Take your time GH and get better for sure. We'll be around.
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Oh, I wasn't suggesting you ought to, just wondering how deeply I should look into arcane archer as a possibility. I could do something like BA 5, Empyreal Sorcerer 2, and be in at 8th level. I could also do a single level of sorcerer and be in at 7th, but that's pretty weak. It's not ideal. I can't afford more sorcerer levels without taking a big hit to BAB, and Nico is foremost a shooter. The problem is that by the time I'd be getting 3rd level spells, where the good spells really start, I'd be around 12th level. That's a long time to wait for basic buffs. On the other hand, spell DCs would be so behind the curve that anything requiring an opposing saving throw would be almost futile to cast. I'd need to stick to casting buffs and utility spells.
Thanks for all the suggestions! They give me a bunch of new possibilities to consider, along with a minor case of choice paralysis! I won't have to make a choice about what to do until it's time to level to 6th though, so I have plenty of time to game through the various options. @Alistair, what are your plans for Bard levels? Is it a dip, or are you going with Bard now? The reason I ask is if you're going with Bard that goes a long way toward reducing my concerns about a lack of arcane casting in the party. A lot of the fundamental arcane buffs like Haste, Heroism, etc. are on the Bard list. There is one other option I could consider that I might add back in, Inquisitor. I had dropped it from consideration since Karga is now in the party. But, after looking over her character sheet, I don't think they would be all that alike. I'd choose the Sanctified Slayer archetype, and maybe Ravener Hunter as well. They'd still share the spell list, but spontaneous casters can just coordinate to choose different spells to reduce overlap and make more of the spells on the list available. EDIT: I also need to read up on the Advanced Weapon Training options for Fighters. Apparently the new stuff from Weapon Masters Handbook was a game changer for Fighters, but I've not looked at it.
I'm not really concerned about the core ranged stuff. The next time we level up Nico will get dex to damage with a crossbow. She already has deadly aim, which is the ranged power attack. When DR becomes a thing, carrying magical bolts of various types can help, and Hammer the Gap is a feat that reduces the effect of iterative attacks with ranged weapons. Nico will stick with a light crossbow, so reloading is a free action just like standard bows so iterative attacks aren't a problem. There's nothing wrong with staying in Bolt Ace, it's just that after dex to damage at level 5, it's mostly just BAB increases and piddly or niche class abilities to look forward to. Weapon Master Fighter give Weapon Specialization for the chosen weapon early, and might top out at a little more damage. But all the extra feats allows for doing a second whole new thing aside from ranged. Slayer offers less that's really new from Bolt Ace, but Talents allow versatility, studied target is attack and damage bonuses, and Sniper allows sneak attack to be applied at longer range. As things stand now, we're a low magic and wand dependent party. This will make things progressively more difficult for as we move on through higher levels. Nico is have the INT for anything arcane, but a good WIS. Cleric spells overlap with Karga's Inquisitor spells some, but Inquisitors tend to need to self-buff alot, and can't change up their spell selection daily. Warpriest sacrifices some BAB and HP for the casting, but some more casting might be worth if since Nico's ranged.
No worries, take your time and don't rush things. Actually I do need to check about gear and finish that up. I sort of set it aside for later since we had the hiatus, and of course forgot about it almost immediately. I'll also throw out a question to anyone who might have an opinion. At 6th level Nico will have gotten most all of the bennies that matter from Bolt Ace. It's a good time for Nico to multiclass out. I've toyed around with some ideas but the best choices make a short list. Fighter (probably Weapon Master archetype), Slayer (probably Sniper archetype), or Warpriest. Fighter: Pros, tones of feats, enough to pick up a 2nd role, like the non-magical healing feat line. Cons: Not many skill points, which makes something like the non-magical healing feat line hard to do well. Slayer: Pros: Studied Target is very nice, a few ranger bonus feats through talents, a few more skill points. Cons: none, but doesn't offer big gains either, just a little more general versatility. Warpriest: Pros: access to full cleric spell list to 6th level, bonus combat feats. Cons: Reduced BAB, reduced HP, Too late for sacred weapon/sacred armor to have much impact. Any opinions or observations on this from anyone?
Hey y'all, just checking in to see where we're at...
Take care and get better!
