I will tell you that that is a failure. I will allow you to use a Hero Point to reroll that, if you wish. If you decide to, I’ll retcon something in in a future post.I'm not going to be able to post properly until tomorrow, but yes please to the
HeroAssassin Point!I'd like to propose on finding the bedroom first. Having built a psychic based around teleportation, not being able to do it (easily) sucks. -1 to everything sucks too. That said I don't know how to break such an effect, Dispel Magic?
Unfortunately, rituals are not spells, so dispel magic is not sufficient. Y’all would essentially have to deface or otherwise break the altar (which is arguably easier since it doesn’t require expending resources).
EDIT: it could be argued that the altar counts as an “unattended magic item” for the purposes of dispel magic, but it would still be easier to just deface and/or break the altar to undo the consecrate.
1. When is the party wanting to spend a Leverage Point (to turn a failure or crit fail into a success) vs using a Hero Point vs just accepting the failure?
2. What is the party’s priority regarding its plan of attack? Go straight for Ordulf (not recommended until you get enough Infiltration Points)? Take out the various guards within Crownhold? Make a beeline for the vault or wherever you think Ordulf’s bedroom (and thus the altar at the center of the consecrate) is? Something else?
3. How do you wish to enter Crownhold? Through the front door? Climb to one of the higher floors?
4. Determine a Standard Dungeoncrawl Procedure (see Discussion)
1. It seems like we have a lot of LP, so I'd argue we could start out being liberal with them (since we don't know how many times they could be applicable), then get more judicious when we've used a few. 2 are from Janna's tools so might be failures, but she only crit fails on a 1 so they probably won't make it worse.
4. For SDP I do think some of us ought to be focused on looking for traps; while going full stealth mode would fit our skills and is probably what we'd have done in Riddleport, I think a high security fortress like Crownhold might warrant more care.
Janna has Ward Medic, Continual Recovery, but not Assurance Medicine. So her standard procedure after a battle (time permitting) would be to treat everyone, aiming for DC 30.
That said for an assassination I think we want to be as quick as we can, so we'd probably want to spend some resources on healing if they can save us time, at least at first. She has up to 4 quick alchemy slots which she can spend on Elixirs of Life, and a few low level Heals.
As a Grasping Step psychic she has a least one Teleportation theme spell at each level, and pretty powerful amped focus spell for creating teleport tunnels which can be traversed both ways, all of which will only be useful if we can break the Planar Seal.
She will also frequently in combat be using Recall the Teachings, which allows her to boss everyone around (Aid using Occultism within 30 feet), potentially giving a +3 to checks if she crits. I did want to ask about that actually, if the DC was always 15 a crit would be almost automatic. Could I expect the DC on say, aiding an attack roll, to be more like the AC of the target or something like that?
4. For SDP I do think some of us ought to be focused on looking for traps; while going full stealth mode would fit our skills and is probably what we'd have done in Riddleport, I think a high security fortress like Crownhold might warrant more care.
Quick bit of a psychological point of order: this stronghold is full of Gorumites. Gorum is a god of combat, and to try to avert combat is basically anathema to him. Ipso facto, it would make no sense for this place to be full of traps that would prematurely end a battle. At best, you’d likely expect traps that would bring a battle to you or increase your Awareness, rather than those that would directly incapacitate you.
EDIT: Also, a quick reminder: the planar seal over the whole place does not mean "no teleportation, period," it's a counteract check. Y'all know it's a rank 7 effect, so while it's very likely that rank 6 or lower effects will not really be able to work, rank 7 stuff is a solid "maybe." Plus there is always the chance of a crit failure on the counteract check, which means that NOTHING gets counteracted, irrelevant of rank.
The team has probably built up a working rapport over time, knowing each others' tendencies, what risks to avoid, when any are appropriate, etc.
E.g., Suryo would assume Janna is selective with unleashing psyche or maybe even just avoids it on surgical missions so that the aftermath (stupefied) doesn't become a liability.
(That's just one example that came to my mind -- if Janna is comfortable using it in whatever situation I'm not actually contradicting that).
Suryo would communicate well with the team regarding invisibility and have developed whatever signals are needed to keep it from introducing confusion (actually that might be more of us).
Are there other things we think the characters should just sort of know and assume about each other?
FYI: I will be away in nature (specifically on a river and out of cell range) and unable to post starting Friday evening 5/23 through Monday evening 5/26 (US/Pacific time). Being a weekend, I hope this minimizes the disruption and I will resume posting that Monday evening (5/26).
