FYI ... running two tables of The Opened Mind is not a big deal for me, but running two tables of The Third Dawn not so sure. We will have to see what happens after we finish The Opened Mind.
Without further ado:
- Madcaster
- Joynt Jezebel
- Edgar Lamoreux
- ScorchedOne
Please dot in Gameplay Thread A by posting with your Opened Mind character alias, and then deleting your post. Then please read on how to set up your character and how I run my PbP.
Put your vital stats, expended charges and active conditions in your forum tag line. It really helps for those situations when a GM needs to make a roll for the whole party (eg. everyone makes a reflex save). That means I can easily do the rolls, resolve all the effects and move the game along in a single post.
In order to make life much easier for me, and to move the game much faster to make a more enjoyable experience for all involved, I am going to ask you to add in some important save and skill modifiers. These are rolls that I will make 95% of the time as GM to keep the game moving. Please click on the Dice Rolls link on the Campaign Profile or my GM tagline.
This will take you to an editable Google Doc. Please fill out your appropriate modifiers in the table. If you have situation modifiers that I should be aware of, please add them outside the [ dice ] rolls in [ ooc ].
Will Saves
I know that some of you are seasoned PbPers, while others of you this is your first go around. So some of you will know much of this, while others should really take some time to go through this.
This play guide has been compiled from my own experience with PbP (things I liked and things I didn't) and also from my favorite tips from the following excellent guides:
Doomed Hero's Guide to PbP An awesome introduction to PbP. Don't miss his second post on that thread with some "advanced tips", too.
Painlord's further tips builds on Doomed Hero's work.
I strongly recommend reading these in addition to my guide below. They contain much more rationale and detail than mine does.
These are more of a requirement than a guide. Players who do not comply will be asked to improve and eventually asked to leave. Think of these things as non-optional "table" etiquette.
Unusual real life events notwithstanding, I will be prepared to post at least twice a day. If there's nothing for the GM to add, you may not see anything - but I will check the gameplay thread 2 or more times each day. I will try for more often during combat.
If you cannot post within 24 hours for any reason, please let me know. I will be happy to bot you as required until you're back to normal.
Please use this temple for your tagline.
1. Initiative
2. Perception
3. Sense motive
4. Saving throws
5. Group diplomacy
Player dice rolls of these types will be ignored, unless specifically requested by me.
I may make the following where appropriate, but you may request to make these yourself (let me know if you prefer to roll these yourself):
1. Knowledge checks
2. Survival checks
3. Individual diplomacy
Further, I may make a roll of any kind on your behalf if you do not post within the 24 hour timeframe (see above fore more on this).
Finally, a convention I have adopted (mostly for rolling during combat) in PbP games that I run is as follows:
1. No rolls during combat for any checks that do not specifically require an action unless called for by the GM. Same for free actions that do not influence combat. Eg. Knowledge (dungeoneering) to identify that ooze is a free action, but this is a roll you must ask the GM to make for you (unless he has asked for it). Concentration check to cast a spell is a free action, but that's fine to roll yourself (since it forms part of your cast spell action).
2. Always roll for actions in the order in which they occur. When in doubt, roll reactions to GM first, reactions to players next and then your actions. This should help minimize players swapping over save throws for attack rolls (and the like).
3. If you do want to make an "actionless" skill check, ask the GM to roll it for you. He'll have to post to tell you the results anyway.
Here is an example of my 8th level magus and a correctly formatted combat post.
Thou Shalt Avoid Walls Of Text
Thou Shalt Not Hog The Spotlight
Thou Shalt Not Assume The Actions Of Others
Thou Shalt Not Assume Outcomes Of Actions
Thou Shalt Not Derail Gameplay
Thou Shalt Use The Discussion Thread
Eg. Jambon the Ranger runs back to the party. "Goblins around the corner, beware!"
Use "ooc" tags to say things out of character. It puts your post in blue and helps GMs and players alike to tell when you are talking about mechanics and when you are talking about your character.
Eg. Jambon tries to squeeze through the door.
Make sure to use the discussion thread for "ooc" text that is not relevant to your current post.
For some cool ideas on how else to format your text, see Doomed hero's advanced tips
Eg. Post that doesn't keep it moving.
Jambon sits down, head in hands, heavily wounded and exhausted from the fight
Eg. Simple modification to the above that keeps it moving.
Jambon sits down, head in hands, heavily wounded and exhausted from the fight. "Well, friends, looks like we all need a rest. Shall we set up camp for the night?"
