DaWay's PFS First Steps (Group 2) (Inactive)

Game Master DaWay

Discussion open.

please pm your pathfinder numbers and emails.

Johender reporting in.

It might take me a day or two to check everyone's sheet and make sure it's legal. If experience PFS people want to volunteer to help it would be greatly appreciated.

Azizi reporting in.

The values in parentheses next to my perception and senses are for when I am using my cryptbreaker's draught.

Targ Starksson reporting in. Sending requested PM shortly.

Checking in, off to send the PM. *Skipper salutes!*

Checking in.

In case there's confusion with the number of skills I have, its due to Lore Warden's Scholastic feature,

Also all the weapon related feats is how Herolab wanted me to accommodate the Tengu racial trait for Exotic Weapon Training

Torgil checking in. PM sent :)

So I think the gang's all here.

We are (links go to profile pages):

Johendar Celestrum: Male Aasimir Universalist Wizard
Azizi Anum: Male Half-elf Beastmorph/Cryptbreaker Alchemist
Targ Starksson: Male Human (Ulfen) Crusader Cleric of Iomedae
Skipper Daytripper: Male Halfling Varisian Pilgrim Cleric of Sinashakti
Kazuo Kuroba: Male Tengu Lore Warden Fighter
Torgil Ragnarsson: Male Human (Ulfen) Fighter

All 1st level and just starting out, of course, as this is First Steps.

It might take me a day or two to check everyone's sheet and make sure it's legal. If experience PFS people want to volunteer to help it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not super-experienced, but I've played and GMed a bit... I'll look at 'em too. First glance while I was making the previous post nothing jumped out at me.

I don't use HeroLab, so it'll take me awhile.

Say, Skipper, why don't you use a shortbow, your god's (goddess's?) favored weapon, the shortbow, instead of a sling? Just out of curiosity?

Also, I see where your 30 speed comes from (domain), and I haven't added it up, but are you sure it shouldn't be 20 from encumbrance? You're carrying a ton of stuff (chain shirt, all those sling bullets!) and your strength is only 8. A small character with that strength can only carry 20 pounds before she or he hits medium encumbrance.

Okay, these are my questions about Johendar Celestrum.

(1) Character sheet doesn't include a spellbook, just spells memorized for one given day. Johendar should have a spellbook that contains all cantrips and, I think, six first level spells?

(2) No clothing! Characters start with a free set of clothing that costs up to 10 gp, but keep in mind that in Pathfinder the weight of your clothing DOES count toward encumbrance, despite the fact that HeroLab (from what I've heard) doesn't take it into account.

(3) Gear. Crossbow bolts come in lots of 10 and you have 15? The big question though is that masterwork dagger. According to my calculations you've got 373 gp 1 sp 6 cp worth of gear, and Pathfinder Society characters have starting gold of 150. A masterwork weapons costs 300 gp plus the cost of the weapon, right? So no way you could have one (of any type) at first level. Make it a normal dagger and there's still some arithmetic that's not matching up, but that error is probably mine.

Hmmm, didn't get very far into Azizi Anum before I ran into something fairly big. I don't see a way he can take both the Beastmorph and Crypt Breaker archetypes, since they both have features that replace the persistent mutagen class feature, don't they?

As I understand it, you can only "stack" multiple archetypes when there's no doubling up on what's swapped out, feature-wise.

On Torgil, it looks like he's listing both the "Courageous" and "Resilient" traits. However, they're both from the same category (combat), so he couldn't have both, could he?

Say, Skipper, why don't you use a shortbow, your god's (goddess's?) favored weapon, the shortbow, instead of a sling? Just out of curiosity?

Also, I see where your 30 speed comes from (domain), and I haven't added it up, but are you sure it shouldn't be 20 from encumbrance? You're carrying a ton of stuff (chain shirt, all those sling bullets!) and your strength is only 8. A small character with that strength can only carry 20 pounds before she or he hits medium encumbrance.

