Can the Xacarba make attacks of opportunity(tail slap) while impeded by the golem?
The scenario references that going through it's space provokes and
Quote:
Independent Tails - Each of the xacarba’s three tails are able to grapple and attack as if it were its own creature. It does not count as grappled while it is grappling a creature with one of its tentacles.
kinda implies that it can.. but it could be read differently
Seems like this would have a significant impact on the difficulty of the encounter.
Also, what if they try to reach through the crack and grab the disks before the golem breaks through? I assume the xarcarba would attempt to prevent this but it seems possible to access all four disks before reaching C11.
If it's adamantine, it's already masterwork. The issue is whether it's a named item or not, you can't upgrade named items. I would say it is, because of the +4 circumstance bonus to STR checks, that is a unique quality of Trusty Buddy not factored into the price.
I think you could just buy an adamantine crowbar for 3002gp and upgrade it. It would just have the normal +2 to STR checks.
There's not much on the page, but lots of opportunity for a GM to add "fluff" to this scenario. Every time I've GM'd this it's been really fun and memorable. Probably something to do with giving the Steel Wyverns matching leather jackets and having them snap in unison. Defending the sanctuary has ended up very different and hilarious for each group I've had. The dretch fight is super annoying but the end rooms are creepy and hilarious and kinda sweet in a way. The same could be said about the backstory in general.
1-39: Citadel of Flame
Spoiler:
Amazing setting, if I had any ability to build a 3D map for a scenario, it'd be this one. The second encounter with the trololol sorcerer is amazing, especially if you use secret rolls and really enjoy messing with your players. Also, gotta love a scenario that gives you the opportunity to do a super sketchy evil ritual and (probably) doesn't reward you with an awesome boon. Fire is reward enough! Embrace the burn! Hail Moloch!!!
2-10: Fury of the Fiend
Spoiler:
Looking over the season 2's that I've played, none really stood out. I liked this one overall and loved parts of it. Fighting Morlocks is not exactly the most riveting of encounters, not even when there are 24 of them.. Also, haunts.. On to the good parts, the Rachikan/Jitska backstory is pretty cool and you get a lot of it over several seasons(Fingerprints, Fate). Infiltrating the Hellnights is awesome, regardless of whether you have the party to do it successfully. As GM, once their ruse fell apart I felt a responsibility to make the players feel like they were about to be imprisoned for life at Citadel Vraid and start pondering how much prestige it would cost to get out. Only to be rescued in cinematic slow motion by the power of Bane's love of Karn! It was super cheesy and hilarious. The final fight is pretty epic and awesome, a tough bbeg put in an environment that really plays to his abilities instead of just getting dogpiled by round 2.
3-01: Frostfur Captives
Spoiler:
A great starting point for the PFS experience. Goblin hijinx, creepy dolls, and a predictably yet always fun NPC bluff/betrayal. If you're like me, be sure to give the goblins (that have presumably been terrorizing the PCs for 4 hours) big wet eyes and quivering lips as they're being taken away for "questioning" at the end. This one also ties in with the Shades of Ice series nicely.
4-19: Nightmarch of Kalkamedes
Spoiler:
An instant classic, so much has already been said so I'll keep it brief. Getting to talk crap to the players as Gamin is amazing. The look on a player's face once they realized just how close they were to freeing a Glabrezu. Such a great scenario.
5-12/15/16: Destiny of the Sands Series
Spoiler:
Epic. Tons of great story elements, amazing setting, and memorable fights throughout. I was not stoked about the inclusion of any Mythic Adventure stuff with PFS, but this was a great way to do it and I'll never forget the awesomeness that was playing through part 3. My only complaint is that I feel the need for more Scarab Sage characters if they're going to keep releasing such awesome content for that faction(I also loved Beacon Below). I'd imagine it would be a very rewarding and immersive experience to play through all in one day at a convention if possible. The boons are also very cool.
6-03: The Technic Siege
Spoiler:
Tough choice, after a bumpy start I think season six has been AMAZING. I picked this one because it accomplishes something very difficult for a PFS scenario, a successful sandbox. I haven't run this yet but I've started prepping for next week's game. I must say, this is a very well thought out scenario. Time constraints and the need for extra prep could be valid criticisms, but I don't care about any of that when the content is great. Playing with not the most social of characters, we were still able to achieve a very cool ending based on RP, as well as aspis badges from previous seasons and some lucky diplo rolls. Hearing other people talk about their vastly different (yet also enjoyable) experiences is very cool. Having read through it now I understand how this is possible and I respect the construction of this scenario even more.
