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

Game Master Derek Weil

I'd say we're a chatty bunch.27 posts in the discussion thread since last i looked. XD.
in the same trend as everyone else......
My name is James, have two daughters and have been married 16 years now, none of which like to game. I have been playing since I was 12 and I'm 42 now. played a little of all the different editions, and so far prefer Pathfinder. Got into it at Beta because it replaced my Dragon magazine subscription. Also mostly a DM for D&D/Pathfinder games. friends in Colorado used to run other stuff..D20 Modern, traveller, rifts, Shadowrun, G.U.R.P.S., Gamma world, Star Frontiers ... list goes on.
Played DDO since beta testing (6yrs or so) and just recently reached 21st level and burned out. mostly due to bad internet in Liberal.

Moved around a lot over the past 3 years. went from Colorado to Cheyenne, WY , to Joplin, MO (lived thru the F4 tornado) wound up in Liberal, KS. where there is no gamer community at all.8(
have been on the Forum for a while, but mostly read stuff as opposed to posting a lot.
played a few 3.5 PbP games that fizzled, and recently started playing more. I am currently in a CotCT (Typhon B'Ru), a Kingmaker (Cromwell Wist-Lebeda) and this PFS PbP.
Am definitely willing to play a campaign as well, especially since this is my only roleplaying outlet. XD.
Whew. wordy.

I'm 42, too, James ("Ebon" will probably be better remembered). It looks like Alice will have to adjust her estimation of "30+ males" to "40+ males".

We've been married 5 years, but we've been essentially married for about 9.

The nice part about Oregon is that we are pretty much natural disaster-free ... at least until "The Big One" (the eventual massive earthquake) happens.

I think we are a chatty bunch. But that's cool with me. :P

As far as campaigns go, I'm already in a couple (CotCT/Kingmaker/Jade Regent PbPs, plus a Roll20-based Shattered Star game), but I would consider joining one. It IS a big responsibility though, so be prepared for. I'm especially interested in Reign of Winter and the upcoming Wrath of the Righteous myself.

Alice, please don't feel like a weirdo. Many women I know play, including my wife and two others in my group. I think that they tend to have less of a presence online, but there are other female players out there. And may I say, I love the Internet for giving me the chance to game with people from around the world! You're my first Aussie, but I have had a player in one of my PbPs who was from Norway, and another from Germany

:) I appreciate the words! I personally don't feel excluded, although as someone who has posted lots in the threads about encouraging women into the hobby and the other sexuality/gender threads, you can bet that I really appreciate the assurance.

And, well, I've met more female RPGers than I have female computer scientists! (There's about three or four of us in my entire year at uni. Kind of sad, really.)

Alice,

When my mom started her engineering class at Oregon State University in the late 50's, there were 1500 men and 3 women. When she graduated ('63, I think), it was 500 men and her. Just an interesting anecdote I like to mention. (It is about 5 to 1 now, so some progress.)

~ Matt/Norine

I need another game since I 'refresh' this campaign looking for updates all too often.

lol, then stalk the recruiting forums, :D

I'm going to be starting one within the next month. It's not a Paizo official campaign, but rather homebrewed. See the thread for more details.

I'm not a very good stalker, it seems; I think I got really lucky getting into this group. ;-) I was considering reading through and GMing a First Steps, but this is the only one I've (mostly) played and there may not be time for another one.

Let me know, though, if someone here starts another scenario. (Iffin you think I'm good enough, that is.)

Well, as for the kobolds, at least we found out that Fire Talker has the katana. I was thinking he was going to be a third aspect (the air face and the water fountain being one and two), but they probably don't have much use for swords.

It is too bad we didn't figure out the first two's Kelish words. From a design standpoint (albeit judged with limited knowledge), it is kind of odd since it relies on characters having Kelish, a high Linguistics roll, or a Comprehend Languages prepared. Really, the last two might not be enough since you wouldn't be able to actually speak the words, if they are names or command words. But, maybe we also didn't find the right catch or button; we didn't really search much nearby.

Hmmm. Perhaps we should have hired a Kelish and a Tian porter.

Keep in mind, they gave us a Comprehend languages scroll, so once we're all done, we can run around can read everything.

