GM Batpony PT01-1- Rose Street Revenge (Inactive)

Game Master Batpony

Welcome, named players, into the game! For those who have yet to play with me as a GM, do take time to read through my profile to give yourselves an idea of how I run games and my expectation (or at least how I run it for PF1).

For reporting purposes and prep, do post a link to your character profile/sheet and do let me know your PFS id.

Balister Vinn, half-elf bard 1, reporting for duty! PFS ID 199504-1501, full character profile and chronicle info to come later this weekend.

Kuch Krisnor, the half-orc roundhouse kicker is here. PFS ID 194005-1502.

Player Name: Tusk the Half-Orc
PC Name: Balistar Vinn
Class and level: Bard (Lore) 1
PFS#: 199504-1501
Slow Track or Normal: Normal
Faction: Dark Archive (if relevant to the playtest)
Day Job: Performance: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Perception and vision/senses: {dice=Perception]1d20 + 5[/dice}, low-light vision
Stealth: {dice=Stealth]1d20 + 2[/dice}
Notes: Experienced Smuggler skill feat (from background): When the GM rolls your Stealth check she uses the number rolled or 10, whichever is higher.

I'm going to send out messages to the rest who haven't showed up this weekend, and let's set a hard start date on 15th Sept! Let me know if there's any concerns with that date.

Looks like Eternal Twilight does no have a profile set up, so I can't PM him. We may have only 4 for this table but that's all good still!

Sounds good!

Thanks for the invite. Didn't see it, as I thought you'd picked a full table already.

Was this scenario not using pre-gens?
I thought I saw it listed as such, in the PaizoCon listing, though that was admittedly prior to the rules being available.

I am about to set off out, but can upload a PC later tonight.
I'm in one other PF2 pbp, so this PC would be 4098-06.

Thanks for the invite. Didn't see it, as I thought you'd picked a full table already.

Was this scenario not using pre-gens?
I thought I saw it listed as such, in the PaizoCon listing, though that was admittedly prior to the rules being available.

I am about to set off out, but can upload a PC later tonight.
I'm in one other PF2 pbp, so this PC would be 4098-06.

You are free to use the PF2 pre-gens if you would like, the scenario is open for you to choose your own or try a pre-gen.

Also, your PC number should end in -15xx for Playtest.
Relevant Blogpost explaining playtest reporting

Ah. In that case, I'll use a pregen Seoni, so as to not hold anyone up building a PC.
And make it 4098-1502.
And I'll check with my other GM that we're recording playtest feedback according to that blog.

Looks like two dropped out, but I have a person that is interested and will ask him to drop by this table. So we'll have 4 players to meet the table requirement.

Howdy all! Baltoros Avingare, Garundi cleric of Gozreh reporting in. PFS #: 205622-1502. Let me know if there is more I should add to my profile.

Posting, to dot the thread.
Though I'm aware there's been a change to the skill rules, so I'll get those changed tonight.

I haven’t seen the latest update yet - I’ll review and update Balistar this evening as well.

I’m not too concerned about the changes to skill at level 1, they’ve done away with signature and added a little to how many trained you have to begin. mechanically skills still work the same.

Doesn’t look like Balistar needs any changes. I’ll be good to go when you’re ready to start.

I accidentally signed up for too many games at once, so someone else can have my slot. Sorry!

Unless it's your personal preference, I don't think the playtest limits how many games you can play at once as long as it's done with different characters.

Hey SodiumTelluride, if it is really a bandwidth issue, let me know. I will look for a replacement, or possibly run with a pre-gen.

Updated the GM tracker.
And I've added the other avatar icons.

Hi everyone. It sounds like you need more PCs. I can make a Ranger or a Sorcerer. Looks like we have a sorc already, so I'll make my Ranger.

A question for you, GM: How do you handle recovering ammo?

If I miss with one of my crossbow bolts, do I lose it? Can I always reclaim lost ammo? Do I have a 50% chance to reclaim it?

