GM Otha’s The Moonscar

Game Master Otha

Ablative Barrier should work against all forms of lethal damage converting them into non-lethal damage. Period.

The alternative is not tenable as it forces the GM to adjudicate every point of damage that the character receives against an undefined 'Attack' criteria.

So this would mean 5 points of lethal damage would be converted into non-lethal damage from a Fireball, Magic Missile volley or sword swipe. The source of the damage is irrelevant.

Out of curiosity, would you let Ablative Barrier work against falling into a pit? (I wouldn't but I respect that different interpretations of the rules are possible).

Well, clearly the spell should have been written better or we would not be having this discussion in the first place. :)

That being said any source of lethal damage should be converted in part to non-lethal damage. This includes falling into a pit which is generally lethal damage. Otherwise adjudicating the spell becomes too onerous and arbitrary and will slow down play. :)

Yeah that's how we've used it over the years: works against everything. Like's Frank's Red Hot Sauce. Remember that you pile up nonlethal dmg though. Most people don't track those properly.

Nonlethal dmg: the poor man's Breath of Life! :D ;)

Aye, I’d count it against everything as well, no worries. I’ll get a post in after supper…

"non-lethal, the poor man's breath of life" !!! - love this, gonna steal it if you don't mind! :-)

@Agata - I think it is (TM) or maybe (PDK) in Theodric's case. So you may have to pay him an ale every time you use it. :)

Exactly. You can have your melee characters front line until they drop and they will not die. Bloody brilliant. :-)

Tracking NL damage is so easy online. Just track it next to your hit point total and you are done.

Exactly. You can have your melee characters front line until they drop and they will not die. Bloody brilliant. :-)

That is one of the things I love about it. You take too much damage and are out of the battle, like normal, but you do not die. AND you heal up twice as fast making those cure spells actually useful in combat. Dang expensive in a wand, particularly the way I am going through charges, but at this level, more affordable than dying.

AC is still pretty important at high levels as True Sight/Blind Sight make Mirror Image/Displacement/Greater Invisibility far less effective. However some characters cannot/do not want to invest in AC and falling over is much, much better than dying. :)

@Agata - I think it is (TM) or maybe (PDK) in Theodric's case. So you may have to pay him an ale every time you use it. :)

I have other quotes, but they may or may not offend some. :P

However some characters cannot/do not want to invest in AC and falling over is much, much better than dying. :)

You mean some 'players', not characters, right? I know two guys locally who regularly show up to high level games with AC 12 and AC 15 characters, saying 'AC is a waste'. I'm not sure if they realize they never last more than one or two games...

Well, I am assuming intelligent players which is sometimes an unwise assumption. Hence my original statement but I agree with you that the thought of defensive play is a mind-set. :)

Certain classes and builds just cannot keep up in terms of AC at higher levels. Many arcane caster builds (like my two high level wizards for example) have lousy AC but excellent Initiative, good hit points and mobility and defensive spells to compensate. Generally if you are going to be spending any amount of time on the front line you will need good defences.

One of my long-time players had a AC 52 halfling wizard, back in D&D 3.5, so it is entirely possible in Pathfinder I'm certain! ;)

Ill post today

Sorry, busy weekend, will post after lunch…

Hi GM, just a question on Zaarah's attack on pink. Did you see the last spellstrike with the acid shocking grasp? I am just asking because her normal attacks added up to 81 damage but the last attack seems to not have been taken into account?

Super sorry, this is hard fight to keep everything in mind so kudos to you!! ;-)

Since dominate is now being thrown around, just a reminder that Communal Mind Blank gives everyone a +8 resistance bonus vs mind-affecting (which won't stack with your +5 cloak of resistance, or whatever version you may have, so probably a net +3 for most of us).

Also, in case it comes up, a reminder that Heroic Invocation makes the party immune to fear and charm effects.

It is a real shame that both Confusion and Dominate (Person) are not covered completely by either Mind Blank or Heroic Invocation. They are both great spells however.

Yeah, really likely just a +3 bonus for us, but that's nothing to sneeze at either.

