Confirmation: Avengers Assemble! (Inactive)

Game Master slicertool

The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.”

The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.

Dot

Ker-DOT!

DOT

I believe I am ready. I really considered using a DM blob to go level 2, where the class(s) really start to actually function, but then I remembered the Confirmation can only be replayed at level 1. :(

I did use the Inquisitor and edited out the material that did not apply. But I might have missed something.

dot. I have my character ready on paper, and I'll have his sheet up on here sometime today

same. This will have to be one of the fastest PbP Confirmations if going to make it by the 20th though.

dotty dotty

First off, thank you for allowing me in. I do appreciate the opportunity to playtest this out, something I wasn't particularly sure I would be able to do this time.

Here are my initial observations on the class, (without having fully played it). So far, it seems extremely underwhelming all around. But I guess we will see. Having played and run this, I also do know that a lot of the fluff and build options are not going to apply much, or at least not going to matter too much. But, at the same time, for playtesting purposes, I do think that that should be the way it works, so not playing to or against it's strengths in any particular biased way.

dot

This is Tyranius. I am all set. These guys really need a vigilante talent at level 1 just to give them the class feel. Cause right now I just feel like a wizard with a personality complex.

I have to agree. It really feels like an NPC class at best. For the Zealot, I really don't see that changing. I can either take more Divine Training or a lot of really crappy talents. Just feels like I can either pay the tax to do what I can already do a tad bit better, or a few other things I don't even care about at all 90% of the time. At least with the Warlock, there is actually some Talents that are pretty amazing and actually a contender against more spells. Not so much with the Zealot. What's worse, a nearly identical Inquisitor comes out so far ahead of the Zealot it's not even funny. I want to give it an honest playtest, but I can already tell the Zealot is just terrible. I think Divine Bastion is the one Talent that even looks interesting, and I hope in round two all the Zealot's Talents refocus to look more like it.

Empower Holy Symbol is basically utterly worthless until at least 6th level when you have the option to Channel Energy, but at that point, Channel Energy (even at FULL CLERIC LEVEL, not the -4 levels it actually gets), has already far outlived itself. And by taking those two, that means I'm not casting anything higher than a tiny handful of 0-2nd level spells UNTIL at least 8th level. But, at the same time, what else am I going to even both taking?

At level 2 I can take: Divine Bastion (+1 CMD) a few rounds a day, 1 Domain Power, Stern Gaze (+1 Intimidate and Sense Motive), or Track (+1 Survival to follow tracks). That's it. No, really, that's it. Oh, I also get a +4 to one skill.

Agreed. I used the avenger talents to basically make a d8 hd fighter with a bunch of skills. I feel like I could do what this character does with any other melee class a million times better. I see the concept of the dual personality being fun, if not pigeonholed, but I don't see it translating to actual gameplay that well, at least in the character's current design. Perhaps with an overhaul of the talents and a redistribution of which levels they are gained at would help. Right now my character just feels lackluster. Kind of like a Kick Ass type superhero.

I kind of just want to drop all specializations, make it a single class, that must pick at 1st level between sneak attack, full BaB, or Casting (arcane or divine). From there, they can take all Talents as they like. Probably double the number of Talents gained, too. Maybe not double, but pretty close.

Sadly, it's still on the weaker side of the 3.5 Unearthed Arcana Generic Classes, which is open content.

I also just noticed that I made a mistake with the Saves, (-2 Fort and +2 Refl), and that the Avenger doesn't get a good Fort. <Facepalm>

It's like it needs some of its Social personality fleshed out to be more interesting.

“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born.

“But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Lore Guardian,” he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a mask, a tabard depicting a scroll and shield, a large backpack, and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Lore Guardian here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.”

The Lore Guardian speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”

Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.

Janira Gavix is going to be a Vigilante, too. Behold her alter-ego: Lore Guardian!

It's like it needs some of its Social personality fleshed out to be more interesting.

