GM Blake's PF2 Extinction Curse Campaign

Game Master Blake's Tiger

I decided that Inspire Defense may be what we want most in this fight.

"Hey, hey guys, I have a GREAT idea! Let's make him fight on the stairs!"

was my thought for a half-second before realizing that it might give us collective aneurysms trying to math that out (myself included)

Red and Yellow Arrows indicate path of travel, if my math is off then Leaf-On-Wind spent last action to step -- position more important than being in-stance (if GM needs the action used since we knew we were going into a fight?)

You can't be in a stance outside of an encounter, so, yes, you need to spend the action.

I feel like the Pathfinder devs don't understand how stairs are designed. Difficult terrain as a default is ridiculous.

In 1e the default was normal terrain, and difficult only if they are made for large or non-humanoid creatures, or super steep, etc. And they prevented running. It seemed more reasonable.

Thanks again for the bot. I've been on my work week and it's been banana crackers so I've not had much downtime for checking games. Caught up on the current action though and tonight's my last night for a few nights, so I should be able to actually post my turn next time it comes up!
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And yeah, I don't get the stairs thing either. It feels like someone was overthinking it.

Much work to do , with a work meeting tonight, could you please bot me GM? Nabi will move to get a flank and possible sneak attacks

I decided that Inspire Defense may be what we want most in this fight.

Query: Is this still what we want, or do we just want to punch the guy with Inspire Courage?

Profane gift gets him a +1 bonus on attack rolls with the maul, so Defense seems like a decent idea.

I can do Magic Weapon two more times this fight. Who else wants it? I realize that I have been whining about our lack of striking weapons this fight, when I could actually fix this with my spells.

OK. I've used all his cool abilities. Feel free to resume critically hitting him. ;)

It appears I have a choice between casting magic weapon and renewing Inspired Defense. Thoughts?

Magic weapon!

We could finish this book within then next day or two but definitely before the holidays. Please fill out the sign-up sheet to make it easier for me to make a chronicle:

RPG Chronicle Sign Up

Chronicle rewards include:
1) Access to Juggler OR Staff Acrobat archetype
2) Access to AP unique arcane/primal spells
3) Access to additional summon options
4) Access to AP unique snares
5) Discounted AcP cost to the Shoony ancestry

EDIT: I don't need your email address, if anyone's concerned about that. I'll download the chronicles and upload them to my Google Drive.

Only one archetype?

Juggler bard or staff magus!? I choose juggler.

Ooh...to put this on an existing character or slap it on a blob? Decisions, decisions...

I chose to put it on a new character, figuring that I could use Bequethal to move Uncommon and Rare options to the characters that want to use them.

Scorpion Whip seems like a good swashbuckler weapon.

Juggler or Staff Acrobat is a tough decision, but that Staff Acrobat with Twisting Tree magus and eventually getting a Twining Staff sounds really good. I’m going to need to do a little planning for the build, Magus needs many of their feats to utilize the class.

Only one archetype?

Yeah, it's a bummer.

Assuming I can trust some guy named Doug Hahn and his super useful site, the boon says:

Gain access to either the Juggler or Staff Acrobat archetype. Must have played The Show Must Go On to obtain.

;)

With the most recent attack on Nabi, was it a critical hit? The description sounded like one.

Doing 27 or more damage without a critical hit sounds really bad. If it was a critical, she should be at dying 2. Trying to judge the situation here.

Leaf-On-Wind is completely worthless landing shots, but can get Nabi back up using Rulean as a shield if that's acceptable?

I may have to reassess who this chronicle goes upon. There are only so many times you can purchase a bequeathal boon, and I really like some of the spells offered. So maybe I should put this on a spell caster, and bequeath that scorpion whip to Big Jig?

Hmm

Leaf-On-Wind is completely worthless landing shots, but can get Nabi back up using Rulean as a shield if that's acceptable?

Would you prefer that I do Soothe on Nabi or another Magic Weapon?

If you can hit someone else with Magic Weapon, that'd be ideal, I think I've got Nabi.

:>

Alright, Leaf or Rulean? This is the last Magic Weapon.

I don't recommend hitting Leaf with Magic Weapon. He's been *incredibly* ineffectual in hitting this guy in the fight.

Healing yourself or Clover might be an option, too?

Keeping people from going down is preferred. Any time someone goes down, they lose two actions — one to stand and another to grab their weapon.

I underestimated Cavakosh’s damage potential, should have used more healing on Nabi.

With the most recent attack on Nabi, was it a critical hit? The description sounded like one.

