Started the Ap 3 sessions ago, but most importantly had our first death 15 minutes in!
Name: Joshua Bo
Race: Human
Class: Rogue 1
Adventure: There is no Honor
Area: The Blue Nixie
Catalyst: Party splitting, and awkward planning.
The party met with Lavinia, got the story, and then decided on what next to do. The paladin refused her offer and instead decided to try and join the town guard (He's a once in 6 months kind of player, and I honestly have no clue what he was thinking ><) Meanwhile the barbarian went back to the noble district to get his gear. During which the rogue and a fighter went ahead and decided to go to the Nixie themselves and when they did whackiness ensued. The 6'3" rogue (he rolled it :P) snuck onto the boat and attempted to sap one of the thugs to take his place with disguise (Did I mention he was 6'3"?) and when he was caught he bailed into the dingy leaving the scale armor wearing fighter to bull rush a thug off the ship (rather amusing). Two more thugs rushed up from below and the fighter decided to bail into the water and under the weight of his gear started sinking. The thugs then took shots at the rogue in the boat dropping him like a bad habit, when he dropped his torch in the boat setting it on fire (it was at night). The fighter cut his armor to survive and upon getting to the top of the water saw the boat on fire and his new ally bleeding to death from arrow punctures he dragged him into the water and swam him to shore, where he sadly succombed to his wounds before they hit dry land. Not to mention the heartbreak of the fighter, and his sudden change of heart when he realized he could replace his scale with his dead comrades chain shirt. ><
(Way better feeling than the same player's warforged fighter's death in the previous campaign, he dove out of a 700' window of a wizards tower after a spider climbing doppleganger who was escaping, hoping to grapple her off and drive them both to their deaths but rolled a total of 8 to hit and I even gave him the +2 charge bonus for the hell of it!)
This is disheartening ... roughly six consecutive weeks without a single character death in all the Savage Tide campaigns in play ? The horror! The tragedy! ... Worse, the silence ...
Well not really a PC, but:
Animal companion: Maki, the monkey
Location: Smuggler’s caves under Parrot Island
Adventure: TINH
Catalyst: ravenous zombies
I just returned from a session in my savage tide "light" campaign with the PCs forced to visit the caves under Parrot Island (I know, we’re still only at the very beginning of STAP. My group is slightly higher in level and I switched some encounters as you’ll notice).
After being extremely easily trapped in the caves, the halfling druid PC made his monkey charge the first zombies they encountered. 2 rounds later, the monkey was dead.
The druid himself only survived the encounter (after being grappled by another zombie) because he had the head of the battle dancer assassin attached to his backpack, which the zombie couldn’t resist eating first
(PS. The rest of the adventure under Parrot Island was hard, but a dwarf with an axe and a raging barbarian help in overcoming the DR of the different creatures.
Hagor
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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Name: Les Stroud
Race: Human
Class: Wizard 5/Mage of the Arcane Order 4
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: Shrine of Demogorgon
Catalyst: Failure to defensively buff, lack of a bodyguard.
The party entered Olangru's chamber fully buffed, but poor Les only buffed with mage armor. Most of the party closed with Olangru, except Les, who hung back to sling spells. Olangru (beefed with 2 more levels of scout since we are a 6-player party) got a clear line to charge and charge/pounce/skirmish claw/claw/bite'ed Les for 61; instantly to -17.
Name: Verity
Race: Human
Class: Rogue 9
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: Shrine of Demogorgon
Catalyst: Lemorian golem; not really anything she should have done differently.
Just as the Lemorian golem awoke, a wall of ice that had been across the bottom steps of the dais was melted by the fire pit, leaving a huge cloud of steam. Through the steam steps the golem. Verity got tentacled for 16 and 2 CON, improved grabbed, and constricted for 20 and 4 CON. Since she had taken some damage from jumping boldly through the fire to flank/sneak attack Olangru (the killing blow, in fact), the golem pretty much smeared her like so much strawberry jam on an english muffin.
Les and Verity's players are husband and wife IRL, so I got the distinction of wiping out a whole family in one encounter. They got res'd in Tanaroa by the party cleric.
Played Today and had a total of 5 deaths >< (3 players, 2 of which died twice)
Name: Athenia, Heriozu, Elorick
Race: Human, Human, and Elf
Class: Cleric 1, Wizard 1, and Fighter 1
Adventure: There is no Honor
Area: D25/D1
Catalyst: Lotus Thieves and Barbarian stupidity
The party entered the hall through the Taxidermists guild and immidiately went to D25. Fight ensued and 3 pcs were unconcious and the barbarian was left. He strapped them together (low use rope) and hauled ALL 3 up the latter to leave the hall.... rolling a 1 near the top falling and dropping all 3 nearly dead characters killing them. Was a bad plan and worse luck.
Name: Actulick, Than Dorn
Race: Halfling, Elf
Class: Rogue 1, Fighter 1
Adventure: There is no Honor
Area: D25/D1
Catalyst: Reinforcing Lotus Thief and bad luck
Same party back in the same room (immidiately after "recruiting" they went straight back to 25) and fought some reiforced theives. 1 thief went and got a friend and then he would do it again as they failed to kill the poor guy. as half the party was nearly dead they retreated and as they were climbing the ladder with an unconcious person apiece, the dreaded 1 reared its head and killed the unconcious halfling and the elf was Coup De Graced by Rowyn's Hand crossbow gangland style.
Nice! Good to see more excellent character deaths in the Savage Tide. KUTGW fellow GMs - the STAP must exceed the AOW in overall Paizo-posted character death counts! ^_^
Name: Most everybody
Adventure: Prince of Demons
Catalyst: Demogorgon
After cruising through many of the battles in the last adventures, the PCs found themselves totally overmatched by Demogorgon.
