Hot DM's Argent Corvids (Inactive)

Game Master Hotaru of the Society

I can adjust any canon for you to fit in wherever you need to. If something comes up about them having no heirs in the books or something as a major story line... oh well. :P

Tonight is Tabletop night. Not gonna call it RP night anymore :P

So do feel free to chat amongst yourselves, the cafe portion will be emptied out soon, and the place locked up. There will still be a great deal of pastries and some hot coffee in the main room. Laria hasn't ever gotten out of the habit of baking too much - no one ever had questions about what she did with the extras when she gave them to her guests. :)

Oh, right, I have a wand! Sorry! D:

Will have a post up shortly.

Yup. I figured that would prod you. And he still wants folks to take the cure potions, as they're more likely to need them ;)

*Shoves the PCs into the hole* :o

When it comes to dancing lights, I operate under the assumption that they were last cast just before combat starts. If you'd like, we can adjust that however you want. I had a character that refreshed her similar spells halfway through the duration, which meant 4+1d6 rounds remaining, just as an example of how it can be ran, otherwise. I just don't like explicitly tracking rounds just because of spells. Opinions?

Likewise, how do you guys do shorter duration spells and effects in your games? Just wing it, or down to the exact turns, or?

Currently waiting on Armon and Tobias.

Did it really get a full action in the surprise round? Or was that not a normal surprise round?

What it can do is listed in the knowledge checks. :)

It was specifically a special action that the type of monster can make (similar to a bulette).

Yes, but Rend requires that two claw attacks hit in the same round. So I was wanting to make sure it was a surprise round, as we all only took a single standard or move action, while rend requires a full attack action, and if we had a full attack action, Scath would have done something different...

It was a surprise round. Round 1 is nowish.

Ah! Didn't realize it had pounce. Got it.

I also forgot something important in the Knowledge checks. If Misha rolls high enough, I'll throw it out there, too, though it will likely come up during the fight. So easy to forget really important stuff when looking at ginormous statblocks.

I have been corrected. Supernatural abilities, unless otherwise stated, are standard actions (as I thought, but I couldn't find the rule).

As a result, Kittiface is not frightened. :)

Sorry I have been so slow in posting. I am completely swamped with work and life stuff lately, and am barely getting any time to keep up. Will try to post something tonight.

Sorry everyone, life's been hitting me hard recently, and I've had a severe lack of energy when I've not been working or travelling. Every other week I spend about 20 hours on planes or in airports (sunday and thursday, 9 hours up and 13 hours back). On top of that, all the family stuff has taken a toll. Plus, my wife is working from home now, so when I'm home, she's working 11 to 8 and I'm working 8 to 4:30, makes it very complicated. Nothing like seeing your wife 24 a day or 0 a day depending on the week to make things topsy turvy. I'm finally getting used to it though, and I hope to be back to normal posting going forward (with occasional lapses from exhaustion).

You're fine. Life is happening for roughly half the people here. So it's understandable. Plus, you know. Life does happen. I'm just glad to know you're alright. :)

Alright, so, this game has faced a lot of attrition... and I've talked to at least one player about it, but I've mostly avoided it until this scene was over. It's pretty close.

As we wound down part one of book one (HUZZAH!), the party is leveling up to level 3!

But that also raises a question: How many of you are still interested in hanging around for the game? No judgment, I know a lot of things have shifted for most of you in the last few months. I'm happy if you need to slide out, no questions asked. I'm happy if you need a break and plan to come back to it (but please let me know if you change your mind on that!). Just let me know what's up. :)

I'm fine I think, life is calming back down.

I'm okay to keep going. I know I haven't posted all that often sometimes, but Victor doesn't feel like the most talkative character. Sometimes I'm just waiting for someone else to say something he'd respond to or for something to come up that seems like it's his kind of thing.

Works for me. You're also free to change characters as well, allowing your current characters to 'fade into the background/go on other missions', if you'd like. Just in case you aren't enjoying what you have.

How are we doing HP? Roll, average, max, Square root of Pi?

I definitely want to continue. I know I haven't been posting as often as I should, which is troublesome, since Armon is supposed to be my take on a more talkative character. Gameplay wise, he has basically been little more than an inspirational healbot, but there is still plenty of time for that to change.

