The Sinister Secrets of Sandpoint (Inactive)

Game Master TheHairyAvenger

Sorry for your loss Keith. Like Tal said just a game don't worry.

I'm sorry I haven't gotten you to the Rusty Dragon yet. I am stuck at work trying to coax a recalcitrant server into doing its job.

No prob! Hope you get it working.

My server problems extended well into the night but are now fixed. Once i fend off hordes of angry users (okay, only three people) I'll be back to the game. Sorry for the delay.

It's ok, Tippo.

My server problems extended well into the night but are now fixed. Once i fend off hordes of angry users (okay, only three people) I'll be back to the game. Sorry for the delay.

Ahh, End Users, how I do love them. The spawn from which PICNIK and PEBCAK originated*.

Take your time, I am under the weather myself, sitting at home while the servers I manage, sit and churn away greatness in a myriad of 0s and 1s for said Users, hopefully.

Best,
TB

* Problem In Chair Not In Keyboard (PICNIK)
* Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard (PEBCAK)

Funny sidebar:

I spent about twenty minutes one day on a work order call for a User who's third monitor would not work. I had dug him down into Display Settings, after having him do some rudimentary troubleshooting. A coworker said, ask him if it is turned on, I said, "surely not..." but when I asked him if the "little green light was on in the bottom right of the monitor in question?" He said, "Oh, Hmmm, Thanks" and hung up!

To this day, I try, based on that experience, and others, not to get mad when I call my ISP to tell them their DNS won't issue me a new IP, for example, and they ask me to bypass my own router. I know what I am doing, and have usually done everything they are asking me to do already, but, ahhh, Users.

Sorry to rant. The meds have me wonky!
TB

Hey guys,

I am back, and very much appreciate your condolences and patience.

I need to read through the gameplay in order to catch up ... so go ahead and continue to use Trapper as an NPC for today ...

I will be able to take over playing him tomorrow (Friday) morning.

It's been a long, exhausting week, but this game is a wonderful distraction and look forward to getting back into it.

Thanks much,
Keith

P.S. @Talby, I like your anecdote, and particularly like the acronym PICNIK :-)

Hey guys,

I am back, and very much appreciate your condolences and patience.

I need to read through the gameplay in order to catch up ... so go ahead and continue to use Trapper as an NPC for today ...

I will be able to take over playing him tomorrow (Friday) morning.

It's been a long, exhausting week, but this game is a wonderful distraction and look forward to getting back into it.

Thanks much,
Keith

P.S. @Talby, I like your anecdote, and particularly like the acronym PICNIK :-)

If it wasn't recounted from actual experiences, I might find it even more humorous. But alas, Users are about 80-85% of a Systems Administer's pain.

Best,
TB

""Do any of you recall a merchant who entered the warehouse with the ship's captain?"

I, personally, don't recall. Would some sort of Attribute/Skill roll be appropriate for the character? If so, which?

Best,
TB

DM wrote:

""Do any of you recall a merchant who entered the warehouse with the ship's captain?"

I, personally, don't recall. Would some sort of Attribute/Skill roll be appropriate for the character? If so, which?

Best,
TB

I was wondering the same thing.

That's one of the (many) things I'm trying to learn about as we play.

"I was wondering the same thing.

And I posted a Perception Check just for the heck of it.
I guess it'd be a "post facto" perception check??

That's one of the (many) things I'm trying to learn about as we play."

I am not sure you can learn how to play. As they say, there is no right way to play. Some DMs might call for a Perception Check, some might not relying on Player recollection, and some might take it if the Player thinks it is appropriate. I, for example, am an ask for it DM. If there is a chance the Character might be able to do something the Player can not I will ask. I can be negotiated with, but that's usually a case-by-case basis.

So, viva-la perceptions....

Now, repeat after me... "BAR FIGHT!"

Best,
TB

Now, repeat after me... "BAR FIGHT!"

Trapper does look a bit like John Belushi :-)

I generally allow characters to remember things on a straightforward intelligence check. When Trapper rolled for perception check it occurred to me that he could have noticed something at the time that didn't register as important until he tried to remember it so I went along with it.

