Age of Ashes (Team Alseta)

Game Master Delta Arena

Sorry for the delay replying. A friend of mine had a couple of events this week that I attended to and I didn't have much time after that.

@Delta Arena: Hope all is well!

Dumb question, can I go under the platform in a straight line to where Resa and the construct are fighting, or do I need to go around it?

@Delta Arena: Hope all is well!

Thank you! all is well, just a lot of time and energy going into my friend's event. They produced a video podcast and they have been screening episodes in different venues before the official release of the show.

Dumb question, can I go under the platform in a straight line to where Resa and the construct are fighting, or do I need to go around it?

Yes, you can. There is basically a huge tree in the middle from which the structure is being held, but you can run under the platform.

So, from what I've read hidden would only last for the first attack of a two attack action, like twin takedown or hunted shot. Does that sound right to everyone? A part of me feels like it should apply to the full Action, meaning both strikes.

What do you all think? Is it just the first attack or the first Action that should benefit from being hidden?

I applied it only for the first attack on Purple's turn.

I've used it where you hide, attack, hide again, so your next turn is hidden attack, hide, attack.

So, from what I've read hidden would only last for the first attack of a two attack action, like twin takedown or hunted shot. Does that sound right to everyone?

I agree. Looking at the rules for Hide and Hunted Shot:

If you attempt to Strike a creature, the creature remains off-guard against that attack, and you then become observed.

Make two Strikes against your prey with the required weapon.

As I read it, after you make the first strike, you become observed for the second strike from Hunted Shot.

Okay, perfect, that's how I did it.

I thought there was a second door at the back of the shack? There's a little grey rectangle next to Netkin

I thought there was a second door at the back of the shack? There's a little grey rectangle next to Netkin

Maybe that's a window? There's a similarly sized grey rectangle next to the hobgoblin, and then a much longer grey rectangle next to Ardoinel, which presumably is the door?

Oh, maybe Netkin is right! I found a reference to "a supply shack with two entrances, one on either side, guarding the entrance to a cave" here.

It is one of the openings that lets you see inside. So fuctionally a window.

Cerrus has the Dubious knowledge feat, which gives him right and wrong information on a failed recall knowledge. There are three platforms and a shack, but the shack has a single entrance.

Bad news, our router at home died so I'm gonna be limited to phone-posting until we get it replaced. Please feel free to bot Ardoinel as needed to keep the game rolling.

Cerrus has the Dubious knowledge feat, which gives him right and wrong information on a failed recall knowledge. There are three platforms and a shack, but the shack has a single entrance.

Oh, nice use of Dubious Knowledge. I like it!

Please feel free to bot Ardoinel as needed to keep the game rolling.

We'll keep Ardoinel unconscious for you. :)

And here I thought I had got something right, for once! D:

Hope that improves!

@Ardoinel

I hope the router gets fixed soon!

@Ellaeaanda

Thank you! I've always found dubious knowledge to be a tricky feat to GM, so I’m glad it worked well this time.

@Netkin

It was a great idea to flank her, unfortunately you had faulty intel.

How about we discuss strategy? :D

So, we have a (slightly) wounded, highly dangerous hobgoblin, and a half-orc who I believe is not wounded?

Myself and Ellaeaanda are OK. Cerrus is badly wounded, the construct is too - Resa and Ardoinel are down.

I have three hero points left - I could technically throw a bomb at the hobgoblin and launch the Construct for a suicide attack - hoping that the three attacks (+Ellaeaanda's?) will be enough to bring the hobgoblin down. But that's a wild gambit.

Cerrus could try to retreat to get some Heals. That wouldn't solve the hobgoblin issue, though.

I'm close enough to attempt to heal Resa before getting an attack - but if we're both vulnerable to the hobgoblin's strikes, she could take both of us out in one round.

Any ideas?

My thoughts:

Resa can roll the dice to stabilize on her own, or at worst use a hero point. No sense risking Netkin.

Cerrus spent all that time climbing down then up. Let’s not waste it. He should do the best he can against the archer (I’ll try to make the archer off-guard for him). If he falls, he can also use a hero point to stabilize—we might as well put those hero points to good use.

I’m actually not too worried about the hobgoblin; I’m probably overly optimistic, but I think Ellaeaanda could handle her alone, provided the half-orc on the platform was dealt with. We don’t need to launch an immediate last ditch assault to kill or be killed—I think that plays into the hobgoblin’s hands—I would take my time and play keep away.

So I’d suggest that Netkin focus on hiding/self-preservation (or attacking the half-orc if Cerrus goes down). If I manage to lure the hobgoblin out of the shack, Netkin could sneak in to heal one of the fallen—then his Battle Medicine could help turn the tide.

