Not really relevant, but personally, I hate the take 10/20 rules so much, even as a PC I refuse to use them.
I realize that wasn't Shabbezz's reason, but as soon as Zaph asked, my first thought was that's why I wouldn't have taken 10.
I frequently forget to use the take 10 and 20 rules too, but when you've got a character who can't fail if they take their time and focus -- like what a wizard is generally expected to be like -- it's ludicrous to roll something as potentially swingy as a d20 to resolve those tasks.
I get why people like it. I just prefer to use the swingyness of a system built around using polyhedral random number generators to determine success or failure in almost every other aspect of the game. I just feel like the rule was created to account for poor adventure design (can't progress the story due to reliance on a single die roll), or people not liking that they can fail at something they are supposed to be specialists at doing.
Even the most powerful fighter can roll a 1 on an attack. Why do skill-based classes get to take the safe average on most skills? The differing application of effort allowing for either a 1-20, or flat 10 just raises my hackles.
Right, the powerful fighter can roll a 1, usually because what he's attacking is still trying to not get hit. A fence doesn't usually dodge the paintbrush. Take your time, and it's going to get painted in a relatively decent fashion.
See, that's just faulty reasoning though. The fact that the base AC is 10 and modified based off dex, armor, etc. defines how the enemy is opposing the attack. Not because a die roll. Just like the difficulty of a task is set based on factors associated with how difficult it should be. There isn't a DC for painting a fence, because it is minor enough to not warrant one. A lock does have a DC, as does knowledge, and spellcraft. That is because these skills are expected to be as much of a challenge to those with skills as a combat is to those built to attack. The set DC's is how they 'actively' oppose succeeding against them.
As such, I just feel that anything built to be based off a die roll... should require a die roll. Again, this is just my preference, and not Bigrin's so it doesn't affect us, beyond my choice not to use them.
There's something about the idea, that if I try my hardest, I range from 1-20, but if I just take my time, I succeed at maintaining average. Even though time is not the factor with take 10, as there is no time requirement. Maybe it's focus, but again, focus doesn't make sense, in that I can do better (11-20) without focusing. I can get take 20, because it's written under the assumption that you get one of each number 1-20, through repeated trial and error.
To me, it was simply Paizo's attempt at making crafting worthwhile, and boosting some of the "softer" skills (like appraise) that rarely got love in 3.5. In fact, the only people I know who took crafting skills in 3.5 were those out to make huge savings on making their own magic items with all kinds of restrictions to reduce the cost.
I have no problems with the take 10 mechanic, as it reflects my experience with everyday life. I have an employee, who can range between abominable and stellar on any given task when the pressure is on. Given no pressure, he is a steady state average. I have noticed this in a lot of employees at the various jobs I have worked at.
All of that aside, as Angelica pointed out, we are using them in my games, so use them if you want to. If not, don't (But no crying that the dice roller hates you, either)
Sorry I have been quiet the last few days. My phone which is my only form of posting at work died, back up now though.
How did I let a character get onto a boat without buying a sponge potion of touch of the sea... BAD POWERGAMER! NO COOKIE! 52g for SAFETY IN WATER... ugh.
Internet is down for 2 days. Game is on hold until I can get back up and running.
FYI - I will be travelling tomorrow through Thursday. I may be able to post, but I may not. Please keep the game going, and I will try and bump things along when I can.
I am back now, and will get back to our regularly scheduled program.
Are we agreed that we're running/leaving the troglodytes alone? (We seem to have the initiative as far as going first, so I want to confirm before choosing to run or attack.)
Actually, since they've chosen to be aggressive first and I can now see that there's only five of them, I'm not opposed to attacking.
Would that be an evil act? They're probably evil anyway, but we were the ones bothering them in the first place, and they only want to drive us away. Harbug and Shabbezz are neutral and can probably get away with it, but everyone else in the party is good.
Anyway, I'll go with the group. Everybody vote now, fight or run; majority wins, then we'll take action (or, if that takes too long, somebody act and everyone will follow their lead. The important thing is that we act collectively).
I choose fight.
I suggest Flee
Let them think they drove us off (we were leaving anyways), and maybe they will either underestimate us if we return, or leave us alone if we just run off.
Yeah, not really feeling like storming into the troglodyte's den.
Well that's majority, then. Looks like we're running away.
Are we all in agreement to move on to the boggards? It's been pretty quiet.
I am
Hi, ho, hi ho, to the boggards we will go
Works for me!
FYI - I will be travelling from Thursday through Wednesday. I doubt I'll be able to post at all, but I may be able to check in occasionally. Please RP in my absence and be patient.