Sorry to be such a stickler, but I managed to spend exactly 150 sp, so I don't have the money to buy more unless I sell something.

Seems like that wasn't clarified in the 2e rulebook, but as I've seen it run for 1e, I will treat it the similarly. 50% chance to reclaim..

Thanks GM. I never found rules for missed ammo in 2e, either.

I should mention I played this already. The GM mentioned that the reporting system is broken for PCs who have played multiple times, so please keep that in mind if something happens while reporting our success.

I'm enroute traveling, so I'll update in about 8 hours, but just wanted to say you've met the required successes to move on, and also that all skills listed can be made untrained.

I've had to rely on my phone for a day, as my work PC was being taken away and replaced by a Surface Pro, then all the associated rebooting and restoring of systems.
But, hey, three screens!

And after an old Wayfinder desktop screen popped up, I got to chat about gaming with the IT guy, who turned out to be guitarist from D-ROK, who made Warhammer-related metal back in the 80s.

My apologies for being slow to post - I had to rush out to NY on Wednesday to deal with a family medical issue (everything’s fine now), but I’ve been offline most of the time. I should be caught up by this evening.

Are we supposed to incorporate massive playtest errata/update that Paizo dropped on us today (most of which I really like) mid-game? Or keep going with the prior rules? Most of the changes won't apply, but the changes to the numbers of changed skills might, depending on your character. My bard, for example, gets another 2 trained skill proficiencies at 1st level. Maybe we should make adjustments between the quest chapters?

I haven't read a recent update; I'll have to download it later.

Good point, I haven't put thought into it but here's my thoughts!

We do want to make sure that the feedback we provide Paizo is up to date, so it maeks sense for us to at least incorporate the changes in between quest.

Also as we're coming to a close on the first quest, this is a good time to provide feedback on your experience. Granted this playtest is even new to me, let me know if you're being provided enough information/guidance from me, or do you need more? Additionally, if the playtest is just not to your cup of tea, in between quest would also be a good time to drop out and give your honest feedback to Paizo.

Sorcerers were updated but it won't really affect you until level 6. Bards get 2 spells at level 1 instead of 2. Monks have simple weapon proficiency so they can use some ranged weapons. The biggest change is that Untrained skills are now at a -4 penalty instead of -2.

Personally I would only change rulesets after an encounter. Since we're in PbP who knows when version 1.4 will drop.

The bard spell update came out earlier - what’s new for bards (and I think almost every class) is the increase in initial skill proficiencies. I think making adjustment between the quest chapters makes the most sense but am happy to go along with the group.

Just a note - Hero Lab Online hasn’t yet updated for the 1.2 errata/update, so I expect it will be a while before it gets to yesterday’s.

I had been wondering why Balistar would ever use TK Projectile instead of his bow - a ranged attack (not vs touch AC) that takes two actions instead of one seemed like a poor trade-off for an increased damage die. I only just noticed that the attack is made with his spell roll (+5) instead of his standard ranged weapon attack modifier (+3), which makes it a far better exchange.

@Balistar - I don't think that's right though. The spell says "Make a ranged attack against the target." The FAQ clarifies:

Is my spell roll the attack roll for my spells?

No, your attack roll for spells uses the same proficiency
modifier (as per page 197), but you still use your Strength
or Dexterity modifier to aim it, unlike your spell rolls, which
apply to all other rolls with your spells, such as when casting
black tentacles.

I think the TKP is designed to compete with simple weapons (aka crossbows) which you have to reload, and not martial weapons like a shortbow.

@Midnight - bard changes actually affect both level 1 and 2, since the spell progression says:

Each time you get a spell slot from Table 3–6, you add a spell to your spell repertoire of the same level.

So in the original rulebook you started with one spell known and got two at 2nd level; in the new rules you start with two and get three at 2nd level.

