Tambryn's page

I thought that I would throw in a couple anecdotes of my own. Please note that I have never and do not ever intend to use any illegal drug.

My parents were piss poor in just about every way that matters. From failing to provide supervision to abuse, you name it and they probably did it to me or my siblings. It was not a stable home, and I can't think of any one positive trait I took away from them. And they happened to smoke pot and do other drugs. Did the drugs make them bad parents? NO, IT DID NOT. How can I state this? Because during the stable financial times and the not their behavior was always the same. When they couldn't afford drugs they still hit us. When they could afford their fix we still got the rough end. Drugs did not make them bad people. Drugs were simply there, for better or worse.

My brother smokes pot. Has since he was a teenager. Smoked it a couple times with both of my parents I think. You have never known a harder working man in your life. He runs his own construction company and absolutely dotes on his daughter. If it ever became necessary he would drop the pot in a heartbeat. But he enjoys it and can afford it. If he had to choose between his family and pot, the choice is already made.

I, as mentioned above, I do not and havn't ever done any drugs. But I was raised by abusive drug using parents. Did this set me up for failure? Did I grow up to be some kind of deviant? Nope. I am a sergeant in US Army, debt free, and look to be going into business for myself soon. (Buying out the logal gaming shop wouldn't you know?) I do not have any illegitimate children and I always open the doors for my dates.

There is a guy who works on one of my brother's constructions crews. I will keep his name to myself. This man is a reformed druggie. Maybe it was someone like the OP who helped him out, I don't know. What I do know is that for the last five years or so this man has worked hard to keep his family together and provide for them.

Are any of these anecdotes typical? NO
Should I judge anyone else by my own experiences? NO
Should I speak in absolutes and say that everyone in my situation would react the same? NO
Am I doing anything other than providing a diservice by assuming the worst about every single pot smoker out there? Sadly NO
Does any of this suggest that drugs are good, or evil? NO
Are there horrible anecdotes about drugs that I could have shared with you? YES
Does this thread sadden me? More than you can know.

Be good to each other.
Tam

If 4th edition does anything about the clunkiness of iterative attacks and if it can do anything to increase speed that action moves around the table then I am all in. Especially if higher level play can be as fluid as it is at lower levels. Nothing like 4 hours spent on one combat to bring everything into focus.

If they can better the base mechanics that is good enough. Everything else is up to me.

What would be a deciding factor for you? If you are on the fence what would push you in either direction?

Tam

Even though we have had over 7 deaths in our STAP campaign (if you count the two familiar deaths as one of my players does) this is the first time I have been moved to post in this thread.

There the PCs were, in Ahazu's well after chasing off the well's guardians. They observed the trapped demon lord inside the pool and despaired of ideas on how to contact him. Then Aramiel, the party's healer/beguiler takes steps to ensure he can breath underwater and has freedom of movement, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and then jumps into the pool. He didn't touch the surface first, giving me at least an excuse to ask for a will save. He instead jumped full on into the pool.

Fare thee well Aramiel.

As an aside, the party then used a telepathy crystal ball to to communicate with Aramiel who acted as an intermediary between them and Ahazu.

Tam

I can honestly say that I own every 3.0/3.5 wizards product. I take supporting my hobby seriously and I want it to be here for many years to come. If they go broke it won't be my fault.

Tam

I am not certain that the order history can be counted upon as a guage. My first order was march 05 but I am pretty certain that was a re-up on my subscriptions.

Tam

More fun Familiar Cheese:

My wizard has the Improved Familiar feat to get a pseudodragon. Since familiars use their master's base skill ranks for skills, I've also maxed out my ranks of Use Magic Device, and gotten an amulet of Use Magic Device +5 for my little buddy. During combat, he can fly around and try to make his roll to use wands.

(There are only 2 PCs in that party, going through the Savage Tide path, so this isn't a problem. In a normal- or larger-sized party, I'd discourage this sort of thing, if only to ensure everyone gets their share of the spotlight. But there's nothing in the rules against it, so if it isn't side-lining any other PCs, I wouldn't worry about it.)

