The Emerald Spire

Game Master Stormstrider

So Real Life called and my posts are more to acknowledge that I am reading along. My father-in-law lives in assisted living but was taken to the Emergency Room (A&E) then admitted for two days with an unclear diagnosis that his heart rhythm was out of sync and sent home with a portable heart monitor. Today I finaly caught up on the errands I had earmarked for Monday & Tuesday. Hopefulloy I can keep up.

I am sorry to hear that Lonam! I can certainly understand that, and no worries. Your Father-in-law certainly comes first.

We went through many years of heart-related issues with my Dad before he passed on to a better place.

I hope your father-in-law recovers well Lonam.

Hey Mr GM Sir- I asked "How high is the ceiling and how tall are the machines?" in game. Would you answer, pretty please. :)

GRRRR!!!!!! Paizo is not currently allowing me to make new posts in Gameplay?!?!?! Will it allow me to do so here?

Testing 123

You appear to have passed Stormstrider.

I hope your migraines have passed Stormstrider.

My aging mum has been suffering from them recently. :( Not good.

I checked on Stormstrider since we haven’t had a post from him in a few days. He messaged that he is not feeling well, but hopes to have a post up today.

My friends, players, companions, (Or however you'd prefer to 'designate' your acquaintance with me): My sincerest apologies for my delay in posting.

I shall now attempt to make a game-post.

And thanks for the wishes Boudacia! Sorry to hear your Mum is having the Migraines. For my Mom they finally stopped after she went through menopause, so if your mother hasn't that may be a hopeful possibility. I do hope your Mum gets over them quickly!

Thanks to detective Uriel.

Stormdrider- Sorry to hear about your health problems.

My mother, who is also cursed with migraines, has had some relief following injections into the neck. She has a neck problem that leads to migraines and the injections moderated the problem.

I don't know if this is the cause of your problems, but it sounds like it is. Then again you have to be able to afford it. And in the USA with it's private health system that is a real issue.

However there is Obamacare. Perhaps you could have a Barak Obama injected into your neck. I don't know that would help, but it is certainly original.

Boudacia, just a heads up: You spoke several sentences in your previous post, even though it was not your turn. I realize that speaking is considered a free action, but I have previously ruled that is limited to an average of 12 words approximately. Not entire paragraphs. Also, that means you ceased your cackling to be able to speak. I have previously ruled that for you to be able to continue using your cackling extending hexes seemingly without end, the cackling has to be done continuously without ceasing as well.

OK.
I had forgotten about the rulings.
The sort of talk the players were having was mostly character interaction, not sharing information or discussing strategy. But if you don't want me to do it I won't.

To those of you who celebrate it I wish you a very enjoyable THANKSGIVING!!!

To the rest of you, well, I hope you have a good day. :-D

To those of you who celebrate it I wish you a very enjoyable THANKSGIVING!!!

To the rest of you, well, I hope you have a good day. :-D

Happy Thanksgiving, Stormstrider!

Ok folks. I realize this has been Thanksgiving week which tends to complicate thing somewhat, so I've been patient. But that should basically be over with now. On Monday I expect us to get back into the full swing of things!

And Boudacia? is everything ok there? No post from you since 11/24. Coming up on an entire week now, and you are in Australia so to the best of my knowledge you can't blame it on Thanksgiving either. Then again, I'm not certain, are you Australian yourself? Or are you an American living in Australia? Just curious.

Heads-up: I still have not heard from Boudacia. No posts since 11/24. I just sent her a PM asking if she's still with us or not.

I myself have not been doing too well, primarily I believe due to my sleep schedule being completely screwed up and the depression due to the beginning of winter doesn't help either. Also a very dear friend of mine (None of you know her.) is having some serious surgery this Wednesday 12/4, so I'm somewhat concerned over her safety & health (Prayers & good wishes for 'K' would be appreciated!)

I am also feeling like some of you all may have lost interest in this campaign? Or for whatever reason some of you don't seem to be focusing & keeping up with what's going on? And so I am finding it difficult to motivate myself to put much effort into DM'g this for you all. I know these last 2 levels have been difficult and also rather somewhat very ... ? set/fixed/unchanging? in their patterns and such, (though there is a potential for 2 encounters still on this level that will be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from what we've been doing!). I am trying to keep it interesting, but running from a module can be difficult & I lack the imagination to try to run without a module. Sorry.
Also, please keep in mind that this entire module was written by many different authors, each author writing one level of the Spire = 16 levels total so ... . And while it is practically impossible for your characters to know this so far, there are some background storyline things happening, but you all cannot connect them as of yet. The next levels do have a bit more ... 'variety', shall we say? ... to them so I'm hoping I can do them at least some justice & make this a bit more interesting.

