GM Giuseppe's Council of Thieves

Game Master Giuseppe Capriati

Hey all, sorry for the radio silence. My younger brother got mugged this weekend, he's okay but kind of beat up and we ended up driving a few states over go help his wife with the kids and anything else that needed doing. We're headed home sometime tomorrow and I will be resuming posts when I return, sorry about the delay.

Hey all, sorry for the radio silence. My younger brother got mugged this weekend, he's okay but kind of beat up and we ended up driving a few states over go help his wife with the kids and anything else that needed doing. We're headed home sometime tomorrow and I will be resuming posts when I return, sorry about the delay.

No worries Sev. Hope you brother is alright.

Busy day today for me guys, will have a post up tomorrow morning.

Giuseppe, would you please put the NPCs in the campaign tab?

These threads seem to have fallen off my Campaigns tab. Any ideas to fix that?

The problem solved itself. I seemed to have hidden the campaign. No idea how that happened...

I love that Arael just told us to go look up monster stats in a bestiary.

I love that Arael just told us to go look up monster stats in a bestiary.

He was thinking more about monster description than actual stats, but yes, I imagine that in a world where monsters and dangerous creatures are common, that topic would become a rather important field of study, hence giving birth to a lot of sources one can use to gain insight into how to fight them.

Giuseppe, some questions about the use of Charm Person in a social situation. I maybe could have asked them earlier, but it hadn't come up yet.

- If a person makes their save, would they know I tried to charm them? Does it make a difference if they saw me casting or not?
- If the spell succeeds, what would the person know afterwards?
- Would Catina necessarily know the answers to those questions?

My ruling: if a target makes his save against your charm person spell he will know you probably cast a spell on him, since he saw you speaking magic works and gesturing strangely, but won't be able to identify which spell you cast unless he makes a successfull Spellcraft check to identify the spell.

If the speel succeeds the target will remember feeling friendly to you back when you cast the spell, but won't necessarily feel that way in the future.

And yes, Catina knows how her spells work.

Hey everyone, I'm sorry for not being able to inform you earlier, but I recently won a scholarship in another city, far away from my home town. I'm currently moving to Turin, and it will take a while before I'll be able to settle in and resume my regular posting rate. On the top of it, I'm doing this all by myself, so moving takes away a lot of my time, and I don't even have any source of internet access around here apart from my phone, but as you can imagine, since I don't have any wayfinder-type app on my phone, I cannot post with it.

I'll let you know when I'm back (I wish more sooner than later).

That's so exciting! Moving by yourself is gonna be a lot of work, so good luck! We'll be here when you're settled in!

That's a great opportunity, Giuseppe! I can imagine it takes a lot of time, to move everything on your own. Especially when combined with starting a new job/research. Take your time to get settled. As mechapoet says, we'll be here. :)

Hey everyone, as you can see in the Gameplay Thread, I managed to partially settle in and gain access to a free internet connection. I'm not done yet, but as long as I can, I'll try to keep up my usual posting rate while I settle in and wait for my internet connection to be installed.

Hey everyone, as you can see in the Gameplay Thread, I managed to partially settle in and gain access to a free internet connection. I'm not done yet, but as long as I can, I'll try to keep up my usual posting rate while I settle in and wait for my internet connection to be installed.

Excellent!

An unexpected pleasant surprise. :)

Glad to see you back. Hopefully the move went well, and you'll get settled in quickly in your new city. :)

Hey all, just a heads up: yesterday and today (Sat/Sun) I'm quite involved in my friend's wedding! So I might not be able to post this weekend, but I'll get back in on Monday.

Hey all, I've noticed that your posting has been rather sporadic these days. I posted on Thrusday, October 13th, inviting you to work on a plan and interact frequently without my intervention. Today is Tuesday, October 18th, and only 6 posts were made. That makes our Gameplay pretty dead, with less than a post every two days from each player. I'm wondering why (apart from Faustinia, who explained her reasons above) the thread has gone so silent lately.

If it's due to lack of involvement, please don't be afraid to confess it. My move certainly contributed to that, and we somehow ended up failing to keep up a decent posting rate and overall pace in the Gameplay Thread.

