[Gameday X] GM Zin's CORE Blood Under Absalom (Inactive)

Game Master Zin Z'arin

Wizened Crone, Female Chou, Male Chou, in that order.

I’ll try to get a better post up in gameplay but if I don’t at least you all can move to the next thing.

Haha. That's what I picked. It's in gameplay thread.

Kaya Leafwing wrote:

Wizened Crone, Female Chou, Male Chou, in that order.

I’ll try to get a better post up in gameplay but if I don’t at least you all can move to the next thing.

Haha. That's what I picked. It's in gameplay thread.

Actually I was thinking about it and I will pass on wizened crone. Either of the clowns (f or m) for Kaya fits better.

So do we think the costumes are one-to-a-person and only one of each role because that's the Fight Club budget, or because you can't have two crones in the same story, or because of meta game mechanics, and could we double up on costumes if we provided our own? Gwen is an illusionist after all and has access to disguise self.

The description makes it implicit you have to stick to your role and that wizardy-types probably shouldn't smack people with sticks the same way fighty-types are apparently not allowed to cast spells.

Forced to choose, in order she would pick the Monkey King (or more specifically the Invisible-to-start, illusion-crafting, SUPER-SECRET, SECOND MONKEY KING! It would be a very Monkey King thing to do), either Chou (as they look like the Charisma-fueled cheering section meant to rouse the audience), Wizened Crone, or if it is possible for Gwen to remain unseen (possibly off-stage) she could play the Special Effects Director. Secretly, she's always wanted to direct!

Folks could also just vote to leave her unconscious until they picked and gotten dressed.

Cruel Bandit (not that anyone asked). {glower}

Costumes are one per person for story reasons: you're improvising a theatrical performance; you can't have two of the same character in the play. You could certainly use your illusions while in combat to transform your appearance to duplicate another PC's costume, but you still have to start the performance in your own, unique costume.

Gwen, how do you create that effect for your color spray spell on the map?

I found a rainbow pinwheel gif and used one of the shapes in Slides (the adjustable one that looks like Pac-Man looking up). After adjusting Pac-Man into a pie slice I just scaled and moved the pinwheel so that only the bit I wanted showed.

Is there a story to all of this with the General & Monkey King and all? Any lines we should be saying?

The story of the Monkey King is a classic story out of China. The scenario doesn't include any of the details of the story, and I don't know it well, myself.

But no; there are no lines to be said specifically. The only thing the scenario includes are the names and costume descriptions, above.

Also, a note about nonlethal damage: Any nonlethal damage in excess of a character's normal maximum hp becomes lethal. Worry not! You're not expected to know their exact hp! You still dealt nonlethal damage in the first place, so no disqualification for nonlethal damage becoming lethal because of how much was dealt.

As much as it pains me to ask, I am assuming you removed Viridian’s critical on his illegal hasted third attack :)

The story of the Monkey King is a classic story out of China. The scenario doesn't include any of the details of the story, and I don't know it well, myself.

But no; there are no lines to be said specifically. The only thing the scenario includes are the names and costume descriptions, above.

Huh. Never heard of it. I don't really know anything about Asian mythology & stories/tales.

This helps a lot. Thanks for the link!

As much as it pains me to ask, I am assuming you removed Viridian’s critical on his illegal hasted third attack :)

Yes; in both his and Pau's cases, it was clear which was the bonus attack from haste. That attack from each post was ignored.

GM, I didn’t make a haste attack in my previous post. My extra attacks were from Flurry of Blows, so you might need to add that back in, assuming FOB attack 2 hit.

GM, I didn’t make a haste attack in my previous post. My extra attacks were from Flurry of Blows, so you might need to add that back in, assuming FOB attack 2 hit.

Oops; sorry about that. I'll update the damage with the next wrap-up post; feel free to check my math.

Welp, I’ve dished out all the damage I could and yellow stood and took it, so even though I’m about to get knocked out, I feel good about it.

Looks like our opponents are either stunned or unconscious. Do we need to keep knocking out the ones that are already stunned?

