The Journey of a Thousand Miles (Jade Regent AP)

Game Master Sensen

Ah, I did miss your action there. Serves me right for not reading carefully enough. I'll just say the non-charged blindheim managed to get the door open instead of attacking, since retconning it'd be tough.

But I'll definitely let you roll your saves in the future - didn't want to keep things stalled, is all.

I'm inclined to believe if the first save against grease on an item succeeds, the item simply isn't greassd and future saves aren't needed. The text stated that the wielder of the item gets a reflex save to 'avoid the effect' which i assume means avoid it entirely. I think the last lines are for if the item is succesfully greased and then picked back up. Anecdotally, fwiw, that is also how i've seen it used in the past.

That seems weird though. If Grease is used on a floor or other surface, successful saves don't end the effect and further saves are needed while in contact with it regardless of prior saves. Consistency would have it coat a thing, which remains coated for the duration of the spell. Interaction with the thing requires a reflex save.

I'd say the effect avoided is dropping the greased item. After all, no further saves are needed unless an attempt to use the item is made (picking it up isn't a needed action in such a case). It can be held without further saves needed.

I agree the sentence bolded by Atsuko makes things a bit murky.

Fortunately, there is an official FAQ on this topic, which helps us avoid the discussion: what happens on a grease save success

Ah, yeah. I should have remembered Paizo's talent for choosing anything other than common sense when writing FAQs. Oh well.

That was my last casting for the day unless someone needs a cantrip. I suppose Atsuko can take coffee orders from anyone who would like something while the rest of you do useful things.

I agree with Atsuko that that's not the common sense resolution, to be honest. It feels weird, but... if anyone cares strongly about using it that way, let me know, since I'm inclined to say that it shouldn't be utterly negated by the first reflex save.

In other news, I'm pretty sure I won't be able to make a post today, due to overwhelming stressors, and I'll be sending my computer in for repairs on Sunday evening. Theoretically, that means I will have it back by Wednesday at the earliest or Friday at the latest, but if it takes longer, it'd be until Monday the 18th, possibly.

This does mean that the game is effectively on hiatus until my computer comes back, but I'll try to get a post up on Sunday if I can.

Sorry for the inconvenience, everyone.

Well, that sucks, but it is completely understandable. Good luck with the repairs GM Aganhei!

Yeah, like I said in the other thread, take care to rest well GM. Hope things work out well on your end!

Just relax and enjoy the downtime GM.

I return, with computer repaired and a somewhat refreshed ability to create!

If Torra doesn't post within the next couple hours, I'll bot her. Sorry for the delay - stuff's been happening.

Apologies, I missed that it was just me left! (stuff has been happening here as well). I'll put up a post now.

How's it going with everyone? It's been a bit since the last posts.

I'm good. Ritti is just keeping an eye on Atsuko and since I don't know the prisoners, I don't have any lines in the story at the moment.

Ooops! I did not notice, sorry!

Eastern Holidays here, so things moving a bit out of pace for me, but good :)

Yeah, that's fair - hope you're having fun, Yuto!

Apologies, i'll try to get a post in tonight. The last two weeks have been hectic with me starting my own company and health problems in the family.

If anyone wants to weigh in on either side, I'll go with staying to recover their sight or going now, whatever the next player chooses.

Woot! Level up time!

Level 3 Monk
HP: +6
BAB: +1
Will Save: +1
1 extra Attack per round

+10’ Move
Ki Pool
Ki Flurry
Ki Strike (Magic)

Feat: Monkey Style

BG Skills (2):
+1 Dance, +1 Sleight of Hand

Skills (6):
+1 Acrobatics, +1 Climb, +1 Disable Device, +1 Perception, +1 Stealth, +1 Swim? (still debating that last point)

Level 7 Geokineticist:

- Doubling down on Earth as element, and getting Metal composite blasts!
- Magnetic Infusion, which should give everyone using metal weapons +4 to hit against targets that Torra hit with one of these. Super handy.
- 1 point in Linguistics to learn Skald. Finally!
- Feat: Nature Soul, +2 to Survival (and planning to take Animal Ally later for a spiffy animal companion).

HP: 81 (+1 FCB, +6 from Con)
BAB +5

Ooh, doubling down, I see. I was wondering whether you might go with fire, for volcanic power, but this is good.

