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I would like welcome everyone to the game and thank you for applying. If there are any questions, please feel free to ask. I generally post between 2:00 PM PST to 12:00 AM PST.
I wanted to take this opportunity to go over a few things before we get started. I would request that introductions and descriptions be saved for gameplay. I have something set up for everyone to get the ball rolling.
Maps: I will be using google slides for maps and google drive for images. I realize a lot of players enjoy playing from their phone, or from work, where access to maps can be a bit of a challenge. If for some reason you can’t access the map and would like someone to adjust your token, simply post something to that effect in the discussion thread.
Absences: If you need to take an absence for more than a couple days, please let us know and I will BOT you if it becomes required.
Knowledge Checks: When an encounter presents a creature that invokes a knowledge check, I will post a set of three DC’s. The first, which will be set at the minimum necessary to identify the creature, will include what it is and possibly something about it. The second will be set 5 above the first, which will include all special qualities, special attacks, and special defenses, etc. The third, which will be set 10 above the minimum, will impart a +1-circumstance bonus to the group’s attack and damage vs. that creature. The bonus is for that specific encounter and will end once the encounter is over. For every 5 beyond the 10, another +1 will be applied. This is a circumstance bonus that does not stack with multiple knowledge checks. In order to streamline things, I will make the assumption that all information is distributed once the DC is hit. That means all characters will immediately benefit from the knowledge check no matter who made it. Hopefully this will add extra value to the Knowledge skills.
XP: Because the game has the potential to move in and out of content, levels will be awarded based on progression and not XP. Because of that, I added the Hero Points system to the game, which will be awarded as character’s complete missions and accomplish meaningful objectives throughout the game.
OOC: I prefer OOC commentary to be posted in the discussion tab. Small questions or quick commentary can be posted in game play as long as they’re not overly long.
Role-play: After going over everyone’s character, game play history, and posts, I have determined that many of you are very experienced in not only game mastery, but roleplay in general. So, this next part might not be necessary, but I want to cover it just in case it helps in some way. (IC) cometary is NOT meant to hurt anyone’s feelings. It is simply a player acting out how they feel their character would react to things. Please do not get offended by a vigorous character interaction. I surmise this game will have some strong role-playing with a multitude of spicy personalities, which has the potential to invoke feelings. If you feel like something is offensive or it bothers you in some way, please post something in the discussion tab. Give the other player a chance to explain their character’s reaction before judging the commentary.
Material: I have a wide range of material available for this game. Without knowing everyone’s content experience, it is possible that the group sets out on a quest that a player has already experienced. I’m ok with this as long as the player can separate their character’s knowledge from their own. In addition, it’s ok for the group to change direction on the fly. There is no hardline here. You can complete a quest or abandon it at any time, assuming it is physically possible. I also wanted to mention, in the mix of the content, I have added a few (PFS-1) scenarios. If you would prefer not to experience that content in this format, let me know and I will remove it.
Employees: If your character has employment at the Rusty Flagon Inn in their background, on the introduction night, your character is off duty and visiting the establishment on their own accord. You are aware that the establishment is currently being renovated by the Pathfinder Society and that the society is intending to have a large recruitment on that particular night. You are also aware that extra muscle was brought in to keep the tables clear for establish adventuring groups. At one point you overheard that there is supposed to be some sort of sign up to be assigned a group, which is what sparked your curiosity. Putting two and two together you have also determined that the society’s vested interest in the Rusty Flagon Inn is, in some small way, being sponsored by the church of Cayden Cailean.
Please review your character at this time. Finish off anything that needs to be completed. Discus the group’s dynamic and make any adjustments you feel is prudent. Fair warning: I generally run with, “If it’s not on your sheet, you character doesn’t have It,” cause and effect. Once you feel your character is complete, go ahead and read through the introduction on the gameplay thread and then post freely.
Again, thank you for playing. I’m looking forward to a fun and exciting game for everyone.
Hello and thanks for having me. I'll work on getting Tali here finished up and ready to play. I've already dotted and deleted the post.
Hello everyone, and especially to rdknight! Happy to be on the same side of the screen this time. How's Vigny these days?
Thanks for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to playing with you all!
Hello, everyone! I am so JAZZED to begin playing with you all!
After experiencing the RP in the Discussion thread, I knew this was gonna be a great group to play with!
We are gonna have fun and kick ašš!
