DM Voice's Envoy of Geb - An Undead Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Thanks for your support.

Ignac - condolences and take what time you need.

We'll keep the seat warm for you when you're ready to step back in.

Apologies for things bogging down for a bit there - will endeavor to keep things rolling moving forward. One of the main reasons I started this PbP was to try and get a handle on high level play - and I'm finding it a bit of a challenge :)

With that in mind - could we start an OOC discussion here to strip out what your actions moving forward (after this combat) will be. You'll have the following at your disposal:
Some living ogres
Some dead ogres (potentially dead and moving)
Maybe some living humans
Some dead humans (potentially dead and moving)
A human village in spitting distance

For creation of spawn, etc - you can go ahead, but I'd like to use the created creatures in a more cinematic sense (ie describe their actions and make maybe a couple of rolls to simulate impact). If we start having 10 or 20 mindless undead to track HP and rolls for then things would bog down pretty quick.

I'll give you a meta hint and say that the Gnome is not going to be attacking tonight, so you can plan that in to proceedings.

Lastly - some long lead planning on how you'd like to approach the city would be useful. Don't need to lock in the decision yet, but some general guidelines will help me to describe and frame your movements toward it.

Vesta's not a planner or one who creates spawn. She'll add input and help make plans though.

To be honest Voice, you've done a good job so far. You gave us a rather tough foe to fight in the Gnome, something not easy to do for such a diverse group of PCs, who also happen to be undead, which makes us even harder to face. You also have given us several opportunities to be straight badasses vs weaker foes, which is awesome and something I know most people at high levels enjoy being able to do.

As for what to do next, after this battle, I think what we currently have stated works for the moment: attack the human village and perhaps use it as a staging ground if its close enough to our target

As for the actual assault, I also think our what we have planned is a solid start, the gathering of info and such, using Gabriel as an ity bity spy.

I am happy for Gabriel to conduct reconnaissance regarding the village; with a 'take 10' Stealth of 44, he probably stands a good chance of going undetected ;-)

Regarding spawn, I am happy to use them in a cinematic fashion; essentially what I would like to do is fill Gabriel's bag of holding with a swarm of the little blighters, which he can empty out whenever they would prove to be useful :-)

By my calculation, I can get four 'crawling hands' from the two that Gabriel actually killed, and potentially another four from the two remaining humans... unless anyone else wishes to call 'dibs' ;-) I dare say that slaughtering the town will enable us to produce ample 'fodder' as well...

I am happy for Gabriel to conduct reconnaissance regarding the village; with a 'take 10' Stealth of 44, he probably stands a good chance of going undetected ;-)

Regarding spawn, I am happy to use them in a cinematic fashion; essentially what I would like to do is fill Gabriel's bag of holding with a swarm of the little blighters, which he can empty out whenever they would prove to be useful :-)

By my calculation, I can get four 'crawling hands' from the two that Gabriel actually killed, and potentially another four from the two remaining humans... unless anyone else wishes to call 'dibs' ;-) I dare say that slaughtering the town will enable us to produce ample 'fodder' as well...

Now we just have to decide if the orcs are worth more alive or dead. After we use them to ransack the town, of course.

Ok cool - once we're done at the cave, I'll give Gabriel a scouting update on the town, which you can use for determining what you might do with it.

@Vesta: Well, I don't know about any Orcs, but I am perfectly happy to 'take custody' of the Ogres once the assault on the town is done ;-)

Regarding spawn creation:

As far as I can tell, Gabriel is the only PC that can actually create spawn, although Daemon can Animate skeletons and zombies.

Regarding the town:

I would like to call 'dibs' on any Halflings, Gnomes, or Human/elven/half-elven/dwarven/half-orc children, as the concept of a 'crawling hand swarm' (for which you would need the lands of small creatures, or 'young' medium sized creatures) is quite alluring...

Hey guys, I'm back. I'll be getting caught up in all of my PBPs in the next day or so, although this one hasn't got many new posts, so I may end up posting in here tonight.

Hey guys, I'm back. I'll be getting caught up in all of my PBPs in the next day or so, although this one hasn't got many new posts, so I may end up posting in here tonight.

Welcome back.

Thanks, TCG.

Also, Voice, I don't think you ever got back to me on whether I could use Cha for Shelter of Steel or not.

Relevant ability:

Shelter of Steel This talent allows an armiger to use his armor to absorb some of the inevitable punishment of battle. As a move action, an armiger in medium or heavy armor can gain 1d8 temporary hit points +1 per 2 class levels. The armiger may do this a number of times per day equal to his Constitution bonus (minimum 1/day).

I'm just wondering, as I was looking over my CS, and I saw that if I was unable to use Charisma for it, I was going to switch it with a resistance.

Thanks, TCG.

Also, Voice, I don't think you ever got back to me on whether I could use Cha for Shelter of Steel or not.

