Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

.at least until she teleported away leaving us to deal with her pet...

Tezuzu isn't too fond of her in particular for that reason. He knows she used lies and deception in the encounter with the Satyr and she is a powerful spellcaster of some sort. I'm personally guessing either a witch or a hag or both. Her penchant for deception and callousness reminds him of the types of winter witches he despises.

Even if she does not directly attack us the next time we meet Tezuzu might be inclined to attack her in light events with the gorgon.

I’m just not sure the maiden we encountered with the satyr is the same one we encountered with the gorgon...and she did give us keys...but teleporting away and leaving us to fight the gorgon was curious...but if I recall correctly, she did warn us, in a way, that we’d be fighting it...still curious though...

You’re probably right about the hag...I was thinking shapeshifter but I’ve GM’ed several scenarios lately with hags and they can appear as young maidens as well...

Hey all. Quick heads up. I'll be planning on posting as normal this week accept for the 26th (Thursday).

Hope everyone is as well as can be hoped for during this crazy time.

Sounds good to me, GM! When I'm not eating Turkey this Thursday, I'll be smoking it...and I'll probably be too stuffed to make it online much that day...

For a split second there I had the image of you taking some small bits of turkey and rolling them up in cigarette paper and literally smoking the turkey. Then I realized what you really meant....

What can I say? I live in Oregon. They seem to smoke just about everything here.

Sorry for the delay on my end. I had to get a covid test at the weekend, feeling largely better and it came back clear... there's a lot for me to catch up on PBP wise.

No worries, Bull...glad it came back clear!

Sorry my posting has been a bit sluggish around the holidays. I hope everyone had a safe and swell thanksgiving.

No worries, Waltz. We had a great Thanksgiving, hope you did as well...

As this thing is a construct, Bull might want to switch to his warhammer, as it's both adamantine and blunt...it might be better able to deal damage to this thing...

I'll give it a whirl, if that doesn't work I'll try using warrior spirit to get bane constructs on his weapon +2d6+2 extra damage would let him do something I hope but the warhammer might still fair better.

Roger that Bull...considering our attacks thus far, I'm guessing it might have DR to weapons other than bludgeoning or adamantine...but I could be wrong...

it's likely that the construct doesn't do will saves. In that case, maybe it is immune to the spell. But in my way of thinking, something attracts the attention of the construct to make it activate so it must have some perception abilities. Wouldn't it perceive the noise behind it? Maybe not having a will save just means that it doesn't have a chance to disbelieve... Whatever the GM decides.

AFAIK Constructs/Golems are only immune to most fort saves unless it specifically targets objects so will saves should be free game. They're also typically immune to any spell or spell like ability that has spell resistance. On top of those they have a list of effects they ignore, but of the illusion effects they ignore are specifically pattern and phantasm subschools.

Things like ghost sound and silent image are figments so they should work in theory since they don't have spell resistance and aren't part of their listed immunities. Plus I think it kind of tracks for arcane robots to be easily tricked by illusions as they still function off sensory information.

My biggest fear when dealing with golems specifically is that their spell immunity ability makes them immune to any spell or spell-like ability that is subject to spell resistance. Maka's kinetic blasts are the energy ones and those are a 'spell-like ability subject to spell resistance'.

Not all constructs have the immune to magic ability, but most golems do and on top of the stupidly long list of standard immunities that every constructs get which already invalidates like 90% of the shaman spell list.

I'm very glad misfortune is supernatural ability instead of spell like ability and afaik nearly nothing is immune to it.

Combined with a sizable DR that is difficult to overcome and not accounting for the disable construct spell a CR appropriate Golem is essentially this parties achilles heel.

It's okay, we have a power attack fighter with an adamantine weapon. 4/5 dentists approve for dealing with golems.

Hey all. Just a heads up. The firewall at work is now locking out paizo. That'll slow posting a bit as I'm a little slower at posting on my phone.