Excellent questions. :)

1) Because I can't afford a bow, lol. 100 gold for the chain shirt takes me down to 50, and there's things I want more than spending 30 GP on a weapon just yet. He'll get a shortbow as soon as he gets just a little bit more gold.

2) Hmm, I thought I had got it under encumbrance in Hero Lab. I had split the sling bullets up thinking he might have a stronger character carry the bulk of them and only have a few on his person, hee, but looking at it I think it's still over.

I'll check it again and may tweak his inventory. ....if I end up not buying all these things, then maybe I'll get that shortbow after all!

EDIT: Alright, reshuffled some purchases. Skipper had to give up his cobbler's tools! These boots aren't made for walking after all.... T__T

On the plus side, though, now he has a shortbow, so that works out. :P

Okay, these are my questions about Johendar Celestrum.

(snip) ...The big question though is that masterwork dagger. According to my calculations you've got 373 gp 1 sp 6 cp worth of gear, and Pathfinder Society characters have starting gold of 150. A masterwork weapons costs 300 gp plus the cost of the weapon, right? So no way you could have one (of any type) at first level. Make it a normal dagger and there's still some arithmetic that's not matching up, but that error is probably mine.

Is Johendar perhaps doing arcane bond for an object? As I understand it that does let you get a masterwork weapon to start with.

Is Johendar perhaps doing arcane bond for an object? As I understand it that does let you get a masterwork weapon to start with.

You know, that must be it. There's no mention of it one way or the other on the character sheet, but then there's no mention of a familiar, either.

Okay, these are my questions about Johendar Celestrum.

(1) Character sheet doesn't include a spellbook, just spells memorized for one given day. Johendar should have a spellbook that contains all cantrips and, I think, six first level spells?

(2) No clothing! Characters start with a free set of clothing that costs up to 10 gp, but keep in mind that in Pathfinder the weight of your clothing DOES count toward encumbrance, despite the fact that HeroLab (from what I've heard) doesn't take it into account.

(3) Gear. Crossbow bolts come in lots of 10 and you have 15? The big question though is that masterwork dagger. According to my calculations you've got 373 gp 1 sp 6 cp worth of gear, and Pathfinder Society characters have starting gold of 150. A masterwork weapons costs 300 gp plus the cost of the weapon, right? So no way you could have one (of any type) at first level. Make it a normal dagger and there's still some arithmetic that's not matching up, but that error is probably mine.

1) I didn't put my spellbook in yet, my bad.

4)Crossbow bolts have to be bought in lots of 50 when you buy special material. 35 of my bolts are in "storage at the Lodge" I have been told this is ok, see this thread

On Torgil, it looks like he's listing both the "Courageous" and "Resilient" traits. However, they're both from the same category (combat), so he couldn't have both, could he?

Good catch! Changed now and stat block updated.

Spellbook is in profile now.

I was just going over the language rules (spotted something in Torgil's languages that made me realize I'd done something wrong on Targ's sheet.) Here they are:

Your race and class selection impact what languages you start with. All characters gain Common as a free language. You gain free languages granted by your race, ethnicity (for humans), and class (e.g., Druidic for druids.) If you have a high Intelligence modifier, you may select bonus languages from those listed in your race's entry in the Core Rulebook and the Modern Human Languages list (The Inner Sea World Guide 251). Certain classes grant access to additional bonus languages (e.g., Draconic for wizards). Humans and half-elves with high Intelligence scores may learn all the above languages as bonus languages as well as any other language except Druidic and the languages listed under Ancient Languages on page 251 of The Inner Sea World Guide. All languages except Druidic are available by putting a skill rank in LInguistics... Tian characters receive the languages Tien and Common for free.

Additionally:

...humans begin play knowing all listed languages for their chosen ethnicity as racial languages...

at the doctors now so I am posting from my phone. Will update what people need to do based on what i've seen and the help rendered. expect a post from me tonight. As soon as everyone has fixed their characters we may begin.

