[PFS1] Redelia's The Devil We Know Arc

Game Master Redelia

Hi, everyone.

After looking at what everyone had available, we'll be running this low tier. I am aiming for an APL of right about 2, so I would like each of you to pick a character of about level 2 (so 1 or 3 is also possible). I know several of you indicated you could be building a GM credit blob for this table, so I expect there to be some discussion needed here. Please try for some party balance, but make sure you're playing something you will enjoy.

I tend to run very story focused games, so do not feel like you need a really optimized character.

Once we've made our decisions as a group, I'll open gameplay for everyone to dot in, and then we can pause for a few days so those who need to build a character can do so.

I'm looking forward to working through this series of modules with all of you; I often enjoy several scenario runs with a group more than single scenarios because the characters actually get to know one another.

My ranger uses dual shields and is a kinda solid melee, favoring undead right now.

Cleric is a typical supportive character devoting himself to Pharasma, with a channel Positive Energy build.

Halcyon Duid is a build that have access to druid, cleric and wizard spells but having no domain nor companion.

Here are your à la carte for Pathfinders from the Rosenthal family:

For 1-2 tier:
Lv2 Human Splintersoul Vigilante(Stalker), Yukari Rosenthal
-Building toward using ranged feint to deal hidden strike damage, which only comes online at lv8. For now, she is merely a talktive archer.
-Character Inspiration: Yukari Takeba from Persona 3 (and particularly the fighting game spin-off P4AU)
-Lize and Laurentina's older sister

Lv2 Human Duettist/Sound Striker Bard, Lize Rosenthal
-Building toward being able to do sound strike damage from both herself and her familiar. Sound Strike mechanics comes online around lv6~7 and Lingering Performance at lv3. For now, she is an amatuer bard/archer that struggles to keep up with her sisters.
-Character Inspiration: Virtual Youtuber Lize Helesta from Nijisanji/Anycolor
-Yukari's younger sister, Laurentina's older sister.

Lv2 Half-Elf Unchained Summoner, Laurentina Rosenthal
-Summoning focused UC Summoner with an Astral eidolon that is made to be a skill monkey instead of a multi-limbs pouncing monster. The summoner is the introvert quiet kid in her fantasy that's being cared by the butler/maid eidolon. The eidolon is good at Diplomacy and Disable Device at this level.
-Character Inspiration: Spector the Unchained and her Substitue/alter ego from Arknights
-Yukari and Lize's younger sister

Lv2 Human Warpriest of Feronia, Mushou Rosenthal
-Two weapon fighting warpriest, with a double weapon no less! And a familiar as well!
-No, I came up with this character on my own because I want to try something exotic and not another tried-and-true Molthuni Arsenal Chaplain+Bow or Pharasma+dagger build.
-Half-brother of the Charisma-trio above.

Lv2 Human Benefactor/Name-Keeper Shaman(Battle), Mafty Navue Erin
-Archer with Full casting, and can give out hex that buff teammate's attack rolls or saving throws. Eventually can Bane his weapon like a Inquisitor.
Nevermind, his martial weapon proficiency have to wait till lv4, so he can't even shoot a bow properly right now, which is missing out onhis core theme of "full caster contribute in a non-spell way". For now, he's a simple shaman with a buffing hex.
-Character Inspiration: Hathaway Noa from Gundam series/Hathaway's Flash.
-Mushou's nephew

Lv2 Changeling(Dreamthief-Born) Oath of the People's Conucil Paladin of Iomedae, Jehanne Rosenthal
-A paladin from the people, for the people, buff the people (with Inspire Courage). No Lingering Performance yet, that also has to wait till lv3. A sword and board melee frontline. Had to find an alternative non-cliche spelling for her name otherwise it would be way too blatantly obvious.
-Character Inspiration: Jeanne d'Arc from Fate series, and also partially from the irl saint.
-Mafty's aunt.

