GM Dak - Shattered Star 2

Game Master Dakcenturi

So yet another reason to suspect Gurk.

Getting ready to leave again, for PaizoCon. I'll be back Tuesday.

I'm likely without internet access for the next two days (Sunday & Monday) but should be back to regular posting on Tuesday. Feel free to bot my PC if needed.

As you all prepare to rest IC, go ahead and level up to Level 2!

So...I'm debating whether or not to take a level in fighter for Verris to get her the precise shot feat as a bonus before level 3, meaning she won't take -4 for firing into combat any more. The downside is that she won't get the +1 skill point/HP favoured class bonus for this level and Lay on Hands and her Divine Grace (+3 bonus to all saving throws) won't happen until level 3 when she'll also gain an extra feat.

The alternative is to keep going with the paladin levels and get precise shot at level 3. I'll get the favoured class bonus, some healing to help the party and my saves will be much better if I chose this but it'll make it more difficult to help characters in melee combat for this level. Both options would be a thematic fit for Verris.

I'd like to get your opinions on which would be more beneficial or make the most sense (how you all plan on levelling will probably affect this to some extent as well).

Always exciting to level up! With the exception of Sorcerer 2, which has to be one of the most boring levels in all of Pathfinder (+1 BAB, +1 Will, and one more spell per day, but no more spells known!).

I've also added all the loot we came across so far (*I think*) to the loot list. I haven't divided out the gold/value if anyone wants to do that?

I wouldn't mind grabbing the MW chain shirt and maybe a climbers kit and second story harness if nobody else is interested. The chain shirt gives me +1 AC for the same ACP I have now... so if it benefits somebody else more I'd be happy for them to get it.

Gurk's Level Up:

+8 hp
+1 bab, +1 ref

Evasion
Rogue Talent: Minor Magic: Spark

12 Skill Points:
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Bluff
+1 Disable Device
+1 Escape Artist
+1 Know: Local
+1 Perception
+1 Ride
+1 Sleight of Hand
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Stealth
+2 Use Magic Device

Verris: stick to paladin.

Verris' Level Up:

+7 HP
+1bab,
+4 Fort, +3 Ref, +4 Will

Class Abilities gained:
Divine Grace (+ Cha bonus to saves)
Lay on Hands (1d6/2 paladin levels of healing x 1/2 paladin level + Cha bonus/day)

3 skill points (2 for class + 1 Favoured class bonus):

+1 rank in Diplomacy
+1 rank in Sense Motive
+1 rank in Spellcraft

2 Background Skills:

+1 rank in Craft(bows)
+1 rank in Handle Animal

Sorry, guys, I plan to catch up tonight. Too many posts to do it this morning, especially in my still somewhat lack-of-sleep-addled state.

I likely won't be able to update Amelexis to level 2 until tomorrow. Helping my sister clean for a furniture delivery; got internet access but not my flash drive with all my Pathfinder stuff on it.

Davor's Level Up:

+6 HP
+1bab,
+1 Fort, +0 Ref, +1 Will

Class Abilities gained:
Fervor 3/day

4 skill points (2 for class + 1 Favoured class bonus +1 Int):

+1 rank in Kn. Religion
+1 rank in Perception
+1 rank in Sense Motive
+1 rank in Spellcraft

2 Background Skills:

+1 rank in Kn. Engineering
+1 rank in Profession (Sailor)

Amelexis Dusk Level 2 Bard
hp +6 (5 +1 FC)
BAB +1
Ref +1, Will +1; +4 bonus on saves against magical traps, language-dependent effects, and symbols, glyphs, and magical writings of any kind
Bard Class Abilities: Lore Master (take 20), Magic Lore
Skills (6 + 3 Int + 2 Background*)
Diplomacy +1
Knowledge (arcana) +1
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1
*Knowledge (history) +1
Knowledge (local) +1
Knowledge (nature) +1
Knowledge (planes) +1
Knowledge (religion) +1
*Perform (oratory) +1
Spellcraft +1
Stealth +1
+1 1st-Level Spell/Day
New Spells Known: 0-level light, 1st-level saving finale

Loot updated:

Natalya: sold all equipment except the 2 unidentified scrolls for a total sell value of 102.5 gp

Woman + 3 thugs: sold all equipment except the 5 potions for a total sell value of 1,208 gp

Sheila: 1,000 gp

We should ask Lady Heidmarch to identify everything we have (Gurk's ring of feather falling, Natalya's scroll, potions and anything else I missed)

Finally, we'll need a value on the metal shard and decide who will carry it going fwd.

I'll take the MW chain shirt if nobody else wants it: -125gp from the sale value of the woman and 3 thugs gear. It gives me +1 AC with no current downsides.

Thanks for handling the loot, Davor. I'm guessing you'll be telling us when we're doing a division when it makes sense to do so?

Done: your gold gain for that particular trove has been adjusted from 275gp down to 150gp - see sheet (I marked it as an equation in that cell)

Thanks for handling the loot, Davor. I'm guessing you'll be telling us when we're doing a division when it makes sense to do so?

