Hells Rebels (Inactive)

Game Master Daniel Penfold 351

Not at all, Valekar! I’m only sorry we haven’t made you feel more at home.

However long it takes you to find your character’s voice is fine by me. Feel free to prod Adonara in-character or out if that would help at all – two very different elves’ differing perspectives on Kintargo could be a fun way of building up some non-contradictory headcanons that don’t step on each other’s toes. :)

Or, as you can tell, we can be a voluble bunch, much given to hare-brained schemes and two scoops of drama. I think we’d all be fine with some internal monologue, (or whatever), however terse, while Valekar figures out how he feels about that – whether it’s surprisingly fun or that these outrageous fanatics and starry-eyed visionaries need a sensible mage to make sure things don’t entirely blow up in everyone’s faces. I know I’ve been enjoying Ryker’s quiet commentary on our shenanigans, for example.

I second Adonara's sentiments. I would not scream at you if you felt the need to drop out (for real life issues or if you just don't feel like you fit) but I will say that your character has the potential to grow into our group dynamic. You are just at a bit of disadvantage is all: Adonara, Kira, and I are the remnants of the original group... as such we have an existing dynamic that is somewhat strong. Ryker has an advantage on you in the sense that his character is pretty much filling in the party's role of Mike from Breaking Bad. He doesn't have to say much, and he can react in his head to the crazy ideas we are having.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I understand your frustration, but I encourage you to continue to try to break into the dynamic in a way that feels natural. We want you to play here if you want to come on this wacky journey with us. In the mean time, don't beat yourself up over not breaking in instantly. Perhaps in the down time once we get back to the Nest we can get to know each other better IC.

To add my two cents to the discussion, Valekar, if you want to drop out because you're not having fun that's completely understandable. But if you're just worried about the roleplay/banter, it's not bothering me at all. Us Original Three™ all have high-charisma characters with players that tend towards verbosity. That's not everyone's style; nor should it be.

In short; I do like playing with you and would be sorry to see you go.

Echoing everyone else!

Happy to work with you to manufacture some interactions too. I know that when I'm still feeling out a character I may only have a handful of character traits that only really get a chance to manifest in certain situations.

Also, I know it is easier said than done, but don't be so hard on yourself! Didn't you take a break from the game for life reasons relatively early on?

I haven't done it so much in this game, but in other games I'm in I've brainstormed ideas in the discussion thread to help bring some of my characters to life. Us knowing about your intentions for the character (IC or OOC) can help us set up posts to pass the baton more often too!

Thanks everyone. I will try to incorporate some of your suggestions, also.

Valekar is paranoid that the Chelish government is after him, which drives a lot of his actions so far. He is also anxious to find and save his mother, or avenge her if they killed her. So that is what keeps him from running away. That is him in a nutshell. I'm not sure y'all know any of that yet unless I already posted it in gameplay (would have to look at Valekar's first posts, probably). There is actually quite a bit more at the bottom of his profile page if you care to read it. I had forgotten how much I came up with for this character already!

On a more surface level you probably know by now that he is a worshipper of Shelyn, though he falls more in the appreciating-art line of things than the creating-art line of things.

Looking at the treasure list, if we sell off the as-of-yet-unclaimed stuff we should be able to easily afford a Wand of CLW and a Wand of Aram Zey's Focus.

That sounds like a plan! Although, now that I think about it ... oh dear, this might be embarrassing. Is Adonara the only one of us with Disable Device trained but also the only one with Use Magic Device not?

Both are trained-only, and Aram Zey's focus is a personal-range spell, soooo...

I guess we could take a few days for her/us to retrain, or we can press on and hope we level up before we hit anything too nasty? I mean, we still need to even find the door to the Spiders' lair. Quick! What's the Infernal word for "Friend?" ;)

Congratulations you are now all level 5

hit points: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 11 that's 5 if I recall correctly.

Congratulations you are now all level 5

Ha, I'll have to try that more often. Also, boots of levitation, did you say? ;)

hp rolls: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

Also, could I confirm a ruling, please, since it might affect my feat choice this new level?

Adonara's planning on taking levels in evangelist eventually, taking warpriest as her aligned class, and I was wondering if she could make Prestigious Spellcaster work for her. (Not this level, obviously, but planning ahead.)

