Magnimar Special Investigations Unit One (Inactive)

Game Master Nazard

Awgin, Calatin, & Garidan - Millis Manor Library - District A - 19h55

Assuming either Garidan or Awgin do in fact retrieve the scroll for Calatin, he can try to decipher it. I can't tell from Calatin's sheet which cantrips he has prepared to know if he has read magic at the moment.

Of course Awgin will get it for him.

Auriel - Main Floor Millis Manor - District A - 20h01

The House Millis porter arrives back with the bottle of 4358 Opere Merlot, slightly dusty still from its time in the wine cellar. He also gives her a tray with two sparkling crystal wine glasses. "For Lady Phillipa and ... Lady Marina?" he says, turning the last part into a question.

"Hm?" Auriel acts as if she didn't hear the porter in the bustle of the busy kitchen. Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 "Oh, the wine! Thanks." She takes the bottle and tray from him and heads back out into the party, looking to avoid Lord Stafford and find his wife. Perception to locate the Staffords 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 Stealth to conceal herself in the crowd from Lord Stafford 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 +4 if she can use her Lost in the Crowd feat indoors

A bookworm like Calatin? He always has a read magic to hand...

Calatin, once presented with the scroll, sets the book aside and gives it his full attention.

In case it's needed, have a Spellcraft check (he would take 10 if allowed): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Auriel - Main Floor Millis Manor - District A - 20h02

Auriel weaves her way expertly through the crowd, ducking at just the right moment to avoid Lord Stafford's gaze, and soon finds Lady Marina chatting with the handsome young man who came down the stairs with Benessa.

Lady Marina looks at Auriel. "Can I help you?"

A bookworm like Calatin? He always has a read magic to hand...

Calatin, once presented with the scroll, sets the book aside and gives it his full attention.

In case it's needed, have a Spellcraft check (he would take 10 if allowed): 1d20+8

He doesn't need the Spellcraft. With read magic, he determines it is a "scroll" of clairaudience/clairvoyance.

Laya does as Heward suggests, and checks the other rooms on this floor, keeping detect magic active.

Laya does as Heward suggests, and checks the other rooms on this floor, keeping detect magic active.

The doors to M and O (Lord and Lady Millis' chambers) are both locked and there's no answer to knocking. The two southern K's open to empty guest rooms. The northwest K is Benessa's room. Laya opens the door there to find a feminine bedroom, well-appointed and lavish. As soon as Laya starts opening the door, someone grabs it from the other side and opens it all the way. Laya looks up to see a statue, dressed in a maid's outfit holding the handle.

"Oh, hello!" Laya says cheerily. "Were you expecting a food delivery?"

Auriel - Main Floor Millis Manor - District A - 20h02

Auriel weaves her way expertly through the crowd, ducking at just the right moment to avoid Lord Stafford's gaze, and soon finds Lady Marina chatting with the handsome young man who came down the stairs with Benessa.

Lady Marina looks at Auriel. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, Lady Phillipa," Auriel curtseys demurely. "Your husband thought you deserved better wine than the rest of the guests and ordered this to be brought to you." Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Lady Marina's eyes narrow to the tiniest of slits and the young man with her starts choking on his own wine.

Marina's voice could freeze lava. "I see. Very thoughtful of my husband. Thank you, girl, you may-" Lady Marina is cut off by a scream and shriek coming from the dining hall.

"Oh, hello!" Laya says cheerily. "Were you expecting a food delivery?"

The statue doesn't respond, but instead raises its fist to squash the halfling like a bug.

I'll give Laya a round to duck back out if she wishes, rather than call for initiative for a battle between Laya and the golem, given that the real encounter is just about to begin...

Heward tenses when he sees the stone maid. He's here! He readies his halberd and takes a step toward Laya's defense when he realizes the other stone men were not clad.

We can be pretty sure Mikobar is not in Benessa's room. Good work, Laya!

Waiting to see if Laya mixes it up.

"Here!" Auriel shoves the wine bottle and tray at the young man and dashes toward the dining room, trying to see what's going on.

