GM Lorenzo's #9-00: Assault on Absalom (Tier 5-6) PbP Gameday VII (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

Is it a standard action to activate?

There are seven different conditions the Overseer GM might announce, each tied to the House completing its respective faction’s objective. These grant each table a single-use benefit that the players can choose to activate as a group.

Activating one of these benefits takes no action, but a table can only benefit from up to two of these benefits per encounter. These benefits can also affect companion creatures, such as familiars and animal companions.

Benefits that replicate an Aid Token’s benefits can be used in the same encounter as an Aid Token.

Kulga raises a good point: In this scenario, it would be very helpful to have each PC's alignment in his or her tagline. If yours doesn't, please add it. Saves me the hassle of looking up everybody's character sheet.

Kulga, one of a minotaur's special abilities prevents it from being caught flat-footed. That should negate the sneak attack and the ability to study the target as an immediate action. If I've overlooked something, please let me know.

Nah, that checks out. Alas.

Brayne, I double-checked the minotaur's stats. Giant is its only language. (Command is language-dependent.)

Giant you say... *remembers years of logistical training*

Yup I can speak that.

Brayne, since the minotaur was already identified as a monstrous humanoid, I'll let you retcon that action. (Hold Person works on humanoids, but not monstrous humanoids.) If I've missed something let me know.
If you still want to use Misfortune along with another standard action, please let me know the DC.

Sorry everyone, I teach on Tuesday nights. Got home late to top it off.

At least I didn't die!

Fuzzfoot, did you get two attacks (bombs) this round?

Ha! I don't know what happened there, I meant to simply edit the first post to be more specific text. I have edited the first, and deleted the second (which was the better rolls, but alas!)

Larry,

Should we try and work through each one of the obstacles at a time or just come up with a course of action and work our way through them all at one time?

I realize I'm condensing the action here, but I think the upside outweighs the downside.

Each PC selects a skill (or employs a relevant spell/ability as per the guidance in the Mechanics section) for each obstacle and rolls for each of them. Please indicate the obstacle, the skill you're using, and use the digital dice. Each PC can do all that in a single post.

*EDIT* Fuzzfoot just posted an example of what I'm looking for from everyone. A bit of role-playing for each check is a great touch.

If anyone has questions or needs further clarification about the mechanics, please let me know.

I'll collate the rolls and consolidate the results once we've heard from everyone.

Then we'll move on to the combat encounter that concludes the Grand Lodge faction mission.

---

The House has the fewest Grand Lodge faction successes out of all the factions so far. And we want to get Caller his own faction mission complete. Please check in and post as often as you can.

The Exchange Mission Complete

A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete

Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

The Exchange Mission Complete

A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete

Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete

Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Folks,
To enable each of you to select from any of the various faction boons on the Chronicle Sheets, it's in everyone's interest to complete the Scarab Sages faction mission, and then, if time permits, we can still complete the Liberty's Edge faction mission.

I'll continue to push the action as GM, and with everyone's teamwork and frequent posting, we can accomplish that goal.

Works for me!

I'm ready!

Fuzzfoot, the party needed to succeed at three of the five listed checks in order to begin the activation of Gulgamodh. I revealed the DCs but I didn't reveal the task's success criteria, hoping it might encourage everyone to pitch in and build a little suspense. Turned out it wasn't necessary.

The Exchange Mission Complete
A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete
Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete
Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Liberty's Edge Mission Complete
Freed slaves cast off their chains to join Absalom’s defense.
At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to increase their land speed by 10 feet for the duration of the encounter.

Silver Crusade Mission Complete
The faithful of Sarenrae return to Absalom in force to heal embattled defenders’ wounds.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Burst of Healing benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Sovereign Court Mission Complete
Members of Absalom’s nobility rally the defenders and direct their household guards to shore up key areas.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Timely Inspiration benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Hey GM, I gave it some thought and here's what I'd like to do with Nella's 'Adoration' ability:

The Exchange Mission Complete
A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete
Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete
Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Liberty's Edge Mission Complete
Freed slaves cast off their chains to join Absalom’s defense.
At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to increase their land speed by 10 feet for the duration of the encounter.

