Palace of the Vampire Queen (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

I really hope Hall and Miagnik check in soon, or I may need to push into the first round of combat and bot them.

New Monsters

Kalkadir, Medium, Undead

The Curse of Kalkadir, a curse that falls upon cowardly people who sacrifice friends or family for their own survival, originally attributed to the dwarven miner named Kalkidir

Kalkadir – this is an intelligent form of undead, a ghoul-like creature that feeds on Wisdom. They can use Disguise Self, as a free action to appear normal, but transform into their normal looking appearance when they feed.

AC 13, t 12, ff 11 | hp 19 (3d8+6) | fort +2, ref +2, will +8 (iron will) | no channel resistance | melee slam +3, damage d6 +2 (save versus Will DC 13 or be shaken for 1 round), CMB +8, upon a successful grapple (on the next round) will attempt to drain 1d3 wisdom, save is a will save, DC 13

S 14, d 15, c -, I 13, w 16, c 12 | bab +2 | cmd 15 |iron will, improved grapple

Irngrim (small), Medium Undead

Irngrim, a cold zombie of unusual strength, is pacified by immersion in alcohol

AC 14, t 10, ff 14 | hp 18 (3d8) | will +3 | DR 5/ - undead/ cold traits, immune to cold, vuln fire
Melee slam +4, dam d4 +1, cold save (fort) DC 12 suffer 1 point dex loss (temporary)

Melee slam +4, dam d4 +1, cold save (fort) DC 12 suffer 1 point dex loss (temporary)
AC (+4 Nat, +1 size, -1 dex) init -1
Str 16, dex 8, con - , wis 10, Int 10, chr 12

I am happy to see everyone getting into the game again, you know I am the worst for delays and such, but let's wait just a second to be sure Miagnik is or is not going to blow the room to the heavens.

I posted since Rownig goes before everyone but Stephanie, Kalkadir, and Hallister in the order, so Miagnik's action has no bearing on Rownig.

I'll let you know tomorrow. It's too late to make such a volatile decision.

Yes, so, just a quick note, we have Stephanie blasting the two undead creatures, knocking the small blue corpse off of its feet, and then Hallister breaking free, and Rownig stepping up to attack, Atharessa will post an action (soon) and we see that Melodak charged in, but her spear strike was off the mark

Now if Miagnik (Goblins and their love of fire, sheesh)decides he is going to do Burning Hands (and by the way I loved that post, and stepping up to protect Stephanie is perfect for his character, way to go!)there will be an explosion, a powerful explosion, and then we'll see who is standing after the smoke clears.

Not the first time I've had a character die...death happens.

If Stephanie survives the blast, her vanity will dictate an outrage. It's likely she'll have to continuously upkeep a prestidigitation spell to make it seem like she has hair.

Bald gnomes are awkward.

Broken arm for goblin boy..... though it may improve my smell

Sorry about the delay folks, R.L. got in my way from posting sooner.

So, I've thought about it and thought about it and I realized that while it would be smarter to wait and try to get as many Undead as he could into the area, (meta-game knowledge trying to take over here) he is no genius. Miagnik, while a bit smarter and wiser than your average Goblin; with the fact that he is a member of the order of Mafolin, has the blood of a red Dragon flowing through his veins, and is a Goblin who (as most do) loves fire, is going to blow up the room.

Also, I find that this last post was one of my better posts in a while, and it would be a shame to waste it.

That said, as he is almost certainly aware of the explosive potential here, he is willing to try and shield Stephanie from the flames by dropping prone with her (Free action) and just taking the flames for her. If you're willing to allow that?

Don't worry about me, I'm fine with the decision.

DM can you update the map?

I have the perfect Idea, but I need all of you out of my way to do it.

stay in character people.

:) this is going to be good.

Caster Idiosyncrasies: Familiar is always "right there" when you need them for touch attacks, quick grabs, or skill checks... yet they're "mysteriously absent" when the room you're in explodes. Trying to remedy that ;)

In one of my other games, Its "A" Dungeon, I took the liberty of creating an Alias for Berenwry's (he is an Elven Wizard) Familiar, and I often interject helpful, and sometimes not so helpful comments using that alias.

This is turning out to be, of 38 years of doing this, one of my favorite groups, and one of my favorite experiences as a DM. The dynamic is wonderful even if we clunk along at times.

Wow that's quite an impressive feat. (He he he, I'm so clever.) But seriously, it's remarkable that we're one of your favorite groups in 38 years of gaming. That just makes my day. Glad to be a part of your story.

