Valgrim will take the Vorpal Greataxe and Oathbow.
Friar will also take the Sunblade. I don't think you have to be proficient to use sunlight power.
Merry Christmas and Happy Age of Worms to all!
Come this Friday I will be headed out of town again and will not be until the 11th. I don't expect to have much in the way of internet access during this time. Hope to have this encounter wrapped up by Friday but we'll see.
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I am back from the beautiful frozen geothermal supervolcano that is Yellowstone. Survived -29 degree temperatures and driving through a windstorm in Wyoming and Colorado that litearally flipped and wrecked 18 semi-big-rigs :) I will post a little bit later today as soon as I get all my ducks in a row.
Never been...sounds like fun!
Ok, went down the rabbit hole on that one a bit. I think the following from an online discussion catches the bulk of the problem and solves it. It is from 3rd edition but I think it translates. With the "You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action" line I believe that Vulras would not currently be threatening the squares around him and thus the sneak attack and flank would not apply. I'll take off the sneak attack damage. Not a big deal at this point but worth having defined as it may come up again.
The basic question comes down to whether an AoO is an action or not and whether the condition of daze prevents even that.
1) "Action" in the core rules is a definitive game mechanic. It is fairly well defined in multiple locations as what your character can do on his turn, not outside of his turn.
2) "An attack of opportunity is a free melee attack that does not use up any of your actions".
3) Although a melee attack is defined in the Standard Action section, it can be used during a Full Round attack action or it can be used during an AoO. So, it is not solely a standard action.
4) "These attack forms substitute for a melee attack, not an action. As melee attacks, they can be used once in an attack or charge action, one or more times in a full attack action, or even as an attack of opportunity." There is a definitive difference called out between actions (which occurs on a characters turn) and melee attacks in several places.
5) "A dazed subject is not stunned, so attackers get no special advantage against it." This implies that an attacker could not get the special advantage of not being threatened by the dazed character.
All of these seem to indicate that it can be done, but they do not outright state it.
6) "You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your action."
However, I think number 6 here is the one that indirectly prevents it as a rule.
You cannot make a melee attack on your action, hence, you do not threaten the squares around you on your action. If you do not threaten them during your turn, how can you threaten them when it is not your turn?
So, my conclusion is that an AoO is NOT an action.
However, you can only threaten squares around you if you can make a melee attack into them, especially on your action. Being dazed is no different than if you had a missile weapon out, or no weapon at all (without the unarmed attack ability) because you do not threaten.
You only threaten around you if you have a melee weapon and you are capable of performing a melee attack on your next action (i.e. some condition does not prevent it).
Hence, the Confusion spell would also prevent AoOs because you do not yet know if you can perform a melee attack on your next turn.
Very detailed and logical. I concur. Thanks for spending the time..
Hold the phone, "Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless)" means just spells of the "effect" variety doesn't it? Carry on. Nothing to see here :)
Another late night of calculus....I'll try and post soon.
Part of my problem is that the file I found for this final chapter (different source than DM Blood's files I used for the previous three chapters) seems to be going from some pretty dated material. I am trying to update it with limited success but this encounter is kind of a hybrid of 3.5 material and Pathfinder. The writeup I have is for 3.5 but I have updated it as much as I can to Pathfinder for some of the abilities. Now the vampires you just ran into were purely Pathfinder, so it is a bit of hit and miss with this file but I think most of the material is in line with Pathfinder.
FYI, been studying for my physics exam all weekend. As soon as I get finished with it tomorrow afternoon, I will post :)
Next week is finals week, so my posting will be very slow until they are finished. Hoping to hear from Bublaka but I imagine he is in the same boat.
Sorry, all, I have just had one of those weeks. I won't bore you with details - I'm tired of hearing myself complain about it, anyway.
In the USA, it is Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to any of you that have achieved that distinction and to the men in your life that have earned it, as well.
Peace.
Wow, so I know it is a tough fight but you guys have a ton of options. The fatalism is depressing. You have been literally breezing through things up to this point in this chapter (sure the Crimson Deaths stuck around for a bit but only ever really threatened Exousia). What exactly is it you want? If you would like helpful suggestions I can offer some. This is supposed to be epic and challenging but not a tpk.
P.S. Not saying that shutting down the machine is a bad idea, as it is a serious problem, but it make take awhile if you just start randomly throwing switches unless you get lucky.
