Ascension - Thieve's Guild (Inactive)

Game Master bbangerter

Good call Tony and yah, it does feel like they just got thrown a life preserver before a TPK went down.

I thought some might look at it this way. From round 1 though I've known when more guards/allies on both sides would show up (e.g, more guards on turn 4, the enemy dwarf on round 6. Milah entering combat on round 8)[/ooc]

Then we were vastly outmatched. A new caster coming in with full health and spells even after we were already out numbered. I guess we need to find high level NPCs to bail us out. It's not our fault they used horrible tactics.

The funnier thing is I don't even know who these guys are or how they knew to attack (Tony first and then recanted to Sic) us in the first place.

Just like when Vaek got attacked leaving the bar with a magical disguise on.

We must have wanted posters out there with complete physical descriptions and well painted pictures.

GM: Sorry if I sound a little upset. I trust you. I just think it is BS they can maim Vaek, but get bailed out. Again, they have been the aggressor from the start. When the dust settles, you have always been fair. I will die trying to kill them all though.

Agreed Drovic.

Im of a mind to cast another Blistering Invective. I think most of all of the new assailants weren't hit by it before.

The ones that were should still be at a -2 from the demoralize for this round too. Although it would be the last. Not sure if that would've effected the halflings escape or not.

The dwarf came in well before R6 if he got invisible, cast mirror image, and snuck up to attack. Just those actions are three rounds not including movement.

GM: Sorry if I sound a little upset. I trust you. I just think it is BS they can maim Vaek, but get bailed out. Again, they have been the aggressor from the start. When the dust settles, you have always been fair

Agreed Drovic.

Im going to parrot these two gentlemen. Its all too easy to get down when the players seemingly get very offended by your actions. It might not need to be said, and I suspect it didnt, but all the same.

Also, just in case you missed it Sic, since you didnt reply to it, are you going to try to cancel the dwarfs attack on Sorad? That chop hurt.

Yes, I definitely will use Determination against that attack on Sorad.

What do you think of Sic casting blistering Invective again? I think we could still pull off a TPK here. They have three PC's out of the fight already.

Blistering invective is a good spell even if it only hits like 2 enemies. Its downright broken in the current fight, spam away!

Blistering invective is a good spell even if it only hits like 2 enemies. Its downright broken in the current fight, spam away!

If nothing else, it may kill the downed enemy.

Does it work on unconscious enemies? Its language dependent so I didnt think it would.

Does it work on unconscious enemies? Its language dependent so I didnt think it would.

Probably not then.

For selfish reasons, if we are able to get the halfling too, I'm guessing he's a ninja like me. Which means he probably uses the same sword I had stolen from me. So that would be a nice take. The armored guy would be my 2nd choice.

Yah Sic has personal reasons for wanting the Halfling dead too. Maybe Drovic could fly after him and put him to sleep while you finish him off? he cant get far being blinded. Don't even know how someone runs without hitting people and buildings while blind.

Tony, Sic, Sorad, Smet and Milah can handle those in the alley.

I also want to throw in my lot about this seeming kind of unfair. Both of the fights we've been in the enemy has had several extra NPCs to outnumber us, but when we'be asked for NPC help, we haven't gotten more than a couple of people. I would be okay with this knowing that we had another form of advantage, but I don't see one. That fifth level magus feels pretty cheap too. That's an NPC beyond anything we've ever been offered.

At the moment I cannot comment anymore on the 'unfairness' of the fight. Once the fight is over I can provide further details.

I've had a night to sleep on this and I am still upset. You said the enemy showed up at a certain round? 6? Why then did he already have two spells cast on him and was able to move into perfect positions to cast another spell? I am going to have difficulty from here on out wondering when I will be hit by an invisible foe who is NOVAing on me with a spell without a saving throw. Have him run up from far away so we have time to prepare (like you are doing our NPC)? That is one thing. This is another. This is cheap. They used bad tactics and now we are paying for it. I'm fine with a NPC being added, but this was wrong. Hitting for over 40 HP out of nowhere? If this causes us to lose Sorad, I will be extremely unhappy because you did it (not our enemy). They instigated this. Vaek got no help when they cut off his hand.

I understand you feeling bad for them and trying to block their escape, but turning the tide of battle is something else. This would not have happened this way if we were down two players. You decided how to act at that moment. Please do not say you introduced the caster at R6. He has been acting since at least R4 to do what he did (probably before that honestly). No character would have slowly prepare to assassinate a character while his companions were dropping like flies. That is what you did here.

And...they got the jump on us in the first place.

I apologize. I should have PMed this GM. I am just pissed they cut Vaek's hand off. In my opinion, that is worse than killing him. Then they jumped us.

