Eldarian Stardancer's page

@Tribute: I am a little conflicted right now. I want very much to continue in this game but I should admit that I am not thrilled with my PC. Personally, I almost never played Magic-users/Wizards in my previous tabletop gaming experience as they were my least favorite class. I only picked a Wizard for this game because you are "supposed" to have one and no one else had made one yet.

What are your thoughts about letting me "roll up" a new character (since just about everyone else has) even though it would leave the party without an arcane caster? Like I said, I definitely want to play in this game (and, hopefully, the following games as well) but I think it might be more difficult for me to stay engaged if I continue to play a class that doesn't really suit my play style. I have to admit that I prefer to be able to wade into melee and bash things really hard. :)

Just wanted to note that the only "useful" spell I have left is Enlarge Person and I'm not sure that it will really be all that useful in the cramped environment of these caves. I thought we might have some encounters before we got to the caves but...nope.

If someone wants me to cast EP on them, though, let me know and we can role play it out in the game play thread.

Totally forgot that I didn't make a gameplay post yet after posing my question about whether we would stay and fight or turn tale and run. Eldarian is still in favor of running, btw. ;) Additionally, I think I was actually supposed to go before Tribute made the moves for the Orcs, so I am treating my action based on what the map looked like before their move for round 8. There wasn't an orc female right next to me when my initiative turn came up, so no AoO against me...I hope.

Round 8 Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Effects: None
Move action: none
Misc action: 5 foot step back to FC:44 (After attack)
Standard action: Fire bow at orc female in FC:40

Short bow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Short bow damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Btw, are those of us still standing actually going to stay and fight? This looks pretty hopeless, does it not? Eldarian is no hero and I think he would almost certainly run in the face of these now seemingly overwhelming odds.

Yeah, Orcs seem a little too tough for 1st level characters in their current Pathfinder iteration. That Orc Ferocity thing makes them the equivalent of at least a 2nd level monster. Add in that they apparently have 18 STR (they seem to be adding +4 to all damage. +6 when attacking with two-handed) and they are SIGNIFICANTLY tougher than they were in Basic or AD&D.

Sleep on the other hand has definitely been nerfed. As you pointed out, it was the MUST have spell for low-level wizards in AD&D as it could effectively end a combat with low level monsters. I chose to take Enchantment as one of my opposition schools because there are so few spells in that school that I ever use. Of course, that meant I had to forgo the Sleep spell and run with its slightly less effective cousin, Color Spray. Of course, wearing armor and actually missing my first Arcane Spell failure check (only 10%) was a really bad break for us all. If that hadn't happened this encounter might have gone very differently.

I thought that there were only 3 Orcs left when my second attempt at Color Spray in Round 6 actually worked and knocked them unconscious. Mott performed a CDG on one Orc at his initiative in Round 6 which would leave 2 remaining. I then performed a CDG in Round 7 which should only leave 1 remaining Orc (besides all of new-comers, of course). Finally, Mott (posting as Ryan H) used his channel ability in Round 7. I think this is correct isn't it?

I had completely forgotten about the Fortitude check to save vs. death if someone survives the damage delivered in a Coup de Grace. Thank goodness for that additional rule.

I'm assuming that I can "retcon" my last action (retrieving my dagger and arrow) that I declared because I thought we were out of combat.

Round 7 Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Effects: None
Move action: none
Misc action: 5 foot step back to FC:43
Full Round action: Coup de Grace on Orc in FC:42

Eldarian steps forward and silently whispers a quiet prayer asking for forgiveness for this "cowardly" act of slaughtering a defenseless opponent even one as vile as an Orc.

Coup de Grace damage: 1d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (1) + (4) = 7

Just as I feared...crappy rolls. Sigh...

Well...poop.

If we have to face more Orcs we are pretty screwed as it's just the cleric and myself now.

Eldarian moves to retrieve his discarded dagger (in FB44) and then looks around the combat site to see if he can salvage the arrow he loosed during the battle.

I can't remember what the rules are for retrieving arrows that miss in combat. Are they retrievable or not? I figure as Eldarian is on his very first "adventure" he won't know either.

Mott, if you are using a long spear (and I think you are because you have been treating your spear as a reach weapon, correct?) then your critical damage is x3 not just x2.

Thank god for the color spray!!!

I may be wrong, but a coup de grace does not require a damage roll. It assumes you are taking the 6 seconds in the round to make sure you are doing the job right.

I would say to make sure to dispatch the orcs and then we can worry about the healing.

Yeah, too bad the first one fizzled because of my armor. You and Elwitta would still be up and about...sigh.

I agree that we should definitely finish off the orcs before healing.

