[GameDay IX] GM Hawthwile's Ungrounded, but Unbroken (Inactive)

Game Master Hawthwile

First off, thank you all for being willing to come on an adventure with me! Now, to business.

Expectations

- I will post every day. I hope everyone can post every weekday and at least once over the weekend, but stuff happens - which leads me to:
- I will bot you if we haven't heard from you in 24 hours. Please include botting instructions in your character profile, or I will have to get creative in the most entertaining (for me) way possible. Please also let me know if you are expecting an extended period of absence so I can PM you and preemptively hash out major decision points to keep the story moving. On a related note:
- I will make "reactive" rolls to keep the story moving along. If you want to make a roll as part of an action/decision/etc, please do so. I might modify the skill used or add circumstantial bonuses/penalties based on circumstances. Which brings me to my final point:
- I will happily add circumstantial bonuses (or penalties) for roleplaying. I hope, for example, that you will accompany your diplomacy check with what your character is actually saying. It makes it so much easier for me to respond if you give me material, and we make such a more fulfilling and exciting story together.
If you're worried or concerned about any of these expectations, or about anything related to this game, post it here or PM me. We can figure something out so you have a good time.

In addition to making “reactive” rolls for characters, I also like to roll Knowledge checks for players so we don't have to wait for a back-and-forth between player and GM. To that end, I tailor what a character might remember about a creature. (For example, a fighter will probably care more about a golem’s DR while a wizard would remember that it’s immune to spells and an alchemist is super excited that it blows up when it dies.) Let me know what your character is most concerned about with an opponent - otherwise, I'll use my best judgement. If this will be a problem for you, let me know (either here or via PM) and we’ll work something out.

We’ll be using block initiative during encounters. Actions will be resolved in the order that they were posted in. While this can do some weird things with a single character acting "twice" before another, it is easier for both players and GM to track the sequence of events this way. I highly encourage tactics such as:

McSwordFace waits until her friend Blessings Galore has a chance to cast a buff before she attacks the horrible people kicking puppies.

Sword of Justice: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 (+ buff if applicable)
Justice damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 (+ buff if applicable)

I will happily calculate the final result in these cases. This helps us work effectively as a team even if posting schedules don’t line up in a beneficial way.

If your post is entirely out of character (OOC), let’s put it here instead of in the Gameplay thread.

About Me: I’ve done a bit of PFS and PbP GMing, but I am certainly not perfect. If you have ideas for how I could do something better, a disagreement with a decision, or confusion over what I’m saying, please let me know via the Discussion thread or PM.

For your first post here, please use the Reply option on the following post, delete the [quote'] tags, and fill in the provided fields. And be sure to pop over to the Gameplay thread and introduce your character!

Player Name:
Character Name:
PFS Number:
Faction:
Slow Tracking? (Y/N):
Day Job (please roll now):
Special Notes/Abilities: Please replace this text with anything unusual about your character here, such as “I always deal non-lethal damage and use the Enforcer feat to demoralize as a free action” or “I ride a Huge serpent mount, but it’s got both the Narrow Frame feat and a Belt of the Weasel so it can fit through a 5-ft hallway easily.” This will help both you as a player not have to type the same thing over and over again and me as the GM prepare so the game runs more smoothly.

I am here, and ready to go.

Player Name: Aaron
Character Name: Damhán-Alla
PFS Number: 84637-17
Faction: Scarab Sages
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (please roll now): (none)

Special stuff Level 5 telekineticist... can trip things at range (though come to think of it, I've never actually succeeded at it), can heal in a pinch, via Kinetic healer, and if needed can move something weighing up to 5000 pounds from a distance... which occasionally comes up.

Otherwise, just basic kineticist stuff, throwing anything not nailed down at people.

Thanks for GMing!!

