The Emerald Spire

Game Master Stormstrider

Uriel is fine with delaying until the call to battle sounds (from Gansu or whomever). He should go in the room first, though, especially if they have their crossbows readied...

The planning sounds good to me. I will sit on Sama's shoulder putting enemies to sleep. Don't let them get up.

The planning sounds good to me. I will sit on Sama's shoulder putting enemies to sleep. Don't let them get up.

Yes, I have noticed the conspicuous absence of requests for prisoners from Aldy this time...

"Have at it whenever you're ready gents. Try not to get any Splinters under your skin..." Aldhranhald says, pulling his shortbow from his shoulder and nocking an arrow.

Ok, not my best work drawing/resizing a map, but it will do I guess. Thanks for your patience - well, except for Uriel who had none! Hahaha! *** I also want to say Thanks to all! I appreciate how you all stepped up on your posting frequency! Now let us please keep it going!

Just want to make sure I have the plan in the right order here:
Everybody delays for Gansu, then,
1. Gansu uses wand, to Divine Favor himself,
2. Gansu casts Burst of Radiance - which starts the initiative (?)
3. Uriel steps into the room, trying to 'catch' all the crossbow bolts.
4. Boudacia stays on Sama's shoulder doing her hexes?
Sound about right?

Ready when you are. My turn will be another aggressive thundercloud followed by as many brilliant arcs, fulminating hands, and jolts as it takes.

Uriel confirmed order via private message.

Gansu, I just need you to designate where do you want your burst to go off please?

Just a heads up, if you can see into the room, then they can see out!

EVERYBODY, hang on, no actions yet please! Another possibility was just mentioned to me, but I gotta run to tabletop game now!! Will post again ASAP, might be during tabletop.

Okay, I'm going to move my token to one side of the doors. The reason is that I would assume that once there is visibility the bad guys would initiate combat by shooting at us if we were in line-of-sight, no matter whether Gansu was ready or not. So I would assume that we have to start out of sight.

When the others give Gansu the nod, Gansu pops his head around the corner, and shouts, "Tsuki no hikari ga anata o mekura ni suru kamo shiremasen!"

He flings a bolt of light into the room! It bursts and surrounds several of the 'Splinters.'

Looking around the corner should give me cover if they shoot at me... maybe improved cover if you want to rule that :).

Burst of Radiance Damage (no save, but only if they are evil): 4d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 3) = 12
Reflex DC 16 or blinded for this many rounds (dazzled otherwise): 1d4 ⇒ 4

The burst of radiance AoE is the yellow dashed line. It should get everyone except red and blue.

If I can I'll ready my move, and follow Uriel into the room. BTW, what are the square things? Is the room difficult terrain?

Okay, Sorry I didn't get to this last night. Slept through a fair amount of the tabletop game sitting right there with the people and when I got home, I was still too sleepy to concentrate on this.

Uriel, you successfully get the bandit mask adapted to your helm.

Gansu? I'm not sure what happened here? I will let you keep the rolls made since they were quite good, but I did say for NO ONE to take actions yet?!? *** And the 'square things' if you will refer back to my post please, you will see are the chairs, turned upside down with the legs facing the doors, and so yes, this entire room is Difficult Terrain. Well, until you get past the chairs, and the tables of course are as well. The tables are turned up on their sides to give cover from both directions, until you get adjacent and try to reach over. If you crouch next to the table, they would still give cover.

So, I was talking about this situation with others getting their input since of course the module does not cover someone burning down the doors, and to the best of my knowledge RAW does not cover this either.

I am thinking that for one, I am going to roll randomly to see which door burns through first. Then anyone (either side) trying to act while the doors are still 'smoldering' without going through, is going to need to make a perception check to try to see their intended target. Maybe perception vrs stealth? I mean, the bandits inside are definitely trying to hide behind the tables, while keeping an eye out.

Remember this, whichever of the party members goes first, runs the risk of getting EIGHT poisoned crossbow bolts at them!!!

Thoughts? Opinions?

Uriel sees Gansu take cover to the side of the door. Thinking this is probably a good idea, he uses the stone wall in between the burning doors to take cover from whatever might be on the other side of the doors, (staying in the same square).

As they wait for the doors to burn, Uriel becomes impatient and motions to Gansu, saying in a whisper, ”You want me to kick a door in?”

The cackling is making Uriel feel lucky, but is also about to drive him crazy! As fire weakens the door, he loses patience and nods to Gansu, ”Prepare to throw your spell.”

Uriel raises his shield, taking a defensive position (standard action to go total defense), then kicks in the fire-weakened door (move action). He had planned to 5 foot step into the room, but the difficult terrain prevented it.

