Not at all. If it flows, if it works, it's good. DMing is a lot like juggling knives: as long as it looks good and no one gets stabbed, you're all right...
The idea of escaping aboard a hippogriff is an excellent one, but Thaven won't earn one until next level. I was planning to induct him into the Sable Company in the interim period between Chapter One and Chapter Two of the AP (You're very nearly done with Chapter One, guys).
The hippogriff in question doesn't strictly need to be an animal companion, though it could become one later on the basis of having carried Thaven now.
If you're worried about divination, you can always procure, say, a wand of misdirection or say on the other side of the river from the castle.
Misdirection doesn't protect from scrying. It redirects divinations that detect auras, like detect evil or detect magic. Though I was planning to get access to misdirection to smuggle Trinia out of Korvosa (that's one of the "arrangements" Fredo wants to make).
What about the nondetection spell...or a lead shirt.
I mean, misdirection fools locate creature, that's the one I was thinking of.
Also, scrying only shows the subject and 10ft square around them. If Trinia was in some secret room that Togomor knew nothing about, it wouldn't help him find her. He'd just know what the room she was in looked like.
I don't think it's cheating at all.
While mechanically the stolen Hippogriff could become Thaven's - an idea that I like - it doesn't necessarily make sense that he'd be able to steal one, smuggle a wanted girl out of the city, return, and join the Marines with his stolen Hippogriff.
It may make sense for us to take Trinia with us, at least for the moment - we still have that favour to do for Thousand Bones before we can be sure of the children's safety, and it's likely that we'd want to do that before completely f@&&ing off the Queen. If she's willing to kill a young girl, I can't imagine she's much above outright murdering children.
With that said, I get approximately sweet f$+#all next level, so it makes literally no difference to me what happens when, as it won't make things any smoother for me.
Thaven is definitely torn between wanting to help the girl and becoming a Ranger again. If he didn't get to become a Ranger because he helped Trinia, he would consider it an apt price to pay...
That said, if I stole a hippogriff and got to keep it despite being cast out of the Sable Company, that would be pretty cool, too. :)
What are you talkin' about, Raijinn? You get access to 2nd level spells, two spells known, +1 BaB, and the Perfect Strike ability!
If there's anyone allowed to complain about level 4, it's Goffred XD
I agree with Thaven on this. I don't mind you smoothing over the story because that's what DM's have to do.
Well having Trinia along might not be all that bad of course, if she at least remains under our care where we might protect her, that's fine with me.
Thaven might steal a Hippogriff, claiming he found the beast just outside of Korvosa as he returns on it, perhaps the beast got loose in some way.
Just another interesting question, Togomor has met us, so what happens if he Scrys on us? We might be in trouble.
Well, it's certainly feasible that Thaven bonds with a beast that he steals and ends up not joining the Sable Company.
Honestly, even with the "against the man" theme of this AP, it doesn't matter whether he joins the Company or not anyway, because of the events of the AP. It just comes down to whether you'd want to do that.
And if Togomor tries to scry you, you'll get a will save (probably DC 20) to resist, and if you fail, he'll get to see your beautiful faces and the ten feet around you.
Togomor is, also, not the most imaginative of people, for one reason or another. It may be awhile before he thinks to try.
So uh...finding anti-divination things, and then to what? Endrin Academy in the dead of night or back to Thousand Bones?
I don't want us doing what's right to prevent Thaven from joining the company if that's more important to him. We can find another way. Though I'm somewhat skeptical how much more our services will be either requested or given after this? I don't really know how this AP goes.
What are you talkin' about, Raijinn? You get access to 2nd level spells, two spells known, +1 BaB, and the Perfect Strike ability!
The added BAB (coupled with an additional BAB for getting an Ability Point at 4th!) is pretty damn awesome, but I'm fairly sure that Kensai nukes me getting those spells. I forgot Perfect Strike, though, that's pretty aces. And one of these days I'll remember to actually use my Arcane Pool to do extra stuff.
Hmm guys, perhaps a bit early, but should I take Disable Device next level, seeing as how we are a rogue short at the moment.
