I'm happy to be the rearguard, but I just wanted to point out that in regards to tracking, I have +10 survival skill. ;)Fair enough, but can you find traps?
As my students say, TREATED!
;-)
Actually, looking over the rules I can find traps (but not as well as Marcus). I just can't disable them. :)
Right, so should I start working up a post for the recruitment thread to replace a dead Druid? :)
Survived the swamp fever outbreak 3 yrs ago, and the mist monster attack last night, only to die as a trap "finder". So tragic.
But unless I'm mistaken you can't find all traps. Unless you have trap-finding you can't spot magical traps period.
Not that your kind and loving DM would EVER throw in a set of magical traps. NO, that would never happen. We are, of course, speaking hypothetically here.
:)
That's what I thought too, particularly because the rogue ability is called trap-finding and not trap-disarming. But when I looked at it closer I think it is just that trapfinding is required to disarm magical traps.
Here is the description of perception. Note that it just says the difficulty to find the trap varies: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/perception
Here is the description for disable device. Note that it expressly mentions needing trapfinding to disable magical traps: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/skills/disable-device
Even "trapfinding" itself says that a rogue can use disable device to disarm magical traps, without mentioning trapfinding granting the ability to find them: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue#TOC-Trapfinding
Trapfinding makes Marcus better at finding traps than Aerik, and I would certainly not want our healer to be in front anyhow, but just thought I would throw that out there in case Marcus botches a perception roll or something. ;)
Survived the swamp fever outbreak 3 yrs ago, and the mist monster attack last night, only to die as a trap "finder". So tragic.
Hey I said this would be gritty and tragic... and that is some gritty tragedy with a side of irony as well.
Trap shtuff...
Yep, that is all true. You certainly have a chance to spot it but not disable it. Although, really, I think you should try to disable that magical trap. Maybe your DM is feeling kind and overlooks that pesky rule.
Just reach your hand in there...
>:)
Maybe you should both go in front. Lyrica is likely the slowest with her armor. I could always put her trailing in the back.
Maybe you should both go in front. Lyrica is likely the slowest with her armor. I could always put her trailing in the back.
lol!
Nice try. You're the meat shiel... er... fantastically charismatic leader that leads from the front.
Look where my charisma got me with the hag! She almost gave me her evil eye!
It could have been worse... much much worse. >:)
Well its been a quiet one here on the messageboards this weekend. It's probably good, because I have been very busy with lots of gigs and rehearsals.
yah, my weekend was ridiculous. I'm trying to catch up in the thread, and will put a post up if I can manage it.
Sorry to go all silent on you guys. ;)
I got a head cold Friday and was in bed quite a bit this weekend, getting up to make the occasional post.
No worries on the schedules, guys. I'm hip-deep in clients that all of a sudden want projects finished by the end of the year.
I think Harpwizards' marching order suggestion makes sense. Then I'd also suggest a 2-wide marching order, for when we're not restricted to walking in a single-file line.
2-wide formation (for general travel):
Marcus
Lyrica & Zeke
Jak & Aerik
Reason: Marcus and Aerik have very similar skill-sets, though with Marcus's more narrow combat focus, I'd just prefer to have Marcus in the front to be our shield-wall. Lyrica next to Zeke means she's in a position to step to his aid should it prove necessary, while also being able to step easily to the front-line if that's more strategically beneficial. Jak and Aerik on the back means that our two flexible caster types can engage as they choose. They both also have a decent AC and HP in case we get hit from behind.
As to schedule:
I'd prefer not to travel after dark. But with us being around mountains and at the end of winter (short days), that might make this trip longer. So I'd suggest we travel at night only when the moon provides enough light. if we're in blackout conditions, I don't like being limited by carried light sources to navigate. So use the day as well as we can, keeping mind to the level of available light (trusting our twin woodsmen to stay on top of that), and then find a (hopefully defensible or hide-able) place to camp.
Fire Prep:
I'm a fan of a nightly fire-pit, does anyone have a shovel? That would allow us to conceal our light (somewhat) while also having it be capable of being put out and covered up somewhat quickly. With all the craziness we're likely to run into in this kind of campaign, having a fire on-hand could be handy (at least when it's not drawing every dangerous predator -- living or not -- from a mile around).
Watch Order:
Not a clue. No one is better off at night than anyone else (perception scores not-withstanding). Though anyone capable of casting Light (Jak and Aerik?) have a bit more flexibility when it comes to quickly producing light sources if a sound is heard. So… Jak will take first watch to consolidate his beauty sleep. :)
If you guys are good with Jak's suggestions and/or want to pick your turn at watch - speak up.
