IronDesk's Book of Terniel (Inactive)

Game Master IronDesk

I don't think I'd apply both concealment and cover from the same obstacle.

Thanks all for the feedback. The consensus ( both here and from the forum) is that concealment does not apply. Concealment only comes form vision affecting things like fog or darkness. If its a solid barrier its cover only.

But everything else applies. So Kee-rik provides cover against Morgtii and Raidh's attacks. However it is soft cover ( no ref save bonus - not an issue here but might be in the future), and since Kee-rik is smaller than the zombie the AC bonus is halved to only +2

Morgtii also suffers the - 4 penalty for firing into melee. Raidh does not suffer this because the penalty does not come from cover or concealment, the only two conditions that treat reach weapons as melee weapons.

Sound fair?

Hey guys, I have a sprained (possibly broken, still too swollen for the doctor to be 100% sure) finger that is severely limiting my typing ability, so if I can't keep up with the posting, assume I'm going with the flow and don't wait too long for me to post before auto-piloting me.

ouch! Here's wishing you a speedy recover

Aaaand true to form, I nail a nearly impossible Acrobatics check only to flub an attack roll when I've got a flanking bonus.

@GMID: Does Raidh know the zombie has DR/slashing? I'm guessing she would get the message to at least try slashing after trying piercing and bludgeoning...however, in another PbP the GM said my character wouldn't know what kind of attacks bypass the DR of a creature without a Knowledge check...

That's pretty hardcore! Way back when you first encountered zombies I prompted for know checks, but since nobody has K:religeon, nobody rolled, so you characters went into the fight knowing nothing. And to everybody's credit you all RPed with it faithfully.

But, you've encountered them repeatedly now. It only makes sense that you'd keep trying different things until you found whatever worked. So no, you don't need to keep punching/stabbing :>

FYI guys, I'll be attending PAX West next week and may be unable (or just completely forget because I'm so busy) to post, so if everyone else has taken their turn, please just bot me and keep going. Thank you guys, and sorry for the inconvenience!

Will do and have fun

Thanks for letting us know

Will post action as soon as I can, sorry for the delay...

So I could have given Morgtii or 'Dolph (my current cast for my synergy class feature) 10 temp HP, or given either one a +2 bonus to AC, CMD, CMB, attacks or other things - all lasting 4 rounds. But...I gave myself a +2 bonus to CMB for four rounds, because I don't have a bludgeoning weapon. And tried a trip. And missed epically.

Just so much awesome in the "making a poor choice" department today....

It's probably a hit for Raidh, but will it be enough? The dice have really been against us this campaign. And I'm pretty sure I missed again, bringing our average to about 1 successful action a round :P

And 90% of the successful actions were taken by our downed teammates...

Sure, but what adventurer travels without a freaking blade? Even a dagger, Raidh!?!?!

So what are the rules for breaking my longspear's haft in, say a third of the way down and using the head as a slashing, improvised weapon?

What action would it take to break and create this makeshift weapon? Do I need to make a Craft: Improvised Weapon check?

Or can I just use my longspear to slash as an an improvised weapon? It's gotta have a blade that isn't just a point, right?

So I'd get -4 to hit, but if I hit at least the DR isn't in effect...

I'm fine with that - I'll even apply it to you last attack roll. The -4 improve penalty cancels out the 4-4 AC penalty the zombie takes for being prone, which nets you a hit.

Ok cool, that was kinda what I wanted to do, but in the interests of not asking a question/waiting for response/finding time in RL to make the new post I opted just to hope for a hit. :)

I do like PbP's but the timesink is a pain....
Thnx GM!

DM, it will probably take me until Monday to get leveled. With it being the opening weekend of college football, I'll be at a couple games, and the weekend will fly by, unfortunately.

Is cool. I'm taking my kids to their first Fanexpo this weekend so no rush

Enjoy the games

Got a couple nightshifts in a row, might be a couple days before I'm sorted; having said that, all I get at level 2 is a teamwork feat and the "allies are treated as having it" schtick...