Create Water can be prepared as a 0-level spell [can create simple ale or wine, 1 cup/level]
GM Nightfiend, thanks for the invitation to play! Everyone, looking forward to playing with you.
About to head to work so will double check my character sheet, equipment list, etc. tonight. Feedback is welcome for anyone who has time to give it.
As an FYI I post Eastern Time, most frequently mornings or at night (although whenever I can get on I'll check threads).
Hello everyone and thank you for running this game Nightfiend!
I'll take another look through my character sheet to make sure all is as it should be.
Heya Tali, good to see you! Vigny is long retired but a trace of her can be found in the Inquisitor of Cayden Cailean I'm playing in a Kingmaker game.
And despite appearances I rarely play Ulfen characters. You just happen to be around when I do. Pure coincidence. :p
Howdy!
Thank you for having me.
Blank profile created and dotting in. I will get the profile right overnight. Shouldn't be doing this much at work.
As far as the content we end up using goes . . .. Meh? It is more about the story we create together on top of that content.
1) I was bad and posted from work on my phone. I'm not supposed to do that, and I HATE typing on my phone.
2) OF COURSE the guy with the biggest Bluff bonus gets the lowest roll so far. <smh>
And despite appearances I rarely play Ulfen characters. You just happen to be around when I do. Pure coincidence. :p
No judgements here! I was strongly tempted to submit a Whitescale (Ulfen clan I came up with shortly after I started playing Pathfinder, and my first bit of worldbuilding in TTRPGs to boot) when I saw Bryndis, but I decided that might be a bit too much.
I'm running off no sleep. I'm going to get something to eat and see how I'm feeling after that, but I may not post until tomorrow morning.
Woot! One post into the game and Bryndís has shanghaied a crew! Bryndís will have a place to rule in no time!
But more seriously, one thing we might want to consider doing in the near future is taking an inventory of who can handle what knowledge skills going forward.
Of course Ceru has all of them in class, but she might want to spend skill points in other ways. It's also not a bad idea to have people who can second on those skill rolls when bad dice ruin our day. We can really benefit from the more generous benefits Nightfiend has posted for high rolls to identify enemies.
Okay, I got some food in me and I feel pretty good. Hopefully I can get that post out tonight. :)
As for Knowleddge skills, I was planning on focusing on Knowledge(Local) and Knowledge(Nobles) with Knowledge(Arcana) and Spellcraft thrown in to help with identifying stuff.
Oh! I've neglected Dario's intellectual side! He also has all Knowledge skills in class. That makes me feel much better.
Bryndís only has K Arcana and K Local, along with not so many skill points per level. She's probably not going to be a factor in this.
Local and Nobility are the only in-class knowledge skills for me, and I'm already working Local. Really wasn't planning on advancing nobility.
Wayilant will be one of many 'Faces' in the party, so big Diplomacy.
The cleric also has Heal, Knowledge (religion), Sense Motive, and Profession (bartender) as his l33t skillz.
Background skill points can be used for K Nobility, but really it's less crucial. The nobility may often be "monsters", but they would be identified for combat purposes with K Local.
Okay, I'll swap out Talienda's Knowledge(Local) for Knowledge(Nobility)then.
I get that it's not a useful combat skill, but I'm going for flavor with Talienda. She'll be a pretty good face, the cinnamon roll to someone's good/bad cop.
EDIT: Done and with that Talienda has all of her points in background skills. :D
Apologies, got hung up at work. Will post after I refuel.
Took today off work.
Will be climbing in a car soon and driving for 5 hours.
Will be restricted to my phone and stealing time while watching the grandchildren and escorting my wife to the Texas Ranger's Fan Fest tomorrow, where she'll stand in line for hours getting player and coach autographs while I try to find ways to keep the littles entertained and engaged. The Rangers are providing some activities which will help, but they aren't going to fill the time Gram will be standing in lines.
Will be home again LATE Saturday
Sounds like an interesting few days. Good luck with the grandchildren. Hopefully they don't wear you out to much.
Should be enough time for the group to settle on a mission, which it sounds like you have one in mind. And a name for the group...)
I throw out some names here:
Last Scraps
Last Call
Rusted Faction
Last Hurrah
Knights of the Rusty Flagon
Companions of the Rusty Flagon
Order of the Rusty Flagon
Flagon’s Folly
Flagon Slayers
Trying to play on where we met and that we were the group formed.
Oooo! Last Call and Knights of the Rusty Flagon sound dope! Flagon Slayers is VERY caydenite!
