As far as the Mushroom Witch's Formula Book goes, I'm not going to bother transferring things. Jevar is going to treat it as his second formula book (overflow), and he can add more to it when the need arises.
Um...Yeah, I don't see anything that talks about needing to make a check when using another formula book like you do with spellbooks, so I think you're good.
final minutiae as I look over Jevar's character sheet:
* Jevar will have to leave his repair kit back at the room with his expanded alchemist's lab to avoid being encumbered
* I haven't been tracking rations or eating costs at all. Let me know if we're not hand-waving that or setting some weekly/monthly living cost (and how much would have been consumed at briarstone before living costs).
1: Are you accounting for the fact that the bag of holding has an effective bulk of -24? Because I think you can take everything if you put your entire life in that bag.
2: It's handwaved unless I say otherwise (there'll be one specific exception that I can think of for that, and that'll be clearly telegraphed). There's already enough bookkeeping; I don't want to add the cost of living into everything else.
thank you, I was missing that bag of holding. Reviewing the inventory sheet now.
Hoo boy, one week left to use 3 hero points. Note to self..
Hoo boy, one week left to use 3 hero points. Note to self..
Oh yeah...One week until Hero Points reset
Y'all are totally right, that was a copy/paste fail on my part!
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Oh gods, 3 days 3 hero points. I think it literally needs to be the next three rolls :)
What's the mechanic that knocked Shakur back 10ft and how can I get it on Urzok? :P
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What's the mechanic that knocked Shakur back 10ft and how can I get it on Urzok? :P
a) NPCs are built differently from PCs, so it is quite frequent that NPCs get abilities that PCs can't (I had a whole conversation with Boodiddly's character about how these guys have the abilities of a ~6th level PC fighter/rogue while only being level 2). So asking "how can I get that" doesn't always have a solid answer.
b) Their crit thing is based on the crit specialization of clubs as well as the Brutal Beating rogue feat. It's different in that ruffian rogues only get the crit specialization when they crit a flat-footed creature, and I'm pretty sure they did away with the "only vs flat-footed" part for these NPCs specifically. But to answer your question, Urzok get crit specializations next level, though they differ between weapon groups. The crit specialization of clubs (which is what a sap is) is that the target is knocked back up to 10 feet. The crit specialization of swords (which includes Urzok's longsword) makes the target flat-footed until the start of the critter's next turn. Similarly, Jevar gets crit specialization specifically when he uses hand of the apprentice, so that's why he caused persistent bleed after his hand of the apprentice (daggers belong to the knife weapon group, and the crit specialization of knives causes 1d6 (plus weapon's item bonus) persistent bleed damage).
Oh, I see! Thanks GM! :) I'll look into those!
Since Boodiddly nailed Dashed Yellow, there is no AoO for Urzok to take, correct? If so, he'll use his reaction for the Shield Block. If it matters, he totally would have taken a swing though!
Since Boodiddly nailed Dashed Yellow, there is no AoO for Urzok to take, correct? If so, he'll use his reaction for the Shield Block. If it matters, he totally would have taken a swing though!
To be fair, all of them excepted Dashed Green triggered an AoO from Urzok at some point during their turn.
"Uhhhhhh," Urzok groans as he's brought back from the brink and his muscles ache from the adrenaline. "Told ya!" he snaps at the goons ganging up on him, quickly regaining his focus.
Bringing his shield over his chest, he lashes out with his sword. "On your knees, let's make it a fair fight! Do it yourself or I'll cut your hamstrings!"
________
[dice=Demoralize vs Dashed Red]1d20+8+1
[dice=Strike vs Dashed Red]1d20+13;2d8+4
Standing does indeed provoke. Also, you take a -2 to the attack roll from being prone. AND when you're knocked unconscious you drop everything you hold, so you would have to Interact to pick up your sword and a separate Interact to pick up your shield (both of which also provoke).
EDIT: So to actually attack without provoking you would have to only attack with your fist, Urzok.
Aw man, the shield too. Ok, then interact shield, interact sword, raise shield!
Didn't see this. I'll just redo that entire turn from the top.
This is an FYI that I'm going to be away and without access to internet this coming Saturday and Sunday. I will return Sunday evening, when I will catch up on weekend posts.
Not feeling well tonight (no COVID symptoms, just can't think and I'm exhausted). Please bot me as needed and thank you for your patience.
New errata. Most significant changes:
Certain spells can’t be Sustained more than once for additional benefits.
Alchemists (not multiclass, unfortunately) got a HUGE boost!
