Ghostbiter's page

A new playtest is now live. Just keep in mind that it is only active until February 5th so not a lot of time for PbP but you should be able to get a little bit in.

If a scenario is started within the playtest period (like... today) but ends after February 5th can a person still use the playtest characters?

Where in the SE? I'm in Tennessee.

I don't see tables unless I splurge and go to a con. I only really play online anymore.

I keep almost everything digitally. So, I was going to have to edit the PDF.

Same here.

Ghostbiter is getting mothballed as a GM baby for a while. It makes me sad.

Ghostbiter follows along, "Why they always cook meat? Better raw."

She also says, "Also, longshanks talk is hard. Sometimes it easier to talk Goblin. I know all Goblin talk. I not know all longshanks talk. Very hard. I Goblin talk much betterer."

Ghostbiter confesses, "We worry when you say you not like Goblins. We happy things work out good. Very good!"

"It was fun! I ready to go back now. Next group of Pathfinders ready? There a big should-be-but-not-dead that was size of big building I want to bite," the goblin reports excitedly.

She turns to the fellow goblins that were on the trip with her and says something.

Ghostbiter sees the giant undead in the distance and says, "No, no... we... uhm... need much more exploring. For reasons."

Ghostbiter also doesn't appear to like the idea of taking the necromancer with them, "Bury proper with dirt or fire. Let Pharasma take him and deal with him. Is proper for bodies be buried and stay there."

Ghostbiter stumbles forward a bit as Pharasma's might leaves her and her color returns. "Ow. Bones hit hard." She looks at the priceless antique silver ceremonial relic to the Church of Iomedae she beat the skeletons with. "Uhm, we clean and put on cart?"

Down 10.

His?

Ghostbiter pushes the dead necromancer out of the way and jumps forward to finish off the last skeleton. "I break you into pieces and GNAW YOU!" But it appears she's beginning to lose steam.

Attack #1 (magic silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14
Damage #1 (magic silver longsword) + positive rage: 2d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5, 8) + 4 + 3 = 20

Attack #2 (magic silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 13
Damage #2 (magic silver longsword) + positive rage: 2d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 + 3 = 16

Random aside. I was doing the math and figured the 5 resistance for using a slashing weapon against the skeletons. However, the difference between using my great club and using the longsword with magic weapon cast on it I'm only losing 1.5 average damage per attack with the longsword. And I keep looking at that and I can't justify burning an action to swap to a different weapon for that little gain. Overall, sword is doing just fine. Thanks for the magic weapon cast!

I think I need to roll vs bane as well.

Will vs Bane: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Well... poop.

Ghostbiter runs through the falling bones of the skeleton and heads off to help Teja while screaming, "Dead go back to graves! Go see Grave Lady!" She flanks the necromancer and swings wildly with the priceless antique ceremonial silver longsword of the Church of Iomedae.

Sudden Charge

Attack #1 (magic silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24
Damage #1 (magic silver longsword) + normal rage: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 + 2 = 13

Attack #2 (magic silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 22
Damage #2 (magic silver longsword) + normal rage: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 4) + 4 + 2 = 18

Teja, your rapier should do a 1d6 not a 1d4.

Ghostbiter begins to lose her temper at the skeletons and lets Pharasma's wrath flow through her. Her skin goes pale and she becomes again becomes a bane against undead. She swings madly attempting to get past the bone warrior's armor. "BONES MEANT FOR CHEWING NOT FIGHTING!"

Attack #1 (magicked silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26
Damage #1 (magicked silver longsword) + positive: 2d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8, 6) + 4 + 3 = 21

Attack #2 (magicked silver longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 21
Damage #2 (magicked silver longsword) + positive: 2d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 7) + 4 + 3 = 17

If the first attack kills it I'll move to the next target.

Additionally, will use Goblin Scuttle reaction if any allies move adjacent to me in order to reposition better.

Ghostbiter steps forward with her glowing silver longsword and attacks the closest zombie. "Bad magic man bring more should-be-deads!"

Attack #1 (longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12
Damage #1 (longsword): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

If not re-dead
Attack #2 (longsword): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 14
Damage #2 (longsword): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 7) + 4 = 18

Otherwise move toward skeletons

Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

"Hrm. Important sword for Valor Lady. But, Valor Lady like fighting for good. I can work with this."

