☠ Season of Ghosts w/ DM rainzax ☠

Game Master rainzax

Game Decision: Player Input

So, Jinkin would like to Stride, open a door, keep Striding, and open a second door.

Do we want to play it "fast and loose" (on both sides of the screen) letting you continue to Stride if you perform a simple Manipulate or Move action (such as opening a door or leaping)?

Or do we want to play it "hard and slow" where an interrupted Stride forfeits the surplus movement it might have afforded.

Down to go either way (but I have my preference), and seeking player input!

What's at stake in this moment: a second door is either open or closed!

=)

It says at GM discretion you can combine 2 actions to Stride and perform a "simple action" along the way. This leads to the infamous "walk up, pick up weapon, continue walking, turn ends" arguments.

Opening/Closing a door has huge tactical benefit because it wastes actions for the enemy to open/close. I'm fine with the hard and slow approach, but I'll let other chime in.

It would mean Sigurd would insist on going up to the door, raising his shield and opening it so he can take the brunt of the ambush.

1 vote hard and slow.

First to 3 decides it.

Remember: What is good for the goose is good for the gander!

I've always gone with hard and slow, but I have no strong opinion, really.

Hmm. Tough decision. I guess I would prefer hard & slow since things like the quick jump feat allow you to leap as a single action, however, I think opening a door (especially iron-bound, rusty-hinged, heavy doors like in a dungeon) takes more time than leaping during a stride or scooping a weapon off the ground as one walks past.

So, yeah... hard & slow.

Hard&Slow

Hard and slow.

Regarding Auntie Wu's musing about the trees: I wasn't sure if she was going to Recall Knowledge on her next turn. It may have been a "finish this fight before we get to that one" situation, so that post was just RP.

Running some chores today - will get to this in the evening!

No problemo. Hopefully Sigurd can get in before the trees get on him.

I'll be going on vacation for the next 4 days. I should be able to post, however, I might be busy certain days and might hop in late. So, posting maybe spotty.

Have fun!

Running some chores today - will get to this in the evening!

Will catch this on my lunch break.

Preparing for travel next week (20th to 27th), got caught up in chores...

The door beyond the foyer (the one that Kazuki tried to break down) is closed, right? Can he tell if it's locked after smashing into it?

Vekka is going to reach over and just try, so we'll see soon if it's locked.

Hey folks!

My posting will be a little spotty these next few days, as some things have come up in my living situation right before I leave for the holiday. I will do my best to check in now and again, but keeping expectations low.

I am traveling 20th to 27th.

=)

Have happy & safe travels!

I will be traveling Dec. 21-28. I may be able to post in the middle of that, but certainly not on the 21st or 28th. Feel free to bot me if needed.

I will be traveling Dec. 21-28. I may be able to post in the middle of that, but certainly not on the 21st or 28th. Feel free to bot me if needed.

We are back!

I'm back too!

Holidays were especially busy this year, I am getting back on the horse.

Expect a post within the next 24 hours.

Alright, reading through the posts now - forgot exactly where we were - BIRDS! - big post underway...

Yay! GAME ON!

Is Kazuki allowed to speak out of turn? Like, to tell his friends what the creatures are?

Speech that isn't "pointing out" something hidden or recalling new information should be "free", I believe.

GM, I am presuming that in the moments Vekka and Kazuki were discussing things, after the last encounter and before this new initiative, that Vekka would have taken a moment to recharge his spellstrike (single concentrate action). Let me know if that wouldn't have been possible.

Negative.

You must pay the action cost to recharge.

I just connected two combat rounds together with new initiatives which got muddied in the change of scenery, delays, and holidays.

EDIT: I see you posted. As the die have rolled, I'm going to treat that as a normal strike, meaning you have one action left.

DOUBLE EDIT: You are still shorting yourself, do you have access to the text of Ignition?

I think you forgot to add in Kazuki's +2 for Incredible Initiative and +1 for Seasonal Boon of Outskirt Dweller background.

DOUBLE EDIT: You are still shorting yourself, do you have access to the text of Ignition?

