GM ZD Breaking the Storm Arc (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

Between saving for the armor resiliency rune and wanting a shifting rune for my primary weapon, I don’t think I will be doing a ghost touch rune on my weapon.

Unfortunately Ghostly Weapon only works on non-magical weapons. I still have the rapier that I bought at first level before I could afford a CI weapon, so I guess a scroll of that could work.

Are there other solutions than runes and that spell?

Assuming we get a night to rest I'll swap Ray of Frost for Disrupt Undead.

I don't think we need a night of rest since we had 8 days of downtime. I am also switching Ray of Frost for Disrupt Undead. Is there a variant of the Ghost Touch Rune that can be used on bows? I was just about to purchase that Rune for Pip until I saw the melee weapon part. Disrupting is also for melee weapons....

I can see what is meant about rituals being rough.

Hero points are a fortune effect. They don’t allow fortune effects in downtime. If you critically fail the secondary you pretty much doom the ritual.

Only a critical success as a secondary helps the ritual. A regular failure gives twice the penalty of the bonus you would get from a critical success.

If this were done more, I would want assurance with the skills used by secondaries in rituals.

Oh, I was all excited that I might be able to dance to help the ritual, but I am only trained in Perform, and so very unlikely to crit succeed. Let's hope Diplomacy is in option for the storytelling. On the other hand, Herondel is a Master in Performance, so I think we have at least one person who can help with the ritual.

On the other hand, a number of rituals in scenarios so far have not been downtime activities. It might be possible for us to use hero points here.

Does anyone know the rules on whether one may purchase arrows tipped with cold iron?

To determine the Price of 10 pieces of ammunition, use the base Price for a single weapon, without adding any extra for Bulk.

Precious Material Weapons

So 40 gp for 10 cold iron arrows.

@GM - a question, I just bought a silver (low-grade) dogslicer as I was under impression that it would work on demons. I've fallen into my common devil vs demon confusion. Could I change it from silver to cold iron? Cold-iron is that much better that you can emulate silver with silversheen.

In my searching, I just found there are Cold Iron Blanch that work for weapons and ammunition. Since we are Pathfinder agents, we should meet the access requirements.

That might be a good solution for some of us.

@GM - a question, I just bought a silver (low-grade) dogslicer as I was under impression that it would work on demons. I've fallen into my common devil vs demon confusion. Could I change it from silver to cold iron? Cold-iron is that much better that you can emulate silver with silversheen.

I'm okay with it. Mistakes happen and I have mixed up the whole silver vs cold iron multiple times.

As shifting, as a rune, defines it's ability as " The weapon takes the shape of another melee weapon that requires the same number of hands to wield". A question that comes down to GM table variance has come to mind. Would that allow me to make a weapon with that rune, Large, as part of it's shape change? I ask, as nowhere does making a weapon going up a size category say it takes more hands to wield. However, I have seen plenty of arguments against such. So, before I make a purchase, what does our GM say?

Let me look at the rules and think about it for a bit.

Thinking about it, I think Ionic is not going to buy a lifting belt and instead go for a low-grade cold iron trident, selling his first trident in the process. I'm about 5 gp short of both.

So for a final shopping list, that's an Armor Potency rune, Pearly white spindle Aeon Stone, a low grade cold iron trident, and a pair of boots of bounding. For 604 gp spent and selling back the basic trident for 0.5 gp and less weight to lug around.

Barydeth wrote:

As shifting, as a rune, defines it's ability as " The weapon takes the shape of another melee weapon that requires the same number of hands to wield". A question that comes down to GM table variance has come to mind. Would that allow me to make a weapon with that rune, Large, as part of it's shape change? I ask, as nowhere does making a weapon going up a size category say it takes more hands to wield. However, I have seen plenty of arguments against such. So, before I make a purchase, what does our GM say?

Let me look at the rules and think about it for a bit.

I am okay with it. The only real restrictions it has in place is the hands and nothing else.