Relevant ability:

Shelter of Steel This talent allows an armiger to use his armor to absorb some of the inevitable punishment of battle. As a move action, an armiger in medium or heavy armor can gain 1d8 temporary hit points +1 per 2 class levels. The armiger may do this a number of times per day equal to his Constitution bonus (minimum 1/day).

I'm just wondering, as I was looking over my CS, and I saw that if I was unable to use Charisma for it, I was going to switch it with a resistance.

That's DM call, which is not me. Typically any CON ability shifts to Cha for undead. I don't have it in front of me, but look in the monstrous manual under the undead traits. It may say it there.

Thanks, TCG.

Also, Voice, I don't think you ever got back to me on whether I could use Cha for Shelter of Steel or not.

Relevant ability:

Shelter of Steel This talent allows an armiger to use his armor to absorb some of the inevitable punishment of battle. As a move action, an armiger in medium or heavy armor can gain 1d8 temporary hit points +1 per 2 class levels. The armiger may do this a number of times per day equal to his Constitution bonus (minimum 1/day).

I'm just wondering, as I was looking over my CS, and I saw that if I was unable to use Charisma for it, I was going to switch it with a resistance.

I asked him. I didn't write out his full title, but I got Voice in there. My posts are going to be a little wonky for a bit still, until I really get back into things.

Ignác Takács wrote:

Thanks, TCG.

Also, Voice, I don't think you ever got back to me on whether I could use Cha for Shelter of Steel or not.

Relevant ability:

Shelter of Steel This talent allows an armiger to use his armor to absorb some of the inevitable punishment of battle. As a move action, an armiger in medium or heavy armor can gain 1d8 temporary hit points +1 per 2 class levels. The armiger may do this a number of times per day equal to his Constitution bonus (minimum 1/day).

I'm just wondering, as I was looking over my CS, and I saw that if I was unable to use Charisma for it, I was going to switch it with a resistance.

I asked him. I didn't write out his full title, but I got Voice in there. My posts are going to be a little wonky for a bit still, until I really get back into things.

lol. sorry. Selective reading.

No problem, I do the same thing.

Ignac - no issues on using Cha instead of Con for Shelter (or any other similarly typed Armiger abilities).

Thank you, I'll modify his CS slightly to accommodate this.

Hey Voice, how would you feel about my taking Leadership eventually and going with a straight Necromancer/Undead Creator cohort?

Gathroc - as a DM I find the Leadership feat a bit scary. That and also having swarms of undead in PbP I would fear it bogging things down.

However - I might be open to a major magic item that allows for undead controlling. Let me think on it for a while.

I was *not* planning on having the undead army travel with us, rather using them as we already have, just on a larger scale. Plus, it would fit themactially, as I am a general.

Provided this game lasts long enough, I won't be taking the feat for at least another two levels or so(Weapon Master 5+). Got some more melee oriented feats I'm after first.

Btw, while I am sure we haven't gotten enough XP currently, you *do* plan to have us level in this game right?

If you decide Leadership isn't for you or Gathroc, I would not mind some sort of item, but being able to create undead would be just as important as controlling them

Leveling will come eventually if things hold together for long enough. I'm thinking an appropriate point would be after you retrieve the book and before *omitted so as not to spoil plot*.

I'd tend towards an item that could do both - create and control. Maybe a staff that when touched to the recent dead ties the souls to this world, preventing them from passing to the boneyard and making the bodies rise as controlled undead.

Leveling will come eventually if things hold together for long enough. I'm thinking an appropriate point would be after you retrieve the book and before *omitted so as not to spoil plot*.

I'd tend towards an item that could do both - create and control. Maybe a staff that when touched to the recent dead ties the souls to this world, preventing them from passing to the boneyard and making the bodies rise as controlled undead.

Diamond tipped rod. THe diamond sucks in and holds the souls to prevent them from parting and animating the bodies. The souls can only be freed if the diamond is shattered.

Well I haven't stopped in on this page in a while. Looks like I missed a bit. That's what I get for working so much I suppose. Ill start adding my input to discussions here as well.

And now the reason I stopped by

Super advance Holiday warning post:

I will be going on a pretty long trip down to Australia between 14th December and 10th January to visit relatives, celebrate Christmas, that sort of thing.

Whilst I will have net access, my available time will be restricted to alot less than I can currently swing; so ability to DM will be virtually nil through that time.

So my initial long range thoughts is to essentially park the PbP over my vacation time, and then pick it back up in the new year.

Anyone have any concerns / issues with that approach?

For clarity - the PbP will keep running as usual right up to December 14 before going on temporary hiatus.

Fine by me. Holiday's are difficult to schedule around.

Sounds good to me.

I am ok with it.

I feel like I am stealing the spotlight quite often, I seem to be mixed up in the thick of things while others get stuck on the sidelines. If this is the case please feel free to step in and do things, if this is not the case then please ignore these ramblings.

