Drongos - The Blakros Connection (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

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Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

I don't know that we ever established one, but we should definitely have a marching order so there isn't any confusion if the GM has to ambush us again. Hopefully our current state of awareness and sensitivity to such things is amped up enough to prevent that.

In this particular instance, we can go three wide.

Front Row: Lort, Finarin, Gunari
Back Row: Cyrus, Ibid, Amaranti (riding Kaisharga?)

When we need to go two by two:

Lort, Finarin
Gunari, Amaranti
Cyrus, Ibid (Cyrus can spend ki if necessary to get into place, don't mind running from the back row)

And if we are forced into single file:

Gunari (armor)
Finarin
Lort
Amaranti
Ibid
Cyrus (same logic as above)

Feel free to (respectfully) disagree/modify my suggestions. I think that pretty well fits how we would normally do it.

At least this way the next time we get ambushed, when the GM goes after the squishiest member of the party again we can blame the author, and then refuse to buy him/her beer at Gen Con.

/snicker

Grand Lodge

Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

Lort has higher AC and more HP than Finarin and should be in the front row (or behind Gunari) where possible... unless, Finarin, you have another reason for wanting to be closer to the front? I genuinely don't mind, but tanks out first, right? ;-)

Dark Archive

Human (Minnesotan) Rules Lawyer 4, GM 5!

Yeah, I'd like to see Finarin standing behind Gunari at first... Finarin's flat-footed AC is a lot lower than Gunari's. Maybe @Cyrus edited the order a little?

I'd go with a little modification... especially if Karshaiga is out.

Lort Gunari
Cyrus, Finarin
Ibid
Amaranti riding Karshaiga

This gives us coverage over Ibid, and keeps Cyrus closer to the front (for trapfinding, mostly, even though he doesn't have trapspotter)

Sound good?

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

I'm cool with that.

I had Finarin close to the front mostly because he does the most damage when he can full attack. Totally did not take a high AC into account there. :)

Of course, Cyrus is finally starting to catch up to Finarin as far as blasting on a full attack... If I can hit with all of my iterative attacks that is... :)

So 3x3:

Lort, Finarin, Gunari
Cyrus, Ibid, Amaranti riding Kaisharga

2x2:

Lort, Gunari
Finarin, Cyrus
Ibid, Amaranti riding Kaisharga

Single File:

Gunari
Lort
Finarin
Cyrus
Ibid
Amaranti riding Kaisharga (I keep forgetting Kaisharga can fly over our heads too...)

I think that takes into account everything.

Grand Lodge

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Male NG Human Investigator 3/Ranger (guide) 2/Fighter (archer) 2 - PFS# 141231-2 | HP: 30/55 | AC: 20 (15 Tch, 15 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 26 | F: +7 [+9 for hot/cold conditions], R: +12, W: +4 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9 [+10 find traps], SM: -1 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration: 3/3, Ranger’s Focus: 1/1, Inspired: 1/1, Boots of Speed: 10/10, Folio Re-roll: 1/1 | Spells: endure elements, shield | Active conditions:

I'm cool with all of that, Ibid is protected in most cases.

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

"Hey, right nut," says left nut.
"Hey, left nut," says right nut.
"Who's the Ibid in the middle?" the nuts ask in unison.

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

Karshaiga is large, so the two of them would be the rear rank. Good for protecting our squishy

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

Well, for sure, I cannot take another hit from either of those, or I am dead dead. Someone needs to get its attention, FAST! Amaranti? Lort? Karishaiga? Finarin? Anyone?

Two hits for 70hp ... Holy crap...

Sorry guys, hope we can pull this one out!

If I get another round, I will be fervor healing, and burning a spell to heal. That will get me 3d6+3d8+9 (average 36hp). Hopefully I can roll high. Hopefully I am not dead before it happens...

Grand Lodge

Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

Sorry mate, out of channel heals and I do not like my chances of getting a spell off while threatened by two of those guys! Lort hasn't invested in combat casting at all.