Don't let Jurmond see that one. He is already planning on getting Enspell Familiar and Extra Familiar and now he will be using a spell out of Complete Mage to turn them all into Marut's.

Should be fun.

Tam

Oh, and no way does picking up two items in your square require two move actions. Disarm attempts are standard actions and can not be compared. Damn the rules.

If you advocated the action taking two move actions don't take offense, I was just feeling rebelious. I deffinately respect and appreciate your opinion.

Tam

Tam,

detailed answers to your two questions; one about sneak attack and the one about the ring have been delth with in the Official Answers To Your Questions; ie Sage Advice in Dragon Magazine; see page 80 Dragon 341 for the first one; and, page 84 Dragon 349 for the second one if I understand that one correctly. Imposing a penalty on the sheild from a shield spell on a person using a melee weapon is just lame.

Thanks Valegrim, that made things easier. All the attacks in a full attack can be sneak attacks assuming the PC continues to meet all the requirements.

The ring of force shield can be activated at the end of the PC's turn giving him the higher AC against all attacks other than AOOs. It can then be deactivated at the beginning of his turn to allow the two hand wield. The penalties are that he does not get the higher AC during his turn against AOOs and does not get to two hand wield for his own AOOs when the shield is "up".

And for the record, I welcome any and all constructive criticism, interpretations, corrections and personal experiences that will help me ensure that my judgements are as fair as possible.

There will be another "Help Tam" thread after our weekend games this saturday and sunday.

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Tam

They are all now 18th level. We have only the last three adventures of the STAP ahead of us. I am thinking of gifting the wizard to ofset the lack of spellcaster love inherent in the STAP. Maybe the gift would be more appropriate from Malcanthet, as the Wizard/Sorcerer is the only PC to have been around through the entire AP and as such is her greatest pawn among them. And it doesn't necessarily have to be a gift. They could find it on one of the enemies in the last couple challenges from Divided's Ire or anywhere else for that matter.

Tam

And we are at 18th now so it is not to much of an issue. He plans to get extra familiar and enspell familiar to get two of them and be able to have them move a greater distance away from him. Even two adult large red dragons will soon be ground to pulp by the last adventures of the STAP.

Tam

I feel that the individual dieties that get a whif of Demo's plans will almost certainly have a interest in the outcome of the Campaign.

I can see Boccob gifting the party wizard with an item to help represent his interests.

What item do you suggest? Something cool but not unbalancing.

Thanks
Tam

Share Spells: At the master’s option, he may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) he casts on himself also affect his familiar. The familiar must be within 5 feet at the time of casting to receive the benefit.
If the spell or effect has a duration other than instantaneous, it stops affecting the familiar if it moves farther than 5 feet away and will not affect the familiar again even if it returns to the master before the duration expires. Additionally, the master may cast a spell with a target of “You” on his familiar (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself.
A master and his familiar can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the familiar’s type (magical beast).

Is anyone aware of any errata for this special ability? My player is sharing Dragon Shape, Lesser with his familiar and they are both becoming large adult red dragons. Not to much of an issue really. Large adult red dragons aren't to mean against the final roster of bad guys in the STAP. Just curious if this has been addressed.

Tam

Is there a way we can get a download of the map without all the Maps of Mystery reference points? This would be asesome.

Tam

Go to What is the subscription price for D&D Insider?

I was a subscription monkey so long that I didn't even know that dragon's price had reached ove ten dollars per month.

What happens when I don't pay attention I guess.

Tam

My game is already past SoSC, but this was one of those moments that really surprised me.

Instead of having one of the Bar'lguras teleport the gestalt Fighter/Warmage 16 to the underdark or Wormcrawl Fissure I had him taken to the captain in an effort to avoid all the issues with the other options. Captain Wither was going to torture information out of the PC about the forces that were arrayed against him. The PC cast Disintegrate deffensively, twice. I rolled horribly for the captain and after a round of full attacks Cold Captain Wither was cold dead. It worked out in the end as the captain's minions quickly overpowered the PC and carted him off to Divided's Ire.

The best laid plans and all that.

Tam

Well, I have to admit that drinking and playing video games at the time that a friend showed me this deffinately helped. Try that.

