Sorry for the delay on the search check- work's been busy this week and I've been busy at home finishing drywall for my wife paint, so I haven't had time to finalize the loot in here... I will get it up at some point today.
Hey all,
Thanks for the invite. Ive been reading through the posts and this party is looking pretty awesome. Looking forward to playing with you all.
Hi Oliver! Thanks for checking us out. Theres certainly some characters here.
In case anyone missed it, Oliver is the friend I mentioned who's putting together a slayer/magus archer. We're moving a bit slowly wrapping up the cave but he'll be ready whenever you get back to Sandpoint.
Are these rods of the lesser variety?
and lesser metamagic rods of rime and extend.
yes they are.
Ah, I missed your summary - was looking at the list in the 'Justinius' spoiler. Jim will definitely take the rime rod; I mean, it's in his damn name! I don't suppose anyone knows of a way to add the cold descriptor to spells, outside of the sorcerer bloodline ability?
The elemental spell metamagic feat...that's the only one I can think of off the top of my head that you can get without multiclassing.
Welcome Oliver.
The elemental spell metamagic feat...that's the only one I can think of off the top of my head that you can get without multiclassing.
RAW Elemental Spell changes the damage type but not the spell type/descriptor. If you ruled that it changes the spell type to have the cold descriptor as well, it would become a much more likely feat candidate down the road, as Jim also gets +1 damage per die on spells with the cold descriptor from his draconic bloodline.
Is there a multiclassing option other than sorcerer? As I already have sorcerer levels I would be unable to utilize the Elemental bloodline arcana.
Also - Greetings & salutations, Oliver!
@Jim- the winter witch witch archetype has a hex called frozen caress that adds 1d4 cold damage and the cold descriptor to any touch spell (and the archetype grants +1 to the DC of all spells with the cold descriptor). Also, you are correct that RAW the elemental spell feat does not explicitly change the spell's descriptors but based on the precedent set by spells like resist energy or summon monster determining their descriptors as a result of the element chosen I'll rule that the feat does modify a spell's descriptors.
hey all,
i've been looking through the recruitment thread and found a player to ask about filling our arcane slot... i tried to PM him to see if he was still interested (and willing to make some tweaks to his concept) but it seems as though his profile has been completely removed somehow...
at this point, unless someone has a suggestion for a reliable friend I could PM, i think i'm going to post a new recruitment thread to find an arcane caster. i'll wait until tomorrow so you guys can reply (although Reckless and I are probably the only ones with enough experience on these boards to know anyone, and most of my online gaming friends are in my divine version of this).
new recruitment thread is up. I told people that if they wanted to try to connect their backgrounds with one of you to PM you... in retrospect I should have asked you about that first (sorry). Please feel free to PM me any feedback you might have on applicants as they pop up.
Unfortunately I will be unable to post in gameplay today due to time constraints, but will post tomorrow as soon as I can.
our sunshine pirate
I literally LOLed.
Sorry I didn't post yesterday- busy weekend. I should have a post up this afternoon/evening. Does anyone have anything they want to do on the way back? If not I'll probably try to do one lengthy post that gets us all the way back to Sandpoint...
Also, if you have a chance to look at the recruitment thread, I'd love any feedback any of you have on the potential replacement arcane casters!
theres no spot on my profile for money, therefore, I must not need any.
Well, you're welcome to give it back to Aldern... or you could list it with your gear. Also, go post in gameplay.
Hi Everyone!
Thank you for the selection, and I wish we got a great game. Second time was the charm!
I have just finished the "Crimson Throne" adventure path with a character i liked a lot, and now Valanthe is my new character to take over the place!
I will do the changes to the profile, taking into account Nate's recommendations, and making her the best wizard you can ask for.
I include the description of her here, even if it is also in the profile.
Valanthe, daugther of the Pomarj Varisian clan, was raised hearing the old histories of the grandmother, diviner and sage, and also from Madame Mvashti, Sandpoint elder, when she spend several years of her childhood and early youth.
