SR's - Great Southern Isles (PbP) (Inactive)

Game Master stormraven

Yeah make it three people who think that rule is...unclear. It should last until the characters next action.

Fin, you are so wrong... I DID write that rule. I'm Secret Developer X for Paizo. My secret is revealed. :)

Frankly, I've been trying to figure out if there is any scenario where it makes sense to have fighting defensively act as it does... without doing as you suggested and only employing it when you are at the top of the order. With multiple opponents at different init points, you could benefit against those lower in the order from you... but that does seem klugey. I have to wonder if this is a typo in the book.

I agree the use of it here makes little sense that I can see... unless the purpose was to heavily penalizes the player to employ it to its greatest effect.

So here is what I propose. Going forward, the rule in Isles will be Fight Defensively works from your action until your next action.

In the current combat, rather than re-write the past in the thread... let's go with Fin got hit and in a feat of determination and grit she slugged down a potion, jumped to -K-4, and has an action remaining... so, if you want to put your pointy little sword in Mr. Giggles head - feel free.

Ben, lemme find my iTouch and I'll track down the name of the app... 'PF Reference Document'. It is 'OK' as an App.

In case you are curious....

Current XP: 2913/5000

Level up
Rogue 2/ Cleric 2
HP 18 (2d8+2)
BAB +1
Skills +12 (+8 class, +2 INT, +1 Favored, +1 racial)
Acro, Climb, Heal 2, Know Religion, Know Planes, Know History, Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth, Swim
Feats none
Rogue talent: Ledge Walker
Added in Cleric class abilities

SR, what should Ushari use as a holy symbol?

HER TEARS!!! MUWHWHWHHhHAHAHAHAHHHahahahahhaahahhahaaaaa

Level 2:
+1 Ranger
+2 Sorcerer (Elemental: Air)
+1 BAB/CMB/CMD
+1 Fort/Ref
+3 Will
power attack (combat style feat)
+14 hp (28 total: 2d10+8)

Skills:
+1 Know: Nature
+1 Linguistics (Auran)
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Stealth
+1 Survival
+1 Swim

Spells:
0 Dancing Lights
0 Mage Hand
0 Mending
0 Ray of Frost
0 Spark
1 Expeditious Retreat
1 Feather Fall
1 Shield

Justin: Since our ability scores grant us extra spells known, would that also apply to cantrips for both prepared and spontaneous casters?

OK, the Party Matrix has been updated for everyone but Straehan. I need to know what changes he's received in order to update it.

Justin: Since our ability scores grant us extra spells known, would that also apply to cantrips for both prepared and spontaneous casters?

Yes, use the same bonus you'd use for 1st level spells to determine the number of additional cantrips known.

I'll get you the list of changes to Straehan when I have time. It is a fairly extensive list and I've been hammering out the 20 level advancements for your Destiny Items.

A couple of questions that occurred to me after getting our uber-level-up. :D

You said Jayse can put the stone in the pommel of his mindblade. since that's going to be my primary use for the stone anyway, can he fashion a simple way of having it rest in the palm of his hand always - so his mindblade manifests around it? Like a simple braided bracelet or glove or something that mundanely holds it in place? I'm not trying to get around the possibility of it being swiped so much as coming up with a mundane-seeming way of it always being where I most want it at a moment's notice. (And I don't fancy always having to take some kind of combat action to get it into place before manifesting my mindblade.) Let me know.

Also, I had a few questions about my mindblade. The first is this: Does it shed light? I thought they did back in 3.5, but the Dreamscarred Press version doesn't have any mention of shedding light whatsoever. I"m fine either way I just want to know what to expect. Second, it says in the entry under the "Form Mind Blade" class feature (page 28 of that .pdf, final sentence on that page) that the mind blade "is considered a magic weapon for purposes of overcoming damage reduction and is considered a masterwork weapon". If I don't have my +1 Stone of Awesomeness in my mindblade, does that mean my mindblade gets the +1 bonus to attacks from being masterwork? It's more of a technicality question, as - like I said before - I'll have my +1 Stone of Awesomeness rigged into to my mindblade 95% of the time. Anyway, let me know.

