Book 1 The Dead Roads (Inactive)

Game Master Seldlon the Swift

Discussion is open.

Wow Igar, thanks for the vote of confidence. I look forward to getting started with you on his journey.

A little about myself and my posting patterns (which have changed over the years) I live in EST, I'm semi-retired and play house-husband while keeping an eye on my mother, who is in late stages of dementia. We had to move her in with us and she is unable to stay by herself for long periods of time. I'm basically at my computer during 'business hours' so will post regularly between 8 am and 4 pm. I tend to keep an eye on games during the evening and will post when needed before I go to bed.

I used to attempt to drag games along kicking and screaming, but I've learned that didn't encourage other players. Now I try to post at the pace set by the GM attempting to use 'hooks' and 'questions' to keep others involved. But I still like playing physical characters who can keep the team 'moving forward' Thus generally playing frontliners or skill characters.

I will get Wulfgar's crunch posted soon so you can take a look at him and get his backstory tweaked, if not today then tomorrow. Is there any questions I can answer for you?

Looks like we are going to get along just fine. Looking forward to it. Thank you for heading up the party build and recruitment.

Certainly, I've got a list posted and with twelve people to pick two we've got plenty of applicants, so I closed the recruitment. With everything else equal I'm leaning towards people who originally posted interest.

I will address any rules issues they may have once they are chosen.

cool, I ended up working on the list and adding comments instead of getting Wulfgar done, I'll work on his crunch a little tonight and focus on his backstory in the morning. Should have him ready to inspect by this time tommorow.

Ok Wulfgar's crunch is done. I'm still working on altering his background from the alt-earth game.

As far as the recruitment is going, I've received the PM's back I was waiting for and will announce tomorrow morning that the recruitment will close in 24 hrs.

Hej, also checking in.
Thanks for having me, both of you :)

Regarding posting pattern: I do work full-time and have 3(4 in january) small kids at home.
I MAY have time to check during the day if there are short breaks before scheduled work events where tackling a new problem is not valid. (That is, if I have about 10 minutes to the next video call, it makes no sense to start on a fresh issue, and I may instead check the boards).
I WILL usually have time to check in the evening - rarely, I may have other social events coming up that prevent me from doing so - but overall I should be able to keep up the daily rate.

I do try to push games forward IF they seem to stall at points, but between Wulfgar and Igar I don't see that happening a lot.

I do have one rules-related question, though: Can we "automate" trap-spotting for obvious 'targets'? I know there is Trap Spotter rogue talent for that - to passively scan - but it seems like a sort of Tax as well.(and would require a second level of rogue I did not plan on taking)
If you prefer that, I can add that I'll check every door and container and anything near places where we know traps were triggered, but I feel for the flow of the game it can be better if there's a "standing order" to check anything that might seem suspect.
(That, and non-obvious places like in the middle of some corridor would not be covered by this, obviously - unlike with the proper Trap Spotter talent - really talking about stuff like doors, places with scorch-marks on walls, suspiciously placed chests etc..)

Hey! Your welcome Farad.

I posted in recruitment that Ardran and Morana Lazaku were our selection and invited them to join us here.

Here I am!

Totally not facepalming at my yet imaginary phantoms antics.

Posting pattern wise, I work from full homeoffice.

I am also here, but not really because Mr. rejected Ballerina
needs to get to level 3 first! Until then I shall munch popcorn.

Oh, technically I am less then a year old, do I count as a child for the stoic caregivers bonus to healing children?

Sperg time:

Adran + Wulfgar

Ok, Imho, Angelic attacks are actually not that bad, its the rest of the bloodline thats not great, but you are a primalist so you will likely care exceedingly little.

Spell warrior replaces raging song with weapon song.
This is both good and bad. The bad, if you run out of rage, you cannot use my raging song to use your improved rage boni (with a normal Skald you could do this). The good, my rage fully "stacks" with yours. You can have both your rage, the rage powers from primalist and my weapon song and my rage powers, at the same time. This will be a pretty potent combo starting at level 4-5. Also, the first +1 weapon we find should go to you, because my weapon song will be able to turn it into a +elemental damage d6 or a keen, and it will possible deal +d6 holy on top of that.

