joshua johnson's page

I noticed that as well (no journal in room description) I just decided that the haunt would affect the PC who decided to kick the FC's skull across the room. That worked. I'd say first perception check or anyone how touches the chain weights.

One, Two
Freddy's Coming for you,
Three, Four
Better lock your door

good idea Galnorag. You might want to try some of Gogol Bordello - they are more modern, gypsy punk, but you might find something there. It's all pretty high energy.

Thanks Sozin! I have been using GIMP photo editing software (free) and just getting into the pixels to overwrite the room numbers, S doors and such. (I'm getting pretty good!) But ultimately this is a fair amount of work, so I will look into the Maptools solution. I'll look at the tutorials when I have more time, hopefully from there I can figure out the method of stripping out the layers.

Thanks Again!

Just had another thought - The lake that was once the prison graveyard is a source of as many skeles / zombies / undead as you would like.

I have a 6 player group - I'm thinking of having the courtyard overrun with skeletons at any given time to boost XP and provide more challenge.

well - that being said (story awards) -- if you are running a large group (as I am about to) then maybe the party will be slightly more powerful with this method. Leveling up 4 PC's is less of a power bump than leveling up 6 PC's, and the Xp in the module would have to be spread out more thinly with a smaller group so it stands to reason that the party would be slightly less advanced....

Im running HoH starting this wed - I'll just prolly just level all 6 PC's at the same time (unless a player pisses me off bwahahaha -- everyone level up --EXCEPT you CHRIS) maybe throw a few more centipedes and zombies at them as well. I'm a pretty loose DM when it comes to this kinda stuff. My advice is just to go with what works, and save your self headaches. If your game is fun your players wont mind whatever liberties you take with the RAW.

Oh - I like the pandora station idea!

Also would like to mentions the DIABLO VIDEO GAME soundtrack here. Good stuff for this type of adv.

OK - I've been clicking around some here. It appears that the PDF's generated by Paizo are "layered" - the discussion seems to revolve around the best way to make this work, but I'd still like some reassurance this is still the case (info from old posts) before I go and buy the PDF of a book I already own....

Fog of war - looks like maptools is kinda the winner here on this subject.

oh and if anyone cares to explain how to make the cool little linky things instead of a big ole URL to copy paste, I'm all ears. :-)

Hello posters. I'm trying to get set up to table top projected maps like this:

http://www.d20srd.org/extras/tabletop_projection/

You seem like you know your stuff about PDF's on the whole. I have a few questions with regards to PDF's and editing them. So as to not thread jack I would like to point your attention to:

http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderR PG/paizo/pDFQuestionsProjectionHelp&page=1#2

oh and if anyone cares to explain how to make the cool little linky things instead of a big ole URL to copy paste, I'm all ears. :-)

This will be for Haunting of Harrowstone btw.

Hello all. Im in the process of setting up this:

http://www.d20srd.org/extras/tabletop_projection/

Not being a graphic designer - I have questions. Any help would be SUPER! Thanks in advance!

Questions:
1) DM only info projected onto tabletop. How to deal with this? I understand that PDF's can have "layers" Does anyone know if the PDF's purchased from this site are layered in such as way as to allow removal of text / DM info?

2) If answer to #1 = no. What is the best way to deal with this? I have access to photoshop and one of the new players I have recently met is a student of Graphic Design, so we can probably get kinda sorta technical here.

3) Best way to create a mask layer for the fog of war effect?

My players are about to face this bad boy, and I'm worried it's going to trounce them!

The players will all be the correct level ( IMC I'm awarding story level advances that match the guidelines in the modules)

Who has run this so far? Results?

I know there are guide lines and GP limits and stuff now, but really, you just have to decide weather or not you want a flaming longsword +1 running around in your players hands. Same goes for resurrections. Go with your gut, and with what you think would be fun for you and the group. The rules are your own. If you make poor decisions for long enough, your players will just oust you from behind the screen! No biggie!

If they are 6th level now i feel it's not unreasonable, (admittedly using wealth per level guidelines here, i like those) for a PC to get that kind of weapon; on the other hand, they will be above the power curve for the AP already so maybe the sword would be too much.....

Then again, the coming flotsam ooze is a killer, so maybe he should have the sword.......

Or you could let him buy the sword, then a traveling priest, capable of resurrecting the fallen PC, decides he likes the flaming sword ( "it looks just like my dads!") and offers any service for a trade........

not helping am I.... :P

Try building a Pandora station around these artists to add flavor to the party in the BWGambit. Carnival !! (dont forget your beads!)

Edison Machado
Angenor de Oliveira - "Cartola"
Anibal Augusto Sardinha - GarÙto
more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Brazil

As an aside: for all you space type rpg'ers try

somafm.com
there are a couple of really good space station channels here

There is also a "secret agent" station here. RAD.

but.... they will only be on the air for a few more weeks unless some crappy corp. leglislation stes stomped. :(

WRITE A LETTER!!

