Shadowborn's page

You want to exploit a game without AoOs? Be a spellcaster. Stand in front of the enemy and cast spells. Once they receive enough game-ending SoS spells, they'll learn :)

Or an optimized archer, standing right in front of a melee fighter and riddling him full of arrows.

Star Peace

Nevynxxx wrote:

But the Angels don't kill you, they just throw you about randomly in time I thought?

That was in "Blink". In their last encounter, the Angels changed their modus operandi to snapping necks. Or they may take out some of your insides so they can mind screw your friends by talking with your voice.

Still, even in "Blink" what the Angels did to you meant that you got robbed of the life you were meant to have.

Yeah, changing their M.O. really ticked me off. "Blink" was probably the creepiest Doctor Who episode ever. The return of the angels wasn't anywhere near as good.

Jon comes out of his paralysis shortly after the wizards depart (and, thankfully, the gods-awful smell he was emitting fades away.)

Once you have the map, Zapazarus and Devrik move to either side of Varrus. He intones a spell, laying his hands on their shoulders. The three then vanish as if never there.

"I tried. When I discovered the location of the tome, I attempted to bargain with your master. He refused. I threatened. He refused still. I then showed him my threats are not idle and took what I needed. I believed he had knowledge of further things I need. I was wrong. He is no longer of use to me, so you may take him back."

"No!" comes a cry from the stairs. Turning, you see Zapazarus clambering his way up. His white hair, beard, and green robes are in complete disarray. "These bastards killed my pet and dumped me into a gorge! I say we toss them in and see how they like it! Or we hand them over to this one. He's not quite dead yet. We could revive him and let him deal with this rabble." Behind the gnome is a floating disc of energy. Lying upon it is the broken, bloodied form of Morgrim Thrallhammer.

"I think not," replies Varrus. We've wasted enough of my time here. We return to Fardusk so I may complete my research." Here Varrus pauses, looking at the fallen dwarf a moment, then at Gendo. "Here, consider this a gift." Varrus gestures, and Morgrim rises from the disc as if yanked from it by a giant, invisible hand. He floats to the center of the room, turned to face the wizard.

"You, dwarf, think yourself superior. Gaze upon your betters." He gestures and the Morgrim swivels in the air, turning first to Gendo and Jon, then to where Auric and William lie. "These humans and this halfling have done more to thwart me than an army of your kind. I do them a favor and dispose of a mutual enemy." At this, he releases his magic, and Morgrim crashes to the floor...and through the trap door. There are a series of metallic crashes as he slams through each of the trap doors in turn, before landing in the basement pit far below.

"Here. This map will lead you to where your master is held. Take him and go back to your life. Seek to follow me and my companions and I shall consider it a breaking of our truce."

Ouryn looks flustered and his cheeks redden a bit.

"Thank ye, lass. A safe journey to you all. Best get settled in back home afore the snows set in. Been speaking to folk with better weather sense than myself, and they say it'll be a bad one. I'll pack some food for you on your return journey. On the house. Consider it an early Midwinter Gift, since I'll likely not see you again before then. You're all welcome here at the Huntsman's Rest."

Varrus again smiles, a trickle of blood flowing from his cracked lower lip.

"Stand away, and take your friend with you," he says, motioning to the still paralyzed Jon. "You monks don't 'preserve and protect' knowledge. You hoard it and hide it from those with the ability to use it. A tome of great knowledge sitting in a hole in the ground, gathering dust, because you fear its power. No wonder you scrape and bow before the dwarves. You are all ruled by fear."

Devrik waves his hand, and the orb of water dissolves, leaving Auric and William lying unconscious on the floor.

"Still, you four show spirit, if not wisdom. You've cost me time, and that is the most valuable commodity in my possession at the moment. Still, no more than my allies with their wayward personal agendas." At this he gives a pointed glance at Devrik, who merely shrugs.

"Your master is of no more use to me. Take him and be done with it. We shall depart these lands and leave you to your own devices."

*hangs an air freshener around Aberzombie's neck and runs off giggling (after making sure it's "new car" scented)*

Varrus looks at Gendo.

"Surrender, monk. You are alone and outmatched. Admit defeat and you all may yet live."

Ouryn keeps a watchful eye on the other clientele, but seems at ease due to the fact they are regulars and neighbors.

"Aye, lass. Both names for a single figure, one you may know by yet another name: Kurnan. It's said he walks this land still. There are hunters and trappers--true mountain men that come into town only to trade wares and buy supplies--that say they've seen him in the forests on the boundaries of the Marches. A giant figure, equal parts animal and man, sporting a great rack of antlers atop his head and a bow no other being has the strength to string and draw. Lord of Beasts and patron of hunters he is. A wild god of wilder times, but revered still, despite what the Baalites may claim," the innkeeper says, flicking a glance at Stilgar and Brodgar.

