Glass River Rescue by TheBobJones (Inactive)

Game Master TheBobJones

No worries. I tried to check before work today but didn't have a chance.

ok to not make this into a Zork experience, I have replaced the Abacus map with an overview of the Inn. Choose a location to go to, and I will post a strategic map and flavor text. Also, when conversing with any NPC, and you are lying, please include a bluff check at the end. Normally I assume that PC move about in standard, I am looking intently at everything, trying to notice traps, and the like. Makes sense in a PbP and helps move the action along, but whenever a NPC is around, and you have a 'cover' story, well frankly that looks weird. So I am going to turn that ability off for any time an NPC is there. In front of an NPC you can turn this on, but it will cause a circumstance penalty to your bluff/diplomacy/their sense motive. Just indicate that you are 'doing' this. Happy trails!

Can't edit this map either... *ducks*

Can't edit this map either... *ducks*

Har Har - you actually aren't supposed to. It is just to give you an overview of the area. If you are entering, say the Courtyard, I will post the description and a tactical map that can be edited. Which you just did and I will post that momentarily.

As for the CLW - whatever the group wants, I will adjust the CLW charges to either 4 or 6, depending if you want to use the potion. Missed the first one was a prepared spell, sorry Sun & Pooka.

As for your cover story, I will give circumstance bonuses based upon the believability of your story. Also I did not mention it, but should you decide to use a face person, once they have delivered their story, feel free to use Aid another as your bluff role. The game is supposed to be fun for you so enjoy it!

Lastly, in the most annoying decision, north is left on all maps. I provided a compass rose because I am the GM that goes the extra mile. The MAP pack they use, County Inn, is actually 180 degrees from the map in the Mod. Thanks Paizo, grumble grumble.

Erm... you know you can rotate the map on Google Draw, right?

Pro tip. ;-)

Erm... you know you can rotate the map on Google Draw, right?

Pro tip. ;-)

Yes but I am lazy and grumpy. I have have visualization difficulties so I had to rotate the map so it lined up with the mod, otherwise I wouldn't know where the heck anybody is.

... you can rotate the PDF, too... or your entire laptop/phone if you have technical issues. You know, just like how women read maps.

:-P

@ Xull: Damo! Please get back in character as our GM in the By Way of Bloodcove game and tell me if Ibid hit :)

@Augustus: Keep your pants on. Already done by the time you posted this. He hit, he smashed, he rules. Let's hope you're as good at building slayers as you are at investigators.

@ Xull: Thanks! Sorry to rush you! (And in regards building a slayer, I'm afraid Ibid was a fluke and anything he brings to the group is just because the investigator class is strong by itself. i.e. August might be terrible, and a burden on the group :) )

GM_TheBobJones wrote:

I am sure that you are as tired as I am about picking Passad or Metella, so let's not beat this dead horse anymore. A thousand apologies for dragging this out/not making it more fun

Dude, it's great! I just ran out of posting time last night. I'll move on, too, but feel free to bring out that stallion that's been beaten to a beautiful, bloody, lifeless pulp. All good with me.

It is actually all over. 3 decisions, you went with Metella 2/3 so auto win for her on the third. It only affects Xull and honestly not sure how it helps you.

I will update that on the campaign tab.

... you can rotate the PDF, too... or your entire laptop/phone if you have technical issues. You know, just like how women read maps.

:-P

I look ridiculous lying on the floor on my side with my laptop perpendicular.

It is actually all over. 3 decisions, you went with Metella 2/3 so auto win for her on the third. It only affects Xull and honestly not sure how it helps you.

A lot of the time, it doesn't help the player involved. They just take it for reporting purposes to see what most groups end up doing. it's one of the ways they evolve the "Global Campaign". I think it's something like, if Passad should appear again, he'll feel jilted by the Society. Metalla will feel positively. The Exchange faction may get some background fluff added in with dwarven steel... etc.

For individual things, sometimes having a (seemingly unrelated) boon on your character sheet can aid in NPC interaction later on down the line.

To take the example with Bloodcove, Novaria is reacting in a certain way in the scenario because of what generally happened in a season 2 scenario. She may have a different attitude (or not be included) if the players generally failed their secondary objective (or went with someone else). If Amaranti himself had played the prequel, she would have recognized him immediately and it may have been easier to get her to agree to terms.

At least, that's what I've noticed from the scenarios I've run and read.

Xull wrote:

I hope Xûll's navigation of the truth is okay... he is a skilled diplomat, after all.

Did you just ask me if it ok to roleplay? Of course. I would be playing calling of duty or some other knob games if it wasn't

Ha! No, I was just making sure you and the other players were okay with a barbarian (of all classes) nimbly* avoiding lying so he doesn't have to make a bluff roll. Also, a gentle check to make sure everyone else is okay with this line of cover.

Oh, and I like some Call of Duty incarnations. I can't play FPS to save my life, which is why I switched to an anagram of that acronym: PFS. Much better at that**.

