Okay, let me play catch up and I should post with in the next hour.
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I am also generally able to check in multiple times a day, but sometimes my ability to post is a bit more limited. The coming weekend will be a bit busier for me than usual as my car has been in the shop for WEEKS (literally!) and I have to get my kids all set for the start of school on Monday. So expect a post at least once daily from me, more if time is permitting.
I can usually post 2-3 times per day, except on some week ends when i have games IRL.
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Ok, here are my thoughts on making the knowledge check ahead of the initiative. If any of this doesn’t sound correct, please let me know. I absolutely won’t take offence about the correction.
First, the way the GM is handling the additional information, which I love BTW, takes a little more time to pass out before the character acts. By presenting the roll before your initiative, you give the GM a chance to elaborate on the additional information without slowing progress. That doesn’t mean the character can act out of turn nor do anything with that information until their turn in the initiative order.
My second thought revolves around when a character actually becomes aware of the threat. Some people believe this to be when the character can first act in the initiative order. The problem I have with this is the fact that things are happening around you that your character would be aware of before you get a chance to act. For example; if the creature was close enough to charge, striking a powerful blow to Saphera, would she be aware of this even though it happened during the surprise round. Personally, I believe a character becomes aware of the treat as soon as an initiative is rolled. That doesn’t mean the character can act out of initiative or isn’t surprised and flat footed.
Once again, I am fully open to feedback on this subject.
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I wasn't trying to call you out for having done something out of order, by the way. I was just a little confused by the way the surprise round was posted. I wasn't sure if The Silver Shroud was the only one aware and Azura was not participating in the surprise round or if she was aware and just acted later in the surprise round. I think it was the first instance now. =)
OK, first, I am always open to constructive criticism, it makes me a better GM.
@ Saphera I am glad you like the way I handle Knowledge checks. I did completely spaced out on putting that out along with posting the combat order like I usually do. So i will work on that for the next couple encounters. If you like my knowledge spreadsheet, you can print it off for you local lodge. I do not take credit for it, that is actually a local venture agents sheet. I just loaded on mine.
@ Azura the way I do it is that I post the entire combat order. Only bold may act. And I keep track of rounds in the header of the tracker. I only put Silver Shroud in bold since he met the check to notice. So yes, if you would have met the perception you would have gotten to act.
@ Saphera. Your second point is kind of confusing, or I am just grasping it wrong. But I will still attempt to answer and make since. You are not technically aware of whats going on until the beginning of round one, IMO. Unless you make the perception check to act in the surprise round, because you notice something.
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@ Azura
I realize you weren’t being accusing. I was making sure that I wasn’t off base with how I perceived the order of the stick.
@ GM Z..D.
Yes, I like the way you handle knowledge checks. In fact my weekly table has created a point system to further enhance the value of knowledge skills and the impact they have on encounters. In many cases a successful knowledge check can be the difference between life and death.
In regards to my last statement, I will try and elaborate a little more, even though it is not overly important at this point. After this, I will leave it alone.
Ultimatly, I was trying to emphasize a difference between being aware of a threat vs. being able to react and contribute to the surprise round. Sounds confusing I know, so I will give another example and see what you think. )
Example: A ninja is hiding in a bush that you and your group are walking by. While hiding in the bush you are unaware of the threat because you cannot see the ninja. As you approach the bush, you fail the perception check to notice the ninja, and the ninja jumps out taking a swing at you with his sword.
When the ninja jumps out of the bush, the initiative roll is made, which includes a surprise round. During the surprise round you are aware that a ninja just jumped out of the bush and is attempting to attack you, but you are caught off guard and are considered surprised and flatfooted. After all, how could a ninja smash you in the face with a sword and you still don’t know he is there. In addition, your friends have now seen the ninja, which they failed to do earlier, and are also surprised when he jumped out of the bush. The can now act on their initiative on the first round, but are considered surprised and flat footed during the surprise round.
At what point are you and the rest of the group aware of the Ninja?
When he jumped out of the bush?
When it succeeded on its attack on you?
When someone else, who could act during the surprise round, casts a spell or attacks the ninja?
As you pointed out , at the beginning of the first round?
Or on the initiative of each character during their turn?
I have had different Gm’s choose differently in regards to knowledge checks. Some Gm’s want the check rolled on your initiative. Others are ok with it being rolled beforehand. Some Gm’s don’t want you to react to a knowledge check, (I.E. say anything to the rest of the group), before your character’s initiative. Others are ok with saying something out of turn.
(Anyway), you have clarified how you prefer this to be done and I am perfectly ok with it. As of your last statement, we become aware of a threat at the beginning of round (1). As far as I am concerned, this is a nonissue.
(Edited) I wanted to add, once again, the fact that you chose to step in and help finish this scenario makes you an amazing GM in my book.
