The World of Eafphqu: Team "good." (Inactive)

Game Master Hoary and Wizened

Well *someone* will need to talk/break you all out of jail after Hackian diplomacy is used

Friend Hack, you speak mighty words, yet they are so powerful that not everyone can hear them.

Lady Luna, it is clear that Elven diplomacy translates poorly in the Common tongue.

Lol..."Hackian Diplomacy". I love that!

Lol..."Hackian Diplomacy". I love that!

Yes! That was hilarious!!!

Personal note: Nothing to do with the game.

This weather we are having is seriously starting to damage my calm. April 18th, and we are having raining ice & snow? Had to clean the snow & ice off of my car twice yesterday alone & going to have to scrape ice off my windows again this morning?!?!? AND there's a chance we may have more of this in a week and a half? And I am still dumbfounded that it is frequently colder here than it is in Alaska?!?!? (I'm in northern Illinois, how is it that we get colder than Alaska?!?!?)

Sorry, just venting. Thanks for your patience.

Saturday and Sunday nights we (Toronto) had an ice storm that cut power to about 40,000 households. And the snow it left is still on the ground.

So, I partly share your vent. But I also am partly thinking "Suck it up" :-) :-).

We had snow storms a couple of weeks ago. Now the temperature is 31 degrees.

That reminds me...

(1) Going on a road trip with the family for next four days. If my posting gets sporadic, that is why. Worst comes to worst, Lindaer is at the temple. ;)

(2) I really liked the idea of Lindaer summoning a holy weapon. I know that I can’t multiclass, so is there any other way to get it? A spell perhaps? Maybe something I can get with the Feat Magical Initiate?

Lindaer, I would be perfectly happy to discuss replacing one of your Oath spells (Bane, and Hunter's Mark are the two you get when taking your Oath of Vengeance at 3rd level) with a modified version of the Cleric spell Spiritual Weapon. We could simply modify the range of the spell to "personal." Meaning you summon the weapon to hand, and keep all other language the same? Maybe when you reached fifth level we could then adjust the spell and change the range back to 60' under the narrative guise that Lindaer had cast the spell so much that he could now manipulate the weapon even at a distance???

Let me know your thoughts on that. :)

Just wanted to let everyone know that the big map of Eafphqu on the front page of the Google Site has just been updated with roads and several other settlements. I've got a lot of work to do populating all those new settlements... :)

Only the famous ones. You can make Generic Towns 1, 2 and 3 and simply slap the right name on when we arrive.

Only the famous ones. You can make Generic Towns 1, 2 and 3 and simply slap the right name on when we arrive.

Oh I named all the important settlements already. The settlements that are on the way to somewhere, or are somewhere themselves. :) Those are the cities and towns I need to have, at the very least, a power structure in place for. Populating them isn't really difficult. I just have Donjon roll me up some NPCs, and tweak a few things as needed, and then drop them in a tab of a Google Sheet that bears the name of the settlement. It's not hard work, just tedious. Also, it's not work I mind doing, even less so when there's little if anything to do at work. :D

No, Luna, there is no take 20 or 10 in 5e. Everything is rolled, with the exception of Passive Perception.

This came up in another game recently, and was something I hadn't noticed before. There is actually a passive everything, not just perception. There's even a quick rule on how to apply advantage and disadvantage to passive scores:

My understanding of the application of that specific language was that for certain things the DM wouldn't call for a roll, because it could end in silly results. Like if a character wants to pick up something heavy, instead of having everybody roll and watching as the feeble sorcerer out-rolls the mighty fighter, it's just assumed that the Fighter, with proficiency in Athletics, successfully accomplishes the task. For me, the point of explaining that any skill could have a passive score associated with it, was to actually mechanically explain why a DM might not ever call for rolls in certain situations. In fact, with my own 5e PbP and tabletop games as anecdotal evidence, I'd say that dice are rolled A LOT less in 5e than in almost any previous version of D&D, except maybe Blue and Red Box. Again, your mileage may vary. As far as skill rolls go at our tabletop game, the vast majority are contests. Otherwise, in most situations, a character that has Expertise, or at the very least proficiency, in a skill will automatically succeed on anything with an Easy or Very Easy DC. I've never actually done the math and had a passive score written on Character sheets (I suppose I could). In any case where a DC would be 15 or more, I have a character roll. Unless failure has no consequence and continued effort would lead to eventual success, then I just narrate the continued attempts and final success.

