paizo.com Recent Posts by Saernpaizo.com Recent Posts by Saern2023-04-07T19:52:02Z2023-04-07T19:52:02ZRe: Forums/Paizo: General Discussion: Welcome to Paizo!Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2th8n&page=6?Welcome-to-Paizo#2922023-02-18T00:31:07Z2023-01-17T20:16:20Z<p>Hello again, everyone. I used to be a regular here a <i>looooong</i> time ago, starting back when Paizo was still publishing Dungeon (in <i>print</i>!) during the 3.5 days. I was just in high school, learning to be a netizen by posting in these boards, right when Age of Worms came out. As I was moving off to college and had less time for gaming or posting, WotC was canceling Paizo's contract so they could chase digital subscriptions for an online publication (how did that work out?), and Paizo was using the OGL to launch Pathfinder. Years later, life got more stable, I got a new gaming group, but we played 5e. </p>
<p>Now, here we are again, WotC back to its old bad habits, launching a divisive new "edition" (???), still chasing online subscription revenue, splitting the community, and I find myself turning back to Paizo. Everything feels like it's coming full-circle. But I thought I'd say hi, and see if anyone is still around from a long time ago.</p>Hello again, everyone. I used to be a regular here a looooong time ago, starting back when Paizo was still publishing Dungeon (in print!) during the 3.5 days. I was just in high school, learning to be a netizen by posting in these boards, right when Age of Worms came out. As I was moving off to college and had less time for gaming or posting, WotC was canceling Paizo's contract so they could chase digital subscriptions for an online publication (how did that work out?), and Paizo was using...Saern2023-01-17T20:16:20ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Can Fluffy Wear Full Plate?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mjf3&page=2?Can-Fluffy-Wear-Full-Plate#862011-07-16T15:32:22Z2011-07-16T15:32:22Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">pres man wrote:</div><blockquote></p>
<p>Have you played any adventuring games? Nobody needs metal armor to survive? Really? So why is the paladin wearing it? The cleric? Why does the barbarian have his mithral breastplate? Metal armor makes the likelihood of survival much greater in many cases (swimming would be one where it may actually be more harmful than good). As for predatory animals eating meat, as you point out meat may be the easiest way, but then if things were easy we wouldn't be having this discussion. Your whole point is that the druid is making life hard for himself, thus it must be hard for his companion as well. So go tofu lion!</blockquote><p>I have to agree with Tequila on this. We are discussing a divine class; whether they adhere to the teachings of a specific deity or a general philosophy, they are making an oath based on spiritual and ethical beliefs about the world. Practicality does not enter into the discussion. All kinds of beliefs dictate all kinds of oaths and actions which are very inconvenient for their adherents, but they do them anyway because the world view of the adherents is at stake. Now, it would be possible for those restrictions to change: the Vatican has reversed many long-standing elements of doctrine. So there is the possibility for a bunch of arch-druids to get together and pow-wow with the tree gods and say "Not wearing armor is a pain in our often-furry behinds. Can we, pretty please with cherries on top?" But that is irrelevant to the current state of the rules, which says that the oath exists. I can think of no reasonable account for why that oath exists in this game other than reflection of personal ethical commitments not to wear metal armor. In which case, training the animal to do so, yes, enters into the realm of a double standard.
<p>I find the argument against letting Fluffy haz full-plate more convincing than the argument for.</p>pres man wrote:Have you played any adventuring games? Nobody needs metal armor to survive? Really? So why is the paladin wearing it? The cleric? Why does the barbarian have his mithral breastplate? Metal armor makes the likelihood of survival much greater in many cases (swimming would be one where it may actually be more harmful than good). As for predatory animals eating meat, as you point out meat may be the easiest way, but then if things were easy we wouldn't be having this discussion....Saern2011-07-16T15:32:22ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Old school D&D adventures ect...Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mgdf?Old-school-DD-adventures-ect#72011-06-25T15:07:07Z2011-06-25T15:07:07Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Triga wrote:</div><blockquote>Is 3rd ed that similar to PFRPG? </blockquote><p>Yes. Extremely. Though some people will debate the extent of those differences, and how much they change the nature or feel of the games, extensively. You can find more pages than you could or could want to read about the differences here on the boards if you do an archive search. 3.5 was essentially a "patch," in computer game terms, to the 3.0 system. PFRPG is like a patch or expansion pack on to 3.5.
<p>I came to D&D in the short-lived 3.0, soon 3.5 (often referred to collectively as 3.x). You should know, if preparing to dive into older editions of D&D, that there is a LOT of stuff out there. Also, 1st and 2nd edition are quite different from 3.x/PFRPG. While finding old adventures and rules may (?) be difficult nowadays, you can get an approximate feel (and have a lot of fun) with the old computer game, Baldur's Gate and/or Baldur's Gate II. (In case you have trouble convincing your friends to take up playing the "actual" old stuff with you) As for 3.x, you'll want to look into Paizo's other pre-PFRPG adventure paths (APs): Age of Worms and Savage Tide. Age of Worms is the quest to defeat the minions, and eventually stop the rebirth of, a demigod of undeath. It's a very classic "feeling" adventure, intentionally so. Savage Tide starts as a swashbuckling campaign, mixed with lost-jungle exploration; but then turns into a demon-fighting campaign, eventually even going to the Abyss itself and pitting you against the Prince of Demons, Demogorgon.</p>
<p>Before becoming a gaming system, Pathfinder was also a 3.5 setting with some adventures and APs of its own. Rise of the Runelords is the first, about the re-awakening of an ancient evil wizard; Curse of the Crimson Throne is next, about a hidden evil which threatens to destroy the city of Korvosa. Second Darkness follows, and is about an evil plot of the drow (sorry, not as familiar with the PF 3.5 material after CotCT). All of those are set in Varisia (at least initially; I think Second Darkness goes some other places, including some [quasi-?]time-travel?). Legacy of Fire goes to the southern deserts of Golarian and is an "Arabian Nights"-themed adventure about the machinations of an evil genie.</p>
<p>After that was the switch to PFRPG, and the end of 3.5 material. But the titles I've mentioned are a collection of some really well done adventure paths from the 3.5 rules-set (which I still run my games with) that is enough for quite a few years of gaming and a lot of fun!</p>Triga wrote:Is 3rd ed that similar to PFRPG?
Yes. Extremely. Though some people will debate the extent of those differences, and how much they change the nature or feel of the games, extensively. You can find more pages than you could or could want to read about the differences here on the boards if you do an archive search. 3.5 was essentially a "patch," in computer game terms, to the 3.0 system. PFRPG is like a patch or expansion pack on to 3.5. I came to D&D in the short-lived 3.0, soon...Saern2011-06-25T15:07:07ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Suggestions for Skype D&D?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mcp5?Suggestions-for-Skype-DD#102011-06-07T03:45:46Z2011-06-07T03:45:46Z<p>Sorry, Azmyth. Tonight obviously didn't work out, and I'm not sure I'll be free to skype for a while (ironically enough). E-mail is probably the best way to communicate for me at the moment.</p>
<p>Thanks to the others. I've seen maptools and looked at some tutorials on youtube. It does indeed look like, if I were to get proficient at it, the system would be ideal. However, I doubt either I or a number of my players have the time or ability to tackle that. If I get time in the future, I'll check it out, but for now it will have to be shelved. :(</p>Sorry, Azmyth. Tonight obviously didn't work out, and I'm not sure I'll be free to skype for a while (ironically enough). E-mail is probably the best way to communicate for me at the moment.
Thanks to the others. I've seen maptools and looked at some tutorials on youtube. It does indeed look like, if I were to get proficient at it, the system would be ideal. However, I doubt either I or a number of my players have the time or ability to tackle that. If I get time in the future, I'll check it...Saern2011-06-07T03:45:46ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Suggestions for Skype D&D?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mcp5?Suggestions-for-Skype-DD#52011-06-05T22:42:28Z2011-06-05T22:42:28Z<p>Thanks, everyone. Azmyth, I sent you an e-mail a while ago. Did it get through to you?</p>Thanks, everyone. Azmyth, I sent you an e-mail a while ago. Did it get through to you?Saern2011-06-05T22:42:28ZRe: Forums: Miniatures: Cheap Miniatures?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mcp1?Cheap-Miniatures#32011-06-03T17:53:28Z2011-06-03T17:53:28Z<p>Wow, that solved that issue quick! I had thought about doing google searches for images I could then simply print cut out, but that seemed like it would take a lot of time to find appropriate pictures; and I know of no way to guarantee they would fit to the scale needed (and my guess is most would almost certainly not. This is perfect, though! Thanks a million, Lilith. This more than covers all the cookies I believe I've been promised in years passed. ;)</p>Wow, that solved that issue quick! I had thought about doing google searches for images I could then simply print cut out, but that seemed like it would take a lot of time to find appropriate pictures; and I know of no way to guarantee they would fit to the scale needed (and my guess is most would almost certainly not. This is perfect, though! Thanks a million, Lilith. This more than covers all the cookies I believe I've been promised in years passed. ;)Saern2011-06-03T17:53:28ZForums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Suggestions for Skype D&D?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mcp5?Suggestions-for-Skype-DD#12011-06-03T17:45:14Z2011-06-03T17:45:14Z<p>As mentioned in another thread about finding cheap miniatures, I will soon be attempting to transfer my gaming to skype. I've moved away from my group, but none of us wish to abandon the game we are currently in. The thought of drastically decelerating the game by switching to PbP didn't appeal to the players. Rather, they want to try effectively video conferencing our games.</p>
<p>The plan is to have all the players gather at someone's home with a good internet connection, with their sheets and books. I will DM from the other side of the connection, with the battlemap and all my supplies. I'm a little worried about what will happen when they are effectively sitting around in a room with only a disembodied voice to DM for them. I'm also somewhat worried about using my webcam (which isn't very good) to try giving them an image of the battlemap (which will mean even less visual contact between them and myself during combat). I'm also worried about the lack of sound: I've been making playlists of Grooveshark to add background music to our games, and think it has improved the quality of our sessions dramatically. However, I'm not sure that it will work well over skype if I simply play music on my end and hope my microphone and their speakers are good enough to transmit it somewhat faithfully. Trying to get them to copy or share, and then coordinate our playlists sounds clunky, too. On the other hand, I should be able to show them a lot of visual aids without having to print anything off, and keep a lot of windows open on my computer to switch between stat blocks, etc., quickly and without the typically page flipping that accompanies and slows down a game. Keeping notes should be cleaner as well. I will also have the PCs' stat blocks, allowing me to see their abilities and make secret rolls for them without tipping anyone off so easily.</p>
<p>What I'm looking for in this thread are thoughts and suggestions. Does anyone here have experience playing D&D in this way? What tips do you have for running a good game? Alternately, what about pitfalls and problems you may have run into, and any suggestions you may have to avoid them? Even if you don't have direct experience with this, feel free to throw your two cents in!</p>As mentioned in another thread about finding cheap miniatures, I will soon be attempting to transfer my gaming to skype. I've moved away from my group, but none of us wish to abandon the game we are currently in. The thought of drastically decelerating the game by switching to PbP didn't appeal to the players. Rather, they want to try effectively video conferencing our games.
The plan is to have all the players gather at someone's home with a good internet connection, with their sheets and...Saern2011-06-03T17:45:14ZForums: Miniatures: Cheap Miniatures?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mcp1?Cheap-Miniatures#12011-06-03T17:33:27Z2011-06-03T17:33:27Z<p>Until this point, I've been fortunate enough that one of my players has always had miniatures to supply for our D&D games. However, I have moved away from my group and plan to continue our games through skype. Part of this will involve using a webcam to let them see the battlemap. Of course, this means I have to get some kind of markers or miniatures. My players and I have, in a pinch, used various knick-knacks from around the home of whoever was hosting our game; spare coins, spools of thread, paper-weights, etc. However, I think with the webcam, they would really benefit from having some actual miniatures that were easier to discern and keep track of over a video connection; I feel that they may get confused by the brick-a-brack approach. However, I have little interest in collecting and (especially) painting pewter miniatures; nor do I wish to wade through the random assortments of figurines which WotC sells (or used to?). I looked for a few e-bay deals but didn't find anything particularly well-priced for the selection offered. I even considered lego figures, however they appear to be nearly (if not equally) as expensive as normal plastic pre-painted miniatures. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to build a serviceable (not exhaustive) miniature collection quickly and cheaply? Thanks!</p>Until this point, I've been fortunate enough that one of my players has always had miniatures to supply for our D&D games. However, I have moved away from my group and plan to continue our games through skype. Part of this will involve using a webcam to let them see the battlemap. Of course, this means I have to get some kind of markers or miniatures. My players and I have, in a pinch, used various knick-knacks from around the home of whoever was hosting our game; spare coins, spools of...Saern2011-06-03T17:33:27ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Hag themed campaignSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2mb0o?Hag-themed-campaign#42011-05-25T21:04:28Z2011-05-25T21:04:28Z<p>I second the use of grimlocks for minions. I've always found them particularly creepy. I would have the PCs encounter the grimlocks when they are nearing the hag herself, or maybe in the adventure before they will meet the hag, as a good way to build up the creepiness.</p>
<p>I'm fond of hags as purveyors of discreet magic to the desperate for a cost, especially while masquerading as wilderness witches. I've toyed with the idea of having a Romeo and Juliet plot in which the love is the product of an <i>elixir</i> provided to a hapless or even corrupt noble by a hag, possibly to arrange an advantageous marriage. It would be easy to make the hag continue blackmailing the corrupt noble as part of a larger scheme. Alternately, if you went the hapless route, the hag could have given the <i>elixir of love</i> to the lover knowing that someone would find the circumstance suspicious, and it would only be a matter of time before somebody (the PCs?) discovered the truth of the two lovers' affections, perhaps ruining the otherwise innocent man who made a bad deal with the hag (a maneuver which could also feature into a longer term plan).</p>
<p>In my current campaign, I used a hag as a witch selling information in return for services such as collecting spell components, etc. She was disguised as a beautiful young woman, of course. The party suspected something was up and even suggested amongst themselves the witch might have been a hag, but they never confirmed their suspicions. She actually proved to be a great help to them, though they don't love her any more for it.</p>
<p>One of my players borders on being obsessed with hag covens and the magical eyes they possess. Half the random rocks he finds he suspects of actually being hag eyes.</p>
<p>Back to (hopefully) useful suggestions, whatever minions (orcs, goblins, etc.) you opt for, I'd make them have some kind of voodoo theme to emphasize the witch aspect of the campaign. Perhaps that could be the kick-off. A local wizard hears of these tribes performing some kind of strange magic and wants to know more, for the safety of the realm (or unscrupulous personal interest?).</p>
<p>You may also introduce the hags in an ambiguous role, as well. I'm thinking the Weird Sisters from Macbeth. Undoubtedly, they are evil. But you could introduce them early to the PCs in a non-combat way (especially if they are 1st level or so and find themselves amidst a covey of hags; combat would certainly be a poor option then); and keep the players guessing as to what the hags' agenda is and which side of a multi-faceted conflict the hags are really on (trick question: their own, or the side of their secret fiendish overlord; so long as they spread misery and discord, and/or prepare for the master's arrival by doing so, the hags are happy).</p>
<p>Finally, trolls simply seem right as strong bodyguards for hags.</p>I second the use of grimlocks for minions. I've always found them particularly creepy. I would have the PCs encounter the grimlocks when they are nearing the hag herself, or maybe in the adventure before they will meet the hag, as a good way to build up the creepiness.
I'm fond of hags as purveyors of discreet magic to the desperate for a cost, especially while masquerading as wilderness witches. I've toyed with the idea of having a Romeo and Juliet plot in which the love is the product of...Saern2011-05-25T21:04:28ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Slaadi are PI?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m8gk?Slaadi-are-PI#202011-05-13T14:26:14Z2011-05-13T14:26:14Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">hogarth wrote:</div><blockquote> The slaadi are actually the highest possible level of Product Identity, what the ancient Romans would have called "magnum PI". </blockquote><p>Saern likes this.hogarth wrote:The slaadi are actually the highest possible level of Product Identity, what the ancient Romans would have called "magnum PI".
Saern likes this.Saern2011-05-13T14:26:14ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Designing a FR adventureSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m79x?Designing-a-FR-adventure#92011-05-11T18:11:36Z2011-05-11T18:11:36Z<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>@ Zealot: I haven't seen Yojimbo (alas!), but I agree: Obould can't be the only "smart" orc. I really dislike that portrayal of the race, if only because there is no way they could be such persistent and deadly enemies in the history of the realms if they are really as stupid as commonly portrayed.</p>
<p>@ W E Ray: I had completely forgotten about the Eando Kline story! I do remember that, now. Unfortunately, I am about 300 miles from my PF collection at the moment, but I should be back before they get to that point (and all this should be going into PbP mode, most likely).</p>
<p>And I'm definitely keeping the dragons as reds. They just feel more... right, to me. And I appreciate the suggestion to play up the L V C tensions between the hobgoblins and dragons! If the ruins are at the bottom of a crevasse, a detour through the lower dungeons of the Doomspire may be the only way to reach it. There, in the lowest ranking hobgoblins' barracks, perhaps they find that most of the army dislikes serving such capricious masters. The party may find unexpected allies to assist with getting in and out of the ruins, if the party does a favor in return.</p>
<p>Also, I like the thought of the party coming out of a high mountain cavern they have been traveling through, looking down on the Pass of the Moon, and hearing roaring and the blowing of horns, and an enormous horde of orcs haphazardly spread over the valley floor, using huge mountain beasts to pull giant, clumsy war engines into place as they prepare to slaughter each other the next day. Hasty stealth/diplomacy/skirmishes required to get to the other side. They may find an imperiled party of dwarven explorers on the way; the Nether Mountains were once on the border of Delzoun, so it makes sense there would be some "Dragon Age"-style "deep roads" left there which the PCs could go through, more safely than trying the surface. The band of dwarves would need rescue, but could also come along for advice and help clear things up. Meanwhile, yes, the party is being hunted, and cannot stay in place and wait for the orcs to finish killing each other.</p>
<p>As for the large number of baddies, yes, I'm aware of that problem. I plan to go slow on introducing them and have no more than two larger groups active at any time. Right now, their only clue to the yuan-ti is a book they can't read (From "Within the Circle," which I transplanted to Nesmé and used to kick the game off). They have (unwittingly) given it to an enemy. </p>
<p>I'm making the Cult of the Dragon a heretical faction of Velsharoon worshipers who believe that god was actually a dragon in human form, whose divine ascension is paving the way for the eventual rule of godlike dracoliches over the realms; the rest of the faithful are not so keen on this. They will serve as antagonists/allies throughout, and can provide clues as to what's going on, if only through notes looted off bodies. Starting with the sage who secretly worships Velsharoon, to whom the party accidentally gave the yuan-ti book for translation.</p>
<p>The first arc of the campaign, up through and after the adventure here discussed, will be all about the Cult of the Dragon. There will be peripheral appearances by the others (Zhents, Velsharoon-worshippers) for flavor, but they won't take center-stage. It won't be until they've come to fully understand the Cult of the Dragon that they find out anything more regarding the yuan-ti. At that point, their lower-level conflicts with various groups will largely have lapsed, letting them focus on a smaller number of associations at any given point.</p>
<p>[threadjack]</p>
<p>I'm impressed you remember! Yes and no; I have let go of it for D&D purposes. The things I wish to do with that setting aren't conducive to D&D, at least not without more house-ruling than I've got time for at the moment. However, I am still growing and detailing the setting's regions and their people, and the associated cultures, languages, and histories thereof. It's largely just a hobby at the moment, but there's always the possibility of giving fantasy novel writing a shot using that material later....</p>
<p>[/threadjack]</p>Thanks!
@ Zealot: I haven't seen Yojimbo (alas!), but I agree: Obould can't be the only "smart" orc. I really dislike that portrayal of the race, if only because there is no way they could be such persistent and deadly enemies in the history of the realms if they are really as stupid as commonly portrayed.
@ W E Ray: I had completely forgotten about the Eando Kline story! I do remember that, now. Unfortunately, I am about 300 miles from my PF collection at the moment, but I should be back...Saern2011-05-11T18:11:36ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Designing a FR adventureSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m79x?Designing-a-FR-adventure#52011-05-09T14:48:49Z2011-05-09T14:48:49Z<p>Thanks, to both of you. I'll be looking over the PDF of the North and probably go over to Candlekeep to see if I can find some NPCs/adventure ideas. To my knowledge, the orc kingdom which Bill mentioned, the Kingdom of Many Arrows, is in the eastern arm of the Spine of the World, which lies a distance from the Nether Mountains. I do plan to play up the tensions between Silverymoon and the Kingdom of Many Arrows, however. I'm making the Silver Marches a much tighter kingdom rather than a loose federation, with Lady Alustriel as a more Galadriel-like Queen of the realm. Their attention on the orcs is important as background, because the party will be dealing with the more imminent threat of an army of lizardfolk rising in the Evermoors, near their home base, Nesmé (I'm using "the Muster of Morach Tor" and "Encounter at Blackwall Keep" [ripped out of context from the AoW AP] to put that war element into the campaign). Ultimately, the PCs are fighting against the servants of a black dragon, who are fighting against each other. The dragon is served both by the Cult of the Dragon, and by a group of scalykind in an ancient Meyeritari elven ruin within the Evermoors, which are trying to awaken a slumbering nation of yuan-ti. The dragon would rather be served by the yuan-ti, as she doesn't particularly want to become a dracolich, but the fanatical Cult of the Dragon is determined to stop the yuan-ti from waking up so they retain their position of influence in the dragon's servitors and can realize their plans of making her into an undead. To accomplish their goals, both sides are competing for mythallars (which I am making significantly smaller than what the FR wiki tells me, and also the source of both Netherese flying cities and high elven mythals).</p>
<p>The PCs will need to out-compete both groups. I plan to run "The Obsidian Eye" and both of the "Shards" adventures from Dungeon, replacing the crystal doo-hickeys in each with a mythallar. The party will already by clashing with Zhentarim agents looking for the mythallars, the Cult of the Dragon, a sect of Vecna they have managed to cheese off, and later, the servants of the yuan-ti. Not all will be active at once, so that the party has some way to keep things straight. Hopefully, they'll end up going for the City of Shadows adventure arc (I'll probably use Everlund for Istivin), so the drow will be playing a role.</p>
<p>More directly, the temple in Shards 2 will be a Netherese ruin laying so far at the bottom of a mountain crevasse that the drow can dwell there without having to adapt to the surface (I'm not so fond of FR above-ground dark elves). But the dragons are definitely going to be reds.</p>
<p>I may use the Underdark for at least some of the travel through the Nether Mountains. I don't want to play up the drow too early; but I can create a dwarfhold abandoned like Mithral Hall was until recently, and the PCs can go through a "Mines of Moria"-type passage (sans the Balrog) to avoid the dragons and harsh conditions which haunt the surface (I may revise "Home Under the Range" for part of that). I could use a "Bridge of Khazad-dum"-like area which is contested ground between the orcs and require both diplomacy and combat to navigate, which this party enjoys mixing together. I think the diplomacy will be necessary to make the players understand a little more that they are dealing with two distinct groups here, which as I said, is something I want. I just need to figure out how to bring that together into a cohesive adventure....</p>Thanks, to both of you. I'll be looking over the PDF of the North and probably go over to Candlekeep to see if I can find some NPCs/adventure ideas. To my knowledge, the orc kingdom which Bill mentioned, the Kingdom of Many Arrows, is in the eastern arm of the Spine of the World, which lies a distance from the Nether Mountains. I do plan to play up the tensions between Silverymoon and the Kingdom of Many Arrows, however. I'm making the Silver Marches a much tighter kingdom rather than a loose...Saern2011-05-09T14:48:49ZForums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Designing a FR adventureSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m79x?Designing-a-FR-adventure#12011-05-02T19:19:47Z2011-05-02T19:19:47Z<p>I'm planning to run the second installment of the "Shards of Eberron" campaign arc, an adventure called "Temple of the Scorpion God," from Dungeon #124 (the same which launched the Age of Worms adventure path). The campaign is just beginning and that adventure is intended for 7th level, so I have some time, but always enjoy brainstorming with Paizonians. I am converting the adventure to the Realms, and making "temple" the ruins of a Netherese flying city which crashed into the Nether Mountains. As the adventure is written in Eberron, the party is supposed to reach the location via airship and the various modes of quick transport which exist in Eberron. But do not in the Realms. Which is okay by me, because I believe journeys are great occasions for adventures and detailing a world and shouldn't just be skipped over.</p>
<p>The party will be traveling east from Silverymoon. I've done some research on the Nether Mountains (by which I mean whatever I could find in the 3.0 FR Campaign Setting book and the Forgotten Realms wiki, since I am not a master of Realmslore by any means) and found some promising material. I've read that there is a mountain in the east of the range called Dragondoom, home to a family of blue dragons, served by a tribe of hobgoblins in a nearby fortress called the Doomspire. I don't see why there should be blue dragons in the Nether Mountains, though, so I'm making them reds. The adventure features surface-dwelling drow and a dragon guardian in the "temple," which will now become a Young red dragon and his hobgoblin minions.</p>
<p>However, I want something to build an adventure out of for the trip between Silverymoon and Dragondoom. The Forgotten Realms wiki says that the Moon Pass, between those two points, is plagued by two warring orc tribes, the Thousand Fists and the Ripped Guts. I'd love to create an encounter which put the players between these two orc tribes, either fighting both (but somehow understanding that it's not just one homogenous band of orcs) or, better, interacting with them in some way to pit the two against each other, with the goal of safe passage for the party through the pass. They should be 6th or 7th level when they get to this stage of the campaign. I'm interested in plot points, monsters to consider using, exciting locations for battles, etc. And... go!</p>I'm planning to run the second installment of the "Shards of Eberron" campaign arc, an adventure called "Temple of the Scorpion God," from Dungeon #124 (the same which launched the Age of Worms adventure path). The campaign is just beginning and that adventure is intended for 7th level, so I have some time, but always enjoy brainstorming with Paizonians. I am converting the adventure to the Realms, and making "temple" the ruins of a Netherese flying city which crashed into the Nether...Saern2011-05-02T19:19:47ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Any good adventures?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m78i?Any-good-adventures#42011-05-02T17:21:01Z2011-05-02T17:21:01Z<p>You could do Age of Worms adventure path and engineer their failure at the Champion's Belt. If you're familiar with that adventure, the result could quickly become a zombie (or rather wight) apocalypse in Waterdeep. You can also do an archive search here; I know the subject was discussed quite a bit when the adventure was first released.</p>You could do Age of Worms adventure path and engineer their failure at the Champion's Belt. If you're familiar with that adventure, the result could quickly become a zombie (or rather wight) apocalypse in Waterdeep. You can also do an archive search here; I know the subject was discussed quite a bit when the adventure was first released.Saern2011-05-02T17:21:01ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Why DnD 3.x over PFSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m5cr&page=3?Why-DnD-3x-over-PF#1342011-05-02T14:58:40Z2011-05-02T14:58:40Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Tequila Sunrise wrote:</div><blockquote>You had to go and use a three-letter word, didn't you? ;)</blockquote><p>Hey, I calls it like I sees it!