Uriel Strength Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Fortune Strength Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Uummm. Not sure where the confusion is here? I asked for people to NOT POST ANY ACTIONS and then I made another post asking for "Thought? Opinions" and in that time TWO players have posted actions? And no one has posted thoughts or opinions ... ?!?!?

The reason I asked for no ations, was mainly because I was trying to consult other sources about this whole burning of the doors and how to go about entering this room and so forth ...

Uriel did tell me he is going to be mostly unavailable this weekend due to RL, and he was hoping to get things going before that ... but still.

Direct request from the DM and completely disregarded by two players?

I am going to take a break. I have been dedicating time and work to this for you all. I do NOT want to get into another heated debate. I may be back on here this afternoon. After all I will be at my terribly boring job. But I may decide to take more time. Feel free to contact me via PM here or message on the Facebook page.

Sorry... saw thepost asking where my burst was going off. Though you meant nobody else.

Edit: Just an FYI: I just noticed a weird glitch and it may have been going last night too... when I made my post it went through but then the site showed me the thread without my post. But I clicked "reload" and it was there.

Consider my post an alternative for waiting for a door to burn through. Take all the time you need, Stormstrider.

"Hang on, I have a thought," says Sama suddenly. "You kick open that door and they'll unleash everything they've got on you. But if you do it and you're invisible... I have a spell that will make you vanish for a few seconds. That might be enough to keep them from landing a significant number of shots on you."

I can cast vanish on whoever is going to open the door, which'll give them the benefit of total concealment (50% miss chance) versus any incoming bandit attacks. Also has the nice benefit that while you're invisible they can't make line of sight to you, so no magic missiles or whatnot from bandit casters.

"One other idea. I can conjure an air elemental to open the door. After they fill it with crossbow bolts, you run in invisibly."

Sama, both of these ideas sound good to me. Someone needs to go ahead and decide on a course of action and implement it at this point, but of course we may need to wait for the weekend to pass. I'm sure Uriel will put in his 2 CP ASAP.

If we are ready to take actions, I like Uriel going full defense, then opening the door and taking the hits (per his earlier post), so Gansu can then step up and do his spell.. The invisibility idea is fine if Sama wants to do it, but it may be wiser to conserve spells—totally up to Sama. If everyone is agreeable, please go ahead & feel free to use Uriel’s earlier post.

I think the plan of Uriel going full defence is as good as any. With an AC of 26 most should miss, he has lots of HPs, lay on hands and we can heal him otherwise should the need arise. I think we are starting to overthink this.

... I think we are starting to overthink this.

Ding! Ding! Ding! And we have a winner!!! :-D (Fresh out of prizes though, sorry!)

Ate we waiting for more comments before we can start taking actions again?

Ate we waiting for more comments before we can start taking actions again?

I have not heard from Aldy or Gansu in a few days, and since neither off them typically posts on the weekend, yes, I would like for us to wait for them to get caught up please.

I am fine with the plan of Uriel going in first. If I am able to go before him in initiative I can delay until he has gone.

I'm right here with you all, and fine with whatever plan. Proceed as you will. Aldy will hold back with bow at the ready, until he either hears a call for help, or an "all clear." :D Battle Turtles, to the fore!

Sounds like we have a plan! Stormstrider, please proceed when you are ready.

Uriel sets himself for battle, prepping as best he can to possibly be taking several crossbow shots and he kicks in the remainder of the middle door. (Just flavor for the Total Defense.)

Sure enough, the bandits waiting inside spot him and you hear various shouts of: "There's one now!" - "Shoot him!" - "Kill 'em all!" - "Fire!" And some of you barely hear one say, "Why you yelling about the fire? Oh!" ;-)

Red's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Orange's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Purple's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Green's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Cyan's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Blue's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Yellow's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Lavender's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Confirm possible Crit for Purple's attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

One bolt does manage to get through Uriel's armor!

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 And a Fort save please!

The bandits all start reloading their crossbows.

CURRENT INITIATIVE: (I did not roll due to the held actions.)

Block 3:
Aldhranhald, Boudacia, Gansu & Sama (Though I believe the plan calls for Gansu to go first in that block?)

Uriel strides into the room and is attacked by a hail of crossbow bolts! In his defensive posture, he manages to deflect most of them, but one sinks deep into a small gap in his armor, forcing him to make a Fortitude Save...

Uriel Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

As Gansu stands there getting ready, he does notice a door in the short hall to the West. (# 4)

Uriel thinks to himself, Well that hurt a bit, but, I thought these bolts were supposed to be poisoned? Passed the save - duh!