I don't personally see much difference in locking the door and giving the PCs out of game knowledge that they don't really want to go in that door as they're opening it. Either way, you're bending the rules to make the scenario more enjoyable for everyone.
Just know that if they don't find the key on the NPC you arbitrarily placed it on for whatever reason, it's now arbitrarily in a filing cabinet or whatever. There's a slippery slope argument to be made, just know there's a big difference between harmlessly railroading the PCs and adding an advanced Dire Ape in hopes of making the low tier end fight more "fun".. you should definitely not do that
Full disclosure, I've totally added an impromptu lock to the door in question.. lol
Full attack listed in Bestiary 3: 2 mwk kukuris +15/+10 (1d4+5/18-20), 2 claws +9 (1d4+2)
Am I missing something or does the big bad only have 1 kukuri based on the attack stats listed?
If he had two kukuris and TWF the attack would be +13/13/8(iterative) from weapons then +7/7 from claws, iTWF would add another +8 kukuri attack. A monster using a mix of weapons and natural attacks needs the TWF feats to avoid huge penalties right?
This is confusing because the Bestiary description describes "their twin curved blades" and there are two MWK Kukuris listed as treasure. The description of Dance of Disaster references "its four attacks" in reference to the single kukuri attack chain listed..
So yeah, as far as I can tell it is attacking with a single kukuri and 2 secondary claws, presumably with a second kukuri in its off hand for flavor? It's weird..
In the case of the optimized Lorewarden build, yes to the point of sparking the eternal PFS debate: Just because you can break the game, do you really want to? I haven't personally found this build much fun to play with or gm for, the effective CR for most PFS encounters becomes trivial with all the foes debilitated.
On the rare occasion where this PC is unable to control the battlefield, you still have a power attacking THF Fighter with reach and a high strength.. not exactly the end of the world
Man there is a surprisingly low amount of GM discussion on this fun but complicated scenario, and no shared prep. Running tomorrow and I have a few questions and observations, mostly about the bbeg.
Spoiler:
1) He doesn't qualify for entry into the PrC, missing alertness and TWF. Doesn't matter I suppose, though TWF would have helped him out a lot. (observation)
2) Does his concealment effect from alchemical quickness allow him to retain stealth without cover? Logically it doesn't seem like it should but I'm not great with stealth rules and if the fight goes long he will need to use them for sneak attacks.
3) In the high tier, can he make sneak attacks and retain his buffs while in blood mantis form? If so, silently observing the party to identify the casters/healers then breaking invisibility for a sudden strike in the surprise round followed up by another normal full attack vs flat footed(pending initiative) could be a devastating open.. Exactly what feats and class abilities does he retain while polymorphing? So much stuff in the stat block..
4) Seems like if the party splits up to find him(a likely scenario), prayer attack could come into play if a PC finds themselves alone with him either outside the college or near the alter to Achaekek. Kind of a mean GM thing to do but it seems reasonable to use such a tactic if given the opportunity. On a failed save I would give the player an index card saying something like "You're fascinated by a RMA's swordplay, you can't do anything but watch. You are on delay until something changes" because it's impossible for people not to metagame if they know someone is 3 rounds from a coup de grace, if they come in on their own and interrupt him then so be it. (observation)
5) I feel like there's a good chance he will find himself at the bottom of an extra dimensional pit, I fully intend to summon a climbing mantis and ride him out.. What happens if he tries to wait out an acid pit with rope trick in the high tier?(both)
6) Does the Red Shroud mist ability mess up invisibility or his ability to stealth in general?
7) Is the final(optional) encounter intended to be merely cinematic? Assassin moves adjacent to Torch during the surprise round then full attacks with two poisoned blades on regular initiative.. If there's an adjacent PC, presumably beating the crap out of her, and the first blade goes right through the image of Torch shouldn't the second blade go after that PC? Following the tactics it seems like there's no way for a PC to get poisoned and this is a glorified social encounter to see if they will save torch or not..
Bout to start playing an AP with a level 2 Ecclesithuerge/Monk, upon further review it appears I am not proficient with my deity's favored weapon. Am I interpreting that correctly?
Example(my playtest Arcanist):
5 STR pyromaniac gnome, took Bloodline Development(Draconic) exploit to boost fire damage via the bloodline arcana. The final version does not allow for bloodline arcana access via this exploit, so now I have.. 1d3-3 claws
Additional Resources wrote:
Updating your character means adjusting only the things that have changed, but not rebuilding the character.