MILLIS MANOR GROUND FLOOR MAP UPDATED
MILLIS MANOR SECOND FLOOR MAP UPDATED

The Millis Manor maps have been updated. I wanted to show the whole floor per map, so things might be a bit tiny. Let me know if you're having trouble making out details, and I can break the maps up a bit. The maps are accurate up to the point Auriel (and the rest of you) hear the screams from the dining hall. I'm tempted to start actions by rounds, but I know that slows things down, so I'm going to wing it for now. I also need to resolve Laya and the golem before moving things too far along (although I'm assuming Laya beats it out of there rather than fight the thing).

"Here!" Auriel shoves the wine bottle and tray at the young man and dashes toward the dining room, trying to see what's going on.

"Gah!" Therrance Millis says as Auriel dumps the wine tray in his hands. The crystal glasses smash to the floor, but he manages to save the expensive Merlot.

Auriel has to force her way through several onrushing party-goers in her route to the dining hall. Once there, she sees the large dining table seemingly floating around the room a few inches off the marble floor. A closer inspection, however, reveals the tell-tale appendages of a pair of earth elementals holding it aloft.

Auriel lets out a terrified-sounding scream. "Run! Everyone run! Run for your lives!" Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 As she tries to instigate a mass evacuation, her mind keeps clicking. Pops had said the summoner had to see the place he was summoning the rock monsters to. Still trying to look like a panicking caterer, she whirls around, her eyes scanning the immediate area for anyone who doesn't look surprised -- particularly the orange-skinned Kael. Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

I also need to resolve Laya and the golem before moving things too far along (although I'm assuming Laya beats it out of there rather than fight the thing).

Ha! Laya totally intends to take this thing on single-handed. It should be well within her abilities. ;)

Laya gulps. "Oh, so sorry." She takes a step back and tries to close the door. Then she skedaddles.

Good choice, Navior.

Seeing Laya run clear, Heward relaxes, then he hears the scream from downstairs. He shuffles back to the door and opens it a crack and calls in to Awgin, Garidan, and Calatin. "Did you hear that? Sounds like Mikobar's arrived."

He'd like to run downstairs to confront the trouble, but stays doggedly at his post.

Nazard wrote:

I also need to resolve Laya and the golem before moving things too far along (although I'm assuming Laya beats it out of there rather than fight the thing).

Ha! Laya totally intends to take this thing on single-handed. It should be well within her abilities. ;)

Laya gulps. "Oh, so sorry." She takes a step back and tries to close the door. Then she skedaddles.

As soon as Laya ducks clearly of the entry way, the statue simply closes the door and doesn't pursue. It would appear the Millis household employs a rather expensive means of personal security.

They have a golem? We should have had that protecting the magical doohickey! ;)

"Did you hear that? Sounds like Mikobar's arrived."

Garidan remains where he is for the moment (unless Calatin and the enjoiner go anywhere, in which case he follows), but says to his hawk (and Calatin's owl if he's around)...

Awgin stays close to Calatin. "About time. I was getting tired of all the waiting."

"Humph. What?" said Calatin, busy reading over the scroll. "Oh. Yes."

He looks across at Tylluan. "Go on then. Do as the man says. Probably some mice out there anyway..."

(No, Calatin's not going anywhere...)

The two birds look at each other, seemingly shrug in unison, and fly out the window.

Downstairs, Auriel is starting a mass panic, and doing very well at it. As people abandon all their previous pomp and dignity in favor of running, Auriel's sharp eyes notice a pair of ladies' skirts bumping into something that's not actually there as the ladies run by.

Sorry, no access to the map at the moment, but Auriel spots this disturbance just outside the dining hall in the main foyer.

"Laya, inside. We can't take him piecemeal. We'll have to hit him all at once. "

Heward props the door open waiting for the halfling while he watches the stairs intently.

Hope Auriel doesn't try to take Mikobar alone.

Auriel surreptitiously reaches into her pocket for the pouch of flour, then turns and flings it at the place she believes the invisible man to be. I'm assuming she's within 10 feet. Ranged touch attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Well, hopefully that's enough to hit the square.

EDIT: Is that Lord Stafford and Lady Phillipa in room C nearby? Is Stafford still there, or has he skedaddled?

Not a chance in hell she'll try to take him alone. She'll probably lead him right to us, though.

Auriel launches her pouch of flour and it splats against the floor. Several nobles pause in their flight to level disapproving glares at Auriel, one of them furiously brushing sprayed flour off his silk breeches before continuing his escape. Auriel also notices a little bit of foot-shaped flour moving about the space, and extra footprints appearing.

