Cool stuff, everybody. I'll be able to post something when I get home in a bit.
I'm now standing on a rock on the map.
GM Budd sits back in his rocking chair, watching the fun unfold.
Great posts, guys. I'm just enjoying watching the magic happen. :D Just wanted to let you guys know that I'm not absent, just watching and waiting until it's time to move you along.
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While we're still waiting on Mr. Marsh to report his findings, let me just say that I am thoroughly enjoying the Wiki so far. This is turning out so much better than I had imagined, and you guys are making my first time GMing a PbP game really wonderful. Thanks, everybody!
I am enjoying this game a lot so far as well. The fewest GMs adapt their adventures like this to suit the party's needs.
Absolutely. I've learned a lot as a player and as a GM. Stuff I brought into my own game.
I consider myself very lucky to have been chosen for this game.
Ditto. Not a lot of gms take the time and effort like you do, sir. It inspiresis to do better.
Just an offhand side question but before we get too deadly, how did you all calculate your maximum hit points? I am at 2d10+1d6+1(con)*3. No Favoured Class bonuses.
Is it full level 1, followed by average each level?
IIRC PFS has some different rules. Just checking.
I believe it was the average HD (+1) for HP beyond level 1, like the PFS standard. Somebody check me on that one...
That's how it was supposed to be, yes.
Now begins that most challenging of PbP aspects: combat! Work with me on this one, it's my first time. :)
I think I may have lied to you earlier... I have a feeling that in Pathfinder the space a creature occupies is always a square - 10x10 foot. That again raises the question on which field exactly the character sits... I believe the rider inherits the the space and reach of the mount. I am not sure.
Calwen has the ability to bestow you temporarily the feat Precise Strike, but that's only helpful if we flank an attacker. She also has the ability that her "aid another" is much more effective than normal, then we need at least to attack the same target.
In 3.0 and AD&D, some large creatures like Lamias can indeed be 10x5. They are large in length but not width. Not true in Pathfinder as it would entail facing.
Everything is now a square, as silly as it seems but its best to visualize it such that the creature if it turned in the span of the 6 second round would eat that whole 10x10 area.
Nooo! I trusted you! Now I have to... RESIZE THE HORSE! *cries*
EDIT: Whoops! I thought the failed DC was for something else, so you've got the right of it as far as that DC goes, Calwen.
Round 2 summary will be up tomorrow around lunchtime with any luck. I'm a bit indisposed at the moment.
Dalton still needs to go. Here is hopin that he drops the spellflinger.
Also, I got this in a PM. It made me laugh so I wanted to share it. I am sure there are some kids from the 80s here who can appreciate it:
D&D Clue:
Vinnie Marsh
In the forest
With the heavy flail
Indeed, waiting until morning will give Dalton a chance to post as well.
I thought you got her with the candlestick, Col. Marshtard!
I think with a combat trained mount you only need a 10. I'm gonna look it up real quick. Also which target are you telling him to target?
Based on the formulation of the description for the Ride skill it does not really make a difference whether or not the mount is combat trained.
Fast Mount or Dismount: You can attempt to mount or dismount from a mount of up to one size category larger than yourself as a free action, provided that you still have a move action available that round. If you fail the Ride check, mounting or dismounting is a move action. You can't use fast mount or dismount on a mount more than one size category larger than yourself.
As for the target... there was only one in my range.
Nooo! I trusted you! Now I have to... RESIZE THE HORSE! *cries*
EDIT: Whoops! I thought the failed DC was for something else, so you've got the right of it as far as that DC goes, Calwen.
Sorry, never really fought from a horseback in pathfinder either and my D&D miniatures, namely one of a nightmare, mislead me.
Sorry if this wasn't what you had in mind Calwen, but I don't want to hold things up.
There isn't much you could have done. You could have made a five-foot-step to the west, to give Calwen space, but then the enemy might have surrounded you.
I was considering to try and get in from the outside, riding to the west of Vincent's side, but then I'd be left on the outside of the battle and it would have become more difficult to get into the center from there.
If it helps, Bacarov's plan was to have Calwen southern enemy cleared, have Dramin push forward on the left flank, Bacarov would heal Marsh, then Calwen could press straight up in support of Dalton as he holds the east and Marsh and Dramin as they go in that direction, thus nearly all would be taking advantage of Calwen's presence. Bacarov and Warshawski can continue moving among the southern area to provide support and flanking bonuses. Just a thought. For his part, Bacarov is considering the tactical to aid the team since he can't provide close support and his ranged is rubbish. To him, a battle is like a huge crime scene in motion.
Anyway, just his suggestions. Chracter-wise, we're still forming our team dynamics. He'll roll with whatever the group, he's adaptable.
I just realized that thanks to Dalton's archetype, he actually doesn't have evasion. O_O
So he should have taken 4 points of fire damage last round.
Hope you don't mind if I retcon that in there, Dalton!