I do, but for some reason I neglected to apply the melee form of the spell to my spell strikes. Not sure why that didn't occur to me.

Twitching with lightning speed, the Humongous Savage Humming Birds of Death dodge Lan's bolts!

Did Vekka's slice hit?

Did Auntie Wu discover anything we don't already know from her Religion check on her last turn?

(is your bonus really +7!?)

Unfortunately I missed updating this in my BBcode library from the level-up. It should be +8 (STR+4, Proficiency = Trained+2 Level+2 => +4)

I will need to purchase the silver shortsword before taking it, correct?

Negative - you can just take it.

When we level up again, if you'd like to permanently keep it, just "purchase" it out of your Level Three money. (And, at a 10% "discount" because you "found" it during the adventure).

Does that answer your question?

Yep. That answers my question. Thanks!

Sorry, I've been travelling. I'm back now, although jet lagged.

@Lan. Yes. And maybe / yes. =)

@Everyone

Go ahead and get set on the roof. I will roll the better of Perception or Stealth initiative for you after you are set. Please take a moment to double-check your own initiative macro to make things go smoothly.

Because of the angle and edge, I'm going to rule that unless you are on the ledge, they will have varying degrees of cover from your attacks, based on which "row" you are standing on.

Where are you standing?
Building Height: 15 feet
☆ Front Ledge: May target any tree without cover
☆☆ Second Row: May target furthest trees normally, closer trees with standard cover
☆☆☆ Third Row: May target furthest trees with standard cover, closer trees with greater cover
☆☆☆☆ Fourth Row: May target furthest trees with greater cover, may not target closer trees

I will post this "Cover Reminder" in my combat tracker

For a rules refresher, here are the rules for Cover: COVER

Vekka would like 2nd row to start.

@Vekka,
The "second row" is the next 5 feet back from the first row. Basically, each row is 5 feet.

@Everyone,
This is what I have for macros. While we await Kolphan, please check that it is correct:

[ dice=Auntie Wu's Initiative using ]1d20+9[/dice]
[ dice=Ho Lan's Initiative using ]1d20+5[/dice]
[ dice=Sigurd Kolphan's Initiative using ]1d20+6[/dice]
[ dice=Kazuki Sato's Initiative using Scout]1d20+10[/dice] (Incredible Initiative, Seasonal Boon)
[ dice=Vekka Tchakon's Initiative using Avoid Notice]1d20+6[/dice]

@Sato,
Could you please break your bonuses by "+" signs rather than summing them altogether? It helps me to sort when which would apply when, and is generally a good practice. (For example, if you find yourself applying both a Volley and Frightened penalty, it helps me if you express that as 1d20+8-2-2 rather than 1d20+4, if that makes sense).

@Auntie Wu, Ho Lan, Kolphan,
There is a section on the Macros in Initiative that let's you check and uncheck your Exploration Mode activity - do you see how Sato's and Vekka's say "using Scout" and "using Avoid Notice"? Again, these little fiddly bits help me out - if you want to change your mode, you are always free to do so at any time, and, it saves me time being able to copy/paste straight from the macro sheet to initiate an Encounter, allowing me to focus more on the narrative and dialogue (which increases my joy in GMing!)

=)

Initiative looks good to me. I'll pick Defend as my exploration activity.

Auntie Wu's exploration activity will be Detect Magic, unless we need to use Survival to Track or Sense Direction. She'll be the point person in that case.

No problem listing bonuses & penalties in dice rolls.

Macros updated to 2nd level. Sorry for not doing it sooner.

Initiative is +11 now.

Perception +8, Inc. Init. +2, Seasonal boon +1.

Sato (normal, 26/26 HPs) w/ longbow @ Frightened 2

HP should be 30.

Everyone should be full if Lan helped out with healing. I can roll it out but basically everyone would have gotten 6d4 with the time that we spent.

This is vague. Would you mind breaking it down for me? Auntie Wu took 90 minutes to make her rounds (9 patients), so that is the timeframe you had to work within.