In the situation in question, I would never have even called for a Perception roll. Since Luna was trying to gather information through socializing. In my head perception had nothing to do with it. I might call for a perception check if she was trying to overhear a whispered conversation across the room, otherwise she could have just as easily accomplished what she did without a roll. All of the information she picked up could have/would have been easily available after just spending time mingling in the common room. Incidentally, I have also noticed that people who "came to the game" with 3.5 or Pathfinder as their system of entrance have a propensity to roll dice unasked for in situations where I, as the DM, would never even call for a roll.

Yep, I've never used any passives besides perception. Passive investigation is mentioned a lot in published adventures and AL stuff though.

Yep, I've never used any passives besides perception. Passive investigation is mentioned a lot in published adventures and AL stuff though.

Okay, well that just throws me for a loop. Of all the skills I would think Investigation would be the last one to use a passive score for? I mean, I understand Perception (you can notice something without really actively looking), or even Athletics (if you are practiced at doing strenuous activity, most strenuous activity is just a matter of focused effort), but investigation... How do you "passively" investigate something... That doesn't make any sense to me...

Edit: Answered my own question, lifting something heavy isn't passive either. I suppose someone who's entire lifestyle revolves around unmasking mysteries through investigation would be good at investigation without having to really "try." Hmmmm... interesting...

I tend to agree with you GM MendedWall. I think that is why it is left open to GM interpretation, as it should be.

I'm back. :)

Sorry that I've fallen behind, I'll read the gameplay thread and catchup

Passives aren't necessarily about doing something without paying attention. It could be to represent doing something repetitively, like taking 10 from 3.5/PF.

Passive investigation example would be for walking down a hall noticing secret doors. Yeah, you could roll every 5 ft square...or just use passive investigation. It doesn't mean you aren't actively deducing stuff...just that you are keeping trying over and over.

Another example, passive dex thieve's tools to open a lock instead of rolling a bunch...or ditto for using investigation to figure out how a trap mechanism works (wish I had realized this one before running Tamoachan).

Mended, on the thought of passive investigation, I had one thought that may help, (I am NOT an expert by ANY MEANS - Duh!!! Obviously!) but, I thought of Sherlock Holmes. While he is a fictitious character, somebody with those kind of abilities or talents would naturally notice a WHOLE LOT more than others without even trying, thus = passive investigation, perhaps? I don't know, just my 2 coppers.

While he is a fictitious character...

Side note, Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, not a fictitious one. The difference between the two terms is that while neither describes something that is true or that really exists (other than as a fiction), something fictional is intended to be seen as such, whereas something that is fictitious is meant to be seen as fact.

The way I like to think about it is that the magic found in d&d books is fictional. The magic found in various "holy" books is fictitious.

I tend to see Passive Insight mentioned a lot.

When players ask roll. When the DM wants to give info they are not asking for. Passive.

When players ask roll. When the DM wants to give info they are not asking for. Passive.

Isn't that the literal definition of GM fiat...? Dungeons and Dragons? I tell you stuff that your character knows and sees, then you tell me what you want your character to do, I tell you if they did it or not, or, if there's a chance for failure, you roll the dice, and they decide if your character succeeds or not...

Yep

Psalm Nackle wrote:

When players ask roll. When the DM wants to give info they are not asking for. Passive.

Isn't that the literal definition of GM fiat...? Dungeons and Dragons? I tell you stuff that your character knows and sees, then you tell me what you want your character to do, I tell you if they did it or not, or, if there's a chance for failure, you roll the dice, and they decide if your character succeeds or not...