"It's the Watch b#%+&, again! Kill her this time!" a Shoanti voice snarls from the empty square.

"Yesss, Massster," a snakey voice replies from the wall above Auriel's head.

Auriel flinches at the sound of the electric snake. It's invisible, too? No fair! "If you kill me, you'll never find out where we hid the enjoiner!" she warns him. Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Where are those damned cats, and why aren't they bringing help like the Shoanti said?!

"I'm sure it's with your friends," Veristan replies. "We'll just have to kill them, too. Maybe we'll bring them your lifeless corpse as a present first. Unless, of course, you want to run away first."

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Going to have to take you up on that offer," Auriel replies and makes a dash for the kitchen. If the kitchen doors are the swingy type they usually have in kitchens so she doesn't have to stop and turn a knob, she'll just barrel through and jump up on the table just inside. Acrobatics 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 If the panic hasn't yet spread to the kitchen, she'll do her best to bring it with her. "Quick! Get out! Out the back door! The house is on fire!" Bluff 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

The kitchen staff takes one look at Auriel, listening to the sounds they've already been hearing, and as a mob bolt for the rear door. After a bit of pushing and shoving, they make it out, leaving Auriel up on a table.

As the doors to the main house finally slow to a stop after Auriel's entrance, she sees them slowly open, not far enough to admit a human. They stay open for several seconds before closing again.

"How thoughtful of you," says Wisp, "to put yoursself in the kitchen for me. All the eassier to prepare you for eating."
The snake chuckles.

Stafford and Philipa were long gone from that position. The last Auriel saw, Stafford was sheltering Phillipa from the hovering table, guarding her as they made their escape. As Auriel turns to bolt for the kitchens, she sees the pair blow past Lady Marina and the young man who's still holding the bottle of Merlot. Stafford doesn't even stop for his wife, but she's not really waiting around either.

As soon as she sees the door open with no one visible to hold it, Auriel begins to kick pots and dishes off the table, splattering the chef's famous sauce and anything else she can find all over the floor in front of the doors. He can fly, but can his snake? she wonders. She doesn't stop to watch for telltale slither marks in the mess but leaps off the other side of the table and makes for the back door after the cooks. Or at least she'll get as far into these actions as she can before the snake attacks her.

Okay, so the snake doesn't deliver all of his cheesy melodramatic line of doom, and gets as far as, "How thoughtful of you," before cutting off in sputters and curses as it gets special sauce in the face. "That'sss it, little morsssal, now you- Get back here!!"

Auriel hears the sounds of slithering in the kitchen behind her. The hissing seems to be right behind her, and she's sure it's about to clamp down on her, when the snake hisses as if in pain, and comes up short. [B]"NO!"[b] it screams.

As Auriel watches, the little smear of special sauce on the floor turns and slides quickly back towards the main part of the house.

From his post at the top of the stairs, Heward can make out a large oaken table seemingly floating across the foyer floor. It begins floating up the marble stairs toward him.

Auriel doesn't stick around to gauge whether the snake is really retreating. She takes off at a dead run, heading around the house to the front doors, hoping that they won't expect her to come back in a different way. If she sees any guests hanging around the periphery of the building, she'll shout at them to get away and report trouble to the Watch as she dashes by.

By my reckoning, if she Runs, it will take her 3 rounds to get around to the front door; on the 4th round, she'll cautiously enter the front door and see if she can find the snake's trail where he came out of the kitchen all saucy.

"There's a table floating up the stairs," Heward says somewhat stupidly. What do I do now?

I'm asking the same thing. Is there any sign of the rent-a-cops or Stafford's guards?

"It's probably being carried by someone invisible," Laya says. She concentrates her detect magic in that direction.

Is the table floating right-side up, or is the flat portion vertical as if being held like a shield?

The rent-a-cops are "organizing" the retreat, as well as protecting prominent individuals.

The table is floating with the top vertical like a shield. I should point out, however, that it's a massive table, filling the staircase. It would have to be more than one person carrying it.

Drawing one of his javelins from the long sheath on his back, Heward moves along the railing lining the edge of the stairwell. Trying to get a look who's lifting the table he cranes his neck.

That stairway consists of two halves 20' apart. Does the table span the whole 30' or are they on just one set of stairs. Can Heward get a throwing angle?

