DM Brainiac, can Elif attempt another perception check to either try to hear the whispered conversation or snippets of it, or, can she use perception to assess their body language to see if the conversation is going well/there's a familiarity between them or there's some disagreement/friction?
If not perception, what other check can I attempt this round? Are there any other nobles in the Arcade of Triumphs?
Doritan, it might be good to learn about one of the less noble (as in, not noblemen) characters. So maybe Kalbio or Wyssilka?
Also, DM, I think I thought about my traits a bit too much for my own good. I realized the bonus from Pomp and Pageantry and the bonus to Perform from Rising Star are both trait bonuses, so they wouldn't stack. I didn't include the extra +1 in my last Perform check as a result. Is there any chance an exception might could be made? If not, no worries, though I might want to consider a different non-campaign trait in that case. It's still useful for Diplomacy, though, so I might keep it. Anyway, let me know when you have a chance. Thanks in advance!
Elif, you can make another perception check this round.
The trait bonuses won't stack, Maya, so you can choose a different one if you like.
Alrighty. After perusing the trait list, I think I am going to stick with Pomp and Pageantry. It just works really well with Maya's backstory and is specifically for Taldan halflings, so that's pretty neat. She'll still get the bonus to Diplomacy most of the time and a couple of the other bonuses could eventually be useful. Can't complain about a +11 bonus to Perform (oratory) at level 1. : )
Apologies if I stepped on your toes a bit, Katria. Sometimes I tend to assume certain character actions to keep things moving if it doesn't impact the plot in any major way. If it bothers you, I'll refrain from doing so in the future.
No, not at all, especially when there really wasn't any reason I wouldn't do that! Keep the game moving.
I tend to make comments along those lines when I'm DMPC'd (my first belated post noted being late...).
Alright, just wanted to be sure we're all on the same page. :)
DM Brainiac, Elif received this upon her success with revealing Senator Pace’s lack of commitment: Revealing this tidbit also grants a +2 circumstance bonus on skill checks to influence Lady Gloriana Morilla and Princess Eutropia.. Is this for everyone or just Elif?
Anybody can get the bonus if you mention it to them, but since you have already successfully influenced Lady Morilla and Princess Eutropia, it doesn't really matter much any more. You all are rolling high enough that you don't need the bonuses! :)
So, what all do we have left? What jobs/areas have we not completely completed?
There are still a few letters to deliver, the courtyard and servant area to influence, and Kalbio and Wyssilka to talk to. But there are plenty of rounds left, so I'm confident you'll be able to accomplish everything with time to spare. We can transition to more freeform RP now instead of structured social rounds since your tasks are complete. It will make things go faster, and I will give you the reward you would earn for making the skill checks. I will post again later this afternoon,
Just a note that Doritan would go back for the journal as well, for maximum humiliation (and getting a few neat historical artifacts)
Noted. :)
My afternoon turned busy so I probably won't have a chance to post until the morning.
I'll give Bernal and Elif a chance to post before moving on.
Yeah, I'm a bit busy with preparations for Passover, but I'll have a post up in a few hours and things will normalize starting Saturday.
Chag sameach, Bernal.
I hard-boiled eggs, made a matzoh quiche and have matzoh balls cooking now. Decided I didn't have the time/energy to do the brisket today, however.
Huh. I really thought this AP would be tougher. We totally just won without even getting past first level!
:)
This is definitely the shortest AP Paizo has ever published, it seems. War for the Crown? More like Vote for the Crown. Guess we'll have to hope Lady Martella has some more tasks in mind for us in the future. : )
Everything is great and nothing will ever be bad!
Well that escalated quickly...
Everybody has gained enough XP to reach level 2!
That was fast! Do we immediately gain access to our new spells, spell slots, rounds of bardic performance, etc?
Yes, you have access to all your new abilities.
You gained a lot of social XP for completing your missions and influencing the NPCs. :)
Sounds good. One more question for now (I think). How are we doing HP?
