Gob Smash One

Game Master Tacticslion

It's equipment, including sized-for-small weapons (Is... is that a masterwork dogslicer and horsechopper?! Layla wouldn't ever believe it, if she didn't see it herself! There's also a mundane crossbow though no remaining bolts, and nothing under the very nice awful armor that seems like it was once a masterwork piece).

I wish to say: I got this item list slightly wrong. There are a few more items (including a box and a tonfa). Also, the item stats are tweaked slightly. I will post the mundane stats of the items later, as I currently just left access to those. :)

Is there still need for me to identify stuff?

I think there was more magic items Lulu can tray if you don't make it.

Given that Lulu would try those too (I'm presuming based on your above post - you'd initially only indicated the ring, Lulu, which was why I didn't clarify the others) I'll go ahead and post those stats, too. :)

well the ring is pretty and awesome, and shiny, and ...what were we talking about again?

At work

Interesting stuff. While it's not sized for her. Sunny is actually quite interested in the 'Dog-slicer'.... (>_>)

Yay! More caltrops for Ceru(?) (^_^)

Shaedo was the one who was using caltrops before, although Ceru could certainly make use of them, but they are more the kitsune's schtick.

Is there a spellcaster who can trigger the spells in the staff? If not Ceru would volunteer to "talk it" into doing things (with Use Magic Device).

Randomly triggering spells is a bad idea. Ideally the identify spell would be cast. The best I can do is detect and spellcraft.

I think in Pathfinder you can identify items using Spellcraft, and the identify spell just gives you a big bonus to doing so. I think the GM considered Lulu's Spellcraft check of 26 or so as high enough to identify the items, especially with Dijiron's aid, so I think that's why he gave us all the info, and we can consider them identified.
(Correct me if I'm wrong, GM,)

You are correct, Layla. Seriously, though, it's almost eerie how often I say that.
Oh, and in other innocent and entirely unsuspicious news...

Randomly triggering spells is a bad idea. Ideally the identify spell would be cast. The best I can do is detect and spellcraft.

I wasn't suggesting doing it randomly. Simply that she would try to activate it with Use Magic Device (a DC 20 check) if it would come in handy. The properties of the staff were already IDed.

Not to mention, saying, "But that's dangerous" in this party....? I think we're well past the safe zone anyway. ;)

Not to mention, saying, "But that's dangerous" in this party....? I think we're well past the safe zone anyway. ;)

Haha, yeah, sometimes. :) Also, "disguiting" from the staff description is supposed to be "disquieting." Oops! Sorry.

Shaedo was the one who was using caltrops before, although Ceru could certainly make use of them, but they are more the kitsune's schtick.

(^_^)

As for the staff, I don't think most of the spells would be anything Shaedo could trigger without UMD, and I don't think she would readily use such a disquieting ~_^ item unless it were really needed. She'll lay no claim to any of the other items, just the crossbow, caltrops and paints.
^-^

There are no bolts with the goblin. Plenty of still-shattered remnants thereof around the room, but no actual bolts. Though the mists are putting some together, they've only completed 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 out of the dozens of ruined shafts around the room.

On a different note, it occurs to me that we might want a "lore keeper" or "chronicler" for our adventures. I can make periodic updates, of course, but I thought you guys might have fun keeping a record (in-character or out-of-) in a style you like. It'd need to be periodically, but not constantly, updated. It can be as fancy (though not too overly-detailed, please) or simple (though not too obliquely vague, please) as you like. Heck, different members could keep complimentary - or competing! - records of events.

My primary reason for suggesting such a thing is so that those that might otherwise get lost can simply read a single post. Something like, "After a wicked-strange storm with dragon (well, General Narahari?) and a winged skull, we managed to get inside High Tower, explore a trapped room with ritually burned bodies, and a side room filled with green mists, and now we're slowly heading back toward the main hall to take the last path." is a lot easier to read than our posting history, despite being a huge run-on sentence. :) Any takers?

Oh, and it can be in your profile, as a periodic post (which I would link on the main page) or anything else.

EDIT: Also note: extracts are generally only able to be used by the alchemist that created them. Infusions are a special kind of extract that function on others.[ just on case that wasn't clear.

