
Lathiira |

Lee's WAY better than two hits in a row.
Of course, he's hucking Magic Missile spells. Does that count?
Even if we pitch good ol' magic missile, your shocking grasp spells haven't been missing either, but that's the fun of touch spells. Us 3/4 BAB types have to buff ourselves to get to reliability. Even then, there's the Crankipator to contend with.

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Hey all. I'll try to check from work, but I leave tomorrow mid day to TN. I won't be able to check email from 1pm until sometime this weekend. Gm, i don't expect you to, but I don't mind text message nudges at all. Mom said I can use her computer, it's just I get spacey when I'm not in a routine.
I'll try to check in Saturday if I don't check in tomorrow. Obviously Wahhe can't do much now and the Siren has gone away. But u see her spell list. Feel free to bot her if you need her to fight tomorrow.

GMDQ |

Got it. And actually I'm off to a memorial service this weekend, so if no update today, probably Sunday night. Sorry for the short notice.

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I'm back! Well temporarily my dad had a decent computer. I bought them a new lap top. Then the returned it. Lenovo puts the right shift key on their laptops in a weird spot for typists.
So... yeah.

thermopyle |

Welcome back! I think I feel your pain. For a long time I never realized how tricky/personal laptops can be. When I tried shopping for one with Jenn I found we had very different ideas about 'nice features' vs. 'major drawbacks.' On the plus side, that's when I learned that even an old XP laptop could be revitalized with a new SSD and Windows 10.

GMDQ |

You still would most likely have been smacked against the rocks and killed. The whole point of this area is it is treacherous and rocky.
All of the launches in the game have been using the same stats since the start of the campaign. Remember these boats are also the escape vessels in an emergency so have to hold most of the crew.

thermopyle |

Wahhe - how do you feel about trying to flank the Karkinoi with Lark? It helps his damage output a lot, but if you've got something else in mind don't let me stop you. I definitely don't have a strong grasp of all the fun magic and water-based stuff you can do.
Lathiira - if Wahhe can't flank maybe you can... eventually? I can certainly see the appeal of staying put and singing&shooting. I suppose you might have to dive into the water to get close and that doesn't sound safe at all.
Keefx & Lathiira - do you both have Animate Rope? I just remembered that we have a bunch rope suspended beneath the arch. Maybe Lark's readied action should be "cut the rope when the Karkinoi gets close." Then you could try to entangle it. Do y'all think that might hamper it enough to be worth the effort?

GMDQ |

You could still try to use the "safety net" as an improvised net. It might incur both a -4 nonproficiency penalty (if no one is proficient in net) and -4 improvised weapon penalty, but it is possible.

thermopyle |

So that's a "no" on using the safety net. If we can't do it magically then I don't think it's worth it with all those penalties. I'd rather have a shot at an early attack while it's still flat-footed.
Lathiira - no worries and no rush on getting down. Safety first is always our motto, right? ;)
KeefX - it sounds like Web is tricky and maybe dangerous to friends as well as foes.

Lathiira |

I'll apologize now if my posting goes more erratic for a few days. I now unexpectedly have the rest of the week off due to muscle spasms in my lower back. I will also get to know the fun of flexeril. The lifting restriction won't be too big a deal when I get back to work next week.