There is an implication that the lesser maestro’s instruments’ DC should have been 17, but we’ve already rolled for stuff, so I’m not going to go back and change it for the current situation with Aris.
A failed attack roll with a splash weapon does splash damage to both the target and anyone adjacent instead of just the target.
Better definitions for held, worn, and stowed items.
Minor implication that Battle Medicine needs two hands, but the interpretation is still a bit up in the air.
You roll that Diplomacy like a champ Boodiddly! Still here, just letting the friendly talkers talk while Urzok broods :)
Sorry for the silence, didn't get any notifications for this thread... I'll keep closer tabs on it for the next few days, just in case.
Jevar isn't keen on just letting him go, or trusting any "deal" with him. So he's said "no lets drag him to the sleepless house but I'll make him invisible first." It sounds like Urzok and Shakur agree, but it isn't entirely clear the other plan was abandoned or understood as mutually exclusive.
OOOH. So you're going to just knock him out and drag him to the Sleepless Building? That's...certainly an option. I got so into the whole "Aris trusts you" thing that I kinda forgot that he's a hostage XD
Not strictly knock him out, but that would reduce the chance of a hostile act (which would break the invisibility, which is our means to get him discretely there).
Was all that clear to everyone else? Jevar is spurting out the plan in short whispery fragments because Aris is nearby.
I think they're just hesitant about what'll happen if/when charm has run its course on Aris.
Since he is charmed, why don't we have him walk with us? I suspect knocking him unconscious would blow the charm or at least the rapport we have with him. We untie his legs, hands behind his back, Urzok walks closely at his side Assassin's Creed style. We might get some funny looks, but isn't it also dark out right now? I think we can swing it.
Then we have him talk to the Agent, with the carrot of letting him skip town with some new duds if he continues to comply. Even after the charm wears off, I'd imagine that would still be appealing to him.
Yup, that sounds perfect. And with the timeframe GM XK described, a think the invisibility will get us to the door of the sleepless house.
And after...holy crap! seven months, you guys finally level up to level 5! I promise that the rest of Book 2 won't be as long and drawn out as this first part was (especially since level 5 is mathematically the worst level for spellcasters since it is at this level that martials get a proficiency boost in weapons while casters still have two more levels until they get a proficiency boost to spells; level 14 is the same, but at least at that point you have a bunch of spells).
Anyway, at level 5, you all should get the following: an additional skill increase, an ancestry feat, and four ability boosts! (choose four ability scores and increase each score by 2 [by 1 if the ability score is at 18 or higher]; don't forget that this also affects your current and total sanity [sanity works like hit points; if you increase the total, then you increase your current by the same amount, so if Jevar's current sanity increases from 42 to 44, then his current sanity increases from 39 to 41]).
Additionally, Urzok gets master proficiency in one specific weapon group, and the spellcasters get 3rd level spells.
I ask that you make a post about what has changed before I continue the story.
EDIT: I forgot one thing: Fort Hailcourse's BBEG can go one of two ways: what's written (that requires a bit more work on my end) or a way I personally kinda want it to go. So, I'm going to leave it to the party: would you rather have the BBEG of Hailcourse be more Lovecraftian or have a more obtuse-but-engaging fighting style?
Skill Increase Crafting to Expert
Ancestry Feat Clever Improviser
Ability boosts DEX, INT, WIS, CHA
New Wizard Spells Still thinking about these in light of our coming infiltration in Fort Hailcourse... Meld into Stone or Invisibility Sphere seem good for that. Does Jevar have time to buy some scrolls before the party rests? There are a lot of immediately useful choices at 3rd level...
Separately, he can now transcribe and cast Dream Message out of the book we found, The Chain of Night.
I have not yet updated his profile.
Does Jevar have time to buy some scrolls before the party rests? There are a lot of immediately useful choices at 3rd level...
The markets are closed at this time of night, and based on the urgency of Ms. Wrentz's request, you doubt you would be able to take a quick shopping trip in the morning, so I'm going to go with no.
Good to know, then these spell choices will be crucial... right now just leaning towards the covert options.
**Skill Increase** Religion to Expert
**Ancestry Feat** Natural SKill (trained in Diplomacy and Nature)
**Ability Boosts** DEX, CON, WIS, CHA
**New things** Alertness.
Switched a 2nd level spell for Blood Vendetta. @GM: I'll specify when I want to use that on my posts after the fact.
As for 3rd level, I picked up Heroism and Searing Light. Here's hoping we run into more undead and/or some fiends. Doubt it, though.
Also, charisma bump gave me another font, so I've got 5/day now, and they're all level 3!
