GM WhtKnt's Open Water - A Skull & Shackles Adventure Path

Game Master WhtKnt

Great! I'll work up a first draft of a character in the next couple of days and see what you all think.

I thought I posted this a while back, but here it is still sitting in the text box...

OK, I think Navasi is pretty well set. Still mulling over spell choices a bit, and need to finish traits and feats and equipment, but I am pretty happy with the basics. Even though she delves into death and controlling others, robbing them of their own free will (putting her more on the "evil" side), she isn't outwardly devious or mean. As such, she did take the healing spells instead of the inflict ones, although she still has plenty of nasty tricks up her sleeves. Other than healing, though, there is still a lot of divine areas that she is not covering, so I think the ideas polyfrequencies has mentioned should be fine.

She does have a high Charisma and invested in all of the social skills. So she is probably most useful as a face/healer and less of a support character. Also, she might end up with an army of undead... I really didn't know very much about necromancy before delving into this character. I don't really want to walk around with an army of undead... so it will be an interesting balancing act. But given the slower pace here, I should have time to mull over things.

The one thing I was really trying to do was to start with an undead monkey. Otherwise, I will probably just stock up on Onyx gems and see what we come across.

Hi all! I wanted to give a brief update.

While building my as-of-yet unnamed character, I have made some decisions that I am fairly confident will stick through the end of creation. Subject to GM approval, here are some highlights about what kind of character will be joining at your virtual table:

So, what’s the plan to introduce the new characters?

So, what’s the plan to introduce the new characters?

We're going to say that you picked them up in port to replace a couple of deserters.

The one thing I was really trying to do was to start with an undead monkey. Otherwise, I will probably just stock up on Onyx gems and see what we come across.

No problem. I can deal with an undead monkey.

Can I assume standard wealth-by-level for a new 7th-level character of 23,500 gp?

Yes.

Can I reflavor the Sczarni Executioner archetype to fit the background better and be less associated with the Sczarni, who I'm guessing do not make an appearance in the campaign?

Yes.

Would the studied target bonus apply to the shaman's spell DCs (as the Sanctified Slayer archetype does for the Inquisitor) or no?

The Extra Hex feat has a stipulation for shamans that has been debated around for a while with no clear answer from Paizo. By your reading, can a shaman taking the extra hex feat only take hexes from within their native Spirit, or can they grab one of the regular Shaman hexes? (Obviously no wandering hexes.)

By my interpretation, you would be limited to your native Spirit.

I haven't played one of the classes with a "1d6 + 1 damage for every two class levels you possess" bloodline/spirit/etc. abilities. How do you read this? Would a 4th-level character be doing 1d6 + 2 damage, or 2d6 + 2? (i.e. is it "1d6 + 1*(Level/2)" or (1d6+1)*(Level/2)). The latter seems more reasonable to me, but the wording is ambiguous.

The latter is correct.

I recently came across the Arcane Malignancies drawback and find it fascinating. Would you be all right with me grabbing something from that with a d100 roll? And if so, would that open another trait or no?

Sure, and it would open another trait. I'll make the same offer to my existing players and the others, you may take one drawback in exchange for an extra trait.

Thank you for the answers!

Let's roll that d100: 1d100 ⇒ 37 and see what comes up!

Per AoNPRD:

You grow an extra row of sharp, crooked teeth. The uneven set of your jaws gives you constant headaches. You take a –2 penalty on concentration checks and saving throws against pain effects.

I love that for a pirate. That hurts a bit for a caster, but what an image! Now I just need to settle on a third trait and finish converting my mess of a spreadsheet into a profile.

Carmelia Torvé will greet you formally soon.

I know I should use something like Hero Lab. I like my weird, cumbersome, sprawling spreadsheets.

I will try to finish updating my character with the last few odds and ends today. I am going to be travelling for the next 2 weeks - I am putting my GM games on hold, but I will endeavor to still jump into the few games I am a player to keep things moving. But if I disappear for a few days here and there, know that I am coming back!

polyfrequencies here. I plan to add some background and description later, but I think I'm relatively set on the statblock.

Please let me know if anything looks amiss, or if you want my crunch.

I'm having fun looking at the Wandering Spirit options for Carmelia (and looking even more forward to getting the Wandering Hex next level, bane of taking a dip). Carmelia will probably tends towards the Flame, Heavens, Lore, Nature, and Tribe wandering spirits, depending on what she knows may be coming that day. Wood and Wind have some fun options as well when you're on a ship. I may experiment a bit with them up front. My calculations may change once I can choose a Wandering Hex and gain the Flexible Hex and Spirit Talker feats (long-term goals).

For the Tribe Spirit, Tribal Cooperation grants her a Teamwork Feat for the day and the ability to grant that feat to her allies for 5 rounds 4 times a day. I looked into the feats that seemed most interesting/useful overall, and they are:

I did trade out the skill unlock with Heal for Incredible Healing before I finalized the sheet, by the way. That +20 is coming from:
+3 Class Skill
+5 Ability Modifier
+5 ranks
+5 Healer's Gloves (competence)
+2 Vest of Surgery (circumstance

If you want me to add the build points into the character sheet, I'm happy to do that so that everything is above board.

Are we just waiting on the assassin's response?

That's what I'm waiting on.

Oh, okay. Sorry. I got bogged down in real-life drama. I'll get something up soonest.

Everything okay?

