crit confirmed's page

Making a goblin shirt for my venture captain. He is wearing a crown, while opening a present tied with intestines. Looking to add text. Any quote suggestions would be helpful.

While studying the spell lists of Aberrant, Angelic, Demonic, and Fey sorcerers, it seemed to me a slight change would smooth things out. Instead of each bloodline focusing solely upon their 1 spell list, why not restrict these lists, and allow for the use of arcane spells. The Occult, Divine, and Primal spells list are still the primary. however, the Arcane list becomes secondary.

Cantrips would be selected, as such: 2 from their primary list, and 2 from arcane. Every level, thereafter, would be 2 from the primary list, and 1 from arcane. These bloodlines would feel more grounded in their core class: sorcerer.

For the sake of scroll use, there will need to be restrictions on which spells are actually considered on a character's list. You will be permitted to read spells from their primary list, and, also, the arcane spell on their character sheet. If an arcane spell is not listed as a secondary spell, you must use Identify Magic. Changing out 1 arcane spell for another would make the old spell obsolete.

I fought the ooze, with a bat swarm, in Rose Street Revenge. Having tasted the droppings on the floor, to verify it was guano, we prepared for a bat swarm. We fought both, simultaneously. As we had split the party, in the room. The bat swarm quickly moved in on several PCs, so our initial attacks were focused on that creature. My fighter, and a rogue Delayed long enough to act after the ooze appeared. Between a failed saving throw, and taking the brunt of it's attacks, I was dropped to 4. Creatures were defeated in the second round. Used my 2 resonance points to heal, and fought the final fight with -7 HP to start. My table enjoyed the experience.

In case anyone still cared about the original topic: The first time the media used fear mongering against DND was in 1979. A young man with depression and drug problems liked to play the game. He larped the game in utility tunnels located underneath Michigan State University. He later killed himself. This inspired a book of fiction- which became a movie of the same title. Tom Hanks played in the film: Mazes and Monsters. The mother sued the school and TSR, and then formed an organization named: Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons (BADD, 1983). They stated the game promoted murder, rape, insanity, prostitution, cannibalism and other various charges. I was a child then, and remember the rumors that he murdered members of his larping group with a knife, and was never seen again. The university closed off public access to these service tunnels. I started playing in the early 80's, before the movie. Just lucky my mom knew better than to listen to the hysteria. We literally played for twelve hours two, or more, times a week. After 2 games, DMing intrigued me and I officially became the all-time DM, for the remainder of that summer and beyond.

Is it possible you would GM two separate games running the same story? The original group of players would give you your fix for good role-play, while you could let anarchy reign in the other. Obviously, there would be some deviation, but you can punish the asinine players without destroying the rhythm of your original campaign. Could make for some great stories.

Never heard of a gaming convention that did not end on Sunday.

Scarab con runs games on Monday. We call it module Monday, because it's almost all people play.

I stayed at coast gateway, last year. Bought my room last minute and paid 100 a night. Breakfast is included. Hoping for a price drop. Really liked the place.

Part of the trial would have to include the lich's presence, would it not? An accuser must be present. Why not have the inquisitor be prepared to use a disrupt undead spell upon the lich, to prove innocence or guilt. The lich could have a small horde fighting the armies that marched to Belhaim, while the PCs deal with their master, and protect the innocent inside the courthouse.

I would more than consider Snowball as a 1st level spell (5d6 damage, up to 35ft range). It is a great substitute against many foes that are resistant or immune to fire, and the damage is not reduced. The save merely eliminates the staggered condition. Since you have Vanish (lasting 5 full rounds), think about foregoing Invisibility for Mirror Image. You will find that creatures can crit and still miss your character. I have found both spells very useful for my Halfling sorcerer.

Sounds good. Thanks.

I am prepping an underwater skirmish. What, if any, modifiers would I add to melee attacks, and ranged touch attacks?

I was totally drawn-in by the title.

I am listening to the voices in my head. They are so funny, and their conversations keep me up through the night.

1. Focus on using a skill against the PCs.
A) Intimidation is used by opponent's to force their will upon a PC, or to leave them shaken before/during combat.
B) Climb a cliff must be descended to reach a hidden cavern, which could lead to a PC taking fall damage.
C) Acrobatics can be used to move across a battlefield without permitting an opponent to take an Attack of Opportunity (AoO). What is an AoO, and how many times can this be used each round?

This way, you will all learn the skills together.

