Kingmaker: Varnhold Vanishing (Inactive)

Game Master BloodWolven

Not having Hero Lab, and with every link to the World is Square blog post that I could find leading to a 404 error, I have to lean on the slightly older iteration of the Elephant in the Room documentation which is available.

I have a quick question: What does everyone think of critical success and critical fumbles?

I have used it in many of my games and would like to know what you guys think about using them? I do alway use the crit fail as provoking an AoO, and the crit success as doing at least the crit modifier, then we roll as well!

This is my generic table though I do have a crit roller too!

Crit Fail:
1-3 hit ally, 4-5 roll, 6-8 hurts self, 9-10 drops weapon, 11-20 miss. Though a natural 1 does always provoke.
1d20 ⇒ 1

Crit Success:
1-10 normal crit, 11-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20 Vorpral- Off with their head!
Though a natural 20 does always double damage.

As you can tell it is missing stuff and I would welcome constructive criticism and options for the missing parts!

Meh. I think, generally, the odds are too flat, and the consequences fail to account for relative experience.

Yes, a peasant with a stick should have a chance to kill the samurai, but it is far more rare than the flat odds allow. (Typical Legends of the Five Rings example, where exploding damage dice can, against enormous odds, lead to peasant one-shot killing a samurai with nothing more than a pointed stick. But in even the best cases it is a 1 in 100 damage roll (have to hit first) and against experienced Samurai it reaches 1 in 10,000 damage rolls and deeper.

The difference between a professional chef with 30 year's experience slipping while cutting with a knife and a 12 year-old Boy Scout slipping while cutting with a knife is generally pretty minor, but in the rare exceptions, the experienced chef knows how to limit the massive mistakes better . . ..

Statistically, critical hits are going to do serious mauling of PCs. The previous bad guys tend to fade into history, but the PCs keep facing more and more opponents. Eventually they get critted. Based on that chart, 1 in 400 attacks should instant kill a character, for example (off with WHOSE head?).

In short, I think there's basically no point to attempted realism in the critical hit/fumble sets that people tend to use for D20, and the fancier ones tend to hurt the ability of the players to enjoy the characters as they envisioned them. But it is a fantasy game, not a true combat simulator. If that kind of mutilation (and Resurrection spell use) is the environment you want, then it is. But we certainly need to know so we can adjust our expectations now instead of later.

I can work either way.

I see your point hustonJ... We wouldn't want a NPC to vorpral off your head! LOL! XD

True and that is why I am asking! Communication and understanding is far better than surprise! ...why is my head on the ground... XP

Oh, by the way I never do critical success for the NPCs against PCs. ;)

Not a fan of the critical success and fumble thing, myself.

Not having Hero Lab, and with every link to the World is Square blog post that I could find leading to a 404 error, I have to lean on the slightly older iteration of the Elephant in the Room documentation which is available.

Yes I use this iteration: the elephant in the room feat taxes in pathfinder second printing.

So for Roland you don't need to take the Weapon Proficiency for dueling sword as the proficiency would grant the finesse or agile ability to the sword and you don't need it. If you need it as a requirement negate it.

"Weapon Proficiency Allows you to make attack rolls with a single fighter Weapon Group normally."

Layla: Taking the feat would allow you to make the dueling sword and other swords of its type: light blades. (I believe) With the Agile ability. (effectively finesse weapons)

Yes if you can't tell I have a bunch of strong NPC personalities that I have been developing for years!

hustonj wrote:

Not having Hero Lab, and with every link to the World is Square blog post that I could find leading to a 404 error, I have to lean on the slightly older iteration of the Elephant in the Room documentation which is available.

Yes I use this iteration: the elephant in the room feat taxes in pathfinder second printing.

It is also on my alias profile. The last link!

So for Roland you don't need to take the Weapon Proficiency for dueling sword as the proficiency would grant the finesse or agile ability to the sword and you don't need it. If you need it as a requirement negate it.

"Weapon Proficiency Allows you to make attack rolls with a single fighter Weapon Group normally."

Layla: Taking the feat would allow you to make the dueling sword and other swords of its type: light blades. (I believe) With the Agile ability. (effectively finesse weapons)

It’s also required for some feats (like Aldori Dueling Mastery) and the prestige class, besides making the weapon finessable.

And both Weapon Finesse and Combat Expertise are still listed as a prerequisite for many things as well.

Part of the rule set is that these deleted items are inherently no longer prerequisites.

Not really a fan of critical success and fumble but if you're going to use it, use the pazio crit deck. those are serious options but can potentially kill a party.....

I got arrows to fill my enemies with so...not looking much in those elephant in the room stuff much.

The image is in her profile.

