So when will the entire dungeon come at us? This is getting to be dumb.
The internet doesn't always convey tone very well, so I can't tell if that's an expression of just general exasperation at how things have been going, or a complaint about my GM-ing, or something else. I assure you that I'm not just tossing things at you just to be a jerk. This level is designed to reward a stealthier approach but, wisely or not, you rang the front doorbell pretty hard, and then set the whole place on fire! As a result, the occupants know you are here. I've tried to strike a balance that acknowledges that fact, while also not simply overwhelming you by having everything come at you at the same time. So I've thought through where everyone may have moved to and what steps, if any, they may have taken up to this point. The two guards who just fired at you were stationed there because it made sense given the situation, though I didn't really expect anything to come of it because I wasn't expecting someone to run back there by themselves. But you did and now we'll see what happens (it was good luck that they both missed!).
In any case, from my point of view this has turned out to be a lot more exciting and fun than I was expecting. Under ordinary circumstances this is a pretty easy level. Reading through it I was expecting that you would all be bored and that most combats wouldn't last an entire round. For better or worse, I feel confident that this is one of the more epic runs of Splinterden that has ever occurred. Lucky us! :-)
All that said, I've had to make a number of behind-the-scenes GM decisions and I'll be glad to share those with you and get your feedback once we get to the end of the level.
So, I've just received word from a venture officer that, effective immediately, Heccuba will be leaving our module (this isn't specific to our module - the player is apparently leaving all PbP games he's involved in).
Heccuba, if you are still here and reading this, farewell and I hope that whatever issues are arising for you resolve themselves in the best possible way. I'll be issuing you your chronicle soon (likely in a few days due to traveling) and will send you the link to download it by pm.
For the others, the question is whether you would like to continue as you are (as a party of 4), or pause to try to recruit someone else to jump in? As I've mentioned before, the Spire was written with parties of 4 in mind, and I personally think that you will probably be fine, but that's not to say that there might not be some risk.
We'll pause gameplay until everyone has a chance to weigh in.
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I am fine continuing as is since we pretty much have a dedicated healer. Just lacking a pure caster but idk if that will be a big issue.
Fine with either choice though.
Once gameplay resumes we can all gather round while Altovin heals up all these nasty wounds and probably explains to the Tengu how he was staying alive.
If I am not getting full credit for the game, I do not need or want the chronicle.
I'll send you a chronicle. I'm traveling tomorrow for a few days so I won't get to until next week but I'll send you a link to download then. If you prefer not to use the paizo wonky messaging system just send me your email address and I'll send it that way. Or I'll just post a note here to let you know.
Fyi, traveling until Sunday night and I forgot my charger. May or may not be able to post.
I'm finally feeling mostly better, and can probably manage to keep up again if you need another. :-)
Welcome back, Dasus! Glad to hear that you are feeling better!
Ok, we'll continue forward with a party of five, with Heccuba leaving us and Dasus rejoining us. I hope that's agreeable to everyone.
I probably won't get another gameplay post out until Monday but please go ahead and post any healing or other steps you wish to take.
And that WAS a long combat but we strung what 3 or 4 encounters together, right?
Yes, depending on how you count that was between 3 and 5 encounters
Can you take me off the campaign please?
Done. Thanks for playing and good luck to you!
I can't remember what I said before but yeah, why don't you just come strolling down the stairs and meet the group. They've just finished a crazy battle, are catching their breath, and about to try to bust down another door (just like the one you busted down before!). :-)
On family vacation through Saturday, June 1. Will post when I can.
Sorry for the posting delay everyone - life is a bit crazy on the home front. Will try to get something posted later tonight. You are nearing the end of this level.
We are nearing the end of level 3. Please give me day job rolls or other downtime activities.
Also, Yanda and Ylosani, I don't think I have the following from you:
Player Name
Character Name
PFS #
Faction
Normal/Track
Day Job
So, aside from a bit of exploration, we have reached the end of Splinterden, level 3 of the Emerald Spire. I'll try to get chronicle sheets out to you all in the next few days.
I'm happy to keep going if people are interested, though with Gameday about to start (and work picking up for me at the end of August), I expect my pace will slow somewhat.
Also, there were a number of behind the scenes things going on during this level that you might be curious about. Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Well, with the replays handed out I do not see why Yanda could not join with the group for level 4, so count me in provided I can figure out how to use them!Replays?
Btw, I believe we have one additional player who would like to join us for level 4. I'm not sure what he's bringing.
That level seemed complicated lol.
Yes, in the first big fight you triggered 5 separate encounters, though it worked out that they all happened more or less sequentially (with the added drama of the fire of course).
The mouther really has nothing to do with the Splinters, even though its probably the toughest part of the level (CR 5). The rationale for it is that the Splinters have captured it, and drugged it, so they don't realize that when it wakes up it can easily slip out of the bars of the cell they've put it in. It's supposed to attack you when you enter the room it's in, but it's clearly responsive to noise, so when you started setting off bombs right outside its door I had it waiting for someone to open the door - lucky me, someone did!
The synesthesia traps were complex because the poison has a 10 minute onset time. So when the poison finally triggered (when you were fighting the wight), it was the result of the trap you had triggered during the very first fight. The trap releases a 10' cloud that is undetectable but lasts for 1 minute, meaning that several of you were exposed to multiple doses, either by passing back and forth through the cloud or, in Romulus' case, by standing in the cloud for multiple rounds! That probably wasn't the intent of the module, but I reviewed the poison rules and faqs carefully and it was definitely the result. It's a DC 18 poison with a 4 round duration, but several of you had multiple doses, increasing both the duration and the DC.
The final fight was 3 separate encounters combined. My rationale was that by that point the Splinters who had not yet succumbed would have grouped together in the chapel for a final defense against the "invaders."
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It all worked out nicely, I say. They were all tough fights, which often doesn't happen in organized play and probably actually sped things up since we weren't opening doors, fighting people then opening more doors and fighting more people. Instead, we opened up just a couple doors and fought people.
Will do
Sorry for the delay. Chronicles for Emerald Spire 3 (Splinterden) are available here. Let me know if you have any difficulties downloading them or if I've made any mistakes.
We'll get started with Level 4 (Godhome) sometime next week. We'll be joined by Pirate Rob bringing I'm not sure what. And I think the continuing party is: Romulus, Dasus, Yanda, and Altovin, correct?
Reminder: if you are planning to progress through the entire Spire, this level (tier 3-5) is one that is recommended to slow track (the next level is also tier 3-5, so you want to avoid getting ahead of the tiers - you can see the key on slide 4).
Since you should all have leveled up from Splinterden be sure to update your PbP profiles to reflect your new stats.
Please add your relevant into on slides 2 and 3.
When you are ready to get started go ahead and put your token in the southwest corner of the new map (slide 1).
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Sorry for the delay. Chronicles for Emerald Spire 3 (Splinterden) are available here. Let me know if you have any difficulties downloading them or if I've made any mistakes.
Thanks! Mine looks good! I'm going to play Ylosani at a F2F con at the end of the month but if you're looking for another, stoic meat sponge when you get to level 5, let me know.
And I'll even have my axebeak mount with me, then!