Happy Birthday, Steve! Didn't realize ours were so close together!
Weekend was great!
I ended up playing twice... 7-04 Ironbound Schism as my Conjurer Angelo (where I hadn't yet realized I f'd up my cheat sheets as to the level of Ankylosaurus as SMIV instead of its proper SMV. I lose a level of Rules Lawyer. Then got to play the final table of Hand of the Muted God (as the final ticket pulled!) It was glorious even though Gunari almost died due to -6 CON from a curse!
And for a Gunari moment. After being healed back from -1 hp by our life oracle, Gunari ended up finishing off the <redacted> who cursed him. Then, a few rounds later, when the final <redacted> in that fight tried to run away down the mountain, Gunari did a "DEATH FROM ABOVE!" manuever, and critted the dude with his rapier (for 40 something damage).
Got to run Serpents Rise and Siege again... both were fun.
Three notes.
1) Aram Zey to Rataji "You think yourself some powerful arcanist do you? Well, not any more!!!" Rataji fails the save.
2) To 322... "So, how much damage does an elf do?"
3)Aram Zey LIVED! Didn't kill anyone, though he dropped several. However, they grabbed the Sky Key and ran.
Moved my tokens, will get my post up soon, just wanted to mention it in case I can't for a bit.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Thanks for the preliminary birthday wishes!
They just aren't as much fun as they used to be, but its still nice.
So I figured I would get this out here, because this combat will push my summons to the extent of their duration.
Gado's wizard specialized school is conjuration (teleportation specialty via APG) which gives him increased duration on all conjurations spells. (summoner's charm) At this point it gives each of the elementals 1 extra round, for a total of 4 rounds. The first elemental, which is frightened, has just completed his 3rd action, and so won't be able to do anything by the time he is not frightened. The second elemental just completed his second action (and is just shaken) so still has a couple of turns left.
I am brainstorming ideas on how to keep track of rounds so that it doesn't get confusing, particularly for GM Damo... and right now I am thinking probably the easiest way is a little OOC counter on the bottom of each of my posts as a reminder. Let me know if there is a better way that anyone else has seen or used...
Paizo is running slower than yo momma tonight. I'm done with it. See all of you tomorrow! I won't have my usual early morning posts, but should be able to get on 10-11ish. Have a fun night.
@Sumaru: Love your flee post!
By the way, I'm fine with however you guys decide to split up the loot. It won't be your last haul - but probably the last before you set out to sea. This means it will be one of your final opportunities to sell stuff and get some (probably) group useful items, yes?
So far, no-one has headed back to the citadel or decided to wake the red head (or make arrangements for the Captains other body).... so there's not a lot for me to do as yet. Just know that I'm reading along and enjoying.
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@Sumaru: Love your flee post!
So far, no-one has headed back to the citadel or decided to wake the red head (or make arrangements for the Captains other body).... so there's not a lot for me to do as yet. Just know that I'm reading along and enjoying.
+1 to Sumaru.
I think the rest of the party is just rueing that they didn't take Bazsil up on the idea to buy a rod of splendor so we could have a pavilion beach party. That would be pretty sweet right now. Food for 10, shade, the beach, playing hooky from 'work'...heck, if the Red Head's friends come by, we could have a Weekend at Bernie's moment too.
/me dreams big.
+1 Sumaru too.
I realised I never got around to posting my shopping. This is it. I've still got a bit under 2000 gp left over to spend too. You want nonmagical equipment? I've got nonmagical equipment.
Oil of magic weapon (2)
Acid (4)
Alchemist's fire (4)
Antitoxin (4)
Caltrops (2)
Holy water (4)
Oil (4)
Smokestick (4)
Tanglefoot bag (4)
Thunderstone (4)
+1 breastplate
Cold iron dagger
Javelin
Silver light mace
Cloak of resistance +1
Handy haversack
Bell
Candle (9)
Canvas (sq. yd.) (4)
Chain (10 ft.)
Chalk (5)
Earplugs
Fishhook
Grappling hook
Hammer (tool)
Ink, black
Inkpen
Manacles (4, 2 med, 2 small)
Marbles
Mirror
Mug/tankard
Parchment
Piton (4)
Rice paper (8)
Sack (4)
Saw
Scroll case
Sewing needle
Signal whistle
Silk rope (50 ft.)
