What's the word, bird?
Sorry; I had a work thing. Post is incoming shortly. On a related note, my birthday's this weekend, and the wife's taking me out on a date, so posting will be slow until Monday.
(examines clipboard)
Of reasons to bail on us, that one looks to be pretty valid! Enjoy!
(mine is next weekend) :D
Enjoy the date!
You got buffed just in time! XD
Thank the divines that Ril was smart enough to remember to do so! I intentionally went for long term buffs and was going to forget
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I'll tell you what, I was looking at our last few gameplay posts and it suddenly dawned on me, "Can't talk, can't talk, can't... Oh s***, Verbal Casting!" O_o
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I learned some stuff. XD
While normal fire (including alchemist's fire and most supernatural fire can't burn underwater at all, fire spells have a chance to transform into steam instead. Whenever you cast a fire spell underwater, you must succeed at a caster level check (DC = 20 + the spell's level) in order to channel the heat into the water and create steam, dealing the same amount of fire damage as normal but without secondary effects of fire, like igniting combustibles. A fire spell must be either entirely steam or entirely fire, which means that if it covers an area that would normally extend beyond the water's surface, you must choose whether to affect the region above the water or below, and the surface blocks line of effect for the rest of the spell.
While normal electricity, such as that from a natural thunderstorm, tends to disperse in all directions underwater, magical electricity spells hold their integrity long enough to have normal effects underwater, with one exception: visible and audible lightning bolts and sparks are the result of combusted air, and they don't happen underwater. Because of this, creatures that fail to identify an electricity spell that requires a ranged touch attack are flat-footed against the first such ranged touch attack during a fight, as they don't realize they need to dodge the invisible projectile (unless they otherwise have reason to expect it, like a spellcaster who can cast such spells). This doesn't apply to melee touch spells like shocking grasp, since the creature can still see the spellcaster's hand moving toward it.
That is good to know, but it still doesn't help me get around the Verbal Casting issue. If I find myself here again, I'll have to see to that.
Did some more digging.
Casting spells while submerged can be difficult for those who cannot breathe underwater. A creature that cannot breathe water must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) to cast a spell underwater (this is in addition to the caster level check to successfully cast a fire spell underwater). Creatures that can breathe water are unaffected and can cast spells normally. Some spells might function differently underwater, subject to GM discretion.
Is that to say that while water breathing is active, the Verbal Casting thing isn't an issue? If so, rock on, and thanks for doing the legwork!
I had no idea until I looked it up. Got the idea because Torsten's using electricity and I needed to make sure he wasn't going to kill everyone around him like in older editions. XD
It would have been hilarious :)
Says you! >:P
Looting, investigation.
Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.
Remember a little while back, I was doing a "How Would I Make It" challenge on myself for Mahja Firehair, and I couldn't quite settle on the best way to rage but still have access to Cleric spells? Well, because my mind never lets go of this stuff, I've circled back, and after some more exploration of SoM, I've come to the conclusion that in this context, the "best Barbarian" would be a Fighter with a deep run of Berserker Sphere. :)
I think Mahja herself would have to be Fire Domain, but if I was making a Sarenite of my own I'd be tempted to go Glory instead.
FYI: Ril's customer in my most recent Gameplay post is a hat-tip to the woman that did Yhrrilka's art. It's her OC swashbuckler rogue, Samira. :)
Coming back from vacation tomorrow. Will have a post up by Monday
Because I like planning ahead, I'm putting together a "buying plan" for tattoos.
Are these 2 tattoos allowed?
