The Crucible of Freya (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

Looks like good tactics by all! I moved your tokens. I'm going to wait to see how Janna's spell interacts with the mist before I open Round 2 for Samduc and Villish.

I'll check the thread in the morning.

because there was a lot of cast nudity on and off stage

Ah the myriad of entendres that present themselves... I shall resist lol.

It was off broadway touring production of the musical Hair. The cast was nekkid a lot. That's why I couldn't post during the down time like I usually do.. no devices allowed.

I'm heading back to work in a few hours, it will be another long day. I can check the thread a couple times, maybe post once or twice, but won't be able to update the map or anything until I get home.

If you guys get this far before I'm back, feel free to open the top of the third for Vhillish and Samduc, but stop there and wait for the baddy to go on Init 19.

ANother note, I thought I posted this last nights but I don't see it.

Re: Janna's breeze cantrip, it does not dispel obscuring mist by raw since gust of wind does that with 11mph wind, and a good rule of thumb for spell interpretations is when in doubt, a spell can not reproduce the same effect as a higher level similar spell.

On the other hand, back in my day if a player tried something that made sense, we just rolled with it and made something up. That is the heart of D&D. So I decided in this case that Janna's breeze cantrip dispels one square of mist per casting. Maybe a lucky well placed casting of it could reveal the enemy at a critical moment.

My god, things have been busy while I was away!

No worries about the posting, just try to survive your couple crazy days at work!

I think the compromise on breeze is just about perfect.

OK. I just wanted to make sure about this. We may have covered this already but..

Damien posted before me and discovered the shaman's location. Kevezyat's init is actually before Damien's. Should I act as if Damien hasn't acted yet or can I act as if she now knows where the shaman is?

You're right to be confused, I don't really know 100% how initiative works myself! I had my original proposal which got voted out, and you guys proposed something called blocks which I may not understand myself. But my understanding has been that things do resolve in the order posted, but I am not reordering initiative each round (unless there was a specific tactical ready or delay declared.)

This is how we've been doing it in the Mouth of Doom, seems pretty ok so far.

tl;dr if you see <<<< next to your name you can act, and if it's posted it happened.

So, KF knows where the gnoll is.

The rule above in blue may be broken at times when you guys think it will be helpful for play because of scheduling issues in your life or something, to declare your next move while you can get online. Just announce that's what your doing and the header will help me make sense of it.

Do this if you feel in tune with the rhythm of the gameplay and feel confident it's the best thing. Don't do it all the time, use your judgement.

And I'm off to work, caught this on my way out the door.

Ok that's what I thought, just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

How did Janna end up down there?

went back and looked janna should be in I-12 at the start of this new round.

Sorry, misread the I as a lower case l! Fixed.

Looks like we are waiting on Astor and Janna at the moment?

FYI - Once the fight is over, I will likely throw up that summary of events thus far. Unless someone else is keen on it?

And Jerrid. Also, I opened the top of the 3rd.

Just noticed Astor hasn't posted in over 48 hours so I'm going to roll him to the top of the third. This won't put the monster turn ahead of him so should work out fine.

I'm very sorry. It's been a hell of two days at work and home. Nothing bad, just crazy busy. I tried posting 3 different times, all three of them got thwarted by work. I'll try to get something up now. Sorry to keep everyone on hold!

As far as I know you didn'y keep anything on hold. I just moved you to top of the third round which is fine because it's still before the monster.

Hi Astor

When you get a chance, check out Jerrid's background. The last part explains why we went to Reme and why we joined Janna for the return journey to Bard's Gate.

DMG - if I dont post for 24 hours then rather than wait just NPC or delay me so that everyone can keep posting, please.

Cheers

I was worried I'd miss the next round. My turn seems to always come when I am at work.

I gotcha. But don't worry I will usually only bot you if you haven't posted in 24 hours, depending on what's going on.

Entry 1 - Janna is leading the us (Astor, Damien, Jerrid, Kevezyat, Samduc and Vhillish) from Reme to Bards Gate. In turns into a wet and muddy trudge broken up by cold camps and dreary waystations. Then a local Sheriff rides up fast with two knight’s, Gerard (honourable) and Brodrick (rude) heading for an important meet at the next stockade. They have left 8 footmen behind in melee with an unusually determined and cunning band of gnolls such is the importance of their mission – they do mention a valuable item as the reason for their leaving men behind.

