delaneyalysa's page

I looked under my account settings and can find no way to change my avatar name that I can find. Is there a way to do that with out creating a new account?

So 3 weeks ago I get this email saying my subscription would be charged in 3 weeks for UC. No Problem I thought

Two weeks ago I got an email saying I had insufficent funds in my checking account... Yeah bills come first and there was not the amount Paizo needed.

Friday when I got payed I said to resubmit the payment as there was money there now.

Why is is taking so long in Pending?

I'd like to get my PDF before it gets release for sale and ASAP.

Any ideas?

I don't know, there's some new stuff that's good, too.

But like with everything, we're exposed to a lot more stuff today than we were 10, 20, 50 years ago.

Plus, there's that nostalgia effect - remember (and keep) the good stuff, forget the bad.

It's what they call Nu-Metal which is Not metal at all really. Most of what some people think is new isn't new, like Within Temptation, Kamelot, Nightwish, and many other Euro bands. They have been around since the 90's funny enough.

It's the stuff like Slipnot and the like I refer to. aka Nu-Metal by us old schoolers.

But I degress. Still loved the 80's no matter how much others hated it. Didn't have the threat of Terrorism over our heads, just nukes from the USSR :P

There where Awesome rock clubs with live music, got to meet and hang with Bands like Warrent, Mr Big, Enuff Z Nuff, Matt Soren of GnR, Zakk Wylde of Ozzy... Yup good times.

I had a double WHAMMY.

Not only was I a D&D player but I was into heavy metal and played in a metal band in the 80's to mid 90's

I think I took far more flack about Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath than I ever did with D&D.

I came from a very none religius family so it was no big deal. In fact that went for the majority of my friends as well. Oh there were a few mothers I had to have talks with to insure nothing bad was happening.

I did once had to open up my Necronomican and drew a quick circle around myself, said a few incantations and that ended anything bad they thought about the game or me:P

I think most parents where far more concerned that their kids stayed out of trouble and did well in school. All of the parents I knew felt that by playing D&D you stayed out of trouble and they knew where their kids where. They know I was trouble free even though I was a metal head and a musician, so they did not mind. it did not hurt that I was like a baby sitter for free as well for the ones younger than me... which was 95% of those I gamed with in my neighborhood.

Personally I loved the 80's $.55 a gallon gas, MTV played video's, 1st Ed D&D, Heavy Metal didn't suck like the stuff they call metal today.

Why armor for a snake? Why not a magical item/spell/potion made permenate to increase the serpents AC?

Reptiles including snakes get tagged. Make the item a magical tag that increases the AC AND make it trackable aka a Homing Beacon.

I tend to agree with Gailbraithes arguments. I'm no herpatologist, but I have work along side them in places of emplyment. I also know how snakes move.

It is totally up tot he DM to decide and IF a DM said No, I'd ask for a reasonable explaination as to why like Gailbraithes and accept it.

I as a player if a DM would allow it would say OK I am makeing mundane wings like Icarus and I am flying by flapping my arms. Or I'd demand I could have a worm that could constrict or slime someone. Or better yet I could teach my Dog to say to speak in a language everyone could understand. But then again I would expect my DM and players to laugh me out of the game.

While Pathfinder is a fantasy game, my group tries to base what we do on factual concepts. Can you personally jump a chasm 200 feet long? NO and neither could Jackie Chan or Jet Lee. Now IF they had a magic item that assisted them... I'd say yes.

But this all goes away from the snake. Once again it is up to the DM. If you as a DM cannot decide, then I'd say your not a DM I'd play with. If in my group the DM needs help... we base it on party vote and we do it outside of being players. In the end, DM's judgement over rules.

I as a DM say NO to the armor made for a snake. I as a DM would sit down with my player, find his reasoning and come up with an alternative like a magic item or spell. OR better yet have the spell casters and armours inthe party work togather to transform the snakes natural armor into a higher AC snake skin maybe like a snake golem withthe snakes personaility ingrained in it.

Picked up 2 copies last night for DS3. I got it ag best Buy and got 2 games get 1 free so got Fable 3 free.

he got to play his copy mine for some odd reason kept telling me the registration code was invalid. We tried I don't know how many times and it would not take. So I dontacted STEAM.

I tried again this morning and funny thing... it loaded. So I get to try and play tonight. I know my BF was getting fustrated as he kept getting his Arse kicked... but then again he is not the gamer I am

In a 3.5 adventure just before Pathfinder came out I played a pirate. She was a swashbuckler/rogue and I loved playing her. Sadly our DM moved away and it left things kind of hanging with her.

Her back story was a wee bit Elizabeth Swann like. A fine young noble woman who had ignored her family and was infatuated with a dashing Privateer/Pirate. He stole her away for ransom from her family and then when the money did not surface and he had heard tales of her families death, which was believed by all as they had been captured by slavers and believed dead, she turned to piracy as all she had left. Sadly the Ships captain whom she had fallen in love with was killed and the crew not wanting a woman on their ship sold her off for freedom claiming she was the real prize.

Withthe new AP I want to play another pirate type

Lisa Zane
Was in Monkeybone
with
Sybil Azur

Ozzy Osbourne
Was in the movie
Trick or Treat
with
Gene Simons

Mark Wahlberg
Was in Rockstar
with
Zakk Wylde

So Pirates seldom sunk ships, they considered them to valuable. if it was a better ship they made it a flag ship. Most of the bigger name pirates actually had more than 1 ship in their fleet. it raised the odds of success as well as larger crews and gave you a back-up ship or escape ship if needed.

