Black Waters Gestalt (Inactive)

Game Master Just a Mort

Yes, your crazy GM actually played this one solo before starting the recruitment thread. Don't ask others to do something you can't do, yourself :p

I think you answered your own question ;)

2)What are the differences between solo play and a full party?
Solo game, you’re not waiting on other players to ‘do their thing’ but you don’t have them there to ‘do their thing’ either. When you have the party there are some skills you don’t have, or you’re not as good at; so you wait for them to do it. Full party should be more effective but will take longer and some characters may be less involved than others

3)What do you miss out as a solo player? Do you get the full story experience?
I felt I got the full story experience, that’s part of the reason I like playing AP’s and PFS scenarios, they do a good job of creating and telling the story. What did I miss out on as a solo player? Occasionally someone will post something really entertaining that’s just wonderful. Whether it’s something they say in game, or in discussion, or someone will attach a web page with a quote, or a video or a gif. For instance when you posted the video of Evanescence I sat and watch four or five more.

4)Is the story telling aspect enhanced because the GM can give the player more attention, whereas in a group, some may not be willing to participate in an individual player's story arc, plot hook?
I think this depends on the GM. I enjoyed the conversation opportunities you provided with the NPC’s. As for individual player’ story arcs or plot hooks; I’ve not been in any games where they were used a lot. As someone who wants to play the AP or scenario I think the player’s backstory, story arc or plot hook should be the ‘condiments’ and the AP or scenario be the’ meat’ of the PBP. I think referring to past history (like Valda talking about sisters) or using particular weapons or armor that relates to character history/culture or using dialect to emphasize that history is fine, but the main thing is the adventure ahead of them. Now if the GM wants to create a story for the players, that’s a different style of game than I think is intended with the Paizo written stuff.

5)The PBP medium has always been a slow one. Is it because the players are waiting for each other, or the GM?
Both, I think it depends on the game, the one thing I have seen is that when a game drops below the desired posting rate, whether it’s the GM’s fault or a players fault, that it’s hard to get it back to that speed.
I wish GM’s would list things they want and then stick to it. Things like posting rates or how many people are needed to post to make a decision or how long they will wait until someone is botted, by either the GM or a player and that also be clarified beforehand. Also combat by block initiative works best for speed.
6lWould a PBP be enhanced with fewer people so there is more communication between GM and players?
Again it depends on the game. Some of the best games I have seen were with three characters. In ‘the godsmouth heresy’ game I was in there were only three characters and two of us posted quickly and often. The GM kept the game moving in ‘out of combat situations’ without waiting for the other player. ‘In combat’ we waited for the third person and they were posting at least once a day. I’ve seen a ‘dungeon crawl’ with eight people move reasonably fast, but the ‘scout’ was dragging the party along and the only RP was between characters, even the trips in town were just ‘list what you buy’. This is part of the reason I prefer AP’s, they force at least some RP with NPC’s. I’ve seen several games that were taking three gestalt characters so they could move reasonably faster. Interestingly enough I’m still not sure what I think about gestalt, I’m in one other game where I play a gestalt character (fighter/cleric, surprise, surprise),with sometimes three characters in it and sometimes four characters, and in that game the communication is still almost nil and is at a dead stop.

7)Can a PBP be both engaging and fast at the same time?
Yes, especially if everyone knows that is the expectation and is willing to do it.

8)How fast can a PBP go if both GM and player are willing to work on it?
He he he

9)How stressful is it on the GM to run a PBP at a fast pace?
I don’t know, how stressful has it been? Hopefully this game will let you analyze this question ;)

Male Paladin 6 / Summoner 6 (Synthesist)
LG Half Orc
Init +2; Perception +4
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 10, touch 10, flat-footed 10
hp 49
Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10;
--------------------
Offense
--------------------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee - Adamantine Falchion +5 (2d4)
Range - Adaptive longbow +2str rating +3 (1d8)
Summoner Spells (CL 5th; concentration +9)
. . At will—Detect Magic, Mage hand, Light, Guidance, Read Magic, acid splash
Lv 1 spells known (5/day): Shield, Enlarge person, Mage Armor, Grease, Protection from Evil
Lv 2 spells known (3/day): Lesser Evolution Surge, See invisibility, Invisibility

Paladin Spells (CL 2nd; concentration +6)
Lv 1 spells known (3/day): Lesser Restoration (x1), Divine Favour (x1)
6 lay on hands/day (2d6)
2 smite evil/day

--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 10, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 18
Base Atk +5; CMB +5; CMD 15
Feats Power Attack, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot - I qualified for all my feats on fused form.
Skills Perception +4, Spellcraft +6, Diplomacy +10, Fly +9, Disable Device +10
Languages Common, Orc, Draconic, Abyssal

Racial traits
Sacred Tattoo

Fused form - Biped

--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 24, touch 12, flat-footed 22
hp 44, 26 temp hp
Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +12;
--------------------
Speed 30 ft, 30 ft fly (avg)
Melee - Adamantine Falchion +9 (2d4+6)
or
Bite +9(1d6+4), Claw +9(1d4+4), Claw +9(1d4+4)
Range - Adaptive longbow +2str rating +7 (1d8+2)
Summoner Spells (CL 5th; concentration +9)
. . At will—Detect Magic, Mage hand, Light, Guidance, Read Magic, acid splash
Lv 1 spells known (5/day): Shield, Enlarge person, Mage Armor, Grease, Protection from Evil
Lv 2 spells known (3/day): Lesser Evolution Surge, See invisibility, Invisibility

Paladin Spells (CL 2nd; concentration +6)
Lv 1 spells known (3/day): Lesser Restoration (x1), Divine Favour (x1)
6 lay on hands/day (2d6)
2 smite evil/day

--------------------
Statistics
--------------------
Str 18, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 19
Base Atk +5; CMB +9; CMD 21
Feats Power Attack, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot - I qualified for all my feats on fused form.
Skills Perception +4, Spellcraft +6, Diplomacy +10, Fly +17, Disable Device +10
Languages Common, Orc, Draconic, Abyssal

Other Gear
Composite Longbow +2str (300 gp), 100 arrows, swarmbane clasp (3000gp), Adamantine Falchion (3225 gp), 1 wand of lesser restore eidolon, 1 wand of clw, 1 wand of grease, 2 spell component pouches, 2 holy symbols of Iomedae, Beltpouch, Waterskin, Backpack, 5 days trail rations, MW thieves tools

Evasion
If an eidolon is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex save for half damage, it takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw.

Shielded Meld (Ex)
At 4th level, whenever the synthesist is fused with his eidolon, he gains a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws.

Evolution points - 8 total
Bite (1), Fly (2), Improved Natural armor (2), Shadow blend (1), Magic weapons (1), Skilled(fly) (1)

Obviously all fighting was done in fused form, AC was 28 with mage armor constantly on.