Lv2 Skinwalker(Witchwolf) Sohei Monk, Saga Rosenthal
-Humble wandering monk with a reach weapon, simple. Such is the monk's way of life.
-Character Inspiration: Saga from Arknights.
-Best doggo

For 3-4 tier:
Lv3 Merfolk Oracle(Ocean's Echo), Skadi Rosenthal
-Still ironing out a few remaining details of this character (mostly feat choice and higher level stuff, will not result in any mechanical difference during the games), but right now she is a oracle with inspire courage/inspire competence and Lingering Performance, who struggles to move on land.
-Character Inspiration: Skadi the Corrupted Heart from Arknights, again. I know, I just love that game.
-In-house minstrel, I guess? Trying to fit a merfolk in a human/elf centric BIG family is hard.

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All of them are build for themes and not optmization, if you haven't figure it out with the headcannon dump. That being said, all of them are competent (or will soon be in a level or two when they get their essential feat/stuff).
If you want super-agents, looks elsewhere for Mafty's parents. (Dad solo Red Reaver in 5 rounds, mom carried Bonekeep series and took almost no damage.)

I took the liberty of peaking into our lovely alchemist's stat block and saw that she's not someone who dirty her hands with lock-picking and other rogue shenanigans. So I will go ahead and pick my summoner for now, so that we have Disable Device covered, and whoever that need to pour life into a GM credit blob need not to worry about bringing a rogue (the horror, I know!). Plus, teammates with silver-tongued is always the more the merrier.

There will be cute birds that can help people flank as well, you know, Summon Monster 1.

It will be my first time playing a summoner, so I'm excited about the experience and the role-play opportunity that this rare master/eidolon dynamic can provides.

That being said, if someone else from the abovementioned list fits the team better, I could be persuaded to switch to another character.

I have a level 2 character pending to be built with my GM credit. So, I am very flexible. Although the classes that I am more keen in building now are, in no particular order, barbarian, druid, rogue, and wizard, I can really take anything (maybe not cleric, fighter, paladin, or sorcerer, since I have other characters with those classes already).

And thanks GM Redelia for having selected me! :-)

I am a Level 2 Alchemist (Grenadier) with 4 XP, specializing in throwing bombs. I am trained in all Knowledge skills. Cure Light Wounds is on the Alchemist's formulae list, so I can use a wand for healing if necessary, but generally I focus on offense.

I have a few more questions:
1. Should we keep the same leveling pace? I'm currently at 4 XP and will reach Level 3 after two scenarios. Or should I use the slow advancement track?
2. How long does one scenario usually take to complete?

My summoner and I believe Evan's ranger are both 3xp at the moment, so we will level up after part 3. You can still play in subtier 1-2 with a level 3, you would just get out of tier gold (about 350gp less than what lv3 would get in subtier 3-4). I guess it depends on whether you want to level up your character as fast as possible, what xp is other GM-Credit-Instant-Character™️ are sitting at.

GM Redelia can answer the second question better, but since both Gameday/Outpost are scheduled for 10 weeks, and we're at subtier 1-2, 8~10 weeks per scenario is my guess based on historical data...?

Non-convention games:
8w 2d for Many Fortune of Grandmaster Torch(3-4 CORE)
9w 5d for You Only Die Twice (5-6)
10w 4d for What the Helms Hide (1-2 CORE)
10w 6d for Emerald Spire 2 (2-4)
12w 1d for Emerald Spire 15 (10-12)

I would actually suggest no one use slow mode. Our party's APL will slowly creep up, and I expect that we will end up in subtier 3-4 at some point, but that's fine. I'm just trying to keep everyone in a small band of levels so everyone's character feels like they can contribute.

In terms of how long the scenarios will take, we used to say that a forum game was expected to take 6-8 weeks, but somehow since Covid, games all seem a bit slower. Also, during a long stretch of games like this, we often run into a few times when everyone is really busy or the GM is traveling. I would expect this series of four scenarios will take at least 6 months, less than a year.

I am applying my GM credit on my ranger so he is now 4xp.
I think over and am determined to play as Dass, the ranger. It will be fun to play a character weilding 2 sheilds. Just hope we will have some of Dass's favored enemy.

My plan is to set up a new level 1 PC but believe I can find someone to fit the level eventually chosen.

