Sorry I haven't posted in a couple of days. I got food-poisoned.
Ugh. Sympathies.
@GM: What can Ntuni roll to know about the local procedures here? Is turning the neighbors against the woman indeed legal? To me it seems a form of social justice outside of law or a version of "cancel culture" and Ntuni will be vehemently against it.
@GM: What can Ntuni roll to know about the local procedures here? Is turning the neighbors against the woman indeed legal? To me it seems a form of social justice outside of law or a version of "cancel culture" and Ntuni will be vehemently against it.
Society is likely the best roll. I will make it for you in the Gameplay thread.
At second level you will need to choose the primary and secondary branches for your PC involvement and education at the Magaambya. These opening tasks are just a toe-dip into how that will affect your school career, and a glimpse the important NPCs you might interact more with.
Some of you chose this at outset, but you have the ability retrench as you see fit now that you have some exposure.
Secondly, I will write Nyandra out of the adventure at this point. I hate to lose her, but RL happens, I suppose. I don't plan on replacing her as the AP was built for 4 and we have been at 6. LMK if you have concerns.
Ikto started out leaning towards Rain Scribe and Uzunjati IIRC, and so far I think he's still leaning that way though he liked Emerald Boughs more than he thought he would. Tempest Sun Mage is out for him I suspect and he was discouraged by his failure at the ritual for Cascade Bearer. We'll see :)
I need to remember to put at least a bit of 'oomph' in deception
I hope Nyandra Player is okay but yeah, we're just using her as a diplomacy bot now.
Much like Ikto said, I would like her player to check in, and I hope that she is ok. I do not have in-game concerns about Nydanra leaving.
I'm still debating about my branches. But, between the Players Guide, the Mwangi Expanse book, and the section on Magambya in Rival Academies, I'll be doing a deep dive into them this weekend to see which ones feel the best for Iovia.
We also FA into Wizard or Druid multiclass at 2, correct?
We also FA into Wizard or Druid multiclass at 2, correct?
Yes, you will get the free archetype we discussed in character creation at Level 2 also. Again, you don't have to go with what we discussed then but you do need to choose either druid or wizard to reflect your studies.
I have a question re: Wizard FA.
The remastered version of it has you choose one of the new Wizard schools. That choice does not give you anything initially, except to qualify you for Wizard feats using that school as a pre-requisite down the road.
Are we limited to PC 1 schools for Wizards, or can we take the Magambya, which is Remastered with the new school rules in Rival Academies and even lets you pick a branch? Given that we are literally going to the Magambya, I wanted to ask, both for Wizard FA and if a character dies and the player re-joins the game with a Wizard.
for now, I am not ready to incorporate info in Rival Academies into the story line, snice I have not read it, and the AP was written before. Let's use Player Core schools for now please.
I might be willing to change that story after some exposure to the new book.
I will update the game tomorrow as well, apologies for the delay.
I think with our bard gone , Ikto has the best performance but I don't want to hog the limelight too much or steal anyone's thunder
I think with our bard gone , Ikto has the best performance but I don't want to hog the limelight too much or steal anyone's thunder
It does not have to be a Performance check if you want to actually tell a story. If you want to kind of hand-wave all of that, and just make the check, we can play it that way.
I will give you time to craft your story here just tell me when you have the final draft ready.
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Ikto's plan is this... folks dance with exaggerated body language, even if they're not good at it, to reflect their emotions at the time of each part of the story. I'm just going to mention Ikto's 'motions' after every part of the story, and others would pick theirs.
"Each of us were blown here by winds of chance, and paths of choice, each carrying a story that goes too far back to tell now, to the great school of Magaambya. Each of us carried a reason, and a reason carried each of us.. together we came shielded from rain, and saw each other for the first time"
For Ikto this is a lot of neck craning, and wonder as he twirls about as if taking it all in.
"With a smile empty of fangs, and eyes full of kind questions, came Ot the Teacher of the class. His first question that of the Owl but it would not be the last"
Because Ot asked them WHO they were, clearly. More steps, more pantomime, in Ikto's case possibly scratching his head and other 'thoughtful' motions as the questions forced them to think.
"Tests, not of paper, but of secretive snakes, stones that dance alone, Bones put to rest and feathers that must not be plucked were given. Symbols gifted or not as pleased."
Despite the 'not of paper' bit, Ikto will be miming a quill on a desk writing as part of his dance.
"Shelter was granted, as were names of our peers, the seeds of friendship planted one hopes" For Ikto, this has a slow wave to many, then clasped hands opening as it to reveal to another. For him that last bit shows giving the beetle to Anchor Root and her showing her own collection in return.