Deter, the party wizard and bearing the Queen's Kiss, whispered vile words from Malcanthet for Demogorgon to hear. Demogorgon tried a Feeblemind in retaliation. That failed, so the demon closed and full attacked the poor wizard with his other action. Dead wizard.
Madaha, the tiger companion of the our druid who has been with the party since Darkmoon Pass, grabbed the Master Pearl and tried to flee. Demogorgon couldn't allow that, teleported after the tiger, and a full round of attacks dropped the big cat as well.
Ayah (the druid) and Edgar (her lover, dragon shaman) had been hanging back in the battle and Madaha had run to them in the large circular room. Nulonga returned from one of his many deaths at this point and sealed the rest of the party in oyster room with a Wall of Force. The two PCs fought as best they could, repeatedly sacrificing themselves so that the other would live, but in the end they were no match for Demogorgon.
The rest of the party raced around the Wall of Force, frantically trying to come to the aid of their companions. Issek, the lizardman barbarian, arrived about the time Edgar and Ayah died. He fought the demon alone, barely hitting, doing little damage, but taking a severe punishment in return.
By the time Pinkus arrived (thief), Issek was on his last legs. Pinkus managed to attract the demon's attention and fought defensively for a few rounds while Issek managed to drop a healing potion or two. Healed up some, Issek charged back into the fray and was decimated by Demogorgon.
Kelric (cleric) and the just raised Deter arrived at this point. Seeing Malcanthet's proxy sent Demogorgon into a new rage. Deter wasn't able to get away from the beast and suffered his second death of the battle.
This left enough time for Kelric to raise Edgar. Once Kelric's expended his Disintegrates that couldn't get past the SR, he simply worked to heal Pinkus and Edgar as they fought. Eventually Pinkus and Edgar manage to drop Demogorgon with Kelric healing every round to keep them up.
(I had to "forget" the gaze attacks, Nulonga, the rot, and Demogorgon's Heal for the party to have any chance. I also had Demogorgon fight in a blind rage, rolling randomly for targets. If he had simply concentrated on the cleric first, the party would have had no chance.)
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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ALMOST!
Timothy the Cleric Cohort lv. 5
Location: Tamoachan
Adventure: SWW
Catalyst: Varrangoin with 7 sorceror levels
Saved in the negatives at the last minute, darn it.
Still - I know how to get them now, I've been studying the Spell and Magic Item Compendiums - they're like a CR+1 each! And the PCs have been using them all along...
I gave Sutolore 7 sorceror levels and 2x daily Dispel Magic. What an epic combat!
The VOP Druid with his 38AC Luminous Armour took 2 targeted dispels in the kisser from the (3.0) hasted varrangoin who entered the cavern in a globe of Darkness which only he could see out of. (Forget the name of the spell). This cost him about 10 buffs and threw the paryt into disarray. He kept up hit and run tactics disappearing into the darkness of the well and fireballing and firebreathing on the party. He also used that spell from the SC which lets you do full attacks at 20' range with natural weapons.
"A globe of darkness approaches and you are thrown about by invisible claws and teeth. You take ... lets see ... 10, 15, 19, 23 points of damage from the horrible wounds appearing all over you. And I'll need a Fortitude save please."
Oh yeah, and I peeked in the Book of Vile Darkness and gave him one of those nice piercings to do a point of Vile damage with each attack, and a ring to auto confirm crits on non evil outsiders, wearable only by evil outsiders. Ah, DM splatbook heaven! It's the way forward.
The party had to get all heroic, with the wizard flying into touch range to do a slashing dispel, the Genasi Twin Shield fighter leaping off a wall to grapple the Varrangoin, and all sorts of fun. Great night!
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Jack, Human Bard 15
Kori, Dwarven Figher 15
Location: Scuttlecove
Adventure: SoS
Catalyst: Dominate
The Minting House should have been easy, indeed.
But they were not in the mood for subtlety. And a prepared enemy is a MUCH more dangerous one.
Jack and Kori were dominated. They left with some Crimson Recruiters for a nice, long "talk".
It's possible Jack will be found again, albeit nearly dead, stripped of equipment, and down a level.
But Kori made them truly mad. He will not survive.
Jack's player will play Harliss until his final fate is determined.
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PC: Garrick, Human Scout 4
Adventure: The Bullywug Gambit
Location of Death: K4 in Kraken's Cove the corridor next to the Hall of Hanging Sheets
Catalyst: Dinner for Ripclaw
Long Description: The party was moving through the Hall of Hanging Sheets when Ripclaw pounced. Being a bow specialist he moved into the hall to get his skirmish off giving Ripclaw a direct line to charge and pounce. With the pounce Ripclaw proceeded to critical twice. Taking Garrick from full hip points to -11 in one pounce.
PC: Gilgeam Galanodel
Adventure: Tides of Dread
Location of Death: The Abyss
Catalyst: Plane Shift - Shadow Pearl.
The high elf cleric of Corellon Larethian who had recently joined the Sea Wyverns an adventuring group out of Sasserine was left with no choice. Captain Mitch Deparle had grappled Vanthus mid air while Duranthil the half jungle elf first mate filled the demon with arrows. Vanthus's final act was to drop the cracked blood stained Shaddow Pearl. Mitch managed to grab the pearl by letting go of Vanthus, but falling 80 feet. Duranthil attempted to catch Mitch both were severely injured. Gilgeam picked up the smoking pearl. Everybody started screaming for him to "get rid of it. Get it off the island it will kill everybody". Seeing he had no choice Gil uses the spell that he had memorised to flee Farshore should things go pear-shaped, The elf takes the Pearl to the Abyss using plane shift - Unfortunately he had no way of getting back. Standing on a rocky crag over looking the first level of the Abyss pearl held aloft the elf gives a last prayer to his god.
