DM Apocalypso's Skull & Shackles

Game Master Apocalypso

@apocalypso - I did some of the magus backreading, and there is an aspect of 'spell combat' (1st level class ability) that allows enhanced concentration checks for defensive casting. It allows tradeoff of to-hit and concentration bonuses (the same way combat expertise allows to-hit v. AC tradeoff). It implies that it's only usable when using a full-round action to combine casting and melee - so I'm not using it with move & cast. In the current situation the penalties on the to-hit don't seem like a good idea anyway (though I'm itching to use the 'hold the charge' aspect of some of these touch spells :)

I didn't read the game post with the Rock Lobster reference until after I read the post here, although I would like to think I wouldn't have missed it.

Side Note:

Anyone here interested in playing Game of Thrones on Facebook? I think there is some team play involved. I think I would go Targaryen. (You pick families). Anyone wanna check it out with me?

Cuz you know, you can never game enough, apparently.

https%3A%2F%2Fapps.facebook.com%2Fgamethrones%2F%3Ffb_source%3Dsearch&f ref=ts

If that link isn't good, look for Game of Thrones, Ascent on Facebook.

Grappling is always fun. Once you've already grappled someone, you get to make a standard action grapple check at +5 to maintain. If you maintain, as part of the standard action used to maintain, you can do one of several things to your victim: move, damage, pin, or tie up (no more to-hit required - you had to make your grapple check this round). As a fairly likely choice:
Damage
You can inflict damage to your target equal to your unarmed strike, a natural attack, or an attack made with armor spikes or a light or one-handed weapon. This damage can be either lethal or nonlethal.

Oh - and just as a fun side note - if you're grappled (either as aggressor or victim) you don't get AoOs. Which is useful to know...)

not that it's much account now, but hadn't I done 5 points of acid damage to the reefclaw? Or was it entirely immune?

weapon? no weapon? I shall bash it about the head with a crab pot!

wait - what? doesn't qualify as a weapon? drat.

What would you guys think of trying to occasionally play a few hours online? Maybe move it along a little faster?

The site I'm thinking of using is "www.roll20.net" (free)
For audio we would use Skype. (also free)

I, as GM, would post interactive maps and pics of NPCs and monsters online.
I would give you each a token of your character, that you could move about to demonstrate your actions.
There is an online dice roller.

I think roll20 has an easier learning curve then maptools because you don't have to download the software-- everythings visible and interactive online.

I imagine it would be infrequent, as I know you are all busy people. Just as a once-in-a-while thing...

It's a possibility - it would depend on the night, of course. We may also want to wait until Paizo's own VTT comes out (Paizo Game Space). They're in early beta testing now, I believe and it really seems like they're trying to make it the most user-friendly one out there.

Paizo Game Space

Yes, I've been keeping a weather eye on this as well. I'm eager to see how it plays out (hee!)

I've been playing weekly games on both maptools and roll20 for a few months. (I started jonesing when our game ended and went questing for new games far and wide. Now I find myself a tad over-extended. Ah well, back to the points...)

Maptools is more customizable for the uber-geek: Different fields of vision for each player, depending on light levels and perspective; Better area of effect graphics; Adjustable snap-to grids; Once monsters are programmed they are point-and-click for attack and damage; My fellow uber-geek players have on-off toggles for point-blank range, flanking, sneak-attack, etc.

Downsides: maptools is a lot of work to program for players and the GM; it hates all versions of java after 7; also it needs a host and players to log in-- which requires a lot of bandwidth, especially as the game "layers"... large maps, differing fields of vision, spell effects, etc. The game begins to crash for people without high end equipment.

~~~

Roll20, on the other hand, is hosted by... Roll20. If you can log in to the internet, you can play on Roll 20.

It is customizable, but not to the extent that maptools is. Although recently they've put in some upgrades that may make that untrue.

I have never seen it crash.

What I like best is the user-friendliness. You just need to know 3 or 4 commands as a player to make it play-able.

~~~

I'm eager to see what Paizo comes up with. The main feature I'm looking for is play-ability, and ease of use. I know there are a lot of hard-core geeks looking to build a perfect holodeck over there. I'd settle for "less then 15 mins instruction needed for the average player to start having fun."

As a possible GM, the feature I would be most excited about is the pre-packaged content: AP maps, NPC and monster tokens (with macros programmed) ready to go. That would save HUGE amounts of time for a GM.

But to compete with Roll20 it would need A) the easy access and B) the ease-of-play for players.

Anyhoo that's my soliloquoy on VTTs.

What do the rest of ya's think about giving it a go?

In principle I'm in.

I don't suppose you can make a sandbox campaign on roll20.net for us to poke in? I've got an account, and went out looking, but I didn't see anything that looked like an open-access test/exercise/sandbox.

hmm, i've played but never gm'd on roll20.

i was planning to get into it if you guys were in.

in which case, yes, we could make a test game to practice in.

mebbe in the meantime i'll see if my roll20 gm would be ok with some poking around with you guys.

