Harry Potter and the Natural 20 III: Save or Die

[keybounce]

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8096183/1/Harry-Potter-and-the-Natural-20

Previous threads:
1: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?279768-Harry-Potter-and-the-Natural-20
2: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?361578-Harry-Potter-and-the-Natural-20

This is the story of a Dungeons & Dragons minimax/rules lawyer wizard put into the Potter verse.

At the same time, we see some intelligent, thinking and planning police officers in the Muggle world.

How do people like Malfoy react to intelligent police? How does the wizarding world in general react?

And of course, how do two different groups of people operating under different sets of rules interact in combat?

[Zeb]

Glad to see it is back again.


At the same time, we see some intelligent, thinking and planning police officers in the Muggle world.

I like that it shows what would most likely happen: they are thought to be crazy.


How do people like Malfoy react to intelligent police?

Same as everyone else intimidate, bribe or make a deal.


How does the wizarding world in general react?

Not well but they do have some government liaison already in place and memory erasers


And of course, how do two different groups of people operating under different sets of rules interact in combat?

From what we have seen so far they mesh chaotic but as best benefits the story, I liked the aside about historical crossbow speed verse DnD crossbow reload speed.

[Fiery Diamond]

It's back? Yay!

[keybounce]

Glad to see it is back again.

I like that it shows what would most likely happen: they are thought to be crazy.
I just like the idea of a walkman with "here's what happened to you".


Same as everyone else intimidate, bribe or make a deal.
Well, the tax agencies don't go for those ...


Not well but they do have some government liaison already in place and memory erasers

From what we have seen so far they mesh chaotic but as best benefits the story, I liked the aside about historical crossbow speed verse DnD crossbow reload speed.

I still like the whole "forgetting over summer" vs "perfect memory of skills never used".

[Mith]

I had stopped checking for updates entirely. Thanks for posting!

I like how this story reads because it pokes fun at 3.5 rules, which I have a love hate relationship with. And also manages to the best harry potter fan fiction I have read.

[BWR]

Excellent!
I'd almost given up on it.

[Lord Raziere]

It back? good I like it because its a character learning to stop being a munchkin and become an actual person while realizing that his rules don't work with harry potter rules and thus can't use the same tricks he is always used to.

.....but where was I again?

frack, I think I almost completely forgot how it went, even though I read the whole thing through.

I think I'll have to read the whole thing again....

[Douglas]

It back? good I like it because its a character learning to stop being a munchkin and become an actual person while realizing that his rules don't work with harry potter rules and thus can't use the same tricks he is always used to.

.....but where was I again?
I especially liked him making his mother a level 20 wizard baker (who never uses magic in her baking), and then later introducing the next incarnation of The Munchkin to the wonders of food that has flavor. "First time he's used his taste buds since his backstory.":smallamused:

The neverending succession of things that Milo considers normal but Potterverse people consider crazy, or the reverse, is always good for a laugh too.


frack, I think I almost completely forgot how it went, even though I read the whole thing through.

I think I'll have to read the whole thing again....
Not exactly a hardship.

[keybounce]

One thing I really liked about that whole baker issue is the reference to OOTS. V's significant other was a baker. There was a discussion on the forum at one point as to whether or not baker was a "prerequisite class" (sorry, I don't know the exact term) for magicians. I think there was even a scene around the three fiends time where the little imp had a what if scene where he ran into a baker.

My favorite abuse has to be that because a quarterstaff is worthless, not only can he turn a wall of wood into a pile of quarter staffs, he can turn a giant ship's mast into a giant quarterstaff. Of course, a baby using a standard move action to reload a crossbow isn't too far behind.

[Adderbane]

My favorite abuse has to be that because a quarterstaff is worthless, not only can he turn a wall of wood into a pile of quarter staffs, he can turn a giant ship's mast into a giant quarterstaff. Of course, a baby using a standard move action to reload a crossbow isn't too far behind.

Speaking of quarterstaffs, the fact that Milo has more physical combat ability than anyone at Hogwarts due to his BAB is pretty fun.

[GrayDeath]

It's back? Yay!


Let me reiterate that YAY!!! :biggrin::cool:

Luckily I just gave it a reread 3 weeks ago due to recommending it to a friend.

[Fiery Diamond]

Phew. I have reread the whole thing now. Can't wait for the next update! Hope he's back to weeklies...

[J-H]

Hurray! I thought it was a deadfic.

[Lord Raziere]

Not exactly a hardship.

I've reread, its great.

