Beware The Snow (aka Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?) (Inactive)

Game Master Twilightrose

Welcome everyone. Please take some time to double check your characters to make sure that everything is in order. Check each other's characters, too. Often times it is easier to overlook your own mistakes. I want the opening game post to be of high quality, so I'm not going to rush it but I will try to have it up by tomorrow evening.

Here!

Fizzlewhisk orders another round, "Glad to be seein' a few familiar faces, an' I am hopin' to be able to call of you my friend!"

Hello, everyone! Thanks for having me!

Al right , you got me... gonna save all the in-character goodness for the game play thread. So how many we rolling out with anyway?

Double checking my gear for everyone. Rolling out his pack and cleaning everything.

Combat Gear cold iron arrows (20), acid (2), caltrops; Other Gear studded leather, arrows (20), blunt arrows (20), cold iron dagger, cold iron shortsword, dagger, shortsword, backpack, bandolier, belt pouch, chalk (10), flint and steel, mirror, soap, thieves' tools, trail rations (5), waterskin, 7 gp, 7 sp

Well I'll be damn.... So who took my shortbow?

Looking around? I don't be having the coin to replace it. HHmmmm.

We'll have a total of five PC's.

If you missed it in the recruitment, you may take a drawback in order to gain a third trait.

I wanted to wait until the choices were down and the discussion opened to offer you guys the chance to discuss whether you want to use background skills or not.

Also, you all should be thinking about why you are in Heldren.

Damn thieves, must have been that big ugly one back at the tavern. Caught me when I wasn't looking. Ok traded some stuff, bought another shortbow.

Let's look at the combat gear again.

Combat Gear cold iron arrows (10), acid, caltrops; Other Gear studded leather, arrows (10), blunt arrows (10), cold iron shortsword, dagger, shortbow, backpack, bandolier, belt pouch, chalk (10), flint and steel, mirror, soap, thieves' tools, trail rations (5), waterskin, 4 gp, 2 sp

Ok I added pride as my drawback and took Successful Shirker as the extra trait since it fit the character. I am guessing it will be useful in skirting the law in Whitethrone later on.

Using background skills? Don't really care either way. Just adds another bolt on a already complex system.

I'm always happy to have more skills, but in the interests of full disclosure, I do have my eye on the Sacred Geometry feat for later on, which background skills make that much easier to use to full effect. I would like to use background skills, but if no one else does or it's too much, that's OK too.

As to why Machaera's in Heldren, well, my background for her has her taking the scenic route to Kyonin from Absalom; there are interesting sights to see in Taldor, and starting from the south on up, I thought it wouldn't be too much of a stretch for her to be as likely to pass through Heldren as any other village. That said, I think only Fizzlewhisk is local, so maybe at least a couple of the rest of us could have met on the road into town? I think Machaera's the only one heading from the south, but maybe the other northerners could have already formed an interesting looking group at the inn, or the like?

Incidentally, just how cold is it in Heldren even now? Should I think about redoing my inventory to buy cold weather gear right away, or is there time for Machaera to have a look around town and maybe make some coin by preparing some fireworks or other alchemical trinkets for interested parties? (Yay alchemy!)

Aðvinr is from the furthest north and comes to Heldren driven by the Mammoth spirits to investigate the encroaching unseasonable cold. He suspect it is quite unnatural in nature and seeks to restore things to the natural order.

Mervyn is just traveling the world after leaving Kar-Maga (See backstory) so he is also traveling from the south.

Incidentally, just how cold is it in Heldren even now? Should I think about redoing my inventory to buy cold weather gear right away, or is there time for Machaera to have a look around town and maybe make some coin by preparing some fireworks or other alchemical trinkets for interested parties? (Yay alchemy!)

The AP is set up to impart a sense of urgency in getting the players into the woods where it is the coldest and has been snowing - heavily in some areas. You would have a day, basically, to do whatever you were going to do in town before heading out. Of course it doesn't give specific temperatures, but as far as I can tell from what I've read and the way that I've seen other DM's portray it is that it is summer but a cold front has moved in fast. In Heldren, it is likely comparable to mid-late autumn temperatures. I'm basing this temp range off of my area so I see it as being mid 60's to mid 40's at night (Fahrenheit) with the woods being significantly colder.

Mervyn, I think that you should go back to the recruitment and apologize to the others. At the least make it clear that you, as a player, didn't mean to offend anyone even if the character did. It clearly offended some people, and understandably so. You should also keep in mind that if we loose a player, I will most likely look for a replacement from that same recruitment thread.

I already sent a PM last night to Korak apologizing if he was offended by an in-character action as soon as he posted about it in the thread.

I will now add it to the recruiting thread to address everyone. But I do so under protest as Mervyn had stated in the recruitment thread earlier that brutes and magicians were over rated, and thus his final statement was to that effect as well. And the entire personality is in his backstory. The wink may have been a little much but such is Mervyn (a dick with a heart of gold) hardest thing about his personality to pull off.