Everyone needs to update their own positions as part of their posts. Where this isn't possible, please describe where you would like to move to, and I will do it next time I'm near a laptop. If anyone is able to do so before me, please do feel free to move them for me! This is known as "a Lockwood" or "Lockwooding". eg. "Please Lockwood my token to just north of the werewolf", "Sure thing, just Lockwooded you."
Please, please, please write about how your character moves in the post. Don't just say "see my location on the map". That will help to maintain the roleplaying flavor and also make sure we don't have to constantly flick between the map and the gameplay thread to find out what's going on. It can also help me to adjudicate what happens as you move. But the most important reason is: your position on the map will change over time, but your post will not. Describe your movement.
Finally, in adjudicating movement (mostly for attacks of opportunity and traps) I will assume you take the most direct route to an enemy while still avoiding attacks of opportunity and hazards. If you close to a square and you can't get there within your available movement without provoking, I will make an AoO against you. Otherwise, though, I will assume your character doesn't move like a brain-damaged zombie and avoids such things. If you would like to specify how you move, please use a dashed line to show where you moved (or describe it if you're posting from a phone).
Since Johnnycat and I are in the different tables, should I change my background a bit? Or it doesn't matter?
Since Johnnycat and I are in the different tables, should I change my background a bit? Or it doesn't matter?
Up to you.
Change it is then. Will make an alias and dot today or tomorrow.
Few points of clarification. It seems that in our haste to start what we all hope will be a fun and enjoyable experience we missed a few posts.
To begin with, I stated a start date of Nov 8th because I wanted to give everyone a chance to:
- Read the GM PbP Guide
- Order their tagline to conform with GM requirements
- Update the Dice Rolls Doc
Please make sure that we do get those things accomplished before we get too far into the adventure.
If you have questions, please use the Discussion Thread or PM me. I'd be happy to help anyway I can.
Also:
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 0
I will make all these rolls for you. If you add them to your post I will ignore them.
Very well.
Dialogue should be in quotes in addition to bold. eg. "Very well."
Sorry to start off a bit harsh, and nitpicky, but please trust me that it will pay off for both you and I in the long run.
Sorry, thought you meant by dotting to post a quick IC intro. That way it adds to campaign.
Please dot in Gameplay Thread A by posting with your Opened Mind character alias, and then deleting your post. Then please read the Discussion Tab on how to set up your character and how I run my PbP.
No worries, it happens. Posting a 'dot' then deleting it was a trick I got from one of my current players. That creates the campaign for your alias, like you said, with the added benefit of being able to post a proper post and not something silly like '.' or like I have seen and used to do.
Since your post was a proper post, no harm no foul. :)
Now let's get those alias fixed and don't forget to fill out the Dice Roll doc.
I do the majority of my posting from work.
Alright, I've finally made it to the threads. I work in a restaurant, and Sundays, I work a bit shy of twelve hours straight almost every week. Normally, I'd have been fine to post before I slept, but somehow, I managed to not sleep saturday night.
Edit: Dice Rolls and Tagline updated.
Alias is done, the Dice Rolls doc is filled out, the thread is dotted.
Also, I decided against changing the backstory. Let it be.
If I have not mentioned it before, or if I have it bears repeating, for me Real Life > PbP.
Not to worry about timing, that is why I just wanted everyone to 'dot' in and then take their time setting up their characters and what not.
Just because I tend to post a lot doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your well being to post.
Remember, 1 post a day requirement (please make it a quality one, not just a I have to post one) unless you have something going on, and then just let me know.
Thanks Tio and Aidan!
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 0I will make all these rolls for you. If you add them to your post I will ignore them.
Very well.Dialogue should be in quotes in addition to bold. eg. "Very well."
My apologies.
I am starting in 2 campaigns at around the same time. And the guidelines for posting are nearly identical, except the other campaign doesn't use quotes for speech.. Will try to remember.
I have entered my skill rolls. My tagline I hope to get done tomorrow.
I jumped the gun posting too. :( And I put a die roll in my premature post. Will learn.
My apologies.
No worries - all easy fixes. I appreciate the enthusiasm everyone jumped in with. :)
Well, there's no point entering the game if you don't want to play. :)
Plus I've been wanting to play a Shroud for YEARS. They're like a ranger, only with psionics and decent. (And no animal companion, which makes me mildly sad, but meh)
Just wanted to let everyone know I am here checking the thread. Waiting for everyone to get their pre-adventure structures set up before we start the adventure proper.
In the meantime, please feel free to Role Play on the Gamethread.
Still waiting on some Role Play before we start.
