GM Endless Forms' PFS 04-21 Way of the Kirin (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Yes, you hit the nail on the head about the Defense Points mechanics. Basically the more DPs you accumulate, the better it will be when you inevitably get stormed by invaders.

I am certainly willing to entertain other ideas, but the scenario says that any idea worthy of a Defense Point is going to take about an hour. The catapult will be too big to be in the house or on top of the lighthouse, it will need to be on the ground somewhere. Don't forget you also found some bear traps in the lighthouse.

Also, boiling the water will take about 10 minutes to set up and maintain the fire (checking it every so often). But it will take an hour to boil, so you'd need to start it right away.

Just a few random thoughts …

If Luisila only needs to spend 10 minutes boiling water, then Desmond and she have a full hour to implement say, Shan’s greasy walls idea (for a DP or however it works). This could alternatively give us an hour up our sleeve to retry something that goes wrong.

What about if we set up the catapult overlooking the wharf, to hit the enemy ship(s) as they dock? (Assuming that’s how they’ll land) Some time before we get overrun, we disable/set the catapult on fire so they can’t use it against the house, and run like the nine hells back to the house. Leveraging off Shan’s idea, a sniper archer could cover the late stage of the withdrawal from the top of the lighthouse.

I have drawn some boxes on the roll20 plan. I’m thinking keep the lighthouse/East side of upper level as our home-turf. We can still access the northern area of downstairs using the orange question mark staircase.

I like, totally, like agree with Desmond's idea of barricading the windows in the Grand Hall.

My idea was once we’ve finished catapulting, go thru the front door (ideally let the enemy see this is an easy way in), bar it (only) then head upstairs via the stairs near the entrance and go through the main bedroom to set up an ambush on the other side. Someone (fast) could pour stuff thru the murder holes, then meet up with the others on the other side of the main bedroom.

This would mean Shinkeer would need to set up a ‘safe travel zone’ that we know about, but the enemy doesn’t thru the Main Bedroom. (Remember Indy going over the Jehovah stones in Last Crusade?) In game terms, there’s zero chance we set off the trap but a % chance the enemy does as they go thru the main bedroom.

The speed bump barricade is designed to let the murder hole person escape to link up with the others.

Remember that setting up barricades takes a character 5 minutes for every 5-foot section. If you want to start setting barricades, go ahead and do so and everyone can claim how many they are setting up so I can track the time used. There is enough material to available to block 12 5-foot sections of open space.

OK, I like the catapult idea, aiming at the water. Shan can fire it, then once he needs to move inside, he can climb up a rope that is hanging off the side of the light house.

I think we should have the main fall back/set up be in the main bedroom. Honestly we could probably barricade everything on the second floor except the passage between the light house and allow only 1 way up into the second floor. Then we make sure the murder holes are above the only way up.

Random thought, do we have rugs or something we can hide the beartraps under?

And did anybody else know the potty room is just a hole in a board right over the grand hall. I'm sure we can use that to our advantage. I'm just wondering if there is an Vurndi resturants nearby that deliver.

Anybody else have the need to watch Home Alone for ideas? This is the perfect game for that guy who has all the marbles, caltrops, etc on him.

Maybe there's a neighbor that seems really creepy, but then it turns out he's just misunderstood?

I agree with Shan on the catapult and funneling the enemies to the main bedroom. I think Des should be someplace to use his bow skills at first and then rush in with the great sword-a-swingin'.

“Keep the change, You Filthy Animal !” ;)

This is frightening, Shan. I immediately thought of Home Alone.

Shan + Shinkeer on the cat?? (I assume there’s plenty of ammo for it amongst VC Mike Bramnik’s rocks).

Desmond + Luisila firing arrows from the light house top?? I think we need to keep enough whale oil to keep the light burning at night. Sentries in the Light room spotting night time boats landing could give a ‘shadow-puppet rabbit’ signal to the cat crew.

