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Discussion thread is up! A quick reminder of how I play and what I expect, especially since there will be two new players with us.
How I run my games
- In the interest of keeping a good pace in the game, I'm posting at least once or twice a day and I expect my players to check in (and ideally, post) at least once a day. Of course real life has many unforseen twists and turns, so there's no big deal if you can't post now and then. If you know that you won't be able to post for a couple of days for any reason, please warn me within the Discussion thread so that we may find an agreeable solution for all of us.
- If we're in a combat and you don't post for 24 hours, I reserve the right to have you take the delay action until you can post. If you warned in advance, you can give me directions with which to work, such as the kind of tactics you'd like your character to use until you come back.
- I'm rolling initiative and perception rolls to determine surprise. All other rolls, including saves, are made by you. My rolls will be made under "GM Screen" (spoiler tag), and while nothing can actually prevent you from looking at them, I prefer if you refrain from doing so. After all, you don't peek over your GM's screen when you play tabletop, do you? ;)
- Maps will be hosted on googledocs. You will be able to move your own character on the map. Finally, I'll ask you to call AoOs when you provoke them since movement history isn't recorded. It works on a trust basis, really.
- Most of all, we're here to have fun! Good luck for the scenario, and I hope you'll enjoy it.
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So I bought two things as well as adding on my We Be Goblins! chronicle. I picked up the Skyrocket off the We Be Goblins! chronicle for 50 gp, and I picked up the Wand of Burning Hands (CL 3, 4 charges) for 180 gp that Ardisen picked up from The Confirmation. I'm saving up for the +1 Cloak of Resistance, but it was alittle out of my price range.
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Good to know!
By the way, don't forget you can ask for a "free" item up to a 750gp value if you spend 2 prestige points. Most people use their first two points on a fully-charged Wand of Cure Light Wounds (50 charges) to contribute to the group's healing. It's generally considered normal according to the PFS etiquette. Other popular choices include a Wand of Mage Armor (for monks or arcane casters) or a Masterwork Darkwood Composite Longbow (STR up to +3) for archers/combatants.
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Actually, I had done it in part because I liked the imagery, and because I thought that it increased the HP/hardness of the bow. However, after a little research, it seems that's not the case...normal wood apparently has the same hp/hardness.
Assuming that's correct, I think I'll save the cost of the bow and of bonding a new item and get it for free. I'll just deal with the extra 1.5 lbs. of weight...:-P
GM - any ruling on what kind of Str bonus I can get on my free composite longbow?
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Actually, I had done it in part because I liked the imagery, and because I thought that it increased the HP/hardness of the bow. However, after a little research, it seems that's not the case...normal wood apparently has the same hp/hardness.
Assuming that's correct, I think I'll save the cost of the bow and of bonding a new item and get it for free. I'll just deal with the extra 1.5 lbs. of weight...:-P
GM - any ruling on what kind of Str bonus I can get on my free composite longbow?
If you are going for a comp. longbow, look at your STR bonus and get it to that one or 1 lvl above in case people give you a str bonus so you can roll more damage.
for example, tenaka has a STR of +2, so I have a comp. longbow +2 (should have gone for +3 but I was tired when I bought it :P )
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The reason for darkwood is found out in the item's price. 2pp means you can have up to 750gp of value on a single item, which means that the difference between 750 and the actual price for the item is basically lost.
Calculation:
Composite Longbow: 100 gp
Masterwork: 300 gp
Darkwood: 30 gp (3 lbs is base item weight)
Strength: 100 gp per point of strength
So 730 gp (closest to 750) will get you a Darkwood composite longbow (STR +3). You can have it in non-darkwood version (costing 700gp), but since the difference in price is lost, why not take it? It's another 1 1/2 lb off your carried weight.
About the STR bonus, remember that if you have a bow with a greater STR bonus than your actual STR mod, you take a -2 penalty on attacks with it. For example Tenaka has 14 STR, so he'd have to take a penalty with a STR +3 bow. The best choice for Tenaka is hence a STR +2 bow (adapted to his strength).
