GM BPChocobo's Thornkeep Level 4 - The Dark Menagerie (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Indeed, thank you GM. It was a lot of fun. Any plans to do the next couple levels?

Actually, I was considering asking if you guys wanted to go... BEYOND THE IRON DOOR... :)

But the thought of a Level 4 Ki charging things has me scaaaaaaared :P

On that note... what is the interest in me running Level 3?

*raise hand*

What's the level range? I seem to remember that there is something weird in the tiers in the next couple.

Level 3 is 3-5 so everyone here will qualify after applying the level up from the Forgotten Labs chronicle!

Level 4 is the oddball at 6-8 because...

Level 5 is 5-7. However, technically, you can reach level 5 before doing level 4, so you can make it work :)

I too am game. Must Charge Stuff :)

Elindriel's up for more, too :-)

On the plus side, I have now played through all of the Thornkeep levels. (I played a bunch of them on a different character to get him ready for Bonekeep.) On the minus side, it means I can't play through the rest with you guys. It's a side effect of being very active in PFS for 4.5 years now - I don't have much left I can play.

Besides, this guy now has to get ready for The Traitor's Lodge, seeing as he's apparently doing the Grand Lodge story line.

Anyways, it was great playing with you guys! And it was great playing under you David! Maybe I'll see you guys at the next PBP Game Day from the other side of the table!

Can't you play modules again, just with different characters?

Ditto, though - had a great time, all. :-)

You can't replay for credit, just like scenarios. The caveat being that you can replay Tier 1 and Tier 1-2 scenarios and modules with different characters. As such, the first level of Thornkeep is Tier 1-2, so it's replayable. I've had three character play through the first level of Thornkeep.

*In Tier 1-2, you can play it only once with a Lvl 2 PC, and infinite times with different Lvl 1 PCs

And you could replay using one of your DM replay credits…

Hrm...I know I've played a couple of scenarios with different characters so far. Silent Tide, First Steps Pt. II, specifically. Anyone know whether I need to somehow remove credit for those scenarios?

@Elindriel: First Steps is OK, since that's a level 1-2 scenario, so just as Jostrum mentioned about Thornkeep level 1, it's replayable multiple times!

The Silent Tide, that'll be trickier. In practice, your second playthrough would be the illegal one and that chronicle would be invalidated. Worse, then, would be the chain reaction of that character's development. :( If you have a local Venture Officer you trust, talk to him/her. If not, message me privately and we'll see what we can do :)

Yeah, you can only play Silent Tide once. First Steps was Tier 1, so you could replay it with different characters.

Ninja'd!

I'd be willing to play the next level though after this Julian is level 4 because GM credit now gets applied.

4 is a legal level :) And at least I'd get to see your full build as you wanted it!

Me too. Wanted to see that Always interested in cool builds. :)

I'd like to play the next part as well! :-)

Hey guys! I'll start up the next round some time next week :)

Merry Christmas to you all!

Hey, I wanted to get an opinion on this from you guys. I'm a little freaked out by the possibility of running out of modules/scenarios to play with my various PFS characters (8 so far, possibly more by the time all's said and done). I've already had one conflict and lost a chronicle as a result, after all. I'm not feeling as big a connection to Elindriel as to some of my other characters, but she is my highest-level character (and the only one that would be able to keep up with this group).

Is the one character per module/scenario rule restrictive enough that I should hold off on doing anything else with Elindriel and concentrate on leveling up other characters that I'm more attached to? How many PFS characters can you (reasonably) play up to max level?

I have 10. Two are retired. One played mostly modules. And at least 2 have most of their chronicles from my DMing. Of the 8 remaining I try to keep them at a range so I can play most anything that comes along. I have played almost every PFS scenario below the 7-11 tier and can mostly only play new stuff. There are a few holes I will in.

So my advice is to get a character or two up into that 5-9 range so you can play even the 7-8 level of the 7-11 mods. Then there is a lot to choose from.

Yeah, Ki's right. Spend some time building up a PC to get to some of the other cool scenarios. There's still about 130 scenarios out there, plus a slew of modules and APs.

To start off, take advantage of repeatable level 1 missions (The Confirmation, Thornkeep Level 1, First Steps pt1 while it's active, We Be Goblins, etc) so you can at least get to level 2 without having to play a unique scenario.

Another thing to do is GM a scenario or two! That way you can net a chronicle sheet for one of your PCs to help get them up there (to a PC that doesn't already have a chronicle sheet for that scenario/module of course). It is optional, so if you don't want the GM credit, you don't have to, but it allows you to basically double up on any given mission as long as you're not afraid of treading the GM waters.