We should plan ahead which rage powers we are taking though, to minimize overlap and increase synergy, the adventure path is, by reputation, among the more difficult ones.

Fun fact: Adran is looking at power attack pickup at level 9 (level 3 is phantom ally, level 5/7 force of personality/lingering performance) you will outdpr him by quite a bit but thas fine.

Adran + Morana:
Morana is great! The Phantom does not heal naturally. Phantoms are outsiders rather then undead and thus are healed by positive energy. She also has really high heal, double yay!
A spell focus in conjuration could imply going for summonings at some point, and Adran can upgrade the "weapons" (unsure if natural weapon are included) of such summons. If Morana gets a conductive stick somewhere, Ardran can also boost said stick with a bonus to hit.

Adran + Farad:
Well, you got 2 stealth buddies. The Phantom will make large puppy eyes at any mage armor spell slot. Adran can actually cast shield on her, which is quite useful too. If we joink a +1 crossbow, said crossbow could become flaming etc, kind of reducing crossbow of shame situations, but tbh. my performance pool may well run out before your spell slots, as lingering performance will be pretty late for me.

Ok, Imho, Angelic attacks are actually not that bad, its the rest of the bloodline thats not great, but you are a primalist so you will likely care exceedingly little.

Exactly.

So Wulfgar's original game was a little different, I played him, to sixth level, four bloodrager/two oracle. The game combined with another alt-earth game the GM was running and I stepped away from it. Then I was was going to jump back in the game at fifteen level. But the game never restarted.

The fifteenth level build was Bloodrager 11/Oracle 4, the Oracle was with the Archetype:Spirit Guide and the Mystery: Life. I don't know that I will go oracle, or the life mystery, might go lunar to pick up a tiger animal companion, especially if were weak on frontline.

As for the rage powers it went:
Fourth level: Primalist rage powers:
Reckless Abandon: –1 penalty to AC to gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls. The AC penalty increases by –1 and the attack roll bonus increases by +1 at 4th level and every four levels thereafter.
Superstition: +2 morale bonus on saving throws made to resist spells, supernatural abilities, and spell-like abilities. This bonus increases by +1 for every 4 levels the barbarian has attained. While raging, the barbarian cannot be a willing target of any spell and must make saving throws to resist all spells, even those cast by allies.
Eighth level:Primalist rage powers:
Witch Hunter: gains a +1 bonus on damage rolls against creatures possessing spells or spell-like abilities. This damage bonus increases by +1 for every four levels the barbarian has obtained.
Spell Sunder: Once per rage, the barbarian can attempt to sunder an ongoing spell effect by succeeding at a combat maneuver check. For any effect other than one on a creature, the barbarian must make her combat maneuver check against a CMD of 15 plus the effect’s caster level. To sunder an effect on a creature, the barbarian must succeed at a normal sunder combat maneuver against the creature’s CMD + 5, ignoring any miss chance caused by a spell or spell-like ability. If successful, the barbarian suppresses the effect for 1 round, or 2 rounds if she exceeded the CMD by 5 to 9. If she exceeds the CMD by 10 or more, the effect is dispelled.

I also spent the feats to do
Angelic Blood
Angelic Flesh: Steel: +1 natural armor bonus to AC
Angel wings
metalic wings two wing attacks., secondary natural attacks that deal 1d4 S

And had 'enlarge' cast as permanent. Won't neseccarily follow the exact same build but will be real close. If I invest in an animal companion I may lean to more oracle levels. If we don't need the help in divine spells I may stay entirely bloodrager.

Lunar and Nature I believe both have a "use CHA for Dex, AC wise" option, which, since you are a steelblood (and thus get some armor training) probably is a +3-+5 AC boost if you want it (assuming your cha will be around 18-20, while your dex likely stays at 12, or if enlarged becomes 10), also, lame curse for rage cycling.

Sash of the war champion works on you, and basically adds +1 ac from the body slot if you are a steelblood. No idea if we get to shop for one or find one though.

My current thinking rage power wise on Ardran, which is actually interesting narratively is fiend totem lesser and animal fury, for a bite + a gore. Ardran would leave fiend totem at lesser, as the upgraded version are eh (tier 2, nothing cares at getting hit for d6 piercing) or actively bad (tier 3).

