Regarding the various skills in the party, as compiled by Elannaris, if anyone else wants to go with a Craft skill, then bows would be a good prospect, and would round out the major crafting a party would conceivably need. Cooking would be another possibility, for turning scavenged or magically-produced foodstuff into long-storage rations.
I feel like that would probably tie somewhat into profession (trapper). Field dressing a kill and drying the meat/hides would all be part of that.
I feel like that would probably tie somewhat into profession (trapper). Field dressing a kill and drying the meat/hides would all be part of that.
Per Gruskorb's backstory and stat allocation, craft(trap) is covered.
I must (belatedly) agree with option #2. Actions have consequences, and the opportunity cost of this choice as opposed to 2.5 seems to have teeth, which I prefer.
Social overlap is always a good thing. It would be woefully unfortunate for the bard to get feebleminded while the rest of the party grunts for aid.
Regarding greater feint, it would help Gruskorb, the rogue, out quite a bit. As the weapons he's using are 1d4 base damage, sneak attack is the only way he'll get major application on his own. The combat maneuvers will be his major contribution for a bit, I imagine.
To get a better feel for the hobgoblin trio of subraces, GM, would you mind posting a touch about their relationship with each other? I know you had the exposition for the recruitment thread, but I feel much of the meaning of the slavemaster's items accrued before Gruskorb escaped would be predicate on what cultural leanings he would be likely to have regarding slavery, defeat, and survival.
Then Garidan will set them up, and Gruskorb can stick them where it hurts the worst ;D.
Can you give us a few examples of what can have it's essence extracted? In the case of life essence, should we be trying to do this to every person who dies? Can elemental essences be extracted from natural phenomenon? How and when can we know what can and cannot be extracted?
A successful spellcraft check will let you determine if an essence is there. The DC is 10 + HD.
Life essences can be there for any living creature. A creature with a mortal soul increases the chance. A more powerful the creature also increases the chance. So, a 15th level NPC is much more likely to have one than a goblin.
Elemental essences can come from Outsiders or some Constructs , as well as, from magical items that have previously been imbued with such an essence.
Ethereal essences can come from Dragons, Fey, Magical Beasts, and certain Humanoids & Monstrous Humanoids; such as a Orc Sorcerer. Also, magical items will have ethereal essences... that is why they are magical. So, if no one wants the boots of elvenkind that you may find, you can always attempt to extract it and use it for another purpose.
Failure to extract loses the essence and can have other consequences if the spellcraft check is significantly below the DC or a critical failure.
Also, it looks like we're going with Option 2 on magical items:
Option #2: Version 2.5 but we allow for the potion and scroll feats. Additionally, we add the extract essence spell into the game, but use roleplaying and fluff for item creation. I’ll still determine if essences exist, but the dice will determine how many you receive. You have the chance for more essences this way. Of course if the dice are unfriendly, you may end up with fewer.
For the purposes of imbuing essences to the wands:
Each essence is 10 levels of spells. Max spell level is equal to the number of essences imbued for this purpose. Must be a high enough caster level to cast the spell or you must use UMD. Lesser Metamagic (affecting 3rd lv spells or lower) is 1x essence for each spell level increase the effect would normally take; i.e. Silent is 1, Quickened is 4. Double the essences for Metamagic (6th lv spells or lower) and triple for Greater Metamagic (9th lv spells or lower).
So, your wands of CLW or Infernal Healing have 10 casts per day. Since we don't have "24 hour" days on a perma-night world. Let's just say when the party rests for 8 hours to allow the spellcasters to reset spells, the wands reset as well.
Also, please feel free to color/flavor your wands into staffs or other similar items. Any type of item that would function as a wizards bonded item will work, I suppose. The mechanics will stay the same however.
The gameplay thread is now open for dotting. Please no actions yet. I will be posting the opening description in the next couple hours.
For my wand, I'm thinking of a perfectly round precious stone, the size of a baseball ball, that gradually changes its color... it makes sense for this item was in possession of the archaeologist and it got Elannaris' attention just a couple seconds before the destruction.
Sounds good.
I had an interesting idea for my wand. A sort of "Living devil's blood ooze" that heals wounds by crawling into the target's body and moving throughout it to repair the damage. Very unsettling I would imagine.
