Any OOC questions, chit-chat, etc, toss it in here.
Hi, everyone!
Typing up the opening Gameplay post now. Kardak, Krunch, and Filios, may I have your PFS numbers? If you have it in your sheets and I missed it, sorry, sometimes I'm blind.
Just checking I have everyone's factions correct:
Alan and Krunch = Lantern Lodge
Filios = Shadow Lodge
Saki = Andoran
Maps = Osirion
Kardak = Silver Crusade
Aaand Gameplay is up.
Thanks, Krunch!
A note on how I do 'passive' rolls (things like knowledge rolls, sense motives, perceptions, etc): I'll use the value on your sheet if it's one of those instances where I think a knowledge roll makes sense-- after all, in the course of life we rarely consciously go "hmm, what do I know about X"-- we just organically call up our knowledge of a subject when it comes into play. I think that this adds to immersion, and also speeds things up (hopefully) as we're not killing time waiting for players to roll checks and GMs to narrate their results.
That said, I may miss a knowledge skill you have ranks in, or you may be wondering what your character knows about X with Knowledge: Y, even if Knowledge: Z is what is asked for in the module. In short, just because I will roll some Knowledge checks doesn't mean you CAN'T-- if you want to roll a check beyond the ones I'm rolling for you, feel free.
Similarly, if I have yet to roll a Sense Motive/Perception for you in a situation where you are suspicious or on your guard, feel free to roll those.
These are general guidelines. The specific mechanics for Blakros in particular are detailed on when you can roll Sense Motives and other such skills, and I'll go over those OOCly once that come into play.
On combat: one of the nice things about this scenario for purposes of PBP is that it's faaairly combat light (I don't think I'm spoiling anything for anyone when I say that). That said, when we do get into combat, I'll be using Roll20.net to handle maps/etc. In combat, you can roll using their roller if you like it, but I ask that if you do, you copy/paste your results into the gameplay thread and say what your character is doing. Someone should be able to read just the gameplay thread and still understand who is doing what, without needing to check the Roll20 chat archive.
If anyone really hates Roll20 or has computer issues using it, let me know and we'll work something out.
Everyone should now have received their faction mission via PM. If you haven't or there's a problem, drop me a line.
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60867-1, received faction mission, my computer ate my level-up notes, but I should have everything squared away shortly.
A tan blur rushes into the room, followed by the scent of sweat and camel. It resolves into a young half-orc dressed in desert nomad's robes, who is rapidly glancing about the room, walls, floor, ceiling. After a moment or two, he relaxes slightly, but maintains a singled-handed grip on the glaive strapped to his back, clearly prepared to draw it at a moment's notice. "I really must apologize for being late. I've just come back from exploring some tunnels in the River Kingdoms and it took a lot out of me. Heh. I fear I've become slightly jumpy recently." Now that his head has stopped moving, you can see an elaborate tattoo on his right cheek - a bird, a glaive, and a blue rose.
"I don't want to have to explain why any of my agents lit a tapestry on fire, groped a bridesmaid, drank themselves into a stupor, or otherwise acted like barbarians on a righteous tear.""Don't worry. Krunch will do all of these things!"
For bonus points, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
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You could always light yourself on fire, grope a tapestry, and drink a bridesmaid into a stupor.
He nods slightly to himself at the presence of Saki and Kardak-- devotees of Shelyn ought to manage this sort of mission alright, Valsin thinks to himself
Valsin clearly doesn't understand why Kardak has the cognomen "the Feared".
You could always light yourself on fire, grope a tapestry, and drink a bridesmaid into a stupor.
He nods slightly to himself at the presence of Saki and Kardak-- devotees of Shelyn ought to manage this sort of mission alright, Valsin thinks to himselfValsin clearly doesn't understand why Kardak has the cognomen "the Feared".
He assumed it was due to Kardak's ability to whip up a realllllly mean cocktail?
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At some time before the guests arrive, Kardak will pull everyone aside and say, "I don't expect bloodshed at this party, but I'd like to make something perfectly clear. I have sworn oaths guaranteeing the safety of any prisoners I take with the flat of my glaive, and I will fulfill those oaths, even if it means opposing one of you. If any of you plan on killing slavers for Andoran, or putting an ex-lover of the Paracountess out of their misery, or revenging the death of a friend at the hands of Aspis agents, or what not, I'd like to know. I don't need, or even want to know, the full details. All I want to know is this: how can I tell who they are so I can avoid taking them prisoner in the first place?"
