Fairly close. These side quests for the various locations aren't terribly long, and I'm not going to run all of the town events.
Maybe another couple of months IRL?
As to the items that prior PCs took, do note that Sosche came in with full WBL. To have that and also get to reclaim all that prior PCs had could be excessive. But let's see.
Kowal had a Wand of CLW. I have already said that the party has that.
Malakar had a Wand of Flaming Sphere with 6 charges.
I don't think anybody else had anything, especially with the change to ABP. So, it's just Malakar's wand of Flaming Sphere I think. Do you think the party should have that?
I didn't mean everything the inactive characters have, only the things that are specifically treasure from the books.
Like, I'm thinking a wand of flaming sphere with 6 charges sounds more like treasure from the book. I don't think he bought the wand, or it was a reward he got from Mioki back when. The wand of CLW is probably a purchase or reward.
So, if my guesses are right, we reclaim the wand of flaming sphere, but not the wand of CLW.
I've noticed that in every pbp I've played in everyone is poor to some degree. At some point, (well actually my war for the crown game, where we'd found three artifacts, but the players who had them were all gone and we had zero artifacts) I realized treasure keeps getting divided and players keep leaving so the party is constantly bleeding wealth. The money doesn't matter but items do, especially in a situation like this one where we can barely spend money.
Of course now that we're using ABP it matters less. Maybe it's a wash. But I figure it was worth inquiring about.
The party had a Wand of CLW from way back. It was down to 32 charges last time anybody posted about it. I think Malakar has it on his sheet at 38 charges.
Through some miracle of lingering Azlanti magic it is now full (50 charges), and let's track it accurately from here on out.
Don't forget that mundane healing to Treat Deadly Wounds is an option to conserve wand charges.
The wand was bought with party money and was originally on Kowal's sheet. Then Malakar's. Now Fenna's, I think. Point is, you have it.
The wand of Flaming Sphere is fine to keep.
Hopefully we can avoid losing any more players.
In Tyrant's Grasp you go to level 8 without being able to buy anything, not even mundane gear, and so a major portion of my party's wealth came from replacement PCs miraculously appearing with full optimized WBL. It was odd, to say the least.
Wow! I aspire to play Tyrant's Grasp someday, also Return of the Runelords. It seems like the last 2 APs didn't get much attention here.
Alright, thanks. I'll put the Wand of CLW on Fenna's sheet. Vexas will take the Wand of Flaming Sphere I assume.
Vexas will take the Wand of Flaming Sphere I assume.
Noted. Adding it.
You know, I really thought you would take the offer of higher-level scrolls to get scrolls like Clairvoyance or Gaseous Form for the current investigation. That's why I mentioned it in the middle of your investigation, as the party seemed to be stuck lacking such capabilities. If anyone in the party wishes to do this, I would let Vexas change his procurement.
Learning a new spell takes 1 hour, and scribing it takes 1 hour per spell level. So a 2nd-level spell takes 3 hours total.
When time is not a factor, you can arrange for stuff to be shipped from Almas, including magic items or scrolls. So using up Ramona's entire stash on things that are not urgently needed is maybe not the best option.
@Sosche - there are a couple of low-level clerics in the colony who can cast Masterwork Transformation for you, given the advance notice to prepare it.
Great - thanks! When my armor is 'done' I'll give 'em a visit.
Can Vexas use scrolls for spells higher level than he can cast? If so, I can make some changes.
Absolutely. It's a pretty easy CL check to cast a spell from a scroll if it is on your list. The DC is just 1+ (scroll CL), so a 3rd-level spell at CL5 is a DC6 CL check. Much easier than a UMD check.
Okie, so 1st level is 25gp, 2nd level is 150gp, 3rd level is 375gp. Meaning two 3rds are five 2nds.
3rd Clairvoyance
3rd Gaseous Form
1st Enlarge Person
1st Memory Lapse
2nd Blindness/Deafness
2nd Darkness
2nd Flaming Sphere
2nd Fog Cloud
2nd Resist Energy
2nd Scorching Ray
2nd Summon Monster II
2nd Web
2nd Gust of Wind
2nd Pyrotechnics
2nd Rope Trick
2nd Summon Swarm
2nd Unnatural Lust (I thought this could be a funny way to get him out of the house, but it's maybe a stretch :P)
Fenna would be happy to go halfsies on the cost of spells Vexas lets her copy to scrolls or a book after he's put them in his own book...
So that list is what was offered for free from Ramona (up to 2000gp)
Oh, alright, Fenna won't pay Vexas anything then.
Okay, that works, but are you sure?
No other 3rd-level scrolls you might want to have on hand for contingencies or unexpected problems?
No Daylight, Fly, Dispel Magic, or other utility options?
No leaving any GP value left in Ramona's "Schroedinger Stash" for situations you might encounter later?
If you are sure then we can go with these spells. There's not a ton left in this book so there may not be any other unexpected spells needed.
Eventually there will be more and higher-level casters on the island so there will be more abundant supply of scrolls.
Also do keep in mind that Sosche has Enlarge Person from his Oracle mystery, so that might not be worth taking up space in your spellbook.
