Strength and Fear: An Ustalavic Kingmaker Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master vayelan

Dibs on the weapon that's down there!

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Dibs on the weapon that's down there!

Now, now... Valda's already called dibs, though not literally. Besides it might be more Paladin/Healing themed.

..."Evets said it sits upon a hill just to the west, overlooking the river."

As she asked her question, she begins moving that direction, keeping a keen eye out as she goes.

I really like this type of post... where one addresses the current situation and propels (maybe too strong) or initiates the next action (navigational move)... keeps us from stagnating.

Nicely done!

I'm just being a goof, Bashuk doesn't need weapons. It's all yours, Valda.

Although class-specific loot is kind of rough for kineticists, there are like...3-4 items total that are useful with our class abilities, and most of them are hella pricey. 3pp companies like Legendary Games and Purple Duck have some great content but Paizo has little.

I need it. I'm the rare Investigator/Paladin multiclass >.>

ಠ_ಠ

First, I'm loving Valda's reactions.

Second, I guess I'll just have to plant some additional loot throughout these catacombs so everyone is satisfied.

Third, I guess I'll just go ahead and make things even more dangerous to compensate for the extra loot so I'm satisfied.

Heh heh heh...

Harass is at you deem necessary, Sir!

The "shrug" is one of my favorite text art images.

@DM Vayelan, hope you don't mind my asking this here...

I was wondering about people's thoughts regarding (RPG in general, not specific to this adventure)... Rules/Mechanics heavy vs light systems.

I suppose mechanics vs. theatre of the mind?

Specifically, does the possibility of 1-20 on a role make the outcomes less predictable and therefore the character more difficult to RP as imagined?

Alternatively, as example: what if a Wizard's melee base attack was 1 + 1d20 while a Fighter's was 9 + 1d12?

I can start a Discord server is the conversation takes off.

I don't think I'm 100% sure what what you're asking, but the assuming that higher numbers are good your hypothetical fighter's results are much more likely to be "successful" than the wizards, just as a mathematical reality.

What's the connection there between mechanics/TotM? I imagine most Pathfinder players don't have any beef with mechanics & number crunching. If they do, they're probably better off seeking a different game--I say that without judgement, as someone who adores Blades in the Dark and similarly lighter-rules games.

Just... informal research? Almost like asking a focus group

No beef at all.

Would the game be more enjoyable if characters were more successful at their core competencies.

d20 starts out as being almost like Blackjack at a casino 49.5/50.5 with the house as the slight favorite. Medium, Unarmored, 10-11 Dex... AC 10.

Roll 1d20 to hit.

Character gen is focused on improving that 50/50 coin flip to one's favor.

What if it started as 75/25 in the characters favor (for core competencies), instead? More successes in one's area of focus, more predictable, less things going sideways. Story goes smoother?

I think Pathfinder has the ability to build for extremely powerful characters who have a very high chance (80%+) of hitting their goals for all their core competencies. However there's a limited number of builds that can do that so for characters who don't care about being As Strong As Possible there are more build options available but the power curve drops significantly. This only really becomes a problem when the party has a mix, because I can tell you from experience that GMing for those parties can be frustrating & difficult.

(Side note, this is actually what I like so much about PF2e, it solves the problem of characters having such massive power disparities depending on build)

I personally think the more likely the chance of success is, the less relevant the dice role becomes. I play dice games because the role of the roll is injecting that element of unpredictibility into the story. Otherwise it's group fiction-writing project, not an RPG.

@DM Vayelan, hope you don't mind my asking this here...

Just wanted to interject to say that I approve of this discussion, in case you were concerned.

...

I have run games in many RPG systems over the years: AD&D; D&D 3e, 3.5e, 4e, and 5e; (New) World of Darkness; Pathfinder 1e; and Star Wars (by Fantasy Flight Games). And these are just the ones I've run for significant periods of time.

What I have learned across the years and systems is that I lean towards theater of the mind rather than mechanics. I have trouble following the meta of most games, which is probably why I get wrecked any time I try to play Magic: The Gathering outside of my circle of friends.

I'm somewhat thankful that my home gaming groups are even worse at meta gaming, thus issues of power scaling or unbalanced classes never really come up. To give an idea of what I mean, in one of my home D&D 5e games, I can't even get the artificer and druid players to use their spells or abilities, since they just prefer to use their pistol and scimitar, respectively. Of course, they make up for this by being great RPers.