In the strictest reading, no, I gather, because "aligned class" doesn't strictly advance by "spells per day" as opposed to just plain old "spells" for base classes, but, for what it's worth, there's a comment somewhere on the boards by one of the developers about ducks and quacking, etc., that I could track down.

In any case, GM ruling aside, if anyone else has concerns about effects on the balance of our game, don't hesitate to weigh in. :) It's all part of a clever and cunning needlessly complicated character advancement plan that - I would just like to say - would end up with Adonara with the same effective spells per day either way.

No party balance concerns here

Oooh.... so I get medium armor proficiency now with no arcane spell fail %. Yay, I won't be as squishy any more!

Inspire Courage buff now goes to +2 as well...

HP: 1d8 ⇒ 4

HP: 2d10 ⇒ (8, 8) = 16 8 it is, right?

Leveling now! :D

OK, so took Charming Performance for my feat and Enthrall for my spell.

Additionally, do we have any good medium armor laying around? If not, how much do we have set aside so that Pel could buy a set? It would help me to not be as squishy when our plans go awry.

Unfortunately, we mostly have odds and ends rather than anything converted to ready, though I suppose that's likely to change imminently.

That said, we do indeed have some masterwork chainmail lying around. A bit more awkward than a breastplate, but it's what we've got.

I can start crunching some numbers late tomorrow, probably, to count the beans, but just so I don't mark anything folks are eyeing as to be sold off:

Kira, weren't you looking at the cloak of elvenkind? And most of us are stealthy enough that it could find a good home even if not.

Ryker, I know you've got a crossbow, but in terms of backup ranged weapons, would you be interested in one of the super-fancy longbows we, err, "found"? MW, and I think they're rated just right for your high strength. Sorry if I've bugged you about them before and you've already told me they're just not your style.

I was eyeing the cloak of elvenkind, but I'm pretty stealthy without it. Kira will take it if no one else needs it, but she won't be upset if we sell it or give it to someone else. I've crunched the numbers and think we have enough money for the wands Kira mentioned without selling the cloak, but it might also not be a bad idea to pick up a Wand of Lesser Restoration. (I almost picked that as a second level spell known, but for a spontaneous healer I think it works better as a wand.)

Rolling for new HP!

2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10

With +2 from Con that's 9 more HP. Not bad at all.

I'm happy to nab a MWK Composite Longbow!

EDIT: So what are we wanting to do here? I'm up for anything :)

Mainly just shopping, now, I think, though I floated some ideas in gameplay for fluffy opportunities if getting dragged to a bunch of wand dealers is less some folks’ speed. And then we try our Ali Baba routine. :)

Back of the envelope business gives me an estimate of 4 443 gp to work with, given that the market for looted lightly used adventuring gear is brutal. That’s assuming we hold on to the cloak (long term, Ado would definitely be interested once other folks get bored with it), the ring (we’re on the coast, after all, but if everyone’s feeling brave…), and the boots (it would be kind of rude, otherwise, and I can imagine they might help Valekar keep out of harm’s way).

With that sort of budget, a 1st-level wand and a half-charged 2nd would get us to 3000 gp, which allows a comfortable bit of wiggle room for another of the latter with 10 charges. So CLW, Aram Zey’s Focus, and Lesser Restoration? Ado can prepare Lesser Restoration now, so that’s less of a priority, I figure, if we can fall back if we need it.

As for the wider rebellion, per the rules in the player’s guide, I figure we’d tap Ryker and Valekar as our new Sentinel and Spymaster, respectively, silently retaining one of our past players’ characters as an NPC for the last officer role. Then, my tentative plan for this week would be to spend some of the remaining coin to upgrade the team of finishing school misfits that Ado’s supervising, before temporarily switching roles so she can help Pellius with a recruitment drive. Ideally, that would put us in a position to think about finding another team of agents after the next week of in-character time. I’m open to other suggestions, of course: I think I’ve just really leaned into the fiddly subsystem. [Fails Will save to resist making an ironical quibble on subspace, since we're talking about Adonara. ;)[/ooc]

So are we taking the average of 2 HD or the highest of 2 HD?

Hm... given I have only a gold to my name, perhaps taking one of the MWK chainmail sets would be the best action right now. Even selling both and my MWK chain shirt wouldn't be enough to get a magical set. Perhaps we will be really lucky and find a breastplate made of singing steel in the spiders' den, though I doubt it. ;)

So are we taking the average of 2 HD or the highest of 2 HD?

