Oh, I almost forgot. Is it too late to acquire some cold iron chakrams? Assuming Brevon will follow my advice to get them. They deal a lot more damage than a crossbow.
No, go ahead and grab them!
I'm leaving for the beach tomorrow and will be gone all of next week (yay!). I should have internet access and plan to keep up with posting, but if I'm missing in action, you'll understand why. Please bot me if necessary.
(and I apologize to those that have probably read this four times by now!)
So, I was going to be doing a mass message in all my games on Monday, telling you I was going camping for five days...instead I get to put out a mass message today, letting you know I'm in the hospital. :/ Kind of major, but I'm just being admitted for IV fluids and observation for now. I've got my laptop with me, and should, for some strange reason, have more than enough time for posting, but if interruptions do arise, that's why.
So, I was going to be doing a mass message in all my games on Monday, telling you I was going camping for five days...instead I get to put out a mass message today, letting you know I'm in the hospital. :/ Kind of major, but I'm just being admitted for IV fluids and observation for now. I've got my laptop with me, and should, for some strange reason, have more than enough time for posting, but if interruptions do arise, that's why.
Sorry to hear this. I wish everything turns out well for you.
Hope things work out in the best way possible for you Arrika... Sorry to hear about this.
@Toothy: I mentioned Rukzha would use cure light wounds on the party before going to bed if needed. So, is it fine if she used one on Elriel?
Seeing as people are kinda slow in updating everywhere, I'm going to make a list over ACs:
Brevon 22
Elriel 19
Kelumarion 17 (20 with Mage Armor, I assume Arrika casts that before we set out)
Arrika 17
Rukzha 15 (12 after Mage Armor Expires)
Finally I need to decide on what spells I learned:
False Life, Perceptive Cues
With the current party and the enemies we are facing I don't really foresee a situation where I would rather want shadowmind than glitterdust since the later ignores SR and imposes a much more severe condition as long as there is some kind of light nearby (like Brevon's scimitar). The component cost on Europhic Cloud seems like it would be annoying (I would have to buy them all the time)
And what spells to prepare for the day:
2nd: Glitterdust, Web, Blindness
1st: Mage Armor, Web Bolt, Ear-Piercing Scream, Command, Open
We got so much healing potions and wands now that I would rather have more flexibility in what spells I have prepared and we still got channel/lay on hands on top of healing hex.
I almost want to switch blindness for a second Glitterdust or even leave it open (takes 15 min to prepeare). What do people think? Glitterdust will be much more useful against demons, but against lone cultist casters blindness will be pretty good. Yesterday I really wished I had more uses of glitterdust. Though I guess with Arrika having Glitterdust it's probably fine to only have one?
Mirror Image is a great spell, but so far Rukzha haven't had much reason to fear for her safety. Maybe she'll be more cautious if she's harmed. Hopefully she'll survive that.
I also remembered to add a shovel for Arrika's Create Pit to the shopping list.
Seeing as people are kinda slow in updating everywhere, I'm going to make a list over ACs:
So what did we (I) finally get? I'll update my PC sheet once I know.
Ah, I thought it was clear from the IC interaction that we got the ring and the goggles. If I'm mistaken in that then I'm sorry :(. Does the link to the spreadsheet not work?
Just to let you know, I'm going to the doctor in the big city so I'll only be able to post by the end of the day! Nothing serious at all so no worries, I'll be back!
Ah, I thought it was clear from the IC interaction that we got the ring and the goggles. If I'm mistaken in that then I'm sorry :(. Does the link to the spreadsheet not work?
I don't see that on the spreadsheet.
I also wanted MW thieves tools, a MW composite shortbow and... something else, which currently escapes me. :)
I just need to make sure the GM agrees with what we are proposing.
Weird. Those things are both listed on the spreadsheet. You don't see them listed on the bottom of sheet5 (it should be autoselected on the link I provided)? Here is the link again did I not share it properly? If there was one more thing I've also forgotten it...
@Toothy: Did Rukzha figure out how much the house wares are worth? If they are worth enough maybe we can afford a longbow for Brevon...
Weird. Those things are both listed on the spreadsheet. You don't see them listed on the bottom of sheet5 (it should be autoselected on the link I provided)? Here is the link again did I not share it properly? If there was one more thing I've also forgotten it...
@Toothy: Did Rukzha figure out how much the house wares are worth? If they are worth enough maybe we can afford a longbow for Brevon...
Ah, I was looking at Toothy's loot spreadsheet.
We need to have only one spreadsheet and I thought it was Toothy's, which obviously needs to be updated. :)
I'll add those items to Elriel's PC sheet and adjust his stats accordingly.
But I think Toothy needs to update his spreadsheet and whichever one we are using.
Seeing as people are kinda slow in updating everywhere, I'm going to make a list over ACs:
Brevon 22
Elriel 19
Kelumarion 17 (20 with Mage Armor, I assume Arrika casts that before we set out)
Arrika 17
Rukzha 15 (12 after Mage Armor Expires)
Ok, I updated my PC sheet with Arashavial's gift (not the magical arrows though because we are waiting to see if Brevon gets a bow) and Rukzha's buying/selling.
