Was thinking about listing Briallen d'Jorasco in a post, just wanted to check, was not doing so right.
:) yep its good fun.
As person/NPC Briallen can certainly be referenced. The player said on discord a week ago that they had to withdraw due to life stuff.
I'm tempted to bring the half-succubus that Ari was snuggling with into the game at some point.
Did a link to the maps get posted? Trying to find
Should be in discord "game documents" section.
I recall I said we were going to go to "post when you can" for weekends.
I will post something to clarify the situation in a little bit.
Still, let me know if the situation now leaves you uncertain about what to do. (there are two obvious options - explore Eroth's lead or scout around the cavern you found out about before).
Maps uploaded, including Eroth's.
Interesting question - does Lady Lyra count as alive for life sense?
(Never mind, she's glowing so not directly relevant)
Androids have souls, or so the race outline says. So if they sence life v a soul then they can see her
But thats pathfinder setting in yours she may be as dead as a can of beans.
She is not glowing yet, waiting on others.
Is skin bat 2 trying to get past Lyra if so does she get OoA
The skin bat in the rear is going to trying to retreat. If you're on it, you indeed get an Ooa.
wooo wooo there GM
let's have the other players have turns before we poop the shoot. And I specifically said Lyra was going behind them, she would physically grapple the skin bat, to stop it calling for others.
OK,
You folk got one surprise round and then went first in the regular round. Lyra can get an Aoo as the second skin bat disengages but she can't grapple as an Aoo.
And yes, the other players have to catch up, I'll let them.
So,
I am going to be imposing a rule that if we are in the middle of combat and your character fails to act for an excessive period of time (24-48 hours), I will have your character act as NPC.
And I will be having the Lurker act as an NPC just in general because they have been gone for a long time.
Sorry but I'm lost.
This game was promoted as a Planescape game with agents headed out and back from there doing work in other planes and rotating back. But in we seem to be stuck on a single plan in now seems to be a classic Dungan crawl.
With that last post I know don't know what is going on.
We are here to save items, take down a group, blow up some power thing?
I'm lost and it seems with the lack of post from others so are they?
GM Help us here
Well,
In the complex, essentially, you are there to take down the bat-things and maybe figure out who it is behind them. With luck this can happen quickly and then you return to town to continue background stuff, figure out more things.
In the game overall, I've wound-up with a balancing act. Trying to organize things by the overall framework of the group being agents, trying to not rail-road people past a given scene and trying to get people motivated to take action in a scene.
I might not have always done the balancing act well but hopefully, I've learned something and can do it better now. Especially I've learned that once one gets into melee mode, it can become a disproportionate part of the activity.
This said, I think some players didn't come into the game really aware of agent framework - or they stopped paying attention to it over time. This will be another things that I will be aiming to balance/correct. Just as much, some players seem to be slowing their contribution because of other life commitments or general flakiness.
You were about to fulfill your first caper and go back to activity in the city. However, Moira rightly pointed out that you could continue the caper by going to the final location point. Perhaps I should have just nix'd that but it seemed like I was going with both what the party wanted and what people were extemporizing. Perhaps I should have given a short narrative of what found there with just a few clues (actually, thinking back).
I introduced the NPC and bat-thing explanation because the situation of just watching for would-be receivers of the goods seemed to yield no interest and this would get the party some "meat". Perhaps that was a mistake but I was trying to give steps that give motivation. The impression I'm getting is that in PbP, getting a party to "pro-active" is close to impossible. In an IRL campaigns, I'm used to saying "here is the situation, what do you do?" and people take some action after a discussion. In PbP, often, no one says anything and action kind of comes to a stand still. That's because no one wants to make a decision for the group and there isn't much ongoing because everyone is online at different times. That's kind of why I did the NPC offering a clue thing in the forest - it provided the group an immediate motivation for action but it could have been a mistake that bogged things down.
I have tried to stay in touch with everyone about what they understand and where they expect things to go. I can't tell whether the lack of posts is because people don't understand or whether people having other priorities intrude.
But overall, I'm still figuring out what things I have to communicate in my posts to get things resolved. And how to avoid getting bogged-down by plot elements I might introduce to inspire action.
Last I saw mention of turn order, I had gone at "the top of the next turn," are we into a new turn after that yet? Are the gargoyles acting at the top of the turn?