I really don't see what there is to be all happy about. You do 100 points of damage a round to us on DC 34 saves (incredibly high), which we have been lucky to be making - my character is almost out of healing - one more mass heal and a miracle and a couple of heal spells for the day and that's it. We have to do 800 points of damage to these creatures to kill just one of them. Valgrim can do full damage with a dagger but he still needs to hit 8-9 times to kill one of them, while he gets slammed by vampiric death strikes that hit his touch AC (you only miss on a 1). My channels and spells are useless with +25 or +26 Will saves so half damage is useless. On top of that if they are really in trouble, the ghosts can just run into the font of negative energy and heal 100 hps per round. I like challenges like anyone else but this CR is way out of wack in the enemies' favor. And this is after we wasted 70% of our buffs (including Death Ward, which would have helped a lot here) on a Dragotha fight that had no purpose to the campaign and ended up with the bad guy fleeing. NPCs gave us no help - no rest - no Death Ward scrolls - just 3 Wish scrolls, which are overrated. And what do you want us to do? Teleport away and come back another time? Yeah, so more of our one-time buffs disappear like FoM or Barkskin? And this is not even the main fight.....Dragotha is out there and the vampiric silver dragon lady and who knows how many more undead lieutenants and we're supposed to face them with what? A wand of critical wounds? This battle is severely killing our spells, even if we survive. Alie is down to what - 10 decent spells for the day? As far as the campaign has been going, we have done well because of Alie's TK charge and Valgrim's full attack with his falchion and his sick rolls. If you have not been able to tell, in all the last 3-4 battles, Bubba and I have been spectators, doing nothing but conserving spells and healing magic because I do not want to waste them on crimson deaths or other inane battles. Those are my thoughts.
I'm not proud, I am open to suggestions. I'm not so fatalistic about this fight, but I will accept advice that helps me play like a 20th-level bard. Obviously, I accept direction from everyone else in the game, I am certainly open to it from the DM.
Bubba, can you cast your shadowbard to inspire courage while you continue to countersong? My square is not completely engulfed by sphere of silence so I should be able to hear you. The additional +4 hit and damage would help.
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The fights might have been a bit easier, if I were a bit better at this high level play thing. It's obvious I'm a newbie at this level. If not for helpful suggestions from the rest of you, I don't know if I could have done anything, lol.
I am definitely worried about what's to come, though. I'm pretty spelled out and it sounds like we've got a couple more heavy hitters ahead!
You're doing fine, Alie. Yes, everything Friar said was true, but we're not dead yet. An idea is formulating in my mind and you are the key, just trying to see how to put it into action. For now, I need Friar or Exousia to dispel the ghost out of you.
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The following is said in a helpful way and addresses some of Ferez's concerns, but also some of yours as well...
Are you thinking you are going to get to the end of this chapter without resting? I figured you were just making use of your buff spells while they lasted and then would return and rest...which you were offered and was even suggested to do. The help you are given by the NPC's is a safe place to rest and they are casting an epic spell to keep the entire city dimensionally locked and gave you the piece of the rod back. Did you expect more from them? As far as the death wards go...yeah, I figured the town was somewhat tapped because of everything going on behind the scenes (these are desperate times and everyone is pulling out all the stops) and if you really wanted it you could use one of those aforementioned wish scrolls to give it to the entire party as a mass version. It is wish. Wishes give you the choice of anything in the book just about. Or rest, rememorize and cast it yourselves. You can retreat to a safe distance, possibly luring the badguys away from the horrible font of healing. You could use you knowledge(Religion) to determine what just happened to Alie. Your upset about Dragotha? You basically almost one shotted him each round so after a couple of attempts to do something, failing, and barely staying alive he fled (which it says he does if that happens). So, no I don't think you wasted anything, it enabled you to get his hoard without suffering any loss yourselves and put the fear into him. Have you looked at how tough you are, and how much damage you dish out? Lol, just think about that a second, you were specators and basically walked through everything. Though, sunbursting the heck out of all the liches wasn't a sideline action and quite effective - kudos. I left Valgrim with his crazy mythic damage (and made all of you mythic) because I believe you all should be epic at this point, your going to fight a god (and if a few critters get completely mulched along the way because of it...than awesome!). You have Bublaka to negate the ghosts suggestion ability and they are close to being out of vampiric touches. The two nightwings that are left are not doing a whole heck of alot useful. This adventure path is notoriously one of the most deadly and crazy. In my opinion you have all done exceptionally well so far, I admire your chutzpah in trying to take the whole chapter on in one shot, but that is an incredibly tall order (I don't think any of the later chapters are possible in one shot without resting). Manzorian said his epic spell would last for a week and thought you had a little leeway timewise before Kyuss had enough strength to enter the world. Running when you get ambushed is always an option if things get too far gone, Valgrim has at least taken care of one of the ghosts for now and coming back better prepared could be good.
Valgrim, always great for a good idea. Thanks.
Alie, you have been doing fantastic and more than a few things have turned to dust because of you. I know it is tough, but you can see that we all make mistakes and are supporting each other through it.