Flat of the Blade (Ex): At 2nd level, the cavalier of the order of the blue rose gains the ability to moderate his attacks in order to take an enemy alive. He no longer takes a –4 penalty when attacking with a lethal weapon to deal nonlethal damage. When dealing nonlethal damage, the cavalier receives a +2 bonus on damage rolls. When the cavalier makes use of this ability, he must attempt to subdue his target without killing it; dealing lethal damage after using this ability, or allowing his allies to kill the target, is considered a violation of his edicts.
Always good to get that sort of thing ironed out early, yes. *thumbs up for foresight*
Unrelatedly, thanks for being a great group of players so far, guys-- a lot of your tags are making me smile or chuckle. I love the visual references people have been providing.
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Saki deigns not to listen in on the conversation about looking beyond assassination, deciding that she would rather live in blissful ignorance when it came to the machinations of the often too factional Pathfinders. She simply sighs wearily. A lot.
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I photoshopped an image of Pinchy so he wouldn't feel left out of the visual references. ;)
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So Maps appears to be looking for a plant, Saki isn't the type to go along with murder if asked, and neither of the "Lodge"s seem the type to hand out "kill someone I don't like" faction missions, so I think I'm safe, right?
By the way, Kardak's build is a bit unconventional. Flat of the Blade lets him deal nonlethal with his glaive, the Enforcer feat tacks a free demoralize check onto his nonlethal attacks, and then (if I want) the Thug's Frightening ability lets him frighten the target, otherwise they're merely shaken for at least 8 rounds.
(Not to mention that he can move at normal speed when wearing medium armor, thanks to the Emissary ability In or Out of the Saddle.)
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By the way, is it ever explained how the Blakros casters are able to make a minute per level spell like Peacebond last for hours?
You found me out. *sidelong guilty look* The scenario doesn't specify if it's mundane or magical peace-bonding, but, yes, since the spell version technically only lasts a few minutes, it's quite likely intended to be mundane in nature.
I personally like the flavor of the magical version, but the end result mechanically is the same-- characters waste a round in drawing their weapons.
And don't worry about it, Saki, life happens! We're not blitzing through the game, so you'll have plenty of time to be the life of Shelyn's party.
Maps, I really dug the little bit of introspection in your last tag. It makes me curious to know more of his story-- if only I could give extra XP in PFS for tidbits like that. :)
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Thanks Dien. I've got a backstory and motivation for Maps, but haven't really done much with it in game since PFS doesn't really take such things into account.
Long story short, Maps walked out of the Mana Wastes a year ago with amnesia. He is a reluctant Pathfinder who joined the Society in order to accomplish tasks for the Sapphire Sage, who claims to have the resources to delve into mysteries of his past.
Thanks for letting me know, Kardak! If you're not back with us by the time the first round of Influence checks conclude, I will most likely do a Discovery or Influence check for Kardak on one of the people whom it would avail him to, ah, Influence.
No problem, glad to have you back.
Does it matter or make any difference if Kardak uses Intimidate rather than Diplomacy for an Influence roll?
Well, it has to match what your character is doing. :P
For instance, if you took the tack with Nigel Aldain that his position with the family IS precarious, and he had better have back-up friends in case his wife divorces him or Hamaria fires him as Curator... and that the Society can be those friends... that counts as an Intimidate check, as you are playing on his current fears and worries.
I'm really hoping nobody is attempting to Intimidate via the ol' 'I COULD BREAK YOUR FACE IN HALF' tactic, as you're all too smart for that.
.....on the other hand, when I played through Blakros, the fighter of the party kicked Nigel Aldain in the groin. Good times.
But yeah, mechanically, it makes no 'difference', but if you want to use the Intimidate skill in these checks, there needs to be an element of actual Intimidation in play. Make sense?
Sorry for any confusion over the mechanics, guys. I set out intending to run this going for a more 'immersive' experience-- I didn't want to list the bonuses in black and white terms, but would rather apply them behind-the-scenes from my end-- but the checks so far have made it clearer to me that spelling them out makes things a lot simpler, and it does help keep things moving, so a little immersion will be sacrificed to smoother play.
Live and learn. GMing is sometimes an exercise in what does and doesn't work!
I appreciate that, thank you!
Shameless silver-tongued flatterer! I see where Krunch gets it.
Yes, you posted it as a round 3 action about 5 posts after I specifically said I would prefer people didn't do that.