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Variel stayed on the Sanbalot for the time being until they reach port.
Yes Variel will show the cloak once he remembers it in the morning and will talk it over the following day when the two ships come together that night to celebrate the escape and give a reselling of the espionage mission with full details.
The name of the kitty is fine but think there might be some issue when Variel finds where it has taken residence. In the meantime enjoy the companion Rain.
Where we go after the port is heading back to the Rock to crack it with Dhaavan and his magically enhanced forked tongue.
Sorry for the short post will be back hopefully tomorrow when I can think straight.
@Var: The cat chose where to sleep (via Immortal). Please do not hold Rain accountable! ha! Get some rest.
Our golden cat:
So, loot wise, we just do loot the way we always do. If nobody wants an item it gets liquidated, but if someone has the wealth for it, then they can take it, and if they dont' we can discuss it if someone really wants an expensive item for some reason.
We'll see where we're at financially once we get to port, and at this point i can't craft anything new cause i got NO components, so i gotta stock up.
We wanted to et some loot and gear up. We've gotten some cool stuff, and plunder and i'll have resources to do more crafting.
Sorry folks, not trying to ignore you, but my posting has really fallen behind due to some whacky work hours and demands. I'm really not sure where best to interject Adular anyway
So, loot wise, we just do loot the way we always do. If nobody wants an item it gets liquidated, but if someone has the wealth for it, then they can take it, and if they dont' we can discuss it if someone really wants an expensive item for some reason.
We'll see where we're at financially once we get to port, and at this point i can't craft anything new cause i got NO components, so i gotta stock up.
We wanted to et some loot and gear up. We've gotten some cool stuff, and plunder and i'll have resources to do more crafting.
I want to do the loot split different, because you make a good point about not buying things.
But it also means that crafting is more important.
Speaking of which; if/when we level - Amen-set will be a third level caster. That means she can get a Feat to help crafting - if necessary.
I had considered either brew potion; scribe scroll or possibly craft wand or a second "Craft Wondrous Item" to aid you. I don't know what would work, though - if you could make a suggestion, that would be awesome.
I agree with you, though - having an item like the magical cloak would be an awesome asset for us. But personally, I would rather things be equally split.
Having one person in the party who rocks the world because of X item is awesome for that person. But if you aren't the guy who "rocks" that makes you a support character.
Everyone has to play support, from time to time, but being a permanent "support character" isn't really that fun. This is one of the reasons I've been pushing for more crafting in general, because I want to be able to have things that simply don't seem to be there.
If you have suggestions; let me know.
That said - Amen-set wrote you a response on the Social RP thread.
I don't know if her meaning game across well; my response tend to be pretty subtle, but if there is any ambiguity there, just let me know and I will clarify :)
Sorry folks, not trying to ignore you, but my posting has really fallen behind due to some whacky work hours and demands. I'm really not sure where best to interject Adular anyway
Right now we are on the way to Blood Cove.
It is a three day trip.
During that time the crew is split into two sides:
The Sanbalot -
Adular, Amen-set, Dhaavan, Horatio, Variel
The Lady -
Rain, Seijiro
- Currently Rain and Seijiro are RPing with each other.
- Currently Variel, Horatio and Dhaavan are RPing with each other
- Variel and Horatio have been RPing with each other
- Amen-set and Dhaavan have been RPing with each other
- You yourself took a moment to have some flirty fun with Sandara at one point a few days ago (though when/what day that happened was not specified in game)
- The GM has used Sandara/Fishguts (Sandara is made a nominal officer, but Fishguts is just the cook, I think, so it's a little confusing why he keeps saying things) - basically ask us what we are doing on our quest next
- The GM has used the golden cat (which was named "Neko") to RP with Rain and Variel
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Formally we are now in Blood Cove as soon as the GM allows it; but meanwhile we are just sailing there.
Between then and now we are basically deciding what we are doing, and (I think) RPing until the game moves forward. Theoretically we may have trouble/action between here and Blood Cove, but that's all up to the GM.