That is, unless it was decided to be the following day (I believe Gunari cast the only vote and it was for the same day).

Either way, a good offense might be the best chance we have. The deathweb has already attacked, leaving the hungry fog thing the only next to act creature. Hopefully, between we two priests, we've ended it!

Worst comes to worst, Lort has a scroll of breath of life! He can move away, take the hits and cast it.

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

That's fine, Lort. If there are three or four bigger threats in front of them, I think Gunari will be able to get his heals off. If, that is, there are even any critters left when Finarin is done.

Gunari has a +13 Concentration check, so that's an 8 or better for a 3rd level spell... and I have my reroll left if needed.

At this time I see something like 120 damage having been dealt, so we might have it done already? These things hit as hard... as we do!

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

Holy balls Ibid!

I bet that felt good. :)

So it looks like we won't get a chance, but I had a theory about a creative way to damage the swarmy thing and the misty ooze. If we weren't about to mop this thing up (AND SAVE GUNARI!!!!) Cyrus was going to try to kick off one of those sparky book energy discharge things (that is currently jolting us right now) and hope that the energy damage affected the spider swarms.

Hopefully this deathweb husk thing doesn't burst into a massive spider swarm when it dies... otherwise I might still need to do that... :)

Grand Lodge

Male NG Human Investigator 3/Ranger (guide) 2/Fighter (archer) 2 - PFS# 141231-2 | HP: 30/55 | AC: 20 (15 Tch, 15 Fl) | CMB: +9, CMD: 26 | F: +7 [+9 for hot/cold conditions], R: +12, W: +4 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9 [+10 find traps], SM: -1 | Speed 30ft | Inspiration: 3/3, Ranger’s Focus: 1/1, Inspired: 1/1, Boots of Speed: 10/10, Folio Re-roll: 1/1 | Spells: endure elements, shield | Active conditions:

Thanks for the kind words and helping Ibid to feel less useless :)

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

Ok, so just to throw this out there, the Archivist is throwing us out because we are being rude. Even with a writ from the Decemvirate. This must be fantasy because I sure as heck know in real life I have to tolerate rude all day every day.

Or BS is just making our exit colorful.


Well, simple rudeness would be begrudgingly acceptable, but there was that whole part with Lort threatening to put Qilaus' head through a wall and now Cyrus' veiled threat.

Plus, I thought it would be good fodder for some RP! ;-)

Mostly the latter though. :D

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

Forgot to add cool either way. Nice GM!

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

Talk about fantasy... Gunari is the one with the cool head, here. Good thing I have been investing in diplomacy so heavily... it is coming in useful.

Oh, and an aside... would anyone be adverse to playing Halls of Drunken Heroes? I'd be replaying, but seems apt for Gunari.

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

Based on what we talked about before, I'm not interested in playing anything except season 7 until after gen con. I want to get as many scenarios in as possible to be as invested in the storyline as possible.

-Posted with Wayfinder


Timeline:

3 Days spent investigating Blakros
Third Day fought at Blakros
Third Day went and fought at Forae Logos.

As you investigated at Blakros today, you cannot also investigate at Forae Logos, so everyone gets to sleep, finally!

When you arrive the next day, the relevant checks to investigate Forae Logos for any signs of why the Aspis Agent came to Forae Logos are: Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (planes), Linguistics, or Profession (librarian).

You can also search the library with a Perception check for the 8 hours, if you'd like. The Perception group will be anyone who isn't able to make the above checks. Also, to form a group for the four Forae specific checks, you all need to roll the same type of check (max 3 creatures in a group).

As before, please roll three checks each to represent three days of exploration. If you beat the library before three days, then that is just a bonus!

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

Three of the same skill or three different skill checks? Aid another?

So Finarin has Kn Arcana +15 & Kn Planes +9 for planning purposes.

Yes, a rest!!

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

Cyrus has linguistics @ +8 - happy to jump on that one if a couple other people have it as well.