So when she reached the age to travel by herself she moved on, and started visiting places all around Varisia, trying to gather all the information she could about the origins, history, customs and state of the Varisian people.
Preserve the Varisian traditions, customs and teachings have become an important thing for her, a driving force in her life and actions.
To do it she has become an accomplished ranger and wizard, able to travel far and wide (as her Desna religion commands) and learn about her roots.
In her investigations she has become more and more intrigued about the old Thasillonian empire, and the relationship of the Varisian's origin with it.
Now, 32 years old, she is realizing she looks better, and younger, than she would. She don't know why, and that is starting to worry her. Why? It is something she did? It is something she is?
And her clan, the Pomarj, has been falling into hard times. Their caravans raided, their sages missing, her children less and less. It is consequence of bad luck, or an enemy striking from the shadow?
But don't get confused. She is not "ivory tower" scientist. Her motivation is the defense of the Varisian people. Her people. And she is willing to lay her life out for them. To study their culture is a way for her to help them save their future.
Now that I think of it... Ruperta, the character in the other Adventure path, was also "recruited" as a replacement character at the start of the second book.
I hope that is a good omen.
Welcome to the game Valanthe!
Hi Nate!
I am changing Valanthe, and this is my progress:
30 Point buy (I made a mistake, I cannot get Intelligence over 22 at the moment, but I lowered Strength anyway and improved Constitution... seems like my math was off originally, but now I think I have it right).
Strength 11 (cost 1)
Dexterity 14 (cost 5)
Constitution 12 (cost 2)
Intelligence 18 (cost 17)
Wisdom 14 (cost 5)
Charisma 10 (cost 0)
Human Bonus (+2 to two different abilities)
Dexterity 16
Intelligence 20
Level increases (2, level 4 and 8)
Intelligence 22
Feats:
Ranger feats changed to: Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot and Shoot on the Run
Normal feats changed to: Spell Focus (Illusion), Greater Spell Focus (Illusion), Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Initiative, Persistent Spell, Reach Spell
Wizard Feats: Quicken Spell, Piercing Spell.
I also changed the skill, lowering acrobatics, for example, and improving the Knowledge ones.
I am checking the items now, as she doesn't need some of them (weapons, mostly).
About the gp... she has the Scribe Scroll feat as a Wizard "automatic" feat... does she gets the extra 5,000 gp for having a crafting feat?
Don't forget that you get +4 to a mental stat from automatic bonus progression...
And please don't feel like you need to abandon your weapon entirely. Having a weapon (or weapons) as an option when spells aren't effective is a wise choice. Plus with ABP you get a +2 weapon so you're not saving any money or anything but skipping it.
Right!
So she will have a 26 intelligence!
Yes, she will have a bow, no question about it...
About the equipment gp... does she gets the extra 5,000 gp for having a crafting feat?
Welcome aboard, Valanthe!
Valanthe- my answer from the original recruitment still stands regarding Scribe Scroll.
Duh... sorry, didn't remember it. I guess I'll follow the same choice I made at that time then.
Will get Still Spell instead of Scribe Scroll
Alright, I'm looking forward to getting us well and properly back on track now. I know how I'm going to introduce Oliver into the party and I'm planning on doing so tomorrow (in game time, possibly also IRL time depending on what the three current party members want to do tonight/in the morning). Valanthe, I'm still thinking about the best way to introduce you but hopefully we'll be able to do that within the next few days (and if anyone has any suggestions please feel free to share them).
Welcome Val. Interesting choices. It looks like we'll be playing two side of the same coin. Oliver will be more focused on archery with some spell casting ability.
Thank you all for the welcome.
Yes, the other way around... a Wizard that can use a bow in a pinch, in my case...