Yes, use the same bonus you'd use for 1st level spells to determine the number of additional cantrips known.

Alright, picking message for the last one then.

Fin: "psst!"
Ushari: rabid monkey shriekings mixed with profuse sobbing :D

I'll get you the list of changes to Straehan when I have time. It is a fairly extensive list and I've been hammering out the 20 level advancements for your Destiny Items.

Just wondering, does that mean we should consider our items set to auto-upgrade? The reason I ask is that I'd swapped out the sorcerer's 1st level ability for Arcane Bond in the hopes of being able to use it to enchant Whoosh how I saw fit (i.e. mostly stormy, electricity based effects, keen, etc). Otherwise, a sorcerer having an arcane bond is strictly a liability and yields no benefit.

One thing I would kind of like to see is that since Whoosh is her spellcasting tool and it's a bigass sword, that spells requiring somatic gestures not provoke AoOs — I've been picturing her casting process as swinging/pointing her blade, etc. Perhaps Combat Casting would be an appropriate benefit so long as she's wielding it. Thoughts?

Jayse - I would think your mindblade does not shed light unless the dreamscarred stuff specifically says it does. So, let's go with 'no' for the time being.

When you don't have your stone set in the Mindblade, I would think that you would have the Masterwork bonus and (as the description says) it does class as a magic weapon for overcoming DR. The stone enhances its power but does not, in any way lessen the 'standard' of the mindblade.

Fin - you are asking the difficult questions. Paying me back for the crack about Alis age, crabbiness, and need for naps, eh? :)

The Items are indeed set to auto-upgrade and I tailor them in the directions that seem to fit the characters as you play them. I don't want to render Arcane Bond useless for you but given the 'amperage' that Destiny Items carry - they aren't constrained by any of the magic item manufacturing rules - I generally do not allow them to be changed by PCs or mortal NPCs of any level. That way leads to serious abuse. So, I'll figure out some scenarios for substitution that allow you to use Arcane Bond in a fair way or give you an option to trade it in for something that will benefit you.

Regarding how you cast, I'm also going to need to give some serious thought to your casting methods and play balance before I answer that question.

Fair enough, just wanted to raise the issue since you're still working on stuff that's relevant to it.

If you are hesitant about mucking with casting methods, two other things on my 'wish list' for Fin are:

• Gaining Acrobatics as a class skill. I was floored that it's not a class skill for rangers when their very role states: "Rangers are deft skirmishers, either in melee or at range, capable of skillfully dancing in and out of battle." To me, being able to enter/exit combat unscathed is represented by acrobatics, mobility, and spring attack. Acrobatic barbarians? Really?! lmao
  
• Given her height, athleticism, and constitution, I'd like to bump her movement rate up to 40, but there's no good way to do that. The "dash" feat is ridiculously overpriced at only a 5-ft improvement.

Straehan changes:

These are the new values (not the difference):
Sorcerer 2 (Fav)
Scholar 2
Gestalt 2

HPs: 20 (8+8+4)
AC: 18/18/11

BAB: +2
CMB: +0

Reflex: +6
Will: +4

SKILLS
Some changes are due to ranks being added, some from other factors. Anything listed here is a changed item.

Ranks per level - goes up to 6 + INT (4) so 10/level +2 Fav Class (total of 22)
Fav Class bonus to Skll Points [2]

RANK changes
Appraise (1) +9
Diplomacy (1) +11
Know: Dungeoneering (1) +9
Know: Engineering (1) +9
Know: Geography (1) +9
Know: History (1) +9
Know: Local (1) +9
Know: Nature (1) +9
Know: Planes (1) +9
Know: Universalis (1) +9
Lingustics (1) +8
Perception (+1 for 2 total) +8
Sense Motive (1) +5
UMD (1) +9

MOD changes
Disable Device +8
Know: Untrained +5
Know: Arcana +12
Perception (for Trap spotting) +9

Scholar abilities (if you list them):

Smart Defense
Lore
Skill Focus - Know:Arcana
Trapfinding
Evasion
Tough-Minded

Gents, I'll try to update the game and post as Priyya as I can. We've got guests through Thursday AM so my time is a bit taxed.

Ushari will select dawn as her prayer time.