If a pirate captured a ship they would try to get others to join them. They in fact were far more democratic than most any other group. If someone did not join them or if the enemy ship fought back then they might kill. Most of the time they put you in a small boat and set you adrift.

Captains were seldom the leader of a ship accept in combat. The Quartermaster was the true leader and ran the ship in it's day to day affairs. Once the ship entered into a fight, it was the captain who took over. he could be replaced at anytime for any reason.

In our world of pirates anyone and everyone was welcome as crew, be they slave, native, Spanish or what ever. But usually if it was an english crew they did not spanish or french or dutch, all that matter was they signed the ships articles

Pirates would take anything of any value as plunder. Many pirates modified their ships. An example of this was the Whydah. The crew cut out bulk heads and cut more gun ports into her she could yeild more guns against an enamy.

So... I am excited to play this AP. Everything is better with pirates.

Books
The Only Life That Mattered: The Short and Merry Lives of Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and Calico Jack Rackam - James Nelson 4 Cannons out of 5 rating

The Guardship : Book One of the Brethren of the Coast (Nelson, James L. Brethren of the Coast, Bk. 1.) -James Nelson 4.5 Cannons out of 5 rating

The Blackbirder: Book Two of the Brethren of the Coast - James Nelson 4 out of 5 cannons rating

The Pirate Round: Book Three of the Brethren of the Coast - James Nelson 4 out of 5 cannons rating

All of these books are filled with action

floor doing the funky chicken dance and singing

I am SOOOOOO looking forward to the re-release of the Mars books. I kick myself in the rear for selling off my copies I had 20 years ago.

So my local game store is starting up Orginized play next week. While I am not the DM I speak often to the store owner and am a backup DM for his store in these events.

So my question... How many hours does it take to typically play through one of the orginized play modules. The Store owner is footing the bill for them and I said I would ask as I was hoping to play in them on the Wednesday he runs them, but alot depends on how late they run.

Most likely he will get season 0 unless someone has a suggestion for where to start.

This information will help him as well as he can plan on how long he has to be at his store while these events run.

Thanks in advance

Does anyone know what season and episode this was or have a ling to it? I LOVE BBT

Sanakht Inaros wrote:

SPOILERS!!!

SPOILERS!!!

** spoiler omitted **

Hah! I don't know whether my PCs would have taken such a direct route, but I've discouraged them by making a local prohibition on entering Harrowstone without approval of the Council. I think they are still going to sniff around, but I think they've been deterred from overly charging forth. Please tell us how this all turns out!

There IS always the option of taking 10 or 20. Given a character sitting down and spending far more time than normal, they coul;d take 10 or even 20. They could even assist each other and gain a few bonuses.

My players had the knowledge and diplomacy skills but seems everytime they rolled they fell flat on their face. So I let them take 20 when they got to research in the City Halls and they gained all the information about the 5 convicts in doing so. Now they have the information that will help them on there way plus the XP they gained, they made 2nd level

I was never a fan of the other Sg TV shows and really did not like the movie either that much... it was OK.

But I and my BF both loved SGU. It was darker and grittier than the other versions. I happened to like and hate many of the characters.

instead SyFy comes out with more shows bordering on the national shows.

The one thing I really loved about SGU was that it was not about a Doc, Lawyer, or a Cop which is what everything else on TV is, that or reality.

Sad day, loved the show as I know others did.

where he found standing awaiting with three of

stepped to the transporter and impersonating the voice of

I'd strongly suggest keeping it hidden. Mainly my reasoning goes to the fact that the trust system is pretty flawed and you don't want them seeing the inner workings of the calculations. And the reason for THAT is that I suspect, if you're like me, you'll be fudging the numbers like crazy. imo.

One issue I have withthe Trust is it is far easier to lose trust than gain it.

For example. My party started off with 20, Avoided dropping the casket in fact gently set it down on the ground I issued them a trust point for this. They then talked the thugs out of fighting then one person spoke a good message at the funeral thus giving them 23 trust

The party has since lost 4 points just because of the each night loss. They have not befriended the children nor drove them off, pretty much just ignoring them.

The town hall burned down and while the town hall burned all the way down, they did manage to get everyone out and even got a bucket brigade going. In this they would gain 1 point yet lose one point. If anyone died they would have lost 1 pt per person. Personally I think saving everyone is enough to earn them plenty even though the town hall burned down.

So yes trust is tricky and the party will get discourage pretty fast if you RP well how they are treated. Keep the trust to yourself and let Kendra do the hinting that it's just the way people are until they get to know the party.

When I described the ruins for my players, I gave them the impression that Harrowstone is located 10-15 minutes walk from town. When I first read Haunting of Harrowstone, the mention of youths daring each other to spend the night or touch the rusty bars of the prison convinced me that the ruin must be relatively close by. In a mist-shrouded region like Canterwall with who knows how many terrible tales told about the moors of Canterwall, it just seems unlikely to me that kids would dare travel too far from the safety of their village, especially considering how superstitious the locals are.

Travel a mile or two, maybe. 4+ miles? Not likely.

I told my PC's it was about a mile out ontop of a hill. Slightly visible but no details can be seen of it at this distance

I put this at the bottom of a dead thread a couple weeks ago (taking inspiration from something someone else posted), so I thought I'd re-post it to see if anyone has any comments or suggestions. I start running this AP tomorrow night.

The Five Recurring Nightmares

Each of the PCs will have a recurring nightly nightmare associated with one of the 5 ghosts, starting the first night in Ravengro. I have 5 PCs in my group, so it works out perfectly. During each nightmare the PCs will have a feeling of helplessness and/or paralysis.

