Option 1 sounds fine. I'll have to go a'considerin' things what fer t'purchase.
OK, thinking about what to do with my filthy lucre...and how to not be the guy waddling behind with a 15' move for too too long.
First, some questions about how scrolls of Animate Dead work. I know that as a rule scrolls use the scroll's caster level (not the reader's). How does that apply to this passage in Animate Dead: "The undead you create remain under your control indefinitely. No matter how many times you use this spell, however, you can control only 4 HD worth of undead creatures per caster level"
So I assume that a CL6 scroll could animate 12 HD (as is standard)...but what amount of that can be indefinitely controlled by a 2nd level oracle?
* 6*4 = 24 HD, as per CL of scroll?
* 2*4 = 8 HD, as per CL of character?
* ...or something else?
Next question:
I'd been thinking of riding a zombie dog or wolf (and can still go that route)...but then I came across these beauties which seem like a much better mount for a dungeon crawl. While you're looking into availability of magic items, can you tell me if Hoosible would be able to procure a giant's head? I figure Karzoug's armies must have a few lying around. ;-)
...and could I get a saddle made to ride one?
(Oh, I *suppose* I should ask if Hoosible can get away with having one or more undead minions/mounts lurching about with him in our Lord Karzoug's Magnamar.)
*sips the coffee*
*Begins to sip the coffee, gets distracted. Wanders around, cup still in hand, pressed to lips. Sees something shiny, investigates. Notices cup again, finishes sipping. Wonders where he's at.*
I'm going to have to say no to the giant's head, Hoosible, as such a thing, if not procured yourself, would be difficult to come by. Once you guys get some prestige/fame going from your adventures (Its like PFS prestige and fame, but with the Cyphermages), then you will be able to get one easily enough.
Instead, I'd recommend a Riding Dog - Buy one for 150 gp, kill it, then buy a scroll of Animate Dead and you have yourself a skeleton or zombie riding dog, at your preference.
The scroll's caster level will count for how many undead you can animate at one time - whereas YOUR casterlevel will count for how many undead you can -control- at one time. The base caster level of a Scroll of Animate Dead would be 5th, as you, even as an oracle, can use a cleric's version of the scroll since it is on your spell list and is divine, like you.
The cost of a scroll of Animate Dead is a bit wierd though. Normally, a 3rd level cleric scroll costs 375 gp (25 x 5 x 3). However, Animate dead has a costly material component - for a standard scroll bought from a shop, the standard going rate would be enough material components to animate the number of undead the scroll could animate for its caster level. Because it can animate 10 HD of undead, that would mean an additional 250 gp of material components. If you don't use that, it goes to waste.
As a result, a Scroll of Animate Dead will cost you 625 gp. I'd recommend buying a few cheap slaves or (even cheaper!) a few guard dogs and killing them to animate as well, so you don't waste the scroll's extra HD. Do note that zombie dogs have an additional HD and thus are more difficult to control. Skeletons are faster and cheaper HD-wise, but are more fragile.
You could go with a Riding Dog (150 gp, 2 HD) and six Guard Dogs (25 gp each, 150 total, 6 HD) or go with four Riding Dogs (spares!) and leave them behind at the Cypherlodge. Up to you!
Doncha just love having money to spend in a big city? :P
Also, Taros would not be against you having a few undead walking around, though he'd likely prefer you kept them outside. (Especially if they're stinky zombies) As for the city itself, the guards won't ask questions provided you show them your affiliation. Stares will likely be had, though.
Oh and one last thing, do note that you may not be able to succeed on casting the scroll of animate dead, Hoosible, though it won't be difficult.
Because you are of a lower caster level than the scroll itself, you'll need to make a caster level check with a DC equal to 1 + the scroll's caster level, or DC 6. Obviously, it won't be a difficult check to succeed on, as you have a +2 to your check and can only fail on a 1-3.
---
I'll get to you three new recruits soon enough! I promissseee!
