JLeeBly and PbP Gameday IV Present: Serpents Rise (#6-98) (Inactive)

Game Master JLeeBly

That order looks lovely to me.

Two things...

First, convention the second begins tomorrow, and my Venture Captain who shall remain nameless though would be easily identifiable in about thirty seconds for those industrious enough to look for it has me scheduled for a veritable ton of scenarios this weekend.

Second, this scenario, to be given the justice it deserves, will need more than the six weeks allotted. Considering the encounters to come, we are certainly not halfway through time-wise. You guys are making great progress, and I am absolutely savoring the opportunities to interact with you guys in game. For those who like a little more combat in their lives, don't worry...

Best of luck with the 2nd Con then. ;)

If I understand correctly, we are going north on the map. In that case, the marching order is approximated all wrong: you put the wizard in front!

I suggest the following marching order (from frontline to backline):

For 10 feet wide
Zurnzal, Marnarius
Joliryn, Shohiraj
322, Rataji

That order looks lovely to me.

Looks like it'll be the 10' order then. ;)

If I understand correctly, we are going north on the map. In that case, the marching order is approximated all wrong: you put the wizard in front!

I put the leader and the keymaster up front... :P

Sounds good.

sorry guys. Router was busted. Had to replace it... uhg. I just get a break...

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sounds good.

sorry guys. Router was busted. Had to replace it... uhg. I just get a break...

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sorry to hear all that but I'm glad you are still able to make it back in though. :)

MG's Pregen wrote:

If I understand correctly, we are going north on the map. In that case, the marching order is approximated all wrong: you put the wizard in front!

I put the leader and the keymaster up front... :P

Heh, should work out anyhow with Marnarius and Rataji switching places in the pictured order (and Zurnzal with Shohiraj's position, once we get inside the place).

So, one month in and finally a combat. :P

In my experience, what seems to work best (in a time crunch) is letting PCs dictate what they want to do, and then, to the best of my ability, I play it out. If there's someplace specific you want to move, feel free to walk me through it, otherwise general ideas such as "north of Zurnzal" or "five-foot step toward the creature" are sufficient.

If you action is contingent on other things happening, then you need to ready/hold as appropriate (because 6-second rounds insinuate snap decisions, not pontificating the perfect chess move).

I'm okay with you making your own rolls. If relevant, I will make saves for you.

Good luck!

Sounds fine by me; Also am okay with you making any necessary rolls if I haven't done so already. :)

Fine with me... especually with my bad luck during this game :(

-Posted with Wayfinder

FYI, the battle maps I am using are "experimental" lol 322, as I've always used something different for every single PbP I've done, and I'm also learning Photoshop by-proxy. That being said, I am open to suggestions and constructive criticism if there is anything I can do to enhance the experience. I know for starters that I will be generating larger maps for added clarity.

The size isn't bad for me.

If you're using a static map (rather than a user-editable one like Google Drawings), it might be nice to have a numbered grid (Letters across one axis, Numbers on the other) so people could have a little more control over where their characters end up. I get your no-chess-moves comment and can live with that, but describing intended movement without a frame of reference can be tough.

If you're using a static map (rather than a user-editable one like Google Drawings), it might be nice to have a numbered grid (Letters across one axis, Numbers on the other) so people could have a little more control over where their characters end up.

I've done that with a different PbP where I was using Roll20 as my base. I'm "ever-experimenting", and I may try that with the next battle map.

Here's a google drawings map from a game I was in. The downside is it's fussy on mobile but it works great on desktop.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/14orXIbPn6QucRoNVvaj8B5NP2NyIkf_MpaVUrof 7STs/edit

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/14orXIbPn6QucRoNVvaj8B5NP2NyIkf_Mp aVUrof7STs/edit

I don't have permission to view it, regretfully. :P

Tonight was trick-or-treat. Progress in the morning. :P

A slow-clap for Shohiraj, ladies and gentlemen.

Tonight was trick-or-treat. Progress in the morning. :P

A belated Happy Halloween to everyone. :)

A slow-clap for Shohiraj, ladies and gentlemen.

Shohiraj did her trick and got the treat from both the dice gods and the Pathfinders. ;)

Wow. I never expected to pull that off. The best I was hoping for was a surprise round, but this works :)

I think I'll keep up the Sheila disguise - just for fun.

Wow. I never expected to pull that off. The best I was hoping for was a surprise round, but this works :)

I think I'll keep up the Sheila disguise - just for fun.

Heh, hopefully the Aspis Agents inside won't know who Sheila is supposed to represent. ;)

And hopefully we don't bump into someone who just saw Shelia in a previous room...

This seems to be going well.

Sorry 322 isn't adding much at times here. She knows just about nothing about the mission other than what she has been told by you guys (other than knowing we will be facing Aram Zey, which she has already shared) so she can only react.

Don't worry, I get the feeling your spontaneous full-casting will come in handy once everything goes south.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Her options are pretty much limited to literal bad touches, and now that I've been through a combat with her, I'm ready with the good tactics (get out of the way, fire up Spectral Hand, touch baddies/allies as needed).

Yeah, I'm sure.

