DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Sargavan Saga

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

That would make sense.

Now, tell me what skill to attach to my circlet of vast intelligence!

Ansha - yes and no. They're legally blocking the attempt by Stoic to register their own game name as a trademark. Or in other words denying Stoic exactly what they are preaching as so important to themselves.

Realistically they need to actually... you know... look at the game and realise that anyone except for blind and deaf muskrats wouldn't confuse them and focus on the actual match-three copycats that they're so concerned about.

The article AK linked has the hypocrisy in plain sight:
"We do not have any concerns that Banner Saga is trying build on our brand or our content."
"Applicant’s THE BANNER SAGA mark is confusingly and deceptively similar to Opposer’s previously used SAGA Marks"

I can think of three possible skills: Craft, Perception, Use Magic Device.

Kotaku had similar articles that showcased their hypocrisy with those statements as well, but they go a bit more in-depth into the reasons for the opposition filing. Here and here and here.

Craft (sculpture) would be good later, when I'm crafting stone golem Ansha-lookalikes. UMD and Perception could be useful sooner than that. Probably Perception more often than UMD though.

No one thinking that learning Azlant might be useful?

...That completely slipped my mind. I may need to drop the rank in Sense Motive for another in Linguistics. Though Ansha does have Comprehend Languages.

Travelling today. Should still be ok to get a post up in evening.

The Handy Haversack will be a good party utility item, consider it done. Also, its limited size means Qhude still gets to drag around his very large conquests. I know he would loathe to give that up.

Ansha. The headband comes with a language perhaps it was made for an antiquities dealer/archaeologist and so provides appraise and azlant?

Note the following is dependent on Jakob's return to active play. Are we kosher or is the jury still out?

Leveling Jakob the mensch.
+1 Bab, Fort save, & Cha. +8(+5+3)HP for 35 total.
Skills: Linguistics I(Azlant). Use Magic Device I. Acrobatics III.

New spells known: Barkskin(mystery), Cure moderate wounds(positive energy caster),
one new orision (Thinking either Detect Poison or Purify food and drink, thoughts?)

One new first level (human favored class): (Tap Inner Beauty. Hide from Undead, Burning Disarm? Hmmm Tap and Burning are from companion books. If those are banned along w/UC/UM my choices got easier.)

One second level spell known. (Summon Nature's Ally II or something more standard like Aid, Bull's Strength, or Hold person? Leaning towards the SNA but not sure if I want to focus the mensch that much on summoning. Thoughts?

Gads I am pants at choosing spells.....HELP!!!

I like the flavor of that, Jakob...but I can't see in the PRD where it says that headbands have a language associated with them in addition to the skill. I thought it might have been that way in 3.5, but the SRD doesn't say anything about it either.

Appraise wouldn't be a bad skill to tie to the headband though, even if it's less combat-relevant than Perception. But I think I'm going to go with Perception.

So, minor change to Ansha's level 4. No extra rank in Sense Motive, add one rank to Linguistics and take Azlant as a language known. No extra rank in Knowledge (geography), take a rank in Appraise instead.

Just so I don't forget, reposting the update block here:

Lvl 4 wizard – enchanter/manipulator

+1 BAB, +1 Will, +5hp, +1 CMB, +1 CMD
1 additional 2nd level spell per day, 1 additional 1st level spell per day
+1 stat to CHA

2 additional spells known:
Knock, Acid Arrow

+7 skill points (includes favored class bonus):
+1 Appraise
+1 Bluff
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge (Arcana)
+1 Knowledge (engineering)
+1 Linguistics (learn Azlant)
+1 Spellcraft

Equipment Shopping List:

Circlet of vast intelligence +2 (Perception) - 4000gp
Enchant bonded choker with circlet of persuasion enhancement - 4500/2 = 2250 x .5 = 3375gp
Hair ribbon of disguise - 1800gp
One scroll of Knock - 200gp

Total spent - 9375gp
Remainder - 125gp

Jakob, I don't know what Tap Inner Beauty or Burning Disarm do to help there. They both sound more interesting than Hide from Undead, and I had asked about picking up spells from Player Companion books a long time ago; at that point, the answer was yes.

Assume any PF source other than UM or UC is ok. If theres some special case where a Pathfinder Companion book has material that as changed slightly and put into UC and UM i'll review it on a case-by-case basis. My essential feeling on those two books is that when the (amazing) APG came out, it maxed me out on crunch. UM and UC have too much power creep, which is inevitable really, not a result of bad books in themselves.

As for 2nd level spells, I'd vote Bull's Strength. Qhude wouldn't benefit as much from it, since he is getting a belt of giant strength, but Jakob definitely would if he were in melee, as would Tebati or Kieran. Plus, when I take Craft Wondrous Item at level 5, you can supply the prerequisite spell for any belts of giant strength or other items that require Bull's Strength that I craft myself. But Summon Nature's Ally II is a good choice as well.