Hey, I noticed the title changed. Better make sure I have all my purchases made.

Are you going to try to get a couple of players to replace the ones we lost?

We only lost 1 player (Rutlius). Given the overall power level of this group, I think we're ok. You got range, Ki and the newly level 4 Julian are the muscle, Elindriel is the switch hitter and support while Miss Dominique is heals and support. I think this is a pretty well rounded group all things considered (arguably weakest in arcane).

Does anyone think differently? If enough of you would prefer to have a 6th, I'll go recruit one quickly.

I am good. The only reason I would add a 6th is to give someone the chance to play. :)

So who are waiting for to check in? Elindriel and Miss D?

Correct, just one of them would suffice (4 out of 5 people is close enough to get started before the other arrives). Going to send a PM and hopefully get their attention. They could be away though, so thank you all for waiting!

Elindriel here, checking in :-)

I'm going to go ahead and finish Thornkeep with her (assuming you guys will continue running it through to the end). Since I've played level 2 with her already, it would be weird to play another character through everything *but* level 2.

I'll try to have something up in the gameplay thread soon.

I updated Elindriel to level 4, but didn't spend any of her gold; I'm taking suggestions on what to spend 4,000 gp on. I could...
- enchant her katana to +1 (2,000 gp), or
- enchant her shortbow to +1 (2,000 gp), or
- enchant her chain shirt to +1 (1,000 gp), or
- enchant her buckler to +1 (1,000 gp), or
- something else entirely.

There's nothing in any of her chronicles that I'm dying to have, so no worries there. She's got 16 fame, so she could potentially buy anything up to 3000 gp value, as well.

Right now, I'm leaning towards enchanting the buckler, armor, and katana. I'm going to go ahead and buy a wand of CLW for 2PP, too.

It is perhaps worth mentioning that, at 10th level, she will be able to wear medium armor without penalty, so (potentially, anyway) any gp/effort I put into upgrading a chain shirt may be wasted at that point.

Any thoughts on any of this?

Buckler isn't bad choice, but remember if you 2H with it or cast a spell and have something in your main hand, no buckler AC bonus for you!

I'd definitely purchase some special arrows (buy a set of 10 regular arrows, then a weapon blanch to modify them) so you'll have special materials for your ranged.

The +1 to the Katana isn't a bad choice since you'll eventually want to upgrade that later anyway (keen is a solid choice given the large crit range).

It's still ok to upgrade the armor. You're going to wait MANY levels to wear the medium armor and you'll want to boost your defenses still. In the end, it'll be just over a 1K gold hit, which is somewhat minor compared to the gold you'll get at level 10.

So that's my suggestion. Upgrade the shirt and buckler, and sword too if you're feeling like the G is burning a hole in your pocket :P At least after this, you'll have 20 fame and can by a +2 belt/headband after this!

And with this, we'll get started... probably during my lunch break in about an hour.

Goodmorning boys and girls! Is everyone ready for adventure?

Hey Elindriel,

Two comments - First, once you have a masterwork weapon, enchanting it to +1 in only 1 point of additional damage. So its 2000 gold for +1 damage with the ability to bypass DR/magic, which his expensive imho. And since you have Arcane Strike and can bypass DR/magic with it, this is less important to you that most people. I'd wait on enchanting the weapon.

Second, I would not wait on the Cloak of Resistance. I think saving throws are too important. After basic equipment that is usually the first item I buy.

Hey Elindriel,

Two comments - First, once you have a masterwork weapon, enchanting it to +1 in only 1 point of additional damage. So its 2000 gold for +1 damage with the ability to bypass DR/magic, which his expensive imho. And since you have Arcane Strike and can bypass DR/magic with it, this is less important to you that most people. I'd wait on enchanting the weapon.

Good point - waiting on the weapons. This will also (almost) guarantee enough gold to buy a belt after this mod, which will get me that point of additional damage, too...

Second, I would not wait on the Cloak of Resistance. I think saving throws are too important. After basic equipment that is usually the first item I buy.

Bought that before we ran level 2, so I'm good there. :-)

@GM: They said all the PbP Gameday had been reported, but I'm not seeing, this one reported. Have you seen your games reported?

I'll check with the PFS Online VO. I know I have credit reported and that was done on Dec 19th.

