Rise of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master McBugman

@GM - What's your thoughts on casting with spells with somatic components while wielding a light shield and weapon?

I've read on the issue but haven't found anything definitive. If you only need one free hand, would you rule it as a free action or move action to move your weapon from your main hand to the free hand that has a shield strapped to it? Would an empty hand with a light shield strapped to it be able to cast somatic components of a spell?

I'd like to take a shield to increase my survivability, but don't want to impede my spells and melee attacks too badly.

Also, I should have a new character created tonight.

Yeah, you can hold something with your shield hand, if it's a light shield, and I think a free action to transfer your weapon to hold it in your shield hand and back again is fine.

I'm even inclined to let magi with the Shielded Caster feat use Spell Combat with a shield, but that's just me.

A similar question, I can't use shields due to the rogue half, does that exclude Bucklers too?

At level 3 when I get my DEX mod added to damage rolls, would that be 1.5x with a two-handed weapon or just 1x?

Why can't you use shields as a rogue?

If it's the unchained rogue dex-to-damage thing, it applies x1.5 on a two-handed finesse weapon, yes.

Just not proficient and with how feat starved we are already I don't know if I'll be able to take it.

Something I personally really like is this;

http://theworldissquare.com/feat-taxes-in-pathfinder/

Would that be something you guys want to use?

I quite like that proposal. It certainly empowers PCs, but makes a lot of sense. Plus, with only two characters we could use the boost.

I'm interested in replacing my character trait Desperate Concentration with a trait I just found called Strength of the Sun. I would make my paladin a priest of Sarenrae that prefers to redeem enemies rather than kill them. However, I noticed it is from Legacy of Fire. Would it be okay if I used that trait, or is it AP specific?

One last thing. I still want to use the Battle Caster feat on my new character. When I get to level 3 (and can afford a set of heavy armor), would you approve of me taking another rank of Battle Caster so I can wear heavy armor with no Arcane Spell Failure chance?

Alright, here's my second attempt at a character. Increased some survivability aspects.

To do before the character is finished:
-Pick 1 more feat. (depends if we use feat taxes)
-Pick 1 more trait. (depends if I can use Strength of the Sun)
-Finalize spell decisions.
-Write background.

Chatsworth and I have been discussing writing scrolls to sell or use during our campaign. I found the following information about using scrolls.

-The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his class.)

-The user must have the spell on her class list.

-The user must have the requisite ability score.

It looks like I will be able to use scrolls of both arcane and divine type due to my gestalt class combination. The only limitation will be whether or not I have the spell on my class list, right? Even if the scroll was written/created by Chatsworth?

I've never used scrolls or played a spell caster before, so this is new to me.

You have to have the requisite caster level too.

This Quote applies in addition to what your post says;

If the user meets all the requirements noted above-The things you posted yourself just now-, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell's caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell's caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll's caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a scroll mishap. A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers. Activating a scroll is a standard action (or the spell's casting time, whichever is longer) and it provokes attacks of opportunity exactly as casting a spell does. If the caster level check fails but no mishap occurs, the scroll is not expended.

Finally, paladins cannot use scrolls until they have a caster level of at least 1. This happens at level 4. Until then, they have no caster level, not even CL 0. This also means that they cannot activate wands of paladin spells before level 4.

Example: A 4th level paladin is trying to activate a Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds (CL 3). Since his CL is 1, he must attempt a DC 4 caster level check.

But yes, if Chatsworth crafted a scroll of Cure Light Wounds, then you would be able to activate it with your paladin levels, once you hit level 4. You would not, however, be able to activate it with your Bard levels, since Cleric is a Divine class, and Bard is an Arcane class.

You can use the Use Magic Device skill to get around this.

Thanks for the clarification.

How do you want to proceed with the campaign? Start over from the beginning, or pick up where the others left off? Just curious.

I'm basically ready to roll with this character.

Is it just me or is the Toughness feat underpowered? Seems like it should be part of that feat tax list, 3 HP won't get you far. I guess the +1/level after 3 helps.

The Feat Tax list is there to remove feat taxes you either have to take(power attack, deadly aim), or feats that serve as gateway feats and are otherwise just bad(combat expertise, point blank shot). Toughness isn't a prerequisite for much - it's just a bad feat.

Two options here:

1) You are other festival-goers. The game starts with you attacking a bunch of goblins that just struck down an unfortunate pair of adventurers.

2) The two of you have arrived to Sandpoint a day or two after, and found a bounty put up by Ameiko, the proprietor of the Rusty Dragon, for goblin ears. So you head out into the nearby swamp to deal with the Licktoad tribe.

I find option 1 humorous. I'm basically ready too, may make some changes but they'll be done before I make my first post.

Also, we plan on doing a bit of crafting. The idea is Arthur writes an epic poem using Artistry(literature), both Chatsworth and Arthur crafts high quality books,craft(book), and then Chatsworth transcribes the poem, craft (calligraphy) and Linguistics.

So we'll nees to decide on a combined value for 4 skills.

Understood, thanks. The feat tax idea is really cool, never seen that before.

I also like option 1. In Arthur's travelings I'd guess he's known or at least heard of Vasalor (probably competitors), so he won't be pleased to see him struck down.

I could definitely see Chats and Arthur being captivated by Vasalor's epic poem and wanting to approach him after the performance about a possible publishing agreement.

Then instead all hell broke lose and the poet was slain along with a woman who took good initiative on the scene.

But Feat Taxes I'm game for.

@GM - If I cast a large grease slick on the ground, could said grease slick be lit on fire or heated up to cause additional damage? Grease and oil typically have to reach around 450 degrees to ignite.

I know that's not anywhere in the spell description, but it could be interesting.

Would either of you be willing to clarify or weight in on bardic knowledge and the knowledge skill(s)?

I had been operating under the impression that all the knowledge skills were combined into a single skill called 'Knowledge (All)' for the bard class, as that's the name of the skill in the class skill list.

The Bard class ability Bardic Knowledge states:
A bard adds half his class level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.

So am I mistaken and each knowledge skill must be taken individually, or are they combined into a single skill called Knowledge (All)?

Each must be taken individually.

Knowledge(all) is shorthand for "all skills, taken individually".

"Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./level)"
Your right, damn, 5ft off. I thought it was 30ft +5/lvl.

By the way, until your dexterity replaces it for damage, your strength penalty applies to damage rolls with your quill.

Ugh, apologies, my bad. Didn't look closely at it after Volva died. So standard attack would be 1d10-1 and a power attack would be 1d10+2?

Yeah, that's on the mark.