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The biggest flaw in the map was no bathrooms. Which made it very awkward when the party fighter tried bluffing a need to use the toilet. He ended up 'going' in the broom closet.
Pathfinders are superheroes. Superheroes don't need to poop. When they eat, it gets converted to healing.
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It's interesting that this is the first Silver Crusade mission I've seen that actually violates any paladin code (Lasair will cast bless on you if you know which one!). I highly doubt I'll have a paladin of that particular deity at my table when I run this (or even a paladin at all), but I've thought of some creative solutions around it myself, so hopefully any such player would.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Silver Crusade Mission:
This also led to her, in squeeky gnome voice, "I think the Paracountess is cheating on Grandmaster Torch..."
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** spoiler omitted **
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Yeah, you don't see enough Shelyn worshipers. I keep thinking a cleric of Shelyn would be cool. I've never seen one, and she gets some good domains, plus a reach weapon as her favored weapon, which is great for a melee cleric. [/offtopic]
If I ever find my way to your lands, so far afield from the Eternal Rose's message, I shall endeavor to spread her teachings to your people.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Yeah, you don't see enough Shelyn worshipers. I keep thinking a cleric of Shelyn would be cool. I've never seen one, and she gets some good domains, plus a reach weapon as her favored weapon, which is great for a melee cleric. [/offtopic]
An Inquisitor of Shelyn is on my 'to do' list.
Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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Yeah, you don't see enough Shelyn worshipers. I keep thinking a cleric of Shelyn would be cool. I've never seen one, and she gets some good domains, plus a reach weapon as her favored weapon, which is great for a melee cleric. [/offtopic]
Off-topic: I have a Taldan half-orc (he describes himself as half-human) cleric of Shelyn who wears a top hat and monocle and who has taken ranks in Profession (Art Critic). Those who wrong him should best watch their back, lest they get a bad review in The Opparan.
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Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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That's awesome - I do hope he talks something like this.Yeah, you don't see enough Shelyn worshipers. I keep thinking a cleric of Shelyn would be cool. I've never seen one, and she gets some good domains, plus a reach weapon as her favored weapon, which is great for a melee cleric. [/offtopic]Off-topic: I have a Taldan half-orc (he describes himself as half-human) cleric of Shelyn who wears a top hat and monocle and who has taken ranks in Profession (Art Critic). Those who wrong him should best watch their back, lest they get a bad review in The Opparan.
Somewhat similar!
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so, interesting event here. Immediately upon getting in the embassy and into the waiting room, the party starts to move out. They get out into the short servants hall and are observing the servants move. I state that the person observing the servants sees a pattern in their movement, but that it will take time to figure it out. They decide to wait and see if they can figure it out, and I advance the timer 2 minutes.
One of the players takes me aside and states he thinks that is excessive, that he doesn't see any way the party can actually accomplish this mission if I am going to rule that it takes that long to do certain actions, and that, if I would allow it, he would like to step out of the game, as he saw it doomed to failure.
And this is right out of the waiting room.
I told him it is a very strict time schedule, and the scenario specifies how long certain actions are going to take. Said I would prefer if he stuck around, but that he is free to go if he likes. Also asked him not to talk about the scenario.
Question is, do I just let him go and pretend he wasn't even in the scenario, or do I fill out his Chronicle Sheet, give him no XP, no cash and no PP?
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Fill out the chronicle for what he has earned so far. (i.e. nothing)
Pretty sure Mike wants to discourage people from starting a scenario then abandoning it, as they could come back later with a better prepared character for what little they saw.
This.
Sir Hacks-a-lot, the int 8 half orc barbarian, is going to struggle with the infiltration part. As will Sir Blasts-a-lot, the crossblooded Sorcerer specializing in blasting spells. A kind GM might allow both to buy potions of glibness and various items before the mission (I wouldn't, based on how I read the scenario's timing).
If Sir Hacks-a-lot's player can back out, and show up to another game with Sir Speaks-a-lot, half-elf bard extrodinare, then he's taking advantage of the player knowlege that Sir Blasts-a-lot's player doesn't have. (assuming both players have equal access to the summary blurb.)
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As will Sir Blasts-a-lot, the crossblooded Sorcerer specializing in blasting spells. A kind GM might allow both to buy potions of glibness and various items before the mission (I wouldn't, based on how I read the scenario's timing).
Hey now! I'm a blasting sorcerer, and I had a +15 to diplomacy at this level range! Such stereotyping, really...
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I'm in agreement.
Plus it is highly bad form for a player to step out of the game like that just because they don't like that it might fail.
Yes, I've seen a lot of failure on this scenario. But I've also seen good success. Roughly 2/3rd failure rate at Con of the North. But that means we also had 1/3rd success rate.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I'm in agreement.
