Mended Wall's PBP for beginners (Inactive)

Game Master Hoary and Wizened

@Illiam, no to the fudged dice mechanic. :P Also, hysterical call on the lighting the book on fire. I guess he better hope he doesn't roll any 1s. :D

Illiam Taal wrote:

Since you brought it up, I've been thinking that Kairon is playing his 9 intelligence (at least with regard to his level of literacy) as closer to a 8, or maybe even a 7.

Consider it a failing of mine. We start dealing with low Int, I have no idea how to effectively translate that in the game world, so I could be overcompensating. I'm a purty fart smeller irl, and maybe my "brain privilege" is showing. I'd be willing to adjust the stat to 7 for a +1 to Wis or Cha!!

Hint: check out the table here: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/basics-ability-scores/ability-scores#TOC-Notes:2

Illiam Taal wrote:

Since you brought it up, I've been thinking that Kairon is playing his 9 intelligence (at least with regard to his level of literacy) as closer to a 8, or maybe even a 7.

Consider it a failing of mine. We start dealing with low Int, I have no idea how to effectively translate that in the game world, so I could be overcompensating. I'm a purty fart smeller irl, and maybe my "brain privilege" is showing. I'd be willing to adjust the stat to 7 for a +1 to Wis or Cha!!

No!

I always find it difficult to play low ability scores too. I mean, we don't have a good baseline to draw from. Maybe that should be someone's homework. Make a diagram that shows what every score for every attribute looks like in real life. Or don't, and we'll just keep playing and having fun. :)

Do you want me to make a post in the gameplay thread?

I think you can just tell me languages the book is in since I auto success. Then I will write a post telling the others.

@Illiam, no to the fudged dice mechanic. :P

Oh well, had to ask.

Do you want me to make a post in the gameplay thread?

I think you can just tell me languages the book is in since I auto success. Then I will write a post telling the others.

Would you indulge me and put a brief bit of narration in the Gameplay thread?

For take 10 all you do is this:{dice=Perception Take 10}10{/dice}, except, obviously replace these{} with these [].

You can put into the narration that after looking through it, Chillel notices that most of the entries in the book are written in Common, Elven, and Dwarven, with a few rare entries written in Draconic and Sylvan, and even one written in Celestial. Then if you want to make a separate, actual perception check, I can bot Goruck, Lunarinus, and Baradim's Perception checks to aid that first hours' searching.

Edit: Don't forget that your bonus for the Perception to search for a relevant entry will now be +3 because I'm giving you the +2 circumstance bonus for having deciphered the languages used. You can take that same +2 bonus for every Perception roll used for searching the book.

MendedWall12 wrote:

@Illiam, no to the fudged dice mechanic. :P

Oh well, had to ask.

You never know until you ask. :)

Ooo, am I the only one who can read the Elven? There's a chance you'll all need my help after all.

Okay, so I've pushed it harder toward the lower bound. Prolly gonna stick to it a bit.

Early on, I went through the exercise about the name "Jak'a'napes" to show he can learn to get it right, but it takes some focus to get there. And regarding "cinnamon" -- maybe the sailor he overheard has a 7 Int! I stuck with the mispronunciation because no one has said "cinnamon" in Kairon's earshot in near 4.5 hours of game-time.

If I remember correctly, 9 to 12 is about human average. Some are a little clever, some are a little duller, but it isn't really to hard of a difference. Once you go beyond that, it gets more detailed.

I think, when it comes to ages, they're basing it off of what ages were deemed "responsible" for medieval ages (at least for human ages). People tended to die much younger, usually in their forties to fifties. So adulthood came very early for humanity before medicine helped us live longer.

OUCH! Well there goes an hour of searching, even with the +2 I'm giving, and even if everyone that is still in the room added a +2, that still wouldn't be enough to clear the DC...

The dice algorithm strikes again.

Kairon, that means that your little hour excursion can take place easily before the next hour of searching begins.

Well Illiam, the dice rolling programme's hatred for you seems to have spilled over to me. Just when I was feeling smug about choosing linguistics and the languages I did.

Mr GM! I can roll again in an hour. I will have to wait a bit for that I imagine. Do I get a penalty and can I take 10?

Thanks for the complement about me playing an 18 year old female orphan.

The real me is actually male, but I often play female characters. When guys do that in RPGs the character can come out as male just called female, or a complete airhead or, worst of all, behave like a woman in a porn movie. My characters are not like that, I am not sure I get everything right about playing females though.

When asked who knew Elven or Celestial, Baradim would shake his head slightly. "I only know Sylvan, doesn't seem to be any Orcish remedies in there. I'll go and check who can help." He would rise from the table, walking towards the door that was just about to be locked.

Doing a little scene-editing...

The door would open before Hilda could lock it again, the woman giving him a quick glare which Baradim returned with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry Hilda. Need to some help from out here..." Baradim would clear his throat, his voice raising as he looked over the inn. "Is Kimi still here? We need help with someone who reads Elvish." He would survey the room, seeing who would volunteer. "If someone knows how to read the tongue of the angels as well, that would be most appreciated."