Player Name: noral
Character Name: Taariik
PFS Number: 314670-10
Faction: Sovereign Court
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (please roll now): none
Special Notes/Abilities: So Taariik has a Paladin archetype that replaces loh with the wizard generalist ‘hand of the apprentice’ ability. He is a ninja 2 and has a ki pool that allows him to regain a used smite evil with ‘tea of transference’. He is a medium that only can use his abilities in rounds but is more flexible.

I need to level to 5 so will update his char sheet ASAP.

Player Name: Evie T.
Character Name: Ayo of the Radiant Eyes
PFS Number: 99807-21
Faction: Sovereign Court
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): N
Day Job (please roll now): Craft (erotic haiku): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Special Notes/Abilities: Ayo is a pretty standard inquisitor. She has Step-Up and Following Step which she will use mainly against spellcasters trying to get away from her to cast spells

I just need to finish updating Ayo's stat block online and she's ready to go.

Player Name:Ed Birnbryer
Character Name: Ebonfeather the Shadow
PFS Number:66136-14
Faction:Exchange
Slow Tracking? (Y/N):N
Day Job (please roll now):Merchant: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
Special Notes/Abilities: Unchained Rogue. Claw/Claw/Beak.
I will need to get a write up for him posted here. I hope that is the only 1 I get.

Been a year since I last played him and it looks like I need to do some shopping.

Purchases
Handy haversack 2000
Belt pouch 1
Bandolier .5
50' Silk rope 10
Grapple 1
2 sacks .2
Messkit .2
Bedroll .1
4 days trail rations 2
Travelers Any-tool 250
Anti-plague 50
Anti-toxin 50
Total 2365

Still waiting for either Akito or Alrik to check in here, as well as Conig.

What is everyone playing? I've got a Level 5 Paladin or a Level 5 Life Oracle and I'd like to get a sense of the party before I allocate which character to which game.

Play would you want is the default answer, more so if they just need one more adventure to level up. Claw/Claw/Beak Rogue here so healing is always useful.

Player Name: Phillip Wood
Character Name: Alrik Darkson
PFS Number:127693-9
Faction: Dark Archives
Slow Tracking? (Y/N): No
Day Job (please roll now): Nil
Special Notes/Abilities: Alrik is a Paladin (Tortured Crusader) of Kelinahat. His abilities work differently to most Paladins (his aura's & LoH on work on himself) and he has interests that differ from what most would consider appropriate for a Paladin. All of that has given him the belief that he is "doing it wrong".

Mechanically, apart from the fact that his abilities dont affect others, the trickiest thing about him is that he has numerous conditional modifiers to his saves and heals +2 extra HP per die when healed (ie CLW Wands do 1d8+3).

+5 vs spells & SLA’s
+3 vs poison
+2 vs death effects
Immunity to Fear & Disease

dotting in, folks. will have update later today.

OG3
Conig
175185-12
Grand Lodge
Normal progression
Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Occultist (psychodermist) with a gun to channel line and cone spells. Typically floating on a disk that he can use to shield himself.

My apologies folks, i had no idea. well shoot. Should I switch characters? No combats yet. I have at least 2 at lvl 4 I can offer. Or if this too egregious and i have to bow out, i understand.

No need to bow out or swap characters. Let's move those skill ranks to something else for the time being. Singing for your supper is certainly not something work retconning, so we'll say they're still impressed by your performance and you get the extra ale and cheers.

And if you've got the gold for it after this scenario, a Headband of Vast Intelligence +2 that gives you ranks in Fly is the easiest workaround to that catch-22 I can think of. Then you don't have to take ranks in Fly because they just happen due to the item. Yay!

Hmm... the headband might be tricky, as it conflicts (slot-wise) with his charisma one... and the 24 hour waiting period when switching them around would bite you.

But perhaps a scarlet and blue sphere ioun stone... costs twice as much (8k), but it wouldn't conflict. Or perhaps a flawed version, so only 6k... if you don't mind feeling a little sickly

thanks folks. let's move the 3 ranks in to kn local, history, and arcana if that's alright.