Hey Gang... I'm gonna try to get up a rough version of our S&S game on Roll20 so you guys can check it out and see if you like it. Its really pretty easy to use. I'll schedule a half-hour practice session for anybody who wants.

We are reaching the climax of the "first chapter" of this adventure. In just a few more shipboard days things should get really interesting. That would be a great point to have a live-ish game.

For sound we'd use Skype. Does everyone have access to that?

Also, anyone who would like a token that's different from the one on this messageboard... please email me a jpeg. Otherwise I'll use the pics from here to represent you.

Is everybody still "on board"?

I'm OK with the occasional Roll20 session if it fits my schedule. I have Skype so that's fine. I'd like to use the image that's on the Obsidian Portal site. I can e-mail it if necessary.

So I've put up a rough mock up of our campaign on Roll 20. Those of you who like to explore on your own are welcome.

1. You will have to create a Roll20 account.

2. You may have to do something to respond to my invitation to the game.

3. If there isn't a big "JOIN GAME" link, go to the top left corner and click on the tiny pink link that says "VIRTUAL TABLETOP"
From there JOIN GAME should be fairly visible.

I left the main deck, a couple of NPCs (only I can move), and your PCs, which everyone can move. If you double click on them, those of you who are adventurous can start to load things like HP and AC into your tokens.

~~~

If this makes you nervous... don't worry, I think you'll find this all surprisingly easy. Once you can get to the game you only need three essential things...
How to move your token (click and drag)
How to type in chat (easy)
How to roll dice (much easier formula than paizo...
/roll d20+3.
That's it. /roll

I'm going to ask my Roll20 GM if he'd mind having a little practice session with us Saturday at 6:30 pm. Just half an hour. Can anyone make it? It's not critical, I can do it an additional time. But its a possibility if anyone can make it.

Tonight's not the best for me, unfortunately.

More broadly, I get the sense from responses (or rather, lack thereof) that the enthusiasm for live virtual tabletop component to this game is lukewarm at best. I myself would be all for it - I think it'd be fun to highlight major events/battles - but I do have a sort of general agreement with Amanda to limit gaming to two nights a month, which is already taken up by PFS in New Paltz and the game next door. Play by post doesn't count, but VTT would. I'm reticent to go beyond that in the interest of having enough time with my family. So if I've been less than super-excited about it, that's why. If we do it occasionally, I will try to join in but a good amount of advanced notice will help.

Thanks for letting me know the deal Doug. I thought a VTT game might go over your limit, but I was hoping an occasional game might squeak by.

Daniel-Sidhon expressed some interest in the VTT option.

I think Lori-Gilraen is a bit apprehensive about it. (thus my emphasis on its ease-of-play. much easier than learning paizo's play by post, i think.)

And we haven't heard back from Rich-Noonan in a while. :(

I still hope to hear from him, as the way Rich plays Noonan is great fun. If not, whaddaya guys think, should we recruit another player? If Noonan doesn't return it would seem like the party would need a tank-type, and a rogue-type. Although a rogue isn't absolutely essential, since anyone can make perception (find trap) rolls, and anyone can put ranks in disable device. I would start by asking y'all for recommendations. Don't do it yet, I'm still hoping for the return of Noonan. Just taking everyone's temperature on it.

~~~

Of the 3 currently core players, 2 have expressed interest in trying VTT, and 1 hasn't expressed an opinion, leading me to believe she's less than enthused. Could we try it once and if its not fun, we let it go?

Another option is possible with our current players. The GM, Zorg, and Noonan live in NP. Sidhon and Gilraen visit NP twice a year... in the summer and around christmas. With our current players we could have an actual live game twice a year, with the June/July time coming up. I emphasize twice a year for those of you that have spouses that don't want you over-committed game-wise.

So feedback on these 3 points folks? For me, I do want to try VTT at least once and see if everyone likes it. I think Roll20 is very "gettable" for players. And if it goes, I'm envisioning playing that way maybe 4 times a year. Or 2 times live, and 2 times VTT a year.

@Meg - I think i need an invite on roll20. I'll drop through, and run through with lori to see what she thinks. Can you create an invite for utopia27 @ gmail.com

Pity I am in another S&S, I would love to run Noonan. :(

So, I've just heard back from Rich-Noonan, and he's officially out. :(

Whaddaya guys think? Any recommendations to join us? And shall we have them play Noonan, or a new character? You guys really need a tank, methinks.

I'm inclined *not* to also add a rogue-ish character. As more players tend to slow the game a bit.

Input welcome.

Andrea, do you think you could play without metagaming to much from the other campaign?

Looking for feedback guys. Let me know your thoughts.

I know we've got 2-3 folks that would probably be interested in joining.

@lori - I'm thinking Rachel, Karen, JD, potentially some of the Vint Hill Irregulars...

I could go 'Yarp' and 'Nyarp' a bunch if need be.

Sidhon has some good choices for new players so go with them at first.

Hi, all -

I agree that we want to keep it to 4 players - I think this will keep things from slowing down too much, particularly during combat. I'm fine with inviting anyone that the rest of you know.

