PFS #55: The Infernal Vault Gameplay (Inactive)

Game Master Jamesui

Good idea, Hangust.

Off-topic, rules discussion, and the like go here.

Sorry for the turbulence, all.

No problem thanks

Yeah, sorry for all the confusion. I got thrown for a loop with the condensed initiative system. I'm on board now, though.

Confusion is bound to happen on occasion, no need to apologize.

We should probably set up a couple standard procedures such as Marching Order, and how we approach new doors, just so we're not sitting around taking 4-6 posts rolling perception and waiting on GM response.

Personally Hangust would always roll Perception at a door and proceed if he sees no reason not to, and with him typically raring for a fight, he would generally be out front of the party.

@GM I don't have any issue with you rolling perception for me, and moving the party forward just to maintain the modules momentum.

dice=perception]1d20+6[/dice, feel free to weigh in everyone, as this could help us move a little faster.

@GM Yeah I agree, I think when we come to a door, take one persons perception and another's aid check. That would speed it up. I don't mind going in first as I did in the last combat, however i am less armored than others and may not be the best front liner.

Rathor was designed to be average at everything, so I don't mind where he goes in the order. Melee, range, caster, support, whatever.

In truth, my calling for marching order was an attempt to get Puk and especially Adriana to check back in, but the points about bogging down momentum with posts where all you do is make a perception or assist are also valid.

At the very least, if all your character is doing is rolling perception, include some dialogue or action taken to involve everyone else, I guess.

I will be teaching most of the day today. Will check in if and when I can.

I'm ready to go, will. be free however tomorrow is going to be a little harder.

I don't mind being first unless any one else would rather take point.

Rathor follows, second in line.

I can go third in line, unless someone else desires that position.

I think we can safely assume that anyone who hasn't spoken up on the issue of marching order really doesn't care where they stand, as long as they're somewhere behind Hangust and Rathor.

I was kinda stalling for time while I finish doing my long-overdue yearly OS reinstall.

Well we know Adrianna said shes melee so she'll be near flyn, with Puk and e'li taking up the rear

As long as I have distance between the baddies and me I am not picky.

Does anyone know if there is a feat where I might be able to use the sling like a sap if someone were to come close?

Whip Slinger

Non-lethal only unless you're taking like a -4 to hit. Else completely ineffective against constructs, undead, and the like.

Interesting feat. I miss the hoopak. :(

No worries, just sink a few skill points into Intimidate and combine Whip Slinger with Enforcer. :)

On his turn the warpriest will cast guidance on himself and load up.

Probably best ot move this chain of thought here.

Rathor, the two goons teamed up on the greatest threat, who also happened to be in the most compromised position defensively speaking. I don't think the decisions were unwarranted, but those dice? And there are rules in morale blocks about when they might consider not fighting.

Puk, he traded ferocity away for sacred tattoo, which is basically a +2 to all saves when combined with Fate's favored. I'm partial to the substitution myself.

As I said, no worries. Just questionable priorities for the goons. "He offered us leniency, let's kill him first!" :)

In all fairness, this s!!# happens to me ALL the time. We were in a home game a while ago where the party was traveling out in the wilderness at night. A dragon spotted us and swooped in to attack. While the rest of the party is firing arrows, blasting it with spells, and summoning monsters to fight it, my rogue (in stealth) transforms into a bat (using the Cloak of the Bat) and flies away.

So the dragon has two targets: The whole party, who is currently attacking him, which he can hit ALL of with his breath weapon, or a single tiny bat flying off into the night, who also had a successful stealth check. He zeroes in on me like a f+!*ing laser-guided missile and breathes fire, which hits only me (the little bat).

Just teasing, that's all. Rathor is just a first level character; I can make more. :)

I'm here, just got back from a long day at school with teaching and Parent/Teacher night. Fought a chest cold all day yesterday.

Your warpriest has done more this combat than my barbarian has, so yes there's definitely reason for you to be here. The 24 hour hour rule has been used a number of times this game, I know it can be frustrating but the opposite is 5 other people unable to post for an extended period of time.

Well it gets frustrating that I missed a turn because I was sick and then being told I didnt have permission to post despite being given a 24 hour timeframe. Is there any point to my character even being here?

I understand that it's frustrating. Please understand that you had permission to post. In fact, you did posted acknowledging the confusion. You were delayed not for not posting but rather because Society rules themselves didn't allow your prescribed action at the table. I don't have a perfectly fluid schedule either and can't hold up the show to negotiate permissible actions. I want to not belittle your complaints here, so I'll just ask you to please consider that others are also bound similar time constraints.

That said, regarding E'li's current situation, you can always take a shot. Yes, there's a penalty, but you can fire, reload, and be 5 feet closer. Alternatively, you might try to maneuver for partial cover. You might move and ready an action to fire if you get a shot with no cover or only partial cover. For all the benefits of ranged combat, one of the balancing drawbacks is needing to be very aware of positioning and cover and sometimes just eating that penalty.

