Gonna go read it now :p
Does Mlinzi still exist? :o
He might just be waiting for things to get fast-paced again? I know I tend to back off when I see thirty people posting in the main thread, and I'm not sure why but it's probably psychological.
That's why I was poking him with that line. :P
Also, Makoto: I don't think we had much to discuss with Jovar, if you wanted to report back on whatever secret quest the turtle has given you.
Seems like that's everyone but Mlinzi, then, and perhaps we should consider him AFK. Shall we be off?
(Also, I guess we should either tell Jovar we're headed somewhere or leave a message with some of the others)
Re: Talking for Everyone
It's something that Bad-Maks would be completely comfortable with: Speaking for others. But Good-Maks is avoiding it. And I don't want all of the talking to be me. It adds all of the burden of coming up with the right words and such on me, makes me feel like I need to cover everything on my own (which I tend to avoid as a player, so others can pitch in), and makes me feel like everyone is waiting for their turn (since they're clearly waiting on me to finish doing that talking thing again).
Fair enough. I think we'll diversify speaking more though when we get to more interesting/difficult conversations—Lucina running backup on diplomacy, Tavros on knowledge, Mlinzi on sensing motives and Teniel on Bluff/Intimidate.
It has been two weeks without a post from Mlinzi. If we don't see any new posts soon, we will have to consider a replacment.
I suspect a bunch of dwarves holed up in a fort on the fringe of civilization may not have an overly worldly view of things, or will certainly be skewed. We shall see."[/b]
Nonsense, my dwarf fortresses never go crazy and murder each other...
Okay, so communication spells:
-Whispering Wind is 1 mile/level. This is not terrible, and we could get it at level 4.
-Animal Messenger is 48 miles/level (with a hawk or similar bird), but it also takes one day per 48 miles. We can get this at level 4 (approximately 200 miles), which is not bad at all.
-Scrying is infinite distance, but requires a timely check-in. We can get this at level 7.
Maks wouldn't take animal messenger (or if she did, it might lead to a slippery slope). It's clearly the best option, though, IMO.
In that case... I'm pretty starved for 2nd level spells, so I might try to shove some off onto you. :p (although my "first to get bumped" is Detect Thoughts, which would probably be even worse)
Actually, nope! Detect Thoughts can be used for understanding or improving a situation; it is an invasion of privacy, yes, but it's also a huge boon in the way of putting people at ease and skipping to the heart of a matter. If there were a spell that -shared- thoughts, I think she'd like that even better, though. :P
Animal Messenger forces the critter to be your slave; something Maks is very much at risk of becoming a slave to. :)
Well, Teniel wants detect thoughts for the purpose of telling how people react to whatever he's doing.
And I always interpreted Animal Companion as "you're asking an animal to perform a service for you in exchange for food." But, fair enough—our characters could also easily have different interpretations of the spell.
It also just requires you to visualize a location, not the path to that location (and is thus really useful with teleporting); I'm assuming it fails if the distance is too far.
Unfortunately, none of these seem to be magus spells or I'd pick them up. :/
Although I suppose I could probably twin mind a spell casting class.
Oh! You could always get Darkness, which is definitely on the list. Although we all can, and it'll probably come down to who that's the most thematic for.
(Basically: I need to take Silence at 4 or 5 to qualify for my PrC, and Minor Image and Hold Person as soon as possible because they'll be my best combat spells, which with Animal Messenger leaves me one open slot at level 5 between Detect Thoughts, Shield Other and Darkness)
It's not a *real* worry. I am getting a lot of spells known out of this at the end of the day...
I will move you guys ahead, unless you have anything remaining you wish to pursue at the village, or unless you want to wait around you can depart back to the lake. Since Mlinzi is AWOL, maybe dropped out, I will possibly assume you collected a new party member, but since there are no new recruits on the waiting list that are actually ready, I will leave that in the air as just a hand wave to get the new player in when needed.
We've had other characters from other groups express interest in joining us. Magic seemed to be interested in diplomacy and kingdom building (something I don't think we'll be doing much of soon.) Xanya has expressed continued interest in joining us (especially in PM), though (especially in going with the turtle). I don't know if anyone else was interested in joining us, or if other people had problems with specific characters... but I'll go ahead and rescind my 'do not want' on everyone except Gunther and Quassine. Their Ooc attitudes are things I don't want mixed into the table, you know?
Of course, that leaves other tables in need if someone jumps ship to our table.
At this point I'm not particularly interested in splitting apart tables unless people are terribly upset. Things are settling down and starting to get stable. Also as mentioned removing someone from elsewhere just opens up the need there. I don't want people moving from tables because they see the storyline of another table as more interesting etc. I would be inclined to say that people are in charge of their own stories more or less, but its easy to say that as the GM, and many people may not be as comfortable with the open world vs. running a group through an AP that half the group has run a half dozen times before, or just doing a dungeon crawl that is pretty clear what the goals are. Also I understand that some groups may not have total cohesion in terms of short and long term goals when they do form opinions of what it is they want to do.