Yeah, I was waiting on you folks to begin the questioning.

I am interested in claiming the shadow studded leather armor. If anyone one else wants it, let me know.

Chumtooth taking the shadow studded leather armor sounds good to me. I don't much intend for Carmelia to use weapons, so the human-bane crossbow and sharpshooter's blade might be better for someone else. But if no one else wants them, she would make use of them. They would also fetch a hefty price!

If no one wants the other items, I am fine with selling them and splitting the coin.

Assuming Chumtooth gets the shadow studded leather, he will sell his existing +1 studded leather to add to the pile to be split.

Being so much smaller than the rest of you, it is likely all oversized for Navasi anyway.

Dantes isn't really interested in the items, and his eyes gleam at the thought of selling them for gold.

Nothing interests Faengrim.

Items to be sold:

1.) Chumtooth's +1 Studded Leather, as he claims Giles's Shadowed set.

2.) The human bane crossbow.

3.) The sharpshooter's blade

Sounds good to me. And thanks for the summary!

Unless told otherwise, I'll assume that the crew relate this information to Carmelia and Navasi more or less, so that she has the basic context.

Do we have a price on the crossbow?

The armor is worth 705 gp (after the 60%), the crossbow is worth 5,010 gp, and the sharpshooter's blade comes in at 4,383 gp.

I suggest the net 5,088 gp be divided between Faengrim, Dantes, and Carmelia.

I will take the upgraded studded leather as my share and Navasi will have the crossbow as a discounted purchase as hers.

Does that seem reasonable? Thoughts?

I'm ok with however we do it.

Works for me.

1696 gold in the pocket, sounds good.

I can put 3000 back in the kitty so the cash-getters each get an extra 1000.

Who has the vials of deathblade poison? I would be willing to trade some doses of giant wasp or flayer venom (both are injury administered and do Dex damage) for some doses of death blade.

I think Navasi picked up the vials of deathblade poison.

Yah, Navasi picked them up, but will readily turn them over to her new Captain in thanks for the offer to join the crew. ;)

Thanks! Are you sure you don't want to keep a vial, or trade for the Dex Damage venom?

DM Whtknt: how many doses per vial?

Nah - I can always ask to borrow it back if needed. Navasi really only picked them up as flavor text - wasn't really trying to horde loot.

Each vial contains enough to coat one blade or 10 projectiles.

I don't think we have any other business in town.

With 1696 from the sale of the items and 1000 from Navasi's generous contribution back into the pot, Carmelia will seek out a Pirate's Eye Patch to complete her ensemble, which should leave her with 110 gp to spare for now.

Things have progressed to the point where everyone can now level up before we go on to the next section.

Ding!

Hit Points: 1d10 ⇒ 5 + Con +1 Favored
BAB +1
Fort +1 Ref +1
Ability Bump: +1 Strength
Favored Terrain: Urban +2, Water +4
Spell: 1 2nd level
Bonus Feat: Eldritch Claws
Skills
Intimidate +1
Perception +1
Profession (sailor) +1
Stealth +1
Survival +1
Swim +1

Hit Points, Rogue: 1d8 ⇒ 7 +3 Con = 10

Uncanny Dodge
Fast Stealth

+1 Wisdom, bringing it up to 12 (+1 to Will Save, and all Wis-based skills)

+1 BAB
+1 Reflex

9 Skill Points (8+1 favored)

+1 to all skills, except linguistics, and added a rank of Stealth.

Added +1 Wis
+8 HP
+1 BAB
+1 Will Save (+1 more for bumb in Wis)
Added 4th level spells (3)
Added 5 skill points: Intimidate, Perception, Use Magic Device, Spellcraft and added Profession Sailor.

New Perception +8, Sense Motive +6
Bonus Spell Known: Fear
- still need to pick 2 new 4th level spells (or lower)

+1 level of wizard
+1 Intelligence
+1 BAB, +1 Will
+1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 hit points
Skill points +15: Knowledge (arcana), Linguistics, Spellcraft, Knowledge (dungeoneering), Knowledge (engineering), Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (local) x2, Knowledge (nature) x2, Knowledge (nobility) x2, Knowledge (planes), Knowledge (religion)
Languages: Celestial, Mwangi
Add class ability: Perfection of Self.
Spells per day: 1 3rd, 1 4th
Spells to spellbook: Arcane Eye, Greater Invisibility

Deep Shaman 6 / Sczarni Executioner Slayer 2
(+1 Level of Shaman)

Lv 8 Boost: Wisdom (--> 21)
+1 BAB, +1 Fort, +1 Reflex

hit points: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Skills +7 (+1 Disable Device, Knowledge (planes), Perception, Profession (sailor), Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Survival)

More spells per day, but most importantly:

Wandering Hex!

I'll change it in the profile ASAP.

DM question:

Is the Port Peril description just a list of the information Navasi gathered from the crew, or is it a description of us now being there?

In short, are we still at sea, or have we reached Port Peril without incident?

Just what was gathered from the crew although unless there is a reason not to, we can move things forward.

I'm good to make port!

Great. Carmelia prepares differently if she's on the sea, traveling, vs on land. So if anything happens en route, I'll pull out that prep list. Otherwise I'll prep my urban spells.

Hurricane time. Please be patient and, gods willing, I'll see you on the other side.

Hunker down and stay safe!

Ditto. Stay safe.