She will also frequently in combat be using Recall the Teachings, which allows her to boss everyone around (Aid using Occultism within 30 feet), potentially giving a +3 to checks if she crits. I did want to ask about that actually, if the DC was always 15 a crit would be almost automatic. Could I expect the DC on say, aiding an attack roll, to be more like the AC of the target or something like that?
The rules are pretty clear: the DC is 15, period. That said, nat 1s always decrease degree of success by one step, and Recall the Teachings has the psyche trait (so it can only be used while your Psyche is Unleashed), so just some food for thought.
So, based on what I’m reading, it seems the general consensus is to start on Floor 3 (with the assumption that that is where Ordulf’s bedroom is) and work your way down. I know some people showed interest in the vault, But the planar seal deals a real blow to Janna, so I think “un-restricting a quarter of the party” is definitely a priority (alongside undoing a permanent -1/+1 to the party/enemies).
2. Sneak to the vault. Suryo would suggest we actually minimize taking out guards when possible.
Ehhh, kinda. Taking out guards lowers Ordulf’s capability for reinforcements, so it’s actually the most consistent way of earning Infiltration Points (y’all’s measurement of how successful the assassination proper will go).
Anyway, I’ll be getting a post up sometime today.
Okay, am I missing something? How do some of y’all have a random +1 to initiative? If it were +2, then I could see Incredible Initiative, but I can’t recall anything that gives ONLY a +1 to initiative rolls.
Also, a request to Suryo and Dragomir: could you please put some sort of indication in your character sheets of what proficiency rank your character has in your skills? Just so I don’t have to reverse-engineer it every time I need to figure it out.
Mine comes from Divine Dragonblood, my Ancestry 1 feat.
Divine Dragonblood: You can trace your lineage to a dragon with almost deific powers, such as a diabolic dragon or empyreal dragon. You are blessed with a small bit of divine protection. You gain the trained proficiency rank in Religion. If you would automatically become trained in Religion (from your background or class, for example), you instead become trained in a skill of your choice. In addition, you are endowed quick reactions. You gain a +1 circumstance bonus to initiative rolls. If you choose a draconic exemplar, you must choose a divine dragon.
Janna's is assuming she's holding her Greater Staff of the Unblinking Eye. She'll have carried into town wrapped in a leather cloth or something.
For the outside Janna has a Winged Rune on her Explorer's Clothing if it becomes necessary. I've only just noticed that it has permanent ephemeral wings floating off your her; that's probably on her mantis getup and not what she's been walking around town in!
2. Sneak to the vault. Suryo would suggest we actually minimize taking out guards when possible.Ehhh, kinda. Taking out guards lowers Ordulf’s capability for reinforcements, so it’s actually the most consistent way of earning Infiltration Points (y’all’s measurement of how successful the assassination proper will go).
Fair. Maybe better restated as taking them out as silently as possible versus a series of attention-grabbing skirmishes.
Okay, am I missing something? How do some of y’all have a random +1 to initiative? If it were +2, then I could see Incredible Initiative, but I can’t recall anything that gives ONLY a +1 to initiative rolls.
Suryo's should just be the +2 from incredible. I'll double check the macros to ensure it's just that (or that it's even there).
Also, a request to Suryo and Dragomir: could you please put some sort of indication in your character sheets of what proficiency rank your character has in your skills? Just so I don’t have to reverse-engineer it every time I need to figure it out.
Yes, will add E and M to those that apply. Assume the rest are T. I'll annotate saves on the status line.
I’m gonna pause here, because this post is super long, and I wanna give y’all the opportunity to flavor how you want to go about undoing this shrine. Like I said, something like desecration or even just smashing the shrine is sufficient.
EDIT: I'm also looking to know what y'all's objective is from here, because y'all DEFINITELY don't have enough IP to justify going after Ordulf quite yet.
I don't have desecration or any spells that are great are smashing. But we have a large bear. I think he can smash just fine.
I think the fortress will definitely notice once the shrine's effect ends. I would like to be in full mantis armor before destroying the shrine and expect to fight some enemies.
Oh also, I would have activated my Majestic Presence around my allies before the infiltration to grant them immunity for 24 hours, because I'll likely use it at some point here and don't want to affect my allies in combat.
I'm really tempted to fight the roc but I know that's probably a really bad idea.
Point of order: it WILL be noticed, but it won’t be a “Gorum’s codpiece, we’re under attack!” kind of noticed. Would YOU assume someone maliciously cut your power supply when the lights go out?
