Yup! Agree with Bran!
Lady Kaal controls her House Guard and her elite guard. All told, these are 74 (with 52 of them either PC-classed or 2nd+). There is no clear compelling strategic reason to pick Lady Kaal other than the worry she might take her troops and quit the battle - although you seem to have made a good enough impression on her that such an outcome seems unlikely. Her more 'subtle' operatives might be good scouts, which could give her an edge.
The adventure doesn't say exactly how many Tiri Kitor are here under the command of Sellyria Starsinger. Their total force is 260. It says "a group" of hunters arrive to help. I'll say they send about 1/3 of their forces, for 90 (not all of them mounted). The fact that she can be mounted on owl-back does give her an advantage in seeing what is going on.
Captain Ulverth and Lord Jarmaath would split the Brindol army between them. The more elite forces (the 200-strong Lion Guard and the 17-strong elite Lions of Brindol) would defend Lord Jarmaath, while Captain Ulverth has been training more with the militia (about 800) and so would likely stay with them. Some veterans from the Lion Guard would be mixed into the militia as officers, but that is the general division. Given the size of the city, the two will not be in close proximity to each other. Captain Ulverth certainly will command more forces than any other NPC.
Currently, the Defense Council would like to be in telepathic contact with you to send you where you are needed. Even if you start in proximity to Sellyria Starsinger or other NPCs, you might not remain that way.
Okay, I think then that giving the last link to Sellyria is best, because she'll have the owl's eye view.
I'm for that too. If the rest of you are fine with that, I'll throw something up in the morning if no one takes the lead on this.
Can you all give me a ballpark estimate on your WBL? Just the big-ticket items (1,000+). I would do it, but I am not sure your profiles are fully up-to-date. Or I may have lost track of improvements you wanted made.
Taking a look at Bran:
+1 Adaptive MW Composite Longbow (3,100) (didn't this get done?)
+2 Cloak of Resistance (4,000)
+2 Ring of Protection (8,000)
+2 Buckler (4,155)
+2 Mithral Breastplate (8,350)
Boots of the Cat (1,000)
+1 Spiked Training Gauntlets of Ogre Power (~10,000)
Total: 38,605
Estimated other: 2,000?
9th-level target WBL: 46,000 GP (this part of the module is intended for 9th-level PCs)
So maybe another ~5,000 gp in enchantments or items would be appropriate to get during this downtime. Assuming the others are similar.
While getting an item to an actual enhancement bonus of +3 is beyond the scope of E6, you could add a +1 ability to +2 armor, for example (which costs 5,000 gp).
There is also a special mechanic during the battle to access potions/scrolls/etc up to a certain value without having to specify ahead of time what they are - the players will have the narrative ability to determine that the nearby shop (which has opened its doors) just happens to have a Scroll of Remove Curse if that is what you find that you need.
Gaius has:
+2 Katanas ~17,000
Comp Logbow 700
Breastplate 8000
Ring 8000
Belt 4000
Gloves 4000
Jacket 5000
Cloak 2500
about 51.5K. So I'm well over, which I think is largely the dual wielding. :)
Hamailii:
Pearl of power (1st level) (1,000)
Spellguard bracers (5,000, but then she didn't ask for these)
+1 adaptive holy reliquary darkwood composite longbow (+1 Str) (~4,000)
Belt of physical might +2 (Dex, Con) (10,000)
Bracers of armor +5 (significantly beyond her ability to craft, but only +1 over a Wand of Mage Armor, so fine, but 25,000 gp)
Cloak of the night sky (2,500)
Efficient quiver (1,800)
Eyes of the eagle (2,500)
Headband of mental prowess +2 (Wis, Cha) (10,000)
Ring of protection +1 (2,000)
Total: 63,800 - getting a lot of mileage out of Craft Wondrous Item.
Tal'ariel:
Pearl of Power (1st level) 1,000
Mithral Chain Armor of Twilight +2 (10,250)
Boots of Springing and Striding +2 Dex (11,500)
Ring of Protection +1 (2,000)
Elven Curve Blade +1 Goblin Bane (8,380 gp) (bonded item, so didn't quite cost this much to improve)
Cloak of Resistance +1 (1,000 gp)
Shawl of Shadowy Disguise (1,350)
Various Wands, scrolls - ~3,000
Total: 38,480
(About the same as Bran)
Obviously these items are not all perfectly optimized for all of you, but IMO that is how it is supposed to be. Still, there is probably a need for at least Bran and Tal'ariel to get a bit of a boost, if the others would not feel slighted.
