The Pact Stone Pyramid (Inactive)

Game Master Pact Stone GM

I will be on vacation from January 2 through January 7, please DMPC me Beetle. Thanks!

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Now I am a bit frightened.....

Now I am a bit frightened.....

LOL.

Javell - just so you don't miss it - I sent you a private message for Breach.

I am back. Looks like I did not miss much. I will see if I am up in the initiative order so I don't slow anything down.

Okay, as per the pointing(or possibly not to point).

This is my first post on the subject:

Breach stays alert for a bad guy to hit. Not a moment or two later, a look of confusion appears upon his face as the smell of something burnt crosses his path. Sniffing, "Hey, you fellas smell that? Smells like burnt flesh. Who got cooked?" His attention turns toward downstairs. "If it's our demon buddy, I'm guessing he went downstairs, 'cause I heard something that sounded like fryin' flesh headed that way." Breach turns to the others, looking for conformation on his assumption.

I didn't actually recall pointing but I was thinking I made some type of motion. Apparently I didn't do that either. But I did mention that I thought he was heading downstairs.

Even better than pointing, I'd say. :)

Gotcha.

Breach is totally fine to point or otherwise help his allies pinpoint Sceptre if he wants to - especially as it appears he isn't doing anything else specifically right now.

I'll only take issue if he wants to do something else which is inconsistent.

But it sounds like Breach's down for ratting Sceptre out.

My handsome visage is now added to the NPC images folder. Don't try to ape my style, cause I'm the real Slim Shady.

But it sounds like Breach's down for ratting Sceptre out.

That's exactly correct. Personally, he would love to charge in after him. But he's determined to not let anything happen to Lydia. So he'll let the bruisers(much to his dismay) have the first swipe at him. That is, if we can ever find him. :p

Edit: The bruisers being The Reaver and Karek. In case any of you were wondering. You probably weren't, but, just in case. :)

Huragh wern't wondering. Being a bruiser is pretty much what he does. Also, BBQ.

Huragh weren't wondering. Being a bruiser is pretty much what he does. Also, BBQ.

FYI - a crude map with positions is up (see Map folder)

Jace,

I'd prefer your interpretation on the glitterdust actually - it makes the spell a little more user friendly. I don't see anything in the spell description that supports the instantaneous burst though. Was there an errata or FAQ ruling maybe?

Jace,

I'd prefer your interpretation on the glitterdust actually - it makes the spell a little more user friendly. I don't see anything in the spell description that supports the instantaneous burst though. Was there an errata or FAQ ruling maybe?

There are many, many threads regarding glitterdust on the messageboards, but no official FAQ that I'm aware off. This thread does a decent job of explaining it. And don't get me started on what happens if you cast invisibility while under the effect of glitterdust.

Tangent Alert which is just in memorial for a recently deceased NPC.

Sceptre's first appearance (or passing mention, really) is actually in Adventure Path #1 ("Burnt Offerings"). There's a support article by Eric Mona, which contains the very first published description of the Pathfinder Society. Buried in there is a reference to Sceptre's activity as a former Pathfinder.

I'm not sure this will translate, but the part that still causes my head to spin is that, in that Mona article, Sceptre (Scepter) is detailed in a fictional volume of the Pathfinder Chronicles.

That volume number? 56.

What are the odds?

Tangent Alert which is just in memorial for a recently deceased NPC.

Sceptre's first appearance (or passing mention, really) is actually in Adventure Path #1 ("Burnt Offerings"). There's a support article by Eric Mona, which contains the very first published description of the Pathfinder Society. Buried in there is a reference to Sceptre's activity as a former Pathfinder.

I'm not sure this will translate, but the part that still causes my head to spin is that, in that Mona article, Sceptre (Scepter) is detailed in a fictional volume of the Pathfinder Chronicles.

That volume number? 56.

What are the odds?

1 to 11?

Well, this year's RPG Superstar Top 32 have been revealed, and I'm not among them, so expect my posting activity to increase.

I'd like to share my submission with you, since our little misadventure with Suekahn have influenced my inspiration for this particular item heavily.