Nice! Is that just a visual effect when you cast infernal healing? Or are you thinking the news is the item?
I have posted the opening scene in the gameplay thread. The current map is available as well.
Can an essence be extracted from a living thing? Say those dragons, fey, or orc sorcerers? If so is there any negative consequence to them?
Cool imagery in the opening pulse by the way!
Niyut, are you okay with getting tackle-hugged by a distraught Garidan, as he briefly mistakes you for his sister? If so, want to spare a moment to collaborate for a small section of our respective posts so the actions synch up?
Sure. I guess that would trigger Viosil's readied action to cast Mage Armor if those haven't gone off yet. Since she and her elven interloper are in fight or flight mode you would need to make an attack roll to tackle hug her. :-p
Cool. On her part, she'd see a fairly small and slender human in chain armor, tears streaming down his face as he looks around the chamber. He's definitely looking for someone or something, and when his gaze turns to her, he yells something that sounds like "Ruza," tears across the distance separating them at full speed, and wraps his arms around her.
I'd continue the rest in my own post, so what would her reaction be to this?
Edit: Hugging Niyut would work best if she's standing up for it :P.
I'm thinking of that as the actual item. Sort of like an evil version of flubber.
I think we are all standing from the original post?
Her reaction besides for trying to increase her defenses will likely be screaming and trying to get away from her "attacker."
I think we are all standing from the original post?
Her reaction besides for trying to increase her defenses will likely be screaming and trying to get away from her "attacker."
Nope, all prone now. Garidan's move action will be getting up, his standard looking around frantically until he spots Niyut. Then next round (assuming we're still in combat mode rather than free mode), charge, "grapple," and weep copiously :D.
Be embarassing as all get out to fail the hug (in the form of a grapple) check, lol, so perhaps Valjoen can be induced to grant a 1-time bonus on the relevant checks for the sake of story.
"You are standing in a vast room, its crystalline walls stretch out hundreds of feet above you into a transparent dome."
Ah, I got confused.
Her CMD is super low. I wouldn't worry too much.
Besides being a half-orc, Niyut probably doesn't look much like the late Ruza. She's not the typical half-orc.
"You are standing in a vast room, its crystalline walls stretch out hundreds of feet above you into a transparent dome."
Ah, I got confused.
Yeah, blue text tells it like it is. We get blended and spat out, and none of us stuck the landing :P.
Besides being a half-orc, Niyut probably doesn't look much like the late Ruza. She's not the typical half-orc.
Garidan is impaired visually by tears and mentally by circumstance, so he's not too clear right now. He'd see the skin tone and hair color, which is close enough to his blurred senses, and that'd be enough. He wouldn't initially notice that the person in question isn't wearing armor as his sister was, or that the build is wrong as well.
She is atypical. I think she traded away all the standard half orc traits besides for Darkvision. But, it's a stressful time. I assume Garidan is looking for any solace he can find.
Can an essence be extracted from a living thing? Say those dragons, fey, or orc sorcerers? If so is there any negative consequence to them?
Cool imagery in the opening pulse by the way!
No, you can't extract any essences from a living being.
No, you can't extract any essences from a living being.Can an essence be extracted from a living thing? Say those dragons, fey, or orc sorcerers? If so is there any negative consequence to them?
Cool imagery in the opening pulse by the way!
In grand RPG tradition, we can't properly loot it until its been killed to death!
Apologies for posting out of sequence there, that game post was made from my phone. The color and resolution on the screen aren't very good, and I thought that my name was highlighted in the round sequence.
Wasn't until I double-checked the post from my tablet later that I realized my error, at which point it was well past being able to delete.
No worries. Posting dialogue or descriptions is always fine.
I think those were his actual actions. He stood up and invaded Niyut's personal space. =P
Ah, it appears he stood up, but I didn't take it that he moved to her yet.
No, not moved yet. If initiative was being done, then I figured it was combat mode, so I spent Garidan's round on a move action to stand from prone followed by a standard action looking around.
I got Garidan's place in the initiative sequence wrong, but that post was his round's worth of actions.