Hey everyone, i wanted to drop a note that i've been extremely busy still with setting up my own company for the partnership position i was accepted in a while a back. It's a thing of technically being hired while still being a seperate company. Ver lucrative but there's tons of things to handle legally, like insurance, taxes etc next to the actual workload increase. It's more or less been a thing of of get home, eat, watch a little bit of youtube/tv, fall asleep. I've had very little time or energy to write in general. I still hope things settle down soon, but please don't hesitate to continue without me.

Kind regards and my apologies.

I'm a little stuck trying to make some decisions for next level, which will be Bard 6 since Atsuko has a 1 level dip in Oracle. Mostly it's about deciding what direction to take Atsuko's build going forward now that she's been play tested for a while.

I had originally planned for Atsuko to be a support/utility "Swiss army knife" type of character who could help out in melee. But now I'm wondering if I should narrow things some. For example, Ritti will skill monkey better in most things outside of knowledge and face skills, where Atsuko has the advantage. So, it makes sense for Atsuko to prioritize putting skill ranks into those two areas and let Ritti handle the rest.

I'm also not sure Atsuko is needed in melee much except occasionally in a pinch. It seemed to me at least that the combats we've had could have been handled just as well without Atsuko swinging a blade. That's not to say she was useless, just that she wasn't doing substantive damage overall. Does that seem accurate to the rest of you?

If so, there are a couple, or maybe three directions I could go. One would be to downplay combat as something Atsuko doesn't do so much and focus on magic and enhancing performances. Ability score increases will all go toward charisma, magic, and performance feats. Atsuko gets an archetype ability this level that will allow her to cast spells from the Wizard and Witch spell lists using scrolls or spell books without expending the resource. She'll be collecting any and everything with a spell written on or in it so she has as much versatility in her back pocket as possible. It starts at 1/day and will go up 1/day every 4 levels. It's not a lot, but we don't have any other arcane casters so it's something at least. The downside I see here is this: bards are 6th level casters with a spell list lacking in offensive spells that aren't enchantments. Also, the Oracle dip means she's behind a level with Bard casting. I'm not sure that going hard into casting nets a great return on investment at higher levels.

The second option might require some minor tweaking if GM Aganhei would permit it. The party dosn't really have a ranged character (although I have to admit I don't know anything about the Kineticist class). Atsuko could switch to archery if she moved a couple of points from strength to dexterity. Of course, that's where her feats would be going if she went that route. So magic, etc. stays more or less a buffing and utility thing.

Instead of using a bow, she could instead switch to starknife. That would mean dropping katana a weapon proficiency in favor of starknife, and trading the Versatile Performance she gets this level for Desna's Shooting Star. Atsuko is already a Desna worshipper. This makes her a SAD build with almost everything being CHA dependent. She'd probably need to trade in her belt of giant strength for a blink-back belt though, so she doesn't have to carry around a sack full of starknives. Not a problem since she'd be using CHA for damage. But thrown weapons don't have much range, 20' in this case. She'd need to be using feats for the same things required for archery.

Finally (and I do apologize for the length of this post) Atsuko could be build for debuffing using intimidation. I won't go into detail on this one. Aside form having a very good Intimidate bonus with much less effort, it's the same as when when with a Fighter, Slayer, etc.

I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions anyone might have. I'm totally open to adopting any version I've outlined here, or ones I haven't if any of you have alternative suggestions. Mostly I want to go with something that's going to best benefit the party.

For my kineticist, Torra has a range of 120 ft. and the blasts pack quite a punch - when they hit. It might be good to have another ranged PC, as we've been encountering a bunch of flying enemies, and while Suishen's fly ability is super useful, we are still quite limited in reaching enemies outside melee range. An intimidate build also sounds pretty cool though. Of the three options, which one would you be having the most fun with?

Also, writing this post made me realize that I took the wrong feat on level up, so I would like to switch Nature Soul for Weapon Focus (Kineticist Blast) to improve Torra's to-hit.

Oops. Well, after checking, Atsuko's archetype trades away Dirge of Doom. That make an intimidation build considerably more expensive in feats invested. It's a good trick when it works, but it doesn't work in some cases. It might also get a bit "rinse, repeat" repetitive? I've never tried an intimidation build before so I'm not sure.

I suppose it seems somewhat in conflict with Atsuko's personality as well. But, that could probably be explained since acting is a thing.