Pi was yesterday. Today is logarithm.

I tend towards max HP, because I don't like fudging dice, and I really don't like killing characters. :)

Level 3

NEW :
+13 HP
+1 Feat (Power Attack)
+1 to a bunch of skills
+1d6 Sneak Attack
+1 BAB
+1 Will Save

Corrections :
+6 HP (Con HP had been left off)
Removed Precise Strike (Was accidently left on from aborted build attempt, never used)
Added Ranger Style + Imp Natural Attack (was in use, not listed)

General consensus is mixed on what Slayer Trick: Ranger Style does. The way I choose to read it is that you pretend you're a ranger, and each time you take it as a talent (up to three times, requiring specific minimum levels), you can choose a new feat from the proper list (based on level), without needing to meet prereqs. Is that how you read it as well?

I've seen a lot of people claim that once you take it, you can take all the feats from the 'unlocked' lists without prereqs, but that just means Slayer Out-Rangers Ranger, so I'm pretty directly against that.

I read it as you did. It's poorly worded and could be read the other way as well.

What I think they were trying to do was say you could take it as many times as you wanted as a talent, and each time you could get a feat from the list, and added new feats at specific levels. But they mis-worded it. That would have left it similar to the ranger ability.

I forget, we did settle on using ABP, right? I think there were some changes to it though.

Yeah, which also makes some sense: Slayer Talents are a bigger thing than Ranger Feats (if only slightly).

The only thing that concerns me with that reading is that you could in turn take 'Extra Slayer Talent' to bypass feat prereqs for -all- of those feats, which definitely makes it work better than the ranger version (as all of your feats in that tree can now bypass prerequisites (In this case, Aspect of the Beast, Improved Natural Attack, Rending Claws. Weapon Focus already doesn't matter to skip prereqs. The rest of Natural Attacks doesn't really matter, due to shallow pool and being mostly level appropriate)).

It's really only problematic for Archery, which was already one of the more powerful options.

@Armon: You can either use ABP, or 50% of WBL (1500gp currently). I'd prefer you not dig into consumables with it, though :p

I seem to remember raising this argument before, but basically for people who don't use weapons, or who use double weapons, ABP penalizes you. So we have the option of being penalized by ABP, or having half our WBL (which is bascially ABP without the ABP)?

Yup. You'll still be getting 'normal' loot, gold, scrolls, wands, wondrous items, etc. The things you would normally get from ABP will not appear, though. So, you can skip out on resistance to take something else (Like belt of tumbling for 800, and still have 700 personal magic gold left over) this level, if you'd like. The ABP-style wealth isn't affected by magic item creation feats, but the fact that the item is slotless also is not going to increase the cost, I also won't allow consumable items with ABP.

If you save up a bit, at 5th you can buy yourself a permanent and slotless amulet of mighty teeth and claws (in fact, saving all of your level 4 wealth until you hit level 5).

Sound good?

I'm also inclined to allow people to spend 2 'real' gp per ABP GP (as if buying a slotless magic item) they want to pick up, allowing you to hasten the acquisition of those things that are important to you. Thoughts?

I'll just stick with regular ABP. I was never any good at saving my Chuck E. Cheese's tickets until my next visit. :P

I find your answer confusing.

Let me put normal numbers up.

If someone goes ABP, they get certain bonuses at certain levels, and 1/2 WBL to compensate. Thus, at level 3 they have Resistance +1 (2000gp slotless item) and 1,500gp.

If someone doesn't go ABP, they instead gain 1,500GP.

So, if you're an unarmed fighter (monk, unarmed fighter variant), a natural weapon fighter (ranger, Scath), a two weapon fighter (hundreds of builds), you are hosed over by ABP because you can't increase your weapons of choice independently, only one at a time (one fist, one claw, one sword). If you choose not to go ABP, you are instead hosed over by not getting any benefits, and then still having half WBL, and still having to pay for your slotted cloak of resistance...

Under the base rules, someone at level 3 would have 3,000GP, and could buy armor, or a cloak, or 5 minor items, or whatever depending on their build...

What I mean:

Player A: Armon. Wants ABP. Armon should expect to have roughly 1500 gp worth of items, plus a +1 slotless resistance effect. +1 Resistance costs 1k without the doubling for slotless cost. Armon has 500 floating GP that will carry over into the next level and aid in paying for his +1 armor and +1 weapon at next level (Should have 3k, so 30% too much wealth.)