Question: Am I still holding the silver ceremonial sword? If so, may I receive the statistics for it?

Goodberry Healing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ghostbiter pops the berry into her mouth and swallows without chewing. She looks awkward, starts to clutch her throat, and makes a hard swallow before gasping for air.

She looks over at Neeba, "Thanks!"

Ghostbiter volunteers, "I go in pit. Good climber." She stashes her weapons and prepares a rope with a grappling hook so that it's fully secured.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Ghostbiter crunches on the big bite of centipede as she starts to calm down and regain her normal green color. She spits out a chunk of chitin. "Bugs dead. Now what?" She starts to wander around a bit on the second floor and into one of the dorm rooms.

Charging forward at the last centipede Ghostbiter opens her maw to give the bugs a taste of their own medicine, "AAAAAHRAHRHAHGHGH!"

Attack #1 (Bite): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Damage #1 (Bite) + Negative: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 = 10

Attack #2 (Bite): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage #2 (Bite) + Negative: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 3 = 13
Crit

Attack #3 (Bite): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage #3 (Bite) + Negative: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9

Fortitude #1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Fortitude #2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Ghostbiter turns an ashen color again as her preternatural rage takes over. "Bad bugs get bites from axe!"

Attack w/ Axe vs Red Centipede: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage + Negative Energy w/ Axe vs Red Centipede: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 3 = 18

Attack + Sweep w/ Axe vs Orange Centipede: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 23
Damage + Negative Energy w/ Axe vs Red Centipede: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9
Woot! Crit!

I think two moves (50ft) will get me there.

At hearing the clamor upstairs, Ghostbiter rushes to find out what is happening. She ducks past Zallara and runs up the stairs and past Arlo. When faced with almost a half dozen creatures she halts. "Just buggies, methinks. I fight them off," she assures Arlo and takes a stance in the doorway.

Recall Knowledge on these, but via Occultism +4?

I think that's why our GM is trying to figure out where we all are. The description probably comes with a few added initiative tracker entries.

Darn. No ghost. Err... I mean... Yay! We saved one of them!

Waits for the ghost under the couch to burn from searing holy light.

Ghostbiter shouts, "I find painting of normal-size shanks wearing clean dress. We put on cart and save painting?"

Ghostbiter puts the amulet on, "I find necklace. I keep for now." She goes on to search the main hall.

Perception (Search main hall): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

I'm not anywhere near there so I probably don't know that there's someone there.

Ghostbiter following the rest of the group searches the offices for goodies.

Perception (Search): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Finally! But,now I'm going to suck at the encounter.

Ghostbiter sniffs around, "Tasty ghosts walk here. Weapons ready."

Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Well, I hope the DC is 15.

The cart avoids us having a 3-Body Problem. *cough*

"We go college now? I lead. Maybe more should-be-but-not-deads on path." Ghostbiter starts heading in the direction of the college.

Religion on the sign: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 ...

Ghostbiter heads over to The Flaming Wheel. "Anything good still here?" She takes a look at the armor scraps.

Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 I burned all of the good rolls during combat. Sorry.

Goodberry: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Back to full.

Ghostbiter leaves the guardhouse with the buckler wanders into the plaza and examines the various bodies to see if any of them hold any hints to the missing Pathfinders. It also looks like she's giving them sort of service. "You go rest now. Grave Lady show you where you go. She good judge. Fair judge. All who live must face her judgment."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Well, I notice nothing.

Do I need to do a perception in the guardhouse? Or was that all I can do there?

At hearing the horse Ghostbiter joins the others and whispers, "It really-alive-and-not-fake-dead horse. We can use for cart if cart fixed. Or we kill it before it becomes should-be-dead-but-not horse."

She pulls out some rope from her bag, "For catching." She then pulls out her club. "For... just in case."

Frustrated at her search in three armory she gives up muttering, "Stupid cart no have parts. Bah!" Ghostbiter moves across the corner of the plaza to the guard house hoping to find something of note.

checking guard house

"Cart handy if fixed. If find really-alive-and-not-fake-dead horses to pull. I search for parts and things," Ghostbiter states while digging around in the armory.

