I'd just like to take a short moment to say well played Joana! That set-up worked beautifully and I had a smile and a chuckle at the reveal.
It takes forever in play-by-post for other shoes to drop. I always think of fun things that can happen and then worry about remembering them for months before it comes time to play the card. I should really write more things down instead of juggling all the plot threads in my head. Eventually I'm going to forget an iron I have in the fire.
I bought into the Realm Works kickstarter with that exact idea in my head - trying to more readily and easily map ideas to people and keep notes and what not.... still working on the spare time to write things down though ;)
What do you think of Realm Works? What is it exactly, and how does it differ from just jotting things down in a notebook? It always looks cool, but I'm guessing that how much you get out of it depends on how much time and effort you put into it; it doesn't just hop up and do all the organizing for you.
I haven't actually had the time to delve... but from what I understand it's like a massive hyperlinked database.
So say you enter in details for Betta's Shop as a location, under which you could link Ethel and Betta as NPCs to click through to. Say you click on Ethel, it could have a link to the Encounter with Pip event, which you click onto then click through to Pip the NPC, then you could be linked to Shorafa, etc, etc, etc.
I'm hoping to use it for the Solku campaign if I can work myself up to it.
DM Genie had a similar thing. I made a test dungeon then never used it again.
I'd like to try it out, but I'm just so slack sometimes... :-)
It does look very pretty though.
So say you enter in details for Betta's Shop as a location, under which you could link Ethel and Betta as NPCs to click through to. Say you click on Ethel, it could have a link to the Encounter with Pip event, which you click onto then click through to Pip the NPC, then you could be linked to Shorafa, etc, etc, etc.
So kind of like PathfinderWiki for your specific campaign.
Still has the issue of having to go through and type everything into the database in the first place ... but if you started fresh at the beginning of a campaign and entered things as you went along, I suppose it wouldn't be too daunting. Odds are I wouldn't keep up with it, though, despite best intentions.
If it's shared, published, or public, you might have help populating the database. The usefulness of a concordance has been proven, I would think.
Isn't that the idea behind Obsidian Portal? That's been my impression, although I've never actually used it.
Realm Works might be more useful for a live table game. If I don't remember how I described a location or what exactly an NPC has said in play-by-post, I can just search the thread for it. It's nice to have a written record to refer to, and the time to stop and refer to it rather than having to keep the game moving when you're DMing "live."
Is Loreweaver about?
If we head to the General's we can divert to pick him up since he has the General's symbol.
If he's not about, it's a long way to go just to head back again and he can stay out of the picture for now. Braddon, believing Mistress Vishki is currently with the General, does want to go there as soon as possible, but is prepared to divert for the official 'papers'. :-)
Looks like the loreweaver's not around. :(
I'll update for everyone tonight and get us moving forward. If the loreweaver's gone long-term, I'll make sure Malkith's mission-critical items get passed on to the team.
Braddon, your nonlethal damage is completely healed by now so set yourself back to full.
Photobucket is being obstreperous. I barely got the map uploaded, and now I can't get the link to work, although I can see the thumbnail. In case I can't get it fixed tonight, Braddon, you're in L2, adjacent to thugs 2 and 3. Thug 2 threatens you and Snake (who is in K1), and thug 3 threatens only you. Gristav, you're in K3; a 5-foot-step west puts you adjacent to thug 2, and one south puts you adjacent to thug 3.
EDIT: Okay, I can see the map when I click the link on my Kindle, so hopefully you guys can, too.
As both a heads up and an FYI - I shall be wending my way on holiday starting Monday, and will be out of the country from roughly 2-3 weeks give or take (through to about 10th April).
During such time my online time shall be curtailed from what I'm usually capable - which should engender a reduction in verbosity and potentially some unreliability when it comes to posting rates and speed.
I'm more that happy to be DMPC'd whenever it's appropriate, but am hopefuly that I should be able to keep up with all the PbPs that I'm currently playing in during the time down-under.
Sorry for delay in posting.
Not a problem. It was after midnight when I posted; you're allowed to sleep sometimes. :)
Campaign tab is updated with the new loot. I don't know if you want to take the time to strip their armor off or not. The potion is labelled in Varisian, so you can figure that one out once someone other than Braddon looks at it. The gems will require an Appraise roll.
Mark, I believe Phil gave that obsidian bat pendant to Cas Cazynsik, so you should remove it from your profile when you get a chance.
(My list of NPCs on the Campaigns tab is at least partially for me so I don't forget everyone I've introduced. I think that's the first time I've typed Cas's name this whole game that I haven't had to go look up how to spell it!)
