Tactics-wise, should we retreat to fight them in the stairwell? Vildran could cast a grease spell to continuously force reflex saves/acrobatic checks from them (they can't Step upstairs to avoid it). I'm thinking of casting Illusory Object (wall) to give Morga a chance to run away. Thoughts?
That's a better plan than mine. I was going to try to provoke the reactive strikes so Morga has the option to cast. Autumn can cast her illusion spell on San's space then move up giving Morga a chance to retreat a bit. RS is only triggered when moving through threatened spaces, not out of them, right?
They have polearms so they have reach. Grease might not be as useful but still a good idea. I can keep tripping with the man-gauche out to parry. Or keep swapping spots with Morga and her shield but she took a big hit already.
I checked Discussion first. Hoo boy. Now on to Gameplay to see how close to death Morga is. Again. <chuckles ruefully>
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RS is only triggered when moving through threatened spaces, not out of them, right?
Reactive Strike triggers when you're within the monster's reach--so moving out of their reach triggers RS. Otherwise Morga would've been fine.
RS is only triggered when moving through threatened spaces, not out of them, right?Reactive Strike triggers when you're within the monster's reach--so moving out of their reach triggers RS. Otherwise Morga would've been fine.
Dang, basic rules have thwarted me again... I swear I've played this game before!
I was considering grease at the top of this encounter. If we're retreating up the stairs that does make the placement of it most advantageous.
I didn't look to see what I rolled... left it as a surprise even for me!
They have a chance to fall from the grease so I'm in limbo at the moment. If they're prone, it's my best chance to stand. If blue is not prone, I can try to trip while prone (and not take -2? attack vs athletics check with attack trait?).
Plan A: Blue is prone (or both??) and I can stand and attack twice.
Plan B: Blue is not prone so I can try to knock him down then stand and attack. Can't do anything to red anyway.
Plan C: I dunno, die I guess... Or just attack from prone to not provoke two reactive strikes.
I can try to trip while prone (and not take -2? attack vs athletics check with attack trait?).
Since Trip has the attack trait, you'll still take the -2 penalty to your trip roll while prone.
Plan A: Blue is prone (or both??) and I can stand and attack twice.
Plan B: Blue is not prone so I can try to knock him down then stand and attack. Can't do anything to red anyway.
Plan C: I dunno, die I guess... Or just attack from prone to not provoke two reactive strikes.
Note that even if they're prone, the sinspawn should still get their reactive strikes if you stand--I don't see anything in the description of Prone that says they wouldn't. The attacks would just take a -2 penalty.
That crit fail (and the crit against Morga) puts us in a tough spot. My instinct would be to attack from prone to avoid the reactive strikes, but I'm not sure what would be a good 3rd action in that case. Maybe Recall Knowledge?
While the trip action has the attack trait and therefore is subject to and causes MAP, it isn't an attack roll, so prone doesn't penalize it. Otherwise Autumn's right, while prone you can still make reactive strikes.
Also apologies on behalf of the Paizo dice roller for these sinspawn, they just keep rolling 14s and higher.
Boo!
Well, it was either two no map attacks on my turn or make them use actions to do it...
Hoping for some bad saves from the sinspawn. Surely their luck has to run out sometime (and the damage roll was decent)..
Oops, I forgot that an area spell would hit San too. Hmm … San has a hero point, right? I think damage while dying just increases Dying by 1 (or 2 if it’s a crit), so at worst San would go to Dying 3? Then he could use a hero point to automatically stabilize.
Not to pick on poor San, but I’m thinking we really need to take out one of the sinspawn asap because otherwise whoever’s stuck at the front will face 4 attacks each round plus possibly 2 reactive strikes. :(
Agreed, I wasn't expecting to take so much damage in two hits. Then again I was hoping they would also have -2 to hit to offset my -2 AC.
Either we're missing something or this is an interesting part of the module. We faced two unarmed sinspawn only to have the next intended encounter be two sinspawn armed with reach weapons while we didn't really increase our power in any significant way.
Definitely a spicy part of the module for this party, but other than reach, the offense of these sinspawn isn't much higher than those above. Being caster-heavy makes this part quite the challenge!
If it is any light at the end of the tunnel, you're all currently at 840 XP, so there's a pretty sizable power boost soon on the horizon with 2nd level spells.
If only we live long enough to see it. Last time we fought these guys it was c.l.o.s.e.
It really goes to show how oppressive reactive strike is, because you guys have smoked encounters against foes that were otherwise just as strong. Fingers have been crossed.