Justin:
BAB: Scholars use the average BAB progression, not good. A 2nd level Scholar's BAB should be +1, not +2.
Trap Spotting: This is part of Perception, not a separate skill. You don't put points into it.
Univeralis: I can't find any such skill in either the book containing the Scholar class nor your house rules. However, it looks like you omitted Knowledge: Religion from Straehan's sheet.

Taking out Univeralis and Trap Spotting, that would mean you have 2 skill points remaining and no ranks in Knowledge Nobility or Religion.

Let me know how you're doing the last couple points and I'll wrap-up. Otherwise the matrix is updated for everyone now.

Hey Mike, thanks for double-checking my figures and updating the sheet. Just some clarifications:

His BAB is +2 (+1 for scholar/sorcerer, +1 for gnome size)

I didn't put any separate points into Trap Spotting - just noted it separately. The skill gets a +1 over the standard Perception as part of the scholar Trapfinding ability.

Universalis does exist, it simply isn't documented because it really wouldn't hold any interest for anyone but Straehan this early in the game and it isn't commonly available. :) So I'm keeping the rank there.

I did indeed ignore Know: Nobility for the time being. As a scholar, Straehan can use Knowledge:Untrained (+5) on any Knowledge skill in which he doesn't have a rank.

Know: Religion is an oversight on my part. I'm debating whether I want to slot a point there from elsewhere. I'll let you know.

EDIT: OK, I swapped the final rank from UMD to K:Religion +9 (1)

Ah I see what you mean for BAB, although technically that's a Size modifier rather than BAB (which affects iterative attacks, CMB/CMD, and certain prestige requirements). Math works out the same in the end though, I've just not seen anyone record it like that before. :)

As for skills, aren't you supposed to have 22 points? I'm still coming up with only 21 when I count thru your list even with the notation taken off trap spotting and counting Universalis. As far as I can tell you've still got 1 pt left unless one of the notes is inaccurate/unlisted.

Putting it into Ride seems helpful all of a sudden. :)

(Also, I usually note the size modifier with my BAB as well - i just make it explicit that it's a size modifier.)

I dunno Ben, are you sure you want Straehan being a backpack driver? ;)

Well, it was either that or Climb.

Hmm, from where I'm sitting, it looks like he already has a +8 climb modifier. ;D

Hey, he still has to successfully hold onto the guy climbing those walls!

*Must find some Bleach and a Brillo pad...*

he he he he

When you capitalized the "B" in bleach, I thought you were talking about the animé for a second.

BTW, I was making a joke about Jayse's climb modifier being +8 therefore Straehan (riding on his back) automatically has the same. WTF were you thinking Eric? LMFAO!

Sick bastard!

Sure enough, I have missed a rank point somewhere and I did think about putting it into Ride... sadly NOT a class skill for me. :( Now I gots ta figure what ta do wit it. Nice problem to have.

Regarding BAB... I maintain all of Straehan's Sorcerer stuff using Hero Labs and it dropped his size bonus into BAB so I just left it there. I'm lazy like that. :p

FWIW, Fin, I have been looking into your casting and Arcane Bond stuff... I'll try to have a possible solution for you today - and certainly will solve it before you launch into any battles.

Thanks for your patience guys with my wacky schedule. I'm hosting a friend who is also a co-worker and I'm training him on some stuff so this week is a strange blend of work and pleasure at Casa Justin.

Sure enough, I have missed a rank point somewhere and I did think about putting it into Ride... sadly NOT a class skill for me. :( Now I gots ta figure what ta do wit it. Nice problem to have.

Want me just to keep it in UMD like you had before then?

I actually re-thinking whether I want to throw a point in UMD at all.

OK, Straehan is going to drop his final point in Disable Device, raising it to 2 ranks with a roll of +9.

WHEW! I'm sure you are all relieved. :p

I know I am.

OK, Straehan is going to drop his final point in Disable Device, raising it to 2 ranks with a roll of +9.

WHEW! I'm sure you are all relieved. :p

Well, Ushari is certianly relieved...:P

Fin is not relieved... not in the slightest... not after having seen the way in which Ushari 'relieved' herself. >.<

At least the matrix is complete now though.