Looks like the only person you would impact would be Kolphan who is still not at full HPs.

I see Ho Lan damages the trees here: LINK

Let's say that was Tree # 1d5 ⇒ 2.

Am I missing any other sustained damage to the trees? It looks like you all just quickly ran inside!

=)

I didn't catch anything else in a quick scan.

Ho Lan wrote:

Everyone should be full if Lan helped out with healing. I can roll it out but basically everyone would have gotten 6d4 with the time that we spent.

This is vague. Would you mind breaking it down for me? Auntie Wu took 90 minutes to make her rounds (9 patients), so that is the timeframe you had to work within.

If everyone who is injured stands in a 15' cone, Lan can Refocus and cast rejuvenating flames, healing each person 1d4. Then, he can Refocus.

So theoretically, in 90 minutes, he could have cast his focus spell 8 times (he would end with a Refocus), but with his help, it probably would have been done sooner.

For example:

0-10 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats the Constable (fail)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 plus Vekka, ignoring the Constable, because he's a jerk. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
10-20 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 1 (fail)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 plus Kolphan, ignoring the Constable, who eyes him warily. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 4
20-30 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 2 (+8)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 plus Kolphan, ignoring the Constable, despite his whiny pleading. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
30-40 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 3 (+17)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 plus Kolphan, ignoring the Constable, despite his whiny pleading. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
40-50 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 4 (+10)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 ignoring the Constable even though there's room, who sobs quietly in the corner. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
50-60 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 5 (+12)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6 ignoring the Constable even though there's, who sobs quietly in the corner. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 1
60-70 min: Lan Refocuses, Auntie Wu treats Guard 6 (+15)
Lan casts on the Guards 1-6, relenting and allowing the Constable to grovel at his feet. Healing: 1d4 ⇒ 3
70-80 min: Lan Refocuses.

Vekka: +2 (full)
Kolphan: +8 (full)
Guard 1: +16
Guard 2: +24
Guard 3: +33
Guard 4: +26
Guard 5: +28
Guard 6: +31
Constable: +3

At some point, if the later guards are full, Auntie Wu wouldn't need to treat them at all.

Ok.

You had the time, so, if you want, you can heal the entire imperial guard completely back to full.

I will assume above is what you did unless you state otherwise!

How many HP do the guards have? Because if the later ones get full while Auntie Wu is working on the earlier ones, it would be even shorter.

I resized the Map - check out Slide #1 - also changed the numbering on the trees to colors - Sato you were hunting / shooting "#1" but now it's "Red".

@ Lan,
I'm going to keep the 90 minutes for now, and moving forward, will be more informed and clear on your out of combat healing capabilities - that is a pretty cool ability!

It's a very cool ability, and one of the reasons I've been itching to play a phoenix sorcerer.

I ran through Fists of the Ruby Phoenix with my kids (with the third book reskinned to be Minecraft themed), so we all got PFS credit in early 2023. They both wanted to play PFS phoenix sorcerers, so I ended up creating a PFS swashbuckler with a phoenix sorcerer dedication just to be different (since we tend to play the characters together at conventions).

Then, Rage of Elements came out and we did the three-kineticist combo at the last convention (my younger playing wood, my older playing air/metal dual, and me on water), so all year I have been very interested to see how a phoenix sorcerer played.

The downside of rejuvenating flames is that Lan can't actually heal himself out of combat (!), and, of course, the healing is pretty weak (1d4 per rank).

Two natural 4s on the turn. Blarg.

I know the party had discussed the following options next:

1) Go to Mushroom House (errand to curry favor w/ Granny Hu)
2) Track down Mo Douqiu at Cerulean Tea House
3) Visit known Shrines to obtain Blessed Coins
4) Scope the Governor's "Missing" Estate
5) Go fetch one of the party's Heirlooms
6) ???

ANCHOR POST

What should I prepare for after this battle concludes?

After felling the trees and freeing the prisoners, Sigurd would like to go to the Mushroom House, as Granny Hu asked him directly.