Rotating GMs PFS Campaign: Down the Blighted Path, Chapter 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Clebsch73

Is there an indication how long the challenge takes?

I don't think it will take more than a few minutes. Characters will be moving as quickly as they can. It depends on how often people fall into the water or get delayed by magic or other interferences.

Catching up now after a hectic week. If it's ok since we haven't started yet, Vinnie will also swap out some of his spells from his customary ones. I'll take a look now and see what might be useful.

Ok, I've updated my spells memorized for the day to ones more appropriate for this non-lethal contest. Unfortunately, the Shaman list seems to be quite lacking in useful party buff spells so I don't have anything to offer for the rest of the group except that I can cast Enlarge Person on someone if they would like it (I get that from my Battle Spirit, so it's automatically prepared whether I want it or not, and it does nothing helpful for me).

GM, before we get started, I should ask for your ruling on an element of my character build. Vinnie is a Shaman with the Speaker for the Past archetype, which gives him Oracle revelations from the ancestor/time mysteries. Based on this, I've given him the Revelation Strike feat, which allows him to apply a revelation (Phantom Touch in my case) as a swift action on a successful unarmed strike. There is, however, some online debate about whether Vinnie can take this feat or not (basically, does having access to revelations mean that he has the revelation class feature?) I've posed the question online here and the opinions were mixed. Personally, if I were GM-ing I would allow it, but I will happily defer to your ruling (and if you rule against it, I'd like to select another feat - probably Amplified Hex - since this one will be useless).

Incidentally, he *also* has the Hex Strike feat, which he can use to apply a Hex (Evil Eye in my case) as a swift action on a successful unarmed strike, and that's clearly legit (since he gets the Hex class feature directly from being a Shaman), so ultimately this rules question is mostly about whether he will have more options for what sorts of debuffs to apply when he hits. Vinnie doesn't do much damage but hopefully he applies a variety of debuffs to weaken foes.

Anyway, please just let me know what you think and of course I'm happy to clarify any of this as needed. Also, I don't want to slow down the contest that is about to start so it's also fine with me to just put the whole ability in suspended animation until after this next scene if you prefer.

GM, another rules question: Vinnie's Battle Spirit gives him the ability to quasi-Inspire Courage (+1 morale bonus on attacks and damage rolls for allies within 30') four rounds per day but the rules don't say anything about the action economy of using the ability. Other GMs have ruled (and this is also what I would rule) that it is a standard action to start and a free action to maintain) but of course I'll go with whatever ruling you make. Thanks for considering all these rules questions!

I use the Paizo Chrome add-on that allows me to replace the character avatar image with one of my own choosing. I mainly use it to when the avatars available don't do justice to what I imagine the character looks like, particularly when uncommon races are used.

I've done that with Vinnie, since the image of a chimp distracts me from what the Vanara look like. I've posted the image on the map just to the lower left where the competitors are placed. Use it on the map if you like, although it's okay to use the chimp image if you and the others prefer.

Do you mean the red-headed fellow just off the map to the left? Gosh, that's not how I picture Vanara at all. I do imagine them as being a lot like monkey people - probably something like the Hindu god Hanuman - but I can change the token if you find it bothersome.

I'm a teacher and my university has five week terms. I teach two classes a term. On the weekend between one term ends and a new term begins, I have to spend a lot of time grading and preparing my courses for the new term. I'm in one such weekend right now. I'll start getting caught up tomorrow and Monday. Sorry for the delay.

I'll address Vinnie's posts then and get things started in the Spring Muddle competition.

Please don’t worry about timing!! Real life always first!!

I'm going on a short day trip in a bit. I'll get things going this evening.

I'm an academic as well - different schedule but I also find that grading gets unreasonably in the way of my pathfindering! :-)

GM, before we get started, I should ask for your ruling on an element of my character build. Vinnie is a Shaman with the Speaker for the Past archetype, which gives him Oracle revelations from the ancestor/time mysteries. Based on this, I've given him the Revelation Strike feat, which allows him to apply a revelation (Phantom Touch in my case) as a swift action on a successful unarmed strike. There is, however, some online debate about whether Vinnie can take this feat or not (basically, does having access to revelations mean that he has the revelation class feature?) I've posed the question online here and the opinions were mixed. Personally, if I were GM-ing I would allow it, but I will happily defer to your ruling (and if you rule against it, I'd like to select another feat - probably Amplified Hex - since this one will be useless).

