Raun |
Hmm, not sure, Raun could just make it into range of the creature without seeming too fast (80 feet would get her 5 feet away from it at a charge), but that will likely provoke, will allow the thing to get it's full attack on it's turn (assuming it doesn't have pounce), and uhh, I think Raun will probably actually enjoy gladiatorial combat :) Was thinking she moves up a short ways (20 feet or so) and taunts/intimidates the thing, and shows off for the crowd :p
Grit |
Creature should be flat footed for this round only. Otherwise we will provoke from its reach when we do close with it. Something that large should have 15-20 foot reach which means it could charge or pounce you and when you move in to hit it it still will get an AOO.
the important thing is we coordinate. It would be dumb for Grit to take a full attack from the thing and Raun to not even her there to hit it.
Grit |
Well that does change things. I am very glad you specified that. Usually when we win initiative the other side is flat footed, right?
Grit |
I am fine with the call, but that is not at all keeping with the rules. Daina is simply wrong. You are flat footed until you act.
Even when both sides are aware of each other the person/creature who acts first can get the drop on the other. They do not get a surprise round, but if they act first the other side is flat footed, cannot take AOOs, cannot help flank, and does not get dex to AC. They can also be snuck attacked. Those are the rules. Otherwise feats like Combat Reflexes would be much less valuable and init modifier would be much less important.
I have built entire PCs on acting first and getting sneak attack before the other side acts. Likewise I have characters with reach that take combat reflexes so that the enemy provoke from him as they approach, even when he is flat footed. Without the feat he would get no AOO if they acted in initiative before him.
Däina |
Apparently Pathfinder changed it, which is one of the few things they did which I disagree with.
Also there's a difference between both sides being aware of each other and both sides being aware of an impending fight. If you're at a meeting and suddenly somebody draws a dagger, yes there's quite some surprise. But if two gladiators face each other while some announcer talks about how they're going to fight to the death, I would rule that they're both prepared for a fight.
DM Under a Dark Sun |
Grit, you are correct regarding the rules and a typical combat situation. This is an atypical situation in which both sides set up, take a position and are on guard when "the bell rings" to start combat. There is no opportunity to get the drop on the other side or catch them with their guard down. Consider it a Rule Zero ruling/DM fiat based on common sense.
Grit |
Daina, we can take this discussion off line if you like, but this has not changed since at least 3.0 came out. Being flat footed until you act is a fundamental rule of the game.
Nnn'tkklik'l |
Checking in but no time for a combat post until after work :(
please delay my action to next round so I dont hold everyone else up.
will post in about 12 hrs
Grit |
Well, I am headed off tomorrow for DragonCon and will not be back until Monday night. I'll have a laptop and should be abel to post most days but likely not more than once a day. Please bot me if you need to. Everyone have a good Labor Day weekend.
Raun |
Get to the southern gate and hold it open to allow the 'innocent' bystanders to escape was about the gist of it. Probably not going to be that simple though.
Grit |
Just got home. Now to rest up before work tomorrow. :) Funny how I always have to rest after a vacation. I plan to sleep when I am dead evidently.
Woki |
I seem to have adopted a six week old kitten that my parents/little brother discovered under one of their cars' on Friday morning. He has not let me have rest all weekend.
Woki |
It's an hour of play/acting like a spaz then he wants to curl up against my neck and take a nap while trying to use his itty-bitty claws to make my face into a pincushion. My other two cats aren't very happy with the newest addition either.
Raun |
heh, yeah that all sounds about right :p Kittens are either hyperactive balls of terror and cuteness, or sleeping. My mum got a new kitten a few months ago, her old cat still hisses at it.
Raun |
Just had a random thought about keeping Gaanon around and it prompted the question, what is your view on the Leadership feat DM?
DM Under a Dark Sun |
Just had a random thought about keeping Gaanon around and it prompted the question, what is your view on the Leadership feat DM?
That's a loaded question ;) In this case (ie. for the PbP) I'm going to say no. We've already got 6 PCs, a full-time pet, a usually forgotten pet, occasional summons and three intelligent magic items, which is more than enough to handle ... the idea of adding more makes me start to sweat a little.
Raun |
hehehehe, fair enough then :) I did mean specifically for this PbP yeah.
Oh well, think Raun is going to start working towards Dazzling Display
DM Under a Dark Sun |
Or Raging Vitality.
Folks, I got tied up tonight but will post tomorrow evening. Daina, Nnn and Gorkhan have until then to post.
Däina |
Raun |
Mmm, raging vitality is awesome, but kind of boring too, doesn't let you do anything extra, just improves your survivability. Dazzling Display on the other hand, will let Raun make rooms full of people piss themselves by smashing stuff with her hammer, roaring and glaring a lot :D
@Daina: Huh... interesting feat. I don't think I have that book. That seems like it would be banned by a lot of DM's who don't want to have to wait 5 minutes every time someone casts a spell to see whether it works or not :p
Raun |
In the Arena? That's Gaanon and the Elf. I believe the elf is actually in Gaanon's square though (he's standing over her, protecting her).
Grit |
It suddenly occurs to me that unless there is a total change of leadership in the city we may well be labeled criminals. And even if a new government is established there is likely to be much looting, rioting, and general lawlessness, at least for a while.
Is this opportunity for us, or should we get out of the city for a while?
DM Under a Dark Sun |
It suddenly occurs to me that unless there is a total change of leadership in the city we may well be labeled criminals. And even if a new government is established there is likely to be much looting, rioting, and general lawlessness, at least for a while.
Is this opportunity for us, or should we get out of the city for a while?
Interesting times are ahead, Grit!
