Welcome!
I always do my best to run a friendly game. I want people to have fun and everyone to be able to laugh when something crazy happens.
This is part of a special so it will be critical that we run a fast game.
I really want everyone to be able to post at least once a day, preferably more. If you are going to be away from the game for a short period (such as attending a convention, on a short vacation, or needing to do some business travel), I would ask that you please post that here so everyone involved knows.
Character Profiles
Please have a profile header displaying a brief overview of your character's current status. At the least it should include current/maximum hit points, AC (including flat footed and touch), saving throws, and any pools of expendable resources such as panache, grit, arcane pool, rounds of rage, rounds of bardic performance or other things like those that get expended as you use powers.
In the character profile, please include a complete stat block. You may put it under a spoiler if you wish, but if you do so please put it under a single spoiler. I do not want it split across multiple spoilers.
If you have your character sheet on a different site, please have a link to it in your character’s headers. This allows me to pull it up from any post by the character, rather than having to go to the profile and from there to the external sheet.
If you want examples, the PbP GM Kit has the pregenerated characters done in BB Code. Use those as a general guideline.
Botting
Botting is when someone else makes a roll or otherwise does something on behalf of your character. Bot is short for robot.
Please include botting instructions in your profile and a general tactics in case someone else needs to bot your character. It is alright if you put this in a separate spoiler from the stat block, but once again please don't split it over multiple spoilers.
Since this is a special, I would suggest you as a group come up with some general agreement for when people get botted. Some groups are more comfortable with botting than others.
Please also indicate if you have a preference for who runs your character. If there are resources you don’t mind them using, please say so.
If your character has any abilities that interrupt play such as Swashbuckler Parry and Repost, Dual Cursed Oracle’s Misfortune Revelation, the Bard Spell Saving Finale or any other things that can interrupt the normal sequence to allow an action, modify a check or cause a re-roll, I ask that you have something in your Botting instructions about when you want this used.. The reason is that it can really slow down a PbP if you have to serialize actions.
Initiative in PbP
I will roll all Initiative checks for PCs and NPCs, sort them, and organize them into blocks. I will bold the names of characters that should act. I will take the NPC actions in order and reserve the right to delay an NPC in order to make them act with a group of other NPCs.
When it is your turn to act, please post. Do not wait for someone else to post just because they had a higher Initiative. If you know what you want to do but want to wait for someone else’s action to go off first, just say that.
Here is an example of how you could post before another player but have it go off after another player:
Sir Cumference waits for the elven archer Mister Oakleaf to get done firing his arrow before charging the Wily Snark.
I (and most other PbP GMs) do grouped Initiative in order to keep the adventure moving. In PbP people will have different posting schedules and often live in different time zones, Waiting for posts in order could make a single round of combat take days to resolve. Even in a normal game, that slows things down too much. In a special, you would never have time to complete anything.
Within the rules, it is as if everyone within the same Initiative block delayed until they could post.
Chronicle information
In order to be able to generate a PFS chronicle, I ask that each character please provide me the following information:
Player name:
Character name:
PFS and character #:
Faction:
Day Job roll (or a note that you have no day job):
Rules Questions
If there are rules questions, please post them in the discussion thread rather than interrupting the gameplay thread with rules debates.
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Player Name: Tusk the Half-Orc
Character Name: Garduk the Unteachable
Class and Level: Arcanist (Occultist) 5
PFS#: 199504-7
Faction: Dark Archive
Advancement Track: Normal
Day Job Roll:
I’ve got a handful of between-scenario purchases and spellcraft checks for scribing new spells into Garduk’s spellbook (including Crafter’s Fortune, which is an automatic success), which I’ll list this evening or over the weekend.
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Player name: Rogar Valertis
Character name: Wolfgang Strabe
PFS and character #: 100733-7
Faction: Sovereign Court
Day Job roll:
Progression: Standard
Notes: Just returning to the boards after the holidays (which I spent working anyway, mostly). Charatcter needs to be updated with 1 extra scenario completed but it does not change level or anything. Before we start I might ask to make some purchases though.