I don't see a problem. I think the feat has a prerequisite of the revelation class feature because without access to revelations, the feat is useless. Since the shaman archetype grants revelations, that seems sufficient to me to satisfy the feat prerequisite. I don't see that it is exploitable to gain some overpowered ability.

GM, another rules question: Vinnie's Battle Spirit gives him the ability to quasi-Inspire Courage (+1 morale bonus on attacks and damage rolls for allies within 30') four rounds per day but the rules don't say anything about the action economy of using the ability. Other GMs have ruled (and this is also what I would rule) that it is a standard action to start and a free action to maintain) but of course I'll go with whatever ruling you make. Thanks for considering all these rules questions!

I would handle it the same way as Bardic performance rules: Starting a bardic performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action.

Do you mean the red-headed fellow just off the map to the left? Gosh, that's not how I picture Vanara at all. I do imagine them as being a lot like monkey people - probably something like the Hindu god Hanuman - but I can change the token if you find it bothersome.

Don't change anything on my account. I got the image from an image search for "Pathfinder Vanara".

I'm pretty sure the race is inspired by the tale of the Monkey King, sometimes call Sun Wu-Kung. The story has been rendered in graphic novel format, movies, and, I expect, anime. I became familiar with it from a graphic novel by Milo Manara called 'The Ape" that appeared in Heavy Metal back in the 80s. (https://e-hentai.org/g/133280/1445560a26/ if you want to view it online. It is not SFW.)

Do an image search for "Sun Wu Kong" and you'll find a variety of interpretations. If you want to stick with the chimp, that's fine, but if you want something different, let me know and I'll use it with my Paizo Chrome add-on and on maps.

Sounds good - thanks for the rulings. I think I'll keep Vinnie's token as it is - I've sort of grown to like it.

Later this evening, I'll post the start of the second round with the Chokers who are at the top of the initiative order.

Willy manages to swim closer to the other side while Erna gets her hands on the rock surface and prepares to pull herself up.

Targrenon see the congestion at the shore and opts to swim to the wall and begin climbing toward the other side, just above the water level.

Round 2
Trevor
Gru'Gar
Rook
Needles
Vinnie
Sadaf
Gerherd
Mavin
Bat

Round 3
Willy
Erna
Targrenon

GM, do you want us to post in order or can we post now if we are bolded? Normally it's the latter in PbP but I think maybe you said earlier that you wanted us to go in order?

Trevor jets forward and takes full advantage of his spider climb to make his way towards the top of cliff. (Double Move)

GM, do you want us to post in order or can we post now if we are bolded? Normally it's the latter in PbP but I think maybe you said earlier that you wanted us to go in order?

Post in order if you can but if your time to post is limited, post away. I will resolve things in the state order, however, unless someone states ze is delaying.

If your action is not likely to have to be retconned if someone ahead of you in initiative changes the situation, post when you need to.

Trevor jets forward and takes full advantage of his spider climb to make his way towards the top of cliff. (Double Move)

I will repost this in the gameplay thread.

Hello everyone, if anyone could bot me I’d really appreciate that. Can’t really follow while being on vacation. Thanks

Magical Trevor wrote:

Trevor jets forward and takes full advantage of his spider climb to make his way towards the top of cliff. (Double Move)

I will repost this in the gameplay thread.

Ooof sorry I was checking both threads and forgot I was in the discussion thread.

I'll 'bot Sadef, this afternoon. If anyone is familiar with the character and wants to 'bot him, go ahead.

Sorry for taking so long. Its so crazy at work at the moment and these types of scenarios can be tricky (especially on PbP). I love them but it takes me a bit to really wrap my head around how I can do it.

Take your time, but remember, this is not life or death for the characters.

Since Sunday, I've been slammed with doing taxes and catching up on grading. I will try to get something posted soon.

Hi!

Just returning from vacation. Looking at the map it seems as if we lost the first flag. But Vinnie is getting the second flag.

Sadaf is still climbing but do we need the flags?

I've been hyperbusy with work and other things that have come up in RL. Sorry to go so long without posting. Should be better for a while now.

Just returning from vacation. Looking at the map it seems as if we lost the first flag. But Vinnie is getting the second flag.

Sadaf is still climbing but do we need the flags?

Assuming all contestants get to the top without being disqualified, the difference in the score will depend on which team gets the most flags, as well as who makes it first to the finish line.