The table is coming up the western stairs. From his angle, he can see stony hands coming from the marble stairs on either side of the central carpet holding the table aloft. Heward could get a throwing angle, but the cover bonus would be insane.

Heward grits his teeth in frustration and drifts back to the library door. "The stone men are carrying the table up the stairs. Awgin, do you want to hit them on the stairs or wait for them here?"

Heward is getting edgy. Also, all day he had. Did he think to pick up a tanglefoot bag or maybe a couple flasks of oil? NNOOOOoooo! I hope the casters have something up their sleeves.

"No! The stone men are a diversion!" Laya says. "Stop them entering the room, but do not leave the room!"

Awgin takes a look at the table 'floating' up the stairs and thinks This must be how the Fellowship felt in the mines of Moria.

Listening to Heward and Laya, even as he keeps concentrating on detecting magic, Garidan says,

'I feel no tremors, and hear no sound of pounding - at least it seems the "stone men" aren't trying to knock this place down upon our heads... for now, anyway...'

Glancing towards Awgin, the Shoanti thinks for a moment, then says to the half-orc,

'I can increase your size - give you some extra muscle and reach - if you think it's a good idea... it is a little cramped in here, but that's the most powerful spell I can cast right now... I usually keep it in reserve for frightening off the more militant members of my people if they threaten to get out of hand...'

"He has no more need for games. This is the last piece he needs to begin his greater plan and he is in a hurry to get it." Awgins grip on his weapon tightens in expectation of the coming fight.
"Yes! Bigger would be better."

MILLIS MANOR SECOND FLOOR MAP UPDATED

Who wants the one thousandth post?

Garidan ceases his efforts to detect magic as he cast an enlarge person spell on Awgin... then (time allowing) recasts detect magic to keep monitoring the room...

And thousands of XP pour out of the machine and over the floor for hitting 1,000 posts! Right? Right? ;)

As Auriel runs around the building, coming around front, she finds the party-goers, milling about the lawn inside the circular drive, talking with each other excitedly. The Millis' are moving about (Stafford still with Phillipa), calming people. Bannock spots Auriel come around and moves to talk with her, looking surprised when she blows past him. "What is going on? How dare you create this panic at His Lordship's party!?" he calls after her.

Auriel finds Markiv coming up just beside the front doors. "I guess it's begun," he says simply as you move forward together to re-enter the house.

So, I'm skipping forward, trying to sync up the group. Auriel took three rounds to run around the front and in the front door. We'll say that by the time she arrives back, the table and earth elementals have just reached the top of the stairs, and I'll roll initiative. It doesn't mean you have to attack anything, but we'll track actions by rounds now.

Calatin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Auriel Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Laya Initiative: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Awgin Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Heward Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Garidan Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Markiv Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Veristan Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Wisp Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Elementals Initiative: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

ROUND 1
Initiative
Wisp, Garidan, Awgin, Elementals, Veristan, Laya, Heward, Auriel, Calatin, Markiv

Sorry, I can't update the map at work, but assume that Heward is just outside the library door, Laya is just inside, Awgin is large, and Garidan is on round 2 of concentrating on detect magic (which probably means his action this round is to continue concentrating on the spell).

Active Effects:
Veristan (invisible)
Veristan (??)
Wisp (invisible)
Awgin (enlarged)

Elemental 1: hp 17/17; AC 17/10/17 (+8 cover against those upstairs, +4 against those downstairs); Saves: +4/-1/+3; CMD 13
Elemental 2: hp 17/17; AC 17/10/17 (+8 cover against those upstairs, +4 against those downstairs); Saves: +4/-1/+3; CMD 13
Veristan: hp 40/40; AC 15/11/14; Saves +2/+2/+3; CMD 15
Wisp: hp 18/35; AC 16/12/14; Saves +3/+8/+4; CMD 20

Again, this information is to help players drive the narrative, not meta-game their actions!:)

Barring any obvious reason not to, Garidan does indeed continue to concentrate on detecting magic (although until he actually gets a 'ping' he was more 'sweeping the area' than focusing on one spot).

I'm still working on him, but tell me what you think so far.
I will begin as a Ranger (urban) and work from there. I'll probably take a few levels of Rogue along the way (gotta love that sneak attack) and, if allowed, the skirmisher archetype as well (no spells for me).