Thanks Redelia,

Forgot to mention Dass has a GM credit of S8-07 so he will automatically gain extra xp after Lvl 3

I'm currently looking at an Aquatic Elf Star Shaman (shaman with the Spirit of Heaven). Starting off at 0xp with no GM boons to apply (might have to run a few low level online games soon)

I believe Aquatic Elf do qualify you for the elf Favored Class Bonus. Too bad non-human shaman don't get to pick up the cleric spell...

If you're running those low level games on VTT (especially in Silicon Valley lodge), count me as interested :) Got a whole squard of new-ish Pathfinder that need to leveling.

My eidolon got +16 on Disable Device now so should be rogue enough for the team.

I am going to try to summarize what players are going for so that we can converge to a group as soon as possible (apologies for errors, edit as needed):
* phaeton_nz: shaman 1.
* Colin Mercer: summoner 2.
* Evan_Fang: ranger 2.
* sergiogq: level 2 character, possibly from {barbarian, druid, rogue, wizard}.
* Abraham Z: ?
* Auray: alchemist 2.

Did I get this correct?

I am going to try to summarize what players are going for so that we can converge to a group as soon as possible (apologies for errors, edit as needed):

* phaeton_nz: shaman 1.
* Colin Mercer: summoner 2.
* Evan_Fang: ranger 2.
* sergiogq: level 2 character, possibly from {barbarian, druid, rogue, wizard}.
* Abraham Z: ?
* Auray: alchemist 2.

Did I get this correct?

That seems to be the most recent/updated plan, yes.

We have all Knowledge skills(alchemist), Diplomacy, Disable Device(eidolon), and out-of-combat wand healing covered for now.

Hi GM I think I'm going to give up my seat to someone else. Many thanks for selecting me but I'm realizing that my only character in tier isn't that interesting to me and I'm also feeling a little swamped with real life stuff. Thanks and apologies for any inconvenience!

Hi GM I think I'm going to give up my seat to someone else. Many thanks for selecting me but I'm realizing that my only character in tier isn't that interesting to me and I'm also feeling a little swamped with real life stuff. Thanks and apologies for any inconvenience!

Thank you for letting me know, and I'm sorry you won't be joining us.

I've reached out to one of the other applicants, so we can hopefully be ready soon. I've given them 48 hours to respond, after which I'll reach out to someone else.

Ok. I will wait for preferences of the new player before I decide mine.

Well, it looks like I'm coming off the bench! I see all level 1/2 above, so from my original post it looks like these are the best options:

...

The not-quite fresh young fellows of the occult squad:
- Stavarg Titanshade, dwarf aerokineticist 2
- Darzus, elf dream psychic 2 (if there is high need for diplomacy/npc relations this character gets interesting)

At level one I have many more choices. Interesting ones I'd like to try:
- Ekish, undine empyreal sorcerer 1
- Argil Dust, half-orc sha'ir 1

But I remain flexible.

None of my options fill the rogue roll (my low-level PF1 rogue is active in another game), so you could certainly safely select that character from amongst your options.

Alchemist looks like a highly skilled ranged bomber/striker.

I take it the shaman is something of a healer?

A level 3 character would also be fine if that is more appealing to you

My 3rd level character is a spellslinger, so not a full featured wizard but generally good ranged striking (all of my characters are fairly appealing :) ).

To be clear (and not have my flexibility be indecision or slow us from starting :) ), if there are no opinions about party need, I will probably pick one of the two 2nd level characters above but am considering the spellslinger. I intend to finalize today.

Some numbers, to help people gauging character abilities.

The eidolon has +16 on Disable Device now so she's probably out-rogue-ing everyone unless you really pour all your heart and a EotT boon to DEX, a Skill Focus feat, and probably a trait to it, so don't worry about not bringing one. The Astral eidolon don't get the ability to merge with summoned creature till lv4, so chances are the eidolon will be swinging her claws at d4+3 dmg with AC19 for now. (Summon Monster I is also not nearly as useful/interesting now)

I helped Evan build his ranger so I can share a thing or two about it. I would say our ranger Dass at this level is more of a 'tank' than a damage dealer, shieldbashing at d3+3 dmg, but sports a AC of 21 and give enemy -2 to hit him when he shieldbash them with his buckler.