Her options are pretty much limited to literal bad touches, and now that I've been through a combat with her, I'm ready with the good tactics (get out of the way, fire up Spectral Hand, touch baddies/allies as needed).

*takes notes*

Shush, you.

Zurnzal, you have been replaced. :P

Wow. I never expected to pull that off. The best I was hoping for was a surprise round, but this works :)

I think I'll keep up the Sheila disguise - just for fun.

Your hi-jinks have been submitted for this week's PbP highlight reel. I'll keep you posted if/when I hear anything back.

All the organising stuff is mostly done. Just the last 4 weeks to go before i get married. So please excuse me if i fall silent now and then. Been rough and the holiday starts with a bang....

-Posted with Wayfinder

All the organising stuff is mostly done. Just the last 4 weeks to go before i get married. So please excuse me if i fall silent now and then. Been rough and the holiday starts with a bang....

-Posted with Wayfinder

First and foremost, congratulations, and an early welcome to the club. The 27th will make five years for my wife and I.

We are certainly on the "home stretch", as it were.

DMKs Pregen wrote:

Wow. I never expected to pull that off. The best I was hoping for was a surprise round, but this works :)

I think I'll keep up the Sheila disguise - just for fun.

Your hi-jinks have been submitted for this week's PbP highlight reel. I'll keep you posted if/when I hear anything back.

Heh, so go Team.... JLB and the PBP'ers?

PFS PreGen Character wrote:

All the organising stuff is mostly done. Just the last 4 weeks to go before i get married. So please excuse me if i fall silent now and then. Been rough and the holiday starts with a bang....

-Posted with Wayfinder

First and foremost, congratulations, and an early welcome to the club. The 27th will make five years for my wife and I.

We are certainly on the "home stretch", as it were.

Congrats to the both of you on the Engagement/Marriage to be and the Anniversary. ;)

All the organising stuff is mostly done. Just the last 4 weeks to go before i get married. So please excuse me if i fall silent now and then. Been rough and the holiday starts with a bang....

-Posted with Wayfinder

Congratulations!

(...) two decorative suits of armor stand at attention, each with a crossbow resting against its shoulder.

I swear I read that as 'each with a crowbar resting against its shoulder. Must be the character getting to me.

I may have been exploring the wastes outside of Boston tonight... map will follow tomorrow, but until then, enjoy the library.

Why would we need a map of Boston? :-p

Thinking ahead here, boss. What do you think about Dust of Darkness versus an invisible person?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust- of-darkness

This shimmering black dust causes one creature to be coated in a layer of darkness for 1 minute.

This first sentence seems to imply it would outline him as a shadowy form and might elevate him from total concealment to just regular 20% concealment that everyone would see as a shadowy figure in the normally lit room.

Thinking ahead here, boss. What do you think about Dust of Darkness versus an invisible person?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust- of-darkness

Quote:

This shimmering black dust causes one creature to be coated in a layer of darkness for 1 minute.

This first sentence seems to imply it would outline him as a shadowy form and might elevate him from total concealment to just regular 20% concealment that everyone would see as a shadowy figure in the normally lit room.

Hopefully it will help Joliryn fire off that glitterdust. ;)

Work has been crazy and won't be back until late. Will answer and resolve tonight.

Thinking ahead here, boss. What do you think about Dust of Darkness versus an invisible person?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust- of-darkness

Quote:

This shimmering black dust causes one creature to be coated in a layer of darkness for 1 minute.

This first sentence seems to imply it would outline him as a shadowy form and might elevate him from total concealment to just regular 20% concealment that everyone would see as a shadowy figure in the normally lit room.

While I'm not entirely sure the intent of the wondrous item was for use as an offensive item (eg. tanglefoot bag), I'll allow it, just as any other alchemical item.

If you can coat the assailant, I'll rule it like the ol' bag-o-flour trick.

Test number 322, The Experiment wrote:

Thinking ahead here, boss. What do you think about Dust of Darkness versus an invisible person?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust- of-darkness

Quote:

This shimmering black dust causes one creature to be coated in a layer of darkness for 1 minute.

This first sentence seems to imply it would outline him as a shadowy form and might elevate him from total concealment to just regular 20% concealment that everyone would see as a shadowy figure in the normally lit room.

While I'm not entirely sure the intent of the wondrous item was for use as an offensive item (eg. tanglefoot bag), I'll allow it, just as any other alchemical item.

If you can coat the assailant, I'll rule it like the ol' bag-o-flour trick.

Definitely sounds like a good backup plan in case the Glitterdust goes away. :)

This is starting to sound like a TPK.

Rataji, with a newly made drool bubble on his mouth, continues to marvel the fascinating door hinges.

TPK!? TPK!? TP... TPK!? No... TPK!? Gosh... I mean... TPK? I can't even... I mean... TPK? Wow, I'm sorry you think... I mean, TPK!?

Simple flowchart for TPKs:

Is your character still alive?

|
V

Yes?

|
V

It's not a TPK

Work has been crazy and won't be back until late. Will answer and resolve tonight.

No worries, you've been keeping up the pace real nicely. :)

JLeeBly wrote:

TPK!? TPK!? TP... TPK!? No... TPK!? Gosh... I mean... TPK? I can't even... I mean... TPK? Wow, I'm sorry you think... I mean, TPK!?