2. Ensure they choose a knowledge or two for each character, then utilize those knowledge rolls in the story.

3. Buy a pack of Condition Cards effects like shaken, blinded, and nauseated are easily kept at your fingertips.

1. I used a line of Hellknights for the first two battles. It helped them understand the battlefield better. The battleline at the top of the scree worked great with the added miniatures: some PCs used the first round to begin walking around the Hellknights, while others held their actions. They were spread thin and not readily available to flank, and the meat shields were out of place for the initial attack.

2. Yes. The PCs start on the southern part of the map, with Hellknights behind them. I placed them on the farthest edge. The players are facing the fork in the road. To the right is the road to the temple, while the left is direction the Hellknights are travelling.

3. I let people with linguistics or abyssal read the runes, but asked if they were interested in knowing what was written. They detected magic on the rune and read it anyway. The Perception check was used to try a last effort to avoid completing the reading of the rune.

4. The fractured ground has no significance, just there for asthetics.

5. I placed Olgrahk on the map as marked not read.

When players decide not to roleplay, I make them take a high DC check for losing their save to begin with. Then add the character's wil mod to their roll, to see if the PC decides to check the illusion. Just because the player knows it is fake doesn't mean it translates to the PC. A player may know how to play a wizard and have favorite spells to cast, but a brand new fighter will have no such knowledge (generic example). If they are well aware of their opponent, then let them run through. Just set a pit trap on the far side of the illusion. If someone makes the save, however, that character can show them the wall is fake. It is always a shame when players do not understand what they know and the PC understands are 2 different things.

I thought of suggesting the same, Phantom1592.

The game does take liberties in thinking people understand just what exactly a feint is. So let's start with defining the action.

Oxford dictionary.com
Feint: 1.a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in boxing or fencing:

"a brief feint at the opponent's face"

From Dictionary.com I found the following:
1. a movement made in order to deceive an adversary; an attack aimed at one place or point merely as a distraction from the real place or point of attack:
military feints; the feints of a skilled fencer.

A feint is a fake attack action that causes an opponent to defend against a punch or weapon that is not actually an attack. It is designed to take a defender's attention away from the real threat. So PCs/NPCs standing 10', or more, away from a 5' reach weapon feint will not bother trying to defend themselves. Using a reach weapon will give you that 10' distance and eliminate the chance that anyone 5' away would feel threatened. If you cannot hit them in combat with your fist, foot, or weapon you cannot feint against them.

I just signed up for Serpents rise. Looking forward to playing this for the first time.

I love the unexpected reaction from the ape. I also would have loved to have been at that table to see the reactions of the players.

You could always take a level dip in cleric. I have a cleric/sorcerer. My cleric's domains are travel, and curse. Travel automatically adds 10 to your speed and gives you agile feet (highly useful against difficult terrain); curse gives me malign eye (targets receive -2 on saving throws against my spells, for 1 minute). My domain spell is bane. My caltrips are guidance, spark, and stabilize. I cast cure light wounds, and murderous command (make your enemy kill themselves). Also, I channel positive energy 6 times a day.

My sorcerer, at first level (now at 5th), had acid splash, detect magic disrupt undead. dancing lights, open/close, read magic was added later. My bloodline is elemental (air); I can shoot a bolt of lightening (1d6 + 1 per 2 caster levels) 6 times per day. Burning hands and mage armor were my first choices. Burning hands can be changed to electricity when fighting monsters immune to fire, thanks to my bloodline.

Later I grabbed shocking grasp, snowball, vanish (great substitute for invisibility), Badger's ferocity, mirror image (always use this spell) are my second level spells, while scorching ray was free with my bloodline.

My high charisma modifier helped with channel positive energy, my bloodline power, while my high wisdom helped with agile feet, and malign eye.

This character is very adaptive to his environment, and very helpful in most scenarios. Burning hands is an important low level spell to have. Also, I am looking forward to spells like: mad monkeys, keen edge.

I dipped in cleric, because the game can be difficult without one. Truthfully, though, it was the best thing I did for my character. I have all the caltrips I needed, and I am able to play aggressively thanks to mage armor, and mirror image.

Hope this helps.

I did not submit my staff, but am trying to finish a shield I started formulating at work.

I know I made a staff this year as I expected it'd be allowed, but then I double read the rules again.

I think it's safe to reveal that I did not submit a staff like I planned on.

Then there are two great staves that have been written, but not yet revealed. I would like to say: 'maybe next year,' but I would like to win this year.

Unless it's called out as a quarterstaff and treated as a magical weapon rather than a magical staff, you'll need to write something else. If, as has been pointed out, you didn't submit it yet.