Gansu, given the door Uriel chose to kick down, I think you may need to step 5 feet to the south to get line of sight for your planned action...

Sama nods to Gansu, waiting for him to come in just behind Uriel.

Waitin' on my fellow teammates to move!

Do you all think I should simply go ahead and use the spell as Gansu had cast it before? I believe that was still Gansu's plan? Or should I wait for him to post?

Do you all think I should simply go ahead and use the spell as Gansu had cast it before? I believe that was still Gansu's plan? Or should I wait for him to post?

I vote to go ahead with Gansu’s turn as he already posted.

Sorry, to sleepy. In the morn.

I know Stormstrider want things to move ahead, so I will explain that Boudacia will almost certainly be delaying her action until Sama moves so that Boudacia can see someone. The only other possibility is if another enemy appears where I can see them, not likely I think. And I will keep cackling.

Gansu moves so that he can see in the room and he casts his Burst of Radiance spell Causing a large flash of light to go off about in the center of the group of bandits.

Using the numbers from when Gansu made his post casting the spell = 12 damage each to Orange, Purple, Green, Cyan, Yellow & Lavender!!! That's a total of 72 points of damage being caused by a 2nd level spell! Besides the blinded or dazzled! THAT is what I call some AWESOME SAUCE!!!

As the flash of light bursts amidst the bandits you notice most of them jumping back in surprise, screaming in pain ...

Orange's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Blinded
Purple's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Blinded
Green's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Dazzled
Cyan's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Dazzled
Yellow's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Dazzled
Lavender's Ref save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Dazzled

For FOUR rounds as well!

So as read the RAW, blinded means you lose 2 AC & lose any Dex to AC as well, AND denied Dex so they lose their Dodge bonus as well?!?! (And stuff to skills as well, but that won't come in to play likely.) So they lose - 2 AC, - 3 for Dex, and - 1 for Dodge = - 6 AC for 4 rounds!!!! Besides having lost 12 HP?!? Yep, their dead-meat. *** Whereas the dazzled ones simply take a - 1 to attack & sight-Perception.

CURRENT INITIATIVE:

Block 3:
Aldhranhald, Boudacia, Gansu (already went) & Sama

WOW! What a complicated post!!! As I wipe the sweat off my brow ... ;-)

In case it wasn't clear from my previous post, Aldhranhald is going to ready an action to shoot anything hostile that comes out into the hallway, each round, unless! he hears a call for help, or an "all clear."

Aldhranhald keeps his nocked arrow trained on the hallway by the three doorways that continue to slowly burn, watching for any hostile that might be trying to flee from the wrath of Uriel and Gansu.

Just to be clear, as I understand it we are now waiting for Sama to take her turn, while Boudacia keeps laughing maniacally, waiting to take her standard action from Sama's shoulder. Does that sound correct?

I realize it is not in the RAW, but it almost seems like Sama would need to make a concentration check to cast a spell, while the bat on her shoulder is cackling madly at full volume in her ear. I am NOT going to require that at this time. But I am going to consult with other sources about such things to see what opinions I can get. It just doesn't seem right somehow to be able to Cackle continuously as long as you want with no consequences other than not having a move action.

Concentration rules mostly seem to focus on taking damage or on external environmental effects like wind, rain, and violent jostling. I'd certainly consider this distracting, though!

Sama moves up behind Gansu (getting double coverage from the fighty boys) and unleashes a brilliant arc of electricity that strikes the foremost brigand and then leaps to several of his allies!

Hitting the lime green dazzled guy first, and leaping secondary bolts to light blue, purple, orange, and red - basically the whole front line.

Electrical damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 (This is on the primary target; DC 18 for half damage)
Secondary targets each take 2 electrical damage (DC 16 Ref save to take 1 instead).

Boudacia decides that it is time for the green bandit to take a siesta. Then, seeing the humour in the situation of enemies deciding this is the best time for a nap, proceeds to cackle.

DC 17 Will save and 4 rounds of snooze now.

Seeing that his comrades have the bandits on their heels with the devastating attacks, Uriel quickly moves into the room to press their advantage. The overturned furniture slows him down enough that he reaches the front line just as they finish reloading their crossbows.

Double move to go 15 feet through difficult terrain to the east.

I'll get responses to the spells, and such as soon as I can, but I am very, very sleepy right now, so unless I wake up when I get home it will be Wednesday morning sometime.

Sama launches her bolt of lightning and the green-tasselled bandit and his companions try to doge out of the way ...