As far as I can tell we've already decided that we're just going to sell the ship and get some stuff at Blood Cove so it looks like any ideas/thoughts/RP you want to do between then and now are pretty much up to you.
HEY GM:
Is there any way we can incorporate the supplement "101 Skill Uses"?
I know its not Core - but it is a 24 page book that outlines clear and concise rules for alternative uses of skills; with set DC's.
It doesn't require new feats, new skills, new anything - it simply allows you different options with the skills for extra flexibility.
For example - a person can use Bluff to Feign Death, Diplomacy to create Informants; or Heal to Perform Autopsies; or Perception to Read Lips and so on.
Here is one example of the skill via Acrobatics.
Acrobatics -
Free Running: You move faster than normal, taking
advantage of the environment, such as scurrying down a
slope or making a short jump off a ledge, to increase the
distance you can move. Difficult terrain, such as heavy
undergrowth, broken ground, or steep stairs, which
normally hampers movement, does not hamper your
movement if you make a successful Acrobatics Check
(DC 25); failure results in you falling prone and ending
your turn halfway through your move. A successful use
of Free Running allows you to run or charge across
difficult terrain. GM’s can rule that it is impossible to
use Free Running if there is no terrain feature for you to
take advantage of (such as a flat open field of snow).
It's an easy download - and the skill uses really give a lot of neat options. Is it something you would consider?
Please look it over before you say either way - I urge everyone too, as well. It's just a neat book, and like I said - it's only 24 pages, so there's not much.
RE: FLynn's comments on the main board about loot.
- That's not how loot distribution works. when we find an item, we take the value and add that to the total, as with all the goods we sell.
To get the value of the plunder we have to sell it, cause of how highly variable plunder is and its uses outside of raw gp value.
we sell the plunder for 1500gp, 500gp, and 1000gp for the sword cause we can't make it. That's 3000gp total. Divide that by 8, and get 375/person and 750 to the ship.
Whoever wants the sword takes 1000gp out of their total cut of the loot. Having found magic items doesn't come out of the party loot at all. it goes to determine the vlaue we all get. THat's why we have shares of loot we are able to claim on the spread sheet.
If our share is 1000 gp each total, one person can get a 1000 gp item. if we sell the item, then they have 1000 gp in gold they can spend on anything.
tldr:
we take the value of all the items and cash we have and divide that into out cuts. then we can allocate our cut of loot to claiming gear that we have, buying stuff, and crafting it. SO it doesn't matter if we keep or sell an item. It's hypothetical value is added to the total value we have and the cost comes out of the cut of the individual that takes it.
RE: Feats
you can't "help" without the Cooperative Crafting feat which adds a +2 and speeds up crafting time. Not worth it to me, cause you could just take a different crafting feat.
Caster Level: She's level 3, yes, but she's only got CL3 if she's a single class caster with all her levels in the one casting class. (or a PrC that increases caster level as well)
Crafting Request:
I can't make your items till we get to port and buy crafting supplies, since people only bought what they planned on me making, and no extra. Plus i'm working on my circlet to give a +3 to infamy and plunder checks. =]
RE: Feats
you can't "help" without the Cooperative Crafting feat which adds a +2 and speeds up crafting time. Not worth it to me, cause you could just take a different crafting feat.
Regarding "Cooperative-Crafting; via the GM's house rules on crafting you don't need the feat and you can have multiple partners, provided they each have the correct Crafting Skill.
The example for this is as follows:
Let's say we hire a "Master Shipbuilder" - if commissioned to build a ship - if we hired 60 shipbuilders and the master Shipbuilder managed to roll a total of 30 for building a ship on his own; the rest of the shipbuilders could maybe toss in an extra +100 for a net of 130.
The current rule is DC x Check x .5 gold = 1 week of work.
If we assume the DC to craft a ship is 20 (I.E. "Complex or Superior Item") it is clear that our crew has succeeded at their check.
