[Gameday VIII] GM PDK: The Hao Jin Cataclysm (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Some of you see the vague outline of things moving within the fog, but nothing comes out... instead, two more fog clouds appear around you all, engulfing everyone in opaque damp whiteness.

Everyone engulfed in fog except Charlotte: The fog obscures all sight, including darkvision, beyond 5 feet. A creature within 5 feet has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker can’t use sight to locate the target).

[color=red]Please do not move your pawns and instead describe what your characters are doing: I will move the pawns myself based on your dead reckoning instructions.[/color]

Initiative (Party may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -35, g2 -17]
Styfis
Rallas -34
Charlotte
Hamish
Nyloth
Theo

Hamish hollers, "We don't want to fight them in this stuff, so unless we have a way to disperse it, we need to move out and keep regrouping. Most magic is limited in uses, just outlast it! Is anyone in the clear?"

Total Defense, current AC 31. Ready to move 30 ft towards the voice of anyone who responds that they are clear of the fog. He drops Inspire Courage, but with Lingering Performance it will stay up for this and the next round.

perception to pinpoint: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Nyloth stretches his senses to try and figure out where the giants are...but really can't tell with all the fog and noise.

Move action to seek, standard to total defense, 29 AC

Hamish, total defense and readying are both standard actions. Which one will it be?

Ah crap, brain didn't work there, was thinking I could ready a move but forgot the 'ready' part is a standard. :(

Hamish will use total D and move 30 ft away from the enemies as best he can. 1 = NE, 2 = E, 3 = SE. 1d3 ⇒ 1

Fog-type clouds are more a hindrance for creatures with reach (ie: the giants), then us. They can't see anything beyond 5' either, so have to move right adjacent to attack, negating their reach advantage.

GM, they would have needed line of sight to position their clouds, so did we see them pop out or to the edge of the first cloud, before we got hit again? (So we'd have an idea of where they are at the moment)
Might be helpful to at least show their last known position.

@Hamish: Survival DC 15 to go in the direction you wish to go, +2 if you pull out your compass; @Theo: yes as per my post you saw shapes at the edge of the cloud- if you wish to move in that direction on your next turn you'll have to please roll a Survival DC 15 (if fail I will roll a d3 like Hamish did i.e. you'll go that way kinda, but not exactly on the spot...) Also, unlike darkness, fog does not incur a speed penalty as far as I know (but feel free to correct me if you find otherwise). As for the giants 'sucking' in fog, they have an inherent advantage that you may or may not be aware of... also, one observation: you make heavy use of the readied action mechanic, which is highly situational and which must include very clear triggers. In PbP, I would definitely recommend you use direct actions on your turn, as you seem to be wasting many turns due to readying for things that do not happen. Just my two cents, which you're free to ignore.

The archer uses 1 point of mental focus for Legacy weapon (Su). Bow becomes +3 and gains Seek for 1 minute.

Then he stays in place ready to shot. He has Snapshot. So AoO

Hamish already rolled randomly to do the exact thing that would be the penalty if Theo failed Survival. Does he still need to roll a survival check? All he is attempting to do is 'kinda' go 'away' from the giants until he can get his bearings.

Sounds good- I'll allow it due to the fog having appeared just now. Anyone willing to move doesn't need Survival in the first round following a fog cloud's appearance: just do what Hamish did.

ok, so I will also go on the opposite way of the giants in that case. But I still use the mental focus point as previously written.

Rallas retreats from the fog cloud and whips out a wand of curative magicks.

umd clw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 281d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4moving back to Hamish's voice...will let the GM move my token...he seems like he really wants to do that...lol

Haven't wasted any turns due to readying that I'm aware of... not when the other option was to charge in alone vs powerful melee types. Which I wasn't going to do anyway. =)

Theo frowns, not sure what the giants hoped to gain from throwing around all the fog. Still it was confusing his own team, who were slowly getting more and more separated.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

He calls a quick command to Fairbeaks, trying to get the bird to return to him back the way it came. He then moves silently to his right and back a few steps, so as to block the gap between the ruins. Walking softly, and carrying a big stick while he waits.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Then, since there is concealment, he moves silently to a different spot (again, arrow shows intended reposition) and readies for one of the giants to walk nearby... then wallop it defensively, if one does!