I actually play a ranged warpriest live and it is literally hit or miss some times depending on how you interact with the environment and with your allies, but when you're on your game and delivering unrequited damage, it really is a joy. It just takes a little time to get used to, and if you're having trouble getting E'li to work, you can rebuild any way you wish between scenarios until you play at L2.

I'm not rebuilding I like the character just fine.

To be fair to everyone 24 hours is 24 hours. If not then why are rules applied to some and not others.

If GMSui can't post from where he is than there's no point forcing a delay because he can't progress the session anyway. That is, after all, the purpose of a forced delay.

Weekends are bad for most people, anyway. Let's figure out how we're going to take on the next challenge instead of worrying about this one. That is a door on the east side of this room, right? Do we have enough healing to continue? Rathor is out of spells and channels.

Was that stipulated in the rules? Or are we making exceptions when convenient? Is the same true of weekends in terms of that being stipulated?

Why don't you send a private message to GMsui so you guys can hash it out privately.

I'm at half health at the moment, rage will give me another 2 hp so it could be worse. I'm definitely not taking point though, Hangust's ambition has been humbled by traps and crossbow bolts.

If decisions are made publically discussion should be as well.

I'm not quite sure what discussion you want? Adrianna, Puk, and Flyn have all had forced delays after 24 hour, so the rule has been used "fairly" this whole time. It just plain wouldn't make sense for GM to force a delay on Flyn and Puk because that he can't actually post the next update for the guard.

It's just common sense that if he's unable to post that he would allow the party the extra time to act.

In every situation it has been for the benefit to the party as a whole.

If not then rules are applied arbitrarily when things are convenient.

It's not convenient. If the GM forced a delay and made another post then the whole party would be able to go instead of waiting around. This is actually the less convenient option. Nor is it arbitrary because GMSui gave a very clear reason for his decision.

Not if you read the magus reason for not posting. He was confused about the dialogue. I wasn't aware that being confused was a reason not to post something in 24 hours. If that's okay what's the difference between that and being sick? If that decision is allowed then the rules are arbitrary. Especially if there was no communication that the DM was going to be away.

There was communication about the GM being away. Also, GMSui's decision not to delay was made before Flyn gave any sort of reason for not posting so it in no way influenced the decision.

Fair is fair. This is not. If that devotion is held to the advantage of certain but not all players then it is unjust.

It is to the advantage of the entire group, thus it is fair. The delay was made because the GM could not be here, therefore it benefits the party to make use of their extra time before the GM is available again. The delays are made to the benefit of the group when the GM is available to keep the scenario going.

You're taking this personal when it isnt. Your delay came because you technically took an action that was illegal in PFS, instead of completely negating your turn the GM gave you a second chance and it took you more than 24 hours to check back in, or to ask for more time because you were sick. You even posted after the GM told you that your move wasn't legal, but didn't change it. So instead of making the whole group wait 2 days for your legitimate action (which is unfair) a force delay was made to benefit the entire group.

The end result is the same whether it was personal or not. Forgoing a time period allows some the ability to do something while others were not allowed no matter the reason.

You also need to consider, that the reason for it not being a forced delay was there. I personally will vouch that if the GM could post an update and keep the game moving than me and Puk would have delayed, but he could not and as such it made no sense.

I guess what we need to decide as a group is if we want to be paladins about the pbp rules or not for the remainder of the scenario. Personally I'm fine with bending rules and policies given a good reason, such as requesting more time from the GM either privately or in this thread.

If the reason as you said that you hadn't posted was because you could not follow the dialogue then that is no different than being sick. Lack of comprehension would be as strong or weak of a reason as being sick.

And, as I said, the GMs decision to delay had nothing to do with why Flyn wasn't posting, just like it had nothing to do with you being sick, because both of those came to light AFTER the decision was made. Therein, neither had any bearing on the delay actions at all. Flyn was talking about the GMs reasoning, not his own.

Are we almost done with this scenario?

If you notice I changed my action when told I couldn't do it. Perhaps the ignorance excuse really does work. If I don't post in 24 hours just assume I don't comprehend situations so I am free to do as I please.

The GM made the decision note to delay, before my reason for not posting came to light. My excuse was irrelevant, and as such has nothing to do with the GM's reason for not having a forced delay. My scenario is very different to yours, because in one case the game could be furthered, however in my situation there was no reason for the delay which is created to further the game in the scenario of some not posting. The forced delay mechanic is not intended to be a punishment.

You are free to your opinion as I am to mine. We do not agree since you received no penalty for the same lack of action and I did not. So that is where it is.

If the excuse was irrelevant than why even bring it up?

I was trying to explain why I didn't post so people didn't think, that I just was ignoring it or was away. It was irrelevant to the GM, I apologize for not clarifying that. The same reason why you told us that you were sick and not ignoring it. If you really want to I am ok with throwing out my action and taking a forced delay and I am sure Puk would agree. If that is necessary than so be it.