PFS First Steps II - To Delve the Dungeon Deep (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Sorry Derek, I can't help you, not very computer literate and never used maptools.

Calanthe: You're right, there are trade offs, and I applaud you for not taking the most potent of the powers. Many people would not make such a choice. I've never played a save or die class, and never will, because doing so tends to make the game all about "me and my awesome ability to kill everyone" and this is supposed to be a fun game for everyone, not 1 supercharacter and their cheerleaders.

Maptool is a great program, but it does have it's limitations. Sadly, aligning the grid to an existing map is one of them. I've never had much success either. I usually end up turning off the snap to grid and manually placing the tokens.

I don't have any experience with using other maps with Maptools - I just downloaded it and am waiting for some time to experiment... - but I did find that there is an excel tool to help with the calculations.

It's found it at Map Tool Resources which leads to the download site, MapScaleTool.

You also need "an image editor that can be used to count the number of pixels in a selected area, and resize/resample an image. Free software such as The GIMP works well, as do Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, etc." All I have currently is IrfanView, and I haven't figured out how to do it, if it can.

So, this may be premature, but is there interest - especially from Derek - in continuing this group on beyond this scenario?

I have no problem continuing, considering this is the only PFS I can usually get to, lol. But yes, it really revolves around Derek.

Well, folks I'm glad you asked - obviously we have a way to go in this scenario, but I would be happy to run more, and so far you seem like a very good group of players. Let's see how things play out, but keep in mind any scenarios you might like to try - I plan to run another one when we finish this.

Also, wish me luck in my first PbP game as a player! My rogue got picked to join the PFS scenario Tide of Twilight, which started on Sunday.

And thanks for the map help WhtKnt - I didn't even realize I could turn off the snap-to-grid. I'll play around some more and get an updated map after round 1 is over. Still waiting on Ebon, but his posting history says we shouldn't have long to go.

No problem. I used Maptool for a long while because my father (who lives three states away) liked to join us for games.

Always happy to play more PFS. :) And in the interests of giving the GM a rest, I'm always happy to pick up and run a game, too. (I'm currently running 2 groups through First Steps, actually, but maybe after that?)

Some thoughts about how you're running initiative and combat...

I'm not sure how exactly you're working initiative. We all move before the ghoul, but we don't seem to be moving in order of our initiative, simply whenever a person acts. This is fine and all, it's a kind of block initiative that works well enough, although somewhat disincentivises characters having a high initiative score.

If you're doing block initiative, it might make things clearer to us as players when our turn actually is and when one round becomes another (relevant especially for buffs and debuffs) if you had a singular clear 'wrap-up' post where you went through everyone's posts and resolved them, as well as taking the enemy's turns.

If you're NOT doing block initiative, that's cool too, but we should probably start posting more in rough initiative order to avoid a lot of this confusion.

(Don't take this as annoyance, merely curiosity and perhaps a dash of constructive criticism!)

Initiative only matters for the first round anyway, so there is no real detriment for a high initiative. It gives you a higher chance to go ahead of the monster and be able to catch it flatfooted, just like if we went in strict initiative order.

Now, as far as actions during rounds, I’ve always preferred block form, with a little wrap up like you said. It only really matters as far as who gets the kill shot for those PC’s that care, and for limited resources like 1st level spells. Those people should go last to allow the ppl who swing weapons to go so they may not have to use a spell unnecessarily. As far as 1 round buffs/debuffs, that's part of the wiggle room of PbP and I usually see people have the effect run until the player posts again, potentially allowing a bit better effect than normal. However, if the same player is always first to post in one round, and then last in the next, just to milk the effect for all it's worth, then it may be time for an adjustment.

Good points, since this is my first time GMing Pathfinder in any format, I expected things to go a bit rough.

The plan I wanted to use was doing a wrap-up post at the end of each turn. Then we got started and I got a bit carried away. I'll try doing the wrap-up post method during our next encounter (and for the remainder of this one).

I'll also make sure to note when a given round ends and the next one begins - you're right, this is especially important for buffs and debuffs (just as it's good to know if your Evil Eye takes effect before another player acts).

Also, I'd love to get more time in as a player, so if you're willing to GM some more after your current games wrap, I'd like to take part.

