Nope, Nissim got distracted :)
and well Miranda, given that this would be Hide in Plain Sight for free at Level 1, and does not seem intentional, I would actually tend to read Distortion strictly.
Specifically: "As a standard action, the bearer can gain a concealment miss chance equal to..." (which only grants the miss chance, rather than ACTUAL concealment...compare wording of Blur(which is similar): "The subject's outline appears blurred, shifting, and wavering. This distortion grants the subject concealment (20% miss chance)."
even there, I'm not sure it's really the intent...how being a blurry wavering mass helps you to sneak away is beyond me, I'd figure it rather brings attention to itself, especially since it basically prevents holding still.
I am a bit shaky on the Occult classes, so please correct me if I am right, but if you invest a mental focus in the illusion school, the resonant power is "active" and you can, in this specific case, spend a standard action and it will stay active until such time you make an attack(meaning it can be assumed to be permanently online except during a fight?)
I don't feel HiPS is the intent here, but I am open to dialogue, and if you feel it is worth trying, we can read it as actual concealment and revisit the topic later on, after some in-game experience.(I don't think it will change my opinion if I interpreted things correctly, but I'm generally trying to be open unless a player is forcing me to take actions that make the game less fun for the other participants.)
(Edit: Just to specify further: E.g. in an area of darkness, you have concealment, right? So you can make a stealth check and sneak about? Sure. But that Dwarf with Darkvision watching you is not fooled. You have no concealment against him, and your stealth check fails as far as he's concerned. As such, I would feel that trying to Hide in Plain Sight with the limited effect granted by distortion still allows others to see you plainly, invalidating a Hide in Plain Sight, even though they could miss your shifting form with attacks. At least that would be my interpretation, know what I mean? Call it a circumstance-bonus for their perception opposing the stealth check, if you will-)
@Mental Focus - Yes, that is basically right. Except it seems silly to have it on always as being semi-insubstantial would probably draw unwanted attention :P
@HIPS - That is how I read it yeah; hence my query about the power level ^^
@Concealment Miss Chance - It is a sub-function of Concealment as opposed to a generic miss chance (like Blink); my line of thinking is if it follows the rules in a subcategory of A, it is probably safe to assume it is A.
@Summary - But yeah, I probably must agree that it is a bit too strong for half a class feature that does other things too! On the other hand Blend is a 1st level spell that does grant all this (and of which Miranda may be *very* interested to get a wand of depending on how all this turns out^^).
So basically I'm back to dumping the decision in your lap again ^^
But either way Miranda will attempt her plan if only slightly modified for the vector of approach! : )
How big have the crowds gotten at this point? Something like that might draw more attention then simply trying to get lost in the crowds.
I'll try to get a post in today, assuming I can get my daughter to take a nap, though I'm waiting to see what Lily posts first, and it'll be at least 5-6 hours before my daughter's nap time.
@Juliette: Crowds cover the whole area on the map, except the area within 10 feet of any of the guards. While those areas that provide some cover from the sleet are even more densely packed, there's still enough people pressing into the square to keep all the displayed area "crowded", and areas vacated(as with the chellish supporters) quickly refill as people push forward.(think of a concert...you're all in front of stage, here, and people expect the main act to start soon.)
I got a 1-month old girl, so no worries, I do know(meanwhile) how kids can be...(she permanently wants body contact and attention).
@general: On a side note, the time of yesterdays update will usually be around the latest I will be online...there may be exceptions but during work days I cannot stay up later than that(and was already very tired.)
@Miranda:
@Concealment miss chance: Over long rules discussions in some games, I learned that it can very well make a difference. Sometimes it's intentional, sometimes accidental, and sometimes, there will never be clarifications or errata. I read it as those things that defeat the miss chance from concealment, in general, will also defeat this miss chance.
(e.g. a creature with true seeing would strike true...while blink could still work against it).
@Blend: I love it with my Elves. I also love Windy Escape for Sylphs. or Sow Thought for Changelings...but I learned that racial spells(who also state that in general, they are off limits to other races without GM-approval) are not a good basis for balance discussions.