"No offense intended, of course."

In a zombie apocalypse, I'd likely snap after a while. Do stupid, impulsive things...like seeking out lone walkers and hanging those pine tree car air fresheners around their necks and then run away.

So thanks to someone else on these boards, I found this article on avclub.com. Here's the preface to what is going to be an ongoing series:

Nerd Curious is a yearlong monthly series in which Todd VanDerWerff tries the nerdy things he missed as a kid, either due to lack of access, time, or ability. He has a rough schedule planned out, but feel free to use the comments to suggest more nerd experiences he needs to have.

I liked his insights into what it is about D&D (and RPGs in general) that is so addicting. All in all, a pretty good article.

Shadowborn wrote:

Quote:

Books you would like to see rewritten by Paizo

Moby Dick.

...

What?

Look, bub, this is a family friendly site. Keep your kink to yourself.

** spoiler omitted **

Queequeg. Go on, say it slow.

Addendum: Let me know when your nonlethal damage equals your max hp total. At that point, it registers as lethal damage. You still have to take lethal damage equal to your CON before death occurs, nonlethal damage aside.

Books you would like to see rewritten by Paizo

Moby Dick.

...

What?

Round 13:

Gendo bounds up the stairs and toward the wizards, pulling a sharp metal projectile and sending it spinning towards Varrus only to see it bounce of an unseen barrier in front of the bandaged wizard.

Jon moves up behind Gendo, passing him and into range to hit Devrik with his scythe.

Varrus pulls a wand from his belt, reaching out and stabbing at Jon with it, slipping past his guard to touch him on the arm. Jon's Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12. Varrus' cracked and oozing lips curl into a smile as Jon freezes in place, unable to move. A charnel smell rises from the druid's body. Gendo's Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11. Gendo staggers under the smell, bile rising in his throat (sickened). Devrik appears unaffected.

Devrik waves a hand and the watery globe rolls into motion again. It makes a wide arc around the south end of the room, rolling up on Gendo. Gendo's Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18. Gendo whirls aside and avoids being swept up into the orb with his companions, who continue to swirl helplessly within. Auric: 4hp nonlethal, William: 3hp nonlethal. Let me know when you negatives equal to your Con due to nonlethal damage.

Map

Spanky the Leprechaun wrote:

After plotting the most logical inbound course for the ship Kobayashi Maru, I would've whipped the Enterprise around a nearby sun on the Federation side of the Neutral Zone at such a velocity as to intercept the Kobayashi Maru a day eariler and give them a "check engine soon light" message via subspace transmission.

Take THAT, Kirk!!!

I'm going to add onto your idea and say whip around the sun so fast as

to go backwards in time. Then, stop the Kobayashi Maru before it enters
the N-Zone in the first place. (or blow it up if those dumb S-beeoches
don't take heed of my warning.)

I went the time travel route myself, but with a more offensive tactic in mind. Head back and stop the past Enterprise from entering the Neutral Zone, then get it to follow me through another slingshot to a prior Enterprise, rinse and repeat until there are enough Enterprises to soundly thrash the Klingon ships and save the day. Hot green-skinned aliens for everyone!

Ouryn gives a laugh. "Sure you're mistaken, master gnome, though it's a fine sign, to be sure." he replies, loudly enough to be heard by the other tables. He takes the pretense of bringing another round of drinks to your table to speak more quietly to you about it, leaning in close to place your mugs on the table as he does so.

"This is an old place, friends. It's said most of the valley were all forest back in the day. The three trees you see outside were the very heart of the forest. This was the only building that stood here, a hunting lodge, said to hold the favor of the Horned King himself, and that he watched over its occupants. The face in the tree is the Woodsy Lord keeping an eye on his faithful."

If there's nothing else you'd like to do here in Three Oaks, I can transition you back to Dunshale.

Yes. A move action could get you as far as K24 or L25/26, leaving you a standard for the round.

*yoink*

I usually like to handle division of loot according to how it best services the party as a whole, wealth levels be damned. Too artificial a system to be bothered with. If no one has a need for the bracers, let's sell them off and add the coin to the loot to be divided.

I agree that T-Dog's character needs some major work. There was at least one episode this season where he didn't have a single on-screen appearance. What's the point of being a character on TV if you don't make it on camera? Had he gone down in the horde that invaded the farm, I wouldn't have cared.

Lori doesn't seem to have a real good grasp of the personalities of the people around her. Her talk with Shane, presumably an attempt to mend fences, was just the thing to give a controlling, manipulative man that glimmer of hope to say "maybe she does want me after all...I just need to get rid of Rick." With the way she reacted to Rick's confession of what happened to Shane, maybe he wasn't all that incorrect in his assessment.

