DMD's Hell's Vengeance (Inactive)

Game Master Darkness Rising

Drathi: by talking to him, you've revealed that in addition to a strange 'dog' there's at least one person in his tannery that he doesn't know. I'm going to rule that your request for him not to be suspicious and to put down his crossbow and be defenceless goes beyond 'would not normally do' and is against his nature.

For future reference, if you'd tried something like 'everything is ok, there's no problem here' I'd have allowed that to make him hesitate for a round, giving you time to get in combat without being shot at. The more ambitious your suggestions, like wanting him to go prone and disarmed, the more stringently I'm going to look at them.

Bryn's armor melds into his form, but doesn't provide AC. Different shapes provide different natural armor bonuses, so I'll put any shapeshifted AC into his "active conditions" tag.

Edit: Bryn's holding his action to see what the result's of Drathi's action is.

Edit Edit: Is Abbie small, medium, or large sized? Bryn is whatever size Abbie is/was, which will affect AC.

My thought was that she is telling him to do something that would not be out of character. Specifically, to check on his beloved pet to see what is wrong with her. Yes, the voice is likely suspicious, but the instruction is not - your puppy is acting strange, you should check on her.

If it is not a basic request, then it is definitely in the "Would not normally do" category, which is still a normal save. I don't think that this would be in the "Against the creature's nature" category.

Bryn - thanks for the clarification. Abbie was medium sized.

Drathi - not persuaded, sorry. The suggestion "put down your weapon and go prone" is, in the circumstances right now, beyond 'would not normally do' - you need the command talent to get that sort of effect.

Ok, assuming that Drathi would have known the limits of her power, I will type an alternate suggestion.

That's fine, I'm happy to retcon it.

I'm still working out how the Spherecasting system applies, btw - if you have any comments/suggestions, don't be shy in speaking up.

Just remember that what you can dish out, others (much, MUCH more powerful others) will be able to return to you :)

Yup - it is an interesting system. We will see how it works. This is the first, of undoubtedly many, salvoes.

Sorry if I've been a little silent, caught a flu and yesterday the site was down D:

Bryn: healing Aelden adds another point of non-lethal damage to your total.

And subtracts a spell point too! Get it together, Bryn!

This is a perfect case to illustrate my gripe with the Intimidate skill. Basing it on CHA is silly, but on the opposite hand, basing it on STR doesn't feel right either. It's purely an RP thing, but I can't see how or where to fit it so that it feels right.

...also, by RAW it takes a standard action or longer, meaning Drathi couldn't combine it with the channel energy action.

I tend to go with RP/circumstances for Intimidate, anyway (barring specific uses such as Dazzling Display). Nice roll, though.

Your call on how to rule on it. Figured it was what she would do. Nothing like healing the person just hurt and then calling from outside a door to let someone know that he was greatly outmanned.

Erevan - just waiting on your action for this round now you've been healed slightly.

Oh, sorry. For some reason I thought he was out of action for this round. I will post his turn as soon as I get home.

Did I miss a rule about using a Mechanics spoiler? I haven't been doing that...

Not exactly - the games that some of us have been in before used it and I think the habit has stuck.

Basically, the thinking is that if you put ooc stuff or dice stuff in the spoilers (marked "OOC" or "Mechanics") then they don't get in the way of narrative flow.

It's a bit fiddly and I don't always follow it myself, but it does make for a good appearance.

See here for an excellent example: the narrative exposition is uncluttered by the many, many rules the player is tormenting to create the effect.

Oh god! I pray I never have to add that much to a post! But I see the use of it. I will endeavor to NOT be the odd man out!

Yeah, I think we started doing that at the start of WotW, and it just stuck. I kept doing it in some other of the games I'm in it's starting to spread, I think.

Also, the glance was for Cimri because she said she wanted to talk herself if stuff went south. Eh, she and Drathi are friends, she won't get mad. :P

The strongbox is 30 lbs by the way. Let me know who takes it.

Bryn will take it.

Just waiting to see if Lythirra or Erevan are following, or trying to talk to Razelago, or what.

In case you are wondering: yes, I rebuilt Cimri. The game designer clearly hated her - she was built as a Rogue; a non-Unchained Rogue. I wouldn't do that to anyone.

Evil has standards, after all.

It's way harder than I thought it would be to be a stern, non-talky type. Finding a way to post when Aelden doesn't really have anything enlightening to add is hard!

Still, I'm enjoying being the grizzled fighter for a change.

It's way harder than I thought it would be to be a stern, non-talky type.

In a galaxy far, far away there's a purple-haired girl looking at that statement in disbelief :-)

More seriously though, there's a reason I usually play chatterboxes.

Yeh, I have a duegar monk in one campaign. To say that he is charismatically challenged is an understatement. I just play him as gruff, direct and to the point, without really caring whether his comments might be injurious or insulting.

It's way harder than I thought it would be to be a stern, non-talky type. Finding a way to post when Aelden doesn't really have anything enlightening to add is hard!

Still, I'm enjoying being the grizzled fighter for a change.

Asocial grunts come in many flavors!

Aelden Cormallen wrote:

It's way harder than I thought it would be to be a stern, non-talky type.

In a galaxy far, far away there's a purple-haired girl looking at that statement in disbelief :-)

More seriously though, there's a reason I usually play chatterboxes.

