Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

It is a pretty good cliffhanger :)

Sorry for the delay folks had cleanup/cleaning and then the plumber. So this is what I have so far:
Elf Wizard
Str 10 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 18 Wis 10 Cha 8

Traits
Warrior of Old: +2 Initiative
Focused Mind: +2 to concentration checks

Arcane Bond: Familiar - Toad
Arcane School: Conjuration
Opposition Schools: Enchantment and Evocation

Feat: Improved Initiative

Skills:
Spellcraft 8
Knowledge (Arcana) 8
Knowledge (Nature) 8
Knowledge (Planes) 8
Which would leave 2 more skill points to assign. Since you guys have been playing, you'd have a better idea which other Knowledge skill(s) would be useful or if Appraise and/or Linguistics would be better choices.

I'm looking for any and all feedback/suggestions/etc.
:)

No problem! Welcome back :)

Your build looks pretty solid to me. I'd have considered picking necromancy as an opposition school instead since that is semi-banned in this world and only available to evil necromancers, but the GM reminded me below that it can't be done.

On the familiar, I personally don't like familiars that grant +3 hp to their master as a main benefit since that HP increase doesn't scale with higher levels. Effectively, it's a huge hp increase at level 1 and 2 but it becomes less and less significant the more class levels and HP you normally have. Investing in durability is probably still a good idea, but then I'd go for a familiar that grants +2 to fort saves instead. Many 'save or die/suck' effects go from fortitude and a flat +10% chance to make that save never becomes obsolete, especially with normally low fort saves on casters. That said, If you have good roleplaying purposes for a toad, go for it!

The other skillpoints, the best uses are probably dungeoneering and religion so you have all 5 identification knowledge skills. But pick what you like and suits the character's background best! After level 1, you can spread around points to get at least 1 rank in all skills you want anyway.

Opposition schools imply you are able to cast that school's spells/have access to them, they just cost more slots to cast.

As necromancy is necromancers exclusive, it is unavailable to choose as an opposition school.

Which reminds me of a spell i forgot to put in the guide as difficult to get. Form of the Dragon. But a few people know it.

A familiar with +4 initiative is nice as well. Starting with +12 initiative is nothing to sneeze at.

Have a kineticist with +15. 9 out of 10 he went first.

Pretty good, but I'll raise you a bard with +24-ish! Banner of the ancient kings + cha for initative + circlet of pursuasion + improved intiative + reactionary + usually hightened awareness + sometimes good hope. I guess the circlet was a bit cheesy in retrospect, but wanted to see how far it could be pushed without stuff like mythic tiers/powers.

For the record: Brunhild is ready to shoot the man the second the girl is gone. I don't want to ruin your plan, Daniel. So throwing this here, OOC, that he'll need to do something to stop her from initiating combat. And if he does, she is still going to be very angry at him IC, though please know that OOC there are no hard feelings.

For the record on my part, Estelle would try to fight as well. Even though it looks like my diplomacy check failed. I guess I was hoping either the earlier charisma roll or the current RP/trying to appeal to shared background would help convincing the soldiers to not join the thief. But if they do, and we're now outnumbered, she'd probably still fight. If only because she believes he will betray us anyway and kill Sally to dispose of witnesses/inconveniences.

After all, if she dies, she was last seen leaving the town with us, not them. Very convenient if he also wants to not deal with locals accusing him of kidnapping in the middle of this contest.

Whether we stand a chance, I don't know. I guess it depends on where the second team is and if they can help us in time.

If he does, however, really hand over Sally in exchange for the salvage, she'd be up for hunting him down asap. Or rushing to the town to explain things and set a trap when they try to hand in the items.

I don't have any OOC grievances about whatever happens towards anyone though.

none at all! Its all part of the game! I didn't expect people to agree per say. If it helps, OOC Daniel plans to hunt the man down and bring him to justice. Just, when "innocent" lives are not on the line. Wealth is easier to get back than to raise the dead haha. Daniel has no intent to surrender his or the groups weapons. And, as soon as Sal injures or tries to leave with Sally, his one bargaining chip is gone and Daniel will roll 3 natural 20s to smite him. Trust me XD.

Which is why he stated the terms as- Let her go unharmed, take the items we found, leave.

If any of those aren't done, then, its a brawl. I don't know how smart Sal is, but he may not want to risk his life in a fight when he can make a score and book it. Though, that's probably a coin toss.