The exploit I took got changed(and rightly so fwiw), can I adjust by selecting a different exploit(for free) or does this simply mean that I alter my character sheet to reflect that I no longer do additional damage with fire spells. I don't want to rebuild, I just want to alter the two exploits(School Understanding is the other) that no longer do what they did during the playtest without spending all my PP.
Is that kosher? I'd also like to play this character tomorrow.
I have a somewhat similar situation with my level 5 playtest arcanist. Both the Bloodline Development and School Understanding exploits that I took got nerfed a bit(a change I agree with). I wanted the extra fire damage from the Draconic bloodline arcana, now I just have claws with my 5 STR gnome. Getting both Prescience and Forewarned from the Foresight School seemed pretty sweet, now that I only get one or the other there seem to be better options for my character.
Can I make different choices(for free) with my exploits given the changes to the ones I selected during the playtest, or do I need to spend the prestige?
Just to clarify, if I start a human fighter this Friday in the Dark Archives faction, he is eligible to purchase the armiger/hellknight prestige awards in the future with the requisite fame/prestige?
Also, my current Sczarni with the Front prestige award can keep it(grandfathered) regardless of what faction he lands in? Can he choose to remain Sczarni and forfeit all future mechanical benefit to being in a faction?
I must have read the faction section of the new guide 3-4 times now, it's very convoluted. I still don't know what a faction vanity is, seems an odd choice of wording for the prestige awards mentioned above since the word vanity is absent from that section of the field guide. Vanities such as businesses, followers, memberships etc are a good 40 pages later.
Sorry if this has been covered, but can I apply a 7-11 gm credit(to be applied when it hits level7) to a new yet to be determined aasimar character? Or does the new character need to have 1 xp by the 14th for grandfathering purposes? I don't know if I'll have a chance to play low in the next week.
I was under the impression that she is using the baton to control her golem allies. At second glance their tactics seem to indicate that they protect her regardless, and only in the high tier.
I just ran this scenario and had a huge fight break out at my table during the final encounter. So I'd like some peer review. As context, Severina's tactics say that
** spoiler omitted **
I had a player (who had previously GMed the scenario) argue with me about what invalidates her tactics. Here is the situation:
As a INT 22 creature, I ruled that getting hit for 2/3 of her total HP in a SINGLE attack (by an uber min-maxed character) is sufficient to trigger the "she realizes this battle does nothing to serve her" in that she realizes that "one more hit from this person and I'm dead." So at 52/125ish HP I had her try to Dimension Door away one round 1, defensively (she does). One round later, she uses her scroll of Teleport and boom, gone, done with scenario. Y'all win! Yay! (After all, she just wants to leave! And half the party was OK with this in the first place.)
SO, then, the player (using metagame knowledge from previously GMing) calls me out on this. I read the tactics aloud to the table, verbatim, and six of my seven players agree that, yes, I made the right call. That a 22 INT lich would be smart enough to know she's doomed, and this would thereby invalidate the tactics. But the one player makes me RESTART the combat from the Dimension Door, wasting 20 minutes of everyone's time as two rounds later she is reduced to 20 HP and the same result.
SO. My question: Is this situation a fair example of tactics becoming invalidated? If so, did I make a reasonable call (as most of my table thought) or not? If not, what should I have done better?
Wouldn't this sequence of events fail the mission for the PCs?
Spoiler:
In addition to her gear, Severina Helsprex
keeps an ivory baton (see the sidebar) on one of the
bookshelves. Depending on how the PCs handle the
encounter, they either receive the baton without a fight,
recover it from Severina’s remains, or lose the baton
when Severina flees combat.
The PCs successfully complete their main mission so
long as they recover Severina Helsprex’s ivory baton, lead
at least eight of her golems out of Rachikan, and transport
the golems back to the Grand Lodge. Doing so earns each
PC 1 Prestige Point.
With such high stakes, I would not have let her escape before the requisite 5 rounds. I suppose she could always drop the baton before she DDoored away in the hopes that the "scary powerful" PCs won't try to track her down somehow.
I do agree that it is intuitive for a highly intelligent PC to flee after a devastating opening volley, especially since she didn't really want to fight in the first place. I definitely agree that the player with GM knowledge shouldn't be acting like that, though it's a tough pill to swallow if they actually did fail the mission(presumably they did not since you didn't mention it).
