Aubrey's Other Eberron Campaign - The Unbinding (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Dragonfly 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Initiative
Dragonfly 15
Portforged 14
Rehil 10
Nalverren 9
Wultram 7
Will 5
Cole 3

Map (recycled). Since you stated you wanted to be nearer the banks, but because the forest is flooded, there are a few trees to your right.

The dragonfly swoops down to attack Will. It has Flyby Attack, but anyway you are all flat-footed so you don't get AoOs. It flies from right to left, attempting to bite Will. If it hits, it attempts a grapple as a free action and, if that succeeds, it will attempt to pick Will up and fly off with him.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 to hit, damage 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 = 13

The dragonfly's jaws scissor over Will's head and the dragonfly's momentum carries it out where it hovers, preparing for a return strike.

Portforged.

Is this the surprise round or round 1?

I'm pretty sure Portforged is surprised.
As soon as he sees the dragonfly Portforged racks its brain for information on the creature
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 if appropriate.

Initiative
Dragonfly 15
Portforged 14 (surprised)
Rehil 10
Nalverren 9 (surprised)
Wultram 7 (surprised)
Will 5
Cole 3

Yes, sorry - surprise round. Rehil.

Rehil stows his paddle and is reaching for his bow.

As the rather large flying creature misses on it's fly by attack

"Whoa, hey lay off the small snack you monstrous flying thing. I am not that tasty." he shouts at it

Cole paddles furiously to try to pull the canoes together.

Canoe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

As Cole moves the rear canoe closer, the dragonfly turns for another pass.

No AoO as it has Flyby Attack. Attack roll against Will 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 = 29 to hit, damage 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8. On a successful hit it attempts to initiate a grab: CMB 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18 - natural 1 is a miss

The dragonfly again attempts to grab Will. It hooks him with a razor-sharp mandible but fails to get a grip.

Map updated.

Initiative
Dragonfly 15
Portforged 14
Rehil 10
Nalverren 9
Wultram 7
Will 5
Cole 3

PF.

Portforged muttered as the giant bug drew near
"I know not whether this will have any effect, but it is my only attack which can reach the creature."

It then attempted to sap the charisma out of the dragonfly:
Ego whip, DC 16 for half (minimum 1)
charisma damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Tenro has informed me that Fly-By Attack doesn't provide protection from AoOs - which, on reviewing the rules, is quite true. So since Will and James aren't flat-footed this time, they get an AoO as the dragonfly comes past. Then we'll deal with PF's Ego Whip.

"Stay away from me you oversize fly" he says as the beast makes deadly contact with his flesh

Aoo Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Will's mace thuds into the dragonfly's side as it whizzes past, making it wobble in the air.

Portforged reaches out with his mind to mangle the bright hunter's thought processes, but his attack is instantly repulsed by the creature's alien insect brain.

Vermin - immune to mind-affecting effects, including Ego Whip.

Rehil.

...

Vermin - immune to mind-affecting effects, including Ego Whip.

Rehil.

Evil, evil, DM.

Rehil fairly throws the arrow into the vee formed by his hand and the bow. He tracks along and then ahead of the plunging dragon fly.

"Dammit, Cole! Steady the boat."

Picking his moment at the nadir of the bright hunter's flight, he looses.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 .... damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Not chosen deliberately to frustrate PF, but it's a nice bonus to keep the party on their toes...

Rehil's arrow finds its mark, thudding into the giant insect's thorax.

Nalverren.

I sort of expected it to be an animal or magical beast with a high enough charisma that it would take too long to beat with charisma damage. But this works too.

canoeist: 1d20 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (1) = 10 Nalverren tries to keep the canoe steady.

... as Cole continue to try to pull the two canoes closer together.

"Doing my best, Rehil! But we're no good if we can't close ranks."

canoeist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

It strikes me that we forgot Vaard and Ashshar in the excitement. I'll roll their initiatives.
Vaard 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Ashshar 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Initiative
Dragonfly 15
Portforged 14
Ashshar 13
Rehil 10
Nalverren 9
Vaard 8
Wultram 7
Will 5
Cole 3

We can assume they were surprised last round. This round both will try to bring the canoes together.
Vaard Prof (Canoeist) 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9
Ashshar Prof (Canoeist) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Wultram.

I want medium range spells.

Wultram places his oar on the floor of the canoe. "If you can use it grap my bow." He says to none in particular. The mage then starts to concentrate negative energy into his hand hoping that the creature will keep it's target the same.

Readied action with charnel touch, condition it comes in range. Might as well in practice hope for double AoO

Will.

William and james will have a readied action to attack the creature should is comes close enough to be in range

Readied Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

readied bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Seemingly angered by its prey's recalcitrance, the dragonfly dashes back to hover and bite at Will.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 to hit, damage 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9 That doesn't hit so the Grab is immaterial.

As the canoes manoeuvre together, Will and James attack back ferociously but the insect nimbly dodges their attacks.

Portforged.

Map updated.

Time to burn this thing.

Portforged conjured a ray of fire and hurled it at the dragonfly:
touch attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
fire damage: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 6) + 3 = 14

Portforged fires its ray but the dragonfly's dips and swerves put off the warforged's aim.

Ashshar, then Rehil.

ASHSHAR

With little else useful he can do, the lizard guide grabs ahold of the now-adjacent second canoe, trying his best to hold them together and steady.

I figure that's good for a standard action. Bonus if it can make someone else's attack rolls better in some way. :)

This time the bright hunter is coming in almost in line with the shot. Rehil smiles as he looks over the arrow at the golden head, thorax and wings.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11.... damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The smiles disappears as he watches the arrow fly high.

Nalverren.

shortbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
1d6 ⇒ 1

Nalverren sets the oar across his lap and takes a shot at the winged creature.