<p>And I understand about the familiars, too. I do enjoy the option to choose between a bonded object or a familiar in PFRPG. I think I may keep that in my next 3.5 game, but also have the familiar grant a feat or something to make the option more appealing to my players, who (save one) have traditionally thought familiars to be fairly useless.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Freehold DM wrote:</div><blockquote>... not everything WoW is bad...</blockquote><p>Complete agreement. But I feel like they it's just a periphery thing thrown on at the last minute. I would say that is what bugs me more than where it came from, but that would imply that I'm annoyed about D&D/PFRPG borrowing from WoW, which I'm not. Just do it well if you're going to do it at all, I say!
<p>I also don't really like the HD/BAB link. It's an illusion, anyway, because they didn't change the barbarian (not saying they should); and while I'm okay with rogues getting a d8, rangers going back to a d10 struck me as weird. I like the feel of a ranger as tough, but not as much as a fighter. It's never stopped any of my players from getting into combat and doing well, and added a little more variety to the classes, I felt.</p>Tequila Sunrise wrote:You had to go and use a three-letter word, didn't you? ;)
Hey, I calls it like I sees it! And I understand about the familiars, too. I do enjoy the option to choose between a bonded object or a familiar in PFRPG. I think I may keep that in my next 3.5 game, but also have the familiar grant a feat or something to make the option more appealing to my players, who (save one) have traditionally thought familiars to be fairly useless.
Freehold DM wrote:... not everything...Saern2011-05-02T14:58:40ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Why DnD 3.x over PFSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m5cr&page=3?Why-DnD-3x-over-PF#1302011-05-01T15:18:59Z2011-05-01T15:18:59Z<p>I'm sticking with 3.5 myself. Like so many others, I want to stick with a system I know the in's and out's of very well, rather than one which is subtly and, sometimes perhaps, confusingly different because of that subtlety. I don't want the extra prep time in converting my 3.5 to PF; and I like the feeling that my D&D book collection is complete and I don't have to go hunting the next publication. </p>
<p>But one thing that bothers me about PFRPG that I haven't seen so many others posting about is that I feel their extra tweaks to the classes are somehow more limiting. From a DM's perspective, a lot of the little, almost-at-will abilities which low-level spellcasters get can be annoying when designing NPCs. They feel superfluous and like ability bloat. It's unlikely that they will often come up for the NPC in combat, but there they are, all the same. Plus, on that specific issue, it feels like the lack being addressed (running out of spells at very low level) was covered by the "infinite cantrips" rule. So again, it feels rather superfluous. And even though they provided many different paths to choose amongst with each of the spellcasting classes, the fact that you will get (possibly unnecessary and very secondary) ability X at level Y, feels more restrictive, more cookie-cutter, than just not having anything there at all. There may not be splatbloat alongside PFRPG yet (though it seems like they are releasing quite a number of books), but all the little tweaks to their classes seem more arbitrary than the more bare-bones 3.5 classes, and therefore less flexible. </p>
<p>Plus, many of those changes felt a little WoW-like. As I've said before, I have no problem with WoW or its influence over tabletop RPGs. But considering a lot of the hubbub over 4e revolved around how much it felt like WoW, it's strange to anything like that included in PFRPG. They felt tacked-on, too. If a game is going to borrow from WoW-style design, I'd rather they implement it more fully in the system, like in 4e, than just give a nod at the surface, which is what PFRPG seems to have done.</p>
<p>In the end, I feel it's easier and more satisfying for me to house rule my old 3.5 stuff, perhaps with some contributions from PFRPG (I'm looking at you, skills) than it is to switch completely.</p>I'm sticking with 3.5 myself. Like so many others, I want to stick with a system I know the in's and out's of very well, rather than one which is subtly and, sometimes perhaps, confusingly different because of that subtlety. I don't want the extra prep time in converting my 3.5 to PF; and I like the feeling that my D&D book collection is complete and I don't have to go hunting the next publication.
But one thing that bothers me about PFRPG that I haven't seen so many others posting about is...Saern2011-05-01T15:18:59ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: No warlocks in PF thank godSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m1i1&page=3?No-warlocks-in-PF-thank-god#1402011-03-28T12:53:19Z2011-03-28T12:53:19Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Type2Demon wrote:</div><blockquote>Lancelot for Paladins</blockquote><p>I would have gone with Gawain, personally, or perhaps Galahad. I've always thought of Lancelot as a philandering @$$.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">FreeSwagAhoy wrote:</div><blockquote>Maybe some are of the opinion that the warlock might seems a bit too "videogamey" to them due to that "all-day-at-will-no-downtime" arcane blast. Personally, I don't agree with such a viewpoint but it does seem to exist.</blockquote><p>Agreed. I'm not sure if that sentiment occurs in this thread, but it does occur repeatedly in general across the boards. I don't understand the condescension that runs so often from the D&D community toward video games. What high ground to we claim to stand on that lets us look down our noses? Video games have become, along with novels, one of (I would say, co-equal with novels, THE) primary venues through which modern fantasy is created, sustained, and culturally disseminated. And good fantasy, at that, or at least as good as 90% of said novels (I'm thinking BioWare here, which is often even better than many of the novels I've looked at). D&D isn't so inherently perfect that it is blasphemous to take game design advice or ideas from its electronic cousins/nephews.
<p>Beside, the "all-day-at-will-no-downtime" seems more consistent with folkloric and literary precedent to me than the Vancian system. When did Merlin say, "Damn! I'm out of <i>fireballs</i> for today!" Or did Gandalf ever say, "Fly, you fools, and rest for 8 hours before continuing on!" Traditionally, if a wizard knows a spell, he can cast it, unless it's unbelievably powerful (I would conjecture something like Merlin moving Stonehenge from Ireland to England), in which case the exhaustion is usually rendered as physical rather than mental.</p>
<p>All of which only amounts to me saying, D&D already breaks from a lot of tradition about fantastic events, creatures, and people, so doing a little more doesn't hurt anything; and what does it matter if video games and D&D influence each other?</p>Type2Demon wrote:Lancelot for Paladins
I would have gone with Gawain, personally, or perhaps Galahad. I've always thought of Lancelot as a philandering @$$. FreeSwagAhoy wrote:Maybe some are of the opinion that the warlock might seems a bit too "videogamey" to them due to that "all-day-at-will-no-downtime" arcane blast. Personally, I don't agree with such a viewpoint but it does seem to exist.
Agreed. I'm not sure if that sentiment occurs in this thread, but it does occur repeatedly in...Saern2011-03-28T12:53:19ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: No warlocks in PF thank godSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m1i1&page=3?No-warlocks-in-PF-thank-god#1242011-03-27T20:36:42Z2011-03-27T20:36:42Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Freehold DM wrote:</div><blockquote> They would be flying around using their invisibility to good advantage, and attacking from areas the fighter can't reach easily. </blockquote><p>Which would accomplish... what? Equal combat effectiveness to any other standard player class? It doesn't matter where the warlock gets himself off to. His damage isn't ever going to wow anyone. It may not be as laughable as some people make it out to be, but it certainly isn't amazing. Yes, he can last much, much longer than other arcanists (if the warlock even properly belongs in that category), but in my experience as a DM with warlocks over a variety of levels (player and NPC), that advantage of endurance seemed to come to the following points.
<p>First, it could be a life-saver, and a game saver. If the rest of the party is knocked out in some fashion or simply depleted of resources so much that the group is facing a TPK, then the warlock's inexhaustible abilities come in handy. In this case, the players are glad for it, and so are friendly DMs (I like to consider myself one such). However, serving as the party's last ditch effort against total and complete failure hardly means you are regularly a star performer. It's not a flattering roll. "Yeah, if everything else fails or we all botch things massively, I guess you could have an impact then."</p>
<p>Otherwise, that advantage is... irrelevant. Sure, you don't have to run off to rest and refresh after fights and thus help break the party of the 15-minute adventuring day cycle. Except you don't, because everyone else with daily abilities in the party still conforms to that cycle. You're welcome to go on adventuring without them while they rest up, but I don't think anyone will sincerely claim that's a good standard operating procedure. You may make a conservative party last somewhat longer. Good for you. Not amazing.</p>
<p>Alternately, the party does what it does, and you participate, and the combats still last their usual 3-5 rounds, and the party still has their normal rest cycle and encounter cycle, in which case your ability to outlast everyone is, again... irrelevant.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the warlock is a wimp class that should be shunned and run out of the party, rocks whipping past its head as it goes. The warlock contributes. However, not as much as other party members. You can char-op a warlock, of course, but you can char-op any class, and often to much greater effect and with more options. In my experience, the warlock has to use that superior mobility and hard-to-hit-ness just to keep up with everyone else. Which, when done right, they can. But only if the rest aren't powergamers. If you keep in mind the warlock's non-combat roles, then yes, they are even more useful. But they will never make a wizard or sorcerer green with envy. Which is the reaction people are looking for when deeming a class overpowered or not.</p>
<p>EDIT: I missed the last page of this discussion in which everyone has moved past countering perceptions of the warlock as overpowered and moved on into the more productive terrain of actually suggesting how to modify or run them well. In which case, please interpret my post as advocating, along with other already, the warlock's ability to be an effective member of the party if they focus on their mobility, scouting potential, and aforementioned "hard-to-hit-ness." If the player focuses on upping the warlock's AC (which isn't a bad idea, since there's not a lot to buy with all that gold to actually improve their <i>eldritch blast</i>), they can make all-right tanks, to support a more traditional and dedicated tank, or if the party otherwise lacks someone filling that roll. I've seen it done. The can't stand still and take it like a fighter or a paladin (high AC only goes so far to compensate for a d6 Hit Die), but if they dance around the front lines (<i>hideous blow</i> helps here) and keep the enemies moving after them, the rest of the party can build their tactics around that central play and turn a fight to their advantage fairly well.</p>Freehold DM wrote:They would be flying around using their invisibility to good advantage, and attacking from areas the fighter can't reach easily.
Which would accomplish... what? Equal combat effectiveness to any other standard player class? It doesn't matter where the warlock gets himself off to. His damage isn't ever going to wow anyone. It may not be as laughable as some people make it out to be, but it certainly isn't amazing. Yes, he can last much, much longer than other arcanists (if...Saern2011-03-27T20:36:42ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Interpreting Paizo's 3.5 StatblocksSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m1nz?Interpreting-Paizos-35-Statblocks#132011-03-26T06:31:21Z2011-03-26T06:31:21Z<p>I tried implementing bandoleers and such to keep track more closely of the items the party had at the ready. They rebelled and said "We're all allowed one free set of clothes at the beginning of the game. We're adventurers. Isn't it possible to assume the clothes we have include something like pockets or a belt with pouches?" It became more of a struggle than it was worth with them to argue for keeping track of that kind of thing. If it was an obviously combat item, such as a potion or scroll or wand, it was assumed to be somewhere readily accessible because the adventurer would have made certain of that before leaving town. I can see other groups paying more attention to where object X is located, but my players broke me of the habit so early, it rarely even enters my consciousness anymore. I know it's not the most "realistic" system in many interpretations, but theirs regarding the frequency of appropriate pouches and storage space made sense enough and didn't hurt our games.</p>
<p>Regarding the afore-posited scenario of going for a potion when low on HP and needing to know the outcome of an AoO to see if the character lives or dies: This was different for us because we were so used to thinking of drinking a potion as a move action from 3.0 that we didn't notice the change to a standard in 3.5, and when we did, decided to keep the old version as a house rule. Yes, it technically allowed a character to get two spell effects active in a single round, but it was more dangerous in combat.</p>
<p>So, the players argued, if we were going to run things that way, then going for the potion would provoke AoO, and so would drinking it. It might be worth the risk if there is only one provoked AoO, but with two, the action economy didn't favor even attempting the potion, meaning it was effectively useless to them and they might as well just attack or try withdrawing to an ally (which was not always a good option). So being less picky about where the potion was stored and how long it took to retrieve and whether that provoked AoO favored them because it reduced the AoO under our system to one. In fact, reflecting on that decision, I think the potion action economy is what drove their logic more than anything else. I have no problem with changing a rule like that based on game balance issues rather than "realism," since the game already does that very thing in so many places.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>I tried implementing bandoleers and such to keep track more closely of the items the party had at the ready. They rebelled and said "We're all allowed one free set of clothes at the beginning of the game. We're adventurers. Isn't it possible to assume the clothes we have include something like pockets or a belt with pouches?" It became more of a struggle than it was worth with them to argue for keeping track of that kind of thing. If it was an obviously combat item, such as a potion or scroll...Saern2011-03-26T06:31:21ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Interpreting Paizo's 3.5 StatblocksSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m1nz?Interpreting-Paizos-35-Statblocks#72011-03-25T14:27:47Z2011-03-25T14:27:47Z<p>The "combat gear" section has nothing to do with in game verisimilitude. The "combat gear" section was invented purely because too many DMs ran published adventures, using stat blocks they did not write and were therefore less familiar with, and forgot that, say, a certain cleric in a certain three-faced temple had a certain potion of <i>protection from arrows</i>, which would have made him a really scary boss instead of arrow bait (true story from my time running AoW). It is purely for the convenience of the DM, and doesn't reflect any alteration or special arrangement of the game world's reality.</p>The "combat gear" section has nothing to do with in game verisimilitude. The "combat gear" section was invented purely because too many DMs ran published adventures, using stat blocks they did not write and were therefore less familiar with, and forgot that, say, a certain cleric in a certain three-faced temple had a certain potion of protection from arrows, which would have made him a really scary boss instead of arrow bait (true story from my time running AoW). It is purely for the...Saern2011-03-25T14:27:47ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: HidingSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m04d?Hiding#112011-03-16T22:13:20Z2011-03-16T22:13:20Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>Fortunately or unfortunately, I also tend to be very heavily "left brained" and tend to over-analyse the logic of certain rules.</blockquote><p>Oh, I completely understand. I used to be the same way, looking at all the infrequent but completely possible situations which various rules disallow, and nitpicking said rules in response. But then I realized that the rules have to be generalized, or they will be too cumbersome to use on a routine basis. And the game has always supported the tradition of ad hoc adjudications for unusual circumstances, if the DM and players so choose. Which, after consulting the rules and the opinions of other players, is ultimately what you have to make with Hide or other unclear mechanics.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>Concealment would then apply to the crowded tavern or crowded street scenario. Each would have a blocking of "line of sight" if only momentarily, allowing for the rogue to begin hiding.</blockquote><p>Correct. Depending on the situation, I could see crowds being treated as either cover or concealment. But for the purposes of Hide and opposed Spot checks, I would definitely consider a crowd to be concealment.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>Now, for the sake of argument, if the bugbear then turned his head to see the "10" rogue, would he automatically see the "20" rogue who was standing right next to him? I'm guessing yes, just like a group is only as silent as it's quietest member.</blockquote><p>No. If they were in a wide open space, that would make sense; except they couldn't have been hiding in the first place. Let's say the bugbear is in a forest. Then the rogue who rolled a 10 was spotted through a hole in the foliage, whereas his ally managed to stay concealed. Or some other such justification appropriate to the "fluff" of the scenario. One rogue beat the bugbear's Spot check, and therefore the bugbear doesn't notice him. It's up to the DM or players to figure out what that translates into as narrative description, but the end effect of the rules shouldn't change.
<p>Likewise, to examine your analogy to Move Silently, if a party is trying to pass unheard by a monster, and some fail their rolls, the monster only hears those characters who failed said rolls. In moving to investigate, the monster may then come to discover the rest of the party as well through more failed rolls, but he does not immediately discern them.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>So, in your mind, a turned head can only be fooled for 1 round? Even if the bugbear guard fails his Spot, if the rogue doesn't directly act (sneak attack, say) or find cover/concealment, the bugbear will see him on the following round?</blockquote><p>Yes, that's how I look at it. Unless the character has Hide in Plain Sight, they need cover or concealment to continue hiding. It makes sense they would be able to move from source to source of that cover or concealment if they are close together; but there needs to be some limit to how long they can remain undetected when moving away from whatever they are hiding behind.
<p>But I will hear counter my earlier position after looking at the SRD again. Since you can move faster than half speed and still make a Hide check at a penalty, I would say the distance involved is irrelevant. What's important is the amount of time you remain in the open. I think a round is a reasonable limitation.</p>
<p>Given this, you can imagine a fortress with a large front gate and a guard tower to observe it. If a rogue is hiding behind one wall of the gate and wants to get to the other side, say 20 feet away, we can imagine him making a quick dash when the guard looks away for a moment, taking a penalty for moving more than 15 feet but hopefully successful when the rolls are compared and distance modifiers applied. If, however, the rogue wants to dart between two buildings which are separated by a field so large that the rogue couldn't even run between them in a single round, ignoring the problem of the -20 Hide penalty for running, I would simply rule it impossible because he would be exposed for more than a round.</p>GregH wrote:Fortunately or unfortunately, I also tend to be very heavily "left brained" and tend to over-analyse the logic of certain rules.
Oh, I completely understand. I used to be the same way, looking at all the infrequent but completely possible situations which various rules disallow, and nitpicking said rules in response. But then I realized that the rules have to be generalized, or they will be too cumbersome to use on a routine basis. And the game has always supported the tradition...Saern2011-03-16T22:13:20ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: HidingSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2m04d?Hiding#92011-03-16T21:03:41Z2011-03-16T21:03:41Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>"Cover" is a nebulous term, used to indicate a general level of distraction.</blockquote><p>No, it isn't; especially when used in conjunction with concealment. Cover means a physical barrier blocking partial or total line of sight and line of effect. It's primary statistical effect is providing a static AC bonus. Concealment blocks line of sight, but not line of effect, such as foliage or fog. It's primary statistical effect is to provide a miss chance represented by a static percentage.
<p>No Hide check is necessary behind total cover or total concealment because there is no line of sight in the first place. If you are hiding around a corner and not peaking out at all, and all other things are equal, neither of us can see each other. No skill roll necessary. The same goes for total concealment.</p>
<p>Move Silently may still be necessary, however, depending on the exact circumstances.</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">GregH wrote:</div><blockquote>My question is the same as I put to ghettowedge: is a turned head considered "cover" or "concealment"?</blockquote><p>Neither. It's a failed Spot check, assuming a situation in which a Hide check could be attempted in the first place. Just as the rules don't cover facing, they don't take into account turned heads. These are relegated to descriptions of why skill checks failed, rather than as modifiers affecting the skill checks themselves while still being rolled.
<p>Alternately, you can use a Bluff check to create an opportunity to Hide by forcing the observer(s) to turn away, as per the RAW and SRD, but that still is neither concealment nor cover.</p>
<p>As far as requiring cover or concealment to Hide, I read it as necessary to attempt a Hide check and to remain hidden if moving out of cover for more than half one's movement. In other words, if a human rogue with an unaltered speed of 30 feet wants to begin using his Hide skill, he needs to be unobserved and find some kind of cover and concealment. If he wants to dart from curtain to curtain to remain hidden, he can do so with successive Hide checks so long as the curtains are no more than 15 feet apart, and both begins and ends his movement behind said curtains. If he wants to sneak out and attack someone, he can also do so with a successful Hide check so long as the target is within 15 feet of the curtain behind which the rogue was standing at the start of his turn. Any attempt to remain hidden without cover or concealment for a distance of greater than 15 feet automatically fails. </p>
<p>Part my reasoning here is that the rogue needs to be able to step away from cover or concealment at least momentarily to move in on a target. Otherwise, if such a move is completely invalid, then the entire strategy of sneaking up on someone is also completely invalid. While the Hide skill would still not be useless in such an interpretation, its effectiveness is diminished greatly, and it seems like an extremely arbitrary decision on the part of the game designers to disallow such a classic tactic. I can't see any justification for it, nor does such a limitation seem in keeping with the tone established throughout the rest of the Player's Handbook/SRD.</p>
<p>In conclusion, I admit the rules can be interpreted variously here, as in many parts of the SRD. The DM and players therefore need to reconcile within their own ranks what reading they accept, and why. The above is mine and my justification thereof. I'm sure others have their own.</p>GregH wrote:"Cover" is a nebulous term, used to indicate a general level of distraction.
No, it isn't; especially when used in conjunction with concealment. Cover means a physical barrier blocking partial or total line of sight and line of effect. It's primary statistical effect is providing a static AC bonus. Concealment blocks line of sight, but not line of effect, such as foliage or fog. It's primary statistical effect is to provide a miss chance represented by a static percentage. No...Saern2011-03-16T21:03:41ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Reconciling fantasy with reality...Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lzf5?Reconciling-fantasy-with-reality#52011-03-10T22:05:53Z2011-03-10T22:05:53Z<p>Do not try to reconcile "reality" with fantasy. Do not try to blend in physics, economics, linguistics, or any other "-ics," more than the minimum level necessary for an internally cohesive world. </p>
<p>A 500 lbs. statue gets dropped from 100 feet onto a wooden bridge. How do you find out whether it breaks the bridge or not? Velocity and momentum and gravitation and all that jazz that I obviously know nothing about because I'm not a scientist to any degree? Nope. You have a break DC for wood and a modifier for the statue. Roll and see what happens. Realistic? Who knows. But it works in the game.</p>
<p>Where is the line to be drawn? Should we bring in thermodynamics? Think of what that would do to energy damage. Hell, think of the absurdity that acid is a kind of energy damage at all.</p>
<p>I don't find it odd at all that a character could have such a strength score. You do. That's subjective. Going by subjective rulings gets people angry when they don't see eye to eye. One point of having a robust, internally consistent rules-structure written down is that you have a common reference point by which to make such calls sans opinions. I always go by the rules first, then find a way to justify it later.</p>
<p>D&D serves other motives beside simulation, such as game balance, "cinematic" elements, and a nebulous definition of "fun" used in game design. These other masters of the game destroy any attempt to fully reconcile the possibilities within the "reality" of the game with our "reality."</p>
<p>That way madness lies.</p>Do not try to reconcile "reality" with fantasy. Do not try to blend in physics, economics, linguistics, or any other "-ics," more than the minimum level necessary for an internally cohesive world.
A 500 lbs. statue gets dropped from 100 feet onto a wooden bridge. How do you find out whether it breaks the bridge or not? Velocity and momentum and gravitation and all that jazz that I obviously know nothing about because I'm not a scientist to any degree? Nope. You have a break DC for wood and a...Saern2011-03-10T22:05:53ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: How have you changed the Forgotten Realms to your likingSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lyav?How-have-you-changed-the-Forgotten-Realms-to#212011-03-09T00:15:54Z2011-03-09T00:15:54Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Set wrote:</div><blockquote>There's something scary going on in Anauroch, but it has nothing to do with flying colons with 30+ levels of wizard.</blockquote><p>Excellent, in effect but also in description.Set wrote:There's something scary going on in Anauroch, but it has nothing to do with flying colons with 30+ levels of wizard.
