The Great (Pathfinder) Society...in Magnimar! (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

Yeah, I noticed....

While there is no hard time limit here Sheila does not encourage dawdling either.

What you could do Horven to save time and money is select a different rogue arch-type for him, instead of switching classes entirely. That may work better for you.

If not, I can allow you to switch 1 level of Rogue to Bard right now, so he would be a Rog3/Bard2.

What do you think?

I'll look over the archetypes and see if something works.

Yamyra's hit die: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Fancy's hit die: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Well... Honestly, I'll take it.

And Horven, I think I have an idea on how to make your character quite a bit more effective in combat with minimal retraining. Would you want to hear it?

EDIT: Actually, nevermind. I checked a thing and turns out that I remembered it wrong and it wouldn't work. Sorry. :(

Yamyra, what about another natural attack for Fancy? The armor evolution is always a good choice though! With Carridan around, a magic fang spell or two might be better than making her natural attacks count as magical on their own.

What would it cost to improve the composite strength rating of Gared's bow to his new strength score?

I do not think you can, but I will allow you to replace the bow for the price difference between the two bows.

So far, I haven't really encountered anything. So here's what my problem is: Horven hasn't been much a front-line combatant lately. He suffers from the -1 Strength penalty and small weapon damage. Plus, whether consciously or unconsciously, Horven kinda gets pushed to the back so his effectiveness takes another hit. The skills are nice and useful, but, in combat, I'm pretty useless. I'm thinking a switch to bard would allow me to at least do buffs/heals, but I'm not sure about multiclassing because I've seen how bad that can be. Ideas anyone?

Edit: I looked at the Sniper archetype. It seems to be helpful without changing too much, though I'll need some feat retraining.

All right, now I have an idea that actually works. It'll require a 1-level dip, but after that you can continue as a rogue or anything you'll want to.

Step 1: Take your next level in anything that gives proficency in an one-handed slashing weapon. (Bard works, but you'll lose a poin of BaB)

Step 2: Retrain the rogue talent "Weapon Training (rapier)" to Weapon Training (one-handed slashing weapon you want to use).

Step 3: Take this as your 5th-level feat.

This would fix the low strenght problem and only take 5 days of retraining.

I probably am not going to be much help on that Horven. I think you are pulling your weight just fine. Of course, I also think of you as our 'fill in the gaps' member, you generally manage to be the one who handles the things the others of us don't/can't. Bards are good for that also. As to the multi-classing issue... I'll bow to your greater experience, but I'm not certain how much of a difference in effectiveness you would have between a Bard 2/Rogue 3 & a Bard 5. Yes, you won't have second level spells & your Inspire Courage will only be +1, but you will still do fairly well & there will be additional opportunities to retrain levels as we continue.

Of course, if you do retrain to Bard, we will have an all caster party...

On a semi-related note, I have updated both Yamyra & Fancy, mostly. I need to decide on Yamyra's fifth level feat, her next language, & whether or not to 'switch-out' lesser rejuvenate eidolon for a different 1st level spell.
I had been leaning toward Flagbearer, Auran & either long arm or unfetter. Thoughts, suggestions?

edit: In regards to Carmina's suggestion, I've heard good things about both the Swashbuckler & the Slayer. Pertaining to your 1 level dip, I meant.

I apologize for throwing my two cents in the ring unasked for, but I had some pertinent thoughts when I was considering the numbers/problems.

Horven, I think you're combat effectiveness as is would make a solid jump if you began to make use of flanking during melee combat. 2d6 sneak attack on every attack more than makes up strength and small weapon penalty. Also, Horven qualifies for Fencing Grace instead of Slashing Grace regardless any retraining or what level you take in any class.

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/fencing-grace-combat

The problem with ranged attacks aren't going to benefit from your sneak attack bonuses without some shenanigans, and if you're not dealing sneak attack as a halfling bard, your DPR drops rather significantly. If you end up taking that feat, your damage jumps by 5 per hit with melee attacks and you could do some solid DPR with a flanking considering how high your to hit is (and the amount of haste spells we have access to from having a summoner).

On top of that, if you did decide to dip into a martial class, a level in the inspired blade archetype of swashbuckler would give you both weapon focus (rapier) and an effective weapon finesse for it, allowing you to retrain the feats if you were so inclined.

Regardless, dodging Panache would be great with your high charisma and letting you get into a flanking position with that much more ease, and opportune parry and riposte would amazing with your dexterity if you picked up combat reflexes at some point via retraining or whatever.

Hell if wanted to retrain one of your traits or take a drawback to pick up helpful (The halfling racial trait Gared has from spending so much time with halflings in his youth), you could grab the bodyguard feat later as well and have the option of being a solid support tank in any combat between the parrying you could do if attacked or the AC bonus you could grant to allies if ignored.

Yamyra, I think you're getting a lot of use out of your Lesser rejuvenate eidolon spell so far, so it'd probably be worth keeping in my opinion. Flagbearer seems like a solid pick to me.

Sorry for the bad advice, I didn't know about that feat. D:

That I did know about the feat is indicative of how much time I spend browsing through feats and such. I have an unhealthy relationship with the pfsrd. =o

lol, good points there all.

