Gencon: Bonekeep 3

[andreww]

So, in a little over a week several hundred of us will be descending into the madness that is Bonekeep level 3. I thought it might be useful to have a thread to detail what preparations you will be making for this lunatic expedition. To help with that I set out some questions below, drawn from Painlords Guide to PFS

It might also help to match some wayward souls into likely in tier groups and help to alleviate the stresses and strains on those undertaking mustering.

So, with that, I present my doomed entrant.

Casomir Gallonica, Oracle of the Dark Lord Asmodeus, Signifier of the Order of the Gate, Master of every outré and niche field of human and inhuman knowledge

What do you bring to the party?
Casomir is a level 9 dual cursed Lore Oracle. He specialises in condition removal and direct battlefield control. He favours a mix of evocation and enchantment magic and is known to blind or stun his enemies as well as setting enemies at each others throats.

No question of Lore is beyond his understanding, provided he has a moment or two to consider the problem and his words are like honey to a swarm of bees.

How have you prepared for the hell of Bonekeep?
A number of consumables have been purchased in preparation for the expedition. His Handy Haversack bulges with every kind of mundane gear one might ever need. He has also obtained a large number of scrolls to deal with more unusual issues. He would be willing to contribute to a group heroes' feast and life bubble before venturing within.

How might you handle swarms?
As a blackened oracle he possesses the ability to unleash fiery death via burning hands or flaming sphere. He also has a number of area effect clerical spells including burst of radiance, sound burst and holy smite.

How do you work at range and can you fly?
As a full caster oracle he has no issues with range. While he generally doesn't fly he has recently obtained a scroll of air walk if needed and has an old potion of fly sitting in his pack. Burst of radiance is in any event a long range spell.

How do you deal with darkness?
As a half elf he possesses low light vision and has both the light cantrip and the daylight spell. He wears a heightened continual flame badge as well.

How do you contribute to group healing?
While he possesses cure spells he generally finds they are not a good choice in combat given their limited HP return. He carries his trusty wand of cure light wounds and is capable of removing most conditions. He laughs at charms, compulsions, fear, sickened, nauseated, poisoned, paralysed, blinded, ability damage, energy damage, invisibility, disease, grapple or cursed.

What knowledge skills do you bring?
Casomir is trained in every knowledge skill and, with a few moments of thought, he can answer any question in any field with a minimum knowledge result of 34. He is sketchier on monster ID but undead and outsiders are generally known to him.

What is your scroll library like?
Extensive. He has spent significant amounts of gold and prestige on acquiring scrolls. Death Ward, Air Walk, Freedom of Movement, various protection from alignment spells amongst many others. Paragon Surge will also allow him to access one or two spells emergency if required.

Can you operate underwater?
Casomir cannot swim, he mostly sinks to the bottom and fumes. As such he has invested in potions of touch of the sea and air bubble.

What can you do when it all goes to hell and you need to flee?
The previously mentioned air walk scroll may be employed or his potion of fly. He also has a scroll of dimension door for emergencies although the UMD check is a bit of a crap shoot.

How effectively can you sneak?
Not very, a dex of 7 will do that for you. Does a potion of invisibility count?

How do you deal with being grappled?
Generally badly. Grappled is awful for casters. He can employ freedom of movement or a potion of gaseous form. He can help others with liberating command.

How are your defences?
His AC is OK for this level at 25 and he can take it to 28 with shield of faith. His saves are strong sitting at 12/19/12 and he is virtually immune to charms and compulsions with a will save of +23 against them.

How do you deal with outsiders, oozes, constructs?
Outsiders generally are not an issue. Most of his spells work on them dealing untyped damage. He has spell penetration to help out against SR. Elementals are generally fine although earth elementals can be annoying due to their tremor sense making blindness less than useful. Oozes are similarly affected by most of his evocations. Constructs force him largely into buffer mode as there are next to no SR: No cleric spells except for summons which he generally avoids due to the casting time.

So, that is my offering. Who are you bringing?

[Doctor Castor]

Well, I could introduce you to this really well balanced group!

Or I could invite you to my group instead...

I'll have to check with my subjects!