Excellent, in effect but also in description.Saern2011-03-09T00:15:54ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Max hit pointsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lxco?Max-hit-points#102011-02-27T15:58:50Z2011-02-27T15:58:50Z<p>Isn't 25-28 standard for point-buy in 3.5? I believe 32 is for an extremely high powered game. My experience is to start them with a lower point buy so they don't get spoiled by it in later games. But I think that has as much to do with the personalities of the players themselves, so you'll just have to make that judgment call.</p>Isn't 25-28 standard for point-buy in 3.5? I believe 32 is for an extremely high powered game. My experience is to start them with a lower point buy so they don't get spoiled by it in later games. But I think that has as much to do with the personalities of the players themselves, so you'll just have to make that judgment call.Saern2011-02-27T15:58:50ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Planar ProgentiorsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lwa4?Planar-Progentiors#52011-02-20T21:13:35Z2011-02-20T21:13:35Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Dragonchess Player wrote:</div><blockquote>There isn't much information about the Ancient Baatorians, but there are hints that those that weren't wiped out or driven into hiding may have been coopted (i.e., barbed devils, bone devils, and ice devils, possibly including bearded devils and horned devils). Erinyes, kytons, the Lords of the Nine, as well as pit fiends (corrupted into "stronger" forms) were probably remanants of the fallen celestial host. Hell cats may be advanced/augmented beasts (i.e., similar to hell hounds but further along in the process).</blockquote><p>Actually, according to the 3.5 MM, kytons are non-baatezu. Along with imps and hell cats, they are the only entries in the devil section without the baatezu subtype. I can't comment beyond that, except that the Fiendish Codex II also supports the theory of fallen celestials: Asmodeus was originally the Lawful gods' champion against the Abyss, but after ages fighting demons he became cruel and black-hearted, and so was cast into the Lower Planes. When he hit Baator, the impact broke the plane into a pit of descending, increasingly small fragments. Asmodeus now has an agenda against the gods who cast him down, of course, but also never abandoned his hatred of the Abyss and its residents, and continues to wage genocide against it; hence, the Blood War.Dragonchess Player wrote:There isn't much information about the Ancient Baatorians, but there are hints that those that weren't wiped out or driven into hiding may have been coopted (i.e., barbed devils, bone devils, and ice devils, possibly including bearded devils and horned devils). Erinyes, kytons, the Lords of the Nine, as well as pit fiends (corrupted into "stronger" forms) were probably remanants of the fallen celestial host. Hell cats may be advanced/augmented beasts (i.e., similar to...Saern2011-02-20T21:13:35ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Verisimilitude and Healing SpellsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lr3i?Verisimilitude-and-Healing-Spells#412011-02-14T23:27:40Z2011-02-14T23:27:40Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">FatR wrote:</div><blockquote>Why are you confusing simulating our reality, which wasn't even mentioned by me, with a minimal standards of internal consistensy and verissimilitude?</blockquote><p>I'm just going to reply to this, because it seems to get to the root of the problem. I think we're really getting into semantics; not that I think semantics are useless arguments. They are fundamental to establishing a baseline for further discussion.
<p>Calling someone a demigod inherently makes a comparison to "our reality" and expectations about what "normal people" can do. The reason I take issue with it is, because in most D&D settings and certainly every published one I know of, a demigod is an actual thing which exists and can be encountered. The nature of that thing will differ VASTLY depending on the nature of the setting. In one, a demigod may be well within the non-epic challenge range, because epic characters are meant to fight the real gods right from level 21 on up. In others, demigods won't even start popping up as creatures of appropriate CRs until level 30+. It depends on what you think of as a demigod.</p>
<p>Calling someone a demigod also implies to me a certain rarity which, in my conception, is far exceeded by the number of 10th (or even 20th) level characters in the world.</p>
<p>My point isn't that PCs aren't super powerful. They are. They can do incredible things. Except they aren't incredible in a fantasy D&D world, because there are a lot of people running around who can do those things. It's certainly above average, and what high level characters can do is certainly amazing even by the standards of most game worlds. But comparing anything D&D to non-D&D seems fraught with too much subjectivity to be meaningful, because</p>
<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote>I fear that the problem is that the rules don't intentionally model anything. They don't model gods coming into their own or Conan type warriors or realistic fighters. The rules are all over the place.</blockquote><p>Excellently said, sir. My point exactly. The rules are calibrated at the low levels to represent "realistic" abilities, but also game balance and "fun," whatever that means, which destroys most attempts to render them as good (or even decent, in some cases) simulations of reality. Some making comparisons between the two "systems" is extremely difficult, and often impossible.
<p>It gets worse at later levels, which become calibrated purely on the powers of previous levels with ever decreasing nods toward simulations of "reality."</p>
<p>I'm reminding of a conversation I once had on the boards about including physics in D&D (another thing I believe to be an absolute no-no, because it also just doesn't work). They argued that one could construct a non-Newtonian model of physics that explained the game world. And I replied that the very next book released (though perhaps pointless now with 3.0 and 3.5 D&D) would destroy that model, because the game designers don't care about physics, or even realistic simulation very often. </p>
<p>If there is a DMing stopping someone from doing something normally allowable by the rules because it's "unrealistic," there is indeed a problem. However, I think arguing the PC's case based on "he's a demigod" is the wrong way to go about it. That gets into a realm of too much subjectivity, and subtly enforces the erroneous DM's position that physics, as we study them in the modern world, etc., etc., <i>do</i> have a place in the game world. Better to excise them entirely, don't make comparisons between what happens in game and what can happen "IRL" on any kind of serious basis; and, yes, the RAW allow for some crazy $^%& to happen, which is cool, because it's all fun, because it's a game and that's what it's meant to be.</p>FatR wrote:Why are you confusing simulating our reality, which wasn't even mentioned by me, with a minimal standards of internal consistensy and verissimilitude?
I'm just going to reply to this, because it seems to get to the root of the problem. I think we're really getting into semantics; not that I think semantics are useless arguments. They are fundamental to establishing a baseline for further discussion. Calling someone a demigod inherently makes a comparison to "our reality" and...Saern2011-02-14T23:27:40ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Verisimilitude and Healing SpellsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lr3i?Verisimilitude-and-Healing-Spells#382011-02-14T13:58:51Z2011-02-14T13:58:51Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">FatR wrote:</div><blockquote> [Hit points] quite clearly indicate in-setting superhuman toughness? </blockquote><p>Except, begging your pardon and no offense, they don't. They might. But hit points are not "clearly" anything, which might be the source of a lot of debates like this. There are numerous ways to interpret what hit points represent, as the 3.x PHB makes clear.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">FatR wrote:</div><blockquote><br />
<br />
Since the dawn of DnD. In fact, they were even more of demigods then, because you were supposed to kill full gods at level 14. But even in 3.X, which is quite bad about keeping PCs down, at level 10 you are as good as Hercules (fiendish dire lions and nine-headed regenerating hydras with breath weapons are fair battles to you).</p>
<p>And a 10th level character in 3.X is perfectly able to lay another 10th level out with one punch, of course. But just like in RL taking out people as good as you with one punch is not easy and will take some effort (in DnD 3.X, effort of building your character for that). </blockquote><p>If I had more time, I'd link to another thread where I discuss the peril and ultimate futility of trying to compare power levels of D&D characters to the "real world." So, in summation: it is perilous and futile.
<p>Everyone has a different idea of what they represent. Some compare literal abilities ("No one can long jump that far! Therefore, you are a demigod.") Others compare between NPCs ("No, I'm pretty sure that would require some kind of template. My sheet just says plain old human.") It will also depend on the power-level of the world ("Dude, this is the Realms! There are 10th level NPCs under every rock; they cannot ALL be demigods!" - "Fine, then, it's like a Supers game.")</p>
<p>It's a fantasy game. Each of those terms are important. It isn't bound to simulate "our reality," nor is it fully meant to. Look at OotS. High level characters like O-Chul take multiple <i>meteor swarms</i> at damn-near point-blank range, and are okay. They aren't demigods in that setting. One might be able to argue it's like a Supers world. But it's also just itself. In whatever setting that place is called (OotS world, I guess), some people are just stronger and can do stuff like that. Others, not so much.</p>
<p>To base an argument off what the game is <i>supposed</i> to represent is far too subjective. We can talk about representations we <i>like</i>, about what we <i>prefer</i>, but to say, "This is right and that is wrong because of my subjective view of what an Xth level character is <i>supposed</i> to be" is, I repeat, perilous and futile.</p>
<p>No offense to anyone, not trying to call people out or step on any toes. Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.</p>FatR wrote:[Hit points] quite clearly indicate in-setting superhuman toughness?
Except, begging your pardon and no offense, they don't. They might. But hit points are not "clearly" anything, which might be the source of a lot of debates like this. There are numerous ways to interpret what hit points represent, as the 3.x PHB makes clear. FatR wrote:Since the dawn of DnD. In fact, they were even more of demigods then, because you were supposed to kill full gods at level 14. But even in 3.X,...Saern2011-02-14T13:58:51ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: There must be one in every group.Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2he3i&page=3?There-must-be-one-in-every-group#1082011-02-06T01:27:09Z2011-02-06T01:27:09Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote><p>So your argument is a friendly history is more important than the stability of the army, that lawful good people can't do what is necessary to maintain the authority of their command, and that it is much more reasonable to impose modern civilian ethics on a fantasy wartime society than it is to apply the internal logic of the situation.</p>
<p>How long do lawful good rulers last in your games? I'd guess a week. </blockquote><p>Did I say that? Let me check... nope. Looks like I was saying the paladin's actions were totally out of line for a Lawful GOOD character in the situation being discussed.
<p>Bruno's suggestion is absolutely correct, however; we can agree on that. Having characters kill each other can be wonderful story elements when thoroughly discussed and planned. Otherwise, it's about the worst thing that can happen in-game at your table, in terms of everyone walking away happy with how they chose to spend the last few hours of the evening.</p>
<p>Here's a sincere question for you: Tell me how, in your games, you see the paladin's actions differing from the actions of hypothetically LN or LE characters in his place. I think some of us have different alignment interpretations here, and examining them might help get at some of the roots of the disagreements at hand.</p>cranewings wrote:So your argument is a friendly history is more important than the stability of the army, that lawful good people can't do what is necessary to maintain the authority of their command, and that it is much more reasonable to impose modern civilian ethics on a fantasy wartime society than it is to apply the internal logic of the situation.
How long do lawful good rulers last in your games? I'd guess a week.
Did I say that? Let me check... nope. Looks like I was saying the...Saern2011-02-06T01:27:09ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: There must be one in every group.Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2he3i&page=2?There-must-be-one-in-every-group#992011-02-05T22:59:30Z2011-02-05T22:59:30Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote>Why not? </blockquote><p>The "Good" part, that's why. Perhaps a LN would act that way (depending on the laws of the land), but not LG. ESPECIALLY if the characters had any kind of amicable personal background. You know, what most people might call "friendship."
<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote>Right to trial is a modern invention of our laws.</blockquote><p>As opposed to... the time of the campaign setting? And when is that? "Medieval times"? I've long had a maxim never to include physics, biology, chemistry, or economics in D&D settings. Now that I'm in a graduate program actually studying the middle ages, I'm adding history to the list.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote>Allies don't undermine your authority. Enemies do that.</blockquote><p>Nice reasoning.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">cranewings wrote:</div><blockquote>I'm not even sure I'd knock his alignment for it.</blockquote><p>I'm sure. I would. He was clearly playing LAH (Lawful @$$ Hole).cranewings wrote:Why not?
The "Good" part, that's why. Perhaps a LN would act that way (depending on the laws of the land), but not LG. ESPECIALLY if the characters had any kind of amicable personal background. You know, what most people might call "friendship." cranewings wrote:Right to trial is a modern invention of our laws.
As opposed to... the time of the campaign setting? And when is that? "Medieval times"? I've long had a maxim never to include physics, biology, chemistry, or...Saern2011-02-05T22:59:30ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: D&D SkillsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lsmk?DD-Skills#62011-01-31T01:21:04Z2011-01-31T01:21:04Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Valegrim wrote:</div><blockquote>some like "you are royalty" ok; mabye that should be a feat; but seems more backgound.</blockquote><p>I tend to agree, but to play devil's advocate, I could see an argument which stated if the acquisition of a reasonable in-game bonus requires approximately X amount of time and effort (and is an ability which the character essentially either has or doesn't), then it is an acceptable feat. I.e., if being royalty gives significant bonuses to Diplomacy, or some other mechanically-describable ability, and it seems like learning to have that ability would require an equivalent amount of time and effort as, say, learning to trade accuracy for force (Power Attack), then it's an acceptable feat. I do concede even that raises questions of where the line lies; what should be available only through feats, and what can you simply do via background? However, my intent is only to show another possible justification for the creation of such a feat. If the game designers think it would be cool to add something measurable into the game to reward a player's background but don't want to create an entirely new and possibly inconsistent system, just calling it a feat is a good compromise.
<p>As for the larger question of skills, especially in relation to long-lived races. This gets into a whole world of messiness often referred to as the super-elf problem. If my character can go, in newer editions of the game, from level 1 to 20 in a year or two, why aren't all elves epic level? (Answer: the same reason all humans aren't epic level, because that time table would mean every bar tender with above average IQ should be able to learn to sling a <i>meteor swarm</i> at some point in their life, too, but they don't. Same with elves and dwarves, etc.)</p>
<p>Tied to that issue is the question of why a 1st level elf, who is already usually over 100 years old, only as good at any given skill as an essentially teenage human? And what about elven smiths and dwarven tradesmen? What about their skills vs. a human's?</p>
<p>Okay, the second one strikes me as easier to answer than the first. You think that an elf or dwarf, by virtue of their lifespan, should be far more experienced at their craft than a human? Makes sense! So make them higher level. Say the average human smith is 3rd level. It's completely arbitrary and depends on what your concept of 1st level vs. 3rd level vs. any other level represents. But just bear with me.</p>
<p>In that case, all dwarves in the same position would be 5th level. All elves 7th, perhaps. They've been at what they do and are just that much more experienced by virtue of literally hundreds of years more practice.</p>
<p>"But why are their hit points higher too?" Why does a wizard get more hit points per level? I'm an academic, and I can tell you spending all day going through musty tomes does NOT makes you hardier! :) Higher level people are more vital, in many senses of the word. Why should the PCs be the only ones to reap that benefit?</p>
<p>"But how do they gain experience?" By experiencing things. The game is oriented toward combat, and therefore by the RAW only rewards XP for combat encounters, though the 3.x DMG does allow for ad hoc rewards as well (and I'm pretty sure that's in the PFRPG RAW, too). Many publications, including the estimable Dungeon, have made use of that in the past to reward non-combat experience. I'm of the opinion that making even NPCs conform to that incredibly arbitrary method of personal development is senseless. Master smiths become masters by smithing things, not adventuring. It's still experience. I actually award tiny XP bonuses for crafting mundane items, to make this more equitable between PCs and NPCs in my games, though the reward is inconsequential relative to that for old fashioned adventuring.</p>
<p>The trick in this view of the game world is to figure out why your character is different. Why is it that your elf has only the same skill set as a teenage human, rather than that of a trained professional elven smith? There's the background story/role-playing challenge.</p>
<p>Alternately, and I enjoy this method, tinker with the races. Not in the usual, shallow "Maybe these elves have a different skin color and like pie instead of cake" tinkering that most people stop at. How does an elf's perception of the world and time differ from that of a human's? From a dwarf's? What is their social and legal and economic structure like at a young age? What systems would explain the mechanics they end up with? Rather than just observing the mechanics don't make sense, and/or trying to fix them (dangerous), I find it far more satisfying and interesting and manageable to play around with the fluff of the races to make it fit the bonuses the game prescribes.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Sorry for the rambling nature of this post. I haven't the time to craft it into a well-worded thesis. :(</p>Valegrim wrote:some like "you are royalty" ok; mabye that should be a feat; but seems more backgound.
I tend to agree, but to play devil's advocate, I could see an argument which stated if the acquisition of a reasonable in-game bonus requires approximately X amount of time and effort (and is an ability which the character essentially either has or doesn't), then it is an acceptable feat. I.e., if being royalty gives significant bonuses to Diplomacy, or some other mechanically-describable...Saern2011-01-31T01:21:04ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Verisimilitude and Healing SpellsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lr3i?Verisimilitude-and-Healing-Spells#142011-01-31T00:48:34Z2011-01-31T00:48:34Z<p>Curing a set number of hit points per level/HD rather than a random die actually mimics the 3.x rules for <i>heal</i> fairly well, though the magnitude is based off the target rather than the caster. Still, there is a nice symmetry. And adding in the relevant ability modifier is also a great idea; one of the main functions of healing is, particularly at low levels, to get someone back on their feet and into the fight. However, if they get back in with only 1 or 2 hp, they'll be out again very quick, and possibly in worse shape than before. Adding in the ability bonus would give a small but significant boost to the effectiveness of the spell. It would certainly be enough to stop PCs from bleeding out in combat. I think it has possibilities as an effective mechanic that is somewhat more justifiable fluff-wise. Healing somewhat closer to a percentage of total hit points could be described as the depth to which the magic takes effect; flesh wounds, internal organs, down to the bone, etc. There's still the corner issue of why a <i>cure light wounds</i> would be able to save someone bleeding out on the floor (a presumably deep wound), but the DM can always render the description such that the healer can physically get closer to the wound via the gaping hole in the chest, and thus the magic can reach the damaged area.</p>
<p>I would be tempted to back this up with a boost to the Heal skill, making it capable of actually significant healing with sufficiently difficult checks. It could be rendered a non-combat ability by simply requiring a minute or more to perform such a skill check (similar to actual battlefield or surgical medical procedures), aimed at letting parties heal up between fights more; or, if the DM thought that unbalancing, making the check deal damage instead of healing it if the check is botched by 5 or more would stop the party from taking 20. Actual surgical medical care still carries that risk in the modern era, and even moreso if the setting has medieval physicians in mind.</p>Curing a set number of hit points per level/HD rather than a random die actually mimics the 3.x rules for heal fairly well, though the magnitude is based off the target rather than the caster. Still, there is a nice symmetry. And adding in the relevant ability modifier is also a great idea; one of the main functions of healing is, particularly at low levels, to get someone back on their feet and into the fight. However, if they get back in with only 1 or 2 hp, they'll be out again very quick,...Saern2011-01-31T00:48:34ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Rules Opinion (Savage Tide spoilers)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lrhs?Rules-Opinion#92011-01-26T03:29:49Z2011-01-26T03:29:49Z<p>That would require the digestive tract to be a simple, open tube. It isn't. Even if the DM is so inclined to treat the T-rex's throat as a hallway (I would call shenanigans), it would have to at least deal enough damage to burn through just like any barrier or door. There is a solid wall of flesh between the swallowed character and the effect of the <i>fireball</i>. There is no line of effect, which means the gut of the dinosaur is not subject to the area of effect of the spell.</p>
<p>This all seems dangerously close to including physics in D&D, which is a no-no because it <i>doesn't work</i>. Additionally, as previously mentioned, although admittedly more subjective, it seems far too punitive toward the player and against the spirit of balance underlying 3.x D&D.</p>That would require the digestive tract to be a simple, open tube. It isn't. Even if the DM is so inclined to treat the T-rex's throat as a hallway (I would call shenanigans), it would have to at least deal enough damage to burn through just like any barrier or door. There is a solid wall of flesh between the swallowed character and the effect of the fireball. There is no line of effect, which means the gut of the dinosaur is not subject to the area of effect of the spell.
This all seems...Saern2011-01-26T03:29:49ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Orb Spells (Spell Compendium)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lpvm&page=2?Orb-Spells#802011-01-24T17:57:43Z2011-01-24T17:57:43Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">tortiekat wrote:</div><blockquote> I got the empower feat with a -1 level cost reduction, making it free. </blockquote><p>Unless Empower Spell is subject to more houserules in this setting than we've been made aware, it is a +2 spell level adjustment, so the -1 would still have a net +1 for the feat. Just FYI.
<p>Also, it sounds like the campaign Seldriss is running is decidedly higher-power than the standard game, with a large emphasis on damage potential. In which case, while I'd still argue that the orb spells need to be changed to make them internally consistent, I'd leave the end result alone. It sounds like they fit right in to what you've already got going!</p>tortiekat wrote:I got the empower feat with a -1 level cost reduction, making it free.
Unless Empower Spell is subject to more houserules in this setting than we've been made aware, it is a +2 spell level adjustment, so the -1 would still have a net +1 for the feat. Just FYI. Also, it sounds like the campaign Seldriss is running is decidedly higher-power than the standard game, with a large emphasis on damage potential. In which case, while I'd still argue that the orb spells need to be...Saern2011-01-24T17:57:43ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Rules Opinion (Savage Tide spoilers)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lrhs?Rules-Opinion#32011-01-24T17:51:53Z2011-01-24T17:51:53Z<p>I say he takes no damage. He's surrounded by a thick wall of flesh, which while said flesh may be getting burned, I doubt the PC notices anything but a warming sensation. Plus, they guy's already getting digested to death. Coming up with an ad hoc ruling turning his ally's actions against him seems unfair.</p>I say he takes no damage. He's surrounded by a thick wall of flesh, which while said flesh may be getting burned, I doubt the PC notices anything but a warming sensation. Plus, they guy's already getting digested to death. Coming up with an ad hoc ruling turning his ally's actions against him seems unfair.Saern2011-01-24T17:51:53ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Verisimilitude and Healing SpellsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lr3i?Verisimilitude-and-Healing-Spells#72011-01-21T22:08:31Z2011-01-21T22:08:31Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Abraham spalding wrote:</div><blockquote> Meh I'm lazier than Saern — it's magic would be my answer.</blockquote><p>That typically works for my players, too, but I can never be personally comfortable with that answer in a system which touts internal consistency. Not that always, or hell, even often lives up to it. But I try to justify the stuff anyway. :)Abraham spalding wrote:Meh I'm lazier than Saern -- it's magic would be my answer.
That typically works for my players, too, but I can never be personally comfortable with that answer in a system which touts internal consistency. Not that always, or hell, even often lives up to it. But I try to justify the stuff anyway. :)Saern2011-01-21T22:08:31ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Need help finding sufficient info... MoanderSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lqxa?Need-help-finding-sufficient-info-Moander#132011-01-21T21:06:42Z2011-01-21T21:06:42Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Spaetrice wrote:</div><blockquote> <div class="messageboard-quotee">TheWhiteknife wrote:</div><blockquote> Moander's dead. Finder killed him. </blockquote><p>You're a lot of help. Oh and these undead are immune to critical hits.
<p>Thanks again, everyone. Well, everyone with the exception of TheWhiteKnife since he's useless. </blockquote><p>Um... his name was Robert Paulson?Spaetrice wrote:TheWhiteknife wrote: Moander's dead. Finder killed him.
You're a lot of help. Oh and these undead are immune to critical hits. Thanks again, everyone. Well, everyone with the exception of TheWhiteKnife since he's useless. Um... his name was Robert Paulson?Saern2011-01-21T21:06:42ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Verisimilitude and Healing SpellsSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lr3i?Verisimilitude-and-Healing-Spells#22012-11-15T23:09:53Z2011-01-21T21:06:04Z<p>This has bothered me for a long time, too. I've thought about differentiating the effects of cure spells more, but that's no good. Ultimately, I go with fluff about the strength of a person's life-force requiring greater magic to produce the same effects. Kind of like DBZ power levels (or what I gather of them from the parodies on youtube, being my only exposure to the series); but it also seems to work in things like OotS. There are literally such things as "lesser men;" some people are just "better" or "more" than others, and they require stronger magic. At least, that's the only way I can wrap my head around it in-game. Hope that helps.</p>This has bothered me for a long time, too. I've thought about differentiating the effects of cure spells more, but that's no good. Ultimately, I go with fluff about the strength of a person's life-force requiring greater magic to produce the same effects. Kind of like DBZ power levels (or what I gather of them from the parodies on youtube, being my only exposure to the series); but it also seems to work in things like OotS. There are literally such things as "lesser men;" some people are just...Saern2011-01-21T21:06:04ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Need help challanging my playersSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lqm5?Need-help-challanging-my-players#52011-01-21T13:50:48Z2011-01-21T13:50:48Z<p>All good advice. Also, give the cleric some potions of spells not on his list. <i>Invisibility</i> and <i>displacement</i> are great; your AC doesn't matter if there's a flat miss chance, or the party simply can't find you. While invisible, and the party should be occupied with minions (applying the zombie template to giants is a great way to get a massive sack of hit points, which if nothing else, buys time), establish some battlefield control spells. I don't have a cleric's spell list handy at the moment, or the time to check the SRD, but if you can have some <i>wall</i> spells or the like put out, that would be good. Divide and conquer. </p>
<p>Before you even get to that, throw down a <i>forbiddance</i> stacked with <i>unhallow</i> on his throne room (or whatever) for a nasty smack whenever they even enter the place. Chain <i>invisibility purge</i> (it won't affect the cleric's) or, perhaps better, <i>dispel magic</i> to the <i>unhallow</i>. There's a feat in Libris Mortis that lets non-undead heal via negative energy. That would be a huge boon to an evil cleric.</p>
<p>Some more specifics about the dungeon, the foes, the layout, etc., would help us pool resources on the board to set up some good challenges. Also, common tactics of your party. The last big fight I ran, the party faced a vampire. The rogue's sneak attacks were useless, her short swords couldn't pierce the damage reduction faster than the fast healing took care of it; the barbarian had a terrible will save and turned against the druid, dropping him (but not killing, so it was all good) in one round; the sorcerer used fire and negative energy spells, and the vampire was immune to the second and the first he blocked with one <i>protection from energy</i>. It was one of the hardest fights I've ever run, but only because it was tailored to the specifics of the party, down to their feats, spell selection, and standard operating procedures.</p>
<p>Whenever they do get to this dungeon, let us know how it plays out!</p>All good advice. Also, give the cleric some potions of spells not on his list. Invisibility and displacement are great; your AC doesn't matter if there's a flat miss chance, or the party simply can't find you. While invisible, and the party should be occupied with minions (applying the zombie template to giants is a great way to get a massive sack of hit points, which if nothing else, buys time), establish some battlefield control spells. I don't have a cleric's spell list handy at the...Saern2011-01-21T13:50:48ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Orb Spells (Spell Compendium)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lpvm&page=2?Orb-Spells#782011-01-20T14:02:48Z2011-01-20T14:02:48Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote>either way it sounds like were both haveing fun in our games and thats whats important. </blockquote><p>and
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote>I think freehold is correct that we are simply going to have to agree to disagree and as long as it works at our respective tables who cares.</blockquote><p>Well enough, indeed! I'm still curious, however, about...
