GM ZD Outpost III: Lions of Ketapesh (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

Please Provide the following information
Player Name or Handle:
Player and Character ID#
Faction Boon Slotted for Adventure
Downtime Activity & Days Spend

Please have a full character profile ready and head to the slide show in my header. Once there, fill out your perception checks and place your tokens.

How I handle secret checks: If the scenario calls for a secret check, mostly to recall knowledge. I will announce what checks are needed, usually a post or two ahead of when it is actually needed, and you are to spoiler the die roll. When doing this, I expect you not to peek at your results.

When dealing with Perceptions to search and the like. I will usually roll those myself in a mass spoiler. Same with Perceptions for initiative.

Name: Pirate Rob
Character: Orin Thunderstone
PFS #: 757-2006
Slotted Faction: Grand Archive
Downtime: I'm slotting and checking the box on Society Initiation from 1-01 to attempt a downtime task of level 3.
lore undead DC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
8 Days of success at 0.5gp each = 4gp.

Player: Nefreet
PFS ID#: 66548-2004
Downtime: I may be Level 2 by the time we start, so I'll roll then.
Boons:
• Faction (Envoy's Alliance)
• General (Promotional Accessory)

Free Schools Items: minor healing potion (x2)

Player Name or Handle: Ascalaphus
Player and Character ID# 798-2003
Faction Boon Slotted for Adventure Horizon Hunters
Downtime Activity & Days Spend (still finalizing my build, just turned L2 so now it counts)

Player Name: Julien
Character ID#: Dranald
Faction Boon Slotted for Adventure: Envoy's Alliance
Downtime Activity & Days Spend: Using Society connection for a task lvl 3: Warfare lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 So got 4 gp

Player Name: J.G.
Character ID#: Dran'Thul 212081-2005
Faction Boon Slotted for Adventure: Radiant Oath
Downtime Activity & Days Spend: Earn income during the whole downtime: Warfare lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 0.4 gp

Note: Paizo doesn't let me put a pic anymore.

Oups, forgot the character #: 293201-2002

Note: Paizo doesn't let me put a pic anymore.

I had to look a bit but I found out how: go to Organized Play > My Organized Play, scroll down to your character, and use the Edit button.

There are about three different ways to edit a character/alias' profile, but only this one also lets you change the picture.

Thank you! Before we could also do it otherwise.

Yeah for a couple months people couldn't edit their character pics. It was just fixed last week.

Earn Income: Forest Lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Oooh a penny!

Player Name: Laarafel
Character Name: Lyric Earthsong
PFS#: 2382746
Faction Boon Slotted for Adventure: Horizon Hunters

OK, couple of questions... because I've never played on Paizo's server before and I'm blind using a screen reader here (so it may be missing something)... You said to head to your "slide show in your header"???

Do you have a link that goes directly to this "slide show"? Is this "slide show" ADA compliant? If you don't know, that's fine; don't panic, I'll look at it and figure out what can be done as a work around. However, let's first get a site link.

Also, it would appear everyone appears to somehow been able to put their basic stats of their characters on their posts and are rolling the dice. I've attempted to find out how to do this on this site and all I'm finding is something that literally just reads "dice equals perception 1d20+3; 1d6+2 /dice This is a dice expression."

Now, I've played pbp on Discord and I've played on Roll20, using a variety of addons that use commands to roll (ex. /roll xdy+z or !r xdy+z....) The point is, the above doesn't look like a command at all; this would suggest something is missing and since Paizo is shut down, I can't call them to ask and let them know that their info is faulty text reading -- kind of been working with them to fix this type of stuff.... Long story short (way too late), need a bit of info before we get started.

Posting on the Forums requires BB coding, using bracketed text such as [B] for Bold, [URL] for Hyperlinks, etc.

The map link is currently in the GM's header.

Apologies if this exposes my inexperience, but how can you see or interact with the map?

Thank you Dran'Thul for helping get my character sheet squared away with coding... that really helped. Much appreciated!

Gruvok, I don't expect you to know this stuff; honestly, I kind of anticipate most people to be ignorant. I use a screen reader and, unless the image is actually coded to be read as a document with actual tagged names (which these Paizo maps aren't), I can't read them and I can't interact with them. Which is why we need to discuss how this is going to work. It's not really that difficult. The visuals are really for you guys to get a feel for the space; if for some reason, the visual wasn't there, you'd still be able to play the game by simply describing the space -- where monsters were, asking where people wanted to be in the space, etc.... It's no different here. The difference is that, all of you are using that map layout while I'm not. So, basically, you describe what's on the map/image -- what am I looking at? What does the party see? If we're in combat (which is usually when these maps come out), who is where?

