As the party cleans off, Kappi checks out the door of the wooden building now visible in the thick of the jungle. He hears nothing beyond the doors so, once the group i sready, he opens the door, revealing a corridor with doors on opposite sides beyond.
Kappi, That's the DM indicating that this door is safe and leads to more doors and that we don't have to slow down momentum. TS wouldn't auto have him open an unsafe door. I do it when there door leads to a hallway also. Unless I'm reading it wrong.
Kappi, before checking out this building, can you walk around the outside looking for windows or somesuch?" Davosh casts Guidance on the lad.
male Human Rogue 9 HPs 69/69, AC 24, FF17 Touch19), Init +6, (fort +5, ref +13, wil +5), Trap Spotter +20
Davosh the Wanderer wrote:
Kappi, That's the DM indicating that this door is safe and leads to more doors and that we don't have to slow down momentum. TS wouldn't auto have him open an unsafe door. I do it when there door leads to a hallway also. Unless I'm reading it wrong.
Kappi, before checking out this building, can you walk around the outside looking for windows or somesuch?" Davosh casts Guidance on the lad.
Sure. It's essentially difficult terrain, but we're not in initiative right now, so the impact is lessened.
Kappi:
The Varisian makes his way to the side, seeing closed windows with something covering them inside.
As he makes his way to the back of the building he finds that, even though it looks like it goes on, there is a physical barrier to him going further. Perhaps the entire wooded grove area is some sort of an illusion...?
He recalls Davosh mentioning something about this some time back:
Quote:
The illusions the Hut generates are real enough, my boy, but they are unreal enough as well.
Kappi doesn't think it makes much more sense this time than when first he heard it.
Essentially, the edge of the building is the edge of the "room" housing the configuration. Game-wise: it's partially an illusion, yes, but the manifestations are also real enough to threaten your life, as the moonflower encounter suggests. So Kappi is unable to circle the entire building.
Kappi follows the trail, which leads back through the jungle copse and out to the main clearing. Map updated. He catches sight of a few more decaying cocoons from the moonflowers, but a quick search reveals nothing of value in them.
male Human Rogue 9 HPs 69/69, AC 24, FF17 Touch19), Init +6, (fort +5, ref +13, wil +5), Trap Spotter +20
GM thunderspirit wrote:
Kappi follows the trail, which leads back through the jungle copse and out to the main clearing. Map updated. He catches sight of a few more decaying cocoons from the moonflowers, but a quick search reveals nothing of value in them.
I moved people on the map
The party moves up a little and the Varisian rogue checks out the next area. He slips smoothly and quietly, scanning everything.
Kappi creeps forward along the path into the thick copse of deciduous trees beyond the moonflower jungle.
Kappi:
Several flat-topped tree stumps stand amid thick grass in this clearing, hinting that this place was once as thickly forested as the surrounding wood.
Kappi can hear a high-pitched voice from the woods beyond the clearing, though he cannot make out the words. The Varisian can see an old grey housecat sitting quietly atop a tree stump, but it does not seem to notice him.
male Human Rogue 9 HPs 69/69, AC 24, FF17 Touch19), Init +6, (fort +5, ref +13, wil +5), Trap Spotter +20
GM thunderspirit wrote:
Kappi creeps forward along the path into the thick copse of deciduous trees beyond the moonflower jungle.
** spoiler omitted **
The lad reports back to his party. The kitty cat HAS to be something other than a normal kitty. Lets go talk to it. Kappi leads the party back to the clearing.
The rogue lets the others take point on the cat while he does his best to listen/find/identify the high pitched voice nearby.
male Human Rogue 9 HPs 69/69, AC 24, FF17 Touch19), Init +6, (fort +5, ref +13, wil +5), Trap Spotter +20
Kappi Matarito wrote:
GM thunderspirit wrote:
Kappi creeps forward along the path into the thick copse of deciduous trees beyond the moonflower jungle.
** spoiler omitted **
The lad reports back to his party. The kitty cat HAS to be something other than a normal kitty. Lets go talk to it. Kappi leads the party back to the clearing.
The rogue lets the others take point on the cat while he does his best to listen/find/identify the high pitched voice nearby.
I am, thanks. A combination of crushed at work and feeling under the weather, no one's fault but mine for not communicating that. Dug out a bit now, and feeling better. Plus, no comparison to what others are enduring at the moment, so.
Kappi:
Kappi can't make out where the voice is coming from. It's almost like it's everywhere and nowhere at onc...wait.
The Varisian lad remembers back to a visit from his uncle as a child, and a game he would play where he would make his voice sound like it was coming from somewhere else. His mother just rolled her eyes at it, but Kappi remembers loving it and laughing in appreciation. This sound is eerily similar. Not his uncle, of course, but the same sort of thing.
The cat does not seem to pay any attention to Kappi or to anyone else.
Ali casts a quick chant, shifts her position to a more advantageous one, and touches Vojtek's wiry shoulder. Get in there and save Kappi, that thing's gonna EAT him!!