@Dalton - If you aren't able to post by the time I get home from work, I'm just going to bot you for the round, just to keep things moving. Hope you don't mind if I have you flurry the good professor!
While I'm working on the Round 2 summary, let me propose another House Rule!
-I've always hated the idea that Combat Maneuvers provoke an attack of opportunity. So howsabout we just scratch that? I think it'd add a lot of options to combat with minimal fuss.
Any objections?
Eh, well it helps and hurts both ways. The attack of opportunity right before you get tripped, knockbacked, knocked out or sundered can be a life saver and it helps prevent some guy with a whip keeping you prone all the time. I can see waving some AoOs, but waving them all may be a bit harsh. The way I see it PbP is pretty cinematic and has to be driven by the DM, if you say the guy bullrushes me and it is successful I am cool with that.
You are doing a great job CHUD. I am so glad you chose to run one group.
Also, I am so impressed with everyones writing. Checking this thread after work and seeing 10 posts in gameplay is like Christmas morning after a long day. Thanks for the escape!
I like how the characters are coming across and I look forward to more interaction with all of you.
Excellent points, of course. Glad everyone seems to be enjoying themselves as much as I am.
Round 2 goes up in the morning. Insane day today.
Personally I am extremely mixed with regards to Combat Man's. As a more classical player (back in my day you whippersnaps we didn't have Disable Device and Diplomacy, you had to use yer head!), having to take a magical feat in order to trip a target or throw sand is absolutely absurd and really hurts some of the cool and extraordinary things (EX) a trained warrior or a trained acrobat can do with supernatural advantages.
Dirty Trick is probably the thing I hate most about PF. Having to make a nigh impossible CMB check to throw sand in someones face, pull down a chandelier or grab their cape takes a lot out of the game and its creative thinking.
IMO of course.
Yeah, that's my thing. I just think it's silly that you have to let a guy punch you in the face in order to trip him unless you pay the feat tax.
I've added this house rule into home campaigns before and it made the somewhat less-damage-heavy characters start wading into melee to grapple or trip or confound opponents a lot more often. Whether or not that's a good or a bad thing is in the eye of the Beholder(tm WoTC), I suppose.
I get what they wanted to do with the Improved X feats - if someone extra-good at grappling tries to get you in a grapple, it's going to be a lot harder to fight back, logically. You may not even get a chance to. But I agree - with how slowly PCs acquire feats in PF, and the low feat-cap, functionally the only people who really use combat maneuvers are the ones who build around it, like trip-monks or anti-caster grapplers.
While working on my post I just noticed this:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/trick-riding-combat
Windmane has this.
Winmane has this. I do not get a penalty for riding without saddle, I can make two checks for to dodge an attack on my mount and I wouldn't have had to roll fight when I let my mount attack at all.
The downside is, it's too good to not use it. I really need a mithral armour now.
Well, what a right pickle you've put me in.
Never had an interparty conflict like this happen before. Not sure how to handle it as of yet.
...I'm going to sleep on it and tackle this relatively gigantic problem in the morning.
I am not sure how much discussion we can cramp into a combat round. It's not like Calwen has nothing to say on this matter, but I would prefer to wait until the next combat round...
I can say as much as that she would side with Marsh, she's a warrior after all.
Reminds me on a quote from Battlestar Galactica:
There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.
I do apologize for the trouble. Warshawski just believes that you don't turn someone's head into a watermelon from a Gallager show when they're down.
If worse comes to worse and this can't be resolved, I can work out someone a little less on the good side of alignment for the game to replace Warshawski.
To be honest, it's an interesting dynamic to introduce into the game. Most parties ultimately devolve into a company of murder hobos where quarter is rarely given. Warshawski's character brings the concept to the forefront; as officers of the law, and from our point of view, we just saw the barbarian hit the ground after a devastating hit. Then we saw Marsh coup de grace a 'defensless' antagonist. As officers, if we were on the spot, the coup de grace would have come as a flat blade to ensure they were out of the fight versus killing. Add to that - and building off of that awesome BSG quote - this is a police action in the minds of Warsh & Bacarov.
IC, Marsh is Bacarov's best friend, so seeing him do it was a real eye opener. If it came down to it he'd have to weigh in if they're assumptions of Ravenmoor are off and there's one or two folks behind the nastiness, he'd be concerned if Marsh lost it in town and someone gets killed for the wrong reasons. Bacarov's patron is Abadar - the law side - so much so that he'd considered going into the church during his studies of the law in Magnimar. That in mind, he'd recommend that he and Marsh leave and return to the city to acquire clerical and expanded Watch support to investigate the blight and the town since it goes beyond 500 gold and a missing hireling.
I say let's see where the rp takes us. It's bloody interesting story telling!
What he said. :)
It's an interesting conflict to observe from outside, as I'm sure Calwen agrees. Dalton has no association with the law; I guess one could argue that he's been unofficially deputized for this mission, but it's only by way of being in the same party as the law-men. So he has a slightly different perspective than the others.
