GM Numbat PFS1 10-05 Mysteries Under Moonlight Part 1 - Testament of Souls (Inactive)

Game Master numbat1

This is the place for all out of character discussion.

If you have been offered a place in this game, please complete this intake survey.

Thanks for inviting Faliana to this game!

I've submitted my survey. I believe I have everything right, but I might have mistyped something. Let me know if there is anything that doesn't make sense.

Also Faliana is a medium and can channel a variety of spirits to help fill holes in party composition. Are there any positions or archetypes that the group is missing? If there aren't then I might pull out Sasha, the naive fast-talking former-cleric gnome and her heirophant spirit, cause I haven't played him in a very long time and I enjoy playing him considerably. A small blurb about each of her spirits is listed on her character sheet, along with what bonuses and abilities they provide.

She also is a competent enough fighter to provide secondary melee support with or without a spirit (unless she channels the archmage in which case she ain't wearing armor and thus staying far away from any enemy.)

Elado, at your service. I try to Haste the party to start and provide whatever support needed with some blasting to finish foes.

Glad to be here.

I should say, the Discord ID is not essential though it is nice to have as a backup in case the Forums go down. It is in my list of standard questions as I also run VTT with Discord for voice and PbD (PbP on Discord) games.

Plus, consider adding character pronouns near the beginning of their tagline, especially if their form of address is important to you.

Thank you for the invitation, GM! Matrialda here to take care of her favorite grandchildren. Arcanist specializing in protections and removing pesky magics, so the blasting’s all yours Elado.

I’m excited to see a medium in action - I’ve been thinking about making one, but it’s a bit daunting to essentially make six characters as one.

Spoiler: I’ve run these scenarios, but it was over a year ago and I can’t remember any details. That being said, I’ll still try to defer to the other members of the party (which fits well with Matrialda’s personality). If this would be a problem for you, GM, let me know and we can discuss options or look for another player.

Plus, consider adding character pronouns near the beginning of their tagline, especially if their form of address is important to you.

Oh, I thought I had. Also of note, many of the spirits she channels present male and thus I use the male pronouns when they have control.

I’m excited to see a medium in action - I’ve been thinking about making one, but it’s a bit daunting to essentially make six characters as one.

It can be daunting to be sure, but I had a central theme around which I built all the characters. Initially they were all related in a way to Ashava, Fali being a 'spirit therapist' effectively, so they needed a flaw and goal that would be hard if not impossible to achieve and that would keep them from truly moving on. However she played through a series of games with a consistent GM and he found two places that a new spirit could possibly be found, the first being Moke and the second Themp. It'd be so much fun to set the roleplay details of one or two spirits from the beginning and then incorporate new spirits in when you encounter them in scenarios.

dotting in for the moment. I'm currently travelling for 8 hours, so expect more details tonight.

Inghinn MacBruthe here - don't worry about filling out the melee frontliner role, Faliana. Inghinn and her big ol' sword are 100% here for that. She can also assist with social situations, as her family are deposed nobles from Galt that managed to go into exile to escape the Red Revolution, and her father brought her up to wield her words with just as much competence as her blade.

She can be a bit overzealous in combat though, and will pursue her foes relentlessly (she has Step Up, Following Step, and Step Up and Strike). Aside from that, she's a pretty standard greatsword fighter. Expect to see a lot of Power Attack.

While we wait for the remaining intake forms to be completed, I have made an introductory post in the gameplay thread.

There are links to the slides in my tagline and at the top of each page of this campaign. Slide one now has tokens for each of the characters. If you desire any alterations (or wish to negotiate colours) please let me know.

I also have a slide for you to copy your token and place in preferred marching order. There is a table where you can note anything that I or the group should particularly be aware of. This is my first time using such a slide, definitely experimental territory. Consider discussing SOP for doors and such and noting it here.

This brings me to an important issue. I have mostly been playing and running PFS2 and SFS recently so my PFS1 brain is a little rusty. Even when in top form I am unlikely to know the rules as well as most of you. Please do not hesitate to politely question or correct anything. I am a great believer in communication and cooperation.

Please make sure tag lines have all the basic information such as Perception, Initiative, ACs, saves, etc., plus anything that should be tracked such as HP, spells remaining, etc. I appreciate efforts to keep these updated throughout the game. This is not directed at anyone in particular, I am just trying to establish expectations.

If you do not already, please make sure to have at least simple botting instructions with dice expressions in case you are personally delayed or absent and we need to keep the game moving. Generally, I will give a player 24 hours from the first post that indicated it is their turn to act before asking for someone to bot their character or doing so myself.