Headband and languages.
Yea found the FAQ!

Intelligence: If my Intelligence modifier increases, can I select another bonus language?

Yes. For example, if your Int is 13 and you reach level 4 and apply your ability score increase to Int, this increases your Int bonus from +1 to +2, which grants you another bonus language.
Technically, Int-enhancing items such as a headband of vast intelligence should grant a specific language (in the same way they do for skill ranks).

—Pathfinder Design Team, 06/05/13
bolding mine

Spells.
Burning disarm

Tap Inner Beauty

I knew I had seen something about that before but couldn't find it either. So no Linguistics change necessary.

I'll take the loan from F. Castor if he has the leeway in his spending. Seems more fitting coming from Kieran. I actually need ... 129 gp, 1 sp, to be exact. Leaves her temporarily penniless, but I assume the Sargavan government is covering room and board at the moment; and she hasn't actually used any of the supplies she bought in Eleder so doesn't need to replenish.

You know, I don't think I've ever been able to buy exactly what I wanted for a PC before? I either haven't had the money (a few of the games I'm in we're so far below WBL it's ridiculous) or haven't really had a clear idea of what I wanted and was just idly browsing through the magic item section.

DC 16 Spellcraft check to scribe Alarm to my spellbook (again): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Spells.

Burning disarm

Tap Inner Beauty

Well, Burning Disarm seems very druid-like and anti-civilization. Kind of fits Jakob's jaded attitude toward civilization, not to mention the flavor of a Nature oracle (Undo Artifice, etc.).

Shame Tap Inner Beauty isn't a sorc/wiz spell. Ansha would love it.

Normally, most player companion spells are fine. But I won't be allowing Burning Disarm. I have mechanical issues with that spell; an auto disarm on making the save is too strong for a level 1 spell. Honestly, most of the time as a PC i'd be rooting for the opponent to make his save.

Perhaps not in his flavor, but Jakob's strength, constitution and BAB make him a fine second class warrior. Divine Favor?

Tap Inner Beauty is fine.

It does seem like a better version of the 2nd-level druid spell Heat Metal.

Its not an arbitrary decision, i've had reservations about that spell for a very long time. Its just never come up before that a player of mine is considering it, I believe :).

Sorry I have had less than 5 minutes on my laptop since arriving at my fathers yesterday evening. Hoping to get some time tonight but i'm back in Southampton tomorrow at any rate if not.

I will note that Qhude has taken Superstition as a rage power, so once he gets riled casting spells on him will be hit and miss.

Note to self: Charm Person on Qhude before pissing him off, not after.

Heh - you're still in with a decent shot even after. His Will save is only +4 while raging ;)

Goes to +9 if he thinks she's a threat though. DC17 means he needs an eight.

*eagerly awaiting the reveal of our options for a boon*

It's almost like a belated Christmas.

Let us see now...

Funds
Reward: 9500 gp
Personal: 639 gp, 3 sp, 7 cp
Sell masterwork Aldori dueling sword: 160 gp
Sell dagger x2: 2 gp
Total: 10301 gp, 3 sp, 7 cp

Expenses
Buy +1 adamantine Aldori dueling sword: 5020 gp
Enchant +1 mithral shirt: 1000 gp
Buy alchemical silver dagger: 22 gp
Buy cold iron dagger: 4 gp
Gift to Tebati: 150 gp
Total: 6196 gp

Question: Are the cat burglar's boots allowed for purchase? And if yes, would adding further enchantments at some point (such as speed, with the appropriate costs involved) be allowed?

I'm almost disappointed there wasn't a downtime option for "attempt to seduce Kamishah," but I like the wax golem one. A couple of things:

1) Is it possible to make 'lesser' golems at a lower caster level and/or fewer spell requirements? Having Craft Construct at level 5 is awesome, for example, but if I can't actually use it to craft a construct until level 9, 12 or 14, then it's a bit less useful.

2) I made a last-minute change to my level-up at 4: craft (sculptures) instead of Appraise. Since I'm going to stick with the flavor text that Arturus taught Ansha the Azlanti language, I guess the circlet of vast intelligence will grant Thassilonian instead.

3) On a test for any given downtime activity that lists multiple possible rolls, would it change the outcome if we use one roll as opposed to another? For example, if I go with the Wax Golem research, I can choose to roll Spellcraft or Craft. If I roll Craft, would I get different bonuses, penalties, etc. than if I rolled Spellcraft?

Kieran- Cat Burglar Boots are ok. Assume you don't mean speed as in the weapon quality cus thats a whole new can of worms...

