Thanks! I'll probably take a bit of a back seat on decision-making until I get my feet on the ground (haven't had time to go through the entire PbP, so I'm as ignorant as Violet on the adventure to date).
Regarding Violet in combat, I'm planning to focus on maneuvers for support but can do some damage when needed. I'll avoid tripping when Arryn is blasting at range.
I'll generally be in the thick of things, tanking hits as I'm able.
Just a heads-up that I don't know how much posting I'll be doing the rest of the week (not going anywhere, but spending time with my wife, who's on vacation). Should be back to normal on Sunday/Monday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone (who's in the U.S.)!
Does everyone know that this has started back up? Or do we need to notify people?
Good question. I'll make sure everyone's aware.
I thought one could use Sense Motive to get a feel for how dangerous an opponent is (are they just a nook or do they carry themselves with the confidence of a hobgoblin with ten fighter levels), but I can’t find it in the description. Was that an old rule that’s gone now or am I just completely making up in my imagination?
No such rule that I remember. I could certainly see that being a regular house rule, but ... nope.
I think sometimes GMs will tell you if they have class levels (but usually not how many) with a sufficient knowledge check. But that definitely varies by GM.
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Sorry for the delay again. Garrivek and I are both buried under work plus trying to manage all the kids' distance learning during pandemic. They're young do its a handful. We keep trying to get on top enough we can post regularly but never seem to manage. We'll keep trying for a bit, but if we can't we'll probably have to drop so we're not just constantly holding the game up. Just an FYI.
Posting now.
Sorry, I don't mean to pressure/hassle. I'm struggling a bit myself with this game right now (I think this was my least favorite book of the AP, but also pandemic fatigue may be getting to me, plus I've had a good amount of writing assignments of late). I'm finding I don't have the motivation to do a lot of botting, and am really relying on any momentum to keep me going.
Sorry, we're still not able to keep up and that's not going to change anytime soon. Garrivek's promotion has put a lot more work on his plate. We're going to have to drop this game. I wish you luck in finding reliable replacements.
I look forward to playing with you again in the future! This game's been a blast and I'm sorry to have to let it go.
All the best folks, and thanks for understanding.
Thanks for letting us know, Aramis. It's frustrating when work interferes with our fun, especially when a promotion should make life easier. :) I know we're in touch in other circles, so I'll look forward to playing with you as well elsewhere.
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For the other folks, I'm open to recommendations of players for a couple replacements (or we could do open call, but at this point, I'm less inclined to go that route). There's an easy spot to introduce folks shortly.
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I have a fellow in another game (very reliable and regular poster) who would like to roll up a ranged character for our game. I'll direct him to PM you, Mott.
Sorry, I'm in the midst of a design project, which is distracting me, and ran out of time to respond. Corwyn, IMO the group could use a full caster (probably divine), though if others think differently, I'm fine with that.
Typically, I'm more interested in the character than the build, though I will add I don't want anything with a buddy (or frequent summons), since I like five PCs on the map. Shoot me your thoughts and I can touch base a little more in PMs.
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Hey all, I have one of the two new characters pitched, and hope to see the second soon. I think I've made the decision I'm going to fast-forward you a little bit, if no one minds, since with my schedule right now, I just don't have the time to run a few more combats with two DMPCs.
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So, I'm going to say you deal with the basilisk and head for the building to the south before you tackle the tower. While there, you discover over a dozen prisoners are still alive here, all former Chernasardo Rangers in varying stages of malnourishment. One of them -- a broad, hatchet-faced
man named Cobb Greenleaf -- was one of the fort’s subcommander. After a quick conference, Aramis and Garrivek decide to escort the group back to the caves, where they can fully recover and help protect the other Phaendar refugees. Two of them, however, decide they're healthy enough to stay and help you/get revenge, using supplies you recover from elsewhere in the castle.
So, long story short, once we've got our last new PC, we'll begin with a new day, and you needing to decide what to do. You haven't yet entered the tower, where you know there's a dragon (who leaves for a few days every couple of weeks). You also know there are several more hobgoblins in there, higher ranking members of the military (one of which has a cat), and a troll.
Oh, and you also each found a shiny, new level with the prisoners. You can advance to 7th level. Once we have all the new characters set, we can proceed how you would like.
Since we aren’t running the combat and are fast-forwarding ahead, do you mind if we improvise out the combat on our own in story mode while we wait to restart?