Yes, Kara is clearly 'talky' as opposed to 'non-talky' (technical terms).

I wanted to try something different, and it just seemed like the right thing to do. Was also hoping it puts a little comical relief at times.

Apologies for the slow posting - having to clear up (someone else's) mess at work.

Should be back to posting properly tomorrow morning.

Lythirra: you took the "Obvious Enhancements" drawback. Just reminding you.

Also, I'm more likely to spot questions if you put them in the Discussion thread :)

A heads up...

Due to my being in the middle of two rather major RL events, those being a) looking for a new place seeing as I am married and looking to eventually start a family, and b) trying to set up the whole private practice thing, my posting will be... erratic, spotty, what have you for the weeks and quite possibly months to come. By all means, if I seem to be taking too long to post, move along, DMPC even. And I will do my best to catch up if or when such a thing is needed.

No problem, Castor: good luck!

Lythirra: you took the "Obvious Enhancements" drawback. Just reminding you.

Also, I'm more likely to spot questions if you put them in the Discussion thread :)

Ooops, sorry, shoudl have posted here to not clog up the gameplay thread.

I do remember that I have the Obvious Enhancement drawback, but that should apply to the item, no?
I was thinking that I could animate the helm, make it take flight, land somewhere far, and then just retrieve it and bring it to Razelago: they're focused on the horse-that-absolutely-isn't-a-lumberjack, I don't think they'll know it was us.
Do we want to do it in some other way?

Yes, it applies to the item; just reminding you before you draw unwanted attention.

Enhancement has a range of Close, and I'm going to say that means if the item leaves that range, the Enhancement stops. You could animate it, make it take flight within Close range, but if it moves out of Close range, it'll stop being animated.

I...don't agree with that: I really don't see how that would be the case. Targeted effects don't end when the target is out of the original area of effect: when that's the case, it's usually specified in the effect, like Limp Lash.

I don't think it's helpful to compare the two systems: first level Paizo casters can't do anything like as much as first level Spherecasters (Bryn's shape-changing, Drathi's mind control, Lythirra's unlimited magic missiles).

That - in my view - is balanced by limitations on other factors; one of those is range.

There is nothing that supports that limitation in the rules, tough: if that were the case, buffs and debuffs would fall off once targets got out at close range, and same for all other effects. Drathi's suggestion has a range of close: Loiusoix didn't turn around just as soon after he passed 30 feet to shoot us.

As another more solid example, take the Protection sphere: if it would work as you said, Aegis wouldn't work, as the target would lose the Aegis as soon as he was not adjacent to you because it has a range of touch. To further drive the point, the Status talent wouldn't make any sense at all, as you'd know the "direction and distance" of people right in front of you.

The base assumptions and terminology of the system can't fly out of the window because we're using a different magic system.

To me, it sounds like for our purpose the Close range doesn't matter. All we want is for Lythirra to 'reach' out and grab it with her spell, and bring it to her while we distract everyone. The helm will sprout wings (or whatever) and then go Close-Reach-Touch; when we grab it and run.

You misunderstand - I'm not arguing this with you; I'm explaining the reasoning for the decision that I've already made.

But you cant spring up arbitrary, system wide houserules out of nowhere without rules to back it up!

But you cant spring up arbitrary, system wide houserules out of nowhere without rules to back it up!

First off: house rules are just that: house rules! And they are not necessarily subject to the what the rulebook says. If they were, they wouldn't be house rules.

Second: It sounds like DM D is making that call for this situation right now. It meets our needs, so go with it!

Third: You all chose to go into an esoteric magic system that (I'm pretty sure) was explained as 'something we'd learn as we go'.

Fourth: What's the issue? We are first level for goodness sake! Just grab the helmet and let's move on! :)

EDIT: If our casty-types don't do something soon, Aelden will.

I can charm people and suggest that they do foolish things, but I am not sure that is the best option here. If making the helmet fly does not work, Drathi will try to charm or suggest that someone take the helmet and hide it behind a nearby building so that nobody steals it during the commotion.

Aelden's gonna grab it and run

Err... If grabbing it is the plan, my post in the IC thread is actually about Erevan grabbing it and slipping away if or when the opportunity presents itself amidst the chaos.

That's fine, was just wanting something to happen. Erevan is better suited than I am.

Hi all

Unfortunately life here has turned pretty crappy and is sapping my time and energy - I need to take a break and refocus.

Sorry to do this, but I'm going to have to drop out.

I've really enjoyed my time on these boards and it's been a lot of fun. Best of luck to you all, and may the dice gods ever send you a Natural 20 when you most need it.

Apologies again.

Thanks for running this DMD. It has been a lot of fun, and I hope everything works out for the better soon. Best of luck to you!

Sorry to hear, but I understand entirely. Get you RL together and if you have the time, let us know when you come back. I have really enjoyed your DMing style the games we have played in together.

It sucks to hear this, but Real Life (ah, those capital letters...) does take precedence, the pesky thing.

Your games have been quite possibly the most fun I have been in.

Hopefully things will look up sooner or later (preference on the former of course) and we will get to play together again.

Either way I wish you the best and a speedy resolution to all the crappy stuff going on.

Thanks for your kind thoughts - and my apologies to Lythirra for snapping about the rules.

I'll mark this as inactive.