Aardvark's "A Conspiracy of Silver Ravens" Hell's Rebels Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Troy Malovich

In regards to the loot table, if there isn't a "carried by ..." name filled in for column E, then no one has claimed or decided what to do with it.

The Fushi Sisters do not let you take an extra action, of which you get 3 (2 from Rebellion Rank +1 from Strategist Jinx), they let you have more teams above the max for your rank.

EDIT: Just realized, any action taken as the bonus action given by the Strategist (Jinx) gets a +2 to it. When you guys choose actions, let me know which is the extra one so that I can apply that bonus as appropriate.

And the only actions we can take are those where we have the appropriate team to do so or those actions that don't require a team. Got it.

I'm slowly starting to wrap my brain around this.

Yeah, it's involved. I've looked at the player's guide for it so many times. I'm glad I'm doing it PbP instead of the table, because so many sessions would be just me reading it while trying to figure it out.

The trouble I often have with new systems like this one in pbps is that they tend to occur infrequently. I'm in a Kingmaker game, for instance, and it's by no means a slow paced game, but the Kingdom phases were real-world months and months apart. Every time we had one I had to relearn the rules from scratch.

The rebellion rules strike me as less intense than the kingdom building rules, so hopefully this will prove easier for us to wrangle.

I'll toss 20gp into the Treasury during this 1st upkeep, since it seems the treasury check will happen before we can use an action to Earn Money. That should stave off some early attrition.

I say we recruit some additional Supporters again, give Larenti a stab at recruiting some street performers, and we have the Fushi Sisters earn us some coin.

And given the results of the earn gold action are multiplicative (roll x rank), I think we should toss Jinx's +2 that way.

Sounds good, Bardigan.

And all my best wishes, Tilnar! Coming back after a week would be incredible, so take all the time you need. Rest and be with your baby.

As for me, the convention ends this weekend, so I should be back on a regular schedule as of Monday.

Okay, not sure where all I've mentioned it, as I know I might have touched on it in at least one of my games. I really should add it to the house rules.

I put a LOT of stock in the identification of treasure, to include the appraise skill. The methods exist, and should serve some purpose. RAW you may also ID potions with a perception check, and Scrolls with a Spellcraft. I personally, even as a player, dislike the handing out of a list of fully identified treasure.

By RAW, it takes a DC 20 appraise to determine the value of a 'common' item. Yet there is no real clarification of what equates to 'common'.

The way I do Appraise is based on the value of the item. The DC is based on the number of whole numbers in the real value.

For example:
1-9 gp items = DC 5
10-99 gp items = DC 10
100-999 gp items = DC 15
1,000-9,999 gp items = DC 20
Etc...

Keeping to RAW, if you beat it by 5 or more, you determine if it's magical.
If you fail by less than 5, I randomly determine the value up to +/- 20%
If you fail by 5 or more, I randomly determine the value up to +/- 80%

Common weapons, armor, and the adventuring gear portion of the CRB do not need to be identified. However, special materials items (Mithril, Silver, Adamantine, etc...), stuff like Alchemical items (Acid, Alchemist's Fire, Hol/Unholy Water, etc...), and Masterwork quality gear (to include tools), needs to be identified to be recognized as such.

This all may seem like a hassle, but I still think it's better than the two alternatives...

Knowing the value of everything automatically and making all the skills and spells useless
-or-
A DC 20 to determine the value of a common item. Longswords are pretty common.

I have detect magic, can we just assume going forward that I'll employ it along side any appraising I perform?

I like the need to use appraise to notice different materials; checks for the weapons and stuff incoming.

I think Larenti benefits best from the +1 leather armor and the cloak of elven kind (everyone else has better armor already and he's our darkvision scout).

Dawnilea can probably make best use of the daredevil boots with her ranks in Acrobatics.

I think we can sell the handcrossbow and the masterwork silver morningstar. All of us melee types seem to be focused on finesseable weapons. I'm fine with selling the shortbow as well. Dawnilea seems to like throwing weapons for her ranged attacks and Bardigan doesn't rely on a bow often enough for it to really be of use.

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That leaves the cloak of resistance and the scrolls.

Does anyone else have any input or insight into these decisions?

Taking silence as agreement on the rest, let's say I take the cloak for now (we can always pass it to someone else later) and we'll sell the scrolls and move on.

Sorry, I agree with your choices. Apologies, I've been preoccupied with work and GenCon preparation. I'm running SFS, so learning a new system is brain-space consuming.

I was going to suggest that the Daredevil boots would be useful for Dawni.

Okay, I went through and sold off most of what I was certain you were getting rid of, anything left I was uncertain of or knew you were keeping.

The coin received in above in the total. Intended to update the week's rebellion actions as well, but ran out of time. I will resolve them tomorrow.

I know I can get slowed down sometimes, but I've been waiting for any kind of response at all to my last post in the gameplay thread.

I think Aula is MIA, as I haven't seen the player post in any of the games I share with them. I know Dawnilea has the new kid, and unfortunately Larenti will be leaving us due to RL time constraints.

Sadly, that means most of my input is reliant on Ganner and Bardigan.

I'm back from GenCon, but I'm also a little busy catching up with work. My office is where I do most of my posting. I'll try to make an effort to get more involved.

I understand, work has been a little crazy for me this week, and also where I do most of my posting.

They blocked Paizo at work, which makes it rough for me, because my wife is rather unfond of me spending time online when the wee person is melting down -- still, I can try to steal time, which is what I've been doing.

I think we should toss a few extra coins in -- keep it a practice to always have a reserve of funds on hand -- we can always withdraw in a later cycle if we have a surplus, but it would suck to lose people/units because we didn't have something in stock, especially when the party's got the gold in their pouches.