Frankly, I just don't care for it. ; )

Awesome Jace! I love it.

I particularly dig that you have to fuel it with your own life force.

11 minutes - that's an unusual number - might it be a subtle Easter egg?

(You have just given me a great idea for the PBP, by the way. . .)

Awesome Jace! I love it.

I particularly dig that you have to fuel it with your own life force.

I agree. Very cool item. Does the wearer control the chain length; i.e. can the captive move and engage the wearer, or is it "entangled" such that its arms/abilities are useless?

Awesome Jace! I love it.

I particularly dig that you have to fuel it with your own life force.

11 minutes - that's an unusual number - might it be a subtle Easter egg?

(You have just given me a great idea for the PBP, by the way. . .)

Glad you like it. I'm getting mixed feedback since putting it up for review. Some love it, and some don't. Not everyone likes the damage to the wearer, for instance.

The 11 minutes is not an Easter egg. The items Caster Level is 11th, and it's a minute/level duration.

I see Moonpate has a +17 Spellcraft. That's amazing. But I am unable to reverse engineer it. What have I missed?

A max of 8 ranks at level 8, +4 for INT, +2 for Magical Aptitude feat.

I'm three short.

I see Moonpate has a +17 Spellcraft. That's amazing. But I am unable to reverse engineer it. What have I missed?

A max of 8 ranks at level 8, +4 for INT, +2 for Magical Aptitude feat.

I'm three short.

Not surprisingly, Spellcraft is a class skill for wizards, which gives you the last +3.

Ouch - of course! Here I was scouring for a magic item.

Some love it, and some don't. Not everyone likes the damage to the wearer, for instance.

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Pact Stone GM wrote:

I see Moonpate has a +17 Spellcraft. That's amazing. But I am unable to reverse engineer it. What have I missed?

A max of 8 ranks at level 8, +4 for INT, +2 for Magical Aptitude feat.

I'm three short.

Not surprisingly, Spellcraft is a class skill for wizards, which gives you the last +3.

Thanks. I use HeroLab to make sure I am legit on all these crazy skills and feats (at least I think everything is correct), since this 3.5/Pathfinder stuff is an awful lot to keep track of.

Let me know how you guys want Sceptre's loot divided up. (I'm guessing windfall for the wizard). But please ensure you add it to your respective sheets - otherwise some jerk GM will say you don't actually have it when you need it.

Anyone else starting to feel like we're getting somewhere here?

Let me know how you guys want Sceptre's loot divided up. (I'm guessing windfall for the wizard). But please ensure you add it to your respective sheets - otherwise some jerk GM will say you don't actually have it when you need it.

LOL I do that to my players all the time.

Yeah sorry about not relaying the encounter in my own version. The family and I were headed out so I was just trying to get something out there. I hate feeling like I'm holding up the game.

I'm home now so I can break it down a bit more "Breach specifically" if necessary, no problem. Or if you think it's fine as is that's fine too. Doesn't matter to me either way. Let me know.

Nothing to be sorry about. "I clue the gang in" is a very legitimate post - no need to re-type something that long. In fact I didn't bother to spoiler 'Breach from the Future's post on the guess that Breach in the Preset would do exactly that.

I was just trying to communicate that there would likely be some confusion, but I see there was no need. I'm sensing a good amount!

And now a break for commercials...

I wrote stuff, and other people paid me for it and stuck it in a book.

Thank you for your attention. Carry on.

And now a break for commercials...

I wrote stuff, and other people paid me for it and stuck it in a book.

Thank you for your attention. Carry on.

Cool beans! Did your membership in the infamous Dune Squad have any influence on this project?

Nice! Looks pretty cool!

CONGRATS!!!

Great news.

I'll have to pick one up!

Wooohooo Jacob! That should be just in time for the desert adventure path that's coming out.

Thanks for all the kind words. I only have two items in the book, but one of them has a kick-ass illustration.

And while my membership of the Dune Squad have not directly influenced me, our esteemed GM was kind enough to offer feedback.