And there's an opening for Illiam. :)

Well Illiam, the dice rolling programme's hatred for you seems to have spilled over to me. Just when I was feeling smug about choosing linguistics and the languages I did.

Thanks for the complement about me playing an 18 year old female orphan.

The real me is actually male, but I often play female characters. When guys do that in RPGs the character can come out as male just called female, or a complete airhead or, worst of all, behave like a woman in a porn movie. My characters are not like that, I am not sure I get everything right about playing females though.

NO PORN MOVIES please!!!! I might make a bunch of innuendos from NPCs but usually they just stay innuendo. :)

Edit for your edit: YES! You can take 10... if you think 10+3, plus the other character's aid another scores will get you over this nebulous DC that I haven't told you a number for. :) :P ;)

Just sayin' --

I'm not gonna type out prayers every time I pray. Don't worry about that. Maybe I'm just trying to curry more favor from the GM, while also saying "Thanks!" for all the help he's given me!

Also: Sarenrae is great. Seems I might just be the cavalry. :D

If Kairon casts Comprehend Languages, he has to start with his own, and immediately realize he's been mispronouncing cinnamon.

Don't forget that you can leave some of your slots empty and fill them in later! That ability is a potent power and is undervalued by some -nod nod-

Don't forget that you can leave some of your slots empty and fill them in later! That ability is a potent power and is undervalued by some -nod nod-

Yeah, but it's risky at level 1, when you have so few slots to start with and might need them all in one battle. Then again, clerics make decent martial characters and can spend rounds channeling energy, so it's not as dire a situation as it is for most arcane casters.

Ran with the scenario as Kairon would see it. I'll be a little less . . . impulsive . . . with my preps as we move forward. Small "g" gods that answer prayers quickly are a solid fall-back. :)

EDIT: Maybe cinnamon will get straightened out in Kairon's mind ere long.

Baradim wrote:

Don't forget that you can leave some of your slots empty and fill them in later! That ability is a potent power and is undervalued by some -nod nod-

Yeah, but it's risky at level 1, when you have so few slots to start with and might need them all in one battle. Then again, clerics make decent martial characters and can spend rounds channeling energy, so it's not as dire a situation as it is for most arcane casters.

You guys are describing a trick I don't know. You can leave a spell slot open and fill it later? Taking how long?

Chillel is well equipped to do it. At level 1 her Evil Eye and Slumber hexes are at least as potent as her spells, and she can use them as often as needed except only once on each target a day. All I need is access to more spells...

@Chillel look here: http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mo5w?Can-a-witch-leave-Spell-slots-open-in-the

RAW doesn't say anything about witches being able to do it, but there was an official answer from paizo clarifying that they can.

Finally rolled in the upper half (barely)!

I see. So it takes an hour to prepare all one's spells, and 15 min to prepare up to 1/4 of them. Interesting, will consider it.

I'm also unfamiliar with this trick of leaving spell slots open. Can sorcerers do this? And if so where do I find this info please?

Also, hysterical call on the lighting the book on fire. I guess he better hope he doesn't roll any 1s. :D

Uh, oh. Here we go.

I'm also unfamiliar with this trick of leaving spell slots open. Can sorcerers do this? And if so where do I find this info please?

It only applies to prepared casters. Spontaneous casters like sorcerers don't have spell slots to prepare spells into or leave open. You have spells known and spells per day, and you can use your spells per day (of an appropriate level) to cast any spell you know.

Mendedwall, do you think it would be appropriate to use Prestidigitation's ability to chill to snuff out a (very) small fire (Assuming that really is going to happen)? It would be safer than the ray of frost that Chillel might try, and having the book in his hands, Illiam should have the first opportunity to react (unless you want us to roll initiative, in which case I will roll a 1 and Illiam will go last).

This would also be an opportunity for Illiam to reveal that he's a spell caster. Might take a while, otherwise.

It only applies to prepared casters. Spontaneous casters like sorcerers don't have spell slots to prepare spells into or leave open. You have spells known and spells per day, and you can use your spells per day (of an appropriate level) to cast any spell you know.

Ah! Thanks for the clarification Illiam!

@Illiam, thanks for the rules help for everybody. Also how disappointing that Illiam finally rolled a decent number, and if in fact a few other people were capable of giving +2s from aid, it might have been enough, as is the book is about to start on fire because a certain teenage pyro can't contain his en-fiery-asm. Yes, prestidigitation will be a good way to put it out.

I'm going to rule that only one hour has passed so far, since we sort of had a mish-mash of the timeline when Baradim went to look for someone that speaks Elvish. If you all want Illiam to be the primary searcher with Chillel as the primary aid, and everybody else offering their help wherever possible, that could work too. However! It would actually require Chillel to get a successful aid check because she's the linguist of the group. Up to you all.

Oh, almost forgot. Kairon, Illiam is right, the most Kairon would have interacted with him is the knowledge that Laurel had to boot him from the shop earlier. He never really heard anything about him being rude. Kairon might not trust Illiam, since he seems to always be around, but it is a small town, so being in the two busiest places isn't all that dubious. You two roleplay that however you see fit.