Awgin does not talk about the trials of his past, but he remembers.
He does not speak of growing up in the streets of Magnimar as an orphan half-orc, but he remembers.
He does not disclose how he survived the by living as an animal would, but he remembers.
He does not tell of his time as a slave, fighting for his life at his master's pleasure, but he remembers.
He does not reveal that along with the hardships there have been some been kindnesses as well, but he remembers.
Awgin does not dwell on his past, but keeps his thoughts on the future,
because he remembers.

I'm still working on him, but tell me what you think so far.

I will begin as a Ranger (urban) and work from there. I'll probably take a few levels of Rogue along the way (gotta love that sneak attack) and, if allowed, the skirmisher archetype as well (no spells for me).

Awgin does not talk about the trials of his past, but he remembers.
He does not speak of growing up in the streets of Magnimar as an orphan half-orc, but he remembers.
He does not disclose how he survived the by living as an animal would, but he remembers.
He does not tell of his time as a slave, fighting for his life at his master's pleasure, but he remembers.
He does not reveal that along with the hardships there have been some been kindnesses as well, but he remembers.
Awgin does not dwell on his past, but keeps his thoughts on the future,
because he remembers.

Looking okay so far, although you mentioned that he would be a skirmisher, and you put down shapeshifter as his archetype. Can an urban ranger be either?

Also, I notice you put down favoured enemy (goblinoid). If that's for a backstory reason, that's fine, but it won't get much use in this game. Favoured Enemy (human) is an excellent choice (favoured enemy being one of those abilities that's totally dependant on what baddies I throw your way...)

Party make-up so far:

Scipion: Synthesist
Dax (Awgin): half-orc urban ranger
Navior: halfling cleric of Pharasma
Talomyr (Erodel): human detective (bard)
therealthom (Heward): human fighter (polearm master or straight fighter?)
Megan (Calatin): human diviner

We have arcane, divine, skills, and combat all nicely covered. A couple people who will excel at Perception, some at Diplomacy and Intimidation, and some with knowledge of the local scene and nobility. The only thing we seem to missing are feminine wiles (unless Navior has that covered)!

Here's my character so far. She's not quite done, but most of the mechanical stuff is finished. I basically just need to buy equipment and get her background written up. Let me know if there are any problems.

Oh, starting gold: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 6) = 9 x 10 = 90

Alas, there go my hopes of prepurchasing a few scrolls. Oh well.

Laya is looking good so far. I don't know how much money she'll have left after those abyssmal rolls, but since she has scribe scroll, she can have starting scrolls for half cost (assuming she made them herself).

Some things for folks to consider when doing backstories: has your character had any run-in with the law before (or ever worked for them before). Having a "criminal record" won't preclude their being hired, as long as it wasn't too violent. Also, has your character been living in Magnimar for awhile or new to town. Either is fine, but your choice might justify altering your characters' prestige points for one or more communities (see the handout on Player's Notes from the website for more on prestige points. These points are a modifier which track how well known (and how well-liked) your characters are among the locals of each "community", and apply as modifiers to Diplomacy and Disguise rolls, and can potentially be used to buy favours down the road. I know the mechanic isn't the most realistic (somebody who is well-known and liked, say with 5 points, starts ruffling feathers and becomes gradually more unknown as they become less popular doesn't make the most sense, but maybe it's just that the locals lose interest in their "washed out hero"), but neither are most of the number-based mechanics. Tracking renown and public opinion was more complicated than I wanted to go with. For those of you who have played Council of Thieves, I honestly came up with my mechanic long before I learned there was a similar one in that game, so the two probably aren't related much at all.

Awgin a character I'm redoing for your game. That information was old.

Starting gold 5d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 1, 1) = 7 x 10 = 70

While apropos, I don't want to hear any more whining from you, Laya.

Awgin a character I'm redoing for your game. That information was old.

Starting gold 5d6 x 10 = 70

While apropos, I don't want to hear any more whining from you, Laya.

While very appropriate for his background, if you're having trouble getting even the basic gear for Awgin, go ahead and cheat a tiny bit. That roll was insanely bad.

I was able to get weapons and armor. I found that there wasn't much else I wanted for the character, so I had no problems.

Nazard, I was looking at the campaign handout and have a question on the favored community section. Am I choosing specific communities or one (two?) of the groups (ie: Lowcleft and Rag's End or E and F).

Erodel Voralius reporting for duty. No bonuses or minuses to any of the regions as he is a relative newcomer to Magnimar.