Safe travels, brother!
To you as well!
Sorry for the radio silence, it seems one thing after another is conspiring against me and my gaming! Short story shorter, I was without internet for longer than I'd have liked, and not only do I not have reception where I live, to use my phone, but I've recently learned that my phone browsers do not like the paizo forums unless I'm browsing. Even typing a few letters into a textbox is enough to crash any I use.
In any case, I'm back in action, now!
SUTANDO. Now I get it. That's why your name sounds familiar. :)
Welcome to combat. You will find a link to the Tactical Map in both my tagline and the Campaign Links.
Please note that I run PbP combat in blocks. So if you open the Combat Table (and you should) you all act before the GM creatures. You do not have to wait for the person before you in Int. Order to post before you do.
Please note: There might be times when we will hold to strict initiative but I will let you know.
Good luck!
I forgot about my trait, so added that to the Dice Rolls doc. Also added the status of psionic focus to the tag line.
Aidan reacts instantly, focusing and forming swirling and glimmering blades around himself. He closes the distance and concentrates on his enemy. Suddenly, one of the blades flies towards the striped creature.
** spoiler omitted **
Please reread the section on How to Format Your Roll and please click on the example link I provided. No Spoilers for dice rolls. :)
Edited.
Edit: And I realized, that I can't move, because creating the Panoply takes the move. I changed the post and will move token on the map back where it was.
One of the reasons that I am running this module is to learn more about psionics.
@ Aidan Ok so you are using the Sleeping goddess . To enter your stance is a fee action - got that part. But I cannot find Panoply of Blades under the Sleeping goddess maneuvers. I see Body of Delusion (Counter), Call the Soul's Blade (Boost), Ego-wounding Strike (Strike), Flash of insight (Boost), Harmony-Shattering Strike (Strike) and Unbroken Stride (Stance). Can you link it for me?
Panoply of Blades is the class feature of Psychic Armory. Here. I also copied it to my alias in Soulknife Features.
Hmmm.... Curious. While I know a version of Tio's stat block once contained traits, I have none now. I'll have to rectify this.
Edit: Fixed. Though unlikely to come up, I've chosen Kin Guardian and Psychokinetic Talent.
That is certainly not what I expect to hear from a gently spoken sorceress.
Re: Panoply of Blades
Well it certainly fits the Pathfinder requirements of being longwinded ;)
So when you form these blades, please make sure to include the following information:
- Weapon type: light, one-handed, or two-handed
- Damage type: bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage.
Although I don't know why you wouldn't always choose two-handed since it gives you 2d6 damage and I can't see where it prohibits you from throwing it. Weird.
Move action to draw bow, standard to fire. If I'm not in 30', I close to 30'.
Yeah, sorry about that. There is no map for this encounter so this is one of my 'stock' maps, and unfortunately does not have gridlines. Please assume you are within 30'
" F### yeah... I mean, I concur sir."
Since we are a new group, this is your chance to voice your opinion about language (specifically the ones that get bleeped). Anyone have an issue with it? I game with groups that curse and ones that don't. Don't really have a horse in this race but see Rule #1 - Have Fun. If this makes you not have fun PM me.
Re: Tagline A few add ons.
1) Make sure they are up to date with Current Conditions and what not.
2) If you haven't, please add in 'consumable abilities' like Maneuvers, Power Points, Spells, ect. and update them as you go.
3) If you do something to alter your normal stat array - like cast enlarge, sorry this is psionics, I meant to say expansion please update your tagline with the new modifier next to the original modifier, but use []. eg. AC 17 [16]
Conclusion
Full round of combat in less than 3 hours. Pat yourselves on the back! Nice work. Now to wade through everything :(
I have no problem with profanity as long as it's not gratuitous. I'm more of an "everything in moderation" sort. Too much of anything wears on the nerves. Excited exclamations certainly occur though.
And I'm talking like Jay and Silent Bob levels of profanity. Or Boondock Saints. If every third word would be bleeped on the radio, we're doing something wrong. For emphasis and occasionally, they can add to language.
Actually, I get to throw two-handed only at the second level, the ability mentions it. And I form every type of weapon. So, that's 5 light weapons and 5 one-handed at first level.
Will mention the damage type in the future. For now light are piercing and one-handed are slashing.
No issue with cursing.
That is certainly not what I expect to hear from a gently spoken sorceress.
Now Kazushi is being schooled in manners by an iguana.
It hadn't occurred to me I might be offending anyone.
I made the post because I thought it was amusing and very in character. The real me almost never swears and I doubt I will do so much in future.