I don't mind at all.
So THIS is what's been taking up a lot of my concentration and writing/gaming time. :)
Cool! Yay!
I’ve said it elsewhere and I’ll say it again, congrats, mott! This is super cool!
I'm hoping we can get going again Monday. I have a good back story on one replacement, just waiting on the crunch. Still need details from Corwyn.
Level 7!
+1 BAB
Fighter Training
Iaijutsu Focus (+Int mod to Initiative)
Feat: Weapon Specialization (katana)
0 base 3rd lvl spell slots, +1 bonus slot
+2 3rd lvl spells to spellbook: displacement, haste
7 Skill Points
+1 to each: craft(weapon), diplomacy, know(arcana, dungeoneering, planes), spellcraft, use magic device
Mott, if you have a macro or the like for our initiative modifiers, mine is now +8
+1 BAB
Skill changes:
Acrobatics (7) +15-1 (+16 to jump; always running start; double distance)
Disable Device (7) +21-1
Perception (7) +11
Stealth (7) +15-1
Use Magic Device (2) +5
Craft Traps (3) +12
Expanded Element: Air. His dreams become reality and he can fling purple lightning from his fingertips. He can also now jump really high (prelude to near constant flight in two levels.
And his damage went up (again). 4d6+13 x 1.5 of skull-crushing goodness.
Hello, all! Javell here. I'm one of the replacements that took up Nazard's offer in another game of ours. Thanks for letting me in on this one. I appreciate it!
I believe I finally got him cleaned up: Dorrin. At least I hope so. There may be something I may have missed(because there usually is) but for the most part he's done.
And congrats on the module, motteditor! Man that is pretty cool.
I would say if you guys want to start role-playing in the thread you can (though as before, I won't move you on until Monday, most likely).
As a reminder: After you dealt with the basilisk, you cleaned out the building to the south before tackling the tower. In that building, you discovered over a dozen prisoners, former Chernasardo Rangers in varying stages of malnourishment. One of them -- a broad, hatchet-faced man named Cobb Greenleaf -- was one of the fort’s subcommanders. After a quick conference, Aramis and Garrivek decide to escort the group back to the caves, where they can fully recover and help protect the other Phaendar refugees. Two of them (i.e. the new PCs), however, decide they're healthy enough to stay and help you/get revenge, using supplies you recover from elsewhere in the castle (i.e. their gear).
You haven't yet entered the tower, where you know there's a dragon (who leaves for a few days every couple of weeks). You also know there are several more hobgoblins in there, higher ranking members of the military (one of which has a cat), and a troll.
I'm guessing it's okay for us to chime in now?
It looks like it is according to your post, mott, but I don't want to misunderstand and jump the gun. I hate it when I do that.
Yes, please. You can all decide how/if you want to approach the tower.
Here is my character Brostic
He is a farmer/hunter near the town of Phaendar. As a child he was very disturbed by the sight of blood and became very anxious whenever his father or one of his two brothers became injured during a hunt. When he was old enough he begged and was granted permission to study the ways of the healing arts. He studied under an old hermit known to hunt in the woods. After a few years of training/practicing his skills, Brostic started ministering to the people of Phaendar as well as the local farmers and hunters.
He volunteered to help protect the town and joined up with the Chernasardo rangers. During the attacks on the town, Brostic was one of those captured.
I can provide additional details about Brostic if required.
Brostic, I think that's fine. Join in with the discussion and I'll move the group forward as soon as a plan's reached.
You know, this AP is interesting. You've got a list of prisoners? That's cool. And there's "Provision points" and all kinds of things NPC's can do.
Man this is cool. By the way, I know nothing of this AP so this is all brand new to me.
Now I know why Vexras was concerned about the prisoners. I'm saying to myself, "Don't we just free them and send them on their way and speak of them no more?"
I didn't realize there's more to freeing prisoners than "just" freeing prisoners. This is pretty interestingly involved. It looks cool. I don't really understand it but it looks cool. :P
Almost like kingdom building in a way. I mean, I know it's not but it reminds me of it.
We haven’t really been using the extra systems in the AP, actually. Most of the systems they develop for APs strike me as good for in-person play but harder for pbp. And while I did try to sell it with an in-game reason, half of my motivations there was simply to stall to give corwyn an opportunity to post and join the group and to give Violet the chance to level =P
Agreed, re: the subsystems. I will admit I was a bit frustrated as a GM, so I handwaved that. You do still have them as NPCs, but they're largely off the board in terms of mechanical requirements. (I'm playing in an II game where I took on a lot of that bookkeeping, since I enjoy it and had time then, but at a certain point -- once we got shelter so didn't need to worry about that -- it started becoming largely pointless as we had enough that we could just maintain/add to the food fairly easily.)