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote><p> the thing about golems or other constructs is they are honestly very easily handled by summoned creatures or a quick change into a more battle form like ogre or firbolg if you have the hit dice or even Evards black tentatcles and then just get in some ranged practice.</p>
<p>I maintain that SR is over used in 3.5 and that evasion and improved evasion are too good and take far too much away from the role of damage dealing spellcasters. </blockquote><p>Unless you're using adamantine weapons, whether melee or ranged, the golem is going to still be highly resistant to just about any kind of attack. They are the kind of creature that is designed to be that way. Personally, I use them extremely sparingly. I suppose I can understand some animosity toward them if you have a DM who spams adventures which are golem-heavy, but I have trouble thinking why there would be so many running (or... not) around. Sounds like an issue with the DM to me.
<p>And along the same lines, regarding evasion, how many opponents with this ability does your DM throw at you? Off the top of my head, only PC classes get this ability, and only two of them at early levels (rangers never get the improved version, either, I believe). There's also animal companions and mounts, but that seems even less frequent. Unless your DM loves using opponents who are near immune to the party's attacks on a regular basis, I once again can't see how you might be encountering enough rogues and monks to make their improved evasion ability, which was really designed for players, a problem.</p>
<p>So what is your gaming experience? Does your DM have some kind of sadistic streak, or separation issues with his NPCs where he can't stand to see them damaged at all? Again, I'm just wondering if there's another issue at play here, because golems and improved-evasion characters have always seemed like corner cases to me.</p>Steven Tindall wrote:either way it sounds like were both haveing fun in our games and thats whats important.
and Steven Tindall wrote:I think freehold is correct that we are simply going to have to agree to disagree and as long as it works at our respective tables who cares.
Well enough, indeed! I'm still curious, however, about... Steven Tindall wrote: the thing about golems or other constructs is they are honestly very easily handled by summoned creatures or a quick change into a more...Saern2011-01-20T14:02:48ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Orb Spells (Spell Compendium)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lpvm&page=2?Orb-Spells#742011-01-19T18:12:27Z2011-01-19T18:12:27Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote> We are 11th level charecters for goodness sake and a SR of 28+ means that half of our spells are going to fail.</blockquote><p>The design philosophy behind spell resistance is that roughly 55% of an appropriately-leveled casters spells will break through. So half of your spells making it in sounds completely in keeping with the intent behind the creature.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote> we don't need to turn or destroy the undead because that doesn't give us any EXP. so immaterial undead are a real problem for us and the orb spells mean that we have a chance. </blockquote><p>Not exactly sure what you're trying to say here, but yes, turning/destroying undead gives XP. If you're DM is running some alternate rule, that's a problem with a table idiosyncrasy rather than the system. And any orb spell other than <i>orb of force</i> will be just as (in)effective against incorporeal undead as, say, a <i>fireball</i> or <i>lightning bolt</i>. The issue there isn't spell resistance, it's the incorporeal attribute.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Steven Tindall wrote:</div><blockquote> Can you imagine a fighter being told he does absolutly no damage to the taget AFTER he has used all his attacks in the round because he didn't overcome the targets DR threshhold of 28 per hit. Oh almost forgot the ones that DID manage to get through he gets to dodge out of the way and take half damage as well. </blockquote><p>That basically happened in the last fight I ran. The party was up against a vampire. The rogue's sneak attacks were useless, and her weapons weren't strong enough to penetrate the vampire's DR, at least not to an extent that its fast healing didn't easily mop up the next round. The barbarian, who had multi-classed into the obscure "lasher" PrC (good with whips) was in a similar situation. The sorcerer had mainly necromancy spells (useless here) and fire (which the vamp knew about beforehand and blocked with <i>protection from energy</i>). They made it through, but barely. One character death, but not from the vampire.
<p>There will be things that block your strengths and play off your weaknesses. It's an inherent part of the game design. I disagree that there are too many creatures with SR. There are plenty out there that a good old <i>fireball</i> will roast just fine. Sometimes a battle will be hard because of one factor, like SR. Again, that's an intentionally designed part of the game.</p>
<p>Finally, know what spell made all the difference in the vampire fight? One extremely well-placed <i>wall of force</i>.</p>Steven Tindall wrote:We are 11th level charecters for goodness sake and a SR of 28+ means that half of our spells are going to fail.
The design philosophy behind spell resistance is that roughly 55% of an appropriately-leveled casters spells will break through. So half of your spells making it in sounds completely in keeping with the intent behind the creature. Steven Tindall wrote:we don't need to turn or destroy the undead because that doesn't give us any EXP. so immaterial undead are a...Saern2011-01-19T18:12:27ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Orb Spells (Spell Compendium)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lpvm&page=2?Orb-Spells#552011-01-19T04:15:23Z2011-01-19T04:15:23Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Daniel Moyer wrote:</div><blockquote><p><b>How I disagree:</b> So it's OKAY for a 10th level Barbarian(2H), Ranger (Archer), Rogue(TWF), Paladin to pour potentially 100+ damage into... let's say a dragon, but it's <i>game breaking-world ending-OMGDAWGONFYRE</i> for the wizard/sorcerer to toss Orb of Force for 60(10d6) damage max? Which he can't even 'Empower' for +50% until 11th level... which is STILL only 90 damage max. Do you know how hard it is to roll ALL 6s on 10-15 dice? Good luck with that.</p>
<p><b>As for the SR:</b> I played the SR game (blaster-built celestial sorcerer) for an ENTIRE module during the CotCT AP, basically watching as everyone else played for several gaming sessions AND I had Spell Penetration/Greater Spell Penetration. Near the end of the module we leveled and I took an orb spell... I actually got to contribute in the last fight other than layering Dispel Magic, which our cleric already had well under control. My suggestion, roll up a wizard/sorcerer (without conjuration), fight 2-3 months(real time) of SR heavy creatures, let me know how much fun you're having watching the Barbarian and Rogue play. </blockquote><p>I have no problem with the damage the spells can dish out, nor even that there are such spells which bypass SR. My problem with the orbs in its entirety is that they are counter-intuitive to the rest of the 3.x system, which is something that 3.x was supposed to avoid. The result isn't an issue, in my eyes; it's the design philosophy behind it. I think that's what really riles up most others, too. The fact that they deal a non-standard damage die, of a higher value than most other spells, just irks them more. But the core is the elemental blasting spell being lumped (cheesily, it feels) into Conjuration just to bypass SR. There were other options open to the designers to achieve that same end effect; the way the spells are written as-is seems cheap and lazy.Daniel Moyer wrote:How I disagree: So it's OKAY for a 10th level Barbarian(2H), Ranger (Archer), Rogue(TWF), Paladin to pour potentially 100+ damage into... let's say a dragon, but it's game breaking-world ending-OMGDAWGONFYRE for the wizard/sorcerer to toss Orb of Force for 60(10d6) damage max? Which he can't even 'Empower' for +50% until 11th level... which is STILL only 90 damage max. Do you know how hard it is to roll ALL 6s on 10-15 dice? Good luck with that.
As for the SR: I played the...Saern2011-01-19T04:15:23ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Who's your favorite Dragon?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lmvi&page=2?Whos-your-favorite-Dragon#1002011-01-19T04:11:42Z2011-01-19T04:11:42Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Chevalier wrote:</div><blockquote>Nice to see another Tolkien aficionado...</blockquote><p>Indeed! I've just begun graduate school in English and medieval studies, and my link between the fields is Tolkien. There's a whole field of academic study emerging around him, and in addition to some old school early Germanic philology (Old English and Old Norse; I'm interested in the interaction between Anglo-Saxon and Viking cultures), I hope to specialize in Tolkien studies and get into that burgeoning field!
<p>I read Roverandom as a child, but can't remember much about it. And yes, Howe and Lee are great. And the passage in Giles will always stick with me, when (to paraphrase) many of the younger dragons came together and said to each other, "So! Knights really do exist! We thought they were only in stories." :)</p>
<p>And regarding pyroclastic dragons: they get an enthusiastic nod from me on the basis of their name alone!</p>Chevalier wrote:Nice to see another Tolkien aficionado...
Indeed! I've just begun graduate school in English and medieval studies, and my link between the fields is Tolkien. There's a whole field of academic study emerging around him, and in addition to some old school early Germanic philology (Old English and Old Norse; I'm interested in the interaction between Anglo-Saxon and Viking cultures), I hope to specialize in Tolkien studies and get into that burgeoning field! I read Roverandom as...Saern2011-01-19T04:11:42ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Druid why are they not Spontaneous castersSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lq63?Druid-why-are-they-not-Spontaneous-casters#242011-01-17T20:32:20Z2011-01-17T20:32:20Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Jeraa wrote:</div><blockquote> It may have already been mentioned... but (probably) the biggest reason that the druid was not made a spontaneous caster was because they have always had to prepare their spells in advance. Its one of those Sacred Cow things. </blockquote><p>This is my guess above and beyond anything else. D&D players have traditionally tended to be the same kinds of people who get upset when there is a discrepancy between the color of a lightsaber in a book and movie of the Star Wars setting. They take their arbitrary sacred cows very seriously. Just look at the outrage over 4e; it wasn't because the mechanics were bad, it was because they didn't adhere to the traditional concepts of the classes said mechanics represented. This sacred cow tradition is even somewhat evidenced by the mere fact this question was asked.
<p>The sorcerer introduced the concept of spontaneous casting into 3.x. The bard was altered to spontaneous casting as well since it was the only other Charisma-based casting class and they desired some level of internal consistency to reward the concept of game mastery. We can speculate that, at the launch of 3.x, the concept <i>was</i> indeed that Charisma was linked to spontaneous casting, probably because it was meant to represent a more impulsive bending of the universe to one's will rather than rigorous study or pious adherence to a given dogma. But maybe not. What is certain is that the druid had not traditionally been a spontaneous caster, and so without some kind of overwhelmingly compelling reason to alter it into the new spellcasting paradigm, it was left as a prepared spellcaster. Perhaps the thought to change the druid was brought up and dismissed, perhaps it never entered the designer's minds. No one but they can say now, but I would bet money that it had next to nothing to do with design philosophy, but rather was an adherence to tradition first and foremost.</p>Jeraa wrote:It may have already been mentioned... but (probably) the biggest reason that the druid was not made a spontaneous caster was because they have always had to prepare their spells in advance. Its one of those Sacred Cow things.
This is my guess above and beyond anything else. D&D players have traditionally tended to be the same kinds of people who get upset when there is a discrepancy between the color of a lightsaber in a book and movie of the Star Wars setting. They take their...Saern2011-01-17T20:32:20ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Who's your favorite Dragon?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lmvi&page=2?Whos-your-favorite-Dragon#942011-01-17T00:13:33Z2011-01-17T00:13:33Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Jaelithe wrote:</div><blockquote>Ancalagon's just a name, essentially. I'd go with Glaurung. Now <i>there's</i> malice. </blockquote><p>Aww, man! I was hoping to be the first to claim Glaurung. The moment he emerges from Nargothrond and Turin whirls around and looks him straight in the eye as if to contest wills... and Glaurung has the mastery; I love that scene so much. Pure. Evil. Power.
<div class="messageboard-quotee">Chevalier wrote:</div><blockquote>Chrysophylax appears in JRRT's long short story "Farmer Giles of Ham," available in lots of anthologies through the years and occasionally on its own. The Annotated Farmer Giles of Ham explains some of his inspirations and the linguistic jokes that pop up throughout the story. If the 1st edition dragon-subduing rules ever confused you, here's a chance to see some dragon-subduing in action. It's a good illustration of dragons' greed and ultimate cowardice, if that's how you like your dragons.</blockquote><p>In addition, "Farmer Giles of Ham" alongside "Smith of Wooten Major" serve to demonstrate Tolkien's idea of what constitutes a genuine "fairy-tale," what we would call good fantasy; as opposed to cheap crap with all the trappings and none of the substance which Tolkien felt many of his contemporaries tried to foist off; especially toward children, thinking they lacked the capacity to understand quality in a story, or lack thereof.
<p>Neither work, nor "Leaf by Niggle," has anything to do with Middle-Earth and thus, while very important to understanding Tolkien and great works in and of themselves (Giles is HILARIOUS!), they are fairly obscure.</p>
<p>While we're talking about Tolkien's other writings, I heartily believe every lover of fantasy in any form should read "On Fairy-Stories." Who am I kidding? I think everyone should read it whether they like fantasy or not! :)</p>Jaelithe wrote:Ancalagon's just a name, essentially. I'd go with Glaurung. Now there's malice.
Aww, man! I was hoping to be the first to claim Glaurung. The moment he emerges from Nargothrond and Turin whirls around and looks him straight in the eye as if to contest wills... and Glaurung has the mastery; I love that scene so much. Pure. Evil. Power. Chevalier wrote:Chrysophylax appears in JRRT's long short story "Farmer Giles of Ham," available in lots of anthologies through the years and...Saern2011-01-17T00:13:33ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Magic Item Creation: Is this Correct?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hchf?Magic-Item-Creation-Is-this-Correct#172011-01-16T21:36:29Z2011-01-16T21:36:29Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Wildebob wrote:</div><blockquote><p> Thanks, Atrus. I had figured that I was either missing or misusing some calculation rule, or that the writers had simply changed the price to fit it better. That makes sense.
</p>
Saern, I like the idea of putting a limitation on it to lower the price. I'll bring that up to my DM. One thing though, you calculated the charges wrong. You said "times 5/3" when it's "divide by 5/3" in the rules. That would put it at 54,000gp. Much more manageable, but still a "good chunk of change." Thanks for your help. You'd understand why I want this item if you saw how I roll. Haha! </blockquote><p>Thanks! I thought that price seemed awfully high, but I know there are many items which have a very large price tag for their effect, and I wouldn't be COMPLETELY surprised if the rules indicated the same for this item; +20 is nothing to scoff at!
<p>That being said, I was thinking 50,000 would have been a better base price anyway, perhaps lower with the class restriction. You may want to ask your DM about putting a clause on how this item interacts with real rods of metamagic. If you made lesser, normal, and greater versions of it, you may be able to get some for your lower level spells like <i>ray of enfeeblement</i> and <i>scorching ray</i> for relatively cheap. You may also want to put a clause in about not being able to stack the effects of this rod with any rod of metamagic, claiming that it is related to them and they don't stack with themselves, so this wouldn't either. The point being clarifying limitations that don't affect what you actually plan to do with the rod in order to drop the price. Let us know what you and your DM settle on!</p>Wildebob wrote:Thanks, Atrus. I had figured that I was either missing or misusing some calculation rule, or that the writers had simply changed the price to fit it better. That makes sense.
Saern, I like the idea of putting a limitation on it to lower the price. I'll bring that up to my DM. One thing though, you calculated the charges wrong. You said "times 5/3" when it's "divide by 5/3" in the rules. That would put it at 54,000gp. Much more manageable, but still a "good chunk of change."...Saern2011-01-16T21:36:29ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Magic Item Creation: Is this Correct?Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hchf?Magic-Item-Creation-Is-this-Correct#152011-01-16T17:23:11Z2011-01-16T17:23:11Z<p>Yes, if you're using a quickened <i>true strike</i> into an item, it would require an appropriate caster level as well. For a wizard, this would be CL 9 for the 5th level spell slot. SL 5 • CL 9 • 2,000gp • 5/(charges per day)= base price of the item. If you're basing the thing on a metamagic rod, then the charges per day should be 3. 5 • 9 = 45 • 2,000gp = 90,000gp • 5/3 = 150,000gp.</p>
<p>That seems quite steep to me. If you're making it for a wizard to use with his touch spells (which seems well within the intent of the spell as written, since it's effect is limited to the caster), I would put in a class restriction to sorcerer/wizard and drop the price significantly. Still, it looks like this kind of item is going to cost you a good chunk of change in return for some essentially auto-hit ranged touch spells per day.</p>Yes, if you're using a quickened true strike into an item, it would require an appropriate caster level as well. For a wizard, this would be CL 9 for the 5th level spell slot. SL 5 * CL 9 * 2,000gp * 5/(charges per day)= base price of the item. If you're basing the thing on a metamagic rod, then the charges per day should be 3. 5 * 9 = 45 * 2,000gp = 90,000gp * 5/3 = 150,000gp.
That seems quite steep to me. If you're making it for a wizard to use with his touch spells (which seems well...Saern2011-01-16T17:23:11ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Orb Spells (Spell Compendium)Saernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lpvm?Orb-Spells#392011-01-15T18:14:51Z2011-01-15T18:14:51Z<p>My problem with the orb spells is tied to both their school and the fact they bypass SR. Not from a game balance perspective, mind you, but from what tatters of internal consistency the 3.5 rules claim to be clinging to; or were, until the orb spells appeared. Why is <i>orb of fire</i> conjuration, but <i>fireball</i> evocation? I know there are some fuzzy areas about spell school classifications even within the SRD (why is <i>wall of force</i> evocation but <i>mage armor</i> conjuration; why is <i>mage armor</i> not abjuration, for that matter?). However, I find the effects different enough to justify, however flimsily, the way the spells are. The orb spells are just too similar to precedent spells which are lumped under evocation, and therefore are subject to SR. I normally take the perspective that rules come first, justifying it in game comes second; but the orb spells go a little too far for me. Possibly because I <i>can't</i> justify them in game without it just seeming... weird. Too weird. They strike me as spells that are overly self-aware of their own mechanics and come off as a shallow gimmick. I would argue that allowing the <i>orb of acid</i> and even the <i>orb of force</i> to remain conjuration, though perhaps dropping their damage die, is enough. The others should be evocation and subject to SR. If you want to counter the nerf somewhat, fiddle with the severity of the status effect produced on a failed save.</p>
<p>Also, some people have thrown around that they are balanced in the RAW because, while they bypass SR, they require a touch attack. That is not the rule of thumb in D&D. The rule of thumb is SAVE or TOUCH ATTACK. <i>Scorching ray</i> and <i>ray of enfeeblement</i> require touch attacks, and therefore allow no save; but they are still subject to SR. Only <i>acid arrow</i> is different because its, well, acid; a material substance rather than an energy type, and thus easily conceived as existing on its own in a non-magical state once the initial spell has conjured the goo. An little sphere of fire or, good lord, pure force, which somehow doesn't rely on magic for the brief but definitely measurable amount of time it exists? It flies too far in the face of precedents within the system for me to approve.</p>My problem with the orb spells is tied to both their school and the fact they bypass SR. Not from a game balance perspective, mind you, but from what tatters of internal consistency the 3.5 rules claim to be clinging to; or were, until the orb spells appeared. Why is orb of fire conjuration, but fireball evocation? I know there are some fuzzy areas about spell school classifications even within the SRD (why is wall of force evocation but mage armor conjuration; why is mage armor not...Saern2011-01-15T18:14:51ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Energy Drain and SpellcastersSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lokm?Energy-Drain-and-Spellcasters#62011-01-05T21:39:46Z2011-01-05T21:39:46Z<p>Thanks, everyone! Mr. Lichman, excellent point regarding the nature of spell-like abilities, and one I'm sure will be useful in explaining wonkiness in the future; spell-like abilities are not spells and thus governed by separate, though generally very similar, rules.</p>
<p>As for the effects of the level loss, I think I have a better grasp on the situation of losing a spell or spell slot. The wording indicates the character has some kind of choice, or that there is a separate consideration, which determines whether they lose a spell or spell slot; but it's really a matter of applying a single rule to either prepared or spontaneous spellcasters.</p>
<p>For future reference, I will most likely go with the less-punitive, easier-to-calculate system of deducting a single spell slot but not denying access to the spell itself even if the caster level drops below the technical minimum for normal access to said spell level. If the character later fails the necessary saves and the drained levels become permanent, then such recalculations will be imposed. It's justifiable within the game as well, as the withering curse taking time to fully settle in on the character.</p>
<p>Not that it's likely to matter as much in the immediate future of this campaign. Although the party has to square off against the vampire again to seal the deal on her destruction, the sorcerer won't be joining them on account of death by wraith Constitution drain when encountering the guardian undead around the vampire's coffin. So, no more <i>enervation</i> spamming for now.</p>Thanks, everyone! Mr. Lichman, excellent point regarding the nature of spell-like abilities, and one I'm sure will be useful in explaining wonkiness in the future; spell-like abilities are not spells and thus governed by separate, though generally very similar, rules.
