GMG's PbP: Shackles adventures (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

@Xasay: You know, I'm thinking some lowly port city of Taldor, or maybe the slums of Cassomir. The accent/speaking style was inspired by the mannerisms a friend uses for his character in my home game, although I have a friend in the UK who is now helping me throw in more appropriate slang. :p

Guess I haven't thought too much otherwise; I always sorta saw Taldor as a Britain analogue, unless someone else has a better suggestion for that.

I believe I'd be on Season 7, but that still works!

@Scratcher: Taldor is more like 3 Musketeers-era France, or Don Quixote-era Spain; some have even compared it to the Byzantine Empire. A better Britain might be Cheliax (which can of course be many things - Inquisition-era Spain, Nazi Germany, dystopian America, etc.), but it's not entirely certain Golarion has a particularly good Britain analogue (though again, you could make a case for the Britain a la Orwell's 1984). I've heard Nirmathas compared to Ireland (which might make Molthune a sort of Britain, but they seem more like Prussia)....

The knights and castles aspect of Taldor is kind of English though. (and as you note, French...and ... basically anywhere European)

Xasay,

My interpretation of your shadow puppet is that it attacks your opponents (like Summon Monster) unless you can communicate with it. This based on the fact that your puppet "works like shadow conjuration" which in turn can mimic summon monster.

If you want you can change your action.

This spell summons an extraplanar creature (typically an outsider, elemental, or magical beast native to another plane). It appears where you designate and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the creature, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions.

I'm puppeteering it - directly controlling it. You don't think that would count as being at least as effective as verbal communication?

Fair point.

I went with RAW: Shadow puppeteering acts like shadow conjuration which acts like summon monster. That is for anything that is not called out to being different.

I agree that the intent is probably that shadow conjuration (and your puppeteering) allows you perfect control over any shadow summon.

I am fine with taking that approach, but in that case you need line of sight to your shadows (which you currently have, just making sure we agree how to handle this).

I think it is a good idea to discuss this point with future GM's at the start of the game.

Yes, it sounds like we agree on how to handle this.

It's sort of an unspoken rule of the game that interpreting the rules requires some 'reading between the lines,' and I think the designers write what they do with that in mind (some refer to this as "RAW vs RAI"). This is why I hate the "crunch/fluff" meme - it gets the "source/emanation" of it all backwards, and unnecessary and misguided conflicts come out of that.

FYI: for drowning and paralyzation I follow James Jacob's advice

Incidentally, regarding helping friends with shadow puppets, I would point out that anyone can voluntarily fail/forgo a saving throw.

Discussion with regard to this this topic

It is clear from that discussion that there is debate around it. My stance is that when you interact you get a save AND that you as the meddler with shadows know these animals are not 100% real.

A creature can voluntarily forego a saving throw and willingly accept a spell’s result. Even a character with a special resistance to magic can suppress this quality.

Your shadow conjuration is no spell but a supernatural ability.

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, that is not my intention. I actually quite like Xasay and what he is doing with his shadows.

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, that is not my intention. I actually quite like Xasay and what he is doing with his shadows.

Maybe it's just the whole "Eye of Sauron" thing you've got going on there. :)

GMG wrote:

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, that is not my intention. I actually quite like Xasay and what he is doing with his shadows.

Maybe it's just the whole "Eye of Sauron" thing you've got going on there. :)

I like the round shape of the picture, but this one is also nice ;-)

I took the liberty of moving Jake to the "safe zone" behind the red line.

Don't get me wrong, "Eye of Sauron" is a great look for a DM!

Also, I think there might be another DM somewhere around here who uses the puzzle box for an avatar.

Me? I don't often DM, but when I do...

...I look like this.

Stay creepy, my friends.

According to Paizo it is the wise eye of an owl(bear).

I was just having some fun by looking at all the options out there, switching back now!

[dice=cook]1d20+4 <-if I have a reroll at the end I might use it on this.

Do you have a reroll?

Chronicles

Please level up and make your purchases. If your perception or initiative changed can you update the list on the map?

For those with a day job: you can make one for the first part of the module.

Is everyone still on board for Plunder and Peril?

I got a Day Job roll of '29' if you look back on the previous page here.

And sure!

I'm having trouble opening your Chronicles page, although the problem may be on my end (my Internet reliability's been getting worse). Anyone else?

I am up for Plunder! although I will be gone from Oct 29th - Nov 5th.