I don't know. I like the generic concept I had. Sort of the Anti-HellKnight. I honestly wish I could have my "Social" identity be LE (in PFS), and I think that in anything but a PFS style game (short and focused) it might matter.

However, it's nothing I couldn't already basically do on the flavor side, which probably is not going to come up much or at all in PFS, besides just out of game RP. The more I think about it, allowing this to be Playtested within PFS just seems rather pointless, when so much of it simply isn't going to apply.

A few scenarios it might, where having the skill points and occasional skill bonuses be relevant might, but no moreso than any Skill focused class and probably a bit worse than the Rogue, Inquisitor, or Bard, all of which can do much more than just that.

Nope
Nope
Nope
Nope
&
Nope. . . :P

The Lore Guardian pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!”

"I, Lore Guardian, travel the world seeking out forgotten lore and recording it for future generations. Knowledge must be preserved and those who would keep the truth hidden, like the cults of the Reaper of Reputation, must be stopped."

I had 4 or 5 different concepts, but every one either needs another class or would be better built in another class. I think vigilante should have been a template you could add onto any character, giving the talents but also some drawbacks to balance the situation. We'll give this a go, but it really just feels like a weak rogue to me (and rogue's ain't so great to begin with). Actually, I also think some alchemy skills for the stalker would have been useful. I think I am going to have to dip Alchemist in order to make this concept work anyway. I am going to try this one with a blowgun - something new to me. But I don't have the feats to really do the class justice, and crossbow seems a little mundane. I am not sure, but I am not sure if I can actually buy poisons in PFS, and crafting might be limited too. Still working on the full back story.

Knowledge, Geography untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Knowledge, History untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"I am Blood Eagle, the Avenger of the once free and noble peoples of Cheliax before the plague that is. In those lands, I have a growing reputation as the "Scourge Who Makes Hell Knights Weep Biter Tears". I bring Milani's blessing, albeit it minor, to this endeavor."

There a quite a few poisons legal for PFS play, I looked it up a while back.

Leaning a sword nearly as tall as himself against the wall, a hooded man, armored in worn scalemail, speaks. When he looks up, you can see his face is obscured by a simple mask.
I am The Union's Blade, bringer of justice to those who've earned their coin on the backs of the mistreated and abused. I have joined the Society to find such situations all over Golarion and end them during my travels, and give such poor souls the voice they need.

He leans against the wall next to his sword after his introduction, allowing the others to speak.

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

The Lightning Agent explains all about the gillmen's past and how they survived a cataclysmic event.

Open and Read above spoilers.

I am The Lightning Agent. The thin man places a fist to his chest. As a hood, cowl and cloak cover the majority of his body it is difficult to discern who he is or even what race he is.

I join the Society to right some wrongs and crimes that were committed in my past. Once those crimes have been corrected I shall continue to help the rest of Golarion as my repentance.

A thin man, dressed in white and gold colored clothing with a wide brimmed hat smiles at the group, with only his smile showing under the wide hat. A sun shaped flower clasp fastens his cloak shut, as well as adorning the man's hat.

"O, at your service, to send the undead back to peaceful rest, and to punish those who steal souls from the boneyard. I appreciate all of you helping out with this, task."

Upon closer inspection, strapped to his hip is a tonfa while a short bow and quiver are slung over his shoulder, along side a well made backpack.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'm going to try and push this through pretty quick to hit our deadline. I'm pretty sure all of you have played this (if not GMed it) at least once. If not, please speak up.

I'll do my best to keep up. I won't be close to any device to play in the next 24 hours or so. NPC during battles if need be to make things move, and I can ask as to where my token can be moved during fights when I'm at work as I'm not able to change things in Google Drive from work/mobile.

I'm not really available today but will return to regular posting after tomorrow or so. May take me a bit to catch up on all my games.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I've played and GM'd, and am fine with going quickly.