Right now its been fairly role play heavy as people get their bearings and learn about the world.
Alrighty! I just felt that I'd be a terrible human being if I didn't say something. :)
No worries. I tend to ramble and babble anyhow.
Yeah... we'd probably create a replacement cascade, as well as a "somehow lower table numbers are ever" idea.
Well... table one is the best. So I can see why they'd think that!
True. We got the beat!
I don't think so. It seems safe to say that the messengers will be fine or mostly fine.
I believe that would be what Maks wants. :)
Yea that's my vote
I'm fine with that as well.
Yep! ROAD TRIP!
Sorry, it's been a long day, and I've work in the morning. IN the mean time...
PSYCHIC READING
School divination; Level bard 2, inquisitor 2, medium 1,
mesmerist 1, occultist 1, psychic 1, sorcerer/wizard 2,
spiritualist 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one humanoid creature
Duration 1 round
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes
You are able to read a person’s surface thoughts and take
cues from the person’s appearance, body language, and
manner of speech to infer a great deal of information about
the person, even if that person is in disguise (including
polymorph effects). When casting the spell, attempt a DC 20
Sense Motive check with a bonus equal to your caster level.
A successful skill check reveals to you one of the following
pieces of information of your choice, plus one additional piece
of information for every 5 points by which your check result
exceeds 20: age, alignment, class†, feats†, gender, native
language, place of origin, race or ethnicity, racial traits†,
religion, sexual orientation, or training in a Craft, Perform,
or Profession skill. For items marked with a cross (†), if the
target has more than one of these features, each one you
discover counts as a piece of information.
There’s a 70% chance that all information you receive is
correct. This roll is made secretly. Otherwise, on a roll of 71–80,
you receive one false piece of information, on a roll of 81–90 you
receive two, and on a roll of 91–100 you receive three. You can’t
get more false information than the total number of pieces of
information you discover.
I think that fits Maks a little better than detect surface thoughts. Thoughts?
Sure. It won't matter for at least two more levels anyway...
Oh, so CaveToad, it seems you've started a Tristalt fad. I'm now in a second game (level 5), that I can't describe too much because it's PvP, but suffice to say things might well end up wholly outlandish. And I'm currently submitting a character to a level 13 tristalt game with all 3PP content enabled, where I've wound up with something so absurd that I can literally stun-lock the Tarrasque to death by telling ordinary, nonmagical jokes at it.
Heh, Although I am not sure I started it. The triple gestalt thing was around before, and even the term tristalt ( which is a weird made up thing that doesn't make sense ). But hey if people have fun with it, I say more power ( literally! ) to them.
I will have the special item rules ready soon. I have been putting a lot of work into them.
This weekend may be a lower post weekend, lots of travel and events going on.
A note to all my active games: I'm in the process of preparing for my candidacy exam for the next few weeks, and I've decided to make a commitment to check my PbPs at most 1/day. I'll probably still be somewhat active, just, not as manic about it as usual.
Good luck!
Actually, CaveToad—did we come from Golarion, or a different world (or a smattering of different worlds)? Because if we did originally come from here, Teniel would probably recognize the name "Vudra."
Yes, you did come from Golarion. So it is the same world, just a lot has changed.
I am not a huge Golarion person. It's not that I am not a fan, it seems just fine, its just that I don't have many source materials and I usually build my own worlds. Anyhow, the expectation would be that anyone versed in history/geography etc may know of that empire. It depends on the character and how worldly they may have been. Some characters not so much depending on background.
Not a problem—I just never bothered incorporating Golarion geography into my backstory. Shouldn't make a difference.
Maks's fluff is loosely based on Shoanti things. Her tribe was unusually accepting of outsiders, prior to her reign of terror. :p. Things have changed a bit. :)
The only thing Maks would know about Vudra is that a lot of her magical traditions come from there; Chakra stuff almost assuredly is a vibrant thing in Golarion.
Just an FYI, I have put out the expanded framework and ruleset for customizing your Signature Items. It is in the campaign tab of the main thread. Feedback appreciated, especially where I may have missed something exploitable.
Hmm. Interesting level of detail in rules and things. Looks like you really covered loopholes well, though.
-Dang, leadership for all. And of course the cohort I want isn't available until level 10 (shrug).
-Tap Inner Power looks like it can nearly double eidolon evolution points. This might not be so bad in this game, though it does up the power of eidolons relative to animal companions/familiars (which isn't a problem for me, but some people might be a bit sad about their companions; while adding to companion level certainly is overpowered, maybe something like "treat animal companion as 1 level higher for the purpose of feats known" and/or base saves/natural armor/hp or something tied to survivability) ... no wait, this is totally an option later on, nice thinking.