Otherwise he can roll with perception at +11, but I think we had a few people last time who could only do perception checks.

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

So, Gunari will be no help here... All he can do is perceptions.


1. Three people per group.
2. The same check must be made by everyone in the group.
3. Groups and choice of which check can be changed between days.
4. You want as many people on the best check as possible, not a bunch of different people rolling checks. E.g. Finarin doing Kn. Arcana solo instead of Linguistics with Cyrus is probably a worse choice.

Example of an okay way to split up the group:
Kn. Planes - Amaranti, Finarin, Ibid
Perception - Gunari, Lort, Kaisharga
Linguistics - Cyrus

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

That looks pretty good to me!

Thanks for clarifying that GM BS - and I do appreciate you trying to roll this more tedious part of PbP into something that won't take so much time.

(see what I did there?)

Scarab Sages

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Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly
Amaranti wrote:


Finarin already rolled kn. arcana... Will Ibid go that route too? If so, Amaranti is not much help, except in the perception group..

My vote would be to take GM BS's advice and just apply Finarin's Know: Planes modifiers to his current rolls, so you and Ibid can also roll Know: Planes.

No need to re-roll anything, and lets us group up nicely to get the most bang for our buck.

So based on what we have on the thread, I believe we would just need Amaranti and Ibid to roll Know: Planes, and then just apply Finarins planes modifier to his current rolls. That should be everything GM BS needs.

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

You ok with keeping my rolls, but switching GM?

Modifier Planes +9 - still terrible rolls.

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

332:
Anyone play her? I did not. Just wondering.

The Exchange

Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

I played Shihoraj... though through GM credit I could have. I might ought to decide that at some time. Since I didn't before this scenario, I'll say the credit did not go to 322 nor Zurnzal (reasons).

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

I played Rataji at Gen Con. The guy who played 322 at our table was someone I hadn't met until then. Really nice guy, did a great job bringing her creepieness out, but it was clear he had never played an oracle before.

Pregens at that level can be very challenging... So much going on, and that one in particular had an obvious critical role in the scenario.

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

Just read gameplay - wow, just wow.

So I have perform (dance) +2 - no help there

Kn Arcana +15; Kn Planes +9

Very challenging for 6 checks. Think Ibid might have an edge on me skill wise, but there it is.

Let me know when we get there.


Side Note: I got to play 322 when I did Serpent's Rise! :D

Sovereign Court

Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

For planning purposes, my best is Perception at +9.

Scarab Sages

Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

[redacted]

Ok, now that that rant is over, here is my suggestion.

I've put everyones modifiers into a spreadsheet. Here is the link

Ibid has 17+1d6 in know local
Lort has 17 in perception
Gunari has 17 in sense motive

Those three are our keystones.

I've tried to arrange everyone else so that we get the best possible spread, while having those three key guys use their best skills. You can see the color code on the spreadsheet if you are interested.

Here is my suggestion to save everyone time and angst over our third [redacted]

  • Ibid rolls Know Local at +17+1d6 solo

  • Cyrus, Finarin, and Lort all roll perception at +11, +9, +17 respectively

  • Gunari, Amaranti, Kaisharga all roll Sense Motive at +17, +0, +7 respectively.

    IMO this gives us the best spread, and lets each of our experts in those areas have a chance to do what they do best.

    I am going to roll 3d20 on the gameplay, then make my post assuming I am doing perception as I noted above.

    I am open to discussion, but to be honest, I would rather just push past this [redacted] as quickly as we can.

  • Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    Wow. Just finding it so hard to care right now.

    Lort wrote:
    Seriously, this is the 3rd season 7 I've played post GenCon and the 2nd dreamscape sequence. I know that the PFS creative team is trying to set out on their own and not be tied to an AP, but it is hard to think of anything more unimaginative than constantly entering a realm of imagination. Well, maybe two library sequences in the same scenario.

    Make that 3 library sequences and a very similarly run ritual sequence.

