For simplicity's sake: The White Weasel, the town storehouse, and the town sawmill are all essentially closed to you due to their proprietors' close ties with Nazhena and the White Witches. You can buy anything mundane at Verana's Sundries; you can get appropriate stuff from the town blacksmith or the village chapel ...
Do we need to wait until Ellsprin to sell off our murder-hobo booty?
Also, there's still a few tid-bits left for folks to claim. Please check my "And treasure!" spoiler in my profile. (I've invested some ranks in UMD so I may keep a scroll or two for emergencies...)
Let's say you can divest yourselves of the silver bars easily enough. That should make the bag of holding usable for much of the rest, which will probably have to wait until you near Whitethrone.
Whatever cold iron weapons you'd like to sell can be easily sold.
I should be able to get a move-forward post up later today.
I mentioned before that I had a couple of ideas to quicken the pace a little. First off, I'm trying to narrate over some campaign bits; you will hopefully still get the story and sense of adventure but things won't get terribly bogged down.
I'm also going to combine some encounters. This is in part cos you're five players and not four (and five pretty well built ones, to boot), and in part cos I think the story will flow a bit better this way.
Please feel free to offer feedback.
Both sound like good ideas!
-Posted with Wayfinder
I concur. Thanks!
Side note- I am prepping for deployment to Guam. Not sure if I will go, but if I do I won't likely be too plugged in here for a week or three.
Angr-O can autopilot Vojtek as necessary :-)
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So your going to Guam, I hope it is for the important answer to this congressman's question.
2010 Congressman Hank Johnson who after this was re-elected... FML
Have a safe trip, I've been there once but not long enough to see anything.
Lol yes I've been showing that clip to everyone at work for 2 weeks. One of my all time favorites. Also look for Congresswoman Shelia Jackson-Lee asking if the Mars rover had found the flag Neil Armstrong planted yet. Or pretty much anything else she says.
If you end up in Guam, should we completely bot Odric and Vojtek, or just give you more time to respond?
I don't like botting PCs in PFS, let alone in campaigns. I'm willing to give ample time to respond unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise.
So here's the best I could find:
1. Spells with a Standard action casting time take effect "immediately."
2. Burning Gaze says that so long as the the spell is in effect I can take an action to make the attack. Missing out on the first round would make the spell considerably less useful than others of its level.
3. Other spells with similar mechanics (Fire Breath) use the same wording, so no help there.
...I've always ruled it this way, and I've never seen anyone rule otherwise as it seems to make sense. There's no FAQ on it though. Considering it's power level, I likely wouldn't use it otherwise (swapping out from something else.) Obviously it's GM call, but I go with "you get it on round 1."
this is a question?? Of course you can make your attack on the round you cast the spell. It's 1 SA, not 1 Round. The attack is part of the casting. I've been doing it that way forever. and I"m sure I've read that somewhere...i'll try to find.
Yes, it's a question, because of the way it's worded (emphasis added):
"As a standard action as long as this spell's effects persist, you may direct your burning gaze against a single creature or object within 30 feet of your location."
...since casting the spell is a Standard action.
Only thread I can find on it is here, which has no real consensus (or answer from Customer Service).
There's no debate from me that it makes the spell much less effective; it does, even with the prospect of casting it on one's familiar. But the wording, to me, seems pretty straightforward that, since using the gaze is a Standard, you can't use it the same round you cast it. I'm willing to be convinced otherwise.
I already admitted to S that it was the first time I'd actually read the spell since he took it, and told him that I wasn't changing the ruling mid-combat, cos I don't think that's fair. Of course changing the spell out isn't a question; that'd be automatic if he wants.
I *know* I've read somewhere that the attack is a part of the casting. I'll dig it out...
So I still can't find anything I find convincing. Stupid me however, I should have cast it on Liska. That would have made WAY more sense.... Well, now I know.
Even with the ruling I can't use it when I cast it, I'd keep it just to give Liska something to do in combat.
Sure, it's been more than a couple of days.
