shouldn't have asked for the cloak +1, I already had one... upgrading to +2, so putting the +1 back into party treasure if anyone else needs one. If not, we should sell it.
total spent, including scrolls: 6750
that should leave about 500 she can loan/supply to Helgash to help with greta's gear.
Variel - the section on teaching a spell to a familiar for witches is very vague in the rules... "A witch can also add additional spells to her familiar through a special ritual."
Can I make up my own ritual? or what? I have an idea for how Snow might learn from scrolls... which would go well with it being a bunny - she could core a carrot, roll up the scroll and insert it and let the bunny eat the carrot, scroll and all... and give Snow like an hour to digest it. what do you think? or maybe cook it up into a mash and feed it to him?
HOw he'd learn directly from a wizard or sorc would obviously have to be different, since he's an herbivore (can't have Snow eating mages to learn their spells, lmao).
I think they left the ritual vague enough to allow creative license. Feel free to use the carrot idea for scrolls. As for other means we will cross that bridge when/if the time comes.
I'm not really going to be online tonight, but i'll try to get posts tomorrow
Duardlara, apart from my previous (incorrect) suggestion of the Shield spell/scrolls, my opinion regarding spells right now, is that we are missing firepower - apart from Jetro, that is :D
That being said, perhaps we should find some ways to enhance that?
Duardlara only has two levels of wizard currently. She is much more likely to be the sneak-and-stab character at this point than the blaster. The original intent was to build an arcane trickster, so from here on out, she will be gaining a level of spellcasting with each level she advances - either as a straight wizard or as an AT.
If she disregards defense (Mage Armor/Shield, two of her precious few spell slots), she currently has Burning Hands, Gravity Bow, Magic Missile, and Shocking Grasp as offensive firepower. If she's disregarding defense, I'm not very excited about the use of Shocking Grasp or, frankly, Burning Hands. Color Spray is one of her new acquisitions as an offensive option, but it's range isn't much, either.
Magic Weapon could be used to enhance anyone's weapon, of course, including her bow. I don't know Returning Weapon - is that usable for anyone's weapon, or is it a personal-range spell like Gravity Bow (or else I would have been casting it on Jetro's weapon long ago). Long Arm gives her reach and makes touch-range spells a little more attractive for a squishy caster.
In short, I'm not where you need to be looking for firepower. Yet. I am probably going to be the most helpful at range, but I need to play her that way. It was my original intent, but Jetro completely dominates that scene, so I was leaning away from that attitude.
I guess I spoke a lot of what she's not currently. She is one of our stronger scouts at this point with magical backup to enhance her abilities. She's got a lot of knowledge skills going on. She's hopefully going to fore-arm the party by providing information on the foes. If she contributes significantly in combat, it's a bonus.
D'lara would happily accept a cloak of resistance +1 if no one else claims Venja's hand-me-downs. I have recorded the newly-acquired scrolls.
Thanks for the details Duardlara.
Yes I think you should take the cloak of resistance +1. Hand me downs are often overlooked, and they make perfect sense.
As far as your options go, I would say that Burning Hands may be worth if only because it is fire damage. Since you have an high Int, would it be worth it to focus on spells that focus on debuffing opponents, as well as those that add to your AT arsenal (by the way, I LOVE Arcane Tricksters)?
I would say your best offensive option would be Gravity Bow, though the difference between 4.5 average damage, and 7.5 is really not huge, but it does pile up. And looking at your feats (Weapon Finesse), I am assuming the plan is gaining flanking positions, and lay down the pain - if so, I think you should focus on two things:
- Being as hard to spot as possible. I am a firm believer in the value of scouting, and I don't mind waiting for it (if it does not slow the game to a crawl, which can happen in PbP) since it can bring huge advantages. For example, in the current situation, I could perfectly see Duardlara picking the lock on a window, gaining access to the clock tower, and scouting within as much as possible, then getting back with the info. It is risky, but being a scout is like that sometimes :)
- Shoring up your melee defenses. This would mean you would risk less in gaining a flanking position to lay down the sneak attack pain. Between me, Beck and Sheelah, you have quite a few partners to chose from, and can go for the best option in each combat;
- Eventually, you can lay down a decisive spell on an opponent (if you think he can fail the save).
Bottom line, as far as spell blasting goes, I agree with you that it is perhaps your best option for the time being.
Phew... That was long. Did it make sense?
As far as Helgash is concerned... I am definitely going for a 'bigger armor' - it is the most cost effective way to raise my AC.
Variel, I will be looking for:
- a Full Plate +1
- An Heavy Steel Shield
- An Amulet of Natural Armor +1
This means I will be running with AC 22 (24 with Protection from Evil) - makes me feel slightly safer than my previous 17/19 combo.