Erodel Voralius reporting for duty. No bonuses or minuses to any of the regions as he is a relative newcomer to Magnimar.

It all looks in order, except that maybe your CMB and CMD are one too high? While the official call for adventurers wouldn't have gone out past Magnimar itself, rumours would have spread to places like Riddleport.

I have one last detail to hammer out before starting (we can get a bit of a start before characters are completely finished, as there is some meet the people stuff we can do before your first case actually begins), and that is the matter of pay. It has to be high enough to make it worth while for adventurers to take it, but not too high as to interest anybody past first level. Obviously, it will scale with level (raises), but the starting amount needs to be appropriate. Reasonable living expenses in the city will be covered for you (an abandoned garrison building is being given over to you, which include places to sleep and eat), but you would still get some spending cash. I'm looking at it as soldiers get 1sp per day, which would be 7 per week. 1gp per week is too little, but 10 seems like a lot, so I was thinking of going with 5 gp per level per week. You would also be allowed the spoils of adventuring as per normal, except when the rightful ownership of something you find is obvious (if you're tasked to recover an artifact from the Temple of Iomedae, you can't turn around and hock it instead of returning it to the Temple).

Thoughts?

Awgin, you take favoured communities by the lettered groups, so E and F at level 3, then one more each time you get an additional favoured community.

Erodel Voralius wrote:

Erodel Voralius reporting for duty. No bonuses or minuses to any of the regions as he is a relative newcomer to Magnimar.

It all looks in order, except that maybe your CMB and CMD are one too high? While the official call for adventurers wouldn't have gone out past Magnimar itself, rumours would have spread to places like Riddleport.

Doh! Too much shuffling stats around and I guess that got lost in the shuffle when I had his STR at a 12. Thanks for keeping me honest :)

The pay thing seems fair to me.

The pay seems about right to me.

For prestige, his days as a street ruffian and slave gladiator give him -1 in A and C as well as a +2 in H.

Awgin answered the summons because it was Captain Percival that broke up the illegal fighting ring freed him from slavery. He is very loyal to the Captain because of that.

How many pastries and pies will 5gp a week buy me?

How many pastries and pies will 5gp a week buy me?

Depends on if he cultivates a "special relationship" with a pasty chef.

So folks, I'll put together a game thread and opening post in the next two hours (I hope), and we can get started with meeting and greeting while people finish up their mechanical details.

Looking forward to a fun game.

Game thread. Enjoy all!

...

Awgin does not talk about the trials of his past, but he remembers.
...
Awgin does not dwell on his past, but keeps his thoughts on the future,
because he remembers.

Nice writing.

Nazard, got derailed by work. I'll be on it tonight though.

Okay, so I had a look at the Profession skill, which says you earn half your check in a week of dedicated work. Assume an average 1st level soldier has a Profession (soldier) bonus of 1 rank plus 3 class skill bonus for +4 total, their average should be 14 or 7 gp per week.

This being said, I'm still fine with the 5gp per week, as you also have the option of looting bad guys most of the time, and your housing and meals are paid for. You will also have access to some spell casting services for free and some at a reduced rate, so all in all, 5 gp is just a healthy dollop of gravy.

Feel free to head on over to the game thread whenever you can and make an introductory post. You have some time sitting around in the waiting room to get to know each other a bit.

Hooray, we have a post!

Which reminds me of something I was going to ask everybody. If you want to post your character's inner thoughts, which I as GM love to read to get a feel for the different characters and their motivations, please put it under a

Laya is finished!

Checked out the google page for the campaign. --- Awesome stuff!

I look forward to trying the interview - interrogation rules.

The prestige system based on districts is also pretty cool. I'll definitely be adjusting Heward's rep based on his home and his beat. I was originally thinking that he grew up in Underbridge, but I don't think his family was that hard up. I'll have to read up on Magnimar.

Still waiting for Calatin to check in on the game thread (link is above).

There are even pastries...

Sorry - took dearly beloved (who doesn't drive) to a client site yesterday and owing to his client having been sold a dud computer by the hardware dealer we spent the entire day loading and reloading software in vain attempts to get the darn thing to work properly. Then we came home via a bar and had a couple of beers... and were starving, so getting online kind of... didn't happen.