I'm making division as I go, based on who is owed the most gp. Yes, the sheet is amazing that way as it tells us who is 'owed' the most GPs based on what items the others are keeping.

I also created another tab at the bottom entitled 'GPs received so far'. This one shows you directly what's in each PC's wallet right now.

Bixby Copperpot wrote:

Thanks for handling the loot, Davor. I'm guessing you'll be telling us when we're doing a division when it makes sense to do so?

I'm making division as I go, based on who is owed the most gp. Yes, the sheet is amazing that way as it tells us who is 'owed' the most GPs based on what items the others are keeping.

I also created another tab at the bottom entitled 'GPs received so far'. This one shows you directly what's in each PC's wallet right now.

Okay, I'm just trying to figure out when I should put it on my sheet. Most games I've played, the Loot Tracker will tell us when there's a "division" and at that point we put it on our sheet.

Maybe I've received loot I didn't know I should put on my sheet. I just wanted to clarify when I record that.

Thanks for doing it!

Put 378gp on your sheet. Then deduct anything you bought after we started the adventure and mark it on the sheet in Bixby's 'shopping spree' column. I put Davor's purchases there as an example. honestly I don't recall us shopping yet before now..

Yeah, I hadn't bought anything, but was unsure how much to put. I'll put 378 down--thanks again!

OK, sorry for the delay, but finally ready to level up. And think I've figured out what I'm going to do with Temmer in terms of how to have him fight, so that makes me much happier with him, to boot. :)

+8 hp (+6 for class, +2 Con)
+1 BAB, +1 Fort, Ref
+1 Initiative (slayer ability) -- +7 total
+9 skill ranks (6 slayer, 1 human, 2 background): +2 Acrobatics, +1 Climb, Know (dungeoneering, geography), Perception, Prof (sailor), Stealth, Survival
FCB: +1/6 slayer talent
+Tactician (Ex): At 2nd level, a vanguard receives a teamwork feat as a bonus feat. He must meet the prerequisites for this feat. Once per day as a standard action, the vanguard can grant one of his teamwork feats to all allies within 30 feet who can see and hear him. Allies retain the use of this bonus feat for 3 rounds plus 1 round for every 2 levels the vanguard possesses. Allies do not need to meet the prerequisites of this bonus feat. Whenever the vanguard is able to select a new slayer talent, he can instead choose to gain an additional use per day of this ability. This ability replaces the slayer talent gained at 2nd level. (BONUS FEAT: Escape Route)

Quick question on the major image from the relic. Could I use my Effortless Trickery feat with it?

Just wanted to post this in all my games. Please bare with me over the next month. Some life stuff has complicated my schedule so my posting is a bit slower than usual if you haven't noticed :D.

Long story short, I'm not in my usual office at work, my work hours have changed for the summer and I have one of my graduate classes that meets 2 nights a week for 5 hours each night. Suffice to say its a little hectic. I will do my best to get in at least one post a day but it may be ever other day at least for the next few weeks.

@Bixby Took me a bit to look into your question. I don't see why it wouldn't work with it.

Whew sounds busy! Thanks for letting us know. Take the time you need, RL comes first!

I hope things ease up for you soon, Dax! As I said in the other game, I'll also be gone to Yosemite for a road trip June 15-25, so will be low-posting during that time.

As for the relic, I think I could put it to the best use as far as the Major Image goes. I could keep it up all day using effortless trickery, and then my bodyguard/other illusion can talk, make sound, emit heat, etc. It's actually a trick I've been planning to do, but lets me do it a few levels early. I'd definitely be interested in it.

As for the relic, I think I could put it to the best use as far as the Major Image goes. I could keep it up all day using effortless trickery, and then my bodyguard/other illusion can talk, make sound, emit heat, etc. It's actually a trick I've been planning to do, but lets me do it a few levels early. I'd definitely be interested in it.

I'm going to cloud up the water a bit in regards to who should get to bear the shard. :)

If I'm remembering correctly from an earlier Shattered Star game I played in (which ended after book 2), not only does the bearer benefit from the shard's powers, (s)he also gets the benefit of the ioun stone it's embedded in...which in this case seems to be a scarlet and blue sphere, which boosts the possessor's Int score by +2. And Lexi's all about the INT.

At the same time, Bixby won the draw fair and square. I think for now I'll just have Lexi fume and sulk about the unfairness of it all, which will be amusing and fun (for me at least).

Sounds like it would be pretty good for either of us. Maybe if we're finding these shards during the game, there will be one that is Cha based and better for me and we'll trade. :)

Sounds like a plan! In-game, Lexi will only sulk for a week or two (unless you make the mistake of telling her it bumps Intelligence as well!*).

* Assuming I'm not misremembering the part about the ioun stone, that is.

I will have to check about the ioun stone, but I don't recall it remaining active.

Don't forget that for loot allocation, it will only be fair to the REST of us SHARDLESS party members that we all take into account the value of that item yes?