Name: Most everybody
Adventure: Prince of Demons
Catalyst: DemogorgonAfter cruising through many of the battles in the last adventures, the PCs found themselves totally overmatched by Demogorgon.
Deter, the party wizard and bearing the Queen's Kiss, whispered vile words from Malcanthet for Demogorgon to hear. Demogorgon tried a Feeblemind in retaliation. That failed, so the demon closed and full attacked the poor wizard with his other action. Dead wizard.
Madaha, the tiger companion of the our druid who has been with the party since Darkmoon Pass, grabbed the Master Pearl and tried to flee. Demogorgon couldn't allow that, teleported after the tiger, and a full round of attacks dropped the big cat as well.
Ayah (the druid) and Edgar (her lover, dragon shaman) had been hanging back in the battle and Madaha had run to them in the large circular room. Nulonga returned from one of his many deaths at this point and sealed the rest of the party in oyster room with a Wall of Force. The two PCs fought as best they could, repeatedly sacrificing themselves so that the other would live, but in the end they were no match for Demogorgon.
The rest of the party raced around the Wall of Force, frantically trying to come to the aid of their companions. Issek, the lizardman barbarian, arrived about the time Edgar and Ayah died. He fought the demon alone, barely hitting, doing little damage, but taking a severe punishment in return.
By the time Pinkus arrived (thief), Issek was on his last legs. Pinkus managed to attract the demon's attention and fought defensively for a few rounds while Issek managed to drop a healing potion or two. Healed up some, Issek charged back into the fray and was decimated by Demogorgon.
Kelric (cleric) and the just raised Deter arrived at this point. Seeing Malcanthet's proxy sent Demogorgon into a new rage. Deter wasn't able to get away from the beast and suffered his second death of the battle.
This left enough time for Kelric to raise Edgar. Once Kelric's expended his...
Wow. So after all that, did the campaign end with the TPK?
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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NPC: Urol the smelly druid gnome
Adventure: Sea Wyvern's Wake
Location of Death: Tamoachan
Catalyst: Gibbering Mouther + Confused Barbarian
The party wandered into the Mouthers Lair. The Barbarian with the huge axe wandered straight back to the exit (where Urol and the cleric were) since he saw nothing to hit. Another party member woke the Mouther, which promptly went GibberGibberGibber. The Barbarians eyes glazed over and he hacked poor Urol in half.
(Crit for ginormous axe = 20x3 = 60 damage. Urol drops to -34)
They reincarnated him on the deck of the Sea Wyvern and he came back as a 3m long Bluefin Tuna.) He's happy.
This is disheartening ... roughly six consecutive weeks without a single character death in all the Savage Tide campaigns in play ? The horror! The tragedy! ... Worse, the silence ...
I've had three PCs die, but both happened during sidequests that I constructed. Most recently, the party's wood elf fighter/blackguard and swordsage/rogue died horrible deaths deep within Emraag's lair. They broke the golden rule of "don't split the party" and wandered into a tight room where a Caller from the Deep lived.
Had a 3 deaths ><
Name: Rob Little, Loris Moonhelm
Race: Human, and Elf
Class: Fighter 4, Ranger 4
Adventure: Bullywug's Gambit
Area: Swamps between Sesserine and Kraken's Cove
Catalyst: Savage Fever
Rob was infected at Kraken's cove, and then failed 3 saves in a row the last two critical 1s. He then turned on Loris and the other member and killed Loris before being taken down. Both were reincarnated as half-orcs
Name: Milo Tosscobble
Race: Halfling
Class: Bard 4
Adventure: Bullywug Gambit
Area: V6 and V12
Catalyst: Huntress Lorb-Lorb Tub and fellows
Ran into area V6 alone and running from the 3 hunters opened the doors into V12 and he was victim quickly of a raging Huntress, before she was killed.
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Not my deaths, but may as well be reported.
In friend Thom's game:
Name/Class: Dead, 14th lvl Rogue/Assassin.
Where: Taboo Temple, cursed treasure room
Catalyst: Touching treasure, despite the paladin saying "I think this is a bad idea"
Touched the treasure, wraiths show up, including dread wraiths. Normal wraiths touch Bard, Warmage, Paladin, Ardent, Cleric, do some relatively minor con drain. (as if thats possible)
both dread wraiths whack poor dead, doing 14 or so con drain. his con score: 10.
to add insult to injury: thom rolled a 1 on the rounds till he comes back as a wraith. all the treasure from this room, mostly, to resurrect his undeaded butt.
vs. wraiths, Warmage + Sunbeam FTW!
-t
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Name: Zarrah
Race: Human female
Class: Barbarian 5/Sorcerer 4
Adventure: Tides of Dread
Area: The tar pit
Catalyst: Zarrah being Zarrah. A larger than normal T-Rex with one arm shows up and Zarrah charges and attacks immediately.
The party was helping the tribe of Phantoms gather tar for their village in returns for their aiding Farshore in the coming attack of the Crimson Fleet. While the party and the Phantoms were gathering the tar, a very large, old and nasty T-Rex shows up looking for lunch. Zarrah, being her reckless self, attacked. Three rounds later, Zarrah was on the lunch menu. Using the tar from the old tomb that the party raided several adventures ago, Zarrah was restored to life.
Name: Commodore
Race: Stray cat
Adventure: Tide of Dread
Area: Werck of the Sea Wyvern
Commodore was the Wyvern's mascott and rat control from the start of her voyage. He bravley endured, savage seas, beasts, sea weed, and no milk for months before loosing the final of his nine lives to the Korpu that took up residense in the wreckage of the Wyvern.
He will be missed greatly by the 1/2 Sea Elf Nari.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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PC: Sir Lucien Bradley, Aasimar Paladin 19 (Believers of the Source)
Adventure: Wells of Darkness
Location of Death: Fortress of Overlook
Catalyst: Beset by Varrangoin Berserkers!