To be completely honest, I didn't find the story all that interesting here. It was kind of underwhelming in my opinion with the exception of the Aroden riddle, but once you have don't them, that's kind of that. I think, again, just my opinion, First Steps did a much better job than either The Confirmation or the Wounded Wisp.

Agreed, but I own this one and haven't purchased the others yet. ;)

Oh, I was just saying. I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining. I'm not. :P
First Steps is free, but they removed parts 2 and 3 from legal play. Wounded Wisp is maybe 75% about going to find stuff and then socializing with a bunch of named NPC's to find out more and deal with it. It's fun, but also once you have done it, there isn't too much to it. Both are only really replayable because the story isn't that important and they focus on randomized encounters. I think the appeal of First Steps was that it was a 3 part trilogy that both introduced you to a lot of the main NPCs in the game and also involved a full story over the three parts that really allowed you to see what each Faction was kind of about and also experience a lot of different encounter types that are pretty common threats. I find both The Confirmation and the Wounded Wisp really hard to finish on time without bypassing a lot of the social stuff and the mystery of the game, which makes it a bit weird for introductory scenarios. Also, a lot of the appeal of these two realy depends a lot on how good an actor the DM is, well in a face-to-face game, but at the same time, if time is a factor, there isn't a lot of opportunity to really flush out everyone, or even to meat everyone.

"I am the Silver Warden: protector of freedom and liberator of enslaved peoples everywhere."

The large shield strapped to the Silver Warden's back looks incongruous beside the polearm that also rests there, with no other visible weapons but a Brace of Javelins. Well-traveled combatants, however, might recognize the bracer that extends past his knuckles as a weapon, however.

Yada Yada, ready to go when you guys are

+4 Perception, +2 initiative

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“On to the details of the mission at hand,” Lore Defender says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.

“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”

Any Questions? Didn't think so, moving on.

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

“Now, before we head out, if there aren’t any more questions, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out.”

Anyone need to purchase anything?

Encounter and map to be posted shortly.

“After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again."

Any Questions? Didn't think so, moving on.

I have one. Never spotted this before. What's a "full moon"? :P

Ominus GM Roll. . .

Oh crap. . . Looks like it's DM vengeance time for all the ordeals "chaps" went through.

Good to go. Going to be casting a lot of 0 level spells as they didn't give me a whole lot to work with.

Checking through my meager gear, <unless something isn't there>, "Seems all in order, Lord Defender. I am ready wen you. Though, I can't help but notice your pack seems rather full. Even heavy, Lord Defender. Maybe you would like one of us to carry it for you. You know, just through this cave. Just in case. Wouldn't want you to, um, need to run in in a hurry, and get weighed down. Yah, that's it. I mean we could even sort of split up the weight a little between us all, just so none of us get into trouble, too."

Kidding. Just kidding.

"Oh, wait" Finally, dawning on him. "Yes, I got you. I um, I need to go make a phone call. Yep, be back in five minutes. Exactly five minutes."

Walking out behind a boulder, he makes sure he is mentally and cosmetically prepared. Puts on a bit of cologne, combs the hair, a bit of makeu, um face paint beneath the cowl, rehearsing the kind of sickly, something's-stuck-in-my-throat voice, waits another 4 and a half minutes, then walks back out to rejoin the party, looking and sounding the exact same. "Ok, now Blood Eagle is ready. Down with Cheliax! May the Eagle Rise!!!"

I also just realized that I can not be both Chaotic Good and Lawful Neutral, which pretty much wrecks my whole concept. So I guess I'm CG and NG? Makes 0% sense, but them's the rules.
Man, this class is really looking pretty bad. Even fun stuff like this is not allowed. Flavor is even starting to take some poor implementation hits. :(

The party makes its way out of Absalom and into the countryside beyond. Along the way, tall towers dot the landscape and Lore Defender explains that these are are remnants of siege towers from the many failed attempts of conquering the great city. Lore Defender leads the group along the road to Diobel. The first day of travel is uneventful passing nothing more than merchants and travelers going the other direction. Everyone camps down for the night.