Okay, I have more suggestions, but this is enough for one post. Good to see you all here :)
EDIT: Valgrim: One suggestion I was thinking of, and you are clearly on the same track, is...Exousia's aura acts like a protection from evil circle, which suppresses mental control. Doesn't expel the ghost but gives Alie control again. All you need is Ferez or, more likely, Bublaka to tell Exousia what happened to her. They both can easily make the Knowledge(Regilion) rolls and Bublaka had a front row seat to what just happened to her. Exousia is well aware of what her aura is capable of.
[SLAPS HEAD] Now I feel completely foolish, especially these past months. LOL...I really thought we were expected to finish this last chapter without rest. End of the world kind of thing! [SLINKS QUIETLY INTO THE CORNER]
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Honestly I thought we were expected to finish in one run too. I could have sworn the last time we met one of the good guys that sent us here, they said it had to be done right now as in today.
Well, looking back to early December 2016 when we had our discussions, there's nothing about being on a clock other than over a week or so, so I don't know where I got that.
Ah, that makes sense, sorry if I gave that impression. That was not my intention. It's all good, you guys got this one way or the other :)
As of next Tuesday I will be on vacation and unable to post for two weeks. Going on an extended trip that will end with me at Gencon. Are any of you going to the con's 50th anniversary? After that I immediately launch into a tough college semester. Not sure when I'll be ready to pick this up again.
I haven't had a break really all week. I really don't see myself being able to run this any further while I have this much going on with school and RL. Going to try and wrap up this encounter for you but perhaps someone else might be willing to pick this up from here and run the last 2/3rds of the final chapter. Sorry guys but it has been crazy and I just think it is going to get crazier, I was really hoping on making to the end.
We understand, TWTW. High level combat is extremely time consuming and I understand RL issues. Soooo close....lol.
Most definitely...understand completely GM.
You know where I stand, TWTW. Thank you for bringing us so far in a game that wasn't yours to begin with. I'm still impressed that you have done all of this while taking the kind of coursework you have been dealing with. Kudos and thanks again.
Hey all, I've been a frequent lurker on your thread and it would be a shame for it to end so close to the finale. I've sent your GM a PM to see if he would mind if I took the game over but have received no response since Monday. What do you guys think? I'm currently DMing a 14th level AoW game...I really love the AP. Would you like to continue with me as a GM? Is that something that appeals to you or not? Let me know. If not, I understand.
*Peeks his head up*...I am intrigued and interested.
Our DM's availability is the reason he must step aside. It surprised me not at all if he hasn't been on the boards since his last post.
I'm willing to entertain a new hand at the helm.
Works for me! I am in DL's AoW game so I can vouch for his GM skills.
Thanks all for the opportunity. I believe I have to contact the administrator to give me privileges with the game.
Please keep it going. I want to see how it finally turns out!
Thanks all for the words of understanding and support, it is greatly appreciated. Another week under my belt, but yeah, almost no time to be on. I will be handing the reigns over to Death-Lok (Thank you for taking over!) I'll send you a PM Death-Lok.
Thanks GM. I look forward to the PM and any assistance you could provide. I will be also reviewing the mythic rules as I believe the mythic feats (power attack and improved crit especially) are broken. I am not just focusing on Valgrim but 400+ damage per round seems crazy.
Great news indeed.
Black Tom! Vug! So cool to know you two are still around! Have you been lurking?
Great news indeed.
Great to see you on the boards, BT!!
Also, DL, I have no issue with those feats either. I agree that they are broken as well so whatever suggestions you have will be fine.
Black Tom! Vug! So cool to know you two are still around! Have you been lurking?
I played in this game for 5 years, I might as well see it through to the end!
High-level play still doesn't seem like it's my cup of tea, though.
Been lurking as well.
Yes, I've been hanging around to watch TWTW's stellar performance (very grateful to see the game go on), and of course I want to see how it ends. Great to see all of you guys btw. Getting to know you all is what I take away from my years of online gaming, and that's something that I treasure. *goes back to lurking*
Well, great to see you all! I hope RL is treating each of you well.
@Vug: High-level play is not my thing, either. I'm just trying to stay on the ride long enough to reach the station. Life has not been conducive to a lot of strategy, either, so I'm largely taking cues from the experts.
The Mythic rules are okay, we will just need to decide on the path abilities and feats on a case by case basis. Here are my comments:
Alie: Your Mythic selections are fine.
Bublaka and Friar: Please update your character profiles to reflect your path, abilities, and feat.
Valgrim: Mythic power attack is limited to following benefit only - You can expend one use of mythic power when you activate Power Attack to ignore the penalties on melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks for 1 minute.
Mythic Improved Critical is out. Feel free to select different feats and/or abilities.
Thanks all.