Agonis's page

So... you chose to run two rather harsh story plots AND started newbies in one. I'm not surprised that things got a bit prickly.

I own a couple of ap's (Reign of winter, wrath of the righteous, mummy's mask, giantslayer, iron gods, hells's rebels and Vengeance) and I've let the players decide which ones they wanted to play.. But yeah it weren't easy stories to GM. I also had an option to run Rise of the Runelords the anniversary edition but 2 of the players already played that one from start to end.

Last session was on 3rd of september and before we started we had a conversation on what type of game we wanted to play, and after some points from all the players. Everyone agreed to try mix of roleplaying and combat.

The experience player spoke to the group as well that he has been a bit rude the previous time and everyone forgave him for it.

And we laid out some basic rules like don't interrupt the one who's talking and wait your turn to speak. And a rule to not discuss rules during the game but accept the ruling of the GM and discuss after. and they also wanted me to put a more firm hand on the table if things looking like to get out of hand. And that I would be more carefull making up stuff out of the backgrounds to not set players up vs each other. and after sessions I've planned a short feedback moment, where we can all discuss what we liked and disliked.

After we had that little meeting we started to play and the session went very well, it was more a lot of roleplaying and the players had a lot of fun with it, did some skill rolls and diplomacy checks. The Cleric player role played a solution with the bounty hunter, and everyone in the group helped him find a solution and now they have bounty hunter who'll do stuff for them occasionaly when they need help with information or certain non combat tasks.

Everyone had fun and they all thanked me and each other for a goodnight of entertainment.

Other then that the campaign is looking to be on a 6-8 weekly schedule.
So i can look at your last suggestion and get the newer playerss in between campaign session and occasionally run scenarios with them to get a better grip on the rules.

thanks again for the advice and feedback.

Last saturday I've had a talk with the player in question face to face.
He apologized for not knowing his own character background, and explained he had some trouble with letting go of the "old" playstyle in which lots of arguements were happening. We've agreed that i would use a stopping word when this behaviour starts showing. And we'll work towards a more Role playing approach of the game.

I apologized for putting the bounty hunter this early into the campaign, he said he was ok with it but expected more help from the group, considering most of them were good aligned. I said I'll make some ammends next session, and also have a talk with the whole group about what everyone wants from the gaming sessions.

on a sidenote GM'ing Wrath of the Righteous was my first ever Paizo adventure path, and it was a such pain and caused me so much stress that when we were done I stopped GM'ing for 6 years. This is my second AP in pathfinder and 3rd time GM'ing.. so yes stil need to learn a lot. SO any tips/pointers are always welcome..

Thanks all for taking the time in reading this and replying.

Thanks all for the input.

I'll try to put in some more info and answer the questions.

@Kasoh:
I've known the cleric player for the past 30 years, just recent 5 years I stopped playing in the same groups as him because the groups were very toxic in terms of player characters reading the AP before the sessions so they knew what was going on, cheating with dice, players activating all kinds of abilities in herolab, and then using those stats whole session even they didn't cast the appropriate spells, namecalling, players who have arguments about rules and didn't want to continue playing if the rule wasn't called out in their favor.. I stopped playing with those people, and he was one of the reasonable players back then. And they treat the game as a computer gaming, trying to rush from combat to combat. but he's stil in the same groups. The cleric player used to be a patient RP'r just last few years i noticed he's losing patience.
He does have a lot of patience when helping others build there character, and explaining the rules just during the game time it's like his attitude changes.

I've talked to him about it, and he has a lot on his mind work, house, other gaming groups. So he will try to be more patient during the game time, and if he's get frustrated I can use a stop word and he'll take a 5 min break.

I've found a bunch of people new to Pathfinder/role playing games. And asked 2 experienced players for helping me to guide the new players into the game. Cause i want everyone to have fun RP'ing and gaming.

Originally i had a bunch of bounty hunters lined up, each having their own way to solve the situation of his owner wanting him back, and maybe I was indeed a bit too quick to introduce this one.. I do have another one for Whitethrone..

