Talanor, the Bright Tower

Game Master Valjoen_KC

Niyut's Endless Hunger

School: Necromancy [death]; Level Cleric/Oracle 2
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Components: V
Range Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
One dying creature
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

When creature within range drops below 0 HP and possesses essences, you may as an immediate action extract all essences that creature holds. Extracting essences in this way still requires a successful Spellcraft check following the normal rules.

Would this be an acceptable spell?

I like the idea. Let me ponder it. I'd likely make you quest/research it before you could take it.

Inquiry: As we all received an extra basic combat feat at the start of the game and receive the appropriate ones as class progression, would it be possible for Gruskorb to retrain Weapon Finesse/Piranha Strike? Either is now redundant now, and he has no need for power attack/deadly aim.

Also, would it be possible for him to imbue the ear & toe necklace he is to create with an ethereal essence? The armor he wears would probably see more use, but as the character has drawn from the story, the necklace has a more sentimental connection to Gruskorb.

What are you wanting to remove and take in the feat retraining?

I would be fine letting Gruskorb construct a necklace made from the parts of his fallen adversaries that he could in the future bond with. I'd like to see him take a crafting skill and work to make the item similar to Garidan constructing the armor. You could then use the necklace as the third bonded item.

I really like the flame shield idea.

Not as big on the gust of wind, but then again I never cared much for wind spells. Maybe whispering wind instead?

Taking the +1 ability bonus to INT.

What does the robe do?

I really like the flame shield idea.

Not as big on the gust of wind, but then again I never cared much for wind spells. Maybe whispering wind instead?

Taking the +1 ability bonus to INT.

Whispering wind would work wonderfully, how's that for an alliteration! It's a good utility spell that might come in handy for everyone. I had selected gust of wind as it is the third level spell from that sorcerers bloodline. It isn't the greatest, but was thematic.

Niyut wrote:

Niyut's Endless Hunger

School: Necromancy [death]; Level Cleric/Oracle 2
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Components: V
Range Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
One dying creature
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

When creature within range drops below 0 HP and possesses essences, you may as an immediate action extract all essences that creature holds. Extracting essences in this way still requires a successful Spellcraft check following the normal rules.

Would this be an acceptable spell?

I like the idea. Let me ponder it. I'd likely make you quest/research it before you could take it.

Cool. Thanks. It wouldn't be until next level anyway when she gets a new spell known. I was going to say that her tormentor great spirit could teach it to her, but then I have no idea who he actually is.

Hmm. I like the activated version over the passive version for the minor rage. What type of action is it?

On second thought I'll bank that second essence. I want to save up for a +2 on the armor.

I never even noticed that we got a campaign bonus feat! Unfortunately, all of the offered feats do squat for Garidan -_-.

Garidan gets Weapon Finesse--applied to rapiers only, but still considered Weapon Finesse--as a class feature, Piranha Strike requires a light weapon to be used, Power Attack's most potent bonus is similarly restricted to weapons Garidan doesn't use. That leaves Deadly Aim, which sort requires a full ranged build to make effective use of (Garidan's ideal build will eventually make limited use of ranged attacks, but only to set up vicious melee attacks)*.

Could I perhaps get an alternative feat of roughly equal value? I'm looking at Extra Panache (for obvious reasons), Point-Blank Shot (one of my build's tax feats), Throw Anything (another tax feat), and Opening Volley (yet a third tax feat).

Haha. If our illustrious GM is just handing out a free feat, then I'm sure I will come up with something. :-p

But I doubt it will be so simple.

Hmm. I like the activated version over the passive version for the minor rage. What type of action is it?

On second thought I'll bank that second essence. I want to save up for a +2 on the armor.

Minor rage would be a free action like a barbarian with rage. So, activated 2/day ?

Sounds good on the second essence.

I never even noticed that we got a campaign bonus feat! Unfortunately, all of the offered feats do squat for Garidan -_-.

Garidan gets Weapon Finesse--applied to rapiers only, but still considered Weapon Finesse--as a class feature, Piranha Strike requires a light weapon to be used, Power Attack's most potent bonus is similarly restricted to weapons Garidan doesn't use. That leaves Deadly Aim, which sort requires a full ranged build to make effective use of (Garidan's ideal build will eventually make limited use of ranged attacks, but only to set up vicious melee attacks)*.

Could I perhaps get an alternative feat of roughly equal value? I'm looking at Extra Panache (for obvious reasons), Point-Blank Shot (one of my build's tax feats), Throw Anything (another tax feat), and Opening Volley (yet a third tax feat).

** spoiler omitted **

Sorry, just going to stick with those four feats.

Eh, no big. Since I didn't know they were available to begin with, they don't affect my build in any case. Guess I'll go with Power Attack then. Rapier training will, eventually, off-set a good portion of the penalty it applies, and more damage is never bad (even if it's not the full amount possible).

