Apologies for the prolonged silence.
(well, actually I posted Friday, it just seems an eternity).
Next week on Friday my third daughter will be born, and I'm currently struggling to get everything at work finished and set properly, because I'll take unpaid leave for 6 weeks to be at home.
Add to that the final "touches" at home(including moving large furniture between different rooms) and most times I'm ready to fall asleep the moment I have free time to myself.
So currently is a rather stressful period of time :)
But: I'll try and look over the applicants tonight and provide feedback.
I agree that Text is probably the only way, I have a very narrow daily time window in which I could do live chat.
On that note, I'll also make sure to catch up in-game this time(last time I only managed discussion, apologies again).
@Zokon: Looking forward to meeting your family. If you specifically do/don't want someone stabbed, do tell me on the way. :)
Alia, Alia, Alia, you've got to get your priorities straight. ;) Congrats!
Send me an email PM, and I'll throw you the whip to our NEW loot tracker (test) page, and all of it's other pages, including the one for discussions.
And somehow I see Alia's meeting with Zokon's folks going down more like this.
Alright, assuming everyone's got a horse an supplies we'll move out tomorrow.
Also, for those who wanna kabbitz about new PCs get me your email and I'll invite you to a messageboard chat. Otherwise, I will not be held responsible for inviting your annoying brother-in-law into the game.
I'm having some trouble working the site - "a resource required could not be loaded" popped up when I tried to make a post.
Not quite full of energy tonight. I'll give it another go tomorrow. Probably just the adblocker or a filter or something messing it up.
I sent a different email in the PM, but the loot thingie seems to demand a google account, which is not the one in the PM. But I think it's easy to connect the dots(looks at main user profile).
Is it possible to start crafting on our journey? A couple hours here and there?
Durgan would like to buy the necessary components to upgrade his Cold Iron battleaxe to +1 (so 2,000 gp of components) and also his full plate (500 gp).
Full-plate is probably going to require a full-on smithy. The town of Brunderton (Durgan's probably been there before) lies along your path though, and wherever there is a large number of dwarves there's bound to be an anvil and bellows.
Also, I would note that wailing on iron in the middle of the wilderness is quiet noisy.
I'm having some trouble working the site - "a resource required could not be loaded" popped up when I tried to make a post.
Not quite full of energy tonight. I'll give it another go tomorrow. Probably just the adblocker or a filter or something messing it up.
I sent a different email in the PM, but the loot thingie seems to demand a google account, which is not the one in the PM. But I think it's easy to connect the dots(looks at main user profile).
I've sent "invites" out to both of your emails, but upon sending Alia's I noticed some fine grey-scale print that says recipients have to respond within 14 days with a google account. So back to the drawing-board....
Mm my mail was a Gmail though and I do think Alia has one of those too. If I take a more rested guess I'm sure the site would work on chrome.
Durgan has MW full plate, but needs it to be enchanted to a +1. He would ask Alia to do the enchantment, as she has the feat. Does that process also require a smithy?
Mm Illthir would like to scribe some scrolls as well. Since the small ones only take 2h (4h on the move) it should be possible to work one in on the evening while we travel right?
On the loot tracker/side discussion board: Why is Google being so evil? You would think there would be a rule. Next thing you know you won't be able to trust Facebook any further than than you can the President of the United States (or kick him for that matter--go ahead, try)! Grrr! Well, at least we'll always have Putin and the FSB.
That's annoying because there was a kingdom tracker that I was planning on using that might run into the same difficulties--Europe and their need for individual privacy--that's so unsocialist! THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR THING!
As for crafting magical weapons, armor, and scrolls, I'm pretty sure you have to actually do the thing to make the magical thing. For instance:
To create magic armor, a character needs a heat source and some iron, wood, or leatherworking tools. He also needs a supply of materials, the most obvious being the armor or the pieces of the armor to be assembled.
So while it is possible to imagine that the ironworking tools are just laid out in a pentagram around the item to be enchanted, while the enchanter chants prayers or spells over the item for hours on end, next to a bonfire, I tend to think they get used during the process.
As a side note, I have always had this vision of a group of sweaty Norse dwarves working on a magical submarine sandwich. Laying it on their anvil with tongs, and hammering away on it as sparks fly from the nearly invulnerable bread covering the meat, vegetables, and condiments within. Finally, their job complete, they hand it to the hero carefully wrapped in deli paper. The hero gingerly accepts the sandwich, unwraps one end, and takes a big bite.