Scuttling over there forthwith... especially if there's the promise of pastries :)

Heward's updated with Prestige points and almost everything now. He's got a rough background. It still needs a little work. I've only bought him combat gear so he's cash rich. (65 gp left I think) I expect I'll pick up some odds and ends for him soon.

Nazard, I haven't decided if he'll go straight fighter or try the phalanx or polearm archetypes. Is it OK if I put the decision off until 2nd level since nothing changes mechanically until then?

Megan, sorry to hear about the dud computer. I hope the replacement is at least functional and adequate.

Heward's updated with Prestige points and almost everything now. He's got a rough background. It still needs a little work. I've only bought him combat gear so he's cash rich. (65 gp left I think) I expect I'll pick up some odds and ends for him soon.

Nazard, I haven't decided if he'll go straight fighter or try the phalanx or polearm archetypes. Is it OK if I put the decision off until 2nd level since nothing changes mechanically until then?

Megan, sorry to hear about the dud computer. I hope the replacement is at least functional and adequate.

Leaving it to second level is fine. I'd recommend the polearm master over the other two options, however.

Yeah, the tradeoffs are kind of tough.

Straight fighter -- bravery, weapon and armour training were great changes Pathfinder made to 3.5. Especially armour training. I like being able to move my full speed.

Phalanx Soldier -- I like being able to one-hand the halberd while using a shield. I really like that. I don't care for the emphasis on tower shields though. Also, for this party the ability to share AC would be cool, but we'll probably never reach those levels. My least favorite option.

Polearm Master --

Pole fighting -- I feel like most DMs would let me do this anyway (change grip and use the polearm as an improvised (-4 to hit) weapon at 5') It underwhelms me. Although bravery's not that great a feature either.

Steadfast Pike, very nice in a "stop the oncoming enemy" way. I could see this being very useful, but I'm giving up 10' of movement (or 2 feats if I really want that movement)

Polearm training covers weapon training very well. Even trade.

If I may, why do you advise Polearm Master?

Went back to the client today and set up the replacement computer for him, which worked perfectly. Dearly beloved treated to a couple of new saute pans as a reward (he got paid, of course, just that he wanted some new pans so it's a good excuse!). They are already in operation, cooking tonight's curry :)

Yeah, the tradeoffs are kind of tough.

Straight fighter -- bravery, weapon and armour training were great changes Pathfinder made to 3.5. Especially armour training. I like being able to move my full speed.

Phalanx Soldier -- I like being able to one-hand the halberd while using a shield. I really like that. I don't care for the emphasis on tower shields though. Also, for this party the ability to share AC would be cool, but we'll probably never reach those levels. My least favorite option.

Polearm Master --

Pole fighting -- I feel like most DMs would let me do this anyway (change grip and use the polearm as an improvised (-4 to hit) weapon at 5') It underwhelms me. Although bravery's not that great a feature either.

Steadfast Pike, very nice in a "stop the oncoming enemy" way. I could see this being very useful, but I'm giving up 10' of movement (or 2 feats if I really want that movement)

Polearm training covers weapon training very well. Even trade.

If I may, why do you advise Polearm Master?

The -4 penalty disappears over time, however, which it doesn't if you go straight fighter. The flexible flanker is nice too.

Hey Megan, it looks like you're only using 18/20 pt.s for your abilities.

Strength 12 2
Dexterity 13 3
Constitution 10 0
Intelligence 17 7 (I assume this was a 15 before racial)
Wisdom 14 5
Charisma 11 1
Total =18

Also most of your character sheet is still second level. I believe we're only 1st in this game.

...

If I may, why do you advise Polearm Master?

True, and patience is a virtue.

Flexible flanker is also very good. It's just in the stratosphere level-wise.

Sweeping fend is good, but not so much if you use a trip weapon already.

Step aside, nice.

I could use some help coming up with a hobby for Awgin. Right now I have linguistics. He has a knack for picking up languages. Threats and insults carry more weight when they're understood. However, that just isn't quite right. I want something counter to the character. Any ideas?

I could use some help coming up with a hobby for Awgin. Right now I have linguistics. He has a knack for picking up languages. Threats and insults carry more weight when they're understood. However, that just isn't quite right. I want something counter to the character. Any ideas?

Orchids. You never expect the brutish half-orc to be into exotic flowers!

Or, given the presence of both Calatin and Laya, pastry chef might be useful.