From an objective viewpoint (i.e. not as a player who might be part of a TPK), the author of Rusthenge is doing a good job introducing new players to rules and tactics. The first pair of sinspawn teaches players about the basic concept of Reactive Strikes. The current pair of sinspawn teaches how to maximize such tactics. So, you want to take Reactive Strike and optimize it on your PC? Grab a reach weapon and find a way to create difficult terrain. B-r-u-t-a-l.
I wasn’t sure what to take for my Level 4 feat, but now I’m definitely leaning towards this one.
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I'll be away in nature next weekend, Friday (4/25) evening to Sunday (4/26) late afternoon, US/Pacific time). I'll have signal but phone posting will be spotty. I'll catch up and resume regular posting Sunday evening.
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I'll cover for Vildran while you're away.
Ty! I'll probably be able to post some late saturday.
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Assuming we make it long enough... If I make a habit of being in Melee, I'm going to have to pick up the elf feat to step 10 feet at a time.
@Morga: Did Morga prepare Needle Darts today?
Assuming we make it long enough... If I make a habit of being in Melee, I'm going to have to pick up the elf feat to step 10 feet at a time.
That feat might be worth it for Vildran too.
@Autumn: Yes, but with 2 HP left she's hesitant to move up front to be able to cast it. Also, she can only move two squares on the stairs, so she'd need two strides to move past Autumn and Vildran to get into position, and then hope the sinspawn doesn't turn around and attack her before she can cast the spell. She's trying to survive so she can cast her last Heal spell on everyone.
@Autumn: Yes, but with 2 HP left she's hesitant to move up front to be able to cast it. Also, she can only move two squares on the stairs, so she'd need two strides to move past Autumn and Vildran to get into position, and then hope the sinspawn doesn't turn around and attack her before she can cast the spell. She's trying to survive so she can cast her last Heal spell on everyone.
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that Morga move closer to use Needle Darts; I figured that she could safely cast it from where she is, since it has a nice 60' range. Yes, there'd be +1 lesser cover from firing past her allies, but the attack roll would still be just as good as her starknife (melee weapon uses Strength +3, while Needle Darts uses Wisdom +4, brought down to +3 by lesser cover).
Also, I'd save the Heal spell for emergencies--out of combat we should use Treat Wounds.
Lol, did we just get downgraded from emergency?
(however this turns out, we're due for a full rest before any more combat)
I think you officially got downgraded from emergency lol
Phew!
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Just to give you early notice for my travel plans this summer: I will be away …
1) May 31 – June 10
2) June 17 – July 13
3) July 17 – July 30
I’ll have my laptop with me for the first and third trips, so my posting shouldn’t be affected too much (just at the start and end when I’m traveling, and maybe one or two other days).
But for the middle (and longest) trip, I will not have computer access and internet will be unreliable. I may check in occasionally via phone, but expect zero posting during this trip.
Depending on the results of Autumn's save vs. Rust Creep, how does the party feel about lingering so Morga can Treat Disease for eight hours? We don't have to decide until we know how she's doing.
Depending on the results of Autumn's save vs. Rust Creep, how does the party feel about lingering so Morga can Treat Disease for eight hours? We don't have to decide until we know how she's doing.
Autumn's fine. Let's find and kill Meitremar. :)
Should we check the tunnel first, just in case?
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Just to give you early notice for my travel plans this summer: I will be away …
1) May 31 – June 10
2) June 17 – July 13
3) July 17 – July 30
The middle (2nd) trip is the one I could best bot, but could help on the 1st one too.
During your 3rd I'll very likely be traveling too.
Should we check the tunnel first, just in case?
Probably yes, after the rest.
Just to give you early notice for my travel plans this summer: I will be away …
1) May 31 – June 10
2) June 17 – July 13
3) July 17 – July 30The middle (2nd) trip is the one I could best bot, but could help on the 1st one too.
During your 3rd I'll very likely be traveling too.
Thanks Vildran; the 2nd trip is the one I'll need the most help with. I shouldn't miss more than a few days for the 1st and 3rd trips.
As for talismans:
--I agree with selling the Dragonbone Arrowhead.
--Vildran should attach the Wolf Fang to San’s armor.
--We can attach the Predator’s Claw to San’s longbow—immobilized is a good condition to inflict, especially since there’s no save.
Welp, just switch his affix roll for Dragonbone Arrowhead to be for the Wolf Fang.