It Came from Hollow Mountain

Game Master DEREK LANE 127

Making a character's personality (and alignment) shine in-game is sometimes hard. Love the roleplaying of your characters, guys.

Keep up the out-of-character explanations of difficult in-game interactions.

I have a particularly illustrative example of what can go wrong in PbP, non-F2F roleplay. It was way back in the day, playing a Play-by-Email on YahooGroups (!!!).

I was brought in to an existing group. I knew nobody except the GM. I decided to play an utterly mercenary gnome guide to the underdark who would be "hired" by the group. I NEVER broke character. For several weeks, I WAS the give-me-my-money-I-don't-care-if-you-die gnome (who spoke like Yoda, backwards every sentence constructed was). I played the mercenary angle so well (badly?) that some of the players thought I was ACTUALLY negotiating an unfair share of the loot (I think the Yoda-style sentence construction contributed to a general irritation, as well). One guy asked the GM, "Who does this guy think he is? Coming in here and thinking his PC's gonna get first pick of everything and 25% of all the loot? What an a+~~&#&."

My lesson learned: I should've talked OOC on a different channel more. A distinct separation of roleplay and real-play and IC and OOC conversations. But I ended up playing with those guys for many a game, once they realized I wasn't a gigantic dick, but just a bit too immersive a roleplayer.

Anybody else have similar stories?

Walfrenden wrote:

Or is it something we want to make sure we have with us in case we come across the sword and want to stuff it in there to protect ourselves?

Walf would know that lead is a common barrier against scrying and object location. He has never heard of lead being an effective barrier against OTHER magic. Not that its not possible. He just hasn't heard of that.

Me too

Derek, if we are going to change anything about our characters before we hit second level, do you want us to post something about it, or just include it in our updated character when we hit 2?

Since Walf is going to multiclass into fighter, I'm just going to change what his trained skills are under his traveler of a hundred lands trait, and maybe a couple of the initial spells I chose for his spellbook that he's never cast.

Derek, if we are going to change anything about our characters before we hit second level, do you want us to post something about it, or just include it in our updated character when we hit 2?

Since Walf is going to multiclass into fighter, I'm just going to change what his trained skills are under his traveler of a hundred lands trait, and maybe a couple of the initial spells I chose for his spellbook that he's never cast.

Yes, please let me know what you're retroactively altering.

Walf is making the following changes:
1. Swap out the spell "Desperate Weapon" for the spell "True Strike" in my spell book.
2. Swap out the class skills climb and survival from the Traveler of a Hundred Lands trait for sleight of hand and stealth.
3. Move the first level skill points that were in climb and survival to sleight of hand and stealth.
(I forgot climb and survival would be class skills when I took fighter level(s).)
I think that's it.

I don't think I'll be making any major changes to Frantino.

I fly out tomorrow to help my son move, after which I'll be at the in-laws property in rural TX for a few weeks. Internet connectivity is limited, although I should be able to check things on my phone. Roll20 maps might be problematic.

Bottom line, I may not be posting as often for the next two weeks.

I don't think I'll be making any major changes to Frantino.

I fly out tomorrow to help my son move, after which I'll be at the in-laws property in rural TX for a few weeks. Internet connectivity is limited, although I should be able to check things on my phone. Roll20 maps might be problematic.

Bottom line, I may not be posting as often for the next two weeks.

No worries! Safe travels!

Do we have a GP total that our characters can purchase items with? Any restrictions on items available?

(Sorry if this was already answered; I checked the "treasure list" in Roll20, not sure where else it might be.)

I'm making changes to Ayita retroactively in abilities, skills, and background, and likely will multiclass her into "hunter".

Yeah, if we're heading out into the Churlwood, spending beforehand might be a good idea.

Everyone make sure to pick up a couple acid flasks for swarms!

Do we have a GP total that our characters can purchase items with? Any restrictions on items available?

You can find magic items of 1000gp or lower. Limit of 3d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 1) = 6 minor magic items and 1d6 ⇒ 6 major magic items.

Do we have a GP total that our characters can purchase items with? Any restrictions on items available?

(Sorry if this was already answered; I checked the "treasure list" in Roll20, not sure where else it might be.)

I'm making changes to Ayita retroactively in abilities, skills, and background, and likely will multiclass her into "hunter".

