|
I ran this one a couple of weeks ago, some confusing things came up that I made a quick ruling on, and fun was had. There are still a few things I haven't figured out which I'm hoping to get clarified before I run it again this weekend, if you'd be so kind.
1) The frog's grabby tongue. What's the usual tactics with this? Grab & reel in for biting next round? Can he pull a goblin in the same round he grabs it? Does he have to drop the grapple before he can bite?
2) The two dogs are in the same area, but one's chained to the mast on the lower deck, oddly. I decided that both dogs would wait together for the goblins on the upper deck for there to be any sort of challenge, but this seems contrary to their nature.
3) One of the players on the lower deck wanted to lob up something (alchemist's fire, tanglefoot bag, can't remember) at one of the dogs near the edge of the upper deck (FYI: not in melee). I decided that the dog would have cover (-4 to attack) and total concealment (50% miss chance). I briefly considered giving another -4 to attack for a non-standard use of a thrown item, but decided not to.
4) There was fighting in the rigging, which was awesome. Normally to cross the rigging between masts is a DC 10 Climb check; auto succeed for anyone with spider climb. Does having a climb speed mean you can do things like charging or bull rushing while climbing? Or are your hands too busy with the climbing?
5) I forgot to have Vorka use her Desnan candle 1st round like she's supposed to (too excited by produce flame), so later I had her pull it out and get ready to use it from the rigging, and then she got hit by a bomb. I decided the firework was burning, she dropped it to summon instead, and it shot out in random directions for the next 4 rounds. That's more a fun story, but it brings me to my actual question:
5a) Vorka's tactics say she first lights the Desnan candle, which fires a weak attack every round for 4 rounds. That's a terrible use of 4 rounds. I know you're not supposed to adjust mechanics intentionally, but will it matter if I adjust her tactics and have her light the firework and throw it amid the party?
And here's couple fun things that came up as a hopefully fun thank-you for reading this far:
One player spider-climbed up the galley chimney (knew there was a dog inside by this time). He tried dropping fireworks down into the fire, but they were only paper candles and did squat. Then he dropped various liquids he was carrying down there, put out the fire, and climbed down and out of the stove. Ended up getting a nice flank on Cuddles
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
WBG Spoiler warning for this entire post.
1) The frog's grabby tongue. What's the usual tactics with this? Grab & reel in for biting next round? Can he pull a goblin in the same round he grabs it? Does he have to drop the grapple before he can bite?
Melee bite +5 (1d6+4) or tongue +5 touch (grab)
Tongue (Ex) Lord Longtung’s tongue is a primary attack with reach equal to three times his normal reach (15 feet). His tongue deals no damage on a hit, but can be used to grab. Lord Longtung does not gain the grappled condition while using his tongue in this manner.
Grab (Ex): If a creature with this special attack hits with the indicated attack (usually a claw or bite attack), it deals normal damage and attempts to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Unless otherwise noted, grab can only be used against targets of a size equal to or smaller than the creature with this ability. If the creature can use grab on creatures of other sizes, it is noted in the creature's Special Attacks line. The creature has the option to conduct the grapple normally, or simply use the part of its body it used in the grab to hold the opponent. If it chooses to do the latter, it takes a –20 penalty on its CMB check to make and maintain the grapple, but does not gain the grappled condition itself. A successful hold does not deal any extra damage unless the creature also has the constrict special attack. If the creature does not constrict, each successful grapple check it makes during successive rounds automatically deals the damage indicated for the attack that established the hold. Otherwise, it deals constriction damage as well (the amount is given in the creature's descriptive text). Creatures with the grab special attack receive a +4 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to start and maintain a grapple.
So he uses his tongue and makes a touch attack. If it hits, he makes a grapple check as a free action. If the combat maneuver succeeds, the target creature gains the grappled condition, and is pulled to an adjacent open space.
The next round the creature can try to break (or reverse) the grapple.
If they don't, then on LL's next turn he makes a grapple check as a standard action to maintain (with a +5 bonus). If he succeeds, he can move, damage, or pin the target. If he wants to damage, it would be a bite, dealing 1d6+4 damage.
2) The two dogs are in the same area, but one's chained to the mast on the lower deck, oddly. I decided that both dogs would wait together for the goblins on the upper deck for there to be any sort of challenge, but this seems contrary to their nature.
"The mangy hound is chained to the central mast on the upper deck, while the scruffy mongrel is chained to the aft mast below."
3) One of the players on the lower deck wanted to lob up something (alchemist's fire, tanglefoot bag, can't remember) at one of the dogs near the edge of the upper deck (FYI: not in melee). I decided that the dog would have cover (-4 to attack) and total concealment (50% miss chance). I briefly considered giving another -4 to attack for a non-standard use of a thrown item, but decided not to.
Cover is a bonus to AC, not a penalty to attack.
Is the -4 penalty for non-standard use for an improvised weapon? I'm not sure how throwing a splash weapon (or other thrown weapon) somewhat blindly make it improvised.
4) Does having a climb speed mean you can do things like charging or bull rushing while climbing? Or are your hands too busy with the climbing?
Spider Climb says you cannot use the run action while climbing, nothing about bull rush or charge. It sounds like a grey area, though.
she got hit by a bomb. I decided the firework was burning
Items Surviving after a Saving Throw: "Unless the descriptive text for the spell specifies otherwise, all items carried or worn by a creature are assumed to survive a magical attack. If a creature rolls a natural 1 on its saving throw against the effect, however, an exposed item is harmed (if the attack can harm objects)."
There's a table to roll to find out which items get damaged. Even if the firework (Item in hand) was chosen, it still gets a save.
All of that hinges on a natural 1 on the saving throw, and there's no saving throw for a direct hit with an alchemist bomb.
I know you're not supposed to adjust mechanics intentionally, but will it matter if I adjust her tactics and have her light the firework and throw it amid the party?
PFS Guide to Organized Play v4.1: "As a Pathfinder Society GM, you have the right and responsibility to make whatever calls you feel are necessary at your table to ensure that everyone has a fair and fun experience. This does not mean you can contradict rules or restrictions outlined in this document, a published Pathfinder Roleplaying Game source, errata document, or official FAQ on paizo.com, but only you can judge what is right at your table for cases not covered in these sources."