PFS2: Breaking the Storm by GM Redeux (Inactive)

Game Master redeux

Yup!

For reference I have my GM screen with all of this data already in it. I then have:

If you want to catch me on a technicality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GcgS79_TR0

Astrid has reactive shield. Would that help? I can't manage a link for that feat at the moment

Reactive Shield
Yes, that would've changed it to a hit instead of crit. Let me know and I'll update it

Reactive Shield

Yes, that would've changed it to a hit instead of crit. Let me know and I'll update it

Yes please. Astrid will use it

Ah, I didn't know that about the aoo thing. Never really paid attention to the exact wording of it. So if I were to try to move away from something that has an aoo, not step, actually 25 foot move and went down from that aoo, I would move at least one square before going down, right?

Edit: Okay, nevermind, if I stand up, according to the wording, I still stand up, but... If you use a move action but don’t move out of a square, the trigger instead happens at the end of that action or ability. So going down while trying to move away means I don't move any squares away.

Your "edit" is correct -- Standing up you get to have the benefit of standing vs the attack since the reaction is at the end of your action. For a move action, the reaction occurs before you would move so if you were dropped then it would be before you moved from the threatened square.

GM, I re-read the original Dolok Tree post and the slides, and it says the Brown Dolok Tree ensnares all creatures in a 20-foot cone - which I originally read as radius.

Jakoby is wondering:

1) Can it be aimed, or is it omnidirectional?
2) Does it trigger against the first creature to step nearby? Each? How does it choose?
3) What about vertically, like a creature flying above it?

Nature (Expert) +15 or 22 w/ Assurance

1. It is aimed
2. I'll be aiming it towards the largest cluster of enemies, though if an ally is inside of that cone then they will be hit as well.
3. Sure.
4. I'm only going to have the brown tree activate if an enemy is range. But if it does activate (because of enemy) then it is going to target the enemy/enemies and then any ally will be collateral damage.

In short, you can be near it, just try not to be in the middle of a cluster of enemies. Good life lesson with/without brown dolok trees ;)

Astrid will change her exploration activity from Avoid Notice to Defend for future battles.

Also how long ago did Jakoby and I activate our darkvision goggles? They have a duration of one hour. Will they last through the next fight?

Still within the hour, this combat occurs pretty much 12 minutes after the first attack.

And there is sufficient light between the Violet Trees and the torches that everyone should be fine to see if they lack darkvision

Do we need to make a save for each dog?

Just one save. It's just from one dog and then you're immune for 24h

missed that in high tier these hounds are Large. So updated that on slides. If they look bigger than they did previously it's because they are!

Sidenote: Seeing as there is evil damage, Greezgux has the Resist Corruption Vigilant Seal Boon so himself and all allies adjacent to him have Resistance to Evil (3).

Sidenote: Seeing as there is evil damage, Greezgux has the Resist Corruption Vigilant Seal Boon so himself and all allies adjacent to him have Resistance to Evil (3).

Yeah I noticed that. I've been debating whether resistance 3 is better than concealment. I think I'll step and opt for resistance since I'll likely get caught in the brown tree's cone if I stay where I am.

Fearsome (Frightened 1) and Bow (Stuck) Critical Procs!

I believe the bow crit specialization sadly doesn't proc since the Red Warbeast isn't Jakoby's prey. Or was there something else?

You’ve dedicated yourself to learning the intricacies of your weapons. Your proficiency ranks for simple and martial weapons and unarmed attacks increases to expert. You gain access to the critical specialization effects of all simple and martial weapons and unarmed attacks when attacking your hunted prey.

@ GM Redux
Shouldn't red have had to make a reflex save from the brown tree's roots as well as green? Also you have Astrid listed as prone and concealed. She is neither.

Jakoby wrote:

Fearsome (Frightened 1) and Bow (Stuck) Critical Procs!

I believe the bow crit specialization sadly doesn't proc since the Red Warbeast isn't Jakoby's prey. Or was there something else?

