Second Darkness: Quest of the Shin'Rakorath

Game Master Kybryn

Do our casters have any area effect spells that do damage?

I don't. The only option for me with AOE dmg outside buying equipment is burning hands, and I didn't take it.

If this is a normal swarm the alchemists fire will do 150% dmg.

If this is "Cockroach Swarm" from the bestiary 2, Talia's color spray should blind and stun it for 1d4 rounds. And she could use her pearl of power to do that twice. That could take it out of the fight long enough for us to kill/capture wererats, and escape.

But yeah, if that's the one, its the completely immune to weapon damage kind of swarm so our options will be extremely limited.

Or we could get creative...perhaps my unseen servant could fish up some flesh and bait it away or something.

This is bad. We dont have enough to deal with a Cockroach swarm. When we get back, we need to buy some Alch fire for everyone. Anyhow, I think we need to be creative. Could your unseen servant drag the dead were rat I killed towards the swarm? Give it a body to munch on/distract while we finish off the others?

Well it can only drag 100 lbs, so maybe if the carcass was in the water. Oh and it looks like maybe it is. The unseen servant can also walk on water.

Prestidigitation allows the "soiling" of stuff, which may also attract.

Swarm damage would work well against entangled creatures, since its a "stay in the area" kind of thing.

Maybe if I move a carcass adjacent to a living one the swarm area would capture it.

Also I think the map got messed up somehow.

And yeah, I don't know if I mentioned it in game but I need some help finding a magic shop. I seem to recall that I wanted to get a blasty wand earlier.

We each have about 1,000 gold from the gems, so no reason why we couldn't get you something like that.

Good luck on your application btw Drider!

Each of you have the cash, but I bought a horse. :)

Yeah it was just i failed my gather info to find a place that sells that sort of stuff. :/ I wanted some new spells, too. Also if you guys can find any other wiz spells that make good combos with your builds let me know and I can get them. I'm not a save or die kind of mage but other stuff should be doable.

Lots of good second level spells. Glitterdust is a must. And likely you will want inv as you are a rogue. Web is good. Flaming sphere is now nice as it keeps fighting for you after you cast it. So many good choices.

My favorite level 2's are Scorching Ray and Glitterdust. Between those two, there's nothing you can't take care of.

Sadly, I'm the wrong kind of caster - and most of my damaging spells are by touch. Sorry folks.

Hey all I just wanted to say what fun its been playing with you so far, however I have some bad news.

The Local DM in my game group just had a heart attack this last week. He'll be OK, but feels he no longer can run games for us so I stepped up to run each week for the store.

That said I feel like I cannot give my full time to both this game and a table one so I must drop out of this one.

Once again I am sorry for having to leave and wish you all the best.

Sorry to hear that Talia! It's a shame to lose you, as I've enjoyed havin you around. I'll likely look at recruiting a replacement, most likely from the reserve list, and then out from there. It will be a healer for sure. I'll prepare an exit for you in game so no worries.

Good luck!

:(

Sorry to lose you!

Hey guys! Going on a work trip this week, i'll be on the forums, but using a iPhone. so my actions won't be as in depth as I would like. Should have full access to my computer by Friday.

Sup guys, I'll be heading out of town this weekend on my friends wedding, and dealing with finals for the rest of this week. I will be posting but it will be a bit thin for a few days. As of next week I'll be totally free for a couple weeks, and then be starting the next semester, which will revert me to just normal posting.

Sounds good drider, and on another note... Wow I have some stiff competition for the "hunter" slot for the LoF campaign. I am really amazed by the other entry's. (but in a good way though)

Yah for sure man. I was hoping yours would be the only good submission, but it obviously wasn't. You've got mad persistence though! You spent a lot of time on those posts. I'm going to give it a rest and let the Archaeologist take it for a post or two.

btw I noticed some recycled material in there ;)

Haha yea I had to, there was good material just going to waste!

I can't wait until I get home tomorrow. Typing all of these posts on a iPhone are cramping up my thumbs!

Things may also start getting crazy for me next week, school is starting and I'm a teacher. This game can still be a nice little daily break, but probably once a day in the evenings.

My wife is a teacher. I understand how it is at the start of a new year. What do you teach?

I do high school science, 11th and 12th grade mostly...smarties. :) I probably make it more hectic than it really is just because I care so much about being awesome, heh.