Ansha- Your welcome to pitch such an option as stated in the post itself.

1- I'd rather we stick to the CL requirements on the various golems. I would allow the Alternate Construction Rules for you to create animated objects listed here. I've definitely seen Golems you can make at CL7 while I had a browse today.

2. No problem.

3. I figured I would have to outline this but I had hoped it was implicit :). You must choose one or the other roll for the 3 tests required for each. The second benefit always applies to the second test- so for example, using the Golem trait, if your making Spellcraft checks you will have to take the Minor Creation benefit rather than the skipping Craft Construct prq's one.

I'd hate to pitch Ansha gleefully manipulating people and causing mayhem, then not use it; and I do awfully like the Craft Construct benefit, even with just animated objects and alternate construct creation rules at this point. Would crafting a construct in this fashion be at market price or half-price?

I am curious what benefits along those lines would be on par with the options you gave us, though.

Honestly, seducing a fine cook isn't going to grant you much of a mechanical boon :P. Maybe you get +2 on profession checks to write your next cookbook by stealing his recipes.

I'd allow constructs as RAW, half price.

That's why I thought about expanding it to just seducing and manipulating everyone rather than just Kamishah. Suggestion as a 2nd-level spell or a +2 bonus to Bluff or something.

But I'm content with the Wax Golem bit.

I'll have a downtime post up later today - am I right in assuming you'll use the outcomes of our rolls to assist in narration of the results?

Needless to say that Qhude will be cracking heads ;)

Kieran- Cat Burglar Boots are ok. Assume you don't mean speed as in the weapon quality cus thats a whole new can of worms...

Oh, goodness no! Speed as in boots of speed.

In that case, Kieran will also be purchasing a pair of cat burglar's boots for 2000 gp, which he will at some point -much further- down the road be upgrading into cat burglar's boots of speed. :-)

Well... if the rolls do have a tangible effect upon the outcome of the downtimes activity - either Qhude or Albert's squad is in trouble...

Thankfully Qhude had high bonuses to what he is doing. But yes, the rolls affect the outcomes very tangibly.

That's unless you're using natural 1 = fail...

Nope. Working off the basis of an average of the three rolls. So it wasn't too swingy based on a good or bad roll :P.

That's why I thought about expanding it to just seducing and manipulating everyone rather than just Kamishah. Suggestion as a 2nd-level spell or a +2 bonus to Bluff or something.

But I'm content with the Wax Golem bit.

... I still think Ansha should be a Sorceress :P.

... I still think Ansha should be a Sorceress :P.

Enchanters are kind of a mix of the two anyway, just keeping the wizard's prepared casting (which I prefer). If I remember right, back in AD&D 2nd edition, to be a specialist wizard in the enchantment/charm school, you had to have a minimum Charisma of 16 or something, in addition to a high Intelligence.

If you have time to refute my teasing, wheres your IC post? ;)

I'm working on it! I actually came up with an outline post like Qhude's, but want to turn it into a montage post like the other level-ups. Also getting distracted by my Twitter feed.

Very nice!

N'bellocq's particular task was the hardest to reward in some manner for the extremely high rolls. Still pondering that one at the moment :).

*pokes at thread with stick*

I am trying to decide between the Stealth and the Disable Device options myself. Probably going with the former frankly, which is also a way to spend some buddy time with N'bellocq in the jungle.

Fair enough, although it should be noted that you probably won't get any additional information or advantage other than your boon for that one, as N'bellocq aced it so thoroughly.

Jakob, Tebati, still with us?

I'm here; just haven't had the time to type up a montage post. Hopefully I'll have some free time this afternoon. I've been barely keeping up with my own game these last few days.

On second thought, I think I will go with the Disable Device option after all. The more information we manage to get the better I should think, right? :-)

I will try to write up a post later on. These last few days have been a bit on the busy side.

I'm here; just haven't had the time to type up a montage post. Hopefully I'll have some free time this afternoon. I've been barely keeping up with my own game these last few days.

Fair enough, you were unusually quiet recently so I got worried :P.

Same here . Working on post now.

Divine favor is a good choice.

Spells
orison: Purify food and drink. Maybe not the best choice but it fits the nature theme.

First: Divine Favor. Hey with this I'm full bab. Nifty

Second: Summon Nature's Ally II. It was this or Divine trident and SNA won the toss.

Purchases.

Selling
Mithral chain shirt
Long Spear

Total funds {359+9500(Reward)+550(shirt)+2.5(spear)}10447.5

Purchases
Elven chain 5150
Headband of alluring charisma +2 4000
2 potions of Mage Armor 100
Masterwork Long Spear 305
Masterwork Light Crossbow 335
Potion of Lesser Restoration 300
Spent
Remaining 257.5g