No worries on the schedules, guys. I'm hip-deep in clients that all of a sudden want projects finished by the end of the year.
It really is fine. In fact, I am accompanying a chorus for a Christmas concert next week and I am spending hours every night trying to practice and get this material ready. I love this season, but for a harpist, it really is a busy time!
Jak's suggestion sounds fine to me!
I don't have any preference for watch order and I agree to Jak's marching order.
One thing, though--do the prepared casters need to have 8 uninterrupted hours of rest to replenish spells? And if so, does that have to be continuous? That seems to be the only limiting factor on the watch order, IMO.
I'm not too strict on that regardless of the rules. You don't need 8 uninterrupted... just a good night's sleep will suffice.
I agree about splitting up the "light" casters. Also would probably be good to always have at least one person with good perception on watch too. ;)
Beyond that, I don't realy care much about watch order.
So, proposed watch order:
Jak (light)
Ezekiel (solid PER)
Marcus (best PER)
Aerik (light / waning firelight)
Lyrica (early AM most light - lowest PER)
That work for you guys? I would think Lyrica as a Sarenrae worshipper would want to greet the dawn. :)
I see nothing troubling about that order at all. Completely fine by me.
Agreed! I did not realize that I was around such a perceptive group!
Hey guys, busy day at work, should be able to get back on in a few hours hopefully
I'm here. Aerik just has nothing to add to the "travel banter".
When we get back to town, I'd like to use create water again for people.
I would be willing to go hunting with Marcus also.
Thanks for checking in. Banter is strictly optional. :)
At any FF moment, I'll wait to hear from a simple majority before I push things forward. So if you see that three people have chosen a course, you can expect that I'm working on a post to move things along.
Jak will leave back in town:
his quarterstaff
rope (50ft)
Bullseye Lantern
.. which leaves his encumbrance a few pounds under Medium.
Have you guys seen the Hobbit yet? I thought they did an awesome job with it!
Haven't seen it yet, sadly.
Stormy, what is the DC of the Will Save check to avoid horror points?
The DC varies from horror to horror along with potential circumstantial penalties (or benefits) as well. The base for either a Horror or Dread check is 10 + X...
where X could be:
1. The CR of a horrid creature [or a fraction of the CR if the creature is not intentionally scary] IF that is the driving force in the encounter.
2. IF the horror is not something with an innate CR then I'll arrive at some other value based on a subjective assessment on how horrifying the 'thing' is. In general, I don't believe in setting an impossibly high DC unless you've stumbled onto something truly monstrous. :D
The circumstantial penalties are also subjective but I try to be specific so it doesn't become a blanket penalty... Seeing little Melodica turned into a ghoul would be innately more horrifying for Lyrica than it would be for Marcus because it is her little sister. Hmmm... now there is an interesting plot twist.
I'm drawing this idea from some old Ravenloft/3.5 Horror stuff where the recommendation was that the base Save scaled with the heroes, so the DC was 10 + Party's APL + Circumstantial modifiers. That seems a little unreal to me so I've dispensed with the APL thing and instead am relying on more subjective criteria. Hopefully, I'll lay the adequately horrific base for things before I ask for a roll. As we play along, I will start codifying circumstantial penalties to make things more consistent. But right now, it is sort of a rough tool.
Also, please note I am intentionally not posting the DCs because... well... it makes you more tense, doesn't it? >:)
Dont suppose anyone has a grappling hook?
Jak doesn't.
So we may have a small issue. I don't see that Zeke has any way to cast Detect Magic (let me know if I'm wrong; i'm not very up on the Alchemist class), and he's the only person in the group trained in Knowledge: Arcana.
So effectively we have no way of identifying magical auras (unless I'm missing something).
If this is the case, Jak can switch to taking ranks in Arcana once we hit level 2, but someone else might have to pick up the slack and pick up ranks of Knowledge: Planes.
Let me know everyone's thoughts.
Alchemist can do so through the Identify extract.
EDIT: Hmm, let me look into that abit more quickly as well.
DOUBLE EDIT: Yes, Identify will allow me to do so. If it counts as a magical item I would still get the +10, but that's up to SR in this case.
This does mean it's limited for me since it's not a cantrip though. It'll take me a minute to prepare the extract and then 3 rounds to use it. It's a 60' cone though so I should hopefully get most of the area.
Since Identify acts as Detect Magic - you can use an Identify extract to scan magical auras and make an Arcana roll to determine what kind of magic is there.
As for using a Spellcraft roll, that would require the stones to be magical items... I guess you'll have to roll and see. :) Gotta love the unknown!
