My goal is for you to have fun while playing a balanced Pathfinder Society game.
Please review the below, which covers some special rules for the special as well as my expectations as a GM.
About Champion Mode
This event has two difficulties: Soldier and Champion. Soldier is slightly more challenging than a typical Pathfinder Society special event. Champion is this scenario’s “hard mode,” with increased challenge throughout. As usual for scenarios with increased difficulty, all players at the table must agree to that difficulty. Players who begin in Champion Mode who find the challenges too great can choose to switch to Soldier Mode.
This is a Champion table. If you do not want to play "hard mode," please de-list from the spreadsheet and sign up for another table. Once we're underway, if any one player doesn't want to do Champion anymore, we will swap to Soldier.
Aid Characters
There are two kinds of character you can play during the special: a Primary Character (the PC who personally faces the scenario’s encounters and earns a Chronicle sheet at the end of the scenario), and an Aid Character, who helps with tasks and AiD Tokens throughout.
A player can designate up to 3 of their PCs of 5th level or higher as Aid Characters. Aid Characters must be different PCs from the Primary Character (the character playing the special). The player does not need all of their Chronicle sheets for their Aid Characters—they only need the Aid Character’s most recently earned Chronicle sheet. The only information from this sheet that is relevant is the Aid Character’s name, number, and level. The Chronicle sheet is also a place to record whether anything bad happens to the Aid Character in the course of the scenario. Note that all risks Aid Characters take are opt-in. Aid Characters have two functions in this scenario: to generate Aid Tokens, and to provide support in Aid Missions that occur during the adventure.
When the player designates a character as an Aid Character, the player chooses one of the following roles and assigns the character to that role. Each table may assign up to 5 Aid Characters to each role. This restriction represents the expedition’s need for agent to take on a balanced variety of roles, and also helps to ensure that there are enough Aid Characters of each type to succeed at Aid Missions.
Your Aid Characters cannot participate in other Pathfinder Society adventures while in the Siege, and risks death.
A character’s class and character build does not dictate what roles he can take, though players are likely to want to pick roles that fit with their characters’ themes. If a player does not have 3 Aid Characters available, she can fill any remaining slots with generic 4th-level NPC Pathfinders of any role. These 4th-level NPCs are less likely to succeed than PC Aid Characters at all tasks, but they give all players a way to participate in this scenario’s mechanics. The descriptions below give some examples of the types of routine tasks that Aid Characters in each role perform during the mission, but these characters also perform heroic actions when they grant Aid Tokens or attempt Aid Missions.
Guard: The combat encounters detailed in this scenario are handled by the Primary Characters, but there is still plenty of danger to deal with. A character assigned to this role helps provide security for the expedition. Characters in this role drive off minor threats that crop up, protect the rear of the expedition, and generally ensure the mission can continue unhindered.
Medic: Most of the healing resources in the expedition are wielded by the Primary Characters for the benefit of further advancing the mission, but the Aid Characters are likely to need healing too. An Aid Character assigned to this role treats wounds, cares for the bodies of the fallen, and dispenses medical supplies.
Muscle: Moving what is effectively a small army into hostile terrain is a challenging task. A character assigned to this role helps move heavy objects, clears passageways, and transports equipment.
Scout: Little is known about the Gallowgarden and the areas below Gallowspire, and what information does exist is often inaccurate. A character assigned to this role roams ahead of the main expedition, learning what threats are present and giving advice on how best to navigate them.
Spellcaster: The sheer number of Pathfinders on this mission presents a heavy demand for spellcasting, particularly spells that can protect agents from harm or remove conditions that they incur. Spellcasters meet up with Pathfinder agents between battles, helping prepare them for the dangers ahead. They may have their own innate spellcasting ability, or they might carry an arsenal of magic items for this purpose.
Aid Tokens
In this scenario, Aid Tokens work a bit differently from in past scenarios. Instead of having generic Aid Tokens that PCs can improve with their skills, each Aid Token represents the efforts of a specific Aid Character.
Each Aid Character role is associated with a specific benefit that Aid Character in that role can provide. After the players assign Aid Characters to roles, the Table GM should place the Aid Token Reference Sheet on the table, which details all of these benefits (Handout will be put on Slides after we assign). Table GMs should also distribute 3 Aid Tokens to each player, corresponding to their Aid Characters’ roles (see above). The player can then write in each of their Aid Characters’ names on the Aid Tokens. For the 4th-level NPC Pathfinders, players can invent names, or just write “Pathfinder.”