These are the nightmares I’m considering:
• The half orc rogue will be haunted by The Piper of Illmarsh. She will hear the Piper’s mournful flute dirge while numerous stirges suck the blood from her body.
• The half elf cleric will be haunted by Father Charlatan. She is repeatedly beaten with a heavy chain with her religious symbol attached to the end.
• The human ranger/alchemist will be haunted by The Mosswater Marauder. He will have the sensation of his skull being crushed by a hammer and he will observe (floating above the bed, out of his body) as a dwarf picks through the remains of his skull.
• The human barbarian/oracle will be haunted by The Lopper. He will lie helpless as a deranged man with long arms and twisted legs hacks off each of his limbs with a bloodstained hand axe.
• The human wizard will be haunted by The Splatter Man. Glowing hands hold the wizard’s spell book and rip out the pages one by one. As each page is ripped out the wizard feels a sensation like a sharp spike is piercing his heart.

TSM’s imprisonment nightmare would of course be on top of the above, so that unlucky PC might wake up from his/her recurring nightmare to find himself/herself imprisoned. If I deliver these nightmares as lain out above I will obviously be giving significant hints about the identity of the five ghosts, but I think that will help increase the sense of dread and better tie the adventure together. The wizard’s nightmare obviously gives a pretty big hint as to how to...

I like what you have.

I've done a little of these like pipes being heard at night, a womans playful giggle that then turns into a scream, a dream of seeing a hidden man lopping off Kendra's head.

It has given them a little fright but I like the idea of fatigue, fear and shaken.

Here is the way I look at it. People (townies and the like) are 0 level. This stems from 1st ed when a townie had 1 - 4 HP's depending on who or what they where. They had basic skills just like you or anyone else in real life.

A Character had to have done something to get them to where they where. Be it going being handed off to the monestary to learn, to be handed over to a local lord to become a page, then squire, now 1st level Paladin/Cavalier/Fighter etc.

it is OK to have killed 1 or 2 people or done something "heroic" to now be where they are.

It IS feasable to have "Some" Experience and still be a zero XP level 1 PC if you look at them as zero level townies. But I would say the background would have to be in reason and explain the character.

For example one of my players characters has a dwarf that he stood to an army of undead ready to give his life for a friend and his diety granted a "favor" on him and smitted the undead. The players character dedicated himself to the church and years latter came forth as a cleric of the diety and at 1st level.

So I can see within reason very detailed backgrounds

How long does it take to process a payment once you order a subscription?

Once a payment is processed, how long before you can download the PDF?

Just wondering if there is a time, as I put on in yesterday afternoon and it's not processed yet.

delaneyalysa wrote:

I never see it on the shelf before release. In fact the game stores in my area usually get it a month latter and I have to go bug them for it and tell them it is out.

And that's a problem of a completely different type. Any suggestions on combating that one?

I'd be thrilled to death if my stores had it a day or 2 after release. I know when I purchase software I get it the day it is out even if I do not pre-order.

How to solve this? Not sure, it may be the people who run the stores NOT wanting to carry product they feel might not sell. Then again they have 5 copies of each 4.0 book on their shelves and those books just sit there. When they get a a new pathfinder book its a matter of who can get to it first. And even then it's a week before they have it back again and by that time I could have gotten it from someplace else.

Software i.e games are not books. There is not the demand for them. But maybe you needs to be focusing on stores with marketing and keep them in the loop. Maybe reginal marketing reps for eac state or multi states. Keep the store in the loop and what stuff is releaseing on what day and mak sure they can get those products on release or the day after.

I for one in this economy am here to save as much as I can when I purchase something. Just because I buy it from Amazon or the store in my area does not mean I am not supporting Paizo. Anytime you buy a product of there you are supporting Paizo.

but then again I had a friend who lost his rights to buy from Paizo because someone hacked either PC or Paizo, and stole the PDF's uplaoded them and Paizo would not even try to communicate with him to try and resolve the issue. So he gave up and stopped bying product. It could

LoreKeeper wrote:

Actually, officially, the hardcopy and the PDF come out at the same time. However, the book gets shipped to distributors earlier so they have it in time for the official release. Potentially the book is available earlier that way.

If you ever see one of our books on a store shelf before its release day, please let us know. That's a big no-no, and we need to track down who broke street date.

I never see it on the shelf before release. In fact the game stores in my area usually get it a month latter and I have to go bug them for it and tell them it is out.

delaneyalysa wrote:

deinol wrote:

delaneyalysa wrote:

Now if Paizo gave me free 2 day shipping like I am getting, then I might reconsider ordering from Paizo, but the near 7 bucks they want for 3 normal shipping is over priced

Actually, Paizo puts a lot of effort into making certain they charge exactly what they are being charged for shipping. So it isn't overpriced, it is normal priced.

Paizo does not ship near the volume that some other places do. So they can't negotiate discounted shipping rates the way a giant mega chain can. They also can't hide the cost in the profits of mass volumes of sales of other goods.

On the other hand, if you buy from another store Paizo still gets a cut. They are just as happy getting good sales numbers other places because it means increased ordering from those places and larger exposure. If you are also picking up the PDF they probably end up making almost the same amount as from a subscription.

In the end, whatever works for you works for Paizo.

Actually I save $11 even with PDF

And having shipped tons of stuff via ebay, It does not cost the ammount, even UPS.

In the end. while Paizo still makes a sale and a Buck, I save many bucks and in this economy a penny saved... is a penny earned.

