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After playing this mod the GM and I have a question about the chronicle. After spending time in Dreng's vaults does the bonus apply to a single skill check, or to a single skill? The wording strongly implies a single skill ever after, but the singular of the word check has us doubting that.
Actually a third meaning could be inferred if /scenario were clipped from the end of the sentence.
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Pick a knowledge skill, when rolling a check in that skill you get a +2 circumstance bonus. I suggest writing the knowledge skill you choose on the chronicle as the boon only applies only to that one. Some bonuses don't stack so be aware of the bonuses you currently have or those encountered during the game.
Director of Brand Strategy
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That boon was made before the Shadow Lodge was added as a new faction. As such, I'd say the penalty applies to any scenario in which the PCs face Shadow Lodge NPCs, as those NPCs are now assumed to be rebel Shadow Lodge operatives not allied with Grandmaster Torch and the PCs.
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I'm not sure if there's a larger thread for this scenario or not, I'm just preparing to run it for my local group in austin and i've found some issues with it.
Darik Dustin is missing a 1st level ranger spell, ( they also didn't even give a 6th level NPC a masterwork weapon..., the 8th level version doesn't even have Deadly Aim. )
Sonta Rask... looks like she's also a cleric of norgorber (charm & trickery. she's not worshiping calistria while she's wielding a SHORT SWORD). Did the stat writer get confused by all the norgorber in this module and stick a secret spy in with the adventurers? If she really is the cleric that accompanies their PFS group on delves, they're screwed because she can't channel positive energy. She also doesn't have enough Selective Channelling to exclude all of her allies.
Utok Crow Eater ... carries no weapons other than a light steel shield and a net. none. i realize they're using nonlethal tactics. But they really have no choice BUT to use nonlethal tactics. It would make a lot more sense if he had feats like power attack, and were using the net with the -4 penalty, and had a greataxe or something as a backup weapon. or at least a heavy steel shield to bash with, since that's apparently his primary weapon.
I can understand a DC 12 sense motive check to realize they're doing nonlethal attacks. But a DC 20 perception to realize they're pathfinders?? the cleric doesn't have any holy symbol mentioned and has domains of Trickery and Charm, and channels negative energy, and none of them even have a Wayfinder listed under equipment.
The showroom Sadist -
tactics on the 6 thugs are great. because if i'm a hired thug, i always let my boss get taken down by the group of PCs before I go in, rather than going in to provide flank/get flank myself. ( oh, and its kind of funny that Xis is described as shouting "the mannequins make me do it", but its going to be obvious that he's a shapeshifter, since he's using claws rather than daggers or an improvised weapon or anything other than doppleganger-fleshy-claws. oh and the 6 thugs each have a masterwork dagger. did that group of adventurers really give up masterwork weapons or any gear so they could give their cleric a phylactery of negative channelling (and at the high tier, they couldn't have hired a sister that does positive channelling?? )
-the outer vault:
the problem of the scrying has already been brought up.
he's also listed in the western wall on the map, instead of in the southern wall according to the descriptive text. He's also a half-elf cleric of norgorber, that doesn't speak elven and isn't immune to sleep, according to his stat block. since he can't actually SCRY, since he doesn't know the PCs and hasn't been in the wall casting spells for an hour... he can listen, but his perception is piss poor (+3 wisdom, but again, missing the half elven keen senses +2), so he might not even really hear when combat ensues and spells are cast.
if he hears the PCs enter, he can cast great spells to prepare. though it seems more comedically that he'll spend the whole time in the wall, not realizing that a group passed by and that the jig is up.Freedom of Movement, Greater Magic Weapon (both short swords), Magic Vestment ( most of which would last 2+ hours for his caster level. so why would he B&E this vault without them already cast? because he doesn't have them crossed off even though he spent several hours looking for a way to get in the vault, idk.)
then there's the problem of his feats. he's not a half elf in his feats. (absence of skill focus or exotic weapon proficiency), and he doesn't actually qualify for two-weapon fighting, or two weapon defense. The writer was also under the mistaken impression that if he used Channel Smite, it would apply to all of his attacks... when it doesn't. its a swift action, before one attack. so he can do it once per round. Two weapon fighting ( if he actually could ) would DECREASE his chance of hitting.
his tier 7-8 version feats
1. toughness, 3. channel smite, 5. improved channel, 7. two-weapon fighting, 9. two weapon defense, 11. weapon focus (short sword)
oh wait. he's 10th level. it looks like they statted him up as a half-elf in name, and then converted him to human at the last minute without adjusting the name. but his skills don't rate as a human's either.
since Sidri is never described other than "nordris' son", all we know about him is he's male.
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Venture-Agent, Netherlands—Utrecht
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I'll be running this in a week or so, I have some questions:
- The thugs in the Black Mask shop are described to be in a different part of the room and attack as soon as the combat with Xis is done. Should I just start a new combat round and have them appear? Them being in B3 and the combat being in B2 kinda ruins their surprise attacks. I'm planning on putting them in the changing rooms where they can actually ambush the party. For bonus points, I'm planning on them dressing up in funny ways. Haven't decided what yet, but I'm planning on making it silly. They're in a costume shop, after all.
- Similarly, should I start combat with Nordris as soon as the Stalker fight is done? He's supposed to ambush them, but he first has to leave his stone form and go through two doors. That's like two rounds wasted on just sneaking up on them while he has rounds/level buffs running.
- Also, in the conclusion, the Owed a Favor boon clearly states "during the next scenario in Absalom," while the sheet says "one future scenario in Absalom." I guess the second is easier to track, but is it as intended?
I'm afraid that by chaining several fights together it'll run pretty quick, but I guess it's following tactics.
Aside from this, Vincent Colon-Roine brings up some good points. Some are nitpicky, but there are also some valid points there. Bit of a shame, it seems like a great scenario otherwise.
Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden
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Quentin ran it for us yesterday. Overall a fun time, but in hindsight, there were a few things I'd do differently.
The plot has a major weakness. If the bad guys hadn't brought in the PCs as dupes, their plan would have worked out; now however they've invited more scrutiny, not less. The only way their plan could possibly work out is if the PCs get to Sidri and take him out of the picture, without him convincing them that Dreng is an impostor. However, during the mission briefing, Dreng tells them to "Go there and accost Sidri with as little violence as possible, and I shall contact you regarding what to do next." This all sounds to the players as if they should have a talk with Sidri about why he would possibly want to kill Dreng. [ooc](I'm aware of the irony.)]/ooc] But the last thing the bad guys want is more pathfinders on their trail.
I think it would be better to rephrase that to "Go there and take him into custody, but try to do it quietly. We don't want a civil war in the Grand Lodge."