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Reign of Winter Book 3 stuff: Marislova was a mystery to us. Half the party is good aligned, so we tend to ask questions first.
Unfortunately, we rolled poorly in our initial interactions with her, so she didn't really trust us. I got the impression her attitude started changing when we began smashing giants and demons.
Our most excellent GM P says we should finish the Third book of Reign of Winter at our next fortnightly session. IMO RoW is just as good as the excellent Strange Aeons at this point. Lodge fight in Book 1:
I have heard others on the boards complain about how tedious Book 3 is, but I have enjoyed its design. Tim Hitchcock did a great job! Book 3 wicked fight: We were very lucky during the Ratter encounter.
The GM rolled consecutive nat 1s on the Ratter’s AoO and attack on the front-liners running interference, before our -powered archer “machine-bowed” the thing.
@Colin, take care of yourself, and please don't get yourself in trouble over a game.
Oh, far out, Quenly. Pulling for your family, my man. Hard.
✰✰✰ GM
I began GMing to: ⛹ Give something back to the Organized Play Community
Incentives ✰ I'd like to say the "stars/glyphs/novas" don't motivate me, but they do. I had an Organizer Friend say to me years ago, "Once you get that first star, you'll want more."
Barriers ⛔ One component of GMing is people management, which comes naturally to some people, but not to others.
Remedies ✔ Encourage players verbally to GM, with specific examples of what it is about the fledgling GM that you think will make them a good GM
Thanks, bud. I'm sorry, guys but I'm going to drop for the time being. I am happy for Quenly to run Eadie, and will accept any consequences good or bad, GM. Poor Eadie. She's not my priority right now.
Played today and good chance we will finish Book 1 of Reign of Winter next session. Loving this AP so far. One of the more interesting things I experienced in starting the new campaign (we finished Stange Aeons by VTT/Discord over an 18 month period) is the ‘performance shock’ we Players went through going from “unbreakable” level 16s back to super-fragile level 1s. Currently at level 3, the team has worked out how to fight together efficiently, given many of us are playing new classes. Other interesting thing is no full BAB PCs. But we have two combat pets: caster druid + death kitty, and hunter with death rhino; as well as an inquisitor archer, backed by a bard, buffing/healer cleric and Winter Witch.
"So we push on, and set up the magic house in the cassowary enclosure." Eadie nods. "Sounds good." "And based on my experience of the arcane over the course of a failed admission to the Acadamae in Korvosa, I'm suppositoring that we won't need to rest. AmIright?"
Hey, you! Leave these nice people alone! And get off our lawn! Hey! That's my line! With the bulk of their workforce transitioning to remote work and them closing the Redmond offices I'm starting to doubt if we'll have another Paizo-Con in-person. Sadly, that's what I think too. I don't believe the "~ outsourcing" of the Live Con to KublaCon in San Francisco over the traditional Paizo-con weekend this year was a coincidence. Goodness me. Doesn't Paizo understand what they are doing to my forum-friend social life? :)
Sorry for the interruption, GM Ladile, but Dr. O'mayga (Omega? Really? ;) must be hassled!
The missus has given me the go ahead to attend Skalcon last weekend of Sep, any chance your big dirty bird lands in Minneapolis that weekend? GM Ladile, I know we chatted about Skalcon, but I don’t want you to feel any pressure – Nomadical is a whole 'nother story! ;)
Glad everything is OK Yours!! Thank-you, sah! Not as scary as Cocaine Bear, I'd say ;)
Whoa! That is crazy, Yanndu. I'm glad you and the fam are OK. Did you catch sight of Cocaine Bear? I think I'll stick to drop bears when I go camping ...
That's my recollection as well. The only Savage Tide Dungeon magazine pdf that was ever sold by Paizo was #139, which still looks to be available for sale. Again, my understanding is this was a Wizards decision, NOT a Paizo one.