I generally allow characters to remember things on a straightforward intelligence check. When Trapper rolled for perception check it occurred to me that he could have noticed something at the time that didn't register as important until he tried to remember it so I went along with it.

This is a good example of my learning curve ... skill checks are obviously much like saving throws.

When I DM a game, we don't use nearly as many dice rolls ... and, quite honestly, we've probably meta-gamed more than you're supposed to.

But I think I'm getting the hang of this ... and it's fun!

I don't use that many dice rolls either. I tend to wait until the gm asks for them and occasionally throw them in when I think the gm might want one. In pathfinder players sink points into their skills, so many pathfinder players tend to like to roll skill checks so that they feel like that stuff on their character sheet is doing something useful. I don't worry about it as much and just like to roll checks when it's really important. Die rolls sometimes get in the way of telling the story.

"If I cast Detect Magic, can I find out that Talby is a Wizard? lol "I'll tell you what, you can all keep the gold, and I'll keep the potions, I am the only Wizard here after all. But I don't know what we have here, my spells can only detect magic, not identify it." Something just isn't right about that 'Fighter'"

Thought you also could possibly identify with a Knowledge: Arcane, or I have allowed it before...

TB

How does a Diplomacy Check differ from a Charisma Check?

I realize Diplomacy is a Skill, but what does that give you that Charisma does not?

Based on Maya's gameplay ...

Maya sees Gozer's anger starting to boil over.

Diplomacy if applicable: 1d20+2

Keith, I don't understand either. Why have four(Charisma, Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate) talk based skills/abilities? Even when running a D20 game, I tell the players to roll 1d20 under their ability score for an ability check. Why change something that already works good for you?

It is only a charisma check if you don't have any ranks in diplomacy. I realized I had 1 rank in diplomacy. That plus my +1 Cha bonus gives +2 to diplomacy checks. If I didn't have any ranks in diplomacy I would only have been adding +1 to my check for my CHA bonus. Remember each skill has a linked attribute and you add the attribute bonus plus your skill ranks. If you don't have any ranks in the skill you default to the attribute bonus. I might have made a Cha check earlier, but that was because I didn't think Diplomacy would have applied to what I was trying to do (ie. I was trying to taunt an ogre, which is a little different than trying to negotiate with one).

I am now curious about DC values for these checks.
I'll have to dig out my Core Rulebook when I get home ... I need to do some weightlifting anyway :-)

In one sense I get it: You have skills that enhance your basic stats.
But using these, especially with another PC, seems awkward, and seems like it might take away some of the role playing.

But I'm not trying to be a naysayer.
I'm very impressed by this game, and I'm learning a lot quickly!

I am now curious about DC values for these checks.

I'll have to dig out my Core Rulebook when I get home ... I need to do some weightlifting anyway :-)

In one sense I get it: You have skills that enhance your basic stats.
But using these, especially with another PC, seems awkward, and seems like it might take away some of the role playing.

But I'm not trying to be a naysayer.
I'm very impressed by this game, and I'm learning a lot quickly!

Accent mine.

Hence why I dislike skill usage against other player's characters and NPCs in general. I understand the need for 'social' skills, especially vs NPC when that NPC doesn't have a specific 'role' to play. IE, he isn't the hateful/racist elf hating bar tender, for example.

I also dislike PvP more than trying to manipulate my character with a skill check... =/ YMMV though.

TB

"But why are we rolling for initiative? Gozer punched me and I offered to buy him a drink, where is the fight?"

But since it was a 'conflicted' action, whether an actual 'fight', you could have Roleplayed that you step back from his advance rather than be hit since you have a much higher Initiative advantage over the big brute.

Or I would think.

You could also wish to take the hit, though suffer the HP damage, and roleplay as you did, but we now have a character that is -6 HPs to consider (you would have 1 (ONE) Hitpoint).

TB

GM's descretion but I think Gozer would have gotten the surprise action that is why he got the hit in. Not that I want the hit or anything. Just RP'ing the character.

The problem is that Gozer has entered rage because of the one thing he told you not to do and that was use magic that would be directed towards him. Using the SA to pull the dagger to you became a threat to Gozer and add that to the fact that he is already (because it is bred into him) dealthy distrustful of magic he has enetered rage. Gozer when he eneters rage is almost like a beserker. Just some ooc info.