I meant either way having 4000 gp locked up in an item that's only providing an occasional, small benefit at 3rd level is probably not the way to go. If that's selling the stuff then Nico is better off with maybe a cloak or resistance and ring of protection instead, or if it's 6000 WBL, it's not a good choice to eat up 2/3 of her total wealth. I fine with going WBL or selling the stuff.
I took a look at the bracers (I'd actually forgotten about them) and I think it's best to sell them. They don't actually offer all that much for their cost. A light crossbow already has a 19/20 crit range so that won't be used. Otherwise it gives +2 perception and +1 attack for 1 minute per day for 4000 gp. I'm sure I could spend that amount more wisely.
"Diego isn't exaggerating one bit. The two we have locked up are complete maniacs, not run-of-the-mill criminals. They weren't looking to get rich or anything like that. They wanted to destroy this entire town for revenge. They're extremely dangerous."
Nico is delighted by the prospect of not be the only female around, even if just for a while. She offers Karga a welcoming smile and sticks out her hand for a shake. "I'm Nico. Welcome aboard Karga." Nico doesn't put much stock in Diego's suspicions. It's kind of predictable from him, and who knows what city people are like really? "You know what important people tend to be like Diego. He's an elf to boot. I mean Hannah's great, but the judge is from the city. He's probably used to not being friendly or approachable, part of the judge role I'd suppose."
So where do things stand at this point?
Still here!
Sounds great! What is PAT?
Maybe there's enough weird stuff that has turned up to support an expert in ritual sacrifice or occult summoning nastiness?
Also, we've had a bard in the party before, and they check off quite a few of our deficiency boxes as well.
Hi FreeRadical! Have you had a chance to look around some? Any character ideas yet?
Oh, could be. I'll make an inquiry.
I have heard back from the person I messaged about the game. They've messaged you THoD.
I still haven't heard back. Maybe another day? I personally think bringing on an extra person is still probably the best option. But I'm open to any possibility. Nico will probably be multi-classing sometime within the next few levels anyway, most probably into Inquisitor. Gameplay-wise I've already started setting her up in becoming more religious with little hints here in there in the things she says. As the size and scope of the threat grows, so will her reliance on faith.
I'd second the idea that we could run with three gestalt characters if needed. In my experience subtracting one from the party number approximately compensates for the extra class on the other three. Gestalt doesn't improve action economy, and feats are a constraint unless a class grants some bonus feats. Given where our ability scores are at, we could do something like this: Diego - Fighter / Rogue (He could also probably pull off Inquisitor, Warpriest, or Jinyiwei Investigator if he started investing in a wisdom bump). Alistair - Swashbuckler / Bard, Skald, or Oracle (He could also pull off Sorcerer, but he would lose armor) Nico - Gunslinger (Bolt Ace) / Cleric, Inquisitor, Warpriest. (Sorcerer is also possible with the Empyreal bloodline and Nico needs armor less). where would this put us in covering our gaps? 1. Healing: The greatest potential for full divine casting is Nico, with her 16 Wisdom. There are a couple of Sorcerer bloodlines that can do some healing that Alistair could take, but I'm not sure they could keep up with our needs over the long haul. 2. Traps: Rogue is probably the best option? Slayer doesn't seem to help anyone much except Nico, and she should probably be casting. Nobody has the intelligence for Investigator, and the Jinywei archetype loses trapfinding, though it could be bought back as a talent. Also worth mentioning that Traps can be handled by taking a Mummy's Mask campaign trait. 3. Knowledge: This is actually the toughest one to solve unless Alistair chooses Bard. None of us are set up well to do Knowledge checks without some sort of class booster. Aside from Bard, Investigator gets inspiration, Jinyiwei Investigator moves most most Investigator abilities to wisdom based, but not Knowledge checks. All knowledge skills are at least in class though. 4. Arcane Magic: Also tough except with charisma based casting, Bard or Sorcerer. Also possible with Empyreal Sorcerer for Nico, but she can't heal well then.
I sent a message to the person who might be interested yesterday, but haven't heard back yet.
4th Level Bolt Ace +1 Dex
Bonus Feat: Rapid Shot Skills: +1 Bluff, Heal, K Local, Ride, Sense Motive Background: +1 K Geography, K History
I might know someone who'd be interested in joining. I hope everyone in your family is well soon, and not too sick until then.
Oh! Sorry! I thought I'd posted. I often post at work when I get a chance and sometimes if something else comes up I'll blip due to the interruption. I'd like to continue, and I don't mind a slower pace. I was always surprised that this game kept the pace it did for so long.
