GM BPC TK2's Excellent PFS Adventure

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

And good call on the prestige. I'd really like to get that belt next chronicle, so what do I need to do exactly? I wasn't here before so don't know the land parcels work.

Ahh, I'll send you a Land Rush chronicle; every time you complete an Emerald Spire level, you can spend 2PP to purchase a hex. Depending on what hex you select you get different bonuses; one of them gives you more Fame.

On that note, I'll try to get Chronicles out today. Faeros, I still need your PFS # so I can report this, too.

You can spend 2 prestige to get a land parcel. You must take parcel A first, which gets you nothing. But after that you can start taking other adjacent parcels, some of which can give you back two prestige and others give you an additional point of prestige and fame. There are three specials that give other things like a nice vanity, some gold, etc.

If you have played Emerald Spire all the way through and gotten 4 fame per level you would 12 now, and 16 after the next level. That is two shy of the 18 you need to buy stat boosting items. But by buying the right parcels of land (type B iirc) you can boost your fame by 2.

Now since you have played up to third level in other games you may not have this problem as you could have gotten up to 6 fame per level instead of the max of 4 from a module.

I hope that is clear enough.

Thinking I will go ahead and by a lesser rod of extend with my current gold. Thinking also about a Spell Lattice. A first level lattice costs 1000 gold and would add any first level wizard spell to my list of spells I can cast with my sorcerer-like spell slots. Thoughts?

PFS #: 18851-12

I'm probably going to skip the land rush since I'm behind... Not sure though.
I came in with 8 Prestige/ 12 Fame already due to playing regular scenarios prior to Emerald Spire part 3. So after the next chronicle hopefully I will be 20 fame without the land...

So, this is quite a strange level. It seems that IF we pay tribute we level up and go down? The alternative is to fight the trogs and maybe destroy the godbox. Seems a bit evil to me, but paying tribute to another, or a false god seems like a bad option for our divine companions.

Any strong opinions or ooc DM recommendations?

I will let you know that the chronicle for this floor is actually kind of dickish. It's ridiculously difficult to get full XP/PP without murderhobo-ing.

Faeros has no issue against donating some metal to get through, as he can justify this as an act of trade. Nilfyr did express some religious offense, however.

As a player I think it best to fight here, though that may not have to be instigated by us. I expect them to attack if we try to make our way through without paying the sacrifice.

Any other ideas?

I have little issue murderhobo-ing when its called for, or at least hinted for by the GM. Especially if the NPCs start the trouble. Here goes...

When you see the chronicle sheet, you'll know what I mean. On one hand, I want you guys to get full rewards if possible. On the other, I don't want to direct your gameplay based on that. Again, it's a crappy floor based on those lines, but it seems to be the only one that is truly like that, for better or worse.

It is now out of my hands... :)

I was actually hoping telling them the godbox was a magnet would trigger an attack from them. I'm pretty stumped now...

Actually... it would have, had Artemus not had such a good Diplomacy roll! Instead, he made Slaagh friendly to indifferent; not enough for him to want to attack or call out for one.

I guess nothing is stopping you from either constantly pestering/insulting the troglodyte(s) into an attack :)

Yea, that was the plan. I think Art will begin to insist :) Be ready.

If we want to provoke them, we could at least get into a bit better position.

Question - How does a good character provoke a fight?

Answer - with good intentions.

I seem to have this power in real life. :)

This is a weird case; I see it as nothing different as other religious extremists. Insult their religion enough and they will act in defense.

Can I get a Day Job from everyone that has one?

Also, I'm awaiting a reply from the PbP VO, but I am currently unable to report this game because the scenario is not selectable for the event. Hoping to get that corrected soon!

Otherwise, everyone got full rewards! Well, 1/2 that for slow tiering this floor, but it's the principle. This will mean after the reduction, 2,400 gold, 1.5XP, and 2PP. The items available are nothing not worthy (maybe the handy haversack?).

Since this shouldn't level anyone, I say we'll relax for the holiday weekend (at least here in the US, not sure if the Netherlands have anything awesome going on), we'll start up sometime next week (maybe Tuesday).

Since our druid is a level ahead of us do we all need to slow tier this one?

Everyone needs to slow tier 2 of the next 3 levels. The suggestion is for this and the next.

-Posted with Wayfinder

So for the next three sessions I can be 4.5th, 5th 6th level, or 5th, 5.5th , 6th level. Just trying to understand here - why would I choose the lower level option? What am I missing?

Day Job (Craft Alchemy): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Bah, the three levels I am referring to are this one and the next to. Godhome (this one) and the next are 3-5 range and the one after is 4-6. The slow tier ing is suggested for this and the next to keep things within balanced level ranges and to prevent leveling out of future levels.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I guess I am dense, but am still confused.

1) Our druid is a level ahead. So if he goes slow this level and the next he will be 5 in this upcoming 3-5 and 6 in the one after.

2) We we do not go slow we will catch up with the druid after Godhome and all be 5th for this next one and 6th for the next.

Are you saying you would prefer us to be lower level for balance? If its my call I think I would prefer to level to 5. I do not get 3rd level spells til 6th so from a casting point of view I do not think I break the power curve.

I am not so much concerned about balance within the party (1 level means more now than it will in a couple more levels) as I am party balance within the suggested level for the floor, especially given the fact that the entire party is casters (either 6 level or 9 level). 1 PC at max level for the isn't as bad as all of the PC's at max level for the floor.

However, since this is a PFS campaign and not a home game, I cannot stop you from wanting and getting full credit for the next few floors if you wish.

Thunderstealer will have to go slow progression and Artemus wants to go normal progression. Faeros, Nilfyr, what do you want?

I would prefer to go normal progression to 5, and then slow to 6.

