Zlorf's page

Hi,
Has anyone looked at improving this as a weapon to make it even more powerful? I was thinking of making it bypass the DR for monsters/NPC's that are Evil Outsiders. It may not happen straight away, only after a certain ammount of time it has been in the possession of a good character. The PC's with the weapon could aways add to it to make it more powerful.

Cheers
Z

These guys are tough, they burst out of the building, so the PC's decide to attack them. With combat reflex they got one attack each, plus crit, they hammered the parties Goliath on thier go, who then died of fire damage. The rest of the party ran away. I even had problems trying to sort out how the city guard would cause enough damage to the elementals, they would kill most of the guards. Zarn could use his cone of cold, but they would just come up to him and pound him to. Eventually with enough reinforcements, and maybe some spellcaster that can do cold damage..but i could see 1/2 the city on fire, unless some really powerful city folk came to the rescue.

The elementals are gated can they be forced back into the gate?

Cheers
Z

I was wondering how people handled the 6000gp arms or armor the player can choose as a reward for bring back Zenith?

Did DM's allow the players to add extra money to pay for something more than 6000gp. It unlikely the players will
be able to get items that add up to exactly 6000gp anyways.

Any other things to consider?

Cheers
Z

The party are taking Zenith back to Cauldron. THe party did a detect thoughts on him, most of his past was just blank, darkness, but recent events were still in his mind, ie a Black Dragon in a small room, surrounded by treasure (urns etc)

The party plan to take Zenith back and collect their reward and come back and take on the Black Dragon.

I dont plan on leaving the Black Dragon there, considering that their are only a few clerics, women and children Koutoan surviving. The trip itself would take about 5 days. They will
probably have 5 days or so before the big riot starts.

Considering the black dragon doesnt have any loyalty to the Koutoan, he would leave, take most of his treasure and find another home. The PC's will realize that things change, they could have taken on the dragon when they were there, but they were keen to get their 6000gp arms or armor reward for the return of Zenith. If they go, i would leave some loose gold etc, but most of the valuable stuff would have been taken.

What do people think?

Cheers
Z

Hi,

I can see this happening...

Zenith takes his defensive stance...party attack from with reach weapons and missle attacks.

Can you take a 5ft step with Defensive Stance?

Cheers
Z

Hi,

The party im DMing has just found Zenith, they have just defeated Mangh-Mictho, Aushanna, Saagogoi and a bunch of Kuo-toa soldiers and clerics so they need to rest mainly for the cleric to get some spells back.

The chatted with Zenith and asked him to come with them, but he refused, so they left to find a place to rest.

Does Zenith do anything? Does he communicate with the rest of the Koa-toans to track the party down?

I'll send the Spearman with some soldiers to search the complex for the PC's and attack during the night, but im assuming they would do this anyways after they discover dead bodies and probably alerted that intruders are in the area.

I'll probably leave Zenith in his room, he's not afraid of the PC's and he will wait for the PC's to return.

The PC's are probably going to use ranged attacks against him and maybe even sunder/disarm the orb in his hand if they do try to get into melee, btw if the orb hit the ground from a disarm does that creature still get summoned?

If the PC's rest im also going to kill off the two prisoners, they had a chance to release them but the cleric cast detect thoughts on them and didnt like what they were thinking :)

Does anyone have any other suggestion on what approach i should take?

Cheers
Z

Lighting bolt trap in Area 13 (p144 SCAP) uses 3.0 rules for lighting bolt. 3.5 lighting bolt is now a line effect and needs start slightly off centre and on a slight angled to at least get someone standing in the adjacent squares near the door.

Mangh-Mictho should only get 2 attacks when spelled up at +19/+14 (mentioned in other message). Not 3 unless you give him a level of something else to reach 11 class lvls.

Cheers
Z

Hi,

I was wondering how Mangh-Michto gets 3 attacks when buffed, what gives him the extra attack?

PC's met him last night, unfortunately for him, he weapon was disarmed and then pretty much grappled and then its was slow progression of him trying to break free of the grapple and being regrappled or tripped.

Cheers
Sami

Im a bit lost with with how the Sepia Snake Sigils are used in Skavens Bedchamber (K25, p116 SCAP HC. After reading the spell description, it seems more appropriate hidden amongst text.
So in this case is it just cast on a door, or is there some text written on the door which the PC's are expected to read and therefore effected by the spell if they fail there save. Same with the bookcase?

Its also a terrible spell for slowing down the whole adventure. Can it be removed by another caster?