@ Shaedo. Suny has some small skills at carpentry (Yes, I know it's technically 'Bower' or 'Fletcher' to make arrows and stuffs) so she can at least make little pointy sticks out of any wood they find. Hope that helps. (^_^)

As for the staff? Seems a tad squicky and icky to/for Suny. She's got her hands full now with Schnorzle and B-rat. (^_^)

Sunny can carve pointy sticks for Shaedo's crossbow? Sounds great! ^_^

A part of Shaedo's character that seems to be unfolding is that she is specially fond of spiky things, aaallmost as much as she is of shiny things! (Tehe!)
^-^
So if Sunny could make some spikies for Shaedo's nifty, tricksy new crossbow, you'll be a fox-friend for sure! ^_^

Well... Sunny only currently has a skill of +3.... and no real tools to work with.

Just pointing out (I think I see what I did there) that it's in the realm of possibility that Sunny can, maybe in the future, provide bolts, arrows, Wushu darts, wooden tonfa, staffs and such for people to use. (^_^)

Having been in a few games where either the adventure path or the DM were stingy with stuff has given e a good appreciation of being able to 'GO it alone' when it comes to making gear. :)

Gotcha; ) so maybe bolts and other goodies for later. ^_^ For now, the GM did mention broken bolts slowly mending in the green mists. Maybe if Shaedo keeps some of those in her green mist flasks, they'll mend up...

My primary reason for suggesting such a thing is so that those that might otherwise get lost can simply read a single post. Something like, "After a wicked-strange storm with dragon (well, General Narahari?) and a winged skull, we managed to get inside High Tower, explore a trapped room with ritually burned bodies, and a side room filled with green mists, and now we're slowly heading back toward the main hall to take the last path." is a lot easier to read than our posting history, despite being a huge run-on sentence. :) Any takers?

Shaedo has mentioned frequently songs she'd like to write about the group's adventures. While I won't promise anything, at least not anything super fancy, I could see Shaedo giving a summary of the adventure so far in the form of campfire songs- either in spoilers or links to something in profile! How's that sound? :)

Shaedo has mentioned frequently songs she'd like to write about the group's adventures. While I won't promise anything, at least not anything super fancy, I could see Shaedo giving a summary of the adventure so far in the form of campfire songs- either in spoilers or links to something in profile! How's that sound? :)

+1 (^_^)

Though I hope is not too much effort. Hmmmm... Is there a way to create an "Where the adventure is at" type of thread? :/

Much cheers to all.

Hmmmm... Is there a way to create an "Where the adventure is at" type of thread? :/

I've been thinking about this quite a bit. I don't have the ability to create a new thread, but perhaps the Recruitment thread could be used for this purpose? In other words, all new posts in Recruitment could be "here's where the game is now" - though I'm uncertain if that's a good idea, as it might make people think that we're currently recruiting by having a high activity level in that thread, which could cause confusion or disappointment...

I don't want to dedicate "discussion" to exclusively that sort of thing: I like the discussion we have here, both in-character and out.

Hence my suggestions. That said, if we want to create a thread somewhere, there's nothing wrong with that: maybe we could make something in Gamer Talk or Gamer Connection or something that I permanently link to, and just make updates there, probably with a specific coding to note the actual update post? I'm open to suggestions of any sort, though, of course, I'm not just going to say "that one!" regardless of the suggestion. :D

I also do love Shaedo's ideas, but, yes, I'm not looking to put unfun pressure on people to do stuff. It would be a service/fun thing on your part, not a requirement. ^-^

I've been thinking about this quite a bit. I don't have the ability to create a new thread, but perhaps the Recruitment thread could be used for this purpose? In other words, all new posts in Recruitment could be "here's where the game is now" - though I'm uncertain if that's a good idea, as it might make people think that we're currently recruiting by having a high activity level in that thread, which could cause confusion or disappointment...

I don't want to dedicate "discussion" to exclusively that sort of thing: I like the discussion we have here, both in-character and out.

Hence my suggestions. That said, if we want to create a thread somewhere, there's nothing wrong with that: maybe we could make something in Gamer Talk or Gamer Connection or something that I permanently link to, and just make updates there, probably with a specific coding to note the actual update post? I'm open to suggestions of any sort, though, of course, I'm not just going to say "that one!" regardless of the suggestion. :D

I also do love Shaedo's ideas, but, yes, I'm not looking to put unfun pressure on people to do stuff. It would be a service/fun thing on your part, not a requirement. ^-^

Actually... you can just make a new 'Game Thread'... Call it "Story time for GOB-Smash' and folks can post in there...?

