Remind me not to make Doran mad in a dark alley. The makaruhas 3 hit points now. Somebody finish it!
Seriously, before it decides to hit Doran back! Not likely to make it through that without some serious hero point expenditure.
Remind me not to make Doran mad in a dark alley. The makaruhas 3 hit points now. Somebody finish it!
Well, I'd go, but it's not my turn :)
Anyone can go in any order this round, so do fry the beastie, will ya? ;-)
Not with a to hit roll like what I just did. Sorry folks
If anyone wants to rebuild any aspect of their character, you can do so when you level up to level 4 thanks to the psychic trauma of the makaru's death.
Thanks for this clever solution, Barcas. I'm still thinking of going Bard, will take a closer look at it to be sure.
Vrunyar - I'll definitely be getting rid of Precise Strike, given this opportunity, hope that's okay with you.
Level 4
HP +6 (4+2 for Con)
BAB +1
+1 Will Save
+1 CHA for 4th level
Spells, Dropping Shield, replacing with Color Spray, gaining new cantrip (read magic), and new 2nd Level spell :Scare
Skill: +1 to Diplomacy, +1 to Knowledge Arcana, +1 Spellcraft, +1 Swim, +1 Use Magic Device
Fighter (Weapon Master) 1/Ranger (Skirmisher) 2 -> Fighter (Weapon Master) 2/Ranger (Skirmisher) 2
Saves: +1 Fortitude
Hit Points: +8 (+6 fighter, +1 CON, +1 Toughness)
Base Attack: +1
Feats: +1 bonus fighter feat - Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Wakizashi)
Skills: +4 skill ranks - Acrobatics, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth
Class Features: Fighter (Weapon Master) - Weapon Guard +1
Attribute Increase: +1 Dexterity
Hero Points: +1
Aspect Rebuilt: Chosen Weapon (Short sword) -> Chosen Weapon (Wakizashi)
First chance he gets, Aaron will have his short swords reforged into a more curved form (I think such a thing is possible, with the appropriate cost of course, but if not, he will be commissioning new ones then), similar but not identical to the ones he saw in the most prevalent of the visions that were caused by the makaru's death. The end result is going to be a shorter and more slender version of the classic scimitar (basically a pair of refluffed wakizashis). They will look like so: Click me!
All of the above, DM permitting of course.
Working on leveling Doran, am going Sea Singer Bard as planned.
For first level spells, I will definitely take Cure Light Wounds, since we're so low on healing. I'm considering a few others and would value input in the selection:
Grease - useful battlefield control
Sleep - ditto, less useful as we get higher level
Saving Finale - great for those moments where the makuru is about to take over your brain
Vanish - very handy for Doran's rogue-ish side
Your thoughts?
Ooo. I like them all. CLW is definitely a hellyeah with this group.
After that, I think I'd go for Vanish (It just fits nicely) and Saving Finale
but none of your selections suck
Aaron is leveled up.
Ranger levels have been traded for slayer levels; Wild Empathy is gone, Track stays as is, Favored Enemy gives its place to Favored Target and Combat Style (Two-Weapon Combat) gives its place to Slayer Talent (Ranger Combat Style (Two-Weapon Combat)). Other than that, not much else changes; hit points, saves, base attack, feats and total skill ranks, as well as their distribution, remain the same. The rest of the leveling up is as in my last post.
Spells look handy, Doran. Grease is always useful and vanish should indeed see much use in combination with Doran's sneak attacks.
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Doran, I play a wizard in DM Barcas's other game. I would mention that you consider the spell silent image. It is useful from level 1-20 and only allows a save when directly interacted with. If you need to hide you can create the illusion of some crates overtop of you. You can put a wall over a door, or a floor over a pit. Seriously, it's an amazing spell. Timely inspiration is another good one. It's an immediate action and allows you to help others turn a close fail into a success.
Hmmm, some interesting ideas there, John. I think I may pick up that spell, but later on, since it seems a bit of a stretch for Doran to suddenly be able to conjure up all kinds of illusions.