Coup de Grace is no longer an auto-kill like it used to be, it merely is an auto hit and auto critical. If the person you attack survives the actual damage roll, he/she must make a Fortitude save vs a DC of (10+damage sustained) or die.

I suggested Mott do the honors because I only have a short bow which does (1d6)*3 while he has a long spear which does (1d8+2)*3. These orcs can sustain massive amounts of damage with the Ferocity trait and I'd like to see them eat dirt on the actual CDG and not have them revive for one last attack which might happen if I get some low rolls, which is pretty much guaranteed to happen given how our luck has gone thus far.

Mott, I think it would be best to let you do the Coup de Grace's on the three orcs. My damage potential is low enough that I might not actually kill them on one hit even with critical damage.

I think that it is now my turn in Round 6, correct? The orcs just attacked at the bottom of Round 5 and everyone with an initiative score higher than mine is out of the fight.

Round 6 Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Move action: none
Misc action: 5 foot step back to FC44
Standard action: Cast Color Spray (15 ft burst - highlighted in Yellow on map) DC is 14.

Eldarian reaches into his component pouch, pulls forth a pinch of various colored sand, tosses it into the air and recites a magic incantation, Dyn, yr wyf yn gobeithio y cyfnod hwn yn gweithio!

Arcane Spell failure check (10%): 1d100 ⇒ 21

Whew! Made it...barely. Now we still have to wait for their Saving throws. They probably have like a +6 to Will saves or something.

I just remembered that my PC has a bonded object rather than a familiar. This will allow me to cast Color Spray again. If I don't fail my Arcane Spell failure check (again), we might still be able to resolve this without having to reboot/escape/surrender.

Should I go ahead and do this or does everyone just want to proceed with one of Rowan's proposed options anyway?

Regardless of what is decided, one thing is clear: The armor comes off!

I honestly was only wearing it to simulate the feel of old Basic D&D elves as I had no intention of getting mixed up in melee.

Round 5 Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Move action: none
Standard action: Cast Color Spray (15 ft burst - highlighted in Yellow on map)

Eldarian reaches into his component pouch, pulls forth a pinch of various colored sand, tosses it into the air and recites a magic incantation, Dyn, yr wyf yn gobeithio y cyfnod hwn yn gweithio!

Arcane Spell failure check: 1d100 ⇒ 10

Un-freakin-believable! I had my character wear armor because Elves could wear armor and cast spells in Basic D&D and I wanted to capture the flavor of the old game. And it came back and bit me (us) in the butt. I just failed my Arcane Spell check and lost the spell. D*mmit!

Okay, people, things are seriously fubar'd now, so should I just go ahead and cast Color Spray at the remaining Orcs in front of me despite the fact that the effect will also require Elwitta to make a save vs. Will (he has a +0 Will save, btw)? All four of the Orcs would be in the area of effect, so I think it is worth it but I'll wait for input especially from Elwitta as it could leave him very vulnerable to attack if he fails his save.

Well, thank goodness you are not using RAW because those guys would take forever to kill with that ferocity ability as presented in the Bestiary. That looks like a seriously broken mechanic.

I think we have already posted our Round 4 actions, Tribute.

Mott's last post says "Round 3" but he had a previous action that said Round 3, so I think he just copy and pasted and forgot to update the 3 to a 4.

I just looked up ferocity (I'm new to Pathfinder so there are quite a few of the more obscure rules I have not seen before...) and found this:

Ferocity (Ex) A creature with ferocity remains conscious and can continue fighting even if its hit point total is below 0. The creature is still staggered and loses 1 hit point each round. A creature with ferocity still dies when its hit point total reaches a negative amount equal to its Constitution score.

This appears to be different than the "Orc Ferocity" racial trait which half-orcs possess. They only get to fight for one more round. The version listed for Orcs in the Monster Bestiary says they get to keep on fighting until they reach negative CON hp.

So, if Tribute is playing this RAW, then that Orc won't even truly die until his HP reach his negative CON score. That is a ridiculously powerful ability for 1 HD monster to possess. I think that will prevent Elwitta from moving into his square unless Elwitta actually hits him again and brings him to his negative CON score, at which point he will (finally) really be dead. Really.

Can Elwitta move into the orc's space in FC41? I'm unclear on whether the orc is incapacitated, which I think would allow him to move into that space, or not. If Elwitta can do that, then I agree that Eldarian should move up and use Color Spray. I've been trying to do it for a while but this area is so darned cramped that I haven't been able to move into a useful position yet.

Btw, Eldarian can speak Orcish. I'm not sure how much good it will do as Orcs hate both Dwarves and Elves.