Personally don't like crit fumbles. Though casting more spells than attacks I won't be as affected by it. They do benefit/hurt martial characters more than spellcasters from my experience.

I'm fine with 2 druids. Lykan and I are quite differently focused.

We're both single minded druids except One is Insane.

You're martial and I'm caster focused is what I meant.

Why would I be Marital?
I'm a Druid with Slayer skills. I don't give up much spell casting.
Just give me a bow and lotsa arrows, I'll be happy.

:P

You're feats are martial feats and mine are caster feast. Shifter doesn't have spells so you are without 3rd lvl druid spells. I have strength penalty and no bow.

I'm highlighting the differences to show that we do different things. There is some overlap but we won't be the same. Which I think is a good thing. Where we do overlap we can learn to coordinate, with spells and such too.

True. Shifter is my defense when I finally hit wild shape and use spells to buff myself up.

I mean. If I get to crit someone's face off with scorching ray I'm happy :) That being said, I also prefer to avoid fumbles.

Never played with a crit deck - so I am neutral on the matter.

I find that it adds time which in PBP is already slow. Or it adds strange circumstances that don't apply narrativly to the situation. It's also unfair to Marshall classes unless you add spell failure possibilities to spell that don't require to hit rolls.

Map of the Greenwatch

The Link Above is to the map of the kingdom so far. Technically it is the kingdom about 6 months to a year ago in game. It will be updated soon as the GM works through some of what has happened with some down time issues. But I figured I would put it up as it might help flesh things out.

I find that it adds time which in PBP is already slow. Or it adds strange circumstances that don't apply narrativly to the situation. It's also unfair to Marshall classes unless you add spell failure possibilities to spell that don't require to hit rolls.

Of which I have in the past!

Though looking at the consensus we will not be using crit fumble or succeed as most are neutral or against it.

Should I have a lapse in memory please just remind me we are not using it.

Thanks I will incorporate that to be the reason Delilah was willing to come to Greenwatch in the first place.

Stopping a hunter that was killing fey and animals will give you points in Lykàn's eyes.

Other then that any attempt to intimidate this mad elf will just result in an arrow.

Also if NPCs are all too powerful it defeats the purpose of having any other heroes or adventurers coming in.
Just my two cents on this.

Stopping a hunter that was killing fey and animals will give you points in Lykàn's eyes.

Great.

Other then that any attempt to intimidate this mad elf will just result in an arrow.

You are welcome to misunderstand (part of the fun of opening character interactions) but Quince hasn't intended any slight or intimidation.

Also if NPCs are all too powerful it defeats the purpose of having any other heroes or adventurers coming in.

Just my two cents on this.

That might be worth discussing. I'm a fellow PC I am not one of the GM's aliases. I offered the ideas hoping to give other characters some in roads to conversation.

I don't think the comment about apparent NPC power was directed at you, Quince.

I could be wrong, of course.

@Quince & GM: I like the idea, and it does make sense! Layla is carrying a sealed letter from Jamandi Aldori and could very well be the one to hand deliver the message to the kingdom.

Overall, I agree with the whole point on the NPCs, and I tried to express it in gameplay as well... We might want to tone it down on the participation of certain NPCs across the adventure (dragons, efreet, etc.) since the focus should be on the PCs and their relevance/impact on the world.

This comment from me is more targeted at the GM, as I believe Lykan's was as well - if you have a very small party and you're trying to give the players a boost or someone to talk to, then the GMPCs are okay, but it's not our case here anymore, so the GMPCs should probably fade to background. :)

Well I'm fine either way. But... Can I at least get my 3 wishes first? :P

Not that I can make the knowledge check to identify what he is in the first place...

Trust me there is a lot involved from the previous NPCs. Should you actually stay with us and go forward, to Varnhold and beyond, I am sure you will understand. They and the previous PCs have been running the kingdom and if you think they should just be basic NPCs that is your opinion and you are joining this game. Should it be a problem, don't worry they will flex and you will have to respond. Then again you aren't joining the council, you are looking into the Vanishing of Varnhold. If you make it past that then there is sure room to make adjustments as needed. But as I have said already this game has been going for 10 years and I won't be changing how I play for new players, I never have nor will I. I try to make interesting characters that have their own personalities and agendas. You might get to know some of them in this module. You might think that my words are a bit pointed, and they are towards Lykan.

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Layla, that is what Sulvanii was alluding to but maybe you don't even know what is in the letter.

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Delilah you would have to convince Quince to make him give you your wishes first! ;)

I have provided a "what do I know" knowledge chart for Dinenen at the bottom of his profile.

Yea it's all good. I was only joking anyway. I'll try to do something similar to Dinenin.

Not telling you to change anything, just to express when a GMNPC is so powerful that the PCs are made to feel that they're just minions.
That's all.