And my freelancing career is already moving on at full steam. The NEXT PRODUCT to feature some of my work is already available, and I am currently working on a batch of encounters for Raging Swan Press.

Guys, the Beetle hive is very sick and I could be away a few days.

Feel free to take the opportunity as a group to decide exactly how you want to handle this, I sense a few different approaches.

Ultimately, I'd love to know if Gandel intends to maintain the fascinate (as a free action) for another round. And if he is or isn't what anyone else intends to do.

(And further congrats to Jace!)

Well I'm a little miffed. : )

You guys have forced the first continuity breach with "Breach from the Future".

It sure doesn't look like the whole 'Hrokon getting flipped upside down by Hurgah and Karek and shaken until his potions fall out' is going to happen.

It's still possible I suppose, but seems unlikely. I guess I took too big a gamble with that one. Now I'm left to ponder what it means if Breach from the Future is wrong - are the parallel existences? Or did the old guy just get confused? Or has the future just been altered?

Maybe that's where Breach gets his name from: his full name is Continuity Breach Shattershield.

As an aside, now that Moonpate has become a “wandful” as I call it, we need to address the fact that he can’t conveniently have all his wands out all the time.

Digging one out from a backpack is a full-round action (a move action for those handy haversack guys).

Moonpate can though carry one, or even two, in his hands (and wield them out without requiring any additional action). What does he want in each of his hands as his default? There’s his mystic beer stein and club as well, of course.

He could take a page from the corpse he took those wands from and wear Sceptre’s wand bandolier. That would enables him to access all of the wands as a move action, but I suspect that wand cowboy might not be the look Moonpate is trying to rock out here.

Anyways, there are many solutions, but I ought to pin down how you want to handle this.

As an aside, now that Moonpate has become a “wandful” as I call it, we need to address the fact that he can’t conveniently have all his wands out all the time.

Digging one out from a backpack is a full-round action (a move action for those handy haversack guys).

Moonpate can though carry one, or even two, in his hands (and wield them out without requiring any additional action). What does he want in each of his hands as his default? There’s his mystic beer stein and club as well, of course.

He could take a page from the corpse he took those wands from and wear Sceptre’s wand bandolier. That would enables him to access all of the wands as a move action, but I suspect that wand cowboy might not be the look Moonpate is trying to rock out here.

Anyways, there are many solutions, but I ought to pin down how you want to handle this.

I think I had previously stated that the wand of hold person was being held, but I think I never mentioned putting it "away" after not using it on Hrokon. I probably would have kept it in hand, with club and mug clipped to belt. Once the whole mess with our grumpy "colleagues" is sorted out, I would swap the hold person wand in hand for the summon wand.

Once Xaven is disarmed of his poison weapon Hal will be fine, no way is he walking around with someone that can poison the whole group at the drop of a hat. And that is coming from the party member that decided to align with these guys.

I can turn off the wall of fire at will correct?

My short answer is "Yes, I think so".

To "turn off" a spell, the spell's description has to include a "D" which means it is dismissable.

Wall of fire does not have the required "D".

However, it has a duration of concentration. Spells that require concentration are always considered dismissable, even without the "D".

But, wall of fire is not just a concentration spell, it's a concentration spell plus an additional 1 round per level. You could argue that means once Hal dismisses it it continues for another 8 rounds.

But I think it's implicit that even concentration + spells are dismissible. Otherwise the higher in level you get the less control you have over your own magic which is counter-intuitive. Also I can't find an example of a "concentration + rounds per level" spell which has the "D". That doesn't mean there isn't one, just that I didn't see one with a quick look.

So "Yes, I think so" and it's a free action to do so.

Great I thought so too but I wanted to ruling before I took an action in the thread which other people might respond to. Thanks Beetle.

Dear Friends,

I think it is time to concede that this game has finally died on the vine. It has been a blast, but I feel I need to recognize the truth that we have all moved on some time ago.

Although I previously indicated I wanted to reach the end of the module, sometimes I feel as though I am merely writing bad fan fiction and overstepping my bounds as I dictate the PCs' actions.