I think you'll have a lot of fun with the roleplay aspects of that. Is there much chance you will get tired of the samey-ness over the course of an entire AP?
I am playing the party cleric in RoW after serving on the frontline as a paladin in Strange Aeons. Funny, our last AP was Strange Aeons and our current one is Reign of Winter. We are in volume 2, just got to level 5. Great minds and all that, Dragon78.
Finished Strange Aeons last Friday over VTT with a group of international friends who got together via PFS 1e online. Awesome campaign which began in January 2022, played fortnightly to three-weekly (depending on real life plans) and managed to perfection by our superlative GM P. Book 1 was very good, but got eclipsed by Book 6 IMO. Now, winter is coming for our group – Reign of Winter that is ;)
Silbeg has been friendly and magnanimous in every interaction. Valhalla can wait.
Thanks for everyone’s feedback! I’ve talked it over with the player and have had a couple of simple notions reinforced. Players like to be listened to, and have their proposals duly considered. If there is mutual respect between Player and GM, it makes it easier to reach an agreement that both can accept. Good gaming to everyone!
Got a doozy for you, GMs It concerns the Teamwork feats Outflank and Paired Opportunists. I have a player with a Hunter (call them A) + Wolf animal companion (call them B) who both have these feats. They also have Pack Flanking so they can flank while adjacent to each other. Say they’re “adjacent flanking” and A scores a crit on the opponent, this triggers a single AoO from B. B taking an AoO, also triggers a single AoO from A. I think this is OK so far. But then say one of the AoOs is a critical hit. Does this start the paired AoOs for a second time? (And so on, if one of those is a critical hit) Now, there is a phrase in Paired Opportunist which states: This does not allow you to take more than one attack of opportunity against a creature for a given action. So I think it comes down to whether or not the “second critical hit” is a separate “given action” or not. How would you adjudicate this?
Nice. I guess he's gotta skate somewhere ...
There are swimming pools where you live, PDK??
The Chronicles link has been posted in the Discord channel. The game has also been reported. Thank-you all for playing, and if anyone finds an error on their Chronicle, please let me know so I can fix it for you.
“Chunhua and I … I mean, Agent Zhang and I managed to figure out the solution to removing the barrier preventing access to the belfry.” Cerotius flits about, careful not to make eye contact with Ferdrin or any other party member. “At least one person had to go through the correct alternatively colored portals on each level of the Tower.” The pixie drops his head. “Unfortunately, by the time we … nutted it out, you had left the Clock Tower and messed up all the fey in the Village Square.” “Sorry we took so long … it was a real teaser.” Then he brightens. “But to make it up to you, I will donate a number of wondrous items and gold from my personal collection.” ❦ With your mission in Uringen complete, you set off back to Tymon, and the hidden lodge of Venture-Captain Smine. You are met outside of town by the Embeth Travelers, who not only offer to guide you back to the Sellen, but offer each of you a combat-trained Embeth hound. Over the course of your career, this unusual animal companion may remind you of the folk of Uringen and the mayhem that began at six seconds to midnight.
I can confirm you all received full gold for the scenario – high tier for Dhovahk, Eltran & Ferdrin, and out-of-tier for Cade & Lu Yan. You also achieved the Primary Success condition: retrieving at least one vial of temporal essence to obtain 1 Prestige Point. Unfortunately, the Secondary Success condition was to prevent the gremlins from sabotaging the clock tower until it emitted the sound hazard on the Third Floor of the Clock Tower. You did not achieve that and so forgo the second Prestige Point :( On the bright side, there are three (non-faction related) Chronicle Sheet boons, that everyone will receive.