Due to the combination of all these factors, I have asked Uriel's player to bot Boudacia as needed for me until the end of this level, so that I don't have that pressure added to me right now. Obviously if her player checks back in she is welcome to continue playing her, but if I have heard nothing by the time we are ready to move on to the next level, I will have to assume we have lost her. As per Uriel's suggestion, Boudacia will just follow along automatically while outside of combat.

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TLDR?: - Until Boudacia's player responds, or we complete this level, Boudacia's character will follow along automatically, and if combat ensues, Uriel's player will bot her for me.

There really isn't much for us to do other than pulling levers and waiting for a problem. I am posting just to stay up with th egroup for now. It can't all be total excitement at all times.

Another HEADS-UP: Got stopped by the cops on the way home from work because my car's turn signals don't work. Then he told me my driver's license has been suspended since April of 2018?!?!?!? For 'Financial' reasons?!?!? But I have not a clue what's going on. So I have to call in the morning to try to figure this out. So my posting may be a bit off, or I may not even post until after I get this resolved, depends on what I can find out. Just wanted to let you know.

If nothing else I will stay in contact with Uriel's player via Facebook.

Others who wish to may also look at the Facebook page I created for the Campaign if you wish. Not much there, but it is a way to be able to stay in contact if the Paizo site is down.

Sorry for the absence. I was w/o my computer, my old one died, until today. I would have notified you earlier but I was w/o my computer.
I am still trying to figure out how to use the new machine but can post.
I don't need to just now however. Uriel made a post botting my character which gave alternate actions depending on the results of a KS Planes roll.
Uriel had me do exactly the right thing imho so I will stick with the botted post.

Sorry to hear about your problems with bureaucracy Stormstrider. Kafkaesque. The police could have f***ed you over a lot more if they had wanted to I think. Sounds like it is getting fixed.

I'm moving the gaze/averting eyes here because it still does not make sense in any capacity to me. If I avert my gaze then this happens:

"Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature’s face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to make a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent."

So Lonam will avert his gaze from the Div and take a 20% miss chance against the Div, who is 20 to 25 feet away from Lonam. In the mean time Lonam swings at the cat with the red collar who is less than 5 feet away, and does not have a concealment status against Lonam.

So that just seems like a very redundant amount of bookkeeping.

Ok, for Lonam's issue first.

It is somewhat confusing & difficult. I'll try to give my best explanation.

First, by Pathfinder rules, characters do not face a particular direction, so you "can't" have your back turned to a creature to avoid gaze attacks. Everyone has 360 degree vision. (Personally I think that's a bit crazy & I don't like it, but that's Pathfinder RAW.)

Basically, as long as you are not trying to attack the Div and you are averting your eyes, don't worry about its concealment. I just have to roll the 50% chance that you avoid the gaze if the Div makes a gaze attack. Period. (At least that's how I understand it.) So, there is no bookkeeping needed on your part. You just have to tell me if you are going to 'Avert your Eyes' continuously, or if your changing that action. It has no effect on your attacks against any other creature.

I hope that helps, if you have further questions ALWAYS feel free to ask.

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Now on to my question.

Confusion - If your action is 'attack nearest creature'. First, your character does not know they are confused. Due to the 'unknown' confusion, your character now thinks that the nearest creature is an enemy, or at least something that they NEED to attack.

Now, I know that by the RAW it just says "attack" and it does not specify what type or severity of attack.

But, if your character thinks that the nearest creature needs to be attacked, how do you justify switching to your weakest attack possible (especially an attack which you have never even used!)??? Especially when you didn't even have that weapon already drawn? At the very least you should be attacking with one of your most common attack methods. If my character all of a sudden finds what he believes to be a 'hostile' creature nearby, for purposes of my own character's survival, he is going to attack that hostile being to the best of his ability. Not just throw a pebble at it.

Any other game I have played in, where there has been a situation with a PC getting 'confused' & the player has to 'attack nearest creature', the DM has always ruled that they must use their best attack possible.

That is my input on the 'confusion' in general and I would appreciate your all's input please.

