|
Please note in your next post whether or not you are averting your gaze from the shemazian demon.
You have three options when facing gaze attacks.
1. act normally, taking whatever saves are appropriate
2. avert your gaze. This grants a 50% chance that you are unaffected, but always gives the Shemhazian total concealment against you. In this scenario it also makes loading and firing the weapon slower.
3. close your eyes (or otherwise blindfold yourself). You cannot be affected by the gaze weapon but you suffer all the penalties of blindness.
This would apply if the PCs were attacking the Shemhazian. From the Universal Monster Rules for Gaze attacks:
Starting with the 1st line of the text: "This attack takes effect when foes look at the attacking creature’s eyes." So as long as the PCs are looking at something else, like the prisms, control panel, etc., they should be fine. Which is supported by this portion of the rule:
"Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable."
Followed by one of the options, Averting Eyes:
"Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature’s face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to attempt a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent."
Reading the text this would apply *IF* the PCs were in direct conflict with the Shemhazian. Since none of us have announced an intention to do so, we should be fine by looking anywhere except the Shemhazian's eyes. Averting eyes from it to provide concealment to the Shemhazian supports that this rule applies to those in combat with the creature with Gaze.
And then there's this portion of the rule:
"A creature with a gaze attack can actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range. That opponent must attempt a saving throw but can try to avoid this as described above."
So, unlike a Dragon's Frightful Presence (which is the entry directly above Gaze in the Universal Monster Rules), the Shemhazian would have to:
1) Choose to direct its gaze attack at a PC to effect it
2) Select only one as noted by the use of the singular form "a target"
3) Use it's attack action to do so meaning it would then forgo any attacks vs. the Crusaders attacking it
Sorry for the long post but I dug into the rules since things look grim for the party.
"Attacking creature" refers to Gaze weapons being listed under the Special Attacks part of a creature's statblock. You don't have to be in melee to be affected, just within the 30 range of the gaze.
In similar vein, you will see the shemhazian unless you are taking precautions. (Try not looking at an elephant whilst it's knocking down your walls). The precautions available are averting your eyes, or closing your eyes.
"Opponents can avoid the need to attempt the save by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways." - Bestiary p.300
Rules are clear - you avoid the need to make a save by either averting your eyes, or closing them. A save is required at the start of your turn if you're within 30', AND if the shemhazian chooses to use a Standard action to single out a target.
Vosk may elect to avert his eyes for the current save because he was outside the gaze weapon's range when he id'd the demon, but if he wants to Ready a Dimension Door as described he can't close his eyes. He needs to know when Doran's prisms are collected and he needs to pinpoint his destination.
One correction to my advice post though: averting your eyes gives the shemhazian 20% concealment against you; it only gains total concealment if you close your eyes.
So each of you may specify your precaution (if any) for your turn, then roll a save if you're within 30' and not closing your eyes. If you're averting your eyes please roll 1d100: if you roll 1-50 then you avoid the gaze attack.
|
|
"Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable."
From the Gaze rules. You can rule the way you want; I disagree for reasons stated and I don't think any PC is "looking directly" at the Shemhazian, since it isn't in the way of the prisms or the control panel, and no PC has attempted an attack roll against it.
Did the Shemhazian use it's standard action to single out "a target"? Because that means there's only one target.
Trajan, you are reading the rule selectively.
Here is the rules text without omission:
"Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to attempt the save by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways.
Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature’s face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to attempt a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent.
Wearing a Blindfold: The foe cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one’s back on the creature or shutting one’s eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment against the opponent."
I've bolded the first two sentences. You cannot take the first sentence without the second.
Ruling is final.
|
|
Trajan, you are reading the rule selectively.
Here is the rules text without omission:
"Only looking directly at a creature with a gaze attack leaves an opponent vulnerable. Opponents can avoid the need to attempt the save by not looking at the creature, in one of two ways.
Averting Eyes: The opponent avoids looking at the creature’s face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to attempt a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent.
Wearing a Blindfold: The foe cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one’s back on the creature or shutting one’s eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment against the opponent."
I've bolded the first two sentences. You cannot take the first sentence without the second.
Ruling is final.
No, I'm not reading selectively. The entire entry with Averting Gaze is written around the premise of avoiding the gaze *WHEN* directly confronting the creature with a gaze attack, which the PCs are not doing. The Shemhazian doesn't require concealment as no one is targeting the damn thing. But, as you wrote, your ruling is final.
I'll be off for the next 24 hours (or more) to cool down.
If Vosk gets the obscuring mist up, will the players acting after him need to make those gaze saves? If not, I’ll wait to see if that is what Vosk does before posting.
Obscuring Mist will effectively counter the shemhazian gaze weapon, within its area. Anything more than 10' distant has total concealment so unless you get inside 10' of the demon you're safe from the gaze.
Bear in mind that the Mist will spread 20' from the caster origin, is 20' high but does not sink. So if it's cast on the platform anyone on the ground won't be in the area of effect.
Anyone acting after Vosk in the initiative order will be safe from the gaze if he casts the Mist (and, of course, if there's at least 10' of Mist between you and the demon).
|
|
Hey guys, RL has DUMPED a load of responsibilities on my lap the past two days that needs attended to right now. I will get to my post this afternoon, but suffice to say, activating my divine bond on my bow (standard) and laying hands on myself (swift) will be the extent of my turn with the intent of a magic volley next round. You guys at the controls... ya got this!
Re: Temp mod +3, Correct about it being from a previous adventure. I missed it as I've predominately been playing on a phone from work. Sorry I missed that!