We have:

A sliver serving set (70 gp), a silver decanter (35 gp), and 6 copper mugs (15 gp total) (120 gp all together)

A crystal decanter stopper inlaid with gold tracery (95 gp)

9 bars of gold (200 gp each, 1,800 gp total)

If we get full value for all of these items, that would be 2,015 gp, which works out to 370 gp, 8 sp, and 3 cp each with 2 cp left over, assuming we can sell/barter the items for full value immediately or cannot haggle a better deal.

Do we have a GP total that our characters can purchase items with? Any restrictions on items available?

(Sorry if this was already answered; I checked the "treasure list" in Roll20, not sure where else it might be.)

I'm making changes to Ayita retroactively in abilities, skills, and background, and likely will multiclass her into "hunter".

ok -- I found the total by person in there...

I think it's best that I bow out. I wish you all a great game!

I think it's best that I bow out. I wish you all a great game!

Very sorry to hear that. Take care, it was good to play with you!

I think it's best that I bow out. I wish you all a great game!

Wait, what? Sigh. Can we keep you botted as our blacksmith? Frantino needs a masterwork greatsword! Lol. It was nice playing with you.

GM Derek -- when should we begin using Level 2 stats for our characters?

Thanks! -- Yvonne

Doc, it's not necessary for you to give up any share of the loot. The wand is more party loot that you are using for the benefit of everyone.

Thanks for the encouragement. I hear you. However, I often run low-level healers this way in APs. For example, we're about to finish War for the Crown, and my character has donated most of his wealth to "Civic Improvements." :-) I won't do the same here; but, I don't need loot, yet. Later, I will.

Folks: please go ahead and update your characters to 2nd level.

Folks: please go ahead and update your characters to 2nd level.

Sweet, and the APG just got released! Oh, wait, different edition... ;)

Are we OK with basic shopping, like a masterwork weapon or armor, nothing exotic?

Do we need to roleplay the selling of the stuff we got or can we just liquidate?

How are we handling hit points?

I too am curious about what weapons and armor are available for purchase.

GM Derek wrote:

Folks: please go ahead and update your characters to 2nd level.

Sweet, and the APG just got released! Oh, wait, different edition... ;)

Are we OK with basic shopping, like a masterwork weapon or armor, nothing exotic?

HP=1/2MAX+1

Masterwork armor and weapons available. Basic shopping. Nothing exotic. Except Varisian and Shoanti specific items.

No need to roleplay the sale of your stuff this time. You could even get rid of the slippers. But the local economy probably can’t handle more expensive magic items.

Character updated. Upgraded greatsword to masterwork. Added divination to his implements so now he can cast detect magic and heightened awareness. Biggest ability gained is ruin reading, specific to the occult historian archetype. If he examines a ruined structure for 1 minute and succeeds at the knowledge history check, he gets potentially lots of information.

Character updated. Upgraded greatsword to masterwork. Added divination to his implements so now he can cast detect magic and heightened awareness. Biggest ability gained is ruin reading, specific to the occult historian archetype. If he examines a ruined structure for 1 minute and succeeds at the knowledge history check, he gets potentially lots of information.

Super cool!

Character updated too. Multiclassed into hunter, with a "wolfdog". I will leave the animal focus on Bull (strength) on the wolfdog. Ter, the falcon familiar, is not intended for combat! I read that only one of them should be in a combat.

GM Derek -- I spotted a feat that I really liked just now, and subbed it in as a 1st level feat...

"Spirit's Gift" -- allows an animal companion or familiar to use one Shamanic "Spirit Animal" ability for 1 minute/level. The ability is chosen each day. The Life Shaman's animal gets Fast Healing 1; I was thinking of using that as a default.

Is that too powerful? A list including the Spirit Animal abilities by Spirit type is here:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/shaman/

Ter is intended for character interest, for scouting, communicating, and blackberry muffin theft.

Character updated too. Multiclassed into hunter, with a "wolfdog". I will leave the animal focus on Bull (strength) on the wolfdog. Ter, the falcon familiar, is not intended for combat! I read that only one of them should be in a combat.

GM Derek -- I spotted a feat that I really liked just now, and subbed it in as a 1st level feat...

"Spirit's Gift" -- allows an animal companion or familiar to use one Shamanic "Spirit Animal" ability for 1 minute/level. The ability is chosen each day. The Life Shaman's animal gets Fast Healing 1; I was thinking of using that as a default.

Is that too powerful? A list including the Spirit Animal abilities by Spirit type is here:
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/hybrid-classes/shaman/

Ter is intended for character interest, for scouting, communicating, and blackberry muffin theft.

