This is the place for discussion. I will post a link to a form to gather your player and character information.
|
Jayma has a familiar; an ermine named Twyl with the following default abilities: Flier, Manual Dexterity. The rules regarding familiars and their abilities seems to be rather skimpy in the CRB and unclear in places (or so it seems to me).
I have seen arguments that range from (a) familiars are basically flair and can't do anything but look pretty, all the way to (b) familiars are autonomous creatures capable of being commanded to carry out relatively complex non-combat tasks and can act as remote eyes, ears, and hands for their master (think drone with arms).
Part of the disagreement is rooted in whether familiars are animals (like companions), or non-animal magical creatures in animal-like form (see pp217/218). Also, whether the "an animal can never Activate an Item" (pp604 + Errata) applies only to items worn by or of benefit to the companion, or all items. Another part of the disagreement is in how to interpret "can communicate empathically with you," and what it means to "share emotions" (pp218), and thus defining the bandwidth of such communication.
Here are examples of online discussions of such things:
For example, one popular use of familiars is to use one action to command the familiar to get a potion (say healing) and feed it to you, thus freeing up one of your actions. Another popular use is to send familiars to scout ahead of the party and report what they see back to their master remotely.
So before we start the adventure, I was wondering if I could get an idea from GM Numbat as to how they see the situation. I'd hate to get into it and try to do something with Twyl that is beyond the scope of what the GM will allow.
Jayma - I will confess I have not yet studied the rules on familiars. I will endeavour to do so and let you know where I stand before we start play.
If communication is indeed empathic, I consider this as not telepathic, so detailed commands would be unlikely. Scouting may be possible but would give you more a sense of danger or not rather than particular details.
Like I said, I have some reading to do.
|
|
Jayma is ready for action.
Can we have a show of hands on who can provide healing?
In a pinch, Jayma can become trained in Medicine (+4) for a minute at a time, which means she can do Administer First Aid and Treat Poison if necessary, but not Treat Disease or Treat Wounds.
Unfortunately, it requires Healer's Tools which at 5gp are more than she can afford right now without making sacrifices.
I see Adrian is +6 in Medicine and has Healer's Tools. I also see that Xathiel Vos is +7 in Medicine, but I do not see Healer's Tools listed in his equipment.
Not sure who the missing two characters are yet or what their abilities will be.
|
|
I will rectify that oversight. I rebuilt Xathiel a little bit just as I hit second level. To this point, healing others has not been something he has given a lot of thought to. I'll make sure he has the tools to provide first aid if that will be required of him.
Sounds good. The real benefit will be in the Treat Wounds action to help recover after any big fights. Your +7 in Medicine is probably the best we've got. Remember to get a bandolier for your healer's tools so that you can whip them out quickly.
Adrian has Battle Medicine, which I've found to be really useful... literally life-saving in the middle of battle, in fact.
Looks like Harsk has a +6 in Medicine (though no Healer's tools I can see), so he can always pitch in if it comes to that.
Hopefully that will be enough to keep us going. It looks like the rest of the group are going to be more fighter types.
Please complete this form to provide the required information for chronicles and reporting. The responses marked as required are needed before the game commences. The remainder are requested before the mission commences, after boons are slotted but are encouraged immediately.
Does anyone have Glyphs or Campaign Coins or other means of increasing the number of Hero Points the team commences with?
Everyone can mark Hero Points 1/3 in their tagline. I do ask that tagline information not be under spoilers but easily read by all and maintained to your best ability throughout the game.
Glad to see an early conversation about healing in the group.
Does anyone need guidance regarding factions or schools of training or other PFS specific decisions prior to play?
Xathiel, I understand you are a new player but I am unclear how new to PFS2 as opposed to new to PbP. Would you like guidance on PbP at all, or are you happy learning on the fly? This is a set of slides I made as an introduction for a recent group. You are welcome to read through and pick out useful tips.
Do you have botting instructions, including dice expressions?
Are you willing for a team member or the GM to bot you if needed to keep the game moving if you have not posted in 24 hours?
Are you willing to bot a fellow team member if needed?
I would like to avoid excessive botting but I also like to be prepared. Life can throw surprises that can affect any of us.
