KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

This adventure is basically complete (actually, since Lambere was purely an add-on, it's been complete for a while now). I'm not gonna average out posts-per-day this time because the recent slowness will just make it depressing, but...thoughts?

I've noticed some annoyance at high-AC enemies (especially when they use total defense). Are those legitimately unpleasant to play against, or just annoying in the same way a difficult monster is?

The thing is, I prefer to have monsters use effective strategies, and with low ACs they get creamed in a round or two. You guys do an insane amount of damage. However, if this is really hurting people's fun, I can start adjusting statistics and strategies. I honestly don't mind—I'd obviously rather people enjoy the game.

Also, I want people to remember that I am already adjusting encounters. Even putting aside your cautious tactics and stellar optimization (things which I deliberately try not to "punish" for), it's a six-man party with Pathfinder rules, to say nothing of the Action Points. You guys are effectively two or three levels above D&D 3.5's reckoning of your APL. I've been adjusting to keep Age of Worms's difficulty since the Whispering Cairn (except 3FoE, which got extremely few adjustments as an experiment—I wanted to see how you guys could handle one of the nastiest installments in the AP).

I've mentioned it in the past, but I thought I'd bring it up again. I don't generally modify encounters that I don't think really need to be deadly (Shukak got very little because he wasn't really the main boss, and all I did for the kobolds was add in a leader with a few extra class levels), so I'm not really making them "more dangerous", but I am trying to guarantee that the ones that are supposed to be "dangerous" retain that state.

Also, I want people to remember that I am already adjusting encounters. Even putting aside your cautious tactics and stellar optimization (things which I deliberately try not to "punish" for), it's a six-man party with Pathfinder rules, to say nothing of the Action Points. You guys are effectively two or three levels above D&D 3.5's reckoning of your APL. I've been adjusting to keep Age of Worms's difficulty since the Whispering Cairn (except 3FoE, which got extremely few adjustments as an experiment—I wanted to see how you guys could handle one of the nastiest installments in the AP).

Hey, you watch your language!

High AC total defensing enemies are tedious but fine. If anything, the most dangerous/swingy encounters have been the ones that you made the fewest changes to (as far as I know). I'd say your DM-tuning sense has been pretty good and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

In order:

- If someone doesn't pick up this blinding shield (was Cuetzpalli considering it?), we can just add the enchantment to it.

- Yeah, I've been seriously considering a remove disease wand as well. If we want to save money we could hunker down for a while while Astraden scribes remove disease scrolls.

- I also enjoy high-AC enemies on occasion.

Oh yeah, and my thoughts.

I'm glad we resolved the lizardfolk problem with a minimum of violence. It did . . . sort of seem, though, that the lizardfolk were willing to stop fighting way too early. I don't know what was behind the GM screen but those ones who were befuddled by the wall of fire probably knew that we'd just killed like four of their fellows, and would've heard of the executions at the Keep. Maybe they just have really high Wisdom.

Anyway, other than that it's been good. That was a killer twist with the eggs, and all of the spawn fights have been legitimately fear-inspiring.

I find fights with enemies with high AC tedious as well. They essentially become either time wasters or just rocks we're supposed to toss all our resources at (See: Requiring a Heroism, Timely Inspiration, Favored Target, and a 14+ to-hit).

They're not really fun, and it doesn't make for particularly harder, just LONGER fights. I'd look into other ways to beef up enemies myself. Adding more is always an option, or making each individual one more dangerous (Advanced template is a simple booster that helps), or some wrinkles in the map design to make it so we can't throw everything at one guy, rinse, repeat (like the Kenku maze).

But, I won't cry about it if you can't think of anything. Much. =)

If I have to say anything, it's that the Kyuss-spawns are legitimately terrifying to fight.

They also make me glad I invested so much into the Heal skill. :)

We really should stock up on remove disease potions and scrolls. Or perhaps we could invest in a wand of remove disease.

Well if we’ve got to deal with one extreme or another, I’d rather have the tough enemies that are dangerous via attrition than the super deadly monsters that we hit easily. Rocket tag isn’t fun.

I'd prefer enemies to have more HP (or more weaker monsters) over super high ACs.

I'll take the blinding shield and +1 trident and throw my +1 greataxe back into the pile, yes. Is it a heavy shield or a light shield?