1800 xp for the wolves, and an additional 1200 xp story award for Orm; you made the Survival check right away, but needing multiple tries would've taken more time, and the possibility was there that he'd have died.
Huzzah! 600 each
trying to keep the game play tab from being too cluttered
hey, Kappi and Vojtek are searching the cave. Is nobody else coming inside? Or are you waiting for Kappi to start screaming when he sees a troll, and then you come running?
Or are you waiting for Kappi to start screaming when he sees a troll, and then you come running?
This gets my vote. >:-)
Or are you waiting for Kappi to start screaming when he sees a troll, and then you come running?This gets my vote. >:-)
Thanks KillerDM
Someone remind me next time we're safe. Davosh is an accomplished Alchemist and writer of scrolls. It's unlike me to be without an Alkali flask...
Five level 4 PCs against a CR 6 encounter? With a raging barbarian and a life-linking Oradin? I doubt it.
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So I just finished REDACTED. It contains advanced fiendish versions. I just peeked, yeah, my bad. Don't mind me... whistle***
-Posted with Wayfinder
I can apply advanced and fiendish templates.
Y'know, if you want. ;-)
(You'll hafta let me know which REDACTED you mean, LOL.)
so, what do y'all think my next character should be? I hold no illusions that this creature won't digest Ali, short of incredible luck & skill on the party's part (and given our current string of bad luck, I'm not hopeful) or deus ex machina (which I'm NOT repeat NOT interested in please and thank you!!).
So, what do we need? More size on the front line--maybe a straight-up fighter (haven't done sword-and-board since Barrett!)? Monk? (havent' done one of those since 2e!!)
Gents, my father passed away this morning. Those who knew him, I would ask you remember him well. Those who are inclined, I would ask you remember him and my family in your prayers. I am heading home today to be with my family.
I'm having a tough time with this. My dad and I were very close, and after a long and grueling battle with ALS, he has finally ceded the field and earned his repose. I believe he is in a better place, but I also miss him fiercely.
Thanks guys.
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Vojtek.. anything I can do let me know. My heart and prayers are with you, and your family.
This is what I was afraid of. I'm still a 1st lvl oracle, and don't yet have any burst healing. My healing is a constant trickle, effective since I can put damage out at the same time, but without any healing potions or bigger wands.. this is my limitation.
Sorry Ali :(
Gents, my father passed away this morning. Those who knew him, I would ask you remember him well. Those who are inclined, I would ask you remember him and my family in your prayers. I am heading home today to be with my family.
I'm having a tough time with this. My dad and I were very close, and after a long and grueling battle with ALS, he has finally ceded the field and earned his repose. I believe he is in a better place, but I also miss him fiercely.
Thanks guys.
Dude. That sucks.
It'll be twenty years this coming February since I lost my dad, and I still miss him.
Take whatever time you need; we're not going anywhere. Real Life Comes First [tm].
You have the sympathies and condolences of me and my family, S. I'm sorry.
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Two points of order, and a thanks for letting me change my standard action. Now that I have had a chance to look at the map, and see just how we got so f'd up. I'm not sure how the map has changed since any of this has happened. I'm not a fan of time travel, so we are where we are. I'm just confused as to how we managed to get here.
First Point. Looks like you rolled the Crit damage on Ali, when it should have been on Kappi. Moving the D6's around to where they should have been results in 29 to Kappi and 20 to Ali. Still lots of damage, but since everyone started off with Max HP's we wouldn't be so close to dying.
[dice=Red slam]1d20+6
[dice=Red confirm?]1d20+6
[dice=dmg]1d6+4 plus 1d6 acid and free grab attempt 1d20+10
[dice=if successful, constrict plus acid]1d6+1+1d6
Blue senses more tasty goodness nearby, and lashes out at Ali!
[dice=Blue slam]1d20+6
[dice=dmg]2d6+8 plus 2d6 acid and free grab attempt 1d20+10
[dice=if successful, constrict plus acid]1d6+1+1d6
Second Point:
Edward life links with Kappi! (That's a Standard action, BTW, so no doing it out of combat.)
I sure do hope I'm reading this wrong. Are you telling me that since establishing a Life Link is a Standard Action that I can't do it out of combat?