As far as I can see, we have two ways of dealing with this matter. If we're all willing to go on and get back to post at least once a day, I'm ready to get back to my usual GM duties and post as much as you. If you're not feeling particularly involved in the campaign, though, please just let me know. If there's a way I can fix it, I'll certainly work on it. But if you feel like this game has not much to give you in terms of fun anymore, please be sincere and we'll quit the game without anyone arguing. After all, we're all playing for having fun, and if someone is not enjoying playing in this game, I believe it's not something one should be afraid to confess.

Hi Giuseppe,

I have a few thoughts to post on the matter:
- I am notoriously bad at planning stuff in a roleplay campaign, which works against my posting and input in the past week.
- It seems like we've always had it a bit more difficult to interact among ourselves, than to interact with NPC's.
- It might take everyone some time to get back into the rhythm, after the short break.
- My work and personal life has been taking more time and energy lately. It's not a simple as "I'm out of town for x days" or "I'm working double shifts", but just all kinds of little things that have been adding up over the past weeks. I've tried to keep up my posting rate and post whenever I could add something meaningful, but I have no doubt that I'm bringing less energy and input to the campaign compared to the start. I'm sorry for that, but this is what I can offer for the foreseeable future.

Regarding the latter point, I have been dropping the number of games I'm in on these boards, only keeping those with prior commitment, and I will probably scale down a bit more in a couple of weeks, when some PFS games end. I'm definitely still invested in this one, though, and it would be one of the last ones I'd drop if it really were to come to that. I like the concept of the campaign, the way you run it, and my character, so I'd be very happy to continue.

I'm still interested in playing. I've become busier than I thought I was going to be when we first started, so a once a day post rate sits well with me.

I'm having a good time interacting with everyone's characters. That said, I've been playing an assertive and somewhat entitled character, which can be fun but can also sometimes be grating. So if you aren't having fun interacting with Faustinia, let me know and we can work out what needs to change!

Sorry, I mostly didn't respond because Faustinia's new plan incorporated Sev's suggestions, so other than agreeing, there wasn't much to say, but I'll make a better effort to find ways that make sense for Sev to engage the party in conversation.

I am fine with continuing to play.

I like the PCs in the game and we seem to have coalesced well in the game.

I'll admit that I would like the game to move faster but I understand if that's not possible.

Still, Giuseppe is a consistent GM that puts thought and time into his posts so we can't really ask for anything more.

I guess I miss the fact that he did all of the above at a slightly faster pace.

Game on!

PS: I have no issues with anyone's PC. I think everyone is staying well within the bounds of their character so no worries on my part. I like it, actually.

I've chosen Catina's spells:

0th level 3 spells. DC 12
- Light
- Guidance
- Stabilize

1st level 2 spells, 1 Domain spells. DC 13
- Bless
- Protection from Evil
D True Strike

Prepared spells:

0:
-Dancing lights
-Prestidigitation
-Mending

1:
-Color Spray
-Grease
-Summon Monster I

I'm running a bit late today. Post coming within the hour.

Question. Shouldn't Catina be exempt from that acrobatics check because Tieflings have darkvision and she'd be able to see the road, or was it not sight based?

Havong darkvision prevented the DC for ger check to increase to 20. The check itself was not based on sight, since you can always stumble into something even when you can see it, if you're running too fast and don't have time to avoid everything in your way.

Catina level-up:

+7 hit points (d8 +2 Con)
+1 BAB, CMB, CMD
+1 Fort, +1 Will
One extra 1st level spell per day, one extra orison
4 skill points (2 +1 Int +1 fcb): Knowledge religion, Knowledge local (non-class skill), Perception, Spellcraft

Lorenzo - 2nd level paladin

+10 hp (6 class, 2 con, 1 fav class, 1 fav class 1st level, which I seem to have forgotten);
+1 BAB;
+1 fort save;
+1 will save;
+ divine grace;
+1 lay on hands;
+3 skill ranks (k. nobility, perception, sense motive)

GM: what's your take on using lay on hands while having a light shield strapped on?

Frankly, I took the 'two weapon fighting with sword and light shield' hoping that I would be able to do other things with my shield hand. Mainly use my lay on hands ability but also to hold things like a sunrod.