Green's Ref save, DC 18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Cyan's Ref save, DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Purple's Ref save, DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Orange's Ref save, DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Red's Ref save, DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

But the green-tasselled bandit is unable to dodge it and gets hurt a fair amount, while the rest barely get singed.

Sorry, sleep is claiming me. I'll finish Wednesday morning.

Do you all think I should simply go ahead and use the spell as Gansu had cast it before? I believe that was still Gansu's plan? Or should I wait for him to post?

Yeah, that was the idea.

Using the numbers from when Gansu made his post casting the spell = 12 damage each to Orange, Purple, Green, Cyan, Yellow & Lavender!!! That's a total of 72 points of damage being caused by a 2nd level spell! Besides the blinded or dazzled! THAT is what I call some AWESOME SAUCE!!!

"Take that, footpads!" Gansu shouts.

Yeah, it's pretty rare you get that many guys in the AoE. But when you can, it's definitely worth it! I'm tempted to do it again but I don't want to blow all my spells on this one encounter.

GM: Once Uriel pushes his way through to the tables, does that "clear a path" through the difficult terrain?

I think Boudacia miscast her slumber hex last night ... and hit me with it instead! Hahaha! But then I slept 1 hour per level instead of rounds - 4 hrs! Haha! - Note to self, NAP BEFORE Tabletop game!

Boudacia the bat stops cackling maniacally for a moment, and focuses on the green-tasselled bandit ...

Green's Will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

The green-tasselled bandit suddenly, stops, stretches and makes a huge yawn, and then falls to the ground asleep.

The bat resumes her very annoying, maniacal cackling ...

For clarification to everybody: Uriel did the right thing placing his icon 'on-top-of-the-tables' because the tables are actually standing on their sides directly in front of the bandits. Again, this was not my best job of drawing changes on the map. To be fair, the module never suggests the bandits fortifying themselves in this room, it was purely my idea based on the lack of stealth and the amount of time taken to get here.

Gansu, good point! Yes, the path behind Uriel would be clear, but makes parts of the adjacent areas more difficult due to doubling the chairs. So, in-between the green arrows, it is a clear path, the red scribbles are going to cut movement to 1/4 instead of 1/2.

The red-tasselled bandit fires his crossbow at the crazy guy that just came pushing through the chairs since he seems to be the most immediate threat.

Red's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

But instead he hits the chair flying through the air.

Uumm?!?! If I am reading the blinded condition correctly it just gives them a 50% miss chance on attacks? That doesn't seem like enough for being blinded to me? The - 4 says it is to skill checks, I think I will apply that to attacks, plus making a sound based perception with the - 4? Sound fair? Correct? Thoughts? Just remember, good for the goose, good for the gander, so it will apply to any of you getting blinded. I will proceed for now with this ruling, and we can retcon if needed.

Orange's sound perception: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 4 = 13
Purple's sound perception: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 4 = 20

Orange has a vague idea. Purple heard someone right in front of him ... If the attack roll comes close then I'll detail more.

The orange tasselled bandit tries to fire his crossbow at the last known target location ...

Orange's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19 Well damn! Of course!
modified splash rules roll from Uriel's previous location: 1d8 ⇒ 2

The bolt pierces into a chair lying on the floor.

Purple heard someone pushing through the chairs in front of him, so he drops his crossbow, draws his sword and swings blindly in front of himself.

Purple's attack roll: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6

But he hits the table instead.

The green tasselled bandit lies there sleeping.

The rest of the bandits all fire at the menacing Uriel ...

Cyan's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19
Blue's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Yellow's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 1 = 14
Lavender's attack roll: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 1 = 8

... to no avail.

CURRENT INITIATIVE:

Block 3:
Aldhranhald (continues keeping watch in the hall), Boudacia, Gansu & Sama

As the orange tasseled bandit fires his crossbow, Uriel takes advantage of his lapse in defensive posture and lashes out with his longsword (AOO versus adjacent opponent firing a missile weapon).

Uriel Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Additional attack roll from Fortune: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Uriel Longsword Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

The 50% miss chance for blinded assumes that you can somehow locate the square the enemy is in (otherwise it is a 100% miss chance). The skill check at -4 to determine what new square the target may have moved to seems reasonable, much like one would do for an invisible creature moving, although you are even worse off because you can’t see any frame of reference either...

in this case, orange failed to locate the new square and shot at the old square, so he wasted a great attack roll. In my opinion, it should not have been made at a -4 to hit, but since there was nothing to hit in that square, he missed regardless.

What?!?! The Goody-good paladin is attacking the poor BLIND MAN?!?!? Shame on you! :-P

The orange tasselled bandit gets stabbed hard, but is still standing, wondering about his life choices though ...

