[PFS] Your Black Waters (Inactive)

Game Master Yours is mined

Doubtless, in such a place as this, with its eerie marshes, sudden fogs, moaning winds … any poor woman might be looked at askance. Once upon a time, after all, she would have been branded as a witch …

Our sordid tale begins August 13.

Hullric here. Black Waters sounds like an interesting Chronicles and look forward to playing it with everyone.

Veres here. Pleasure to be here and looking forward to Aug 13th! Sordid tales are my happy place.

Nice to meet you Hullric!

I will be providing re-rolls on failed attacks and skill checks or saves as needed via Timely Inspiration and Saving Finale, but I will ask each of you to call it out when you are using one. I only have 4 to spare if I don't use any other 1st level spells. They are immediate actions, so only choose one per round.

Also, just as a side note, my bardic performance, Song of the Fiery Gaze, allows the group to see through any smoke, fog, or other similar effect.

Welcome Everyone!

I am very much looking forward to running Black Waters for you in August.

Feel free to fill in your PC details >>HERE<<

Greymore and Worg, it was great meeting you at paizocon – and I relish the chance to game with you again. Veres, as you like sordid, I will do my best to make you smile.

I’ll post the ground rules now in case there are any questions. If you have gamed with GMs like Hmm, Shifty or Tyranius there shouldn’t be any surprises.

⛵ Please make it obvious what buffs you have active and what your AC is.

⛵ Miss is always low if a miss chance applies. For example, if there is a 50% miss chance on a melee attack, a result of 1-50 on d100 is a miss.

⛵ I generally allow PCs to roll their own saving throws and Attacks of Opportunity (AoO). However …

⛵ I like a relatively fast-paced scenario. I find when a game loses momentum, the fun is quickly sucked out of it.
As such, if you do not post an action within 24 hours from when I invite you to post, I reserve the right to take actions for your character.

⛵ If at all possible, please let me know if something comes up that prevents you from posting.

⛵ If I make a mistake on the current combat round, please let me know and I will try to make it right.

⛵ I will roll group initiative and track character actions.

In the example below, the PCs highlighted in bold text can post actions in any order and I will adjudicate those actions in the order they were posted.

You can delay to a later position in the initiative sequence, as usual.

⁢

Initiative Round #2:

Active conditions: bless, inspire courage +1 on party

Kioshi (invisibility)
Hullric (-9 hp)
Veres

Iuz (prone, reaaaally OLD)
Kermin Kermit Mindbender (polymorphed into a frog)
Null (disintegrated – reduced to nothing)

Oli
Garr (entangled)
Roushe

Halga (nauseated, total b!tch witch)

BOLD may act!

The MAP will be in my header AND at the top of the page.

Questions? Let me know here in Discussion or via PM.

If you have any unusual abilities or combinations of abilities, can you please advise me before the game begins.

It will prevent any delays during the game if I ask questions now, rather than in the middle of combat.

☂ ☂ ☂

Also! I am going to provide Faction Missions for this adventure. This is because at least one of them may provide useful background for the PCs. (Also, I love factions!)

Unfortunately the Grand Lodge faction didn’t exist at the time Black Waters was written, and the Osirion faction mission is … kinda meh. So I am going to document the Overall Mission Objective as the Faction Mission for the Grand Lodge and Scarab Sages.

Please note, there is NO OBLIGATION to complete the DARK ARCHIVES or LIBERTY’S EDGE faction missions, in order to gain the full rewards for this scenario.

Obviously, completing the Main Mission Objective outlined in the Grand Lodge/Scarab Sages faction letter, is VITAL for achieving at least one 1 PP for Black Waters.

Questions? Ask me here or via PM.

I will be providing re-rolls on failed attacks and skill checks or saves as needed via Timely Inspiration and Saving Finale, but I will ask each of you to call it out when you are using one. I only have 4 to spare if I don't use any other 1st level spells. They are immediate actions, so only choose one per round.

Also, just as a side note, my bardic performance, Song of the Fiery Gaze, allows the group to see through any smoke, fog, or other similar effect.

Other than what's listed above, she has lingering performance which allows her to start her song on one round, and then stop it for free the next round but the effects linger for two more rounds, effectively stretching her rounds per day of bardic performance significantly.

Even though it rarely comes up, she has the storm hunter trait that reduces the penalties for shooting a bow in windy weather by one category.

"I am Roushe Decou'lette, ze revolutionary of Galt! Viva La Resistaunce!" Or at least with how he pronounces Resistance.

Roushe is a Dark Archives Chaotic Good Staff Magus. He is primarily a melee character that is rather bulky and is more likely to intimidate +8 his opposition rather than attempt diplomacy +0.

