All OOC and non-game-related chatter goes here!
Sadly, my hobgoblin is built on GM credit for 1-01. I so very badly want to try out my hobgoblin hellknight armiger. :)
What kind of investigator do you have? I've been wanting to build a medical investigator. But I could keep working on making my (not-a-healer) oracle fit my vision. Then there's a druid idea that I had... but my -2001 is a druid and going strong.
No worries Hawthwile, I expect it'll probably take a couple of days for folks to filter in, decide on characters/pregens or possibly build a character, get profiles and stuff in order, ask questions, etc.
Since this is meant to be a learning experience for myself and possibly others like Nomadical, I anticipate our pace might be a little more on the relaxed side of things - though I'll still try to get us done in a timely manner so as not to keep characters tied up for too long! That said, I am going to be out of town at a convention June 10th - 14th and probably won't be doing any posting those days.
I'll also note that while I'm open to possibly running additional scenarios or quests after this scenario if everyone's enjoying themselves (including me), I don't currently have any plans to make this a long-term thing. Nothing personal, just not a commitment I'm comfortable making at this time :)
I'm here. Not 100% sure what I'll bring, depends on who's free.
There are face-to-face conventions going again? Where? Unfortunately, I'm back to work that weekend, but I had assumed that F2F cons hadn't started back up yet.
They've got some COVID precautions in effect (capped attendance, limitation on # of players per table) but it's happening. They were also still sticking to the mask requirement but that was before the recent CDC update so who knows?
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So far for characters it looks like we've got:
Hawthwile - Investigator
Nomadical - Pregen; probably melee-focused
Massee - ???
BT - ???
I've got a 5th player that hasn't checked in yet that seemed to be leaning towards playing the Ezren pregen.
There's also a possible 6th that's yet to check in but I'm not sure what they'll be playing.
Checking in now. Just need to get Ezren loaded into my profile and I'll be ready to go. If someone needs another role filled I am more than amenable to switching Pregens.
Looking to get one last player corralled and then we can look towards getting started, possibly over the weekend or early next week if that works for everyone.
In the meantime, does anyone have questions about their character or 2e rules that they're uncertain about?
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Alright, Iltag's profile has been created and he's ready to roll!
No questions about 2e at this time, though I'm sure I'll find some stuff later since this is my first time playing an investigator. Thankfully, he doesn't have any of the feats that make things more complicated for GMs (like That's Odd).
^Absolutely. Play who you like :)
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Nah, but I'm fine to change because I want everyone to feel like they've got something that only they can do. That's tough if three of us are all clambering to do the same thing. Either some people always feel shut down and that they don't get to actually play, or everyone's on edge trying to make sure they don't overstep themselves.
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Just a quick note; I'll be finalizing some things with my slides and whatnot over the weekend but I won't look to get us started proper until probably Tuesday, since I'm working the next three nights starting tonight.
Ok think I have Ezren prepped now.
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I, too, an using a no-That's Odd investigator.
Rule bending class features:
1. My Forensic Medicine methodology grants my Battle Medicine additional healing equal to my level and, most deviant, the target is only bolstered against Battle Medicine for 1 hour instead of 1 day.
2. I have a largely ceremonial familiar due to taking the Witch Dedication as an Ancient Elf. We'll see how that plays out.
3. The Known Weaknesses investigator feat allows me to make a free action Recall Knowledge check every time I use Devise Stratagem. A critical success on the Recall Knowledge check grants me (and all my allies in ear shot as long as I'm not trying to be sneaky) a +1 to hit on my attack vs. the target of the Devise Stratagem (and my allies' next attack before the start of my next turn).
4. Speaking of Devise Stratagem: the 1 action ability allows investigators to choose a target and roll a d20. If we like the number, we can make an attack against that target using that number and our Intelligence modifier instead of Strength/Dexterity. If we don't like that number, we can do something else, including striking a different target, and that number and action is just wasted (unless the Recall Knowledge roll was useful, then it was just like a 1 action Recall Knowledge).
5. Less likely to come up, my Forensic Medicine methodology grants the Forensic Acumen feat, which lets me do 5 minute autopsies.
EDIT: Oh, there's more. Sorry.
6. Forlorn changes my Successes on saves vs. emotion to Critical Successes.
7. I have Streetwise, which lets me use Society for Gather Information and, since I'm a Pathfinder Society agent living in Absalom, Gather Information with a 1 action Recall Knowledge check instead of spending hours around town.
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Trap Finder lets me roll Perception checks for traps, even if I don't realize it's there. Also I get a +1 bonus against traps.
^Thanks for all the character notes!
Okay folks, I've got a link to our slide deck up at the top of the campaign page as well as in my GM tagline. If you haven't already, please fill out your character information on Slide #2 and place yourself where you'd like to be in the marching order on Slide #3.
@Nomadical - I'm not sure how much reading you've done on PF2 or what sourcebooks you have available at your disposal but if you're uncertain as to what 'Exploration Mode' means, AoN has the text available for it here. Long story short, Exploration Mode is where you're doing things other than fighting and each character's selection of an Exploration Activity gives me an idea of what they'll usually be doing during that time. This can then allow me to preemptively roll such things as Recall Knowledge checks if you're Investigating or Seek checks to notice secret doors and the like if you're Searching.
