GM Kiora |
Yeah, when Tolkein goes on and on and on about say, a field of grass, I always took it as... it's because the author has such a clear image in his mind of what his world looks and feels like, and he's just so eager to share it with the reader. His books aren't just a way to tell a specific story about specific characters, but a way for him to share an imaginary world he's created himself. From scratch. I can relate with that, and I revel in the immersion he provides.
I really enjoyed the Silmarillion also :) I've always wanted to dive into the History of Middle Earth series but never got around to it haha.
Valaria Alazario |
Tolkien was slightly crazy in just how in-depth he went with his world-building. Considering how he planned out the entire history of the world before he'd even finished writing the books, he certainly knew where he was going with them.
That being said, I think my favorite fantasy author is Eddings. He manages to have a very in-depth setting that contains a nice balance of drama, humor, and action.
Speaking of world-building, the point of this question:
A friend and I have been tossing around the idea of a Middle Earth campaign, possibly using 5e, and I thought I'd poke around a little to see who else was in to Middle Earth and Tolkien.
Hinagiku |
Well, I am obviously a bit too busy for more pbp (I actually wished I had more time to post on this game!).
Which of Edding would you suggest?
BTW, my favorite fantasy author is Terry Pratchett, I strongly recommend it (thought its more humor than anything else).
Valaria Alazario |
I favor the Elenium. All of his series have a hint of an affectionate parody of fantasy tropes, but I think his second series was his best.
Ehren Ferron |
Attacking hala #2 first; if it drops, rest of attacks will go onto #5.
Beak Attack (Eagle, Inspired, Wounded): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 21
Claw #1 Attack (Eagle, Inspired, Wounded): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 23
Claw #2 Attack (Eagle, Inspired, Wounded): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 23
Beak Damage (Augmented, Inspired, Eagle): 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10
Claw #1 Damage (Augmented, Inspired, Eagle): 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10
Claw #2 Damage (Augmented, Inspired, Eagle): 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8
Ehren steps just out of the gargoyle's reach and hurtles a snowball right at it.
Ranged Touch Attack (Inspired, Grazed, Strong Wind, Into Melee): 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 - 1 - 2 - 4 = 14
Cold Damage (Inspired): 5d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 3, 5) + 2 = 18
Fortitude DC 17 to avoid being staggered.
This might be the eagles' last hurrah. I don't foresee them ever being this useful again. :P
Xanderghul |
I always make jokes about how the three Tolkien movies showcase the 10 exciting hours in the Fellowship's entire existence - the rest of their adventure, which they don't show, is just walking. And it takes about a year.
The books, you know, the describe that whole year. Those are my feelings on Lord of the Rings. F+*%ing amazing movies, though, and a f!$+ing great world.
I'm into Middle Earth for sure. And I'm totally with Hinagiku on Terry Pratchett, though I'm in the Neil Gaiman camp myself.
Xanderghul |
Is there a particular reason why Arcane Surge and Wild Arcana cost the same amount of MP? That seems kind of ridiculous to me, honestly. It's my opinion that Wild Arcana is way, way more powerful than Arcane Surge. It lets you cast ANY SPELL YOU WANT, and at +2 CL too.
See, when I first looked at the mythic nerfs I didn't notice that Recalled Blessing and Arcane Surge also got nerfed in the same way, and it made a lot of sense to me. Letting somebody cast any spell they want for 1 MP increases every caster's versatility by basically infinite, since they can do it multiple times per day. All Recalled Blessing and Arcane Surge do is make the spells I already have stronger. Like casting mythic versions of spells, except I'd argue worse. Mythic spells, by the way, still cost 1 MP.
GM Kiora |
The main issues with arcane surge and recalled blessing is that they actually do powerfully increase versatility. It's true they don't explicitly - they allow you repeat-cast spells you know or have prepared, therefore allowing you to use each spell slot for a different spell, rather than loading up several copies of the same spell.
It's also really important to me that, like Wild Arcana, Arcane Surge's cost changes based on the level of the effect it achieves. Let's compare it to champion's fleet charge. It's 1 MP, for a single attack that ignores DR. It does this at tier 1 and it does it at tier 10. Arcane surge, in contrast, lets you spend 1 use of mythic power to cast an extra low level spell at tier 1 (fair) or an extra 9th-level spell at tier 10 (not fair) with the extra bonuses tagged on. That's a pretty massive discrepancy in power for 1 MP.
As for mythic spells, I've considered nerfing them also - but I've decided to instead wait and see if they become a problem.
If you're upset with the nerf because you originally thought when you chose your mythic option that Arcane Surge wasn't nerfed in the same way, you can switch it to Wild Arcana if you'd like. No harm, no foul.
Valaria Alazario |
I've heard a lot of good things about Pratchett over the years, but I've never actually read anything from him. Discworld is supposedly amazing though, so I probably should.