Ordinarily, there's no assisting on Knowledge checks made in combat. However, due to the special nature of this particular encounter, I'm going to give something to Davosh (giggity).
Davosh:
As the aberration begins to thrash about, Davosh hears that voice again, almost apologetic this time.
Quote:
I cannot control this...it will use my powers, and those of my mistress, against you...if you slay it, you free me...and I can help you, child of Ancestors...
The entire stump, immobile cat and all, steps toward Kappi and one of the root-like tentacles reaches out for him!
tentacle 1:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6plus free Grab attempt Grab vs. CMD 23:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26 constrict dmg:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5plus a free Pull after Grab
The tentacle wraps around Kappi's torso and has him fast!
Another tentacle reaches out for Ali!
tentacle 2:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6plus free Grab attempt Grab vs. CMD 20:1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36 constrict dmg:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7plus a free Pull after Grab
The tentacle grabs Ali as well and pulls her adjacent to it!
Three more tentacles each lash out at Kappi and Ali!
tentacle 3 vs. Kappi:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 tentacle 4 vs. Kappi:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 tentacle 5 vs. Kappi:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 26 damage total on Kappi from 4 hits and constrict.
Ali charges her hand with arcane power, adding more juice than usual--causing the fire on her hand to pop and crackle, dripping globs of tar-like flame.
use 2 arcane pool points for Pool Strike: Fire, clinging
The other tentacles writhe, but the stump gives a weird look to Vojtek!
Will save from the Northman! It's an Evil Eye witch hex targeting attack rolls!
GM stuff:
WISC 35, -4 to saves
Round 2
Ali — grappled, whiff
baddies —
Kappi — GO
Edward — GO
Vojtek — Will save vs. Evil Eye, then GO
Davosh — GO
Round 3
Ali — grappled & hugged, GO
baddies — TBD
Kappi — TBD
Edward — TBD
Vojtek — TBD
Davosh — TBD
"That's MY technique you animated taxadermic nincompoop!" Davosh cackles like mad while keeping his big eye on the thing. New Evil Eye, focusing on attack rolls. DC 22
Both of my classes have that spell, so wouldn’t the caster level go up? So +18
Not unless the caster levels specify that they stack, no.
Example: taking levels in the Dragon Disciple prestige class advances the PC's arcane spellcasting at the levels indicated on the Class Features chart (levels 2, 3 & 4, then 6, 7, & 8, then 10), but not at the other levels because it doesn't say that it does (levels 1, 5, 9).
Taking a different class adds a different class from which you can cast spells, but does not stack those levels unless it specifies that it does. Edward casts his Oracle spells as a 4th level Oracle since he as 4 levels of Oracle; and casts Paladin spells as a 2nd level caster ("At 4th level and higher, [their] caster level is equal to [their] paladin level -3."). Edward does not get to stack his Paladin levels onto his Oracle levels as a caster.
The bonus on liberating command is +8 if it is cast as an Oracle spell, or +4 if it is cast as a Paladin spell. Ali's original roll modifier was correct. It is enough to get her free.
But questions and discussion among the players about PCs are welcome, and in fact encouraged.
Also, while I am getting more adept at this play-by-post thing, and like to think I run them pretty well, it's the first time I've tackled anything this size, so there are potential growing pains. I thank you all in advance for your patience. :-)
I think Chris was thinking August start time anyway. I'm just about done the mechanics. Now on to the fluff. I picked the traits of "Dangerously curious" and .... "Wanderer" or something like that. Personalities never fully form until a few sessions in, but I picture Egg Shin in mannerisms. I haven't settled on a Golarion ethnicity.
I REALLY want to embrace not being the Faceman. A lot of my characters are the face man (clerics, Bards, sorcerers, even my ranger.) I'm looking forward to an 8 Charisma.
Weird. Does this not show up on active campaigns because it's only a discussion tab?
Dunno. I have my board page focused so I see threads in which I've looked and/or posted, so I can't speak to how it looks without that. (Plus, y'know, I started it, so...)
The plan was sometime before y'all skedaddle off to Gen Con, we'd get this train a'rollin'. I'll be AFK out in the DC area over August's first weekend (this year and the next 5-6 years, due to my wife's ex), but I was targeting 8/6 or so to start in earnest.
OTOH, as you round out your character, PCs can interact and get to know each other. Remember that you start in Heldren, a small Taldan village near the Qadiran border (on this map, picture it just north of the woods east of Zimar), so be sure you have a reason for being there — home town, hunting expedition, caravan en route to Qadira wasn't permitted to pass, something.
I don't want to spoiler much, but if you read the AP chapter blurbs on Paizo...
<GM hat>
There will be some.
There will be some indoor parts too, however.
</GM hat>
<PFS player hat>
In general, you sacrifice some utility for power with a Medium-sized mounted combatant. You sacrifice some power for utility with a Small-sized mounted combatant.