Decided to grab a scroll of ghostly weapon and dig out mu old steel rapier.

Default weapon is still the CI rapier, the steel one is because you can only cast ghostly weapon on a non-magical weapon.

3 scroll choices.

Air Walk, Fly, and Stoneskin. Air Walk and Fly each last 5 minutes. I guess one needs a check for maneuvers.

Stoneskin is DR 5 vs B/S/P for most/all of a combat.

Odds are I'll be casting it on someone else or handing it to a caster so which one would someone want?

PFS 2 GM ZD wrote:

I am okay with it. The only real restrictions it has in place is the hands and nothing else.

Sounds good. Wanted to ask, because I have seen plenty of arguments back and forth, and thus could understand either point of view. That said, Bardyth will have a strange tentacle looped in their belt (Another fun item from The Slithering.)

Also, I need to finish updating my stats for the level bump I got. That'll happen by noon Eastern Time, today.

@everyone else. Thw ritual description mentioned "athletic prowess", and Bardyth is Master in Athletics (and obviously, all the strength he can have) so might be able to manage a crit success there too.

Pathfinder Training consumable: Arcane scroll of Stoneskin

I'll go with Stoneskin as well and loan it to Pip.

eyes the free school items sadly... Missing the days of Field Comission at least getting healing item.

I will take Dust of appearance

Since the Holidays are just around the corner, I will not be pressing the posts. Enjoy yourselves.

Posting the results from the ritual here, I'll also include it on the power point.

You all receive 8 Aspiration Points. Which will be kept track of by the Dolok coins on the power-point, slide number 5.

Barydeth, Herondal, and Pip also gain resist negative 5 for the remainder of this scenario.

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In the final showdown with the spirit you can spend up to two Aspiration Points to weaken its offensive capability. The first point not doing anything, but spending the second point makes the spirit treat Sapphire as a minion, greatly reducing its combat abilities.

You can also spend up to two Aspiration Points to reduce its defensive capabilities. By spending 1 point, you will break the Hit Point pool that both the Spirit and Drandle share. However, the Spirit can siphon health from Drandle. By spending the second point, the bond is broken completely.

Outside of the final encounter, you gain these additional options.

You can spend 1 Aspiration Point to reduce the drained or slowed condition by 2.

You can spend 1 Aspiration Point to grant all PCs resistance 10 against fire for 1 minute.

You can spend 1 Aspiration Point to make all of the PCs’ attacks deal 1 additional good damage for 1 minute.

Finally, a reminder that 1 Aspiration Point is needed to bring Dolok back to the physical realm.

************************************************************************

One more thing, thanks to one of the scenarios, you gain the results of a critical success of a recall knowledge check to learn about Drandle Drang (aka Sapphire) combat style.

I will say this, he is one hell of a rogue. Deny advantage, Evasion, Sneak Attack (2d6).

He has a side step reaction that allows him to redirect an attack.

Drandle has mobility, so no AOO's if he moves less than half his speed.

Tumble behind, that allows him to make people flat-footed if he tumbles through your square.

Finally, skirmish strike rogue feat.

Question... We receive a grand total of 8 points as a group, not 8 points each, correct? At least, that's what I think the slide indicates. For the four aspiration points that we can spend in the final battle... Do those effects last for the entire battle?

Do we find out now the effect of the chronicles, or is that something happening in the background?

8 Aspiration Points for the group.

The four, if you choose to spend them, will last for the entirety of the final battle.

With out the chronicles, you would only know that you could spend Aspiration Points to weaken the Spirits offensive and defensive, but not know how.

The chronicles gave you more in-depth information on how it would weaken it, and the additional uses of the Aspiration Points.

Plus the background on Drandle Drengs combat abilities.

Ah, the chronicles offered intel! Pip likes data, so she is pretty pleased!