Yeah, that sucks...they did that at my worksite a year or so back and made posting more problematic, especially since I have a small phone. You may have a better/bigger phone than I so this may not help, but one thing I do at work is write up my longer posts (especially when I'm GM'ing) in a text editor and then copy and paste it into an e-mail I can get to my phone. Then I just bring up the thread and cut and paste from my e-mail; saves me a lot of frustration as I usually fat-finger a lot of stuff when I try to type on my phone...

I don't understand the rhyme or reason when they block stuff at work...I can still get to ESPN and other such sites but they block ones like Paizo...hell, I'm a sysadmin and they block a lot of Microsoft sites with patches/updates that I need for my servers...makes no sense...

Sorry to hear that GM but that's a good idea Fin.

Aye, I'm planning to use google docs for exactly what you suggested Find. Of course I already know they plan to block google stuff at some point, but supposedly just gmail.

We also got blocked at work but my office somehow convinced upper management that we needed our own separate internet connection through a different provider. Something about us being SW devs and we need to be able to test our SW from outside the corporate firewall. So in my office we have two ISPs options, one that goes through the corporate FW and one that is open access. Most of us have two computers then, one connected to each ISP.

Of course, now that I'm at home it doesn't matter. My work computer and personal computer sit on two desks facing each other. I'm in a swivel chair between the two desks so I can just spin from one computer to the other.

Paizo was blocked because it's a "gaming" website.

If on android, get Hacker's Keyboard, it works with keyboard shortcuts and has many keys that are usually unavailable, such as the function keys, and the full layout (selectable in settings) has the square brackets on top view, and even has arrow keys for moving the cursor precisely.

I'll have to look into that. Moat at work are rushing to take time off so the next two weeks I'll have more to do than typical so typical post schedule will shift a bit. Once I get everything in order I aim to plast this morning.

Any casters have a wind spell that'll disperse the smoke? It'll take me at least 3 rounds to go down the stairs (difficult terrain)...I could jump down though...

GM: How high up is Fin at his current location?

80 feet. Also note that the grate may be slippery from the shower of bloody remains tossed up by the fire.

Thanks, GM. Damn, that’s a steep stairwell...with my Reflex and Acrobatics, not too worried ‘bout the slippery...but that’d be 7d6 damage as I’ll make the Acrobatics check to remove the first 10’ of damage...but if no one can clear the smoke, I’m pretty much outta this fight otherwise...

I’ll wait to see if anyone can clear the smoke before I act...

One more question, GM. I’m assuming the smoke is only providing concealment from those of us on the stairwell and not those on the ground floor...is that correct? If not, does no good whether I jump or not...

Yes, concealment only for those on stairway. Correction in terms of height, roughly 55 feet.

Yes, concealment only for those on stairway. Correction in terms of height, roughly 55 feet.

Thanks, GM. I'll wait till morning to post to see if anyone can clear the smoke beforehand...if not, I'll be jumping down to help...with a successful Acrobatics check, I'm guessing I'll take ~4d6 damage from the jump and land prone...and then I'll stand up so I'll be ready to fire next round...at least that's the plan...

I cannot clear the smoke away. I probably should learn a spell for that.

Tezuzu doesn't have any spells of note that will displace or remove the fog. Probably should look into crafting a Feather token (fan) at some point. It would probably be useful as a consumable to get rid of more than a few cloud based hazards.

Perhaps if the smoke/fog is magical in nature Selena might be able to dispel it?

Smoke is old fashioned from combustion.

I didn't notice at first that the smoke isn't providing concealment at ground level. So the fey threw out a smoke grenade, it went off like a shrapnel burst 10 feet overhead, and the cloud is now hanging over us, correct? Under those circumstances, Quasit's action makes less sense, but I guess the overall goal of flushing them into the open was accomplished so let's ride with it.

You have it exactly right, smoke is above those at ground level. Feel free to revise Quasit's action.