[David Gloss]

I would like to join a group too. I have a paladin/gunslinger gish that dishes out oodles of damage, and is very survivable. I can generally take out one enemy a turn, pretty much anything. Since I can take out pretty much anything, the rest of the list of what I might be able to do, doesn't really matter. I have both *redacted* from previous successful Bonekeep expeditions, and have 0 for both the *redacted* conditions.

For what it is worth, I am pretty sure I played at the table that finished Bonekeep 2 first at Gencon last year (not officially, but we looked all over the hall and didn't see any other tables finished when we got done).

[Belafon]

David Gloss wrote:

For what it is worth, I am pretty sure I played at the table that finished Bonekeep 2 first at Gencon last year (not officially, but we looked all over the hall and didn't see any other tables finished when we got done).

No, pretty sure I GMed the table that finished first last year.

Spoiler:

Where "finished" means half the party dead and the other half running back to Absalom.

[andreww]

David Gloss wrote:

I would like to join a group too. I have a paladin/gunslinger gish that dishes out oodles of damage, and is very survivable. I can generally take out one enemy a turn, pretty much anything. Since I can take out pretty much anything, the rest of the list of what I might be able to do, doesn't really matter. I have both *redacted* from previous successful Bonekeep expeditions, and have 0 for both the *redacted* conditions.

For what it is worth, I am pretty sure I played at the table that finished Bonekeep 2 first at Gencon last year (not officially, but we looked all over the hall and didn't see any other tables finished when we got done).

I am doubtful that damage on its own is enough. Obviously it helps but how do you handle swarms, what do you do when plunged into supernatural darkness, what happens if you are dropped into a pit filled with 50' of acid and start drowning while acid immune demons claw at you from below and try to hold you underwater?

[andreww]

Doctor Castor wrote:

Well, I could introduce you to this really well balanced group!

Or I could invite you to my group instead...

I'll have to check with my subjects!

Thanks very much, that would be much appreciated. Who is in your group?

[Harold the Goblin's Herald]

How open are you to traveling with a goblin? Have you ever had to keep one alive?

[Garble Facechomper]

Doctor Castor wrote:

Well, I could introduce you to this really well balanced group!

Or I could invite you to my group instead...

I'll have to check with my subjects!

FACE HUGS!

[Doctor Castor]

Carlos-Ninja
Dan-Wizard
Derek-Paladin
Kyle-Barbarian
Auke-Alchemist

I think we're all 9th level.

Warning: Don't Shield Other the barbarian! and bring enough fireworks to keep it occupied while healing up.

[Nefreet]

You must videotape that session.

[Silbeg]

Harold the Goblin's Herald wrote:

How open are you to traveling with a goblin? Have you ever had to keep one alive?

I thought Garble already had a table?

[Pirate Rob]

Garble needed 1 more last I checked and was looking for a divine caster.

[Silbeg]

Pirate Rob wrote:

Garble needed 1 more last I checked and was looking for a divine caster.

Oh, I had heard John Compton was joining them?

Who's GMing that insanity?

[Roxana Da'Silva]

NINJA!?! I'm a pirate! The exact opposite!!

(Kensai Magus/barbarian/horizon walker in Dr Castor's group)

[As additional data, our tables finished both part 1 and 2, every single room. We may be a bit hardcore :)]

[Nefreet]

When we played through Bonekeep 2 we only had 4 players: a Zen Archer, a Sohei, a Life Oracle, and a Heavens Oracle. We cleared everything and got done an hour early.

I'm wondering if Bonekeep 3 will be as "nice" to us.

[Pirate Rob]

Silbeg wrote:

Pirate Rob wrote:

Garble needed 1 more last I checked and was looking for a divine caster.

Oh, I had heard John Compton was joining them?

Who's GMing that insanity?

I snagged John Compton for my table which is currently looking vaguely like it'll be:

Pirate Rob (some yahoo) - Nagaji Paladin of Yaezhing
Andrew Christan (VL Minnesota) - Slayer
Derek Boobyer (VC Des Moines) - Nagaji Paladin or Dhampir Cleric
John Compton - Cleric of Yaezhing
Mark "can change the game rules with his mind" Seifter ?maybe?
Linda ?maybe?

