Boraxo's page

I think that you are right to say "cut down on the savagery of the process," especially if they are not playing an evil-ish PC.
All the inquisitor needs to do is use the intimidate skill rather than diplomacy to get the answers they seek. I think that is the purpose for the Inquisitor's bonuses to Intimidate and Sense Motive.

As DM, you may allow a bonus to the check depending on what kind of additional pressure is used, and I seem to remember my DM ruling that the first check requires little time- like a standard action, but if I want to get deep into torture then it requires multiple checks that take time, say 1 hour or more, but the actual methods are hand-waved as you try to break down the target's will. I don't recall if it came from some source, or if it was just his ruling on the fly, but it makes sense to me.

My LN (borderline LE) Inquisitor of Asmodeus has only ever needed to display his "interrogation instruments" (masterwork tools for a +2 bonus) and role play something to the effect of "my divine mandate requires that I use any means necessary to discover the truth of your words, and I will have the truth one way or another." Then its just roll the skill check followed by discern lies or sense motive.

You can't interrupt someone else's action when you delay. The fighter would either go before or after the wizard. However, the fighter could ready an attack to swing at the wizard if he begins to cast a spell...
Edit- I forgot to mention that the fighter's position in the initiative count would be right before the wizard's at the top of round 3

Not having MI's like Handy Haversack or Muleback Cords can be difficult. I'd recommend distributing some gear amongst your fellows. Even if you are still encumbered, you could always remove your backpack before combat, lightening your load to just your weapons, armor, bandolier, and belt pouch. You could even drop it in the first roundif you're surprised. I had a rogue who would drop his bag before every new doorway. It only sucks if you have to run away in a hurry.

My group has used a note card from time to time to help with our math-challenged players. Basically, one side of the card has all of the properties of the weapon- including magic properties and attack and damage bonuses sounded out (i.e. +1 attack from weapon focus, +2 attack and damage from magic), while the back side has a grid marked out from 1 to 20 where we include the totals for the different iterative attacks already laid out. All the player would have to do is make sure that its updated at each level, and whenever they roll a 12, they just find that number on the grid. The line below we use for damage in a similar fashion. We also have used lines for common tactics like when the barbarian is raging and power attacking.

I don't think it would be too difficult to come up with something simple in excel and then print onto cardstock.

The best way to broach the subject might be to make a few up for your own pc, and throw a few extras onto the table for anyone else who might like one.

Find a wand of make whole. As a spell trigger item, it is a standard action to activate. A fully charged wand at 5th caster level costs 7,500 gp.

So yeah, not cool that the GM screwed your PC over while you were gone, but nobody thought to take the black and spare your life? Anyway, I agree with the "Don't be a dick" approach. A better way of getting back at your evil GM might be volunteering to run something while he/she takes some time to recharge the creative juices. If you don't have the time to brew up a campaign, you could run one of the APs and let the GM play a PC for a change.