I think withdrawal is still a pretty good idea given that she was about to be hacked to bits by crazy little dudes with scythes. She just won't go back quite as far -- behind Bulvi is far enough.

Maka and Quasit feeling the Irrisen spirit.

Maka and Quasit feeling the Irrisen spirit.

I made that my computer desktop wallpaper. :)

I think Tez hitting fey #2 with the misfortune hex got overlooked again. Is there a better way I should format things when he hits creatures with it or another spell/ability that causes an effect so that it's more noticeable and gets overlooked less?

It's not terribly upsetting as this encounter doesn't seem too terribly desperate or anything, but it's worth bringing up.

Yeah, the small screen has made this painful I'll keep working on tracking hexes.

Finally getting some time off. I'll be posting today, but then no posts Saturday through Tuesday. Back at it the 23rd and 24th. Then again away again the 25th through the 29th. Back online for the 30th and 31st with one last long weekend for the new year (1st-3rd).

Also, just checking in. This book of the AP has been a slog. How are you all doing with it? Pretty much sucks from this side of the screen.

Sorry works always hectic this time of year, and unsurprisingly doubly so this year. Finding it tough to get back into regular posting. "I'm too tired I'll get to it tomorrow" can snowball into a week easily enough.

Also, just checking in. This book of the AP has been a slog. How are you all doing with it? Pretty much sucks from this side of the screen.

For me, it's mostly Artrosa that's been such a slog...which is not too surprising as it's a dungeon crawl and those can drag a bit...

I was really enjoying the earlier parts of this book, with the hut, then the centaurs, the city, Oparal, and the journey to Artrosa...

And, not all of Artrosa has been a slog...the encounter with the satyr was interesting as was the fertility ritual room...but I think dungeon crawls, by their nature and especially in PBP, can get bogged down...it's been like that for almost the entire 1st book of the Shattered Star AP that I'm also in as that whole book is a dungeon crawl...

But you're doing a good job with it, GM, and I'm still engaged...but I admit I won't be too sad when we get through with Artrosa...

Yeah I find the group and players need to be the right frame of mind for long dungeons and play by posts stretch that out quite a bit. I'm invested in the game but at the same time if Bulvi died I'm not sure if I'd make a new character, I've been in the group from the start but the last year or two have been trailing behind quite a bit. I'd love to see the character dynamic around a real table of the characters interacting but it is what it is.

I recently ran the first few levels of Mad Mages Dungeon for 5e and I can honestly say I had to do a lot of work to make it more fun for my players... it's very dry and I had to tidy it up quite a bit so it wasn't so needlessly sprawling and make it feel more alive. That said I've also run (to completion) Emerald Spire for PF1e and comparing the two I can say that Paizo did a much better job with that as a megadungeon than from what I've seen of WOTC. I'm looking forward to seeing the Abomination Vault mini adventure path for 2e.

It's hard to say for me. One day or one week, it feels basically the same to me at the moment, so picking up for next post doesn't really change for me based on time. That said, I think this dungeon would run a lot better in person than pbp. We haven't had all that much extraneous combat but it feels like a lot of extraneous combat. I think Bulvi's comment on mindset is a good one too, since making a post requires getting in the mindset of the character and world which is hard enough for pbp, but a crawl like this makes it much harder.

I have no real complaints with the book. As Fin says, dungeon crawls are always a little sloggy, but its necessary for getting the xp & loot you need in an AP. Sadly, you can't just shop for pastries in centaur towns all the time. I actually like the overall concept of the Artrosa complex, and I think its a nice backdrop for my character's development. But I recognize that I am a navel-gazer and that I spend a lot of time thinking about the emotions and reactions of my character, and a lot less time thinking about combat tactics and Pathfinder rules, so I may be atypical. I've mentioned that I feel a little frustrated with how unimpressive Quasit's been in combat lately, but that's probably more to do with how I've built her vs anything in the AP.