^^ I completely agree with Dawnilea here. Whatever steps we can take now to pad the treasury, I'd like to.

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If we're down a pair of players, should we press on with them on autopilot or are you intending to bring replacements in, Aard?

We lost two? That's less than ideal.

I don't know about two, but I'm bowing out of this game, Dawnilea. I'm hanging up my PbP spurs for a few years to focus my gaming time with my kids. They're now old enough to do some proper games, but not old enough that they don't want to spend time with their Dad. :-)

Anyway, it's been a ton of fun, and I appreciate the years of work and camaraderie from everyone.

-Tripp

Enjoy your kids, sir!

You'll be missed, ubertripp! Raise them future gamers up right, sir! =)

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But as for us being down 2, Aard also said that he hasn't see Aula post here or in any other games for a while.

You will be missed, and I appreciate you bearing with me for so long. :)

I will need to open a recruitment soon.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep peeking in from time to time. Have fun!

Have fun, Tripp. Don't blame you -- though I've got a few years before mine can even read (and, of course, I have to geek her out subtle-like since her mom's not a gamer..) ;)

Glad to hear you'll be peeking in on us.

Okay, I've put out the recruitment.

I ask that you guys also review the entrants, but discuss any preferences or issues about them with me via PM.

Ganner and Dawnilea, if you have a chance, please go in and look at the applicants for recruitment. Send me a PM with any preferences or insights you may have. Bardigan has already sent me his.

Will go take a look.

Hi everyone. :) Thanks for allowing me to join.

Hi all! Thanks for the invite, and I'm looking forward to playing with all of you!

Hello All, and thanks DM for the selection! I hope I can find a way to contribute to the group!

Zoltan will do his very best to avoid taking an active hand-on role in battle. Instead, he will seek to support the group. A former butler, he is great at organizing people, making them feel at ease, and setting up a great feast. Overall, I would say he is a subtle tool.

DM: How and when would you like me to join the group?

Welcome, folks! =D

Welcome, everyone! I'm Ganner and we're happy to have some new blood for the slaughter!

Thanks for the welcome! Tasha's looking for the chance to spew sedicious propaganda!

And while I'm sure the GM will let us know, I have to ask Zoltan's question about introduction. I'll take the time to re-read the thread!

I'm hoping that you all are lurking inside the spoiler that Dawnilea was able to look under, but I have a feeling it's not going to work out that nicely for us =P

Things so rarely do. ;)

Welcome, everyone!

The introductions will be a little less exciting than that. As the rebellion has already started growing, it works out that they will be among the supporters/followers already at the coffeehouse, or looking to join the cause.

If the three of you newcomers would like, you can also be pre-connected in some way, but I leave that up to you. The rebellion allows for easy introduction of new players.

Also, if you wanted to roll for your second level HP, please do it within your next post here, otherwise I will assume you took half (not half+1).

Lastly, the free automatic skill rank per class level.
Tasha - Fighters get Intimidate
Krizta - Sorcerers get their Bloodline skill (so Diplomacy for you)
Zoltan - Oracle get it based on their Mystery (depending on the skills granted). Still unsure which one of the four Intrigue gives that I would make free. Give me a bit on that.

2nd level HP: 1d6 ⇒ 3

That's the same as not rolling. Must be destiny. :)

I just wanted to apologize to all my games, especially the ones I'm running. I have been going through a bit of posting malaise, and don't want to burn out, or even worse quit. As such, I've just been trying to build up to posting. Just wanted to let you all know, I'm not gone, not leaving, just less than motivated at the moment. So, please bear with me. For my games, I expect to have a post up today.

Thanks for the update. :)

Thanks for the heads up. No worries. Take care.

New players, I don't know if you discussed foreknowledge of one another or not, but you will be introduced as already being active supporters of the organization. So, you will be meeting the others within the Wasp's Nest.

Ok, not sure whether Zoltan would know anyone. Perhaps Halflings? Even then, he was quite far from crowds until now.

Zoltan will introduce himself when the players make their way back.

Krizta works for the government. You may have met her if you had to do anything official that required paperwork. ... Think of her as the DMV lady of Kintargo. She's young for an elf, but she's probably been around for all of your short little human lives, so you might recognize her when you see her. :) Not sure if she would know anyone, but she might know of the Kintargo Crier.

I changed my pic to look more DMV-like, but don't worry, she's actually nice if you get to know her.

Great! I've updated Tasha, and I'm glad the game is back on. I'll dot and delete the gameplay thread, if that's alright with yourselves?

I'll take the half hit dice.

Regarding knowing others, I could imagine Tasha just starting as part of the rebellion, in order to get the word out on the government and continue with the Crier.

Story so far is pretty interesting. :)

I'm terribly sorry. The malaise is a mix of my ability to post at work being more limited than before, and sharing a single computer at home. When I get the chance to post, all the updates I need to make begin to feel daunting. I truly intend to return to my previous level of posting.

Hey, no worries! Life gets in the way, that's why I'm posting from my phone during commutes for a week.

To the new players:

Now that I've updated the loot tracker to include you, could you each place your starting gear in it. All prices should be at half value, as that is what all things resale as. Do not add the weight of your starting outfit. Also, if you could let me know what the weight of your PC is w/o gear, I will update the sheet with that info as well, to be used in instances where your individual total weight can become an issue (carrying an unconscious party member, pit traps, rickety bridges, etc...)

Zoltan, could you put a status bar type effect in your profile name like most of the others? I realized I haven't given you your bonus rank/level skill. I'm going to say Bluff.

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Dawnilea, could you also put a status bar in your profile name?