Doing 27 or more damage without a critical hit sounds really bad. If it was a critical, she should be at dying 2. Trying to judge the situation here.

Not a critical hit. He actually can do 27 damage on a regular hit with his maul, but in Nabi's case he did above average damage for his maul + above average negative damage.

He has Monster cheat action efficiency. It would normally take a PC 2 actions to accomplish what he can do in 1.

Keeping people from going down is preferred. Any time someone goes down, they lose two actions — one to stand and another to grab their weapon.

I underestimated Cavakosh’s damage potential, should have used more healing on Nabi.

A Fist is a Nonlethal, Agile, Finesse, Unarmed attack, right?

Yes

Rulean wrote:

Keeping people from going down is preferred. Any time someone goes down, they lose two actions — one to stand and another to grab their weapon.

I underestimated Cavakosh’s damage potential, should have used more healing on Nabi.

A Fist is a Nonlethal, Agile, Finesse, Unarmed attack, right?

At first, I was thinking archaic, operative. Then I realized my mind was in the wrong system. Might be related to leveling my Mystic while doing other things…

Yes, fist is Agile, finesse, nonlethal, unarmed.

So if Nabi gets up, there's no need to even pick up a weapon, right?

Nabi has to pick up that magic weapon. Two actions. One to get up, one to get the weapon. As for you, you could still have that bow in hand to shoot if you want.

One hit with the magiced rapier is going to do more than 2 hits with fists. She also has a slightly better chance of hitting on the first strike, equal chance on the second.

It doesn’t make sense for her to not pick up the rapier.

I may have to reassess who this chronicle goes upon. There are only so many times you can purchase a bequeathal boon, and I really like some of the spells offered. So maybe I should put this on a spell caster, and bequeath that scorpion whip to Big Jig?

Hmm

I started a thread asking for the Organized Play team to allow us to purchase Bequeathal more than once for a character.

Sorry I didn't get an update in yesterday (or earlier today). Was finishing a lecture last night and had to give that lecture today. Followed by meeting after meeting.

I hate work meetings with passion. A waste of time and inefficient.

Are we leveling up? :O

Yes, you can all level to level 5.

I'm planning to run the epilogues for Book 1 over the next week, and then we'll take a break until January 2nd.

I know that this AP isn't exactly the "circus" AP that they billed it as. The circus serves more as your home base and reason for and means to move around the islands and eventually beyond. As we look toward Book 2, which sees you returning to Escadar where Mistress Dusklight and her Celestial Menagerie are located. It is mostly "dungeon" crawling as you chase down mysteries mundane and supernatural.

A long time has passed since we started Book 1, so I'm going to give you the opportunity to rebuild to better represent the character you want to play or even build completely new characters, if that's what you need to have fun (they can be people from your own circus, wandering travelers who pass through Abberton or visit the Hermitage of Blessed Lightning in the next few weeks, or a new escapee from Madame Dusklight's who found their way to you after these events, as examples). We can use the break to hammer out any details. The goal is to ensure you're having the most fun you can have.

EDIT: I'm also going to take this time to tinker with some of our tools.

I AM HAPPY WITH EPHRIAM JUST AS HE IS.

I might go back and see about fleshing out Clover's background a little more, not sure if I'd rebuild her or not. Maybe? We'll see.

Probably won't do a total character switch unless I'm struck by a really good idea...though now that I say that, it would be fun to play a smartass summoner character I've played versions of in PFS 1.0 and homebrew stuff (and who currently doesn't exist in a PF 2.0 form). Her and her eidolon would have fun with this group and the adventure premise.

I'll have to give it some thought.

Working on updating Rulean.

Think I’m bumping Str, Int, Wis, Cha

The Int bump may not be optimal, but I like skills. This would allow me to take Skill Training to become proficient in a new skill. Still debating if I should change it to Dex or Con because those would help more in combat.

The Str, Wis and Cha all directly help with Warpriest stuff like hitting with my weapon, doing spells and more healing fonts. Cha also helps with the Sorcerer multi class.

I’m hoping this AP doesn’t require the same level of combat optimization as some of the other ones.

All the APs can be pretty tough but I try to modulate it with tactics. First level was rough because first level woes.

When would you like us to update our profiles to 5th level?

Do you want a summary of changes? Mine are pretty straight forward.

What Song is working upon

So about the only change that I might make is switching Witch Patrons, because playing with the spells from this AP sounds like fun, and I can only get them if I can cast Arcane or Primal spells. (I am assuming that you will let us Ephraim and I learn them.)

