Call Forth Darkness! (Inactive)

Game Master Aku Warashi

Am I not supposed to Act? Looks like we all tied and ties are broken by the higher initiative modifier. The only spell I cast was bull's strength.

It's tied, but your initiative is +1, while their combined initiative is +2. So, even if it's 'tied', they should have the upper hand.

Cedric will act after the enemies in this round.

Agrippa unleashes a horror of black tentacles upon the do gooders.

How are you bypassing the darkness situation? That was the motive Grumble cast near him instead of targeting the one in the far back.

Please, re-post your action considering the illumination situation.

I’m considering you guys are carrying some sort of light source.

EDIT:

Urgh, forget about it.
I forgot the enemies are carrying light sources as well.

oh yeah, that one is my fault I misread the modifier and though I had a +3 for a moment. I am so smrt :) Go on about your business :)

On a side note:

I wish I could roll like this when playing, instead of DM'ing.

Will x Unholy Blight DC 16

Gabriel: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Hajar: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Nocholae: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Reflex x Fireball DC 16

Callistae: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Ebenezer: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Gabriel: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Hajar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Nicholae: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Will x Blasphemy DC 20

Callistae: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Ebenezer: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Gabriel: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Hajar: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Nicholae: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

ookkaay... so targeting their saves is clearly a waste of time.

Aku, please note, due to Johan's angelskin cloak, there is a 20% chance that Gabriel's smite fails, as Johan reads as neutral rather than evil. Slim shot, I know, but I'll take every chance I can get to be unsmitten!

Johan, at level 8 you get your Second Judgment. Is it being used?

Haven't activated it yet. rnd 1 swift action = fireball, rnd 2 swift action = bane. But thanks for the reminder :>

Oh,

Isn't bane a judgement?
My bad then. :)

Also johan, I'm in class right now and will take some minutes to post some other information, but there are some issues with your movement and action.

Okey Dokey. Let me see if I can pre-empt some of the issues...

I measured the distance out pretty carefully, but looking again it looks like I missed by one square. I've re-adjusted, and drawn a line showing the movement. I deliberately didn't charge so I could land behind instead of in front. I think you mentioned waaay back that the cavern ceiling was 15-20 ft high which should be ample space to avoid any AoOs. If not, I can hit Gabriel or Caliaste with litany of sloth to prevent them from taking an AoO instead of activating judgement. You said Calliaste was still in elf form, not large winged-snake-lady form, so no reach for her.

Yep, the distance was one of the things I wanted to confirm.

-

For some reason, I had the impression that moving up while flying consumed more of your movement, while moving down used less of it.
Must be something from 3.5, since I went to check on pathfinder rules and found nothing about it.
Anyways, I’m not looking to complicate the game even more with additional flying rules…

-

The other thing is that you are not rolling for your ride checks.
With your ride skill +6 (10-4ACP), it’s enough to guide the horse with the knee and stay in the saddle after being attacked. For everything else, including using the mount in combat, you need to roll ride checks.
Ride – Check the link for the list of actions and Skills DC.

//Rant on:
I’m feeling a bit pissed atm because, it seems you are intentionally nitpicking my actions while not nitpicking your own actions.
Nothing to worry about, really, the evil DM will just, you know, kill you in the most gruesome way I can think of. I’ll use the holy sword to cut down your belly, then, while you are still alive hang you using your own guts, but not before of gouging your eyes, plucking your fingernails one by one, pull out your tongue and throw you in a nest of bullet ants.
//Rant off:

-

Also, I’ve replaced the map with a better version, which gives you the exact sense of distance from the npcs.
The other one was smaller than the actual scale, which was giving the wrong impression.

@Eldred

I think I asked this before but;
Please add to your profile the information about favored enemy.

@Eldred

I think I asked this before but;
Please add to your profile the information about favored enemy.

Will do - I also keep forgetting it

@Eldred

Also, please delete that gameplay post.
I don't like that kind of post in gameplay.
In situations like that, copy past the quote to discussion.

And I was already taking the favored bonus into consideration, which you forgot.

Sorry to be the source of your frustration. Running these encounters is a lot of work, with so many individual powers and modifiers floating about and I do think you are doing a fantastic job of keeping all the balls in the air. Again, sorry if my recent posts suggested otherwise.

Re the Ride thing: Honestly, this is the first time ever that I've used a mount. I'll reread the ride skill and apply it more consistently from her in. Though I hope that my post above proves that I am being as nitpicky and thoughtful about my own actions as anyone elses.

