It's good nothing from the main plot has been revealed then. We are in the good track for a nice and fun AP then :)
The first book was about some kidnapped orphans as you said. Did you found the Slave Bazaar under Jzardrune? or you perhaps skipped the Malachite Fortress?
Right now, you are in the second book. Once you came back from the undergrounds, the Guards Captain sends you to investigate the goblins attacks. And now you are on their lair trying to find why they were attacking Cauldron and who is behind the attack.
I will love to hear also other's opinions :)
Let's see:
AP: I'd agree, haven't really figured out what's going on.
Character: Love my Daxur!
Plot: We did hit the Malachite Fortress and the Slave Bazaar....I think :)
Thanks for picking this up Rutseg!
Also, I wouldn't have an issue in converting to Pathfinder, as long as its not too much trouble for you to convert the AP.
I enjoy my character as well but other than investigating orphans, am pretty much in the dark along with the others. Not all that clar on our goal other than surviving the stuff we're fighting at this point.
I'd be cool with converting to Pathfinder swapping Duskblade for Magus if you wanted to go in that direction.
Sorry it has taken me so long to chime in, adjusting to the new job is taking a lot out of me. Unfortunately, I have read the original AP, it was the first one Paizo did after all. Equally unfortunately, it shows. By comparison with later one's, for all that it really is thier first 'urban' AP, it is kind of all over the map in terms of plot.
That said, I still have a soft spot for it & the changes necessary to integrate it with Ebberron should be interesting.
Yes, I quite enjoy my character, suboptimal though he may be, as well.
I will try & make an 'in game' post tonight.
Some GM made an unofficial conversion of the monster stats to Hero Labs, and thus much of the work is already done. But I will only consider it in case you prefer to run it with Pathfinder rules, if you prefer to stick with 3.5, we will go as it is. I understand Daxur and Lumen are pro converting.
As such, the Magus class will definitely work for me Lumen. Most difficult character to convert would be Engineer #3. I don't know if the new Ocult playtest might have something that can properly fit to the character.
For me the point of the conversion is that I have slowly forgotten about the 3.5 rules and feel much more comfortable using the same ruleset for all my campaigns. I otherwise might have problems and expend extra time adjudicating action results.
As for the plot, I also thing it seems a bit scattered, but at some point everything starts to melt together. We will see. It is a pity you don't get the surprise of first play, but as long as you succeed to distinguish player and character knowledge I am ok with your knowing the AP Beauregard.
I'm game for whichever way. Prefer PF but 3.5ed is workable as is.
(Ok – a bit taken by surprise by the regular posting) – my homework (I’ll try to make an in game post later)
AP: it has been awhile – memory is getting a bit rusty. I recall we first investigated the missing orphans. Via Jzaridune we ended up in a fight with the main slaver (although we tried to bluff/reason first). There was at some point a beholder involved as well, IIRC. Anyway, we got a huge amount of cash which I/we spend on magic (so I don’t know if we are still within the wealth-by-level guidelines (but who cares – they are guidelines anyway)).
Now we are after some goblin vandals & their vampire allies/overlords (we have some mirrors with us)
Overall plot: still in the dark
PC: I like Zevon – I remember we had some fun interparty discussions in the beginning. For my first PbP I wanted a not too (ruleswise) complex class. Personally I don’t mind changing to PF (have rulebook + PRD is available), although I am probably an exception on this messageboard being more familiar with 3.5 (we never converted in my “off-line” campaigns).
Right now I'm operating out of phone because of the holiday. I will try to have a gameplay post tonight. If I'm not successful, just bot me to shoot at whoever Daxur is shooting at.
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. Happy Wednesday to those who don't!
Happy Christmas!!
So.
I was informed today that my Mother, with whom I have had a tumultuous relationship & only just recently were we on anything resembling 'good' terms, died.
I'm afraid I am going to have to ask you to 'bot' me for a while.
I am so sorry to hear of your loss...
My deepest condolences for you and your family.
(to paraphrase a message when my mother-in-law died several years ago) Try not to think about the painful moments with your mother, but cherish the happy and joyful memories with her - may you find some comfort in them.
Hans
So sorry to hear that...
I echo Zevon's words, don't dwell on the things unsaid or undone, just be glad you and your mom were able to get closer before she passed.
All the best, take whatever time you need.
I'm sorry for your loss. Take all the time you need.
I am sorry Beauregard, that's tough. I hope the advice here helps you, focus in the positive, the other side it is not worth to remember.