Tam

(Not really mind you, but maybe)

BE WARNED. SOME WILL FIND THIS VERY OFFENSIVE. MOST OF YOU THOUGH WILL LAUGH YOUR A@#ES OFF.

BRO RAPE.

Tam

I am also starting to think that though made of force, the shield is still a physical thing, else it would not be able to block your enemy's attacks. Bumping into your thigh or head as you swing a weapon about with that hand. So maybe an easy solution would be a compromise that imposes half the penalties associated with weilding a weapon with your shield arm.

Tam

Also, your thread titles could use some work. I never would've guessed that this was about the topic of invisibility just reading the header.

The thread itself is not about Invisibility, that was just the example I used. Similar situations arises for me when light and darkess spells override each other, knock versus arcane lock, web and freedom of movement etc. I am just wondering if the magical might of the spellcaster involved should or should not have more impact on the power of the spell cast than the spell's listed level. Many spells do this, envocation spells almost always.

I appreciate everyone's views, and the deciding factor for me may be all the extra die rolling my game would then require.

Tam

According to the Book of Exalted Deeds, Gwynharwyf, the Whirling Fury, is one of the consorts of Queen Morwel of the Court of Stars.

In Enemies of my Enemy is states that both Gwynharwyf and Faerinall are consorts of Queen Morwel.

Tam

Do any of you know where I can find some round by round scripts of in-game play? Whole adventures would be preferable, but individual encounters would be fine also.

Thanks
Tam

Grain, Ale & Wine - My pride and joy, because I do so love puns :)

Maybe its because it is getting late, but I think I might need a little hand holding for this one.

Tam

Is anyone else annoyed by the fact that a 8th level spellcaster casting See invisibility(2nd lvl) can automatically and easily see a 20th level spellcaster who has cast Invisibility(also 2nd lvl)? This has happened many times over the course of my games, and I am tempted to house rule a change. Some spells scale in power depending on the Caster Level of the caster. Others do not. Why? A fifteenth level fireball is most certainly more powerful than a 5th level fireball, but the same can not be said for near half the spells available.

I am thinking of instituting opposed caster level checks in all situations where spells directly oppose each other. In the above example, the 8th level caster would have to roll very well indeed if he wished to overcome the invisibility of the 20th level caster.

I just cannot imagine a fourth level sorcerer casting a 2nd level spell and catching Boccob in the act. What do you think?

Tam

I think I will make posts similar this one each week after our weekend game to offer up some issues that arose ingame, how I adjudicated the situation, and to learn what you would or would not have done differently.

This week:

Sneak Attack: Neither I nor my players are able to find a reference that limits a sneak attack to the first attack in a full attack. For a while I was allowing sneak attack damage on every attack but as soon as S'Sharra sneak attacked one of my players with a full attack and it looked like I would be rolling 45d6 sneak attack damage, I changed the ruling to only the first attack in a full attack. Or else dear Falcar would have died right there in an explosion of red gore. (And don't take this to mean that I don't kill characters, it happens, but it is not something I go out of my way to do, Savage Tide is already to deadly.)

Sneak Attack #2: One high level rogue sneak attacking another. Alright, uncanny dodge says that rogue in question still retains their Dex bonus even when flat footed. Does this eliminate one of the two conditions under which sneak attacks can happen? The other being while flanking your opponent. In the game the party's rogue was sneaked attacked by another rogue from hiding. The party's rogue has uncanny dodge. I was tempted to call it that he still gets his dex bonus to AC, and is still flat-footed, and that the sneak attack damage still applied. But the player interpreted it differently. What do you think?

Picking up a Weapon: It is a move action to pick up a weapon. But if for some reason both of the weapons of a two-weapon fighter were knocked out of there hands, could they pick up both weapons as a single move action. I am inclined to say yes, that they can. For the game we went with the RAW, where picking up on item takes one move action.

Typed Damage: My players have recently purchased crystals from the Magic Item Compendium that they can attach to their weapons to give them a number of magical effects. We are uncertain though whether if, say, the crystal made the weapon good aligned, would frost damage from the weapon also be good aligned? I have temporarily ruled that it does not and that only the damage of the base weapon is considered good aligned.