I know it is my decision to make, and I told you what my intuition is telling me: It is too strong for the cost if treated as concealment that allows you(small and all that) to make a stealth check to go missing basically everywhere(in a featureless closed room during an interrogation? No worry, I'll use Distortion for concealment, make a stealth check, and then be treated as having total concealment, basically turning invisible at will without proper magic or a limited number of spells involved.
If you push for a ruling right now, I would have to say it's only the miss chance it provides, which seems more in-line with the power level of a secondary effect of a class feature at Level 1.
What I offered was to post-pone judgement, and let you play as you think it could work, then revisit the issue later. Broken elements are not inherently out of place in a game, it depends on how they are used. If they are not abused, mostly used for flavor and only utilized in a game-breaking way very seldom, then they can be acceptable. If they are used to permanently gain a game-breaking effect, they are not.
Re: post rates. I was also driven absolutely batty when my character was permagrappled for something like nine rounds, between bad luck with tentacles and then web. My posts were basically: make a roll, then describe struggling. For like... Two solid weeks. Finally, the druid took pity and mythic'd a liberating command...
That was incredibly frustrating.
Re: Blur: I think it's more that it washes you out in regards to the background. Translucent!
Re: Concealment: They didn't need the word 'concealment' at all, if they didn't intend it... Other than, perhaps to say that it didn't stack with other concealment. Would have been better to call that out, though. I'd say it should work 'as worded', but seems to be a ridiculously strong dip, if intended. I would rule it as not granting stealth, but instead granting a +1 to stealth while active, per 5%. So it doesn't feel gimped for a 'hidy mage', until it suddenly 'turns on' when you get 20%. It feels more organic. But that's just me. :)
Sorry, I've wanted to get a post up, but Fridays are tabletop night. I'll get one up in around 2.5 hours. I'm not usually this useless for responding. I just have lots to read before I do!
Update coming in a couple hours. Also, I will, in the interest of moving along at a manage-able pace, combine/alter/skip a few encounters that would otherwise be effortless, also due to party size.
That means, unless someone is heavily opposed to that, we'll level up by milestones/fiat(since the AP does not cover the full range we're going.)
I will, however, play out the initial battle quite regulary, simply because I want to get a feel for it from the other side on pbp. (Just getting that out there).
I probably blew that Stealth check rather spectacularly. So, going on the assumption that Boros was noticed by the people he was trying to sneak up on, perhaps it could be written up as a result of his calling attention to himself by responding to the herald? Maybe they don't realize that Boros was trying to get near them, but they darn well see him now in any event.
Rolling a 1? For a total of 3? They would be hard-pressed to fail their opposed checks...and yes, you'd best assume they know you're interested in them and were trying to get closer.
Surely you shouting back at the Herald further reinforces their awareness, but yep, you failed that one rather spectaculary :)
(The thing is, the weather takes several minutes to change, before the herald appears. If you mean to track them you already do that before shouting up at the balcony -)
It sounds like it would be beneficial if we the party started to merge a little. Since Boros and I are both on our own I thought I'd start some merging even if Mirandas IC motives are not that pure :P
Computer isn't available at the moment, and likely won't be for some time, so if someone could kindly move me a space down and a space to the right on the tactical map, I'd appreciate it.
@Juliette: I'm sheltered, and have no idea what that is. Other than odd. :P
@Boros: I moved you.
Moved you Boros. I'm pretty sure you're in the square you want..
Um, okay looks like we doubled up on that. I'll put you back where I found you. :p
Lol, Boros should be lined up with the very last guard on the right side, with six open squares between them, if that helps. Thanks.
Ha, okay that's where I'd put you. Back you go.
Holy crap -- this first battle could end very, very badly.
I've got this. I have just the spell prepared... CREATE WATER!
No? Hm...
Oh yes it could :-U
Then again, you are NOT prime targets (yet)...as will possibly be evident after Nissim's action.
What you make of that? up to you ^_^
Hmm.
Going by the map it feels like the greycloaks would have a much better chance if they weren't trying to take on the armed guards - if they just clustered somewhere else and used a decoy or two to slay the captain, they could probably have picked off the hidden chelaxians one by one.
But I'm guessing their sorta dumb and violent play is a good excuse for our dear glorious supreme leader to accelerate his oppression - and for us to really get on with rebelling : )
Oh, some of their friends were....held up... en-route.