Xanderghul |
No, I specifically wanted Arcane Surge instead of Wild Arcana. I want Xanderghul's spells to feel more powerful than Markus' (even though his Int isn't quite as high). It's why I took Eldritch Breach too. He's basically made of magic, after all. Created from whole cloth from a wizard 20/archmage 10. I'm not upset with the nerf. After all, I think that mythic needs all it can get in the limitation department. I just think it makes more sense for Arcane Surge to be lower cost than Wild Arcana.
I actually gave my own mythic party your nerf-list, and there's two archmages in the party. Both of them chose Wild Arcana anyway, even though in my own rules Arcane Surge only costs 1 MP.
The reason why it doesn't allow "multiple casts" and "allows me to prepare every spell in a different slot" is because I'm not actually going to do that. On average, I want to spend 1 MP/day. That means I want to prepare my spells assuming I'm only going to use Arcane Surge once. In fact, I want to assume that with the increased cost too. The only difference is that I literally can't use it more often this way.
I'd actually start somewhere other than Discworld for Pratchett. He's written a few other books over the years, but they all feel like him.
Ehren Ferron |
Hm. I really should have asked about this before the encounter even began. So just for future reference...
Ehren can't sleep in medium armor without penalty, right? He doesn't have Endurance. So technically, he should have started this fight unarmored. In which case, he probably would have piled up on natural armor and/or wildshaped.
Isilme |
It's interesting, I never found the LotR to be slow or overly descriptive. But then I loved the side treks to talk to Tom Bombadil or the Ents, or dealing with the barrows. The Silmarillion, on the other hand, was absolutely tedious through the first bit, what with all the "so and so begat so and so". Which is a shame, because it was a really cool bit of mythology. I suspect had it been actually turned into a book by him, instead of compiled from notes posthumously it would've flowed a lot better. The rest of the book was spectacular though, really wonderful view into the history of the Middle Earth.
I've also heard a lot of great things about Prachett, and even got the books for my Mom over the years. I've never gotten around to reading them for some reason though.
Ary Bishop |
Side note. Ary aligns Radiance. Because Ary's player is a derp.
Good night, all.
Xanderghul |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Oh my god, what's with all the Terry Pratchett ignore? He wrote a book about a society of tiny people who live in a grocery store! And the EPIC journey they have to take to find a new building to live in when the grocery store gets sold!
Hinagiku |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I also wanted to add that the shawl of life keeping does not grant temporary hp, but instead heals Hinagiku when she falls under 0 hp. So right now, Hinagiku should have lost 10 hp.
Valaria Alazario |
Would using Charmed Life pass the river of wind save? Because I would totally use charmed life with a roll like that. Hell, I'll surge too, if only to avoid being knocked prone. That's one of the most obnoxious conditions.
Valaria Alazario |
Let's go with Charmed Life. It recovers faster.
Anevia the Hawkguard |
Is the potion being offered to Anevia considered 'unattended'? If so, an initiator in any Tempest Gale stance can grab an unattended object as an x action. X being whatever I find when I look it up. :)
Valaria Alazario |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Geez, fall over once and everyone's rushing to help me out.
Ehren Ferron |
How many temporary hit points does Ehren get from Swallow Your Fear? :o
Ehren Ferron |
Ooh. :O
A deluge of pure, clean water bursts out from the bead and swirls around in place, forming a large, churning orb that threatens to engulf the two gargoyles.
Casting aqueous orb, centered at the point between the two gargoyles (after Ehren's 5-foot step).
Nonlethal Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 Reflex DC 19 to negate.
If they fail the first save, another Reflex save is necessary to avoid being engulfed.
Ary Bishop |
In addition, while you maintain a Tempest
Gale stance, you can retrieve unattended weapons as a
free action, provided the weapon is within your reach
at some point during your turn (including as part of
movement).
Page 165. Doesn't apply cause it's weapons! :)
Anevia the Hawkguard |
No time to post. Will get it up tonight if you haven't. Swift to Acrobatic Gambit, and do what she can to get the potion to Ayavah.
Hinagiku |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
dodge bonus stack so I think Hinagiku should have avoided the last attack... man she's lucky on this fight!
Ehren Ferron |
Would aqueous orb interact at all with river of wind if it rolls into its path?
Ehren Ferron |
Ah, okay, so moving it over one space won't send it flying into Ehren's face, swallowing him up and rolling off the map. ;P
With his line of sight now clear, Ehren then uses his other hand to fire a dart of acid at the gargoyle attacking Hinagiku.
5-foot step to the left, moving aqueous orb in a path I'll probably have to map out, and then firing an acid dart at Twisted Horn #4.
Nonlethal Damage (aqueous orb): 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
Caster Level vs. SR (Grazed): 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 = 20
Ranged Touch Attack (Grazed, Haste, Inspired, Into Melee): 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 1 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 10
Acid Damage (Inspired): 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7
Ary Bishop |
Added conditional movement to Anevia - I'm not sure what we decided the action to heal someone with a potion is.