If Sadaf doesn't think he can grab any flags, he could help the team most by getting to the finish line first or else trying to take a flag from someone or use magic to help his allies or hinder his opponents.

I'm going to post the NPCs actions and Sadaf can post what he wants to do when he can. I don't think this will cause any ret-cons. I want to get things moving again.

Just keep in mind that a contestant who crosses the finish line can no longer do anything to help or hinder other contestants.

I think Sadaf will try to finish the contest first.

He is the worst with CMB and physical skills.

I see the map but does he have a chance of finishing first now?

I think Sadaf will try to finish the contest first.

He is the worst with CMB and physical skills.

I see the map but does he have a chance of finishing first now?

He's got a chance. Two of the opponents are perhaps on the same strategy, climbing the rock to get up top just past the combat dummy obstacles. From there each has a clear shot to the finish line.

But Trevor and Sadaf could try to do the same. Anyone could try to obstruct others with combat maneuvers or magic once up top. I'd go for it, especially since it appears all the flags are likely to be collected before Sadaf could get near them.

Sadaf has Spider Climb so he can move 20 feet for each move action, with no need for a climb check. He's currently 35 feet below the top.

I don't think that violates any rules as written.

To everyone: I've been assuming anyone can combine different kinds of movement in figuring out how far one can move. If you have a climb speed of 20 and you are 10 feet from the top, then if you climb 20 feet, when you get to the top, you've used half of a move action. If you have a move of 30 for land movement, then you could use the other half of the move action to move 15 feet. I don't think you should be limited to just one kind of movement within a single move action.

Sorry for another delay in posting. My latest set of posts on the Gameplay thread took me several hours. There are so many things I need to check to respond to actions by the PCs and decide the actions of the five NPCs. So if I only have an hour in the evening after work and such, I've been delaying until I have some uninterrupted time. On the positive side, the contest will probably only go another round or two as most of the flags have been snagged and folks are getting closer to the finish line with one already over the line (Sadef).

After this is over, the action settles back to more familiar territory of trying to kill things that are trying to kill you.

Don’t worry about timing. ;-) we’re here for the long run.

This is a game so rl always first!

Love the story and your posts are really high quality!!

Thanks

My apologies since I know I've already been a little absent from the game recently but I'm heading out of town in the morning for a two week trip. Likely will have very limited time to post much until the end of the month so please go ahead and bot me as needed. Sorry and I hope you understand!

Will do. Thanks for letting us know. Hope the trip goes well.

If anyone ever wants to have a competition to judge who is the best GM, this event would be a good test. Every time I post, I'm checking all kinds of rules questions about movement, skill checks, spell effects, combat maneuvers, etc. I'm glad I'm running it on PBP rather than around a table. I've been a GM for Pathfinder for many years, but I'm still not familiar with a lot of rules I've had to check or double check.

That is always the case for me as well.

But pbp is especially cruel because you have time to check all the rules … f2f you would just make a judgement call. ;-)

You are doing great!!!!

I'll be camping this weekend, returning Sunday afternoon. Think about if you want to play out the rest of the contest. The outcome is not essential to what follows and we seem to be taking a lot of time to get everyone posting.

Sorry for the slow posting - back from my trip and finally caught up.

For the players who are Yanks, happy 4th of July.

I'll wait a bit more before 'botting Trevor.

Sorry was AFK almost all weekend. Didnt realize I was up again.

I hope everyone is having a great summer.

The game is going very slowly. Please remember to check regularly to see if your character is up. If it's your turn and you can't post, please put a note in the discussion to give an idea whether you will be posting soon or if you want the GM to 'bot your character.

I’m here. ;-)

Completely missed the post. Can’t remember to have received a notification to be honest.

Waiting on Gru'Gar at the moment.

This melee will take another month if we keep having days go by with no posts.

Reminder: please check daily and post when your character is up. I prefer posting in melee order, but if you only have a small window for posting, post and I'll sort it out. If you cannot post, leave a message with instructions to 'bot.

If you are going to be unable to check for updates, let us know that too, so we don't wait unnecessarily. I'll 'bot characters whose players are AFK.

Thanks.

Thanks GM!!

Sorry, that one was totally me. I thought I had posted.

I've had some problems at work that will be requiring my attention for the rest of the day. I'll post as needed starting Wednesday.

Sorry, GM. I went away for a few days holiday with my five year old. Thought I would have time to post after she fell asleep but it turned out I was more exhausted than she was!

Should be able to post regularly now.