I've set up a new discussion thread, so we can continue our talk here.
Take your time to level your character and purchase stuff. I've not GM'd The Consortium Compact before so I'll need a bit of time to set it up.
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Arrived. Printed my sheet and, as I'm quite new to organized play, my next questions are: what is the meaning of the magical items on the sheet? Group loot or things you could buy?
And: 'confirmed field agent' can be used once, but the other two can be used repeatedly?
Is there a best way to enhance your wayfinder?
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The magical items on the sheet are ones available for you to buy in addition to what you fame allows you. Fame is sort of a restriction on which magical gear you can buy, so players don't immediately buy the 10.000 gold items when they can (generally, it's divided pretty well. If you want something expensive, by the time you have the gold for it, you usually have the fame for it as well. It's to prevent power level from rising beyond expected limits.). But any item found on a sheet is immediately available for purchase, provided you have the gold.
The other two boons can indeed apply to each character you have played this scenario with.
Wayfinders aren't really useful to upgrade. They give novelty powers, but aren't really must-haves. A friend made a list of possible upgrades, found here and here. All of these enhancements cost prestige points (which most people like to keep, as it's often used to raise you when you die, or are spent on wands) and they're not really all that useful, so a standard one is oftentimes good enough.
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Present.
Although I'll have to level Rico first, and I think I might change one of his first level spells known (last chance for me). I like the idea of Touch of Gracelessness, but I do not have Weapon Finesse and dumped strength... Furthermore, I want to do other things when in touch range (like selling stuff), so I might change it to something with a bit of range (maybe Deja Vu, that is an awesome and hilarious spell)
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The other two boons are always in effect for this character.
Once you gain such chronicle boons; if it doesn't state how many times you can use it, or when to cross it off, the boon effects are always in effect (so for the "Friend of Janira" boon, whenever you do knowledge checks in the Grand Lodge, you gain this bonus)
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No penalties for wearing it except the usual encumbrance stuff.
Unless you try to Shield Bash with it. No martial weapon proficiency: heavy shield? -4 on attack rolls for shield bashing (this combines with the Armor Check Penalty for no shield proficiency as defence, but that one equals 0, so no problem)
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Thank you Maurice. Now to fix my carrying capacity and my limited gold supply.
In other fine news, I have updated my character.
As a result of the unfortunate events that transpired in the caves beneath the isle of Absalom, Gorrec's mind became fractured.
This lead to Gorrec losing a lot of knowledge, skills and spells. Not to mention the fact he has to share his head with a Phantom of Despair.
Luckily Gorrec is so magnificent that he managed to quickly relearn new spells and how to control the phantom.
The phantom now only annoys Gorrec and his companions.
Links and updated stats are in my profile.
Edit: Maybe I can use the phantom to carry some of my stuff around.
I'm GMing real life this Wednesday, so I'm aiming to start Consortium compact on thursday. This will give you all a little bit more time to tweak your characters and go on a shopping spree with your freshly earned gold.
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Rico has been updated to second level.
For the GM, this are Rico's new things:
- Save DC of Bardic Performances upped to DC16
- Retrained Touch of Gracelessness to Deja Vu (no save spell, lasts 2 rounds, second round repeat actions of first round)
- Aquired the spell Borrow Skill (Touch ally, use his skill ranks to perform skill)
- Aquired the class ability Misery (if the opponent is suffering from an curse, hex or harmfull mind-affecting effect, Rico gains a +1 morale bonus on attack and damage towards that opponent. Also a morale bonus on Saves versus abilities of that opponent)
- Aquired the class ability Versed in Curses (+4 on saves versus Curses, Hexes and Mind-Affecting effects)
- Bought 5 Vomit Capsules and a Masterwork Instrument (Kazoo)
I'm glad I do not have to ask what fits in a spring loaded wrist sheath this time, as I asked you 2-3 months ago already ;)
I wanted to say I hate rico. They I read 'kazoo'. Now I deeply hate rico :P
Araklifest looks pretty good to me. Maybe not 100% optimised, but he seems really good at what he does. And with your INT score, one or two skill points per level can go to other stuff. Some scenarios actually call out Profession Librarian, so I'd say you're just investing in the future. :P
As for the Shaken condition: my first quick Google search didn't find anything about it being such an effect, but logic would say so. Be aware though, the following are immune to such effects: constructs, oozes, plants, undead and vermin types are all immune to mind affecting effects.