Ring of Force Shield:

An iron band, this simple ring generates a shield-sized (and shield-shaped) wall of force that stays with the ring and can be wielded by the wearer as if it were a heavy shield (+2 AC). This special creation has no armor check penalty or arcane spell failure chance since it is weightless and encumbrance-free. It can be activated and deactivated at will as a free action.

By the description, specifically "weightless and encumbrance-free" I am inclined to think that the force shield created by the ring would not hamper the use of a weapon with that arm, or two handed weilding.

A couple disclaimers before I hit submit. I understand that I am the final arbiter in my games. But I understand even more that I am not all knowing and there is a wealth of experience on these boards that can belp me notice something I may have overlooked or teach me something that I have yet to learn.

I welcome any an all constructive feedback.

Thanks
Tam

Thanks for the insights so far. I really appreciate them. Another couple questions.

Though the PC in question will probably not suffer an alignment shift, if he had would the proper shift be from CN to CE?

Also, I remember something about Druids being the only class able to be true nuetral. Was this something lost with the transition to 3rd edition?

Again, thanks

Tam

So, to preface, I completely gimped Kedward by forgetting that he had a permanent see invisible effect in place. My bad.

This is what happened. PC, Aramiel, sets up appointment with Kedward in order to purchase magic items. Player balked at 150% price and returned later while invisible and tried to cast Dominate Person on Kedward to get everything at standard cost. Mind Blank saved Kedward and I ruled that he noticed the attempt.
Next round Kedward tried an area dispel magic but failed to overcome the greater invisibility, and only managed to look around the street menacingly while brandishing his dire scythe. Aramiel then cast slay living on Kedward, who failed his fortitude save, and Aramiel stole his belongings.

The PC is CN. How would you handle this? An Alignment shift to CE? Let me know what you think. I am typing this as the PCs are dealing with the Mercane's in the Abyss.

Thanks in advance,
Tam

So, I am running Savage Tide now and we are loving it. The only thing I dislike it that I am having to rush the story as I will soon be leaving for another deployment to Iraq.

I personally prefer slower progression over the course of the campaign. So this is what I am thinking of doing. I will start the PCs with 1 level of commoner and present them with a story and region deep scenario prior to starting Burnt Offerings when I finally get around to starting it. I also intend to run seperate adventures between the individual chapters of the AP. The characters will essentially not get XP for these adventures as I will keep track of the XP myself and they will only ever know when they level up. Or, if it seems nicer they will get half XP for each adventure and the overall AP power level will not change.

So what I am asking for is advice from other DMs who have ever done this or something similar. Are there any specific pitfalls that I need to work to avoid? Do you think this is a good idea? Please offer up anything that you think might help me.

Thanks
Tam

Sweet, thanks.

Tam

If I just now started a GameMastery Subscription and am expecting Seven Swords of Sin with Burnt Offerings, am I correct in thinking that the only modules I need to purchase to be caught up are D0,D1 and W1?

Thanks

Tam

Wait a minute, . . . . . . . just might, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . nope, just took about 20 seconds to reload (service unavailable)

Tam

Sorry Sebastian.

Tam

That would be the reason.

So wait for this to get fixed or . . . . . . . go play WOW. I know what I am thinking.

Kidding

Tam

I have a little over 20 minutes to go now. Surely I am not the only one.

Tam

are you freaking kidding me

tam

seconds really

tam

A collective holding of breath . . . . . .

Tam

And that "Luddites" crap almost pissed me off. Good thing I finished the article before crank calling people.

Tam

I dislike that the cost for the online content, the "e-zine" if you will, will be more than the subscription cost for the phisical magazines.

Tam

Junior Lifeguard Association,....... made me laugh outright.

Tam

Very good question. I am deffinately interested in these.

-Tam

Jozan raises the sun of Pelor between himself and Strahd. With the symbol of his faith made manifest thrust into the face of his hated enemy, Jozan tries to banish the vampire. "By the power of the Light Bringer I banish you back to the darkness from which you have sprung."