The group is stil getting to know one another and the playstyles, so they're not yet speakig up much to each other. I'll have a speech before next game session and will always inform that if players do a bluff, other players can call it.

@TXSam88:
Everyone in the group is Chaotic Good, except the monk who's Lawful Neutral. (Sidenote they did left the outpost and left 4 sick guards unattended).

I'll also have some talks with everyone explaining that not everything has to be RP'd out, but the cleric player also didn't tell the rogue player:"my character informs yours about what happened". the question where just cut short.

@SheepishEidolon:
Like i said bit earlier in the reply, helping build characters and explaining the rules he's patient, but when it comes to playing it's a different mindset. And i know he's stil playing in some groups with toxic people.

@Mysterious Stranger:
It was mostly a case of ditching the cleric not the player. cause up to now they think the cleric is the jerk and not the player.
The Rogue and Sorcerer were roleplaying the safety of oppening the door, and not knowing what was behind it they were trying to be carefull.
Usually it's just a perception roll, and it's done but they were having a talk on how to do it instead of doing it and they got interrupted by the cleric wanting to move on.
I've talked with them aswell and they'll try to have quicker short talks/messages on it to keep the game going.. (as A GM I didn't mind the inplay banter by both of them, just got annoyed they got rudely interrupted). Also they didn't have a whole lot of time together playing in this group, so i thought it was a good idea to have them talk about the things they want to do before doing it.

@Valandil Ancalime:
The 4 previous session went good, first session was introduction and getting to know Heldren, and an encounter at the ambush site. Where they got surprised by the stuff inside the carriage.(hence the rogue being carefull opening doors).
2nd session: they tried crossing a river but the Cleric fell through the ice and into the water. The gunsligner jumped in after him to rescue the cleric. But there was a sligh annoyance cause the Cleric didn't acknowledge he needed the help, and he didn't thank the gunslinger for help. Even though in the strong current of the river and he has a -5 check on swimming, he said he would've been fine...He did get Hypothermia from there cause it was freezing cold.
The sorcere i that session announced he didn't trust any of the others, because he didn't know who they were and wanted to know more about them.
3rd session: they went back to town to get more supplies and to prepare better against the cold weather. some role play happened buying/selling some stuff. There was also some roleplay in some character explaining who they are and what they can do.. I informed them they're walking around with someone who doesn't trust them and if anyone wanted to help take away the not trusting.
4th session was up to the outpost/cabin and the rogue had some trouble with the first trap(accidently setting it off by rolling really really bad on the disable device check). So the rogue roleplayed after that that he was insecure about finding/disabling traps. ( the trap hurt).
I talked with the sorcerer and told him, these people didn't hurt him so he could start developing some form of trust. The cleric got annoyed about the not trusting of the sorcerer, but didn't try anything to improve the trust.. the cleric was infact obviously hiding something from his background...

relationships between the characters was mostly ok up til the last session. The gunslinger gets along with everyone, specialy the sorcerer and rogue. The rogue is getting along with everyone and is trying to help everyone ingame. The sorcerer gets along with most except for the cleric. and the monk gets along with everyone. First 4 session most discussion were between cleric and sorcerer. but cleric and gunsligner also had some slight problems after the gunslinger helped him and he didn't acknowledge or thank for that.

The bounty was 100g

@Claxon:
It was mostly they felt the cleric being a disruptive person, not the player although most found that interrupting others while speaking was very rude.
everyone but the cleric was fine with roleplaying out the situation, he was the only one pushing to move forward, the other 4 were kinda role playing the situation out.
The group is mixed, Gunslinger, rogue and sorcerer like to roleplay stuff out. the monk doesn't care that much, the cleric is a bit used to rushing through stuff from previous groups. And he was also the one after the 1st session already said ok we know what characters we play so we can already move as a strategic unit, while the rest is we don't really know you, lets get to know each other first kind of thing..