Thats the thing with a rag-tag band combined from different origin groups...you don't know everybody so just have to trust that everybody shows up who is supposed to do so.
If, say, that spellcaster you were waiting for is bleeding out in a nearby alley, you won't realize so before you're in the middle of a surprise round with no casting support.
And if a couple guys then take off their grey cloaks and wear Asmodean amulets beneath, that just adds insult to the injury...it's kinda like a flash mob gone wrong-
But yeah, that stunt will leave a few job openings on the rebellion side of things. Any takers? Great opportunities for promotions, too, with vacant seats in the management- :)
Looking over my posts so far, I note they're a bit on the dense side, what with the detail I can't seem to avoid using. That isn't a problem, is it?
Heh :P
_______
@Boros/5-foot steps - With the crowd being difficult terrain I think those are out, unless I missed something!
Working on my own post to see if I can't solve the problem somehow ... : )
Heh :P
_______@Boros/5-foot steps - With the crowd being difficult terrain I think those are out, unless I missed something!
Missed that detail, thanks for the correction while I can still edit :D!
Np = )
Although I guess stepping away as a move-action will provoke anyhow - this way it sets up for Miranda to capitalize on the fact that the Thrune agent also needs a move action to follow. But I must admit, I miss sneak attack just a little right now :P
And since she seems to have found something important:
Additionally @GM - I included the current effect of Miranda's resonant powers in her status bar but the rest of the numbers does not take it into account. Just a heads-up (and if you want me to change it just say so : ) )
Edit: @Crit - Well never mind then. Stupid dice! :P
@Plan - It seems possible, but perhaps not safe or likely, to clear the east flank of most assailants. This is of course assuming we actually roll better then them!
But even if we do that we certainly won't want to linger too long; once the crowd has thinned enough for the crossbowment to fire things will surely start to suck. And even if we don't get shot by then everyone of them will get a really good look at us AND it will be so much harder to slip away...
I absolutely agree with everything you said Miranda. Maybe there is some confusion about east. I used the map compass on the map, which shows east toward the lower right corner of the map, not the east side of the map. Only a couple of Theune agents down there and our strix friend may already have put one of them down. I think it would be easiest to go that way and try to break out going along the river.
Boros would, for preference, fall back to the lakeshore for starters anyway, as it gets more distance between him and the archers on the roof. Figuring out that there are fewer agents in that direction (which won't take long at all) will only make the choice easier.
Yeah I was looking towards the NE part of the map actually. Close enough : )
@Miranda: Go ahead and re-roll that confirmation in gameplay. What happens in gameplay, stays in gameplay. In other words: I don't want to start a trend of mixing gameplay rolls between that thread and discussion thread.
Nothing rolled here in discussion will count for gameplay(and as such, your crit confirmation roll is not yet done). Good thing I get to state that on an example that benefits you guys and seem less draconic that way) ;)
@Boros: Be as verbose as you wish to be. Be aware that at some times, your imagination may not fit with my intent, though, so be ready to accept situations changing from what you decide.
Example: I did not explicitly state it, but yes, the alchemists fire did do collateral damage on civilians. Which fits with what you described.
It could also have been that the panicked people had managed to vacate the area it landed at in time, with nobody seriously hurt(just some minor splash).
So, could have gone either way, and I would stick with what I intended if it's relevant(such as in this case, where the REBELS caused collateral damage, recklessly hurting Kintargan civilians, while the governmental troops did their best to protect the innocent...)
I don't always have the time to verbosely describe everything in as much detail as I want(especially during work, or late at night), and it's probably best if I don't write walls of text, to make it easy for you players to extract the important, relevant information. Some flavor may be implied but not detailed(such as with the alchemists fire sailing back onto the crowds, outside your collective line of sight)).
@Directions: It's up to you guys, but I think it's easier to keep track if "up" is "north" on the maps, no matter how it's oriented. I've also seen battle maps that have the proper "north" somewhere to the lower left, and it can be very confusing.
In that case, instead of "east" you would try to go "southeast" on this map. You guys choose, though.
