Aw s*$+, why'd you have to get and get my craft itch going :D? I had it tamed down nicely with the alchemy stuff too.
With the right (conjured) tools you could turn the mithril into wire after recombining the links into an ingot. Niyut could spin that wire with a fiber into a wire-braided yarn.
I had got the idea of wire, but from there I went to running it through the shaft of each feather--like a bead--then winding the wire tightly around a shaft of the pierced feather a few times for reinforcement and support before adding the next feather in the sequence.
The giant fly trap material could be pulped and spun.
The difficulty with the beading the feathers is that it compromises the structure of the feather and would slowly shear it apart. Whereas doing a looping knot braid doesn't cause shear and gets the feathers to support the feathers next to them.
I may have went down a rabbit hole of traditional weaving techniques. :-)
I'm excited to collaborate, if Truk is willing to risk her current cloak.
Keep in mind that we're talking about giant owl feathers, though, and those are good bit bigger and more robust than standard bird feathers. Especially for as narrow a gauge of wire as I'm thinking. So splitting or shearing should be less of an issue. And Garidan can, with time and effort, make up some of that alchemical glue to further reinforce things if needed. Only thing more potent than that stuff is full-up sovereign glue and that is a magic item.
I love all the ideas guys but Truk already has a pretty rad cloak (that I should imbue essences into at some point).
Does Garidan have a cloak yet? There’s a few pretty cool cloaks out there specifically for swashbucklers you could draw inspiration from.
Actually, Garidan doesn't have a cloak at the moment, and I'm holding out (vaguely) for finding a cape of the swashbuckler at some point (thanks to Valjoen's highly customizable essence system, one of the few existing PF magic items I want in its stock form, and not as a bonded item either).
Specific magic items are incredibly rare in this campaign.
Wouldn’t it be easier to create your own piecemeal with essences?
It quite likely would be easier, and faster too. Save for the fact that feeding essences into an item requires it to be bonded first, and I've hit my current limit by character level for bonded items (four) with rapier, armor, 'Ruza's stone, and buckler. The next slot for such an item doesn't become available until I reach level 14 (and 19 for the item after, with 20 for the last).
So it would be easier at this point to actually hope for a specific magic item to become available. Indeed, when combining the level limit for bonded items with the level limit for essences invested into most items, I'd probably get both of the specific magic items--the cape of the swashbuckler and the blue swordmaster's flair--before I have the character level to replicate their respective abilities via essence use.
It's a big world and surely somewhere in it, there's a group of swashbucklers who've both made/commissioned such items and suffered losses enough that there's now a few lying about unclaimed. If Valjoen is aware of my interest, he may find reason to steer us close enough that opportunity presents itself :D.
So, I've been having a lot of conversations about the essence system lately.
I created limits on the number of bonded items to encourage developing multi-ability powerful items that define the character rather than having ump-teen different items that a character dons each day.
I created limits on the number of essences in armor and weapons as it mirrored Pathfinder/3.5 limits. Note there is no limit on casting bonds or sundry items.
Having played in the system for a couple of years now, what is everyone's thoughts on the topic? Should I keep the limits, drop one of them, or drop them both?
I'm fine with the limit on bonded items per character level, though I think it could be adjusted a bit down at the high end, say 12-13 for the fifth item, then 15-16 for the sixth, and 19-20 for the last. That doesn't mean that a character has to take or make a bonded item when it becomes available earlier, but having the option is nice. Mind, however, that I'm actually quite satisfied with the four items that I currently have and don't really need another one at the moment. In the future, maybe a belt or another bit of clothing for those abilities that don't quite fit armor, weapon, or 'Ruza, but that'd be about it.
(It's difficult to put this into words, but when I look at the progression of bonded items allowed, it feels natural at levels 1, 3, and 5, where a character is a scrub and needs the boost from the equipment. The larger gap between 5 and 9 also feels natural, as it gives players a reason to build what they've got while getting the "sweet spot" levels that a lot of PF classes seem to have. But the gap between levels 9 and 14, and those that come after, those feel off.)
