#8-25 Unleashing the Untouchable (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

Otto, I can bump your AC a little with Magic Vestment on that fancy dragonhide of yours (will be a net gain of +2).

Quenly's purchases before leaving will be very modest. 3 lesser pugwampi braids (from a chronicle, each allows Quenly to force an opponent to reroll a d20 as an immediate action, one time only); and a scroll of remove curse, which is intended for use with the Mnemonic Vestment. Total 1275gp

Wait, enlarge person works with the druidic shape shift if you stay humanoid? I thought they were both transmutation effects and did not stack. I have a goliath druid in another game and boy can I use that. Cool beans!

Wait, enlarge person works with the druidic shape shift if you stay humanoid? I thought they were both transmutation effects and did not stack. I have a goliath druid in another game and boy can I use that. Cool beans!

Nope, it doesn't. But one feature of the archetype is that you can cast Enlarge Person on your animal companion. So I've picked up Quicken Spell so I can (at the cost of a level 5 spell) swift enlarge the dinosaur to Huge.

Otto, I can bump your AC a little with Magic Vestment on that fancy dragonhide of yours (will be a net gain of +2).

That would be great - if you have the spell slots to be able to do it for both Otto and Allison that would be even greater!

One last minute purchase to consider:

A casting of Mass Planar Adaptation. (Or a scroll, but that's more expensive).

If we can hire a cleric caster in Lodehollow, that would be 11 hours duration each at a cost of 660gp, or 110gp each.

If we have to get a scroll, we're forced to get it at minimum wizard level (13), and that would be 2275gp, or 379.17gp each.

Depends on how much travelling we will be doing. They like to throw in travelling in higher level adventures.

110 gp for resist acid or fire sounds pretty good to me though.

Can anyone cast Mage Armor?

Ravyn can't cast it directly, but can UMD anything. Getting a casting of Mass Planar Adaptation would be lovely and I'm happy to chip in.

Yea, but I want it to last all day. If I can, I have an arcane caster cast it if they have it on their spell list and lend them a pearl or runestone and the extend rod for the casting. Otherwise all I get is an hour out of the wand and when you are travelling that can get onerous.

Yeah, Ravyn has never bothered picking it up, but she might soon. If nothing else it helps with incorporeal stuff.

So what's the verdict on (Mass) Planar Adaptation? Do we go for it? Scroll or hireling cast?

I can contribute for both the planar adaptation and diamond dust.

I don't have thousands, but I do have hundreds.

I like both ideas.

I’ll contribute for Mass Planar Adapted

hireling.

So how many people/creatures would like Barkskin?

Marta, as mentioned, and she will lend you her rod to double the duration. but I'd rather wait until we know we are close to our destination.

Ok, updated spell list prepped for Otto is:

Druid (Goliath Druid) Spells Prepared (CL 12th; concentration +18)
. . 6th—antilife shell[D], gravity sphere, quickened resist energy, communal stoneskin[UC]
. . 5th—communal air walk[UC], beast shape III (animals only)[D], quickened enlarge person (self only) (2, DC 17), wall of thorns
. . 4th—air walk, freedom of movement, life bubble[APG] (DC 20), strong jaw[APG] (DC 20), summon nature's ally IV (animals only)[D]
. . 3rd—dominate animal[D] (DC 19), mass feather step[APG], greater magic fang (3), communal resist energy[UC]
. . 2nd—barkskin (5), hold animal[D] (DC 18), resist energy
. . 1st—bristle[APG] (DC 17), calm animals[D] (DC 17), cheetah's sprint, hydraulic push[APG], liberating command[UC], longstrider, shillelagh (DC 17)
. . 0 (at will)—enhanced diplomacy, grasp, light, mending
. . D Domain spell; Domain Animal domain

Looks like we're agreed on Mass Planar Adaptation, GM. That will mean we can save our potions for the way back :)

Okay. I assume you're arranging to have that cast just before you are teleported. Note the money you spent (and charges/consumables you let the caster use to improve it).