I feel like I am stealing the spotlight quite often, I seem to be mixed up in the thick of things while others get stuck on the sidelines. If this is the case please feel free to step in and do things, if this is not the case then please ignore these ramblings.

I was letting you take over because I have tendancy to do the same thing. I was trying to share the spotlight. ;-)

FYI - I'll be out of town tomorrow, so probably won't get a chance to put in an update until Sunday evening my time (in roughly 48ish hours from this post).

So feel free to have the weekend off, and sorry for the delay in the game.

Hmmm - for the successful completion of a major quest... usually there is some kind of reward isn't there? - have a Level Up on the house.

Also - recollecting the promises offered to you when you sent out:
Vesta - the assassin that killed you to play with.
Gathroc - the 'Coach of the Silent'
Daemon - control of your phylactery.
Ignac - was the promise of standing astride a mound of corpses I believe (which I should be able to offer pretty soon after we rejoin our intrepid villans in January).
Gabriel - wasn't included as he was already in the Claw's employ... what would you like?

Can you review the promised item and re-confirm that it is something you would like in character?

Am I just getting the actual Coach itself, or do I get anything else that comes with being a Coach of the Silent? I don't imagine you'll give me the HD increase(though that would be awesome) but what of the Advanced template or the Trap the Soul effect?

As you expected - no to the HD increase.

You get an upgrade to your summon steed ability to summon the six horsed coach instead.

You can take the advanced template instead of gaining a level if you like, and I'd be ok with you getting a modified (read toned down) Trap the Soul effect. Perhaps one that triggers off either dealing the killing blow to a creature under the effect of Death's Calling - or maybe (read still to be pondered by DM) one that would trigger off a crit...

Re:Trap the Soul They still need to fail the save vs Death's Calling, but I'm totally ok with needing the killing blow. I'm guessing the way it's supposed to work is as if using the triggered object effect. It's rather unclear. If it's not supposed to be that way, then victims get a Will save as well as SR to avoid the effect.

Also, if for some reason I don't get any sort of Trap effect, how would I confine those I kill under Death's Calling to the Coach?

Do I auto summon the Coach, or can I still summon my single mount if I so choose? It would be kinda lame if I had to summon the Coach every time, especially since I highly doubt Trapped beings can ride in it.

Leaning towards taking the template, but unsure since I'd be a level behind for a few things I want.

The way I read the monster description was that the trap the soul was able to be cast without killing the opponent. If you're happy with it being a triggered effect of a killing blow (as in dropping to below 0 HP), then that's ok with me.

I'd say you can choose horse or coach when you call - but not both at the same time.

Apologies for dropping off the radar for a while; I lost my internet connection, and only just managed to get it back today. Hopefully, everything should be back to normal from now on :-)

I will look into what I do with Gabriel; I imagine I will take another level of Rogue :-)

No problems Gabriel - back now at any rate.

Hmm,
Part of me likes the idea of becomming a Coach of th Slient, however knowing of the cool stuff you've come up with for us Wolves and my fellow undead here, I am kinda curious what sort of homemade creation you could come up with for me.

No problems Gabriel - back now at any rate.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

Hey Vesta, what about something akin to the Mantels from FR??

Hey Vesta, what about something akin to the Mantels from FR??

You'll have to tell me what that is.

May as well break it out of spoiler - too much hassle keeping all the tags up :P

Gabriel:
Essentially I was thinking that you could shift your essence into an available vessel. So if you were killed, you could jump to one of your children to live on. However it would be more interesting for you if you find a more advantageous hand to claim.

For example, lets say the group kills a Dire Bear (as an example). You could jump into it's hand and get an upgrade on your 'claw' damage to 1d6 and get the grab ability. Or if you destroy a golem, maybe you take over the golem's hand and get a big-ol slam attack. That sort of thing.

Vesta:
Shadow jump is a possibility, as is sneak attack (which you'd still get on rays if the target is unaware). Maybe even a combination of both?

After casting a spell on a target, you can use the shrouds ability to combine a Dimension Door and Invisibility as a swift action. So you snipe, then instantly re-cloak and move to a new position? I'd probably make it a 3/day or the like. How would that sound?

Ignac:
Consider the weapon your benefit then. I'll think up some suitably cool effects and run it past you later. Can I assume you'll prefer a Bardiche?

Gathroc:
The next splat of the campaign will be in relatively open ground alot of the time, so you'll get some use out of your mount. Would you prefer a straight mount upgrade? - so rather than the coach, you simply get a much better steed... rest assured it will be pimped out with mag wheels.

Daemon:
I'm open to your phylactery giving you something tangible as well - beyond the satisfaction of being master of your own immortality.

Bardiche would be preferable indeed.

SO I sneak attack (what number of D6's?) then I can Ddoor to relocate and simultaneously be invisible at the new location?