@Yamyra: I'd lose a rogue talent. I'd also lose a +1 to my BAB. So Rog3/Brd2 isn't the best.

@Carmina: It wasn't bad advice. I don't spend much time poring over feats, especially ones in books that I don't have. Honestly, I took rogue for the skillset.

@Gared: lol, you might need to see a counselor about your relationship with the pfsrd :P While your suggestion would be optimal, it kinda goes counter to the talk Gared and Horven had in-game. But your way incurs the least amount of hassle, I'd still want to retrain point-blank shot and dazzling display (which I've hardly used) though. So, Eric, may I retrain those two things and I'll still stay plain ol' rogue?

My phone interview for the call center didn't go well in my estimation, but I'll know something concrete in about 2 weeks. I'll also be out of town this weekend, but I'll be able to keep up with Wayfinder.

Haha, you're not wrong, Horven! I need help. =P I wouldn't think you'd have to hold yourself Gared and Horven's conversation. In character inspiration can always come from all sorts of places after all!

Sorry to hear about the interview, my fingers shall remain crossed!

Well, it was reasonable, but I really wasn't thinking about Horven's progression early on.

As I said, I bow to your greater experience, Horven. Still holding off on at least Feat & spell until I know which direction you are going. As much as I like the idea of Yamyra having Flagbearer thematically, it's effects overlap with Inspire Courage too much for it to be that useful if you decide to go Bard.
As far as how much utility I have gotten out of lesser rejuvenate eidolon, much of that was due to not waiting/asking for the healers to use cure X wounds on Fancy; considering we have two wands now & they aren't that expensive, I would happily chip in for another one if we wound up running low before I hit seventh level & pick up rejuvenate eidolon. Nobody has said anything about picking up a different language & Auran opens up Air Elementals as summonable monsters that she can actually direct. On the other hand, given all the Darklands dwellers we have run into recently, I can see an argument for her learning Aklo...

I'm sorry to hear you don't feel your job interview went well, I have comparatively recent experience with how nerve-wracking that can be. I just hope you are soon as fortunate as I have been.
Well, minus the whole death in the family bit, hope you get to skip that.

Horven: Could you please tell me exactly what you want to retrain? That way I can give you exactly how long it will take and how much money it will cost.

The feat Dazzling Display and the rogue talent Combat Trick (Point Blank Shot). Everything else will remain as is.

Okay thanks Horven.

According to the retraining rules, it will take a total of 10 days to retrain both abilities since you cannot train them simultaneously. Fortunately the next book of Shattered Star does involve some travel time so you should be able to finish by the time you reach your next destination.

As for the cost, I will rule the Pathfinder Society will pay for the costs of retraining you. Also, I will rule you were able to start your training on Pharast 13 (two days ago) so you have three more days to train.

Let me know which ability you are training for first.

While I know I sacrifice a bit of damage, I'd like to swap Combat Trick for Canny Observer (+4 to perception checks) first. Then we'll train Dodge in place of Dazzling Display.

Okay so noted. Horven will finish retraining Comabt Trick on Pharast 18, and Dazzling Display feat on Pharast 23.

Alrighty, thanks, Eric.

Now, I have to redo Horven's character sheet because I'm noticing a lot of inaccuracies. To be fair, this was the first character I created for a PbP so I really had no idea what I was doing besides getting the relevant information down.

As far as the unassigned loot goes, Gared already has a second story harness, and he can make use of the wand of spiritual weapon. Other than that, Gared will still really want to take the key to clockwork servant and see how it works now that there's no immediate danger in the crow. Other than that, he'd take the golembane scarab if no one else wanted to make use of it, though he might sugguest Carmina take it.
Besides that, just saving money for a headband of wisdom and a +1 bow.

As I suspected, I have 4 skill points I have not assigned before adding the 10 from 5th level :P

I'll take the potions of invisibility.

Edit: Leveled, now to buy some necessities. 50 ft. of regular rope (1 gp) and a dagger (2 gp).

Alright, it looks as though I will be picking up Flagbearer for my Feat.
DM Eric, Horven, this might be relevant...

Monastery (5 PP): Your accomplishments have earned you an invitation from a prestigious school of meditation, athletics, or combat arts. Regularly training with the monastery’s instructors builds endurance and patience, granting you the discipline to train faster and more efficiently. When using the retraining rules presented in Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Campaign to retrain any character ability that would take 5 or more days to complete, you reduce the number of days needed per retraining action by 1.

Also, for myself:

Lookout (4 PP): A Pathfinder is at her most vulnerable when asleep, and having a designated guard allows everyone to rest safely. While you rest, a lookout keeps watch. A lookout’s bonus on Perception checks is equal to your character level. The lookout immediately wakes you up (as if he had spent a standard action to do so) upon spotting danger.

There are a couple others I'm also interested in, but I don't have my copy of the Field Guide on me at the moment.

I'll spend the PP if Eric will allow it.

Yes I will allow that, Horven. Go ahead and reduce the amount of Prestige points from 9 to 4, and it will take a total of 8 days instead of 10 days to retrain both abilities.