Now, how this is easiest is consider me the center of a clock. 12 o'clock is straight ahead, 6 o'clock is directly behind me, 3 o'clock is directly to my right and 9 o'clock is directly to my left and so on. From there you add distance... So, enemy #1 is at 1o'clock 25' away, Istvan and Dran'Thul have engaged enemy #2 and there all about 10' away at 3o'clock, there's a 3rd enemy approaching at 12 o'clock that's at about 60 feet or so away, etc. If I need more information, I'll ask for it; I'm not shy about it. I'll take a look at the link that you've got and see if I can work with the document, if not, I'll message you privately to see about sending you a token or just... I don't know, having you choose one because, quite frankly, I don't give a shit about tokens (they're just a placeholder for you guys).

I just wanted to say you're awesome Lyric.

For tokens we generally use the same picture we have here on Paizo, so I went ahead and copied your image from here to there. I added alt-text IDing each token although I'm not sure that's particularly helpful to you.

Just to practice giving helpful directions:

Our default marching order is shown on that page. We're in a column 2 wide, your position there is middle-left.

From you
12 o'clock is Orin
1:30 is Dran'Thul
3 o'clock is Istvan
4:30 is Dranald
6 o'clock Gruvok

All adjacent.

There's no terrain or monsters because well it's' just a default order.

Thank you in advance for your patience with us

Thanks for your help -- couldn't figure out how to get that image from here to there tbh...

Thank you to Nefreet and others for helping Lyric. Lyric, I will try my best to include distances when giving enemy descriptions as well.

It looks like you got your character sheet up and running and I can pull the information from that if you need assistance getting the dice coding to work.

We're pretty much on a coronavirus lockdown here in Northern California, so I won't be finishing Fall of Plaguestone before this game begins.

After the adventure, Gruvok retreats to his homestead of Freedom Town, on the border of Lastwall and the Hold of Belkzen. He passes the time until the Society summons him again by sharing what he knows of the warring Orc hordes to help keep people prepared and safe.

Downtime, Orc Lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 (failure earns 8 cp)

Unfortunately, due to the recent spread of a virulent strain of Orc flu, everyone is sheltering in place and the local economy is beginning to take a hit.

We should once watch over these Orcs. Because of their flu, Dran'Thul cannot go to soak in wisdom in libraries and Archives. Fortunately he went to the barber right before it closed.

Hey Lyric, I am not playing in your game, just reading along about the accessibility. This is super cool and something that I will try to incorporate into my games as a GM. Thanks for the accessibility lesson!

Hilary Moon Murphy aka GM Hmm

Postscript: My second PFS character is Lyric the Singing Paladin. So I approve your name choice!

All of Ohio is in lockdown mode too, although I was put into quarantine last week because I was exposed to someone who was exposed (just started getting a cough and wicked headaches yesterday but it's probably just the crazy weather shifts we've been having). I'm just glad I'm retired; can't imagine what kind of hell this is like for someone who has to earn a paycheck and can't work because of this shit.

Downtime Herbalism Lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Lyric attempts to help the local people fend off the Orc flu by utilizing what she knows of the local herbs.

Just realized I forgot to give the full character ID#: 2382746-2008
Sorry about that....

Its the 30th on the East Coast. Let's get this party started...

How do you hand out Hero Points? Does the scenario have easily distinguishable "parts" where you could distribute them?

I'm currently GMing Absalom Initiation and noticed that the four parts were perfectly conducive to Hero Points, even online.

How do you hand out Hero Points? Does the scenario have easily distinguishable "parts" where you could distribute them?

I'm currently GMing Absalom Initiation and noticed that the four parts were perfectly conducive to Hero Points, even online.

I think that with a lot of scenarios it's actually easy to just hand one out after each nontrivial encounter or set piece.

This one calls out good points to do so. I usually hand out once per encounter or if I forget, everyone gets one prior to the final encounter.

Outpost III marks my first time GMing PFS2 via PbP, and although I don't have any vision impaired players currently (to my knowledge), this game has me thinking about how I could accommodate someone in the future.

Lyric, what are your thoughts about designing maps with an XY axis, so that every square has its own unique designation? Most maps are 24 by 30, so A to X could be used for the shorter axis, and 1 to 30 for the longer.

I agree, this game has got me thinking about future games and what I could do differently.

I like the idea about the X and Y axis, it reminds me of chess.

Outpost III marks my first time GMing PFS2 via PbP, and although I don't have any vision impaired players currently (to my knowledge), this game has me thinking about how I could accommodate someone in the future.