I can wait an additional week not to have it in my hands

The book retails for 39.99 you are saving 11 dollars even after buying the PDF for 9.99 which means you're paying about 20.00 for the book and only getting it a week after its street date. Where are you shopping cause I'd definitely like to shop there too!

I'm serious where are you shopping? : )

The place I ordered my book is $25.80 I have free 2 day shipping. Paizo was 39.99 with shipping at $6.83 for 3 - 8 days (my experience it is closer to the 8 than 3) So you add $25.80 + $9.99 that equals 35.79

Now take Paizo's cost for the book and basic shipping 39.99 + 6.83 = $46.82

That is an $11.03 save.

And It's Amazon with a price guarentee at $25.80 Now not everyone has the free shipping for 2 day. but you can get free shipping for 3 - 5 day for just about any item purchased from Amazon

delaneyalysa wrote:

Now if Paizo gave me free 2 day shipping like I am getting, then I might reconsider ordering from Paizo, but the near 7 bucks they want for 3 normal shipping is over priced

Actually, Paizo puts a lot of effort into making certain they charge exactly what they are being charged for shipping. So it isn't overpriced, it is normal priced.

Paizo does not ship near the volume that some other places do. So they can't negotiate discounted shipping rates the way a giant mega chain can. They also can't hide the cost in the profits of mass volumes of sales of other goods.

On the other hand, if you buy from another store Paizo still gets a cut. They are just as happy getting good sales numbers other places because it means increased ordering from those places and larger exposure. If you are also picking up the PDF they probably end up making almost the same amount as from a subscription.

In the end, whatever works for you works for Paizo.

Actually I save $11 even with PDF

And having shipped tons of stuff via ebay, It does not cost the ammount, even UPS.

In the end. while Paizo still makes a sale and a Buck, I save many bucks and in this economy a penny saved... is a penny earned.

I can wait an additional week not to have it in my hands

As much as I want this book right away, I am getting it for much less with free shipping a week latter.

By the time it shipped from Paizo with 3 - 6 day shipping, I will get it a week latter. Minus the PDF but the savings I can aford the PDF.

Now if Paizo gave me free 2 day shipping like I am getting, then I might reconsider ordering from Paizo, but the near 7 bucks they want for 3 normal shipping is over priced

I've got a pretty big group about to tackle this AP too. Be sure to tweak the encounters for more players. Up the hp's to give a good challenge and add more monsters to keep the XP totals in line.

** spoiler omitted **
--Vrock, Paper, Scissors

I do up the HP, but as far as ore monsters, last weeks group was only 1 person more i.e. 5 instead of 4. Next session I will have more and will increase the amount of beasties. Not to mention I also award a few XP for great RP and for journels posted on our group forum, and for other.

The DM that runs SS does the same and in most cases with upped HP, he sometimes almost have TPK because we don't fight well togather which is a character issue not a player issue.

We are also using Fast progression so this helps keep it in check

delaneyalysa wrote:

Downloaded CM the other night. I really like what I see. You've done great work.

I'd love to see somethings editable and if they are I am missing them. Movement and movement types for one for "custom" monsters that are not in the Bestiary 1 or 2.

You can adjust movement, and create custom monsters. Movement is under the "stats" button on the "Base" tab. If you've imported a character then you won't be able to adjust the movement, but on anything you input yourself you can edit the "Speed" field however you want.

delaneyalysa wrote:

The ability to customize or add weapons, the ability to add custom monsters and feats and save them.

Custom monsters can be entered just by clicking the "Blank Monster" button at the top of the monster section of the combat tab. You can then click the "save" button and save that custom monster. There is also a monster advancer in the monsters tab, where you can add templates, etc. Both characters and monsters are save-able, you just need to find the appropriate "save" button in the combat tab.

Weapons can be edited under the "stats" button, on the "Attack" tab. Click "edit attacks" and Kyle has a really nice set of melee, ranged, and natural attack boxes.

I do not believe that, as yet, you can add custom feats, but iirc that was something Kyle was considering for a future update.

What about the character race? I did not see that

Thanks for the post

OK ok ok cool. Thanks guys. We're all circling the wagons around the notion of a haunted ninja/scout PC. What might this haunt do - how might he, over time, help this haunt? For now, particularly for tonight's session, I don't have to worry too much because I can just start manifesting this haunt. Other times, I'm going to have to let this player start to learn to deal with it and put the farmer to rest.

Well, while the "Thug" was wrong in their doing, the haunt will never conceed this. If the player wants to get the "Haunt" off his back he must repent and go help the family out by farming and admitting he was wrong in taking the "farmers" life in the way he did. Maybe he must do 10 good deeds and I do mean good. Or make 10 sacrifices but not in the form of a living creature, maybe 10 swords that he has slew evil with. You can do many things. but make him suffer like I mentioned lower is to hit and damage or his AC by 1. And then explan that as his sword "SHOULD" have done more, for some reason his sword seemed to be pulled away at the very last. Or a hit that should have missed connects to him. He is after all haunted and the ghost is doing this to him. Give him nightmares in simple messages.

A friend of mine suggested that the dead farmer begin to haunt the killer PC, but only visible to him (I suspect one would do this like the Father Charlatan encounter, where certain spells would reveal the ghost following the PC). Then have the PC eventually deal with some rapping spirit haunts or something to that affect which, in time (perhaps through the spirit planchette) the PC learns that the farmer-father has left a family that is undefended now.

Perhaps the family house is now going to be affected by a haunt or something and without the father there, his family is left helpless. My friend suggested having the PC have to earn the trust of the widow, through a ghost-whisper type of story "tell her I'll always remember that picnic on the bluff", things of that nature.

