DM Brainiac's War for the Crown: Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

Let's try and subsidize that scroll maybe, haha

I warn you: this post is math heavy.

I was looking over Nocticula's page for reasons, and I saw her diplomacy modifier was +54, so I was thinking to myself, how could I boost Sara's mod to be more than Nocticula's by level 17 (when APs tend to end)?

Right now, she has a static 22, that math being 4 CHA, 3 comp (ring), 3 class, 7 ranks, 2 persuasive, 1 trait, 2 circumstance (tattoo). If I do nothing more but put ranks in it, in 10 levels, that will increase to 34 (as persuasive will increase from 2 to 4).

So how I can get twenty points?

Going off similar magic items, I assume the Envoy Ring will eventually increase to a bonus of 5, so that's a +2 for 36.

I'm also going to take Skill Focus Dip and Voice of the Sybil eventually, which is another +9, leaving us at 45 rn, just 9 left to beat Nocticula.

That's all so far in my planned build, but let's go further.

The Ring of Terrible Cost gives me a +5 profane bonus as long as I spend 5 rounds pouring 10 of my HP into it that I can't heal until I use that bonus (but Sara is not hurting for HP).

So I guess the only thing to do is to take one level of Enchantment Wizard for that stackable +2 enhancement bonus and a thrush familiar (flavored as one of her ravens probably) for another +3. That there beats it at 55.

With the +2 circumstance from spritzing perfume, a +2 from aid another, and a +4 bonus once per persona phase, the final bonus at level 17 is +63

So even if I don't level Charisma any farther, Sara could be more diplomatic and persuasive than the literal god queen of succubi.

All hail Sara, new god queen of succubi!

Your next job Sara - how high can you get Melodie's bluff score? I want to see if I can outlie Asmodeus... :D

Zhi eyes her wife suspiciously.

"I think you might be able to find better uses for your time," she says.

But... all the funs!

Asmodeus has no published stats by Paizo, but he does appear in the 3.x book Fiendish Codex 2, where he has a Bluff score of 45, so honestly, at level 17 you'll have a 35/40. Like, upgrade from a +3 competence item to a +5, take Skill Focus Bluff and Voice of the Sibyl, all in all giving you 46/51.

Mephistopheles from Faust has a +56 tho, so if you wanted to outlie him, same build as above, Ring of Terrible Cost +5 profane for each lie (riskier for Melodie), +2 enhancement from enchantment wizard, +3 from having a cat, for 56/61. You're now an equivalent liar to Marvel's Mephisto, and a better one if the lie is plausible.

If you really need to be better, Brainiac is a very generous DM and super willing to work with niche builds so maybe homebrew a +2 or better bluff tattoo as a final touch.

Other things we could do is the +2 aid another, additional traits feat for a +2 trait, +1 from a perfume kit, various circumstance bonus items, various class bonuses, the stony mask is a +10 competence IIRC which is another +5 on your build

All this is just riffing off the dip build I posted up top, I've seen bluff builds in optimization forums with +90 something scores

Things to do in combat when it's not your turn...

Once Zileska posts I will update.

And while we wait, DM Brainiac can answers questions I sent him via PM. :) :)

I will do so now, as I gripe about how the website doesn't let you know when you have a PM any more unless you actively look for them. :(

Preachin' to the choir, sir.

GM questions? Do tell....

*Sits and looks interested*

I've asked a question too now! :D

Answered.

But you haven't told us what Zhi asked! :)

It's called "Private Message" for a reason. She can share if she wants to, but it's not my place. ;)

Wouldn't you like to know. ;)

Hah! Can't mind-read that, can you? :) :)

*Spoilsport*

And you're enjoying this far too much dear! All my mind-reading for the day was used up by someone who wanted to trust me! :P

Hey, she gave Mel the mask back and changed her mind about asking her intrusive questions. I think she's showing a lot of trust. Which for her is very difficult. ;P ;b

Just for bookkeeping, Sara's gonna sell her Ring of Protection +2 that we each got and the +1 heavy steel shield that Zhi gave her way back when in the archives, giving her 5000 gp, I think? Probably get Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver for 4000 and start saving up cash for the Ring of Terrible Cost tbh.

I will post for Zileska in the morning if she hasn't posted by then.

Only just realised I never specified which extracts Maria drank - it was blur and shield. So +4 shield bonus to AC and a 20% miss chance.

Hey if anyone's interested, a spot in one of my games just opened up: premise is kind of humor game, superheroes but in a fantasy world and after every loosely connected episode a different person GMs a one level module, either homebrew or published.