"Branches await, each with it's wonder, each with it's pull! What part of the great tree should we choose?" Ikto gives an exaggerated hand over eyes to see further motion all around, "Best to know it first, and so we learn. Each a test, each a request."
"Rain Scribes mission was first; the test delicious, yet costly and fowl. A piece of nature to be restored, we never were bored, but the city streets we had to prowl. In shadowed corners where the school was suspect, we worked with some success. Will future generations of a certain chiken thrive? One can only guess! Still, it is good to cradle small lives"
Ikto mimes here sheltering the young chicks from the rain with a slightly dazed look on his face, for the city immersion, particularly THAT Market with liars and coinhoarders was SOMETHING but he smiles.
"The Tempest Sun Mages are a valorous sort, but luck was not on our side. Things came to blows, but Grandmother knows, the path of peace WAS tried. Gremlins infested, we nearly were bested, but in the end they left us be. The reason they came, here in is the shame, it's something of a mystery." Here, he dances with one arm behind his back, making sudden motions as if he ducking and weaving a foe, the one arm a commentary how they were held back from using lethal force but their foes were not.
"Cascade Bearers imagine a better way, ones not thought of before. Lucky Bones were much debated, caterpillar juicing, universally hated, but the quest for the mushrooms was alarming, a mushroom being sought are harming. Peace with the attacker, again was tried, but despite his nature? Not a 'fun guy'. For our infected we worried, things quickly were hurried, but the ritual did not quite fly."
Here he gives an over the top facepalm, a reflection of how he felt when he didn't get the ritual right, almost melodramatically so. He's been practicing since and is more confident and realizes that he might have been too hard on himself now.
"The Emerald Boughs appear to be, a great deal about communication, so when couriering letters became our task, we gladly took up our stations. We flew , a delight, N'Tuni most of all. We found out where places lay that had no names at all. We handled messages sent to the divine, be it fed snake or kite that flew. Best not to mess that one up, the Gods must have their due. Most Bough-ish of all, if that is even a word, was keeping peace between a young lady robbed, and a wrongful recipient most absurd! We made amends for a past error, though it did require guile. In the end we did well I think, and most ended with a smile."
His dancing here is complicated, mimicking flight joyfully, then acting like he's hit something hard (That woman's head) then he kind of makes it a weavy motion to show guile in use, and then he smiles again with a wave as if wishing happy customers well.
"And now we're on the final branch, Uzunjati here we are. We hope you like our story and dance, of how hard we all have trained. We hope we've learned a lot of things, and that you? You are entertained"
Here he suggests a group bow.
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The rhyming stuff that kicks in with Branch missions may make some of you cringe so obviously improvements can be made. We can have one of us do most of the talking while every one dances, or alternate between speakers with the each one talking of a different test. Etc. Or a chorus if they want to risk it.
And if folks hate it period, we'll think of something else.
You've clearly put a lot of thought into this! I am 100% on board!
I also love it! I think Ikto should take the lead here, and I know that Iovia would be mostly swaying with her dance because...
The Remastered Light mixes old Light and Dancing Lights, and she'd stay a bit back to keep Ikto spotlighted and changing colors as the story was woven.
If someone else had an illusion or sound-based cantrip, we could use those as well to give extra effects.
Thanks for the praise folks, if N'Tuni's player agrees it looks like this is in with no trouble
Sure thing, go for it.
For my special effects part, here is the plan:
For the first part, our initial meeting at the school, the light will start out a darker gray, to show the rainy day, lightening during that part to show that we were starting to get to know each other.
For the marketplace and the chicken quest, I'll use all four lights, with a spotlight on Ikto and colorful lights to show the wide variety of clothes and people that were there.
For the storeroom, I'll use two lights. A dark red one on Ikto to show the danger of the battle, and a lighter red one, to illuminate the cage I bought for the chicken quest to show that we tried to catch them peacefully. I'll need to go to my room to get that prop.
For the mushroom hunt, Ikto gets the white spotlight once more, but N'tuni, M'baba, and I get sickly green spotlights to show the danger of the disease.
For the mail delivery, I will use a light blue spotlight, tinged with hints of green for Jatia's jealously wanting to keep the lamp.
Then, for the last act, I'll go back to four lights, all white, to get all of us in the spotlight.
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Za Minyahil for the Title Drop!
Za Minyahil for the Title Drop!
Thank yew, thank yew!
I don't expect our GM to RP every NPC in the school with Ikto ;) I am just showing that Ikto is trying to make good impressions and connections with said NPCs ;)
Just FYI, the person playing Ntuni messaged me over the weekend saying they were dropping from the game. They said they are unhappy with PF2 rules after giving it a try with a new GM and players, nothing against this group or game. I made a recovery attempt, but it sounds like they will not be back. I appreciated the courtesy of a notice.