Looks like our opponents are either stunned or unconscious. Do we need to keep knocking out the ones that are already stunned?

Could just shove him off stage and into the orchestra pit. ;)

I might have wasted the invisibility spell, but I think Pau is best suited at engaging the oni while one of you sneak around it. I don’t have the ability to hit the gong right, I don’t think. Of course, if we put the oni down, we can take our time and search for the right entrance, I bet.

Well Gwen was thinking that he could have sprinted (as only a monk with haste can) past the oni pick up the mallet and ring the bell, maybe this or next turn. ;)

It is possible the oni can see invisible, but with all of Pau's speed and maneuverability he is still probably the best for moving past it. Plus, Pau has some of the best saves so if there is any shenanigans he's likely to ignore and/or survive it.

Regardless it was a gift to Pau, so he can use it as he likes.

Couple of questions...
I've been digging on the internet all day and never found a definitive answer to this:
Does a Lantern Archon's Aura of Menace apply to allies also? It looks like it does.
If it does, can an Aura be suppressed by the one emitting the aura?

(I hope you all make a good Will save in its Aura if it affects allies).

The aura of menace only applies to hostile targets. Considering you are summoning them I would assume they would consider you and the group allies.

Otherwise no one would ever summon anything as it could turn on them or their friends.

Though to be fair, I could be wrong…

That's what I thought; only affects enemies. Ok. Let's see what GM Zin says.

Light-Bright is smart enough to know who's friend or foe. And, he's very excited about meeting new friends.

Prayer is up for everyone, btw. +1 attacks, damage, saves & skills; -1 to all for enemies.

I think the key language is "hostile creature." That can only mean either a creature that is hostile to the archon or a creature the archon is hostile to. Both, I'd say. But the Pathfinders are neither; your summon is your ally and the summon of your ally is also your ally, unless somebody's doing something really weird within the rules.

Hey folks, I'll be stepping in to try and keep you guys moving until your GM returns tomorrow afternoon. Give me a few to review things and I'll get you started on the final countdown battle!

And where all these other people in the room that I very rarely hear about and almost never see? Is Gwen standing on one? Seriously though what are we supposed to be doing here exactly? Do the characters know?

The setup is that all of the Pathfinders are battling to try and reach Sifu Xho Nuo and touch him, to end the contest and claim victory. First the elemental waves had to be cleared, then once that happened, the Sifu's monks step up to provide the next challenge.

The Sifu is currently protected by a barrier but as the Pathfinders defeat his monks, well, something might happen!

As far as the other stuff, this is one of those many cases during multi-table specials where the GM is going to have to ask the players to use their imaginations and imagine that this entire room is full of Pathfinders and other monks, doing battle, because that's what's happening from a narrative standpoint :)

*edit* Also this is literally the 2nd multi-table special that was written for Pathfinder Society 1e so the, uh, writing and mechanics may leave something to be desired when you compare it to the later specials.

Thank you GM Ladile for covering while I was away!

.... the Sifu's monks step up to provide the next challenge.

Plural?!?

The Sifu is currently protected by a barrier but as the Pathfinders defeat his monks, well, something might happen!

So if I understand this correctly, he's in the room somewhere, and all we have to do is touch him, but we have to beat our way past some number of monks (who's hit points power his energy shield) first. There's also a bunch of other people in the room too, and if we fireball them we're still okay and not marked down because they all are like the people in the background of an early-2000's video fighting game.

"Sifu's" is a singular posessive.

Quote from a guide to grammar and punctuation:
"The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not. The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other than s."

Yes, he's in the room somewhere, protected by both monks (plural) and magic. The Sifu, all of his monks, and the other contestants (which include both Pathfinders and other contestants) are--for mechanical purposes--like people in the background. They can't be interacted with, and aren't even shown on our map.

If another table--who is moving and taking actions in the same space as shown on our same map--uses a fireball, it won't hit us. For no good reason other than the difficulty level of running that combat would be too much to handle in any practical sense.