We decide to wait for the infantry and camp for a few hours. Woken by shouts we too are attacked by a few gnolls. I kill one with acid and he falls off the cliff. Finding 3 bound footmen still alive our relief is short lived as the gnoll leader (a shaman and his owl) tries to ambush us. He dies in the mist although Kevezyat does fall.

The name of Gerard should get us entry into the next waystation...

Well that's a good start! I leave it to you then Master Kinsalrn.

Hey French, I'll check that out. I should have some time today or tomorrow. I'll try and put something a little more detailed in my background that matches it as well.

Keep up the inter-party RP or just hold tight for a bit guys, your healer will be along shortly to tend to Kevezyat.

Keep up the inter-party RP or just hold tight for a bit guys, your healer will be along shortly to tend to Kevezyat.

not sure how to interpret this?

we are not getting a new party member (at least as far as i can tell, and I don't think we are near the other group....(are we?)

Yes it is a new PC. It took me a while to find a replacement for Logan but he has been ready for a few days, just waiting for you all to reach the waystation.

Hail and well met to........? And I thought he just needs to slot one of us first. Watch out for any monks with temple swords. They is deadly!

The journal posts I will put into Jerrid's alias so they form a reference. I don't usually play a chronicler so this makes a nice change.

DMG I am struggling to open the NW Stoneheart valley map. Is there a problem?

Cheers

DMG I am struggling to open the NW Stoneheart valley map. Is there a problem?

Cheers

I thought it was working, but if not, here is an alternate link:

Stoneheart Valley NW

The party is actually just off map to the Southwest still, but you can see your destination, Fairhill. Almost there.

Ta.

Now I'm no rules lawyer but there are a couple of things that happened in our first fight that seemed a little off. This isn't meant as personal criticism, it is meant to help people get better at the rules. Pathfinder is complex and these games have improved my understanding of the intricacies no end. If someone can help me, then I am more than ready to listen. For years I never realised sleep take a full round to cast, for instance.

So the first point is that in a surprise round how many actions do we get? I thought it was just one.

Second can the rogues sneak attack into obscuring mist? isn't the gnoll concealed?

Of course if you guys would prefer to take a looser approach to the rules that is fine by me. I'd just like to know where we stand.

Welcome Nicos. Introductions please.

Ta.

Now I'm no rules lawyer but there are a couple of things that happened in our first fight that seemed a little off. This isn't meant as personal criticism, it is meant to help people get better at the rules. Pathfinder is complex and these games have improved my understanding of the intricacies no end. If someone can help me, then I am more than ready to listen. For years I never realised sleep take a full round to cast, for instance.

So the first point is that in a surprise round how many actions do we get? I thought it was just one.

Second can the rogues sneak attack into obscuring mist? isn't the gnoll concealed?

Of course if you guys would prefer to take a looser approach to the rules that is fine by me. I'd just like to know where we stand.

I want to cleave to the RAW in this game. If I make an exception it should be done knowingly, announced first whenever possible, and it should apply equally to both PC and DM.

I will never take rules reminders as a criticism. Unlike at the table, the pace of PbP makes it a great venue for rules to be clarified even in the midst of combat. (Just keep it in the discussion thread like you are now.)

I will address the specific points you raised in my next post.

well hello Nicos

just need to find a way for you to join janna's merry band.

Hoelle there, It seems like I came Ina good moment :)

French Wolf wrote:

Ta.

Now I'm no rules lawyer but there are a couple of things that happened in our first fight that seemed a little off. This isn't meant as personal criticism, it is meant to help people get better at the rules. Pathfinder is complex and these games have improved my understanding of the intricacies no end. If someone can help me, then I am more than ready to listen. For years I never realised sleep take a full round to cast, for instance.

So the first point is that in a surprise round how many actions do we get? I thought it was just one.

Second can the rogues sneak attack into obscuring mist? isn't the gnoll concealed?

Of course if you guys would prefer to take a looser approach to the rules that is fine by me. I'd just like to know where we stand.

I want to cleave to the RAW in this game. If I make an exception it should be done knowingly, announced first whenever possible, and it should apply equally to both PC and DM.

I will never take rules reminders as a criticism. Unlike at the table, the pace of PbP makes it a great venue for rules to be clarified even in the midst of combat. (Just keep it in the discussion thread like you are now.)

I will address the specific points you raised in my next post.

1. Correct. Surprise rounds only allow for one standard or one move action. In the gnoll-priest fight I believe only Jerrid and the Gnoll acted in the surprise round. (going from memory, I believe this played out correctly.)

