GM ZD Breaking the Storm Arc (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

Discuss here.

So far we are a party of three. So for the first part, we will be dragging a long a pregen unless we get and additional player.

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Just to give you all a fair warning. I am a little rusty. Have not ran a PBP game in a while. I think, going on a year, so if anyone has any new tips or tricks when running 2nd ed, feel free to share.

My Bard is still 6 but I wouldn't mind playing a pregen and applying it to him.

Highest Pregen goes to 5. So your bard can take part in the first part of the Arc. But not the final 2 parts.

I'm playing a pregen in another scenario and applying it to my bard. If this grants 4 xp and the other thing gives at least 2 then I should hit level 7.

Would it be possible to play a pregen for this, and when it is done, this character will be 6th, almost 7th,

Second edition does not offer level 7 pregens. They cap at 5. You could bring your level 6 to play in part 1. But they would have to be level 7 to take part in part 2 and 3.

I would strongly prefer we have a party of four that will be level 7 or better by the start of the second scenario.

Salliss is currently level 7, he will advance to level 8 after the first scenario.

Pip has arrived! I still need to level Pip, but she is already Level 7. She will also advance to Level 8 after the first scenario. So is this going to be a two bard party?

Hmm

Agreed. Definitely want 4 players.

I did open it up part 1 to lower level characters. Those that can play all three parts though will get preference.

Okay, so this will be an all-skill party. We have two gnome bards (Herondel and Pip), one goblin alchemist (Mad Hopper), and a half-elf rogue (Saliss). Saliss, you will have to walk on your knees to blend in with this small party. I hope this doesn't have tough fights!

Hmm

Hey!

@GM - thanks for running this arc! I am so looking forward to playing it. I have experience to GM'ing scenarios from range 1-4 (and run like 5 of them:D) so I will keep my tips to myself ;) I did notice that a lot of GM's started to use Doug H Macro sheet to generate the recall knowledge rolls.

@Hmm - hey it is great to be playing with you again. If you don't have a memory to avatars, I played at your 1-30 Survivors salvation (with Dr. Mech Coy ;)) and we played Storm of the End of Times (I played Vecro - solarian) all in SFS. Great to be playing again with you, it is good to see you back!

@Bretl - I think I only played with your Dr. Mech Coy, and only once. But I am happy to change that record and add super-successful roll through The Storm Arc :D It will be a pleasure to play with you at this!

A word about Hopper - he is a goblin alchemist bomber. After gameday he is lvl 6 but I need to lvl him-up. He is a cavalier and rides on a furry grey wolf named Wolfie. I am living my dream of playing a light cavalry on a wolf like the miniatures from Warhammer fantasy battle;). The idea in a fight is for him not to get into the thick of battle but keep moving and throwing bombs. That is the theory but since in PF2 most fights end up standing next to the enemy and bashing till the other side falls he ends up very frequently in the melee range. Wolfie being mature animal helps in that as he can be an additional body with solid HP/AC and attacks.

Hopper has dubious knowledge feat which means that he has some information about a lot of topics (but not always accurate). I try to update his list of elixir and mutagens, so if you are interested in some juice let me know, it can be arranged. At this level I can usually make more than I can use. Hopper has a chronicle from plaguestone which grants him access to:
Stonebody mutagen
Energy Mutagen

Since we have a rogue I will make plenty of bottled lightnings as on hit they make the target flat-footed. So @Saliss if you are in the same init block as Hopper feel free to 'delay' after him.

Finally, I played all other metaplots scenarios from season 2, and I am interested in how it ends.

Sorry for a really long posts...

@Hopper,

Bottled Lightning would be most welcome. That will reduce how much flanking I need. Without a melee person that could be important.

Just a note on the Fall of Plaguestone boon, the Plaguestone chronicle only grants access to the lesser energy mutagens, not any higher-level versions.

So it looks like it was D'vost that Dr. Mech Coy played with. That scenario was a lot of fun!

@Everyone,

Should be fun! I am really looking forward to this scenario.

Salliss tends to move around in battle, he is now up to a 35’ movement and by the time this starts should have a wand to push it up to 45’ most of the day. He tends to fight with one hand free. He has usually done melee with his cold iron rapier.

Unfortunately Salliss doesn’t know the cyclops tongue. A lot of his adventures happened before Season 2 and I was rather late to the party unlocking the boon that gives access.