Life happens. I know mine is somewhat chaotic and erratic at this time. I will endeavour to check the game several times a day and progress the story at least once per day. I ask players to also be prepared to progress the story at least once per day plus roleplay as much as you want. My goal is to keep the game moving without leaving anyone behind or feeling pressured. If you all indicate by your posts that you wish a faster pace, I will try to keep up but make no guarantees.

If you know you are likely to be delayed or absent for a bit, please drop a line here so we don't worry about you. Kitoro's post above is a perfect example. I have found that recently, for some unknown reason, Fridays seem to be a challenge for me and I often post late on those days.

Finally, at least for now, does anyone have a preference between keeping slides in the order they occur (and I provide a link and slide number as appropriate) versus having the current slide always be slide 1? I have been experimenting both ways recently.

I'm driving cross country Friday through Tuesday or so. I'll drop some botting instructions but should be able to catch up in the evenings.

I'm happy either way with the slides. Personally, I tend to keep mine in order when I GM, but if there's a really large number of slides (like 10 or more), I might keep maps more toward the front end, and handouts further back.

Botting instructions are updated in my profile.

Kahwen here, I think most or all of you have played with him in one form or another.

He's a tengu unchained rogue with an elven curve blade. He's fast and likes to get into trouble.

He's also generally peppy and optimistic and Pathfinder true believer.

It's nice if he can get charging lanes because he can cause sneak attack damage if he does so.

If you're taking votes on what your medium should be, Faliana mine is for a healer. I don't think we have one and I haven't taken UMD...and Kahwen is probably going to get hurt.

Although I'm betting we all have CLW wands and Kitoro could use them.

Oh, and tomorrow is my daughter's 5th Birthday so I probably won't post unless she gets bored with me.

Wishing you good luck and safe passage on that journey OG3. Which direction are you travelling?

Sorry for the slide settings. Fixed now. I really thought I had already done that but I guess not.

Got home and filled out the paperwork.

Kit specializes in oration, parody, and comedy, making it a fine art of mocking those she dislikes without actually coming out and saying anything, most often with finger puppets. She has a phenomenal collection of Velcro add-ons and can fashion practically anything in jiffy. If you get on her wrong side you will feel the edge of her tongue and a rather unflattering rendition of your character in the form of a finger puppet. If all else fails, usually a Charm Person spell will get her out of any trouble.

She is blase, sarcastic, and witty (when I can manage it as a player) but not much use in combat other than as a support. But, hey, that is what bards do best, right? She is part of a comedy team that includes a mischievous mongoose named Kane who is quite skilled at pratfalls and mock swordplay, but tends to sequester himself in Kit's backpack during combats. Kane often plays the part of a comical buffoon waving a sword around erratically and squeaking humorously.

As for appearance, Kit is shorter than average with lustrous coal black hair and a pale complexion (when in human form as she normally is in mixed company). Kit's cloak has all kinds of mask embellishments on it. Tiny theater masks with serious and comedic expressions.

Wishing you good luck and safe passage on that journey OG3. Which direction are you travelling?

Sorry for the slide settings. Fixed now. I really thought I had already done that but I guess not.

San Francisco to Austin.

Inghinn MacBruthe here - don't worry about filling out the melee frontliner role, Faliana. Inghinn and her big ol' sword are 100% here for that. She can also assist with social situations, as her family are deposed nobles from Galt that managed to go into exile to escape the Red Revolution, and her father brought her up to wield her words with just as much competence as her blade.

Glad to hear it, I enjoy Moke, her champion spirit, but too much of him just gets stale. Fali can focus on being a flanking partner for Kahwen then, if he wants something like that. Or she can flank with you.

If you're taking votes on what your medium should be, Faliana mine is for a healer. I don't think we have one and I haven't taken UMD...and Kahwen is probably going to get hurt.

Although I'm betting we all have CLW wands and Kitoro could use them.

I was just thinking that we don't have a set healer in the group, so pulling in Sasha would be a great idea. Fali can provide flanks if you want, longspears are great for that.

Faliana, with or without spirits is a diplomatic beast, and can reliably activate wands of anything you might want cast.

She has a calm, staid personality for the most part but is also mercurial and will change in reaction or reflection of the people/things around her.

Finally on a different note, I think I'd like to retrain her brawler level into an archetype that came out after I gave her the level. I've been going back and forth on it but I think it might be a good idea after all. If it's okay, she's going to take the Battle Dancer archetype. There are three features it changes at 1st level meaning it should take 15 days, 900 gp and 15 prestige.

Finally on a different note, I think I'd like to retrain her brawler level into an archetype that came out after I gave her the level. I've been going back and forth on it but I think it might be a good idea after all. If it's okay, she's going to take the Battle Dancer archetype. There are three features it changes at 1st level meaning it should take 15 days, 900 gp and 15 prestige.

