Wow. It's like Christmas around here! Hrm. I suppose Truk'tosh will hoard his ethereal essence for now.
I'll try to level sometime today but I'm busy prepping for Thanksgiving currently.
Yes, all essences have a secondary effect. For the ethereal essences, I'll give you a limited use option and a situational option. Give me a little time to think about some good choices. Adding a 2nd level spell to your wand, will grant you 5 casts per day.
Good call on the Hairpin. Didn't have it written down in my binder.
Gruskorb and Garidan, which of the two of you has it?
Hairpin is in the party loot pile, unclaimed so far. That's where I had it noted when last I updated the loot spreadsheet.
Another christmas gift that I forgot earlier.
Garidan - with a second life essence bonded to your person, your fire damage on a successful parry/riposte is now 1d8.
Dang! Life essence with a feat and sick secondary, ethereal essence, level up, and now a boost my previous life essence as well? Oh, and not resting on a cavern floor as a pile of drake poop, mustn't forget that detail! A banner day for Garidan, I'd say.
Now he just needs a chance to do a little trading of unwanted/unneeded supplies and some time to make Truk'tosh his fancy cloaker armor.
Speaking of supplies, I remind you all that Garidan invested in crossbows for the rest of the party back in Eastgate. I think the drakes' initial attack on the bridge might have gone better for us if folks with better darkvision range had laid some long-distance hurt on them as they approached. And a bolt with a light spell cast on it and fired into scaley hide would have given Garidan a handy assist to his own shots.
Regarding the ethereal essence. I think I'll hold on to it for now, see what I can do when I have a couple--or more--to work with. I can always stuff it into the rapier early if it is absolutly required, yes?
No problem holding on to it. You'll need to imbue one EE to your rapier and armor (when you get some) before you can add any effects. Just like building a magical weapon the normal way. That is, you'll need to make it a +1 rapier before you could add multiple essences to get something like keen, frost, agile, etc. Same thing on armor.
So, holding it for the armor makes sense. But if you want to imbue your rapier, you'll need to start with 1 essence.
Oracle (Spirit Guide) 3:
+5 HP
+1 BaB
+1 Fort
+1 Reflex
Spells: Entropic Shield (She is favored by fate after all. :-p)
FCB: +1 Skill Point
Skills:
+1 Bluff
+1 Kn: Religion
+1 Spell Craft
+2 Sense Motive
+1 Perception
+1 Stealth
+1 Perform: Sing
+1 Profession: Medium
+1 Cha
Class Abilities:
Bonded Spirit
I want to give our GM props. I really enjoy this game and I'm always impressed how interesting and challenging our combats are.
Between the cloaker, the haunt, and the drakes I definitely think this level is well deserved.
Though always with an eye to the future, I cannot wait until our next level when I will finally have level 2 spells.
Forgot all about the haunt! Ol' Flendario has pretty darn patient with us, but I imagine he'll be wanting a permanent, proper rest soon enough. We'll have to get on that as promised.
I've managed to secure pie for tomorrow so I allowed myself a few minutes to level. =P
druid 3/character level 4
+1 strength
+9 hp (hd, con, favored class)
+1 bab
+1 reflex
+2nd level spells
Skills
+2 nature
+1 perception
+1 sense motive
+1 survival
+1 trapper
+1 handle animal
Class Ability: Trackless Step
Actually, instead of Resist Energy, I think I would like to split the essences between the robe and the wand.
Can the robe add to my saves like a cloak of resistance? And can the wand gain 10 charges of Snowball?
For Garidan's new level:
Swashbuckler 3/Fighter 1
+1 Str
6 hp
+1 attack
+1 Fort, +1 Will
Nimble +1
Deeds (kip-up, menacing swordplay, precise strike, swashbuckler initiative)
+7 skills ranks & +2 background skill ranks
Acrobatics +1
Climb +1
Intimidate +1
Perception +1
Sense Motive +1
Stealth +1
UMD +1
Craft (armor) +1
Craft (weapons) +1
I want to give our GM props. I really enjoy this game and I'm always impressed how interesting and challenging our combats are.
