[PFS] Iron Gods - The Divinity Drive - Sanctioned Content by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

That's a good point as well. There isn't that much distance from where Marduk is and where the real Hugo is.

There's been an abundance of evidence from what Nalshene /has/ seen that she shouldn't need much more convincing. In my mind, the only question should be if he's being compelled or if he's an impostor.

1) She saw Hugo chasing after Marduk and attacking him. If Marduk was the one that was being charmed why would he be attacking him on his own instead of trying to break the compulsion or getting help?

2) She's seen him use a nasty touch attack back to back without any spellcasting.

3) She saw him shrug off a pretty serious AoO from Marduk when he was closing to attack. I don't think we're clear on what effect that is but at this point we should have some ideas.

I think it's a stretch to suggest that Marduk might be compelled/possessed. Nalshene hasn't seen him do anything out of character, outside his abilities, or hostile outside of defending himself (via AoO).

That's a good point as well. There isn't that much distance from where Marduk is and where the real Hugo is.

Fair; I'll figure out the distance, thus the penalty to the DC 0 sounds of combat perception check and come up with the DC to hear Marduk bellow his warning.

In my mind, the only question should be if he's being compelled or if he's an impostor.

While I find myself quibbling over the detail, I agree with the jist of what you are saying here. Especially given the next point.

I think it's a stretch to suggest that Marduk might be compelled/possessed. Nalshene hasn't seen him do anything out of character, outside his abilities, or hostile outside of defending himself (via AoO).

A fair point, to which I find myself agreeing.

So Nalshene, while I certainly won't stop you from taking no action, or blasting, perhaps there is an option somewhere between the two you can take? Mind you, given the amount of people capable of casting curing spells in this party, perhaps blasting a party member till he/she drops is more sensible than I initially considered on second thought.

Anything else before we resume?

Let's see... okay so here's my suggestion for an "in-between" action... since Nalshene sees two party members in some way fighting, but doesn't know which one is necessarily "real", would it make sense for her to try to take them both out of the fight by rendering them both unable to affect each other?

If so, she can use a loathsome veil spell to nauseate both of them (as they're treated as having 11 fewer hit dice for the effects), leaving them with only a Move action each round, until she straightens out which one is the "good guy".

Marduk will have to consent to me using this spell on him, though. Marduk, what do you think?

I do not consent.

The situation is clear: Hugo is not Hugo. Nalshene has seen him do non-Hugo things and act in a non-Hugo way. The only question should be /what/ is wrong with Hugo but even that should be fairly clear unless Hugo has secretly always been a lich or some other critter with a nasty at-will touch attack.

I would prefer Nalshene sticks to doing nothing than attacking Marduk if she’s somehow still confused. I was anticipating fighting this thing alone anyway. Attacking me just makes things worse.

Alright. Nalshene, act however you see fit and let us resume. Speaking of which, are you certain you aren't forsaking your swift and move? I could have sworn that you were up to par insofar as actions and I'm not sure I understand why you would think you already took some.

Nalshene will stick with no actions this round other than Narshala moving her closer to Marduk/Hugo.

I will be travelling starting the 2nd and won't be able to post until probably the 4th or 5th, as I'll be tiiiiiired. In the meantime, have a happy new year!

Safe travels, GM!

I'm back in the saddle again!!!!

And there's a blizzard outside!

Welcome back!

+1 ^

Working on a post right now but between computer issues and the fact that I’m running a con this weekend, it might be Monday before I post again. Bot as needed.

Computer fixed, but throwing myself at convention stuff now. If I see confirmation that I'm up again tonight I'll try and post, failing that I'll likely be AWOL til Monday at least.

Four months, 700 posts, and 18 rounds later, the end of the first combat! Whew, that was super fun and a great introduction to PbP. Thanks, GM! Looking forward to seeing what comes next...

Yeah...and just four more complex combats like that and we might be through 1/3 of part one of three! :)

Four months, 700 posts, and 18 rounds later, the end of the first combat! Whew, that was super fun and a great introduction to PbP. Thanks, GM! Looking forward to seeing what comes next...

While that might have been one extended combat I think we probably ran about 6 different encounters together thee which is fine at this level.

For our GM, can I assume minute per level buffs will expire while we are exploring the area and working out more of what has gone on? Round per level will obviously go.

That's a fair assumption. Although, if you made a mad dash towards something on this level you know you want to fight (like the civvies in their dormrooms) you could easily retain most of them.

And yes, that was roughly 5 encounters. The remainder of the sanctioned content consists of roughly three to four more levels such as this.

Agreed, that was a ton of crazy fun and we won't be likely to be so insane as to split up again. LOL

So, I've never played any APs before. At the risk of asking a meta-gamey question, should I expect that we'll get chances to rest or restock resources? I've been unsure how quickly to use up my spells because I don't really have a sense of what the rhythm of an AP is like.

AP chapters are part of greater campaigns, and as such usually the players are left to pace themselves.

When I played through this in campaign mode a while back, I think we stopped perhaps once, and that's because we split the party and ended up losing half the party, as Unity ambushed the other half with that big CR 20 Robot you won't be fighting.

