GM Valen's PFS 1e 0-7 Among the Living & Among the Dead (Subtier 6-7) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

A place for out-of-character discussion.

Full HeroLab file

Derf

Pre-game purchases
Boots of Striding and Springing
One cracked Ioun Stone for acrobatics, and one for UMD

Sorry for the delay, everyone - was more busy than anticipated, and I also got my 4th Covid shot today...
Additionally, I am located in Europe, which means I have to go to bed soon.
Gameplay posts and purchases will be coming up tomorrow (Sunday) at the latest!

@GM Valen:
Is the item Eyes of the Eagle considered an ok thing to wear to the opera? I want to make sure that I fill out the correct Perception modifier in the slides...
Also, if you could put the link to the slides into the campaign header, that would be great. Thanks!

Is the item Eyes of the Eagle considered an ok thing to wear to the opera?

Some nobles may well frown upon it, but you would be permitted through the doors of the opera hall.

Take care of yourself and post when you are able. If you anticipate a long absence, I ask that you please let us know (and include any botting instructions).

Sorry again, everyone - took me longer than predicted. :-(

But finally, the cleric arrived at the opera. Hooray! ;-)

I have two questions.

1) Is it considered that we are sitting? That is, do I need to spend some action to get up? Or did the massacre that started make us jump up from our seats?

2) Is it possible to 5ft step into the hallway? Obviously, it is impossible to take a step into the benches. But get out of them? In my case, to the right down the map.

I have two questions.

1) Is it considered that we are sitting? That is, do I need to spend some action to get up? Or did the massacre that started make us jump up from our seats?

2) Is it possible to 5ft step into the hallway? Obviously, it is impossible to take a step into the benches. But get out of them? In my case, to the right down the map.

Good questions.

1) I am fine with the party being on it's feet at the start of combat. PCs can choose to start off standing.

2) A PC can take a 5 ft. step out of a bench/pew, but not over or through one.

I also have a question:

Is Grunjar wearing his new fancy clothes over his full plate?
I don't think so, but maybe...
If not, that attack would have hit - and I will adjust the AC stats in my header.

Same goes for Nikita, by the way...

re Armor: I did say that Lady Vanessa put her armor into her handy haversack, so her AC is only 13 now.

She would have offered to do the same for anyone else's armor if they didn't think they could wear it under or as part of their outfits. Though I think Grunjar and Nikita posing as bodyguards for the "two noble Ladies" would have allowed them to keep their armor on.

Re Grunjar's Channel: Yeah, it does make a ton of sense. But Vanessa is going to pout mightily if you take away her (soon-to-be) new toy (Black). She can take the damage, since she's uninjured at this point.

How about this: She does Command Undead to take control of the minotaur and commands it to move away toward the north part of the map. Then Grunjar moves south enough to channel all the others but not hit Black. Yes, Grunjar would provoke, assuming Green and/or Blue are still in position, but with his armor on they'd need Nat 20's to hit him.

I also have a question:

Is Grunjar wearing his new fancy clothes over his full plate?
I don't think so, but maybe...
If not, that attack would have hit - and I will adjust the AC stats in my header.

Same goes for Nikita, by the way...

I will leave it up to the players whether their PCs are in armor or not. The scenario notes the PCs are allowed in the opera house with their armor and gear, but that they are somewhat frowned upon by the nobles if they don't have proper dress (and there is some mechanical advantage to noble dress for social situations).

It can be hard walking the fine line between immersive storytelling and playing an effective PC and different players/builds handle either end of that balance better than others.

I get the strong sense from your posts that, at least, most of you favor immersive roleplaying and I have spend a bit more time on my posts to play to that. I will also so that I suspect this fight won't be too tough, even if your PCs were unarmored. That being said, the potential for a deadly fight is still there. Thus, I am leaving it up to the players to decide.

I will ask that if your PCs attire alters their AC, that you please note the correct AC in your stat block.

Well noted GM Valen. I think I'm unarmored. Was there a wardrobe at the entrance? I think I put armor there - I'm not kidding! To imagine us with whole trunks with things (ropes, tents, armor stacked there, etc.) at the opera is just ridiculous ))

@Lady Vanessa Reisende, it's a great idea, I really like it. But I had previously stated that I was changing into a suitable dress (and even bought this). That is, everything happened on the spot that I pretended that I was a bodyguard, but since this was not the initial plan, I am not in armor.