Hmmm... I didn't see that scroll... Ah, using the thread search I see that it was identified in a Spoiler that wasn't relayed back, as far as I can see. (I'm not always good - I had to read Dracothis's spoiler comments to the kobolds. :-D)

Would people be interested in a semi-slow PFS 'campaign' running through a scenario or scenarios from a previous season if I GMed it? I don't have a particular one in mind, but would likely search for some intro ones with good ratings, or take ideas from the group. I guessing most of you have multiple 1st-level characters you might want to try. (Might need to recruit a healer...)

Like Derek, I'm new to PbP and GMing, but I think I take suggestions well.

I would be interested in that. In fact, some PFS scenarios are written as two or even three part stories. I can always swap in my cleric or paladin if you'll GM!

Another thing I'm really interested in is the new Module coming out this month. It's a single volume super-adventure (or mini-campaign) designed to take your characters from 1st through 7th level. I don't know if it will be sanctioned for Society play, but I'm likely to buy it, and wouldn't mind running it once a few of my current games wind down (by the beginning of August a latest, hope).

So many games, so little time! I keep saying I want to have at most 3 games going at once (I'm in six now), so I will have to be choosy - but let's talk.

I'm ALWAYs up for playing another campaign or scenario, but Ebon is the only PFS toon I have. could make more without much trouble tho.

BTW, I need to know Ebon's PFS # for when this scenario ends. It wasn't entirely clear on his profile page.

I'm not a very good stalker, it seems; I think I got really lucky getting into this group. ;-) I was considering reading through and GMing a First Steps, but this is the only one I've (mostly) played and there may not be time for another one.

Let me know, though, if someone here starts another scenario. (Iffin you think I'm good enough, that is.)

In case you missed it the first time, I'm getting ready to start one in a month or so. Of course, anyone is invited to submit a character, not just Norine/Matt.

RE: more PFS, sure, although I'd only join after next week - I'm going to PAX Australia over the weekend and am hoping to not have too many characters tied up in PbPs!

Dracothis, your thread there quite intrigues me! I like your detail about the setting. Nice job.

Hi Dracothis,

I was looking over the map first and kept thinking, "This sounds kinda familiar..." lol. It looks like a great idea and I will post over there as FurtiveZoog.

I actually haven't played any of the old scenarios - I had always just seen them in the game stores as a kid and now know of them as legends - so I'd love to get a chance to play some of them. Except maybe Tomb of Horrors - I know the last encounter there and it just seems impossible. I'd take a rental to that show. :-P

Except maybe Tomb of Horrors - I know the last encounter there and it just seems impossible. I'd take a DOZEN rentals to that show. :-P

Fixed that for ya

Last time I ran Tomb of Horrors, it resulted in a TPK.

I’m already viewed as a tough GM, my players have never let me try running ToH. Maybe they’d learn to not go full idiot on me from time to time if I showed them how rough it could be… lol

So, Mez, I'm going to steal your avatar for an offline/Obsidian Portal campaign - needing one for a good, affable cleric. Relatedly, there are enough Valeros avatars that we could have an all-Valeros party on here. :-)

hehe, yeah, I tried to pick Avatar's for my characters I hadn't seen many/anyone use. All of them only have like 40 users or less. I can understnad Valeros being so popular, he fits the look of so many characters people make.

I’m already viewed as a tough GM, my players have never let me try running ToH. Maybe they’d learn to not go full idiot on me from time to time if I showed them how rough it could be… lol

Run them through Tomb of Horrors set on "Are You Insane?" level and I guarantee they won't complain anymore.

They are just used to having games where the PC’s always win roflstomping their way through, and I challenge them and make them think. I put puzzles into games, and traps that suck if you fall in them. Pretty standard stuff really, but they never fail to get into a bad situation. Most recently it was a small pit trap with a swarm at the bottom, and on the other side, a few bugbears with long bows behind some overturned tables. Guy who fell in couldn’t really deal with the swarm, and those above had a rough time with bugbears in cover. They won, but it burned them out of a lot more resources than it should have.