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Wolfgang will purchase a Belt of incredible dexterity +2 for 4.000 gp and a wayfinder for 250gp. He will also upgrade this wayfinder to "dayfinder" spending 10PP.
So 4.250gp and 10PP spent.
I already upgraded Wolfgang character's sheet as well.
edit: Wolfgang also bought a Mithral Shirt for another 1.100gp and sold his old MW Chain Shirt for 125 gp.
To summarize:
Gold spent: -5.350 gp and -10 PP (Belt of Increbible dexterity+2, Mithral Shirt, Wayfinder, upgrade to "dayfinder").
Items sold: MW chain shirt (+125gp).
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I added tactics of the fight in the spoiler "tactics". There I also placed all the typical formulas (rolls) of attacks and combat maneuvers. Just [ctrl-c / ctrl-v] to bot Chandrabha.
I haven't thought about 'shopping' yet, but I don't think it's going to be anything serious. I'll write here in a few days.
We are short one character.
I’ve posted in Flaxseed looking for a sixth player.
If you know someone who wants in and currently isn’t playing in RetroCon, please point them this way!
I’m also allowing character introductions in Gameplay now. The special hasn’t started, but at least you can find out a little more about the people you will be working with!
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How does a reptile of any size - let alone one that big - function at all this far north?.
Excellent question. The world is full of magic and mysteries, some of which Pathfinders does not notice under their nose...
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Colleagues! Need your advice. Do I understand correctly that in order to cure my snake from disease and curse I have to spend 2 RP? Should I make throws or after spending prestige the effect is achieved automatically?
Colleagues! Need your advice. Do I understand correctly that in order to cure my snake from disease and curse I have to spend 2 RP? Should I make throws or after spending prestige the effect is achieved automatically?
Money or prestige points. See pg. 19-20 of the Guide.
No, you do not automatically succeed at any caster level or other checks. As indicated in the very next section of the FAQ, you can purchase the services at higher than minimum levels.
You may also want to look over other sections of the FAQ, including the sections on replacing animal companions.
I do not know how this interacts with the boon I assume you have that allows you to use a giant snake as a mount for an animal companion. Cavaliers normally don’t ride snakes.
Thanks for letting us know! We will place you somewhere in the general area of the others.
When you get a chance, some Botting directions would be appreciated.
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I take we did not find a sixth player?
As for botting directions with Wolfgang... he a fairly straightforward guy. He will shoot anything threatening the party while keeping his distance and avoiding trouble if at all possible. Against truly dangerous opponents he might choose to activate his mutagen to give himself better stats as needed.
Yes, we never got a sixth.
There is still time if someone comes in during the first two days (measured from the Overseer announcement) which corresponds with when a live table would be mustered.
After that, I would have to check if I am allowed to add a player.
The restrictions were NOT lifted.
You may only play at one RPG table and one ACG table during this convention. If one of them is a table not on Paizo.com or else is Cosmic Captive, you may sign up for two RPG tables.
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Botting directions are in Garduk's profile.
To start the discussion regarding group placement on the map, I have placed Garduk roughly where I think he might want to be (assuming that the stairs near the top of the map lead down):
- Garduk would want a decent view of the center of the cathedral, because he assumes that's where Kreighton Shane will be to give his briefing, and
- Dwarves came from underground, so perhaps it would be most profitable to start our exploration by going down to the lower levels of the Sky Citadel.
Of course, I'm open to discussion, and my guesses about the mission never survive the briefing anyway!
To start the discussion regarding group placement on the map, I have placed Garduk roughly where I think he might want to be (assuming that the stairs near the top of the map lead down):- Garduk would want a decent view of the center of the cathedral, because he assumes that's where Kreighton Shane will be to give his briefing, and
- Dwarves came from underground, so perhaps it would be most profitable to start our exploration by going down to the lower levels of the Sky Citadel.