Ok. I think I finally get what you were asking. Thanks for giving me the scenario. Maybe I should read these when I am more awake.
In reference to when you become aware, it when he jumps out of the bush. You are now surprised, flat footed and can not react, so thus surprise round begins.
If some one made the perception check and beat him on initiative. You become aware when lets say the sorcerer fireballs the said bush. You know something is going on.
Or the sorcerer makes the perception, but goes after the ninja in initiative. You realize you are being attacked when the ninja jumps out of the bush, and throws a shuriken or kunai. The sorcerer then retaliates with the fire ball. You are still in shock(i guess) until the beginning of round 1 when you gain your composure and can act normally. You are still flat footed until you act though.
So in reference to this encounter, where I screwed up. You would have been aware of the dragon when it flew towards while roaring and definately aware of it when Silver shroud reacted.
@Everyone else. Please if you think I missed something or messed something up. Please call me on it, especially if you ran the scenario before.
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That's kind of what I was thinking. More or less when initiative begins the group is aware of the threat. That would explain why a hidden target only gets one sneak attack from being hidden.
So, that is the 2nd explanation of why I made a knowledge check as soon as initiative was rolled. I made the presumption that the creature had presented itself as a threat....
In any case, more time for Q & A before your turn. Thanks for taking the time to clear that up for me.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't to fare off on that. A similar question came up in a game I was running and I eventually came to the same conclusion.
May not be able to post as much as I like this weekend coming up. My anniversary with my wife is this weekend.
actually we are waiting on your post as well. Back at the top of the order.
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Ok, I really need to ask for confirmation on this 4 slam attacks per round for the topiary.
GM Z..D.. could you please double check that? It doesn't seem right that a level 4-5 encounter should include 4 lesser plants to accompany one with so many natural attacks. The wyvern had that many, but it was on it's own and is a CR 6.
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Hey guys. So, a lot of you have probably noticed my absence in my games for the last month or so. I wanted to go ahead and apologize to all of my players that I was GM'ing for and all of my GM's that I just disappeared on.
My diabetes took a really vicious turn a while back, and I ended up in a really, really bad case of diabetic ketoacidosis, and have been in the hospital ICU for pretty much the majority of my absence. I was unconscious/in a fugue state pretty much the entire time. I've sent messages to all my games that are still active to let them know that I didn't intentionally abandon them or take off with no warning. I was fine in the morning and then that evening I was being carried out of my bathroom on a stretcher and put into an ambulance. I'm going to try to slowly get back into PFS, I have a lot to do, such as find a new job and place to live, but hopefully I can get back into GM'ing multiple games and having fun with everyone.
Again, I sincerely apologize for everything. I hate being that guy who just disappears when involved in a group project. I'm glad you found a replacement GM guys, and Bluedove, I saw where you said that you mainly signed up because I was running the table. That made me feel really good about myself. I needed a pick me up. Hopefully it won't be too long before I'm able to get back into a rolling routine as far as GM'ing goes.
Glad to hear you are on the rebound. And if you wish to take back your game, you are more than welcome.
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I for one am glad to hear that you are recovering. It sounds like you still have a moderately difficult road ahead of you. With that in mind, you have my best wishes. Although I haven't personally experienced you as a GM yet, based on the testimony I have heard from others, like Bluedove, it sounds like you are a very competent and fun GM. You will be missed. I will keep an eye open for your return and hopefully when things are a little more stable for you, I can submit to rejoin one of your future campaigns.
Dang, I was sincerely hoping you just had technical difficulties like what happened to me when I fell off the nets. So sorry to hear it's been physical difficulties and all of the other problems the illness led to.
Please don't worry for a minute about us. We miss you and wish you well and we will most certainly be here when you can come back around to play, GM or even just chat. You take care of you and then we'll all have something to be happy about!
(HUGS) ^_~
Azura I need you pfs number and a dayjob roll. We are getting close so i am working on chronicle sheets.
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Just checking in to make sure you guys are still running smooth. Looks like you've done well! I'm glad to see you all managed to get the game done after I fell off.
Again, thanks for picking up the table ZD. I really hate leaving people out to hang like that and you really stepped up.
Once I'm able to GM again I'll be sure to let everyone know and maybe we can try this again. With a different set of scenarios, of course.
I can run the second and third part if needed Oleander.
Alright I am going to go ahead and run both parts 2 and 3 on this thread as well. I am going to be running this table along side a core table that I started earlier in the year. So I need to know who is going to stay on so i can find out if i need to find replacements. I am aware I need to get a hold of rainy day ninja due to how GM Evil set it up.
Edited:Just contacted Rain Day Ninja, waiting on his response.
Hey, I just got your PM. I'm definitely interested in doing Part II so I can finish the series. What does the party currently look like?
@GM Z..D.., I sent the request for access the link.
Andruss try again. I set them all to share.
Andruss, are sticking around for parts 2 and 3