I forgot that this fic had a Muggle actually try to find out about the wizarding world by herself. I mean I remembered that there was a fic that did that, but I forgotten that it was this specific one. but thats the great thing about it; the reason why she is a problem for wizards at all is not because she is special or anything but because her police station got a computer, and wizards don't deal with technology so they never think to erase the files on there or get rid of her tape recorder.

[BWR]

I've reread, its great.

I forgot that this fic had a Muggle actually try to find out about the wizarding world by herself. I mean I remembered that there was a fic that did that, but I forgotten that it was this specific one. but thats the great thing about it; the reason why she is a problem for wizards at all is not because she is special or anything but because her police station got a computer, and wizards don't deal with technology so they never think to erase the files on there or get rid of her tape recorder.

I'd argue she is a bit special. Maybe not 'potentially limitless cosmic powers' sort of special, but definitely 'unusually skilled and hard to find and kill' special.

[Mith]

I'd argue she is a bit special. Maybe not 'potentially limitless cosmic powers' sort of special, but definitely 'unusually skilled and hard to find and kill' special.

As a major character, I agree that she is special. That being said, I feel that she isn't annoyingly special that breaks suspension of disbelief. Reading Fiona's story arc so far fits with the reaction I expect from a competent Muggle in the modified Harry Potter universe. Reading through the story, she is called out in having aikido training, with the level of training unspecified.

[Douglas]

She's competent, was willing to take the possibility of magic seriously when she found some hard to explain evidence of it, and approached the problem of how to deal with it in a clever and truly intelligent way. That's pretty much the full extent of her specialness, but she's leveraged it into some major accomplishments anyway.

Her memory of magic events was erased once, she quite reasonably assumed it could happen again (where many protagonists, and even real people, would assume the opposite or just not even consider it), and she created a recovery safeguard for it that they'd be unlikely to ever find but that she would almost be guaranteed to trigger. That by itself was enough for me to like her, and her treating the entire investigation with similar genuine intelligence just kept making it better.

[Forum Explorer]

She's competent, was willing to take the possibility of magic seriously when she found some hard to explain evidence of it, and approached the problem of how to deal with it in a clever and truly intelligent way. That's pretty much the full extent of her specialness, but she's leveraged it into some major accomplishments anyway.

Her memory of magic events was erased once, she quite reasonably assumed it could happen again (where many protagonists, and even real people, would assume the opposite or just not even consider it), and she created a recovery safeguard for it that they'd be unlikely to ever find but that she would almost be guaranteed to trigger. That by itself was enough for me to like her, and her treating the entire investigation with similar genuine intelligence just kept making it better.

I'm looking forward to Milo and her getting into a spiral of paranoia together.

[Mith]

I will say that I like the effects of a Dementor for Milo. It's a good cross world interaction.

I dislike it because level drains suck, but it works well for the story.

The one thing that drives me a bit nuts on the re read is Milo's meta reactions to narrative forces. I know he's improved from the start of the story, but it will be nice if this improvement continues.

[Sapphire Guard]

I love the fic in general, there's a good back and forth rather than 'watch the lead dominate everyone.' I feel like the copper stuff overstayed its welcome, though, it came to a natural conclusion and then kept going past it.

[Mith]

I love the fic in general, there's a good back and forth rather than 'watch the lead dominate everyone.' I feel like the copper stuff overstayed its welcome, though, it came to a natural conclusion and then kept going past it.

I think having Fiona still around is useful, since this fic restarts the war while the kids are still more bound to Hogwarts. Having a point of view character that is able to move and observe the war in it's initial stages from the protaganist side isn't a bad thing in my opinion.

[BWR]

I love the fic in general, there's a good back and forth rather than 'watch the lead dominate everyone.' I feel like the copper stuff overstayed its welcome, though, it came to a natural conclusion and then kept going past it.

Except that to stop her story, Fiona would have had to be killed or crippled or undergone a radical personality change. She has been shown to be smart, resourceful, doggedly determined to uncover this conspiracy, and clever enough to keep backup information around where she will easily find it and enemies won't. Since she was left alive at the end of CC, she pretty much has to be in the ongoing story in some way. Personally, I very much enjoy her angle on things. Milo is fun but the more 'real character' he becomes, the less interesting he is. As usually happens with stories, the more emphasis you put on detailed and developed characters and plot, the less humorous it becomes. Since humor seems to be taking a back seat to plot these days, Fiona helps the serious aspect of the story immensely, since she is far more interesting than any of the original HP crew and better than them for a serious treatment.

[Adderbane]

One thing I love about the way Sir Poley is taking the story is how Milo trivializes many of the original plot points and seems powerful, but doesn't achieve any better results. It could be argued that he's actually making things worse.

[Mith]

I am curious if Milo will complete the Rainbow Servant PrC in story to see all of that in story.