Hopefully someone else has the language since it has been important to the Iobaria arc. I don’t know how important it will be in this arc, but the language was useful in other content in Iobaria.

I have Cyclops along with a whole bunch of other languages. I will also be a master in Occultism and Legal Lore -- should we need it for this adventure in the wilds of Iobaria.

Pip Hip Hooray mainly shoots a short bow in battle. She is an enigma / maestro bard, and uses bardic knowledge and inspires courage a lot! Since we have another Maestro bard here, I will let Herondel inspire courage quite a bit -- or maybe we'll trade off so that each of us can do spells. If Saliss needs it, I can pull out my shortsword, but I am not as good with it as I am with my bow. I have a low strength and terrible damage. I would likely need to get a striking rune for it as well, but could do so if needed.

Let me be another voice commending Doug H's Knowledge sheets. They work great! Hawthwile, I have very good memories of GMing for you. It will be fun to play together.

Just a note on two bards in the team. I played a bounty in such comp (at lvl 4-5) and it worked exceptionally well when one of the bards used a different composition: like inspire defense, hymn of healing, or similar. As then they both can be used even with lingering composition.

If not, I think higher-tier fights have tendency to last longer -> may need more than two lingering compositions with inspire courage ;)

Generally, since bards are full blows spellcasters (with light armor and not terrible HP) there is no downside to having two of them.

the Plaguestone chronicle only grants access to the lesser energy mutagens, not any higher-level versions.

Yeah, I know that :( I still feel like there are fights when it could be valuable

Hey, and we have @bigguyinblack, It is a pleasure to finally play with you. I saw you on the boards, but I don't think we ever played together.

Hi Mad Hopper. Over the last year or so I have mostly been playing the card game. Just getting back into the RPGs. My last table had 3 bards and a dancing monk so 2 bards is a step down.

Out of combat Herondal uses Perform Drama for diplomatic skills or Inspire Competence to aid others in their skills.

In combat he hangs back a bit and Inspires Courage then casts. Sometimes he summons a Pugwampi if it looks advantageous.

Pip stayed awake in class so luckily our skills don't overlap much.

I haven't even read the blurb so this scenario will be new to me.

How does a November 5th start date sound? Gives you plenty of time to update your characters and possibly/hopefully draw the attention to a melee character to shore up our team.

How does a November 5th start date sound? Gives you plenty of time to update your characters and possibly/hopefully draw the attention to a melee character to shore up our team.

Sounds great to me!

Character profile updated. Will need a minor change after the weekend for purchases made.

If you're still looking for people I do have a ranger I could give tons of steriods GM credits to to get to level seven. He's currently one scenario into being level 5 but with credits from this and 4 GM chronicles he could be level 7 by the time we start part 2, assuming we don't start before the Keg's Ascension where I'm going to GM the last of those 4 scenarios.

Hey Ionic! That is great that you signed up! What a coincidence :P

@Folks - I leveled up Hopper, given that I bumped his CON while building him, he is not the worst melee PC. As always while leveling up I struggled with skill feat choices, but given that we have Hmm on the team I went with Sign Language, I feel like there could be some nice RP potential there.

I need to do some purchasing since I have more gold than I like to have.

@Salliss since you mentioned keeping one of your hand's free please give some thought if you would like me to make some Mutagen/elixir for you. You would be able to walk with a bottle, drink it the first round and keep that hand free. Few ideas:

- Drakeheart mutagen basically it gives you +1 to AC (with your build), +2 to perception, =1 to Will and Reflex saves and skill checks. But you can end the mutagen by using Final Surge (1-action) - you stride twice.
- Stonebody mutagen - gives you resistance 5 to physical damage (except bludgeoning) but reduce your speed by 10 ft and -2 to relfex saves :| You can't end this one.
- Juggernaut mutagen +10 temp HP, +2 fort saves, -2 Will, Perception and Initiative

Besides, there are elixirs like Mistform for 1 minute get concealed
Cheetah elixir - +10 ft movement for 10 minutes
Darkvision elixir - grants darkvision

@Ionic feel free to consider the above as well.

If you own Pathfinder Lost Omens: Pathfinder Society Guide
Aeon Stone (Pearly White Spindle) can be a good buy at 60 gold. Heals you 1 HP per minute.

Wand of level 2 Longstrider can also be good if you can cast Primal spells or have the Nature skill and Trick Magic Item.