Knights of the Weathered Cup?
I like "Flagon Slayers," on the pun value and referencing where we met. And while it references the Inn and a Caydenite can interpret "slaying a flagon" creatively, it doesn't immediately make us sound like a bunch of stumbling drunks, which, with all due respect to Cayden, makes us less hireable. ;) Plus I'm a big fan of the old "Slayers" anime series, which started off as inspired by the creators' old D&D campaign.
I still like "Fortune's Favor" (as in "Fortune Favors the Bold"). Or to reference our meeting, "Found by Fate" or "the "Fate-Found" which adds in "finding" to reference the Pathfinder Society.
Also, a small note: I appreciate some of you have read my character's background (I *really* do, not many people do that). Some of you have taken to referring to her by her longer name mentioned in her background. However, just for clarification, Ceru has always been introduced as and known publicly as Ceru or Ceru Cloakchaser. She sees her name as something quite personal, and like most female gnomes, prefers the shorter epithet. I know no one has called her by her full name in character but just want to clarify no one should actually know her by any name other than "Ceru." Don't want to crush anyone's fun, but also want to be sure people refer to my character with in character knowledge rather than out. Thanks. :)
I'll edit her background to clarify.
Potty break! Flagon slayers, hands down.
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Flagon Slayers works for me. Tali may take a bit of convincing, but only a bit.
Round 1 placement: With the exception of the group getting surprised, the way I handle things is to place the group on the map. Then I place any bad guys that the group is aware of when initiative was rolled. The group can see where the bad guys are and then tacitly place their character where they wish as long as it’s not a threatened square. That will give the group the tactical advantage in the first round. If any other bad guys enter the fight, they will then have the advantage, as I can now see where your tokens are.
Surprise Round: In the event you become surprised, I will place your tokens on the map without placing the bad guys. I will then give you enough time, no more than 24 hours, to move your token where you want. During the surprise round I will then move the bad guys onto the board and complete their half action. If you gain the surprise, I will place their tokens on the map and then you may move yours where you want and then act out your surprise half action.
Echo's a she. She walks in cleaner areas. Talienda carries her when things are messier on the ground.
And home from the trip. LOTS of interaction I had to just skim past . . ..
Trip went poorly. Wife only got 1 signature all day. Grandkids started out having a blast, and then the 4-year old suddenly expressed a fever and things got ugly. Cut the day short (4 hours instead of the 6 or more Grandma had planned). Only reason I'm looking at posts tonight at all, really.
No rush. I'm glad you had some fun. At least before the fever.
Echo's a she. She walks in cleaner areas. Talienda carries her when things are messier on the ground.
Ok, I see that we will need to cover this pr. environment. We can start with Magnimar's streets. Would you be allowing Echo to walk beside you, or are the streets to dirty?
Talienda carries Echo in Magnimar. The Alabaster district would be a different story.
And who says Talienda is the one that decides whether or not Echo is walking? :P
Talienda carries Echo in Magnimar. The Alabaster district would be a different story.
And who says Talienda is the one that decides whether or not Echo is walking? :P
Ultimately, I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m trying to wrap my head around the mechanical aspect. The first question that came up was, do I include a token for the cat? Obviously, if you're carrying the cat, no token. If not, a token becomes required. If the cat is on its own, does that mean she acts during an encounter? If so, does that mean she is targetable during the encounter? Is she effected by environmental effects, like area effects, traps, etc?
Anyway, I gave it some thought and would like to propose the following. Instead of trying to determine if the floor is too dirty or not when trying to set up an encounter, I’m going to assume the cat is independently walking on its own unless you specify you are picking her up. At that point, she will be considered carried unless you specify you are putting her down. While NOT carried, she can act on your initiative and is subject to being targeted by enemies and subject to environmental effects. The benefit to this is your hands are both free. If you pick her up, she will no longer be subject to attacks or environmental effects, but one of your arms is now occupied. Picking her up during combat provokes an AoO and requires a move action.
The maid, when present for an encounter, acts on your initiative same as the cat. This means, if both are active in an encounter, you will be posting three actions on your turn. I’m putting their initiatives together with yours, so you won’t have to post multiple spread-out times during a single round. Let me know what you think on this.
Oh, I was wondering why you were asking about that. Yeah, go ahead and include a token for Echo. She's a big cat and Talienda couldn't carry her and fight at the same time.
