[PF2e] The Fall of Plaguestone (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

Gillian can make two more Elixir of Life, Minor today and that's it beyond anything else we find or sitting around for hours so we can try the Medicine skill again.

I guess she could try seeing if she can get close enough to use Medicine on the cat but at this point she's not spending the last of her resources on it until we know the rest of these caverns are clear of danger.

I've definitely noticed that boss monsters in PF2 are way more complicated than they would have been in PF1. They seem to almost always require tactics vs relying on simple damage output, as we're seeing with this ooze, and as was the case with Hallod, where it was lucky that most of you had ranged options, and could use the boxes for cover. I'm being cognizant of the potential that some of these encounters are overpowered, since PS was written during the playtest, but I believe we will have to focus on tactics as we continue on through the adventure.

Tactics more complicated than a DPS race? I'm listening!

That's good to know. Not as good when you are new to the rules, but good to know in the grand scheme of things.

Ya, looks like Knowledge checks will be even more important than ever.

Ahh the fresh clean feeling of leveled up.

Besides the usual +1 to modifiers, Scratch gained expert level in will saves (so +3 total to his will saves!).

We also all gain a skill increase, which he used to push medicine to expert, putting him at a +9.

Of course another +13hp is nice.

His general feat was the +5 speed boost (so don't you all go boosting your speed to 30!)

Looking over things in general though, it seems that the big power jump for characters is level 5. You get a LOT of things at level 5, including the +2 to 4 different ability scores!

Happy leveling.

Scratch.

OK got Ed leveled up here:

In addition to the +1 modifiers, he gains a skill increase (Arcana to Expert) and a General feat (Multi-lingual: Orc and ??)

His 2nd level spells are Dispel Magic (!) and Mirror Image.

Okay, I think I got Gillian leveled up finally.

Took the skill increase to become trained in Survival, given all the stomping around in the wilderness we've been doing.

Added common formulas Bottled Lightning, Lesser and Silversheen to the formula book.

Picked Fast Recovery as my general feat.

If this were going to be a longer-running 'campaign' I might've looked into multiclassing Gillian as a ranger but decided to just stick with alchemist. Maybe I'll make a similar PFS2 character and do the multiclass that way :)

Oh yeah. I also haven't forgotten about this game either, though I need a little more time to finish my preps for Part 3.

Oh, before we get knee deep in shit, did we ever go through the found loot and distribute/sell/purchase stuff?

I have a strong feeling we won't get another chance and may as well get some upgrades before we start.

I don't think we did. The loot tracker is up to date though, so we can retcon the selling of most of the goods and buying anything you want before leaving town. I marked some items as 'Sell?' unless anyone claims em, and also highlighted in yellow a few that probably would want to be claimed.

Yeah, someone that's not Gillian should definitely take the Elixir of Life, Minor and the Acid Flask, Lesser.

Looks like Gillian still has the Barkskin potion Noala gave her earlier; remind me to actually use it the next time we get in a scrape!

My brain is jamming up on the rest of the stuff but those are my thoughts at first glance.

Ed will gladly take the Elixir of Life (Lesser).

Maybe Celvi should take the Acid Flask.

Acid Flask it is!

Looks good to me. Nothing in the sell category I'm interested in.

Scratch will use his meager 4g to buy a minor healing potion.

I had made Scratch Steeltoe as a regular PbP character when he should be an alias. I want to get started on getting some xp under his belt so I need to transfer him over while I put his character number to use.

Looking now at our current healths... Scratch is at 40/49 so not too badly off. He can't benefit from battle medicine for either himself or Gilly for the rest of the day, and has to wait about an hour for any more regular medicine checks.

How about the rest of you? Spells/Consumables/Etc? There is one lesser healing left from the archer.

Ed is at about half strength when it comes to his spells here. His HP is OK for the moment, but I don't think Gilly can use Battle Medicine on him though.

I don't mind holing up here but not too keen on hanging out in Nar's hut. Maybe we can find somewhere else to hide?

I've always thought we would do this whole dungeon in one go. She hasn't been injured much, so she's ready for Battle Medicine.

We've taken out the outside guard, so we have the opportunity to move around the camp before the next guard rotation. Maybe we can sneak around and scope out the camp?

