GM FurtiveZoog's PFS First Steps, Part I: In Service to Lore (Gamma) (Inactive)

Game Master FurtiveZoog

Tuich considers Vyk's suggestion carefully. "No.... no, that's not it," she says thoughtfully.

However, it appears that chocolate-covered imps do, in fact, exist:

WoW guild
"Does imp taste like chicken?"
Demonic grumblings

Adelaide prefers her souls of the damned to be grass-fed, free-range, and purchased from the local farmer's market.

"Did you have to say that?" she chides Vyk. "Now I'll be seeing zombies around every corner!" Keeping one eye on the stacked coffins, she whips off the scarf wrapped around her waist, holding it in both hands.

Would you prefer if I said, I'll be right back? Or how about, let's split up, gang?

Hi, this is off topic. But I'm currently in a D&D Next game and we need 1 to 2 players. Anyone interested can check out the game here.

Thanks for the lead, Vyk. But between AD&D (ages ago) being my last exposure to that system (excluding DDO, which hardly counts) and our local group about to start playtests with Fate Core and Mutants & Masterminds plus a new magic system, I'd best pass. I have enough stuff to spin up on as it is!

Even though, from what I've seen so far, teaming up with you in another game would be a blast!

Heh.

"I'm going to knock you so far down into negative hit points, you're going to come back around to positives, and yes, I know that doesn't make any sense."

How does initiative work in a PbP? Do I wait til after the surprise round? Do I wait until it's my turn in the order? Do I just post now and fit it wherever my turn is?

Kinda depends on the GM. Some run it exactly like a tabletop game, but that can get bogged down.

Others "group" initiatives (like, the baddies, all the PCs who rolled higher than the baddies, all the PCs who rolled lower than the baddies) and have players go any time during their "group" time slot. Then the GM sorts out the order and narrates the results.

And then there are other schemes. Looks like GMFZ prefers the grouping thing:

Surprise Round: Kawrock, then the rats

Round 1: Tuich, Kawrock, Lady Adelaide, Erydes, Zander, Vyk Tyr. The Rats (So on Round 1, everyone can go, then the rats will go.

Then it looks like everybody rolled higher than the rats, so I expect he'll call for all of us to go (in any order, as we're able), he'll summarize, then play out the rat's actions.

There's usually a bit of flex allowed because of the asynchronous format. Like, if it's not your turn to go yet but you're about to leave and won't have access for a half day, you can often go ahead and queue up your move. (That doesn't always work though, since conditions can change.)

I don't mean to speak for the GM of course! Just trying to help out.

Depends on the GM.

I do what's called block initiative, which means PC who beats the NPCs goes in any order they want, then all NPCs on one initiative, then all PCS go in any order. Yes it means that a frequent poster could end up going twice before someone goes once (beat NPC on round 1, and post faster after NPCs) but it keeps the fight going much smoother than everyone waiting for specific people to go in normal init order.

GMFZ may do it differently though.

Zander will not be participating in this fight unless the others seem to be having a hard time of it. Hearing there are rats in the warehouse is not something that would alarm him and make him think they need his assistance.

(A local GM pokes fun at how "they can plop 'Dire' in front of anything and make it a big baddie." He keeps threatening bloody random encounters with Dire Bunnies or Dire Woolly Bear Caterpillers...)

Sorry I didn't discuss initiative explicitly (I did describe it somewhere on the Campaign page), but yes, I do the same block initiative system that Zander described.

The dire rats are pretty easy, perhaps wasting some resources, although the disease (filth fever) can cost some gp to fix after the adventure is over. It might also be possible to 'ride it out' with a good Fort save, some luck, and possibly the help of a healer for Heal bonus to the saves.

It might also be possible to 'ride it out' with a good Fort save, some luck, and possibly the help of a healer for Heal bonus to the saves.

I think I am having trouble with the "hit it part".

Dang, I wish Tuich was even half as good as GMFZ makes her sound in that last post...

That did sound really cool :D

Vyk Tyr - I believe there is an additional -2 to both attacks for spell combat:

Crap, missed that. Sorry, Chief. First time ever running a magus. Won't happen again. I'm putting a note in my character sheet profile.

LOL, so it turns out I missed even worse that I thought.

I guess we are waiting on Eurydes? He hasn't said much since we set out for the Pickled Imp.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yeah, not sure if he is still playing or not, so I DMPC'd him.

Sounds good to me. I would not mind waiting if he had said something. Side note, anyone else use the Wayfinder app? I'm wondering if I can disable the shameless self promotion.

So guys, if a giant lightning bolt strikes Zander, frying him to a crisp, don't worry, it won't be coming for you....

Kawrock, I do and I'm not aware of a way. I wouldn't mind if it was in Discussion only, but I think adding it to Gameplay posts is kind of tacky.

Be advised there are a number of bugs waiting to bite you, as well...

Well, it isn't your fault, Zander (Mez), it's the scenario's. Especially at tier 1-2, there is really no way our party can do the sustained damage per round against a flying opponent that would be necessary to get past even modest regeneration, even without the fear effects and any other powers.