As for the game, do not worry, I will bot you if you are unable to post. Right now is party turn.
Independently of conversion, there are some rules from Pathfinder I just find much easier and straightforward and would like to start applying from now on.
One of those rules are perception checks. To that end, instead of Spot, Listen and Search, you should use now only Perception. Sum up your ranks in those skills and apply any bonus only once. If it results in your Perception to have more ranks than your level + 3, you are free to apply those extra ranks in other skills (your maximum number of ranks is level+3). Apply any bonus only once, thus, apply your Wisdom only once to Perception, or if you have the Keen senses racial trait that gives +2 spot and +2 listen, apply only +2 to Perception.
Seemingly, do the same for Stealth. Create that skill by proceeding the same with Hide and Move Silently.
I would like to also use the Combat Maneuvers checks system from Pathfinder, as 3.5 is a real pain, specially for PbP use.
Do you find any reason not to apply this "home rules" to the game?
I will also like to know if you remember any other home rule that you were using with Shadowwalker.
o_O
Well you told me you were perhaps over the wealth per level, but a +3 keen vicious mithral falchion?
That's worth 54,375gp, which you should not have until level 12. And still that should deal 2d4+3+2d6 damage instead of the 3d6+3+2d6.
That's a real problem, both in terms of game balance and plot. In the case of this goblins there's no problem as they have 7hp and will die in one hit no matter what you have, but it is a total tension killer on the meaningful combats.
Plus, having such things with you will call the attention of powers in Cauldron you are yet far from prepared to confront, not to say it triggers events that break the AP.
Do you have other items like this or do you know about other breaking changes from the AP events?
This is not your fault, neither I would say Shadowwalker, but it is changing a lot the experience from what the AP was designed for and approaching it much more to a home campaign built over a campaign setting.
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I'm fine with toning it down, it is a bit of overkill. I'm sure we all have something that's a bit over the top although this is probably the worst of it, and if you opt to switch to Pathfinder I'm cool with retooling and just keeping the essence and history of the character while making the mechanics more workable.
IIRC (but not checked), our characters got these special items, linked to a vision to some heroes from the past - of course this may in the current circumstances no longer be relevant.
Zevon's magical items can be seen in his profile under the "possessions" spoiler.
I remembered/found one of Shadow's houserules:
"HOUSE RULE: In melee combat using an action point gives you another attack in a full round".
I might find solutions to adjust the game in a verisimilitude way, but perhaps you prefer the high fantasy game Shadowwalker seemed to be running.
I don't really know where he wanted to go with the changes, but I fear I cannot provide such kind of experience. My taste is more for running the APs as much vanilla as possible, are easier to run, and they can be transferred to another GM if life reduces the time for PbP.
So I guess it is on your roof. Depends on what you as a party are expecting. Do you prefer to go this way and ensure continuity to Shadowwalker's changes, or do you prefer to find a within plot reason to switch things back to the AP as written? (this last option will certainly make you loose equipment and powers, and might chance some places and NPCs as you know them now)
We can think about it as we finish book two. But the decision on this and Pathfinder conversion, as well as if we are bringing some new players to complete the team shall be taken before we start book three.
I would like to make the game the kind of experience as much people as possible can enjoy, but I somehow need it to make it easy and mine in order to enjoy it too.
Matters are evening out for me. I should be up to rejoining play by this weekend. Thank you all for your patience.
Re: powers/gear...I'm cool with a reboot. No need to go in game plot...just a "hand wave" "new actors taking over for beloved characters on a sitcom" works for me.
As far as I can tell, my battlefist/psi crystal and a 5hp boost are the only differences bebetween me and a stock psionics-unleashed at this point.
I'm fine with a reboot, the time frame and long stretches without updating kept me from being overly attached to the details of the character and at times I can barely remember some of the plot details.
As long as we continue in the spirit of the experiences and go forward with adventure in Sharn, I'm fine with any changes you need to make this your own.
Reshaping the whole AP to make it fit to Sharn instead of Cauldron it's beyond my current possibilities, but it sounds very cool idea and very doable ^_^
Ok, let's see what Daxur and Zevon can add to the discussion.
My idea is to try create some reasonable event for your loss. Then within a conversion to Pathfinder, you will be able to rebuild your characters from scratch choosing whatever equipment you prefer with an adequate wealth per level given to you by a capable Cauldron ally.
I still have to check if there are some plot items you should have at this point. If that is the case we will add them freely to the mix.