As GM Ladile put it, these kinds of multi-table specials rely on us using our imaginations--and perhaps a bit of suspension of disbelief--to make the scene work.

The Illusory Cage

I'm inclined to rule that the cage provides cover to any target of attacks made through the cage by an attacker who either believes the illusion or is attacking in a way to make it look like they believe the illusion. My primary data point for this ruling is the "barred cage" version of the forcecage spell.

Anybody have any concerns about this?

That's about how I was figuring it would work, hence the attempt at pass the info along. If anything it might allow us to corner him in one place for a minute.

And yes, plural "Sifu's monks". I'm waiting for the next monk to swig his potion, step forward and tie us up for 6 rounds, and then the next, and the next, and the next, and so on.... ;)

Oh, crap. I didn't notice "monks" plural. Yowch.

Of course it could be exponentially worse if there were twenty Sifus each with their own twenty-odd monks. ;)

My guess is we only need get through the one. Maybe? And then try to touch Sifu. And that the other monks are off doing something else.

There are plenty of other monks fighting other Pathfinders in this room. Only one monk is focused on you. The room is actually quite full; you're effectively fighting alongside many other folks, weaving in and out of other combats all the time.

Strangely, none of this affects your line of sight or gives cover to any ranged attacks. :) Your lightning bolt somehow doesn't hit any of the people in between you and your target. :) The darkness spell cast at another table doesn't darken anything for you, even though you're fighting in the same physical space. :) Suspension of disbelief.

I think I would prefer to believe that the Sifu is so powerful he has the ability to create pocket dimensions for each of his monks to fight in to separately gauge the strength of each enemy party.

AKA: Dr. Strange Shenanigans

That's a much better interpretation; I love it!

FYI - I will be driving cross-country most of tomorrow and some Thursday. I will be able to post late at night. Please bot me if I am holding up the show the next two days.

Whoops! Ok. I'll retcon my turn a bit later.

That's a wrap, everyone!

Thanks so much for playing at my table. Everyone gets to roll for GameDay boons. Roll a d20 in this thread. If you roll 19 or 20, roll an additional d3 to determine what boon you won. Please PM me your email address if you win.

GMs can win boons too: 1d20 ⇒ 14

I will work on chronicles tomorrow, most likely. I will post a link here when they are ready.

Boonage: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Thanks for the game!

Boon! 1d20 ⇒ 6
If win, which one? 1d3 ⇒ 3

Wow! What a game! It was really fun and pretty interesting as a multi-table event.
Thanks a ton, GM Zin & everyone! I hope to see you all at another virtual table soon.

No Whammies, No Whammies!... Stop!!!: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Aww.

Here comes the BOON!: 1d20 ⇒ 61d3 ⇒ 2

1d20 ⇒ 7

Thanks!

Also this was for a brand new CORE character - level 1, 1XP, 500gp or whatever it is.

The game is reported! I'm didn't get chronicles done yesterday; I'm hoping to get them done before I leave work today. If not, it may take the weekend. Will update here when I have a link for you.

Hey folks! I'm working on Chronicle sheets, and you each need to make a boon choice.

Please select either the Combat, Magic, or Skill boon, and let me know which one you want in a reply here. Thanks!

☐ ☐ Combat Boon: As an immediate action, you may reroll an attack roll before success is determined. You must accept the second roll, even if it’s worse than the first roll. You may only use this ability twice. On using this ability, check one of the boxes. On using this ability the second time, check the final box and line through this boon.

☐ ☐ Magic Boon: As a standard action, you may recall a spell that you have already prepared and then cast that day. The spell is then prepared again, just as if it had not been cast. You may only use this ability twice. On using this ability, check one of the boxes. On using this ability the second time, check the final box and line through this boon.
☐ ☐ Skill Boon: As an immediate action, you may reroll a skill check before success is determined. You must accept the second roll, even if it’s worse than the first roll. You may only use this ability twice. On using this ability, check one of the boxes. On using this ability the second time, check the final box and line through this boon.

Pau will take the combat boon.

MAGIC!!!