Long Description: Arriving on the 73rd layer of the Abyss the members of SWORD windwalked to the highest Tor on the layer searching for the the Fortress of Overlook and it's scale model of the Layer and the well of Shami-Amourae. Thanks to the sharp eyes of the party Scout, Sword sees several of the berserkers and the four invisible Nightwings lurking in the ruins of the fortress. They land about below a nearby ridgeline to buff up and assault the fortress.
As Lucien leads his fellow warriors forward the Nightwings and Berserkers spot their approach. Eight berserkers charge the oncoming heroes and for several rounds find their foes defenses impregnable. However the Spawn of Ahazu swoop down from their tower they begin to strip the party of the magical protections. When a pair of berserkers split off to harry the Scout and Divine Trickster drawing the Goliath Barbarian to their aid, the remaining Varrangoin claw and rend Sir Lucien to tiny bits with some well timed criticals.
Only a valiant push by the Demonwrecker Cleric and the Divine Trickster covered by the Barbarian, Scout, and Sorcerer do they manage to reach the Godsmen Paladin before his soul is claimed by the Source. (Revivify & Heal).
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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PC: Kip Tudrussel, gnome cleric 5/bard 3/Divine Trickster 10
Adventure: Wells of Darkness
Location of Death: Overlook Tower
Catalyst: Abyssal Ant shower of death
Long Description: As the Sword opened Ahazu's well the barbarian and demonwrecker fell into the pit. Moving to follow the rest of the band were set upon by the abyssal ant swarms. As most could fly the moved out of range but one swarms acid spittle managed a 20-20-confirm on the unlucky Divine Trickster ending his Inspiring song by melting his face off!
The Nat 20's were flying fast and furiously this night!
Had 3 pc deaths, and a buttload of Npcs die resulting in the pretty much temporary end of the STap for one of my groups....
PC Name: Rob Little, Loris Moonhelm, Amandeyis
Race: Half-orc, Half-Orc, Half-orc
Class: Fighter 4, Ranger 4, Barbarian 2-Fighter 2
Adventure: Bullywug's Gambit
Area: Lavinia's Bedchamber
Catalyst: Bad Bad StuffAlso:
NPC Name: Lavinia Vanderboren, The Jade Ravens, Thora Whistlegapp (You knew it was coming), and A few servents, Oh yea and 1 Town Guard (see Spoiler).Spoiler:So the party infiltrates the manor takes out the huntress and makes all sorts of racket and the King gets alerted. THe party knowing about the hostages then.... Rests for spells... The king moves up to warn the shaman and the shaman and the Kings encounter get ready to take out the pcs. Luckily they had already succesfully dealt with the Half-orc or this would have been worse. Moving on, the pcs then make a bee line to Lavinia's Bedroom and one of them kicks open the door and sees rge assembled Bullywugs, who had converted the bed into an altar and were going to sacrifice Lavinia. Initiative is rolled and boy do they lose it, Rob wins initiative but the rest rolled under the bullywugs by at least 7 or more. Rob attacks the first hunter in the room and then things get hectic. The Shaman casts summon 2 and gets 2 firndish monstrous spiders (medium), the two bullywugs flank him and the rust monster eats his armor. The Chief moves down by the door so he can charge when an opening happens. Loris opens up with a rapid shot at the shaman with cover and gets 2 Nat twenties, but fails to confirm. Amandeyis Kills the bullywug in the doorway, and the cleric (who lived) casts spiritual weapon, The Npc druid from the Jade ravens held his action (he was played by the player of Milo Tosscobble who was dead) Rob then swings and misses the bullywug again, and then things get REALLY bad. Shaman casts summon 3 getting 2 Dretches, Rob gets waylaid by the spiders and the Bullywug and the rust monster eats his Bastard Sword. Loris continues to shoot at the shaman and misses. Amandeyis steps in and hits a dretch for a decent amount of damage. The clerics spiritual weapon continues to miss. The druid gets in the doorway and gets smashed by the waiting chieftain, he goes down and is dying. An angry rob left only with a heavy wooden shield, Shield bashes the rust monster out of anger, crits and kills it and tries to cleave the bullywug still left, but no good. The shaman casts Magic circle vs. good and moves so he cant be shot. The summons beat on the party some. Loris shoots at the summons but fails miserably. Amandeyis steps over the druid and Crits the Chieftan for 36 points! The cleric maneavers so that she can possibly save the druid. Rob then swings his shield and misses. The shaman casts cure mod on himself. The summons beat on Rob. The Cheiftan then Swings his mighty greatclub, power attacking for 5 and CRITICAL! 49 damage before the 3d10. Amandeyis' player says I have 49 hp right now so your rolling my negatives... 14 on the dice and hes down. He takes his cleave and hits Rob for 21. Loris moves up and fires at the chief but misses. The cleric heals Rob. Rob then swings on the chieftain and misses. The shaman holds his action , and the summons tear Rob up. The Chieftan takes a 5' step so he's next to Rob and Loris. He hits Rob for 33 which drops him and cleaves Loris, possibly Critting! Not confirmed but the damage is still 33. Dropping the archer. The cleric runs for help and after an odd debacle where she gets 1 guard to come back with her the bullywugs smash the poor fellow and She runs again, this time abandoning hope and leaving the place...
Had 3 pc deaths, and a buttload of Npcs die resulting in the pretty much temporary end of the STap for one of my groups....