***

On a separate note, I do feel a need to point out that I did indicate that Boudacia was to use her best attack possible, including hexes or spells, but yet she went and made an attack with a dagger (basically her weakest attack possible) instead, without consulting me or any such thing. Perhaps she didn't see my directives or forgot them when she made her post. I understand that can happen.
Also, to the best of my recollection Boudacia has never even used her dagger for an attack before, or if she has it was an extremely rare situation.

OK, I didn't register the "to the best of her abilities" bit.
The confusion roll, which comes from the rules, is-

"01-25 Acts normally
26-50 Does nothing but babble incoherently
51-75 Deals 1d8 points of damage + Str modifier to self with item in hand
76-100 Attacks nearest creature (for this purpose, a familiar counts as part of the subject’s self)"

This is indicative of a very great deal of confusion indeed. You can't tell friend from foe and might start damaging yourself.

So what your previous GMs may have ruled isn't mandated by the rules, or even particularly consistent with it. You are certainly right Boudacia v rarely attacks with weapons and they are comparatively ineffective.

Why assume a hopelessly confused character will not be confused at all about the effectiveness of attacks? The rules certainly don't say that they are not.

I would completely agree with you if Boudacia was being mind controlled into attacking Lonam.

I think the best fit with the rules on the confusion effect is to randomly select both the target and type of attack, spell hex or weapon.

If you rule Boudacia will use her most effective attack it will be the slumber hex.

Finally, I know a few people who seem permanently effected by -
"26-50 Does nothing but babble incoherently".

After much time on the phone back and forth between the car insurance & the state's office, I finally have my driver's license re-instated! YAY! Now I just have to worry about trying to get my turn signals working (the thing that first caught the cops attention) and the mandated court appearance for both tickets (No turn signal & driving with a suspended driver's license) on 1/08. whoopee.

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... I think the best fit with the rules on the confusion effect is to randomly select both the target and type of attack, spell hex or weapon. ...

I like this idea VERY much! Thanks for the suggestion Boudacia!

Since no one else has voiced their opinion, I shall go ahead and implement this in a game-post (which I will hopefully be able to complete right now.)

Glad the ticket issue is working out, Stormstrider.

I would definitely plead not guilty and attempt to get past those tickets, seeing as how you attempted to make good the initiating problem leading to your suspended license.

Good luck.

as to the confusion thing, seems appropriate to me. worked out for the best case in the end anyways.

*************** Boudacia ***************

Since the Div is dead, I will take the liberty of putting your Slumber on the cat instead if that's okay?

[dice=Red-collared cat's Will save vrs Slumber]1d20 + 2 Asleep

Suddenly the red-collared cat drops to the ground asleep.

That is not a liberty at all. It is perfectly sensible and you had the grace to roll a failed save. :)

My apologies folks. RL is kicking my ass. I will post asap - hopefully late tonight? (Thursday)

Here, you can go to the bar association for the state and get a consult for about $50 or $100, a one-time fee. But not likely they will do a letter without more money, but maybe advise you on how to follow through or what to say? Could be cheaper than mucking it up and suffering more consequences?

Stormstrider- Sorry to hear about your health problems.

I used to be a lawyer. But I have not practiced for over 20 years and it was not in the US, so I can offer little more than I can with the medical problems.

What Lonam says is very sensible. Find out who offers legal advice to people w/o much money and consult them. It shouldn't break the bank and hopefully tell you how to go about matters, which could make the affair less stressful if you have a decent idea what is going on. It is hardly a rare problem.

Here such organisations go by names like community legal centres or legal aid.

Hope I have been some help.

Sorry folks. I've been (still am somewhat) sick, having trouble getting things done. Urgent care doc wanted to send me to the Hospital for more tests. I probably do need to go, but I refused for now.

And thanks for the advice folks.

You are welcome to my advice for what little it may be worth.

And a bit more. You should go for more tests as your doctor advised. My advice when ill- get to good doctor and do what they tell you. You are persistently and fairly seriously unwell, which makes it more important you do.

I hope your legal and medical problems pass soon. You seem overly beset by troubles.

Well, you seem to have found out what was causing your health problems so hopefully things will get better.

And today I officially join you as a diabetic. Blood tests identified me with pre-diabetes in 2007. I managed to stop matters progressing for nearly 13 years by doing what my doctor told me.

But sleep aponea, which tends to led to diabetes and genetics, my family is full of diabetics on both my fathers and mothers side, have had the final word. I expected this but it still pisses me off. Neither my weight or lifestyle is that bad, though neither is 100% ideal. And I am fit and strong for somebody who is 59.