I am not trying to "penalize" Hamailii for using CWI, but giving her even more loot on top of what she has (and considering that she has bracers that are technically beyond her ability to make) I think it is okay leaving her where she is.
Will have something in gameplay on this soon.
Very cool new Bow. Its a long weekend here so I only found time to post now, my apologies.
Likewise, thank you Zelligar for going through all of this trouble!
I'll be moving things along to the Battle of Brindol in a day or two. We can assume that the PCs are generally helping the city prepare, but if there is anything specific you want to do, or any NPCs you want to talk to, feel free to post it.
Here's my proposed spell loadout. Note that I need two of the same conjuration spell due to my archetype.
3rd (DC17): Haste, Haste, Stinking Cloud, Stinking Cloud
2nd (DC16): Glitterdust, Glitterdust, Glitterdust, Protection from Arrows, Resist Energy
1st (DC15): Enlarge Person, Feather Fall, Feather Fall, Grease, Grease, Liberating Command, Pearl of Power
0th (DC14): Detect Magic, Drench, Message, Open/Close
Scrolls:
Scroll of Glitterdust
Scroll of Fly
Scroll of Communal Resist Energy
Scroll of See Invisibility
Scroll of Obscuring Mist
One quick change -- one less Feather Fall and one more Expeditious Retreat. In case I need to do some sneaky scouting.
I'm open to other suggested changes.
So two other mechanics for this battle (which consists of multiple events - more than 1 and less than 10):
Reinforcements: The characters are allowed to call upon four Lions of Brindol during the battle. Each of these individuals is a 4th-level human fighter, and they’ll help the PCs in any way they can. The PCs must decide how many of these fighters they want to use before an event begins. Any fighters who survived previous events can be carried over to new events.
If the PCs secured an alliance with the Tiri Kitor elves, they can be assigned four giant owls and four Tiri Kitor hunters (Ran2) to use in a similar manner.
Captain Soranna Anitah is also available to the PCs, volunteering to serve as a bodyguard for whichever PC is most vulnerable in combat.
Magic Items: Many of Brindol’s shopkeepers, merchants, and adventurers have donated potions, scrolls, and wands to the cause. The PCs are allowed to draw upon these resources, to a limited extent. Any potions, scrolls, or wands are available, in any quantity or combination, as long as the total value of items they take over the course of the battlefield events does not exceed 5,000 gp. The PCs cannot access these items during an event but can do so in the downtime between events as they wish.
So you could, for example, bring 4 Tiri Kitor hunters on eagles with you, but if they were all killed they would not be able to help with the dragon event. Did I say dragon event? There will be a dragon event.
Thanks for all that info!
Who are the Tiri Kitor hunters' favored enemy? Could make a big difference in how we deploy them.
Yeah I think hearing that will inform our decision. I still think I'm good for Tal's plan of attacking the giants now, if we can destroy their siege units we will be in a spot that forces them to approach us.
Reptilian humanoids - which unfortunately does not include the Blackspawn Raiders. Really meant to reflect their lizardfolk enemies in the swamp.
Dragon event... Bran and Gaius should have fun with that one! :D
I'll probably Martial Flexibility into Mounted Combat when we are within Bowshot, that way I can absorb maybe some of the hits even with a +6.
Whats the owl AC with Mage Armor? Would that be worthwhile?
Guys?
Bran, Hamailii, and Gaius are up.
Bran, you could use Martial Flexibility and also take a shot if you wished.
I'm so sorry the forum must have eaten my post.
I'll be right on this.
I also just realized that I can't fire a longbow while riding. This is going to be rough.
You cannot use a regular longbow when mounted, but you can use a composite longbow.
Oh neat!
Good to know.
Assume I will always trigger mounted combat if my owl is attacked (+6). It might not make a huge difference but you never know
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Wow im dead sure I had posted. There seems to be an issue with posts not coming through. Unsure of that's from my pc or phone and why.