PC Name: Rob Little, Loris Moonhelm, Amandeyis
Race: Half-orc, Half-Orc, Half-orc
Class: Fighter 4, Ranger 4, Barbarian 2-Fighter 2
Adventure: Bullywug's Gambit
Area: Lavinia's Bedchamber
Catalyst: Bad Bad StuffAlso:
NPC Name: Lavinia Vanderboren, The Jade Ravens, Thora Whistlegapp (You knew it was coming), and A few servents, Oh yea and 1 Town Guard (see Spoiler).Yes, but does Lavinia have a Resurrection insurance policy? ;)
Yes, but does Lavinia have a Resurrection insurance policy? ;)Had 3 pc deaths, and a buttload of Npcs die resulting in the pretty much temporary end of the STap for one of my groups....
PC Name: Rob Little, Loris Moonhelm, Amandeyis
Race: Half-orc, Half-Orc, Half-orc
Class: Fighter 4, Ranger 4, Barbarian 2-Fighter 2
Adventure: Bullywug's Gambit
Area: Lavinia's Bedchamber
Catalyst: Bad Bad StuffAlso:
NPC Name: Lavinia Vanderboren, The Jade Ravens, Thora Whistlegapp (You knew it was coming), and A few servents, Oh yea and 1 Town Guard (see Spoiler).Yes I did indeed institute that she does, but thinking through what that means if there's no body :P (which short of a True res is impossible)
Yes I did indeed institute that she does, but thinking through what that means if there's no body :P (which short of a True res is impossible)
Oh, I didn't see Lavinia's ultimate fate in your description other than her mention in the list of casualties. Yeah, I can see that being a “temporary end” to your campaign. And I thought Lavinia’s death derailed the campaign. Kill off Lavinia and a near TPK and you have a very difficult story dilemma. Good luck with that.
Yes I did indeed institute that she does, but thinking through what that means if there's no body :P (which short of a True res is impossible)Oh, I didn't see Lavinia's ultimate fate in your description other than her mention in the list of casualties. Yeah, I can see that being a “temporary end” to your campaign. And I thought Lavinia’s death derailed the campaign. Kill off Lavinia and a near TPK and you have a very difficult story dilemma. Good luck with that.
Yea her death was planned for and in the end was going to kind of move things on.... The party destruction (not to mention that particuklar parties internal issues) have brought the game to a combustible temporary end. Although I'm working through ways to make it all work (substituting Rowyn in to fund things after she "aquired" the Vanderboren equity, since Vanthus is off and unfindable or somesuch... maybe use the relative in Cauldron angle or something... doable though :P
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not my game, but Thom will not be posting them, so it falls to me.
Going off memory, so the specfics may be a bit off.
Catalyst: The Flesh Ooze and his tricky Save-or-Die.
In the taboo temple, the party has cleared out the entire place, has drawn Khala out and murderated him, and is just going back for completion's sake.
On the entryway to the Flesh Ooze's room, the Elocator, Bard, and Warmage all stand forth and try to hurt it. He glomps up, engulfs all three, and forces 3 fort saves.
3 failed saves later (Monk/Ardent/Elocator, Warmage, and cohort Bard = not great fort saves, except the Elocator, who rolled a 2) and there're 3 less PCs kicking around.
All three were revived through various means, only the cohort losing a real level from resurrection.
Monk/Ardent/Elocator = Lvl 14
Warmage = Level 15
Bard Cohort = Level 13
Don't remember the names, sorry.
-t
NPC: Skald (the brooding Fey-touched)
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Location of Death: Cliff Path
Catalyst: Lots of Gargoyles
Tracerbullet was our original DM and he got us as far as the Sargasso, which means he introduced us to Skald. He did something very clever with Skald, playing of his brooding, dark characterization. Skald believed himself cursed because of his ill luck plus he was having bad dreams – and these dreams proved to be prophetic.
Well, Skald became one of those NPCs that we all thought of as another PC, just without the P, if you take my meaning. However, when I became DM, I started to feel that he was unnecessary and decided to transfer the “curse” to the cleric/wizard character. So, I gave that character a prophetic dream of Skald’s demise – which I sent to the player in a private e-mail. I described a battle against and unknown foe (in dreams, details aren’t always clear) and kept the description vague enough so that wherever Skald bought the farm would fit the dream. However, I did put in some very specific dialogue between the PC and Skald and made sure it played out when that time came.
I decided to take the two gargoyle attacks and combine them into one. Maybe I did focus a little bit on Skald, but it was a logical strategy given the miniatures’ placement.
If you’re interested, check out this blog entry for the blow by blow. Keep in mind that the dialogue between the dwarf and Skald was “pre-ordained” which makes it that much more cool, and just a bit creepy for the PC.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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PC: Elyn Chillwind, female Star elf Socerer 20
Adventure: Enemy of my Enemy
Location of Death: Redfangs Lair
Catalyst: A Trio of Marilith Snipers
Long Description: The members of the SWORD having set off several of Redfangs alarm spells found the true hidden entrance to his lair which I placed a three Marilith snipers wielding three +1 seeking Greatbows each and equipped with brilliant energy arrows.
Slogging through the winding tunnels heavy undergrowth they fought first projected images dropping blade barriers then faced the hidden snipers who fell back each time the PC's dispelled an image and took a rounds worth of sniping.
As the battle began the PC's were invisible to Redfang due to the spells Hide from Dragons and Superior Invisibility. Only the Marilith snipers could directly engage. After Elyn cast Mordekainen's disjunction on Redfang they quickly turned their attention to her dropping the elf in a hail of of glowing arrows. After forcing Redfang to teleport away (to remove a ray of dizziness effect and rebuff) Elyn was resurrected to fight on.
And one I forgot to post a bit ago...