As for the effects of the level loss, I think I have a better grasp on the situation of losing a spell or spell slot. The wording indicates the character has some kind of choice, or that there is a separate consideration, which...Saern2011-01-05T21:39:46ZForums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Energy Drain and SpellcastersSaernhttps://paizo.com/threads/rzs2lokm?Energy-Drain-and-Spellcasters#12012-11-15T23:08:31Z2011-01-03T20:44:54Z<p>Yesterday, my 10th level PCs went through two separate fights, and the events of each raised questions about the other. First, the party fought a bone devil. The group's sorcerer used <i>enervation</i> a few times and drained about 4 levels from the monster. In a ruling, which I am more than willing to reverse if there seems to be a consensus I was in the wrong, I said that while it's caster level, and therefore duration, etc., of its spell-like abilities was affected, its access to them was not. I made this ruling because it has always seemed to me, in 3.x D&D and its derivatives, that there is a disconnect between whether a monster has a spell-like ability, and the caster level it uses for said ability. For example, a quasit can cast <i>commune</i> as a spell-like ability, but its caster level is only 6th instead of the 9th a PC would need to cast the spell. So the fact that the osyluth was drained of caster level seemed, at the time, to indicate it shouldn't necessarily lose the ability to cast any of his spell-like abilities.</p>
<p>Fast forward to the boss fight, against a vampire. The vampire gives the sorcerer a taste of his own medicine with a level draining slam, and the sorcerer is afflicted with two negative levels. I tell him he therefore loses access to his 5th level spells (which at 10th level he only has one of: <i>forcewall</i>). Later in the fight, while flipping madly through his player's handbook and, subsequently, the conditions section at the rear of the dungeon master's guide, he says there is nothing in the energy drain or negative level descriptions which indicate he should lose access to said spell. He said that the write ups for the status effect in both books indicate he simply loses a spell slot and the effects derived from his caster level as applicable to the spell, not that he lost access to the spell itself. He referenced my call earlier in the night with the bone devil. I told him I was sure enough of my interpretation that I didn't want to break momentum at the time, but would raise the question here after the game.</p>
<p>I did, however, say that he had access to the spell <i>slots</i>, and could use them to cast more of his lower level spells (which, as it turned out, were all necromancy, mind-affecting, and fire-based spells; since the vampire had scryed the party in action and knew their penchant for fire, one <i>protection from energy</i> rendered all of the sorcerer's spells useless except for <i>magic missile</i>, which he proceeded to empower and maximize out the wazoo through the rest of the fight).</p>
<p>Upon reviewing the descriptions, they are somewhat ambiguous. They do say that you lose a spell slot, <i>or a spell</i>, of your highest level (player's choice if more than one spell or spell slot meets the criteria). Which is clear as mud. If he loses the spell, then I was correct in my ruling. If he loses the spell slot, I was diametrically opposed to what the rules actually say. This also raises the question of, if he loses the spell or spell slot, is that just a feature of gaining negative levels, of losing a caster level regardless of the source, or would both those things stack? (i.e., loses a spell or spell slot from the negative level, then loses more from re-calculating his caster level at a lower point; which I doubt is the case because it seems needlessly compounded)</p>
<p>Additionally, I swear I have repeatedly read that if you lose the prerequisites for an ability, be they ability score, level, another feat, etc., then you lose all dependent and derivative abilities as well. However, that rule could not be found in the mad shuffle of last night's combat, and I have no idea where to look for it now. It seems directly relevant to the energy drain and negative level question at hand.</p>
<p>Finally, there is the lingering question of whether a bone devil drained of caster levels loses access to his upper-tier spell-like abilities as a character would (?), or is the fact that a quasit can cast <i>commune</i> with an inappropriately low caster level an implicit indication that monsters' spell-like abilities don't operate under exactly the same rules as spellcasting PCs?</p>
<p>Thanks for wading through that long post and its questions. I look forward to your interpretations!</p>Yesterday, my 10th level PCs went through two separate fights, and the events of each raised questions about the other. First, the party fought a bone devil. The group's sorcerer used enervation a few times and drained about 4 levels from the monster. In a ruling, which I am more than willing to reverse if there seems to be a consensus I was in the wrong, I said that while it's caster level, and therefore duration, etc., of its spell-like abilities was affected, its access to them was not. I...Saern2011-01-03T20:44:54ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1422008-02-03T03:28:47Z2008-02-03T03:28:45Z<p>"This tiding reeks of some evil," the paladin says. "Versonton seems beset by phantoms in these dark days, from beyond the walls to within our own dreams. But no, we did not hear the Shrieking Ghost this past night," Sir Tyraval addresses Marcellus. "Mayhaps the disturbing images were some small curse it laid upon you, or a taint acquired from coming in such close proximity. Legends tell of such ailments. But I am no conjurer, I do not know these things. Laryndis, would Laryndel be able to answer these questions?"</p>
<p>The gray-haired half-elf shakes his head. "Of course not, Tyraval. My sister isn't one for necromancy, curses, or any such witchcraft. No offense, mistress Talia," he adds with a belated nod.</p>
<p>"Well," the paladin eyes the door thoughtfully, "we haven't time to waste on dreams. It's probably nothing." None of you are fooled into thinking the knight truly believes that. "We'll see what Laryndel can make of it, if anything. If not, perhaps you can return to your temple and meditate on the matter, Weird Talia." Sir Tyraval looks more closely at the priestess. "Is everything all right, mistress?"</p>"This tiding reeks of some evil," the paladin says. "Versonton seems beset by phantoms in these dark days, from beyond the walls to within our own dreams. But no, we did not hear the Shrieking Ghost this past night," Sir Tyraval addresses Marcellus. "Mayhaps the disturbing images were some small curse it laid upon you, or a taint acquired from coming in such close proximity. Legends tell of such ailments. But I am no conjurer, I do not know these things. Laryndis, would Laryndel be able to...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-02-03T03:28:45ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1312008-01-27T16:56:21Z2008-01-27T16:56:17Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Harmen:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>“Great show, friend,” Laryndis says to Xendril. “Water Under the Bridge hasn’t had a performance like that in a year at least. But it looks like the crowd’s thinning out now. They’ve been leaving early this whole week for fear of the Shrieking Ghost. But the seemed easier tonight. I suppose one way to know if the Shrieking Ghost is gone or not is if we hear its calls tonight. We have every night so far.” The half-elf looks around at the tavern. “I’d best get to cleaning this place up. The halfling who met you outside, Caemus, will be along shortly and show you to your beds. May Erelune smile upon your dreams tonight!”</p>
<p>Laryndis takes his leave. In the moment of quiet which follows, the back door to the tavern opens and in walks the halfling. “Greetings again and good evening to you, masters and mistress. I’ve already shown my kin, Harmen, to his room for the night. Now I’ll be pleased to show you the same.” Caemus pauses for a second. “Wasn’t there another one of my kin with you when you arrived? Driving the wagon?” He looks around. Sure enough, Faz is nowhere to be seen.</p>
<p>“Must be out attending his own business. No matter. I’ll send him along when he comes back. This way, masters and mistress!” Caemus leads the companions off. He picks up a candle as he exits the tavern and lights it, using it to navigate the short walk to the inn and then through the hall, up the stairs, to the rooms on the top floor. “You may be the first travelers of the year, but we expect more soon. The masters will be in this room, but mistress Talia gets a bit of comfort to herself in the one across the hall there. Enjoy the night, masters and mistress!”</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Azuma:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Talia:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>The dawn breaks bright. Golden sunlight pours into the room, awakening the companions from their rest. Someone knocks on the door. It is Caemus. “Good morning, masters! Sir Tyraval has come to escort you to the castle. I’ve already sent mistress Talia down. I hope you slept well.”</p>
<p>Moments later, the companions enter the tavern and find Laryndis sitting with the knight, Sir Tyraval. He drains a tankard of what looks like milk, then spying the group rises and makes a quick bow. “Well met this morning, friends. I’m glad to see you so early. If you are ready, I shall take you to His Lordship, the Count.”</p>Harmen:
[Spoiler omitted]
“Great show, friend,” Laryndis says to Xendril. “Water Under the Bridge hasn’t had a performance like that in a year at least. But it looks like the crowd’s thinning out now. They’ve been leaving early this whole week for fear of the Shrieking Ghost. But the seemed easier tonight. I suppose one way to know if the Shrieking Ghost is gone or not is if we hear its calls tonight. We have every night so far.” The half-elf looks around at the tavern. “I’d best get to...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-27T16:56:17ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1262008-01-26T14:20:56Z2008-01-26T14:20:56Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Bump</span></p>BumpDM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-26T14:20:56ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1252008-01-24T15:50:13Z2008-01-24T15:47:22Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Harmen:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Armaros:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>Harmen:
[Spoiler omitted]
Armaros:
[Spoiler omitted]DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-24T15:47:22ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1222008-01-20T19:03:25Z2008-01-20T19:01:56Z<p>Laryndis comes out of his reverie. "Hm? Oh, yes. The Spellguard. I can't tell you if the man did or didn't have anything to do with the Green Wizard. I don't know much about the Spellguard at all, really. He didn't stay here and I never met him in the flesh. He wasn't in town long. There was a bit of talk here and there, though. I imagine you'll find the gossip mongers more than willing to chew your ear off with their addled rumors."</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Harmen:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>Laryndis comes out of his reverie. "Hm? Oh, yes. The Spellguard. I can't tell you if the man did or didn't have anything to do with the Green Wizard. I don't know much about the Spellguard at all, really. He didn't stay here and I never met him in the flesh. He wasn't in town long. There was a bit of talk here and there, though. I imagine you'll find the gossip mongers more than willing to chew your ear off with their addled rumors."
Harmen:
[Spoiler omitted]DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-20T19:01:56ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1192008-01-20T00:00:46Z2008-01-20T00:00:46Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Armaros:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>"Well," the gray-haired half-elf says, pulling up a chair for a moment, "I'm not sure where to start. I suppose that's because I'm not sure how I feel about him. I've always thought well of him as a lord. He takes good care of his people, far better than most in these troubled times. Though as I've gotten to know him some, he does strike me as a bit vain. It's a minor flaw for good leadership, though, and one he keeps checked most of the time.</p>
<p>"My sister is a good bit younger than I. I've always looked out for her. The two of us have had no one to rely on save each other for most of our lives. I guess I was just a bit shocked when I turned around one day and found her married. To a noble, no less! I doubt I'd have any reservations at all against Belren, I mean <i>Count Verson</i>, if it wasn't for my reluctance to let go of Laryndel as my little sister. I suppose that's the elf blood in me. Always looking for the past and surprised by the present."</p>
<p>Laryndis looks off in thought, not unhappily, but obviously distracted in his mind by some consideration.</p>Armaros:
[Spoiler omitted]
"Well," the gray-haired half-elf says, pulling up a chair for a moment, "I'm not sure where to start. I suppose that's because I'm not sure how I feel about him. I've always thought well of him as a lord. He takes good care of his people, far better than most in these troubled times. Though as I've gotten to know him some, he does strike me as a bit vain. It's a minor flaw for good leadership, though, and one he keeps checked most of the time.
"My sister is a...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-20T00:00:46ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1142008-01-13T21:48:46Z2008-01-13T21:48:45Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Note to Gadreel: I need you to check the discussion thread. I left a question there for you some time ago that I need to know the answer to before proceeding much further.</span></p>Note to Gadreel: I need you to check the discussion thread. I left a question there for you some time ago that I need to know the answer to before proceeding much further.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-13T21:48:45ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1092008-01-12T16:55:30Z2008-01-12T16:53:42Z<p>"The Count will be pleased, as am I. You have a good measure about you, friends. I assume you shall be lodging here with Laryndis tonight. You're in good hands. I shall come in the morning to escort you to Castle Verson. I wish I could stay to speak longer, but I have other duties to attend, and must return with your answers to the Count. Until the morrow, friends." The paladin bows and turns. "Laryndis, shall I send your greetings to his Lordship?"</p>
<p>The half-elf shrugs. "You can if you wish. Do say hello to my sister for me, however."</p>
<p>"I shall." As Tyraval walks out the door, several townsfolk walk in. After a brief exchange with the knight, they head over to the tables near the heroes.</p>
<p><i>I thought I saw them come in here!</p>
<p>I bet you folks have some tales to tell!</i></p>
<p>Laryndis hears Xendril's request to perform. "Yes, friend, I think a song would do us well. Perhaps draw in quite the crowd for the dinner time! I best get busy with some more food. I leave the stage in your hands, which I am certain are more than capable!" The half-elf busies himself, and is not wrong about the sorcerer's abilities. More people file into the tavern. A good half of them sit enraptured by the strangers' songs, though certainly the mystique surrounding his party's arrival earlier in the day draws even more folk than usual. Soon whispered conversations abound in the room under the cloak of Xendril's music.</p>
<p><i>What of the Green Wizard? Was he seen with the Shrieking Ghost?</p>
<p>I tell you, he's a necromancer! He conjured the Shrieking Ghost from beyond the grave.</p>
<p>Hush now, you don't know what you're talking about. The Green Wizard is here to save us! He's a Lord of Enn Varas come to unify the land once more!</p>
<p>Bah. Now look who doesn't know what he says. If the Lords were going to do anything to help us, they would have already. They're probably as powerless to stitch Merithil back together as you, I, and Prince Eonal.</p>
<p>Well, what of that Spellguard which came through here before the winter set in? You think it's coincidence that a Lord of Enn Varas is here now?</p>
<p>The Green Wizard ain't no Lord of Enn Varas. He's a Khaermani spy, or maybe an assassin! He's going to bring doom to us all, you just watch!</p>
<p>None of you know what you're talking about! The Green Wizard is a she, an elven princess fleeing from some trouble in Nysil!</i></p>"The Count will be pleased, as am I. You have a good measure about you, friends. I assume you shall be lodging here with Laryndis tonight. You're in good hands. I shall come in the morning to escort you to Castle Verson. I wish I could stay to speak longer, but I have other duties to attend, and must return with your answers to the Count. Until the morrow, friends." The paladin bows and turns. "Laryndis, shall I send your greetings to his Lordship?"
The half-elf shrugs. "You can if you wish....DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-12T16:53:42ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=3?Monolithic-Evil#1042008-01-10T23:41:06Z2008-01-10T23:38:14Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>As Thetos would have it....</span></p>
<p>The hearth flickers and a pale light filters into Water Under the Bridge. At the door is a figure, silhouetted darkly against the light outside for just a moment before striding in, shutting the door as quickly as it was opened. It is a man, clad in blue and green garb. It appears the dress of one in a low noble station. Around his neck hangs a chain, and upon that chain is a golden device. It is a sword whose crossguard form the arms of a balance: the holy symbol of King Arias. The man’s light hair is cut short, almost militaristic, and he sports no beard or moustache. He is perhaps in his early middle years, though obviously still fit and athletic, and he walks in his dark boots with the experience of a seasoned warrior. An elegant scabbard hangs at his side, the dark leather etched and inlaid with silver images of cavalry, and the gleaming silver pommel of an ornate sword protruding from the scabbard’s top.</p>
<p>“Speak of the devil,” Laryndis smiles. “Sir Tyraval!” The half-elf rises and moves towards the man as a friend. “What brings you to my establishment? Here to pay your tab?”</p>
<p>“Not on duty,” the man smiles. “I’ve come on account of your brother-in-law.” He looks to the companions at the table. “Are these the ones said to have slain the Shrieking Ghost?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I believe there was a mention of that,” Laryndis assures him. “News is spreading fast these days, isn’t it?”</p>
<p>“Quite,” Sir Tyraval replies. “The guard dispatched a messenger to me as soon as the travelers appeared at the gates. I went straight to the Count and told him of the development. He’s sent me here,” the man strides towards the table, “to meet you, our acclaimed new heroes." He gives just a moment's consideration to Azuma, the Ornathi chewing on his boar ribs. But he continues: "The whole town is buzzing with your news, as I’m sure you are aware by now. Ah, but where is my propriety? Ahem.” Sir Tyraval straightens.</p>
<p>“I am Sir Tyraval de Ganael; paladin of Our Divine Lord, King Arias; sworn champion and emissary of Count Belren Verson, Fifth Lord of Castle Verson and Lord of Versonton County. I officially extend you the Count’s greetings. His Lordship has heard of your victory in the hills this very day and extends his thanks and admiration to you all. As his emissary, I have been charged with delivering to you an invitation to eat with his Lordship the Count in Castle Verson, on the morn tomorrow. His Lordship would very much like to meet each of you in person.” He stops for a moment to consider Talia. “His Lordship did not mention you, Mistress, but considering your status as Weird and the toll of the bell tower, I feel the Count would wish to have you at his table as well, should you desire to be there.” Turning his eyes back to the group in general, he asks “What reply shall I bring his Lordship?”</p>As Thetos would have it....
The hearth flickers and a pale light filters into Water Under the Bridge. At the door is a figure, silhouetted darkly against the light outside for just a moment before striding in, shutting the door as quickly as it was opened. It is a man, clad in blue and green garb. It appears the dress of one in a low noble station. Around his neck hangs a chain, and upon that chain is a golden device. It is a sword whose crossguard form the arms of a balance: the holy symbol...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-10T23:38:14ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#1002008-01-10T16:19:02Z2008-01-10T16:12:39Z<p>“Well, now, that’s quite a bit of information to digest! But I prefer food,” Laryndis smiles. “I’m afraid all the gravy’s gone cold from this morning, my small master, but we’ve still some boar ribs left simmering in the kitchen. There’s likely not enough to go around, but the larder has venison as well. I was going to put it on for the dinner crowd soon, anyway, so I might as well get started. Help yourself to an apple from the barrel if you prefer more delicate fare.” The gray-haired half-elf disappears down a stairway and returns a few moments later with the venison. Before busying himself readying the food, he asks “What will you have to slack your thirsts, traveling masters? We’ve local brews, but most with the coin prefer our dwarven stock. I’m afraid there’s no wine left, but a bit of elven nectar is still around here somewhere. Too sweet for most tastes, you see. I’ll have to brew you some tea, small master, but it’s no trouble at all!”</p>
<p>For a moment, Laryndis is a blur of motion as he serves the drinks, disappears into the cellarage once more, appears with some utensils, and begins to work by the round open hearth under the bridge, preparing the food. “And of course, my thanks for bringing me such business, Mistress Talia! It’s a good way to start off the traveling season, I’m thinking. Suppose it’s proper to be delivered such an omen by Thetos’ clergy, though. Remind me to make a donation to the temple,” he smiles.</p>
<p>“Now then,” Laryindis finishes his ministrations, serves the food, and pulls up a chair near the table where the companions are gathered, “we can talk about all your questions. I trust Talia’s given you a little overview already, and her pointy ears are good, but mine are pointier still and closer to the ground,” he chuckles amiably at the Weird.</p>
<p>“You want to know of the Green Wizard. Don’t we all? Two weeks ago, the townsfolk woke up to find a stranger walking down the street. The gates hadn’t been opened at all, but there it was, plain as the moon, someone in a dark green robe with a hood. Even the hands were wrapped. None could make out if it was man or woman, or even the race. Well, that got everyone panicked, you can imagine. Lots of faces peeking out from windows and behind buildings. Whoever this robed figure was never said a word, though. Just kept walking, thumping along with its tall staff. That is, until Sir Tyraval arrived on the scene. He called for it to halt, which it did. Then it whispered something in a strange way no one else could hear, save Sir Tyraval. The knight drew close and held a hushed conversation with it, looked a bit upset, but eventually must have struck some kind of bargain. None of us ever found out what it was, but Sir Tyraval turned and, without a word of explanation, led the robed enigma up to the castle. </p>
<p>"No one in town has seen the Green Wizard since. Some wonder if he, or she, or it; is still around at all. But Laryndel, my sister, is the court mage for Count Verson. I have it on her authority that the Green Wizard is still in Castle Verson, and she’s never heard a word from the stranger. And I do mean <i>stranger.</i>” Laryndis stops for a moment, mulling over what he’s just said while sipping at a cup of the tea he brewed.</p>“Well, now, that’s quite a bit of information to digest! But I prefer food,” Laryndis smiles. “I’m afraid all the gravy’s gone cold from this morning, my small master, but we’ve still some boar ribs left simmering in the kitchen. There’s likely not enough to go around, but the larder has venison as well. I was going to put it on for the dinner crowd soon, anyway, so I might as well get started. Help yourself to an apple from the barrel if you prefer more delicate fare.” The gray-haired...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-10T16:12:39ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#952008-01-10T01:09:52Z2008-01-10T01:09:48Z<p>"Oh, yes, I believe I've heard of rat problems like those before. Never fear, kin! Water Under the Bridge is free of all such pests, you can be sure, but we take special measures to insure the satisfaction of our lodgers nonetheless," the halfling smiles. "I'll be happy to take your ponies and wagon round to the stables and stow your things away. And as for that food you're seeking, it's right through that door!" He gestures to the northernmost building, to a door under the covered walk connecting the two structures.</p>
<p>Harmen swings the door open; a draft of warm air rushes out while the travelers step in. Immediately in front of them is a bar of stone with a counter of wood, carved in the flowing leaf motif of the elven folk. A small stage rises from the floor on the other side of the room, a symbol of Erelune hung on the wall above and behind. But between the stage and the bar rises a bridge!</p>
<p>It arches over the common area of the tavern beneath, just high enough for an orc to walk under and past the round hearth directly beneath. It forms a sort of two-faced balcony, ascended by stairs on each side and set with a few seats to look out over the rest of the tavern's tables below.</p>
<p>The bases of both bridge and walls are made of mortared limestone, polsihed like river stones and decorated with mosaics, carvings, and other symbols to enhance the feel. The wood above is carved to be like trees, sycamore on the walls and willows on the bridge, the beams and rafters above cunningly carved to be their branches. Simultaneously, it offers openness and intimacy.</p>
<p>"Ho, there; well met!" A half-elf stands with a broom in his hand, stopping his sweeping to lean upon it with a hand raised in hailing. "Well if my ears aren't pointed, there's a lot of you! Must be spring at last and the roads suitable for traveling again." Though his face and form is not that of an aged man, his braided hair of shoulder-length is gray with just the slightest hint of a silver sheen; his heritage obviously extends to nearby Nysil. "You're newcomers" he states, appraising the group with a wisdom in his eyes. "I know faces, and yours are new. Save Talia, of course. So you're new to Versonton." He pauses for just a moment as if to think, then sets aside his broom. "Welcome, friends! I am Laryndis."</p>"Oh, yes, I believe I've heard of rat problems like those before. Never fear, kin! Water Under the Bridge is free of all such pests, you can be sure, but we take special measures to insure the satisfaction of our lodgers nonetheless," the halfling smiles. "I'll be happy to take your ponies and wagon round to the stables and stow your things away. And as for that food you're seeking, it's right through that door!" He gestures to the northernmost building, to a door under the covered walk...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-10T01:09:48ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#912008-01-05T02:19:59Z2008-01-05T02:17:35Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Too late now, but that information isn't completely correct. Laryndis is the brother of Laryndel. Laryndel is Count Belren Verson's wife and court mage (Laryndis is thus Count Belren's brother-in-law). S'okay, though. :)</span></p>
<p>"Oh, no, kin, don't you be worried about rats here at Water Under the Bridge. We keep our guests' things safe from their likes, you can be assured of that."</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Harmen:</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</span></p>Too late now, but that information isn't completely correct. Laryndis is the brother of Laryndel. Laryndel is Count Belren Verson's wife and court mage (Laryndis is thus Count Belren's brother-in-law). S'okay, though. :)
"Oh, no, kin, don't you be worried about rats here at Water Under the Bridge. We keep our guests' things safe from their likes, you can be assured of that."
Harmen:
[Spoiler omitted]DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-05T02:17:35ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#872008-01-04T14:05:26Z2008-01-04T14:04:44Z<p>"Oh, no, kin, nothing I need of you! Ask, "what do you need of me?" That's what Laryndis hires us for. A room? A meal? Take your ponies? I promise to bring them back!" he laughs.</p>
<p>In the halfling tongue, he adds:</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>"Oh, no, kin, nothing I need of you! Ask, "what do you need of me?" That's what Laryndis hires us for. A room? A meal? Take your ponies? I promise to bring them back!" he laughs.
In the halfling tongue, he adds:
[Spoiler omitted]DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-04T14:04:44ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#832008-01-04T01:50:13Z2008-01-04T01:50:08Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Armaros:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>"Singing sounds like a great idea!" Faz says cheerfully. He promptly bursts into some type of halfling song, seemingly for drinking or traveling or both. The wagon trundles through to the far side of the market place, leaving the open sward and moving along the cobble-stone road through the center of town. The other ancillary paths are all unpaved, and the damp grass is trodden and muddy between the buildings.</p>
<p>It takes no time at all to reach the rear of what must be the market district, or whatever nomenclature they use here. The whole section of the town is completely surrounded by a wall, only slightly shorter than those around the town's perimeter. Before you is a small gatehouse with a drawbridge lowered on the far side. The town is well fortified. The wooden planks of the drawbridge lay over a canal; dug in the dirt, it looks almost like a natural stream.</p>
<p>"Well, Versonton may be a big enough place, I suppose," Faz comments as he stops singing, "but nothing like the cities! Thatch roofs, is what I mean. Cities have slate, you know?" Once gain, the halfling has pointed out the obvious. The other side of the canal looks residential, with the many wooden, tatched-roof houses lining winding dirt, now mud, streets and lanes of Versonton around the central cobblestone route. Not far off through the pack of houses, a grand white cathedral towers over the surrounding buidlings like a mountain.</p>
<p>But closer at hand is the inn. It's right there on the left as the wagon rolls over the drawbridge. A low wooden wall surrounds the premises, save for one side which is open to the canal. A sign hangs from an arch over the gate entrance: "Water Under the Bridge" it proclaims in green letters, with a depiction of just that (a river flowing beneath a bridge with a house on it). The gate stands wide open and welcoming. Inside are three buildings; what looks to be the stables in the back, and two in the center of the grounds connected by a covered walk. The foundation and first floors are limestone, transitioning to graying white plaster above. The roof of wood on each building is painted a dark forest green, and ivy twines across all the walls.</p>
<p>"Greetings, masters, kin!" A halfling appears, as if out of no where. The last was added with a nod and a wink to Harmen and Faz. "Welcome to Water Under the Bridge. What can I do for you?"</p>Armaros:
[Spoiler omitted]
"Singing sounds like a great idea!" Faz says cheerfully. He promptly bursts into some type of halfling song, seemingly for drinking or traveling or both. The wagon trundles through to the far side of the market place, leaving the open sward and moving along the cobble-stone road through the center of town. The other ancillary paths are all unpaved, and the damp grass is trodden and muddy between the buildings.
It takes no time at all to reach the rear of what...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-04T01:50:08ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#732008-01-01T16:55:44Z2008-01-01T16:54:24Z<p>Myril manages to shove his way through the crowd. Complaints and questions arise from the multitude. </p>
<p><i>Not magic? I thought you said your best spells were in this?</p>
<p>Is this true? Myril? Is he telling the truth?</p>
<p>I want my gold back!</i></p>
<p>As the guady mad breaks free from the grasp of the crowd, he retreats with all speed back across the plaza, past his flashy stall, to a building bearing a sign that reads "Myril the Magnificent's Wondershop." Myril can be heard saying something to the effect of "I've never been so insulted in all my life!"</p>
<p>Near Marcellus, the gate guard sighs. "Crazy old hack. This won't stop him, you know. He's been up to this kind of stuff for years. Always gets debunked, but then the people always come flocking back to him. Not completely powerless, to be sure. He's the man to see if you need some minor trinket or something. You look like the adventuresome type. You may find yourself in his shop sometime. Just be careful for schemes and scams!" With that, he bids farewell and dissappears back into the guard tower, popping up on the parapet only a moment later. The crowd mostly turns from the heroes, either bidding them good day with an admiring smile or turning to follow Myril back to his shop and pound on the door for a refund.</p>
<p>"Well, that was quite a welcome," Faz says. "I suppose it's over now, so we might as well be getting on. Thank you, mistress, for offering to take us to lodgings. I can't speak for others, but I'm in the mood for some food!" He flicks the reins of the wagons and begins to move onward. At that time, however, a figure jumps off the back.</p>
<p>It is Rugrok, the orc shaman. "I am not going. You have been kind to me. I thank you. But I am called to shrine of Goras. I have own business to see. I do not think we meet again. Not for very long time, if ever. May gods watch over you!"</p>Myril manages to shove his way through the crowd. Complaints and questions arise from the multitude.
Not magic? I thought you said your best spells were in this?
Is this true? Myril? Is he telling the truth?
I want my gold back!
As the guady mad breaks free from the grasp of the crowd, he retreats with all speed back across the plaza, past his flashy stall, to a building bearing a sign that reads "Myril the Magnificent's Wondershop." Myril can be heard saying something to the effect of...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2008-01-01T16:54:24ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#682007-12-31T14:13:19Z2007-12-31T14:11:44Z<p>Myril listens to Xendril's chanting, watches the sorcerer watch him, widens his eyes in realization that he is being observed through a divination, and tries to stuff the ghost charms inside his robe.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Xendril:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>"Yes, well, I certainly don't have to stand here and be insulted in my own home, er, town," Myril stammers, looking around at the crowd and trying to find an escape route. "Obviously my greatness is not appreciated here. Should any desire to purchase a token to remember these troubled days by and the arrival of our 'heroes,' my ghost charms make the perfect memento and will still be on sale in my shop. Good day!" He turns and begins trying to shove his way through the crowd.</p>
<p>The guard approaches Marcellus. "I can't answer for you whether the beasts you slew were actually the Shrieking Ghost or not," he says almost apologetically. "As I said, none of us have actually seen it. But, Laryndis should be able to connect you with someone who <i>can</i> answer you. I imagine he'll be here soon enough, what with all this commotion, but Mistress Talia's already offered to take you there. Water Under the Bridge is his place."</p>
<p>In a whisper, he adds:</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>Myril listens to Xendril's chanting, watches the sorcerer watch him, widens his eyes in realization that he is being observed through a divination, and tries to stuff the ghost charms inside his robe.