Silver Crusade Mission Complete
The faithful of Sarenrae return to Absalom in force to heal embattled defenders’ wounds.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Burst of Healing benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Sovereign Court Mission Complete
Members of Absalom’s nobility rally the defenders and direct their household guards to shore up key areas.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Timely Inspiration benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Scarab Sages Mission Complete
The powerful construct Gulgamodh awakens and seeks out invaders to strike down with its arcane cannon.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Allied Offensive benefit (multiply the additional damage dealt by 150%) that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

I don't know how many more encounters we have, but we must be getting close to the end. Should we activate one or more of these for this next one? Maybe increase land speed by 10?

If you're feelin' it, call it, Fuzzfoot.

***Aid Token***

*** Token 1***
Passing to: GM Lorenzo
Current Boosts: Allied Offensive (Noke Tiz), Provide Knowledge (Arcana, Hard, Makon Grimug)

Urge you all to use it or boost it now, so we can pass it to another table.

The Exchange Mission Complete
A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete
Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete
Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Liberty's Edge Mission Complete
Freed slaves cast off their chains to join Absalom’s defense.
At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to increase their land speed by 10 feet for the duration of the encounter.

Silver Crusade Mission Complete
The faithful of Sarenrae return to Absalom in force to heal embattled defenders’ wounds.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Burst of Healing benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Sovereign Court Mission Complete
Members of Absalom’s nobility rally the defenders and direct their household guards to shore up key areas.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Timely Inspiration benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

To avoid cluttering Gameplay, I'll note that Nella will take a Shield of Faith potion and one of the Elixirs of Hiding if no one else wants them.

Good idea. Lancyn would like one of the Divine Favor options if no others want them.

Carrion Golems... ugh! Stinky!

Trying to figure out how the Shoanti bolas work with their trip special weapon feature.

Trip: You can use a trip weapon to make trip attacks.

You can attempt to trip your opponent in place of a melee attack. You can only trip an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you ... If your attack exceeds the target’s CMD, the target is knocked prone.

For now, I'll rule that the attack hit, damaged the carrion golem, but didn't trip the creature. (It's CMD is a bit higher than its AC.)

If anyone can point me to rules I've overlooked, please let me know.

Kulga, I went with the first attack roll.

Trying to figure out how the Shoanti bolas work with their trip special weapon feature.

Special Weapon Features wrote:

Trip: You can use a trip weapon to make trip attacks.

Combat Maneuvers wrote:

You can attempt to trip your opponent in place of a melee attack. You can only trip an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you ... If your attack exceeds the target’s CMD, the target is knocked prone.

For now, I'll rule that the attack hit, damaged the carrion golem, but didn't trip the creature. (It's CMD is a bit higher than its AC.)

If anyone can point me to rules I've overlooked, please let me know.

You can make a range trip attempt or range attack. Not both. If it misses the CMD, there should be no damage if it was a trip attempt

No worries - that's why I called out how I did my movement :)

Sadly, Batpony's correct about the Trip attempt not getting a consolation prize.

Ok. Sounds good. Counter-intuitive, but solid nonetheless.

The Exchange Mission Complete
A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete
Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete
Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Liberty's Edge Mission Complete
Freed slaves cast off their chains to join Absalom’s defense.
At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to increase their land speed by 10 feet for the duration of the encounter.

Silver Crusade Mission Complete
The faithful of Sarenrae return to Absalom in force to heal embattled defenders’ wounds.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Burst of Healing benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Sovereign Court Mission Complete
Members of Absalom’s nobility rally the defenders and direct their household guards to shore up key areas.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Timely Inspiration benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Lancyn,
I reviewed the rules for Vision and Light.