Decided on Invisibility Sphere and Meld Into Stone, they just seem too useful for skulking around this place. I'll get his profile updated some time tomorrow.
Jevar also gets lightning reflexes at level 5.
Now, it’s at this point that I would normally say that Hero Points reset in one week, but the vast majority of this month was spent interrogating Aris, so I’m going to make the executive decision to not reset Hero Points on December 1st, especially since you guys are going into Fort Hailcourse, where I can guarantee that you’ll want those Hero Points.
Nice! The last reset really caught me off guard (my fault, but still, I had a lot to lose there :P )
Jevar's profile is updated. Let me know if anything looks wrong.
update: oops, forgot to update Oreb. Doing now... done.
Yay level 5! :D Going to go through leveling now, always takes me a moment in PF2.
EDIT: Ok, I think I did it!
All level based attributes (attacks, saves, skills, etc.) went up 1.
Ability boosts went into str (no change), dex (+2 mod), con (+3 mod), wis (+3 mod). This meant I increased my AC/saves/certain skills/HP/perception by an additional 1. Sanity related things increased appropriately.
Ancestry feat is Athletic Might for success = crit success on climb/swim checks.
Skill increase took Stealth from U to T.
Weapon Mastery is on swords. Although an axe is more fitting with Urzok, this is what he's got and I'm happy with it anyways :) So going from E to M gave an additional +2 to hit and he knocks foes off-balance when he crits them.
EDIT: I forgot one thing: Fort Hailcourse's BBEG can go one of two ways: what's written (that requires a bit more work on my end) or a way I personally kinda want it to go. So, I'm going to leave it to the party: would you rather have the BBEG of Hailcourse be more Lovecraftian or have a more obtuse-but-engaging fighting style?
For the record, all three of you guys just disregarded this question I posed to you.
That said, it is currently the American holiday of Thanksgiving, so I don't expect y'all to post today.
As an update from Boodiddly: apparently his campaign page got weirded out and didn't tell him that there were any new posts in this campaign.
Arg, yeah it's really easy to miss a post edit when you've had a page open all day (as a reminder) and post much later after (in this case after leveling up).
It seems like as the GM you'd enjoy one option over the other, and I don't have a good reason to push against that. Is the way it's written the more Lovecraftian style, or is the way that you want to do it that style?
The way it's written is the more Lovecraftian style.
And it's not necessarily that I enjoy one over the other, it's that the not-what's-written one has something interesting that I'd like to try, but it's just a bit more awkward to implement into the narrative than what's written.
Whew - done!
Since Boodiddly can't swap out his spells known easily, I tried to pick ones that'll be handy on a regular basis while still fitting his theme - calm emotions and haste. Also, please say hello to his new toad familiar Wart . Wart will be accompanying Boodiddly by providing a bass line with his croaks as well as helping the gnome channel his magic to cast shield as an additional cantrip.
My vote is to try the interesting thing then. Knowing how ideas breed energy (and vice-versa), and with nothing to lose from writing that isn't known to the player, it seems the better option.
I've no problem with you trying something out GM! I'd like to hear how it was "supposed" to go afterwards too though!
I was wholly distracted by the level up, sorry.
In that case, let me ask this: Does anybody have any particular lines that they’d rather not have crossed when it comes to objectionable content? Basically, I’m asking if anyone would like to add in additional restrictions to the Pathfinder Baseline for this particular group. Obviously, with Strange Aeons the concept of cosmic horror and the associated feeling of “insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe” is central to the story. There’s also some minor body horror stuff that comes up in a later book.
There is nothing I'd like added to the Pathfinder Baseline, thank you for asking.
Those restrictions seem appropriate to me.
Agreed. I'll let you know if I think you went too far on something, but I doubt it'll ever get there with this group.
Sorry, all; I’m having a really off day and won’t be posting today if it keeps up.
No worries. Hope things get better!
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Get me in there and I should be able to lead the way.
What can I say? The dice love me!
GM, I ended up choosing Terrifying Resistance!
That was intentional. The first round of an ability (lingering composition in this case) counts as “round 0” and goes up at the start of the turn when the ability manifest. I was going ahead a bit and applying the “start” of everyone’s turns simultaneously in the initiative block, thus including the “tick up” of the counter. Technically Jevar and Shakur would still have the lingering composition, but as soon as Boodiddly’s turn came around then it would disappear. It’s a bit weird to explain my methodology, I’ll admit. I hope that makes sense.
That said, whether or not you had the benefits of inspire courage in this particular instance wasn't relevant.