Quest for the Frozen Flame - PF2 AP by DM Doctor Evil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Hurik: Kheyji and Hurik bonded over shared hunting stories (she has the Hunter background and he's a Megafauna Hunter). She calls him "Tiny" as a term of endearment because in his hunting stories, he's always the tiny one.

Sorry, i'm a bit behind. This works great for me ;)

Sorry, i'm a bit behind. This works great for me ;)

No worries here. The beauty of pbp is that sometimes you can take your time.

What does one roll for a spell tradition check?

Since Kheyji is a cleric and her magic is divine, for her I think it would be religion. Hope I got that right

Correct, unless you have some odd set up. So you'd make a DC 15 Religion Check.

Okay, newbie query: if an anathema of Serenrae is to fail to smite evil, does that mean she has to throw down with any evil critters we come across?

One of her Edicts is "seek and allow redemption"
So maybe the Anathema of "fail to strike down evil"
would make it more of a 'those that can be redeemed get a chance to atone, or at least stop doing evil. But if they persist, they get taken down'? Not sure

I’m not sure a single instance of failing to strike down one evil creature of minor significance is probably not enough to be an issue, as far as standing with her, but a follower of Sarenrae would likely act to oppose evil in some way where they could make a difference.

I think you are playing it just fine. Those who might have wanted to walk away may have to learn there’s a price to play for having a Sarenrite along for the ride.

It looks like I'm going to get good use out of that Healing Hands Feat here when Kheyji's turn comes up.

Well, I just got my answer regarding PF2 being rocket tag at level 1 or not. I was down even before I realized there was a fight going on.

Well, I just got my answer regarding PF2 being rocket tag at level 1 or not. I was down even before I realized there was a fight going on.

Yeah, that was quite a wallop.

It was 3d8 and ended up with 20 so that's a very high roll. But even 12 average damage at first and 1d6 persistent would be a load at first level.

Sorry...just the luck of the dice I guess. Maybe you should all learn acid arrow ASAP.

Heh. From what I read in the archive, Miriani can bring the arcane hurt juuust fine.

Holy crap, that hydraulic push damage!

Holy crap, that hydraulic push damage!

Critical success means dead foe.

Sorry, I totally missed the bonus on healing. Got it now. Will have round 2 up later tonigth.

Is there a reason anyone knows about why PF2e did away with the Critical Confirmation roll? I think it will be the first houserule I will implement if I ever DM it.

Most other game don't have a confirmation roll far as i know, and its pretty exciting when you hit it, but not so exciting when it comes at you instead.

Is there a reason anyone knows about why PF2e did away with the Critical Confirmation roll? I think it will be the first houserule I will implement if I ever DM it.

PF2 arguably has the best numbers balance out there. Most people adjusting it have had unexpected experiences. You'll have to figure out how much to reduce monster hp at each level. It likely won't be a flat percent because they are accounting for big spells at higher levels. If you don't, then battles will become a slog. If you overcorrect, battles will become too easy.

A lot of people don't like the confirmation roll. It's an extra step and it means that when you are just squeaking by for the crit, you often won't confirm. It's like giving you a candy bar and then snatching it away.

What I would have done is not to double the damage. When you get spells like disintegrate or a high level searing light against a vulnerable target they are far too much. Likewise, many spell slot crits are really tough at low levels.

I like 4e's solution. A crit does maximum damage. It's simple and it always produces a benefit. Sometimes even with double damage, the roll is subpar and you do as much as a regular hit could have.

With maximum damage instead of dubling you then can have feats and runes that add extra dice to crits.

But I'm not going to do major houserules. My main houserule is that things that are vulnerable to positive energy are considered undead for the purposes of spells that do positive energy to undead only.

I like 4e's solution. A crit does maximum damage. It's simple and it always produces a benefit. Sometimes even with double damage, the roll is subpar and you do as much as a regular hit could have.

4e had a lot of nice, interesting things - it has caught my attention again recently.

EDIT: Thank you for the healing btw Kheyji!

Kheji is always happy to patch people up :)

I never played 4e, but I do like the sound of a crit doing max damage. I'm new to PF, but I played 3.5e back in the day and a lot of 5e more recently, and I will say it can be a bit of a letdown when you crit but roll 1s on the damage dice.

Wow! Mundane medicine is actually pretty darn useful in Pathfinder. I recognize I was assisted by the dice roller on those medicine checks, but still. It's handy to have a way to work on people outside of combat without needing to expend spell slots.

the healing mechanic replaces channel energy I guess. It's useful but probably does not scale well at higher levels. You seem to be doing just fine with it though!!!

the healing mechanic replaces channel energy I guess. It's useful but probably does not scale well at higher levels. You seem to be doing just fine with it though!!!

You obviously haven't looked at the Medic archetype or the Forensic Medicine Methodology for the investigator.

I've played a game where the primary healing was mundane.

Is the group's consensus then to head back downstream about an hour to the place where Pakano was last seen gathering water?

Okay. I thought we were getting bowls and going UP stream
Or maybe I misread Thraskh

No, we want to go upstream to find the source of the pollution. Either to get fresh water ahead of it or (preferably) to solve the problem.

Why do we need a crafter for the Hunter's Bane?

Talismans are one-shot magic items attached to armor or weapons. It takes 10 minutes, a repair check and a pretty easy crafting roll to attach them.

I did not know that. Okay, neat!

Okay. I thought we were getting bowls and going UP stream

Or maybe I misread Thraskh

Yes, I was suggesting this, so if we found a source of clean water, we would be able to store and take it with us.

I am confused on your next course of action. it sounds like two different things.

Are you a) going back to where Pakano was filling the water jugs b) going further up to investigate the ash or c) something else?

I was suggesting getting back to grab the ceremonial vessels to fill up with clean water further upstream. As far as I understand we had only moved about 1 mile away from Pakano right?

yes, and fine. That's where we will go.

That was also my understanding.

Sorry I didn't post the other day, family drama this week.

I am unfortunately familiar with that sort of drama. Hope all is well with you and yours.

ditto. Keep your head up.

Thanks guys. And Hurik is quite happy to take the Hunter's Bane if no one else wants it, but having seen Pakano play Daffy Duck with the Spear 'Mine mine mine' he will be happy whoever it goes to if they want it more :)

Hope all turns out for the best with you and your family Hurik.

The spear could actually be useful for our group I think - does it have reach?

The spear does not have reach, but could be thrown 20'

I have a bad feeling about this swarm.

If Hurik were a funnier guy, I would have him call out to the Ravens, "Whatever I said about your mother, I'm SORRY"

:)

Yeah. I just listened to an actual play with a swarm, and swarms appear to be nasty in PF2e.

Guess Pf2 swarms aren't all that after all. Bam! One shot!

Hmmmmmm, I wonder what would happen if we did not have an AoE effect...

PF2 can be weird. Toward the end of AoA, we had some Boss encounters that we were crapping ourselves over that went over easy. But the encounter before that kicked our ass.

2 crit fails in a row! We're now the blind tusks.

Also, loved the "purrrception" pun.

We have not really said how we will deal with treasure/loot since you haven't found any yet. Unlike many APs there may not be good locations to buy/trade for goods or services for a while.

I have a loot tracker spreadsheet we can add if you want, or you can just claim certain items etc. It's kind of up to you.

I think a tracker could be handy, though I don't have strong feelings on the subject.

Agreed on the tracker :)