Most of you seem apathetic about the road, though one person voted yes, so that's what I will assume if I don't hear otherwise soon. Your party's base speed is 30 feet, though some of you can leave the others behind if you'd like.

I will contribute for everiting. I have 31500GP

I added 110 gp to my expenses.

Noting 110 gp spent for a cleric to cast Mass Planar Adaptation (including both Otto and Allison).

Otto will requisition from the Dark Archive three scrolls: Mass Feather Step, Cat's Grace, and Air Walk.

He'll use the spell slots this opens up to make some slight adjustments to his spells prepared, including preparing one more casting of Greater Magic Fang for whomever it was that asked for it.

Otto has prepared Life Bubble and will cast it on the entire party when it seems like the right moment.

What is the verdict on Communal Stoneskin? I don't want to prep it unless it will be used by at least a chunk of us (again, it's a 250 gp/person component cost - Otto will provide the casting but you would each need to pay the 250).

Otto has prepared Communal Air Walk for everyone (but will revise that if everyone already has their own means of flight).

Otto has prepped Barkskin 5 times - he and Otto will share one (extended) casting, so that leaves 4 more castings for party members (plus any additional provided by Share the Gift).

Also, note that with Otto holding the Breath of Lysianassa in one hand and a weapon in the other, he won't really be able to cast spells much during combat which is why he has mainly prepped out of combat buffs etc. If someone else who has a free hand wants to hold the Breath that will be fine for Otto.

We can always vary who holds the artifacts. Quenly rarely uses weapons, so he can certainly carry stuff, though it he's shapechanged he might not even have hands :) But Otto is the only one who can use the Breath to cast Quench which could be important.

Quenly would like that GMF, in case he ends up in melee in one of his alternative forms. It'll save one of his level 3 slots. Quenly would also like a barkskin if it looks like he might face attacks. Same goes for Stoneskin (and Quenly can pay his 250gp in diamond dust).

It's unlikely that Quenly will need to be included in Communal Air Walk, but the two fighters and Marta definitely need it so I recommend keeping it. Quenly will use his overland flight (wings) revelation or an alternative form if that runs out.

Ravyn will happily take stoneskin. She can fly, but not for long. She can also take the Breath if needed. She doesn't stay in combat much.

Ravyn already cast Feather Step for everyone.

Yep, Marta could use fly if it becomes necessary. Stone skin is a bit pricey but it is is split 4 ways then it is not so bad. She would recompense you for it if it is cast on her.

I made a party buff sheet which should be viewable and editable here.

Otto made a few final tweaks to spells and also changed what he is requisitioning from Zarta (scrolls of Air Walk, Delay Poison Communal, Cat's Grace). Should be ready to go!

I may have missed it, but did we decide *which* plane we want Mass Planar Adaptation to target? I think we are on the border of two planes, yes?

I'd assume that the border region counts as both Earth and Fire, so one casting should suffice for environmental factors. But we have to choose Resist Acid (earth) or Resist Fire. Since we have potions and spells as well, I'd suggest Acid.

GM, would you mind adding a link to the party buff sheet
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wiGL9NC-nZNlBe78kgNBE1NJ0gYQWgurTNQNCmC x1k0/edit?usp=sharing
someplace where everyone can easily access it?

Also, for the sake of tracking when things expire, can we say that we were teleported at 12:00 and have arrived at the current map slide at 2:00? I've found that having a stipulated clock running is the easiest way to keep track of buff expirations (rather than trying to remember exactly when something was cast and try to figure out how much time has elapsed since then) and in high level play the number of buffs can get overwhelming.

Everyone, I've filled in the buff sheet as well as I can for everyone based on what others have posted but it's possible I've missed things so please edit as needed.

Link added, and I have no problem with the clock idea.

Link added, and I have no problem with the clock idea.