Of course, I'm open to discussion, and my guesses about the mission never survive the briefing anyway!
The stairs in the northwest large alcove go down. Your figure is currently on the correct side for the stairs down.
The stairs in the northeast large alcove go up. I have marked them with an arrow and label. They are directly across from the stairs down.
Kreighton looks to be setting up in the middle of the center hall, where there is sunlight reflected in by the mirrors.
I have created a new slide (#3) that is a larger version of the area around where your group is.
I have placed Garduk and Chandrabha on the slide based on where they were on Slide #2.
If the rest of you can place yourselves on Slide #3, it would be much appreciated.
On a slightly different topic, I will be creating a recruitment thread to try and get one more player for our table. None of you need do anything in the recruitment thread, it is just another attempt by me to get a full table.
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GM Bret, thank you so much for helping me with this matter.
I guess I'll replace my mount after all. Alas, this is the easiest way. Apparently it will be like a Roach from the Witcher series. According to the rules, I'll remove evasion and a few tricks.
I do not know how this interacts with the boon I assume you have that allows you to use a giant snake as a mount for an animal companion. Cavaliers normally don’t ride snakes.
This archetype allows this. You have to be nagaji to take it (even in PFS).
Ah, I hadn't looked up the archetype.
I assume your mount was poisoned in a previous adventure and the GM didn't resolve things? They are supposed to resolve these sort of conditions at the end, but I know that sometimes things get rushed.
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Yeah, that's pretty much it. The game was almost 6 hours. During this time, we hardly reached the middle of the scenario, but we argued a lot on the rules and adequacy of the NPS reactions. After 6 hours, it was decided to finish where it is. Result: about 300 gold, 0 prestige, the snake is struck by some variant mummy rot. So, we did not resolved anything on the spot and the chronicles were sent by e-mail.
It just happens sometimes (however, I had that for the first time and hopefully the last)....
I don’t see any Handle Animal skill on your character. Is your profile up to date?
If you just leveled to 5 (haven’t played yet) I can probably get you permission to reallocate the skills so you have it.
Handle Animal can not be used Untrained for training critters.
Hey Chandraba --
Bret notified me about this. I don't like to ding players for honest mistakes. Your character with an animal companion should have had handle animal all along. If you wish to quickly reallocate your skills so that you have it now, I will allow it. That will allow you to at least get basic tricks on your new critter.
Good luck.
Hmm
VC, PBP
Hilary was more generous than I was.
Reallocate any skill ranks you want from existing skills into Handle Animal and update your profile.
You get one trick per rank in Handle Animal. You are allowed to Take 10 on training. The FAQ had additional details on this.
Please update here before acting in the combat that has just begun.
Thanks!
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Oh! I never paid attention to "trained only" in the description of this skill. On the other hand, after replacement of companion I have only bonus tricks* and "combat training", which goes automatically to the mount.
...These bonus tricks don't require any training time or Handle Animal checks, and they don't count against the normal limit of tricks known by the animal.
In any case, I thank you for explaining the mistake and for this opportunity! I have one unnecessary rank in ride (Chandrabha fighting on foot) that I'll transfer to handle animal. Thanks!
UPD: Added a snake token to the map.
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You might want to read Flutter's Guide to Animal Companions, Druid's Log. He helped me understand how animal companions worked when I was building my first character!
Combat training is automatic when you first get an animal companion as a Cavalier. But when you replace an animal, you get to do all that training yourself. So right now, you have your bonus tricks and can train a number of other tricks equal to your ranks in handle animal. With only one rank, you can train one additional trick after your bonus tricks.
Have a great game, guys!
Hmm
It looks like the Druid’s Log has not been updated since the publication of Ultimate Wilderness. You will find there is a lot of overlap between Ultimate Wilderness and Animal Archive.