See this game => Corsairs of Varisia

With this thread also => Corsairs of Varisia: Social RP

Jus' a thought? (>_>)

Much cheers ta' ALL! (^_^)

...That said, if we want to create a thread somewhere, there's nothing wrong with that: maybe we could make something in Gamer Talk or Gamer Connection or something that I permanently link to, and just make updates there, probably with a specific coding to note the actual update post? I'm open to suggestions of any sort, though, of course, I'm not just going to say "that one!" regardless of the suggestion. :D

I also do love Shaedo's ideas, but, yes, I'm not looking to put unfun pressure on people to do stuff. It would be a service/fun thing on your part, not a requirement. ^-^

I'd be happy to give it a try, whatever the format we end up using. The first party rest, perhaps Shaedo'll sing a chorus of the party's deeds so far. Something she loves doin' as it is! ^_^

My worry is that I end up taking it way too seriously, get all obsessive and then making it all out to more than it is. >.> So no promises still, but I'll try it out and see how it goes.

So I'm thinking I maay include a line of the song here and there, but mostly it will be in summary, as I have done with a few of her performances so far.

While another thread may be a good idea eventually, as Sunny suggests, I see that being more useful if a whole lot'a people start joining in with the song or the journal writing and summarizing. ^_^

Though that may be good venue for in character banter, hijinks, camp fire songs, and lot'sa riddle games! Tehe! ~_^
Shaedo certainly has a few other adventurers' travel songs she'd like to share...

I remember earlier, Eris posted her"journal" as a way of summing up the party. What do you think of that as the format for Shaedo's chorus, at least for at first?

If we keep a campaign journal, I'd suggest keeping it in the campaign journals subforum, and linking to it from the main campaign page.

Which? Link?

About the UMD on the staff:

"Activate Blindly: Some magic items are activated by special words, thoughts, or actions. You can activate such an item as if you were using the activation word, thought, or action, even when you're not and even if you don't know it. You do have to perform some equivalent activity in order to make the check. That is, you must speak, wave the item around, or otherwise attempt to get it to activate. You get a +2 bonus on your Use Magic Device check if you've activated the item in question at least once before. If you fail by 9 or less, you can't activate the device. If you fail by 10 or more, you suffer a mishap. A mishap means that magical energy gets released but doesn't do what you wanted it to do. The default mishaps are that the item affects the wrong target or that uncontrolled magical energy is released, dealing 2d6 points of damage to you. This mishap is in addition to the chance for a mishap that you normally risk when you cast a spell from a scroll that you could not otherwise cast yourself."

There's also a DC of 25. This is why I was wary of doing so.

Since we now know what it does, it activates as a wand does with a DC 20 to the check. However, it only holds a maximum of 10 charges and only a spellcaster can recharge it. It also uses the caster's Caster Level to determine the power of the spells cast from the staff. I don't know how that works with UMD.

Not to mention that most of the spells are divine in nature which means: "Emulate an Ability Score: To cast a spell from a scroll, you need a high score in the appropriate ability (Intelligence for wizard spells, Wisdom for divine spells, or Charisma for sorcerer or bard spells). Your effective ability score (appropriate to the class you're emulating when you try to cast the spell from the scroll) is your Use Magic Device check result minus 15. If you already have a high enough score in the appropriate ability, you don't need to make this check." Most of us can't even use it anyway.

The DC to activate a staff, knowing what it does, is the same DC as activating a wand or any other trigger item -- 20. (This is noted at the bottom of the UMD rules--the table says "Activate Wand" but the note at the bottom clarifies that is also the DC for any trigger item like a staff.) We had IDed the staff so I presumed there was no need to activate it blindly. Blind activation is for when you haven't identified things like a command word or what have you, or if you are trying to activate it without using the proper means (for example, I would presume, if you didn't want to speak the command word aloud to alert someone, you could try to "activate blindly" with a UMD check).

According to the very text you pasted, the ability score requirement is for casting from a scroll specifically, not a staff; scrolls are not trigger items like staves and operate differently. (And for the record, Ceru gets a bonus to use UMD with scrolls and other written forms of magic, should that come up, although obviously it is not relevant here).

I built this character to work a lot with Use Magic Device, and I've checked the rules carefully because of this. I always of course appreciate rule-checking as I frequently make mistakes, but I feel confident your concerns do not apply in this scenario.