We also got a key off of Lord Nar - maybe it opens/closes the front gate. We could just... walk back in here if we needed to retreat.

The balance issues in this module are pretty widely known, so don't take it personally if you're injured or KO'ed at any point. I had already made some balance adjustments in previous encounters and will keep doing so, gotta keep some level of challenge without it being too unfair!

It reminds me of how PF1's early module Crypt of the Everflame can be really challenging if the party isn't the textbook cleric/wizard/rogue/fighter entourage.

I mentioned it in chat, but wanted to repeat it here. Quite frankly, I think this module - especially this third chapter - is far too difficult for a party of Level 3 PCs. I've read similar opinions on the Roll for Combat Discord channel for this module and on the boards here and saw some good suggestions. Rather than the potion fairy dropping in to heal you after every fight, why don't you all go ahead and level up to Level 4?

Ah, the joys of non-PFS.
The GM has graced us with blue bolts of lightning!

I'll assume we got inspired during our hour long heal fest.

Huzzah! \o/

Working tonight but I'll try and get Gillian updated a bit later or in the morning after I get home.

If I must. But just for you GM! :)

*edit* Are all of our abilities and such fully restored?

Feats are selected.
Wondering about spells. Do we get those spells per day to use, or do we have to rest for a day first?

Yeah, let's start fresh, as if you had just had a long rest.

Sweet!

In that case, Gillian will make the following items for the 'new day':

Acid Flask, Lesser x2
Alchemist's Fire, Moderate x2
Antiplague, Lesser x2
Elixir of Life, Minor x4

Which leaves 3/8 infused reagents remaining to use Quick Alchemy with.

Ok updated Scratch. Essentially +1 to everything, +13HP.

**Frank: Please update the spoilered lists of initiative and exploration. Scratch's Perception mod is now +10. Stealth is +8.

As far as new feats Scratch doubled down on parrying and medicine checks:

Twin Parry (Single Action) (Fighter/Ranger) (Feat 4)
Requirements You are wielding two melee weapons, one in each hand.
You use your two weapons to parry attacks. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to AC until the start of your next turn, or a +2 circumstance bonus if either weapon has the parry trait. You lose this circumstance bonus if you no longer meet this feat’s requirement.

Robust Recovery: (Feat 2) (General) (Skill)
Prerequisites expert in Medicine
You learned folk medicine to help recover from diseases and poison, and using it diligently has made you especially resilient. When you Treat a Disease or a Poison, or someone else uses one of these actions on you, increase the circumstance bonus granted on a success to +4, and if the result of the patient’s saving throw is a success, the patient gets a critical success.

Ed is updated as well. +7 HP, +1 to all trained skills.

Skill Feat: Recognize Spell (Identify a spell as a reaction as it's being cast.)
Wizard Feat: Bespell Weapon (You siphon the residual energy from the last spell you cast into one weapon you’re wielding.)

2nd level Spell: Glitterdust.

Occult Evolution spell of the day: Restoration

Looks like we are all ready to go. I've updated the spoilers with your new perceptions and will have us on our way shortly.

Man I'm level 4 but I feel like my damage output is the same, if not lower than when I was level 1-2.

Scratch is back whenever the mood strikes.

-Joe

Oh, haven't forgotten about Plaguestone here either. We were getting pretty close to the end of it so I'll try to get us moving on soon.

^Take your time. If you feel especially motivated or have been jonesing for Plaguestone in particular, I'd gently suggest maybe finishing this one first and then jumping back into HR so that you're not working to try and restart multiple games at once.

Unless of course you've been missing HR and/or feeling primarily motivated to restart it first, in which case do that and worry about Plaguestone a little later.

Or maybe your enthusiasm is coming back but is still all over the place and you're feeling one game one day and then another game another day - in which case definitely just post as inspiration strikes :)

All of the above is, admittedly, totally unsolicited advice though so feel free to ignore it or tell me to MYOB.

Actually, I really appreciate that advice! Thank you! I thought it about it some, and yeah, let's restart PS first and then move onto HR once we're wrapped up here.

Sounds like a great plan!

Works for me!