CRAPOLA! Paizo ate my post again!

WAIT! WHAT?!?! The goody-good Lawful Good Paladin is attacking the poor BLIND Man?!?! Shame on you!!!

The orange tasselled bandit gets stabbed hard, but is still standing, though he might be regretting his life choices right now ...

EDIT: And now it decides to show both posts instead? Even though I refreshed after the first post and it was still not there ... ?!?!? Get ready folks! I would not be surprised if Paizo goes down AGAIN ...

Uumm?!?! If I am reading the blinded condition correctly it just gives them a 50% miss chance on attacks? That doesn't seem like enough for being blinded to me? The - 4 says it is to skill checks, I think I will apply that to attacks, plus making a sound based perception with the - 4? Sound fair? Correct? Thoughts? Just remember, good for the goose, good for the gander, so it will apply to any of you getting blinded. I will proceed for now with this ruling, and we can retcon if needed....

Basically a blinded character treats all other creatures as if they are invisible. The 50% miss chance is for attacking if the blinded creature guesses the correct square to direct an attack into.

The main penalties for being blind are defensive. You are flat-footed and lose your DEX bonus to AC, and also take a -2 to your AC on top of that. You need to make an acrobatics check to move more than half speed.

The perception check to figure out where someone is when you are blind is a base 20, but Uriel moved full speed through a bunch of chairs. Moving full speed gives a -10 to the DC, and with the racket he made it might be more reasonable to assign the full -20 for him being in combat even though he hasn't attacked yet.

Feel free to discuss.

If I want to post a link that is to the town map for example, how do I post it at the top of the page, and does that need to be a separate Google drawing apart from the battle map I'm guessing?

You could make them separate drawings, or side by side in the same drawing, or, as Mended has been doing, moving layers up/down in the drawing to show/hide them.

Add the links wherever you added the text "Super-dungeon underground from levels 1-13."

Already said I want my class to be a Summoner with the Broodmaster archetype. I'm considering picking a Fetchling for my race and also using the Shadow Caller racial archetype (which doesn't conflict with Broodmaster). Any GM objections to any of this?

I'll try to study that tomorrow. It's 4:39AM for me. Been wide awake, but finally starting to get tired. Remember I also need to verify monster info availability to see if I'm even going to be able to run this campaign. Patience please.

Town map link is up.

Anybody know if there's a way to get rid of that 'checkered' background behind the map?

Late here too, just posting the links so you can check them at your convenience.

The easiest way to get rid of the checkered stuff is probably to draw a big box that covers it.

Yes! Thanks Illiam! Big box with transparent lines worked fairly well!

Typing in all those locations individually was work, but the book doe not list them without their full, GM-only, description, so had to be done that way.

Later on I'll try to get some public info about townspeople & some of the places and such, but monsters & classes to study first!

Illiam, access granted to Fort Inevitable.

Remember I also need to verify monster info availability to see if I'm even going to be able to run this campaign. Patience please.

Stormstrider- You know me as Chillel and as Kazushi.

If you internet access, which you do because you can't be reading this without, and this link d20PFSRD all your Pathfinder rules information needs are satisfied. All the monsters and most everything else too.

It even has a search function in the top left hand corner.

Illiam, access granted to Fort Inevitable.

Ah, so the problem was that you could scale it, but not outside the scrollable area. The solution was to make a big box and drag it out to force the scrollable area to be bigger. Map embiggened.

Thanks for 'embiggenning' that map Illiam. I have made some slight changes to text positioning on the map. Nothing important, just trying to make it look better.

If you internet access, which you do because you can't be reading this without, and this link d20PFSRD all your Pathfinder rules information needs are satisfied. All the monsters and most everything else too.

It even has a search function in the top left hand corner.

Thanks Joynt/Chillel/Kazushi! ;)

I knew of this, just the module has a few unusual monsters, so I want to check everything to be sure. I'm fairly certain it will, otherwise I've wasted a LOT of both, time & money on this campaign! (Bought the book, and a chessex battle-mat and pens for my tabletop group). This had better work!

On another topic, I sure wish Paizo would allow one to choose to make this my default Avatar FOR THIS CAMPAIGN THREAD instead of for everything. I now have 6 aliases to choose from every time I'm making a post! (Dolok, Stormstrider, Christaph - my psionic character, Jim - My psicrystal, My DM avatar for the Emerald Spire, and another Sorcerer I created, but haven't used. Just wait til I do aliases for NPC's like Mended does!)