As for not knowing the prison's location, I can swallow that. I've lived here for years, not knowing exactly why there were so many registered sex offenders living in a relatively small city, until I learned we're basically surrounded by prisons. They get released and all end up here. Even now, I know the prisons are there, but I couldn't tell you exactly where they are. Unless Herschel's done time there, he has no reason to think about it. Most people avoid prisons and have a mental aversion to them. As for the cops, police rarely visit prisons. They're more likely to know the locations of courthouses, since they have more reason to visit them. Convicted criminals aren't always housed in the nearest prison either.

With creatures that paralyze without using poison, it's usually a magical effect. Ghouls, for instance. Think of the paralysis as a type of instant rigor mortis that affects all voluntary movement. It's a sort of cinematic style that's fairly common in the fantasy genre.

This is the last line of the Tie Up section:

If the DC to escape from these bindings is higher than 20 + the target's CMB, the target cannot escape from the bonds, even with a natural 20 on the check.

Therefore, if the DC is high enough that you cannot escape, you should be helpless.

Guh...okay, submitted a longer story to the forums of Pathfinder Chronicler. Clocking in at 2500 words at the moment, but I'm sure the fat will get trimmed down quickly enough.

Been thinking of some Runelord-themed magic items, but nothing solid yet. We'll see. I need some Aleve and a short nap first, I think.

Burton apparently decided to go with a campy remake. Which, coincidentally enough, is just what they did with the movie version of 21 Jump Street. Take that, Depp!

End round 11:

Auric moves up on Varrus, swinging his adopted blade, but fails to penetrate the wizard's defenses.

Devrik casts a spell and a great watery orb comes into being before him. With a sweep of his hand, it rolls across the floor toward Auric. Auric's Reflex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7. The orb rolls over him, picking the paladin up and roiling him around. 7hp nonlethal. The ball of water continues on its course, rolling towards William. William's Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25. The bard deftly dodges out of the way as the orb curves away in an arc along the south side of the room, Auric continuing to churn around inside.

Round 12:

Initiatives:

Gendo
Jon
Varrus
Auric
William
Devrik

Gendo races into the tower, up the stairs, and across the second floor to the base of the next flight of stairs, with Jon closely behind.

Varrus' spell continues to send waves of pain through Auric and William's bodies. Auric: 1hp nonlethal, William: 6hp nonlethal. The wizard himself stands ready, leaning on his staff and watching Auric and William's progress closely.

Auric continues to roil around in his watery prison. 7hp nonlethal. The churning currents overwhelm him and he goes limp.

William casts a spell, laying a slick layer of grease on the floor where the wizards are standing. Varrus keeps his balance, but Devrik is dumped unceremoniously to the floor.

Devrik hits the floor with a curse. Rather than move to his feet, he gestures and sends the watery ball rolling back towards William for another pass. William's Reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17. William is unable to escape this time, as he is plunged into the orb with Auric. 7hp nonlethal. William goes slack as the ball rolls back through the room.

Map

Yeah, I saw the trailer today. Bleh. Maybe I'll see it on a movie night at someone else's house.

Round 11:

Gendo
Jon
Auric
William
Devrik

Gendo and Jon hustle through the snow to the tower entrance this round.

Meanwhile, Auric and William ascend to the top floor of the tower, finding the dwarf across the room, prepared to defend himself.

Unfortunately, Varrus is also there. As the two heroes come into sight, he looses a spell. Fort saves: William's save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Auric's save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 The two find themselves wracked in pain. Auric: 4hp nonlethal and sickened. William: 3hp nonlethal and sickened. Auric may continue his turn, having only moved 15 feet when Varrus took his readied action.

Map

Mark Moreland wrote:

Neil gets the same 1 vote as everyone else.

It's just the only one that counts...

Shadowborn wrote:

When this round is over I want to be convinced that any of the three that don't make it could take it all next year.

Fully with you on the hand-wringing desire, but I believe the Top 8 of each year are not eligible for future contests.

Yeah, you're right. How about I amend that to say that any of the other three could have taken it this year.

Just saying, when my copy of Advanced Race Guide hits my door, I am taking a permanent black marker to my Core rulebook and blacking out a ll mentions of Gnomes. Then I will do the same to the gnome pictures. Then I will recreate kobolds as a player race, and tape them in the gnome slot. And to end it all I will black out all mentioning of gnomes in the Inner Sea World Guide, and add the story of how there were once gnomes who came from the first world, but the separation drove them mad and transformed them all eventually into spriggans.

GNOMES SUCK!!!

Uh-huh, yeah, okay. Enjoy your nerdrage.