Here a copy of the spells text:
Sepia Snake Sigil
Conjuration (Creation) [Force]
Level: Brd 3, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Target: One touched book or written work
Duration: Permanent or until discharged; until released or 1d4 days + one day/level; see text
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Spell Resistance: No

When you cast sepia snake sigil, a small symbol appears in the text of one written work such as a book, scroll, or map. The text containing the symbol must be at least twenty-five words long. When anyone reads the text containing the symbol, the sepia snake springs into being and strikes the reader, provided there is line of effect between the symbol and the reader.

Simply seeing the enspelled text is not sufficient to trigger the spell; the subject must deliberately read it. The target is entitled to a save to evade the snake’s strike. If it succeeds, the sepia snake dissipates in a flash of brown light accompanied by a puff of dun-colored smoke and a loud noise. If the target fails its save, it is engulfed in a shimmering amber field of force and immobilized until released, either at your command or when 1d4 days + one day per caster level have elapsed.

While trapped in the amber field of force, the subject does not age, breathe, grow hungry, sleep, or regain spells. It is preserved in a state of suspended animation, unaware of its surroundings. It can be damaged by outside forces (and perhaps even killed), since the field provides no protection against physical injury. However, a dying subject does not lose hit points or become stable until the spell ends.

The hidden sigil cannot be detected by normal observation, and detect magic reveals only that the entire text is magical.

A dispel magic can remove the sigil. An erase spell destroys the entire page of text.

Sepia snake sigil can be cast in combination with other spells that hide or garble text, such as secret page.

Material Component
500 gp worth of powdered amber, a scale from any snake, and a pinch of mushroom spores.

Hi,
Im sure i saw a thread on this before, but i cant find it.

Im slightly confused: SCAP HC P88, 3rd point regarding info that Chorlyndyr, Kallev may disclose to the PC's mentions that
a noble wants to augment their bodyguards with stronger mercenaries (half orcs). Is this true? I cant find anything about who the noble is.

My PC's will starting asking questions, to find out who the noble might be, I imagine they would go to the mayor and tell him. Whats is the mayor likely to do? Send out a investigation team and tell the PC, i'll see what they can find..meanwhile they get distracted and go off and search for wands..that sounds good :)

I also want to clarify why and when the half-orc enter the city.

Chapter 2: Drakthars Way (DW): Cagewrights try to smuggle half-orc in Cauldron via DW, foiled by PC's

Chapter 3: Flood Season: No mention of half-orc. I presume with the backing of Vhalantru, Terseon Skellerang starts hiring half-orc, but why? This should start ring alarm bells everywhere, that something is wrong. I understand that Terseon is loyal to Vhalantru, but even the other guards whould see a problem with this.

Chapter 4: Zenith Trajactory: Alek Tercival discovers proof of corruption in Cauldron's city guard (Terseon Skellerrang..right?)

Chapter 5: Terseon Skellerrang recently announces special security measures against a sect of dangerous anachists (presume this is the Ebon Triad). Half-orc mercenaries accompany tax collecters. More Half-orc hired. Is this to make it look they are trying to protect Cauldron?

Anyways i might be missing a few key details, hence the confusion..I haven't read the whole book, but have skimmed though it.

TIA
Zlorf

My players met Drakthar the other night. He sent in a few bats swarms and then hid until a fighter came close enough to dominate. He failed with the first but managed to dominate the parties Goliath Barbarian who loves to trip. I forgot about the second will save if Drakthar asks the dominated person something that the PC wouldn't do, ie kill your friends. Anyways the Barbarian attacked the rest of the party and was going to go close to dying because of the loss of hitpoint when his rage wore off, before that happened, i checked the domination spell again and saw the part about the second roll. We did the second roll which he made, so Drakthar ended the domination, he had enough fun, so he turned gaseous and took off. (btw he was twice webbed and also made deaf by a thunder stone, so things didnt really go 100% his way.)

Re: Drakthars tactics: Devour the Soul (p93 SCAP-HC)I like the tactic, but like dont like Drakthar being in a grapple with someone while 4 other PC's try to smash him. If they all have magic or silvered weapons it wouldn't take long to take him down.

A interesting question came up, it some had a Arrow of slaying vampires, would it kill them outright if the vampire failed its save or would they just become gaseous?

Zlorf

Am i suppose to give the treasure suggested in the Monster Manual when the SCAP refers to the monster manual for the monster. 4 Wererats were a EL6 encounter, which equates to quite a large ammount of treasure. I initially asked my players to roll on the random treasure list, which i dont think we ever have done before and they rolled about 900gp, 50gp gem, bunch of smoke sticks and acid flasks.

