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I didn't see yet a Painlord guide how to be a better PBP GM or PBP player. And no - I'm not always agreeing with everything he writes. But I always read them with interest as there is always something I can improve and take to heart. In a game here this is more personal. But you can be assured I'm not that easily offended.
Lol. Seems like you should be writing that, not I!
I'm just here to enjoy the game and learn more about PbP. I, too, am happy to accept constructive advice and comments.
Let's have fun with this.
-Pain
p.s. I'm shocked, shocked!, that you don't agree with absolutely everything I write. Someday you'll see that my wisdom is pure and infinite unicorns and rainbows and starcookies, I tell you!
This week I'm working night shift..and have posting been from work due to my aforementioned computer problems. However I am now reconnected to Paizo from home so Andrea's post rate will go up a bit.Also,after Saturday, I have 11 days off..plenty off time to work on the big posts this story needs.
I get what Wren says about the general feeling of gloom and creepiness at the start.
I will be TAD all next week, I will Still be able to post just in the afternoon though.
Sorry, Temporary Assigned Duty. Means I will be away from home on travel.
Aldous
It might be useful to make an Avatar for Hastur as well and post as Hastur occasionally. You did a great job including him in your posts - but I have to admit I sometimes forget him in counting the number of 'persons' around.
No overdoing it - but an occasional appearance as Hastur could be good.
Thod
How about this?
How about this?
Scary? Check.
Creepy? Check.Freaky? Check.
Yep, seems perfect to me.
Thod:
So close to giving birth to THIS and I'll be posting more intently in this game when it is up and out.
I hope to get you the new Wren Herolab tonight as well.
-Pain
I'm liking the dynamic that's developing just now..after all we are a group of strangers thrown together in a somewhat unusual( and uncomfortable) social situation.Indeed apart from our association with the Professor we have nothing at all in common.
It should be interesting to see how we begin to pull together as a team.
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Thod, All--
Admittedly, I'm not really creature type "Painlord". I'm sadly and decidedly "human" and there is nothing I can do about it. As a human, I am prone to silliness and foolery and often fight myself about myself.
Tis my nature. One of the things I've been watching battle within me are twin demons: powergamer vs. roleplayer. And oft they argue when I design characters...one perched on either shoulder saying things like:
"Go with the Arcane Bond...it's much more powerful than the dumb companion."
"No, play the character...build someone you want to play and play well."
"Fool, I'll crush you! If you don't have color spray as a spell at first lvl, children will call you a n00b and laugh at you!"
"Who cares what children think? Play what makes you happy!"
And on and on it goes.
Thankfully, usually the demon of rational compromise emerges and creates a compromise betwixt them and me.
With Wren, I've been battling arcane bond vs Parrot familiar...I've finally settled on the familiar. It just fits the character better. I won't be using the bird much outside of decoration (I'm not much of a familiar fan) and the familiar wasn't invited to the party (but may make an appearance at the outdoor funeral).
She still has a talon-shaped dagger, but it is now just a normal cold iron dagger rather than an arcane bond, still shaped like the talon. With her strength, should you see it in combat, you know things are going wrong.
So, I've updated the character appropriately.
I couldn't find two traits that fit the character well enough, so I choose a different feat at 1st lvl: GSF (conj). My feathers will be poofy and ticklish.
I've updated by alias and sent the HeroLab document to Thod.
We'll see what happens. Apologies for the being bird brained.
-Painlord
aka Wren the Feathermage
"I'm sure the Merchant..should you find him will not charge you much more than he charged me..Ma'am" she replies with a sweet smile that masks a growing dislike for her interrogator.
Sorry, Wellard. I hope I didn't really offend.
Just having fun in character! 7 charisma is 7 charisma!
-Wren
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All
I hope nobody minds to move on - or should I say jump on.
I try to give choice to PCs whenever possible. Hey - nobody took up my drinks !
