4-08 Cultist's Kiss GM Discussion

[Finlanderboy]

In my group's encounter we kept attracting people and decided to make a roving block party. With a keg and various magics making us the highlite of the town. Until we provoked undead to attack us.

[rangerjeff]

Running this tonight and have a quick question.

The Totenmaskes remain disguised until slain, does this mean they act as humans and use weapons? That they don't have their bite and claw attacks? I'm going to run it as they shed their disguises upon entering battle, doesn't make sense to me otherwise.

Also, how are animal companions handled in the initiation process? Wouldn't the cultists be alerted that these are not simple applicants if one of them has a large roc hopping along behind her?

[Ninjaxenomorph]

I am running this at Chimaeracon in a few weeks, with a 4-hour slot. How can I speed along the first part while keeping the atmosphere?

[Sarta]

Ninjaxenomorph wrote:

I am running this at Chimaeracon in a few weeks, with a 4-hour slot. How can I speed along the first part while keeping the atmosphere?

Unfortunately, you probably won't have time for some of the great role play when gathering info. Sadly, it's at the beginning of the scenario, making it harder for GM's to judge how they are doing on time in order to speed things up.

To play it safe, you may want to narrate the interactions, rather than roleplay them out.

[Ninjaxenomorph]

I have a morning game, so I am planning to start early, though that won't help much. I don't plan on hurrying the asylum or cult areas, though. Heh, thought of something funny for Tomasz:

*Gets eyes fixed*
"I can see!"
*Sunlight*
"ARGH! I CAN SEE!"

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Two questions: does whomever I apply credit to get the tattoo for free?

And also, I'm having a bit of trouble seeing where the party has to start making checks to hide their identities from the cultists. It says they don't have to around town, but I cannot find any after that. I'm pretty sure I have another question, just can't remember it...

[Majuba]

Ninjaxenomorph:

- Time - Ask for an 8-hour slot (even if you won't get it).
- Eyes - Happened :)
- Tattoo - That's what I was asking up-thread a bit. I don't think so, since it's not listed as a boon (and is otherwise available for purchase).
- Checks - I don't recall anything saying they would *have* to make checks specifically. It's more to inveigle themselves with the various places around town. Good question!

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Hah, I am NOT getting an 8-hour time slot. The con has strictly scheduled 4-hour ones. I think I can get them through the asylum quickly, though.

Funnily enough, I am planning to apply the credit to a Shadow Lodge character, who would have gotten it anyway.

[Iammars]

Since the sihedron brand is mentioned on the chronicle as an item you can buy, can you buy a second one if you got the free one from the scenario?

[Sammy T]

GMing this for the first time tonight on short prep. Luckily, I've played it before and know the general flow and PC time management for it.

Quick Q:

Party signed up for tonight is:
Barbarian 8
Paladin 1/Shadow Caster 4/PF Savant 3
Urban Ranger 8
Fighter 10
Arcane Archer 11
Wizard 11

8+8+8+10+11+11=56. 56 levels / 6 characters = 9.33 APL

So, I should give them the choice of playing up or down, correct?

If so, I plan on privately letting them vote yes or no on playing up or down when passing out cards pre-game for character info. It must be unanimous to play up.

[bigwave]

Seconding Rangerjeff's question about companions alerting the cult to trouble.

Along the same lines, what about polearms, bulky plate mail, shields, etc... sort of conspicuous when brought to a induction meeting, no?

Obviously, it would be very very mean to require wepons to be left behind, but wouldn't it make sense for the cult to do so?

[Ninjaxenomorph]

Also, its VERY fun having the Kyra pre-gen figure she can channel to harm undead in the asylum rescue.

[bigwave]

OK, please help - maybe it's me being blind, but....

:

In H4/H5/H6 - Tesserick is in H4, but there's no statblock. H5 has 3 or 5 Feasters, and H6 has 1 plus Charito.

Is Tesserick counted as one of those numbers (like maybe he's the one Feaster with Charito?) or are they separate counts?

Also, when it says he "calls the rest of his allies" if combat breaks out - that includes Charito, yes?

Those two questions allow for a BIG swing in a possible combat in H4:
If he's separate and Charito comes, that's 5 (or 7) Feasters plus Charito
If he's NOT separate and she doesn't come, it's 4 (or 6) Feasters.

[Nefreet]

I'm GMing this at an upcoming Con. Can I apply the Chronicle to a brand new character, and still have him get the Sihedron Brand for free?

[pathar]

Nefreet wrote:

I'm GMing this at an upcoming Con. Can I apply the Chronicle to a brand new character, and still have him get the Sihedron Brand for free?