THAT SAID, of course, the whole issue is largely irrelevant based on the fine print on the staff's description -- "a non-spellcaster can't use this item." Since the only way a non-spellcaster can use ANY staff is via Use Magic Device, I interpret this to mean "Use Magic Device does not work on this item."

Tac has said that isn't quite true but his explanation is confusing (sorry, Tac) and at best the most I got out of it was that, indeed, even if UMD does work on the staff, the DC for activating the staff using for UMD WOULD indeed be higher than the usual 20 and is thus not worth the risk.

So in the end: Ceru will not use the staff (and therefore, you are getting exactly what you want), and we can move on.

Tac has said that isn't quite true but his explanation is confusing (sorry, Tac) and at best the most I got out of it was that, indeed, even if UMD does work on the staff, the DC for activating the staff using for UMD WOULD indeed be higher than the usual 20 and is thus not worth the risk.

No sorries: it's definitely a bit confusing - and more so since I was confused! The short version: if you're not a spellcaster, you have +5 to your UMD. If it's in daylight, that's another +5. Currently you're not a caster, hence DC 25. If you'd be in daylight, it would be DC 30. Does that make more sense?

Also, everyone, please be aware, I'm not averse to being challenged or proved wrong by rules. I'll likely make calls "for now" whenever a situation comes up, but please do talk about rules here in discussion: that's part of what this place is for.

Also:

Which? Link?

This was my confusing way of asking which sub-forum. I didn't find it on a pass-through look, but having a toddler and ADD can do that. :) Do you mind linking that subforum?

http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/community/gaming/campaignJournals

On phone so too lazy to code, but there you go.

And yeah, the added UMD DC makes trying to use the staff not worth it, IMO. Junk it.

Awesome, thanks. :)
Also: up to you. Enjoy or junk, at your option. :D

Is ugly, icky staff. I say we trade it in if'n we can. Ya never 'junk' shiny. :P

Much cheers ta' all.

GM Tacticslion wrote:

With them is a maddened brain-broken ex-goblin (now blue and something else),

I din't realised Schnorzle were also a lil' blue as well...

GM Tacticslion wrote:

And a confused bound and bundled blue dire rat gnawing carefully on a stick dipped with elf-honey (or something - it doesn't know, but it's feeling better!*)

NOOO! Ye gots it arsed ta' front! T'is poor Schnorzle I be givin' tha' pacifier to (Will be makin' tha' next one out'a softer leather, but time is short at tha' moment) an' t'is B-rat who's been given somat ta' fill his (His?) tummy an' some thin' ta' sooth his (Not her?) thirst.

Sorry fer seemin' ta' wail, but t'is kind'a important (Well..t'is ta' Sunny, prolly not ta' any one else... (>_>)....

GM Tacticslion wrote:

* Yes, I'm aware that this is the elf styptic.

Whaaaaaaaat?!!?

Are you insulating that I made a mistake due to a toddler literally jumping on my head?!?!

I absolutely never make mistakes*^! Obviously, you simply misread the fact that I CLEARLY said that it was B-Rat that was drinking stuff and Schnorzle who had a pacifier^!

Harrumph.^

* Or lie^
^ That's a lie. :)

EDIT: (all that means is: whoops, my bad. Its Scnorzel on the pacy, not B-Rat. :D)

(^_^)

Aye, an' sorry I am if'n I come across.. well.. all cross, like.

I understand, with some many folks postin' stuffs, there be a lot ta' juggle.

So? Schnorzle be a tad blue? Kind'a like every one else? An' B-rat is a boy rat? That's right handy. :)

Wishin' ye an' every one else all'a very bestest! (^_^)

Can someone give me a recap of what happened since i went away? (ie after exploring the 1 st hallway)

i am having trouble putting the pieces of the puzzle..

tks in advance :)

I am not quite sure what we're looking at either (the Google map just shows a room, and I long ago resolved that I was sick and tired of making accounts for every g~&@%+n thing in the universe so I'm not setting up an account to look at Roll20, so I don't know what that shows. But point Ceru in a direction and she'll attack.

Makes total sense, Ceru. I've said in the past that I don't expect anyone to sign up for anything - it's just far uglier on google than it is in Roll20... though I hadn't been able to get Roll20 to work before now, so...

To describe the map a bit more, you guys are entering through the bottom "gap" - the end of an exceptionally long hallway with all sorts of doors. The "4" marks the entry to the spiral stairway that leads up. Though the google map doesn't show it, there are four small rectangular drains in the four corners, a big circular drain in the center of the room, and eight smaller square drains arranged in a circle. The actual drain shown on the map (the small black circle surrounded by red) is... simply placed incorrectly. No, I don't know why.

