Okay... so maybe you guys could have handled the PF Froghemoth after all.
The big difference is probably the AC. The Eagles only have a BAB of 3, which means they are useless fairly often at this level. The Frogemoth with high HP and low-ish AC is the ideal target for them.
Yeah... now that you mention it, the PF version was out of your leagues due to its extremely silly AC. (28, 9 touch)
I mean, I get that it's not meant for Lv.3 heroes, but what's up with the regular and touch AC being 19 points apart? It's like everybody needs a natural 20 to hit, unless you have a touch attack—then you need a natural 1 to miss.
I guess I wasn't looking too closely at your in game posts because it seems like you're just rolling once for each of the eagle's 3 attacks, whatever customer rule is going on is fine. But at this level you're crit fishing with their attacks, which becomes likely because they have 3 attacks each and 4 eagles means 12 attack rolls a round. When I was looking at a summoner type oracle the math worked out that you'd want to summon eagles with summon monster II rather than anything else II has available. Barring summoning something for a specialty purpose.
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I guess I wasn't looking too closely at your in game posts because it seems like you're just rolling once for each of the eagle's 3 attacks, whatever customer rule is going on is fine. But at this level you're crit fishing with their attacks, which becomes likely because they have 3 attacks each and 4 eagles means 12 attack rolls a round. When I was looking at a summoner type oracle the math worked out that you'd want to summon eagles with summon monster II rather than anything else II has available. Barring summoning something for a specialty purpose.
My understanding was that multiple natural attacks have to be done in one roll. For summoning choices the eagles do seem best for damage, but the Grig's SLAs are pretty awesome too.
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My understanding was that multiple natural attacks have to be done in one roll. For summoning choices the eagles do seem best for damage, but the Grig's SLAs are pretty awesome too.
Definitely would appreciate a rules cite for that if it is in fact true. I've toyed a lot with natural attack Barbarian/Bloodrager builds so I'm confident that you roll each attack. Now at the table I can see bundling them up into one roll so everyone is not waiting for you to finish your 12 attacks with eagles plus potentially other rolls. But in PbP you're not really holding anyone up and you can copy/paste the text for the rolls. The only person you'd be bogging down is the GM trying to figure out the effect of each attack.
Given the many not-so-subtle Big Lebowski references, here are the last words of the Froghemoth Prince:
Fact: Sabrina is right.
Opinion: the wrong way is way better.
It made the number-crunching much easier, and it also made it easier for me to not accidentally count the attack that missed because there were only four attacks instead of twelve. Unless other GMs object, I am more than happy to houserule one d20 roll per summoned creature, but the player needs to be consistent.
As far as damage-dealing goes, there is no advantage to either as long as you always roll the same way. Johnny's way—yeah, a nat.20 is triple-awesome. But so far, he never crit and missed once. Missing triple-sucks. But on average, the damage is the same.
My understanding was that multiple natural attacks have to be done in one roll. For summoning choices the eagles do seem best for damage, but the Grig's SLAs are pretty awesome too.Definitely would appreciate a rules cite for that if it is in fact true. I've toyed a lot with natural attack Barbarian/Bloodrager builds so I'm confident that you roll each attack. Now at the table I can see bundling them up into one roll so everyone is not waiting for you to finish your 12 attacks with eagles plus potentially other rolls. But in PbP you're not really holding anyone up and you can copy/paste the text for the rolls. The only person you'd be bogging down is the GM trying to figure out the effect of each attack.
I remembered reading about it on the forums here. I recall a couple of links being posted to the universal monster rules but I can't find anything there now.
@Brainiac, true flanking will hit, but note that a 12-damage fall killed one gut-buster. You can assume all had the same HP when they split from the froghemoth, and they took 4-9 damage from falling. They might all die in one hit. If someone else misses, then yes, I will apply the flanking bonus so two misses become one.
@Ed, being rendered useless for 4 rounds is boring, so I posted part of my R5 post early, which is one NPC attacking another. Sunny and Fifika may be busy, but I'm sure at least Lobster will post, so I'll at least wait for her before R5. Be sure to check in tonight or Tuesday morning to see where this scenario is going.