Lyric, what are your thoughts about designing maps with an XY axis, so that every square has its own unique designation? Most maps are 24 by 30, so A to X could be used for the shorter axis, and 1 to 30 for the longer.

I think that the problem isn't so much the square vs xy axis. Technically, the boxes are designed on an xy axis; they just allow for a player/character/creature/etc. to be within that box whereas a dot xy would not allow for that (if I'm understanding your idea).

In other words, these games were designed based off the original grid paper games which were xy grids... that's what those pieces of paper were used for in school -- to teach algebra, trig, etc. all dealing with the x/y axis and drawing points on a line. The different thee game is doing is using the box instead of the point which... meh... who cares.... Seriously, one can assign and x/y axis to each of those because they are, in fact, just row and columns. The problem is and has always been that people haven't down so because they've relied solely on the visual rather than the layout of the grid. In other words, they could add in the grid markers to the map when they produced the maps; so, every square would have a row and column indicator -- thus making it quickly identifiable to both sighted and blind users.... Game makers simply haven't implemented this technique.

That's what I'm suggesting.

So the top left most square would be 1A. To the right of that would be 1B. And so on.

How spreadsheets are organized.

I think was Gruvok was suggesting was adding a label to the axises of the map so that it could be described as:

Sammy the sorcerer steps from M2 to M3 and fires a ray of frost at the Troll in F2.

Sounds like a practical idea.

As long as we also keep the map. I'm terrible with directions, it's very hard for me to imagine items in space based on description, I need the map :)

That's what I'm suggesting.

So the top left most square would be 1A. To the right of that would be 1B. And so on.

How spreadsheets are organized.

Sorry misunderstood. Yeah, that would make sense and, if memory serves, it's been suggested before that it be added to tabletop games (it's already implemented into games like World of Warcraft and other games like it (although you need to use an add-on to access it usually, the grid is there and easily readable). And, yes, Ascalaphus, it would have to be a combination of visuals and directionals because, to be quite frank, not only are directionals not visually appealing but some other disabilities are actually hampered by utilization of these directionals. In other words, they need the visual cues to function....

I can try and set up something for the next combat encounter, like a grid overlay. As a test run. This should also help those posting from phones since they have hard times using the presentation slides from google.

I think I'm just going to edit the jpg maps I use by adding an extra column/row.

I can try and set up something for the next combat encounter, like a grid overlay. As a test run. This should also help those posting from phones since they have hard times using the presentation slides from google.

Good point, that's another nice benefit.

But we're still using Slides, right? I have a Google phone =P

Yes, we are still going to be using google slides.

OK, so it's obvious you made an attempt at making what you thought were changes to the map. And, while I understand why you thought they would be changes (because you could see them), they didn't actually change anything because they are just visuals for sighted people and not actual changes to the map itself -- which is what I was trying to explain to you before but, obviously was not making clear. So, in an effort to be more clear about what is going on, and because I know sighted people tend to learn better with visual aids, I've made a couple of videos (well, OK one was made for another PbP group but it applies here so I'm sharing it). Watch or don't, it's entirely up to you.

https://youtu.be/2Ed9zwEmbhg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qPEB0x_qGk&t=195s

Hey, all. I just received word that my work is closing permanently and I'm being laid off. I suspected this might happen, so I wasn't caught too off guard, but it still sucks to say goodbye to something I've been doing for fifteen years.

The next X amount of days will probably be a mess as I file for unemployment and get my resume updated and start applying for new work, so please bot me if needed. I'll try to check in every night.

Thanks again for your patience with us Lyric.

I remember doing play by post some 8 years ago before we figured out how to make images work and using google sheets instead.

Here is my conversion of the map into spreadsheet form.

I used full names for objects rather than just letters, and pasted a bunch instead of merging cells. If this is close but there are ways to improvable it's readability I'm happy to tweak etc.

If said map is actually helpful I'm sure the GM could use it for combat etc instead of the image one.

It works, which is to say that it works with the screen reader (as opposed to what Zachary did that is not screen reader friendly); however, that's a lot of unnecessary work.

Simply describing what's on the map could take less time and be just as effective. In other words, you're not building a better mousetrap, you're simply making a more complex and time-consuming one for you to do which is neither more helpful to me or an efficient use of anyone's time. When I was discussing what would work or not work, I was discussing it on a theoretical level not on a pragmatic level; to put it plainly, I didn't mean for anyone to try to put it into practice here because it makes no sense. The question of making a map like this into an accessible format is for Paizo and other game manufacturers not players and/or GMs because, quite frankly, it is easier, faster and would be better to mass produce them in accessible format rather than do this hodgepodge mishmash... as well intentioned as this effort may be.