I can be talked out of it, if it really matters to you, but I've not played an inquisitor high enough to get bane and I've been itching for it =p

Alright, noted Faeros. I'll wait for Nilfyr before I send out chronicles. I'm also contacting the PbP GM to see about reporting this adventure!

If it's not going to throw off too much, I'd prefer to go slow as late as possible to not be out of subtier for the floor. I understand that we might have issues with balance, but I also know that there were a couple of times in Thornkeep that a couple of extra levels might've been really nice...

I am leveled to 5 and have replace that trait that was sorcerer only. Ended up taking a trait that lets me use my Int for Use Magical Devise. Not huge since I had a 14 Chr but as I raise my int it should become more important.

Also, with our current fame I can finally afford a stat boost item, so ma buying one of those.

I have also done everything for level 5 except spend money, which is just waiting on a chronicle.

Gold is spend and character is good to go

Bah, Forgot boon rolls! 1 or 20 wins something and I'll email you with the details if you get one :)

GM: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Artemus: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Faeros: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Nilfyr: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Thunderstealer: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Close but no cigar!

With that, the game has been reported.

Got my cert. Thanks. Ready to roll. :)

I've leveled Nilfyr to level 5, and he has purchased Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver (Trip) for a total of +13 to trip. Next level, he'll get Greater Trip, and the fun will commence.

As a side note, I'm assuming we should cross off the Troglodyte Friend boon, as the instructions indicate only one can be available to the character?

D'oh! Yes! Thanks Nilfyr. Buy you guys can see why it was hard to get full credit without a bit of murderhoboing.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I see three ways forward, not counting the portal to the elemental plane of water.

1) Down? the stairs and around the corner at the top of the map.

2) Through that wall we tore down and into the deep water.

3) Through one of these grates.

I would sorta like to at least look into that portal... :)

Those are all possible options :)

Let's put off for as long as possible the need for using any of our spells, so we can potentially use fewer of them. To that end, I'd say let's go around the corner at the top of the map.

Sorry I am not "into" this challenge. I know the water hazard is part of this level but even though there is real danger here the way it plays out over days of PBP is slow and a little hard to follow.

If it helps, I'm going to end it after this round as the water flow drops after this round. While technically there'd be a chance of still going down the path, it's easier and the successes so far are enough make sure that anyone who will be going down the chute shouldn't run into any obstacles. Just need Faeros to pass his check and Nilfyr to pass his :)

I am traveling starting tomorrow morning for the next 8 days - Ski Trip. Please bot me if you need to to keep things running. I will check in as time and internet are available.

So is everyone going slow this level? Is that our only real option?

Technically, you don't have to until level 10 if you want to be the high end of the floor's legal levels. While for balance purposes, I'd prefer to keep you in the middle of the level tiers... but I think you want your level 3 spells and can't stop you otherwise :P

I don't mind going slow this level. If everybody else goes to 6 I will join you, but if other people want to go slow with me, I think now is a good time for it (splitting the difference from levels 1-10)

With 4 players I don't mind being at the top of the tier. I thought this level was quite tough!

Heh, a lot of it was environmental, but it's definitely something different.

On that note, it was written by Sean K. Reynolds, so you can thank him for getting your PCs wet :P

Looks like 2 for high-leveling it, and 1 is ok either way. I guess we'll wait a bit for Nilfyr's response, but otherwise I'll try to get Chronicles out this weekend!

Up to Nilfyr. Like I said, I don't want to be the only one below party level, but I do feel like number-crunch wise we are having a pretty easy time. The terrain was really the only difference in my opinion.

At the end I guess I am fine either way. My sixth level is very easy and can be added on quickly if that's the direction we go.

Same. If I level I get one third level spell to prep - Haste. And I get a few more skill points which will mostly go into Diplomacy since I seem to be the party face (shudder). And more hit points and arcane pool points. But all in all its not spectacular. I guess I'd prefer to level if I have the option, but that always going to be true. Next level is another feat and 4th level summonings.

Well, being high for the tier will make the earlier levels easier (if nothing else, but just for the sake of having the extra durability to handle strange swing rounds when my dice are hot). While I haven't analyzed enough higher levels to confirm how the difficulty will ramp up, with my experience in other high level stuff, preparation makes a bigger difference in surviving higher level play than just being a higher level, if that makes any sense.

For example you guys went into the first room, saw all the water, went nope, prepped, and made a mockery out of the threat of drowning. One of the downsides of many of these levels and the fact this goes by PFS rules is that I don't get much leeway to play intelligently. In this floor, all of the enemies were hyper-aggressive due to the fact that they were aware of an intrusion and were on high alert (except the mudlord, that guy is a jerk and even the undines never messed in that room because of his jerkish nature). But otherwise, they couldn't switch spells, positions, or do much else as they weren't aware of the nature of the 'invaders of their domain'.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I'll make things as challenging as I can to keep you on your toes, but only when it makes sense and if you guys prepare and spend resources accordingly, I won't punish you for doing so. And sometimes, there may be that bit of GM-handwavium to save time when a battle is easily in the party's favor and not sure wasting a few days :P This is a pretty powerful group, but you'll have to remain flexible to handle the challenges of the floors below.

And hopefully not be forced to murderhobo despite the fact there may be an obvious peaceful solution; looking at you Godhome.

I'm fine with either, really, but I guess the higher levels would help more earlier on, considering our small table. If we had 5 or 6, I wouldn't have any problem going slow earlier on, but I'm a little nervous as things stand. I guess I'll throw my hat in with the "normals".

Alrighty then! Thanks for your input, Nilfyr and I'll get to working on them chronicles and reporting this weekend; hoping to at least send out the chronicles today if I can help it and work is slow.