Also I now understand why 'Lexi' was pushing so hard to get the shard... previous Shattered Star game hey? lol

Also I now understand why 'Lexi' was pushing so hard to get the shard... previous Shattered Star game hey? lol

Yeah, that game was 4-5 years ago, so I'm fuzzy on some of the details. But as a player, I like skills, so that +2 to ALL skill checks makes me drool, even more so since Lexi had to sink so many of her skill points into the various Knowledge skills to maximize the value of her naturalist bardic performance, leaving her untrained in lots of other stuff.

I also forgot about a plot development that fits in perfectly with one of Lexi's weird quirks/obsessions. It should be amusing when that OMG moment comes along.

Your archetype takes away Versatile Performance?

Yep. She gets a variant form of lore master that allows her to take 20 on one Knowledge check each day.

OOC- we don't need the shard permanently attached to one party member... how about we keep it as a party item and keep swapping it around? is there a downside to this? (i.e. can't actually tell as I haven't seen actual stats on this, just what has been presented by the GM... ;) )

So for the shard I wouldn't worry about it being *attached* to one party member as loot. I'm ok with you passing it around. Unlike more magical items I'm ok with it having an immediate effect, rather than the normal 24 hours of wearing/using something before the effect takes place. Just don't cheese it too much!

So, being the little quasi-genius I am, I was thinking.... Since GM Dak has limited posting capacity for the near future, we ought to make his posts count. Instead of his next post being, "So what do you ask Natalya?" and then waiting a couple days for his follow-up post, why don't we prepare our questions for Miss Vancaskerkin now? Here are Lexi's:

• Where exactly in the Crow piling is the Tower Girls' headquarters?
• Who is their leader?
• How many Tower Girls are there?
• Are there traps or other defenses we should know about before raiding the place?
• How do the Tower Girls get from the Crow to the city? Boats? Are there lookouts/guardians we should be wary of?
• Any particular equipment or kits we might want to invest in beforehand? (Such as climbing kits if we have to scale a section of wall, for example.)
• Where exactly did she find the shard of pride?

Feel free to add to this list.

Are there any shinies there?

But really, we might also ask who else might know and be after her and the shard.

Your questions appear to assume that the Tower Girls have something to do with the other piece of the shard... I'm not really in favor of 'telling' Natalya and by proxy, the Tower Girls, about the location of the second shard... this is privileged information that Bixby received via a vision due to connecting with the artifact.

We could question Natalya about the how, where, when and why they acquired the 'first' shard in the first place... perhaps this would provide other leads as to whoever else is seeking them. My guess is that the Tower Girls/Sczarni stole it from someone... I'd like to know who that someone is and which organization is after the shards...

Eh...Not sure if I missed it but when did we find out the Tower girls are based in the crow piling?

I don't think we've hit the knowledge local check for the "the crow" spoiler yet so I didn't check it yet if that's where the info is. Not sure the PCs would know much about anything specific to the crow piling unless we make the check so any specific questions about it prob wouldn't be asked by the PCs, although the questions about general Tower girl stuff and Gurk's question are good. Asking where the shard was found is also a good one!

We could ask Natalya where the tower girls are located when we talk to her? If she answers us, all those questions are good ones to ask.

If I missed something just disregard the above ;)

We could also ask if she knows anything about the people disappearing and whether it's Nidalese slavers or something else.

Eh...Not sure if I missed it but when did we find out the Tower girls are based in the crow piling?

Come on, people? Don't you know by now that Lexi's a genius and figures stuff like this out for breakfast?*

That said, I really like you moving the game forward, Lexi. Thanks!

Not sure I have any questions to add at the moment beyond what you've all laid out so far. Perhaps asking more about each Tower Girl she can tell us (so not just who their leader is, but if that person uses magic at all, etc. etc. Trying to get some sort of idea of their classes without being all meta about it).

I think Lexi's post sounds fantastic. I don't have much to add until we have answers to those questions.

Since Lexi took the Monument Scholar campaign trait, I went through the Magnimar: City of Monuments sourcebook and made a cut-and-paste Word reference document for myself so I might actually get some use out of that trait.

Here's a quick list of the monuments, the district they're located in, the check required to activate their boons, and the actual boon itself.

A person may only have one boon in place at any time and can only call upon the monuments' magic a number of times per week equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum once per week).

Yup, you all are welcome to utilize the monuments if you like. Just give me the checks as appropriate. As for everything else, yup this class and work schedule change is kicking my butt, however I am doing my best to post at least every other day or so. Only have 4 more classes left (2 more weeks) and then things should settle a bit and I can get back to a more consistent posting schedule.

Don't worry too much. Make sure you get settled irl completely first. We'll be here throughout it.

Hey all,

I just wanted to let you know I'll be on a road trip with limited internet access from today through June 26 (we're hitting Yosemite, Sequoia, Newport Beach, and the new Star Wars Land at Disney before it opens).

Please bot me, as necessary!

Hope you have a great time!

You sure you don't want Lexi to look after the shard of pride while you're away? :D

Just checking in. Didn't see a specific game plan as of yet for your next steps. Let me know if I missed it somewhere.