The amount seems way to much, i could justify maybe 400gp (100gp each as payment to keep a eye on Orak's bathhouse, but thats about it).

I think i read somewhere on the board that treasure had already been set for the whole adventure..though im not sure if that for all instances.

Should i renig on the treasure and maybe cut the coinage down, or let them have there spoils..its works out to be a extra 300gp per character?

TIA
Zlorf

Hi,

I was wondering what kind of XP DM's are giving for defeating Orak? My players knocked him out, they had no probs hitting him due to 11AC (no armor). He's definately not worth a CR4, i was think for like CR2.

Zlorf

If i take say -5 attack and +5 to AC (dodge bonus)(combat expertise) can I use Two weapon Defense to add another +2 AC (shield bonus)if i say im fighting defensively? So -5 attack and +7 to AC.

TIA
ZLorf

Im still trying to work out the best way to handle magic item purchasing and special metals item such as , mithril armor or adamantium weapons. Im looking for some advice. :)

With Skies Tresury, im happy to go with the list of magic items provided and change them based on what the book says.
25% cumulative chance the item is bought by a NPC per month and then 20% chance its replace during the week. Doing it this way seems the limit the variety of items the PC's can buy though. I mean do i replace them randomly or put items that the PC's want to buy, and if its the later than why run a store like this anyway, I could just say buy what you want from the book below 3000 gp and i'll roll 20% which is the non campaign suggestion.

I dont want to make it hard for PC to get items that they want, but i dont want it to be taken for granted that they can get any item they wish.

Some Idea i have, which may work..suggestions welcome.

1) Items changes as per campaign suggestions. If item isnt listed, there is a percentage chance that Skie can get it in the near future

<=1000gp....90% (1 day)
between 1001gp & 2000gp...80% (1d4 days via Maavu imports)
between 2001gp & 4000gp...60% (1d6 days via Maavu imports)
between 4001gp & 6000gp...30% (1d8 days via Maavu imports)
between 6001gp & 10000gp...15% (3d4 days via Maavu imports)
between 10001gp & 15000gp..5% (2d6 days via Maavu imports)
>15000gp...Order from Sasserine, other means..contacts etc

2)Other items that are non magical, ie mithral/adamantium,
Should they be available? ie 3000gp Adamantium sword? Would Gurnezarn have it in stock? Should i use a similar system to
Skies..will the players hate me :)

If you have any suggestion to improve the system or idea..i would like to hear them.

TIA
Zlorf

Hi All,

I was wondering how long it has taken for your players to return the kidnapped children back to the orphanage?

And what penalties, if any, have you applied for taking to long?

Currently my player have taken 4 days and have just defeated stone spike and the polymorphed ogre. If things go smoothly they should complete the mission on the 4th day.

Z

Hi

I was wondering how DM's were going with the suggestion in the HC SCAP to keep track of whats been sold and bought by Skie?

Info given is:
1) 50000gp worth of items in her shop at one time.
2)increase by 10000gp per chapter
3) change list as you see fit
4) each month 25% chance that an item is sold to NPC
5) If stock is below max gp, 20% chance each week that some new item is puchased to replenish stock.

So when a player requests Skie for a item not on here list, have DM's just added it as per option 3? Or have DM rolled % chances that the item appears during the week? Also does 25% chance an item sold to a NPC seem very low?

I just trying to find out how other DM's have modified this system, or suggestion on improving it based on there experience DM's the campaign.

TIA
Zlorf

My players just got the first item which is infected with the Vanishing. The item is an ioun stone, which im pretty sure they will sell to Skye before the infection takes place. A couple of questions i have:

1)How does someone get rid of Vanishing from an item without destroying it?
2)How has Skye handled the items once she realized they are infected?

Notes: Im sure Skye wont know that the item is infected, but may find out if an irate customer comes back half faded, who knows something about the history of Jzadirune. Skye may know something about the history of Jzadirune and start asking the PC's whether they got the items from there.

TIA
Z

A couple of things that came up in our last session

Does the skulks camouflage (ex) still work if they are splash with paint or flour? Its says it can still use its camoufage when using in light armor, so maybe it would still be able to use it, i guess weapons carried also are hard to see.

A few of my players couldn't see the logic behind the Tilting pit trap in Jzadirune. Its impossible for the whole floor of the trap to tilt 90deg because the spikes would get in the way. I ended up saying its a 5x10 foot wide section of the floor which tilts.

Hi,

I was wondering if someone has started an errata on the hardcover, if not should i start one?

And how can i get access to all the archived messages relating to SCAP?

Thanks, DM SCAP - starting 9-1-2006