Good news, new router already!

I think the idea of Netkin playing safe is best. Resa went in knowing there was an enemy but not where. It's a tough fight for anyone like that

I'm terribly sorry - work has been hellish for a solid week or so, and unfortunately it's not over!

My posting rate might be slow until the end of the week. Thank you for your patience in the meantime.

I'm terribly sorry - work has been hellish for a solid week or so, and unfortunately it's not over!

My posting rate might be slow until the end of the week. Thank you for your patience in the meantime.

Hang in there! Hopefully the weekend will bring some much needed relief.

I don't need to change Ardoinel's class again.
I don't need to change Ardoinel's class again.
I don't need to change Ardoinel's class again.

Sigh...

I've been thinking again and started wondering if instead of trying to play a playtest class before its got its full arsenal, I should use a perfectly good class I was misunderstanding, and convert his base class to Bard. He's already been singing in-character and music was a core part of his inspiration when I first started writing him up.

I understand if you'd prefer me to stay with Runesmith to keep things consistent especially as this is the third time I've made this request. I am INDEED fickle. But I am feeling that I haven't really done much with it and thus am playing more like a half-assed fighter.

How do you all, GM included, feel?

Knock a PC unconscious and his player has entirely too much time on their hands ... :)

How do you all, GM included, feel?

I feel amused by your indecisiveness. :)

I also saw your thread on Bothersome Bards—was this desire to switch classes inspired by that thread, or vice versa, or neither?

Maybe it’s time to finally nail down this iteration of your PC. Forget class—what is Ardoinel really about as a person? What aspects of his background, personality, etc are nonnegotiable? What do you see Ardoinel doing, in the way of goals and abilities? It might also help to reflect on why you chose each of Oracle, Magus, and Runesmith for his class before, and why you unchose it later.

Honestly, I play rogues because I as a player can not do a good job of other classes. So what do you see your character as? Rogues can be heros or villains.

@Netkin, it happens, life happens. Take your time. Also, friedly reminder that you can heal from a distance using your Versatile Vials.

@Ardoinel, I think both Ellaeaanda and Resa have good points. Taking a look at Ardoinel's motivations and how he would act in different situations should help define his class. However, it is a game, so I would ultimately say go with what is more fun for you to play him as. The character has remained narratively consistent throughout the mechanical changes, I have no doubts you could justify any number of classes for him. So which of those is also the most fun for you to play.

@GM: This probably doesn't matter, but I don't think the hobgoblin has enough actions to use Hunter's Aim: she used 1 to pick up the bow, 1 to hunt prey, leaving only 1 action left, but Hunter's Aim takes 2 actions.

How do you all, GM included, feel?

No strong opinions on this one. It's Delta's game so their opinion matter more than mine for sure! :)

I think I'm going to leave things as they are. Changing Ardoinel's class would mean going back to light armor, and if I wanted heavier armor I'd have to invest in Sentinel or Champion and I'm multiclassing enough already. Thanks for the input, though!

@GM: This probably doesn't matter, but I don't think the hobgoblin has enough actions to use Hunter's Aim: she used 1 to pick up the bow, 1 to hunt prey, leaving only 1 action left, but Hunter's Aim takes 2 actions.

D: my bad. You are right, it would have been a regular strike, which would bring the attack roll down to a 21. Sadly, that is still enough to hit. Thanks for calling it out.

Ardoinel Oreflame wrote:

How do you all, GM included, feel?

No strong opinions on this one. It's Delta's game so their opinion matter more than mine for sure! :)

I'd say it is our game. I'm just enabling it by running it, but without all of you there would not be a game either.

Am I actually within reach to lob a bomb on the half-orc?

Also, thank you guys for the support! :) I've finally finished my big research project, and posting should be back to normal

I've finally finished my big research project, and posting should be back to normal

Congratulations! That must be a great relief, and sense of accomplishment.

Am I actually within reach to lob a bomb on the half-orc?

The C5 platform is only 10' high, and alchemical bombs have a range of 20', so I'd say yes.

Thank you!!

Oh, it's mostly relief :D It's not quite done yet - there will be at least one more round of editing in the near future. But for now, I'm on holiday, and almost - not quite, but almost - free of responsibilities at last!

The C5 platform is only 10' high, and alchemical bombs have a range of 20', so I'd say yes.

Mm. Good to know! ;)

Congratulations on the research project!

After careful consideration, I have decided I will roll Ardoinel's changes back even further, back to Magus. Ellaeaanda asking what I want Ardoinel to DO in the way of goals and abilities got me thinking, and I've come to realize I do want Ardoinel to cast spells more than play around with runes. To give more space to Yuelral's tenets regarding magic and its responsible use in his actions and roleplay. So yeah! When Ardoinel wakes up, he'll be a Magus again!