Oliver Snow. The name seemed to fit him about as well as a 3 copper suit. His tan skin and green eyes would make him stand out like a deer against a snow-blanketed forest were it not for his concealing garb. Back in Rahadoum, in a village outside of Azir, along the Anlin River, he would have blended in perfectly. He would have been no one special. Of course, his mother always said he was special. That was why the gods gifted him with his markings; a birthmark on his face in the shape of a crescent moon. She would affectionately, and secretly, call him Amal Alaliha “Hope from the gods.” But, Rahadoum is no place for gods and wants nothing to do with what the gods could bring, hope or not. The Laws of Man have been all its citizens have lived by since the Oath Wars. There are even those who demand the ultimate price for straying but a little from these laws.
One day, unbeknownst to her, a travelling merchant overheard his mother call out to him. Later that night, Amal awoke to an ear-splitting scream. It was his mother. Not knowing what to do…he hid. Moments seemed like eternity; suddenly his mother burst through the door. Her eyes glanced about the room until they met his. “Amal”… she said in her most gentle voice…. as blood trickled down the corner of her mouth… run. Through the open door he could see men coming toward him. His father lay motionless, still in his favorite chair. The man behind his mother pulling his dagger from her back. He ran.
He was quick for his age. Quick and stealthy. He ran as fast as he could from shadow to shadow, stopping only to catch his breath. His heart pounded so loudly he thought that it might give him away. His own breath threatened to betray him. But he was fortunate. There was just a sliver of moon out that night. The darkness covered him as managed to get away. Stealing some clothes and covering his birthmark, he found a large caravan headed toward Azir. There, he managed to stow-away on a ship headed north for Sandpoint.
In Sandpoint, Amal lived the life of a beggar. Fending for himself by trying to catch what he could to survive and stealing what he couldn’t. Though, he always tried to pay back what he stole when he could. Despite his skills, he was spotted trying to steal apples from a produce farmer. The owner took pity on the poor boy and took him to an orphanage run by the church of Serrenrae. It was there that Amal first met Clive and Aurora Snow; a noble couple whom the gods has not blessed with a child of their own. Though most looked at Amal with disdain, Aurora saw him as something…special. Like a new pet, she named him Oliver, after her favorite grandfather. Oliver was to be given every opportunity. He was enrolled in the Sandpoint Arcane Academy, and began learning the family occupation of hunting. To his mentors’ surprise, Oliver was quite adept and excelled at anything he did.
Not being of true noble birth, Oliver was perfectly content to join the regions ranger corps. His skills lended well to not only protecting citizens of Sandpoint from external threats, but finding and eliminating internal threats as well. In all of the stories he recounted from his childhood; of Orcs… of monsters… of evils that dwelt in the dark recesses of the world, nothing was either more benevolent or more dangerous than human kind. His last memory of his mother’s eyes looking at him, tears mixed with blood was a constant haunting reminder of this. Man’s inhumanity to man... Sitting high on a cliff overlooking much of Sandpoint, his eyes could still see children playing in the streets. But, perhaps… there is Hope.
The recent events at the grand opening of the cathedral have left a sinking feeling in Oliver’s stomach that he can’t seem to calm. If it wasn’t for these “heroes” who knows how much worse things could have been. “But who or what could be behind all of this?” Oliver will not be able to rest easy until these questions have answers. Shalelu calls out to him “It looks like the heroes have made their way back to Sandpoint. Let’s go.”
Just to clarify Jim's post- he and I talked via PM about what he was buying and for how much via PMs.
dang. I thought we were setting a precident for just declaring that we wander off with treasure.
Sorry for the poor post last night... It was a long busy day and I was nodding off at my computer trying to type that up.
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I was up late sleuthing
As for introducing my character into the adventure, what about being the "representative" for the Sandpoint Varisian community in the meeting with the Sheriff, and joining the rest from there?
I'm sorry it's taking so long to get Oliver and Valanthe into the group- it's at least partly my fault as I've had a hectic week; hopefully we can get everyone back up to at least 1 post per day, and I can pick up the pace at which things are happening a bit...
Oliver is going to be introduced at the meeting with the Sheriff (which will begin today, hopefully after Jim has a chance to post). I'm afraid things will feel too forced if I introduce you both at the same time, but I do have an idea for working Valanthe in that won't require waiting too much longer (I'll PM you about it soon).
