Chaos in Sarlona (Inactive)

Game Master PathlessBeth

Sorry to hear. Good luck!

Woah, that's tough Revion. I know what you are going through must be really hard. Do what you need to do.

Sorry to hear that Revion.

Apologies, but could I get a layout of the battle? I don't know who is where just now. I want to do a charge but have no way to know the scene without some help.

Sorry for the delay, y'all.

...
Also, before I forget, that mini-encounter nets all of you 130 xp. Also you get 300 xp for roleplaying your ways here. That should put everyone at 5854 xp.

Sorry for the delay, y'all.

...
Also, before I forget, that mini-encounter nets all of you 130 xp. Also you get 300 xp for roleplaying your ways here. That should put everyone at 5854 xp.

With being at 5854 and using the fast experience track, does that mean we should be level 4 now?

Almost, level four is at 6,000 xp.

Almost, level four is at 6,000 xp.

Gah! That's what I get for looking at the wrong level. :/

I want to apologize a bit.

My current decrease in posting has to due with problems with my computer, similar to Deranged_Maniac_Ben . I will try to maintain my current involvement, but I am currently trying to find a replacement rather than fix this one, as I've had poor experiences with that in the past.

If I stay quiet for an extended period of time, have no doubt that my computer is continuing to confound me.

It has been two weeks since Revion last posted, and they are not responding to my PMs. His/her most recent posts are asking to be removed from other campaigns. It does not look promising.

I have to say I am somewhat frustrated by the repeated loss of players that this campaign has experienced, and I am grateful to the three of you who are still here. I've really been enjoying having you in this campaign.

So, Helac, Nik'o, Kiana. Now that we are (probably) down to three players, I'd like to do a quick poll to see what you all want for this campaign going forwards. As I see it, there are a few possibilities: we could

a)Do another recruitment thread to get another player. While this is possible, it would mean interrupting the flow of the game while we find someone else. Then we'd have to go through another introductory process with their character joining the group.

b)Continue the campaign with only three players.
While three PCs is on the small side, it can work. I can design encounters for three people instead of four. It would also mean that there would be more room for roleplaying on your part and for me to tie things to your characters' individual goals.
Also, a smaller group means less time waiting for everyone else to post.

c)Wait a bit longer for Revion to respond.
He/she hasn't actually told me he/she has dropped out, and might respond to my PM eventually. My hunch is that it is unlikely he/she wants to stay in this game, though.

d)Just give up. End the campaign.

As you may have guessed from my descriptions above, I have a slight preference for (b). But I want to know what each of you would prefer, because without you, there is no campaign. I'm mostly enjoying this campaign because of you three.

I would say a combination of A & B. No need to slow the game down while we recruit. And I'd recruit up to 5 new people, so we have room for natural attrition. I've started doing that in my games, going for 7 or 8 and assuming I'll lose 2-3 within a month. But still have 4 or 5 to play.

I'd prefer b).

But I'd also like to look at our group's strengths and weaknesses. We have a Vitalist (full caster equivalent), a flying zen archer (nasty!), and me, the rogue.

As I'm likely going to be the frontliner of this reduced outfit, I'd like to ask if I can review my build to enhance its chances of survival. I'd like to keep the concept the same (race, background, motivations, etc.), but review his build, in particular the class selection.

Let me know what you think.

I'd prefer b).

But I'd also like to look at our group's strengths and weaknesses. We have a Vitalist (full caster equivalent), a flying zen archer (nasty!), and me, the rogue.

As I'm likely going to be the frontliner of this reduced outfit, I'd like to ask if I can review my build to enhance its chances of survival. I'd like to keep the concept the same (race, background, motivations, etc.), but review his build, in particular the class selection.

Let me know what you think.

Regardless of what we go with, I'm on board with you (or Kiana or Helac, if either of them want to) rebuilding your character. I don't know if you have looked at Path of War yet, but, well this is a thing.

I was thinking more along the lines of either Investigator, Slayer or Swashbuckler. I'll have a look at the class though!

Inquisitor might be a good fit as well, given that he's a follower of The Traveler...