Communication is key to making the game enjoyable. It is difficult to read a table, or fellow player by just reading the words. Nuances can easily be lost. Please, speak up if something is bothering you. If you are feeling rushed or the game seems to be dragging then say something. If I seem to have made a mistake or you don't understand something, politely say so.
While I love that PbP allows greater immersion in the characters and ask the gameplay thread be kept as clean as possible to facilitate this, I also care about my players. Feel free to express yourself as a player and tell us how things are going, here in the discussion thread.
If you do have something come up and will likely be absent for a bit, please let us know as soon as you can. It not only helps the group and the game, but I also tend to worry when players go missing.
I am looking forward to our journey together down the Spirit Road.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I have been playing Pathfinder and Society since its inception, but I've only just begun playing Pathfinder and Society 2. Paizocon was my introduction to PF/PFS2 as well as online play. I can be a little obsessive about this stuff so I'm pretty sure I'm up to speed on PFS2.
I played a tiny amount of PbP with my friends on discord, so I understand the basic of pushing the narrative and being super descriptive so I am very much looking forward to that. Xathiel has a few interesting quirks that I didn't really get an opportunity to flesh out during vtt play so I am very excited to see what I can create in this environment. I'm quickly trying to absorb as much of the technical forum operations but once I look at your slides and then copy others I think I'll figure it out quick. My biggest question was dice rolls so...let's see here...let me try...
As to botting instructions...feel free to bot me however you need to in order to keep the story going...but I imagine I'll be the first one to post each day and I have nothing on the horizon that might prevent me from playing. I am willing for either a team member or the GM to bot me. I am happy to bot for anybody else...hahaha...although we'll see if the feeling is mutual.
|
|
Form completed. I even created a Discord account in case it is needed.
I'm not planning on lagging on my posts, but if real life gets in my way, then feel free to bot Jayma. I know Adrian IRF (and where he lives :), so he gets first shot at botting Jayma, otherwise anyone is fine.
I should point out that I live in Spain, and except for Granitt/Deevor (apparently in the UK), I assume most of you are in North America somewhere, most likely on the west coast (please correct me if not).
Being in Spain means that I am (usually) 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time. That means that when I get up in the morning, most of you will be heading to bed, and that I'll be heading to bed around mid-afternoon your time. The point is that after about 3pm PT, don't expect to see a post from me until you get up the following morning. So, if you don't get a prompt response from me, it isn't that I don't like you; it's because I'm asleep.
I've updated Jayma's profile; if I'm missing something, please let me know. I'll add botting instructions when I get a chance.
If you see an occasional post from a monk named Mandoo, assume he is botting for Jayma (I really wish you could set the default post alias on a campaign by campaign basis).
Jayma - you should be able to set your campaign default, though it may be a part of Paizo Campaign Tools which is a browser extension. I know it is available for Chrome and Firefox. It is quite a useful tool.
I actually hadn't meant to leave the Discord question in the survey. I have it present in the master as it is useful in other settings. It doesn't hurt to collect that though as it makes a useful backup should the forums go down.
It looks like we are only waiting on one submission to be ready to start and a few people will need to update with starting values, chronicle numbers and the like.
Slides are now linked both in my tag line and at the top of each page of the campaign.
Please check out slide one and let me know of any requests to change tokens, etc.
Do any of you have a preference between the current slide always being slide one versus posting which slide is being referred to and keeping them in order?
|
|
Tokens look great. Current slide as first slide works for me.
Wow. Thanks for the heads-up on the Paizo Campaign Tools extension. I just added it to my chrome and it is looks pretty sweet. The Auto-select Alias campaign tool is worth it all on its own.
[u]underline[/u]
[color=red]red[/color]
[color=#0000ff]blue[/color]
[code]code[/code]
Nice! I'm sure I can find a use for some of these new tags.
It looks like these new tags are only visible if you have the PCT extension installed, otherwise it does nothing. Maybe I'll hold off on using them until they are integrated into the Paizo website.
Love Jayma's art. Thank you for sharing.
I should also probably confirm, I am indeed currently west coast of USA.
I was about to post that we may have to proceed without Saturday but then note they posted in Gameplay.
Saturday - please complete the survey form so I have your information for chronicles and reporting. Thank you.