The loot sheet is mostly up to date but we've got a bunch of stuff that needs IDing still.

I find fights with enemies with high AC tedious as well. They essentially become either time wasters or just rocks we're supposed to toss all our resources at (See: Requiring a Heroism, Timely Inspiration, Favored Target, and a 14+ to-hit).

With regards to that particular scenario, that enemy was on Total Defense. Effectively, he was buffed, too.

(Advanced template is a simple booster that helps)

As I stated, I scale up enemies a lot. AC isn't the only thing I use—in fact, I use it very little. That said, when it gets to the point where I have to double Hit Points to buy them two rounds, it's a sign that the AC needs to be able to keep up. Also, insert cranky old "Back in AD&D, you only hit about 15% of the time" rant here.

I kid. I appreciate your advice, though tweaking map design isn't always easy to do in this PbP. I think the next installment will have just what we need, though, and I'll definitely take the advice into account. I get that high ACs are annoying, especially from the context of Pathfinder—which generally is some brand of "rocket tag"—and I will try to reduce the use of it. You shouldn't be too surprised if the occasional "end boss" needs more than a 10 to hit, though. He's not a pinata for people to hit until magic items spill out. ;D

Lol.

Needing a 14-16 is okay too. It's when that hit rate drops below 20% that things get a bit...meh.

I prefer the more actiony pulp style combats where you just double (or otherwise multiply) the number of opponents. Then we still feel badass (cutting down things in 1-2 hits), and we feel like we're overcoming overwhelming odds (always outnumbered).

I feel like a normal mook enemy should be hittable at least 50% of the time unbuffed. A lieutenant type critter maybe 35-45% of the time. A boss 20-35% of the time. It's not an exact science (of course) and I think overall you've done an excellent job so far. Your version of AoW is the most challenging/fun AP I've ever played (encounter wise at least).

+1 blinding heavy steel shield.

Something to keep in mind, Cuetz, is that Age of Worms has some definite "horror genre" vibes. Making some of the scary monsters "fragile" is alright, but it's not my favorite card in the deck.

I'd say that the only major issue with high-AC encounters is the purely psychological frustration factor, especially in a PbP. Here, a round of every single attack by every single one of us missing winds up feeling like we've just wasted a day or so of game time. If we're hitting and it's just soaking up damage, then at least I feel like I've contributing something over the past 24 hours. But then, there's the fact that the big three hitters here do much, much in excess of even what you can reasonably expect to soak- I was going to suggest giving every encounter max HP, but apparently you've been giving them 200% hp and that still hasn't slowed us down. So... I got nothin', really. :-)

I haven't given them double HP, but it doesn't take a Rain Barrel Man to work out that Cuetzpalli, Farrukh and Tanith can easily do 60 damage in one round—completely ignoring iterative attacks and crits.

So, let's say a monster has 120 hit points. It gets about two rounds to live. Obviously, it's not quite that simple—and I'm no DPR-calculation expert—but it boils down to "holy crap that's a lot of damage".

It's not a big issue, it's just one of the reasons I'm not too bothered by the high ACs I've seen so far (especially considering the monsters often need 14+ to hit—this is a party determined to avoid leaving tactical holes). Like I said, I'll cut down on their use. My only priority is to avoid the opposite of the tedious ten-day battle, the curbstomp—which is arguably just as bad if it's how every single combat goes.

** spoiler omitted **...

Why are you Spellcrafting identified items like the necroturgon? Also, you don't need to make Appraise checks for things you already know like "how much is a masterwork falchion worth".

On a side note, looking back, I'm not sure I'm really thrilled about the precedent of the "two APs = reroll saving throw" ruling. I'm leaving it for now, but it's something I'm concerned I'll end up regretting, so don't get too attached to it. I won't cut it right when you're about to use it, obviously.

The necroturgon was never, to my knowledge, definitively determined to be fly. Astraden just wanted to make sure it wasn't a poison.

And yeah huh, I could've sworn I wrote chainmail.

Does Tanith have any idea what disease he's saving against?

The loot sheet's up to date now. If there's anything you've got your eye on that's unclaimed, speak up now! There's some nice stuff in there.