GMDQ |

I haven't abandoned you. Just realizing how complex this scenario is, and getting you all to ACTUALLY DECLARE ACTIONS and roll dice got me frustrated and not wanting to deal with this. (I'm sorry, but I am frustrated.) In the meantime, this scenario requiring a lot more 3D visualization than I'm used to, with a 150 foot high arch on one side and rough waters ont he other--with absolutely no f%&+ing guidance for GMs running this scene on how to make it easier or any actual useful tactics for the monsters (which as written would probably cause a TPK).
<rant> I swear if I ever launch my own line of modules (because I have so much time for that), they will be written toward helping GMs deal with the mechanical aspects of the scenario--the standard module-design philosophy seems to be "waste hundreds of words to provide a uselessly complex backstory for EVERYTHING but give no absolutely useful things for GMs to actually use in the game." As a GM, I don't give a flying f#%% about the incredibly complex backstory a module writer came up for that there pebble on the beach, I want to know how to adjudicate this scene mechanically. I can fill in the gaps if you just give me a sensible story outline, I don't need help with the narrative! But I do need help on how to run unusual combats, etc. But no, because a bunch of bored nerds with too much money proclaim "BUT I LIKE TO READ MODULES FOR THE STOOOORIIIEEES" (there's something out there for you, guys, it's called "novels"), I have to f@$!ing sit here trying to figure out how to deal with three dimensions on a two dimensional battlegrid and no actual guidance on things like monster approach or working with complex terrain.</rant>
And actually now that I have written this out, I have made my decision. I'm scrapping this whole f*~!ing combat. It's just not worth dealing with. Please proceed to the gameplay thread.

GMDQ |

I would say a lot of what Paizo writes is better than most, module-wise, and their rule and setting material is top notch (and I'm not just saying this because they pay me sometimes, I swear!). But there's key issues where I'm at a loss. Plunder and Peril has a great concept overall, but it's a weird module in that it's three segments written by three different people. (With three different ideas about what makes a suitable challenge.)
And honestly my real rant is "people write modules for people who are different from me." The stuff I want to see in a module I know is NOT what a lot of folks want to, and that just is what it is.
Fortunately I have no issue if needed going off the rails, and making things up as I go along, but I can make things more complicated for myself that way. Which is why, for example, you're crewing a ship with the cast of Jane the Virgin, because I put half the Magpie Princess crew on Lilywhite.

thermopyle |

I hope everyone had a good holiday weekend.
GMDQ - I think Lark is just going to walk forward and attack adaro 1, but for reference, about how wide is the ship's railing? For Acrobatics, would you say 7-11" (DC 10) or 2-6" (DC 15)? Is it possible to stand on the railing and attack from higher ground and/or flanking?

Lathiira |

I appreciate your sentiment, but one must remember Walmart doesn't permit holidays, so I've had two really bad nights and I just took 800 mg of ibuprofen due to managerial decisions backstabbing my team. I hope everyone else managed to see some fireworks and fired up the grill however :)

GMDQ |

I know it's a pain in the ass, but there are things like worker's compensation laws that protect you. And calling out your Walmart on its often-illegal s~$! that you have described to me would not only protect you, but other people they screw over.
To the game questions:
Wahhe, melee touch attacks use your base melee attack bonus, which is Base Attack Bonus (+3) + Strength modifier (-1). 3-1=2. I actually used your own calculation for your unarmed strike on your character sheet.
Thermopyle, the point is moot because Lark's been poisoned (and thank goodness he wasn't on the rail when he was), but for general reference I'd say it's probably about 5 inches wide on the top and 3 feet high. I'd say you'd need to make an Acrobatics check to jump up onto it (DC 10), another check to balance, and you would need to keep making a balance check each turn. Even though you aren't moving along the rail, I'd rule that since you're fighting (not exactly standing stock still), you would as per the description of the balancing rules, become flat-footed and lose your Dex to AC. Because the rules specifically say "and lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class" I take this as a separate penalty from being flat-footed, so even rogues with Uncanny Dodge would still lose their Dex to AC (although they would not be considered flat-footed for the other intents of the condition, i.e., you could still make attacks of opportunity).
Note that failure would likely mean falling into the (currently shark-infested) sea.

thermopyle |

GMDQ, with results like that you can roll my saves any time! ;)
In general, please feel free to roll Lark's saves at your discretion.
As for actions by Lark while paralyzed, all I can think of is Resiliency. If reduced to 0 HP Lark gets some temporary health, but I think that kicks in automatically, no thought or action required.

GMDQ |
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Excuse me, as a degreed Master of English, I forbid shade being thrown upon the works of Shakespeare in this game.
Clever parody is fine and well in the appropriate spirit.