Indeed! It's good to know others are enjoying it as well!

So I'm pretty sure I know what Melodak is going to do with that barrel, and since it worked so well last time... second verse, same as the first.

Melodak wants to serve her guests wine....

Throwing the barrel and getting another :)

I'll post shortly

Hahaha, I love the bath comment!

With that battle finished, I'd like everyone to level their characters. This room might be a safe place to rest, for a while, and make sure everyone is healed, fed, and ready to move on (oh, and you are going to want to go check that room Melodak exploded all to bits)

Now, here is a thought I'm having, just a thought not a decision, yet, but there are 53 rooms on the first level of the Palace of the Vampire Queen, and then there are (traditionally) four more levels. I'm not sure we'd be able to keep everyone interested in a dungeon crawl to that extent, here in this forum, so I may consolodate the whole thing down to one level.

I've been playing since the game began, I'll go where you lead us. I don't mind dungeon crawls either, I'm currently running Rappan Athuk which is a massive 52 levels dungeon with many side adventures.

I'll level my characters over the next day or so.

I'm still having a great deal of fun with this campaign. I can't wait to see what happens next, and am not even considering leaving. If you want to make it smaller that's your decision but I'll stick with this one through its allotted course or whatever end.

My tolerance level for GM shenanigans, time, and allotted slowness of a game was pushed to its limit before: 3 years, of which included several 2-3 month hiatuses, long stretches of little to no action, 2 system changes, 5 character re-works and the last year and a half was testing my patience. This game has no such troubles.

Also, Ding! Woot!

Hp: 1d6 ⇒ 4
I'll take it.

Go figure, just when I reach the point where I can use Crane Wing, Paizo puts out an Errata that makes it pretty much useless.

GM, will you be using the new version, or keeping the old?

If you want to keep the old, I'd like to rework a few of my feats.

Totally not up to speed on that, let me do SOE homework, okay. Do you have some info on the old version?

Don't you need a +5 bab to take crane wing?

Totally not up to speed on that, let me do SOE homework, okay. Do you have some info on the old version?

Don't you need a +5 bab to take crane wing?

Normally yes, but the Master of Many Styles is able to ignore prerequisites for style feats.

I don't have the exact text because it isn't on the PFSRD anymore. I'll need to look at the ultimate combat book.

It's basically the same as Deflect Arrows, but for melee attacks.

Okay,, but keep in mind you can only ignore prerequisites for those feats taken as part of the Monk's Bonus feat tree (1st and 2nd level, and every four levels after that, right?)

I don't see it as a problem, but I do think that the feat optimization, for taking this build (2 levels of fighter and 2 levels of Monk) creates a huge feat advantage early in the character build, but I don't have a problem with that as I don't tend to let feats dominate the game in my mind.

I think it looks something like this:
1st level character (feat), fighter 1 (bonus feat)
2nd level character (no feat), fighter 2(bonus feat)
3rd level character (feat), monk 1(whole mess of bonus feats, too many to count!)
4th level character (no feat), monk 2 (bonus feat)

does that look correct?

Maybe I'm worrying over nothing, but...

While there certainly is a good deal of hostility between Goblins and Dwarves on this island, and I think role playing the prejudices characters will have about each other is great, please remember that it is only role playing, and when we are playing with people we might not know too well, it might be a good idea to politely ask if certain kinds of behavior we want to role play will be acceptable (I would not want to see character to character misgivings, which are certainly warranted, spill over into player to player misgivings, okay?)

It's role playing. I would expect everyone to laugh it off and step back into their personal space. There's no P to P misgivings here.

Gotcha, as you say it's probably nothing to worry about too much. But it is still a good idea to go over it with people.

Would it be a fair assumption that before we settle down for the evening that we check the hidden room to the west? Or do you want us to play that out?

Honestly, the goblins are hilarious. The game has been a roller coaster ever since they joined.

Okay,, but keep in mind you can only ignore prerequisites for those feats taken as part of the Monk's Bonus feat tree (1st and 2nd level, and every four levels after that, right?)

I don't see it as a problem, but I do think that the feat optimization, for taking this build (2 levels of fighter and 2 levels of Monk) creates a huge feat advantage early in the character build, but I don't have a problem with that as I don't tend to let feats dominate the game in my mind.

I think it looks something like this:
1st level character (feat), fighter 1 (bonus feat)
2nd level character (no feat), fighter 2(bonus feat)
3rd level character (feat), monk 1(whole mess of bonus feats, too many to count!)
4th level character (no feat), monk 2 (bonus feat)

does that look correct?