I think with that in mind, I'll pick the spell that fits best thematically, which is vanish - and everyone's comments above will figure into my later spell choices.
Use it to reveal your betrayal to Plugg!
Use it to reveal your betrayal to Plugg!
I like it!
Appreciate it. Thanks.
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Ranger (Freebooter) 3 -> Ranger (Freebooter) 4
Saves: +1 Fortitude / + 1 Reflex
Hit Points: +8 (+6 Ranger, +2 CON, +1 Favored Class)
Base Attack: +1
Skills: +8 skill ranks - Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Perception, Profession (Sailor), Knowledge (Geography), Knowledge (Religion), Stealth, Intimidate.
Class Features: Ranger (Freebooter) - Freebooter Bond (Move Action: All allies gain an additional +2 to hit when flanking). 1st level spell.
Attribute Increase: +1 Strength
Hero Points: +1
Aspect Rebuilt: Trait (Lover of Law) -> Trait (Birthmark), Feat (Catch Off Guard) -> (Quick Draw), Feat (Two Weapon Fighting) -> (Cleave).
Wyn, thanks for the time you did spend in the game. It was a pleasure. I hope our paths cross on the boards sometime in the future.
In the process of leveling up to 4th level. Decisions, decisions.
Doran, of course it’s okay with me that you rid yourself of Precise Strike. Even if it wasn’t okay, I’d still want you to play your character as you see fit.
Question to the group: How much were you depending on Vrunyar taking Cure Moderate Wounds this level? Do you think we can manage with Doran’s CLWs, the wand, and Vrunyar’s CLW? Plus Heal skill checks for stabilization. The reason I ask is due to the following:
I don’t see anything in the descriptions of Bear’s Endurance (for example) and the alchemist ability mutagen that states they don’t stack. Would it be possible to have Vrunyar take a mutagen (raise his con +4) and then Bear’s Endurance (another Con +4)? That’d be a 22 Con for 1 minute/level. With an increase of 4 hp/level that’s 16 hp (at level 4). Once the extract expired, Vrunyar’s Con would be 18 for 36 minutes. So still some extra hp and a bonus to Fort saves. Similarly with Bull’s Strength, Vrunyar’s effective score would be 22 for 4 minutes. That’s +6 to hit and damage! Last consideration is enhancing Dexterity. +6 to AC and +6 to hit on ranged attacks.
Just curious if anyone has an opinion about this.
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Vrun,
The effects from your mutagen stack with the bears endurance since they are two different types of bonus's. One thing to note however is that the hit points gained from such spells are deducted when the spells expire. So you may gain +16HP but they don't work like temporary hit points in that the damage is deducted from them first. Healing wise, I think we are good with cure light wounds.
Alchemical and enhancement bonuses stack.
I would agree, we can make it just fine with CLW, Vrun. Sounds like some fun bonuses to mess around with.
I'm wrestling a bit with Doran's leveling up, trying to decide how big a change to make given the opportunity. I'll be going bard for sure, and like the idea of sticking with rogue - but I'm worried from a tactical standpoint that I'll run into trouble. In terms of doing damage, Doran will be most effective in melee, but that means he may end up spellcasting a lot in melee, which could be problematic.
I could make him more of a ranged build, perhaps reflecting the idea that the close encounter with the makaru made him reluctant to get up close and personal in combat like that again. But I don't really like basing a character story on fear in that way, and he'd obviously do less damage then he can do with sneak attack.
I don't have a particular well-articulated question about this, but I'm interested in any thoughts you all have.
That's an interesting idea, John, but it'd be a good deal harder to reliably get the sneak attack damage, right?
It's hard to get Sneak Attack with thrown weapons. I say just rely on 5' steps for spellcasting. Don't forget that you did like 45-50 damage to the makaru.
Don't forget that you did like 45-50 damage to the makaru.
That's exactly why this is a hard decision, because he's so effective with his sneak attack damage. I think I'll stick with it - if he can 5-foot step and cast vanish or unwitting ally (a spell I've never had for any of my characters, but which seems very suitable here) - and then 5-foot back in and get in a full attack with sneak attack, he can be very effective - all while keeping up his Inspire Courage for the party.