Sure. Go for it.

Wow, the Paizo user interface really does some weird things. It has undone my character edits twice now.

I got the edits in, and restarted my browser. The edits are still there! Fingers crossed.

Frantino Kaddren wrote:

Character updated. Upgraded greatsword to masterwork. Added divination to his implements so now he can cast detect magic and heightened awareness. Biggest ability gained is ruin reading, specific to the occult historian archetype. If he examines a ruined structure for 1 minute and succeeds at the knowledge history check, he gets potentially lots of information.

Super cool!

I agree, that is a really neat ability!

Way back when I was a kidlet, I read a lot of Andre Norton scifi -- she was one of the first women scifi writers, and used a pen name that is sort of androgynous.

Her characters would sometimes have gifts like that. "Forunner Foray" was one book I remember where a lot of very cool ancient knowledge is revealed to characters... sometimes jewels would be involved. Or... CATS...

GM Derek wrote:

Frantino Kaddren wrote:

Character updated. Upgraded greatsword to masterwork. Added divination to his implements so now he can cast detect magic and heightened awareness. Biggest ability gained is ruin reading, specific to the occult historian archetype. If he examines a ruined structure for 1 minute and succeeds at the knowledge history check, he gets potentially lots of information.

Super cool!

I agree, that is a really neat ability!

Way back when I was a kidlet, I read a lot of Andre Norton scifi -- she was one of the first women scifi writers, and used a pen name that is sort of androgynous.

Her characters would sometimes have gifts like that. "Forunner Foray" was one book I remember where a lot of very cool ancient knowledge is revealed to characters... sometimes jewels would be involved. Or... CATS...

I'm not familiar with that author. If you like books with prominent (and intelligent) cat characters try The Aeronaut's Windlass, the first book of Jim Butcher's steampunk fantasy Cinder Spires series. I hope he writes the next book now that his latest Dresden Files book came out last month.

This archetype was specifically recommended in the AP Player's Guide, and since I was thinking of playing an occultist anyway I thought I'd try it out. I wish I'd been able to examine Roderic's house with this ability before we went in!

Leveled! Wow, that's a hard character to level. I basically have to level up 7 times (once for standard Roscoe, and one for each of the six spirits). It's a little hard to keep track of, but I have a separate document to hopefully keep it all in one place. But if anyone sees any errors in any of my sheets, feel free to let me know.

The biggest changes for my character are:

Shared Seance (Su) (BIG one for the party, potentially. Unfortunately, it will change from day to day, so we'll need to go over this each "morning" to see who wants to participate).

Taboo (Ex)

Sorry, Rona making her rounds at our house this week (kids, not me or my wife), so it's been a busy weekend.

S*!&! Sorry to hear. Hope the kids aren't too sick. Hang in there.

They're all on the mend. No worries. Also, I think I'm holding off on buying any mwk weapons/armor. I really need a bladed belt, since my usable weapons change based on my Spirit.

Sorry, Rona making her rounds at our house this week (kids, not me or my wife), so it's been a busy weekend.

Glad to hear things are getting better. Stay healthy!

I'm going horseback camping with the family in the Sierra Nevadas tomorrow (channeling my inner Ranger). Back Sunday. I'll check in on the road tomorrow.

We’ll have a short hiatus before we continue your conversation with Corstela. After that... The Churlwood!

Enjoy some much-deserved time off! You're a machine!

Have a great trip!

I'm going horseback camping with the family in the Sierra Nevadas tomorrow (channeling my inner Ranger). Back Sunday. I'll check in on the road tomorrow.

We’ll have a short hiatus before we continue your conversation with Corstela. After that... The Churlwood!

Does your family keep horses yourselves?

That sounds truly wonderful! Have a great time!

Does your family keep horses yourselves?

That sounds truly wonderful! Have a great time!

We don’t. Normally a backpacking family. But I found a pack station that will pack you up and guide you in to a lovely valley and lake at 8600ft. Beautiful. We’ve all been on horses before, just not a usual thing. Cross your fingers I don’t get thrown. :)

Ayita of the Hawk Clan wrote:

Does your family keep horses yourselves?

That sounds truly wonderful! Have a great time!

We don’t. Normally a backpacking family. But I found a pack station that will pack you up and guide you in to a lovely valley and lake at 8600ft. Beautiful. We’ve all been on horses before, just not a usual thing. Cross your fingers I don’t get thrown. :)

I'm sending you a +20 ring of "handle animal" via the internets.

