OK
Some ideas on the limitations of the flashback:
1) you can substitute your 'flashback' roll for a lower roll of the same kind in the future scene. (eg. see my post on Zahra's behalf for today)
2) you can craft a small item with a value of up to 1gp. (eg. a tiny mirror attached to a board with some straw on it that might cause a little fire if left in a sunbeam)
3) you can preset a common item in a common area. (eg. I go in early and move a stone planter near a double-door in the foyer so that only one door opens); or make a sleight-of-hand check/rig device check to place a personal item in a hidden space (eg. I hide a dagger in the Hamaan)
4) you can back-post a code word to a complex idea that only the four of you understand. (eg. if I say 'pumpernickle' it means that I think the person I'm talking to is lying, but if I say 'rye' it means that I know for a fact they are lying)
5) you can have a distraction preset to happen when a signal is given. (eg. when I wave out a window a commoner I paid 10gp to yells 'Fire!')
In the menu at the top of the page you should be able to see a link to the Badrgadba map.
Please note - the porters are called hamaal (my spelling error lists hem as hamaa on the map)
Does anyone have an idea for a flash back roll to help with the credentials? Cairee has a good appraise roll, not much use here.
The Narrative should be updated to you all entering Badrgadba.
Credentials for... what? Are slave merchants unionized here? Do you need a government license to buy people? Tymythy would have no clue, as the very idea of buying people is repulsive to him. Only thing he'd think the man is asking for is a bribe.
It's a woman, though her title is still Bodyman to the Sikiritir.
The Bodyman is asking for some kind of formal paperwork having to do with a request. They aren't unionized but they seem to have some degree of necessary bureaucracy. None of you having dealt with the purchasing of a person there is no reason for any of you to know what range of things she might accept.
Tymythy would now have a sense that he and his group have come to see an important person, and that you all coming to see him without something 'might' seem suspicious. People who come to see important people usually have paperwork.
If you don't have any you're going to have to talk your way in.
I'm going to put a 1-2 week pause on the game. Everyone, including Sarah and I, are going through - illnesses, renovations, demanding children's times, surgery. We will pick this back up in the Bodyman's office in a bit.
Just getting caught up but my screen time is still limited to minutes at a time. I should be back to normal when the pause is over.
Take care everyone!
Good to hear you are doing well, Shari!
And just in case what happened to me happened to someone else as well... Paizo's cookies went stale, preventing me from logging in to these pages (an attempt to log in just boots one back to the login page as if nothing had happened). If you experience the issue, you can either switch browsers or find Paizo's stored cookies from the settings of the browser of your choise, delete all of them, restart the browser in question... and you should be good to go again.
Good to hear you are doing well, Shari!
And just in case what happened to me happened to someone else as well... Paizo's cookies went stale, preventing me from logging in to these pages (an attempt to log in just boots one back to the login page as if nothing had happened). If you experience the issue, you can either switch browsers or find Paizo's stored cookies from the settings of the browser of your choise, delete all of them, restart the browser in question... and you should be good to go again.
AHA! That solved it.
Which ALWAYS makes me think of this meme.
Shari! I'm so glad you are recovering well! Please take your time getting back into it.
Kirsdrake - thank you for the advice! I was stuck in some kind of hell loop for a bit there.
I am currently working on a Mastodon exhibit for the Museum of Natural History here - trying to get in ready for Friday evening. Once it is up I will reopen the game. My first repost should be on Saturday.
Ooh! That sounds exciting. Much more cool than my current woe - an achingly long draft of a new law I need to read and comment.
Yeah - I have it a lot better ;)
And yes, it is very cool - a professional high point up their with touching a piece of the Titanic and mailing a lock of Napoleon's hair, or petting s three-legged alligator named 'Lady Chomps-a-lot'.
Hey folks!
I'm looking to run a "one-shot" big boss battle on the forums. I recently played D&D 5e Tomb of Annihilation with the kids, and had a very unsatisfactory final battle, because they started crying when they got close to death, so I had to pull my punches. I want to see if I can kill some folks. Anybody want to roll up an 11th level character and fight me?
It's 5e rules, which I know aren't super popular with some folks, but I've been converted. It's just for one big battle, so i reckon it'll take maybe a month or two?
Here's the link if you want to read the 2 paragraph backstory.
I have to get back in the habit of checking this regularly! Looking forward to playing with ya'll again!