A ranged build would be fine with me. Seems like archery might be better than starknife though if flying thing are an issue. I suppose we're going to be outside for a long time now, so probably it's best to assume flight will be an obstacle for us.

As for my preferences, I'm neutral. I tend not to consider party role or particular mechanics too strongly when coming up with character concepts. Atsuko will be Atsuko whether sword and board, archer, etc.

Just go the route you are more eager to explore Atsuko.

In my opinion, ranged bard is the strongest and more fulfilling bard version there is. I have played one, and GMed a couple, and I can tell it has been always rewarding. The good thing is the versatility, you can go all day shooting, so you always have spells still available when things go south and the team needs an extra trick, and because you are in the back, you do not have to burn resources to protect yourself.

I would recommend to focus on Use Magic Device, so you can make use of all magical items we pick up, because there will be no one else able to use them, and we will certainly need a scroll here and there to circumvent issues.

Level 7

HP +9
Feat Wanderer's Fortune
Class feature armor training 2 (Adaptable Training - Acrobatics)
Skills
Diplomacy
K. history*
K. nature
K. nobility*
K. planes
Perception
Sense motive
Spellcraft
Survival
Swim

Alright, it seems like a switch to archery is getting a couple of nods. To do it though, I'd need to make a few changes to the current build.

1. Drop Strength from 17 to 14 and raise Dexterity from 13 to 16. This includes changing the magic belt from +2 STR to +2 Dex.

2. Dropping the broken back seax from proficiency and replacing it with longbow. I doubt I'll ever get around to raising Str any higher, and the seax requires a 15 minimum. Atsuko can just use a longsword instead. I'll keep katana because it could be fun later down the line. Or maybe there would be a Katana for sale in the Jade Quarter in Kalsgard?

3. Switching the feat Improved Initiative for Point Blank Shot. I can take Precise Shot as my 7th level feat. That's a little behind on archery feats for 7th level, but not the end of the world. Besides we'll be outside for a while where archery isn't so tricky to do.

4. +1 seax changed to +1 composite +2 str longbow.

Would all this be alright Aganhei GM? Everyone else?

Torra: That swap's fine by me - you've not actually been in any mechanical trouble since you leveled up. :P

Atsuko: I will allow it, I'd say, if everyone else is okay with it. I'd normally levy retraining, but that's harder. I'll allow you to swap the belt by selling/buying a new one, which should total out to roughly half the cost of the new belt, I think.

There is almost certainly a katana available in the Jade Quarter in Kalsgard, so go wild buying one of those, and I'll say you can sell/buy with the seax and longbow, as well. You are all rather flush with cash at the moment.

Andochtuir: As I said in PM, I hope everything calms down for you and that all your business goes well!

Hey guys, I got laid off today so I may be a little distracted or slow in responding until I sort some stuff out here.

Uh! That sucks! Hope you find something soon. Something much better by sure.

So sorry to hear, Ritti. Hope you find something great soon! Good luck with sorting out stuff and the upcoming job hunt!

Hey guys, I got laid off today so I may be a little distracted or slow in responding until I sort some stuff out here.

Damn, my sympathies, Ritti. Good luck with your job hunt and I hope everything goes well.

I'm sorry Ritti. I hope you have a quick turnaround to something better!

Ah, damn. Now I feel bad about the recent promotion :( Sorry to hear that, Ritti. I hope you have good fortune finding new work!

Also I'm going to try and readup again to what is happening now.

Here's andy's level up:

Level 7: Alchemist 6 (vivi/surgeon)

+1 bab, +1 all saves.
+8 hp (FCB)

Feat: Craft wondrous item (if those feats are allowed).

New formulae: communal spider climb.

New discovery: Feral wings

Skills: +1 perception, +1 linguistics (Minkaian), +1 planes, +3 spellcraft, +1 history, +1 heal.

Familiar: sage archetype, adding missing stats:

Int: 11. Skill points (assuming any 10 int character/creature has a baseline of 2 skill points per level): 40.

Important knowledges: 5 each in local, nature, dungeoneering, arcana, religion, planes. 2 each in nobility, geography, engineering, history. 2 in linguistics to speak common and minkaian.
-Has +3 to all knowledge skills from half class level.

> Local/nature/dungeoneering/arcana/religion/planes +11. Nobility, geography, engineering, history +8. Linguistics +2.

