Dawn of the material plane

Game Master fictionfan

Well then.

That's pretty conclusive.

Rough week, sorry guys.

Ven you are 30 ft from the next balor, they were relatively close together as everyone was engaged in explicit activity with Yamasha. And aside from the flying ones, haven't really had a chance to spread out.

well its been 22 days so I think we can say we have lost our GM, for now.

Well I can't go back on a Nat 20, even though I was just going even/odd. A Nat 20 is a Nat 20.

I don't mind handling and even designing some of the fights -- as long as someone(s) steps up with some good background depth and NPC characterization for Ozil to roleplay in.

You saw how I loved to talk (Diplomacy roleplay) to Nocticula and how I was eager to talk (Bluff roleplay) to Yamasha, but deferred since everyone else just wanted to get started fighting (completely understandable).

I'm not a big fan of combat, especially PbP -- so me running monsters and combat encounters won't take anything away from Ozil's roleplay -- which is the fun part of gaming for me as a Player.

--Just make sure someone(s) takes over some background development so Ozil can learn all about stuff and, of course, talk to and try to manipulate Powerful NPCs.

Can we get a Rolecall?

1).... Ozil (DM Ray can design and run a good portion of the combat encounters.)

2)....

3)....

4)....

Tonight when I get home I will grab my monster books and act for the Demons.

I am posting Yamasha' second turn now for Metagame reasons: I know what she is going to do on her turn and I don't want the Demons to do anything until I have the monster books in front of me and can think about some possibilities.

I will post their actions tonight.
IF some of them attack a PC whose Player has left for obvious reasons, I will retroactively transfer that attack to the next seemingly dangerous PC.

This isn't the best way to handle this but we, I feel, have to be a little flexible for this combat.

It's also very likely that another PC or two will join if a few of our PCs completely drop out.

Well, if you want to run the roleplay, I can run the combats if you prefer. The main deal was that the game was moving SO SLOW that a post a week for just dialogue and combat combined wasn't cutting it.

I'm not super great at figuring out plots, at least at this level, but I can keep a combat chugging at at minimum a post a day if need be, as long as everyone's fine with me not pulling any punches on tactics and whatnot.

No, I don't want to "run" the Roleplay -- I applied to play in the Roleplay!

I don't give a damn about combat, though. I wanna talk!
(see Iommi-Tyr Magnusson trying to talk to a Lamia instead of fighting it -- well, prior to fighting it at least.) And that's just one of a hundred-and-one examples from the two games we're both in that illustrate I wanna roleplay. If you recall, after I forced that long conversation with Nocticula earlier in this campaign I wanted to come in and start talking with Yamasha. But I knew that that vast majority of the group was chomping at the bit for combat -- especially having made both indestructible and overwhelmingly powerful PCs -- so we appropriately started combat.

I don't mind at all running combat from time to time if there's a chance that Ozil will get the chance to play through all kinds of creative and dangerous roleplay full of intrigue, diplomacy, manipulation, deceit and innuendo -- and even better, for me to learn about and explore all kinds of campaign background material, complex & fascinating NPCs and interesting setting Fluff.

(Working on the Monsters' attack round now -- Wow, this may take a good hour....)

Ok been having a chat with DM Ray and thing is we may have a good way to go running them game. I am good with plots, its my strong point, its the combats that always let me down. Where as DM Ray says he is happy to do Combats to a point. So I think the way to go is tag team. As a GM I have run games where I have had a PC in the game. I know NOT to Marry Jane my way around. In fact I have been known to be very mean to my own PC. That's just the story writer in me. So once this Combat is done and dusted I have a good idea where the group can go next and what we will move into.

You will have a number of Challenges, like the trails of Hercules, once you have done them and made the artifact to hide your actions from the gods. Players will gain 1 level of mythic, from there you can move to bigger things and gaining power to start taking out the gods.

There will be a lot of sneaking and hiding your plans for that.

Right now the party is at there most vulnerable, because IF a god takes a closer look they can be found out before they even start.

So guys, GM Ray will deal with this combat, we will PM with each other about the outcome and then I will take over until hes happy to do the next combat of any for Challenge 2

If all players are happy with this, we can once more move this game along and play some really neat stuff.

Thanks guys

Johnny Panic

For the moment I'm just chilling out in my Demiplane but I can still play.

cool, going to bring Alex in asap, not combat but something that will help.

I'm stoked that Alexander Torov is back -- I love Ravenloft -- and since we were planning on using his DemiPlane of Mist even without him,....