I thought I had the objective straight that gargoyles in here were doing generally nefarious things and we were taking down these current ones to stop them, but now having a PC-turned-npc come and tell us we're "doing it wrong" definitely confused things more.
In terms of posting rate, the game was promoted as a 1/day game and I'm trying to keep to 1/day when I'm able to around my work schedule and if it makes sense, but the past few days I've been ahead of the action and I don't want to cut other people out of their chance to affect things. There have been a handful of times in previous weeks where the posts have come so fast that in the time I was asleep, new plot threads came up and were moved past before I even had the chance to react, with posts coming on average 2-3 times a day. That's fine if that's how the group wants to play, but I'm not going to be able to consistently contribute that frequently.
Last I saw mention of turn order, I had gone at "the top of the next turn," are we into a new turn after that yet? Are the gargoyles acting at the top of the turn?
I thought I had the objective straight that gargoyles in here were doing generally nefarious things and we were taking down these current ones to stop them, but now having a PC-turned-npc come and tell us we're "doing it wrong" definitely confused things more.
In terms of posting rate, the game was promoted as a 1/day game and I'm trying to keep to 1/day when I'm able to around my work schedule and if it makes sense, but the past few days I've been ahead of the action and I don't want to cut other people out of their chance to affect things. There have been a handful of times in previous weeks where the posts have come so fast that in the time I was asleep, new plot threads came up and were moved past before I even had the chance to react, with posts coming on average 2-3 times a day. That's fine if that's how the group wants to play, but I'm not going to be able to consistently contribute that frequently.
The Gargoyles have gone so it is the PC's turn - Gargoyles at the bottom/top of the order, then PCs in the turns they choose. NPC-Lurker is suggesting that instead of fighter the gargoyles, you rush around them and, essentially, kill the tied-up unfortunates who provide the life-source for the Gargoyle. That's a bit confusing and meant to have you folks thinks as well as possibly speeding up the end. The PCs have a choice about what to do, of course.
Thank you for the feedback GM, it explains a lot. :)
I think Negative Energy does damage her as it's not listed as something she has Immunity to.
Resistance:
+4 racial bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, and stun effects.
+2 bonus on saves against psychic spells and spell-like abilities
+4 competence bonus on Constitution checks to hold breath
Immunity's
To, disease and sleep effects, fatigue or exhaustion, fear effects and all emotion-based effects, exposure to vacuum [Item]
It looks like we only have 3 active players now GM, if we are facing Babies mean for 5 we are in trouble.
Liya took 8 points there, using her races 12 heal when hit in a day power. She only does 1d8+1 DMG with a revolver, the only way is to spend inspiration to keep up.
Power levels and numbers here look like we maybe TPKed with out an out.
I'll accept it if you say Lyra takes negative energy damage. I was going off "construct traits".
It looks like we only have 3 active players now GM, if we are facing Babies mean for 5 we are in trouble.
Liya took 8 points there, using her races 12 heal when hit in a day power. She only does 1d8+1 DMG with a revolver, the only way is to spend inspiration to keep up.
Power levels and numbers here look like we maybe TPKed with out an out.
This is why the parameters say the characters of players who vanish become NPCs, rather than vanishing permanently (longer term it may be time for more recruitment...). I think you have a reasonable chance of surviving but you should avoid trying to fight all the skin-gargoyles together if they assemble. Spencer is still lurking in the back, perhaps he'll get his courage up and use one of his trick items.
All the maps and stuff should in the game_documents_and_information channel on the discord server. That is the other channel besides general channel (switch channel by clicking on the channel name at left). I like uploading there because I can take photo and upload directly from my phone.
But for the occasion, I have uploaded the map
here too.
Will post the game thread soon.
So are back to the spies and investigation part of the campaign.
The new caper approach/guidelines is each player picks one caper, narrates how they advance it, uses a skill roll or two and I respond. The various plots advance together until one get "too big to ignore" and we get to "raid"/dungeon-crawl mode. Kind of like the first page of the adventure.
Remember that aside from following particular capers, each character is expanding their network of contacts. Assume that "headquarters" is happy to donate currency and resources to help you in this.
We are indeed effectively down to three regularly posting players though the occasional input from Spencer/Mus actually has been really good. I'm OK the game proceeding at the pace that you folks have set so far. We said something about weekends being "post when you can" so I'm going to wait for everyone to respond to the capers or ask me questions about them.