Barcas - Final question (I think...) as I level up Doran: since I'm now looking at going Bard for the duration, can I change my favored class to Bard?
Sounds good to me. What sort of bard? Singing bard? Fiddlin' bard? Rhetorical bard?
Sea Singer Bard, singin' sea shanties and blowing on a harmonica for accompaniment.
Looking forward to getting my parrot when we level up again!
Okay, Doran is now leveled up (and no, I haven't been working on it this entire time!). I can't give the full accounting of what changed, as it got a little confusing tracking changes in skills and such with the favored class change and all, but I can say it all checks out in Hero Lab and give the highlights:
Picked up a level of Sea Singer Bard and associated spells and abilities. Most important one for the group is likely to be Inspire Courage, which I can do 6 rounds/day.
I dropped Precise Strike and picked up Lingering Performance, so my 6 rds/day can be extended to 18 rds/day if I play it carefully.
Thanks for the input concerning spells. John, a good point about the hp from Bear’s Endurance. I think I’ll go with [b]Bull’s Strength[/i] and a strength enhancing mutagen. If nothing else, the strength mutagen will help Vrunyar swim.
Doran, I think you’ll be fine using daggers in melee and ranged. As long as the rest of us can provide you with flanking. (Which may be an argument for Vrunyar learning Cat’s Grace for a higher AC bonus). When you do get a familiar, I suggest getting one touch spell the parrot could deliver. I play a wizard in another game with a raven familiar. I learned lacking an offensive touch spell can be a detriment in many situations.
As for languages, would Aquan be available from the psychic hurricane our characters experienced? What are the more popular languages in this part of the world? Rahadoumi, Chellish, and Polyglot?
As far as I know, Chellish is not considered a separate language, not anymore anyway.
Aquan is fine, and Chelish is not a separate language. I don't think Rahadoum has a separate language either.
Here are the details concerning Vrunyar’s new alchemy level.
+1 increase to DEX (13 -> 14)
+1 BAB
+1 Fort +1 Reflex +0 Will
Discovery: Preserve Organs
1 2nd level extract Bull’s Strength
Skills: six points: Swim, Climb, Heal, Use Magic Device, Linguistics (aquan), Linguistics (polyglot)
hp +8 (5 class + 2 Con + 1 favored class)
retrain Precise Strike to Extra Discovery (Spontaneous Healing)
You guys seem much tougher at level 3. I'm going to have to step things up to make Plugg/Scourge more of a threat.
Well, we are down one person more than we hoped we would be.
Ok so I decided to go with Fighter(archer)lvl 2 and took deadly aim to help with my ranged damage.
+1 to dex = 19
+1 to Acrobatics, Prof Sailor, Stealth, and Escape Artist
Sorry for the delay. I got hit with a kidnapping Wednesday night. I will get a post up tomorrow, hopefully.
Another Dream sequence? Mmm...
Okay, sorry for the delay. I had originally had Ollivor's dragonblood block the worst of the psychic stuff so was a bit at a loss for what dream sequence to go with this time. Hopefully this one works :)
I'm tempted to use a hero point to reroll that diplomacy check. Lately it seems a lot of my characters can't make a diplomacy check to save their lives. Olli has a +11...so naturally he rolls a one? Seriously? I hope I'm not driving Crimson to the opposing side with #$#$ rolls like that.
Crimson's Diplomacy DC is near 0.
Well, good to know I can't make it worse. Whew
Great dream post, Ollivor! I really enjoyed it.
I'm pretty busy the next couple of days, not likely to have time to craft anything so elaborate, so feel free to move on with the story and I'll get something up when I can.
Great dream post, Ollivor! I really enjoyed it.
I'm pretty busy the next couple of days, not likely to have time to craft anything so elaborate, so feel free to move on with the story and I'll get something up when I can.
Thanks. Hope things settle for you soon
Some good dreams you all are having. Some interesting stuff.