String or twine
Sunrod (4)
Tindertwig (10)
Torch (4)
Trail rations (7)
Still open to other suggestions, by the way. If I can get another 200 gp, I'll buy a ring of protection I think.
Drop the haversack, you have strength, so the breastplate will be encumbering you more than the weight of your gear. If you do that, and drop one each of
Holy water
Antitoxin
Acid
Alchemists fire 105
Smokestick 125
Tanglefoot 175
Thunder stone 205
That will get you both a ring of protection +1 and amulet of not armor +1
IMHO that would work well.
Could you realistically fit all of that in a normal backpack? There's only 2 cu ft in there (which, as a metric user, I have no real conception of how large that is). I could have a million sacks hanging off it, I suppose, but that's not exactly a heroic image.
My suspension of disbelief struggles with picturing this even though there's no actual rule against it, as such.
Thank you for your advice, though. I'd love the two items if I could just get the imagery right in my mind.
I updated the loot list provided by the dinosaur.
People who showed interest in the +AC items are typed in a single one each (myself included).
Scrolls I leave to Aeslin and Gratum (those who expressed interest) to hash out who gets what.
If someone wants a +AC item, you can have mine! If Ciaran or Baszil wanna switch around who got what, feel free!
I also vote to sell the elixir. The rest looks really useful.
Also, if Mr. Dino can put a permanent link in the header please, that would be lovely. :D
Lovely, thank you.
@Ciarán, have the 200gp you need for the ring of protection. It will easily be covered by your share of the loot, or Krinst can give you a loan. You are correct in that your equipment won't fit in a pack. The haversack also has the advantage of allowing the "retrieve a stored item" for everything you have in it, and with no AoO (I believe). That alone makes it handy, regardless of carrying capacity.
@Elon, thank you so much for updating the loot spreadsheet. It's now linked to from my tagline. Also, I love how you included their masks in the spreadsheet with a ? next to the value, and that no-one has made any comment on them or attempt to determine their significance. They're just there to be pawned.
Steve's going to be slow posting today (Gado, that is). Just thought I'd let all of you know.... not that the posting speed is blistering right now. ;-)
Hey everyone! Stealing a minute to post. unless I get another phone call... Definitely getting a workout today, running around like a chicken with my head cut off....
Anyways - I put Gado next to a few of the scrolls I would like to copy into my spellbook. If you want any of these scrolls to be able to use, I should have time to scribe scrolls on the journey to the isle, and hope to be scribing a fair amount throughout our adventure.
I am not that attached to anything, so if you want a scroll I put my name on, just slap my hand and take it. Gado probably won't put up much of a fight.
Probably.
Elon is a bit dense and not very subtle, so he has no desire to learn of this cult or group, nor keeping gear for espionage.
Looks like Baszil stole the ring from under Ciaran, lol.
All super useful scrolls like Raise Dead and Teleport should be saved in their scroll forms until the casters can use it themselves, imo. Especially, Raise Dead since the cost of the scroll includes the material component, so scribing it wastes that added cost.
Elon is a bit dense. Looks like Baszil stole the ring from under Ciaran, lol.
:)
Bazsil did so to stimulate any RP that might come about in regards to the loot. I know we had the option to discuss it here in the Discussion thread, and Bazsil is happy to give the ring up...but it's going to cost some RP from someone.
I had Baz take it as a hook, as some bait that someone might jump upon. So far, no nibbles.
All that stimulation and no one noticed that Elon left the battle site due east, which is not south (where Magnimar is) or north (where the tunnel is). Shrug, I figured someone would pick up on that. Gotta play up my undirectionality. ;-)
---
I am leaving for vacation to North Carolina tomorrow evening and I will be gone until the 4th of October. I should still be able to update every day, but some days might prove inconsistent.
Ha! I didn't notice personally because the tunnel was both north and east from where you were.
Have fun in North Carolina, and we'll see your posts 'on the road'!
Hey all, just to let you know that I've got a pretty busy weekend. I imagine I won't be able to post at all on Saturday - unless I get sicker (I've got some seriously clogged sinuses right now, but nothing too bad). I should get some posts in on Sunday, just not sure exactly when.
Hope everyone has a good one too!
As I told the Zedroom:
So.... the clogged is going away, but it has taken my voice with it. Nothing to do but sit on the couch (or my pillow-couch in bed) and watch TV / type on the computer while my kids yell and scream in the background.