I'm sure as we proceed on to Varnhold, we'll get to either know them better or of them.
Not trying to start any conflict here but just to point that out.

And what's this about wishes? Is it 3 each for everyone or just 3 in total.

Also Why Unicorns?

Between the NPCs and the players whos characters are still alive and currently hold positions (now also NPCs) there is a lot of Kingdom business that they are involved in.

3 of the characters are Viceroys and as such are likely tied to their cities and won't go on adventures because of their responsibilities (Unless the GM has need of Krazok to be side by side with us. His duties overall are with the Lizardfolk settlement and we have had issues in the south in which his city is the southernmost.

Some of the others are busy with their positions and such so its unlikely that every one of these wacky characters come on every mission.

One of the reasons that Quince put out a call for others to join us was in part because following the political unrest of a bard, Gregoi he is sensitive to the idea that the governments attention is on missions that don't relate to the people so its very likely that once the endeavor begins it will be a coalition of investigators not all hands on deck.

I understand Lykan's point. Assuming things go well. I trust that time and successful missions will quickly make even these powerful NPCs your minions.

Thank you Dinenen!
I know you were joking Delilah, just playing along!
I am not planning on sending any super powered GMNPCs with you to Varnhold, though some NPCs and original players will likely be joining you on your venture.
You want wishes? You just need to ask... ;)
Unicorns... because that is what came to mind. Something that not many people know about you. Feel free to change it. I used you, Lykan, as the example because you already gave us a good reference for K local. Thank you by the way!

I added the local for Layla, and also added on her profile - I think it was a good idea!

I trust you, GM, to know how and when to fade the GMPCs to the background. I know there are certain characters that we all always wanted to play, and sometimes when I GM I also introduce some of them - but just being careful as to keep the PCs in focus.

As for wishes - don't we all have some! :)

I added local as well. Also replaced seeker trait with reactionary for more initiative - hope that's ok since we haven't gotten into combat.

Thanks for the mention and additions Layla.
That is fine Roland!

More Initiative is always good.
Could you stand in front of me like 30 feet forward and distract the charging hordes? Good man.

Also sadly I do not know anything about Deliah except she smells like one of my kind.

More Initiative is always good.

Could you stand in front of me like 30 feet forward and distract the charging hordes? Good man.

Also sadly I do not know anything about Deliah except she smells like one of my kind.

We got a hair sniffer over here.

I know as players some of us really like pictures of our characters. I know I do. I put together the slide show of the existing PCs and NPCs.

If any of you would like. I would be happy to add pictures to the Slide Show for the new PCs. Or make a new slide show for the Varnhold Expedition.

My process was to ask for pictures if you have any that you think invokes your characters. If that failed I would search the profile pictures source material to find larger pictures. Hence Cleo and Selena for instance have full head to toe pictures that match their profile picture. For others I searched for or used pictures that were close to the profile picture but also more or less invoked the character well but I also included the profile pic so you could match the head shot with the full picture. Like for Saren, and Quince and others.

Link to my pic has always been in my profile - thx.

Link to my pic has always been in my profile - thx.

Just when we all thought your profile pic was the sexiest man alive. You roll in with that.

I'm actually really happy with the profile picture I chose for Sindri, and have no real corrections to make there! Will get the knowledge local thing up ASAP.

EDIT: Well, I added in some knowledge local anyway! Hopefully it works for you Quince!

I'm actually really happy with the profile picture I chose for Sindri, and have no real corrections to make there! Will get the knowledge local thing up ASAP.

EDIT: Well, I added in some knowledge local anyway! Hopefully it works for you Quince!

Yeah I love that profile pic. Its my main profile pic and at least one of alts.

I also have the full body shot of it.

Here

I gots nuthin'.

At issue is primarily the coloration.

Some quick Google-Fu ignoring the coloration, and I found some near hits. None are perfect, of course.

Elven monk with ponytail

Monk with ponytail and at apparent peace

Monk kick action shot

The profile picture is a weirdly lit picture of the iconic female elven thief. But it is an elf "with" blue hair!

I gots nuthin'.

At issue is primarily the coloration.

Some quick Google-Fu ignoring the coloration, and I found some near hits. None are perfect, of course.

Elven monk with ponytail

Monk with ponytail and at apparent peace

Monk kick action shot

The profile picture is a weirdly lit picture of the iconic female elven thief. But it is an elf "with" blue hair!

I used this one for a bard he's got blue hair

Might be too much magic?

Possible?

Another possible

Anime

Sure, use the linked pic in my profile.

Roland Garess wrote:

Link to my pic has always been in my profile - thx.

Just when we all thought your profile pic was the sexiest man alive. You roll in with that.

Handsome fella! :)

I suppose mine would be this