[BWR]

I kind of doubt it. By then he'd be at least 15th level, which means 8th level spells. Considering how well he's done with, to start with, just 2nd, this would be overkill. Wouldn't have to worry about AK with Death Ward around unless Poley randomly determines that's too broken to permit. it would be fun to see, though.

[Adderbane]

I kind of doubt it. By then he'd be at least 15th level, which means 8th level spells. Considering how well he's done with, to start with, just 2nd, this would be overkill. Wouldn't have to worry about AK with Death Ward around unless Poley randomly determines that's too broken to permit. it would be fun to see, though.

Considering how much Voldemort and Death Eaters like AK spam in combat, Death Ward is probably high on Milo's research list. Could make for a fun Oh Crap! moment when they realize their spells aren't effective.

[Douglas]

Considering how much Voldemort and Death Eaters like AK spam in combat, Death Ward is probably high on Milo's research list. Could make for a fun Oh Crap! moment when they realize their spells aren't effective.
There's already been that to some extent when Milo summoned something undead (I think it was a skeleton), and the summon proceeded to be completely unaffected by AK.

[Mith]

I just had the amusing fan theory pop into my head: There has been a cross-over between Milo's world and Harry Potter universe before, and it was Death that the Peverell Brothers robbed blind.

The wand is a magic item that allows for a limited cross over between magic systems. It is the most powerful wand in the world because it is sentient and harvests XP for fueling itself. It grows stronger upon defeating its opponents.

The Cloak is a perfect Invisibility Cloak which is rare by HP standards, not so much by Milo's

As for the Stone, Perhaps a Stone of Necromancy? One that summons ghosts and allows one to Speak with the dead. However, in the Harry Potter verse, there is no means of dismissing the ghosts unless the summoner dies.

[Vizzerdrix]

So like most people here Ive read the tale of Milo and have wanted it to update for some time now. Last I remembered, it was left at A better Story chapter. Well their is another chapter up after it now.

Im just asking if I am remembering incorrectly, or if anyone knows what is going on? Has Sir Poley said anything? Have I slipped into a diffre t reality where he kept writing? Is the matrix breaking down?! :smalleek:

[Ibrinar]

Not a new chapter to those who had hope after seeing the thread, last post on his tumblr (http://sirpoley.tumblr.com/) is still the now months old one where he announced he started working on it again and posted that new chapter.

Just read it the last few days and wanted to say great fic. Not just by fan fiction stardards but it is good by book standards too.

Spoiler with random comments about the plot:Him utterly failing in book two and making a mistake so big he dies and lets Voldy come back was a surprise. And an mistake only in the way that a spell was interpreted in a way an DM might do who is really annoyed by a munchkin and decides to beat him at his own hame.^^ Also just creating a retired high level wizard as a parent via backstory, wow great idea. But maybe a missed chance to not let her resurrect him, though I guess NPCs rarely revive PCs. Selling cursed amulets to everyone was a bit of a surprise too. I like that Hannah has more of a role now she was added as love interest in the beginning and a tad more involved but mostly didn't get to do anything when the action started even when the three HP MCs got to come along. (Btw the scene where Hermione was giving him gesture for what to say when speaking with Hannah was quite funny.) The police plot was a bit separate from the main characters at the beginning interesting to see it merge now.

Hope he really picks it up again soon. Also he should sell the ebooks or get a patreon though I guess making money from it might have copyright problems.

[Ibrinar]

but he's nevertheless physically incapable of swinging a punch more than once every six seconds. You should see him try to swat a mosquito; it's embarrassing. He just… stands there as it flutters about him shouting 'attack of opportunity!' whenever it tries to get away.

Double post but finally a new chapter. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8096183/73/Harry-Potter-and-the-Natural-20

[BWR]

Woohoo!
I'd actually checked it yesterday, but there weren't any updates then. Another solid chapter. I really enjoy the small diversions Poley makes from the main story to elaborate on some world-building element.

[Dragonus45]

I’m just happy to see it back posting. I had missed this a lot more then I realized.

[keybounce]

New chapter
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8096183/74/Harry-Potter-and-the-Natural-20

[Eldan]

Hooray. As far as I'm concerned, Fiona is one of the greatest heroes of modern literature. I could read her smashing wizards into walls forever.

[McNum]

Did they just Scry and Die? Because even if the die part was missing, that looked like a kit-bash version of Scry and Die to me. Find enemy. Teleport to enemy. Deal with enemy. That's just wonderfully unfair.

[keybounce]

The "die" part was 20 minutes doing a "take 20".

And yes, that is exactly what Milo's abilities let him do.