Anyway, scratch my previous "no-post-from-me-Saturday" comment.
First up: The posting rate really slowed last week. Please, everyone, do post at least daily. It would be great if you can post more often, but something on the gameplay thread that advances the plot every day please (even if only answers someone else's questions or otherwise advances things in a small way). Weekends can be hard, so once on over the weekend is fine but please let me know in advance if that will likely be the case. If you can't keep up with daily during the week on a regular basis, then do please let me know. As always, if you are temporarily unable to post daily, let us know here on the discussion thread.
Secondly: so this continues to be one of the reasons I don't like these interrogations over PbP. There's some decent roleplaying going on here, but it's getting on to two days now and you've yet to even ask her a second question. Any suggestions to improve things at this point would be great. I was thinking of a kind of "choose your own adventure" spreadsheet for the interrogation, but it feels so fake and contrived. It also removes the group aspect. I was even thinking of scheduling a Google+ video chat, but I don't want to exclude anyone and it defeats the idea of PbP.
So.... yeah, stuck for a way to move this forwards quickly. Oh, also, if you don't mind and enjoy this kind of thing, then please let me know! As a GM, I get frustrated, but if you as players are having fun, then I'm happy to go ahead as we are.
Sometimes I think it can be hard for people to jump in and ask extra questions, as usually the back and forth goes between two people.
I would say that others should feel free to just jump in and ask questions... don't wait for me to do it all!
I think if we know exactly what kind of information we are trying to get out of her it would help. I've been kind of winging it because I am not really sure... maybe that is what hasn't helped.
We want to know "Who does number 2 work for!!!!" - she said the cult, which doesn't really help us.
We know the cult is politically motivated, so maybe it gives us a slight clue. (hopefully my next question helps with that)
We think we know why, but that could be wrong. Hopefully my next question helped with that too....
Yes, please do all jump in and ask questions. It can be tricky when she is also asking questions that you need to answer first, I know. That is probably my fault for making it that way, but she's just spent a LOT of time and capital trying to get answers only to be frustrated by a useless lump of corpse - so she really wants answers, even if she's going to be locked up where she can't use that information. On the plus side, it seems she's willing to answer truthfully if you do.
We know the cult is politically motivated, so maybe it gives us a slight clue. (hopefully my next question helps with that)
Not sure how you know the cult is politically motivated... pretty sure that was just a guess on your part. It may be true (and it may not be true), but she certainly hasn't confirmed or denied that one.
We want to know "Who does number 2 work for!!!!" - she said the cult, which doesn't really help us.
By the way... her answer only didn't help you because you already knew which cult she worked for. She was unconscious for that revelation, so you can hardly blame her for telling you what you already know... especially if you only ask questions to which you already know the answers. If you asked the question as a test of whether or not she is being truthful, you've got good evidence to say that she didn't lie on that one.
Secondly: so this continues to be one of the reasons I don't like these interrogations over PbP. There's some decent roleplaying going on here, but it's getting on to two days now and you've yet to even ask her a second question. Any suggestions to improve things at this point would be great. I was thinking of a kind of "choose your own adventure" spreadsheet for the interrogation, but it feels so fake and contrived. It also removes the group aspect. I was even thinking of scheduling a Google+ video chat, but I don't want to exclude anyone and it defeats the idea of PbP.
Well, interrogations are set up to be difficult. They are not meant to be easy, unless they are.
The only way I can think to hasten them in PbP are: one or two players with the GM just pounding it out; or all players put all their questions/rolls into spoiler and let the GM craft a narrative of it.
Other than that, they suck and should be avoided unless necessary, imho.
I think if we know exactly what kind of information we are trying to get out of her it would help. I've been kind of winging it because I am not really sure... maybe that is what hasn't helped.
We want to know "Who does number 2 work for!!!!" - she said the cult, which doesn't really help us.
Her motivations for even speaking to us make me suspect, out of character: NoogieBurger is the god of freakin' secrets. She might be as bad a priestess as she is a thief, but I can't imagine her surrendering anything of value.
We aren't going to tell her much. Why does she want to know things if, in theory, she's going to be locked up? Or maybe she thinks she won't be. Or that it won't matter because she can break out as easy as she broke in. She isn't going to tell us much.
Well, interrogations are set up to be difficult. They are not meant to be easy, unless they are.