Was everyone good with putting coin aside to get Astraden's shield enchanted with Rallying? If so I'll make a note to subtract coin preemptively from everyone's cut.

Tanith isn't aware he's making these saves at all. So far, his body's staving it off. If anybody's aware of rules to the contrary, feel free to present them.

I suppose he’ll either fail a save and show symptoms at some point or shake it off completely on his own.

KC, what are your thoughts on ioun stones, wayfinders, and resonance effects?

Do wayfinders exist? If so are they attached to specific lore or are they just a generic magic item? Do you want to use resonance effects and if so which type?

If you're putting Cuetzpalli's greataxe back in the loot sheet, better give him extra credit for it. Also, Astraden picked up the mithral chainmail (it's not just masterwork) and the +1 dagger. And 350 seems low - did you catch the coins noted here?

If they go unclaimed, Astraden will take the ring of spell storing or the circlet of persuasion. If no one wants either, she'll just take the circlet.

Corrections made.

I'd forgotten that Cuetzpalli already effectively 'paid' for that greataxe. In that case, he's welcome to sell it on his own.

I suspect Eben's going to want the circlet since it improves his perform skill (and thus a bunch of other stuff).

The ring is very pricey and will likely tip whoever takes it into the red.

That bow is actually really good. It's a shame it's small. Would it be possible to have it refitted to function as a medium-sized short bow? The strength would have to be adjusted down too but it'd be a nice upgrade for Eben.

I've made sure to indicate the potions that aren't safe to drink on my profile.

Cuetzpalli will probably want the Boots since IIRC he's the slowest one here (of the combat crew anyway). If not, I'd love 'em.

I'd like the Amulet of Natural Armor too, y'all are catching up too much on my AC.

As a side note, I just realized I've been gypping myself out of 1 hit/damage on my shield. =(

Uh, what did those potions end up being? I don't have them recorded by color.

Cuetzpalli's got normal speed (barbarian base speed - armor). Maybe he could have the boots altered to fit Spiny, though.

Do we want to set aside gold now for wand charges/scrolls of remove disease? I can craft six CL 5 scrolls for 1125, given a week.

I've marked down what the potions were on my profile.

Cuetzpalli will probably want the Boots since IIRC he's the slowest one here (of the combat crew anyway). If not, I'd love 'em.

I think Cuetzpalli should have a 30 foot speed, thanks to Fast Movement.

KC, what are your thoughts on ioun stones, wayfinders, and resonance effects?

Do wayfinders exist? If so are they attached to specific lore or are they just a generic magic item? Do you want to use resonance effects and if so which type?

Ioun stones were in 3.5 and therefore exist now, wayfinders can just be magic items, and I dunno what resonance effects are.

Would it be possible to have it refitted to function as a medium-sized short bow? The strength would have to be adjusted down too but it'd be a nice upgrade for Eben.

I don't know of any particular mechanics for "enlarge item", but I might be willing to bend on that if you guys, say, had a wizard research the spell for you. "Reduce composite bow" is what I'm actually more leery of. I'm no archery expert, but that seems like it would basically involve remaking the entire bow.

Uh, what did those potions end up being? I don't have them recorded by color.

I know for sure Carina took aside the four healing potions. Other than that, I don't know. Were they the ones from the egg chamber?

I'm pretty sure I stashed the potions in the haversack...

And they were the ones from the egg chamber. That I remember.

Did you stash the ones in the second chest (the one that had the ring)?

Sorry for the lack of posts guys, moved into a new house, then have been dealing with a bug infestation and trying to catch up on homework.

I don't see the trident and blinding shield on there? Does that mean that Cuetzpalli already has them? Do I owe money for taking them out of the main loot pile?

Selling my greataxe and bow for a profit of 1,410 GP as well.

I went looking back through the thread, and I did indeed stash the potions that we found in the chest with the ring. I have the four opaque potions that were in the visible chest and the coloured potions that were in the chest with the ring.

I love how anyone who isn't following this campaign closely will be more or less left in the dark about what I'm talking about. XD

I suspect Eben's going to want the circlet since it improves his perform skill (and thus a bunch of other stuff).

The ring is very pricey and will likely tip whoever takes it into the red.

That bow is actually really good. It's a shame it's small. Would it be possible to have it refitted to function as a medium-sized short bow? The strength would have to be adjusted down too but it'd be a nice upgrade for Eben.