(My list of NPCs on the Campaigns tab is at least partially for me so I don't forget everyone I've introduced. I think that's the first time I've typed Cas's name this whole game that I haven't had to go look up how to spell it!)
"Cousin's sick" has been my mnemonic.
My hang-up has been mostly which [kaz] has an S and which has a Z.
This article from the Wall Street Journal seemed apropos for this group. I aced the vocabulary quiz (click to enlarge image), although I had to get 'sockdolager' by process of elimination.
OK, Braddon, step up and dazzle the guard. :)
And if that fails, we'll try... guilt?
Looks like the loreweaver's not around. :(
I'll update for everyone tonight and get us moving forward. If the loreweaver's gone long-term, I'll make sure Malkith's mission-critical items get passed on to the team.
Maybe the general's headed home for dinner about now?
Man I sure hope we haven't lost loreweaver. That's a good character.
If we do, we've got zero Diplomatic capabilities. Well, class skill wise anyway.
I know it's futile now, but I've got the trait 'Looking for work', Joana, that I could switch from Perception to Diplomacy. That would make it a class skill and help a little. I still won't be the greatest diplomat but it'll be better than what we currently have.
I don't know if a Magus or a Inquisitor gets diplomacy or not as a class skill. Of course with Phillip it may be moot since he is typically doing his own thing. But if Gristav has it as a class skill, then it would perfect for him to put a rank in it next level.
Outside of that, if it works for you, Joana, I can switch that over if you think it necessary. But I'd also have to switch my rank in Perception over to Diplomacy. Or I could just wait until next level and put a rank in it. Whichever, however, etc.
It's all good to me though however you wish to roll with it. Just thought I'd throw that out there for a possible solution if loreweaver happens to not return. Like I said, I hope that's not the case. You've already lost a couple good players already I noticed. Wander and Zeta. Those were some good posters as well.
Man you had(and have) a bunch of solid posters in this game. Too bad they've all vanished. That stinks.
The dice speaketh.
Possessing Diplomacy isn't a huge priority (especially with those rolls).
Most interaction is roleplayed (well) meaning situations like this occur rarely.
That said, dumping points in at second level is a pretty good idea, especially since we'll have established a network by then.
And second level can't be far away now... can it Joana? :-)
Gris could take a level of Bard? He's enough of a mouth to be a face. I was looking forward to a point of BAB, but I suppose there's always true strike.
Maybe he is an Oracle of Desna?
As a side comment Phillip will be taking a skill point in Diplomacy at Level 2 - just ran out of skill points for level 1.
Yeah those 1st level skill points just don't carry far enough. It seems like no matter what class you play.
You know, I was thinking you might go with Bluff, Braddon. That +9 is nasty. Didn't see intimidate coming. Ought to be interesting.
I do limit the number of Diplomacy rolls I ask for. Nothing kills roleplaying faster than making everyone roll a d20 every time they try to talk to an NPC; even if you've got a good modifier, you're going to roll a 1 eventually. I try to keep it strictly for changing attitudes and negotiations.
Of course, the DC for Intimidate is usually easier to hit, if you don't mind the fallout after it wears off. :)
I do limit the number of Diplomacy rolls I ask for. Nothing kills roleplaying faster than making everyone roll a d20 every time they try to talk to an NPC; even if you've got a good modifier, you're going to roll a 1 eventually. I try to keep it strictly for changing attitudes and negotiations.
Gris has turned out to be 'that guy', I'll at least buy in, when points allow.
Of course, the DC for Intimidate is usually easier to hit, if you don't mind the fallout after it wears off. :)
I'm expecting a surly guard is part of a pecking-order culture, and well used to snapping and being snapped at. One must only establish one's place in line.
Doesn't help if one establishes one's place as 'last'. :-)
Braddon:** spoiler omitted **
Aha ha ha ha. You're trying to kill me.
We'll see- it's Braddon's Int that's 7... not his Wis.(Though it is tough separating the two :-)
Busy day today; it might be several hours before I have time to update. Sorry. :\
Braddon, fix your hp. Snake healed you here.
"That damned broom-thing he wears on his head is already getting moth-eaten."
So I type that and then realize that the avatar cuts off the top of Braddikar Faje's headgear. If you see the full picture, he's actually wearing a Roman-style helmet with a crest.
Input, oh glorious GM?
Braddon is happy to go beat stuff up or console himself in the arms of a pretty girl for the night.
If Phillip is finished for the night, we should all be finished, reset timing for the morning and head out.
If he's busy, we should all keep going to keep timelines somewhat in sync.
So it should be Mark I'm asking.