Maybe Ashen Path? It's very useful. Probably not underwater but still.
I can move a few more over to 3rd level, but I also don't want to get stuck using too many in the moment before they can be transcribed into our books because of not being the right level.
1st Memory Lapse
1st Undine's Curse
2nd Blindness/Deafness
2nd Scorching Ray
2nd Web
3rd Clairvoyance
3rd Dispel Magic
3rd Fly
3rd Gaseous Form
That's fine. The main idea here was to give you capabilities you might otherwise lack access to.
So how do you propose to investigate Nymbleth's shop?
Invisibility to approach his house, sleep directed at him if there's a window, either lock-picking or gaseous form to get in.
Sleep has a "1 round" casting time, so in general a target might have time to react between hearing you start to cast it and the spell taking effect. But there are no open windows (the only ones in the building are shuttered), so the Sleep is probably a moot point.
Please post actions in Gameplay, and anybody who is going with Vexas note that.
Gaseous Form needs a DC 6 caster level check for Vexas. You can be both Invisible and in Gaseous Form if you wish, which would make you virtually undetectable.
Looks at list. yeah, it appears the transcription activities can largely wait until after. The one that could be useful on the spot is Memory Lapse if caught, but at only one round back its scope is pretty limited to brief lapses of stealth or similar. So yeah proceeding without it.
This is an FYI that I'll be away in nature this coming weekend Sat. 2/1-Sun 2/2. I'll be unable to post during this time. I will return late Sunday and resume posting. Bot as needed, but I'm hoping that since it's the weekend disruption will be minimal.
FYI I'll be away in nature this weekend, 3/1-3/2 without access to post. I'll return Sunday evening (US/Pacific time) to continue posting.
Brannart's level-up:
+1d10+2 HP (+8, new total 72)
+1 BAB
+2 skills (+2 Perception)
+2 background skills (+1 Craft-Ships, +1 Profession-Sailor)
FCB: +1 CMD vs Grapple, +1 CMD vs Trip
Feat: Dodge
Class Features: Advanced Armor Training (Armor Specialization - Full Plate)
ABP: +2 Str
Vexas level up
Class Rogue 3/Wizard 3/Arcane Trickster 1
HP +4 (41)
Saves Reflex+1, Will+1
Class features Ranged legerdemain
Spells per day +1 level of existing class (Wizard)
Feat Elemental Spell (metamagic)
Skills Bluff +1, Diplomacy +1, Escape Artist +1, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (local) +1, Sense Motive +1, Spellcraft +1
Background skills Knowledge (history) +1, Sleight of Hand +1
ABP DEX +2
yay! First level of the prestige class.
Okay, first question: How long did it take you to prepare book 2? That will help me (and I presume others) decide whether I should go next.
Oh, I found a GM to take over.
It will be much appreciated to know that there are others ready to take over should the need arise, but I set up a GM swap as part of a recruitment for Carrion Crown.
I'll have a chat with them and get the handover done soon.
It didn't take terribly long to prepare Book 2. What was a little tricky was the improvising on the plot when the party did things out of order.
+8HP (5 class +2 con +1 favored) (total 68)
+1 BAB (CMD/CMB) (5)
+8 skills (4 class +1 human +1 int +2 background) (Craft armorer†, Craft Stonecarver†, Heal, Knowledge Planes x5)
+1 Feat Healer's Hands
Retrain Weapon Focus from greatsword to ranseur
+1 Revelation (3)
Maneuver Mastery (Ex): Select one type of combat maneuver (Disarm). When performing the selected maneuver, you treat your oracle level as your base attack bonus (plus the BAB from other classes) when determining your CMB. At 7th level, you gain the Improved feat (such as Improved Trip) that grants you a bonus when performing that maneuver. At 11th level, you gain the Greater feat (such as Greater Trip) that grants you a bonus when performing that maneuver. You do not need to meet the prerequisites to receive these feats.
+1 Feat Improved Disarm (revelation)
+2 Physical Prowess (strength)
+1 second level spell per day (7)
+1 third level spell per day (5)
+1 first level spell (comprehend languages)
+1 second level spell (protection from evil communal)
+1 third level spell (water breathing)
Spells Memorized (Caster Level 7, Concentration +12, DC 13+lvl)
. . cantrip: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Read Magic, Spark
. . 1st (7/7): Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Comprehend Languages, Divine Favor, Enlarge Person, Liberating Command, Remove Fear
. . 2nd (7/7): Burst of Radiance, Cure Moderate Wounds, Endure Elements Communal, Fog Cloud, Protection from Evil Communal
. . 3rd (5/5): Cure Serious Wounds, Free Swim, Magic Vestment, Water Breathing
- - -
Hello everybody.
I'm the new GM who will be taking over.
A bit about myself.
I'm a very experienced GM and this will be the third time that I've run Ruins of Azlant specifically.
I have WAY too many versions of D&D floating around in my head so I'll probably get things wrong from time to time. Apologies for that :-). Please let me know when I get something wrong.