... [T]ypical case where someone cast a darkness spell on one object, somebody else cast a light spell on another object, and the areas overlap. We’re still not dealing with daylight yet. Based on the rules of light and darkness, here’s how to adjudicate this situation within the overlap:

First, the darkness spell turns off nonmagical light sources and lowers the ambient light level. If there are multiple darkness spells, figure out the highest spell level (not caster level!)

Next, the light spells attempt to shine through. For every light spell, check to see if it has a higher spell level (not caster level!) than the highest spell level of any of the darkness spells. If so, that light spell has its normal effect, as per the spell. Do not reduce its light level again for the darkness spell; that already happened. This is true in all overlapping areas, as per the May 2013 FAQ, whether the light spell’s source object is within the area of darkness or not.

If I've overlooked something, let me know.

Thank you Larry, I can see the Darkness now lol.

Just was thinking caster levels in stead of spell levels.

*** Token #1 ***
Passing Aid Token to: GM Lorenzo
Current Boosts: Allied Offensive (Noke Tiz), Provide Knowledge (Easy, c/o Sirettis)

We got another Aid Token:

***Token #6***
Passing Token to: GM Lorenzo
Current Boost: Allied Offense

Aid Token Cheat Sheet

Passing along the Aid Token with a Boosted (Easy) Provide Knowledge (Fuzzfoot)

Everybody, when something significant changes, like AC, please remind me of the new stat in your post. It's a big help and avoids errors.

Not a criticism of Kulga, just a friendly request for your assistance in making the GM's job a little easier.

Thanks.

Sure, that's why I adjusted it for her temporary ring of protection, but I can do that for round by round buffs as well if that'd be helpful :)

The Exchange Mission Complete
A cache of pristine and deadly armaments becomes available.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to treat the enhancement bonuses of all their weapons as 2 higher for the duration of the encounter. Treat the effective enhancement bonus of mundane weapons as +0.)

Dark Archive Mission Complete
Pathfinder agents begin broadcasting illuminated signals that confuse the Black Echelon agents.
(Once during the adventure, the PCs can activate this benefit grant all undead creatures present the confused condition for 1 round. If an undead creature confused in this way attacks a PC, it takes a penalty on its attack rolls equal to half the group’s APL=3.)

Grand Lodge Mission Complete
Absalom’s flag rises over Fort Tempest and emboldens the city’s defenders.
(At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to gain a number of temporary hit points equal to three times their APL=18; these last until the end of the encounter.)

Liberty's Edge Mission Complete
Freed slaves cast off their chains to join Absalom’s defense.
At the beginning of one encounter, the PCs can activate this benefit to increase their land speed by 10 feet for the duration of the encounter.

Silver Crusade Mission Complete
The faithful of Sarenrae return to Absalom in force to heal embattled defenders’ wounds.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Burst of Healing benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Sovereign Court Mission Complete
Members of Absalom’s nobility rally the defenders and direct their household guards to shore up key areas.
The group gains one free use of the Aid Token’s Timely Inspiration benefit that the PCs can activate at their discretion.

Anyone besides me wanting to use Burst of Healing?

Depends on whether the undead creature is unconscious after Brayne's turn. Lol

Did my last attack hit or miss?

Caller hit. I alluded to it in the previous post, but I forgot to update its HP. I corrected the total damage in my recent update.

Thanks for calling my attention to the oversight.

I apologize for the rather abrupt transition to the encounter between the two constructs.

We visited Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage, this afternoon, and all the walking made us rather thirsty. A few glasses of Pino Grigio later, my capacity for creative writing is... impaired.

Off to visit honkytonks along Nashville's Broadway the rest of the evening.

I promise to be your usual sober GM tomorrow.

Normally wouldn't hijack another thread like this but PM notifications still aren't showing up, sooooooo....

*ahem* Caller, our other game has started up again so be sure to check in when you get a chance :)

And we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.