---
Everyone else: Is everyone ready to move onto the next day, then, now that we're starting to talk about loot? If so, I'll introduce the three new guys and move us onto the next day so you can begin your plans to assault the Crow.
Ready, and regretting not playing my Necromancer character seeing as undead are apparently tolerated in town :(. hahaha
Radyx, Hoosible's happy to share his darlings with you.
Crusty, I figured the giant's head was a long shot. :0P
Next question: Does Magnamar have any of (tigers, lions, wolves, dire wolves, goblin dogs) for sale? All are listed here with prices...but who's to say what's available in Karzoug's wintery magnimar.
Hmmmmmm... Curse you Animal Archives for giving the necromancer ideas! Curse youuuuu!
I'd say that in the Market of Sails theres probably a 50% chance any given animal is for sale - and you need to roll once for each purchase. This represents that they may only have one or two for sale, for example.
All such animals brought to Magnimar will likely end up finding their way to the Serpents Run - though with food shortages, any corpses created up there will be used as food, so there won't be a chance of mooching a corpse out of the arena.
We could go on an adventure to steal some corpses!
Looks like I've got my pick of anything but the rat-dog. ;-)
I'll probably get myself a fast zombie tiger to ride cuz why not, right? 8 HD and a 60' move (plus 4 natural attacks) for 685 (scroll) + 60 to pay someone to cast remove paralysis for me + 325 for a tiger = 1010 GP total.
Though seriously Crusty, just because RAW says it's possible...let me know if you want me to have this now. If you'd rather, I could just as easily just take a wolf + a scroll of Lesser Animate Dead and ride a wolf skeleton around without also having a personal tank/bodyguard. That option would cost me only 300 for the 2nd level scroll (including max onyx) + 100 for the wolf = 400 GP total.
Imagine, if you would, how sore you would be after riding a skeletal anything...
Hehehehehe, that's what exotic saddles are for, I suppose. If I ever get a giant flying, belching disembodied head for a mount I'll totally have to take some time to sketch out what that saddle looks like.
BTW, I did consider a bloody skeletal tiger mount (an excellent investment since they're basically unkillable)...but just couldn't get behind riding a mount that's constantly covered in blood and gore. Perhaps that's small minded of me. Somehow a rotting tiger seems more palatable.
625, not 685 for the scroll Hoos - You don't have to buy a scroll made by an Oracle to cast the spell. Its enough thats its Divine and on your spell list. It only matters if you're making the scroll yourself.
As for letting you do it, I don't mind! If theres anyone who knows how fun it is to play a Necromancer, its me - I'm not going to be one to hold you back. You have the money, you rolled to see if its available, and it was, and you're putting forth the effort to find something that works for you.
Plus, you're spending the equivalent of +1 Armor to get that fancy skeletal tiger mount, and theres still no guarantee that you'll succeed on the scroll casting (Though its 85% likely). And unlike armor, the skeleton has a better chance of being destroyed.
Basically, its an interesting investment and I'm interested to see how it plays out. :P
Plus, you guys may need it. Hue hue hue.
I'm going a similar route with Rutilus over in Brimleydower's campaign - at level 5, I'm buying a scroll of Lesser Planar Binding (A 5th level spell) and summoning a Lemure or Imp so I can get into the Diabolist PrC as soon as possible (Level 6). Although devil binding is certainly more difficult than necromancy, I plan on utilizing it to its fullest extent.
After a couple of levels of Diabolist, I'm taking two more levels of Wizard - so I can have both an Imp Familiar (From Improved Familiar) AND an Imp Companion from the Diabolist PrC, who gets stronger as I level. (Boon Companion, anyone? Hue hue hue)
So yeah, don't worry, I'm well aware of the shenanigans you can pull with magic, be it necromancy or outsider binding.