Xendril:
[Spoiler omitted]
"Yes, well, I certainly don't have to stand here and be insulted in my own home, er, town," Myril stammers, looking around at the crowd and trying to find an escape route. "Obviously my greatness is not appreciated here. Should any desire to purchase a token to...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-31T14:11:44ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#612007-12-30T18:30:53Z2007-12-30T18:27:19Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Marcellus sees nothing but the rapt faces of the crowd, gasping in awe of the display before them.</span></p>
<p>"Well," says the guard humbly from behind Xendril, "no one has actually <i>seen</i> the Shrieking Ghost. But we heard it! Every night for the better part of this week! And we heard it again today, just before the clock tower tolled. It was the first time we'd heard the shrill cries other than at night."</p>
<p>The gaudy man looks shocked and cowed by the display of magic before him. His eyes dart nervously, seeing how the crowd is reacting. Many have smiles on their faces, enraptured with their new heroes and their strange powers (and singing!). The "ghost charm" dealer cracks a smile himself. "Ah," he says, regaining confidence, the gears in his head turning, "friend wizard! How wonderful to meet a kindred spirit! Why didn't you say so? Surely, such as your company could have done away with the Shrieking Ghost. We wizards are powerful, you know," he says that last bit to the crowd. "What is the Shrieking Ghost before <i>magic?</i>" he waves his hands in a wide arc over the crowd as if to indicate his power. Turning back to Xendril and looking over the others behind him, he introduces himself with a smile: "I am Myril. Myril, the Magnificent! I know, I know, you've heard of me."</p>
<p>Faz chimes in with an unusually simple answer. "Nope."</p>Marcellus sees nothing but the rapt faces of the crowd, gasping in awe of the display before them.
"Well," says the guard humbly from behind Xendril, "no one has actually seen the Shrieking Ghost. But we heard it! Every night for the better part of this week! And we heard it again today, just before the clock tower tolled. It was the first time we'd heard the shrill cries other than at night."
The gaudy man looks shocked and cowed by the display of magic before him. His eyes dart nervously,...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-30T18:27:19ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#552007-12-30T04:55:55Z2007-12-30T04:53:38Z<p>The crowd swirls and moves around the wagon, and through the teeming mass a new sight becomes visible. Not far away in the plaza is a wooden stall with a vibrant blue and red canopy. A man in a gaudy blue and red robe stands hawking something to the crowd. He is just audible over their din:</p>
<p>"You all heard the clock tower's toll! It foretells the coming of the Shrieking Ghost! The phantom will walk in our streets tonight! No one is safe; no one, that is, who doesn't have one of my ghost charms! Yes, my ghost charms are enchanted with my most powerful spells, guaranteed to stave off any and all spectres or spooks!"</p>
<p>Then the halfling calms the crowd with his uncanny voice. Those who stood listening to the flashy man turn and walk away. He calls after them, trying to get their attention, but to no avail. Crestfallen, he looks to the wagon. When he hears the claims the heroes are spouting, a cloud of anger passes over his face.</p>
<p>"What is this nonsense?" he asks as he storms over. "What do you mean you destroyed the Shrieking Ghost? Rubbish! How can you be sure? You would need to be schooled in magic. I doubt your feeble minds can comprehend <b><i><span class=messageboard-bigger>The Arcane!"</i></b></span> the man says with a flourish and a smile to the crowd. Half of them gasp in awe. Some stare blankly. A couple walk away. Several giggle.</p>The crowd swirls and moves around the wagon, and through the teeming mass a new sight becomes visible. Not far away in the plaza is a wooden stall with a vibrant blue and red canopy. A man in a gaudy blue and red robe stands hawking something to the crowd. He is just audible over their din:
"You all heard the clock tower's toll! It foretells the coming of the Shrieking Ghost! The phantom will walk in our streets tonight! No one is safe; no one, that is, who doesn't have one of my ghost...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-30T04:53:38ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2&page=2?Monolithic-Evil#512007-12-29T22:48:09Z2007-12-29T22:48:07Z<p>"What's this you say?" The guard seems quite surprised. "Slain? You did off with the Shrieking Ghost? I'd hardly believe it, but for the bell tower's ring. It told true then!" The guard calls to his side. A younger member of the watch appears on the parapet. They converse in hushed tones for a mere moment. The elder claps the younger on the shoulder and sends him off on some errand. "Open the gates! We've travelers to let in, and they bring good news!" The oaken gates groan and unseen windlasses within the gatehouse clank as the way into Versonton is opened before you. The guard above dissappears for a moment, then comes around the base of the gatehouse, apparently from a door on the other side.</p>
<p>Within you see a wide open swath of dirt, a plaza surrounded on the far side by various shops and buildings. Closer at hand, the near side of the plaza is surrounded by a green sward with many stalls placed here and there, along with a goodly number of tents. The place is crowded with common folk. Many are wrapped against the lingering chill and damp air. Dozens of faces of all ages look out with wonder and curiosity.</p>
<p>The guard calls out as he descends the stairs and comes round the gatehouse. "The Shrieking Ghost is gone! The bell tower rang true! The gods have sent us seven travelers to end the fear!"</p>
<p>A small crowd forms within the gates, waiting to get a look at these strangers and hear more of this odd news. The guard excitedly and absent-mindedly passes out the strips to peacebond the weapons, then ushers the group inside the walls. "Come, come, enter and welcome!"</p>
<p>The folk press in around the wagon, not getting too close (they seem wary of the orc) but obviously restraining their intense curiosity. Questions rise up:</p>
<p><i>Did you see it? What was it like? Was it terrible? Did it attack you? Did it use magic? Can you take care of the rats in my basement? Was the Shrieking Ghost sent by the Green Wizard? Did you see the Green Wizard?</i></p>"What's this you say?" The guard seems quite surprised. "Slain? You did off with the Shrieking Ghost? I'd hardly believe it, but for the bell tower's ring. It told true then!" The guard calls to his side. A younger member of the watch appears on the parapet. They converse in hushed tones for a mere moment. The elder claps the younger on the shoulder and sends him off on some errand. "Open the gates! We've travelers to let in, and they bring good news!" The oaken gates groan and unseen...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-29T22:48:07ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#462007-12-28T19:43:12Z2007-12-28T19:41:15Z<p>Faz shuts up for a minute. He squishes his face up in a funny way, looking around. "Well, the town looks all right," he says. "But, you know you're right, there aren't as many people running around out in their fields as there ought to be. The road's a bit flatter here, I think the ponies can handle some more speed." He flicks the reins, setting the wagon a bit faster (and making the ride over the pitted road that much bumpier). </p>
<p>"Oh, Selwey's stars, let's hope were not running into a plague. That would be rather unpleasant, and I'd rather not get deathly sick so close to spring, you know? Although, it might be a good chance to see some priestly magic, which is always fascinating. I do prefer wizard magic, though, so much flashier! Did I tell you about the time...." Faz continues to rattle on with an outlandish tale as the wagon draws closer and closer to the gates.</p>
<p>The oaken double-doors in the town's stone wall are shut. Two imposing guard towers flank the entryway, watchmen visibile on the top. They look on as the wagon approaches. There are actually a great many watch towers around the walls encompasing Versonton. It looks to be a well-fortified place.</p>
<p>Perhaps fortunately, you reach the gates in a matter of moments and Faz hushes again, drawing the ponies up to a stop. A watch guard speaks from atop his tower:</p>
<p>"Hail, travelers! Spring must be close indeed- you're the first coming by road this season. You look well armed; we still welcome you to Versonton, but you will need to peacebond those. And before we open the gates, we must be certain of our safety. Tell me, what news do you bring of the Shrieking Ghost? We heard its cries within this very hour past. You must have as well. What news?"</p>Faz shuts up for a minute. He squishes his face up in a funny way, looking around. "Well, the town looks all right," he says. "But, you know you're right, there aren't as many people running around out in their fields as there ought to be. The road's a bit flatter here, I think the ponies can handle some more speed." He flicks the reins, setting the wagon a bit faster (and making the ride over the pitted road that much bumpier).
"Oh, Selwey's stars, let's hope were not running into a plague....DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-28T19:41:15ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#422007-12-28T15:13:35Z2007-12-28T15:13:21Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Xendril and Armaros notice a strange lack of signs indicating routine habitation (smoke from hearthfires, hands working the land, etc.) at many of the outlying farms, particularly the ones closest to the hills.</span></p>Xendril and Armaros notice a strange lack of signs indicating routine habitation (smoke from hearthfires, hands working the land, etc.) at many of the outlying farms, particularly the ones closest to the hills.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-28T15:13:21ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#362007-12-27T21:34:35Z2007-12-27T21:34:32Z<p>"I'll do my best, kin and friends, but with the road the way it is and my pretties spooked, it probably won't be much faster. But on we go!" He flicks the reins and the wagon lurches forward. He works through words and the reins to bring them to a quick trot. The wet wagon wheels squeel softly. It seems that much louder, though, alone on the mist.</p>
<p>Within minutes the wagon clears the two hills. The ground recedes all around, along the sides it rolls out to form the face of the hillsides, running beyond sight to east and west. Below, the ground slopes down, running in the furrow of two arms of the hills protruding into a small river plain. As the wagon descends, it leaves the hilltop mist and the world becomes visible again. The clouds still hang low and gray over the flat land below. Small farms dot the valley, perhaps five miles wide between the eastern curve of the river and a jutting arm of the hills to the west.</p>
<p>“See there, about two miles on is the Telwynd, running right parallel to these hills, save of course that bend to the east it makes around their feet. The river looks very choppy, probably all the spring melt and the rain we’ve been having. Hope you don’t plan to go for a swim,” Faz points out what everyone can see. “And over there, that’s the western end of the valley. The hill bulges out towards that tall pinnacle, a hill all of its own really. It’s like the big hills are a parent reaching out over the cleft towards a child, if you want to get metaphorical. There’s a footpath winding up the hill, see it going past the guard tower and up to that gatehouse above? Then it runs out onto that bridge over to the castle. Not a very story-book castle, is it? Not really tall and majestic, though I suppose it does have some towers. Square and round on the same building, isn’t that a hoot? Humans! No offense to present company, of course. Still, I guess they’re less worried about prettiness and more about invasions here. It does give a sense of solidity and practicality, now, doesn’t it?” Faz beams as he asks the question, never looking to his passengers.</p>
<p>“And there they are; the walls and gates of Versonton! See, road runs straight as an arrow down to them. Can you make out the banners? I’ve seen them before- field of green above and blue below, crossed by the dark silhouette of a bridge. That’s the bridge over yonder, the one the flag represents. Tall thing, isn’t it? The banks rise up and are very steep there, allow the bridge more height, you see. So much so that most riverboats can pass right under the thing with no trouble at all! You’d think dwarves built it, but you’d be wrong,” Faz laughs. </p>
<p>“We can see a bit from this high, can’t we? Look over there, it’s the harbor. Or river port, I suppose. Can you have a harbor on a river, or is that just oceans? No matter; see the big lop-sided tear-drop area in town? Canals! It’s bordered by canals running through town. I think halflings would have just built more along the river’s edge, rather than going through all the trouble of digging a ditch to get water when there’s water a plenty just a short walk away, but to each their own, you know?”</p>
<p>“Well, Selwey’s stars, looks like more luck! See, friends, no demons, devils, or spooks of any sort!” It does appear Faz is right; at first glance nothing seems terribly amiss in the valley below.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Successful Wisdom checks may provide additional insight, however.</span></p>"I'll do my best, kin and friends, but with the road the way it is and my pretties spooked, it probably won't be much faster. But on we go!" He flicks the reins and the wagon lurches forward. He works through words and the reins to bring them to a quick trot. The wet wagon wheels squeel softly. It seems that much louder, though, alone on the mist.
Within minutes the wagon clears the two hills. The ground recedes all around, along the sides it rolls out to form the face of the hillsides,...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-27T21:34:32ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#332007-12-27T17:37:36Z2007-12-27T17:37:34Z<p>Rugrok nods with a grunt. "Let me see your arm," he grumbles, approaching Marcellus. Murmuring in Orcish as he looks over the wound, he shakes his head. Then he chants in a voice like a growling animal, his holy symbol, a wolf's head, glowing for a moment. What blood was seeping from the wound stops, and the pain fades from Marcellus.</p>
<p>"I do not find poison in wound," he growls to the group. "But monsters were not natural. I am young shaman, may not find secret curse if there. We should hurry, reach town, find greater healer than I."</p>
<p>"Ah, we've a bit of luck there," Faz declares. "We're not far from Versonton, not far at all. Should be able to see it once we get out from between these two hills, if the fog clears, that is." The halfling pats his ponies, looking over them to make sure they are all right. "Good girls, good girls, you're fine now," he says, satisfied. He climbs back onto the wagon and takes the reins. "All aboard! We'll be to Versonton within this half hour, barring further misfortune!"</p>
<p>Another sound rings out at that moment: soft, distant, tinny. A lonesome church bell, perhaps? It comes from the direction the group was headed in, the direction of Versonton. The bell rings only once; no more is heard.</p>Rugrok nods with a grunt. "Let me see your arm," he grumbles, approaching Marcellus. Murmuring in Orcish as he looks over the wound, he shakes his head. Then he chants in a voice like a growling animal, his holy symbol, a wolf's head, glowing for a moment. What blood was seeping from the wound stops, and the pain fades from Marcellus.
"I do not find poison in wound," he growls to the group. "But monsters were not natural. I am young shaman, may not find secret curse if there. We should...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-27T17:37:34ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#282007-12-24T18:33:36Z2007-12-24T18:33:35Z<p>Marcellus' blade comes down soundly upon the monstrosity, cleaving it nearly in twain and driving the chunks towards the ground. They never make it, each consumed by the green fire which poured out of the skull cavity when the blade connected. With one last lingering scream upon the air, the foes vanish from this world and silence reclaims the woods.</p>
<p>For a moment. "Are they gone?" comes a voice from beneath the wagon. It's Faz. The halfling crawls out from his hiding spot and looks around with a grin on his face just as the crippling fear fades from the orc, Xendril, and Harmen. "Knew I'd be glad to have you lot around!" he beams.</p>Marcellus' blade comes down soundly upon the monstrosity, cleaving it nearly in twain and driving the chunks towards the ground. They never make it, each consumed by the green fire which poured out of the skull cavity when the blade connected. With one last lingering scream upon the air, the foes vanish from this world and silence reclaims the woods.
For a moment. "Are they gone?" comes a voice from beneath the wagon. It's Faz. The halfling crawls out from his hiding spot and looks around...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-24T18:33:35ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#262007-12-24T15:20:45Z2007-12-24T15:20:44Z<p>As the mighty blades of the warriors swing and hit only empty air, the little fiends flapping circles around around the long blades, an unexpected figure leaps to the fore! Coming behind one of the nasty things, he lets its own momentum carry it onto his small blade. But its length is enough to do the job. The dagger pierces the wicked thing's head-body. From the other side, Armaros can see its eyes and mouth open in pain and fear, glowing brilliantly with their green light. The emerald radiance becomes flames, licking around and consuming the tiny thing in but a moment, leaving only a quickly vanishing puff of jade smoke.</p>
<p>Its ally continues the assault, however. It dives at Azuma as the other did before. But the mighty Ornathi brings his sword out back around into a guard. He connects with the flat of the blade, batting the bat-fiend back to a safe distance, to its shrill cry of distress.</p>As the mighty blades of the warriors swing and hit only empty air, the little fiends flapping circles around around the long blades, an unexpected figure leaps to the fore! Coming behind one of the nasty things, he lets its own momentum carry it onto his small blade. But its length is enough to do the job. The dagger pierces the wicked thing's head-body. From the other side, Armaros can see its eyes and mouth open in pain and fear, glowing brilliantly with their green light. The emerald...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-24T15:20:44ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#232007-12-23T22:51:30Z2007-12-23T22:51:30Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Don't worry, there are no fumble rules. The way I've got the map drawn up, they can't flank you anyway. So you're in good condition regarding position.</span></p>Don't worry, there are no fumble rules. The way I've got the map drawn up, they can't flank you anyway. So you're in good condition regarding position.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-23T22:51:30ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#212007-12-23T16:13:29Z2007-12-23T16:13:28Z<p>Marcellus shakes his arm vigorously, throwing off both the wriggling head and the ill feeling creeping through his veins. It is at this very moment the sonic blast hits his ears; but, stealed against the first assault, he struggles mentally through the second. The fear washes over and then fades from him. Azuma wages and wins a similar mental battle. Perhaps Armaros did as well, calling on some reserve of courage, or maybe he just learned how to duck and roll with his mind.</p>
<p>Not so lucky are Harmen, Xendril, and the orc cleric, Rugrok. The shriek fills them with fear of their own death; looking at the floating, severed head, they are consumed with the knowledge that they could come to the same fate. They stand paralyzed with fear.</p>Marcellus shakes his arm vigorously, throwing off both the wriggling head and the ill feeling creeping through his veins. It is at this very moment the sonic blast hits his ears; but, stealed against the first assault, he struggles mentally through the second. The fear washes over and then fades from him. Azuma wages and wins a similar mental battle. Perhaps Armaros did as well, calling on some reserve of courage, or maybe he just learned how to duck and roll with his mind.
Not so lucky are...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-23T16:13:28ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#152007-12-21T21:15:14Z2007-12-21T21:13:36Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>To recap:</span></p>
<p>To the right, up the slope of the hill, a flock of crows bolts from the treetops, cawing in panic. Their cries fade into the mist, returning to silence for a mere heartbeat, before an otherworldly cry splits the air. It rings out high and shrill, piercing to the bone. Another follows, closer. Much closer.</p>
<p>The ponies neigh and prance skittishly at the sounds. Faz attempts to calm them, "Whoa, my pretties, easy now!" But the animals look like they want to bolt. Simultaneously, Harmen stands and draws forth a roll of odd-colored paper; “Ho, there now girls, nothing to be afraid of," he says to the animals, but his motion does not match his words and the animals go uncalmed.</p>
<p>Azuma and Marcellus step out of the wagon and peer into the mists, their large blades at the ready. The Ornathi squints his eyes and tilts his head to listen; he seems to hear something and consider the sound for a moment. Meanwhile, chanting behind, Xendril is surrounded for a mere instant by a dark light as the sound of his song echoes strangely in the air.</p>
<p>Armaros, for his part, decides not to bolt along with the horses into the woods, but actually finds himself with Marcellus and Azuma, looking for whatever strange noisemaker comes their way.</p>
<p>The orc leaps from the wagon, wolf-skin cloak whirling behind him. He bares his axe aloft, uttering what sounds like an orcish oath. In Common, he adds "There!"</p>
<p>Just as he points, two figures burst from the treeline, forty feet ahead. Dark, black shapes born aloft by leathery wings, they emit a shrill whine as they veer towards the group, bearing down from above. Closing, the seven companions are met with a sight of terror; they are human heads, hideously deformed to the color of a bruise, covered in writhing tentacles and each sporting a pair of oversized wings. Their eyes are filled with naught but a hellish green glow, same as the light beaming from their rictus grins.</p>
<p>The monsters dart forward in erratic paths with quickling speed. Before any can get a bearing or react, one drives directly at Marcellus, eyes flaring, mouth distending grotesquely to bear its jagged fangs!</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Charge attack vs. AC 15 (hit; 1 damage; roll a Fortitude save)</span></p>
<p>Surprised, Marcellus cannot defend himself properly. The snarling beast flits within his defenses and clamps down firmly on his shoulder. The wound is not deep, but pain lances through the warrior's arm, along with a sickly sense of corruption.</p>
<p>The other terror wings up a short distance before Azuma. From its foul jaws comes another shriek, slicing through your ears like a javelin and piercing your brains. A sense of dread wells up within each of you; you feel your death is near!</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Everyone make a Fortitude save.</span></p>To recap:
To the right, up the slope of the hill, a flock of crows bolts from the treetops, cawing in panic. Their cries fade into the mist, returning to silence for a mere heartbeat, before an otherworldly cry splits the air. It rings out high and shrill, piercing to the bone. Another follows, closer. Much closer.
The ponies neigh and prance skittishly at the sounds. Faz attempts to calm them, "Whoa, my pretties, easy now!" But the animals look like they want to bolt. Simultaneously,...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-21T21:13:36ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#132007-12-21T05:08:06Z2007-12-21T05:08:06Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Certainly, speaking takes no action.</span></p>Certainly, speaking takes no action.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-21T05:08:06ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#92007-12-21T02:20:34Z2007-12-21T02:20:33Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Faz has and is trying to keep the wagon stopped.</span></p>Faz has and is trying to keep the wagon stopped.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-21T02:20:33ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#72007-12-20T23:34:05Z2007-12-20T23:34:05Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>For Azuma:</span></p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>For Azuma:
[Spoiler omitted]DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-20T23:34:05ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#52007-12-20T21:26:48Z2007-12-20T21:26:48Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Not that it matters much (surprise! 4 fails), but he does have time to make the Handle Animal attempt, as I'll consder the standing and the drawing of the scroll one move action.</span></p>Not that it matters much (surprise! 4 fails), but he does have time to make the Handle Animal attempt, as I'll consder the standing and the drawing of the scroll one move action.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-20T21:26:48ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#32007-12-20T20:07:16Z2007-12-20T20:07:16Z<p>The ponies neigh and prance skittishly at the sounds. Faz attempts to calm them, "Whoa, my pretties, easy now!" But the animals look like they want to bolt.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Dismounting from the wagon requires a move action. For battle grid purposes, the road is about 10 feet wide and runs straight before and behind you. 5 feet to either side of that is light underbrush; beyond is heavy as the land begins to climb up the wooded slopes of the hills. The is not thick enough to provide anything within 100 feet concealment, limiting maximum visibility more than anything.</span></p>The ponies neigh and prance skittishly at the sounds. Faz attempts to calm them, "Whoa, my pretties, easy now!" But the animals look like they want to bolt.
Dismounting from the wagon requires a move action. For battle grid purposes, the road is about 10 feet wide and runs straight before and behind you. 5 feet to either side of that is light underbrush; beyond is heavy as the land begins to climb up the wooded slopes of the hills. The is not thick enough to provide anything within 100 feet...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-20T20:07:16ZForums: Play-by-Post: Monolithic EvilDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hsz2?Monolithic-Evil#12012-11-15T19:42:27Z2007-12-20T16:18:21Z<p>The rain finally stopped around midnight. But the clouds remained. Day had not broken so much as it slowly faded in, revealing a gray-cast world beneath a leaden sky. The low clouds were even closer for the wagon trundling through the high hills, wooded slopes rising on either side of the highway. It was the middle of March, Monday the 16th in fact. Winter would soon be over. But for now, the trees were still barren, skeletal arms with twisted black and gray fingers. And of course, the road was nothing but soupy earth.</p>
<p>The trees alongside the road seemed to stoop and bend out. Where they sheltering the travelers from some possibility of further rain? Or were they wickedly trying to splatter them with the heavy droplets falling from the leafless branches? It was hard to tell.</p>
<p>The light and trees were not all that was strange. The sound in the hills echoed oddly. Words spoken mere feet away seemed muted and distant, yet far off sounds sometimes came clearly through the mist. But on the whole, the world was quiet, hushed; expectant?</p>
<p>It was hard to see what it might be expecting. It was hard to see much of anything. The hills were shrouded in a ghostly fog, the fallen rain rising back to the sky. The world seemed to disappear at thirty yards in all directions. It was a strange morning indeed.</p>
<p>So perhaps it was appropriate that the six travelers found themselves in the company of such a strange halfling. He simply called himself Faz. To start, he was alone; of course there were the six travelers he’d picked up, one even a fellow halfling (not that they knew each other). But he was not part of a caravan, a clan, he had no family with him. He was traveling alone. He was unusually bright for a halfling, dressed in vibrant yellow with a few splashes of orange. His hair was even odd, a bright dirty-blonde. It had an unusual sheen to it, likely indicating some type of dye.</p>
<p>Faz had another interesting feature: he couldn’t stop talking. He droned on and on, telling of the places he’d been, the things he’d seen, the people he’d met, and often their life stories to boot. It was hard to get a word in edgewise. The exceptions were his off the wall questions: Do you think humans should dance more? What about singing? How do orcs treat their livestock? Even then, he often simply rattled on about his own ideas, rather than actually letting anyone answer his questions.</p>
<p>The travelers themselves; they were a strange lot, too, most carrying with them armor and weapons. Four were human; there was the second halfling; and an orc. They had come to be in this place by a strange way; in the telling, they were like a snowball, growing larger with every stop they made. The Ornathi in the group had first seen it come round a bend, pulled by two ribbon-clad ponies pulling a halfling and an orc, of all things. But he felt the gods spoke to him, so the Ornathi climbed aboard. In Dyn, the second halfling asked where the wagon was bound and climbed aboard. On the road again, the wagon came round a bend and in climbed a human with a wide-brimmed hat. When they’d stopped at some road-side inn, the only place to stay in a nearly nameless hamlet, some sort of mage asked to come along. And just a few hours ago, a tired youth had emerged from the brush alongside the road and asked if he could join the procession.</p>
<p>And so, by choice or chance, the seven strangers rode to Versonton on that quiet morning, the silence broken only by clopping ponies, creaking wagon wheels, and chatterbox halflings.</p>
<p>Until the somnolent spell is broken. To the right, up the slope of the hill, a flock of crows bolts from the treetops, cawing in panic. Their cries fade into the mist, returning to silence for a mere heartbeat, before an otherworldly cry splits the air. It rings out high and shrill, piercing to the bone. Another follows, closer. Much closer.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Prepare yourselves!</span></p>The rain finally stopped around midnight. But the clouds remained. Day had not broken so much as it slowly faded in, revealing a gray-cast world beneath a leaden sky. The low clouds were even closer for the wagon trundling through the high hills, wooded slopes rising on either side of the highway. It was the middle of March, Monday the 16th in fact. Winter would soon be over. But for now, the trees were still barren, skeletal arms with twisted black and gray fingers. And of course, the road...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-12-20T16:18:21ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Are two heads really better than one?Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hmxh?Are-two-heads-really-better-than-one#192007-10-07T17:34:08Z2007-10-07T17:34:08Z<div class="messageboard-quotee">Rhavin wrote:</div><blockquote> 32x with the square, the exponent drops down a place, in this case from x^2 to x^1. </blockquote><p>Bphalgrka! <span class=messageboard-ooc>Kills and eats Calculus. All of it.</span>Rhavin wrote:32x with the square, the exponent drops down a place, in this case from x^2 to x^1.