Hey! (you may have read this message in other shared games) I will be on a trip next week with three possible options: I will post as usual, 1 time a day; I will not be able to post until Thursday; I will not be able to post all week and will return to the gameplay in 7-8 days. In any case, feel completely free to bot me if needed. Cheers!

Grunjar is unarmored - but that will definitively change after this fight! Header is amended.

@Vanessa Reisende: I like the idea. I do not think that one channel of 4d6 will destroy your new pet immediately, but let's do it as you proposed.

@Vanessa Reisende:
I just saw that the undead get a Will saving throw against the channel. As the DC is only 11 thanks to a negative CHA-modifier, the damage it will cause (probably only half of 4d6) to the big one is negligable.
Therefore, Grunjar will not run (and provoke).
The good news: You have a very good chance to take only half damage, too.

Hate to backseat GM, but IIRC this map was 10' or 15' squares, wasn't it? Might explain how crowded we are...

Hate to backseat GM, but IIRC this map was 10' or 15' squares, wasn't it? Might explain how crowded we are...

Ah, yes. 10' squares.

New "re-sized " map is up on Slides.

Grunjar wrote:

"Interesting... these liveries are still remarkable pristine, we should probably check them for magic. Also, this very well-dressed noble has a large pocket, maybe there's a letter inside?"

There is not.

Ok, so no letter. But are the liveries magical? I hoped the others would check, but I would do it before moving to another room, anyway.

Grunjar is unarmored - but that will definitively change after this fight! Header is amended.

And apparently I forgot to change the header back after Grunjar donned his full plate. *facepalm* Sorry.

Therefore, the zombies only hit Grunjar's armor.

Happy holidays, everyone! :-D

Io Saturnalia!

Mele Kalikimaka! - that's "Merry Christmas" in Hawaiian! And even though I don't actually celebrate, it's the proper way to wish this group good tidings from where I just so happen to find myself today.

And while also not particularly devout, Lady Vanessa wishes everyone a belated but painful - and therefore joyous - Baptism in Midnight.

May your holidays and celebrations be magical.

Io Saturnalia all!

We are fast approaching the conclusion. Please look over the chronicle information here to make sure it is correct.

@all:
Are we going to play the sequel Among the Dead as well?
Yes, I know that Lady Vanessa cannot, as she already played it. But maybe she can use a replay?
(I would love to also play it. I had much fun with this one, and I hope you had fun, too.)
Because, if we want to do that (and GM Valen is willing to run it - despite probably being frustrated* about us for cheating magicking ourselves through the scenario), Grunjar has to take the slow track for this chronicle - otherwise he would level out of the tier for the sequel.
Please let me know your intentions.

*Sorry about that. *shrugs and gives a weak smile* #sorrynotsorry ;-)

Trivialize the final battle? More like nearly the ENTIRE SCENARIO!?!The party should be applauded for its preparedness!

^_^

I'm not opposed to burning a replay, and I am enjoying the RP.

BUUUUTTTT....

The one thing I remember about that scenario is the INSANE number of [REDACTED]. None of our current party (except possibly Derf) can deal with [REDACTED], and we can't see Derf's character sheet or any of his stats whatsoever to know if he can. My only character in tier that could is the one that I played that scenario with before.

So, while I'm willing to replay it, I'm not keen to do so with this party as it stands. It would be un-fun, and would simply turn into a meat-grinder. Vanessa is a dhamphir boon and one of my favorite characters, and I don't think she has enough PP to get raised if she gets killed by all the [REDACTED].

I'd offer to run it, but TBH I don't have the bandwidth to run it right now, sorry.

@Lady Vanessa: Derf posted his HeroLab file in his first post in discussion, so please have a look at it.

And now I'm curious what a character needs to be - or have - to be able to deal with [REDACTED]...

My bad. I missed Derf's post there. I knew he did Dirty Tricks and presumed he had some Brawler, but didn't know the rest of the build. Thanks.

Your guess was correct. As you say, Derf's got it covered.

So, yes, if GM Valen is willing, and everyone else is onboard, I'll burn a replay to do part 2.

I guess I'll be in too. - after Spica has bought a lot of scrolls

I'm in too )

My bad. I missed Derf's post there. I knew he did Dirty Tricks and presumed he had some Brawler, but didn't know the rest of the build. Thanks.