I am hoping to add a token for the new wolfdog to Roll20, whenever that can happen most easily for you GM Derek.

Sounds like an epic trip! I've been known to do some backpacking, myself.

I'm sending you a +20 ring of "handle animal" via the internets.

S@!%! That +20 Ring of Handle Animal was necessary! But you should've given it to the random stranger who was day riding in the valley. Her horse spooked (don't know why) and she was thrown. Broke her ribs and "a bunch of other stuff" (according to one of the trailhands I asked). They had to land a chopper in the meadow at 8600ft to evac her! My wife and I watched from a distance while it landed, they put her on a stretcher, and then flew her out of there. Poor woman. She made it up rocky canyon trails and sheer, 1000ft cliffs, to get thrown in a beautiful, flat, grassy meadow.

Other than that drama, and a bit of thunder, rain, and hail, it was fantastic. May not be cut out to be a knight, though. Eight miles of saddle is... a lot for a newbie.

Dropped a couple of photos of the meadow into the Roll20.

Sounds like an epic trip! I've been known to do some backpacking, myself.

Where have you backpacked?

Ayita of the Hawk Clan wrote:

I'm sending you a +20 ring of "handle animal" via the internets.

S$@&! That +20 Ring of Handle Animal was necessary! But you should've given it to the random stranger who was day riding in the valley. Her horse spooked (don't know why) and she was thrown. Broke her ribs and "a bunch of other stuff" (according to one of the trailhands I asked). They had to land a chopper in the meadow at 8600ft to evac her! My wife and I watched from a distance while it landed, they put her on a stretcher, and then flew her out of there. Poor woman. She made it up rocky canyon trails and sheer, 1000ft cliffs, to get thrown in a beautiful, flat, grassy meadow.

Other than that drama, and a bit of thunder, rain, and hail, it was fantastic. May not be cut out to be a knight, though. Eight miles of saddle is... a lot for a newbie.

Dropped a couple of photos of the meadow into the Roll20.

Sounds like a memorable trip! Hope she's recovering well.

Sounds like a memorable trip! Hope she's recovering well.

I hope she is, too. She was a complete stranger that we saw from a distance on a stretcher. But we saw some of her fellow riders (husband and son?). They did NOT look happy. As one would expect.

They're all on the mend.

How's the family? Hope you and the missus remain healthy.

Roscoe Elring wrote:

Sounds like an epic trip! I've been known to do some backpacking, myself.

Where have you backpacked?

Glad you're back! Sounds very epic! (maybe too epic for the thrown lady)

I live in Utah, so mostly around here. I've done King's Peak, Red Castle, Ibapah, Gros Ventre, and a bunch of southern Utah (Arches, Zion areas).

How about you?

Glad you're back! Sounds very epic! (maybe too epic for the thrown lady)

I live in Utah, so mostly around here. I've done King's Peak, Red Castle, Ibapah, Gros Ventre, and a bunch of southern Utah (Arches, Zion areas).

How about you?

Mostly here in California. Sierra Nevadas. Yosemite. Pacific Crest Trail. Grew up backpacking. Met a woman who backpacks. Raising kids who backpack. Oldest is training as a wilderness leader. We rode in Zion last year. That gave me the idea of horse camping.

Roscoe Elring wrote:

Glad you're back! Sounds very epic! (maybe too epic for the thrown lady)

I live in Utah, so mostly around here. I've done King's Peak, Red Castle, Ibapah, Gros Ventre, and a bunch of southern Utah (Arches, Zion areas).

How about you?

Mostly here in California. Sierra Nevadas. Yosemite. Pacific Crest Trail. Grew up backpacking. Met a woman who backpacks. Raising kids who backpack. Oldest is training as a wilderness leader. We rode in Zion last year. That gave me the idea of horse camping.

I did Yosemite last year with the family. We did hikes, but not backpacking. Pretty amazing backyard you have. :)

Welcome back! Sorry I've been absent, busy week.

I'm glad you all had a safe trip, Derek, but I hope that other rider is ok. Sounds awful.

However the photos are gorgeous! Thank you, it's been a long time since I was out west.

Approximately how far away is the Churlwood? Would we day trip in it or stay overnight? Do we have an approximation of how far away the Stonehouse is based on our knowledge of the maps we have? Just trying to figure out how if I need to buy rations and such.