You can either roll each level or take average. Once you make your choice, you can't change it.
Alright. I apologize for asking so many questions... technically average is 4.5 for a d8, so would that be 4 or 5 health per level if I took average?
5 HP.
Bernal levels up! Epic sound effect
-----------------------------
Level up! 1 -> 2
HP up! 12 -> 20
BAB up! 1 -> 2
Base Reflex up! 2 -> 3
New class feature! Charmed Life 3/day
Skills up! Acrobatics +1, Diplomacy +1, Escape Artist +1, Knowledge (nobility) +1, Perception +1, Perform (dance) +1, Sense Motive +1, Sleight of Hand +1
Thank you for bearing with me, DM. I went with average for HP. Definitely the fastest level up I’ve had in a pbp to date. : )
Level 2 Summary
+7 hp (average, FCB, Con)
+1 BAB
+1 Reflex Saves
+1 Will Saves
+2 Rounds of Bardic Performance
Adventuring Skills (6+1 per level)
+1 Diplomacy
+1 Knowledge (arcana)
+1 Knowledge (local)
+1 Spellcraft
+1 Use Magic Device
Background Skills (2 per level)
+1 Knowledge (nobility)
+2 Perform (Act)
+1 Perform (Oratory)
Using two adventuring skill ranks for background skill ranks.
Versatile Performance - At 2nd level, a bard can choose one type of Perform skill. He can use his bonus in that skill in place of his bonus in associated skills. When substituting in this way, the bard uses his total Perform skill bonus, including class skill bonus, in place of its associated skill's bonus, whether or not he has ranks in that skill or if it is a class skill.
Going with Perform (Act) for Maya’s first versatile performance. It allows me to substitute Perform (Act) for Bluff and Disguise checks.
Well-Versed - At 2nd level, the bard becomes resistant to the bardic performance of others, and to sonic effects in general. The bard gains a +4 bonus on saving throws made against bardic performance, sonic, and language-dependent effects.
Spells:
+1 1st Level Spells Per Day
+1 0 Level Spells - Dancing Lights
+1 1st Level Spells - Deja Vu
Level-up:
+7 HP
+1 BAB
+1 Ref, Will
Vigilante Talent: lethal grace
Bonus Feat (for already having Weapon Finesse): Weapon Focus (Short Sword)
Skill ranks (10, FCB, Cunning) Acrobatics, Intimidate, K (local), Perception, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Disguise, Disable Device
+7 hp (half+1)
+1 BAB
+1 Fort and Will
+1 mental focus
+10 skill ranks (4 class +1 human +3 Int +2 background): +1 to Appraise, Diplomacy, Know (engineering), Know (history), Know (local), Linguistics [adding Osiriani to languages], Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, UMD
+ Magic Skill (+1/2 class level to UMD)
+ Object Reading
+FCB: 1/6 of a focus power
+1 spell/day
+ spells known: psychic reading (div), murderous command (DC 14) (ench)
Still need to decide on my new implement school and related knack/spell. Does anyone have a preference for school? I'm thinking abjuration, evocation, illusion or transmutation. The latter is probably the most overall useful, but I'm not sure if that holds true for this party. I don't know if we want me to try to be a bit more of a blaster than I'd originally planned (though I'm not really the best class in the world to fill that role) ...
At a certain point (perhaps now), we should definitely try coordinating spells and such. Based on our party composition, it might be good to have at least one of us be able to do damage at range. Our highest strength score is 13, so I'm not sure how much raw damage we'll be putting out (though I realize that first fight wasn't a good indicator).
I'm currently planning on Maya to be mostly about debuffing and controlling, but I can have her work toward being more effective at doing damage if we need her to.
Hopefully we can resolve a lot of situations without combat as our characters seem to be really good in social situations.