I wasn't being as helpful as I thought. :(

And I know exactly what you mean about default alias and then accidentally using it everywhere. Fortunately we have the edit function.

I am going to wait on what to play till I see a bit more of the others.

One question is a Blood-marked Skinchanger OK as a race? I would start with the racial feat Bat Shape. Maybe a [non-winter] witch, so I can use hexes in bat form.

One question is a Blood-marked Skinchanger OK as a race? I would start with the racial feat Bat Shape. Maybe a [non-winter] witch, so I can use hexes in bat form.

I have asked the others to please send me a link with the info of what your requesting, so same for you please. And thanks for trying to help anyways! It is appreciated!

I have made progress! Confirmed more than 20 monsters info is online & got pictures of each to use on the grid! - But not even halfway through the Module yet. But getting enough where I will soon feel comfortable to start the game, so next is checking out classes/races people want. My main problem is that I can currently only sit for 2 - 2.5 hrs before I have to lay back down! This surgery recovery is kicking my butt!

Here is the link- Skinwalkers .

And I got the name wrong, it is Skinwalker.

Already said I want my class to be a Summoner with the Broodmaster archetype. I'm considering picking a Fetchling for my race and also using the Shadow Caller racial archetype (which doesn't conflict with Broodmaster). Any GM objections to any of this?

Illiam, I'm going to go ahead and approve all 4 parts to this! Mind you I find it a bit complicated and a lot of room to disagree on rulings. So answers may take a little longer as there are more rules for me to check on. Just to let you know I went ahead and copied all the links into my DM notes under the campaign info, so it makes it easier to find them again.

Now, Mended was next to send me a request so I will study his next.

EDIT: I almost did not approve the Fetchling as I have trouble seeing them living on the material plane, but oh well, let's try to have some fun!

One more question: how young are you cool with my character being? RAW says that as a summoner (a class in the "self-taught" category), she should be at least 22 years old (equivalent to a 16-year-old human). For my character concept, I'd like her to be younger than this if the GM will allow. This is mostly for RP reasons, but it will also affect how I allocate skill points, and if she's young enough equivalent to a pre-teen, she should probably count as a small creature.

I'm fine with spec'ing her as a character who, as a little girl, discovered that she could make her imaginary friends real, and has since grown up to be an angsty teen who can make her imaginary friends real, but I think it might be more fun if she's younger. Even for the angsty teen scenario, it would be nice to shave a few years off of the 22/16 figure. Maybe 18/13?

Also, I assume Joynt will probably be playing another female character, and there are some interesting roleplay implications of having a pre-teen girl, a grown woman, and (presumably) a bunch of men in the party.

Stretching it, but I'll go with the 18/13.

Ok

By the way, Illiam, just saying here, with the Fetchling, Aklo might be a good language to take. Take that however you want. (DM hint!)

I'll take that as a GM suggestion that is not to be ignored :)

Wayangs are small already.

I have not made up my mind on character yet. But I do tend to play female characters. So far we have a Broodmaster/ Shadowcaller Summoner and an Investigator [who is not a Lizardfolk, though he should have been.]

Stormstrider- since you seem to be online now, could you answer my question about the Bood-Marked Skinwalker as a race.

Quick question, and it doesn't matter yet except that I want to know whether to ignore that section of my sheet or not, how will leveling be done? XP, or story milestones? If XP, which progression?

Stormstrider- since you seem to be online now, could you answer my question about the Bood-Marked Skinwalker as a race.

Sorry Joynt, Apparently that was about the time I got off line last night. Haven't looked at your yet. Looking at everybody in the order that I rec'd their request * Mended was next, almost done with him & I believe your is next, so sometime later today hopefully you should have your answer.

Exellent question! Leveling will be done by XP. Right off, I think the book said it was fast track. I'll confirm or correct that today.

this will be odd.. I may be the only human.. hmmm lol
Maybe I should pull out the Aasimar Paladin for fun bahahah

this will be odd.. I may be the only human.. hmmm lol

Maybe I should pull out the Aasimar Paladin for fun bahahah

PLEASE! I already have enough of a headache figuring out some of these other classes & races, to have you playing as a Paladin on top of that?!?!

Stormstrider- since you seem to be online now, could you answer my question about the Bood-Marked Skinwalker as a race.

I assume you meant Blood-marked since I see no Bood-marked. ;)

I'm good with the blood-marked skinwalker. Just remember no evil alignments. Also I'll point out, as far as this module goes, speak with animals will be of no use what-so-ever.

Any further idea on class?

Quick question, and it doesn't matter yet except that I want to know whether to ignore that section of my sheet or not, how will leveling be done? XP, or story milestones? If XP, which progression?