Bphalgrka! Kills and eats Calculus. All of it.Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)2007-10-07T17:34:08ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Are two heads really better than one?Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hmxh?Are-two-heads-really-better-than-one#152007-10-06T16:11:16Z2007-10-06T16:11:16Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Eats the function.</span> Blargagahrghgir! <span class=messageboard-ooc>Burp!</span></p>Eats the function. Blargagahrghgir! Burp!Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)2007-10-06T16:11:16ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Are two heads really better than one?Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hmxh?Are-two-heads-really-better-than-one#132007-10-06T14:57:08Z2007-10-06T14:57:08Z<p>Blargagh!</p>Blargagh!Half-Saern ettin (alias of Saern)2007-10-06T14:57:08ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#1002012-01-13T18:46:11Z2007-05-06T17:23:31Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Excellent rolls: obviously the boy is very shaken up; he's gone through great emotional turmoil, and sounds like he was fatigued to begin with. Combined with raw inexperience and the rumors floating around East Haven before he set out, he may well have no real idea what he's talking about. <i>He</i> certainly seems to believe it, however.</span></p>Excellent rolls: obviously the boy is very shaken up; he's gone through great emotional turmoil, and sounds like he was fatigued to begin with. Combined with raw inexperience and the rumors floating around East Haven before he set out, he may well have no real idea what he's talking about. He certainly seems to believe it, however.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-06T17:23:31ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#962012-01-13T18:46:05Z2007-05-05T20:11:44Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Technically that's Knowledge (the planes), but I'm pretty loose about the boundary between (religion)/(planes); in either case, you've never heard of anything like this. You may wish to try an untrained Sense Motive check here.</span></p>
<p>The boy doesn't say anything, but his face lifts into a gentle smile at the comforting words.</p>
<p>Frindel looks aroun, appraising the group with a critical eye. "Very well, then. Seek what companions you can and what weapons you may find, and return to me when you are ready to leave. I will give you my blessings, and then... you can set to your work."</p>Technically that's Knowledge (the planes), but I'm pretty loose about the boundary between (religion)/(planes); in either case, you've never heard of anything like this. You may wish to try an untrained Sense Motive check here.
The boy doesn't say anything, but his face lifts into a gentle smile at the comforting words.
Frindel looks aroun, appraising the group with a critical eye. "Very well, then. Seek what companions you can and what weapons you may find, and return to me when you are...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-05T20:11:44ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#922012-01-13T18:46:02Z2007-05-05T14:12:20Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Your awesome Sense Motive pays off- you suspect correctly.</span></p>
<p>"No... they're in the Blizzard... I lost my way, and don't know where we fought them," the boy says with a fearful look at the intimidating Nedd.</p>
<p>Frindel, on the other hand, continues to glower at Nedd for a moment, but it is not his place to bring any further trouble into East Haven, so he turns to Daeman. "You are really serious about going into that storm, aren't you? Well, I commend your bravery. I would caution you against bringing others into this dangerous situation, but should they be willing to go, I'm certain you could benefit from their help. And, yes, I know of at least one enchanted axe bound for Northwind from Thror that currently rests in East Haven, and the merchant most likely has a few other pieces of armament. However, I doubt he'll be eager to part with them, but it would be wise to see what you could do, anyway."</p>Your awesome Sense Motive pays off- you suspect correctly.
"No... they're in the Blizzard... I lost my way, and don't know where we fought them," the boy says with a fearful look at the intimidating Nedd.
Frindel, on the other hand, continues to glower at Nedd for a moment, but it is not his place to bring any further trouble into East Haven, so he turns to Daeman. "You are really serious about going into that storm, aren't you? Well, I commend your bravery. I would caution you against...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-05T14:12:20ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#892012-01-13T18:45:55Z2007-05-04T21:00:45Z<p>The boy nearly bursts into a flood of tears at Nedd's comment. Frindel looks over at the man and says, "Would you care to step outside with me for a moment, 'friend'?" He gestures towards the door and waits for Nedd.</p>
<p>Ethras grabs the youth's attention again, however, and he manages to regain his composure. "I... I've never seen a real dragon. But, I know what they look like from the drawings our Elders make. It... didn't look like that, although... I suppose that could have been a tail with a spike coming over the monsters back. But I don't think that's what it was."</p>
<p>At Hrothgar's question, the boy thinks hard. "Hairy. They were hairy. One got close enough that I could tell that much. I... don't know if they had scales also. Maybe it was armor. I think they had horns coming out of their heads, too. They... they came from all sides, completely surrounded us. I don't remember any more than that. I'm... not very experienced in battle."</p>The boy nearly bursts into a flood of tears at Nedd's comment. Frindel looks over at the man and says, "Would you care to step outside with me for a moment, 'friend'?" He gestures towards the door and waits for Nedd.
Ethras grabs the youth's attention again, however, and he manages to regain his composure. "I... I've never seen a real dragon. But, I know what they look like from the drawings our Elders make. It... didn't look like that, although... I suppose that could have been a tail with...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-04T21:00:45ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#852012-01-13T18:45:49Z2007-05-04T15:18:52Z<p>Within the hour, as promised by Frindel, food is brought out, although Nedd grabbed an early bite. Venison, pork, and fish from the river, along with cheese, were served with water, goat's milk, and mead to wash it down.</p>
<p>As Nedd ate his morsel, Frindel looked dismissively at him before turning to the others. "I will take you to the boy as soon as we are finished eating, but after hearing his story, I urge you, think about this before you decide to go into the Great Blizzard. Many have died already; it would be a shame for any others to share their fate."</p>
<p>The meal progresses from that point, but as it draws to a close and the plates are taken away by the serving boys and girls, Frindel stands. "Now, if you are ready, we will visit the Stormwalker youth." He continues his elaborations as he leads the group the short way to the infirmary, a small outbuilding.</p>
<p>"The Stormwalkers are a tribe that hailed from Chantul. All the men of that land are at ease in the wilds. But, wars with the Fjal and the trolls to their south eventually caused the Stormwalkers to seek refuge. Years and years ago, they finally settled south of here, across the Nasir in the Fyrges Woods. T'wasn't long before they learned they could ply their skills as guides through the Blizzard. They learned that frozen hell like the backs of their own hands."</p>
<p>By this point, the group has drawn close the outbuilding, a loghouse with a thick wooden door. Smoke rises up through a small wooden chimney in the center. Frindel looks to the group once more, says, "The lad's name is Hirtan," and opens the door. Inside, there are several cots around the warm, glowing embers of a fire. One of the cots is draped over, its occupant apparently deceased. From the hand drooping out under the sheet, it looks one of the orcs Daeman had an encouter with last evening.</p>
<p>The priest from the temple of Pelor kneels next to a young man, probably no more than fifteen. The dark-haired lad sits on the edge of his bed. He looks terrible, like he just awoke from a fitful sleep. He listens to the man, who is speaking softly with a compassionate face. Then the priest sees the entourage approach and stands. "<i>These</i> are the ones you spoke of, Frindel?" he asks.</p>
<p>"Aye," the Thror host answers.</p>
<p>"Well, I suppose it is inevitable that I would have met some in such a crowded town as this. If it please you, I will take me leave back to the shrine now. Good day." The priest them brushes past the group and heads out the door without making eye contact. Frindel raises a wondering eyebrow, but turns back to the issue at hand.</p>
<p>"Hirtan, lad, there are some people who want to speak to you about what happened," Frindel says. "They want to see what they can do to help, but first they need to know what you saw. I know you've done this before, but if you can do it just one more time... maybe it will help."</p>
<p>The boy looks tired, weary, with dark bags under his eyes. He looks at each face before him, and then at the floor. With a sigh and unfocused eyes, he begins his tale.</p>
<p>"We... we had heard of the troubles, in our village. The tribe was excited. Everyone wanted to go into the Blizzard and prove their valor. To find monsters or wizards and slay them. But, Junger, our chieftain, he would only allow a group of the best warriors. He chose each one himself. But I begged and begged him to go. My mother is the cousin of his brother's wife, and so they all persuaded him. I had been on hunts before, but a Stormwalker isn't a man until he has passed through the Great Blizzard. Everyone said I was ready...."</p>
<p>"We went into the storm, and my tribesmen showed me the ways of the Blizzard, how to find trails that didn't exist, how to turn so the wind rolls off your back. They were teaching me as much as searching for enemies. Maybe... if I hadn't been there..."</p>
<p>"We found shelter beneath a stand of dead trees, and threw up skins to block the snow and wind. Most people can't spend even one night in the Great Blizzard. We Stormwalkers know how, though. I was excited... and tired. My elders knew how to stay warm, but I was just learning."</p>
<p>"But in the morning, terror. We woke up, and two of our fellows were gone. Their beds, their spears, their bows, all vanished with them. Our leader searched in the snow, and managed to find a trail. A blood trail. He saw the way it lead and followed it, and we followed him. We were scared and angry now. Nothing lives in the Blizzard! There is no food. Or... nothing natural lives there. Sometimes, we hear the songs of dragons from our village. But we did not hear them this time. And I remembered a man here in East Haven. He said that demons could come through the magic of the Blizzard. They knew the trails and paths, and could come to prey upon people walking through."</p>
<p>"I knew in my heart, it was them. We walked for hours through the snow, trying to find our friends or the demons. But they found us first. They came from nowhere, a dozen of them! They... they screamed and yelled. Before we could react, one of them charged us, and he grabbed our leader. It was big, and white with black scales all down the sides. And on the back of it, a black arm reached out with a deadly claw, and stabbed another one of us. The others were smaller, smaller than a man. Imps, I think they're called. They came screaming and started clawing, rending. The men fought back, took a few down, but there were so many of them. I fell into the snow, and when I got my feet back... I ran, like a coward! I should have stayed and died with my tribesmen! Kord has shamed me; by chance I found my way back to East Haven, and now I live. The least that should have happened would be for me to die in the storm!"</p>
<p>The young man hangs his head, wimpering.</p>Within the hour, as promised by Frindel, food is brought out, although Nedd grabbed an early bite. Venison, pork, and fish from the river, along with cheese, were served with water, goat's milk, and mead to wash it down.
As Nedd ate his morsel, Frindel looked dismissively at him before turning to the others. "I will take you to the boy as soon as we are finished eating, but after hearing his story, I urge you, think about this before you decide to go into the Great Blizzard. Many have died...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-04T15:18:52ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=4?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1572012-01-13T18:45:26Z2007-05-02T19:14:13Z<p>Drawn back into the moment at hand from his philosophical doubting by the flurry of activity, Isaeldan analyses the situation. He expended his prayer of foresight in aim to Vaedryn, and without another such spell, he cannot risk shooting into the fight between Ajira and the guard again. Grimacing, he puts away his bow, dons his light shield, and advances while pulling his longsword, looking to take up a position on the opposite side of Ajira.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Moving to flank the guard</span></p>Drawn back into the moment at hand from his philosophical doubting by the flurry of activity, Isaeldan analyses the situation. He expended his prayer of foresight in aim to Vaedryn, and without another such spell, he cannot risk shooting into the fight between Ajira and the guard again. Grimacing, he puts away his bow, dons his light shield, and advances while pulling his longsword, looking to take up a position on the opposite side of Ajira.
Moving to flank the guardIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-05-02T19:14:13ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#792012-01-13T18:45:21Z2007-05-02T14:37:09Z<p>Dawn breaks soon enough for the companions. Still the start of August, the days here bear a length not too unlike those of southern climes, but soon that will change and darkness will far outweight the light. Already in the most northern reaches, the Shining Wastes and even parts of Hrothgar's native Fjaldak, the sun slowly sinks towards the horizon, and once it dips below that lines, it will scarcely be seen for months.</p>
<p>But for now, the sun shines brightly upon East Haven. The travelers are roused from sleep by a blast of cold air. From the back of the hall where they spent the night, through sleep-clotted eyes, they can see Frindel standing at the doors, thrown wide, and looking out at the world stretched before him. The two dwarven guards who stood aside the entryway last night now sit drinking and laughing amongst themselves at a table near the front.</p>
<p>Ethras is near the embers of yesterday's fire at the center of the hall, performing stretches and waking exercises in a soldier-like fashion. Just another subtle reminder to the trained eye of his origins in Nysil, beset as it is by demonic forces to its south.</p>
<p>As the sleepers wake, either struggling to clear their minds and cursing the brightness and cold air, or springing lightly to greet the new day, Frindel turns to them and booms out across the hall. "Good morn to you! I hope you found restful sleep last night. Please, come, be at ease until we have eaten a meal. It will be ready within the hour." Almost on cue, the smell of wood fires cooking in the kitchen drifts out into the hall.</p>Dawn breaks soon enough for the companions. Still the start of August, the days here bear a length not too unlike those of southern climes, but soon that will change and darkness will far outweight the light. Already in the most northern reaches, the Shining Wastes and even parts of Hrothgar's native Fjaldak, the sun slowly sinks towards the horizon, and once it dips below that lines, it will scarcely be seen for months.
But for now, the sun shines brightly upon East Haven. The travelers are...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-05-02T14:37:09ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1492012-01-13T18:44:35Z2007-04-29T16:24:52Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Attack roll: 8 + 20 insight + 4 modifier -4 for shooting into melee = 28; Damage = 7 (or 8 if bardic music is still in effect)</span></p>
<p>Isaeldan's hands shake as he pulls back on the bowstring, his mind hammering with the man's words. The sounds of combat from the wagon, distant already, are even more muted to his distracted ears. The battle between the enraged man and Ajira before him is almost silent. All the sound in the world is the elf's breathing and the resounding accusations of his attacker in his head.</p>
<p>Debating with himself at the speed of thought, Isaeldan comes to a dire realization. <i>I do not want to kill this man</i>, he thinks. <i>But, he will kill Ajira if I do not. I must act; but he forces me to an unholy decision.</i> Torn, the elf stands for a fraction of a second as he thinks. Then the foe slashes Ajira, and Isaeldan releases the string.</p>
<p>He barely even sees the effect of his shot as his arrow connects with his target. All Isaeldan can hear is the word "<i>murderer.</i>"</p>Attack roll: 8 + 20 insight + 4 modifier -4 for shooting into melee = 28; Damage = 7 (or 8 if bardic music is still in effect)
Isaeldan's hands shake as he pulls back on the bowstring, his mind hammering with the man's words. The sounds of combat from the wagon, distant already, are even more muted to his distracted ears. The battle between the enraged man and Ajira before him is almost silent. All the sound in the world is the elf's breathing and the resounding accusations of his attacker...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-29T16:24:52ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#752012-01-13T18:44:35Z2007-04-29T16:09:41Z<p>As Nedd moves away, Frindel walks back through the mead hall, glancing at the assemly of newfound "companions." Most of the other travelers have moved off to sleep for the night, as well.</p>
<p>"Still waiting? You might as well take your 'friend's' advice and bed for the night," the bearded man says as he passes. "If any others come in looking for you, I'll send them to where you're at. Now, get some sleep."</p>As Nedd moves away, Frindel walks back through the mead hall, glancing at the assemly of newfound "companions." Most of the other travelers have moved off to sleep for the night, as well.
"Still waiting? You might as well take your 'friend's' advice and bed for the night," the bearded man says as he passes. "If any others come in looking for you, I'll send them to where you're at. Now, get some sleep."DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-29T16:09:41ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1462012-01-13T18:44:21Z2007-04-28T01:24:16Z<p>Shaking from the disturbing event, Isaeldan rises from the ground as if in a dream. He looks at the man, seen in a new light, both pitiful and disgusting, and sees him inflict such wounds upon Ajira.</p>
<p>The elf hears himself speaking, almost surprising himself as he raises his bow and casts a spell calling upon his god for blessed aim.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Move action to stand up, standard action to cast <i>true strike</i> as he anticipates shooting the man next round. Am I within 30 feet?</span>.</p>Shaking from the disturbing event, Isaeldan rises from the ground as if in a dream. He looks at the man, seen in a new light, both pitiful and disgusting, and sees him inflict such wounds upon Ajira.
The elf hears himself speaking, almost surprising himself as he raises his bow and casts a spell calling upon his god for blessed aim.
Move action to stand up, standard action to cast true strike as he anticipates shooting the man next round. Am I within 30 feet?.Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-28T01:24:16ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1412012-01-13T18:43:44Z2007-04-26T00:50:16Z<p><i>Events are moving too quickly!</i>, Isaeldan thinks to himself, scowling as his companions rush off into the brush. <i>There is no time for the proper composure of thought!</i></p>
<p>Making an uncomfortable flash decision for the second time in one day, in just minutes even, Isaeldan looks down to the weeping man. "I go to aid my friends in battle so that we do not share more fully in your grief. I advise you stay here where we can return and tend to you after the dirty business is done. If you so choose to wander farther into the jungle... that is your responsiblity. Perhaps you can follow the wagon trail to safety, but I wouldn't risk it." With that, the priest looks to what companions haven't run off yet and tells them, "There is no time for tending wounds or saying prayers. Battle is yet at hand, and I will not abandon my companions in preference of our wounded attackers."</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Isaeldan hustles, but doesn't run, through the woods to the best of his ability towards the rear of the wagons. When he gains sight of them again, he casts <i>magic weapon</i> on his bow.</span></p>Events are moving too quickly!, Isaeldan thinks to himself, scowling as his companions rush off into the brush. There is no time for the proper composure of thought!
Making an uncomfortable flash decision for the second time in one day, in just minutes even, Isaeldan looks down to the weeping man. "I go to aid my friends in battle so that we do not share more fully in your grief. I advise you stay here where we can return and tend to you after the dirty business is done. If you so choose to...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-26T00:50:16ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1352012-01-13T18:43:36Z2007-04-25T17:13:58Z<p>Isaeldan emerges from the bushes just behind Genji, worry on his face. His elven ears heard the weeping before he saw the scene, and he could not help but feel worry that something had befallen one of his companions.</p>
<p>Finally gaining sight of the situation, he breathes a sigh of relief, but it is quickl replaced by a mild look of sorrow.</p>
<p>"I pity the youth, for he well may not have known what he did," Isaeldan says. "But <i>you</i>," the elf continues, raising an accusatory finger towards the sobbing man, "surely knew what you began! We gave you a chance to surrender, and you chose violence. This is the price the gods exact for foolish haste and hot anger. For if you should wish to throw away your life on our blades, that is one matter. But to volunteer this youth's as well, with obviously little regard for the inevitable consequences...."</p>
<p>"Let this be a lesson to this 'warrior,'" the cleric continues, with obvious disdain for the man, and looking to his companions now, "and for all of us. Always choose peace and life over blood and death, when there is a choice to be made."</p>
<p>His own flash of ire fading, the priest looks once more to the man. "I can perform rites, if you wish."</p>Isaeldan emerges from the bushes just behind Genji, worry on his face. His elven ears heard the weeping before he saw the scene, and he could not help but feel worry that something had befallen one of his companions.
Finally gaining sight of the situation, he breathes a sigh of relief, but it is quickl replaced by a mild look of sorrow.
"I pity the youth, for he well may not have known what he did," Isaeldan says. "But you," the elf continues, raising an accusatory finger towards the...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-25T17:13:58ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1312012-01-13T18:41:30Z2007-04-19T23:19:36Z<p>A delimma races through Isaeldan's mind. Should he continue to fight here, or accompany Genji to check on the caravan? He is used to being forced to decide so quickly. After a moment of paralyzing indecision, he decides that the situation really us under control here, and that the smarter choice is to help the gnome.</p>
<p>"I shall accompany you," Isaeldan says as his shorter companion turns off into the brush. The cleric isn't stealthy like the ranger, but surely stealth no longer matters.</p>A delimma races through Isaeldan's mind. Should he continue to fight here, or accompany Genji to check on the caravan? He is used to being forced to decide so quickly. After a moment of paralyzing indecision, he decides that the situation really us under control here, and that the smarter choice is to help the gnome.
"I shall accompany you," Isaeldan says as his shorter companion turns off into the brush. The cleric isn't stealthy like the ranger, but surely stealth no longer matters.Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-19T23:19:36ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#572012-01-13T18:41:04Z2007-04-18T15:14:52Z<p>Daeman bends down to administer a slight touch of healing magic to the wounded orc. The dwarves look at him in a strange manner, and one mutters, "Bah, why bother?" into his beard in dwarvish, but they leave him be. "Well, lad, thank ye fer th' help ye gave us," the lead dwarf says to the young bard. "Ere's a little somethin' fer yer effort," he says as he gropes into a pouch and pulls out a silver coin, then thrusts his hand towards Daeman to give it to him. "We'll be off, back t' our tents fer the night, now. Ye stay out of anymore trouble!" he says with a grin and a wink.</p>Daeman bends down to administer a slight touch of healing magic to the wounded orc. The dwarves look at him in a strange manner, and one mutters, "Bah, why bother?" into his beard in dwarvish, but they leave him be. "Well, lad, thank ye fer th' help ye gave us," the lead dwarf says to the young bard. "Ere's a little somethin' fer yer effort," he says as he gropes into a pouch and pulls out a silver coin, then thrusts his hand towards Daeman to give it to him. "We'll be off, back t' our tents...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-18T15:14:52ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1222012-01-13T18:41:01Z2007-04-18T02:28:07Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Initiative = 18</span></p>
<p>Isaeldan raises his hands. "Know in your hearts, friends," he says, his voice swelling with his magic, "that Vaedryn has ordained our victory, and let your strikes land true!"</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Casting <i>bless</i>, then moving closer to Genji, my companion in archery.</span></p>Initiative = 18
Isaeldan raises his hands. "Know in your hearts, friends," he says, his voice swelling with his magic, "that Vaedryn has ordained our victory, and let your strikes land true!"
Casting bless, then moving closer to Genji, my companion in archery.Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-18T02:28:07ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#542012-01-13T18:40:59Z2007-04-17T22:51:15Z<p>"Puny human! No one can match orc strength! Our blood runs strong!" The orc grins a wide smile and twirls around to look at the dwarves. </p>
<p>"On three," one of the black beards says. "One, two," and he never finishes the count, as all three dwarves make a quick rush in to the orc, surrounding him. The orc tries to assume a defensive position, but the dwarven coordination is too much for him. Before he can act, a hammer smashes his wounded leg, compromising his stability. A half instant later, a blow to the shoulder sends the orc to the ground. The third dwarf raises his axe high and lets it fall on the bloody, bruised body of the orc. The savage was attempting to regain his footing, rolling into a position to stand, but by misfortune, his neck came straight into the path of the axe, which cleanly severed it. In a spurt of arterial spray that stains all the dwarves, the body slumps over and the head rolls into the street.</p>
<p>"Hnh," the beheader grunts. "Tha' was a bit o' luck. Bastard had it comin' anyway." Another stands and, attempting ineffectually to wipe the blood from himself, turns to Daeman. "What was tha' about poison?" He doesn't really sound concerned.</p>"Puny human! No one can match orc strength! Our blood runs strong!" The orc grins a wide smile and twirls around to look at the dwarves.
"On three," one of the black beards says. "One, two," and he never finishes the count, as all three dwarves make a quick rush in to the orc, surrounding him. The orc tries to assume a defensive position, but the dwarven coordination is too much for him. Before he can act, a hammer smashes his wounded leg, compromising his stability. A half instant later, a...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-17T22:51:15ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74&page=2?Northwind-Sun#522012-01-13T18:40:30Z2007-04-15T16:22:56Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Disarm attempt: Attack of Opportunity? No, because of distance. Orc's opposed roll: 14 + 4 = 18. Attempt to counter disarm: 19 + 4 = 23. Daeman must roll a 20 to avoid being disarmed (+1 attack bonus, +2 for whip = +3 modifier on roll).</span></p>Disarm attempt: Attack of Opportunity? No, because of distance. Orc's opposed roll: 14 + 4 = 18. Attempt to counter disarm: 19 + 4 = 23. Daeman must roll a 20 to avoid being disarmed (+1 attack bonus, +2 for whip = +3 modifier on roll).DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-15T16:22:56ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1072012-01-13T18:40:22Z2007-04-14T15:03:54Z<p>"I would not bother trying to flee," Isaeldan says to the two men. "Even if you dodged our shots and escaped all of us in the immediate confrontation, Master Genji is an excellent tracker. We would find you, most likely while you slept, and take you anyway. Why not save a step and surrender now?"</p>"I would not bother trying to flee," Isaeldan says to the two men. "Even if you dodged our shots and escaped all of us in the immediate confrontation, Master Genji is an excellent tracker. We would find you, most likely while you slept, and take you anyway. Why not save a step and surrender now?"Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-14T15:03:54ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#502012-01-13T18:40:22Z2007-04-14T15:01:27Z<p>Even as that last note continues to hang on the chill northern air, the dwarves advance.</p>
<p>"What? You play a song for us before we kill you? How nic-" the wounded orc begins his taunt, but cannot finish it before a dwarven hammer lands solidly into his back. With an "oomph" as his breath is evicted from his body, and a squishing noise, the brute collapses, unconscious and possibly dying.</p>
<p>The other one whirls and sees his fallen companion. "No one kills Bloody Moon tribe and lives!" he belows out in rage. One of the dwarves charges towards him with a waraxe, but the orc sidesteps and dodges the head of the weapon, then drives his elbow powerfully into his side, sending him off balance and falling away. Another dwarf falls in right behind the first, however, and uses his axe to dig into the orc's exposed leg. The savage belows in pain and twists back again.</p>
<p>Now circled by Daeman and three recovered dwarves, and limping slightly on a gashed calf, the orc draws his own weapon, a battleaxe, and stands at the ready, turning and watching for an approaching foe. "Come to me, pale skins! I draw your blood and laugh while drinking it!" he taunts.</p>Even as that last note continues to hang on the chill northern air, the dwarves advance.