If you decide at some point you want to be able to do more than what is described in the Core Rule Book, it may be worth it to get Ultimate Wilderness instead of Animal Archive.
In the mean time, I think I will go poke a big wolf with a stick. Find out if they plan to update the document.
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I'll have to buy this book. We'll see.
About ranks, by the way. I still haven't seen a reason to have more than 1 rank in Handle Animal if you're OK with charisma. At the next level when I get back Link class feature, I'll take automatically tricks I’ll need (take 10). And when the animal has intelligence 1 and you can teach it only three tricks...
P.S. I'll make a game post in a couple of hours.
I think the only thing you are doing outside CRB currently is the Maneuver (Trip). If you are feeling lucky, you can get that off a push action.
I tend to max Handle Animal on my characters until I can fairly reliably manage DC 27 with a roll. That allows me to push the creature during combat when it is hurt. I like the flexibility of being able to do something unconventional when it seems appropriate. Lastest example of this was with my cavalier, where I wanted the mount (a boar in my case) to drag an opponent that I had just netted.
I don’t have a lot of pet class characters. Still, having done a little bit with them helped me learn the rules for Handle Animal and Ride.
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I tend to max Handle Animal on my characters until I can fairly reliably manage DC 27 with a roll. That allows me to push the creature during combat when it is hurt.
That makes a lot of sense. So, I will take advantage of the generous offer to reallocate some ranks and on this I will close this 'off-topic'.
I'm sure my red opponent is still entangled, aside from the grappled condition. The fact that I let go the end of the net only affects the fact that I can't control his movements by opposed strenght check. But the entangled condition itself does not disappear :)
I will spend some time rereading nets as a weapon and get back to you on this.
So far, it hasn’t made a different but it likely will when they get their action.
I need to take a trip out of town the weekend, starting today and returning Sunday.
I will update once more this morning. After that it is likely that I will not be able to update again until sometime tonight. Tomorrow and Sunday will also most likely only be morning and evening updates.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Rereading the description of the net, it appears that Red is still entangled. I had thought you needed to hold the trailing rope. In rereading it, the only thing the rope does is put a limit on their movement.
Red started out grumpy. Now they are also entangled and grappled.
Headed out. I will update tonight.
It looks like Wolfgang only updates once a day in the evening so we would have waited anyways. I don’t want to bot him right now considering the party is trying to decide if the NPC gets captured or killed.
Wolfgang, it would be good if you could add some Botting directions to your profile.
Aid Tokens are the way that a special represents the help you can get from other groups of Pathfinders. All tables are working together on the same mission and the Aid Token represents something another group does to help your group.
It is a free action to use an Aid Token. You can only boost or use it. You can not use Aid Tokens twice within the same encounter.
If anyone hasn’t participated in a special before and needs a better explanation of what is going on, please ask! I will do my best to explain things.
The bonus depends on tier. I have already incorporated the changes so the below is for Tier 5-6.
Aid Another: A Pathfinder agent helps the PCs solve a puzzle, disable a trap, or accomplish some other task as if performing the aid another action for a PC, giving +3 to the check.
Allied Offensive: A Pathfinder agent strikes a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt by one attack by 2d8 points. In addition, after the attack, the target is considered to be flanked until the beginning of the attacker's next turn.
Burst of Healing: A Pathfinder agent heals all of the PCs of 3d6 points of damage. Alternatively, the agent can instead cast neutralize poison, remove curse, or remove disease with a caster level equal to the table's APL (minimum 5).
Spellcasting Synergy: A Pathfinder agent casts a spell at the same time, increasing the save DC and caster level of a PC's spell by 1.
Timely Inspiration: A Pathfinder agent provides the effects of a bard's inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds giving a Competence bonus of +2.
Speaking of Aid Tokens, we just got one!
Use it or pass it on. Holding them just hurts all the tables.
It has been over 24 hours since Wolfgang’s turn came up.
Would someone like to bot him?
Guess I will bot him then.