The phantom would get 2 slams (primary) a gore (primary) and maybe a primary bite (animal fury has weird wording implying its secondary if used as part of a full attack, although bites are normally always primary).

And then elemental blood lesser (probably fire? we are fighting mostly undead after all, swift action, 3 times per day, to add d6 fire damage to all hits for a turn).

The combo is certainly interesting, and would apply to possible animal companions and summons, assuming they dont already have a bite and a gore.

@GM if we end up overoptimized, I think there is a lot of player veterancy in this group, we can always tone it down later.

You guys look ready to go with the exception of Mightypion. PC is a level 1 spiritualist?

Any question or concerns before we start gameplay?

I think he's a level one skald, who will go spiritualist later...

No questions. It will be good to get the game on our cue. Do you want us to dot and delete? Also, my apologies on Wulfgar's background. I've got the crib-note version done, but I'm about halfway through with the long version. I got distracted by a book...

Level 1 Skald (spell warrior archetype), Spiritualist (fractured mind specifically) dip at level 3, to coincide with phantom ally feat.

He will be very confused to wake up without his phantom, but its quite feasible and plausible for her to show up and rejoin once he hits level 3.

If you dot, delete.

Okay, so Veronika threw me off.

Ardran skald
Wulfgar bloodrager
Farad rogue

I am missing a player.

The Cleric (Morana) hasnt signed in yet.

I did bring up one question in my previous post, regarding the possibility of having a "standing order" in regards to checking doors, containers, and suspicious areas(like scorch marks on a wall) for traps.
I can state it manually, I just feel the game flow is easier because it cuts out one interaction loop.
Scenario 1: We come to a door that might be trapped...with the standing order you can roll for me and give us the result. If we decide it's not trapped anybody can open it and move us forward.
VS
Scenario 2: We come to a door that might be trapped...nobody else acts until I can post that I am checking for traps, including a relevant roll. We wait for your answer, and arrive at the point we started at in Scenario 1.
As said, not looking for a free "Trap Spotter" Talent, just in regards to objects that could reasonably be expected to be trapped. (If our view on that turn out to diverge too much, it's not an option I suppose)

Also, our Cleric should review her Ability Score spending after checking in. At the time of writing, she has 2 points unspent by my count.

Getting the slight doldrums if combat reflexes + bodyguard is truely better then lingering performance + force of personality, my AB is just a +2 early on. I mean, with a level and some masterwork weapon it becomes a +4, which is fairly reliable.

Thanks, Farod. I will be glad to do that standing order. No problem checking every door or anything obvious for traps. If it is neither, I will need player input.

If you dot, delete.

I am missing a player.

ok, can't dot and delete yet, and we are waiting on our cleric, who needs to look at her stats...

And do we want a marching order or a night watch order? Also Igar what's you preference on moving the game forward, if two people post we move ahead is that good enough or do you want three or all four?

When I PM'd with Morana's player he said he would at least check the boards daily. Where some of us may check it hourly. Well maybe not hourly, but a lot...

You will begin the game in initiative, so we will need to wait until the party is complete. After that it will will go to block initiative.

You can work out the orders in play.

cool

I'm here sorry for the delay. Why do I need to Look at my stats?

I intend one using summoning. Augment Summoning and Sacred Summons eventually as a second choice. Party buffing and healing as needed a third choice. Also I will eventually be able to channel positive to heal and harm at the same time, so that's a plus.

Again sorry about the late post.

Oh I see it. I didn't know whether you got to select a variant ability or roll for it. Also I didn't make my Constitution 14 instead of 13. I fixed that.

Can't talk for GM, but the variant tables are often not used at all - as there is a very wide margin of power. That said, IF they are in use, then usually its with 1 to 3 rolls, never pick(as a free +2 to a primary attribute on top of a +2 from race would be seriously out of balance).

And aye, with Con 14 it seems correct.

I have never once seen the variant tables used either.

The VMC rules state "... each character can choose a secondary class at 1st level that she trains in throughout her career..." and "A character who selects this option doesn't gain feats at 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, and 19th levels, but instead gains class features from her secondary class as described on Table: Multiclass Character Advancement."

So Morana needs to state the VMC class at this time.

