Clebsch's Reign of Winter

Game Master Clebsch RoW

I'm cool with that, shifted a point from Profession (Huntress) to Linguistics (both are background skills) to pick up Sylvan.

The problem with Wapiti bringing up the rear is that unless we're attacked from behind will be effectively useless.

He have to charge through the entire party in order to get to anything upfront and we're in a hallway

I guess Wapiti might need to take Charging Stag Style.

I'll see myself out.

It's tricky when in hallways because Wapiti is large. I rearranged it so that Wapti is after Ingrit and Dom.

That works. If things go down, Ingrit can either step back or get on his back to shoot.

Note that I have a house rule about charging. The main requirement is that you can move in a straight line for the last ten feet of movement. So Wapiti could move through allies and charge once past, so long as there is still ten feet to move in a straight line.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! Its super wet here. Hopefully, everyone has a safe and healthy holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone!

I hope everyone is having fun and staying safe. I took a short break from RP to spend quality time with my wife and a few close friends. The days are getting longer again (for most, if not all of us) so I'm always happy for that.

One of my favorite poetry quotes from E. E. Cummings comes to mind with the upcoming scenario:

Deeds can't dream what dreams can do.

The raven said it would be a test of fortitude

*looks at my Fort save*

*cries*

That's an excellent e e cummings quote, but I don't think I've ever read the poem it's from! My wife is an English teacher and a poet, so it's time for some holiday reading.

I'll try to get something up, but I'm really sick, so sick that I'm in too much pain to sleep, so my head is kinda fuzzy. If needed please bot Rurik.

Really sorry to hear that you're sick. We can definitely just bot you. I placed Rurik's token on the map, FWIW.

Please rest and get better soon!

Damn, I'm really sorry to hear that. If possible take something to knock you out and get some rest.

My Fort save isn't too shabby.

Of course, what the raven means by fortitude is not necessarily what Pathfinder means. This will be an interesting encounter requiring good role playing. Good luck.

Before getting to other aspects of the scene to come, I want to extend my sympathy to Rurik's player. I hope health returns soon and this is just a cold or flu, not anything more serious. I am be happy to 'bot Rurik, although I'll give a bit of time for a post just in case you're feeling better.

Since I know what needs to happen, I may ask for a volunteer to 'bot Rurik, so as not to lose any opportunities for uncovering what needs to be learned.

Now: this encounter is unusual. The focus and main NPC will appear, and I'll roll initiative and post the order. This NPC can be destroyed with weapon attacks and damaging magic, but you need to learn something from it first to have an answer for the Raven: the thing the NPC desires.

Some bluff and or diplomacy checks may be in order as well as question asking and answering. So generally, limit what your character says in a turn to approximately 20 words or 30 syllables. I'm not going to hassle you if you're a few words over the limit, but I don't want sentences that, even reading quickly, would take way more than six seconds to read aloud in a normal voice. So choose your words carefully.

Edit: At this level of adventuring, spell casters should assume a check to overcome SR may be needed. So if you are casting a spell that requires overcoming SR make a roll for that, even if you don't know for certain whether the NPC you are targeting has SR.

Sorry for the trouble. I'm trying to get tested for the 'rona. I was able to get some sleep last night but I still have constant discomfort, fever, cough, and sharp headache. Not fun. :(

And to think I was sick in October, too! The fall vacation period has been really rough on me this year.

Sorry to hear, Rurik. I found out last week (while em route to visit my parents) that I had been exposed to COVID. Finding a test was a pain. I hope that you and yours are okay.

***

I would like to use Hadda's Planar Lore, which allows Hadda to take 20 on a Knowledge (planes) check a number of times per day equal to her Intelligence modifier (5). With her base modifier of +14 and the +2 each from Tears to Wine and Heightened Awareness, that brings her check to 38. Before I continue, what does that provide?

With Disconcerting Knowledge, she could also use that 38 to demoralize the creature as a standard action. I'd like to hold that option, if I can, for if combat breaks out.

From what the GM said earlier, I think we are in combat. Its just a combat that we need to also do RPing in to get info as the thing tries to kill us. So its up to us if we blast it, hit it or cajole it.