Plus it is highly bad form for a player to step out of the game like that just because they don't like that it might fail.
Yes, I've seen a lot of failure on this scenario. But I've also seen good success. Roughly 2/3rd failure rate at Con of the North. But that means we also had 1/3rd success rate.
OT, maybe I'm a bit of a Masochist, but I like rising to the challenge. Part of playing hte JOAT characters I love is that I can see where I fit in best.
Cyphermage Dilema spoilers
Did it suck? Yes, but I remember it.
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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A kind GM might allow both to buy potions of glibness and various items before the mission (I wouldn't, based on how I read the scenario's timing).I think that's being overly harsh. Some unspecified number of hours elapse between the mission briefing and the start of the scenario proper:
“Pathfinders,” Valsin boomed but hours earlier in the briefing chamber . . .
That could give the characters time to do at least a little shopping.
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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I'm in agreement.
Plus it is highly bad form for a player to step out of the game like that just because they don't like that it might fail.
It might be beneficial to that player, but the other people at the table are often the ones who end up paying the price. By the time the first die roll hits the table it's far too late to pull out. The sign-up sheet, complete with character assignments, is supposed to be filled out before the first word of the box text is read to the players. Once that is done those characters are going to get reported as having played the scenario.
In theory, all players should arrive at the table early enough for any discussions about which character to play (and at which sub-tier) to take place before the scenario begins. In practice, of course, this doesn't always happen. Players can turn up late for many reasons. If the new arrival turns up after the mission briefing has started I might consider allowing somebody to revisit their choice.
I have to admit that I'm of two minds about the whole "toss a randomly selected group of pathfinders we found in the cafeteria into the deep end" process. Sometimes you end up without a critical role being filled. But it's hard to think of a way to reduce that risk without increasing the risk of ending up with a table full of rogues (or whatever class best fits that limited extra information).
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A kind GM might allow both to buy potions of glibness and various items before the mission (I wouldn't, based on how I read the scenario's timing).I think that's being overly harsh. Some unspecified number of hours elapse between the mission briefing and the start of the scenario proper:“Pathfinders,” Valsin boomed but hours earlier in the briefing chamber . . .That could give the characters time to do at least a little shopping.
Yup. Also potions of glibness are illegal due to it being a personal spell. Even innocence can't be a potion.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I did say "as I read it." :P
Fortunately it wasn't as issue. If I run it again, I'll remember it though. IT would be funny with that kind of player though.
"I don't want to play it." *walks off*
"Ok, well I'll note him for no XP/GP. You now have your impossible mission remaining pathfinders. Do you wish to stop at Barney's gadget shop or Rollin's disguise store before you start? The Paracountess will self destruct in 5 hours."
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Oh, I laugh because in part, I normally do allow for 'charging up'. If the scenario says they're on the way for X days to the point, I make sure to offer them a chance to 'charge' spell storing items, pre-cast goodberry and does other type of things. If I read the scenario gives them 'time to shop' I'll encourage it.
I'd have felt guilty if I'd had a TPK, and the last words of the last PC were "If only I'd been able to buy X..."
Amusing aside, when I have low level PCs fighting dire rats, usually the last rat talks as he dies and says "I.. just... wanted... to be... a... CHEF!" *thud*
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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I played this one at Con of the North this past weekend, and man did I ever botch it.
We were doing great up until we were shown to the waiting room, at which point began a great lesson on the vital importance of metagaming. :/
You see, everyone knows out-of-character that you should never split the party. But I was the only PC at the table who could activate the two scrolls of disguise self, although the table's ninja had a hat of disguise. The whole mission was supposed to be secret. So what do we do?
The metagamey thing to do would be to keep the party together, and have an armed-to-the-teeth Pathfinder squad "sneaking" through a ritzy gala, and assuming that the scenario author would provide mechanics for that to somehow work.
The in-character thing to do is have the two people who can magically look identical to a ranking staff member and a halfling servant scout the place out first, then come back and form an efficient and effective plan of action.
We did the latter, as it frankly made the most sense and seemed, in-character, to have the highest chance of success. Upon reaching the important rooms, I sent the ninja back to fetch the others while I searched. Not wanting any untimely interruptions, I locked the doors so I would have some warning first and could use the other disguise scroll if necessary.
Unfortunately, that meant that when I accidentally triggered an encounter with a pair of devils, I was alone and the GM had to decide how to deal with a scenario that says it takes 5 minutes to cross a room, when we're in combat rounds.
The party was caught trying to pick the lock to get to me, and they were all ejected from the premises. I was later discovered in the secret room, stable at -3 HP, lying in a puddle of my own blood.
After a slot's worth of playing, we had passed probably less than 15 minutes of the game's timer, and we all got 1XP, 0gp, and 0PP (except for two people who completed their faction mission early on; they got 1PP).