While Quistaine and Ptahh have any reactions or should we get ready for the next "day."

Gruskorb will go ahead and use the life essence for combat expertise.

When the time is right, he'll learn to craft the appropriate jewelry for the item slot; right now, the necklace isn't personalized enough. Besides, he's still learning his skill!

Improving his whip would take both ethereal essences as it already has a +1 on it, yes?

There are still a few loose ends the party should wrap up in this scene. I'll try to post later tonight or in the morning if no one else has something to say, do or observe.

There are still a few loose ends the party should wrap up in this scene. I'll try to post later tonight or in the morning if no one else has something to say, do or observe.

I had a question for Quistaine in my last post; his response will dictate how Gruskorb reacts.

Updated the spreadsheet. Ration consumption has corrected to the proper amount; I'll treat personal rations as last-ditch, emergency "oh s!@#!" supplies and not count those among the general supply (with the exception of Niyut, who no longer needs hers).

@Valjoen: Malthazir's new robe, Stormborn or Stormchild? You refer to it by each name once. Also, what does it do?

@Everyone: Valjoen has allowed the use of the former hairpin of disguise as a bonded item, who wants it? Essence-ready accessory available, just have to claim it. (Garidan thinks it would look best with Niyut, but he's just a bit biased in that regard.)

I'm going to pass on the hairpin. I want an item with more personal or mythic resonance for her last bonded item. Now if we come across the Brisingamen, then I will be all about it. ;-)

Alright :D. Garidan has his ioun torch now, and Gruskorb will soon have a necklace of... ears and toes (blech!)..., so they're both out as well. That leaves Malthazir and Truk'tosh.

Stormborn or stormchild, I'll leave that up to Malthazir. Stormborn was the sorcerer's bloodline, and stormchild is the name of the second bloodline power that I used for the special abilities of the robe, albeit a scaled down version of that power.

The robe has a +1 armor bonus; very similar to ceremonial silk armor. Additionally, it has Resist Electricity 5; Endure Elements (cold only) & treats wind effects as being one step less severe.

As described in the gameplay thread, the robe is black with swirling storm clouds gathering all over. As the wearer walks or moves a slight shimmer, like brewing lightning, can be seen flashing in the clouds. It is very subtle, and has no gameplay mechanics. That is, it doesn't affect stealth or perception.

Couple of quick questions for all of you.

1. Is anyone planning on taking levels in their bonded spirit's class?

2. Is anyone planning on taking levels in any class other than their starting class?

No restrictions here, just wanting to get an idea of everyone's planned progression so that I can plan accordingly.

Thanks

Nope, wizard all the way.

Man I love that robe, so cool. I have the effects all put into my profile.

Question: Was there a secondary effect when the life essence was used? I can't remember if there is suppose to be, or if I might have missed it.

Nope, but I welcome all free levels in Sorcerer that you want to grant. :-p

Couple of quick questions for all of you.

1. Is anyone planning on taking levels in their bonded spirit's class?

2. Is anyone planning on taking levels in any class other than their starting class?

No restrictions here, just wanting to get an idea of everyone's planned progression so that I can plan accordingly.

Thanks

Barring some life-changing event for Gruskorb, no to both.

Question: Was there a secondary effect when the life essence was used? I can't remember if there is suppose to be, or if I might have missed it.

I hadn't given it one yet. I'll post it soon. Allowingthe creative juices to flow slowly over the all the different essences you guys got this last battle.

Couple of quick questions for all of you.

1. Is anyone planning on taking levels in their bonded spirit's class?

2. Is anyone planning on taking levels in any class other than their starting class?

No restrictions here, just wanting to get an idea of everyone's planned progression so that I can plan accordingly.

Thanks

Yep. Plan on dipping another level of lore warden for Combat Expertise and that second bonus feat. If it wouldn't do a number on my swashbuckler advancement, I'd !ove to take lore warden up to 7th, or 8th even. Then my assorted Knowledge skills would be worth a bit more. I wouldn't lose anything for HP, skill ranks, or BAB, and I'd trade good Ref (which I have lots of already) for good Fort (which I definitely need) and a bit of Will too. Weapon Training bonus would make up the lost Rapier Training bonus. Depending on how far I took the dip, I might even up end a bonus feat richer too.

But it's the loss of Nimble and Charmed Life (two boosts each) and the 15th level deeds that's the sticking point for me.

Valjoen_GM wrote:

Couple of quick questions for all of you.

1. Is anyone planning on taking levels in their bonded spirit's class?

2. Is anyone planning on taking levels in any class other than their starting class?

No restrictions here, just wanting to get an idea of everyone's planned progression so that I can plan accordingly.