The numbers 4141-1. since this is my first actual character for PFS play, I wasn't sure if i need the -1 or not. Got my number a long time ago and just used it this game. XD

Just letting everyone know that I will be away this weekend (Thursday ~ Monday) at PAX Australia. I'm unsure about my internet connection in the hotel, but I hope to avail myself of some free Wi-Fi somewhere to keep up with things as much as I can. Worst comes to worst, I have my phone. But if I'm holding something up, do move for me.

Have fun, Alice!

~~

I was reading one of the older scenarios (The Frostfur Captives) and just wondering what these would look like live, all played from introductions to paperwork in what - five hours? It would seem rather frenetic. The Year of the Shadow Lodge special seems especially so, with 10 minutes for this and 10 minutes for that. Whew, it would be exhausting, I think.

What are people's experiences with live PFS play? How does it feel trying to get through a scenario in the time allotted?

My closest experience is one Living Greyhawk adventure, consisting of three simple encounters and a very straightforward plot and exposition.

The only live scenario I did, Rise of the Goblin Guild lasted 2 hr 55 minutes and we wondered what to do with the rest of the time. Although, there was no RP or real discussions between characters, just roll-play. I was very disappointing and I haven't gone back to that group since.

Well, I acutally played The Frostfur Captives and we didn't really make it through. The GM let us talk our way out of the last combat, but we only had about 3.5 hours to play it. We took a loong time on a couple of combats.

Sometimes they go quickly, though. With 4 players and a combat-heavy sceanrio (it can go fast at low levels if everyone's on the ball and decisive) I've heard of scenrios ending in as little as 2 hours.

I've had a couple sessions finish in 3 hours or so, and not feel rushed. It depends on how focused and prepared the players are. If you're constantly referring to rules and trying to remember whose turn it is, that's what usually adds time - and it's not especially fun time, either. There's still plenty of time for sidebar comments and the occasional meta-gamey wisecrack.

That seems to one good advantage to PbP: spending 20 or 30 minutes trying to get cover or grappling rules right probably won't even be noticed. So, good for those GMs who aren't as confident about all of the rules.

I was looking at one Frostfur Captives game (http://paizo.com/campaigns/DrGabesPathfinderSocietyGameGroupB/gameplay) that was 1290 posts long. Wow.

It is too bad that To Delve the Dungeon Deep is being retired: a straightforward dungeon crawl, without a lot of NPC interaction, would seem an ideal first PbP game. Frostfur has a lot more maps to deal with, even. At least, though, you wouldn't have to pay for all of the flip-mats if played online.

Frostfur Captives is a fun one. I'm going to run it this weekend at our local Game Shop.

The only game I've run "live" was First Steps I; it went for about 4.5 hours, which I thought was good considering it was my first time as a face-to-face GM (previously I had only ever run on a text-based medium) and I had a new player present. (We spent a fair amount of time just roleplaying, though! I had me some fun with the Paracountess...... :D)

With the games I've played live at a convention (years ago now! Can't wait to play some more this weekend!), it differed significantly. Some scenarios went over the 4 hour slot time - The Devil We Know series is one I remember that went over for both parts I played. (Luckily, both times it was in a late-night slot so we didn't butt into a later table.) On the other hand, some scenarios had over an hour of spare time afterwards.

I think it's a mix of group combination and effectiveness, plus the overall complexity of an individual scenario, that determines it.

Man, I can see why they limit Judgement to a once a day kinda thing, when you pop it, you can really be a pain to deal with.

I haven't looked Inquisitors over yet, but they do seem nifty. Other people I know rave about the Paladin's (initially) once a day smite (especially two-handed or a with bow, combo's I wouldn't have thought of with a paladin), and another (25 pt) live game I'm in has a half-orc barbarian 1/alchemist 1 who gets up to STR 27 (starting at 19) with a 'once a day' mutagen-fueled rage and becomes an absolute destroyer. Meanwhile, I sit somewhere in the middle, missing with my sling or club and healing. It has its perks, but the frontline characters can be more exciting/devastating.

PS - That is a really interesting class, with track and 'solo' feats, etc. It would make sense for one of my characters, but I don't want to give up the extra healing. Definitely a class to throw into the usual party mix, though.

It’s arguably become my favorite class. I’m a big martial/divine fan, only I shy away from Paladin’s because everyone I’ve ever seen played gets screwed over because of their code.