To everybody, XP will be on the fast chart.

If I'm not mistaken I have answered all questions so far right? If I missed something please let me know!

I've added a lot more information to the Campaign Info tab. Also feel free to look at the DM's notes there. I'm just including links to unfamiliar classes or races there to make them easier to find.

Everybody should read the "Adventurers and the Law" section. You all will need to work out how to secure & pay for a 'letter of warrant'. Unless you start attacking others outside the Spire, I'm not going to enforce the 30% tax rate. Just to much math to do!

Also, included in the section titled "The Emerald Spire Today" there is a sort of clue as to a good language to choose maybe?

Whoa! Just stopped in here. Didn't realize there was a lot of conversation going on without me! Sorry.

Just wanted to mention, it would be really nice for Aldhranhald to have a wand of Detect Magic. As is, the only way he can cast it is by using his Identify extract, which means only two uses a day, and even then he'd have to take a minute to make the extract first. I checked all over the boards, and besides dipping a level in sorcerer to get it (which I guess I'm not entirely opposed to) there's no reliable way to get an Investigator access to the Detect Magic spell without a magic item of some kind. Just in case you were really wondering about some "random" treasure to hand out. :D

Just wanted to mention, it would be really nice for Aldhranhald to have a wand of Detect Magic. ...

Well, whosawhatsis's character does have it as a cantrip ...

@whosawhatsis, several questions on your character sheet, - and this is NOT because it's you, I WILL go over everybody's character sheets with a 'fine tooth comb'.

You have your Hit dice listed as 1d8+1? Is that plus 1 for your favored class or what?
Being an outsider type, does it not give you a d10 HD? Or how does that work?
Where does shadow agent (+2 bluff & diplomacy) come from?
Don't forget, Skilled: Fetchlings have a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (planes) and Stealth checks. Don't think you included that.
How did you come up with 5 skill points?

Everybody, please list your weapons & armor in the 'Posessions' section of your character sheet (as well as in their proper slots) if doing it in Mythweavers. Also list the price of each item please (and a total price at the bottom). Basically I want to see all equipment weight & cost please. Sorry, side-effects of growing up in Argentina I think. I'm not very trusting.

Would two-world magic work?

Would two-world magic work?

I will be looking in to that! It might! I'll have to replace pragmatic activator though...

Nope. Two-world magic would get me access to detect magic, but it would make it a level one "extract" because Investigator doesn't have 0 level spells. A wand is really the best option, and since it's a zero level spell a full wand is only like 375 gp. So, might be Aldhranhald takes some of their first treasure back to Fort Inevitable and cashes in for a Detect Magic wand. :)

You have your Hit dice listed as 1d8+1? Is that plus 1 for your favored class or what?

Being an outsider type, does it not give you a d10 HD? Or how does that work?
Where does shadow agent (+2 bluff & diplomacy) come from?
Don't forget, Skilled: Fetchlings have a +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (planes) and Stealth checks. Don't think you included that.
How did you come up with 5 skill points?

This link will hopefully explain the skill points and the +1 on HP (listed as 1d8+1 on HD just for my own accounting).

Being an outsider doesn't affect hit dice from class levels. If I took a level in just being a fetchling (a creature level instead of a class level), I would have a racial hit die, and it would be a d10, but I wouldn't get the max value at level 1, because that only applies to class levels. Creature levels don't really get you anything other than a hit die and save/bab progression, which is why nobody takes them. In short, it's a d8 because it's a class hit die, not a racial hit die.

Shadow agent is an alternate racial trait that replaces skilled, which is also why that one is missing.

I'll add the stuff about gear cost and add the weapons/armor. Like I said, it's not final, I just wanted to show what I had so far because it might affect how Joynt builds her character (though if you're not going to allow a second summoner, the point is probably moot, though I suppose they could still be sisters of different classes if he wants to go that way).

@whosawhatsis, okay! That answered everything satisfactorily, except you still seem to have 1 skill point too many. You get 2 + Int =3 + 1 from 'Finding Your Kin', = 4. Where's that 5th one come in at?

The fifth one is the favored class bonus.

@ whosawhatsis, ok, I wondered if that was it.

@ Aldhranhald. a few questions/issues for your character sheet.

You should put your +2 to initative from reactionary in the misc mod box on your initiative shouldn't you? I see the total is correct, but putting that in would explain it.

11 skill points? Shouldn't it be 10? Or is that your favored bonus?

XP for next level = 1,300. We are using the fast track.

How did you get a + 8 to perception please?

Everybody, If I have to create a oracle of life NPC I'm going to need a couple of days just to create that. Just letting you know.

