephie?!?! I love this so much

[@dnd_jamaica5542]

I 'm usually a bit nervous when PvP happens...but this was actually very well played

[@AdrianShelton-e9h]

i have been chomping at the BIT for this episode, i'm so excited!!!

[@Sakura163]

I love watching you all. ❤ rhanks for making such a great show 😊

[@effinfunny]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Djshadow9837]

"You only love things that do what you ask of them and if I was ever my own person you wouldnt love me" okay OUCH

[@seanmeagher8070]

episode 4? already? say it aint so! we need more!

[@mlarowe]

I think it's just got episode 4ed

[@bookwormwithwings]

Whoo hoo! Just made it!

[@A_T216]

Lots of tears in the latter half from me haha

[@brandon_pace]

Here we go!

[@ParasiticSun]

I absolutely adore this show and the story telling being done is gorgeous.

[@ParasiticSun]

There was so much heart put into this production and it shows!!!

[@ParasiticSun]

Also need to say that Anjali is absolutely incredible expressing the kindness and the firmness of her character.

[@claclarolo1]

another great episode, well done to the whole cast and crew! (the sound mixing on the video is a bit quiet tho)

[@CreatrixTiara]

Still partway through and "shaitan" isn't just someone deceptive. It's the Muslim word for "Satan". In this context, Natasha did just do an exorcism, though the string is very Hindu.

[@tstymctst]

Truly loving this series 💖

[@erikaiverson4122]

So fun!

[@danlaw1991]

Yet another brilliant episode and it looks like the top tier guests continue with Erika next time.

[@jaylovensheimer2343]

Such a good episode, Natasha is the most NPC

[@vee_tinymoose]

Did anyone catch where the character pads are from?

[@effinfunny]

They are from Dog Might, but unfortunately they recently closed their store: www.dogmight.com/

[@wiltonhall]

this is very cool

[@alienfromjupiter999]

gah love natasha!!!

[@TheDoctor4221]

Aww now I miss adventures league

[@hardtshapedz]

1!!!!!! 🤩

[@gorillafighter4037]

Is this a wukong analogy?

[@Peter_Cordes]