I'm not trying to make this more complicated than is necessary. But just having the PC cough up some money, or just having the money refused and the sheriff give the guy a warning isn't going to settle well with my players. I really think I need to construct some sort of resolution to this story arc and it should have to revolve around the fact that this PC took away the bread winner, a probably sole strong adult male, from the family. Bringing in the haunted nature of the area, is a plus and a non-stressful way to introduce the experience of communicating with haunts.

I love the idea of the farmer haunting the player. Make it a residual intelligent haunt. Make it where he cannot sleep. In tine the PC would suffer and it fits the AP. If he learns his lesson then maybe give him a way to stop the haunting. Make him convert his ways or something that does not hurt being a Ninja but makes him more understanding of life. That once he kills he must say a prayer or be tormented, or convert his alignment. Better yet, the haunt posses his sword or armor. Making him hit less effectivly or hit more often.

So my 2nd session is tonight. I'm the DM of course. I detailed the first session HERE.

To recap. I have a Lawful Evil ninja character from Cheliax who is hiding her background and alignment. She is playing it mainly as a scout, working for the Chelish government to acquire information on what the professor was researching. The other PCs have no idea she is evil, and I'm not entirely sure if the player intends to really play her evil. The evil nature of this shouldn't matter to this conversation.

However, the lawfulness does matter. In the first encounter one of the farmers tried to run and she was next to him. It provoked an AOO and she critted, slaughtering the farmer. I said that she stabbed him in his back, through his heart. I made the priest very mad at the entire party and am going with the negative 6 trust points for this. This has made a great plot hook as the party is trying to dig itself out of a hole.

So the player, talking to me over the week, is confident that he did the right thing. He said he attacked when Kendra made it clear that they had permission from Father Grimburrow to burry the professor here. Recall, that's part of Kendra's speech. That was the lawful trigger he needed and then he saw the farmers as underlings. He's been doing a ton of offline research on Cheliax and believes these are peasants, surfs, and should obey their masters. He sees nothing wrong with the fact that he killed this farmer - even while trying to flee. In fact, the rest of the party had to persuade him not to kill the other farmers - 3 of which had failed resists and were asleep (via Sleep spell).

As for Blood money? If I where the sheriff I'd say No you and I will go to them and you hand them the money and make amends. The amount? Your talking human life, and maybe she had children to feed, and other things an animal could not

OK so with that background. The player has decided he wants to find the "constable" who in this case I think will be the sheriff, whom they have yet to meet. He wants to ask the constable what would be an appropriate amount of...

When in Rome do as the Romans... he is not in Cheliax but Ustalov. Different country, different laws, different ways, different beliefs.

Kendra in no way ordered an attack. Her words upset the "thugs" and thus provoked them to attack. The party could just have easily stood about and let the Thugs take the casket. But to do that would not be lawful or good. In the case of my party they sat the casket down gently while words where being spoke as I gave a rest between each sentance to allow the party to speak or act... which I believe the AP says to do. The part then stepped infront of Kendra but did not make provoke movements.

Killing a townie is still killing them per the AP. If the townie was inherantly evil and when they tried to run away then I'd be a little more leniant as to killing them as they fled... i.e. m a troll trying to run away compared to a "fairly harmless person" is two diffent things. Lawful to me means that someone like a townie you would let go and report it to the sheriff to take care of. Father Grimburrow chewed out Gibs for his actions. To top it off the Ninja wanted to kill more.

So I'd go hard on him. He made the choice to play evil and he must learn from it. I'd say MAYBE let the party minus the ninja to regain trust, but he would be loathed and never fully trusted or treated as the others.

That is what I would do

So my gaming group plays every other Saturday for about 8 hours and we had a split session this week as we finished Race to the ruins SS AP 2

Once we finished we started in on Harrowstone. missing 2 players but had 5 to play

The party consisted of
Firemain Orchammer - Dwarf Cleric of Torag that spoke like Sean Connery on the SNL Jeopardy parody
Malachi Stonebender - Dwarf Monk
Raenulf Vinterkrage 1/2 Dhampir Inquisitor
Iria Savannah - Human Paladin of Iomedae
Sir Gauthier Albrecht - Human Cavalier

Missing was the groups wizard and rogue as the players had other obligations

Downloaded CM the other night. I really like what I see. You've done great work.

I'd love to see somethings editable and if they are I am missing them. Movement and movement types for one for "custom" monsters that are not in the Bestiary 1 or 2.

The ability to customize or add weapons, the ability to add custom monsters and feats and save them.

Maybe things like this are planned or in the works.

Otherwise very nice job.

I give it 4 bloody axes out of 5

I like your intro a lot. I was planning on starting the adventure with the players holding the coffin at the start of the funeral, in order to avoid delays in town, etc., but your approach seems even better because it gives the back story but still gets the action started right away.

I totally sympathize with having unevenly responsive players. I've asked each for a detailed backstory and promised 1 HP to those who provide it, but I'm still concerned I won't get it from everyone in time for me to customize certain details like I would like to.

Thanks so much for sharing your intro.

It makes it fustrating when you have players who give it there all, and then others who do nothing. And it's funny the one's that give it their all in my group work 40+ hours a week, and those that do not are either unemplyed or are part time college students

I've pretty much decided that if they cannot give me tie ins, they are not mentioned in the Will and thus will forgo the rewards.

I look forward to the game and the journels I know 1 of the players will keep.