If you all are still looking for a melee, my original GM-baby. This Barbarian. Has been played a couple times along the way, and has garnered enough Gm chronicles to reach level 7. I would just need to make the PbP info/tag-line in for him.

A couple Character details that can be useful. Giant-totem, halfling barbarian with a large glaive. Picked up fighter multiclass to get AoO and make getting the other Feats I want line up nicely. So all about that reach and threat.

@The Mad Hopper
Salliss isn't interested in anything with a speed penalty.

Drakeheart Mutagen is possible.

Mistform and Darkvision Elixer both sound great.

Cheatah would have been great, but I am going to buy a 2nd level wand of Arcane Longstrider.

Is that six characters total? If so, welcome to the party!

Pip is leveled and ready to dispense legal advice and spells. I have an extensive botting spoiler if you need to bot me. Mad Hopper, Dark Vision elixir sounds amazing!

Performance: I can do Inspired Defense while Herondel inspires your courage.

Glyphs: I have two plus a campaign coin. Does anyone else have glyphs? Then we can distribute them!

If you own Pathfinder Lost Omens: Pathfinder Society Guide

Aeon Stone (Pearly White Spindle) can be a good buy at 60 gold. Heals you 1 HP per minute.

Oh neat, I will look into that for Pip!

Is that six characters total? If so, welcome to the party!

SNIP

Glyphs: I have two plus a campaign coin. Does anyone else have glyphs? Then we can distribute them!

I believe you are right, doing a quick count of the posters, that I would make 6. In which case, I, too, have two glyphs

I have no glyphs. I do have assorted Piazo products but I forget what they do in 2E.

Looks like everyone gets to start with two hero points. I also have two glyphs.

A shirt or other such merchandise gives a +1 bonus on a hero point reroll.

Thanks for joining us Ionic Saltbeard and Barydeth. We are looking at the November 5th to start part 1.

Please fill out the Secret check sheet in my header and the first post in this thread has the sign in sheet.

If everyone else could check the Sign In sheet as well and make sure the levels are added appropriately for what you are bringing to part 1. That way I can start prepping the tier. This GM would greatly appreciate it.

I will add the presentation to my header. The second slide will track hero points, will go ahead and add a second to everyone.

Barydeth, will also need a token for you character.

Finally, if you have not done so yet, dot in on gameplay to add it to your active campaigns.

I'm not logged in so I'm not sure if I can edit my sign up. But I'm bringing a bard 6 for part 1.

I'm not logged in so I'm not sure if I can edit my sign up. But I'm bringing a bard 6 for part 1.

I updated it for you.

Thank you.

Ok, so:

- The sign-up sheet has correct info
- the secret check sheet has the right mods as well
- everything else seems to be in order.

And since we have two new players:

Hey @Sedoriku! I am super excited that you decided to join this table. It is always a pleasure to play with you!

@Kitsune Kune - I don't think we've met, so it is a pleasure to share this table with you. Now please respond honestly, are you here for the story to your grand-...-grandchildren? :D

Info updated.

For the macros sheet, since I am taking the Scout exploration activity. Everyone else treats their initiative as 1 higher. I have gone in and update the information for those who are above me on the sheet to reflect that change.

Also, yes, it is likely you haven't played with me. The vast majority (like 98%) of my games are in person (or since start of pandemic) online local games for the Triangle area of North Carolina, Appalachian region. The vast majority of those being ones I ran. As I joined up as a venture officer, as an effort to keep our lodge going when our previous one stepped down during the 2e playtest... it's been a hectic ride stepping up just in time for 2e to start, and the uncertainty the change brought. (While keeping our Starfinder crew active too.) then all the pandemic brought. But it's been a worthwhile one, and I don't regret it at all. :)

As for why I'm here. I've lurked around the forums enough to recognize most of you, and find it an absolute honor to play with you all. Also, it's nice to be a player every now and then ;)

@ionic since you are literally a Scout, I'll change my exploration action.

What the... My post got eaten? Dangit. I had a post about that ready yesterday. Sorry!

As for why I'm here. I've lurked around the forums enough to recognize most of you, and find it an absolute honor to play with you all. Also, it's nice to be a player every now and then ;)

Ha! A halfling barbarian who has a way with words! You are the most kind, even that I am not sure you are speaking of me, but yeah let me push my goblin PC into the spotlight :D

I did some math, I have 10 reagents to utilize.