I could also activate a round of Inspire Courage, but the creature has not acted aggressively yet. Hadda has never met one of these before, so she's curious (and wary). I don't assume we're in combat, just initiative, until proven otherwise.

Since I'm lower down on the initiative I'll wait to see what everyone else does. Ingrit trends toward act first, usually aggressively, but trusts the magic experts to know how better to deal with magic.

That said, the Winter witches have been her boogie (wo)man, her whole life.

Sorry to hear, Rurik. I found out last week (while em route to visit my parents) that I had been exposed to COVID. Finding a test was a pain. I hope that you and yours are okay.

***

I would like to use Hadda's Planar Lore, which allows Hadda to take 20 on a Knowledge (planes) check a number of times per day equal to her Intelligence modifier (5). With her base modifier of +14 and the +2 each from Tears to Wine and Heightened Awareness, that brings her check to 38. Before I continue, what does that provide?

With Disconcerting Knowledge, she could also use that 38 to demoralize the creature as a standard action. I'd like to hold that option, if I can, for if combat breaks out.

Hadda may look at 5 spoilers in addition to the general information spoiler.

I want people acting in initiative order to limit the time each PC has to act. That does not mean anyone needs to use that time to make attacks. This melee is a challenge because you have to get some information from the NPC before killing it. But it may well attack you on its regular turn, and you may need to destroy it eventually. Good luck.

Re: spell resistance, does that apply against an arcanist exploit, which is a supernatural ability? Most spells call out whether they are subject to SR, while that language does not appear in the arcanist's abilities.

Supernatural Abilities: These can’t be disrupted in combat and generally don’t provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren’t subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don’t function in antimagic areas.

Thanks DM. I'm currently at the stage where I'll feel somewhat OKish for a little bit, then I'll suddenly get a cough that precipitates a massive sinus headache, and I have general discomfort and sore throat all of the time. Not great!

Get better soon!

Re: spell resistance, does that apply against an arcanist exploit, which is a supernatural ability? Most spells call out whether they are subject to SR, while that language does not appear in the arcanist's abilities.

Core Rulebook wrote:

Supernatural Abilities: These can’t be disrupted in combat and generally don’t provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren’t subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don’t function in antimagic areas.

Yeah doesn't look like SR applies in this case.

Rest well, Rurik.

OK, so I though she cast burning arc. I'll ret-con the events, so ignore the post that I'm about to delete if you read it already. This is one of the harder problems being a Pathfinder GM. One has to know that this was a supernatural ability rather than a normal spell and also know that rule about SU abilities being exempt from dealing with SR.

Now I have to research another question. If anyone knows the answer, let me know as soon as possible.

If a spell or spell-like ability is being cast and the caster takes damage from an AOO or a readied action triggered by the spell casting attempt, the caster must make a concentration check to avoid losing the spell (DC = 10 + damage + level of spell).

If more than one attack does damage, does the caster roll a separate concentration check for each attack that does damage or just one that includes all the damage done in the DC?

Here's another question: Dom had a ready action to attack the dream which was triggered by the casting of the spell. Would he also get an AOO?

Seems to be effectively the same thing and therefore double dipping to get two attacks for the same trigger.

I've decided, after a little research, that individual concentration checks must be made.

The animate dream is pretty good at concentration checks, having the Combat Casting feat and a high level. It made the checks for each attack from Ozella, Dom, and Ingrit. The question about the AOO is moot because she made her roll to cast defensively to prevent AOOs.

See the gameplay post for the result.

@ Rurik: sounds serious. If you haven't already, I hope you can get a COVID test. New strains of a virus sometimes have new symptoms.

Now I have to research another question. If anyone knows the answer, let me know as soon as possible.

If a spell or spell-like ability is being cast and the caster takes damage from an AOO or a readied action triggered by the spell casting attempt, the caster must make a concentration check to avoid losing the spell (DC = 10 + damage + level of spell).

If more than one attack does damage, does the caster roll a separate concentration check for each attack that does damage or just one that includes all the damage done in the DC?