Alistair's back in the fight. Three enemies left.
FINISH THEM!!
How wide is the ship?
The rigging and sails might work as nets on the harpy.
I agree, based on experience from my first PbP game (2013).
I played a barbarian (C&C). She was having a hard time clobbering a Harpy until the wizard player used Mage Hand and a 50' rope.
It was a memorable and character-defining battle. The Harpy had a 4-year-old daughter, which we kept with us. The knight named the kid, and my barbarian spouted her theories about heredity vs environment. She had 13 INT, just so I could have her talk smart. Smart barbarians always say something clever while jamming their thumbs into the eye-sockets of some jerk who thinks words like "surrender" and "yield" matter. She also had 4 WIS, which basically meant if a monster was there, she charged.
Day One combat is over! You win a glimpse of a Demon Seed reproduction! I have no other use planned for that "egg head" avatar, but I felt compelled to use it since the Alien series did inspire the gut-buster. Did I already mention the criminal empire "Level 426" is named after LV-426, the setting of Aliens?
NPCs with dollars (your real in-game reward) are on their way.
I'd like a ingame days to copy all the scrolls I've bought into my spellbook.
Oh... for scrolls you bought with starting $$$, we can just say Cal already copied them. Same thing with spending $$$ between episodes. Time elaspses, and we don't need to specify. You simply have what you paid for and can use it.
If you want to RP needing one day to copy the last scroll, that's fine. I mean if you WANT to RP a day of scribing in your spell book.
@Johnny, with only two minutes left in the editing window, I remembered to have Ness tell Cal the command word. (It's in the spoiler—not because it's a secret, but he only tells Cal if Cal wants to try pulling a rabbit from the hat.)
If Caledon wants any of the spells on Sab's list feel free to ask she'd be willing to provide the spell component for such.
Oh... for scrolls you bought with starting $$$, we can just say Cal already copied them. Same thing with spending $$$ between episodes. Time elaspses, and we don't need to specify. You simply have what you paid for and can use it.
If you want to RP needing one day to copy the last scroll, that's fine. I mean if you WANT to RP a day of scribing in your spell book.
I've added all the scrolls to my spellbook, thank you. After we are paid, will that be considered the end of an episode? A day of downtime for some shopping and crafting would be a boon.
Right now, we have what appears to be a motive-less crime in which the perpetrator is also a victim.
After you get paid, you'll find out what the Prince was really trying to accomplish, and who put him up to it. And THAT will lead to an opportunity for more dollars. If all goes well, the Bad-Ass Mother Brain (BAMB) will get out of the GM chair, and Addy the Vermilion Vixen will join the Lv.4 party.
Visiting my brother in HTX for his birthday, posting could be irregular til Monday
Enjoy your visit!
If I don't see any Henrietta posts, I'll assume she follows through on getting the whores out of the reach of Lv.426. The Nelsons and their boss would support that... and Four-Eyed Jack is a Lv.426 guy. You're not sure how high up the ladder he is (yet), but you can safely assume that based on what Jack witnessed, Lv.426 hates you whether you free their prostitutes or not. (Well, the good Captain did try to get medical help for Jack, so Jack probably doesn't hate him.)
My weekend includes three daughters dancing, two houseguests, and a birthday party for a 90-year-old. So if it doesn't include GM posts, that's why.
Posted Day Two and paid you all.
If there's anything from Night One you feel is important, feel free to post it in a spoiler.
That's understandable, Sunny. I'm well aware yoir job gets extra crazy this time of year.
A day of downtime for some shopping and crafting would be a boon.
You can have all the days you need between episodes.
I'm fine with giving the party a full day to craft, and you can shop for any potions or other items < 1000g. The limit is simply to represent what items would normally be available.
...
For those who intend to save their money:
Between episodes, you can get ANYTHING you can afford. Also, if you make a good impression with the Nelsons (you already have), they'll let you make a 50% downpayment on hats exactly like theirs.
• Hat of Greater Self is 6K, half the price of Hat of Greater Disguise.
• Hat of Greater Self (S) is 9K. It's the same custom hat, but for halflings and gnomes. The 1.5x price increase is because it does one thing that Hat of Greater Disguise doesn't.