The reason he didn't attack in the square if you were curious was because one he was in combat and focused on the ogre and two it wasn't aimed at him.

When I GM I generally don't have characters make social skill checks against other PCs, though there are certain exceptions. I prefer to just rp it out. However, I knew that Gozer was going berserk so I through in a skill check to be on the safe side. Whether the GM pays attention to it or makes use of it is up to him. It's just there for his reference in case, but I figured that since in a sense Gozer was not acting on his own accord that he'd almost assumed an NPC sort of status due to his rage, and that such rolls might be needed.

I do suggest GM that if you do want initiatives that you just roll them for everyone and order them instead of waiting for each player to post an initiative roll. Waiting for each player to roll their own initiative seems like it will slow things down quite a bit, especially if it is for something quick- like this little scuffle should be (in theory).

Using the SA to pull the dagger to you

Could I ask a favor:

I completely missed the meaning of "Hand of Apprentice" when I first read the post, so Trapper's action afterward was out of whack with the event.

Thanks much,
Keith

Regarding using Social Skills against other PCs

Normally I don't have players roll to convince their party members to act in a certain way unless there is a reason that in character a PC wouldn't agree to do something.

An example of this would be just the other week in my Saturday night game. Our party had just come off an encounter with ghosts that left two members dead, two afflicted with paranoia, and one dominated by an evil sword (you might say we had a Call of Cthulhu ending to a Pathfinder game).

So, being one of those who lost a character, I came into the game with a new character whose task was to get all the survivors back together again. I had to convince the paranoid characters to come with us and get cured, and the dominated character to fight the sword's influence. Their players were willing to do all this, but to keep in character they had to be suspicious of us. It took a number of Diplomacy and Bluff checks (opposed by their Sense Motive rolls) before we got the whole thing straightened out.

The point is this: normally your character can discuss things with the other characters with no need for Diplomacy, etc. But if you think there is a compelling role-playing reason that your character needs to be convinced of a course of action then we can do a skill check or opposed roll.

And just to be clear how I'm seeing these skills work:

If Maya says, "Gozer, there's no need for a fight. It will only cause trouble with the Watch." She's being sincere, so if Varrian decides that Gozer isn't going to accept that at face value, Maya can make a check against some arbitrary DC I come up with to convince him of her sincerity and calm him down a bit.

In the current incident Gozer is being confronted by three people ready to defend Tamilius, and he's also got Tamilius trying to laugh off the incident.

Varrian can decide this is enough for Gozer, he can end his rage and return to his seat. If he thinks it would take an act of will for Gozer to do so, we'll have some rolling of dice. If he thinks, "No way! Gozer smash!", then we have a fight on our hands.

What happens next depends on Gozer.

Finally, Gozer got a surprise punch in. I went to initiative because some quick actions were going to happen and I wanted to keep it straight.

I believe in this instance more than anything else Gozer being faced with three people in his way with his ire toward someone else and the fact that he was pushed into this by magic he would normally make another will save to try and break his rage, but I believe that he was so caught off guard by the laugh and the offer of ale, he will just fall back into his seat. Thanks for all of the clarification.

Had Tam attacked back or continued to use magic it would be different. Thanks everyone for rp'ing along. Love the character development.

I hope that seemed acceptable for his character. Thanks guys! :-)

I like Gozer's character.
It's been a LONG time since I've seen a barbarian in an RPG.
First appeared in "The Dragon" # 3 in 1976.
It's one of the issues I'm trying to add to my collection.

I like to pull out my old Dragons from time to time. One thing I'll never forgive Wizards/Hasbro for is killing "Dungeon" and "Dragon" magazines. Even when I wasn't playing the game regularly, I'd still by them down at the bookstore and read them through.

I like to pull out my old Dragons from time to time. One thing I'll never forgive Wizards/Hasbro for is killing "Dungeon" and "Dragon" magazines. Even when I wasn't playing the game regularly, I'd still by them down at the bookstore and read them through.

I know. I do the same thing.

From Gameplay:

"These hidden rolls are for Tippo, right?"