A look of quizzical mirth dances across the sharp features of Lord Strahd's face, followed by glint briefly seen in his eyes. Gingerly Strahd leans forward and with a moan of exquisite pleasure kisses the golden face of Pelor.

"Sweet," the vampire says, his voice breathy,"like the blood of a newborn."

-Tam

I posted this not to long ago but then forgot about it as the flurry of activity on these boards of last month set in. I am also unble to find my original post. So here goes again....

I would really like to reward one of my players who has been collecting bits a pieces of rare beasts to aid in he spell casting efforts. Try as I might I have been unable to find a list of reagents, foci or components and their effect on spells cast using them. I don't mind purchasing a supplement that contains this information if someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks for your help, especially if this is the second time you are assisting me in this matter.

Tam

This was mentioned by Sean Mahoney in the delvesdeep catch up thread, but I wanted to ask specifically without going off topic there.

Will subscribers to Pathfinder have immediate access to the PDF version of this product?

I ask this because I have read a number of people both within and outside the united states bemoaning the shipping time involved when then can get the book directly from the local game store. While I believe that everyone should support their local game store I think this fact, if true, might alleviate some of that purchaser's anxiety about the Pathfinder subscription.

-Tam

I believe he was answering my question.
Thanks Frats.

-Tam

What exactly do you mean by "dead level"?

-Tam

Forest E. Witcraft said:
“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

Congratulations.

-Tam

Frankly, I don't see any difference at all.

The difference will be that Dragon and Dungeon will not be here to support the new edition. It is a pretty stong incentive for the magazine's readers when the magazines themselves make the transition.

-Tam

After visiting no less than five other websites and their corresponding forums I have noticed and rejoice that disapointment in WotC's recent move is internet wide. At least with regards to the Roleplaying industry. This has gotten me to thinking.

How much did I use my issues of Dungeon and Dragon. And I must say, until relatively recently with the inclusion of the Adventure Paths, that I did not use them hardly at all. Other than a good read these magazines did not have all that much effect on my campaign.

No this in no way means that my subscription to these magazines was a waste. Like others have said, they held me through the hard times. When I was in Iraq and had no other D&D outlet. When I returned from overseas to learn that everyone had moved or something else that prevented them from playing. Dungeon and Dragon were there the entire time.

But though I did not use them. No more than say earth science news or some other journal. I may not have used them, but I loved them. And I will miss them.

But the good news, for me, is that the best of the two magazines will be carrying on through Pathfinder. The Adventure Paths were the bast thing to grace the pages of either magazine in the entire time I read them. Vary rarely did the material in Dungeon or Dragon mesh with my particular campaign or style, but when that campaign came from the very pages things changed. This is what changed Dungeon and Dragon in the last couple years from a periodical that I enjoyed reading into game accessories that I used. It is that usefullness that paizo seems to be preserving in the form of Pathfinder.

After watching the WotC website and forums to see some kind of statement or announcement other than the now infamous "we loved them too, sorry to be the ones to kill them" and finding none, I realize that my needs are better served here at paizo than they ever were or will be elsewhere.

Much love for Paizo. Your professionalism and the quality of your customer service sets you apart by leaps and bounds.

-Tam

I too cannot wait for Pathfinder's release. Having to wait for this fall kind of sucks.

-Tam

I don't thing that Pathfinder will have to see the circulation numbers that Dungeon and Dragon did to be a successful venture for Paizo. I can't even speculate as to the amount they had to pay to liscense the magazines from Wizards, but it is a cost they will no longer have to shoulder.

And as a book Pathfinder will not force upon them the costs associated with destroyed copies each month.

And I am pretty certain that Pathfinder is just the beginning. They and by extension we, the players and dms that give them feedback, are building a world from the ground up. Which by the way is a very strong selling point for me. There will be campaign settings, accessories, minis, maybe organized events similar to rpga and many other ways for the pathfinder line to be profitable.

Even if I do not run one of the APs I will purchase it. Not just to support Paizo, which I admit is partly reason, but also because each one is another chapter in this new world that is openning up.

-Tam