In a perfect world sure. But . . . . what about when you have a new player who is still learning the ropes and doesn't understand the tropes. Sure he gets that his Rogue use a secret thieves language but not necessarily where he can cultivate relationships that might require such secret language. He is along for the ride with the party on a shopping trip but they stop by the general store/pawn shop run by a seed half-orc. He doesn't think to insight check somethings with the seed half-orc. So the DM uses a passive check. The adventure moves on whether he meets the DC or not. But the player might meet the DC and you add some flava. "You get the impression that the half-orc is hiding somethings but he also seems eager about something. Like he wants to ask you about something but he eyes the more respectable lawful party members suspiciously." Now your thief has a cool thread to pull on. They can drop into a casual conversation and the thief learns that the half-orc caught a glimpse of the rogue's tools and wondered if he might want a job or keep your eyes out for this or that or whatever.

Its a way to give information that still fits the character. Sure someone in the party needs to have a clue or they will flounder around the issue dithering. Use a relevant passive skill to give the most likely character the info.

Good point Psalm. Good point. I'll keep that in mind for the future. Thanks for the keen insight. :)

Insight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Anybody know if there is a way to eliminate a profile? I emailed Paizo, but they have not replied!

As in, a character one? Nope, not once you've posted with it.

If you've posted with it less than 10 times, you can change the name and avatar, essentially recycling it into a new alias.

Yeah, no. I would like to get rid of the 'Bella' profile somehow, but so far it does not seem possible.

I am VERY DISAPPOINTED that Paizo has not even bothered to reply to my email though. They seem to be slacking in the area of customer service.

I see. Think of it this way: If you delete an alias with 82 posts, who posted those posts? Do you want them deleted as well? They have good reasons for not allowing that.

I feel like they missed an opportunity. All posts by a deleted account could be from 'A Wizard Did It.'

They could leave the posts, while deleting it from your account. So it just means no more posts can be made.

In vague fairness to Paizo, it is pretty obvious that
1) there system is very antiquated and held together with spit, bailing wire and electronic duct tape
2) They have less people working on it than it really needs
3) Those who are working on it are absolutely swamped by work.

I think they're running as hard as they can just to keep the various hamster wheels spinning. They have almost no time for new features

All to true!

Loved that post Boddy! Hahahahaha! However, sadly true from what I hear.

Posting this to all my games: Sorry for the lack of posting. For the second time this year, I got the flu, and the internet is out at my house right now (where it has been for the last two days). It should hopefully be resolved by Monday, and if not I'm going to switch ISPs. Please feel free to bot me until I am back up and running, and if I am running your game, I haven't forgotten about you!

Is anyone already doing a treasure tracker excel sheet? I can set one up if not.

Dwarven Chest

Is anyone already doing a treasure tracker excel sheet? I can set one up if not.

Dwarven Chest

Thanks for doing that Gomdebo! :)

Is anyone already doing a treasure tracker excel sheet? I can set one up if not.

Dwarven Chest

Thanks Gomdebo! Great thinking! :-D

I took the liberty of adding the date of the original post to it just as another way of helping keep track of things.

"If our quarry caught sight or wind of us following, this'd be a hell of a place to spring an ambush." Hack looks around. "Guys? Where'd everybody go?"

Lol...right! I do not think I will stealth, just to appear as the only target for now.

“Who is that northerner in the open? He must be the enemy. Everyone, Attack!”

Jun is hangin' out with me. Just another song for the sagas...lol.

Clearly the dice algorithm decided that if anyone was ambushing anyone it would be the PCs, not the bad guys... :P

Now I have to do the whole DMing thing... :( DMG on pg. 110 says:

Everything within an area of heavy rain or heavy snowfall is lightly obscured, and creatures in the area have disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight. Heavy rain also extinguishes open flames and imposes disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

Which means that all those people that rolled such high perception checks actually have to roll again and take the lower of the two rolls... :( I'm going to be doing that here in the Discussion thread because I need the rolls moving forward in order to adjudicate what's going to follow. For the bad guys I'm just going to be using Passive scores, subtracting five for the disadvantage.

All right, now that I've got those numbers I can get things going. Looks like Lindaer is our best "looker" ended up with an 18 even with disadvantage! :)

I will just add mine here.

Perception disad: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Oops, sorry I forgot you there Shenkt! I think partially I left you out because I was already imagining your position, set back on the hill, and knew you wouldn't be able to see much in the valley anyway... :)

Np

"We're having a grand ole party over here in the bushes! Come and join us! Especially you orcs behind the trees over there!"

Just having some silly - zzz's needed - fun. ;-)