Also noticed the privy, but off the top of my head couldn’t think of anything for it. Time to get more creative!

Rope idea AND rug idea over bear traps = Pure Win!

I agree about making the Main Bedroom the main battleground. I guess one of Shinkeer’s jobs will then be to make it safe?

Another thought I had about the lava tubes. I think these should be barricaded (at the top of the stairs). We don’t know where they go, but the enemy might. (The ol’ secret route into the castle trope).

Do you want to draw the final barricades, Shan? Then once Shinkeer chimes in, we might be getting close to rock-and-roll?? Looking forward to seeing Desmond swing that sword!

I can update the ‘spreadsheet results’ showing time elapsed, tonight if that’s OK with everyone.

So are we sending Amara Li to the bedroom when the attacks come?

I say we just . . . keep her in the closet. I will leave it up to you if you want to with the Michael Jackson or R. Kelly version.

The orange lines I put up are 12 sections I would recommend.

I wouldn't worry about the lava tubes. Even if they come in that way, they still have to get up stairs.

Go ahead Luisila. Honestly, in a majority of these plan an assault scenarios, things go as planned for 2 maybe 3 rounds, then cluster muck. =v)

Storytime
In college we played alot of Cyberpunk. It was a lot of infiltration missions. We would plan for hours, re-conning, and gathering equipment. Then (one time it was midnight) we jump in the mission. Honestly only the first and second round went as planned, then all hell breaks lose. Typically one guy gets caught in a big blast and then we have to cover for that guy and get him back up. Then another guy goes cyber-psycho (which is like a Frenzied Berserk). So now we are fighting on 2 fronts while trying to get the guy under control. I was playing the Face, so my real involvement was at the beginning and end of the mission. Half the time I would pass out in the corner, backpack under head. Ahhh, the good ol' days =v)

Here are the new spreadsheet results, broken up by person. Where people pair up for a task, the time periods line up. Spoilers are meant for everyone.

Sounds great Luisila. I will follow my prescribed course of action.

Shan + Shinkeer on the cat??

Did anyone else read this as "Shan and Shinkeer being thrown from the catapult?" I can't get that image out of my head now.

There are plenty of rugs, carpets, and blankets to hide the beartraps under. You could also just put them outside somewhere. (There is only one path coming out to the house, although putting right in the middle of the path won't be very effective.

That looks like a very good course of action. Everyone make your appropriate rolls in the gameplay thread. Realize, however, that if some rolls are messed up things could take longer than expected. We'll deal with that if it happens I guess.

I didn't read it as that, Endless, but that would be a new twist on dwarf tossing

I can't access the Roll20 right now, but maybe we can move the Cat to block an entrance. Either the east side of the buidling or the light house. I'm assuming its 10'x10' right?

I'll start making rolls in the other thread so we can get things moving.

The catapult is actually huge sized (15 x 15).

Hi GMs Endless and Nebten, something has come up and I need to be travelling next week. I will have NO PROBLEM posting 1+ times per day in each of your games.

Neb, your maps will cause no problem. (I swear they look better on the tablet than on my PC).

Unfortunately, I will not have access to roll20 until 15 July. Here is my proposed solution. I have purchased and downloaded the scenario. My SO (who is not a gamer) and with no complaining whatsoever, has taken a screen-shot of the house map and saved it as a pdf and a hard copy for me. I’m hoping this will give me enough context to participate in combats, if Shan can locate me at an appropriate position on the battle map.

If this is a major problem, GM Endless or if anyone can think of a better way of tackling the problem, please let me know.

Also, it takes one hour to brew the alchemical substance, even if you make the DC.

Cali-damnit. I should have spent more time in the chem labs at high school and at Uni.

EDIT: Hardcopy Character Folio re-roll?

Craft Alchemy (Bomb) + Guidance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

EDIT 2: *D'oh*

GM Endless, I was under the impression that if Desmond and I were working together, this would mean the task would take 30 minutes (Luisila) + 30 minutes (Desmond) = 60 minutes total. Is this incorrect?