In this case their total is 1,300 gold pieces for one week of work.
That would mean we would need to take 2 months from the day we lay keel to build our own ship from scratch.
We could have made it a bit easier by adding "Accelerated Crafting" to make the DC 30. If we multiply our possible roll of 130 by 30 than divide it by half and multiply that in cost of gold we can get a little over 2,000 gold pieces done a week; so it means it will take us about five weeks (depending on how everyone rolled) from the day we lay keel; and that's best case scenario with quite a few men.
Once it is done, the ship will have no weapons or anything special; just a ship to sail. But we will have a ship.
Before we get all excited about the idea, please remember what the GM has stated about such plans:
As per the standard rules for crafting - we would need the parts - in this case; we'd need to have roughly 3,333 gold pieces (1/3 for "Materials" if we were making a standard "Sailing Ship").
Also - much like crafting weapons and armor - we would not only need a forge; but we would need a "dry dock".
Finally - we would have to pay the shipbuilders. A standard laborer costs about 3 silver a day; roughly 9 gold pieces a month. An expert like our Master Shipbuilder would probably need more; if he was built like Piper. Probably at least 50 to a hundred a month.
With a total of 600 gold pieces alone for the cost of our "shipbuilders" per month; and 3,333 for the parts; and a dry dock we're up to 4,000 GP out of pocket alone. Also, we have to have the drydock and we have to have folk to guard the drydock and protect it while the ship is building. They will need payment, too.
And again - best case scenario - it will take us a little more than a month.
Could we hire more men for a faster job? Possibly - but again; they need money and a place to live and a place to work. And if we had our own dry dock pumping out ships, with lots of workers to build them - that will probably attract attention from enemies who want easy pickings.
Of course, that kind of micromanaging is more suited for a Kingmaker Game (at least, if I was running it ;) but it's probably a lot simpler to just go out and pirate a ship or two; which we can do - and resell the ships (with the plunder we take) - with luck; maybe 2 a month.
If we kept one ship and sold the other; and each ship had weapons, some crew and at least two points of plunder each (not counting random goodies) - we'd have more money, more crew and more ships in a month, even if we tried to build them, and had the ability to build them.
Regarding Magic Item Feat: I wasn't planning on having Amen-set assist you in crafting a specific item; instead - I was planning on possibly having her build a second item while we sail. So - in short - she could be crafting magic boots and you could be crafting a magic headband.
But - if that is no good - what type of crafting feats would you recommend instead?
Finally: What was your opinion of the 101 uses for Skills? I'm hoping we can use it, but I'm hoping to create a "buzz". I've always been a "skill monkey" so I think they're pretty cool, but I know it's up to the GM; I'm just hoping he's cool with the idea.
Not that I'm included in this discussion, but I'm fine with leaving skills the way they are... I don't have time or inclination to read another rulebook, short though it might be, which would leave me way behind the curve with the rest of you since I wouldn't be able to use any of those new abilities. Just my 2 cents.
Well, if it matters, Sejiro - you were never excluded from any of the discussions as far as I know.
Also, the "rule book" is less than 24 pages (and there are pictures). I would think that there is a lot less reading in that book than other books; but I understand your concerns.
If you had looked at the book, or the reviews, you may have noticed that it doesn't give you new "abilities" it just allows pre-existing skills that we already are using to have more flexibility. For example, using Diplomacy to Gather Information was not how Diplomacy was built originally - but now we can do it with that skill. This book has a few other modest abilities in there; except that they are codified with set DC's that have been play-tested.
Of course you would be able to use every one of those abilities, since you already have the skills.
If you elect not to those abilities it would be no different than saying (for example) "I will not be using "Diplomacy" to "Gather Information" - I will only use it to be "diplomatic".
But, if you're not interested in using it at all, that's totally cool. Like I said, I was asking the GM if he would allow it because it looks pretty helpful.
Skills are pretty important in the game and considering the issues we have already have had with how useful/useless some skills have been in the past - such as Intimidate - I thought it would be fun and useful.