I feel it's best to attempt a new item. Changing it from the original design would lessen how cool I think it is.

I wrote a staff without fully reading the post.

Are staves not allowed this year?

Have the players create two mid-level characters each. At the first session, have them play one character, and then, at the second session, play the other. Lie and say you just want to let them figure out which they prefer. By the third or fourth session, players will know which is their primary (preferred) character. Now spring the trap. Send them upon a mission from which they cannot escape. Inform them the next session will begin a rescue mission to be carried out by the secondary characters. Drag it out for a second session. Maybe the primary characters have been moved to be used as living statues, due to a magic or poison that immobilized them. Once found, a cure for this condition must be found.

Hey outshyn, I just played that scenario with the robots and skeletons. We had a player using the Cad Arhetype, and he made the whole scenario with the robots very easy. He used dirty tricks to blind them and then tripped them prone. Our rogue proceeded to finish them off. The skeletons were difficult, but we had two clerics that wore them down with their channeling ability.

Perhaps I could offer a few tidbits.

1. Watch a play-by-post (PbP) of the same scenario you played, to witness how different characters play through the same experience.

2. Go back and request these easier scenarios: The Confirmation, The Wounded Wisp, The Frostfur Captives, The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment, and The Glass River Rescue. After the first scenario you will have currency to invest in better weapons and equipment. Also, you should be able to contact the Venture Capt. or Lt. to ask for these.

3. Or you could start out by requesting all of the Silverhex Chronicles. This is a collection of six quests specifically designed for first level characters. They are easier than normal, quick to play. You are, however, required to play pregenerated characters from-start-to-finish, but after accomplishing these simple quests you have enough experience for a second level character of your choice.

4. Try being a cleric. Nobody seems to want to be a cleric (from my personal experience), but everybody certainly appreciates the player who does. The Domains are really interesting, and give you Wizard spells and special abilities. They make you more than a healer with a weapon (recommended domains: Fire, Travel, Weather). You can choose two domains, but your god restricts your choices. I personally have dipped a level of experience in the class, to ensure I had a character that can heal companions by channeling energy and using cure light wounds. By dipped, I mean that my character is currently 5th level. Four of my levels are sorcerer, and one was used on cleric. I personally saved two of my companions from death the very next scenario. They were brash and always tend to play without strategy (lucky for them, I was prepared for this).

5. See if a friend will attend with you. I find there are less deaths when you have 6 players fulfilling a needed class in battle, and achieving the needed skill checks (scenarios are more difficult with 4 players). Also, listen carefully to the information given at the beginning of the scenario, and take notes. If you have fulfilled the points of the quest and creatures attack, go ahead and run. You still get the gold and experience (like I said) as long as you achieve the task at hand.

Thunderfrog wrote:

I feel like I did something no one else is going to try...

Me too - although now I am hoping we both didn't try the same somethiing different >.<

I also feel I tried something unique. I did not want my magic armor, weapon, ring, rod, staff entry to have a comparable.

(come to think of it, would anyone have dared to write a magic armor, weapon, ring, rod, staff entry if they had truly thought it possible to keep it cheap?)

Hard to be vague. Just want to talk about it.

. . . must. . . remain . . . silent. . . urrgh!

Here's a weird thought for the day all (and welcome to the competition)

We are all, in effect, first timers this time because round 1 is all new and shiny. ;)

Guess that makes us a double newb!!!

I, myself once played, and still retain some of, the old DnD and ADnD systems. Totally missed 3rd, but have many spells, races, stories, and a D12 system I have wrote to keep my brain entertained. This contest will be very difficult with my work schedule, but my family is very obliging in my need to extract the thoughts that consume my mind and place them upon paper.

Had same problem, Anthony. Try this as a link.

http://aswordforhire.blogspot.fi/

Hopefully new. As in: never knew I existed.

Maybe we should take a poll to find out how many first-timers submitted for the contest. Count me as one.

I am sure we are all pleased to make your choices hard.

I also wrote a creature that would please the great and wondrous Evil Queen.

Work complete. Time to relax.

Thank you. I will quickly make adjustments and prepare it for submission.

Does the 700 words include the pathfinder format and the stats, or is it just the descriptions and special abilities. I would be disappointed to be disqualified for the template pushing me way over the limit. Besides I think I am a little over the limit already, but every sentence is needed to fully describe the volatile nature and hellish ability of my most precious beast.

I played with a guy who named his bard lasagna to give people something to talk about. And that's as far as his backstory went.