The only way I can think to hasten them in PbP are: one or two players with the GM just pounding it out; or all players put all their questions/rolls into spoiler and let the GM craft a narrative of it.
Other than that, they suck and should be avoided unless necessary, imho.
Yeah, I have to agree with you on this. I thought about the spoiler thing, but when so much depends on the to and fro, the bluff (or truth) vs sense motive, it's tricky. Luckily, this is the last likely interrogation position you'll find yourselves in for the foreseeable future. There is some important information that you have gleaned, even if you're not sure what to do with it or how to trust it for now.
Speaking of...
Her motivations for even speaking to us make me suspect, out of character: NoogieBurger is the god of freakin' secrets. She might be as bad a priestess as she is a thief, but I can't imagine her surrendering anything of value.
We aren't going to tell her much. Why does she want to know things if, in theory, she's going to be locked up? Or maybe she thinks she won't be. Or that it won't matter because she can break out as easy as she broke in. She isn't going to tell us much.
Excellent points, and I was wondering if and when all of this this would come up in character and in game actually. It didn't, so I was willing to let it continue for a while, but I think I'll just wrap it up in my next post. Coming... soon!
Posting pace will be more regular now that I am actually at the place where we are staying in NC.
Prior to that, I was lacking a bit. Apologies to the players and the GM. It takes all of us to get a great game rolling and I wasn't pulling my weight. I will try to improve on that. Very few groups I am in actually gets a post everyday, so it's a bit different for me, but I will try to be better.
Thanks Elon. You made us aware you were away from home, so that's all good.
On the game, though, that was the last of what I had planned for Magnimar. If there's nothing more you want to investigate as a group, please just do a "over the next six days, my PC does..." post, and we can get this ship out to sea!
I will note that there are some threads though:
- WTF with these Twilight Sages?
- Anyone want to chat to the insane first mate?
- Mistress Lanvi... avoiding or attempting to rectify the situation (I know it's mostly Gado here, but still).
- Dealing with any last minute preparations / shopping before setting out.
- Any wrap-up with this stuff in the vault.
You can "safely" ignore them. It's just whether or not you and your characters want to.
You've cut off our interrogation technique - annoying the prisoner so much with our ineptitude that she gets frustrated and tells us everything.
You've cut off our interrogation technique - annoying the prisoner so much with our ineptitude that she gets frustrated and tells us everything.
Ayep. Would have worked too, if not for those meddling lords.
She was more frustrated that you kept telling her she was lying when (for once) she wasn't! ;-)
So that worked out better than I thought to be honest... Unintentional, but the more I read it, the more I think she gave us exactly what we needed, which is mostly confidence that no one knows what we still have planned.
It's hard to stay in control of... Anything... When you get angry (barbarians aside). This was not Steve the player, or Gado the wizards intention. Gado will, however, take credit as if it was part of his genius plan.
It is hard to play a genius sometimes when you aren't actually a genius...
-Posted with Wayfinder
So, gado will try to avoid lanvi and her goons as much as possible. He would potentially be interested in talking to the crazy dude, just for record keeping purposes, but if everyone is ready to move to the island it isn't that important.
Mechanically, Gado will try to scribe as many scrolls as he can afford before we leave in the 6 days. If there is anything anyone wants in scroll form, let me know. I will link my spell book as soon as I can get myself organized.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Just to meta-game a little, the plan looks like this...
Crazy First Mate
A subset of the crew go to visit the ex first mate. This is something that we can easily resolve in a few posts... depending upon how deeply you want to delve into his psyche.
The Twilight Sages
I'll give you some information when / if you research the cult. In addition to that information, we can have a resolution.
There are three options here:
- I can just say you can discover how to find a location for the cultists in 6 days. It's quite reasonable for that to be the case, but it's a little unsatisfying.
- I can post a cinematic-style description of what happens, wait for your cinematic reaction, and then put that thread to bed for now (until you depart Magnimar).
- We can have one more proper side-adventure before departing.
To answer, go here and tell me what you'd like: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1PkB3tKI-na7RMULAU5tPIRfb0oIEYuhl097HPY-LTX U/viewform?usp=send_form
Mistress Lanvi
This is going to be a hanging thread after Magnimar. Gado is going to avoid her, and we will explore this plotline if and when you ever make it back from the Isle.