I invited one earlier applicant but they haven't responded yet. I will be posting on the recruiting page for 2-3 more players. If anyone knows people who would be interested, send them our way. If anyone has questions on the capers I've set out, let me know. I've tried to have one or more things for each character along with making them interesting.
Cool GM
As you may have noticed, I have started a recruitment thread to add a couple players as we are down to a few. Please message me if you have comments or ideas about recruitment.
Also, I am willing to abandon using discord for this. I doesn't seem like we've used it enough for this to matter.
7th level Paladin
hp 5 + 3 Con = 8
Skills
+1 Intimidate
+2 Knowledge (planes)
+2 Knowledge (religion)
+1 Stealth
+1 Craft (weapons)
+1 Knowledge (dungeoneering)
+1 BAB
+1 Smite evil per day
+1 2nd-level paladin spells per day.
Leveled to 7 Investigator, HP +6, 7th level feat taken as extra talent. Underworld contacts,
7th level talent is an Extended studded strike. she has made some grenades, +1BAB, +1 Level 3 spell, Gaseous form 14mins. skills
+1 Intimidate
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Stealth
+1 Perception
+1 Sence motive
+1 Intimade
+5 Bluff
Hey, just FYI,
My home is somewhat near a wildfire in California. There are evacuation warnings a few miles from me but for me but this could change.
If I have to evacuate, my posting here may a bit spotty till things are done. Just a warning. Nothing yet.
I took my third level in Paladin (Faithful Wanderer):
+1 BAB
+1 Ref
+8 HP (6 rounded up avg + 2 con)
Skills (4 class + 1 int +1 human + 2 background): Diplomacy +1, Intimidate +1, History +1, Planes +1, Perception +2, Oratory +1, Spellcraft +1
Aura of Courage: Immune to Fear (no actual aura due to archetype)
Divine Health: Immune to Disease
Mercy: Fatigue (no more late night slowdowns!)
7th Level Feat: Greater Grapple (woo, we're in business now!)
Arlo, did you take a 7th level feat?
@Hansj, stay safe. Hope everything turns out okay.
@Hansj, stay safe. Hope everything turns out okay.
Thanks. I'm five blocks from the evacuation zone. So still here. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
keep safe gm, better safe than sorry
So, we're kind of doing things by rotating capers.
Next up is the visit to Moira's person with everyone going. Then the challenge of trying to understand the diagrams in Lady Lyra's blue gem. Then a visit to Lord Ghent place - unless someone has a bright idea for visiting some of the places you've been or has other research scheme (which is fine but totally optional).
New character from the recruitment thread may come in with the gem-figuring or in some other sequences. Also, there would be space on the thread for them to describe establishing their cover (I wish I could have a thread just for cover but c'est la vie).
Seem fair?
Seems good to me
Things to keep in mind - weekends are "post when you can" now, as discussed earlier.
I'm letting the new character in at 6th but will level them up soonish, 1-2 weeks.
GM, can you clean up the characters and players tabs please?
I have updated PC/NPC status.
Awesome! Thanks.
A general suggestion for the new players.
Look closely at page 1 of the adventure. For things like background story, I'm relying on each players to fill in the details they'd imagine in a "17-19 century tech level (maybe or maybe not European) city". I outline some choices and give "make up your own" as a further option. The sequence is "roll, describe what character would find". Don't be shy about defining things yourself. You can create NPCs, enterprises, families, all of this stuff. Obviously, the more powerful the NPC and larger the enterprise, the less likely it is you'll be in charge. But still, Lady Lyra Anna heads the Ovium Gazetta, which she made up. At 6th level, your characters are highly competent adults, the sort of people whose competence others naturally trust as so people put you in charge of things (not the entire city, of course but medium level things).
It's not that I can't make up details - feel free to accept the details I've given. But if you possibly can, get used to making your own stuff up. It makes the world "yours" and it speeds things, lets us deal with the world in broad strokes.
Ovium is a bustling, newly growing city, the hierarchies of medieval nobility and related are being supplements by the hierarchies of the newly wealthy. Selium, a 10-15 mile journey across the ridge, is the official capital and seat of government, a much more staid, conservative area. Ovium has many workshops producing innovative products, it has many immigrants filling places in the growing economy. Finance is a big thing though financial houses would be headed by wealthy nobles with a few wealthy commoners thrown in. Knowledge is both sought after and closely guarded. You can specify other things as well.