If you are proposing this occur before she receives the invitation and joins the group, I am fine with that. I can not it on the chronicle sheet for this game.

Yup that is what I was hoping to do. I'll get her character sheet updated soon, but it shouldn't affect too much outside of combat.

Two things:

1.) Davorge looks REMARKABLY similar to a roommate I had in college.

2.) Recounting these stories IC has reminded me OOC that I need to play Hrethnar's Throne at some point.

I do want to respond to your post Kahwen but I need to get to bed and am on my phone. Only reason I posted right now was cause I had an idea and didn't want to risk losing the opportunity to post it.

This is a group that clearly has a lot of great storytelling ability. I want to provide sufficient room to allow all the roleplay and storytelling you want without allowing the scenario to grind to a halt.

Please help me determine what the correct pace is by asking for extra time or prodding me to move on as needed.

I thought there was much potential with what was going on at the lodge to stay with that for a bit but didn't want to force that either. Perhaps I should have asked rather than just posting the move to the inn. Reading the table can be a challenge with PbP so I will rely on your feedback.

I'm good with the pace, so far. Any more RP I want to do, I can hold until later (and I don't mind the "previous on...") sort of posts.

It does seem like this is a RP group, doesn't it :)

I'm good with whatever pace you set and with the PCs chiming in there's no chance I'll get bored.

The pace has been fine right now, I just sleep during the hours where a good amount of posting goes on and topical posts are good for topical times. I'm perfectly fine with posts that happened in the past.

Life has somewhat exploded in my face recently, then my computer crashed today (up and running again), plus I have a small online convention I am GMing for this weekend, so if I am a little tardy or short in my posting the next few days, please forgive me. I will try to stay on top of it and do consider this game a priority.

Sorry, I've been fighting an incipient migraine all day. I limped through the game I was running for the con and now I'm headed to bed. Hopefully, I will be good to post in the morning.

Fortunately, I've never had a migraine, but even an ordinary sinus headache can send me running for the hills.

Here's hoping you feel better, soon!

My sincere apologies again for the long delay. A post is finally up and I will really endeavour to stay on track for the remainder of the game.

ADVANCE WARNING

Thursday 30 July through Sunday 02 August I will be very much focused on Gen Con Online. I will probably need the Monday immediately after to recover.

Between now and then I am preparing tables for the two specials that are running and involved in planning and being ready for HQ. I am also involved in planning the next PbP convention (starts 01 September). I will definitely do my best to keep up the pace with this game except during Gen Con Online but please be understanding if I slip a little.

I will not be taking on any other PbP games until after Gen Con, you are my priority.

Thanks for the heads up and don't feel rushed.

Sounds like you're busy (and even more so with the increase in online gaming, lately.)

I, for one, am in no hurry.

This is good pacing and don't mind a long weekend for GenCon. have a good one.

I'm okay with the pacing too! It's been good to have time to interact.

My personal thought is that it would be better to take a longer than originally planned break rather than break in the middle of an encounter. I don't have the bandwidth available to try to run this next encounter really fast (though it's possible you will all resolve it quickly) and I don't want to leave you hanging.

On the other hand, I GM for your pleasure, so if the group wishes to continue, I will do my best.

I'm fine with a longer break before an encounter.

Same here. I don't mind taking a longer break rather than get started and have to pause in the middle.

Yup, sounds fine! Enjoy the break everyone!

Back. About to read and refresh and then I will post.

Huzzah! Welcome back.

It has been a very trying day and at 11:30 at night I am going to go find food and go to bed. I will try to prioritize posting tomorrow morning.

No worries! I hope you have a good rest and found some good food!

I promise, I did make this a priority for the day and it is the first game I attended to. Post is finally up.

Yay!

Thank you!

Dang! And here I was thinking the fact I was using a slashing weapon would be a problem! Guess not...

Anyhow...moving on!

wrecking machine!

Yeah, I'm not sure why I was worried about starting this before Gen Con. I fully expected it would take more than one and a little bit rounds. I spent more time looking up their feats etc than running the actual combat. Well done.

All those buffs definitely helped! I mean, they more than made up for the penalties from the spirit.

I meant to post yesterday that I assumed that during the time reporting to the priests and collecting their thanks at the last monument, any healing needed would have been attended to. Please mark off any consumables used.

The only one I remember this affecting is Inghinn, however, I trust each of you. Anyone not healing, please let me know so that I can adjust my figures.

I also remind everyone to update their tag lines as needed. I may try to keep track in the initiative list but it is always good to keep your own stats updated and if there is a discrepancy we can sort it out between us. (Though you are all making combat so short that it probably doesn't matter.)

Thinking ahead. Do you want me to run part 2 as part of GamedayIX? I can submit it as GM selection and we can just roll right into it.