Ok, here we go.

Level 2
HP 4 plus Con + FC bonus
+1 BAB
+1 Will

Spell Pool 6/day.

New talent: Guided Blast--burn one spell pool point for a +20 on attack roll.

7 skills:
Know.,Arcana
Know. Geography
Know. Local
Know. Nature
Know. Planes
Know. Religion
Spellcraft

Looks good!

Remember that Incanter specializations give you a +1 caster level in that sphere, so your blasts are now doing 2d6+1

That's right. I meant to put that in my block, but I forgot. I'm going to add that to my header, so I'll remember that I'll be doing much more damage wall when I miss now!

Leveling-up, quick version:
* +7 hp
* +1 BAB/Fort/Ref
* Skills: Acrobatics, Knowledge (arcana), Perception, Stealth, Survival
* Adaptive defense goes from +1 to +2 (dodge AC bonus)
* Bonus feat: Aspect of the Beast (Claws of the Beast) {Frees up evo pt.}
* Evolution points (4): Bite, Improved Damage (Bite), Chameleon Skin

I've been away from computer this weekend, so it's a good thing Kee-rik was unconscious. :-)

New talent: Guided Blast--burn one spell pool point for a +20 on attack roll.

Looks like a wise choice. :-)

Heck yeah, Kee! I'm tired of rolling ones and twos all the time.

Looks good Kee!

Mostly finished, completed HP, skills - just need to do saves and choose a bonus teamwork feat.

Looking at teamwork feats, came up with a few options after realising I don't qualify for Precise Strike...

Should I choose:

Pack Attack

Shake it Off

Stealth Synergy

Tandem Trip

Thoughts anyone?

I think I like Shake it Off, and Tandem Trip the best of those two.

If it affects your choice at all, remember that Morgtii has access to Stealth synergy and target of opportunity through his drills.

Now that you guys have hit lvl 2 and your characters are getting caught up in the inexorable webs of fate I'd like to introduce a pared down hero point system for your use.

We are using leveling milestones rather than exp, which while convenient, takes away a reward system for goal completion, non-combat accomplishments, etc. Hero points replace that. Characters will earn 1 hero point when they gain a level, and 1 upon completion of story specific events and quests.

Then nature of the PbP dice roller makes a before/after roll option impractical, so rather than granting a +8 bonus to dice before they a re rolled and a +4 after, a hero point will grant you a flat +5 bonus.

I want to keep it simple, so hero point related feats, spells and items will not be used, nor will I be using them for NPCs, monsters etc, also, no antiheroes.

You can only have 3 hero points at a time. Any in excess that you may earn are lost, so don't be bashful bout using them.

All characters will start the next chapter of the adventure with 2 hero points: 1 for leveling up, and 1 for saving little Isabella Droam.

I've pasted the hero point rules into the campaign tab for easy reference.

Any questions or concerns?

Sounds good to me, DM.

If it matters, I doubt Kee-rik could trip a clumsy flamingo, even with the bonuses.

Mostly finished, completed HP, skills - just need to do saves and choose a bonus teamwork feat.

Looking at teamwork feats, came up with a few options after realising I don't qualify for Precise Strike...

Should I choose:

Pack Attack

Shake it Off

Stealth Synergy

Tandem Trip

Thoughts anyone?

So, I generally recruit 5 people for my games so that if one leaves we aren't crippled and can carry on without having to rerecruit. This time however, I'm considering filling that fifth spot. Would having another player who posts regularly help to get you guys more engaged in the game?

It's fine with me if you bring someone else in.

Fine by me,'DM

Anyone who has looked at the equipment tab that I put up will notice that I didn't allocate any of the gp earned to Kee-rik. This is because he got the only serious magical item you guys found - the goblin necklace that functions as bracers of armor. But.. It is your loot to allocate as you all see fit. If the group wants to split that cash up differently, by all means do so.