I'd agree that it is probably best to do initiative in a block. Even though I had hoped to give Ebon a "Bit of Luck" before his next swing, I was pretty late (away and couldn't get another post done by phone), and it sucks to hold everyone up.

In other matters, is there a good way to be notified quickly of updates to the game play thread? I see the RSS, but I'm not sure if there is some best app to hook it up to. I never really used RSS before.

Try Feedly for RSS if you don't otherwise have a preference. It has a web-based interface as well as apps for phones and whatnot. It's pretty nice.

sorry Norine I was tying to stay in initiative order, so I figured even tho you posted the protection spell before my post, I actually received it after. I cant seem to post as often as everybody else, I only can after 3pm CST. But i check when i can.
Also I must mention that I will be away from the internet from the 30th to the 6th, and will be unable to post during that time. please DMPC me as you need to.

No problem Ebon. I didn't mean it like that.

Since I am a stay-at-home dad presently, I have more flexibility than many.

Between work and home, I almost always have a computer nearby, so I just leave a window open to my campaign page and just hit refresh every so often.

nice. I work in retail and don't have access at the job.

I'm really enjoying this game, and this way of playing the game, by-the-way. For one, it nicely complements the around-the-table gaming I've recently got back into, with more time and opportunities, it seems, to role-play. But, it also has a great day-to-day anticipation factor, reminding me of the old days of playing a strategic game (Galactic Conquest, I think it was called) with a friend by US mail. We had so much fun just waiting for the next move, thinking and talking about what we were going to do, something lacking in the instant gratification of real-time play, despite its other merits.

When it gets to be Mez and Ebon's turn, do you mind if I include both characters actions in my post? Mez's action will be to 5' step up, and then ready an action so that when Ebon 5' steps into a flank position, he strikes. Ebon's would be to make the 5' step and smack the spider with his earthbreaker.

That sounds fine. This way, Ebon will be "above" the spider, and you'll be "below" it, right?

yep, and by readying the action, we both get the benefit of flanking as opposed to only one of us.

Just to clarify, when posting 'in initiative order', does one need to wait until one's turn to post or could one post when convenient and have the post take effect in initiative order? The former is more traditionally accurate, but the latter may work better with PBP and varied schedules.

I'm thinking that doing the latter is ok. Go ahead and post - I can sort out the order. I would just say that if your your turn comes up later in the order, you may want to hold off to see what happens, especially on the bad guys' turn.

Mez, are you ok having me post your planned action, or would you like to do it?

I got it :)

I don't know what the custom is in PFS play, but I think it might be reasonable to treat the base level of information about threats - like kobolds - presented in the "Pathfinder Society Field Guide" as common information, especially since some parts, such as the parts about threats, are described as things we were supposedly taught in Pathfinder school. (I mention this because "metagaming" and "player knowledge vs. character knowledge" are often sensitive topics.)

Calanthe, I believe, mentioned early on that these 'First Steps' scenarios will be retired sometime soon. If we wanted to do this and the other two, I wonder how much time we have? I'm not much of a Paizo insider yet.

Yes, this scenario and number III will be retired on August 14th or so. I am actually getting another group started to rush through those. My understadning is that it usually takes about 3 weeks to get through each scenario via PbP, but we can try to move things along a bit faster if you want to. This particular one has more combat than average, which makes it run a tad slower.

When is that one starting? I could make up another character to fill a gap, if you like. I only have a wizard or maybe a dwarf paladin semi-worked up, though.

I also have a responsible-seeming friend I've played a few live action Pathfinder games with who is interested in trying out PBP.

The other one is actually starting right now. I have an open spot in Group A, because I haven't heard back from another player. I mightbe able to work your friends in too, but let me think it over for a day.

Group A has a paladin, inquisitor and wizard right now, but if anything, having two paladins can often work better thn two wizards in a four-person party.
Link to game thread here.

It looks like things are shaping up on the thread, and since you wanted to keep it small and fast and since I am awfully slow at creating characters, I'll just wait and see. Thanks very much, though!

On the downside, however, I am awfully eager for each next post... Hmmm.

Yeah, I think it's probably cutting it a bit late to consider doing Part 2 and Part 3 now unless you're able to post multiple times a day. But Part 1 is fair game, as well as all the other myriad early level scenarios out there. :)

I may be a little slow in responses today. My family is visiting. Please DMNPC me as necessary.