Boons and consumables to be posted here.
Also, if you have not already done so, please complete any unanswered questions from the intake form. Your Discord ID is not mandatory though appreciated. All other questions should be answered. If you have any difficulties, please let me know.
You should have received an email confirmation when you first submitted. Hopefully, it provides details on how to edit. You could also resubmit if needed, I will take the last response as the correct one.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Boons slotted:
Cryptid Scholar (Untyped) Your experiences with the Mosquito Witch have inspired you to research new creatures. When you Recall Knowledge to identify a rare or unique creature you can use the following reaction. Trigger: You attempt to Recall Knowledge to identify a creature you can see. Effect: You roll the skill check twice and use the better result. (3 of 3 uses remain)
Experienced Mountaineer (General) The trek from Isger to Molthune taught you tricks for navigating treacherously steep terrain. While this boon is slotted, you treat mountainous terrain and other steep slopes as difficult terrain, rather than as greater difficult terrain.
Valais's Assurance (General) Valais Durant is the leader of the Radiant Oath, in no small part because of her kindness and willingness to share her power with those in need. You may check a box next to this boon and spend an action to use the champion focus spell lay on hands, heightened appropriately for your level. This does not cost a focus point.
|
|
I believe that I answered all the questions on the form, except perhaps for Chronicle number for this game which I'm not sure how to answer. Is it PFS2 1-06, or something else?
The only boon I have to slot is the generic Sand Slide, from The Sandstone Secret (Quest #1A)
Consumables include a Healing Potion (Minor), and a Magic Missile scroll (Spells 1 & 3).
|
|
Boon Slotted: Sand Slide (from Quest 1A)
PF School Consumables: Potency Crystal (2)
All the above is also listed on Adrian's character sheet.
Not sure what Chronicle Number means. I'm guessing it's the number of chronicles you'll have completed, including the 4 from this scenario. Thus, in Jayma's case, it would be 5. But I'd wait for a proper answer from our GM. I'll edit my form if I have that wrong.
|
|
Not sure if the following would be better included as an OOC in the Gameplay thread; let me know if it is and I'll put such things there in the future.
Jayma is an Imperial Sorcerer and her bloodline spell is Ancestral Memories. This allows her to channel an appropriate ancestor and become temporarily trained for 1 minute in any non-Lore skill. It uses her one focus point, but that can be replenished every 10 minutes using the Refocus activity. Jayma will be using Ancestral Memories to roll her Recall Knowledge checks, pausing 10 minutes between them to replenish her focus point for the next check.
Let me know if this is an unacceptable use of Ancestral Memories.
Chronicle number. For every adventure you complete you receive a chronicle to apply to your character. In the top right corner of the chronicle is a box to number them. They should be numbered sequentially as they are applied.
This will normally be the same order played, however, if you played a higher level scenario or quest with a pregen, you may have assigned it to a character that you then hold it for and apply it when they reach that level.
There may be other chronicle sheets that you apply, such as Ancestry boons, or other boons not on an adventure chronicle. These can either be slotted into the sequence or use another way to denote them. For instance, if I received a bonus chronicle during my 8th adventure, the scenario chronicle would be numbered 8 and the bonus would be 8A. Chronicles I apply before playing a character are numbered 0 or maybe 0A, 0B etc. This is my way of doing things. There is no one right way. As long as you are consistent and someone can see the order the chronicles were applied and note if there is one missing, then any system will do.
Jayman, if you have only played one quest then I suggest that is Chronicle 1 and this game would receive Chronicle 2.
Adrian, sounds like you are in a similar position. You will receive one chronicle for this adventure but 4 experience.
Let me know if any of that doesn't make sense or if you have more questions.
Jayma - you may not always have a chance to rest immediately after using your focus point but in this case, using it once is fairly safe. You have plenty of time on the road to recover it.
|
|
Jayma - you may not always have a chance to rest immediately after using your focus point but in this case, using it once is fairly safe. You have plenty of time on the road to recover it.
Turns out I only needed it for one Recall Knowledge check. I originally though I might have to roll both a Nature and a Forest Lore check, but only one was called for.
My reading is that sorcerers don't have to do anything specific to Refocus; Jayma will regain her focus point naturally after 10 minutes no matter what. Am I reading that right? (CRB pp194).