At this point I am at perhaps 20% read of your adventure so far, so I think I have a clear idea of your characters personalities and motivations, and by the time we end this book I would have a clear picture of current changes and how to adapt them to easily follow the AP.
I also think the time passed helps us on the adaption.
quick note: We are not in Sharn - Cauldron is located in the Black Cap Mts. a days ride north of the Black Pit and 5 days ride north west from Cragwar (is mentioned somewhere in the beginning of the campaign discussion thread), so a Cauldron-Sharn conversion is not necessary (but I won't stop you).
I'm ok as well with a reboot - an in game reason is even not really necessary for me. Like Lumen, some character & plot details have become less clear over the passing months.
Going to be travelling the next couple of days to Florida, visiting with family then off to Disney World for 4 days, then travelling back home.
So posting might get spotty at times, should have a connection everywhere, just might be too busy having fun with the family :)
Bot me if necessary, please.
Don't worry Daxur! But I hope you come back soon, because boting 2 characters starts to seem like playing alone ^_^
As for #3, Zevon and Lumen what is your opinion about what is going on? During the combat we seemed to be moving at a daily basis even if it was Christmas holidays, but since the combat ended we seem to have staggered.
Are you confused at how to follow up, waiting for others to take the initiative or for the GM to take some action, or perhaps you are also busy?
Engineer is mostly unconcerned with time per se. That's probably why I haven't been pushing to increase the pace.
As a player, i will make an effort to help move along the exploration/searching sections better.
Don't worry Daxur! But I hope you come back soon, because boting 2 characters starts to seem like playing alone ^_^
As for #3, Zevon and Lumen what is your opinion about what is going on? During the combat we seemed to be moving at a daily basis even if it was Christmas holidays, but since the combat ended we seem to have staggered.
Are you confused at how to follow up, waiting for others to take the initiative or for the GM to take some action, or perhaps you are also busy?
a little bit of all the above (but mostly very busy) - I'll try to update more often.
I really appreciate the effort you put in this!
sorry guys for not being around but work took over suddenly and had not had time to do much
Hi Shadowwalker!
I have taken over the AP in order to try further move along it since there was not much movement during the last year.
If you are still interested on it I will just step behind or try to help you co-gming. As you wish.
What where your ideas about continuing the game? We are around 2/16 of the AP currently, so a fast pace is recommended if we ever expect to finish this.
Have we made an official decision of switching to Pathfinder or not? I realize part of my lagging in response to this game is that as the only 3.5 one the mental switch of systems to post sometimes leads to me putting it off.
I was thinking, judging from the group activity, what do you think if Zevon bots Beauregard and #3 bots Daxur until they come back?
Lumen also seems very busy, judging at the number of campaigns he is running right now, but I have hopes he might hold on if the game comes up again.
My initial intention is for you to finish book two before we look for reinforcements to bring new vitality to the game and know exactly who is leaving and who is keeping up. But I want to hear your opinion on that, as we can as well make you come out of the lair to release the prisoners and use the time outside for recruitment.
K, I'm back! Had a great time in Florida, back to regular posting...
thanks for your patience.
As for changing to Pathfinder....waiting until the end of the chapter makes the most sense to me.
I am williung to take over if thats alright with you guys GM Rutseg has no problem with this, and will still be atound to assist me. If you guys seem okay with it I will take the riens on Monday. so i can catch up with whats happened so far
As I said before, I has no problems with it, just jumped in to help, and I am most happy to keep another GM on the boards :)
If you ever have to stay out of posting for a time again let me know and I will keep an eye to the AP to keep it moving. It is very hard to keep interest if a pace of at least 1 post per day is not achievable.
It is a great one, but just so dam long that enduring through all of it, from level 1 to 20 is an Odyssey, and having someone to lend a hand is just a guarantee of success.
Up to know they have almost finished exploring the first level, they cleaned the mantles cavern and triggered the alarm in the skirmishers barracks.
Feel free to use my map, or copy it to your own drive!
i got lost to where and what has happened i will start the next chapter once you are out of this dungeon i am keeping up with you
I suggest you take a look at the map log.
The map link is in the top under the campaign title.
Once in the map, go to the 'Last modifications' link next to the help section. A tab will open to the left with different edit dates (post dates vs. map modification dates shall help a lot to locate specific actions). Starting from the first one at the bottom, you can go clicking up reconstructing all the events position per positon. 90º tilted tokens are people prone, while tilted 180º with doted border means unconscious, without the border, dead.