Readied attack, bard, defensive: 1d20 + 15 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 2 - 4 = 28, for 1d10 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 2 = 22 damage. miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 78
Possibly vs flat-footed

Current AC vs giants: 32

Command Fairbeaks to Come back to him, retreat back the way he came (which would be east, then north, around the ruined wall there (put a arrow to indicate the intended direction).

Fairbeaks gives a confused squawk, as the fog descends over the area, and he can no longer see anything nearby.

But a moment later, he hears the command from Theo, and lopes back the way he came, attempting to locate the dwarf.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Styfis direction: 1d3 ⇒ 1Rallas direction: 1d3 ⇒ 3Theo direction: 1d3 ⇒ 2Fairbeaks direction: 1d3 ⇒ 21d3 ⇒ 3 - Theo I will ignore your stealth check unless you wish to move at half speed.

The fog clouds sow confusion within the group. Hamish and Styfis somehow make it out in the intended direction and end up beside Charlotte. Charlotte is unsure what to do. delays By some trick of fate, both Nyloth and Theo stumble right into Fairbeaks! Rallas stumbles while wounded, and emerges somewhere to the south, alone, unable to follow Hamish due to the strange sound reverberations upon the ruin's walls. Thanks to his wand he manages to close some of the deeper tissue close to his collarbone. He notices some additional fog forming to the south.

Initiative (Party may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -35, g2 -17]
Styfis
Rallas -30
Charlotte [DELAYING]
Hamish [TOTAL DEFENSE]
Nyloth [TOTAL DEFENSE]
Theo [READYING]

I was only going 10', so half speed was the intent.

Theo will continue being ready.

Perception to pinpoint: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Put Fairbeaks in Defend mode

Fairbeaks seems happy to see Theo, though still obviously irritated by the fog obscuring the prey. In response to an almost imperceptible signal from the dwarf, he too goes into stalking mode, crouching ready to pounce as soon as their quarry reveals itself.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Hamish pulls out his flail and stands ready at the edge of the cloud. He turns to the casters next to him, "Stand back, I'll cover for you. If you get a shot, take it. I don't know where our allies are, but they know their own skills."

Move to draw flail, Ready to attempt to trip a giant if it comes into range.

Theo hears the giants move in the fog somewhere closer to where he was but he can't pinpoint the sound due to the damned acoustical reflections off those blasted ruins! his bird crouches beside him, ever at the ready... Hamish gets ready for any giant daring to emerge...

Initiative (Bold may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -35, g2 -17]
Hamish [READYING]
Theo [READYING]
Styfis
Rallas -30
Charlotte [DELAYING]
Nyloth [TOTAL DEFENSE]

perception to pinpoint: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Well, if a 31 didn't pinpint, then my 25 won't either.

Nyloth continues to adopt a defensive posture as he awaits giants to appear out of the fog to club him over the head.

Total defense for 29 AC

Rallas focuses and tries to exit the fog.

survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Rallas: are you going north to Charlotte or the others or east behind the stone wall?

oops...forgot to say....Charlotte snd the others....

The archer uses one point of mental focus for Mind over gravity and goes over the fog.

I don't know how high the fog is. The goal is to see if I can get a better look at something from above.

@Styfis: how high do you go? (max 30-foot height if you go A) straight up with Fly DC 20 check; or B) 30-foot in the X-Y plane and 30-foot height (Z-axis) without a Fly check)

I would say more or less B) this round. I don't want to go inside the fog.

Please indicate direction 1 through 8 for your horizontal 30-foot move, with 1 indicating due north and 5 indicating due south right above Rallas

7.

