Leland Hopkins |
It really depends on how many things you can be really good at, I guess.
For PF, I like using the take10/20 mechanics a fair bit. As long as your not threatened or stressed, you can just take 10. This represents how awesome you are in general. If you're actually rolling, you're really trying and sometimes when you swing for the fences, you strike out.
Anyways the D20 is more traditional than anything. Personally I like the d100 system from Call of Cthulhu .
Bukaru d'Banzai |
A 5% or 10% improved chance is nothing to sneeze at.
Ah, see, you've fallen into the mind-set trap that PF wants you to! Use up a whole spell (both in known spells and for-the-day) or spend 2000 GP for a 5% bonus, which still gives *basically* an EVEN FIGHT? PHOOEY! PHOOEY I say! :)
Leland - so how big are the bonuses from items or spells? 5%? 10%? More?
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Personally I like the d100 system from Call of Cthulhu.
Back in the early days, our local group (Bukaru and I with others) tried a number of different systems. I can't remember which, but one used a d100 for skill rolls.
What I really liked about that system was, every time you succeeded at something, you got better (because "practice makes perfect"). It was a very small increment (maybe even only 1%, I just don't recall) but over time you got very good at the skills you really used, without adding artificial Skill Ranks.
Leland Hopkins |
Well in Cthulhu you play as normal people, so there aren't really skill boosting items. You do get points to bump up skills that you've successfully used, but really the game is more about survival than advancement.
Oh and casting spells eventually drives you insane. It's pretty great.
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Everyone got their initial shopping done?
Doc's good to go.
Rasp the Rogue |
Just list them here in the discussion tab. But I doubt there's anything you can buy with your WBL that I'll object to.
-Posted with Wayfinder
wicked_raygun |
The town seem fairly small. Would their be wands available?
Yes. Because they are connected via the rails, you can get nearly anything you need. It just might take a couple days. Presumably, someone might send a telegram to a major city and have the order filled in. And then it can be delivered via the Rails.
It's similar to the invention of the Sears Catalog in the Old West.
Rasp the Rogue |
It'll be $2 for the trip itself, not per day. It'll be three days ride to Tin Star.
Generally I don't bother with lifestyle purchases: meals, taverns, wenches, etc. I'm just not that interested in bookkeeping that stuff. Especially since it mostly amounts to flavor text, in my opinion.
Just keep it in the perspective of what your characters could afford with respect to your wealth level.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rasp the Rogue |
Oh, and for a sense of scale you can use the Pathfinder Core or Ultimate Equipment guide for an idea of pricing.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Me-the-player is all for chipping in on a group wand, and I'll adjust Doc's funds accordingly. Not sure how you lot went about approaching Loveless with the idea, though. :o)
I built in opportunities to buy a few things, but as Doc was already heading out when all this started, if I add anything it probably won't be significant.
I'll have to beg everyone's indulgence a bit longer. I have four PCs all coming due for updates or level-ups at the same time, plus I owe Ray a vignette. And being the week after a holiday week, things are pretty busy at work. But I'm working on it, honest. :o) And it shouldn't be a hindrance to the caravan heading out whenever our illustrious GM is ready.
Rasp the Rogue |
Pfft! You think you're behind... Anyways, don't worry about it. I got stuck this weekend myself.
Bigger post moving us onward coming tonight.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rasp the Rogue |
Actually, Mal, you guys were on horseback, but your actions could easily be just as valid. Big post coming tonight.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Simple resolution: She meant wagon train. As in, "caravan." :o)
Rasp the Rogue |
Sorry about the extended radio silence. I'll try to have something up tonight.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Ditto and ditto, and three additional cheers for our talented and imaginative GM!
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
Assuming we have some rough idea of where the 3 Orcs are, Bukaru is not eager to "break cover" since she has no weapons, but also wants to stay close enough to Mal that she can heal her if needed.
Looking at Loveless and Leland, she says "Aren't you two going to give her...what I believe you call 'backup'? I cannot provide any means to harm the Orcs she is facing all by herself. She should not go out there alone."
I'm confused. Here, Bukaru indicated that we should go to the triceratops. Leland said he was staying with the caravan but sending Gizmo on towards the trap. Here, Doc grudgingly left with Bukaru (with Mall already ahead of them). At the most recent point he was standing beside Mal, close enough to quietly comment to her on the situation. Then she explicitly told us to stay put ("Cover me in case this don't work") and started moving forward.
Your most recent post reads as if, save Mal, all the "ground crew" are still back at the horses and Bukaru doesn't want to leave the caravan. The ambush map doesn't show where the caravan is (and Leland somehow got grouped with the rest of us), so maybe that's part of the problem?
