The BGGM's page

(facepalm) Don't make me regret my decision, Godzil... Azruk.

I want to thank everyone who submitted an application. It wasn't an easy choice, but PM's have been sent to the first draft of selected characters.

For those not selected, I hope for the chance to game with you in the future.

Hmm... Is that a hard no on unchained classes?

that's a hard no

So not as many magus submissions as could be, especially if the BGGM wants me to use the paladin/kineticist submission.

what I want is for you to submit the character you most want to play

It looks like my submission rate has declined a bit, which is fine. I'll give any fence sitters until 11:59pm est on Saturday, the 24th to submit before I cut off recruitment.

I'll address individual questions later tonight, but very quickly, there are never too many magi provided your companion classes make you versatile. It could be interesting to make a party of magus+'s, I probably won't do that, but it's conceivable.

I'm afraid that "out there" is in the eye of the beholder and the way I define it may be rather arbitrary but I know it when I see it. Let it be known that I generally find the use of templates distasteful, and that even a CR +1 template can potentially unbalance a party up to level 5, so your target for story justification may have always been unattainably high.

Still, you've put forth a very reasonable request which deserves to be answered. Let me think on it and I'll get back to you with an example.

Arzuk-Hal: I'm sorry. I'm just not feeling it. The answer is no.

A tip if you feel like trying again, any justification for a template that I approve is gonna be way over top bizarre while still being appropriate to the character and meaningful to its personality and history. Your story is appropriate and meaningful, but it's not "out there" enough.

In place of a first level in one of the two classes, would you allow a template to be used? Then, progressing through the second class as normal?

I'll allow templates, but only if it's one the really exotic ones and no undead and nothing that smacks of simple advanced, and I want a really, and I mean really good story to go along with it. the bar to get a template is gonna be really high.

How about a monk/rogue?? Will work one up asap...but also wondering about templates.

monk and rogue have great synergy for a gestalt character, but don't forget that with so few characters to be selected I'm looking for diverse abilities and versatility to round out a party. Don't get me wrong, the character concept is fine, and I haven't reviewed anybody's yet, but if you're too good at too few things you may be at a disadvantage.

I know that the medium is not technically gestalt, but I find it to bring in the fun of gestalt ideologies with the advantage of a book for reference :=) Basically, depending on what spirit I call up that day, I can be damage dealer, healer, tank, rogue, or arcane caster.

gestalt in this context means leveling simultaneously in two classes, taking the better skill values, saves, BAB's and hit dice of the two. So occultist is just fine, but you need to choose a second class to go with it.

I won't do the Paladin if it'd be disruptive; that's important to note.

Would I be allowed to take the Bred For War Trait despite not being a human?

I'll allow it

no 3rd party, and while I like many of the options featured in unchained, it's not in the PRD and I don't feel like dealing with those mechanics in particular so it is disallowed. I will, however, allow options from the occult adventures.

I'll address more questions later.

I'm looking to run a module, though I haven't decided which one. it could be any location, any level, though any overwhelming clamoring for one in particular will certainly influence my decision.

I'm looking for three level 1, at least for now, Gestalt characters with a 25 point buy. anything on the PRD, that's PRD, not SRD, is legal. Anything else will be considered on a case by case basis, but nothing 3rd party please. No CN or evil alignments. Make your character available to move anywhere in Golarion no matter where they are from.

Be creative. I'll be looking especially at diversity of ability, character background, personality and plans for character development.

This recruitment will last for as long as it lasts, but I'll give at least 24 hours before it closes.

Good luck!

thanks so much for the understanding. assuming I don't utterly succumb to holiday destruction, I'll invite everyone back in the new year.

some apologies are in order. this past week has been bizarre. I stopped counting the varieties of hell I've suffered somewhere around 25 (ironically, that was the hell of hyperbole) and simply have had neither time nor energy for pbp. between my job in retail management and a bunch of personal stuff, I don't see things getting any easier until the new year and am bowing out of just about everything. I am sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

I hope everyone continues to enjoy themselves on here, and with luck I can rejoin you come January.

my apologies, no it did not, which is just as well due to retroactive alterations to the chain of events.

All, due miserably long and busy days back to back I won't be making a proper update until late tomorrow afternoon/early evening

if you targeted m6 and Carnadine started in l6, attacked and took a 5' step to l7 thinking that he's heeded your warning, then he's still in the AoE

Carnadine, that's an attack and two movements, I'm afraid the club stays on the ground for now, not to mention you're not meant to act until after the guards, but we'll fudge that for now.
Zaul, bombs throws are ranged touch attacks, and that attack would hit a prone Corpus even if it wasn't edit:except that I've just noticed from you wording that you targeted Billius in order to spare Keres further damage, but you still hit him and Corpus still goes down, but unfortunately that put Carnadine in range of splash damage

Corpus crumples to the ground and Billius screams as he feels his skin burn. unfortunately, this attack by one of Keres's allies finally frees him from the effects of her enchantment. He looks down at his fallen friend... Corpus?... Mitra save me, they'll pay for this.

edit:Carnadine also gets burned in the explosion for 6 damage

still serving group 1, Ogren's up

Round 3 recap:
Ogren takes another swing at Corpus but misses.