It should be easy to find out that way what happened and where, specially in combination with the posts. If you still find difficult to locate the action, I can carry on until the end of the book.
Fyi: in Vermont for the weekend. Internet spotty, plus vacation, so may be radio silent.
Please bot as needed.
Sry guys, slammed by work and sickies at home.
Please Shadowwalker, follow up with the book if you have interest into the AP. I made an effort to check back and set myself on place, I am sure you can do the same.
I don't understand why you should not be able to do it. If there is any doubt about anything, I am around, so ask me for clarification, or ask the players as I did.
I will keep updating the combat until the end of the week if there are no more posts from Shadowwalker, but I expect him to take the game during the week.
I will not struggle to move a semi-dead group through a dungeon for then letting someone continue the game for a couple of weeks before he let's it die again. If you have interest take it, and take it now, otherwise officially resign and let others decide what to do with the game, as it needs a big social shake. Playing the now yes, now no, it is not serious and it helps no one.
This is kinda why I've been holding off posting, it feels like it's totally in limbo right now after finally having gotten moving again.
I think I'm not the only one who thinks the current situation is not clear.
In my mind, I saw us (IN GAME) finishing the exploration of the upper (goblin) level (in line with Rutseg's map/actions), going back up to the city, handing any remaining captive goblins to the authorities & preparing/equiping our selves to deal with the vampires in the lower level.
This would then allow us to clear the situation (OUT GAME), particular to the who (PCs & DM) & other practicalities (system, ...)
Ideally, we would then continue with the SC - Eberon campaign 2.0 (or 1.1 or whatever).
In this view, I don't mind skipping over the actual exploration - but with the latest post I fear the unclear situation will not be resolved soon, which does not bode well for the further progress (survival?) of campaign.
What do you all think?
I agree with Zevon.
From private messages exchanged with Shadowwalker I understand he is taking care of the game. I also think he needs to make more clear his intentions in the public arena, specially since his last post was rather unclear and not pushing the action in any way or giving you the players any clue of where and how to interact.
I have also made clear to him about Beaureguard status, so I guess he is just waiting for Daxur to post in order to continue the combat or definitely stop it to move the action towards other ends.
I am also curious to know what others think about the situation, and mainly what are the ideas to resurrect the game. Shadowwalker's ideas on this are the most important; I guess he will come with a plan to share with you all shortly, so you will have a general idea of where the adventure is going as for the current action and the current book.
Let's talk about it people, what are your ideas?
My main plan as of right now is to clear this area and have the group discover what is happening deeper in the dungeon and deal with the greater threat.
I won't be able to post for the next 5 days - I take a multiday exam (with little to no internet access).
Bot me as needed.
I'm going to have to drop this one. It's just become far more tedious than enjoyable for me. Sorry.
I do not want to hurt anyone, but if you guys think 1 post per month is going to make this game work you better be told the probability you have for a 500 years lifespan is quite small actually xD
I think everybody understood since Shadowwalker retook the game that I was not going to retake it later, but I wanted to state it clear, I will not try to further push Shadowwalker's campaign. I washed away all my responsibility since he claimed he has came back and requested the campaign control without anyone saying a word against it. If everything is a mess up to the point the player's don't know where and how to follow up, or what the hell is going on, a player states he drops and no one makes a comment in 3 weeks, there is no feedback on actions and messages are unrelated to current actions, and the GM disappears and reappears and disappears without a single explanation, well, just don't look at me.
Since I was given the Campaign control from the moderators I still have the capacity to mark it as inactive. Just let me know if you want me to do so and officially call it dead (although just a look at the Gameplay is enough to certificate it). At least be honest with this and face reality (Lumen did it). If you have lost the interest in the game, or you have no time for it, or life is pushing you, or it is the fault of someone else in the group, just let everybody know, perhaps it can be solved, perhaps not, but it will not give false expectancies to anybody. Be honest, and communicate, deep inside you know if you really have the time and energy to check the boards and post in an everyday basis. The others deserve the truth.
I suppose it will go inactive after a couple of months without posting anyway.
It was nice to met you all and play for some weeks. I hope you enjoy your RP life and beyond. Good luck!
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When seeing Daxur's latest post, I was thinking that he is not the only one waiting...
Campaigns die in RL as well (we've all been there I presume) - given the circumstances I see little use in continuing this one as well - for me it's ok to officially pull the plug.
Thank you all for the fine moments!
Rutseg, thanks for stepping in and trying to restart it.