The Character Chronicle # box in the top right corner of my Sandstone Secret chronicle sheet is empty. It was my first adventure with Jayma, so this one will be my second. I'll put down 2 on the form.
So, we have three level 1s - Grannit, Jayma, Saturday
and three level 2s - Adrean, Harsk, Xathiel
by my calculations that places the table at 15 challenge points.
Harsk - campaign coin noted. This provides you with an additional Hero Point, I believe. Please make note of those in your tag line.
Any other last minute purchases (2 tea purchases noted in gameplay), boons, consumables, etc?
I am going to make another game post but we can catch up here on a few odds and ends if needed.
Really enjoying your role-playing. I will give you another post sometime today. Fridays are often hard for me.
|
|
I am not entirely clear on what is being asked here.
Do I take it that the "may" means that the PCs are not required to attempt any particular check?
I put in all three skill check attempts in my post, but only verbally indicated which Aid attempts I would make to help others with Intimidate. What if the PCs in question do not attempt those checks?
I assume that at most 3 Aid attempts are permitted; one per round. Would it be better to wait until everyone has stated their checks for each round, and then decide which of those checks in each round to provide Aid for? Should I then also make the Aid checks myself in spoilers?
In general, in skill-based encounters like this, you spend your action either to attempt the skill yourself or to aid another. Be aware, that at low levels, aid checks are often more difficult than skill checks as the DC to aid is 20. Crit failing an aid check will actually be harmful.
Adrian (and others) I am always happy to entertain creative alternative approaches and allow them when it seems reasonable. Often the DC will be slightly higher.
This is one of those occasions where I tally the individual successes to determine the overall group's success.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
If that is the case, and you will allow it, Xathiel will happily make his own intimidate check by insinuating the potential violence that could be brought by his more surly travelling companions. I was just wary to make any assumptions as to what the others were going to do.
The patience that is required with PbP is something I am still working on. :)
|
|
In general, in skill-based encounters like this, you spend your action either to attempt the skill yourself or to aid another.
Ah, I see. So essentially we have 3 actions each and the choices for each action are (1) Roll a check yourself, or (2) Aid another in rolling their check.
Is there there also the option of (3) do nothing? For those whose stats and training are such that they will almost certainly fail their checks and Aid attempts? No point making things worst with failures if there's little chance of success.
|
|
Yeah, Saturday has Intimidate but I don't see a need for it since the Townsfolk aren't being a~*%$~#s.
True enough. However, since we were asked for an Intimidate check, I assume that it is (or might be) needed for some reason.
I am assuming that the Intimidate check will be used only if the villagers appear to be holding back information and the only option is to intimidate them into revealing it to us. That is why I made it Jayma's last check.
If the villagers appear to be happily cooperating with us, then presumably there would be no need for Jayma to get huffy with them, and believe me... you do not want Jayma getting huffy with you.
GM Numbat, do we in fact have a choice about whether we try to intimidate them? It is hard to tell without further interactions with them as to whether it is necessary.
A couple of issues here and I will admit that some of this is my GM interpretation, so expect some table variation.
You do not have to make a check. There are some encounters in certain adventures where each character must make a check, this one does not specify you have to.
Intimidation does not need to be applied directly to the villagers, it may simply represent you haveing an intimidating presence. This may earn a certain degree of respect from some of them.
Given my instructions have led to some confusion, I am going to take everyone's rolls and look at the total successes.
Take it as a learning experience regarding aid rolls at lower levels and I will treat aiding as flavour rather than mechanics.
It looks like we are still waiting for posts from a couple of players. I'll check in again later today.
Saturday - if you wish to engage specifically around kami then Arcana or Nature (at a slightly higher DC) would be acceptable.
So sorry Jayma. I have fixed my template so you won't be missed next time. Sleep well.
|
|
I cannot find "natural attack" defined in the CRB. Should we assume that a natural attack is any attack that uses a natural part of a creature's body as a weapon?
So fist is a natural attack for humanoids, and claws, jaws, tusks, horns, spines etc. would be natural attacks for animals.
Not sure what this means for unnatural or magical creatures, but I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I believe fist come under unarmed attack. The others you list would be natural attacks.