Cool, sounds good to me then! and the extra 60 GP is paying a cleric to cast Remove Paralysis before I cast Animate Dead (2nd level spell * 3rd level caster * 10 = 60 GP).
The next few days may be pretty crazy but I'll try to write a little vignette (a la Radyx's) for how I'm spending my dough.
Alright well, we still need to know what Valko's taking from the loot (if anything) as well as Ferit, though Ferit's still busy I believe, so I'll allow him more time.
I'm going to be moving us along to the next day so we can finally introduce the three new guys - you guys can post your in-character purchases if you want, but its not required. In-game tomorrow, however, we'll be discussing the assault on the Crow - I definitely want the three new guys in here for that.
Post will be up soon!
Do note that even though I'm moving us along, you still have time to choose your purchases and pick out anything you want from the loot - I won't be clearing the loot tracker until we're all ready to move out.
I assumed with the Shard figured in, Valko is already sitting pretty (purchases are another story) with party loot.
The shard doesn't count as far as loot goes, due to the fact its a major artifact and plot device. Not only can you guys hand it around as needed, but with 7 shards out there, most of you will get the chance to hold one (Normally there would only be 4 players, thus 3 shards extra per person)
Plus uh.. there may be a few other lesser artifacts to be found before the campaign is through. *Winks*
Dibs on the Deck of Many Things. Gonna pretend its a regular deck of cards and then ask who wants to play "Go Fish."
Hah you wish!
Hey uh, Tarrana, can you get your character stats up on your profile? Just realized you only have them up on Mythweavers.
I dunno which would be more thematic for Radyx as an undead:
Skeletal Champion
Zombie Lord
Juju Zombie
Graveknight
So many intelligent undead options! Lol.
Definitely a Graveknight.
I agree. Hoosible: that is your mission! Haha!
Only thing I can see Valko going for would be the extra backpack honestly (and that itself isn't gonna get much mileage with him). Armor is too heavy for him to bother with.
I am going to purchase a light crossbow and 20 bolts with his share of the money. So he can. . . like. . . kinda do something occasionally.
Back, not interested in any of the loot besides my cash option. I'm fine with option 1 for handling loot.
I'll be catching up on gameplay shortly.
Good to have you back Ferit! We got 3 new peoplez. They're an interesting lot.
Welcome back Kotter Ferit/Eugeni.
Okay, I boughtses:
light crossbow w/ 20 bolts (37 gp)
a deluxe dungeoneering kit (130 gp)
an alchemy lab (200 gp)
paid Renfeld 3gp to cover 10 days of payment
I'll let someone else carry the kit (any volunteers)? It's 15 lbs. Part of the parcel is an everburning torch.
Also, just remembered for the three new guys:
If you haven't already, please make a Roll20 account (Its free!) so you can see the maps over there, as I use that for our mapping needs. The link is up near the campaign info stuffs.
Also feel free to hop on there and chat, as I'm often on there. Radyx is often there as well, and its a good way to have some real-time chat about in-game stuff or anything else. We don't make our rolls there, though, we do it here on the boards.
You guys don't have to wait for Tark to respond before you guys continue, btw - he's strangely silent and I've attempted contacting him, so we may have already lost him.
Feel free to continue your planning / asking of Natalya about info!
Not gonna have time to take much part in planning next few days, so consider me ready to go.
Been working and barely looking at thigns. I'll have a proper post up tommorrow night. Right now I'm dealing with soemthing of an emergency.
Hey guys, just a heads up:
With the release of the Advanced Class Guide finally here, I'm allowing a one time opportunity for you to make some minor adjustments to your characters. While I"m not allowing class changes, stat changes, or anything major, I will allow the use of any of the various new archetypes found in the book.
In addition, I'm going through and making sure few major changes are needed to anyone who's already playing one of the new classes.
-So far- I've only seen one thing that needs changing - and thats Charbonardent's number of Fervor per day. Its now 1/2 class level + wisdom modifier - aka you have 4/day instead of 1/day, as it used to be based off charisma.