Going to be interesting doings next round, however. He's going to see what his rattled mind assumes is his sister under attack, and he's not going to be at all happy about that. Mr. Dead Guy is just in range for a wicked charge :D.
Guess Niyut is going to have to wait on that mistaken hug.
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Hum... since all of us have another soul inside of us and internal dialogues will be common, I think we need to determine a standard for how to post internal dialogues to avoid confusion... I suggest this:
"Normal talk"
Thoughts
"The spirit talks"
I think there is no need for another format for when the spirit 'thinks' about something, since he is in our head, I do not think he would be allowed to 'think' without us knowing, thus it would be the same as he talking...
As another matter, Elannaris is completely oblivious that there is someone inside her and even if Adornis Bolvingard, the gnome archaeologist, is aware of his condition, he is quiet at the moment, making sure that his knowledge and thoughts are perceived as hers for now... So for all that matters, Elannaris will only think that she just became 'smarter'.
I've set the standard in a few of my games that "telepathy" style talking is like this.
<<Hello, you have a voice in your head!>>
But I imagine since the spirits are self-only (I assume), then maybe this could work.
<<Hello, you still have a voice in your head!>>
Regarding the undead things, could we get in the next GM play post a spoilered list of Knowledge results, for the appropriate skill, to identify them and their capabilities? That way those with the skill in question can make a check when their action comes up, consult the spoiler for the tidbits learned, and directly incorporate that knowledge (or its lack, for failed checks) into their own play posts straight away.
I've set the standard in a few of my games that "telepathy" style talking is like this.
<<Hello, you have a voice in your head!>>
But I imagine since the spirits are self-only (I assume), then maybe this could work.
<<Hello, you still have a voice in your head!>>
Actually, that format would be ideal for telepathic/mental communications from outside, with the bold representing sending, and the italic receiving (from something like a familiar, most likely). For purely internal stuff, I'd go with (and, in fact, already have) Elannaris' suggestion.
Regarding the undead things, could we get in the next GM play post a spoilered list of Knowledge results, for the appropriate skill, to identify them and their capabilities? That way those with the skill in question can make a check when their action comes up, consult the spoiler for the tidbits learned, and directly incorporate that knowledge (or its lack, for failed checks) into their own play posts straight away.
I will try to put spoilers up to identify creatures/monsters/npc. I very use to responding to questions in face to face games, I might not think to put up the basics. Of course, if you beat the DC by more than 5, you can ask 1 question per 5 points above the DC.
It's probably too late now but Truk has a domain power that lets him choose someone to roll twice and take the better for initiative. Unless I say otherwise assume he uses it on himself whenever it comes up.
It's probably too late now but Truk has a domain power that lets him choose someone to roll twice and take the better for initiative. Unless I say otherwise assume he uses it on himself whenever it comes up.
Will do.
Just realized I didn't have editing turned on for the map. Sorry about that. Please feel free to move your icon's as you take your turn. For any non-obvious, intricate manuevers, just add an arrow indicating your path. Thanks.
For some reason, my tablet doesn't like editing anything in Google apps, so I'll be posting detailed movement and destination notes in my posts when needed, and someone else will obviously have to move Garidan about :D.
Dice come through big on piddling skill checks, but utterly suck for an attack. And just to taunt me, max damage too :P.
Did a bit of pondering, and some googling, and then more pondering. The Greater Feint feat chain is out because the swashbuckler's Superior Feint deed is just about equivalent. Superior Feint is a standard action where Greater Feint is a move action, so Garidan can't attack when he uses it, though it'll still apply to AoOs. Superior Feint still strips the target of its Dex bonus to AC until the start of Garidan's next turn like Greater Feint does, however, and nothing in the deed says that the effect doesn't apply to attacks--ranged OR melee--from others. Greater Feint got a FAQ callout as granting its benefits to attacks made by people other than the one who used it, and hopefully Valjoen will accept my contention that Superior Feint works the same way because it doesn't specifically say that only the swashbuckler's attacks benefit (the "ommission is permission" argument, in essence).