Also, psychic magic has the following to say (emphasis mine):
Emotion components represent a particular emotional state required to cast the spell.
A psychic spellcaster marshals her desire in order to focus and release the spell's energy. It is impossible to cast a spell with an emotion component while the spellcaster is under the influence of a non-harmless effect with the emotion or fear descriptors. Even if the effect's emotion matches the necessary emotion to cast the psychic spell, the spellcaster is not in control of her own desires and animal impulses, which is a necessary part of providing an emotion component.
The spell Cause Fear for example has the mind-affecting tag, so the results are definitely harmful mind-affecting. It's really weird that it's never really spelled out anywhere, but I'd definitely say Shaken, Frightened and Panicked are all mind-affecting. First off because things without minds seem to be immune to it and second because emotions influence your behaviour, so it seems logical that it's mind-affecting.
Its a pretty good reasoning. To grab our familiar friend Doom:
DOOM
School necromancy [fear, mind-affecting]; Level cleric 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target one living creature
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes
This spell fills a single subject with a feeling of horrible dread that causes it to become shaken.
And something that also crops up a lot:
Frightful Presence (Ex) This special quality makes a creature's very presence unsettling to foes. Activating this ability is a free action that is usually part of an attack or charge. Opponents within range who witness the action may become frightened or shaken. The range is usually 30 feet, and the duration is usually 5d6 rounds. This ability affects only opponents with fewer Hit Dice or levels than the creature has. An affected opponent can resist the effects with a successful Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 frightful creature's racial HD + frightful creature's Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's descriptive text). An opponent that succeeds on the saving throw is immune to that same creature's frightful presence for 24 hours. On a failed save, the opponent is shaken, or panicked if 4 HD or fewer. Frightful presence is a mind-affecting fear effect.
Both are mind-affecting fear effects.
But this is something I would always discuss with a GM before a game. Its easy to see that it should logically work like this, but when you drop it in the middle of combat, its easy to dismiss it as Shaken itself has no clauses for it.
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Immediately I have another rule question: Is shaken a harmful mindaffecting effect? Because I probably can make sure at least one target is shaken each round.
Let's tackle the "Fear effects" and "Mind-affecting effects" first.
Fear effects on themselves are NOT mind-affecting, as that is nowhere in the description of Fear effects. However, 99% (fictive number) of the Fear effects are combined with the Mind-affecting describtor, making almost everyone believe that Fear = Mind-affecting. From the top of my head, some fear effects that aren't combined with mind-affecting are:
- The spell Haunting Mists, which is a Illusion (figment).
- The Frightful Gaze of a lvl 9 Ghost Rider, as it then loses the mind-affecting describtor.
- The Grave Touch ability from the Undead Bloodline, although it specifies it works only on living creatures (so only plants are screwed).
- The effect of Shatter Resolve, although that comes as a rider on negative channeling, which cannot harm undead and constructs (so yet again, plants are the only things screwed).
So the question if shaken is a harmful Mind-affecting effect is completely dependant on how it is delivered. If it is done through one of the above options, then no. Through a carrier that is also mind-affecting, then yes (almost all fear-inducing spells and abilities, as well as any Demoralize)
Fun Fact: Undead and Construct creatures are not immune to Fear, only Mind-affecting effects. So the above list of abilities actually works on them. Most likely an oversight.
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As for gear for Araklifest.
There is not much for me to add, you look pretty solid. But if you realy want to spend your money, you could think about:
- A Masterwork Backpack to increase your carrying capacity.
- Maybe some sort of Rope
- You could make your Rapier Masterwork for 300gp (you would gain a +1 on attack rolls with it).
- Or make your Studded Leather Masterwork for 150gp (to lower the Armor Check Penalty on the armor by 1, simply making it 0 for your type of armor).
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Masterwork rapier might not be useful right now, but it will be once you advance in levels. At level 5 you can add special qualities to the weapon, but it needs to be magical first. Which can only be done if it's masterwork. But yeah, a magus usually has enough points to make it +1 in every fight and do other stuff as well.