Is Ardoinel going to have a magical girl transformation?? I hope he will :D

I mean, there IS precedent for this on Golarion! :P

It'd probably require a detour to Tian Xia that I don't think the AP has room for, though...<_<

LMAO I had no idea this existed!!! The writers had some fun with that archetype...

I have to agree with Netkin. The odds aren't good for our fragile healers to win the battle. :)

Our only chance is to somehow survive long enough to kill the half-orc + for Netkin to heal at least Cerrus back into the game!

If things come to it, we can always consider surrendering. Once the PCs have been made prisoners, we could come up with an escape plan!

Besides, it would allow everyone else to get back into the game and have some fun. I feel guilty having four people out for so long :')

Another option that I've kicked around in my head is Ellaeaanda and Netkin decide to flee and get away successful.

Our party of 2 recruit some 'mercenaries' to retrieve their friends who have been captured by Hobogoblin and Half-Orc.

Might just be me, but it feels like the party is lacking a true martial character. And, definitely ranged damage. To remedy part of that, I have been considering retiring Cerrus for a martial of some kind - probably a fighter or a monk (based solely on which martial classes I've played the least of).

BUT, that all assumes Ellaeaanda and Netkin would even consider leaving their friends behind.

@Ardoinel: That archetype is awesome! So much fun.

Our only chance is to somehow survive long enough to kill the half-orc + for Netkin to heal at least Cerrus back into the game!

Agreed--it's unlikely the hobgoblin will ever leave the shack for Netkin to heal Ardoinel or Resa. Unfortunately Ellaeaanda keeps flubbing her rolls against the half-orc.

I also feel guilty about leaving the other players out of it for so long, but surrendering/fleeing doesn't really make sense for Ellaeaanda at this point, though I can't think of what else we could do.

Might just be me, but it feels like the party is lacking a true martial character. And, definitely ranged damage.

I think this is true, but I'm not sure we necessarily need a fighter or barbarian to succeed. And the lack of ranged damage is at least partly due to some PCs not buying and using a decent ranged weapon. :)

Yeah, definitely feeling the lack of ranged option right now! :)

Yeah, that was another reason to wanna switch back to Magus: I miss needle darts.

I also feel some blame here, I rushed in too quickly, which I could have drawn out some one which would have been worth more. Or at least given us some one else to help maybe.

I mean, there IS precedent for this on Golarion! :P

It'd probably require a detour to Tian Xia that I don't think the AP has room for, though...<_<

OMG the sword even has the wings XD hahahaha

@Ardoinel: That archetype is awesome! So much fun.

Netkin Bigpot wrote:

Our only chance is to somehow survive long enough to kill the half-orc + for Netkin to heal at least Cerrus back into the game!

Agreed--it's unlikely the hobgoblin will ever leave the shack for Netkin to heal Ardoinel or Resa. Unfortunately Ellaeaanda keeps flubbing her rolls against the half-orc.

I also feel guilty about leaving the other players out of it for so long, but surrendering/fleeing doesn't really make sense for Ellaeaanda at this point, though I can't think of what else we could do.

Cerrus Falto wrote:

Might just be me, but it feels like the party is lacking a true martial character. And, definitely ranged damage.

I think this is true, but I'm not sure we necessarily need a fighter or barbarian to succeed. And the lack of ranged damage is at least partly due to some PCs not buying and using a decent ranged weapon. :)

She just left the shack! I considered doing so when you first hid successfully, but she didn't have her melee weapons. Now that she has her melee weapons, and you hid from her, it is a different story. I said she would consider leaving if she was no longer in a position to attack from the shack. Shooting to a hidden enemy with greater cover is just a bad bet.

@Delta: Just wondering if we could get some clarification on Seek? The text says

... almost always 30 feet or less in any dimension.

Does this mean we can seek only up to 30' away from us? Or does it mean that the area we seek is at most 30' in diameter? I'm also wondering if there are any penalties for searching as far away as Red or Purple?

I also feel some blame here, I rushed in too quickly, which I could have drawn out some one which would have been worth more. Or at least given us some one else to help maybe.

Guys, let's not rush to self-blame! Some fights turn out bad - it's the game. The enemies have rolled high, and we've rolled low.

Worst case scenario we end up being made prisoners for reasons, and we'll work our way out from there :)

Perks of having a GM is that unless there's a TPK (which we've avoided so far), you can always give the party a chance to survive.

I do agree that we'll need to rethink some stuff after this battle, like getting better ranged weapons (for those who are not limited to a sling!), and thinking of a way to repair the construct. I didn't realise I'd need a repair kit, oops