Oh, I was wondering why you were asking about that. Yeah, go ahead and include a token for Echo. She's a big cat and Talienda couldn't carry her and fight at the same time.
In retrospect, I should have been clearer in the first post. I was thinking this image would serve well for Echo.
That'll work for now.
I do have a question about Alina, are you going to be playing her or am I?
That'll work for now.
I do have a question about Alina, are you going to be playing her or am I?
You will for now. I don't think she will be involved in 90+ % of the encounters, but when then group moves around, or if you encounter something when she is there, she is likely to be a participant.
Cool! An NPC to interact with during our adventures. They can be fun!
Sorry guys, I am really out of it and going to bed early tonight. I'll post tomorrow after work.
No worries. Been there myself. Get some rest!
Yes, I can access the maps and move my token. As far as initiative goes I’m for anything that moves the game along quicker so I lean towards group initiative.
I agree with Dario.
Everything about the map looks and works great for me.
Most all of the games I've played in use a tiered initiative system. The rolls are done by the GM, and them everyone on one side is grouped together to post at the same time until the opponent with the highest roll is next, then all opponents go until the next group on the other side comes up. As individuals are taken out the original groups merge into larger groups, etc.
I suppose it's a little slower, but not by much, and it leaves more room for tactical decisions and nuance.
The best thing I've seen for keeping the pace up is a botting policy that's followed, with everyone attaching an "in case of botting" set of instructions to be followed if they need to be botted.
I almost agree with Dario and Way. <g>
I've got one game where in 48 hours, 1 player posted twice, 1 player posted 4 times, the other 2 players didn't post, and the GM posted 23 times advancing the combat by 6 rounds (over the weekend).
Please don't play the game for us. You know a bot here or there because it is necessary or the player asked for it is one thing . . ..
It seems an obvious request, but apparently it isn't obvious to everyone.
Edit: There, that make it easier? <grin> No, I wasn't responding to Bry.
That seems very out of whack. When it's been used in games I play in, a person occasionally gets botted.
I have seen games where things like that happen, especially when a person or two is out of the common time zones, and the rest including the GM are posting multiple times per day, while it's night for the the character getting left behind.
That sort of situation is not a good one at all, and I've left a game due to it in the past. A botting policy should prevent that sort of thing. For example, the recruitment guidelines ask for 1 post per day. In combat a player should have no less than a day to post before being botted, during which combat won't progress past their initiative group.
I'd also think it's best to exclude weekends from this. I can tell you right now, I won't be posting more than about once per day unless it's sort sort of side conversation with a another character and I happen to have the time, which won't be often.
EDIT: Oh okay, Ionatan and I posted simultaneously so his post wasn't a response to mine. So I guess it was about group initiative. Uh, I agree with whoever agrees with me? :p
I like Bryndis's point, with the botting instructions being only if there is a long delay or the player requests to be botted. Having a predetermined BOT instruction is not a bad idea, just in case it become necessary. That said, I agree with Ionatan that a BOT is a last resort.
So, I'm considering the following. An intuitive roll is made for the six of you and an average group intuitive it determined. (Divided by 6 = group intuitive.)
Then the same thing is done for the bad guys. Group with the highest initiative goes first. My only concern on something like this is one side being caught completely flatfooted during the first round. I suppose that could happen with any group of high DEX bad guys regardless of group initiative. As it stands our current initiative average would be.
Group 15.83
Bad guys 8.88
(Shrug) What do you guys think.
Using the initiative tiers I mentioned the current combat would looks like this.
1st:
Dario Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Ionatan Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Wayilant Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
2nd:
White Init: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Pink Init: 1d20 ⇒ 14
3rd:
Bryndis Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Talienda Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
4th:
Purple Init: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Lt. Green Init: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Yellow Init: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Turquoise Init: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Lt. Blue Init: 1d20 ⇒ 6
5th:
Ceru Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
6th:
Blue Init: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Black Init: 1d20 ⇒ 2
This produced several groups, but 9 opponents is an unusually large number. Nobody is forced to wait to post until their tier comes up, but their action would not happen until their group comes up.
There's some flow to combat this way. Characters have to (generally, you could be at the very top or bottom) both react to and anticipate opponents and allies.
Yes, group initiative is somewhat faster, but it's bland.
OK, I see where you're going with this. A bit slower than group initiative, but a bit more dynamic. how would you group it if the initiative roll ends up being every other guy. Group, bad guy, group, bad guy, etc.?
I'm ok with this, if the rest of the group feels comfortable with it.