All-right, looks like Miranda actually found something somewhat vulnerable to chomp down on : )
(Now for the next time I'll try and not roll double 1 for the damage rolls ... :P)
Also @Plot stuff - Miranda is going to have to think long and hard about the Devil's Bells ringing again. For something 'mystical' it feels awfully odd that they synced up so well. Hmm going to need to look for more info on that one (once we are out of being stabbed range IC :P).
@Boros: Be as verbose as you wish to be. Be aware that at some times, your imagination may not fit with my intent, though, so be ready to accept situations changing from what you decide.
Example: I did not explicitly state it, but yes, the alchemists fire did do collateral damage on civilians. Which fits with what you described.
It could also have been that the panicked people had managed to vacate the area it landed at in time, with nobody seriously hurt(just some minor splash).
The way I read that particular segment was you throwing out a descriptive element for someone to build off if they picked up on it and chose to do so. Seeing as you did say "to" the crowd instead of "near," I figured some poor sucker got a toasting. Bad rebels, Boros disapproves most heartily of indiscriminate weapons like that.
Hence why I said, it was a good example where it worked.
But I'm not a native speaker, so I may mess Syntax up.(near/to/towards/into/...); all I'm stating is that you are welcome to fluff things out as you please, but if it does not fit in with how things are supposed to resolve, I will go only so and so far to accomodate it. (Also to prevent fluff from influencing gameplay, thereby becoming meta instead...)
I agree escape to the "southeast" is the most logical route for me, Nissim, Boros, and Miranda. Hopefully Lily can just avoid trouble as well. But Juliette seems to be in it a bad way.
Hmm yeah. She has her admirer, but I really doubt that one will be able to plow trough *all* the infiltrators. Hmm :/
Juliette is simply hoping that the Dottari won't attack her now.
I think Miranda bit her opponent, rather than slashed him. I might be wrong there. But if they're telling Miranda to drop her teefers...
Doing the work thing, bigger posts come in a few hours. :)
Thanks Lily, good catch. No slashing, biting!
Yikes, Boros went from 11 hp to -4? And his opponent isn't dead after being shot and bitten? I'm guessing some of that damage is due to one or more ranged attacks from the crossbow users? If so, Boros has the ability to potentially negate two of the those attacks, as an immediate action during the shooter's turn, thanks to his Gunslinger's Dodge deed.
I think that means -4 from your HP total, not negative 4 hp
Looking like it was considerably safer to attack one of the rebels rather then a guard, also these rebels die easily apparently, I only did 7 damage and managed to drop one of them.
Also Boros, pretty sure you lost 4, not at -4.
Oops, I didn't realize I was acting in a surprise round. I thought I was simply 1st in round 1.
Or the dice-gods decided to smite our defiance by pointing all the 20ies at us. I mean the Greycloaks aren't dropping like flies and they don't strike me as the sort that would have a great many levels of anything.
But I guess we have to start thinking of something really clever by now ^^
(or hope Nissim was right :P)
I think that means -4 from your HP total, not negative 4 hp
I certainly hope so that's the case, lol, or Boros is gonna have to file a complaint from beyond the grave, accusing the Thrice-Damned House of using hax on its troops' HP and weapons.
The burly man that was so taken with her before watches on in horror as she kills a man, then slowly backs away before turning to run.
Maybe Juliette should get a Cognitive Dissonance SLA awarded to her? :p
Yikes! Time to plan my next character? I'm thinking a Milanite who's lover died in this very battle. Or maybe the little girl who tried to pick-pocket Nissim? I'm amused by the thought of building her as a front-liner.
@Nissim - I'm not sure you can target your sleep spell the way you suggested. It targets the nearest creatures from the center of the spell, and keeps going until it hits 4HD of creatures. (It also won't go off until the beginning of the next round, which has me a little worried.)
Hm, I've never seen Sleep dealt with that way. What's the point in a spell that would force a 1 HD ally or bystander within 10' to save as well if the opponent has less than 4 HD?
It's all I have to offer for combat anyway so it's that or nothing.
This seems relevant.
Well, if that's the case, I may as well not cast the spell I guess. I fact it's unlikely that I'll ever be able to use it in practice since meeting the conditions that would make it useful aren't going to come up unless something has gone very very wrong. With no other real options to do anything I guess Nissim might as well just split.