With the fey forces of the Embeth defeated, the Pathfinders may take a moment to gaze around the bloody square. It’s quiet now, except for the low *crackle* and buzz of the eldritch portals. Another four minutes pass, and as the western face of the clock tower reaches 12:34 in the morning, the portals and temporal anomalies scattered about the square end abruptly, *blinking* for a moment, then disappearing as if they were never there! The western clock face once again spins wildly out of control, the other three faces desynchronize, and the clock tower emits a resonant thirteen times before going silent. ⚿ Shortly afterwards, Chunhua and the pixie administrator Cerotius enter the square hand-in-hand. They separate quickly after spying the party, and retreat to opposite corners of the square when Mayors Ogden and Mieren arrive a few minutes later — definitely NOT holding hands. On hearing the Pathfinders’ report of events in the clock tower, Lady Ogden looks quite pleased. “Thank Elysium you were able to prevent the tower’s destruction from both fey factions.” “It will be some time before they attempt another strike on Uringen.” Then she frowns. “It’s just a shame you were unable to prevent the gremlins from doing all that damage to the third floor in a more timely manner.” “I will have to write to Holgarin about that. However, I can assure you we will make our export quality alchemical goods available to your Society at fair market rates.” Mayor Mieren then steps forward sheepishly. “I apologise for doubting you, Pathfinders. Clearly you were up to the task of saving our town.” He presents them with an oversized key made of local cypress. “Rest assured that you are welcome to return to Uringen and enjoy the Freedom of the Village whenever you please.”
Just double-checking for Chronicle boon reasons ... it appears everyone passed through at least one portal, either in the clock tower or the town square. If you didn't, please let me know here.
Cade & Dhovahk: I can’t find a record of your day job checks.
Can you please roll them, or direct me to where they were made?
Yellow sounds puzzled. "Bumfuzzle, మరి ఆ అర్ధ మృత్యువుకి నీ పేరు ఎలా తెలుసు?" Sylvan:
"Bumfuzzle, how does that mortal child know your name?" The grig will never know the answer, as Dhovahk’s sleet-shot hits him like a Cat 5 Blizzard. Insta-frozen, and with one wing-pair sheared off, the yellow-bodied fey spirals out of control into the hard pavers around the fountain, shattering into dozens of tiny shards. ❄ Green makes a desperate attempt to escape.
Unbelievable! It manages to do so! The surviving fey attempts a half-speed backflip to avoid opportunistic attacks from Lu Yan and Sparky.
After avoiding any immediate reprisals, the quickling flees the battlefield to the north.
Though Ferdrin may not believe it, with Green pinned by Lu Yan, both Sparky and he connect! While the arcanist draws first blood with his cold iron quarrel, only the electrical damage from Sparky’s attack bypasses the quickling’s damage reduction.
Dhovahk, you made the SR check with the re-roll. Assuming White's whirlwind didn't affect the mirror image. Then Yellow has one image left. Dhovahk, I would prefer you to make the “image or real grig” roll, either here or in Gameplay. What do you think? 1=real on a 1d2 roll?
Eltran continues barding and defending fully. Round #11:
Cade
“Because the mortal riding her didn’t see it sticking out of the ground!” Lu Yan confirms fey humor doesn't even reach 'Dad' level, as he just manages to keep a hold of Green and pin him. Round #11:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Pinned: A pinned creature is tightly bound and can take few actions. A pinned creature cannot move and is denied its Dexterity bonus. A pinned character also takes an additional –4 penalty to his Armor Class. A pinned creature is limited in the actions that it can take. A pinned creature can always attempt to free itself, usually through a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check. A pinned creature can take verbal and mental actions, but cannot cast any spells that require a somatic or material component. A pinned character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level) or lose the spell. Pinned is a more severe version of grappled, and their effects do not stack.
I'd say yes. So if that gives you a 17, feel free to take your normal turn.