Xasay, you can PM me your mailadres if you want. I will then mail you the chronicle.

The remark about day jobs is for the next chronicle. I included your 50 gold on yours.

I've got it now; it just needed a few tries, I guess.

As for new Day Job check:

Perform (Keyboard): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Okay, ready!

Enjoy your holiday Scratcher!

vags day job
cook: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

20gp

I'll level up Tori sometime this weekend and be ready for the next section by Monday. I may increase her day job, so I'll roll it when I'm done leveling.

I'll see how I go, but am pretty stretched at the moment, so may have to bow out of part two sorry.

I am up for peril and plunder.

No problem Vag. Can you let me know on Monday (31 October) what it will be?

Team: if Vagantem leaves, do you want to recruit someone or continue with four?

Edit Vagantem: do you want me to upload another chronicle for you or will you include your rerolled dayjob?

I'd say recruit, there's always people that want to play.

I'll just edit in the 20gp, that is fine. Given how hard part one way, I think you should probably recruit for a replacement. Maybe someone with healing :-)

I'd absolutely want to recruit a new 5th.

Ok, I will recruit if Vagantem decides to leave the game. I prefer to keep it at 5 max though, given that the module is designed for 4 players.

I think I really need to drop out. Too many games on with gameday V. I do this each time, and each time I say "next time I'll not do this again" and then..So Many Games I Want To Play...

This time of course there are several with compulsary pre-gens so my normal character limit is pushed out even further..

Sorry to see you go Vagantem, it was fun playing with you. I understand being a little stretched out in various games though, I've been considering limiting new games myself until I figure out my comfortable limit.

GM: Tori is now leveled and ready to go.

Day Job Profession (sailor): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Sorry to see you go Vagantem. I have also been in the situation you describe.

After leveling we have:
Tori: Archer lvl 5
Xasay: Shadow puppeteer lvl 4
Scratcher: Melee lvl 4
Emett: Gunslinger lvl 4

Seems you could best use a level 4 divine melee-type like a cleric / warpriest / paladin / hunter.

Do you agree with that assessment? If you are I will open recruitment for a few days and randomly pick one of the applicants that meets these requirements.

I am also fine with opening recruitment and letting you pick someone. Or if someone knows anyone that is a good fit for the party that is also fine.

In other words: do you want to do the recruitment or shall I do it?

Xasay: Shadow puppeteer lvl 4

I'm only level 3 (4 -> 7 experience).

I don't have a preference on how you recruit, whichever way you want to take care of it is fine with me.

I guess I need to play Characters and Chronicles today. :)

My favorite pastime!

Sorry for that Toz, I just had a bad experience with a player (not at this table) with regard to chronicles and bookkeeping. That is why I asked.

Honestly, I've needed to do it for awhile, I just haven't had a reason to. I don't get to play much these days.

Inventory Tracking Sheet
Level 1-4 Chronicles
Level 5 Chronicles

Naturally, I will be slow tracking the first two chronicles.

Thanks Toz, I did a quick check and see no weird things.

Oh, that's good. First time I built her, I looked at her saves and couldn't figure out what I had done. I had forgot about the domain power. :)

DM, could you please re-send my Chronicle for the first part?

It is still there:

Chronicles

Thank you; lost track of where they'd been posted, I guess.

Remind me of the rules for positioning vis-a-vis 'aid another,' please? That's what I intend to mostly do in this fight.

Double-checking: Is magic entirely verboten in this fight? Even cantrips?

In melee combat, you can help a friend attack or defend by distracting or interfering with an opponent. If you're in position to make a melee attack on an opponent that is engaging a friend in melee combat, you can attempt to aid your friend as a standard action. You make an attack roll against AC 10. If you succeed, your friend gains either a +2 bonus on his next attack roll against that opponent or a +2 bonus to AC against that opponent's next attack (your choice), as long as that attack comes before the beginning of your next turn. Multiple characters can aid the same friend, and similar bonuses stack.

So you need to be adjacent to an enemy that is also adjacent to the person you want to aid (ignoring reach weapons). You do not need to be adjacent to the person you are aiding.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
As for magic: nobody said anything about using (or not using) magic.

For reference.

If you do not have the Improved Disarm feat, or a similar ability, attempting to disarm a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.

Thanks!

I will be offline for the next two days. I might check in via phone, but I don't think it is likely to happen. Then I will have limited time for the next few days due to the holiday. I should be back more consistently starting Dec 26.

Happy 2017!