PC: Deek Blackhammer, male goliath Bbn 9/Ftr 4/Uncanny Trickester 3
Adventure: Into the Maw
Location of Death: Prison receiving building
Catalyst: Blinding Critical from Kulublax
Long Description: After Vanthus' defeat the Lich Orgrosh confronted the SWORD to congratulate them on destroying his foe (via projected image) however the heroes balked at talking to an undead Necromancer and attacked. After dispelling his Image and shaking off the effects of several of his mightiest spells the prisons Majordomo used a sending to call Kulublax and his Khastigur wardens for reinforcement. The glabrezu teleported to the island (Orgrosh, Kulublax, and the Khastigurs all were keyed to the Prisons Forbiddance effect and could teleport normally) with his guards and immediately took control of the melee forcing the Scout and the Divine Trickster to flee for cover. Seeing the largest foe on the field appear the Goliath Barbarian used his Leap Attack to spring from rooftop across the bridge to the rooftop where Kulublax stood on the island. Unfortunately he drew the Glabrezus AoO and being a boss monster I drew the "Across the eyes" card from the crit deck rendering the Goliath blinded. A full attack and an assist from a warden dropped Deek stone dead.
He was later Revananced, killed by a dispel magic, and Revivified again.
--Vrocknrolla!
Name: Diamondback (Reformed NPC)
Race: Human
Class: Battledancer 6
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: Entering Fogmire
Catalyst: Perfectly even battle difficulty, poor player strategy
I can’t do this one justice. Yes, it’s an NPC, but she became very important to our players – as much as any of the PCs. She had a wonderfully interesting romance blooming with the lead PC.
The best way to do this is to read the whole game session from our blog. The nutshell, which doesn’t do it justice, is that I had Olangu send zombies of the ship’s crew casualties at them under the illusion of actually being the party – so they thought they were fighting doppelgangers of themselves. However, Big O had raised the NPCs who had died since leaving the wreck, too, so it was, like, the full party. Anyway, I wanted to do this up big, so instead of Major Image, I did a home-brew sort of Phantasmal Force spell. So it wasn’t just zombies (or in the case of Thunderstrike, a flesh golem), but their mage was firing magic missiles and their fighter had a vicious great sword, and so on. So it was like begin exactly evenly matched (except for Skald, Barnaby and Quenge – big deal – and the extra tough golem hose thing).
Well, I played the attackers like the characters would play them – go for the spell caster first! Unfortunately, the players didn’t do likewise. They were honestly confused and hesitant in the first round or two. So they had no healing until very late in the combat (when they started to think). It was just too late for Diamondback.
If you are interested in the background and how heartbreaking this was, read this earlier post first, and then, after reading the battle, check out the very next post. It’s so sappy, but I think it’s good drama. Not the kind of thing you usually see in a D&D game, but secretly you want to.
I think there hasn't been a death toll in the last five pages... and I'm aching to know the number of casualties this AP is causing... would anyone volunteer to count?
Actually, in my book, Snow, YOU just volunteered. Thanks!
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Haven't updated to the obits for a while, so I have some catching up to do...
Animal companion: Miera the owl
Adventure: Sea Wyvern's Wake
Location of petrification: Tamoachan
Catalyst: Basilisk
PC: Halstead, Elf Scout 6
Adventure: Sea Wyvern's Wake
Location of Death: Aboard the ship (well, next to it)
Catalyst: Flotsam Ooze
NPC: Aiden (ship's carpenter)
Adventure: SWW
Location: Hold of the ship
Catalyst: Vine horror
NPC: Skald
Adventure: SWW
Location: Masher Reef
Catalyst: Masher
NPCs: Tavey, Conrad Horst, Banaby, Jacob (sailor)
Adventure: SWW
Location: Between the reef and the Isle of Dread
Catalyst: the Second Storm (drowned after being washed overboard)
Next session we meet Olangru. Mwahahaha.
NPC: Aiden (ship's carpenter)
...
NPCs: Tavey, Conrad Horst, Banaby, Jacob (sailor)
Aiden...Jacob. You're using my crew!!! Glad to see that bit of work is being put to use! Even if they end up dead!
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I think there hasn't been a death toll in the last five pages... and I'm aching to know the number of casualties this AP is causing... would anyone volunteer to count?Actually, in my book, Snow, YOU just volunteered. Thanks!
Your book's a real bastard, ain't he?
Oh well, I guess you've got me:)TiNH: 115 PCs
BWG: 78 PCs
SWW: 102 PCs
HTbM: 72 PCs
ToD: 44 PCs
TLD: 25 PCs
CoBI: 37 PCs
SoS: 17 PCs
ItM: 12 PCs
WoD: 4 PCs
EomE: 9 PCs
PoD: 14 PCs
Notice well, fellow DM's- more than a 100 deaths recorded here for both TINH and SWW- and HTBM is closing up repitetdly. also noticable is the staggring number of deaths in PoD- it increased with amazing speed.
I am just about to start running STAP- and will soon contribute some more cases myself, I am preety sure of it.
I think there hasn't been a death toll in the last five pages... and I'm aching to know the number of casualties this AP is causing... would anyone volunteer to count?Actually, in my book, Snow, YOU just volunteered. Thanks!Your book's a real bastard, ain't he?
Oh well, I guess you've got me:)
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEWgs6YQR9A}ROTFLMAO![/url]
TiNH: 115 PCs
BWG: 78 PCs
SWW: 102 PCs
HTbM: 72 PCs
ToD: 44 PCs
TLD: 25 PCs
CoBI: 37 PCs
SoS: 17 PCs
ItM: 12 PCs
WoD: 4 PCs
EomE: 9 PCs
PoD: 14 PCs
Notice well, fellow DM's- more than a 100 deaths recorded here for both TINH and SWW- and HTBM is closing up repitetdly. also noticable is the staggring number of deaths in PoD- it increased with amazing speed.
Keep in mind that this is hardly good data, scientifically and statistically speaking. You would almost have to adjust it for all the groups that drop off before the end of the STAP. In other words, everyone plays the first adventure, but each subsequent adventure may lose participants – groups break up, players quit, DM’s start dating girls who live half a state away and get engaged then go back to school, stuff like that. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right, thanks for voluntarily crunching the numbers for us!