At this time, each player has the opportunity to commit any number of their PC Aid Characters to a more challenging, heroic task. This task provides greater benefits, but it also introduces a risk that the Aid Character may come to harm and therefore be unable to help out during later opportunities in this scenario.
Tasks are particularly difficult for lower-level Aid Characters, who are likely to be injured in the process. The 4th-level NPC Pathfinders are unwilling to attempt the heroic tasks.
Post Frequency
Be ready to post at least once a day. I am more active than many other PbP GMs and am willing to post more than once a day to keep things moving at a good clip. Since this is a special, I will bot you if you do not post once every 24 hours.
Maturity and communication go a long way! Please post here or in any supplemental channels, the group decides to use (Google Hangouts, Slack, Discord, etc).
Botting
Include botting instructions in your profile. If you have a preference for who runs your character, write that down too. If you or your preferred botter have not posted in more than 24 hours, I will bot your character to keep the game moving.
Marching Order & Maps
To speed things up I ask the group for a marching order at the beginning of the adventure. Unless otherwise noted I will begin your PCs on the map in this order, where the scenario says to.
Initiative
I will roll all Initiative checks for PCs and NPCs, sort them, and organize them into blocks. I will bold the names of characters whose turn it is to act. I will include status of HP, etc.
When it is your turn to act, post. Do not wait for someone else to post just because they had a higher Initiative inside your initiative block. If you know what you want to do but want to wait for someone else’s action first, just say that. To encourage timely posting and avoid unnecessary delays, I will retroactively include bonuses where it makes sense for allies who are in the same initiative block, even if one player posts before getting that bonus. For example, if a fighter posts right before the bard, and the bard always Inspires Courage, I will include the inspire bonus in the fighter's attack and damage rolls even though the player didn't do so. Where possible, I will update initiatives and note the bonuses each player is receiving.
Rolling Saves
When asked to roll a save, it must always be the first dice roll on your next post. If you do not do this, I will roll the save for your PC.
[Character Taglines & Profiles
Put your character's gender (so we know which pronouns to use), race (so we know what we see), class (optional) and their status in the fields labeled "Race" and "Class." Status usually means current/maximum hit points, ACs, Saving Throws witj modifiers, Spells or spell slots, and other resources. The status tagline might look like something this (copy/pasted from my oracle) — note that I have not only included spell slots and spell-likes, also important consumables (albeit abbreviated) such as the once-a-day mnemonic vestments and the character's current disguise (which might have an impact on how NPCs interact with them):
Gen. Neut. Oracle (they) | HP 56/56 | Init+ 5 | F:+9 R: +9 W: +10 (+18 vs chm/compul.; +12 vs illus/fear/desp.) | AC 21 T 16 F 19 | CMD 14 | Speed 20(30) | M. Bridge: 7/7 | Etern. Hope: 1/1 | Vest. 1/1 | V. Pool: 9/10 | Spells: 1: 6/8 2: 6/8 3: 6/7 4: 3/4 | Current disguise: Vonner Flay, Dogcatcher | Rerolls: 0/1 Active: Siv. Veils, Longstrider, Heroism, 6 Mirror Images, Shld. Faith, Death Ward
In your character profile, please include the complete stat block as well, so the GM can audit your character. Be prepared to scan or take pictures of any chronicle sheets or boons upon request.
Chronicle Information
In order to be able to generate a PFS chronicle, I ask that each character please provide me the following information here, in the discussion thread. I would also like you to provide the names and numbers of all Aid Characters, along with a link to their profile. You can fill in the Aid character info piecemeal, just as long as it's there.
Player Name:
Character Name:
PFS & Character Number:
Faction:
Day Job Roll:
Aid Character 1:
Aid Character 1 Character Number:
Aid Character 1 Profile link:
Aid Character 2:
Aid Character 2 Character Number:
Aid Character 2 Profile link:
Aid Character 3:
Aid Character 3 Character Number:
Aid Character 3 Profile link:
Rules Questions and OOC Information
Please post rules questions in the discussion thread. Try not to interrupt the flow of gameplay. I am also happy to start a hangout on google hangouts, or a channel in the Bay Area Pathfinder Slack or Discord for ooc conversation.
Hello All! Looking forward to taking all of through the Siege of Gallowspire. Please fill out relevant info in the slides linked to top of game. Include init roll and perc roll as well as a character token. More as the launch day gets closer.
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Player Name: Mark M.