I'm not sure what to do for a Fifth Level ancestry feat. I am thinking of getting Tengu Feather Fan, but mainly because it sounds cool. I'm not sure if I will ever find a use for gust of wind, ever except maybe as a fire extinguisher. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

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Bot Me Spoilers

Does anyone here need help leveling up their character or creating a 'Bot me' spoiler for their character? Four of the people in this group (including me) have needed extensive botting this year. We all should have 'Bot me' spoilers in our profiles for when real life happens. So... If you need / want help creating one, let me know.

GUST OF WIND

I've seen gust of wind deployed to great use in several PFS games; for example against mindless creatures who're too stupid to do anything but try to trudge forward against it, and against flying creatures.

I think it's a really great control spell, though it's a little more niche than the wall spells etc.

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BOTTING/PACE

Yes, botting on profiles would be great. If individuals are comfortable doing so, letting the group you need help with posting can be useful — there were combats where we sat waiting on people for multiple days, which really slowed things down.

A casual pace is fine (and honestly seems right for this group), but we can probably use tools like botting macros and open communication to better enjoy the AP together.

I would love to institute an agreement to try and bot PCs if they haven't posted in 24 (or 36?) hours.

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EPHIE'S LEVELING
Ephie should be leveled by tomorrow. Took Clever Improviser, Fireball, Haste, expert in Arcana. Deciding if I want to prep dispel at the highest slot or the second highest. Probably the second highest at odd levels and highest at even levels.

Level 5

Ability Boosts (4) +2 to Dex (18), STR and CON (both 14) and CHA (16)

Ancestry Feat: Clever Improviser (of course)

Skill Feat depends of skill increase chosen

Skill Increase not sure. Either Medecine Expert if that can help the group, or Athletics/ Diplomacy Expert

Backstab +2d6

Weapon tricks- Expert in Rogue weapons

By my count, Nabi only has 5 skills they are not trained in. If you value more skills it might be better to take Natural Skill to reduce that to 3 skills.

If you also took Skill Training as your skill feat, you would only have 2 untrained skills.

As a rogue, Nabi is trained in so many skills that I’m really not sure it is worthwhile to get a bonus for the few she isn’t trained in.

THat's a good point, Rulean. I forgot I could take a lower level racial feat, and not only a level 5 racial feat.

here are my Untrained skills so far:
Arcana
Craft
Intimidation
Nature
Occultism
Religion

I don't see Nabi as really intimidating. She has a way with words, but more to mock, taunt or deceit.

I think Craft (to repair things on the circus, or to create traps maybe) could be useful, and perhaps all that stuff about battling demons and things from other planes/ gods could have sparkle some interest in Religion (just to know how to beat them)

What about the Skill Increase? Should I boost my Medicine, and get a useful Feat too? Another skill to Expert?

I am trying to decide which skill to boost for Song. Occultism is the normal choice for spell casters, but I'm not sure that is the best choice for Song. Should I go with one of the Social Skills? Athletics or Acrobatics?

Also, with her intelligence increase, I picked up Stealth skill, and I am thinking about Invisibility Sphere to let us travel together sneakily as a group.

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Nabi, some of what you were doing earlier seemed pretty intimidating to me. Are you sure you're not an intimidating person? However, both Craft and Religion seem like good choices.

I would note Ephie is highly focused in crafting. That doesn’t mean more people can‘t take it of course, but we do have repairs covered as he has expert training and feats like Quick repair.

(Ephie needs crafting to fix up Mr. Splinters!)

Your current skills at expert are Acrobatics, Deception, Stealth, Thievery.

The way I choose what skill to increase is look at skill feats requiring the increased level.

It is also helpful to look at what skills the group isn’t good at.

Rulean will be expert in Athletics and Religion. He plans to take some of the jumping Athletics feats.

Ephie is expert in Crafting and will be in Arcana. He has been taking various crafting feats.

Clover is expert in Athletics. I don’t know what skill she plans to bring to Expert at 5th level.

Leaf is Expert in Medicine and Medic dedication and is planning to pick up more medicinal skills. I don’t know what other skill they plan to bring to Expert.

Song is expert in Performance. As she stated above, she is still trying to figure out what other skill to bring to Expert.

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The group is stronger if we spread out what skills people are Expert in. It allows for that person to lead in a skill and others to Follow the Expert when we are not in combat. It also improves our chances of doing well in skill challenges when we have more diverse skills.

On the other hand, skills like Athletics, Acrobatics, Deception and Intimidation all have combat uses so having more than one person expert in them isn’t a bad thing.

I still think it is usually a good idea to review the feats requiring expert and above levels of training when trying to choose what skill to bump.