[PFS Core] GM Harker Presents: The Emerald Spire (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

going away for the weekend, probably unable to post till Sunday night

next round Sugar will cast summon nature's ally IV to summon a Giant scorpion sacrificing freedom of movement spell.

as far as spells go
this will use up my last 4th level spell and i am out of level 5 spells (highest level available)

Also only 1 third level left (neutralize poison)

is everyone around? been quiet

Yeah, it's really time to bot some people to move this along. I am just waiting on the resolution of the archers' turns before deciding whether to use the Staff of Fireballs. If the front creature is dead, probably would just ready a shot for when something appears instead of firing blindly into the fog.

Yes, this game has really run far more slowly than I had initially anticipated. While I have enjoyed myself I think I will be bowing out after this level.

My apologies for the slow down, I've been working lots of mandatory overtime at my job and haven't had a lot of time for free time activities. I'll get a new post up by tomorrow. This is the last encounter, so I will finish the level up this week.

For those not already planning on bowing out, this will probably be the last level I'll be running. I'm afraid I don't have the time or motivation to continue.

My apologies for the slow down, I've been working lots of mandatory overtime at my job and haven't had a lot of time for free time activities. I'll get a new post up by tomorrow. This is the last encounter, so I will finish the level up this week.

For those not already planning on bowing out, this will probably be the last level I'll be running. I'm afraid I don't have the time or motivation to continue.

Sorry to hear about all the overtime.

I'm also really bummed you won't be running the campaign any longer. But I understand. I had to back out of 3 games I was GMing and several games I was playing in. In fact, the three games you are GMing are the only ones I'm still in.

@everyone else: after this level I would like to find another GM to finish out the campaign. Are you still in?

I could be interested if the pace were faster.

I'll be happy to keep this thread active if you'll be looking for a new GM.

Since some of you seem to be very anxious to wrap this up, I'll need to know the following from each of you before I can send out your Chronicle sheets.

1. Day Job, if applicable.
2. Hex, if applicable
3. Email address to send Chronicle sheet. Please send via PM.
4. Normal Xp or Slow.

Number 3 is mandatory. I'll assume no on 1 and 2 if I don't hear from you by the time I finish the sheets. I'll assume Slow Xp also, since that's the recommendation from PFS if you planning on continuing, but I already know Krago is normal Xp.

I'll probably just finish it tomorrow and have the sheets out by the late evening on the same day for those who reply. Those who don't will get them late Monday with the above assumptions. These times assume I have your email address already.

Day Job 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Normal progression, no hex.

Player: Aldizog
Character: Krago of the Mountains
PFS ID#: 108731-4
Faction: The Exchange
Day Job: Profession (Investigator): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Normal progression, no hex.

day job profession scribe: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
number 9406-7
Faction: Grand Lodge
Hex: B5
Slow Progression

My sincerest apologies, but I won't be able to get the Chronicle sheets out tonight, but I will attempt to get them done by tomorrow. If I already have your email address, you don't need to send it to me again.

Day Job: Performance, hex boons: 10 + 20 = 30 + 50% of resulting gold value
Recommended progression for this level
Hex C5

When should I post looking for a new GM? Also, who will be continuing?

Right now it looks like me and Krago (assuming the new GM can keep up a decent pace). I want to assume Xakon and Sugarsnap will be continuing, but I won't just assume that without hearing from them.

I am currently overcommitted on games as is so wont be continuing.

Best of luck for the future levels.

I will probably continue.

The session has been reported and I have sent the Chronicle sheets to the email addresses provided. Let me know if there are any issues.

I'll keep the thread open as you look for another GM.

Got it! Looks good.

I'll make a post today requesting a new GM.

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into this campaign GM Harker! It's been a great ride!

I'm setting Olaf inactive. If anyone else wants to be inactive, let me know.

I'm happy to have run this for so long, and I wish you luck finding another GM. If you have trouble finding someone, I might be able to run again after a long hiatus to recharge my batteries and get past the busy season at my job. That would not be until after December.

GM request posted here.

I will continue as well since Freo, Sugar and Krago is committed if the pace is faster. A bard, druid, rogue and barbarian should be good.

I still think our strategy can be improved upon. Casters need to focus on utilizing their higher level spells. I will do a better job in assisting our rogue into backstabbing positions.

One tactic I might suggest is letting enemies come to us. We are high enough level to get iterative attacks, but moving to the enemy denies us that - and in many scenarios enemies are set up on favorable terrain. If we wait for them to come to us, we can get our iteratives, deny them multiple attacks on the first round, and often have more favorable positioning with just 5' steps.

Krago definitely needs to improve his attack bonus. Maybe some Potions of Bull's Strength, and/or Weapon Focus (Battleaxe). He can do quite well with Chill Touch sneak attacks against things that are not undead or constructs, but we had both on this level.

Letting the enemies come to us works for me; either way doesn't make too big of a difference to the archer. :)

I have not heard anything from my GM request yet. I suspect we will have to wait until post-December when Harker can pick it back up.

I spoke too soon! Just got a message from a would-be GM. Expect a post from them soon.

Harker, I think it would work best for us to continue in this set of threads. I assume it is alright with you for other GMs to take control of the campaign going forward?

Hello everyone! I will be setting up tonight when I get home from work (which could be a tad longer than I expected). I'll be reading up on the level ASAP, and I'll be looking at your characters as well. Please make sure that you have them up-to-date.

My sheet is not up to date. I am pretty sure I should have leveled after this last chronocle. Either way, I just realized that I do not have stuff from The Clockwork Maze chronicle sheet listed in my info. I'll need to update that at least.