Hey NOW! Just as there is 'no crying in baseball', there is decidedly 'no crapping in the OOC'! :)

FYI - my schedule is clearing a bit so I will be forwarding the plot and action tomorrow and then on. Sorry for the delay.

OK, I spotted something odd and tracked it down. It appears that you can only use an acrobatics roll to move through an opponent's square if you are a 'trained' acrobat... which I take to mean that you have to have committed a rank to acrobatics. Since I just had Straehan pull that maneuver and I would want him to be able to do it... I'm doing a little change to Strae's character sheet. I'm swapping the 2nd rank I just put in Disable Device into my 1st rank in acrobatics...

So the revised matrix should say:

Disable Device +8 (1)
Acrobatics +4 (1)

Updated! :)

It's just slightly premature but... congrats on successfully defeating the goblins without losing a single Forestal inhabitant... that feat was worth quite a few XPs. :)

Well gents, I've done the math several times and there is just no way I can prevent you from hitting 3rd level unless I want to deny you the bonuses I think are fair for RP, fulfilling a number of secret bonuses, taking the campaign in interesting directions I didn't forsee, and for generally being fun to play with... :)

DING! DING! Feel free to gestalt up your characters when you have time.

Please roll HPs this time around and compare them to the 'avg +1' method. Take whichever number is higher.

Justin: I'm planning to take the additional traits feat as a means to "patch" the fact that for some inexplicable reason Acrobatics isn't considered a class skill for the class whose very role describes them as "deft skirmishers, either in melee or at range, capable of skillfully dancing in and out of battle." >.>

There are lots of traits that give +1 to one or two different skills and allow you to pick one of them as a class skill. Oddly enough, the only trait I could find that has anything to do with acrobatics doesn't include the class-skill phrase. Like I did for Ben in Rumble, I'd like to come up with a similar trait for Fin. I'm thinking one that give +1 to Acrobatics and Fly and allows her to choose one as a class skill. I'd point to her Elemental Air bloodline as the justification.

The other trait I'm thinking of would be Desperate Focus. Given that she only just discovered her spellcasting abilities, going for combat reflexes ahead of patching other short-comings just doesn't make much sense.

Any objects to this course of action?

No objection to either... How about 'Zephyr Nature' for the Fly/Acrobatics feat name?

Actually the Lincoln MKz is a car I'd very much like to own at some point and the Z stands for Zephyr. i.e. I approve of this name! Gotta eat now, but I'll write something up after I'm done...

Mike:
Well, I hate playing my cards but to prevent you from possibly being irked at a wasted opportunity.... As a reward for hitting 1000 posts, I plan on giving you guys an additional trait. If that changes your plan with your feat right now, that is OK with me.

You and these hard choices you keep presenting! :P

Hmm, seeing as how I've been having to fight on the defensive a LOT but will never be able to qualify for Combat Expertise, I was thinking a mod of this trait that applies to fighting defensively might be worthwhile and in keeping with how I've been playing Fin.

So a trait that allows you to fight on the defensive with a +2 to AC and a -3 to Hit instead of -4?

If so, I have no objection to that.

I wouldn't call it a 'hard choice' so much as an 'opportunity for you to make interesting decisions'. ;P

Finally, updating my character...
New HP: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Yep, that's what I was going for. Alright, not going to have time to work on Fin tonight but I think I basically know what I'll be doing now. I'll try to get something posted early tomorrow if possible. BTW, congrats on imminent 4-digit mark! :)

Why are you guys all spoilering your updates in an OOC thread? :P
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Findelgwing Level 3
HP 1d10 ⇒ 7
BAB/CMB/CMD +1

Feat:
Additional Traits (Desperate Focus, Zephyr Nature)

Ranger:
Endurance
Fav Terrain: Water

Sorcerer:
Bloodline Spell: Burning Hands
Bloodline Power: Shock Resistance 10
1st Lvl Spell: Touch of the Sea
Spells/Day: +1 1st

Skills:
+1 Acrobatics
+1 K: Geography
+1 K: Nature
+1 Perception
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Stealth
+1 Survival

Achievement Trait:
Threatening Defender