Ranger Weapon expertise wrote:

You’ve dedicated yourself to learning the intricacies of your weapons. Your proficiency ranks for simple and martial weapons and unarmed attacks increases to expert. You gain access to the critical specialization effects of all simple and martial weapons and unarmed attacks when attacking your hunted prey.

You are correct.

Sorry I saw mid-30s and got excited!

Sensing an opportunity to finish off her nearest opponent Astrid drops her hammer and draws her shortsword, slashing at the beast as she does so.

[dice=quick draw shortsword vs red-flat footed]1d20+18
[dice=damage-slashing]2d6+7

She follows up with a thrust at the mongrel's chest.

[dice=strike-shortsword vs red-flat footed]1d20+18-4
[dice=damage piercing]2d6+7

She turns and points her sword at the hound threatening Greezgux.

"Don't think I've forgotten about you. You're next, you mangy cur!

[dice=intimidate-demoralize vs green]1d20+16

Astrid has intimidating glare

Quickdraw, strike, demoralize

Well that was disappointing. Here's what was supposed to happen.

Astrid quickdraws her sword and crits the dog. Finishing it off. Then she sudden charges to the other side of Greezgux and attacks the green dog. Finally by finishing a move adjacent to Greezgux that triggers his sneaky goblin move reaction and lets him take a step.

Oh well. Hopefully Ro or the bleed or maybe on of the trees can finish off the dog. He shouldn't have more than about 5 hp left.

@astrid Looks like Red goes down with your first strike. Yes, 145 hp instead of 150! so you'd have 1 action left.

Notably killed it with exactly enough damage so both Ro's support and quinoline's splash played a part in saving the extra action(s) from trying to take it down.

@Quinoline

You were knocked prone and frightened. Unless I'm missing something you didn't drop your shield and should have one action remaining.

Correct, you only drop held items if you fall unconscious. Knocked down you can keep your grip.

Also most GMs I've played with say that a shield is strapped to your arm.

GM redeux, what is your opinion about that? Are shields held or strapped on?

Good question!

TLDR - Sturdy shields specifically are held (CRB588). Bucklers are strapped. Non-bucklers are held unless it is a specific shield that says it is strapped.

Longer version -

For logistical reasons, I need to make a Crafting check for Quinoline's downtime now.

Lead time for sovereign glue x2, begin 3/4 days, 1 day, end 4/4 days
Crafting, Level 7 item (DC 24), Crafter's Eyepiece, Specialty Crafting, Impeccable Crafter: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 2 = 33 => Critical Success (4 gp/day)
Crafting sovereign glue x2, begin 55/110, 11 days @ 4 gp/day, end 99/110 gp

Greezgux's violet tree then heals Astrid

Astrid is out of range of that tree. Greezgux is in range and it looks like he would be healed to full.

Thanks, will get that updated in next post! was trying to get the update in before my Abom Vaults VTT session this morning

full update in morning (gmt-4) but astrid takes pink out, i'll redirect Zac/Ros attacks/actions to white

With Pink down, I'm pretty sure Ro could reach White (60 feet Flying) without having to enter the Brown Tree's range (as he does not want to become snagged!) while also leaving one square room below him for Astrid or another PC to occupy!

If he couldn't cut this distance in a single Stride, instead he would veer towards a much closer Orange, staying as close to the party and central melee as possible while still getting within attacking reach.

I put both Ro's on the Map - please erase one!

Astrid should be at -43 and not -13.

I'm on my phone right now and can't move my token. Would someone please move Astrid 20 feet to the east?

Moved Astrid and corrected HP for next update. Thanks! Funny enough i made the same mistake with Greezgux's tree again, but caught myself---partially. I deleted the sentence and healing (for 30!) but forgot to take it off the tracker /facepalm.

Catching up now!