Highest of the two rolls, I believe. Which reminds me, Pellius, I think you only rolled the once?

If everyone's feeling lucky, we could sell the ring of swimming and/or the boots, so you can get some fancier armour (I think everyone's feeling kind of nervous on that front!), but I can only cover four of us with air bubble, though if we're happy avoiding immersion, communal water walk would pick up some of the slack, if we end up needing to get wet before we gain another level. I'd need time to prepare, and we'd have to move fast, but it's an option.

Works for me! A little shopping, some rebellion maintenance, then the lair (assuming I've interpreted that right).

[dice=level 2 hp]2d8 = 6

[dice=level 3 hp]2d8 = 5
[dice=level 4 hp]2d8 = 4

ha, exactly average (rounded up) overall

That means I get a lot more hp (the first two both had an 8, and the last one was a 5). I could swear we were supposed to take the average.

GM, if it’s OK with you, I’ll just take the prerequisite feat for Prestigious Spellcaster this level, and we’ll take it from there? If it turns out eventually that letting the latter work with the Evangelist prestige class throws off the balance of the game and everyone’s enjoyment, I won’t lose any sleep over silently adjusting Adonara’s character build.

Yeah hit points are roll twice and take hihest.

@Adonara - happy for you to take Prestigious Spellcaster.

HP2: 1d8 ⇒ 2

So, original roll stands. ;)

For now I will just use a set of the MWK Chainmail... but after we raid the place I might go get something better with the proceeds.

I just realized I had been misreading the rebellion rules for how recruiters work all this time (namely, how their bonus also applies during the upkeep phase): ah, well, lesson learned for going forward. On that note:

TL;DR: Everything is going according to plan with the rebellion behind the scenes, and after the next week of game time our rebellion rank will jump quite nicely. Detailed sheet here.

Also, Valekar, since this is the first time we've had rebellion business to handle since you've joined us, have you decided what you want your bonus from your Historian of the Rebellion trait to apply to? (Of Loyalty, Secrecy, Security?)

Finally finished leveling up Valekar; sorry for the delay. I'll check in to gameplay sometime today.

re: Historian of the Rebellion... I have no idea. :) What do you think is best? Happy to do whatever helps the group the best.

Oh, no, whatever you think Valekar would be most interested in. We’ve got a strong focus on Secrecy already, and having a Hellknight ally is boosting our Security, so Loyalty is our weakest area, I suppose, but no so much that I’m worried, and it depends on what sort of secret agent you want to be. (For example, zealot she may be, but I imagine enforcing ideological purity isn’t quite Adonara’s style – she’s far too chaotic.)

Ha! And now I’m thinking of a bit in Emma Donoghue’s historical novel Life Mask, in which a theatre manager navigates a tricky bit of politics by editing a play’s script simply by replacing “liberty” with “loyalty” throughout. It’s great fun. :)

I'm not sure why my imagination keeps edging towards the 18th century for Kintargo. Must be all the opera, coffee, and the imperial navy. ;)

If we are level 5 does that mean we just finished book 1? Will we get Chronicle sheets?

Ooooo, Valekar asking the good questions ;)

You are about 2/3 through book 2. I'm not sure what you mean by Chronicle sheets as I don't use them.

In that case I may have missed book 1 completely.

The chronicle sheets are for organized play (Pathfinder Society). They don't impact the game at all, but give the players (and you as gm, if you like) credit towards our Pathfinder Society characters.

Campaign Mode: Campaign mode is intended to allow

a group to experience adventure content in the manner most enjoyable to the player, even if it is not within the normal bounds of Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild rules. Campaign mode is available for all sanctioned Adventure Paths and for Pathfinder Modules that specifically include this option in their sanctioning documents. In Campaign mode, GMs can use their own rules for character creation and running the presented content (the entire book or series). They are not even required to use the Pathfinder RPG rules, but they must run the adventure using a tabletop roleplaying game and use the Adventure Path or Pathfinder Module as the primary source for adventure content. After running a game in Campaign Mode, the GM
should report sessions on paizo.com as usual and distribute Chronicle sheets to her players. A player may apply the earned Chronicle sheets to an appropriate Roleplaying Guild character in-tier for the Chronicle Sheet. Alternatively, they may use the sheet to create a new character. This is similar to applying credit to a pregenerated character (see Applying Credit on page 7), except that players can apply Campaign mode credit to characters of the same level or lower and they do not need to expend resources on their earned Chronicle sheets to resolve conditions. GMs receive full credit for the adventure as normal (see page 17).