Thanks

Yep. Plan on dipping another level of lore warden for Combat Expertise and that second bonus feat. If it wouldn't do a number on my swashbuckler advancement, I'd !ove to take lore warden up to 7th, or 8th even. Then my assorted Knowledge skills would be worth a bit more. I wouldn't lose anything for HP, skill ranks, or BAB, and I'd trade good Ref (which I have lots of already) for good Fort (which I definitely need) and a bit of Will too. Weapon Training bonus would make up the lost Rapier Training bonus. Depending on how far I took the dip, I might even up end a bonus feat richer too.

But it's the loss of Nimble and Charmed Life (two boosts each) and the 15th level deeds that's the sticking point for me.

I remember a man once saying that he didn't want a skewering sword because he was holding off till level 20 to autoconfirm crit hits. :-p

A skewering sword would have killed a lot of gnolls. Now level 20 Swash looks even further off. haha

Depending on how long the campaign goes--and contingent on his survival, of course--Garidan might still manage level 20 as a swashbuckler, even with a two-level dip into fighter.

Skewering is not a good choice because it eats panache (and doesn't restore any for the crits either), and because the eventual Critical Focus feat will make confirmations a bunch easier, if not automatic. Also, I'm pretty sure there's still a +10 limit to enhancements on weapons, and Skewering is a +1 I can spend elsewhere.

That's a fair point. Though if all your crits autokill, then you do get the panache back.

Niyut's Endless Hunger

School: Necromancy [death]; Level Cleric/Oracle 2
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Components: V
Range Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
One dying creature
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

When creature within range drops below 0 HP and possesses essences, you may as an immediate action extract all essences that creature holds. Extracting essences in this way still requires a successful Spellcraft check following the normal rules.

Would this be an acceptable spell?

I think you are using my 17 year old daughter's negotiating strategy: Ask for something that you don't think you'll get but are willing to take a little less... so, when I scale it back, you what you originally wanted!

The original intent of the cantrip was to force you to make a desicion; either lose the essence or use a standard action to extract it. Immediate casting makes it too simple, but I could live with a quick action. As you get up in levels and have more options for quick actions, this forces you to make a choice. And, the range is too long. Let's move it from intermediate to close.

How about this?

Niyut's Endless Hunger
School: Necromancy [death]; Level Cleric/Oracle 2
Casting Time: 1 quick action
Components: V
Range Medium (25ft. + 5ft./level)
Target: One dying creature
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes

When creature within range drops below 0 HP and possesses essences, you may as a quick action extract all essences that creature holds. Extracting essences in this way still requires a successful Spellcraft check following the normal rules.

Immediate Actions are just Swift Actions that you take off turn and eat up your next Swift Action. So it would still be a choice: use this spell and lose the swift action on your next turn or be able to use your swift action next turn. Niyut has a fair number of things to do with her swift actions.

The only major restriction that Swift Action (over Immediate Action) would put on this spell is that it could only be used to extract essences from creatures that Niyut drops in range as opposed to other characters. (Since the spell is currently constructed as a conditional (If X, then Y).)

And that may be a restriction you want in place.

The close versus medium range seems reasonable.

Usually when I'm accused of acting like a teenage girl its because I'm watching Teen Wolf or gossiping about guys. :-p

Gruskorb will go ahead and use the life essence for combat expertise.

When the time is right, he'll learn to craft the appropriate jewelry for the item slot; right now, the necklace isn't personalized enough. Besides, he's still learning his skill!

Improving his whip would take both ethereal essences as it already has a +1 on it, yes?

Sounds good on the life essence and the necklace.

For your life essence's secondary effect: Upon a successful trip attempt, a surge of electricity is emitted through your whip shocking your opponent for 1d6 damage.

Yes, to improve the whip from +1 to +2 would take 2 ethereal essences.

Immediate Actions are just Swift Actions that you take off turn and eat up your next Swift Action. So it would still be a choice: use this spell and lose the swift action on your next turn or be able to use your swift action next turn. Niyut has a fair number of things to do with her swift actions.

The only major restriction that Swift Action (over Immediate Action) would put on this spell is that it could only be used to extract essences from creatures that Niyut drops in range as opposed to other characters. (Since the spell is currently constructed as a conditional (If X, then Y).)

And that may be a restriction you want in place.

The close versus medium range seems reasonable.

Usually when I'm accused of acting like a teenage girl its because I'm watching Teen Wolf or gossiping about guys. :-p

True, hadn't thought about the loss of your quick action when you take the immediate action. Ok, I'm good with immediate. So, you will be restricted from casting this on creatures that are within range when they die as well. So, if your 100 feet from a bad guy that dies, you can't use the spell. You would have to move to him, then cast the cantrip normally. Correct?

If I'm a hundred feat away from a guy and I use this spell my CL is absurd and I should be slapping around the gods instead. ;-)

Yes, that looks correct to me.