But I didn't want to spend a week to check back and forth who wants to be pallbearer and who doesn't and to get you in the right order. The NPCs won't do it and Kendra can't carry it on her own.
You should have a lot of time to carry on talking to each other. So if I cut that one short - no problem. Shouldn't matter much where you chat to each other.
Tomorrow I plan to send you on your way to the Restlands - and let the AP officially begin. But I have to say - I enjoyed everything so far. It allowed me to get some idea how you play and to place some seeds for the future.
And I hope people started to get an idea of each other. After all - you didn't knew each other and it hopefully helps to bond together.
Thod
"I'm sure the Merchant..should you find him will not charge you much more than he charged me..Ma'am" she replies with a sweet smile that masks a growing dislike for her interrogator.
Sorry, Wellard. I hope I didn't really offend.
Just having fun in character! 7 charisma is 7 charisma!
-Wren
No offence taken..merely some character interaction. :)
Andrea is as you may have gathered rather touchy about her... shall we say..status and Wren just seemed to be poking fun at her when she is dressed in the drabbest outfit she has.
Also remember Andrea is 19..a little harder than most 19 year old girls you might know but still subject to a teenagers mood swings.
In make up she's about 30% Tiffany Aching, 30% Willow from Buffy and 40% whole cloth
And if you really want to see an abrasive CHA 7 character well Natalyah in my Serpents Skull game is far far worse than you are..
No offence taken..merely some character interaction. :)
Andrea is as you may have gathered rather touchy about her shall we say statis..and Wren just seemed to be poking fun at her when she is dressed in the drabbest outfit she has.
Also remember Andrea is 19..a little harder than most 19 year old girls you might know but still subject to a teenagers mood swings.
In make up she's about 30% Tiffany Aching, 30% Willow from Buffy and 40% whole cloth
And if you really want to see an abrasive CHA 7 character well Natalyah in my Serpents Skull game is far far worse than you are..
Excellent! I hope we have other and more fun roleplaying interactions.
My bird is a bit peckish at times and I hope to play her that way.
-Wren
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Rolling dice for non-important tasks, situational modifiers.
You might have noticed by now that I ask for a few dice rolls that seem not that important. You might ask yourself - why. What happens if I miss a role?
During my time as player I noticed that PBP can sometimes be slow. Rolling dice adds some extra element of excitement. I therefore sprinkle in opportunities to get some information ahead of time or to get some situational modifier - typically a +2 for a future dice roll.
Only giving out candy and boons seems not right. Therefore I also sprinkle in rolls that might do the opposite - like the Fort saves for three of the pall bearers. My design philosophy is - I will sprinkle them in when I feel actions might justify a reward or the opposite.
If you miss them - no worry. I won't slow down the game because I wait for one such roll. They are added to allow reasons to roll a dice. They are not there to slow down a game.
Oh - and in some cases I might also do situational modifiers but don't tell you ahead of time to avoid spoilers. I do read what you write and try to keep this in mind. It is role-play after all.
So go on and role-play. It's the best way to get some modifiers and more often they will be positive.
And a last bit to add. I just hope there is no rules-lawyer here who dislikes this. If so - please let me know. I try to stay inside the rules as good as possible - and I try to be fair to everyone. But some of these are made up on the fly and are situational. I try to look at books when possible (the Game Mastery Guide for guidance on alcohol and drunkness) - but in the end I add them as I see fit.
They should be only minor after all - they might tilt the balance - but they should never override actions by someone.
Thod
I'm not sure what the sacred rites of Pharasma are and am kind of making it up as I go along. The graveyard is probably already consecrated by Pharasma, so the notion of sprinkling holy water on or into a grave might be considered disrespectful or perhaps even blasphemous. :( I hope not, though. :P
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I'm not sure what the sacred rites of Pharasma are and am kind of making it up as I go along. The graveyard is probably already consecrated by Pharasma, so the notion of sprinkling holy water on or into a grave might be considered disrespectful or perhaps even blasphemous. :( I hope not, though. :P
No worry - it is the intend that counts. I actually enjoy to hunt down small snippets of Golarion Lore to sprinkle in here and there. See the Scarab Beetle and the Whippoorwill. It is the first time I use many of my books that I only read.
