GM ShadowLord's Reign of Winter

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

I would think, not to blow our covers, we would switch into more normal "northern" gear when we reach the tower -- just so we don't stick out like sore thumbs. In Callix's case, would be just borrowing a less flashy cloak and an overcoat, I would think.

At least you have a diagnosis and the proper specialists reachable. I know how painful is to have problems and suffering to find a release. I hope it goes well for your girl, it should be ok for her.

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If we are to preserve our cover identities, as well proposed by Callix, Samuel will change to his Taldan cold coat before entering the tower.

On a camping trip til Wednesday. Feel free to bot was needed.

I don't think the icicle from the wand would be granting cover in this situation. it's especially hard to say that it gives cover when the icicle hasn't been marked on the map and ashling didn't choose her spot on the map to be standing.

from what i can tell, the icicle appears somewhere within the area of the troll, but doesn't push him off the square he's in, meaning it is smaller than a full 5 foot square. it's not a very well-worded spell for dealing with the icicle that is left behind. but it does seem like it is currently sharing space with the troll somewhere in there, but i don't see how that would be big enough or in the way enough to give cover to something not in the same square as the icicle.

I think for future reference on this spell, in order to benefit from cover from an icicle, the icicle needs to either be in a space between the attacker and target, or within the target's square (but will only grant cover if the target is a medium or smaller creature or there are 2 icicles in adjacent squares).

does that sound reasonable to everyone?

It seems reasonable.

I looked up for how 'columns' work in dungeons, I thought there was something, but could not find it right now.

I would suggest to treat the ice spears like trees which have a clear ruling on how their work. It is very close to what the GM proposes, they basically give partial cover if you are in the space, as you can take profit to your best, hiding behind and moving forward to attack.

Actually the spell is misleading, with duration "Instantaneous" if you look up the definition in the magic chapter there should be nothing left after the initial effect (like a burning hands). The last paragraph of the spell means duration should had been worded like "Permanent" and provided a couple or three melting times depending on ambience temperature.

Per the description of the spell, ice spears can provide cover. I know I didn't specify where the spear would be located, but technically Ashling moved in and attacked before I did. I specifically stated I waited to try to trip a troll after it got up (incidentally, that should have provoked an AoO from Ashling). So I could have put it in between the troll and Ashling deliberately.

I understand you're ruling, but I'm also trying to avoid a dead PC. ;)

The reason it's instantaneous and not permanent is that the ice is real -- you can't dispel the icicle that it creates.

(In the same way that healing spells are instantaneous - otherwise, every BBEG would laugh and mass dispel the heroes the moment they arrived).

Hi! As my holidays deep in, I will be away from Internet connection for the following few days. Do not expect much from me if anything until next Monday.

Please bot Samuel as needed. He will keep shooting and reloading each round, stepping back from reach. If needed he will toss a couple of fire flasks to stop the trolls regeneration.

hey all, sorry for the delays. I am coming into a very tough crunch time at work for the next two weeks, and will likely not be able to post here much in that time. I will do what i can, but it will be slow. I will try to get a DM post up in the next day or so at least

Yay! Welcome back!

Things being as Hectic as they are i missed the level 5 Bump back in april, i was reading Sammy's post and saw level 5 and my brain just broke for a second. I'll fix it post haste. But yeah, everythings simmered down enough to focus on the fun.

Oracle level 3

Hp: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Con mod plus Fcb

Bab, Fort, ref : +1

Spell known

Command

Skills

1 intimidate
2 Perception
1 Linguistics... Picking up a certain language thats coming up a lot

1 Survival

Revelation

Icy Skin (Ex): You gain resist cold 5. This resistance increases to 10 at 5th level and 20 at 11th level. At 17th level, you gain immunity to cold.

Sorry for the double post but need to put my feat in, Picking Improved Initiative... because I'm still figuring out my build

They have been hectic months truly :)

Have you considered taking the Extra revelation feat? If you are multiclassing with fighter, it seems the kind of thing that will let you keep up with your oracle powers, and you probably will have more than enough feats already. There are some very interesting: ice shape allows you to find workarounds on ice/snow lairs, ice armor allows you to save a lot of coin on improving your armor and does not depend on access to a market, wintry touch you definitely want by 11th oracle level, servant of winter allows you to summon an elemental (that rocks!), etc.

Your child winter already gives you "During winter months, you gain a +2 insight bonus on Initiative checks and Reflex saving throws.", you probably should note that in the GM's template so it does not go forgotten.

Good ideas Sam, i was considering making use of Snow sight and The concealment stuff i can do to bump defenses, Ice armor is up their, Ice shape I'm definitely considering.

I didn't actually consider the elemental all that much but now that you bring it up, also a good option, more bodies on the field

Wintry touch i looked over, and must have misread something, Free frost enchantment at 11.

As for child of winter, i have been forgetting that.

All in all Extra revelation is actually look pretty nice .

I was hyper focusing on trying to bump my weapon damage directly like an idiot. Forgetting i can get some pretty interesting abilities

I find, specially for long adventures like APs, it is often more interesting and fun in the long run to have a variety of utility abilities rather than the maximum damage output. Any of those options are going to be useful Ashling :)

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GoAdventures just released a new road in the snow battlemap. It might be interesting for this campaign at some point.

so sorry for the delay again here, especially for a post basically telling you the combat ended!

I posted on Friday but apparently the site's gremlins ate my post as it seems to be gone now...