* Yes, I used a self-aggrandizing adjective... what of it?
** Okay, so I'm very immodest today.

Ok boys, so here is the run down. You can interrogate the 3 elderly ladies, but they have great skills (Deceitful and skill focus (bluff)) and are in a crazy, theocratic nation full of zealots. I am not sure how much fun this will be for you, I know one of you likes to torture people. I can hand wave the interrogation if you'd like or we can RP it out. No matter - your game.

I would like to add that you are all doing a great job so far. Looking ahead, if you are having fun and would like to continue this after we are finished, I would like to run another game again. I know that Chris (Not L.) wanted to join up, and provided you 4 want to remain (Sun I have enjoyed your posts) I would just need to find a 6th. I have some free time tonight to begin prepping another adventure. If not - no worries. I am a big boy and can handle rejection. I would prefer to keep in Season 5, and I know that we would be jumping tiers to 3-4. If you are interested, what scenario would you like me to run next?

I keep trying to tell myself to scale back my PbP games... but I just can't say no. I will leave it up to the rest of the group, but if they are interested, I will play too.

I'm fine with torture. Xûll has had a very disturbed upbringing and is deliberately neutral. He doesn't see anything wrong with using it to achieve good ends.

Also, I know you're struggling with the mechanics vs the RP when they're bald-facedly lying like that. Don't forget to consult the skill descriptions now and again. I find myself surprised at times
(like the penalty to perception over not-too-big distances, as a recent example).

Bluff skill

Feel free to assign the liars penalties based on the believability of the lie. She said she got the scarf ages ago - not very believable given what we know. If she'd said that some fanatic gave it to her while bragging to his mates about teaching some stunties a lesson in the taproom the previous night, it's a bit easier to swallow.

Also, it says: Note that some lies are so improbable that it is impossible to convince anyone that they are true (subject to GM discretion).

I take that to mean that every lie told in the game is a potential candidate for you to hand wave the believability of it and just say to the PCs: "you know they're lying, despite showing none of the usual tells associated with fabricating a story" or similar.

Totally up to you, but if you want to give them bluff penalties or disallow the bluff entirely, it's well within the rules.

Xûll will get frustrated soon, anyway. I'm just waiting for someone else to have a say before wading in again.

Trying to carve time to post... not working very well. Hopefully shortly after 5ET at teh latest. Pooka will take Luna and start searching the rooms purposefully while Xull interrogates... You can run with that if you want, I figured you would prefer an actual post, since that is what makes PbP so amazing. :) (as

Also, I know you're struggling with the mechanics vs the RP when they're bald-facedly lying like that. Don't forget to consult the skill descriptions now and again.

That is fantastic advice, and I did that with your latest perception vs bluff rolls, (the ones I actually rolled) and that is where I got the 'hunch' from - RAW.

I will take these penalties into consideration when you 'talk' to the ladies.

It is important to note the setting - they are in a Theocracy full of zealots. That has a factor too.

I don't feel like I am keeping up with Pooka and Xull's level of role playing and description, but I believe I could be persuaded to join up.

...And I am glad you are enjoying my posts, I am always worried I am not doing enough!

I don't feel like I am keeping up with Pooka and Xull's level of role playing and description, but I believe I could be persuaded to join up.

...And I am glad you are enjoying my posts, I am always worried I am not doing enough!

We post a lot. That is totally our problem not yours. If we run one again I would structure things differently to be more inclusive. You should also feel free to retcon things that happened. Being a druid, you might want to have a crack at that wild horse.

Not really building a animal handling druid per say. I do have wild empathy still, but zero ranks in handle animal. I wanted to make a druid that is more into the weather, I have not really seen one played before.

And why all the eating us references? I am a skinny old man?

"That is how we talk here"

Man! I was reminded by the GF a moment ago that there is a witch's cauldron that lets you eat cooked people out of it. Would have been sweet if that was integrated in this.

Wow - happy valentine's Day to you all too - hope I don't meet any of you in a dark alley. So the sisters have told you all they will, great role playing by the way, you now have the common room, kitchen, east wing, and west wing to search, along with the courtyard and stables should you chooses to revisit any of them. Please describe what you do with the sisters and where you go. Again I will give flavor texts and rolls as appropriate.

@ Sun After the adventure, I will talk about what you just said in my recap.

I could swear TheBobJones posted something about what to run next... but I'll be damned if I can find it.

Anyway... if we want to help someone else (ie. Chris) level up a little, I'm perfectly happy to run an alt for a little while. Got a dwarven kineticist (Shayle Mindhammer) almost ready for play. That way, we can do some catch-up scenarios and then play together at the same level.

As with before, happy to stay with 4 characters, happy to have you recruit.

I could swear TheBobJones posted something about what to run next... but I'll be damned if I can find it.

Just up a little and click on the spoiler

Duh. How did I miss that???? Thanks mate.