I've had a night to sleep on this and I am still upset. You said the enemy showed up at a certain round? 6? Why then did he already have two spells cast on him and was able to move into perfect positions to cast another spell? I am going to have difficulty from here on out wondering when I will be hit by an invisible foe who is NOVAing on me with a spell without a saving throw. Have him run up from far away so we have time to prepare (like you are doing our NPC)? That is one thing. This is another. This is cheap. They used bad tactics and now we are paying for it. I'm fine with a NPC being added, but this was wrong. Hitting for over 40 HP out of nowhere? If this causes us to lose Sorad, I will be extremely unhappy because you did it (not our enemy). They instigated this. Vaek got no help when they cut off his hand.

I understand you feeling bad for them and trying to block their escape, but turning the tide of battle is something else. This would not have happened this way if we were down two players. You decided how to act at that moment. Please do not say you introduced the caster at R6. He has been acting since at least R4 to do what he did (probably before that honestly). No character would have slowly prepare to assassinate a character while his companions were dropping like flies. That is what you did here.

I understand where you are coming from on this. It is based off of limited information though. I can't go into details till after the fight because doing so now could affect choices and decisions in the current combat.

I understand and I am sorry I didn't PM this to you. I'll post my action when I get off work.

No worries.

With the witch that cursed me, now dead. Does that cause her magic on my face to go away also?

Seeing what we got from this, Ive just realized we havnt specified where we keep our gold. Looking at the amount they carried, they likely keep most of their gold in their base. We should probably do the same, if we arent already? (I know I havnt specified)

Also Ascension, about that Crescent Moon pendant, is the unknown aspect due to failed spellcraft rolls behind the scenes or because its some kind of specialty item that spellcraft wont suffice to figure out?

I can look into the loot later, probably on Monday. In the meantime everyone mention the things that would be an upgrade for them so we know what to keep. We can divvy it up then. I could use the hat of disguise, the cloak, the amulet, and/or the ring.

Dont you already have a hat? I mean youve been posing as a gnome all the time.

As for Anthony, the only thing that really stands out to me is the Extend Rod. Will work really well for Haste, since there seems to always be an escape element to the fights we get into, at which point the extra duration is good. Best thing is, Anthony can just have it in hand all the time inside his Eidolon, which saves some action economy.

Sorad has a Hat of human guise.

Sic's is thinking that the +1 full plate just might work If you guys don't think he needs to switch to light armor for the movement.

The focused rod could be handy for Sic or Drovic.

We should split up the antitoxins and buy more as well.

Just like with the breastplate, theres Haste, and his own Expeditious Retreat (Im assuming)

Only real consideration is whether the armor check penalty is worth the extra armor (yes, imo)

I agree. especially with Expeditious Retreat since its a flat +30' movement.

And the AC penalty could very well be worth it... unless we have another rooftop rumble. I'll have to look into spells or other items to help boost Acrobatics and a skill rank would go a long way also.

Are we close to leveling up?

I do have a hat, but it limited to gnomes and human children. A hat of disguise would be an upgrade.

Reposting Loot so we can discuss here the distribution.

Id suggest we go through it and repost with our names by the items we claim. Anything redundant or not wanted can be hawked and coin split equally. Im not all that worried if our picks don't equal out as long as we all get something worthwhile and useful. Im going to add Sic's current armor to the list to be up for grabs or sold for splitting.

So the extend rod goes to Tony, and maybe the breastplate for Sic. Anyone else finding anything of use?
DM, what is the availability of prosthetics in Coran?

Sic claimed the +1 Full plate

and I already have a wand of CLW so someone definitely needs to grab that.

I guess we could start a second list of the things we know no one will want that we can sell.

Like that Bardiche, the normal full plate, the longbow (don't think anyone of us can even use it)

This is what I have at this point, given that Tony and Sic each claimed the things they already mentioned.

9884.5gp
hat of disguise
Wand of CLW (50 charges)
Scroll of desecrate
scroll of create food and water
scroll of protection from energy
lesser rod of focused metamagic
handy haversack
absinthe
antitoxin x3
mwk manacles
Amulet of NA
Cloak of Resistance
Ring of protection
A crescent moon pendant with a faint transmutation aura of unknown purpose

Sorad - youre claiming the scrolls and the other rod? Im not sure what use you'll get out of that rod. Drovic should probably get that.

I think he is just listing what is still left to be claimed.

Level up to level 7, as before make a note of significant changes.

The crescent moons purpose is simply unknown with a spell craft check. While of transmutation magic, the particular magic is not something you've ever encountered before.

I can talk about the magus showing up now. You may or may not agree with whether it was fair or not after I explain it, but it should add some perspective.

The mage group was running 4 people (as you can see from the skeleton being what you'd believed was their fifth). While it might have been more realistic, it wouldn't have been very interesting for them to show up with 50 guards in tow. So I'd decided one of the former players who'd dropped from the game would show up d4 + 2 rounds into the fight. After deciding on the magus I decided he would have invisibility and expeditious retreat active (about round 3 I decided to allow him more, based on how late he was going to be showing up - which added mirror image and blur to his active spells - if he'd had a 5th self-buff spell that would have been active as well).