5 I will spend on bomb
2 to create 6 Bottles of Lightning
2 to create 6 Blight Bombs
1 to create 3 Alchemist Fire's

=================
To aid the team I propose:

1 reagent for 2 Mistform Elixirs
2 reagents for 4 Darkvision elixirs (we have 2 gnomes, 1 halfling and a half-elf without it). I may wait for the briefing as then we may learn if we will go underground or not.
1 reagent for 2 Drakheart mutagens
1 reagent for something else (maybe not 'fight' related)

I am less concerned with fights looking at our team, at the same time I feel like our skill coverage is solid.

Herondal doesn't do a lot of damage. He mostly uses his cantrips and saves his spells for big combats. He can cover a lot of damage types if someone can identify weaknesses. Though on average Electric arc is still king for damage.

Thanks to Esoteric Polymath I have a floating signature spell. Usually it is used on Summon Fey for the Pugwampi (That disadvantaged save can make a pain for even bosses.) but can switch it to Sooth if we think we need the healing.

And don't forget Inspire Competence. He can often add 1 or even 2 to out of combat checks.

SNIP

=================
To aid the team I propose:

1 reagent for 2 Mistform Elixirs
2 reagents for 4 Darkvision elixirs (we have 2 gnomes, 1 halfling and a half-elf without it). I may wait for the briefing as then we may learn if we will go underground or not.
1 reagent for 2 Drakheart mutagens
1 reagent for something else (maybe not 'fight' related)

I am less concerned with fights looking at our team, at the same time I feel like our skill coverage is solid.

I, personally, have Goggles of Night, so I have my own darkvision covered for an hour a day. Further, I have a wayfinder, and as a Barbarian, have a tendency to rapidly approach enemies. So I can potentially cover some vision needs for another individual. As such, if another of the no-dark-vision people are fine with that or have their own vision solution. You can save another reagent.

As far as fights.. .Well, that's pretty much all Bardyth does. He has a few skills, and is Master at Athletics... but, primarily, he hits things really, really, hard.

I finally sat back down at the computer and recovered that post from yesterday.

It said:
I should be all signed in, thanks for having me and this is going to be fun!

@Farol - It's a pleasure as always! :D

@Bardyth - Ionic also tends to scout (he took an archetype about it) and gives a +2 bonus to everyone else. Even when not scouting he has Scout's Warning which does the same thing as scouting. If you want, we both can scout and boost each other (Ionic is on the low end of levels for this). For everyone else, I've added the extra +1 to you numbers.

@Mad Hopper
Wow! You play it a lot differently than I do with my alchemist. I tend to spend no more than half my reagents and then keep the rest for Quick Alchemy. I really like the flexibility that gives.

I can afford a scroll of Darkvision and want one in my kit anyways. With Bardyth and that it should give you another free reagent to do with what you like. You also might want to wait for the briefing on some of those.

I still need to do one last check of my character but should be ready today. Biggest thing I need to do is check inventory against my ITS.

Herondal also has Goggles of Night.

Huh. Pip has a lot of money to spend. Maybe she should also purchase some Goggles of the Night. What good is it being a renowned lawyer without shades?

Hmm

Huh. Pip has a lot of money to spend. Maybe she should also purchase some Goggles of the Night. What good is it being a renowned lawyer without shades?

Hmm

It's a solid purchase, as also gives a +1 bonus to vision-based perception checks.

I went on a spending spree, woooot.

Goggles of the Night
Pearly White Spindle - slow healing!
Dusty Rose Prism (invested in Wayfinder) - a strong shield spell
Warding Tattoo (Wave) - breathe air and extra AC, yo!

All of these looked really nifty. I am strongly considering slippers of spider climb or boots of bounding. Thoughts? Also suggestions for consumables? Or a rune for the short bow?

Hmm

Dusty Rose Prism (invested in Wayfinder) - a strong shield spell

To my knowledge, it does not scale.

The normal shield spell for our level:
Heightened (3rd) The shield has Hardness 10.

Pip Hip Hooray wrote:

Dusty Rose Prism (invested in Wayfinder) - a strong shield spell

To my knowledge, it does not scale.

The normal shield spell for our level:
Heightened (3rd) The shield has Hardness 10.

Correct. Since it specifies the 1st-level shield spell, it does not auto-heighten. But still, a little extra bump is always nice. I got it for my archer.