While I _could_ use the circlet, I'm not so enamored of it that I'll claim precedent over Astraden, if she wants.

And the bow... yeah, I remember deducing exactly what that was during the kobold fight (as in, 'where are those extra d6 damage I'm taking coming from? He's not getting sneak attacks on me somehow, is he? Or... ah-ha! Bane!) and then weeping a little upon the realization that it's small sized. Between that, the strength being higher than Eben's current modifier, and the fact that it's a longbow and not a shortbow, makes it a +1 composite longbow of the bard never hitting anything again. Now, several of those issues will resolve themselves sooner or later (at about 9th level I plan on taking a martial multiclass that will give me longbow proficiency, and eventually I'd buy myself a strength belt), those solutions are far off enough that sitting on this thing till then would be silly. (Plus the potential expense of resizing it, which just makes it even more of a money sink...)

The ring of protection I might be interested in, if nobody else wants.

The swarmbane clasp feels like something that someone should take, given how we usually start running around and playing 'how many bombs does Carina have left' as our usual recourse against swarms. I'd claim that, but I'd defer if one of the heavy hitters wanted it.

As far as group-pooled stuff to buy, it would be 3,000 gp apiece if we bought a rallying shield, a new wand of CLW, and a wand of remove disease. That might be a bit steep, so if we skipped the disease wand for the time being and just got the other two, it would be 1,125 each. (And then we chip in so Astraden can make a bunch of RD scrolls. I think the wand should be a long term goal, though, just for ease of use.)

I could do 3,000 if I don't owe anything for the +1 blinding shield and the +1 returning trident. Otherwise I'd be fine with 1,125 also. We clearly need that stuff.

The trident's under "returning trident +1" (Tanith already put in the subtraction for you). And the blinding shield is from last loot sheet (possibly the Faceless One's), so it's just a gift from Astraden to Cuetzpalli.

Eben, if you've got the gold you should go ahead and take the ring of protection and circlet. I have some purchases planned for the Free City, so I can just sit on my remaining share until then.

Re the wand of remove disease: I think the cheapness outweighs ease of use. After what happened in the Keep Astraden's just gonna keep remove disease prepared every day and burn action points to save it each casting. That'll account for situations that are getting out of control (where tons of us are wormy and she doesn't have a move action to pull out a scroll), while the scrolls and Carina's eventual potions will save us the rest of the time. Probably.

Alright, assigned I've moved stuff around as folks seemed to be leaning. I took the liberty of giving the cloak of resistance to Carina as her saves seem to be lowish.

Draft #1

Carina

cloak of resistance +1
6,339.73 gold

Cuetzpalli

returning trident +1
2,682.23 gold

Farrukh

amulet of natural armor +1
5,839.73 gold

Eben

ring of protection +1
5,839.73 gold

Tanith

lesser extend rod
5,339.73 gold

Astraden

dagger +1
mithril chainmail
circlet of persuasion
1,363.73 gold
5750 extra gold for Rallying enchant and Remove Disease Scrolls

***

Potentially nice stuff in the vendor pile

swarmbane clasp
belt of con +2
minor ring of spell storing
boots of striding and springing

Well that leaves me with 6,353 GP. So I can definitely pitch in 3k for the anti-Kyuss Spawn stuff.

That already includes some taken out for the shield enchant and a few scrolls.

Did you want the boots?

I guess if no one else wants them I might as well increase my speed to 40. Except I'll be riding Spiny next level so it won't matter. Just sell them? Or let Farrukh buy them?

Carina's definitely interested in having the bracers of armor.

Mainly because my chain shirt is too heavy for my Strength score.

You should also seriously consider the belt.

That could be a possibility.

Still, I have the Lingering Spirit alchemist discovery. So it's not as high on my priority list as other magic gear.

I wanted the boots, actually.

Here's what I'm thinking.

I'll take the cloak of resistance and the bracers of armor, sell my chain shirt, and see if there's a mithril chain shirt on offer in the Free City. I'll get myself a masterwork suit of studded leather if I can't find one.

I'm also kinda hoping to build a revolver with my gunsmithing kit.

I think Astraden & I had settled on Eben taking the circlet of persuasion.