Agree with Dhaavan about how he explained the loot distribution. Also Variel isn't too concerned with why the Chadian ship is here. They dealt with it and it is behind them. That is enough for Variel.
Horatio knows about Cheliax from his homeland; and he does not trust its presence here, nor does he want it here. He would be very suspicious of it in general and do whatever he can to investigate it. But right now I am operating under the assumption that if my character sees something in the game, he will react to it based on the knowledge he has.
But I think how I may act in game may be a problem.
If Horatio does everything he can to investigate it - that could take several days in real life to get answers to the questions and waste a lot of time, especially if it turns out that the ship is just a standard nautical "Wandering Monster", as it were.
But I don't know if it is part of the game's "plot" or just a random encounter.
At this point I personally have made a lot of dumb assumptions in the game; most of those assumptions came from what I know, or think I know, about the potential circumstances.
At the same time, there is a lot of eagerness to go this Rock place. I am assuming the "rock" is part of the game's plot, and that is why we have to go there. So, as it is part of the plot, I'm down with going there.
As for the ship, I have no idea if it is a plot point, or a random encounter. I just assumed it was worth investigating based on the circumstances I mentioned above, but I don't know.
I don't want to slow things down by pursuing stuff that is a waste of time, but I honestly don't know if it is worth it.
If we are supposed to just go to the Rock, than let's go do that. I just don't want the game to lag because of unneeded investigation.
If the ship isn't meant to be a formal part of the plot, if you could please let me know so I don't bog things down with a lot of useless questions I would really appreciate it :)
As for the skill book, I wouldn't worry about it.
I have a hunch it won't be used, but I thought it was neat.
my issue with 101 skill uses is that it's not a free download. but we'll see what happens with the Knowledge checks. after than, i'm down to head to Bloodcove and gather for discussion of the exact plan.
Flynn if you want to investigate go ahead. It will take three days in port for Dhaavan to sell plunder and the ship anyways.
Well that's the thing.
It will take Dhaavan 3 days "in game" to do that.
The GM can do it two ways (as I see it) - the first is say "Do you guys do anything in town?" and we say "We sell the stuff and buy X; and maybe try to haggle for some good deals". He says "Okay, roll to haggle" then he gives us our results and we move on.
That takes us maybe one day in real life to write out and we're back to doing stuff.
The other options is the GM asks us what we want to do and then has to spend several days in a back and forth series of posting while everyone sits around waiting for answers - discussion on the answers - more questions for follow-up and so on.
That could take a week, maybe more, just to get out of town in real life.
I don't want to waste everyone's time with that social RP if it isn't meant to be part of the plot. If it is part of the plot, I'll happily RP it out; but it just seems kind of a waste of time for everyone. But I don't know.
The last encounter I was sincere about my suggestion about trying to use the Rahadoum ship as a "fire ship" (I've read about those) but I didn't know about the plot to cut the rope on the Cheliax ship, if I had, I wouldn't have wasted time writing out about 3 pages of text to post out the stupid idea about the fire ship, you know?
So if this is a plot issue to examine, I'll do it; I'll happily write the multiple pages of posting and try to go back and forth with social RP with the GM; but I don't want to waste everyone's time if it was just a random encounter. But I don't know, hence my conundrum.
Given the lack of interest in a massive warship so far south, I'm pretty much guessing at this point it's just a random encounter, though my character would be pretty suspicious of the whole thing. But I don't know for sure.
The thing is, I don't want to waste time writing and I don't want to bog down the game with ideas or suggestions that won't work and have no chance of working just because it is what my character would do.
That's not fair for you guys, and that's why I asked. I want to have a good time, but I don't want to bog the game down for you guys, that's all.
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The thing is Flynn, I don't know if it is a plot thing or not. I am just telling you what Variel thinks on the matter. You will have to decide for yourself if it is a plot thing. I know the Rock is based on the number of references thus far and Ambrose asking about our plans. Beyond that is anyone's guess.