-Is Tap Inner Power limiting total points spent to your total character level, or is it limiting points spent on a class ability to levels in that class? Because either way sounds like a reasonable limit.
-If we choose a special material, are we stuck with that choice forever, or can we "upgrade" to a more expensive material?
-"Monk Weapon" isn't available until level 10, and then only if the player hasn't spent a single FP. This is a lot more restrictive than Crusader's Flurry, but maybe that's what you're going for.
-I would consider simplifying things by making all FP expenditures apply to both weapons in a set, but have only the first weapon's expenditure used to calculate FP. (Though people might want different materials for a set, so, eh)
-Is Tap Inner Power limiting total points spent to your total character level, or is it limiting points spent on a class ability to levels in that class? Because either way sounds like a reasonable limit.
Its both. There is an overall limit based on total character level as well as a limit to the points spent on an ability to the effective level of that ability.
-If we choose a special material, are we stuck with that choice forever, or can we "upgrade" to a more expensive material?
I have to think about it. I sort of wanted it locked in, I could see arguments for upgrades through some transformation. I will ponder.
-"Monk Weapon" isn't available until level 10, and then only if the player hasn't spent a single FP. This is a lot more restrictive than Crusader's Flurry, but maybe that's what you're going for.
I wanted to keep it somewhat restrictive and not available until later. Crusader's flurry can fill that niche if people really want it early on, but if they have a different build if gives them the option if they dont have channel etc.
-I would consider simplifying things by making all FP expenditures apply to both weapons in a set, but have only the first weapon's expenditure used to calculate FP. (Though people might want different materials for a set, so, eh)
I did put a lot of thought and math (multiple spreadsheets) into it, probably more than I should have just to see how it played out. I did break it out just so people could differentiate their weapons a little. I think I got it to where I want it. There are checks and balances sort of built in.
Overall I hope I caught most loopholes, mainly weird infinite abuse things or results I didn't intend are what I am most interested in. Clearly the framework for this ups the game even more, which is ok.
I'll try to look at it after roleplay tonight. I've been really busy this last week, and I'm trying to do much more than I'm used to and adding more into it. ugh.
Sorry for any delays I cause.
Questions about special items:
- The 50% tax is basically the normal cost of combining different magical items, right? So I could enchant a sword (assuming that's my SI, which it isn't) like normal for the regular cost, but if I wanted to make the SI a magic sword + a ring of invisibility, that's where the tax would come in for adding the ring ability.
- If I had a SI sword, am I still limited to making it at most a +10 item? I thinking specifically of if it's normally a +10 weapon and then you use the magus' arcane pool to enchant it. On a related note, is +5 of a +10 weapon still required to special weapon enchantments rather than straight bonuses? AKA, must I have a +5 flaming frost sword rather than a +7 sword?
- For the special materials under flexible pool, if I have an amulet of mighty fists, would making it mithril help me at all by allowing my attacks to count as mithril? Or are those just pointless abilities for me?
- Can the flexible pool be used on mythic abilities? Like to increase MP or something?
Questions about special items:
- The 50% tax is basically the normal cost of combining different magical items, right? So I could enchant a sword (assuming that's my SI, which it isn't) like normal for the regular cost, but if I wanted to make the SI a magic sword + a ring of invisibility, that's where the tax would come in for adding the ring ability.
Correct.
- If I had a SI sword, am I still limited to making it at most a +10 item? I thinking specifically of if it's normally a +10 weapon and then you use the magus' arcane pool to enchant it. On a related note, is +5 of a +10 weapon still required to special weapon enchantments rather than straight bonuses? AKA, must I have a +5 flaming frost sword rather than a +7 sword?
Yes +5 is still the limit for a numerical bonus, the other +5 must be spent on things like flaming, frost etc as you mentioned.
- For the special materials under flexible pool, if I have an amulet of mighty fists, would making it mithril help me at all by allowing my attacks to count as mithril? Or are those just pointless abilities for me?
I will probably have to ponder this. It makes some sense to allow some of the items, but not all.
- Can the flexible pool be used on mythic abilities? Like to increase MP or something?
No, because the mythic abilities do not derive from your gestalt or twin mind classes but from mythic tiers/paths.
First, I am using a weapon that is also an instrument. I'm guessing that means that I should choose one side and stick to that for the 'progression type'.
Second, I had already opted into a skill focus (wind) with my item's level 2 feat. Luckily, I took a channel feat, so I can swap these out. :)
If Tap Inner Power can actually affect Evolution points, I'm almost assuredly going to shove most of my points into it. Miyu, as an unchained Eidolong gets very few and I'm the type to focus on fluffy things for my Eidolon over crunchy things anyway. So netting him the bonus to int I want him to have and the like is very much a welcome prospect.
I'll probably save all of mine until level 6, when I go veiled illusionist and can start dumping FP into bonus veil points. Because that will get me a WHOLE lot of goodies.