Hey Dominique, just realized you live in the Netherlands. I have been to Leiden about 10 years ago. Had lunch there on a canal. Sight seeing. I had a friend working for Nato living in Wassenaar at the time. I have been over to the Netherlands twice to work with ESA in Noordwijk.

I've been there once myself, with an 8 hour layover in Amsterdam. Walked around, got some fresh air, had some tasty desserts, then continued our trip to Italy.

Wife and I are thinking of coming back to take in more of the city and surrounding areas.

Hi, I've been to a convention in the south of England for the last few days and had a horrible internet connection, so had a hard time posting, but as everything seemed to go very well it didn't matter that much! ;-)

Yeah, I live in the centre of Leiden and if you walked from the trainstation to the canals you probably walked past my house.

I've got friends that work (or worked) for ESA as well and I worked in Noordwijk for 2 years.

If any of you visit the Netherlands give me a shout. I could even set up a game with some locals. :-)

Interesting. I have indeed walked past your house then. And I am sure you and I have driven around the same traffic circles. :)

I bet you even know of the little hotel I always stay at in Noordwijk - The Admiral? The address says "Noordwijk aan Zee". Is that a different city? Its a block or so off the ocean.

I remember finding a game shop that was quite nice in Delft. I had their card for years, and likely still do, tucked away somewhere. Sorry to reminisce so. I did enjoy my trips to that your area of the world and if I ever get to go back I'll certainly take you up on your kind offer. :)

Ditto on the offer Auke :) We're debating to make our next international trip either to the Netherlands and the surrounding countries or the UK.

Likewise, if anyone comes to South Dakota for some reason (to see Mt. Rushmore I guess?), then let me know!

I live in north Alabama and would gladly host a visitor or 3. My fair city of Huntsville is the home to Marshall Space Flight Center - NASA's propulsion center. So I can show you rockets if you visit. :)

@Ki: Got a friend who just moved there a year ago, a fellow also by the name of David. Of course the pictures he's shown me of the traffic up there recently... yeesh.

Trafic? Either he lives in our sister city of Madison, which has outgrown their infrastructure and has some growing pain traffic, or he is talking about gate access onto Redstone Arsenal (the military base that houses a number of the government employers here). With budget cuts they are cutting back on the hours and open lanes coming into the government facility many people work on. But this is very very recent (2014 recent). Huntsville is a medium small city. We really have no traffic issues except those.

Huntsville has around 200,000 people. We have a very high standard of living with the highest per capita number of engineers in the country. Good schools, low unemployment, cheap housing, low property taxes, etc. Heck we even have a hockey team. LOL.

D'oh, I was getting confused with a former co-worker in Atlanta; my bad.

Got a hockey team in my city, too! Just a very disorderly, fighty one (it's only in the Central Hockey League, nothing major). Course my city is only 70K people, perhaps close to 100K if you count the somewhat nearby military base and a few of the surrounding cities.

Rapid City (and the Black Hills in general) is general tourism and ag based business. Though the college I work at (and went to) is getting much national attention for its high starting average salary post-graduation and value for tuition. So, go SDSM&T! Just gotta change the logo that looks us look a little too much like several other schools :P

I lived in Huntsville for a few years, before moving out to Colorado. My sister and her family, as well as our parents, still live in the area. Nice place to live, and wouldn't mind moving back if the right opportunity presented itself. :-)

Hmm. What do you do for a living? I work for a small but growing engineering company. And my daughter is talking about moving to Colorado Springs after she graduates this May. Small world.

Seems like a good time to mention that I'll be out of the country on vacation from the 6th through the 15th. I'll have a laptop with me but am not sure how often I'll have internet so my posting could be interrupted, but i hope not too much.

Thanks for bringing that up Ki! For the most part, your battle tactics are simple, but very effective :P

Only Julian's origins remain a mystery now!

Ha! My city is home to the superbowl champions.

And if you really want to know my origins. I was born in Virgina, went to grad school in Nebraska. Was a firefighter in DC. long story short, got hurt unable to continue my duties, am now a personal trainer in Seattle and am testing to become a police officer.

There mystery solved.

I spend 10 days in Bellevue this past summer. Pricey little township. But I had a good time. Went all the way south to Mt. Rainier (but not all the way to the top), west past Port Angeles to Cresent Lake, South to Tocoma, and took a number of ferrys around. Not bad for someone working and only having a single free weekend.

Not bad at all! I have family over in Tacoma and Lakeview, so I head there every once in a while. Thinking of trying to PaizoCon it, but visiting grandparents in MI that weekend :P