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Possible tip on Diplomacy for the future--if you don't play or play with diplomancers regularly, you might not know.
Diplomacy has a penalty for failing by 5+, and the DC rises by 5 for subsequent attempts (because the DC for the category rises by 5). So, if you see a tablemate fail and make things worse, you should only attempt Diplomacy if you're confident you can roll 10+ higher than the last Diplomacy check.
Intimidate is fun, but quick becomes inefficient because the DC scales faster as opponents increase in level. The penalty for failing Intimidate is that they lie or trick you. And they become Unfriendly after the duration. Good if you don't need their help for very long.
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Not sure if that was directed at me re: Diplomacy but I've gotten into the habit of at least trying to help out if my particular character has a decent chance at doing so (no negative modifiers) because I've played at tables before where there either wasn't a diplomancer at all or said diplomancer rolled low and needed the assist.
Of course I try to play my characters as learning from their experiences so after this Minna will be more inclined to keep her mouth shut unless we need to lie about something - that's much more her speed anyway ;)
Not arguing and not upset, just wanted to share my thought process :)
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It was generic information, but it was triggered by Ash roll a d20+0 on an unfriendly NPC (DC20+Cha mod) after having a GM in a different game force roll our diplomacy if we opened our mouths at all (my other character has a -2 Cha, all he did was ask a question, so that went to hostile).
I don't know if Granta will decide if Maudi can use Intimidate to influence attitude, since he can't talk, but at worst, he directs us to the [spoiler].
Minna used Aid Another, which was a great move.
...and if Ash already knew all this and did it because it was IC, that's cool too.
It was directed at anyone who didn't know.
EDIT: Because there's little worse than triggering combat and not knowing why it happened.
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First off, I knew it was directed at me, but at least in most of the PbPs I run, I don't run in strict post order, nor do I penalize for when somebody has time for posting in a game unless it's egregious. I tend to write in narrative order rather than posting order. If that's not the case at GM Granta's tables, I'll not post after the fact. I don't think PbP is very conducive to a number of rules regarding timing.
As for GM Granta's question - I can answer that one from the official stance of "run as written". Nowhere in the rules does it state an aid fails on a 5 or less.
However...
If you want to be a real rules jerk:
In cases where the skill restricts who can achieve certain results[b], such as trying to open a lock using Disable Device, you can't aid another to grant a bonus to a task that your character couldn't achieve alone.[/b] The GM might impose further restrictions to aiding another on a case-by-case basis as well.
(Bold Mine) Since there is a failure condition on diplomacy checks, much as there is for a disable device, it's fair to say that somebody without a suitable diplomacy to make the check on their own (such as trying to influence somebody that's unfriendly that has a CHA bonus) cannot actually attempt to aid.
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I wouldn't put a DD-like restriction on Diplomacy, but I'm not sure whether I agree with your interpretation of the base rule. Nowhere in the rules does it state that Diplomacy aids are exempted from the rules for Diplomacy. That said, I still don't know how I would actually rule in this situation.
In the end, it would probably depend on the table and players. If they are being a bunch of twits, they might get shafted on that one. Conversely, Maudi's role-playing got you a success that I wouldn't normally have given.
Edit: And I resolve in initiative order, not post order. If timing matters outside of combat, I roll initiative to see who speaks, jumps, steals, etc. first.
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I think what the rule Klah is describing is limited to skills you don't have. I can't succeed at Disable Device unless I have it. In the case of Diplomacy, you can use it untrained - so anyone has a chance to do well unless the DC is simply too high to succeed even if you rolled a 20. In that case, maybe, you can't aid - I am not sure. I would probably allow it anyway if you at least had a rank in the skill.
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I wouldn't penalize the Diplomacy result based on the Aid Another result.
They are two separate actions with two separate, defined mechanics.
Diplomacy to Improve Attitude, roll vs. DC X, if fail by 5 or more attitude worsens, result on success is improve attitude by one step
Aid Another on a Skill, roll same skill vs. DC 10, result on success is +2 to aided person's result
Success isn't guaranteed even with the +2, nor is not failing by 5 or more guaranteed. Also, it encourages engagement and cooperation in social encounters, even among Charisma 5 dwarf barbarians.
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That sounds like a super fun weekend. I can't blame you.
Aaaaand for me. I will be at PaizoCon for the weekend. My flight leaves Thursday AM and doesn't return until Tuesday PM. I will have Wayfinder and a phone/tablet, so I'll do my absolute best to get in my daily post. That said, it's hard to get at maps on the phone (although doable).
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One of the players at another table just brought up a good point. Full rewards can be achieved without finishing this scenario.
Given the severe website problems recently and the start of Cosmic Captive in a few days, I am asking whether players would prefer to finish the scenario or stop once full gold and prestige have been earned.
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I'm happy to do either one! In the off-chance that it might affect the decision, I will say that I'll be going out of town to a convention this Thursday through Monday and likely will be posting very little if at all during that time. If we continue playing I'll try to come up with some botting instructions for Minna, to be used while I'm gone :)
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I am good either way. The server has been down a lot lately, often when I am trying to check in. So I am a little behind on my games today... but otherwise, I have done this one often, so I don't feel the need to do every bit. But if others haven't, I am always happy to continue so they get the full experience.
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I'm going to call the game at this point. Your three front liners have a combined total of 8 hp, you're seriously low on healing, and most of the players were already okay with an early end.
Chronicles are here.
Quintillus and Klah, I still need your PFS# for reporting.
Durm, we need to resolve your malaria from the mosquito swarm. Remove disease will cost 150 gp or 1 PP, and gives you a 1d20+5 chance to hit DC 11.