Sundakin -- I'd be totally happy if you DMed some of the fights. I'm actually starting to think this campaign may actually pan-out.

DM Panic -- I really look forward to roleplaying through some great NPCs and campaign background from you. While I admit I cringe at your grammar & spelling ;p -- my impression of you is that you'll be able to come up with some epic campaign development for us. And a fellow Arsenal fan can never go wrong!

....I hope you all understand why I'm breaking a big rule of good-DMing by not giving flavor text for this combat but just throwing out the raw numbers; I promise to make the combats I run in the future more engaging. I just want to get through this one and get the campaign rolling.
(Note that the Chaos Demon is not in any of the 5 Bestiaries so I'm making it up.)
Also note that the monsters are a little bit tougher than the text -- that Marilith with Gestalt CLR/WIZ Levels threw a Quickened Disintegrate at Ozil in addition to a Polar Ray. That's not even legal. I'll give more info later on how I handle combats as a DM. (But right now I have to prep for my Saturday night game: Gonna kill me some PCs, heeheehee.

Oh, Sal Da Qill -- sorry about targeting your Construct with both randomly rolled attacks -- I did a d10 (divided by two) for each and got a six both times. That was you. As it turns out I don't think these Demons can actually hit you guys enough to startle anyone (Though I admit being initially terrified for Ozil with that Disintigrate & Polar Ray -- but neither were even close.)

I'm still hoping for a roll-call rsvp from some more Players. Maybe we'll discuss, early next week, if we should recruit one or two more Players.

....Well, I'm off the Boards till Sunday.

I am still here, and eager to resume our god-killing plans.

I'll get my combat post up shortly.

Thanks GM Ray, sorry about the English I am dyslexic and well you can tell.

Ven'atorix good to have you here

If we can get a couple PC posts in combat it'll give me a solid idea of who all is here.

If we still have Ven'atorix and Tk-Chthik in addition to Ozil and Sal Da Qill we should be able to finish the fight against Yamasha and her minions and retreat back to Alexander Torov's Misty DemiPlane.

Alexnder Torov is certainly invited to "receive" a communication from Sal Da Qill (or Ozil; I'll look at his spells) -- a call for assistance -- so If you want to pop in that'd help us out.

Anyway, the more we post in the next few days the more likely this campaign can finally come alive.

ROLL:

(Please let me know where I've jumped the gun or messed up.): 0 = 0
And add stuff for yourself to help us all out

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Sundakin: (Tk-Chthik) .... likes engaging combat and is willing to DM some combats in addition to gameplay

Bigrig 107: (Ven'atorix) .... likes combat and is ready to bring the fight to the gods

DM Johnny Panic: (Sal Da Qill) .... likes SciFi and is willing to design and run the campaign background and NPCs for roleplay as long as he doesn't have to run the combats

High On Holy Water: (Alexander Torov) .... likes designing and inventing new stuff for his PC (research roleplaying) such as novel artifacts & alchemical regents or elixirs that are outside of RAW

Ray: (Ozil) .... Loves learning about complicated campaign & setting backgrounds (especially in the Lower Planes), getting into all kinds of creative roleplaying conversations with complicated NPCs (diplomacy, bluff, manipulation, innuendo) and is willing to DM some combat encounters because combat is by far my least favorite aspect of gaming and DMing some fights won't at all hurt my enjoyments of playing Ozil

To be clear, it's not that I dislike RP, it's that I dislike slow games where little progress is made in a timely fashion.

Unfortunately in a play by post setting rapid pace and good RP are often mutually exclusive if the GM doesn't post multiple times per day. Spending weeks on a single conversation is just as excruciating as spending that amount of time on a single combat round.

I didn't realize Tik was up though, so I'll post in Gameplay.

To be clear I like SciFi but I will not be adding any SciFi other than this one odd Iron Golum into this "Fantasy" game.

I should note that Mondays are my busiest days at work and combat adjudication can take a while to type out -- I'll get stuff up ASAP, tonight at the latest.

Metagame Notes on Yamasha's Prismatic Sphere:

1) I decided that it makes sense for Yamasha, especially since she's an Avatar or Herald or something of Nethys, to have special Arcane Abilities and, considering I need to design 'Something' that can challenge the group when Balors & Pit Fiends & Tigers Oh MY! can't really challenge you too much, I'd go 'big' on some of her spells and what-have-you.
(Let me know if you have a problem with this or that.)

2) I decided I would make a handful of slightly different tables for use with the Prismatic Sphere so that when you peak (if you so choose) at what happens to Ven'atorix, you can't really use Metagame knowledge to see what will happen to YOU if you follow him in.
(That sound fair?)