But doing this I noticed that even with the Gods of Golarion book as well as Inner Sea Guide that I have a lot of questions unanswered.
And in some cases I might have read about it but can't find it. This was the case with the wine. I wanted originally something more mundane but less well known as Kyoning wine. The Five Kingdom Meat was the best I could find but felt it wouldn't be appropriate. Well - until someone asked for 'something with more kick'.
I take it lightly on Golarion Lore. I enjoy to add it where I can. But I'm not expecting everything is perfect.
Thod
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Thod--
I learn much from you. And I appreciate the chance to play and learn.
-Pain
Pain
Thanks a lot for this comment. I value it a lot as I'm also still learning.
There are often many questions I still have. Especially
There are not enough posts back yet - does it mean I go to fast and should wait or do the non-posts wait for me.
Do my players right now wait for directions and is my next post right or do they prefer more freedom and I'm too rail roady.
So good to know I get it right at least in some cases.
Thod
I have no problem with your posting schedule :-)
From past experience, if the GM does not keep things moving, the game tends to enter into a slow downward spiral of ever-lengthening periods between posts...
I will admit that your style is a little different to some of the other GMs on the boards, but that is definitely not a bad thing :-)
I like it too.
Sadly, I'm going post as if I didn't know the meta-rules for the section because I feel that my character, who actually knows a lot, would be chiming in all over the place, gossiping about this and that.
Feel free to use or ignore.
I'll do a single 'real' check after I get back from the Temple.
2Wren - I took your rolls for the Restlands - see information above - but ignored all the other ones. You therefore still have one free for the day. Sorry for gimping a Nat20 - but that was A LOT of dice rolling. Be patient little birdie.
No worries, Thod. I am very patient and just like to explore the boundaries of my character.
I'm quite happy for you to ignore my extra rolls and focus on the ones that mean something.
I'm sure my character knows a lot in general, but maybe my detailed knowledge of arcanic birds, historical feathers, and local jewelry doesn't apply to our mission.
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I like it too.
Sadly, I'm going post as if I didn't know the meta-rules for the section because I feel that my character, who actually knows a lot, would be chiming in all over the place, gossiping about this and that.
Feel free to use or ignore.
I'll do a single 'real' check after I get back from the Temple.
I didn't spot this in time. I keep my eyes more on the game thread.
No problem.
Thod
Ps: I did love your reply to Galadan - but it would drive me up the wall in real life. Cha 7 - truly earned :)
!!!
Good thinking!
I'd do it, but it would be unreadable bird scratch. ;)
P.S.: I did love your reply to Galadan - but it would drive me up the wall in real life. Cha 7 - truly earned :)
Well, Aldous has certainly filed Wren under the heading of 'mostly harmless, but will require a 'handler' whenever she goes out into public so that the natives do not become restless' ;-)
Well, Aldous has certainly filed Wren under the heading of 'mostly harmless, but will require a 'handler' whenever she goes out into public so that the natives do not become restless' ;-)
And Plume nods in agreement whilst Wren remains clueless.
Either I'm getting slow or this game is going like gangbusters. I had to read through like twenty or thirty posts just to catch up for today.
Actually I am a little slow today as between a busy day at work and trying to slog through a head cold I'm feeling a little discombobulated.
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Either I'm getting slow or this game is going like gangbusters. I had to read through like twenty or thirty posts just to catch up for today.
Actually I am a little slow today as between a busy day at work and trying to slog through a head cold I'm feeling a little discombobulated.
Sorry - yesterday indeed was pretty frentic. I already tried to choke the speed of research. Right now you are in a new town and you get to know some information in every direction you go.