Unclaimed items on the loot list:
- Western Star Ioun Stone (Disguise Self at will)
- Potion of Invisibility
- Broken Staff w/fading magical aura (maybe it was the rescued wizard's?)
- Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
- Belt of Mighty Con +2 (Uriel currently wearing)
- Cloak of Resistance +1
- Amulet of Natural Armor +1 (for Lonam?)

Please put in your orders...

I don't need any of them except maybe the staff.

I could use the belt but it is better on uriel or lonam I would think.

Lonam has been wearing the Amulet of Natural Armor +1, we discussed and no one else had a need for it.

Uriel would be happy to give the belt to Boudacia, since he is getting a killer adamantine Longsword. We just need Ilyanaro to chime in and get whatever reward for rescuing the wizard, then I can finish up the loot chart and distribute our rewards...

i would not be amiss with the ioun stone (slotless and at will ability? nice) although I do not see how useful it might be going forward.

perhaps since Ilya speaks like all the languages, and has some decent social skills, he can make use of it.

I'll take it if noone else wants it. I suggest the potion of CMW go to Uriel and the invis potion go to Lonam, but other than that, we can sell or trade the rest easily enough.

Sounds good. I also suggest that each one of us carry a spire token, now that we have 4. Uriel will defer on the curing potion since he can lay on hands on himself as a swift action—should go to Ilyanaro or Boudacia. I’ll work on the loot sheet later tonight and update it in the link. I’ll include the reward for the wizard rescue if we get it by then too.

I am going to hold off on game-posting right now because my court date for my suspended driver's license is tomorrow (Wednesday) @ 8:30 am. and well, that is weighing heavy on my mind right now. Hopefully once I have the results from that at least I'll be able to get back to being me again. I've felt very 'off' since this all started.

Any prayers/well wishes/messages of good cheer, will be appreciated.

Loot table is updated:

- Ilyanaro: Western Star Ioun Stone, Wand of Magic Missiles
- Boudacia: Broken Staff w/Fading Magic Aura, Belt of Mighty Constitution +2, Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
- Lonam: Potion of Invisibility, Amulet of Natural Armor +1
- Uriel: Adamantine +1 Longsword

Plus we all now have a Spire Transport Token.
Loot is 1480.875 gp each. Uriel will take 1480 gp and contribute the leftover to a good hot meal...

Thanks to our party record keeper Uriel.

Good luck with the court hearing Stormstrider.

My apologies for not getting back to you all sooner.

Court went well. The state has to double-check to confirm that I took care of everything, so I have to go back on 2/12, but then all charges are to be dismissed! I shouldn't have to pay a penny from what I have understood! Thanks for the well wishes!

As to our game, some of you may have guessed by now, I honestly have not been having any fun with this for quite some time now. Moments of levity or enjoyment, yes, but minimal. Making a game post has been feeling more & more like a chore or task that must be done. I've been trying to hang in there, hoping to get back the desire, but it's just not happening. I have been running this for nearly 3 years now! February 9th, would be the date. And we have only completed 6 levels. At the current rate it would take about 8 years to complete the campaign. But I honestly feel very sorry to be disappointing all of you, especially Boudacia who has been here from the very beginning, and Uriel, who has been a very helpful friend & supporter. Ilya & Lonam, you have been good players as well. But yes, at this point I am putting this campaign on hiatus. For now I won't close out the campaign page, just in case I get the 'itch' back, but it is not right to keep you all hanging on either.

I am sorry. Thank you for the fun times we've had.

P.S.: If anyone has questions about the story or anything. feel free to ask. I'll answer them as best I can.

Oh well.

Good to hear about your legal issues resolving.

Hope you have a better year coming up GM.

I very much understand your decision, but I'm disappointed for the campaign to end unfinished. I hope you can still find an outlet for your role-playing cravings and to socialize with others. If you decide to move back here I know that Uriel and I can find room at our table.

I am glad the court appearance went well. You hadn't done anything to deserve being in court so the system seems to be working for a change.

I am sorry to hear about the campaign ending, at least for now. It was enjoyable and I would like it to continue. But of course it is the GM who has to do most of the work. Attempts to revive campaigns don't often work in my experience.

Goodbye to you all, it has been fun.

Stormstrider- I hope things look up for you. You seem beset by problems.

Uriel bows his head in sadness...

Great gaming with you folks. We had our ups and downs, but we made it work!

I hope your life improves soon, Stormstrider!