Finally made up my mind about what my character's going to be. It's an Oracle with the Metal mystery and the Tongues curse. I'll start speaking Celestial when I'm under stress, and I can't understand any other language. Which might be a problem. >_>
I haven't thought about a name yet, but I have an idea for flavour. I'll post him soon enough.
It's a Human, and I took Extra Revelation twice, because I didn't know anything else to do with it. So I have three abilities from my mystery. I'll list the full abilities below, but in short it means the following:
- My movement speed increases by 10 feet.
- I can summon a random weapon as a standard action and I'm automatically proficient with it.
- I can transform a piece of my outfit into a long blade and can attack someone within 30 feet with it.
As for spells I have Cure Light Wounds, Shield of Faith, and Burning Disarm. I can cast those 4 times in total.
Dance of the Blades (Ex): Your base speed increases by 10 feet. At 7th level, you gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls with a metal weapon in any round in which you move at least 10 feet. This bonus increases by +1 at 11th level, and every four levels thereafter. At 11th level, as a move action, you can maneuver your weapon to create a shield of whirling steel around yourself until the start of your next turn; non-incorporeal melee and ranged attacks against you have a 20% miss chance while the shield is active. You must be wielding a metal weapon to use this ability.
Iron Weapon (Su): You can create a melee simple or martial weapon that lasts for 1 minute for every oracle level you possess. This weapon is appropriate for your size and entirely made of metal (even if it would normally include non-metal parts, such as a spear's shaft) but functions as if it were a normal weapon of its type. You are considered proficient with this weapon. The weapon disappears after 1 round if it leaves your grasp. At 3rd level, the blade is made of cold iron. At 7th level, 15th level, and 19th level, the blade gains a +1 enhancement bonus. At 11th level, the blade is made of adamantine. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
Steel Scarf (Su): As a swift action, you can harden a scarf, sleeve, cloak, or other piece of your clothing into something as hard as steel that stretches out to be up to 30 feet long. You can then strike outward with it as if it were a weapon making a melee attack. For the purpose of this ability, you are proficient with this weapon. You can use the weapon to perform combat maneuvers. Make a melee attack roll against a creature within 30 feet; you may use Weapon Finesse with this attack. If you hit, the weapon deals 1d8 points of slashing damage + 1 point for every two oracle levels you possess. After this attack, the clothing returns to its normal length and hardness. You do not threaten an area with this weapon and cannot use it to make attacks of opportunity. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.
I've started the game in the gameplay thread. I expect it to be quiet during christmas, but that's no problem.
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I've made a booboo and forgot to mail my character sheet with me now that I'm at my parent's place for Christmas. I'll rebuild him quickly and try to post here. Might not post much, my laptop is pretty crappy and slow as hell, so I'm not a big fan of using it.
Obviously, posting in the next two days will be low to nothing. >_>
My posting will be low too as internet is crappy in the boonies :P dont worry too much about your character sheet for now. I expect you to plan out your heists first before acting on it.
Happy new year!
Everyone still alive?
Lets get the show of the road.
In game, you have loads of time to discuss your plans. You'll sail trough the night and arrive in Diobel in the morning.
But to keep the flow going, I dont want the plan making to take too long, as we'll lose momentum, and once the momentum is gone things get boring very fast.
I'm running this for realzies tomorrow. I'll kick the story forword on thursdays, so I can finish prep tonight.
Play nice children :P
Glad we got the show on the road again. You're an awesome party :)
Yeah, I like to flex my creative muscles every now and then, as evidenced by that totally subtle diplomacy check. :P
I like the PbP aspect for this, I could never be this fluent on the spot. I now have time to think about my words, rather than having to say them immediately.
Ow, that's not good :(
Hope you feel better soon.
I've managed to develop a nice headache, so I wont be posting tonight.
A bit late, but get well soon!
I was battling with hypothermia yesterday as well. Decided to go outside on Saturday while it snowed/rained and I got absolutely soaked. Apparently it's not good for your body when you're wet to your underpants and being in sub-zero weather for a long time. Saturday I felt mostly fine, but it hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday.
Sounds like we're all in the 'lappenmand'.
Yes, auke let me know. I hope we can arrange a full goblin game for you.
Its no problem for us to come to Gouda when there are no things scheduled at Concordia.