If that is the case, I disagree with you 100%. Because by extension of the logic of it being a standard action, How about cast Heroism that's a standard action. Are you saying that has to be done in combat? How about Prestidigitation? That's a standard action cast.
Please help me understand what you were saying. Because I certainly must have comprehended it wrong.
Nope, you comprehended exactly right: no preemptively having life link up prior to combat. Experience tells me that it screws with action economy far too much.
I don't have many ironclad rules, but that's unequivocally one of them.
Nope, you comprehended exactly right: no preemptively having life link up prior to combat. Experience tells me that it screws with action economy far too much.
I don't have many ironclad rules, but that's unequivocally one of them.
I've never seen this in use in a campaign, but I have definitely seen this abused in PFS.
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Nope, you comprehended exactly right: no preemptively having life link up prior to combat. Experience tells me that it screws with action economy far too much.
I don't have many ironclad rules, but that's unequivocally one of them.
So are you saying no buff spells before combat? We can't cast guidance outside of combat?
I fail to see the difference of a long duration spell vs life link. I am new to a life oracle, and you say experience teaches you different.
Please help me understand why there are two standards? I say two standards, because we have had no issue of allowing guidance outside of combat, or a more recent example Dancing Lights.
Obviously I'm not the GM, but I make a rule at my PFS tables: If you claim to have a life link on a specific PC by default, then you may never ever leave their area. Doing so results in the life link being cut off. (In a PFS game this comes up whenever someone tells me they're making a Diplomacy (Gather Information) check.
That's my entire 2 Copper. I'll stay out from here on out.
Buff spells out of combat are fine, as long as they're not rounds/level (shield, for instance). Outside of initiative, it's too cumbersome to keep track of the rounds.
I've seen players insist they can keep a Fortune hex up and keep it in place with Cackle out of initiative too, since the rules "don't say they can't." That doesn't fly at my table either.
The use of a Standard action at the start of combat is the opportunity cost of life link. Absent that cost, it's overpowered, especially when an Oracle gets high enough level to put multiple links up at once.
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HA GMTS,
I've seen all kinds of crazy things that have been argued "since the rule don't say they can't". I am truthfully not trying to be "That Guy".
I have been trying to do some research on the paizo boards, and on the web in general looking for more information about this. But the only way I see it used, or recommended use is to have it up before combat if at all possible.
Also I'm all in with it's limitations of distance, and if Kappi, or whomever else is scouting aka taking point gets out of range, then I will have to recast it when they return.
Please let me lay out my reasoning for it being balanced.
I can see some wariness concerning an ability with no duration limit. But I'm trying to see the overpowered aspect of it. Now if the oracle life link worked like a summoners life link that yeah I would say way overpowered. But this is only a 5hp heal/round, (The plan is to be a 4th lvl oracle so max of 20hp/rd transfer. Which I will get around 8th to 10th level.) and not even a true heal because I take the damage which has to be healed somehow thus using an action.
Now granted the Oradin uses LoH to conserve actions on healing to be able to do some damage. But under your ruling I will be spending 4 standard actions at the beginning of combat (The most damage intensive period) placing Life Link's on people. But my healing is a slow, but constant trickle. It has a few benefits of making bleed attacks ineffectual, stabilizes automatically, etcetera. Please let me know if I'm missing something.
See my conundrum? I'm playing a healer that "heals through damage dealt as part of the mitigation"
5 hp heal a round doesn't seem like much.
And then you add the revelation at 3rd level (typically channel energy).
And the Extra Revelation feat at 3rd (typically safe curing).
And another at 5th level (typically enhanced cures).
And another revelation at 7th (nearly always combat healer).
For your PC, it's a little different cos you're not going to get to combat healer and you'll have to weigh using your precious feats on Extra Revelation. Which is a fair point. But then again, the paladin's ability to heal as a Swift action mitigates that, and not just a little — it mitigates it a lot because lay on hands completely removes competition for your Standard action. And then you'll get channel energy anyway at 4th level.