I think the tempo and energy of any long campaign can ebb and flow at times, and the main thing is for people to try and stay engaged and try to post something at least 1-2 times a week, just to keep things moving. Once people starting dropping away and not posting regularly, it puts a drag on everyone else and discourages character interaction.

It seems like the alchemy for success with these things is REALLY unpredictable -- sometimes a great group of role-players just don't have the right chemistry. Sometimes a group that was great together in one adventure with one set of characters are completely blah in a different adventure with different characters. And sometimes a great group goes through dry spells.

Anyway, keep up the good work GM, I'm not going anywhere! Baba Yaga or bust.

Well, it'd help a great deal if combat was more about narrative progression. There is a good video on youtube about Pirates of the Caribbean being a masterpiece and why, and the arguments there for why and how the combats serve to tell us things about the characters rather than just being pure thrills. I feel most if not all combats should be that way, but rpfs don't seem to be written that way.

For example, we had to fight the bear-thing as some sort of test, but what did that fight do narratively?

I'm generally content and happy with the game. I have noticed it in a bit of a slump because of the pacing that is dungeon crawling in PBP, but it seems an interesting dungeon at the very least. There are moments when I don't have much to contribute IC when it comes to RP so I've been a bit lax on my posting as of late.

I do enjoy the groups dynamic overall.

...Emerald Spire for PF1e and comparing the two I can say that Paizo did a much better job with that as a megadungeon....

Hey! I played through Emerald Spire a little over a year ago. For a Megadungeon it was quite pleasant. However that wasn't in a PBP so I have no idea how well it would translate over to this format.

I do hope my character is meshing well with the group dynamic well enough. I do have quite a bit of fun trying to channel pompous neurotic-bird-dad energy, but I'm self conscious that his behavior might be a little...much..sometimes.

I really like mechanically how he's set up to function, but my only real sore spot is probably getting his actions overlooked. That is however totally understandable since it's less straight forward than "this character did 'X' damage to thing" and things are already a bit difficult to keep track of. If it keeps being a difficult issue I might look into a slight rebuild DM permitting.

I'm still having quite a bit of fun and I think one of the advantages this group has is it's tenacity. If I recall you already had one DM kind of abandon the group with long periods of absence in the interim. With those prior challenges it seems like the group is well practiced at sitting around and chewing the scene together with a fair bit of back and forth RP which I think is a great quality to have for a group.

Anyway, keep up the good work GM, I'm not going anywhere! Baba Yaga or bust.

I'll second these sentiments.

I read what Bulvi said about "I'm too tired I'll get to it tomorrow" and I totally understand that! For the past few months I've been fighting that too. But, as others have said, it's a season. Busyness and energy wax and wane. I'm completely committed to this adventure and this group. Checking for new posts and participating in the game is something I look forward to quite a bit.

I know that this is a PbP game and so, by definition, our interactions are all on this board. But in addition to that, would any of you be interested if I started a Discord server for us to chat on? For those of us in close time zones there might be times that we are online together and we could chat in real time. That wouldn't be the same as all being at the table but it would give us some more interaction. It might also make it easier for some of us (me....) to keep track of all the events that are going on in the story.

Are all of you familiar with Discord?

Oh! I'll third the sentiments from Quasit and Tez. Super great job GM!!! You are making this all work.

I have a fresh discord for general chat already. No need to make a new one.

....would any of you be interested if I started a Discord server for us to chat on?...

I know both myself and Maka's player are quite comfortable with discord so if you make it I'm sure we would join.

My chat server, https://discord.gg/RjM6CHJ6fQ

I made a week ago or so to communicate with a potential investor I was suspicious of, but he never got back to me.

Ok. I think I joined your server. It is "MCS"?

Yep, that's the one.

Thanks, I checked into your Discord channel as well...

Yeah dungeon crawls tend to be a slog no matter what, but I've enjoyed the role play we've gotten out of it. Had some interesting encounters as well.

Logged in to the discord.