Mine was my Perception roll and comments on march order, though NOT really private (ie just for Tippo) I personally used them because I like the spoilers - as they seem to tidy up the posts a bit.

I will be sure to use:
"spoiler=ALL" or "spoiler=DM" in the future for clarity.

Good point Trapper. It was a bit confusing.

Best,
The Bane

From Gameplay:

"I like putting those sorts of rolls as a spoiler, then I don't ruining it for myself by seeing how well (or not well more likely) I did on a roll like perception, where it's more important that the DM see the result than me."

Hey! That is a great idea! I hadn't thought of that! (Keeping the results secret from myself) I like it. I just have to remember to ID the Spoilers though.... Thanks!

The Bane

Sorry for not posting. Today was "let's fire a few more people" day at work (fortunately not me) but it hasn't been a happy time. I'll post later tonight.

Sorry for not posting. Today was "let's fire a few more people" day at work (fortunately not me) but it hasn't been a happy time. I'll post later tonight.

Days like that are insanely stressful.

How do you create an additional alias?
Does it have to be associated with a campaign or something?
I was thinking I'd roll up another character just for fun and practice (not for our campaign).

just do it the same way you did Trapper. Go into My account and create new alias.

No it doesn't have to be associated with a campaign you can make as many as you like I guess.

Be warned that Aliases cannot be deleted unless you email Paizo even then they may not allow it.

just do it the same way you did Trapper. Go into My account and create new alias.

No it doesn't have to be associated with a campaign you can make as many as you like I guess.

Be warned that Aliases cannot be deleted unless you email Paizo even then they may not allow it.

I can't find the "create alias" option.

That's why I was wondering if there had to be a campaign.

I must be missing something obvious.

Ok erm weird :P

Firstly Click on My Account at the top of the page on the right hand side of sign out. It should Ask you to Sign In

Then scroll down the page slightly and you should see Message Board Alias at the bottom of this tab it should say Create New Message Board Alias.

Then thats it just fill in your name and choose your picture.

Hopefully that should do ya if not it must be something strange happening but that works for me :D

Ok erm weird :P

Firstly Click on My Account at the top of the page on the right hand side of sign out. It should Ask you to Sign In

Then scroll down the page slightly and you should see Message Board Alias at the bottom of this tab it should say Create New Message Board Alias.

Then thats it just fill in your name and choose your picture.

Hopefully that should do ya if not it must be something strange happening but that works for me :D

That solved the problem.

Thanks much ...

No problem I was stuck on that for days when I was trying to make my Alias ;)

Am I missing something, or are we having a, hopefully, temporary lull?

Best,
TB

I suspect we're in a temporary lull.
Tippo probably needs time to develop the next phase of the campaign.

Well she said it was a hectic time at work the other day so it is probably something to do with that. Hopefully she is all right :)

Tippo keep us posted on the status of this campaign. If DMing is an issue, I'm plenty used to DMing, so I would volunteer to take over (as opposed to just letting the game die before it has really started). I'd prefer to a be player since I rarely get to be one, but if there is nothing to play... Then I'm cool with DMing. The players seem pretty eager, which is nice, so I'd hate to see them loose interest due to a lull in dm postings.

P.H: I would also be willing to GM the game. If you would prefer to play. Plus we are on Maya's goblin hunt so it would be a shame for you to lose that to an NPC :P

Yeah I am on vacation until Monday and after tomorrow I may not be able to post until then. But I will try. I hope it is just a lull but if so it is working out for me right now. I do not get a lot of access to the internet. But I am still very interested in the game! :-)

First and foremost, I hope everything is okay with Tippo.

If she cannot continue DM'ing, I do hope we can continue on as a group.
I'm learning a lot about PFR and Golarian.

And, it seems like we all have a pretty good rapport.

Hi guys,

Sorry about the silence. It has been a long depressing few days - people I've worked with for over a decade are being laid off at work. I'm still employed but probably because I do such an obscure job there aren't too many around who can do it.

I'm sorry to say I'll have to take up the offer for someone else to take over this game. I can't keep my mind on it. Belethor and Maya both have offered to take over, so I'll hand it over to either of you.

Tippo