* 8 Runeward Tattoos
- Total Cost with feat is 4k gold. Gives +1 insight to all saves vs magic and knowing whenever a spell is cast within 60ft. Also gives detect magic, but I think that the school is needed when using it
* Animal Totem Tattoo Bat
- 6000 gold with crafting feat. Gives 20ft blindsense for or 30ft fly speed for up to 5 minutes a day
Also:
* Regulating Tattoo (chest; 175gp crafting cost) - constant endure elements
- Could I have this on the back? Already doing philosopher tattoo on chest. But having endure elements feels like a very IC thing for Torsten to prioritize. While it's another tattoo which probably won't come up, I find the character of it too hard to pass up
Apart from that Blademaster's tattoo we discussed, Ril doesn't really have a lot she wants on that front. Mostly she just wants to make cool stuff that makes people feel good about themselves.
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@Torsten: Those tattoos are fine. I'm also okay with moving the Regulating Tattoo to the back.
Looks like you're ready to proceed. Into the sewer hole, I assume?
Into certain danger! Yes, we’re ready :)
Ready for peril in awful sewers!
I have nothing that can hurt swarms. Ril, it’s all up to you!
I forget, are these blasts that do full damage to swarms even though they're not AOE, or is that Kineticists' shtick?
I didn't see anything about that in the entry for the Destruction sphere, but I DO see it in the entry for Kineticists' Kinetic Blasts. I'm doing half damage, I take it?
It's a rat swarm, so half damage.
That 60 damage blast was amazing. So glad that the swarm was obliterated!
When I saw what that result is on Destruction's wild magic table, I squeed, NGL to you.
Also, grats in advance for our 1000th Gameplay post!
I'm trying to think, is there ever a situation where one would get to use Fatal Thrust or Sneak Attack, but not both?
I can't think of one. They're both precision damage that triggers when flanking and/or against opponents denied a DEX bonus to AC.
Yeah, I figured. Going forward, I'm going to make it my standard that they get lumped together in a single die roll like I did the past few posts.
(looks at character sheet)
Under normal SOM rules, Warleader is supposed to grant 5 ranks of Diplomacy, +5 ranks/additional talent (to max of character level). Am I supposed to have gotten that (as ranks in Influence) when I picked up Warleader? If so, I'll include the additional ranks when we ding 6.
Yes, that's correct. If you already have a sphere granting ranks in Influence, you instead gain a competence bonus equal to 1/2 your BAB.
Nope, the only other sphere I'm working (Fencing) is granting a bonus to Feint checks, but no skill checks per se. As I said, I'll add in the additional ranks next time we level up. Thanks!
Archetype?
/listening
Torsten doesn't see himself as being able to eventually run significantly faster than a horse, so if I recall correctly, we're swapping future movement speed increases for something defensive. I think it was DR/adamantine similar to the Ironskin Monk.
Yup!
“ Tough as Nails (Ex): At 6th level, Torsten gains DR 1/adamantine. This damage reduction increases by 1 point at 9th level and every 3 levels thereafter. This ability replaces the corresponding speed increases from fast movement.”
At lvl19 he’d be DR 5/adamantine. That feels much more Dwarven than movement speed 80ft!
What if a horse runs off with your wallet?
I'll draft up a turn for Ril tonight, just in case this guy's miss chance saves him from being atomized by the truck bomb.
Noticed during character creation I chose this:
“ Domain (1 Specialization Point)Persistence Inquisition Lvl 5
* Relentless Footing (Ex): As a swift action, you can add 10 feet to your land speed. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects your jumping distance as normal for increased speed. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom bonus (minimum 1).
* Inner Strength (Su): At 6th level, once per day, you may heal yourself as a swift action, healing 1d6 hit points for every two inquisitor levels you possess. When you use this ability, you can also remove one of the following conditions from yourself: blinded, confused, dazzled, deafened, frightened, nauseated, shaken, sickened, or staggered.”