Congratulations! I wish all of you the best during this final round. Now, if you'll indulge me, a personal request and a challenge:

Top 4, the last couple of rounds have left it really clear as to who my votes were going to end up with. I don't want that in this round. Turn the creative juices to overdrive, hone your writing skills, check and double-check before you finally hit that submit button. I want voting this time around to be physically painful. I want to wring my hands and pore over minutia before I finally decide which one of you is worthy of being named RPG Superstar. When this round is over I want to be convinced that any of the three that don't make it could take it all next year.

Round 10:

Gendo spends the round steadying himself, finally gaining his balance again and becoming fully aware of his surroundings. You're able to act normally next round.

Jon continues to stand by Gendo's side. "They chased the dwarf up into the tower," he says, preparing to move with him when he's ready to enter the tower.

Auric and William continue to pound their way upstairs. Auric takes a moment to locate their opponent and can hear booted feet moving on the floor above them, headed away from the stairs.

Map

Not long after "the group" got to the farm they found a Walker down in a well.

They got a rope around it and dragged it up out of the well- but it split in half with all of its guts (and lower half) falling back down into the water.

It was never, ever made mention of again. To my knowledge, they never told anyone at the house about it.

Now you have two people who have 1) been drinking the water and 2) died relatively soonly after.

(assuming they watered the kid from the same water they all drank, and assuming Shane was also drinking well water- even from a well closer to the house).

Contaminated water table + drinking contaminated water = you zombify regardless of how you die.

Thats just my hypothesis, anyway :)

-S

Maggie was there with them when it happened. I remember she looked positively horrified as she watched them bash its brains in. Also, the whole reason they wanted to pull it out rather than just shoot it down there was to prevent contamination of the well. Zombie virus or no, most people are going to realize that having rotting meat in your water supply is a health hazard.

"Safe travels to you. If we meet again, you'll have to tell me how things turned out. The little lady is right. We should make ourselves scarce as well."

With that, he turns to his group and makes a motion. They begin gathering up their things and prepare to move out.

Your group finds the walk back to town uneventful. When you reach the inn, Ouryn welcomes you back. At this point the place is rather full of locals, all taking advantage of the weather as an excuse to gather for company. The air smells heavy with spices, as a large cauldron of mulled mead hangs in the hearth.

I seem to be set up for things like this. Also in my first game, Xzar and Montaron got into a fight with Jaheira and Khalid while we were in the mines, just before the boss's room. I'd stopped to do a little healing and prep when Jaheira and Xzar started a running dialogue that ended with the two evil characters attacking. I let it play out. Good may be dumb, but it also kicks butt, because the Harpers handily defeated the Zhents. Of course, then I had to find a place to hole up and rest again, but it was a worthy cost for the entertainment.

*backs slowly out of the thread*

I can empathize, Joana. The first time I played, Minsc flipped out on me right on the bridge leading to the gnoll stronghold. My party got demolished as they were sandwiched between an angry berserker and the advance force of gnoll guards.

Evram looks at Magnus.

"You're in for quite a trip if you do. I think it's safer staying here and fomenting rebellion against the dwarves, myself, but to each their own."

Round 9:

Gendo, your vision clears, but you still find yourself reeling from the spell's effects (stunned).

Jon stands by Gendo, steadying him until he's able to act.

Auric and William enter the tower in pursuit of their foe, lighting upon the stairs this round.

Map

I thought they were way out from the house myself, but in the final scene you can see the house clearly in the near distance behind Carl and Rick, despite the fog. It looked like they were just in the next field over. Those walkers might have been a group that just entered the area, so they didn't hear any of the earlier shots.

As am I...

No hard and fast rule, but common sense says the scorpion can't fulfill the requirements of the position. You're right; it's a mindless bug. It can't stalk, use tactics, or plan. It's no more an assassin than a guard dog would be.

I'm already playing in one PbP and DMing two others, so I'll bow out. I joined this one because it was a one-shot and I wanted the chance to play in it. Thanks for the offer though.

Sometimes it seems like my dice are predisposed to roll good or bad depending on the situation. Currently I'm running a cleric. I get asked to roll a save. Boom, 19. I make an attack roll. Boom, 15. Okay, roll for initiative. Wah-wah-waaaaah...now I'm rolling a 6 or less. I'll just twiddle my thumbs over here for now, guys. So far this trend has been holding fairly consistently for about three weeks now and has been the running joke at the table.

Ia! Ia! Cthulhu is chocolate!

Did I mention I moved here from Hawaii...?

As a fellow Spokanite, welcome to Hell. Seriously though, I'd suggest checking out Merlyn's, the local gaming store. They've got their own online forum with a section for finding fellow gamers to play with. It'll be more direct. I haven't found any Spokane players on the Paizo site that aren't already in my gaming group. Best of luck to you.