Pathfinder's combat system, as 3.0/3.5's system before it, is based on actions; and more specifically, the limited actions you can use in a given round. Anything that messes with that action economy has the potential to swing the balance of power for either side, often significantly.
A magus' spell combat ability, allowing them to make a melee attack and cast a spell in the same round, is a good example. It's a potent ability, and is somewhat offset by the -2 penalties associated with it. (It's also quite well offset by the fact that a magus is trying to do that in the middle of combat.) And they can't do it just as a Standard action, they need to do it as a full-round action, because otherwise it would break the action economy.
It's always dangerous to look at rules as intended rather than rules as written — ask five people and you're likely to get six different answers. That said: in my view, the fact that the developers specifically called life link out as a Standard action indicates that it's intended to be used during combat, not to be set up outside of it ahead of time. They could have not called it anything, which would have defaulted it to a Standard action. But they didn't.
For whatever it's worth, I don't let anyone keep up a detect evil or detect magic constantly either. No, they're not exactly the same thing, but the principal is similar.
Case argued, points made.
DM has final ruling.
I don't want to cut off all debate, and I'm still investigating a little deeper myself. But I'm making a ruling at this point.
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Yeah, I'm good. 100% focus is on surviving this.
Meanwhile, someone remind me to cash in on my alchemy ranks....
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Fair points in all DMTS.
I appreciate that you're investigating it more. (Do VL's have a super secret batphone to call for these types of issues?) I will also look to see what I can find also (although work sure does hamper getting in the way of play lol) no matter which side of the coin it is.
I was looking for other examples of class abilities that are a standard action in combat, but mostly used out of combat. I guess the summoners ability to call his eidelon comes to mind, but don't hold me to that.
I highly doubt that I will ever pick up enhanced curing. Maybe safe curing, but that wasn't even on my radar to start with. I was looking at selective channeling, but most of my feats will be going to combat.
With that being said, my character intentions shouldn't change the ruling. Just that I may need to re-think the build, based upon new information.
So, one of the advantages to having had the opportunity to attend PaizoCon is being on a first-name basis with many of the people who create the game. And, for the first time ever, I cashed in some of that prestige (LOL) to pose the question to Stephen Radney-McFarland.
He agrees that the language is, to use his term, "muddy (as phrasing sometimes is in this game)." However:
The general assumption, I believe, is that rounds continue on well after the encounter phase play is over...we assume this in many aspects of the game, especially when it comes to spell and long-lasting supernatural effects.
For instance a creature with fast healing: "A creature with the fast healing special quality regains hit points at an exceptional rate, usually 1 or more hit points per round."
We do assume that there are rounds going on after encounter is over, so the creature heals even when the encounter is over.
His reference to fast healing is pertinent; infernal healing does exactly that, and is widely used outside of combat, including by me as a player. My interpretation is inconsistent with that, and as such, needs to be changed.
Live and learn. :-)
Two things
1) I was going to weigh in on the current rules debate but may withold for now, pending DMTS perseverations...
2) I apologize for my fatalistic attitude at this combat's start. Losing 90% of HP in 1 round an then failing to break the grapple (EFFING TWICE) can do that to a guy...tx for sticking with it (ME) y'all!
When I'm wrong — which is often — I try very hard to admit it.
It's a game; games have rules; abiding by those rules is part of playing the game.
Also: Ali's NEXT character will be... ;-)
Also: Ali's NEXT character will be... ;-)
meh, not discussing that anymore. :-) I just had a great time putting together the latest spells for my 12th level tabletop evoker, so I don't have any desire to think about any new characters at this time.
What I was going to say about the rules was...from this side of the DM screen, saying "no standard actions outside of combat" feels like a very large blunt instrument. That's most spells, lighting a tindertwig, etc. It feels like you're trying to solve a problem (or two?) with one (or two?) spells/abilities with a too-sweeping ruling.
If there's one or two abilities that are causing a problem, my opinion is those abilities should be looked at individually.
please note that the only reason I even shared this was because it was on my mind and I needed to get it off. :-) and I finally am sitting at my keyboard so I can actually type...