have fun
Hmm - like was for the rescue going better than expected. Just realised it looked a bit weird.
I'm honestly impressed how well it worked. I felt we needed to try, but I was gearing up ooc for something to go terribly wrong at some stage.
It still could
Don't jinx it. And we don't know their success yet.
Come on Aakif! I've got 5 gold on this! I believe in you!
Hi all. I was dumb and split Gatorade on my laptop. It's in for repairs until next week. So I won't be able to effectively post until then. Sorry.
There is a story there :)
I'm considering changing characters when this mission has ended. I'll still fill the healer role, no matter what I pick. My feeling is that Aakif and I are very different people, and while I think he could be a great character, I'm struggling too much to keep him consistent with his values.
Aw. I really like Aakif, but I can understand if you're having issues with his values, as Abadar is a difficult god to follow.
Thank you, Zyrel. I like him too!
Aakif was originally meant to be a LG character, who is wise and experienced. A voice of reason, kind yet stern. He knows his place in the world and has his values figured out. He was never meant to be a leader, but more like a kind father figure who would support the party as best he could.
When I play Aakif, I feel like a mess. To me, he comes across as impulsive, inconsistent in his values, emotionally unstable, quite morally questionable, and a bit of an a#!!+&&. Pretty much from the moment I started playing him, I've ended up making very strange decisions that in hindsight lack reason and logic. The whole slag story weighs on me like a failing on my part, and our job to rescue Suradesh has felt similar. The thing that really sticks out to me is this sudden switch back and forth between wanting to talk things out and strike a bargain, with just murdering everything and looting the bodies.
I suppose I could change his alignment from LG to TN, which would help explain some of these inconsistencies. I could perhaps play him a bit more jaded or cynical, where his wisdom is not about being enlightened, but by having been through the wringer over and over again. He already does feel stretched between being a man of God and being this sort of salary-bandit under the Tetrad's thumb.
Abadar is a difficult god to follow, but I am moderately pleased with being able to discover and demonstrate an Islamic spin on the deity. It certainly feels more real to me, and it fits the setting fairly well. There are serious differences though, as Abadar is not some carbon copy of Allah by any means. A lot of that has to do with the strict monotheistic part of the religion, which is difficult to balance in a setting where there a plenty of deities who are older, possibly more powerful, and just as real as Abadar. I think what I'm really missing here is, I know the most common prayers, and I have some idea of how formal prayer functions, but I don't really know how a pious Muslim man lives on a day-to-day basis. Perhaps I can study that further.
One of the things that I like quite a bit about Pathfinder is that the deities aren't too heavily involved in the details of their worship, so you can have a lot of different sects and factions. In War for the Crown, my Milani cleric has come into contact with a few different factions of Abadarans, some who he gets along with fine and some of whom are zealots.
My Kingmaker cleric is an Abadaran all about bringing civilization to the wild and fighting bandits. I haven't found that to be particularly difficult, but that is because of the nature of the AP. I knew the overall mission would be thematically fitting for Abadar.
I like having Aakif as a leader, since you post reliably, you keep track of what is going on, and your ideas are generally good. But I understand your concerns.
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That’s an interesting point you bring up about the salary-bandit/mercenary nature of the work. While I don’t want to spoil any details, I can promise in the second act, so to speak, once you’ve proven yourself to the Tetrad things will get a bit more heroic. The Suradesh rescue, as I’ve said before, was more successful that I even anticipated.
The clash between the high-minded morals and the reality of how you feel you play the character sounds to me like it’s ripe for character progression. There’s no reason Aakif couldn’t be lawful good and want to be dispensing wisdom like a noble priest of Abadar while also finding himself face to face with the ugly realities of covert mercantile dealings.
Similarly to Lanatir, I’ve also really been enjoying Aakif for the reasons he mentioned.
Thanks for your support. I'll keep him around, but I'm still unsure of how I'll progress in the future regarding his personality and ideals.
I have to admit, I never expected Aakif to get in a fist fight :)
I hope that doesn't get back to his superiors
We will call it loyalty to the party. He ran out of ideas to buy time, so he started a fight
I actually think him being a charlatan was the most offensive part of his decision making.
Idea:
"Let me tell you about the benefits of free markets and compound interest," said the banker, as he adjusted his tie and cracked his knuckles.
And then when he hits you, you don't even see it coming, because he's got The Invisible Hand.
Given Islamic banking, I might be smited by Abadar himself for uttering such heresy.
Oh true, that would be a very different brawling priest of Abadar. One from the Adam Smith monastery.
We do not talk about the Adam Smith monastery
We do not talk about the Adam Smith monastery
LOL.
FYI, you all will level up at the end of this mission, so let me know what your level-up choices will be.
HP: +1d10+1 (7, new total 39)
Feat: Cut from the Air (5 AOOs per round at +13)
Potential Bonus Feat from Suradesh: Deific Obedience (Magdh)
(Or if the bonus feat from Suradesh is supposed to be a Combat feat, then switch those two around)
Skills (6): Stealth, Bluff, Acrobatics, Perception, Knowledge (Local), Knowledge (Nature)
Background Skills (2): Knowledge (Engineering) (2 ranks)
FCB: +1 CMD vs Disarm/Sunder
Weapon Training: Elven Curve Blade
Automatic Bonus Progression: Deflection +1
Do we need someone to be able to handle traps? Kristleifur had been our guy for that.
Could you please remind me what alternative/homebrew rules we may need to remember for the purposes of levelling up? Thank you
My recommendation is for Zyrel to take care of locks, either by using Knock spells, or by investing a bit heavier into Slayer to get trapfinding.