The thing is Flynn, I don't know if it is a plot thing or not. I am just telling you what Variel thinks on the matter. You will have to decide for yourself if it is a plot thing. I know the Rock is based on the number of references thus far and Ambrose asking about our plans. Beyond that is anyone's guess.
Well, I am very surprised that you aren't concerned that a fully armed and armored warship is at least five or six months out of Cheliax; filled with multiple black powder weapons (very expensive weapons); less than three days from Blood Cove - it's purpose is for hunting pirates, but the pirates that harass Cheliax are hundreds of miles away, but it is here, armed to the gills and with no escort (like, I could see it as an escort for a merchant fleet; but alone?).
In-game I would have assumed that this ship is either ferrying something or someone really important (maybe a diplomat, an ambassador; selling weapons; setting up a arrangement with the nationals of Blood Cove; trying to hire out mercenary pirates as "privateers" for Cheliax; stuff like that) - but whatever that is - it can't be good for the people of The Shakcles; that is - us.
I would do everything I can to figure out what this ship is all about and what it is up to, because it seems damn suspicious that such a powerful ship is so far south with no apparent reason that we can figure out.
But that's the problem.
That's what Horatio would do "in real life" - based on his character.
But this is the same guy who also thought "Squibbing" was unnecessary - because unless Harrigan happened to see our ship and have it memorized, why bother squibbing it? And also - why did we squib "The Lady" but no other ships we pirate? Shouldn't we have to squib all of them if we want to keep them?
But I was completely and utterly wrong, and wasted everyone's time (and my own; I write long posts) by me arguing the point. Bottom line; it had to be done, so we had to do it.
I also suggested/argued about all the great things we could do with our own ship - help rebels from the Chelaxian empire; or smuggle goods out of Osirioni tombs; or travel to the nation of Andoran - because I thought that would be cool and fun.
But I was completely wrong on that, because that was not part of the plot.
I also suggested we use a fire ship to stop the Chelaxian warship; or jury-rigging a bomb to blow a hole in the ship - but that was not good either because we had to cut the cord to the rudder.
I also suggested we try keeping some of the plague elements alive in the Handy Haversack so that we could dump it on this Rock Island and attempt to wipe out the guards. But that was not the way it works, so that was a bad suggestion on my part, too.
It was bad because it wasted people's time and that wasn't cool of me to do.
In the end there are specific quests we have to do.
I don't mind that; that's the nature of Boxed Sets, I guess. My only concern was that I just don't want the game to go slow on my account.
Since you weren't interested in the ship, I kind of assumed that there was nothing going on, it was a "wandering monster" and decided to let it go. But that is me meta-gaming. I don't want to, but I don't want to be the slowing the game down because of wild goose chases when I get hunches or crazy ideas. That's not fair to you guys.
At this point, I just want to get to Blood Cove, sell this stuff and get out of there as soon as we can and back to moving forward.
Hope you all have a pleasant and thoughtful Memorial Day.
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Flynn in response to your gameplay post I brought the conversation here...
I thought we were still heading to the Rock last time but decided that if we ran across a merchant ship to attack that on the way. This is what happened and thus the reason we are heading back to port to sell the ship. We are again heading to the Rock but who is to say that we won't run across another ship to pirate along the way.
As for the experience, I was thinking more along the lines for the crew's experience to get situated with each other and learn how to act together rather than a metagame aspect of us leveling up. I could be wrong on this part but that is how I saw it.
The shield cloak sounds cool - but I can't afford it right now.
I'm just waiting to get back to Blood Cove and sell the stuff so we can move on.
En route to Blood Cove, if the GM gives me any extra details about the Cheliax ship via the Knowledge checks; I'll act on it.
If I don't get any supplemental knowledge, I'll just take my cut when we get into the town.
Other than that, I want to sell the stuff and get going and then move from there.
Immortal, are you around? Haven't heard from you and not sure how far ahead in social rp I/we should go in case you have something in store for us...