My 10th grade biology teacher was the most influential teacher in my educational career and I hold two master's degrees. Mr. Martin was great, and I work in a technical field today because of his class. I still remember sooo much biology today from that 10th grade class. :)

Hey guys, an update:

I'm in the works of recruiting someone else for the party. When I've got a few serious candidates, I'll let you know and I'll let you weigh in on who you like best.

If you know anybody who would fit well with our party, please invite them to apply.

Vhalas! I know you're around, where you at buddy?

I'm here Drider! Dident think it was my turn for a action! As for a replacement party member, what about that Alch that applied to our group a while back?

I sent him a PM but I've not heard back from him. After some investigation into his profile, it looks like he's not really be active on the boards at all.

Oh well, anyhow there's still a lot of interest on the recruit thread right now, so we shouldn't have a issue with a replacement.

@Drider: I am not a big fan of Fiddlers, I saw him in the recruitment thread, just saying...

:) You might wanna PM me that kind of stuff.

Lets be sensitive here as it is for public viewing.

Good point, not the best on discretion =/

So yah, just realized something: Swarms are immune to grapple, but not to the entangled condition... how about that for some 3.x rule-set confusion. The only way I can explain it if they do fail their save is.... "a significant amount of the roaches become trapped in the living moss"

edit:
New House-rule (effective after this combat): All swarms are immune to the entangled condition unless it makes complete sense given the circumstances.

Grappled and entangled are two different conditions. Being grappled means you can't move, whereas entanglement only impedes movement in normal circumstances. I think we can all see why a swarm can't be grappled, imagine the incredible hulk trying to grab 10 square feet of bugs. But I think that its still possible to entangle a swarm. Imagine a swarm moving freely across say concrete. Now imagine that same swarm moving across an area of dense vegetation. I think the latter would be impeded somewhat compared to the former.

What the entangle spell does beyond just granting the entangled condition which ups the ante though, is making the entire area difficult terrain. So, not only do you have only half your speed, you also must pay twice for any squares you enter. The spell should slow down land creatures significantly. The other cool thing the spell does is "cancel" movement on failure of the save for that turn...simply being entangled would not do that.

This particular swarm has a fly speed (poor) though, so I would think it can get around the argument entirely.

Anyways thats just my thoughts, dont really care either way.

Yah, I realize that they're different, but my concern here is that there's nothing really substantive to grab on to here. If it were like some sort of sticky webbing, I would look at it a different way.

My common sense in this circumstances says: It has no significant effect on a swarm.

Ziyad, is your intention to keep going Wizard? I'm not sure how long until we will level up, seeing as how this is only our second fight, but the more I think about it, the more I think that from 5th level on, I am going to go fighter.

@All
Yo, alright so I've started a recruitment thread for the new guys.

I'd really like you guys' input on this one, since we all contribute to this.

link

The primary applications so far are:

Wei (FiddlersGreen) Monk 2 Sorc 1 (complete)
Kresham (flykiller) Ranger Trapper (incomplete application)
Galael (Fabian Benavente) Alchemist 3 (complete)
Kathin-Kos (Hassan Amad) Summoner 2 Fighter 1 link (complete)
Azrael Zoraldlon (Dark Netwerk) Wiz 1 Monk 2 (complete)

Why don't you guys PM me your top two in order, and why you like them. Feel free to use the discussion thread here to bring up stuff about them you wanna talk about, just please be sensitive about what you say. Be constructive, and PM me anything you wanna say in private.

There are a few more applicants on their way. I told them i'll be closing recruitment tomorrow, but it looks like that might get pushed back depending on what you guys want.

Vhalas, the idea with this character mechanically was to be a skills rogue with utility magic. I'm thinking I don't need more than 1 level of rogue to accomplish this, but I may later decide to pick up a rogue talent with another level. I should be able to (want to) cover all things rogue with the exception of awesome sneak attacks, and perhaps social skills. So I think its rad you go fighter.

Standby for edit

Ok, so Rogue 4 / Warrior X it is. Next level gives me one extra BAB, 1 talent, and uncanny dodge.

Onto the character submissions.

Wei (FiddlersGreen) Monk 2 Sorc 1 (complete)

Mechanically Wei is strong. He provdes limited healing via Heavenly Fire and Infernal Healing, also a strong AC when buffed, and able to support as a flanker. However, I don't really feel that he was made with the party in mind. We already have a arcane caster, and the melee support sorc will only last so long. I wish the build was a better compliment for the group as a whole. Part of me feels that he needs to pick a option and go with it, either a melee focused character made to do trips, reach ect, or go with a caster.