Recruitment
Durgan sent everyone a breakdown on most of the...[goes to loot/discussion site to copy and paste text from there here... HEY, Illthir's got a post up! American imperialist companies are as strong, or stronger than any 28 27 unified nations! MWHAHAHA!]
So one of the things I was texting over there (on a page connected to the "loot" link at the top of this page, that you can't get into without a google account and an invite) was that we probably want to consider posting habits.
Okay, in very broad strokes I agree with most of Durgan's detailed assessments.
At present, my "narrowed" inclusion column goes something like this (in no particular order):
Zilybar Gnaz/Jovich - Halfling eldritch rogue.
Kal Drak (Yutrava)/Revolving Door Alternate - Dragon reborn?
Morof Tarki/Anthorg - Elven Arcane Trickster.
Preston Sucner/ScorchedOne - Human would-be swashbuckling Swordlord.
Balzeros of the Narl/Gummy_Bear - Human shaman/sage.
Fergus/GM_Rorek - Dwarf wizard.
About half of these are a bit on the edge for me for one reason or another. And there were a few that I dropped because--well, I can't add 8 characters to the group. ;)
Shared some thoughts on the other site : )
I'm glad you could make it!
For those of you still wondering what Illthir and I are talking about, it is an OOC message-board page attached to the NEW Test Loot Link (see above)--though if folks can't access it for the loot table (which is kinda my primary concern; you have to send me an email to invite you with, and then sign in with a google account after getting the invite), then I'll have go looking for something else down the road that works for everyone.
On that Loot point, Illthir can you see if you can alter the loot table? Maybe try to give yourself the potion of blur. The hope is that people with access can edit the list themselves for their characters.
Well, most of us will have the GRU, not the FSB(which is more internal...) - but that aside: I did request the access, with my google account, and I can't get in yet. I figured it took a while.
As of now, I still get:
"You need permission
Your request for access has been sent.
You will receive an email if and when your request is approved."
So...if nothing changes, I'll go with PM tomorrow, though I would like to see the message-board-page, too.
Also, I feel like we may not have just watched Svetlana take off...but rather extend a helping hand towards her. At least I think that was a plan discussed earlier. I suppose we could do that on the way back but I'd feel bad knowing about her and leaving her in that situation.
Well, most of us will have the GRU, not the FSB(which is more internal...) - but that aside: I did request the access, with my google account, and I can't get in yet. I figured it took a while.
No, it just takes me a while to answer email. ;)
And there's nothing super special about the link site. It is just a older version of Google Sites.
Added another new doohickey to the increasing row of widgetity links up top. It's a kingdom spreadsheet thingamajig. Give it a try when you get a sec to see if it works on your end. It's in Excel, so I'm not sure how well it will work online though Google Slides seems to open it okay.
I took the liberty of adding the PCs, and a few of the NPCs for whom I had handy stats for to the "Rulers tab" and gave them the jobs that the majority of folks thought they should have (even if they haven't formally accepted the post) just to see how things look on the "Overall tab".
So if Alia is an Everqueen (Everduchess?) does that make Zokon a Tempduke? Would Zokon's second wife be an Everwhatever as well?
Also, I feel like we may not have just watched Svetlana take off...but rather extend a helping hand towards her. At least I think that was a plan discussed earlier. I suppose we could do that on the way back but I'd feel bad knowing about her and leaving her in that situation.
Feel free to discuss and/or post! And don't forget the recruitment thread!
I like Illthir's Rank :D
I have to say i like Gummy Bear and Roreks atm... Shaman type.. and Roreks wizard.
Gummy Bear seems to have put in alot of work and be knowledgeable, whereas Roreks wizard is very wizardy which we need.
So I see these two on a lot of "top X lists". Do we think we can take 2, or do we have a community favorite? Or is there someone else that we can agree on, who hasn't gotten as much press? I haven't heard from everyone just yet, and I don't think everyone's family is having a baby this week, so get your votes in, if you haven't already. You don't want a repeat of Brexit, or Trump 2016 do you? I was thinking about DJTJ for the role of shaman, and maybe Boris for head diplomat. ;)
I like Illthir's Rank :D
I used the ones the players picked for themselves (or something close) from this list. I also put people in their jobs based on who got the most votes for a given position, noting of course Illthir's objection to Akiros. ;)
Illthir's honorific should probably be "Her Awesomeness".