For the limit on essences in an item by character level, on the other hand, I'm very much in favor of removing the character level limit but keeping the cap on maximum essences permitted. If someone wants to emphasize the early development of their weapon(s) and/or armor/shield, and can actually supply the essences needed for it, why not? I mean, they're still getting essences at the same rate as everyone else in the party, so it's not like they're blasting ahead of their companions. They just choose to tightly focus their essence gain instead of spreading it around.
Alternatively, you could just adjust the character level limit for essences applied to abilities to either be higher, or even equal to the actual character level itself. It'd still keep something of a throttle on things, and an overall cap as well (albeit expanded), but it wouldn't be quite so strict as it is now.
Specific magic items are incredibly rare in this campaign.
Wouldn’t it be easier to create your own piecemeal with essences?
It is by far.
I would be happy to make the cloak for Garidan instead of Truk.
I have no strong feelings about the levels that permit bonding, though Garidan's argument doesn't feel wrong to me.
I don't think the limits on investment serve an practical purpose. The limit did not even affect the entire weapon but only special weapon abilities. You could keep increasing its enhancement bonus without limit or adding to its sundry powers Did anyone feel constrained by the limits? Garidan did you ever want to drop more essences into your weapon but you could not?
Garidan did you ever want to drop more essences into your weapon but you could not?
Lol, do you even have to ask? I wanted that the instant that I hit the limit for my current level range :D. Mind, I'm not displeased with what investing those essences into my other gear has gotten me, not at all. But believe that my rapier would have at least couple more abilities on it right now if I had the leeway to stuff the essences for them in there.
Beuller?
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Valjoen get run over by life last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
[licks his palms]
I'm sick! I'm cold and clammy!
Sorry, haven;t had a bunch of time this week and when I did it was short bursts in which I was hammering out some thoughts on the Essence System. Posts in all threads incoming over the next couple of hours.
@GM: Did you see my pas post about imbuing the Wand with the giant owl's essence for Shield?
Is there a map?
Is this orc new? He doesn't seem to be using the same icon as the two who previously escaped?
I deleted the old icons accidentally. It is the same orc that left on foot.
The one that flew away as a bird or the female who disappeared into the ether?
The one that flew away as a bird or the female who disappeared into the ether?
Bird... guess that wasn't really on foot. Meant to imply it wasn't the female that left with the other two baddies via Etherealness.
Truk, can you make sure that your AC is up to date? I don't think it has Barkskin accounted for.
I've put everybody's buffs in the notes on the map. Please let me know if I missed any. Combats can become complicated for our GM. Let's help him out and avoid retcons.
Where did Garidan get endure elements and that energy resistance from? And you totally missed the fact that he's invisible as well.
He isn't invisible after he attacks the witch. The resist energy is from Niyut on the previous page. Endure Elements -- from Truk -- has been standard practice since we left Eastgate and you almost froze to death.
Lol, that's why I supplied the party--or rather, those of use who actually needed it--with cold weather clothing that I looted, so he wouldn't have to keep spending a spell on that every day.
Just sitting here, twiddling my thumbs.
Sorry, everyone. Been under the weather all of last week and the weekend with the flu. I should be back at it tomorrow and posting.
I'm guessing Valjoen either got afflicted with the crud again, or is trying to get caught up on the assorted RL stuff that got dropped during the first bout.
I have been making votives for the dead all week. :-p
It's a good thing that our characters don't have to pee or anything, or this impending fight would have had to reset so many times already as various participants broke off to take care of things :D.
Valjoen, is everything okay with you?
Just getting slammed at work... sorry.
Ah, okay. I figured it might be something along those lines, but just wanted to make sure.
Apologies, I've somewhat lost the thread of where we're at. We're hunting down that spellcaster while she's weak to capture or kill her, correct? What is the current map layout and situation? I'm just a little confused about how dangerous the current combat is and don't want to under or over react.
Niyut would like the witch alive to answer questions, so Garidan used his armor's invisibility and a Speed Surge to get to the target quickly, after which he managed to land an almighty (and nonlethal) knockout shot to the head. The witch is currently face down in the fire.
