Motteditor's Reign of Winter PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Pbp games are a bit of a different beast when it comes to initiative, given the flow and post rates. Grouping seems to work better for pacing, but good dice rolls on behalf of the players can result in those blowouts.

That being said, I felt like we were on the other side of that coin with Rasputin. I really thought we were all toast, and the 3 brothers seemed like cardboard props in comparison to Raspy’s quickened spells.

I do think your initiative and combats are the best I’ve participated in on the boards. I feel that the way you’ve run and structured them thus far has,by and large, worked very well. But, we’re in rocket-tag land now with regard to what abilities everyone has, so I think blow out fights are a consequence of this stage of the game, not of how you’ve run it.

Pbp games are a bit of a different beast when it comes to initiative, given the flow and post rates. Grouping seems to work better for pacing, but good dice rolls on behalf of the players can result in those blowouts.

That being said, I felt like we were on the other side of that coin with Rasputin. I really thought we were all toast, and the 3 brothers seemed like cardboard props in comparison to Raspy’s quickened spells.

I do think your initiative and combats are the best I’ve participated in on the boards. I feel that the way you’ve run and structured them thus far has,by and large, worked very well. But, we’re in rocket-tag land now with regard to what abilities everyone has, so I think blow out fights are a consequence of this stage of the game, not of how you’ve run it.

+1 to this. I'm happy with whatever you might want to try, and mostly feel as Mal does.

either way would be fine, the high level aspect does change the game as the arms race escalates

Thanks, guys. I appreciate when it can be divided initiative, but it does just cause too many problems in PBP, even when the GM is more able to regularly keep his/her eye on the game and post more often than I do.

That said, when it's five players, I also think there's a huge difference than when it's four. (Mal, curious to get your take on this based on current events in Ironfang Invasion; the downside of just four characters is I'm more reluctant to DMPC one as it feels I'm really taking over.) I think I might go to this method when there's just a single foe, but I'll keep thinking about it...

I think the Round 1/2 getting partial actions, in practice, would only keep in check the explosiveness of melee folk. Casters could still pop their save-or-lose spells most of the time, barring occasions where line of sight/effect or range require movement.

If there’s just one foe, and it’s warranted, I like giving them two turns each initiative round. That would require splitting the party’s actions into 2 groups though. Easy at the table, harder in pbp.

You wouldn’t need the round 1/2 thing then, though. Just Group 1 > BBEG > Group 2 > BBEG > repeat.

That method does require a bit of a gentleman’s approach from the GM though. For instance, Rasputin firing off those AoE’s of his back to back like that would have fried us instantly.

True. I really liked that Rasputin's tactics called for quickened heals. I thought that made that fun.

I think the bigger problem with that fight came in that it really needed to be separated more -- the Brothers Three being in effectively the same area as Rasputin, though technically they were different rooms, there was nothing separating them (and a few of the shadow demons having survived the initial encounter and thus being at Rasputin's side as well) really upped the CR. I think if I were to do it again, I'd have had one or the other meet you outside or earlier -- perhaps the Brothers Three defended their coffins or something? Once the final defenders of the abbey were nuked from orbit, that would have been a good spot for the shadow demons to launch their attack, I think.

Also, since we're talking combat, I hope you realize how big that evil eye was in that last fight. The div's AC started at 32, and you had a lot of 28-31 rolls, all of which would have missed. Probably saved a round or two of pretty deadly combat.

As we get into this final week of the year, I figure everyone's busy. I'll take it at an easy pace for the next week-plus, with plans for things to kick back into regular gear Jan. 1. I'll update as your guys' posts allow.