I'll take care of it this week; maybe tonight.

I just did a quick readthrough of the scenario, and you are in for a treat. This level happens to be one I found to be most interesting. I am excited to bring it to life for your benefit.

Also, everyone here is Core, correct?

I'm happy to surrender the thread to Upaynao if they are interested in still using it. If so, please set me as inactive whenever the changeover takes place. :)

In the meantime, I'll leave it active.

Leveled up to 10. Picked up See Invisibility as a level 3 spell. Considering either a Necklace of Adaptation or an upgrade to the cloak of resistance.

Leveled up to 11. Took Improved Feint, and upgraded armor and shield to +3 and axe to +2.

I might buy some scrolls of Bull's Strength. Are we going to pick up another caster? We have lost both of our clerics.

I would like to recruit 1-2 more, yes. Hopefully full casters.

I am almost leveled up to 10

I would like to recruit 1-2 more, yes. Hopefully full casters.

By all means, go ahead. I still need to peruse the thread to get an idea as to how I'm going to set things up.

Do we have enough CLW wands?

I'm going to take the Necklace of Adaptation. I hope I don't regret delaying upgrading my saves. Well, I do have to check that there are no slot conflicts. But I expect none.

I may pick up a fully charged CLW wand if we don't have enough.

Also, GM, did you see that we have a Standard Operating Procedure that determines which doors we go through, how we search rooms, check for traps, open doors, etc.

Basically, Krago goes ahead with Trap Spotter (+30 Perception to spot traps, normally Taking 10 for a 40 if allowed), and if he comes to a door, we back up to have Frēodwēn use Open/Close from a safe distance.

Just in case there is a monster with reach, or an aura, or a poison cloud, or something nasty immediately on the other side of the door.

Also, GM, did you see that we have a Standard Operating Procedure that determines which doors we go through, how we search rooms, check for traps, open doors, etc.

Nope, didn't spot that (my workweek got hectic, just got back home. 12 hour shift). Please quote your SOP, unless what Krago quoted was pretty much it.

Welcome Krago and Olaf! To make things go a little faster, we run by a standard operating procedure (SOP) where I assume the trap spotter takes 10 on every door and everyone who can aid automatically will do so.

Once inside a room, then I assume someone detects magic on the room once they have an opportunity to enter it.

I do not assume that everyone makes a Perception check when they enter a new room, so once you enter you may want to make those to find any traps inside and/or hidden objects.

I also assume the group goes right (or clockwise) through the dungeon to stop from waiting for someone to pick a direction.

SOP sounds fine, except:

1) Krago has Trap Spotter at +29, and automatically gets a check within 10' of any trap (so 39 with Take 10);
2) Krago has Stonecunning, granting him an automatic Perception check to detect unusual stonework within 10' (including traps or secret doors in stone walls or floors) with an additional +2; and,
3) Krago would prefer all doors be opened from a distance with the Open/Close cantrip, after he has checked for traps and unlocked them.

The last paragraph of Harker's post is what keeps us from getting bogged down in the "players wait for GM to post next choice and GM waits for players to take next action" mess. It's a must for dungeon crawls IMO, esp. if the players can't check in all throughout the day.

I'll take another look at your post. It was not clear to me in my first read what choice we're supposed to be making, other than long-lasting buff spells.

ok Sugar is leveled up to 10 I picked up another wand of cure light wounds mine only had 11 charges left.

Oh, I'll definitely pick up another one as well. I'm down to 4 charges.

Real life caught up to me. Finally leveled to 11 and made purchases. Sold MW darkwood lance, +1 heavy darkwood shield, MW achemical silver mace. Purchased +1 throwing adamantine light hammer 11,001. Retrained dodge feat to two weapon fighting. Took improved two weapon fighting at 11th level. More attacks are good! Also added a bit of range.

+1 returning light hammer not throwing enhancement. Under the confusion effects of Nyquil.

sorry all, been working long hours, things are gonna be pretty hectic for about the next week as well.

I have awful news that I thought y'all might want to know. Redelia posted this in one of Harker's other threads on Friday.

Hi, everyone. I've been contacted indirectly by the family of your GM, because he is in a coma and not expected to recover.

Then she posted this this morning:

I'm very sorry to have more bad news to share:

obituary notice

I'm not even sure how I feel. Shocked almost certainly.

I've been looking at some of his posts. To what end, I'm not sure. To gain a sense of his life on these boards? We are all so much more.

I suppose at the moment that I'm both sad and angry. Sad, because he passed, and perhaps because the signs were there but we didn't see them. Just another case of "Oh, he's burning out".

Angry because his mandatory overtime job still did not leave him or his widow with enough to cover the ludicrous expenses he incurred at the end of his life. But perhaps that anger is just there to distract from the fact that he has passed, and our nerdy, fantasy world is poorer for it.

Lets try to finish this: all the way to the bottom. For GM Harker.

It is quite a shock.

He was almost exactly my age, so it makes me want to know what happened. Out of self-preservation, I suppose, to see if there are things I should watch out for at this (far too young) age.

But in the end I know it's not about me, it's about him and his family, and I am sorry for his passing.

A young man taken too soon. I can't believe this extremely sad news. My heart aches for his family. I wish our society will one day wake up to the extraordinary costs of end of life health care and mitigate these tragic circumstances less financially distressful to their next of kin. My sincerest condolences to Justin's loved ones.

Hope you're not killing yourself with work Lady Sugarsnap! Just let us know if botting should be something we should be thinking of on you behalf!