I do not feel that I have defined you as anything and I apologize if you believe I am intentionally over looking you. I am not. I am actually enjoying your character and the opportunity to play with you as a person.

I attempted to make accommodations with the map and apparently failed miserably. I am not a whiz at computers, I do enough to get by. I was going to look at the links that Orin had provided, but have yet to have the time to do so.

Usually, I do not add or subtract from what the other players have said, since I feel that they have explained things well enough. Orin did perfectly with his description. If I were to post the same thing, it would be a duplication of efforts, which is a pet peeve of mine.

As far as the description of the defenses. I had thought I clarified the walls were six feet in height. There are no other defenses in place. The scenario leaves it open for the players to try and make defenses for the camp, within reason, meaning time and resources.

Edit:It also appears one of my post did not go through. It was responding to Istvan and Dran'thuls inquiries. Will post them now.

Hey Lyric, I'm sorry if I contributed to issues impacting your enjoyment of the game, I was trying to take some burden off the GM by answering map questions to the best of my abilities.

As for the telephone comment I was just worried that I might be making mistakes and then passing those mistakes on to you as well.

Normally I'm super busy in first half of April as I do tax prep so I'm not running any games right now. With all the virus stuff my schedule has been upended and I have quite a bit of extra time so it's been no burden on me to help.

I'm happy to continue to do so, or if you'd rather I can step back to get the description straight from the horse's mouth (so to speak).

I do not feel that I have defined you as anything and I apologize if you believe I am intentionally over looking you. I am not. I am actually enjoying your character and the opportunity to play with you as a person.

I attempted to make accommodations with the map and apparently failed miserably. I am not a whiz at computers, I do enough to get by. I was going to look at the links that Orin had provided, but have yet to have the time to do so.

Usually, I do not add or subtract from what the other players have said, since I feel that they have explained things well enough. Orin did perfectly with his description. If I were to post the same thing, it would be a duplication of efforts, which is a pet peeve of mine.

As far as the description of the defenses. I had thought I clarified the walls were six feet in height. There are no other defenses in place. The scenario leaves it open for the players to try and make defenses for the camp, within reason, meaning time and resources.

Edit:It also appears one of my post did not go through. It was responding to Istvan and Dran'thuls inquiries. Will post them now.

In the first place, we should have received the description of the camp when we got TO the camp. In this way, Orin never would have needed to give that detailed description he gave and, therefore, it wouldn't have been a repeat now would it? No, it would be an original. Further, stating that the walls are 6' high does not a description make. Are they simply logs thrust into the ground that are 6' tall that anyone or thing could climb or jump over without worry of injury? Are they pointed at the top (like most forts in days of old would have done) to make it ill advised to attempted to climb or jump over? Do the openings have doors that close and do those doors have locking mechanisms of some sort (even if it is a simple bar that goes across? THAT is a description. My guess... is you simply read the sheet you have and, since it didn't give you anything else to say, you didn't bother to critically think through your response. You see the game presumes an able-bodied audience (for better and for worse); so, they presume that the map/image will fill in the gaps that the text does not. When the map can't, they expect the GM to do their job and critically think through the problem (i.e. fill in the details).

As for how I'm coming to my conclusion, it's via your silences. Your consistent refusal (for whatever reason) to answer my questions (both in character and out) and then basically making the table do your job. You don't need to know how to do anything with computers to provide a description; no one asked you to manipulate a map. I specifically stated to provide descriptions of visual aids. My character, before we even left the original scene, asked about the fortifications of this camp. Now, I'll grant that one could argue that his father might not know about the fortifications there but you completely ignored the question (i.e. you didn't even acknowledge that I asked it). So, how is this that you are "enjoying [my] character"? What... you get your kicks out of watching other people struggle to do your job for you, get stressed out because you are being lazy is that what you're enjoying because I haven't had the opportunity to play my character I've been too busy micromanaging you to pay attention to the game and, from the looks of it, from what I'm hearing that's not making at least a couple of other players happy; so, I'm done micro managing which means I can't play the game except at the most minimal of levels because you haven't stepped up to do your job.

@Lyric- I sent you a PM.

Since Lyric had stated that they are leaving my table. I have marked them inactive on the campaign.

The only thing that changes is the CP drops from 15 to 13. This is mainly for me to remember

I have a virtual game tomorrow from 9 am to about 5 pm. This means I will most likely not post tomorrow until very late.

Thank you for the update!

As for tactics, what do you all favor?

I'm set in the tents.