I'm sorry to lose you. You did a really great job Fern. We'll miss you, but we were lucky to have you for a while. Take care and I hope we'll see you around again someday.
Nico goes along as well, planning to take care of the horse after it's unloaded.
Nico finds the elf off-putting. "It was a conspiracy, which by definition involves more than one person. So yes, it was a plot planned and initiated by Nualia Tobin, with the other two helping her carry it out. We have the documents so we don't need to make any assumptions."
"I don't see any harm in going ahead. It's going to attract plenty of attention tomorrow too. Let's not stop and loiter around talking." "Or, expect a dinner out anywhere to be quiet and private" Nico adds ruefully.
"Hopefully the Sheriff is back by now. If he isn't, or even if he is, we should also talk to Father Zantus."
Nico takes on the job of leading the horse.
Nico tries to bring the horse out under control, soothing it before leading it out of the shed with a makeshift rope bridle.
Nico actually blanches at the idea. "I really think this is best left for sometime later. We've done what we came to do. We have a prisoner to deliver and secure in jail. This is not the time."
"Well, at least if it eats us it won't grow more powerful" Nico jokes nervously. She is creeped out by what they've found down in the lower levels, but it's hard to argue against the idea of making sure the place is free of goblins before leaving. "It's not like we're just abandoning this place if we go back to Sandpoint to prepare ourselves well enough to have a good chance before returning. It's a couple of days away. Not that much can change if we get rid of the goblins now."
"Maybe it's what we were hearing last night?" "Well, its prison is very old, so it seems like it doesn't age and die. That's not a good start when thinking about what it might be capable of. My thinking is we sweeping the place of goblins so they don't mess with it and go back to Sandpoint for some expert advice."
For whatever reason Nico feels like the present conversation should be happening at a place where Nualia can't hear it. She drags Alistair, Diego, and Lief out into the hallways and down a bit. "Nualia's journal called it a barghest. What is that?"
Nico spends most of her watch shift reading Nualia's note and journals. She does notice the voice, but given its even, unstopping repetition, she guesses it isn't a person (very broadly defined) but either a trick of the wind through passages, or something that does not think in the way that people (again, very broadly defined) do. In either case, with the second possibility being far worse, she does not investigate for a source. It can wait until the morning and the presence of everyone together. Nualia's writing are fascinating, if extremely disturbing, and answer many of the question Nico had, which makes Nualia herself far less crucial to figuring things out if harsh decisions need to be made later for some reason. When Nualis regains consciousness, Nico shifts her eyes over to her for a moment so the prisoner will know she is being watched. Otherwise Nico ignores her.
Nico can't help but let a snort of amusement escape. She feels sorry, not sorry, maybe a tiny bit sorry.
Nico isn't thrilled by the idea of sacking out down in the lower chambers, but she is uniquely among them all unharmed so she doesn't complain. She also takes whatever watch shift she's given with grumbling.
Oh, if I multiclass out of Bolt Ace I'll be staying there, as in Bolt Ace 6 (or so) - Inquisitor x (end of game). Bolt Ace isn't bad, but it tends to deliver diminishing returns in the later levels.
What manner of healing are we looking for? While it's still a couple of levels away, if Nico goes into Inquisitor she'll have the healing basics on her spell list and can use the wands for it. Inquisitors don't make great healers via spell use. EDIT: Oh! Also, if Nico goes with Sniper Slayer or sticks with Bolt Ace, she will have some extra feats and she also has a good Wisdom score. She could probably take the Healing Hands and Signature Skill Healing feats, which get very good over time.
Nico works quickly to bind Nualia's wounds. It's almost certainly a temporary reprieve for the villainous woman, she will go to trial and then the gallows. But, she may have answers about "why's" of her plot and Nico wants them.
Nico will get Dex to damage at 5th level. At some point after that, I'm considering multiclassing into Inquisitor. Slayer is also a possibility though.
Nico trots up to see what the situation is.
When Nualia steps back around the corner, Nico reloads her crossbow but otherwise halts. Obviously Nualia is deadly within her reach, and the crowded hallway means she'd just be a hinderance to her more capable colleagues. Unless the situation changes greatly, Nico figures she's probably sidelined in the fight. She does remember the local terrain though. Nico grabs Diego's forearm while she has the chance before he moves onward. "Knock her back onto the trap" she hisses before releasing him. |