Hey, HEY.... actually iguana is pretty accurate. He's an iguana very concerned with propriety. Also did not know I'd be the only person in non-flesh. I thought we'd have a furry little lady.
That is the human form.
There were only 3 Kitsune among the paizo icons, and the other 2 looked male or at least not as cool as this one.
I may take the feat that allows me to become a fox eventually. But I think that has a BaB pre-req of +4, which puts it back to lvl 9. Long, long way away.
Using the Stand Together simple blast as a standard
Please indicate Assault or Battery. Assuming Battery.
He's going in the space directly northeast of the purple-framed creature.
Feel free to make an Alias for your Astral Construct and place it on the map.
Daze spell on the quadruped on the other side of the wagon, that has a DC 15 save. I am using this over colour spray as I am not sure exactly where everyone is.
Did you all not check out the Tactical Map? Linked on both my GM alias, and on the Campaign Tab?
I checked it. I figured the purple one was the one I had LoS on, so didn't need to explicitly state it.
And Fox shape is only +3, which I think you'll have by 6 unless you're doing crazy multiclassing? Adorable foxiness would be cute. Unlike that terrible murderous barbarian/rogue multiclass fox I met once. He was terrifying.
Daze spell on the quadruped on the other side of the wagon, that has a DC 15 save. I am using this over colour spray as I am not sure exactly where everyone is.Did you all not check out the Tactical Map? Linked on both my GM alias, and on the Campaign Tab?
I did. I even put an image of myself where I was after moving. Then when I re-opened the tactical map it was gone, so I put it back, closed the map and it is still there now. So hopefully it will be there when others look at it. Then I moved the image to where I want to go next round.
Neils is behind my character near the blood pool, and Tion is on the other side of the wagon engaging the quadruped badie.
What confuses me is we have a third male human on the map and no reptiles, so I am unsure where Kenax is.
My bad with the daze spell.
Sorry, I'll keep that in mind for the future. That said, I was using assault, both to form Lagun and to attack.
With All that said, does Lagun get an attack of opportunity? Once he's out, he's an actual combatant. That's why I clarified the position he'd be occupying on the map.
Sorry for post weirdness, my phone is really finicky when it comes to the paizo site.
Edit: Can't seem to get another post in the gameplay thread, I'll do so when I get home.
Unfortunately, I can no longer edit my post, of course, but while Out of Combat, Lagun is a big muted, Combat Lagun doesn't hold back, and as such, would probably look more like an Aether Elemental, which, as far as I've been able to find, Looks like this.
Otherwise: I'm not sure what you'd like me to do: The fact that Lagun is a full-fledged combatant, akin to a long-duration summon, may change the dynamics of what the ferax may have done, and certainly the potential outcome of the second round of combat. Lagun's got more staying power, but doesn't have nearly the customizability or innate power found in an Eidolon, nor do I have as many uses of him as a Summoner might of Summon Monster [X]. While the class and archetype aren't a direct analog, it's probably about the closest power-wise, I can reach, as the only other real Astral Construct-focused psionic anything would be a Shaper or a Constructor, both of which are pretty far outside the scope of a kineticist, being manifesters with access to ninth level powers, at least in my opinion.
In any case, I'm gonna take a conservative approach and hold off, for now. If you'd like, I can make an Alias for Lagun, if that makes things easier for you, keep his stat block, a new tagline, etc on that.
Ok, so I added an astral construct to the MAP. Also I believe people from this table were on the map on the other table. Please make sure you are using Table A tactical Map.
So I need an AoO from Lagun on the ferax, and an AoO from Aiden on the antlered creature.
And I form every type of weapon. So, that's 5 light weapons and 5 one-handed at first level.
The psychic armory forms a number of weapons equal to 1 + her Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) of light and one-handed mind blades as a move action.
Got it. Had to reread it not at work.
On a side note, I know some of us have peeked at Table B, and that is fine. Just know that once we get to Jace's these threads become For Your Eyes Only.
Ok, so I added an astral construct to the MAP.
I thank you, and Lagun thanks you! Offer still stands, of course, for Lagun alias.
Edit:
** spoiler omitted **
Tio lost his round of actions?
Yes please make a Lagun alias.
And you are up - sorry.
Quick posting note - I will be light (for me) posting today and tomorrow, and then AFK until the 8th.
Sorry to kill the momentum a bit, but you all worked so hard I felt that I should give combat a go before my brief hiatus.
Don't worry though, when I am back I will be back with a vengeance ;)
Well, you did say the official start will be the 8th of November. :)