I'm reading this

If using my 'shield hand' to do other things is not possible in this game, I would like to re stat my paladin for sword and regular shield (using power attack, and cleave).

Thoughts?

Faustinia - Conjurer 2

HP: +5 (4 class, Con 1)
BAB: +1
Saves: Will +1

Skills: (2 class, 4 Int, 1 favored class)
+1 Knowledge (Arcana, Dungeoneering, local, nobility, planes, religion), Spellcraft

Spells:
Added to spellbook: identify, magic missile
0th level spells: +1/day
1st level spells: +1/day

Acid dart: damage +1

GM: what's your take on using lay on hands while having a light shield strapped on?

Frankly, I took the 'two weapon fighting with sword and light shield' hoping that I would be able to do other things with my shield hand. Mainly use my lay on hands ability but also to hold things like a sunrod.

I'm reading this

If using my 'shield hand' to do other things is not possible in this game, I would like to re stat my paladin for sword and regular shield (using power attack, and cleave).

Thoughts?

For lay on hands (or any character with a weapon and light shield who needs a free hand for other spells or abilities), I believe the actions go like this:

Starting state: Holding weapon in one hand and light shield in the other
Free action: Move weapon to shield hand (which can be done since you can hold things with a light-shield arm)
Standard action: Lay on hands/cast a spell with a somatic component/etc
Free action: Return weapon to starting hand

Not sure how Giuseppe wants to handle the sunrod thing, but the description seems to indicate you can hold objects with a shield arm (but not use the weapons).

Sev - Level 2
+7 HP (5 Class, 2 Con)
+1 BaB
+1 Ref Save

+10 Skill Points (9 Class, 1 FCB)
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Buff
+1 Disable Device
+1 Escape Artist
+1 K. Dungeoneering
+1 K. Local
+1 Perception
+1 Slight of Hand
+1 Stealth
+1 Use Magic Device

Evasion: Take no damage on spells that cause half damage with succesful Reflex Save

Rogue Talent: Finesse Rogue (awards Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat).

GM: what's your take on using lay on hands while having a light shield strapped on?

Frankly, I took the 'two weapon fighting with sword and light shield' hoping that I would be able to do other things with my shield hand. Mainly use my lay on hands ability but also to hold things like a sunrod.

I'm reading this

If using my 'shield hand' to do other things is not possible in this game, I would like to re stat my paladin for sword and regular shield (using power attack, and cleave).

Thoughts?

Giuseppe, did you get a chance to consider the above and make a ruling?

Thanks.

Lorenzo Mancini wrote:

GM: what's your take on using lay on hands while having a light shield strapped on?

Frankly, I took the 'two weapon fighting with sword and light shield' hoping that I would be able to do other things with my shield hand. Mainly use my lay on hands ability but also to hold things like a sunrod.

I'm reading this

If using my 'shield hand' to do other things is not possible in this game, I would like to re stat my paladin for sword and regular shield (using power attack, and cleave).

Thoughts?

Giuseppe, did you get a chance to consider the above and make a ruling?

Thanks.

Ops, sorry Fabian I totally forgot about it. BTW, yes, I believe you can cast lay on hands with your shield hand while holding a light shield in that hand. There's also a confirmation for this. Topic

Here's a link to a new loot tracking sheet, once we get there (it's just a copy of the old one we were using for the trilogy of modules):

Loot tracking

Giuseppe, would you mind linking this loot tracking sheet to the campaign? I feel like we're going to need it soon.

I also don't think we ever appraised the jewelry from the sewer? I can roll for that now.

Appraise: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Hey, sorry for no post yesterday, my internet has been having problems. I'll try to get something up today if my connection decides to cooperate.

We're waiting for Faustinia's internet connection, I guess?

We're waiting for Faustinia's internet connection, I guess?

I guess so but we haven't heard from Giuseppe since Saturday...

I'm back! Sorry all, I had some trouble with my provider.

Sorry for my silence guys, I'm experiencing some internet issues too. They told me they'll fix them on Monday, so I hope to get back as soon as possible.

Sorry to hear about the internet woes, but it's good to read from you, regardless.

In my Pathfinder experience, planning usually requires a certain amount of off-game discussion. Please use this thread to clarify things for me. First off, I'd like to know if Catina is really going to act as a bait as Faustinia suggests.