One of the things I have grown to really appreciate about this game, and you as GM, is the level of trust between us. I feel this is a game where the players can offer suggestions, ask for advice and generally "be helpful." I hope I haven't damaged that.

On to other topics:
-Thanks for resizing the map. That will make things easier. That 10' grid can be confusing.

-Re Grumble's Crit: Gotta disagree, that was all kinds of climactic!!!

-Good luck with the job interview!

Sorry to be the source of your frustration. Running these encounters is a lot of work, with so many individual powers and modifiers floating about and I do think you are doing a fantastic job of keeping all the balls in the air. Again, sorry if my recent posts suggested otherwise.

Nah, not frustration.

That rant was supposed to be somewhat funny, which now I know I failed miserably. I think my mood was really dark indeed.

--

Job Interview: Well, I was approved.
Now is the hard decision: Leave or not my current job?

@Eldred, Johan, Agrippa

You guys can post your actions as well.

tough decision indeed. I work for the state so moving around is normally only for more money. I guess you need to ask yourself if your happy now. If not then a change can be good especially if it means advancement in the future.

@Agrippa

Your wall of Deafness/Blindness area is too big.
You can produce: 20 + 5 x (8/2) = 40ft.

The clircle you placed has total circunference: ≃ 62. ft

If you change it to rectangle, even then it still will not be enough to trap both the cleric and the paladin inside the spell area.

It's not circumference it's radius...it can make a radius 20 circle. That's 40 diameter, which is what I think I did.

-Posted with Wayfinder

translucent wall 20 ft. long/level or a translucent ring with a radius of up to 5 ft./two levels; either form 20 ft. high

Is the spell text. Radius is the measure of a circle from the Centerpoint to the edge. A radius 20 circle would be 40 across at its widest point

-Posted with Wayfinder

Hummm
Is there any hole that I can shove my head in and hide? :D

When I read the spell descriptions, this is what I saw:

Translucent wall 20 ft. long + 5 ft./two levels; either form 20 ft. high

I have no idea how I managed to miss the entire section of the text. Sorry about it.

Gabriel takes a -2 to his save for my aura probably won't matter. We just delivered some massive blows to each other.

Its official - I feel completely useless

@Eldred

Why?
You almost killed the cleric. He is with less than 15hp.
You dropped Ebenezer with that attack.
You passed every single will save with hard dc's.

Don't feel useless. :P

--

Anyway, Retcons or not, only later today.
I'll look things up later.

@Agrippa

I debated over that for some time, in the end I decided for this:
Since Gabriel didn't 'pass' the wall, only his weapon, the effect wouldn't be activated.

Cedric tho will have to enter the wall to attack, and that might cause problems for him

nah it's a fort save. I posted in the main thread all good.

Its official - I feel completely useless

Also, I Blame Johan and Cedric for this.

Feels like no one read what I write.
MWUAHAHAHAHA

I don't have to optimize, I'm playing a Anti-Paladin fighting a Paladin my class does the work. I have one spell going bull's strength.

on a counter point:

my experience on play by post you get more and a better game from people that optimize. They tend to care more about their characters and still around to play. I have almost 40 games that have died due to GM dropping or other players dropping. Now I know not every optimizer/power gamer is a good role player, but they seem to stick around and post. Look at all the tristalt and gestalt recruitment's. it is the same 10 or 15 guys that build for them. Now not many of those remain because the GM bit off more than they can handle.

Rednal applies for all these game and runs a number of games. I am in his Tristalt fallen Gods game. I was the first player selected. We have been going over a year. One of my games of 3 years just died a couple months ago as the GM got more and more distant.

Johan is playing an inquisitor. they are kind of all about buffing themselves to go into battle. They were the paizo's first shot at the warpriest. With their buffs up they are quite powerful. On top of our classes we have cool templates provided by the GM that Eldred has seemed to not be interested in. What I think you are feeling is how boring an archer is. Archery is hands down one of the best and strongest ways to fight in Pathfinder. You get a full attack pretty much every round. What you don't get is decision making. I rapid shoot it. I rapid shoot again, and again. I love archers, but I never play one for this reason. Even in table top I get board of this pretty quickly. As the GM said you have dealt a good bit of damage over the 3 rounds. You are a consistent damage dealer. Not useless at all, but I get it maybe a bit boring and not flashy. I know none of this really helps, just my opinion and take on things. I don't want to loose Eldred. Maybe GM would be open to reworking him with you or something.