I only put out things we can afford to lose, so we don't absolutely HAVE to fight if he accepts that (and if he doesn't, I'll fight before I give up any contest item we don't have two of), but I'm all for Brunhild's plan honestly, and if Alexis' group is found, they might back us up.

I just worry that the DM is playing us with that comment about it not being likely that we can kill him. We get sent here with horrible weapons and no money, and then she drops like a level 5 bully on us. :) Even so, I'm not afraid to die in a TPK. I'll just come back as a different character and THEN kill him. :)

I quite like Daniel, and hope to see him obtain his first paladin level. So, for what its worth. I'd rather -not- TPK if possible XD.

I quite like Daniel, and hope to see him obtain his first paladin level. So, for what its worth. I'd rather -not- TPK if possible XD.

Yeah yeah, I know... you're attached, but I think you could also be attached to Daniel's twin brother. :)

I only put out things we can afford to lose, so we don't absolutely HAVE to fight if he accepts that (and if he doesn't, I'll fight before I give up any contest item we don't have two of), but I'm all for Brunhild's plan honestly, and if Alexis' group is found, they might back us up.

I just worry that the DM is playing us with that comment about it not being likely that we can kill him. We get sent here with horrible weapons and no money, and then she drops like a level 5 bully on us. :) Even so, I'm not afraid to die in a TPK. I'll just come back as a different character and THEN kill him. :)

Hm. I don't recall Chyro saying something among those lines. Must be my selective memory :) Though, from the way thug guy operates, I don't get the feeling he's intended to be an invincibly strong boss. He goes around hiring other people to do basic exploration for him, gets very upset with them if it doesn't work, then resorts to taking a hostage to extort others to still do it for him. Which might fit with a zero risk approach, but then he also appears at the scene himself anyway to do it in person. I'm more getting 'cowardly sleazeball making the most out of for him favorable circumstances' vibes than 'oh god this guy is so skilled we'd never stand any chance if this came to a fight'. But that's just my interpretation.

... it was mostly a joke, but this is what was said:

"A greenhorn looking one like you, killing me? Not going to happen."

Knowing you're doing something alright. The players would love to kill that bastard NPC.

I just worry that the DM is playing us with that comment about it not being likely that we can kill him. We get sent here with horrible weapons and no money, and then she drops like a level 5 bully on us.

......

who is Daniel closest too? I'm assuming Sal, as he had moved closer to him to negotiate.

My interpretation of the map is that Cyan is the thug that walked forward to take Astella's junk as part of her ruse. That guy is closest by far, and Sal holding Sally (in before it's secretly her dad or something!) is 20 feet behind him.

CMD higher than 17 flat footed? We might be in trouble. That means between strength and BaB he’s got at least +8. I...don’t think AC13 (charged) Brunhild is in a safe place.

Dex also applies to CMD IIRC. And if he has Uncanny dodge, he is not considered flat footed.

Good point. Had completely forgotten about that. So most likely in a bad spot, rather than a suicidal one. :)

If we kill the main guy, no one else is getting paid, so that might remove some of the other's bad guys' motivation.

A familiar with +4 initiative is nice as well. Starting with +12 initiative is nothing to sneeze at.

I don't think the +4 Initiative options are in the Core rulebook though. A greensting scorpion would be nice!

Ah, yeah. I remember running into that issue too once. That said, I don't think we're using core rulebook material only, just that the classes are limited to the base classes in the core rulebook? Please correct me if i'm wrong. A familiar from a different book or source might still be possible then?

@Daniel, just to make sure, there is an enemy two squares in front of you, and he's blocking the direct charge path to Sal i think, just like either Sally or Brunhild. Are you still going to charge Sal rather than the guy right in front of us/are you still able to do so? We could also try flanking the close enemy and heading for Sal the next turn?

No, you are correct in the classes.

Where will the wizard be from? Scorpions are easiest to find in Bracada's desert, Barrow Downs, outskirts Erathia bordering Krewlod.
Maybe some animal smuggler is pawning off familiar animals, who knows.

Bracada seemed to make sense as Gavin Magnus is a wizard. If allowed to take the Greensting Scorpion, I'll go with that for a familiar.

I haven't seen the map. I'll look when I get home, but I assumed I was in between brunhild and sal. Since I had attempted to stop them from shooting at Sal.

If possible I'd move around the man to get to sal if I had to. I didn't charge

The map is in the DM's tagline under "Battle map" (and also in my tagline though obviously my link gets outdated when she changes maps sometimes, but it is up to date right now)

made my movement, I have enough to not provoke.