A2: Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Ghostbiter calms down panting, but has a very odd smile on her face. "Not as tasty as ghost. But still tasty. Grave Lady should be happy. Shoulder hurt, though." There is a very obvious bruise forming on her upper arm from where the Zombie hit her. She wanders over to the armory next door to look around.

I'm down by 5.

Ghostbiter runs up to the last zombie and swings her axe screaming the whole while.

#1 Attack (Axe): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
#1 Damage (Axe) + Positive: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 3 = 17

#2 Attack (Axe): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
#2 Damage (Axe) + Positive: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 3 = 11

Ghostbiter pulls her axe and swings at the zombie in front of her.

#1 Attack Axe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
#1 Damage Axe + Positive: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 3 = 11

#2 Attack Axe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
#2 Damage Axe + Positive: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 3 = 14

Ghostbiter's skin takes on an ashen color like that of a drowned corpse. Her ugly maw of dagger-like teeth begins to glow. Screaming, she runs at one of the shamblers and bites.

Rage (positive energy) and Sudden Charge
+3 Temp Hps

Attack (Jaws): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage (Jaws) + Positive Energy: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 3 = 12

Ghostbiter whispers to the others, "Check close buildings?"

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Guard House and then Armory?

"It name now. Old tribe make me leave. Ghosts no scare me. If ghosts not scary then nothing scary. Not dogs. Not horses. Not longshanks. This scare old tribe. So, no tribe no name." She continues to hack away at the underbrush. "Grave Lady make me strong. Make me no scared of tasty ghosts. Make ghosts tasty! Ghosts only tasty while strong with Grave Lady's power. So, new name. Name what I do. Easy for longshanks keep in head."

Ghostbiter pulls a curved dagger from a sheath and hands it to Neeba. "Here. This help." She then retrieves the axe from its sheath on her back and begins to hack away at the foliage mumbling something in Goblin.

Melee (Axe): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Someone should do the Setup roll. I've got +2 on Survival if needed, but surely someone has something better than that.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

As the undead patrol approaches Ghostbiter begins to drool. She makes big puppy dog eyes (a sight which is incredibly disturbing to see on a goblin face) and nods her head toward the army implying that she could get away with just eating one of them. However, despite the drooling and pouting she does stay still and hidden away.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Ghostbiter, the oddball that she is, is a bit confused by Arlo's story. "You not tasty ghost or skellington. Those good to chase. Little people cry. Crying annoying. Better to chase should-be-but-not-deads. They fight back... and tasty. As longshanks say, dinner and show." She begins to climb the hill.

I'm prepping a scenario, and I'm stumped on a motivation for my BBEG. Long story short, the party will return to their village just in time to see it burnt to the ground and the BBEG's Dragon headed out of town with a crying baby. It'll set the tone and give the PC's an immediate and personal goal, especially if the kid is someone's sibling (likely).

There are some cliche motivations I could use, such as:

• the kid's soul will be food to sustain bad guy's immortality
  
• the kid is a chosen one prophesied to overthrow the bad guy
  
• it's a Tuesday
  
• bait to entice the party into following him
  
• simple evil ritual human sacrifice type deal
  

I'd like to come up with something more creative, though. Specifically, I'm thinking some kind of Lovecraftian, cosmic horror reason. (I also considered a time travel scenario in which the kid will do something useful in the future, but that's pretty cliche, too. Then I thought perhaps the kidnappers were from the past, but that seemed pretty ridiculous.) Unfortunately, my creative juices just aren't flowing right now. Why would an evil entity want one specific baby?

Help!

Link

Some observations:

- Critical Hits, Feats, and Skills are almost universally desired as core components.
- A majority polled would prefer a non-Vancian magic system be core, while a majority would prefer Vancian magic as an option.
- It's probably no surprise that Kits, Morale Rules, Weapon Speed Factors, and Weapon Versus Armor Tables are almost universally rejected as core components.
- Saving Throws didn't fare as well as I'd expect as a core component, but also were soundly rejected as an optional component. Does that point to a desire to see them remain 4E style defenses?
- Themes fared the best of the "prestige class" options as core.
- Based on the results, I think it's safe to expect every item on the list to appear as an option in 5E.

For reference:

...if i use say an ioun stone to increase an animals intel score to a 4 what happens to the animal?

My first thought upon reading this was that I'd simply rule that an animal couldn't utilize a magic item such as an ioun stone.