So, I've never played any APs before. At the risk of asking a meta-gamey question, should I expect that we'll get chances to rest or restock resources? I've been unsure how quickly to use up my spells because I don't really have a sense of what the rhythm of an AP is like.

At this level PCs can often manage to set their own pace given abilities like teleport, magnificent mansion, nap stack etc. It would be unusual to try and complete an entire AP chapter without at least a few rest opportunities.

From the set up I am not sure how much time pressure we are actually under. Unity is clearly up to something but I didn't get the sense his evil plan was imminent.

I have more than enough "juice" to keep going but another linked battle like the last one would probably have me looking for a rest.

I'm going to be at a con all day, I'll update tomorrow in all likelyhood.

Traveling through Monday with limited access, will post when I can, bot as needed.

I'm posting it OOCly becauase ICly MIranda has only the fuzziest grasp of what all this technology is, but:

Going back to town to get Technomancy scrolls (on the gamble they have it), as per Urko's suggestion, may be in our best interests. We're not going to be able to use any gear we find, etc. It's too bad there's no spell that grants the actual full technologist feat, heh, because it would help us actually understand probably a lot about this complex; we're sort of going about with one hand tied behind our back.

That said, Miranda's kind of in the same boat whether we have technomancy or not, she's there to tank and stab things, not make knowledge rolls per se. So I'm fine with continuing to explore for now, but if we wind up going for a rest it's probably worth it to zip back to the city. /my two cents

I think we can probably continue to explore. If we do look like resting them heading back to the capital and picking up a wand of it is probably a good idea. Maybe even two or three.

I will point it out as it is something that is often overlooked; you could hire someone who could help shed some light on all this technical mumbo jumbo. Granted, that might involve payment, and I might not adhere to the costs listed in the CRB for services as the people who know enough about tech are rare. However it won't break the bank.

We could although I am doubtful they would survive whatever trouble we might run into here.

I'm just reviewing the buff list and realizing that I'm a bit confused about what time it is now (in game). If we left the city at 10am (sleep from midnight to 8, 1 hour for prepping spells etc, 1 hour for hero's feast), we arrived at the Mount entrance at X o'clock and it is now X+2 o'clock?

Reviewing the buff list:
* Stoneskin that Marduk cast on Miranda & Agata & Marduk expires 2.5 hours after we entered the mount, so maybe 30 minutes remaining? Ditto with Barkskin on Narshala & Sweet Mawd.
* Heroes Feast - expires 12 hours after we left the city - not sure when that it is.
* Prot Evil Circle - has 20 minutes left, I think?
* Tongues - I think this is expired

It looks like the next point after this where a bunch of buffs will expire is when we hit Mount Entry +5 hours

Sorry, prepping for a trip, won't really have a chance to engage until I get to the airport tomorrow

In response to your question, I believe that I had been corrected and that travel took 4 hours from the time of your departure from Starfall.

I've deleted the two red-highlighted lines in the buff list that pertained to me (stoneskin on Agata and barkskin on Sweet Mawd).

I will be away at a convention this weekend so will have limited posting ability until Sunday evening.

Apologies everyone - I just noticed that I have a silence spell prepped - could have used it to muffle the door smashing activities. I guess that's what happens when you play a game over many months!

lol - no worries. Hugo was complaining about the racket more as an annoyance to him and less worried about it attracting foes. From the looks of the turrets, they were going to be there regardless.

Urko, I think the people you are targetting with the communal resist are Marduk, The Rose of Taldor, yourself, Artemis and Narshala? Can you confirm that those are your targets and add them to the buff list if you haven't already?

I added it to the list. 40 mins for each of the 4 of us.

@GM, according to your interpretation, can spiritual weapons take Attacks of Opportunity?

Just as an FYI, Discussion thread are always considered OOC.

And they absolutely cannot.

New website is very new! LOL

FYI, I'll be on a work trip tomorrow through Friday in Las Vegas, so I'll be posting a BIT less than normal, but still at least once per day.

Sorry, Miranda, I shot at the Blue turret because I thought there was no way that you would be able to get to it before it comes back online, but now it looks as if a path has opened up. Didn't mean to take away your target!

The path specifically opened up because you shot at it. Don't feel sorry, feel ecstatic! Feel liberated! Feel out of sight of a bunch of gargoyles who just want to carve you up!

The path specifically opened up because you shot at it. Don't feel sorry, feel ecstatic! Feel liberated! Feel out of sight of a bunch of gargoyles who just want to carve you up!

Ha ha, yes, very glad to be out of their view, at least for now!

Sorry for the delay in posting - I've had family visits for the past week - life should be returning to a more normal pace tomorrow.

I am heading on a train trip tomorrow to WashingtonDC and Williamsburg. So I will be inconsistent on posts, but hope to average once a day.

Just a quick note, I will be away from Friday until Monday with limited posting ability.

Posting likely sparse for the next few days with work, travel, family - will catch up when I can - please bot as needed.

Just out of curiosity - I've never played any portion of an AP before - approximately how far are we through this adventure?

When you finish this fight, you will be about halfway. Maybe a tad less. There will be two or three more significant fights.

Sounds good - thanks.