GM TOP #3-06: Song of the Sea Witch (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

I sorta thought that too about a lot of spell things (not rays, those are faq'd to be 'weapons'). But then again I also recently found that holding a charge counts as 'threatening' in melee so... who the heck really knows.

I try to get things pretty close to RAW, but some of those grey area things I just try to avoid a big discussion and move the game along.

Speaking of which... I should post. :D

Yeah, there are a lot of grey areas. I was just explaining why I had thought it wouldn’t count.

I am happy to let it count, but it is something that is likely GM call each time.

There is an FAQ somewhere. Basically if you have to roll to hit, then IC helps, otherwise it doesn't. But it only helps damage to hp, not to stats.

BTW, I'm away the next couple of days, so bot me as required.

Found It!

So that seems pretty clear that if a spell or ability has an attack roll AND does hit point damage, then Inspire Courage applies to both the attack roll and the hit point damage.

I think I had been looking at the faq (farther down) about Rays and Inspire Courage and Feats and missed that section up higher that clarified stuff for everything else.

Hi GM Top, please excuse me but i would need to drop from the game, i am not really keeping up with the posts and real life right now. I apologise for the inconvenience.

Sorry to see you go Yabatha. Good luck with whatever is going on!

Take care, Yabatha!

That's totally cool, that happens to all of us at some point. Good luck and hopefully we'll see you around on the boards.

Does this change our APL at all?

It does not. Early seasons didn't have any 4 or 6 player adjustments. Iirc, they were all set at 4 player power anyway though.

And you all are definitely still in Tier 6-7.

Yeah, I had checked this morning in hopes it did. Season 3 is supposedly balanced for four characters.

It will be a tough sled I expect with some of us being level 5, at least the fights.

Yes, I’m hoping we don’t have time for the optional encounter.

I would suggest a bit of coordination to work up a plan between Khellek and Durvak while everyone on the other side of the map are hacking it out. I say this because you two are essentially acting together and can easily communicate, but in PbP it's a pain to coordinate things with posters being online at different times.

So, if you can think up something that might work, hash it out before hand for the best results! Then you don't have to rely on someone doing something they had no clue they needed to do. I'm pretty sure all four of you players are pretty wise to the system, you got this!

I'm not much good in HTH, but do have that longsword. If I close on yellow, then Durvak can 5' step so they can't flank, that would take away some of their sting.
Does mean that poor ol' Khellek can't use Bessie, but avoiding a double backstab is probably worth it.

Blocking their ability to sneak attack takes out the bleed damage and a large portion of their damage. Hopefully Ironshanks and I will take care of our two pretty soon. I am sort of surprised that the first rogue didn’t go down between our two attacks,

Once I activate the obscuring mist wand, they shouldn't be able to get sneak attack on me anymore. Not to mention a 20% miss chance...though if they have blindfight that won't help much.

Edit: granted that's only if I'm able to activate it. lol.

If you can help prevent the flank on me, I can either use obscuring mist or cast sanctuary on you next round, in theory.

I'll move up with my next action. I have the sword, it'll be funny seeing how the old historian does with it as he rushes to protect one of his students.

Has to be better than Iovo was last game, total melee bonus of +2....

FYI, Heroism and Inspire Courage do not effect CMD. They do grant a bonus on CMB checks though if you all want to whip out some grapples!

Some things that a lot of players miss that DO effect CMD are below.

A creature can also add any circumstance, deflection, dodge, insight, luck, morale, profane, and sacred bonuses to AC to its CMD. Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its CMD. A flat-footed creature does not add its Dexterity bonus to its CMD.

A lot of players get Prot Evil cast or wear a Ring of Deflection and don't adjust their CMD. Heck, I'm pretty sure it wasn't added in for the last fight when the devil tumbled around all y'all (though I don't recall her being very close to any of your CMD's).

Ya I just reread and updated my post. I was researching it at the same time you were I guess!

I haven't gotten around to getting my ring of prot yet, nor does Ironshanks have dodge.

I'll wait on the resolution of the AOOs and blast rune before I go. I was thinking of bullrushing that guy through it if he didn't make his escape.

Soooo... the writer forgot to make things super clear, so I'm using some GM adjudication here.

Firstly, it just says the door is 'metallic'. Not steel, not mithral, not adamantine, not vibranium.

Secondly, it says the door is barred shut and only opens when certain conditions are met and then goes into great detail about those conditions being necessary to get through.

So, I could say the door is steel and Ironshanks or... frankly anyone with a decent weapon could just hack it down (which makes no sense) so I doubt that was the intent. But Ironshanks also invested a significant fortune into his adamantine weapon, so I don't want to just say 'screw you, the door is adamantine'. That's why I settled on Mithral. He CAN get through it, but it'll take at least a few swings.