• Hat of Tricks is 8K, half the price of Tan Bag of Tricks.
I would never give my NPCs a custom item without making it available to PCs (to buy or borrow).
I have a thought on crafting and such when I come in as a player. I'm re-thinking VV's feats. I was looking at spells that can be made permanent, so it makes more sense for me to:
• dip two levels in Brawler (since my plan was to start with IUS and TWF anyway)
• @Lv.1, start putting ranks in Spellcraft (Vigilante: Magical Child class skill)
• @Lv.6, learn Craft Wondrous Items (bonus feat)
• @Lv.9, know Greater Magic Fang (3rd level spell @ Vigilante Lv.7)
And from there, I can have the spell made permanent (for +2 to +5 hit/damage) and I can craft an Amulet of Mighty Fist (for +1 to +5 effects). This is cheaper than enchanting stilettos 10 times each, and I'd rather have Craft Wondrous Item than Craft Magical Arms and Armor because I can make a lot of fun items (particularly clothing—Addison Lane is a fashion designer).
...
So anyway, I won't have the crafting feat until the time between Ep.#3 & 4, but I'm certainly open to us crafting for each other during those gaps. I'll obviously only craft what I can Take Ten on (since anything I can't Take Ten on has a 50+% of failure). Of course, the idea would be that the person who gets the item or permanent spell pays for materials, and we just need party members capable of casting/crafting.
While I do intend to use magic for VV's superpowers, I'd still be helpful if anyone wants permanent See Invisibilty, a Hat of Greater Disguise, etc. Heck, I might even get both Minor and Major Creation just to expand my crafting capabilities!
And from there, I can have the spell made permanent (for +2 to +5 hit/damage) and I can craft an Amulet of Mighty Fist (for +1 to +5 effects).
You'd want to do one or the other since they're both enhancement bonuses to the same effect and won't stack. Unless you were using greater magic fang for the to hit and damage and using the amulet to get added weapon effects like flaming, then you're only loosing out on a +1 bonus.
Exactly—the amulet is for effects.
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I was planning to craft some scrolls, but If we are having combat that same evening I'd rather not craft them.
Thank you!
I like the image. What show is that? Maybe the dress one of Addy Lane's designs? They'll be the in-thing 4 levels from now! (They really will. There's a Social Talent called In Vogue that does next to nothing mechanically, but I like it for my character.)
We can push the final Ep.#1 encounter(s) to Day Three. That's noted in my in-game post, along with a quick narration for Ragdoll.
Some thoughts on NPCs becoming cohorts, since I'm not the only one GM'ing this game...
I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of, for example, Ragdoll becoming Alistair's cohort when he reaches Lv.7 or Ness Nelson becoming Caledon's (unless PF has a rule against having both a familiar and a cohort). The catch is you'd need to kind of keep them in a training role until you have the Leadership Feat, but I suppose the upside is you can play around with the idea or end up with a different NPC.
I guess the upside to taking an existing NPC is that some come with nonstandard racial bonuses (in Ragdoll's case) or magic items (in Ness' case). If any players do take my NPCs as future cohorts, I'll only stat them based on what has been confirmed: Ragdoll is a Lv.2 nagaji Oracle (Life) with Remove Sickness as one of her known spells and Ness is a half-elf with Apprentice's Cheating Gloves and the custom Hat of Tricks. What stats/abilities were not confirmed in-game can be player's choice.
For now, I'll play Ragdoll as interested in following Alistair around. Ness is doubtful he could become a mage, but that's lack of confidence, not lack of interest.
Headin home tomorrow, will post on the road
Hey guys, unfortunately I'm going to bow out of this game. I'm a bit stretched thin at the moment and can't find the time to give this one the attention it deserves. It's been fun, though. Thanks for running a great game, GM.
If you could move me to the Inactive Players list, I would appreciate. Thanks again. :)
Sorry to see you go, but I'm aware you're running quite a few games at once. I enjoyed having Anabel around for a while anyway!