"What? You play a song for us before we kill you? How nic-" the wounded orc begins his taunt, but cannot finish it before a dwarven hammer lands solidly into his back. With an "oomph" as his breath is evicted from his body, and a squishing noise, the brute collapses, unconscious and possibly dying.
The other one whirls and sees his fallen companion. "No one kills Bloody Moon tribe and lives!" he belows...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-14T15:01:27ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#482012-01-13T18:40:18Z2007-04-14T00:50:47Z<p>The axe-wielder emits a grunt of surprise and pain, and there is a audible thunk as the dagger flies into his shoulder. Swatting at the wound and coming away with a bloody hand, the orc looks up at Daeman with hateful eyes. "You die!" he yells.</p>
<p>However, unseen behind the orcs are the three dwarves. They had not given up their close watch of the orcish tent, and now they draw hammers and axes and move quickly to join the fight. Though they make no effort to conceal their movements, they refrain from shouting. Distracted the orcs don't notice their approach.</p>
<p>Daeman, quick in foot and mind, finds himself ready and able to strike again before the surprised orcs get a chance to react further, and even before the dwarves get close.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>No need to conceal it- orc initiative = 3, dwarven = 9</span></p>The axe-wielder emits a grunt of surprise and pain, and there is a audible thunk as the dagger flies into his shoulder. Swatting at the wound and coming away with a bloody hand, the orc looks up at Daeman with hateful eyes. "You die!" he yells.
However, unseen behind the orcs are the three dwarves. They had not given up their close watch of the orcish tent, and now they draw hammers and axes and move quickly to join the fight. Though they make no effort to conceal their movements, they...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-14T00:50:47ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#462012-01-13T18:40:13Z2007-04-13T17:56:09Z<p>A large, powerful hand grips Daeman's shoulder. "Where you think you go?" an unmistakeably orcish voice intones. "We want to see dwarves cry and scream as they drink horse piss! You have not delivered promise. You keep promise, or we hurl you into river!" The creature spins Daeman around, his mouth a toothy grin. The other orc stands behind him, tapping one hand with the throwing axe he holds in the other.</p>
<p>"River is very cold," the second one chuckles.</p>A large, powerful hand grips Daeman's shoulder. "Where you think you go?" an unmistakeably orcish voice intones. "We want to see dwarves cry and scream as they drink horse piss! You have not delivered promise. You keep promise, or we hurl you into river!" The creature spins Daeman around, his mouth a toothy grin. The other orc stands behind him, tapping one hand with the throwing axe he holds in the other.
"River is very cold," the second one chuckles.DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-13T17:56:09ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=3?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#1042012-01-13T18:40:13Z2007-04-13T17:50:36Z<p>"Master Genji is correct in that not all of us are of the urban persuasion," Isaeldan says, futily trying to twist this way and that to escape the thorny vines. "I appreciate your concern, and do sincerely apologize for tespassing on your lands- we meant no harm to you, but are in the process of tracking down the lair of orc raiders. Had we known that such a one as you was in this region, we would have sought you out, at least for what knowledge you could have given us."</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Isaeldan is verbose, even at inappropriate times.</span></p>"Master Genji is correct in that not all of us are of the urban persuasion," Isaeldan says, futily trying to twist this way and that to escape the thorny vines. "I appreciate your concern, and do sincerely apologize for tespassing on your lands- we meant no harm to you, but are in the process of tracking down the lair of orc raiders. Had we known that such a one as you was in this region, we would have sought you out, at least for what knowledge you could have given us."
Isaeldan is verbose,...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-13T17:50:36ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#922012-01-13T18:39:52Z2007-04-12T01:02:17Z<p>"Friends, look closely here," Isaeldan says softly but audibly. "There, in the undergrowth- we seem to be under observation, but the thing has not acted yet."</p>
<p><i>This is... strange</i>, Isaeldan thinks to himself, quite befuddled.</p>
<p>"I... am at a loss; does anyone have a suggestion as to a course of action we should follow?"</p>"Friends, look closely here," Isaeldan says softly but audibly. "There, in the undergrowth- we seem to be under observation, but the thing has not acted yet."
This is... strange, Isaeldan thinks to himself, quite befuddled.
"I... am at a loss; does anyone have a suggestion as to a course of action we should follow?"Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-12T01:02:17ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#892012-01-13T18:39:44Z2007-04-11T14:51:50Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Knowledge (nature) roll: 3 + 7 = 10; Any information?</span></p>Knowledge (nature) roll: 3 + 7 = 10; Any information?Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-11T14:51:50ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#412012-01-13T18:39:40Z2007-04-11T00:09:53Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Dwarven sense motive roll: 9 + 0 circumstance = 9. Successful bluff. Diplomacy 2 points shy of DC 15 for their unfriendly attitude.</span></p>
<p>"What? Ye switched it on us? Bah! This doing's had th' fun leeched out o' it! Get ye away a'fore th' pig there drink his piss and comes t' lop yer head off." He mutters in Dwarven as he turns, "Godsdamned humans! You give them the slightest task and they bungle it all."</p>
<p>One of the orcs steps out of the tent to see how things are going. He looks at the conjured image, grinning and holding his tankard, snorts, and turns his eyes expectantly and still not very warmly at Daeman. The dwarf has his back to the whole thing.</p>Dwarven sense motive roll: 9 + 0 circumstance = 9. Successful bluff. Diplomacy 2 points shy of DC 15 for their unfriendly attitude.
"What? Ye switched it on us? Bah! This doing's had th' fun leeched out o' it! Get ye away a'fore th' pig there drink his piss and comes t' lop yer head off." He mutters in Dwarven as he turns, "Godsdamned humans! You give them the slightest task and they bungle it all."
One of the orcs steps out of the tent to see how things are going. He looks at the conjured...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-11T00:09:53ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#352012-01-13T18:39:09Z2007-04-07T16:06:27Z<p>"Wait!" the priest calls from behind her. He quickly jogs up to Lythdrae, and locks her with a an anguished gaze. Then he speaks, softly, forceully, and quickly. "I do not know your story, and I'm not sure I want to. But, I can do this at least: when the roads reopen, get to Northwind. Go to the Pillar of Light. They can do for you, what I cannot. I am but a humble rural priest, and I am sorry that I have failed you, and my god. Now, please, leave me be." This time, he does not turn away, but stands watching with a forlorn look as he waits for the pair to exit the shrine.</p>"Wait!" the priest calls from behind her. He quickly jogs up to Lythdrae, and locks her with a an anguished gaze. Then he speaks, softly, forceully, and quickly. "I do not know your story, and I'm not sure I want to. But, I can do this at least: when the roads reopen, get to Northwind. Go to the Pillar of Light. They can do for you, what I cannot. I am but a humble rural priest, and I am sorry that I have failed you, and my god. Now, please, leave me be." This time, he does not turn away, but...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-07T16:06:27ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Northwind SunDM Saern (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hb74?Northwind-Sun#322012-01-13T18:39:06Z2007-04-07T01:07:44Z<p>The attendant's smile fails, simply vanishing from his face and leaving a look of shock. His eyes rove about the letter, and a look comes into his countenance. Horror? Disgust? "Elysium's waters soothe my soul," he whispers. Then, nervous, he raises suspicious, worried eyes. </p>
<p>"I'm afraid I cannot help you. It is very late, and I must retire. I hope you have somewhere to spend the night. Now, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave." With that, he thrusts the paper back to Lythdrae and turns his back on her and the recently enetered Ian, coming to face the altar again. He takes no steps towards it, but hangs his head with his eyes shut. He seems to wait, tense, to hear the footsteps and the creaking that will let him know the travelers have gone.</p>
<p>—————————</p>
<p>"Aye, lad! Well, then, y'see we been in a 'competion' o' sorts wi' th' gray skins over yonder. We both b'claiming a proud heritage, both o' blood an' o' drink!" He looks back to his companions. They smile and laugh. One waves his hand, as if encouraging the speaker to continue. "Ther' been some 'misunderstandings' earlier in th' day. But, we be of friendly disposition and wish t' make amends. It be the case, tho', tha' th' orcs ain't interested in talkin' t' us 'bout it. So, we would be gracious if'n a third party, such's yerself, could give 'em a kind of 'peace offering.'"</p>
<p>He looks back over his shoulder to another dwarf, and once again speaking in his native tongue, says, "Get the horse piss."</p>The attendant's smile fails, simply vanishing from his face and leaving a look of shock. His eyes rove about the letter, and a look comes into his countenance. Horror? Disgust? "Elysium's waters soothe my soul," he whispers. Then, nervous, he raises suspicious, worried eyes.
"I'm afraid I cannot help you. It is very late, and I must retire. I hope you have somewhere to spend the night. Now, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave." With that, he thrusts the paper back to Lythdrae and turns his...DM Saern (alias of Saern)2007-04-07T01:07:44ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#822012-01-13T18:39:01Z2007-04-06T17:38:37Z<p><span class=messageboard-ooc>Spells prepared today: 0- <i>detect magic, guidance, light, read magic</i>; 1st- <i>bless, magic weapon, sanctuary, true strike</i> (domain).</span></p>
<p>Isaeldan listens intently. <i>Vaedryn</i> he prays silently, <i>may my eyes and ears inform me of what dangers may lay ahead</i>. He keeps his bow out, with an arrow knocked.</p>
<p><span class=messageboard-ooc> AC is 14, flat-footed 12; sensory rolls- Listen = 14, Spot = 22</span></p>Spells prepared today: 0- detect magic, guidance, light, read magic; 1st- bless, magic weapon, sanctuary, true strike (domain).
Isaeldan listens intently. Vaedryn he prays silently, may my eyes and ears inform me of what dangers may lay ahead. He keeps his bow out, with an arrow knocked.
AC is 14, flat-footed 12; sensory rolls- Listen = 14, Spot = 22Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-06T17:38:37ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#742012-01-13T18:38:31Z2007-04-03T16:22:24Z<p>I seriously doubt that we even need that much information from these wretches- Genji should have no trouble following the march of these beasts back to their cursed den through the jungle. Let us glean what we may about the particular defenses and send these to their dark god!</p>I seriously doubt that we even need that much information from these wretches- Genji should have no trouble following the march of these beasts back to their cursed den through the jungle. Let us glean what we may about the particular defenses and send these to their dark god!Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-04-03T16:22:24ZForums: Website Feedback: Alternate Account Deletion in Favor of AliasesIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2hbac?Alternate-Account-Deletion-in-Favor-of-Aliases#12012-11-15T19:30:49Z2007-03-28T13:27:11Z<p>Hello, this is Saern speaking through an alternate account created for play by post. However, with the new aliases, it's no longer needed. Can it somehow be deleted so that I can make an alias with the same name/avatar? I didn't see a method under My Account. Thanks!</p>Hello, this is Saern speaking through an alternate account created for play by post. However, with the new aliases, it's no longer needed. Can it somehow be deleted so that I can make an alias with the same name/avatar? I didn't see a method under My Account. Thanks!Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-28T13:27:11ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#682012-01-13T18:37:25Z2007-03-26T23:30:22Z<p>Realizing that there is nothing obviously amiss about the orc's worship, other than the anamoly of the barrels, Isaeldan decides to dig a little deeper and see if he can't discover some further clue. The elf clears his throat before beginning to speak in the guttural, foul tongue of the orcs, Isaeldan begins to ask his own questions, trying to "dumb down" his word enough.</p>
<p>"How long have you been allied with the two-headed giant? Do you have a temple, or just some filthy hole in the ground? Where was the giant from? Was there ever another person or creature with the beast? Do you have any priests that came with you on this raid?"</p>Realizing that there is nothing obviously amiss about the orc's worship, other than the anamoly of the barrels, Isaeldan decides to dig a little deeper and see if he can't discover some further clue. The elf clears his throat before beginning to speak in the guttural, foul tongue of the orcs, Isaeldan begins to ask his own questions, trying to "dumb down" his word enough.
"How long have you been allied with the two-headed giant? Do you have a temple, or just some filthy hole in the ground?...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-26T23:30:22ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#662012-01-13T18:37:10Z2007-03-24T15:31:46Z<p><i>Kali...</i> Isaeldan reflects a moment upon this to try and discern what path his questions should follow.</p>
<p>Knowledge (religion) roll: 18 + 7 = 25.</p>Kali... Isaeldan reflects a moment upon this to try and discern what path his questions should follow.
Knowledge (religion) roll: 18 + 7 = 25.Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-24T15:31:46ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#622012-01-13T18:37:03Z2007-03-23T14:43:05Z<p><i>What a strange place</i>, Isaeldan thinks to himself as he walks his winding way down through the mushroom tunnels to the prisoners, carrying a torch whose golden light bobs along with his steps. <i>Vaedryn, I find myself growing uneasy here. Is it your will that I remain and learn from these unusual circumstances, or should I return to the road with haste to continue our quest for Teksor? I seek your words, for my discomfort is great, but I will not abandon your will.</i></p>
<p>Upon seeing the ritual performed by the tiger-skin clad shaman, Isaeldan looks upon the captured beasts with disgust. He glances to the shaman, keeping the orcs in the corner of his eye, and asks in a low voice, "What will become of these animals when we have extracted all the information that we can from their wretched skulls?"</p>What a strange place, Isaeldan thinks to himself as he walks his winding way down through the mushroom tunnels to the prisoners, carrying a torch whose golden light bobs along with his steps. Vaedryn, I find myself growing uneasy here. Is it your will that I remain and learn from these unusual circumstances, or should I return to the road with haste to continue our quest for Teksor? I seek your words, for my discomfort is great, but I will not abandon your will.
Upon seeing the ritual...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-23T14:43:05ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66&page=2?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#552012-01-13T18:36:18Z2007-03-18T16:32:37Z<p>Isaeldan breaths a sigh of relief, and looks around. There are wounded in need of clerical assistance. He drops his weapons and moves to the closest fallen defenders. He looks for signs of life and stability. Without breaking in his pace or even looking from his work, he begins speaking. </p>
<p>"If the villagers could produce a large amount of clean water and cloth for useage as bandages, I would be most appreciative. Also as a precaution, I would suggest lighting a fire and acquiring what metal rods and brands we can. Cauterization may be necessary in certain cases. If there are any other priests on hand, let them be mindful to say the magic of the gods for those in the direst needs. Mundane uses such as those I have requested materials for will suffice in most cases and conserve deific gifts for when they are truly needed.</p>
<p>"Leave the attackers until the villagers are tended to. Once done, we can search for survivors amongst the orcs and take hostages for interrogation."</p>
<p>Mechanics: Heal checks (untrained, +3 modifier) to find and stabilize injured defenders, only using healing spells as needed. I have three <i>cure light wounds</i> available with spontaneous conversion, and can use the same method to produce up to five <i>cure minor wounds</i>.</p>Isaeldan breaths a sigh of relief, and looks around. There are wounded in need of clerical assistance. He drops his weapons and moves to the closest fallen defenders. He looks for signs of life and stability. Without breaking in his pace or even looking from his work, he begins speaking.
"If the villagers could produce a large amount of clean water and cloth for useage as bandages, I would be most appreciative. Also as a precaution, I would suggest lighting a fire and acquiring what metal...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-18T16:32:37ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#442012-01-13T18:35:41Z2007-03-14T00:05:16Z<p>(Lucky for Harumn, Isaeldan dropped his light wooden shield back at the beginning of the fight. Speaking of which...)</p>
<p>Isaeldan looks around him. His smile fades as he realizes that his advantage has quickly dissappeared. The orcs are now engaged with Genji, and the elf doesn't trust his aim that well now that Vaedryn's power has left him. He would simply take aim at anothe band of savages, but many are already engaged by the defenders, and he can't just leave the gnome to fight on his own.</p>
<p>Isaeldan places his bow back on his back. That accomplished, he rushes over to try locating an advantageous position to ally with Genji in the fight against the orcs. His blade is drawn as he moves. </p>
<p>"I should have had the foresight to keep my shield with me rather than discarding it so soon! Forgive my foolishness, Vaedryn."</p>
<p>Mechanics: A move action to put away my bow, and a move action to close as well as I can with Genji with hopes of assuming a flanking position, drawing my longsword as I do so.</p>(Lucky for Harumn, Isaeldan dropped his light wooden shield back at the beginning of the fight. Speaking of which...)
Isaeldan looks around him. His smile fades as he realizes that his advantage has quickly dissappeared. The orcs are now engaged with Genji, and the elf doesn't trust his aim that well now that Vaedryn's power has left him. He would simply take aim at anothe band of savages, but many are already engaged by the defenders, and he can't just leave the gnome to fight on his own.
...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-14T00:05:16ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#382012-01-13T18:35:17Z2007-03-11T02:03:53Z<p>(<i>I'm assuming that the </i>true strike<i> continues to apply to my critical confirmation roll. I have a scene in my mind; let me know if I'm overstepping my bounds as a player</i>)</p>
<p>Isaeldan stands as close to back-to-back as he can with the shorter ranger. Without looking from the circling orcs, he speaks to Genji in Common. "I suppose now would be a good time to break my habit of deliberation and show some initiative."</p>
<p>Refocusing on the orcs, moving like predatory sea beasts who've caught the scent of blood, the elf calls out in their gutteral tongue: "The first one to take another step closer to either of us will recieve my arrow in their face!"</p>
<p>One of the creatures chuckles and boldly puts his foot forward.</p>
<p>Mechanics: Attack- Natural 20 on attack, 23 to confirm; Damage- 17 (assuming confirmation; 3 if unsuccessful somehow).</p>
<p>The others cease chuckling. "A cleric of Vaedryn never lies!" Isaeldan says with a smile, his confidence swelling.</p>(I'm assuming that the true strike continues to apply to my critical confirmation roll. I have a scene in my mind; let me know if I'm overstepping my bounds as a player)
Isaeldan stands as close to back-to-back as he can with the shorter ranger. Without looking from the circling orcs, he speaks to Genji in Common. "I suppose now would be a good time to break my habit of deliberation and show some initiative."
Refocusing on the orcs, moving like predatory sea beasts who've caught the scent...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-11T02:03:53ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post Discussion: Shandura: Grimcleaver Campaign CommentaryIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha6b?Shandura-Grimcleaver-Campaign-Commentary#152012-01-13T18:35:14Z2007-03-10T14:56:00Z<p><i>True strike</i> is still in effect, and a rolled another natural 20. However, I got a 2 on the confirmation roll. What happens? Does the +20 insight bonus apply there as well? I'm really hoping that it does, because if not, I only got a 1 on my damage roll, and that's just... crappy. :) </p>
<p>I hate it when my dice do these alternating high/low rolls.</p>
<p>EDIT- oh, that would be a THREE on the confirmation roll because of bardic music, and 3 on damage as well from point-blank shot (provided they're within 30 feet) and bardic music.</p>True strike is still in effect, and a rolled another natural 20. However, I got a 2 on the confirmation roll. What happens? Does the +20 insight bonus apply there as well? I'm really hoping that it does, because if not, I only got a 1 on my damage roll, and that's just... crappy. :)
I hate it when my dice do these alternating high/low rolls.
EDIT- oh, that would be a THREE on the confirmation roll because of bardic music, and 3 on damage as well from point-blank shot (provided they're...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-10T14:56:00ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#242012-01-13T18:35:07Z2007-03-09T17:27:15Z<p>"No!" Isaeldan shouts as he sees the orc finish his bloody deed. A glob of acid shoots across the battle field, a roar comes from the ettin, and the elf's anger wells inside of him. He now understands perfectly the reason for his people's hatred of the orcish race.</p>
<p>Isaeldan begins to murmer a prayer to Vaedryn, asking for truth and knowledge once more as he prepares his bow again.</p>
<p>Action: Casting <i>true strike</i> on my next round. Will attack on the following one. Provided there aren't any obvious and dire threats in the way, Isaeldan will march grimly forward after his casting and before his shot next round, attempting to get within 30 feet to use Point Blank Shot.</p>"No!" Isaeldan shouts as he sees the orc finish his bloody deed. A glob of acid shoots across the battle field, a roar comes from the ettin, and the elf's anger wells inside of him. He now understands perfectly the reason for his people's hatred of the orcish race.
Isaeldan begins to murmer a prayer to Vaedryn, asking for truth and knowledge once more as he prepares his bow again.
Action: Casting true strike on my next round. Will attack on the following one. Provided there aren't any...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-09T17:27:15ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#172012-01-13T18:35:00Z2007-03-09T00:45:57Z<p><i>I must remain close in the event they should need me</i> Isaeldan thinks to himself. The elf knows full well that he is not and experienced archer, and will risk much by firing into the melee that has enveloped the twin-headed best. Donning a severe countenance, he quickly strides forward, staying out of the reach of the orcs, and looks for an easy target. He spies a beast-man bearing perilously close to a stranded child</p>
<p>"Vaedryn is the Lord of Learning, and the rearing and teaching of children is precious to him. It is against His will that you harm him, foul beast, and I will see to it that he is not defied!"</p>
<p>Speeking more to himself than anyone else in an attempt to build his confidence, or perhaps due to the swelling of morale he feels as his grey elf companion speaks, Isaeldan simultaneously knocks another arrow, and takes aim at the offending orc.</p>
<p>Attack roll: 7 total, 8 if within 30 feet.</p>
<p>Damage: None likely.</p>I must remain close in the event they should need me Isaeldan thinks to himself. The elf knows full well that he is not and experienced archer, and will risk much by firing into the melee that has enveloped the twin-headed best. Donning a severe countenance, he quickly strides forward, staying out of the reach of the orcs, and looks for an easy target. He spies a beast-man bearing perilously close to a stranded child
"Vaedryn is the Lord of Learning, and the rearing and teaching of children...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-09T00:45:57ZRe: Forums: Play-by-Post: Shandura: Grimcleaver's World CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2ha66?Shandura-Grimcleavers-World-Campaign#52012-01-13T18:34:51Z2007-03-08T01:24:40Z<p>Glad that the ranger had convinced him that wearing his leather armor was a better idea than continuing on through the jungle in his priestly robes, Isaeldan is stunned by the sight of the massive creature and its destructive rage.</p>
<p><i>Never have I seen such a sight as this</i> he thinks to himself, watching the orcs swarm like deadly ants across the village, the natives doing their best to repulse the attack. The elf's stunned reverie is broken, however, as the dwarf calls out, and charges ahead towards the towering, two-headed foe.</p>
<p>"Vaedryn, may your eyes be mine and give truth to the flight of my arrows," he murmurs softly, dropping his shield and slinging his bow off his back. He pulls back, trying to aim his shot towards the gulf between the two massive necks, and lets the arrow fly as he contemplates this, his first shot in a true battle.</p>
<p>(AC is now 14, flat-footed 12)</p>
<p>Initiative: 5</p>
<p>Attack roll: Critical threat; Confirmation: 19 (natural 20, wow!)</p>
<p>Damage: 16 if critical, 2 if not</p>Glad that the ranger had convinced him that wearing his leather armor was a better idea than continuing on through the jungle in his priestly robes, Isaeldan is stunned by the sight of the massive creature and its destructive rage.
Never have I seen such a sight as this he thinks to himself, watching the orcs swarm like deadly ants across the village, the natives doing their best to repulse the attack. The elf's stunned reverie is broken, however, as the dwarf calls out, and charges ahead...Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-08T01:24:40ZRe: Forums: 3.5/d20/OGL: Grimcleaver's Dusty "World" CampaignIsaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2h9pa?Grimcleavers-Dusty-World-Campaign#402012-01-13T18:34:19Z2007-03-03T16:58:37Z<p>It was either this, or Sovellis with his leather cap. •sigh• How hard should it be to find a picture of a male elf with dark hair in robes who isn't screaming or yelling and who isn't Vaarsuvius? I guess having an alter ego as a 20th level cleric of Vecna isn't so bad. :)</p>It was either this, or Sovellis with his leather cap. *sigh* How hard should it be to find a picture of a male elf with dark hair in robes who isn't screaming or yelling and who isn't Vaarsuvius? I guess having an alter ego as a 20th level cleric of Vecna isn't so bad. :)Isaeldan Shaldiir (alias of Saern)2007-03-03T16:58:37Z