My extra incoming skill point will take care of that.
Also Burahl will be fine either way we go, either to Thousan Bones or the Academy.
If there's anyone allowed to complain about level 4, it's Goffred XD
Wha'choo talkin' 'bout, Nathan? Two new spells known and a +1 to my Reveal Weakness ability ain't nothing to sneeze at, no matter how empty the rest of the level is :P
And if Togomor tries to scry you, you'll get a will save (probably DC 20) to resist, and if you fail, he'll get to see your beautiful faces and the ten feet around you.
I should probably not say this, but I believe that's enough to teleport to our location if he wanted.
Endrin Academy in the dead of night or back to Thousand Bones?
Well, I want to talk to Thousand Bones. The faster the kids can be on their way, the faster Trinia can be on hers. These two things are not connected in the slightest ;)
Kensai gives you one fewer spell per day of each spell level. At 4th, you have base one 2nd-level spell per day, plus a bonus for your high INT, minus one, is still one 2nd-level spell per day out of two known.
You're really gunning for changing all of the little details, aren't you Goffred? I mean, it's not a drastic change, but you're really trying :D I suppose I can't blame you, though, having played this before.
So Thousand Bones being the wiser choice is where you're going? Seems good. You guys want to initiate that with a secret meeting? (a Goffred's-secret-plan-secret meeting, not a secret meeting with Thousand Bones)
By the way, Raijinn, you're very nearly done running errands for the Guard.
Kensai gives you one fewer spell per day of each spell level. At 4th, you have base one 2nd-level spell per day, plus a bonus for your high INT, minus one, is still one 2nd-level spell per day out of two known.
Ah okay, for some reason I thought that losing the base spell nullified the bonus spells, but I can see now that you're right. Wow, that means I win at 4. and 5. and 6. In fact, I don't really get a dead level until 8th.
GO TEAM RAIJINN.
So Thousand Bones being the wiser choice is where you're going? Seems good. You guys want to initiate that with a secret meeting? (a Goffred's-secret-plan-secret meeting, not a secret meeting with Thousand Bones)
The meeting with Thousand Bones is actually germane to my super-secret plan that everyone's probably guessed already. I need his permission for it to work.
Alright, well, I'm assuming Goffred is going to go speak to Thousand Bones, no?
That means the rest of you have a few hours before the proposed meeting between y'all at Zellara's house. Where are you all and where is Trinia going for now?
If we have a few hours, I might go to my old shop and see how it's doing, not being plundered and all... And making a quick potion might be a good use of my time. Any preferences guys?
Raijinn is still feeling upset / responsible, so he likely won't let Trinia out of his sight, whereever we do end up going in the meanwhile.
Thaven will stick with Raijinn and Trinia, being quiet and thinking about his duties...
I had meant to mention that Fredo's idea of Thaven Jack borrowing a Hippogriff to take Trinia soaring was oddly reminiscent of Aladdin.
:P
^ This is exactly what I was thinking.
Okay, so over the next couple of days, I'll be in the process of moving into college. My time to forum-ize will be scant. I might be able to get on tonight, but if not, it'll be a couple of days before I can post in gameplay.
I had meant to mention that Fredo's idea of Thaven Jack borrowing a Hippogriff to take Trinia soaring was oddly reminiscent of Aladdin.
:P
When I sold Disney my soul I also assumed the obligation to remind people of their films at every reasonable opportunity.
Have a truly wonderful time at university, Nathan!
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hey, it isn't midnight yet, and before i forget: Happy half birthday, everyone! Today is six months, and I realized today that that's actually kind of a long time.
Thank y'all for sticking it out this far, and hopefully we can go even farther. This was my first PbP, and only maybe my fourth DnD experience, and it still remains my favorite. Crossing my fingers that I can keep up.
I'll go make a gameplay post now :D See y'all in a couple days, when I'm all situated.
Hope things went well with your move!
It's funny that we hit 6 months and 1,000 posts on the exact same day. This was my first PBP game, too, and I'm still absolutely loving it.