Hey guys, unfortunately I'm going to bow out of this game. I'm a bit stretched thin at the moment and can't find the time to give this one the attention it deserves. It's been fun, though. Thanks for running a great game, GM.
If you could move me to the Inactive Players list, I would appreciate. Thanks again. :)
I hope you find your plate at just the right right amount of fullness soon :)
I want to give players a chance to RP a bit. If you guys RP with each other, I'll let scenarios play out. If you RP with NPCs, I'll respond. If you head to any shop, your workplace or home, etc., you can take a bit of creative license with shop names and such, or keep terms general (The Dress Shop).
Adter that, you'll face your final for, a.k.a., the villain.
I've been trying to figure out how to RP the costs associated with scribing a scroll. All the books offer is that the gold cost covers "materials" used in creation. Ink and paper are not that expensive.
My general understanding of in game currency is that a Copper piece is roughly equivalent to a dollar.
I found some really cool medieval recipes for ink but the ingredients would all probably be really cheap. It occurred to me that in the lore of DnD and Pathfinder gold and diamond dust both seem to have properties that allow for for the storage and transmission of magic.
I'm thinking just adding gold, diamond or even platinum dust to the inks and pigments might work. Have you guys seen others people's solutions?
I'm fine with you making that part up, since the material cost is specified but the material is not. You can also choose to specify some or none of the ingredients aloud as you hand Sockhop a parchment with the specifics written on paper (but not typed in the post).
Hey sorry to keep delaying my posts but there's a lot to catch up on give me like another day
No problem. A couple players wanted an fluff-RP day, so that buys you some time.
Once that's all set, we can skip to the finale, which will be considered Day 3.
One upside to the fluff RP day is that I had time to tweak a feature for the final encounter. I do want to move on to that soon though, especially since not all players are RP'ing Day 2. I have a 90th birthday to attend this weekend and, combined with Sunset being busy with work and Lobster catching up with this and at least one other game, it makes sense to let Day 2 go on until Monday.
For Day 3, I would like players to post in-game when we are at King Lewy's, just so I know who will be active for the final encounter. What the King arms you with will depend on the number of players in-game. I am in PM conversations with a new Paizo member who is interested, so hopefully his character will join the good fight.
Also... I hope at some point in January, we'll have a different GM running Ep.#2. Any volunteers?
I'm going to address the awkward silence. Not because I'm a jerk, but because last time I ran a game (Sunset was a player), I didn't address it. I waited. Days passed. Then weeks, and aside from Sunset making an attempt to chat in the discussion thread, I heard nothing—not even from a player I had RP'd with in several PbPs since 2012.
So it hasn't been that long a pause, but considering I went from multiple players posting every day last week to two players posting this week, I think it irresponsible for me to ignore this fact and keep pushing through.
A few thoughts I have:
[#1] Should the Episode have ended with the fall of the Prince?
• If so, the solution is to simply have the King reward you and move on to Ep.2.
• The thing I have planned can always happen in a later Episode in Rooftopolis.
[#2] Is interest waning?
• If so (or if not), I just need to see who's still in and go from there.
• And if I didn't create a fun enough experience to keep you around, please accept my apology.
[#3] Is everyone just waiting for the part that leads to the Ep.1 Finale?
• If so, I will stay the course, ending the episode with a ridiculously over-the-top battle.
• My current plan is to move ahead on Monday.
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To be honest my issue is that you're very verbose in your posts and its a bit overwhelming. Your normal posts far exceed even the longest posts in my PbP. I find myself skimming through things and missing details which lends me to let other PCs take the lead in moving things along.
The other issue I have which has nothing to do with you is I haven't been feeling Sabs. I have to be in a certain frame of mind to attempt a Sabs post and I haven't had that naturally recently or the energy to force it. Plus its a crazy world and a lot of Sabs's fun is being the craziest person in the room. I prolly should have made a different character.
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I am a bit in agreement with Sabs. the lengthy DM posts contain lots of info and feels very fast. (probably not the case of course) or rather I tends to get things mixed up a lot.
I did not get any sense in character of more to come in the scenario. the prince battle felt like a finale with little or no clues that there is more.
I am ok with just a quick post to end the day and move on to the rest.