If you're looking for a not quite so off the wall answer, what about a sport of some kind?

How about fishing? Could give him a hobby in common with me.

Overview maps of Magnimar showing several locations pertaining to the case are up on the website.

Now that we're starting interviewing people, I should ask the question - do you want me to roll Diplomacy checks for your characters when needed, or ask for them?

I wouldn't mind just rolling for us when you feel it is appropriate. That way it doesn't break the flow, but rather helps you determine the NPC's reactions to our questioning/presence.

I personally don't like rolling and am happy if you do it. I agree with Scipion, asking for rolls can break the mood. It also slows the game: Player post delay DM asks for roll delay Player responds with roll.

On the other hand, when I'm DMing I hate rolling for characters. Looking up modifiers, etc can get time consuming and annoying when you just want to tell the story and might have a small time in which to post.

A hybrid system might be good. As players we should have an idea of when an active roll is needed and post rolls provisionally. (Like if we search a room, just we would just roll Perception ourselves without prompting.) If we miss one, then you could roll. That would help keep the game moving and take some load off you.

I would rather have you roll passive rolls like Sense motive and Perception. Asking us for a sense motive roll in the middle of an interogation would flag the conversation.

What I'll do iscompile a list of everybody's skill modifiers and just copy them into the window. The skillbonuses don't change that often.

Megan, can you put some stats for Tylluan on Calatin's profile? I got +10 for Perception from the general owl entry, but it would be good to have specifics. Plus, while I generally avoid targeting familiars on purpose and hand wave many things like area effect spells and the like, it can happen that Tylluan would come under fire.

Consider it a reward for actually role playing your familiar. Some players have familiars as a mechanical bonus, in which case I don't feel bad at all about trying to blast it, but poor Tylluan is such an integral part of the Calatin character.

Of course. Just finished writing a review, and was considering another, but I'll take a crack at that first.

Of course. Just finished writing a review, and was considering another, but I'll take a crack at that first.

Oh gosh, no rush, no rush at all. Just whenever is fine.

You just caught me as I came here to post the review!

If I don't do it now it might get forgotten...

The punch marks are setting off all kinds of meta-knowledge bells, but I don't think Heward's got any chance of knowing such things at this point in his career. Nazard -- can I get a ruling on a knowledge check or just let it go for now?

Going back a fair way -- Megan, how was the curry? I'm guessing dearly beloved made it from scratch?

Dax -- fishing ?

The punch marks are setting off all kinds of meta-knowledge bells, but I don't think Heward's got any chance of knowing such things at this point in his career. Nazard -- can I get a ruling on a knowledge check or just let it go for now?

Going back a fair way -- Megan, how was the curry? I'm guessing dearly beloved made it from scratch?

Dax -- fishing ?

Good, cause I've got no idea, lol.

Fishing doesn't feel right.
I do like the flowers bit, though, and cooking would be good too.
Any other ideas?

Fishing doesn't feel right.

I do like the flowers bit, though, and cooking would be good too.
Any other ideas?

Dog breeding (or any other animal)

The curry was very nice, a beef pasanda if you're interested. He's a very good cook, chef standard actually! Just as well, I don't have much skill in that area, and since the stroke don't have sufficient use of one hand to be safe in a kitchen.

If Dax decides to cook, Calatin will love him! Or maybe Calatin cooks, although I think he's more interested in the eating than the creating end of the culinary arts.

Maybe Dax collects small pottery animals. Or little puzzles made out of wood and bent bits of metal.

I've decided to go with Midwifery. Actually, gardening has it. Awgin has a green thumb. Thanks for the help.

So I've been mulling over the issue of getting around the city, especially how long it takes. At the moment, it doesn't matter, but layer time may become a factor.

My thoughts are to say that, between the hoursof 8 and 6, the city streets count as difficult terrain for overland movement (though not tactical, and not if you have an ability that lets you ignore such things) due to lots of pedestrians, waiting at intersections for carriage traffic, etc. The rest of the time, unless there's a special event, you move at normal speed.

Seems reasonable, Nazard.

Glad the curry was good, Megan.

Nazard, my parents are visiting this week. (CLeaning up for them was why I was slow over the weekend.) And then I'm on a roadtrip vacation with the family for two weeks. I'll post as able, but feel free to DMPC Heward as you feel necessary.