</PFS player hat>
With a Huge-sized mounted combatant, you're sacrificing practically all utility for a nice power boost, and the opportunity to look really primitive and cool as you crush your enemies (beneath the mammoth's feet), see them driven before you (slowly), and hear the lamentation of their women.
I was considering a request to use a polar bear rather than a mammoth. But ill probably just do a standard barbarian.
I wouldn't allow a bear mount for a single-classed Barbarian, but I might be persuaded to allow one for a bear shaman archetype Druid.
Of the top of my head: use a grizzly bear (Bestiary p. 31) with a modified version the Young simple template applied until level 4; then just the Young simple template until level 7. It would take some tweaking (and perhaps some modification of the class abilities too), but it could possibly be done.
I'd rather specialize in barbarism than compromise for the (admittedly cool) prospect of a barbarian-doodad on a polar bear. Especially given the probability of dismounting every time we enter a building, dungeon, boat or chicken legged hut.
Soooo.... I have to say, I had been saving the Gunslinger for the chance to play Skull and Shackles. This. This might be the opportunity to play one, do ya kennit? I've avoided as many spoilers as possible, but after looking at the cover to Pathfinder #71 and the "Restless Wayfarer" trait I think the Wheel of Ka may be coming around.
Chris, you're the DM, and I know that not everyone is keen on Gunslingers outside of Alkenstar. If you're okay with it though, I'll seriously consider dancing the commala. I've got both characters built and ready. Either one would be a powerful addition to this ka-tet.
How about the rest of the ka-tet? If I play a gunslinger the temptation to speak the High Speech will be high, but I won't let it become a distraction....
From what I've observed, the Gunslinger plays rather like an archer that needs to be close to her target. It also receives full BAB, d10 hit dice, and Ranger saves, so it's not made of glass like the needs-to-be-close-range-for-their-save-or-suck-effects Witch.
Most of the class is centered around the weapon, so that's a limiting factor; without it, it can be a full-BAB fighter absent Power Attack. I might have preferred it a d8 hit die class with medium BAB progression and free Point Blank/Precise shot, but I don't think it's broken as it is.
Some GMs do not dig on firearms in their fantasy, tho. Chocolate in their peanut butter, so to speak. To each their own; in the words of Arthur C. Clarke, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Male Human Oracle 4 Paladin 5 AC= 19; T=13; FF=16; HP 88/88; Init +3; Per +9; +13F +10R +13W
(Joe's character) I guess this is the name I'm going with. My statblock in on the profile. I will come up with a background and personality later. I am planning on going Paladin also, so if you forsee a problem with all that choice brings let me know.
I wouldn't mind to see how a gunslinger worked out. I have played in a "dark tower" campaign, but due to deployments and PCS it never went far. Would have been interesting to see how one works in Pathfinder.
Considering the fact that Mike hasn't posted (I'll remind him tonight at Serpent's Skull) and the fact that we take off in less than a week, is that okay with everyone?
Please feel free to do PC banter on the gameplay thread once you've set things up. You each know why you're in the taldan village of Heldren, so you can certainly add something like getting sodden at the Silver Stoat, or charming some farmer's daughter (or son, if you're so inclined), or schmoozing with someone on the village council (maybe Ionnia Teppen, who leads it with her iron will, but not her Iron Will, if you know what I mean). And we'll get rolling in earnest once y'all are back from Naptown. Er, Indianapolis.
Reminder:
Reign of Winter Players' Guide wrote:
Heldren is a small village of 171 people, mostly farmers, herders, and woodcutters. A small armory sits atop a low hill northwest of the town square, ready to provide
a safe refuge in case the village is attacked. Heldren's town hall and its single inn, called the Silver Stoat, are the two largest buildings in the village, followed by the sawmill that brings income to the quiet settlement.
Like many small villages, Heldren contains a general store, a blacksmith, a stable, a butcher shop, a barber, an apothecary, and a wise woman who sees to the village's needs. To provide spiritual guidance to the village, a small temple stands near the center of town. Though the place is dedicated to Erastil, its resident cleric tends to the community regardless of an individual’s particular faith.
Dungeon Master S wrote:
Also Chuffy is chuffed over being stunned ;-)
Poog's revenge for his mother. Or collateral damage. Or Poog's collateral revenge. Whatever. :-D
Wow - has anyone considered Horizon Walker? I was turned on to it as a way to eliminate fatigue and exhaustion as a Barb (Desert dominance)... but the cold resistance stuff from terrain mastery and dominance (Cold) after just three levels is pretty cool.
Hey Chris, do you use or have an Obsidian Portal account? I have a full membership. I'm happy to use space to keep track of this. I use it for my other two games. It makes life easier, especially when things move more slowly, like in PbP
Ha! If you said Words of Power were in, I would have started wondering what kind of masochist you are.
First-class. :-D
I know of exactly one person I would implicitly trust to implement WoP correctly and creatively without hesitation. She'd do a stellar job at it, and would come up with fun and original ways to use them without breaking the game.