Hey Mark! :-)
Phil has no real plans for the night apart from leisure, so happy to roll on to the next day. Though he'll have fun at breakfast talking with Saul if none of the others are there to defend themselves ;)
The GM thinks waiting until morning is a wise decision. :)
Going to be out of the house most of the day today (taking the kids to ride Thomas the Tank Engine) so I'll narrate you guys back to the Goblin when I get back tonight. Just to give you guys something to think about in the meantime, it's time to :D Changes will take effect on Fireday morning in-game.
YEEEE HAAWWWWW! :-D
What are we doing for hp?
Oh no! It's over now, bay-bee! You better bring on the dragons, Joana, because otherwise, this is just gonna be a cake walk. :)
Not actually sure why it's such a big deal to me, I've only been on this thing 4 or 5 months. Nothing like the 9 years you guys have been running on this and just now reaching 2nd level. ;)
OKay. I was intending to learn Varisian, but it's been less than a week in game time and that'll cost me one of my precious skill points.
That point won't be coming from Perception or Survival, which just leaves Bluff, Intimidate and Stealth.
I don't want to do Stealth, as it's the lowest, but it's also the least used.
Braddon has been lying a LOT, so I don't want to take a skill point from Bluff.
And Intimidate has been used a bit, but is lower than Bluff.
So, ideas?
Abandon Varisian for another level? (facing the same dilemma in a year or two :-)
Don't raise Bluff, letting Intimidate rise to equal it?
Ignore Intimidate and continue Braddon's web of lies?
Or give up on Stealth since, you know, frontline fighter?
I'm leaning towards the last two but welcome the input of others.
Maybe ditch both Intimidate and Stealth and pick up Varisian and an extra hit point...
hmmm
Oh, didn't I mention, Javell? Snake has to wait another 14 months to level up. He's not fully vested yet. ;P
What are we doing for hp?
Roll for hp. Reroll any 1s.
Yeah, kind of feels like Braddon would have to be an idiot savant to pick up Varisian so quickly, but I think that's just a weakness of the system. The way the rules are set up, anyone can walk into a dungeon, fight a bunch of monsters, and walk out the other side a day or two later having learned Tien or Skald or Ancient Osiriani. Language acquisition is one of the things D&D and its descendants model poorly.
Oh, didn't I mention, Javell? Snake has to wait another 14 months to level up. He's not fully vested yet. ;P
NOOOOOOOOO!!! Oh well, I'm still awesome. :)
@Braddon: Don't drop bluff. That's you. Intimidate is also though.
As far as stealth, I would let that one pass.
Okay, looking at your character, I think that this...
Maybe ditch both Intimidate and Stealth and pick up Varisian and an extra hit point...
...is a good idea. I'd go with that. Plus, with all the Varisian speak going on, who's to say you don't pick things up quickly? :)
Well that's amazing. I called a 2 on that. I always roll crappy on hp's. And since 1's are rerolled, I was dead sure it would be a 2.
Braddon is happy to go beat stuff up or console himself in the arms of a pretty girl for the night.
I insert a pause in the story in case, in light of his above intentions, Braddon is heading somewhere other than the Goblin?
So torn, between the efficient 2nd level of Magus, and the dilettante 1st level of Bard. Dancing with the girls does sound like such fun.
Perhaps at 3rd.
2nd lvl of Magus:
Nice. +2 from CON, so +9, 19 total.
Two spells learned: Frostbite, Unseen Servant
2 Skill Points, +2 from INT: Diplomacy, Sense Motive, Intimidate, Perform:Dance
Phillip will be taking a 2nd level in Inquisitor; though I'll finalize the skills and what not once I'm back in KL a week from now.
HP: = 3 HP
Weapon style for Braddon is Two Weapon Fighting, obviously.
We'll skip on Varisian for another level.
Skill Points into Survival, Perception, Bluff, Intimidate, Stealth
Yeeee Haaaaa!!!!! :-D
And I spent all that time deciding whether I'd drop Intimidate or Stealth for an extra hp (I'd decided Stealth, btw. Maybe remember that for next level. :-)
My available net time just went from 'some' to 'almost none' for the rest of the holiday. It would be appreciated if I can be DMPC'd until I get back to KL on the 14th of April.
Apologies for the hassle.
Okay, who has plans for Fireday? Mark has indicated Phil's immediate plans; Snake wants to go sell some spider-poison; Gristav is looking for a speaker with the dead for the general. Anything else?
Gris hopes to be at the chapel for dawn, expecting the streets unpredated and the door lightly guarded at that hour.
He then plans to be at the Three-Billed Duck for the contractual breakfast, and possible meeting with the youngest of the Muggers.
Braddon wants a fight, so he'll go with Gristav.
Braddon wants to sleep in, so he won't go with Gristav.
Does that help?
:-)