I wanted a magic weapon, but can't really afford it. Belt of Giant Strength might also be an option, or an item to boost my Charisma or heals, but no gold for that either thus far :/
What do you guys think?
Hmm... I should pay closer attention - my Versatile Evocation ability allows me to change the energy type of a spell for free up to seven times a day. With Intense Spells and potential sneak attack, I could be doing 1d3+2d6+1 from acid splash - and make it fire damage. That's definitely something I will have to keep in mind.
I will claim the cloak of resistance, but if someone needs it worse, sing out and I will remove it.
I wasn't going to remind you Duardlara. That is a nasty ability when facing creatures with energy susceptibility.
It seems like Duardlara is hanging out around the clock tower for a few days. What are the rest of you doing? Duardlara, please make another perception check and a stealth check as well for me.
Except for time spent shopping, Venja will watch the tower as well.
OK, realized that weight of my gear was costing me a point of dexterity. Not a cost I wanted to pay, so I have shuffled some items. I like this much better.
Good news Venja they don't really notice you being a winter witch in Whitethrone. Bad news is you won't be getting a lot of information with that perception check but will get some. Will post it all once I get Duardlara's perception along with others perception and stealth if they are staying with you.
Handy Haversack for purchase any one?
Its available.
I'd love a hh but no cash left to get one.
perhaps you will get a cash fall here shortly. Of course you already know that there is a dragon here and dragons love to hoard gold...
Jetro avoids trying to stealth since he clanks too much.
Heck yes to the haversack!
What type of Haversack is it? And what price? Ca we take it out of party loot?
I did account for the cash from selveg's
Quick check of the Gear people are getting
Venja: Cloak of Res +2 4000
Boots 1000
Scrolls 1000?
Pull the wand out of party loot?
Duardlara: How much were you the spells you are getting, and is there a cost to scribing them?
All scrolls in the loot list, the casters can just add to their spellbooks
Helgash: Plate 2650, were you going to get a shield?
Jetro and Beck don't look to have stuff to buy
Are we OK selling the Robe of Useful things to pay for some of the other gear, maybe trading it for a cloak of Res?
Good question.
A wizard can also add a spell to his book whenever he encounters one on a magic scroll or in another wizard's spellbook. No matter what the spell's source, the wizard must first decipher the magical writing (see Arcane Magical Writings). Next, he must spend 1 hour studying the spell. At the end of the hour, he must make a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell's level). A wizard who has specialized in a school of spells gains a +2 bonus on the Spellcraft check if the new spell is from his specialty school. If the check succeeds, the wizard understands the spell and can copy it into his spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). The process leaves a spellbook that was copied from unharmed, but a spell successfully copied from a magic scroll disappears from the parchment.
If the check fails, the wizard cannot understand or copy the spell. He cannot attempt to learn or copy that spell again until one week has passed. If the spell was from a scroll, a failed Spellcraft check does not cause the spell to vanish.
In most cases, wizards charge a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks. This fee is usually equal to half the cost to write the spell into a spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). Rare and unique spells might cost significantly more.
It does not appear that there is a cost other than that of the scroll itself. Not counting the cost of scrolls in the party stash or the two she can afford herself, her purchases cost 100 gp. She also claimed Venja's hand-me-down Cloak of Resistance +1.
I was thinking that she was limited to a single spell a day, but looking at the spoiler above, it appears that as long as she has an hour to study the spell and makes the Spellcraft check, she can copy more than one spell a day to her spellbook.
There is a cost to scribing spells in your spellbook. The cost is spell level^2 *10gp. Page 219 of the players handbook.
First level spell is 10gp
second level is 40gp
third level is 90gp...
That would go for Venja as well. I would assume that is the cost of the carrot necessary to feed her familiar.
Duardlara, to answer your question about he number of spells you can try each day I would go with 8 to represent a full days work. thus returning weapon and Dispel Magic would happen on the second day.
When you say scrolls that she can afford herself, do you mean cash she already had, or her cut of the loot? If it is her cut of the loot, THen i need the number to put into the sheet to track on that top row to say what portion of your cut you are using
There's is still a bunch of tweaking going on with formulating a list that will function, but basically, the income section on the top is all based purely on out income and is accurate. I've been working on tracking what form our assets are actually in beyond just a number.
Venja spends an additional 490 gold on some very special carrots? maybe they are gold plated? lol or maybe rare albino carrots or something.
Maybe the carrots are seasoned with gold plating and diamond dust to make Snow all that more precious. Don't forget to roll your spellcraft checks for new spells as well Venja.
If either you or Duarlara can find where you can take 10 on the check I will let you so that way you won't have to worry about ruining scrolls.
dammit failed vampiric touch, so don't really need the spectral hand... sigh... silly rabbit.
soaked in rare herbs?