I'll be decent at putting out some damage- with Lethal Grace, I get half my level to damage, plus my pseudo-sneak attack. In a few levels, I'll pick up Dazzling Display+Twisting Fear (a neat little vigilante talent) that will give me a massive AoE for debuffing and nonlethal damage. Granted, it won't be online until level 6-7, but it will be pretty great once it does come.
Maya- if you get some way to make foes think of me as an ally, I can dish out a pretty good amount of damage. If they're just denied Dex, I can still do a decent amount, but nowhere near as much.
That sounds like a good combo. I think Bernal may get some sort of scaling damage as well.
I've got Charm Person if we're able to plan our attack, but I may need access to higher level spells if I want to try doing it in the middle of combat. I'll have to see what I've got in that department.
With my archetype, the Bardic Performance I get at level 8, Glorious Epic, allows me to make every enemy within 30 ft (or a 60 ft cone) flat-footed unless they succeed at a will save, so hopefully that'll help you and Bernal a bit with your damage. Maya will be telling a glorious tale while you chop our enemies to bits. : )
Swashbucklers can dole out a ton of damage in my experience.
As you note, it's more ranged attacks where I wonder if we may be a little lacking. It's why I'm wondering if I should go evocation even though it wasn't really what I was planning. (That said, I think getting wands and scrolls will be Katria's contribution to a lot of combat. In terms of weapons, I was thinking of eventually getting a long spear and using aid another to give folks +4 to attacks or AC.)
Sorry, it's been a busy Easter day filled with family/guests. Only just levelling Elif now. Will catch up on posts tomorrow as I'm very tired. Thanks for your patience. :)
Happy Easter to all!
Level 2 Summary
+6 hp (average plus Con mod)
+1 BAB, CMB and CMD
+1 Will Saves
Adventuring Skills (5+1FC per level)
+1 Bluff
+1 Healing
+1 Know. Planes
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Spellcraft
Background Skills (2 per level)
+1 Lore (Plants/Herbs which can be used for healing)
+1 Know. History
+1 orision (Detect Magic)
• Gained Mystery Spell (Disguise Self)
• Can cast 1st level spells one additional time per day.
Swashbucklers get most of their bonus damage from Precise Strike, which lets them add their Swashbuckler level to damage, and from critical hits. Bernal isn't optimized for damage, but he will be able to dish out sizable amounts, especially when more of his abilities kick in.
This reminds me, as a Rondelero swashbuckler, Bernal doesn't actually get Charmed Life until 10th level, instead getting Buckler Bash at 2nd. This is now reflected in his sheet.
Forgot to mention that the panels in each room have a faint magical aura.
Just a note: we should remember to open, or at least contemplate opening, the letter to Kalbio from his parents. It might provide some interesting information. Maybe they somehow knew something that could help?
The word "gure" should have been "figure." It was a copy/paste error.
No worries. : ) I tried looking it up, but couldn't find anything, so I thought I'd check.
I haven't decided yet whether Katria will look at it. She certainly won't at this point, as her mind is on other matters. Maybe when things settle down.
Yeah, I'm not actually sure if any of us know about the letter in-character besides Katria.
Forgot to mention that the panels in each room have a faint magical aura.
Could Spellcraft or Knowledge (arcana) give us more information about the aura?
Yes, a DC 12 Knowledge (arcana) check identifies it as an evocation aura.
I updated the map link at the top of the page.
Elif is going to be away for a few days, so I will be botting her until she returns.
Thanks for letting us know. Hope all is well with her.
Thank you for the map! That definitely makes things clearer. Hope Elif is able to return soon.
Thanks, motte and Maya. Just not in the best of health right now. I’m working on getting better, so thanks. :)
You can also take the time to search the crates. Inside, you find three daggers, two longswords, an elven-branch spear, a masterwork rapier, 12 masterwork darts, and a masterwork suit of studded leather.
DM Brainiac, is this where the servants hid Elif’s Elven-Branch spear earlier or is this coincidentally another like spear?
Good to see you, Elif!
DM, speaking of the weapons, none of them happen to be small-sized, do they?