I figured the actual teleportation might be enough to save me from the sphere, but it's fine that it didn't. Mythic magic, yada yada, blah blah, it's cool.

I'm actually really okay with you mixing up the effects, as that means that this might actually be a threat that could seriously affect his performance in this fight.
I'm glad you decided to do all the work I'm sure that required!

Now, to see if Ven's alright!

I can't believe this -- first time EVER in PbP....

I am having FUN in this fight.

--I was pleased to come up with the Dimensional Anchor idea as a PC, especially juxtaposed with all the other PCs' actions.
--I enjoyed designing Yamasha.
--I freakin' LOVED Yamasha rolling a nat 1 on her Save vs Harm
--And I kid you not, I jumped a bit in glee with Ven'atorix's Will Save on the Plane Shift!

I'm not a fan of combat in over-the-table D&D and I've never even enjoyed it in PbP but this is a blast. (Though I do think it will take a while to finish.)

So Im I, I think we have some how it on just the right level to get a cool slug it out fight. It this level it can be all one hit kills and nurfing powers, but this is great.

I love the fact while the others duck and dive blows and take out bad guys, Sal's poor tank is smacked around like and old tin can by a pack of angry Demons and it picks itself back up and gos back into the fight.

Real old school slug out.

I'm so-so on it right now since all I've really had the opportunity to do is full attack random things.

Maybe I'll stop worrying about conserving ability uses and cut loose with something more fun next turn, I just wasn't sure how "15 minute" we were gonna make our days.

At least I actually can use my abilities as they're supposed to be used in this game rather than this three step guide on how to ruin a perfectly good game with s@$@ty houserules.

I would, go for it, this is a great chance to try things out.
I have altered and shifted things to get the ideal of what linked
PC Cohort can be. I like the idea now of them being like this.
It has a nice feel and lets her/it stand out. She can't do anything
like the hit numbers and Damage your PCs can lay down,
but I am cool with that, as the feel is right.

I just wasn't sure how "15 minute" we were gonna make our days.

I can't answer that because I don't know.

Can your PC trust that Ozil did a good job dealing with Nocticula -- enough to guess that the Queen of Bi+ches isn't going to teleport some of her thralls over here to see what's what?

Yamasha went Big with her Summoning & Prismatic Sphere. (obviously)

But honestly, I would employ a smart-observation tactic: If you're confident that your PC can handle the Balors without too much danger without going full-tilt,.... if you're not too worried about Ven'atorix all by his lonesome in that Prismatic Sphere with Yamasha, well then save your biggest can of whoop-ass for when you are concerned.

Why consider Metagame thinking of a 15 minute day?

I admit, Ozil is quite terrified of this Marilith and Balor in his chops. Of course, I haven't had the time to look at Ozil's options on what to do against them -- maybe he's not in as much danger as I fear -- but I admit that I am afraid for him.

How I determined the DC for that Knowledge Check:

Standard DC 15 + CR (20) for basic Knowledge = DC 35

plus 5 DC for each bit of extra info:
Two bits for offensive abilities = DC 45
Two bits for defensive abilities = DC 55
Three bits for special abilities = DC 70

plus another standard DC total for personal info, history & personality (15) = DC 85
And every five points above that would give even more than "standard" personal info, history & personality.

.
.
.
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These 'bits of info' are the things I LOVE in gaming -- why I build as grossly broken Knowledge Skills as I can or my PCs.

Unfortunately, since I'm doing the combat it just wasn't nearly as fun as when a DM tells me what I know about the monsters' personal info, history & personality.

Ah well.

Why consider Metagame thinking of a 15 minute day?

Because copy-pasting my full attack macro every turn is boring, hence why I HAVE a bunch of other abilities to use. =)

Yes, I CAN quite easily kill all the Balor one by one (or two at a turn if I stop rolling 1s on half my attacks), but full attacking is the most tedious and boring thing in this game. Always good to have as a combat option, of course, but using other stuff is generally going to be more fun.

I second that, Sal could have sort to take over a few of the Demons minds and had them kill each other, but where is the fun in that, and its big-Dull time for the GM who has to post both sides of a fight.

I'll be back 'up' Sunday -- gruelingly long week and I just want to watch some NFL draft coverage, The Amazing Race, and be in bed asleep at 9:00 tonight. (Saturday I have to prep for my Homebrew campaign; so that leaves Sunday before I get back here.)

But get ready, Ven'atorix, for Yamasha's Command Undead Spell!