As for VTT, we may want to see what this 4th player thinks about the possibility. If they are interested, we can give it a try. If not, well, you've got a majority of folks that are iffy for one reason or another (as we do now), at which point it may be better to just all try to post regularly so the game can proceed steadily. Either way, a live game once or twice a year is a possibility, if I have enough notice.

Alright, Lori & Daniel, go ahead and invite someone to play Noonan. Have them read his earlier posts to decide if that is a character they could have fun with.

I realize I'm probably breaking all kinds of social guidelines asking someone to play someone else's character-- but he's a good character, with a needed skillset, that's already integrated into the game. So there we have it.

If you find someone who wants to play Noonan, have them email me, and I'll get them set up.

EDIT: They'll be able to make some tweaks to skills, feats and possibly stats. And Noonan didn't finish leveling up. But the essential "invulnerable rager barbarian" and Noonan personality, I would like retained.

Any nibbles for Noonan, yet? If not I'll start recruiting on the boards.

Don't know if Daniel sent anything around, I'll do so now.

Maybe a nibble on Noonan.

Good. Let me know. I might have somebody on this end too. But haven't heard in a couple of days.

Have Noonan threaton Fipp's jewels again!

My fist, your nuts.

Rolling Rollin
Mystery: 1d12 ⇒ 12

As I think you are all aware-- Andrea is going from fangirl to actually playing Noonan herself. Welcome aboard Andrea!

In game, Noonan can follow Jape and Maheem down, perhaps surprise them, if he rolls well. Roll initiative.

apologies for being slow - just as a catch-up, Sidhon carries his shipwrights tools in a leather apron, and winds his flying talon around himself underneath that. He keeps one potions of CLW in a pocket of his leather apron.

Hey Andrea, if you PM me your email address, I'll be able to give you a formal invite to our obsidian portal page.

I tried sending the invite. Let me know if it came thru. It seemed a bit more like I was "friending" you then inviting you to the campaign. Lemme know.

Excellent choice for Noonan's freaky trait. I was gonna give you more rolls, since you rolled a 100. But it looked like you got a good one.

And again, welcome! Its nice to have Noonan more animated again.

Obsidion portal seems to be down right now. Will try later.

Invitation accepted.

Yarp?

Hey, GM -

Did you see this? The Skull & Shackles adventure path will soon be open for Pathfinder Society Organized Play and credit:

http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lerl?Ransom-on-the-High-Seas

I don't have any experience with the APs for Pathfinder Society, but thought I'd pass it along.

Hmmm, yeah, I wonder how the longer APs work in Pathfinder Society?

I would imagine they forego the continuity of who's on the ship, and whoever plays is "on the ship" that day.

It'll be fun to see if anyone brings it 'round.

I have considered offering to GM the beginning adventures as PFS New Paltz grows. (First Steps will have to be reoffered periodically, yes?) But I don't think S&S is the one I'd "get my feet wet" with.

Anyhoo, here's hoping.

No, you're right, the APs definitely work better for a continuous group (a home game or group of regulars that get together somewhere else). I think they take certain sections of the modules to be the ones that are relevant for Pathfinder credit.

It'd be great to have you join the group of potential GMs at New Paltz. First Steps will be retiring this summer, but they are going to replace them with other Tier 1 scenarios that are more specific to the current season plotlines. And, yes, if we get interest from new players, it would be good to have those occasionally, or at least the Tier 1-5 ones like we're starting to play now.

I can't wait to run my June game (the 21st) - it's going to be a hoot. :) It's already up on Warhorn, btw.

Gilraen and Sidhon; when are you headed up to NP?

We may be able to play live, but for Zorg we'll have to give lots of notice.

Andrea, you don't happen to live in driving distance of NY, do you? If not, we'll look at a couple of options. Possibly skyping you in.

The timing may work out great for the climactic battle of this chapter of the adventure.

I am in Maine and have no car.

Afternoons from 2-8 are all tied up for me near every day except for Monday.

We'll certainly be around for Stone House Day - not available that Friday or Saturday. Potentially both around from July 2-14. Once we are up there we could do Monday the 8th if Mondays are best.

Urp!

It would have to be then. :(

I'm the organizer for an event in Woodstock July 8-9-10.

So of the days you're both up, the 11th, 12th, 13th, & 14th of July would be best for me.

The 2nd, and 3rd are possible, but less ideal.

Doug, are any of these possible for you?

Andrea, we're still keeping you in mind. Probably to Skype you in. But if we can get the GM & 3 players in same place at the same time, we're gonna grab that chance.

I'll have to check out Skype since I've never used it before.

The 11th would probably be the best of those four days given family birthdays etc. for the weekend of the 12th-14th. The 2nd/3rd might be possible.

Let's go with the 11th then. Yay!
Starting at 7?
Maybe arrive at 6:30 and start settling in?

Andrea, did you find Skype? Its a free download. Once you have an ID, we can connect and practice talking on it. Not hard at all.

Got Skype now.

Where are we going to play? I'll volunteer the stone house if you want - big table and all.

As kewl as the stone house is...I think my house in NP. I gots my stuffs there, and Zorg is coming from the south.