We’re down to 4 of our original 9 players and the posting rate is no longer sustainable, unless we perhaps finish in the year 2017. I think we’d all prefer to invest our energies in other projects at this point.

This need not be negative. This game started in March of 2011 and lasted over 3 years and over 6,500 posts. I think it’s amazing that we held each other’s interest that long. We had some huge highs and some very memorable moments. I will not forget the Dune Squad.

When I started this, I was hoping for a creative outlet to let me practice my descriptive writing and brush up on my Pathfinder mechanics. I planned to go for at least 1,000 posts or 6 months. Metrics achieved. You’ve all committed for far longer than I ever expected you to. I don’t think any of us expected it to require quite so much of an investment -- you deserve to be released. Your loyalty has been appreciated.

My one regret is that there are a significant number of unrevealed secrets – one in particular which probably shouldn't go unaddressed. I intend to spend some time posting some additional reveals and then wrap this up.

I have enjoyed playing with you all immensely and hope our paths continue to cross. My very best to you and yours.

Special thanks to Paizo for giving this game a home.

--The Beetle

Hey Beetle -

I would prefer to play out through the end but as it is time consuming on your end I do understand.

I certainly enjoyed this game immensely and I am sad to see it go. Especially when it felt like we were getting close to the end!

Looking forward to you revealing the secrets that we had missed. If you run another PBP let me know, I would certainly be interested in playing.

--Hal

I can concede the point. This game has been a fantastic resource for me in watching a masterful DM at work, and it has helped me improve both my roleplaying and creative writing. I very much enjoyed playing Karek, and Bunky was a great companion. Thank you guys very much for the last three years, and I wish you all good roleplaying!

I will be watching further developments on this thread with interest. Hit me up for future games if you want. You know we're a faithful bunch! I promise I'll play an opinionated go-getter!

Kenneth

Hey Beetle -

I would prefer to play out through the end but as it is time consuming on your end I do understand.

I certainly enjoyed this game immensely and I am sad to see it go. Especially when it felt like we were getting close to the end!

Looking forward to you revealing the secrets that we had missed. If you run another PBP let me know, I would certainly be interested in playing.

--Hal

I concur. It has been quite the adventure in every sense of the word and it has helped me learn the Pathfinder mechanics. I too would prefer to see through to the end but I certainly recognize how hard it has been to keep this going. My own posts have dropped significantly as I have been traveling so much for work the last six months. I have had a blast trying to portray the Potentate and have thoroughly enjoyed all the character personalities throughout (especially poor Anyo). This has been a wonderful group and would certainly relish the opportunity to game again with any and all of you, especially when my life hopefully stabilizes to a better level of normalcy in a few months.

While I'm a bit sad we don't have the steam to pull this all the way through, I think this is a good call, Beetle. It has been an awesome ride, and a privilege to be part of. I look forward to reading your narative posts, and also to read the module itself, which has been sitting on my shelf for a while now.

Some of my personal highlights in this game have been:
- the all-you-can-eat Splicer Beast buffet
- taking a ten-headed hydra's charge-pounce on the chest, laugh it off and eat it's heart
- the Thalia betrayal
- biting a devil monk in half
- commandeering a palanquin golem
- Hurgah and Moonpate's awesome adventures as fugitives
- hog-tying a basilisk
- hog-tying a grumpy gate guardian
- almost getting crushed by copper coins
- roasting Sceptre to a crisp
- all the awesome cut-scenes
- and the wealth of superb writing and fun npc's

Wow - and that's just off the top of my head. We sure have had an awesome time.

Now, the timing of all this is actually pretty good. I finished the PbP I have been running as a GM for the past three years just a few days ago. I'm planning to start up a new game, and all of you are welcome to a spot if you want it, our esteemed GM included.
Much like the Beetle, I plan on using the game to practice my design and writing skills.

If you are interested, let me know and I'll post a link to the recruitment thread once I get it up.

I am certainly interested Jacob now that Pact Stone Pyramid will be out of my posting rotation.