Between the cloaker, the haunt, and the drakes I definitely think this level is well deserved.
Though always with an eye to the future, I cannot wait until our next level when I will finally have level 2 spells.
Thanks! I had fun designing all the encounters. Between having a multi level fight with the Cloaker and the chase sequence with the drake, they had some unique elements. The 'cart running off' was an impromptu thing. They were injured and were startled by the doors bursting open, and since no one was holding onto them, I figured they would run!
I think you guys had to lucky dice rolling sequences. First, the Eagles versus the drake, did you guys the next round to deal with them. Second, the drake choosing to center the fireball on the black eagle was the only thing that kept Niyut conscious. I was fully expecting Truk to have to get back in the battle it was to be won.
Well hopefully we can get a breather for a few days, lol. That's three in-game days running where the party has had to kick ass, take names, and come close to getting hosed good and proper¹.
1: For those keeping score at home, the first day's near-gank was the zombie rush & crush on the underbridge from Talanor, with a bonus round from the shadow rat swarm. Day 2 was our exposure to the classic "rocks fall, everyone dies" in the font. Then day 3, as if jealous, gave us a teleporting cloaker with a taste for the high ground and some ugly abilities to hamper any approaches, a haunt that was set to blast us to dust, and the drakes. Sheesh, busy days so far.
Drakes were like day 5 we slept a couple of times in the depths.
Actually, instead of Resist Energy, I think I would like to split the essences between the robe and the wand.
Can the robe add to my saves like a cloak of resistance? And can the wand gain 10 charges of Snowball?
I was hopeful that I have successfully avoided the 10 snowballs a Day spell! Ha ha!
Yes and yes. I will give you The secondary effect options in the next day or so
If you think it is unbalanced/unfun, then I can choose differently. I'm just trying to figure out ways to stay relevant when we are fighting CR 6+ baddies and I'm still going pew-pew with cantrips and level 1 spells.
I imagine snowballs make more of a *whumph*.
If you think it is unbalanced/unfun, then I can choose differently. I'm just trying to figure out ways to stay relevant when we are fighting CR 6+ baddies and I'm still going pew-pew with cantrips and level 1 spells.
No, snowball is a fine choice. It's probably what I would've chosen, and makes a lot of sense for Niyut. That's spell is been very effective for her and makes all the sense in the world that she would desire to have that spell available from her wand.
Besides, you are about to Department the warm, fiery center of the world and reenter the cold, frigid surface. But don't worry, snowball will still be effective but you are unlikely to run into any creatures with cold weaknesses out there.
If we decide we do not want the hairpin chain of disguise, then we can extract essences from it. I will admit that the prospect of getting an Illusion Arcane Essence gets me excited.
If we decide we do not want the hairpin chain of disguise, then we can extract essences from it. I will admit that the prospect of getting an Illusion Arcane Essence gets me excited.
No objections here, Garidan has no use for it himself. And something to keep in mind about that hairpin, if Valjoen agrees with this; as a magic item, it should retain the level of quality needed to take essences even after its current essence has been extracted. Maybe even qualify as a bound item once the appropriate character level is reached. So keeping it around regardless of what is ultimately done with it might not be a bad idea.
The chance for an ethereal essence from a magic item is 80% plus 1% per CL of that item. There can be 1 ethereal essence for every CL of that item. So, a Fey with 6 HD could give up to a possible 3 ethereal essences, and boots of speed could give up to a possible 5 ethereal essences.
Arcane essences can come from any casting NPC or from a magical item. These essences are attuned to a particular school of magic; i.e. Alteration, Divination, Evocation, etc. The chance for an arcane essence from a caster is 25% plus 5% per HD. Anything under 1 HD is 0%. The chance for an arcane essence from an item is 25% plus 5% per CL for that item. Any arcane essence obtained from an item decreases the number of ethereal essences for that item by 1.
It seems like there would be a 30% for an Illusion extract and if not an 81% for an Ethereal Essence.