DMKs Pregen wrote:

Simple flowchart for TPKs:

Is your character still alive?

|
V

Yes?

|
V

It's not a TPK

We aren't dead yet. ;)

BTW, did think of some things that can be used besides the ladder and it was right under the grizzled old cuss' nose all this time, the reversible cloak and the (large) sack! Probably should've used either of those in the first place... ;)

My best guess for survival is to shut down the spellcaster with a good ol' grapple. Gazwyr might be able to pull it off...

About to do some early Thanksgiving festivities today, so likely won't be around to update until this evening.

DMK's flowchart is pretty accurate. Swords are an infinite resource, spells aren't.

In lieu of botting the remaining three people, I'd like to see a few more actions before I move on, because I'm sure most of you feel this combat is at a critical point.

Quick question; if he's only five feet off the ground, could I reach him with a melee weapon?

I'll allow it.

Players: Should I attack, heal or try to wake Marnarius?

At this point our best chances are with defeating Zey: ignoring him would be suicidal, even if we somehow managed to acquire the Key. Waking Marnarius would only hasten the obtaining of the Sky Key while doing little to help defeat Zey. At most it'd force Zey to attack Marnarius instead of eg. Joliryn or Gazwyr.

11th level wizards (with Con 10) have at least 46 hp, +11 more for every +1 in Con modifier or if they took Toughness. Let's assume for the worst, and Zey has Con 14 and Toughness. That'd give him 68 hp. However, judging from the fact that he didn't go down during this post, he also has Belt of Mighty Constitution. Zey has 80 hp.

Aram Zey now has 39 damage, and with Joliryn's nuke he might go down this round if you do choose to deal damage to him this round, and/or if someone else (Shohiraj or Gazwyr) lands a solid blow.

But honestly, I think everyone would appreciate it if you ensured none of us die during this scenario. It would also help defeat Zey, as our offensive pressure decreases with every KO'd ally. I don't know what kind of healing abilities you have, but Joliryn and Gazwyr could use some healing. And Marnarius and yourself, of course, but you two have less of an impact for ending this fight quickly.

...Er, I mean, "gdyht'eh zimm".

Experiment: don't you have all kinds of creepy spells to use on the wizard? I'd say 'hit him with everything you've got'.

GM: in order to have things move a bit in our favour, would it be possible to suggest actions for Gazwyr? It would take some time off your hands too. As I suggested before, a grapple by Gazwyr could potentially shut down the wizard quite nicely.

I have to agree with throwing everything at him. At this point, we're down by six in the 4th quarter with two seconds left on the clock and have a field position of 4th/goal. Now is not the time to settle for a field goal!

The best of the creepy spells would probably be Ghoul Touch, hoping for paralysis and then a CDG. That would be foiled by a DC16 Fort save, a miss with the touch or a ring of Freedom of Movement.

She can do direct damage via a Slay Living scroll (DC17, 10% failure chance from level check plus have to make a touch attack). Upside is about 50 damage average and maybe dead, downside is maybe 20 average.

Finishing dinner; excited to see how this plays out!

Reporting has been completed.

Sorry if the ending feels a bit rushed, please feel free to RP a bit more if the spirit moves you. I'll be rushing home from work tomorrow straight to my hometown where Thanksgiving festivities will commence, so now I no longer have this particular table to worry about while I'm away.

To each and every one of you, thank you so very, very much for your participation in this particular PbP. Tonight caps table #141 and special #9 for me, pushing me ever-closer to my fifth star. I don't have a lot of experience with PbP (hope it wasn't too jarring), but it's always great to see people who are invested and, more importantly, having fun.

Rataji, I apologize for taking a lot of your player agency away during the last combat... It's frustrating at a real table and likely even more-so during a PbP. Thank you for sticking with us.

Zurnzal/Gazwyr, I hope life settles down for you a bit once the marriage is said and done. Best of luck to you and your significant other; I wish you many happy years.

Shohiraj, you played one of the best rogues I've seen in a while. I know how prominent you are on the forums, so while having you at my table was a touch intimidating, I believe I'm better off for it. :P

322, you did creepy well, and those are some of my favorite characters in role-playing. Not just purposefully creepy, but that kinda detached, not-all-there, I-dare-you-to-underestimate-me type of creepy.

Joliryn, you played a solid magus... very judicious with your resources and doing the best you could with what equipment you were granted (a small humanoid swinging a kukri without sneak attack... that's rough). You turned the tide several times during the fight with Aram Zey. If you didn't help prevent a TPK, you at least shortened the fight by a precious round or two.

Marnarius (or should I call you the grizzles old cuss?), you put a lot of oomph into each post and interaction. Your investment into the character and the PbP kept me entertained and motivated to check more frequently than what could be considered healthy human behavior. I'm pretty sure if someone cross-bred MacGuyver and a couponer, your rendition of Marnarius would have fit the bill.

Thank you all again, have a wonderful and awesome thanksgiving, and I hope I have the privilege of being at one of your tables again sometime in the future (either side of the screen suits me).

JLeeBly