First of all, congratulations everyone! You helped free the city and contributed in no small way to the (permanent) death of a sorcerer-king. I think that calls for a level up!
Before you get started, let me make note of a couple of things:
1) I think I've got one more long story arc in me for this campaign. While I love this story and the group of misfits you've assembled, the fiddliness and complexity of the Pathfinder rule set has been wearing on me, and it gets worse with every level. If the 5th edition rules were a little more advanced (w/ a DMG, etc.) I'd be tempted to convert everything over to that. But you all signed up for a Pathfinder game, so we'll stick with that for the foreseeable future.
2) That said, anything you can do to simplify your characters in play is much appreciated. The endless buff spells is one area that can be a real headache - I've had to keep a spreadsheet going for combats to track everything. Putting a limit on the number of buffs that can be active at one time, by itself, nerfs the caster types a bit, but perhaps we could create some kind of trade-off? Letting you cast a buff spell as a swift action and keep it up all combat or something ... I'm not sure, and it may be more hassle to modify than it's worth. But I'm open to suggestions. I'd rather you have one or two powerful buffs going rather than half a dozen incremental bonuses.
3) As I mentioned above, go ahead and level up to 7th. You also have a chance to rebuild your characters, including with a new class or classes, if you'd like. Classes from the Advanced Class Guide are available, just run it by me first. You should keep the same race and general role (if you want to start over with a totally different character, PM me) but can respec with different feats, etc. Examples could include Gorkhan subbing out his rogue level for a level or two of slayer (which is great for bards, by the look of it), Woki going shaman or Daina rebuilding as an arcanist. I could even see rebuilding Raun as a bloodrager - the arcane bloodline, for example, could be refluffed as her nega-psionic powers. (Raun also has the option of picking up levels in the war mind psionic prestige class, due to bonding with the champion's reliquary).
4) I'm going to be doing a pass through everyone's equipment before we start back up, making sure everyone is roughly equal and appropriate for the level. If you would, please post a list in three categories: 1) stuff you have you definitely want to keep; 2) stuff you have you don't really care about; and 3)stuff you don't have that you really want.
Grit |
Druids, due to both their shape shifting and buffing spells are complicated to play and to keep up with. I am trying to post stats in his current form with each combat posting along with active spells. I hope that helps. I would be willing to do more of this if you thought it would help you more.
I have tried 5th edition. I played twice at Dragon Con as part of the new Living campaign called Adventure's League (I think that is what it was called). It is not less rules intensive than FP in initial my estimate. I played a wizard, and even at low level, there were plenty of things to keep up with. That said, if the decision was to change over to 5th, I would still be here. But I would at least wait until the base 3 books are released.
I have really enjoyed the story to date. A good story combined with your writing ability and everyone's posting frequency and quality makes this one of my favorite PBP games. I hate to think about it ending. What if these characters could somehow sponsor some young upstarts and we were to come to a conclusion and retire these guys to start anew? PFS agrees with you that the rules get too unwieldy at higher level and cuts off general play at 11th level. Thoghts?
Grit |
Grit, to no one's surprise, takes a level of Druid at 7.
His BAB increases by one to 5.
His saves stay the same.
He gaines no more uses of shape change but does pick up a 4th level spell.
He gains a feat at 7th and would like to take something that bolsters his shape changing. There is a feat called Planar Wild Shape from Ultimate Combat that adds a Celestial Template. How about we mod that for an Elemental Wild shape allowing me to add an elemental template to my shape? It will be equivalent power to the Celestial template and we can work it out together. If this is not an option Grit will consider taking Heavy Armor proficiency.
He adds 5 skill points, and spends them:
+1 Knowledge Nature
+1 Perception
+3 Survival
And his Tigone also levels, growing up to large. His barding will have to be sized for him to fit.
Gear:He wants to keep his 1 steel scimitar, MW steel spear (+1 hit, 1d10 damage), MW sling and bullets (+1 hit, 1d4 damage), Klar-Killer's cloak and feral talisman. And he either needs to keep +1 klar carapace breastplate or upgrade it with the armor plates we found from the centipede. He would gladly trade the +1 bashing spiked heavy shield for a +2 shield, or even a +1 shield and some coin.
He does not care much about the +1 bashing spiked heavy shield (a +1 shield is just as good for him), +1 klar carapace breastplate (he hopes to get something better from the armor plates from the centipede), fist-sized stone enchanted with continual flame (because he has dark vision), enchanted soapstone medallion (1/day, gain +10 to Sense Motive for 1 hour but -2 to attacks and saves for the same period), or the skull that summons the shadow.
He would like a cool druid staff at some point. And getting the best +1 medium non-metal armor he can is important to him so he can have it enchanted with the Wild enchant. But that is a +4 total enchant.
Raun |
My only exposure to fifth ed so far is watching a couple of the Acquisitions Inc. shows when they were using the playtest rules. I haven't watched the latest couple (the two from this year) yet however. That said I've heard good things and would probably be willing to give it a go if I can do so without forking out a bunch of money I don't have for books.
As to reworking characters, I'm in a similar position with Psionics, never looked at it, and don't own anything to do with it. Looking at the war mind on d20pfsrd Raun doesn't satisfy most of the prerequisites :p It sounds cool and I do like the idea of her learning from the champion, but I'll pass on that.
As to the bloodrager, I never really looked at that during the playtest, but I will do so now and see what I think :)
I'll answer the rest of your questions after, but I assume you don't have any problems with Raun complicating the combats too much :p Unfortunately I think PF is more based on stacking as many buffs and different types of bonuses as possible. I really like this campaign though, it's a lot of fun :)