My reasoning: The government has competent, skilled people. They have hundreds of them. Many are higher level than we are so it is not a lack of skill or ability that is driving this whole 'trials' farce. So what are they really looking for? Are they looking for folks who can do a specific job by following clear guidelines? No, they have the army for that. So they are not looking for ability and they are not looking for folks who follow orders. Two choices remain. They are looking for patsies or they are looking for folks who can think on the fly and change the conditions they are put under.
I'm only going to comment on this bit- remember Golarion is generally a low level world. And the Sargavan military is a very small force, desperately trying to hold on to Kalabuto, ill-equipped by a government known to have serious financial strife and vastly outnumbered by Mwangi uprisings.
My reasoning: The government has competent, skilled people. They have hundreds of them. Many are higher level than we are so it is not a lack of skill or ability that is driving this whole 'trials' farce. So what are they really looking for? Are they looking for folks who can do a specific job by following clear guidelines? No, they have the army for that. So they are not looking for ability and they are not looking for folks who follow orders. Two choices remain. They are looking for patsies or they are looking for folks who can think on the fly and change the conditions they are put under.
I'm only going to comment on this bit- remember Golarion is generally a low level world. And the Sargavan military is a very small force, desperately trying to hold on to Kalabuto, ill-equipped by a government known to have serious financial strife and vastly outnumbered by Mwangi uprisings.
Granted but I expect they could muster a squad or four of third level folks. Nothing too big but more powerful than a group of first levels. At least that is the assumption I was operating under. If it really is a situation where folks with class levels are that rare then my logic becomes rather suspect... oh dear.
Heh, anything above a 1st level warrior in the army is pretty much less than 3% of it.
People with adventuring classes make up less than 1% of a population (at least it worked out that way in 3.5). A career soldier might only be a 2nd level warrior.
Heh, anything above a 1st level warrior in the army is pretty much less than 3% of it.
People with adventuring classes make up less than 1% of a population (at least it worked out that way in 3.5). A career soldier might only be a 2nd level warrior.
Oh dear.... I was going off the GMG that lists a city guard as a warrior 3. Not amazing but buffer than first levels. Oh well they say egg is good for your face.
Also just realized my long post could be read as angry or snarky. It is not intended as such.
I was away from the keyboard most of the day, but I just wanted to chime in with the general chorus that I have no problem with Jakob (and Tebati honestly doesn't have much of one, either; she sees Ansha and Kieran as the most useless members of the party at this point). I don't think either of us (player or character) really have much of a clue as to his motivation or what makes him tick, but that's as it should be when we're basically a bunch of strangers trying to get along.
Tebati has a great deal of sympathy for his compassionate impulses. I think that, left to her own devices, she would share his alignment, but she has been trained up as a cleric of a CN deity. She's actually struggling for more detachment, seeing compassion as a character flaw to be stifled. That's why her mentor sent her away from the NG confines of Nantambu, to get out into a harsher world and train herself to be as pitiless as Shimye-Magalla herself.
And then there's the way she tends to take things at face-value, especially across the culture gap from the colonials. If they say they are looking for people to win trials of endurance, athleticism, etc., she believes them. It makes no sense to her when you try to tell her the Sargavans are looking for people to not do what they've said they want them to.
I do think we have a great group of players here and if ever a problem comes up i'd much rather we all chat about it rather than someone thinks of leaving- my principle goal is to provide a great game that is fun for you and that I can be proud of running.
I'm just waiting to see if Jakob does anything heroic (or crazy :P ) before you get back to the harbour...
I do think we have a great group of players here and if ever a problem comes up i'd much rather we all chat about it rather than someone thinks of leaving- my principle goal is to provide a great game that is fun for you and that I can be proud of running.
I'm just waiting to see if Jakob does anything heroic (or crazy :P ) before you get back to the harbour...
This is where I get stuck. Jakob would clearly jump in. The boat is only about 420 feet from the wreck. (Boat moves about 40' / round. 10 rounds to remove armor. Pythagorean gives 412'.) Swimming at 15 a round that means 28 unskilled checks. Given that Jakob has only a +3 swim he is likely to fail a number of checks. I doubt he will drown but it will bog down the game.