@Everyone I wanted to ask, before I go back through everything, is the loot list up to date? If so, have we already calculated how much gold we have to spend on shopping?

@GM What are the costs of scribing additional formulae into my book in Kalsgard? What determines if they are available here? Do I roll a chance die?

My apologies, I'm too covered up at work and tired at home to get a post in before this weekend. I'll also post my level up on Saturday.

Crafting feats are fine by me, Andochtuir. As for formulae, let me check its stat block...

It looks like it has a spellcasting level of up to 6th. If there are any racial or faith unique formulae, then you'd have to roll to see their availability, and if they aren't elf/human or Iroran (it looks like that's his patron deity?), you might also need to roll for Diplomacy to get ahold of them.

Atsuko, that's fine. These things happen. Relatedly, I'm not going to be able to post until Wednesday next week - holidays and whatnot are coming up, so I'm getting busy. I may get a post in on Sunday, and I'll try, but I can't promise anything. Apologies, folks.

I don't think the ones I'm looking for are faith based or restricted on religion or race. I did a slightl punt and realized Andy does not in fact get third level spells until he reaches level 8/alchemist 7, currently he is six. However, I think you are allowed to still scribe scrolls or formulae into your book of a higher level if you make the spellcraft check and pay the gold cost for it.

As such I'd like to request him to try scribing some spells while he is here. Like spider climb, resist energy, herosim, ablative barrier, monstrous phsyique and displacement. The total cost for this is 320 g. If there exists a masterwork tool for spellcraft(scribing) he will buy that first for 50.

Spellcraft checks:

1d20+14(? presumes existence of scribing MW tool) vs 16, ablative barrier, endure elements. 2d20, 2+: 2d20 ⇒ (7, 9) = 16
vs 17: spider climb, resist energy, resist energy 3d20, 3+: 3d20 ⇒ (1, 11, 13) = 25
vs 18: heroism, physique, displacement. 3d20, 4+: 3d20 ⇒ (9, 11, 14) = 34

Since he failed resist energy the first time, the total should be 410 g.

@Everyone I wanted to ask, before I go back through everything, is the loot list up to date? If so, have we already calculated how much gold we have to spend on shopping?

I have been adding stuff as we have been finding it. I am pretty confident it is up to date, but there are a few items still unidentified, and some, specially the most recent ones, I still have not searched the market value for them.

I cannot give an approximate value until everything is identified, but dividing evenly, it seems everyone shall expect to get more than 4000 gp.

That total may change depending on how the conversation with Ameiko goes.

From Ritti's perspective, she was just 'borrowing' the Shozoku. So if Ameiko wants it back, it's hers. If she lets Ritti keep it, she will offer up her Cloak of Elvenkind and Bracers of Armor +1 in exchange. The Shozoku basically mirrors those functions plus a bit more. It isn't an even trade but at least Ritti will feel less indebted and those items can be doled out to people who could use them or sold.

I looked up and threw in some prices on the ogre-mage's mundane gear.

May i ask for the sake of shopping what the highest caster level is for buyable potions in Kalsgard?

I'd say the highest caster level for buyable potions is probably 7th.

Additionally, to modify my previous statement about my posting availability - I should be able to post tomorrow but not Wednesday. I was apparently misinformed.

All right, cool.

@Ritti Np! There was a lot of stuff to react to in the previous few posts.

@ Andy: Truth! :D

GM, Ritti is still waiting for a response on the bottom half of this post.

Sorry my posting has been so slow lately. I should have mentioned before that I had surgery last week and have been convalescing the past few days. I expected the extra time laying around recovering would give me plenty of time to post. But, I'd never had an operation before and my assumption about the period afterward was rosier than the reality.

Wishing you a speedy recovery! Please rest. :)

Yes, take rest, those are sometimes tricky. Time to take care!

Ok, I have consolidated the treasure list.

We are going to get 7000 gp per character, but there are still some stuff to be identified that can greatly increase that amount:
- Asvig's shortspear
- Snorri's draugr grey sphere of what looks like mother-of-pearl
- Armory magical arrow
- raven's rockery scroll
- Ninjas unidentified magical dagger crafted in the Tian-Min style
- 3x burning shurikens (Ritti has them 3)
- Necromancer unidentified wand
- Kimandatsu Unidentified wand
- Kimandatsu Unidentified bracers