Is Imbue Extract still a thing?
No. I simplified the extraction and imbuing the essences. It was too harsh to force you to cast a spell and roll a skill check after I rolled a percentage to see if one exists. The randomness of my rolls seems to be doing a good enough job of controlling the flow of essences into the campaign. Also, it's taking up 2 cantrip slots.
Now, if you are trying to extract an essence from an item, I would say you need to cast extract essence. However, I'm fine giving both Niyut and Malthazir a bonus cantrip slot just for that spell. Also, I think I would rule that if you try to extract an essence from an item in someone else's possession, they would get a will save to prevent it.
Niyut, you're calculation for the percentages for the hairpin look correct.
Okay, I'm changing my Imbue Extract cantrip to Spark.
"full restraints, full mask, constant observation."
Then it's a good thing I selected a class that's set to be a master of escape artist, disguise, and stealth, no? *cackles*
Remind me: Regarding essences, what would the ethereal do to Gruskorb's whip right now as it already has the +1 and called effects on it?
You can get any appropriate +1 weapon effect from one essence, such as keen, etc.
Niyut is correct. Or you could save it until you have a second essence and give the whip a +2 bonus or a +2 weapon effect.
I reviewed my earlier post on essences. I apologize but I made a cut/paste error. Garidan and Truk'tosh your Speed Surge is only 1/day. As Garidan has discovered, any essences bound to you personally, will enhance previous abilities gained from similar essences. So, you will gain extra uses of this ability as you get more life essences. Only essences of similar nature will stack with each other, e.g. life enhances other life, arcane enhances other arcane, elemental enhances other elemental.
As a group, you may want to consider that since these three types stack, it may be beneficial to passing out essences with this in mind. For example, Garidan has 2 life essences and Truk has 1. You might want to get these for the other three characters before giving Garidan or Truk more. Of course, this is all up to you.
Niyut - for the secondary effect on your wand. I'm thinking either a 1) a limited use effect that allows your Snowball to be an AoE 2/day. The area of effect is 5' radius every 2 CL. So, right now it is 5' radius (10'x10'). When you hit 4th level it will be 10' radius, and so on, or 2) a situational effect that when you cast Snowball your body temporarily becomes ice and you are granted DR 5/fire for 1d3 rounds.
Niyut - for the secondary effect on your robe. I'm thinking either a 1)limited use effect that upon command the sleeves of the robe will expand like rigid wings allowing you to glide as per the spell 2/day or 2) a situational effect that grants you +5 stealth while underground.
Update on essences
Garidan (Life Essence) - You gain the Dodge feat and the secondary effect: Speed Surge. 1/day as a swift action, you may draw on the draconic heritage of the life essence for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.
Garidan (Ethereal Essence) - Saving. Need to imbue a single essence to either the rapier or armor before you can add effects.
Gruskorb (Ethereal Essence) - Do you want to bond the essence to your whip or to your armor or save it until you have more essences for a more powerful effect?
Malthazir (Ethereal Essence) - Do you want to bond the essence to your ooze or save it until you have a robe or more essences for a more powerful effect?
Niyut (Ethereal Essence x2) - Bonding one essence to wand (snowball) and 2nd effect tbd. Bonding second to robe (+1 resists) and 2nd effect tbd.
Truk-tosh (Ethereal Essence) - Saving. Need to imbue a single essence to either the rapier or armor before you can add effects.
Truk-tosh (Life Essence) - You gain a +1 to an ability score and the secondary effect: Speed Surge. 1/day as a swift action, you may draw on the draconic heritage of the life essence for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.
Wow 50 new posts between gameplay and discussion!
Sorry for the slow posting, this game is by far the fasting moving one that I'm in and life has been a little hectic lately. I promise I have been reading along and keeping up, and I second the notion of how well made the game is.
I should be able to get back to it on Monday after the holiday weekend.
I will take the glide effect and the AoE effect.
The area of effect is 5' radius every 2 CL. So, right now it is 5' radius (10'x10'). When you hit 4th level it will be 10' radius, and so on . . .