This will slow down once you know Ravengro and it's people a little bit better. It also is a speed I won't be able to sustain myself.
Thod
I'd like to address a problem that has bothered me for some time and want to throw out for general debate.
I hope we would all agree that Charm Person (and similar mind affecting spells) should be a subtle and insidious.
However RAW requires you to announce the spell in a clear voice and make the somantic gestures thereby alerting the subject to the fact that you are trying to cast it.As it isn't a touch spell you cant hold it till you want to release it on some unsuspecting person..
My personal opinion is that the caster should have the option to precast the spell and have a trigger phrase and final gesture to release it.Something innocuous like "and you do want to be my friend don't you" or something similar.
Alternativly there could be the option to cast it as a touch spell.
Thoughts please anyone.
PS just read RAW again and it would seem I can brew potions of charm person..interesting thought..not exactly a love potion but something to influence anothers thoughts.
Actually by RAW you could brew a potion of fireball, that would be a really nasty assassination method
Actually, RAW:
Brew Potion (Item Creation)
You can create magic potions.
Prerequisite: Caster level 3rd.
Benefit: You can create a potion of any 3rd-level or lower spell that you know and that targets one or more creatures. Brewing a potion takes 2 hours if its base price is 250 gp or less, otherwise brewing a potion takes 1 day for each 1,000 gp in its base price. When you create a potion, you set the caster level, which must be sufficient to cast the spell in question and no higher than your own level. To brew a potion, you must use up raw materials costing one half this base price.
When you create a potion, you make any choices that you would normally make when casting the spell. Whoever drinks the potion is the target of the spell.
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Fireball has an area of effect; it does not target 'one or more creatures' (although there certainly may be 'one or more' in the area of effect!). As such, you cannot brew a potion of it :-/
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Andrea
The problem is - you would like to have the advantage of a silent and still spell (+2 higher spell slot for both together) for nearly free.
Opening this up would likely cause a lot of unintended consequences with many other spells.
So the question is: Are there ways around it?
Use Stealth as a skill to hide your actions.
Use cover. If some doesn't see you, then the somatic component is already successfull.
A very noisy environment could be seen as cover for a verbal component - but that might then trigger a concentration check.
Use Bluff to disguise what you are doing. The target might see and hear you - but the target doesn't realize that you are casting.
Be successful with the spell. A charmed person won't remember that 5 seconds before you did cast a spell (albeit he might remember when the spell is over)
Use a wand. Triggering a wand is much more subtle.
If everything fails - use diplomacy as damage control afterwards in case you got detected. If it is a bystander who saw you, then intimidate might also know not to spread the word.
Off course - all of the above is much simpler against hostile creature with whom you don't interact afterwards. Charming someone you want to work with later tends to have risks involved.
And off course you can brew a potion of Charm Person. The main problem is - convince your target to drink it. It works like Cure Light Wounds - the target will have to drink it - not the caster. I have never seen a caster drink CLW and then 'lay on hands' to heal someone else.
Thod
PS: And Aldous already dealt with the problem of target. One reason why there isn't a potion of shield as self is not a valid target for a potion.
Well I wasn't suggesting I could cast a spell by drinking a potion. As to getting an unwitting target to drink it..I'm assuming that mixing a potion in wine or even water would be possible unless you are ruling that all potions have a distinctive taste
Nor am I asking for it to be a silent and still spell.My suggestion was meant to be that the Verbal component could be as short as a single common phrase and the somantic component could be made a subtle one not waving my arms about wildly in the targets direction.
Ah well back to the drawing board...I need to find a way to contribute meaningfully to this game.
PS and yes I misread RAW..my apologies
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Andrea
In regard to taste. I think I already unwittingly gave you a solution to this problem. Bitter and awkward tastes are difficult to hide. Something more pleasant would be simpler ...
Yesterday I had a Kriek (Cherry beer) and a colleague had a Strawberry one. These are Belgium specialities. You won't get the in every pub ...