GM Kiora |
Potion rules:
Activation: Drinking a potion or applying an oil requires no special skill. The user merely removes the stopper and swallows the potion or smears on the oil. The following rules govern potion and oil use.
Drinking a potion or using an oil is a standard action. The potion or oil takes effect immediately. Using a potion or oil provokes attacks of opportunity. An enemy may direct an attack of opportunity against the potion or oil container rather than against the character. A successful attack of this sort can destroy the container, preventing the character from drinking the potion or applying the oil.
A creature must be able to swallow a potion or smear on an oil. Because of this, incorporeal creatures cannot use potions or oils. Any corporeal creature can imbibe a potion or use an oil.
A character can carefully administer a potion to an unconscious creature as a full-round action, trickling the liquid down the creature's throat. Likewise, it takes a full-round action to apply an oil to an unconscious creature.
"Giving" a potion to a conscious creature (by raising it to their lips) I've ruled as a standard action.
Xanderghul |
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'Dearest Decimvirate babes,'
'I write you not only to report but also to inquire. I'm aware that it is outside of the realm of normalcy to report directly to the Decimvirate, but what is a poor wizard to do when his direct superior is a Worldwound-cursed traitor? Well, obviously he writes about the secret murder-laboratory that he found underneath the Nerosyan Lodge, and the crazy amalgam creatures that his fellow Pathfinders ended up becoming. Yes indeed, it may sound like jealous fantasy, but Ser Jorsal of Launterbury has been declared a traitor. With the destruction of the Lodge (a sad magical accident caused by booby-traps. I'm sure you understand) in Nerosyan, and the defection of my superior, all official Pathfinder duties have fallen to none other than myself.'
'It is thus that my heavy heart is tempered by my eager hand. I seek to continue the Pathfinder Society's duties and responsibilities here in the Worldwound. No other organization is as prepared to explore this Gods-forsaken land and shield its treasures from the waiting claws of the Abyss. With a group whose abilities I am quite confident in, I will soon be on the march to Drezen. We hope to re-take that fallen Citadel, and given that Drezen lies within the Worldwound itself, I had the brilliant thought that it would make an even more ideal Lodge location than Nerosyan. Well-fortified as any fortress can be, it allows much more access to the local relics.'
'I recovered the Nerosyan Lodge's copy of the Chronicles, and I was hoping that I would be able to secure the blessing of your honored council to re-establish the Mendev Pathfinder Society. I volunteer myself for the position of Venture-Captain, given that I am the only Pathfinder of good standing accessible to myself. I will also find a suitable building of my choosing in the retaken city of Drezen to serve as Lodge. Lost Sarkoris has many secrets yet to unlock, and I believe I am the man to unlock those secrets. I am eager to hear back from you at your earliest convenience. I shall write again as soon as I am able following the conquest of Drezen. Good fortunes to all of you, unless you're somebody I don't like. Not that I'll ever know, since your identities are all secret'
'With love and admiration,'
'Xanderghul the Humble'
Penning the last word, he chuckles and seals it for delivery.
Ary Bishop |
I'm four episodes into watching Stranger Things on Netflix.
It is absolutely amazing. It helps that I had a character who mirrors El's story in another setting once - ironically named L4N (Lynn).
It is so, so, so, so good. If you like high tension sci-fi of the 80s variety (even down to the typeset used in the intro/credits and the music style) just... watch it. It's so creepy and amazing, and ugggghhh.
Hinagiku |
My wife an I watched the first three episodes yesterday. Pretty cool. Though I felt the first episode was not so good, the following ones made up for it. Do you think there are only 8 episodes so that there is an actual ending to the series? Or do you think they will continue it?
Xanderghul |
I've heard many exaggerated compliments about that show. I'll probably have to watch it when my Netflix friend comes back into the states XD
I'm pretty sure that they're going to extend it. My friend said the last episode had some cliffhangers.
Ary Bishop |
I believe they'll continue it, though I feel they'll have a lot less to work with, given how they tied nice little bows on nearly everything.
They did create a few questions in the last episode that are pretty strong in the cliffhanger department - but - they did a great job of making it like a 'horror story ending'. That they didn't spell out everything for you and left it pretty open. They did give pretty strong nudges, though. :)
Isilme |
Isilme turns her attention to the Gargoyle next to her between Hinagiku and Ary, attempting to skewer it with her rapier. "One by one they fall, and soon the Twisted Horns will be no more!" she calls out.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 + 2 = 9
Haste Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 35
Confirm: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + 2 = 8
Full Rnd Act: Attack; Free Act: Maintain Performance
Hinagiku |
Kiora, I think you deducted hp from the wrong gargoyle. Isilme attacked #4 not #2. You know, the one that is barely standing.