Yup. Our parties cleric failed TWO turning checks at point blenk range and went down under the maw of a hungry (ravenous even) zombie.

I had the cleric munching zombie failed his save and began feasting, whils the 1/2ling and wizard beat it with sticks for about three rounds....whaich did maybe 3 points of damage in the three rounds I gave the zombie to find the cleric's heart....

so after the zombie was done eatin it stood up, ( more Aoo's) and began trying to eat the wizard

The rest of the party was dealing with the other 2 Z's that came doen the hall from the other direction all this time.

The hecuva went down fiarly easily. After it scared the bard the wizard enlarged the barbarian and hit the H with a max damage shocking grasp.

The problem for me would be that having all the meta knowledge would detract from the fun of playing a PC.

Example: the puzzle in Olangrau's Lair.
If you know the solution, you have to just sit there and wait for the other guys to figure it out, otherwise you are using meta knowledge.

If you can still enjoy sitting through 8+ hours playing a adv. while pretending to not know anything, then you should be fine.

I guess you can always play the 5 int barbarian.........

I like the dual (simultaneous) DM idea. That would rock.

OK - so I'm just about to start running HTBM, and I've realized that running this AP has been a huge mistake.

Swimming under a bridge could be hazardous as well!! And I'm not talking about a out of control game of Poo-Sticks!

I too have high hopes for the pathfinder series; however I too am aware of the limitations of such a format: Namely that unless you are playing the path you will have limited resources available from the series.

Eg: In the recent issues of Dungeon, there have been adv's for varying levels of play. In any given mag you could find high, med and low level adventures, so if you were not playing the path you still would have a reason to buy the mag. The majority of Pathfinders' customers will be people who are playing or intend to play the path. People looking to run a one off or integrate published stuff into their own campaigns will likely turn to Goodman games or the like.

I'm irked the the people who "own" D&D would end the traditions of these mags. As a result I will put my money into other institutions which are moving the game forward.

Keep up the good work Piazo.

Catsclaw: I had the same thought while prepping the adv today. Why wouldnt the MoAll just transport behind a group of her onrushing vine horrors?

She could then fight the PC's with the aid of all of her children. I'm not going to have her do this, because it's got TPK written all over it, but I don't see any reason why it couldn't happen.

I plan on throwing some Jerren (savage, evil pack fighting halflings)at them. I think Jerren tribes will fit in nicely with the evil and untamed element of the Isle.

I have a halfing scout in the party who can go toe to toe with some of his evil cousins. I think it will be fun.

Maybe they will ride terror birds.... humm.

What a senseless, horrible thing.
Find strength where you can,
Seek others who survive family members in similar ways,
and know that the compassion of many is with you now.
I and the others here extend thoughts of support and peace to you.

I am not trying to decide who should and shouldn't read these boards. That would be plain silly. I'm just making the point that players on these boards will see spoilers. Do what you will with that information. There are plenty of people who read the last page of a book first too. It doesn't matter to anyone but the person who's reading it. And heck, maybe some players like reading spoilers. Thats fine too. Let's just not kid ourselves about whats goin on here!

I would be miffed if I was a player, cause personally I wouldn't want to be here, and if the dragon boards are thin on STAP players that would be disappointing as well. If i had a suggestion i would put it here.

Have fun!

Tool,
You might find other PLAYERS on the dragon boards, have you tried there?

If I was a player I certainly would like to speculate and swap stories, but this board has way too many spoilers for any player who is not (at least remotely...subconsciously??), fishing for spoilers. Some thread titles alone are spoilers. I do not believe that you have lurked around these boards and not come across at least one bit of meta-knowledge. But whatever.

I care not.

PS- glad you have found a way to not go insane.

"In the end, it is a tool to deepen the characters´ story a little bit."

I agree.

I once played in a game where every new feat, spell level, class ability so on so on had training prerequisites. I felt it bogged down the game and made me resentful ( I was a wizard) that I had the XP to cast 2nd level spells but I had not had the ability in the story to go and seek out a higher level wizard.

If used as a story aid and applied logically (as the archer who didnt get the heavy armor) it can add to the game.

New Death!
Dudley Fairweather 5th level Swashebukler/Rog
Adventure: SWW
Catalyst: Rowan Kellini

Preface: In TINH Dudley and the party wizard parleyed with Rowan.With the help of some good bluff checks they convinced Rowan to pay them some coin as she made her offer, which Dudley and Gil, (the wizard) pretended (?) to accept. Meanwhile the rest of the party was heisting the LD flag map over the bodies of the fallen guild.... So rowan Hates the party, especially Dudley and Gil.