He is modestly capable in melee, but isn't reckless enough to ignore when hes outclassed, hence utilizing tactics such as Long Arm or Enlarge Person for reach if needed. Also carrying a few of his own Healing Potions should the situation grow dire.

Level 2 Staff Magus.

If things go High Tier I am prepared to take precautions to help ensure my survival without straining the party.

Oli is caught up in another game so I will be bringing someone else. Oneve I see the tier I will slot something in. Likely mesmerist 2 or investigator 4.

Hullric here to check in.

Level 3 Warpriest

Good at melee fights and healing.

The Black Crow is a fairly standard skald. Just be sure to acknowledge if you take the raging bonus or not when he's singing.

Level 2 mesmerist sitting in for Oli trapped in the fey wild. A sheet will go up tomorrow.

Veres is a level 4 bard(as her stat line says). If the group would rather have a different character I can bring my 3rd lvl Spiritualist/oracle(melee character with spells and good social skills) instead. Whatever the group prefers.

Welcome back all!

Grandlounge, I am guessing your mesmerist has a Jung/Freud undertone that is hysterically appropriate to this scenario! ; )

The game starts Soon™ and as I mentioned in your PMs, I am very much looking forward to running Black Waters for you.

If you haven’t already done so, can you please take a moment to complete your player details >Here<

This means I can get you your Chronicles to you faster when the game is over.

I am still waiting for 1 player to respond to my PM. However, I plan to start the game on time on August 13.

I may allow time during the briefing for the player to check in, but there is an alternate waiting if he/she decides not to play.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at sub-tier.

⚀ Black Crow skald 2
⚁ Carl mesmerist 2
⚂ Hullric warpriest 3
⚃ Roushe staff magus 2
⚄ Greymore bard 4 or sporacle 3
⚅ Garr 2

Mark 2000 APL calculator: 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 4 + 2 = 15/6 = 2.5

If Greymore brings his sporacle:

Mark 2000 APL calculator: 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 14/6 = 2.33

So here’s the situation:

Our game begins after August 2, so welcome to Season 10!

According to the *NEW* PFS Roleplaying Guild Guide there is no adjustment for different numbers of PCs in Season Zero scenarios.

If the result of the Average Party Level calculation ends with 0.5, the players should decide whether to round up or down.

Also!

Scenarios in Seasons 0 through 3 were designed for four characters. For these scenarios, if the APL is between subtiers, a party of six or seven characters must play the higher subtier. Parties with four or five characters must play the lower subtier.

So in a nutshell, if Greymore brings his bard 4, I need to take a vote whether the group wants to play up or down.

If Greymore brings his sporacle 3, we are playing LOW subtier.

So for the moment, I’ll wait for Greymore to confirm the PC he is bringing (and for the sixth player to get back to me) before confirming the sub-tier we are playing.

I think Rask is a better fit for the group since we have a Skald with us. Veres can sit this one out. He will likely ALWAYS take the rage benefit from the song. He only recently became available or I would have put him forward as an option for this one earlier.

Rask is a Spiritualist 2(ectoplasmatist, fractured mind) and a straight Oracle 1. I call him an Ectofractmatist, and sometimes a Fractoplasmatist, instead of a Sporacle, but he responds to them all. ;)

One thing to note for him that is somewhat important, due to his oracle curse he can never act in the surprise round and if there is no surprise round, he is staggered in the first round of combat. Trust me though, while he is slow to react and a tragic bit clumsy, he does fine.

So, with all that said, his being level 3 puts the group in Low Tier.

Almost forgot to explain something else for Rask.

He has the Nature's Whispers revelation that lets him swap his DEX bonus for his CHA bonus to AC, and he has the Noble Scion feat War that lets him add his CHA bonus to initiative instead of DEX.

He also has uncanny dodge from his Powerless Prophecy curse, so he doesn't loose his DEX(in this case CHA) bonus when flatfooted.

Well whadya know?

The calendar on my PC says August 13.

Ready to take the plunge? Then let’s go!!

The last post by any of our sixth player’s aliases was made on August 2, and he had not responded to my PM. So I am going to assume he is not playing and contact the Alternate.

I am hopeful the Alternate player will show up during the period of game time you have to prepare for Lady Dacilane’s dinner party.

The Alternate player is full up on Game Day 7 games and won’t be joining us.

Right now, we have 5 players at APL: 2 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 12/5 = 2.4

The nearest integer to 2.4 is 2, so the Season 10 Guide currently directs me to run this Season Zero scenario at low sub-tier.

My question is, do you guys want another player?

I am compelled to point out that while I run opponent tactics as dictated by the scenario, I do not soft ball encounters.

However, we appear to have a mix of very experienced GM/players ☞ new-ish players in our party of five, at APL 2.4 playing down in a scenario designed for four PCs.