Fear immunity is great and often overlooked. Aura effects of evil outsiders can be powerful even if saved against and can stack. :)

Arcane casters (generally) are not blessed with such high saves and can use any bonus they can add on.

Sorry, either the site is acting up or my internet is intermittent…will try again in the morning…

I had to retype in an entire character sheet once after a monster on this site decided to have a snack. Gremlins I tell you. :)

I had to retype in an entire character sheet once after a monster on this site decided to have a snack. Gremlins I tell you. :)

Yeah, agreed, gremlins indeed. But I’m to blame as well as I should’ve pasted the post to my notes before hitting submit; when it previewed just fine, thought all was well…

Yes, this is a well known trick and when you forget sometimes your post is eaten. :)

It has happened to all of us.

Sorry, I never got a new post notice when Zaarah posted yesterday…curious…I’ll get a post up this morning via phone when I get a break at work…

Please move my token... don't want to mess the map from my phone...

Sorry, unexpected (but most welcome) company dropped by yesterday and will be here a couple of days. Going golfing this morning so probably won’t get a chance to post till later this afternoon…

Hope all of you had a nice Easter…

So, are y’all gonna pursue this combat or try to break it off?

Thanks, you too. :)

I think that considering that she is incidental to the plot that we should break it off and keep moving.

Keep moving! :)

I agree. Keep moving,even if she might be a thorn in our side!

And here I was thinking that Betcezia was the big bad! :-)

Fellow Seekers: south and towards that unrevealed section yes?

Aye aye!

Yeppers!

And here I was thinking that Betcezia was the big bad! :-)

Getting closer but not there quite yet…this is a long module…

Standard marching order? Everybody’s buffs are current? When you get a chance, move your icons to where you want them as you enter the chamber…

Buffs are current.

On first glance at the game post I was concerned that our characters would be going up against a Balor (Planes DC 30 check). Now that would be a truly epic fight. :)

Doing my taxes last night, so I didn’t get to work on the map much; it’s almost done and I should have a post up this afternoon/early evening. Looks like everyone has posted their saves/knowledge checks except Agata, so maybe that’ll give her a some time to post beforehand. Theodric, good luck with the were-rabbits till then… :)

Sorry, busy most of the day, still finishing up my taxes by night. Will post in the morning…

It should be fun that she buffed our opponents. As Theo has said if they are completely useless what is the point? :)

I’ll prod Zaarah with a pm…

Life Bubble: not sure if the party has that, but I don't see it listed in my current buffs.

Cloudkill + Blade Barrier: both are 20 ft. high --> is the ceiling high enough we can fly up over these?

Thanks!

No the ceiling is 20’ so no room to fly over…but crossing the barrier gives you a reflex save for half damage and that means evasion comes into play if you have it…

Understood! thanks for the feedback. Now if Theo could stop swatting at deadly white bunnies... ;)

The Marilith really stinks for a CR 17 monster. Her attack bonuses are terrible and her attacks do horrible damage. Shame on the person who actually designed this monster as it is a real let down. :(

Good job GM Otha for buffing them all before the battle. They need it. :)

It is you who are overpowered, Flint Firetoe. You and your accursed high level monkish kind! :D :P ;)

Don't be jealous now that Theo spent his time in the tavern and the brothel and not in the monastery. ;)

Seriously any character with Stone Skin up or a half decent armor class shuts the Marilith down hard. Anyone spending any amount of time on the front line should have either or both of these in a CR 16 module. Or you could just have a mountain of hit points like Zaarah and a cure light wounds wand. :)

Remember this module was designed for Core classes only, way back near the beginning of PFRPG I think. Therefore, you should immediately convert to a core monk if you wish for a more... appropriate challenge... ;)

The Core classes are among the most powerful and with (a lot) less choice in spell selection the front-liners would probably be running around with Stone Skin. Also instead of Inquisitors we would probably have Paladins in the party. Those rock against demons! :)

Standard play offers more options but a lot of those choices are less powerful than the Core options. :)