I assume we have botched the skill check, but the issue is also how much time we’ve got left to do other things.

Once Shinkeer has done his next batch of activities, I guess you will update us on what time we’ve got available to us, GM Endless?

My game will be ending shortly, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'll be happy to help out where ever I can.

So I moved the Catapult, if that is allowed. Will that position give a better field of fire?

Yes, that sounds good about the maps. I know Roll20 doens't always work for everyone. Sorry about that. I've gotten so used to it (and attached to it) though. Do whatever works for you.

And yes, I suppose if you help each other you can split the time into 30 minutes each. But you still botched the rolls so essentially you lost those 60 minutes, sorry.

You can position the catapult wherever you want. There will be time to shoot it before hand, so don't worry about having three people dedicated to the catapult while you're being stormed. Once they're close enough for melee and bow-range the catapult becomes worthless anyways. If you want to remove the -4 penalty though all three people need to practice. Only one person will have to make the attack roll when the time comes though.

It is probably still a ranged attack right? Dex+Bab? So it looks like Des is on Cat duty.

I haven't looked at the siege engine rules yet but I think you might also be able to use KN (engineering). I'll double check the catapult rules before it becomes relevant. Either way three people need to man it but only one person needs to make the roll.

And yes, I suppose if you help each other you can split the time into 30 minutes each. But you still botched the rolls so essentially you lost those 60 minutes, sorry.

No worries, GM Endless!

I know there's no guarantees in this game. I think that's one of the aspects that attracts me to it.

Looking forward to the coming storm and how we react to it. Hope things are going OK for you.

Yep. I was traveling last weekend so my posting slowed down a bit. I'm back in Bloomington for the next two weeks until my half-marathon in Chicago. I will hopefully be able to post more regularly now.

I assume we have ammunition for the catapult. What's the chance, assuming we are higher than the oncoming horde and the catapult has wheels, of setting the catapult on fire and sending it rolling down into the horde when they approach?

I am home again and will be able to access the map in the early hours of your Monday morning, GM Endless.

I realized last night after I went to bed, the reason why I thought Shan and Shin were going to be the first floor....did we shut the secret door that Li and Tsuneo went down. It's doubtful that we will be able to incapacitate every soldier as they come in, what plan do we have to keep them away from the fireplace, since the known goal is to delay rather than defeat. (I am assuming waves of baddies sort of like one of the Specials.) Do we present a defense, than move down to the first floor or are going to hope that our presence draws the upstairs?

The secret door is closed and they don't know about it (i.e. the baddies won't be heading for the secret door, they're trying to storm the house, thinking Amara Li and Tsuneo are in there somewhere).

The secret door is closed and they don't know about it (i.e. the baddies won't be heading for the secret door, they're trying to storm the house, thinking Amara Li and Tsuneo are in there somewhere).

Thank you GM.

I have checked out the map. I reckon Luisila would have Point Blank range.

I see you and Shan have been plotting, Shinkeer!

Plotting to eat some ice cream!

Plotting to eat some ice cream!

tee hee

I LOVED getting that Ben and Jerry thing get into Severing Ties. ;)

Do we have the boiling water or are we just using ranged weapons? If we have the water, do we need to make a roll for it?

Presumably you have the boiling water set up near the murder holes. I think you can just dump it down on them but I'll double check later when I get the chance.

Hey everyone! I should have time to update tomorrow afternoon/night but then I will be in Chicago for the weekend running a half-marathon and likely won't be able to update again until Monday at the earliest.

Thanks for your patience!

NO problem Endless. Good Luck!

Looks like they’re predicting temperatures in the low 70’s and cloudy for Sunday.

That sounds like it would be ideal to me, GM Endless?

Good Luck!

Lesson learned from the summer job today: There are few things as horrifying as a construction-site Port-o-San that has been placed on a slope in near 100 degree heat.