Now, to start a book on fire.

Whether deaf, obstinate, dubious, or otherwise, a "patron" forcibly removed from a place of business seems any or all of the above. For the claim of deafness -- Illiam did have a conversation with Chillel, however brief, in the common room at the inn simultaneously with the "envoy's" first meal there. I find it a greater stretch for Kairon to assume Illiam's deafness in light of the fact that both would have been clearly visible, even without an active effort on his part to listen in on that conversation.

But, just ignore the offending posts. Will jump in later. Vote, and all that.

Very true, not everyone gets forcibly removed from a business. Hopefully the fact that Illiam's willing to help now with integral knowledge, and at least a feigned friendly attitude will soften Kairon's outlook.?

I probably will not be able to post again until tomorrow morning, so it looks like we'll only be able to get one more hour's worth of searching in, since I haven't revealed the target DC. ;)

Tomorrow looks to be a nice slow day at work all day, so I'll be ready, willing, and able to keep up with whatever happens.

Also, Kairon just saw Illiam save the book from burning. That has to count for something.

And in case Dolok gets too excited he can always cast Ray of frost as well! hehehe! ;-P

Uh, MendedWall, your last post in the gameplay thread says we can still make the DC if Baradim makes his aid another check.

He already had and got an Illiam-like 8. I think that means we gotta try again.

Chillel, it looks like our combination of languages is required, so we'll have to be the ones rolling as primary and helper. My perception bonus is better, but you probably have a better chance of a high roll. The higher bonus means that I have a higher maximum roll (assuming it's actually possible for me to roll a 19-20), and I also have a +3 luck bonus I can throw in two more times today. Do you want to be the primary, or should I?

MendedWall indicated that speaking the most languages is the most important thing I believe. Which certainly makes sense to me.

I can speak 4 of 6. If you can match the number of languages then it should be you, otherwise I can try again.

Good thing to see your character meeting up with everyone else, finally.

I have 4 as well, Common, Draconic, Elven and Dwarven.

Wait, I'm not clear on why Chillel's linguistics score is needed beyond the original identification of the languages. If I know all of the languages except Sylvan (still a little peeved that I wasn't allowed to choose that, otherwise I'd have the whole set) except of course celestial, which none of us understand, couldn't everyone who knows sylvan attempt aid another?

In any case, it sounds like I should roll for the next round, and Chillel and anyone else the GM permits can attempt an aid another roll. Unless Kairon wants to start something, I'll go ahead and roll that.

I can brute force it and start saying cinnamon, if y'all want.

Comprehend languages will let you understand all of them (including celestial), but only for 10 minutes. That's not even long enough to do the search. I would save it for after we find something, or just use it to check the celestial portions.

BTW, how is your perception lower than mine when it's based on your casting stat?

+2 bonus from Wis, no ranks. That's it.

Yeah, I'm just surprised that you don't at least have a +3 there, but I guess you put your highest roll into STR, and had all middle-good rolls instead of a few really good ones.

So you want to take the book and read the celestial (hopefully, less than 10 pages), or should I proceed with another search of the rest?

And targeted examination of particular texts as identified by the group regarding languages present would offset a great deal of that, right? I'll convert the spell slot later.

Does that work out to "Illiam should go ahead and examine the book some more"?

Yeah, I'm just surprised that you don't at least have a +3 there, but I guess you put your highest roll into STR, and had all middle-good rolls instead of a few really good ones.

So you want to take the book and read the celestial (hopefully, less than 10 pages), or should I proceed with another search of the rest?

Knock yourself out, chief.

EDIT: Yeah. 16 str. We had no confirmed front-liners at the time; I stuck with what I started with, in terms of class, after we learned of Warforged and Yirangle's ridiculous rolls -- I was really enjoying the random backstory generation. And with, then, 8 possible characters and no definite heals among the announced selections at the time, and only a rumor of a front-liner, it seemed that someone would need to be able to roadblock. Run the numbers. I went with the rolls that allowed for the greatest adaptability to emerging situations, rather than "save or die" casting. I'm well aware of the higher-level implications of those choices.

Don't mind me, I'm just going to take a moment to celebrate.

MendedWall, assuming that beats the DC, I'd like to say that as Illiam is brushing the ashes away, he's looking at the open page to see that all of it is gone, and ends up (by a stroke of luck) looking right at the word "blackscour" in whatever language it's written in. If that language is supposed to be sylvan... maybe he recognizes it because of a similarity to Gnome (which would make it extra lucky for him to spot it) and he has to ask Chillel if he's right about it?

Yay, just rediscovered this. Paizo apparent thought I didn't care, but they were wrong. Wrong.

Ah, the martial life, waiting until you can hit something. Or chant the devil's tongue.

we learned of Warforged and Yirangle's ridiculous rolls.

I still wonder when the dice gods are going to get their revenge for my stat rolls. Or if they just decided to transfer my debt to Illiam?