Also, before departing Sasseine, Dudley decides he needs to hire a bard to journey with them and make songs of his heroic deeds. He ends up at the Sasserine Sleigh ride, where he rescues Bridget, a young strumpet with a singing voice and convinces her to make the voyage. (after running her pimp thru with his elven thinblade) Anywayyy..........

So Rowan impersonates Bridget and, thanks to Dudleys +1 will save, manages to get him naked and overboard to play with her shark. Dudley manages to climb up the anchor chain and escape the shark after being only badly mauled.

So after the commotion, the PC's narrow down who was on deck,and find bridget hog-tied (probably not for the first time..)to the
stove in the galley. Rowan had been impersonating a cook/serving woman... serving woman is on deck.... they figured Rowyan out.

So Rowyan beats EVERYONE at INIT, casts hold person and moves up to and behind the now held Dudley,(who fails his 3rd will save in a row) suffers AOO's from the party's Hadozee and 1/2ling scout, and COUP DE GRACE for poor old dudley. Rapier through the base of the skull. Rowan fell the next round under a flurry of blows from the surrounding party members.

The bottom line I suppose is "is everyone having fun?"
If so then you are in good shape, no matter who rolls the dice. I find myself leaning towards the Fatespinner side of the spectrum, as even with opposed checks, when you roll a 2, its hard not to metagame. I roll as many dice in secret as I can keep track of. Also Will saves are a big one. It's impossible to DM a good illusion after you have asked the whole table for will saves. Especially in 3.whatever--players are savvy.
A compromise my be to have players pre-roll 10 will saves. The the DM can number the saves and roll a d10 to decide which save to use. Once the save is "used" you can cross it out.

thats my two d10

In another thread, some people were mentioning the overhead projector as a great game aid. I love the idea.

Follow this link of you dont know what I'm talking about:

http://www.d20srd.org/extras/mapProjection.htm

I would like some input from anyone who has actually done this and/or anyone familiar with photoshop (or similar recommended app) Specifically, I'm wondering:

A) how complicated is the process of layering, scaling and masking?

b) How would you get your maps to comply with the layering and such? Can you just DL the PDF maps from this site?

I'm handy and computer literate, but i'm not a tekkie/graphics
guy-- realistically how long would it take to prepare maps for projection? (I know the first few would be slower, learning curve and all that)

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

I've just assumed that the dungeon boards are for DM's and the dragon boards are for players. Isn't that the case?

I really dont understand the whole DM attempting to kill your PC. If he wanted your PC dead, what dosn't he just kill him? Maybe I'm old school, but what the DM says goes. So if he wanted you dead why not have a Kracken looking for an apertief pluck your pc from the sea wyvern? Oops... someone poisined your water. Thats a
DC: 37 fort save. damage....oh 8d10 con / 8d8 con .... what poison is that? ......Homebrew.......

If the DM wants your PC dead, it's really not hard.

Sounds like you are derailing the game intentionally, which calls into question your presence there in the first place.
If the fun for you is in disrupting the game, why are you there in the first place?

"Iron Heroes"
This setting has very little magic, no demi-humans and can have a gritty Conan / Lovecraft type feel. Really a fun RPG.

I'm DMing the STAP, but I ran WC a while back. I had a PC do a funny thing when the swarm came up into the false tomb area......

The party saw the swarm and the slasher coming, and most just ran, but the FTR got caught and was covered by critters. Having discovered the fire trap in the sarcophagus (the hard way) earlier, he ran over to it, covered in swarm, and opened it, again, and again, and again, each time taking burning hands damage, until the swarm died. He nearly bought it as well, but I rolled his damage and the swarms damage separately for each opening, and the swarm got the worst of it..

The whole table was cracking up. It was fun.

Anyone else have PC's do this?

I'm going to do this someday.....

(this link shows the digital projector talked about above)

http://www.d20srd.org/extras/mapProjection.htm

Thanks Seb-- I was actually searching the archives as you typed your reply! Next time I'll search first and ask questions later!! HA!

Anyway- I saved and printed Mike Mearls and James Jacobs explanations, as my players are going to throw a FIT about this.

Armed with such professional help and a 1st ed "In my campaign" attitude, I'll be attacking light sources all night long!!

Woo+ !!

HI! I'm running the grimlock U cavern as part of an underdark side quest in the STAP. Ever since I first read 3Foe i thought it was pretty darn cool, Mearls and all.... so anyway....

My question-- the tactics column states the grimlocks attack light sources. Umm..... being blind just exactly how do they do that?
Maybe a torch or lantern could be smellable and thus attackable but my party is relying on sunrods. So really, I dont see how the locks will even know there is light. Am I missing something?

I really would like the grimlocks to snuff out the lights, but HOW??

try this:
http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/shake_rule.html

and this:
http://www.insult-o-matic.com/insults/?mode=pirate

The bridges of sasserine county?