Okay, am I missing something? How do some of y’all have a random +1 to initiative? If it were +2, then I could see Incredible Initiative, but I can’t recall anything that gives ONLY a +1 to initiative rolls.
Also, a request to Suryo and Dragomir: could you please put some sort of indication in your character sheets of what proficiency rank your character has in your skills? Just so I don’t have to reverse-engineer it every time I need to figure it out.
Will do - I put the Master skills in his tagline, but I'll fill them out in Dragomir's profile.
slashes the mural with her sawtooth saber in a pattern resembling Achaekek’s symbol.
Obligatory “are you sure about that?”
We wanted to let people know this was done by the Red Mantis, didn't we?
I assume you are asking because we'll get more awareness or something.
If other party member think its a bad idea, I won't. Otherwise, I'll see what happens.
Yes, you want to make it known the Red Mantis committed this assassination. But an assassination has not been made yet.
I thought it was a good idea to be honest.
On reflection there is a risk that if he knows the Red Mantis have come to kill him he'll surround himself with an army and make things much harder. He'll know something is up if his altar is smashed though so I don't know how much difference it will make. Maybe if we just smash things we can upset him without triggering full panic mode?
I mean, if someone comes to check on the shrine, they'll see it is smashed and know someone was here. I'll do just one slash on the mural instead.
So…another bit of psychology here.
Gorum has the confidence domain, meaning that his worshipers can be very prideful. So, at the realization that there’s some kind of intruder, a Gorumite’s pride would likely result in wanting to down an intruder themselves or in a small group—saves needing to go on high alert and grants them the glory of downing a foe without needing to send the fortress into battle stations.
EVERYTHING changes with the Red Mantis.
The Red Mantis are notorious for their ability to assassinate and keep a target dead. The moment the average person realizes that the Red Mantis are EVER involved, things get desperate as it becomes clear that not only are assassins being sent out, but consummate professionals who kill with religious reverence. that’s the downside of the Red Mantis’s “satisfaction guarantee”: people everywhere know that the Red Mantis do what they were tasked to do. Because of that, the Red Mantis almost universally do not show that they are carrying out the assassination until the moment of attack.
Add in the complication of your target being a Gorumite with a small army, and the idea that the Red Mantis is here will cause such a stir that the group’s safety will take priority over their want of pride.
Basically, the organization’s notoriety brings with it the knowledge that the moment it’s known that the Red Mantis are involved, sh*t is gonna hit the fan!
Also, what's the party's next priority after the altar? Picking apart the soldiers in Crownhold? Going down to the basement to get into the vault? Something else?
I vote head to the vault and take out soldiers that we can along the way.
So what I'm getting from the above is that we would routinely *not* leave our mark until the very latest possible moment.
This would also mean taking out the soldiers would be more utility tasks where we don't leave our mark to retain doubt of RMA involvement until we reach the main target.
So what I'm getting from the above is that we would routinely *not* leave our mark until the very latest possible moment.
This would also mean taking out the soldiers would be more utility tasks where we don't leave our mark to retain doubt of RMA involvement until we reach the main target.
Bingo. I apologize if that was not properly communicated on my part.
For the record: I am aware that we are hitting a bit of a road bump with posting frequency; I am actively working on it. I want to make sure this group is as consistent as possible so we’re not stuck just waiting for someone.
That said: This weekend is PaizoCon, and because of that I will be VERY busy. So do not expect any posting from me starting tomorrow (5/23) through to Monday (5/26).
I vote head to the vault and take out soldiers that we can along the way.
That seems reasonable, we know where it is and it seems a reasonable assumption that Ordulf is not there. In getting there Janna could combine a Clairvoyance from the staff with a Tesseract Tunnel to go up to 40 feet (if she improves her speed temporarily) in any direction, and check it out before we leapt.
Yeah, I’ve been looking over that spell, and I think the amped version is still bound by line of effect, so you couldn’t use it to go straight through a wall.
So I have a few ideas:
1) We could tesseract tunnel through the north wall and take out the adlet. Maybe if we're lucky, we can lure the second adlet over without alerting the bird. I'm thinking maybe I could use illusory disguise to appear as an adlet and wave the other one over.
2) We could tesseract tunnel east and take our chances with whatever is down the stairs.
3) We could tesseract tunnel south since we know that way is mostly clear. We could maybe drop over the ledge onto the floor below and take out the patrol manning the springalds. Maybe we could even disturb the owl in some way so its hooting would mask the sound of us fighting.
Was gonna post today. Then a lot happened. I’ll try to get a post up before the first block of PaizoCon tomorrow.