Also decided to shuffle Garidan's future feat selection around a bit, replacing the entire planned Vital Strike set with some Critical feats instead. Critical Focus, Bleeding Critical, Impaling Critical (and it's Weapon Specialization requirement), and Critical Mastery should give Garidan's rapier strikes some good damage boosts, though not as heavy as Vital Strike and requiring a successful crit. In return, he's not tied to using only a single attack to get the benefit. If I can shoehorn Dodge, Weapon Focus (dagger), and Close-Quarters Thrower in as well, then he can pelt the impaled target at melee range with thrown daggers too.
On a related note, will it be possible to still reach level 20 in our class, even though the bound soul class adds a level of its own?
Other little questions that crossed my mind about the campaign:
1) For crafting things like arms and armor, buying refined ore isn't likely, and mining is right out too (though the right spell might be a prospect). So we'll probably be salvaging and repurposing or scrapping whatever we find in the rubble or loot from enemies. How is that going to work out when it comes to, for example, melting down a bunch steel shields for metal to make a breastplate?
2) Regarding my earlier caravan idea, would it possible to invest harvested essences into the wagon(s)? To make them more defensible and resistant to damage, able to haul heavier loads for the same amount of effort as a lighter one, larger on the inside than they appear (or even incorporating a tiny bit/secure shelter type effect), and so on.
3) Would it possible to develop what is in effect an essence battery, an object that stores essence in its raw state for allocation later as needed by the user? For example, Garidan needs to make his weapons more accurate and harder-hitting, so he uses the battery's stored essences to give his weapons bonuses to attack and damage. After the fight, he uses the battery again to drain the assigned essences from his weapons. They stay there until he decides he needs to be able to climb better, and uses the stored essences to grant himself a Climb speed and racial skill bonus.
I can only edit them on my iPad from the google apps; the browser never works. My issue has been getting some of the maps to load in the app.
I'm currently making a swashbuckler for PFS and have reviewed many of those rules recently. Under the bluff skill, 'feint' denies the opponent his dex bonus to AC "against your next attack." Greater Feint causes the opponent to lose his dex bonus "until the beginning of your next turn." The FAQ says this applies to all attacks by anyone. The Superior Feint Deed uses language similar to Greater Feint in that the opponent loses his dex bonus "until the start of the Swashbuckler's next turn." So, I would agree that the loss of the dex bonus applies to all attacks by anyone until your next turn.
There is no character level limit, I suppose, assuming we keep the campaign going long enough to get there. So, sure you can get 20 levels of Swashbuckler if you reach CL 21.
1) Guess you'll need to find a halfway decent forge... now won't ya? [/wink]
2) Since we went with option #2, only yourselves and the heirloom items will be able to be imbued with essences. Also, given the relative scarcity of them (and other magical items), I doubt you would have wanted to use them for that purpose anyway.
3) Nope. The essences were designed to give you flexibility in crafting items; not the versatility to use them for different purposes given different situations.
Cool, Superior Feint is a go then for suckering opponents and leaving them open to unpleasant things from Gruskorb. In exchange for not being able to use that weakness myself in a round (but, Dazzling Display and Shatter Defenses to the rescue!) I save three precious feat slots for other good stuff.
Though, admittedly, Combat Expertise wasn't much a burden, since one more level of lore warden would net that as a bonus. Normally, I would consider that the tax feat that everyone else seems to, but in light of Garidan's backstory, it actually makes sense to have.
I certainly hope it lasts long enough, I want to attain the pinnacle of power for Garidan. To make him a legend in his own time, admired by children, envied by men, desired by women and--because of the type of person he is--have entire shelves in scholar's libraries everywhere devoted to his exploits :P.
1) Lol, not quite what I meant. To clarify, out of the metal that makes up, say, half a dozen small steel shields, how much would we get back when melting them down to turn that metal into a breastplate? Because even with magic, I doubt the scrapping is 100% efficient and no metal is lost during the process.
2) Ah well, makes it more fun that way. None of the caravans from the two series I mentioned as inspiration had magic, so we'll have to deal. Because we're the heroes and that's what we do, lol.