I have also found the game goes significantly faster with 5 players compared to 6.

Can I please have your thoughts on whether you’d like me to try to find a sixth player?

As one of the low tier PCs I'm fine with playing with 5 people and low tier, as such I may be able to help in combat.

If another player joins in, I would like for Roushe to purchase another Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds and two more Potions of Cure Light Wounds.

Otherwise, I am fine with either option.

I'm ok with either. I don't mind the challenge, but I also don't mind letting another get the opportunity to play.

I don't really have a preference. So I'll go with what the majority or the GM wants.

I get the impression most of you are fine either way.

I’ll place an ad in the Recruitment section of the Flaxseed Lodge, and see if we get a taker by the time the carriage shows up to take you all to the party.

If not, I sense we are OK continuing with 5.

If I’m mistaken, please let me know.

I have a few 2nd level characters that could come, a bralwer, a mindblade, an elven archer, a shifter, a dwarven inquisitor. I also have a dwarven fighter that I might be able to send, I think he is either 3rd or 4th level.

Welcome Terevalis!

I’ll give you a moment to read the Ground Rules above in Discussion and catch up on what’s going on in Gameplay.

A level 1, 2 or 3 PC will keep us in low tier.

If you could choose a character and make an introductory post in Gameplay readying him or her to go to a swanky dinner party, that would be groovy.

If you have any questions about the Ground Rules or anything else, just ask here or PM me.

Let’s rock this now!

What category does a sharpened axe-guitar fall under?

The BEST kind, of course! ; )

Stick a chunk of cork over the blade and it’s in!

… BUT you owe me a song at the party.

Ok. I will try to do that soon, teh website was acting up for me most of the day and most of the evening last night.

Here he is.

The website was acting up for me into the evening as well. Sometimes it would let me on and others it would log me off right away with the goblin/rat things.

Yeah, it was doing the same for me, Jinath.

But you're here now, so that's the main thing : )

:)

Is the website up and running again?

I have been able to post! Hooray!

Yep it has been stabled for me.

Mine was as citing up for almost 2 weeks.

This is the first time I've been able to login since the upgrade :P

Yeah, it’s been the same for me, TBC.

I want to move us onto the next Act fairly soon, as we have lost a week through no fault of our own.

I’m still having issues getting in. But for some reason my phone works still?

It wouldn't let me on Saturday or Sunday, for like 10 minutes yesterday and just like 10 minutes ago I was able to get on.

Welcome back, all! Hopefully we actually get a chance to game now! ; )

At TBC’s prompting, I give you Edible Balloons!

Lol

Drinking Rules from GameMastery Guide p.237

@Roushe, sorry with all the site downtime I forgot to get back to you on this.

To be honest, I am uncomfortable with introducing the Drugs and Addiction rules from the GameMastery Guide (GMG) into a PFS scenario.

In addition, while I know things like NPC stats could be taken from the GMG by a PFS GM in a pinch, I can’t find the GMG in PFS Additional Resources. (Am I blind?)

This increases my reluctance to allow the Drinking Rules from that source.

If it’s any consolation, you are welcome to roleplay Roushe as being drunken, but without any mechanical benefits or penalties.

Worg, if you think I am being overly restrictive with this, let me know or PM me.

The site seems to have stabilized. FOR NOW!

Worg, if you think I am being overly restrictive with this, let me know or PM me.

If your not gonna play with it then I don't mind at all. I know some GMs who do run it though, and wanted to get that out of the way if it was the case. :3

What are the official PFS rules on it?

I have been looking into it. I have found nothing official in any of the pfs rules. I remember specific scenarios that use unique rules but that is it.

Drinking is fully left to rp best I can tell.

Do we have access to the Google map, I don't seem to be able to move.

That was strange, after I asked the question he had moved, lol.

So it needs to roll a 14 on the dice now to hit me. This may or may not turn out poorly. Just hope I don't start drowning if I go unconscious >.>

I have just spent some time down the Rules rabbit hole regarding ranged touch attack (RTA) spells, firing into melee and soft cover penalties.

There is some debate on the boards whether acid splash counts as a weapon, as opposed to a ray which is definitely considered to be a weapon.

As such, (unless you guys want to convince me otherwise) I am going to say acid splash is NOT a weapon, and therefore is NOT subject to the -4 firing into melee penalty.

(@Carl, you don’t have precise shot, right?)

However, there seems to be no debate that all RTAs are subject to cover penalties.

The Black Water Bug currently enjoys soft cover from Carl, courtesy of the forward rank of melee Pathfinders.

However, because the Bug is large, I am going to say it only has Partial Soft Cover, so it only gets a +2 bonus to its AC, instead of the normal +4 (per the rules)

Comments from the floor are welcome.