. . . I'd also like to look at our group's strengths and weaknesses. We have a Vitalist (full caster equivalent), a flying zen archer (nasty!), and me, the rogue. . . .

Thank you for the vote of confidence. :) ...I would like to point out, though, that even though a vitalist gets the power points, meaning he has the equivalent "spell slots" per level of other full casters but has less powers known at any one time. It means they are pretty hyper specialized and have less abilities to draw on at any one time.

I am, however, cool with just the three of us.

And what would you say your 'specialization' is looking like?

And what would you say your 'specialization' is looking like?

Right now it looks like Helac's specialization is healing.

Okay then, so we have two in favor of continuing with only three players, and one in favor of doing another recruitment (unless I misread what Helac's preference is). So I guess we'll go with (b): continue with only three players.
Should we wait whilst Nik'o rebuilds or move straight ahead and let him rebuild as we go?

Actually, Kiana was in favor of going on with 3 while recruiting, just to be pedantic. :)

Yea, yea, I got that part:)
I was just referring to expressed preference over party size vs doing additional recruitment.

I was thinking more along the lines of either Investigator, Slayer or Swashbuckler. I'll have a look at the class though!

Inquisitor might be a good fit as well, given that he's a follower of The Traveler...

Any of those could work too. If you go Inquisitor, you might get a raised eyebrow if Nik'o suddenly starts casting spells, but you could chalk that up to not having been around Helac for very long (since you'd only have three spells per day at third level, and say that Kiana saw Nik'o casting spells while she and Nik'o were traveling to meet up with Helac. Or maybe you can think of a better explanation for the class change. Same deal with extracts if you go with investigator.

I've been looking at my options, and since we have healing, I'd like to keep Nik'o as is. I've been curious about making a rogue work, and would like to keep experimenting with the character. Sorry about the back and forth...

Since I messed up and placed both Nik'o and Helac on the map without asking what position you wanted, either of you should feel free to tell me what square you actually wanted to start on and I'll adjust it.

Well, that was a lot to happen at once. Killing Revion off what not what I was aiming for--I had a completely different idea for how he could naturally leave the group (alive:P). This works too, though...
I guess it's just a reminder that when both players and dice are involved, no one can be sure of what will happen until it does.

That encounter was worth 850 xp, bringing everyone up to 6704. Please level your characters up to 4 when you can.

I've been looking at my options, and since we have healing, I'd like to keep Nik'o as is. I've been curious about making a rogue work, and would like to keep experimenting with the character. Sorry about the back and forth...

Speaking of back and forth, I've been thinking that it would make more sense to try another option as we level. I'm working on an Investigator variation. If I like it, I'll play his further discovery of alchemy as we move the game along.

Okay....

I'll show both versions, so you can let me know what your preference is.

I must admit that, levelling the rogue, its limitations became more salient.

For example, the rogue relies, to an extent, on buffs, as he has very little coming from his class. I've tried to mitigate this by building some debuffing abilities for him.

Now that we are fewer in numbers, with a full caster and an archer, it will be harder to get flanking and SA. I'm trying also to mitigate this by choosing the scout archetype...

All this to say that it's very tricky to make it effective.

The investigator has more buffing options, which would help.

Finally, I'm not sold one way or another. I'll let you see the two and hear what your thoughts are.

Thanks for letting me try this.

Sorry for the delay, work was pretty crazy today.

Ok, Nik'o has been reshaped as an investigator!

I've not prepared extracts, as I'm not sure how you want to handle the Formula Book: should we handwave it, or build it in-game?

I'll suggest handwave it. If we're going to assume Nik'o was 'always' an investigator, he would have had it already (and if he wasn't 'always' and investigator, then it would be weird to have him suddenly jump from 0 levels of investigator to four). So yea, let's just assume you already had your formula book.

Please note I'll be away from Friday to Sunday, then from Wednesday to Monday again. I'll try to post, but it might not be possible. Please bot me as needed.