So the beginning of the fight had 4 of them at level 6 vs 5 of you at level 6 (though Vaek was undergeared). Plus Smet on your side (4th level sorcerer) and on their side 3 1st level guards and a 3rd level priest.

More guards, of the same composition (3 1st level and 1 3rd level - though if the fight went very long the guard numbers and levels would start to increase) would show up every four rounds from a predetermined location. Milah would show up two rounds after the magus.

Thanks GM Ascension.

I realize that not every encounter is supposed to be balanced and its your discretion as to how the cookie crumbles.

I dont even want to start thinking about how this last encounter wouldve gone if we hadnt spotted the shoes. Still, they chose to enter this fight seemingly undermanned and are having to deal with the consequences. Which wouldve been greater if the magus hadnt showed like he did. IMHO they deserved to get TPK'd but I am biased ^_^

We're the gosh darn Thieve's guild and this is the third time that we've been ambushed! We need to step up our game I guess.

But I guess thats the end of the Mage's guild! Well, except for that damned runt.

What happens to a guild where only 1 member makes it out alive?

------------------------

working on level up now too. Thanks for the Bing!

Level 6 Inquisitor

+1 BAB
+1 all Saves
HP: 60 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ 60 + (6) + 2 = 68

+1 use of Determination (gonna be all over using this ability from now on!)

+1 ~ 2nd level Spells Known ~ TBD
+1 ~ 2nd level Spalls cast per day

+1d6 Channel Energy ~ 4d6

+7 Skill pts (6 class + 1 Favored) Shucks, Acrobatics isnt a Class skill for Sic

+1 Bluff ~ 22
+1 Perception ~ 14
+1 Sense Motive ~ 16
+2 Stealth ~ 9
+2 Spellcraft ~ 8

+1 Feat ~ TBD ~ We should really start thinking about teamwork feats like Outflank. Anyone else interested?

Remember we are getting full HP as I recall Sic

Btw about Acrobatics, there is always the feat Additional Traits for that. Could grab something like Reactionary, the Cleric trait for an extra channel per day or some other good trait to go with the Acrobatics trait.

Forgot about the full HP, thanks

Good idea on Additional Traits. I'll do that if no one else is interested in taking Outflank or maybe Stealth Synergy.

I just saw mention of a potential revision of the Synthesist summoner some time in the future, although rather vague on when. It prompted me to search google for it, but only found the existing FAQ. I decided to reread it since we are leveling and I might have forgotten something.

Apparently, Synthesist can no longer use their own limbs while in the suit, which mean I wont be able to passively hold the rod and have it ready at all times.

This means it might be more prudent to just give it to someone else.

Sic doesnt have many buff spells so not as useful for me.

DO you have to hold it to maintain the Extend? Or can you hold it, cast the spell and have the Extend effect it and then put the rod away?

Drovic and Vaek - you guys gonna claim any loot?

But I guess thats the end of the Mage's guild! Well, except for that damned runt.

What happens to a guild where only 1 member makes it out alive?

They are using their second life.

oh snap! I forgot about the second life part. Right on.

With the extend rod it only needs to be held while the spell is cast. Typically wizards use them to get more duration out of their long last buffs (mage armor and the like).

So the extend rod goes to Tony, and maybe the breastplate for Sic. Anyone else finding anything of use?

DM, what is the availability of prosthetics in Coran?

They are available. Getting a hook or blade or some other extension to Vaek's missing hand can be done. I'm going to place it at cost of +25gp to whatever he wants attached there (if he wants to go that route).

Yeah I know you dont have to keep holding it, it was more a matter of action economy. But come to think of it, getting double duration Invisibility and Mage Armor is still really good, so I think ill want it after all :)

Anthony gains (while fused with eidolon)=

HP: +10 (1d8 + 2 con)

Eidolon HP: +12 (1d10 + 2 con)

+1 All Saves

SKILLS: +6 Ranks (2 base + 2 Int + 1 Human + 1 Favored Class)

1 Rank Bluff
1 Rank Perception
1 Rank Sense Motive
1 Rank Spellcraft
1 Rank Stealth
1 Rank Use Magic Device

Gained Makers Jump 1/day which is basically 1 Dimension Door per day.

Gained an additional Evolution Point which was spent on gaining a Climb Speed.

Gained a level 2 spell known. I am undecided on what it will be. Currently im looking at Create Pit, Glitterdust, See Invisibility and Slow. Would like some input on the matter from you guys.

1 undetermined Feat. Currently im just looking at Weapon Focus (Claw), but if anyone got suggestions, throw em at me.

I'm not sure what feat I want. Any suggestions?

I also realized that Vaek has almost no equipment. I vote we give him the hat of disguise, the cloak, and the ring.

Good call Sorad! Theres also a +1 chain shirt that he could possibly use.

You guys interested in Outflank?

Prerequisite: Base attack bonus +4.

Benefit: Whenever you and an ally who also has this feat are flanking the same creature, your flanking bonus on attack rolls increases to +4. In addition, whenever you score a critical hit against the flanked creature, it provokes an attack of opportunity from your ally.