Okay, to respond to that post:

We'd actually be playing out-of-subtier for the scenarios (all tier 1-5) you've suggested - which is fine by me. It means we can include Chris L. We just need to be careful of our APL - don't want to have to play up a tier on a deadly scenario, especially with just 5 players.

Speaking of, I'm very happy to continue with just 4-5 players. I think we're doing pretty well at "batting above our average" on everything except sense motive checks. ;-)

As for scenario choice, I signed up for "Scars of the Third Crusade" at GenCon last year, but was forced to play a different table (they ran out of GMs). I take that to be a good sign, so I'd like to give it a go.

Otherwise, I've played "Horn of Aroden" (the only season 5 I've played except for Paths We Choose and now Glass River - can't even use a GM star replay since Xûll was the one who played it!), so anything else sounds absolutely fine to me!

**EDIT**: Oh, and I have the following level 1 characters ready to run, if we need to play lower levels for a little while to catch Augustus up a bit:

• Shayle Mindhammer - Dwarf Kineticist. Not really feeling the class yet, but I suspect it's because it needs to level up a bit to get fun.
  
• Zud Winter - Sylph Sky Druid. Love the racial archetype, and this one's thanks to my GM boon from PbP Gameday 3. Can't wait to give it a go.

I will run any season 5 you guys want, that was just a list of all the 1-5s.

Can't... edit... map...

rasaum frasum! Fixed

Cool. That worked. Made us all a more manageable size (icon-wise). Thanks for the extra 3 rounds of rage, too! ;-)

Final stretch here boys. I hate to nag, but if we can pick our next scenario, I'd like to get a day or two in to prep while I get your paperwork to you and you level and such. Looks like we will stay with the 4 and play any tier 1-5, see above for available scenarios.

In case you were wondering here are the 4-player party adjustment:

Lastly, I assume that someone heals Augustus before you ascend - just let me know how you do that.

Scars of the Third Crusade is (still) my choice.

Sun can use my wand if he needs it to heal Augustus.

Sounds good to Pooka! I'll second scars of the third crusade.

Sun will use the wand of Xull this time to heal Augustus. Had the busys this past couple days. I should be able to post more in the coming days.

Make it count, this is it ;)

Heh. Nice. Tactically speaking, we should just stay in the stables and make them come to us (especially with the crossbowmen). I say, we can take 'em in the open anyway! I'm not up (sadness) so you guys can do what you like. I think we have enough ranged with Augustus and the magic stones to deal with the roof guys. We can always run back for cover if needed.

Oh, evil idea: burn down the stables with the men still on the roof!

I made a funny typo that i caught as I was falling asleep thinking about the day. I asked for Garundi to bless the day....I meant Desna as that is my actual deity of worship. Garundi is my human race sub type!

I saw that. Wondered why you were praying to a race and almost made a pun about it, but I've been posting too much of late. ;-)

But we are IN the stables Xull!

Pooka, feel free to block Xûll's charge. You're a cavalier - you get charge priority! Xûll's got 40ft of movement to play with.

Oh, and just for making things simpler with the initiative order...

If Pooka is mounted on Luna, I think you just use Pooka's initiative: Mounted Combat

Saves Pooka having to say "Luna delays until my turn" or, if the order is reversed, flying off the saddle while he waits for Luna to catch up (or, more likely delaying until Luna's turn). I think it's done that way so mounted combatants don't have to essentially roll twice and take the worst result.

But we are IN the stables Xull!

All the better angle to burn them down from! Clearly, we'll throw the alchemist's fire then run out. Clearly. Ha ha ha! Burn it all!

**EDIT** Obscuring mist is tactically more sound. ;-)

Honestly, if this goes past 3 rounds I will refund your 67 cents.

2 votes for Crusade - Sun, Agustus, Bueller, Bueller?

Sounds good to me... Scars! Scars! Scars!

Whew - I am glad there is a rule for that. I knew something felt off about having to roll 2 initiatives, because that is essentially what would happen, I would have to roll twice and always wait for the later one, unless I acted separately from my mount... which defeats the purpose of being a cavalier... :)

Honestly, if this goes past 3 rounds I will refund your 67 cents.

2 votes for Crusade - Sun, Agustus, Bueller, Bueller?

But I have 9 rounds of rage left! Where will I put this pent up fury?!?!

As I mentioned on the Zedroom (our regular group's social forum... want to join, Sun?) if we play out of subtier (where the loot is fine!) and do slow advancement for level 3 and go through the tier 1-5s, Augustus should be able to catch up with the rest of us. With the We Be Goblins Too! chronicle that Augustus could apply when that game is done, I estimate that it will work out in 3 scenarios... with all of us needing 3 more scenarios to get to level 4.

So, since it looks like we'll be sticking together for a while, how does that suit everyone?

Sister?

Ok, so I will get chronicles to everyone tonight/tomorrow depending on my work load. I have little time this weekend, so we will start Crusades early next week. Give everyone time to level up and such. Once I am ready I will post the link here, and close the thread.