Nah fellas - I'm good - I thought I would have missed the old fella with those rolls - glad that I hit him.

You are right - its a bit vanilla. Johan has some ultra dynamic approaches to combat. I think I can try a few new things but I am seeing what I haven't seen before (I play low levels normally) that spell use is key.

Not to worry. I'll go ranger again after 1 more level of rogue and I should be good.

my experience on play by post you get more and a better game from people that optimize. They tend to care more about their characters and still around to play.

As a long time GM on PbP games, I disagree vehemently.

By Long time, I mean 3+ years in single games. Also @Eldred has been around for a long time too

I don't think optimization has anything to do with a successful PbP. In my own experience GM post rate/quality/consistency contributes about 80% and the other 20% is the players.

The GM has to be able to railroad, hard if necessary, to keep the game going. The GM also has to demand and expect participation from their players.

All optimization has done in my own games is give me headaches because then I have to redo statblocks and mess with stuff. Thankfully its not really a problem I have alot in my games, and I'll have much less of it when I start only doing 5E.

Yep, Inquisitors are naturally op! :D

@Agrippa

I agree with you as well.
I'm graduating from Pathfinder after I finish my games here in these boards.

Gods, tristalt!? I've got too much to consider with one set of character options thank you very much!

I think Eldred has out damaged Johan this fight - I've been too busy flitting around the battlefield and being ultra-dynamic to actually stop and hit anybody :>

And yeah, AKU's quote above should read "I blame Cedic and Johan because they took me up on the cool templates" ;>

Anyway, this mounted combat thing is giving me a headache...

If Your Mount Falls in Battle

If your mount falls, you have to succeed on a DC 15 Ride check to make a soft fall and take no damage. If the check fails, you take 1d6 points of damage.

Okay, got it, rolled it. But does the rider land prone or not? It doesn't say. RAW I suppose if it doesn't say you fall prone then you don't. Mechanically I'd guess the intent is if you fail the ride check you land prone, if you pass you are on your feet, but it doesn't specify. My RL non-horse riding self says there's no way you could jump clear of a dying horse and land on your feet, but heck, bull rush doesn't knock you prone so who knows?

So, GM ruling required. If Johan starts rnd 5 prone, then ignore the full attack - he will stand up, trust his 30 AC to soak up the AoO and take a single attack on the lilend.

and... I really didn't set out to build an OPtizied character, honest!

He just kind of evolved into what he is. In fights where he gets to buff and take all his toys with him, he excels. When not able to prepare, he gets cut in two pretty quick as we have all seen repeatedly.

I'm not really overly concerned.

You guys seems overly strong because you are always prepared for the combat, and it's one combat per day.

You can go all out with no fear of retaliation.

Soon enough, well, things changes, you know? :D

@About templates
I'm trying to kill Eldred to shove in into one as well!

Ha! and he keeps slipping through your evil grasp!

Yeah, the one combat per day thing combined with always starting buffed makes us have supermassivenumbers.

If fact, had not everyone charged ahead on round 1, Agrippa would have hasted everyone and the fight would be even more insane.

Instead, I get to play around with my other spells that I like more than Haste.

Lord Cedric Barca wrote:

my experience on play by post you get more and a better game from people that optimize. They tend to care more about their characters and still around to play.

As a long time GM on PbP games, I disagree vehemently.

By Long time, I mean 3+ years in single games. Also @Eldred has been around for a long time too

I don't think optimization has anything to do with a successful PbP. In my own experience GM post rate/quality/consistency contributes about 80% and the other 20% is the players.

The GM has to be able to railroad, hard if necessary, to keep the game going. The GM also has to demand and expect participation from their players.

All optimization has done in my own games is give me headaches because then I have to redo statblocks and mess with stuff. Thankfully its not really a problem I have alot in my games, and I'll have much less of it when I start only doing 5E.

I run a 1.5 year pbp carrion crown game. 15pt builds and thier wbl is 3 when they are 5th level. Its going well.

I agree with all. Pathfinder wasn't really designed for one big combat a day. Bad guys are designed that ways but a big balancing factor is players balancing out their abilities to survive the day.

@Agrippa, I should have put more in their. I do agree, the game is driven by the GM. The paladin Gabriel for example is in a dragonlance game. We started in april at level 1. Here we are now 10 months in and we are level 6, about to level to 7 at the end of a current fight we are in and complete book one of the adventure. It's a 1-20 3.5 converted one. We are at 3,900 post. So 390 a month or 10 or so a day. It is a lot of fun because of the activity. Now not every game can keep up with that pace.