Guess I've some more talking to do in the group, and figuring out what everyone wants and how to get to a point where everyone gets what they want and have the most fun out of it doing it.
personally I'm not a very experienced GM (Only ran Wrath of the Rigtheous 2 times before with groups who were more focussed on the combat isntead of roleplaying, this time around i wanted to go for more roleplaying and little bit less CRPG combat style like.)

Next session is september the 3rd, so i stil have some time, and there will be a new player joining the group with a Lawfull Good character based on Carrot Ironfoundersson, and he will be trying to keep his character like the carrot from the books.. So might be a lot of fun..

Thanks everyone for you input and advice.. I stil have quite a lot to learn as GM.

Hi everyone,

few months ago I've start Reign of Winter with a group(Rogue, Gunslinger, Cleric, sorcerer, monk) of mixed players some new(rogue, monk, sorcerer) to pathfinder and some experienced(Gunlsinger, Cleric). Two weeks ago we had the 5th session and some things happened that I'd like to get some advice on or find a solution to it..

The players made backstories and I'm trying to implement them into the adventure path. One player made a background story that he escaped from slavery, and that he changed his original name to another name, to hide from his captors and his new name was more befitting to his class/character(Cleric of Milani). And on his escape he made his way to Heldren and build a new life there.

I asked the player if it was okay if i could use his background to try and add some elements to the AP of RoW, he said he was happy if i could do that.
So i thought to make his "owner" a winter witch who values his slaves and that he would try to get his slaves back at a decent price for bounty hunters. I made a wanted poster with the characters portrait, original name and racial description and a price.

When the group encountered the Bounty hunter looking for the cleric, they were in need of assistance to complete a rescue of a certain Noble woman. The bounty hunter could help them if they'd agreed to the price on the clerics head, and he would then leave the cleric alone. But when i gave the player of the cleric the wanted poster he looked at it, and he had NO idea that it was about his character.. Other players had to point out:"Dude that's you!!"
Then they had a discussion about who would pay the price the cleric by himself or the party as a whole. It was a friendly roleplaying discussion about some characters talking about sharing the price and some saying it's the clerics problem let him solve it up to the point the player of the cleric said pretty loud:"if the group doesn't pay the price, they can look for another healer."
Some felt the discussion wasn't done yet but were shocked with the statement and grumbled ok then lets work things out later and just agree to pay the price.

Another issue that happened on the same night with the same player.
There was a fight with the main boss of the fort and some henchmen. They won but the rogue got feared, and ran out of the building and on returning the rogue wanted to know what was going on, but the cleric kept interrupting the question with answers nothing important we need to move. (combat was already over, and there was no need to rush) but he kept cutting the questions short.
And when it came to opening a trapdoor, the rogue and sorcerer wanted to be carefull about it, but the cleric wanted to rush downstairs to see what was there, and they discussed it a little bit but it the cleric became impatient and started threatening to move the other players so he could open the trapdoor. At a point that I interrupted play and said PvP is not allowed and would be an exit for a player if they continue this way.

So far, after that session I've talked to all the players and 4 out of 5 say that the cleric made himself impopulair with the group, and wouldn't mind ditching him back in town. The cleric said he just wanted to move the story along, and didn't want to "talk in character" about the safety of opening a trapdoor. And he didn't find himself as being rude by cutting someone's questions or sentences off.

Issue I have is that the player didn't know his own background and he was being rude that evening but doesn't see it that way.

And I'm looking for a way to make him realize he also needs the group and that he can't keep on saying:"I'm the healer we go left or right, otherwise you can continue without healer." (this sentence was used plenty of times that evening).

I've thought of that the Bounty hunter will take the party gold, and then knock the cleric out and bring him to a hideot where the party can rescue the cleric, but if most of the party wouldn't mind seeing the cleric go. I'm not sure this is a good continuation.

Looking for some creative ways/ideas to solve this. I'd rather avoid having conflicts in groups, but if there's no other way i'd give someone the kick for th good of the group.

thanks for the people reading this wall of text.. I know it's a lot to take in.

