Thanks a lot for the invitation!
1. Player/Forum Name: noral
2. Character's Name: Dana (Enora pregen)
3. Class and Level: Arcanist 7
4. PFS#: 314670-12
5. Faction: Liberty’s edge
6. Day job Roll (if any): none
Player: Ansha
Character: Ansha Saeralyan
Class/level: Wizard (manipulator) 6/enchanting courtesan 2
PFS#: 16188-3
Faction: Dark Archive
Slow Track xp advancement.
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So my tentative retraining is this:
Ran1 to Clr1 (associated class); -4 skill points
Level 4 ability score increase from +1 Int to +1 Wis -8 skill points
Those combine for a big hit to skills, but give Ranalus level 4 spells (Blessing of Fervor!) and better DCs.
He also loses 2 HP, 1 BAB, 2 Fort and Ref, Favored Enemy, Perception and Stealth as class skills, and proficiency with his longbow (a non-specialist's archery is basically worthless at this level anyway).
Other changes: Level 1 feat from Expertise to Improved Initiative
Also buying a Rod of Lesser Persistent
This makes him much more of a caster. Although less of a skillmonkey now, he has 1 rank in many skills for use with Bestow Insight.
Wow!! How much prestige does this retraining cost you?
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15 Prestige. He had 36, would now be down to 21.
The thing is, the character evolved organically over a long period of time (he's my -1), and changed direction as new things like Feysworn came out. Main goal was always "scout and utility caster", though he could sort of pull his weight as a switch-hitting secondary combatant through level 5 or so. Expertise was originally taken with an eye towards Moonlight Stalker (using the Darkness domain ability to gain concealment). But the character went in a different direction.
At level 8 the combats are built for specialists who do way more damage. Archers who can pump out 100+ damage a round, for example. So it is time to give up delusions of martial adequacy (rare moments like super-buffed vs the juggernaut notwithstanding). His Feyskinned DR will help since he may still be in the thick of it, just with spells instead of weapons.
Or archaeologist bard. ;)
Ha ha! Menas is awesome!
I might be mistaken but an Arcanist is a spontaneous caster and thus cannot use a pearl of power at all.
Arcanists use runestones of power.
Strictly in terms of her spells, she could get him with Charm Monster. His ability just means he isn't a 'person'. His Will save is quite good but not unbeatable.
Suggestion, confusion, terrible remorse, and even hypnotism would work too (if she rolled the full 8 HD affected).
As for Ansha, she's just a bit proud and vain about her enchantments. Creatures have resisted her spells before in both this scenario and the last one, but she just thinks it's an affront to her personage that someone/thing could, let alone does resist.
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Re: shadow conjuration duplicating a summon spell, Shadow Conjuration says: "It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses. Against a creature that recognizes it as a shadow creature, however, the shadow creature's damage is one-fifth (20%) normal, and all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage are only 20% likely to work. (Roll for each use and each affected character separately.)"
It seems to me that tremorsense would only have a 20% chance to work if Thulmaga made her save, but if she failed her save, it would 100% work.
As Tremorsense is an extraordinary ability and the spell talks about special abilities I would agree with Ansha.
But you would have to roll for each elemental to see if the 20% chance applies I believe.
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"A shadow creature has one-fifth the hit points of a normal creature of its kind (regardless of whether it's recognized as shadowy). It deals normal damage and has all normal abilities and weaknesses."
As tremorsense does not seem like an activated ability, I'd imagine you wouldn't have to roll for the ability to work. To me, that "all special abilities that do not deal lethal damage" line is referring to activated abilities that are usually offensive in some way (like a hellhound's fire breath), but possibly also defensive ones (like a shadow mastiff's shadow blend). I do not think this applies to senses like darkvision or tremorsense, after all, these aren't even listed as abilities in a stat block, they are listed under senses.
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As to location of the caster, since Ranalus knew roughly where she was casting, he'd target the summons there and rely on their Tremorsense to get them to the target.
I tend to side with Menas, not to increase the power of the spell but just because if Tremorsense is only 20% likely to work, then wouldn't that apply to normal senses too? Would all Shadow Conjurations have an 80% chance to be blind on a successful save?
Also, Thulmaga only gets a save once she interacts with the illusions. Does "being perceived by Tremorsense" count as interacting?
But I would not complain if you ruled the other way. Illusions are always tricky to adjudicate.
I'm glad you find it interesting. ;) I thought it was a creative use of a spell. (I could have tried Shadow Glitterdust but that very clearly would have a 20% chance to work if she made the save.)
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I see all your points and I can roll with it like that.
My point was what is a shadow creature or conjuration...the spell says it's a quasi-real illusion. Quasi means - seemingly; apparently but not really or being partly or almost.
So is a shadow conjuration really a creature. If it is then it can act with a semblance of intelligence; like using tremorsense to sense things. If they are just an illusions that are magically infused and when interacted with they can be disbelieved; then can they really act with intelligence?
I can see it both ways.
But I'll respect your opinions and we will go with that they are indeed a type of shadow creature (well quasi), that as Earth Elementals use tremorsense. And I like the creativeness of the solution Ranalus came up with and that should be rewarded.
I have to admit, I'm enjoying being a hidden menace here. Even more funny because none of her allies knows where she is or what she's doing, either.
Re: Terrible Remorse, I will say that I think the save(s) should be on the caster's initiative, but the smashing oneself in the face should be on the target's initiative.
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Right I can see how that could work, for example:
Ansha casts it, Thulmaga fails save, is under the spells effect.
On Thulmaga's turn, she smashes herself in the face, no save yet, still under the spell.
On Ansha next turn, roll save, make save, is now staggered and -2 AC, no longer under the spell.
I think you are right this most fits the wording I thinking, but is different from most other spells that allow a new save, which usually occurs at the end of the effect targets turn. We'll go with this version (it really won't matter much based on the order).
I have to admit that that fight felt like a cakewalk...but then I look at the amount of damage everyone else took, and maybe it was just me. ;P
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Gang we are done! Hope you all enjoy it. It definitely had some tricky parts to it, and I'm glad I ran this on play by post, as I'm sure I would have botched a bunch of thing IRL.
Please find your chronicles here: Dropbox
Make sure they look correct.
Thanks again and Happy Holiday!
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I do intend to run the Forged in Flame scenarios 8-09 and 8-11 at some point. But not immediately, I decided on a little break over the holidays. Then mid-Jan I am GMing a table at Retrocon. Not sure what my bandwidth will be while doing that yet (and new year IRL stuff). So at best I'll start 8-09 somewhere around Jan 21st, at worst after Retrocon (mid March).
If you are interested in playing those 2 games indicate your interest here and then I'll be in touch at some point when I am ready to start.