Tronos's page

So, I was grappled by two stirges. My rogue had a crappy CMB of 1 and CMD of 13. Firstly, we ruled that I couldn't attack the stirges with a dagger one-handed without first making an opposed grapple check. To me, the rules suggest that you can unless you are actively trying to get out of the grapple in which case you then make an opposed roll. I didn't want to oppose the grapple, I just wanted to stab it. Secondly, the stirge was using its considerable CMB of +11 (a racial bonus given in subsequent rounds once the grapple had been established) and a further +5 from the normal rules on grappling (pg 200 Core Rulebook), again, given if the victim couldn't break the initial grapple. So, +16.

But, it goes on to say on pg 201 that the victim can attempt to break a grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check, DC equal to attackers CMD (in this case, 9).

Is it just me or does this sound totally contradictory? Can the stirge keep opposing me at +16 since it managed to grapple me in the first instance which would mean it uses its CMB vs my CMB or do I just beat its CMD of 9 and then stab at it?

Ideas please. I really feel this rule should be clearer.

Some time ago there was discussion about some very helpful ppl who were constructing websites that automate things like NPC's, treasure and advance monsters.

Would any of you guys happen to remember or have the links to any of those sites. I have since changed jobs so don't have them shortcutted anymore - not very orgabnisd of me!

Thanks all.

For those who wanted an update on what happened in our game here it is.

Just to summarize, we were investigating a goblin market where the murder of one particular goblin was carried out by our trusty paladin.

What happened next was......

We basically all left town. Except the paladin. The market mobilised to see what the commotion was all about. I guess if you're gonne kill someone you gotta do it quietly. Mal, the paladin, made a run for the horses. That's as far as he got before he was swamped by gobbies trying to grapple, trip, bite and generally behave in an anti-social manner. The next part was way cool.

Mal continued to cut the horses free whereby they all ran away. Then he simply thwarted most attempts to grapple and trip, and continued to drag the wailing mini-horde through the viallge while any green-skin within earshot attempted to climb on wagons, each other etc to have a go. It was like WWF (or whatever) with gobbies jumping all over Mal, bashing him with pots, pans and anything else they could find.

Eventually they got him down with subdual damage and hung him. Still, it was fun seeing how far Mal got with approx 15 midgets trying to hold him down. The funniest bit was Mal continually warning them that if they continued they would be in real trouble. Defiance is beatiful.

Anyhoo, now we're surveying the sewers for the city. It was a very productive session.

You're in a Goblin market.

Tents and stalls line the streets, filled with everything from leatherwork to pots and pans. Sure, the goblin traders here drive a hard bargain, but they haven't tried to mislead, attack, or do anything ubtoward to you or your party.

Question;

Is it ok for the Lawful Good paladin to put his axe through one Goblin's head (selling potions etc) and take its' stuff on the basis that they are vermin?

Background;

Our party was sent to investigate a goblin market on the King's road that had sprung up near a ruined bridge. Some human travellers had gone missing nearby. The goblins built a new bridge, allegedly charging a toll. We weren't charged a toll by them and two of us left the market without harrassment. Although the bridge looks like it was destroyed by tools, there is no proof that the gobbies did it......yet.

So, to the question.

I'm interested in getting other ppls ideas for mapping software/techniques here and hearing about experiences with them.

I've been using mainly the Pro Fantasy stuff but I know there are alot of others out there. I'm not talking about the really simple hex grid style maps, I mean the high quality stuff that is available.

For example, has anyone used a cosmographer or soemthing really cool to design cities that stands out.

Secondly, I'm thinking of putting up a website devoted to maps. What level of interest is out there?

Thanks guys/gals.

I, like many people, miss Dungeon Mag. In my view, print copy is superior to digital for reading adventures etc.

For those of you who regularly use Kobold Quarterly, how does it rate against Dungeon Mag?

Info here will go a long way to me becoming a KQ customer in an effort to satisfy my hard copy tendencies.

Thanks guys.

Now, making magic items requires the creator to expend XP. I'm sure I read in rule/splat book somewhere that the creator can use someone elses XP in the process.

Mt PC is an 'Artificer' so I have all the item creation feats sown up but I don't like being behind the rest of the party in XP all the time from making items for them.

Has anyone else come across this piece of information or did I dream it?