Thanks Cairee for taking the lead there. I struggle with Zahra having to think on her feet because her intelligence is low. I think of something and then immediately question whether Zahra would be able to think what I'm thinking. But now that Cairee started, Zahra can follow suit and hopefully help.
I do something similar with Cairee where I think of something sneaky to do and then think that she would NEVER approve :)
Sorry - I have apost started but never seem to get a chance to finish - will post soon
This is the advice we got from Condos:
If you would forgive me some advice ... When you talk with the Sikiritir do not mention a list of needs. You will be giving him an excuse to charge more. Instead, request to see some of the women of The Pit. Look at them as if they are all insufficient - this should be easy for they will truly not be what you are looking for. When you come to this Cyra request a price. Do not offer a price. Then, whatever the response, offer eighty pieces of gold. If it goes well, you will end on one-hundred. Can you pay this?
Anyone else wanna initiate things with the Skiritir? If not, Cairee can.
Zahra can request to see the girls if Cairee would prefer but I won’t get to it until tomorrow. Going back to work full tilt has proven more tiring to my brain than I expected. I’m good either way
Sorry Sarah, this next bit is going to be on you.
The Badrgadba map is updated to show the Architrave and triangular staircase to the 3rd floor. That staircase also goes down to the 1st floor.
Yikes! Did we just escort ourselves into our own prison sentences? Anyone have any ideas for their flashback sequence to get us out of this?
There are seven of you in the cage (Deemeer the Sikiritir, Xoza the Keymaster, the four of you, and one of the oread guard/Key-carriers) and there has been no talk of a weight limit.
OK - so, Dounia, you've created a secret language between you and Cyra. There are game mechanics that describe this. One is the secret language teamwork feat, which you don't have. One is a straight up convey secret message roll. There is also the bonded mind teamwork feat (which quite outstrips the 'secret language' feat making it seem a little useless).
As this game can be over designed and you are sisters ... and she is an NPC, I want you to make a sleight of hand check vs Deemeer's perception to see if you are noticed and Cyra will make an easy perception roll to see if she understands.
[edit]
The bluff roll was to see how well you hid your excitement at seeing Cyra from everyone.
I see Dounia ... you want to use the:
4) you can back-post a code word to a complex idea that only the four of you understand. (eg. if I say 'pumpernickle' it means that I think the person I'm talking to is lying, but if I say 'rye' it means that I know for a fact they are lying)
If you want to have a flashback sequence back to when you and Cyra were together and much younger I will say go ahead - but if you want to use your flashback sequence roll in place of your sleight of hand check then it should be device related - a signaling device perhaps?
There is a barter process laid out in the skills rules but: a) they are as clear as an eleventeenth of Septober sky; and, b) I always muddy the rules with the circumstances. This is usually a back and forth using a couple of roles – you have already created a rapport, as you say, and I will be considering that throughout.
In short:
1) seller says what they want, 2) buyer check to see if it's fair, 3) buyer suggests counter offer, 4) seller decides if they'll take it or not.
Long form:
1) Someone suggests a price – usually the seller. Deemeer has already done this. 130gp for Cyra.
2) The buyer (you) decides if this is a fair price using a sense motive check or an appraise check (or a profession check if appropriate) and either accepts or counter offers. You know that 100gp is a fair price but need to make a roll to determine what he will take as a final offer (I will find this using a complex math equation provided in the skills section).
3) The buyer makes a counter offer
4) The DC is set for a diplomacy skill check depending on whether that price is below, at, or above the seller’s final offer price.
See! Easy as Pi.
For now, please make an appraise, sense motive, or profession skill check. Remember, Condos J’hon’s advice is good for a +2 on any one roll during bartering today, applied after the roll.
How do our current circumstances affect the bartering? Or are we assuming that happens before the ruckus?
Even if we were to have time to agree on a sum, would we have time to make the payment before all hell breaks loose?
I foresee the two named NPCs doing their level best to save their own skins by getting to the lift, with as many of the guards as can fit, and everyone else to be left here with the rioting prisoners. Whom we can try to join forces with, given some luck... perhaps Dounia's sister is in a position to speak on our behalf to the local leader.
The map is up on Roll20
Your money is in lock-up. You agree on a price down here and pay up there.
I see four options (please feel free to come up with other and play it out):
1) You can agree on 130gp and try to get him to say yes in the panick
2) You can try to haggle with Deemeer on the run
3) You can use the panick to try to take Cyra with you
4) You can leave without Cyra
(I can think of two other options but I'm not going to to mention them)
5) We help the prisoners, take over the prison, and turn it into a spa! Or hide in the nest and use our knowledge Condos gave us to escape.