VAARD

The other lizard-folk guide draws a javelin and hurls it at the dragonfly.

javelin: 1d20 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 8 = -2
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

It's all you, Wultram and Will. :)

"we have to really drive it away, it really wants to eat me"

he says going on the defensive

Readied Club: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 4 = 81d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Current AC 24

James will also stand ready to bite the creature as soon as he comes back on them

Readied Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Wultram curses as his plan fails. He pulls out his longspear inot his hand before starting to cast a spell. Not long after a ray springs forth from his hand striking against the creature sapping it's strength.

Ray of enfeeblement(touc AC): 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 4 = 18
Strength penalty: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Cole grabs up his own longspear, tapping Ashshar on the shoulder.

"Switch with me."

Draw longspear, then ready an action to step into Ashshar's spot when/if the Lizard-man steps into his own spot.

Wultram curses as his plan fails. He pulls out his longspear inot his hand before starting to cast a spell. Not long after a ray springs forth from his hand striking against the creature sapping it's strength.

That's a potential crit - please roll to confirm and whatever extra damage you might do.

Will doesn't have to ready an action - the dragonfly is right there, trying to eat him.

Both Rehil and Nalverren shoot wide, and Vaard's javelin doesn't get any closer. Fighting defensively, Will merely probes the dragonfly's defences, but James gives it a mauling. Then Wultram transfigures it with necromantic power.

It's the dragonfly next, but I'll wait for Wultram's critical threat roll, since it could impact quite significantly on the dragonfly's puissance. It's already down 8 STR and could lose a lot more.

Map updated.

Unless I am utterly mistaken, it means practically nothing. Now it could count as a crit, but that would only be relevant if I had a crit class ability/feat. As ray of enfeeblement just does strength penalty it is not multiplied on a critical hit only damage is. I did notice that I forgot the fact that the dragonfly is large, so casting defensively. In case I am mistaken I will put of the confirmation and extra "damage" rolls here too.

Casting defensively DC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Confirmation(Touch AC): 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 2 - 4 = 10 STR penalty additional: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

From the Core Rules:

Spells and Critical Hits

A spell that requires an attack roll can score a critical hit. A spell attack that requires no attack roll cannot score a critical hit. If a spell causes ability damage or drain (see Special Abilities), the damage or drain is doubled on a critical hit.

That seems to be the situation here. However, while the rules debate is interesting, it's moot since you missed the confirmation roll.

It is a strength penalty not damage or drain. But yes, a moot point.

It is a strength penalty not damage or drain. But yes, a moot point.

The rules basically say only this on the difference between ability score damage and ability score penalties:

Some spells and abilities cause you to take an ability penalty for a limited amount of time. While in effect, these penalties function just like ability damage, but they cannot cause you to fall unconscious or die. In essence, penalties cannot decrease your ability score to less than 1.

I'm not really seeing the difference from the perspective of critical hits. My understanding of the specifics of critical hits for spells and the reason for the wording in the rules is to prevent stuff like level drain being multiplied on a crit, not to try and differentiate between ability damage and ability penalties (which are really the same thing, only the latter is temporary) especially when ability damage is perfectly OK to multiply. It would be a curious thing to try and differentiate between the two things in respect of criticals, when the reason for the difference between damage and penalties is simply so that you can't be killed by a low level spell that inflicts a temporary penalty on a stat since the lowest it can get to is 1 anyway. It doesn't seem the intention, or necessary, to differentiate between penalties and damage when it comes to critical hits.

Moving on...

The dragonfly is now looking wobbly in the air, but it still tries to attack Will - maybe the shininess of his armour is attracting it.

1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 4 = 8 to hit, damage 2d8 + 6 - 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 - 6 = 9

Portforged, then Ashshar and Rehil. Just a note to Rehil - I didn't notice until too late last round, but firing a bow when you are in the threat zone of an enemy provokes an AoO. Also, Ashshar's action will be to swap places with Cole. And Wultram - you aren't in the threat zone for the dragonfly, so no need for defensive casting.

Map updated.

" Phew"

he says after the large creature misses him again.

Portforged tried once more to roast the dragonfly, this time with a bit less energy:
energy ray (touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
fire damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 2 = 9

Portforged hits the dragonfly this time with a fiery ray, and Rehil swings his new curveblade, sheering off some of its legs. The dragonfly veers off, low above the river. There's a disturbance in the water and a gaping mouth suddenly opens, flicking out a pink tongue several feet long. The dragonfly is snagged and dragged in, the mouth shuts with a crunch and the enormous frog submerges again, taking the dragonfly with it. In a few seconds there is no evidence that either was there.

End of combat. 200xp each.

Rehil quickly wipes and sheathes the blade. Thank you, blade of my fathers. But he doesn't waste much time before the paddle is back in his hand.

"We should hurry before the frog decides he's still hungry."

Well thanks for educating me. I just felt I should say as it felt like you were making a mistake that could have had pretty massive effect. As to why the penalty vs. damage thing. I figured it was different term to make up for the fact that we are talking 1st level spell.(in addition to the min 1.)

Wultramn follows same suite taking hold on the paddle. "Agreed, I really want to steal that airship now so we don''t have to be on water ever again."

The group paddles onward, shaken by the encounter with the dragonfly and its abrupt end. Fortunately, the frog seems happy with its meal and doesn't look to the add the adventurers to the menu.

"Gee so it sure looks like it wanted to eat just little m. Great work everyone and so do you james" he says a he pats him

after casting a CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 on himself

The group continue through the flooded forest. The sun begins to dip as nght draws in, but there seem to be no convenient islands to camp on in this submerged jungle.

"Should we keep looking, or cut our losses and find an alternative? I do not like the idea of sleeping on the canoes. Perhas tie them to soething and we climb to trees for our rest?" Wultram suggests.