Lein: Between your age, limited PBP experience, and limited D&D experience in general, I think you might end up being King DM within a few years. I can't believe you haven't been doing this for a decade already, just based on your posts.
Out of curiosity - what are you studying in university?
Why thank you :D Your flattery is appreciated.
It's going to be Music Education. I've wanted to be a teacher for awhile, and I'm really interested in learning more about music, so ah...why not both?
Thaven, I have to say that I laughed out loud at your post, and it reminded me of This Song
I think Dr Horrible and Thaven would have a lot to discuss regarding relationships...
Poor Thaven. :(
That's awesome Lein!
I agree with Raijinn, I was amazed to learn that your DM skills are already so impressive, to think you've DM-ed for a long time already.
I love Burahl's character and the story so far, I'm excited to see where you and the story will take us.
Hmm guys, perhaps a bit early, but should I take Disable Device next level, seeing as how we are a rogue short at the moment.
I meant to comment on this. I'd be willing to pick it up if you didn't want to. I have a pretty limited number of skill points per level, but I'm definitely fine with getting it since it's useful. You have the Class Skill bonus, but my dex is higher (and will be hitting 20 when we level), so it evens out about the same. (Though you also have higher perception than I do, and it probably fits you better.) The problem, though, is that because neither of us are built as trap-finders, we don't have the class abilities that allow us to disarm magical traps.
There's always multiclassing to Rogue for a level to gain trapfinding. Or Leadership.
You could always multiclass or retrain :D You could, say, retrain a trait into "Apprentice Locksmith" (I think that's the DD trait), that gives you DD as a class skill and a +1 bonus. Take one single rogue level just for the trapfinding.
I'd have to look up the specific retraining rules in my spare time, but I'm pretty sure that's possible.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm not sure that magical traps (or really, traps at all) come into play terribly much over the course of the campaign. There may be a few times where you are subject to dangers without a dedicated rogue, but Fredo or Raijinn can always use dispel magic on the magical traps in a pinch, right?
EDIT: Ninja'd.
True, but I would prefer to have someone who could at least try to disarm a normal trap. And my Dex is 17, so pretty good too.
Unless we get a new PC or Lexi returning, we might be better off with me taking Disable Device, my Skill points per level are a lot, perhaps I should take one level in rogue later on.
If I let Appraise and Knowledge Nature go for a level or two, I can get Disable Device to +11, seems decent.
Didn't want to clutter up the Gameplay thread, buuuuut, I don't think that's true. The reach is awesome, but I think it's +2 Strength and -2 Dex (and -1 Attack for size). I don't think it touches Con at all, and I'm almost positive that it doesn't give both +4 Str and +4 Con, amazing as that would be.
Huh. You're Right.
I've definitely misused that in the past XD
Okay cool I thought I was missing something, but I didn't think I gained rage out of it. So it would be taking -2 Attack for better reach, and being scary as f&%$, which still seems relatively reasonable.
I put Trinia's statblock in the campaign profile thread for your benefit and mine, guys.
Am I missing something or are you guys just busy?
Guess we were all missing something, I think we're ready to set out.
That's the second time this week that I've been told I should consider Leadership, haha. I've actually never taken it before - figuring it was one of those feats that creates a large amount of unnecessary work for the GM with having to add more balance and account for more characters and everything.
I'm pretty curious/excited to see how Trinia / Akiki / Nostrum are going to show up later.
Why do you have an alias that's the same as Thaven Jack, except with Papa Smurf instead?
Oh. Wait, why do I?
Whenever you type Smurf in the messageboards, it summons the icon of Papa! Behold the madness! Ia ia ftaghn Papa Smurf!
lol, didn't know that part yet. I'll be watching out with using the s-word then.
Or Smurfette, apparently.
Well, that still contains the base word, which would likely be enough to trigger the script.
This is a silly occurrence.
Yep! :)
Did you guys run away? XD
Kinda. I've been laid up with some kind of illness that I really, really hope isn't the flu.
I'm just recuperating from the flu myself, been a long 5 days to say the least.
Should have expected that. I got over a short bout with illness myself a bit ago, but most of the people that I know are pretty sick right now.
Get better :D