Yes. Each interruption event (weapon damage, being grappled, damaging spell, none damaging spell, continuous damage etc) requires it's own check with it's own DC.

Concentration

No fun, Rurik! Please keep resting well.

And GM: there are a thousand small rules like this, including many that are contradictory thanks to errata. I only know the bit about supernatural arcanist exploits from having played one previously and come up against the SR question. I don't think anyone can expected to know every rule: we help each other out to make sure we're enjoying the game together. I will always abide by the GM's decision, especially when there isn't perfect clarity.

That being said, if I ever point something out in a way that you don't care for, please let me know. Every table plays differently and I'm still new to this one!

I think you made the right calls on everything. Each source of damage during spellcasting should incur its own concentration check. And yeah: no AoO with a successful defensive cast. Even if she had failed, there would have been no AoO: she just would have lost the spell.

The only other thing I'd bring up is that I think Combat Casting only applies against concentration checks while casting on the defensive and while being grappled, not all concentration checks (e.g. injury), but it looks like she would have passed even without the +4 boost. Unless shaken affects concentration checks, which...is unclear, but I lean towards no. Harumph.

I think Hadda is up after the Animate Dream, but I'll wait to post my actual turn until you advance initiative.

The only other thing I'd bring up is that I think Combat Casting only applies against concentration checks while casting on the defensive and while being grappled, not all concentration checks (e.g. injury), but it looks like she would have passed even without the +4 boost. Unless shaken affects concentration checks, which...is unclear, but I lean towards no. Harumph.

Good point. I'll check to see if it makes a difference since this is a potentially fatal spell.

Since the shaken condition does not specify concentration checks, I did not apply the penalty to the checks. It seems reasonable that they would, but I'm going with RAW for now.

My schedule of teaching on Tuesday and Thursday resumes this week and continues for the next three weeks. So I'll probably not be posting on those days.

It's snowing where I am. First snowfall this winter (in Virginia, US).

A 29 is much more respectable than a 21! Thanks, Crasius!

Someone else might be able to chime in and get us to 30.

I heard the snows in Virginia are pretty big for the region--stay safe!

Re: Virginia--my folks are in Maryland and my dad was stuck at work without power yesterday thanks to the snow. Stay safe indeed!

I will be going on vacation from Saturday through Wednesday. I will try and check the boards in the evenings but I may be slow to post over the next few days. Feel free to bot me as needed.

Enjoy the vacation, Malinor!

Just a thought for Rurik and Ingrit: you could ready actions instead of delaying, unless you want the option of taking full attack actions. The impression I get now is that we're not getting out of the fight. I'm going to keep on buffing, but using my standard action to try to get answers since I can't affect incorporeal creatures. Once Hadda gets the impression that she can't gain anything else from the Dream, I'll switch up tactics and stop using standard actions to socialize.

There is more to learn about the dream's desires, FYI.

The Animate dream gets more agitated and aggressive each round, so it's certain this will be a fight to the death. It will nevertheless take a few rounds to kill it due to its high level and incorporeal nature. So the game of wits can continue.

Yeah I plan on taking a full attack if I have to.

So sorry for such a long delay in posting without an explanation. Each day since last Friday I thought I would post before the day was done, but each day things came up. Now it's Monday and I've again been delayed by some unexpected work requirements.

I'll get things caught up now and try to be more predictable, although this week I'll still be working all day Tuesday and Thursday. Next week I go back to a more regular one class a day schedule.

Thanks for your patience.

Happy MLK Day! I hope those in the path of the winter storm fared all right.

@Clebsch--Dom made his Fortitude save against the curse, so I don't think he should be cursed?

Sorry, Dom. I misread a few things. First, it should have been a Will save, but I believe with +4 will and a roll of 18 he would still save. So you are right. No curse.

Oh damn, DC21 Will save! I am sooooo glad Dom took Iron Will at his most recent level-up!

Crud, I keep getting players' names mixed up in this game. Used to mix up Rurik and Erland, and now I'm mixing up Hadda and Ozella. Sorry!

Ha! One arcane caster leaves and three new ones join. This is the way.