Of course John warned me that duty may call, and Linda is working 16.5hr days at the desk and Mark is still too scared of the cave raptors to give me more than a maybe...

So probably my table won't fully work out and instead those of us that remain will pick up somebody awesome from the crowd.

[andreww]

Harold the Goblin's Herald wrote:

How open are you to traveling with a goblin? Have you ever had to keep one alive?

I am fairly sure I have adventured with worse, this is the Pathfinder Society after all and the entry requirements are famously...loose.

Those in the UK may be familiar with a certain Mr Bubbles...

[andreww]

Doctor Castor wrote:

Carlos-Ninja

Dan-Wizard
Derek-Paladin
Kyle-Barbarian
Auke-Alchemist

I think we're all 9th level.

Warning: Don't Shield Other the barbarian! and bring enough fireworks to keep it occupied while healing up.

Sounds like an interesting group. How does the paladin feel about infernal healing?

[Roxana Da'Silva]

andreww wrote:

Sounds like an interesting group. How does the paladin feel about infernal healing?

HAH! Our paladin is not the brightest in the bunch. I think she will not even know what you are casting! You can probably say it's cure light wounds and she will believe you. I once convinced her that our summoned Babau was the muffin man!

[int 5 nagaji, roleplays her as dumb and gullible]

[andreww]

Roxana Da'Silva wrote:

andreww wrote:

Sounds like an interesting group. How does the paladin feel about infernal healing?

HAH! Our paladin is not the brightest in the bunch. I think she will not even know what you are casting! You can probably say it's cure light wounds and she will believe you. I once convinced her that our summoned Babau was the muffin man!

[int 5 nagaji, roleplays her as dumb and gullible]

Interesting...no, they are not zombies, they are just animated mannequins.

Not that I would do that of course.

Well, not unless really desperate.

[Roxana Da'Silva]

andreww wrote:

Interesting...no, they are not zombies, they are just animated mannequins.

See? Perfect fit for the team!

[Eric Brittain]

I am really looking forward to running Bonekeep 3 for who so ever gets to be at my table.

I will be as prepared as I can be to give my table the adrenaline inducing roller coaster ride that I believe all of the Bonekeep scenarios are meant to be.

I will be fair. I will be fast. I will be efficient.

The ball will be completely in your court to determine if your group has what it takes and can keep it together long enough to emerge triumphant from Bonekeep 3.

[TriOmegaZero]

Wish I could be there with you guys. I have to settle for playing it at Strategicon in a few weeks with my VC.

[Harold the Goblin's Herald]

I do think, however, we'd prefer someone with easy access to breath of life, and be prepared to use it several times (per encounter?). Whether that's on a scroll or whatever, that doesn't matter.

[Pirate Rob]

Pirate Rob wrote:

Pirate Rob (some yahoo) - Nagaji Paladin of Yaezhing
Andrew Christan (VL Minnesota) - Slayer
Derek Boobyer (VC Des Moines) - Nagaji Paladin or Dhampir Cleric
John Compton - Cleric of Yaezhing
Mark "can change the game rules with his mind" Seifter ?maybe?
Linda ?maybe?

So probably my table won't fully work out and instead those of us that remain will pick up somebody awesome from the crowd.

Speaking of such things, I should probably find replacements for Mark and Linda since the maybe from them is looking more like a probably not.

grumble grumble cave raptors, grumble grumble.

[andreww]

Harold the Goblin's Herald wrote:

I do think, however, we'd prefer someone with easy access to breath of life, and be prepared to use it several times (per encounter?). Whether that's on a scroll or whatever, that doesn't matter.

That is tricky to get in a 5-9. Cleric9 is the only thing that can actually cast it naturally. Otherwise level 5 scrolls are over 1k each, First Aid gloves are over 4k. I could provide the former, I don't have enough remaining cash for the latter.

[Hobbun]

I know I will definitely be having First Aid Gloves with my 7 Alchemist (for Bonekeep).

[CRobledo]

Eric Brittain wrote:

I will be fair. I will be fast. I will be efficient.