Spoilers for late in the episode That Crown of Madness ended up being a lot more effective (and interesting) than the standard spell. It was basically like a Dominate Person (5th), at least with the way Rekha chose to RP it. Crown of madness does Charm the target, so they do see the caster as a friend, but that doesn't imply they see their previous friends as enemies. The "default" way to RP it or Charm Person would be that your new friend is having a fight with your other friends, and you probably just want them all to get along. And that you have uncontrollable urges to attack people, but you still know you don't *want* to hurt them. Crown says they have to use their action to make "a melee attack" (implying just one attack) *before* moving, so Auntie wouldn't have been able to get to Sitara on the first turn of the effect. So "The target can act normally on its turn if you choose no creature or if none are within its reach." Reach in this case means melee weapon range, like 5 ft reach for most weapons, 10 ft reach for some polearms or a whip. (Or some monsters have melee attacks with more reach.) Anyway, not walking range. It doesn't say characters have to use class abilities like rage either, although it's also not stated that they would use a melee weapon if they had one instead of just punching. So you could go either way on this; it would be pretty reasonable to use a melee weapon but not rage. But given the way you guys played the spell, with Auntie thinking the attacks were a good idea, not just an uncontrollable impulse she didn't agree with, yes, raging and making 2 attacks is consistent. However, raging makes her resistant to the physical part of a rapier attack, so the 1d8+dex part of that damage should have been rolled separately. I don't think she's totem of the bear, so the radiant or necrotic isn't halved, nor is the psychic. Rules-as-written, Crown of Madness is a pretty weak or situational spell especially for being 2nd level. Especially since the caster does have to keep using their action every turn to maintain the effect. Allies of the target can just move away from them, and the target can choose how they use their movement so can avoid moving near their friends they don't want to hurt. It can cause a lot of chaos if you use it on someone and there are guards around, though, since those guards will run up and try to subdue them, putting them in range for followup attacks. And it's a Charm effect that (unlike Charm Person) doesn't give the target advantage on the saving throw if you're already fighting them. --- Other rules nerd notes: * Spirit Guardians is centered around the caster, not an area they pick * Guidance works on *ability checks* only, and isn't a reaction. It's 1 action, touch range, duration 1 minute concentration. (Unless you're already using the OneD&D playtest version where it is a reaction, making the in-game narrative match how it's often played at the table, where people never bother to ask for guidance before doing something.) But regardless, it's only checks not saves. Also, you don't have to spend guidance. If your roll is really low and you're about to try another ability check, you might just save it so the caster doesn't have to cast it again. (If you want to narratively play it in a way that matches the mechanics, where it has to be cast ahead of time.) * 1 level of exhaustion is disadvantage on all checks, but not saves. (IIRC that was mostly how it got played this game, but I think at least once the question was raised for saves and I think Jasmine didn't get around to answering it while dealing with other players, and the first roll was low anyway.) 5e has 3 different kinds of d20 roll. ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls. Those are key-words to look for when reading rules. Certain abilities like Bless (attacks and saves) or Guidance (checks) are designed to only help with one or two kinds, not all three. So 1 level of exhaustion doesn't hurt you in combat which is mostly checks and saves, other than grappling and a few spells. * Wildfire Spirit has a Fiery Teleportation ability that can move multiple people up to 15 feet and damage anyone that's left in the area. You can use it every round instead of flame seed, e.g. while the party's running down a hallway. Really hoping to see that get used effectively. I thought Sitara might send some people part way up the rope with it, although if they weren't expecting it they might just fall. Or to move people away from Iman / Auntie and potentially damage both of them. * Turn Undead breaks on damage. * Heat Metal is optional: you can choose not to use your bonus action to do the damage again, so Sitara didn't have to break the Turn Undead that Ash just used. But since she did, yes she might as well use her action to do more damage. * Heat Metal gives disadvantage on attacks and checks if the creature chooses not to drop the metal object. (If they fail the Con save they have to drop it, succeeding means they have the option of keeping their weapon or whatever but still having disadvantage.) Apparently some people read the second sentence as still being part of the on-failed-save clause of the first, partly because the phrasing seems to require that they immediately drop the object to avoid disadvantage (even though it's not their turn and the spell doesn't say they can take a reaction to do so). Crawford tweeted in 2014 that if you're wearing the heated item, you have disadvantage, so that's what he thinks the actual wording means, for whatever that's worth. So Iman should (with that reading of the spell) have had disadvantage on her two attacks on Auntie. But nobody told her about that part of the spell or that removing her choker could remove the penalty. Some tables / DMs prefer a reading of the spell where disadvantage only happens on a failed Con save; Heat Metal is still pretty good with that interpretation. * Scorching Ray is (level + 1) rays, each hitting for 2d6 damage. Maybe Anjali was thinking that upcasting to third level buffs the damage of each ray, instead of the number, and that's where the extra d6 came from? (If they're 6th level, wildfire druid Enhanced Bond would add 1d8 to the first hit for 2d6+1d8, so that doesn't explain it.) * Commanding your wildfire spirit to attack costs a bonus action, which Sitara already used on Heat Metal. As someone who does know the rules well, I find it distracting when something doesn't go the way I "know it should". I realize that's my problem, and doesn't mean your fun is wrong. Also that it's not practical to stop and look up every rule all the time, that would kill the pace of the game, and most of the time doesn't actually matter for the outcome of events and the story. So I write these comments not from a negative perspective, but partly just to get it out of my system. And for anyone that's trying learn D&D rules better, hopefully that helps. (I assume shooting is already done for this season, but maybe next season some people will have a clearer understanding of Guidance being only checks, not saves or attacks.) Overall I'm enjoying this series. I write about rules because I find game rules interesting, like how they fit together to make a balanced game that's fun to play and enables a variety of interesting characters to do cool things with interesting limits to work within or work around. Not because I think following the rules is the most important thing especially for an actual-play series. (Although I personally would enjoy it if everything else stays the same except that everyone knew all the rules, and when to intentionally bend them for rule-of-cool reasons. I know that's not realistic and don't try to hold anyone to that standard. Rules fumbling generally doesn't hurt my enjoyment of people's RP and character choices, and I've often enjoyed seeing what newer players do, like Rekha in Escape from the Bloodkeep and later D20 shows.) When a rules question comes up that you do take the time to think about, Jasmine almost always gets the right answer, e.g. at 2:10:20 that expending a bardic inspiration die for psychic blades doesn't cost a bonus action because it's a different way to spend a die than giving bardic inspiration. (With Sephie also being correct that Psychic Blades is limited to 1/turn, unlike Divine Smite. Not sure why she has a second attack as a bonus action at all, though, unless she's dual wielding and I missed it.) And Jasmine spotting that not spending your action to maintain Crown of Madness causes it to end. I didn't notice that bit when I paused to quickly read the spell description. So there certainly are moments in the show that make my rules-nerd brain happy, and also players finding creative and fun uses for their class abilities. (Omar's artificer RP has been great, for example, weaving the mechanics and flavourful narrative descriptions of them together in and out of combat.) Along with the great story, the setting, the characters, the production quality, and the fun. (I guess I feel like I need to apologize for posting about rules because people have so often done so in negative way. That's not my intent, which I hope comes across.)

[@effinfunny]

I love this post bc as a player I am curious if we’re close or not to the rules, and i just loved your whole attitude about giving the info in a positive way without being demeaning or seeing past the rule of cool that we were playing with to prio the RP above all. But it really helps me as a relative newb to DnD 5e, Thanks for this!

[@Peter_Cordes]

@@effinfunny - Awesome, glad to hear that the tone came across as intended and that at least one of the players found my rules debrief useful! And for sure, I have no problem with rule-of-cool, but I like it when it's called out, like "this normally wouldn't quite work, but this is cool", or "I love this, we're going to allow it". Otherwise my brain starts churning trying to figure out if they know they're bending the rules or not, just because that's how I'm wired.

[@cryptocorner2253]

IT the clown?

[@ArtlifeJoy]

Great GMing and great roll playing much pleasure to watch

[@nandik.327]

The fact yhat we're getting Sephie on this is EPIC 😍🥹