Dexter does have a standard action available now, so he is able to either
If Dexter begins the arming sequence, then Dexter also has to complete it (with a Standard action on his next turn).
Trajan can delay until after the arming if he wishes, or he could complete the arming sequence himself if Dexter doesn't begin it.
There's no option in the scenario text to split the arming between two PCs, although I can allow Aid Another to help with the INT or UMD check if the helper also spends a Full Round Action. The normal rule to complete a Full Round Action with two Standard Actions on consecutive rounds applies.
I don't know what other action he would take.
Nor I. I just prefer not to bot what could be the last PC action of the scenario. If it was my PC I know I'd want to do it myself.
I'll wait until this evening, another 12 hours or so.
Weapon fired, and combat over!
I'll give you a bit of time for rp before posting a wrap-up in Gameplay.
The game was reported already, before the official end of Gameday.
I should have chronicles done by the end of the weekend.
|
|
Hopefully grimdog73 can let us know if he's interested in bringing Doran back and, if so, I'd ask if the other PCs can donate to the 'Bring Doran Back' fund. With the Pathfinder rules he needs not only a Raise Dead but two, count em two, Restorations to eliminate the 2 permanent negative levels gained after a Raise Dead.
A recap of the means of dealing with returning from death:
Gold on your chronicle sheets can be spent on spellcasting services including Raise Dead and Restoration. All PCs may contribute gold to these costs, but are not obliged to.
All PCs may also spend their own Prestige on these spellcasting services on behalf of other PCs - but multiple PCs cannot pool their Prestige in the way that they can pool gold.
You can buy raise dead using 16 PP, 5,450 gp, or 8 PP and 2,450 gp. A Restoration spell to remove a permanent negative level costs 4PP or 1280gp.
Raise Dead comes with 2 permanent negative levels.
The in-tier gold reward on the Chronicle Sheet is 2528gp. Out of Tier (which I think is only relevant for Vosk) is 4004gp.
|
|
Mechanically speaking and regarding chronicle notations, Dexter will be getting a new boar and training it in five tricks (he has five ranks in HA).
Attack 2x, Down, Work and Track
I assume the following faction journal card was easily achieved this session.
Defeat an outsider that has the evil subtype or an undead creature whose CR is at least equal to your character level.
You can definitely tick off that faction card goal!
Raise Dead and Restorations fund:
Trajan: 4PP (resto) + 500gp
Radiarch: 500gp (+ prestige)
Hskoro: 500gp
Salazar: 4PP (resto)
Vosk?
This would leave Doran to find 8PP + 950gp OR 3950gp. OR he can pay 16PP and nobody else needs to pay gold.
I'll wait for Vosk to say if he can help.
Radiarch, with the two restorations covered the only other possible Prestige spend is for the raise and would need to come from one PC - either 8PP or the full 16PP.
Sorry for the wait, normally I have a huge excess of time over holidays, but this time I barely had any!
I'd rather blow PP than gold, so with this chronicle's rewards Vosk can throw the 8pp in for the Raise Dead and has 1PP leftover. Obviously he makes a big show of how generous he is and may or may not throws some sort of soiree to commemorate the occasion.
That would work out as:
Trajan: 4PP (resto) + 500gp
Radiarch: 500gp
Hskoro: 500gp
Salazar: 4PP (resto)
Vosk: 8PP
Doran: 950gp
If everyone's okay with that then I'll do the chronicles.
Success Conditions
Success is partly measured by how many charges you fire the weapon with. Charges loaded in the prisms are reduced by 1 for each round that the wrecker demons are allowed to smash things up, starting from when Ghalcor's spirit (the good one) vanishes. Effective charges are increased by 1 if you pass the INT or UMD check, and a further 1 for every 5 points by which you beat the DC (INT DC15, UMD DC20).
You fired the weapon with 20 effective charges.
Your primary success is achieved by firing the weapon with at least 14 charges. This earns you 1PP and a couple of boons on the chronicle sheet.
The secondary success condition requires you to fire the weapon with at least 17 charges and prevent Ollysta Zadrian's death. Unfortunately you did not fire the weapon quickly enough to save Zadrian.
Silver Crusade characters can potentially earn a faction boon, requiring them to fulfil 2 out of 4 conditions (tested per character): resolve the archon encounter nonviolently; directly aid Ollysta Zadrian against the shemhazian demon; fire the weapon within 4 rounds; fire the weapon with at least 22 effective charges. Only the first of these conditions was met.
|
|
Thank you very much for explaining in detail the success and failure conditions. This is quite a tough scenario. Really only two fights unless you bomb some rolls or are very aggressive, but those two fights are in perfect sync to almost be one continuous fight with no recovery. And the first one’s Will penalty directly hurts some saves in the second one.
Anyway, it was fun and a challenge. Good group and good GM.
Slight problem sorting the chronicles.
On my old mac I could open a pdf with the Preview app then print to pdf the chronicle page and make copies of that to fill & sign.
My new macbook air doesn't want to do that. Bloody software "upgrades".
My wife's looking for a solution :)
Found an online app that worked (DocHub). (Google Docs just garbled the file).
Weirdly only some of my Paizo pdfs are locked in this way, specifically forbidding page extraction. There's no apparent reason why some scenarios, from the same season and the same source (ie Paizo website downloads) are "secured" in this way whilst others are not.
Expect chronicles uploaded this Wednesday :)
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Let me know if there are any errors.
Got it, thanks mate! :D