I’ve never used it…could I switch it for this for the bonus feats at Lvls 4 and 12? If not then no problem, but I’d prefer to not keep an ability that I’ll always forget about
Better to keep it as-is, methinks. It might end up coming in handy at some point, and I don't think the bonus feats are necessary. You're quite strong already, after all. XD
Roger that! Probably saved me an hour of looking at feats…
At the moment, I'm finding I'm actually eyeing up my build plan. I currently have Arcane Strike and Champion's Strike planned for level 7. However, I'm thinking I might kick that can down the road a little. The current alternative is to take Combat Reflexes and Zodiac Tattoos at 7. Then I'm strongly considering the Ritual Caster feat at 9. (I'm not sure what the hell I'm gonna do with that, but it just looks neat.
For arcane strike…do you have any other use for a swift action?
Sometimes I do, but a lot of times I don't. Go back and look at our recent fights and you'll see what I mean. One of the reasons I'm also getting Champion's Strike is that it makes Arcane Strike "always on."
Uses for Swift/Immediate:
Feint Strike as Swift
Apply Studied Target as Immediate if I apply SA damage in surprise round
Maintain a Tactic as Swift or Move (Aggressive Flanking from Warleader Sphere)
(At 7th level) Apply Studied Target as Swift
The nice thing about studied target is that if you deal sneak attack damage, then studied target applies. It's a way to get around not having a move/swift action.
Speaking of which...I completely forgot! I have this:
"Tear Flesh (You may deal bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing damage with your unarmed strikes, rather than only bludgeoning damage, chosen each time you make an unarmed attack. Whenever you deal unarmed strike damage to a target as an attack action, you may spend a swift action to rip the damaged creature’s flesh; the creature takes 1 bleed damage and has their natural armor reduced by 1 (minimum 0) for as long as they are suffering this bleed damage. For every 6 base attack bonus you possess, the bleed damage and natural armor reduction caused by this talent increase by 1.)"
Next round need to remember to cause that 1 bleed damage and -1 natural armor.
The nice thing about studied target is that if you deal sneak attack damage, then studied target applies. It's a way to get around not having a move/swift action.
It's an Immediate to apply ST with Sneak Attack damage. Learned all the ins and outs of that with Domitius. :)
Ah...learn something new everyday!
By the way, I've added to my profile a list of what I can do with different actions.
Actions
* Move: Trip
* Standard: Attack
* Free: Flurry Strike
* Swift: Healing, Tear Flesh (bleed 1 and -1 natural armor), Relentless Footing (+10ft movement)
Because I'm adding Brute Sphere next level for shove (a use for move action when tripping doesn't make sense, needed because Torsten is going down vital strike chain). I think that this list will help ensure that I don't forget what he can do.
Idle musing...
Right now, I'm trying to decide for when we level up, how I want to build Torsten. The current plan is this:
Levels 6-9: Life Sphere
Restore Capacity (cure)
Restore Health (cure)
Restore Senses (cure)
Restore Spirit (cure)
This would make Torsten into an amazing self-healer. Whatever the status affect, he can remove it. Pretty awesome!
But...I'm also leaning towards this:
Lvl 6:
Clarified Strike [strike]
As a standard action, you may make a single ranged or melee attack coupled with a Life sphere ability. This casting cannot be reduced below a standard action, and does not provoke attacks of opportunity, unless as usual if making a ranged attack. If the target is struck by the attack, it is also struck by the Life sphere effect. If using a scatter weapon, the effect only applies to a single target, chosen at the time of attack.
Lvl 7:
Break Enchantment
As a special application of restore, you may spend an additional spell point to remove all magic from the target that has a duration instead of restoring mind, body, or soul. This may be used against curses including cursed equipment, although it does not remove the curse from the equipment and instead suppresses the effect long enough for the item to be removed. Instead of a saving throw, you must succeed at a magic skill check against each magical effect in order to remove it. You may choose not to remove certain effects if you so desire (for example, you may target only harmful effects and not beneficial ones). This counts as using the break enchantment or remove curse spell against those spells and effects that specify they can only be removed through those spells. This has no effect on other instantaneous effects.
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The two put together would give him a dispelling fist. Does that combo actually work? If so, I think that it is worth pushing back the self healing to deal with enemies...thoughts?