Alrik is using / can use his own bedding.

Conig, got to ask, is there a way that you are a Spellslinger? I thought it was not allowed PFS.

There's a chronicle that opens it up.

I think it was off one of the specials last year.

Sorry folks - I’ll have a post up in the morning.

Could Linguistics be used since part of them are verbal? X hand sign = Y verbal command?

Unfortunately, no - knowing the etymology of the word or meaning of the hand sign doesn’t help you follow it in a split-second. Captain Othis is drilling you, not running a study session. I love the idea, but it doesn’t quite fit here.

Would we be wearing all of our armor right now? Just want to check as it will affect my acrobatics *significantly*

That is up to each character to decide.

GM, just also for your reference the medium spirit choices. I have this in my char sheet but here as well.

Usually I have escape artist and swim for trickster but changed swim to profession soldier after this was important the day befor.

Spoiler= Medium selection of spirits for spirit dancer ]

Champion: Exotic Whip proficiency
—

Trickster: Escape Artist, Profession Soldier

—
Archmage

Wizard spells
0:
Grasp: Retry a Climb check as an immediate action

1:
Recharge Innate Magic: Regain a use of all 0-level and 1st-level spell-like abilities

————

Hierophant

Cleric spells

0 level
Guidance

1:
Air Bubble: Creates a small pocket of air around your head or an object 1 min / l

[/Spoiler]

as far as I can tell, it is literally impossible for me to make the climb checks...

if its 20+, the best I can do is a 19, and I have to make two?

Seems kind of pointless at this point.

GM, just one question: is this Challenge about the number of characters making it or how fast we were? Seems like we are actually through, right?

That is up to you as a player/character to decide based on what Captain Othis has told you - which would be nothing at this point.

Okay Sir! :-D

Guys, I won a pitch and the next two weeks will be crazy because of work.

I am very sorry but I will need you to bot me if I do not react within 24 hours for the next 11 days. :-(

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Noted. Congratulations on the pitch!

raises eyebrow. advertising?

Thanks GM!

raises eyebrow. advertising?

I am in financial services.

congrats

Ayo quietly takes to her task, thinking to herself that maybe this is something that even she cannot f&&~ up.

I am so sorry, Ayo. You're doing outstanding roleplaying and I am very hopeful that all this character growth will pay off later in this scenario, but it stinks to have such lousy rolls with the dice for so long. Hugs.

*hugs*

I appreciate that. I actually don’t mind as much as she does. This is just how my luck goes. It’s still annoying, but it’s more of an interesting story for her.

Sorry for the delay this week guys. I usually do all my posting from my work computer but there seems to be a problem with me getting on to Paizo. I thought it was a work issue but I can't even connect when I turn off the VPN and use my own home wifi!

Makes things tricky. I hate posting from my phone!

Sorry folks, not enough spoons today. I'll try to get us moving in the morning.

And yes, this is a special armory with special crossbows that deal special non-lethal damage somehow. XD I don't think the writer wanted to penalize folks that badly or force everyone to use a sap or whip, so you basically can replace all your simple and martial weapons with non-lethal versions.

a non-lethal xbow it is then!

Thanks GM and please take your time!!

GM, is using Ki to make an extra attack a violation of the spell restrictions?

Is it a spell, spell-like ability, flask, or potion? If not, I don’t believe it would fall under a strict reading of the Captain’s words.

No it is not. Thanks! :-)

Certainly someone has a decent diplomacy score here?

with this group? Who knows!

The powers-what-be could have selected a better suited team. =)

No idea what’s going on but I can’t post in the gameplay.

I had already posted before and did not see my post but thought it would appear later. Now I tried again and it doesn’t work.

Tried here and it worked. Any ideas?

Sometimes it takes up to like 30 seconds to show up... but it does usually show up... never had one disappear entirely

Worked now! :-)

Does anyone else want to attempt to Aid the check before it is resolved?