Also, no one ever laid claim to the three fire spears that you took from the first thawn you bested way back when, so I converted them to cash. But, the could be easily converted to javelins or long spears, and then would fit Raidh's search for "something to thow from a distance so we don't get flattened engaging these things up close"

If interested, you can buy them back at 25 gp each.

Flaming Spear
The head of this spear includes a receptacle of alchemical materials that explodes on impact.
Benefit: The spear deals 1d6 extra points of fire damage on a hit, and the target must succeed on a DC 15 Reflex to avoid catching on fire. The weapon is destroyed when it hits a target.

I certainly have no problems with Kee-rik not getting any gold. Hopefully later he'll have enough cash to buy poison for his blow darts, before it becomes obsolete, but that can wait.

If Kee-rik is fine with it then I am too, but I'm not the kind of person to quibble over such things - I'd be just as happy to share the cash evenly...

Oh, yes, lets buy those Flaming Spears. Are they simple or martial weapons?

So, I generally recruit 5 people for my games so that if one leaves we aren't crippled and can carry on without having to rerecruit. This time however, I'm considering filling that fifth spot. Would having another player who posts regularly help to get you guys more engaged in the game?

I think you should replace Wolf-Eyes considering we started with 5, he is gone and the game is/has been set for a challenge for 5.

My only concern is, strangely enough the tempo - I just recently had a similar experience - four players, not the fastest posting rate, game going on two years...

One Player got banned from the Paizo forum (nothing to do with our game) and the GM decided to allow us to either gestalt or add a cohort AND add two new players. I chose not to gestalt (nor have I created my cohort) but the real weird thing for me has been having two new characters who are more frequent posters, so in social interactions they are quicker off the mark and more...I'm not sure...zealous? Overzealous? But I do know - it's disconcerting. Our characters have been in this game (a demiplane full of inter-fighting factions) for two years, and now these new folks are taking the lead. Not because our characters are slow to react, but because our Players are. The nature of PbP perhaps...

I dunno, I just want to make sure we aren't going to be overrun by a zealous newcomer. But then again, as in that game, I guess our characters can work out how they react for themselves.... ;)

That raises a god question that I should ask then: Are you, the remaining players, happy with the pace as it is? I could be misreading, I feel like we are dragging.

Hey, I'm sure it is dragging for anyone posting every day and trying to maintain the pace, thread and momentum of the story. PbP's are a ... drag. I admit to being tardy and my folowing of the plot is at time hazy - much hazier than my character should be for whom this is all happening quite quickly...

Don't mind me - the pace is fine and everyone else seemed fine with adding someone (ok, two and me out of 4, and I'm sure Morgtii/Ssalarn would be as concisely fine with it as the other two were) I'm just relaying some damage and likely personal bias. Then again, mebbe I should stop talking for people or tell them what to mind. :)

I suppose faster would be nice, but I'm not disappointed in the pace right now.

Hey all, away on a work trip for a couple of days so won't be able to post anything meaningful until Friday.

Take your time, DM!

Hey guys! IronDesk told me to report over here - I hope we'll wind up having a good time.

Do I come in with any hero points, or is that reserved for people who've actually earned them?

Welcome!

Lets start you with 1 for lvl 2. There will be ample opportunities to earn more once things get rolling.

Hey there Aedron, welcome to the team. As the GM told you, we've not been the best rolling squad. Hopefully you can help turn our dice fortunes around!

Last chance to do any shopping or make level selections before we proceed.

Flaming spears count as whatever their base type is. You just need to decide if you want them as javelins, long spears or short spears

Raidh, did you ever decide on that teamwork feat?

So sorry for my absence guys, working on getting Morgtii updated today and getting back into the swing of posting. I told IronDesk I'd do this yesterday, forgetting that my wife might have made plans for my birthday that would require me to do things at places.

Happy birthday!

Hey guys! IronDesk told me to report over here - I hope we'll wind up having a good time.

Do I come in with any hero points, or is that reserved for people who've actually earned them?

Welcome! It's good to have someone in the group who actually has hit points.