Truk'tosh is engaging the guard we could see, but there was apparently another guard that we couldn't, and that one landed a sneaking crit (I think) on Garidan right after he dropped the witch. Once Niyut does her action and puppets Gruskorb, and you puppet Raektov, we'll all be together in Round 2 and Garidan will be Speed Surging away from the fire and the concealed rogue.
And our current map is the top one in Valjoen's Bright Tower maps.
Thanks Garidan.
Can I puppet Raektov? I didn't think we had his statblock anywhere.
Well, it was you or Valjoen whenever he had to do something, so somebody has control of him. He's got a stat sheet under the "Characters" tabs, but here is a shortcut for you.
Also, the rogue that attacked Garidan is hidden, and apparently has someway of ducking Blindsight, so I don't know that your dragon will find a target, unless it was being aimed at the witch (who, as previously mentioned, is out like a snuffed candle; I really am just a bit proud of that attack :D).
Do you know when a more consistent schedule might resume?
Do you know when a more consistent schedule might resume?
My prediction, based upon prior observed years as a player in this campaign:
With the holiday- and vacation-laden final two months of the year rapidly approaching, I'm guessing it'll be next year before things get regular again for us. Valjoen will probably be getting run over at his job as they try to push through anything and everything that just has to be done (or as much as possible) before the holidays shut everything off. And then he'll be chilling with the family to unwind from the stress and pressure of the work, and that probably means traveling and visiting, during which his post rate always takes a hit.
My only complaint, if such can be the right word, is that he's not even dropping a quick message to let us know that he didn't, you know, keel over, or abandon modern life and its trappings to live natural and free, or just get abducted by aliens (mind the probes) :D.
Normally I agree that a quick message is well appreciated in most events that don't include emergencies, but our GM has had such a fantastic history that I am not concerned. In fact he is the only GM who I've played with where at times I felt like I can't keep up (although I know that is largely due to my own availability changing over the years).
I'm certain we will hear from him soon, if only a brief line about the hectic nature of his life at the moment.
Sorry guys. Things turned into a $hit storm at work. No excuse for not communicating with you guys.
I took a new job in late July with a huge promotion in responsibility. Two weeks ago the board fired one of the other execs and dropped his department in my lap. So, work has been crazy busy... as in 12-13 hours/day in the office and then bringing work back home every night. All the work I've been doing is culminating with a presentation to the board's audit committee on Nov 11th followed by the full board meeting on Nov 20th & 21st. Following that, my expectation is to hear from our primary regulator about that time regarding their examination which is due to start somewhere in late January.
So, I'm thinking that my posting is going to be slow for another few weeks until we get to Thanksgiving. After that, I should get myself to back to a 1/day posting... most days. Also, it is possible that I'm posts will start coming in the evening rather than mid-day. I'm CDT time, btw.
I do have a vacation to Jamaica planned with the wife in mid-January. She's taken up the mantle at home without a complaint and deserves a little Valjoen attention!
I will get a post up this weekend.
Thanks again for all the patience.
LOL, I absolutely called it with my prediction.
As a heads up to all of my games, I will be completely unavailable from the 15th-20th. I will be in an area without cell service or internet and as such will be completely dark. Please DMPC me as needed to keep the game moving.
As a heads up to all of my games, I will be completely unavailable from the 15th-20th. I will be in an area without cell service or internet and as such will be completely dark. Please DMPC me as needed to keep the game moving.
Eh, I doubt it'll be an issue here. Valjoen is apparently getting sucked deeper into the quagmire of work, if his last discussion post's schedule is still in effect. So I don't think you'll be missing anything.
So my laptop got in the hard drive recently, and while I'm not totally shutdown (clearly), my usual posting is going to take a hit; this dinky phone screen--better than nothing by far--isn't really suited to proper posts and the sort of multitab references I usually make use of.
Good morning, Everyone.
Board meeting is today and tomorrow. Three months of work culminating with presentations today. I should get posts restarted in the next few days and try to get us back in a good rhythm.
Val
Yay!
I can definitely say that this native was getting restless.