After mulling it over though, I changed my mind. It could lead to some fun interactions and scenarios for the party. Even better, are the possibilities for use as the antagonist in a campaign. How cool would it be to have your players realize they've been led around on an adventure by some random animal that stumbled across a discarded ioun stone and gained just enough intelligence to cause some trouble?

What would you do with animal and an ioun stone?

If you have a question about 4E, feel free to ask it here. Things like actual play experiences, how the system reads vs. how the system plays, will my character/monster/world concept work, ect. are good topics to explore.

P.S. You're welcome, Stefan Hill. :)

DISCLAIMER: I'm a huge fan of 4E, have purchased every 4E product released thus far, and have preordered everything that hasn't been released.

I think I’ve finally figured out why “4E doesn’t feel like D&D”.

Here’s a recent quote from Bart Caroll:
"First Edition, in many ways, placed the power of the game in the hands of the DM. “Can I do this…?” and “What happens if I…” were essentially questions posited by the players to be answered by the DM. Not quite sure how a rule worked? Wondering what actions your character can perform? In the First (and largely Second) Edition campaigns I played, these were all questions that often needed answers from the DM. That was the relationship. You tell the DM what you want to do, the DM tells you if you can, you roll some dice, and the DM provides the result... Third Edition shifted this relationship, in my opinion, into the players’ hands. The DM still ran the game and mediated the story. But as far as the rules went, the players had much greater power in how they built their characters and what they could pull off. Pun-Pun is an example taken to the extreme, but min-maxing characters was commonplace, often limited only by the players themselves. In several campaigns, I witnessed the tension this caused between experienced players looking to build the most powerful character they could, and newer players using the character they were most comfortable with—usually, a simpler, less tricked-out character."

4E does a very good job, as mentioned by Jezred in another thread, of creating a balance in power between the players and DM. It did this by codifying every player action into pre-written powers, with all powers conforming to an unwritten baseline power level. This is where, I think, all of the complaints of “4E isn’t real D&D” or “4E feels too video –gamey” or “4E plays like a boardgame” come from. It does play like a video game. The players are given a finite set of inputs/powers to choose from. The players choose from those inputs, roll some dice, and the CPU/DM processes that information and spits out a result.
Therein lies the problem with 4E. Every power and ritual describes a detailed, concrete result with no room for deviation. Ever since 1E, new editions have been “closing loopholes”, trying to prevent the players from abusing spells and powers or using them in any way other than intended. Now, in 4E, all of a PCs powers read like magic cards. They’re clear, concise, and leave no room for interpretation. This has the unfortunate side-effect of discouraging player creativity. The open-endedness that is the one true advantage of table-top role-playing has been suppressed by an effort to quash loophole abuse. “Can I do this…?” and “What happens if I…?” are no longer common at the gaming table.

To be fair, I don’t think 4E or its designers are to blame for any of it. 3E really rewarded system mastery and rules-lawyering, and the internet made information readily available to everyone. Every system flaw was exposed for all to see and “RAW” became the mantra of the power-gamer. Even though all of that garbage could be so easily kept in check by the DM, that didn’t stop people from whining incessantly about “balance” on every message board and in every chat room. In response, 4E was designed to be a “balanced” system with no loopholes. As soon as people discovered that Blade Cascade was “broken”, WotC errated it.

The bottom line is that we as a gaming community are to blame. All of the people who complained that 3E was “broken” or that 3E spellcasters were overpowered or that Blade Cascade could kill Orcus in a round or that smugly point out the Oberoni fallacy are to blame.
The good news is that all is not lost. There is still room for creativity no matter what edition we play. It’s easy to rely on the system to present choices, but it doesn’t have to be like that. The example from an early playtest where a PC kicked the table out from under some kobolds is a perfect example. Not every action, combat or otherwise, has to be spelled out in the Player’s Handbook. 4E only plays like a video game if you choose to play it that way. 3E spellcasters are only overpowered if you play them that way.

Hopefully, the next edition of D&D will take the training wheels off and encourage players to think for themselves. Hopefully, 5E will combine the openness of 1E with the streamlined mathematics of 4E, and what a system that would be!

I found an awesome thread on the WotC forums about the 4E Realms changes and thought I'd share.

Asmodeus on the 4E Realms