The circle that the map does show is where the rain/sluice/hail/mist is falling in, and the blue stuff is the water and detritus it brings in, as well as the green mist.

Also not depicted: the chain dangling in the middle of the room; the elaborate pulley-systems throughout the room; the intricate carvings that are substantially different from those seen so far.

Goblins start at the hallway opposite you guys - they're in the wider/big hall on top of the map. Two are just inside that hallway (about five feet in); three are surrounding a fire (a fire that sits inside the small corridor); and two more are at the 'uppermost' edge of the map. The light of the fire combined with the light from the lightning storm above is just large enough to cover everything that you can see on the map.

The weird wooden things are the 'cracked moldering tables on which lie rusted implements of iron' that I talked about.

Can someone give me a recap of what happened since i went away? (ie after exploring the 1 st hallway)

i am having trouble putting the pieces of the puzzle..

tks in advance :)

No problem: short version is that you explored the left passageway, found a couple of flying heads (Vargouilles), one of which kissed your two goblins (who were - apparently - healed by you guys), and a few weird magic items and masterwork goblin-sized items. There was a hole in the wall in which blue haze from the outside was slowly streaming in: blue haze that was being turned green by way of interacting with the yellow-gray metal grate that was placed into the hole.

You all played in green mists for a bit, but decided not to linger, you found a heavily mutated brain-broken starved goblin (named "Schnorzle" and adopted by Sunny) hiding from the vargouilles in a sarcophagus.

You headed back in, and up the last remaining doorway, (<- read that link and onward for details) and are currently at the end of said hallway. You'll want to make Perception checks.

tks DM

All: I've been working on setting up the ability to post while I'm out for the next three nights, but have been unable to do so. My apologies! As a family vacation goes, this has been planned for some time, is difficult to come by, and a rare opportunity... and I won't have access to a PC. That means that formatting posts is going to be hard... and I don't know that I'll have enough time to do so. Given that we're on the verge of a battle, I'm going to call a more-or-less short hiatus at this point until I return: I simply won't have the time, privacy, or focus necessary to properly run the thing. I'll be working on my post, however, and like what I've been seeing so far. Clever tactics! Please continue to post surprise and first-round actions until I get back. Peace to you all, and God bless you!

No worries DM take the 3 days off and don't fret on it

Enjoy your time off!

Wishing you a wonderful vacation! ^_^

Wishing everyone the best! ^-^

Have fun storming the castle!

Think they'll win?

It'd take a miracle.

Have fun storming the castle!

Think they'll win?

It'd take a miracle.

XD

Aye! All'a very bestest with yer kin time. (^_^)

Sorry, currently not feeling well. Will post when I can.

I'm back now too! Paizocon was a blast! Then I took a day to sleep and then was without internet while I floated down the river. Now back to work and regularly scheduled forum access!

Awesome! Any notable experiences to share from Paizocon??
^_^

I'm back! Processing the posts now, though it might be tomorrow before I actually post, due to "moving back in" syndrome. :D

All: thanks for the well-wishes! It was great! God rocks, and so does family!

Sunny: I'm sorry you're not feeling well! :( I hope you get better soon!

Vitreous: Huzzah! Welcome back! Load us up with extraneous information that none of us need and we'll all forget soon, except as a minor background information that may or may not come to mind later when dealing with you in the future! :D

Huzzah! 'Twas a great trip! We did indeed have fun storming the castle and survived!
Now, go Gob Smash One! :)

As we're in combat, it's a minimum of a round-per-day posting on my part.

I will update sometimes this evening 'round 7-10 tonight.

Wishing you and every one else all the very best. (^_^)

Of course, given the time zone difference, I'll be toddling off to bed here not long after this post. :p

All: I've updated Roll20, and even put characters for you guys down on that map.

They... aren't very good, but I defend my choices by saying a) the search function is really poor (why do I get more hunters searching for elf mages than for huntresses? Why does the rat-guy only appear for mages and not ratfolk, we're rat, rat guy, or rat?! Those pictures... sigh. And so on.) and b) I'm not you (and hence don't know your preferences).

If you'd like, there is a massive gaggle of character icons on the right . You may change yours out for one of those. I may change one or two others out. Alternatively, if you run a successful search for them, you can use that one.