Level 7:
+9 hp (6 class + 2 Con + 1 FC)
+1 BAB
Skills:
Acrobatics (5)
Escape Artist (7)
Perception (7)
Sense Motive (7)
Stealth (7)
Feat:
Extra Martial Flexibility
Class Feature(s):
Maneuver Training 2 (Trip)
Ooooh okay. Well that's cool then. Keeps me from having to learn what the heck to do with it all. :P
Sounds good. Thanks for the clarification on that.
Was Brostic rescued with Dorrin? Or is he located somewhere else?
Yes, Brostic was among the group rescued with Dorrin from the fort.
Dragon hunting weapons? Really? Now THAT'S cool. Don't suppose they'd be available for Dorrin, would they? I've no idea what they are, obviously, but if they're available to him it'd be cool to at least take a gander at 'em; to see if they're at least useful to him.
No worries if not though. He'll manage one way or the other. :)
We have 10 +1 dragon-bane arrows.
Aw dang. Well that's no good. Too bad they aren't bolts.
Brostic! I'm thinking you need to snag those arrows, buddy. AND - if the group doesn't mind that is - snag that Adaptive Comp longbow(Yep, I found the treasure chart). And don't forget the efficient quiver. :)
Zap yourself with some Bull's strength and increase your hit/damage just like that. Sweet!
I haven't looked at the inventory sheet. Is there anything there that is off limits?
I put Arryn’s name next to the things he has from that list.
I took the efficient quiver along with the adaptive composite longbow. I also replaced my regular morningstar with a masterwork one. I grabbed the arrows but I was surprised when no one else wanted them. Let me know if possessing any of these items is an issue.
Not at an issue at all. No one else uses arrows =P
HA! That's true. You are the only arrow guy. That does make it handy in that regard. :)
I think that's all fine. I don't know how up to date that spreadsheet is. though. Vexras/Arryn, have you been updating it?
So, combat:
I do combat in full rounds. I would like each of you to post your actions, then I will resolve. You don't need to wait for people ahead of you in initiative to post, though I *do* typically try to resolve in initiative order. That said, I will hold and delay for you when appropriate -- so if Character A tosses a fireball into a room and Character B says they charge in and attack, I'll have Character A do their action first, even if Character B was earlier in initiative order.
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I prefer grouped initiative, just because I think it's the fastest way to handle combat in PBP for GMs like me who can't update multiple times per day. That may mean combat starts with a Round 1/2. This is NOT a surprise round (though sometimes there may be one of those too). This is the first round for any PCs who have a higher initiative than the antagonists. You can take a standard and move action as you would in your normal round. Once those players go, I will adjudicate the results, and run my NPCs, then we'll have a full Round 1 where everyone can act (though it will technically be the second round for a few of you).
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I will DMPC characters we're waiting for, but I much prefer not to. I don't need to play with myself. :) That said, I don't want to hold things up either. If you can post some sort of macros on your alias about your usual combat actions -- with your standard rolls -- that's a big help. Especially for the newer players, I don't know your characters yet, so helping me determine what you want to do makes my life easier. Also how likely you are to cast spells, etc. Basically, any guidance you can give me to make sure I'm doing what you want is great.
Obvious PF1 can deal with a lot of math. I'm a big fan of a "status" spoiler on combat posts, that give me some idea of your AC, saves, etc. for that round. High-level combat (and we're starting to get to that realm) involves a lot of juggling for a GM in PBP, so the more you do to make that easier, the faster I can update.
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Let me know if there are any questions!
I've updated by character sheet with my Default Actions. I am usually pretty good about checking the site for posts - normally checking multiple times per day.
I will try and include a spoiler with updated stats and current spells in effect. Feel free to comment in Discussion if I am missing something, you want things formatted a certain way, etc.
I think that's all fine. I don't know how up to date that spreadsheet is. though. Vexras/Arryn, have you been updating it?
We haven’t been (at least I haven’t). It’s kind of been up to everybody to claim what they’ve taken. The items there are only the things they’ve gotten since the start of book 2, so it should all be up for grabs.