Lately, I've really become fond of the narrative dice system FFG uses in their Star Wars RPG series. Rather than rolling numeric dice and aiming to meet or beat a target number, you build a dice pool and collaboratively interpret the result with the GM based upon the number and types of symbols produced by the roll. For instance, if your attack roll nets 1 Success but 3 Threats, you hit but might run out of ammo. Conversely, if you're trying to hack a computer and get 1 Failure but 3 Advantages, you might fail the hack but discover an alternate route.

Incidentally, having admitted how terrible I am with meta gaming, if it ever seems like the encounters I build are too easy, now you know why.

Blades in the Dark (which is itself based on the Powered by the Apocalypse system) is d6-oriented but very fiction-forward. The characters get "pips" in skills like Prowl, Wreck, Sway, etc and each pip grants a d6 to roll. Certain talents or circumstances can add/remove dice for a given roll, and you assess your highest result: 1-3 fails, 4-5 succeeds with a consequence, and 6 (or double 6's to an even greater degree) is an unqualified success. There are also rules for Position (Controlled, Risky, Desperate) and Effect (No Effect, Standard, Great) for each roll, but otherwise it's just the GM and players talking it out and collaboratively developing story & even setting lore on the fly.

I'm also very interested in the Lancer rpg but finding time to meet for it irl is tough and it's not a good fit for PBP

I think I'm going to create a Discord server... everyone is welcome to join. I'll post an invite link when it's up.

If anyone has never used Discord before, it's easy (although at first seems a bit intimidating). Some folks run games there. It's a discussion board on steroids.

This is just for discussion purposes.

Unfortunately, I have an idea!

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable weekend!

Here is the Discord invite, if you feel like chatting. No expectation or pressure.

Very informal chat around topics like roll-vs-role-play and possible monetization (capitalist pig, I admit it!).

All that I ask is pretty much commonsensical... respect others, their experiences, struggles and ideas.

RPG Talk - express yourself <<< Link

I just realized putting a pip in Knowledge:Nature would be a decent thing since Valeska is a First Worlder.

Oopsie.

Learn/realize something new every day.

Also, I feel like I've been leaning on the Eidolon thing a little much, not that it a bad thing... but, will try to expand into being a more well rounded Summoner.

Lastly, looks like Hero Lab fumbled and didn't nerf the First Worlder's Eidolon to d6 (instead of d10). So, I guess Sasha has 6 less HP. He's a light-weight, at best.

Gonna have to beef that boy up!

Thinking out loud, unsure of DM'ly plans:

If there is ever an opportunity to come across a specific magic item (found or crafted) for Valeska... from a ruler and summoner perspective, it would be a "circlet of tongues" (we can name it something less tongue & cheeky).

A simple silver/platinum affair that does not hide the summoner tattoo on her forehead.

It actually shouldn't be all that expensive as some classes have it as a 2nd level spell.

Tongues <<< Link

The in game post is one of the reasons why... Valeska has no way to efficiently communicate with any elemental. Not Aquan, Auran, Ignan nor Terran. Uuugh! LOL.

More lessons.

Oringinally, was thinking of sending an air elemental up t the dormer window. Small, 100' move, perfect maneuverability.

Bashuk, Valda, Nikolai... it's time. The counted signals entry.

Marching order: Bashuk, Valeska, Boulder-Fist, Valda & Nikolai. Kain and Silvering are on overwatch.

Mildly confused, Why would the only person in plate that has specific magic to use against undead be fourth in the door?

Valeska Talanova wrote:

Bashuk, Valda, Nikolai... it's time. The counted signals entry.

Marching order: Bashuk, Valeska, Boulder-Fist, Valda & Nikolai. Kain and Silvering are on overwatch.

Mildly confused, Why would the only person in plate that has specific magic to use against undead be fourth in the door?

Did quite look at it that way... But, you have a point!

Bashuk was "literally" (if that can be used here) at the door...

Valeska summoned Boulder-Fist a door crasher per se, but given she can't directly communicate with him (he attacks her enemies - directive), I figured she had to breach first. Also, from the RP... she was pretty close to the door.

Valda was with her casting.

Nikolai comes in when it's a tad safer (hopefully enemies engaged).

Kain & Silverwing on overwatch and rear guard seemed appropriate.

I was actually on my way here to explain the marching order, I'm glad you asked.

Nothing specifically indicated they were undead, but I typically do not meta or optimize 100%, that's on me.

It's not a slight to Valda (being 4th) in any way... actually, Valeska has grown to value her presence and is keeping her close.

In-game post edited... Doors are big, Bashuk & Valda might be able to breach side by side.

Bashuk did approach the doors first.

I did read your statement, but forgot when I was posting (no coffee!).

The way Vayelan used "slumber" made me think sleep which undead don't do... So I non-challantly dismissed undead.

Treating this like tabletop discussion, hoping the edit isn't an issue.

