KingOfPregens |
I'll post after the retcon takes effect and someone's triggered the AoO.
Can Elena have her actions back? Or would she really have attempted to climb again.
Mathos Crus |
I plan to climb to the top and then turn to assist others while swinging at the fungus. We really need Elena up here. She has the herbicide on her sword and we need that. I hit it for 5 of so earlier and it has healed so we need take it down as quickly as possible, and the bonus damage from the herbicide will help a lot.
I still think we ret-con Elena up top where she was pulled down from. She can maybe even run around to the bridge from there in a turn or 2. Alternately maybe someone up top can push it into the pit and we mob it down there. I don't know what Gulch's or Erasmus's CMB are like for a Bull Rush.
KingOfPregens |
Does Fran have a Fortune available for Erasmus to push the plant down with?
Mathos, are you sure you want to climb up if the plant is going down?
Mathos Crus |
If you are pushing I would prefer to stay down. I will ret-con my post to assist you with a CMB? Maybe I can distract it, I dunno.
KingOfPregens |
We will have plenty of time to secure a rope and take our time after combat.
I just don't want to act until someone provokes an AoO. It would stink to fall unconscious before Erasmus can heave-ho.
Readied actions to attack if you can't provoke would be most helpful, I think.
Elena White |
So your plan is to have Erasmus knock the plant into the pit while the ranged attack from the top ledge?
I don't believe Elena has vision of Erasmus so she has no idea what he's doing. I played Elena in the way I thought she would act with her current knowledge. Also, a character can attempt to climb twice right? Elena used her Move Action for a Climb and her Standard Action for a Climb. Please let me know if I did the mechanics wrong.
Mathos Crus |
Ok, so I tossed my book in the hopes of drawing an AoO with my ranged attack within the 15 foot reach of the fungus's tentacles. Hopefully that opens a window for you Erasmus. I should have 16 AC so should have a good chance of it missing, fingers crossed.
KingOfPregens |
Yeah, Erasmus had hoped some others would make the climb, so he didn't have a chance to come up with or explain this plan. You all did him cross the bridge, though. I assumed other characters might come up with the "if we can't get to the fun-, let's bring the -gus to us" sort of idea.
Fran Belmont |
Erasmus has been Fortune'd as requested!
(Also I'm home from work now :D:D:D)
*edit* The idea of bringing the fungus among us hasn't occurred to Fran but I figure she can probably just see that Erasmus is trying to come up to the creature so of course she's going to help her handsome friend out... :)
GM ThinkingFlesh |
I see what you did there, Erasmus. :-)
As I understand it, Gulch provokes an AoO based on using the Climb skill within threatened range. No getting around that.
I don't know if it's RAW or not, but I would lean toward ruling that you're prone after completing a climb up to a cliff ledge, so standing up would also provoke.
But if Gulch did both in the same round, it would only provoke once since the critter doesn't have Combat Reflexes.
GM ThinkingFlesh |
Mathos, you want a Readied Action to throw your tome if/when Erasmus makes his move. Be aware that that will incur the -4 penalty for ranged attacks into melee.
GM Hmm |
HEY! No sacrificing the Kitten!
So with the retcon. It can be tough in PFS to figure out what can be fair without totally turning back the clock. On the other hand, I don't think most people would argue with a GM call that returned hit points that would not have been expended if the attack had not happened.
I say, go with your gut.
___
I love the plan of Drawing the Attack of Opportunity, but I (Hmm) is hesitant to do that with a 4 hit point witch's spell book. Witches are so dependent on their familiars that I am really hesitant to do anything that might hurt Fran.
On the other hand, Fran is first level. So her spellbook / familiar could totally reset. But I am not doing it without Fran's permission.
Hmm
Mathos Crus |
Completely understand Hmm. It was not an intentional thing to have you sacrifice yourself, just looking at who is in a position to do it. Another option would be to get everyone into position this round, hope Gulch passes his save next round and go then.
GM ThinkingFlesh |
Thanks, Hmm. So if the retconn seems fair, I'll just need two characters to roll their 2d6-2 hit points, and up to two characters move themselves either up or down the cliff, as they wish.
My suggestions would be Elena and Erasmus for the HP, and Wormling and Gulch for the climb. But don't listen to me, I'm trying to kill you. :-)
Mathos, you may have meant Erasmus to make his Save. Gulch already failed, and is Dazed for one or more rounds (Gulch knows how long, but Erasmus doesn't).
GM ThinkingFlesh |
Melee bite +5 (1d6+2), 2 tendrils +3 (1d4+1 plus pull)
Feats Improved Initiative, Multiattack
At will—touch of madness (DC 14)
The cerebric fungus may daze one living creature by making a successful touch attack. The target creature must succeed at a DC 14 Will save, or it becomes Dazed for 4 rounds. The dazed subject is not stunned (so attackers get no special advantage against it). This is a mind-affecting enchantment, equivalent to a 2nd-level spell.
Two tendrils using Touch of Madness, plus bite. Multiattack allows it to use all three.
As always, if I've gotten it wrong, I appreciate the opportunity to learn.
KingOfPregens |
The fungus could attack with two tendrils and make a bite, but they would be normal attacks, and not daze.
Check out the Magic Chapter of the Core Rulebook for more information about Spell-like abilities.
GM ThinkingFlesh |
Okee-dokee, thanks to King I have learned again.
I had always assumed that the (Sp) designator stood for "Special", but it actually means "Spell-like", and requires a Standard action.
I incorrectly had the fungus doing these types of attacks as part of a full-round natural attacks action.
So if the fungus wanted to use that ability it would have to choose one target only, and forego the bite attack. So let's retconn that while we're still in the same round.
Which target?: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Sorry, Gulch. You're the "winner".
And Erasmus gains back 4 HP from the bite that didn't happen.
Thanks for asking the question, King, and for the answer.
KingOfPregens |
The Fungus is a more complicated statblock than average for a tier 1-2 adventure.
I'd browse through the Universal Monster Rules on the PRD to get a sense of some of the many different abilities. Keep it handy when prepping an unfamiliar statblock.
GM Hmm |
I'm glad that this monster has provided so much to discuss. I think that everyone has learned more about combat in this section than in any other.
And now... let's kill this plant. Die plant. Die.
I am also going to say that when you are dealing with a low tier party that is struggling, it is more than acceptable to use slightly less than optimal tactics as a GM. Don't softball unneccessarily -- fights like these are memorable, after all. But it is more than okay to use suboptimal tactics is the party is being absolutely trashed by your monsters.
GM Hmm |
As I said, this has been a really good learning experience for all involved. We all start somewhere.
One of my local Venture Lieutenants in Minnesota recommends that GMs read the combat chapter of the CRB all the way through once a month. He told me that you will find something new to learn every single time.
Have I done this? No. But I've read through it twice this year, and it really made a difference in my understanding of combat and monster statblocks.
Hmm
GM Hmm |
I don't read it every month... Honestly, there are things that are just much more entertaining to read out there.
But the rules to combat in this game are complex. The good thing about PbP is that we have time to look them up as we go.
GM OfAnything |
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GM Hmm |
I've asked Jesse to make a guest appearance, and he said he can be by the main GM101 thread later today.