However I do also understand that we currently live in a real life situation where people get their feelings hurt over the tiniest things. I mean what ever happened to cause everyone to get offended so easily. In fact I just lost a RL player in one of my campaigns over trivial words with another player that I thought quite meaningless.

Never the less, you the boss and Mervyn will now go and say I am sorry for my comment and we can all get a trophy and have ice cream because there are no losers. (See there is another comment someone is likely to get offended over.)

Be right back.....

Thank you, Mervyn. Your protest is noted. Ironically, I shall now point out how easily you appear to have gotten offended by simply being asked to play nice with others :D

Alright everyone! The game thread is live. I have a lot of real life crap that I have to do today so it might not be until later tonight before I post again. If you feel that your character is ready to go, please make sure you read through the initial post and most importantly the ooc requests at the bottom and start posting!

The AP is set up to impart a sense of urgency in getting the players into the woods where it is the coldest and has been snowing - heavily in some areas. You would have a day, basically, to do whatever you were going to do in town before heading out.

I thought as much, so I've just tweaked Machaera's inventory a bit so she won't be entirely destitute once she picks up some warmer clothing. (Basically, I just dispensed with a signet ring, which I should have done sooner, because the pirates she ran into in the Sodden Lands would certainly have divested her of it.)

I have cold weather gear but I think we might end up needing some endure elements spells, potions or scrolls pretty quickly for some of us southerners. However some of the items in the RoW players guide could help but I didn't buy any as it made no sense that Mervyn would know. The only reason he has a cold weather outfit is because Heldren was not going to be his final destination on his travels north.

However it seems that fate as now intervened.

Cold? You all are cold? Hmm...

Got real busy at work now. Big MMA fight tonight.

It's all good. Now chop chop! :P

I love that Fizzlewhisk's last name is "Two-headed-giant Slayer"

Well it's no Mechanism-Definition or Daughter-of-Wolf but it makes for a good legend :D

@Snjorrin, loving the Pain eater approach, nice creepy healer.

Thanks! :-)

It seemed appropriate for the AP, and it also helps to make him stand out - I didn't want him to just be thought of as a box of band-aids ;-)

Yes, that was wonderfully sinister. I'm quite pleased we have a bunch of witchy folks here, though I'm not sure Machaera will be able to keep up with you strong, silent types. She's more likely to be silent just up to the point that she decides that the appropriate approach is to try to reduce everything to ash with a fireball, all the while cackling madly. Occupational hazard of being a rather twitchy magus who's seen far too many very disturbing things in her life, I'm afraid. ;)

and Mervyn has never seen witchcraft even with spending a lot of time in Kaer Maga so he may continue to go from shock & awe to scared and twitchy.

Actually I am still trying to figure out his exact reaction to all of this. He is sticking with Fizzlewhisk at the moment because he is one of his size that he can relate to.

However there is a LOT of scary people here. lol

Will update games as soon as my kid settles down enough for me to do so. Rough morning.

@Mervyn Just something I noticed. For someone with only 1 knowledge skill (Geography), where is Mervyn getting all this Cold Iron/Silver affects Damage Reduction/healing information from?

If the character were a Ranger or Hunter or had ranks in knowledge Nature or Arcana it would make sense. Or commenting on that after the guy who fought them told us, at which poit it's now common knowledge would work also. But as it is it comes across as one of those cases where you need to separate Player knowledge from Character knowledge.

Happens to everybody at one point, just thought I'd make you aware

@Mervyn Just something I noticed. For someone with only 1 knowledge skill (Geography), where is Mervyn getting all this Cold Iron/Silver affects Damage Reduction/healing information from?

If the character were a Ranger or Hunter or had ranks in knowledge Nature or Arcana it would make sense. Or commenting on that after the guy who fought them told us, at which poit it's now common knowledge would work also. But as it is it comes across as one of those cases where you need to separate Player knowledge from Character knowledge.

Happens to everybody at one point, just thought I'd make you aware

While I see your general point, I believe with the fact that Mervyn being raised as a slave in Cheliax and then residing in the bottoms of Kaer Maga as a thief gives him at least the basic understanding that certain outsider/creature types are resistant to certain weapon damage. The troll population in Kaer Maga and the existence of other creatures inside the city would at least impart a basic knowledge that resistance is a possibility.

Now as far as fey go, since he has never encountered one or a witch either for that matter, here is where I see your point. Mervyn's intent was to be general in nature. Understanding that these were "tiny" cold based creatures is why he asked about weaknesses. How else would such a tiny creature overcome a Ulfen Mercenary. I never said anything about healing I just asked about weapon metal type.

He made a general question by what he could afford which is cold-iron and silver. Fire because of the trolls in Kaer Maga. He didn't go any further because obviously adamantine and mithril and such is something he has never been rich enough to even think about.