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In town actions that need to be done...
Sell the ship. Base price is 10000 so sell for 5000. I will do to free up Dhaavan for plunder if that is ok with everyone.)
Sell 2 plunder...will take Dhaavan 2 days to complete if he is only one
Acquire more crew
Improve reputation/infamy score
Purchase catapult and armor for siege weapons? (Flynn perhaps)
Purchase Corvus or 2? (Flynn perhaps as well at same time)
Rain Jiro, Adular what would you like to do?
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If plunder sold for 1000 each that makes 9750 for income this trip. Round to 9600 quickly gies everyone 1800gp and the ship 3600gp with 150 left over for the ship.
This is of course temporary as we don't know how Dhaavan will do but it is a starting point for everyone to make their purchases.
Seijiro needs to buy more crafting supplies for Dhaavan for an item he wanted, but to be honest, I don't recall how much more he needed to get. Dhaavan, maybe you can remind me?
Seijiro would like a little time to prowl the taverns, maybe pick up a few new tunes or something - but has no specific agenda. He's available to stand watches while in port as well, of course.
Rain has no specific agenda in Bloodcove either. She will aid Dhaavan in recruiting new folk, if he wants any help.
Perhaps even talk to sailors in the taverns and ask them if they ever attempted the Rock and learn what went wrong for them. Could aid us in gaining an advantage.
Adular might visit his folks, but that can happen 'off panel' unless our DM has a plan. He also plans on taking Sandara dancing and drinking and.. well anything else, but that too can occur off panel
It's Saturday in Oz. It's my son's birthday today and he has two parties (in and out of town) this weekend, so my posting will be sporadic at best.
Enjoy your weekend, folks! :)
It's Saturday in Oz. It's my son's birthday today and he has two parties (in and out of town) this weekend, so my posting will be sporadic at best.
Enjoy your weekend, folks! :)
Tell him I said Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Flynn, I will! :)
Thanks, Variel. :)
happy b-day to the kiddo! how old is he?
Thanks, Dhaavan. :) He turned 16 -- and just got his learner-driver license. Ha!
Anyone know what's going on with the GM?
@Variel: I know and thanks. My son and I share a similar stubborn gene. ;)
@Flynn: I read on Immortal's wife's Facebook that her family were coming up to visit them. Perhaps he is tied up with family commitments this weekend.
@Flynn: I read on Immortal's wife's Facebook that her family were coming up to visit them. Perhaps he is tied up with family commitments this weekend.
Ah! Thank you for letting me know.
He may also be pretty stressed because his third baby is almost born, and probably pretty busy, too. He may even need a few days off (or even a week or two) just to demprommess or just relax or get away from this game for a while, or any other number of things, but at this point I don't know, and was a little worried about him.
Anyway, if you hear anything else, please let me know.
Thanks, Rain, and enjoy your weekend.
First one done and dusted -- was great. Party #2 on today - to Paintball we go. ;)
First one done and dusted -- was great. Party #2 on today - to Paintball we go. ;)
Your son and his mates doing Paintball I can believe - but are you doing paintball, too?
If so - you need to put up a pic!
But if you do go out there, just remember - drop bears are crafty; and I hear they are very good at paintball... ;)
Ah, nope! I'm just driving and supervising twelve 16 and 17 year olds and on cake and food/drink duty. :)
OMG Imm... what a lot to have going on at once. Hope all goes smoothly on the baby front from here on... Take care of you and yours... we will be here when real life gives you time for gaming, but of course real life has to come first. Be well... :)
thanks for the replies Imm, lot of work there. WIll post tomorrow. tonight Dhaavan's going to bed.
** spoiler omitted **
also, perhaps bringing the discussion about the posting style to the discussion board?
I'm not going to continue that convo as it's already done. Apologies that it annoyed you so much, Dhaavan.
Only annoying in that it seems it still hasn't sunk in that all that's required is the NAME and nothing else.... sigh