I think Morana meant variant abilities for Aasimar here:
Aasimar variant abilities
I dont recommend it, there are +2 extra stat boosts in there if you are lucky enough to roll them. On the other hand, you can become blessed with becoming immune to altitude sickness, yay.

Thanks for the clarification, Ardran. Looks like a trade out to me.

" Each heritage presents new ability modifiers, spell-like abilities, and skill modifiers that replace the default aasimar racial traits, as well as a pair of custom traits."

"
Alternate Skill Modifiers: While most aasimars gain a +2 racial bonus on Diplomacy and Perception checks, those of the variant heritages listed below gain a modifier to different skills.
Alternate Spell-Like Ability: The listed spell replaces the standard aasimar’s daylight 1/day spell-like ability and also functions once per day as a spell-like ability."

There are variant Aasimar heritages (like Angelkin etc.), who are fairly frequently used (akin to like, Skinwalker of thiefling heritage variants), and which is a direct tradeout.

The random table meanwhile sees very little use in practice, and imho for good reason.

Uggg. Rolling random seems like you lose control of your build.

44 If you stand atop a grave and meditate for 10 minutes, you learn the name of whoever lies buried below.

Uggg. Rolling random seems like you lose control of your build.

44 If you stand atop a grave and meditate for 10 minutes, you learn the name of whoever lies buried below.

Actually, throughout my rpging career, that would have been usefull twice.

Aye, and allowing picking turns their ability mods into +2/+4 with no negative.
90 - You gain an additional +2 racial bonus to your Charisma score.

As said, the tables are mostly not used and if, then usually only for flavor(that is, random roll and the more extreme outcomes can be vetoed by both player and GM, defaulting to regular SLA of the chosen heritage).

One of the most "useless" ones for me always was
66 - You are immune to undead creatures’ create spawn special ability.
along with
91 - If you die, your body can never be reanimated as an undead creature.
I mean, create spawn and reanimation is kind of a post-mortem thing...I see how in niche situations it could be useful for easier resurrection, but I prefer not dying in the first place.

and the more extreme outcomes can be vetoed by both player and GM

If you roll, it is done :-)

I'll stick with Daylight, thanks.

91 can get useful in high level play.

Heck, I had a party raise a high level mortal servant of Baphomet as an undead, to stop goatface from resurrecting him. That favor later got returned of course, but once death becomes an easily remedied status condition...

66 is just bad.

Are we ready for gameplay?

Totally!

I'm ready

opps, I didn't change my flat footed AC.

Edit: All set.

GamePlay is open. If you dot, delete.

Very cool, will dot and delete.

Or get a feed reader :-)

a feed reader?

Edit: Since Wulfgar, Morana and Farod are all from Roslar’s Coffer, and of a certain age I'm assuming they know each other.

RSS feed readers monitors websites that support the protocol at the rate you choose. At the upper right in orange/white icons on these pages are links to the feeds. I have mine set up for 15 minute intervals. I get a notification when there is a new post on those pages.

I have an awesome feed reader extension in firefox that is really a full blown program. On my android I have a decent one that notifies as well.

I use it primarily for news/technical sites that I keep up with. Paizo fits in perfectly.

Possible background:

Ardran + Wulfgar. Wulfgars mother considered hiring Ardran as a tutor, to teach Wulfgar a degree of stealth, nightfighting and ambush skills.

His teaching methods were unusual for Wulfgar, focusing on controlling his breathing, doing tasks under increasing degrees of hoodedness but actually effective. Wulfgars mother cancelled the contract after a talk with the local seargent.

Ardran and Farod.
Being very big on "know your enemy" Adran may have had a long talk with Farod about the orcs in the area, clan marks, boundaries, speaking patterns, military habits and traditions, specific entites being worshipped.
Some of the questions may have raised an eyebrow, such as "If an Orc Shaman hears a voice from the darkness telling him orders in Abyssal, how likely is he, generally speaking, to obey them? And would one speak Abyssal in the first place?"

Ardran and Morana.
He would have stayed clear of Pharasmin clergy to the extent he can.
It is possible that the seargent of the guard would have asked Morana to verify that Ardrans phantom is not undead (the phantom heals of positive energy, so thats easy to do).