Done.

Gared, you can keep the scarab, I want to keep my neck slot open for sexy vampires an Amulet of mighty fists.

Now, speaking of other loot, here's what I would do:

Which combined with the unassigned coins totals 5646 gp and 3 sp, with everyone getting 1129 gp, 2 sp and 6 cp.

What skill is associated with the Headband, DM Eric?

Yamyra, the Headband associated skill is Knowledge Arcana.

It's Knowledge Arcana, Yamyra. I feel like we should keep the lens of detection. We can have Horven use it for trap checking and such, and give it to Carridan if we ever need him to track anything.

Psssh. I, sir, am insulted that you would think I would need the help. =P

Generally speaking, I'm in favor of selling incendental items like the lens of detection. Carridan can always shift into a form with scent to aid his ability to track, after all.

I've added the 500gp stipend from the Society, the smokesticks, as well as the wayfinder to my sheet, but haven't added the remaining cut from found items as a) it seems we're still deciding on what to keep and what to sell and b) a good bit of that stuff was acquired prior to Carridan joining the group. I'm perfectly fine with you guys splitting the coin from those things amongst yourselves if the math isn't too tedious, especially since I got to cherry-pick my items when I joined up.

I'm fine with taking the Lens of Detection and the tanglefoot bags. One never knows, lol. And I think Carridan should get a cut of the loot despite what he says :P

Edit: How many tanglefoot bags were there? They disappeared off the loot list :P

I know we used several of them in the Crow. If the Headband is kn (arcana), I would claim it.

There were two left. I have been updating the loot list.

Okay, got it.

Gared's inventory is all updated shy of what ever split up wealth remains. Can I use prestige points towards wealth to buy a magical bow?
Also Gared can hold onto the crank we found for now, since he's probably going to aim to go back to the tower to find the clockwork servant.

@Gared: Yes you may use your prestige points for purchase of magic items. Each point factors to 375 gp of value.

@all: Please review the loot list and update your inventory accordingly should you claim anything else.

Ooops! Totally put that last post in the wrong thread!

No problem Gared.

Okay it looks like everyone is ready to go here, except for Horven who wants to RP for a bit. I will start Book 2 of the Shattered Star on Monday.

Oh, it's no biggie. Until Monday then.

-Posted with Wayfinder

@all: Please review the loot list and update your inventory accordingly should you claim anything else.

Okay, I took Carmina's advice & have claimed the Mwk Leather Armor. Carmina, unless you want to take the Ioun Stone, it would provide us as a whole the greatest benefit if I took it, I think, as it will mean an additional 2nd level spell per day I can cast in addition to the +1 to Cha skills. Anyone else have opinions?

DM Eric, is it alright with you if I take the Lookout 'Follower'? They are strictly non-combative. All they do is keep watch when we are asleep at our 'basecamp'.

Here is what the book has to say about followers.

FOLLOWERS

Pathfinders are often forceful personalities who gather small retinues of underlings as their reputations grow.
These followers travel with them, taking care of menial tasks and hoping to soak up some of the glory that comes from adventuring with a member of the Pathfinder Society.
Followers gained through vanities are noncombatants, and should be utilized only as flavor for a character so they don’t slow down the game and overcomplicate the board with unneeded minis. You can have a maximum number of followers equal to your Charisma bonus (minimum 1).
You may dismiss a follower at any time if you wish to gain different followers, but don’t regain spent Prestige Points when you do so. If your Charisma is lowered by an effect, this doesn't impact any followers you've already acquired, but does affect the number of new followers you can gain.

Also, the Monastery that Horven took was a 'Membership'.

MEMBERSHIPS

In addition to membership in one’s faction and the Pathfinder Society as a whole, there are many groups, cults, clubs, and societies to which Pathfinders can belong. All of these memberships are available in Absalom automatically—whether or not memberships are available in other cities depends on the GM.

I figure since there is a church of Erastil in Magnimar, they could pretty easily have a pastoral Monastery nearby...

Yamyra: I would not encourage you to take the Lookout follower with you on this trip. This is a secret mission and as far as Sheila is concerned, the fewer who know of your quest, the better.

Another issue is where you will be heading. This is a dangerous area, and a non combatant would almost certainly get captured or killed. You can certainly claim them but I would not have him tag along on this mission. An 'Alarm' spell is a wiser investment.

Horven's monastery membership gets my approval as well.

As for the Faction question, that is an interesting question. Sheila is a member of the Grand Lodge faction, so that is the faction you are currently working for. Was there another Faction you were thinking of joining?

Yamyra would be most interested in the Silver Crusade.

OK then, that would be an interesting change of pace. While I had not planned on using the other Factions in this game, I think it provides additional...options for me, he he.

Go ahead and PM me what Yamyra wants to do here. I am assuming none of the other PCs are interested in joining the Silver Crusade.

With the changes in factions, I think Horven would stick to the Grand Lodge.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'm not familiar with the factions all that much myself, but I think Gared might also be interested in joining the Silver Crusade.

I completely forgot Gared wanted to go back for the clock work servant! I don't suppose we could flex time the trip?