I still count my AC as 18 (MW chain shirt (4), 17 DEX (3), and ring of protection (1)) but if Rukzha's says it's 19, then I must be missing something. :)
Game on!
You've got a +1 chain shirt, that is listed on toothy's sheet as well I believe.
Sadly I can't edit Toothy's spreadsheet otherwise I would have used that. The excel/onedrive combo isn't made for having multiple people edit it at the same time though. Think of Toothy's sheet as what we actually have while mine is a suggestion for trades we make. You should all have permission to edit my "trade sheet", so feel free to add or change things.
Sorry for the delay guys... got some pretty weird partial internet connection yesterday, where I was able to see your posts but not post or PM anyone!
I'm pretty OK with everything you have proposed so far (items, spells learnt and changing spells, healing Elriel...) and will update my loot sheet ASAP now that you finished your shopping.
Still wondering about the value of those fine wares so we potentially can afford a bow for Brevon.
Still wondering about the value of those fine wares so we potentially can afford a bow for Brevon.
They are worth 450gp. I had already put that value on your sheet but forgot to mention it here.
That's what I get for pretty much coming up with names on the fly :/. I completely missed it was Rukzha's old "commander" leading the main assault!
Sorry I glazed over your question rukzha, the chakrams are fine. I haven't had much opportunity to sit down and post but I'm hoping for a slow evening so hopefully tonight I'll have a chance to do so.
Also worried about Arrika... She isn't one to lose touch. Hopefully she's only recovering and will be back with us soon.
Tomorrow we are going to the hospital with my son until Friday. Hopefully I'll find the opportunity to post once in a while...
Tomorrow we are going to the hospital with my son until Friday. Hopefully I'll find the opportunity to post once in a while...
Well, I hope everything turns out all right.
Keep us posted if you can.
Yes, we'll be thinking about your family as well!
And here's a quick reassurance. I didn't die! :D
That was the first time I've ever been hospitalized, or been quite that sick, and boy...I overestimated how much mental capacity I was going to retain. Between pain, morphine, very restricted eating (not even water the first day), and poor sleep, I was lucky to even fully realize what Olympic event was running on the TV in the background, let alone intensive storytelling. But fortunately I got to go home on Sunday afternoon, and time and doctors are managing to slowly patch me back together. Being able to eat actual meals again doesn't suck for my brain capacity and energy, either. ;)
Oh well.
Live and learn. Yes, it could have gone better.
This is only an opportunity for some RPing later on.
Game on!
Yeah, let's use it for that. I'm sorry, I'm too tired to post now...
@Elriel: Since they are not aware of you, you'll have a surprise round, thus attacking only one target, but soon after the invisibility is gone. If you get lucky and manage to act before the tieflings, you'll then be able to attack two of them with a full-round action, possibly taking down 3 of them before they can even react!
Was I allowed to cast message before he went invisible?
FYI, I'll be out all day so don't expect any posts from me until later this evening. Please bot me as necessary. Elriel will try to deal sneak damage with TWF.
Your current position makes it really tricky for you to completely take advantage of the surprise round... Brevon and Irabeth would need to charge to be able to do damage but to do so would require them to be inside the foyer and even so, only one of them would be able to charge (assuming entering the foyer doesn't ruin the whole surprise round).
If Brevon or Irabeth indeed charge, they will block any line of sight from Rukzha.
Rukzha, Arrika? I'll give you a couple more hours before moving on as Elriel suggested.
I'm sorry... I'll get a post up today.
In general for me the later in the week it becomes, the more tired I become, which sometimes affect my posting, then I recharge in the weekend
Yeah, my bad too. I really needed my vacation to be an actual vacation and not a hospital stay, and I'm still getting over the sickness that prompted the hospital stay. (And being super-limited in what I can eat isn't helping much with energy levels. :/)
"How about we try to pray at the altar before we proceed further?" Rukzha offers. "It's worth exploring and it'll only take a moment. Doesn't hurt to try in Celestial as well if it doesn't work in common."
She proceeds to walk to the altar to kneel and pray. "Let us inherit thine arms, Iomedae"
Just curious...
What prompted Rukzha to pray?
I didn't read anything about her that struck me as her being religious.
Oh, she venerates the gods, even if it isn't her source of power. She'll pray to the gods where she thinks it's appropriate.
In this case it's more that she's trying to solve the mystery of the room and why the text is written there though. She does love trying to solve mysteries/puzzles. She's incredibly smart with an IQ of 190 (10* int), so if I can guess at a puzzle, she should be able to as well. I've never played this far before (my last game ended at the mongrelman city), so my guess is original.
I believe the loot sheet is updated now. I'd like to ask you to take a look since there are still a couple items that I'm unsure which one of you is carrying and there are also a couple "useless" items (or quite pointless in great numbers) that you are carrying... I've marked them in red.
One more question...
Are we going to be able to take advantage of Rukzha's slumber hex in the same round that she casts it?
Meaning, if she goes first and puts the hex, could someone come after and either coup de grace or at least strike a prone, unmoving target in the same round?