Hmm, does the link work for people? It doesn't work for me but this has been a problem I've been having lately which I think is connected to having two chrome accounts, one for personal and one for work. If it works for others then no worry for me as I can directly access it.

It worked when I first copied the link, but not any more.

The link doesn't work for me, right now, but the link Otto posted, also doesn't work.

"File does not exist" Even if I drop the last / and edit command.

I also get error messages when trying to access the buff sheet. "This file does not exist" or somesuch Google error.

Ok, let's try this again:
Here is a link and here is the address for the link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wiGL9NC-nZNlBe78kgNBE1NJ0gYQWgurTNQNCmC x1k0/edit?usp=sharing

Please let me know if this works.

Okay, I guess Giovanni has to move up. People seem not to understand how this whole intercepting AoO bit works . . ..

What's your preferred party formation, Giovanni?

Looks like we've got a mounted hellknight-troll (on a pouncing dinosaur), a sword fighter who probably just wants to get into melee, a monk-inquisitor who probably mainly wants to be in melee, you, and two castys (Quenly and Rayvn).

Odds are that Otto and Allison will want to charge in order to pounce.

I can improve your speed with Blessing of Fervour so you can stick around the front line; or Rayvn has Haste. In a pinch I can also throw you direct at an enemy with Telekinetic Charge. (Via Shadow Evocation).

Point of my build is to try to take away the enemy's ability to do harm. Not complicated. If they don't want the help, I can always stay back and try to protect the casters more directly. Done it before, really.

Just kinda frustrating.

Point of my build is to try to take away the enemy's ability to do harm. Not complicated. If they don't want the help, I can always stay back and try to protect the casters more directly. Done it before, really.

Just kinda frustrating.

I don't understand what your frustration is. If my character or someone else is blocking your character from doing their thing, can you please explain to us what you need? For example: "Hey everyone, let me be in front by at least 15'" Or whatever. You seem to be annoyed by - I'm not sure what - but I'm guessing something to do with our party positioning, but if you've told us what your preference is, I at least missed it.

Since the dragon is an illusion does it need to be included in Life Bubble? (It will change the duration for everyone slightly is why I ask)

It's a shadow conjuration copy of a conjuration (creation) spell, so it doesn't go <poof> at 0hp but sticks around. It's 20% real. Life Bubble will help protect it, it can be killed by poison and such and it has a CON score.

ETA: if it is killed it's not a disaster, Quenly can make another one as a standard action as long as he's got 5th level or higher slots free. But the combination of telepathy and blindsense is very powerful for the group, as well as convenient for getting around the Deaf curse.

Otto wrote:

Since the dragon is an illusion does it need to be included in Life Bubble? (It will change the duration for everyone slightly is why I ask)

It's a shadow conjuration copy of a conjuration (creation) spell, so it doesn't go <poof> at 0hp but sticks around. It's 20% real. Life Bubble will help protect it, it can be killed by poison and such and it has a CON score.

Got it. Ok, I included it in the duration, so it's a total of 3 hours each, 2 of which have now elapsed.

In response to the question about where I said anything . . ..

This Discussion thread. First mention is the second post in the thread. More detailed @ 19:48 Central US time on 22 Mar. Maybe I assumed too much knowledge about Combat Maneuvers and AoOs?

The Flaxseed Lodge Recruitment Thread: Detailed more in the Feb 20 post our GM responded to when he offered to run the game than in either of the above, honestly.

So, seeing that I tried to share that information, and that I was explicit in this thread 6 days ago that my primary contributions are likely to be Reposition and Trip maneuvers, noting how both will provoke for allies, where do you think Giovanni should be?

As I said, I've sat in the back more directly working to protect the casters before, because the guys with big damage combat characters saw me as either dead weight or an obstacle and not a contributor. Self-fulfilling prophecy that a melee-based character won't contribute as much as he could when pushed further and further away from the front line. THAT's the frustrating bit.