Corpus, desperate and alone, dodges away from Ogren and Carnadine and impales Keres with his longsword, nearly killing her, in a futile attempt to break her spell on Billius.

Paimon, unsure of the repercussions of Keres being unconscious, steals the signal horn from Billius's belt. continue acting in PC combat group 2

Billius, enraged by his friend's ludicrous violence, attacks him but misses.

Carnadine also attempts to fell corpus and also fails

Eldros, suddenly aware of his precarious position, steps away from the homicidal guard and casts a spell making the floor beneath Corpus's feet too slick to stand on and he falls to the floor. Eldros, you're now acting in PC combat group 2

Zaul's disable device: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Zaul manages to unlock Grumblejack's cell return to acting in PC combat group 1
--------------------------------
begin round four
Ogren and Zaul, you're up

I've been using a house rule with my TT games for so long I'd forgotten that the cannon rules allow spells to continue after a caster falls. plrase assume that last attack of billius's was meant for corpus and that he's pissed as hell that Keres has been struck down

Corpus runs at Keres, dodging blows from both Ogren and Carnadine, stabbing her in the gut with a powerful thrust. Keres crumples to the floor as Corpus pulls his weapon free [ooc you can keep your initial stabilize check result[/ooc].

A shocked Carnadine rushes after him but too late and misses with a second thrust of his dagger.

Billius shakes his head in confusion, but quickly comes to his senses. As he reaches for the horn at his belt a quick thinking Paimon snatches it away. He instead firms his grip upon his club, held so loosely and casually before now, and lashes out at the thief.

Bill attacks Paimon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
but misses as he's still recovering from his confusion

Eldros still has a held action and Zaul needs to make a DD check with a +4 bonus for having worked on it so long

Eldros is exactly right, and don't be too hard on poor old Bill. He thinks you're just the bee's knees (I assume that's a common enough expression in New Zealand) but he IS lawful good and it's hard to completely disregard how likely this is to be an escape attempt. Besides, I'd feel just awful if Corps was corpsified and the pc's didn't have a direct hand in it... also, maybe I want to kill you just a little. ;]

Corpus's eyes rapidly dart between his friend, his enemies and his fallen truncheon. He takes a deep breath to calm himself and puts a hand on Billius's shoulder, I don't know what that witch has done to you, but I need you with me. This stops now! Realizing how utterly alone he is, Corpus decides on a desperate ploy. Drawing his longsword, he rushes at Keres.

Billius, paralyzed by indecision, does nothing. action held

Corpus attacks: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

let's find out if Keres is dying or not, shall we? Ogren, Carnadine, attacks of opportunity, if you please.

the naming of three groups is a pretty arbitrary decision that makes sense to me, denoting phases of combat as much as anything else. If you'd prefer I name them as group 1, enemy mob and group 2, that's just fine

I promise I'm absolutely paying attention. However, I've never had a player, much less two, delay an entire round, not acting at all beyond free actions, just to end up in effectively in the same initiative order as before. I won't question it again.

Round 2 recap:

A clever ruse by Ogren goads Corpus into attacking him in the hopes of convincing Billius that Corpus is being unreasonable while getting an attack in himself.

A charmed Billius takes the bait, chastising his friend and attacking him though he misses.

Corpus, furious and frustrated by this turn of events, manages to fumble his club and drops it.

Keres makes an impassioned plea for Billius to join forces with her and give her the signal horn in order to keep it from an obviously crazed Corpus.

Eldros, Carnadine and Paimon bide their time, watching Corpus and Billius closely.

Dr Zaul continues his efforts to free Grumblejack unabated

Round 3:
Group 1: Ogren and Eldros

Ogren takes another shot at Corpus in the hopes of disabling him, but fails.

Eldros, you're up

you did, yes. just wanted to verify that you were electing to not go at all this round in order act in group three during the next. Carnadine, what about you?

that's fine. we're still waiting for round two actions from carnadine and paimon unless they wish to defer and reset their inits to act in group one next round

oh, he believes you. That doesn't mean it's something he'd be willing to do but under the circumstances it does seem like a reasonable suggestion from you. We'll see what happens when he's next able to take an action

normally you'd be right, but he gets bonus of 50 to his roll due to player presumption... wait... no... no he doesn't

Carnadine, I think you'll find that I switch frequently between narration and mechanical blow by blow depending on the needs of the campaign as well as what I happen to be doing IRL at the time.

Paimon, no. your tumbling, and bluffing was the last move of round one. you still have a turn during round two now that group three is up.

Yes, Carnadine gets a flanking Bonus

EGAD! I've forgotten Eldros! Please take your action at any time and rejoin group 1 next round

Paimon surprises both guards, tumbling past both with ease, neither the wiser that he's armed; however, Billius raises a credulous eyebrow at him.

Bill please, I...I don't think Corpus wants me to go back to my cell, I think he just means to kill me right here...I'll be good, I promise, you can escort me back to my cell...just don't let him hurt me please

Billius: It's alright, Miss. We just need you to go back to your cell. You're not gonna hurt anyone, are you Corps?...