My flashback roll is an appraise, I'm going to use it to give Zahra a bonus. Also I misread Zahra's last post and thought she was suggesting that take both prisoners up and decide on a price, but that is clearly not what she said :) So I'm going to retcon Cairee's action. She doesn't go to the other prisoner.
Cairee - please write a short 'flashback scene' where you are all back at room in the Moon Scarab Hotel. The four of you are scheming about how to go about buying Cyra's freedom and you develop a little contingency plan just in case bartering doesn't go well - perhaps a sign for 'go lower' or 'too low' etc.
Also, please consider the entire prison/pit as dimly lit with no lighting currently in the mine shafts 20' in.
Cairee, I've marked the tool lockups with green ovals on the roll20 map.
Tymythy - are you able to se the roll20 map?
The map is going to get awkward fast
Cairee - please write a short 'flashback scene'
Yep, just waiting for Cairee's turn as she could only do a short phrase in the surprise round which she already used :)
Initiative results:
17 - Tymythy
17 - Karma & his team
15 - Prisoner team 2 (R&H)
15 - Cairee
14 - Cyra
14 - All other prisoners
13 - Awaza the Oread key-carrier & Deemeer
12 - Xoza
11 - All guards
9 - Zahra
1 - Dounia
I can see the map but once again I can’t move Tymythy’s token. A bit puzzled about a couple map tokens... I assume the blue-dotted lady next to Dounia is Cyra? And is the green-dotted fellow to her left Xoza?
Very justified to be confused. It is only going to become more confusing - and I'm letting it. I'm hoping for a very mad encounter here but I don't want people to lose track of where their own characters are so ask many questions.
Anyone with a blue dot is a prisoner.
Anyone with a red dot is a guard.
The red tinted guard north of the parapet is the one who was wounded by the escapee.
The light blue tinted guard is the head guard Amwot.
Green dots include Deemeer and Awaza (at 3 o'clock) and Xoza (you guessed right) at 6 o'clock.
Cyra is just to Xoza's right.
You are all on the first ring or 1st level basement. Beneath this level is a near identical second ring or basement level 2 30' beneath you. The riot has spread to that level and there still seems to be fighting on the third ring 60' beneath you.
Wow!! What a map!
So there are stairs from ring 1 to ring 2 (and presumably from 2 to 3), but none to the surface? Only the elevator and the tether rope to go up to the surface?
Not stairs but rickety ladders 30' long between the three rings. Imagine carrying two water bladders rigged like shoulder-saddlebags up and down those all day.
And yes, only the elevator to the surface. When the elevator is up the tether rope detaches and is drawn up as well.
I haven't found a satisfying answer on the net to this:
If someone provokes an attack of opportunity by making an untrained unarmed attack against an armed foe, or, standing from prone does the AoO go first, simultaneously, or after the act that provoked it?
Fellow GM's?
5) We help the prisoners, take over the prison, and turn it into a spa! Or hide in the nest and use our knowledge Condos gave us to escape.
6) Retreat into a cave. Start growing nutritious mushrooms.
I haven't found a satisfying answer on the net to this:
If someone provokes an attack of opportunity by making an untrained unarmed attack against an armed foe, or, standing from prone does the AoO go first, simultaneously, or after the act that provoked it?
Fellow GM's?
I've always played it that the triggering attack goes first, then the AoO comes after. It does go a little against common sense sometimes, but it doesn't seem fair that merely attempting a triggering attack could result in an AoO that prevents whatever you're trying in the first place.
I agree with all of that
An attack of opportunity “interrupts” the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character’s turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character’s turn).
As to how that works exactly... I just tend to do what seems most fitting in the situation at hand - some provoking actions can be a bit harder to see as interruptible than others.
Cairee rushed to the lockup only to find the gate just that, locked. She squeezed her arm into the cage reaching desperately for a shovel to defend herself with ...
... but her fingers were still a good six inches from the closest implement and she bruised her shoulder a little in trying.
Cyra was watching from the railing and Dounia could see all of the colour drain from her face, "oh gods ... he's coming" She turned to Dounia and said their first words together since the larder in alKibiri when she said, 'It’s ok. No one is going to get hurt. Come out slowly' - but now almost angry, "What are you doing! Get to the elevator!" She grabbed her sister by the hand and rushed trying to duck by prisoners and guards alike.