FYI, if you've already responded and want to see how the voting is going so far, here's the link:
Looking like it's probably going to be a cinematic resolution. I'll aim for tonight to give some more players a chance to respond... also FYI, I had to vote above to see the response chart. Didn't know how I could get to that without responding. So, I've got a response in there somewhere. See if you can guess which one it was. :-P
Where did everybody go?!
@The Grim - Loved your "if thoughts were words". That would have been a classic moment... Alas I stole the opportunity to describe more of Mistress Lanvi than anything about me. When I wrote my backstory I got kinda hooked on how good of a villain she could be. So I wanted to take the chance to plant a few more seeds.
I did enjoy the little thought bubble where he realized he may have been soundly defeated in the interrogation, and then immediately proclaimed that it went exactly like he planned... I think I will try to use that in more interactions. (Which likely would have lead to how "if thoughts were words" played out...)
By the way, the results are in! We'll do the Twilight Sages resolution cinematically. I hope I find time to kick it off tonight, but no guarantees. Feel free to post (like Aeslin did) a bit about your approach.
The wife "stole" the computer this evening. Tomorrow it is!
@The Grim - Loved your "if thoughts were words". That would have been a classic moment... Alas I stole the opportunity to describe more of Mistress Lanvi than anything about me. When I wrote my backstory I got kinda hooked on how good of a villain she could be. So I wanted to take the chance to plant a few more seeds.
Thanks.
As a related tangent, the more I play this silly PbP game, the more I believe that italic thoughts used be used more and more sparingly. I think there is a use for them, but the right ratio is hard to describe.
While thoughts provide insight into what someone is thinking, they also by construct at limitations to interactions. Suppose you had to say what your characters were thinking? Then there would be many more hooks and...possibly chaos.
I'm not sure yet, but I ponder it occasionally and it struck me again as I was unable to respond to your 'thoughtful' post.
Opinions welcome.
I tend to use Thought Italics when I miss an interaction and still wish for everyone to know what my character was thinking. It is a bit limiting, but I just want to show that my character wasn't standing around like an idiot. Using it in dialogue can be fun as other posters can be "intuitive" and respond to your thoughts, but that should be much more sparingly, I think.
Where did everybody go?!
I'm here! I promise!
I like to help folks know if my character is really nice (or really a dick) by having thoughts contradict text at times (where that is the case) or let the GM know that I'm lying.
I also like them for dream sequences...
... but yeah, I agree with Bazsil that if you can say it, say it - don't think it. Other than that case, though, I have no problem with an insight into your PC's thoughts.
Not sure what to expect either...but maybe Mr. Cabbage is a socialist who is leeching off the govmint and their socialized medicare! Or an anchor baby illegally in Magnimar. Bazsil aims to find out.
Heh. All good. Well, he's not lying to you, and he's not right in the head. You didn't know the former (so that's useful) and while you were pretty sure about the latter, you now know he's not putting it on (also useful).
So, first the GM complains that I am not posting enough. Then, when I do post, he doesn't respond. What's a (guy playing a) girl supposed to do?
Sorry guys, one of the jobs I had done at my work hit a snag today, and this is the first time I have sat down for longer than 30 seconds. If I actually get to leave work today, I will get a post up, but I am guessing not until this evening. I did at least get a chance to read what was up, so I can marinate on what crazy pants cabbage ears is saying.
@Aeslin: Oh, sorry, I really didn't think you wanted a response to that one. I thought you were just posting a bit of back-story... they (I thought you also) had moved on from the scroll vendor. We are currently making moves on the farm house.
Me from earlier:
See subsequent posts from Gratum and Wrigley... and then, my later post here:
http://paizo.com/campaigns/IsleOfDread/gameplay&page=13#613
... would you like me to retcon getting to the farmhouse and take everyone back to the scroll vendor? Or we can do some RP at the scroll vendor as a flashback, in addition to the action with the Twilight Sages. Just let me know.
I'm having a very busy week at work. Hopefully I can post more in the next few days than I expect. All the work is to see to a project that is to take action on Saturday goes smoothly so after that should be better, but if you need to do something with Gratum and I don't make it happen in time, he probably does it
No problems. Thanks for letting us know, mate!
"You... you would kill me?... would it even work? Could it work?" Jakob looks up at Bazsil, lucid once more, "Let's find out. Do it. End this."
Interesting. Not sure I was expecting that response.
Giving Elon and Gado chances to respond before Bazsil's next actions...whatever they might be.