Ah right, I vaguely recall that :D
On another note - long week this week and it spilled over to today as well. Will try and get a real post up tomorrow. Sorry!
I would be okay taking both.
I have some hesitancy about Balzeros due to his proposed RP interaction with Durgan. I think this is best resolved through autonomous regions. He can have his land that he can keep wild if he wants, and I can do whatever I want to the trees or rivers in my land without his interference. Not that it is Durgan's intention to go full Saruman, but Durgan's mission is very clearly bringing civilization and cities to the wild.
So smack Balzeros with a change that part of your story please as I don't like it.. ;p)
I only have two that I like of the lot, ifn y'all choose a diff one, I'm good , I just don't have a pref.
Just a heads-up(for all my games):
If everything works out according to plan, on this next Friday, my third daughter will be born.
I had to spend more time with the 2 I already had and help at home, as well as do some preparation work at home(moving and building furniture etc.) Simultaneously, I am taking 4 weeks of unpaid leave, and that has left work very...stressful. Trying to get every open topic done or handed over to someone that can and will take care of it has left me spending way longer in office than usually, further cutting into available time and leaving me exhausted.
Tomorrow will be my last workday before then - I'll try and make sure to update before Friday, but the first few days after, I may be MIA(with 2 kids at home, and 1 in the hospital). If the first two kids are an indication, I will have some time in the evenings to keep posting, so I expect to be back at latest after we are reunited at home(4-5 days after birth), and, paradoxically, less stressed than I feel right now(seriously, I feel burned out - and while those little joy bundles can be incredibly demanding, they never left me feeling as drained as work manages to do.).
Thanks for your patience. As said, I'll be here again before ;) Just figured some advance notification would be in order.
(Also, I'll check again tonight if I have access to the sheets)
Alright, so as of now I am going with both Fergus, and Balzeros (in part because we may be shy and Alia for a bit). I'll make the formal announcement tomorrow pending any last minute objections or suggestions.
I'm good with the choices.
Woot
Congratulations Alia and best wishes for the process.
Good luck and so on Alia/Mordred : )
---
And to our new friends: Welcome :D
Greetings lads an lassies tis an honor.
I'll finish up my sheet and finalize purchases. thank ye for the opportunity
atm trying to decide between evocation (admixture), transmutation (enhancement), or conjuration (creation). All fit well, thematically, so now I have to decide what bonuses I want haha.
Congrats on the third child! :D
Thanks for the welcome, excited to get this going!
I've made a profile for Balzeros, but the site won't let me put a picture up (which seems to be a known issue for the past week or so). The profile is rough, but I'll spend some time tonight to clean things up.
Durgan, fret not, conflict isn't what Balzeros is aiming for! If separate areas are what's going to make this work (or another idea entirely), then so be it. He will likely say his piece once as a general statement for kingdom building, and that'll be it.
Are there any other aspects of this character that give people pause? Here or PM's, as you prefer!
EDIT: Are there any special tagline requirements?
REDIT:
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
EDIT: Are there any special tagline requirements?
We have a couple of possibilities for starting points. Right where we are in the dwarf town of Brunderton, or later either along the journey to Stoneclimb. This could be in the village of Forest's Edge, in the forest or mountains along the way, or Stoneclimb itself.
I kinda of wanted to to deal with Alia's reception in the Santyev household, but that might have to wait and be written up in more of a blog style by the key participants given real-life events.
What I don't want to do is take too much time before getting back to Restov, and the divvying up of lands between various charter holders, and the politicking therein. So while I won't say there isn't the possibility of encounters along the way probably nothing too long (though there is a pretty good adventure scenario that I could slide in that would go toward the druid ring subplot previously introduced in the game, and perhaps explain why Balzeros is up in the Gronzi region. Fergus of course might just be visiting relatives in Brunderton. I'll need to PM you both to talk a bit about your backgrounds as both of your PCs basically live or have lived in sites of possible future adventure, and there will be some threads I'll need to tease out with you both.
Also, how much of the Gameplay thread have you both read?
Anyhow, welcome aboard!
If you have google accounts you don't mind sharing send 'em to me so I can test out the loot tracker page for which you need to activate with a google account.
That goes for anyone else who hasn't accessed it yet. Unless of course you rather not and have some other option in mind. Again (as always) we can discuss that here.