Pretty sure that Pellius is still nauseated, though if not let me know.

So I will be posting this in all my games: I am moving from EST to PST finally (this was kinda expected but has been in limbo due to the pandemic). The movers will begin being at my house tomorrow, with final pack out day being Thursday, after which time I will begin to be on the road.

I am not making a straight shot, as it were, across the country. I will have a few rest periods to see family on the way. I expect that I will finish the cross country period mid OCT, after which time I begin the house hunting phase in earnest.

I should be able to keep posting during this time period, but some days (especially any that I am driving) are probably going to be limited in quantity (though hopefully not quality) of posts. That said, feel free to bot me in combat it necessary to keep things moving.

I will look into it at the weekend. As I have the hard copy of most of the magazines looks like I'll have to download the chronicle sheets. Is there any form of guide on how to use them, I think I've tried to do something similar in the past on another game but couldn't get it to work.

Pages 15-16 of the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide have instructions on how to fill out chronicle sheets. Page 17 describes how to report the game on Paizo.com. the part I quoted earlier is on page 12. The chronicle sheets for this book are here . Note that we are playing this way:

Alternatively, if you are participating in the Hell’s Rebels Adventure Path with an ongoing group undertaking the entire, six-chapter campaign, you may receive credit for playing the sanctioned portions of the adventure as if you had played a pregenerated character. In this case, GMs running the Adventure Path are not bound to the rules of the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild campaign (such as 20-point buy, unavailability of hero points, etc.) when running the campaign or the sanctioned portion of the adventure.

Altogether it may take an hour or two to put together for someone who has never done any of it before, and you'll need some information from us ahead of time in order to fill out the chronicle. Namely, you will need our player name, character name, organized play number, and the faction of our character.

I peeked at the Chronicles and it looks like there is also a seventh "meta chronicle" (for lack of a better word). Emerald Spire had something similar. Basically it is a Chronicle that is modified over time as we receive each of the other Chronicles.

I believe this part applies to me, so it is unclear how much, if any, of Book 1 I played and would receive credit for

Players who do not complete each game session earn 1/3 fewer gold pieces, 1 fewer XP, and 1 fewer Prestige Point for each session missed. This also applies to players who join later sessions; they receive 1/3 fewer gold pieces, 1 fewer XP, and 1 fewer Prestige Point for each session missed. In both cases, players earn a minimum of 1/3 gold pieces, 1 XP, and 1 PP.

Long day with Open House (parents meet the teachers, so we have to put on a bit of a dog and pony show) after school today, so no posts. Please bot as needed!

Oh, no, whatever you think Valekar would be most interested in. We’ve got a strong focus on Secrecy already, and having a Hellknight ally is boosting our Security, so Loyalty is our weakest area, I suppose, but no so much that I’m worried, and it depends on what sort of secret agent you want to be. (For example, zealot she may be, but I imagine enforcing ideological purity isn’t quite Adonara’s style – she’s far too chaotic.)

I have no idea; I'm not familiar with this rules subsystem to be honest

It’s certainly no rush. It will probably be months of game time before it becomes directly relevant again. :)

My two coppers, though, for what they’re worth, would be something like this. As I see it, the rebellion rules are mainly a fun way to flesh out a bit of what’s going on among the lovers of freedom beyond the main activities of the PCs without getting too bogged down with details, while also allowing for a few fun perks that can bring home the “in charge of a rebellion” feel: some skills, some loot, some titles that translate into bonus skill and save feats. (There’s a quip in a Heinlein novel I vaguely remember about the nice thing about revolutions being rapid promotions.)

In practical terms, the rebellion is a mostly shapeless mass that (somewhat ironically) reacts to the situation at large in Kintargo. What it can actually do is determined by various teams of rebels that can gradually be acquired and deployed, and whose results are generated by what’s effectively a set of saving throws. Each PC can be personally in charge of at least one team of specialists, and, with a Cha bonus, can make them a bit better at what they do.