Well I can't see a way not to try a rescue. So apologies in advance. j
I see this playing out as Jakob desperately swims towards the Bounty Hunters and other victims while the party continues to sail back to harbour.
Not that theres anything wrong with that... the image just makes me smile.
I see this playing out as Jakob desperately swims towards the Bounty Hunters and other victims while the party continues to sail back to harbour.
Not that theres anything wrong with that... the image just makes me smile.
Glad I can provide a smile. First ten checks posted 105'@DC 10, 90'@DC 15.
Second minute and Jakob is still breathing more air than water. 210 @DC10. 165 @ DC15.
Third minute. That was a bit close.
285 feet at DC10
210 feet at DC 15
Pulling the rest of the checks to this thread, no need to clutter the main thread. I expect I am out of sight of the boat now anyway.
Fourth Minute
Better that time.
360 Feet at dc 10
270 feet at dc 15
Fifth minute
Must have a tailwind.
455 feet at DC 10 Point reached, I think.
355 at DC 15
Sixth minute
And back to the headwind
395 feet at DC 15
545 feet at DC 10, just tracking this for personal interest at this point.
Seventh minute, this should be the end.
And it almost was.
455 feet at dc 15 Boat site most likely reached.
620 feet at dc 10.
Awaiting further chances to do something heroic and/or stupid.
~Jakob
Jakob - could you spoiler the wall of rolls please?
Reposting in case Jakob misses the edit or the edit bug hits us in the IC.
Reposting in case Jakob misses the edit or the edit bug hits us in the IC.
** spoiler omitted **
Got it. Has the edit bug been fixed?
Nope.
Ansha remains quiet upon the party's arrival at the dock, eyeing the Mwangi general appraisingly as he approaches. Quiet throughout the exchange, her lips remain pursed and she stares into a fixed point in space--evidently, thinking.
What sort of politics are these pirates playing at? What are they after...?
Worth pointing out that, as far as we knew, no one outside the organizers even knew that there would be a naval battle involved. Did someone on the inside tell the pirates ahead of time, or did the swashbucklers have a way to communicate with their ship?
Tebati would come up with that eventually with her 13 Int, but no reason why it wouldn't occur to Ansha with her 18 Int first.
The thought had occurred to Ansha a page or so ago, when the Shackles galley first showed up. Though, she only vocalized her wonder about the timing of the galley's arrival, since everyone thought the naval battle was going to be on the artificial lake. It is something Ansha should probably bring up to the Great General.
There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea.-Attributed to Anacharsis, 6th Century BC
I like that quotation. Sort of proto-Schrodinger's Cat. :)
There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea.-Attributed to Anacharsis, 6th Century BCI like that quotation. Sort of proto-Schrodinger's Cat. :)
I am glad you like it. It is one of my favorites as well.
I am really enjoying tracking down quotes to use as spoiler covers. If you are reading along or if you go back after this all explodes in death and blood and Senate hearings I hope you will see that I am trying to relate the quote to what is happening to Jakob. It is a fun little game.
I thought maybe we'd end up each taking over one of the captured NPCs and running a parallel thread of "escape from pirates on the high seas" with Jakob. Come on, AK, you know you really want to run another game. ;)
I have enough games on my plate thanks :)
If I was to run another, it would be a different system. Perhaps the Game of Thrones RP system out recently...
And again HUGE apologies for eating so much face-time/slowing things down. I am really looking forward to either:
a. reuniting with the party in triumph or being purchased by you all for pocket change in the slave mart.
b. dying horribly and if you all will have me, starting afresh with a new not-as-stupidly-heroic character.
Choice a is my preferred option of course.
I thank you for your continued forbearance
~Will aka Jakob
Truth be told your not really slowing things down, i've just been super busy again with work :/
Truth be told your not really slowing things down, i've just been super busy again with work :/
In thak case let The Pirates! In an adventure with Jakob continue!