On the second day, Lore Defender leads the group off the beaten trail and toward the roots of the Kortos Mounts. The forest quickly begins to block out the sky as the group heads north. Lore Defender occasionally checks her wayfinder to make sure that everyone stays on course. One time while getting her bearings the group notices something to the northeast writhing along the trees and coming right for them.

INITIATIVE:
Lore Defender ⇒UP!
Lightning Agent⇒UP!
Silver Warden⇒UP!
Writhing mass
The Wasp
Orlesk
Blood Eagle
Union's Blade

The Lore Defender begins to monologue saying, "I am the terror that flaps in the night, I am the fingernail that scrapes the blackboard of your soul. I am the Lore Defender! Let's get dangerous!"

Inspire Courage +1

Ha! This is going to be very entertaining! Yah, the alignments only 1 step apart was really difficult for me to, and I don't really get why that would be necessary. I suppose true alignment and exhibited alignment could be different, but why not just let us go crazy?

Ha! This is going to be very entertaining! Yah, the alignments only 1 step apart was really difficult for me to, and I don't really get why that would be necessary. I suppose true alignment and exhibited alignment could be different, but why not just let us go crazy?

I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those things that will be opened up a little bit more when it actually gets released.

Knowledge (nature) untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 11

"Snakes! I'll draw them to me."

NE, NE, N please. Then a full defense action for AC 22.

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Know Nature (Untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Snakes? Where?. . . Oh. Blood Eagle, um, not afraid of snakes or anything, but, um, well Blood Eagle going to stand over here."

On my turn, I'll follow Silver Warden and Aid Another to help boost AC, I guess. Don't think it actually matters with swarms, though. Nothing else really I can do here.

Aid (DC 10): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Drawing an alchemists fire the Lightning Agent prepares for the snakes imminent arrival.

if come within 10 feet

Alchemist's Fire: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17
Damage : 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

point blank shot and precise shot

The swarm of snakes bobs and weaves through the undergrowth and the flicks of their tongues picks up the scent of Lore Defender and slithers over to her.

Swarm Lore Defender: 1d6 ⇒ 4

The Lore Warden screams as the snakes bite at her legs.

INITIATIVE:
Snake Swarm
The Wasp⇒UP!
Orlesk⇒UP!
Blood Eagle⇒UP!
Union's Blade⇒UP!
Lore Defender⇒UP!
Lightning Agent⇒UP!
Silver Warden⇒UP!

Since the Wasp moves first, he grabs his alchemist's flask and throws it at the snakes.

Fire Throw: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The Union's Blade throws his acid flask at the snake swarm, trying to not hit The Lore Defender.
Please move me to the square directly to the left of the Silver Warden. Thanks!

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Watching everyone throwing things at the mass of serpents, "O" grabs his Alchemist's Fire and throws it at the creatures, hoping to hit the closest to him.

MORE FIRE!: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 = 19 Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

What is up with all the low damage rolls? Some group of heroes we are!

You're heroes... you're not yet superheroes.

Lore defender moves out of the swarm and casts a healing spell on herself.

CLW: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

5' step and then move. The swarm has 0 reach.

INITIATIVE:
Snake Swarm
The Wasp
Orlesk
Blood Eagle
Union's Blade
Lore Defender
Lightning Agent⇒UP!
Silver Warden⇒UP!

Silver Warden steps forward and tries to smash some snake heads in with the Cestus on his fist.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Hmm, I'm going to look at the spell list to see if I can gain flight some how, or I could go with the grappling crossbow...... Decisions, decisions.....

The snakes swarm dissipates and the few remaining snakes begin to slither in all directions.

Lore Defender looks around at the group and asks, "Everyone okay? I think I was the only one who got hurt. If it's okay, we need to keep going to make the cave by nightfall." She adjusts her backpack and heads further north.

Combat over!

The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Lore Defender says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.” As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth.

The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!” As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.

Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Lore Defender screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.