Taking this to the discussion tab so it doesn't derail
Yeah GM, I agree with you that it was a bit of bad luck, but I think the last 3(?) encounters Mr Whiskers and I haven't optimized our tactics. Its no-ones fault, and we still 'win' encounters, but we should be handling them a lot better than we currently are. Its like, we probably score a "6" instead of a "10" on the judges table.
Like, take the siege with the Hydra's. Mr. Whiskers cast Wall of Fire to delay the push, and then Hirah, unsure if it would actually do the job due to spotting the fire resistant materials, summoned an earth elemental to tip the whole thing over. From a "mission complete" point, this was fine, ie, we stopped the siege tower, but two of us brought it down when one of us probably could have done the trick. As a direct result of both of us taking on the same target, Hirah took a ton of damage later (iirc), and Mr Whiskers almost died. Hirah's fault, because she conflicted with the Wall of Fire action.
There's another example I could mention in that cold worm fight, but tbh, Hirah was so far out of position not even Jesus could have saved her.
That said, look at this fight. I really should have opened up with a Dazing Fireball and locked down pretty much everyone. I didn't, because I don't know if Mr Whiskers has a CC / lockdown spell, and/or will save that spell in case we come across a solo encounter fight (ie a BBEG). That ones on me as well.
I just think that with Mr Whiskers and I being some of the most flexible spellcasters in the game, we are losing out on some of that tactical advantage by not ensuring our spell lists compliment each other. This is my fault, since I'm not really communicating with him very well, but I'm trying to fix this now so ensure we sync better, like me not casting Fireball after he cast Web.
Then again, I'm sometimes a bit of a worrywart and maybe I;m making a mountain out of a molehill.
You would just save Einar from the last barbarian's full attack, because the barbarians acted before you did, so their round 1 attacks would have gone off first.
Tactics, of course I encourage tactics!
But I can't force people to talk tactics if they each want to do their own stuff...and think only of maximising DPR...
Should you want to change party formation, show me how you want it to be done, I will arrange.
I would like to coordinate spells.
My problem for this is that most everything flys and I believe has excellent Fort saves. Black Tentacles and Stinking Cloud aren't going to do it.
I had considered Create Pit, but if I did that on the barbarians Einar would have had a reasonable chance of going down in there as well. He wouldn't have taken damage -- he has Feather Fall. Still would have put him in a bad situation.
I didn't want to hold things up so I picked the Acid Arrow. I thought if I could hit it would prevent their caster from doing anything bad to us.
I'm going to have to look for some more area control spells, and a Blessed Book. I've already put thousands of gold into scribing even with Mort's very generous attitude towards acquisition of spells.
I've been listing the complete contents of my spellbook in my profile, along with what spells I select each day.
Do you really intend to do that? Obviously attempting to kill Yrax in front of his son...is going to get his son on you.
*Looks innocent*
Post updated.
Thats ok Mr.Whiskers, I'm sure we can co-ordinate things at least a little.
So, low level spells, I'm probably looking at Resist Energy, Hold Person, Burst of Radiance, Invisibility Purge, and Blessing of Fervor. I can also look into preparing Deathless (preventing death from HP loss on Einar), and/or Death Ward. if theres any other recommendations, I'm happy looking into it. I'll have Heal around, as well as Breath of Life (in case its Crummock that gets singled out) but thats mostly it.
If there's a spell you could cast on me though Mr Whiskers, Keep Watch is going to be really useful. It means that I can burn my Incense for its 8 hours and still reap the benefits, without delaying our adventuring day by 8 hours. If that makes sense.
In general, the higher my spells, the more I'm using Metamagic. Against mobs, I imagine we are pretty good since I can drop a Dazing Fireball and lock them all down. Again single target BBEG, I'm not that good (I'm probably fireballing them anyway) unless they are vulnerable to fire in which case I can probably still blow them up with Fireball.
Some good area spells that don't target Fort are spells like Slow, Confusion, Wall spells paired with Cloudkill, Gravity Well (vs fliers and maybe a Pit spell), while some single target lockdown options might be Enervation, Hold Monster ,Icy Prison, Magic jar, Oneric Horror Greater etc etc.
Like, these are just ideas and stuff use / don't use. Even something like Telekinetic Charge might be cool for Einar as it puts him in position to full attack but idk.
I actually like Pit spells, if prepared occasionally, since it wrecks Golems, which (after playing a caster through a golem heavy campaign) are always a pain in the ass. IDK if golems are going to come up enough, and eventually Reverse Gravity is a flat "no".
Like, I can get back to you with a list of my "defaults" if you like (that I'll be preparing daily) if that helps, I'm just throwing ideas out.
Yeah feel free to respond to Iantor on what you want to say, or if you want to murderhobo him, you can too.
Crummock - acorns or holy berry bombs?
If combat lasts long enough(since first turn=engage at 15 ft, second turn = 5 ft in, full round), she will drop her ranseur, then go full monty on the creature in question. Anyone has a +1 amulet of mighty fists to borrow? :p
We're talking about 6 attacks per round.
No I previously didn't really bother playing Greta to her full potential, since I didn't want to outshine anyone in melee. But since you're down one person in the front, I suppose I can start unlocking some of the more nasty shapeshifting shenanigans.
Yes, Crummock just sent a blind, mute, albino dragon who's never been out of Ivoryglass out alone into the dangerous wilds of Traxius. He should feel guilty about himself! But he clearly doesn't ;-)
I'd say Iantor would be an Artificer from 3.5.
It is a dragon. Blindness isn't that huge a handicap.