I realize this may involve too many things that may slow down the game, like wait for Rukzha, wait for DM to roll saving throw, and then 'go'.
I think that may too much waiting for a PBP but I thought I ask.
Thoughts?
In low CR encounters the Slumber hex has proven to be a game finisher for those who fail their save, incapacitated for 4 rounds is generally enough to finish the fight... so far this has not been an issue.
If you wish to take advantage of the prone/unconscious enemy to attack/coup de grace, I think the easiest way is to make a contingent action post, saying what you'll do if the target fails their save and what if he succeeds.
Not saying that this is the chaos domain power, but if it is, it's labeled as a spell like ability, meaning you need to cast defensively if you want to avoid AoO.
Also, I believe I forgot to move Rukzha up last round since I can't do so on the phone, sorry. Would she have been affected by the bomb? She should be just through the doorway.
As for slumber being effective... Before the wrecker demons it was a long time since it did anything. (Useless against the plant, fail against the witch's guard, fail against these cultists and not needed against the corpse inhabiting demons). I don't think it has been too overpowered for this game at all, but your opinion could of course be different. Do you feel like it's still too powerful?
What sort of DC is it to guess at the class of people? 5? 10? 15?
What information can we gain from that? Given Rukzha's experience with alchemy combined with her high roll I would think it would be fine to assume she knows alchemists generally have weak will saves. But does she know clerics have high ones?
You are correct Rukzha, they are the chaos domain power and are indeed spell-like abilities, thus provoking AoOs. Surprisingly I always thought spell-like abilities were limited to abilities that mimicked spells so I missed them in this case. I won't roll for them now since a failed check would have changed my actions and according to the rolls from my gameplay post, they would not fail. Next time I'll pay more attention.
Also, I don't think the slumber hex is broken so keep using it as you wish. My previous post was just to point out that, so far, this hex has been used to take someone out of the fight instead of providing combat advantage against that enemy.
Regarding Knowledge checks for knowing an NPC class, I'll not allow them because I think they are too metagamey. I see no reason for you to see someone and know they have a weak will, differently from monsters.
Damn, I totally forgot about Rukzha's fear of fire. I totally should included something about that in my last post... Sorry. I'll try to put it in to the next one, though hopefully we won't have to experience too much of it.
Why would people block LoS? That is different from how I've played it before. Usually they just provide partial/soft cover, not even hard/full cover (like an arrow slit) and even hard cover would normally not block LoS. I was of the belief that only total concealment (like a solid wall or invisibility) blocked line of sight.
An otherwise solid barrier with a hole of at least 1 square foot through it does not block a spell's line of effect. Such an opening means that the 5-foot length of wall containing the hole is no longer considered a barrier for purposes of a spell's line of effect.
Not that it matters too much for the given situation though, but it's nice to know what to expect in the future.
You are correct! For some reason when I read it I thought people/creatures were included! It didn't matter here but I'll make sure to remember it in the future.
Just curious, but do you count Elriel's check for just traps, or also for other things since it was so high? It would make a lot of sense to look for traps, but find something else since you search so thoroughly.
Rukzha sure got great intimidate. No need for her racial bonus on top of it...
I counted it for everything. He found no traps, no switches, no indentation, no clues about how to open it, etc.
Well, if it can be opened with a disable device check he should have figured that out, right?
@Rukzha: I actually never said it could not be opened with a Disable Device check and since it is a secret door, you can always assume it CAN be opened by that particular check. The DC to open this particular door you needed a 30, which Elriel just did but I don't consider it an "easy check"... it was because of this that I posted there was no easy way to open it.
Regarding the Intimidate, you didn't failed it. The tiefling was intimidated by you but this doesn't mean he will spill out every bit of information to you. With this check he is treated as 'friendly' to you but you are still his enemies. There are a couple information that some NPCs would never tell you, no matter what, as long as you are considered his enemy, even choosing death.
Consider for example a mother that hid her small child from raiders. No matter how intimidated she is, she won't tell the location of her little boy... perhaps there are 1-2 mothers in 100 that would tell them to save their lives though.
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Also, I'm adding another player to our game, mostly to speed our game and provide more RP opportunities. My other games (and Fabian/Elriel) showed me that 5 is indeed the correct number to run a PBP campaign!
You think another player will speed things up? My experience tells me the opposite, the more players, the more things get bogged down waiting for each other. With more people the chance that someone is sick or extremely busy with work, on vacation or otherwise occupied is increased meaning more periods with lower activity.
It sounds like you have made up your mind though. I'm not totally opposed to the idea. Most games I play do have 5 players.
Will you be adjusting the difficulty of encounters for the other player? I was under the impression you wanted to run the game to as close as cannon as possible and even with 15 PB and 4 players we haven't often had huge difficulties (even before reaching mythic), with 5 the discrepancy will be even greater.
A fifth player sounds fun! I'm sure Toothy will find a way to balance everything. Do you have someone in mind?
Also, nice stash! I'll wait for our equipment czar Rukzha to make recommendations, but the +1 blinding shield catches my eye (tee-hee).
I think you can figure out yourself which of the items given to us are good for you. I'm only useful when we are figuring out what to buy and sell I'm afraid.