Everybody, If I have to create a oracle of life NPC I'm going to need a couple of days just to create that. Just letting you know.

I have one I could probably dig up. It's actually another little girl character. She's deaf and basically just hides or casts sanctuary during battle, only getting involved if someone's about to die. I built her for the same purpose, though come to think of it, that game started at level 6, so there would still be some work to do.

When I got tired of her, she got a dagger through the brain from a high-level wizard (at least 10 levels higher than the PCs) who had set a trap for the party after she saved them by casting Antimagic Field from a scroll that the rogue had stolen last time they met him. That was a fun session.

@ Aldhranhald-Magnus has detect magic,and I have no issue taking it.

Would half elf work for my race? Also, give me tonight and I should be able to have my character up by say...11?

half-elf is no problem!

Everybody, I'm going to go ahead and ask that you choose an avatar & name (even if temporary) as soon as you can and please make all posts in those characters just to start getting in character. That will also help me start to learn who's who. And when using your character name, choose if your going to use your first or last name, and then stick to just that one please. Remember I have a hard time with remembering names. Also frustrating your DM is NEVER a good idea. ;)

Damn, and here I was with my name basically being my backstory :(

Now I even have the second level map ready! Just got to make sure I have pictures for all those creatures.

@ Xizoh, I'll check out your class stuff to make sure I'll allow it & let you know.

EDIT: what happen to all that class stuff in your tag line?

@ Aldhranhald. a few questions/issues for your character sheet.

1)You should put your +2 to initative from reactionary in the misc mod box on your initiative shouldn't you? I see the total is correct, but putting that in would explain it.

2) 11 skill points? Shouldn't it be 10? Or is that your favored bonus?

3) XP for next level = 1,300. We are using the fast track.

4) How did you get a + 8 to perception please?

1) Not sure why that isn't showing up correctly, might be the custom character sheet I'm using as an output from Hero Lab. I'll check into it.

2) Yes, I took an extra skill point as my favored class bonus.

3) I will adjust that as well, that's a simple couple of clicks in hero lab.

4) That's probably another problem with the custom output. 8 = +2 (from ability score), +1 (from skill rank taken), +3 (from Perception being an Investigator class skill), +2 (Elven racial bonus from Keen Senses). The sheet isn't showing the +2 racial bonus as a misc. modifier. I'll take a look at adjusting those things, might have to use a different output to get it to show up correctly. I might have some time later tonight to get to that. Thanks for pointing those things out!

Ah! Yes, the elven bonus of course! Forgot about that. No problem.

I now have the map & creatures for the 2nd level as well! I'm getting excited! Think I may need to go ahead and start creating my Oracle of life NPC though ...

Nope. Two-world magic would get me access to detect magic, but it would make it a level one "extract" because Investigator doesn't have 0 level spells. A wand is really the best option, and since it's a zero level spell a full wand is only like 375 gp. So, might be Aldhranhald takes some of their first treasure back to Fort Inevitable and cashes in for a Detect Magic wand. :)

I suspect you want detect magic because you are an investigator. But the wand will be of minimal value as you will always be able to get another party member to use the cantrip for you. Effectiveness- wise it is not a good choice on the face of things.

Today I do face to face roleplaying all day. So I won't be doing a character today until late at night, like 12 hours of so from now.

Also, if we get a wand of CLW or Infernal Healing, which I figured out in the Third Dawn campaign is more efficient, you don't really need a healer.
We are even going to have a War Priest to use it, and its 750 GP for 50 uses.

I suspect you want detect magic because you are an investigator. But the wand will be of minimal value as you will always be able to get another party member to use the cantrip for you. Effectiveness- wise it is not a good choice on the face of things.

I tend to agree with Joynt, but at the same time I understand! I always want my own Detect Magic, because you never know when your going to have an "Illiam-esque" type of character in the party! ;)

If I'm not mistaken we have 6 players in the group & possibly an NPC as well?
1. Summoner
2. Investigator
3. Kensai
4. Barbarian
and 2 unknowns with a possible Oracle of Life NPC? Correct?

A magic heavy party! Lot of work for the Barbarian! :)

Just to be clear I would divide XP & treasure to the NPC as well!

Obviously I'm going to have to raise the CR's of these encounters as the module is meant for a 4 person party!

Also, if we get a wand of CLW or Infernal Healing, which I figured out in the Third Dawn campaign is more efficient, you don't really need a healer.

We are even going to have a War Priest to use it, and its 750 GP for 50 uses.

The wand is a great idea, but you might have trouble getting that much money put together at 1st level.