Again however, I do see your point as I said above and will make every effort going forward to not tread in that direction.

I can't recall if I made an official explanation to the group yet about Annalísa. Some of you already know that she is a character I made for previous RoW campaigns and I decided to pull her in as a DMNPC. She does not officially count towards the party, so you will not be sharing loot or XP with her in anyway. She is there to provide extra muscle, but mostly as a tool for me to use to help get you guys where I need you when I need you (and because I like the character and was miffed that I never really got to play her!)

Mervyn, he's right do be very careful to keep player knowledge and character knowledge separate. I too felt that you were toeing the line, I just didn't have the desire to bicker over it - pick your battles and all.

Birthday yesterday, was up until nearly 5 am. Sleep deprived as the wee one got up at 8:30. Will post after more sleep.

Rest well, about to go to bed myself.

Updates might end up waiting until tomorrow, I got about a 45 minute nap but then had to go take my mom to a doctor's appointment. I'm just not feeling super coherent today.

I'm so out of it guys, the last couple of days have been hell with the mini me. I can't recall if I already told you guys about the wishlist thing or not? Anyway, make a wishlist for your characters, be sure to include some reasonably priced items and if you tell me when you're birthday is coming up, I will select an item from your wishlist for your character.

My sympathies; I'm going to be a bit (OK, I'm denying just how very) busy over the next few days with couple of projects for work, planning some travel for the end of the month, and I've just been forwarded a call for submissions for some creative writing that I really should send something in for, which I should really do this weekend. I'm exhausted, and I don't have any youngsters to deal with - I am deeply impressed by what parents do! Please don't worry about us; I can appreciate how often real life can be surprising and demanding, and that stuff comes first.

Sorry, on vacation and net access is spotty for the next couple days.

Just to let everyone know, the last half of my week is going to be hellish for work. Burning the midnight oil tomorrow through to travelling to a conference over the weekend and into next week, so I may not be able to post as frequently as I like. From Friday afternoon through to early next Wednesday, I'm not even sure I'll have reliable internet access. If more monsters show up or just to keep things moving, feel free to take charge of Machaera if everyone would be waiting on her otherwise.

I've had am incredibly long, stressful day. I will try to update tonight after I've eaten and relaxed a little, but it will most likely be tomorrow.

I will try to update tonight. I've been fighting a cold the last week and I thought I was feeling better, went out running errands today and even though I barely did anything I feel like total crap.

It wants you to make a fort check for every hour spent in these conditions. I think it will be way too much effort on both of our parts to try to make 24 +/- every day. So, I think that what we'll do is have you make 6 rolls at a time.

Everyone go ahead and make your first set of rolls, you are now officially in the area where they're required.

Except me.I'm just a bit chilly.

Yeah, I'm not even sure if Annalísa needs to make rolls or not. She has Cold Resistance 2, but I can't seem to figure out exactly how that works. The PRD doesn't seem to have info on it. Dragonblood472 mentioned a book that covers it, but it's not one I have.

It means cold would hurt her but she takes 2 less damage, including the non lethal. So if she fails it's 1d6-2 non lethal cold damage.

Aðvinr not needing to roll is because of this.

Rugged Northerner *(human bonus)
You live a hard life in a cold climate and gain some benefit from it.
Prerequisite: Con 13, Survival 1 rank.
Benefit: You treat extreme cold conditions as severe cold, and severe cold as cold weather conditions.
You are not impacted at all by normal cold weather conditions. In addition, you do not become
fatigued by frostbite or hypothermia.

So to him this is just regular cold weather.

I know that part of it but Dragonblood472 said that it has other effects. It's not just Damage Resistance/Cold 2 that she may not need to roll as often or something another.

Yeah only thing I found was:

Northern Ancestry
Source Reign of Winter Player's Guide pg. 6, People of the North pg. 31
Category Campaign
One of your parents came from the North, and the tales of the frozen lands at the top of the world
that you grew up listening to excited your imagination. Alternatively, maybe one of your ancestors
passed on the blood of some frost-rimed creature. You feel most alive during the chill of winter,
and as a child, you spent hours playing in the snow. You rarely feel the cold, and you’ve always
had a restless longing to travel north. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Fortitude saves, as well as cold
resistance 2; this resistance does not stack with cold resistance gained from any other source.

Exactly, all I have to go on, lol. Doesn't really detail cold resistance, though.

Based on this I'd say lethal or non lethal it doesn't matter and if the -2 damage means that you take none that hour, no additional effects should apply.

Energy Resistance

A creature with resistance to energy has the ability (usually extraordinary) to ignore some damage of a certain type per attack, but it does not have total immunity.

Each resistance ability is defined by what energy type it resists and how many points of damage are resisted. It doesn't matter whether the damage has a mundane or magical source.

When resistance completely negates the damage from an energy attack, the attack does not disrupt a spell. This resistance does not stack with the resistance that a spell might provide

Good enough for me, thanks!