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Thanks, Lady. I think my hesitation came from not knowing what others would do in Exploration Mode also. Like, if no one is Scouting, then Jirelle could do that to give everyone the +1 to Init. Her Stealth is higher than her Perception, so mechanically Avoid Notice makes more sense but doesn't seem to fit the flashy nature of the character. Maybe after I've been through a couple encounters and the transition from Exploration Mode to Encounter Mode, I'll have a better grasp of how it works and flows.
Any chance a spot in the middle of the order could be made for Jirelle, assuming Bubba wants to be in the front row.
And FWIW, the text "Default Exploration ( ?????? )" in her tag line is what's in the community bb-code file, so I just copied and pasted and figured I'd sort it out later. I've updated it to Scouting unless we need to change that.
SOON :)
(Also, please feel free to discuss preferred Exploration Activities, whether in or out of character.)
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When it comes to the default exploration activity I almost always go with search, and then make adjustments based on the situation. Maybe you character has some unique quirks that focus their attention on some other detail though like sneakiness, paranoia, etc.
I thought I read that you can also have something to do with deception/bluff for roguey type of characters and initiative/sneak attack.
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Using the Charisma skills for initiative more usually pertains to a social encounter or arises from a social situation that turns to combat.
E.g. I'm going to try to charm them with a my wit to get in close before drawing my blade and stabbing them might lend to Deception for initiative. But that would be based on the opponent(s) being willing to talk in the first place. You can't, at default, have an 18 CHA/8 WIS character with Expert in Deception go around with "Deceiving" or "Bluffing" as their Exploration mode to try to get the higher number as your initiative.
^Yeah, pretty much what Pawero said. A lot of that hinges on both encountering foes intelligent enough/capable of speaking to you *and* that said foes are inclined to even speak to you in the first place. My experience so far with playing 2e scenarios is limited but I know in 1e most encounters with intelligent foes tended to present said foes as being unwilling to talk things out or consider surrender.
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In other news, we're officially off to the races! Please introduce yourselves over in Gameplay and such when you get a chance :)
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Having played and run this, I offer this unsolicited suggestion: everyone should meet with the same NPCs at the same time. While it seems like a party where you should mingle about as you like, it can be a bit of a bear on the GM if people are going to different NPCs. There's also vaguely explained mechanics that only work if multiple PCs are interacting with a given NPC.
As awkward as it might be to envision, Pawero is correct that it'll behoove the group to talk to people as, well, a group. Especially since Aid has changed to usually require a DC 20 to succeed (though the GM has some leeway to adjust this up or down for easy/difficult tasks). So unless you're reeeeeal confident you can hit that mark, it's more effective for each PC to make their own check instead of trying to help someone else.
Of course I'll explain the rest of the details very shortly.
I'm happy to juggle multiple conversations though yes, it does tend to make more work for me to do it. Did you know that one of my first games after GM School was #8-06 Reaping What We Sow and when the party got to where they needed to go they promptly scattered in six different directions to look around and talk to people? Because they did. Good times :)
@Maldlethu - Hey, your reaction to the method of invitation is similar what my bard Pooka had to say on the matter, albeit for different reasons ;)
And yep, I did offer to pick up a 1e PaizoCon PbP that unexpectedly lost their GM. Hopefully won't affect the pace of this game or TL;DR too much though I am on a time limit with it so they'll get posting priority if I'm crunched for time on any given day/evening.
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Hah! I blame Blathers for Maldlethu's strong opinions on things, but it makes him more entertaining to play so I'm not complaining. XD
Speaking of opinionated, I've run enough PF2 games to have a glyph Hero Point to pass out to another player. Because I'm playing Maldlethu, it has to go to a spellcaster. That means that @Ezrin starts the game with an extra Hero Point! Woo!
^Excellent!
Everyone does begin the adventure with 1 Hero Point, except for Ezren who is able to start with 2 thanks to Hawthwile/Maldlethu :)
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Sounds like that would go to Jirelle then, since I think Ezren & Jirelle are the only two new players.
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Since this is a learning table, I have an alternative interpretation on Pursue a Lead:
I have noticed several people using Pursue a Lead quite liberally. Some have gone as far as "investigating" a pole to gain a +1 bonus on their Athletics check to pole vault (and subsequently the Clue In reaction to grant another character a +1 on their Athletics check). I am not convinced that is how the class feature is intended to be used.
While the Interrogation methodology allows you to Pursue a Lead during the course of a conversation, different from the default, which is examining a physical clue, the bonus applies to rolls used to gain information about the subject of the Investigation not simply checks related to the subject of your Investigation. I.e. it would not apply to checks used to reflect entertaining an NPC.
@Maldlethu - No worries! Between this weekend being PaizoCon Online *and* a holiday weekend here in the States (where things are beginning to open up & folks are starting to get out again), I wouldn't be surprised if forum posting largely drops from now until Monday/Tuesday.
So in light of that, no one should feel obligated to post this weekend if they've got other things to be doing. I'm off work (aside from tonight) so I'll be around to respond to any posts as necessary but folks should absolutely feel free to take the weekend off if they want :)
After rereading the ability I definitely agree with you on the '+1 Athletics to pole vault' example. This isn't meant to be a 'spam Guidance for +1' sort of thing.
On the conversational aspect I'm going to noodle it over a little more but I'm already inclined to agree with your interpretation here as well - it seems more as though it would apply to asking someone else for information about Sorrina.
As a note, my feelings on Secret Checks are mixed and so unless specifically directed otherwise by the scenario I will be exercising my right as GM to make them optional and/or to implement as I see fit. Besides, I've played with all of you long enough that I trust you to avoid metagaming.