Character Name: Morrolan de'Morcaine
PFS & Character Number: 30504-3
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Job Roll:
Aid Character 1:
Aid Character 1 Character Number:
Aid Character 1 Profile link:
Aid Character 2:
Aid Character 2 Character Number:
Aid Character 2 Profile link:
Aid Character 3:
Aid Character 3 Character Number:
Aid Character 3 Profile link:
I am still considering what to do about aid characters. I've heard that there is a decent chance (especially in champion mode) that the aid characters will die. Not sure I want to risk any of my other characters like that.
Morrolan's profile is not up to current. I will be sure to have it updated before the start of the game. But I might get the chance to play him F2F a once or twice this week. So I will take care of it after that.
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Player Name: Ebon Fist
Character Name: Kahwen
PFS & Character Number: 143948-9
Faction: Grand Lodge
Day Job Roll:
Aid Character 1: Djorn
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 143948-2
Aid Character 1 Profile link: Djorn
Aid Character 2: Bielsi
Aid Character 2 Character Number: 143948-3
Aid Character 2 Profile link: Bielsi
Aid Character 3: Ylosani
Aid Character 3 Character Number: 143948-10
Aid Character 3 Profile link: Ylosani
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Player Name:Jimmy Snider
Character Name: Uldar the Crusader
PFS & Character Number: 22306-20
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Job Roll: N/a
Aid Character 1: Phantom Blade
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 22306-6
Aid Character 1 Profile link: Phantom Blade Link
Aid Character 2:
Aid Character 2 Character Number:
Aid Character 2 Profile link:
Aid Character 3:
Aid Character 3 Character Number:
Aid Character 3 Profile link:
GM if an AID Character dies, is it possible to revive them and at what cost.
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Thanks for GMing.
Player Name: noral
Character Name: Zaarah
PFS & Character Number: 314670-4
Faction: Scarab Sages
Day Job Roll:
Aid Character 1: Noke
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 314670-11
Aid Character 1 Profile link: link
Aid Character 2: Kioshi Katsu
Aid Character 2 Character Number: 314670-1
Aid Character 2 Profile link: Link
Aid Character 3: Andor Katsu
Aid Character 3 Character Number: 314670-2
Aid Character 3 Profile link: link
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Hey everyone! Thanks for the game, GM!
I signed up with my tank Marduk (two-weapon fighting ranger-barbarian) but I can't help but notice that we're kind of melee-stuffed.
On the signup, we also have a wizard but I could provide a lvl 7 cleric. Would that be better for the party? He's a buff/face but I haven't played him in a while.
What do you all think about that?
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Hey everyone! Thanks for the game, GM!
I signed up with my tank Marduk (two-weapon fighting ranger-barbarian) but I can't help but notice that we're kind of melee-stuffed.
On the signup, we also have a wizard but I could provide a lvl 7 cleric. Would that be better for the party? He's a buff/face but I haven't played him in a while.
What do you all think about that?
We're pretty light on healing, IMO so I'm all for a healer.
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More healing is always good. My inquisitor can use the wands and do a small amount of healing in a real emergency. But that is about it.
Folks, Morrolan is more than willing to walk at the front of the group. He has a decent perception, so isn't usually surprised. However, he is probably the least sneaky person in the group. Dwarf in full plate with a tower shield. They will hear me coming.
So if someone wants to sneak ahead as a scout, I will need to stay well back from them.
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Player Name: Zinou
Character Name: Pierre Viret
PFS & Character Number: 93583-4
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Job Roll: none
Aid Character 1: Marduk Zhro'Hysh
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 93583-7
Aid Character 1 Profile link
Aid Character 2: Pandoor Flaxseed
Aid Character 2 Character Number: 93583-10
Aid Character 2 Profile link
Aid Character 3: Esh Kethar
Aid Character 3 Character Number: 93583-8
Aid Character 3 Profile link
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Player Name: Mark M.
Character Name: Morrolan de'Morcaine
PFS & Character Number: 30504-3
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Job Roll: I rolled a 35 above
Aid Character 1: Jorin de'Morcaine
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 30504-2
Aid Character 1 Profile link: Jorin
Aid Character 2: generic NPC
Aid Character 2 Character Number:
Aid Character 2 Profile link:
Aid Character 3: generic NPC
Aid Character 3 Character Number:
Aid Character 3 Profile link:
Ok, guess I decided to risk one PC. He is level 11, So I would only get to play him 3 more times anyway. (I don't like his future build well enough to use some of my very limited seeker level games on him.) The others are characters I like too much to risk on a complete unknown risk like this. So I will use generic NPC's for the other 2.