3 and dropping over sounds sensible. Not sure about the owl, I expect it would do more than just make noise.
Maybe we could trick the owl into thinking the adlet hit it. Like if someone used a 4th-level invisibility and stabbed it while the adlet is still there.
that could work. Suryo has one from greater cloak of illusions and sneak attack is helpful too there.
FYI: I will be away in nature (specifically on a river and out of cell range) and unable to post starting Friday evening 5/23 through Monday evening 5/26 (US/Pacific time). Being a weekend, I hope this minimizes the disruption and I will resume posting that Monday evening (5/26).
I apologize for my absence this past week. A cluster of work explosions and then I spent most of yesterday afternoon and evening getting my 87yo father to urgent care for a chest x-ray (pneumonia, gah, but not so severe he had to be hospitalized) and calling around to pharmacies as they were closing for the night to get various prescriptions for him, *then* coming home and finishing something for work, and another long day today. Getting caught up now and will post shortly.
Unfortunately ... tesseract tunnel ... still need[s] line of sight and effect to the destination ...
Yeah, I was looking over some of the balancing of stuff, and I noticed that literally no teleportation spell that I could find lets you just outright say “I wanna teleport to the other side of this door.” Even 5th-rank translocate requires your destination to be one you have been to in the past.
If I'm reading it right, if Yujin has her incendiary aura active and she uses an ability that activates her curse of engulfing flames, the 1 persistent fire damage she'd take from the curse will trigger the incendiary aura and she'll end up taking 5d4 persistent fire instead. I'll need to be careful with that.
Yeah…I’m gonna say that that’s an explicit exception to the aura, because holy sh*t. Taking “permanent” persistent fire is bad enough.
Yup, I missed the flourish trait. Thank you.
As for twin, he's only wielding one sabre.
Oh. Uh…any particular reason he’s only wielding one saber?
Perhaps my reasoning is wrong, but it seems like a lot investment for 3 damage extra on one hit, on the rounds you can get in multiple hits.
I mean, sure. But I just think it’s fun.
I'm heading off to the UK Games Expo shortly. I don't expect to be able to post until Monday, please bot me as necessary.
So, it’s with sorrow that I have to say that I’m kicking Dragomir off the table due to posting infrequency. Since it is still so early in this adventure, doing so won’t have a major effect on the story or the experience.
So, I’m putting an official pause on the adventure as we go about finding a new player.
I am gonna ask the rest of y’all to look into this for me. I am looking for someone who will be able to post with regularity, and who is at least comfortable enough with 2e to play at level 14+. I know Yujin’s player said they could look into one of their War for the Crown players, but I wouldn’t also like to see if any of the others can give recommendations.
Thanks in advance, and I’m sorry things have been slow recently. I’m hoping this will help.
I'm always sorry to see someone go. I'll ask around when I get a chance.
An alternative is doing an open recruitment, though I would personally prefer if I could at least have someone to vet for said person.
I have one feeler out now. Stay tuned.
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Hello! I'm a player in Huang's War for the Crown game and heard that this adventure needed an extra player. I'd be happy to fill the part if needed. I've got some ideas rolling around, but if there's some kind of primer I need to know (banned ancestries/classes, roles the party needs, general faction/worship based guidelines, PC shared backgrounds, etc) I can narrow it down and get something crafted.
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Here is said primer
Wonderful! Thinking my way through the concept while I'm at work. I'll put numbers to paper when I get home.
I'm thinking Fleshwarp Aasimar Thamaturge. Melee combat focus with a sawtooth "relic weapon" in hand. How does that sound?
Edit: oof, Red Mantis Assassim has a lot of dual wielding abilities and that clashes with Thamaturge a bit. May still play that. I'll have to do some research tonight.
Suryo pinged me for potentially joining as a substitute player, but it looks like Rosc has you covered. Let me know if you need another one in the future, since the game looks like a fun one!
Here is said primerWonderful! Thinking my way through the concept while I'm at work. I'll put numbers to paper when I get home.
I'm thinking Fleshwarp Aasimar Thamaturge. Melee combat focus with a sawtooth "relic weapon" in hand. How does that sound?
Edit: oof, Red Mantis Assassim has a lot of dual wielding abilities and that clashes with Thamaturge a bit. May still play that. I'll have to do some research tonight.
Noteworthy thing about that: if you have a “normal” saber in one hand and the implement saber in the other, you still get a lot of your cool dual-weapon stuff. Especially since you can basically swap implements as a free action.