Glad you like the intro. To me the start of the adventure just seemed blaaaah and needed a bit more. But then again what DM doesn't do that to canned adventures.

This is the first canned adventure/campaign I have run in over 20 years. All the other times I did all my own, but my time and desire to do that is getting less and less.

So I love character backgrounds and backstory and lucky for me at least 3 out of my 7 players do as well. Sadly even though I have asked for a write up from each concerning their tie in with the Good Professor Lorrimor, I have not gotten it, nor character sheets or min stats and other things a DM likes to have so we can speed up game start and make combat quicker.

So anyway, I wrote a pre into for the party as I was not real happy with just saying "OK... you all start here and this is what is up"

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Your trip to Ravengro has been an uneventful one as you have traveled a long time over many dusty roads and made many stops along the way to Ravengro to attend the funeral of Professor Petros Lorrimor. You know little as to why you where called accept that your friend has died suddenly and his daughter as sent you a letter requesting you to come to his funeral and the reading of his Last Will and Testament.

For most of the travels the weather was seasonal until you came to the borders of Ustalav and then the weather seemed to grow darker and more unsettled and matching the mood. Fog and rain seem to have been a common theme and making the roads sloppy and slow with mud. You have hoped you where not late to your friends funeral.

On your travels you have heard tales that Ravengro lies in the county of Canterwall. It is said that Canterwall is the bread basket of Ustalav growing more than half the crops that feed the country. The land has defended the border with Balkzen and more recently the haunted mountains of Virlych. In past years however, several hamlets in Canterwall have been deserted without explanation, the people seemingly swallowed up by the mists. You have heard that Canterwall itself is ruled over by nine council members that overseas their homeland administration, and that in Marian Leigh women outnumber the men 10 to 1. Rumor has it that something worse than ghosts haunts the Saffron house.

As you near the Cemetary of Ravengro, you notice the weather has relented only slightly giving a very dark overcast feeling with little sky and sunlight showing through, but at least it is not raining.

You have had no chance to change into other clothing, other than the clothing and armor that you have traveled in these many long days and weeks. But your mind is digging at you on why you where mentioned in the will.

As you approach the cemetery you see a few others waiting to start as well as, a young woman dressed in black who looks rather sad, and by a good guess you know this to be Kendra Lorrimor. Along with her are three other gentleman, one who is well dressed, rather squat and rotund with many rolls of fat about his face and chin, the other also stout standing over 6 feet tall with broad shoulders, a large round nose and a handlebar mustache. The last being tall and slim and a bit older looking than the other two and by guess in his late 50's with grey hair with what is left. A woman in her late 40's by guess with her hair piled high on top of her head and rather astute looking but dressed rather plain in a solemn black dress. And lastly a young boy in his early teens, with his slicked back hair.

You can see resting in a cart drawn by a rather old looking horse a coffin that to most is rather plain, but to you seems ornate and worth while for your old friend. From the looks of everyone, especially the younger woman, they are all somber looking and seem to be waiting for you to finally arrive to lay to rest a man you once knew and had become friends with in your own way.

You have come to Ravengro on the 13th day of Pharast 4711 nearing the hour of 5:30 PM as the sun is just ending it's last rays of the day, and by the time it sets the last rays will have vanished for the day and your friend will be a his final rest

You mind still wonders as to why he might have mentioned you in his Last Will and Testament, for it has been many years since last you saw him. But alas as you approach the opening to the cemetery you can see a few other arriving as well, and you can only guess, that these other's where friends with him as well. And maybe after all is done, you might share a drink and a tale of how you came to know the Good Professor
Lorrimor
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One of my characters responded with this

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Raenulf slowly walked up the overgrown cart track towards the assembled mourners. He silently thanked Gorum the sky was overcast today. It would be disrespectful to wear his hood up to shield his sensitive eyes. His lips suddenly twisted into a small wry grin at the absurd thought. As if Gorum would actually care about his comfort. A pebble from the road worked its way through the hole in his boot moments later as if to drive that point home.

The graveyard looked just like many others he had seen in towns throughout Ustalev. Dour and lasting. Just like the people buried there. Dark gray stones stuck up from weed choked earth, like some grim forest, punctuated by the occasional marble marker to proclaim that someone was still important even in death. Raenulf knew the danger of such boastful gestures. He knew well the lure of wanting lasting fame, the promise of immortality in legend which could drive a person to become a monster. Evil and twisted like his father.

The professor knew those things as well. He had no illusions of grandeur even as his fame grew during his lifetime. He never let it go to his head, at least not that Raenulf had ever seen. In fact the good professor taught him that achievements were to be savored in the moment and then let go. Wisdom was the true payment for a man's works, not fame.

Raenulf could picture the professor's face even now, his eyes sparkling with mirth in the firelight as he shared wisdom, stories and laughter during their brief work together. An ache seized his chest at the thought that he would never have that opportunity again.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself and nodded somberly and respectfully to those gathered around the professors coffin. For once he was grateful for his disguise, hiding the depth of his grief over one of the precious few people whom he never needed it for.

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One thing this player who is also our DM for SS is if a character takes time to write a good back story we issue a few XP and possible HP. We also both will give a few XP for journeling the adventure since in our group no one but three of us will do that including track treasure found. We hope this gives insentives to others to at least put forth some effort and make characters more real instead of cookie cutter.

Sadly ouf the 7 players 2 never even put forth even a mental background, the other 2 at least do that.

Oh and we start playing Saturday after we finish book 2 of SS

You need to check out the Paizo Blog.