Ah, missed that clarification in the update. “Proficiency modifier” here would mean Trained/Expert/etc., right? I think that means that I had it right the first time, +3 instead of +5. Thanks, that makes sense. And you’re probably right about the reason for the action economy of the spell - I just liked the flavor so much I didn’t want to give it up.

That untrained penalty is really going to sting.
I usually try to play PCs with high skill points, either from class or Int, so I have enough to put a rank in everything. Hate being disallowed from trying something or having the result capped because 'trained only'.

Not sure I'll have enough skill proficiencies in PF2, to make that kind of versatile PC, or if it's best emulated via feats.

I'll be honest and I've not looked closely at the updates yet, but let's target to have our characters updated to 1.3 over this weekend, and I'll start the second quest on Monday! Let me know if anyone has any concerns.

I think the only impact of the update on Balistar is that he receives one extra skill proficiency at level 1 (not two more proficiencies, as I had thought at first). He is now trained in Medicine, which seems like a must-have skill in light of the new Treat Wounds action (although he still doesn't have healer's tools).

He has also, as noted, purchased some rope.

Bards get 2 level 1 spells at level 1, by the way.

Treat Wounds looks useful, but at level 1 the effect is minimal. You spend 10 minutes to heal either your Con bonus or 1 HP, whichever is higher. I can crit if I roll an 18, in which case you heal triple the amount.

Still, it's a good solution if you don't have a cleric in the party (or a non-maestro bard).

Bards get 2 level 1 spells at level 1, by the way.

Treat Wounds looks useful, but at level 1 the effect is minimal. You spend 10 minutes to heal either your Con bonus or 1 HP, whichever is higher. I can crit if I roll an 18, in which case you heal triple the amount.

Still, it's a good solution if you don't have a cleric in the party (or a non-maestro bard).

I think the update for bard’s spells at low levels came down in an earlier version, before I had finished building Balistar. At any rate, I’m pretty sure he has the correct number of spells known - two I picked, one bonus spell from his Muse.

Terribly sorry, folks! I've been burning the candle at both ends the last couple of days and haven't found the time to update Baltoros to v1.3. I'd been holding off posting for that, but I think it'd be better if I make it a moving target and keep up my Gameplay posts in the meantime.

Speaking of which, one is forthcoming right now.

Traveling today - I will try to get caught up before my flight, otherwise will update in 7-8 hours.

As a heads up, I will be traveling next week and unlikely to maintain daily posting until Oct 15th.

Do you guys wanna do the 1.4 update for heritages? We're near the end of this quest.

Also there's 2 more quest to go! Both quest are similar in terms of new mechanics introduced so it's not necessary to do both, but we can if the party wishes so.

Let me know your thoughts on both.

After this quest, the team I was in skipped straight to the finale since the GM had to go on vacation, so I'd like to do them.

Applying 1.4 changes would give us a bump in flavor but isn't necessary. I don't care either way.

I'm fine holding off on 1.4 mainly because I don't know when is the soonest I can get to it. However if everyone else wants to, I'll prioritize updating Baltoros.

It isn't mechanically groundbreaking, so I'm not that concern over not it but just wanted to get everyone's feedback on it.

I can update to 1.4 by Monday. I am now playing the Puddles in another game so I can skip them if it's ok with the group.

I'd be happy to do them all - this is the only Playtest adventure I've played. And I can do the 1.4 update this weekend - Hero Lab finally updated through 1.3, so I'm confident I've got Balistar built right through that version.

So we’re going to do all the quest, but as a fair warning, my typical comfort zones for PBP games are 4-6 weeks as I’ve noticed interest dwindles quite a bit outside that. I will not hesitate to move the game if the PCs do not react within a fair timeframe (24hours), resulting in possible disadvantages, especially during combat.

Also I’m keen to do higher level games, if anyone in interested and has the capacity to keep up, let me know and I’ll take that part of my planning.

I've played Raiders and DDD1 and starting Frozen Oath and DDD2 now.
I want to do Arclord's Envy or DDD parts 3+