Expression grim, Bashuk stalks towards the shattered cellar doorway, her fists clenched so tightly her flames are only a dull red glow between her fingers. The half-orc steps up to the cellar and peers down, eyes and ears straining.

Yes, but she didn't say she entered. Valda had.

We've not had Bashuk 'lead' before, I just don't like putting people in front when they don't say that's what they intend to do. It's a matter of player autonomy for me. When we fought in the tunnels when we knew there was undead, Bashuk followed Valda, I assumed the same thing would happen here.

From a strategy perspective. Bashuk's a blaster/glass cannon, she needs to be near the front to avoid hitting her own folks, but she's not a frontliner. with the general on hiatus, Valda, even with her levels in 'oracle' is the closest we have.

LOL, that's why I read posts when I get up, but very rarely post until I've had a couple of cups of coffee myself. And still don't read/write things right most of the time.

Edit: With what we've found already in the town (the flesh eaten off of the bones of the priestess) and the things we fought on the way here, I don't think it's 'Meta' to assume our characters have figured out we may be facing undead.

So while were on the topic.

Looking up to the countess she nods. "With the very real possibility of undead, perchance I should go first." Turning she nods to the others, stepping in front of the countess. Greatsword drawn she heads into the basement through the battered doors.

In the post, Valda addressed the Countess and explained why she should go first.

One of the things that really frustrated me about this game early on was that Valda would speak to the characters regularly, Bashuk and Nikolai would respond, the older players wouldn't.

I felt like a new recruit in a 'Vietnam war movie' where none of the veterans would talk to him because they new most of the rookies weren't going to survive the first firefight and they didn't want to get attached.

So while were on the topic.

Valda Aslougsdottir wrote:

Looking up to the countess she nods. "With the very real possibility of undead, perchance I should go first." Turning she nods to the others, stepping in front of the countess. Greatsword drawn she heads into the basement through the battered doors.

In the post, Valda addressed the Countess and explained why she should go first.

One of the things that really frustrated me about this game early on was that Valda would speak to the characters regularly, Bashuk and Nikolai would respond, the older players wouldn't.

I felt like a new recruit in a 'Vietnam war movie' where none of the veterans would talk to him because they new most of the rookies weren't going to survive the first firefight and they didn't want to get attached.

I remember this in the beginning, I thought I'd gotten better. Looks like there is room for improvement. I'm happy to refocus on it.

And for this scene, I was totally distracted/sidetracked by... dismiss Sasha & Summon Nature's Ally... then realizing I couldn't communicate with ANYTHING Valeska could summon.

"I have an idea..." turned it, "Dammit, what the heck so I do, now?!" Both for the player and character.

The research or looking up all the possible summons took me far and wide.

Apologies, lost focus.

So while were on the topic.

Valda Aslougsdottir wrote:

Looking up to the countess she nods. "With the very real possibility of undead, perchance I should go first." Turning she nods to the others, stepping in front of the countess. Greatsword drawn she heads into the basement through the battered doors.

In the post, Valda addressed the Countess and explained why she should go first.

One of the things that really frustrated me about this game early on was that Valda would speak to the characters regularly, Bashuk and Nikolai would respond, the older players wouldn't.

I felt like a new recruit in a 'Vietnam war movie' where none of the veterans would talk to him because they new most of the rookies weren't going to survive the first firefight and they didn't want to get attached.

In general/by default then, let's say... Valda, Bashuk, Sasha/Valeska/Summons, Nikolai and Kain is the matching order. At least until Kain is back and we can rework it.

Doesn't really seem to be undead specific at the moment.

Unless @Nikolai wants to go further up or down the line.

Doesn't really seem to be undead specific at the moment.

The marks upon the finger bone - as well as those upon the other arm bones that Bashuk noticed whilst down in the sinkhole - suggest that the flesh was stripped clean from the exposed part of the arm. The smell alone also suggests that there was still flesh and muscle upon the parts of the body entombed beneath the fallen altar.

It wasn't natural decomposition, it was the ghouls stripping and eating anything from the body that they could reach. Admittedly, this would likely mean that the hand would have been separated from the rest of the body and scattered in the sinkhole, so it is something of an oversight on my part.

The animal remains make it apparent that one or more cats may have been using this abandoned store as its hunting grounds. However, you don't spot any of the droppings or stains that would normally accompany such behavior.

Valda knows that it's far more common for animals to rise as zombies or skeletons, owing to their lack of sentience; however, there are instances of animals being afflicted with ghoul fever and turning into ghouls themselves. While such specimens can also transmit ghoul fever, they almost invariably lack the infamous paralyzing touch of humanoid ghouls. Their lack of sentience and willpower also means they are more susceptible to channeled energy.