Aiden...Jacob. You're using my crew!!! Glad to see that bit of work is being put to use! Even if they end up dead!NPC: Aiden (ship's carpenter)
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NPCs: Tavey, Conrad Horst, Banaby, Jacob (sailor)
Their not yours any more, Don Jan. <smooch, smooch>
I noticed, looking back that some people are reporting on NPCs, too. So, I don’t know if y’all want this info, but if not, you can always just ignore it. (I’m used to being ignored. That’s okay. I still have my buddy, Harvey, to keep me company, even if you can’t see him.)
Name: Skald
Race: Fey-touched Human (NPC)
Class: I don’t know. Ranger or something. You got the module.
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: First Gargoyle ambush
Catalyst: He was open and he just got piled on
If I’m truly honest, I was gunning for Skald. I had built up this great foreshadowing with dark, prophetic dreams and I had described a generic combat where he gets messed up and the cleric can’t get to him in time, and I pictured the gargoyle attack to be it. So he got flanked in four directions by four different gargoyles and he just got dead.
Name: Quenge
Race: Human (NPC)
Class: Fodder
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: Same as above
Catalyst: Apathy on everyone’s part
I’ve injected a great deal of life into all the NPCs, but Barnaby and Quenge just kind of blend into the background, and Quenge even more so than Barnaby (mostly because I don’t like the name and my spell checker doesn’t recognize it). Anyway, he actually was able to resist getting knocked off the cliff by a flying charge, but then he was hit from behind with a claw/claw/bite and he was dead three times over. In fact, when the battle was over, Avner asked “Where’s Quenge?” to which one of the PCs replied, “Over there … and there, and there and…” I kid you not.
Name: Barnaby
Race: Human (NPC)
Class: Plot Point
Adventure: Here There Be Monsters
Area: Cliff path
Catalyst: Olangru and an evil DM
Oangru had done the darkness pebbles the night before in order to steal their food. The party kind of overreacted and they broke camp in the middle of the night and did a forced march the next day – with the spell casters not being able to recoup spells. So, the next night, when the darkness happened again, the two on watch audibly speculated that it was “the stalker’s” plan to keep them exhausted and unable to regain spells. It hadn’t been, but I liked the idea. Anyway, they decided not to wake the others and each of the two fighters spent the duration of the spell physically shielding the sleeping spellcasters and making lots of listen checks. I decided to have Olangru teleport in and take Barnaby. When the spell lifted, Olangru used his illusion to make it appear that Barnaby was still there. In the morning, “Barnaby” got up, walked to the edge of the cliff and jumped off before anyone could stop him (basically I substituted this for the suicidal Olman). Later, as they were going down the mountain pass, they found the stolen saddlebags with Barnaby’s entrails inside (thank you, Tom Qadim) tied up with a protection charm that the party recognized as his (I had seeded several mentions of the ornament weeks earlier). This, incidentally, is another nod to the Predator movies as in at least three of them a victim’s “lucky” charm necklace is found after they are killed.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Keep in mind that this is hardly good data, scientifically and statistically speaking. You would almost have to adjust it for all the groups that drop off before the end of the STAP. In other words, everyone plays the first adventure, but each subsequent adventure may lose participants – groups break up, players quit, DM’s start dating girls who live half a state away and get engaged then go back to school, stuff like that. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right, thanks for voluntarily crunching the numbers for us!
Actually my group didn't start playing till HTBM at 10th level... Modified Planar STAP using Planescape PC's from back in the day updated or rebooted ala the Batman/Bond franchises!
30 weeks and 5 PC's dead, with 2 changing characters mid-way!
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Aiden...Jacob. You're using my crew!!! Glad to see that bit of work is being put to use! Even if they end up dead!NPC: Aiden (ship's carpenter)
...
NPCs: Tavey, Conrad Horst, Banaby, Jacob (sailor)
True! I ran out of time to prep a bunch of NPCs to fill out the ship's roster, and your list was a lifesaver! Of course, my PCs ended up talking a bunch of their friends/relatives/lovers into making the voyage, so I only ended up using about half of your crew. Still, it was quite helpful. Sorry I killed them. ;-)
Sorry I killed them. ;-)
Don't be. I inherited the originals and I’m doing a wonderful job of killing them. Well, I did kill off the crew of the Nixie (I went with the Nixie wrecks and the PCs go looking for Lavinia while the Wyvern continues to Farshore option). They party has already encountered a lot of them raised as zombie versions of them thanks to Olangu. Which reminds me: Rob, did you plan that there would be a gnome to stand in for Urol and a Dwarf to stand in for Ornrik? That worked out just too perfectly.
Half the crew was NPC loved ones? That has to really suck for them if you go with the ending of SWW as written. On the other hand, you could really make HTBM epic if they have to try and protect their loved ones from T-Rex and velociraptors (you may call them “terror birds,” I don’t know) and Olangru. As they die off one by one … ooh, epic stuff.
Then a quote from the mage: “All these powers, and I couldn’t even save him!” :*(
OOH, good stuff. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
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Half the crew was NPC loved ones? That has to really suck for them if you go with the ending of SWW as written. On the other hand, you could really make HTBM epic if they have to try and protect their loved ones from T-Rex and velociraptors (you may call them “terror birds,” I don’t know) and Olangru. As they die off one by one … ooh, epic stuff.Then a quote from the mage: “All these powers, and I couldn’t even save him!” :*(
OOH, good stuff. Can’t wait to hear how it goes.