So this is a bit of a pickle. If it takes more than one success per leader (which seems likely based on previous scenarios) then I don't know how we'll be able to succeed in assisting all of them. Since we have so few attempts to help we might only need to succeed once per leader though so I suggest we start with Quinoline making a crafting check to aid Jaldan and Jakoby making a survival check to aid Ceneviel and see how things go from there. Jakoby and Quinoline have the highest scores in 3 and 4 of the checks, and Zac is pretty good at two. Greezgux is trained in the fewest of the listed skills and Astrid is quite well rounded but but not particularly skilled in any of the listed skills.

I sketched out a little chart and made a tentative list should we try to complete every task.

Quinoline-Jaldan at +19 Crafting, Dolok at +15 Occultism
Zac-Ceneviel at +15 Athletics, Chief Drogburg at +11 Society
Jakoby Ceneviel at +18 Survival, Nelket at +14 Medicine
Greezgux Nelket at +9 Medicine, Jaldan at +12 Theivery
Astrid-Dolok at +12 Occultism, and Chief Drogburg at +11 Society

It's not everyone's strongest check for each one but I think it gives us the best shot at all the tasks. Obviously if we chose to skip one of the tasks we can get two more attempts at the other four. This will likely be the best course of action if we need more than a single success at each task.

The only other thing I can think of to mention is that the lores are usually a lower DC. Astrid can attempt them at +9 and Jakoby at +8. I am unsure if those lower DCs will be worth the lower bonuses however.

To clarify when it says, you cannot help the same leader twice, does that mean you the individual, or you the team?

Can you share your table? I was just about to make one.

Quinoline's Nature is +11, not +15.

Some of the modifiers (like Quinoline's Crafting and Jakoby's Survival) are high enough that maybe we can crit and cover multiple successes.

I am assuming it means the individual. If it does mean only a single attempt per leader then it makes our choices much easier. We simply send the best bonus for each leader.

Quinoline-Crafting +19 vs Jaldan
Jakoby- Survival +18 vs Ceneviel
Quinoline-Society +14 vs Chief Drogburg

The last two are trickier. we could do either:

Astrid +12 Occult vs Dolok
Jakoby +14 Medicine vs Nelket

Or we could do:

Jakoby Nature +15 vs Dolok
Astrid Medicine +11 vs Nelket.

Can you share your table? I was just about to make one.

Quinoline's Nature is +11, not +15.

Some of the modifiers (like Quinoline's Crafting and Jakoby's Survival) are high enough that maybe we can crit and cover multiple successes.

I did my table on a piece of paper and not excel unfortunately

Also That should be Quinoline +15 Occult vs Dolok instead of Nature. Looking back I also messed up Zac vs Chief Drogburg. Should be 11 society instead of Occultism. I have edited my post to correct both of these.

Hey Sudoku People!
Thought it was safe to go and forge ahead with my master skill.
Thinking either "Maintaining the Ritual" (Dolok Darkfur) or "Tending Wounded Non-Combatants" (Nelket) for my next trick but waiting to be deployed by the, uh, maths.

GM - Jakoby has Assurance in Nature @ 22 - would she be able to know if that result would constitute a success?

To clarify when it says, you cannot help the same leader twice, does that mean you the individual, or you the team?

You the individual

GM - Jakoby has Assurance in Nature @ 22 - would she be able to know if that result would constitute a success?

You'd know Jakoby's 32 that was rolled was not a crit success, so assurance@22 would seem unlikely to help.

If it takes more than one success per leader (which seems likely based on previous scenarios) then I don't know how we'll be able to succeed in assisting all of them. Since we have so few attempts to help we might only need to succeed once per leader though

You'll be getting a reward/benefit based on the degree of success. Multiple successes won't benefit, but you could get a crit success to get a higher benefit. So if you get a crit success as Quinoline did, then that leader is effectively done

Note that you do get to know the degree of success before committing a hero point so you can always wait to reroll if you'd prefer

I didn't know that. (!!) I guess people usually post the rerolls together in PbP and it's never come up in F2F/VTT? Weird, I specifically thought you had to decide before finding out.