Well, that partly coincides with a weekend trip coming up for me where I'll be out of contact from Friday through Sunday.
That's all right, I've got a full weekend ahead anyway. Have a good trip.
Gang, I'm going on a mini retreat to the mountains this weekend and will be offline until Monday. Please bear with me and bot me if necessary.
Sorry, would be out of character not too.
Harbug feels the same... and sort of wants to do it himself =p
Ooh, reference your comment in gameplay DM Bigrin, then if I am high enough in the order I get sneak attack damage which I can and will convert into an Intimidate check to demoralise (Bravado's blade). Feel free to roll (at +8) when you roll initiative, so it doesn't slow things down.
I will be traveling from Sunday through Friday this week. I will have internet access in the early morning and late evening, so I should be able to post daily. If not, hang in there, and make some RP noises.
Sorry my posting rate may be down a little for the next couple of weeks as I get married on the 30th and there is lots to do! I will try to keep my hand in, but bot me if needed.
Happy marriage! Congratugiving!
Hey, congratulations man!
Travelling most of today, should be back online tomorrow (Thursday), then may be missing through Sunday. DMPC if needed.
I apologize for the train wreck my current schedule has made of my post rate. I am scrambling to get things under control enough to be able to post every day, but like the best-laid plans of mice and men...
Please bear with me.
No worries about your post rate, I think it's been fine.
Completely different subject:
Bond Forged in Blood (link) is a weird feature--it procs when Harbug reduces something to <0 HP (and that target has HD at least ½ Harbug's level) and lasts for "1 round." I did a little bit of research, but could not find anything suggesting this would work differently than other "x round(s)" buffs, so:
If I were GMing, that means it starts when Harbug knocks the thing down, and ends at the beginnning of his next turn. If Harbug has enough BAB for more attacks, or multiple natural weapons, or gets to take any Attacks of Opportunity for whatever reason, he gets to use the bonus, otherwise (as in this case) he cannot make use of it.
His companion will get to use it for 1 set of attacks (assuming multiple natural attacks) no matter what--if Harbug is before Fang in the round and activates Bond Forged in Blood, then (as occurred in this game) Fang gets the bonus on its attack(s) that round. If Fang goes before Harbug, then Fang can use the bonus next round when it goes before Harbug.
TL;DR: I'm assuming Bond forged in Blood has expired now, so Harbug does not have it, and that even if Harbug delayed to go after Fang this round, it expired when it became Harbug's chance to delay so Fang does not have it either.
Forgot to write it on the day in question; Congrats on getting married Jackscar!
Thanks (and to those who said something earlier when I was too busy to respond), was a great day, got home last night after taking all the decorations down etc and now I am just completely exhausted (even had an afternoon nap today). Back to work tomorrow, which is a bit of an anti climax, but at least I can now get back to getting my geek on ;)
Yeah, that's right! Congratulations! Glad the big day was a success!
I apologize for any delays on my part. I am off this week, so will be limited in how often I can spend time on the computer.
The next three weeks I am on a work schedule non-conducive to steady posting, so I will try to post when I can (could be as bad as once a week), but my player posts will be likely more frequent than my GM posts based on the amount of time each one takes.
I'm not dead, merely swamped. Trying to dig out to post. Bear with.
No problem. Do what you must.
I will be traveling for work the next 2 weeks. I should have internet access to at least check the boards in the evenings, but if I am quiet for a day or two, that is why.
Okay, my travel obligations for the season are over (barring any new ones), so I should be back to checking the boards and posting at least once a day. Thank you for putting up with my delays and absence.
That said, I am now back to a daily check/post cycle and I would like everyone to shake off the cobwebs, scrape off the rust, and get ready for the same. Hopefully we can all get back to daily posts by Monday, at the latest.
I have been sick for the past two days, and still feel kind of under the weather. My apologies if it's slowed my posts.
I'm travelling from today through the weekend, posts may be sparse.
Please forgive me, I was on vacation last week and thought I would have more time to post than I did. This week and the following two, I am working a shift that makes it hard for me to post regularly. The games I run may suffer more for this, as it's easier to make quick posts as a player than the work I need for posts as a GM.
FYI, from now through the end of the year my posting as a GM may get a little spotty. Please bear with as I deal with a lot of work and personal issues that seem to suck up both time and will. I will post as I can, hopefully not less than every other day.
Understood. Do what you need to do.
No worries, on that note I am away until Wednesday, so probably won't get a chance to post until then.
I am back now. Regular posting should resume.
Sorry for the silence. We are buried under 5" of snow and ice, and that is a fairly rare thing around here. Internet has been spotty.