Yay extra information, that will be useful to know. Personally, I am all for making that last fight easier (especially making the apparent Über Rogue Dreng a minion.) I think saving those points as best we can would be my preferred course. Ionic has a ghost touch weapon already, and is fairly resilient against fire and even moreso necromancy effects, so he should be okay.

Here is what I think are must purchase Aspiration Points:

The four that are connected with the final fight and the one to bring Dolok home.

The other three points are things that we will discussing using when things look particularly dire.

Hmm

Looking at Ionic’s header, it appears that I have been short changing myself on initiative. I was only adding +1 for scout.

I’ve updated the sheet, but wanted to mention it in case others made the same mistake.

I can avoid notice at full speed now. Can the group move full speed? Search often slows someone down. I’m not sure if Investigate does.

Oh! I didn't even add the scouting bonus in the spreadsheet. I've added it now.

Hmm

Just an fyi, hopper also has all Chronicles, which i mentioned in gameplay.

I agree with pip's distribution of points. Sorry, brief post, peeling potatoes Christmas Eve in couple of hours.

Stay safe and best wishes, love you all!

Have now added the +1 to init from scouting.

I agree with those 5 being saved for the battle. (4+Dolok return). I especially like the Minion one. As it means no side-step reaction (minions don't get reactions)

Agreed on the point spending. We may want to cast the Stoneskins right before we hit the ritual. On the other hand I doubt this is 1 skill challenge followed by 1 big fight.

I would be extremely surprised if something didn’t intercept us on the way.

Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!

Happy holidays and joyous greetings all

Happy Holidays.

I'm going to move us on to the first encounter, do not feel pressured to post anything until Monday.

BTW, Bardyth, thanks for recommending that Ring of Fire Resistance. It sure seems that Pip is getting her money's worth out of it.

Happy holidays to all of you! Time for me to head off and visit some friends.

Possibly the Pugwampi is too fragile at this point but getting 2 big enemies in the aura and not us seemed worth it. It might absorb a big hit as well.

What sort of action is it to spend an aspiration point? Resist 10 to fire could mean we don't have to waste actions trying to disable the storm.

It is a free action to spend an Aspiration point.

Poor Pugwumpi. Cut down in it's prime.

Probably time to stop summoning them.

At least they wasted their attacks on it. I wonder how many times we are going to be disabling that storm?

Ionic, remember that I have inspired defense! +1 to your saves and Resistance +2 to physical damage!

Ok, folks, the Christmas period is over. Sorry, but it was way more disturbing to my schedule than I expected. But I am back to regular posting

So, Daily preparations, 11 reagents:

9 - Ghost Charge Bombs - since we are going for an undead ghost and I have no ghost touch weapon - positive damage.
9 - Bottled Lightnings - since flat-footed on hit is amazing
3 Blight Bombs

2 Drakeheart Mutagen

That leaves 3 reagents floating for whatever that we need.

BTW, Bardyth, thanks for recommending that Ring of Fire Resistance. It sure seems that Pip is getting her money's worth out of it.

Heh, my pleasure. I hope it continues to serve you well.

@Gm - I assume Hopper also has Negative Resistance 5 (due to chronicles) which I applied to the damage => 4 bludgeoning to Hopper.

Also @GM, Since Yellow swung twice at Hopper. I am going to assume he did not Step first. And thus was within my 15ft reach when he "left a square I threaten". Don't know if that meant my 26 to hit (since Herondal Inspired before it moved, and i didn't include it as Herondal hadn't inspired his previous turn) hits. If it did, don't forget that 25 points (again because of Inspire) of damage ;)

And everyone in the party has Resistance 2 to physical Damage!

Annd, I just realized Red hasn't gone yet, so my rolls etc. were early. Sorry ZD. I'm still stuck in throws of holidays here, and missed that detail. My AoO doesn't exist til my turn, and if Red chooses to move, my actions wouldn't change. So just ignore my post until then. If I get dropped by a couple crits first, ignore me completely. obviously.

Will add the 25 damage onto yellow.