PaleDim's assessment is correct on our alchemist Auray, a highly skilled ranged bomber. I would say she carried the whole team in our previous 1-2 subtier multi-table special.

My personal opinion (not forcing anyone to make a certain choice here, just factual analysis on characters): A dedicated front-line damage dealer would be a valuable addition, as the alchemist's bombs are a limited resource, and it takes both the eidolon and the ranger combined to match the output of a Strength 18 two-handed Power Attacker.
(Eidolon average 2.5+3=5.5 per hit + Ranger average 2+3=5 per hit = 10.5 per hit. Lv1 warrior with 18 STR, Power Attack, 2d6 Greatsword, average 3.5+3.5+6+3=16 per hit. The eidolon has to hit both claw attacks to be even. A barbarian/bloodrager or a two-handed flurry Unchained Monk can easily do higher, not to mention a Bloodrager+Unchained Monk...)
Having more bodies on the front will also protect our backliners more, considering that we have a lv1 shaman.

If sergiogq is bringing his barbarian then I'll bring the spellslinger. A ranger, a barbian and two ranged strikers would be pretty solid. If not then I'll either bring a monk or create a new frontliner.

As I said, I had different options and happy to take whatever helps the group to fill some gap. Certainly, melee damage is one of those things, so, I will go for a barbarian :-)

Here is PaleDim's elf spellslinger 3.

Redelia here is a link to a folder with the relevant boon for her to have the spellslinger archetype: Chronicles and Boons (it's also linked on the profile under References)

Here's the my summoner......I will work on her PbP profile tonight

Besides Summon Monster SLA, she only have enough skill points for UMD and Linguistic for talking to various summon later.

...and here's the eidolon. Will work on the PbP profile tonight as well.

She is equally good at diplomatizing as she does in Disable Device.

While we're here, 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.

It looks like everyone is ready!

I've created the gameplay thread, so everyone please dot and delete there. Then, please post the info for your chronicle sheets, and anything I should know about your character here in discussion.

I expect that this may take a few days, so we will be starting early next week.

Player Name: Colin
Character Name: Laurentina Rosenthal
Character Number: 2411798-33
Faction: Dark Archive
Advancement Track: Full Speed for all 4 parts
Day Job: none

Player Name: PaleDim
Character Name: ElaKukai
Character Number: 272301-6
Faction: The Exchange
Advancement Track: Normal/Full Speed
Day Job: none

Ok. I will do this during the weekend.

Player Name: Evan_Fang
Character Name: Dass
Character Number: 272301-9
Faction: The Exchange
Advancement Track: Normal/Full Speed
Day Job: +9 Profession (Merchant)

Player Name: Wich
Character Name: Auray Misterius
Character Number: 2416493-5
Faction: Dark Archive
Advancement Track: Full Speed
Day Job: +10 Craft (Alchemy) +2 circumstance, +5 Crafter's Fortune

It looks like we need phaeton_nz and sergiogq to check in before we start.

Just to let you guys know, I'm going to be doing some stuff to my computer tonight. If it goes well, there won't be any changes to you, but if I have problems, I might not be able to post anything substantial for a few days, which might delay our start slightly. I'll be able to check in here by mobile to let you know what is happening.

Sorry. The weekend got complicated. I will have everything ready by tomorrow.

Player Name: Sergio.
Character Name: Bagurm.
Character Number: 16645-4.
Faction: Liberty's Edge.
Advancement Track: Normal.
Day Job: none.

Here we go... :)

A young girl, if human no more than twelve or thirteen years.....

She must have very good Disguise/makeup skills and/or magic to look so young because...

She's an elf.

Completely lost track of this. I'll get straight on it.

Player Name: phaeton_nz
Character Name: Neri Silvermist
Character Number: 124312-31
Faction: Grand Lodge
Advancement Track: Full Speed
Replay: Yes - but only Part 1.

OK, looks like we're just waiting for Auray's character introduction to start.

I will fill the information for the slides tomorrow. It is a bit late here in the UK.