Previously, you have said that our wands function like staves and that they function on our character level instead of any caster class level. Wouldn't that mean that as a fourth level character that the radius would be 10'? Or did I previously misunderstand?
Yes, you are correct. I had forgotten. I did that so you can use the wand like a staff for any spell caster class you have. And since you only have 1 level of sorcerer and can only cast 1st level sorcerer spells, I wanted you to be able to cast your spells with a higher CL. Otherwise, the spells become a little useless down the road. So, your wand will cast as CL4.
Malthazir - no worries. lots of housekeeping after the battle.
Since I don't need to pay off another tax feat for quite some time yet--building the Dodge chain to completion will occupy my feats until level 10--I'm quite fine with making sure that everyone else gets to enjoy the benefits of life essences. Even then, I only have two more tax feats to buy off, and--with Valjoen's agreement--possibly one non-tax feat*.
And even 1/day speed surge is still a great thing, so no problems there.
As far as essence allocation is concerned, the only type Garidan has no use for are the arcane essences. Since he is the only party member with nary a single spell to cast, increasing the DC of his spells holds pretty no value at all, lol. So you can safely assume I will happily trade away a chance at one for an essence that is a bit more useful.
Valjoen, after some further thought, I will add that ethereal essence to Garidan's rapier now. I've been thinking over some of the nasty stuff we've fought, and what we might face ahead, and decided that a bonus to attack and damage--and hitting as a magic weapon--might be real important sooner rather than later. I'll write a play post for it a bit later on, when Garidan has the time and energy to mess with the essence.
*The feat in question is Mixed Combat. It's a 3pp feat, so it might not be acceptable on that basis alone.
Garidan - Ok. Your rapier gets a +1 enhancement bonus and either a limited use effect: 2/day upon a successful attack with you rapier, you can attempt to demoralize an opponent as an immediate action or a situational use effect: If you are flanked by two or more opponents and you perform a successful riposte, you can either make a 5’ step as an immediate action or swap places with your attacker that you just parried as an immediate action.
Update on essences
Garidan (Life Essence) - You gain the Dodge feat and the secondary effect: Speed Surge. 1/day as a swift action, you may draw on the draconic heritage of the life essence for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.
Garidan (Ethereal Essence) - +1 Enhancement to Rapier and a secondary effect TBD.
Gruskorb (Ethereal Essence) - Do you want to bond the essence to your whip or to your armor or save it until you have more essences for a more powerful effect?
Malthazir (Ethereal Essence) - Do you want to bond the essence to your ooze or save it until you have a robe or more essences for a more powerful effect?
Niyut (Ethereal Essence x2) - Bonding one essence to wand (snowball) with secondary effect of AoE 2/day. Bonding second to robe (+1 resists) with secondary effect of glide.
Truk-tosh (Ethereal Essence) - Saving. Need to imbue a single essence to either the rapier or armor before you can add effects.
Truk-tosh (Life Essence) - You gain a +1 to an ability score and the secondary effect: Speed Surge. 1/day as a swift action, you may draw on the draconic heritage of the life essence for a boost of strength and speed to take an additional move action in that round.
Garidan, did you say we had an Excel loot spreadsheet? I cannot find it on your profile? Am I blind or confused?
When will Truk'tosh's Cloaker armor be ready?
Sorry, I thought I stated it elsewhere.
Truk'tosh is applying the ability bump from from the life essence to strength. Along with the level 4 stat bump that brings his strength to 20.
Am I correct in assuming that the boni from life essences to ability scores is enhancement?
Garidan, did you say we had an Excel loot spreadsheet? I cannot find it on your profile? Am I blind or confused?
Header of this page has the link to the google spreadsheet
When will Truk'tosh's Cloaker armor be ready?
It can be ready after the rest. I assume he's been working on it when he can over the past couple days.
Sorry, I thought I stated it elsewhere.
Truk'tosh is applying the ability bump from from the life essence to strength. Along with the level 4 stat bump that brings his strength to 20.