After these corrections are made we are good to go. I am on bedrest for the next couple days/week with a hairline fracture of the femur so plenty of time to devote to the games.

Skipper Daytripper. Looks good except the equipment costs. You're encumbrance was at heavy which should be reflected in your skills but I am not sure since you updated him. Did i get your contact info. If so I am sorry it got lost in the 30 emails in my inbox. Could you resend?

Targ Starksson. You're good to go.

Torgil Ragnarsson. What character number is this for you. Otherwise good to go.

Johender Celestrum You're good to go

Kazuo Kuroba Which character number is this for you? There should be a dash something after your PFS#, otherwise you are good to go.

Azizi Anum Azizi cannot have both the Beastmorph and Cryptbreaker archetypes because they both replace the persistant mutagen class feature. Is the smuggler trait the antiquities smuggler from the inner sea primer? Your gear seems a little off. You have a silver morning star which costs 98gp. You don't have thieves picks so your disable device is to high. YOU are at medium encumbrance. And I assume the Alchemist's kit is from the UE guide and not the alchemy crafting kit. W/o the morning star I have you at 6 gp.

Thanks to Targ and Johender for the help.

Please don't forget your racial/regional languages

ok. I think I am just waiting for Azizi. Hopefully both groups start at the same time.

Skipper Daytripper. Looks good except the equipment costs. You're encumbrance was at heavy which should be reflected in your skills but I am not sure since you updated him. Did i get your contact info. If so I am sorry it got lost in the 30 emails in my inbox. Could you resend?

Resent my contact info/PFS #, let me know if you don't get it.

His skills should all be correct as listed-- they were correct for him being lightly encumbered, I just had the offending bits of his gear "on the ground" in Hero Lab so they weren't counting to his weight. So skills should be the same. AC is negating his Dex bonus, everything checks out to me.

You said 'equipment costs' up above, did you mean encumbrance? I think that gold wise he's under 150, but I can doublecheck my numbers if something is off.

(Also, sorry to hear about the femur, that sounds painful!! But there's worse things than bedrest, at least...)

math was just a little off for the gold piece amount. I will recalculate my numbers.

Skipper/Dien: I just recrunched your numbers and I have you with 1 gold, 4 silver, 9 copper, at the moment.

I apologize about all the book keeping guys, I know you just want to get to the game. Just have to make sure everything is correct.

Skipper/Dien: I just recrunched your numbers and I have you with 1 gold, 4 silver, 9 copper, at the moment.

Ah so. I knew he was down to his last gold piece so I hadn't bothered recording that gold piece (and change) on the profile. I'll stick it on now. :)

And no worries on the book-keeping. It's kinda nice to feel that the details matter.

I guess PFS is kinda like the book keeping I had to do in the Fire Department. "If you don't right it down, it didn't happen" Please the possibility of a new GM from scenario to scenario I understand the amount of book keeping required.

Hmmm, didn't get very far into Azizi Anum before I ran into something fairly big. I don't see a way he can take both the Beastmorph and Crypt Breaker archetypes, since they both have features that replace the persistent mutagen class feature, don't they?

As I understand it, you can only "stack" multiple archetypes when there's no doubling up on what's swapped out, feature-wise.

I missed the persistent mutagen change on beastmorph. Deleted the archetype. It changes nothing else on the character.

This is my first PFS character, so -1

Targ Starksson wrote:

Hmmm, didn't get very far into Azizi Anum before I ran into something fairly big. I don't see a way he can take both the Beastmorph and Crypt Breaker archetypes, since they both have features that replace the persistent mutagen class feature, don't they?

As I understand it, you can only "stack" multiple archetypes when there's no doubling up on what's swapped out, feature-wise.

I missed the persistent mutagen change on beastmorph. Deleted the archetype. It changes nothing else on the character.