To reiterate on the plan I proposed:

I approach, making sure I am seen. The lookout is dealt with, and the other three also get in position. I approach the hideout and try to Bluff my way in. If needed, I could try to Charm Person. When the door is open, I'll create a window of opportunity with Dazing Touch, or possibly Obscuring Mist. That's the cue for the others to come rushing in, and deal with whoever's opening the door.

Some precautions:
- I shouldn't wear my glaive, one of the others will have to bring it. I can wear some other weaponry, to look the part of someone willing to join the Bastards. A mace or quarterstaff also allows me to defend myself alone, if needed.
- I'll look into defensive measure, that I could apply before I put myself out there. It would need to be something with a reasonable duration, though. 1 min/level isn't going to cut it.

Any other suggestions?

To reiterate on the plan I proposed:

I approach, making sure I am seen. The lookout is dealt with, and the other three also get in position. I approach the hideout and try to Bluff my way in. If needed, I could try to Charm Person. When the door is open, I'll create a window of opportunity with Dazing Touch, or possibly Obscuring Mist. That's the cue for the others to come rushing in, and deal with whoever's opening the door.

Some precautions:
- I shouldn't wear my glaive, one of the others will have to bring it. I can wear some other weaponry, to look the part of someone willing to join the Bastards. A mace or quarterstaff also allows me to defend myself alone, if needed.
- I'll look into defensive measure, that I could apply before I put myself out there. It would need to be something with a reasonable duration, though. 1 min/level isn't going to cut it.

Any other suggestions?

I like this as a plan to get us in the front door, especially with the misdirection of obscuring mist.

Charm person won't work on tieflings since they're native outsiders, not humanoids.

I'm not sure you have to give up your glaive if you're trying to infiltrate a gang of toughs, except that it's Shelyn's holy weapon. But if you think it would give too much away, a mace should do nicely.

EDIT:

Additionally, here are my prepared spells for the day of the attack on the Bastards:

1st: grease (DC 16), color spray (DC 15), mage armor, summon monster I (school spell)

0th: dancing lights, detect magic, mending, prestidigitation

Quick post update: I couldn't get a gameplay post in earlier today because I was swamped at work, and something has come up with my cat apparently not feeling well, so I need to watch him tonight. :c
But I'll aim to get a post up tomorrow morning if my cat seems better.

Here's what I was thinking, spell-wise:

0 - Light, Guidance, Stabilize, Detect Magic
1 - True Strike (D), Command, Obscuring Mist, Sanctuary

I'll bring a quarterstaff, it's a weapon that I could hold without looking too suspicious. Also, I might throw it down to get in between the door, if they're trying to slam it shut. I'll also buy a mace as backup. Otherwise, I couldn't really find any useful items. Flash powder isn't core, a scroll of Knock might be a bit pricey, as is a potion of barkskin.

Giuseppe, did Faustinia manage to sell the four pieces of jewelry that we found in the sewer? If so, how much did that get us?

Hey guys, although I'm trying my best to give our Gameplay Thread a consistent pace, I'm finding it pretty hard to manage without your help.

Even though I don't like to do so, I must invite you to post more regularly: at least 1 post/day is required for our game to have decent pace. I'm not asking you to go out of your way in order to keep up with the posting rate though: if you can't manage to post at least once a day every day, please let us know and we'll find a replacement. But we really need to gain pace. I know that I'm personally guilty of the general slowness of the Gameplay Thread, but it was only because of my moving and the deriving issues with my internet connection. Now it's all settled, and I'd like to get back on track and start PbPing more regularly.

Let me know if you're in!

I'm all for picking up the pace. I try to match the GM's posting rate just because I don't want to seem like I'm hoarding the game.

That being said, I usually have no problems posting 2-3 times per day.

It'll be good to get back in the rhythm. I have a busy day at work today, update tonight when I get home.

Lorenzo, I would be perfectly fine if you posted a little more, even in between two of the GM's posts, for instance. A little more interaction between players makes the campaign feel more alive, to me. If you try to match the GM's pace 1 for 1 exactly, that might give the impress that you're only interacting with the story, and not so much with the rest of the group.