Who and Why?

delaneyalysa wrote:

So my group which I am DMing will consist if all is correct of

Dwarf Cleric
Dwarf Monk
1/2 Dhampher Inquisitor (he does not gain full healing)
Cavalier - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Paladin - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Wizard - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Rogue - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets

thats alot of characters.... half dhampir?

We have a BIG group. Not all are always there but we have played some of Kingmaker until our DM for that adventure had family issues and then moved.

We are in book 2 of SS but the DM wants a break.

I've DM'd up to 15 people at once, now that is alot of work.

1/2 Dhamphir...l the person playing asked me if he could. He sent me Dhamphir stats and then basically haved them. A heal will work on him but for only 1/2. His write up was good and his race bonus and disadvantages where good, so I am allowing it. Basically his father is Dhamphir but his mother is full human

So my group which I am DMing will consist if all is correct of

Dwarf Cleric
Dwarf Monk
1/2 Dhampher Inquisitor (he does not gain full healing)
Cavalier - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Paladin - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Wizard - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets
Rogue - Not sure of race as they have not gotten me character sheets

Drizzle Drazzle Draddle Drone, time for Siz von to go home - Teleport

Wow... that's a great deal different than what I understood the issue to be.

For the Cure Spells, theCleric does indeed need to touch the target, though does not need to make an attack roll or anything. It is automatic IF the target is willing.

Also, with insantanious melee touch spells, (cure and inflicts fall in this), if you do miss, you can simply try to touch again next round. The spell is not wasted, unless you touh something else with that hand, like grab a weapon.

In fact, doing this allows you to either make the tuch attack as part of a full attack action, or to add other traits to it, like possibly power attack or something you normally couldn't, because casting the spell is itself a standard action.

Slavery itself is not unlawful. Lawful, (open to interpretation), means more that the person believes in order, in keeping to schedules, and following traditions and paterns. Working within and through a system.

As long as slaves are treated with certain humane dignities, not cheated or mistreated, not taken advantage of, it is possible to be a LG and be a part of slavery. It really just depends, and people have their own notions of what slavery is and means, also.

Correct the cleric never tried NOT touching, the DM was just making them roll the dice to make a touch attack and this caused a lot of fustration. Never had we or they had to do that. If a person is unwhilling it is totally understandable to make the casterr roll a touch attack. But when it is a friendly that does want the heal then no roll need be made. per the CRG page 158 (I may be wrong as I cannot verify this moment on the page). No spell was ever lost in not making the touch attack, it just caused fustrations.

The other stuff need not be discusted.

Having spoken the other night to the partner of the person that plays the cleric I got more depth as to what the issue is.

1.) Having to make touch attack rolls to friendly units to make a heal. This was a rule the DM had and always has had but since we said and the DM was NOT aware that when making touch attacks to a friendly who wanted the healing you did not need to make a touch attack roll to heal them.

2.)The Gnome Cleric is not working out the way the person invisioned the character to be. But all in the group are trying to help them figure out what it is they want so we can help them as a player and if needed as characters.

Granted our group is not perfect, no group is, and then add in character quarks that each one has. No hero was ever perfect. In fact the best hero's are flawed. Achillies, Hercules and many others in mthy, legends and lit.

One thing is we went from 1 person that we refer to as a tyrant that controlled EVERYTHING anyone did. he controlled the game and it really made others mad. A Monk that believed in and used Slavery and deception as a deciet to try and gain political favor. Not Lawful to me. So as this group grows, we each learn our spot as characters. Trust me not all adventures we have are this way, and I can honestly say in the 32 years of playing D&D, I have seen a lot. I've seen parties and character of many different types played as a "Cookie cutter" and bland, to a character that had more depth and personality than some RL gamers I know.

Thanks for the feedback to those that offered it about the Cleric

All the original talent writers, directors, and visionaries are abandoning Hollywood because the paid cable channels like HBO, Showtime, and Stars are buying them up and treasuring them like they should be.

You want original writing, phenomenal acting, and genuine stories that don't cater to the pedantic majority?

The Tudors
A Game of Thrones (premiering tonight. I'm intentionally avoiding the previews)
Pillars of the Earth
The Borgias
Camelot
Spartacus
Kings (before it was cancelled due to lack of viewers - that's actually on NBC, but still, better than a movie in most respects)

The Tudors COULD have been a good one but they changed up facts and made it more of a soap opera. it was as close to Historically accurate as Braveheart which while a good move was so far out in left field it was not funny.

Spartucus is more sex than I have seen on TV in a long time. The original Sparticus was 100% better.

As for WHY Hollywood remakes movies? The righters can just re-hash what has been done. it does not matter if they can make it better or worse, they just see the $$$$$.

There are SO many books and historical events that would make compelling or great movies. But Hollywood has a lack of knowledge and talent. The same reason CGI films like Toy Story 1, 2, 3 and what maybe a 4th are made. They do not have to pay as much money to make them, yet they make money.

Lets just remake Episode 4 of Star Wars a New Hope, Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, or The Ten Commandments.

Personally I appluad Hollywood if they can make something original. I'd prefer it was close to historically accurate and not have a tiny, skinny, small of starure King Henry, a Man that was 6'2" and over 300 pounds by the time his 3rd wife Jane Seymour dies in child birth.

I know the Tudors from beginning to end. I know the clothing of that period as if it where today (I actually wear HA dresses during Ren Faire season from the 1st layer out). And to me, I laugh when they are all wrong.

Re: Aquaphobia

Nobody is arguing about the clinical description of aquaphobia. We are suggesting that choosing aquaphobia as a character trait is perhaps a poor choice of backstory flavor, and that the role playing of the trait is perhaps a bit too extreme.