Inquisitor is almost as good martially as a paladin, and just a bit weaker on the spell casting as a cleric, and gets 6+ skill points a level. Wands can make up for the lack of healing, and once they get Flames of the Faith and Bane, I’ll be tossing out 4d6+static in damage, so I can do decent damage, and the skill points are gravy after playing a Cleric for so long. Plus, their spell lists have fun things like Invisibility!

Yeah, the skill points for a cleric are a bit of a downer, especially for an Int 7 cleric (I probably haven't played her as stupid as I could have, but maybe if I jump down the well after the kobold and or creature, I will earn my stupid stripes...). Plus, my 1 skill point went in Profession (Sailing) for character development reasons. (I could have gone for the favored class bonus, but that extra HP is more tempting.)

Having a 20+ AC, my HP are less of a concern so my favored bonus usually goes into skill points because who doesn't like skill points! Though at higher levels, I may go for an extra spell or two.

So, how does your 'tank' mode work?
Scale: +5
Shield: +2 (I always go for bucklers so that the hand is free for spell casting.)
Dex: +2
Dodge Feat: +1

Fighting Defensively: +2 Dodge
Shield of Faith or Protection from Evil: +2 deflection bonus
Judgement, Protection: +1

Anything else?

That's if I want to keep fighting, but yeah, that's the jist of it. I've actually never had a GM call me on not having a "hand free" for spell casting. As someone who has fought with real weaponry, it's not that hard to switch weapon hands real quick, so I just assume I put the rapier in my shield hand, cast, and grab it back.

Also, I usually wouldn't do Judgment for AC, at 24 or 25, most people are only hitting you on a 20 at that point, so DR, to hit, or fast healing would probably be better.

Yeah, it is the internal nit-picker in me, I guess. I stopped using heavy shields when it said they were too heavy to carry anything else in that hand: I tend to worry about encumbrance and so also tend to have a heavy sack of useful but nonessential goods that I can drop at the beginning of combat. I might do a (light) quickdraw shield, however, if I have a character with the Saving Shield feat.

Dracothis and Targost - I couldn't find your PFS numbers - can you reply here with them? Thanks!

Sorry, 44335-3. Could've sworn it was on the alias. Oh, well.

Thanks, Draco. Calanthe, if you're willing to run it, and you'll have me I am posting under the alias I'd like to use for First Steps Part III. I just applied the credit for this session to my character. Maybe you can help me - do I fill out a chronicle for the character just as if I'd played the session? With max GP, etc?

I may also play this character with my regular group on Monday if they're running a Tier 1-2. I'm guessing we wouldn't start a new game until after that point anyway.

Only 2 players showed for my table game tonight - that's what I get for doing it on a day's notice! I thought 4 had committed.

I was going to run The God's Market Gamble - I'd be happy to run it for our group after First Steps III if you want to. Does that sound good?

Just a trivial end-of-game detail, but if we camped overnight again Norine could prepare Comprehend Languages as a spell and Calanthe could use the scroll to have her familiar learn the spell.

I was going to run The God's Market Gamble - I'd be happy to run it for our group after First Steps III if you want to. Does that sound good?

Mez will be 2 after his next adventure, so a 1-2 adventure would be great.

That stinks about your table Derek, but yeah, 1 day notice is probably not the best, lol.

If the GM is able to throw me a bone and let me try to learn Comprehend Languages from the scroll, I'd be pretty damn happy! But it's no big deal.

I don't think that I'll be able to run First Steps III in time though - I won't get home for a few days and that'll leave us with significantly less than a month to do it. However, I may be able to run something else instead. More info to come when I get home from the con. :P

I did want to try First Steps III, but there are still about 125 other PFS I haven't tried, lol. (I don't know, though, which are best for 1st level characters.)

We could also go 'back' to First Steps I, since I understand it isn't being retired. Hopefully, by then, they will have some new First Steps completed as replacements and we could finish those to get up to the magical second level.

Hi Derek,

One minor suggestion: You might want to think about allowing people to PM you. It might help later if people have questions about their Chronicle Sheets, or just want to say 'hi' without posting on someone else's discussion page.

How do I log my RL session onto Mez's list?

I'd like to, but how do I allow PM's? I've had this trouble before, but never figured out a fix.

And what do you mean, Mez, by RL session?