Got it!
are we using mythic vital strike now?
I told Victoria she could keep mythic vital strike- I just wanted her to move away from the two-handed fighter archetype because it has a few abilities that when stacked with mythic vital strike result in outrageous damage.
copy red leader. (see how I made that sound like a star wars quote, but really I was calling you a commie. I'm clever.)
10-4 comrade
No big deal, but Jim was actually trying to be traditionally polite for once for the benefit of the lady Mayor. I just didn't want to hold anything up by waiting in RL until it seemed like everyone was done RPing their introductions.
”’Tis an honor, Madame, t’ be sure,” Jim says, momentarily removing his hat and bowing his head to the Mayor
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Hi DM Nate...
I am "improving" Valanthe in the meantime, I want to check some ideas I have with you...
- Wild Arcana Mythic Path ability
This one lets her cast ANY wizard spell x times a day (7, in Valathe's case), without needing to have it in her spellbooks. And use Metamagic feats with it (Extend comes to mind). That means she could "potentially" have casted, before the "start" of the adventure, a number of permanent or "long running" spells on her or on items, even if not in her spellbooks.
How many of them would you be willing to allow her to have in effect?
For an example, check the next question.
- Spellbooks
For her number of spells she needs a couple spellbooks. She is "vulnerable" in case she lost them, so I am thinking in taking special care of them. I am not sure how much "risks" the books will face, but if I were her, I would take a lot of precautions about them.
In one of them (the "higher level spells" one) she would use a Bookmark of Deception (1,500gp, to make the book look like a torrid romance novel instead of a spellbook) and a Bookplate of Recall (1,000gp, so she can summon the book back in case of loss or theft).
In the case of the other book (the "lower spells one") she would put a Superior lock (150gp) on it, the Phantom Trap spell on it (with 50gp material cost, so the lock looks trapped) and a Sepia Snake Vigil (with 500 gp material cost, so when someone "unauthorized" reads it would get paralyzed).
I am being too paranoid? Should I save that money?
Could the used spells be some of the ones she did "before" the start of the adventure (paying the cost of course) with her Wild Arcana Mythic ability without needed to have them in her spellbook?
- She took a bonded item as Wizard (avoiding the familiar). She also got the Legendary Item Mythic feat.
Can the Legenday Mythic item be her bonded ring?
BTW, the Legendary Item ability is Undetectable ("This grants its bonded user the ability to become utterly undetectable while invisible. While invisible and in physical contact with this item, the bonded creature can't be detected or scryed by any method.") which seems very handy with her Illusionist abilities and "style".
Thanks for the answers.
Wild Arcana- this will work according to the FAQ rules (ie as a standard action). If you want to use it to cast extended buffs that's fine (though the vast majority of them still won't really last more than a day). When you first encounter the party you can have as many long duration spells active as you want and are able to. Once you're in the party there'll be no limit to how many spells you can have active if you want to use long duration buffs right after preparing spells or something. I did limit the number of spells you are allowed to have used permanency on before beginning the game (to 1/level that you've had access to permanency, iirc).
Spellbooks- I think you should base this on your character's personality/outlook... Would Val be paranoid about her spellbooks? If so, spend the money; if not, don't. Also remember that there's a path ability you could take that makes it so you don't need a physical spellbook at all.
Legendary Item- I believe this is a universal path ability, not a feat (so make sure you're choosing the right things). There is no reason (afaik) why you couldn't have your legendary item be your bonded item.
Wild Arcana and Permanency: Excellent!
Spellbooks: Yes, paranoid. She will spend the gold.
Legendary Item: Excellent, thanks!
FYI Justinius, Jim will gladly take the 825 gold.
My phone seems to have died this evening :(
I'll try to keep up but I usually do most of my posting from my phone, so I apologize if I slow down a bit.
also- despite how it might look in gameplay, i haven't been awol the last couple days... i've been PMing Oliver info about the town and it's people so that he can respond to questions and offer advice (and hopefully guide the party toward the next scene very soon).
already deducted it Jim. thanks for lookin out