I can’t do anything big I can’t see my target and I can’t get rid of this fog. And getting into melee is a super bad idea for me. Any ideas? Otherwise continue to ready some magic missiles if I see an enemy.

Ideas for Charlotte: broom of flying, cure serious on Rallas, silent image of a party member stealthing in the fog, ghost sound of a party of adventurers running through the fog, etc. Also, although I don't see it in your stats: detect thoughts to pinpoint location of giants, telepathic bond to link party members together and guide them in the fog after you've pinpointed the giants, etc. Edit: noticed you don't have telepathic bond as your 4th level spell or message as 0th level spell.

Thanks for the ideas GM, unfortunately, I don't have mindlink (that's level 9 that psychics get it) and detect thoughts only the presence or absence of thoughts, not their location. I could, I guess, make some illusion fighters

"Ah, excellent, now is the time to spring my trap! Go, my ninja fighters!" Charlotte Shouts

Bluff Check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

(cast level 2 Minor image as a full round action to make some ninjas appear and run around in the cloud. They are essentially random because I can't see where they are, so I'll let the GM place them! Using Conceal spell so it is a Sense Motive check DC 25 to tell that I am casting a spell of any sort. DC if the giants interact with the spell is 18)

detect magic 'could' pinpoint 'if' they have some magic... :P

Perception, 1st level spell: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 = 18
Perception, 1st level spell: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 = 15

You all hear the giants grunt and then you hear large 'WOOSH!' sounds as they begin to swing their weapons around!

Initiative (Party may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -35, g2 -17]
Hamish
Theo
Styfis [line of sight to top part of one giant!]
Rallas -30
Charlotte
Nyloth

Nyloth listens intently for the sounds of their swings to determine the direction, if he figures out where they are coming from, he will move up to melee range with the first giant he finds.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Move action to seek, standard to move. If I still can't find the giants, I'll just move randomly 30ft around the fog trying to move into melee with a giant if I find one

As the archer sees one of the giants, he unleashes a volley of arrows.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35 +2 because of Inspire courage

Damage 1: 2d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 9 + 2 = 18 +2 because of Inspire courage

Crit Arrow 1?: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20 +2 because of Inspire courage

Crit Damage 1?: 4d6 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 5) + 18 + 2 = 39 +2 because of Inspire courage

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17 +2 because of Inspire courage

Damage 2: 2d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 9 + 2 = 18 +2 because of Inspire courage

Arrow 3: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13 +2 because of Inspire courage

Damage 3: 2d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 9 + 2 = 13 +2 because of Inspire courage

All the arrows have the Seek trait because of Weapon Legacy. That also why the bow is +3.

Nyloth finds the grunting giants easily and due to the total concealment, you don't suffer any AoOs; Styfis manages to sink one arrow into the giant; Theo/Fairbeaks both see Nyloth walk past them: if their next move action is to follow Nyloth you both won't need to make a survival or perception check as he's doing the navigation for you.

A 29 survival check didn't help last time, I wasn't expecting it to help this time either 8P

Hearing sounds of combat, Theo immediately steps that direction, tetsubo ready to swing, calling to Faibeaks to squeeze in beside him.

A 29 survival check didn't help last time, I wasn't expecting it to help this time either 8P

Giants were stealthing back then, and pinpoint is Stealth DC +20; now they're banging small masts with anchors at the end into the ground! lol

Thought the survival check was to head in the intended direction. The Perception was to find the giants.

My bad then... must have got lost in the shuffle. Usually Survival is to avoid getting lost / navigating natural hazards, which is why I think I asked it before rolling d3 like Hamish is doing.
In this case though, right now, you can just follow Nyloth for auto-success due to all the banging and grunting from the giants.