Sorry, not a good day at work (Mondays!)

I swear I'll get to the Balors' attacks ASAP.

I spent this morning trading PMs with Ven'atorix regarding his Will Save but I've [/i]got[/i] to put Paizo down for now and pick it up when I get home tonight.

Maybe the day will get better and I can get out those walls and walls of attack-text-formatting for the Balors.
(I'm so down that I can't just "Reply" or do a copy/paste and edit it for what happened in y'all's half of Rd 2.)

If he do's not make the save let me know, Sal has a power that can mute that and give him an out, She can manifest if as she made her battle Seance a collective, so cam manifest power on members that have the self as target,

As she said she would be waiting of anything trys to mess with the groups minds.

:) .

Sorry it's taken so long to get the Balors up and running.

For the record, today I get the award for best DM ever:
Last week at work I was slammed with end-of-the-month financial accounting combined with end-of-year duties -- continuing well into this week and next. Plus, Monday saw a crash in the new software we're implementing for part of our record-keeping that still hasn't been completely fixed. AND I have to get the commencement ceremony finalized yesterday (At least those plans are going smoothly.). And today when I came in, water from a storm last night had found its way through the roof and RIGHT ON THE HEADMASTER'S DESK! I open the school about thirty minutes before anyone else gets here and spent my early morning trying to save my boss' desk! That put my whole day off! (He at first tried to commandeer MY office but I had none of that and sent him running as he began to realize how backed up with work I am.)

All that at work and the price of gold has gone up quite a bit the last week so, as a commodities trader of gold & silver, my "free" time has been completely devoted to trading gold on the market during this chaotic boom.

And I STILL got the Balor attacks up today!
Best DM ever!

(now I'm back to work)

well done, it is very much oppressed, Buy gold

As a precious metals commodity trader I both buy and sell -- obviously I try to buy low and sell high, and I win some and I lose some. As fun (and stressful and challenging and cool to talk about) as it sounds, I make surprisingly little per week buying and selling gold. (But every little bit helps.)

(Gold) is very much oppressed. Buy gold

.

I respectfully disagree. Now (specifically) and now (in general) is a pretty good time -- in my not-so-genius opinion -- to SELL.

Rules help:

Inside my Maze spell I'm going to use my Cure Crit (CL 20) Wand but, I'm wondering, can I use my Rod of Quicken Spell (Medium) with my Wand?

No, Metamagic only works on spells you cast, not ones produced by a magic item.

Hi we waiting on anyone?

Still waiting patiently for Ven'atorix to do whatever as he drags Yamasha back to the group and Tk-Chthik to continue ripping through some Balors.

....Slow posting is okay with me, busy as I am -- though I admit curiosity as to what Ven is going to do and I'm desperate to start Curing my Ozil.

.

EDIT: LOL, oddly enough the REAL Life Ozil just got a hip injury and had to miss Sunday's game -- and it's all my fault! :(

He may also be out for our next game and who knows about the European Championships this summer -- Germany can't win without Ozil, good as they are. Of course, I'm still hoping he can make it back for OUR last game against Aston Villa so he can break the single-season Assists record. I don't care if he plays for Germany in the summer.

He is that hurt, man thats bad luck

Hey guys! School just got out, and I've been settling in back at home.

My posting rate will be much higher now, promise.

Good to have you back, lets hope things speed along.

Im waiting on some feed back from the GM guys.
But who is next to post?

Sorry about the delay from your PM -- I haven't had time to go through it in detail.

Still waiting on Ven'atorix and Tk-Chthik to act in combat.

Ven'atorix has he asked a question and seems to be holding

I need feed back from you GM before Sol can replay to that question.

I've already acted, and have done everything I need to.
Not sure what he's talking about...

Uh oh, checking to see what post(s) I missed....

.... Sorry about all the delays, mark it up to my busy work schedule and, um, actually there's no excuse, but....

I finally got a chance to look at the Crunch for the rules question Sal Da Qill posted for me in Private Message. It has to do with Sal Da Qill figuring out what exactly happened in the Prismatic Sphere. I determined last week (or something) that Sal Da Qill knew immediately when Ven'atorix was no longer part of the Psion's Mind Link but not why. (I felt that was the most accurate way to both interpret and play-out a quite difficult rules situation.) What sucked was that, because of the circumstance, I couldn't ask for the players' help, something on which I'm almost always able to rely! ....Now there's another rules question and I'm hoping that I've solved it -- at least, I'm hoping that if I didn't solve it we can maybe say, Ah, screw it, and get back up and running again.

um, again, apologies for the delay