I expect it will figure out a way to create an illusion at some point. Once it has that, it will be able to communicate via the illusion.
Actually Iantor "sees" better then any of you, except in monochrome. Think Daredevil.
Imagine, not ever being bothered by illusions, invisibility, fog, deeper darkness and all that ilk. Blindsight 100 ft...
Didn't come up, but what Iantor would have wanted would be a way to watch the sun rise, see a rainbow...and find a way to speak.
Mr. Whiskers could have easily allowed him to see the sun rise. Nothing to prevent him from turning Iantor into a Ratfolk or other creature capable of sight. The rainbow would take coordination -- need to find one first. Speaking, as I stated, would probably best be done via illusion although transformations could also work.
None of those would be insurmountable.
True, but it never came up in the conversation.
FAQ: http://paizo.com/paizo/faq/v5748nruor1fm#v5748eaic9quv
Ghost Sound: Can this create intelligible speech?
Making something that sounds like speech, and actually making intelligible speech are two different things. Ghost sound can sound like people talking, but anyone listening can't make out what the "people" are saying. After all, it is a cantrip, and shouldn't be as good as ventriloquism (which is a higher-level spell).
Yeah ghost sound doesn't work. Would need ventriloquism.
Even so, ventriloquism is minutes/level. Meh. I wonder how much a permanent item of that would cost?
Yes, Crummock just sent a blind, mute, albino dragon who's never been out of Ivoryglass out alone into the dangerous wilds of Traxius. He should feel guilty about himself! But he clearly doesn't ;-)
I'd say Iantor would be an Artificer from 3.5.
Yeah, well, given that the other alternative resulted in us eviscerating him, Crummock doesn't feel guilty at all (not to mention that I am sure he will survive just fine!)...
Greta's transformation to a gargoyle is a bit...tricky.
Due to the fact that she starts as a large base creature with the following stats:
18 str, 14 dex, 18 con, 14 int, 15 wis, 14 cha
After polymorph modifiers:
-4 str, + 2 dex -2 con
The spell (monstrous physique 2) says she gets:
+4 str, -2 dex
So the final tally is:
18 str, 14 dex, 16 con, 14 int, 15 wis, 14 cha
With belt of giant strength:
20 str, 14 dex, 16 con, 14 int, 15 wis, 14 cha
BAB + 11, large creatures have a -1 to hit.
Weapon training into natural weapons.
I know I may have made some mistakes earlier, I'm trying to get the maths right.
Power attack puts a -3 to all attack rolls.
If anyone wants to double check my maths, feel free.
The natural attacks should be: 11 -1(large) +1(weapon training) + 5 (str) -3 PA + 2 heroism = total +15
Damage - +5(str) +6(PA) + 1 (weapon training) = total +12
Trip: 11 (BAB) +2(lorewarden) +5(str) + 2 (heroism) -3(power attack) +4(trip chain) = +21 (+1 more if using a natural weapon)
Anyone wants to help me check my maths, feel free =) Melee maths is not my strongsuit.
Yeah, the main issues with that, is that he doesn't know *how* to fly (which is why I Air Walk him all the time).
EDIT: Not to mention, the cost is pretty prohibitive ;-)
Oh, there *is* a spell that could give Geist the ability to talk; I just haven't bothered to learn it, as I don't really have a 'voice' for him...
It's your @ss=D
If you clog the hall, we might have difficulty hitting.
I also don't like the idea of all four deciding to attack you at once...
Let's try and spread the damage around.
Also - Mr Whiskers - bonus for knowledge checks for heightened awareness is only a +2, not a +4.
Heightened Awareness is +2 competence. Heroism is +2 moral. Total of +4. Sorry, I figured just listing both spells and giving the total bonus would be clear.
Oh ok. I'll use your sheet and out it as a +4 then.
Yeah, I never update the main profile area based on spell activity, just the headers.
I guess I have no issue with charging, just make sure your defences are up to scratch first.
And you know, like not charge in without a care in the world...
Ahhh..I'm feeling generous. I'll give. Now go murderhobo faster!
While I count how many golems seraphine caught with that coldball, and are slowed as a result.
Yesh it does.
Anyone wants to talk to Cesser? I mean well..that's what you get when you go straight to BBEG.
The result would be even worse had you asked Iantor to escort you here. The moment you start murdering his dad, you'd get the ice elemental, him, Yrax and Cesser on you at the same time.
Whether you'd win that fight or not, doesn't really matter, not everyone in the group, I am sure, signed up to chain several encounters together...
Anyone wants to talk to Cesser?
Yeah... not in the middle of a fight with the BBEG!
I'll allow it...you were really meant to meet in more peaceful circumstances...
Time stops for conversations.
But players will do what they will - and you can't really do anything about it.
Cool - so, whilst someone takes the minute required to enable us to make a Diplomacy check, does that mean the rest of us have 10 rounds of buffing?
*Ducks for cover*
;-)
No.
Lets assume that everyone is under the effect of a timestop while the conversation is going.
Geez. I'm not about to cheat you guys of stuff but...REALLY.
*grumbles, then tosses a fireball where Crummock is ducking*
Should have read this first. Assume the haste is after the talking. I thought all I would have is an opportunity to monologue.
Unrealistic as it is, I won't cheat you of what the module said you can do. So yes everything stops while we have a conversation.
Given the initiative order and that I had stated my first action, did the Haste go off before the Freezing Cloud?
Yes it did.
Seraphine, I need to move you up, since you dont have line of sight to see where you want to drop that fireball.
Its effect of Grease spell.
"Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall."
You ignore the effects of the DT caused by grease, but not the initial casting of getting slippery.