Well you guys have hit all of them at least once. ..some of them are so beat up they're about to collapse.. but then again so are some of you..
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Trying to figure out a way to heal Craggark.
I'm not sure I trust my luck with casting defensively, and don't really want to lose the other 1st level spell (might be useful against runa).
I can only exclude two of these guys from a channel. I might have to move to the far north so only 2 or 3 guys are in the 30-ft radius, but will have to absorb 2 AoOs...
Any ideas?
Guys some of you may have already saw it.. so I'll fess up. I just deleted a lengthy post on resource management and probability in Pathfinder/D&D. It had mostly to do with Jawhar's decision to cast defensively. As you can guess I thought this was not a great choice. However, calling myself out, I failed to notice there were two opponents threatening Jawhar instead of one. This would have altered the math A LOT!
Suffice it to say, Jawhar's decision to cast defensively is not without reason or merit in his current circumstances. Not only are there a myriad of roll-playing reasons he'd want to do this, but the probability of being hit magnifies significantly when there's two opponents making it about an even proposition of getting off the spell vs. casting defensively.
However, I would invite you all to examine the numbers when considering an action. I don't want to take you "out of the game" and optimize every action. I would encourage you to use your available resources at the highest rate of probable success however.
The example I had with Jawhar (that does not apply because I missed a combatant) was thus; Jawahr's AC=18 giving his opponet 30% chance to hit him. Even if he does hit Jawahr has 50% chance (avg. dmg 4hp) of still casting his spell DC:10+4+1=DC:15..That means Jawhar has over 80% chance against a single Thug of getting off his spell!
Compared with only 40% chance of getting off his spell casting defensively.
(this is especially valuable when you dig deeper into resource management concepts like:even if Jawhar gets hit but, does get off the spell on Craggark, he is likely to heal more hp than he received netting a raw numbers net gain; beyond that it helps insure that the party member with the best attack bonus and ability to strike two opponents in one round, and do the most avg. dmg, stays up longer.Yes your other party members must be treated as a resource too. This is how companies value people and just the way probability and outcome work.)
But as I mentioned...with two opponents threatening this becomes much more of an even proposition.
Another thing I'd like you to look at is...Do you think it wise to focus attacks on the higher AC thugs while so many AC:10 Brawlers are still standing? I know it's somewhat counter-intuitive, and completely out of character for most PC's to not focus on the [i]Big guys. But, I think you'll see the math supports the bad guys if you leave too many of them standing late in the fight. If you struggle to come up with a roll play reason for taking out the mooks, consider this; your falling right into the BBG's plans, when you spend a lot of rounds missing on him(35% harder to hit twice as many hp) while his hoards gain flanks and have more chances to roll crits..
observation can only lead you to believe these brawlers will fight till dead or knocked out. There's no evidence to support they'll run if the thugs get taken out (In fact they've taken it very personal that you've "invaded" their bar. If anyone is treating this like a job it's the Thugs not the Brawlers...)
Anyhow, hope this helps in some small way. I think the veteran Pathfinder players are already aware of the math and resource management parts of this game ...and have used it to the best of their ability when they want to. However, to any newer player, I would encourage you to explore the probability of action(s) succeeding before you attempt them, if it doesn't completely take you out of story and/or character. Because story always trumps mechanics in RPG table top..otherwise we'd all just be playing video games.
We're waiting on Craggark..
Torvald, just a reminder; from where you are standing you do not have a clear shot at Brawler#1 in square G11..Brawler#7 in F12 is giving soft cover to Brawler#1 from your current position. If you throw before you move (at Brawler#1, who's splash dmg. can effect the most enemies) you will in effect be giving an additional +4 to your opponents AC: (Her AC would be 18 instead of 14 AC:10+4(melee)+4(soft cover))
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I knew it was a bad idea, but every idea was bad at that moment. Still, if I realized I was going to provoke by sheathing, I would have done something differently.
To be fair, my strategy in both games has been to try to keep the party from getting outflanked. I think we have generally been doing a good job of that in this battle.
I have had trouble when it comes to needing healing. Seeing Torvald go down, and realizing we were going to need all four of us to win that battle, I made the unfortunate call to try to heal him through a spell. I probably should have channeled in that instance, which would have preserved the defensive wall keeping the northernmost thug out of the contest.
Here, I know that healing Craggark is essential, but facing two AoOs and knowing how fast I went down in the last battle, I decided to risk losing the spell.
I didn't like it, but didn't see any better options. OK, their attack bonus is lower than the first thugs, so they were more likely to miss. However, I am not a numbers guy (which probably sounds strange for a software developer). I have absolutely no interest in calculating statistics for any particular action. I'm here to have fun, not do math.
I certainly respect those that do (as long as they still do the role part of the game), but I have never understood the min-maxers.