Level 3: 1k ABP + 1500 GP
Level 4: 4k ABP + 3000 GP

Player B: Scath. Doesn't want ABP. Scath should expect to have roughly 1500 gp worth of items, plus 1500 gp of floating, slotless GP to 'enchant himself' with. You will not pay double cost for it being slotless, but you also cannot buy consumables with this 1500 gp. Further, the 'Self-enchantment pool' you're getting cannot benefit from the lowered costs associated with item crafting feats. At next level, He will have a total of 3k floating GP and 3k Real GP (In Theory).

Level 3: 1500 SEP + 1500 GP
Level 4: 3000 SEP + 3000 GP

Optionally: I am considering allowing people to burn Real GP at a rate of 2:1 as if creating a slotless item, to directly add to your Self-Enchantment Pool GP'.

I.E. Scath really wants an Amulet of Mighty Fists, so at level 4, he gives up 2000 real GP in a 'ritual' (or whatever) to help enchant himself with the effect.

He winds up with: 4000 SEP + 1000 GP as a result, and all 4000 of his SAP is locked into his 'Mighty Claws'.

Either way, Player B's option likely needs to be adjusted upwards at some point, but I'm too lazy to do the math for it right now to see exactly how much WBL a character has at every level via ABP. Though there is also value in being allowed to simply choose what you want... I'm not sure it's worth the difference shown.

Does that help it make sense? Do you see any clear problems? Any ideas how to address things I pointed out or the problems you see?

Would you prefer:

Option C: Scath opts out of ABP system (or ABP-like) entirely. Scath just takes more of the party's distributable wealth, and creates his own small dragonkitty hoard. Once he reaches level 4, he decides to invest his hoard in a Collar of Mighty Noms, and has 2000 gold worth of hoard still sitting for him to use for other things, should he desire.

AKA 'Choose between real loot and ABP' as opposed to 'Choose between a made up system and ABP'. I'm not sure I dig this option from the point of view that I as DM don't get the say on where loot goes, but the players do, unless I expressly carve out a portion of loot to go to Scath that he'd want.

Option D: Everyone. No more ABP. Just go back to real loot, and retcon the loot that should be shiny that wasn't.

Victor Level 3

Class Features
+11 HP (D10 + 1 Con)
+1 BAB
+1 Reflex and Will
+Takedown

Feats and Skills
+Power Attack
+9 Skill Ranks (4 class + 1 Int + 1 Favored + 1 Human + 2 Background)
+1 Rank (Disguise, Intimidate, Knowledge (Local), Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth, Survival, Handle Animal, Linguistics)
+1 Language (Strix)

?Automatic Bonus Progression?
+1 Resistance

Brutus
+1 Trick (Attack)
+2 Natural Armor
+1 Str/Dex
+Shared Vigilance
+Tenacious Guardian

I'm okay not using ABP or using it. Either way really works for me.

Ok, that makes it clearer.

Once we spend SEP it's gone forever, or can we redistribute each level?

I'm not certain. I'd be inclined to allow you to move it around a bit when you level/as you retrain something else/over time, if I didn't increase the SEP to match ABP. Thoughts?

I know that it's disappointing, but I personally have found Tobias to be relatively un-fun to play. I can't quite get into him and he doesn't really interact with the party the way I thought he would.

Besides that, the way his mechanics and story interact no longer make sense to me.

In the interest of that, I'd like to switch characters. I am of course interested in staying with the story.

It's a toss up. Equipment can be switched out, ABP bonuses can't.

You might want to limit it to half the SEP can be changed out at most per level..

@Tobias: Alrighty! Never feel like you're stuck with a character you don't enjoy, and feel free to talk with me if you're having problems with what you have. I'll work with you to switch things up, as well if you'd like.

@mdt: That makes some degree of sense with changing things around. It makes it more rigid and less able to be liquidated than gear, but less rigid and more able to be liquidated than ABP. It seems like a good middle ground to be able to retool parts of your SEP.

I'd say that you can't change your SEP during an active adventure, but if you have a few hours/days of downtime you can. I'd still prefer to limit how often it is done in the interest of preventing it from being a way to just change what you have for what you need.