2. Right again. Sneak Attack is meant to be denied by concealment, and I did apply Samduc's sneak attack despite his target being in the obscuring mist. This is a rule that I find frustrates a lot of the conditions rogues could otherwise use to apply sneak attack. I usually adjudicate this on a case by case basis, using more Fiat then some are probably comfortable with. Your thoughts are welcome on this issue.

In my next post I will add some other thoughts explaining why combat with the gnoll priest may have seemed to end in an abrupt way that was not satisfying to some of the participants.

First, a warm welcome to Nicos, one of my oldest friends on the boards from the Rules Discussion forums.

Greetings Master Nicos

Serjeant Arbalester Vhillish Quarrelwick at your service sah!

Good to have a healer on board... keeps morale up like... just the ticket even for an old soldier like me :)

Nicos was the inquisitor submission I mentioned way back in recruitment, but when logan's spot opened he looked at party composition and remade his character as more healing and support to let the existing damage dealers shine.

Tip top job!

Very generous of you! Glad to have a healer's touch among our little group.

DMG, my assumption would be that you simply wrapped up the shaman fight quickly in order to get us to our introduction with Nicos who was available. In that case I have zero complaints!

One of the advantages of obscuring mist is that it stops specialised attacks like sneak attack. I do agree that as a DM I would be watching for corner cases but then I like the cinematic approach to running a combat. Things like the owl swooping around and then returning to the mist warm me cockles!

My problems with sneak attack are all about whether a rogue is hidden or not by using stealth in combat. Part of the reason to play Jerrid is to get a better handle on this. The removal of any facing rules makes it harder for me to handle.

Cheers

Think the key thing with Sneak Attack is less about the "sneaking" and more about the "attack".

I'm running a half-orc thug in a very long running Freeport game... he's effectively the groups point man combatant as his sneak attack is typically used time and tide in flanking situations with our mobile swashbuckling fighter. He's a brute in combat as a result...

Key thing for Jerrid will be to find a flanking buddy to maximise the stabbity damage lol. You and Samduc flanking the same opponent will be plain nasty... Death by 1000 cuts :)

One thing I that happened was I got confused going through the posts trying to figure out who had remembered or forgotten flanking, inspire courage, miss chance.

FW, when you put it like that I agree with you about obscuring mist thwarting sneak attack. I'm afraid I conflated it with conditions like dim light which seem to me should be a boon not a hindrance to rogues attempting SA.

I think the important points stand though, the gnoll would have fallen before it's next turn, but not before dropping Kevezyat.

With so many potential buffs kicking around the group (now and in the future) might be worth us listing any conditions (good or ill) that we're affected by in a given round?

Conditions: Inspire Courage (+1 attack/damage/charm & fear saves); Flanking Gnoll Warchief (+2 attack bonus) etc

Know it might seem like a pain (especially in big combats) but it'll help us all remember AND make it less necessary for DMG to retconn posts as much?

I'd agree that's a good practice to adopt in future. That way if we miss any bonuses it will be easy to spot and adjust accordingly.

As to the sneak attack, Obscuring mist is definitely supposed to negate things like that but I also totally agree that it's odd when dim light is a hindrance to rogues. I'm fine if you want to houserule it.

It's also worth mentioning that Jerrid won't have much problem in the dim light regard due to his excellent darkvision. Samduc will find the change extremely beneficial however.

Yeah anything that helps avoid retcons, I think they break immersion.

Think the key thing with Sneak Attack is less about the "sneaking" and more about the "attack"...................

..... You and Samduc flanking the same opponent will be plain nasty... Death by 1000 cuts :)

This is a bit like the precise strike teams I have seen in my games. I'm more concerned about ranged sneak attacks from hiding.

As for the dim light/sneak attack issue, you have made a great point. I know what you mean. That is definitely a case by case adjudication for me.

Listing conditions and spells in use is a good idea, especially as we become more powerful.

I follow one 13th level Age of Worms pbp where they list over ten spells each fight.

Cheers

Was exactly my thought, more effects both for weal and woe in play will mean. Also makes it more likely for us to flag up to anyone forgetting that they add it in (and notice it added with others)

:)

100 XP awarded for saving the 3 footmen.

100 XP awarded for Jerrid's campaign journal.

Welcky Leoven!!

I heartily endorse the idea of posting conditions etc!!

Would be cool to find out what Kevezyat was doing in Reme sometime too. Either connected to Astor and Jerrid, or not.