No problem. ;-) You're welcome!

Your guess was correct. As you say, Derf's got it covered.

So, yes, if GM Valen is willing, and everyone else is onboard, I'll burn a replay to do part 2.

@GM Valen: What about you? I really like your GM-style and would be happy to play the sequel at your table! :-)

I can play part 2 with Derf, but I'd level out and not be able to do part 3. Or, if we were committed to all 3 parts, I could do slow track for the final 2.

If that's the plan, I'd be willing to join.

There's 3 parts to this? What's part 3 after Among the Dead?

I could run Among the Dead.

I have never played nor read Among the Gods and I am reluctant to commit, at present, to two future tables.

I could run Among the Dead.

Yay! :-D Thanks a lot!

I have never played nor read Among the Gods and I am reluctant to commit, at present, to two future tables.

I just checked the average rating and read a few reviews on the product page... and I am not convinced that playing that scenario would be fun.

However, if anybody wants to play Among the Dead I could send my level 5 barbarian instead.

What wonderful news! Thank you very much, GM Valen!

Same as Grunjar, chronicle with slow progression for me too, please!

I played Among the Gods back in 2014 on my -1. The notes I made on the chronicle are enough to convince me not to waste a replay for part 3.

With GM Valen running part 2, that'll be sufficient. Thanks!

Normal progression for Vanessa, please, GM.

A barbarian might be good. Vanessa and Nikita can heal from a wand, and Derf might appreciate a front-line ally that's not made of rotten flesh and can take full actions. I don't recall part 2 having quite this many zombies :)

I just checked the average rating and read a few reviews on the product page... and I am not convinced that playing that scenario would be fun.

Also, Grunjar will have leveled out of it anyway.

However, if anybody wants to play Among the Dead Gods I could send my level 5 barbarian instead.

Sorry, I wrote the wrong scenario name. *facepalm*

Oracle's Burden Will DC 19, -1 for Prayer, -2 for the Shard. On a Failure he takes a -4 on all weapon attacks AND he's vulnerable to Positive energy and healing like an undead. But would he know that...?

So if he drinks a healing potion - or casts a healing spell - he damages himself instead? That's genius, I love it! :-D

A worthy death for a Zyphus's follower!

I just checked my records and I too, have already played Amongst the Gods. Besides, Spica would have levelled out after Amongst the Dead at normal track anyway.

So, I'll offer to GM Amongst the Gods for those interested.

So, I'll offer to GM Amongst the Gods for those interested.

Neat! My barbarian 5 is game! :-D

@all:
Should we consider to play one of these - or both? - scenarios during Outpost VI: Strange-ish Things?
There would be a chance for player boons... and GM boons as well!
On the other hand we would have to wait until the start of the event (March 06, 2023).
Maybe we could be finished until then - we had a pretty fast pace... :-)

I wouldn't want to wait .)

Why don't we do part 2 now; if the timing works part 3 could be at Outpost VI?

Why don't we do part 2 now; if the timing works part 3 could be at Outpost VI?

Works for me!

+OK. I'll put it up for Outpost

Game has been reported. Chronicles can be downloaded here.

Please let me know of any changes or corrections, but note that I am not likely to get them posted until Tuesday.

Per request, I am going to invite grimdog72 to join us.

Sign-ups for the next scenario, Among the Dead, should be done here.

[dice=profession astronomer]d20+5 ((dayjob))

and entertaining Vanessa
[dice=perform aquatic dance]d20+1

Yes - thanks for running and thank you everyone for an entertaining game

Awwww.... Thank you, dahling! (But you should have just used your reroll and taken that as your day job check.)

No day job for the Lady. She's a noble (as far as she's concerned); she doesn't have to work.

Marking off a faction card for "recovering a named minor artifact" for the Dark Archive.

Chronicle looks good. See you all next week!

Game has been reported. Chronicles can be downloaded here.

Slow track please (I apologize in advance, I could not edit the data in the RPG chronicles)

UPD: I see now there is half of the gold and prestige, it's just that there is still 1 XP .)

Slow track please (I apologize in advance, I could not edit the data in the RPG chronicles)

UPD: I see now there is half of the gold and prestige, it's just that there is still 1 XP .)

My chronicle looks good, but it also says I got 1 XP. However, the starting XP amount of 20 and the final XP amount of 20.5 (and half gold and prestige) are correct.