Yep, they are doing changes to their infrastructure and the site has not been very stable in the last months. I usually have to hit the refresh button many times until the posts appear after submitting :P

yeah i need to do that more often to make sure my post shows

gotta love intel given to you by a group of scared little kids!

We will have to deal with their imagination it seems. Two dragons? Are they crazy? :)

I'm not sure if it was clear enough in the way i posted it, but Callix, you are up. if there isn't a post from Callix by tomorrow when i post, I'll move her down one in the initiative order and have the whole party act just to keep things moving

Sorry, I did not realize that.

... and, in fact, didn't get notice of a new gameplay post (though I did here)

Edit: No, your post was crystal clear, I simply wasn't aware of it.

I am a bit confused by the current map statues. I guess Callix is by the southern door close to the enemy for that silence to make effect.

that fight went quicker than expected... the power of Critical hits huh

We're not done yet! There's still the little doll thing (attic whisperer) that took my voice!

Do we actually know about that thing now?

I'll be off for the holidays, everyone - not back 'til Monday (sorry, meant to send a pre-warning, I usually do).

..and by back, I mean back online. It's not travel, it's toddler. ;)

Happy holidays, everyone.

I will also be slow or not posting until January 1. enjoy your holidays everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Despite this foul year I hope you find the opportunity to enjoy your time with family or friends, even if only close ones this time.

I think we are waiting for Alec to post his round, isn't it?

before Samuel goes opening doors, please everyone make sure your tokens are where you want them on the map. waiting on posts from Alec and Ashling. I'll put up a GM post with doors opening tomorrow morning

Alec? Still with us?

I botted him for this round, and sent a PM. hopefully he comes back.

I have another game that has lost a few players, and may be disbanding. hopefully we dont' need to replace Alec, but if we do it would come from that group. I may add one of them to this game as an additional PC either way, depending on what y'all think about having a big party.

I'd hate to lose him. This group generally had a good RP dynamic.

Big party is fine, losing people can suck but it happens. Life can get heavy sometimes

All his other games have prematurely finished. With a single campaign to update he probably feels less pressure to open the forums and update daily. After a 24 days absence without warning I think it is just natural we move in without him, although I would really miss his contribution to the campaign. I just hope he is ok and enjoying other new hobby.

I have played and run groups of 6 players before and it is doable, although it requires keeping the group one or two levels behind to maintain the adventure balance, and more time for the GM (but surely less than running two campaigns).

If the players are active (daily posters) and balanced roleplayers, I am more than happy to add one or two new companions.

And Happy 2021 everyone! We made 2 years and a half of gaming on this campaign.

I think for now we will continue on with what we have, at least through the end of this tower. at that point if we still haven't heard from Alec we'll replace him with a 5th PC, but leave it open for him to return if he can at a later point.

Sounds good.

GM, whenever you've got a moment, I tried identifying the items looted off Old Nan. Callix helped to ID the ring, since I rolled low on that one.

I will post the items once this combat is over, to keep it all in the gameplay chat. in my mind letitia was in the middle of trying to identify the items when Samuel started opening doors. once this combat wraps up I'll use the rolls you made and give you the info

Makes sense to me!

I have not gotten any response from Alec. it wouldn't make sense to replace him in the middle of this tower, so we will keep Alec around for the fight against the dragon. If members of the party could bot his actions that would be helpful, especially in an important combat. that way you can be sure that his actions are in line with the tactics you are trying for. I generally feel like combats are less interesting when the GM is running characters on both sides.

after the tower is finished, we will bring in a new PC who will be moving over here from the RoW table that fell apart. They were just about to join the game as things fell apart but had gone through the trouble of building their character. that game was just a little bit behind this one, the party had not quite arrived in Whitethrone yet.

Sounds good. Another ranger/trapfinder sort?

If we do not get a "rogue", Samuel can focus a bit more on Disable Device and cover up mundane traps and opening locks, while you casters can deal with magical traps with Dispel Magic. Not ideal, but workable.

I could figure out a way to get Ash disable device and the requisite class abilities. Its not out of character for her to know her way around a lock or two, So a trappy person isn't crucial

trapfinding as a dedicated role feels less required for most parties, especially in an AP. I think that this group has enough options to survive most traps and get through the normal array of doors you might find.

the person joining the group has created a caster-type, but are considering changing it for the needs of the party. I will leave it up to them what they play, I don't like forcing someone to play a specific role, even if it leads to an odd party makeup

I also think we are kind of balanced enough so whomever wants to come in shall feel free to occupy whatever roles they feel the most inclined to.

An easy way to go would be the new comer to be a prisoner of the witches, or perhaps a defective member of their guard. But of course whomever wants to see Babba Yagga return or Elvanna defeated should work.

A caster is a good idea I think, but another melee combatant or melee "roguish" companion could do good too.

That was sort of my thought - losing Alec really makes poor Callix the frontliner, since Samuel's a 'stand back and shoot' sort of person. ;)

Well, Callix and Ashling make for a pretty good front line.

I'm less concerned about what they'll bring in a combat situation, and more about how they'll fit into our group socially. I think we've got a good dynamic going with everyone, so hopefully anyone new will make things interesting without throwing off what we've already got.

hard call, As someone whose subbed into quite a few games it can be hard when the group has a preestablished dynamic, but im sure everything will work out.

As for mechanically anything could work. i could see an arcane type working, heck a bulkier melee type like a Cavalier, or a more unorthodox nature fang druid.

Ohmg, my bad about not remembering Samuel's promise about Bella. Thanks a lot GM for remembering it for me.

It was a half a year ago, ouch, a tough half a year with a lot of stuff going on.