    Robert, don't know if you're still reading mate, but seriously? Nice to try to do a non-combat without diplomacy... but how many groups of 6 randoms do you imagine would have this covered? Either you've got it or you don't. If you've got it... 4 times is just boring. If you don't, 4 is frustrating as hell.

    It doesn't help that this translates very poorly to PbP (big props to GM BS for smoothing it over) but wow. Just wow.

    Scarab Sages

    Male Human (Garundi), Summoner 10, HP: 93/93 | AC: 19[21] FF: 17[19] Touch: 13 | Saves: Fort: +11[+13] Ref: +9[+11] Will: +11[+13] | Perception: +2 SM +0| Init: +2 | CMB: +16 | CMD: 27 | Speed: 30 | Spells 1st: 6/6 2nd: 4/5 3rd: 2/4 4th: 1/1| Wand of MA 39/50(1) | Wand of IH 38 / 50 | Active conditions: heroism 200 min, greater invisibility 10 rounds

    There have been other scenarios (or at least one) which rely heavily on knowledge rolls, but that time the local GM posted a warning beforehand that pure combat machines might not get much out of the scenario.

    Lucky we have Ibid with us :)

    (but it might be a bit more exciting if the mechanics for non-combat activities would be more complex)

    The Exchange

    Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

    the frustrating part for me was the number of checks that were all hitting the same skills. It isn't that we don't have skilled characters (in fact, Gunari's got some pretty good skills, but they are focused), it is that we don't have certain skills, or limited numbers of us have limits.

    That's also acceptable, but if a scenario plots 2/3s of the action around those skills, it can be rough.

    Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    Mechanics more complex?

    For disable device, the pay-off is opening locked doors, disabling traps, etc. For diplomacy and intimidate, the pay-off is influencing NPCs. For sense motive, the pay-off is not being lied to. Bluff, pay-off is lies, feints and other things.

    Knowledge skills have an obvious pay-off in monster lore. For the rest of it, they are a plot revealing device. It's a way for PCs' study habits to have an in game reveal for you that helps immerse you in the situation. Rolling them (and any other skill) for the sake of 'if you have that skill, you win' is just crap. A library search requiring knowledge rolls that don't expand the narrative (and only serve push the plot forwards as opposed to stalling it completely) are a waste. It's not what they're for.

    Doing it 4+ times in a single scenario? It's uninventive, unnecessarily punitive and just poor design.

    Scarab Sages

    Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

    I was trying to refrain, but I'll add my thoughts.

    This entire scenario has felt like we have had to make a bunch of checks so that the GM can tick a few boxes off and then move us to the next plot point.

    At no point have I felt like my character is making decisions to actively influence the storyline. As a player, I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride, just waiting for the bottom to fall out, or the next hill to climb. In essense, for as much fun as it is to roleplay, I feel like zero roleplay has mattered so far in this scenario.

    Its all roll and the entirety of what we are doing, success or failure, all hinges on a d20 and how many skill points we have put into a massive variety of skills.

    I want to be in the drivers seat, or at least feel like I have some control.

    This scenario isn't just a railroad, its the whole damn Amtrack. We are just along for the ride.

    Not sure if that adequately describes my point and frustrations. I agree that having to do this "library" fight for the 3rd time is more than just eye-roll inducing, its groan inducing. Serious props to GM BS for trying to keep it interesting, but the author isn't doing him any favors here.

    I was thinking that perhaps I was being too judgemental, and that perhaps this works much better at a table. But then I imagined what it would be like sitting at a table having the GM ask for check after check after check while the players stare waiting to be told what happens next, instead of actually getting to be actively involved in what happens next.

    I imagine this part would go faster at a table, but I can't imagine it would be any more fun.

    I want so badly for Season 7 to be fun and have an awesome story arc that launches from the exceedingly cool stuff I got to experience at Gen Con last year. So far I have been monumentally disappointed.