Escapee prisoners started flooding up to the second ring from the third. A few had crossbows but most had picks, pry-bars, and long or short handled shovels. They were screaming in different languages according to their peoples. Many stayed close to the bandaged prisoner. A small group rushed to the gharb ladder that the orc was holding down. One of them clambered over the orc's back to get onto the ladder.
Of the women that you had all reviewed, Jo Hath and Illia Assamel rushed to little Lilly's side. Jo picked her up roughly and moved as quickly as she could to the cells. Illia followed them guarding their backs. The Iolite sisters rushed to meet each other. They held hands and started to slowly work their way clockwise around the edge of the ring, sometimes disappearing from view in the shadows. Paisley walked slowly towards the cells and watched the chaos carefully.
Chaill the dwarf and Iffa Law the catfolk rushed the guard Tymythy struck from their positions in line!
Chaill threw a solid punch just glancing off the guard's kidney! just as Iffa clawed the side of his neck but left scarring on the man's gorget instead.
Orra took a quick look about as if gaging the wind and followed Cairee briskly, as Jin and Zizzantri rushed to the railing and hooped and hollered,
Awaza continued to shove Deemeer along trying to get to the parapet and then the elevator. She drew her beheading sword along the way. Deemeer glanced back as he tried to calm Zahra, though, still trying to haggle on the run she was hardly the one needing it.
As he looked back at her he noticed Tymythy club one of the guard, "Don't worry sweet woman. Follow me and I'll get back to the tower safe... By the Builders! Did your man just strike one of my guard!!!"
Xoza saw Tymythy and the two prisoners tear into his guard, "Are you mad! They'll kill us all!!! When I get out of this I'm going to find you ... and dig you a flute of your very own!" He then rushed in the opposite direction and into the mouth of one of the mines.
One guard rushed to the gharb ladder and tried to lift ...
... but weighted down with orc and climber he only managed to pull the top rung free. The rest of the ladder remained in place. Tow guards reached the sharq ladder and started to raise it out of reach of the lower prisoners. Three guards, one of them the one wounded by the shovel, rushed to the parapet in a play to get to the elevator!
The final guard took a step back and raised his crossbow at Tymythy. The bolt shot past the young warrior, across the pit, and into obscurity, leaving the guard open to another club blow.
Cyra was watching from the railing and Dounia could see all of the colour drain from her face, "oh gods ... he's coming" She turned to Dounia and said their first words together since the larder in alKibiri when she said, 'It’s ok. No one is going to get hurt. Come out slowly' - but now almost angry, "What are you doing! Get to the elevator!" She grabbed her sister by the hand and rushed trying to duck by prisoners and guards alike.
Interesting... considering how reluctant Cyra seemed to having her freedom purchased I was certain she was part of the concentrated escape attempt and didn't want us along spoiling the plan when it was just about to fire... but now she seems to be fleeing the oncoming wave of prisoners instead of joining them? Or is she just worried that Dounia might get attacked if she hangs about?
Time will probably answer some of the questions ;^)
Time will probably answer some of the questions ;^)
I gotta tell you all - I am really enjoying this! I can't wait to see how it all turns out! I tried to create some dynamism in the NPCs, in the timing , and in the environment! I tend to get to the dramatic places slowly. There are places I have to build up to get to - plot points I don't know if or how you'll reveal - thank you for staying in and playing hard! Thank you for having the patience to let us get to these places post-by-post.
A quick note on the house rules for crits.
When you roll below your critical threat range you get normal damage - providing the roll hits vs the AC.
eg.1 club - roll a natural 19 - then roll 1d6+bonuses
When you roll within your critical threat range you automatically do full damage (or normal damage if your final attack value is beneath the AC) then reroll you attack with all of the same adjustments (but only if your final attack value is above the AC).
eg.2a club - roll a natural 20 - do 6damage + bonuses
eg.2b club - roll a natural 20 with no bonuses giving a final value of 20 vs an AC of 21 - do 1d6+bonuses damage
If you succeed in your critical confirmation roll then roll damage again.
eg. club - roll a nat. 20 - do (6 +bonuses +1d6 +bonuses) damage
If you roll a 20 on the crit confirmation (regarless of the threat range of the weapon) then you do maximum damage x2 and reroll your crit confirmation. You crit your attack + crit your confirmation + roll a second confirmation.
This could continue ad infinitum as long as you continue to roll 20s.
But, remember, if you can do it - so can your enemies.