As a GM, you can select any boon on the Chronicle sheet. But GM credit holds for the appropriate subtier; a brand new character therefore wouldn't get this boon until 7th level. So it doesn't matter which character you put it on.

Now, if you played this with a pregen, and the pregen got the brand, and then you started a new character with the pregen Chronicle first, then it gets iffy. I think ... technically ... yes? Because it's been clarified that when you do that, you do have access to the boons on the sheet that you earned. Hm.

... that's kind of tempting, actually. ;p

[Nefreet]

pathar wrote:

Nefreet wrote:

I'm GMing this at an upcoming Con. Can I apply the Chronicle to a brand new character, and still have him get the Sihedron Brand for free?

As a GM, you can select any boon on the Chronicle sheet. But GM credit holds for the appropriate subtier; a brand new character therefore wouldn't get this boon until 7th level. So it doesn't matter which character you put it on.

So, the usual rule of applying a Chronicle to a brand new character doesn't apply?

[Nefreet]

Nevermind, just reread the Guide. I was getting pregen credit mixed up with GM credit. 7th level it is, then!

[David_Bross]

John Compton's response

TL;DR:

You can buy the item, but it isn't a boon, so only PCs can get it for free

[Nefreet]

O.O

Is that the same for all the Season 4, Krune-related items? Like the Ioun Stone, and the Sihedron Tattoo? Because I've GMed those before and just claimed the item for free.

[David_Bross]

If its a boon, you can claim it as a boon, if it ISN'T A boon, you can't. That is my understanding.

Boons:

So (4-08) and (4-20)s ITEMS which are purchasable, and free for players, aren't for the GM, but (4-10) and (4-12) which are boons, would be available via GM credit

[pathar]

David_Bross wrote:

John Compton's response

** spoiler omitted **

Aww, weaksauce. :(

[Christopher Hamilton]

How do the Feasters drain blood in H5 if they don't have the PCs pinned?

[jjaamm]

PC's get dominated, and if that dont work they are out numbered. Course both times I ran this they started the fight before getting the mark.

[Christopher Hamilton]

It specifically states that if the Feasters know they are pathfinders, they drain blood while they are blind and unawares. I haven't been able to trace this to an actual proper rules implementation and was hoping for some clarification. Does the blind and flat footed status = pinned for the purpose of blood drain?

[jjaamm]

surprise round start grapple, than move to blood draining in normal rounds. Pc's with hoods on are going to be in trouble.

[Codanous]

Hey guys, I see that no one has really reported any deaths or tpks in this adventure but I am trying to get all my ducks in a row, what happens if the players are captured and turned into vampires?

Mainly, I am asking, what do they have to pay to get their characters back if such an event happens, since obviously they cannot continue as vampires. Is it a body recovery + a raise dead or body recovery + resurrection? A true res?

[Mystic Lemur]

IF they have the prestige to pay for a body recovery and enough gold or prestige to cover a Resurrection (raise dead won't work on undead, even after they're destroyed) they're ok. Otherwise, they are reported as "dead" because they have an unplayable character.

[Codanous]

Mystic Lemur wrote:

IF they have the prestige to pay for a body recovery and enough gold or prestige to cover a Resurrection (raise dead won't work on undead, even after they're destroyed) they're ok. Otherwise, they are reported as "dead" because they have an unplayable character.

That was kind of my fears, the penalty for failure with this mission is high.

[Hmm]

I'm running this tomorrow. Do you all have suggestions for how to get it to run within a four hour timeslot? After seeing so many comments about it running long, what do you suggest to give this a tighter run?

[Codanous]

Mine did pretty well for staying on time and it helps if someone can use Kn: Local or Diplomacy well enough to gather information then they get the good rumors quickly.

People are going to want to role-play, especially with a GM as good as you :) but you might have to help them move along in the first phase of the adventure. I loved GMing this adventure when I did it!

[Hmm]

What did you guys feel about all the various faction missions in the back? Some of them have useful information, but most of those are from retired factions. I'm wondering if some of that information can't come from the disgruntled pathfinder.

[Codanous]

I sometimes for scenarios where I feel like the missions provide important background information will give out the missions anyways. To old veterans I don't have to explain much, to newer players I just explain that their faction leader has some useful information and are willing trade a favor for a favor kind of thing but I stress that isn't vital to completing the mission or earning prestige.

[Hmm]

Well, in this case, the only useful information is from the retired factions.

I may just have it stated by the cranky pathfinder retiree at the beginning.

Hmm

[Codanous]

Yeah that's probably the best way to handle it, I agree.