I'm just waiting to find out who wants to swim and give everyone an opportunity to climb if they don't want to swim.

Ironshanks hacking through the door is fine with me.

Otherwise, I don't remember this puzzle but I think I've figured out what to do. My idea requires someone be willing to try swimming. If no one else is willing, Iovo will do it.

I thought the * sign was just a symbol they used to represent the Azlant runes for 12, not a multiplication sign - but that could be my misunderstanding.

The symbols have NOTHING to do with math. They are just the first set of six symbols I found on google docs. Hopefully that helps clarify.

I can uh... totally see how that would be confusing. My bad!

Oops, thought they were actual symbols! That sort of throws off my solution.

I can make the adjustments pretty quick. Activate the doors in this order:

4
6
20

Checking after the first that water is 4' deep, then 10' deep before going on. I believe this causes them to come up to fill in the first set of holes, which might open the door.

In the middle of something, I'll do a post later tonight (few hours) that lays it all out or GM Top can just bot Iovo if he wants.

Just to be clear on the partial charge, since I had to look it up anyways.

Charge

If you are able to take only a standard action on your turn, you can still charge, but you are only allowed to move up to your speed (instead of up to double your speed) and you cannot draw a weapon unless you possess the Quick Draw feat.

Surprise round prevents using anything more than a standard action.

Also, I've been doing too much PF2 and SFS. I forgot that PF1 gives a bonus to attack on a charge! Didn't matter since I hit anyways, but it is yet another thing I need to keep in mind as I switch systems so frequently.

Hmmm... I also forgot it would drop your AC by 2, which would have allowed his spear to hit.

Eh, whatever. I'm not too worried about it right now. If for some reason a few HP is the difference in this fight then I guess you got lucky!

I play multiple systems too but have returned to only GM'ing pfs1 to try to keep my focus on one set of rules.

That's about all for this scenario, we'll finish up anything in gameplay but no more rolls are necessary. I don't know if anyone has rerolls left, but if so, now would be the time to redo any dayjobs that were less than you wanted. I'll probably have time to put together your chronicles tomorrow if anyone wants to start looking for other games.

Another note, I want to say that you all have been excellent players and I would be happy to GM for you in the future. I'm currently running two games in Outpost, so I'm going to wait a bit until those are winding down to offer another scenario, but I'll send out some PM's to you all when I do.

I am seriously considering running Faithless & Forgotten in Core.

It is a three part scenario arc for levels 1-5. Let me know if any of you have a Core character that would like to play in that.

Khellek, inspired by the Azlanti runes he has seen on the doors, reworks his latest address. And what a rousing success it is.

oratory, T10, 4* reroll: 10 + 12 + 4 = 26

Oh, and Khellek is on SLOW advancement.

I am seriously considering running Faithless & Forgotten in Core.

It is a three part scenario arc for levels 1-5. Let me know if any of you have a Core character that would like to play in that.

I would definitely be interested in joining. I currently have a level 4 rogue available. If it takes a bit of time to get off the ground, I theoretically might have a level 2 ranger. But I'm quite skeptical her game will end (ever). It's really slow sometimes, then quick, and also might have a bunch of enemies, or just like, one more room of them.

I'll be working up the chronicles and reporting soon. Good game all!

Ironshanks is my only core character, and he'll level out of that tier once he gets this chronicle, thanks for the offer though.

Thanks for the well run, and fun game everyone. I'm glad Klank could be your meat shield and heavy hitter in one go. I appreciated the buffs and constantly healing!

Yes, extended heroism is AWESOME!

I would be interested as well. I have a couple options options (level 3 Sorcerer and a level 2 Barbarian iirc).

This guy would level out before the 3rd one.

I'm glad there is interest.

This guy would level out before the 3rd one.

I'm going to have to slow-track the GM credit for the first two so that I can apply them to Iovo. Doing that causes the third one to bring her to 6th level.

Unfortunately I think all my core characters are too high for that now.

I was hoping to play F&F on Khellek too, as it would be right up his alley.

Chronicles are here!

Thanks all for the game, it has been reported. Once you all indicate you have your chronicles, I'll make this inactive. I have a final post coming soon in gameplay too.

I'll hopefully see you all around!

That looks good to me. Many thanks for the game.
I really enjoyed this one. Right up the old scholars street.

Chronicle looks good. Thanks all for the run.

Looks good, thanks for the run!

It was lots of fun.

One really minor nit, I think you are supposed to round half-gold piece amounts up.

Chronicle looks good, great game!