I think this might seem harder given that adventures in the city have been happening for a bit. But don't let that stop you. In game time, the group has been in the area for maybe three weeks, a months (I am leaving time somewhat vague for flexibility but I may change that). Overall, assume there are gaping hole in knowledge of the existing characters.
GM: Having gotten a bit of a better idea of exactly what this game entails, I was wondering about the possibility of switching my class to Vigilante, using the "Mounted Fury" archetype.
This seems like an excellent game to play a Vigilante in!
Mild mannered book and coffee shop entrepreneur by day, daring agent by night!
Might change just a skill or two, but the feel of the character wouldn't change much at all.
I believe the Social Talents of: Social Grace, Double Time, and Renown (or better yet, Obscurity) would work great to allow him to be awesome at running his shop in half the needed time, and be able to learn stuff.
Anyone else have thoughts on Paritosh as a Vigilante?
Anyone else have thoughts on Paritosh as a Vigilante?
I don't have any preferences, play whatever you'd like! Vigilante is a fun class, but I don't have any experience with Mounted Fury.
Also, I'm pretty lost again. Where are we, that we're discussing donuts and hats? Is this at the Demoivee library? What are these schematics I'm supposed to be explaining to people, is that the clock thing?
The thing is that the entire group has a secret identity and a secret agenda, that you are working out. Part of the campaign is having everyone make choices related to the situation - you're in a gray area, balancing individual good and greater good, working to keep all your identities semi-secret, etc. Lady Lyra worked to shape some of the rumors about the party's first escapade, for example.
Vigilante would basically solve all these problems for one character and I want everyone struggling with those problems. I could imagine making some of the vigilante mechanisms available to everyone.
The thing is that the entire group has a secret identity and a secret agenda, that you are working out. Part of the campaign is having everyone make choices related to the situation - you're in a gray area, balancing individual good and greater good, working to keep all your identities semi-secret, etc. Lady Lyra worked to shape some of the rumors about the party's first escapade, for example.
Vigilante would basically solve all these problems for one character and I want everyone struggling with those problems. I could imagine making some of the vigilante mechanisms available to everyone.
Haha, yes true that!
Another thing to consider, when folks are thinking about the plans you might have, consult Wikipedia on what happened 16-18th centuries.
For example, there's a fabulous article on the history of libraries.
I am working on a history of Ovium and an outline of what all the various knowledge rolls have learned. It will be later tonight.
Amber, humm do we have the blood to walk shadow.
GM can we slow things down just a wee bit, not much but we had three days before the meeting. The party has just met. And you have told us what you think the device dose but we have to discover this in-game. what I am asking is can we play out this scene, go over what the device does, and then discuss plans.
Also GM this is a secret meeting with the hold team and all our plans on the walls. The windows are closed and curtains pulled shut.
Would it be ok if the invite gets delivered to the main desk of the newspaper?
Campaign "modes".
I'm thinking that you could describe the campaign as switcheing between different modes over time.
A. Building cover/back-story, gathering information and chit-chatting.
B. Caper finding/choosing. I outline a bunch of weird goings, each character chooses one to investigate and the character act in parallel, for a little bit.
C. The capers start to come together. More information is found, some action happen. Often it will become clear how all the capers relate together.
D. Action is required. One caper is pressing. Or all the character basically have to do something or be somewhere. Often the character have to be at a certain place and they're welcome to come up with entertaining narratives of how they arrive, within reason, rolling the appropriate skill check, etc.
For example now, all characters have to be at Lord Ghent's party. You can find interesting ways to do that, so that you arrive undercover and gather information for example, Or by default, you just arrive with Lady Lyra.
After that, maybe do caper finding.
I hope this gives everyone an idea of what to do, what choices they have, etc, which seems challenging in PbP.
GM can we slow things down just a wee bit, not much but we had three days before the meeting. The party has just met. And you have told us what you think the device dose but we have to discover this in-game. what I am asking is can we play out this scene, go over what the device does, and then discuss plans.
Also GM this is a secret meeting with the hold team and all our plans on the walls. The windows are closed and curtains pulled shut.
Would it be ok if the invite gets delivered to the main desk of the newspaper?
OK, if you folks spend the next day in investigation of the device, we can wait till the next day to begin party preparations.