And I hope things level off at work.
btw. read the books under the link. They are amazingly funny.
In thak case let The Pirates! In an adventure with Jakob continue!And I hope things level off at work.
btw. read the books under the link. They are amazingly funny.
Haven't heard of those, but I'm rather fond of this one.
In thak case let The Pirates! In an adventure with Jakob continue!And I hope things level off at work.
btw. read the books under the link. They are amazingly funny.
Haven't heard of those, but I'm rather fond of this one.
** spoiler omitted **
Can't go far wrong with dear departed George.
In thak case let The Pirates! In an adventure with Jakob continue!And I hope things level off at work.
btw. read the books under the link. They are amazingly funny.
Haven't heard of those, but I'm rather fond of this one.
** spoiler omitted **
Can't go far wrong with dear departed George.
I'm about half-way through the Flashman series. Learning quite a bit of history along the way, too. We got astonishingly little European history after the Pilgrims left in school. Apparently the continent ceased being important at that point.
To appease Ansha's chiding, Qhude picks out a young man close within the crowd and proffers a disturbing smile that hints of violence.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
As the man shirks away from Qhude's gaze, he turns back to Ansha and dispassionately adds "It seems the antelope prefer to watch the lion when he does not focus his attention upon them...."
And who says that Qhude has no sense of humor?
;) - it's just mostly lost in translation...
I can only say Qhude! Qhude! Qhude! Qhude!
That was gold man, pure gold.
@AK- My palms were actually sweating with nervousness as I typed in the last couple of posts. Well played sir. I would take my hat off to you but my hands are full at he moment.
~will
1= Aron
2= Wander Weir
3= DM Barcas
Good to know who i'll be harassing to join us if we decide on a 7th again...
I thought maybe we'd end up each taking over one of the captured NPCs and running a parallel thread of "escape from pirates on the high seas" with Jakob. Come on, AK, you know you really want to run another game. ;)
I was just thinking: what happened to the competitors was pretty much the beginning of the Skull & Shackles AP. Just put it on hold until February and pick up with book one. :)
An excellent idea
Yes, after a full day of Trials, I imagine most of us could use a shower and a change of clothes. They said we have "rooms"; maybe there will be provisions for us to look a little more presentable. I imagine Ansha and Kieran, at least, would appreciate them. I don't know if they'll coax Qhude into the Sargavan equivalent of white tie, though. :)
What is this 'show-er' of which you speak? More white-man's devilry no doubt!
Yes, after a full day of Trials, I imagine most of us could use a shower and a change of clothes. They said we have "rooms"; maybe there will be provisions for us to look a little more presentable. I imagine Ansha and Kieran, at least, would appreciate them. I don't know if they'll coax Qhude into the Sargavan equivalent of white tie, though. :)
The nice thing about Ansha's situation is that cantrips are infinite--and prestidigitation can clean (or soil). On a similar note, Ansha has an elven noble's outfit buried in her pack...I wonder if prestidigitation removes wrinkles.
I'd say it can sort wrinkles, after all its a Bard spell too and they have to look their best...
I'm not really excited about Skull and Shackles. No intention of running it.
I'm not really excited about Skull and Shackles. No intention of running it.
That was my initial reaction, but when I mentioned it to my RL group, they got all excited so it may well be the next AP I run. Of course, we're in our 3rd year (and 5th book) of Second Darkness still so we have to finish that up first.
@ Qhude Those wouldn't be the first pair of pants from Mark's characters that ended up (gratefully) being burned. :P
@ Meowzebub - Dibbets still holds fast to his festy piss-stained rags. It were the shirt that went up in flames when the mug went down :P
Though on recollection I wonder it the prevalence of dirty laundry is some latent message from my subconscious.....
I'd say it can sort wrinkles, after all its a Bard spell too and they have to look their best...
Does it dry wet hair, too? The thought occurred to me that knee-length hair on a six-foot-tall woman is going to take forever to dry by itself.
Well one of the cantrips it is based on was called "clean" and called out that it worked on hair. But that was WAYYYYYYY back in the day so things might have changed.