The person who left was an incredibly competent roleplayer and frankly, while the DM is great, the remaining player skill level isn't quite to par with what we had and I won't want to remain in the game if we can't replace them, which is doubly disappointing as A, I love my character (a professional jockey with a removable hand who- get this -, rides astride her hand (who is also the corrupted spirit of her long dead father)) and B, I was hoping to use this game as a dry run to test out/learn DMing on the boards so I could put together a Star Wars game later this year

It's a relatively high powered game despite starting at a low level, the array being 19/19/15/15/11/11, max health with no character death. Y'all are cool people and excellent roleplayers so I wanted to put it out to ya

Here's the link, thanks regardless

Sorry I've been MIA. Death in the family suddenly and unexpectedly. Hard to find time for lengthy combat-complicated posts.

I recommend we subdue, rather than kill, these mercenaries. Good for our public image: We don't take crap from anyone, but we can be merciful and even-handed.

Damn, Zileska my condolences. I know we don't know each other well but if you need to talk, my DM's are open.

I agree on the subduing, Sara's just furious cause she got got for 40 damage.

So sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself.

My condolences, Zileska. Take as much time as you need.

I will post once Melodie acts.

Go ahead and bot as needed, I will catch up prob. later tonite

Look after yourself Zil, life comes before games.

Sorry I've been slow today, out at my RL game!

Sorry to hear that, Zil. Take care of yourself.

Won't have time for a longer post till tonight, but the medusa will be asleep when you return. Whoever is sneaking up on her should roll a Stealth check here and tell me how close you are trying to get in preparation for a surprise round.

Stealth? Stealth, you say?

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17 cat's grace

pthbthhh!!!

Well it looks like her attempt to get close enough to slip a hood over her head didn't turn out too well.

"Who left these damn Legos here!

I have some points in Stealth, I could flex into Improved Grapple and help hold her down after we put a sack on her head

I have a feeling that with that roll, she's going to hear us coming. :(

Still might as roll one for me too if we're doing it here i guess

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Oh, sure, the big and tall girl is quiet and stealthy while the nimble and tiny girl sounds like a bag of pans falling down the stairs.

*grumble, grumble, grumble*

So Zhi got a 2 for her Stealth check here and a 1 for her CMB check on Gameplay.

Worst. Day. Ever.

Day's not over yet.

Could get a lot worse.

I'll get a post up after work (which, including the drive home, will be about three hours from now) but while we're just starting here, if Sara wants to include a Bull's. Strength boost to the grapple, go for it - Maria had an infused extract of it prepped so would've given it to Sara when she knew the plan involved pinning the medusa down.

Just the one of it prepped, though. We'd only been needing one of those a day so far so I figured I'd prep something different.

Melodie stays 30ft away, glitterdust is the only thing she has to contribute until the medusa is dealt with! :)

Not much to contribute and I'm moving house today, so feel free to carry on without me. Hopefully be on tonight/tomorrow so I can backpost as needed. :)

I hope the move goes smoothly!

Once you've finished with the medusa, you will have earned enough XP to reach level 8! You can level up now if you'd like to. :)

Arcane Trickster: 1

+1 Cha
+4 HP

+1 REF
+1 WIL

+1 LVL Sorcerer
Ranged Legerdemain

9 Skill Points:
+1 Diplomacy, +1 Disguise, +1 Knowledge (local), +1 Knowledge (nobles), +1 Perception, +1 Sense Motive, +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Stealth, +1 Swim

Spells:
1 - Shield
2 - Invisibility

HP: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Fighter Level 6, Dirty Maneuvers 2, Bonus Feat Flagbearer

+1 BAB, Fort, Ref, Will

4 skill points, Bluff, Dip, Intimidate, Stealth
Background skills, +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Handle Animal

Flagbearer gives all of us +1 attack/damage, and +1 vs fear and charm as a morale boost, atop what the Standard of Conquest already gives us.

Both bonuses are morale bonuses, so I am not sure if they stack.

Also don't forget your level 8 star boost.

Wow, the 'Flagbearer' feat works out really nicely with that standard. We just have to remember to keep Sara within 30'. :)

Oh well then no save bonus, but +1 attack/damage.

I imagine at some point the Standard will do that too so I might switch out the feat for Outflank or a diff combat feat.

Any preferences?

My +1 goes to STR

Wouldn't mind having that +4 flanking bonus always available if we need it.

This is a fun level.

Cleric 8

+1 BAB (first iterative attack)
+1 Fort and Will saves

+5 hit points

+1 Wisdom - This gives me a bonus 4th-level spell, increases my Heal, Perception, and Profession (courtesan) skills, improves my Will save, and gives me more uses of my granted powers.

Skills: +1 each of Diplomacy, Heal, Knowledge (planes), Knowledge (religion), Spellcraft; Escape Artist, Profession (courtesan)

The charming smile domain power now comes on-line, which lets me make brief transient charm person effects on people. The save DC is low and the duration is short so it's mostly useful for getting past doormen into nightclubs.

I also get another recruit, which will be an expert with a profession that will become clear as my plan unfolds...

+1 BAB (first iterative attack)

Zhi won't see that for a while yet. :(

I also get another recruit, which will be an expert with a profession that will become clear as my plan unfolds...

Why do I hear maniacal laughter in the background?