Still don't think I did anything wrong here, just frustrated with the result. I didn't expect it to work, but the first battle showed that the worst thing for us would be for me to go down, so I am trying to prevent that more than anything else.
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It would seem that Torvald needs to move to F15 or G15 to get a good shot at B1, and splash damage to 3 other enemies.
Torvald, do you have the ability to exclude some friendlies from your splash damage? If not, please STILL PROCEED. We want these a!~%!#+s down. Craggark can be stitched back together later.
I knew it was a bad idea, but every idea was bad at that moment. Still, if I realized I was going to provoke by sheathing, I would have done something differently.To be fair, my strategy in both games has been to try to keep the party from getting outflanked. I think we have generally been doing a good job of that in this battle.
I have had trouble when it comes to needing healing. Seeing Torvald go down, and realizing we were going to need all four of us to win that battle, I made the unfortunate call to try to heal him through a spell. I probably should have channeled in that instance, which would have preserved the defensive wall keeping the northernmost thug out of the contest.
Here, I know that healing Craggark is essential, but facing two AoOs and knowing how fast I went down in the last battle, I decided to risk losing the spell.
I didn't like it, but didn't see any better options. OK, their attack bonus is lower than the first thugs, so they were more likely to miss. However, I am not a numbers guy (which probably sounds strange for a software developer). I have absolutely no interest in calculating statistics for any particular action. I'm here to have fun, not do math.
I certainly respect those that do (as long as they still do the role part of the game), but I have never understood the min-maxers.
Still don't think I did anything wrong here, just frustrated with the result. I didn't expect it to work, but the first battle showed that the worst thing for us would be for me to go down, so I am trying to prevent that more than anything else.
taking 2 AoO's was too risky you made the right call ... it's funny when I say play, I always play skill monkeys that are weak in combat ; I guess when I put on my GM hat I begin to believe I'm some kind of combat optimizer . Bottom line is players need to be able to play their characters whatever way they want to. Though I do admit, with chronicle sheets and all the paperwork that goes with PFS, the stakes... do seem a little higher than a home game ... would you guys agree?
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Sorry guys, I only dropped one of them and cost us Craggark.
Normally I'd say "I should have drunk the potion of Shield" but every attack that hit me was a natural 20 so it wouldn't have made any difference. Really bummed that the bomb didn't get more.
My advice is not to spread out your efforts. Pick one at a time and focus fire them to death, then move on to the next.
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So...once again my options are really terrible. Sharing a square with another staggered chap, threatened by a dude who only needs to roll an 10-11 to hit me, and now their numbers are back to 7 from 5. We're royally screwed.
If I throw a bomb and the AoO hits, do I lose the bomb or can I still go through with it?
So...once again my options are really terrible. Sharing a square with another staggered chap, threatened by a dude who only needs to roll an 10-11 to hit me, and now their numbers are back to 7 from 5. We're royally screwed.
If I throw a bomb and the AoO hits, do I lose the bomb or can I still go through with it?
The situation is slightly better than that; you're sharing a square with an unconscious guy not staggered and Jawhar just reduced your odds from 3-6 to 3v5! Also the other Brawler who's staggered is in bad shape (entangled,prone, staggered) I wouldn't worry bout' him for a couple rounds. If you can avoid the AoO, just get to your feet. this allows you to 5ft back next round (free action), swift action your wand of cure, standard action it on yourself. Now just avoid the AoO!! *Edit* forgot you were in difficult terrain ..you won't be able to 5ft back...
your best bet then is to swift the wand of cure lt now (provokeing AoO) and hit yourself for cure action.
If I throw a bomb and the AoO hits, do I lose the bomb or can I still go through with it?
Since you infuse a bomb with your magic (like a spell) I would rule you loose it if the AoO drops you.
see if Jamir can do something?
Jamir could use the withdraw action avoiding AoO with Brawler#4. He then could withdraw to square f15 flanking Brawler#7. If he traveled through square F14 in his withdraw Jamir (and his 12hp AC:18) would provoke the AoO instead of Torvald...allowing Torvald to swift action his wand heal himself at least 2hp and have two actions next turn, while in a flank with Jamir! All Torvald has to do is hold action and see if Jamir is game.
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FYI: I am likely going to go on Total Defense while I attempt to 5-foot step in place to AOO B2 when he tries to get up. He will be tied up for a couple of rounds, so a lot depends on what these guys do before my turn.
I should be safe while you guys deal with the last couple of standing brawlers. A lot depends on which way these guys move.
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Hey Jawhar, if you hopped over to G8 at the end of you turn, it'd free me to bomb the guys at G10 and H10.
I'd save whatever bombs you have left at this point in case we need to battle Runa later.
B2 is hiding under a body and B5 is wounded already. Help Jamir finish off B7 and we can deal with the rest of them together. Only 4 more rounds of Bless...