Just let you know I'm actually here and participating.
Had that in some other games as well as far as I can see.
Posting IC again today and would like to retcon one action casting a buff spell.
Hunter's one. Edited my previous post to mention it too.
I have a really bad habit of checking posts when I'm bored at work, but since I'm on mobile I don't post. Then when I get home there are no notifications and I completely miss things. Terribly sorry.
I've had a family emergency this week right before Thanksgiving weekend, so I'll catch up but will mostly be gone until Tuesday.
Hope everything turns out okay, Bran.
Also, had no idea you are Canadian! Most of my extended family on my dad's side is in Toronto.
Would I be in range to give it a good thrashing with a charge?
If not I'll consider just moving into a better position.
There was no real chance of landing those arrows at a reasonable rate unfortunately; that AC is higher than my paltry ranged attack modifier. The city is falling and I don't think he would let time tick away as people are dying elsewhere.
That being said, we closed the inevitable distance issue, it was bound to snap at one of us.
Yeah, there's a pretty low chance of landing spells too, but high impact if something actually sticks.
There's a trick to beating its AC. What most people forget about dragons is that their Caster Level is usually not particularly high.
Oh, is it magically buffed? Maybe Hamailii could dispel magic?
If only I took the Item Mastery feat for Dispel Magic...
Doesn't really fit though :P
Basically dragons aren't usually very good casters, just about good enough to cast mage armor, shield and a few other useful spells. Hitting them with debuffs like Dispel Magic is easier than people think!
Apologies if I'm misreading the the numbers, but doesn't Vital Strike only increase the dice, not the extra damage? Or am I reading the 6d6+12+12 wrong?
Improved Vital Strike.
2d6 Bite, 2d6 Vital, 2d6 Improved.
1.5X Strength Mod on Bites (8 Strength seems about right)
Power Attack (3,3,3)
Probably a buff or two.
Math checks out!
@Gaius/Bran - Bran has it. Base damage is 2d6+12, becomes 6d6+12 with Improved Vital Strike, and 6d6+24 with Power Attack. PA is -4 for +12.
@All - yeah, in the original it has both Shield and Mage Armor. I changed one of those. Its CL is not great, so Dispelling is not a bad option. Unfortunately, only Hamailii can do that, it isn't a guaranteed success, and she might have other uses for her actions.
As I said in the post I'll be a little busy the next day so if you have a better idea than the invisible rush in I'll take it, otherwise I think it's the best of a bunch of bad options.
I'm still in a Rage so I'll see if Tal can do this before I have to commit to another round or dropping it entirely.
Bran, you might want to drop the Rage anyway. You don't know how long until the next wave (if there is one) and you will be fatigued for twice as long as you rage. Also, probably don't need Bran to drop this guy, given that the NPC archers will go before the bugbear does.
I play a Bloodrager in a Strange Aeons game and came to realize that this sort of battle can be tough for barbarians - waves of enemies with a short but uncertain time in between. Do you keep Rage up and risk running out of rounds, or do you drop it and risk being Fatigued when the next wave comes?
Potions of Lesser Restoration can be useful for getting rid of the Fatigue. Unlike the spell, they only need 1 action to take effect, not 3 rounds.
So here's the thing Gaius - you are on one side of the barricade and they are on the other. It is uncertain if they will be able to break through. That's a Str check (with bonuses for being Large and for charging).
I assume you are Readying a single attack in case they break through. Is that right?
Sure :) I'm happy if they bounce off with bloody noses too!
I don't think I've landed a bow shot all game lol.
No wonder he prefers his fists.
Flame is going to threaten but not attack right now - he's a bit scared of these big beasties, but can still be distracting!
Hey Everyone.
I've been RP-ing here on the forums for a few years now and I've let myself pick up more and more games over time. Recently it's become unsustainable for me so I've decided to cut down quite seriously on the games I'm in.
I've had a great time role-playing with you all. I hope you all have just as much fun from here on out.
GM Zelligar if you could please remove me from the active players list I'd very much appreciate it.
Thanks again everyone. Sorry to leave like this, I'm going to miss you all.
It's been a pleasure playing with you and if I ever have a table I'd be happy to have you come on back.
Have a great new year regardless and take care of yourself :)