Theo and Fairbeaks follow Nyloth into the fog. The halfling uses his highly honed senses to search for the brutes and comes to a halt when he nearly bumb into the male giant. Theo and Fairbeaks split up and move into a flanking position against the giant. Theo + Fairbeaks both have a standard action left and are into flanking position

Initiative (Bold may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -53, g2 -17]
Nyloth
Styfis [line of sight to top part of one giant!]
Hamish
Theo [standard only, 20% miss chance]
Fairbeaks [standard only]
Rallas -30
Charlotte

Euh, you wrote I hit a giant with one arrow. But there are still the same damage on them.

fixed

Which way did we go, its really awkward not seeing ourselves on the map 8P

At the sight of the giants, finally, Theo does what he can to get their attention... or at least the one that he spots first.

I think the lingering song has worn off now? If its still lingering, add 2 to both of these.

Melee, haste, PA, flank: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 1 + 2 = 22, for 1d10 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 damage. miss change: 1d100 ⇒ 45

Fairbeaks circles around, a target finally in sight, and snaps at the giant's exposed bits with his powerful beak.

bite, flank, haste, PA: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 24, for 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (1, 6) + 14 = 21 damage.

(Swift action, keep the illusion going with effortless trickery, movie action get over to Rallas while drawing my wand of CLW, Standard action try to activate it on him.)

Rallas heals from CLW:: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Facepalm, Greeeeeeat healing

@Charlotte remember you have a higher level spell on your known list right now... @Theo for side-view visualization just click the link beside Styfis in the initiative list in my last post.

The dwarf and giant bird combo savage the giant, and the brute now hangs by a thread, his body severely battered! Sigh... finally... the martial dudes have moved and attacked and stopped playing chicken! :)

Initiative (Bold may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -91, g2 -17]
Nyloth
Styfis [line of sight to top part of one giant!]
Theo [20% miss chance]
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Hamish
Rallas -30

Hamish resumes his inspiration as he hears his allies engaging and pulls a small vial of liquid from his pocket. If our flying archer can see them, so might I!

Start Inspire Courage (standard), Move to draw fly potion.

Rallas delays, not sure what to do with the gaping wound in his shoulder!

The severely wounded giant goes nuts on the dwarf that just hit him. His female partner moves to flank Fairbeaks with him and attacks the bird! (her head now visible outside one of the clouds, she is now exposed to Styfis' arrows in the process...)

vs. dwarf
gaff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
gaff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
vs. bird
gaff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

The giants can't hit the duo!

Initiative (Bold may go!)
GIANTS!! [g1 -91, g2 -17]
Nyloth [20% miss chance]
Styfis [line of sight to top part of both giants!]
Theo [20% miss chance]
Fairbeaks
Charlotte
Hamish
Rallas -30

Theo works to finish off the nearer foe, as he brings his tetsubo around in mighty arcing swings!

Full attack, defensively. If the giant falls over after the first, he will then move over beside Fairbeaks and the 2nd giant. If it takes 2 swings, he'll just 5' step in that direction

melee1, PA, flank, haste, bard, defensive, token: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 + 2 = 33, for 2d6 + 16 + 2 + 2d8 ⇒ (3, 5) + 16 + 2 + (2, 1) = 29 damage. concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 36
melee2, PA, flank, haste, bard, defensive: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 27, for 2d6 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 16 + 2 = 24 damage. concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 40
haste, PA, flank, haste, bard, defensive: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 22, for 2d6 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 16 + 2 = 22 damage. concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 78

Current AC: 32

Fairbeaks immediately turns on the new threat, giving an angry squawk, as he lashes out at it with his powerful beak.

Full attack. If Theo is moving his way, he will 5' step back towards the dwarf. If Theo is already there, he will 5' forward, working around to the flank.
Am assuming the token is used, for +2d8 and flanking for one attack.

bite, PA, haste, token: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 24, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 + 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) + 14 + 2 + (5, 8) = 39 damage. concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 72
bite, PA, haste: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 19, for 2d6 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 14 + 2 = 20 damage. concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 31