Kind regards,
Agonis

Well I've completed my Cleric and want to thank you all for your advice on feats, gear, spells and alike..

I've become a more supportive cleric and will let my party members do the melee fighting..

I've chosen to pick as feats: selective channel, scribe scroll, extra channel, quickened channel and reach spell.

My gear is: headband of wisdom +2, mithral breastplate +1, boots of striding and springing, shield +1, a haversack, and the Dungeon master let me craft some scrolls so I made a couple of lesser restoration, remove disease and remove curse.

I would've loved to have the phylactery of positive channel, but it was kinda expensive and left me with little other choice in gear. So now my character will start saving for that.

I had a hard time deciding to not take combat casting, because the fights I did participate in where agains enemies with reach..
But I'll see how this build goes.

Spells I've did some reading up, and got to say I realy like the Blessing of Fervor and the Spiritual ally. Both will come in handy I'm sure..

As for Initiative my rolls usually aren't that great so I end up being at the bottom of the list. (My luck with dice is kinda poor) hahaha...

Thanks again all for your advice I've learned alot in the past few days, and now I'll try to bring it all into play this comming weekend.

kind regards,
Boudewijn

You may be interested in the Dawnflower Dissident prestige class, and if so, it would obviously affect your initial build greatly (don't see many high dex melee clerics...).

It's an interesting class, the main features being adding some decent spells to your list; casting in secret; the ability to make a foe hit one of his allies instead of you (and it's NOT a compulsion / mind-affecting effect!); and the capstone basically ensuring you'll never truly die.

I particularly like the Shift Blame ability, nothing else like it at all in PF, and excellent on a melee character.

It's a nice class, unfortunatly I'm not allowed to play it since this campaign is core rule book and advanced players guide only.. and yes the ability Shift Blame is really nice... haha

you land feet falls to 20 in medium armor. when you add the boots, you get your speed back up to 30.

So it doesn't matter if the breastplate is mithral or not ?

With quickened channel is it allowed to channel twice in one round ? A quickened channel and a normal one for instance ?

Thanks all for your advice and commenting.

I've decided to get the feats: selective channel, toughness, scribe scrol, combat casting and shield focus.

Gear I'm stil wondering about the mitrhal breastplate and the boots of striding and springing..

isn't the maximum base landspeed of a light armor 30 ft?
so that boots of striding and springing aren't much use?
Maybe I don't understand it clearly..

Thanks again. It's appreciated alot the help you're all giving me

Hi all,

Been reading these boards for some time now, and enjoying it.
Been having some questions about a cleric I'm playing and would like to have your advice.

I play a human cleric of sarenrae in a ROTRL campaign.. Please don't post any spoilers. We've reached level 7 and we have the chance to pick a new character or change it.

I've never played a cleric before until I started playing this campaign with my friends, and I started at level 6.

We have a party of six(Rogue, monk, alchemist, sorcerer, summoner and me(cleric))

My current cleric(20 stat point but if I remember correctly):

Stats:
str 14
dex 10
con 13
int 10
wis 18
cha 14

feats:
extra channel, selective channel, heavy armor proficancy, combat casting.

I've been running around in a full plate and a heavy shield to get a nice armor class, but the downside is my character doesn't move so quick around in comparison to the party.

I'm having difficulty deciding if I want a battle cleric or a support cleric. But Am looking to play a more support cleric with some melee capabilities.. For flavour in the campaign I won't change my domains, but I'm wanting to make my cleric more mobile and supportive.

I've been reading some guides liek Tarks and eidolons and I see some nice tips but I find it hard to make a decision on which feats to change out and how to improve also feat and gear wise..
we're allowed to use only the core rulebook and the advanced player''s guide. And I'm getting 19,500 gold pieces to spend on equipment.

Anyone has advice to make a good support cleric with some melee capabilities? and what gear should I get? (and I do need to heal my group alot, at least that was my experience the sessions I played..) also had some moments weere I barily got to a character in time because of only moving 20ft a round).

Hope it's not too much text in reading, thanks in advance for your replies! :)