So, dumb questions, especially since I've done it twice before, but how/where do you pick a messageboard alias for a Pathfinder character? I'm making a new character and can't seem to figure out how I did it.

Heh. Nevermind - I finally found it. Don't know why I didn't see it there before.

Derek, I was going to start up a Dropbox account and noticed that it apparently gives more space for people who make referrals. Would you want to send me a referral by private message or make one here?

Yes, I can do that - let me see to it this afternoon.

Perhaps we should nominate a leader after all, to make some quick group decisions to keep things going.

I'm thinking Mez, since he has been going up front.

We could also try, as I think I suggested on a post, some pre-scripted actions that we do in certain circumstances, like first listening at the door (I still don't know who does that well), then trying the arrow trick if Mez want to, then going in with Mez or Ebon getting Virtue, Resistance, and Guidance blessings from me (without needing to ask me via post).

Norine is also always ready to tap someone on the shoulder (or more probably - somewhere mid-back) with Guidance as a mini-buff for their skill rolls.

Just some thoughts.

Yeah, frankly, the back and forth of decision making doesn't work well on PbP. I'd rather be ambushed than spend an extra day or two in deliberation. Calanthe really isn't a leader type at all and so isn't about to suggest where people go, but I personally think that if we look beyond a door and find nothing, we might as well go through it right away. Backtracking can be done later.

If you are all good with it, I can just keep pushing on. I am just always a bit wary about keeping things going without others agreeing, since it is a group game. But yeah, if can definately cut out some time if I just keep chugging along, or until I get debuffed into oblivion and then someone else gets to play bait.

Well, Mez, hopefully that won't happen!

I'm also presuming that you have the better saves and AC, and might be the best person to go first. I'd be farther up front, but my attacks seem to suck - I'm mostly trying to be the best cleric I can be.

Here, btw, is a really good, compact list of GMing ideas. (I've been looking around, thinking that I might one day make the GM plunge to get some more gaming action.) http://paizo.com/people/DoomedHero (Forgot it the first time... I blame the toddler.)

Just so that everyone is aware:

I do not read private messages that are not addressed to me, nor do I read spoilers for languages Dracothis does not speak. I would hope that this goes without saying, but I've been in games where people read everything and then just apply character knowledge. For me, it is more immersive if I do not read anything that the character could not know or understand.

@Derek,

I think I may have missed the Detect Magic results on a few things, though, but I haven't gone back to check. ... Ah yes, here it is:

"Also casting detect magic.

If she discovers nothing about the basin, ..."

Well, Norine can miss things just like I miss things, so that's OK. ;-)

Edit: Had a joke, but it may be misconstrued. No matter.

PS - Could we have an updated map?

Norine, can I refer you to dropbox w/o an e-mail address? Sorry I forgot this yesterday. Also, I will be working on the map tonight. Just got slammed with house projects today.

No problem on either situation.

I couldn't figure out about referrals until I had already signed in - I was thinking there would be a way to do it from there - but it seems it is by email address. I should have PMed it to you somehow first. Oh well, next time. :-\

PS- there was also this other way, suitable for Facebook and Twitter, and presumably messageboards: "Always have your stuff when you need it with @Dropbox. Sign up for free! http://db.tt/VZkClGur".

Woot I am back... Thanx for the DMPC! looks like a good job. Prolly rolled better than I would. XD . just a note for future reference, Ebon has torches and a common lamp with oil. He would have shared this info when Norine asked. He is also good with Mez in the lead. He will take second spot and is eager to keep pushing ahead. XD

Welcome back, hope you had fun!

Yes, Welcome back, Ebon!

Hey, if we should ever make it to level 3, I could use the 2nd level "Masterwork Transformation" spell to turn your father's sword into a MW weapon. Probably be able to have it enchanted then.

Thanks! It wasn't as fun as it could have been, but everything turned out Ok in the end.
Ebon would definitely be alright with making his fathers sword MW, and eventually enchanted. He's pretty bummed with his Earthbreaker right at the moment. XD

We can just count my miss as my turn since missing out of order won't make much difference.

So, is there a hurry to finish this scenario? (Do they call them scenarios, btw? And modules are the mid-length ones?) Are we going to try to do Part III of first steps before it retires? I was hoping so, and I am not in any other games so this is it.