That does indeed sound bad.

I do not go underground these days as often as I once did, but I can assure you toilets in underground mines should be avoided if at all possible.

Have you guys seen this comment from Mike Brock on “Way of the Kirin” and “Rivalry’s End?”

If not, I thought you might all be interested.

Thanks for sharing, Luisila. I don't have a SL character, and my LL character is not in any games. So, I don't think I have anything to worry about.

No worries, GM Endless! Summer job?

I actually do research in a biology lab at IU. I set my own hours but end up spending almost all day every day there. I'm also supposed to be studying for the GRE but that hasn't happened yet. Too much going on this summer!

Ok, I'm back, everyone! Things should resume as normal and hopefully I can pick up the pace this week to make up for it! Thanks for being patient!

First things, first! How was your race, GM? New PB? Top 50? Booking your ticket to Rio de Janeiro in 2016?

**Vinnie Barbarino from Welcome Back, Kotter** ”I’m so confused …”

"What do you mean, you don’t know who Vinnie Barbarino is, GM Endless?"

Looking back, I think I jumped the gun on my last action. I am sorry for the confusion this may have caused.

GM Endless, I will assume Luisila starts back at the window position. When you say two soldiers crash through the windows, is this Soldier 3 and 4? Because I thought Soldier 3 was down? Regardless, I'm thinking Luisila can't shoot at Soldier 4 this round. (I won't be able to check out the map for a few hours)

If I’m right about that, I’m thinking Soldiers 1 and 2 are still flailing about under the murder holes?

Ah yes, I forgot that soldier 3 is already down. I forgot to cross him off my sheet. Ignore that.

I finished in 2:02 and a few seconds, which I was pretty happy with. No more running for a couple weeks, I promise. It was the Rock n Roll marathon in Chicago so they had bands every couple miles, it was pretty neat.

Good on ya, GM. The only marathon I've been able to make it through is the Twilight Zone marathon every 4th of July. I'm not an athlete.

Joking aside, good work man.

For your convenience, GM Endless:

Thanks, I wasn't familiar with Instrument of Agony. Remind me to make the Will save when you use it.

Oh, because I just noticed it on Roll20: the beartrap disappeared from the hallway because Shin put them alongside the path leading up to the house. You got a Defense Point for hiding them well enough that they trapped a couple soldiers.

I have Shan and Desmond's PFS # somewhere, but could I get the PFS # for Luisila and Shin?

Also, make Day Job rolls if you have them.

I will have chronicle sheets up sometime tomorrow hopefully. Does anyone have the Debt of the Kirin boon from First Steps: Part II? If so, let me know, there is an additional boon for you.

Shan and Shin, your boon:

Dang, I don't have that boon with Desmond.

Day Job: Handle Animal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Shin's PFS # is: 65114-11
Luisila PFS # is: 69095-1

Shan has no Day Job, but he does have Debt of the Kirin.

Any idea which way your are going Shin? I'm probably going Grand Lodge.

I just picked up the Brother honorific too. Never got to Master ;(

Shin is PFS# 65114-11

No Day Job, but does have the Debt of the Kirin.

No strong leanings toward a faction, probably Grand Lodge. Seems the most appropriate.

Just opened up and looked at the scenario. SOOO..bummed I didn't use my Snowball spell for 4d6. Baddies Touch AC was only 9!

Was definitely fun! Thanks for running it for us, GM Endless.

I particularly enjoyed the tactical planning – though I’m thinking this would be hard to run as a pbp with a group that doesn’t have the trust or teamwork that we do.

No Day Job and no Debt of Kirin.

Luisila has played First Steps I and III but not II. This honestly doesn’t worry me. I’m here more for the playing rather than the loot. (Though don’t get me wrong – I like loot!)

I’ll put in a good word for my brothers Shinkeer and Shan with VC Valsin next time I see him! ;)