Am I correct in assuming that the boni from life essences to ability scores is enhancement?
Yes, just like the level 4 stat increase.
The level 4 stat increase is an untyped bonus normally. Is that not the case in this game?
I ask about enhancement because I'm curious if it'd stack with a bull's strength.
Oh, sorry. posting for my phone. Let's call it an untyped bonus. It Should stack with spells. It is a replacement for getting stat bonus gear.
Well stat bonus gear doesn't normally stack with spells. =P
When will Truk'tosh's Cloaker armor be ready?It can be ready after the rest. I assume he's been working on it when he can over the past couple days.
Not as yet, been too busy alternately kicking and hauling butt in those caverns. However, with a bit of safety for the party at the moment, he actually plans to get started.
His order of business for this end of Eastgate is as follows:
1) Get those elves buried as promised;
2) Get Gruskorb's magical assistance in mending the damaged gear we looted;
1) Pawn the looted gear off for some useful stuff. Rations are apparently out, but that's okay. I'm thinking expendables--another cask of holy water, buff potions and/or scrolls, maybe some basic alchemical wares like tanglefoot bags, acid, power components for our casters--and some basic equipment upgrades--climbing kit, masterwork tool kits for Garidan, perhaps some more specialty arrows/bolts;
4) Get started on Truk's cloaker armor!
Garidan - Ok. Your rapier gets a +1 enhancement bonus and either a limited use effect: 2/day upon a successful attack with you rapier, you can attempt to demoralize an opponent as an immediate action or a situational use effect: If you are flanked by two or more opponents and you perform a successful riposte, you can either make a 5’ step as an immediate action or swap places with your attacker that you just parried as an immediate action.
The italicized portion is basically the Menacing Swordplay deed, save that it uses an immediate action in place of a swift action, doesn't require a reserved panache point, and is restricted to one weapon.
The bold portion there needs revision. Only a single immediate action is allowed per round, and the riposte itself is an immediate action. And would the 5-foot step or postion swap provoke an AoO from any of those opponents?
In the last big post, it was suggested they woudn't be trading with us given that they have nothing to trade. The elves want to be buried above ground. It seem like we should do that after we leave.
I'm really hoping that applies to food alone, and not other sorts of equipment. But it does, then we just cart our plunder a little longer, no big. And who knows, maybe Garidan will find someone who's got a little side business going on the downlow if its known he has some spare armor and weapons available.
And yes, I recall the aboveground stipulation. I'm hoping we can cover that just outside the gates on this side of Eastgate, while we have cover from the guards from any prowling undead. Or gnolls, since those might be an issue as well.
Sorry, it apparently didn't post before: Gruskorb will retain his essence for now. He will probably bring his whip to a +2 later with it. My assumption is one must "purchase" the next tier up before going higher. For example, he couldn't go from a +1 to a +3 without buying the +2 first.
Updating leveling nonsense now. Something I totally did not think about earlier: Do Truk & Gruskorb's spirits willingly share comprehension of Druidic?
Going to hold onto the essence for now.
Well stat bonus gear doesn't normally stack with spells. =P
Understood. I want the life essence bonus to act just like the stat bonus for every 4 levels. So, it should stack.
Garidan - Ok. Your rapier gets a +1 enhancement bonus and either a limited use effect: 2/day upon a successful attack with you rapier, you can attempt to demoralize an opponent as an immediate action or a situational use effect: If you are flanked by two or more opponents and you perform a successful riposte, you can either make a 5’ step as an immediate action or swap places with your attacker that you just parried as an immediate action.The italicized portion is basically the Menacing Swordplay deed, save that it uses an immediate action in place of a swift action, doesn't require a reserved panache point, and is restricted to one weapon.
The bold portion there needs revision. Only a single immediate action is allowed per round, and the riposte itself is an immediate action. And would the 5-foot step or postion swap provoke an AoO from any of those opponents?
Totally made this one up... so it is a swift action then. Must be flanked and must make successful riposte.
Are you taking this option or the limited use demoralizing option?