Oh and by the way a Darkwood item is automatically Masterwork.
If you are going for a comp. longbow, look at your STR bonus and get it to that one or 1 lvl above in case people give you a str bonus so you can roll more damage.
for example, tenaka has a STR of +2, so I have a comp. longbow +2 (should have gone for +3 but I was tired when I bought it :P )
Wrong, unless you want to take the -2 penalty to attack (see above).
sidenote: Tenaka has a 42 charges CLW wand bought already (just not able to use it :)
Also wrong. You can cast spells from the druid spell list. CLW is on that list, hence you can use the wand.
GM - any ruling on what kind of Str bonus I can get on my free composite longbow?
Depends on how much you pay your Composite Longbow (see post above). The cost is +100gp/STR point.
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Alright, I've decided to start the game. The briefing scene will last until Monday to give time for the last player, Mehelot, to join us. Feel free to interact with one another or with the VC during this time of course!
Additonally, please check your Perception and Initiative modifiers on the Campaign Info tab, and let me know if they're correct or not.
Finally, we'll play this scenario in subtier 1-2, quite obviously. Good luck, Pathfinders!
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sidenote: Tenaka has a 42 charges CLW wand bought already (just not able to use it :)Also wrong. You can cast spells from the druid spell list. CLW is on that list, hence you can use the wand.
I don't know Hunter, so I don't know what level he gets his spells, but surely he can't use the wand until he gets the ability to cast spells?
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It actually doesn't matter. A character that has the spell on its spell list is able to cast it from a wand without trouble. For example, a 1st-level Paladin could use a Wand of CLW because it's on the paladin spell list. The only exception is if an archetype removes your ability to cast spells, you then lost that perk too.
That being said Hunters get spells at level 1, so it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
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Sorry, what I was specifically asking (before we started, so if I could still get it under the wire as part of my retrain?) relates to this:
Wizards who select a bonded object begin play with one at no cost. Objects that are the subject of an arcane bond must fall into one of the following categories: amulet, ring, staff, wand, or weapon. These objects are always masterwork quality. Weapons acquired at 1st level are not made of any special material.
I had initially purchased the darkwood composite longbow with gold, for the reasons listed above, then paid the 200 gp/wizard level to bond with it, for a total of 800 gp.
If, however, I just took the free (regular material) masterwork composite longbow, would I get it with a +2 Str bonus for free, or would I have to pay for that bonus explicitly, or would I get a free one with no bonus and have to buy another one and bond with it anyway?
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I see! There would be two ways to get a STR +2 bonus on your Arcane Bonded composite longbow.
Method A - at first level
There's a consensus that if you do it within the first level of your character, you can "rebuild" into getting your free bow to have a STR bonus by paying just the +100 gp per STR bonus, essentially "rebuilding" your bow. The rules state clearly that what's free is:
1) The item's base price
2) The Masterwork price (300gp for a weapon)
In your case, if you're able to pay 200gp before you start playing your level 2 character, your bow will be a Masterwork composite longbow (STR +2)
Method B - after first level
Simply wait until you have cash to make your bow magical (2000 gp), then apply the adaptive magical quality to it, allowing your bow to adapt to your strength, including temporary modifiers (bull's strength, belt of giant strength, etc.) In the long run, it's probably something you will do anyway. The downside of this method is that you have to wait until you have sufficient funds, and pay the 200 gp per wizard level at the time you're doing it.
Useful link to keep in mind: FAQ concerning Arcane Bonded items.
In your case, I'd advise to rebuild your bonded item (whatever you bought can also be rebuilt, except what you bought with PP afaik) and pay the 200gp for now, and when you have the cash later, use method B.
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Castien started as a Fighter, so (technically) he would not receive the free bow until he was level 2 (a first level wizard). That pretty much invalidates Method A, if I'm not mistaken.