The town hall is a two-story building atop a wide hill. The first floor walls are made of mossy stone while the upper floor is made of wood. The front and side entrances bear many scratch marks upon their surfaces, but the doors have refused to yield.

Call Valda paranoid, maybe too much time at last wall for the last five levels, or possibly it's her Hunter's Blood You earn a +1 trait bonus on Diplomacy when used to gather information, Knowledge (religion), and Survival when used for tracking when related to an undead quarry. Choose one as these as a class skill. The undead have a +1 bonus on any roll to learn about you, as your family’s fame precedes you. Or maybe it's that we're in Ustalav. But that's enough 'undead specific' to Valda for her to say what she said :)

I meant that our marching order based on character type/role isn't undead specific at the moment.

I meant that our marching order based on character type/role isn't undead specific at the moment.

ahhh, ok, tha makes sense.

I wondered, but obviously I haven't had enough coffee yet :)

Is Kain still with us? AFAIK they were having some longterm internet access issues. Is that resolved?

I've updated the encounter map. Please enjoy my haphazard handiwork, made entirely within Google Drive. With the tokens available to move, hopefully this will also help clarify the marching order.

Also, feel free to roll initiative in the Gameplay thread.

Regarding the ghouls and being undead, while they don't sleep like living creatures, they do enter a torpor state in order to mitigate their hunger when prey is not readily available. Of course, prey is now nearby, so they are rousing from this torpor.

...

I'm not sure what Kain's current internet situation is, so I will send them a message to check on them.

Oooooh.... Arabic!

So, I think I've got it dealt with. Needless to say, I went through several modems (3), and an ISP providers before my bad luck finally ran its course. So far, its been working.

Awesomeness! Looking forward to having you back, Sir!

In the future, I could "try" to help or troubleshoot... IT veteran (veteran of IT, not military service), here.

Welcome back Kain!

GM, is the the same adventuring day as when we fought the ghouls before? Just so I know whether Bashuk still has her Burn or if she needs to re-add. The attack I just rolled is assuming 0 Burn.

It was largely just a series of unlucky incidents. The first modem just not working, I think they sent it without a card. The second was damaged in transit, and the third quite literally overheated and scorched itself. Not sure if it was faulty, or the old faulty wires at my place are to blame entirely.

Combat Init... Kain and then Nikolai are you... Valeska goes last. Even after the ghouls.

Eeek... Be careful with those wires.

We slept over, next day now.

Burn baby burn, burn...

Welcome back Kain!

GM, is the the same adventuring day as when we fought the ghouls before? Just so I know whether Bashuk still has her Burn or if she needs to re-add. The attack I just rolled is assuming 0 Burn.

The fight with the ghoul and skeletons at the farmhouse occurred on the previous night, so this is a new adventuring day.

The effects of Bashuk's attack?

Also, I was hoping with the marching order given... Valeska and Boulder-Fist would be closer to the entrance... little guy's only got 20' move!

I've rearranged Silverwing, Valeska and Boulder-Fist to where I felt they should have been at the beginning of the encounter... hpe that's not an issue.

Bashuk had a readied attack so it won't trigger until/unless the ghouls start moving around.

Bashuk had a readied attack so it won't trigger until/unless the ghouls start moving around.

...gang of ghouls, having just risen to their feet...

Is 'Rising' moving enough for that to go off?

Probably not, she's interested in blasting an ghouls that a) rush her allies or b) try to flee up the stairs

Also, they took the action of standing up when they heard/sensed you approaching the entrance to their "nest." They had just finished getting to their feet when you entered the cellar.

OOC, I just didn't want them to still be prone when you began your attack. I didn't want this to be a complete curbstomp battle, despite the fact that Valda's Burst of Radiance nearly one shotted all five of the vanilla ghouls.

...

@Valeska - I have no problem with it. Part of the reason why I hurriedly put together the encounter map was so that we could place the tokens and I could better understand the party's desired order.

I am here! Going to get a post off tomorrow. Sorry for the slowness.

I'm not sure the sequence of events... need to know how Bashuk's attack (first round) resolves - which ghoul was attacked and did it go down... to take my actions (Valeska & Boulder-Fist).

My characters are typically very position/spatial dependent (as Rogues) for flank, sneak and moving to attain those things - through threatened squares and the like.

Apologies the for any confusion.

I'm not sure I understand, Valeska. Bashuk readied her attack, nothing is going to resolve there until the ghouls start their turn. You could Delay until after the ghouls to see if/how the readied blast resolves, but otherwise I'm not sure what else there is to be done.