Cade stands still, spurting a stream of (sub?)consciousness. “Bumfuzzle … guard my loo … kukri … diddle Tara … lolly gagger … gubbins … flibbertigibbet ... kukri … snollygoster ... widdershins … kukri …” Knowledge (arcana) DC 21:
Cade was affected by lesser confusion. Cade:
You now feel like yourself again … Yellow realizes that Green is in trouble. He flies N-N-E at just over half-speed to ✨cast a spell on Lu Yan. :
Spoiler:
Spellcraft DC 16:
Round #11:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level, see Concentration), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Dhovahk heals Lu Yan this time. Ferdrin's flaming sphere burns itself out, leaving behind a wisp of gray smoke. The arcanist steps 5 ft to the SE, reloads his crossbow and fires at Green.
Sparky steps to flank with Lu Yan, and attempts to slam Green again.
Even with Green grappled, all of the attacks miss.
Green attempts to break the grapple.
It fails, remaining bound in the monk's arms.
Cade:
You feel your mind clouding once again …
Lu Yan rushes over and manages to grab a hold of Green! Round #10:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform. A grappled character who attempts to cast a spell or use a spell-like ability must make a concentration check (DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + spell level, see Concentration), or lose the spell. Grappled creatures cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Eltran continues inspiring and tanking to the fullest! Round #10:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Cade stabs himself with one of his kukris, then seems to *snap* out of his fugue.
Knowledge (arcana) DC 21:
He was affected by lesser confusion. Cade:
You now feel like yourself again. However … Yellow maintains altitude, flying at half-speed to the SW, before ✨casting again on Cade.
Spellcraft DC 16:
Round #10:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
The grig feels a cold wind rising, However, he rides it out harmlessly, like a petrel in a showery squall. Dhovahk patches up the leaking Tank once more. Ferdrin fires once at Green.
Rather than reload, the arcanist directs the flaming sphere onto Green.
Ferdrin then 5 ft steps east, as Sparky moves up to engage Green.
Frustrated by Ferdrin’s movement, Green decides to 5 ft step to the NE and full attack Sparky.
Hitting once, the quickling fails to take the elemental down.
Cade:
You feel your mind clouding …
♪ Green-eyes mutters angrily, మంచి బార్డ్ కాదు Sylvan:
"Frackin' Bard!" Eltran seems to be revelling in his new-found role of Party Tank! Five imaginary friends replace his rather lonely illusory twin. Round #9:
Cade
Lu Yan’s aim improves after his latest bout of inter-portal travel.
Both scaled strikes take out separate images! Round #9:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Cade guts Pink like it’s a salmon. The quickling looks down in surprise to witness his intestines pour out of his open abdomen, like a tangle of soggy tripe. The faerie sinks to its knees, then falls flat on its face.
Yellow tears his eyes away from the sight of his fallen comrade, to stare down Cade. The grig flies at the main Pathfinder group, descending to 15 feet before ✨casting a spell on Cade. Spellcraft DC 16:
Round #9:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Dhovahk heals Eltran’s bleed damage, while the latter assumes the total defense action once more. Lu Yan maneuvers away from the main group. His shruiken fail to take out even one of Yellow’s mirror images.
Black *pops* a jaundiced image, leaving Yellow with three remaining! Pink also feels some minor effect of Black’s stormy fury, though White’s wind winds wapidly down into a light breeze. ❀ Fuchsia full attacks black, and then takes a 5 ft step to the west.
Green jet sweeps around Eltran, to set up a flank on the Ifrit bard with Fuchsia.
Round #9:
Cade
GM screen: The target gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Fuchsia dodges Sparky and the flaming sphere both, though Ferdrin keeps plugging away. Speaking of which, the arcanist draws a crossbow, preparing to launch some cold iron down range.
Round #8
Cade
Perfect! Thanks, Cade.
Could someone please move Yellow 25 feet north of the Red Portal in the south-east corner & mark him as 25' up, please?
Cade cuts twice, connecting twice! Fuchsia throws up his sword-arms defensively, but cannot prevent all the damage going through. ⚔️ Yellow steps through the portal to his east, before flying out of another, climbing to the north at a 45 degree angle until he is 25 feet off the ground.
Round #8
Cade
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