Side note: I might not have a substantial post up until tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. Some of this has to do with introductions, but some of it is real life as well. ;)
I've made a profile for Balzeros, but the site won't let me put a picture up (which seems to be a known issue for the past week or so). The profile is rough, but I'll spend some time tonight to clean things up.
As a work around you might be able to slide an appropriate or temporary picture link into your character's tag line like I sometimes do (scroll a hair down and click on the: "Truly Iconic Female Human (Ulfen) Wizard" bit to see what I mean). Basically, I just fiddle the link into the Gender line on the character page.
And feel free to phantom dot in on the Gameplay thread.
Forest's Edge would make the most sense to me! I'll follow along in the gameplay thread (already ninja dotted), but until y'all reach Forest's Edge, I won't be posting anything there.
Obviously I'm biased, but a druidy side-trek sounds like great fun! Could tie in with his backstory too if it makes sense to.
As far as gameplay, I've read a smattering here and there. The most continuous piece I read through was with the animated furniture and the animals in the house, where a client dropped by and wanted his goods. Is there a suggested point to read from to make the current events more meaningful?
PMing you my gmail now.
I admittedly have only glanced over the gameplay thread from the past and only read the most recent posts (bar about 8 from the past day or so)
As for being introduced, Brundertun works fine, I could have dropped by to visit a friend on my way to Restov.
I admittedly have only glanced over the gameplay thread from the past and only read the most recent posts (bar about 8 from the past day or so)
Is there a suggested point to read from to make the current events more meaningful?
That's is a tough one, as we are in between books and so the story is changing course. Eventually it would probably be good to read the whole thing (if only for context), or as I sometimes do--let my computer read it to me while I am doing something else.
On the campaign info page, many moons ago I kept up (for a short time) a sort of travelogue (the bit titled "What has gone before") that offers an abbreviated summation of some of the party's exploits. After that some of the story links I provided in the recruitment thread as a kind of hint to others {;) ;) nudge, nudge} are all decent places to start reading as each begins a sort of story of their own (in order they involve: wolf attacks, meeting a mysterious ranger who wanders the Narlmarches--as well as some of the locals at a spring fair; finding the desecrated temple to Erastil in the forest; and visiting the neighboring kingdom to the south). Of these three, the first two will become important in the near future, while the latter is more of a cautionary tale of how politics works in the River Kingdoms.
Thanks! Once I get my posts completed for the day, I'll get started on the reading. Addressing the points in your PM first.
what do the others think? Transmuation (enhancement subschool) or Conjuration (Creation and Extradimension subschools)?
Both fit, both are fun. One helps me whack things with mah prodda, the other makes me quite the handy man. Kinda leaning towards tranmutation tho.. hm.
@Fergus, as always, play what you enjoy.
But since you are asking, I would say Transmutation. I find it way more fun.
It has a broader range of problem-solving spells (at least until you get into high levels summoning things with tons of SLAs). And buffing yourself or allies just feels cooler and more heroic than debuffing enemies.
I personally don't like repeatedly hacking to death nearly-helpless foes, so if you go Conjuration, I would ask that you avoid spamming Grease and Glitterdust. Illthir does have Glitterdust if needed vs invisible foes. I have also found in another game that the Conjuration crowd control spells like Fog Cloud and Create Pit slowed down PbP combat quite a bit, moreso than I would have expected. They impaired the PCs almost as much as the enemies and turned what had been an exciting combat into a boring slog. Others may have had different experiences, just sharing mine.
How do you feel about spells like Entangle? That's currently what I have Balzeros focusing in on (just via Greater/regular spell focus), but it could easily be something else.
Generally speaking, what sort of spells are the casters pack? Or, perhaps, what do the casters want to be packing? Balzeros has some flexibility with his spell list, so coordinated prep seems prudent (not to mention adding two full casters into the party!).
Skald Spells (cl 5, concentration +9)
2nd (3/day) - Gallant Inspiration, Glitterdust, Reinvigorating Wind
1st (5/day) - Cure Light Wounds, Grease, Hideous Laughter, Silent Image, Tears to Wine
cantrip - Dancing Lights, Daze, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Mage Hand, Mending, Message, Prestidigitation, Read Magic
As a Skald she also has Spell Kenning 1/day which allows her to steal low level spells off other classes lists.
When I made Illthir there were a lady in the group that loved summoning critters (which are really nice for Skalds to buff) so I've picked up Spell Focus: Conjuration looking to perhaps throw a summon or two into the mix eventually.