I guess both would work in wine as well.
Peppermint would work best in a herbal tea. You have options given to you. There is even an Apothecary in town ...
In regard to the town hall. Should the group gain Admired status in town, then some more doors will open. Unfortunately at that time you had just lost friendly status. So I had to chose - Andrea or Aldous.
The choice was dependant on the council man responsible for the town hall. Vashian does prefer Aldous. Aldous did a good job after the funeral to talk to him including a great diplomacy check at that time.
In regard to Councilman Gharen Muricar - well - as soon as he is in play the choice is obvious.
And yes - there is always the library of Prof. Lorrimar that is open to everyone. So definately do at least some check there tonight.
I try to ensure there is something to do for everyone. Some opportunities feed from actions you have done before. Some depend on background. Some on skills.
Some might just happen by walking around to the right place. It will never be fully fair - but I like to offer bits here and there also to the ones who had less opportunity.
There is even still a forgotten one left in the trunk which nobody seemed to want to touch yet.
And in the end there is luck. Aldous Diplomacy rolling so far seems always great. The other group despite a lot of bonuses didn't manage to get into the temple.
Thod
PS: Oh - and I didn't expect Aldous being the first to chat with the kids.
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Sheriff: "My lady, my lady - this is a crime scene here."
Lol.
Crime scene? What is this CSI? Just clean off the dang graffiti and move along! Geez! No need for special newsletters or anything.
Poof one washcloth, a bit of alcohol (either for the washer or as a stronger solvent), and a bit of elbow grease and the problem is solved!
::Painlord shakes fist at emo, dramatic Sheriff!::
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Not necessary. Next time I take a bigger animal with more blood. If you clean it up again I come back with an even bigger animal. Let's see how long it takes that I have to kill half of Ravengro to accomplish this ....
When was the last time players won an arms rave against the GM (evil smile).
Joking aside - trying to let it 'last' was more in regard to fluff. If some members of the group really feel so strongly to clean up - fine with me. It just came unexpected.
Galadan will go to the grave.
Galadan, I hope you're not really going to the grave! That can mean something completely different than intended!
As far as your optimization, I'd say 'no'. I mean, I think it's a fair build. You have a balanced array of scores across your abilities and it seems quite fine for our group. My 2 coppers.
I think the party dynamic is starting to work now.Although some people are about to find out that Andrea is incredibly bossy :)
I do believe that Kevin's drinking may go up a smooch after this game day. Bugs, undead and a grumpy old man......The local pup will be getting his business tonight that's for sure.
I have created a Google spreadsheet 'treasure tracker', so that we can keep track of all of the things that we find...
...the link is 'spoilered' on Aldous' page.
Forgot to add the light crossbow to my shopping list
35g Light crossbow (withdrwan from silk purse)
1g 10 bolts
(total of 100g so far taken)
Thod how would you prefer that I play Plume?
I'm not big into familiars and will tend to usually have Plume on my shoulder and used mostly for roleplay. As such, I won't be making perception checks with her...as a tradeoff, I would usually consider her to be an 'attended object', i.e. just part of Wren.
If I'm using her to scout or to fight (heaven forbid...unless we meet some tiny dire fruits, then the parrot is going to town), then I usually play like she's fair game.
If necessary, I can toss her in the backpack (much like where I assume Andrea's toad is...we haven't met yet) or leave her outside.
I'm open to however you usually do things, I just wanted to ask before we run into the first empowered fireball trap.
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I'm not big into familiars and will tend to usually have Plume on my shoulder and used mostly for roleplay. As such, I won't be making perception checks with her...as a tradeoff, I would usually consider her to be an 'attended object', i.e. just part of Wren.
That's perfectly fine with me. I just need to remember that Plume is around when I use the empowered fireball trap. How did you know this is waiting for the last member of the group and her familiar ...
Thod...things are a little less hectic, and our computer issues should be done and over. Would Nym be welcome back?