Yep. Let's see - the shifter captain has his brother, his brother's wife and small child, and his lover along. The wizard has his sister and his childhood friend/girlfriend (although he hates his sister and his girlfriend is Seoni, so she can take care of herself). The scout has a thing going with Lirith. The monk has a good friend/fellow cleric along. And the druid's long-time lover joined up as well. I modified the end of SWW using some ideas from the boards here, so they could influence events more directly. Strangely enough, the loved ones got rescued when they were washed overboard while the other NPCs drowned (although some of them were saved by the tortle monk).
I admit to feeling some glee at throwing Olangru at a group that is almost entirely friends/family of the PCs.
We are almost to Tamoachan in the Sea Wyvern's Wake, plus we did Fiend's Embrace (from Dungeon 124, I think) right after There Is No Honor. This is the death toll so far.
Jerard Matthias (human fighter 1) - Slain by an iron cobra in Lavinia's vault before the ring was presented to disarm them.
Dairkal (halfling rogue 2) - Killed by a zombie pirate under Parrot Island when the player chose to ignore it for several rounds. Head kicked in like a pumpkin.
Rhiannon de al Sanzar (gnome cleric 3) - Slain by rhagodessas when attempting to abandon the rest of the party to a gruesome fate.
Artrarien Galanodel (elf evoker 3) - Slain by Rowyn in the Lotus Dragon Guildhall.
Droxun (wild elf ranger 4) - Drowned while fighting the Fingers of Iuz in Coldstone Keep.
Kandre Tho’Pyihal (half elf rogue 4) - Succumbed to the Savage Tide and turned against the party, had to be cut down by the party.
Gorgash Stormbear (half orc druid 5) - Was slain while attempting to remove disease from an infected savage Kandre Tho'Pyihal.
Malquiram Niconor (human paladin 4) - Slain by Vanthus and General Ghorvash while Vanthus was stealing the boat they used to gain access to Kraken's Cove.
Verault (human rogue 4) - After a misunderstanding in Vanderboren Manor led to him being locked up as Drevoraz's accomplice, he aided Drevoraz in a failed escape attempt and was hung as an accomplice to the murder of Kora Whistlegap and Lavinia Vanderboren's unborn child and providing aid to a known member of the Crimson Fleet.
Brutus Bloodknuckle (half orc barbarian 5) - Garroted by Rowyn while on the Sea Wyvern.
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Notice well, fellow DM's- more than a 100 deaths recorded here for both TINH and SWW- and HTBM is closing up repeatedly. also noticeable is the staggering number of deaths in PoD- it increased with amazing speed.Keep in mind that this is hardly good data, scientifically and statistically speaking. You would almost have to adjust it for all the groups that drop off before the end of the STAP. In other words, everyone plays the first adventure, but each subsequent adventure may lose participants – groups break up, players quit, DM’s start dating girls who live half a state away and get engaged then go back to school, stuff like that. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right, thanks for voluntarily crunching the numbers for us!
actually, this increases the accuracy of those numbers. you see, most people don't play STAP from beginning to end- and even if they do, they are not bound by any means to report their Obituaries here... and still, we've got 14 reported deaths. I think that makes PoD into one deadly peace of epic demon fighting.
actually, this increases the accuracy of those numbers. you see, most people don't play STAP from beginning to end- and even if they do, they are not bound by any means to report their Obituaries here... and still, we've got 14 reported deaths. I think that makes PoD into one deadly peace of epic demon fighting.
Oh, I see what you're saying. Your point is that PoD is really deadly. Okay, sure, I'm with you.
However ... the accuracy is NOT increased. Technically speaking, of course. Sorry, I'm just Über-sensitive about statistical data. I'm afraid thee semesters of advanced statistical analysis at a "publish or perish" university has left me a little … well, you know …<twitch><twitch> Really, three semesters – that’s no joke. I tend to go into convulsions when someone says “standard deviation” or “statistical significance” to me (which, thankfully, almost never happens).
I will concede, though, that for our purposes here, informal and unscientific they may be, we might be able to imply some conjectures which, ultimately, are just reinforcing our pre-existing biases based on logical assumptions regarding the traditional structure of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, in general, and what we know of the Savage Tide Adventure Path, specifically. <twitch><twitch>
And East is East and West is West and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh... Now you tell me what you know.
But more data does increase the accuracy, Troy. Every bit of information added to the known data increases the accuracy. It might not make it accurate, which is subjective, but it absolutely makes it more accurate, which is objective.
But more data does increase the accuracy, Troy. Every bit of information added to the known data increases the accuracy. It might not make it accurate, which is subjective, but it absolutely makes it more accurate, which is objective.
It absolutely is not subjective. We are talking about a non-controlled experiment that would completely invalid any conclusions derived from these statistics.
Look, it is not my intent to start an argument on this (incredibly boring) topic, especially with you (I like you. You’ve been nice to me in other threads.) However… (oh, GOD, I didn’t want to do this)…
A valid statistical sample would be a true play test: Each module is run, under controlled conditions with pre-rolled characters and the game would be run multiple times with different players (randomly selected). In other words, you would get the same number of runs on PoD as TiNH. Then, when you have done as many play-tests as necessary to have a statistically significant sampling, you can graph your data and say, “Hey, yeah! PoD has a much higher mortality rate than TiNH.
If you keep accumulating more and more bad data, it never becomes more accurate.
HOWEVER, I assume this whole thread has nothing to do with scientific accuracy. Presumably, it’s to have fun seeing how many characters get dead. Kind of like playing the Sims to find new and interesting ways to torture and kill your Sims (yeah, I do that sometimes).
So, yeah, I’ve got my rant out. Thanks. Please, let it die. You can believe I’m wrong. You can tell me all about how “statistics can mean anything you want” if it makes you feel better. It’s just, there is a different between real statistics and misleading collections of numbers.
I’m SO sorry everyone. I’m not really a troll. Obviously I have issues. Pity me.