And happy holidays to whoever's celebrating them; thanks for a fun year of gaming. :)

The Gifts of the Pool
shifter's headband (+6 Wis) - Hektir
ring of the swift beast (+4 Dex, -2 Wis) - Hektir
combat sandals - Hektir
robe of the archmagi - Malavarius
cloak of major displacement - Malavarius
greater talisman of healing power - Malavarius
eyes of keen sight - Malavarius
belt of spirit vines - Pemsworth
propitious metumbe - Pemsworth
witching gown - Pemsworth
witchmask - Pemsworth
vampiric gloves - Pemsworth
restless lockpicks - Pemsworth
celestial armor - Quinn
quickblock buckler - Quinn
vestments of war - Quinn
sihedron ring - Quinn
headband of mental prowess (+4 Wis, Cha) - Quinn
cape of effulgent escape - Quinn
bane baldric - Tsin
roseskin comb - Tsin

The Valley of Drakes
+2 light steel shield of arrow catching

Prelude to an Audience with the Queen
7 gold ingots (200 gp ea.)
large amethyst (500 gp)

The Queen Deposed
80 gold ingots (200 gp ea.)
mahogany coffer lined with velvet (70 gp)
platinum casket (2,000 gp)
emerald and topaz necklace (5,200 gp)
potion of displacement
potion of fly
potion of good hope
potion of haste
potion of heroism
potion of nondetection
ring of mind shielding
tome of clear thought (+3)
periapt of wound closure
+1 spell resistance half-plate (SR 19)

Dastardly Divs Dismembered, Derided, and Dramatically Defeated
Mametqul's jewelry (7,000 gp)
+1 falchion

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy New Year.

I'm hoping we're all back to regular posting starting Tuesday or Wednesday, with lots of fun ahead of us for 2019.

Happy New Year, indeed. The End draws ever closer...

I a) just bought a house last week, b) am hosting my parents for the whole of the weekend, and c) have a D&D game to run on Roll20 minutes after my folks leave Sunday night so d) I won't have any time this weekend to crunch any inventory numbers or the like.

Anyone else is more than welcome to throw that list at google or the archives of nethys to get the sell costs for squaring up with Zilvy. Barring that, we can head into the next section of adventure outfitted as we presently are and settle the sales and order submissions "off-camera" here in the discussion thread so gameplay's not unduly held up.

---

The tome of clear thought looooooks increddddddible for Malavarius, but it essentially amounts to a +1 to his save DCs and little else. Happy to add it to the sell pile.

Still waiting on you guys to determine shopping list. If I haven't got anything by Monday, I'm going to move you on. (I'll let you retcon purchases so they'll be waiting for you when you get back to the hut.)

Mal listed all your recent treasure in the discussion thread. And I worked hard to pick those gifts for you!

Ow. Sorry sorry. I love the gifts, Motte. It's just that some need to be exchanged for things that fit better. Besides, the sandals make his feet look fat.

32170 in jewelry/gold
138384 in magic items/potions (69192 when sold for half)
101362 total value in Mal's recent list

20272 for each of us

This doesn't account for any Personal Magic Items being sold back

..33735.92 to spend
.-15000.00 add wild to shield
..+1000.00 sell ring +1
..+2000.00 sell headband +2
.-18000.00 buy ring protection +3
...-500.00 50 gallon jugs of fine rum/vodka
----------
...3235.00 to spend

...3235.00 to spend

Wow. Still have a *LOT* of jugs of rum/vodka to drink. Hektir and Quinn have been slacking.

Thanks for crunching the numbers, Tsin!

I'd like to put in an order for a wand of protection from energy, communal, please! (costs 21,000gp)

...3235.00 to spend
+..4500.00 sell combat sandals
+.20272.00 distribution (thanks Tsin)
------------
..28007.00 to spend

..28007.00 to spend

Let it be known that every morning Hektir will cast magic vestment on his armor and shield every morning (spell lasts 13 hours).

So he'll do that twice every morning? You know it won't stack, right? :p

A +1 shield stacks with +1 armor normally, wouldn’t this function the same way?

I was just teasing him about saying "every morning" twice in his post.

I was just teasing him about saying "every morning" twice in his post.

Ooooohhhhhoooooohhhhh....yeah, I was up late working on that. It’s hard to be that dumb accidentally...uh huh...

You can both get your wands. Please put in any other requests today, or they won't be available for a while.

Hey all,

Just FYI, tomorrow is my last day working evenings, before I switch to a Sunday-Thursday day shift at work. I'm not quite sure how that will affect my posting rate. I don't plan to go anywhere, but especially as I get used to my new sleep schedule, I may be a little haphazard at first. I'll try to keep up, but apologies in advance if I'm a little slow at times.