To be honest, I wouldn't have used the Hero Point if I had known it was a Success. I'll let you decide if we should retcon or not, I'm fine either way.

Quote:

Note that you do get to know the degree of success before committing a hero point so you can always wait to reroll if you'd prefer

I didn't know that. (!!) I guess people usually post the rerolls together in PbP and it's never come up in F2F/VTT? Weird, I specifically thought you had to decide before finding out.

To be honest, I wouldn't have used the Hero Point if I had known it was a Success. I'll let you decide if we should retcon or not, I'm fine either way.

Yup, Here's the reference on that.

Note that normally a discord quote by a designer wouldn't confirm much, but Mark replies down-thread that this was more just pointing out a rule from PF1 that no longer exists.

As far as PbP goes, yes, it gets a little weird. As a PC I usually just add OOC text and say that I'll reroll if that's a fail/crit fail, then the GM can handle rerolling. and as a GM I usually will post DC's when it seems inconsequential to prevent back-and-forth. For something like this skill challenge the DC's aren't going to be known until you try. As your characters attempt they'll get a better grasp of what they're up against.

I'll go ahead and retcon here. The rewards on slide 4 have been updated (you get 4 moderate acid flasks and 1 freezing ammunition instead).

Jakoby is able to attune herself to the land and aid in Dolok's ritual. While Dolok still participates in the ritual, you can see he is able to relax somewhat with the help of Jakoby. Success!

Jakoby soon feels a deep connection with the healing land, and has now gained fire resistance 10 that only applies to fire damage dealt by environmental fire.

GM - Jakoby had rolled to "Restore Charred Lands" w/ Ceneviel for her First Check if that changes anything!

Also, Jakoby is tracking these outcomes in her Character Bar under a Spoiler!

Skid's got some explainin' to do, it's time for ... NERDAGE!.

To be clear up front, I'm not asking for a revision, it's just a mathematical curiosity I noted.

Quinoline's success for her Crafting roll is actually mathematically below expectation. If the DC is 24, the EV of her roll is [6*(+2)+10*(+1)+1*(-1)]/20 = +1.05, and if the DC is 23, EV is +1.10. This is greater than a guaranteed success (+1.00), and in the case where she has infinite Hero Points, she'd be justified in using a Hero Point to reroll a Success (!!!).

Of course, Hero Points are worth more than 0.05 Successes, so it wouldn't be worth it, but it was rather funny to note.

Since Dolok is the only leader that we have not succeed with I recommend Jakoby and possibly Greezgux attempt to assist him.

NERDAGE!

Ah, but, a Paradox imposes it's ugly Chimera!

Probability is a pure math indeed, and the vantage point of before an event, and after an event, are not situated within a linear flow, for through the passage of time's arrow, do we encounter new information, muddying the path in such a way that looking back to speculate does not simply rewind the causation: it may change it utterly! (Actually: We have no way of knowing!)

In a word, saying "I would have if" is a non-sensical phrase - a fantasy constructed in hindsight!

Since Dolok is the only leader that we have not succeed with I recommend Jakoby and possibly Greezgux attempt to assist him.

I'm afraid we have now struck out with Dolok Darkfur.

Astrid Gertasdottir wrote:

Since Dolok is the only leader that we have not succeed with I recommend Jakoby and possibly Greezgux attempt to assist him.

I'm afraid we have now struck out with Dolok Darkfur.

I don't understand. Neither Jakoby nor Greezgux have interacted with him yet and both have an attempt available.

rainzax wrote:

Astrid Gertasdottir wrote:

Since Dolok is the only leader that we have not succeed with I recommend Jakoby and possibly Greezgux attempt to assist him.

I'm afraid we have now struck out with Dolok Darkfur.

I don't understand. Neither Jakoby nor Greezgux have interacted with him yet and both have an attempt available.

I am under the impression it is two tries per leader, pass or fail. Perhaps a false impression!?

I read that as no character can talk to the same leader twice. Only two attempts for the entire party per leader seems overly harsh.