In the end we all have opinions. I feel more connected to my characters the more work I put into them and how much I enjoy playing them. I really enjoyed when I joined this game the interaction we had with the baron and between the group and the seventh. I hear book 2 hear gets a bit blah with the defending of the horn. I just hope we make it through and get to keep exploring the new depths of our characters and our evil ways :)

GM Niles wrote:

Lord Cedric Barca wrote:

my experience on play by post you get more and a better game from people that optimize. They tend to care more about their characters and still around to play.

As a long time GM on PbP games, I disagree vehemently.

By Long time, I mean 3+ years in single games. Also @Eldred has been around for a long time too

I don't think optimization has anything to do with a successful PbP. In my own experience GM post rate/quality/consistency contributes about 80% and the other 20% is the players.

The GM has to be able to railroad, hard if necessary, to keep the game going. The GM also has to demand and expect participation from their players.

All optimization has done in my own games is give me headaches because then I have to redo statblocks and mess with stuff. Thankfully its not really a problem I have alot in my games, and I'll have much less of it when I start only doing 5E.

I run a 1.5 year pbp carrion crown game. 15pt builds and thier wbl is 3 when they are 5th level. Its going well.

That has nothing to do with optimization. Optimization is taking those build rules and making the best mechanical character you can with it no matter the point cost of wealth. Wealth is a crazy thing in pathfinder it can be one of the biggest unbalances in the game. I have a Norse setting game that is getting ready to start we are 3rd level on a 15pt buy. I am pretty optimized for my build for it. I don't think I"m a bad role player. You guys may have other opinions :) I hope I add to the games for others and make them more enjoyable for all when I play. I as a player enjoy the number crunch and optimization, but Cedric has none of that. He has no feat combos. He is just an Anti-Paladin with a high charisma and strength. The template gave me a +2 to each of those making him a little better.

He has no feat combos. He is just an Anti-Paladin with a high charisma and strength. The template gave me a +2 to each of those making him a little better.

Feat combo is optimization.

Or Vice-Versa

I’m never sure. :D

A totally unrelated subject:

I want to make a gunslinger:
Nick: Sex Machine.
Pic: Link

I didn't dump scores, I rolled focus foible the system recommended for WoTW. :)

As said we all have our own opinions. I'm happy to have DM Aku and this game. :)

So the trigger mechanism is the hip thrust. Better work on the recoil system or you may put having children into jeopardy :)

Inspire doesn't add to CMD.

A creature can also add any circumstance, deflection, dodge, insight, luck, morale, profane, and sacred bonuses to AC to its CMD. Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its CMD. A flat-footed creature does not add its Dexterity bonus to its CMD.

The bardic performance doesn't affect AC. So no Holy symbol. Now he could move action pick it up and then channel or he could just do the cure Critical as it doesn't need the Holy Symbol but not both since Quick Channel is a move action.

Oh well, that's correct.

But that's for noticing my blunder.

Yeah -2 is right. The weapon would need to be intelligent and have an evil alignment and he would have to somehow know this. He could then smite the sword and get his level to damage, but it's just a sword. So you were right in not adding damage.

There's no right or wrong.

Also, please don't start a discussion over this.

Well, that's the best I can do... if 15s aren't high enough to hit him we could be in trouble.

Okay, so you didn't call it out when Nickolai quick channeled, but I assume he has a high enough charisma to exclude Rex as well as Cedric and Grumble?

@About the nightmare:

The order of the actions was:

Gabriel,
Nicholae,
Callistae

That way, even if the channel got the horse, there was no damage to real.

thanks for following up!

@Eldred

Do you mind if I change your action a bit?
Intead of attacking Callistae, if you attack the cleric, the combat is over.

Sure but I didn't think I could see the Cleric

@Johan

The damage done to the nightmare was exactly enough to put it with -16 hp.
This is his CON score.

--

Here is the deal:
I’ll allow you to create a fluffy ritual post, where you sacrifice part of your life force to bind the nightmare to you.
What does this actually means? Well, something similar to the platebound template, with no added bonus of course.
But while you are alive, the nightmare when killed will be reborn in hellish flames.

Of course that isn’t for free.
The nightmare loses 2 permanent points to its con score, and you lose 1 point of a score of your choosing.
Your ability score point isn’t really lost, but ‘allocated’ to keep the nightmare in the world. If you ever break the bond, you get the ability point back.

What you think?