Welcome to the daylit world of 1st shift! It's lovely once you get used to it!

Ugh. I hate mornings. Or getting home from work and needing a nap (which is actually what I think will most disrupt my posting).

I’m recovering from a bout with pneumonia, so I may be a bit scarce yet. Sorry, friends!

Internet connectivity has drastically reduced. Will hopefully be back to the boards by the weekend.

Sorry, guys, feeling a bit under the weather. Will resume posting ASAP.

Hey guys, feeling much better. I plan to update tonight. Sorry again for the delays and my struggles adjusting to my new schedule. I absolutely want to get back to daily updates.

Hey, fellas. My wife has just been accepted into a 3-year program to become a Nurse Anesthesiologist. It was a pipe dream, until this month, and for the reality of it, I've chosen to work seven days a week for the foreseeable future, to offset our financial obligations where I can. Not unreasonable side effects- tiredness and distraction, and my PCing has suffered. Obviously.

Things should work themselves out, but I may need you to bear with me a while longer, I'm afraid. Not as young as I used to be.

Congrats, Tsin, for your wife, and sorry about having to work week-round. I'm certainly willing to cut you slack, just wondering where you were since disappearances weren't usual for you. :)

I will ask if other players want to help out with Tsin, please feel free. I'll bot when I can but I also tend to feel it's a little more authentic for another player to do so.

--

Update coming a little later today.

So, I'm willing to discuss the reflection. The creature's ability is as follows:

Mind Reflection (Ex) Any mind-affecting effect that fails to affect an elder deep one is reflected back on the source, affecting the original caster as if by spell turning, treating the elder deep one as the controller and source of the spell.

Now, looking at terrible remorse, it does have an effect if the creature saves (staggered and -2 to AC for 1 round). I'm not sure if that means it should reflect back on Quinn or not. I feel like RAI it should bounce back, but RAW I'm less certain.

Oh yeah, neat point.

I agree that RAI it should affect, but RAW it shouldn’t. You’re right on all that.

LOL. Thanks. Which do you think I should do?

LOL. Thanks. Which do you think I should do?

That’s not what you asked at first. But also, I think you did it right in your post.

I like the drama of what you posted, Mott. The DM in me delighted to read that.

I figure there's time for a little role-play here, but there's also time to ... LEVEL UP! (Level 16!)

Level 16!

HPs: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
+1 BAB
+1 Will
Energy absorption increases to 48
+10 skill points (+1 Fly, +1 Know (Arcana, Dungeoneering, Planes), +4 Perception, +1 Spellcraft, +1 Use Magic Device)
+1 7th lvl spell slot
+1 8th lvl spell slot

+2 8th lvl spells added to book (create demiplane, mindblank)
+1 7th lvl spell added to book (fav class) (mage's sword)

+1 Int
---
Zeno!
+3 hp
Spell Resistance increases to 21 (Malavarius' CL+5)

HP: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
+1 BAB
+1 Will
+1 Major Hex (major healing)
+1 6th and 7th level slot
2 new spells:
+1 Int due to 16th level
Cold immunity due to Winter Witch archetype
9 skill points (Diplomacy, disable device, escape artist, knowledge arcana, knowledge planes, perception, spellcraft, stealth, use magic device)
Patron spell: control weather

Won’t be able to uplevel Hektir until Friday night, busy all day today and big fundraiser tonight.

Apologies.

Last Level: August 17, 2018

I'll be absent this weekend, attending a graduation in Ohio. I should be able to update on Monday.

Bravo, all. Enjoying the role-playing. :)

Hey guys, I'm heading out of town for a good chunk of the next two weeks, returning the Tuesday after Memorial Day. I'm back for a quick two days, so I may try to get a post in between there, but I think it's more likely I won't get that chance. Enjoy the break and look for me again after PaizoCon.

Enjoy your break, as well, GM.

Enjoy the break and look for me again after PaizoCon.

Check and check. I’ll try to avoid you *at* PaizoCon per your request. :)

Getting ready to leave again, for PaizoCon. I'll be back Tuesday and then we'll get back underway again. Sorry for the delays!

Very busy few days, so posting may be spotty for a bit. Will try to get back to it ASAP.