The woman was knocked down and staggered but not out. Barbarians can fast heal or make a healing surge. She could still take a standard action. Marsh was a pit fighter, in Marshes opinion she was still a big threat and she threatened to kill everyone.
Thinking of it from an officer of the law stand point, Warshawski just tried to take Marshes "duty weapon" in the middle of a fight for his life. He already had some distrust of her.
I do think there are some great roleplay ideas here. I have already been thinking of some. Unfortunately they might come after the battle and people get healed up.
If the other characters chime in it could help.
The Warshawski/Vinnie saga is entertaining.
I can PM you CHUD if you need, but I don't want to taint your creative juices.
Well, if everyone is interested in letting this all play out, I'm game. Warshawski, don't even think about abandoning this character! She's one of my favorites I've seen in my time with Pathfinder. Seriously. Let me get a final round summary typed up and we'll see where it all leads.
I actually lost sleep over this, believe it or not!
Also, in unrelated OOC news, I just received some disturbing family news that requires my attention. The summary post will go up shortly but I may have to leave the ball in you guys' court for most of the day depending on how that goes.
Hope your family's alright Budd, that's always top priority obviously. I'm interested to see how this interpersonal conflict plays out too. If any roleplaying group I've been a part of is mature and eloquent enough to make PvP work, it's this group.
I would prefer to keep this discussion in character... I probably should have kept Calwen's opinion about this to myself.
Warshawski is a good character, though. While I find trying to disarm a companion in the middle of battle a bit extreme, you play her well and I perfectly agree with Budd that you should hold on to the character as she is.
I'm happy to keep her, too. I'm just not sure what will happen next. This may be an obstacle that can't be surmounted or smoothed over. Some parties weren't meant to adventure together, even if both characters are well written and amazingly played.
Interparty conflict can be lovely. Right up until the point where it grinds the campaign to a crashing halt.
I'm keeping the option open.
Well, you may all now give it a shot. Combat proper is over!
Combat Maneuver house rules is now in effect. Sorry if that's inconvenient timing, Marsh, but them's the breaks.
And make it work, you guys, because I have no interest in losing a player- especially not thanks to a (mostly) random encounter added in to give you guys a chance to get some combat in before Ravenmoor.
Uck. Not a fun day this is turning out to be.
I don't think you need to worry that much CHUD. This group can overcome anything :). Don't be afraid of a juicy plot with unseen twists and turns. Plus Marsh's player is not Marsh. I am not taking it personally.
I do worry about the combat maneuver rule though, because as it stands with my cestus I will be able to disarm and use any weapon my opponent has without consequence. I would in effect be able to knock prone an opponent each round and then pummel them every time they try to get up using trip. I can also disarm with the heavy flail then beat away on disarmed opponents. I am thinking that removing a major rule could be a problem. Now it is open to try for a free knock out every round with a sap or sunder with impunity.
I don't think you are loosing a player and I wouldn't want Warshawski to play another.
Party cohesion for the win!
@Budd - Positive prayers and vibes enroute. Hope your day turns out on the upside of calamity.
Thanks, guys.
I have an idea about the Combat Maneuver thing. What if you only provoke an attack of opportunity when your maneuver fails? That I could see making sense. Thoughts?
As a not-game-designer, that seems like a worthy houserule.
That's how I generally play TBH.
Makes for more risk and thus more excitement and story moments that make you go "Oh Shi---!"
Admittedly, I realize that the "trip-loop" is still going to be a danger even with this addendum, but this would give non-damage-dealers like Warshawski and Bacarov better odds of being able to contribute meaningfully in combat. Neither of them is going to be soloing opponents anytime soon (not like Dalton, Calwen, or Marsh obviously can), but this should give them better odds of at least being useful in a fight.
And there will be more fighting. ;)
Muuhhahahaha! Exploits with two weapon fighting to come. Disarm, trip, sunder, bull rushing, knockback. If we can do that with a reach weapon you can keep knocking someone back so that they can't hit you, then you can hit them with the reach weapon every round if you are successful then 5 foot step yourself so that they can't get a full round of attacks. It will make combat interesting alright. Especially when they do it back to us.
Does getting up still count as an AoO? Or drinking a potion? or using a wand? What will trigger an AoO?
I would think the AoO triggering actions would be intact outside of CMB, right?
BTW, this group is awesome. Kudos to Warshawski and Marsh for making such rich (and difficult) characters! Actually, that goes all around.
Absolutely, Combat Maneuvers are the only things that have their AoO properties changed.
Now, Marsh... don't abuse the system too much, now, or I'll make you guys fight a group of Maneuver Master monks. ;)
I asked Santa for a Manuever Master Monk for Christmas and all I got was a Rogue...
I asked Santa for a Manuever Master Monk for Christmas and all I got was a Rogue...
lol while trying to sip my diet cherry 7up. good times and my sinuses are clear.