Bill please don't let Corpus kill our friends, our allies they're all I have in this world. I'll just try to knock him out so we can talk some sense into him when he wakes up later

Corpus: You're all insane! Gimme your horn, Bill!... and you stay down!

he starts to reach for Bill's belt, but is forced to deal with Ogren instead, lashing out at him with his club as he starts to rise

corps attacks: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Ogren takes 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 of non lethal damage

before returning the favor with his fists

and no, Ogren, you're not flanking

Corpus immediately attacks Ogren again.

corps attacks: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

but in his frustration, his club slips from his fingers and clatters to the floor.

Corps, what are you doing?!

Bill tries to subdue Corps with his own club

bill attacks: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

but his heart's not in it and he misses.

group 3 is up

another reasonable request

round one recap:
with the horn bearing guard in the rear already charmed by Keres, Eldros successfully dazes the foreguard.

Ogren overestimates his attack on the foreguard, unbalancing himself and falling prone.

As both guards are enchanted, neither acts other than to speak

Keres, having delayed her action and joining combst group 3 casts charm person on the foreguard who shrugs off the spell.

Carnadine also delays his action to join group 3, attacks and misses.

Zaul effectively takes 20 to work on unlocking Grumblejack's cell and has removed himself from combat unless he's interrupted

Paimon, who has also delayed his action, has yet to act this round.

Once Paimon acts or defers his action, we'll begin round two.

Billius, the charmed guard,puts a hand on his colleagues's shoulder, relax, Corpus. I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding. The lady and her friends just need to be escorted back to their cell.

1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 1 + 5 = 23
Corpus shakes his head s the fugue clears. be turns to Billius in shock, obviously uninfluenced by Keres's spell Are you crazy, Bill?! THEY'RE CONDEMNED AND FORSAKEN. BLOW YOUR HORN... NOW!
edit:all who've delayed their actions till the end of the round, take them and join combat group3. once Paimon goes, begin round 2

fare enough

the first two, they've got till the end of tomorrow before I GMPC their turn.

not really, that particular alternate preferred class bonus isn't even relevant to you until you're able to make level 2 extracts. meanwhile you're stuck with the usual bonus to either hp or skills.

in any event, even without your formula book you may recall and duplicate your last set of unused extracts from before your incarceration. once you've made those, and they're either quaffed or expired, you're SOL until you acquire a new formula book. you can always make bombs and mutagens, however, so long as you have access to the appropriate ingredients.

The dazed guard slowly turns his head at the sound of Ogren's voice, but seems to be surprised by the resultant movement and blurring of scenery and jerks his head back just in time for the overconfident half orc to over-extend on his punch, lose his balance and fall prone.

The point of getting brass knuckles is to get magic enhancement cheaper than amulet of mighty fists

ahhhhhhhhhh... okay. anyway, as I said before, sure, they can scale.

Grumblejack shrugs, always more littl'uns to break somewhere

been trying to figure that out, I'll get there eventually, though possibly not today

within your combat group it's first come first serve so no one has to wait to post... on the front end at least

edit: the guard in the rear relaxes and smiles at Keres

the guard in front backs up in fear and bumps into his colleague but in so doing just manages to avoid being struck in the face by Ogren

How on earth do I have bombs? I've got absolutely no materials to work with in this prison.

your stuff

edit:at some point during an ellipses or lacuna Eldros drew the sack from the veil

the conversation behind the door approaches, you all see the the door pulled in and the first guard comes out looking over his shoulder and laughing at something the other had just said. Stepping over the threshold he looks forward and all the blood drains from his face as he stops in his tracks... Billius?... is all he manages to squeak out as the other's breath catches in his throat and he begins fiddling with the horn on his belt.

combat group 1:all of you
combat group 2:guards
combat group 3:Grumblejack

Surprise round: everyone take a move or standard and once those are resolved we'll start round 1

you do have bombs, and though I didn't make this clear earlier for you, despite not having a formulae book you remember the last extracts from before your incarceration and can duplicate them given fifteen minutes downtime.

if you'd all be so kind as to move your pawns on the map to where you think they could have gotten to in a space of 5 seconds and say what they're preparing to do once the guards come out. I'll start this sucker up sometime after 8pm est to give folks enough time to move and declare their actions. Remember, during a surprise round you get either a movement OR a standard action.

Grumblejack deliberately falls back down on his rump and appears docile once more. He booms as softly as he can. quiet!... Littl'uns coming

a very reasonable request

nope.

let's see if I can catch up

the door to the guards' room is closed

Ogren, none of you have been here all that long, but the let's say day and a half since you've arrived you've seen at least three sets of two guards. You can infer that they switch every twelve hours or so. Furthermore you've noticed that they check in on you at random intervals throughout the day.

edit: Ogren and Zaul, beware, I believe it takes an hour to make a mutagen and about one minute per extract.

any questions I've missed?

I'll allow brass knuckle damage to be dictated by your unarmed strike damage; however, I don't really see the point as you already do lethal damage without them, which is really the only benefit they offer characters without the improved unarmed strike feat.