Ok, thanks for clarifying. I did see those earlier comments about Trip and Reposition but it was not immediately apparent to me at least (and still isn't) what you want from the rest of us to facilitate your tactics. Are you saying that you would like to be in the front so that you get a chance to trip foes before they reach the rest of us? Are you saying that you would like the rest of us to cluster near you in order to be able to take advantage of AoO's that you may provoke? I still have no idea what anyone has done that is frustrating to you.

In any case, at this level all our characters likely have a variety of complex tactics available to them. If you simply communicate what you would like from the rest of us I imagine that will be more effective than being antagonistic, which is how your comments read to me.

To help Marta, make sure there is at least none ally next to her or set up a flank. She is not the type to rush into combat, so putting her in the second rank is good.

She almost always casts a spell the first round and needs two swift actions to get her judgment and bane going, so the first round is tactical and her main objective is to buff and survive any spells thrown at the group.

I'm with Otto. I know you do the whole combat maneuver thing but I don't know what you want from us to facilitate that. Not having played a trip/reposition artist I don't know the frustrations of that. My thought was that you would just run up and trip them, or run up and move them to a position advantageous to us.

Speaking of which, I do know the frustrations of having a couple of flanking feats and rarely getting a flank but I've come to expect it. Keep that in mind when you do a reposition - hint, hint. And I've played with some pretty cranky chargers when I've blocked their charge lane after being warned 3-5 times :)

This is one of the disadvantages of PBP. In F2F the player would gently remind the other player as they are moving their character and before any dice are rolled.

The character works best when he can reach the enemy and the group is close enough together that the others can threaten the enemy as tripped and moved. Spacing depends on the size of the enemy and your own threatened space, honestly. I'm just guessing, but I expect we'll be dealing with some pretty big opponents, which means I'm probably going to have to walk through their threatened spaces to do anything, probably getting pounded on for the effort.

But that's normal. It really is.

I'm probably unlikely to be moving them around as freely as I am used to as a consequence of that size, but I bet I'll still win most of the rolls.

I thought being a little behind the mounted charge character was going to work. Not optimal for my build, but recognizing the focus on making sure you keep an open path in case a charge is called for. Then you got a potential obstacle and I was suddenly over 20' back.

Marta, Allison has the Dirty Trick feat so she can also benefit from flanking. Though as has been pointed out, she's likely to want to charge-pounce, which usually gives her little choice about where she winds up. But if it comes up she would make a good flank partner for you (and 15' reach also makes this easier to achieve).

And completely agree about the limitations of PbP compared to tabletop for some of these things. I'm playing a bard in another game and I think the other players forget Inspire Courage at least half the time - very frustrating when it's often his main contribution!

The party buff page linked at the top is now working for me.

This holding the Breath of Lysianassa thing is really complicating how to play him...

If you prefer, you can give the Breath to Quenly or his dragon.

(Those Quench spells could do a lot of harm to fire troops though. Well, 10d6 x1.5 I expect, don't know how that compares to your melee damage yet).

The Buff Page is working, now. Cool. Thank you!

Otto wrote:

This holding the Breath of Lysianassa thing is really complicating how to play him...

If you prefer, you can give the Breath to Quenly or his dragon.

(Those Quench spells could do a lot of harm to fire troops though. Well, 10d6 x1.5 I expect, don't know how that compares to your melee damage yet).

Well, I've got it for now so let's revisit the question after this fight. And that's a good point about possibly using quench against these things. Though has anyone ID'ed them yet? I know what they are but Otto doesn't.

The Buff Page is working, now. Cool. Thank you!

Glad it's working. Can't figure out what google weirdness keeps causing this problem to crop up.

I noticed that Barkskin was cast on Marta?

I asked that it not be cast yet as I fully expect it to war off if you do before we get to the main action. Could we scratch that until we get nearer to the pillars of flames?