@Malthazir - You used your life essence from the hill giant for +1 Int (which, btw, I think is ironic given its origin), correct? The secondary effects that I give usually are a derivative of an ability or skill of the dead creature. With a hill giant's life essence going on a caster, this is a little tougher. So, I'm giving you a combo of two abilities. 1) It will give you a +1 natural armor bonus. This now has your AC 1 worse than Mage Armor, but you don't have to cast the spell again; and 2) Projectile Catching (Ex) 1/day you can attempt catch/deflect a projectile no larger than a "large" rocks (or projectiles of similar shape). If you would normally be hit by the projectile, you can make a Will save to catch it as a free action. The DC is 15 for a Small rock, 20 for a Medium one, and 25 for a Large one. If the projectile provides a magical bonus on attack rolls, the DC increases by that amount. If the projectile is a magical attack that requires a ranged touch attack, you can similarly make a Will save to "catch" the attack. The DC is 15 for five or less dice of damage, 20 for ten or less dice of damage and 25 for more than ten dice of damage. If the magical attack already requires you to make a saving throw, you may substitute Will for either Fort or Reflex. You will use the spell's DC for this type of catch. You must be aware of the attack in order to make a catching attempt.

That might not have been worded the best, but we'll figure it out together. So, the 'projectile' could be a boulder, a poisonous arrow, a magic missile, a lightning bolt, or a fireball. You just can't catch something like a trip attempt, a melee attack, a shocking grasp, a castle wall, etc.

Yeah I like that, it's really neat and a cool defensive ability.

Just how exactly would catching spells work? Like if Malz caught a fireball, does he throw it away before it detonated? What about a lightning bolt?

You would deflect it. but not able to redirect it as an attack. I would say that in the case of an AoE it only affected you, and everyone else still needed to make their save. As for lightning bolt, I'd say that anyone in its path before you still needed to make its save, but anyone after you would have been saved the experience of dodging it.

@Everyone - Under the Campaign Info tab, I have a new spoiler for all of the essences and magic items obtained and assigned so far. Please check the information and see if I've missed anything or made any mistakes. I did not include items stored in the wagon or group property such as healing potions, etc.

Looked it over, Garidan looks fine with one minor detail, the secondary ability for EE3. I thought it was as follows:

@Garidan - for your secondary effect on your rapier, it receives the minor shock property (1d4 electrical damage) upon a confirmed critical attack (situational) or 3/day it receives the minor shock property for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your character level (limited use).

And I picked the situational option of those two.

What you actually put down is:

A confirmed critical gives the rapier the minor shock property (1d4 electric damage) for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your character level.

Not that I'm complaining, mind, it's a neat combination of the two benefits. But I'm not certain if that's what you meant to put down.

Thanks, good catch. Lots of note keeping on my end. I appreciate you guys scrutinizing it.

Thanks, good catch. Lots of note keeping on my end. I appreciate you guys scrutinizing it.

Not a problem. But, ah, don't discard that ability completely now. I think that might be a good prospective upgrade for Garidan's relevant essence secondaries in the future, if you're short on inspiration or don't want to stack more damage on his rapier.

I am taking the opportunity afford by hitting level 4 in Oracle to sub out Entropic Shield for Liberating Command.

Garidan, Truk'tosh, one of you should be wearing the mithril cloak. That's a free +1 to AC.

I'm pondering it, actually. Stealth hasn't been an issue of late, so the penalty is no big deal. Not to mention the effective lack of light outside renders the penalty kind of moot anyway.

Wondering if I can somehow squeeze the Dueling Cape Deed and Equipment Trick feats in to wring more use out it :D.

Been planning out development of Garidan's rapier, and I've come up with an interesting question here.

Assuming that the PF limit of +10 maximum enhancement value (+1-+5 of attack and damage bonus and +5-+9 worth of weapon abilities) is adhered to, how are essences going to work when that limit is reached. Now, adding abilities that have just a gp value obviously won't be an issue, but there aren't all that many of those available.

How many essences would it take to get Evasion, like how a Ring of Evasion grants Evasion?

And since feeding Valjoen those extra-special questions is kind of fun, here's two more!

Any prospect of adding the Mythic rules to the campaign? I think getting a really weird essence after particular fight would be a great way to grant mythic power, with the acquisition of further essences of that sort making a neat mini-quest to weave into the main campaign.

Many moons ago, I asked about the stamina rules. Any word on those?

Shame, Garidan, shame for asking questions that have already been answered. :-p

Shame, Garidan, shame for asking questions that have already been answered. :-p

Oh! It has indeed. Well, that's cool to know. Now I just need to somehow pry open a feat slot for Combat Stamina.

(In my defense, between all of the holiday stuff and several consecutive bouts of the crud--or just one that sputtered along for an unnaturally long time--December was not a good month for anything requiring focused thought on my part.)

Don't worry. I won't fetch the shame bell.