Hi y'all,

I apologize for my unannounced absense for the past two days. Work was way crazier than I expected. The rest of the week looks better, but still pretty hectic. Hopefully I'll have at least some time for longer/more posts tomorrow and Thursday, at least.

In case you hadn't realized, Dreaming Warforged/Nik'o is away without internet until Tuesday (he said so in another pbp, but not here).

Hrmph, today I thought of a cool future plot-point involving PC back-stories for this game that I might not have thought of in a faster-paced (i.e., non-pbp) game.
BUT it will probably take a long time before I can actually introduce it in a satisfying way (unless y'all do something I hadn't thought of which accidentally creates an earlier opportunity).
The pacing of pbp really is a double-edged sword.

LOL, sorry, was waiting for somoene other than Kiana to respond. Mostly the guy who could actually heal her. :)

It's okay:)
I'm not sure if there is some external reason Helac is taking his time to post.
At any rate, it certainly isn't nearly as urgent for me as it feels for the yuan-ti under interrogation....

Sorry. I get inordinately distracted at times. Yes, it is external reasons. :(

Helac's healing isn't nearly as efficient as actual healers, but the mitigation factor that vigor provides can be hell on wheels. :)

It is a goggles of foefinding from 3.5, MiC. If you make this check, I will post the entire text of the item, but not in this post since I can't nest spoilers any further.

...and I never actually did. So:

Price (Item Level): 2,500 gp (7th)

Body Slot: Face
Caster Level: 5th
Aura: Faint; (DC 17) divination
Activation: —
Weight: —
The lenses of these goggles continually fade
back and forth between soot black and snow
white.
When you attack foes that have cover
while you wear goggles of foefi nding, you
can ignore the cover bonus to AC they
would normally receive. The goggles do
not, however, allow you to circumvent the
effect of total cover.
Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Item,
clairvoyance/clairaudience.
Cost to Create: 1,250 gp, 100 XP, 3 days

I know the feeling, Helac, I get distracted too:(

Please note I'll be away from Friday to Sunday, then from Wednesday to Monday again. I'll try to post, but it might not be possible. Please bot me as needed.

I'm back! (I had announced I would be away...)

I need to go through a lot of posts, but I'll chime back as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience!

Question. When we leveled, I leveled my character and added to maximum hit points and power points, but I didn't add any to current hp and pp as my character had not rested. Was that incorrect?

Question. When we leveled, I leveled my character and added to maximum hit points and power points, but I didn't add any to current hp and pp as my character had not rested. Was that incorrect?

Whoops, I forgot to answer this.

Increase your current HP the same amount as your max HP. This goes for everyone.

However, your current PP should not be increased until you regain pp after resting.

Hmm... Maybe I didn't make something clear enough, Kiana. Helac, Kiana, Nik'o, and Charivia are connected via network, and Helac and his crystal are connected by the normal familiar/psicrystal bond. For ease, I'll try to start keeping their dialogue under spoilers, again. I left dialogues visible, hopefully for the amusement of the players, even though characters wouldn't necessarily be privy. Helac is leery of including Eroh in the general network, though now there is room to, because he fears Eroh's inexperience will lead to distraction.

Thanks for clarifying. I did understand what you meant, although it looks like maybe mdt didn't (or forgot). Putting the Helac-Eroh banter in spoilers wouldn't be a bad idea, although it isn't a big deal either way.

yeah, I thought it was an open network broadcast once we were in the loop.

I won't be able to post much during Easter. Please bot me if needed.

No problem, thanks for letting me know ahead of time.

Before I forget, you all got 485 xp from that encounter.

This week at work will be unusually busy for me. I will probably still be able to post every day, but I might miss a day without additional warning. After this coming week things will clear up considerably, fortunately.

Please note I'll be mostly away from a computer starting tomorrow. Bot me as needed.

Hmm... I wonder if the ghast twinkles in strong illumination.

Hmm... I wonder if the ghast twinkles in strong illumination.

Well, since Helac got a high result on his knowledge check, he knows that ghasts do not have any sort of light-sensitivity the way orcs do, nor are they destroyed by sunlight a la vampires.

Twilight