I.E.: I'm perfectly fine with 'I don't like this, it doesn't feel right.', but it gets less acceptable when it's 'I'm going to swap to a waterbreathing effect from my climb speed, since we're going into the water.'

I was thinking it would only switch around at Level Up, not just randomly...

Cool. I'm perfectly happy with that. :)

So I think I want to play an arcane caster. It's unfortunate that there are so few.

Hmm, okay. Is there anybody in the party seeking a friend or a family member?

Armon is kind of looking for the other members of his cult, but that's not really a good in for an arcane caster. You could always be a tengu wizard or something. ;P

Still debating on what feat to pick next. With Armon I've decided to avoid the usual suspects whenever feasible. It doesn't feel flavor-appropriate to take it at this level, but does this feat sound fine to you, GM? I was thinking of taking it at level 7 at the earliest.

As for ABP, I did not mean to insinuate that I'm against the alternate system Scath is using. Just that part of the reason I like it is that it cuts down on bookkeeping.

Wait, that's a feat?

Tobias's new character could have been a friend of Scath's former Mistress. He might notice Scath walking around, not having expected to see him again after having heard of her death...

Victor Juniper Level 3

Class Features
+10 HP (D8 + 1 Con + 1 Favored )
+1 BAB
+1 Fort
+Bold Stare
+False Healing

Feats and Skills
+Ready for battle
+9 Skill Ranks (6 class + 1 Int + 2 Background)
+1 Rank To All Trained
+1 Language ( Strix )

Spells:
Level 0: Ghost Sounds
Level 1: Deja Vu

I'm of the mind that Companion Figurine does not make you magically qualify for a familiar or animal companion, but instead allows a character who has them to instead use the figurine.

I.E. An Animal Domain Cleric could use it to have a golden lion companion.
Meanwhile, an Arcane Sorcerer could use it to have a silver raven companion.

So you'd still need the class feature, otherwise it just qualifies as your 'animal companion' that doesn't have any statistics because the animal companion isn't tied to a class feature you actually have.

I'm definitely cool with it, though. I'd even allow you to use the giant raven statistics that came out with the first book of the AP for the raven, rather than an ordinary bird/raven if you wanted.

I was just using you as an example for ABP, Armon. A lazy, lazy example. :P
(Don't worry, I wanted ABP to have less to track as well :p)

Easy enough to just add another page to the link to everything ever. :)

Also, as for Arcane, remember: There are a lot of options, because most Arcanes have class features that completely change what the class does overall. A fey sorcerer is very different from even a sylvan sorcerer, as an example. :)

I have the inklings of an idea.

A character who wanted to be a cleric of a righteous god, but he couldn't hack learning divine spellcasting (a la a low Wisdom score) and couldn't get through paladin academy (a la not Lawful enough to be a paladin).

They learn arcane magic but emulate knighthood/righteousness anyway.

Anyway I'm thinking a wizard, a magus or an occultist. I'll want similar ability scores to a brainy paladin. Probably... a half-orc? I just have rudiments right now.

I'm very open, racewise. The game itself does not innately give punishments for being an uncommon race. It's more about 'making sense' than anything else along that vein. Basically, if you opt to be a Tengu, you'll have a harder time blending in a crowd (without appropriate skills), but otherwise, nothing to worry about.

As for classes: A character that wants to worship a righteous god, but doesn't have the wisdom to cut it... and winds up Arcane could work rather well with witch. For witches I -always- play the familiar as the DM, and the familiar does not serve you. It serves the ideals of your patron. If you die, it goes to sucker another human into becoming a magical girl. :P

There are also a number of caster-arcane feats that are pretty neat and there are a number of feats that fit the bill. One of my favorites is False Focus. It goes a long way towards making a character who is arcane feel divinely powered. :)

I think that the feat would list the companion or familiar class features as prerequisites if that were the case. I imagine that the exorbitant prices of the figurines are supposed to be the balancing factor, but for this particular AP, we all got free shiny birds almost right off the bat. That being said, I do think your interpretation is a valid one. There are other, more feat intensive ways of getting an animal companion. :P

As for feat selection, currently sitting on the fence between Greater Spell Focus (enchantment) and Spell Focus (conjuration). Not really sure I want to go down the summoning route with another character, though.