I think the cheapest way to handle this would be the way I already did:
- purchase a masterwork composite bow (+2 Str) at some point
- become a level 1 wizard, receive a free bonded MW composite bow
- "sell" back the free bonded MW composite bow (for free) and pay 200 gp to bond with the paid-for bow
That is legal, right?
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Starting as a fighter isn't important since you can rebuild your character entirely (including class, of course). So basically before you take your second level you rebuild to 1st-level wizard, use Method A, then take a level of fighter as your 2nd level.
No worries Aiva! The weekend is usually a slower period of posting anyway. That's why I wrote we'd start properly on Monday, I just wanted to throw a bone at the players who were waiting eagerly for the game to start! :)
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Taking his first level as wizard would mean he takes a hit point dip as;
Fighter at lvl 1 - 10 hp
Wizard at lvl 2 - 4 hp
Total - 14 hpor
Wizard at lvl 1 - 6 hp
Fighter at lvl 2 - 6 hp
Total - 12 hpIt's not a massive loss, but worth bearing in mind.
Right, that was exactly my concern. Considering my recent luck with characters, I think a couple of hit points might just be worth a few hundred gold.
Which brings me to my question again - is the description of the process in my last post legal?
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A quick PFS newbie question :)
Is it usual that groups start out without a clear hierarchy, especially without some sort of established leader? From an in-character perspective, it would make sense to have one... is it because players are often more or less randomly gathered for a PFS Scenario and therefore have little interest in deferring to someone they don't know?
Or is it that nobody wants to take on the responsibility .. or that players feel that it takes too much fun out of the game if somebody can - within limits - tell them what to do?
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Personally, I have found that most of my PFS groups don't really have an established leader, per se, but it helps to have someone that generally moves the story along when appropriate.
That said, it can be totally overdone. In a recent scenario, there was one character that completely and utterly ruined the experience for me. It was intended to be a non-combat stealth scenario, and he was completely over the top with his swashbuckler, using distraction rather than stealth regardless of the consequences. Whenever we got into a situation where stealth was appropriate, he would post something that pretty much left the rest of us feeling basically useless.
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Pretty much seconding what Castien has already said. PFS is a team sport, while some players may point out suggested courses of activity (i.e. put out the fires) they shouldn't be forcing anyone to do anything. There's nothing wrong with deferring to a more experienced player or asking advice, but don't feel you need to compromise your character because of an overbearing player/character. In PFS more so than anywhere else, players should be working together despite how new they are to each other.
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I wasn't complaining about the fire thing at all... I hope it didn't come across like that :) But I'm glad I'm not an outcast because I didn't jump right to it ;)
The fire was actually also on my mind at first, but I reconsidered and found that making sure the contact is safe is probably paramount. Hopefully we will not all die in a raging inferno now :P
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Alright, I needed to finish the round to see how far the fire would extend. Bad news, it spread too far and burned too much of the field before you were able to stop it. Since it was the secondary success condition, I'm afraid you will only get 1 prestige/fame point for this mission if you complete it.
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Seems quite difficult, though. Even metagaming that the scenario wouldn't very likely start with the important contact bleeding to death (I think, but the characters don't know that) and if just 1 Person/pet attacks each bad guy, that leaves five chacters for three fire squares that spread to multiple other squares each round. And one has to get there first, around all the villains.
I'm curious :) did we miss something? Or did we just have the wrong spells prepared? What do you guys think? ;)
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From experience, some you'll complete almost by accident they're so easy. But some are trickier and require alittle more effort, this seems to be the latter. The trick with them is that you don't know what they are, but they're meant to represent being a good Pathfinder and showing evidence of 'Explore, Report and Cooperate'. In this case, cooperate.
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Honestly, this scenario's secondary success condition is very hard to fulfill. Most are much easier, and as Ardisen said you succeed without even realizing it. That being said, keep in mind that Campaign Management (Mike Brock et alii) basically count on the fact that people will statistically succeed at getting their secondary condition done about 66%-75% of the time only.
Ironically enough when I played that scenario last year it was one of the only faction missions I didn't succeed (it was how we got our 2nd prestige point at the time).