Awkward.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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Upon reaching the important rooms, I sent the ninja back to fetch the others while I searched. Not wanting any untimely interruptions, I locked the doors so I would have some warning first and could use the other disguise scroll if necessary.
What he failed to mention is that he kept the key to the room and locked it inside with him, despite my ninja specifically telling him to give it to me so I could get back in with the rest of the group. I'm never letting him live that down :-|
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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I'd have felt guilty if I'd had a TPK, and the last words of the last PC were "If only I'd been able to buy X..."
Well, I was on the flip side of that just this last weekend.
We were playing a low-tier adventure, and ran into a challenge that nobody in the party was really able to handle. Fortunately I was being extra paranoid (I was running my hard-to-replace Kitsune Trickster), and had loaded up with a variety of optional odds-and-ends, including something that let us deal with the problem.
This is an incorporeal creature, which is a problem for the martial types. At tier 1-2, nobody has the money to buy a magical weapon. We were light on arcane casters, too (and this was not the first encounter of the day, so the wizard was down to one remaining magic missile).
Luckily, I had purchased six flasks of Holy Water, and our GM kindly allowed me to target the ceiling above the shadow to break the flask and douse it with holy water.
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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JohnF: Read the write up on the items in question that you thought to bring. There are specific rules for exactly the situation you encountered.
O.K. Mechanically I don't believe it made a difference - I was in a position to be able to move to an appropriate spot, and AFAIK I was already being asked to make the relevant attack roll.
Basically, though, the underlying point still holds: the difference between a TPK and living to fight another day can often hinge on buying the right supplies, especially at low levels.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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** spoiler omitted **
Edit. And Talyn is becoming Batman with his alchemical items, half charged wands, and other tools.
Everyone laughed that I spent 2 PP on a wand of snapdragon fireworks at low level. Right up until we hit our first swarm...
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This.Sir Hacks-a-lot, the int 8 half orc barbarian, is going to struggle with the infiltration part. As will Sir Blasts-a-lot, the crossblooded Sorcerer specializing in blasting spells. A kind GM might allow both to buy potions of glibness and various items before the mission (I wouldn't, based on how I read the scenario's timing).
If Sir Hacks-a-lot's player can back out, and show up to another game with Sir Speaks-a-lot, half-elf bard extrodinare, then he's taking advantage of the player knowlege that Sir Blasts-a-lot's player doesn't have. (assuming both players have equal access to the summary blurb.)
This is my thought as well. The thing is, I mentioned when we gathered in the room, that it was a role-playing heavy scenario with an in game time limit. Then once he found out what exactly it entailed, be bolted.
So, since he didn't stick around to get the chronicle sheet. I shoudl report it though that he did play the scenario and didn't get XP/PP.
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In that case yes, empty chronicle. There was no mature reasoning behind that decision.
Of course it's not that black and white. If the player would have to leave on some urgent matter (someone has been in an accident, call from the hospital etc) one wouldn't hand an empty chronicle even if the player had heard the briefing.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16
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Like many others, I played the background music for Mission: Impossible for this one when I gave the mission briefing. I also opened the briefing with "Good afternoon. Your mission, should you decide to accept it..." and concluding with "As always, should you or any of your force be caught or killed, the Decemvirate will disavow any knowledge of your actions."
During the scenario, I frequently paused to check the elapsed time so that the players would be aware of the need for haste. In the end, they just about ran out of time and rushed to the ambassador, pretending that they had grown impatient and had been wandering through the party in search of him. (An inspired roleplaying performance and good Bluff role made the plan work...)
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It seems more like the guys is saying, "well, obviously I am not going to enjoy this scenario based on even just the first part. I don't want to sit on the sidelines for the next 5 or 6 hours and be misarable. I also don't want to be the guy that ruins other people's fun, so I'm just going to bow out".
If that is more the case, I think it's a pretty jerk move to include him in the reporting, especially as it seems he tried to go about this in the most respectful and least disruptive way he could. He applied the same logic as buying th right equipment to excusing himself from a game he felt was not for him, and was probably right. In retrospect, the best thing would probaby have been to let him play a more suitable NPC instead, but that wouldn't help if it was the scenario's playstyle he was having an issue with (rather than his character's ability to actually play it and him enjoy) or an issue with the premise of the scenario itself (wait, why am I trying to help/save her again?).
If he is included (probably did not take part in 3 encounters, or even 1), wouldn't he still recieve XP and GP if the others do finish the mission, (he didn't die)? Also, wouldn't he recieve credit for a Faction Mission if someone else did accomplish that Faction Mission, (assuming it wasn't one that specified each individual needed to do it)?
I could be reading into this things that wre not there, though.