Hello again! I am adding the Sable drake to the list of baddies for my PC's to deal with.
They have been hearing rumors about it for a while, and guess who is going to be at the Sea Wyvern when the PC's get back to Kracken’s Cove to claim it? The SABLE DRAKE!! YAY!
I plan on making this encounter so that the PC's can fight off the gobs, but are unlikely to be ablr to claim the Sable Drake for themselves.
To this end I will say that the Captain has in depth knowledge of the reefs protecting Krackens Cove, and perhaps the captain will also have a gasp--rope golem--(from some old dragon mag i dug up) Maybe the rope golem cannot leave the sable drake just yet due to some unexplained magical effect....humm.. This would make it so the PC's (all 4th level) are very unlikely to defeat the drake on the 1st encounter.
I plan on having the drake replace the blockade in SWW and then who knows.....

So has anyone run the Sable drake in any campaign? Pointers?
Looking for ideas here!

Thanks. I liked this Idea better than:
As the chips crew inters the body of fallen fighter X below the now placid waters, a cry from the crows nest lifts the downturned heads of the assembled crew.
HARK-- a body desperately clinging to a scrap of driftwood waves from off the port side....could it be....It must be...... your new PC!!

OK--so I'm suggesting to my players that they construct backup PC's prior to departure from Sasserine. These backup PC's will be crew on the Blue Nixie, and if needed will transfer over to the SW.
My question: How will this affect things further down the path? I do not want to open the door to a combat in which I'm separately running all the backups and the regular PC's. I know I can just surmise the results of any battle (between the Nixie and whomever)
I'm just loooking to avoid any pitfalls having PC level characters onboard the Nixie may create. Anyone further down the path have any reason to pooh-pooh the backup PC idea?

Players about to storm their way into the Vanderboren Manor in TBG.
All are having a great time, 7 grown men taking nearly every wed night to hang out and play D&D. My players are all really stoked.
TINH was fun- Parrot Isle dropped 2 pc's, and Rowan fast talked her way out of a fight and evacuated the guild hall while the players had a HUGE argument about joining her. The wizard and swashbuckler heard her out while the 1/2ling scout, ranger, and 1/2 orc barb and druid brothers made off with the flagged map.
Upon return to the Vanderboren estate, the map staling group accused the ones who parleyed with Rowan of being turn cloaks.
I just sat back and watched as they fought it out!!!

The BWG has been HACK-A-LISHOUS. They tried to FIGHT Harliss. !!
She dropped the 1/2 orc barb with one feint ans robbed the rest of them BLIND. The wizard's player was so bummed when she took his spellbook at sword point!!

Anyway this AP has been big fun!!

it's kinda like this:
http://www.orwelltoday.com/jfkcoincidences.shtml

now if we could only make the connections between James Jacobs and Gary Gygax... then we would really have something.

sotra kina on topic........
Playing the BWG now. As I described the wormy floats during the players trek through the wormfall festival, they began to fear the dreaded PAPER MACHE GOLEM !!!!!

Stats fot this, the least feared of golems??

Wounding paper cut attack??
Confusion in 5' radius --- from glue inhalation?
takes 4x damage from fire??

^^^Thanks James ^^^
It's really nice having this forum, and doubly so because of the presence the authors keep here!

I'd still be interested to hear how others have fared.....

I have a group of five 4th level PC's about to storm the Vanderboren Manor. I feel like they are likely to be cut up and eaten!
It seems my group is a bit behind in levels. What levels were your PC's at this point in the BWG, and to what end?

If he does "domesticate" the lil beastie have the monkey bite the cleric when your animal tamer needs healing!
We call em' pus monkeys in my campaign!

Your players are bound to miss out on some of that XP. Plus you may end up with ore or less players depending on the availability of your players, so its really hard to say how they end up. My players dindt make 3rd until the beginning of BWG because they missed a fair amount of things (mostly Rowan fast talked her way out of a fight and escaped-s no XP there)

"Now whenever I roll the dice, I have a 1 in 4 chance of criticalling. And unless I'm mistaken, a critical is an automatic hit no matter what the AC is. Couple that with power attacking as a fighter, and the ability to Cleave continuously at higher levels."

You have a 1 in 4 chance of rolling 15-20. If your 15 roll does not hit (after bonuses) you dont crit. If it does hit, then you have a threat, not a crit. You must roll again, and hit again, to get that crit.

Also I'm not sure you can use cleave with weapon finesse (cleave feat and finesse weapons dont mix??) But I may be getting my Iron Heroes rules all muddled up in here.........

Nice build though, and that 10,000 gp starting item---whew--- thats one hecka of a inheritence!!

Ha-- before I opened this I was sure it would be sung to the tune of Gilliagans Isle-- with gems like

"if not for the palidans cold iron sword
the party would be lost, the party would be lost"

bravo on the creedence!!