Basically, it’s a way of thinking out what sort of rebel/s you/we are that lets us think about the big picture with some game-mechanical impact that can be dialled up or down for focus compared to the main plot ad lib. As a hypothetical example, if you decided that Valekar wanted to leverage his Hellknight connections, we can imagine: are they human old-timers that now mainly gossip about undisciplined kids these days, but hear everything on the street? disillusioned auxiliaries/specialists doing their own thing now, but willing to come back for one last job? true believers but that drifted away to some sort of ex-police security gig? friends of friends managing the supply lines and thinking about how to build a better Kintargo through logistics (and a steady flow of coin)? Even at their most basic, the rebellion rules let all of those things play out slightly, if only by a couple of d20 rolls here and there.

Sorry for the TL;DR. I just remember you mentioned that we prima donnas could be intimidating with our sweeping visions for the campaign. :)

And on that note, now I think I have to convince everyone that we should raise a legion of Pellius stans to strike terror into the heart of Thrune, if Pellius is willing. Complete with a name for the fandom, of course.

I will look into it at the weekend. As I have the hard copy of most of the magazines looks like I'll have to download the chronicle sheets. Is there any form of guide on how to use them, I think I've tried to do something similar in the past on another game but couldn't get it to work.

Did you get a chance to look at this, GM?

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Thanks Ado. I will look at the crunch when I get a chance and then decide how to contribute. I think right now Valekar will probably function as a scout and a scholar; I'll have to see what fits along those lines

I will be stationary for this week, traveling again on the weekend. I will be doing things with the family (probably go to the zoo etc) but I am not having to drive multiple hours each day.

Sorry was not able to look at it last weekend due to some RL stuff, should be able to this weekend though.

No problem

I don’t know, everyone. I’m not sure what will happen when Valekar’s vanish runs out, though I’m sure he can find cover before then. I wonder if we can convince these ladies that they might really want to see to otyugh feeding while we just go about our business as if we own the place?

Though I don’t really like the idea of possibly having to retreat through hostiles, if we run into someone who can better guess that we’re not supposed to be here. I’m happy to try for a bunch of nonlethal takedowns here, but that might just be the fanatic in Adonara talking, if even that seems a bit too aggressive.

Just some ideas. Oh, and I just wanted say: Pellius, I shudder to think what you could get up to if you learn glibness. :)

Next two days will be on the road again. With any luck will be less eventful than the trip to here was (oldest apparently gets motion sick... we have since acquired children's dramamine, so hopefully that negates it). Will be stable once we get there for a little bit again before the final push.

I don’t know, everyone. I’m not sure what will happen when Valekar’s vanish runs out, though I’m sure he can find cover before then. I wonder if we can convince these ladies that they might really want to see to otyugh feeding while we just go about our business as if we own the place?

Though I don’t really like the idea of possibly having to retreat through hostiles, if we run into someone who can better guess that we’re not supposed to be here. I’m happy to try for a bunch of nonlethal takedowns here, but that might just be the fanatic in Adonara talking, if even that seems a bit too aggressive.

Just some ideas. Oh, and I just wanted say: Pellius, I shudder to think what you could get up to if you learn glibness. :)

Eh, I might take that one... but then, part of the fun is the idea all of this could blow up in our faces if I low roll. ;)

OK, I've read through both the pathfinder society guides- the main one and the Hells Rebels specific one and I'm really sorry but I just don't get how it works and what I have to do. I'm happy for you guys to use the details and log the various bits as you want, though.

OK, I've read through both the pathfinder society guides- the main one and the Hells Rebels specific one and I'm really sorry but I just don't get how it works and what I have to do. I'm happy for you guys to use the details and log the various bits as you want, though.

Hmm, you know I could create the chronicle sheets and report the session. All I would need from you is:

I also need you to tell me how much of book 1 I played through to determine what fraction of credit Ryker and I get.

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From the rest of you that want credit I'll need:
Player name
Character name
PFS number
Character number
Faction

The full sheet information will depend on how the fractions fall, but this is the stuff that won't change:

Player name: Gummy Bear
PFS number: 74244

EDIT: Ryker doesn't have much to do in the surprise round since I believe he was able to study the nearest foe already. If we get one and I'm slow to post, don't hold up on my account! He is too far to take a swing at anyone, so waiting for the first round is fine with him :)

Event number: 2702527

Event name: Hell's Rebels

Did anyone else want PFS credit?

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GM, I also need to know this:

I also need you to tell me how much of book 1 I played through to determine what fraction of credit Ryker and I get.