I could alternatively take 3 levels of gunslinger to help with locks, but I'm trying to rush Cleric 11 first before I really take any multiclassing into consideration. I need level 9 for raise dead / breath of life, and divine intervention feat at level 11.
Yep, we're using automatic bonus progression and background skills.
, new total 28
Feat: Point-Blank Shot
Suradesh Feat: Precise Shot (I thought about unarmed strike haha)
Skills (6+2b): Bluff x2, Diplomacy, Intimidate, K.Religion, Perception, Appraise, Artistry (Calligraphy)
ABP: Deflection+1
Channel Energy now 3d6
3rd level spell slots (2+1Domain) (Fly/Protection from Energy)
Protection Domain resistance +2 now
Late here, I will update when I wake up tomorrow.
spells though will be
Level one Vanish, shocking grasp (bloodline spell)
Level two Fiery shuriken
Armanus let me know that he'd like to exit the game. Given that we'll be down a player, how would you all feel about trying to find a new recruit to handle trapfinding/reconnaissance in place of Kristleifur?
That's unfortunate. I hope he finds what he's looking for.
I have a few friends that are regular posters and good roleplayers. I'll confer with them.
I'm sorry to see him go, but if this wasn't the game for him anymore, better to recognize that than to try to force it.
I do love having a skillful type in the party. I think a few different classes could work in that niche.
And VMC rogue is pretty solid as well, so the possibilities are quite good.
Slight change for Lanatir on leveling; he will need to put 2 more ranks into Knowledge (Religion) rather than Local and Nature in order to take Deific Obedience.
But once he does, he improves dramatically at Knowledge, with a +10 or better to everything.
In terms of a new skilled PC, I would not at all feel that a knowledge-based Investigator, Bard, or Alchemist was stepping on Lanatir's toes if they wanted to develop those skills, because even in that case it is good to have multiple PCs who can roll. I just like that Lanatir will be able to contribute in some ways beyond his sword.
And if our new skilled PC wants to skip Knowledge altogether, that also works.
@GM Coyote: we are also using Common Guns, right?
This bonus feat raises some very interesting options. I was looking into it and realised that if I took one level of any one of a number of classes, Zyrel could take Arcane Trickster next level. Not sure we *need* an arcane trickster, but it is interesting.
I'd been looking into Aakif's suggestion, and I think it could work. Zyrel could take Slayer 2 and a the Trapfinding Talent. Won't be as good as someone dedicated, but could get the skills up pretty high. Then Slayer 3 at level 6, and Arcane Trickster at level 7. This has the advantage of ranged (first range increment) sneak attack, which is great for a sniper.
I'm fine if we recruit someone for the rogue role though.
If we do recruit I'd like someone proactive. Zyrel is a bit quiet. Also, ideally someone who uses guns! We seem to have gone from "almost everyone uses a gun" to "almost no-one uses a gun."!
We are indeed using common guns.
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@GM, do you have a preference between rolling hp and taking 1/2+1?
I’m usually partial to half+1, but if you want to take the risk of rolling I’m fine with that too.
Okay, I've got a friend working on a pistolero with maxed disable device and the utility shot deed.
Given we're using Automatic Bonus Progression, how much monies should a lvl 5 character start with?
It should be half wealth by level, so 5250 GP. If they wouldn't mind sending me a PM, too, that'd be awesome.
I have relayed the information :)
Introducing P.S. Finch, lanky cowgirl.
Still got a ways to go on the profile, which you’re free to check out, but I’ve been invited and accepted it seems, so I’m looking forward to joining the party.
Now that I know firearms are 1/4 the normal cost, and that mundane ammo, grooming kits and such are hand-waved, I think I’m all set with gear.
@PSF: Looks good! If I am going to go Arcane Trickster at some point I'll need to pick up at least 4 ranks of disable device, but do not need more than that. Is that going to run into your niche?
Welcome, Sidekick! PSF looks good.
@PSF: Looks good! If I am going to go Arcane Trickster at some point I'll need to pick up at least 4 ranks of disable device, but do not need more than that. Is that going to run into your niche?
No, take all the ranks you want. I took an alt human trait for more grit, so I dropped Disable. Utility Shot sounds more fun.
Just started a new job, so I’ll finish my day and write a backstory when I’m home.
Welcome, Sidekick! PSF looks good.
Good to see you. P.S.’s semi-coherent backstory has a cameo of Pocky (unnamed) and Boomhand (the spared gnoll). I also couldn’t help but make up a pseudo-western saying that has the word ‘coyote’ in it.
Alright, sorry it took so long.
Changes for level 5
+1 unchained rogue
+4hp
+2 ref
ABP: Deflection +1
Feat: Accomplished Sneak Attack
Suradesh feat: Point Blank Shot
Finesse Training
Sneak Attack +1d6
Trapfinding
Skills +11 (and new class skills)
Disable Device +4
Knowledge: Arcana +3
Escape Artist +4
Backgrounds
Know: Engineer +1
Sleight of Hand +1
shooting-iron
That may be a term that dates back to the actual old west, but here’s where I heard it.
@Lanatir: +8 within 30ft (now).
but yeah, 2/3 sounds about right. Sweet :)
@Aakif, @Elsa: if we've got two days Zyrel would see you about casting Mark of Blood in case the party gets split up - as per previous discussion.
https://www.aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Mark%20of%20Blood
Oh I see. You'd enchant something like a dagger, stab us, and instantly know our location.
That could be phrased better :)
Being cut with a knife… interesting. (The new girl’s devotion to Milani more or less began with being stabbed repeatedly in the back.)