Yes it does. If you take a look at my feat list you'll see that's exactly the way my feats are listed.

This is the level that Hal becomes functional. You might have noticed that he's a pretty sub-par combatant so far. He doesn't deal high damage and his defenses aren't stellar.

Now though, he should be the frontline butt-kicker I've always wanted him to be.

Also, he's definitely learned his lesson from this experience. He just picked up Evasion. Woot!

'dak bein funny :)

With that battle finished, I'd like everyone to level their characters. This room might be a safe place to rest, for a while, and make sure everyone is healed, fed, and ready to move on (oh, and you are going to want to go check that room Melodak exploded all to bits)

Now, here is a thought I'm having, just a thought not a decision, yet, but there are 53 rooms on the first level of the Palace of the Vampire Queen, and then there are (traditionally) four more levels. I'm not sure we'd be able to keep everyone interested in a dungeon crawl to that extent, here in this forum, so I may consolodate the whole thing down to one level.

I just finished 3 days of training, so I apologize for my recent absence. Back now!

As far as 4 levels, I've severely reduced the amount of games that I'm playing in. This is one I'm really hooked on, and I have no problem sticking with the long haul, but will go with whatever people want as I'm sure even this single level will take a while :)

Hallister - I'm still trying to get my head wrapped around the Crane Wing issue, have you decided to go another way after all?

Thanks "Stephanie" and the rest of you, I sort of need this game's enthusiasm to keep my head above water at times. You're the best!

I'll level Rownig and Windel by Saturday, if not sooner.

If you prefer, I'll swap crane for snake style. They have similar functions.

My goal for Hal was to make him able to deflect or dodge as many attacks as possible, since getting touched by undead is often all it takes to ruin your day.

My original plan was to take all the Snake and Crane feats, as well as the Duelist class to give Hal a number of dodge/deflection options. I could drop Crane and still make the concept work if that's what you'd like.

Rownig HP: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

do we roll for HP?

Windel HP: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
+1 for Fav class

Stephanie HP: 1d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 + 1 = 6

I think I remember saying something about doing max hp for levels 1 to 3, then we will start rolling.

On monster hit points - it has been my experience that under the 3.5 rules and Pathfinder after that, that Challenge Ratings are meaningless, and that monster hit points are geared toward the encounter being essentially over in three rounds. That's just my experience. I do not follow CR closely and usually balance encounters based upon my experience as a DM and what I know the party is capable of, and usually give monsters a few more hit points than they are listed as having.

CR is most useful as a guideline for determining monster saves and ability DCs. Other than that it's not a very good system.

I think I remember saying something about doing max hp for levels 1 to 3, then we will start rolling.

I think you did two levels that way otherwise, Rownig would have alot more HP.

I'm updating the game thread today and spending time gathering notes, I'll clear it up for sure today

So, about that room to the west. Before sleeping, I would presume the group would do a thorough check to make sure nothing awful had survived and was going to come out of the walls and murder us while we slept. Right?

I am about to post a message describing the party's rest, but if you want to explore that room first, we can do that.

The fire burns itself out in just about 5 rounds (about 30 seconds), but the heat and smoke remain for ten minutes after that.

Modifying the post now, to reflect an examination of room 53

Rereading the very first few pages of the discussion thread reveals that I had everyone rolling hit points at level 2 (re rolling 1(s))

I don't think it changes much of the narrative, actually, but I think we should do this, sorry for the confusion

Recalculate your character's hit points as maximum for levels 1 and 2, then roll for 3 and 4 ( re rolling 19s0 that are rolled). That should give everyone a few more hit points, and I intend to jack up the danger factor now that you are all level 4

Hallister. I think that if you decide to use the Crane Wing feat (headed toward riposte) we should use the errata version with this House Rule

A Character Fighting Defensively or using Total Defense may wait until after an attack roll is made to declare that the crane wing ability will be used against that attack or not.

What do you think about that?

I think that sounds fine. I'll add it into the feat description on my sheet.

HP reroll: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 8) = 9

Reroll 1: 1d8 ⇒ 5

So I've been thinking since Miagnik's whole theme is going to be fire based, would it be alright if I switched out Spell Focus Evocation, for Energy Focus Fire. I find Spell Focus is more for Wizards than Sorcerers anyway. I realize it's a really minor detail, and thankfully it won't actually change anything that's already happened but I just wanted to check and make sure.