My stepmother had a bird phobia. One day a bird got into the house through a chimney. She was terrified. She did not dissolve into a screaming, pulsating mass of panicked flesh. She did not start clawing at her children to get out of the room. She was terrified, not turned into a raving lunatic.

There's a difference. Roleplaying aquaphobia as a condition that results in your witch attacking your own party with powerful combat spells is a role playing decision that I personally question, and if your character did that in my party, I would dump your character at the first opportunity. If you persisted in role playing in such a counter productive way, I would dump you as a player.

That's all.

How is Hex Slumber harmful? It could be IF... IF it was in the middle of a combat.

and I'd be willing to bet had someone shoved a bird in your poor grandmothers face, she would have gotten hysterical and who knows what. Do you know of anyone with a fear of water? My ex was and IF he got in water over 3 feet deep (for a 6'foot) They paniced. They would litterly FREAK OUT. The same would happen if you sprayed them with the garden hose. The witch ONLY got upset once they picked her up and DRAGGED her through the water. There WHERE other options but the party did NOT want to approach them. NOR did they want to let her approach those options

I actually use IMVU for mine. But then again I've been on IMVU for a long time, dev items and can do just about any look... with a little CS2 editing if need be. My BF likes it as well as it gives us great character portraits.

This is good. This should be stickied on what not to expect when you have or play a cleric. This party can seriously learn the modified adage: Fight Smarter, Not Harder. Some main points while I have the time at work:

Barbarian: Meaning Savage and primative. Not stupid. Conan knew fighting Thulsa Doom was going to be tough. Did he charge Dooms forces done a dimly lit tunnel? No. He made Thulsa's forces fight on his terms (Not bad for a guy with average to low int, but high wis).

Witch: Got no issues with her phobia, got an issue with how the group dealt with it. You never see the A-team just drag BA on a plane and fly, do you? At least you should have looked for a alternate route perhaps?

Combat in general: Are formations being used (half circle formed on the casters, perhaps)? Choice of ranged weapons over melee until ranged is no longer viable?

Tactics: There are some fights that yes, you can win, but are they worth winning? I ask this of the characters, not the players. Players will always want the exp. Characters for the most part dont care to trade an eye for a level last time I checked. Falling back and resting up, setting up a defensible postion would have probably been smart. The DM is apparently nicer than I would have been. A running pattern of combats recklessly run would have had me doing party wipes.

Quirks and Psychosis: Okay, the witch is an aquaphobic, dont take baths and dont take her on boat voyage. The Cleric (wasnt sure if it was THAT cleric) who has to touch gizmos, should be (WIS)e enough to not touch anything in a dungeon until determined safe. Repress the urge or do what most clergy do; pray to resist temptation. Or all we all playing CN Kender Bards?

HP Hoes: These are the guys who have a 105HP, get in a fight lose about 5 of it and complain they need healing. My personal rule is 10 percent or more, I might consider getting healed if offered and I know Im not resting any time soon. Of course, I try to avoid getting my face kicked in during games.

Good thread...

So to clarify what little people know of Aquaphobia

Aquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water.[1] Aquaphobia is a specific phobia that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient's control or that may interfere with daily life.[2] People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an ocean, a river, or even a bathtub poses no imminent threat. They may avoid such activities as boating and swimming, or they may avoid swimming in the deep ocean despite having mastered basic swimming skills.[3] This anxiety commonly extends to getting wet or splashed with water when it is unexpected, or being pushed or thrown into a body of water.

FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH AQUAPHOBIA
Winona Ryder
Natalie Wood Fell OFF a boat and drowned... yes she was on a boat
Jason Voorhees

Now question. How many of you had to take swimming in High School or latter or possibly trained as a lifeguard? When a person panics they cannot help what they do. A perdon drowning in water will wrap their arms about you as tight as they can and TRY to climb to safety and thus possibly drowning the person who was trying to save them and then even a trained person COULD start to panic.

Someone afraid of Bee's and I'd be willing to bet that the majority of you out there will swat at a bee or a wasp in "Panic" and thus anger the critter to sting you. Do it with more around and your in deep trouble. A horse will toss a rider faster IF that horse knows you are not comfortble or afraid. A dog will bit if it knows you are afraid.

People who panic CAN and WILL do irrational thigs and that includes harming those that get in their way or try to prevent them from getting away. Panic is an emotion even the bravest person cannot control. And once that panic sets in... Watch out.

So be it RL or a RPG, quirks are real. Not everyone is the "perfect hero"

As for the cleric... yes one in the same that tinkers and would rather shoot a crossbow at an enemy than cast bless, but has casted bless in times. No argument this group does NOT work well togather. Which BTW the witch has been trying to do but NEVER tells the others how to do their job.

Was their alternatives for the group or the witch? You can guess on that answer, there is usually ALWAYS more than 1 answer or way, it's just the party... not the witch decided on this method. I personally would have put her to sleep, or charmed her or commanded her. But not ONCE did she physically harm a party member, nor has she ever.

As a DM I would more than likely award extra XP for someone who RP's a flaw instead of just "saying" they had a flaw. I may even award them an extra HP on character to creation for a flaw. To me flaws add life. No one... not one single person is perfect in any way.

Does anyone know where to find a good download of random character traits and flaws i.e advantages and disadvantages?

I saw one that a group I played in a few years ago that they used in 3.5. I have no contact with that group and was wondering if anyone knew of a good one.

I am not refering to the traits in the back of APG