@Zarrah. Are you referring to your main PC or the additional aid characters?
You may substitute an aid character for a generic level 4 NPC, though they are much less effective than a PC aid character,
There is potential benefit to using actual characters to both primary and aid characters.
Ok folks, getting near launch time. Please make final decisions on aid characters and please designate each a role per the OP before we begin.
Look forward to running this for you all!
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I will take
Aid Character 1:Phantom Blade
Aid Character 1 Character Number:22306-6
Aid Character 1 Profile link:phantomblade
Aid Character 1 Type: Scout
Aid Character 2:Bane
Aid Character 2 Character Number:22306-2
Aid Character 2 Profile link:Bane
Aid Character 2 Type: Guard
Aid Character 3:Grundar
Aid Character 3 Character Number:22306-5
Aid Character 3 Profile link:Grundar
Aid Character 3 Type:Muscle
I need to update Grundar character sheet but he will be ready tomorrow.
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Player Name: Mark M.
Character Name: Morrolan de'Morcaine
PFS & Character Number: 30504-3
Faction: Silver Crusade
Day Job Roll: I rolled a 35 above
Aid Character 1: Jorin de'Morcaine
Aid Character 1 Character Number: 30504-2
Aid Character 1 Profile link: Jorin
Aid Character 3 Type: Spellcaster
Aid Character 2: generic NPC Kyra
Aid Character 2 Character Number:
Aid Character 2 Profile link:
Aid Character 3 Type: Medic
Aid Character 3: generic NPC Amri
Aid Character 3 Character Number:
Aid Character 3 Profile link:
Aid Character 3 Type: Muscle
[ooc]Sorry, I didn't realize you had to pick individual pregens. I thought it was a just a generic pregen.
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Never quite sure how to address this in character, so I will put it here. For those of you that prepare spells and don't want too much duplication of effects, my spells known list follows:
Create Water
Detect Magic
Detect Poison
Guidance
Sift
Stabilize
Compel Hostilities
Comprehend Languages
Detect Alignment
Divine Favor
Ear Piercing Scream
Light
Litany of Weakness
Blistering Invective
Discern Lies
Honeyed Tongue
Protection from Evil Communal
See Invisibility
Prayer
Resist Energy Communal
Type: Allied Offensive
Generated By: Darius Swiftblade
Heroic? Yes
Effect: _5d8 dmaage on one attack, target is considered flanked until the start of the attackers next turn
Passing From: GMAndrewW
Passing To: GM Brew
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Pierre has taken the usuals.
0 - (at will) ; Enhanced Diplomacy , Light, Guidance, Stabilize ; DC 13
1st - (5+1) ; Liberating Command, Moment of Greatness, Murderous Command, Obscuring Mist, Sanctuary ; DC 14 ; Domain spell: Shield of faith
2nd - (4+1) ; Grace, Lesser Restoration, Surmount Affliction, Silence ; DC 15 ; Domain spell: Bless Weapon
3rd - (3+1) ; Magic circle vs evil, Sacred Bond, Stone Shape ; DC 16 ; Domain spell: Extended Heroism
4th - (1+1) ; Blessing of Fervor ; DC 17 ; Domain spell: Holy Smite
Sorry about that. I fixed the link so everyone should have access and be able to edit. For some reason, the link keeps directing to the title slide no matter where I place it. Please go to the top slide as I will keep the active map on slide one. Sorry for the confusion.
I think Bane's but I will confirm that when the scenario is completed.
I have confirmed that aid chars use their own PPs to heal.
Also, has anyone's character played through 10-04 Reaver's Roar? Will have bearing on current encounter if so.
Type: Coordinated Maneuver
Generated By: Sol Boulderstep (Broker Leogil primary)
Heroic? Yes
Effect: The Aid Character assists a PC in performing a combat maneuver or attack roll. The PC must choose to use this Aid Token before rolling. If they do, they can roll twice and take the better result.
Heroic Aid: Once activated, the benefit lasts for the rest of the PC’s turn.
Passing From: GMFuzzfoot
Passing To: GM Brew
Yes, sorry I missed the portal for that. You may send your scouts on the mission but this particular scout mission generates success points and the mission was deemed a success.
You folks can go ahead and roll for the scouting mission if youhave one to send. I will report the results.