Kresham (flykiller) Ranger Trapper (incomplete application)

We already have a Ranger (and a dam good one too). Nothing else needs to be said.

Galael (Fabian Benavente) Alchemist 3 (complete)

I think we have some potential here. I would like it more if Galael went chirurgeon archetype, and perhaps changed his skills to fit in better with the party, *but* if he he was slightly reworked, I could see him being a solid addition to the party. Best part is that he bought a cure light wounds wand, so I feel like he must have had the party in mind during creation.

Kathin-Kos (Hassan Amad) Summoner 2 Fighter 1 link (complete)

I am a bit lost as to how this guy works. If he was a summoner (synthesis) archetype then I would get it, "ok he's a augmented fighter" (and could get behind it) if he was a straight summoner then I could see that too, but the Sum2/Ftr1 is just odd.

Azrael Zoraldlon (Dark Netwerk) Wiz 1 Monk 2 (complete)

Again, we have a Wizard / Rogue already.

OK So I know I am being critical, I just feel that these character submissions miss the mark on what is best for our group. Some of the builds themself's are quite good such as Wei's but I really wish we had gotten a Oracle, Witch, Cleric or Bard... basically something that can provide debuffs and support.

Vhalas,

Thanks a ton for the feedback.

I get the feeling that most of you are looking for party balance. A contrast of my own would be that I told everyone that my personal decision making process would be 1st overall quality of character, and that fitting in build-wise is secondary.

My point there is that as a group of mercs, you would grow together as a party instead of being created with pure optimization in mind, and that over time you'd naturally fill the gaps.. That being said, I think it would be clever of any applicants to recognize where the gaps are and what they could do to fill the gaps.

Edit: I think that we can all be happy with the outcome if we keep the applicants informed.

Regardless on who is selected, I'm sure that it will all work out in the end. =D

Wasp, I think your up!

And on the note of the candidates. I was happy to see that we have some players that decided to make divine casters. Looks like some good options.

So what are your thoughts on our two new applicants? We have:

Thallan Mourne (Hassan Ahmed) Cleric 3

So looking at Hassan's profile, it seems that is a pretty active poster, with 4-5 active campaigns. I also think Thallan fits well party wise, he provides magical item crafting, a ton knowledge skills and a very solid AC to provide support along with his healing and spells. I have also seen his RP skills in the Legacy of Fire campaign we are both competing for a slot in, and no joke, this guy can write.

Xenoz Melpharus (Morphelis) Cleric 3

Morphelis seems to be new to pbp, and I see he only has a history of 33 posts, so he's a unknown. Character wise Xenoz seems quite solid offering a different example then Hassan's cleric. Xenosz is more melee oriented, with a lower dexterity, charisma and wisdom, but higher strength and constitution. His partially ofsets this with his choice in feats.

After reading my last post, I was perhaps a little too critical. I hope no one was offended. It was not intended that way.

@Ziyad: Silver Manacles! What a fantastic use of create gear!

Thanks Vhalas I've been wanting to use that ability more. I really took that sub school for the later ability, and figured this low level one would always give me the right tool for construction when dungeon delving...so I wouldn't have to carry a bunch of tools all the time to do sapper type stuff. I hear some people also use it to create rare poisons.

Very cool, its not like someone will randomly be carrying silver or cold iron manacles. Unique gear creation can be quite powerful when thought out... I like it!

Also what the hell is Kwava doing here now, was he the one we lost track of earlier and has been following us the entire time as part of the test?

@manacles: the other sucky stipulation is they only last one minute, and I must be in contact with them during that time. if i lose possession it fades away after one round.

Haha, oooh Kwava. I should have him kill last rat too so he doesn't give up Kwava's real identity....

Ziyad, will you PM your top 2 preferences for the new party member?

haha Drider, why do you think I wanted to take the wererat alive? I'm convinced that Kwava is dirty!

Haha, there are worse things than losing your life... right?
Remember, in fantasy, "everybody talks... eventually" isn't always true.

Maybe Kwava just doesn't take kindly to people who disrespect him in his own house.

Maybe Kwava just thinks you guys are incompetent. It is, afterall, extremely possible that wererat would have gotten away if it weren't for him. I expect he may give you hell, but what do I know?

Did Kwava set them up? Is Kwava working with the white haired elf? All this, and more, coming soon.