Temperature is finally rising in my neck of the woods, so busy weekend with family and BEACH! ;)
Will try to have some posting up tomorrow.
When you say scrolls that she can afford herself, do you mean cash she already had, or her cut of the loot?
Cash she already had. I don't know what her cut would be. I was hoping to use her cut to pay for the scrolls she purchased and will also need to pay for the scrolls scribed into the spellbook, which comes to another 80 gp since she failed two of her spellcraft checks and cannot scribe those spells yet.
If it is her cut of the loot, THen i need the number to put into the sheet to track on that top row to say what portion of your cut you are using
Total cash needed from her cut: 180 gp for scrolls purchased and scribing supplies.
Maybe the carrots are seasoned with gold plating and diamond dust to make Snow all that more precious. Don't forget to roll your spellcraft checks for new spells as well Venja.
If either you or Duarlara can find where you can take 10 on the check I will let you so that way you won't have to worry about ruining scrolls.
According to the SRD quote above, failing the spellcraft check doesn't trigger the scroll, but a successful transcribing of the spell uses the scroll. Since Snow is consuming the scroll, maybe it means that the spell is in her repertoire, but the failed spellcraft check just means Venja cannot access it yet. Venja, did you take one of the Dispel Magic scrolls from the party stash? I'm assuming it's on your spell list and would be a good one to have in your possibles, I think.
Thanks Duardlara for clarifying that about the scroll not vanishing. That helps immensely for my own casters. As for Venja and Snow I would just say that Snow sniffs at the carrot but refuses to eat it quite yet. Something smells bad or it looks funny. Perhaps it needs to sit a while and mature and then she will eat it. She is quite the finicky eater apparently.
Duardlara and Venja, if you want to spend another 3-4 days scoping the place out you can make another set of perception and stealth checks. Otherwise if everyone is finished purchasing items and no other downtime issues we can have you discuss plans for assaulting the clocktower.
Beck sorry I missed telling you this but the handy haversack is the standard one. I think you are thinking of a bag of holding that has multiple options.
Any other items you guys want me to roll for to see if they are available?
What do you think, Venja? I'm wondering about the woman bringing the child every three days. DM Variel, is it the same woman?
Helgash: Plate 2650, were you going to get a shield?
Beck, my purchase list is:
- a Full Plate +1 (2650)
- An Heavy Steel Shield (20 gold)
- An Amulet of Natural Armor +1 (2000 gold)
- Selling Masterwork Chainmail (for 150 gold, unless someone wants it)
We still getting the wand of CLW from the group loot?
Helgash see the previous page but the amulet of natural armor is not available at this time. The rest of the items you are looking for though are available.
Duardlara, it looks like the same woman from where you are watching. You can't hear if she says anything at the door after she knocks but you are pretty sure you would recognize her if you needed to. DC: 15 perception to identify.
My bad Variel, I missed that post :/
Guess I'll roll with a Ring of Protection +1, if it is available. Not as good, only one more point of AC meh :D
Ring of protection available
That settles it then :D
Where is everyone in both threads? Need a confirmation of what people are doing here and combat posts in the other.
Jetro is at the hideout
since i finished my loot-list, I've barely had any time to get online... sorry everbody. It's been all i could do to work out my combat posts and stuff.
still working on a headboard with m'Lady tonight and busy tomorrow, but i'll try to get some posting done tonight beyond the mimimum...
Beck I don't hae my complete set of books with me so i haven't had a chance to look up the spells you are casting for your recon. Once I get to those I will tell you what you discover.
Apologies for the absence guys, the week's end got somewhat hectic.
up to this point...
Venja disguises herself as the witch
Beck? is the child being brought to the tower
Duardlara is going invisible via vanish or potion of invisibility to help out
Helgash and Jetro are waiting till? before coming over to help out.
Are you going to try and take out the witch before this so she doesn't show up or leaving that to chance? If masquerading as the witch I am assuming it is around the same time as she normally shows up.
Sounds good to me
Let's deal with the actual witch. That way we can get information as well
The witch it is then first? But we need to accost her in an 'out of sight' area - what if she starts screaming bloody murder?
Besides, we are not 100% sure she is a witch (in spite of Variel letting it slide :D), or even evil, so... I'd hit the tower first, and we already planned for it anyway.
Helgash plans to wait, until he is given the signal from Duardlara or Venja to step in.
She looks like a winter witch as Venja would attest to. As for being evil that is correct, you don't know for sure.
I think we would try to get there a bit earlier than she seems to. Helgash and Jetro can watch for her and distract/intercept her if she's too close when we are trying our insertion.