One possibility might be if a revived Norine casts True Strike (her last spell), hits with an alchemical silver/cold iron sling bullet - knocking out regeneration for a round - followed by a good magic missile and some highly improbable hits with various bows and crossbows.

We could also try to wait out her spells (particularly flight and the fear effects) and hope there is a limitation on times per day.

Hehe... took me a bit to realize we have a little cross-game chatter going on here. I peeked at the last page of y'alls melee, and I'm glad I did: I don't think I'll be dashing off to sign up for a Begger's Pearl run right after this scenario! "Yeesh," even without that virtually maxed-out crit.

It appears that I used up all my good rolls killing two players in the Day of the Demon game I ran today.

I feel your pain, Kawrock. Three full-round attacks of spell combat with no damage. I'm feeling pretty inadequate.

Never send a bird and a lizard to do a girl's job. ;o)

Not that it would have helped this time Vyk, but I was giving you a +2 for flanking.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Right, forgot about that. Appreciate the effort though.

Just checking in, for the record to show that I'm still here. :)

Unless the GM has any objections I assume we just take all the useful stuff, and anyone who wants something just state so in game play. This way we can just move on to the next task.

Sounds good to me. The one thing nagging at me, though, is that the stuff looks like nothing more than innocuous paperwork. And unless it's for blackmail or some sort of trade or power advantage, the Sczarni don't "do" paperwork. So I'm wondering if there's a hidden compartment in that box, or the writing is camouflage for invisible ink runes, or something...

Would it matter if it was? All we are is grunts anyway. Even if the whole thing was plans to steal the moon, we're just supposed to give it to him anyway.

Would it matter? Not really. Tuich is just suspicious. And wants to know what the Sczarni are up to, as much as possible. "Inquiring minds" and all that.

But in the final analysis you're right; we just need to do our job and keep our noses clean.

No, no, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be such a killjoy.

The Paperwork could just as well be evidence of past crimes that the Scarzni want to hush up. Or perhaps the financial logs are potential blackmail material on a company cooking their books.

Never underestimate paperwork. Taxes did in Capone. Remember that.

No worries, Lady Adelaide.

Apologies to all, by the way, for Celif's unscheduled guest appearance. That's what I get for trying to post in a rush between meetings via smartphone. And I didn't notice the glitch until after the editing time limit. :o(
.

This is mostly a question for Zander and GMFZ, but everyone's input is welcome. If I were to GM a PFS scenario for you guys which one would you like to play?

It matters not to me.

Ooh, does that mean we might keep the team together? <Happy Dance!>

As I'm a total newcomer to PFS I'm wide open and would be thrilled simply to be included. Though seeing what Zander and GMFZ are dealing with elsewhere, I'd just as soon give Begger's Pearl a pass until 2nd Level. :oP

Or if you mean starting something basically "now" -- or above 1st Level -- I'll have to pass, as Tuich is the only PFS-legal PC I have. But I'll definitely lurk!

Kawrock, I love the cat paranoia thing you've got going on! :o)

Don't knock yourself, Kawrock. I'm sure you'd be delicious.

Hey Kawrock, I think it's great that you are thinking about GMing and continuing the group!

I'm not sure whether I'll be able to continue as a player, though, since I have been a bit overcomitted. :-\

Fortunately, though, there are a lot of great people - as I've found out! - looking to start PbP play. Although, if Zander takes the easy, non-cleric way out you may need another healer. (Hey, Zander, what about all of the "not-just-a-healbot!" talk, eh?! Show us how it is done! ;-)

Another GM I know was really excited about The Confirmation, which is Tier 1-2 and sounds like it should be a starter-appropriate scenario (since it represents the final test before becoming a full-fledged Pathfinder). Unfortunately, a lot of the Tier 1-2 stuff seems to be more reasonable with stronger 2nd level characters, and they have, unfortunately, retired parts II and III of the First Steps series.

~~ Matt/GMFZ

I have a question regarding characters and PFS.

I have a Witch character that I've wanted to play for a while, but I know Item Creation is banned (and so Cauldron, Brew Potion, Cook People [just ignoring that that's an evil one] are too). If I wanted to play the character as a normal Witch, could I also have an iteration of her as a PFS character? In essence, two versions of the same character for different campaigns?

I apologize if this isn't clearly worded.

GMFZ, Give me something appropriate to fight and I will. I'm taking a back seat so others can get the full PBP feel instead of being driven along by a vet.

Adelaide: You can have as many characters of the same type as you want, as long as you aren't combining XP/items from both games. I actually have two of the "same" character running now. Malfeas is my PFS Zen Archer, and Shan-yu is one I made for a "homegame".

Cool, thanks.

I was thinking about doing The Confirmation. From what I have gathered by comments from the campaign leadership it is a replacement for Intro I. I need to start learning the technical aspects of PbP GMing. Something a friend of mine is more then willing to help me with.

Hehe... trust Kawrock to spot the shinies... ;o)

... the table in the southwest corner, just inside the door.

Yeah that's the one.

Tuich - Yeah, I missed changing one of the directions. They are all wrong as written, perhaps because of a change in the direction of the compass rose between the text and the image (I haven't tried mentally rotating it yet...).