Round 4, Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Move action: n/a
5 foot step: FC 43
Standard action: Use Telekinetic Fist on Orc in FB 41

Grimly, seeing two of his companions drop, Eldarian steps forward finding a previously untapped vein of courage he never knew he possessed and launches another mystical pulse of force at one of the beasts...barely grazing it.

Telekinetic Fist attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

TF damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

I hesitate to even bring this up as we are in serious trouble already but should I be taking a -4 penalty when using my Telekinetic Fist (sort of a missile attack) when firing at Orcs engaged with a friendly PC? If so, I may have missed on the last TF used.

@Tribute: the Orc marked -4, does that mean he is at -4 HP or that he has taken 4 HP of damage thus far? I'm guessing it is the later option but I want to check before taking my Round 4 action.

@Morgan: You are able to edit the spreadsheet we are using for a map yourself. The changes will automatically be saved. I went ahead and moved you this turn.

Btw, I think you subjected yourself to an attack of opportunity from the orc you shot at. If you use a missile weapon when someone is threatening your space (as the orc in EZ40 is doing) they get an AoO against you.

Round 3 Initiative 19

In hand: Short bow
HP: 8/8
Move action: n/a
Standard action: Use Telekinetic Fist on (see below)

If Grimm's attack did not kill the orc he hit, then Eldarian will use TF on that orc to try to finish him off. If Grimm's attack DID kill that orc, TF will be used on orc in FB41...unless that is Grimm's attacker ( this is a little complicated because Grimm failed to indicate which "space" he was attacking) in which case the TF will target the orc in FC40. Man, I hope that makes some sense....

Telekinetic Fist attack -ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

TF damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"Is every orc ever spawned in these foul caves falling upon us at one time?!? Eldarian wails.

Round 2 - Initiative 19

In hand (see below): Short bow
Effects: None
HP: 8/8

Free action: Drop dagger into my current square (FB44)
Move action: Draw Short bow
Standard action: Shoot short bow at Orc in FC40 (at -4 penalty)

Seeing the situation rapidly deteriorating for the group but knowing that engaging the ferocious orcs in melee would be tantamount to signing his own death warrant, Eldarian tosses his dagger down to the cave floor, draws his bow, nocks an arrow and lets fly at the orc...

Short bow attack: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 4 = 4
Short bow damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

@Morgan: Drawing an arrow doesn't require a move action, its considered "not an action" per CRB pg 182. Secondly, you needed to take a -4 penalty to your missile attack against the Orc you shot at in Round 2 because it is engaged in melee with / threatens a friendly character. I don't think you hit anyway...

Just a suggestion it might be helpful if people indicate the cell address of where they intend to end their move as well as the cell address of the location of any enemies they attack.

For example, Ewitta could post: I move 10 feet to FC41 and attack the orc in FD41.

I think that might makes things a little clearer for everyone especially GM Tribute.

I'm the one who moved Morgan. Since she had a 20 initiative score and Rowan had a 15, I figured her action would come before his. One or the other will need to "retcon" their action because, as GM Triubute pointed out, they both wanted to move to the same location. Sorry if my moving Morgan was too presumptuous.

Round 1 Initiative 19

In hands: dagger
Effects: none
Move: 10 feet to FB44
Standard: Use Telekinetic Fist (Ranged touch attack) on Orc in FC40

Eldarian steps back to get behind the more durable members and then unleashes a pulse of force that slams into one of the vile creatures.

Telekinetic Fist attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
TK fist damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

While I wait for Tribute to respond to my inquiry about the status of a tactical map, I might as well make an untrained Knowledge (local) skill check. I think I am limited to DC 10 only, correct?

Knowledge (Local) skill check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Tribute, it is my turn but as we don't have a tactical level map I am not sure exactly what I can do.

I might cast color spray to try to affect as many of the orcs as possible but without knowing where everyone is positioned that would be pretty risky.

Do you intend to put up a tactical map (like you used in Swordthrust) for us to use or will we be just doing Theater of the Mind?

"If it becomes necessary or desirable to extinguish the lights it will be a simple matter of sheathing my dagger. If I place it on my bow, that would create difficulties in hiding the light."

I made this decision with the belief that Light was not dismissible at will as it does not indicate that in the RAW. If I am mistaken and I can dismiss the spell at will then I would place it on something else.

I imagine we probably would have had this conversation just before entering the caves, fwiw...

Grumbling about bossy human women and how the mage is always given torch-bearing duty, Eldarian removes a torch from his back pack and casts a Light cantrip on it.

He will now keep his dagger in hand rather than his bow as his default weapon.

"Well, there's your light. I can't use my bow any longer and I don't plan on running into a melee and getting within arms length of whatever lurks in these caves, I can tell you."