Yeah, the description of Prestidigitation still says that it can clean items (presumably, this means hair too)...but does drying something of water count as cleaning it? I could see "cleaning" making something dry if it were like, soaked in blood...but not necessarily if it were water.
I think you'd need gust of wind. Or horrid wilting. :)
Yeah, the description of Prestidigitation still says that it can clean items (presumably, this means hair too)...but does drying something of water count as cleaning it? I could see "cleaning" making something dry if it were like, soaked in blood...but not necessarily if it were water.
Well just change your shampoo!
I can think of only one time whrere a player actually used a cantrip. My Elven MU/T was doing hide in plain sight ploy by swapping a fake tira for the real one. I was spotted and had to run for it. The reversed cantrip 'tangle' cast on my own hair held the loot in place when i had to dive for the moat.
I think you'd need gust of wind. Or horrid wilting. :)
D: I don't think Ansha would go for the latter at all!
I think you'd need gust of wind. Or horrid wilting. :)D: I don't think Ansha would go for the latter at all!
Yeah the Gust would totally give you 80's hair.
I think you'd need gust of wind. Or horrid wilting. :)D: I don't think Ansha would go for the latter at all!Yeah the Gust would totally give you 80's hair.
This sounds sort of like a "cake...or DEATH?" situation.
A little down the road but I wanted to make this ruling clear. Here is the 5th level brutal pugilist ability that replaces improved uncanny dodge. I have bolded the section I am editing out-
Improved Savage Grapple (Ex)
At 5th level, the brutal pugilist takes no penalties to Dexterity, attack rolls, and combat maneuver checks when she has the grappled condition. She also is treated as one size larger than her actual size when determining whether she can grapple or be grappled by another creature.
That second perk is utterly irrelevant. A tiny creature can grapple a colossal creature, RAW. The developers clearly forgot this and it was supposed to be a fairly significant bonus. Heres my replacement to that sentence, again in bold.
Improved Savage Grapple (Ex)
At 5th level, the brutal pugilist takes no penalties to Dexterity, attack rolls, and combat maneuver checks when she has the grappled condition. She may also make attacks of opportunity against targets other than the creature that is grappled, when she is the controlling grappler.
These attacks of opportunity are still made at the -2 penalty that the grappled condition gives, but gives a nice unique benefit in lieu of the completely irrelevant one.
I thought that the bolded section referred to monster abilities like:
Grab (Ex) If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Unless otherwise noted, grab works only against opponents at least one size category smaller than the creature.
Meaning that I'd be treated as large for those type clauses?
I don't have any issues with it the other way you propose though either.
I've looked around the issue and the original thread's FAQ says its been answered in the errata- except it hasn't.
We could have you treated as one size larger for Grab if you like but thats a really minor and incredibly situational bonus.
Essentially, the dev was in 3.5 mode when he wrote the ability...
I'm happy with your way AK. As you say, the treat as larger for grab ability wouldn't really come up that often.
Fingers crossed we can wrap up this bout quickly so we can keep on chugging forwards :)
Bottom line: it reads differently in the second printing, even though the errata PDF doesn't list a change. My APG says the same thing as the Paizo PRD.
Improved Savage Grapple (Ex): At 5th level, the brutal pugilist takes no penalties to Dexterity, attack rolls, and combat maneuver checks when she has the grappled condition. She also is treated as one size larger than her actual size when determining whether she can be grappled using the grab ability or swallowed by another creature. This ability replaces improved uncanny dodge.
From the top: I was just re-reading the threads looking for the group descriptions, since I've forgotten who the Taldan's Elven companion would be, and stumbled across this. I'm incurably curious, so I pulled out my book, where I found different wording. Then I checked the errata PDF, and it wasn't in there. Next I checked the d20pfsrd, and they had your wording. Finally, I checked the Paizo PRD, where I found the same wording as my book. So, I figured I'd pipe up and share what I'd learned.
Okay, looks like it's the wizard who got himself disqualified in the chase scene. Thought so, just wasn't sure.