I do try to run games almost completely by what I consider RAW. But I'll sometimes consciously and explicitly go "I don't care what the rules are, the following is how I'm running things".
I am NOT very experienced with running PBP games. I will appreciate constructive suggestions on how I could do better.
I'll try very hard to update things at least once a day. I'm hoping you can also update things at least once a weekday.
Welcome GM Pauljathome! Thanks for running this for us!
That sounds like a good pace. I've GM'd, and completed, many an AP on these boards with PbP. Happy to help whenever/whatever - though I'm sure you'll do fine.
The only real trick with PbP is pacing. It's slower, so folks forget more especially story-stuff. So plan to repeat yourself more than you'd like, but otherwise it's the same game I think. :)
We could also start a player notes file to help with that.
Welcome and thanks for agreeing to run this GM!
I had one idea that I thought I'd at least broach.
Note, I EXPECT the answer to be no (or, more likely, HELL NO :-)) and that is absolutely fine. There is NOT any kind of hidden agenda here. We would only do it if EVERYBODY liked the idea (not "was kinda willing to go along, actively liked it).
Is there any interest in switching to the PF2 rules? Obviously, rebuilding your characters.
Over the next couple of days I'm going to be looking at all of your characters to try and see what they can do.
Could you please all make sure that they are up to date and include all magical items?
The supply ship will be arriving soon bringing any magic items that you have already paid for or ordered or that you want to have to use up your "Banked" gold. So please update your magic items with anything that will be on the supply ship
You've probably already noticed that I often use British spelling (I'm an ex-pat Brit living in Canada these many years). I'm afraid that I'm FAR too old to change now so you'll just have to live with seeing things spelled correctly :-) :-)
Is there any interest in switching to the PF2 rules? Obviously, rebuilding your characters.
I'm a fan of PF2, so yes for me. BUT if any teammates object I'd prioritize ensuring the story continues over the switch. I think it's come up in this group before and IIRC there are folks who have no interest in Paizo's newer offerings?
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I honestly don't like PF2, never got the hang of it.But if everyone else like it, I'm willing to stay with you until you get a replacement.
Nope. I meant it when I said the decision had to be unanimous. The idea is officially dropped. PF1 it is.
Apologies if this had been discussed before. Didn't mean to reopen an old discussion.
It would also have been a "no" on PF2 for me.
Our new GM asked me about underwater items.
I went back and checked what turned up in Book 2 (and I know we didn't sell anything)
The undead Ulfen had an Underwater Greataxe (no penalties underwater, but effectively reduces Enhancement bonus by 1 given the way ABP works) and a Ring of Swimming.
The tree in the Bleeding Forest had "a handy haversack containing a dose of dust of dryness, an elixir of swimming, three potions of cure moderate wounds, a potion of water breathing, and a wand of freedom of movement (17 charges)."
I need to go back through in more detail for all of the other items. There was the clockwork digger that might be repairable, the Ioun Gauntlet, and some other potentially-useful things.
Vexas has an underwater light crossbow, and one of the rings of swimming. He also got touch of the sea into his spellbook pretty early on.
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Ok, I'm new at this. Should I proceed or wait for the other players?
I think it's reasonable to choose a timeout (e.g., 1 day) once you have sufficient quorum to move forward (e.g. "rule of two", "rule of three").
Right now we have quorum of two and nobody posting to say "wait for me!".
I agree with Vexas. A day after someone has made a suggestion is long enough to wait for stragglers. Better if everyone posts agreement, or an alternate option, but yeah, folks often don't do that.
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That's three! I posted earlier that we should go to his house. Didn't realize I needed to weigh in again.
But yes, "Rule of two" is a good way to go.
Bard 7
+1 BAB
+8 HP
Physical Prowess +2 (Strength)
Inspire Competence +3
New Feat: Arcane Strike
2 New 3rd Level Spells: Haste, Mad Monkeys
Skills: +1 Escape Artist, K Dungeoneering, K Engineering, K Geography, Perception, Spellcraft, UMD
Background Skills: +1 Perform (Oratory), Perform (Dance)
Hi GM Pauljathome!
Sorry I haven't been around until now. I had a report to get in that ate up all my spare time for better than a week.
Thanks for taking on this game!
I'd really appreciate feedback on how much I should be pushing as a GM. What I'm trying to do is give you enough time to make decisions but also keep things moving. But I'm not sure if I'm pushing you too hard, not hard enough, or about right.
As always, APs are a bit of a railroad. That said, I try really hard to allow as much player agency as possible and to go where the players lead whenever possible.
I think we need to make a clear decision so I think that is on us. The hint of maybe needing a boat is good help towards that. Vexas is agreeing w Brannart and curious if touch of the sea could close the gap as well.
I think you are pushing the right amount.
This kind of problem-solving can take a little while for us to look through our resources and options and brainstorm.
Brannart, as a non-caster, does not have as much to offer, but he has Profession (Sailor) if that should come in useful.
I agree with the others. I'd be happy if you pushed more, but I tend to want to go faster than most, so take that with a grain of salt. We should go at the pace most folks want. Happy to be an eager outlier. :)
I think things are fine as they are.