    Scarab Sages

    Male Human (Garundi), Summoner 10, HP: 93/93 | AC: 19[21] FF: 17[19] Touch: 13 | Saves: Fort: +11[+13] Ref: +9[+11] Will: +11[+13] | Perception: +2 SM +0| Init: +2 | CMB: +16 | CMD: 27 | Speed: 30 | Spells 1st: 6/6 2nd: 4/5 3rd: 2/4 4th: 1/1| Wand of MA 39/50(1) | Wand of IH 38 / 50 | Active conditions: heroism 200 min, greater invisibility 10 rounds
    Lort wrote:

    Mechanics more complex?

    For disable device, the pay-off is opening locked doors, disabling traps, etc. For diplomacy and intimidate, the pay-off is influencing NPCs. For sense motive, the pay-off is not being lied to. Bluff, pay-off is lies, feints and other things.

    Knowledge skills have an obvious pay-off in monster lore. For the rest of it, they are a plot revealing device. It's a way for PCs' study habits to have an in game reveal for you that helps immerse you in the situation. Rolling them (and any other skill) for the sake of 'if you have that skill, you win' is just crap. A library search requiring knowledge rolls that don't expand the narrative (and only serve push the plot forwards as opposed to stalling it completely) are a waste. It's not what they're for.

    Doing it 4+ times in a single scenario? It's uninventive, unnecessarily punitive and just poor design.

    There are many uses for the skills, yes. But their use is pretty much "roll once and then win or lose the whole thing". Imagine if combats were handled the same way... You roll your "Swordsmashing" skill, and if you fail to beat the DC, you lose. Would you be eager to get into the amount of combat the average scenario has?

    I guess I'm trying to say that the mechanics for non-combat encounters are so straight-forward that it's pretty hard to make an interesting non-combat encounter. How many feats or class abilities we have that play a role in combat versus those that play a role in non-combat? I suppose that's a common thing in fantasy RPG's that they centralise around combat... [rant]There was one pretty interesting social mechanic in Burning Wheel RPG (or maybe just it's scifi spin-off Burning Empires), that would allow just as epic encounter of talking down an evil ambassador as a standard fantasy would handle a fight with a dragon.[/rant]

    PBP format might be part of the reason why it feels tedious. At least I liked several skill checks in <redacted> scenario. But in a RL table the checks take just a minute, as opposed to day or two of PBP.

    BTW, I really did like the way Mikko handled skill-based encounters in Ancient's Anguish. I wonder how it would translate into PBP..?

    But I do agree it's been too railroady so far.

    Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    Combat is a well-established mechanic that:

    • Everyone builds the characters for (ie. even if you're not a combat specialist, you still have capabilities in that arena).
    • Everyone skills up in by default (BAB).
    • Can be used untrained.
    • Has any number of creative solutions for and creative situations around (spells, class abilities, feats, etc).
    • Is expected to occur, as it is the primary means of leveling your character (getting XP).
    • It is not pass / fail... you do damage per round (it isn't down to a single hit).
    • Is inherently team-oriented (and typically involves the whole team).

    That said, I like the introduction of interesting extra mechanics. Rolling on ones that have been arbitrarily sprung on you is okay. Doing it on 4 separate encounters (three of which required a ridiculous number of rolls) within something as brief as a scenario? Not cool. Not fun.

    The Exchange

    Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

    @Amaranti - I was thinking the same thing about Ancient's Anguish. Great mechanics, but...

    Actually there are two acts that could be tedious in PbP... but, I think we could make some of it work.

    Without reading the scenario, it is hard for me to say how it could have been improved. Just starting to feel redundant

    Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    On the Mikko thing... Scions of the Sky Key had a "defense points" mechanic. It relied on whether you accomplished certain tasks and activities on the way to and within the dungeon. Many of them could be passed with one or more skill checks, but each had an RP thing that you could do to get a significant mechanical bonus (like using the basilisk's favorite toy ball to your advantage). It was heavy on the creative thinking and light on the "roll or fail" kind of checks. Moreover, as you did each of them, some other details about the dungeon you were in became apparent. Its history was unveiled before your eyes.