All this grumbling is purely for character purposes btw, I don't mind holding the torch. It's what low-level wizards are there for, right? That and acting as experience point sponges. :D

"I also can provide light which does not burn and can be quickly hidden if need be. Perhaps I could cast such a spell on someone's helmet so that all of us can have our hands remain free. If we need to move in secret the light can be covered up readily enough."

"I might not want to live forever, but I would like to see my 150th lifeday, thank you." He pauses and examines the determined faces of his new colleagues. Sighing deeply," Well, since everyone seems intent on continuing, best to move on and get it over with." Eldarian murmurs grimly.

I'm getting a very C3-P0 vibe for this guy's personality. He was always my favorite character in Star Wars.

I think your proposal makes a lot of sense. I would go with...

1st row: Dwarf -- Ranger

2nd row: Wizard -- Cleric

3rd row: Rogue -- Dwarf

Any of those could be flipped within the row obviously.

Regarding the marching order proposed by Elwitta, I'd make a small amendment by placing Eldarian in middle. In our games we always stuck the "squishiest" PC's in the middle because you never know when your group might get attacked from the rear.

Eldarian's eyes widen at the sight of the massive canyon and the multitude of caves which undoubtedly host a collection of creatures that would freeze the marrow of most normal folk. Unfortunately for Eldarian, he is quite "normal" when it comes to the prospect of facing hordes of nightmarish critters. The sight of the bleached bones gleaming in the light only compounds his terror.

"By the blessed ones, we're not actually going to march boldly into certain death are we? What good is a reward if you aren't alive to spend it?" Eldarian squeaks out in a quivering voice.

Not trying to cause problems but I think my elf wizard who has spent a pretty easy life as a mage's apprentice might not quite be up the the idea of taking on the monsters living in these caves without a little "pep" talk.

In other words: Somebody's gonna need to talk this guy off the ledge! ;)

Note: Apologies to Han Solo for stealing his line but it seemed all too appropriate in this instance. I also cannot see anything on the CoC map as I noted in the discussion thread.

I just saw an article that today is the unofficial 40th birthday for D&D. Thanks to Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for creating this awesome collaborative gaming experience that has given so much enjoyment to people all over the world for 40 years.

Different comment

I looked at the map for the area surrounding the Keep and noticed something about Caves of the Unknown. Is that where B1 -- Expedition to the Unknown was supposed to take place? I never played that module and was unaware that the two modules (B1 and B2) were supposed to take place almost right next to each other.

Tribute, is the map for the CoC still a "work in progress"? I see a link to it but when I click on it all that comes up is a completely blank spreadsheet with no overlaying map as seems to be suggested in the post above this one.

Has anyone else opened that map and seen anything different?

"The trouble with evil mages is that they tend to surround themselves with a number of very strong, very large bodyguards" Eldarian replies morosely.

Of course, the good news is that they tend to have a great deal of arcane lore and items in the vicinity as well he muses silently to himself with a small, hidden grin.

I am going to be in a seminar all day (Saturday) for work, feel free to bot Rowan if I am slowing things down. His main actions in combat will be flanking and sticking them with the sharp end of his sword.

So..."stick 'em with the pointy end" ? (Apologies to Aria Stark)

Aldarian, torn between his quest for greater power and his desire to keep his hide safe, halfheartedly lifts his glass of wine and quietly murmurs, "To the caves...", thinking to himself I wonder if these folk will be so enthusiastic when we are sleeping on a stone floor with cave worms crawling all over us (he shudders mentally). By the blessed ones, what have we gotten ourselves into?

Realizing that tonight may be his last night to avail himself of a comfortable bed and a little privacy, Aldarian procures a private room for himself. Deduct 1 gp for room

Eldarian blanches at the female warrior's mention of "his gnawed bones" slowly putting down the bones of the roast capon he was finishing, "What foul abominations call these caves home?

Eldarian's sharp ears prick up at the mention of "fame and fortune" and interjects, "Fame and fortune are certainly desirable but what about...power? Does anyone know if these Caves hold any long-lost secrets of arcane lore?"

Wasn't Morgan Iron Wolf a name given in the rules for a Fighter in Basic D&D? Awesome little inside joke/Easter egg.

Well played, sir...or madam.

Tribute, would it be possible to move your instructions for combat information you desire over to the Campaign information tab so that it doesn't get lost in the jumble of later discussion posts and will be easier to find for future reference?

With a weary sigh, Eldarian plops into the nearest chair, raises his hand to draw the attention of the nearest server and orders "A glass of your house white wine, the roast fowl and a fruit bowl, please."

He hands over 1 gp and 6 sp to pay for his fare.