Anyway, some clarification would be helpful. As far as I know Mal is out front, approaching the dead beastie and solitary orc while fiddling around, Bukaru and Doc and Gizmo are a bit back from that under cover, and Leland is farther back still with the caravan. Then there's the folks and baddies "up top."
What do I have wrong?
wicked_raygun |
No, you had it right. Leland just hadn't moved Gizmo into position yet. I went ahead and did that now. Hopefully, my last post clarified what was going on. If not, ask again.
Happy Holidays and thanks for the well wishes guys. This little homebrew is my first GM PBP. I'm thrilled it's still kicking.
Jake Lonergan |
I'm guessing Jake isn't in your auto-init rolling queue just yet. Might he slip in there somewhere?
And could I perchance get that clarification on whether or not he's in charging range of the bad guys on top of the cliff? Cause if he is, his Readied action to charge woulda happened the second that ampoule broke and the explosion happened. I'm thinking that if the Orcs didn't know he and Ben were up there, he and Ben woulda gotten to act in the surprise round, no?
Bukaru d'Banzai |
Apologies for the confusion, it just looked like from the map that Mal was walking forward and we were hanging back (which Bukaru is actually going to do at this point).
It seemed that no one else on the ground was in a position to attack any of the Orcs (please note that the player is as unfamiliar with Doc's and Leland's long-range offensive capabilities as Bukaru!).
Ray, I never would have guessed this was a "first" for you - you're doing a great job!
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
This little homebrew is my first GM PBP. I'm thrilled it's still kicking.
An awesome GM will thrive in most any environment. Thank you for an astoundingly enjoyable game.
... (please note that the player is as unfamiliar with Doc's and Leland's long-range offensive capabilities as Bukaru!).
Just FYI, Doc's bombs -- his primary destructive tools -- only have a 20' RI at this low level. But he has some (albeit limited) tricks up his sleeve, including the ability to sling a few globs of fire (think napalm) up to 120'(!), doing a fair bit of damage in the process. Plus he's competent with a crossbow (50' RI). So while he's primarily a close-in (but not front line) damage dealer, he can provide (light) long range support if needed.
Bukaru d'Banzai |
This is in no way a slam at Jake, it's good to know the rules!
This is why I much prefer "rules light" systems like Savage Worlds, where the *lack* of rules allows the GM some latitude, which can encourage inventiveness, and be fun for both players and GM. I didn't even bother looking up the PF rules for Channel Energy, if I had I wouldn't have tried anything.
But this *is* PF, so however Ray wants to rule it is fine with me!
wicked_raygun |
Yeah, I did some checking. And it looks like the rules are adamant that Channels don't go around corners. So yeah, it looks like a no go on the healing from channel.
Bukaru - because of your perception check you still know that the battle on the cliff is going badly. And you still have a move and standard if you want to use it.
Jake Lonergan |
I like both kinds of systems, and I tend to lean strongly towards a storytelling bias in my games. I'm not a huge fan of those folks who know all the rules so as to enable system-breaking man-eating, in which characters become nothing more than highly specialized tools, and the game nothing more than an exercise in number crunching.
But I also think there's potentially a lot of room for creative play within a rules-structured system like Pathfinder. It's just a matter of application, and a GM willing to rule on the fly, (which I've found is easier to do with a semi-strong knowledge of the rules).
I am very grateful for all of the great GMs I've had in my life, most of whom I've thrown at least one major curveball, that they've run with. :-)
Jake Lonergan |
Heh.
Just realized that my phone auto-corrected "Min-Maxing" in my previous post to "man-eating." Amusing, though also another reminder of why I hate posting from my phone. *sigh*
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
"I got half a mind to grab you an' start runnin'."
Doc expects full credit for not commenting on Mallory having half a mind. :o)
wicked_raygun |
Post coming tomorrow, guys. Had a lot to catch up with today. And I'm feeling a little glassy eyed.
I will say this. The Orcs had Ferocity but very little HP. They were bleeding out. Once all 3 above were "dying" I figured will checks for morale were appropriate. But as it was they would have kept losing an 1 HP per round until they just keeled over. So I took a little creative license to avoid tracking that.
Jake Lonergan |
Bringing it to the Discussion thread.
In addition to the Ring +1, the Breastplate +1, and the Heavy Mace +1,and 688gp, Jake would have tossed down the Falchions (2, or 3?), at least one javelin, and whatever else the boys upstairs were carrying.
Mallory Lewis |
The breastplate is totally not Mal's style. I'd gladly take the ring for her, but I'm sure others could probably use it more. She's pretty worthless in melee, and tries to avoid it.
Though with that said, the image of Ben offering her a ring and how that would play out does tickle me quite a bit.
Dr. Miguelito Loveless |
... the image of Ben offering her a ring and how that would play out does tickle me quite a bit.
Heh. :o)