I don't intend to re-recruit for now still have 4 solid players. If we feel like we are front line light when/if we get into real combat situations, we can always pivot. LMK your thoughts.
I'm also sorry to see them go. I do wish that they had talked to the group about any pain points that they had so maybe we could have helped with that.
Hey guys, sorry for leaving, but my problem is with PF2e itself.
This game was in fact my "last try" with the system, since my previous experiences was with a GM that was too much formulaic. After these months here I realized it wasn't entirely on my previous GM, since Doctor Evil is great, but I still dislike the system.
I personally would rather not go into a rant about every aspect I dislike 2e since it could diminish your enjoyment with it. The main point is that I don't feel enjoyment with the system. We are close to level 2 and I'd be generally excited about the new abilities and stuff, but with 2e I'm apathic to it.
It is what it is, not every system is for everyone. I had once transitioned to 2e and now I fully transitioned back.
I wish you all great luck and happy gaming.
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Ntuni will be missed.
BUUUTTT at least I will still see your halfling in the Chronicles of Kassen game! :)
As for our numbers. I admit, I'm a little nervous about being down to four and being overpowered but I trust the good DM DoctorEvil will reduce the threat level to match if he must.
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Ntuni will be missed.
BUUUTTT at least I will still see your halfling in the Chronicles of Kassen game! :)
Me too! ;)
As for our numbers. I admit, I'm a little nervous about being down to four and being overpowered but I trust the good DM DoctorEvil will reduce the threat level to match if he must.
The AP is built for four players, so will just not be bumping up the threat level for the remaining. If you struggle, then we can always go to the well for a front liner.
I will be traveling starting tomorrow through Monday evening. Not sure how much updating will get done during that time. Should return to regular schedule when I return.
The AP is built for four players, so will just not be bumping up the threat level for the remaining. If you struggle, then we can always go to the well for a front liner.
AH! Okay. For some reason I thought it was made for 5! Reassuring to know, thank you
And safe travels
Sorry to see you go N'tuni! I hope you have fun with whatever games you play!
Before I post Ikto's response to the Ambush I have questions. Do our characters recognize/know they are gremlins or will that require a recall knowledge? Given we met some before I am hoping not. Either way the knowledge will affect tactics
RK is never a bad thing, as it can give a lot of information about the specific creature. Even if we recognize them as gremlins, an RK can give specifics about the ones we are facing.
Kurshkin, the one with the bow, is a pugwampi which you have direct experience with, so you would recognize it. The other, with the carapace, you don't recognize exactly, but since they have the same size and are together, you can make general assumptions.
And I agree the Recall Knowledge can add depth to your understanding, and possibly help with similar encounters later. Usually worth an action, IMO
@DM DoctorEvil: Whenever possible, please remove me from the campaign.
Cheese-and-RICE, that pugwampi is a crack shot!
He did have to stride to get spell range. As for the spell being unaffected by luck? I know. Still didn't want to close THAT Much and have to deal with unluck in later rounds. The pugawumpis wants to jinx him she's going to have to work for it and maybe get drawn out.
Cheese-and-RICE, that pugwampi is a crack shot!
No kidding!
That die roller wants PC blood , and it's getting it.
Either Za Minyahil will die here, ashamed that gremlins defeated them not once but twice, or the GM will bail us out and Za Minyahil will be ashamed for the rest of their life at having been humiliated by gremlins in battle on multiple occasions.
Well, technically there WAS supposed to be SOME sort of school official for this ceremony (yes running late)... so a teacher arriving is not quite Mage ex Machina
Yeah, but that won't assuage Za Minyahil's wounded pride! :P
The gremlins did not defeat us the first time. Most of them ended up caged, with one or two running away. That was not a loss for us. It wasn't the most elegant fight, but we're still getting used to working as a combat team.
Once we hit level 2, get the FAs for more options, and gel more in combat, we'll be doing much better.
The groups out of combat gelling is awesome, and combat will come along too. We have a good group.
I forgot to consider ZM's raised shield on the last hit, so he will get back 4hp more...This is a Severe rating fight, so don't feel bad if you are struggling. It's the end of a chapter also, and you will all earn more Hero Points at the end, so don't be afraid to pull out the stops if needed.
The gremlins did not defeat us the first time.Defeat isn't always getting to 0 HP faster. Inner defeat is sometimes much more devastating. Za's inner image was surely crushed last time we encountered the pugwampis.
That's fair. But, also, I was not talking about getting things down to zero HP. The task was to get them out of the storeroom without killing them, which we did.
Given that we did what we were told to, with one hand tied behind our backs, so to speak, I don't see it as a defeat. :)