*Edit*: Oh, and you should have 4 blessings per day, instead of 3. Yay for buffz! I'll post anything else I spot.
@Tark: I understand! I hope everythings alright!
Everyone else: I'm going to get a post up later from Natalya as she draws you guys a rough map of the Crow. Her.. artistic skills are lacking, so it'll be nothing more than a crude map half-assed drawn by me in Paint. :P
Char also loses the ability to use his level instead of his BAB for greatsword.
I'm at a lake house in the Catskills (NY state) for the next week. I expect to be around from time to time...but no guarantees of frequency so please feel free to DMPC as needed.
Bought a masterwork backpack, alchy fire and bandolier.
Bought Silversheen Large Greatsword
Sold Large Greatsword
Bought Weapon Blanche, silver
Haven't seen a gameplay update since before the new PCs were introduced, so I'm reading now.
Hey gang, it occurs to me that we don't have a healing wand yet, do we? (I know we have some potions, but they won't go too far).
Crusty, can we find a wand of Infernal Healing for 750, if we want it?
Team, do you want to split a wand of IH? Or do you have a different preference for how to manage healing?
There was a Wand of Infernal Healing that Wilhem had on hand - it wasn't sold along with the rest of the gear. It has 21 charges on it. The wand was originally found in the Paradox Box.
There are also two unclaimed Potions of Cure Light Wounds - Neither of these were sold either, and anyone can grab 'em. Both the two extra potions and the wand were kept to help out the party.
Hey gang, I was just thinking about healing again. When Crusty first said we have a wand with 21 charges that sounded like plenty.
... Until I realized a minute ago that that's less than 3 charges each.
I figure there are plenty reasons we might have to retreat before we find this next shard... But lack of healing is surely a biggie.
With eight of us a wand would cost 93.75 GP each which sounds like a bargain to me. Whaddaya say?
Both Wands of Cure Light Wounds and Wands of Infernal Healing are easy enough to come by, should anyone be curious.
Also, who's going to hold onto the wand you guys already have? Hoosible, Char, Alexin, and Remi can all use it. If you guys buy a second wand, I'd probably recommend having another person hold that one. If you grab a wand of CLW, Valko can use it as well, meaning 5/8 of people could potentially use it.
Also of note is that should someone with one of the wands go down, it is simply a move action while adjacent to the person to pick it off their corps- er, unconscious body. Just food for thought ;)
If we get a second wand, I think it should be a CLW one. That way we have potential for some heavier bursts of healing when in combat, but can pop a charge of IH if we have time to let it run it's course.
Well, you guys should decide soon, as I plan on moving us ahead tomorrow.
On that note (You can figure this out after you reach the Crow), in what order do you guys plan on marching? Most of the cooridors are 10ft wide (Natalya would have mentioned it), so theres only room for 2 of you side-by-side at a time, except in the rooms themselves (As you'll find out).
Plus Strawflower, who takes up a 10x10 square in her own right. His? Her? Hoos, did you ever check? The name sounds very feminine so I'm going to call it a she until further notice.
And I would certainly recommend a wand of CLW over IH, since you already have one of the latter. Healing, its whats for breakfast!
Radyx has no problem taking point.
Hoosible will ride Strawflower (who's female, though Hoosible reserves the right to name all his zombies after flowers). Very happy to hear she's not going to be squeezing in 5' wide corridors.
This is Hoosible's official vote to buy a wand of CLW. He'll kick in 93.75 GP . he's happy to wield either wand.
Proposed Matching order:
Radyx & Ferit
Charbondent
Hoosible on Strawflower
Alexin & Tarrana
Valko & Remi
(Consider this a straw man to modify/improve)
Don't forget Renfeld! He may not be feeling too good today after handling Fenster's armor, but Valko'll probably have him come regardless.
I can afford to be a littler further up front or in the middle. Tarrana is plenty tough enough.