I don't think full defense will help you while blinded, as full defense is a dodge bonus, and anytime you lose dex to AC, you lose dodge bonus I believe. Might be worth taking a swing :3

I don't think you can contribute to flanks either while blinded, iirc. Iirc, everything is treated as having total concealment vs you.

That aside though, since I forgot last round, Brunhild dropping her bow to charge-grapple the BBEG is an absolutely epic move!

Wanted to ask this since it might become relevant now that I'm stuck: who is carrying the shortsword we found in the temple?

It's one point of slashing damage on average over her dagger so it doesn't matter *that* much, but it might help reaching 15 slashing damage on the goo. And I guess it's fairly credible she carries it since she's tied for the highest strength/carrying mule and Daniel has a better sword already? Plus the others seem to use bows primarily. Also fine to roll if she's carrying it or such.

The shortsword is in the list of things that Astella left in the loot pile that is out in the open.

I’m a “dice falls as they fall” kind of person. So in that spirit, if there was sneak attack please role it. Plus...I doubt it would be more than 2d6 so she should survive.

And Estelle, thanks! :)

No rogue levels.

did I miss where Daniel took more damage? I have -5 from the bow, and -2 from the sword from cyan.

Not that 5HP is that much of a difference from 1hp in the "Am I still fighting" train. Though, it -may- make a difference.

Also, just to let you know, when/if Sal tries to 5ft to flank Daniel (if he does) Daniel will use step-up to move with him and deny the flank. (or cyan).

He hasn't used it yet however, as he hasn't needed to. So hopefully it'll be a surprise :3

Ah yes, that was something Gm error related. Refunded.

no worries! A lot going on, and you are putting a lot of effort into the posts! Which I applaud! I was just checking in case I had missed something myself.

As a side note... we uh, we have any healing left for the day?

Daniel, when you said you stepped back in description, did you mean 5ft?
Otherwise, your icon is still in place.

And thanks for the compliment. :)

No apologies, that was just flavor text! I should have written "stepping back from the thrust". Which is my bad. I had to 5ft to attack Sal, so couldn't move again. I'll start listing actions in OOC to help out. He is just prepared to use his step-up feat if Cyan or Sal try to get flanking.

Example-
0C0
0DS
000

if Cyan goes-
000
CDS
000

Daniel would go-

0D0
C0S
000

or the like.

@Astella Could I request one round of inspire courage for this turn? It eliminates the chance of Estelle not being able to cut herself free. Though I'd understand if the situation is too chaotic and/or such considerations are too metagamy to go for.

Daniel, I have one heal spell, but I couldn't have gotten to you and healed you this round, so I did something else, sorry.

curse human archers and their precise shot! Humans extra feat is OP! lol.

And I meant more for when Daniel goes down.

You can't "move" on the grid during a charge. Has to be a perfect straight path from A to B. However, as long as something isn't impassable, or difficult terrain, you can shift around it. During a run difficult terrain would just take an extra movement as normal, so a tree, unless its a big one, likely counts as difficult and so is avoidable. I just had a funny picture of him booking it into the trees, turning around to look at us, and whammo.

Also, high-rollers from the yogs is great.

I'd refer to this link.

Though granted, forests can be of mixed terrains.
Consider Sal to be 85ft off the map instead.

Miscalc on my part prior. Unimpeded, he could go 120ft running, 1/4th was on the map, and 1/2 is through the forest.

Thats interested, its not RAW, and there was never an FAQ, but I'd be totally fine running it that way. I don't have a "you must follow the rules!" mentality, I just bring something up if incase something was forgotten or overlooked. Which I've done plenty in my F2F GMing.

So, just to say this, if I bring up a rule about X, please don't think I'm trying to say we must play it that way, or that I'll be uspet/am upset from it, or whatever. I'm merely wanting to make sure it wasn't overlooked, as I hope my players would do for me.

Though, I think it may be easier to base on a grid perspective, since you always know which square you are in, and are certain you can make the charge.

Sorry, I have -0- qualms with you taking the dagger, I only said steals as a bit of a joke. And I'm not sure who had the dagger. I forgot we even -had- a masterwork dagger.

[Press Tab to sort inventory]

Silly question but do you guys register these characters as PF 1st edition PCs?

Silly question but do you guys register these characters as PF 1st edition PCs?

Sorry, I'm not entirely sure what you mean. Could you clarify? Register them? Register them where? But yes, it's 1st edition pathfinder rules so I would have done so If I had to somewhere.