And to keep it equal, so will we >=)

[Hobbun]

Is Eric already set up to run your table, Carlos? Or was that just a general “So will we”, for whomever runs your table?

[CRobledo]

Hobbun wrote:

Is Eric already set up to run your table, Carlos? Or was that just a general “So will we”, for whomever runs your table?

Eric may or may not have been conscripted into GMing for us ;)

[Eric Brittain]

I will only know who is at my table once they are there and we are playing.

[Hobbun]

Ok.

[David Gloss]

Pirate Rob, would you be willing to take me on as a replacement?

What would you want to know about me and/or my character? I completed both bonekeeps for what it is worth, missing one room total between both of them.

[Pirate Rob]

I care much more about having a table full of fun and awesome people than having murder-hobos that can crank out high numbers or a "balanced" table even for things like Bonekeep.

We'd love to have you though. Just be aware there are a lot of moving parts with the group and we may not end up with exactly who we started with etc.

[Andrew Christian]

My wife has a Druid 9.2 she could bring.

[David Gloss]

Cool! I am all for having a table full of fun and awesome people!!

How will I be able to find you? I certainly know John C. if he is going to remain part of the group.

[Pirate Rob]

oh, then have your Wife join us Andy and tadaa we're back to 6 \o/

David: I'm a 6'4" Pirate, I'll send you a PM when we get a bit closer with some contact details etc.

[Thorne, the Most Powerful Mage]

Pirate Rob wrote:

David: I'm a 6'4" Pirate...

Truly.

[Andrew Christian]

Awesome. We will just play the new 5-9 at level 5-6 then so her Druid doesn't level out. Just means I will still be an 8 Slayer.

[Austin Suter]

Well I will be playing Adolamin (a 9th lvl Dwarven Core Fighter) who wields his Greataxe "The Equalizer" against any foe no matter their type. His axe is a +1 Ghost Touch Greataxe which may be upgraded once more before the trip to Indy. He's seems to have mitigated as many weaknesses he has. Iron will tree as well as a Clearspindle Ioun Stone. Swarms you say? Swarmbane Clasp. Incorporeal you say? Axe to the face. Boots of speed for haste on his own. He's fought enough things that his axe can't fight to where he's spent the gold to "Equalize" his ability. All in all he's fun to play with and he's my first character in Pathfinder. He's played both Bonekeep 1 and 2 but didn't finish 2 (in the 7th room and ran out of time).

I'd like to find a great table to play with at GenCon so that I can actually finish the level!... and live of course. So as long as nobody dislikes dwarves then let's do this!

[Cao Phen]

Thorne, the Most Powerful Mage wrote:

Pirate Rob wrote:

David: I'm a 6'4" Pirate...

Truly.

He is, I can vouch his yardy har har.

[Grond Doomhammer]

GROND IS BRINGING BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA.

THOSE BIGGEST WORDS GROND KNOWS.

-G

(Not going to GenCon, unfortunately. So far annihilating everything in front of him has worked for the first two Bonekeeps. Hopefully he finds a cure for that nasty rash when I do play part 3.)

[Angethel]

I will be joining an expedition into Bonekeep. This will be my first foray into the dangerous siege fortress. I am a Caydenite Oracle of Life, cursed with blackened hands. My Idlykin blood helps me focus my positive channeling beyond what one of my experience should dictate. (Aasimar favored class bonus to increase 1 revelation by 1/2 level = 13.5 level channeling at level 9, +2d6 from a phylactery grants 9d6 channels). My channels not only heal the living, they liberate them from bonds (granting freedom of movement for 5 rounds do to liberation channel feat).

What do you bring to the party?
Angethel is a level 9 blackened hands Life Oracle and brings condition removal, lots of healing, some buffing (including blessing of fervor), and some limited blasting.

How have you prepared for the hell of Bonekeep?
Angethel has a number of scrolls and a few potions for use for various effects. He also recently purchased some first aid gloves. He also has a large stack of cash for purchasing other items/consumbables that the party might need. He would be willing to contribute to a group heroes' feast and life bubble before venturing within.