I personally have no strong opinions on transmutation vs conjuration - both are fun and useful. In my opinion it's a little sad that the create temporary items bit in conjuration isn't that great but the school as whole is quite solid : )
I really haven't seen Entangle used much in PF as a whole. We are mostly a melee party (Alia, Illthir, Durgan) so just keep that in mind. If we have charged in and are in melee with the enemy, Entangle isn't a great option. And it doesn't really hinder archers very much. But if there are melee enemies all around us on a large map, slowing down one section of the enemy with Entangle might be effective.
Durgan prepares buff spells (mostly defense) and utility spells. He is really strapped for 3rd-level spells as there are so many good ones.
Current list:
0 (4): Guidance, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Create Water
1 (4+1): Magic Weapon, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Deadeye's Lore, Shield (D)
2 (3+1): Bull’s Strength, Resist Energy, Silence, Barkskin (D)
3 (2+1): Communal Resist Energy, Invisibility Purge, Fly (D)
Actually, if Balzeros could use the FCB to pick up Deadeye's Lore from the cleric list (it isn't a shaman spell), he could be our tracker. Has an outstanding Survival skill. The party has multiple times gotten bit by the half speed while tracking. That spell solves the problem.
Fergus spent some gold grabbing several additional spells, so my list is varied.
spells ATM should look something like this-
1st level:
(3+1+2)
Magic Missile- 1/1
Mage armor- 1/1
Grease- 1/1 (?)
Vanish- 1/1
Magic Weapon- 1/1
Which leaves me two open slots left for first level spells. (which I can fill in 1 slot in 1 minute of preparation) I do have enlarge person, if anyone things that would fit.
2nd-
(3+1+2]
Web-1/1
Frigid Touch-1/1
Elemental Touch-1/1 *
Mirror Image-1/1
*Depending
and the rest are undecided at this time. But I have a plethora of 2nd level spells I thought may turn up useful. So will likely leave a slot or two open.
@GM would you allow Elemental touch spell to affect Fergus's weapons? I'd love to actually use a cow prodda haha.
3rd level-
(1+1+1}
Likely
Haste- 1/1
Slow- 1/1
And either a damage spell (fireball or ice spears)or control spell (Stinking Cloud or Communal resist energy)
I have known-
Ice spears- two ice spears for 4d6 total sounds fun enough.
Fireball- Its a classic
Stinking Cloud- can be very useful
Haste- Another Classic
Slow- My personal favorite.
Resist Energy, Communal- Another personal favorite
Fly- so useful.
(smaller)This but with "[ ]" instead of "( )" makes things smaller.(/smaller)
Like this!
If you press the "how to format your text" button just bellow the post-box you can see all the valid commands.
Deadeye's Lore is a sweet spell for this character AND level 1 :D He's nabbed it. His other FCB as of now are Shield of Faith and Align Weapon Ancestral Communion (but since I missed such a good spell before, I'm going to go back through the list and see what else there is). EDIT: I've made a few notes already on spell choices, but if anyone ever finds one that might be good, let me know!
Here is currently what I envision as a standard load out for Balzeros (spells after the + are spirit magic slots and are basically domain spells. He can use either of the spells listed there and the second one could be different everyday):
0th (4) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink (at will)
1st (5) Pass without Trace, Produce Flame, Shield of Faith, Read Weather, Deadeye's Lore +Entangle/Unseen Servant
2nd (3) Barkskin, Web Shelter, OPEN SLOT +Barkskin/Spiritual Weapon
3rd (2) Sleet Storm, OPEN SLOT +Thorny Entanglement/Heroism
Something like this is when he doesn't really know what to expect/what we are doing on a given day, so he has some utility spells, buff spells, damage, and crowd control. Two open slots, just in case.
@GM would you allow Elemental touch spell to affect Fergus's weapons? I'd love to actually use a cow prodda haha.
I'm gonna say no, if only because I can see the prodda suddenly becoming a reach prodda, and it seems a bit too magus-ie for my tastes.
This bit seems kinda random, but whatever.
(smaller)This but with "[ ]" instead of "( )" makes things smaller.(/smaller)
Like this!
It worked better in the past (when it only enlarged the normal text size by about 40%. Now the code should be typed as [Huger] (followed of course by [Gargantuanner], and [Colossaller]). ;)
In that regard, it's a bit like the still-broken messageboard alias icon tool.