I also updated equipment. Website went down before I could edit my original post. Main character sheet has updates. Will update alias in the morning.

Updated alias.

Majority of gear is noted as being carried on Azizi's mule (a non-combat animal).

Azizi graciously offers the services of his mule in carrying the overly burdonsome loads of his companions. The mule, promtly sits in the middle of the road and refuses to move. After a brief discussion, involving the usage of a stout stick and much swearing in several Osiriani dialects, the mule agrees to his assigned lot in life.

okay I am going to catch us up with the other group, since they are only one post ahead of you. Head over to the gameplay thread when you are ready,

Occurs to me that I haven't listed Targ's prepared spells for the day. I'll work those up ASAP and post them here or out of character in the game thread.

I usually post my prepared spells in my profile, just another option for you.

I usually post my prepared spells in my profile, just another option for you.

Okay, that's what I've done.

Just an FYI my computer is f'ed. If I update it'll be once maybe twice a day from my wifes computer.

Packing has begun, and we're up early here to head to the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Airport and from there on to Houston, then Guanajuato/León, then by car to San Miguel de Allende, where I'll be for a week (but with internet access, or at least so I'm told).

I might be able to sneak a post in tomorrow from an airport someplace, but it also might be Saturday before I'm back.

If by some small chance the snake has survived by the time it comes time for Targ's initiative, will the person who precedes me in initiative please go ahead and RP my attack as well? Targ will swing his longsword with the following to hit and (potentially) damage numbers on the snake:

Longsword to hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

If the snake is long since dead by the time his turn comes up (which I anticipate) please feel free to have Targ Assist on any skill checks that come up during the investigation of the chests and the jar. His skills are all listed in his profile.

Thanks!

If by some small chance the snake is alive when it gets to targ it won't make it to round 2 with that roll.

I'm obviously saving my good rolls for a real combat...

After reading more into the deities of Golarion, I've noticed that Torgil would be a very non-typical follower of Torag, and that Gorum would be a much more suitable God for him, given his impulsive behaviour.

Any chance that I could still switch Torgil's deity? I don't have anything related to Torag on the sheet at the moment, so the change would practically be only cosmetic at this point.

That's fine remember you can rework your character for each scenario throughout level one. After that your more or less locked in.

Commenting on the next steps, I'd like to roleplay us giving the report on the first mission (we're here to roleplay, right?), but I'm fine with the consensus.

Like Torgil, I'd be up for roleplaying it! I have fun with that part of things, I just want to make sure we don't get too bogged down in it due to the essentially slow nature of PBP.

I've played pretty much only PbP in the last 10 years, due to not really being able to reserve a full day for this hobby. As a result, I've grown accustomed to the slow pace of PbP. To me, as long as there are messages from the players/DM every day or two, it doesn't feel like getting "bogged down", although I understand that people who mainly do PnP might be getting frustrated by the campaign advancing slowly.

In addition, I feel that the absolutely best part of PbP is that you will really have a chance to roleplay your character to the best of your ability and that your imagination is not hampered by the people munching pizza around the table (although that's great too!) :)

I'm running two PnP campaigns right now as well as GMing Pathfinder Society PNP once a month, and playing in two other campaigns PnP, AND playing in Pathfinder Society on the days I'm not running it, LOL. I have an abundance of PnP wealth... but I've had times where pnp games weren't feasible too, for whatever reason.

The text format can definitely let you expound more on the roleplaying side of things than you can always do at the table, it's true. For me the issue with PBP just becomes the amount of time that the other players are willing to invest. If the roleplay winds up hinging on needing one player or GM to answer something and everything grinds to a halt for two days in the case of a slow response/real life getting in the way, that can kill a PBP campaign dead, in my experience, as people lose interest. Of course, the same thing can happen in combat too, so that doesn't really make a difference as far as that goes-- either way, things can get hung up.

None of this is arguing with you at all. :P if anything, agreeing with you. Just nonsensical one a.m. blither....