How might you handle swarms?
As a blackened oracle he possesses the ability to unleash fiery death via burning hands or flaming sphere. He also has access to Burst of Radiance

How do you work at range and can you fly?
As a full caster oracle he has no issues with range. Angethel has also recently learned to cast air walk and he carries a scroll. Burst of radiance is in any event a long range spell.

How do you deal with darkness?
Angethel is an aasimar and has darkvision as well as carrying an oil of daylight.

How do you contribute to group healing?
Angethel has great in combat healing with 9d6 channels, quick channel, and 1/day the ability to quicken a cure spell. He also knows many spells for condition removal including: Remove Sickness, Unbreakable Heart, Lesser Restoration, Neutralize Poison, Magic Circle Against Evil, Restoration and Dispel Magic, as well as carrying scrolls of most other condition removals. Angethel also heals more efficiently due to fey foundling and takes on the groups damage through his life link and sometimes shield other.

What knowledge skills do you bring?
Angethel has limited knowledge with religion being his best at +8, and then a +4 with nature, planes, and history.

What is your scroll library like?
2x remove fear, comp lang, 2x remove sickness, align weapon, magic circle vs evil, remove paralysis, 2x silence, freedom of movement, death ward, invisibility purge, and cash to buy others.

Can you operate underwater?
Not well, he will by buying air crystals and a wand of touch of the sea

What can you do when it all goes to hell and you need to flee?
air walk, performing a heroic sacrifice so his allies can flee.

How effectively can you sneak?
poorly

How do you deal with being grappled?
His channels grant freedom of movement for 5 rounds. He also carries a scroll of freedom of movement. He has Liberating command for helping allies.

How are your defences?
These could be better, his AC is only 22, 25 with shield of faith. Saves are 9/6/6, could go up to 14/11/11 with a bestow grace potion. He has a +2 to saves vs death effects, CMD is very low.

How do you deal with outsiders, oozes, constructs?
Keeping my allies on their feet primarily. He also knows communal resist energy to help against many energy wielding foes.

[The ShadowShackleton]

Pirate Rob wrote:

Silbeg wrote:

Pirate Rob wrote:

Garble needed 1 more last I checked and was looking for a divine caster.

Oh, I had heard John Compton was joining them?

Who's GMing that insanity?

I snagged John Compton for my table which is currently looking vaguely like it'll be:

Pirate Rob (some yahoo) - Nagaji Paladin of Yaezhing
Andrew Christan (VL Minnesota) - Slayer
Derek Boobyer (VC Des Moines) - Nagaji Paladin or Dhampir Cleric
John Compton - Cleric of Yaezhing
Mark "can change the game rules with his mind" Seifter ?maybe?
Linda ?maybe?

Of course John warned me that duty may call, and Linda is working 16.5hr days at the desk and Mark is still too scared of the cave raptors to give me more than a maybe...

So probably my table won't fully work out and instead those of us that remain will pick up somebody awesome from the crowd.

If you guys need another, I have a Bard 8. He is a door to door lingerie salesman and defeated Bonekeep 2 without taking a scratch. Good clean fun.

[The ShadowShackleton]

Oops just saw you were at 6. Anyone need a door to door lingerie salesman? <crickets> Honestly he is a useful character! <crickets>

[The ShadowShackleton]

And he owns First Aid Gloves. And he has beaten several notorious encounters with the use of feather tokens alone!

[Pirate Rob]

Glen: because of people's various other obligations, our chance of losing 1 is relatively high and I'd happy to have another Venture captain with us to blame for anything that goes wrong. I can't guarantee you a spot however so if you can find a group you're sure of , go with them.

[Garble Facechomper]

Angethel wrote:

Words

But what do you taste like?

[Kyle Baird]

Garble Facechomper wrote:

Angethel wrote:

Words

But what do you taste like?

More seriously, I believe we're still looking for a 6th.

[Kigvan]

Kyle Baird wrote:

Garble Facechomper wrote:

Angethel wrote:

Words

But what do you taste like?

More seriously, I believe we're still looking for a 6th.

I'd love to join you with my life oracle.

Also he probably tastes like cat (he is a lionel descended aasimar).

I'm one of the Pullman folks, this will be my first Gencon, and I am looking forward to meeting folks as well.