On a related note, I could have sworn that under v2.5 of the magic item system the campaign uses, items besides the heirloom that we start with could also receive essences. The only proviso was that the items had to be of sufficiently high quality. Not a problem if I got that wrong, since I tried hard to structure my build to rely on magic gear as little as possible; aside from the traditional magic weapon/armor combo any self-respecting combat type needs, the only two items I truly yearn for are a blinkback belt and a ring of sustenance. The former because it lets me really get into the dagger-throwing schtick, and the latter because rations won't last forever and starving sucks ;P.
3) Never hurts to check, though. Who knows what manner of creativity will be approved if only one takes the trouble to ask first, right?
This campaign world, in both its original shiny, happy all-is-well (mostly) version and the broken version we're in now, seems like a great place to use the Automatic Bonus Progression system.
1. There won't be any hard and fast calculations. Find a couple of shields and you want a breastplate, sounds good. Want a set of field plate, then probably should find 4-5 shields. If you find a forge and want to take the time to make armor, I won't be saying, "Sorry, you came up one dagger's worth of steal short."
2.5) No, that was the trade off. Only Option #3 allowed for other items to be imbued.
3) I had considered just using Auto Bonus Prog, but I think the essences are more fun and require creativity. I'm hoping that they'll be available in enough quantities to simulate the progression you would see with the Auto Bonus.
2.5) No, that was the trade off. Only Option #3 allowed for other items to be imbued.
'Tis a wrinkle in my plans, admittedly, but not an insurmountable one. Just going to have to fire up the ol' brain and get creative :D. But that raises another question. Surely, our heirloom items are't the only ones in the world, and you did mention extracting essences from magic items, so what happens if we somehow lay hands on those items by fair means or foul? Can we bond with, or coerce, or otherwise do whatever is needed to use these items in the same way as our own heirlooms?
And I found the relevant information that had me thinking that v2.5 allowed for other items to receive essences. From the first discussion post you made, near the end.
In our campaigns, these items are very character defining. As the party finds essences, you will be able to enhance these items. Additionally, if you find any other masterwork level items you can imbue them; for example, rings, staves, boots, gloves, etc. Item creation rules are the same except you don’t need the feat (other than potion and scroll). The gold cost is replaced by essences. The more gold, the more essences required. The idea behind this system is that it allows the GM to control the amount of magic coming into the game but gives the players the flexibility to get the items or effects they want.
That was before we were offered the choice of how we'd like to do our magic item crafting, so I was under the impression that was the base, with the v2.5 specifics then stacked on top of that. Not that I'm regretting my choice, mind, I picked that option for a reason. Just pointing out where the confusion came from.
Sorry, for the confusion. That was written when I was intending to use version 3.0 (option #3) without discussion. Once we started talking about it, I offered up the three options and tried to lay out the specifics for each. My apologies for any confusion.
Couple things to keep in mind about the option we've chosen.
1) There isn't a limit to how many essences you can stack on your heirloom item. You could end up with a +6 frosty, flaming defending holy sword that grants +2 natural ac and makes you invisible.
2) You may still find and loot various magic items. You can extract the essence or use the item as is.
3) I like to grant evolving powers to items. That is, just like the fireball spell imbued on a wand will increase in power as the character gains levels, so will other bonuses/powers. Look at the Breastplate of Jolnar for examples.
4) I'll take your wishes into account when designing the item's powers. It would be helpful to keep a wishlist or shoot me a PM when you imbue an essence with discussion of the type of effect your looking for; e.g. offensive, defensive, a specific skill, utility, or anything. Ideas are always helpful. I'm looking to create something you'll be happy with, something unique, something interesting, etc.
I think you'll be happy with it. It's fun and requires us all to be creative and flexible.
So should we start brainstorming our signature items evolved abilities now or is that something we'll discuss when it's relevant?
So should we start brainstorming our signature items evolved abilities now or is that something we'll discuss when it's relevant?
Purely personal opinion, but it's never too early to make plans. These items will be a major wellspring of power for us, and should be prepared for accordingly.
I'm already preparing a list of my own :P.
Having company over tonight and then Mother's day weekend, so my posting will be slow.
The wife is hung over from last night's festivities, so getting in a few posts this morning. Be careful to check my posts as I'm having to do some edits as I enter them... feeding the baby and posting is not going well. Haha
Casting sleep is a full round action I believe.
It's more than that. It's a 1-round action meaning it doesn't trigger until next round.