    That is the kind of thing that piques my interest. Having that scenario to contrast this one makes it painfully obvious how badly this one misses the mark.

    Sovereign Court

    Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

    Sorry that this is coming across harsh, but we have critted the dead horse here. We need to move on. Everyone knows that many of us have a problem with some of the structure of this scenario.

    If the author is still reading, he has plenty of feedback.

    I for one would like to have fun gaming with you all, my good online friends, that I will finally meet in July. Though I have been guilty myself, complaining will do nothing. Any and all of us are more than welcome to post a review.

    I for one would like to return to the adventure at hand, so let us retrieve the lantern, and redeem 322!

    Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    Agreed. Sorry for the rants!


    Don't forget about this ability of the plane!

    The Dimension of Dreams is a plane with the highly morphic trait (Pathfinder RPG GameMastery Guide 186), which allows some visitors to perform incredible feats by sheer force of will. As a standard action a number of times during the dream equal to the creature’s Charisma bonus (minimum 1), the dreamer can attempt one impossible action, such as casting a spell, gaining an effect of a spell as if it were cast, or conjuring a magic item. This requires a successful Charisma check (DC = 10 + the level of the spell being cast or spell effect replicated or half of the caster level of the item conjured; nonmagical items are caster level 0). Other fantastic feats are also possible with GM approval and a Charisma check with a DC determined by the GM. If the check fails, the dreamer cannot perform the feat. During this adventure, a PC is unable to create effects whose spell level is 7 or higher.

    The Exchange

    Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

    Charisma check you say...

    Check's Gunari's charisma score

    Yeah, ok.

    Sovereign Court

    Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images

    Thanks for the reminder GM, just the 1 use for me so I will save it for later when I really need it.

    Grand Lodge

    Male Half-Orc Level 9, #-2

    So... just had a brainwave. Lort is better off hitting than casting spells... but he could conjure a weapon!

    If I'm right, the caster level for a +3 ghost touch greatsword is CL 9 (use the greater of 3x enhancement bonus - which is 9 - or the CL requirement of ghost touch - which is 9). DC for the charisma check is then 14. Lort passes that 30% of the time. With a +1 reroll, it gets to 35%. So... that's 0.3 + 0.7 * 0.35 = 0.545.... close enough to a 55% chance. I only do 50% damage without it... so... totally worth a shot, right? What's the worst that could happen?

    The Exchange

    Male CG Human (Varisian) Warpriest 10 | HP:83/83| AC: 32 (15 tch, 30 Fl) | CMB: +10, CMD: 24| F: +13 (+5 vs cold weather), R: +9, W: +16 (+2 vs mind effecting) | Init: +1 | Perc: +7, SM: +18 | Blessing: 8/8, Fervor 3/10, SacWeap (9/10r), SacArm (7/10m), Shirt 0/1 | Pearl 1 1/3, Pearl 2 0/1, Extend: (2/6), Heroism (0/1), Chalices (2/4), Corset 0/1 | Active: Divine Favor +4, BoF

    Oh. Gunari isn't going to waste it on a weapon.... He wants and everful keg!


    As a heads up, I will be taking the Illinois Bar Exam on Tuesday and Wednesday and travelling to Chicago on Monday. I am aiming to still get posts up, but I cannot promise that it will happen.

    Scarab Sages

    Male CG Human (Kelishite) Ninja 8.2 | HP: 43/43 | AC: 26 (19 Tch, 19 FF) | CMB: +9, CMD: 28 | F: +4, R: +14, W: +3 | Init: +6 | Perc: +11, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft, Climb 20ft | Ki Pool: 5/6 | Active conditions: fatigued, haste, spirit sense, invis, fly

    Good luck on the bar! Does that qualify you to be an ultimate rules lawyer then?

    -Posted with Wayfinder


    If there was a section on Pathfinder, I'd probably beat all the other nerds taking the test. >.>

    Think there is time to petition for that section to be added before the test?

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