Snow falls in the quiet country evening...
Punctuated by the jingle of bells and the pitter-patter of reindeer hooves, you hope?
You wish! No, the jangle of funeral bells is a dirge counterpointed by the hellish baying of wolves!
And what to your wondering eyes should appear?
But a black smoking sleigh pulled by eight Hell Hounds of Drear!
And sitting atop that steel-bladed sleigh...
Is a twisted old gent, and he's come to play.
He hops from the cart bearing a bloody cat-o-nine tails...
And he can't help but smile as your wretched hearts fail.
"Well, children," he purrs, "Your DM has called...
Sent me with a gift for the players - one and all."
"He'll answer one question, just ONE, about the game...
As long as it doesn't ruin any plot that he's lain."
With a crack of his whip, and a shower of blood,
The old elf mounts his sleigh as the Hounds bear it above...
Then he throws from the sled, some things much like snow...
As Hero Points sprinkle down on the poor bastards below.
But err he vanishes from sound and from sight
He laughs evilly, "Enjoy your very own slay-ride tonight!"
yay! bad santa!
im personally thinking we should ask for a hint about the "pale" that we are supposed to take its hand and use it to presumably free the captured dreareans, but i'm of course open to anything else if other people have a better idea.
merry christmas and happy new year people! :)
and happy hannukah and any other holidays im leaving out. ;)
I celebrate Chrismahannukwanzika.
Ho Ho Ho, b&!~+es!
Bad Santa, possibly best holiday movie ever?
I agree about asking about the "pale"
What about asking how to free the Drearians from the clutches of this evil?
Well, here was the prophecy from the witch, with my thoughts in bold:
When Angarak's scream mounts the heights
His burning tongue splits wide the sky.
Then blood will stain the face of night (scar on the moon)
As the Undying learn what it is to die. (either undead being killed by drearians, or perhaps gods dying? not sure...)
To shadow's breath, will the lowly fall... (mist)
While the long interred shall rise unbound. (undead)
As the wrathful weep beneath the pyre's pall, (dreareans at funeral pyre)
In loss’ crucible, a cause is found. (us banding together to stop the mistbringer)
The Gods, in silence, watch and wait
As Angarak’s fangs bleed deep the night. (sounds like the teeth is the source of the mist)
Breaking teeth, the vengeful sunder fate (we will "sunder fate" when we break the teeth, this one is muy muy IMPORTANT)
Setting crimson wrong to stainless right.
Words at the Teeth:
North from the dark shroud - the Mourning Vale (drear)
Come the vengeful, bound by hate. (us)
Snatch the black hand from the Pale; (who??????)
Anoint the tools that sever Fate. (matches with the prophecy)
It seems to me that if we can figure out what the "pale" is and snatch its black hand, we can put it in this hole at the teeth. I don't know if that means we will free our stolen Drearians, or if their essence will be used to somehow give us the means to defeat the greater evil. But it seems pretty clear to me that our mission hinges pretty strongly on whoever this Pale is.
That's a capital bit of analysis, Aerik. Well done.
So, should we use our question to ask for a hint about who or where the pale is?
I'm gonna let everyone weigh in on this subject.
Aerik has done a wonderful analysis and he has my support to ask about the pale!
(Note, I had this up last night, then server went down on me, so I went to bed, lol)
Wow, Xmas is over! Gotta say this has been a draining one for me. Hope everyone had a good holiday season (for those who celebrate).
Looking over my PBPs this morning. I realize it's been a bigger interruption than I thought it would be. So going through and apologizing to all my games for the somewhat unexplained absence and getting updates in as applicable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excellent analysis! As far as the words at the teeth though, I'm not so sure yet.
I may well be overthinking this, but what if the black hand is more metaphorical. If I recall, five figures, five fingers on a hand. So like it's five tools being the hand we have to snatch, or five beings composing the hand that holds the tools.
I do agree the Pale seems to be central to this though, and it wouldn't hurt to ask about him.
Agreed. I was thinking about the significance of 5. 5 people taken, 5 images on the stones, 5 of us in the party.
But the reason I think the pale is a literal creature with a literal hand instead of a more metaphorical situation is because of this from stormy:
"Below the text is a depression in the stone shaped to fit a perilously thin, long-fingered hand - easily twice the length of a man's."
;)
Hopefully Jak will weigh in soon as well. I know it is a busy time.
Speaking of: I hope everyone had happy holidays! :)
Five people are missing? :)
Aerik,
The holidays have been wonderful! Thanks for asking. It has been very busy spending time visiting family and friends, but the time all goes so quickly.